Letters to the Editor 5-9-13

Local justice
Editor: Think local — it works! No progress in Congress on gun control, jobs, the environment, etc? Don’t give up. Join local groups who can make a difference.
The Windsor Democratic Club heard presentations April 25 at Round Table Pizza on Restorative Justice and also bills for Youth Promise and a Department of Peacebuilding.
Four presenters shared the unselfish work that their organizations are doing locally right now but with little notice and with little support. Restorative justice … peace building … they sound “New Age,” but the results are real.
Restorative Resources offers an alternative to the justice system of punishment and retribution.
Zachary Whelan, Deputy Director, and Jeanna Ruppel, Windsor Community Coordinator, of Restorative Resources presented the case for the use of restorative justice.
Trained volunteers meet with the offender, the victims, police officers, school officials, community members, and involved families. They lead an in-depth discussion of what happened, who was affected and how the offender can make amends for what has been done.
A written plan is created and the offender is charged with carrying out the plan over the next month. At the end, Restorative Resources determines if the program has satisfactorily been completed.
The satisfactory program completion rate is 90 percent.
This process begins when the probation department and schools refer offenders to Restorative Resources.
The results are dramatic. The incidence of repeat offenses is reduced by fifty percent. Victims’ satisfaction rate is 95 percent.
Police and probation officers see this as an effective option to costly institutions like probation, jail, courts, and school suspensions.
Restorative Resources is hoping to train volunteers here in Windsor for a Windsor community council. The next training is the evening of May 15. For more information and to see the dates of other trainings visit the Restorative Resources website at www.restorativeresources.org.
The program also featured two members of the Sonoma County Peace Alliance, Kendra Mon and Maggi Koren, who gave information on two pieces of legislation introduced in the US House of Representatives, HR808 the US Dept of Peace Building and HR 1318 the Youth Promise Act. Both of these work to dismantle the cradle to prison pipeline, which has led the United States to the world’s highest incarceration rate.
Contact US Congressman Jared Huffman and ask him to become a cosponsor of this legislation. For more information on the Peace Alliance, visit www.thepeacealliance.org.
The next Windsor Democratic Club program will be on Thursday, May 23 at 7 p.m., at Windsor Round Table Pizza, and will focus on health care.
The Windsor Club will continue to advocate for the programs introduced at this year’s presentations.
To keep up on Club activities, contact Club President, Rick Massell at [email protected] .
Barry Hirsch
Windsor
Acupuncture open
Editor: Now the people of North County can finally afford to get regular acupuncture treatments and the results they need. Windsor Community Acupuncture has been open just under two months and is already growing fast.
Community acupuncture is different!  While conventional acupuncturists charge up to $120 per treatment, community models offer the same effective treatments for as little as $15. Community acupuncture is a proven business model; a movement that has been growing for 10 years in order to provide affordable care for those in pain. Now Windsor can proudly say it is part of this movement.
Up until now, Windsor has had ZERO acupuncturists in its town.  Consequently, they have resorted to commuting to other areas such as Santa Rosa or Sebastopol.
It’s important not to underestimate the positive value of a business like this one- and if you’re looking for a heartfelt, positive and feel good story, this should be at the top of your list.
My name is Ben and I’m the owner and founder of Windsor Community Acupuncture. I’d be happy to talk to you if you have any questions. 
We are on the town green 2 places over from Tomi Thai.
Benjamin Arnold
Windsor
Thanking WHS
Editor: I would like to publicly thank Windsor High School, principal Marc Elin, and Windsor Police Department’s Andy Cash for the recent Every 15 Minutes program held at Windsor High School.
The simulated teen drinking car accident scene enacted in front of the school before the entire student body was dramatic and emotionally challenging. I know firsthand the real life impact this had on my son who participated as a “statistical death” (every 15 minutes someone in the U.S. dies or is seriously injured in an alcohol related incident).
Other friends, peers, parents, teachers, and community members also commented on the life changing effect this had for them. If this experience can save even one life, then the goal will have been accomplished. It was astonishing to witness the highly orchestrated emergency responders at the crash scene. I now have a deeper appreciation for the services provided by our community law enforcement, fire fighters, and emergency responders.
Windsor High School was remarkable in its ability to privately raise the funds to sponsor this event. Students working on the program for their senior project were able to solicit more than $35,000 in donations. Graduations and summer vacation is nearly upon us, increasing the risk of teen drinking and driving. Congratulations to the Windsor community for its role in keeping our children safer.
Gina Osbeck
Windsor
Supporting Wilderness
Editor: I am shocked to see the misleading signs regarding Drakes Bay Oyster Company popping up around the Sonoma and Marin Counties. These signs should say Save Point Reyes Wilderness. I strongly support organic sustainable agriculture and I love oysters but the attempt by Drakes Oyster Company and their corporate allies to deny wilderness status to Drakes Estero has nothing to do with farming and everything to do with opening publicly owned wilderness lands to development. Pt. Reyes National Seashore is a wonderful example of cooperation between agriculture, the national park system, and wilderness.
My family, friends, and thousands of people worked for years to protect this national treasure. The current owners bought the oyster company in 2005 with seven years remaining on their permit knowing that the estero is a designated wilderness area. They should honor their lease agreement and contracts, follow the rules and policies and respect the 1976 wilderness designation. This is not an issue of “farmer” vs big government. The real issue here is that private development and industry interests have been working for years to overturn environmental laws and allow natural resource extraction and commercial development in the wilderness areas, national parks, oceans, estuaries and other publicly owned and protected lands. As a member of the public, one of the millions of owners of the Point Reyes National Seashore, I urge all Americans to protect Drakes Estero wilderness and stop the attempt to privatize and commercialize our national park and wilderness systems by powerful private business interests. American taxpayers have waited 40 years for wilderness designation for Drakes Bay marine estuary in our beloved Point Reyes National Seashore. We stand firm in protecting National Parks, wilderness, publicly owned lands and the commonwealth of the United States of America for future generations. We will not be fooled by another attempt by special interests with friends in high places to attack the National Park Service and subvert the Wilderness Act!
Please let any restaurant or business displaying one of these signs or serving Drakes Bay oysters know that you support our National Parks, the law and wilderness designation for Drakes Estero in Pt. Reyes National Seashore.
Lynn Hamilton
Former Mayor, City of Sebastopol