Letters to the Editor 12-25-14

New and exciting educational activity in Cloverdale Jan. 28
Editor:   
I would like to introduce the Cloverdale community to an exciting educational activity that will be held at the Cloverdale Public Library on Jan. 28, 2015 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Amidst the ongoing turmoil in Israel/Palestine, this event will give our community the opportunity to read and talk about a part of the history, deepening our understanding of the context of the current conflict. The event is of the “one book, one town” idea that brings people together to talk about a common book.
The event is sponsored by the Librarians and Archivists with Palestine (http://librarianswithpalestine.org), a group that includes librarians from the Public Library in New York, Barnard College Library, and the International Library in Stockholm, amongst many others. Other groups around the country (and world) will be discussing the same book during January, for example groups in Atlanta, Brooklyn, Rome, Toronto.
The book to be discussed will be the historical saga “Mornings in Jenin” by the Palenstinian-American author Susan Abulhawa. It describes the uprooting of a Palenstinian family to a refugee camp in Jenin when Israel declares statehood in 1948. It then followsthe life of the family’s granddaughter as she grows up in Jenin, pursues her education and a life abroad, and finally returns to the Middle East with her daughter. “Mornings in Jenin unveils the humanity behind one of the most intractable political conflicts of our time, revealing the universal desire for a homeland, community and Safety.”
Our Jan. 28 discussion will focus on the book. Information and conversation about the current situation may follow, but the intention of the evening is to reflect upon the book’s tale of the lived experience of one family.
The book can be ordered from the author at www.morningsinjenin.org. Use the promotional code lap1book for a discount.
I have 10 copies of the book which I will gladly lend. You can contact me at

jo********@vb**.com











.
I look forward to seeing everyone for a lively discussion in January.
Joan Meisel,
Cloverdale
What’s wrong with the good old name of Cloverdale?
Editor:   
Marcia, my aide who is typing this, told me that Cloverdale is thinking of changing its name to “Cycledale.” What’s wrong with the good old name of Cloverdale, my hometown? What happened to Cloverdale being an art colony and my idea about everybody wearing berets? Like my brother always said, “You can’t ride two horses with one behind.”
Another idea: Someone on the city council (can’t remember who) had a great idea. Get water from Lake Sonoma! It’s just sitting there full of water while the wells go dry. My idea: everybody donated 25 to 50 feet of garden hose (50 is better). Then connect all the hoses along Dutcher Creek Road and put one end in Lake Sonoma and the other in Cloverdale. Then we’d have all the water we need!
Yes, this will be hard on some people’s budgets (mine) but let’s face it, hoses cost a lot less now then they will in the future.
I’ve got plenty more ideas.
Charlotte K. Heston,
Boonville
Too partisan
Editor:   
In Paula Wrenn’s column in the Dec. 18 edition of the Reveille the last sentence in the paragraph titled “news items that make me wonder” it reads “Why anyone cares what Dick Cheney thinks about anything.”
This column generally contains innocuous and simple bits of local interest often peppered with personal opinion and musings.
Political opinion however is a far cry from the banal and inconsequential content normally found in this column. Any political content is going to differ from what 50 percent of the populace thinks and is likely to alienate that 50 percent.
This column is not something I look forward to or even read with any eagerness, so to alienate me is of no consequence. It is a bit fascinating in this day and age of “celebrate diversity” to read a single sentence that clearly identifies the author’s political persuasion, and does so in an overtly partisan and angry way.
Kent Keebler,
Cloverdale