LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Comprehensive sex ed
Editor: I read the Feb. 17 article regarding West County
District’s sex education policy. As a West County resident, parent
of a 23-year-old son, active member of the Teen Health Advocacy
Coalition and a Teen and Behavioral Health Programs Manager at one
of the largest non-profit agencies in the county, I applaud the
district for considering changes to policy and curriculum from
abstinence-only to comprehensive sex education in alignment with
California Education Code. Our community’s young people deserve the
medically-accurate, unbiased information they need to make healthy
decisions.
Abstinence-only instruction contradicts and undermines the
principles of comprehensive sex education by teaching inaccurate
information about condoms and contraception. These programs, such
as Free to Be, use unhealthy shaming tactics and ideology to
convince students to be abstinent. Instead, students should be
receiving medically-accurate and bias-free information about how,
when, and why to say “no” to sexual activity. Of course, we all
want teens to hold off on sexual activity until they’re mature and
ready. But we also want them to have access to information about
how to protect themselves and make healthy decisions at whatever
point they become sexually active.
Angie Dillon-Shore
Guerneville
Knowledge is power
editor: My name is Beth Woodruff and I am a SRJC college
student, graduate from Analy High School, and life-long Sonoma
County resident. During my four years at Analy, I had absolutely no
form of sexual health education, whether it be abstinence only or
comprehensive. The only education I had prior to high school was a
presentation from the abstinence only group, Free to Be. Like many
young teenagers with raging hormones, I found myself in situations
where I had to make choices concerning my sexual being. I did not
consider myself to be religious and did not see abstinence as an
option, but I also had no idea what an STD was, how it was
contracted, or even basic information about condoms. I ended up
getting HSV 2, genital herpes, due to my lack of knowledge and the
academic environment throughout my schooling career. This
environment did not encourage sexual health education simply by not
providing it. I had to educate myself, find the information on my
own. Luckily I knew of a reliable teen clinic in Forestville,
C.A.S.A. Teen Clinic, which I used to broaden my knowledge.
I, as I’m sure many teachers, parents and other young adults,
would hate to see growing children rely on Wikipedia or flaky
internet resources as their tool for education for such an
important and imminent subject. Comprehensive sex education is
appropriately named as it includes vital information for a person
who plans to be sexual one day, whether they already are or not, as
well as what it means to abstinent.
It appalled me to learn that California sex ed policy was
updated about six years ago and only now are schools beginning to
catch on. As a young adult looking out for my own well-being and
with great concern for the upcoming generations, I say that six
years with insufficient and/or lacking sex education is simply not
OK. This education is crucial.
Beth Woodruff
Sebastopol
Doctrinaire sex ed
Editor: I am most hopeful that Superintendent McDonald will get
better information about the sex education provider “Free to Be”
and abstain from permitting them to teach in the West County
schools. This organization uses misinformation and shaming tactics
about crucial aspects of sex education to promote a political
agenda, which is abstinence only. Sadly, it just doesn’t work. Kids
need to be educated and informed to make good choices, instead of
being led through a series of doctrinaire approaches. I
congratulate the School Board on updating its policy and urge the
use of medically accurate and bias free information.
Kimberly Clement
Santa Rosa
School budget cuts
Editor: Thank you, Sonoma West, for calling attention to the
current financial plight of local (and all California) school
districts. Speaking for Sebastopol Union School District, I greatly
appreciate the collaborative and cooperative spirit of our
teachers’ union (SETA) and classified union (CSEA) in creating
solutions to address this challenge.
One of the ways Sebastopol Union is planning to save money next
year is eliminating the district’s contribution to after school
sports at Brook Haven Middle School. This does not necessarily mean
that there will be no after-school sports at Brook Haven in
2010-2011. What it means is that they will need to be supported by
monies other than the General Fund, which currently provides
approximately half of their budget.
We hope the community will join us in raising these funds for
Brook Haven’s sports programs (as well as for other causes at Pine
Crest, Park Side and REACH) at our Fund Run & Walk Strong event
on April 25, starting at 8:30 a.m. at Park Side School. Find out
more about this family event, which is a walk-a-thon through
Sebastopol with refreshments at each of our schools, at www.sebastopolschools.org.
On a larger stage, the community can also raise its voice for
schools at the California Teachers Association’s (CTA) statewide
event on March 4. CTA’s “Stand up for Schools” is a day of action
taking place on March 4 with rallies, news conferences and other
events throughout the state. Find out more at: standupforschools.org.
Thank you for your support.
Liz Schott
Superintendent,
Sebastopol Union School District
Smart Meter delay
Editor: I voted to ask for a delay in the installation of the
PG&E SmartMeters, because I am not convinced they are working
properly.
The SmartMeters are designed to help customers conserve energy
and save money by tracking their usage patterns. This technology is
also an important part of upgrading the electric grid which is
definitely needed. However, the problems are the numerous customer
complaints about its accuracy and the questionable amounts of the
customers’ bills.  Bakersfield has had numerous customer
complaints, and Senator Dean Florez has stepped in to help his
constituents.
Another concern is the SmartMeter eliminates the need for the
meter readers. I understand businesses must keep evolving to keep
up with the latest technology, but in this economy, it is a
terrible time to eliminate jobs. I hope they are being retrained
and able to move to another job.
The CPUC has ruled that the SmartMeter must be installed in
every customer’s home or business. It will be paid for by raising
customers’ rates. If every PG&E customer has to use the
SmartMeter and has to pay for them, I want a guarantee that they
work. 
That is my reason for voting to delay the SmartMeter
installation.
Kathleen Shaffer
Sebastopol Councilmember
Faith refreshed
Editor : I wish to respond to the letter complaining about Gene
Nelson’s “Faith” column. I am always delighted to read Gene’s
column. I find his words to be thought provoking, inspiring, and
inclusive of experiences shared daily. His insights remind me that
there is a larger perspective at hand, another way to view an
issue, another way to be, another way to work together. They remind
me of the open heart that allows each of us to have our own type of
faith, and that there are many paths. Thank you, Gene.
Connie King
Sebastopol
What’s Best?
Editor: The Best Family Investors LLC want to build a 33,000 sq.
ft. processing plant and a 5,000 sq. ft. tasting room in a rural
residential neighborhood north of Sebastopol. I have fought this
plan since I found out about it at the planning commission hearing
on Aug. 6, 2009.
This is a private, for-profit commercial venture that’s about
trucking in grapes, bottling them and trucking them out. It is
about selling millions of dollars of wine a year. Is it
unreasonable to suggest someone take some of those millions and buy
a piece of property where it would be legal to erect a building a
football field long and half as wide? How about a parcel that would
not require amending the General Plan twice, rezoning property and
creating special policy.
The building is approximately 75’ from the bike path. A two-lane
road for cars and grape delivery trucks will run parallel to the
Joe Rodota Trail less than 20 feet away. Why would anyone want to
cram a facility onto a piece of land that would force a virtual
maxing out of every building setback, height limitation and
mitigation requirement?
I have lived in a modest home for the past 20 years. As far as I
know that does not entitle me to modest rights. I believe I am
entitled to the same rights and protections as anyone else. With
all due respect, I question how the Board of Supervisors can vote
to change existing laws to strip away these rights in order to
grant special privileges to an investment group. These privileges
will not be enjoyed by me or any of the rural residential
properties the project borders. Existing law protects me — and you
— from encroachments on our homes like this.
I understand this may not be in your backyard, but after they
get me, they may come for you.
E-mail your Board of Supervisors and let them know that you
think the proposed Best Family Investors LLC’s proposed winery and
production facility is wrong. The public hearing will take place on
Tuesday, March 2 at 2:10 p.m. at the Board of Supervisors chambers,
575 Administration Drive, Santa Rosa.
Thomas Morabito
Sebastopol
Help Little League
Editor: Sebastopol Little League has had a difficult time
finding sponsors for the minor division teams. The fee is $200.
Your business name is imprinted on the jerseys and you will receive
a team photo and plaque thanking your business for the
sponsorship.
We are in need of six more teams to be sponsored. This is a
wonderful opportunity.
Contact Michelle Carreras at 824-8952 or by e-mail at Jm*********@co*****.net.
Michelle Carreras
President
Sebastopol Little League