Re: your Dec. 14 article, "Camarillo pet noise law poised for change":

It seems to me that our existing pet noise ordinance has served our community well over the years. Given that, I seriously question if we really have a citywide systemic problem, or if it is just a handful of neighborhood malcontents wanting to change the system for the advantage of a very few.

In my opinion, if our City Council decides to move forward and change this ordinance, I would hope their actions include other people's screaming children as well.

— Dennis L. Solomon, Camarillo

The debate over the release of wastewater into the Santa Clara River estuary is typical of whenever there is debate over natural resources, the environment or wildlife protection in Ventura County. There’s an elephant in the room that everyone seems to tiptoe around: agriculture.

With agricultural pesticide usage around 7 million pounds annually, we cannot talk about ecosystems, air or water quality, wildlife protection, shore and beach pollution, etc. unless we acknowledge the impact the elephant has on everything else going on in the room. Plus, we don’t want to do anything to upset the elephant, so let’s stop pretending it’s just our “view shed.�?

Every day, I hear of local, state and federal governments drowning in deficits and large corporations moving offshore due to burdensome taxes and regulatory costs. In 1965, the poverty level in America represented 12 percent of the population. The "Great Society" was to be the panacea to eradicate poverty once and for all.

Sadly, and between $9 and $12 trillion later, we have the same percentage of people below the poverty level. However, the number of people in poverty is much greater because of the increase in population.

Who are these people?

Re: your Dec. 18 article, “Errant golf balls disrupt family’s life�?:

It is beyond my comprehension that The Star put on the front page an article relating to errant golf balls landing on a lawn that is adjacent to a golf course, when all around us there is news that really impacts and cries out for our attention and concern.

The Star must have really been impressed with the plight of these downtrodden, imprisoned subjects, or perhaps there was not much going on to fill up the front page.

Re: Michael Jamison’s Dec. 18 commentary, “Physician lists his HMO concerns�?:

I cannot easily say how delighted I was to read Dr. Jamison's article. After very disappointing treatment — or non-treatment — from two cardiologists, I felt that a change was needed.

The first of the two could not make sensible appointments, and at the first meeting, I was kept waiting an hour for the first appointment after lunch.

Re: Opal Hester’s Nov. 28 letter, “Eager for a Wal-Mart�?:

I realize that Ms. Hester wants a store at the old Kmart site, but there is not enough parking lot space for a Wal-Mart at the Kmart location and still have parking spaces available for Trader Joe’s, IHOP, the China Palace, Boston Market, Masters’ Donut Shop, Batteries Plus, etc.

Also, Victoria Avenue itself cannot handle the additional vehicle traffic that would ensue.

Re: your Nov. 27 article, “Oxnard plans smoking ban in public senior housing�?:

What is wrong with the Oxnard City Council members that they can tell persons in senior housing that they can’t smoke in places they live? Are they playing God? I don’t know of any senior with a secondhand smoking problem. But it seems our City Council members do!

I would like to know how much money the state makes off cigarette taxes and how much money Oxnard gets.

I want to congratulate and thank history teacher Ed Arguelles, the 10th graders in Santa Paula High School’s Gifted and Talented Education program and the Agricultural Science and Human Services academies for their hard work and effort in completing and presenting “ Vietnam: A Different Kind of War�? exhibit.

Thanks also to the Santa Paula California Oil Museum, where the exhibit is located, and to The Star for its coverage of the event.

My brother, Gilbert Bell, went into chronic renal failure more than 20 years ago. He was put on dialysis — an expense covered by Medicare. He received a transplant at Baylor Hospital in Dallas in 1989. Unfortunately, the kidney failed after four years and he went back on dialysis.

In 1996, he underwent another round of tests and was put on the donor list at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. During the ensuing years, his overall health declined. One of his most debilitating problems is severe dentition and rotting of his teeth. This condition makes it excruciating for him to eat.

California’s universal healthcare plan and the Pew Study’s news about unfunded state healthcare benefits point to an obvious conclusion about guarantees to public employees: The state will raise taxes and create yet another new agency and more public jobs. Private sector workers and retirees, with no guarantees and far fewer benefits, will "pay the piper" by shouldering an even larger fiscal burden for public employees, who contribute less for lucrative benefits that we common folk subsidize for them but cannot afford for ourselves.

There are, however, options to alleviate this problem. Sacramento can enact immediate legislation to:

Re: Timm Herdt’s Dec. 19 essay, “Who defends status quo?:

Well, well. Herdt has shown his true colors once again to be a liberal — and a diehard one at that.

He wrote, "The value added in going to the doctor's office was to get professional verification that the wart was in fact a wart, and not a potentially cancerous skin growth."

Several pieces in The Star’s Opinion section during the past two weeks have described in detail the predicted results of further global warming: disease, death, rising sea levels, etc. There are now at least 600 events attributed to global warming. This litany demands a response.

Re: your Dec. 19 article, “Thomas inspired by U.S. soldiers�?:

Justice Clarence Thomas picks a nice safe venue at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. He knows he'll get softball questions from an adoring crowd. But just to be on the safe side, the questions are collected and screened beforehand.

He says his court was right in the Gore v. Bush decision. He fails to mention that his wife, Virginia, was at that time working at the Heritage Foundation, a right-wing think tank, collecting résumés for appointments in a possible Bush administration.

Re: Timm Herdt’s Dec. 19 essay, “Who defends status quo?:

This country suffers from runaway medical costs because there is no mechanism for improvement. How does the proposal by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez address this problem? One in six Americans and one in five Californians has no health insurance. America spends 15 percent of its gross domestic product on healthcare, yet it has worse health than Estonia and the worst infant mortality rate in the industrialized world.

Re: Dennis Gaiser’s Dec. 13 letter, "Should kids learn about unions?"

Here are a few historical facts about unions that all kids need to know.

About 100 years ago, President Theodore Roosevelt recognized the United Mine Workers, and they were able to get kids as young as 10 years old that were working 12 hours a day six days a week out of the robber barons’ coal mines.

A smoking ban in senior housing is one of the best ideas that has arisen in a long time. Everyone, regardless of race or age, deserves the right to free air. I came from a secondhand smoke home and am now paying the price for it. Since I run six miles five days a week, it is really hard to breathe every time because of all the years of inhaling unfiltered secondhand smoke.

Whenever I or anyone else decides to walk into a public building or establishment, we deserve the right to clean air. So, for a senior citizen housing area, this should definitely get approved for the sake of all of the seniors’ health.

Are readers aware of HR1955 and SB1959, the "Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007?"

This bill is speeding through Congress with a "suspension of rules" clause — that means no debate. It has already passed in the House, almost unanimously, 404 to 6. Three Democrats, Dennis Kucinich among them, and three Republicans voted against it.

The key to America's heart is a president who loves us all and has the gift of connecting with us personally rather than talking at us — one who makes us proud, calms our fears and gives us the courage to do the impossible.

In my time Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton have had these unique qualities.

If we're united, we can do anything; if not, we will fail.

Re: David M. Rodriguez’s Dec. 11 commentary, “DA Totten’s slap to Latino community�?:

I write this letter not only to express how absurd I think Mr. Rodriguez’s accusations are against District Attorney Greg Totten, but also to extend my gratitude to Mr. Totten for his ethical and principled leadership in protecting the citizens of Ventura County.

Re: your Dec. 14 movie review, “’Bella’ inconsistent; time manipulation muddled�?:

I have to wonder if Scott Von Doviak actually watched “Bella�? all the way through. There was nothing inconsistent about it. It was pretty much a day with a few flashbacks to explain his situation and one peek ahead to explore the consequences of her decision to have an abortion. There was nothing exploitative or muddled about it.

Re: Clifford D. May’s Dec. 14 commentary, “Alcohol may be the cure for our oil dependence�?:

Being an old race car designer, builder and driver for most of 50 years, I could expound on the many reasons to use an alcohol-base fuel for the everyday motorist. For one, an internal combustion engine absolutely loves it, and as May stated, "Substituting alcohol for gasoline also would mean cleaner air and reduced carbon-dioxide emissions."

As Christmas approaches, we often hear of remembering the "reason for the season," namely the birth of Christ. However, we should also remember that before Christ was born, He, like the rest of us, was an unborn child for nine months. Then we should remember that unborn children today need to be protected, for they have an inalienable right to life.

Finally, we should not forget the parents of these unborn children, especially when faced with crisis pregnancies.

— Noel D'Angelo, Thousand Oaks

Re: Dale McFeatters’ Dec. 15 commentary, “Determining one’s carbon footprint�?:

McFeatters nailed the global warming controversy in its Pandora’s box with his commentary. And Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., adds a novel twist with his reduce-carbon approach: He addressed the Bali attendees by electronic conferencing.

If we can increase our silicon footprint to replace our carbon-based political plodding with computer-driven Internet communication, perhaps the 158,000 tons of carbon released in our well-meaning search for a global warming answer will come much more quickly.

Re: Thomas D. Elias’ Dec. 14 commentary, “PUC must reverse decision on pipeline space�?:

I’m delighted to see that Elias is becoming a longer-term energy planner, concerned about California’s energy future.

Re: your Dec. 16 article, “Off the wall�?:

Thanks for the memories — with the story about the citrus labels reproduced for a calendar.

I remember the wall full of such designs in Portland's Forestry Building, created for the Lewis & Clark Centennial Exposition in 1905. But that slice of history was destroyed when the building burned in 1964. So it's good to have some of those colorful prints still available.

As a physical therapist to many county residents, I would like to bring to readers’ attention impending legislation scheduled to go into effect on Jan. 1. I feel that many county residents who are Medicare beneficiaries are unaware of these changes.

Jan. 1, arbitrary financial limits on critical rehabilitation services will be imposed upon Medicare patients unless Congress takes action. Financial caps with no clinical basis will begin restricting access to outpatient physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology for the patients most in need of these services.

Re: Terry Paulson’s Dec. 10 essay, “Better healthcare, part II�?:

Paulson advocates national health insurance in the form of mandatory private insurance paid for, in part, by tax deductions and tax credits, both of which are federal subsidies.

Government can fund programs either through direct payments or indirectly through subsidies.

Re: Terry Paulson’s Dec. 10 essay, “Better healthcare, part II�?:

This essay strongly suggests that Paulson’s knowledge of personal psychology — he is a Ph.D. psychologist — is considerably greater than his grasp of healthcare and our problems with its delivery and cost.

Why do people insist on calling Sen. Barack Obama black? He has a black father and a white mother. Surely he is equally white as he is black. If he had a white father and a black mother, surely he would be equally black as he is white.

I personally think his policies and his color are a shade of gray.

— Michael J. E. Burge, Ventura

If Simi Valley Hospital is required by the state of California to see patients at half the actual cost of seeing them, that amounts to a tax imposed on the hospital. It would seem our state Legislature has found a way to “look good�? by requiring hospitals to see all patients regardless of ability to pay, and to “look good�? again by not imposing a tax or fee to pay for it.

I know there are schools that need improvement. I understand that. But the students at Santa Susana Magnet High School have been waiting patiently for the new theater building and modernization that was promised to them years ago. We need to show that all schools are equal in priority to the Simi Valley Unified School District Board of Education. Simi High’s new stadium looks beautiful, but when is Santa Susana going to get what was promised to them?

Often I hear people talking about the war in Iraq and how it was a “mistake�? or a waste of human life. As it stands, it would only be a further waste of the resources and lives already invested to give up and go home all at once. Should we leave before a stable and reliable government is firmly established, sometime in the future we may have to re-enter a similar situation, opening the can of worms a second time.

Re: your Dec. 12 article, “Project won’t blight city, T.O. mayor says�?:

Conejo Valley Days used to fit this area when it was a mostly rural atmosphere. Horses and riders were common sights along Janss and Lynn roads and many of the contiguous streets, clopping along lazily, unbothered by the excessive and congested traffic that clogs the city streets today. Somehow, the new buzzword “upscale�? and Conejo Valley Days don't mesh, and the former is clearly in the driver's seat — mostly in the too-numerous cars.

Re: Kristofer Young’s Dec. 9 letter, “Bush wants another war�?:

If Young was not consumed with hatred for the president, he might have asked himself two questions about Iran.

— If Iran has not been involved in making nuclear weapons since 2003, why won’t they let the International Atomic Energy inspectors examine their facilities? What have they got to hide?

Those who didn’t watch Santa Paula’s mayoral selection missed a real show. John Procter expected the post, but the majority chose Bob Gonzales. Procter was offended and announced that he considered the action “personal.�? He is mistaken in this; he is respected by all members of the council and by this writer.

This decision had nothing to do with personality but everything to do with policy. The council majority — Ray Luna, Gonzales, and Ralph Fernandez — are striving to gradually attain some semblance of balance in our housing mix, while Gabino Aguirre and Procter have been committed to the Cabrillo developer, with its emphasis on low-end housing. That is the crux of the matter.

My family and I would like to thank my employer, Kavlico, and my coworkers in Building 2 for donating $176 to Toys for Tots in honor of my son, Sophear Riem, who was murdered at a bachelor party in Port Hueneme in November. My supervisor at Kavlico, a Moorpark-based manufacturer of sensors for the automobile and aerospace industries, plans to use the donated money to buy toys for the drive.

Our family received a number of donations after our son’s tragic murder, and we have donated them all to charities in his memory.

— Sontheavy Riem, Oxnard

My family and I would like to thank my employer, Kavlico, and my coworkers in Building 2 for donating $176 to Toys for Tots in honor of my son, Sophear Riem, who was murdered at a bachelor party in Port Hueneme in November. My supervisor at Kavlico, a Moorpark-based manufacturer of sensors for the automobile and aerospace industries, plans to use the donated money to buy toys for the drive.

Our family received a number of donations after our son’s tragic murder, and we have donated them all to charities in his memory.

— Sontheavy Riem, Oxnard

I think that cars should have to be more fuel efficient. Everyone is complaining about high gas prices, pollution and dependence on foreign oil, but no one is doing anything about it. There should be laws put into action that require a certain amount of fuel efficiency by a certain date for all cars. The government should put money toward research to find fuel sources other than oil.

Re: Dan Walters’ Dec. 4 commentary, "California duel over gay rights heads to the voters":

This was a wonderful article that expressed both points of view on gay rights.
I do agree both with Senate Bill 777 and Walters' point of view as well. I think a homosexual should be able to work anywhere a heterosexual can work, whether it is at a church where practicing homosexuality is a sin, according to the Bible, or as a teacher. But I do disagree with the fact that it's not right to allow a 250-pound linebacker to decide he wants to be a homosexual for the day and go into the cheerleading locker room.

Re: Frank Bland’s Dec. 10 commentary, “One idea for Medicare Part D�?:

Bland points out the trouble that seniors are having with Medicare Part D. He suggests a simple solution by going to the Medicare Web page and comparing medical prescription drug plans. If you follow his instructions and enter a three-month supply for each medicine, the estimated annual costs that come up are all wrong. The reason is that the program assumes four purchases per year, but uses the one-month cost for each purchase, thereby underestimating the total annual cost and making the comparison between plans unreliable. The difference can amount to hundreds of dollars, depending on how many medicines are included.

Judging from how negative the response was to the Larwin Co.’s multiple propositions for construction at Highway 118 and Kuehner Drive, it seems it was a mistake that the council approved the Kuehner condo project.

Now that the land is destroyed, the ancient oak trees uprooted, the serene wilderness and rare natural setting raped, the Larwin Co. has had second thoughts. They have seen the steady decrease of the housing market and have decided to wait it out for at least six months. Residents of Simi Valley now get a wonderful view of tractors, dirt, dying oak trees in pots and, overall, the conversion of the natural gateway of Simi Valley into an ugly, industrial scar.

The people of Thousand Oaks have spoken! Intelligent residents are tired of the city taking a turn for the worse under the leadership of the current majority council. No one can argue that the past few years have brought us increased crime, smog, traffic congestion and excessive building heights.

I want to congratulate Thousand Oaks residents Nino DeFranco and Mojtaba Sedihgi on their efforts in collecting enough signatures for the traffic ballot initiative. I am glad to see that democracy is alive and well in our fair city. It is obvious that the council majority has their own agenda and do not represent the best interests of the people they were elected to represent. Jacqui Irwin is a perfect example. She votes very differently from her campaign promises. I hope voters remember this when Mrs. Irwin seeks re-election next year.

Re: your Dec. 8 article, “Council to consider 911 phone fee�?:

I have questions about the proposed phone user fee. Will the phone user fee be applied per phone number in a household, inclusive of cell phones and land lines? For example, if a home has a land line and four cell phones, are we talking approximately $10 a month, or about $120 a year? Or is there a maximum fee that can be charged per citizen or household?

The proliferation of franchise mail services has become a major frustration for those waiting in line at the Ventura post office. Here’s a typical situation at the post office on Wake Forest Avenue.

I drive up and look inside to see how long the line is. There are only five or so people. I stand behind a young boy holding a box. Shortly, a woman comes in with a mail basket crammed with padded envelopes and small boxes, passes through the line and sets the basket on the counter. As she leaves, she says something to the boy. This doesn’t look good.

The vast majority of Americans at least give lip service to the idea that discrimination on the basis of race, gender or religion is wrong. Discrimination in employment, education, renting an apartment and the use of public services is all, if not illegal, at least generally considered improper. However, politics discrimination for or against a candidate does not raise an eyebrow.

We can campaign for or against Barack Obama on the basis of race, Hillary Clinton on the basis of gender, John McCain on the basis of age or Mitt Romney on the basis of religion, and that is accepted.

Re: your Dec. 12 editorial, “Fitness scores require action�?:

This was an excellent editorial on physical education and brings to light that part of the childhood obesity equation that isn't often discussed. Most kids just don't get enough exercise. But putting the blame entirely on our schools isn't the answer.

This is a communitywide problem that requires schools, our city, healthcare providers and our business community to work together to improve the health and fitness of our kids.

Re: your Dec. 9 article, “Sentencing laws lead to overcrowded state prison:�?

Crime in the state is down substantially from the 1980s. Prisons are crowded with felons who have committed three felonies or more. I wonder if there is a connection?

Re: Camille Harris’s Dec. 9 commentary, “Architects have a big dog in midtown fight�?:

In her commentary, Harris, the president of Ventura Citizens Organized for Responsible Development, says the following: "Setting the record straight, the View Resources Board [created in her initiative] will be voted on by VCORD members, and everyone is free to join if they agree with the VCORD pledge, which essentially states that the residents choose to be in charge of their own neighborhood."

Somebody please ask Camille Harris to read her own initiative.

Re: Marcus Klooth’s Dec. 7 commentary, “Stuck in bureaucratic traffic�?:

It is perfectly legal for a legal visitor to drive in this country, regardless of what any other "authority" might say. That is because of "comity" between nations, in this case, his native country, Germany, and the United States.

Re: your Dec. 1 article, “Pope criticizes atheism, modern Christianity�?:

So, the pope accuses atheists of some of the “greatest forms of cruelty and violations of justice�? ever known. I certainly would not criticize the pope, for I don’t doubt he is far better educated and much more widely read than I. And history has shown that the atrocities of which he speaks are heinous and repugnant. And, of course, I haven’t read the entire 76-page encyclical, so he may have addressed my questions.

Yet, I am curious why he failed to address the atrocities committed in the name of God.

I'm writing in response to the request for more firefighting money. The firefighters are heroes to so many people. They’ve saved a large number of lives. The enormous wildfires are very tragic and awful, but they couldn’t have been avoided. It’s nature and weather, and you can’t control either of those.

I have just read the book “Outrage,�? by Dick Morris, a true Washington insider. The graft, corruption, dishonesty and payoffs that abound in Congress from dishonest politicians, business, education, drug companies, etc., are mind-numbing. You cannot even wrap your mind around what is going on and how we little people are ripped off and cheated and lied to.

And party affiliation does not matter.

It's breathtaking to me how people cannot understand what America has always been and always will be. Immigrants' success tends to be related to their status prior to immigration. What do most illegal immigrants from Latin America do when they move here to America? Work the jobs that we don't want to do. Why do they work these jobs? Because the jobs offered even in Mexico are under far worse conditions and even lower pay.

Also, our American ideal of profit is always related to the least amount of cost for manufacturing an item. Thus, it is economically ideal for these jobs to remain in low pay.

Not being a Christian, I have trouble understanding the degree of tortured angst apparently experienced by Christians when they are expected to act in a kind, inclusive, generous, nonrude and pleasant manner in our pluralistic country.

I don't understand way it bothers them so deeply to say "happy holidays" instead of "merry Christmas." I assume they are either simply ignorant other folks living around them aren't Christian or that they are so rude and self-absorbed that they do not care.

As Hanukkah comes to an end, it may do us well to reflect on the holiday’s lesson. The story is well known. In 165 BC, a band of Jews called the Macabees rebelled against an overwhelming Greek occupying army to win civil and religious freedom. But the miracle celebrated is not the glorification of a military victory. Rather, it is that a vat of oil that was supposed to burn for one day lasted for eight.

Rabbis wisely wanted to de-emphasize the military aspect of the holiday. Hence, if you read the liturgy of the Hanukkah service, the central prayer reads, "Not by your might and not by your strength but by My spirit (and doing what is right) will you live in peace."

Re: your Dec. 11 article, “Governor’s travel expenses released�?:

Thanks for reporting the fact that our governor took in $1.6 million for “chartered jets, luxury hotels and private motorcades�? so he and his “aides�? could travel all over the world.

The Star’s headline missed the most important point of this startling news story. The headline should have read, “Governor hides identities of secret donors.�?

Please join us at the Venturan Convalescent Center for a very special birthday party for Mildred (Bitsy) Thompson to celebrate her 107th birthday on Jan. 7 at 10 a.m.

Bitsy is an amazing person. Her razor-sharp memory and daily participation in my class — she’s my best and brightest student — make her completely unique.

Re: your Dec. 7 article, "Students score low on state fitness test�?:

The results of California's research on student "fitness" are hardly surprising. Much of the problem starts during the elementary school years due to the lack of solid physical education programs. In the past, the state placed a great deal of emphasis on physical education. However, that does not seem to be the case at the present time. Sadly, the lack of physical education efforts can be traced to the beginning of the underfunded, ill-advised No Child Left Behind program.

Re: Richard Larsen’s Dec. 4 essay, "Time for progress in Iraq":

Contrary to Richard Larsen, the United States does not have "an obligation to Iraq — one it has not yet fulfilled — of helping Iraqis create the proper environment in which they can determine their own future."

Re: Deroy Murdock’s Dec. 3 commentary, “Al Gore, global warming and convenient untruths�?:

I completely agree with this. What Al Gore is doing, in concept, will help to change the way Americans live, hopefully to a more “green�? lifestyle. But I feel this is a hypocritical “do as I say, not as I do�? coming from the former vice president.

Lots of people seem determined to persuade the government into withdrawing soldiers from Iraq, which would seem beneficial for both the Iraqis and the soldiers. However, should our soldiers be taken out of Iraq now, and all at once, it would lead to significantly bad results. I'm not saying I am supportive of the “war�? we started, but I am saying there is a good chance bad things will come to pass should we simply abandon all we've done in Iraq.

Re: Kenneth Zaccaria's Nov. 25 letter, "No accountability":

It is very comforting for me to hear that there are people in our community who have never experienced violence or disorder, or who have had to experience a volatile situation where law enforcement has to be summoned, forcing them to understand the perplexity of an officer’s split-second decisions.

Some 12 years ago, O.J. Simpson was acquitted by a jury for the murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown, and her friend, Ron Goldman. This was a decision I personally disagreed with. Since then, he has been shadow boxing, scamming for money and living on a short leash.

Well, the latest incident in Las Vegas involving his attempt at reclaiming lost memorabilia in a “gangster style�? way may have finally tipped the scales of justice against him. Obviously it was a stupid maneuver on his part.

Most of us want to do what is right, but different people have different views, different morals. Look at our society today. Drugs, alcohol and sex are found everywhere in our media, newspapers and magazines. Every state has laws against child abuse and sexual misconduct. Legal loopholes, fear of lawsuits and inattention all have weakened the safeguards that are supposed to protect children, especially in school. Yet sexual misconduct by teachers is common in American schools.

Now some of our schools want to hand children as young as 11 years old birth control instead of toys! Isn’t this telling them it’s OK to have sex?

One evening in April 2006, I was walking down the street to get our mail. I live in the West Village area of Oxnard. When I was opening my mailbox, three young kids — I would say the age of 13 or so — started marking on the mailbox. I was right there, and they still marked their moniker on the mailbox.

I went home, got my stepson and jumped into my car and chased the punks. I was calling the Oxnard Police Department while following, giving them a street-by-street location of the kids. They split up, and we followed the kid who marked on the mailbox and caught him on Cesar Chavez Drive by the fire station and held him until the police arrived. We gave our name, phone number and statement.

Aug. 3, the Ventura Police Department served a search warrant at my home.

I assumed they had made a mistake and were at the wrong house. They met me by shoving an automatic rifle in my face and commanding me to lay face-down on the floor. Others stepped around me and went after my wife, bringing her into the living room and forcing her to lay face-down on the floor with a rifle pointed at her. They then brought our two children into the room, allowing them to see the shameful act the police were performing.

Dec. 4, three members of the Board of Supervisors ignored the recommendation of the Planning Commission and approved the M&M Development project of the property occupied by Cabrillo Racquet Club. It was apparent from their discussion and questions that the supervisors had not taken time to look at the property. Relying only on photographs, maps, written descriptions and verbal testimony, the supervisors demonstrated a lack of knowledge and understanding of two important considerations.

This is a belated letter on behalf of my friend, the artist Gail Pidduck.

I have really enjoyed Michele Serros’ work and have seen her in person several times here in the Oxnard area. It is certainly true that everyone has the right to interpret the art they see as they like. We don't have to love everything that an artist, writer or musician creates.

Re: your Dec. 8 article, “Small-town team can’t compete with big-time talent�?:

Your headline says that Nordhoff High School can't compete with Oaks Christian. I think they competed very well in Friday's CIF-SS championship game, although the game ended in a loss for the Rangers.

Re: your Dec. 6 article, “Santa’s job is tougher in ligitious, wary times�?:

It certainly must take a lot of love — or desperation for a paycheck — to be a Santa at the 21st century department stores and shopping malls of America. If the Associated Press reporter has found that a department store Santa has to undergo a criminal background check, carry liability insurance, be politically correct and environmentally correct and even "slim down " for a salary of $7 an hour, maybe the Santas deserve a little more respect and admiration.

Re: Thomas E. Carson's Dec. 6 letter, "Raw milk can be a danger":

This is the same uninformed, inflammatory reaction that has brought about the passage of AB1735. I refer Carson to "The Untold Story of Milk," by Ron Schmid, and "The Milk Book," by William Campbell Douglas II, M.D. They explain that tuberculosis organisms, whether bovine or human, find their way into milk only if the cattle are diseased or the milk is grossly mishandled. Carson propagates the distortions and deceptions to which officials, writers and doctors resort in their efforts to discredit raw milk.

Re: Dale McFeatters’ Dec. 8 commentary, “Oh, for a villain worthy enough to vilify�?:

You need look no farther than Washington, D.C. to find not one, but many villains.
Webster’s New World Dictionary defines villain as a person guilty of committing or likely to commit great crimes, a scoundrel. Roget defines it as a malefactor, miscreant, dishonest rascal or rogue.

It was a topsy-turvy season for the Ventura College women's soccer team.

It started as any season does, with new teammates a little unsure, a little unsettled. It ended with a team who knew and loved each other and, more than that, respected each other — and it definitely showed on the field. With the guidance of "Hoffy" and "Monka," these young ladies proved to themselves that they were the best they could be as a team.

Re: Bill O’Reilly’s Dec. 8 essay, “The rise of the Internet tramples on privacy rights�?:

I never know whether to laugh or cry at the absurdity of Bill O'Reilly. His latest hypocrisy comes from his latest column. I completely agree that it's horrible that "Americans are being stalked and hounded by camera-touting, cash-seeking weasels" and that "the rise of the computer age means many freedoms are under assault." But here's where the hypocrisy comes in.

Recently, there has been debate over whether or not we should have a law requiring all pets to be spayed and neutered. As a rescue volunteer, I feel that this is a very good idea.

So many pets are left homeless, abandoned and alone because they are the offspring of pets that had not been neutered or spayed. Usually the owners who do not spay or neuter their pets are also the ones who could care less about where the offspring go. But the number of homeless pets due to this would probably decrease with a law such as the aforementioned one.

What is it with plazas in the area not decorating for Christmas? Oops, I mean, “for the holidays.�?

Christmas break has been replaced by winter break. Merry Christmas has been replaced with happy holidays. And baby Jesus is nowhere to be found. Now, for the past several years, the local Newbury Park plazas have stop decorating.

If you take away Christmas, you will take a lot of money away from people that celebrate Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. Of course, the upside is that I will save a boatload of money.

During the Dec. 4 news conference, President Bush said he was first briefed on the National Intelligence Estimate on Nov. 28. National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley unwittingly exposed this lie the very day before. He said that the president was briefed much earlier, around August, about the the NIE’s findings. Our fearless commander then confirmed his own lie later in the same conference: "In August, I think it was, John Mike McConnell came in and said, ‘We have some new information.’ He didn't tell me what the information was.�?

Not even the remotest curiosity, with two carrier battle groups off the coast of Iran?

Re: your Dec. 5 article, “Iran remains a nuclear threat, president says�?:

Though I don’t believe there was any intent to do harm, this headline was potentially damaging to our community’s consciousness about the United States’ current relationship with Iran, given that we are a culture that primarily reads headlines without the story.

Musical entertainment has been provided by the Camarillo Arts Council during the Summer Concert in the Park Series for almost 20 years. From June through early September, the all-volunteer members seek out and contract with various performers to perform at the stage at Constitution Park on Carmen Drive, next to City Hall. Each year, thousands of people bring their families and friends and enjoy the performers. I am proud to be on the board of the Arts Council. I love music and Camarillo!

Dear Santa:

All I want for Christmas is for the Kmart store on Victoria Avenue in Ventura to become a super-sized Trader Joe’s.

I know I’m asking for a lot, but I’ve been a good girl this year. For example, when I couldn’t find a spot in the overcrowded parking lot at the existing Trader Joe’s, I didn’t lose my temper. When I had to stand in a long line the weekend before Thanksgiving, I had a nice chat with my fellow shoppers and kept my patience.

Recently, while going through my old roll-top desk, I came upon my U.S. Army dog tags and field manual. While holding these dog tags, I reflected back on my military service in Germany, as well as the return boat trip and sailing into the New York harbor and seeing the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty. I had never felt so proud and patriotic.

Lately the word “patriotism�? has been thrown about so casually and so often, it has lost its true definition. It seems this word is now used to justify one’s particular views.
To be “patriotic�? does one have to:

Re: your Nov. 29 article, “‘Power is in us,’ labor leader says at Oxnard College�?:

Oxnard College is having a speaker series for students to hear what Professor Shelley Savren wants them to hear. The latest speaker was Dolores Huerta, who in the past was with César Chavez, both promoting organized labor. Several high schools sent students to hear the talk. David Gallegos, dean of students at Hueneme High School, brought 55 students to the talk. He is an organized labor sympathizer who marched in the labor protests of the past.

It has come to my attention that our well-deserving Pleasant Valley School District teachers have still not received a raise since the closure of two schools this year. I find that very difficult to understand when, I believe, the closures were supposed to provide the necessary money to award the raises.

I love the teachers at our schools, as I'm sure all parents of PVSD parents do. It's part of the reason why we all live in Camarillo.

Re: Linda Livingston's Nov. 30 letter, “No Wal-Mart anywhere�?:

This letter really lit my fire.

Obviously, Livingston and other Wal-Mart critics have had no experience in retail. Does she think that Macy's or other major retailers pay any better?

While watching coverage of the recent fires, I was disgusted to see that the media were allowed access to locations that homeowners were prevented from entering.

While I understand the need to close certain locations, and I understand that the fires are news, I find it incredulous that media are given priority access over homeowners. The media can cover the fires from a distance. The reasons to prevent homeowner access should also prevent media access.

This should qualify for the Guinness record books!

The California state income tax that I computed in 2005 came to $2,444.97, which I paid in quarterly installments as usual. I recently received a notice from the California Franchise Tax Board saying that they had recomputed my tax for 2005 and their figures amounted to $2,445.00 — a huge increase of three cents. Yes, three cents. Therefore, there was an underpayment penalty of $6.61, plus interest of 71 cents, amounting to an additional $7.35 which I owed them due to my three-cent underpayment!

Re: your Dec. 2 editorial, “Gifts that fit holiday spirit�?:

I appreciated The Star’s references to holiday giving opportunities Ventura County residents might consider, including support for FOOD Share, our county’s regional food bank, and The Star’s annual Bellringer campaign that annually supports the needs of the Salvation Army.

That said, I thought it would also be of value to alert The Star’s readers to another important holiday giving program that is offered by United Way of Ventura County through its Web-based volunteer network.

I have just received a "legislative update" from U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly. He correctly identifies the problem of not enforcing immigration laws at our border with Mexico. He then carefully avoids saying anything that would show the Republican Bush administration to be at fault. President Bush has no interest in border protection because he is pursuing bigger plans.

Re: your Nov. 5 article, “Oxnard Ballroom Dance Club show off their steps�?:

Having enjoyed ballroom dancing for many years, we were especially pleased to read this article about the ballroom dance club in Oxnard.

We have watched the popular “Dancing with the Stars,�? but it is so competitive and frenetic at times, it even lacks gracefulness. We hope it doesn’t discourage people from trying to dance.

Poor District Attorney Greg Totten can't get Judge Arturo Gutierrez to violate every citizen's constitutional rights by ordering probation on every misdemeanor defendant so the government can stop Ventura County citizens without probable cause. Boo hoo.

I am sick and tired of the highest level of our elected government officials who believe they are somehow above the law. Totten's actions demonstrate that he is just another politician seeking public notoriety to secure his own judicial appointment under the "law-and-order umbrella" he professes to uphold, as he spends my tax dollars trampling on our civil rights.

Re: your Nov. 29 editorial, "Unlikely encounter":

I applaud Jesus Manuel Cordova's actions. He is indeed a good Samaritan for helping out this young boy and most likely saving his life. That makes Cordova a personal hero in my book.

However, Cordova's heroic deed doesn't erase the fact he snuck into our country illegally. One has nothing to do with the other.

It seems that the Thousand Oaks City Council and the Conejo Recreation and Park District have had their constituents appear at the council, write letters, demand results and vote on the Rancho Potrero land usage issue on numerous occasions. The resounding response has never been vague, insincere or undefined.

Many cities similar in size to Ventura have seen their downtown areas and main arteries become decadent relics and lose their vibrancy. I am personally familiar with decay in several communities in which I formerly lived or owned a business. In some blocks, empty lots and buildings outnumber going businesses.

Ventura has an opportunity to continue to avoid this decay. We are an oceanfront city, so we have a big advantage to stay healthy — even if we don’t keep our beach clean, but that is another problem.

I advertised in The Star to sell my antique piano. About a week after the ad ran, I received a relay call from the operator with an e-mail address to contact "Dennise W.," who wanted to buy the piano.

After several e-mails were exchanged, she promised to send me a money order for the piano plus extra money for the shipment. Dennise is no doubt a pseudonym for a con artist with a rap sheet as long as the piano keyboard.

Re: your Nov. 30 editorial, “Prevention of fires key�?:

The Star’s suggestions need to be implemented quickly. For years and years, the fire service has been pleading with state, county and local governments to have more fire clearance, better zoning requirements, road maintenance, etc. But due to politics and the thousands of narrow-minded groups who wish only for their own desires, they have not been heeded.

Re: Jim Burket’s Nov. 27 letter, “Raw milk may soon be toast�?:

This is in response to Burket's plea to retain raw milk. One of the major reasons for pasteurization is prevention of "bovine" tuberculosis. Although not as injurious as its human counterpart, the bovine variety inspired Louis Pasteur to provide prevention. I have treated several cases of tuberculosis contracted by ingesting raw milk — successfully, I might add, thanks to modern medications.

Re: Constance B. Starkey’s Nov. 27 letter, “Pernicious influence,�? and Raymond Freeman’s Nov. 27 letter, “Suckered by plausibility�?:

I believe that these people might be unknowing victims of the vast left-wing conspiracy. After growing up immersed in left-wing ideology, they have accepted it as true. They are afraid to even take an objective look at anything contrary that might force them to rethink their long-held views. They are also afraid to let any one else be exposed to it. I believe that anyone who takes an objective look at O’Reilly’s shows and columns will know that all the negative things being said about him are untrue.

Our sincere appreciation and thank you to Santa Paula High School and the California Oil Museum in Santa Paula for the “Vietnam: A Different Kind of War�? exhibit. A special thank you goes to Ed Arguelles, history teacher at Santa Paula High School, the 10th graders in Santa Paula’s Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program and its two academies, Agricultural Science and Human Services, for their excellent and compassionate historical research in organizing this exhibit.

As we look to see how best to address issues related to helping prevent and end homelessness, I would encourage us all to consider blessings we can share.

One thing to share can certainly be dollars.

Re: Michele Serros’ Nov. 30 letter, “Images being co-opted?�?:

Since 1984, my gallery has been presenting thought-provoking art exhibits. Every visitor to the gallery views the art and takes away a different impression based on their own life experiences.

I feel that Michele Serros’ comment that “one could have easily felt misled�? by the publicity stating that the exhibit offers a variety of work settings to be misleading. She saw an exhibit focused primarily on agricultural workers.

Re: Michele Serros’ Nov. 30 letter, “Images being co-opted?�?

While I greatly respect Michele Serros' accomplishments, writing and opinions — and generally share her same feelings very strongly — as a professional artist I must take exception to her comments about Gail Pidduck's paintings of Ventura County agricultural workers.

Re: Michele Serros' Nov. 30 letter, "Images being co-opted?":

I, too, attended the reception for the exhibit at the John Nichols Gallery, "Work – The Art of Labor." While Serros wrote that painter Gail Pidduck had "reduced a man to a caricature," and by painting other farmworkers had "unintentionally contribute(d) to the continued practice of objectification and exploitation," I thought that the artist treated her subjects with respect and conveyed the nobility of their hard work.

Re: Michele Serros’ Nov. 30 letter, “Images being co-opted?�?:

Contrary to Michele Serros’ claim that the workers portrayed in the current exhibit at John Nichols Gallery have been exploited and objectified, many of the people in these images are honored to have had their hard work validated. Working at the gallery, I’ve seen a number of people come in to view the show and proudly point out depictions of themselves to friends and family members.

Re: Richard Ryans’ Dec. 3 letter, “’Holiday’ isn’t PC�?:

I agree with Richard Ryans: The American Civil Liberties Union has not done enough to separate the state and religion.

Re: your Dec. 3 article, “Buyers bid on bargains�?:

I wanted to comment on the auction in Oxnard of the 40 “homes.�? An important clarification is that these are technically zoned as �?condominiums,�? not single-family residences. It’s an important distinction for those who own single-family homes in and around the Oxnard area, as home prices historically generate higher resale values than condo-zoned properties.

— Jeff Turk, Newbury Park
(The writer is the owner of Choice Appraisals in Newbury Park. — Editor)

Re: Constance B. Starkey’s Nov. 27 letter, “Pernicious influence�? and Raymond Freeman’s Nov. 27 letter, “Suckered by plausibility�?:

The notion that Constance Starkey and I intimidated The Star into preventing free speech is absurd. We do not own The Star, and it will print whatever it pleases, including letters, obviously. We want The Star to print letters bearing the truth in addition to O’Reilly’s propaganda. Please note that “in addition to�? does not mean “in place of.�?

Before the ink has even dried on the petitions to get the “Right to Vote on Traffic Congestion�? initiative on the ballot, misinformation is being spread.

Here are the facts:

Myth: The initiative “is dangerous and takes away the public's voice.�?

Fact: The initiative allows the people to vote on large developments in Thousand Oaks.

I moved from Germany to the United States two and a half years ago. My dad works as an engineer for Volkswagen, so we obtained an E-1 visa. My two siblings and I are the children of that visa.

When I turned 17, I went to the Department of Motor Vehicles office in Thousand Oaks, passed my driving test and got my license. So I've been driving for the last two years and never got a ticket.

Re: Constance B. Starkey’s Nov. 27 letter, “Pernicious influence�?:

In answer to those who took such shrill objection to my letter regarding Bill O’Reilly, I would ask that they reread it. Nowhere did I remotely suggest The Star should not print O’Reilly’s column. On the contrary, in the interest of public discourse, The Star should keep printing his and any other column it deems appropriate as long as it also prints dissenting opinions.

Re: Deroy Murdock’s Dec. 3 commentary, “Al Gore, global warming and convenient untruths�?:

Murdock’s commentary was a breath of fresh air on a cool fall morning. Global warming is indeed one of Earth's most controversial questions.

Consensus on the subject in the scientific community is rapidly evaporating, so fearmongering has replaced knowledge-seeking. Politics trumps science. The issue has been reduced to a moral crisis.

It is wrong to censor Bill O’Reilly simply because he may be offensive to some. The free exchange of ideas is central to democracy, and it is always a mistake to silence those we don’t agree with.

The real problem is not O’Reilly; it is the very structure of the corporate media and the willingness of the public to view news as entertainment.

O’Reilly is not a real journalist. He is a gossipmonger, an entertainer, but many Americans believe him because he validates their world view, and he is amusing. That is no way to determine what truth is.

This is the time of year when nongolfers, in an effort to show love and the holiday spirit, seek to buy special gifts for the golfer in their life. This happened to me last Christmas. It’s not a pretty story.

My wife and kids became aware I had developed a renewed interest in golf. They knew I was having fun and wanted to help out with some Christmas gifts for dear old Dad. Their hearts were in the right place, and I love them for it, but they made a couple of basic mistakes I thought I would pass along to help others with shopping this year.

Re: your Dec. 1 editorial, “Seniors need to talk back�?:

In his book, "Everything to Gain," former President Jimmy Carter talks about the singular dilemma of the senior citizen community. Seniors are the only group, the only minority, that is both discriminated against and discriminates against itself, he says.
In senior citizen housing, there is the young-old, etc., plus the chronically infirm and old. Senior citizen housing doesn't quite say it all.

Re: your Dec. 2 article, “Life after Amgen�?:

I was very surprised to read this article, which featured former Amgen employees who opted to take the voluntary severance packages and which paints a very pleasant picture of how their lives have changed for the better after voluntarily leaving Amgen. That is great, and I wish them all the best in their new endeavors.

However, why did you not interview former Amgen staff that was forced to leave the company? Many of us are struggling to find work in Ventura County; some have had to uproot their families, moving out of town or out of the state in search of employment.

Re: Steve Teobaldi’s Dec. 3 letter, "Bush no unifying force":

Teobaldi attributes our looming fiscal crisis to Medicare and Social Security. This is a naive conclusion in light of the trillions of dollars being spent on military activities and "reconstruction" in the Middle East. Some of those funds have been "borrowed" from the Social Security fund.

One could fill a skyscraper with information about the Vietnam War and never completely tell its entire story.

Lillian Canterbury, a banker for more than nine years from Wells Fargo and volunteer for the Help Our Youth foundation, had a dream of making Thanksgiving special for some of America’s most recent arrivals. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, she showed up as usual in the beginning English class at Moorpark High School, taught by Martha Mihalovits. Along with verb conjugations and vocabulary in English, these students were learning American customs and culture. For most of the students, this would be their very first Thanksgiving in the United States.

Re: your Nov. 30 In Brief item, “Tasting event to raise funds for Simi girl battling leukemia�?:

Every now and then, a tiny item in The Star raises issues of immense importance. That is true of this item about a wine- and tequila-tasting benefit intended to raise money to "help cover health costs incurred" by the family of a 1-year-old leukemia patient from Simi Valley.

The Republican defenders of Bill O'Reilly constantly complain about demeaning letters to the editor about Republicans by writing demeaning letters to the editor about Democrats. Democracy is alive and well!

— Frances B. Bierman, Thousand Oaks

Thanks to Al Gore and his so-called documentary that scapegoats carbon dioxide for every bad weather event, no one is paying attention to real climate disasters that could be prevented.

Recent letters and controversy over the fluoridation of our drinking water have caused me, for the first time in my life, to put some thought and research into the issue.

I found some interesting information about fluoride that gives me pause for concern:
The fluoride used in our drinking water is not quite the naturally occurring element that we are led to believe. It is a byproduct of the processing of phosphate ores to prepare fertilizers and other industrial products. The fluoride typically used in drinking water is sodium hexafluorosilicate or hexafluorosilicic acid. Fluoride found "naturally" in drinking waters causes mottled coloring in teeth and is considered to be a pollutant.

Re: your Nov. 30 front-page photograph accompanying the story, “Watching justice unfold�?:

Whoever chose to emblazon The Star’s cover with a photo of a young Latino boy being cheerfully handcuffed by a white police officer is either politically naive, racially insensitive or incredibly incompetent.

Around 7:40 p.m. on Nov. 24, I was rear-ended by an unknown vehicle while executing a left turn into the Hillcrest Park condominium complex. I was on my way home from work and had both lights on my bike — a headlight in the front and a flashing strobe in the rear — in operation, as well as my left arm in the “straight-out�? position. Despite my precautions, the driver managed to knock me off my bike and onto the middle of Hillcrest Drive.