Mailbag: Angry about absence of lifeguards

On Sunday afternoon, my husband and I, longtime Huntington Beach residents, walked down to the beach for a bit of bodyboarding. The beach was crowded, not surprisingly, since it was early in the afternoon on the Sunday before Labor Day.

It was crowded everywhere except for the lifeguard tower. There was no lifeguard on duty. What in the world is happening when city lifeguards are not manning the towers on such a foreseeably well-attended beach day? To make matters worse, the waves were fierce, the side current powerful and the percentage of small children as high as I have ever seen it.

The city should be ashamed for having neglected to protect the citizens, who had a right to a safe, guarded beach. Since the parking fees are now an astronomical $15, one would think that some of that money could have been allocated to guaranteeing a lifeguard on duty.

Janet Weaver

Huntington Beach

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Restaurant helps ease pain of customer’s conduct

My daughter Lexi and I went to Que Pasta Italia on Bolsa Chica Street and Warner Avenue in Huntington Beach to have dinner.

Lexi is disabled although she looks pretty normal. She was born with epilepsy and Dandy-Walker syndrome. She has behaviorial, sensory and balance issues and a ton more obstacles to overcome.

The table next to us was filled with about a half-dozen adults. One of the older ladies started swinging her head, showing the other people at her table the swinging head movements that Lexi was doing. (This is a sensory seeking behavior for many disabled children.)

Lexi saw the lady doing this and got really upset. I flagged the waitress down and asked to move across the restaurant, explaining why I wanted to move. Lexi started bawling and telling me how much she hates being different and how it makes her sad that people make fun of her.

The workers at Que Pasta were amazing. They comped our meal and dessert and told us how disgusted they were that this had happened.

Lexi has one of the biggest hearts I know, and she would literally give away her last candy bar or her favorite treat if asked.

It truly breaks my heart that she still has to worry about people bullying her every time she leaves the house, especially adults who should know better.

Kymbirley Brake

Huntington Harbour

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On hot day, senior center was cold

I attended the Friday afternoon movie at the Huntington Beach senior center Aug. 28.

The gentleman who set up the movie said it was one of the hottest days in Huntington Beach and that all the fans would be going — no air conditioning. There was a cooler of ice that had been used at the earlier lunch to keep water cool. I asked if it would be refilled with water and was told, “No. No water for the movies.”

As seniors, we are constantly reminded to stay hydrated in hot weather. Several years ago, I attended a football game at the Rose Bowl, and it was so hot that bottles of water were distributed free to anyone who needed one. At an AARP convention in Las Vegas, we were reminded time and again to drink water, and indeed, plenty of water was made available.

But here in Huntington Beach, I was sweating profusely during the movie. I was happy to go home and get a nice cold glass of water.

Joan Fisher

Huntington Beach

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LED message sign a nightmare in the making

It would be a mistake to allow an LED billboard to be built in Fountain Valley.

What image does the city want to project about the virtues and people of Fountain Valley? Will our image include ads for DUI lawyers, a tattoo expo, breast augmentation surgery and gun shows — all bathed in blinding lights?

We won’t be able to control the content. Just try to sue a billion-dollar company for the next 30 years and see how far you get.

Allow one overpowering, intrusive LED sign, and the city will be pursued and rightly sued to allow additional commercial billboards.

What a potential nightmare.

Leston Trueblood

Fountain Valley