Principal is one principled woman My husband...

Principal is one principled woman

My husband and I have been friends of Sharon Blakely for 36 years,

and we’re just reading about her retirement and have known about this

(“Parents bid bond farewell,” Wednesday). But I just wanted to tell

the readers or the paper that she is brilliant and wonderful at work,

and she is equally that at home and with her friends. And we love her

and are honored to call her friend.

PATTY GWIN

Corona del Mar

Expansion about the right influence

I have been a member of St. Andrew’s Church for 21 years, and

there has been no growth in the past 20 years.

What we are looking for is the future, and that is in our

children. For the past 10 years, the children’s needs have been

neglected, and we are trying to make up for that with a new indoor

gym and a building for youth, which would be on the existing

property. The new building would be soundproof for noise abatement.

We have been asked to drive around the school when going to

church, and I have been doing that. Also, I used to park on the side

of a neighbor, and now I park on the side of the street where the

church is. With the addition of parking spots in our new facility,

the parking of students -- who go out to their cars every two hours

to change their location -- and the problem of more students parking

off the school grounds should be helped. “The expansion” people have

signs up for is based on some false evidence that the Rev. John

Huffman said there would be no more expansion. What he said was that

there would be no more expansion toward Cliff Drive, where houses

were purchased the last time the church was renovated. More than 50%

of the planned expansion is underground on the church’s existing

property.

I beseech you to find out what St. Andrew’s is doing for the

community, the United States and the world, and keep this powerful

influence continuing as the children grow up. They need a place to

worship, just like the adults.

WILLARD E. TOLLES

Huntington Beach