Memories of spinning the platters for Pooles’...

Memories of spinning the platters for Pooles’ station

A smile crossed my lips and warm memories rushed from the far

reaches of my mind as I read the “endless love” story of the Pooles

of Corona del Mar. I was privileged to be a small part of the FM

radio team that John assembled to introduce a new sound to the

airwaves in Southern California. It was 1959, and it was called KBIQ

FM -- not the KBIG FM that it is known as today. We took great pride

in working for John Poole. He was and is a genuine class act.

My particular shift was on the air from noon to midnight on

Saturdays and Sundays. That allowed me to live on the beach at Malibu

from Monday through Friday. More importantly, I met my wife Jeanne

while a KBIQ disc jockey, and courted her by using one of the perks

of the day, fabulous record parties. It was the best of times -- food

and drinks, and no payola. In those days, we were a stepchild of AM

radio. We knew we were doing something great, yet few American cars

were equipped with FM radios.

A few years later, after the advent of stereo, the industry turned

upside down and the little orphan became the prize. I have to give

credit to Jack Wagner, Roger Wagner’s brother, for setting KBIQ’s

light jazz tone with George Shearing, Dave Brubeck, Bill Evans, the

Modern Jazz Quartet and so many others. However, it was John Poole

who had the vision.

Thanks John, for the memories.

MERRITT JOHNSON

Corona del Mar

A different us versus them to plague Costa Mesa

Response to “Us versus them continues to hurt Costa Mesa,”

Wednesday.

Geoff West has demonstrated how even a well-reasoned individual

can be lured into the fog surrounding the issues on the Westside.

This is caused by presenting “symptoms” of a condition rather than

the condition itself, then ascribing questionable values to those who

comment on these “symptoms.”

The us versus them could be characterized as: Us -- those hoping

to improve conditions for all of the residents of the Westside by

fighting the continued “urbanization” process; and Them -- those who

for whatever reason wish to spread this “urbanization” throughout

Costa Mesa using the “Westside model.”

If West doubts this “Urbanization,” all he need do is check the

agenda at previous council meetings: Mesa Verde parking problems,

Kohl’s department store, the Home Ranch sell out and 1901 Newport

Blvd., just to name a few.

Given the magnitude of the “issue,” itself, the “symptoms” present

a different perspective and relate less to any one individual than

the total population.

MIKE BERRY

Costa Mesa

Friendship lost in councilman’s comment

This letter is addressed to Dick Nichols. A man that I greatly

respected died this year, Moe Hamill. He was my neighbor. He fought

in many wars, including World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam

War. He was involved in many civic organizations in Newport Beach. I

think he exemplified the best of Newport Beach: friendship. Though he

fought in these wars, he spent the majority of his life reconciling

with the men he fought against. He flew in the Berlin Lift, risking

his life to feed the poor children and families starving in Germany.

When he made Newport Beach his home, he was instrumental in

establishing the Sister City program with Okazaki, Japan. Men and

women that were bitter enemies were brought together in celebration

of friendship. I think the part I loved best about Moe was there was

no us against them, he included everyone.

There are admirable leaders in this community that supported you,

councilman, as a Greenlight candidate. I figure, in order for them to

give their endorsement, you must have demonstrated leadership

qualities. But it is my belief as a leader you have not developed

enough. If a rose is a rose is a rose, than a bigot is a bigot is a

bigot. I don’t believe anything is ever that simple, there are shades

of gray. Many have accused you of being a bigot for your comments

about Mexicans using the grass area. I am not writing this letter to

judge you. I am asking you to acknowledge that your comments were

hurtful to many people. It appears by comments you have made to the

press that you are proud of not caving into pressure to be

“politically correct” and being able to speak your mind.

I ask you to step down at this time. If Moe was alive today, he

might have been able to break down the barriers of prejudice you have

for Mexicans or people that appear to you as Mexicans. He would have

done it like he did everything in his life through friendship. He

would have you eat with the families on the grass and hear their

stories. You would learn that there is not much that separates you

and these families. But at this time, you are not evolved enough in

the area of tolerance and respect to be a leader in Newport Beach.

I hope in the future you realize fully how offensive your comments

are not only to the “Mexicans,” but to all people that see beyond the

stereotypes to a person’s true character. You see, Newport Beach is

not only a sister city to Okazaki, Japan, but also Cabo San Lucas,

Mexico. How can we extend our hands in friendship to the Mexican

citizens in Cabo San Lucas when we have a councilman that says

derogatory comments about Mexicans?

CYNDIE BORCOMAN

Newport Beach

Newport-Mesa not serving all students well

In Hank Panian’s article, “One path to a better education” (Daily

Pilot special section, June 27), he notes that the decision to “merge

the three school districts” brought both “proponents and opponents

out of the woodwork.” Had I been living in Costa Mesa at the time,

I’m pretty sure I would have come out of the woodwork along with many

others. I say this largely because I am not in agreement with

historian Panian that Newport-Mesa Unified is a “huge benefit for our

youth.”

Except for a small percentage of students, Newport-Mesa s a

largely segregated school system. This is especially prominent in its

secondary school system, where one school has already met its

requirements for state testing while another is far below on the API

scoring. Completion and graduation records further show sharp

differences in all four high schools. It appears that the local

governing board and the district administration are content to

maintain the status quo year after year without any special

innovation or creative effort to raise the levels of academic

achievement at the poor performers along with the high performers.

It would be interesting to the residents of the Newport-Mesa

Unified School District to know what its leadership is doing to

improve academic learning in its secondary school system. It’s

possible that the use of an academic decathlon may serve as a

stimulus and motivation to impact dramatically on those schools where

academic achievement is a lower priority. Since the sports or

athletic team model is already part of the system, it goes without

saying -- as it’s been proven county- and nationwide -- that the

academic decathlon can be easily replicated and introduced into the

system as a positive force for learning.

LEFTERIS LAVRAKAS

Costa Mesa