Letters to the Editor 5-26-15

Filling a need
Editor: Two special thank yous from the Healdsburg Food Pantry.
The Healdsburg postal carriers were joined this year by the Geyserville postal carriers in their annual food drive. The pantry received 143 grocery bags filled with food. Thank you postal workers.
Comstock Winery hosted a food drive at their beautiful location on Dry Creek Road and the pizza was provided by Timothy Wilcox from River Rock Casino. A fun day with great food at a wonderful location. Thank you Comstock Winery and River Rock Casino. The Food Pantry is trying to start a new distribution program from 4:30 to 6 p.m., at a day to be determined. If someone is interested in volunteering please call me 433-9095.
Roger Dormire, President, Healdsburg Shared Ministries
Time to taper off
Editor: As I said in a previous letter to the editor, I am concerned about what teens who smoke will do June 9 when they can no longer buy tobacco products. As an example of this, I was walking down a street in Santa Rosa Wednesday morning, and I saw a young man vaping an e-cigarette. I asked him “Do you know you will not be able to buy those June 9?”
I was appalled as he said “Yes, so I am now smoking as many as I can!”
That is absolutely the wrong response, because it means he will be more and more addicted as he gets closer to June 9. I am sure he does not understand this, or its consequences.
So parents, friends, relatives, teachers, counsellors, siblings, if anyone you know is smoking or vaping or using other tobacco products, tell them to reduce the consumption so it will be easier for them June 9.  Nicotine addiction is very, very powerful, and very hard to manage. It will make it terrible for them June 9 unless they plan in advance.
David Anderson, MD
Healdsburg
Be a powerful voice in a child’s life
Editor: Anytime a child is abused or neglected, it’s a tragedy – one that all too often scars victims for a lifetime.
Studies have shown that foster children are more likely to struggle in school, have run-ins with law enforcement, experience homelessness or abuse drugs or alcohol. Research also shows that abused children are more apt to grow up to abuse their own kids.
At CASA (Court Appointed Special Adsvocates) of Sonoma County we help foster children heal so they can live happier, safer lives. Our CASA volunteers make sure foster kids don’t get lost in the overburdened legal and social service systems or languish in unsupportive foster homes. CASA volunteers stay with children until their court case is closed and the child is placed in a safe, permanent home.
During National Foster Care Month, we invite our community to learn more about the work we do and consider becoming a CASA volunteer. Juvenile court officials have identified an additional 35 youth who need advocates and CASA is appealing to Sonoma County residents to volunteer. If you care and have about 10 hours a month to spend, being a CASA can be a very gratifying work. A CASA is a powerful voice in a child’s life. CASA executive director Millie Gilson states that there are approximately 155 volunteers, and hopes to recruit another 35 with the next training.
The summer volunteer training, which takes place over three and a half days begins Thursday, July 14, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., then runs from Tuesday, July 19, through Thursday, July 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Classes are held at CASA’s office at the Los Guilicos complex near Oakmont in Santa Rosa. For more information and to sign up for the CASA training, contact Millie Gilson at 565-6375 or

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Working together, we can end abuse and neglect so that every foster child has a chance to thrive. To find out more about CASA of Sonoma County visit us online at www.sonomacasa.org or call us at 565-6375.
Heloisa Heinen
CASA of Sonoma County
Market needs parking
Editor: As a long-time resident, local farmer, and board member of the Healdsburg Farmers’ Market I would like to add my  two bits worth to the discussion and controversy over the Cerri Building (“Main Street – Cerri Picking” by Ray Holley, May 18, 2016).
The context of my comments is the passion and determination of Healdsburg-area farmers to share the bounty of our beautiful soils. Carrots and cauliflower are are a poignant counterpoint to the fine Carignane and Cabernets our local vintners conjur from this heady terroir.
“Food and Wine” – the phrase has a sweet ring to it, and we farmers want to bring you the food part. But the parking, oh woe is me, the parking. To bring those strawberries and fava beans and endive and artichokes to town you’ve got to have parking.
What is a market if not a dynamic exchange of goods and services, ideas and ideologies? And it is a place, a stage upon which the dramas of a community play out. A critical part of the exchange is the flow of people, the comings and goings of the town folk to buy and sell and hum and whistle and gossip. It’s the lifeblood of a town. Of our town. But you’ve got to get there to be there, and that means parking.
We hear complaints from our dwindling number of customers, how they used to come to the Healdsburg market for the fresh, local produce, but now they go to Windsor for the parking. Some of our vendors have become discouraged by the resultant drop in customers because of the parking. Many of our beloved elderly patrons (we’ll all get there someday) bemoan the difficulty of getting to our market because there is not enough close-by parking.
Our board has agonized over the options presented to us by the city. Our decision is simple: to support our farmer members we must pursue the course of action that gives us the greatest number of parking spaces. Tear down the Cerri Building. Replacing it with shade structures would be nice, making it look agrarian and “Healdsburgy” would be nice, but tear it down to maximize parking.
Lou Preston, Board Member, Healdsburg Certified Farmers’ Market