Disappointed in Commander in Chief
EDITOR: I just raised the U.S.A flag at our office in honor of Veterans Day. How proud I am of that flag! I am a veteran.
But what happened this week with our President makes me sad. In Paris, for the WWI centenary events, he made a fool of himself and our country. He was a public no-show at a scheduled tour of a military cemetery for U.S. soldiers while other world leaders attended and paid homage. His excuse was the rainy weather! But I submit that he was acting like a spoiled, selfish little boy. French President Macron had just given a speech denouncing the rise of nationalism, which is Trump’s new mantra. Then, just when you think that things couldn’t get any worse, President Trump tweets about the California fires and states that California is mismanaging the forests and threatens to cut funding. He made no mention of the suffering people and the heroism of the firefighters. One can only conclude that this is a man bereft of history with no heart.
Gary Harris
Sebastopol
Power vs. Powers
EDITOR: I really wish that Richard Power had done a better job of differentiating himself on the ballot from our beloved Doctor Richard Powers. He should have used a middle name or something. How many people voted for him thinking they were voting for Dr. Powers, who has been fully committed to keeping our local hospital open, whereas Richard Power does not appear to have made that same commitment.
Paula Shatkin
Occidental
Foster families needed
EDITOR: Throughout our beautiful Sonoma County, scores of children are removed from their homes every year due to neglect, abuse or an unlivable home life.
The need for foster families and foster homes is ever increasing, and for this to change, we as a county need public and community support. My immediate family has offered our home as a foster home for over ten years, and with almost thirty children having come under our roof, we have seen the effects negative substances can have on them.
The unruly aftermath of drug and alcohol overuse is permanently detrimental and should never be experienced by anyone, let alone those living within our own county lines.
I ask that as many people as possible, with as much support as possible, consider financially contributing to the current foster homes we have available, or even taking that step themselves and opening their doors for these needy children. With the help of community members, together, we can provide every child in Sonoma County with a future worth looking forward to.
Organizations available for such assistance include TLC: Family and Child Services, which can be contacted by phone at 707-823-7300.
Emilly Hambly
Healdsburg
Investing in local journalism
EDITOR: I just invested $1,000 to Sonoma West Publishers and now have 250 shares of stock, which makes me a stockholder in the newspaper I’ve read for the past 30 years!
It’s been frustrating hearing about “fake news ” from our current president, and I’ve been distressed about the murder of a respected Washington Post journalist whose death still hasn’t been accounted for and whose body hasn’t even been returned to his family.
Making this small contribution to my local newspaper has helped me feel I have contributed toward fighting this frightening climate of hate for journalism. I’ve been depressed because I felt it was yet another issue that distressed me but which I had no control over.
I feel now I’ve found a way to push back against this menacing climate of hate and supporting my local newspaper seems to be a good first step.
Marian Murphy
Healdsburg
