MAILBAG - May 17, 2002

Will being a resident for only 42 years qualify me to comment on the

qualities that make Laguna Beach a unique, exceptional place to live?

Those of you who want to criticize the inconvenience of traffic, noise

and crowds can pack up and leave. Instead, be glad you are here in a

truly exceptional town. Laguna Beach is like so many other California

cities, just too many people. Relax and enjoy our unique attractions.

February, 1960, the Hustons moved to town. My memory is somewhat hazy

over exact figures and dates so please forgive an old man a few miscues,

they are unintentional. The newspaper in 1960 was boasting of the fact

that the population had grown to 5,000.

In spite of this small number there was an active corps of merchants

Downtown offering a multitude of wares and services. I don’t remember if

there were any T-shirt shops. There was also enough community-minded men

to support four service organizations: the Optimists, Kiwanis Club, Lions

and Rotary. Where have they gone? I became a member of the Optimist Club.

Our emphasis was on raising money for youth groups. We sponsored the

annual Pancake Breakfast held at Heisler Park each Labor Day weekend. We

were a major contributor to helping build the Boys & Girls Club.

In those years there was no fence around the Festival of Arts grounds

and nowhere near as many exhibition booths. One night a week the

Optimists shared the responsibility of running the Pageant of the

Masters.

We took the tickets, patrolled the grounds, sold the programs and then

stayed on duty until midnight to watch the artists booths and then the

police took over. It was a job, but fun and you felt proud to have

helped.

Now I understand our city has grown to more than 25,000. Face it --

anywhere west of Barstow is being inundated with new residents.

Let me list a few reasons why I like to brag about living in Laguna.

During our 42 years here we have traveled extensively in Europe,

including behind the Iron Curtain, when it was truly enemy territory.

Also we have years of travel by motor home, more than 250,000 miles from

Alaska to Key Largo.

Let’s start with the weather: ideal year-round, no humidity, very few

insects, no need for air conditioning.

There is no other location on this earth where you can find so many

attractions to visit and enjoy within a two-hour easy commute.

Let’s head south to San Diego: Sea World, the San Diego Zoo and Wild

Animal Park and easy access to Mexico.

Then up to the Queen Mary, Ports of Call, Knott’s Berry Farm,

Disneyland, the Getty Museum, Huntington Museum and the historical

Missions.

In season our own Festival and Pageant, the Rose Parade, whale

watching and deep-sea fishing, surfing and skiing.

There are major league sports, including tennis and golf.

We do have our share of complaining about the politicians but we will

stay here enjoying our view as long as we can. We love Laguna Beach.

DAN AND MARY LOU HUSTON

Laguna Beach

SH Airplane noise is intrusive

Every morning I know it is 7:03 when I hear the first jet flying over

Laguna. I can even hear the jets flying over when I am taking a shower in

the morning, even though I have the bathroom window closed, the floor

heater on and the water running. At night when I am listening to a radio

program around 9 to 9:30 p.m. I have to turn the volume up so I can hear

it when the jets pass by.

I do not understand why the jets can not fly south past San Clemente

and then turn in.

The fact remains in Laguna most of us do not have air conditioning and

we enjoy moderate weather year-round, so most people probably have their

windows open and are forced to hear this noise.

MARIE SIMPSON

Laguna Beach

SH Laguna trees should be cherished

Dave Cornell writes frequently on his dislike of trees in Laguna. I

would like to know if he has ever visited Carmel where the citizens and

their City Council revere their trees and have protected them through the

many years of Carmel’s history?

Carmel has charmed visitors from all over the world. It is famous for

its beauty and for its art galleries. Great artists have chosen to settle

there because of its beautiful coastline, for its quaint houses and

lovely gardens, and for its ancient, weathered trees.

I would suggest Dave Cornell and those who agree with him ponder the

wisdom of the Carmel philosophy on the preservation of trees.

Let’s not destroy lovely old Laguna by allowing the cutting down of

its trees that add to the beauty of Laguna, that provide shade on hot

summer days and oxygen to keep the air clean.

And let’s keep lovely old Laguna by not allowing the building of huge

mansions along the ridgelines that will destroy the very reason artists

came here in the first place.

MARY NELSON

South Laguna

SH Some city budget suggestions

In consideration of the state’s anticipated deficit and the resulting

shortfall of funding to Laguna Beach, priorities for what should be in

and out of the city budget follow.

IN:

1. Sewer analysis, planning, repair, replacement and maintenance;

2. Revamp and update the city accounting system, technology and

reporting to the public (will pay for itself);

3. Hire a well-qualified grant writer (will give us a revenue stream)

OUT:

Nonprofits that have their own fund-raising organizations such as the

Playhouse, Boys & Girls Club, seniors, etc.

I would like to see in the Coastline the response to your question

from each of the current City Council members, any council candidates and

the city manager.

BOBBI COX

Laguna Beach

SH No harm in opening El Morro to public

There have been many letters written to the paper about opening up the

El Morro trailer park, a part of the Crystal Cove State Park, to the

public, both pro and con. For those opposed to the idea, and others, some

facts should be told.

* Only about 38% of the owners actually live full-time there, out of

295 total units.

* Many of the other units are rented out to others, with the owners

sometimes making money by charging rents well above and beyond what the

owners pay the state for their leases.

One can readily understand why people find real pleasure in living

there. It’s a beautiful, well-maintained beach in a quiet neighborhood.

However, the state purchased it 22 years ago and plans at last that the

public should have access to it.

To have campers and people in trailers stay there for a few days is

what has always been envisioned. That El Morro Elementary School is

adjacent to the park should not be a concern. The Concordia School in San

Clemente sits beside a state campground and finds only real advantages

for the students who have direct access to the area and its rangers.

Naturally, the park is well-patrolled frequently.

El Morro Canyon and its hiking and biking trails were opened to the

public many years ago by the State Parks Department. These are adjacent

to the trailer park and El Morro School. The park rangers say that

thousands use these trains annually and there have been no problems at

either the trailer park or the school.

My family’s experience of camping and backpacking in the parks from

Maine to Alaska to California has been wonderful, with no trouble with

other campers. Our hope is that the state’s plan will soon be fulfilled

and the park at last will indeed be open to the public.

CAROL MAXWELL

Laguna Beach