Letters to the Editor
Opinion
Published: May 22, 2009
Another win for Santa Paula book-lovers
To the Editor:
It was another great Spring Book Sale by the Friends (and their friends) of the Blanchard Community Library, with those famous low prices and serendipitous finds in all book categories. Our faithful local book-lovers’ response was again warm and gratifying, as every penny of the profits goes to the new books, equipment, and many programs of our Library.
Volunteer helpers, without whose crucial assistance these sales could not happen, were out in force on Saturday, May 2nd. Headed by Director Dan Robles (with daughter and Library Assistant Andrea) were helpers from the SPHS Key Club - Robyn Saldino, Andre Murphy and Victoria Timar; Scouts from Troop 304 Tom and Rowan Becher; some once-and-present Library Board members Ed Geis, Brenda DeJamaer (and husband Jack), Beverly Mueller (and daughter Luana); faithful Kiwanians Gene Marzec and George Appel; hard-working Library workers Frankie Fierroz and Isaac Mendoza; and longtime Library booster Carol Hardison. Others also signing in and providing assistance with many tasks were Bill Armbruster, Nancy Duenas, Beth and John Watts, Ninette Reyes, Jean Eggenschwiler, Gretchen Taylor, Kate Nelson, Talia Wunder, and Jose Navarro.
The Friends of the Library regulars who do the year-round sorting and boxing, etc., were Mary Calkins, Nancy Nasalroad, Pat Alderson, Margaret Watts, Chris Lemon, Jean McGregor, Ellen Ruby, and Steve Lattimore. Busy cashiers were “Old Faithful” Al Sundstrom, Steve Lattimore, and Jean McGregor. Special thanks go to Suzi Skutley, Peggy Kelly, and Don and Debbie Johnson of the Santa Paula Times for the fabulous publicity... and Brian Wilson for his BIG front-page photo! We are also extremely grateful for all the volunteers who always show up to help both at 7 a.m. and at 3 p.m., and kudos to all those book-loving, book-buying Santa Paulans! You are greatly appreciated.
Saturday’s sale and silent auction netted in the neighborhood of $2,500 plus, and all of it is dedicated to the needs of our wonderful Library, which in these tough times certainly merits the support of all of us.
Chris Lemon
Friends of the Library
So long Jess
To the Editor:
Last week Santa Paula lost a very good citizen and a well respected wonderful man and businessman in the name of Jess Victoria. Jess was well liked by many here in town. He was always very kind and friendly with those who knew him very well.
He was also a very opinionated type person who never hesitated to speak his mind and opinion. Jess was also well liked by the people in the community that he lived in, and was well loved, too, and judged by others by his peers and for what he stood for, and that is for what he believed in and that is the love for the people and the city of Santa Paula.
If there is anybody in my mind with no doubt who can speak any words of wisdom it was Jess, who really had what it took to say any kind of wisdom of words, no matter if you saw him at the store or went to his house to visit him. But most of all, if you went to his shop to visit with him and you started a conversation with him and you tell him about this, then he will tell you something and that is what he thinks of this and what he thinks of that, and he will tell you right then and there. Well, no matter what it was and how, it is no doubt in my opinion Jess was a wonderful and good outspoken man who cared a lot for his home town and for his community and for the people of the city of Santa Paula.
Jess, I have only one thing to say and I’m going to say it now: so long, Jess old buddy old pal, it was very good to know you. And most of all the city of Santa Paula, the people and the community are going to miss you and we’re going to miss you very, very much, including my family. We are going to miss you very, very much. So long Jess, and always be in our hearts, minds, thoughts and prayers, too. And we’ll always remember you forever and you’ll never be forgotten. Goodbye Jess.
John Bravo
Santa Paula
Thank you KKZZ
To the Editor:
To the radio personnel of AM 1400 KKZZ, I just want to say thank you for bringing back the Angels back onto the airwaves, because it was about time that the Angels broadcast came back to the radio airwaves of Ventura County. And what a better place than to put them is back on AM 1400 KKZZ, because for years the Angels have been a part of the AM 1400 radio airwave, for way over 30 or more years.
For the longest time I thought that the Angels would never come back to the Ventura County radio frequency airwaves, but I had a very funny good thought that they would. Well, they are back and I’m glad that they are back, and I hope that they stay here in Ventura County, and I hope that they stay here on AM 1400 KKZZ, because this is and that is the home of the Angels of Los Angeles, and not some other thing that AM 1400 has. And just like AM 1450 The Boomer KVEN has the Dodgers and AM 1520 KVTA has the Lakers and the Kings, I’m just glad to see that some station has an interest in bringing the Angels to the radio frequency airwaves, and I’m glad that AM 1400 KKZZ did that.
And now I wish that some radio station would put the Clippers and the Ducks on the radio frequency airwaves here in Ventura County, and I hope that they do it this next upcoming season of the 2009-2010 basketball and hockey seasons. But no matter what, Angels baseball is here to stay and to stay in Ventura County, and I hope that they stay here forever and ever and for years to come for the love of the game, okay.
John Bravo
Santa Paula
Stop, look, listen, salute
To the Editor:
The best of ceremonies ever anywhere is put on every year on Memorial Day by our own local veterans at Santa Paula Cemetery. Don’t miss this large serious event. You will feel proud to be a free American and free to pray in whatever way that you desire. Protestant, Jewish, Catholic, Mormon, or Buddhist. And freely fly our Stars and Stripes proudly.
Most of us born here are proud of our U.S.A.
Memorial Day is a very important day for all Americans as a memory to all the veterans of all wars to say thank you for giving yourself to save our freedoms and the freedom for other countries as well. Many in other countries love our U.S.A. even though the left wing tries hard to screw that up. If you follow the news, you remember that Sadam Obama tried to cut off all veterans’ medical including the wounded coming back. A very bad move. But the veterans won out from one who hasn’t shown real proof that he was born here on U.S. soil.
Ken Zimmet
Santa Paula
Elections matter
To the Editor:
Cabrillo (CEDC) is negotiating with Santa Paula for approval of their 150-unit Plaza Amistad project. This 4-story abomination is to be located west of the Weyerhaeuser plant, just north of rail tracks designated for eventual commuter use. No matter what is done to prevent it, children are attracted to train tracks. This project is in the wrong location.
Santa Paula has been extremely generous to this developer who is now suing us. To accommodate them, a prior council (whose, members were rejected by voters) changed zoning on this parcel from industrial to high density residential. That council even gave CEDC $400,000 that should have been used to improve existing low-end housing. Cabrillo still insists upon 150 units but has suspended their lawsuit against us during negotiations.
This leaves current council members in a quandary. They may be forced to choose between approving another ruinous Cabrillo project that will be a perpetual drain upon our schools and community, or face unending lawsuits paid for with public funds available to this “non-profit” developer. It’s well to remember that the first payment of blackmail is inevitably the smallest.
Cabrillo is supposedly a “non-profit” funded by grant money (our taxes). Since they are not dependent upon profit, why are CDEC executives putting so much legal pressure on Santa Paula instead of just downsizing this project?
The answer is in the cost of construction. Based on the figures that CEDC has projected, their cost of construction will be about $450 per square foot. This is an exorbitant cost per foot. Building a high-end custom home costs about $300 per square foot.
CEDC needs to furnish the city a full breakdown and justification for their cost of construction. Since the taxpayers are footing the bill, surely we are entitled to the facts. CEDC would love to fleece our Sacramento government spenders for 150 units at $450 per foot in the righteous cause of low-income housing. Building only 50 units (even at $450 per foot) just doesn’t have the same potential for CEDC fat cats whose income undoubtedly relates to cash flow.
The multiple dip on the taxpayer continues. Plaza Amistad will justify higher pay and bonuses for CEDC big wigs, attract low-income persons from far and beyond, generate far more police calls, and pay no property taxes. Taxpayers will make up the shortfall costs for city services and schools.
Elections matter. Our Council was elected by a majority of voters to govern our city. It is their responsibility to approve and disapprove development, insisting upon balance with other cities. It is also their responsibility to protect taxpayers from excessive government spending. If voters had wanted another low-end Cabrillo project we would have reelected those whom we rejected.
Delton Lee Johnson
Santa Paula
Fire Department Chaplin
To the Editor:
Saturday May 16 my wife of sixty six years passed away in her sleep. The Santa Paula Police and Firemen stayed with me for awhile A fireman asked me if I would like to have the Santa Paula Dept Chaplin speak with me, he could have her here in a few minutes. I agreed with him. Soon Chaplin Kay Bolton arrived appropriately dressed and perfectly made up and not a hair out of place. We sat face to face and she was a perfect solution to my situation. I can’t tell you how much she helped me. After she left as my family was arriving, we decided to have a small family service in our home and knew that Kay would be perfect for us. Fortunately for us she agreed and did a celebration of life for us, we had 26 family members and they all agreed she was perfect. She mentioned everything we discussed, it was amazing she remembered everything we discussed Saturday. She is my nomination for citizen of the year. If any one is ever in this same situation I would recommend asking for her, she’s an angel!
Bob Tatham
Santa Paula
|
