The view from the laundry room alone makes everything
worthwhile.
On a good day, John and Denice Verhoeven and their 3-year-old
son, J.J., can see the Sierras as they eat breakfast before John
takes his 30-second walk to work.
The view from the laundry room alone makes everything worthwhile.
On a good day, John and Denice Verhoeven and their 3-year-old son, J.J., can see the Sierras as they eat breakfast before John takes his 30-second walk to work.
As a state park peace officer and ranger, John moved his family into one of two quaint ranger houses at Henry Coe Park last August, but the Lick Fire struck the next month, then winter rolled in, followed by the wet season. Now the park’s refreshed, and the family has ensconced itself – at least for the time being.
State budget cuts threaten to close the 87,000-acre park and uproot the family just as the ecosystem around them begins to flourish. But the specter of another move did not register with J.J. Wednesday evening as he darted around the living room singing songs between trips to the kitchen for more cherry tomatoes. For more pictures of J.J. and his family in the parl, visit our
