GROW OP BRINGS BACK PAINFUL MEMORIES

Re: Chilly weather outs substantial marijuana grow operation, News, Jan. 13.

To the residents of Nichol Road,

I thought I was finished shedding tears over my late father's home.
Emotions were again dredged up this past week when I was told that
some parasites of society had turned our last home into a marijuana grow-op.

Dad took great pride in maintaining his home and yard. It was a home
that he built. It was a gathering place for us where we as a family
shared birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, special holidays, and as
life goes, even funerals.

This was not an episode of 'Flip This House' for me. This was our
family home. Emptying and selling the house when dad passed away was
the hardest thing I have ever been tasked to do. Without the help of
some very good friends of mine and my father's, I don't know how I
would have done it. It was not like an addition was added or that the
house was repainted. The house was destroyed by a criminal element.
So it is heartbreaking and personal to me.

Our family and dad's friends will have pictures and memories of being
there and visiting, maybe listening to one of dad's many railroad
stories, or being with him downstairs in his woodworking shop. The
memories are ours to keep but the situation still saddens me.

Some of you on Nichol Road may remember two little markers dad had on
his front lawn years ago. One read, 'Here lies the last dog to #$%!
on my lawn', the other, "Here lies his friend the cat'. If dad was
here today, I just know he could come up with a third marker.

To dad's old neighbours, unfortunately your new neighbour turned out
to be a detrimental neighbour rather than someone you could chat with
or call upon if needed.

Jim Pecora Jr.,

Golden, B.C.