LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Clay and Glass show
Editor: Healdsburg is blessed with a lot of art, but I want to suggest that if you have not seen the Healdsburg Center for the Arts Clay and Glass show you have missed something.
HCA is now in its 10th year, which is a feat for a small community gallery. This show tells us how much the gallery has grown in scope with an array of 18 Northern California artists that range from the whimsical to the elegant and a price range for everyone.
Some of the delicacy and colors of the glass make my mouth water. This show is indeed a feast for your eyes.
A don’t miss show from a gallery that continues in its mission to give back to the young people in the community. As an example, this week 100 students from Fitch elementary will be going to see the exhibit. What more could you ask for!
Marie Salerno
Healdsburg


Lost Dog
Editor: LOST DOG! Yorkie, (female/spayed) aprox 8 lbs. Has micro ID chip. Well groomed, with pink bow in hair. Cropped tail and silver and tan. 10 yrs old. Please return to owner. My son and I miss her so much. She has been a part of our family for 10 years. Our back gate was blown open by the wind and she got out. 🙁
Megan Sutton
Healdsburg


Siren free fair
Editor: When I think of “bovine”˙ certain images come to my mind: pastures, grasses flowing in the wind, a peaceful scene. Chickens cackling in a barnyard, ducks quacking, sheep, well sheep are sheep…
I question the intrusion of the noises we have allowed into our lives that seem to be all important to be a part of the FFofA parades.
Children are blessed spirits whose every sense should honored and protected. Sirens are, of course, a part of what they hear every day, but why do they have to be projected onto a framework of the theme of this year’s fair: Cowboy Boots and Country Roots! I don’t have a sense of any sirens or semi horns in that reference. Let’s hear it for a little quiet reverence for what we are trying to help the children create! Or perhaps, stick a fire siren in the ear of a prize lamb your child is raising.
Perhaps Healdsburg could create a Future Safety Feature parade and really Go For the Loud. Hmmm.
Julia Gennert
Healdsburg


No on E
Editor: The brochures promoting Measure E for HUSD schools were misleading and somewhat offensive to property owners who have been paying parcel taxes since 1990 to renovate and build new schools. The brochures reflect the incompetence of the past HUSD in managing and maintaining our school facilities.
Foss Creek School was built in 1990 for some $9-$10 million now is being reportedly sold to the City for $5.3 million. In 1994 armed with $19.5 million in bond money HUSD finally commenced on new construction and renovation in 1997-1998 to create a new modern “Healdsburg University” complete with new classrooms, science labs, computer labs, media center, full exterior renovation, electrical systems, cafeteria, library, art rooms, a state of art track and athletic fields. After years of delay, cost overruns, contractor and design team changes the media center was finally completed in 2001 with a total HHS/HJH renovation cost about $23 million. Windsor built a brand new high school in one year for nearly the same money. Circa 2006 the new elementary school was built for about $13 million. Now only 12 years later HUSD wants to renovate HHS and HJH again by extending the debt obligation to parcel owners for another 30 years. It’s like saying we wasted $8-$10 million and we want another $35 million to make it somewhat better thus spending $58 million in 12-15 years to renovate the same facilities. Even with the $35 million HUSD will not have a completed and modern campus bringing the rounded total to about $80 million in 25 years. Yet with the country, state, county and Healdsburg being in severe debt, many local people out of work exhausting their savings, experiencing foreclosures, escalating student loans, rising gas and food prices, anticipated federal income tax increases, rising state, county and local sales taxes and, with many residents having to place parcel taxes on credit cards HUSD feels it’s appropriate to ask parcel owners for another $35 million.
Vote NO on Measure E. We need a better facilities plan. The parcel tax makes no financial sense except to business owners who may not reside here or have a no long-term interest in Healdsburg. It is a financial attack on your real estate property and Measure E could be just the beginning of a perpetual debt obligation on your property not just for 30 years. HUSD and politicians will be back attacking it again and extending it forever.
Past school facilities issues are not Superintendent Harding’s fault and I agree that many of the portables should be demolished and replaced with permanent buildings and stop the costly renovation concept. If Measure E passes Superintendent Harding has the passion, dedication and actual school construction experience to effectively complete the project. QKA, the architectural firm from Santa Rosa, is one the best school facilities design firms in California.
Kevin J. McCann
Healdsburg


A Healdsburg Gem
Editor: As the school year ends, we feel it is important to thank and praise the fabulous faculty and staff at the Fitch Mountain Campus. We found their dedication, enthusiasm, and genuine care for every child inspiring. We can not thank you enough for the quality education and nurturing atmosphere. As our children move on, their time at this school will be remembered as a positive, strong step toward their future.
Tom and Cathy Rackerby
Healdsburg