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Leave the green at TeWinkle alone My...

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Leave the green at TeWinkle alone

My pen has had a rest long enough, and I feel I must put it to

work on my views about Mesa del Mar residents having to fight -- once

again -- being kicked in the face and having to see another green

area of TeWinkle Park destroyed for a skateboard concrete patch.

What a shame it has to be this way, especially so close to

residents. Please rethink, City Council members who are in favor of

this. Everything is dumped into this area. Nothing in Mesa Verde

area, or any other place.

NADINE ANDREEN

Costa Mesa

Marine burial inappropriate for suspected criminal

I hope this doesn’t come across as insensitive, but as a taxpayer,

I must take exception to Adam Casler’s honorable burial as a Marine

simply because he was on active duty when he died.

This man allegedly stole his friend’s handgun, attacked a woman in

an attempt to carjack her vehicle and then attempted to evade

authorities by running to a nearby condominium complex. He made the

pathetic choice to try and hide from law enforcement in the complex

by diving into a trash bin.

For this death of honor, taxpayers will send this soldier to his

final resting place in Elko with a Marine escort and cough up for an

expensive burial available to any active Marine, no matter what

lawlessness befalls him.

Casler didn’t deserve to die for an attempted carjacking. And

unless the police investigation shows justifiable force was used to

subdue him leading to his death, his passing can be labeled no more

than an unfortunate accident. It was no accident however that he

allegedly stole a gun and attempted a carjacking.

I think an honorable burial and an escort leading to the service

by the Marines is an unfair burden on already cash-strapped

taxpayers. Bipolar or not, we shouldn’t celebrate the life whose

death was a result of violence against another.

DAVID JAMES

Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa schools

deserve a TAD more

A rare opportunity has been presented to the Costa Mesa schools. A

wonderful opportunity through some development agreements designed

some time ago. These are commitments made by South Coast Plaza

Partners, owned by the Segerstroms, and Commonwealth Partners, in

which these developers are willing to contribute some additional

money to fund arts and music programming in the Costa Mesa schools.

I can think of no good reason to not avail ourselves of this

unique and promising opportunity. On Nov. 10, a last-minute proposal

was made by the Planning Commission to consider this matter. The

commission has recommended it to the City Council for its

consideration.

Costa Mesa schools are crying out for programs that broaden the

scope of their students. How appropriate it would be to enhance the

school programs with a strong addition to the arts programs.

Literature, music, art -- those are the very things that broaden a

person, give them added dimension and enrich a life. They lead their

recipients to previously unexpected opportunities, enabling those

students to contribute to their own experience and that of their

community. Such programs can make the difference between an adequate

life and an outstanding one. An adequate student and an outstanding

one. An adequate community and an outstanding one.

CHARLOTTE ALEXANDER

Costa Mesa

Oceanfront rehab home is an unexpected luxury

It sure is nice that the Narcanon rehab facility can afford to

maintain a piece of oceanfront property to house some of its

patients. Oceanfront in Newport Beach, nonetheless -- not bad.

Seems like the money spent on oceanfront property and services for

these recovering patients could be used more intelligently and

effectively by the program’s directors. Surely, there are other

people who could afford to rent at this location, and that would not

cause problems for the neighbors.

I have always wondered what was going on at this property as I

frequently go past it on the boardwalk. There are always kids hanging

around, and you can smell the smoke from the house up and down the

street. Makes me wonder what other premium locations and services the

Narcanon directors provide for their patients.

HARLAN LASSITER

Newport Beach

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