“Budget smudget. We are not backing away from doing what is best for our students,” Dr. Bob Graeff, Ramona Unified School District superintendent, told district employees in his opening presentation for the school year.

Amidst the turmoil surrounding education in today‘s world, RUSD is on a steady course, said Graeff.

“We know that we remain focused on people, we know budget challenges will continue, and we know student achievement improves steadily,” Graeff said during district convocation last Thursday, the first day of the school year for teachers and support staff.

Assemblyman Anderson invites business owners to come to his office on Monday, Sept. 13, and record their testimony about how a state tax or regulation has brought their business to the brink.

Each business owner will have time to share his or her story on camera. The testimony will be featured on Anderson’s website, and the District 77 assemblyman Anderson will deliver the videos to the Speaker of the Assembly and the Senate President Pro-Tempore in Sacramento.

“It is time to get the message out that California’s businesses — the fuel of our state’s economic engine — will not survive this endless barrage of taxation and regulation,” said Anderson (R-El Cajon).

Working with a different solar company, the Ramona Municipal Water District (RMWD) estimates it will save more money than originally thought on solar installations.

RMWD directors approved a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) on June 1 with Ramona Solar, LLC, which was formed by Alternative Energy Capital, LLC (AEC). Ramona Solar acts as a third party financing entity for this project. AEC Finance is the managing member, explained RMWD General Counsel Sophie Akins.

At the time of the agreement, Sequoia Solar was chosen to construct the projects. However, since then Sequoia has filed for bankruptcy, said RMWD General Manager Ralph McIntosh, and REC Solar will be installing the solar photovoltaic panels.

Author invites community to contribute photographs.

Ramona resident, university instructor and noted historian Richard L. Carrico is working closely with the Ramona Pioneer Historical Society to produce a photographic history of the area. The book, one of a series in the Arcadia Press “Images of America Series,” will contain more than 170 photographs of Ramona.

Ken Woodward, historical society director, is enthusiastic about the project and has worked closely with Carrico on the book.

An Aug.19 workshop on preliminary trail plans for the Ramona Grasslands sparked conflict between residents who believe it is their right to access public land and those who are concerned about protecting the environment on nearly 3,500 acres of the county-owned preserve.

Conducted by the county Parks and Recreation Department in the Ramona Community Center, the public workshop attracted a roomful of people, many of whom were interested in the opportunities for hiking, bicycling and horseback riding in the grasslands.

When Jim Hagey purchased 22 acres between Ramona, 16th and H streets with dreams of building a “true, old-style walkable community,” his daughter was 1 month old. She is now entering sixth grade and, if Hagey complies with the latest regulatory requirement from the county, his daughter may be a high school graduate by the time he can break ground.

“It looks like it will be another two to three years before I have a tentative map approved,” said Hagey, blaming his most recent obstacle on California state law and what he considers a “bureaucratic boondoggle.”

“It’s a completely broken system,” he said. “My complaint is how much money is wasted on studies rather than fixing the problem.”

Parents get involved in Ramona schools in a big way through the parent-teacher associations at each of the schools. Annual membership dues vary from school to school, and membership drives will be held at the start of the school year.

Sun Valley Council PTA is an umbrella organization that includes the eight PTAs in the district.
Anyone wishing to support all of the school PTAs may join them all for $84.

Ramona Community Planning Group (RCPG) is considering the idea of an informational summit on the Ramona Street Extension after about 13 residents expressed their opposition to the road project at the planning group’s Aug. 5 meeting.

“I want to make sure the public is aware of the true facts,” said RCPG chair Chris Anderson. “We do not want to have misinformation further spread so people have an opinion that is not fact-based.”

Those speaking at the meeting, some passionately, represented a recently-formed group called Citizens for a Rural Ramona. With many of them living on Ramona Street or Boundary Avenue, they cited concerns of safety, increased traffic and disruption to the environment. They also referred to the numerous design changes on the road project. Several asked the planning group to put the Ramona Street Extension back on the agenda.

Boutique winery tasting rooms and on-site sales are now allowed by right following a San Diego County Board of Supervisors action Aug. 4.

The supervisors’ 5-0 vote approved a tiered winery zoning ordinance and a General Plan Amendment to exempt certain winery classifications from restrictions on certain types of land use areas.

“We have a great growing area,” said Supervisor Bill Horn, who has been in production agriculture for the past 37 years. “For those who want to stay in ag, which is a way of life, this is an important transition.”

The ordinance restricts tasting rooms and on-site sales at boutique wineries on land with A70 or A72 agricultural zoning.

“These are agricultural zones,” said Supervisor Dianne Jacob. “The primary uses for A70 and A72 zones are agricultural.”