Letters to the Editor 6-12-14

Council appointments
Editor: The solution to the vacant City Council seat is simple and at hand. There are at least eight former councilmembers who still reside in Sebastopol. Appoint each to serve for one week. If additional weeks are required, the alumni can shake dice or play rock-paper-scissors for the added honor. That should carry the council through the November election and December installation of newly elected members.
Each of the alumni understands the job, is familiar with city finances, legal issues and public processes. They would “be up to speed quickly,” and “hit the ground running.” They meet the criteria as stated by the mayor and other current councilmembers (“Council begins appointment process,” May 29).
The city would continue to function without a hitch and avoid time-consuming, wasteful application, interview and appointment procedures. And I am sure, the former councilmembers would be willing to serve without pay saving the city at least $1,500, which can be put to good use somewhere.
Appoint the alumni.
Ken Foley
Sebastopol
All about 4-H
Editor: My name is Molly Houston and I am a member of Forestville 4-H. I have been a member for four years, and my projects have included poultry, photography, sewing, cooking and hunter safety. This year I am the reporter for our club and I thought I’d let you, the community, know about 4-H.
There are many things you need to know about 4-H, but some of the most important things are the projects and the community service you can participate in. Projects in 4-H are not solely based on animals such as pigs, sheep or goats. There are also projects such as photography, sewing, cooking, archery, and arts and crafts. 4-H does many community service events as well. Being in 4-H is a fun and educational experience, and all of the people in 4-H are nice and welcoming. There are meetings once a month for nine or 10 months a year for your club, and usually a project meeting each month as well. 4-H allows you to meet new people and get to know the people in your community.
My club, Forestville 4-H, is a large club with about 60 members. Many of our members are preparing for the Sonoma-Marin and Sonoma County Fairs. Some will submit their artwork, photography, baked goods and even plants to compete for awards. Others will be showing and/or selling their animals. These include cattle, sheep, poultry, goats, swine, rabbits, cavies (guinea pigs) and dogs. I would like to invite you to come to the fairs and observe our members and offer them your support.
Twice a year we have a bake sale at El Molino Pharmacy. We would like to thank our community and the pharmacy for supporting us and helping us earn money for our club’s community service events. These include a food drive for Food for Thought, caroling at Mirabel Lodge, Salvation Army bell ringing, adopting a Bob Burke’s Family for the holidays, serving at the Sonoma County Farm Bureau Crab Feed (benefits scholarship and education programs), helping at the 4-H Foundation pancake breakfast, working at the burger booth at the Youth Park BBQ, and even planting trees along the Laguna. Forestville 4-H members strive to become leaders within our community and learn about new things. We always keep the 4-H motto in the forefront of our minds: Make the best better.
For more information about joining 4-H call 565-2621 or look up Sonoma County 4-H on the web.
Molly Houston
Forestville
Quaker meetings
Editor: I was thrilled to read Bob Jones’ column about it being “Time for a Quaker meeting” (Sonoma West, June 5). I couldn’t agree more. It is my experience that in that Quaker silence I’m invited to notice my fearful thoughts, which are largely generated by the “bombast and bluster” so prevalent in our society, and set them aside to make room for the Guidance, the “inner light,” which is always coming to me direct from my conscious contact with God. By the end of the hour, I leave the meeting so much more capable of being the change I want to see in the world. And, the best news of all is that we do indeed have the Apple Seed Friends (Quaker) Meeting held each Sunday morning at 10 a.m. right here in downtown Sebastopol, West County Community Services Building, 477 Petaluma Ave. Call 573-6075 for more information. All are welcome.
Thank you Bob Jones for “thinking the whole nation, even the whole world, needs a Quaker meeting.” I wholeheartedly concur.
Jackson Mayes
Sebastopol
Thank you Mayor Jacob
Editor: On behalf of the Spiral Foods Cooperative membership we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Mayor Robert Jacob and the entire Sebastopol City Council for their ongoing support of our group. It was an honor at the last council meeting to receive a special resolution of support from Mayor Jacob, recognizing the important work that we play in the local food movement. From the very beginning, the City of Sebastopol has been helpful and supportive of our mission. Spiral Foods Cooperative is a grassroots effort building a cooperative market that showcases local food with minimal packaging. Together we can support local farms for the health and wealth of the community. Clearly, Sebastopol residents support locally run food stores; from Pacific, Fircrest, Community and Andy’s Markets, ours is a community that appreciates keeping our money re-circulating in the local economy. And increasingly we see local markets showcase locally produced food and products. So thank you, Sebastopol and West County residents, and thank you again to the City of Sebastopol for helping us all become more sustainable. We are what we eat.
Laura Litwin
Spiral Foods Co-op Board of Directors