Letters to the Editor 1-30-14

Volunteer recognition
Editor: We read with pleasure the accolades bestowed upon retiring Healdsburg Food Pantry volunteers Susan Graf, Michele Thayer, Charlie Scalione and semi-retired Robin Ridder in last week’s Letters to the Editor. These people have given a lot in time, energy and caring, and are, without a doubt, responsible for the success of the food program in the past years. We’ve worked with them individually and are in awe of their accomplishments. Unfortunately, a volunteer who gave so much of her time on the board and hands-on every week at the Pantry itself, was overlooked in the recognition. Cherie Ford retired in April without fanfare or notice and is missed greatly by those who were lucky enough to work with her down at the pantry.  She contributed great heart, generosity and just plain hard physical work serving our clients. She, and her husband Rob, spent a great deal of time making sure efforts of the board and volunteers were aligned, and insuring that the people in the program were served with dignity and respect. She taught us a lot about giving. We miss her and her spirit a great deal and wish her much happiness in her future endeavors.
Maureen Gradek and the Wednesday and Friday Food Pantry volunteers
Healdsburg
Thoughtful water use
Editor: Hooray for Healdsburg! Glad you are first in this “what are we going to do about the drought” mumbling. Maybe by the time you read this we’ll have had some rain. Here it is the middle of January and we’re having forest fires in the North Bay and the state has finally decided to discuss drought and water rationing.  
We have to become a culture of thoughtful use always and in all ways, not just during a drought, especially in the area of water.  Human beings cannot survive without water and we are flushing clean water down the toilet. (By the way the most environmental restaurant toilets in town seem to be at Cousteaux – thank you)
If we want to be a tourist town, that comes with some responsibility. We need to educate the tourists that come here, because whether you want to admit it or not, we’re in a climate crisis.
Since it’s a bit of a slow season for tourist’s maybe the restaurants and hotels will implement some things. It will save them money in the long run and everyone will be used to it by summer and they can be permanent.
Do we really need to have glasses of water with ice cubes on the table before we’re even seated?  They’ve cut that out in a lot of American and European cities, why not here? Put up a sign that says “water is precious if you want some please ask for it” like we did in the old drought days.
Half the hotels in this country are trying to save time, money and utility costs by asking you to not have your bedding and towels changed daily and to conserve water by having little signs in each room. Why not here?
When was the last time you or your gardener checked your automatic watering system?  Put down a good layer of mulch and you won’t need to water more than every other week if at all.
Our city cannot continue to give discounts to businesses and wineries for their water use at the expense of the regular residents.  Regular residents cannot figure out how to cut water if they can’t read their water bill.  How much is 100 cubic feet anyway?  Gallons please.
It’s gotten worse every year with hotter summers and drier winters – what are we waiting for.  Why can’t Healdsburg be a leader with environmental education for all the people that come here – let alone the ones that live here?
Why do other towns buy back lawns, have a phone number to call for faucets and toilets that drip and get street leaks fixed in a couple of days, not a couple of weeks?
Yes, I know there’s not enough money.  Maybe if the laws that were on the books in this town were enforced there would be some money. Illegal rental units, hand held cell phones (especially at the schools) … don’t get me started on this.
There are funds for energy upgrades in California. What has Healdsburg done with that money? Anything?
Here is information on how to use your gray water, which is untreated waste water.
Sonoma County Water Agency  www.scwa.ca.gov/graywater
This organization will give you info and pictures of apparatus that you can simply install for not much money to save water. Daily Acts www.dailyacts.org  
We should be doing these things every day, every year, not just during the times when there’s a drought.
No water =  no wineries, no restaurants, no hotels, no tourists, no Healdsburg. Oh — and no people.   
Marie Salerno
Healdsburg
Not again
Editor: Now that the City Council has approved the Central Healdsburg Avenue Plan, which includes the roundabout at Healdsburg, Mill and Vine streets, I have just one comment — counterclockwise!
Michael Haran
Healdsburg