By Noel Smith
A longstanding community organization, the Corralitos Valley Research & Education Association (CVREA) has found itself in controversy that has resulted in two opposing camps. One camp consists of the “Old Guard” and the other the “Newbies.”
Several issues have been raised but they seem to revolve primarily around the Community Library housed in the Corralitos Community Center at 127 Hames Road and the Corralitos Farm & Garden Market, which takes place on the Community Center Parking lot and grounds every Sunday.
On August 18, 2014 five members of the Old Guard (Elizabeth Dickerson, Pat Driscoll, Joyce Medieros, George Medeiros, and Weldon Zaske) that were on the CVREA board and the volunteer Library Director Joyce Medieros either resigned or were removed from the board for cause (Depending on whom you ask) by the Newbies (April Johnston, Wayne Miller, Michael Gaither, Cyndy Gaither, Andy Rivas and Helena Fox). The Library was found closed the next day and the 31 volunteers on the library volunteer list were let go.
Concerning the library portion of the controversy, the Newbies wanted to install computers and Internet access while the Old Guard wanted to keep it a traditional books-only library. Also, the library had a separate bank account that was used for library business only and the CVREA had another bank account that the Newbies wanted to use for all CVREA associated activities, including the library.
After the closing, access to the library was forbidden to the old board members and even prizes that had been purchased or donated for children that had taken part in a summer reading program were held unavailable until recently. September 22 was the library’s first day open to the public since it closed in August.
When asked why the library was closed, the current board president April Johnston, said it was because, “It was in flux.” When asked what that meant, Johnston referred us to the minutes of the August 18 board meeting when the five Old Guard were “Removed with Cause.” When asked what the “Cause” was, she did not answer.
The CVREA website (corralitoscultural.org/) now provides a list of programs and program improvements to be installed along with a new roof and insulation for the building, but doesn’t mention computers.
The other issue concerns the Corralitos Farm & Garden Market. According to the CVREA website, for a five dollar donation Sunday vendors can use the property to sell their strawberries, blueberries, cherries, lemons, tomatoes, herbs, squash, potatoes, carrots, peas, beets, and avocados, as well as a variety of other fruits, vegetables, lettuces and salad greens.
Several of the current board members are said to be taking advantage of this low cost venue to sell their farm products – Wayne Miller, Andy Rivas and April Johnston while Michael Gaither is said to use the Community Center for some of his sales activities and Helena Fox uses the center to lead her Tai Chi classes. Also on the current board are Jennifer Johnston –April Johnston’s daughter, Cat Glass – Wayne Miller’s daughter, Cyndy Gaither – Michael Gaither’s spouse, and Cynthia Jordan who is said to be Wayne Miller’s next door neighbor.
The dust hasn’t settled yet, but the community of Corralitos hopes to get its library back in operation and to see its Community Center once more a place where all are welcome.