STEVE SMITH -- What’s Up?

Ed Tomasek is about as stable a guy there is anywhere. He and his

wife, Rosie, have two kids, Eddie, 10, and Annie, 9.

Last Wednesday, I met Ed at the flag deck ceremony at Victoria

Elementary School where his kids go to school, along with our two

munchkins. The Pledge of Allegiance was followed by fourth-grade teacher

Marilyn Wright leading the entire school in a stirring rendition of

“You’re a Grand Old Flag.”

This morning ritual, conducted with respect and enthusiasm, is one of

the elements that make Victoria a California Distinguished School.

On my way out, I noticed that Ed was not wearing a tie, but was

dressed in a T-shirt and shorts.

“Are you working today?” I asked Ed.

“No,” he replied. “I quit.”

Ed has been working nonstop for more than 30 years. Not long ago, Ed

and Rosie decided that he has earned a break, so he is taking the next

year “off.”

Ed may work a little, he may not. But the more we talked, the more he

seemed to appreciate that this is a rare opportunity to change his life

completely. Perhaps find a new hobby, perhaps a new career.

Ed is also taking some time off, slowing down, to spend more time with

Annie and Eddie. Ed and Rosie Tomasek are my heroes today.

***

There is some fine-tuning due on my comments last week about the

out-of-touch Newport Beach City Council. I stand by everything I wrote

that day, but it’s important to note that until now the overcrowding of

Newport Beach has not been a serious problem.

For the most part, the muckety-mucks have avoided congestion. Yes,

there are exceptions in Newport Beach, as there are everywhere.

But the backers of Measure S are not legislating in a rearview mirror

and while the city has done a good job of controlling growth, Measure S

supporters want to stop excessive growth before it begins.

I still believe that without Measure S, the city will develop

Marinapark, the Dunes, Fashion Island and more. But in the interest of

fairness, the council’s track record of development should be noted.

***

Will someone o7 pleasef7 do something with the Cannery? It’s hard

to sit at the Bluewater Grill and not think about the wonderful Mother’s

Day brunches we enjoyed there for so many years. Could it be that those

in charge are waiting for the decision on Measure S?

***

Our teachers, administrators and school board members deserve a round

of applause for their gains on the SAT scores in our district. More

important, I believe, is the increase in the number of students taking

the test. Whatever they’re doing, I hope they keep it up.

***

There is community involvement and then there is o7 community

involvementf7 . The kind with the big impact was demonstrated by The

Irvine Co. and the Donald Bren Foundation, teaming up to donate $25

million to several local school districts, including Newport-Mesa

Unified. This kind of corporate involvement is admirable and should be

noted by other companies who wish to help take care of our village.

A disappointing note was sounded, however, by Bill Habermehl,

associate superintendent of the Orange County Department of Education,

who said, “It’s not a donation, it’s an investment. They want to sell

more homes.”

So, what does it take? What does a corporation have to do to make you

understand that once in a while, they give money simply because it’s the

right thing to do?

***

So now Steven Allen Abrams has been found guilty and I can stop

calling this monster the “alleged” murderer. He purposely drove his car

into a preschool playground to hurt innocent kids -- little kids -- and

he gets to have a hearing to determine if he is sane.

This is absurd. In my opinion, sane or insane, he should receive the

maximum penalty prescribed by law, with no consideration of his placement

in a mental institution.

* STEVE SMITH is a Costa Mesa resident and freelance writer. Readers

can leave a message for him on the Daily Pilot hotline at (949) 642-6086.