LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Volunteers and funding
Editor: I must thank you for your perseverance on behalf of the
folks in the county who do not get enough to eat. You have given us
a lot of visibility and judging by the response to Dining Out for
Life on Dec. 2, 2010 — it’s working.
However wonderful the publicity is, the article on Dec. 1, “Need
for volunteers, donations never ending for local food banks” leaves
one with the impression that Food for Thought-Sonoma County AIDS
Food Bank has more money and volunteers than they need. While we
have an adequate number of volunteers for the extra Santa-ly
duties, we never have enough volunteers throughout the year.
Where money is concerned, we are currently $180,000.00 short of
meeting our 2011 budget, due to government cuts. Food for Thought
was started at the grass roots level, and now we have come 360
degrees — once again counting solely on local citizens, friends and
colleagues for money to stay alive. While it is true that we run
three fundraisers each year (Garden Tour, Calabash and Dining Out
for Life), we have only a small staff of five, and count mainly on
the over 500 volunteers to keep things running.
The above-mentioned fundraisers do not replace government
funding. Nor do they replace major mailings. We shop at REFB
because it has the generic canned goods which can be purchased at
less than market value. We are always struggling to stay within our
budget and not cut services to our clients or thier children who
receive groceries from our Children’s Pantry Project.
Again, thank you for the publicity, but I felt compelled as a
veteran volunteer food faerie to set the record straight. Donate
today.
Barbara L. Doyle
Sebastopol
One hundred percent
Editor: Linda Zepponi-Hervey claims that “free to Be’s teen
panels provide medically accurate information”, in her letter of
Dec. 9. In the very same sentence she cites an incorrect “fact”
that “living an abstinent lifestyle is the only 100 percent way to
avoid the risk of pregnancy”.
Throughout history and across the planet, the only proven 100
percent effective method of birth control for the sexually active
is homosexuality.
This level of ignorance in the Executive Director of a sex
education organization is astounding and unacceptable.
Briahn Kelly-Brennan
Sebastopol
Free To Be misinformed
Editor: Your article on sex education in West Sonoma County
schools missed a key reason that parents like us are so worried
about abstinence-only-until-marriage instruction: The textbook used
by the district and the outside agency Free To Be present
inaccurate, biased information. Our kids deserve better.
The textbook in question goes out of its way to avoid mentioning
condoms, and suggests that anyone who has sex outside of marriage
does not have good character. As parents, We want to make sure that
our children are taught about the benefits of delaying sexual
activity. We also want to make sure that health experts are
teaching them accurate information about condoms, contraception,
and making healthy decisions. That’s why we support comprehensive
sex education.
Abstinence-only-until-marriage instruction, on the other hand,
teaches misinformation.
It’s our job to teach our kids about values that are important
to us. It’s the school’s job to teach them accurate
information.
Why is this not clear for the school district?
The law requires comprehensive sex education, all reputable
public health organizations support comprehensive sex education,
and the district itself adopted a policy committing to teach
comprehensive sex education. Yet the biased and inaccurate
abstinence-only textbook continues to be used, and the district is
considering bringing back the abstinence-only agency Free To
Be.
We are frustrated that our students continue to be denied the
accurate, unbiased information that they need and deserve.
Jane Krensky
Peggy Tourje
Sebastopol
Restoring trust?
Editor: Last week the new Sebastopol City Council made a wise
choice in electing Guy Wilson as mayor. He brings experience,
integrity and a much needed even-handedness to the job.
Unfortunately, in passing over Kathleen Shaffer for vice mayor,
they have allowed the politics of personal revenge to trump the
possibility of restoring trust and amity among council members. I
have no doubt that newly seated Michael Kyes will serve our
community well. However, to gratuitously insult such a dedicated,
experienced and capable council member as Kathleen Shaffer was an
unnecessary and petty act.
I had hoped for more from our new Council.
Larry Robinson
Sebastopol
Council intent
Editor: This is shades of the past replayed, if you are not a
puppet, make waves, want to move forward as councilwoman Shaffer
does, you are passed over to be vice-mayor and a puppet is put in
that spot.
The council appears to be afraid of her enthusiasm for forward
movement.
This is very disappointing, but not a surprise that they passed
up a very talented woman.
Linda Rouse
Deborah Shemish
Cory Mcguire
Darcy and Tom Halstead
Sebastopol
Thanks Rotary, First Five
Editor: During these difficult economic times, Tree House
Hollow, a private, non-profit preschool program on the Apple
Blossom Campus, would like to thank the Sebastopol Rotary Club and
the First Five Commission for the grants they awarded us for much
needed equipment.
We do have several families struggling to make ends meet during
this time and our Scholarship Fund is quickly being depleted. If
you, during this time of giving, are able to contribute to our
Scholarship Fund and make preschool a reality for these families,
we would greatly appreciate it. Send contributions to Tree House
Hollow 700 Water Trough Road Sebastopol, 95472.
Thank you for supporting the children of our community.
Franny Minervini-Zick
Sebastopol
Loss of trust
Editor: I am saddened to hear that another local, beloved
business was assaulted with employee theft (“Employee embezzles
$44,000 from Benedetti Tire” Sonoma West Times & News, Dec. 9).
I don’t know which hurts these small business more, the loss of
money or the loss of trust. And I know that it is that trust that
keeps employers from thinking it necessary to institute policies to
avert embezzlement. I could list several things to watch out for,
but that would just be tools for the thieves to use. So, if there
is only one thing that you are going to do, that would be to open
your own bank statements and look at your cancelled checks. Look
online if you have to, but the point is, you need to look.
Geni Houston
Sebastopol