Realizing a dream
Editor: Last winter, the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation and the Sonoma Valley Fund joined forces to make one of my dreams come true.
I have had a life-long desire to create a scholarship program to help college-bound students achieve their educational goals. If such a fantasy were possible, I was certain it could only be through an estate plan … nothing I would see in my lifetime.
The Sonoma Valley Education Foundation and Sonoma Valley Fund showed me how I could actually begin such a program now, albeit on a smaller scale. They have since established the scholarship program, managed the funds, identified interested students and guided them through the application process … an application process they had made wonderfully simple. Last June my husband Buck and I were delighted to have our first award presented to one of our Sonoma Valley High School students.
Yes, the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation and Sonoma Valley Fund made my dream a reality … and even better, one more Sonoma child is on the path to realizing their dreams, too.
The best possible future for our children, our community and our world depends on the education of our youth. They depend on us. I am glad we have The Sonoma Valley Education Foundation helping our community and our children.
Sue Sangiacomo
Sonoma
She just loves Joan
Editor: I am a big fan of Joan Huguenard. In fact, it is her column I read first in your paper each time I open it up.
Her recent article about Bev Bell has so much hope in it. It is an inspiring message about someone who is really doing something great out there in the big world. I am inspired by all that this one person has done and is doing.
Thanks to Joan for keeping us in the loop of goodness and hope.
Cathy Webber
Sonoma
Market reforms not needed
Editor: There are two Farmers Markets in Sonoma Valley managed by the same manager and by a board of directors. The popular Tuesday night market starts the first Tuesday of April and runs through October. The Friday market is every week all year round.
There’s been a lot of media hoopla about local vendors not getting into the markets. There are some people pushing for a managerial change and at the same time are not disclosing the true facts. The truth is a local vendor who is complaining about not being accepted into the Tuesday Night Market actually conducts business at the Friday Farmer’s Market. She stated this at the city council meeting. Two other local vendors at the same meeting stated they first started at the Friday Market and progressed to the Tuesday Night Market when there was available space and are satisfied with the process.
When the city council had their meeting about the Tuesday Farmers Market it was extremely late and it ended at 10:30 p.m. There were local vendors who are happy with the current market and had to leave the meeting before the market issues were discussed.
The current manager has managed the Sonoma Valley Farmers Market since 1987. She has shown true dedication and her attendance has been impeccable.
In full disclosure I have been a local vendor at the Tuesday Farmers Market for 12 years. I attend three markets weekly in my up-time and I can tell you all the markets I attend are run similarly.
The way the market is now works for Sonoma Valley patrons. Some of the proposed “reforms” may damage the market irreversibly.
Dyani Bachelder
Sonoma
In defense of Farmers Market
Editor: There is so much hostility in this world and it is sad to see it stemming-up in our own community. Local Sonoma Valley Vendors at the Farmers Market are not “good enough” to be there. They have made the Market the beautiful community outing it is. However, a few local citizens feel they have the right to be there and say, “Let’s destroy what took 20 years to build.”
Newcomers want in the Market but they are not willing to wait their turn. They want to expand it and then no one will be able to make a living. Selfishness, greed and name-calling are at play.
Bill Spencer
Sonoma
Raising witless sloths
Editor: The California Senate Select Committee on Obesity and Diabetes recently had a hearing on the effects of sugar-sweetened beverages on the rising rates obesity and diabetes.
They need to stop corporations from exploiting children’s affection for cute characters and their trust in whatever adults tell them.
Sociopaths hiding behind their “fiduciary responsibility” to make the highest possible profit for their corporations have led to the degeneration of generations of children and must be stopped. How low do student test scores need to get before the state assembly protects children from these predatory adults, who are worse than any pedophile in the sheer numbers they harm?
As the founding fathers intended, corporations should only be established for a public good and be held accountable or else lose their charter. This won’t be easy because of the corporate money sloshing around every state capital and Washington, D.C., but at a certain point evil shoots itself in the foot.
Besides lowering children’s physical health, as a teacher I see the results of this attack on our children’s brain chemistry so they have less impulse control and poorer memories. Also note the artificial sweeteners, although not Stevia, are worse because they are neurotoxins.
The many crises we face need smart, energetic, compassionate people but instead America is raising witless sloths that don’t care about other people because their brain chemistry is ruined.
To see how good food can correct the problems caused by junk food, see “Want to See a Better Report Card?” in the upper left corner of GoodSchoolFood.org.
Lauren Ayers
Sonoma