Letters to the Editor

Thanks neighbors

Editor: This morning as I was out for my daily walk along the bike path that runs from MacArthur Street to Sonoma Meadows and borders the high school campus, there were seven or eight adults involved in picking up litter and trash deposited in the field and along the bike path by careless individuals. One of the ladies told me that this was not an organized clean up, only a few friends who wanted to clean up the area. I thanked her for her effort. I took the time to write this letter to thank the others in this group. It takes so little time and effort to acknowledge the efforts of our neighbors who do make a difference. About a half-hour later, on my return, the bike path and field looked beautiful.
Art Acosta
Sonoma

Editor: Two days before I read Kirsten Aguilar’s excellent Sun blog, “The Funny Thing About Death,” 11/28/08, I learned that a friend of mine, a young mother, has inoperable cancer. E-mailing to friends, I had searched in vain for a way to put into words the sense of injustice and heartbreak I felt – and then I read Kirsten’s piece. A gifted writer, in her tribute to a beloved pet she has captured the essence, the helplessness, of loss.  I want to thank Kirsten for offering several gifts – a poignant reflection of her time with Mango, a reminder of our fragility and, most important, permission to cry. I may well honor her invitation.
Ann Clark
Sonoma

Editor: The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is telling our Sonoma community they need to eradicate LBAM with bio-pesticide “twist ties.” Instead of “twist tie” use, there is a wiser and more common-sense solution. We could support California Congressman Farr’s effort, who has recently filed a citizen’s petition with the USDA in Washington, DC. The USDA has the authority to downgrade the LBAM’s classification, work with international trade partners to develop a classification of LBAM that is consistent with its status as a minor pest, and abort the eradication campaign. Our representatives – Congressman Thompson, Senator Migden, Assemblyman Huffman, Assemblyman Leno, State Board of Equalization member Betty Yee and Assemblyman Laird – have sent letters to the USDA urging the agency to evaluate this petition.
The Sonoma community has a choice, and I know they will think clearly and then choose wisely.
Yannick A. Phillips
Sonoma

Editor: I’ve been hearing and reading from many people why we need a full sized Sonoma Valley Hospital. We need it and it needs us.
Here’s what I recently found. At 61, without health insurance and ill for over two weeks without my own doctor, I called Vintage House for direction. They recommended I go to Sonoma Valley Community Health Center. (Thank you, VH). SVCHC recommended I get a CBC blood test and two chest X-rays. I was informed if I prepaid at the health clinic the blood test would cost me only $14 instead of $28 at the hospital lab. Why?
Then, I asked SVH how much it would cost for my X-rays. Their fees were $450 plus 1/3 more for a doctor to look at them and interpret them, totaling $600.
I found Santa Rosa Imaging only wanted $105 total but for those without insurance they offered a 40% discount making the cost $63. Santa Rosa Radiology wanted $48.60 total.  How can our local hospital expect us to give more money in bonds and donations, etc when we are obviously asked to pay more than we need to for their services already?
There are many citizens in this valley like me who don’t have health insurance and can’t afford to float a sinking hospital system that insists they gouge us for their services. That is part of the reason I continue to think we only need an emergency clinic and extended care facility in our valley. We have many top notch hospitals all around us in various other nearby towns. That’s why we have a fire department and ambulance service with outstanding EMTs to “stabilize patients” and get them to one of those hospitals. Sure, we may still pay higher fees at those hospitals but at least we don’t have to continue paying for a hospital we don’t really need. Next time you need medical tests, check around in nearby communities before you are overcharged here. I saved over $500 even though I did have to drive to Santa Rosa. Plus I could have taken the bus to save even more money rather than drive. You can too?
Gary Cramer
Sonoma