Girl Scout Camp

* Re “County Must Settle Scouts’ Land Fight,” Ventura County editorials, Oct. 3.

Old Creek Ranch and Winery is located at the end of Old Creek Road. The property was originally part of a Spanish land grant. For 100 years this was a cattle ranch, vineyards and a winery. Today it is the same. We have six tenants living on our property, including the foreman and the cellar master. One of our tenants is due to have a baby this month and another is 2 years old.

Recently, Tres Condados Girl Scout Council Inc., under the leadership of Cynder Sinclair, has denied our right to pass through the camp when the county of Ventura closes Old Creek Road due to flooding. They insist that it is hazardous for vehicles to go through the property when the Scouts are using the camp.

All property owners and residents would therefore be trapped in their homes or away from their homes.

Denying people the right to go to work, to go to school, to go to worship or to seek medical services does not conform to the principles under which the Girl Scout program was established. I myself was a Brownie and a Girl Scout and have fond memories of those experiences.

All the property owners and residents of Old Creek Road had no choice but to file suit against Tres Condados Girl Scout Council Inc. We have no other recourse.

We have been accused of misusing the property but none of these claims has been substantiated. Our family has owned this property since 1976 and passed through the camp without incident.

This is a simple problem that should be resolved between neighbors. Instead, donated dollars are being spent by Tres Condados Council to defend its actions, and the community sees that Tres Condados leaders do not practice what they preach.

CARMEL M. WHITMAN

Oak View