PUBLIC FORUM : SIMI MAY ALLOW HISTORICAL GOD INTO CLASSROOM.

I would like to applaud the Simi Valley School Board for its adoption of a resolution at June 11th meeting that will make it clear that it is OK to use the name of God in the classroom in the context of teaching.

Many teachers have been afraid to do this due to conflicting legal viewpoints, I must add that this resolution does not provide for teaching religion in the classroom. It does say however that to teach about our founding fathers and talk of their strong religious convictions is proper. To do less would be cheating our children of the historical reality of what drove these men to come to America in the first place. All one has to do, is to read the Declaration of Independence, our Constitution, or President Lincoln's famous Gettysburgh Address to find that God is woven into the fabric of these great documents everywhere. Needless to say God is also part of our pledge of allegiance to the flag and His name is also found in many of the patriotic songs that we sing.

I would like to thank Trustee Norman Walker for introducing the original resolution that was fashioned after the Moorpark one that is in in effect in the Moorpark School System at the present time. The resolution that was adopted however is the one by Trustee Diane Collins with a passage from Mr. Walker's resolution. Thanks need to be expressed to the many speakers who supported the resolution proposed by Mr. Walker and stayed until almost midnight to share their views. The resolution will be voted on at the next Board meeting and should be in effect at the start of the fall school fashion. Again thank you.

- Russ Hopkins

Simi Valley

Not much praise is given to public officals, but they often receive criticism.

As a member of the sound wall committee I would like to offer our heartfelt thanks to Simi Valley City Councilwoman Barbara Williamson who unselfishly has offered her time and efforts to see that the homeowners suffering because of the unabated noise from the 118 Freeway can get the relief. She personally has seen that Caltrans perform sound studies at a few of the affected homes and has followed through to that end.

Our problem was been brought out at a council meeting some months ago and met with a ``lukewarm'' response, except from Williamson, who has championed our cuase.

In the past I have critized public officials for a lackluster performance and now it is my pleasure to praise one.

Thank you, Barbara.

- Jack Goodman 

Simi Valley

The Moorpark Memorial High School has disappeared, as far as most of those who graduated from it think. Recently it seemed there was a desire to demolish the auditorium, the one part that we hoped to keep. The argument that a great deal of work may be needed likely could not be made, had there been proper maintenance.

Fortunately, some of the school board members are bright enough to realize that the building not only has an historic value, but there is very little possibility that a similar one would ever be built.

In thinking about the changes in my hometown, I realize that most of the ones I really hate are the result of newcomers, who say that they want to maintain the ''old feeling`` of the town, but really want Moorpark to be like everywhere else they may have lived.

The central city was not quite nice enough to have the high school in it, so a new one was built up on the hill. That hill is the same one from which the original school was moved about 1912, in order to have school more accessible to the majority.

Another change, and a ridiculous one, was the change of the name of Poindexter Middle School. It was named after one of the town pioneers, a man who did a great deal to create the ''ambiance`` the newcomers say they like. The ambiance was so important that the school name was changed to that of a weed!

I wish people would stop talking about how quaint, rural and friendly Moorpark is, and help us keep it that way.

- Eleanor Clement 

Moorpark

As we celebrate the July 4th holiday, I know we will be reflecting on our country's history. I hope we also focus on how to keep democracy alive in this great country.

Democracy occurs when people are informed and empowered. As we approach the beginning of the 21st century, one of our nationwide agendas should be human empowerment.

Through freedom of information, libraries create hope and possibility for people. Hope and possibility create empowerment.

What stand we take or don't take for libraries in Ventura County influences empowerment everywhere. Empowerment creates self-reliance and we all benefit.

What would happen if all people were informed and empowered? Ventura County, in its stand for libraries, can create a breakthrough in empowerment.

As Andrew Carnegie said, ''I am not giving a contribution to libraries, I am investing in my future and the future of my country.``

- Trish Cavanaugh

Ventura

The proposed solid waste facility for 8755 Waters Road in Moorpark suffered a blow June 6 when the Ventura County Planning Department reversed its earlier draft decision that the environmental impacts were not significant enough to warrant an environmental study.

The Planning Department fell to the pressure from hundreds of angry citizens and an outpouring of community reaction to the proposed solid waste facility that will handle 500 to 600 tons per month. In the early planning stages, the facility is to be located in a sleepy rural and agricultural area between Moorpark and Somis. This is heavey industry trying to hide in our farmlands.

The Planning Department has ordered new traffic, biological and noise studies to determine if a full environmental impact report is necessary. The applicant has revised the project description to remove the planned concrete crushing operation, but still plans to haul the concrete into the farm area and haul it out later.

The project still includes 70 daily trips of dump trucks onto the area roads including Highway 118, Balcom, Stockton, Broadway, Waters and possibly Walnut Canyon and Bradley roads. No clear-cut traffic routes have been established by the county Planning Department.

Residents in the Las Posas, Moorpark and Somis areas are pushing to defeat the project because of hazardous materials discovered on the property and the increased traffic and safety issues on local roads.

Local community residents are looking for a more appropriate location for this heavy industry type solid waste facility. The project itself is not a bad idea, it is just in a bad location. Our farming community is the root and heart of what Ventura County represents and the local farmers want to preserve their agricultural resources. The applicant might have chosen the Waters Road location because he knew that it would be hard to place in an urban area such as an incorporated city. Waters Road, nor any other farming area of the Las Posas Valley, is an acceptable location for a new dump.

- Robert Hallman

Moorpark