Letterst to the Editor 4-24-14

The importance of water conservation
Editor: Water conservation during a drought may seem like an obvious necessity, but in order for conservation efforts to be successful, everybody must contribute and become involved in the conservation efforts by spreading the word about water conservation tips in order to influence and to inform others of the current issue.
The United States uses 5.8 billion gallons of water per day flushing waste down toilets. New high-efficiency toilets use about one gallon per flush. A short six minute shower can use 20 gallons of water, and a dishwasher uses just 1/6 of the water used during hand washing. The conservation of water in the cities and towns of Sonoma County is crucial to provide a regional approach to water use efficiency. But residents and businesses must work together as one and everyone must do their part in order to effectively reduce water usage within Sonoma County.
The cities of Sonoma County have gotten into partnership programs, like the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership, to help contribute to water conservation efforts. According to the Saving Water Partnership, there are little tips that can save a lot of water, including shortening showers by 2 minutes (5 gallons/once daily), turning off the faucet while brushing teeth (8 gallons/twice daily) and fixing a leaky toilet (30 gallons). There are many more easy tips for around the house that can reduce water usage by at least 20 gallons a day, so if everyone participates in these tips then Sonoma County as a whole will be conserving a very substantial amount of water.
The current water issues can be addressed through spreading information and actively enforcing water usage tips, but this is just the beginning of necessary conservation efforts. But if everyone participates and reduces their water usage, we may be able to see a change for our water problems in the future.
Blaine Moore
Sebastopol
Special Palm Drive
Editor: Five weeks ago, my 84-year-old mother was discharged from a big hospital in Sacramento and came back to Sebastopol to stay with us. The very next day, she started hyperventilating and I had to call 911. They brought her to the emergency room at Palm Drive Hospital where her heart stopped shortly thereafter. The ER staff helped revive her and she spent four more days in the ICU there recovering. Had Sebastopol not had a community hospital, my mother likely would have died that day.
While my mother’s care in the big hospital in Sacramento was good, the level of care at Palm Drive was exceptional. The doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists and occupational therapists knew her case and treated her with dignity, respect and genuine affection. In addition, the technical level of care was as high if not higher than a big city hospital. It even included a video consultation with a specialist. The level of diligence and communication with both the patient and her family was exceptional. Mom is now back with us and at the same level she was before she was admitted to the hospital in Sacramento.
Those five very unnerving days reminded me what an extraordinary resource the West County has had in Palm Drive Hospital. I think of Sebastopol as a place that’s welcoming, caring and filled with talented individuals who want to make the world better. Palm Drive Hospital has been a perfect reflection of its community. In a health care environment that has become increasingly cost driven, impersonal and rule-bound, Palm Drive has stayed an institution that puts the patient’s physical and emotional welfare first. If Sebastopol loses Palm Drive and the 250 who serve our community, we forever lose some of what makes our town special.
Marko Fong
Sebastopol
Obey speed limit
Editor: I live and walk, along with other seniors, dog owners, children and families, on Bodega Avenue.
Every time I walk along the avenue, I fear for my life and wonder when tragedy will strike. Few of the drivers barreling down the hill from Pleasant Hill notice or obey the 25 mile an hour speed limit.
As they hit the curve just past Robinson there is no slowing down.
Please, please, please drivers: slow down, save a life and Sebastopol Police Department: where are you?
Lynn Dimit
Sebastopol
Enjoys Gabriel Fraire
Editor: I have been a reader of the Sonoma West Times and News, formerly the Sebastopol Times, for over 40 years. Rarely have I consistently enjoyed articles from single contributors as much as I am enjoying Gabriel A. Fraire.
I find his articles to be genuinely without agenda. His thoughts are rational, logical and provoke further consideration. I noted the comment regarding the reporters in the paper doing a good job with accuracy and presenting all sides of an issue but that is frequently not true of some of the other regular contributors to the paper. It is my hope that he will continue to write for our little paper for a long time to come. I will certainly continue to read as long as he does.
Pam Oakes
Sebastopol