Joe Hammana, you are missed

I was one of the many people Joe Hammana greeted each time he saw me at the gym or at Joe's Pizza and Subs. He didn't know me by name, but he didn't forget a face either.

Joe's is popular for its American fare, but I've always been a fan of his Middle Eastern dishes. Joe's will live on, but his presence will be sorely missed.

Tory Wilson, Santa Cruz

In praise of Dr. Yeh

I think that the Sentinel's March 12 article on page one might be interpreted by some as critical of Tobias Yeh, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Yeh is an amazingly bright and extremely competent, up-to-date pharmacist and an exceptional physician. I admire him very much. He is a truly excellent, uncommon and very valuable resource for the local medical community, and an excellent teacher and resource for practicing physicians in nearby communities.

Dr. Yeh sometimes travels to other hospitals to offer continuing education to their medical staff. He does not receive remuneration from physicians whom he teaches, nor from their hospitals. As new drugs appear, or new information comes to light about medication in use, it is to the advantage of everyone that they be intelligently discussed with practicing physicians. Sometimes, therefore, a pharmaceutical house will subsidize education lectures to appropriate groups of physicians. Any such subsidized lecture

is so identified. It is only fair to remember that the guest speaker has to travel to and from his office to the hospital offering his lecture to their staff, and this will cost him a half-day or more away from his practice. It has developed that pharmaceutical houses sometimes subsidize this cost, as it is to the advantage of all concerned.

John A. Field, M.D., Santa Cruz

Thanks for DeCinzo

Enjoying DeCinzo!

Thank you.

Nancy Meyberg, Santa Cruz

Francis: The patron saint of animals

I was delighted to learn that the newly elected pope chose for himself the name of St. Francis of Assisi, generally known as the patron saint of the animals. Indeed, Catholic and Anglican churches hold ceremonies blessing animals on his feast day of Oct. 4.

On one of his nature walks, Francis reportedly preached to the birds and is often portrayed with a bird in his hand. On another occasion, Francis concluded a pact with a ferocious wolf that was terrorizing local townsfolk, whereby the wolf would quit preying on the town's sheep in exchange for being fed regularly. He even persuaded local dogs to stop harassing the wolf. He freed a rabbit from a trap, returned caught fish to their stream, and fed half-frozen bees in winter-time.

I hope that Pope Francis will inspire Catholics and all persons of goodwill to show non-human animals the respect and compassion they so richly deserve, particularly when it comes to subsidizing their abuse and slaughter for food at the checkout counter. Joining the Meatless Mondays trend may be a good start.

Solomon Levine, Santa Cruz

Doctors not crooks

I have worked with the physicians mentioned in your recent article headlined "Drug Profits to Doctors." They are articulate, knowledgeable, caring physicians. Be thankful that they share their knowledge with others and that financial encouragement exists for them to do so. Enhanced by real-world experience, the knowledge of community physicians is a sadly underutilized resource. Academic physicians routinely enhance their incomes at industry-sponsored educational events. Their audiences are trained to discern fact from fiction. They don't need to be fed narratives filtered by an arbitrary commercial-free standard. Community physicians are no less ethical than academicians and no less insightful than voters, who are constantly exposed to the excesses of free speech. Santa Cruz is blessed with top-notch physicians. They have much to offer their colleagues and their community. Don't assume the worst possible motivation. Your local physicians are one of your community's most precious assets.

Larimore Cummins, M.D., Santa Cruz

Doctors not 'padding their pockets'

I was very sorry to see the Sentinel sensationalize the issue of drug company payments to doctors. The three doctors mentioned in the article are all competent, compassionate and ethical physicians who have improved the health of thousands of Santa Cruzans over many years of dedicated practice. The payments they received have been mostly for giving lectures about new drugs to an audience of medical practitioners, all of whom are quite capable of making up their own minds as to what drugs are best for their patients. The gifting of drug companies to doctors has been dramatically and rightfully cut back over the past decade. Current payments to doctors for providing lectures are legal and fully disclosed. There are no secrets about this. To accuse some doctors of "padding their pockets" with drug company money is an unjust description of legitimate service being provided.

Terry Hollenbeck, M.D., Felton

Dr. Yeh's an expert

Your story Monday about physicians being paid by drug companies noted Dr. Tobias Yeh was paid "largely (for) speaking arrangements..." If the state Legislature offered you $1,000 to lead a journalism workshop, would you take it?

Yeh earned a doctorate in pharmacology along with his medical degree. When he worked at Westside Urgent Care, he did a great job patching me and my family up or sending us on to specialists. He took time to explain his treatment and any medication he might prescribe, and to patiently and thoughtfully answer any questions or concerns.

I'm not comfortable with drug companies paying doctors. But if Dr. Yeh were speaking about drugs -- or patient care -- I'd pay attention.

John McNicholas, Santa Cruz

Police killings should be federal case

Congratulations to Leon Panetta and to Rep. Jackie Speier for making a federal case, literally, out of the murder of our police officers. The military must explain its role in allowing the killer to be out on the street; and our government must insist that their trivialization of rape end immediately. In honor of our dead, we must accept nothing less.

Deborah Taylor, Santa Cruz

Thank you for your support, Santa Cruz

My husband and I recently returned from attending the memorial services for our beloved niece, Detective Elizabeth Butler, and her partner, Sgt. Loren "Butch" Baker. On behalf of our extended family, I would like to express our gratitude to the entire community of Santa Cruz for their response to this tragedy. The thousands of people, civilians and first responders alike, who lined the streets to honor the fallen, graphically illustrated this simple truth: evildoers may get the headlines, but the good among us are the overwhelming majority. Thank you.

Terry Osborne, Portland

Sentinel coverage detailed, excellent

Thank you for your detailed and excellent coverage of the recent tragedy and loss of our officers. Your coverage allowed those of us who consider ourselves to be part of the greater community to be informed and participate at the level appropriate to us. Your coverage was an important service to the community. Thank you.

Marilyn Humphrey, Santa Cruz

Sometimes you just gotta wonder ...

I can't get a plastic bag in this county at the store, but used/dirty needles are left in the open in our parks and playgrounds?

Transients are allowed to camp and live in their motorhomes for weeks on end but I got verbally reprimanded by the CHP for leaving my travel trailer parked at a friend's home (with permission) overnight in a residential neighborhood after being there for less than 12 hours?

We pick up after our dog but many homeless encampments are riddled with piles of human waste left behind for others to clean up/step in?

Mountain bike riders are banned from riding on most of the Pogonip area because they don't want trail damage, really? However it's OK to deal drugs, leave your trash all over the place, sleep on the sidewalk, and block the sidewalks with mean dogs and shopping carts full of junk?

Want a free cellphone, meal and handout of social services? No problem. We have all this and more ...

I work in the Harvey West area and see these things and others on a daily basis. I am generally an upbeat and positive person, but with all the problems that have been increasing as of late, I feel I just need to vent a little. Maybe I should just "turn the other cheek," keep the "blinders on," but my feeling is that approach has not worked for the past 30 to 40 years in our community.

Time for a change.

Greg Willis, Soquel

Story on Dr. Kenny disappointing

I am disappointed with the Sentinel's professional ethics in regards to your story on Dr. Katherine Kenny. Dr. Kenny has a diagnosed bipolar disorder. She had an unfortunate episode that led to probation, treatment and disciplinary action by the state medical board. However, your article continued down a detailed path I can only describe as tasteless and unnecessary. Ethical journalists show compassion; ethical journalists avoid pandering to lurid curiosity. Your story failed on both counts.

Margaret Loos, Watsonville

Female surfers should get better coverage

I just read your coverage of the Scholastic Surf League's finals. Eleven paragraphs about the boys in the contest, five about the girls. Really? It's high school, can we apply some Title IX standards here? And a picture of Selah Bartlett falling and Max Nunes making a nice bottom turn? We're excited about the boys who can surf well, but I'm sure at least half your Santa Cruz readers would like to hear about up-and-coming girls. I see more and more women in the water and it would be nice if that change was reflected in how surf contests are covered.

Tracy Cone, Santa Cruz

Let's be kind to our health care providers

I was saddened upon reading a recent article by Jondi Gumz who usually does a decent job of being a journalist; however, her recent story on Katherine Ann Kenny was at best ignorant, at worst mean-spirited, tabloid journalism! Admittedly, the case Gumz publicized is part of the public record; however, I was shocked that the Sentinel chose to publish an article that didn't respect the privacy of a professional health care provider who is going through a difficult period. I'm neither a patient nor friend of Dr. Kenny, but I would guess that she does her best. Writing about her personal struggles serves no purpose unless the Sentinel has decided that it wants to take a serious position on educating people about "mental illness" and helping to create a culture of compassion. My perception is that this article did nothing to that effect. I invite you to prove me wrong, please.

Leigh Selby, Aptos

Put more ag focus on Watsonville acquisition

I applaud the Sentinel for its feature coverage on agriculture in Santa Cruz County (nicely timed with the license plate for California Agriculture).

I urge the Sentinel to address the concerns of the Watsonville residents (Fischer, Newell, Earnshaw and Milczarek) whose recent letters to the editor commented on Watsonville's coming special election on converting 80 acres of prime agriculture land into another mall.

I cannot vote in Watsonville -- but if I could, I would vote against paving over prime agriculture lands that contribute to our county, state and national productivity. I would prefer that Watsonville focus on overall planning for revitalizing downtown, managing the highway that cuts through downtown, etc., rather than holding a special election to revise Measure U.

During a recent Watsonville Wetlands Watch planting session, I dug my hands into the slough's black soils -- Santa Cruz County's Black Gold! Do we really want to pave over more of our richest, irreplaceable natural resource?

The Sentinel's feature focus on county agriculture should address this major county land use decision.

Wendy King, Santa Cruz

Breast cancer and abortion: no relation

In response to Dr. Maloney's letter of March 10, according to the National Cancer Institute there is no increase in breast cancer risk due to abortion (www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/abortion-miscarriage).

Hood and Laura Chatham, Scotts Valley