Letters to the Editor 2-25-16

Scholarships
Editor: In 2009, Caleb Rummonds’ Senior Best was “Most School Spirited.” Besides being a student athlete, Caleb was involved in student government, on-campus clubs, and community service. Post high-school, you would find Caleb working diligently around town as a lifeguard at the Healdsburg Community Pool, as well as Medlock Ames and Campo Fina.
His big smile and contagious laugh still lives on in the hearts of the community, and each and every person whose life he touched. We will be honoring his love for the community and spirit by donating two college scholarships to students that, like Caleb, put others ahead of themselves, and live life with a full and gracious heart.
It is with all of the excitement in the world that we announce that in May of 2017 we will be awarding one senior student from both Healdsburg High School and El Molino High School a college scholarship.
Financial aid is funding from an outside source that assists students in paying for their post-secondary education. There’s two different categories: need-based or merit-based. The Live Like Caleb Scholarship Foundation will strive to provide monetary assistance to two students based on both merit and need. Each year, HHS students and alumni are awarded approximately $600,000 in aid, and we can’t wait to contribute for 2017.
We are looking for donations within the community to bring this project to life. Our goal is to host fundraising events at least once a month. If you are interested in donating to getting our cause going, we would be extremely grateful for your support. All checks should be made payable to Holly Kolsbun and sent to: Live Like Caleb Scholarship, PO Box 1132, Forestville 95436. For more details, email shelby
ma*******@gm***.com or call 536-8786.
Thank you for keeping the Live Like Caleb Scholarship Foundation in your thoughts.
Shelby Manoukian, Live Like Caleb Scholarship Foundation
Not a fanatic
Editor: Here are some facts in response to last week’s letter from my fellow Healdsburger John Angius, describing anti-fluoridation campaigners as “meddlesome” and “fanatics” (the latter via a quotation by Winston Churchill, whose elegant phrasings I’m always happy to read).
First, there is evidence that fluoridation in water affects brain development in children.
For example, in 2012, in a meta-review of available fluoride/IQ research, Harvard scientists concluded that elevated fluoride exposure is consistently associated with reductions in childhood intelligence. The study is called “Developmental Fluoride Neurotoxicity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis” and an abstract is available online.
And in March 2014, a study in the prestigious medical journal “The Lancet” concluded that fluoride is one of only 11 chemicals that can now be classified as a known developmental neurotoxin in humans. “In 2006, we did a systematic review and identified five industrial chemicals as developmental neurotoxicants: lead, methylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyls, arsenic and toluene. Since 2006, epidemiological studies have documented six additional developmental neurotoxicants — manganese, fluoride, chlorpyrifos, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, tetrachloroethylene, and the polybrominated diphenyl ethers.”
Fluoride would not seem to be in good company there.
Because of these findings, the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP) has announced that there is now sufficient evidence to warrant an NTP investigation into fluoride’s detrimental effects on learning and memory.
Second, fluoride is a concern for people who, like me, are hypo-thyroid (have under-active thyroid glands). Until the 1970s, scientists in Europe used fluoride to reduce thyroid function in hyperthyroid patients (the reverse condition, involving over-active thyroid glands). One published clinical study from this period reported that doses of just two to three milligrams of fluoride were enough to reduce thyroid activity. The most recent exposure analysis by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the average American adult is consuming nearly three mg fluoride on a daily basis, and some are routinely ingesting six mg per day or more.
I don’t consider myself to be a fanatic about most things, except for chocolate, cats, redwood trees and British television, but I’d like Healdsburg to stop fluoridating water until these concerns about its safety have been addressed. That’s all that we meddlesome campaigners are asking for.
Nancy Roberts
Healdsburg
Tobacco sales
Editor: Reminder: just a few days left to buy your gas at Wine Country Chevron and go in and thank them for not selling tobacco products to those under 21 during February. And, a personal thank you to all those that have done so.
Dave Anderson
Healdsburg