Bakery's history in the passing

3-27
To the editor:
Bill Baker's Bakery has been many things to Ojai. For us, it has been our pleasure to be a part of history - to be a part of an institution that holds so many memories for so many people.
Many years ago I decided too late that I should have started a name list. Quite often an elderly person would introduce themselves as a former employee of Bill Baker, the man who started it all. They would fondly share what their part was in the 100-year-plus history - delivery drivers, counter help, bakers, wrappers - I even met a former accountant. We would talk, I would listen - old stories, old times, old days.
More than a few times an old-timer told me of the days when they attended the elementary school across the street. After school Bill Baker would give students a bread roll for free - the savory description so complete I couldn't help but lick my own lips. Stories of how the train had an integral part in distributing bread from Los Angeles to San Francisco. The train came to Ojai from Ventura. It carried passengers and supplies for the valley - final stopping point, the end of Fox Street, which now houses Ojai Valley Athletic Club. At its peak, 20,000 loaves a week were being shipped via railway.
I always found these stories to be unique, intriguing and valuable. For Thomas and I, being a part of the bakery since 1989 enabled us to meet a large variety of Ojai's residents - young, old and in between, affluent, average Joe, student, parent, all Ojai's locals. Having a business on the main street sure accelerates how quickly friendships are made. We met so many. Some passed on, some moved on, some still here for the duration.
We love Ojai. We love the people of Ojai.
I always proudly stated we had the best customers in town. Right before our first child was born, a bunch of "regulars" held a surprise baby shower for us right there in the dining room of the bakery on a Sunday afternoon after closing.
These are treasured memories - too many to list - but all fond. Thank you, Ojai, for all you've done. Thank you, Ojai, for all your support. I never imagined we would move from this quaint, supportive community. Doors closed, others opened. We pick up our bags and memories and head for another small town, to start another mom-and-pop home-style bakery. You will be missed. You will be always remembered.

Thomas and Colleen Kohnen
Owners of Bill Baker's Bakery
Ojai

U.S. policies enrage Arab world

3-28
To the editor:
Dick Schneider asks the anti-war protesters which American city and how many lives are you willing to lose in the event your judgment is wrong. I ask the people who support pre-emptive war without legitimacy in the United Nations, the same question.
How many terrorists are being recruited by an action judged to be unjust by much of the world's population? How many lives will be lost because we are adopting a foreign policy of empire building in the Middle East? How many young people will die in urban combat because we were not able to work with the U.N. to disarm Iraq? Clearly, the Bush administration was using the U.N. to further its goals of regime change rather that the stated goal of disarmament, and when it was apparent the U.N. was an obstacle to its goals, diplomacy was no longer useful.
The U.S. policy of unilateral military action is enraging much of the Arab world, and this will as easily lead to future attacks on America. We, protesters, continue to believe this new foreign policy is dangerous and must be addressed and reversed. The United States needs to respect international law and recognize the important role of the U.N. and multilateral cooperation to forge sane foreign policy which will lead to a heightened security.

Dennis Daneau
Ojai

No pride to be taken in Iraqi war

3-28
To the editor:
Anyone who missed editor Bret Bradigan's editorial of 28 March 2003, "Majority rules," should make sure to read it.
In its extolling of the importance of protest and dissent - indeed, their necessity - at all times, but especially in time of war when the nation's fundamental civil liberties can be abridged through the chauvinistic pressure of superpatriots, and dissidents subjected to ad hominen attacks, to the obscuration of issues, this editorial ranks as outstanding in its cogency.
The essence of "Majority rules" is, I think, best expressed in these two paragraphs:
"Dissent is an act of patriotism, in case the drumbeats of war had drowned out that message. Rights are like muscles - they grow weak with lack of use.
" This is America. and in our system of government, the higher up you are, the more explaining you have to do. People should put all their passion into questioning authority. It is a sign of vigor. Lock-step conformity is a sign of fear."
The Ojai Valley News is to be commended, too, for printing (26 March) several letters, excellent, which decried a war bearing the Orwellian name, "Operation Iraqi Freedom." It should be "Operation Iraqi Oil."
Consider - can any sentient American really take pride in a war waged by a superpower of 280 million people against a relatively puny nation of 23 million, whose population has for 12 years been denied food and medicine at the instigation of, primarily, the United States, and, secondarily, its vassal, Great Britain?

D.L. Howard-Ady
Ojai

Seeking space to park trailer

3-28
To the editor:
I might be recognized for my name (for writing a number of letters to you and being profiled in your Ojai Valley "Neighbors" article) or my pink "bibs" which I wear all the time.
For four years, I have lived here, giving care and company to my 87-year-old aunt, Goldie Kaiser. Because of this, I've had to find something to do that would keep me at home. My decision was to make birdhouses. My problem is if I decide to do something, I go all the way. I went out and purchased all the tools needed and built a very large work table. Finding out I can have only so many birdhouses hanging around, I found it necessary to start selling them in order to keep it up and keep busy.
I call this "therapy out of control." I purchased a small trailer from Home Depot and fixed it up with display poles and hangers. I can display 55 birdhouses and custom mailboxes and not have one on the floor of the trailer. I have had numbers of people stop just to take pictures of this off-the-wall creation - thanks to my good friends and neighbors, Gary and Lori Cattoni, owners of the Mira Monte Quick Clean Laundromat, who had made it possible for me to park weekends on the vacant lot between the Laundromat and Stir Crazy. I have been there since July of last year to present, at which time I was told by the owners of Stir Crazy not to park there any longer.
During the time I was there, I donated birdhouses for the Humane Society's auction and breakfast. I was asked by the Ojai Library to give a presentation on birdhouses on March 7 to the Amigo program for a group of kids and adults. In doing so, I had "This is for the birds!" hats made and plans made on how to make a birdhouse. These I gave to each one there. At the end, I had a drawing for the kids, giving away three birdhouses. I have also been asked by Evie Dayman to participate at the Art Center with a display of my birdhouses in July. I did accept and I'm truly looking forward to the experience.
Now what I need is a little help from someone on Highway 33 between Oak View and Ojai who has a piece of property where I can park my trailer on Saturday and Sunday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. All of the birdhouses are on the trailer. I display nothing on the ground. As you can also see, I like community involvement. If interested, I live in Oak View (649-5455). I need to stay close to home.

Glen Morgan
Oak View

Bound together by higher cause

3-28
To the editor:
Although I have strong personal opinions about the current war, what I want to stress at this moment is my belief that it can be patriotic to express honorable disagreement with our government's leadership. In this I agree with the old Irish folk song that says:
"I bear no hate against living thing;
But I love my country above my king."
My father served as a staff sergeant in the United States Army during all of World War II, joining prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. He fought across the Pacific Theater until he literally placed his feet before the emperor's moat. Years later, and with great difficulty, he slowly came to be opposed to this country's involvement in the war in Vietnam.
You may think or say what you wish about me, but I challenge anyone to say that because my father disagreed with the war policies of two presidents, that he was not a patriot. There is a greater perspective which binds us all together.
God save our country. Thank you.

Clarence R. Sterling Jr.
Ojai

Council's silence most appalling

3-31
To the editor:
The March 25 City Council meeting provided a fascinating lesson in what's right and wrong with our local democracy. As reported in Friday's Ojai Valley News, a group of peace activists brought a citizen's petition to the council opposing U.S. military action in Iraq.
One hundred and sixty-two U.S. cities have passed similar resolutions, including Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Santa Barbara. Some of the advocates for the Ojai resolution cited the long tradition of municipalities speaking up on issues of national concern, dating as far back as protests against the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. Speakers against the Ojai resolution cited the need to unconditionally support our troops, alluded to the evils of the Iraqi dictatorship, and praised the current policies of the Bush administration.
All the speakers were impassioned, respectful of one another and made their points according to the informed dictates of their conscience. That's a sign of a healthy democracy.
What's not so healthy for democracy is the feverishly partisan way Mayor DeVito ran the meeting. And what's absolutely flatline-fatal to democracy is abject silence, like that of our Ojai City Council members when challenged by both sides to take a stand.
The first sign of democratic malaise on Tuesday evening was when the meeting began with an "invocation." If you are unfamiliar with Municipal Orwellian and its euphemisms, "invocation" means "prayer." A guest clergyman addressed his prayer to "Our Father" and closed it with praise for Jesus. Such prayers are inappropriate at a government meeting in a country founded on the principles of freedom of religion and the separation of church and state.
To make matters considerably worse Mayor DeVito followed the prayer by instructing the public to bow their heads. Unfortunately, since Mr. DeVito never said anything about re-entry to earthly concerns after the prayerful reverie, the obedient council members failed to make a peep for or against the war for the remainder of the evening.
They sat politely through 37 speakers and did precisely what we feared they would do: nothing. They opted for bureaucratic stupor and religious platitudes rather than moral courage and civic responsibility.
Councilmember Rae Hanstad did raise her pious head for a moment when she tried to delete the anti-war agenda item even before discussion began. But City Attorney Widders, in an admirable display of integrity, stopped her, citing pro-democracy provisions of the Brown Act.
Once debate finally began, Mayor DeVito asked the audience not to applaud. But when four or five pro-war speakers were received with both applause and a chorus of "amens," DeVito looked delighted. It was only when some anti-war hands dared to clap that he became infuriated and threatened to call the police.
Still, for all of Joe DeVito's bumbling and bias, he at least displayed the courage of his convictions and let his pro-administration views be known to the public.
The most appalling aspect of Tuesday's meeting was not a mayor clumsily trying to push his own political agenda. Instead it was the deafening silence of the other City Council members. Let us bow our heads and pray they don't get re-elected.

David Howard
Ojai


© 2003 The Ojai Valley News

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