Letters to the Editor 8-4-16

Algebra academy
Editor: The Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce recently completed our third year of collaboration with the Mike Hauser Academy summer program.  Area students graduated recently at a ceremony at SSU honoring their accomplishments for this June program that assists them in math, science and technology skills using a hands on format at local businesses.  
We would also like to thank the following local businesses for their participation in this program: Costeaux French Bakery, Russian Riverkeeper, Healdsburg Police Department, Healdsburg Fire Department, Sonoma Jet Center and E&M Electric.
The program is available for students for whom English is a second language. We would also like to thank Leslie Anderson and the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce for the opportunity to participate.
Carla Howell
Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce
Unlawful act
Editor: On August 1, your City Council unlawfully changed the wording that you signed for the Nov. 8 ballot. This reckless disregard for voters rights goes against the California Elections Code 9215(b). The Council’s reason: “The manufacturer or vendor cannot supply either a toxicological  report or written verification of the chemical’s safety for all water  consumers.”  Really. That should be enough to stop using this chemical right there. In 2014 the Healdsburg residents were fooled by uniformed dentists with “safe and effective.” Now we know it’s not safe. Thank you Brigette for having the courage to vote on behalf of your citizens.
Dawna Gallagher
Rohnert Park
24/7 praise
Editor: On July 29 and 30, the Raven Performing Arts Theater hosted one of the most unusual theatrical offerings you never heard of. Raven 24/7, now in its third year, brought together seven directors, seven playwrights, and seven teams of actors who created seven 10-minute plays in a 24-hour time span. On Friday the audience (seated on stage) suggested and voted on a single theme and a single line of dialog, which each playwright used to create their play. The next morning the scripts were turned over to the performers and directors to develop and memorize, and on Saturday night the audience returned to watch the plays performed.
The selected theme was “miscommunication” and the required dialog was “I lost it in a tragic leaf-blower accident.” That goofy phrase pretty much eliminated the option for heavy drama, and the audience howled through the seven plays, waiting to see how each team interpreted the required materials.
In one of my favorites, the author hilariously managed to combine the theme with the required dialog and the Berlin Wall and the loss of virginity (confusing virginity with Berlinity, referring to a small relic from the wall, which “mom” lost in the requisite accident).
While the first night of the show was only lightly attended, the second night was packed and chairs kept appearing from storage for the additional guests. The man and woman in front of my husband and I were visiting from London, where apparently Kevin Spacey does something similar for the historic Old Vic Theatre there. They declared ours even better than Spacey’s London event. Raven Players Artistic Director Steven David Martin should be proud of what he and his team put together this year.
Healdsburg is so fortunate to have a community resource that continues to provide innovative programming. Please join me in supporting the Raven, and be on the lookout for the return of Raven 24/7 next summer.
Carol Noack
Healdsburg
A powerful connection
Editor: Eighty-six-year-old Marilyn Serbin was on her way to Northern California Wound Care, a local facility operated by Healdsburg District Hospital. Her son, Rickey, was driving. A Tommy Dorsey song came on the radio, and she started reminiscing about the time that song played during theatre practice at her high school in Dayton, Ohio. She recalled taking the hand of a black classmate and Lindy hopping like there was no tomorrow. She said everyone stopped and stared, and the gym went quiet when they finished. That just wasn’t done back then. Classes weren’t segregated, but there were separate swimming pools and water fountains for African Americans.
Marilyn, a widow, had recently arrived in California to be closer to her family. She had taken up residence at a senior living facility in Santa Rosa. During one fitful night, she rolled out of bed and injured her arm and leg. Initial treatments of the cuts and bruises by her internist, Dr. Jacqueline Skvaril, were not producing the desired results, so she was referred to the specialty wound care clinic in Healdsburg. On arrival, she checked in and was shown to a treatment room. I am the medical director of the wound care center and my family had moved from Dayton, Ohio to California in 1960.
I asked Marilyn about her life in Dayton. Her husband was a physician, specializing in endocrinology, and she had worked in his office since 1957. I asked if she recalled Dr. Paul Rose, who was also an internist in Dayton. She did. “That was my dad,” I replied. His office was two doors down from her husband’s on Salem Avenue. That was only the beginning of our common paths.
Marilyn and I were both born at Saint Elizabeth’s hospital, and we both attended Jefferson Elementary School, though 15 years apart. We recalled the many familiar street names and landmarks. It was a magical interaction for us both.
Her wound care progressed rapidly, and she was healed within a few weeks. Throughout her treatments, she kept sweetly saying they were the highlight of her day. She enjoyed her visits there so much. As Marilyn left the office after her last visit, she said goodbye to her friends Dr. Rose and Nurse Dena, who helped enrich her transition to living in Northern California. She remarked “What a wonderful testament to great health care it was to be so lovingly welcomed as a new Californian.” I have practiced medicine in Healdsburg for 42 years and I believe this encounter is another powerful reminder of just how connected we all are.
Dr. Dan Rose
Healdsburg