John BravoSanta PaulaSupport forGrad NiteTo the Editor:The Grad Nite Committee is once again at work planning our seniors’ graduation night event. We are very proud of this event as it honors our students and the last 12 years of their accomplishments. It also celebrates their future and all life has to offer them.Our goal for this all-night event is to provide an evening full of fun and memories and to provide a safe, sober and drug-free evening on what is statistically the single most dangerous night in a young adult’s life. We also provide parents with the security of knowing their student is safe as they will be notified if they fail to arrive or want to leave early from the event.Through the participation of parents, students, service organizations and the business community, this has been a tremendously successful event in the past. We again need assistance and ask for your help this year. The budget for this event comes solely from money raised by this committee in the form of donations and fundraisers. We need to raise approximately $12,000-$15,000 ($50 per student) to put this event on. We are asking for any monetary donation that you may be able to give toward this event. Your donations may also be in the form of volunteering time or raffle prizes for the students.Donations may be made to: Grad Nite Committee, c/o Christy McClain, 317 N. Palm Ave., Santa Paula, CA 93060.If you have any questions you may call Christy at 933-1244.Thank you for your consideration.Christy McClainSPHS Grad NiteChairpersonHeartfelt thanksTo the Editor:On behalf of Blanchard Community Library we would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the following individuals and businesses for contributing to the tremendous success of our first annual “Swing for the Seats” dinner dance! Eugene Marzec, Pat Alderson, Brenda DeJamaer, Shirley Ledbetter, Nancy and Gary Nasalroad, Richard Bryson and the “Seniors of Note,” Peggy Kelly, Glen Daley, Xavier Montes, Wendell Dowling, Esperanza Doering, John Nichols, Chris Lemon, Virginia Gunderson, Tink Strother, Sally Miller, Dolas Tubbs, Maureen and Stan Spencer, Barbara Rios, A to Z Catering, Santa Paula Theater Center, La Cabaña, Knights of Columbus, Kathy Hanks Gonzalez, Joanne Wright, Lou from High Performance Hair Salon, Martha Link, Lisa Sorensen, Pepsi Company, Vons of Santa Paula, Santa Paula Super Store, Jill Gregory and her SPHS Home Economics students, Wally Bobkiewicz, Dr. Luis Villegas, Elizabeth Blanchard, Geoffrey Clarke, Lim Sooi Keong, Howard Gavenman, Laura Brower, Steve Kunze, Doug Sorensen, Mary Calkins, Sally McNeal, Evelyn Thornton, Mal King, Alma Ikeler, Jane Wigley, Wilma Allen, Peggy Gavenman, Doris Jones, Dorcas McFarlane, Friends of the Library, Santa Paula Kiwanis Club, Santa Paula Rotary, and Santa Paula Soroptimists all provided incredible support. Due to the extraordinary generosity of those listed, as well as that of the community, we far exceeded our expectations, and will now be able to purchase a dozen chairs and three tables!Since our “Swing for the Seats” fundraiser was such a wonderful endeavor, we plan to host it again next year, and we hope to see you there! Thank you again to all of those who helped to make this event such a “swinging success”!Blanchard Community Library StaffThanks!To the Editor:To my dear friends in this wonderful town:How can I thank the Special Committee who thought I deserved to receive a Woman of History award on March 26th, before so many friends? How can I tell you how much it meant to me? It’s impossible, of course. But I can try, by continuing to do what I love, which has brought me to where I am today. You see, it’s easy for me, because I have the support of my husband, our children and my friends. I love to get up in the morning and look forward to a new day. Even though we are in our waning years, God continues to shower us with blessings. It hasn’t all been easy, of course. But out of pain, comes strength.So upward and onward! Your cards and gifts were surprises. Your greetings and congratulations are humbling. I still find it unbelievable that this skinny (yes, skinny) farm girl from Indiana could come with her Marine husband to that magical place called California more than 57 years ago, and find such a wonderful life. I remember seeing the Pacific Ocean for the first time. And later, going to our first live performance by a celebrity. Would you believe Al Jolson?Especially I want to give praise to the members and friends of the First Presbyterian Church on Davis St. for surrounding us with so much love for over 50 years. Our relationships there have meant so much to us. From the very first time we attended a service in 1952, we found a place to share our joys and our sorrows.Blessings to all of you,Jean DyerSanta Paula
Letters to the Editor
April 18, 2003
Opinion
Honored
To the Editor:Thank you Santa Paula for the honor you gave me as a “Woman of History” March 26.All the love you have given me and my family these (almost) 49 years has been honor enough. I have loved every minute of the little service I have given to the community.I am just getting a little slower doing things.Thank you again.Pauline HairSanta PaulaAmerica willnot turn backTo the Editor:America will not turn its back, she will not idly stand by but rather weigh carefully and well her grave important part; she chose the part of Freedom’s Friend and will pursue it to the end. Great Liberty, who guards her gates will shine upon her course and light the long adventurous path with radiance from God’s source, and though blood dye that ocean’s track America will not turn back!She will not turn until the hour when thunders through the world the crash of tyrant monarchs by Freedom’s hand down hurled. While Labor’s voice from sea to sea sings loud “My Country, ’Tis of thee,” then will our fair Columbia turn while all wars’ clamors cease, and with our banner lifted high proclaim “Let there be peace.” But till that glorious day shall dawn, she will march on, she will march on.America #1President Bush - My prayers are with you and all the families that have lost loved ones. God is with all the military - young men and women are fighting for our country. Come home soon - we loved you! Kick butt - give them hell.Put out your flag and yellow bows and support our military.God bless America.Linda LloydSanta PaulaShop Santa PaulaTo the Editor:We strive to bring new businesses to Santa Paula. But that’s not enough. We in Santa Paula need to patronize these new businesses.There is a lovely shop named Pamela’s on Main Street. Go in, shop and say hello to Pam. Go further down Main to Chili Hut. They have new owners - late hours. Go in and ask for Joe, he will take care of you. Our Brownie’s Basement on the other side of the street is fairly new too.So let’s all make these people welcome - shop Santa Paula.June WelshSanta PaulaWe don’t need another VietnamTo the Editor:If there’s one thing the U.S. and the world doesn’t need is another war to break out like the one we have now. I’m talking about the current war between the U.S. and Iraq which has taken a number of lives of our servicemen, including the life of Michael Blitz of Ventura. Was very awful to lose someone that young with a family including two newborns who he’ll never ever see because they will never see their father ever at all.All the point that I’m trying to emphasize is that we’ve been through this situation twice before with Iraq, first with Bush Sr., then Clinton and now Bush Jr. Like I said, we’ve been through this situation twice before and both times we tried to get Saddam thrown out of power but like the diplomacy we or should I say the U.S. failed to do so and that’s what caused the two previous wars between the U.S. and Iraq.The bottom line is that we don’t need another war unless the U.S. topples Saddam between this being a third time with Iraq might not be a charm just like it wasn’t for all the ones who lost their lives in the bloodiest war ever in the 60s. So let’s hope we come out the victor if the U.S. is gonna try to stop Saddam and overthrow him so let’s just pray to that.
