Port Theater holds many fond memories for...

Port Theater holds many fond memories for one resident

I am very much in favor of retaining the Port Theater as a

landmark, and to tear it down would be a terrible mistake in

judgment. I have lived in Corona del Mar for more than 50 years,

vividly remember taking my children there to see “Lassie” and other

family movies, as well as attending an Easter Sunday church service

there when there was an overflow crowd at Corona del Mar community

church.

I feel that reopening the Port would enhance other businesses in

the neighborhood, as well as allowing local residents to walk to the

theater.

LUVENA HAYTON

Corona del Mar

The Port Theater is nothing more than an eyesore

I would like to see it go; it is an eyesore. Even if they could

restore it, it would cost too much money to bring it up to today’s

technology for movies, and the parking would be terrible.

However, I would love to see some kind of 24-hour deli, like a New

York deli; there is no place in Corona del Mar after a certain hour

to get late-night snacks or coffee. I would love to see a craft store

coming in there, like the Tall Mouse in Laguna Hills. I would like to

see something like a Crocodile Cafe, a wonderful restaurant in La

Jolla, San Diego and Santa Monica, and I think it would be great in

Newport Beach.

But please, no more tofu, no more fitness centers. Let’s have

something real for real people.

SANDRA BASMACIYAN

Corona del Mar

Fond memories of the Port, enough to cry about

I am calling about the Port Theaters because of two of my fondest

memories. One was shaking paws with Lassie, which was probably

sometime in the 1950s, and as long as I could get away with not

washing my hand, I didn’t wash my hand and I was just a little child

and now I am a grandma.

And the other thing was that I was only kicked out once. A friend

and I cried so hard during a showing of “The Miracle” that we were

politely asked to leave and we had to call from the lobby and get

taken home.

It is such a part of the community.

SUSAN MAGORIEN

Irvine

One foundation perfect for Home Ranch money

The Daily Pilot outlines the perfect plan for the Home Ranch funds

that were a part of the city’s agreement with the Segerstroms (“Home

Ranch funds are for schools now,” Sunday). I wish I could express it

more succinctly, but I can’t; so listen up, City Council, as I quote

from the editorial’s defining paragraph: “It’s really quite simple:

Create one foundation for the three schools to avoid dividing the

city and force the foundation -- like the City Council -- to abide by

open meeting laws, since the money involved belongs to the public.”

Karen Robinson, the only attorney on the council, at least sees

the wisdom of the open meeting policy, which seemed to escape the

majority of the council. The council now has a second chance to get

it right. Let’s hope reason prevails this go around.

ILA JOHNSON

Costa Mesa

Capitalism is answer to Westside doldrums

Chuck Cassity is certainly to be commended for the accuracy of his

statements and reasoning regarding the Westside’s “problems”

(“Westside ‘problem’ will solve itself,” Sunday).

The only think I would add is to stop squandering many thousands

of the city’s dollars on experts printing numerous multi-paged books

containing thousands of pictures of properties on the Westside.

Instead, spend the money on furthering the construction of the 19th

Street bridge. When that bridge is in place, watch Cassity’s laws of

capitalism cascade their magic. It would take little time for 19th

Street to be improved greatly, especially west of Placentia Avenue.

Anyone who did not read Cassity’s letter to the editor in the

Sunday Daily Pilot certainly should.

MEL RICHLEY

Newport Beach

Development’s start brings back sad memory

Re: “Rock blasting set for Newport Coast,” Jan. 30.

This seems like an innocuous enough article, doesn’t it? As an

environmentalist and trail runner, I have logged many hours running

in El Moro Canyon. It is one of the most beautiful places in our

area. It was not unusual to see deer, snakes, lizards, cougars and

bobcat trails, plus a variety of birds.

But one day a couple of years ago, I saw earthmovers to the north

dressed in the distinctive yellow of impending development. This

article brought back the sadness of the first time I saw those yellow

monsters in this area.

While we still may have a chance to turn things around, it is

possible we may not notice when we’ve crossed the point of critical

damage (no return). Could it be that we already have?

J.B. LITVAK

Costa Mesa