Thunderbowl rolling toward extinction
The people of Carpinteria are going to lose the skating rink and Thunderbowl Park. The Optimist Club of Carpinteria has disbanded. The passionate Optimist committee people, who conceived the idea and cajoled the city authorities (seemingly forever), fundraised like crazy (over $100,000 worth), organized and participated in the construction of this facility, and spent countless hours making a dream come true have now moved on. Our group always thought there would be others to take up the cause when we left, but that has not been the case.

Without a group to continue to organize and run the facility, the city is considering other plans. This might include a city car wash or storage area for city vehicles. I, for one, would hate to see that happen. This is a community facility that was developed by the people of Carpinteria and should continue to benefit the community in some way. The rink is a 175-foot x 80-foot flat surface with a surrounding fence. It has night lights, seating, parking and a sound system. Surely somebody can think of a better use than turning back into the unattractive dumping ground it was before we built the rink.

Some ideas I have are skateboard park, basketball court, volleyball court, special events like family skate nights, private and public parties. Maybe someone else has other ideas. If so, I would love to hear from you. I think this is something worth saving. If you do too, please contact me before the bulldozers take it away.
Tim Doles
Carpinteria

It’s easy in the U.S. for a pimp
Finally . . . since our government has for 30 years ignored the Mexican government’s illegal pimping of their poor citizens to U.S. employers who are willing to exploit the deprived souls at poverty wages and force working Americans to spend billions of dollars yearly subsidizing the wages with medical care, food stamps, housing subsidies, and education for their children, the problem has become so enormous that it is adversely affecting more states than just those who share a border with Mexico. Now working American citizens are demanding an end to mass illegal immigration!

Illegal immigrants are bringing a resurgence of drug resistant diseases previously eradicated in the United States such as tuberculosis, typhoid, leprosy, polio, malaria, dengue; 32 people in Maryland contacted typhoid from an illegal worker at a McDonalds.

The fair way to deal with 11 to 20 million illegal immigrants in the United States is to strongly enforce existing immigration laws against their illegal employers and deny illegal immigrants all social services, except emergency medical care (as U.S. taxpayers have begged our government to do for 30 years).

There would be a gradual voluntary exodus to south of the border. Then, with U.S. support, they should rally in the streets of Mexico for that government to end their caste system, create a prosperous economy and jobs rather than pimp their people to American employers for the purpose of avoiding such a revolution.

At the same time, secure our borders and ports, our government knows very well how to do this, they just lack the will due to corporate lobbyists’ big money handouts.

By ignoring the needs and concerns of American workers and the middle class, who are the mass population of this country, elected representatives are inviting a revolution in the form of “A Week Without Working and Middle-Class America,” whereby working Americans refuse to go to work, shop, or transact any business for a week. The U.S. economy would collapse; there would be no work for illegal immigrants!

Then we can rebuild the economy as American workers have done since day one. Our elected reps will start listening to the will of the people and stop pandering to corporations and special interests because they have finally realized that we the people are the power and economy of the United States … we built this country … we own this country … we elected them to work for us, they took an oath!
Ruth Case
Carpinteria

Elise Unruh, take a bow
Bravo to music teachers Elise Unruh and Doug Williamson. BandFest 2006 was a huge success. A standing room-only crowd heard student musicians from the fourth through the twelfth grade play a wide variety of music. Judging from all of the smiles, everyone had a wonderful time.

Elementary band director Doug Williamson started the program by presenting his beginners, followed by intermediate, then advanced students. New this year was an honor band of specially selected students who volunteer to meet after school for even more challenging music. This group showed an amazing level of accomplishment for musicians their age.

Elise Unruh then presented her middle school musicians followed by the high school. It was interesting to hear the progression. Each group offered a wonderful performance. Most of these musicians began their musical training in elementary school. Also showcased were the high school vocal ensemble and jazz band.

Most music teachers are primarily trained for either instrumental or vocal music. Elise Unruh excels at both. Carpinteria is blessed to have such a talented and versatile director.

Carpinteria is lucky to have such a strong and vital music program. While many neighboring districts keep cutting back on the arts, our school board recognizes their importance. There will be programs towards the end of the school year. If you have not attended one, plan on doing so. I am sure that you will not be disappointed.
Langdon G. Nevens
Carpinteria

My opinion, not Heal the Ocean’s
Regarding my letter, “Don’t encourage swimming with the sharks,” (CVN, April 6, 2006), I think the lively debate and response (even in opposition) is valuable. But I need to stress that my views about the location of the Carpinteria harbor seal rookery are entirely my own, and are not the opinion of Heal the Ocean.

Our organization is devoted entirely to eliminating harmful bacteria that closes our beaches, with our work primarily focused on faulty waste infrastructure (i.e. septic systems) as a major cause of ocean pollution.
Hillary Hauser
Summerland

Sharks: 1, Cars: 40,000
In reference to Hillary Hauser’s letter (“Don’t encourage swimming with the sharks,” CVN, April 6, 2006), as executive director of Heal the Ocean, one would assume that Ms. Hauser’s view of the seal rookery was a misprint.

What does Heal the Ocean really mean? Webster’s Dictionary defines heal as, 1a. to make sound or whole, 1b. to restore health.

It is obvious that our oceans are not sound, whole or even close to restored health, and we humans have taken them to this sad state.

In my mind, a healthy ocean is an unpolluted body of saltwater. It is an incredible ecosystem with a complex food chain ranging from phytoplankton to Great White Sharks. It contains specialized habitats such as kelp forests, tide pools, deep sea canyons and protected coves. Would “relocation” or “discouraging” the Harbor Seals heal the ocean? Would that make the ocean more sound or whole? I think not!

Ms. Hauser is right about one thing … “Human beings are here now, and many of us are in the water.” The problem is us! It is because we humans are here now in such big numbers; we are infecting the ocean. We consume massive amounts of the ocean’s resources from fish to oil. We build houses and harbors on critical ocean habitat, the shoreline. We send trash, chemicals and other pollutants into the ocean regularly. We need to heal ourselves and our selfish ways first.

If Ms. Hauser is concerned about the safety of humans, she should focus her efforts elsewhere. Her new slogan could read “Heal the Highways.” In the United States, shark attacks account for slightly less than one fatality every two years. Auto accidents, on the other hand, kill over 40,000 human beings in our country every year.

Hauser’s priorities “defy reason.”
Leslie Gascoigne
Carpinteria

No seal of approval
There have been a number of seals at the Carpinteria location for a long time, this is well known.

Normally the large number of seals we now have, would not be there, and would absolutely not haul out to pup at the Carpinteria location.

The reason is simple, it’s too close to people, they are not comfortable on a beach with humans nearby.

The Seal Watchers and protectors are to be commended for their effort. But it is well known the main Harbor Seal predator is the Great White Shark (Carcharodon Carcharias).

Someone should have known this! Now we have white sharks on our doorstep, and they are not going to go away! This is being greatly downplayed by the city council; one city official even stated “our beaches are safe”! With white sharks feeding locally, how could you possibly say this?

Sounds almost like a Hollywood move; city official denying there is a problem, more worried about economics than safety. For the sake of the citizens of the Carpinteria and all those who use our local waters, this was definitely not the place to do something that increases shark activity.

It is located next to the state park with all the visitors, not to forget the many surfers and others who are frequently in the water. If someone is attacked, the city could probably be sued for supporting this foolish program.

With regards to the recent letters on this subject, unbelievable how misinformed and wrong they are! Especially, “Environmentalist, heal thyself” (CVN, April 13, 2006). Where on earth did this information come from?

It’s indisputable that the main predator on Harbor Seals in this area is the Great White Shark. The other predators would be Orcas, coyotes and eagles.

Anyone with a computer only has to punch in white shark to verify this (California Academy of Sciences, California Department of Fish and Game, UC Berkeley). Accidental attacks on people are horrific.

In almost two decades as a professional skipper I have personally witnessed white sharks feeding on Harbor Seals on many occasions. The truth is, like it or not, Hillary Hauser is absolutely correct (“Don’t encourage swimming with sharks,” CVN, April 6, 2006). We have a very dangerous situation here.

Shame on those who attack Ms. Hauser, she is well qualified to speak on the subject and is saying what many of us know to be true. If you mess with nature all the potential consequences should be taken into account.

Yes, sharks go out there, but they go where the food is, and the Carpinteria area has plenty of food to offer them.

Harbor Seals are not an endangered species. Is a tourist attraction worth someone being attacked?
R.G. Wood
Carpinteria