Cambrian letters

Thursday, Jun. 11, 2009

Letters to the Editor 6/11-6/17

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Keep your dog close

This morning I came terrifyingly close to losing my 14-pound pet dog to two coyotes.

I knew we had coyotes in Cambria, and I knew they consider small dogs easy prey, but I guess I needed this too-close-for-comfort call to remind me how careful I have to be. I thought if I avoided dawn and dusk and kept her pretty close, we’d be OK. But we almost weren’t.

We were walking on the Cambria cross-town trail in the late morning (between the highway near

Rabobank and the bridge over the creek at the bike shop). She was briefly off-leash, but walking very close to me.

I saw her react to something behind us, and I saw a flash in my peripheral vision that I took to be another dog catching up. I turned to see that it was a coyote, about 8 feet away. It had apparently been stalking us (her). If she had been just far enough behind me that I couldn’t see her see it, things might have turned out very differently.

I grabbed her up and tucked her into my jacket, then yelled at the coyote in hopes of scaring it away. It sat down and bayed violently, and another coyote responded to the call. It had been just on the other side of some bushes. Now we had one on either side of us. And this second coyote— when I screamed at it and threatened it — took three steps in our direction before deciding to take my death threats seriously.

I still remember something I learned from a ranger in Death Valley: It is uncommon, but not unheard of (and not as uncommon as it used to be), for a coyote to attack a human for his or her pet. Fortunately, these two weren’t quite that brazen. But they did follow us all the way to the highway, and I had to stop often and scream at them to get back.

In the future, of course I’ll be more careful. But I’m hoping this report of my experience might spare another pet owner the tragedy of watching a beloved dog taken right out from under his or her gaze. Please keep your little dog close on Fiscalini Ranch Preserve (or just about anywhere around here, really) and be aware.

Catherine Ryan Hyde

Cambria

Surely you jest

“Atheist Activism” (May 14)? Surely Susan Walsh jests. What’s next, Islamic squirrels, Wicca elephant seals? Nope; for Walsh, it’s the conservative court that won’t permit her personal faith to be foisted upon others and her contrived fear that banning Bibles is the next logical extension.

Ms. Walsh has always been welcome to spread Bibles in prisons and hotels. Yet, she is not welcome to run our country or schools based upon her personal religious convictions. Why is that?

In his letter to The Tribune, Steve Anderson reminds us “that James Madison, the principal architect of the Constitution wrote, ‘The civil government ... functions with complete success ... by the total separation of the Church from the State.’ ”

Instead, the recent patterns of certain religious sects disrupting the public educational system, fomenting divisions in our military and their cynical disrespect for the principal foundations of our nation is threatening our nation’s future.

Self-described religious conservatives, along with politicians masquerading as religious leaders, have ushered America into an era of torture, corruption, war, poverty and rising teenage pregnancy. Despite tight media control this rise of this “religion” has become a poignant concern for an increasingly vocal majority of our nation’s citizens.

More to the point, the nation’s “grid” (as you put it) was designed with the foresight to not include religion. Due to this remarkable foresight, we are free to practice our faith(s) and teach what we wish in our church schools.

Cal Thomas stated “… the heart of Christianity is in the home, not the halls of Congress or even the courts. And the route to a more moral America is through good works…not political lobbying.”

Bradley Zane

Cambria

Hire local

I called CCSD Friday, May 29. General Manager Tammy Rudock and the district clerk were gone until Tuesday.

I spoke with the only person in the office, who has been there only a short iem and does not live in Cambria. With all the folks out of work in Cambria, one would think they could have hired a local.

This is not personal, but how special can a skill set be that they would hire someone who knows practically nothing about our village vs. a Cambrian?

She didn’t know what Stage 1, 2 & 3 were. Said our wells are full, so we don’t need to conserve (I had asked her why we’re not under a mandate to conserve). She didn’t even know that most of our water is used in the summer months!

I know of at least one very qualified Cambrian, with a huge skill set (bookkeeping, computer savvy, management skills, and has lived in Cambria for more than 20 years.) She applied for this job at CCSD and was rejected. She owns a home here, but may have to leave because she can’t find a job.

Who knows how many other Cambrians applied for this job, with all its high pay and benefits galore, and were turned away in favor of someone who knows practically nothing about our village?

Could this possibly be nepotism? As a 30-year resident of Cambria, I’d sure like an explanation. This is an outrage.

Lynda Olsen Adelson

Cambria

‘Purr-fect’

I recently visited the cat shelter here in Cambria. I was very impressed with the cleanliness of the facility and a very friendly staff. If you would like to brighten your day and make a cat’s day at the HART shelter, you can visit between noon to 4 p. m. during the week. You can make a difference in these trying times and make a whole lot of kitty cats very happy—“purrfect”!

Pat May

Cambria

Group effort, great fun

Many thanks from the Cambria Historical Society to everyone who helped make our first Memorial Day weekend barbecue and walking tours a big success.

We especially want to thank our local historian, Dawn Dunlap, for the fascinating journey she led through Cambria’s past, one block at a time, along the streets of East Village.

The backyard of the museum is a beautiful place for a party now, thanks to the donated efforts by Greg Frugoli of Ecotones; Mike Rice Forest, Land and Garden; Ben Boer; and our museum volunteers.

Mike Finley brought his outstanding barbecue skills to the party, and we are most grateful for delicious meals he and his team of volunteers produced from the grill.

We thank Mustache Pete’s, Cookie Crock, Beth Kendall of Dos Pasos Ranch, SLO Baked and Culligan for their contributions of food and drink. We love the beautiful succulent mini-gardens created by Viv Raives and the Cambria Newcomers Garden Club Three. We all enjoyed the carriage rides and thank Christopher and Dinah Brazelton for bringing Storybook Carriage Rides to Cambria. And we send thanks to the Burnished Brass Quartet and the Coast Union singers for the terrific entertainment. Special events are most successful when everyone pulls together, and we are happy that so many East Village businesses joined us for this one. We wish everyone a wonderful summer and look forward to more great times ahead.

Susan McDonald

Cambria Historical Society

TeenCentersays‘thanks’

We at the Cambria YMCA Teen Center thank you for the generous donation and support given to us by the Community Presbyterian Church. After another successful thrift sale, we feel fortunate to be one of the recipients of your kindness. It re-ally makes clear “that it takes a village” to raise the children of a community.

With the way you have contributed, and the ongoing support of the Lions Club of Cambria, we can see you care about the youth of our town. This will be a tangible way that programs and field trips can continue during the summer months for us. Donations from the folks of Cambria, and/or ping pong balls, and paddles, would also be helpful.

Feel free to drop by any afternoon to see our center at 870 Main St., between the Cambria General Store and the Gallery at the Old Schoolhouse.

We at the Teen Center also wish to say thank you for the fine donation of Mike and Lynda Adelson of a 65-inch TV. The teens here have enjoyed video games, sporting events, and watching history being made in the past, but are now a much bigger part of that whole process. We hope to enjoy some movies too. This is an incredible addition for the summer, and coming years, and is greatly appreciated. Thank you all for your generosity,

Tyrone Armstrong, director, and Priscilla Mikesell, assistant director

Cambria Teen Center

Day to remember

I do not know how many citizens of Cambria were present at the Memorial Day ceremony, which, incidently, was first-rate, but if you missed it, you also missed a well-thought out, highly emotional, and enthusiastically given speech by Jerry “Gringo” McKinnon on the commemorations and dedication of the Veterans Memorial Building to American veterans.

Those of you who were present and were as impressed as I was with Jerry’s speech might be interested in the fact that Jerry has been honing his speaking skills at the Cambria Toastmasters, which meets at 5:15 p. m. every second and fourth Monday at Rabobank. Also, I was very honored to be allowed to place a wreath on the flag platform at the Memorial Day ceremony, one of the biggest honors of my life.

Jack Ormond

Cambria