Old Agoura is unique and shouldn’t change

When I read the letters every week in The Acorn, I try to understand why the writers want so badly to build Heschel School in Old Agoura. I do not understand why they think it will be so good for Old Agoura. I must think that they do not understand why the people of Old Agoura are adamantly opposed to Heschel School.

First of all, no one I have spoken to opposes Heschel School. We are around 100 percent in favor of a new school.

Great idea, wrong place.

In Old Agoura I have never heard anyone mention a word about religion. We don’t care if you’re Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish or atheist. It doesn’t matter, so we need to move beyond that.

What brings us here to live is our unspoken version of CC&Rs. Yes, just like you have them in your neighborhoods where The Acorn letters are written from (Chatsworth, Woodland Hills, Calabasas, Westlake, Thousand Oaks, Lake Lindero, Morrison Ranch and Oak Park. Did I leave anyone out?)

What is common about Old Agourans is that we like to see hawks fly and hear owls hoot. We like to walk without sidewalks by open fields where we can watch our kids on horseback. We like the coyotes howling at night, and when we look for them we can see the stars because we keep our outdoor lights off. Our houses are not cookie-cutter homes and our lawns are not manicured.

Living with and trying to be a little closer to nature is what matters to us. We do not have gates that keep people out. On the contrary, we welcome everyone in so they can enjoy and share in the beautiful nature where we live.

This is what brought everyone here to live in Old Agoura, this unique lifestyle so close to Los Angeles. We want to keep it like this. We like it. This is home to us.

That is why I so not understand why people from outside Old Agoura are telling us that Heschel School would make such a good fit in our community. Heschel asked if they could bulldoze our hills, build buildings which will bring traffic, noise, lights and congestion. Most of Old Agoura said no. Great idea, wrong place.

Now we will have to go to court and pay lawyer fees and court costs to stop Heschel. When they could save the money and put it towards a place that would be a better fit.

You would just have to live here to understand.

Bo Ehrig

Old Agoura