Tidepools deserve more care, concern In recent...

Tidepools deserve more care, concern

In recent weeks, I have noticed an increase in letters regarding

the need for education and additional assistance in safeguarding the

tidepools in Laguna. As a longtime resident and beachgoer I have been

very much in agreement..

Recently Nancy Bushnell addressed the need to preserve the

tidepools as a resource for generations to come. The visit of my son

and his family from the Midwest has given me the impetus to write.

The joy of showing my grandson (a fourth generation to enjoy

Laguna) the tidepools was somewhat overshadowed by the dramatic

changes that have occurred since I was young. The tidepool animals

such as hermit crabs, Ochre Stars and Bat stars are only a few of the

animals no longer in abundance. They are, in fact, very rare and are

difficult to observe at all these days. In the days when I was

growing up on Shaw’s Cove, these animals were taken for granted. It

is clear that this mind set is changing and preservation must

continue to be a matter of great concern to the guardians of the

Laguna Coast line.

The new signs are greatly appreciated and are helpful enforcement

tools when confronting well-meaning but uninformed visitors on the

beach with collection buckets in hand. The lifeguards are an

additional resource for enforcement of the marine preserve rules.

But it is clear that education and enforcement is the duty of

every individual resident concerned with preservation of the

tidepools and beaches of Laguna in order to ensure the safety of the

animals and the wonder of the Laguna coast for future generations .

LOUANNE WILLIAMSON

Laguna Beach

Docent program needs help

Last Thursday, two other tidewater docents and I had an

interesting experience at the beach below Heisler Park.

The three of us arrived at 9:30 a.m. and within a few minutes an

elementary school class showed up at the lifeguard headquarters with

teachers and parents in tow. Since this group had called ahead to the

lifeguards to tell them that they were coming, one lifeguard was able

to make a five-minute presentation that included a short shot of the

siren then introduced the docents.

The kids were divided into three groups, each with a docent, then

off we went to the tidepools. It was such a pleasure showing the kids

the tidepool creatures and answering their questions. We were even

able to answer questions for the teacher and the parents too.

As we were saying goodbye to the first group, another, unscheduled

group of elementary school children, teachers and parents arrived. As

they reached the beach, the children scattered and although we

introduced ourselves to the teacher and suggested that she corral the

children so we could show them around, she was unable to do so.

The docents were left to running around trying to stop the

children from ripping sea anemones and mussels off the rocks. It was

pure chaos. And there was a safety factor involved as well. The tide

was coming in and the waves were in the three- to four-foot range and

some of the kids put themselves into precarious situations standing

at the outermost edge of the rocks. Fortunately, no one got hurt but

a few of them got wet halfway up their pants.

The contrast between the two groups was startling in behavior, in

safety and in what the children got out of their tidepool experience.

When the lifeguards know that classes are coming and are able to give

them a five-minute introduction, the children and the tidepools fare

far better than when the kids “hit the beach running.” Usually the

scene is far more frenzied when there is no lifeguard or docent

supervision. We just happened to be at the tidepools on Thursday, but

it would work much better if we knew in advance when field trips are

coming because there are not enough docents to cover even one beach

all the time.

Why doesn’t Laguna Beach have some kind of a “reservation” system

with the schools within a 60-mile radius of the city? Newport Beach

does. Isn’t it time that Laguna Beach implement a similar program?

MIA DAVIDSON

Laguna Beach

Children need to be taught respect

I have been reading with interest to the recent articles and

letter about the tidepools. As a resident of Laguna and a mother of

two young children, we often spend days at the beach.

We enjoy the sun, play in the sand, but most of all we marvel at

the sea creatures and the way they are hidden under water at high

tides -- and a few hours later they are exposed at low tides.

I love to watch the wonder in my children’s faces when they come

across hermit crabs, starfish or giant keyhole limpets.

I have taught my children how to enjoy the sea creatures without

causing harm to them. However, I see so many other parents who lack

the respect of the tidepools and their occupants. It becomes very

difficult to explain to my children that they must be caretakers of

our beaches when they witness so many people mistreating the habitat

of the sea creatures. Why isn’t more being done to teach children to

respect and protect the tidepools?

LISA SCHECHTER

Laguna Beach

Saving hospital needed by Laguna

The thought of losing our hospital, South Coast Medical Center, is

a terrible thing, and we must not allow it to happen (“Medical

services to be evaluated,” April 23).

This very day I brought my wife home from the hospital after a

four-day stay (she had surgery on Wednesday). The professionalism,

efficiency and friendliness of the staff was outstanding.

In December 2002 I had a heart attack. Having the hospital 10

minutes away from our home may have saved my life.

So I’ll say it again -- we must not allow our hospital to close.

KEITH CONWAY

Laguna Beach

Hospital must be, and can be, kept

As the mother of two young children, both of whom were born at

South Coast Medical Center, I shudder to think of this facility

closing, leaving our town without a hospital to serve its residents

and the hundreds of thousands more visitors who come here year-round.

In 1954, when a local police officer died of a gunshot wound on

the way to a too-distant hospital, it was a wake-up call for the

south Orange County area, whose population was then a fraction of

what it is now.

The community’s ultimate response to that tragic event was to

build South Coast Medical Center -- south county’s first hospital --

and for 45 years we’ve relied on it.

The possibility of losing the hospital and having to take our

medical emergencies and health problems to other cities is a grim

reality.

The very possible closure of South Coast Medical Center is

literally a life-and-death topic.

Everyone in this town needs to understand this and together work

to find a way to prevent it from happening.

The people of Laguna have proven repeatedly that we’re a community

that knows how to rally around a cause. If we can raise $100,00 for a

playground rocket ship in Bluebird Park, we can do what it takes to

keep our local hospital open.

If you’re as concerned as I, contact your City Council members or

the city’s local consultants, First Strategies: 494-2028 or

first.strategies@verizon.net.

BARBARA MCMURRAY

Laguna Beach

Whales put on amazing Aliso show

“It was beautiful!”

I heard the woman say to a man (she did not know), who was

standing on the beach looking out to Sea.

“Yes it was,” he replied.

I had just walked past this man, who stopped me to ask, “How many

were there?”

I exclaimed, “A whole Pod!” I thought it was only one or two

whales, but then five or more surfaced all at once!”

In our mutual admiration for something so beautiful and

spectacular in nature, we and all of the others who watched the show,

just 50 yards or so off the shore at Aliso Creek Beach, felt an awe,

an admiration and respect for those beasts that so delighted us this

afternoon.

It was one of those all-too- rare moments when total strangers

from many different walks of life feel compelled to speak out to each

other in wonder at the amazing display that nature gives us witness

to.

As I picked up my small daughter, who was playing in the sand and

oblivious to all of the commotion, I felt a renewal and lifting of

some of the life stresses that seemed to plague me this day. We

returned to the car and I felt compelled to stay for just a few more

moments to record this experience. As I finished this note, one last

whale surfaced as if to say, “Come again, we all need to enjoy each

other more often.”

JULIA NITOGLIA

Laguna Beach

Nyes decision not going to help

Sad to see the result of the City Council’s ruling on the Nyes

Place issue with runaway construction trucks (“Speed limit to drop on

Nyes,” April 23).

What goes up must come down. So simply we need to have a weight

limitation on trucks. As a reminder to all residents, only

construction trucks had accidents on Nyes Place. No reason to punish

the people that are above Nyes Place and their cars. No stop sign or

15 mph limit or speed humps will stop a runaway truck.

ROSS FALLAH

Laguna Beach

Getting involved worth time, effort

Re: “More needed on boards,” April 23.

As president of California Choreographers Dance Festival, which

was featured prominently in the article last week, I would like to

say that I think it only told part of the story.

It is true that we are always seeking new volunteers to bring

their ideas and their energy to what we do -- the more people willing

to help, the easier the job is for all involved. And it is also true

that there is a core group of people here in Laguna who contribute an

astonishing amount to the community and often wind up serving with

multiple organizations -- it would be better for all if this sort of

overlap could be avoided. But I think what was left out of the story

is that getting involved in what interests you in your community is

what makes a place a community instead of just a collection of

featureless, faceless homes and businesses.

I have devoted a significant amount of my time to the dance

festival over the past three years, and although it has been a lot of

work, it has also been a lot of fun. It has been a pleasure working

with my fellow board members -- their dedication constantly amazes

me. The choreographers whose works we present, and the members of the

public who enjoy the dance classes and performances we offer, all

have nothing but gratitude and enthusiasm for what we have

accomplished. And what we have accomplished is significant: with a

budget of less than $20,000, and with no paid staff and board members

who all work “day” jobs, our current season will present two major

“Dance Day” events and a dozen or more outreach performances in

collaboration with other groups in town.

In fact, our next Dance Day is this Saturday -- join us at Main

Beach at 4 p.m. for a free dance performance. If you’re really

interested, drop by Legion Hall earlier in the dance to check out our

master classes -- no experience required. You may not want to be a

board member (although we do need a treasurer), but you can support

arts in your community simply by showing up and proving that what we

have to offer is important to you.

LORRAINE HORNBY

President, California

Choreographers Dance

Festival Laguna Beach

The Coastline Pilot is eager to run your letters. If your letter

does not appear, it may be because of space limitations, and the

letter will likely appear next week. If you would like to submit a

letter, write to us at P.O. Box 248, Laguna Beach, CA 92652; fax us

at (949) 494-8979; or send e-mail to coastlinepilot@latimes.com.

Please give your name and include your hometown and phone number, for

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