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When you think about it, our feet are pretty amazing. For most, they're an unfaltering foundation - two shock absorbers we rely on daily to hold our weight and propel us through life. Comprised of dozens of bones and hundreds of ligaments, muscles, and tendons, the average person's feet take a fair beating every day - on average, people stand for about four hours every day and take around 5K steps as well. Because your feet are smaller than most other parts of your body, they endure an enormous impact with each step, adding up to hundreds of tons of weight daily.
Strangely, when our feet, ankles, or toes begin to hurt, we do our best to ignore the pain and push through the day. We even give up sports and outdoor activities that we love. Unfortunately, ignoring pain and delaying treatment will further damage your feet and, by proxy, your whole body.
If you're living with foot and ankle pain or have given up on fun activities like hiking and jogging, it's time to change. Why sacrifice a life full of outdoor activities in our beautiful part of the world when you can visit an expert podiatrist in Ramona, CA?
Welcome to North County Foot and Ankle - where men and women just like you get new leases on life through some of the most advanced podiatric treatments available in California. With more than 50 years of combined experience treating a wide range of foot and ankle problems, our pioneering doctors have helped hundreds of people reclaim their love of walking, jogging, and life in general.
What makes North County Foot and Ankle stand out from other foot and ankle doctors in Ramona? Unlike some foot doctors, our podiatrists work with a client-first mentality. When you walk through our front doors, the time you spend in our office is all about you. We believe in a strong physician-patient relationship fortified by one-on-one attention and honest communication.
Before offering foot pain treatment options, we perform a thorough evaluation, taking into account your individual needs, goals, and preferences. Once that's done, we'll discuss your treatment options in detail and come to a mutual decision regarding the best treatment plan for you.
Whether you have a minor hangnail or need complex surgery, you will receive the same level of compassionate care from our medical team. As board-certified podiatrists in Ramona, our doctors are proud to treat you. You can rest easy knowing they will take the time to explain what's causing your foot pain, what treatments are best suited to your problem, and what steps you should take after treatment.
And while our podiatrists are uniquely qualified to perform surgery, we often recommend non-surgical options, using treatments like orthotics to relieve foot, arch, and heel pain. From sports injuries and bunions to gout and blisters, we're here to help you live life to the fullest without nagging, debilitating foot pain.
Patients visit our foot clinic in Ramona, CA, for many podiatric problems, including:
If you're dealing with chronic foot pain or are concerned about a long-lasting symptom that affects your daily life, we're here to help. Unsure if you need to call to make an appointment? These symptoms are often signs that you might need to visit our foot and ankle doctors:
Most people over 40 know that strange body aches and pains become more common with age. The same can be said with our feet. As we get older, our feet usually spread out and lose the fatty pads that help cushion our feet. If you're overweight, the ligaments and bones in your feet also take an extra beating. Also, with age, foot abnormalities that you were born with become more pronounced, as the joints in your feet lose flexibility and become rigid. To make matters worse, the skin covering your feet dries out, resulting in more cuts, scrapes, and infections.
It's clear that we endure more foot pain as we get older, but what kind of foot pain should we be most concerned about? It can be hard to tell - pain from what looks like normal bruising may actually be a sign that something more serious is occurring. That's why we're listing some of the most common symptoms of serious foot problems. That way, you're better educated and have a better shot at figuring out whether you need a simple bag of ice or a visit to your podiatrist in Ramona, CA.
When you sprain your foot or ankle or suffer an acute injury, it's normal for your foot to swell up. This type of swelling typically goes down after 48 hours have passed. However, if you hurt your foot and the swelling is severe and doesn't go away after a couple of days, it's cause for concern. Persistent swelling often indicates an ankle or foot injury that needs podiatric care.
North County Foot and Ankle Pro Tip: If you notice persistent swelling of any kind on your body, it's wise to see a doctor. Ankle swelling, in particular, could be a warning sign that a blood clot or heart issue is present.
It's normal for your foot or ankle to "smart" after you stub your toe or twist your ankle. However, if you're experiencing ongoing ankle and foot pain, it's probably not normal. The pain doesn't have to be sharp, either - if you have dull pain, tenderness, or weakness that lasts more than two days, a trip to the foot doctor may be in order.
Minor ankle and foot injuries, like sprains, are quite common. When a sprain happens, it's normal to experience some instability or weakness afterward. Chronic instability, however, is a more serious problem. Long-term instability or weakness may signify torn ligaments or something worse. If you've had trouble standing or walking for a long time, it's best to make an appointment at a foot clinic in Ramona.
North County Foot and Ankle Pro Tip: Podiatric experts like those at North County Foot and Ankle may have a long-term solution to help reclaim your mobility without surgery. Give our office call today to learn more!
Stiffness is a normal symptom that should be expected with sprains, plantar fasciitis, and arthritis. Often, you can alleviate such stiffness with rest, weight loss, stretching, or even new shoes. With that said, if you're experiencing ongoing stiffness, it could be a red flag that something more serious is going on.
When you've been sitting for a long time, you may have noticed a popping sound from your feet when you stand. That sound is perfectly normal. So long as it's painless, you've got nothing to worry about. However, if you feel pain when you hear a popping noise, it could indicate a subluxation or dislocation, which are conditions that require a podiatrist's attention.
If you're not sure whether you should be concerned about a painful foot or ankle symptom, give our clinic in Ramona a call ASAP. Our helpful technicians can help answer your questions and set up a time for you to speak with one of our friendly podiatrists.
Here are just a few of the typical foot problems we treat daily.
Do you have intense heel pain that appears when you first stand up, only for it to disappear after a few steps? If so, you could be one of the millions of people in the U.S. suffering from plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is most often caused by an inflamed ligament covering bones on the bottom of your feet. Also called "Policeman's Heel," this painful condition is a common reason for heel pain, but it won't go away on its own.
Almost all cases of plantar fasciitis will get better with easy, non-surgical treatments and lifestyle changes. A good place to start is by refraining from activities or sports that cause pain, like jogging, hiking, running, or aerobic exercises.
Common treatment options at North County Foot and Ankle include:
Orthotic shoe inserts provide you with the arch support that your feet need, especially with shoes like women's flats that don't have much foot support. We also recommend wearing shoes that are appropriate for the activity you're enjoying, like hiking boots on your favorite trail and running shoes on the street or track.
Stretching regularly with gentle exercises can help prevent plantar fasciitis and stop flare-ups. Stretching your calves, specifically, reduces heel pain effectively. After you schedule an appointment at our foot clinic in Ramona, one of our doctors can explain the proper exercises in more detail.
Wearing a brace or splint while you sleep will keep your plantar fascia stretched. That way, when you wake up and take your first steps of the day, you shouldn't have as much pain because your plantar fascia won't have a chance to tighten up overnight.
North County Foot and Ankle Pro Tip: If you're still struggling with plantar fasciitis after using orthotics, treatments like orthobiologics, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment, or extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) may be more effective.
Ingrown toenails are among the most common foot maladies in the United States. Though common, ingrown toenails can be painful, resulting in swelling, bleeding, pus, and more. Various factors cause ingrown toenails, such as heredity, trauma, hygiene, nail conditions, and improper trimming. Thankfully, with the help of an expert, most ingrown toenails can be treated at home or in a podiatrist's office.
Ingrown toenails happen when the corners and sides of your toenails grow and eventually dig into the flesh around your nail. Most often occurring on the big toe, ingrown toenails become a serious concern when they are left untreated or when an infection is involved. To determine whether your ingrown toenail needs an evaluation by a foot doctor in Ramona, CA, keep an eye out for initial symptoms and infection symptoms:
To help prevent infection, try cutting your nails in a straight line, and don't cut them too short. Do not cut your nails to match the shape of your toe.
When your toenail becomes ingrown, you need doctors with real expertise in diagnosing and treating foot problems. At North County Foot and Ankle, our doctors are highly qualified to treat the underlying conditions causing your ingrown toenail. That way, you can enjoy long-term relief and also learn the ways to prevent ingrown toenails in the future.
If you have a bony bump near the bottom joint of your big toe, chances are it's a bunion. Bunions are deformities on your feet that are formed when your front foot bones become misaligned. When this happens, the misaligned bones cause the top half of your big toe to point inward toward your second toe. From there, your tendons will tighten, which pulls your toe even further inward. Once your toe is pulled more inward, the bottom joint of your big toe will bulge outward. The bulge you see is actually what we refer to as a bunion.
Without treatment, your toe pain can worsen, and the bunion can grow. Painful swelling in the balls of your feet can also cause hammertoe. Hammertoe happens your second toe is bent out of shape by your misaligned big toe.
Luckily, North County Foot and Ankle is California's go-to clinic for bunion treatment in Ramona, CA. Our highly-trained doctors can stop these uncomfortable conditions from happening and help prevent worse conditions from developing.
Jason Morris, a board-certified podiatric foot surgeon in Ramona, CA, is one of the top podiatrists in the greater San Diego area and has successfully treated patients with bunions for over ten years. He offers advanced treatments for bunion pain, such as:
Our hand-made orthotics, which are worn in your shoes, are molded to fit your foot exactly, correcting bone misalignments and relieving pain much better than cookie-cutter, store-bought options.
Drs. Morris and Redkar performs state-of-the-art triplanar correction surgery using 3-D digital imaging and a minimal incision approach. This procedure is very effective and works by rotating misaligned big toe bones back to the proper position. Once your toe bones are back in position, a metal plate is attached to your bones so that they remain aligned over long-term use.
Drs. Morris and Redkar may recommend both surgery and custom orthotics to keep your foot pain-free and your bunion from growing back.
Request ConsultationIf you’ve been enduring foot or ankle pain that affects your mobility and quality of life, why not make a change for the better? At North County Foot & Ankle Specialists, our podiatrists in Escondido help patients of all ages. Drs. Morris and Redkar take a patient-first approach with all of our podiatry services. Both are highly qualified and recipients of prestigious awards.
Featured in Los Angeles Magazine’s prestigious Top Doctors list of 2021, Dr. Avanti Redkar is a board-certified podiatrist that specializes in foot and ankle pathology. Dr. Redkar earned her undergrad degree in biology at the University of Scranton and her master’s degree in nutrition at SUNY Buffalo. She attended podiatry school at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. Her three-year surgical residency at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip, New York, included foot and rearfoot surgery, wound care, and hyperbaric medicine training. Dr. Redkar also completed a one-year fellowship in sports medicine and ankle reconstruction.
After a rigorous three-year residency at the University of Pittsburgh, Jason Morris, DPM, moved to sunny California to practice podiatric medicine. Once there, Dr. Morris worked as an attending physician at UCLA Medical Center and Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. Since relocating to the Escondido area, he has been a staff physician at Palomar Medical Center in Escondido and Poway. Dr. Morris is a podiatric foot and ankle specialist with board certification in rearfoot and forefoot reconstructive surgery. Dr. Morris has undergone extensive training in sports medicine, ankle trauma, diabetic limb salvage, and reconstructive surgery.
If you've been enduring foot or ankle pain that affects your mobility and quality of life, why not make a change for the better? At North County Foot & Ankle Specialists, our podiatrists in Ramona help patients of all ages. Drs. Morris and Redkar take a patient-first approach with all of our podiatry services. From minor bunion treatments to complex issues like foot fractures, every treatment option we consider is chosen with your best interest in mind.
Our podiatrists are members of several professional organizations, including:
If more conservative treatments are better for your condition, non-surgical solutions like custom orthotics may be the best route. If you need ankle or foot surgery, our podiatrists will complete your procedure with time-tested skill and precision. Because, at the end of the day, our goal is to provide you with the most effective foot and ankle pain solutions with the quickest recovery options available.
Contact us online or via phone today to schedule an appointment at our Ramona office. By tomorrow, you'll be one step closer to loving life without foot or ankle pain.
Construction began last week in Poway on the first leg of a 10,000-mile-long broadband network intended to provide high-speed internet service options to everyone in the state.“California is now one step closer to making the digital divide a thing of the past,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. “`We’re starting construction today to get affordable high-speed internet in every California home because livelihoods depend on access to a reliable and fast internet connection.“This is about ensuring...
Construction began last week in Poway on the first leg of a 10,000-mile-long broadband network intended to provide high-speed internet service options to everyone in the state.
“California is now one step closer to making the digital divide a thing of the past,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. “`We’re starting construction today to get affordable high-speed internet in every California home because livelihoods depend on access to a reliable and fast internet connection.
“This is about ensuring that all Californians, no matter the ZIP code they call home, can be part of the Golden State’s thriving and diverse economy,” he said.
Work on the “Middle Mile’’ network started on state Route 67, where on Oct. 13 state officials gathered as 500 feet of fiber optic cable was blown through conduit in the first segment of the $3.8 billion statewide broadband project.
When completed, the Middle Mile will be the nation’s largest such broadband network, officials said. State funding will be made available for “last mile” connections from the network to rural communities. According to the governor’s office, roughly one in five Californians do not have access to reliable and affordable high-speed internet, including more than 200,000 people in San Diego County.
“Beginning construction on the middle-mile network is a significant step toward broadband equity and providing all Californians the opportunity toaccess critical information,” said Secretary of the California Transportation Agency Toks Omishakin. “High-speed internet is much more than a connection — it’s a lifeline that families need to work, learn, and access critical services.”
The local project will be a fiber optic line running from Lakeside to Ramona. Once the network is complete, local carriers will have access to the network to provide communities with direct service to homes and businesses, as well as reduced-cost or free broadband internet service for those who are eligible.
“We are thrilled to see construction begin on the middle-mile network,’’ said Secretary of Government Operations Amy Tong. “Too many ruraland urban areas lack adequate broadband infrastructure, forcing residents to attempt to connect via mobile hotspots and unreliable satellite service, which leaves out too many Californians.”
In July 2021, Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 156 to expand the state’s broadband fiber infrastructure and increase internet connectivity for families and businesses. It included provisions related to the $3.25 billion initially budgeted to build, operate and maintain an open access, state-ownedMiddle Mile network. The 2022 Budget also included $550 million to support the project.
The polling places once located in garages and community centers throughout San Diego are being replaced by larger, regional vote centers this fall.November marks San Diego’s first general election using vote centers, a California election model that offers fewer locations but longer hours and more voting options.The system launched officially with the June primary election, but San Diego had adopted elements of it, including universal mail ballots and regional polling places, earlier during the pandemic.Fifteen Ca...
The polling places once located in garages and community centers throughout San Diego are being replaced by larger, regional vote centers this fall.
November marks San Diego’s first general election using vote centers, a California election model that offers fewer locations but longer hours and more voting options.
The system launched officially with the June primary election, but San Diego had adopted elements of it, including universal mail ballots and regional polling places, earlier during the pandemic.
Fifteen California counties, including Los Angeles and Orange counties, have previously switched to the vote center model, and 11 more including San Diego are transitioning to the system this year.
Under the new system, all registered voters automatically receive a mail ballot they can mail back or return to an official drop-off location or a vote center.
The majority of San Diegans already cast their ballots by mail, and officials said the vote center system makes that option permanently available to every registered voter in the county.
There are more than 1.9 million registered voters in San Diego, and even before the pandemic, about 80 percent of voters cast their ballots by mail. During the November 2020 presidential election, about 87 percent cast ballots by mail, and in this year’s June primary that jumped to 93 percent, according to figures from the county registrar of voters.
Oct. 10, 2022
Voters in Ramona who prefer to cast their ballots in person in town can vote at one of two vote centers on Election Day or over the weekend preceding it, and at one center during the week prior.
The new centers replace neighborhood polling places, and add additional days to cast in-person ballots.
Here are the voting centers for Ramona:
James Dukes Elementary School - Multipurpose Center, 24908 Abalar Way, open Saturday, Nov. 5 to Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8
Ramona Branch Library Community Room, 1275 Main St., open Saturday , open Oct. 29 to Nov. 8
Ramona Unified School District, Wilson Gym, 720 9th St., open Nov. 5 to 8
All vote centers will be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Nov. 8. On Election Day, all vote centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
For more information about where to vote in other areas in San Diego County, visit the Registrar of Voters website.
Under the previous system, each voter was assigned a local polling place, and had to vote provisionally in order to cast their ballot at a different one. Now, voters can go to any center in the county, where workers will use an electronic poll book with a roster of all registered voters.
The electronic pollbook matches each voter to the ballot that shows the correct races for their address, accessing one of 796 local ballot configurations for this election, San Diego County Registrar Cynthia Paes said.
“That just says these are the unique districts that make up your precinct,” Paes said. “Once they put in that code, it’s going to pull down one of those 700-plus ballot types ... The code is entered into the ballot-marking device, which is separate from everything else.”
Voters use a ballot-marking device, which is not connected to the internet or any other digital system, to fill out their ballots. The machine then prints a paper ballot that records their choices, and that is submitted to the ballot box.
As an alternative, voters can fill out their mail ballots at home or at the vote center and place them in the ballot box on site.
Vote centers also can provide replacement ballots, language interpretation, translated materials and same-day registration.
Any eligible voters who missed the deadline to register can complete the registration form and enter a provisional ballot on the spot, Paes said. The registrar will then validate the registration and count the ballot.
“It’s got your ballot in five languages,” Paes said. “You can bring it up in Spanish, Filipino, Vietnamese and Chinese. It has an audio ballot. If you’re blind, you can mark your ballot independently, on your own, using that device. And then you print out your official ballot, which has your selections printed on the ballot.”
Ramona residents will have one less place to shop for gifts after Valentine’s Day when the Elam’s Hallmark store is set to close.Owner Guy Elam, who operates the store with his family, said the store in the Albertson’s shopping center is closing for a number of reasons. A significant factor is the cost related to employees: the minimum wage has nearly doubled from $8 an hour when the Ramona Hallmark first opened in 1994 and Social Security and workers’ compensation contributions have also increased, he said....
Ramona residents will have one less place to shop for gifts after Valentine’s Day when the Elam’s Hallmark store is set to close.
Owner Guy Elam, who operates the store with his family, said the store in the Albertson’s shopping center is closing for a number of reasons. A significant factor is the cost related to employees: the minimum wage has nearly doubled from $8 an hour when the Ramona Hallmark first opened in 1994 and Social Security and workers’ compensation contributions have also increased, he said.
In addition, Elam said he has seen a decline in customer traffic since the opening of the ALDI store in September 2021. Fewer customers are visiting the shopping center since ALDI opened, he said.
The decision to close was made as the shop’s lease was being renewed, he said.
“Rent is always part of the equation and rent is expensive in California, too,” said Elam, although he didn’t elaborate about the store’s rent costs. “The bottom line is, the store has not made any money in two years. It’s not growing. If sales were up 10 percent every year that would cover it, but it’s not.”
The family has not been able to raise prices to cover increased expenses because the Hallmark company sets the prices, he added.
The store at 1423 Main St. has begun discounting merchandise by 25 percent and Christmas items by 50 percent in anticipation of shuttering the day after Valentine’s Day, Feb. 15.
Hallmark customer Tammy White, a Ramona resident for 23 years, said she’s not happy about the closure. White began buying Hallmark Christmas ornaments when her grown children, now in their 30s, were toddlers, and specifically began buying them at the Ramona Hallmark store since 2000.
“I am so sad because I shop here a lot, and more so at Christmastime,” White said. “I like to shop where I live but they’re making it impossible.”
White added that she puts a lot of thought into buying presents and when she can’t find anything to buy at other stores she can usually find it at Elam’s Hallmark in Ramona. With other stores closing in Ramona and some mall stores shuttering she said her local shopping options are becoming narrower.
“They’re taking away our shopping up here and I’m not happy about it,” White said. “I’m going to be very sad to see this place go.”
Hallmark customer Janean Jansen said she’s sorry to see the store close.
“They’re our go-to store for gifts, whether it’s anniversaries or birthdays,” said Jansen, who has lived in Ramona since 1972. “It’s very sad.”
Elam said he will consider retaining Ramona Hallmark employees if they are able to work at one of his other locations, although he added that some of them live in Ramona. Nearby store locations include Poway, Westfield North County mall in Escondido, Carmel Mountain Ranch, Grossmont Center and San Marcos.
Laurie McCormick, Ramona Hallmark’s manager, said she learned Dec. 27 that the store she has worked at for 11 years would be closing.
“This is Ramona’s store and all of the customers have said over and over that they’re bummed,” McCormick said. “It’s a sad thing for Ramona. We’re losing our gifts store.”
McCormick says she has a job lined up at a new hardware store opening in San Diego Country Estates, but she’s going to miss her co-workers and customers.
“It’s for sure a sad day,” she commented between waiting on customers at the Ramona Hallmark. “It’s a nice community here. We’re family.”
Elam said he has been in the Hallmark business since 1979, when he opened his first store in Rancho San Diego. The Elam family currently has 12 Hallmark stores including the Ramona store, with 11 of those stores located in San Diego County and one in Laguna Niguel.
Ramona residents would still have the option of shopping at the nearby Elam’s Hallmark stores at the Westfield North County shopping center in Escondido, and at the 13444 Poway Road location in Poway, Elam said.
“We’ve had a lot of good customers and good employees,” Elam said. “It’s a very sad thing and it’s sad for our family. We love Ramona, we just needed more business.”
Ramona Rotarians are promising a rollickin’ fun time at their Boot Scootin’ Barn Dance on Saturday, April 22.Proceeds from the dance, open to ages 21 and over, will go toward scholarships for Ramona students.Rotarian Lee Castillo is opening his barn at 405 East Pile St. from 6 to 10 p.m. for the event.Everyone’s pitching in to make this a night to remember. Guests walking into the decorated barn will know they’re going to enjoy themselves while contributing to the success of Ramona teens preparing...
Ramona Rotarians are promising a rollickin’ fun time at their Boot Scootin’ Barn Dance on Saturday, April 22.
Proceeds from the dance, open to ages 21 and over, will go toward scholarships for Ramona students.
Rotarian Lee Castillo is opening his barn at 405 East Pile St. from 6 to 10 p.m. for the event.
Everyone’s pitching in to make this a night to remember. Guests walking into the decorated barn will know they’re going to enjoy themselves while contributing to the success of Ramona teens preparing to graduate high school and move on to college or vocational training.
Attendees can dance to country music, take line dancing lessons, pose at a photo booth, take the stage for karaoke, and enjoy adult beverages and a catered barbecue dinner. They can bid on silent auction baskets, including the Omni Karu 16 Charcoal/Wood Chunk Outdoor Pizza Oven.
A limited number of barn dance tickets at $35 each are available from Rotary members, the Ramona Chamber of Commerce office at 1306 Main St., and the Ramona Branch of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater San Diego at 622 E St. Opportunity drawing tickets at $10 each for the pizza oven valued at $875 also are available.
Among those contributing to the event are Double M Ranch Barbecue, which is catering the food; DJ Eliana Fukuhara, who will bring country Western dance music and her karaoke machine; and Danielle Rasmussen, who will teach line dancing.
The Castillos at Rancho de las Chuparrosas are providing wine, Smoking Cannon Brewery is bringing the beer, Diamond D Feed & Supply Co. is providing hay bales, and the Ramona chamber is bringing tables.
Country boogie and line dancing will be from 6 to 9 p.m., with karaoke until 10.
Contributing to the evening’s success are premier sponsors Ransom Pump & Supply, Ransom Brothers Ace and Peter Shaw. Table sponsors are MJN Real Estate/Carol Fowler, San Vicente Mortgage/Christie Carlson, H5 Financial, Ramona Boys & Girls Club, Dr. Eric Shapiro, Jewelry World, Ramona Disposal Service, Surfing Cowboy Ranch, Microgreens, The Carpet Lady, and Karen Domnitz-Realtor.
Additional sponsorships are available by contacting Christie Carlson, Ramona Rotary president and event co-chair at 760-703-0792.
To donate silent auction baskets or items, contact Rotarian Susan White at 760-703-6084.
“I’m so excited about this fundraiser,” Carlson said. “It will be fun and exciting and help us raise $12,000 in college and vocational scholarships to our high school seniors graduating from Ramona schools in June. Come enjoy the fun and help us meet this goal.”
Those who can’t attend can consider donating, Carlson said. “You can make a difference in a child’s life by sending checks to Ramona Rotary, P.O. Box 276, Ramona, CA 92065.”
Contact Carlson or check Ramona Rotary’s Facebook page for more information.
Ramona Rotary Club, chartered in 1937, started the town’s July 4th Fireworks event, and each year gives Ramona third-graders his/her own dictionary and presents scholarships to graduating high school seniors. The group also honors students of the month at each Ramona high school, supports a student at the Panamerican Institute in Tijuana, sends high school juniors to Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Camp, participates in the Rotary Model UN Program, and donates to the senior center and youth organizations.
“I think this is just the beginning of things to come for the Ramona Rotary Club,” Carol Fowler, president-elect and event co-chair said. “Stay tuned! Watch for our September Nights to Rein in a new Ramona Beauty.”
I agree with Ronald Reagan when he said the scariest words in the English language are, “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”Well Ramona, the State of California has come to town and they’re “proposing” to raise our fire severity risk ratings from medium and high to “very high,” which will raise our fire insurance rates and quell rural development.The State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection is a rulemaking body appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to update fire haza...
I agree with Ronald Reagan when he said the scariest words in the English language are, “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”
Well Ramona, the State of California has come to town and they’re “proposing” to raise our fire severity risk ratings from medium and high to “very high,” which will raise our fire insurance rates and quell rural development.
The State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection is a rulemaking body appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to update fire hazard severity maps in the SRA (state response area), which includes Ramona. The LRA (local response area) refers to incorporated cities like Poway that have their own fire departments.
The fire severity maps have not been updated for about 12 years, so they are due, but there are problems. For example, your local elected representatives knew nothing about this proposed change.
A proposal that will increase fire rates for our community and discourage development ought to be well publicized, but it was not. There was only one public hearing held in each of California’s 58 Counties. The Ramona Municipal Water District, the Ramona Community Planning Group, and the Ramona Fire Advisory Council knew nothing about these pending changes.
Another issue with the new proposed map is that it apparently adheres to the government “blanket” approach of one size fits all.
Former “medium risk” or “high risk” areas of Ramona that have level topography and little fuel are proposed to be included in the “very high” risk areas with steep slopes and heavy brush. Even Cal Fire Station 82 has been moved from medium fire risk to very high fire risk. This approach to assessing fire risk from 100,000 feet just doesn’t make sense.
The impacts of labeling an area “very high” fire risk are both social and economic. The new proposal will discourage development because of additional government-related red tape and costs. Building a single residence or an apartment complex in very high fire risk zones requires costly additional studies by both San Diego County and CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act).
So, what are the factors that call for raising Ramona’s fire risk status? Over the years the process has been greatly enhanced with technology. Today, satellites play a role, along with climate change, water and fire-fighting availability, fuel status, and perhaps political social engineering.
If you are aware of the proposed vehicle mileage tax (VMT), a readily admitted component of the VMT is to discourage rural growth and move populations out of their cars and into mass transit in urban areas. That political agenda is rampant in present state and county government. It is not unreasonable to ask if Newsom’s appointed board is using fire risk severity zones to accomplish the same goals with or without plausible cause.
The arguments for NOT increasing Ramona’s fire risk status are tangible and compelling.
The Ramona Municipal Water District is committing millions installing larger diameter supply lines that increases the water capacity for fire-fighting. The water district has also installed back-up power systems at pumping stations to guarantee water flow during a power outage.
Cal Fire is providing three new engines and has increased staffing on E80, E81, and E82 and has added a new paramedic ambulance at Station 82 staffed with firefighter-paramedics.
In addition, our water wells and ponds are doing great due to the excellent rainy season we are enjoying.
Finally, the Aerial Attack Fire Base is in Ramona. They can put water or retardant on fires within our SRA within minutes. So, I’m wondering if the governor’s board took those facts into consideration before proposing the increases in Ramona’s fire severity status?
These increases in Ramona’s fire severity maps are only a proposal. We can impact the final decision.
There is a period available for those who wish to comment from through April 4. You can write to: Office of the State Fire Marshall California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, PO Box 944246, Sacramento, California 94244-2460, Attention- Scott Witt, deputy chief. Or email to: fhszcomments@fire.ca.gov
Summers is a member of the Ramona Unified School District board, the Ramona Community Planning Group and the San Diego County Fire Advisory Board
*Disclaimer: results are not guaranteed, may not be permanent, and can vary per individual. Some images are of models, not actual patients.
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