Bell Gardens Farm founder Glen Bell was honored by the U.S. Marine Corps during the Harvest 4Kids celebration Saturday. About 300 attended.
Also honored was B. Diane Wallace, active in 4-H programs since 1982.
The Marine Color Guard came from the HQ & Service Battalion -1st Force Service Support Group at Camp Pendleton.
Sgt. Major Manual J. Sanchez, 1FSSG Marine Corps HQ arranged for the awards. Bell and Sgt. Maj. Sanchez are friends. Sanchez uses the success story of the Marine, Glen Bell, Jr. as an example for Marines.
The awards given to Bell were a symbolic gold coin inscribed with “Once a Marine Always a Marine” and on the other side “Semper Fidelis.” He was given a personal invitation from the Commanding Officer of Camp Pendleton to attend this year’s 227 Marine Corps Birthday Ceremony in November. Lastly, he received a cap embroidered with Admiral’s Wings and the name of the ship that Bell served aboard during WWII.
Harvest 4Kids celebrated 100 years of 4-H service and Bell Gardens Farm’s first year as a nonprofit organization. About 150 volunteers, particularly 4-H’rs helped put on the affair.
Other awards were presented to Bell and Wallace by BGF Exec. Dir. Barbara Karle and Roy DeVault of the San Diego 4-H Youth Education Foundation. The sculpted glass awards thanked both for leadership in providing ag education for youth.
By DAVID ROSS
VC fire engines roll for all auto crashes in town, and the fire board Thursday expressed alarm about the explosion of auto accidents here.
It passed a resolution calling on the County to widen VC Road as quickly as possible and for the State to beef up the California Highway Patrol presence.
Director Dan Thornton said a community effort was called for to pressure the County to move on the road, and that the fire district should be the lead agency. “It’s kind of a free-for-all out there,” he said.
“We’ve all read about VC leading the county in car accidents, and as someone who lives and works here every day, I can foresee something tragic happening to our community if we don’t get going as far as road improvement and enforcement,” he said.
“We have a tremendous amount of traffic on outdated roads with no more than one lone CHP officer. If he can make it through town one time a day he’s lucky. It’ll get worse before it gets better,” he said.
The rising tide of accidents is the culmination of many factors, said Thornton, “the growth of the community, the growth of high school, the casinos. Traffic is growing to where it’s getting ridiculous and getting unsafe. That directly affects us and our bottom line.”
Fire board Pres. Mel Schuler added that, “Being proactive to seeing that the road widening happens is not inappropriate.”
Fire Chief Kevin O’Leary said it’s hard for fire engines to get out of Station 73 (N. Lake Wohlford Road) in the afternoon, when traffic from casinos and schools combine.
“I don’t know if there’s a huge increase in traffic accidents, but we’re getting used to going to critical injury accidents. It’s well known, if you’re a firefighter and want experience with trauma, go to VC fire department,” he said.
He added, “It’s taking us longer to get to accidents because of increased traffic. But the difference is that in the inner city when you have a lot of traffic, it moves slow. We have a situation where everybody is moving pretty darn fast. When you respond to an emergency you have these backups, the firefighters responding are also in danger because of the danger of motorists getting confused and pulling out in front of you. The roads are not meant for that. These roads are rural roads, not city roads.”
Thornton added that an increased CHP presence might not end accidents, “but it might cut down on fatalities.”
Thornton noted that there has been fast action in the past from government agencies when enough public pressure was put on them. “That signal light at Cool Valley Road & Cole Grade Road was brought in pretty quick! We need to be proactive. I don’t think that our jumping into the fray can lengthen the wait and it might shorten it.”
Robert Silverman
Robert Silverman is a candidate for the VC Municipal Water District board, Div. 3.
Statement
According to the organization chart contained in the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report of the VC Municipal Water Dist. the citizens of VC are the controlling element of the water company. The citizens are above the board of directors and general manager.
VCMWD, however, conducts itself as though Agriculture is the most important part of the community. If you are an orange, avocado or flower, etc. then in the VCMWD’s view, you are more important than the citizens of VC.
Mr. Broomell has been a director for more than 30 years and during this period he has acted in the best interest of Agriculture by assuring cheap water for the farmers. The best interests of the domestic (residential) consumer appear to be an afterthought.
Important issues such as the health of the children and the safety of the razor-thin water pipes don’t really appear to be as significant as the needs of ag. The citizens of VC are concerned about these issues!
I have been a resident of this valley for more than 16 years and a commercial flower grower for more than ten years. I appreciate the importance of ag to VC, but I am appalled at the disregard of the concerns of the citizens by the VCMWD.
If I am elected to the water board from Div. 3, I will work hard to assure that the concerns of the citizens of VC are heard loud and clear and consistently receive the proper attention.
Q: What are your strongest qualifications for office?
A: My ability to identify and analyze problems and take a pro-active approach toward solving them. In addition, I am patient and a very good listener.
Q: Do you own a home in VC?
A: Yes, for over 16 years.
Q: What is the function of the water board?
A: I see it as a dual function. First, to assure that the water received by the citizens of VC is safe and reasonably priced. Then to carefully and thoughtfully listen to the concerns of the citizens and address these concerns. After the needs of the people the water board should pay attention to the agricultural and commercial interests.
Q: Why is the water district important?
A: It is extremely important because it serves as an interface between the domestic, agricultural and commercial segments of VC and the San Diego County Water Authority as well as the Metropolitan Water District.
Q: What is the biggest challenge facing the district in maintaining dependable and affordable water?
A: There is a need to properly balance the needs and concerns of the growing population of domestic users and the old established agricultural sector.
A substantial number of people have moved to VC and, as a result of approved major developments, there will be a much greater population in the immediate years to come. VC is becoming a semirural exurb (a suburban area far from a major urban center). In the past, the water district has acted as if the only segment of the population that mattered was agriculture. The water district saw only the need to supply cheap and plentiful water for these ag interests. Ag interests are rapidly selling out to development interests. The citizens (residents) need a water district that pays attention to the need for a safe, inexpensive and plentiful water supply. They also need a water district that demonstrates a respectful attitude toward them by listening and acting upon their needs.
Q: Why should people vote for you rather than your opponent?
A: Because while I have made my living from being a full time, hands-on flower grower for more than ten years, I consider myself to be a citizen of VC with the same concerns as the people of Div. 3. I live here, drink the water and my child went to school here. My understanding of the needs of the people coupled with my ag experience will make me a better water board director than my opponent. While my opponent has held the job for 30+ years he fails to recognize the changes that have come and will continue to come to VC. He is first and only a friend of ag. His one dimensional attitude is not good for VC.Gary Broomell
Gary Broomell is an incumbent candidate for Div. 3 of the Valley Center Municipal Water District Board.
Statement
As a lifelong farmer I understand how important a safe, reliable and affordable water supply is to the survival of agriculture. As a longtime resident, I also realize how critical ag is to preserving VC’s unique rural character.
I have always believed that my main responsibility to my constituents was to keep water rates as low as possible, while providing high quality customer service.
To achieve this goal, I have always worked to control costs, both locally and as Valley Center’s representative to the County Water Authority.
Along with our other board members, I have also advocated and gotten special discount rates for ag from our wholesale suppliers. As a result, VCMWD has among the lowest retail water commodity rates in the region.
If reelected I will remain focused on keeping water costs as low as possible, while making sure our water is safe and our system is ready to serve Valley Center well into the future.
Q: What are your strongest qualifications for office?
A: Experience. Time served is a pretty good education.
Q: Do you own a home in VC?
A: We started here in 1958. We moved into our house in 1960.
Q: What is the function of the water board?
A: To set policy for employees to follow. It’s our job to see that we have an adequate supply of water, that the quality is where it should be for health reasons. And, of course with the cancer cluster scare now we need to make sure that we test the water to make sure it is up to health standards.
Q: Why is the water district important?
A: Without the water district VC would be a very sparse, unpopulated area, because there is very little natural water. The district was formed to bring in water to allow people to make a living and have a place to live. It’s important for the farming aspect, obviously, and the home owner.
Q: What is the biggest challenge facing the district in maintaining dependable and affordable water.
A: The biggest challenge that our board faces, and boards in California face, is dealing with state and federal regulations in terms of developing and importing water. In the very near future you’ll see more desalination because of the inability to bring import water from other places.
Q: Why should people vote for you rather than your opponent?
A: It goes back to experience and interest. It’s extremely tough for farmers to make it today because of the cost of water and it’s important to keep the price f water at a minimum. Our water rates for ag and residential are among the lowest in the county. My goal is to keep them there.Randy Haskell
Randy Haskell is an incumbent candidate for Div. 2 of the Valley Center Municipal Water District
Statement
I have lived in VC for close to 50 years, and my family has farmed in this area for over 75 years. I have worked in agriculture for a majority of those years in Valley Center and nearby areas.
I am married with two children who have grown up in this valley, have gone to our schools, and enjoyed all the amenities that we have to offer.
My job as a board member is to serve all water users in my community, both domestic and agriculture. My goals are to provide safe, clean, quality water to all consumers, provide the best and most efficient water services, and keep the water rates affordable.
I’ve probably driven down Woods Valley Road hundreds of times. I never really took the time to appreciate the olive trees or the green pasture land, but now that homes and a golf course are planned there, I wish I had. There’s no doubt about it, the valley is changing. We can’t stop change, so we must adapt to it the best way we can by properly planning and preparing for the future.
I take my position on the water board very seriously, and strongly feel that it is not a platform to curb growth in our community. We have many other serious issues to solve and deal with. The purpose of the board should be to provide safe drinking water, non-eruptive services, and to run the district as efficiently as possible to insure that water rates remain reasonable.
Q: What are your strongest qualifications for office?
A: I think I know the valley. I don’t bring a hidden agenda. I don’t represent any special interests. I’m concerned with water quality, maintaining the serviceability, meaning non interrupting, and reasonable water rates for all consumers, ag and residential.
Q: Do you own a home in VC?
Yes.
Q: What is the function of the water board?
A: First thing is to ensure the quality of the water and to ensure its serviceability, to run the district efficiently, so that we can maintain reasonable rates. That, in a nutshell, is what this is all about.
Q: Why is the water district important?
A: It provides services to the community, both water and some sewer. It provides a service and that’s specifically what it should do, as efficiently as it can.
Q: What is the biggest challenge facing the district in maintaining dependable and affordable water.
A: A lot of issues can affect that, but one is alternate water supplies, at least exploring their possibility. It’s one reason I’m not in favor buying water from Mexico. I am in favor of exploring desalination plants, and that’s what I consider an alternative water source. That actually provides new waters, as opposed to other proposals that don’t generate new water, but just divvy up old water. There’s a lot of talk of an El Niño this year, but if it doesn’t happen ag could see a lot of restrictions. It’s also one reason I’m in favor of the SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) system that the district has voted to try on a trial basis. It would monitor levels in reservoirs, give us real time information on usage and make us more cost-effective. It brings to the district the ability to maintain not only our capacity but create models of usage and timing.
Q: Why should people vote for you rather than your opponent?
A: I think my experience. I’ve been on the board almost a year, and it takes that long to understand the complexities. Prior to that I was one of the major water users in VC for the last 12-15 years. I’ve had a working relationship with the various levels of management and staff at the water district.Michael Finton
Michael Finton is a candidate for Div. 2 of the Valley Center Municipal Water District.
Statement
I am an assistant professor of Emergency Medical Education at Palomar College where I train students to become paramedics and emergency medical technicians. Twice a month on weekends I work at the UCSD’s Thornton Hospital as an administrative nursing supervisor where I supervise about 150 people.
In my previous job I traveled frequently and lived in many places around the country. When my wife Jacci and I had the opportunity to decide where we wanted to live and rear our two children, we chose Valley Center.
I graduated from high school in 1976 and became an emergency medical technician. For 11 years I worked in hospital emergency rooms before I joined the Santa Ana Fire Dept. as a paramedic. Over the years I have been fortunate to serve the communities where I have lived. Two years ago I was a member of the advisory board for the VC Fire Dept. which prepared and proposed guidelines for paramedic service in VC. I believe our efforts will increase the health and safety of everyone in the community.
Q: What are your strongest qualifications for office?
A: I’m a consumer of water in VC and being a resident I am concerned about the health and safety of the water, and do we have adequate water sources.
Q: Do you own a home in VC?
A: Yes.
Q: What is the function of the water board?
A: To provide a community voice for the respective divisions to bring the needs of the community to the water district, to discuss those issues and to make decisions in the best interests of the community.
Q: Why is the water district important?
A: I believe it’s important because VC is changing and continues to change. We need to be a voice for the community and its residents as times change and technology changes.
Q: What is the biggest challenge facing the district in maintaining dependable and affordable water.
A: To stay on top of the changing needs of the community. I know that VC imports its water. As an example the Vista water district digs wells, that would be a good example of looking at other options. We may need to look at some other sources to meet the needs of the community.
Q: Why should people vote for you rather than your opponent?
A: I feel I represent a cross section of the citizens of Valley Center. I’m married, I have two small children, and I want to have a voice in assuring the public of the safety, the rates and quality of the water in VC.
Harrah’s Rincon Casino & Resort has announced a new policy prohibiting anyone under the age of 21 years old from entering the property.
After much deliberation, the casino and resort has made the decision to prohibit minors from being on-site to emphasize the casino’s dedication to responsible gaming, according to General Manager Tom Dingman.
“With the vast crowds we’ve experienced since our grand opening, it is very difficult to monitor the property to ensure optimum care of younger guests. We have simply had too many instances of minors being left unsupervised in areas both inside and outside the property,” said Dingman. “We recognize that the San Diego community is very family-oriented, however, casinos are an adult activity and not an environment for children. The enactment of this policy is our way of demonstrating our firm commitment to creating a safe experience for all our patrons, as well as out commitment to the local community.”
The new Valley Center Library has apparently hit a snag on its way to opening this November:
The VC fire department won’t sign off on the sprinkler system.
The project manager, Tom Clark, of RDK Consulting, the company hired by the County to build the library, said Monday that the builder and architect are looking for ways to be in compliance with county codes.
The sprinkler system was put in incorrectly, and without meeting County fire codes that require that a sprinkler system be painted so it won’t become corroded and cease working properly.
Fire Chief Kevin O’Leary, who met with a representative of RDK on Friday, told The Roadrunner, “It’s not yet resolved. We are going to meet with the sprinkler company and hopefully try to get a resolution.
“The sprinkler company that put in the system must certify the installation and certify that it is going to work. Until they do that we can’t sign off. That’s where the problem is. We can’t finalize it until the company is happy with that,” said O’Leary.
The sprinkler company, North County Fire, Inc. out of Fallbrook is unhappy because the sprinklers were not painted by the builder who installed them, and it refuses to certify the installation.
To get to the sprinklers requires taking off the roof or the ceiling underneath, which have already been installed.
“The fire code says you have to protect against corrosion of the pipes in the roof, where the sprinklers are,” said VC fire marshal, Joy Justis.
“I asked them to paint the pipe. I called the county marshal who agreed they needed painting. They put it in and didn’t paint the pipe,” she said.
That’s when the subcontractor, North County Fire, called Justis and said he wouldn’t warranty the work.
According to Justis, the builder said they were told “by the county money man that they didn’t need to paint it.”
“I am waiting for a letter from the County to tell me why they don’t think it needs painting or what they are going to do to bring it up to code,” she said. “They can go ahead and not paint them if they can prove to me that it won’t corrode the pipes. I just enforce the code.”
She added, “corrosion will set in sooner because there is no air circulating around those pipes. I want to make sure something like that doesn’t happen.
Clark told The Roadrunner, “We’re doing what we are required to be in compliance. We are looking at the fire codes and having the the architects look at the specifications. We’re waiting for the architects to provide us with that information.”
There is no possibility, Clark said, that the problem will cause any delay in opening the library Nov. 1.
The Valley Roadrunner
P.O.B. 1529, Valley Center, CA 92082
Tel. 760.749.1112 Fax 760.749.1688
Website: www.valleycenter.com
Email: editor@valleycenter.com
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