Great Red Car Museum event Saturday, Aug. 24
On Saturday, Aug. 24, the Seal Beach Historical Society put on a wonderful event at the Red Car on Electric Avenue! As a member of the historical society I would like to thank the Sun Newspaper for it’s front page story in last weeks edition. President Marie Antos and her committee put together a good program for the bench dedication that is located on the North side of the Red car. Their were events for the kids, four talented book authors on hand and an up and coming movie producer (who is a member.) Our busy Seal Beach Mayor Gary Miller was present for the ribbon cutting and bench dedication. And of course docents were on hand to give tours of the red car and educate on Seal Beach’s amazing history! Thanks to all that attended.
Rick Paap
Los Alamitos
Trap the coyotes
We need to start trapping the coyotes here in Old Town. Many people don’t know what happens at night but, coyotes come from the Navy base and run down the alley’s hunting for domestic animals. I’m sad to say that I think my cat Frank from 11th Street was taken by them last weekend. Almost every one of my neighbors has a story about a run in with coyotes. They are so fast, silent and no match for domestic animals. How long is it going to be until they attack a small child? I urge our city to hire trappers like Rossmoor did back in 2011.
Nate Kranda
Seal Beach
Surfrider Foundation Cigarette Canister Program
Cigarette butts are a pollution problem. On Main Street, cigarette butts are occasionally thrown into planter boxes, on the sidewalk, and gutters. When it rains, the cigarette debris is swept away and often ends up in the storm drains, which lead directly to the ocean. This has detrimental effects to human and marine life.
The city does the best it can to make certain these areas are well maintained and the Surfrider Foundation’s Cigarette Canister Program has helped support the city’s efforts by providing a place for smokers to dispose of their cigarette butts.
In 2012, the Surfrider Foundation approached the city and asked to install a few canisters on Main Street in strategic locations. Those canisters were placed on a trial basis to assess whether there would be a noticeable decrease in cigarette debris, as well as to examine the amount of maintenance involved with each canister. It was determined that the canisters were very effective in reducing the amount of cigarette debris and the amount of maintenance was found to be minimal. As a result of the success of this campaign, the city increased the number of canisters to six.
It should also be mentioned that in the past year, the canisters have been emptied and maintained by a local resident of Old Town, John Griffith and Surfrider representatives. The city would like to thank Surfrider and John for their efforts in improving the City for everyone. The city will now take over the maintenance of the six canisters along Main Street.
Lastly, Surfrider did not dispose of the collected cigarette butts at a local landfill nor will the city once it takes over maintenance of the canisters. The cigarette butts will continue to be sent to a company in Texas that recycles them and uses the materials for other uses.
Should you have any questions about the project, please contact the Public Works Department at (562) 431-2527 ext. 1317.
Patrick Gallegos, Administrative Manager
City of Seal Beach
Tale of two kittens and a balcony
Let me start by saying I have been a supporter of our Seal Beach Animal Care Center for the past 16 years. I have hosted annual parties where my girlfriends bring cash and donations for the shelter, have personally donated each year and encouraged my son to save a part of his allowance for the shelter. That all ends now.
We stopped by the shelter so my son could make his donation. They were so friendly, took his picture for their Facebook page and gave us a tour of the new cat center. We started talking about adopting two kittens and submitted our application that night. We went back the next day and chose our two kitties. Later that evening a volunteer interviewed me over the phone. The next morning I called her and asked if we would hear something that day as we were all ready for two new kitties to come home. She explained that she was not the decision maker but was watching the emails go back and forth debating our qualifications to adopt.
Next was a phone call from another volunteer declining our request to adopt. Why? They said it is because we have a balcony. The cat might jump off. I had already explained kittens would not be allowed on the balcony and even invited them to come see the balcony. She asked if the balcony had a solid 8-foot tall wall around it. Their policy now is that if you have a balcony that you may not adopt from our Seal Beach Animal Care Center. Then why did they interview me? The application said we had a balcony.
I have emailed the president of the SBACC requesting that as a responsible business that their requirements should be posted on the entrance to the shelter. “If you have a balcony, do not enter,” along with its other rules. I suppose they would rather a cat spend its life in a cat room than a beautiful home with a great family.
The story does have a happy ending. We did adopt two very sweet kitties through www.helensanderscatpaws.com.
They were wonderful to work with and I will support them in the future.
Karen Bender
Seal Beach
The opinions expressed in Letters to the Editor are not necessarily those of the Sun. The Sun welcomes Letters to the Editor. Letters should be 300 words maximum. Letters should be e-mailed, signed by the author and include the author’s address and phone number (the latter two are for verification, not publication). The Sun reserves the right to accept, edit, or reject letters for any reason. Unless otherwise indicated, all letters sent to the Sun are understood to be intended for publication. E-mail letters to: dennis@sunnews.org.
