CARTOON BY JOEL MIELKE
emergency rooms or privately run clinics. I have had to make two hurried appointments for a serious respiratory infection in the past week, and both times was able to consult with a visiting physician from Ukiah. Dr. Shepard was most helpful. My waiting time is usually not more than 10 minutes at the new VA clinic. The rest of the staff have been universally polite, respectful and helpful, and include several nurses and medical personnel who have served the Humboldt veteran community very well in both the former and present VA clinics. I want to publicly commend all of them and reassure others in the public and the veterans’ community. John M.G. Brown, Petrolia
CR is History Editor: Eighteen years ago, the president of College of Redwoods saw the importance of a historic preservation program and HPRT was born (“Re-imagining CR,” April 11). Historic Preservation and Restoration Technology teaches the intricacies of historic preservation in all of its aspects. The HPRT program has trained 10 DANCO employees at the Samoa site, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy employees and CCC’s; helped Point Cabrillo restoration, the Falk Engine House completion, mold casting of the intricate details on the upper façade of the Arkley Center which had been slated for perma-
nent removal and Carson Mansion floor plan documentation; completed 50 state survey forms and barn assessments. HPRT obtained over $300,000 in grants for tools from the Carl Perkins Endowment for Career Technical Education. The Ink People have received $94,000 through community donations for the Annie B. Ryan House, which is a hands-on HPRT project. In addition, another $45,000 has been donated toward the Annie B. Ryan House because of HPRT. After the 1906 earthquake, San Francisco Bay Area was rebuilt using local redwood. As our building stock ages, we need vast numbers of trained crafts persons in all aspects of the trades in historic preservation to address the needs. The HPRT program is the only program west of the Mississippi that teaches students how to restore historical buildings. The spin-off of this program has long lasting effects on our communities and how we care for our environment. Please continue to support the HPRT program. Alexandra Stillman, Arcata
Write a letter! Please try to make your letter no more than 300 words and include your full name, place of residence and phone number (we won’t print your number). Send it to letters@northcoastjournal.com l northcoastjournal.com • NORTH COAST JOURNAL • THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013
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