Mailbag - Aug. 2, 2001

Animals dangerous over at TeWinkle Park

I’m sorry that Jessie, the wild goose at TeWinkle Park, was injured

(“Animal injuries at park not unusual,” Monday). I hope it wasn’t

somebody’s deliberate act against her, but those geese at that park are a

menace.

I have taken my children and other children there over the years to

feed the ducks. Several times, we have been attacked by the geese. They

go crazy for that bread. It was just a couple of months ago that I took

two little kids there. They’d never been to TeWinkle Park, and they’d fed

the ducks. We were so overwhelmed by the ducks and the geese -- the

children were crying.

The one goose came right up to the little 3-year-old and bit her on

the arm. Then, when we were trying to get away from them, we gave our

bread to somebody else and were running to the other side of the park

where the playground is, and dozens of squirrels came after us wanting

the bread.

So, we decided that we wouldn’t even be going back to TeWinkle Park.

The wildlife is charming, but the constant feeding by people to the

squirrels and the ducks has made them so aggressive that it isn’t even

safe for people.

CHARMAINE LAURIE

Costa Mesa

Paper lacks maps to illustrate locations

I am a daily reader of the Daily Pilot and try to follow the various

public issues that affect Newport Beach through your reporting. While I

have no complaints about the written treatment of the issues, I note that

whenever a major land-use issue is discussed, such as recent articles on

the Koll project at Jamboree Road and MacArthur Boulevard (“Voters to get

chance at Koll project,” July 25, or the V-plan for El Toro (“V-plan

gaining support,” July 23), there is a paucity of clear maps to

illustrate the site under discussion.

One point, for example, the Pilot ran an almost-illegible map and

photo showing where the proposed Mormon temple would be located (“Church

reveals temple details,” July 13).

I almost feel that the general lack of graphics in such articles is

intentional so as to keep readers poorly informed and diminish citizen,

as compared to special-interest group, participation in the discussions.

GERALD BRETTS

Newport Beach

* EDITOR’S NOTE: We agree our map-making is not the best, but we

assure you there is no hidden motives just a lack of good drawing skills.

We promise to get better.

Citywide vote should decide annexation issue

Of course the public should be polled regarding the annexation of

Newport Coast (“Activist wants vote to add land,” Friday). I’m afraid the

city fathers are once again motivated by the opportunity to increase the

tax base rather than seeing the potential danger to our way of life by

doubling the population. Nothing the City Council could do to the

community could have such potential for change to the nature of our beach

lifestyle. And that would make us right to call for a citywide debate on

this vital matter which can, with the stroke of a pen, make our town the

tail of Donald Bren’s dog.

MICHAEL LONG

Corona del Mar

Former planning commissioner delighted with replacement

When I resigned from the Costa Mesa Planning Commission, I was

concerned about who would be appointed to fill my position. I hoped it

would be a Westside resident and someone with a background in municipal

government, but I felt that I was being too optimistic.

I was relieved and thrilled to read in Sunday’s paper that the City

Council appointed Eleanor Egan to fill the vacancy (“Eleanor Egan named

planning commissioner”).

While I’ve never met Egan personally, I have observed her speaking

before the City Council on many occasions and read her many insightful

and visionary letters in the Pilot. I have always been impressed, and I

think that she was an excellent selection. She will be a wonderful

addition to the Planning Commission.

KATIE WILSON

Seal Beach

A 50-year marriage is an amazing feat

Wow! There are couples in California that actually have been married

50 years and are happy (“A serious exchange,” Friday). I think this

wonderful. My very first love, when I was at Newport Harbor High School,

had grandparents that were married for 50 years. Even in their 80s, they

were still in love, held hands and she would sit in his lap.

This was and is still my dream and ideal. They had their rules or

secrets that held their marriage together for so many years. One of them

was to never go to bed mad at one another. For them, it worked. I still

want to know what helps couples be happy after so many years.

PAUL JAMES BALDWIN

Newport Beach