Mailbag: Give teachers better seats at board meetings

Thirty-five years ago, I wrote a letter to the Newport-Mesa Unified School District Board of Education arguing that the teachers' organization should have an equal place on the board dais during meetings.

Commentary: Common Core math program needs far more study

Re. "Apodaca: Common Core may add up to math skills boost we need," (May 12): Patrice Apodaca's enthusiasm for the new Common Core math program, based on her belief that it will improve students' math...

Editorial: We all pay for each other's mistakes

There's been a good deal of commotion about a pair of teenage Costa Mesa hikers who went missing in South County after Easter. Though the hikers were rescued after a five-day search, and drugs were allegedly found in one of their cars, the truly unfortunate part of this story is that a rescue worker...

Mailbag: Fire-ring smoke makes it hard to breathe

As a resident of Huntington Street, I live with the smoke and soot caused by the incessant daily beach fires.

Commentary: Supes are dismissive of Grand Jury reports

On June 30, 1982, in a letter to the Board of Supervisors , the '81-'82 Orange County Grand Jury referred to the "clanging chains" of that "bureaucracy" in reference to a broken promise made to this jury by the board concerning their lack of response to all Grand Jury final reports within a 60-day...

Commentary: With runner's diary, marathoner takes road less traveled

Jake's coaching helped our friend, Jill, clock a personal best at the OC Half Marathon.

Mailbag: Another side of the man killed in explosion

Re. "Records: Man killed in bomb blast had lab equipment," (May 1): Get the facts right! The white powder was flour. He was upset with Pillsbury. We found notes he had written to them complaining...

Commentary: Deal with inmates' mental health problems

The state penal system leaves a bad taste in my mouth, and you should have the same reaction as well.

Commentary: True meaning of May Day: celebrating the worker

When I was a little girl, my mother would have us weave ribbons into our strawberry baskets and fill them with flowers. We'd then sneak up to our neighbors' homes, ring the bell and leave our beautiful little bouquets on their doorsteps.

Commentary: Hoag abortion ban is a step backward

Earlier this month, Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach announced to its staff that its physicians would no longer be able to perform elective abortions at the hospital ("Hoag: no more elective abortions,"...

Commentary: Congressional bill will help the homeless

Finally! A viable solution for the homeless experience.

Commentary: We must help those with mental illness

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Let's take a moment this month to consider some facts: 1 in 5 children have a diagnosable mental health disorder. One in 4 adults experience a mental health disorder in a given year, and a staggering 1 in 17 adults live with severe mental illness, such as...

Mailbag: Balboa Island story left out link to global warming

Re. "Flood risk: Bane of Balboa Island's existence," (May 5): I was surprised no mention was made of the reason the Federal Emergency Management Agency revised its flood maps...

Commentary: Things are looking up in Newport Beach

What an amazing month in Newport Beach!

Commentary: If drugs played a role, hikers should pay

Re. "D.A. charges missing hiker with meth possession" (May 1): We should be thankful for the news that drug possession charges were filed April 30 against one of the two lost hikers, Nicolas...

Commentary: Whole day of memories from OC Half Marathon

It's 4 a.m. Sunday. Evie calls.

Mailbag: Balboa Island was poorly planned from the start

I read with interest the story "Flood risk: Bane of Balboa's existence," (May 5). About a century ago, a fast talking, fly-by-night entrepreneur named William Collins dredged up a swamp and...

Commentary: Saving public from wood fires is not a local issue

The big news Friday morning was a proposed mayors-only meeting with South Coast Air Quality Management District board member and Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido.

Commentary: Boy Scouts are exactly what gay youth need

I know my story is not unique, but that is all the more reason to tell it. I grew up in the Boy Scouts of America and from the time I was a small child my mother was the Den Leader of our Cub Scout troop until I went off to college, and I was proud to have earned my Eagle Scout badge.

Mailbag: Be observant of where you buy

It is pretty amazing that people buy houses in an internationally recognized vacation spot and then don't like tourists. I remember when the residents above Big Corona wanted to stop tourists from parking on the streets.

Commentary: Newport built a civic center of which we can be proud

With completion of the Newport Beach Civic Center, the city of Newport Beach has a civic landmark in which it can take pride.

Mailbag: Keep Newport policies out of neighboring cities

I have been a resident of Orange County for 37 years and have frequently enjoyed the beach and the fire rings.

Commentary: Diabetes couldn't block CdM grad from Olympic gold

Imagine being told at age 10 that you have Type 1 diabetes, that you have to monitor your blood sugar, inject yourself with insulin four times a day and become obsessive about everything that goes into your body.

Commentary: Trepidation about the markets is understandable

Here we sit at market highs.

Commentary: Boston overshadows daily life

Saturday, April 20, 5:55 a.m. I pull into the parking lot for our weekly distance run.

Commentary: If we pursue a charter, elect a commission to draft it

Here we go again, but in the opinion of Costa Mesans for Responsible Government (CM4RG), we're getting off on the wrong foot again.

Mailbag: Put humanity back into our capitalism

This letter is a response to "It's A Gray Area: Minimum Wages cause more harm than good," (April 19) by James P. Gray in the Daily Pilot.

Commentary: Tell us why we should become a charter city

It has only been six months since the first proposed Costa Mesa city charter was defeated by 60% of the voters, but on Tuesday the Costa Mesa City Council held a study session with the first question being, "Should Costa Mesa pursue becoming a charter city?"

Commentary: Why it makes sense to hire heroes

President Obama announced in January a plan to begin withdrawing from Afghanistan, saying Afghan forces will take the lead in securing the country while our troops shift to a support role.

Commentary: To attract top-notch residents, cut crime

Costa Mesa, according to recent statistics, has 60% renters and 40% home owners — a ratio that has bothered many elected officials for years.

Mailbag: Headline wrongly implies support for a hotel [corrected]

Re. "Newport hotel wins vast support," (April 24):

Commentary: Local control is the answer to fire ring debate

When I was growing up in Costa Mesa in the '70s and '80s, I remember the days of poor air quality and smog alerts.

Commentary: The people, officials of Newport made dredging project happen

A note from Newport Beach Councilwoman Leslie Daigle: This week, city officials and others gathered at the Newport Harbor Yacht Club to celebrate the completion of the Lower Bay dredging project. By investing in a community effort in the protection and conservation of our waterways, we...

On Earth Day, thoughts of nonviolence, healing

Originally, I had anticipated writing about Earth Day and the obligation that people of faith have to care for God's creation. After all, if we cannot be the prophetic voice and model an earth-conscious life, how can we possibly honor our God? And yet, the events of this week demand reflection.

Mailbag: Please remember to fly flags at half-staff

Today, while doing errands, I noted with great sadness the many United States flags being flown at half-staff around our city in honor of the victims of the violence in Boston.

Commentary: Newport-Mesa burns money on conferences, consultants

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District does many things right, but spending money while crying poverty is not one of them.

Mailbag: Neighbors in H.B. weigh in on fire rings

I live in Huntington Beach, about two blocks from the beach. I am not a wealthy person trying to keep others from beach traditions.

Commentary: This lone ranger rides to end child hunger

It's not every day that one meets a hero. And it's not every day that one graces our California coastal city of Newport Beach.

Commentary: Seeing through the smoke on beach bonfire bans

It’s possible that fire rings on the beach are a major contributor to air pollution. But there's reason to doubt it, especially since air regulators don't appear to have been worried about the venerable tradition of the Southern California beach bonfire until the city of Newport Beach got into...

Commentary: Jackie Robinson picture is a window into history

You should consider going to the movies to see "42," the new film about baseball Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson's first year with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.