Bring him back
EDITOR:
On Wednesday evening at the Ivy Church, we listened to a wonderful organ recital. It was performed by a young organist Etienne Walhain, a young man from Belgium. It was a Tour de Force. We would love to have him return again soon for another encore performance.
George & Bonnie Fisher
Cloverdale
Ideas
EDITOR:
First, the front page article about the new commander of the American Legion was interesting and well written. Thank you. Secondly, in the same July 13 edition, the article about the mess at Preston, brought several comments to my mind. Having worked and lived at NACO West before the freeway was built, I saw first hand what started to happen when the old roadway was changed to Geysers Road at the old bridge location. In all these years, no one in County control seems to even try to solve the problem. If the right person to help or do something reads this and gets any ideas please consider this; Turn it into a mini park with signs about “Swim at Own Rrisk, No Overnight or Camping, Fine of $XX,” etc., but line parking, then mark other places no parking. Turn the walkway to the river into something nice and safe (gravel or black top ) with county-contracted Port-o-Pottys serviced every Monday and, if needed, Fridays. Provide trash bins for people to use that are for trash, recycle and not big enough to dump big stuff. But tickets have to be issued and people have to know fines are more than an amount on a sign. Maybe a Reserve Deputy living in Cloverdale or close by? Thirdly, give a discount at trash dump sites in the county to people that are on proven limited income. It will be cheaper in the long run and the problem of ground contamination to water supplies will be lessened to maybe zero. Some health plans give co-pay discounts, other places like PG&E give Care Discounts why can’t county give a discount card after applied approval to people that need to dispose any size items?
Donald Reed
Cloverdale
Feedback
EDITOR:
A great deal of time and energy went into the development of the Sonoma County cannabis ordinance that is now in effect. As with any other law, it’s only as good as its enforcement.
We live in an unincorporated area west of Cloverdale, where some would-be growers might assume that enforcement will be lax or nonexistent. A recent spike in activity at an old and previously low-level growing operation in our neighborhood led us to contact PermitSonoma (formerly PRMD) about the situation. We were astonished at the speed of the response.
We left a message on the marijuana hotline (707-565-2420) on the Friday afternoon before the Fourth of July holiday. We received a call back within an hour, telling us that the matter had been referred to a code enforcement manager. We received an acknowledging email from the manager herself within minutes, and the following day (the Saturday of a four-day weekend!) she drove to the site to inspect it, and also initiated contact with the property owner about possible violations. On that same Friday evening, at about 10 p.m., we had an email from the director of PermitSonoma, confirming that this situation was a matter of concern to the County, and that it would be investigated promptly.
Since then, PermitSonoma has kept us closely informed of developments, including site inspections, discussions with the owner/landlord, and extraction of promises to halt unlawful activity. We have been assured that full compliance with the provisions of the cannabis ordinance will be required, and will be enforced by whatever means are necessary.
It is reassuring to see that the County, and its individual employees, are taking the new cannabis ordinance and its enforcement very seriously. We hope that resolve lasts.
Ann M. Elston
Lawrence G. Lossing
Cloverdale
Credit deserved
EDITOR:
The late, great Elise Black, who headed Cloverdale Service for five decades, once said: “There is no amount to the good you can do if you don’t care who gets credit for it.”
Two who don’t seek credit but deserve it: Cloverdale council members Mary Ann Brigham and Carol Russell, who are largely responsible for the county’s belated, but nonetheless welcome, decision to renovate the two-lane, no-pedestrian-walkway First Street Bridge, making it safe for everyone who uses it.
Carol and Mary Ann have made the bridge restoration a priority for years, working hand in glove with county supervisors going back to Paul Kelley.
In the past few years, county supervisor James Gore and other Cloverdale council members have been helpful.
Our family uses the bridge every time we come into town. Over the years we have witnessed too many close calls on the bridge between kids walking to school, bicycle riders, moms pushing strollers and cars or trucks.
Thank you, Mary Ann and Carol, for all those years of heavy lifting.
CD Grant
Cloverdale
Refs needed
EDITOR:
The Cloverdale Youth Soccer League needs referees for the upcoming Fall season. We are offering a free two-day course at City Park Scout Hut on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 12-13. You must be a minimum of 12 years old to take the course. This is a great way to make money, stay in shape and start flexing those responsibility and confidence muscles. The course is free to anybody in town and open to all. Call me for more information at 894-4065.
Larry Reynolds
Referee Coordinator, Cloverdale Youth soccer League
