Page 4 Guest Commentery When I first heard about Com-


mon Core, I was excited. Finally! A chance to show my thinking skills, no longer a mindless ro- bot forced to sit and memorize. I have long considered myself a critical thinker, asking “why” and “how,” rather than “what” and “who,” so I thought that Common Core would fit like a glove, that it would stimulate and challenge me without completely throwing students under the bus. However, the second I stepped


into class, I could tell that some- thing was wrong. Teachers en- couraged independent thought, to derive multiple ways to get to the same answer, but the way they taught that was all wrong. They gave us problems that we had never seen before, and expected us to know at least three different ways to solve them immediately. We were told to “work it out with


your group.”When that inevitably failed, and the “teacher” (I will ex- plain the quotations in a moment.) was called over, the reply was al- ways “read it over again and see if you can work it out.” Teachers are no longer teachers, they aren’t even facilitators, they are simply governing bodies that preside over us to make sure that no one is mortally wounded. Perhaps that is a bit of an overstatement. But I don’t believe by much. Some teachers, mostly English


teachers, havemanaged the transi- tion well. They teach us indepen- dent thought without pulling us along by a thread. However, their job was only to add more nonfic- tion and critical analysis to their curriculum. Others, such as sci- ence and math teachers, have had a much tougher time. They must teach equations and knowledge without actually teaching. We are


LETTERS to the EDITOR


Six is enough


Dear Editor: We commend Orange’s com-


munity development director for denying the Request for Accom- modation for 1655 Hunters Way and 811 Ranch Wood Trail. For those who are not aware, each of these residences is currently a high-end rehab facility. One is for boys, the other for girls ages 12- 17, reported to cost $1,000 a day per person. The requests were to increase the boys’ facility to 12 beds and the girls’ facility to eight. The question is “how can this


be possible?” These facilities come under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and with six beds or less are considered to be single-family dwellings. That means that ANY residence can become a rehab facility. Under ADA, residents have no recourse to prevent these six-bed facilities from operating in our neighbor- hoods, but expansion is not auto- matic and should not be allowed. There have been problems and


difficulties with the boys’ facility since it was purchased in August 2009. There has been increased traffic due to staffing, repairs, trash pick-up, delivery, events and day-to-day operations of this commercial venture. Parking is a safety issue because the street is very narrow, with blind curves. There have been runaways


passing through our yards and knocking on our doors, which is very unnerving. Public safety de- mands (police, fire, paramedics) to this site are a regular occur- rence, resulting in increased costs to the city. Granting the Requests for Ac- commodation would create a


precedent that would allow any sober living or rehab facility in Orange to request an expansion. Where will it stop, and what will become of our “family” neigh- borhoods? The applicant, Newport Acade-


my, has appealed the denial. The planningcommissionis scheduled to hear the appeal Feb. 2. If you believe that these homes should be kept to the current maximum of six beds, please join other con- cerned residents at the meeting.


Barbara Weiner Orange Park Acres


Dear Editor: As a resident of Orange Park


Acres, I am very concerned about the growth and expansion of “group homes” in our community. I currently live up the street from a group home on Ranch Wood Trail. This property has been op- erating as a drug rehabilitation fa- cility since 2009 as allowed by the American’s with Disabilities Act. Recently a small sign was posted in the front yard with the legal no- tice of the intention to expand this facility, which requires approval from the City of Orange. Drug rehab facilities bring


more exposure and danger to qui- et neighborhoods, as the transient residents are constantly rotating in and out, with typical stays of 30 to 60 days. This “for-profit facility” has caused traffic prob- lems to the only entrance and exit of a neighborhood with 35 homes. The increased traffic comes from the staff needed to provide coun- seling and care, delivery/pur- veyor vehicles and guests of the residents. We must insist that the City of Orange not allow expansions of


JOHNSON MOTORCARS 24 Years of Specializing in the Service and Repair of


Mercedes-Benz Gary Johnson


714-997-2567


982 N. Batavia # B13, Orange, CA 92867 gary@johnsonmotorcars.com


Foothills Sentry By Danielle Gerken


given complexly worded situa- tions to portray simple concepts. We are simply handed a textbook and told to “figure it out,” as if rereading the same passage five times will magically make ev- erything make sense. And what if a student finds an equation that works, but it only works for that specific problem? Well, then, that student is not taught differently, and continues to use that equa- tion -- something that could com- pletely ruin the student’s chances of getting a good grade on a test. Or, if the equation is a fundamen- tal one, that student might never do well in math again. The main goal of Common


Core, as explained to me by nu- merous teachers and the official website itself, is to prepare high school students for college, ca- reers, and life in general. How- ever, if you are asked to do some-


these drug rehab facilities. Orange Park Acres, with its small wind- ing streets, open gutter systems, and minimum available parking on streets, was never planned to accommodate drug rehab facili- ties and all of the negative im- pacts they bring. While I can appreciate the


struggles of individuals with sub- stance abuse issues, expansion of these commercial operations only benefits the pocketbook of the owner, who lives in NewYork City. The expansion requests will be


presented at the Feb. 2 planning commission meeting. Please ask the commission to respect our neighborhoods and reject these requests.


Carol Cora Orange Park Acres


Dear Editor: All members of the Villa Park


City Council have been briefed on the issue of residential care facili- ties in our community. There are varying viewpoints on the pur- pose of these homes, the impacts they have on neighbors, the legal restrictions imposed by the state and federal governments, and the ability of local governments, such as the City of Villa Park, to regu- late the facilities. “Sober living environments”


are a type of facility that pro- vides a group home for those re- covering from alcohol addiction or drug abuse. These homes are subject neither to state licens- ing requirements nor state stat- utes governing alcohol and drug program treatment facilities (or different California statutes gov- erning most other types of group homes, called “community care facilities”). Sober living environ- ments are unlicensed facilities, and no specific government en- tity oversees them. Under federal and state housing discrimination laws, persons recovering from drug and/or alcohol addiction are “disabled,” and therefore are pro- tected from housing discrimina-


thing in any situation and don’t know how to perform the task, the first thing any logical person would do would be to ask some- one who does. This person will most likely explain how the pro- cess is done, and then send you on your way, expecting you to now fully comprehend how it’s done. They will not laugh in your face and scoff “good luck” as they watch you crash and burn. How- ever, should you not understand, the person would most likely have no problem answering a few other questions for you. They would not ignore you, and tell you to “try rereading it and see if you can figure it out on your own.” This is what happens in Com-


mon Core classes. This does not prepare anyone for the real world; this prepares them to become her- mits that refuse to, and are afraid to, talk to anyone and ask any


tion. Recovery from addiction is also a disability under theAmeri- cans with DisabilitiesAct (ADA); together, these laws prevent local governments from enforcing zon- ing ordinances that impact re- covery facilities for handicapped individuals differently than non- handicapped residential uses in the same zone. In summary, these laws collec-


tively prohibit the city from regu- lating a sober living environment any differently than a single-fam- ily home. Nevertheless, the city may still enforce those provisions of its municipal code that equally apply to all residences, and law- fully monitor these homes for compliance with applicable laws. At this time, the city has not re-


ceived any noncompliance com- plaints from residents.


Diana C. Fascenelli, mayor Villa Park


Shortsighted


Dear Editor: Is the Orange Unified School


District Board of Education (OUSD) acting in bad faith? There are some board members who are convinced that selling assets is a way to fix our schools. Yes, some assets need to be sold, but will selling all assets remedy the problem? NO! The old Per- alta school site is one such asset that may well be needed in the future. If OUSD sells this site, it will lose an asset that cannot be replaced. Peralta is bought and paid for AND there is a rent-pay- ing tenant who benefits the entire Orange community. Super Sports has leased the


Peralta site for many years. It has made improvements that have enhanced the neighborhood and our city, all the while providing OUSD with some income. Super Sports employs over 30


schoolkids with part-time jobs. Super Sports maintains tennis courts, indoor basketball, arena soccer, and a golf driving range and practice facility that is used


questions, which inhibits learn- ing, and, along with it, growth. The very thing the Common Core is trying to prevent is what it is creating: mindless robots who don’t see the bigger picture. I want to learn. My fellow


classmates want to learn. But what’s happening is not learning. It’s mindless repetition, just like before. Except this time, we don’t even understand “why” it works, or even "what it" is. We’ve gone from teaching children “why” and “how,” to “what” and “who.” The idea behind Common Core is great. Think for yourself. That’s a wonderful idea. But the process is so flawed that the concept is lost behind a cloud of confusion. Yes, education needs to be re-


formed. But Common Core is not the answer. Danielle Gerken is a junior at the Orange County School of the Arts.


by all students from our schools’ golf teams, as well as adults. Super Sports has many summer programs for kids, including ten- nis and golf. This is an incredible asset for the City of Orange, all the while providing income to OUSD. The Super Sports site is also


home to an Olive Crest satellite. Olive Crest helps at-risk youth. The Super Sports lease agree-


ment terminates this March, and OUSD will not negotiate with the owners. Why? There are some OUSD board members bent on selling this site off. OUSD’s seeming lack of vi-


See "Letters" continued on page 5


Circulation … 43,400


Publisher/Editor Anita Bennyhoff 1969-2013


Editor Tina Richards editor@foothillssentry.com


Staff Writer Elizabeth Richell lizr@foothillssentry.com


Sports Editor Cliff Robbins


sportseditor@att.net


Graphic Design/ Advertising


Jackie Steward graphics@foothillssentry.com


Advertising Sales Andie Mills


advertising@foothillssentry.com


Office Manager Kathy Eidson


officemanager@foothillssentry.com • Published on the second Tuesday of


each month and distributed free of charge to residences, businesses,


libraries and Civic Centers within our circulation area.


• Editorial material is due six days before publication date.


• Ad copy and artwork is due by the


25th of the month prior to publication. 714-532-4406


Fax: 714-532-6755 www.foothillssentry.com


2592 N. Santiago Blvd., Orange CA92867 SuiteA


©Foothills Sentry 2014


Tuesday, January 13, 2015


Dear Editor


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16