Letters to the Editor 3-27-14

City responds about survey
Editor:   
In response to Mr. Ron Cooper’s letter published in last week’s Reveille, the Cloverdale community survey results were presented at the November 13, 2013, Cloverdale City Council meeting and covered by the Reveille in its November 21, 2013 issue. Also, the information about the City of Cloverdale’s public opinion survey is easily accessible to everyone at the City of Cloverdale’s webpage www.cloverdale.net – click on “View All News” and the report is titled “City of Cloverdale Community Survey Results Presentation.”
The City Council’s focus is on working closely with our local business on steps that the City can take to attract and maintain local business, for example the recent partnership with the Bear Republic Brewing Company to develop new water wells, as well as a working closely with the Cloverdale Chamber of Commerce.  
The City Council recently completed the first step in our annual budget process that included a transparent and honest discussion about Cloverdale’s current goals and financial situation.
The City has already implemented numerous budget cuts, including reducing the number of City employees by over 20 percent, freezing salaries for the past five years, reforming pensions, and closing City Hall on Fridays. Despite these efforts, there is little left to cut in the budget and Cloverdale has virtually no emergency reserves left, making the City vulnerable to an emergency, such as a natural disaster or future State and Federal budget cuts.
We all need to work together to explore ways in which Cloverdale has a local funding source that is not subject to takeaways by Sacramento and Washington DC to help maintain our essential services and attract jobs and businesses to Cloverdale.
Paul Cayler,
Cloverdale City Manager
Let’s see Black Bart return
Editor:   
I’d like to thank Michael Seelau for his letter in the Feb. 27 issue: “A festival worth remembering.” I am like the writer Patricia Kraegel who wondered if anyone listens to PBS, I wonder if anyone else reads the letters to our editor? Thank you Michael for doing the research about Black Bart. I learned a couple things I didn’t know thinking I knew all about him. What I do know is, Michael hits the nail on the head when he said that there was a lot more interest and attendance when we had our Black Bart Festival.  I remember kids playing in the street  chasing “cow patties” and other activities.  Over many years there were several of our neighbors that for one weekend were not “Joe” or “Bill” but looked and acted the part they were dressed to represent, Black Bart.
One of the last ones was a close neighbor and his lovely wife also took on the persona of a woman from those days as did many. We even had a costume shop between First St. and Second St. and I only guess this shop passed away after the silly decision for the sake of the children from celebrating a bad guy. There was not any open discussion or survey taken as I can remember. I for one — oops — two who would to see Black Bart ride out of the hills or come up from the river again and fill the streets and motel rooms with festive people. Let’s shake the council into action.
I also want to thank the Reveille for printing Mr. Seelau’s entire letter not holding it to the 300 words, as it was an informative bit of City History that many newer residents might not know.
Donald Reed
Cloverdale
Paradise found
Editor:   
Frankly, I was somewhat offended by Bernard E. Covi’s remarks in his editorial letter published in the Cloverdale Reveille, recently (March 6, 2014). His comments didn’t ring true to my experience of having lived in Cloverdale the last 18 years. Unlike his assertion that Cloverdale continues to suffer ‘a hickish reputation’, I feel Cloverdale has evolved from those, no longer warranted, stereotypes. If anything, I believe quite the opposite is true. Otherwise, how could it have been chosen Budget Travels 2nd Coolest Small Town in America in 2010; especially with prerequisites such as: a town that’s ‘on the upswing … a place that’s beginning to draw attention’ … a town ‘with an edge … avante-garde galleries, quality of arts and restaurant[s]’ (Budget Travel, 2010)?
Covi’s fatalistic attitude describing our town is stifling; contradicting the spirit of its appreciable inhabitants I’ve had the privilege to rub shoulders with over the years. I’ve witnessed residents and business owners, alike, sharing countless hours of community service rallying behind worthy causes supported by this town’s many charitable organizations. And what about our amazing Arts Alliance and all the wonderful music and artistic offerings, such as the Friday Night Live and Thursday Night Jazz they provide; or our beautiful Performing Arts Center (which was community built and is community supported), that provides quality, year-round entertainment? And can we forget the amazing way our theater was ‘called back’ into existence? What town can claim such a miraculous, community-supported endeavor?!
Other comments he made, such as: “the kind of ‘wine country’ sophistication we’ll never have,” or “People move and visit here because they mistakenly believe it’s premier wine country” – well, they just don’t hold any credibility in my book. Especially with the profuse accolades I hear from the out-of-town clients I massage at three of our world renowned Bed and Breakfast inns each year. It doesn’t matter what season it is; they ALL rave about the natural beauty and ambiance, as well as award winning wineries we enjoy in this great little area. And although Mr. Covi can’t “imagine NorCal (Skydiving) giving Cloverdale any economic boost,” I’m happy to report that some of those out of town guests I meet, stay here BECAUSE OF a planned skydiving trip; thus providing revenue for our local inns, restaurants and entertainment venues.
Oh, and by the way, skydiving’s not just for the “young….looking for fun.” On my 40th birthday, I ignored my fear of heights and went up into our beautiful Cloverdale skies to enjoy the incredible aerial scenery; and what a view it was. Before ‘diving’ back down to our humble little town, I was blessed with a panoramic view that spanned from the white capped waves of Bodega Bay, to the white, snow covered hills of the Sierras; reaffirming what I had already felt to be true: that, in actuality, this could just be, Paradise Found.
Colleen Shields,
Cloverdale
The Mouse that Roared
Editor:   
On March 18 at 3 p.m., a meeting of the minds took place in a room located at the Cloverdale Historical Society building.  Local citizens of our community filled the place from wall to wall.  It ended up being standing room only and just barely at that.  The issue at hand that was to be discussed during this meeting was the fate of one of our unique and prized local businesses, the NorCal Skydiving operation that works out of the Cloverdale Airport.  It was presided over (fairly I might add) by the members of the Airport subcommittee and other city staff.  Everybody there was allowed to speak and have their say.
What surprised me about this meeting was that the small handful of angry naysayers who showed up to complain about NorCal Skydiving, all eventually got up and stormed out before the owners and staff of this business were allowed to address their concerns and provide answers to their questions. Had these people stayed until the end of the meeting, they would have found that the owners of NorCal Skydiving had excellent, clear and concise answers and information for them and were deeply committed to trying to work with them across the board.
There is an old Peter Sellers movie that I once saw that comes to mind here. It was called “The Mouse that Roared.”
Michael Seelau,
Cloverdale