Letters to the Editor 4-10-14

Cloverdale Old Time Fiddle Festival
Editor: We read about this contest in the Tribune and decided to attend. There were fiddle players of all ages, mandolin, guitar and bass players too. Outstanding musicians. If you did not attend you missed an opportunity to experience excellent music, different styles performed by different age groups.
We were amazed at the talented young people who competed with each other and then competed against adults and seniors for cash prizes. All judging was done in the blind as the judges only knew the # and competitive group of the participant.
We recommend that you put the 1st Saturday in April 2015 on your calendar and visit the festival at the Citrus Fair Grounds in Cloverdale.
David
Scatena
Healdsburg
Insulted
Editor: I am a 35 year resident and local business owner in Healdsburg, who is very satisfied with the direction and leadership of our City. I find it very insulting that the self-appointed spokesmen, Warren Watkins and Jim Winston, of HCSS assume they are experts at knowing what’s best for our town and its future. The “paid advertisement” in the form of bar graphs indicating results of their recent survey is nothing more than a ruse to fool the public into believing this illustrates the sentiments of the community, when most likely it only represents around 10 percent of Healdsburg voters. All surveys are biased and this one is no different, because the questions are aimed to support the agenda of HCSS. This is a self-serving group of people looking out for their OWN interest, not the community, and I for one am not fooled by fancy charts.
I am both proud and privileged to have worked side by side with countless volunteers who have dedicated their time and money to create many of the wonderful amenities we locals enjoy, free of charge. The gazebo in our Plaza, Rec Park, The Boys and Girls Club, Georgi Park, Skate Park and the Little League snack shack are just a few of the gems created by local people and local businesses giving back to our community.  
Don’t be fooled by self-serving con artists, and join me in thanking the volunteers and elected officials, who have made Healdsburg a great place to live, work and prosper.  
Rick Anderson
Healdsburg
Volunteer Week
Editor: The American Red Cross  Sonoma, Mendocino & Lake Counties is celebrating its volunteers and the work they do in the community during National Volunteer Week, April 6 – 12.
Last year, Red Cross volunteers in the Sonoma, Mendocino & Lake Counties chapter provided food, shelter, comfort and hope to 112 local families who faced home fires and other disaster situations. They trained 5,640 people in lifesaving skills and provided services to military members, veterans and their families in 99 cases.
We want to invite the public to sign up to volunteer and be a part of our lifesaving work. We’re looking for diverse volunteers of all ages and skill levels. Go to redcross.org/SML to learn more about volunteering with us and how to submit a volunteer application.
If you want to volunteer to help when a disaster strikes our community, download the Team Red Cross app for your smart phone. You’ll receive notifications when Red Cross volunteers are needed in the area. The app can be found in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store by searching for American Red Cross or by going to redcross.org/mobileapps.
I want to extend my sincerest thanks to the 578 local Red Cross volunteers who help us fulfill our mission 365 days a year, 24 hours a day in Sonoma, Mendocino & Lake Counties.
Nicole Massey
Regional Volunteer Director
American Red Cross
California Northwest Region