Letters to the Editor 1-9-14

Raven’s future
Editor: As president of the Raven Performing Arts Theater, I have come to realize there is some confusion about the future of our resident theater company, the Raven Players. As you may know, the RPAT board is completely responsible for the Raven Players operational and financial support. Recently, some of the former members of the Raven Players Committee sent a letter to the editor announcing a new venture with the Wells Fargo Center.  My fellow board members and I extend our congratulations and best wishes for success in this new venture.
However, I want to make it clear that the Raven Players will continue to be the resident theater company of RPAT, with doors open to all. Fellow board member and Raven Players founding member Joe Gellura remains, as does production manager Beneika Brown. As was recently announced, we have undertaken the bold step of hiring our first professional artistic director, Steven David Martin. With the recent establishment of the Raven Theater Windsor, the Raven Players will expand both the scope and the number of plays produced annually.  
The Raven Players originated as part of our mission to provide artists a home. Its recent internal reorganization was due to the tremendous success and growth of performing arts offerings that have taken place over the last couple of years and will continue into the future.  
Our new artistic director was found by a selection committee made up of members of the Raven Players Committee, one of my fellow board members, and our executive director.  In addition to seeking an experienced professional, our focus was to find a person who understands the importance of inclusion in a community theater. We are thrilled to have found exactly that in hiring Steven David Martin.  His hiring in no way prevents anyone previously involved from producing or working on future productions; indeed, some of the signers of the letter to the editor have productions scheduled with us in 2014 as a part of this current season.  
It takes hundreds of volunteers to produce and present the Raven’s 130-plus shows/events each year. On behalf of the Raven family, we look forward to seeing you in the coming year.
Richard R. Norgrove
Healdsburg
Adopt-a-family
Editor: Once again Healdsburg has shown itself to be an amazingly generous community. On Dec. 21, 88 families — more than 400 people — received wished-for and needed gifts through the Healdsburg Presents Project — Adopt-A-Family program. Thank you to all the sponsors (businesses, organizations, families and individuals) and to the many volunteers who made this a very special day for so many of our neighbors. Healdsburg truly cares.
Beth DeCoss, Debbi Crapeau, and Judy Douglass
Healdsburg