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Letters to the Editor
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Congratulation due to Judge Nat Cousins

Editor, Ceres Courier,

So much of the news today is about negative individuals and events that a person could wonder, where are the success stories?

On Nov. 3, Joe Cucinella (retired activities director from Ceres High School) and I were invited by one of our alumnus to attend a very special event. Nathaniel "Nate" Cousins (CHS class of 1988) was inducted as a judge to the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California. It was an honor and a privilege to be part of such an auspicious occasion.

I watched as this young man's dream came true, and listened to him tell of values he learned from his parents and grandparents while living on the family farm in Ceres. During his acceptance speech, he shared stories and experiences that he held most dear, and that he felt helped develop him as a man. It was with the greatest of pleasure that he said those things were learned from those people that he encountered in his years in Ceres and at Ceres High School.

Congratulations to the Cousins family, Ceres High School and the Ceres community for raising such a fine man.

To Nate, it is wonderful to see that you have become the person that we all hoped you would.

Phil de la Porte,

Retired CHS athletic director

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Families need not sacrifice church over sports, school

Editor, Ceres Courier,

I am writing to share my concern as a parent, grandparent, teacher, and community member. At one time, there was an unwritten rule that schools and youth organizations held Sundays and Wednesday afternoons and evenings as sacred for families. This was when families gathered to worship, participate in church activities, and to just have rich family time. As the years have gone by, these days have become filled with many other activities at school and in the community.

In today's world, families are stressed in many ways. More than ever, our children need time with their families and should not have to choose between going to soccer practice or attending religious education. Time for family and spiritual activities is important.

It is not uncommon for schools to plan back-to-school night, conferences, and open house night on a Wednesday. Many youth organizations have practices on Wednesdays and games on Sundays. These are all important events, but at least one night a week should be sacred for the family.

I encourage schools and community organizations to rethink their calendars and schedules and leave Sundays and Wednesday afternoons and evenings free for families. There are seven days in a week; is this too much to ask?

Mary Borba,

Turlock

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Where to direct garbage service complaints

Editor, Ceres Courier,

I noticed the complaint about trash collection service in the "Sound-Off" column in the Nov. 16 edition of the Ceres Courier.

Please note that in 1990-91, the city's trash collection was converted to a fully automated collection system. This requires only one person, the driver, to collect trash by maneuvering the automated arms around each wastewheeler to lift up and empty the contents into the garbage truck. This is an efficient system.

Sometimes, when a wastewheeler is over-filled, and the lid is propped open with trash, the contents will start dropping out, before reaching the collection truck. This means that some of the contents will drop onto the ground. We let people know that they shouldn't overfill their wastewheeler, and the same with their blue recycling toter.

Also, sometimes, the driver needs to slow down, and not tip the container too soon, with the automated arms.

Residents may call Bertolotti Ceres Disposal directly about missed garbage collection, or other garbage complaints, at 537-1500; or 537-4147 about missed recycling collection.

Customers may also contact the city, if they have solid waste questions, or reoccurring garbage and/or recycling complaints, at 538-5792, or 538-5790, and the city will follow-up. If customers have questions about their garbage bill, they can call the City's Finance Department at 538-5757.

Kay Dunkel,

Administrative Analyst,

City of Ceres

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Ryno offers her thanks

Editor, Ceres Courier,

I'd like to thank the voters of Ceres who showed their support for me in my recent bid for City Council. I also would like to thank my parents for the ethics and integrity they instilled in me as well as the support my husband, Sam, and our friends provided during the campaign.

I enjoyed meeting so many wonderful people during my precinct walking and I am happily looking forward to running again in two years.

I wish only the best to the newly elected councilmembers and hope the council will always make decisions based on what is best for the majority of citizens.

Linda Ryno,

Ceres

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Councilman-elect clarifies promises

Editor, Ceres Courier,

In the editor's opinion piece published on Oct. 16, Jeff Benziger does not understand my campaign slogan "Hire Ceres First." Given the nature of politics, that kind of skepticism doesn't surprise me. The people of Ceres need to understand it is more than a campaign slogan, it represents a tangible commitment to have local hiring a cornerstone of our economic recovery.

My goals are two-fold. The first was to start a public conversation that would provoke area leaders to take our economic challenges seriously, and begin to address them. To some extent, that message is already resonating. Just before the election, the Ceres Downtown Revitalization Area Board is working on an analysis to present laying out a Ceres' strengths and weakness to develop a retail attraction strategy. The first part of putting Ceres residents back to work is making sure there a thriving, growing economy that produces new jobs, and I support that effort.

The second goal behind "Hire Ceres First" is to get city government actively engaged in advocating for employment of its own residents. Now the votes have entrusted me with the seat on the City Council, I will begin pursuing that goal with a series of ordinances and incentives designed to encourage the "good neighbor" business that commit to local hire polices. I also intend to work with city staff to find ways to strengthen our local workforce, and assist those looking for work by creating a centralized hub for Ceres residents offering job postings, resume building, adult education and job training.

It's time we give Ceres residents what they deserve, Hire Ceres First.

Mike Kline,

Councilman-elect

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The citizens voted for those they liked best

Editor, Ceres Courier,

Because the citizens of Ceres did not vote for the candidates you endorsed, you say they are ignorant and did not exercise due diligence; you are the one who has it backwards. The citizens voted for who they want representing them. Bret Durossette handily won one of the four-year council terms (Congratulations Bret), and the other four-year term was close and could have gone to myself or Guillermo Ochoa. But at the end of the day, Mike Kline (Congratulations Mike) was rewarded for his hard work and dedication to Ceres.

Instead of being so negative, let's support our entire council to make Ceres the best it can be.

Daniel Padilla,

Ceres

(Editor's note: For the sake of accuracy, I made no endorsements nor did this newspaper. You failed to miss the point of the column which is that the majority of the electorate failed to vote and many do not do their homework in all elections.)

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Broyles was both correct, incorrect in opinion on Mormons

Editor, Ceres Courier,

I read with interest the Faith Commentary "Romney run prompts Mormon questions" (November 16). Pastor Dave Broyles mentioned many things in his Opinion on page A4.

I should mention at the outset that I am a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS, Mormon). As a Christian Church and people we strongly believe in the Holy Bible. We use the standard King James Version available in any Bible bookstore.

Much of what Mr. Broyles said about what we believe is absolutely correct. However, he also said many things that are either very incorrect or very misleading.

Rather than taking the time and space here to try to correct everything Mr. Broyles erroneously said I would like to discuss one concept he presented wherein we do differ from some other Christians. The one example I would like to present concerns the Trinity. Mr. Broyles condemned us for being polytheistic-believing in more than one God. Quoting him, "Mormonism teaches that there are three gods in the Trinity. God, therefore, is tritheistic in Mormonism, not Triune as the Scriptures teach."

Mr. Broyles is certainly correct when he says that we should rely on the Scriptures. Indeed, in them we can learn the truth. So, what do the Scriptures teach about the Trinity? What is the truth? Are they three separate and distinct Beings as the LDS believe or is it just one Being as Mr. Broyles believes?

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. We believe that our Heavenly Father (the One that Jesus prayed to in Gethsemane and spoke to on the Cross) is a God. We believe that Jesus Christ, His Son, is also a God. We believe that the Holy Ghost is a God. Yes, that adds up to three Gods. But, the greatest of all is our Eternal Father in Heaven.

What does the King James Version of the Holy Bible teach about the Trinity? To conserve space I will comment on the first two Gods only. If I can plainly establish from the Bible that there is more than one Being in the Trinity, a concept Mr. Broyles declares to be blasphemy, then I have established my point without need to establish the existence of a third Being.

1. What happened when our Savior was baptized? "And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:15-17) Whose was the voice that announced that He was well pleased with His "beloved Son"? I doubt our Lord would try to fool everyone by being a ventriloquist at this moment.

2. What happened on the Mount of Transfiguration? "And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid." (Matthew 17: 1-6). Again, whose was the voice that announced His "beloved Son"? I doubt our Lord would again try to fool everyone by being a ventriloquist.

3. Who was the Lord praying to in the Garden of Gethsemane? "Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words." (Matthew 26:36-44) Was Jesus again trying to trick us by praying earnestly to a Being who really didn't exist?

4. What happened while Stephen was being stoned to death? "But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God." (Acts 7:55-56). This was the dying declaration of this very righteous man. Was he lying and trying to fool everyone as well?

There are many other Scriptures in the Bible that clearly establish that the Father is a different Being from His Son and that they are both Gods (see especially John Chapter 17). Yet, according to Mr. Broyles, "the Apostle's Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Reformation, etc." apparently declare otherwise.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes the Three are separate Beings. Mr. Broyles apparently teaches his congregation otherwise. Read the Bible and determine for yourself what is true. Don't take my word for it; don't take Mr. Broyles word for it.

Concerning the Trinity, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes differently than some other Christian churches. But, being different does not necessarily make someone wrong. I would offer that the Methodists differ in some ways from the Baptists, and the Catholics differ in some things from the Lutherans, etc.

We declare that Jesus Christ alone is our Lord and Savior. We affirm there is no other name given in Heaven or on Earth whereby mankind may be saved. His Blood was spilt for us that we might be forgiven of our sins if we will repent and follow Him. This is our firm and unwavering testimony.

Obviously, there was far too much presented in Mr. Broyles' comments to allow response here. Perhaps some of Mr. Broyles' comments made you curious. If you want to learn the truth about what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes just ask us. We'll be happy to teach you from your own Bible.

Mike Gain,

Ceres

Editor, Ceres Courier,

I would like to thank the voters in Ceres for their confidence and support on election day. I am honored to once again serve my community.

I look forward to the next two years.

Ceres is fortunate to have so many individuals who also want to serve the community who took an interest in running for election.

Again, I would like to thank the voters for their support.

Eric Ingwerson.

Councilman elect

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY

Letters to the editor will be considered for publication but must be signed with the author's name, address and telephone number. Letters should contain 250 words or less and be void of libelous statements. Letters may be sent to The Ceres Courier, P.O. Box 7, Ceres, CA 95307, or emailed to jeffb@cerescourier.com