" The common thread: "too fast". "

" It comes as little surprise. It seems the Berryessa area is prone to speeding. There are too many roadside monuments to those who lost more than control of their vehicle. "

" I grind my teeth every time the Register exhibits its profound geographic ignorance by attributing every bad thing that happens (accidents, pot farms, assaults) outside Napa Valley as having occurred in the “Lake Berryessa area.”

We have enough bad things that do happen here, without being saddled with association to things that happen somewhere else.

For the record, none of the three accidents reported in this article happened, as the online headline misstates, “AT Berryessa.”

Butts Canyon Road is 17 miles from the lake as the car drives, in the Pope Valley area. Circle Oaks is miles from the lake and as close to the City of Napa as to the lake. It is at least in the same watershed as the lake, which is more than one can say for Wooden Valley Road which is 10 miles from the lake and in another watershed altogether (Suisun Creek Watershed).

Lake Berryessa is in transition. Steps are being taken to address the problems here. As new concession operations take over, many of us who live in the area are looking forward to a better future, and a better reputation in the county. When accidents, or other unfortunate events, actually happen “AT” Lake Berryessa, in the near vicinity, or to visitors to the lake, by all means report it. But when unrelated accidents or events occur miles away, stop trying to trade on Lake Berryessa’s bad reputation by claiming that they happen here. Take that extra effort to educate readers more accurately about where events occur in the more than 50% of the county that is NOT Napa Valley.
"

" The Berryessa area (Knoxville highway, Putah Creek, Circle Oaks, Wooden Valley) are all long stretches of open and winding road that are very tempting to the speed demon with brain disengaged. As a teen-ager and in my twenties, I was one of those dummies that tempted fate repeatedly along those roads. It was only by the grace of God that I did not kill myself or someone else. But then again, is that not how many of us survive those years? Age, and a few funerals, has instilled more caution in me now. With the arrival of spring and coming of summer, we will certainly see more of these stories. So a few words of advise from one who has ridden that fine line, and now has a few gray hairs, slow down. The ride is just as beautiful at the speed limit as it is at the higher rates of speed. When you get out on the water, keep that life jacket on. Sure, it hides the steroid (or silicone) pumped chest, but you will live longer. When you are out on your boats and Personal Water Craft (Jet Skis), keep your distance, and don’t cut in front of others. Boats have no breaks, and you have only one life. What do life jackets and water craft have to do with accidents on the roads? Not much. But accidents always have a common thread, a disregard for safety. "