Letters to the Editor 3-6-14

Million dollar roundabout
Editor: It looks like our City Council is set to spend up to $1 million on a roundabout for our 5-way intersection at the south end of town.
Seriously? Spending $ 1 million on a roundabout, in this economy? There are better, more efficient ways to spend that much money, or even LESS. Finish building the southbound on ramp at Mill Street as well as build a northbound off ramp at Mill Street. That access will eliminate much of the traffic going through the 5 way, as well as the traffic just trying to get on the southbound ramp to 101. Allow two left turn lanes from Healdsburg Avenue to Mill Street (Westside Road ) There. Done.
But you think by creating this roundabout, traffic can move better? What about when the traffic backs up at the light signal at Healdsburg Ave. and Matheson St.? Now you have gridlock back at the roundabout. What about trucks that park in the middle of Healdsburg Avenue, to unload their freight? That causes traffic problems. And what about those double gondola grape trucks at harvest. How do they navigate the roundabout?
Aside from already spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on traffic studies, it’s insane to think this will improve traffic. Those traffic study folks don’t live in our town. They don’t drive here everyday.
Since Healdsburg has become a global destination, tourism is with us everyday, especially in the summer months and through harvest. Tourists are not used to roundabouts. Be reasonable. Don’t you think we’re tourist friendly without building a roundabout?
Lenny Siegel
Healdsburg
AVS thanks you
Editor: Saturday was a memorable evening for all who attended the 58th Alexander Valley School spaghetti dinner and auction. This annual fundraiser is run by the school’s parent club to raise funds for computer supplies and instruction, art, music and other enrichment activities.
Every year the event is dedicated to an individual or group of people who have contributed in some way to the school or community. This year that honor was bestowed upon the Wetzel Family for their tireless support as the philanthropic neighbors of  the school over the last 50 years. The assembled crowd heard how the Wetzels purchased their 600 acres from Lucille Clark who was the granddaughter of Cyrus Alexander, the famed pioneer after whom the valley was named. In the 1880s Cyrus built a family homestead, an adobe building and the valley’s first schoolhouse, which have all been maintained by the Wetzels alongside their Alexander Valley Vineyards.
The dedication set the tone for an extraordinary evening of generosity and support as parents, alumni, staff, winery owners and other community members took part in a bidding frenzy in response to Mike McGuire’s enthusiastic and entertaining auctioneering. The night concluded with rapturous applause on the announcement that the previous record of $59,000 generated by this fundraiser had been smashed! This year’s total was close to $80,000, which for a rural public school with only 118 students is an amazing achievement and a sign of how much this community cares about the future of our children.
The wonderful thing about this event is that it is a true community effort. Each family contributes either pasta sauce, lettuce or desserts and the parents cook all the pasta for the 390 attendees. Parents and staff serve the dinner and pour outstanding local wines. The staff helps each class of students make decorations fo! r the AV hall and items to sell at the country store. The parents create unique class projects with the children which feature in the auction along with generously donated goods and services from all of Healdsburg and the valley’s businesses. We would like to thank every single one of those businesses and individuals who donated to or participated in this gem of an event. Thank you!
Nicte Peline and Annie Holden, Alexander Valley School Parents Club
Roundabout
Editor: Excuse me? $1 million to design a “Roundabout” — not just a roundabout but a 5-way roundabout?
Who did the City Council hire? The firm who decided Foss Creek Circle should be a one way street in the wrong direction?
Dallas A. Saunders
Geyserville
Jazz was on the menu
Editor: Even the downpour, which we loved, couldn’t keep people away. The town was alive with jazz and diners at the fourth annual Jazz On The Menu event Wednesday night, Feb. 26. Thanks to all of you who came out to dine that night and support jazz education in our schools. Healdsburg Jazz sponsors this event. The restaurants contribute 25 percent of their proceeds to fund this music education program. The biggest thanks goes to the 15 participating restaurants – Baci, Barndiva, Bistro Ralph, Café Lucia, Campo Fina, Catelli’s, Chalkboard, Charcuterie, Diavola, Dry Creek Kitchen, El Farolito, Healdsburg Bar & Grill, Ravenous, Spoonbar and Zin.  Another big thanks goes to the Seppis who hosted the afterparty at Costeaux where two jazz bands played while dessert and wine were available. Judging by the crowd, a good time was had by all.
It takes a village to put these events on.  Thanks to my committee who made all the arrangements with the restaurants, passed out fliers and distributed posters. The committee members are Violet Nelson, Carol Hazlett, Tricia Coxhead, Lynda Guthrie and Pat Carrubba. Thanks to Jessica Felix who arranged for all the musicians, the publicity and the afterparty. Many thanks to the Healdsburg Jazz Board of Directors and all the advocates who got the word out and encouraged all their friends to dine out that evening.
Our town is a special community that supports all the great programs we have. Thanks again to all of you for your support.
Liz Loebel
Chair, Jazz On The Menu
Water issues?
Editor: In response to the drought and in an effort to share the pain, the City of Healdsburg has instituted water restrictions and requested that the residents reduce water usage by 20 percent. Regrettably, it does not appear that these restrictions apply to the outside contractors who obtain water from the city by tapping into the fire hydrant in Grove Court and other locations around town. This is not reclaimed water and is fully processed and treated. In early February, the Mayor (Jim Wood) indicated that he thought that these water contractors had been cut off but that he would look into it. On Feb. 21 the contractor’s tanker trucks were still taking water and moving the water outside city limits to be used for their own purposes. Once again the Mayor said he would look into it and requested that the city manager review these activities. As of this date no response has been received. I consider it totally unfair that the taxpayers of Healdsburg should see their gardens and roses die for lack of water so that someone outside of Healdsburg can top off their swimming pool or address related activities. Providing fully processed water to contractors for sale/use outside the city should not be allowed until the complete water restrictions on the city residents have been lifted. The city fathers and city managers need to address this inconsistency.
Vernon Simmons
Healdsburg