New program can save other young...

New program can save other young football players’ lives

Thank you, Drs. Douglas Harrington and Michael Wells (“Safety

net,” Friday).

What a wonderful program they have initiated at Newport Harbor

High School. If this type of testing and safety equipment had been in

effect a year ago, our grandson Matt Colby would probably be alive

today. Although he suffered the most extreme effects of multiple

brain injuries, how many of our kids have so-called mild concussions

and suffer long-term or permanent brain damage that goes undetected?

We don’t know if Matt’s death inspired this new (to our area)

safety effort, but it appears that this program could be adopted for

all the other high schools in the Newport-Mesa Unified School

District at very little cost but invaluable benefits. What price do

you put on your child’s ability to reason properly or even his or her

life?

We would hope to see more improved guidelines and procedures to

deal with head injuries, not only for football but other sports as

well. Included in this would be better equipment and training for all

those involved in the athletic programs, to be able to identify and

deal with these injuries. This new effort by Harrington and Wells

appears to be an excellent start. Again, thank you.

MIKE AND MARTI COLBY

Costa Mesa

Gay rally response doesn’t offer a satisfying answer

In defending the Orange County Dyke March, letter writer Sandra

Basmacyian gives advice to mothers of small children who ask

questions about the gay rally (Mailbag, “Here’s advice for the

inquisitive mother,” Aug. 14).

Basmacyian suggests she tell them the gay and lesbian community is

comprised of wonderful people, professional people, loving people.

That may be true, and I appreciate Basmacyian’s loyalty to her

lesbian daughter, but what if the questioning child then asks “so

what has that to do with marching in a parade?” It gets back to the

same problem, homosexuals are so concerned with promoting their

sexual preference that they fail to understand the problems that the

aggressiveness creates for others. I don’t want to have to explain

homosexuality to my 7-year-old child, and I very much resent their

“in your face” approach that pressures me to do so.

PATTY LIVINGSTON

Costa Mesa

Thieves should pay for stolen carts, not stores

Could I possibly have this right? The Costa Mesa City Council

wants to financially punish local stores when their carts are stolen

(“Council pushing to clean up carts,” Aug. 16).

Apparently, it is a grocery store’s fault if people walk off with

their carts. What ever happened to finding the guilty culprits,

enforcing the law and punishing the right people? Isn’t it still

illegal to take someone else’s property? Just who does the City

Council think will ultimately end up paying for the store’s fine or

extra cost associated with making those carts more secure? Everyone

who buys groceries.

My 82-year-old mother who lives off of her Social Security doesn’t

drive. She knows it is wrong to steal a store’s expensive cart and so

her solution was to buy a small inexpensive pull cart. The City

Council could learn a lesson from her regarding morality and

responsibility.

JUANITA PEREZ

Costa Mesa

Everything is just ducky in Grand Canal since roundup

A super big thank-you to Newport Beach City Councilman Steve

Bromberg and the multi-agency task force for removing 60 ducks from

the Grand Canal on Balboa Island (“Duck -- duck -- vamoose,” Friday).

You missed 10, and certain individuals are feeding the escapees and

making plans for more breeding; however, in the meantime it is a

delight to be able to sleep squawk-free through the night and to be

able to stroll the 200 block and not want to burn my shoes upon

returning to my home. The kids and adults who swim in the Grand Canal

thank you too.

MIKE BUETTELL

Balboa Island