Letters to the Editor 9-1-16

Empty eyesore
Editor: An open letter to Ken and Diane Wilson, Wilson Winery: Three or four years ago you purchased the historic Westamerica Bank building in Cloverdale. I was excited at the prospect you would do something impressive with this beautiful prime spot on our boulevard. Well, forward the clock to 2016 and this lovely building still sits empty. It is overgrown with dead vines, garbage in the doorways and graffiti on some walls and is generally becoming an eyesore.
My question is: are you ever going to develop this property or is it doomed to sit vacant and in disrepair? I was hoping you would turn it into an Italian deli and wine shop (much like Traverso’s) to house your many brands.
Our town is starting to revitalize after the downturn of several years ago and we are getting new restaurants and retail shops that are offering our community and its visitors a lot of variety. Won’t you please listen to the community of Cloverdale and take an interest in furthering its progress? We would love to help you make a successful venture here in our town.
Christine Flaherty
Cloverdale
Rethink cigars
Editor: Your article by Joyce Mann, “Spirits – Cigars and Sculptures benefit to be held Sept. 18” surprised me. I am a retired RN who has worked cancer wards and could not believe cigars are being promoted by anyone in our community, nonetheless our dear newspaper by printing an article about a benefit including cigars.
Yes, lots of things cause cancer, but to have a known cancer causing agent being legitimized, when we are telling our kids year after year to not smoke is irresponsible by all involved. I have seen the devastation to someone’s face and neck due to oral cancer and it is devastation.
The sculpture trail is a good thing for our community and the sculptures bring a lot of conversation and greater awareness of art in our community and society. Why link this terrific plus for our community to cigars? I know this was done to try to do something different as a fundraiser and as the cigar has seen a comeback lately and probably has worked in other communities, but to me it is a no brainer to say no to such a fundraiser. There are so many other things that could be done and would be just as fun.
Please rethink the cigars … I am sure the creative people who planned this could come up with a substitute that would work for all (but the cigar company of course).
Donna Cambra
Cloverdale
Yes on Measure Y
Editor: The letter “Y” stands for yes. I’m urging readers, library users, teachers, parents of small children, parents of middle and high school children, lifelong learners and music lovers to vote yes on Measure Y to support Sonoma County libraries with a reliably sufficient source of funding. Currently, libraries depend on property taxes for continual support, but at a rate set in the 70s. It’s not enough to provide full services, so private donors and organized Friends of the Library groups pay for new books, programs and equipment.
Public libraries are one of the few truly free public services left to citizens of Sonoma County. All you need is a library card to borrow books or DVDs, or use the computers at any library. There is story hour for small children, a place for students to study, a capable reference librarian who helps with the catalog and with study questions, programs on gardening, history, art and volunteer help with your taxes. There are art and musical shows for adults and children. As a patron, you can borrow books from other county systems and access reference materials, even from San Francisco. All for free.
Not free to maintain, however. Though libraries attract many volunteers, each branch must have some qualified, paid employees. Many of these, like the head and reference librarians have degrees in library science they earned in college. They earn their salaries.
The tax added to the sales tax is very small, almost unnoticeable at one-eighth of 1 percent. That’s a penny added to every $8 of sales tax. This tax, countywide, will provide $12 million annually that will go directly to support libraries. My guess is that even if you don’t use the library yourself, someone in your family does or would like to. Please vote yes on Measure Y.
Louise Young
Cloverdale