Letters to the Editor 9/1/16

Boots of my own
EDITOR: This letter is for the sake of transparency in what has been a learning experience for me. Since my candidacy for Sebastopol City Council was announced, I have received many requests from different organizations wanting to endorse me after I agree to a set of principles, fill out questionnaires and then meet with them for an interview.
These organizations are those which are sometimes opposed to one another and include the following: Coalition for a Better Sonoma County, North Bay Labor Council (AFL-CIO), Sonoma County Alliance and Business Group, North Coast Builders Exchange, Engineering Contractors Association, North Bay Association of Realtors (NORBAR), North Bay Leadership Council, Sierra Club Sonoma Group and the Sonoma County Conservation Group.
After carefully considering their requests, I responded to all of these organizations as follows, “Due to the fact that I have been inundated with requests from organizations wanting to endorse my candidacy, I have decided not to accept any endorsements but those from the individual residents of Sebastopol.”
Because I have seen what happens when one group or another endorses a candidate, I am determined not to wear anyone’s boots but my own. If it costs me the election, so be it.
Michael Anthony Carnacchi
Sebastopol
Thank you, firefighters
EDITOR: Our Sebastopol Fire Chief Bill Braga and the entire volunteer fire department with all volunteer firefighters, I’d like to personally thank with all my heart for the wonderful and needed work they are doing here in this Sebastopol community. They are here to Burbank Heights and Orchards where I’ve lived 13 years now in just minutes. I’ve had nine 911 emergency calls these past three months. Having a heart attack in June I was so very ill. When the paramedics told me its cardiac then I knew it was a heart attack. The firefighters — I know so many of them and they come with the big fire truck and dressed in their fire gear. It’s really such a comforting feeling to see them in just a few minutes to help. Yes they are such a huge help and a lot of them have done this much needed work for many years. Along with my devout and strong faith in god, I’ve made it through many years of illnesses, trials and domestic violence. My good mom and dad helped me through that. I was being abused and they helped with my four children and myself because I had nothing. Four little children. My youngest at age 2 and the other three older. It was very hard to be the divorced single parent and for so many years now. As we go through life there are many bumps in the road. At least there’s been in mine. I also became a volunteer when I was in my 40s. Keeping busy is the key and drinking a lot of water. My parents were the very best people I ever knew. Raising 14 children on the farm in western Kansas where I was the eighth child. My dad used to say, “Being a farmer, it was nice to feed one’s family.” My mom was sure an excellent cook. We always had plenty of food on the table and a huge garden we all helped in. Our neighbors knew there was good food in our house. With the amount of money I’m living on, I really do feed others also. I am a pretty good cook and do love to bake in my oven here; the best I’ve ever cooked with. Learning so much from my mother, I learned to cook and sew. The 911 calls I’ve had to make twice taken by ambulance to Sonoma West Medical Center. I cut my right foot with broken glass and called 911 against three weeks ago. Blood was all over the carpet floor here. The paramedics and firefighters were right here very fast and so caring and helpful. Couldn’t have ever done it alone taken by ambulance to our hospital here. Being on medicines that I have to take anyway led to another scary emergency. God is always with me and believe me I’m surrounded by angels. Yes. Thank you to Bill Braga and the entire group of volunteer firefighters. You are to be commended for the job you have done and continue to do for all us people here in Sebastopol. When I get to heaven I’ll bake cookies to have ready for each and every one of you. Now our Lord would love that don’t you think? I‘ve baked millions to give away to others. As one of our staff members here at Burbank tells me, here it’s fun to be able to help other people. I love to bake.
Sally Burghart
Sebastopol