Letters: July 15, 2022 | Letters to the Editor

On July 13, we had a name with the town to debate our pending software for everlasting use of our again Backyard space. For the final two years, Love

Social Cafe was considered one of many native companies that was granted temporary-use permits to broaden out of doors eating to accommodate the rules and dangers of the pandemic.

The decision kicked off with a press release that the town can be recommending that our Conditional Use Allow NOT be permitted. My husband, Sean

Mason, and I had been dumbfounded.

The Backyard space has develop into essential to our restoration from the 2020-2021 pandemic losses. The Backyard space has develop into a spot for household, quiet enjoyment and a protected setting to attach with each other.

The pandemic isn’t over. The affect socially and economically has not even begun to be realized in our small city. Because it stands now, using our Backyard space is crucial to the way forward for our enterprise. That is the brand new regular; there isn’t any going again to what it was earlier than or attempting to fake like several enterprise may. What we’d like now could be partnership, neighborhood and the assist of each other.

Now we have been directed to attend the town of Ojai Planning Fee assembly on July 20.

We ask our neighborhood to take part in standing with us to guard small enterprise.

1. Attend the Planning Fee and Metropolis Council conferences at which that is mentioned. The July 20 Planning Fee is at 6 p.m. at Ojai Metropolis Corridor, 401 S. Ventura St. The assembly will be attended through Zoom or livestream. To seek out the hyperlink, go to:

3. Write a letter of advice.

Dr. Halverson saved my life

Dr. James R. Halverson: You saved my life.

Whereas it’s not sufficient simply to say thanks to a person for saving my life and my spouse’s life, I need to say it with heartfelt appreciation, gratitude and love.

Roughly 4 years in the past, Dr. Halverson discovered of a check for former people who smoke that was newly accessible, and realizing my background had me take the scan. The scan confirmed a tiny little dot on the left decrease lobe of my lung, not sufficient on the time to fret.

Dr. Halverson, together with Barbara’s help, had me take the check a number of occasions over the following couple of years till it turned an space of concern.

He then despatched me to a pulmonologist and it was found that I had most cancers. Lengthy story brief, I had the most cancers surgical procedure and it was eliminated at Stage 1 with no further most cancers discovered anyplace else.

If it weren’t for Dr. James Ramsay Halverson’s care, data, concern and follow-up, the most cancers can be at a terminal stage and I undoubtedly wouldn’t be right here penning this letter.

My spouse’s life has been saved by this man as properly. He found a coronary heart downside and despatched her to a heart specialist. Two arteries had been 95% blocked and stents had been wanted. The process was completed and she or he can be right here at the moment as properly.

Dr. Halverson, you’re a credit score to your occupation!!!

Thanks, thanks, thanks!

Barry and Sheila Rotter  — Ojai

A quote within the June 24 Ojai Valley Information from a Metropolis Council attendee suggests needing to kind an advisory committee for the town dedicated to COVID coverage and defending “God-given rights.”

Personally, how fascinating to have a panel composed of ministers, monks, rabbis, mullahs, and non secular sages discussing “God-given rights.” Actually, the variety of opinion on the subject would supply meals for thought and theological meals fights over which god is God, how rights are given, the entire messy enterprise of how God legislates to people — by tablets (you smashed them, Moses!), prophets, even whispering within the ear?

In order a lot as “God-given rights” appears to be an etched-in-stone precept, in the true, sensible, pluralistic world, the thought is way much less outlined and extra difficult.

No! Let’s not go there when, in actual fact, following sound public well being steerage has saved lives, preserved our well being system, whereas refuting a mountain of misinformation and debunked claims.

Contending with the pandemic has meant utilizing instruments that public well being consultants advise based mostly on cautious analysis: masking, vaccination, protected environments, minimizing publicity alternatives. In sum, practices that centralize care — for self, household, neighbors, employees and, notably, healthcare employees.

I feel the declare that rights are being trammeled by such insurance policies has proven itself as a divisive, ineffective, and calamitous type of pandemic response. Rights are essential, however they’re by no means absolute and essentially accommodate themselves within the mild of threats to public well being.

Not but within the rearview mirror, COVID continues to pose a risk to society as we try to return to regular. Bait and swap is what happens once we are supplied seemingly spiritual beliefs, however that are, actually, the disguise of politics transported to the spiritual area — sadly, overwhelming the beliefs of care and mutual concern basic to faith and ethics.

Surely, we’re blessed to stay in a society with basic rights, however warning must be taken when, as seen in current occasions, these utilizing the hyperbolic rhetoric of rights, God-given and in any other case, veer from look after others into overplayed resentments.

On a current Wednesday morning on my bicycle, with careless disregard, my pockets slid from my entrance pocket, falling quietly onto a downtown Ojai avenue. I found the loss very quickly. In a surreal panic, I retraced my brief route on foot, scouring the streets. Too late.

Hope in opposition to hope? Having moved into city solely a yr in the past, my pockets doesn’t even comprise my tackle or telephone quantity.

The following day, I obtained a telephone name from the brand new buddy who bought my Oak View residence final yr. An unassuming Latino workman, Pedro (on his shirt) stood holding out my life’s treasures — together with $200, wishing for nothing however the satisfaction of bringing pleasure to 1 unknown man.

Pilloried by the proper wing, pulverized into political sausage by Trump and his acolytes, our multicultural brothers are the guts and spine of the society that we actually are. Pedro’s generosity and love can’t go unmentioned, however should discover a gap into our civic hearts.

I can’t ship cash or an attractive bouquet of flowers to this unknown brother. As a substitute, I need to move this story of in any other case untold grace to every of YOU, grace that lies amongst us and deep inside the coronary heart of 1 humble man.

Pedro left no observe to hint or enjoin his grace nor would he settle for the reward proffered by my buddy. His reward is intangible; however for a member of our neighborhood it shines and now enriches every of YOU.