What is Ramona About?

This is an "Oldie-But-Goodie" and as relevant today, as it was back in 2005. Please read and mull over this vision statement.

March 10 2005 Ramona Sentinel Guest Commentary pg A5, A13

[Note to e-mail readers - This piece written by Dennis Grimes a private Ramona citizen and was originally conceived as a proposed vision and guiding statement for the Ramona Community Planning Group (RCPG). Several who have read this commentary suggested it be submitted for publication in the Ramona Sentinel as a guest commentary.

Ramona is involved in a battle for its life, and its way of life against a County planning staff committed to forcing inappropriate urban development models including “Smart Growth” and high-density housing projects in the center of town.

The County staff has also refused for many years to consider and incorporate well conceived plans, proposals, and past inputs offered by the RCPG and the Ramona community. (Pls see article on RS March 10, 2005 front page)

In exasperation, the RCPG joined Lakeside, Spring Valley , Alpine and Jamul in 2005 in pulling all support for the County General Plan 2020 which is counter to Ramona's best interests. ]

Guest Commentary Page A5 March 10, 2005 Ramona Sentinel

What is Ramona about?

Ramona is about the American Dream - independence, opportunity, and freedom.

Ramona is about a unique rural community and a way of life that we must protect and foster.

Ramona is about owning a piece of land - your very own piece of dirt.

• Land for families to have horses, goats, chickens, and emus.
• Land to start a small nursery, vineyard, or the garden of your dreams.
• Land enough to need a pick-up truck or tractor.
• Land for that "granny flat" to keep grandparents near their grandchildren.
• Land to enjoy and love your neighbors but not be city-close.
• Land that protects and respects the rural countryside, and native wildlife habitats.
• Land that still tells the tales of Diegueno Indians, Spanish and western settlers
• Land that preserves scenic backcountry vistas and star filled nights
• Land that prevents the sprawl of cookie-cutter suburbs, high-rise dwellings, and oppressive traffic.

Ramona is about a rural heritage reflected in the architecture and western flavor of Old Main Street that should form the key theme for the new Ramona Town Center .

Ramona is about traditional family values fostered in its many churches.

Ramona is about the Rodeo, the Country Fair, horses, and children with rural 4H projects.

Ramona is about a rural character reflected in numerous feed and farm supply stores.

Ramona is about equestrian and walking trails forming threads that hold its patchwork quilt of rural properties together - in the unique experience…

…we call Ramona.