It Takes a
We would like to take this opportunity to pay a special tribute, to not
only our dear friend, but a friend of the youth and families here in our
community for over 26 years.
Cindy Stevens recently left her position with People Helping People to
care more closely for her family needs, but she will always remain a strong
force here in our community.
Cindy is one of those very special people who gives 100 percent-plus
and always goes the extra mile to provide care and support where needed. Her
dedication to working with youth and families has been seen not only in her
professional life but in her private life as well. Cindy’s work with the
Network for Drug Free Youth, Klein Bottle and the
Youth to Youth Clubs on our H.S. Campus, The Drug and Alcohol Council, and her
work with People Helping People, has contributed greatly to the health of our
valley. Her time and talents shared with many other organizations such as the
S.Y.V. Coordinating Council, The Kiwanis club, and the YMCA, to name a few, has
helped to make a positive impact on the quality of life for the youth and
families here.
Many of us would agree that “it takes a whole community to raise a
child,” and we realize that in these challenging times we must work together to
support our youth and families. Cindy Stevens has put her belief into action
through the past 25 years here in our community. There are countless folks, young
and old, who have benefited over the years from her heartfelt efforts to help
improve and enrich their lives.
We encourage you to take a minute, as we have here today, to
acknowledge those family, friends, neighbors, organizations and special people
like Cindy Stevens, whose supportive efforts have made a difference for your
own children and the community at large. In closing,
we thank you Cindy, for all that you have done so willingly, not only in our
personal lives, but in the community we enjoy. You contributions have truly
made a difference here in the Santa Ynez Valley.
With appreciation,
-Gary and Mary Conway
Solvang
Dear Gary and Mary Conway:
From time to time we are blessed with special people who cross paths
with us in our lives. Sounds like Cindy was one of
these people, who had a very positive impact on many people’s lives.
Thank you for giving us an opportunity to let everyone here in the
Valley know.
-NCH
Dear Editor:
Per the article that appeared on page 27 of the Aug. 31-Sep. 7 issue of
the Santa Ynez Valley Journal by Joyce Bailey, the director of the Global Ecology
Program at Poolesville high school in
Every summer since 2003 the story in question goes around the Internet
and before long it becomes accepted as truth. That having been said, I
think the Santa Ynez Valley Journal is a great publication and a much-needed
forum to the mainstream media.
-Bill Clausen
Editor, Santa Ynez Valley Journal:
I was disappointed to see that the cover of your
Aug. 31 – Sep. 7 issue featured an Internet hoax— that Mars appeared "as
large as the full moon to the naked eye" on Aug. 27, 2007.
In fact, it was on Aug. 27, 2003 --- not 2007 as
your article implied --- that Mars was closer to Earth than in previous
recorded history. Even on that date, however, to the naked eye Mars appeared
only as a bright red star. An accurate description of the 2003 event stated
that when viewed through a telescope
or binoculars at 75-power magnification on that date, Mars appeared as
large as the full Moon does when viewed with the naked eye. Your article
omitted this important qualification.
Mars comes relatively close to Earth every 26
months. The next close approach (54.8 million miles) will be in December 2007.
Again, to the naked eye Mars will appear as merely a bright red star.
NASA
(http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/07jul_marshoax.htm) and the Urban
Legends Reference Pages (http://www.snopes.com/science/mars.asp) both offer
clear descriptions of how the Internet hoax that you reprinted came to be.
As an aside, the image of Mars that you reproduced
should be credited to the U. S. Geological Survey and NASA. This image
(http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA04304) is actually a composite of
images taken by the Viking Orbiter 1 spacecraft, which went into orbit around
Mars in 1976. No Earth-based telescope can image Mars with such high
resolution.
Feel free to contact me or any of the astronomers
in the UCSB Department of Physics with any questions you may have concerning
astronomy. We would be happy to assist.
Sincerely,
-Roger A. Freedman
Lecturer in Physics