MAILBAG - Nov. 16, 2007

‘Climate change’ a hoax on public

Your quote, “With fire season now pretty much year-round due to drought and global climate changes,” is absurd.

The threat of fire has always been a year-round possibility in California since the beginning of time and has nothing to do with so-called climate change “” the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the public.

In my 60-plus years, I have seen many SoCal droughts and fires all over the region at many different times of the year. And September/October have always been “red flag” months as far as fires are concerned.

Now, of course, we have housing in areas that once simply burned off with little harm. And for centuries, Northern California has had lightning-caused fires that benefited the forest in many ways by thinning brush and spurring new growth.

But leave it to an L.A. Times writer to manage to wrangle “climate change” into an article that deserved no mention of it whatsoever.

D. RANDY RIGGS

Novato

[EDITOR’S NOTE: D. Randy Riggs is a former Laguna Beach resident.]

History shows rainfall levels fluctuate

The rain levels in Laguna Beach in recent years seem odd.

Thanks to Jim Nordstrom of Silver Images, we know the rainfall was 32 inches in 2004-05, 10 inches in 2005-06, and only 4 inches last year in 2006-07.

Is 32 inches two years ago, and four inches last year unprecedented?

No.

I have been reading the book “Reflections in Orange” by Merle and Mabel Ramsey.

In it they write: “Starting on Dec. 24, 1861, heavy rains hit the area of Orange. It rained almost continually for four months. The Santa Ana River overflowed its banks and water covered the entire basin from the foot hills to the coast, to the Coyote Hills. Anaheim was inundated. Many of its buildings crumbled, including the new schoolhouse. Livestock not driven to the hills went down with the swirling torrents.

“In 1862 and 1863 the ‘Great Drought’ hit. There was no rain. The heat seemed constant. In the daytime the sky was like a sheet of brass “” at night, a brazen roof. There was no morning dew. The grasslands became barren deserts, the earth like sandstone. Springs became patches of dry sand and bleached rocks.

“Herds of gaunt, skeleton-like cattle moved slowly over the parched land searching for water and food. One by one they became too weak to move and stood motionless until they toppled over. Dry water holes became rimmed with carcasses piled one upon the other.”

GENE FELDER

Laguna Beach

Volunteer tutors gain from helping students

I recently read an article about someone who found such satisfaction and enjoyment reading with youngsters who are falling behind.

I realized how much I look forward to November when I will again for the 15th year do my little bit to help a needy student at El Morro School here in Laguna Beach.

By November the teachers in grades 2 through 5 will have noticed the children who will benefit. Each year I have gotten to know another child. Each has unique needs.

Individualized help and caring can make a difference. All of us who volunteer find it rewarding. If you can give an hour of two please call Peggie at (949) 499-1817 or me at (949) 497-2792.

PAT JAMIESON

Laguna Beach