Letters to the Editor

Honor fathers
and mothers at
graduation

Editor: This is an open letter to all the seniors out there poised to graduate from high school. I’ve gone to numerous graduation ceremonies at Arnold Field and they seem to be getting way out of hand and sillier each year. I want to ask the young adults who are in their caps and gowns to please pause for the hour or so it takes for the ceremony to conclude before they start their reverie.
When you are out on that field waiting for your names to be called, look out into the audience and see who’s there.
It’s almost all parents and grandparents. Dignify this moment for their sake and by doing so acknowledge their role in getting you to the spot you are today. I can tell you that from their perspective, they are relishing this moment, looking out at you, the culmination of 18 years of their solid devotion, day in, day out. Honor them and the love and pride that is flowing down on you from them at this moment and all the moments past that it took to get you to this point.
Wait until the last name is called before the beach balls come out, and remember that this ceremony is done not only for you, but also for the folks whose love and devotion got you there.
Anne Petersen

Not all Canadians speak French

Editor: After reading a letter in the May 10 Sun titled “Marchers should aim their anger at Mexico,” I need to make a correction.
In the fourth paragraph, the letter-writer stated, “The Canadians aren’t flooding the northern border forcing us all to learn French in order to get along with our own communities.” This statement is incorrect. As a native Canadian, born in Vancouver and schooled in New Westminster, B.C., the only French-speaking people in the area were in a small community called “Millardville” just outside New Westminster. The “real” French-speaking population is in the province of Quebec. Our high school did have a few bilingual students, but the rest of us were all English-speaking. French was offered in the schools but very few took the classes.
Alice M. Brigaerts

Takes offense at
Williams’ column

Editor: As someone who has spent the last 18 years trying to improve the Springs, I take offense at your remarks in the recent article “Public monies fast and loose in the Springs.”
This has not been a haphazard or frivolous process. What started as a small group of mainly business people has blossomed into a very large group of dedicated individuals, both elected and voluntary. Progress has been slow, but not because no one cares.
It has never been a question of public art versus sidewalks. Believe me, sidewalks have always been our highest priority. As a relative newcomer, perhaps you are not aware of the years and years of letter-writing campaigns, badgering of elected officials, staged highway walks, and public events meant to draw attention to the risky conditions along the highway. After long and frustrating delays, mostly due to Caltrans, we are finally closing in on our goal. Construction should begin soon.
As to trash, the Verano Springs Association staged volunteer cleanups for years, until the job just became too big. Now the Chamber of Commerce funds regular cleanups with a crew from Becoming Independent. We just had our third annual Springs Cleaning, where residents were encouraged to clean up their neighborhoods and were provided with dumpsters to dump the stuff that’s hard to get rid of.
Our efforts have resulted in two very important documents: the Design Guidelines and the Springs Strategic Plan. The Guidelines are meant to address the overall look of the highway as it is developed. They include ideas for improved store fronts, street lighting, trash receptacles, landscaping, etc. Some of this has been implemented and the rest will steer future development. The soon-to-be-released Strategic Plan was put together after long and exhaustive input from all segments of the community. It represents our collective hopes and dreams for the community, with plans for implementation. Both documents are available from the Redevelopment Agency.
As to public art, I have seen many communities change their character and develop an identity through judicious use of art and design. Closing Main Street near McDonald’s was done for safety reasons, so that pedestrians and cyclists were not hit by traffic turning right. The little park that was created is a nice addition and will improve over time. While $35,000 may seem like a lot of money, it is a drop in the bucket when compared to the millions of dollars budgeted for the community.
Anyone and everyone is invited to attend the next Springs Task Force Coordinating Committee meeting on the second Wednesday of every month at La Luz at 9 am. This is the best forum for residents, developers, business people, non-profits and other interested parties to meet with Redevelopment staff to solve problems and share ideas. I suggest you attend before making any more inaccurate assumptions about how our tax money is being spent.
Suzanne Shonbrun

May is California museum month

Editor: In a time when more people are watching television and spending time on the computer, we should keep in mind that museums offer unique and real experiences – whether it is learning about life a 100 years ago, or considering an artist’s vision.
May is California Museum Month and I personally invite local residents to visit Sonoma Valley Museum of Art (SVMA) and other museums in our area to experience first-hand what these institutions do for our community.
Resent research on California museums paints a portrait of them as rich and diverse resources to individuals, schools, communities, and the state. The Sonoma Valley Museum of Art is an important cultural and artistic center in the Sonoma Valley. SVMA exhibitions feature the work of local, national, and international artists. SVMA offers rich educational programs for both adults and children.
By bringing in 15,000 visitors a year, SVMA boosts our economic vitality. We are a place where people exchange and explore ideas and discover our shared cultural heritage.
Lia Bonagura-Transue

A few good
Presidential
candidates

Editor: Some Presidential candidates are not taking lobbyist, special-interest money (phamaceutical, tobacco, gambling and others) and political action committee money. We all know that the special interests are the ones who have run this country with Bush as their leader.
We need the best candidate who can start fresh when he’s in the White House and start immediately thinking about the American people, not the paybacks.
That candidate exists. He is showing boldness in dealing with the war in Iraq, has a healthcare plan for all Americans as well as a plan to combat global warming.
I hope you will educate yourselves on all the candidates. You can go to The Center for Responsive Politics, a non-partisan, non-profit research group www.opensecrets.org, and get the details, since the only payback that this candidate will be making, when elected, will be to you!
Yannick A. Phillips