Teaching memories
I was delighted to read your reprint of the 1994 interview with Casey Lee Kaiser, your daughter. It brought a flood of memories of my teaching career in Seal Beach and the beautiful innocence of five and six-year-old students.
What a privilege it was for me to be the first teacher in their educational journey! My goals were to plant the joy of learning in my students and help them to identify their special gifts and talent along with teaching the regular school curricula.
I laughed at the mention of Tilly and Buster, my puppets,that often helped me accomplish these goals. Congratulations to Casey. At the mention of her name, a cute petite face with light hair popped into my head. I am so proud to hear about what she is doing and that she is continuing to pursue a nursing career. My best to Casey and her continued success.
Fondly, Donna Chafe
Retired teacher, McGaugh Elementary School
Seeking Seal Beach waterpolo sisters
My understanding is that two Seal Beach residents, Maggie Steffens and Jessica Steffens, were on the Gold Medal winning women’s waterpolo team. I am going to see if they would join the Christmas Parade. However, I have no contact information.
If by chance anyone knows how to reach them or have a conversation with them, please give them my contact information.
Scott Newton
Seal Beach Christmas Parade Chairman
Telephone: (562) 537-3955
E-mail: scottnewton2@hotmail.com.
Bus route 171
If Long Beach Transit has determined that this route (171) is no longer finacially feasible, then fine, but Seal Beach residents should not pay Long Beach Transit expenses, especially when the Orange County Transportation Authority has buses that can get riders from Seal Beach to Long Beach.
Marc Loopesko
Seal Beach
Budget cuts hit El Dorado Nature Center
The El Dorado Nature center is part of El Dorado Regional Park in Long Beach. Budget cuts to county and city budgets will include cuts to the park system. It is the manner in which this is done that I want to address.
It appears that the Long Beach City Council is approaching this problem with deliberation and transparency, a good start, considering that the Nature Center is a rare treasure for our urban environment.
The thing that sparks more conversation between my wife and me is not the nature—yes, the big birds, raptors, rabbits and squirrels, are there—but the contagious sound of children from 1-year-olds to early teens—interacting positively with nature, and the accompanying adults.
A recent butterfly life cycle exhibition included living examples of every stage of the butterflies. The kids were entranced, interested and inquisitive. But the same is true when their eyes widen as an egret takes wing or a squirrel approaches close enough to seem friendly.
I cannot remember an occasion where children were unhappy, annoying, misbehaving or sulking. This strikes me as a very special place that should be allowed to continue its program of teaching us about our environment.
The initial suggested cut included the loss of some of the teaching and maintenance staff, both of which would curtail many of the services, demonstrations, security and the care and maintenance of the park.
We do not live in the city of Long Beach and consequently do not contribute any tax dollars.
We would be willing to share the burden of it’s upkeep by accepting higher fees for non-residents. One regular visitor from Bellflower pointed out that she too would be willing to pay more in fees.
The park could introduce entrance fees, one for residents and another for non-residents. This could be done with very little expense.
Another source of income is a non-profit that directly supports the Nature Center.
All of us can share the load by contributing to that organization. That group, The Friends of El Dorado Nature Center, have partnered with a non-profit 501(c)3 Partners of Parks. They will accept any donations and offer Patron privileges for certain fixed amounts.
Time is an issue as the city budget must be signed by Sept. 15. Your ability to reach many people would be a very valuable contribution. Thank you for considering our request.
David Porter
Los Alamitos
Sun Poll results
Should there be a boat to Catalina from the Seal Beach Pier?
Yes—61.5 percent
No—38.5 percent
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