Not quite political talk

Paul Clinton and Deirdre Newman

Orange County Supervisor Tom Wilson will wrap his tongue around Dr.

Seuss’ rhymes this morning as he reads to a second-grade class at

Newport Coast Elementary School.

Wilson will read one of Theodor “Seuss” Geisel’s children’s books

as part of the Read Across America program. He read at another school

in his district, in San Juan Capistrano, on Wednesday. He said he

enjoys the experience as a respite from the day-to-day grind of

politics.

“It’s a wonderful break from the political scene,” Wilson said.

“The kids are always so delightful.”

Wilson is scheduled to read the book to Colleen Kelly’s

second-grade class at the school, which is at 6655 Ridge Park Road.

Wilson will read from 8:30 to 9 a.m.

After the story, Wilson said he will inscribe the book and give it

to the class to place in their classroom library.

Wilson said the program is a great way to highlight the importance

of reading for children. In his own reading life, Wilson said he has

just finished David McCullough’s “John Adams.”

Even after redistricting in 2001, Wilson retained Newport Coast in

his district. The supervisor held the so-called “Fabulous Fifth”

district, which at one time included Costa Mesa and Newport Beach.

Supervisor Jim Silva now represents those cities.

Keeping taxes off the Internet

Assemblyman John Campbell’s Internet Tax Freedom bill took an

important step toward law Monday when it passed the Assembly’s

revenue and tax subcommittee on a 6-0 vote.

Campbell’s proposed law, Assembly Bill 128, would extend a

moratorium on taxes on Internet access until Dec. 31, 2007. Right

now, the state Legislature could have begun taxing Internet service

providers and others who provide a linkage to the Web on Jan. 1.

Campbell, who represents Newport Beach, said the state’s

budget-crisis environment has made the extension a tougher sell with

Democrats, including the subcommittee’s chairman, Ed Chavez (D-La

Puente).

“For California to tax the Internet would be like Kansas taxing

wheat,” Campbell said. “This is our industry.”

Playing in the mayor league

With spring training underway in the major leagues, Costa Mesa

Councilman Chris Steel took the opportunity to throw out the first

pitch at the city’s Little League opener on Saturday.

A grinning Steel, wearing a red league cap, tossed a pitch to

Mayor Karen Robinson. Mark Harris, a member of the city’s parks and

recreation commission, was the catcher.

Steel’s pitch sailed past Robinson, who swung and missed at the

ball.

“I wanted to keep lobbing them up there until she hit the thing,

but they only limited me to once pitch,” Steel said. “That was a lot

of fun.”

Steel said he also showed up to throw out the first pitch at the

city’s American Little League opener, at the fields near Costa Mesa

High School, but the game was rained out.

The opener included the Majors division, with 11- and 12-year-old

children, and the Farm division, with 5- and 6-year-old children.

The opening ceremony was held at TeWinkle Middle School.

Giving children 1,000 reasons to hope

The 1,000 Points of Light committee of the Republican Party of

Orange County is holding its annual Easter Toy Drive for the

Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

The committee is seeking unwrapped electronic games, crayons,

coloring books, stickers and other toys. The items will be

distributed to toddlers ages 9 to 14.

The donations should be dropped off by April 11 to the party’s headquarters, at 245 Fischer Ave. in Costa Mesa.

The more papers the better?

If you can’t get enough news about Costa Mesa, your ears must have

pricked up during Monday night’s Costa Mesa City Council meeting.

It was then that resident John Feeney, disappointed with some of

the Daily Pilot’s editorials, suggested to the council during the

public comment session that it -- the council -- bring another daily

newspaper to town. The next speaker, Robert Graham, chuckled in

disbelief at Feeney’s comments.