HOW WE SEE IT

A TRADITION UPROOTED

We think we should never see, a Christmas without a tree.

So that’s why we’ve rested easy every Christmas. Each year without fail,

Great Grandpa Harry Noonan and his Christmas tree lot help brighten our

holiday spirit.

But now we’re sorry to hear that because of new development, the lot

Harry & Co. have been using to hawk their seasonal pines and firs for the

last 50 years will no longer be available after this year.

However, we’re not too worried. The Christmas spirit will likely prevail

and the Noonans will find another place to continue the Costa Mesa

Christmas tradition.

WHAT’S THE DEAL?

We don’t always agree with Wendy Leece’s ideas.

But we don’t always agree with Jim Ferryman’s or Martha Fluor’s or Judy

Franco’s or Serene Stokes’ or Dana Black’s or David Brooks’ ideas either.

Especially when their ideas are to squelch minority opinions -- like

Leece’s.

How is it that Leece can run unopposed for her school board seat and win,

but her colleagues not only think she should not hold the office of board

president or vice president, but not even clerk?To be fair, Brooks was

the sole board member to cast a vote for Leece to be clerk. And that’s

too bad.

Although we often don’t see eye-to-eye with Leece, we certainly believe

that if her constituents have seen fit to elect her to the board, her

colleagues ought to be big enough to acknowledge that she deserves to

hold a place of leadership.

THANKS FOR THE DYNASTY, TARS

Who needs professional football when we have our very own football

dynasty right in our midst?

If you want exciting football, just check out coach Jeff Brinkley and the

Newport Harbor Sailors.

Brinkley and his team managed to go undefeated this year (OK, they had

one tie) and brought home a CIF championship last Friday night with a

victory over Irvine in the Division VI finals.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Brinkley has compiled an

impressive record throughout his tenure at Newport Harbor, with two CIF

titles and two undefeated seasons.

As for this year’s awesome feat, the Sailors are to be congratulated.