TEMECULA RESIDENT'S LETTER RE QUARRY

North County Times    Monday, August 22, 2011

FORUM: Thank you, Granite Construction

• By Mike Jurkosky 

We're the closest Temecula resident west of the Liberty Quarry industrial site. Our property has been our family's sanctuary since 1956. We'd like to thank Granite Construction. Maybe others feel the same?
We thank you for:

• Taking years of sacrifice to escape urban blight, only to have you drag it back onto our doorstep.

• The anguish bestowed on our family since 2005: for turning cherished country property adjoining a ecological reserve, into undesirable property nearest a monstrous rock quarry, with only an application.

• Your smaller footprint: like the new kid on the block promising to hit you in the stomach instead of the face, and expecting gratitude.

• The 75-year pit of insecurity to the Royal Oak valley's water table and to the pristine stream feeding local wells, that will later flow beside Granite's moonscape of ammonium nitrate and petroleum pollutants.

• Blasting our nirvana to impose yours. Old houses can be replaced, but not the tranquility, the pure water and air, the wildness of the land, or the hundreds of grand oaks.

• Your "friends" demonizing local residents as selfish elitists, dangerous NIMBYs, or radical environmentalists. When did "ordinary families wanting to move to cleaner, safer neighborhoods for their families" become a dirty word? When Granite arrived.

• Implying Granite is the savior of all the county's economic woes, yet jeopardizing already established bases of tax revenue and livelihoods.

• Your Caltrans contracts, which are fulfilled at night.

• Forcing the community to research your EIR (Environmentally Incompetent Report) to protect themselves ---- a report concocted for those needing an excuse.

• For the fond memories of the Old Temecula Valley.

Thanks for your humorous jokes:

• Liberty Quarry will make the area greener! ---- I guess the SMER's flora and fauna count will explode!
• There will be more jobs and fewer trucks on the road ---- funny things, those oxymoron's.
• Granite's trucks will head south, making the air cleaner. ---- Ha! Granite refusing northern contracts? Loaded trucks will reverse direction through the county.
• What's at the end of a Rainbow? ---- A major trucking hub making the area greener!
• How does Granite pay a mistaken $2,223 overcharge for fire cleanup? With a $400,000 check.
• How do you make the Royal Oak Valley residents disappear? Use an incorrect Riverside County Staff Report showing our area is vacant, ignore the San Diego side, and allude that there's nothing west of the site at public meetings, though at the same time attempting to get onto our property or into our drinking water. Suspicious behavior is not welcome on our property.

Granite informed us that noise at our rural home (which has been tested subsequently to be at 30 decibels) exceeds the county's threshold (45 decibels) and that's why Granite needs the "Noise Ordinance Exemption," not because Liberty Quarry would exceed the standard! Though Granite will raise the standard through rezoning (75 decibels) and a "Noise Ordinance Exemption" (allowing constant industrial noise), legalizing noise blight.
Silent noise blight. That's good schtick! Reminds me of the Jon Lovitz character on old "Saturday Night Live" episodes: "Yeah, that's the ticket!"
Thanks, "Good Neighbor."

Mike Jurkosky is a Temecula resident.

Vacancy on the Vallecitos School Board

There is a vacancy on the Vallecitos School Board and we are looking for a new member.

Vallecitos Governing Board announces a vacancy on the Vallecitos School Board.
Application packets available in the district office. Applications due by Sept. 9, 2011.
This is an appointment process not a call for election. Interviews scheduled for
Tuesday Sept. 20, 2011 @ 6:30 p.m.

RAINBOW COMMUNITY CHURCH - August 14th, 2011

Hi Rainbow Church Family, (photos from last Sunday's Waterslide, Friday Movie Night)
Sermon, Compassion and Ethiopia (Pastor Rick, former Rainbow Church Pastor, will give our sermon this Sunday)
Church service begins at 10am.Worship Leading: Annie 
Offertory Worship: Lily
Offertory Prayer: Dale Rickards (Ushers: Christian and Nina) 

Prayer and Praise: Pastor

SoundBoard, Powerpt: Justin Taylor, David 

Rainbow Rascals (ages 1-3) Anndrea, Antonia,

Movers & Shakers (ages 4-6) Elizabeth (Lesson 11) 
Kingdom Kids (ages 7-10): Steve and Aimee (Lesson 27)
Juice (ages 10+) Michael (Lesson 15)
Fellowship Lunch--Mac N Cheese, PB&J (giant WATERSLIDE kids again)

 

SUDAN/CONGO info night at GRN, Monday Aug 17 at 7pm (Speaker: David Overstreet, Every Generation Ministry). See Dale Rickards for more info (dalerickards@globalrecordings.net)

 

SURF CAMP #2, Saturday Aug 20. We had over 50 people at our last Rainbow Church Surf camp. We'll do it again, same place in Oceanside, 10am to 2pm!

 

Rainbow BOAT TRIP, Sept 16-18 (See Michele Johnson for details, gardenofroses4@verizon.net) 

MISSIONS COMMITTEE MEETING, Sept 11, after Church Service.  See Missions Director Jeff Dickinson if you would like to present your mission trip for prayer and financial support. (jdickinson@greenegroup.com)

 

SERMONS on our RainbowCommunityChurch.com website.  

 

ZUMBA for our ladies, at church, Wednesdays @ 9:30am AND FRIDAYs @ 9:30am. Contact Lisa Ready for details. (l-ready@att.net)

 

TEEN Bible Study. Starting TONIGHT with fellowship.  (See Pastor Dale for info, dalekohler11@gmail.com)
MEN'S Bible Study, at Church Tuesday nights 6pm to 8pm (see Pastor Dale for info, dalekohler11@gmail.com)
Our 2011 Church Prayer focus: Blessed are the Peacemakers 
^{Pr 11:13} A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.Have a wonderful day, Pastor Craig

AVAILABLE FOR HIRE - PET/HOUSE/KIDS

Kirra Smith High School Graduate, 2011 Cell: (760) 453-1910 kirra.noelle@gmail.com Child Care, Pet & House Sitting Services Feel great about leaving your precious children, animals or home in my competent care! My love for children and animals is evident in all I do, everyday! I’m currently deciding whether to pursue a career in veterinary medicine, preschool education or child psychology. My meticulous nature allows you to peacefully focus on your task since I’m punctual, dependable and well experienced in my field. Child Care • AED & CPR Certified • 6 years of well rounded experience, ranging from infants to early teens. • More references available upon request. 2009 – current Lize Opperman, cell (949) 295-4854 My main objective is to make it as easy as possible for any mother to leave her children with me and trust that the schedule will stay in tact in addition to the kids having a great time. Whether we do educational activities, outdoor play, crafts, cooking, baking, gardening or sports, your child will have fun and be stimulated to their maximum capacity at their individual developmental level. I love to cook and have an all natural eating/snacking philosophy. My ability to connect with all personality types allows for a genuine and sincere relationship with each child that I greatly cherish. As a mature young adult I’m a quick thinker and never feel overwhelmed with situations but will never hesitate to call a parent with an emergency issue. (- have own car for ease of transportation, as well as a clean driving record.) House-sitting 2008 – current References available Neighbors, friends & family have all entrusted their homes to my care over the years. Whether you leave on vacation, a business trip, or just a quick weekend get-away, you can rest assure that even the finest detail will be taken care of. I understand the importance of peace of mind so no task is too small or insignificant for me to execute. Security, garden, animals, and even cleaning or straightening up will be taken care of during your time away. I’m familiar and comfortable with large properties, intricate security systems, sophisticated appliances/equipment, and have managed various on-property staffing crews. Pet Care • All animals – dogs, cats, horses, cows, sheep, goats, pigs, birds, snakes, turtles, fish, rabbits – you name it, I’ve taken care of it! I have cared for animals all my life. • Specialized experienced with horses, I have been riding for 9 years and own a horse. • References available My extreme love and passion to care for animals has taught me many skills over the years. From recognizing a certain behavior or illness to dressing wounds and administering medication, I possess basic vet skills. Exercise, cleaning habitats, playing, loving, and grooming is of utmost importance to the health and well being of any and all animals and remains close to my heart.

Granite Construction Project Manager Speaks...

Granite Construction Project Manager Gary Johnson addresses the Riverside County Planning Commission during a meeting over a proposed quarry south of Temecula.

Behind him in the audience, many people attending the session at Rancho Community Church in Temecula are wearing orange to signify their opposition to the proposed quarry.

Engineers, geologists and scientists clashed Monday during the Riverside County Planning Commission's meeting on Granite Construction's Liberty Quarry project, a mine proposed for land south of Temecula.
The session was the fourth in an ongoing series that has been followed by thousands of area residents.
In many cases, the testimony provided Monday by the various different subject authorities was contradictory ---- with one person saying everything has been studied according to the proper guidelines and another person contending that statement was false or misleading.
And there also were moments when someone defending their work was caught off guard by a speaker who brought new information to the forefront.
Commission Chairman John Roth summed up the process, which sparked multiple digressions by commission members on the wisdom of the format, as "dueling experts."
So who won the duel?
"It's up to the commission to sort through that and find out the correct answer," Roth said.
When that might be remains to be seen. The commission wrapped up Monday's meeting at 7:45 p.m. without reaching a decision.
Roth said there would be another meeting ---- the fifth in the series ---- on Aug. 15 at 9 a.m. in the same venue, the Rancho Community Church in Temecula.
Granite has proposed operating the mine within a 400-acre property that sits between the San Diego County line and Temecula's southern border. At full capacity, the 135-acre quarry is expected to generate 5 million tons of aggregate rock per year at the site.
After the Planning Commission is finished reviewing the project, the commission's recommendations will be sent to the county Board of Supervisors, which will have the final say.
One of the sharper exchanges Monday occurred after the lunch break when Matt Rahn, manager of San Diego State University's scientific field station located to the west of the quarry site, and Granite Project Manager Gary Johnson debated the effects vibration from blasting would have on animals in the area.
Johnson said he has not heard anyone affiliated with SDSU say exactly how much vibration is harmful to the area's wildlife.
Absent that, Johnson said, "I have a hard time believing anyone can credibly say it's going to harm biology or research" in the field station.
"Well, I just did," replied Rahn, who earlier had said that SDSU provided stacks of literature to the county about how various species are affected by increased levels of noise and light.
Before the lunch break, Johnson told Roth that the format of having speakers clash with the consultants providing rebuttal testimony was more than a little unusual.
At the previous meeting in June, Johnson and the consultants who worked on the environmental impact report took notes as speakers, the vast majority of them quarry critics, took their turns bashing both the project and the county's environmental report on it.
Granite officials said they had planned to provide a rebuttal to that information at Monday's hearing. And though that was accomplished in part, there was new information presented by critics who were being prompted by questions posed by the commissioners.
This put Granite in the position of rebutting a new slate of information, a stance that its legal counsel warned could create a "rebuttal loop" that would have no end.
The commission's counsel, however, said the commission members have the right to ask questions of anyone at any time and the commission proceeded for the entire meeting Monday following that direction.
Another topic that sparked a spirited debate during the meeting was air quality.
An engineer with Sage Environmental, Paul Weir, said the effects blasting at the mine would have on the area's air quality were vastly underestimated because the firm that worked on the study, Kleinfelder, used a formula suited for coal and not hard rock.
Coal is much more of a wet substance, making the use of that formula misleading, Weir said, adding that the actual effects on the area could be 250 times higher than the Kleinfelder findings.
Kleinfelder's air quality expert, Russ Erbes, said the claim made by Weir, if his argument was correct, wouldn't amount to any large difference in the findings because blasting accounts for a small amount of the total air pollution the project is expected to generate.
Weir disagreed, saying it could tip the scales and push the project's projected air pollution totals above the state's strict standards.
At the beginning of the hearing, Kleinfelder's geologists were put on the spot and forced to defend their findings that the project wouldn't sap the area surrounding the mine of life-sustaining water for vegetation or cause earthquakes.
An expert on earthquake faults said Kleinfelder did not investigate possible faults in the area and a geologist commissioned by the city said the methodology used by Kleinfelder was not extensive enough to determine how much water is stored in the mountain and how it moves.
The Kleinfelder representatives, Russ Keenan and James Finegan, defended their work, arguing that the methodology and findings were sound.

Call staff writer Aaron Claverie at 951-676-4315, ext. 2624.

GREGORY CANYON - SB 833

Hello friends of Gregory Canyon – please sign this petition to the Governor showing that you SUPPORT SB 833! http://www.change.org/petitions/preserve-sacred-sites-protect-our-water

This Week at Rainbow Church - 7/3/11

Hi Rainbow Church Family, (Church family Directory attached. Please send Pastor Craig any updated info or photos)
Pastor's Sermon, How to Get Married (Gen. 24) 
Lord's Supper this Sunday. 
Church service begins at 10am.Worship Leading: Dan Sweeney
Offertory Worship: Whitney
Offertory Prayer: Al Walker (Ushers: Antonia/Nina)
SoundBoard, Powerpt: Andy, David
Toddler (ages 1-3) Anndrea, songs, Bible story, crafts, games
Movers & Shakers (ages 4-6) Angie and Sarah (Bible, Crafts)  
Kingdom Kids (ages 7-10): Whitney (Lesson 22)
Juice (ages 10+) Rob (Lesson 9)
Fellowship Lunch--Hamburgers and hot dogs, 4th of July food
Men's Football after church 

Rainbow BOAT TRIP, Sept 16-18 (See Michele Johnson for details, gardenofroses4@verizon.net) 

WOMEN'S SUMMER BIBLE STUDY, Beth Moore's INHERITANCE.  Our Spiritual Inheritance in Jesus Christ.  Thursdays at church, 9:30am to 11:30am, starts June 9.  See Beth Sousa for details. 

TEEN Bible Study. On summer break in July.  (See Pastor Dale for info, dalekohler11@gmail.com)

RAINBOW SURF CAMP, Saturday July 16.  Kids and Adults, want to learn to surf?  Our first-ever surf camp, and family beach day. We'll have instructors to help you learn to surf.  Fun, Free, Family Church day.
  
MEN'S Bible Study, ON SUMMER BREAK IN JULY. at Church Tuesday nights 6pm to 8pm (see Pastor Dale for info, dalekohler11@gmail.com)
Our 2011 Church Prayer focus: Blessed are the Peacemakers 
^{Jn 13:34} Jesus said: A new command I give you: Love one another. 
Have a wonderful day, Pastor Craig

Californian  June 23, 2011

HUNNEMAN: A proud day for Temecula

By JOHN HUNNEMAN

At a meeting Wednesday, I had to resist the urge to jump on my chair and exult at the top of my lungs: "Ich bin ein Temeculan."

For hour after hour that day, experts hired by the city of Temecula ---- along with others from San Diego State University and the Pechanga tribe ---- took turns blasting holes in the 6,800-page environmental impact report prepared by Granite Construction, which wants to dig a giant quarry just south of the city.
This was the third, and probably next-to-last, meeting of the Riverside County Planning Commission on the proposed Liberty Quarry. The meetings, held at Rancho Community Church in Temecula, have drawn large crowds, with most attendees opposed to the project.
On Wednesday, an audience of around 500 heard experts use words and phrases such as deception, misrepresentation, manipulating, insulting, purposely dishonest, patently untrue, illogical and intellectual garbage to describe many of the findings in the report, which was paid for by Granite and signed off on by the county's planning staff.
"Facts," President John Adams once said, "are stubborn things."
So stubborn, in fact, that several experts testified that when facts were presented to the report's preparers that didn't support Granite's desired conclusions, they simply left them out.
"A textbook case for how not to do (an environmental impact report)," said attorney Courtney Coyle, who represented the Pechanga tribe.
The speakers ---- economists, traffic engineers, air-quality experts, geologists ---- all had impeccable credentials.
Each received a rousing ovation after speaking, which I'm guessing doesn't happen much in the world of geology and economics.
Many shook their heads at the flawed science Granite used to try to convince the commission that blowing a large hole in an environmentally sensitive area ---- land sacred to the Pechanga and located next to a world-class environmental research center ---- that would spew dust and other pollutants into the 40-mph winds that blow each afternoon from the Pacific, making Temecula's Wine Country possible, and into the lungs of several hundred thousand people for as long as 75 years ---- was a dandy idea.
Six years ago, I predicted Granite would not build Liberty Quarry in San Diego County ---- where, by their own admission, 70 percent of the mine's aggregate would be needed ---- because the people and politicians there would not allow it.
"So let's creep just over the line into Riverside County, (Granite) must figure, where the bumpkins and the meth users won't mind," I wrote in August 2005.
That's exactly what Granite has tried to do.
On Wednesday, thanks to the city of Temecula, SDSU and the Pechanga, Granite was shown that truth trumps all the propaganda and publicity money can buy.

Contact columnist John Hunneman at jhunneman@californian.com.

Proposed Railway

Folks,

This was clipped from the No Cty Times on Sunday……..

Dennis A. Sanford

714-299-9865 Cell

****************************************************

While engineers and planners have been laying out the possible routes the train might travel and answering questions from residents, these sessions — and one more on June 30 — could be the last appreciable work for at least a year on this section of the railway.

The budget before the Legislature has eliminated all funding for the Los Angeles-to-San Diego section for next year.

An analysis of the governor’s budget received by the San Diego County Association of Governments from staff on Friday says: “Without funding, there is a possibility that all preliminary engineering and environmental work and public outreach activities under way on the San Diego to Los Angeles section would cease on July 1.”

So, after the last of Southern California workshops, the High Speed Rail Authority could find itself with volumes of community input and nowhere to go with it.

“Our thought is to keep moving forward, with or without the funding,” said the agency’s deputy executive director for communications, policy and public outreach Jeffrey Baker, “and be ready, once the funding is available again.”

The fate of the project has almost always been in doubt even as it has moved forward amid criticism over cost, management, choice of routes and, simply, whether it’s a good idea.

Work will continue unabated on the $40 billion primary segment of the high-speed rail, between San Francisco and Los Angeles, said Baker.

The current workshops — on the 170-mile corridor from Los Angeles to Ontario, Murrieta and San Diego — are still timely, according to Baker, simply because there has been a lack of detailed information on the preferred Southern California route.

“Being in such an early stage means having a lot of unanswered questions,” said Baker. “A lot of people believe they are personally affected. People want to know how loud the trains will be, whether a sound barrier will be needed.”

At this point, only 5 to 10 percent of the engineering work is done, said Baker. “There are lots of details not yet known.” Engineers and planners will be at each workshop with detailed maps of the proposed corridor and answers to many questions raised by the public.

To come up with a route between Los Angeles and San Diego, the rail authority reviewed 800 miles of possible paths. There are still sections with more than one possible route that must be winnowed down in the future.

That includes San Diego County where the rail authority is looking at two possible routes, both ending on the north side of the San Diego International Airport.

From Los Angeles, the tracks would head east to Riverside County, to either Ontario Airport or farther east to San Bernardino. The line drops south to a station in Murrieta. From the San Diego County line south, the tracks would run alongside Interstate 15, past a transit station in Escondido, to Mira Mesa.

From there, two possible routes emerge, both ending at the airport:

1.       The tracks veer west above Miramar Marine Corps Air Station, tunneling under University City to the intersection of State Highway 52 and Interstate 5, where the tracks would then parallel the existing rail used by Amtrak and the Coaster.

2.      The tracks would continue down Interstate 15 to State Route 163, turning west in Mission Valley beside Interstate 8 before connecting to the rail corridor near Old Town.

Depending on funding, the rail authority could pick its preferred route through San Diego County anywhere from a year to four years from now.

As it stands, the route between San Francisco and Los Angeles is expected to be up in running by 2016. Los Angeles to San Diego could open by 2019.

bob.hawkins@uniontrib.com • (619) 718-5253

Proposed Power Plant

Folks,

I have been alerted of a proposed power plant that may be located on a parcel of land located in the area of Rainbow Valley Blvd and Old 395.  It would be developed by the same firm that built the power plant on Rte 76 near Pala.  The parcel involved is, for the most part, properly zoned for commercial development.  The plant would be a gas fired plant and would be very similar to the Pala power plant.  

The question that will ultimately be facing the group is “should we support or oppose”.

After much discussion with various members of the community and some Planning Group Members, I would say, with mixed thoughts that we should support the development of the proposed power plant if it comes before the group.

The reasons are:

The parcel will definitely be developed at some future point and it would be best to have a positive influence on the type of development.  If the County should approve the power plant over our objections the RCPG would be in an adversarial position and it would be difficult to encourage or influence the design, orientation, etc. 

Given that development in some form will eventually happen, we should, I think, attempt to extract something for the community in exchange for our support…i.e. a new Grange Hall, a multipurpose room for the school, improvements for the Volunteer Fire Dept or some other benefit that can be enjoyed by the Rainbow Community.  We should also attempt to influence the visual design of the plant to create a more visually appealing entry into Rainbow from the Temecula/Old 395 direction. 

Also, construction of the plant could benefit the Rainbow Municipal Water District in that water could be sold to the plant and recycled for irrigation purposes thus potentially reducing water rates.

I have asked Jim Anderson to introduce this item for discussion but it will have to be placed on a future agenda if we are going to take a position for or against.

Give me a call if you have any questions.

Dennis A. Sanford

714-299-9865 Cell