June 6, 2007 - Top Stories

291 students to graduate from VCHS June 14

Two hundred and ninety one seniors from Valley Center High School will enter the ultimate reality show on June 14 when they graduate.
The ceremony will be held between 7–8:30 p.m. at Jaguar Stadium.
Dan Eccles, ASB president, will welcome the attendees.
Student addresses will be given by Marisol Cortes, valedictorian, and Caleb Oakes, salutatorian.
The Chain Ceremony will be performed by Senior Class officers Jordan Greer and Chris Lucas to next year’s Senior Class officers McKennon Abreau and Erin Murphy.
Jeff Tuttle, who teaches AP World and European History and Economics at VCHS, will give the address to the graduates.
Also speaking will be Principal Ron McCowan and Supt. Lou Obermeyer.
Diplomas will be presented by school board members Doug Dechairo, Lori Johnson, Don Martin, Wendy Zeugschmidt and Henry Van Wyk.
Graduate Student Names
Jennifer Leigh Abernethy, Pedro Alba, Kirby Frances Darland, Monique Almanza, Sandra Andraca, Rosa Veronica Angel Fuentes, Jasen Evan Armstrong, Sally Marie Arredondo, Kyle Anthony Avery-Carlson, Manuel Avila, Alison Dominga Aviles, Michael Aviles, Alexander Avilez,
Jessica Baldan, Dustin Bales, Kara Danielle Ballew, Daniel Francis Balona, Maria Guadalupe Baltazar, Melodye Elizabeth Bates, Amy Joy Baumgart, Eric Beckdol, Sean William Bell, Raul Bello, Lindsay R. Berdan, Samantha Elizabeth Bergman,
Sophia Teresa Bernal, Veronica Cecilia Bernal, Morgan Arielle Birch, Matthew Geral Bishop, Whitney Gray Bisplinghoff, Chase Alan Boberg, Jomana Michelle Boulos, Viridiana Briseno, Jason Brothers, Tyler Matthew Brumbaugh, Brett Michael Byler
Cameron M. Cacananta, Jacob Caltrider, Melanie Rae Campbell, Martin Campos Jr., Brett Carlson, Courtney Michelle Castner, Damian Castro, Trevor James Cato, Justin Barret Cayford, Erin Prieth Citti, Justin C. Clifford, Jeremy Cline,
Ryan William Cloney, Jasen Matthew Coburn, Brina Nari Collins, Reid Collins, Candace Leigh Conti, Marisol Cortés, Maria Socorro Cortez, Kyle Wesley Craft, Larissa Nicole Craig, Richardo Cuevas, Harmony Rose Curtiss, Nicole Noelle Cutrell,
Sonia Johanna De La Cueva, Corey Joseph Debin, Michael Arjona Diaz, Daniel Thomas Donaldson, atthew Garett Donathan, Christine Elise Dufour, Tania Duse, Kyra Michelle Eastman, Daniel Joseph Eccles,
Betsy Lisel Feria, Bernadette Ann Fiehler, Mayda Raissa Figueroa, Michael John Flores, Kristopher Kainoa Fojas, Luke Fredenburg, Justin Michael Fry, Mary Ann Elise Fuentes,
Justin Gangel, Andreana Guadalupe Garcia, Jose Noe Garcia, Nicole Gjorkovski, Flor Gomez, Shanai Gomez, Salvador Gomez Jr., Jordan Greer, Michael Henry Griffin, Amanda Grovom, Emmalynne Miranda Guzman,
Mark Hagadorn, Rachel Louise Halligan, Yessenia Haros, Melissa Jean Harper, Juliana Michele Harris, Ryan Timothy Harris, Christina Marie Harrison, Victoria Lauren Haynes, Daniel Andrew Hejja, Jessica Elizabeth Heller, Joshua Helm, Erendira Irais Hernandez,
Jose Eduardo Hernandez, Katherine Anne Hernandez, Sergio J. Hernandez, Ivan Herrera, Pedro David Simon Herrera, Adam Hoag, Angela Marie Holtz, Rachel Elizabeth Holtz, Jed Aaron Hough, Caden Jan Houson, Angelina Marie Howe,
Owen Daniel Ingalls, Nicole Christina Jardine, Andrew Michael Jauregui, Megan Elizabeth Jauregui, Drew William Jeansonne, Erika Paige Jensen, Curtis Allan Johnson, Joshua W. Johnston, Leila Marie Jose,
Alexander Jeffery Kaiser, Elle Alexandra Karno-Palcic, Katherine Elaine Kasten, Tyler Keck, Jonathan Robert Kertz, Hannah Huyen Kiesow, Cameron Kimball, Justin Roy Klingerman, Kaitlyn Rae Kobel-Miner, John Konyn,
Raylene Michico Leader, Sage Marie LeBlanc, Alex Lee, Robert Sloan Leishman Jr., Jason Leonard, Kristin Lettice, Hartman Lillibridge, William Lillibridge, Alton Evan Linton, Trevor Warwick Litchfield, Madeline G. Lopez, James Kaye Lowder, Jason David Lowder, Christopher Michael Lucas, Reed Luciano, Nolan Terrell Luckett, Michael Ross Lund, Tasha Lyons,
Whitney Marie Madison, Carlos Enrique Madrigal, Michael Nolan Magnani, Elise Irene Makowsky, Tanina Christine Maniscalco, Roger Marshall, Amanda Martin, Adriana Martinez, Obed Martinez, Kelley Nicole Matthews, Jesse David Maune, Kazlyn Christopher McGehee,
Stephanie Nichole McMann, Jose Carlos Mendoza, Gary Menk, Victor Manuel Mercado Jr., Benjamin Forest Michael, Christopher Milby, Angelica Maria Miramontes, Brooke Alejandrina Monreal, Alejandra Montano Munoz, Ivette Montiel, David Michael Morningstar, Shannon Marie Moyneur, Thomas Penn Mullay,
Rachel Elisabeth Nagorski, Jeremy Napier, Melissa Michelle Neri, Avery Jean Nicol, Ian Reid Nicoll,
Caleb Robert Oakes, Samantha Skye O'Brien, Caitlin Farrell Oliver, Hunter William Olney, Amber Orozco, Sandra Leticia Oviedo,
Benjamin Corey Panos, Daniel Jay Papp, Robert Parcell, Samantha Michelle Parsley, Jon-Carlo Milan Parsons, Jessica Elaine Patterson, Timothy James Pauser, Ronald Gregory Peck, Kalyn Dial Peirce, Robert Francisco Pellkofer Marchán, Tory Jo Pelton, Colton Wyatt Peltzer,
Moises Pena, Felicia Anne Penney, Jovanna A. Peralta, Jermain William Perez, Matt Petranovic, Sean Everett Phillips, Andrew Michael Polancic, Samuel Thomas Polito, Alma Evelia Ponce, Brian Ponce, Anthony Martin Prinsen, Kyle Prochaska,
Fabiola Montserrat Ramirez, James Reeder, Eric Reyes, Raychel Bonita Reyes-Johnson, Caleb Thomas Richards, Sam Ryan Richmond, Matthew Rickard, Carlos German Rivera, Jorge Rizo Lopez,
Eduardo Robles, Meilani Fely Robles, Brent Zachary Rodgers, Maria Isabel Rodriguez, Andrew Joseph Roland, Michael David Ronzello, Eli Jesse Rubio, Aaron Alexander Ruiz, Erica Ibeth Ruiz, Miguel Angel Ruiz, Alisa Rusakova, Richard Wayne Russell,
Alana Salisbury, Rose Marie Schafer, Albert James Seehuber, Elena Segura, Torrey Severud, Brianna Margaret Shaffer, Cecelia Danielle Shannon, Chelsea Sharpe, Diana Shealy,
Kyne Robert Sheehy, Jessica Kathleen Sieberg, Brittany Nicole Simmons, Andrea Simpson, Joshua Thomas Siva, Kamila Lynn Skrzypczak, Christopher Michael Guadalupe Sloan, Garrett Smith, Kyle Smith, Samantha Merie Smith,
Stephanie Ann Sorge, Alma D. Soto, Makayla Rianne Spencer, Khylin Marie Speratos, Amanda Streagle, Nicholas Suarez, Robert A. Suarez, Michael Patrick Sullivan, Trent Thomas Swift,
Chelsea Renay Tamborelli, Aleksandra Nikole Tammer, Tyler D. Tennille, Nichole Johanna Thalmayer, Nicole Marie Thompson, Juan Daniel Tinoco, Weston Dean Tisch, Weston Ryan Titus, Jaime Tomás, Joaquin Tomas, Veronica Torres, Alfonso Trujillo Jr.,
Jentry Nicole Uran, Michael Anthony Valenzuela, Jramy Vallar, Matthew Peter Van Wyk, Vanessa Antonia VanDyken, Adrianna Eva Vásquez, Kenny Allen Vexler, Justin Gary Vosburg, Cassi Ann Vosefski, Sabrina Vujas,
Megan Christine Wagner, Angela Beth Wallis, Courtney Walters, Briahna Denae Warren, Kortney Westerlund, Cody Tyler Wick,
Cameron Michael Yancey, Alex Young, Maria Del Sagrario Zuñiga, Miguel ZuÎiga

Local farmers could face a dry summer if water is cut

When this little fish has a bad day, it can cause major indigestion in our entire state’s water supply.
The delta smelt, a nearly transparent fish about the size of your little finger, that is on the federal Endangered Species List, could cause major water cut-offs this summer for farmers up and down California, including Valley Center.
This week the California Dept. of Water Resources decided to temporarily shut down pumps on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to avoid harming delta smelt that were clustered near the pumps.
If the fish don’t move the pumps might continue to be silent. If that continues much beyond two weeks, events might cascade into a situation to where water could be drastically curtailed to local farmers later this summer, possibly in August or September.
The State Water Project delivers water to more than 25 million people and to 750,000 acres of ag land in the state.
That mission runs headlong into the issue of whether the delta smelt are adversely impacted when large amounts of fresh water is taken from the estuary to supply California’s farmers, residents and commercial interests.
In May a U.S. District judge in Fresno ruled that the State Water Project has not done enough to protect the smelt, as required by the Endangered Species Act.
The judge declined to shut down the delta operations but said that an “appropriate interim remedy must be implemented.”
At Monday’s VC Municipal Water District meeting Gen. Mgr. Gary Arant warned that local farmers might face drastic cuts this summer if what some call “the deepening smelt crisis” isn’t alleviated.
More than 80% of the water sold in Valley Center is sold to farmers.
“The most immediate concern is the impact on our ag users,” Arant told The Roadrunner Monday. “Eighty percent of our water is delivered by the MWD’s (Metropolitan Water District) ag program at a discount. But the quid pro quo is that they are the first to be cut; up to thirty percent.”
According to Arant, If the situation continues longterm the impact may also be felt by residential and commercial users.
“If the coming winter is dry we could see significant reductions in supply not only for ag but for domestic users.”
The water district is in close communication with the San Diego County Water Authority, which buys water from the MWD and sells it to smaller agencies, like VCMWD.
If this summer the State Water Project pumps are turned off for more than two weeks the MWD may not be able to take enough water out of the delta to meet its needs.
“We could see a call for an ag reduction by the end of August or early September,” said Arant.
Part of the problem is that there isn’t enough storage in Southern California for more than a year’s supply of water.
Two years ago one of the wettest winters in recorded history filled those reservoirs. This year has been one of the driest years and Southern California will be living off that surplus.
If next year is a dry year cuts will have to be made. "Because of the lack of storage in our state, with one dry year, we are concerned, with two dry years, we’re in bad shape.” He called the situation, “a dagger aimed at the heart of California. At stake is a water supply for 25 million people.”
Governor Arnold Schwar-zenegger's strategic growth plan calls for new storage and delta improvements.
Currently the governor is working to make some of these goals part of the budget.
Failing that, some business interests are looking to put a water bond on the 2008 ballot to build more storage and make improvements to the delta.
But to many the only way to permanently solve the issue of the delta will be to build the very controversial Peripheral Canal, which has been vehemently opposed by Northern California for many years.
When the State Water Project was designed in the 1950s it was intended that the Peripheral Canal would move it away from the fisheries.
Schwarzenegger's plan envisions two more large storage reservoirs in Southern California, and improvements to the delta to move water through it more reliably.
“A lot of people in the water community say that not only do we need the storage we need the Peripheral Canal,” said Arant.
The same environmental groups that sued in federal court to shut down the delta pumps are also against a peripheral canal. They also oppose most storage proposals.
They support conservation as the main solution to the state’s water crisis.
Since the state legislature is controlled by the Democratic party, which is aligned with environmental interests, few observers see any bonds being passed out of the legislature.
That means it will probably come from the initiative process.
“We are hopeful that there are private business interests to generate interest to put these issues on the ballot,” Arant told The Roadrunner.

Theater group achieves non-profit status

Valley Center’s community theater group is now a non-profit organization that you can make tax-deductible donations to.
At its quarterly meeting last month the theater group elected its 2007–2008 board. Board members include Kim Horst, Bill Kivitli, Marci Carr, Marc Wasserman and Christopher Ryan, who was elected president for the next year.
Valley Center Community Theater, which formed 18 months ago, has put on two well-received musicals at the Maxine Theater and one non-musical at the high school’s black box theater.
As a non-profit, VCCT counts on ticket sales and donations for all of its funding.
If you wonder where all of the money raised from ticket sales goes, consider that each big production costs more than $10,000. 
The King and I cost almost double that amount.
VCCT is one of the few theater groups in the area that does not charge actors to be on stage. 
In other groups a family of three might have to pay $600 in order to volunteer endless hours of their time.
The group has many community events in the works and some interesting show possibilities for the coming season.
You can help them do that by providing financial support.
The financial break-down below shows where the money went for The King and I.
Advertising,
$84.50
Costumes $2,664.26
Make-up
$538.27
Music
$1,865.33
Office Expense
$96.85
Printing  
$618.22
Props
$1,211.53
Rent-Maxine Theater
$5,141.25
Royalties
$4,220
Sets
$1,776.06
Other Expenses
$695.13
Total Expenses
$18,911.40
Total Income via Ticket Sales                            
$11,959.25
NET LOSS $6,952.15
While ticket sales are a big offset to the costs of putting on a production, the theater group also had financial sponsors.
The Pinamonti family at Valley Center Mini Storage donated storage units to house costumes and sets. Valley View Casino, County Supervisor Bill Horn, Dr. and Mrs. Polito, Harrah’s Casino, Mary & Bob Polito, and Sherman Finger all provided significant financial support.
Membership levels (which includes being on the theater group’s e-mail list for future events and shows) are:
$25 individual membership
$50 family membership
Sponsorship levels (include membership in VCCT):
Pennies from Heaven... $10-$249
Our Town... $250-$500
Great Expectations...$1,000
Sound of Music... $2,500
Mama Mia...$5,000
The King and I...$10,000
Standing Ovation...$15,000
Champion of Valley Center Theater... $20,000 and over.
Encore Presentation...All annual donations
Trust Fund donations are also appreciated.
Make checks out to: VCCT . You can send them to Valley Center Community Theater, POB 1672 Valley Center, Ca, 92082. Include your e-mail address so they will add you to their e-mail list.
Questions can be addressed to board members at vcctboard@yahoo.
If you have a service you think could be beneficial, you are encouraged to contact the group.
Each level of sponsorship comes with benefits too! Visit www.VCCT.ORG. The site will be up and running soon with all the latest information on future shows, community events and auditions.
The group meets quarterly and is always looking for new members.
Scheduled meetings for the next year will be Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. High School Drama Room (tentative), Nov. at 7 p.m. High School Drama Room (tentative), Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. High School Drama Room (tentative) and May 13 at 7 p.m. High School Drama Room (tentative).

Palomar Mtn. School funding bill clears another hurdle

The California Senate Appropriations Committee moved the Palomar Mountain School funding bill off the “suspense file” Thursday, passing the bill on a 16–0 vote, which clears the way for a Senate Floor vote as early as next week.
The bill, SB 667, authored by state Senator Dennis Hollingsworth, R-Murrieta, would provide funding for the Palomar Mountain School, one of the last operational one-room schoolhouse in San Diego County located on Palomar Mountain.
In recent years, the Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District has experienced declining enrollment so they considered closing the small schoolhouse last year.
State funding was lost when the school was part of the unification of the Valley Center and Pauma school districts, which made the new school district too large to receive normal state augmentation.
Last year, district officials approached Senator Hollings-worth to carry SB 667 in hopes of keeping the K–8 school open for about 11 students that it serves living in the mountain-area community.
Closing the school would mean the students would spend at least 90 minutes on a bus each day, which becomes a safety concern during snowy conditions.
“This is wonderful news for our district and for Palomar Mountain School,” said district Superintendent Lou Obermeyer. “The school has circumstances that are very unique and we feel it is essential to keep the school in full operation. We’ve appreciated the support from Senator Hollingsworth and we thank him for making a difference for our students and school district.”
After unanimously passing the Senate Education Committee, the bill was placed on the Senate Appropriations Committee “suspense file” last month, which is often a death sentence for bills.
"I'm happy this has bill moved off the suspense file and is able to move to full Senate consideration," Hollingsworth said. "This little schoolhouse means so much to the people on the mountain and it is an important piece of history. We hope the bill will have continued success and eventually get the governor's signature."
Hollingsworth said the bill would be voted on by the full Senate sometime in the next two weeks.
It still needs to be approved in the Assembly.

Pauma man appointed to Colorado River Board

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has appointed San Diego County Water Authority Board member Bill Knutson to the Colorado River Board of California as the Water Authority’s representative on the board.
The Colorado River Board was established in 1937 by state law to protect California’s rights and interests in the resources provided by the Colorado River and to represent California in discussions and negotiations regarding the Colorado River and its management. California representatives on the Colorado River Board serve at the pleasure of the governor.
“San Diego County and all of Southern California depend on the Colorado River for much of our water and power, so it is important that we have a voice in how the river is managed,” said Knutson. “This is a tremendous responsibility, and I look forward to representing our region on this board.”
“As we face continued drought conditions on the Colorado, it is even more critical that all who depend on the river work together to manage this precious resource,” said Javier Saunders, who will serve as the Water Authority’s alternate representative.
Bill Knutson, 77, of Pauma Valley, was appointed to the water Authority Board of Directors in July 2000. He currently serves as vice chairman of the Water Authority’s Imported Water Committee and is a member of the Engineering and Operators and Colorado River Programs committees. He has served as a director of the Yuima Municipal Water District since 1998. Knutson replaces James Bond, Water Authority board member from Encinitas, on the Colorado River Board.
Knutson previously was the special assistant to the A-12 program manager for General Dynamics from 1990 to 1992 and a manager for Hughes Aircraft Company from 1976 to 1989. Prior to that, he served in the US Navy from 1952 to 1976.

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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