Coming together in a time of tragedy...

Coming together in a time of tragedy and loss

I was so honored to live in a community like Costa Mesa when I saw

how much care and concern was shown for the family of 9-year-old

cancer victim Tony Merrell at his memorial service last week.

I would especially like to thank the pastors, staff, and

congregation at Christ Lutheran Church, on the Westside, which

offered to hold Tony’s memorial service and the reception afterward.

Although Tony’s family had never before attended that church, one of

their neighbors went out of her way to get the church involved once

she learned about Tony’s illness, and they were eager to help. Church

members were praying for Tony and his family throughout Tony’s

illness, and providing meals and other support for his parents Carol

and Bill Merrell. Students at the church school sent Tony cards and

donations, and Tony was baptized at his home just a week before his

death.

I’d also like to thank the staff and students at Kaiser

Elementary, Tony’s school on the Eastside. At least five or six of

Tony’s young friends didn’t hesitate to walk up and speak in front of

hundreds of people at the service, saying how much they liked him,

how nice he was, and how much they missed him. These boys were so

self-assured, and their comments so heart-felt, that I only hope they

grow up and stay in Costa Mesa and continue to be good friends to

each other. I want to thank their parents for bringing them up so

well.

Tony’s third-grade teacher was also there and spoke, and I talked

to his second-grade teacher at the reception. The Kaiser staff also

put together the beautiful video tribute to Tony that was shown at

the service, with photos set to music you couldn’t help but smile

about -- “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” and songs by the Beach Boys.

The service was also attended by members of the Costa Mesa Fire

Department, who Tony greatly admired, and also by several officers

from the Costa Mesa Police Department. Councilman Mike Scheafer also

attended the service.

This is what community is all about. As I sat at the service and

cried for the Merrells’ loss, I was also comforted by how much love

this city is capable of. Please keep the Merrells in your thoughts

and prayers, and continue to reach out to each other to make Costa

Mesa a great place to live.

MARY FEWEL

Costa Mesa

Religious speech limits infringe on rights

Regarding the article, “Newport Beach limits religious speech of

clergy at council meetings”:

So now we have state-sponsored agnosticism at Newport Beach City

Hall driven by fear of “legal entanglements down the road.”

Restrictions on official invocations clearly violate the

establishment cause of the First Amendment, for which they are a

veiled hypocritical attempt to protect: “Congress shall make no law

respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free

exercise thereof.”

Because Irv Rubin decried the name of Jesus Christ at a Burbank

council invocation, we must all lose our religious liberty? If Rubin

were here today, I would invite him to lead the invocation before

several Christian organizations to which I belong. And we would bow

our heads in respect and offer silent thanks to God for Rubin’s

freedom to do so.

CHERI KETNER

Newport Beach

Marinapark is not all about the bottom line

Regarding the letter to the editor, “Will Marinapark make dollars

and sense?”:

Your reader wrote, in part, that “it seems to me that the city

fathers, people and politicians should be able to give readers an

estimate -- a reasonable estimate -- of what income the city will get

from this project (the hotel) and how much they are currently getting

from the mobile home park... I’m sure it is going to be very

profitable for the city.”

First of all, it’s not as simple as it might seem to just add up

the numbers and see if the city is better off dollar wise with a

hotel. The proposed hotel revenues are obviously only estimates and

not guarantees. The mobile home owners have produced guaranteed

revenues for nearly 60 years. In addition, you can’t use the current

mobile home revenues when comparing them to the “guesstimates” made

by the developer. If the mobile home park stays in place and is

granted a normal term lease by the city, the revenues to the city

will increase substantially.

This situation is virtually the same as any other investment. The

more risk you take, the higher potential for return -- or conversely,

the greater possibility for losses. The city has had a risk-free

income from the mobile home park. The proposed hotel and its revenue

stream has a much higher risk factor and therefore, it is much more

difficult to accurately determine the city’s actual revenue. I

believe city management should strive to provide income that citizens

count on.

There are many birds that frequent the shoreline in front of this

property. This proposed hotel may provide another one -- an

Albatross.

JOHN RETTBERG

Newport Beach

Balancing the budgets of grocery pickets

My refund from the state of California for overpayment of my car

license renewal fee has arrived. This money should have been used

toward balancing our state budget. However, since the governor chose

not to do so, I am pleased to be able to contribute my refund to the

benefit of the striking grocery workers. Others who may wish to do

so, can mail a check for the “strike fund contribution,” to the

United Food and Commercial Workers headquarters in Buena Park.

JOAN S. PETTY

Corona del Mar

Many campaign practices questionable

Having followed the 70th Assembly District race between Cristi

Cristich and Chuck DeVore, it was revealing to read the Daily Pilot’s

correction of an article mistakenly stating that DeVore had sent out

mailers from the California Republican Assembly that were supposedly

funded by the Pechanga tribe.

Interestingly, after the inaccurate article was published, I

received a recorded phone message from the Cristich campaign quoting

the Daily Pilot’s misstatement and charging DeVore had taken money

from the gambling tribe. Her deliberate misuse of the erroneous

statement would have shocked me had I not already been aware of

Cristich’s unethical campaign tactics.

Recently, Cristich was condemned by Rep. Chris Cox for mailing a

campaign piece designed to fool voters into believing she had been

endorsed by the congressman -- an action Cox described as “pure

counterfeit.”

After being exposed to her deception, a Daily Pilot editorial

titled “Mailer a dishonest campaign piece” on Feb. 12, wisely advised

Cristich that “now, the campaign should remain above the fray by

running an honest, clean campaign...”

Sadly, Cristich refused to learn her lesson. Perhaps voters will

have better luck teaching her on Tuesday.

DONNA TRANTER

Costa Mesa