Editorial: ‘Thumbs’ for September

THUMBS UP to Rancho Bernardo Community Council for organizing a free battery and electronics recycling event on Aug. 21. More than 1,200 pounds of batteries and 5,000 pounds of electronics were brought to Rancho Bernardo Community Park. Assisting with the event were Electronic Waste Recycling of San Diego and the Rancho Bernardo Recreation Council.

THUMBS UP to San Diego Police for its recently concluded pilot program that focused on panhandlers and others who create safety problems on roadways. In late July, the department launched a 30-day pilot program that had motorcycle officers pay special attention to panhandlers throughout the city, including at two intersections in Rancho Bernardo and two in Carmel Mountain Ranch.

Lt. Andra Brown said about 170 citations were issued. While motorcycle officers will not be specifically targeting the issue now that the program ended, she said its effectiveness is being evaluated. In addition, all police officers will probably be trained in the near future about the issue, so citations will continue to be issued as situations arise.

THUMBS DOWN to Poway Unified School District for keeping Del Norte High School parents “out of the loop” when it came to discussing putting cell antennas on campus. Parents argued that a letter they received in mid-July was not only too late to initiate any meaningful dialogue before the Aug. 16 school board vote to approve the measure, but very few administrators could be reached during the summer to discuss the matter. We would like to see better communication between PUSD’s administration and parents regarding future projects.

THUMBS UP to Rancho Bernardo-Glassman Recreation Center for expanding its free recreational offerings to adult dodgeball games and break dance practice sessions. The break dancing is 4-6:30 p.m. Wednesdays in a dance room and adult dodgeball (ages 16-plus) is 4:30-6 p.m. Fridays in the gymnasium. Free kids dodgeball games (ages 6-13 plus their parents) are 3:30-5 p.m. Tuesdays.

The city-operated center is at 18448 W. Bernardo Drive in Rancho Bernardo Community Park. For details on free and low-cost recreational activities and classes, call the center at 858-538-8129 or see the program guide at www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/centers/rancho.shtml.

THUMBS DOWN to drunk drivers for endangering others through their selfish actions. The recent death of Rancho Bernardo resident Marc Durham by an alleged drunk driver on Camino del Norte is another reminder of how countless lives are devastated by the actions of one individual.

THUMBS UP to all the Poway Unified bus drivers, parents and community members who helped save the regular education bus service for 3,000 students from being discontinued. Thanks to an Aug. 6 breakfast — spearheaded by the drivers and hosted by Toni Kraft at Cafe Merlot — proceeds from the event raised about $7,000. That money is being used to help supplement the new $575 annual bus pass fee that some families are unable to pay. Also, almost 2,350 parents intent on keeping the service willingly paid that fee, $139 above last year’s fee. Thanks to a combined effort, 35 drivers are back behind the wheel and school buses are now rolling again.

THUMBS UP to Poway organizations celebrating special milestones. The Poway Chamber of Commerce has reached its 60th year of helping local businesses, while the Poway Woman’s Club, the Poway Valley Riders Association and VFW Post 7907 have been helping those in the community for 50 years.

THUMBS UP to the Poway City Council decision to take over and manage the assets of the Blue Sky Community Foundation, which recently decided to dissolve. The organization’s $120,000 will go into a reserve fund to be used only for the enhancement of the 700-plus acre reserve, located off Espola Road. While the reserve is owned by the California Department of Fish and Game, it’s up to the city to pay for maintenance. The foundation held several galas through the years, but never raised enough money to finance the educational center and outdoor amphitheater it had planned just inside the reserve entrance. A parking lot, lights and bus stop, however, were erected.

THUMBS UP to Poway deputies and their frequent checkpoints to nab DUI drivers and other motorists driving in unsafe ways that jeopardize others in our community. The checkpoints serve a valuable purpose: get impaired motorists off the road; ticket unlicensed drivers; stop teen drivers from transporting friends, which is illegal if the driver has a provisional license; and get unsafe vehicles towed.