Fish Fry needs to get even bigger...

Fish Fry needs to get even bigger and better

I went to the Fish Fry this weekend, and while I am happy that the

tradition has returned, I am upset by the size.

This event is a major tradition in this town that has so little

tradition left. The city needs to step up and help out the Lions Club

sponsor this event so that they can get a decent spot. (Lions Park is

just too small and doesn’t draw the crowds because it’s not visible

from Newport Boulevard anymore.) And the city should help the club

afford insurance, which I am sure is a problem after the lawsuit.

Somewhere in this town is a piece of land big enough (the Farm

Sports Complex or a Segerstrom parcel or a mall parking lot) that can

hold this event in its glory.

Don’t let the one fun thing this city has to offer die because of

lack of city support.

DIETER KUTZ

Costa Mesa

Developers should leave some beach at the beach

The name of my business is Rockaway Partners; Rockaway is a beach

where I grew up on the Atlantic. I moved from there to California in

the 1950s and lived in Malibu, Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach and am

now a resident of Breakers Drive in Corona del Mar. We do not need a

“Baywatch” structure at Corona del Mar State Beach; the focus should

be the beach, and as I learned in a sandy environment from a drill

sergeant in Fort Ord, Calif.: KISS, “keep it simple, stupid” (of

course, he was speaking to me, so only “KIS” to the council as a

group).

Our beach is timeless. Let’s keep the pristine purity of a simple

sanctuary, which we all revere. No multilevel structures.

Regarding low-rise construction, I do have a suggestion. “Polish”

the existing theme of structures, but focus on quality foodservice.

Corona del Mar has an incredible list of top-tier eating

establishments. Get them involved, seek their wisdom. Consider the

Corona del Mar Main Beach food court. Gordon Kilmer could be the

“commissioner” to work through the process. La Fogata, Crab Cooker,

Baja Fresh, Nagima, Bandera, Gulf Stream, fresh juices from Health

Emporium, old-fashioned grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, fresh onions

... yum, you get the idea.

Bottom line, the spotlight should always be on a “clean beach”

(oh, and by the way, those early morning guys do a great job!). We do

not need a structure! Keep it minimal, well, KIS!!

TOD PARROTT

Newport Beach

Curved roads don’t kill people, people do

I am calling to take exception to the caption under the picture on

the Forum page the May 24 Daily Pilot, which refers to “dangerous

road conditions” on Irvine Avenue that “led to many accidents.” On

the contrary, road conditions are not dangerous, but irresponsible

driving on Irvine Avenue is very dangerous and has led to many

accidents. It isn’t the road, it is the irresponsible speeding

drivers which creates the danger and the accidents.

GORDON MARHOEFER

Costa Mesa

Nichols’ comments were inappropriate

My response to your story of May 24 (“Councilman’s comments anger

City Hall”), as a 50-year resident of Newport and active in community

affairs, I feel Councilman Dick Nichols spoke inappropriately in

front of the Planning Commission. Not only was it inappropriate, it

was slanderous and extreme.

Nichols voted against making the Port a landmark theater and is

negative about the purchase or lease of the vacant lot next to the

Corona del Mar post office for much needed parking. The very least

Nichols should do is to apologize to the dedicated residents who give

so much time and effort on the Planning Commission for the betterment

of our community.

LUVENA HAYTON

Corona del Mar

Nichols’ straight talk is needed on council

I coached football a long time ago with Dick Nichols. I am not

surprised that his straightforward and honest commentary might upset

people.

It takes an honest man. He is just a wonderful citizen and it is

really refreshing to see a guy like him on the City Council. Any city

council member should be able to sit in and talk at or be heard from

any meeting that is going on in the city. That is why we elect them,

to keep an eye on things for us. It’s really good to have a

nonpolitical person in a political position being an honest guy. I

like Dick Nichols.

DAVE RIGGLE

Costa Mesa

Newport not a likely spot for affordable housing

It is almost impossible to build affordable housing in a resort

town [like Newport Beach]. Property values are too high.

JAMES ORSTAD

Newport Beach

Kona Lanes’ Tiki sign deserves to be saved

The Kona Lanes sign is a very famous sign, it is currently in a

book called “The Book of Tiki, American Art,” and it is available at

Barnes and Noble. The book describes different architecture across

the country of the Tiki culture, and Kona Lanes is currently in that

book.

I believe they should save the sign if they change the shopping

center and name the shopping center Kona Lanes, like a shopping lane.

SANDRA BASMACIYAN

Corona del Mar

Hope to see Omelette Parlor stay in town

Within walking distance in our neighborhood is an incredible

restaurant, the Omelette Parlor. It has been there for 20 years, and

I was very sad to find out when my son and I went down to have lunch

there today, that they are scheduled to close at the end of June.

When their lease was let up, it turns out that Vons, now owned by

Safeway, owns that block of property.

When you walk into that wonderful coffee shop, you see all the

wonderful pictures of Costa Mesa and what it was like in the

yesteryears, and it is a wonderful hangout for all of us. They are at

179 E. 17th St. They are not too far from Longs Drugs and not too far

from Vons, and I think it would be well worth it to get some

information and see if we can stop this. It is a horrible change for

us.

I don’t want another national brand chain. Most stores on 17th

Street don’t make it at all, and we want to have our local hangout

where we know our friends and our friends know us and the people who

cook know us by name and the food is predictable, but home cooked.

PAT KOVALCHECK

Costa Mesa