Letters to the Editor
A plea for the past and the chickens among us
Editor: What has happened to our famous and feral El Verano chickens? I know one thing that is happening-it is trying to happen to me with my pet chickens which are special buddies and my fellow gardeners. (They eat bugs and stir up my compost pile. They follow me around the yard when I am puttering and check out what goodies I might uncover.)
Chickens are still here in El Verano (also the Springs neighborhoods) but much fewer than in the past.
New people move in, some like the rural nature but others not happy about the chickens.
I have been in this house that we had built in 1984 and the chickens were here. We had no idea that you weren’t allowed to have chickens on a single lot! Chickens were everywhere, which is how I got my chickens; they moved in and liked it.
This August, I received a letter, “A Courtesy Notice” from the County Permit and Resource Department, stating that a complaint was filed against me because I was “raising chickens.” I had pet chickens, I was not raising them. But what they were really saying was I couldn’t have chickens on my property.
I contacted Code Enforcement, also Zoning, and Planning, to see about getting a special permit, so they told me they were so busy with other more important issues that I would have plenty of time to do research on the issue.
On October 8th a “Notice of Violation” came in the mail. It stated that an investigation was done (?) and my property was being used to “raise roosters”. (I have one 6-month-old rooster which had not even crowed yet), and that I was to abate or file a letter of appeal within 12 days, to the Hearing Officer. I went in personally and delivered the appeal to a code enforcement officer.
I am now going to write up a petition to allow me to keep my 9 hens until their days are over, and at that point I will not get any more.
The thought of not having these amazing, curious, humorous and playful chickens brings tears every time. If you don’t know chickens, you are really missing something. They are personalities to be dealt with and enjoyed. There is never a dull moment at my house.
I have written a lot of true stories about their antics and plan on writing many more, they are truly awe-inspiring.
So, slowly, the famous chickens of El Verano are being taken away, and along with them, the rural ambience that is so precious in a day and age when progress eliminates the past.
And a 74-year-old widow is being told to get rid of an important part of her life. (And yes, I do have a life!).
Doreen Proctor
Sonoma
El Verano—don’t call it the “Springs!”
Editor: Thank you, J.M. Berry, for reminding everyone that El Verano is a separate entity from the homogenous “Springs”. We have a rich history as well as a rich present here. We have the coolest (and the only) dance hall/bar – Little Switzerland, Follini & Eichenbaum and Juanita Juanita for delicious casual dining. And who could forget the feral chickens of El Verano? We have giant trees and a creek with an actual swimming hole. I suppose I should mention a world class golf course as well. All the best fond memories of Summer is what we have here, which is why it’s called El Verano.
Anne Petersen
Sonoma
“Creche war” is hot: Iraq is not
Editor: I am amazed frankly, that the “crèche wars” are still generating letters and conversation. Thank you, August and Don Sebastiani, for the diversion. While the war in Iraq is not important to this city council, this ridicules division is our main concern. As Joan Huguenard asks in her column,” Do we know that a war is going on?” Do we really care that our country is turning toward fascism? Do we realize that we will spend a great deal of years recovering from financial and governmental disaster?
As we wave and smile on the Friday Vigil, some of us count. 250 yeas to 5 nays on the day I counted. We haven’t taken a tally of those who say nothing and busily hurry by. You are the ones I worry about the most. Lost in your hurried lives, you rush from one place to another. In this sleepy town of blessed relaxation, do the crèche wars interest you? Do you care that your government condones torture? Will you notice when your child dies in combat?
October 27 will produce a large march in San Francisco. People will march from Civic Center to Delores Park at 11 am. There will be carpools from Sonoma and a bus from Santa Rosa. Call Dale at 707.935.0712 if you are interested. Please don’t bury your head in the crèche wars.
Carol Todd
Sonoma
Creche debate should not include ad hominem attacks
Dear Editor: I appreciate The Sun for providing the forum for the lively debate about the placing of a crèche on the Sonoma Plaza. I do believe that for the debate to be productive, we should avoid the temptation to make personal attacks. Having said that, I feel the need to respond to the writer who called me ignorant and laughable.
In 1989, the Supreme Court ruled that the display of a crèche on public property was unconstitutional. In subsequent rulings, however, the Court ruled in such a way as to leave issue ambiguous. Meanwhile other courts have struck down the display of religious symbols on public property. The separation of church and state was a vital issue for the founding fathers and we need to take seriously the placement of a religion’s icons on our public property.
And by the way, “In God We Trust” did not surface until the middle of the Civil War and did not appear on paper money until 1957.
Gary Shepard
Sonoma
In a nurtshell, crèche is a matter of freedom of speech
Dear Editor: Over the last couple of months, there have been many people speaking out against having a nativity scene at City Hall. I am surprised by a reoccurring justification for this opposition: the separation of church and state. Where is that in the Constitution? Why are these people not fighting for every American’s right to freedom of speech that is found in the Bill of Rights?
Jessica Byerley
Sonoma
