LETERS TOTHE EDITOR, 5-24-2012

350 Challenge
Editor: Our entire community has grown a little greener after the success of last weekend’s third annual 350 Home and Garden Challenge. The Challenge, which aimed to get residents to pledge 2,012 garden and home-based actions to increase Sonoma County’s food and energy independence, ended up exceeding its goal by more than 100 actions. Together, our actions help to build community as well as a more sustainable future.
We would like to give thanks to the many local businesses who generously donated plants, potting materials, and other garden supplies to support community projects during the Challenge weekend. Donors include Mix Garden Materials, Classic Landscapes, Soda Rock Farm, Gaddis Nursery, Healdsburg Nursery, SBI Materials, Garrett Ace Hardware, Bernier Farms, Sonoma Compost, Fieldstone Farm, Kadon Trucking, and Vince Carvalho. Kindergarten and second grade students at the Healdsburg Charter Schools also got in on the community spirit, growing pepper starts that were then shared with their neighbors.
The donated plants were distributed to families at the Healdsburg Food Pantry and planted at two community gardens at the Healdsburg Community Center and Terrace Neighborhood Community Gardens where volunteers will grow and harvest the crops and donate them back to the Healdsburg Food Pantry.
And lastly, many thanks to everyone who took the challenge to grow more food, save water, conserve energy, and build community. Every effort, great and small, adds up!
Dwana Hoskins
Healdsburg


More than the parade
Editor: This week isn’t just about the FFA Fair and Parade! The Week of May 21, 2012 has been recognized by the Healdsburg Unified School District as “The Week of the Classified Employee.” In honor of our extraordinary Elementary School “Lunch Ladies”, Custodians, School Secretaries and Office Staff, Library Techs, Instructional Assistants, Yard Duty Supervisors, and Crossing Guards, the HES/HCS/FMC PTO would like to say “THANK YOU!” for all that you contribute to our children’s school environment. You all are truly the backbones of our schools and we so appreciate all your hard work!
We think that you all are fantastic!
Dana Grande
Healdsburg


Farm Bill Forum
Editor: Congress is busy hashing out the details for the 2012 Farm Bill which will have important implications for food and agriculture for the next five years. A growing number of policymakers and public health professionals have come to recognize and understand the relationships among agricultural policy, our food system and the public’s health. Yet severe federal budget constraints and a contentious political climate now threaten to undermine the progress of policies that reflect these relationships.
In recent years, several advocacy organizations have successfully engaged in the complex, and often contentious, conversations surrounding the U.S. Farm Bill, and their work has helped bring about initial reforms that can help protect the public’s health and move us toward a more resilient and sustainable food system for the nation.
Join us for a stimulating afternoon of conversation with:
Dan Imhoff: “The Farm Bill: Why Federal Policy Matters to All of Us”
Michael Dimock: “The Farm Bill: Can We Get a Seat at the Table?”
David Katz: “Local Food Politics: From the Farm Bill to the Dinner Table”
Sunday, June 3, 4-6 pm
Bishop’s Ranch, Swing Pavilion
5297 Westside Road, Healdsburg
This event is free of charge but we would like to know who is attending. Please RSVP at lm******@ao*.com
Dan Imhoff is a researcher, author, and independent publisher who has concentrated for nearly 20 years on issues related to farming, the environment, and design. He is the author of numerous articles, essays, and books including the 2012 Food Fight: The Citizen’s Guide to the Next Food and Farm Bill; CAFO: The Tragedy of Industrial Animal Factories; Pa! per or Plastic: Searching for Solutions to an Overpackaged World; Farming with the Wild: Enhancing Biodiversity on Farms and Ranches; and Building with Vision: Optimizing and Finding Alternatives to Wood. Dan is a highly sought-after public speaker who lectures and conducts workshops on a variety of topics, from food and farming to environmental design and conservation.
Michael Dimock, president of Roots of Change, is internationally recognized as a leader, organizer, and advocate for transformation of food and farming systems.
David Katz works as a consultant on management, strategic planning, and natural resources projects throughout California.
Laura Mack
Healdsburg


Great Intern
Editor: I hope everyone is thoroughly enjoying the fantastic weather we have had as of late. With the Healdsburg High School graduating class of 2012 approaching their final stretch, I wanted to take a moment to express my thanks to a student that I have had the pleasure of mentoring for the past three months.
Back in early March, Kayla submitted a detailed application for our newly established animal control internship program. After successfully completing a mock oral board evaluation by members of our staff, she was chosen to participate as our first intern. Kayla demonstrated a passion for community service and animal welfare from the moment I met her. Personally, I have had a fantastic time showing her what it is we do as animal control officers on a daily basis and the role we play within our communities.
Throughout the past three months, Kayla has proven that she is determined to focus on her college education in an attempt to help ensure she becomes a stronger individual for whatever profession she chooses to explore.
It is my goal to present Kayla (and future successful animal control interns) with a scholarship to aid them in the purchase of books for their first semester in college. If you are interested in helping us by donating to our Animal Control Internship scholarship, please feel free to contact me or submit your donation to the Healdsburg Animal Shelter (attention intern scholarship program) preferably before June 1 2012. An online donation page is currently under construction to accommodate future donations at healdsburgshelter.org.
Respectfully,
Ryan Pelleriti
Field Supervisor


Healdsburg Animal Control
Proposition E
Editor: Many of your readers may not be aware of the broad support our public schools have been and are receiving from all sections of the community. For example:
About two hundred participated in open forums that preceded the adoption of the HUSD strategic plan. Some sixty-five adults have been trained and are serving as tutors in three grades as the result of the highly regarded PSST program with an additional grade to be added each year. Each Healdsburg Charter School parent is committed to providing thirty hours of voluntary service during the school year. (The school will expand to K-5 this fall). Healdsburg Education Foundation raises significant funds each year to support many different programs. The contributions coming from many, many donors. The Healdsburg Jazz Festival annually provides musical education and concerts at every level of the school system.
Clearly,the community is rallying around our schools, which each year are demonstrating new levels of success. Unfortunately, this progress is transpiring in woefully inadequate facilities. Our children deserve far better. Just as we want our homes to brighten our lives, so will better facilities be a big plus for our students.
Join all the others who are actively promoting public education and vote YES on June 5th for Proposition E.
Henry Hersch
Chair, Campaign for Excellence in our Schools