Mailbag: Is anyone tracking the rise in sea levels?

Recent reporting and comments about global warming do not include information on the increase in the ocean’s sea level, or what properties in Laguna Beach have been threatened or damaged by the rising sea level.

In February 2007, the City Council adopted unanimously the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. From it and former Vice President Al Gore’s movie “An Inconvenient Truth,” the major concern was “sea-level rises that interact with coastal storms to erode beaches, inundate land and damage structures.”

The Academy Award-winning documentary claimed sea levels would rise more than 20 feet by the year 2100. It’s been seven years since the Climate Protection Agreement was endorsed at the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in Chicago in 2005. What has been the rise in the ocean’s sea level since then?

I would think that tracking the sea-level rise and the cost of coastal structure damage would be key metrics.

Gene Felder

Laguna Beach

*

‘Lonesome’ musical is perfection

“Lonesome Traveler” is a musical hit in every sense of the word. Run, don’t walk, to get your tickets to this Laguna Playhouse performance! It is uplifting, inspirational, charming and perfect in every way.

The singing is pure and simple in its perfection. The instrumental accompaniment — with guitars, mandolins, string bass and even a washboard — adds to the quality and set the mood of heartwarming musical nostalgia. The acting is superb.

The storyline, conceived by director James O’Neil, follows the development chronologically of the songs of Will Rogers, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and others.

“So Long, It’s Been Good to Know You,” Goodnight, Irene,” “Tom Dooley,” “We Shall Overcome,” are interspersed with 35 other popular songs of the times. Justin Flagg and Jennifer Warren lead the superb cast. Don’t miss it!

My thanks to Playhouse Executive Director Karen Wood and Artistic Director Ann Wareham for bringing this wonderful show to Laguna Beach.

Carol Reynolds

Laguna Beach