Transfer policy needs airing out

6-10
To the editor:
As an Oak View resident, I have just had the unpleasant experience of trying to get an inter-district transfer for my daughter to NHS. The reason I was given for being denied was "that it would create a racial imbalance in VUSD and harm VUSD schools and programs." The racial balance at VHS is 59.7 percent Caucasian, 36.1 percent Hispanic and the rest other, so this argument is weak.
Their response is a front for the real reason, which is that our children's attendance in one district or another boils down to a fight for state dollars. VUSD simply does not want to give up the dollars regardless of what is in the best interest of the kids or communities.
During the appeal process, the lawyer for VUSD tried to convince us that they were acting on behalf of what was best for our children, accused residents of "white flight" and went so far as to scoff at the concerns presented by the Oak View families. Never mind that geographically and emotionally Oak View is part of the Ojai Valley or that schools in Ojai have plenty of space for our children or that parents know what's in the best interests of their children because VUSD "knows what's best and is altruistic in their actions."
Oak View is no more than a pawn in a struggle for money. I'm not sure what VUSD is accomplishing by their approach. Denying transfers when there is plenty of room in Ojai schools motivates families to move out of the area, send their children to private schools or use deceit to try to get a transfer. This is not in the best interest of our community and only furthers our sense of not belonging to either Ventura or Ojai. The only answer is to grant transfers unselfishly to parents who request them or to re-district Oak View into the Ojai Unified School District.
This is a real problem for us and needs to be out in the public forum. We appreciate your newspaper space.

Terri Laine
Oak View

Gauntlet tossed on Bloom toadying

6-11
To the editor:
In his letter in the Ojai Valley News of 5 June 2002, "Mel shines apple to high gloss," Mr. Melvin R. Bloom, inter alia, writes: "It is my passionate belief that this paper has never been as effective, professional and as good as it is now. The editorials are often worthy of being published in The Washington Post or New York Times. The look of the paper is top drawer "
I must stop before I puke.
In his 17 years as a columnist for the Ojai Valley News this 24-carat "bumsucker" (ye Olde English) has gushed over each of his five publishers and seven editors within a few weeks of their taking office, extolling their talent, their perspicacity, and wallowing in the "rapport" he enjoys in turn with each and every one of them.
Other than for such panegyrics, Mr. Bloom's column has been distinguished by a juvenile toilet-oriented sense of humor.
Adroitly quick to deflate any derision of his toadying by conceding his vulnerability, Mr. Bloom ends, thus his letter:
"If you must, call me apple polisher. It conveys a more pleasing image than butt kisser. I have been called worse."
But are we to let this worm so easily off the hook?
I am seriously contemplating making a gift of $50 to anyone in Ojai who can, and will, by affidavit swear that his, or hers, is the only arse in our fair city Mr. Melvin R. Bloom hasn't kissed.

D.L. Howard-Ady
Ojai

Grads distinguish selves, Ojai

6-12
As reported in the Ojai Valley News last week, our community certainly can be proud of the tremendous accomplishments posted by nearly 500 seniors graduating from Ojai Valley high schools this year. Here are some further details about the public schools' successful seniors.
First, a word on the NHS college list published. Not every senior planning to attend college has shared their good news with Nordhoff yet. Some have not made their final decision on where to go to college. Others have not gotten around to telling NHS their decision. Because the list is so closely studied by future NHS parents, as a glimpse of the possibilities for their own future Nordhoffian, it is important to know that it does not quite cover everybody.
Many Nordhoff graduates planning on a college degree attend community college as a way to earn their four-year college degree without accumulating huge debts. They will transfer and graduate from some fine colleges. I hope they will let the community know when they do! Some of them will achieve their associate degrees and make great contributions to our community.
Chaparral High School is also notable. Students graduating this spring have taken advantage of our public alternative high school to make successes of their lives. They have been creative and energetic in earning their high school diplomas. Congratulations to them!
Other NHS accomplishments should also be told. Some excellent "Senior Projects" were created in 2002 by some remarkable young adults. One senior produced, directed and stage-managed a play on the cafeteria stage one weekend. She guided more than 10 student-actors in "Arsenic and Old Lace" in an incredible experience for all involved. Another senior prepared Latin American foods to serve a crowd of hungry theater-goers, who were at the Ojai Art Center to enjoy an evening of improvisation in which that student brilliantly starred. These are two examples of the creativity and independence of Nordhoff's Class of 2002.
Many academic achievements have also been accomplished. Nordhoff students took university independent study courses. They studied Advanced Placement courses, including Calculus, Chemistry, American History, World History, Psychology, English, Spanish and French, to name a few. Many more are participating in AVID to prepare typical achievers for college.
We also saw many students excel in art, drama and work-related education. And how about our first place, award-winning musicians!
This list does not even mention NHS's athletic achievements of 2002. In financially lean times, NHS athletes performed in the classroom and on the CIF field, court, track, while raising funds by washing cars and doing jog-a-thons and weight-lift-a-thons. What a source of pride for our community.
Our public schools do a wonderful job of educating the majority of valley kids, nurturing their varied potentials in so many areas. Ojai has lots of interesting kids. And public high schools are very interesting places for them to be.

Kathi Smith
President
Ojai Unified School District

Supervisors keep lake level up

6-11
To the editor:
I would like to publicly thank and give a thumbs-up to County Supervisors Steve Bennett and Kathy Long. Six weeks before the Wolf Fire, I had contacted both supervisors' offices to request assistance in approaching the Casitas Municipal Water District to ask them to maintain the level of the Matilija Lake.
Ventura County Fire Chief Roper was included in the discussions and the water district agreed to keep the water level up.
These past two weeks, helicopter sorties were extracting the water from the Matilija Lake to help fight the Wolf Fire. This is a good example of public service by Supervisors Bennett and Long and Fire Chief Roper.
Their foresight and swift action may have helped to prevent a greater calamity than we experienced in the Wolf Fire.
In addition, the closing of North Matilija Road (open to residents only) helps assure that the arson-related copycat fires will be reduced, if not eliminated.
Constant vigilance, fire prevention measures and swift action from government officials will prove to be the most effective method to stave off future fires in the Los Padres-Ojai area. My thanks to all involved.

Allen Robert Carrozza
and Residents of Matilija Canyon

Let's keep Wal-Mart at bay

6-12
To the editor:
The California Planning and Development Report (June 2000 edition) reports that Wal-Mart has announced that it plans to open 40 "supercenters" across California during the next four to six years. These stores, at approximately 225,000 square feet, are 50 percent to 100 percent larger than most existing Wal-Marts in the state.
Why doesn't Wal-Mart just ask us to take up residence inside the stores? We could move the trees and animals in there, too.
Dear people, resist this madness: Don't shop at Wal-Mart!
Make sure your investments are not supporting Wal-Mart!
Give feedback to decision- and policy-makers that covering more and more of our land with concrete boxes is not what we want and we will not have it!

Donna M. Hebert
Ventura

Actor's life saved by husband

6-5
To the editor:
Our paper's readers, several of them, have told me they liked my letters about Henry Mancini and Tippi Hedren.
A new member of the Ojai Valley Woman's Club asked me, "Why do they (celebrities) fascinate us so?"
Having lived in New York City and Los Angeles, with Palm Springs a second home, I have seen many stars in person, and even in Minneapolis, Minn., where I spent my growing-up years.
How would it be if I wrote about the experiences, one or two at a time?
I will start with the late, great, handsome Tyrone Power - an underrated actor, they say.
Tyrone was my husband's co-pilot in the Marine Air Corps. The two would go from El Centro, where they were stationed, down to Nogales, Mexico., to dine at the famous Cave Restaurant, and to have their dry martinis.
What a pair they must have been - Tyrone with his dark good looks, and my husband, a blond, so handsome that Tyrone, who was to receive an award but was ill and couldn't, said, "No, John, I don't want you to go in my place; I don't want them to see you."
I don't know the details, but my husband saved Tyrone's life.
Tyrone was married to Annabella at the time, that French movie star.
I got to meet Tyrone. He and Raymond Massey and Judith Anderson were appearing at the Lyceum Theater in "John Brown's Body" (in Minneapolis).
My husband and I and another couple went backstage. Tyrone appeared to greet us. It was funny, we both had the same cashmere coat on, a pale beige, tied with a cashmere belt.
Tyrone said, "John, it's you, I'd sure always remember you."
My husband introduced all of us to Tyrone. He looked me over, he was into his blond cycle.
He asked, "How are things going for you here, John?" My husband foolishly said, "Fine." He could have been a star, good voice.
Then my husband asked, "We'd like to take you to dinner." Tyrone answered, "I'm sorry, but Bill's family is coming down from Winnipeg." Raymond Massey was from Winnipeg.
Tyrone died way too young; bad heart - a dueling sequence for a movie was said to be the cause. Handsome? No one was more so, and charming.
By the way, if you ever noticed how I end my writings - last line a wow! I heard from a good source, "Bill's family" was the blonde, Anita Ekberg (and she's from Sweden).

Anne Youngdale
Oak View

Neighbor on guard against violations

6-11
To the editor:
This is a copy of a letter sent to the Ojai Planning Commission.
Dear Ojai Planning Commission Members:
I want to point out that when Cathy Bautista said Michael McFerrin was apathetic about how Nordhoff Hall is actually used, he denied vociferously that this was the case. However, he then admits he doesn't even know what the theater group's name is that will be renting the hall, doesn't know anything about what hours they will keep, has no idea what they intend to perform, and doesn't even know the dates of their engagements.
He excuses every breech of etiquette toward the neighbors with statements such as: "I wasn't there" or "I didn't know" or "I was out of town" and other variations of these three statements. My question is, how do these responses and lack of responsibility or knowledge about the uses to which Nordhoff Hall is put constitute anything but apathy? Obviously, he is uninterested, uninvolved and has no idea of the day-to-day workings of the hall. His actions and words clearly attest to this.
I also take issue with McFerrin's statement that the lights at the hall, bell tower, and offices that are left on all night are no brighter than the porch lights of the surrounding neighbors. Anyone who thinks this is remotely near the truth, please drive down East Aliso Street after dark and see for yourself. The hall and offices are lit up like there is no such thing as conservation and are far and away brighter than anything else on Aliso Street. You, as members of the Planning Commission, should at least come see for yourselves if this is a true statement.
Furthermore, I think it's interesting that Julia Taft-Whitman, a.k.a. the wife of the architect of Nordhoff and the Offices at the Pew, would admonish us all that having a theater next door could be "just wonderful." If that is the case, maybe she should offer The Blue Iguana, or better The Emerald Iguana, for theater use and see how her supposedly long-term guests would enjoy it. Better yet, she can offer her house or neighborhood (which are not even in the city of Ojai) if she thinks we are better blessed than she for having a theater next door.
Finally, as Cathy Bautista pointed out, the City Charter reads in no uncertain terms that there is to be no foot traffic after 9 p.m. in Mixed Village Use areas. Expect calls at 9:01 p.m. every night the hall is in use because what is being sold to you as city planners and to us as neighbors is not only spurious, it is illegal.

Kathryn O'Loughlin
Ojai

Donors for auction thanked

6-13
To the editor:
On behalf of Ojai's Church of the Living Christ's Mission Department, we would like to thank the following merchants who generously donated to our 2002 Silent Auction:
Fred's Tire Man; Barbara Bowman; Familia Diaz; Facials of Essence; Dr. David Garber; Baron Brothers Nursery; Bed, Bath & Beyond; Jim & Rob's Fresh Grill; Ojai Pizza; Casa de Lago; Larianne's Small Wonder; Busy Babes; Dexter's Camera; Making Faces; Irene Johnson; Craig Carlson; Yvette Krogh; Miguel & Dora; Paul Rudolph; Lisa Middough; Carolyn Paulsen; Richard Ramirez; Buena Lanes; Golf 'n' Stuff; Dawn Rosalind; Mann Theatres; Century Theatres; Gift Galleria; Sea Fresh Seafood; Danny's Deli; Ortiz Mexican Food; Carrows; American Hay & Mercantile; Bryant St. Gym; Michael Kelley Hair Salon; Chili's; Jiffy Lube; and West Coast Pageantry.
It was a complete success thanks to your generosity.
Thank you.

Ryan Connell
Mission's Pastor
Ojai's Church of the Living Christ

© 2002 The Ojai Valley News

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