Costa Mesa shares stage with world-class venues...

Costa Mesa shares stage with world-class venues

My family (me included, natch) and friends have seen Cirque du

Soleil many times: first, in the parking lot of Robinsons-May at

South Coast Plaza; then, at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa

Mesa; and last, in Las Vegas.

When Cirque announced that, due to College Park and Mesa del Mar

squabbles about noise and traffic, Costa Mesa would no longer be one

of their venues, I was both angry and sad. We Costa Mesans had cut

off our nose to spite our face. Too bad! So sad!

My home since 1970 is located within earshot of the fairgrounds,

the Orange Coast College football stadium, the Costa Mesa Police

Department helipad and John Wayne Airport. We have never lost any

sleep due to noise -- be it heavy metal concerts, roaring football

fans, midnight helicopters or 747 jets. Just thank your lucky stars,

people, that we don’t have to deal with the five Ts: trains tearing

through town, too. Just pop some earplugs in and snuggle your head

under the pillow. Live and let live, right?

Au contraire, mes amis. This Costa Mesan is proud to be hosting

such an illustrious group as Cirque du Soleil. According to their web

page, “since 1984, close to 40 million spectators have applauded

[our] shows.” And we’re talking all around the world.

Cirque du Soleil is currently touring with “Varekai,” and

“Alegria” in North America; “Saltimbanco” and “Dralion” in Europe;

and “Quidam” in Japan. Their shows “Mystere” and “O” are permanently

based in Las Vegas. “Zumanity” is permanently in New York, and “La

Nouba” is based in Orlando.

The hosting cities in the European tour include Milan, Rome,

London, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Seville, Lyon, Marseille, Lille and

Vienna.

The venues in the North America tour include Miami, St.

Petersburg, Fla., Atlanta, Philadelphia, San Diego, Phoenix, Denver,

Washington, D.C., Dallas, Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary.

Costa Mesa is rubbing shoulders with some high-profile,

internationally known cities. Goat Hill has come a long way. Let’s

keep the provincial “NIMBY” attitude about the Cirque du Soleil under

wraps this time around. Instead, let’s show some Costa Mesa class --

as in “world class.”

FLO MARTIN

Costa Mesa

Let the sunshine in

at the fairgrounds

I couldn’t wait for Cirque du Soleil to come back. I think those

are the most beautiful performers. I never had any complaints. As far

as I am concerned, they could come twice a year, and I would go twice

a year and see it.

So, I am very glad that hopefully the fairgrounds found a solution

and all the neighbors are happy now. But I strongly recommend for

everybody to go and see it.

LILO GRUENBECK

Costa Mesa

Ballot statement warrants an apology

After reading the Pilot article, “Zippi’s statement will stand” on

Jan. 7, I could not help but write. I must comment on how 70th

Assembly District candidate Marianne Zippi’s statement pales in

comparison to that of candidate Chuck DeVore.

In fact, I am shocked that no one has commented on the recent

change DeVore was forced to make to his statement. On the ballot,

DeVore stated that he is an Army major, when in fact he is not;

rather, it is reported that he is a member of the National Guard. To

the general public, such a misrepresentation might seem trivial, but

for me, it is of great importance.

I grew up in a military family and I know this much: While still

commendable, being a member of the National Guard is not the same as

serving as an Army officer. Rank inflation is a tremendous misdeed.

Both our veterans and current members in the armed services work hard

and take pride in the ranks they achieve.

To flippantly misstate one’s rank is not only in violation of

campaign rules, but is a slap in the face of those who have served

with honor. Indeed, trying to slip such a lie past the voters at a

point in time when we all feel a little more appreciative of our

servicemen and women in Iraq and elsewhere should be roundly

condemned. DeVore is the one who should apologize, not Zippi.

ERICK COUGHLIN

Newport Beach