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EDITOR,

I drove my Yellow Cab on a very hectic St. Patrick's Day one Thursday night last month. It's always one of top three busiest shifts of the year, so early Friday morning, I was dead tired and ready to go home. Just before logging off though, at about 3:30 a.m., I got dispatched for a pickup in Scotts Valley, scheduled to go all the way to the Mountain Store in Boulder Creek.

Most of us are aware of the amazing community we live in, my son and I know firsthand and vow never to take it for granted. My son Jerry broke his neck four years ago. Life for us changed in an instant and will never be the same again. This wonderful community has rallied time and again on our behalf, the love and support that has been shown to us is overwhelming and we are so appreciative. The past year was spent raising funds to take Jerry to Thailand for stem cell treatment. When my efforts were exhausted the great people of this community once again rallied on our behalf. I would like to give a special acknowledgement to Patty Swan, Mike Pander, Debbie Edington, the Ghost Mountain Riders, MC Club and Monty of Monty's Log Cabin for working so hard to organize a fundraising event "Coyote Hotlap" to benefit Jerry.  In addition I would like to thank Sharon Ferry, Donna Padia and Debbie Edington for helping me plan a spaghetti feed. Thank you to Kelsey Brose for your beautiful voice, the band the Leftovers you guys rocked, and all who helped cook, serve, and clean up. Most importantly thank you ALL who made contributions for Jerry's treatment! We are truly blessed to call this community home. You can read about our family here: www.followingjerry.com

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I was as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a roomful of rockers. I lay in bed and watched my clock tick off the early morning hours — now 1 a.m., now 2 a.m. — as I waited for the phone to ring.

“Hey, ya’ll! I’m Paula Deen, and on today’s show, we will be having fried pork chops, along with my Mama’s famous apple dumpling pie and fried grits.”