THE WEEK IN REVIEW

NO MONEY FOR DECKER

Costa Mesa taxpayers can thank Orange County Superior Court Judge

Michael Brenner for throwing out a lawsuit that sought $1 million in

damages from the city. The claim stemmed from the police department’s

decision to pass out fliers warning neighbors that convicted rapist Chris

Decker was moving into the area. Brenner ruled that there wasn’t enough

basis for the claim to go to trial, and Costa Mesa Police Chief Dave

Snowden stood by the department’s decision. Decker and his attorney now

vow to take Meagan’s Law -- the state statute that allowed the

department to make its decision -- to court in an attempt to change it.

A FOCUS ON CHILD SAFETY

It seems nearly impossible to get anything positive out of the senseless

tragedy that struck the Southcoast Early Childhood Learning Center this

past May, when two toddlers were killed after a Cadillac plowed through

their playground. But the mothers of both 4-year-old Sierra Soto and

3-year-old Brandon Wiener have managed to do just that. This week, Pam

Wiener announced her plans to create a foundation called For Our

Children’s Ultimate Safety -- or FOCUS -- that would provide funding for

safety structures at day-care centers. She joins Cyndi Soto, who earlier

this year created Sierra’s Light, a foundation that aims to educate

parents about safety standards while calling for legislation to protect

day-care centers. As both women deal with unimaginable pain in the loss

of their young children, they should be applauded for their efforts to

prevent another tragedy from happening.

STANDING BY THE CURTAIN CALL

Despite news this week that the long-awaited renovation of the Balboa

Theater will cost more than three times the amount of money than

anticipated, the dedicated members of the Balboa Performing Arts Theatre

Foundation are sticking by their fall 2000 open date. Foundation

President Dayna Pettit seemed unfazed that the group now will have to

raise another $2.5 million and in fact seemed energized by the challenge.

Considering what they’ve been able to do thus far, we have little doubt

of their ability to pull it off.

KEEPING HISTORY ALIVE

Costa Mesa resident David Lester is an interesting man, but his heritage

is even more so: his great-great grandfather was Davy Crockett, the

coonskin-cap-wearing “King of the Wild Frontier” that every little boy

has etched in his imagination. As Cub Scout Pack 80 heard Lester’s tall,

but true, tales about his great-great grandfather’s frontier days and his

own experiences in World War II, they had no idea they were being

educated in American history. Samuel Van Gordon, 8, was no exception. “I

thought it was very hard to win the war, and I really admire what they

did,” he said.