Teacher forfeits fumigation fight

Rather than continue a battle against her homeowners association, a

Newport Beach preschool teacher said Wednesday that she will stop

trying to prevent fumigation of the termite-infested condominium

where she holds classes.

“I guess I just have to sign and go along with the Vikane,”

teacher Sherri Turner said.

Vikane is the trade name of the pesticide many fumigators use to

kill termites. The wood-eating insects have become a problem in

Turner’s neighborhood.

Turner, whose Newport Terrace condo overlooks Talbert Regional

Park, opposes the use of Vikane out of concern that the gas could be

harmful to her young students.

On the other side of the issue, members of the Newport Condominium

Assn.’s board are united in their belief that the pesticide Vikane is

the only way to eliminate termites in the community.

“It has to be done before the roofs fall down on you,” board

president Earl Miller said at a meeting held Tuesday night at the

Costa Mesa Community Center.

Board members clearly did not want to debate the use of Vikane

during a meeting in which people on both sides of the issue

frequently argued with raised voices. Though Turner pushed for using

nontoxic methods to clear out the termites, board members said those

alternatives would be ineffective.

“Anything we have looked at will not give us anything close [to

Vikane],” board member Richard Green said.

Miller described the matter as a “dead issue” and said Turner

should take her concerns to the association’s attorney.

That attorney, David Cane, has sent Turner multiple letters

warning her that her neighborhood association was prepared to seek a

court order requiring her to leave her condo during fumigation.

Fumigation at her home is scheduled for Aug. 22.

Turner describes herself as an environmentalist and says she

believes pesticides are dangerous. She was accompanied at the meeting

by fellow condo owner Shirley Blau, who told the board she expects

financial difficulties since her tenant plans to move out because of

the fumigation plans.

Blau’s tenant, Ron Seagondollar, said he suffers from allergies

and that he plans to leave his condo because his concerns are

amplified by worries about his son’s health.

“Anything he touches, his hand just goes back to his mouth,” Ron

said.

Because of Turner’s safety concerns, she plans to install new

carpeting and window shutters after fumigation. She also does not

want her students in her condo for two weeks after spraying.

“I’m just going to try and pick up the pieces and go on,” Turner

said.

Turner also said parents have pulled five students out of her

class because of the Vikane.

Vikane is the trade name for sulfuryl fluoride and is manufactured

by chemical giant Dow AgroSciences. From 1997 through 2001, 32

illnesses or injuries related to sulfuryl fluoride exposure were

reported to state authorities, according to a study by the California

Department of Pesticide Regulation.