MAILBAG - Feb. 8, 2000

Story doesn’t tell the whole story

Your front-page article on the API school rankings does a disservice to

both Newport Beach and Costa Mesa schools.Virtually every Newport-Mesa

school was ranked higher than those with similar characteristics, such

as: poverty rate, number of English-language learners, pupil mobility,

pupil ethnicity and percentage of teachers with emergency credentials.

Instead of focusing on the historically divisive “we vs. them” dialogue

regarding Newport Beach and Costa Mesa schools, we should be celebrating

the achievements of administrators, teachers, parents and students at all

levels.

DAVE SWAN

Corona del Mar

Library employees deserve attention

I would like to draw community attention to the outstanding leadership of

two Newport Beach Public Library employees: youth and branch services

manager Judy Kelley and collection development manager Susan Warren. At

its Jan. 18 meeting, the board of library trustees unanimously passed

resolutions commending the superior performance of these fine public

servants throughout 1999.

All throughout the year, citizens repeatedly commended the Newport Beach

Public Library for the quality of service provided by staff. These

dedicated professionals served sequential terms as acting assistant city

librarian, in addition to performing their primary duties. Both made

major contributions to a successful year of library service.

Kelley was instrumental in the designation of the Newport Beach Public

Library as a “Center for the Book.” She supervised construction of the

Central Library’s new Teen Center and new components of both the Central

Library and Mariners Branch Children’s Rooms. In addition, she guided

initiation of new young adult services, training of new staff and

selection of new young adult materials from grant funding.

Warren coordinated the weekend-long Celebrate the Arts event that

showcased the library’s new arts collection. She also supervised the

transition to outsourcing of material cataloging.

On Jan. 24, the Newport Beach Public Library welcomed Darlene B. Gaetano,

former automated services bureau manager of the Long Beach Public

Library, as its new assistant city librarian. Under her direction, we

look forward to providing many years of progressive and committed library

service to the community.

LADONNA KIENITZ

Community services director, city librarian

Newport Beach

Thanks for keeping up with John Wayne issues

I just want to thank the Daily Pilot sincerely for your front page

article on Jan. 21 on the airport horror stories regarding John Wayne.

I am very much in favor of El Toro airport because it is absolutely

necessary for our future needs, and I certainly do appreciate the Pilot

giving us some space in the paper for some serious, intelligent and

well-meaning comments. I want to thank you very much for it. Keep up the

good work. We certainly do enjoy the Daily Pilot.

VIRGIL GALEY

Newport Beach

Pearson’s Port feature hit the spot

Thank you very much for the great story on my brother Tom Pearson in the

Jan. 12 issue.

The photographs were vivid and wonderful. I teared up a bit when I

thought how proud our dad would have been to see Tommy on the front page

and the full article about his life as a fisherman and his work at

Pearson’s Port.

My father left a wonderful legacy for us. I did want to clear up one

thing, though.

My mom, Vi Pearson, still owns and operates the port. She is still in

there at 73. Kind of like the Energizer Bunny -- she keeps goin’ and

goin’.

I am proud of my family and its wonderful heritage of hard work and

dedication. Thank you very much for your continued interest in the

business and for recognizing that Pearson’s Port is one of a kind.

CHRISTIE PEARSON

San Diego