Vital opportunities in peril
Thank you for the very supportive article about the Riford Adult Center to help raise funds to keep the center open (“Riford Center’s financial deadline looms,” Village News, June 21, page 3). When the center’s director Lynda Hunt gave reporter Kailee Bradstreet my phone number, I was eager to share all the wonderful benefits of the center to the community.
I do need to clarify or make corrections: I volunteer, as well as others including Justine Keith and Marge Shishido, to help set up and put away exercise equipment for our outstanding teacher Martha Raby-Sturmer. For the community college, she teaches low-impact aerobic classes and chair exercise classes. Our triple heart bypass member is recovering well from surgery and hopes to be back soon to continue exercise classes regularly as before. She is grateful to Martha for her classes.
My last treadmill test had really improved because I took the advice of the cardiologist who had recommended daily aerobics. I have had other tests since, but I still credit Martha’s enjoyable exercise classes with helping me keep the extra weight off to be as healthy as I can.
The Riford Adult Center offers so many vital opportunities to interact with many wonderful individuals and to spark a variety of interests and activities. This community center will be a great loss if the plea for sufficient funding is not answered.
Mary Templer, La Jolla

July 5th ” ‘Trash Day’
Most Americans have plans for Independence Day. July 4th is the great barbecue, beach or picnic day. Unfortunately, the following day, July 5th, should earn the title Trash Day.
Too many people, too much trash, and not enough trash cans convert the best of us into litterers. We stack our refuse next to the overflowing trash cans but the seagulls spread it and the wind blows it away.
Here is one part of the solution. Pull out four or five large trash bags (the ones with pull ties) and put them in your cooler, wrap them around your beach chair, tie them to your umbrella or put them with your blanket. Put a few more in your car. Now you are as prepared as any wilderness camper to “leave only footsteps.”
When you get to the beach or park, use your trash bags, leaving trash cans for others. At the end of the day you can place your full, tied trash bags in the trash cans, place them next to the trash cans knowing that your trash will not blow away or, better still, pack your trash home with you, including all of your recyclable cans, plastic and glass bottles.
You will have contributed to a cleaner San Diego and helped save thousands of tax dollars that would otherwise be spent paying park staff overtime on July 5th to clean up the mess.
Have a safe and clean Fourth of July.
Peter Pountney
Vice president, Psomas, La Jolla