Letters to the Editor 4-14-16

Housing committee should be unbiased
Editor: Why is the city on a quest to significantly change our Growth Management Ordinance (GMO) that will forever alter the small town character and quality of life in Healdsburg?
The nine-member city housing committee recommending this radical change is composed of a super-majority of members whose incomes directly come from growth and development businesses. For example, the chairman of the committee during the time of GMO discussions was the Vice President of the North Coast Builders Exchange, which is a major lobbying group for builders and developers.
Who else is on our community housing committee? We have a lumber company owner, a civil engineer and developer, an electrical contractor, a mortgage lender, a partner in a construction company and a local architect. Do you see a pattern?
We need a housing committee that is unbiased and engages in honest community dialogue, not one whose membership is skewed in favor of development interests.
These changes will lead to more expensive housing that is out of reach of our middle class residents, not more affordable housing as claimed. After all, state law already foirbids any limits on affordable housing being built (which the communuity housing committee has not been disclosing).
The GMO has worked for 16 years. As the old adage says, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
W. Bob Marker
Healdsburg
My friend Tom
Editor: Many Healdsburg residents knew, or knew of, Tom Cashman. I’ve known Tom for 25 years. Most of those years, we shared books, magazines and political articles but didn’t talk a lot. Tom took his work for two local businesses seriously, and our encounters were limited to these venues.
When Tom went missing from Shelton’s last fall, I learned that he was very ill. I made arrangements to spend time with him and did so until he died a couple of weeks ago.
We had a wonderful time together, and I got to know Tom so much better. It was a gift to me that I got to spend time with him toward the end of his life. What I will always remember is that Tom maintained his sense of humor to the very end and died with grace. He set an example for me.
Last week’s Trib obituary described Tom so well. I hope you get an opportunity to read it.
Gail Jonas
Healdsburg
Healdsburg Homes Tour
Editor: Sunday, May 1, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. will be the time to visit six fabulous homes that reflect the diversity of living in Healdsburg. All display the spectacular character and charisma our town is noted for. There are four historic older homes and one modern green home. The sixth and final house was featured in the October “House Beautiful” for both its renovation and decoration. Locals will have a rare opportunity to see inside these homes, which have been updated and restored. They will also get a chance to learn the history of the homes and the families that owned them and settled Healdsburg.
For 26 years the annual Healdsburg Homes Tour has been a fundraiser benefitting local education. The tour benefits the Healdsburg Education Foundation (HEF) and other local educational projects, plus provides scholarships for women and girls. The American Association of University Women (AAUW) organizes the tour and supplies hundreds of hours of volunteer labor to make it a great outing. The generous homeowners put much effort into presenting their homes to the public. Local businesses and individuals support the tour as sponsors, advertisers, and raffle prize donors and also provide products, services and publicity without charge or at greatly discounted rates.
Last year’s Homes Tour enabled Healdsburg AAUW to provide donations to HEF for the support of an Engineering Club at Healdsburg High School and a Lego Mindstorm Robotics purchase for the robotics classes at the junior high school. It also funded donations for the Public School Success Team (PSST), and Expanding Your Horizons Network in addition to providing scholarships to girls graduating from Healdsburg and Cloverdale high schools and to women graduating from Santa Rosa Junior College to complete their college education.
Healdsburg AAUW serves Cloverdale, Geyserville, Healdsburg and Windsor. For many years, AAUW has sent eighth grade girls from each of these communities to Tech Trek Camp at Stanford University.
This year’s tour begins at the Healdsburg Museum at Matheson and Fitch. Tour tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the event. Tickets are available at: www.healdsburg-ca.aauw.net, Levin & Company and Copperfield’s bookstores on the Plaza, and the Healdsburg Museum. Raffle tickets for a spa getaway at the Farmhouse Inn in Forestville will be sold only on the day of the tour for $20. Supporting the Homes Tour is a Win for the attendees and the community.
Cecile Peters and Kim Alexander, co-chairs, AAUW Healdsburg Homes Tour
Enter the parade
Editor: It’s that time of year again. The Healdsburg Future Farmers Country Fair is right around the corner and we are gearing up for the start of the fair with The Twilight Parade on May 26 at 6 p.m. The theme this year is Barnyard Beach Party. Entries are available through our website www.healdsburg fair.org. The entry deadline is May 2. We look forward to seeing all your familiar faces along the route again this year. Remember, if you are not in the parade you need be out enjoying it.
Healdsburg Future Farmers Country Fair Board
Chefs of Tomorrow
Editor: Thank you so much for the fine article about the high school culinary programs at Windsor and Healdsburg. As chair of the Chefs of Tomorrow event for over 10 years, I’ve seen just how powerful these programs are in providing opportunities to students beyond just academics.
The culinary programs are not part of the traditional curriculum, so are at risk of being cut each year. Chefs of Tomorrow raises funds to provide additional supplies and equipment for all of the county’s high school culinary programs. Students are paired with hotel chefs to prepare the appetizers for the event. There is a popular vote and a judge’s award for the school’s offerings.
This is often the first time students have worked with a professional chef and presented in a public setting. This year the students will present at least two appetizers featuring Rocky Free range chicken and Clover Stornetta greek yogurt. The festivities take place on Thursday, April 21 at the Hyatt Vineyard Creek beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Interested folks can check ChefsOfTomorrow.org for additional information. I can’t wait to cheer on our Healdsburg and Windsor students.
Lucy Lewand, owner/innkeeper, Camellia Inn, Healdsburg