Letters to the Editor 8-28-12

Pedestrian safety — A message from the Police Chief
Editor:   
There has been news lately of pedestrians being involved in accidents with vehicles. This rarely turns out well. I have seen pedestrians walk up to the curb, using cell phones, and walk right into traffic believing the cars will stop. This could be tragic.
While a driver is required to yield to a pedestrian already in a crosswalk, the pedestrian, by law, has a duty not to step off the curb if traffic is close enough to constitute a hazard.
These are the sections of the California Vehicle Code that apply:
21950. (a) The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, except as otherwise provided in this chapter. (b) This section does not relieve a pedestrian from the duty of using due care for his or her safety. No pedestrian may suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard. No pedestrian may unnecessarily stop or delay traffic while in a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
21953. Whenever any pedestrian crosses a roadway other than by means of a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing, if a pedestrian tunnel or overhead crossing serves the place where the pedestrian is crossing the roadway, such pedestrian shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles on the highway so near as to constitute an immediate hazard.
For safety sake, also note that some vehicles have large “A” pillars (The posts on each side of the windshield going from the hood to the roof) that can block a driver’s vision. If you can’t see their eyes, then assume they can’t see you either – it is always wise to MAKE EYE CONTACT! Also, if the vehicle is traveling east in the morning, or west in the afternoon, the driver has the sun to deal with. Pedestrians are hard to see, especially in the shadows of trees or buildings when they are almost invisible to a driver. At night be extra vigilant if you are wearing dark clothes… You might be invisible to a driver.
You are no match for a vehicle… Take extra care – Make eye contact – Watch for careless drivers – Never assume a vehicle will stop for you…
Mark Tuma
Cloverdale Chief of Police
Good neighbors
Editor:   
I read with interest about the loud skydiving plane going away at the end of August due to financial reasons. It was also made clear in the article this was purely a financial decision, and the community input about it being a nuisance was in no way considered.
Does this mean this “good neighbor” can bring in any type of plane, no matter how loud or polluting, if it is financially feasible?
If this “good neighbor” is the kind who only considers the bottom line (as per the article) perhaps he should take his business someplace else, where the drone of aircraft  and the pollution they spread is more enjoyed.
We live in Cloverdale for the peace and quiet it provides. The last thing we need is “good neighbors” like this, who only want to do what suits their needs, the rest be damned. Let’s protect what we have. Money isn’t everything.
Robert Redner, Cloverdale
Food for thought?
Editor:   
Hi, my name is Jerry Huot. I am a retired teacher in this district. I attend the United Church of Cloverdale and organize our involvement in the local Food Pantry three months of the year.  It is a worthy cause to assist those in need. If you’re hungry you come on Fridays from 1 to 3 p.m. and share what food we have gathered. If comes from the Sonoma Country Food Bank, St. Vincent’s kitchen in Santa Rosa, Ray’s in Cloverdale, the bakery in town and private citizens with donations. I have written articles about upcoming donations of food and pantry information as have other members of this caring community. So what’s up with this note, well a friend, Ron Brockman asked me what I knew about Food For Thought. I was amazed I knew nothing about it.  He filled me in and we are working together to help a very important organization.
Food For Thought operates in Sonoma County and what it does is pretty basic. They help provide food for people and their families who have been impacted by being positive for the HIV virus. The people, who may be homebound or active participants in living here in the county are given food and support from the organization. It is the Sonoma County AIDS Food Bank and provides grocery orders of canned and foxed food, fresh produce, high-quality protein, supplements to families affect by HIV/AIDS. Free. Importantly they are delivered in a safe and welcoming environment.  
Over 675 people from all walks of life are supported plus their families, kids included. They operate out of Forestville and need more support from northern Sonoma County. Enter Cloverdale, our caring community will start this project with a boost from my church and friends as we set up a food drive to operate on Saturday the 28th of September. People will be collecting donations of food and cash at Ray’s who generously offered us the space at the storefront to work to help this important charity.   
Thanks for reading this and know that in the upcoming weeks more information will be made available to those of you who are interested in supporting this event.
Jerry Huot, Cloverdale
The Green Lady
Editor:   
Where has common sense gone? A real naked lady would be arrested for indecent exposure. That should sum it up.
This isn’t about art, but perversity. Some people revel in creating scandal because they think it’s cute.
Immorality is rampant in our society and I wonder why. This sick example is about wickedness. I am nauseated by political correctness and “legalized” perversion. These things are an abomination to God. Make a stand — you choose good or evil, right or wrong. God will judge us, not me.
P.S. Green can also stand for envy or bile.
Gary Folk, Cloverdale
Wonderful welcome
Editor:   
We are so proud to live in this community. The wonderful welcome shown to our son, Nathan, on his return here last Friday from South Korea, was heart-warming and just about the best homecoming a person could imagine. After 20 years in the military, he thought he had completed all the required paperwork and the rituals necessary for retirement. In truth, this community gave him so many more warm memories that will stay with him for the rest of his life.
Special thanks to Al Delsid for organizing the Cloverdale reception and to Ride Captain Frank Coster, who led the Patriot Guard Riders escorting Nathan and family members from Santa Rosa to Cloverdale. The women who represented the” American Soldier Freedom Riders,” the group on horseback, added a special celebratory atmosphere. What a day.
Again, thank you for your support.
The Tierney Family, Cloverdale
VFW thanks community
Editor:   
The Cloverdale Veterans Of Foreign Wars Post 9268 would like to send out a heartfelt thank you to all those who were responsible for the recent Veterans Appreciation Dinner! A special thank you to Star Restaurant and to Robin Black for orchestrating this thoughtful, special fund raising event for our local veterans organizations. And a big thank you to our community for supporting it!
Our local VFW is made up of a lot of ‘senior’ members and their fund raising efforts are many times on the light side, so to receive such a wonderful donation from the community was such a surprise and so much appreciated!
Again, a great big ‘THANK YOU’ from the Cloverdale Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9268.
Don Green – Commander
John Buergler – Quartermaster
Cloverdale