Josh Slocum’s restaurant does not look...

Josh Slocum’s restaurant does not look quite Victorian

Regarding the Josh Slocum’s remodel.

Dennis Rodman’s interior designer states “It’s Victorian on the

outside and the rise fall of Renaissance architecture on the inside.”

Give me a break. Try neo-bordello.

BERT BARDEN

Newport Beach

Newport deserves praise for handling of protected ficus tree

The city of Newport Beach should be commended for moving the

Pharmacy Tree, the ficus tree in front of the pharmacy on Main Street

on the Balboa Peninsula, and preparing it for transplantation, rather

than simply destroying it.

The city was not required to take this action; it did so on its

own volition. That it did elect to preserve this tree speaks volumes

toward a goodwill commitment to respect its mature trees and its

“Special City Trees” in particular. The Pharmacy Tree was one of the

Special City Trees that is protected by the city’s policy that

governs retention and removal of the city’s trees.

During the boxing of the tree last Friday, the roots were exposed,

and were available for observation. An interesting observation to me

was the appearance of the large roots that were cut some five years

ago when the hardscape of Main Street was replaced. The large roots

that were cut years ago only showed some regeneration of very small

roots along the cut edge of the root. There was no regeneration of

the large roots that tend to cause the problems with the ficus tree.

This shows that root pruning of the ficus tree is a feasible

solution to the ficus tree problem in Newport Beach. The roots of the

ficus trees can be pruned severely without sacrificing the whole

tree. Just as branches of the trees are pruned on a regular basis,

root pruning should be done regularly.

This could provide a basis for a policy relating to the other

3,000 ficus trees in Newport Beach, and prevent the kind of ficus

fracas that involved Main Street recently. Root pruning should occur

before infrastructure problems arise.

JAN D. VANDERSLOOT

Vice President, Balboa Arbor Society

Newport Beach

The Back Bay needs well-designed walkways

Question: Is a boardwalk along the Back Bay necessary?

Answer: A well-designed system of several boardwalks in specific

areas of the Back Bay is absolutely necessary.

Unfortunately, the Pilot article includes several errors including

the statement “the elevated walking platform (boardwalk) would be two

miles long, stretching from University Avenue to 23rd Street,” which

certainly is not the case. The concept for our West Bay Salt Marsh

Restoration Project that the Newport Bay Naturalists and Friends have

been working on for over a year, in conjunction with the city of

Newport Beach, Orange County Harbors Beaches and Parks, California

Department of Fish and Game, Community Conservancy International and

several other partners, has three important objectives:

1. Protect heavily impacted habitat of the endangered Light-footed

Clapper Rail by restoring damaged wetlands and salt marsh; removing

unauthorized trails, nonnative vegetation, and dredge spoils; and

re-vegetating eroding bluffs;

2. Protect the Clapper Rail, as well as the Belding Savannah

Sparrow, through a system of planned public access, including

installing nearly two miles of boardwalks and elevated public viewing

platforms over sensitive habitat areas and linking to existing

heavily-used points such as the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive

Center;

3. Protect critical habitat areas by installing well-designed

fences, trail signage and buoy signage in restricted areas.

The Newport Bay Naturalists and Friends, recently merged with the

Friends of Newport Bay, have been looking out for the best interests

of the Back Bay for nearly 35 years. We have more than 150 volunteers

involved in our projects at the bay. If you would like more

information about our restoration and education activities, please

visit our Web site: www.newportbay.org. If you would like more

information on the West Bay Project, please call me at (949)

720-9433.

JACK KEATING

President, Newport Bay Naturalists

and Friends

Newport Beach

Marinapark hotel would compound previous errors

As 30-year Peninsula Point residents, we are very much opposed to

a hotel at Marinapark. We have seen the city allow extensive

commercial waterfront development that excludes those “inlanders”

from any bay view or any feeling of open space. (A horrible example

is the Balboa Bay Club.)

We do not need to eliminate a public park and single-story

residences to compound this error.

COLLEEN AND BERT HALL

Peninsula Point

Boardwalk would wisely preserve the Back Bay

Yes, I think a boardwalk at the Upper Newport Bay is a great idea

and a great way to allow pedestrians and preserve the integrity of

the preserve.

KIM NEWETT

Costa Mesa

Judge Gardner columns nicely combine history, humor

My husband and I want to thank you for the wonderful Judge Robert

Gardner columns. He brings such history and humor into our day.

JOYCE AND PAT DUNIGAN

Newport Beach