Professionals praise Ecuador series I would like...

Professionals praise Ecuador series

I would like to thank the Daily Pilot for its recent series “Hands

that Heal” documenting the recent trip to the Amazon by Plasticos

Foundation. As president and founder of Plasticos Foundation, I would

also like to thank you for sending Deepa Bharath and Don Leach to

chronicle our medical mission to Ecuador in August.

Leach gives the expression “a picture is worth a thousand words” a

whole new meaning, and Bharath brought the patients to life with her

biographies and hospital vignettes. The images coupled with the text

truly captured the essence of our team’s medical mission and allowed

us to share it with your readers.

This trip was made possible only through the generosity of our

community. The Plasticos team’s trips are funded entirely by

donations from individuals who desire to make a difference in the

world. All medicines, equipment and supplies are donated, and all

team members use their vacation time from work to go. We are a

completely volunteer organization at all levels. One hundred percent

of funds donated result in life-altering surgery, transforming a

child’s life and educating doctors to continue these efforts after we

leave. Special thanks are in order for those who have already helped

make these miracles happen.

For our foundation to continue efforts to perform life-changing

surgeries on children in need we need your help. Please consider

being part of our team by enabling us to continue this work through

your tax deductible donations of money, air miles, or other assets to

Plasticos Foundation in Huntington Beach.

LARRY NICHTER

Huntington Beach

* EDITOR’S NOTE: Nichter is a plastic surgeon at Hoag Hospital.

Smith makes sense on environment

I just finished reading Joan Irvine Smith’s article in Tuesday’s

Daily Pilot, and all I want to say is everyone in California should

read her commentary. She brought up many items like fighting

pollution and protecting our natural resources. Just remember how

this presidential administration was all for drilling off

California’s coast but not off Florida’s. Through laws passed and

enforced, our air is so much better. I could go on and on. Think

before you vote.

ARDY HURST

Costa Mesa

Running red light can be unintentional

I think that the red-light camera is a good idea. I found myself

entering the Newport Boulevard and 17th Street intersection while

going west on a green light but was unable to get through on the

yellow because of the back up of cars waiting to turn left on

Superior Avenue.

It appears that the light on Superior Avenue is not synchronized

with the light on Newport Boulevard. Maybe it is, but there appears

to be a stack-up of cars going across Newport Boulevard, which leaves

me stranded in the intersection when the light turns red. I don’t

know what the answer to this is other than to avoid the intersection.

CHRIS HANSEN

Newport Beach

Does the camera add 10 pounds?

Are red lights cameras a good idea? Only if you have signs at the

intersection that avail people that they are being watched by

cameras. If they put the signs up there fine. If not, it’s obviously

an entrapment method to get more revenue.

RON WINSHIP

Newport Beach