Giving thanks is a year-round necessity...

Giving thanks is a year-round necessity

I’m sure we all gave thanks this past Thanksgiving, especially

because we have the privilege and good fortune to live here in

Laguna, but how much more often do we give thanks than that?

I have the habit during my considerable time cooking and washing

dishes in the kitchen of making my offering of thanks when I’m

emptying pots and there are still remnants of food left to serve or

put away for later use.

I’m continually thankful for the right of free speech which we

enjoy in this country and that I’m allowed to practice, since I have

the penchant for criticism.

ANDY WING

Laguna Beach

Thanks for all the help after the fire

On Nov. 1, a fire destroyed our home and killed our little

Schnauzer, Hudson. Hudson was 12 1/2 and had lived there his entire

life.

We have begun the process of putting our lives back together and

are writing this letter to express our profound gratitude to the many

people who helped us and comforted us that day.

Many of the people who rushed to our aid had suffered their own

tragedies during the fire of ‘93, the floods and the mudslides. To

the firemen who bravely fought the fire and prevented it from doing

more damage and destroying our neighbor’s home, we are forever

indebted to you. In particular, we will never forget your efforts and

successes in retrieving precious things and your kindness.

Our thanks also go to the Animal Shelter, the Red Cross and the

Police Department. To friends and neighbors who tried to rescue

Hudson, to those who gave us things and to those who simply hugged us

and expressed their sorrow for our loss, we are so thankful to you.

Your expressions of love and kindness helped immensely.

JOE AND JEANNIE POSHEK

THE WILSON FAMILY

Laguna Beach

Mayor Baglin is of the highest integrity

I would like to add another voice of support for Wayne Baglin. I

have known him 20 years and consider him a man of the highest

integrity and honesty. He has given years of public service to his

community.

Let’s once again examine the facts of this so-called crime: The

Hatfields were his clients and he was involved in the liquidation of

their properties, including the property at issue, long before being

elected to the City Council. He disclosed his connection with the

property to the other council members and to the public. He sought

the advice of the city attorney. He recused himself from all hearings

on the matter. And, perhaps most important, the city did not pay more

for the property because of his involvement than they would have paid

had they completed their eminent domain action.

So where is the criminal intent and who has been harmed? The only

person harmed is Wayne Baglin who is now spending thousands of

dollars to defend his reputation. The only crime is this egregious

waste of taxpayer money.

AL OLIGINO

Laguna Beach

Missing fountain is no loss to City Hall

Oh please! Spare us. Just when we were beginning to entirely

forget that the alleged art piece, the City Hall fountain, really did

exist on that rock pile out in front, someone is trying to preserve

it?

Many a moon came and went while the thing just stood there with

not a drop of water splashing anything, much less anybody, before it

was mercifully removed from public sight.

Oh, Mr. Fountain Saver, whoever you are, save the money. Please

forget about this corroded hulk and devote your preservation to a

more constructive cause.

Consign the “fountain” to the briny deep. A burial at sea might be

appropriate, but we beseech you, in no case try to resuscitate this

metallic monster which so dismally failed the test of time and the

elements.

JIM KERR

Laguna Beach

Residents should own the Angels

Disney Chairman Michael Eisner keeps floating the idea that the

Angels are for sale. If that wasn’t bad enough, there is a rumor that

Carlos Peralta is interested in buying the World Series champs.

Peralta, a Mexican billionaire, owns the Tigres de Puebla baseball

team south of the border. So much for the concept of local ownership.

As a lifelong baseball fan and 32-year county resident, I don’t

have a problem with The Walt Disney Co. wanting to unload the Angels.

Fact is, I’d be happy if that happens -- but only if my Laguna

friends and I, along with residents of Orange County, can buy the

team!

Yes, sports fans, you heard it here first. Just like the good

people of Green Bay, Wis., who own the Packers football franchise,

everyone in Orange County deserves a shot at owning a piece of the

Angels. Some may say this idea isn’t worth swinging at, but I think

it is. Here’s why:

The Green Bay Packers team is literally owned by its fans. Today,

over 110,000 people representing more than 4.7 million shares can lay

claim to a franchise ownership interest. Given the Packers’ success,

who wouldn’t want to be a shareholder?

Shares of stock include voting rights, but the redemption price is

minimal, no dividends are ever paid, the stock cannot appreciate in

value, and there are no season ticket privileges associated with

ownership. To ensure that no one individual is able to assume control

of the club, no shareholder is allowed to own more than 200,000

shares. Shares of stock cannot be resold except back to the team for

a fraction of the original price, and a limited transfer of shares to

heirs or relatives is permissible.

The Packers have had three owners -- all in its first four years

(1919-1922). In 1923, with the team headed for bankruptcy, the club

was transformed into a publicly owned, nonprofit corporation. Since

that time, there have been four stock drives: the first one raised

$5,000 in ‘23, the second raised $15,000 in ‘35, and the third raised

$118,000 in ’50. Should Disney sell the Angels?

The last stock sale was in late 1997 and early ’98. It added over

105,000 shareholders and raised more than $24 million. Today, the

residents of Green Bay are investors in a business that, according to

Forbes magazine, is now worth around $400 million!

It’s a long way from eating Wisconsin cheese to ordering hot dogs

at Edison Field, so how do fans from Laguna Beach, Fullerton or Costa

Mesa, for example, get a chance to own shares in the Angels? The

answer is both easy and complex: by initiative. That’s right,

residents of Orange County would vote on a ballot measure asking

Disney to turn over ownership of the ball club to the public.

I realize that people like the Tigres’ Peralta or former Angels’

suitor (and Emerald Bay resident) Peter Ueberroth won’t probably like

this idea, but I’m willing to bet the residents of Orange County

will. After all, didn’t 300,000 fans show up to celebrate the team’s

World Series victory?

At a time when corporate profits are being examined for every

possible financial flaw, Disney’s desire to sell the Angels seems

perfectly reasonable. According to one published report, the Angels

only made $25,000 in 2001. No telling what the team’s profit will be

for ‘02, but apparently, it won’t be enough to satisfy company

shareholders.

Win or lose, the residents of Orange County deserve a chance to

own a piece of the Angels. The straightest line from Disney’s

ownership to public ownership is through the voting booth. Some may

argue that Giants superstar Barry Bonds will end up an Angel before

voters approve such a ballot measure. I disagree. In fact, all the

signals I’m picking up point to hitting a home run on this one. If

that’s true, then it’s time to play ball.

DENNY FREIDENRICH

Laguna Beach

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