Mailbag - June 21, 2001

Rodman schmodman! Bring on the fish

Please, please, please, pretty please no more articles concerning

Dennis Rodman. Interviews and articles about this man are insulting to

the intelligence of this community. No one with a brain cares about him.

Go back to covering the little fish swimming in a bowl in someone’s

office at City Hall. That’s real meat. Thank you for providing me with

this opportunity to express to you the feeling of the real people of this

community.

BILL DAVENPORT

Costa Mesa

Allowing large boat to dock would be wrong

This is regarding “Balboa Island yacht request runs aground”

(Tuesday). I have owned my home at 117 Apolena Ave. on Balboa Island for

the past 23 years. I raised my daughter here from the age of 5. She

joined the legions of children who have enjoyed many safe days of play at

the beach at the end of our street, and at the Balboa Island Yacht Club.

This is a traditional part of the essence of Balboa Island.

The request for a dock revision at 1106 and 1108 S. Bay Front severely

threatens the safety of children, and restricts the public’s use and

enjoyment of the charming view from the bay front. I am very concerned

about the precedent being set for an eventual ring of large boats at the

perimeter of Balboa Island. I am especially concerned about the threat

that any large boat poses for:

* the safety of small children at play;

* the public’s loss of the current charming bay view from the Bay

Front walk;

* the inability of the public to view the Christmas Boat Parade, and

other boating events from the bay-front walk;

* the additional chemicals introduced into the air, water and beach

sand for the use and maintenance of these large vessels;

* the virtual loss of public beach area by creating what will amount

to a “private beach” in front of the residences with a view of the large

boat only;

* the setting of precedent for more large boats being docked on Balboa

Island.

Please work to preserve the safety, public access and charm of Balboa

Island. Do not allow this dock revision. Let us get legislation into

effect that does not allow any more large boats to be docked at the

island’s perimeter.

We were able to prevent more three-story homes from being built,

ruining the island’s charm and access to sunlight, even after precedents

had been set. So, too, we need to prevent further large boats from being

docked here, even with whatever precedents have been set.

Yacht clubs are appropriate places to dock large boats. If these folks

want to dock a large boat in front of their residence, there are many

other places to live where public safety and public access will not be an

issue.

VERONICA LORMAN

Balboa Island

* EDITOR’S NOTE: On Monday, Newport Beach officials denied Cook’s

request to move his pier 40 feet to the east so he could dock his 55-foot

yacht.

Tally up a latte and some Hemingway

I think a coffee kiosk is perfect for the library -- just the thing

for a quick break between books [and] magazines (“Shhhh . . . but pass

the cream and sugar,” June 8). I do think it should have a separate area

so that drinks aren’t carried among the volumes still on the shelves.

DIANE BAKER

Corona del Mar

Thank you, Estancia, for a great education

Today, my third and last daughter, Jennifer, follows her older sisters

Dana and Lauren, in graduating from Estancia High School. My wife,

Elaine, and I feel compelled, therefore, to write and express our sincere

gratitude and heartfelt appreciation for the hard work and

professionalism shown over the years by the administration, teachers and

staff at this fine school.

Each of my daughters was an honor roll student. Each was a

multi-sport, scholar athlete. Each participated fully in both curricular

and extracurricular activities. And each was fortunate enough to be

elected senior class president. No doubt our parenting played a part in

helping our daughters to succeed, but parenting is but one component. A

quality education delivered in a positive, friendly environment by

dedicated, enthusiastic educators is also necessary. And this is exactly

what they received at Estancia.

I would recommend to any parent in the process of selecting a high

school for their child to give Estancia a look. You will find an

attractive, safe campus, a warm and caring staff and a commitment to

excellence in education that’s second to none. My daughters have

benefited tremendously from their years at Estancia, and I know their

classmates have as well. For this, Elaine and I hereby publicly offer our

thanks and our gratitude. Good job, Estancia.

CHUCK CASSITY

Costa Mesa

Grease traps are a must at restaurants

Restaurant grease that is washed down the drain is notorious for

blocking sewer pipes and creating sewage spills. Since an ounce of

prevention is worth a pound of cure, it is a no-brainer that all

restaurants should have grease traps. Why should the public suffer

through repeated sewage spills into our recreation waters when such a

clear and easy solution is available?

SUSAN SKINNER CAUSTIN

Newport Beach