Blood Pressure Squad
making a difference
Editor: The Blood Pressure Squad, part of Corazon Healdsburg Health Action, and made up of retired doctors and nurses in Healdsburg, has been out in the community measuring blood pressures and advising people to see their physician if their readings are high.
Before beginning this project, the doctors and nurses knew this: 20 percent of people with high blood pressure do not know it, and almost 50 percent of people with high blood pressure do not have adequate control. These people are thus at higher risk for strokes, heart attacks and premature death. As a matter of fact, high blood pressure contributes to about 1,100 deaths per day, which is almost as high as smoking, which contributes to 1,300 deaths per day. And you have heard me say this: you know if you smoke, but you may not know if you have high blood pressure.
So the squad, made up of Ed Neal, Damian Marsden, Hallie Beecham, Barbara Shephard, Walt Maack, Terry Leach, Rich Mucci and myself (Dave Anderson), set out to find these people at higher risk of heart attacks and strokes and urge them to be evaluated by their physician. We have gone to various service clubs in town, to St Paul’s Sunday dinner, to the senior center, and plan to go to the River’s Bend communities to measure blood pressures. There has also been a stationary blood pressure monitor, provided at my urging by the Healthcare Foundation, at Big John’s and now at the Healdsburg Library, where people can sit, relax and measure their blood pressures. Combined with Healdsburg District Hospital’s Know Your Numbers Campaign, which has done employee blood pressure readings at Coppola’s and River Rock Casino, approximately 2,000 people have had their blood pressure measured. That is a remarkable achievement for our small town.
And, as anticipated, around 25 percent of those tested were found to have high readings. That’s 500 people. And a few of them had readings as high as 200/110. All the people with high readings were encouraged to see their doctor for further evaluation.
I urge everyone who reads this article to get your blood pressure measured, as you might be one of the 25 percent.
I commend my fellow physicians and nurses for working on this project, along with Big John’s and the library for providing space for the blood pressure unit, and the hospital for their outreach program. We are saving lives in our small town and making a difference.
Dave Anderson, MD
Geyserville
Inappropriate
Editor: Our latest copy of the Healdsburg Tribune arrived in today’s mail. I very nearly wrote this letter last week, and chose not to. Today it has become necessary. On the front page of the Nov. 24 issue was a photograph of the baptismal font at St. John’s Church. Today, Dec. 1, the newspaper features, again on the front page, a photograph of little Maria. While I understand the responsibility of our newspaper to cover this tragedy, I find that these two photographs were, at best, very insensitive to the situation and to the family; at worst, publishing these items was inappropriate. I am very disappointed.
Christine Cablk
Healdsburg
Helping the needy
Editor: On behalf of the Healdsburg Food Pantry I want to thank all the generous people of Healdsburg that support us in providing food to those in need. In this season of Thanksgiving, we are especially thankful to Big John’s Market for providing free turkeys to everyone and Safeway for daily bread and deserts. A special thank you to the groups that had food drives especially Healdsburg Junior High (with over 4,000 cans of food), Healdsburg Elementary, Boy Scouts, The Healdsburg School and many others. Thank you for letting us help those in need.
Unfortunately, the need for help continues. If you would like to help us feed the needy, you can go online at healdsburgfoodpantry.org or mail a donation to P. O. Box 1646, Healdsburg, CA 95448.
Roger Dormire, President, Healdsburg Shared Ministries
Sending a signal
Editor: The latest dust-up over the Single Thread “window shopping” controversy reminds me of the bigger national dialogue we’re having about the decline of the middle class. It seems our tiny town of Healdsburg has its own class war conflict, not coincidentally paralleling the national consciousness around this issue.
Personally, I have no problem with a new high-end restaurant coming to town. However, I do agree that in such a prominent location they should rethink their decision to wall themselves off with hedges around the entire perimeter of the building. It appears like, rather than wanting to be a part of our community, they are instead sending a signal of separation and division. In light of the highly charged politics of late it would seem unwise to antagonize the citizens of such a small and vocal community.
Steve Ineich
Healdsburg
Other priorities
Editor: After reading a preview of the restaurant Single Thread in Healdsburg, I’m sending a check for $295 to the Redwood Empire Food Bank.
Lynn Fitzwater
Sebastopol
Thanks from Hagele
Editor: Now that the election results are final, I wanted to thank the Healdsburg community for electing me to the incoming Healdsburg City Council and trusting me with your vote. I’m honored and humbled at the opportunity to serve our community and look forward to working with my fellow council members as we address the important issues facing our city. The experience of knocking on doors and making new friends throughout our city was something I won’t soon forget. The perspective gained by standing at doorsteps, community gatherings and city functions listening to residents’ concerns was powerful. Knowing not everyone can (or is able to) come to city council meetings, yet whose voices must be heard and represented, won’t be lost on me. I look forward to getting to work and bringing a positive perspective to the city council.
David Hagele
Healdsburg
Wonderful town
Editor: The PTO of Healdsburg Junior High wishes to thank our amazing community for supporting our annual Run for Funds fundraiser. The kids had a great time and we were able to raise $15,000 for field trips, assemblies and school supplies.
A huge thank you to our business color sponsors – Sonoma Brinery, Studio M, Westec Tank, Summers Market, Rued Winery, Bear Republic, Puma Springs Vineyard, Porter Creek Vineyards, Villagio Dental, Erik’s Barber Shop, Hinds Brothers Company Inc., Quattrocchi Kwok Architects Inc, Lathrop Construction Associates Inc., Jerry Thompson & Sons Painting and all our business sponsors for supporting our children. We are also grateful to the Tribune for featuring the fundraiser in this newspaper. What a wonderful town we live in.
Healdsburg Junior High PTO
