Cambrian letters to the editor, Dec. 24, 2015

University Women say, ‘Thank you’

University Women of Cambria’s annual holiday luncheon, silent auction and merchant raffle at the Cambria Pines Lodge generated more than $7,100 toward its mission of providing scholarships to qualified graduating seniors of Cambria high schools. Six students helped sell raffle tickets and awarded merchant raffle prizes. We were entertained by the Coast Union High School band under the direction of Larry Frost. It was one of our most successful events!

Many thanks go to all the members of the board, especially First Vice President Margie Sesser, who orchestrated the luncheon; Second Vice President Cindy Bitto overseeing the silent auction with help from Eunice Wilson on the merchant raffle; and all our members and guests who attended and those who made monetary donations.

Richard Lee donated the handmade birdhouse pictured on this year’s UW directory cover for a special raffle. Jim Jenkins donated a lovely music box. Participating Cambria merchants who so generously provided items for the Raffle deserve our patronage as well as thanks: Allocco’s Italian Bakery, A Matter of Taste, Artifacts Gallery, Among Friends, Allied Arts, Black Cat Bistro, Christine Danse at Diva Day Spa, Cambria Pines Lodge, Cambria Café, Cookie Crock Market, Cambria Pub and Steakhouse, Patrick Dennis Gallery, Diva Day Spa, Dragon Bistro, Exotic Nature, Fermentations, Friends of Hearst Castle, French Corner Bakery, Gym One, Harmony Café, Hearst Ranch Winery, La Terraza Mexican Grill, Linn’s, Manta Ray Restaurant, Moonstone Beach Bar and Grill, Morro Nails, Once Upon a Tyme, Olallieberry Inn, Pewter Plough Playhouse, Piedras Blancas Light Station, Pacific Hair Design, Robin’s, Red Moose Cookies, Redwood Café, Skin Care of Cambria, San Simeon Beach Bar and Grill, Sandy’s Deli, The Place, True Skin, The Sea Chest and The Café.

University Women of Cambria is proud to be a part of the community organizations who provide scholarships to graduating seniors of our high schools — investing in the future of our students and our community.

Nobody is being penalized on water

I don’t understand why some Cambrians cannot just deal with reality, instead of whining about the CCSD rate increases. Nobody is being “penalized” for conserving water. Nature took away our water supply. We got the groundwater essentially for free, but paid for the delivery system. The delivery system costs about the same amount to maintain, regardless of how much water is used. Staff doesn’t have less to do just because there’s less water supply. The system of customers paying based on water use is simply a method of sharing total costs equitably.

But there are no “savings” when our free water supply disappears; it is just the opposite, when extraordinary measures such as the emergency water plant must be implemented to make up for the shortages of free groundwater. It should be obvious that, to maintain the system, each unit of water must cost more.

Likewise, when the wastewater treatment plant receives less water but gets the same solids and other pollutants, the sewage becomes stronger, and the treatment plant must make changes to achieve the same effluent standards. This could cost even more in the short term than dealing with the previous norms.

Change isn’t easy or free. You can’t cut staff because people are flushing a bit less. That’s when staff is needed the most, to adapt to the new conditions, and still meet unwavering discharge requirements.

No one likes to get less and pay more, but nature deals us a hand, and we must play it. I am happy that we still have water and that the CCSD has adapted to the new reality, despite being dealt some bad cards.

Count both the yeas and the nays

I am wondering why it is that when you want something — like money — you arrange for this somewhat like leaving an unsolicited package on the doorstep with a bill. This is sort of like a “no bid” project, eh??

Why not ask those that want this package to fill out forms in favor, then hand deliver them to you, so you can count them? Or at least a freely democratic proposal to be voted on.

Count both yeas and nays, not just the nays.

This story was originally published December 23, 2015 at 8:36 AM with the headline "Cambrian letters to the editor, Dec. 24, 2015."