Tuesday, August 4, 2015


LETTERS to the EDITOR


Good Sports The following letter was ad-


dressed to sports editor Cliff Rob- bins, but we’d like to share it.


Dear Cliff: My July Sentry arrived in Sat-


urday’s mail. I quickly sat down to read it. Two things came to mind: 1.) I have never really thanked you for your article about my induction into the SCIBCA Hall of Fame; and 2. ) I do enjoy the completeness of your commu- nity sports coverage. Where else could one read about all-CIFers; an All-Star football game; a local humongous catfish; and a listing of new head coaches in the area –- and all in a two-page spread. It was great! I have relished our athletic “connection” through the years, and so appreciate your kind words about the Hall of Fame induction. The honor came as a huge sur- prise and was truly a humbling experience. Thank you.


Proud to be a Lancer! Nancy Paul Orange


Memory lane


Dear Editor: Upon accepting a new job in Anaheim, I needed to find a new home. In January 1959 I moved my family to Orange County. We checked around and purchased a home in the unincorporated area around Santa Ana. North Tustin, as we now know it, didn’t even exist at that time. Seventeenth Street was two lanes, lined with trees on both sides -- some tops


even touched. My wife said, “Are you sure we want to live way out here in the country?” We could picnic on an area ad-


jacent to Disneyland and then en- ter the park in the evening for $5. One could roam the old Western town at Knott’s Berry Farm with- out cost. I would take visitors to Knott’s Steak House for lunch and they’d pan for gold at the mine. There was a lot of empty space


in Orange County at that time. I knew the area would be growing, but had no idea as to what extent growth would be in 56 years. I attended many meetings of


the Foothill Communities Asso- ciation, and had the pleasure of meeting and talking with Anita Bennyhoff. We both sat in the front row, she with her camera and note pad. We had some inter- esting conversations. I still receive the Foothills Sen-


try regularly by mail. And I thank you. I do miss, however, the photo of the end of some of the esteemed leaders in our community!


John B. Olsson North Tustin


Editor’s note: We, too, miss the comments of our astute donkey “Sweet Pea” who regularly gave her award to deserving politi- cians. Sweet Pea retired, and is now living comfortably in Nevada.


Wily coyotes


Dear Editor: I’ve lived in Orange for over 30


years. Last week my one-year-old kitty was outside in the evening, and when I called her, she didn’t come in. This has happened be-


Foothills Sentry


fore, so no big deal. I had no idea coyotes were right here in our busy city streets and neigh- borhoods (right by Cambridge School), but a neighbor told me the sad news that a coyote had taken my beloved Bella. Another neighbor told me he sees coyotes around all the time, especially in the early morning. I never knew this, so I want to get the word out to let people know, so they can keep their pets safe, and they don’t fall prey like my Bella. Please post a message in the


Sentry paper so everyone around Orange and neighboring cities are well informed.


Alicia Brand Orange


Dear Editor: As a resident of the Marywood community, I’m writing to ex- press my disappointment with the City of Orange for thinking that the development proposed by The New Home Company is a good idea. I am concerned about the im-


pact these large houses will have on traffic and our environment. I also believe this development doesn’t fit in with the neighboring community, particularly with re- spect to the lot size and the devel- oper’s request for a code variance to allow tandem garage parking. The developer must think us gull- ible when he states that tandem parking is proposed to avoid the garage doors from dominating the homes’ architectural style. Can’t the developer redesign the facades of the homes, if that’s the concern? Clearly, this is the developer’s


excuse to maximize the available land by building the most houses on this property without thinking of the needs of the new home- owners. Are there large families that would be happy with tandem garages? A 4,300-square-foot home will have at least two cars in the household, and one of the cars would not even be accessible all of the time. Creating addition- al garage space by adding square footage to the side of each house would keep the existing codes in place, make the future residents of these homes happier, and – with slightly less than 40 homes being developed due to a negligi- ble increase in footprint – reduce traffic on Villareal. It is my hope that the city De-


JOHNSON MOTORCARS 24 Years of Specializing in the Service and Repair of


Mercedes-Benz Gary Johnson


714-997-2567


982 N. Batavia # B13, Orange, CA 92867 gary@johnsonmotorcars.com


sign Review Committee adheres to the codes and reinforces the ex- isting homogenous neighborhood that represents Orange’s long- standing aesthetics and values.


Linda Jordan Orange


Hallowed hill


Dear Editor: I am voicing my concern re- garding the proposed construc- tion at the Marywood Hills site.


How to Avoid 9 Common Buyer Traps BEFORE Buying a Orange Home


Orange Home- Buying a home


is a major investment no matter which way you look at it. But for many homebuyers, it’s an even more expensive process than it needs to be because many fall prey to at least a few of the many common and costly mistakes which trap them into either paying too much for the home they want, or losing their dream home to another buyer or, worse, buying the wrong home for


their needs. A systemized approach to the homebuying process can help you steer clear of these common traps, allowing you to not only cut costs, but also buy the home that’s best for you. An industry report has just been released entitled “Nine Buyer Traps and How to Avoid Them”. This important report discusses the 9 most common and costly of these homebuyer traps, how to identify


them, and what you can do to avoid them. To hear a brief recorded message about how to order your FREE copy of this report call toll-free 1-800-761-5063 and enter 1018. You can call any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Get your free special report


NOW to find out what you need to know to make your move-up to a larger home worry-free and without complication.


This report is courtesy of Kathy Wellmenling #01489734. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Copyright © 2015 Advertisment


As a longtime resident, I believe that the proposed plans will cause congested traffic in our neighbor- hood. I urge the city to investi- gate this matter, as it will nega- tively impact hundreds of resi- dents. Many of us are extremely concerned, and request due dili- gence and complete transparency with our concerns.


Angie Armenta-Medlyn Orange


Dear Editor: I’m a senior citizen and a Viet


Nam veteran. I’ve lived lots of places (including a war zone). Right now, I live in my favorite place ever.


I’ve been looking


forward to a peaceful retirement right here. Right now, my dreams are threatened by 40 new homes proposed in the middle of over 1,000 homes that have mostly been here for about 50 years. The demolition and on-site crushing of 102,000 square feet of build- ings is being shoved down our throats. My peaceful neighbor- hood will be almost as noisy and filthy as a war zone. What a nightmare! This isn’t about progress. This


is about profit. Profit is good, but the real price for 40 new homes will be paid by over a thousand families that already built a spe- cial community. The site is on Villareal Drive,


near Santiago and Meats. It was Marywood Catholic Girls School and Diocese of Orange. The land has great value be-


cause of spectacular unobstructed views of city lights, views that stretch to Catalina on a clear day. Our community is called


Marywood Hills in honor of the school. Most homes built around 1964, same year as the school. Mostly California Ranch single stories on wide lots. Whole area


Page 7


is very “country.” Quail, rabbits and coyotes are common because there is room for them. Many homes are on 20,000-sq.-ft. lots, nearly a half-acre per house, and more than triple the 6,000-sq.-ft. lots at the development site. I was at city hall July 15t, for a


Design Review Committee meet- ing on the project. The homes will be gorgeous. Spectacular views. $Million prices. Exclusive, gated tract. Construction and build-out estimated two years, beginning with six months of demolition, crushing and regrading. The New Home Company will be allowed to use heavy machinery 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., 13 hours per day, six days a week. My head hurts already. The city can make this project


better. Limit demolition and con- struction to 8-5, M-F, so the few thousand people who live here can enjoy a quiet cup of coffee Saturday morning on their patio. At the meeting, a neighbor (old


guy like me) said what I feel. It’s hard for us old guys to be senti- mental, but he talked about a pair of hawks nesting every year in his tree. He talked about wildlife here every day. He really cares, and so do I. What he did took guts. I hope he comes back to city hall and does it again. And when he does, I’ll be there. By city code, new home tracts


are supposed to “fit into” an ex- isting neighborhood. But this tract will not even remotely blend with surrounding homes. We’re a community where people walk every day, for exercise and for pleasure, and a fenced, gated, ex- clusive “pocket” tract is hostile to our lifestyle. The committee can do a lot.


Put conditions on permit approv- al. Recommend to city council


See "Letters" continued on page 6


Dear Editor


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20