LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Swartz rocks
Editor: Thank you for Susan Swartz.  The words of this amusing,
down-to-earth and intelligent writer are a refreshing addition to
the editorial page. Now you have two voices to flush out the
pompous reactionaries among us.
– Joyce Power, Healdsburg
Thanks to the community
Editor: As co-chairs of the Sebastopol Rotary Club Learn to Swim
program, Emily Buller and I wish to thank the Sebastopol community
for its support. This was the 25th year of the program, which has
now given free swim lessons every May to over 7,000 Sebastopol area
second-graders. We applaud the following schools for participating:
Gravenstein; Pleasant Hill Christian; Apple Blossom; Sebastopol
Independent Charter; Harmony; Park Side; and Pinecrest. While
Rotary provides the lessons, the schools are responsible for
getting the kids to the lessons at Ives Pool, which takes a huge
commitment on their part.
We had 250 kids take lessons this year, which would not have
been possible without the support of volunteers, including several
Analy High students. Special thanks to Iris Lovelace for working
with the schools to get all of the children signed up; to Ricardo
Freitas, Ives Pool manager, for the use of the pool, and providing
life guards; and to Lehla Irwin, Sebastopol Sea Serpents swim
coach, for teaching kids and most important, helping train the
volunteer instructors.
The least that we can do for our children is to ensure their
safety in the waterways of Sonoma County, whether in the Russian
River, the Pacific Ocean, or a backyard pool. We are fortunate that
this community takes the time out of busy lives to save lives.
With our thanks,
– Emily Buller and Greg Jacobs, Co-Chairs, Sebastopol
Rotary, Learn to Swim
The Plaza is alive …
Editor: What a joy it was to attend the first live band concert
in our very own plaza, July 4. I trust that using the band stand
for its stated purpose will now become a frequent event. I remember
with nostalgia band concerts many summer evenings in the town
square in the village back east where I grew up. What a wonderful
way to promote a sense of community.
– Christine Evans, Sebastopol
State park lockdown
Editor: Thank you for being the voice for us, the many that know
the value and importance of our state parks to so many
communities.
Please write again with information as to how Chesbro and Luna
respond and what people can do besides writing letters (keep us
updated on this issue, don’t let it go away …).
Is this padlock possibly an indicator for potential “lockdown”
of California? Raising the park fee along with large
group/community volunteer support may be all that we can do.
– Cecilia Dearborn , Healdsburg
Get real
Editor: Let’s get real about water conservation. We each must do
our part to help weather this drought. We’ve been told we can all
make a difference through little changes at home like turning off
the water while brushing our teeth or taking shorter showers. And
indeed, the little stuff does add up (turning off the faucet while
brushing teeth saves two gallons of water and we save about eight
by reducing our 10 minute showers to five), and we can each do a
hell of a lot more. No matter how many low-flow faucet heads we
install, town fountains we shut off or days we go without
showering, these household sacrifices will never compare to the
difference we can make by changing our diet. Eating less meat is
the biggest contribution a single person can make to alleviate this
water crisis. While a low-flow showerhead can save 12 gallons per
shower, eating a vegetarian meal can save thousands. That’s right,
according to author John Robbins, a vegetarian diet requires only
300 gallons of water per day, while a meat-eating diet requires
more than 4,000 gallons of water per day. In fact, we save more
water by not eating a pound of beef than by not showering for an
entire year. So let’s keep making changes around the home and also
make changes in our diets to make a real difference in the water
shortage. Desperate times call for desperate measures and I think
eating less meat is not too much to ask.
– Emma McDonell, Sebastopol
PDH accountability
Editor: We have serious concerns about (Palm Drive Hospital)
Board accountability and its governance practices. Our community
hospital has come too far to lose its forward momentum, and it is
incumbent on all of us to pay attention and insist on transparency
from the elected Board. We support those Board members who have
called for open communication that will enable the public to be
kept informed of how the Board is conducting public business.
We also support a positive solution that demonstrates confidence
in CEO James Russell and his able administration. We believe the
Board should move ahead promptly to reinstate Mr. Russell to allow
him to guide hospital staff who trust his sound judgment and
experience in resolving complex hospital operations and financing
health care issues. Thousands of West County residents need and
deserve nothing less for all they have done to support Palm Drive
Hospital over the last 10 years.
– Barbara Graves, Sebastopol; Mary Szecsey, Occidental; Judy
Farrell, Santa Rosa; Diana Lowe, San Diego
Support Palm Drive
Editor: Palm Drive Hospital has benefited from the strong
community support of the citizens of West County as it has risen to
meet the many fiscal challenges of our national dysfunctional
health care system.
In the past two years, changes in hospital leadership have made
a major positive difference and put Palm Drive on the path to
continued success.
Lets not let allegations and critical comments about our
district board and staff make us rush to judgment. We need to allow
the District Board and the hospital administration to work out
their differences.
We have come a long way and accomplished much with the
community’s trust, confidence and support but issues still exist
that must be addressed. A process is in place to remedy some
current problems. Independent outside counsel is working with the
Board and administration to resolve conflicts and is investigating
areas of concern.
I have confidence that Palm Drive Hospital will continue to
thrive and grow. Our hospital district is offering more
transparency, responsible leadership and financial stability than
ever before in its history. Hospital District Board, administration
and staff are providing many new services to patients which include
outstanding medical care.
Let us support efforts to correct what is wrong and help Palm
Drive to continue to build upon its successes. West County’s
community hospital deserves that commitment from all of us.
– Heidi Gillen, Sebastopol