A swinging read on a secret scene...

A swinging read on a secret scene

Wow. Great article on the swing scene (“Swing shift,” June 9). The

wonderful world of the Lindy Hop in Orange County has been the

best-kept secret around. It’s so good to see word getting out.

I discovered swing about two years ago when the live “big bands”

played at Birraporetti’s in Costa Mesa on Monday nights and have been

having the time of my life dancing ever since. As a 40-something

woman, I have really been happy to see how many men -- of a certain

age -- are learning to swing dance. Guess in their wiser years, the

guys are figuring out that there are a lot of fun and enthusiastic

women out there who love to dance (and, of course, we’re all

gorgeous).

What a shame that, since the demise of Birraporetti’s, there is no

where to swing on a regular basis in Costa Mesa or Newport Beach. I

keep hoping the Pavilion (which is a historic swing spot) will open

up its great upstairs dance floor ... or that the dance club they

keep talking about building across from Triangle Square will have a

swing night or two. As for now, anyone interested in dancing to

something other than disco, you can check out the hot Lindy Hop spots

in Orange County on www.swinginfo.com.

All you have to have is a young heart, willing spirit, and ability

to have lots of fun because -- believe me -- you will.

KARE GRAMS

Costa Mesa

Does somebody have a problem with redheads?

I don’t see how Newport Beach City Councilman John Heffernan can

question the judgment or the statement made by fellow Councilman Dick

Nichols when he gives an analogy that infers that “redheads” are

somehow tainted! “It’s like saying I saw you come out of the Four

Seasons in the morning with a redhead.” My wife is a redhead and a

very nice lady. As far as I know, she has never even been to the Four

Seasons in Newport Beach, and I am sure she wouldn’t go there with a

politician.

Statements like this show as much insensitivity and short

sightedness as the statement made by Nichols. It seems they all

should pay more attention to their public statements.

STEVE VELASCO

Costa Mesa

Not happy with Nichols as a councilman

I am embarrassed that Dick Nichols is my representative in Corona

del Mar. He doesn’t know what’s going on in the city council

meetings, let alone what goes on in the planning commission.

GAREE SMITH

Corona del Mar

L.A. brings hope to Orange County

I feel that L.A.’s interest in building an airport at El Toro will

provide some hope for Newport-Mesa, and I am happy that it has come

up again.

My outrage at south Orange County’s vindictive fight against an

airport is unfathomable, when there is such a large buffer zone

around the proposed site. John Wayne is so close to homes and

businesses, and if there is no hope for an El Toro airport, there

will be more demands made to expand John Wayne in a few years.

They speak of their quality of life -- what about ours? Their

reasons (excuses) never impressed us, and now that 14 Orange County cities have gotten on the bandwagon to make their opinions heard, I

hold out hope that an El Toro airport will become a reality.

ELEANORE TRIGHER

Costa Mesa

El Toro is there, so we should use it

I am thoroughly in favor of using El Toro as our airport. We need

it, it’s there, why not do it. And by the way, I voted for the

airport.

MARYANN BARNETT

Newport Beach