Madera Classic Cars would like to thank the whole community and everyone who donated time, gifts or money for the huge success at the car show and fundraiser for cancer victim Tony Crump.
Once again, it shows how a small town like Madera can come together and help in the time of need.
It would be almost impossible to name everyone, since the number of people and businesses were many (in the thousands) and for fear of forgetting someone. Thanks to all.
Special thanks go to Walgreen’s for the parking lot; CertainTeed Corp., Tony’s employer; Madera Community Golf Course (Tony has been a member since it opened); Madera Tribune: Tami Jo Nix, Wendy Alexander, Katrina Soliz, Leon Emo; Jon Barsotti, hot dogs; Eddie Chapa, sno cones; The Pontiac Club; Dukes of Central Calif.; Dennis Clark, trophies; Don and Colleene Nielson, plaques; Aaron Pipes, Madera Trophy, for engraving trophies and plaques; Charlie Chavera and Louie Mendoza, ice cream; Debbie Valarosi, pictures, CD, DVD; Cantu Farms, portable toilets; Fuentes Construction, generators; and The Yard Dogs Band, music. (Real good!)
Thanks!
For pictures e-mail: catfishandfran (at) SBCGlobal dot net or Johncindylady (at) yahoo dot com
There’s no question that the governor and the Legislature have contributed to California’s budget crisis, but if you want to see the biggest contributor, you might want to go take a look in the mirror.
First, let’s look at Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. When he was elected, he swore he would “blow up the boxes” to eliminate state waste. But most of the waste he talked about is still around. For example, when he lowered the vehicle license tax to the tune of $5 billion, he made no effort to lower spending by a commensurate amount.
Instead of bringing special interests under control, as he said he would when running in the recall election against then-Gov. Gray Davis, he has pretty well let them have their way.
The Legislature, with both houses controlled by Democrats, is unable to make significant cuts without incurring the wrath of big Democrat supporters, which include labor unions and minorities. For their part, Republicans have decided that any tax increase, particularly one on business or high earners, is a bad one, and they are standing firm. The result so far has been gridlock.
But the voters are the biggest offenders. Only 23 percent turned out at the special election in May which was to help solve the budget problem, if only temporarily. Those who did turn out voted down the proposals, which had been offered by the Legislature as a stop gap in hopes of an economic recovery. Perhaps voters either stayed home or voted no because they want to see a train wreck in Sacramento, or they didn’t believe the state has a problem.
The state will solve the problem temporarily by issuing warrants — a form of IOU on which interest must be paid — instead of checks. If banks accept the warrants as checks, all will be well for a while longer. If they don’t accept them, then the trouble will really start.
Health care. There is no reason why the richest country in the history of the world cannot have excellent, high quality health care for all of its citizens. Rich, poor or those in the middle, we all deserve to have the best medical care in the world — government-run health care, ensuring every American from every walk of life gets the same quality treatment.
It can be done, and the way to do it is to raise taxes on those of us who are working and every business carving out a living in this country. We owe this country at least that much. People are already beginning to shy away from the over a trillion-dollar plan. Democrats in the White House and in the Congress, please do it while we can.
To all those blue dog democrats that are fearful of adding more spending and adding to our national debt, I say to them: Stop worrying about getting re-elected, it’s the right thing to do and we all know it, none of the jobs as representatives was ever supposed to last a lifetime. We have the votes and power to push through the plan as long as the Democrats grow a pair and stop worrying about getting re-elected.
Pass comprehensive health care now and, yes, we will be leaving our grandchildren and their children a mountain of debt. We were left debt before and managed to get out of it.
I believe if you pass a government nationalized health care program, our kids and grand kids will love us for it.
This is that point in history where extraordinary and audacious actions must be taken in order for us to evolve as a society, as a world leader, and our country become productive and vibrant once again.
Yes, I still say it took the Republicans 30 years to get us to this point and now they want the president to stop blaming them and take ownership on his own. No way. Mr. president, remind those greedy deregulators this is their mess every chance you get. Never let everyone forget what greed and callousness almost cost us our wonderful country.
So, go for it, Mr. president, and the Democratic Congress, and ram this health care package down the throats of the nay-sayers. We will have health care and you will all go down in history as the administration and Congress that saved America, and, yes, it’s going to cost lots and lots and lots of money, and the corporations seem to always have ways to beg for money (and it usually comes from us) but not this time.
The American people are going to step up to the plate and take these higher taxes to make sure we never go through this national shame again.
Please, all you people so anxious to say the stimulus plan isn’t working, why don’t you try and wait two years or so to see if it does work. The president has said from day one this was going to take years to straighten out. It took 30 years to get this bad, now you want it fixed in six months. Get a grip.
Everything changes from now on, there’s no going back, get used to it. People will rise from the shackles and bring this great country back to life. If you don’t want to help, shut up, sit down and get out of our way. If it doesn’t work in 30 years you get another shot.
This is a copy of an e-mail that was forwarded to me by a friend; it reads:
“Remember: cell phone numbers go public next month. Reminder….all cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sales calls. You will be charged for these calls, even if the message is saved on your phone, you will be charged for the minutes you listen to it. To prevent this, call this number from your cell, call 888-382-1222. It is the national do not call list. It will only take a minute of your time. It blocks your number for five (5) years. You have to call from the cell # that you want blocked. You cannot call from a different number. Help others by passing this on to all your friends … it takes about 20 seconds.”
As I read this, I began to get suspicious as to its content. So I went to my cell phone service provider to check its validity; the provider knew nothing about it. The message did not come from a valid, researchable or reliable source. Another thing that stood out was the fact that you had to call from the cell number you wanted to block.
Here is the real bell ringer: the number is not a government number. It says it only takes about 20 seconds. It doesn’t take that long for the caller ID to get your number.
The way I see it is, whoever this is can complie a list of these numbers by area code and sell it to telemarketing companies in the areas of interest to them. A simple Microsoft program will do the work for them.
Cell phone service providers would not release these numbers to the public, as it would cost them customers. Personally, I would cancel my service if they did this and take them to court if they tried to bill me for early cancellation of my contract.
After all I got to be 66 years old without it and I can live out the rest of my days without it. It is really a luxury I can easily go on without. Its like blindly accepting to collect call.
All comments are edited for length and content. Due to content or space limitations some comments may not be published. More than one comment from the same person during the same week will normally not be published. Please limit calls to two minutes or less.
A lady offered “congratulations to Madera Unified School District for downsizing the eighth-grade promotion and for calling it a promotion instead of a graduation. It is appropriate to take a moment to reflect on the middle school years. It is not appropriate to treat the event like a life’s achievement. Leave the pomp and circumstance to the high school graduation.”
A gentleman who called “in response to the letter concerning the graduation, slash, promotion, from sixth grade and junior high school,” had this to say. “Come on, we’re talking about elementary and junior high making a big deal with cap and gown and everything. It dilutes the value of the high school and college diploma when you’re doing this all the way down to pre-school. This is not a long tradition. It puts a financial burden on the parents. Then they have to turn around and do it all again in four years.”
A recently-moved-to-Madera caller (first name given) from Washington State said, “We don’t need to celebrate every time somebody moves on. In my state they don’t celebrate until they graduate from high school and college. Maybe we should be more concerned with the education gained in high school and not thinking their eighth-grade diploma will get them anywhere.”
An “out of towner that takes the Tribune,” was “finally glad that someone called about this (Eddie) Chapa fellow. In his letters to the editor he repeats himself over and over. It’s the same old story. Same old song and dance.”
A woman called “after reading Mo’s Musings, and his article about his father. The paper should be ashamed running a picture with Emo’s father lighting a cigarette. It’s a bad influence on today’s teenagers. And,” she continued, “I’m sure his father would be ashamed of him wearing shorts all the time and hugging every woman he sees.”
Again, there were many calls received about the graffiti problem. Far too many to publish, but here’s a few. A woman said, “The graffiti in Madera is terrible, and the parents should be held responsible.” On another subject she asked, “what happened to the Blue Man? I miss his stories.” (Editor’s note: The Blue Man has moved out of state.)
A man “understands that it’s a big job, and there’s a lot of it and we have to keep pressing. But I called the graffiti abatement people on three occasions. I even talked to the guru of graffiti abatement to report there is graffiti all over the sidewalk out here. He said they would be out in seven days. It’s been close to four months and they haven’t come yet.
A man responded to the woman who said baseball “Coach (George) McWherter was not a coach for the kids.” This week’s caller disagreed. “That is nonsense. He has been a good coach for a number of years and has won valley titles as a head coach. He has put kids into pro baseball over a number of years. I think it is the young, inexperienced athletic director who is either on an ego or power trip, and a principal that is allowing him to get away with it, that has led to this big mistake.”
A lady said, “Saturday was the last game for my son in T-Ball. What a great time. He met new friends and so did I. It was all clapping and cheering for both teams. I have an older son in Little League and what a difference, just booing and complaining. I met one of the gentlemen who runs the T-Ball games. What a nice man. He was cheering and clapping for every player. I wish all the leagues were as fun as T-Ball”
A caller complained police did not respond quickly to a call about a quad rider “going a minimum of 40 mph down the (Fresno) River Trail. He almost hit my wife and I, and at least a half-dozen other people.”
A woman was walking through Arbor Vitae Cemetery and saw “a lady walking her two dogs. My first thought was, does she not know dogs are not allowed in the cemetery? Secondly, she let her dog run up on the grass where he did his business. Granted, she did pick it up and throw it away, but in my opinion, shame on her for allowing her dogs there. People are resting, people who are there are remembering. I don’t think it was very nice of her.”
A lady called to ask if the names of all the graduates of the high schools be put in the paper.
Later, after they were published, another lady called to say “thank you for putting the Madera High Coyotes pictures and names in the newspaper.”
A woman was “very upset at our local movie theater. They used to run an ad every day (in the paper), and I can understand the economics and hard times, but couldn’t they run an ad at least once a week? How about Fridays?”
Another caller also mentioned she “hasn’t been able to find the movie listings in the paper for Madera. I don’t know what’s wrong with those people, but I have quit going to the Madera movies all together.”
A woman “was looking at the Saturday paper showing the state looks to deport the inmates. I’m looking at this guy who’s complaining that his family is going to be left behind in the United States if they deport him.” The caller said she “had two words for that man and the rest of them: Too bad. You should never have committed the crime in the first place.”
Thank you for your comments. Remember, the Red Line is open for your messages 24 hours a day by calling 674-4478, or by visiting www.maderatribuneredline.com.
Congratulations to all of those diligent and responsible individuals who graduated from the local high schools this year. The diploma you earned is a symbol of your hard work, your knowledge, ability, and achievement.
After all, each of you passed both California High School Exit Exams (CAHSEE), the mock interview requirement, and maintained a decent grade point average. Pat yourselves on the back. You deserve it. Now, on to the next challenge you have chosen in your life and good luck. You can do it.
Some people still wonder about merits of the CAHSEEs. I hope this year’s harvest of graduates convinces them that our state has done the right thing for our graduates. I mean, how would you like to be awarded a diploma no one valued?
The diploma this year’s graduates earned means a lot. These young people can read, write and do a considerable amount of math.
To those who did not earn a diploma, for whatever reason, I want to encourage you to renew your efforts. I read the newspaper every day and I read about people being injured in car accidents, dying from sunstroke, victims of criminal activity, etc. But I’ve never read a single article about a student who died from studying too much. So, don’t be afraid. Studying won’t kill you.
At the same time, to all of my colleagues, site administrators, and support staff throughout the district, my hat is off to all of our younger children.
Before I close, let me also congratulate the parents of our graduates and our business community that does so much for our educational system here in Madera. I am especially grateful to The Madera Tribune for the class sets of newspapers it provided our school several times each week. Now that’s support. Thank you, all of you. Enjoy your summer.
If one thing is certain in Madera and Madera County, it is that public officials and citizens have had it up to here (put your hand to your chin) with graffiti.
The more the Madera Redevelopment Agency — charged with rubbing out graffiti — tries to cover up the stains and scrawls the graffiti criminals leave behind, the more graffiti appears.
To some citizens, it seems nothing is being done, but that isn’t true.
The police have made more than 40 arrests the past fiscal year for graffiti.
The Redevelopment Agency continues to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on removal, sending paint crews out every day to get rid of graffiti.
The city has contracted with a Bay Area consultant who is at work forming groups to police neighborhoods, and the report is that there is no shortage of volunteers.
This consultant allegedly helped rid San Jose of graffiti in two years.
One thing San Jose had going for it was total law enforcement commitment to making the program work. That meant that once arrests were made, perpetrators were held accountable.
District Attorney Michael Keitz is working on ways to make this happen.
Getting rid of graffiti will take a community-wide effort, and it sounds like the community is behind it.
If the city and county aren’t behind it, it will take longer and cost more. And allowing graffiti to spread as it has will lead to a decline in Madera as a place to live and do business.
People don’t like to come to a city smeared with graffiti. They don’t like to buy homes or start business in such environments. It tells strangers that city has no reliable program of public safety, and that the citizens couldn’t care less about their communities. Are we that kind of place? Let’s hope not.
On the front page of the June 20th edition of the Madera Tribune was a photograph of Humberto Espinosa, who is a criminal alien serving time in Folsom prison. He is fearful of being deported and have to leave his family behind.
Too bad.
Why wasn’t he fearful of leaving his family when he committed his criminal act and was sent to prison for it.
I see no difference in being separated from family due to a prison sentence or being deported. You’re not with family either way.
The other day, I leaped out of my car and nearly toppled over. No, I was not drunk. It was my camera bag and my briefcase. The two of them together weigh about 15 pounds or so, and swinging all that weight in one hand while bounding out of a car seat pits centrifugal force against poor balance. The next stop was going to be the pavement of the parking lot.
Fortunately, I lucked out. The car has this handle you can grab if you want to hold on to something with your left hand while driving. I grabbed it and steadied myself long enough to regain my equilibrium and composure. It also gave me a chance to look around and see if anyone was watching. I am very sensitive to having people watch me when I do things like tipping over, or stubbing my toe, or running into a door. But this time, nobody was looking.
I suppose it’s my own fault. I have let the camera bag and briefcase become too heavy individually, so much so that together they become a weapon of mass destruction — against me, or anybody I bump into with them.
I remind myself of a person you often see on an airplane who is carrying a bag that won’t fit in the overhead compartment. If you are sitting in an aisle seat and this person comes along, lifts his suitcase and tries to shove it into the compartment, the effort often will cause him to inadvertently sit on you. Or, he will bounce off the person across the aisle from you and whop you with his stomach on the recoil.
My briefcase is so full because I never take anything out of it. I just add stuff.
The reason my camera bag is so heavy is that I bought an industrial strength Pentax a year or so ago — and it weighs about as much as a refrigerator. If you see me lying on the sidewalk underneath a camera bag, be careful if you lift it off me. You might hurt yourself.
I must make the effort to congratulate and thank Chuck Doud for the excellent article: “Farm Water Outlook Picks Up” (6-11-09).
Not all farmers understand the Exchange Contractor issue clearly, let alone the general public. Your article is the clearest elucidation of this complex issue I’ve seen in writing with appropriate historical background.
You’ve written several water articles this season which have outshone your noted competitor in the county south of us. We appreciate the effort you apply to educating us.
