Letters to the Editor 4-9-15

Support needed for cemetery project
Editor: In 1957, Rod Matheson, William Macy and Ransom Powell united to select a new site for Healdsburg’s cemetery and they selected an oak-studded hill under the shadow of Fitch Mountain. They called it Oak Mound Cemetery. That’s what three men did. Recently, one man, Jim Dreisback, having planned for a couple of years, accomplished a major feat by having local winery owners loan their vineyard workers to start the process of cleaning the entire mound of its unwelcome growth. He gathered together a number of strong men of various ages with weed eaters, wood clippers, shovels and saws. These men were used to hard work and it is incredible what they accomplished. As Whitney Hopkins of the Healdsburg Museum remarked, “It opened up whole new vistas.” The cemetery looks much larger with a view open to both northern and southern sections. Whether you have one ancestor or close relative buried at Oak Mound Cemetery, or 21 of them, as I do, you will appreciate this endeavor. Jim has no ancestors buried in the old section, but his wife, Meredith, does. Yet, he felt it in his heart to do something about it. Healdsburg’s founders’ graves were deserving of this respect. There is much more work planned in the future, but money is needed. I am hoping everyone in the community will chip in with donations for this cause.
Janet Sbragia Pisenti
Native of Healdsburg
Kiwanis message
Editor: Healdsburg Kiwanis Club held its 59th Pancake Breakfast on Palm Sunday, March 29. We served over 660 hungry guests with blueberry pancakes, real maple syrup, fluffy scrambled eggs and sizzling sausages. There was hot coffee and tea, orange and apple juices and fresh tangerines. This event is one of the cherished traditions of Healdsburg. Like most of Healdsburg’s traditions, it would never happen without the support of so many people. Much of our supplies are donated thanks to the generosity of the Norgrove Family/Bear Republic, McDonalds and Starbucks. The Boy Scouts of Troup 21, which Healdsburg Kiwanis chartered over 80 years ago, helped us serve our guests. Members of Healdsburg Key Club and the hardworking men from the Salvation Army assisted the scouts. A special thanks goes out to those businesses and folks who purchased ads for the Healdsburg Tribune. Kiwanis is dedicated to serving the children of Healdsburg and the world. The money from this breakfast will support scholarships of our Healdsburg High School graduates, sponsor students from the junior high to Washington D.C., help the Community Nursery School with badly needed repairs and much more. So if you love this town as much as I do, think about joining our club. We love what we do and have fun doing it. You’ll find us at the Future Farmers Fair in May, the Fitch Mountain Footrace in June and the Christmas Tree Lot in December. We meet on Tuesdays at noon in the Villa Chanticleer Annex and/or the fourth evening of the month. For more information, call me at 326-2712.
Susan Sheehy, Vice President Healdsburg Kiwanis Club
Thanks to cemetery cleanup workers
Editor: My name is Meredith Leoni Dreisback and I am the fifth generation of my family to live in Healdsburg. And, one day, I will be the fifth generation to be buried in the Oak Mound cemetery. My great, great grandparents, Mary and Elihu Meredith, were buried there in 1888 and 1903 respectively. I would like to say thank you to all the individuals who worked, on behalf of the Healdsburg Museum, to clean up the cemetery and begin the process towards recovering the original beauty of this historic part of Healdsburg. The 30-plus men, who worked tirelessly those two days, made an amazing transformation of the property; clearing brush, trimming trees, removing broken glass and raking debris. A beautiful, panoramic view of the hilltop is now visible and family gravesites uncovered. Many, many thanks to all the caring workers. You have made an outstanding and most appreciated contribution to your community.
Meredith Dreisback
Healdsburg
The wretched property and the weekly flood
Editor: I am concerned about the future of the former Healdsburg Hospital. This property [on Johnson Street] has been deteriorating steadily for several years. It now appears to be abandoned, just an unsightly chain-link fence surroundng a sorry building and a garden of weeds. Will this property be allowed to remain in this wretched condition? Will the owners be required to demolish the main building and its outbuilding? I would encourage the city council to address this issue as soon as possible. Considering the age of the building, it is likely to be full of asbestos and lead paint, which would certainly increase the cost of demolition. The owners seem to have little inclination to do this work. As a result, the city may need to compel them to undertake this work. I am afraid that this is going to be a long term problem, with our city needing to pay for this cleanup. I do not live in this part of Healdsburg, but cannot imagine that the residents who live nearby are very happy about this potentially dangerous situation. And please, it is not a beautiful historic building that we should save at all cost. On another “hot” topic, it is time to stop decrying the weekly flood of visitors to our lovely town. We residents are fortunate to have, as the main industry of our town, wine and wine tourism. Would we really prefer a pulp mill or a coal mine? Indeed, some of these visitors don’t behave as we would prefer. Perhaps the police department could increase its visibility during event weekends, even going so far as to cite intoxicated wine connoisseurs who flaunt the law.
Marty Cablk
Healdsburg
Unclear on the concept
Editor: According to Webster’s dictionary, an editorial is “a statement of opinion in a newspaper or magazine, or on radio or television, as by an editor, publisher or owner.” One can agree or disagree (for the record, I agree) with Rollie Atkinson’s editorial re Easter, but it is not legitimate to chastise him for expressing his views. Editorials are not news, and they are exactly the forum in which the editor of a publication’s opinions can be legitimately expressed.
Jane St Claire
Healdsburg
Dangerous philosophy
Editor: I have read and admired many of the editorials written by Rollie Atkinson.  Therefore, I was not only surprised but astounded by an opening statement in his editorial of March 26: “The Easter story is the founding miracle of the Earth’s greatest religion.” There is no ‘greatest’ religion and it is worse than arrogant to make this claim for any religion. Surely, the rise of the so-called Islamic State is a terrifying example of what can result when adherents believe that their religion is superior to all others. And sadly and disturbingly, even in our United States, a key founding tenet of which is the separation of church and state, the beliefs of certain Christian groups are affecting the political discourse and impacting the civil rights of others. In certain settings, a religion may be described as great but never appropriately as ‘the greatest,’ especially in public discourse. The author has a responsibility not to encourage such an unjustified and potentially dangerous philosophy.
Jack Levin, M.D.
San Francisco
Rotary thanks
Editor: Another year, another successful Easter egg hunt. We wish to thank the following for their ongoing support: John and Kim Lloyd, owners of Big John’s Market for donating the eggs; Spoke Folk Cyclery for the bikes and helmets; and Donna O’Brien and the troops at Girl Scout Troop 10481 for dyeing the eggs. We strongly urge Healdsburg-area residents to shop locally, and to support those businesses who support our various causes. Also thanks to the kids and parents who attended the annual egg hunt. If it’s fun for you, then it’s fun for us! See you next Easter.
Healdsburg Rotary