Hats Off

Scholarship winner reiterates how grateful she is

Karis J. Lawson

Karis J. Lawson

 

Note: The following letter was sent to District 5 by Karis J. Lawson of San Luis Obispo on June 25.

I received a scholarship from your organization last spring and wanted to send another thank you to show my gratitude! I also thought maybe you would want to hear how my first year at Cal Poly SLO went!

I am so happy to have chosen Cal Poly as my school for not only the atmosphere on campus but the people as well. I've already made so many friends that I consider to be lifelong friends. Although my time in the dorms was cut short and so was the rest of my freshmen year due to COVID 19, I would not take any of my first-year memories back!

So far, my major in landscape architecture has been awesome! I cannot believe how much I have learned with computer programs, grafting and design! I would also like to mention that I made the dean’s list all three quarters during my first year! I guess I was more prepared for college than I thought!

Once again thank you so much for choosing me as a scholarship recipient. Trust me, I never take financial help for granted. Thank you!

 


'I am truly grateful for his service!'

Note: The following letter was sent to District 1 Director Matthew Brady on June 24 by Diane Riggs of Hayward.

“On April 8th I was on my way to 'shelter' with my son in Crescent City as he was concerned about me being alone in Hayward. As I was driving up 101 I swerved to avoid hitting a rock and instead skidded off the pavement.

“There was no place to pull over but I know the route well and knew of the Moss Cove Rest Stop. I was VERY close to it - but on the wrong side of the freeway! I knew I had a flat tire and would have severe tire damage if I continued to drive to the next stop so as I watched the traffic I pulled into the stop from the wrong direction. (Yes, I know that could have been a BAD idea but there was no traffic in the area due to the CCVID-19 restrictions.)

“As I drove in, one of your employees came to my car immediately and asked if I was okay. I asked him about AAA and instead of answering he offered to change my tire for me! I told him that this would not be an easy task because my trunk was full of personal items that I was delivering to my son since he had left them at my house when he moved to Crescent City in 2015. Still, he helped me unpack everything, got the 'donut' tire out and put it on my car. He then helped me put everything back and refused to take anything for his help.

“I am a 73-year-old woman who knows how to change a tire but Miguel Torres Leon came to my aid at a time when I was more than a bit upset. After everything was in order, he suggested that I go back to Willits as there were tire stores there that could help me, which is what I did.

“On my return trip to Hayward recently, I stopped at Moss Cove to see if he was there. He was cleaning the restrooms and I stopped to again thank him and offer him a gratuity. Again he refused and I told him I was going to write you a letter!

“So please, again remind him that I am truly grateful for his service! I hope I never have to bother one of your employees again but if I do, I hope that they are as kind as this gentleman was!”


'We appreciate everything you do!’

Note: The following letter was sent to District 5 by Vicki Baggett of Morro Bay, and included this artwork.

"Thanks you so much for remaining on the job performing maintenance on and around the highways and ground.  We appreciate everything you do!"


Caltrans driver's kind gesture appreciated

Note: The following letter was sent to the District 4 Maintenance team by Linda Minor on July 26.

"Writing to say THANKS to the Caltrans driver who stopped to see if I was OK on Saturday mid-afternoon, July 25. I had just crossed the San Rafael Bridge into Richmond, and pulled over to the emergency parking area across the roadway from the toll booth office. I needed to check an address on my phone, and of course you can't do while driving …

”As I was looking down at my phone, a Caltrans driver slowly pulled up on my left side, and with his loud speaker asked if I was OK. Wow. What an unexpected thing to happen. There's no way to know who that was, other than someone with a male voice. But I just wanted to say thank you to him for caring and asking. That really brightened my day. Almost made me cry thinking how nice that was.

”So, Caltrans, cheers to you for having such caring workers.”


A GIF shout out to goats in D4

Twitter D4 

Weed-eating goats are a hit in District 4!


Roadwork updates appreciated in D7

Twitter D7 

Motorist appreciates a head's-up about mountain road.


'Wow!' says it all about roadway in D11

Twitter D11 

Sometimes, a monosyllabic exclamation tells the tale.