BeepBall a win for all
The BeepBall game yesterday was a huge success. We brought awareness to the activities that sight-impaired youth are involved with and at the same time had so much fun! I have been involved in this for five years and believe this to be the best year ever!
Special thanks to:
Doug Garland: You are a wonderful announcer and personalize the game for all the players and spectators.
Nicole: You were so organized and had all the food/drinks ready for the 22 Leos that cooked and served them up!
Leos: You were so helpful with ticket sales, cooking, serving and the kid’s safety around the jumpies.
Tim Young, Eric Janssen and Dave Gibbs for getting the nice hats, helping get the grills and tables to and from McGaugh and of course helping lead the game.
Matt and your staff: Josh Black, Claudia Zavala and Jamie Castro were excellent coaches and leaders.
It was such a joy to get these players together each year and special thanks for embossing the certificates in Braille.
SB Pony President Jeff Travis: All your help and all the Seal Beach Pony coaches/players. Seal Beach Youth Baseball goes way back and is such a big part of Seal Beach’s charm.
Rosie Ritchie—Your Miss Seal Beach girls were spectacular in helping. Again, I say, thank you and look forward to next year!
Scott Weir
Seal Beach
Yucatan Grill closes early
My name is Felix Tulay. I am the owner of the Yucatan Grill.
I would like to apologize to the out of town guests of Dean Willis and Francine Greene for the horrible night they experienced in our great town of Seal Beach. (“Letters to the Editor: Visitors subjected to Bay City Center noise,” Sun Newspapers, Thursday, May 7.)
However, I wanted to set the record straight.
The Yucatan Grill is a family restaurant that serves great margaritas with dinner or to people waiting for a table.
We are not in the business to let people drink until they get intoxicated.
We close at 9 p.m. on Thursday and 10 p.m. on Fridays and we are usually closed, dark and out within an hour of closing.
These are the days that were mentioned.
I personally close on Thursday and Friday for the past couple of years, and the parking lot is always dark when I leave.
There are plenty of places that people can come from all parts of town and end up congregating at the center.
I want it to be known that the noise did not come from patrons of the Yucatan Grill.
Again I’m sorry your guests had a bad experience.
But if they come back I’m sure they’ll enjoy their stay. After all, Seal Beach is a family town with a lot of good things to experience.
Felix Tulay
Yucatan Grill
Re: proposed new room in Council Chambers
To: Ellery Deaton
Mayor, District One
Thank you so much for our recent conversations on Dec. 10 and Jan. 4, 2015.
Per your request I am putting in writing the particular items that concern me, as well as my Eighth-Street neighbors and the citizenry at large.
1. Federal compliance for the city re A.D.A. (Americans with Disabilities Act) upgrades is certainly necessary.
2. Upgrades of the media equipment or the chambers is also warranted.
3. Safety/security measures for the council members is a valid expenditure.
4. The addition of a “room” which will require a remodel of the current space is the primary issue in question.
• What exactly will be the use of this room?
• Is it necessary to install a bathroom in this addition? There are already three in the Council Chambers now.
• What are the “bottom line” costs for this addition?
• What is the estimated “time-line” for this project? How long will this project take?
• What consideration has been given regarding the disruption in the neighborhood?
• Might not this project money be set aside and used for more pressing needs?
Examples are: our pier; our parks; improved street lighting on Electric Avenue; a solution to allow pedestrians to cross Pacific Coast Highway safely at Fifth Street; purchase of more street parking sings; additional law enforcement officers.
I am sure there are also other possibilities for the use of these “designated funds” should the remodel component not be fully funded.
In closing let me say that I believe the citizenry at large are very proud of our current City Hall complex and find it rather unsettling that there may be some alteration of the building, as we know it.
Many people have commented on how beautiful our City Hall campus is and want to retain its character.
I am hopeful that there will be deliberate time and intentional effort made by the council members and city staff to reach the Seal Beach residents regarding this modification. It appears, at least on the surface, that the remodel component is “a bit much.”
Open discussion and debate are so vital in city government.
I have full confidence in the public hearing process and believe that all the folks interested in this particular project will take the opportunity to let their voices be heard.
Many thanks to those who continue to serve our fine city with integrity and courage.
Seal Beach folks are a blessed lot in so many ways. In appreciation for allowing me to bring these ideas forward, I am sincerely yours,
Joanie Livingston
Seal Beach
Bring back Ruby’s Diner
To the mayor and City Council of Seal Beach, please consider bringing back Ruby’s Diner to the end of the Pier.
As most residents of Seal Beach understand, the Seal Beach Pier is a very important feature and tourist attraction for the town.
It is a key focal point for the community where the land meets the sea, highlighting the seaside nature of our city.
As such, it is a critical aspect of our local economy and our property values.
For a couple of years, the end of the Pier has sat vacant and fenced off in disrepair. This is not the representation of Seal Beach that we want to communicate to our visitors.
Ruby’s Diner was a well presented restaurant at the end of the pier for many years. They had a broad menu which served varied tastes and health interests from a California perspective.
The views from inside the restaurant were excellent and took advantage of all the daylight hours to view the ocean. Other restaurant concepts that focus on dinner would not take advantage of the ocean view (you can’t see much ocean at night).
Whatever restaurant the city choosese to go forward, it would make sense to remember that we should probably not overstep our reach in the peripheral monetary demands placed on the new business. Seal Beach is a wonderful town, but we’re not Crystal Cove with its demographics
Whatever restaurant operates here has to be able to make the capital investment and earn a reasonable return on that capital with more middle to upper middle demographic support.
So let’s not make them pay to refurbish the entire Pier or expect community spending outside of their mission.
Let’s be happy that we can attract a well-run business that makes a positive contribution to the local economy.
Again, please consider bringing back Ruby’s Diner.
Thank you for your consideration.
Paul and Cheri Wayne
Seal beach
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