Skip was a rock
Something is very different at Javatinis Coffee Shop Group (an informal, loosely structured group of between five and 30 coffee drinkers and conversationalists depending on the day) these days. For decades, as you entered, you would see Skip Cook with his shock of gray hair sitting in a cushioned chair in the corner to your left. Skip, one of the original founders of Javatinis Coffee Shop Group, had occupied that chair almost every morning for the last 18 years, since Javatinis first opened. Now the chair is empty because Skip passed on August 12, 2018 after a 19-year courageous battle with cancer.
Skip had a wide ranging background in movies and TV as a key grip, having worked on movie hits and several long running TV series. Although it was always fascinating to hear him recount the “back stories” of these productions, it was his personal perspective on sports and issues of the day that most interested Coffee Group members.
Skip had an open mind on most subjects but he was always interested in hearing other peoples’ perspective. But, Skip’s strength was helping people work through personal, life issues. He was frequently seen in private conversations giving others advice on how to work through issues in their lives. For those people he was truly a constant and a rock around which the stream of everyday events swirled. Without Skip those people would become unanchored and caught up in the maelstrom of everyday life. And, if there was a charity that came to the attention of the Coffee Group for contributions, Skip was the first to kick in.
Please join us on Saturday, September 8th at 8:00 am at the North end of the Seal Beach Pier to memorialize Skip. Please bring a Lei or flowers to caste on the water during the paddle out. If you would like to join the paddle out, contact Roger Gilliam for further information at: 562-430-7081.
Richard Barbazette
Seal Beach
Response to Golden Rain Foundation criticism
I would like to answer a recent letter sent to your office, by a Leisure World Resident, and published in your paper. The article discussed the management of the Golden Rain Foundation. She implied that the directors were unable to manage correctly … frequently ran unopposed and were more interested in making “things” look good than managing money.
I was a director three years ago and chose to step down when another from my mutual agreed to run for the GRF director for Mutual Nine. It is a hard job, many, many hours spent in meetings, researching information and answering questions from the mutual residents. All the directors, whether as a Mutual director or a GRF director…work for NO PAY. We volunteer our time to keep Leisure World a great place to spend our retirement without placing an undue financial hardship for our neighbors.
All persons able to purchase stock to move into one of the 16 mutuals in Leisure World are a success story. This means that they have been able to support themselves during their working years, and also saved for a comfortable retirement. They have probably gone through the usual challenges of repairing plumbing, fixing a roof, painting their residence, hiring a gardener and maybe even a security agent. They are knowledgeable about the needs to maintain a residence. These people worked while they were raising their family (and growing older) and many have special talents to offer while they spend their time as GRF directors.
The GRF directors (through a trust agreement with all the mutuals) manage the common property of all the mutuals. This includes the streets, clubhouses, golf course, swimming pool, library, R.V. park and all the equipment and furniture involved in the common area. The directors have hired a paid administrator and large staff to work in these areas. He is well educated in this position and has an excellent background in administration of this type of living facility. He is very knowledgeable of the Davis Sterling laws and utilizes legal advice when needed.
Classes are given to all directors each year and often extra classes are scheduled when new rules are written by either the state or government which could affect the living of seniors.
Yes, we are experiencing a new situation… we are having a harder time convincing folks to work for no pay (we do get donuts occasionally or even a lunch if a meeting runs over into a normal meal time) but absolutely NO PAY for our services. Many new people moving in are still working and some nationalities (I have been told) consider it an insult if someone asks them to work for nothing…it implies that they are not worth anything. My own adult children have a difficult time understanding why their parents, who worked for money all their life, are now interested in working for no pay.
The GRF has an independent audit done each year. We are doing very well financially. We can show that all needs are being addressed and when feasible, new areas for senior interests are started. The facility has a pleasant appearance and offers much, both social, learning and fun activities. I would like to ask the letter writer to consider running for a GRF director position (at no pay) so she can see for herself the amount of work the directors do and be able to feel the satisfaction of knowing you are helping your neighbors and YOURSELF to reside in a safe, nice looking and reasonable place to live.
Marjorie Dodero
A ‘Message from Dana Bohrbacher’
I received a “message from Dana Rohrbacher. I am sure all of Seal Beach received it since it was sent at taxpayer expense. The “message” discusses issues that Rohrbacher claims to support. For example, on Page1- healthcare-he claims to be in favor of health care and covering pre-existing conditions, but he voted to decimate the ACA in 2017.
Page 2-Education-Rohrbacher says he is “working with” Education Secretary to improve the educational system. Sec. De Vos favors charter schools and home schooling, this will not “improve” education for most students. We need to improve our public schools and not farm out schools to for profit companies or depend on home schooling, which is not feasible for most families that have two parents working full time.
Page3-Foreign Affairs-Rohrbacher says he is “committed to security and well-being of the American people …” He lists Iran as a serious terrorist threat, yet makes no mention of the many shootings that have been committed by US citizens in this country. This is a much more serious threat to our everyday security than any foreign threat, yet it is not addressed. He has taken almost $50,000 in donations from the NRA -could that be the reason for his complete silence on the many mass shootings? My guess is yes. Neither does he even remotely mention Russia’s interference in our elections as a threat-serious or otherwise. I could say more on that subject, but there is not enough space in this paper.
And page4-the most bizarre one-under the heading of “Defending the Planet”-Rohrbacher has worked “for years to mobilize a response to the potential threat posed by asteroids and comets (NEO’s-near earth objects).” REALLY????
How about working on an actual threat to life on earth happening right now and everywhere on the planet-namely-climate change. Rohrbacher is a climate change denier. He is more worried about an NEO damaging our planet than the reality that climate change is already wreaking havoc to life as we have known it. Witness the devastating Western fires, the floods and hurricanes we have seen in the last few years-this is NOT normal. Rohrbacher is completely out of touch with real events and science.
I have no idea why this information was sent to me. To top it off, on the back page of what is a four page re-election campaign pamphlet it clearly states that it is Official Business of the US Congress and that “this mailing was prepared, published and mailed at taxpayer expense.” I thought election materials were not to be paid for by taxpayers? I do not want to pay for election/campaign material and secondly, I want to be taken off the list of mailings from Rohrbacher. I am voting for Harley Rouda.
Claudia Horvath
Seal Beach
Rohrbacher’s royalty worship
Is our current representative – Dana Rohrbacher- not aware our predecessors bravely fought a Revolutionary War to rid ourselves of unaccountable and repressive royalty? His recent statement that Attorney General Jeff Sessions should resign for showing insufficient loyalty to President Trump by not stopping the investigation into Russian meddling and possible collusion reeks of sycophantic royalty worship. The Attorney General is supposed to be the country’s top law enforcement official – not the personal stooge for the president. Rohrbacher deceitfully hides behind the flag by adding Sessions disloyalty is harmful to “the country”. Samuel Adams admonition – “patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel” – could not be more appropriate. Please vote in November.
Cathy Goldberg
A resident counter-point to my Neighbor, Mr. Morris
Mr. David Morris opens with two statements: either the city has failed to cut the budget to stay within its means or failed to actively grow revenues.
(For a look at the Morris issue, visit https://www.sunnews.org/letter-to-the-editor-thursday-aug-23-2018/ )
The first statement shows that Mr. Morris has not participated in the budget workshops or he would know that the city has cut, cut and cut again. The city has frozen positions and reduced service levels and paid for 2 additional police officers from one time money.
The second statement is what really concerns me. This is Seal Beach, not Huntington Beach or Long Beach. We don’t want big developers, big business nor do we want Main Street developed into a tunnel of oversized buildings to pay for our needs.
This is Seal Beach. Sleepy. Quaint. Small town. We need to restore our Local Control, increase our police presence, keep our fire service and get the visitors who also use the services to help pay for them. A sales tax will accomplish all of that.
Mr. Morris, once we bring in big development to pay the bill, we can’t get our small town back again.
Timothy Prangley
Seal Beach
