Groundbreaking Ceremony for the New Library

by Brian Bierman

The ground has been broken for the new library and nearly 200 people showed for the event. 

There was a full lineup of area school board, county and state officers, local citizens that have contributed much time and effort to make this new library a reality.  Speakers included County Supervisor Ray Watson, California State Libraries Facilities Consultant Bessie Condos, Frazier Mountain Rotary Club President Deborah Turner, District Director for Congressman Kevin McCarthy Vince Fong, Field Representative to State Assemblywoman Jean Fuller Bryan Williams, Friends of the Frazier Park Branch Library President Judi Waters, El Tejon Unified School District Board President Kenneth Hurst, Acting Superintendent for El Tejon School District Danny Whetton, Mountain Communities Family Resource Center Coordinator Anne Weber and Mountain Communities Chamber of Commerce President Stacey Havener.

Much praise was heaped upon librarians in particular starting with a speech by Mountain Enterprise Editor Patric Hedlund.  With tongue-in-cheek, she called a project of this nature a dangerous idea; "the first architectural building in our area since the Lebec Hotel".  One was left with the impression that she would like to see more development on the mountain.  Others followed with fond memories of time spent in the respective local public library as a child.

We were all treated with original poetry, school cheers and a drumline performance by students from Frazier Mountain High School.  The Old Time Radio Theater Jingle Gals performed some original celebratory pieces.

Without the typical cries for separation of Church and State, the landmark project was blessed with a Chumash prayer conducted by Alan "Spirit Hawk" Salazar, Sarah-Jane "SunJay Inni-vi Momo" Owen and Chris "Fire Buffalo" Faulconer.  This certainly brought a cultural flavor to the ceremony with the sprinkling of acorns and tobacco and prayer directed to the four winds.

The ceremony culminated with the traditional ceremonial dig commemorating the start of the long awaited project.  Ray Watson, Vince Fong, Diane Duquette, Bessie Condos, John Nilon, Bryan Williams, Judi Waters, Mary Bynum, Jim Nardini, Derek Holdsworth, Kenneth J. Hurst, Danny Whetton and Gary Meyer all participated.

This new library will be a valued improvement to our community.  Those that fought long and hard can certainly be proud as others in our community are thankful for their efforts.



This entry was posted Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 4:16 p.m. by Brian Bierman and is filed under the category titled Local in the News section. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Read our Commenting Policy before you post.

4 Responses
1
judyrose
11/08/2009
7:04 AM
Thanks Brian for the good coverage. I have two comments.

1. If "liberians" ruled the world and dangerous ideas are enthusiastically embraced, why was the very dangerous idea of Intelligent Design censored by the Mt. Enterprise?

2. I know and respect Mr. Salazar. But, it seems now in this community that praying to the 4 winds replaces praying in Jesus' name. Why no invocation by a local pastor?

Pastor Fred
2
Babs
11/08/2009
2:25 PM
Exactly what I thought. There was a Chumash blessing; where was the Christian blessing?
3
buckaroo
11/09/2009
8:45 AM
Thank you both for the above comments, I could not agree more. I fear that we as Christians have avocated our responsibility to create the Kingdom of God hear on earth and will continue to loose ground until we with passion and boldness tempered with the love of Christ reassert to our rightful position.
4
Babs
11/09/2009
12:40 PM
Buckaroo, how would you have gone about that when apparently only the favored few were consulted about the content of this ceremony? I didn't find out until almost the last moment. The library ceremony was really an insult to our entire community since there are more Christians here than anything else. This was just more of the polarizing and culture war that's going on, and we don't have far to look for the source. And, where were the howls about "separation of [Chumash] church and state"? I am thinking about writing a letter to Supervisor Watson. I'm sure he'll be thrilled to hear from me.
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