Letters to the Editor 1-24-13

A community jewel
Editor: I love Palm Drive Hospital.
Last week I needed emergency surgery. I hadn’t been a patient in a hospital for 30 years. From admissions to discharge I felt well taken care of and helped. Every person who attended me was happy, friendly and professional. They seemed to enjoy their work environment.
There has been talk of closing the community hospital due to finances. Not all of life is measured by the bottom line. It was great having a sense of small town care rather than corporate care.
Our hospital is a jewel in Sebastopol.
Marcia Mengelberg
Sebastopol
Graton goings on
Editor: I was somewhat dismayed that many of the goings on in Graton did not get mentioned in “The Year that was 2012,” (Dec. 27, 2012).
We had a great year, with Graton Community Projects putting on the Sixth Annual Variety Show in March, the umpteenth Graton Day in September and Santa, Mrs. Claus and their many elves visiting for the 6th year in December. Santa’s visit was sponsored by the Graton Community Club with Graton Community Projects. Visiting Santa here has become a tradition for many families in Graton and surrounds. Three large cans of toys were collected at Santa’s visit for the Graton Fire Departments Toys for Tots.
The Graton Community Club has been putting on bi-annual flower and craft shows for nigh on a century and this year was no different. May and October you can find the Community Club decked out in her finest, a lovely lunch for sale and many handmade crafts as well as plants for sale. This is the longest tradition in Graton.
These are not the only goings on, but some of the funnest.
Thanks for telling the greater area about our lovely little town.
Ellen Swenson
Sebastopol
First suit
Editor: I wish to remind citizens of Sebastopol that the first, yes, the very first, lawsuit filed against the City of Sebastopol over the CVS/Chase project was by none other than Helen Shane, John Kramer and Jane Nielsen. Not Armstrong or CVS, but Small Town Sebastopol. Let’s set the record straight.
Martin M.Webb
Sebastopol
Occupied
Editor: Approximately 75 spirited people joined Occupy Sebastopol on Saturday (Jan. 19) at the CVS store in Sebastopol to protest the CVS/Chase plan to move into the heart of downtown. The purpose of this picket was to make people aware of the bully lawsuit filed against the City by the project applicants and to gain support for the boycott of the existing CVS/Chase location until they drop their lawsuit and withdraw their application to move downtown.
The battle lines have been clearly drawn. Two of the largest corporations in the world are suing Sebastopol in an attempt to reverse the unanimous vote of our newly elected City Council.
Who’s side are you on?
The people spoke loud and clear with their votes.
Perhaps CVS/Chase need to have their ears cleaned.
Thomas Morabito
Sebastopol
What would Mario do?
Editor: The following is an open letter to Sebastopl City Council:
Dear Council Members,
Sebastopolcitizens.org would like to erect a tent at the Mario Savio Free Speech Plaza.
The purpose of this tent would be to distribute information about our organization, make fellow citizens of Sebastopol aware of our positions on important issues, promote open and transparent government and exercise our right to free speech in a plaza dedicated to that very ideal.
Could you please e-mail us the list of criteria that must be met to erect such a tent as soon as it is convenient for you to do so?
Sincerely,
John Necker
SebastopolCitizens.org