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Letters to the editor

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We’re not all rednecks

Your blatant Tea Party letters section has crossed a major line. When you publish a letter urging people to “watch channel 37, Fox News” for the truth and not all the lies of other media sources, you’ve placed us firmly out of California and in Texas or (insert other red state here), and by doing so, has people fooled into thinking we’re all illiterate rednecks from 50 years ago.

Please exercise a little restraint in the publishing of such nonsense. Not all Ramona old-timers are silly enough to drink that Cool-Aid!

Wm. Gibson

RamonaArt & Wine Festival a stunning successThe first Ramona Art & Wine Festival at the Amy Strong Castle at Mt. Woodson was a stunning success thanks to the vision and energy of a team of dedicated Ramona volunteers. This was a cooperative effort of the Ramona Valley Vineyard Association, the Ramona Art Guild, the Ramona Chamber of Commerce, the Ramona H.E.A.R.T. Mural Project and the Ramona Valley Wine Region Magazine.The festival sold out, blowing past its first year hoped-for attendance goals, and raised a tidy sum to be put forward as matching funds for murals planned by the Ramona H.E.A.R.T. Mural Project. The intent is to have 30 outdoor art murals throughout the Main Street area over the next five or six years. While the chamber member-sponsored mural is fully funded and scheduled for unveiling by the end of the year, others in the pipeline still need funding. The festival guests who bought tickets, and bid on the painted wine barrels and silent auction items gave the project a good boost.Thanks must also be given to: the generous sponsors, barrel hosts, barrel artists and the fast talking auctioneers, the guys who helped all day with parking, the wineries for exceptional wines, the artists for such a beautiful and varied selection of fine things, the chefs (next year there will be at least twice as many), that lovely young classical musician who worked all alone all day, the security team who looked really sharp in suits — clearly understanding the classy image wanted at the castle, the volunteers who helped set up and tear down and schlepp, and worked the registration area, the donors and organizers of the silent auction, the graphic designers, printers and sign makers, the buyers, eaters, drinkers and enjoyers.The 2nd Annual Ramona Art & Wine Festival is already scheduled for the first Saturday in November, 2014, which is November 1. Please mark your calendars and if you want to be a participating winery, chef, artist, sponsor ,wine barrel donor, barrel artist, barrel business host, or have any questions, please contact the festival chair, Elaine Lyttleton, at 760-787-1102 or the event coordinator, Kathie LePage, at 760-525-1965, avintageindustry@cox.net.

Elaine Lyttleton

RamonaEnchilada dinner helps sixth-gradersThe sixth-grade students of Ramona Elementary School would like to thank all of the parents and community members who helped to make our enchilada dinner fundraiser on Nov. 15 a success. It was a very fun evening and the cafeteria was packed with supporters.We would like to thank the following restaurants for donating enchiladas: El Michoacan, La Cocina, Casa Reveles, and La Salsa. Sombreros donated beans, Mañanas donated beans and rice, and Mi Ranchito gave us rice. In addition, we received generous prizes for our silent auction from El Michoacan Restaurant, Yogurt Barn, Costco, Pump It Up, San Vicente Inn, and Barona Casino. We’d also like to thank DJ Abarca for providing the music that evening.Thanks to the support of these generous sponsors we were able to raise $2,400 to provide scholarships so that all of our students have the opportunity to attend sixth grade camp.

Deborah Long, teacher

Ramona ElementaryAsk for solutions rather than giftsHave you noticed that “Ask and ye shall receive,” still quoted, is an old saying because it’s true? To avoid becoming a King Midas when everything he touched turned to gold including his food and his daughter, don’t ask for things. Ask for solutions rather than gifts.The answers may be subtle, arriving in unexpected ways. When we allow our brains to remain cluttered with problems, with hates and fears, blocking access, solutions may pass us by. But isn’t it becoming evident that force is never a long-range solution?

Edalee Orcutt Harwell

RamonaOpen house spawns legislative ideasI want to thank everyone who attended our Holiday Legislative Open House at the Toyota of El Cajon last week. I appreciated the opportunity to hear your concerns and enjoy some holiday cheer with you. We had an amazing turnout.Each year, I receive my best legislative ideas from residents who attend our open house. However, if you weren’t able to make it last night, I still want to hear from you. (A legislative request form is on Anderson’s website, district36.cssrc.us/.)I would also like to thank the Kaminsky family of Toyota of El Cajon and their entire staff for inviting me and the over 2,000 residents to use their space and thank them for their commitment to the community.I would also like to thank the students of the East County Youth Symphony for providing beautiful classical music throughout our event!Let’s also take a moment to thank the men and women of our Armed Forces, police officers and firefighters for their hard work and sacrifice to keep our community safe.On behalf of the citizens of Senate District 36, I wish you and your family my best for a safe and happy holiday season.

Sen. Joel Anderson

California District 36

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