Do not miss
Editor:
I generally do not write the Tribune recommending a book. As a matter of fact I have never written the Tribune about a book. But one particular book has overwhelmed me.
The name of the book is “Room.” It is emotionally draining but also riveting. I was unable to put it down. It is a story of a 5-year-old boy who has spent his entire life in a room 11 by 11. His mother is with him who has been held captive for years.
She cannot escape so she is raising the boy with the belief that there is nothing outside the room and that the room is the universe. It is not a twisted thriller but brilliantly put together, a story that is filled with love, understanding and resolve. The boy’s name is Jack and the story is told through his eyes: what he sees, hears and understands. If you miss this book you will definitely have missed a great opportunity to read a book of many directions.
You can definitely get a better understanding of children. You cannot find it at Costco. I got my copy at the library. I completely enjoyed this book. It is the best since “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.”
Michael Harold, Linda Mar
 
Solar power
Editor:
We have an obligation to our country to do something about nuclear power. Japan’s problems could easily be our own any time. Solar power and wind power are our answer. So simple.
Let’s get rid of nuclear power. Clean air and clean water for survival. Now is the time — not tomorrow — to start in.
Jennie Pitsch, San Bruno
 
Heartfelt thanks
Editor:
We thank everyone involved in the National Rebuilding Day projects that were completed at our home in Pacifica on Saturday, April 30th.
Our adventure began when we applied to Rebuilding Together Peninsula (RTP) and met Pacifican Bob O’Donnell, a most kind gentleman. As two hard-working individuals who did everything that we were advised to do to prepare for our future, you cannot imagine how we felt to ask for help when it all fell apart. We appreciate how sensitively we have been treated by everyone involved, especially when it comes to respecting our privacy. This all began when Bob and Megan of RTP came to our home to assess the situation and added items to our wish list themselves.
When we found out that RTP accepted us, we were beyond happy. At the RTP orientation, presided over by Cari Pang Chen and Lily Abt, two very gracious ladies, we learned that the Pacifica Firefighters were coming to our rescue! When we met Captain Eddy Horodenski of the Linda Mar Fire Station, our Construction Captain, we knew instantly that we were in the best possible hands. Eddy communicated with us frequently and thoroughly for months. Coordinating selections, purchases, deliveries, installations, and timelines, completing paperwork, securing a permit, managing a budget and working with 30+ volunteers in his “spare” time would have been daunting for anyone, but Eddy made it seem effortless and even fun. He is a godsend who humbly insists that others deserve the credit. His life is dedicated to service and we are honored to have met him. The Pacifica Firefighters are demonstrably a band of brothers who are of great support to one another and of immeasurable value to our community. We were also visited by Jean Bartlett of the Pacifica Tribune, who brilliantly managed to cobble together our disjointed words and overwhelmed feelings into a Tribune piece. Ironically, it was one of Jean’s previous articles that first alerted us to RTP’s existence. We are hopeful that a byproduct of her outstanding work will be that readers are encouraged to volunteer for RTP or even apply for assistance themselves. We know from our own past volunteer efforts that it really is true that you receive much more than you give when you are of service to others.
Eddy worked very closely with Angelica Beas of Lowe’s and her associates. Through the generosity of Lowe’s and their combined efforts, we obtained a new garage door and new double-paned windows, big-ticket items that we never could have afforded and they have instantly made a difference in our comfort level. Angelica personifies her name!
Very pleasant volunteers, many from the College of San Mateo, did the installation work of other items under the guidance of wonderful Firefighter Ryan Frederick and we thank them all. At times there was so much gaiety in this house that we were overjoyed at the party atmosphere that prevailed, even though we were not the ones hosting it! But then the roof almost fell in on us. Literally. We learned that workers from Ryan & Ryan Construction of South San Francisco, who were installing our new windows, had discovered extensive dry rot that would have caused the back wall of our house to collapse. Ryan & Ryan then very generously agreed to repair all of the damage and the cause of it (an improperly installed downspout years ago), even though this would all take a much longer period of time than the one day they volunteered for, as well as greater resources. While every single thing that occurred on Saturday was greatly appreciated, we could have ended up losing the home that we have struggled to keep, were it not for these repairs. Please consider Ryan & Ryan for your own construction needs. They clearly deserve their prestigious Diamond Certified® award for ranking “highest in quality” and customer satisfaction.
For the last few months, we have asked repeatedly how we can possibly repay such incredible generosity from so many and each time the response is that all that any of these angels want in return is our sincere thanks and our smiles.
So we write this, in our much more comfortable, safe and secure home, through tears of joy and a prayer that everyone involved knows how much we appreciate everything that they did for two strangers and we ARE smiling. With tremendous gratitude. And renewed faith that the America that we know is still alive within so many loving hearts.
Jennifer and Lars, Pacifica
Editor’s Note: We agreed to make an exception to the Tribune’s letters policy regarding use of full names as well as word count
 
Obama citizenship
Editor:
I wish to make a few observations about Barack Obama and how his citizenship affects his qualifications for the office of President of the United States.
According to Article II, Section 1 of the United States Constitution, “No person except a natural born citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President” Now, according to US Code Title 8 Chapter 12 Subchapter III Part I § 1401, “the following shall be nationals and citizens of the United States at birth:
(a) a person born in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof” Again I expect no problems putting this forth; I’m just establishing a context for the following:
“(g) a person born outside the geographical limits of the United States and its outlying possessions of parents one of whom is an alien, and the other a citizen of the United States who, prior to the birth of such person, was physically present in the United States or its outlying possessions for a period or periods totaling not less than five years, at least two of which were after attaining the age of fourteen years” Barack Obama’s father could be a citizen of any other country than the US and Barack himself could have been physically born in any other country and he would still qualify to be president of the United States per the above. Unless someone can prove either that his mother was NOT an American citizen or that she does NOT meet the residency requirements in (g) above, I conclude that Barack Obama is a citizen of the United States at birth and is legally entitled to serve as President of the United States.
Craig Corwin, Vallemar
 
Honoring Vasey
Editor:
I was very pleased to see the excellent article in the Tribune last week about Mike Vasey receiving the Open Space Hero Award. I cannot think of a single individual that has contributed more to acquiring and preserving open space here in Pacifica than Mike Vasey. You can look in every direction here on the coast from the beachs to the ridge tops and see all the natural open space that Mike has been deeply involved in preserving, he is a true environmental hero.
I would like to suggest that before the Pedro Point Headlands gets turned over to the GGNRA, that the north ridge on the Headlands be named honoring Mike and his incredible efforts, to be known as “Vasey Ridge.” Thank you Mike for saving all of this land here on the California coast for all to enjoy and for future generations.
Mitch Reid, Pacifica
 
Food for thought
Editor:
As a Pacifican, every year I eagerly await early May and the re-opening of the Wednesday Coastside Farmers’ Market. Mid-December through April, I miss being able to sort through the baskets of fresh picked peas and herbs, smell the richness of the organic strawberries, and indulge in just one fresh baked pastry.
But for many of our neighbors, putting food on the table is not a joyous celebration of our natural bounty. It is instead the result of a difficult process of feeding one’s family while struggling to keep a roof over their heads. For far too many of our neighbors, dinner time is the time for making do, and in some cases, doing without.
The Pacifica Resource Center plays a critical role in helping our neighbors keep food on the table. The PRC partners with the Coastside Farmers’ Market, Safeway Half Moon Bay, Fresh and Easy, Sun Valley Market, and the Second Harvest Food Bank to provide food to Pacificans struggling to make ends meet. The PRC offers monthly offsite and weekly onsite food distributions, has a food pantry with nonperishable and perishable items, such as eggs and ground turkey, and can assist with applying for CalFresh, CA’s food stamp program. It is our mission to help stabilize Pacifica individuals and families by providing a safety net; helping meet food needs is a critical aspect of our mission.
To further this work, the PRC is hosting a “CalFresh in a Day” event with San Mateo County Human Services Agency on Tuesday, May 31. At the event, eligible Pacificans will be able to apply for CalFresh food stamps and meet with a County eligibility specialist to expedite the application process. More details will follow soon.
In these days of limited government resources for individuals and agencies that serve them, I want to express my gratitude to the members of the community who have continued to financially support the PRC throughout the year and during our Mother’s Day fundraiser. We hope the Pacifica mothers who received our Mother’s Day cards enjoyed the caring sentiment expressed by those who donated in order to give recognition to someone they love. For more information about the PRC or our services, please call us at 738-7470, or find us on Facebook.
Marcia Settel, Proud Member, Advisory Board
 
GGNRA and dogs
Editor:
Thank you to Arnita from San Bruno for her letter last week.
In Pacifica there seems to be some confusion about who will be affected by the GGNRA’s new dog plan. Make no mistake, they want to ban on-leash dogs (i.e. all dogs) from a majority of the trails in Pacifica. The off-leash advocates in San Fransicso have been the most vocal about the GGNRA dog plan so far, and I think this has added to the confusion since their material almost exclusively talks about the off-leash ban planned in SF at Ft. Funston and Crissy Field.
After attending two GGNRA public meetings, I was stunned to learn that I may no longer be able to hike with my dog on leash in most of the areas in Pacifica that I go to today.
The GGNRA “comment period” will be over at the end of May. But after listening to Park Rangers address questions at these meetings, I have little hope that they will modify their plans to ban dogs. In the end they say it’s all National Park land now and must follow the rules of every other National Park.
So in addition to the comments, we must also start lobbying our politicians who have some influence over GGNRA. For a list, please go to: http://www.montaradogs.com/Site/GGNRA.html
Rick Rees, Sharp Park East
 
Economic development
Editor:
I wanted to take this opportunity to thank Mayor Mary Ann Nihart and Coucilmembers Len Stone and Sue Digre for attending the Pacifica Chamber of Commerce’s presentation on May 4 which outlined ways the Chamber could be of assistance to the City in carrying out key objectives previously identified by the City’s Economic Development Committee. The presentation also offered other short-term and long-term solutions to revenue shortages and economic development. I felt disappointed that both Councilmembers Pete DeJarnatt and Jim Vreeland did not attend the presentation and the progressive discussion that followed.
The highlights of the Chamber’s presentation included increasing tourism to supply short-term solutions to revenue shortages… “When guests stay at our hotels, the City collects 12 percent on the amount charged for every room”…additional Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) for the 2011—2012 fiscal year. The Chamber also offered assistance in the City’s Economic Development Committee objective of filling commercial vacancies by attracting and retaining business in Pacifica… “to help design and maintain a searchable commercial real estate website to help drive economic development by attracting potential business owners.”
Thanks also for the show of support from the many Chamber members who attended the presentation. I would like to invite the public to access the Pacifica Chamber of Commerce’s website, www.PacificaChamber.com, where this presentation is posted with its many other progressive ideas and offers of assistance to our beautiful City of Pacifica.
Cheryl Yoes, Treasurer, Pacifica Chamber of Commerce (Co-Owner, Dial Glass and Window Co. for over 25 years)
 
Thank you
Editor:
On behalf of the Vallemar PTO, we thank our Vallemar students and their families, our dedicated Vallemar parent volunteers, our fabulous Vallemar School faculty and staff, the Pacifica community, and so many others for their invaluable help and support in the success of our 6th annual “Night on the Bayou” auction fundraiser.
This year’s auction was a huge success once again! Proceeds from the auction will, in large part, go to ensuring the continuation of all of the programs that make Vallemar the special school of which we’re all so proud.
A special thank you goes out to all who generously gave their time and effort for a profitable and fun-filled evening: Christine Duncan and Darlene Taylor for doing a fabulous job co-chairing the entire event; Keri Ayers, Sarah Bucini, Emily Bernardo and Sheila Merlo for their outstanding efforts in securing donors; Victor Novelo and Richard Poncini for preparing appetizers and a dinner buffet, including jambalaya to go with the night’s Bayou theme; Sylvie Jacquard for providing hard-to-resist desserts from The French Patisserie; Wendy James for donating and helping to oversee the bar; Darlene Taylor and Christina Terrazas for transforming the community center with their beautiful hand-painted canvas murals and decorations; Sherri Murray for creating and designing the wonderful artwork for our programs and flyers; and Zoe Sutton, our basket coordinator, and Victoria Heimann, our artwork coordinator, for all their hard work getting every class from kindergarten through 8th grade to contribute a basket (or two) and a one-of-a-kind art piece to auction off.
A successful benefit event for Vallemar School, like the auction, requires more than just a handful of helpers, and we are truly grateful for all our awesome volunteers who worked tirelessly to help in so many ways. Most of all, thank you to everyone who came to the event, socialized, danced and bid generously to support Vallemar School! It was a great night, and Christine and Darlene are ready to do it again next year so mark your calendar for March 10, 2012!
Ofelia Lee and Christina Solomon, Vallemar PTO co-presidents
 
Saving jobs
Editor:
I was flipping through some channels when I saw a bunch of our public employee’s on Oprah. A dozen or so fellows from senior staff to firefighters and police were being interviewed by the day-time Queen. While Oprah explained to the audience that these guys, our public employees, were national heroes, our guys were sitting and standing beside each other, some looking self conscious and others soaking up the limelight like rock stars.
Oprah turned her attention to her guests and asked, “So how does it feel knowing you saved all your co-workers’ jobs by selflessly taking pay cuts to balance the city budget?”
Someone who sort of looked like our city manager turned to the rest of the guys indicating it was all them, contracted union employees, who voluntarily and collectively took pay cuts that, while painful, resulted in no city lay-offs or cuts to city services. The camera focused in on one guy who was either a firefighter or a police officer but just before he spoke my alarm clock went off. Damn, it had been a dream and now I was awake.
Todd McCune Bray, Rockaway Beach
 
Not a ban
Editor:
There is a lot of heated debate about the National Park Service (“NPS”) plan for dog-walking in our local national park. Much of it has been based on a misunderstanding of what the plan attempts to do. We hope to shed some light on its legal and factual basis.
The choice is not for or against the draft plan, but rather a choice among five different “Alternatives.” Some alternatives provide no off-leash areas, and some provide more leashed and off-leash areas.
The Plan combines one or more of the five Alternatives and comes up with a “Preferred Alternative.” This Preferred Alternative makes clear that the park’s goal is to accommodate, not ban, off-leash dog walking despite the nationwide regulation requiring leashes.
In 1972 Congress passed a bill that gave the Bay Area this glorious national park, Golden Gate National Recreation Area (“GGNRA”). This legislation directed the Secretary of the Interior to manage GGNRA’s lands so as to protect their “scenic beauty and natural character.” That means recreational uses can be encouraged and accommodated, but only to the extent that the park’s wildlife and its habitat are protected.
GGNRA’s founding legislation also created a Citizens Advisory Commission, now expired, of unpaid volunteers, nominated by local organizations and agencies. The undersigned are former members of that Commission who on average served over 12 years. Because some of the lands which were included in GGNRA had previously been used for off-leash dog walking, the Commission recommended that the superintendent permit dog walking under voice control in some areas. The superintendent agreed.
This was an extraordinary move, but it did not have the force of law. By federal regulation, recreational off-leash dog walking was not and is not allowed in any unit of the national park system. All of them follow the same regulation — on-leash, and only where allowed. This applies whether the unit is a national park, national seashore, national recreation area, or any of the other names by which lands in care of NPS are known. (Exception: a few national parks permit licensed hunting; a hunter’s dog can go off-leash to pick up game.)
GGNRA is now completing an 8-year legally required planning process toward a “special rule”. The goal is to replace the national federal regulation with a rule, specific to GGNRA, to better address local concerns and legalize off-leash recreation. This process carries forward the goal of the much-loved former Superintendent, the late Brian O’Neill.
The process has resulted in a 2,400-page Draft Environmental Impact Statement covering 21 areas of GGNRA. Those 21 areas are among the most heavily visited of GGNRA.
Most dog walkers treasure these lands and are concerned for the environment. We hope such care and concern ensures consideration for the needs of the wildlife and habitat the NPS must protect, and for other recreational users who share park areas.
We urge the public to go beyond the rhetoric and note that GGNRA is proposing an accommodation not allowed anywhere else.
Your own “preferred alternative” may have a different mix of the 5 Alternatives than the Plan’s “Preferred Alternative.”
You have the opportunity to provide informed and relevant input into this process. Do not waste that opportunity by falling victim to the rhetoric that “it’s anti-dog.” Simply opposing the Park’s proposal to accommodate could mean that GGNRA will end up enforcing the regulation that governs all units of other National Parks; that is, no dogs off-leash.
May 30, 2011 is the deadline for public comments. We urge the public to submit comments that would help GGNRA achieve a reasonable balance of recreational uses with resource protection:
Online: http//parkplanning.nps.gov/dogplan
By mail: Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Fort Mason, Bldg 201, San Francisco, CA. 94123.
We hope the effort that has gone into crafting a special rule will give people opportunities to enjoy a traditional use in certain areas of GGNRA.
Amy Meyer, Rich Bartke, Lennie Roberts, Trent Orr, John Mitchell, Paul Jones, Gimmy Park Li, Betsey Cutler, Doug Nadeau, Fred A. Rodriguez, Susan G. Allan, Michael Alexander, Jacqueline Young, Gordon Bennett and Doug Siden
 
Council reform
Editor:
Now that city services are about to be cut, our next goal is to implement an ordinance similar to the county’s regarding the City Council’s conduct. The county implemented theirs a few years ago because of numerous complaints. They then appointed a citizens’ review to oversee disciplinary action, and we are long overdue.
With all the lawsuits filed against us by developers, employees and government agencies fining us for sewer spills the people responsible saw the writing on the wall and retired with big fat pensions. The continued waste by hiring consultants and placing fees on the ballot are very costly, and you and I are paying for them. Enough is enough.
For those of you who received cuts, stop your whining. You have been riding the gravy train a long time. I, too, am a PERS retiree. I spent 18 years as a cook-manager for the school district. I take in $279 a month. Did I work harder than the firefighters and police officers? You bet I did. Cooking from scratch for 200 kids was no picnic. So when I hear of the salaries and pensions they get now. It’s inconceivable.
Therese M. Dyer, Linda Mar
 
HEART is a bargain
Editor:
Peninsula Interfaith Action (PIA) of St. Peter & Good Shepherd locally have worked over the years toward the founding of HEART, the county wide affordable housing trust fund. It is a renewable fund supported by private and government contributions. From HEART each city gets to draw needed money to fulfill its state mandated affordable housing requirement. Every city in the county belongs, and so far Pacifica has received $500,000 to help renovate senior low-cost housing (Ocean View Apartments) here in town. Pacifica has also drawn on HEART funds to help two deserving families purchase homes here. One is a high school teacher. This is a huge return for the $15,000 dues the city must pay. Other services provided by HEART are: short-term predevelopment or construction loans to finance multi-family housing: Long-term loans for affordable rental housing; and homebuyer assistance loans. This all is so important to making Pacifica a caring and people friendly place.
Don’t let this valuable service to Pacifica expire. HEART is a unique achievement of county- wide goodwill.
Just ask the 100 seniors at Pacifica’s Ocean View Apartments.
Luis Robles, Monica Olsen, Gloria Stofan, and Ellen Hage, Residents of Pacifica and Leaders of St. Peter/Good Shepherd PIA
 
Rebuilding Together
Editor:
Thank you to Correspondent Jean Bartlett for her tremendous coverage of the five Rebuilding Together Peninsula projects in Pacifica which occurred on April 30, 2011. As a member of the RTP Board of Directors I, too, had a chance to visit these sites and was amazed at the hard work and community spirit exhibited by so many local volunteers.
Pacifica Firefighters, joined by Fire Science students from CSM, worked on the home of a couple with disabilities, while sixty volunteers from St. Peter Church, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, and New Life Christian Fellowship worked on the homes of two elderly widows. Meanwhile, DPR Construction was doing a major site improvement for the Boys and Girls Club on Yosemite Drive and more good work was being done by volunteers at the Child Care Services Ocean Shore Preschool.
Construction Captains for these five sites included: Bill Provence, Eddy Horodenski, Jason Brenner, Todd Elkins, and Richard Crevelt. Volunteer Coordinators included: Kate Chinca, Paul Vian, Richard York, Angelica Beas, Ryan Frederick, Jared Schwartz, Jeanette Loretz, and Mary French. Together they coordinated the efforts of well over one hundred volunteers who worked HARD painting, landscaping, wiring, plumbing, improving accessibility and doing a variety of repairs to fulfill the dreams of neighbors in need. In turn these volunteers gained the satisfaction of restoring their community and renewing hope for those in need. “JOB WELL DONE!” everyone, and sincere thanks from the Board and Staff of Rebuilding Together Peninsula.
Bob O’Donnell, Member of the Board of Directors, Rebuilding Together Peninsula
 
City/Chamber Partnership
Editor:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank City Mayor Mary Ann Nihart and Councilpersons Sue Digre and Len Stone for attending the Council/Chamber of Commerce study session on Wednesday night, May 4th. Also, thank you to City Manager Steve Rhodes for finding time in his busy schedule to attend.
The presentation by the Chamber CEO, Courtney Conlon, was to show the Council how the now pro active Chamber can help the City realize monetary gains in a myriad of ways and circumstances. Our new branding, which will be unveiled at the Taste of Pacifica on June 4th, showcases the invigorating new path the Chamber is walking. Spotlighting the continued Chamber involvement with the City was the over $8,500 the business community donated to the new firefighters all-terrain vehicle unveiled last week. We were told by the firemen that without the business community’s support, the purchase may not have happened.
Our presentation offered both short and long term solutions to assist the City of Pacifica in its fiscal concerns. Two prominent suggestions were a citywide calendar of all events to plan your weekend accordingly and a website showing all available commercial property listings in town in one centralized location. Both would enable outside visitors to capture all needed information quickly and conveniently.
The Chamber Board of Directors currently has over 500 years of business experience between us. I urge the City to take advantage of our knowledge and let us partner with them to revitalize Pacifica.
Christine Porter, President, Pacifica Chamber of Commerce
