LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 7-26-12

Learned from SEP
Editor: I am writing on behalf of myself and my two partners in a small business, which is in production and doing business in Sebastopol. We produce handmade granola and sell as Not Yer Momma’s in the Sebastopol Farm Market year-round.
We were approached last year by Dave White of the non-profit Sebastopol Entrepreneurs Project who started a discussion about helping us take our business to the next level toward going retail. We were engaged in that process already but, lacking a business background, were delighted with the marketing and business expertise offered through SEP by our remarkable team of mentors, Dave White and Bill Seidel of the marketing firm, America Invents.
We have come a long way in a short time with their guidance and assistance, and as we continue through the remarkably complex maze of bringing good food to market, we would like to recommend the services of this group to other small businesses attempting this same journey.
It is my understanding that the original impetus to create these services to nurture and promote local small business was from Councilwoman Kathleen Shaffer and the SEP Chair Bill Takacs, so we would like to include them in our thanks for this opportunity we have been given.
Irene Gillooly
Whitney McEvoy
Susan Falbo
EMF-RFR concerns
Editor: The following was sent to the Manager and Chair of the Marin/Sonoma Mosquito & Vector Control District:
Dear Honorable Chairperson and District Manager, Phil Smith,
I am writing on behalf of the Sebastopol Lyme/EMF support and advocacy group I have hosted for the last two years. We have had more than 900 attendees so far — all people either directly affected by, or concerned with, the health issues of Lyme Disease and/or exposure to wireless devices.
Just as the epidemic of Lyme Disease needs to be more effectively addressed, so do the health impacts of exposure to EMF-RFR (electro-magnetic field and radio frequency radiation).
In addition to asking that cell phones and other wireless electronic devices be turned to “power off” at the beginning of all public meetings, I am requesting that a competent electrician, knowledgeable in EMF-RFR abatement, be hired to evaluate EMF-RFR in the public meeting room of the MSMVC building.
I am familiar with one such person. His name is Michael Neuert of Neuert Electromagnetic Services, located in Santa Rosa. His expertise in this area is a great service to our community.
Thank you for your continuing commitment to protecting the public health.
Linda Berg
Sebastopol
Imagine nuance
Editor: Regarding change to the northeast corner, a few simple rules would help save the citizens time and tax payer’s dollars. For change, for growth, for abundance, for our children, embrace change. Do not judge, and remember that CVS/Chase/Apple/new businesses we embrace you because we are a community and your builders will continue to conform to city laws, inspections, changes.
Trust in your City Council and Councilwoman Kathleen Shaffer as she and her Council work for you. Open your heart to abundance and trust that all obstacles are mere opportunities in disguise. Imagine the jobs, the opportunities, the nuance, the new and remember we have room for change.
Deborah Shemesh
Sebastopol
Stay quirky
Editor: One more letter about CVS. In addition to concerns that a big box in the downtown core is not consistent with how some in Sebastopol see ourselves, I’m also wondering how it will appear to those who visit.
Sonoma County’s small towns are increasingly dependent on tourist dollars for their survival. And tourists come here to see something unique, as reflected in the New York Times Travel Magazine’s feature about Sebastopol’s “quirkiness” last year.
Healdsburg, Sonoma and even Petaluma have done a masterful job of keeping their downtown cores exclusively populated by small, charming storefronts and local businesses. If we want tourists to come to Sebastopol, wouldn’t it make sense for us to do the same?
Bill Roby
Sebastopol
Pulling the wool
Editor: At last week’s City Council meetings on the proposed CVS/Chase project, did the developer try to pull the wool over the Council’s eyes?
In a calculated, intimidating presentation by the developer’s lawyer aimed at overturning the Design Review Board’s denial of the project, the architect projected before and after renderings of the proposed CVS building, which purported to show that they had lowered the CVS rooftop by as much as 4 feet. Their statements said that they had reduced the height from 28 to 26 feet.
Several of the Council’s previous directions to the developer have involved reducing the height of the buildings so that they will not appear so massive.
However the pictures told a lie. The CVS building is still exactly the same height.
The “before” CVS picture was at a larger scale than the “after” picture and gave the false impression that the height had been reduced.
(Vice Mayor) Kyes pointed out the errors as the architect for the project was being questioned by the Council.
The architect’s response was lots of hemming and hawing.
Instead of honestly addressing the City’s concerns, the developer painted a false picture of the design.
If the developer’s architect and attorney make these misleading representations in a legal hearing before the City Council, does the City really want to do business with them?
John Kramer
Sebastopol