Gratitude is united, as is the community...

Gratitude is united,

as is the community

Costa Mesa United would like to express its sincere appreciation

to our community newspaper, which went above and beyond in support of

our first Mesa Verde Classic ( “A United day birdies for Costa Mesa

youth,” Jan. 18).

The Pilot staff and Mesa Verde Country Club are responsible for

the success of our tournament -- it raised an estimated $65,000 --

but that’s not to forget the players and donors as well.

Two huge community assets add up to one successful tournament, and

we simply say: “Thank you very much.”

DAVID BROOKS

Costa Mesa

* EDITOR’S NOTE: Brooks is president of Costa Mesa United and a

trustee of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District board. Costa Mesa

United is a nonprofit group made up of local community members with a

goal of raising money to build an athletic stadium at Estancia High

School and an aquatic center at Costa Mesa High.

Let’s get out there for

the betterment of all

In his recent column (“A tale of two cities,” Friday), Pilot

Editor Tony Dodero said, “ ... I need to get out more.... “

This Costa Mesa resident and blogger came to the same conclusion,

for himself, months ago!

I came here from the Inland Empire in early 2003 and had hopes of

really getting out and about -- to explore and write about life in

the Costa Mesa, Newport Beach and Huntington Beach areas.

Things started out promising, with lots of interesting things to

write about, but life sort of got in the way for a while, and I got

sidetracked.

This article just reinforced some thoughts I’ve been having

lately, as stability has finally come to my life in my new community.

I’d like to encourage my fellow local bloggers -- there are a

small number of them, and you know who you are! -- to join me, by

getting out, exploring the region, writing about it, speaking out on

issues of importance to you and adding your voices to those of the

Daily Pilot, for the betterment of all.

KIRIL KUNDURAZIEFF

Costa Mesa

Name-calling serves only to further divide

The Daily Pilot does very little public service by encouraging

letters from those who resort to name-calling.

The most recent example was Geoff West’s Sunday commentary, “Might

as well do away with the JWA.”

In his piece advocating a commercial airport at El Toro, he refers

to South County residents as “whiners,” the mayor of Irvine as

“Emperor Agran” and those who worked against the El Toro project --

presumably including me -- as “a few greedy, shortsighted people.”

This vitriol serves only to further divide Orange County at a time

when it is under attack by Los Angeles.

Los Angeles politicians are promoting legislation for a

state-mandated regional airport authority with power to build and

expand airports.

If such a bill passes in Sacramento, a new L.A.- dominated

bureaucracy will be empowered to build El Toro but also to pursue the

less expensive alternative of expanding existing airports like John

Wayne.

The Newport Beach-based Airport Working Group sends delegations to

Los Angeles City Council meetings to promote the idea that Orange

County needs more airport capacity.

Then writers like West call for sharing the “air transportation

burden.” This invites offloading of some of the traffic at LAX onto

Orange County, possibly by lifting the caps at John Wayne.

We must pull together to protect local control. That message needs

to be conveyed to Pilot readers.

LEONARD KRANSER

Dana Point

Park and marina would celebrate anniversary

The city of Newport Beach has at long last the opportunity to

fulfill a long overdue need for a public bay-front marina and

recreational park to complement the largest yacht basin in the United

States.

How fortunate to have ownership of the land. It’s a golden chance

for the 100th anniversary of the city to accomplish this endeavor --

a steering committee and public input for a very well-done project

that will serve as a monument to the city in an upscale, appropriate

manner.

Other area waterfront parks should be explored to gain input, and

a top-of-the-line, park-orientated architect should be found to draw

up a suitable plan -- something solid, appropriate and all-in-all

first-class.

Since there is no time limit for final construction, there is a

need for an all-out beginning as to a plan thoroughly orchestrated by

a dedicated group with citizen and professional planners involved.

To quote an old saying: “Let’s get this show on the road.”

RUTH GARSTONE

Balboa Peninsula