Letters to the Editor 5-26-17

Concerns about Vista Oaks project
Editor: Enter Thompson Development Inc. to dust off the Vista Oaks project and Casey Clement to test the waters. As I examine the invitation flyer and read between the lines, I understand that the 19 homes permitted for this subdivision do not return adequate profit. They explain that a lot has changed in 10 years and they want to address the housing needs of our town (maximize the amount of houses permitted for this).
A lot has changed yes, but the same unstable slide areas still exist: I call your attention to the City of Cloverdale document addressed to the planning commission October 4, 2000 File: EIR 8-00. I am sure that beautiful drawings of the proposed project will be available at the workshop and maybe coffee and cookies. I still have the watercolor from the last landscape architect and I expect the same song and dance.
When you boil it all down, they want permission from the city to build as many houses as they can. Just blow through the smoke screen and we will all see clearly: money, just follow the money. For the record the first developer, Steven Bates on September 21, 1992 wanted 40 lots and was denied, the second James Neighbors proposed 20 on September 6, 2000 (EIR 10-00/sub 6-99).
It is all about the cash folks, I am not against anyone turning a profit, but not if it will result in disaster for a lot of innocent people.
Luciano Toninato
Cloverdale
Kiwanis thanks sponsors
Editor: The Kiwanis Club of Cloverdale recently sponsored their 15th annual Mother’s Day Breakfast to raise funds for high school scholarships. The event was a success, and as a result, several deserving seniors at CHS will receive assistance with their post-secondary education expenses this coming fall.
The financial success of the breakfast is a great deal attributable to the generosity of local businesses and people who donated supplies for the day.
It is with great pleasure that the Kiwanis take this public opportunity to thank Cloverdale Nursery, McDonald’s, Starbucks, Clover Stornetta, Nu Forest  Products, Thereasa Gravley, Photographer, Plank Coffee, Maggie Duran, Cloverdale Reveille, the Jefferson School children who provided art for the walls and the Coffee and Mud establishment in Geyserville.
The Kiwanis Club of Cloverdale
Donate to the Food Pantry
Editor: Can you believe it is that time again? Christmas is almost here. Yes, Christmas in June benefitting the Cloverdale Food Pantry is around the corner. Plan now to help us this year. The Cloverdale community, the Lions Club, Good Shepherd Church, other organizations as well as so many of our great neighbors stepped up last year to make this event a success. Let’s make this year even better!
During summer months the Cloverdale Food Pantry supplies are dramatically depleted. To cover the shortage, the pantry has to purchase most of the food except the fruits and vegetables gleaned by gardeners who donate their excess. The food purchased is between $300 to 500 a month but during the summer monthly costs jump to $500 to 800 and sometimes more. This puts a dent in the pantry’s meager bank account.
The fourth Christmas in June event will be held at the Veterans Memorial Hall at 205 W. First Street on Tuesday, June 21 from 5 to 7 p.m. Refreshments and appetizers will be served. There will be community activities to help the Food Pantry as well. How can you help? There are many ways with some listed below.
1. Bring 20 pound bags of rice, beans and canned food, such
         as vegetables, tuna and peanut butter.
2. Donation of appetizers for the event.
3. Donation of refreshments for the event such as bottled
         water.
4. Financial donations to help defray the pantry’s expenses
5. Yummy homemade cookies for the cookie exchange.
6. Come and support the event.
Please contact the Food Pantry at 396-8383 with questions and how you and your organization can help. We always need volunteers. Help make hunger take a holiday
M J Dellaquila and Jean Herschede
Co-Chairs of Christmas in June benefitting the
Cloverdale Food Pantry
Ideas for Thyme Square
Editor: I recently discovered that Willits has a new hospital that opened last fall. I was excited to know of their progressive and sensible philosophy of serving their patients healthy organic food (what a concept). Most of this food is grown right on site in their organic garden. The hospital also operates a farm-to-fork sustainable restaurant that is open all day, seats 80 and is open to the public. Besides this rare commitment to wellness commonsense, they have a walking trail on the hospital grounds with periodic exercise stations for specific exercises for strength training. This example of thinking out of the box and in favor of quality and not just profit, usually ends up bringing quantity in the long run.
My point relevant to the Thyme Square project is that since the health center is going there, why not incorporate some of these hospital ideas and make it really nice with a walking path, flowers, maybe exercise stations, maybe an organic garden or maybe a community commercial kitchen for classes in food prep, healthy eating, and promoting local use for cottage food industries? This wholistic approach would make a positive statement about Cloverdale’s progressiveness. Also, I am very opposed to any retail there when there are empty retail spaces in town.
Mardi Grainger
Cloverdale
Wear a helmet while bike riding
Editor: As a local physician affiliated with Alexander Valley Healthcare, I am relatively new to beautiful Cloverdale.  I am very concerned to see the large numbers of children and adults riding bicycles without helmets. Annually in the U.S. there are nearly one thousand deaths from bike crash injuries, with most of these deaths due to brain injury. Those who survive can suffer with chronic headaches, dizziness, memory/learning problems, mood disorders, and fatigue. Those who are less fortunate can be left essentially vegetative. In my decades of practice, I have seen patients who have suffered tremendously as a result of head injuries and strongly believe that prevention is the best approach.
Studies have established that wearing helmets is effective in preventing head injury. Since 1992, California state law mandates helmet use for children under age 18. As this is a public health and safety issue, raising community awareness can protect us all. I understand helmets have been generously provided by some police departments, and perhaps various organizations in the community may be able to help fund helmets for children whose families lack the resources. Working together we can all try to safeguard ourselves and our hope for the future: our children. For more information on this critical subject, I encourage readers to check the nonprofit site helmets.org
Niranjana Parthasarathi, M.D.
Cloverdale
A day of service
Editor: Each year, Windemere Real Estate agents, managers, owners and staff from 300 offices across the western United States gather together and devote their workday to making a positive change in the neighborhoods they serve through local service projects and volunteerism.
For this year’s Community Service Day, Windemere’s Cloverdale associates will be working with the CHS Project Grad Committee to set up the Project Grad event for the CHS 2016 Graduating Class on Friday, June 3 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Citrus Fairgrounds. For more info visit www.windermere.com.
Andi Essick, Windermere Project Coordinator
Cloverdale