Noisy planes? Do what Newport did Laguna...

Noisy planes? Do what Newport did

Laguna Beach has a real problem with noisy transport airplanes

climbing out over the city from John Wayne Airport starting at 7 a.m.

nearly every day of the week, (“Noise from low flights raising

hackles,” Coastline Pilot, Nov. 21.)

The cause and cure of the overflights is given in the article,

along with an admonition not to dump Laguna Beach’s problem onto Dana

Point.

The simple solution, of course, is to open an El Toro

international airport, because then the overflights will be gone, as

they were when the Marines were flying. But there are other options

for controlling the noise. Laguna Beach can ask the airlines to turn

their engines down while passing over the city, as they do while

passing over Newport Beach.

When the pilots learned they do not need all that power to take

off and climb, the complaints from Newport Beach citizens decreased

dramatically, as they will at Laguna Beach. Power cutback is the

solution to noise. It’s something to give thanks for at Thanksgiving,

until El Toro opens and the overflights stop.

DONALD NYRE

Newport Beach

Skate park is just a bad idea for Laguna

Did I read the article correctly? The City Council is considering

building a skate park? (“Skate park moves forward, staging area

nixed,” Coastline Pilot Nov. 21) It confirms my assumption that

election to any political office requires that you put your brain in

neutral.

Let us consider the idea --

1. The cost of construction and maintenance, our tax dollars. You

would also be chopping up a valuable piece of property.

2. A lousy location. On a dangerous curve on one of the most heavy

traffic roads in Laguna. Can you imagine mothers trying to drop off

or pick up skateboarders, let alone older enthusiasts looking for a

place to park. A fearsome thought.

3. Why would the city consider spending our tax dollars on such a

small segment of the Laguna Beach population? I’ll wager that less

than 2% of us own skateboards. More of us can use help with our

arthritis.

4. Any injuries and the city would be sued. Can you even get

insurance for such a risky project? The premium would be more of our

tax dollars. How about daily upkeep on the public toilets? It would

need 24 hour a day supervision as the park would be a target. Let’s

have a beer, climb the fence and raise a little hell. It would almost

require a constant police presence.

I suppose it would be rude of me to suggest the council do

something practical, like get a parking structure for Downtown and

Main Beach areas. It has been on the agenda since 1996.

DAN HUSTON

Laguna Beach

Thanks for printing important pamphlet

We would like to say a big thank you to Michael Gosselin of Strada

Properties for stepping forward to pay the printing costs for Laguna

Relief to distribute a handout from Laguna to the disaster workers in

the recent firestorm.

Because of Laguna’s experience recovering from the Laguna

firestorm, disaster workers are eagerly looking forward to receiving

“Laguna Beach: Response to Challenge, A Community Report.” The

pamphlet’s purpose is partly “to outline the steps one community has

taken toward recovery and future emergency preparation; to have this

report serve as a guideline for use by other communities faced with

both real and potential emergency situations.”

Gosselin also made a significant contribution to cover the

printing of the Laguna PsychSupport handouts two years ago so that

they were all ready to go at the beginning of this disaster. These

handouts are available for Laguna residents in case of another

disaster like the fires, mudslides and evacuations of the past.

Gosselin is truly exceptional for recognizing the need to

anticipate disaster and respond swiftly to help those in need to the

south of us.

Thank you Gosselin for your quick response.

CAROL UMMEL LINDQUIST

MARION JACOBS

SUSAN JACOB

KAREN BOHAN

SHEILA DISKIN

MARSHA BODE

SHANNON HUHN

Laguna PsychSupport

Thank you to good, generous neighbors

In conjunction with the American Assn. of University Women’s

volunteer programs at El Morro Elementary School in Laguna Beach, I

was fortunate to participate in an Ocean Institute Adopt-A-Class

field trip for students of Laguna Beach sponsored by the Montage

Resort and Spa.

On Nov. 18, 31 English Language Learner students from El Morro and

Top of the World Elementary Schools took a two-hour cruise aboard an

Ocean Institute vessel, learning about hidden habitats of the Pacific

Ocean.

After the cruise, the students and seven adult chaperons were

treated to a pizza lunch before participating in a one-hour lab

learning more about interesting sea creatures and their habitats. It

was a terrific learning experience for students and adults alike,

thanks to the generosity of the Montage Resort and Spa and to the

very capable staff and volunteers at the Ocean Institute.

In particular, I would like to thank Ned Snavely, director of

special projects for the Montage, for not only making this field trip

possible but also for personally taking part in the cruise; Lenka

Spejchalova, the Ocean Institute’s Adopt-A-Class program manager; and

Marilyn Thomas, the director of volunteers who saw to it that the day

proceeded smoothly with many educational opportunities.

We are indeed fortunate in this community to have good and

generous neighbors in the Montage Resort and Spa and Dana Point Ocean

Institute.

PEGGIE THOMAS

Education co-chair,

American Assn. of University

Women

Laguna Beach Branch

The Coastline Pilot is eager to run your letters. If your letter

does not appear, it may be because of space restrictions, and the

letter will likely appear next week. If you would like to submit a

letter, write to us at P.O. Box 248, Laguna Beach, CA 92652; fax us

at (949) 494-8979; or send e-mail to [email protected].

Please give your name and include your hometown and phone number, for

verification purposes only.