Letters to the Editor 11-28-13

World War II Memorial
Editor: On Dec. 7, 1997 my wife and I dedicated a bronze statue of a boy holding a folded American flag to the City of Healdsburg. Originally, this was a memorial for the men who lost their lives from Dec. 7, 1941 through Aug. 1945 in World War II. Since then we have added bronze plaques with the names of those lost in other conflicts.
During WWII, as well as other conflicts, young men served their country with honor and pride. My brother, Herman Vellutini, and my cousin, Ray Vellutini, were among those who lost their lives in World War II.
In 1996, we decided to find a memorial which would be suitable as well as something that the surviving families of these men and the City of Healdsburg would be proud of. It saddens my family that the City of Healdsburg and the American Legion could not put their small differences aside in order to proceed with the memorial service as in the past, including the 21 Gun Salute by the local VFW.
In 1997, the Vellutini Family created a trust fund, which is being held by the City of Healdsburg. The trust fund is to be used for the sole purpose of placing a wreath by the statue on Dec. 7, Veterans Day and Memorial Day annually. This is to be done in perpetuity.
The Commander of the American Legion mentioned in his article in the Healdsburg Tribune that the Legion laid two wreaths. I have to assume that there were three wreaths at the memorial this year. If so, great job.
I might add that our family also informed the City Finance Director that the local florist would be placing a wreath at the 9/11 Memorial annually. The money for this wreath will also be paid for by the trust fund.
In closing, as you walk through the plaza take a few minutes of your time to read the names on the plaques. Many of the families of the fallen still live in Healdsburg. Just remember that they gave their tomorrows for our todays!
Fred and Evalee Vellutini
Santa Cruz
Trespassing
Editor: Last week, while starting a walk to the water towers and Parkland Farms open space we were stopped by the sheriff and informed that we were trespassing.  We didn’t see a sign so he pointed one out to us up high on a telephone pole.  I told him that we and many other people had been hiking on these fire roads for at least 10 years with no problem. He informed us that the owner of the property doesn’t want anyone on her land. We left. Afterwards I was remembering from a long ago real estate class that when people “use” a property, ie. walk through it over time, a right is formed … an easement. I believe that the people in Healdsburg have earned an easement over the fire roads through this woman’s property. I have been told that she recently bought the property and wants to stop usage, but I believe that this easement pre-exists and she is not legal in trying to stop people using this property now. Her house is a long distance away, and people are not doing anything suspicious in any way … everyone there is hiking, running, just generally out to enjoy nature in our beautiful surroundings. How do we get this resolved? Does the city have to sue for our easement? Does the public? I can see that the city has an easement to bring trucks into the area for the water storage facility and no doubt in case of fires also. What can happen here? Others who use this … what is your opinion? Thank you.
Judi Levens
Healdsburg
Smokeout Day
Editor: I want to to thank the following gas stations for participating in the Great American Smokeout Day on Nov. 21.  They are Valero on Dry Creek Road, and Wine Country Chevron on north Healdsburg Avenue (the one with the car wash). Please patronize these stations, and go in and thank them for not selling tobacco products that day.
David Anderson, MD
Healdsburg
Reducing tobacco use
Editor: The Healdsburg City Council will soon consider a resolution to ban the sale of tobacco products to children and young adults under the age of 21 within the city limits of Healdsburg. It is important that they act to do so.
As the former health officer for the County of Multnomah in the state of Oregon, and former Chairman and CEO of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals, I have seen first hand the devastating illnesses caused by tobacco addiction and have long been involved in efforts to reduce tobacco use because the links between tobacco and lung cancer, emphysema, and a host of other conditions (risk of heart attack, bladder cancer, etc.) are incontrovertible. The human and economic costs of tobacco-related illnesses are staggering. People suffer and die prematurely because of tobacco use, and their children and families often become ill from second-hand smoke exposure as well.
Banning the sale of all tobacco products, including electric cigarettes, within the city limits of Healdsburg will have only a small impact on the overall problem because kids will still be able to buy the products outside the city. But taking action now is more than a symbolic act. It is an important step in the long campaign to reduce the use of tobacco products throughout the nation. By passing this resolution, we improve the chances that Healdsburg’s kids can avoid becoming addicted, and we improve the chances that vulnerable infants and young children can have a healthy life. A ban is far from perfect, and it will have negative economic consequences for those who sell these products. But the human and economic consequences of failing to act are worse still. There is no other responsible choice.
David M. Lawrence MD, MPH
Healdsburg
Roundabouts
Editor: I take exception to Kurt Hahn’s suggestion that no one knows of roundabouts with railroad tracks through the middle of them. There are a number of them in Barcelona and, thanks to the Internet, anyone can get an aerial view of them. Just go to http://maps.google.com and type in Barcelona, Spain. Northwest of the city center there is a double tracked street car line that runs through several roundabouts on Ctra. d’Esplugues from Avenida de Cornella to Carrer Joan Maragall and to Ctra. de Sant Joan Despi. One can also type in Ctra. d’Esplugues, Cornellà de Llobregat, Spain and get right to the road in question, the roundabouts and the rail line.
Further, our roundabout would require two crossing gate arms, not the eight or more as Kurt claims. And while the crossing is occupied by the SMART train, traffic can still use half of the roundabout to travel from southbound Vine Street to Westside Road or south Healdsburg Avenue. Eastbound traffic on Westside Road can also turn right onto southbound Healdsburg Avenue. Also, westbound traffic on Mill Street can turn right to northbound Healdsburg Avenue.
I have also performed a capacity analysis, based on the 2000 Highway Capacity manual, and find that a roundabout will perform well at this location.
Glenn M. Grigg, T.E.
Healdsburg
Small and local
Editor: Having been out of town, and now judging by the response I have gotten, I can see that vacation rentals are a very hot topic, I think it has much to do with how the issue has been dealt with by the City in the past. Not enforcing the ordinance from the start has created problems here in the present. I can understand how too many and unregulated vacation rentals would upset many people who are living next to one that is not considerate of their neighbors, which is not just an issue within the city limits. Now suddenly enforcing this ordinance is creating a new problem, pressure to let  more hotels into town. I think we do need some vacation rentals within the city to help meet the demand from the increased tourism to the area and also for some homeowners to be able to afford to continue to live here.
Now we have a tremendous pressure put upon the city to build big hotels because the 50-odd rentals that existed unregulated and untaxed have been shut down. Why not have a strict criteria for a vacation rental application process, limiting the number in an area, none in high density neighborhoods, require ample parking to not infringe on neighbors, put a limit on the number of occupants, do not allow events, a strict noise ordinance, etc. Some of the tax collected could be used to enforce these regulations. Taxes would be collected, rentals regulated and money would be kept here locally. The pressure would be taken off the city to bring more hotels into the downtown and it would provide rental diversity within the city. I think more taxi service and public transportation would also help with the parking problem caused by the increase of visitors.
Please place a moratorium on new hotels and revisit legalizing and regulating vacation rentals.
Andrea Chevalier
Healdsburg
Thankful for Boy Scouts
Editor: The Healdsburg Food Pantry wants to thank The Boy Scouts Troop 21 and The Cub Scouts Pack 21 for the food drive they organized, picked up and delivered. It was an enormous amount of food and a huge success. The Pantry thanks all of you for doing this. We depend on the largesse and the spirit of this community to keep us serving those in need.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Robin Ridder
Healdsburg