Letters to the Editor 1-15-15

Police Profiling?
Editor: In his rant (“Police Profiling” by Aaorn Miller, Jan. 8 2015), it appears that our dear Master Aaron Miller confesses to forgetting to  maintain his vehicle. Those pesky tail lights! And our dear lad is stopped for driving over the speed limit? After all “everyone does.” Such harassment! It’s just so discriminatory and unfair to a fellow.
And I am comforted to be enlightened that the 1988 Honda Accord is a “Latino Car.” Who knew? I am sure some of my hispanic friends will want to immediately turn in their Volvos, Jeeps and BMWs for this model of car.  
Now who is profiling, Mr. Miller?
In his screed, he goes on to excoriate our very patient and hardworking constabulary. “Atmosphere of intimidation and harassment?” The men and women of the Healdsburg Police Department are even-handed, civil, patient in the face of local misconduct and mischief, hardly spoiling for violent confrontations with the “sketchy-looking” anybodies around town.
Barbara Médaille
Healdsburg
Profiling is simply wrong
Editor: I would like to thank both Aaron Miller for his commentary on police profiling and the Tribune for publishing the piece. It is refreshing to see our younger citizens voice their concerns to the public and make us aware of those concerns of a sector of citizens who are always seen but not always heard from.
I’m sure many of us have been pulled over by police for having minor mechanical issues.  As Aaron said it is irritating, yet it is a safety issue and is frequently due to the car owner neglecting to correct the problem. But profiling is something different, and profiling is simply wrong. I understand in light of global terrorism why it is being tolerated in instances, but the city of Healdsburg does not fall into that category. I also experienced the practice in Healdsburg a few years ago, in my case a 70-year-old in an average car driving through town a half hour after the bars closed.  I asked the officer why I was pulled over and got the answer “you were using your cell phone.” All involved knew that was untrue. The officer had the “don’t even think about messing with me” attitude and I guess that seems to be pretty much standard today. Her partner, however, was rude, aggressive and intimidating, and that was uncalled for.
I wrote a letter to the chief of police about the incident and to her credit she responded. Then I happened see the Chief at a charity event a year or so later, introduced myself, and told her I think she missed the point of my letter. There was no question that it was a complaint, but my main point that it was disappointing that the relationship between the average citizen and the police is one of animosity  rather than one of civility and mutual respect. I understood her answer that day to mean that is just how it is, and it is not going to change, so get used to it. All of us, police and citizens alike, deserve better than that. We can and we should.
So Aaron, thank you again for your effort, and if you and your generation and me and mine continue to use the power of the pen perhaps we can help make a great town to live in even better.
Philip Staley
Healdsburg
News for Healdsburg Meat Company
Editor: I grew up in this town. Born in 1964, I cherish memories of walking with my parents into three buildings.
The Healdsburg I remember from my youth was the old library, Bank of America and the Masonic building on the Plaza corner.  These buildings were the cornerstones of our town’s turn of the century building heritage. Our goal with the old post office site was to create something similar in style to turn-of-the-century Healdsburg, not LA, not New York.  We thank the talented team of local professionals who helped us.
In regards to the Healdsburg Meat Company, and to quell the rumors; we will open in August in the north portion of the building.  The space will showcase our meat products offering meat recipes from our region produced here in Healdsburg.  A large floor-to-ceiling salumi room, raw products to go, and both cooked and smoked product along with classic favorites will be featured.  Salumi sampling boards showcasing our own product and recipes of local chefs will be available to taste as well. Dry Creek Olive Company, owned by Tim Bucher, my friend since fourth grade at St. John’s will also be a complimentary part of our space.
As we proceeded with the project, we realized future USDA requirements and production capacity made it necessary to move production offsite.  We were trying to make production work in too small a space. We are in negotiations on a facility here in Healdsburg in our continued effort to invest and create jobs in our town.  We feel that to brand a product “Healdsburg,” it should be produced in town.
At the same time our production constraints were becoming clear, we were approached by a world-class chef and gardener couple that fell in love with our building and asked us to consider leasing them the main space. Cathy and I believe that they can make better use of the main space than we can. They represent the essence of the modern food movement today having been on the world stage for over a decade and now reside here in Healdsburg with their daughters. They are similar in character to the pioneer stock that built our area into the captivating region that keeps multiple generations of families here and beckons others to make it their home. Please look for a press release soon from them.
We look forward to completing the building and welcoming you to the Healdsburg Meat Co.
Pete Seghesio
Healdsburg
A letter of thanks
Editor: On behalf of the clients, board members, our dedicated volunteer Intake Coordinators and the Executive Director of Wallace House, I wish to extend our sincere thanks to the generous people in Cloverdale, Healdsburg and Geyserville for their response to our year-end request for program support. Your donations have increased our ability to serve people who are in desperate need of shelter and/or supportive services, especially during this winter season.  
I encourage you to visit our website www.wallacehouse.org. You will be inspired by the stories of some of the people we have been able to assist thanks to you. This help is made possible through community support in the form of volunteers, government grants, individual and corporate contributions, as well as partnerships with other nonprofit agencies such as Alexander Valley Medical Center, Sonoma County Mental Health and the Veteran’s Administration. Everyone associated with this program is grateful to all who contributed. Thank you.
Virginia Greenwald
President, Wallace House