Letters to the Editor

G.R.E.A.T. program
Editor:   
During the 2013/2014 school year, I had the pleasure to present the G.R.E.A.T (Gang Resistance Education and Training) program to 94 of our 6th grade students attending the Washington Middle School and 110 of our 3rd grade students attending the Jefferson Elementary School. The D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program was presented to 121 of our 5th grade students attending the Washington Middle School.  These programs stress various ways students can avoid gangs, violence, drugs and alcohol, which could eventually destroy their lives. During the past six years, approximately, 1,800 students have received instruction in these two outstanding programs resulting in the reduction in juvenile involvement with drugs and crime.  
I would like to thank all the parents and teachers who were very supportive of the program and who were always available to assist. I would also like to thank Steve Jorgensen, Superintendent of Schools, Ashley Tatman, Principal Washington Middle School, Theresa Johnson, Principal Jefferson Elementary School and Mark Tuma, Cloverdale Chief of Police for their continued commitment to the young people of our community.  
I would also like to acknowledge the following organizations for their support and generous financial assistance.  Without these wonderful organizations, this program would not have been possible: The Rotary Club of Cloverdale, the American Legion, Post 293, the Kiwanis Club of Cloverdale, CARE (Cloverdale Adds Resources for Education), Exchange Bank of Cloverdale, the Lion’s Club of Cloverdale, Cloverdale Dispatcher’s Association and the City of Cloverdale.
I am looking forward to the 2014-2015 school year when these valuable programs will again be available to our young students.  Your continued support is appreciated.
The 5th grade students completed an essay documenting what they had learned in the 10 week D.A.R.E. program and how the information they received could help them and others in the future.  Choosing the best essays was extremely difficult and I’m pleased to share these with you.   
Officer Mac Baker, School Resource Officer
Cloverdale Police Department
Included below are two essays from local fifth grade students who participated in the DARE program.
The DARE program: What did I learn in the DARE program and how can it help me and others in the future?
What I learned in the DARE program is not to smoke, not to do drugs, and to help others when they need it. Also, I have friends who don’t make bad choices and to avoid the situation if you are in a bad surrounding. That is what I learned in DARE.
The way it can help me in the future is smoking hurts your lungs. If you don’t have friends who are making bad choices, you may not. Drugs can kill you so don’t do them. If you avoid the situation, you won’t get involved. If you help people who are in trouble you might get more friends.  That is how it will help me in the future.
There are a lot of people in my family who died of drugs or of smoking. My Nanna suffocated to death from lung cancer. My great aunt got emphysema and a lung transplant and then died. My grandpa got emphysema and has to use an oxygen tank to survive. My aunt has asthma and smoked for decades. My uncle and my cousins have smoked since they were teenagers. They look much older than they really are. Those are just the people I know about.
Brieana, 5th grade
I learned a lot in my DARE class this year with Officer Baker. DARE stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education. DARE is important because it teaches you about drug and alcohol abuse and peer pressure.  
In DARE I learned never to abuse drugs. If you do drugs, you may get addicted to it. You can also harm your body and your mind by abusing drugs. Also you lose a loved one’s trust.  Therefore, I know to never do drugs.   
In DARE I learned not to drink alcohol. Alcohol use is illegal for anyone under the age of 21. I also learned that most teens don’t drink alcohol. Also, it affects teens more severely than adults.  Therefore, I learned not to drink alcohol.
In DARE, I learned about peer pressure. Peer pressure is when someone your own age is giving you pressure. Peer pressure is when you have a hard decision to make. Peer pressure can also cause stress; therefore, I know to walk away from peer pressure.
DARE is a fun and interesting program. I learned a lot about drug abuse, alcohol use and peer pressure. I hope DARE will be at the school for a very long time.
Amber, 5th grade
Cemetery wall funding campaign
Editor:   
Thank you for the wonderful article about the cemetery wall project in the July 3, 2014 issue of the Cloverdale Reveille.  It has been over two-years since the retaining wall collapsed at the cemetery and we began this permit process to replace the entire 93-foot length of the wall.  Our permits have been approved and we are ready to get started once we raise the necessary funds.  We have begun our fundraising campaign on the GoFundMe website.  At this point, the website information is being shared through facebook web pages.  We feel this is an important project and hope the community can help us raise enough funds to get the project complete before winter.  Please help and contribute what you can.  
All funds go to the Cloverdale History Center and are tax deductible.
You can donate through www.GoFundMe.com/bhqyco or mail your donation directly to: Cloverdale History Center, C/O Cemetery Restoration Fund, 215 N. Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale, CA 95425
Find the GoFundMe fundraising site on facebook at: “Save Cloverdale Cemetery,” “Cloverdale History Center” and “Cloverdale Reveille.” Thank you.
Al Delsid,
Cemetery Wall project