Who’s lived in Costa Mesa for...

Who’s lived in Costa Mesa for 50 years?

Now that the planning of Costa Mesa’s 50th anniversary celebration

is in full swing (Costa Mesa City Council wrap-up,” Sept. 19), I’d

like to offer a suggestion to the Daily Pilot and to our City

Council:

As our family has lived in the same house since 1949 (53 years), we wonder how many other residents of Costa Mesa have lived in the

same house for half a century? How many residents do we have that

have lived in Costa Mesa for 50 years, but not necessarily in the

same domicile? Wouldn’t it be interesting to find out?

Perhaps the Pilot could start a series on this subject and include

recollections of some of these “old timers.” I know there must be

more than just “two” residents who have lived in the same house or in

the same town since its incorporation.

KATHLEEN ERIC

Westside

El Toro would carry South County’s share

According to a Sept. 5 letter in the Daily Pilot, Ann Merritt is

amazed that people believe that the answer to eliminating flights

over our heads is to build El Toro (Airport Debate, “El Toro would

only add to pollution”); and so I’ll try to explain the situation to

her in as simple terms as possible.

Orange County is already one of the most populated counties in

America, and thanks to South County cities, it is rapidly growing

even bigger. One can deny it till they’re blue in the face and bury

their head in the sand, but the fact is without an El Toro airport,

John Wayne Airport will be forced to expand.

It is those additional flights and pollution that pro-airport

activists like Rick Taylor, Shirley Conger and Bonnie O’Neil are

referring to and trying to prevent.

El Toro airport does not have to be a huge commercial airport,

just one large enough to eliminate the need for our cities to take

the entire burden. It is a matter of taking a fair share of the

responsibility, instead of shoving it all on our already impacted

communities.

JEAN OLSON

Newport Beach

Parents need to teach children how to be safe

As the mother of four children, I wonder why I’m not reading this

headline: Parents key to keeping students safe (A Closer Look,

“Teachers key to keeping students safe,” Sept. 23).

I remember, growing up, my parents divorced when I was 8 (a long

time ago). We moved from a big house to a small apartment (My mom,

brother and I). Mom had to go to work (dad refused to give child

support). We were given strict instructions what to do.

My point is, a lot of parents are so busy earning a lot of money,

they haven’t instructed their kids on how to behave. It wouldn’t

surprise me if some of these high school students “encouraged” the

teacher.

Wait a minute. That isn’t right, but this could be the case: The

teachers should still be prosecuted. Parents: Teach your children, at

a young age, about “good touches and bad touches.” To tell when an

adult is doing something that’s wrong. Maybe more education is

needed.

JUDITH HUNT

Costa Mesa

Whitehead for top 103

I want to ditto the comment about Capt. Mike Whitehead for being

in the 103 list in for what he has done and is doing for our harbor,

boaters, fishermen and residents (Readers Respond, “Several names

were missing from DP 103 list,” Tuesday). Can Mike write more of the

travel stories to other harbors?

DAVE BECKNER

Newport Beach