Yorba Lindans have a lot to be thankful for

Yorba Lindans have hundreds of reasons to appreciate life in this community, even including some in the political realm. Here are just a few I’ve picked at random for Thanksgiving Day:

--Generally, a long list of elected City Council members, appointed city commissioners and career municipal employees who’ve worked conscientiously to create, nurture and sustain this low-density, family-friendly community.

--The unique partnership that developed between the city’s pioneering residents and the newcomers who’ve arrived in more recent years as they’ve worked together to preserve an irreplaceable environment.

--A local school system that provides outstanding extracurricular opportunities for students in sports, music and numerous other non-classroom arenas despite incredible budget and standardized testing pressures from the state and federal governments.

--The activities of the Yorba Linda Arts Alliance to foster community awareness and involvement in the local art scene and the patient yet persistent efforts by group members and founder Gabriella Rollins to bring a much-needed arts facility to Town Center.

--Tireless community activist Sue Fenwick, local American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars post members and other volunteers for raising money for a new military service memorial at Veterans Park on Valley View Avenue.

--The men and women of two admirably active service organizations, the Sunrise and Noon Rotary clubs, for contributing thousands of dollars to so many worthy causes, including scholarships and classroom grants for local students and teachers.

--The dedicated and loyal teaching staff at El Camino High School that provides students who don’t excel in a traditional campus setting a second chance at education’s brass ring.

--An amazing alliance of political neophytes who gathered 8,647 Right-to-Vote initiative petition signatures two summers ago and 9,790 and 9,771 Town Center zoning ordinance petition signatures last December and January to preserve the city’s low-density heritage.

--Two newly elected City Council members who recognize the importance of not soliciting or accepting campaign contributions from developers, city contractors and other individuals and businesses whose profits depend on council decisions.

--The Friends of the Library, whose active members organize book sales and operate the Book Corner to supply funding for many adult and youth-oriented library services.

--Steady progress by school district trustees on the city’s first public high school campus at Fairmont Boulevard and Bastanchury Avenue, which still could open in Fall 2008 for freshman and sophomore students coming from an attendance area yet to be determined.

--And the thousands of parents who volunteer precious time to run the Scouting, 4-H, sports leagues, church groups and countless other organizations that provide positive channels for our enthusiastic youth as they develop the skills they’ll need for the future.

A FINAL NOTE

An era ended Nov. 12 with the death of Bert Valadez in his Yorba Linda home at age 93. He began a 44-year teaching career when Mexican-American teachers and students were segregated at a La Jolla site and not allowed at the newly built Valencia High School.

Valadez was a kind mentor when I started my 36 years at Valencia, home to hundreds of Yorba Linda students before Esperanza opened. The longtime coach and Spanish teacher was never bitter, but he always recounted his experiences truthfully when asked.

“You’ll fatten up when you get married,” Valadez often told this skinny beginner. He was a gifted man wise in so many ways.