stands close to hold each other near.We will rebuild, we will lend a hand,we will continue to love our beloved land.September 11, 2001 wasn?t on our mind,how could anyone be so unkind?If only you could have reached out,we might have understood what you were all about.If only you had talked the talk,we could have helped you on your walk.Now no one knows the world?s fate,all because of a four letter word, hate.But America will continue to stand tall,because for us it?s all for one and one for all.God bless America and the world,may we stay cohesive, loving and strong.Now let us pray,each to our own God.AuthorSharon Brogan, 9/21/01Thank you, to the employees of the Ventura County Star, for contributing to and producing a usable American flag in the Sunday edition. God bless you all.Proud to be a former employee!Sharon BroganSanta PaulaNot Star-struckTo the Editor:I see that the Star continues to view Santa Paula as a hick town in dire need of social reform. It should be no surprise that they editorially applaud City-sponsored voter education. Their apparent naïveté regarding the political intrigues of this little town is amazing.Remember, the Star was quick to jump on the bandwagon urging Santa Paula to surrender to DOJ demands for district voting. Neither the Star nor those who brought the costly case upon us ever offered one iota of evidence that our current voting system was defective. The case was based solely upon the complaints of a few conniving individuals who were unhappy with the outcome of Council elections. They wielded the weapon of race shamelessly and both the DOJ and the Star bought into it without question. Some early investigative reporting by the Star might have revealed what the DOJ ultimately learned, but neither integrity nor honesty was likely to cloud an issue so fraught with newsworthy potential.Now that Santa Paula has agreed to let the people decide if we should change our voting system, we are about to spend even more money to ?educate the voters.? Will this fuzzy idea also forge ahead unsupported by any factual reasons for such a program? Just saying that voters need education isn?t enough. What is the assumption based on? Who are those potential voters who need our guidance? Why has the knowledge of how to register and the importance of voting eluded them and not the rest of us who were deprived of such civic-funded training? Apathy has been the biggest problem. Will apathetic non-voters voluntarily attend training classes or will we have to round them up and lock the doors?So far I have not read nor heard any rational argument for this expenditure. Has anyone? The idea was apparently conceived in haste and owes its life to some hazy urge to make a ?good faith? gesture. Whose good faith it buys is not revealed. I happen to believe that spending public money before establishing a true need is exercising a bit more faith than called for.Further, I can?t imagine how voter education could possibly cost the City $50,000. It?s certainly not a complicated subject. Round up the needy and unenlightened and I?ll volunteer - for free - to give them all they need to know about how to register and why they should vote. It shouldn?t take long because I?ll give them facts and not the politics. I?m serious about this offer. And then if the City still has $50,000 laying around looking for a genuine humanitarian need, send it to New York City where it will certainly be put to much better use.Bill GlennSanta PaulaJazzed byresponseTo the Editor:As chairperson of the recent ?Afternoon Jazz 2001? fundraising event held for The Murals of Santa Paula, I would like to thank everyone who made this event possible. We had a wonderful afternoon, a perfect day, great attendance and the Perfect Location for our fundraiser.A big thank you to the following: Ed and Barbara Beach for the use of their lovely courtyard, Ed Roina (the Mr. Holland Opus of Santa Paula) and his High School Jazz Band, to Bob Andrews and Henry Nava for the finale ?Jam Session? with Estrada Brothers, to Nicolas Blackshear for sharing his wonderful talent, both with the High School Jazz Band and the Bob Andrews Quartet, to Bacilio (Cico) Yzaguirre for the use of his equipment and talent on the sound system, to Strings & Things, Rudy and Jennifer Morua for their generous donation to the auction and to Johnny Sanchez from Strings & Things for his wonderful help on the sound system and mixer, to Tony Chavez ?Azteca de Oro Entertainment and DJ? for his generous donation for auction and assistance with sound and equipment, to Elias Valdez from Chino?s Market for all the liquid refreshments and tending the liquid refreshment bar, to Tony and Celia Diaz from Familia Diaz for their committee help and Celia giving up two precious days and working so hard, to my right hands Anne Graumlich and Marsha Rea for setting up all the refreshment and auction items, to Angela Dominguez for fielding the calls on auction donations, to Ernie and Joyce Carlson for allowing us the use of their home for storing all the auction items, driving shuttle and greeting committee, to Mike Kerr for driving a shuttle, Roland Rogers for driving a shuttle, to Charlie and Tisa Grant for the use of their van and driving the shuttle, to John Macik from Santa Paula Chevrolet for donating two vans for shuttle service, to Don Henthorn from Bend-Pac for sponsoring Bob Andrews Jazz Band and sound equipment, to Wayne Johnson and the Lions Club for sponsoring the remainder of the sound equipment, to Micki A-Z Catering for donating all the chairs and tables, to Norm Wilkinson for helping set up chairs and trash barrels, to Phil Greaves from PoRToSAN for donating the portable facilities, to Mary Lou Garnica for tending the ticket sales, to Bernie Garfio for tending the reservation desk, to the Robert Benavides family for their help in loading and unloading all the equipment, to Gonzales Jewelers for their generous donation to the auction, to all our community members for so many miscellaneous auction item donations, to all the BIDDERS, who put the icing on the cake, to Howard Bolton from H. Bolton Signs for his unselfish assistance and donation for all of our flyers and signs, to Susan Carlson Belgum for her assistance both Saturday and Sunday, to Gail Pidduck and Doug Nelson for their help, to Michelle Kolbeck and the Saint Sebastian Youth Group for all their help, and to the Santa Paula Times for their wonderful coverage and to all of you that supported and attended our Afternoon Jazz 2001, we thank you. There were so many that made this happen, and if I forgot someone, I apologize in advance. THANK YOU ONE AND ALL! We also thank the supporters who donated and could not attend. We are closer to our goal of 10 murals, depicting the history of the Santa Clara Valley. To our fearless leaders, Ernie and Joyce Carlson who had a vision and pursued it, we thank you. We are proud to be part of the Murals of Santa Paula.Anita PulidoChairperson ?Afternoon Jazz 2001?Santa Paula
Letters to the Editor
September 28, 2001
Opinion
Educational
opportunityTo the Editor:My name is Valeria Oliver and I was fortunate enough to be one of the chaperones on the Santa Paula 8th grade Washington, D.C. History Trip last year. I had no idea of the impact the trip would make on the lives of the students who went. It is for this reason that I, along with many parents and Santa Paula citizens, have volunteered to help with this year?s fundraising.The children learned so much about the history of this great country. They dressed and acted out Colonial Times in Williamsburg and Yorktown and saw the great monuments in Washington, D.C. They bowed their heads in a new found respect at Arlington Cemetery and at the Memorials for the Korean and Vietnam Wars. They were moved to tears at the injustices they learned about at the Holocaust Museum. They toured the Smithsonian Museums and dreamed of their futures. I know of several students from my group that now plan to pursue a political career or serve their country through military service, or just to revisit the country?s Capitol.Many parents and citizens are asking me if we still plan to go ahead with the trip, in light of the terrible tragedies of last week. I answer that, God willing, the answer is a resounding YES! Of course, situations may lead us to review our decision, but at this time we are full steam ahead. Perhaps we are even more so, as these students from this year?s group will see our country in a different light. They will realize that terrorists may not take away our greatest right: freedom.So, the fund raising has begun! You may be asked to help by buying candy or car wash tickets, by eating dinner at local restaurants that are having coupons or dinner fundraisers to help us, or by helping out with one of the many other fundraisers. We hope you can help.Feel free to call me (525-2913), or Isbell Middle School (933-5329), with any questions.Valeria OliverWashington, D.C. Fundraising Chairperson 2002We can all do somethingTo the Editor:I, like many, have been trying to find some action, some gesture, some perspective to mitigate the grief and horror I feel in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11. We give blood, we send money, we raise a flag, we pray. All of these are important and profoundly meaningful, but, at least for me, they offer only a temporary relief from the relentless and gruesome reality. I have also watched as those close to the tragedies, New Yorkers especially, have demonstrated the best of the human spirit with their support of their own, from those who are working heroically on the front lines of disaster to those who are baking them cookies and offering them glasses of water. Their solidarity and extraordinary kindnesses have been moving. I have found myself envying them, for at least they have something constructive to do, whereas I can only sit and watch from afar.But then it struck me that maybe there is something I can do. So many of our leaders are calling for a spirit of unity. And while I do feel united with and supportive of those in Washington, Pennsylvania, and New York, there is somewhere else I should also be focusing my efforts at unity and support. Right here in my own backyard. I?m not a civic leader, or diplomat, or in any position of influence. But I am a citizen of Santa Paula, and I am beginning to believe that that, in and of itself, may be as powerful a position as any other. And I feel quite sure that national unity will be all the weaker if it does not stand on a foundation of local unity.I will not be taking up arms to defend my country, I cannot heal the wounded bodies and spirits of the victims, I cannot even bake cookies and take them to relief workers. But the possibilities and opportunities for local community building are limitless. We can stop and speak to our neighbors. We can shop Santa Paula and bolster our local economy. We can join or support our local service groups and all the good work they do for those in need locally. We can volunteer at our children?s schools, or as tutors at the library. We could even pick up a piece of trash. It?s like spare change. One or two coins don?t seem like they matter much, but if everyone pitched in just a little, it quickly multiplies.When I think about it that way, I can actually feel hope in the face of this hopeless tragedy. I believe that unity can be achieved, and that it is, indeed, a worthy goal. In the words of Baha?u?llah, ?So powerful is the light of unity, that it can illuminate the whole earth.?Meg PhelpsSanta PaulaSpendingpublic fundsTo the Editor:First of all, I want to thank and commend two of our council members, Don Johnson and Rick Cook for having common sense and courage to vote against the City providing 50,000 dollars to educate the voters of Santa Paula. This is about the most ridiculous idea I have heard yet. I am very disappointed in Mr. Ray Luna?s vote for it and needless to say I will not be voting for him in the next election.After reading Mr. Bill Glenn?s letter in the Friday 9-21 edition, I totally agree with everything he said. Since when does a city have to take on the responsibility of an average voter to educate them? I believe that every citizen, if interested enough in an issue will take it upon himself to study the issue on his or her own. There are a lot of apathetic voters out there who will not take the time or trouble to study an issue or a candidate. It is not up to a city to provide the money to inform them. The very small group of people who have caused the city to spend needless thousands of dollars are at it again. They are tampering with the very principles of democracy to try and influence the way people choose to vote. I am very disappointed that common sense did not prevail and one councilman caved in to a special interest group and hopefully didn?t vote his conscience.Sadly to say, the divisive forces in the city of Santa Paula are still at work.Earline M. RandallSanta PaulaSupportMupu SchoolTo the Editor:Mupu Community Club is proud to sponsor the 2001 Fall Festival at Mupu School. The Fall Festival is one of our major fundraising events. It will be on October 27, 4-8:30 p.m. at Mupu School. We would like to thank everyone who helped out last year. With over 250 attendees, it takes many volunteers to make it successful. We are asking for your help in making another successful event.In our effort to continue the fun and reduce the cost, we are looking for donations of prizes or money for the booths, products or gift certificates for drawings, booth sponsorship of $25 (your name will be displayed on the booth of your choice), food, paper supplies, and booth construction materials are also welcomed. And, as always labor is especially welcomed.The purchase of new playground equipment is our fundraising goal this year. The school has had to remove some of the old structures for safety reasons. The upgrading of this equipment does not come cheaply. Fundraising will continue all year, as the other projects we fund for the students also need our support. The Mupu Community Club funds the Artist in the Classroom program, educational field trips, guest speakers, and other special events for the students. These would not be possible without your support of the Mupu students and the Community Club.The Fall Festival promises to be a safe, fun-filled event complete with games (where everyone is a winner), a haunted house, a costume parade and contest, food, drawings, a Country Store, a cake walk, and smiles on everyone. With your help we want this year?s event to be a big kick-off for fundraising for Mupu?s new play equipment.Monetary donations can be made payable to Mupu Community Club, and mailed: c/o Laura Teague, 1708 Cherry Hill Rd., Santa Paula, CA 93060. For product or gift certificate donations, please call me and I would be happy to pick them up. You can reach me at 525-8991.The Mupu Community Club would like to thank you for your time and consideration in supporting this worthwhile event.Laura TeagueFall Festival ChairpersonSanta PaulaPoem of hopeTo the Editor:On Our Minds NowThey whispered at night and attacked in the light,America in the throes of destruction, the object of hate and fear
