Letters to the Editor 12-13-12

Santa at the Museum
Editor: In spite of his very busy schedule, everyone’s favorite rotund friend has managed to squeeze in a stop at the Healdsburg Museum. Santa will be our special guest on Sunday, December 16th from 1 to 4 p.m. He has promised to visit with everyone and take any last minute gift requests.  
Santa will also be checking out the vintage toys and games currently on display at the Museum. (Rumor has it that he wants to see how well they’ve held up since he first delivered them many years ago.) He’ll have lots to see. There are loads of playthings from the 1860s to the 1960s on display. One highlight that’s sure to catch his eye is an extraordinary dollhouse, all decked out for Christmas. Santa will also discover a miniature winter wonderland that might make him feel a little homesick for his own home in the North Pole. A Victorian-era child’s bedroom on “The Night Before Christmas” is sure to remind him of Christmases past.  
Mark your calendar for December 16th.  You don’t want to miss Santa or the “Magical Toyland” exhibit. The Healdsburg Museum is located at 221 Matheson St.  
Meredith Dreisback
Assistant Curator
Too rude?
Editor: Since publishing my “apology/resignation” Letter to the Editor a few weeks ago, in which I stated that Bill Anderson, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Healdsburg Animal Shelter (HAS), told me EVERY employee of HAS thought I was too rude and too arrogant to work with, I have received numerous emails and calls from HAS employees stating the contrary. If so, then why would Mr. Anderson want/make me resign? He did say that I’m very good at my job.
Maybe because HAS is struggling financially and needs to save money. Okay, just say so. I made it very clear when I started at HAS that I don’t need the money.
Maybe it’s because I opposed Bill Anderson keeping one of his own animals (a rooster) at the shelter for four weeks, making the kennel staff clean-up after it.
Maybe it’s because Bill Anderson is spearheading a policy at HAS to kill, not euthanize, KILL cats for no other reason than they’re feral or FIV+. Maybe it’s because I adamantly  oppose this ignorant, immoral and antiquated practice. Maybe it’s because Mr. Anderson, who has no animal welfare experience, doesn’t want any attention drawn to this policy.
If HAS kills innocent (feral and FIV+) cats it will be the ONLY shelter and/or organization in Sonoma County to do so. As a community we should condemn this policy and return HAS to a facility that cares for ALL animals, not just the ones Bill Anderson “likes” or owns.
Darryl Roberts
Healdsburg