Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for Jan. 24, 2026

Volunteering in Marin is a worthwhile endeavor

Last week, I was honored to receive the Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership’s Marin County Volunteer of the Year Award for my work on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Association as a community educator, a support group facilitator, a fundraiser and a legislative advocate.

At the awards ceremony, CVNL CEO Linda Jacobs told the audience that, believe it or not, volunteerism has dropped significantly in recent years.

According to the Meals on Wheels nonprofit, there is more need for volunteers than ever before. There are more people to serve and fewer people stepping up. That means an increasing load for current volunteers.

I am truly honored to be part of such a generous community of giving here in Marin County. The awards ceremony was celebrated with more than 500 people who relentlessly work to provide services, art and culture to our neighborhoods.

If you feel the urge to contribute, in whatever way you can, I want to encourage you to volunteer with an organization that does work you care about: feeding the hungry, rescuing animals, supporting people living with Alzheimer’s — whatever calls you. We are all connected. Anything and everything you do to help others affects us all. And we are stronger and more resilient as a result.

Whether it’s helping a neighborhood elder on occasion or committing to an ongoing project, what you do counts.

If you have specific skills to offer, that’s great. But volunteering is also an opportunity to learn new skills. Many organizations will train you. I’ve added many new skills to my resume as a result of my volunteer experience.

If you’d like to join the volunteer team at the Alzheimer’s Association, check out the volunteer portal: alz.org/volunteers.

— Erin Kane, San Rafael

Doug McConnell was strong part of the Marin community

I was sorry to hear about the passing of TV personality and Marin resident Doug McConnell (“Doug McConnell, Marin television host and environmentalist, dies,” Jan. 16).

Mr. McConnell was the same person off camera as he was on. He was a fine gentleman. He was warm and caring. A couple of friends went on an Alaskan cruise with Mr. McConnell and the trip was featured on his TV show. My friends actually stood next to him on top of a glacier.

Years later, when one of the friends on that trip took ill, Mr. McConnell, at my request, gave him a phone call and lifted his spirits.

Mr. McConnell’s son attended a school where I worked. I remember him volunteering on “Field Day” with other parents. I recall Mr. McConnell staying after it was finished to help pick up the trash that accumulated at the event.

I know all Doug McConnell’s neighbors, from Corte Madera and beyond, will miss him.

— Alan Rossi, San Anselmo

Ross Valley commuters should oppose new high-rise

While much has been said about negative impacts from the just-approved 17-story apartment building at 700 Irwin St. in San Rafael (“San Rafael commission approves 200-apartment high-rise, Jan. 16), I think potential traffic problems for residents of the Ross Valley and beyond need to be emphasized.

Many of these residents have to access Highway 101 daily. They already endure the gauntlet of ill-timed lights on Red Hill Avenue and a new light on East Street (which I consider nonsensical). When they get close to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit tracks in San Rafael, they are left praying that a train crossing doesn’t cause further significant delays.

After crossing the tracks, those who need to head north face the dreaded left turn onto Irwin Street. Already, it seems few cars (sometimes none) can legally make this turn from Second Street due to congestion. It’s not much better from Fourth and Fifth streets or Mission Avenue.

The problems are compounded, and just as bad, on the return exiting 101. Irwin Street is already beyond maxed out, even without new residents and their cars. This project cannot proceed.

— Barry Spitz, San Anselmo

Marin can do more to make it safer to cross the street

Marin County is capable of being a place where it is safe to cross the street in a crosswalk without the fear of being injured or killed. I think we just need to have the collective will to do it. How can we get there?

It appears to me that wherever we are in the county — from the bustling city of San Rafael to my small town of Fairfax — we can’t safely cross the street without the threat of being hit by a motor vehicle.

— Janet Turner, Fairfax

Starkweather Path plan for art project is misguided

I am writing in regard to plans for an art project along Starkweather Path in San Rafael. As a homeowner who lives directly facing the path, I am appalled at the thought of the pristine view and the walking path being littered by signage, no matter how attractive or informative it may be. Personally, I doubt the original Miwok Indigenous people would look kindly at the placement of 22 signs disrupting the serenity and visual peace of the walking path.

I am not opposed to the art project, but I’m definitely opposed to its current proposed placement.

Aside from, and in addition to, the aesthetics of placing the project along the pathway, I believe that the placement along the path is actually hazardous for the following reasons:

• We are now more than ever aware of the imminent danger of sea-level rise. As a member of the Canal Sea Level Rise Steering Committee, I see constant examples of how destructive king tides and storm surges can be. All of us experienced that earlier this month. I worry that fallen or damaged signs will become a hazard, obstructing the pathway and posing a danger to walkers, bikers and children.

• As a resident, I consistently see what I consider to be a lack of maintenance for fences and pavement. Why should I believe that San Rafael officials will do any more to attend to the path than they do now? Fences are constantly being knocked over and benches are defaced, with futile efforts by city leaders to rectify the issue. I suspect the art project would not be spared. They will be a likely next target.

• Finally, the path is quite narrow; and with walkers, bicycles, baby carriages and dogs on leashes crowding the path, especially on nice days, it can be hard to navigate. In my experience, walkers are often forced off the path onto the unpaved area where the art project will be anchored.

Public art is a wonderful thing when it serves the public, but in this location it simply does not. Please place this project where it will be truly meaningful and a pleasure to visit.

— Claire D. Taylor, San Rafael

49ers made fans proud by playing deep into playoffs

The 2025 San Francisco 49ers season seemed to be sprinkled with fairy dust amid enormous adversity. It was an adversity of injuries to this beloved team — the gold helmet with the SF logo as prominent today as it was when Dwight Clark used his fingertips to catch the pass from Joe Montana in the back of the end zone that started a championship dynasty back in 1982. It was unlike anything I had ever seen by any football team.

This year’s 49ers kept winning despite the multiplicity of injuries to indispensable players. Early in the season, they lost Nick Bosa for the entire year. I think he is one of the most fearsome defensive ends to ever play the game. Shortly thereafter, they lost Fred Warner for the season. I consider him one of the best linebackers to ever play.

For multiple weeks, starting quarterback Brock Purdy was out with an injury. They kept losing starting player after starting player, yet they kept winning.

For their first playoff game, the 49ers went on the road to shock the defending-champion Philadelphia Eagles. The pundits said their chances to win the game were slim and none. But they pulled it off, despite a season-ending  injury to standout tight end George Kittle during the game. I consider Kittle a likely future member of the Hall of Fame.

Unexpectedly (perhaps unrealistically), I had Super Bowl “stars in my eyes” heading into the divisional playoff game against the fearsome Seattle Seahawks. Seattle is perhaps the most powerful team in the NFL and the 49ers were overwhelmed. I painfully hung up my hooded red sweatshirt with SF on the front until next season.

For a moment I dreamt Super Bowl dreams. And why not? Despite losing, this is still a team of champions.

— Bruce Farrell Rosen, San Francisco