Letters to the Editor 7-28-16

Love, joy, service and
adventure
Editor: We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support for our family. Losing Drew is unbearable, but your care and generosity have been a comfort. Thank you so much for your rooms, cars, meals, flowers, gifts, time, but most importantly your thoughts and prayers. We are blessed to call Healdsburg home. Our family and Drew’s friends who came from around the country were honored and amazed by you all. We hope you’ll join us in striving to live with love, joy, service, and adventure, just as Drew showed us. With love,
Andy, Susanne, Elisabeth and Emma Esquivel
Healdsburg
Growth forum tonight
Editor: Tonight (Thursday, July 28) at 7 p.m. at the Villa Chanticleer, the Windsor/North Sonoma County Democratic Club is sponsoring a debate on the city’s proposed changes to the Growth Management Ordinance (GMO).
After more than a year-long public process of meetings and workshops with a stated focus on achieving diversity and affordability of housing, the city council is putting forward a change to the voter approved GMO. The proposed change in the ordinance will determine the amount and type of housing that will be built in Healdsburg for the foreseeable future.
The debate tonight will be an opportunity to hear from both sides of the issue: yes to change the GMO, or no to save the current GMO. It has never been more important that the residents of this great city of ours come and participate in the local democratic process of the debate. Healdsburg’s future really will be shaped by this ballot decision. Hopefully, we will all come away from the discussion with a better understanding of what is at stake and how we want to vote in November. See you all there.
Denise Hunt and Merrilyn Joyce
Healdsburg
One kind
Editor: I have been moved to respond to a couple of editorials that were published in the July 14 issue. One written by Rollie Atkinson asked Not our kind? He described how in Healdsburg, we live separate from others who may be of a different ethnicity, income, etc. His editorial pressed me to ask myself some critical and timely questions: how am I living separate? And, importantly, what action can I take to stand with others in the community who are facing oppression due to their culture, ethnicity, religion, income or abilities?
Penelope La Montagne’s editorial talked about planting trees, she underlined the vital importance of making the effort to reach out and make lasting connections with others, investing in each other and our communities. She is right, now is the time to challenge ourselves to take meaningful action, to reach out with an open heart and mind to those we have kept separate.
I’ve made a decision to explore ways I can be involved in community based programs that bring us together. What will you do? After all, aren’t we really one kind?
Priscilla Abercrombie
Healdsburg
Disappointed by Wood
Editor: I continue to be bemused by our hometown Assemblyman Jim Wood. It’s almost as though he doesn’t want his constituents to know what, if anything, he is doing.
A newsletter, for instance, is a standard communication tool for most legislators, and Wood has one. Access it on his website and you read “My first month as Assemblymember has flown by!”
Uh, Jim, that was two and a half years ago, in February 2014. Anything to report since then?
Nor is it possible to learn much about his legislation. His (meager) list of legislation he introduced in 2015 says nothing about the fate of those bills, and the 2016 list is, as he writes, an excessively “brief overview.” Oh, his voting record? Not a hint.
I believe what we have elected is a representative who doesn’t really want us to know what he is doing or what votes he is casting — or not casting. Jim is hometown, and I think it’s time to bring him back home. I hope a better local candidate is gearing up for the next election. S/he’s already got my vote.
Dave Henderson
Healdsburg
Full of gratitude
Editor: Several months ago I wrote about the Sonoma Humane Society and our plans to open the Healdsburg Center for the Animals. On June 18 we held the grand opening with more than 400 people attending. My heart is full of gratitude for everyone who helped make this vision become a reality. Since the grand opening many animals – kittens, puppies and even a number of our older residents – have now found their forever homes.
So many people gave their time and support to this venture and I hope, if you haven’t yet, you will visit the Healdsburg Center. We are open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Completing the shelter was truly a labor of love and, while we still have lots of work to do, the building is a beautiful and healthy shelter for the animals. I want to take this opportunity to thank our amazing contractor, Bill Cileo and his terrific crew. They worked hard to keep the project on time and on budget. On behalf of the Sonoma Humane Society and our animal guests at the Healdsburg Center, thank you.
This community helped create a safe, healthy and beautiful animal shelter, proving what I already knew – Healdsburg is a special place to live, full of kind and humane people. From the inspiring legacy of Rodney and Charlotte Strong, to the Girl Scout troop who came to the grand opening with their donations, to the volunteers who have been a constant in their caring for the animals (especially while we were in trailers), so many have shown their compassion, patience and commitment.
I am proud to be a part of this caring community and it is Sonoma Humane Society’s hope and belief the center will grow and thrive, not only as a place for animals but also a place for community.
I hope everyone will help us ensure this shelter reaches its full potential. The Sonoma Humane Society is a private nonprofit, donor supported organization, not affiliated with any national organization. We still need the support of the community to adopt, volunteer and donate. Working together we can ensure all the animals in our care receive protection, compassion, love and care.
Evelyn Mitchell, Board President
Sonoma Humane Society
A great night
Editor: Many thanks to the Raven Performing Arts Theater for hosting the Bach Jam. For the 100-plus folks in attendance, it was a great night of listening to and/or performing pieces by J.S. Bach. Music included Bach solo pieces, a violin/viola duet, a Brandenburg Concerto and the finale of the Bach Double Violin Concerto. Thank you for supporting this musical community event.
Joella Olsen
Bach Jam Organizer