Letters to the Editor 10-9-14

Misinformation
Editor: Being a dental hygienist for 26 years, a resident of Healdsburg, and a mother of four children I’m disturbed by the misinformation and distorted facts that have been presented by No on P advocates. I would love to address each piece of fear based information point by point with science based information, however, that wouldn’t be prudent for a letter to the editor. What I do ask is that you as a Healdsburg resident including candidates running for city council educate yourself about fluoride as a safe systemic defense for tooth decay. I find it disheartening that I and other health and dental professionals are put to defend the water fluoridation in Healdsburg, something that has been an integral part of our patients and families health for over 60 years. I invite you to take the time and do the research and get more in depth information based on science and not scare tactics. www.ilikemyteeth.org As always for my patients and friends, my door is open for questions.
Debbie Miller
Healdsburg
Cardboard challenge
Editor: We are members of the AVID class (grades 9-12) at Healdsburg High School.  Our goals in AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) are to achieve academic success while taking the most rigorous courses and being accepted to a four-year college upon graduation from high school.  In addition to these goals, we are also concerned with giving back to the community we live in. We have invited the students, teachers and parents of students at the local elementary schools and the junior high to participate in our “Feeding an AVID Imagination Cardboard Challenge” part of the Imagination Foundation’s 3rd Annual Global Cardboard Challenge, a worldwide celebration of child creativity inspired by the short film, “Caine’s Arcade.”
This year’s Global Cardboard Challenge will engage kids all over the world in creative play. In September, kids will design and build games and other creations from cardboard, recycled materials and their imaginations. Then on Oct. 11, communities will come together in a global day of play, celebrating the creativity and imaginations of kids everywhere.
Our challenge will take place on Oct. 11, on the track field at Healdsburg High School located at 1024 Prince St. The field itself is across the street from Fitch Mountain School on University Avenue. The challenge will begin at 10 a.m. and end at 1 p.m.
To learn more about the Imagination Foundation and the Global Cardboard Challenge, watch the following videos at www.cainesarcade.com:
• Caine’s Arcade
• Caine’s Arcade 2: From a Movie to a Movement
Mark your calendars and please get in touch if you have any questions. We hope you can join us on Saturday, Oct. 11.
Camille Lehrmann, Dennis Ojeda-Jones, John Linker, Erika McGuire
Healdsburg
Same concentration, different doses
Editor: Throughout the last many months of debate over the fluoridation of Healdsburg’s water, pro-fluoride medical professionals have made the argument that the amount of fluoride in our water is miniscule and is at a level determined to be safe. This always boggles my mind. Healdsburg’s water department does indeed control the concentration of fluoride in the water, but they can’t control the dose. In what other instance would a medical professional prescribe medicine to a person without also prescribing the dose? In Healdsburg, someone who drinks a lot of water gets a greater dose of fluoride than one who drinks little. A child’s consumption isn’t differentiated from an adult’s. The elderly, the healthy and those with compromised immune systems all get the same concentration, but different doses, depending on how much fluoridated water they drink.
We should all educate ourselves about the fluoride in our water. Unlike chlorine, which is added to make our water safe, fluoride is added to treat us, our bodies, and in an indiscriminate manner. I encourage anyone who cares about their health to Google the company that supplies our fluoride, and read the warnings. (Solvay Chemicals/sodium fluoride.) It bothers me a great deal that intelligent, educated people would think that just because something toxic can be mixed with water and ingested in small concentrations without noticeable ill-effects, that you can also swallow it and bathe in it 24/7, 365 days a year, for your lifetime, and still be unaffected. Toxic effects often go undetected, disguised as common chronic illnesses or just the effects of aging.
There are so many substances that were commonly used 60 years ago that we considered safe: lead, asbestos, nicotine, DDT … Some people say that they’ve been drinking the fluoridated water here with no discernible harm to their health. But the chemical companies that produce the sodium fluoride we use cannot produce any peer-reviewed studies that show that it’s safe for human ingestion. I have to ask the question: how did this ever get into our water without that proof? Dosing an entire city is no way to conduct a safety test and the good people of Healdsburg should not be subjected to this experiment. Our water is a precious resource. We should do everything we can to make it as unadulterated and as pure as possible and still be safe. Please Vote No on Measure P.
Julie Kennedy
Healdsburg
A healthy community
Editor: As our town continues to grapple with the decision about whether to continue to fluoridate our public water, I would like to add my voice and experience. I am the District Nurse for Healdsburg Unified School District and my job is to support and protect the health of the children in our community. While HUSD has not taken a position on Measure P, and I don’t represent the District as the author of this letter, in my role as District Nurse, I believe I have a unique perspective which I would like to share.
Because Healdsburg has fluoridated water I believe our children have fewer cavities and I do not routinely see students who are having problems related to poor oral health. I would like to share with you the experience of a fellow Sonoma County school nurse whose students do not have access to fluoridated water:
“Every year I look into the mouths of hundreds of school aged children in Santa Rosa and the dental decay that plagues the children in our community is astounding. I see children all the time with severe decay, rotting teeth all the way down to their gum lines. Children come to my office with unrelenting tooth pain due to untreated decay and infections that have the potential of becoming life threatening if left untreated.”
This is not my experience as the district nurse for 2000 of Healdsburg’s children and I hope it never is.
Water fluoridation should be regarded as a simple and cost effective measure to improve public health. Fluoride helps strengthen the enamel of teeth and prevents or slows decay. It has been in use in the US since the 1950’s and continues to be added to the water in over 70 percent of water sources. While it should not be viewed as a magic wand to prevent all tooth decay, it is a proven and important part of good oral health.
I urge the people of Healdsburg not be swayed by negative misinformation and the fear and suspicion of a small group of people. We have a responsibility to look out for the health of our community, particularly our children who cannot yet advocate for themselves. Please continue to follow the recommendations of the American Medical Association, the American Dental Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization and continue to fluoridate our water.
Maya Missakian, RN
Healdsburg
Experience matters
Editor: Serving on a City Council is a demanding job that carries with it a huge responsibility. The Healdsburg Council is charged with the daunting task of approving an operating budget that is in excess of 60 million dollars. That level of decision-making requires a pretty solid understanding of budgetary principals, as well as a deep understanding of how this community works. Important decisions need to be made, and knowledge of community wants and needs have to be taken into consideration. Public safety, Parks & Recreation, Economic Development, Public Works, paving the streets, paying the bills, etc, etc. It’s a balancing act that requires careful consideration.
Healdsburg has a grand tradition of electing City Councilmembers who have risen through the ranks by way of serving on City Commissions, and/or local non-profit Boards of Directors. I hope that we continue on that path, as it gives us an opportunity to get to know the potential candidates before they get to the council level. It’s an ideal situation in that it allows future candidates to interact with other civic leaders as well as City staff.  It’s an effective learning experience that really prepares candidates for the realities of service on a city Council. Experience matters! Eric Ziedrich has the most comprehensive background of civic involvement of anyone that I know. From previous stints as a Councilman and Mayor, to terms on the Planning Commission, School Board, Hospital Board, and Healdsburg Chamber, etc. In addition, he owns and manages one of the most successful businesses in town. Jeff Civian has served this community well with terms on both the County Planning Commission and Healdsburg Planning Commission, as well as ongoing volunteer service with Healdsburg Little League. His background as a Civil engineer certainly gives him valuable experience in dealing with the technicalities of planning and zoning issues.
I’m hopeful that the other candidates are well-intentioned, but when they were asked about their background or experience with any Healdsburg-based commissions or non-profits, (at the recent candidates forum), their responses indicated no such service.
Both Jeff and Eric have the background and experience to step right in and do the job. In addition they are both open-minded good listeners, and have a proven track record of service to Healdsburg. Oh, and they’re both nice guys! I’ll be voting for Civian and Ziedrich. Simply put, they are by far the most qualified candidates.
Kent Mitchell
Former Healdsburg Councilman and Mayor
Vote no
Editor: The strongest argument against adding toxic fluoride to our water is that fluoride is not effective in preventing tooth decay. There are now tooth decay epidemics in all the fluoridated US cities, including Chicago, home of the American Dental Association, a main promoter of fluoridation for the past 60 years. The US city with the best oral health is unfluoridated San Jose.
A study done in the late 80s and paid for by the National Institute of Dental Research (NIDR) found no significant difference in tooth decay rates between children who had lived all their lives in fluoridated areas and those who lived in unfluoridated areas. The raw data for this study had to be obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, since the NIDR was not happy with the results and suppressed them. More information can be found here: http://fluoridealert.org/articles/hileman-1989/
John Colquhoun, D.D.S., Ph.D., was the Chief Dental Officer for Auckland, NZ, and a longtime fluoridation promoter. But then he spent several years studying the decay statistics of New Zealand children, and discovered that drinking fluoridated water had not reduced tooth decay at all. In fact, some fluoridated areas had more decay than the unfluoridated ones. His article explaining why he changed his mind about fluoridation can be found here: http://www.slweb.org/colquhoun.html.
If fluoride does not prevent tooth decay, why take the health risks? Why spend the money? Look into it. And please vote No on Measure P.
Marlene Lily
Healdsburg
Good citizens
Editor: The candidates’ forum at Healdsburg High School last Wednesday night was a great success. The questions covered a variety of areas and the candidates were thoughtful and detailed in their responses. Mimi Gurbst did a superb job of providing a friendly, respectful atmosphere. Students from the high school civics classes asked thoughtful questions. A big thanks to Michelle St Claire from AAUW for working with me on organizing the forum.
I so appreciate living in a community where good citizens run for public office and other citizens come to hear their ideas. Thanks to everyone who came: the candidates, the students, the audience.
Judy Velasquez
Healdsburg
Supporting Civian
Editor: Jeff is spot on with the issues that affect Healdsburg: fixing our streets and infrastructure, more parking downtown, maintaining our neighborhoods and keeping public safety strong.
Jeff’s 14 years of experience as a Planning Commissioner (Healdsburg, Windsor and Sonoma County) along with his Civil Engineering background make him an ideal candidate for City Council.
Jeff has a proven track record of community involvement. Jeff has been involved with Healdsburg Little League as an umpire and volunteers his time to the Morning Grumble Program at HES (to name a few).
Please join us in voting for Jeff Civian for City Council.
Richard & Caroline Marker
Healdsburg