Sea lions are just sounds of harbor...

Sea lions are just sounds of harbor

Sea lions: They live in the sea and roar like a lion. That’s what

they are.

On the waterfront since 1949, we get our share of the roar of the

sea lions and consider it part of the charm of living here. Great

blue and night herons banter, gulls and terns parlay, sailboat

rigging lines clang and the ferry toots its horn.

Take time to watch the sea lions’ feeding ritual of a graceful

swim, snouts up, then diving and throwing their catch in the air.

They float on their backs with their flappers in the air absorbing

heat from the sun. The families look so peaceful atop the water and

are quite tolerant of nuisance boats coming too close.

We know it is time to slide our doors closed when the sea lions

begin their mating calls, birthing rituals and plain old frolicking.

It would help to cut down on the population of sea lions if the

commercial fishing boats could clean the catch of the day onboard and

then put it in trash cans and not toss it in the ocean all the way

into the bay.

Throwing everything overboard is an open invitation for the sea

lions, gulls and pelicans to follow the boats. Back at the docks,

leftovers and whole fish go into trash cans to be hauled away.

Recently a call went out to help pay for the services of the

Harbor Patrol. Chasing sea lions off private boats should not be part

of the deal -- if so a charge could be levied. These private boat

owners, many of whom keep derelict boats (like the one that sunk),

need to come to their boats at least weekly or have a service. As it

is, the private boats moored in this harbor do not pay a fee (size

and passengers considered) for the extensive services the Harbor

Patrol provides. They save boats from sinking; rescue people from the

water and on boats; transport and tow boats that have lost power;

right capsized boats; put out boat fires; assist lifeguards in the

ocean rescues and drownings; and much more. They also cover

Huntington and Dana Point harbors.

We say thank you Newport Harbor for all your traditional sounds.

We love this place.

GAY WASSALL-KELLY

and BILL KELLY

Balboa Peninsula

Does city need to expand its kitchen?

It is interesting that the Pilot’s picture of the cramped City

Hall office has room on the shelves for a toaster oven, a microwave

oven, and a pastry container.

That looks more like a kitchen than an office to me.

JANE HILGENDORF

Corona del Mar

Project might leave everyone sitting ducks

I have yet to talk to anyone who agrees with the amount of money

being proposed for the civic center project. When it originally came

up, it was a small project, seemed feasible and people could almost

justify the expenditure, but now the improvement has grown into a

huge project that goes way beyond the original intent.

Depending on the Pilot’s view politically, I’m sure that is what

we will see most in the paper, but know that there are few people who

support this inordinate amount of money.

The council members say it will not come out of taxes and that it

is money they already have to spend every year anyhow -- then what

about the other things that the money will be needed for later? We

won’t have it. That means it will have to be found somewhere. Can

that mean anything other than more taxes eventually? If it walks like

a duck, quacks like a duck, it must be a duck ... and this proposed

project is what it looks like, more money from the taxpayers.

People may not realize it but the issue of these types of spending

is getting attention from every corner of California. It is

recognized that no matter what you call the borrowing, it will still

come out of the taxpayers’ pockets, and committees, much like

Newporters for Responsible Government, are being formed in other

cities to address this issue. They are calling it certificates of

participation, but it is still what it looks like -- money the

community will have to pay back eventually.

What about looking to other facilities, besides Fashion Island?

What about the property on Superior Avenue that we keep bringing up?

Come on guys, let’s use some common sense here!

Please do not leave us sitting ducks for future spending.

RENE POWERS

Newport Beach