Letters to the Editor

You want $66 million?It must be the water

I was happy to read the op-ed by Joe Zenovic, water board treasurer,

Ramona Sentinel

July 12, that the current water board is doing a terrific job, an improvement over the previous water boards that he says did not do a good job. Thank you, Joe, we appreciate your hard work and your humility.

I do question Joe’s position, however, that the Water Board is doing everything it can, and that is in regard to what are apparent mind-bending substances in our water system. I assume that these substances are in our water because nothing else can explain the school board’s approval of a $66 million bond (for the Nov. 6 ballot). It must be the water!

As I understand it the school district is facing a state board of education takeover partially because of a $25M loan taken out by the previous school board. They don’t have enough money coming in to pay the $25M and other expenses, so they want the voters to approve a $60M loan to pay off the $25M loan with the same income. This could be indicative of something in the water in my view, and I think Joe Zenovic is the guy to investigate.

While you are at it, Joe, please also investigate why the school district upper level administrators continue to take home salaries that rival that of our highest paid state employees, yet apparently can’t balance a budget, but want us to trust them to good use of $66M. I am guessing that the public won’t approve this bond, but if they do, it will have to be because something is in the water. Thanks again, Joe, we look forward to your report.

Dave Patterson

Ramona

Special search

I am searching for a secluded association of ascetic solitaries, each living separately in a wilderness/nature area, much like the early Christian desert mothers/fathers (in contract to a compacted monastic development).

The southern hermits of Mt. Athos (the Eastern Orthodox Christian monastic republic bordering Greece) are an example, but the republic is only open to males.

Any reader time and knowledge would be profoundly valued and appreciated beyond possibility of expression.

I can be contacted anytime seen in town, library, or hitchhiking (wearing white), or through the

Ramona Sentinel

.

Thank you.

Oopah Tieriata Tahiti a vau

Ramona

Put small-town spiritinto educating our kids

Recent news has brought home the fact that RUSD is in deep trouble and sinking fast. The only solution to these financial woes continually circles back to the shoulders of the teachers who are being asked to sanction a 12 percent pay cut. These folks have kids to feed and educate, too.

Is it really conscionable to ask these teachers to bail out the district? What if the small-town spirit kicked in and all of us pledged a small percent to educate our kids as they deserve to be.

We would expect a full accounting from fiscal services (no fancy gratis cars for the superintendents). People could pledge what they could afford and we all share the responsibility.

This is doable.

Cheryl Clarke

Ramona

Four-H’er invites allto Ramona Junior Fair

I encourage everyone to come to the Ramona Junior Fair and Livestock Auction to look at the wonderful animals that members of 4-H and FFA have raised.

The auction is on Saturday, Aug. 4. The buyer check in starts at 11 a.m., the auction starts at 1 p.m. and the Buyers Dinner is between 4 and 6 p.m. The auction order is swine, rabbits, goats, chickens, and sheep. After the Buyers Dinner is special fed veal then beef.

I’m Elizabeth Dean from Ramona Stars 4-H. I am 12 years old. This is my sixth year in 4-H, and my second year at the Ramona Junior Fair.

This year I raised two goats and a lamb. I have spent countless hours feeding them, working with them, clipping them, washing them, exercising them, and loving them so they can have the best life possible. I hope you can come to the fair.

Elizabeth Dean

Ramona