Have a slow Christmas
T’was the night before Christmas and all things were a Twitter. Yes, the mice, all the other creatures and the rest of the house was abuzz and full of clattering. The stockings were not hung by the chimney with care; they were overstuffed with “stuff.” When was it that getting through Christmas Eve started feeling like making it to the finish line of a race?
It’s not too late
We are on the dawn of the Nov. 4 elections, but even if they were still many weeks away, it would still be too late to vote. Anyway, polling booths are very public places and the danger of catching Ebola could be very high. Plus, random “lone wolf” terrorists are probably lying in wait.
No crystal balls, but there is a plan in place
As the Board of Directors of North Sonoma County Healthcare District and Chief Executive Officer we thank Healdsburg Tribune publisher, Rollie Atkinson, for his recent timely editorial (“Our hospital’s crystal ball,” Sept. 11, 2014). The editorial does a very good job of describing many of the obstacles facing small community hospitals in Sonoma County, such as our own Healdsburg District Hospital, as they struggle to adapt to these conditions and overcome their detrimental effect. Some hospitals will not make it: witness the recent closure of Palm Drive Hospital in Sebastapol. But we believe it can be done and we are committed to that outcome in our community.
Extra school work, reminders
Local schools are welcoming back students and teachers from their summer break, which officially ended three weeks ago and we wish everyone a successful year of learning, personal growth and good health.
Future of fire services
The future of Healdsburg’s fire fighting services could look very different from what we all have become used to over many previous decades. The fire trucks and the siren alarms will be the same and the volunteer and paid emergency and safety teams will likely remain in place. But who is in charge, and how everything gets paid for could change dramatically.
Free-swinging arms
Much has been written about the United States Supreme Court decision in the “Hobby Lobby” case that effectively will deny some women access to four types of birth control because it no longer has to be a covered cost under their employer’s health coverage.
In memory of Saralee Kunde
Saralee McClelland Kunde died this week. She was 66 and had battled cancer for several years. Those who knew her understand what a loss this is for the county. They already know her almost unbelievably important role in creating the myth and magic of Sonoma County.
