Letters to the Editor 6-19-14

Public Service
Editor: The Sonoma County Water Coalition (SCWC) is actively engaged in many important issues affecting the county’s water resources, and by extension many land use issues. The Coalition greatly appreciates the county’s adoption of a policy to video stream, record and post the morning session of the Tuesday Board of Supervisors meetings.  
This is a true public service, especially as the public and the county work to reduce vehicle trips and carbon emissions. Individuals with an interest in the Board’s proceedings now do not necessarily have to drive into town to observe the morning sessions. SCWC requests that the county extend this policy to the afternoon sessions. Many interested persons work during the afternoon and cannot make it to meetings in which they may have great interest.  Not only would streaming and posting the videos help those residents and voters, the democratic process would also benefit. The work of staff and the Supervisors is important and the public discourse will likely benefit from allowing the public to observe the discussions and the give and take that sometimes occurs in the afternoon sessions. SCWC represents 31 organizations with a combined membership of 24,000. We strongly and respectfully urge the Board to extend the opportunity for more access to the public’s business by streaming the afternoon sessions of the Board meetings.
Stephen Fuller-Rowell
Sonoma County Water Coalition
Vinyl Revival thanks
Editor: Many thanks to all who supported Vinyl Revival’s June 13 concert at the Windsor Raven Theater. The delightful musical evening netted $1,160 for Lighting for Literacy, which translates into nearly 10 units to provide light for 10 families living in homes off the electrical grid in developing countries, and probably two workshops full of local young people learning about science, sustainability and service, building relationships with caring adults and celebrating an accomplishment.
To all involved, your generosity and talent is just awesome. It is a privilege to work with you all, and a pleasure to be part of such a great community.
Rev. Laurie McHugh
Pastor, Windsor Community United Methodist Church