Letters to the Editor
September 25, 2014

To the Editor:
Well the update from the last meeting is that Chevron showed some nice pictures of what the enormous hill adjacent to neighbors would look like with plants on it, but they forgot to add the big building that would be on top of the plants and hill. It was a nice try, but the hill needs to go. They also went over the clean up they recently did and how the contaminated dirt was not bad enough to be sent off in the red bins like last time but was loaded into regular trucks with tarps on top. I later told them, I hope they can keep the contaminated dirt off the road ways better than they did out of Pole Creek. Speaking of the clean up, what a stink!! Now you all know what I am talking about when I say they smell bad. People could smell it all the way down to the high school. The post cards that were sent out by the EPA were a nice thought but failed to mention that we may smell some thing along with the noise and dust you may see, so don’t freak out. Poor kids at the school adjacent to the site had to be kept in for some of the morning due to the odor.
The thing that really gets me today is that the Chevron rep went to a City Planning meeting knowing that they had found something days before of concern and was advised from the EPA not to report it until a plan could be made. Are you kidding me? The EPA that is supposed to have our well being in mind told them not to report it? What else have they not reported? I know they did not report the pole creek issue at the Thursday night senior center meeting until I said some thing. Then they did acknowledge it had happened.
It was nice of someone ( Chevron?) to put in the paper the latest update on the ATSDRS report that will help us all rest at ease that our health is safe. I am going to take a stab in the dark on this, but I think that it will state just that. Other wise it may not have been reported to us.
I have mentioned how I and other neighbors have felt that Chevron have deceived us and now it is sad for me to think they maybe doing it to our city officials as well.
My fear is that some are thinking that Chevron will help our town; I feel that they will bring only problems and we will be strapped with a superfund site if we annex them into our city.
I was told that you catch more bees with honey than vinegar and so here goes……Chevron thank you so much for the clean up, would you now please give the near by neighbors, school children and teachers some peace from all this noise, dust, and smell. Please go tell your company officials that this community cannot support this project from lack of funds (we are a poor community) lack of water (we are in a drought) and lack of support form those who will be impacted by the most. Now let’s see what happens with that honey. 
There will not be a meeting this month since we are waiting for the ATSDRS report findings to come out and to be reported on.
If you do wish to give ideas as to what YOU would like over on the superfund site such as open space (what it currently zoned for), solar farm, Business Park and how you envision them to look like send the ideas to Kevin McSweeney in City Hall so they can be documented. Also if there are reports you would like to see done to see if this is a good idea or envormental concerns send those to him as well so they can be added to the scoping meeting documents. The hope is to have the scoping meeting in November. I hope any one who has an opinion comes and voices it.
Thank you,
Kathy Pace

***

To the Editor:
Girl Members and Adult Volunteers Alike Benefit
For many, a sit-upon, a round of Make New Friends, or fly-up wings may not carry any meaning, but to thousands of girls who are now adults throughout the central coast, these prompts bring back warm, fun memories more valuable than silver and gold as the song goes.
And, so it goes… another school year begins and with it brings another need or opportunity for a mom, a dad, a guardian, a grandma, or those with special skills to raise their hand to become a Girl Scout volunteer. The benefits are tremendously fulfilling to both girls and those who volunteer.
How else does a girl have access to fun adventures like learning about robotics, Being A Friend First to prevent bullying, or spending a weekend of outdoor orienteering, and so much more?
At Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast, we serve over 10,000 girls from Ventura County to Santa Cruz County. We want to reach more girls than ever before, but in order to do that, we need more volunteers.
Girl Scouts is making the world a better place while making a lasting impression in the lives of both its volunteers and girls members. Demonstrating this, recent Girl Scout research shows that 94 percent of Girl Scout volunteers and 97 percent of girl members believe Girl Scouts provides them with new, fun and exciting experiences.
Locally, our volunteers had this to say about what excited them about becoming a Girl Scout leader: “I had an opportunity to not only be a positive influence on my daughter and other girls in the troop, but that I could be an intimate part of watching them grow as leaders and amazing young women.” “I like outdoors and teaching [girls] self-sufficiency.” “Bringing the program to my daughter, who’s not into sports, gave her an activity that would help her grow as a person.”
It’s easy to register, training is provided, and we have girls waiting...ready to explore in a judgment-free space that is cooperative and encouraging. And, so it goes…that we again ask our communities to support girls and help them explore, imagine, and be amazing. To join or volunteer, please visit www.girlscouts.org/join.
Karen Skole
Chief Operating Officer
Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast
800-822-2427