Letters to the Editor 1-23-14

Swim program turns 30
Editor: Congratulations Sebastopol. When it comes to swimming, we are the safest community in the nation. Sebastopol is the only city in the U.S. that teaches every second grade student how to swim for free.
This coming April and May, our Rotary Club will celebrate its 30th year of the Learn To Swim at Ives Pool. So far, over 9,000 children have profited from this program. In an environment with a myriad of water features, dozens of lives have been saved. It is said that for every 100 children taught to swim, a life is saved.
We would love to hear from our former students and instructors.
If you were involved in the Learn To Swim way back in the second grade, or you were an instructor, we would like to learn more about your experience. What sticks in your mind about it? Did learning how to be safe in the water help raise your confidence level? Do you have a funny story? Won’t you take a couple of minutes and e-mail one of us with your learning or teaching experiences?
If so, send e-mails to Greg Jacobs, at gj*******@gm***.com, or Rick Wilson at ch**************@ya***.com.
Next spring, we plan to invite all former students and instructors for a group portrait by noted photo artist, Harvey Henningsen, at the pool to commemorate the anniversary.
Greg Jacobs
Sebastopol
600 lb. canary
Editor: The City looks to a favorable Summary Judgment that will validate its right to place a moratorium and/or ban on drive-thrus in the CVS vs. Sebastopol case in Federal Court. (“City seeks to have CVS suit dropped,” Jan. 16) Regardless of the outcome, the Small Town Sebastopol case against CVS, which charges that an Environmental Impact Report should have been prepared before giving CVS the right to proceed with processing the project, will proceed in March in Superior Court. Unless, of course, CVS really does go away if there is a favorable outcome of the moratorium case. Don’t hold your breath.
An interesting wrinkle in this whole matter is that CVS has, for more than a year, failed to respond to the CalTrans’ request for more information before issuing the Encroachment Permits CVS has requested in order to access the CVS site from Highway 12 west via a left turn at that already heavily impacted traffic intersection.
I believe CVS has not responded because there is no way CVS can satisfactorily satisfy the CalTrans mandate, according to a letter sent to a number of residents by CalTrans public affairs department last year: “Safety and mobility are priorities at CalTrans, and you may be assured that pedestrian safety and traffic congestion will continue to be an essential element of consideration during the permit process.”
CVS is mired in a self-inflicted morass. The only impulse that seems to feed their resolve is not wanting to be bested by this small, Northern California town. They apparently hold to the metaphor: “Where does a 600 lb. canary sleep?” Answer: “Anywhere it wants to.” Well, not here, in Sebastopol, it is hoped.
Helen Shane
For Committee for Small Town Sebastopol