Advertisement

Letters to the Editor

Share

Enthusiastic support for mural project benefit

The Ramona H.E.A.R.T. Mural Project held its first major fundraiser on Sunday, Feb. 12, at Milagro Farm Vineyard & Winery. The Board wants to thank everyone involved for their astounding efforts to make this event a huge and happy success.

This community appears to have been thirsting for a wine and food event like this one, since we blew by our attendance goal by more than 30 percent. Many comments were made about holding an event like this twice a year to benefit the mural project. Stay tuned on that.

Additional generous donations to the silent auction prizes were made by local and North County businesses, proceeds from the sale of wine bar tables by a local artisan were received when two tables were sold, winery owners Kit and Karen Sickels threw in additional perks to please the crowd. Food and its beautiful presentation was provided by John Little Catering, and Seidl’s Party Rentals provided touches to make an elegant set for the food displays. Local violinist Andrew Stubbs strolled through the crowd providing soothing and lovely background music.

The first mural is being installed on the tower of the Town & Country Real Estate and Home Loans building at the corner of 10th and Main on Feb. 16, 17, and 18, with the community invited to meet the artists, John and Jeanne Whalen, and see the final art piece on Saturday Feb. 18, from 3 to 5 p.m.

Funds raised from the Milagro event will start the process for the next mural in the aggressive program to install five murals a year over the next five years in the town. Thank you, Ramona, for your enthusiastic support!

S. Elaine Lyttleton,

president of the Ramona H.E.A.R.T. Project Board, on behalf of the board

Questions group’s intersection concern

Re: Article Feb 9, 2012, “Busy intersection remains priority for planners.” (Highway 67 and Highland Valley/Dye Road)

In the above referenced article, our Ramona Community Planning Group was portrayed as being very concerned with the traffic jams during peak hour traffic at the intersection of 67 and Highland Valley/Dye Road.

I believe this is not the case. If they were concerned, why don’t they have the problem intersection on their “top ten road projects priority list ?”

For a number of years, I have asked our planning group to put the problem intersection on their “priority list” and they would not listen. I would go to the Trails and Transportation Committee and they would not listen.

Instead of asking the county and the state to improve intersection of 67 and Dye Road so that thousands of Ramona commuters would not have to suffer, the planning group asked for other road improvements such as 1) the “Dye Road Extension” which will cost approximately $7 million, 2) the Ramona Street Extension which will cost approximately $4 million, and other road projects which are not as critical as the intersection of 67 and Highland Valley.

With the $12 million, our planning group could have fixed the biggest traffic problem in Ramona. I am very amazed that Ramona voters continue to vote for these people that don’t really represent their interests.

Our planning group should get their heads out of the sand and ask SANDAG (the county agency that funds many of the road projects in San Diego County) to separate the widening of Highway 67 from Mapleview through Dye Road into 2 separate Phases:

Phase One, from Archie Moore to 1/2 mile east of Dye Road. and

Phase 2, from Mapleview to Archie Moore.

Had the current planning group and past planning groups not been so unresponsive, they could have listed the problem intersection on their priority lists and there would have been a good chance the intersection would have been fixed years ago.

I think it’s time we got some new faces on our Ramona planning group. Keep that in mind, Ramona, this November.

Joe Minervini,

Ramona

Advertisement

At a time when local news is more important than ever, support from our readers is essential. If you are able to, please support the Ramona Sentinel today.