Eight years. That’s a long time. Tributes of all sorts have been paid to the Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol and the good work it has done in Rancho Bernardo. Below is a list of those special people who have helped you by keeping watch on your homes while you’re away, visiting you or your loved ones’ homes on a daily or weekly basis, cruising retail and bank parking lots, driving by schools, playgrounds and parks at after-school hours, reporting illegally parked vehicles and handicapped parking violators, fingerprinting at NE, handling traffic detail when necessary and let’s not forget McGruff, the wise (old?) dog who knows and cares about children’s safety. The RSVP will even come to your home for free security checks and visit your organization for safety talks. How about calling for a free visit from professional, certified members of the Patrol to come to your home and talk over your situation with you? They have been trained by the SDPD to be aware of danger spots, to advise you what locks, bolts, and other devices are best to use and under what situations. It is important that you and they discuss your lifestyle, how often you enter and exit different doors, where friends and strangers might enter, whether you leave windows and doors open at various times. Just give a call. (858) 538-8146.

All in all, over 215,000 hours of patrol and volunteer activity have been contributed to Rancho Bernardo since June 1992. Their statistics are posted every month on www.rbernardo.com/ We thank these 71 dedicated seniors:

Merv Adams, Virginia Alex, Marilyn Anderson, Jim Artherton, Barbara Athans, Jim Baker, Roy Baker, Lola Bellinger, Ralph Berrick, |Bob Bertschy, Len Brazinsky, Joe Brittain, Virgil Calhoon, Roy Christensen, Bill Coats, Dan Conner, B.J. Curtiss, Ben Dyas, Toni Edberg, Maury Eis, Ben Franchi, Norm Gillespie, Stan Gingold, Jerry Goldstein, Marty Goos, Marie Graver, Eileen Greco, Art Handell, Helen Harte, Clint Henderson, Mary Herman, Morris Herscovitz, Paul Keller, George Kilgore, Franklin Kneebone, Dick Kuhn, Gordon Latta, Don Lauffer, Tom Loftis, Jack Loos, Dick Mears, Rose Marie Lusk Meyer, Paul Michos, Ruth Morpeth, Stuart Morpeth, Jerry Morrissey, Ralph Mulroy, Bob Owens, Claude Parrent, Jack Peregoy, Adrienne Posterick, Jean Richmond, Joe Robertson, Ken Root, Pat Rucker, Richard Rycus, Jean Scott, Bob Serrano, Fred Shaw, Marlene Sheridan, Bob Showalter, Al Singer, Jim Slattery, Bob Smith, Eileen Stanley, Hobart Steely, Bob Steinhauser, Bill Talcott, Bill Taylor, Frank Terschan and Richard Van Overmeiren.

Super kudos to four members from the first graduation class on June 15, 1992: Jim Artherton, Paul Michos, Bob Smith and Frank Terschan. Accolades also go to the women of RSVP. They now account for 26% of the total Patrol force. Want to become a member? Are you 55, retired, and have a valid CA driver’s license? You are needed. Call Bob Smith, administrator, at 538-8146.

Congratulations to Ralph Parris, Emergency Preparedness coordinator from District D and Gaye Kuyper, manager of Community Services, for winning the Coco’s June luncheon awards. These are given each month to outstanding RB Neighborhood Watch and Emergency Preparedness volunteers.