Schools should worry about kids first When...

Schools should worry about kids first

When will public school politics care more about student success

than their own political agendas? How tired I am of watching school

officials (paid by our tax dollars) hurt young people. In the case of

the “Squad loses coach, chance to compete,” in the March 25 edition

of the Independent, these girls will remember how they were robbed of

an opportunity to represent their high school in a national

competition after three years of hard work.

BECKY ETTINGER

Huntington Beach

NOTE: Becky Ettinger is the mother of former cheer coach Sarah

Ettinger.

Yes, Huntington Beach High School should have waited until after

the competition to fire the coach. Whether the school was required to

state the cause for firing or not, you’d think that in the interest

of fair play they would have had the courage (and decency) to tell

the incumbent coach why she was being released.

The fact that Sarah Ettinger was fired implies something

unsatisfactory about the coach’s performance or fitness that the

absence of “personality issues” statement doesn’t quite clear up.

Leaving things in the dark is unfair to Ettinger. Not to mention the

welfare of the team.

ROGER V. MILLETT

Huntington Beach

We must save all the wetlands we can

Boy, you bet we need to save every wetlands we can!

I think at this time in Huntington Beach, where they want to cover

everything and anything with a money spot, it needs to be protected.

We (the city of Huntington Beach) through the years have gotten

rid of so much wetlands, I bet that 85% is probably gone, so any spot

that can be saved for the animals that are still coming to migrate,

and that still live there, we owe it to each and everyone of them.

The Bolsa Chica is a definite keeper, but there are many spots

down the coast, that need just as much protection as it does, and if

it wasn’t for people like Joey Racano, he really knows how to tell it

like it is, and show’s how when saving “little shell” that is all

worth it, I thank him. If birds and animals could, they would too.

WOLF JOHNSON

Huntington Beach

More than 90% of California’s coastal wetlands have been destroyed

by development. The proper question then, is not which remaining

wetlands should be saved, but how can we save what little is left?

Wetlands serve a multitude of important functions for the health

of our planet and the benefit of our community.

Wetlands:

* Are wildlife havens for hundreds of species of birds and aquatic

creatures

* Serve as rest stops for migrating birds along the Pacific Flyway

* Serve as spawning grounds for ocean going fish

* Serve as flood control basins during storms

* Purify toxins that come with urban runoff into our waterways

* Hold water to keep up our water tables

* Are places where students can observe and learn about nature

* Add beauty and serenity to our hectic world

* Are natural sanctuaries for birders, photographers, hikers and

joggers

* Can be an economic bonanza for the tourist industry

Let us restore Little Shell, Bolsa Chica and Huntington beach

Wetlands. It makes sense for many reasons: environmental, educational

and economic. What a rare and glorious resource wetlands are to

Huntington Beach.

MARINKA HORACK

Huntington Beach

Weeds show city’s rapid decline

What with all the weeds growing all over our streets and

sidewalks, Huntington Beach is starting to look like some poor areas

of Los Angeles. It’s all over town too, weeds growing by the curbs,

next to walls, and lots of them two and three feet tall.

Apparently, the city wants to get back at taxpayers for that real

estate refund we got and are determined to show us who’s boss by

cutting city services where it will really show. Well, the city

fathers can keep on cutting back on this type of city upkeep until

Huntington Beach is no longer an attractive place to live, or for new

businesses to want to locate here.

Our neglected potholes have been bad enough, but those ugly weeds

really look like our city is in rapid decline.

DON AND MARY KEELEY

Huntington Beach

Surf City speed trap back for no reason

Well, I see that the Huntington Beach Police have reactivated the

speed trap on Edwards Street between Ellis and Garfield avenues. The

speed limit there is posted at 40 mph for no apparent reason, while

all other streets in the area are posted at 45 mph. Besides wanting a

local speed trap, what other reasons could there be for the lowered

speed limit? That part of Edwards is an excellent four-lane road

that’s relatively flat. Ellis, a three lane road that dead ends into

Edwards, goes up and down hills plus has two semi-blind horse

crossings, yet it’s posted at 45 mph. Garfield, a six-lane road that

crosses Edwards, runs right in front of an elementary school, yet

it’s also posted at 45 mph. The only thing on Edwards in that area is

a fire station, but it has it’s own traffic signal. Does Huntington

Beach really want its own speed trap? I think not. Raise the speed

limit at that part of Edwards to 45 and be done with it.

RAY STANN

Huntington Beach

Give peace and peace pole a chance here

I believe that the city of Huntington Beach should wholeheartedly

and gratefully accept the gift of the peace pole. I think placing the

peace pole at the Huntington Beach Central Library is a wonderful

idea because the library is a place of knowledge and learning. If

more people were open to learning, then maybe there could be less

ignorance in this world -- and at the moment -- in our city. Give

peace a chance.

TOBY GOODE

Huntington Beach