Big Thanks From Big Brothers
I’m writing to publicly thank the fantastic board and community support campaigners of Big Brothers Big Sisters who succeeded in reaching their goal and raised $105,000.
Our fundraisers and the generous donors in our community ensure that we can provide local children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.
Special thanks to campaigners Marian Anderson, Dave Axberg, Monique Carlton, Christie Clemons, Karen Colombo, Bill Filippin, Carol Florence, Bryan Gingg, Brad Goodwin, Jim Hamari, Mike Hill, Steve Hilty, Holly Holliday, Steve Holtzman, Kaitlin King, Ryan Miller, Ziyad Naccasha, JED Nicholson, Clint Pearce, Phillip Sullivan, Hal Sweasey, Claire Vollmer and Bill Wesnousky.
Thank you each for investing in our community and the futures of local youth. Thanks,
Anna Boyd-Bucy, Executive Director Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Luis Obispo County
Kudos for Polio Story
Dear King Harris:
Thank you for your recent article regarding your experiences having polio as a child. You awakened so many memories of my own childhood experience.
I had polio at the age of 9 in 1944. I was taken to L.A. General Hospital and placed on the quarantined ward with dozens of other children stricken with poliomyelitis. I too went through the treatment of hot towels placed on my body twice a day for several years. I was in a wheelchair for three years and eventually learned to walk again with the aid of Sister Kinney Stick (half crutches).
I spent several years in the hospital receiving physical therapy. When I returned home I had a home teacher.
Eventually, I fully recovered and went on to competing in marathons and triathlons around the world. I also participated in long distant, rough water, ocean swim competitions.
Thank you for your article. Just yesterday I discovered many college students have never heard of polio; had never even heard the word mentioned.
Sincerely, Bob Morgan, SLO
City Goofed With Parklet
Dear Editor:
Pat Bietz’ article, “Parklet Issue Has Gotten Out of Hand” (Letters, Feb. 19) praises the concepts “coalescence” and working “together as a community.” I, too, approve of those ideals.
However, the City of Morro Bay appears to have forgotten them in its imposition of the parklet on Main Street’s busiest block, without first trying to gain the support of the businesses in that blocks.
San Francisco’s parklets, I understand, have been an inspiration to whoever made the decision to try them in Morro Bay. A brief scan of San Francsco’s “Parklet Manual” (available online) tells us this:
• Businesses request parklets on their street. The city does not select the business, nor the place where the parklet is to be.
• The parklet request must go through several city administrative offices before it gains approval.
• The business requesting the parklet must consult with neighbors and get the approval of most of them. The Parklet Manual, page 19, reads as follows:
“BUILDING NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORT. Demonstrated support for your parklet project is an essential part of the process and should be included with your initial parklet application. Parklet application submissions that do not include documentation of community outreach will not be considered. Past experience has shown that parklet proposals that have included a robust outreach effort and demonstrated widespread support among nearby businesses, residents, or other stakeholders are more likely to move through process successfully and proceed to the design development phase. You should also reach out to your district supervisor, inform him or her of the proposal; and ideally, get support for the proposed parklet.”
The strong community opposition to the (Morro Bay) parklet that has arisen indicates to me that the approval of the neighboring businesses on Main Street should have been sought.
I hope the City Council of Morro Bay reconsiders.
Carol McPhee Norton, Morro Bay
