Letters to the Editor 1-1-15

Thank you Sebastopol
Editor: I would like to submit the following letter to the community:
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people and organizations that make Sebastopol such a wonderful place to live and breathe.
Thank you to the City of Sebastopol. Our progressive City Council beautifully reflects the values of our town and works hard on thorny issues to get them resolved with the most positive outcome. And to the unsung heroes and heroines of city hall, public works and the planning department who work behind the scenes and keep up with the upkeep of our city. Thank you all.
Thank you to our police department and volunteer fire department. In this time of increased criticism of police, the Sebastopol Police Department under the direction of Jeff Weaver continues to be a shining example of the positive work of law enforcement. The officers on the street are professional, courteous and non-confrontational when dealing with difficult and dangerous situations that they face every day.
Likewise, the Sebastopol Volunteer Fire Department under Chief Bill Braga does an excellent job in responding quickly to all emergencies. The dedicated volunteers train every week and are prepared for all emergencies and disasters that might hit. Thank you, police department. Thank you, fire department volunteers.
Thank you to the Sebastopol Center for the Arts. Under the direction of Linda Galletta, the Arts Center has transformed the dungeon of a Vets Hall into a beautiful space that shows off the art of a huge number of fine artists that populate our area, and provides a first-class concert venue for live performances. Thank you artists, musicians and the Arts Center for making this a rich cultural hub of Sonoma County.
Thank you to all my friends at the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center, which acts as Sebastopol’s recreation department, and so much more. Diana Rich and her crack staff have used all their resources to make the center a vibrant place for classes, concerts and community events. I have a great appreciation for this nonprofit, which over the years has presented world-class music concerts, as well as being the home of many local classes. Thank you, SCCC.
Thank you to Teresa Ramondo and the Sebastopol Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber advances the interests of the many small businesses that make up our town. Plus the annual Apple Blossom Festival and parade shows off the best of what a small town is all about. That festival is a huge undertaking and every year it comes off flawlessly, thanks to the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and staff. Thank you Sebastopol Chamber.
Thank you to our service organizations, the two Rotary clubs of Sebastopol and the Kiwanis for their continued generous support of our community. The fireworks display on July 3rd by the Kiwanis is a blast and the best town party of the year. The Rotaries put on the Crab Feed, the Cajun Festival, Guys Can Cook, and this year the Great Gatsby Gala and the free Christmas Dinners. These service organizations raise money and give it away to nonprofits in the community. Thank you Rotary and Kiwanis clubs.
Last, but not least, a thank you to all the citizens of our lovely town, who with your progressive values, environmental awareness and overall kindness, make Sebastopol truly Peacetown, USA. It is a beautiful place to be. Thanks to all!
Jim Corbett
Sebastopol
Elitist boycott
Editor: Ken Kapp says CVS is a blight on our town (“Protesters begin boycott of CVS in Sebastopol,” Dec. 25). He is aesthetically repelled by a pharmaceutical edifice on one of the main corners of our town. He may not have been a member of our town long enough to know that the building on Highway 12 and Highway 116 (the main corner on Main Street), which now houses Main Stage West theater, was a drug store. For many years, Main Street was blighted by two drug stores in that one block.
What an elitist. My town has drug stores and I am not repelled. It has been my town for 37 years. I have had to adjust to Whole Foods so I can adjust to CVS. I would rather have Pellini Chevrolet, but I can tolerate a drug store on the corner of my small town.
Roger Delgado, MD
Sebastopol
Heartened by protest
Editor: Last week’s story on the CVS civic action (“Protesters begin boycott of CVS in Sebastopol”) restored my faith in Sebastopol’s vibrancy and my heartfelt respect for this town, caught in a bully’s cross hairs and at West County’s primary crossroads. I wish the protesters well. Let’s hope CVS still may reconsider inserting its proposed large new story at the town’s eastern portal.
Is there no one in CVS’s upper management who has been watching Sebastopol’s fight for a more moderate traffic volume at Highway 12? I am only one voice calling from that eastern wilderness, Santa Rosa (My wife and I moved there in 2009).  Thanks to the folks standing out in the cold who are making this peaceful (I hope) protest against corporate greed and insensitivity.
Frank Baumgardner
Santa Rosa
Saddened by article
Editor: I was very saddened to read the recent article in which Dan Smith was referred to as a bully (“Sparks fly around hospital’s major benefactor,” Dec. 25). I have known Dan for years and have only experienced him as a kind, upstanding and generous individual.
Years ago, I co-chaired a nonprofit with him and found Dan to always listen to all viewpoints in a respectful and honorable manner. He is strong enough to stick by his principles and will always keep his bar high.  His ownership of his restaurant exemplifies demanding the highest quality with the needed profitability.
I would only expect him to demand the same of a hospital. I have no doubt that he would diligently strive to create a first class hospital organization. Further, Dan is intelligent enough to know that he needs the help of an entire team, and added funding, to do this.
I would not call Dan a bully. Perhaps, I might call him a highly enthusiastic hospital lobbyist.
I would hope that all of the individuals who have had hurt feelings along this traumatic loss of a hospital can forgive and get back to working together to get the hospital profitably opened.
Chuck Sackett
Sebastopol
Focus on positive
Editor: Since Mr. Atkinson seems to want to concentrate on articles about the reopening bid developed by the Palm Drive Hospital Foundation, as demonstrated by his lengthy attack on Dan Smith in “Sparks fly around hospital’s major benefactor” (Dec. 25), I have another idea for a related article.
How about a lengthy article that focuses on all the various positive efforts and countless hours spent by many Sebastopol citizens in support of the bid to reopen the hospital and emergency room?
Does Mr. Atkinson have any interest in writing an article that focuses on the extensive positive side of the hospital’s reopening bid?
Many people in and around Sebastopol who have supported the reopening of the hospital and emergency room with their energy, expertise, time and money will be waiting to see if there is any reporting fairness to be found in the Sonoma West Times & News.
Cie Cary
Sebastopol
Annoying to some
Editor: Your front page story (“Sparks fly around hospital’s major benefactor,” Dec. 25) on Dan Smith serves little purpose other than to annoy the majority of local folk who want our hospital to reopen. Yes, there have been numerous mistakes in the past on all sides, but a large group of well-meaning citizens are trying to reopen the hospital led by someone who is putting his money where most others are not willing. He may have annoyed some who have a different outcome in mind for Palm Drive, but the plain truth is that Dan Smith is willing to contribute, yet again, a very large amount to see we all have a functioning hospital that will work this time. Not only is he investing his money, but a huge amount of his time. Please, do us all a favor and turn your newspaper face forward rather than ass backwards.
Maben Rainwater
Sebastopol
Balanced article
Editor: Congratulations to the editors of Sonoma West for publishing a serious, balanced article about issues surrounding Palm Drive Hospital (“Sparks fly around hospital’s major benefactor,” Dec. 25). How many times do you have to keep banging your head against a wall before you decide that this action is counterproductive? How many times is Dan Smith going to keep throwing large sums of money at Palm Drive Hospital when evidence and experience show that a small regional hospital is not financially feasible, given the proximity of Kaiser and Sutter in Santa Rosa? Not only is this a losing cause, but Smith and his allies are attacking anyone who dares to question or oppose them. I hope that Sonoma West continues to cover this story and provide plentiful information to readers.
Carol Williams
Cotati