Christmas coming early
EDITOR: We are moving up Christmas six months this year. Christmas in June benefitting the Cloverdale Food Pantry is happening June 25 from 5 to 7 p.m. Put it on your calendar and plan to help those who need it the most in our community. The generosity of Cloverdale, the Kiwanis Club, Veterans of America, Rotary, Good Shepherd Church and many other organizations and churches stepped up over the last several year to make this event a success. Let’s make this year even better.
During summer months, the Cloverdale Food Pantry supplies are dramatically depleted. To cover the shortage, the pantry must purchase most of the food except the fruits and vegetables gleaned by gardeners who donate their excess. The food purchased is often over $300 a month but during the summer, monthly costs jump to between $500 and $800 and sometimes more. This puts a dent in the pantry’s resources.
Christmas in June will be held at the Veterans Memorial Hall at 205 W. First Street on Tuesday, June 25 from 5 to 7 p.m. Refreshments and appetizers will be served. There will be community activities to help the Cloverdale Food Pantry as well.
You are asking how you can help. There are many ways, with some listed below.
1. Bring a 25-pound bags of rice and beans, canned food, such as fruits and vegetables, cereal, tuna and peanut butter
2. Donation of appetizers for the event
3. Donation of refreshments for the event such as bottled water
4. Financial donations to help defray the pantry’s expenses
5. Come and support the event
Please contact the food pantry at 707-328-2147 and see how you and your family or organization can help. We always need volunteers.
Help hunger take a holiday by donating to this event.
M J Dellaquila
Chair of Christmas in June
Cloverdale
Thanks for the special
EDITOR: Kudos for publishing the comprehensive special April 25 report “Teens and the Vape Debate” in the Sonoma West publications which highlights the frightening rise of youth vaping. Publisher Rollie Atkinson’s introduction says it best, “If we ever thought we were conquering the health scourge of tobacco and nicotine, the current horrifying epidemic of underage use of e-cigarettes will clear all our heads of any smoky illusions.”
In December, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an e-cigarette advisory calling on federal, state and local governments, teachers, parents and health care professionals to “…take aggressive steps to protect our children from these highly potent products …”
Locally, groups like the Tobacco-Free Sonoma County Community Coalition (pr************@so***********.org) are banding together, unwilling to lose another generation to smoking/vaping nicotine addiction. When the FDA reported a 78% rise in e-cigarette use among high school students and 48% increase among junior high students between 2017 and 2018, everyone said “enough!”
We are fighting back in each city against contributing factors to teen use and addiction, such as ease of access, luring flavors, techno-toy designs, misinformation, retail proliferation and predatory marketing, with proven strategies such as tobacco retail licensing and public education. Thank you for supporting those efforts by sponsoring the upcoming community conversation about vaping, including an expert panel discussion in the library at Analy High School on Wednesday, May 22.
Pam Granger, chairperson
Tobacco-Free Sonoma County
Community Coalition
A powerful first impression
EDITOR: As the first of the much lauded cannabis business opens at the south end of Cloverdale, I have to admit I am impressed (and not in a good way) by the presence of the security guard by the front door. I have come to understand that such alleged peaceful, healthy businesses are required to have the guards present. I wonder why they must be so ominously present? Is the danger such stores bring that serious?
And it sends a powerfully negative message for those entering the south side of the community that the first business seen has a burly guard standing by the front door. What does it say about Cloverdale? What does it say about such businesses? As I watched the intensive security doors, fences and lighting installed I thought that was foreboding. Little did I realize that it was only a beginning. I have come to understand that another such place of commerce will welcome people entering the north end of the city.
For a commodity alleged to be so natural, health infusing and beneficial it is ironic it brings with it such an ominous threatening image.
I respect the desire of many people to avail themselves of the use of cannabis, for whatever reasons. I just am saddened that their commerce brings with it a very negative image as people enter and seek to live in our community.
Harry Martin
Cloverdale
