The Buzz

Reader reaction: “The city planted new trees after cutting down mature ones on the Oso median between Marguerite Parkway and Country Club Drive. The new trees are too numerous, too close together and not a good choice. The trees that the city cut down were preferable. The new trees look like liquidambar, which will drop spiny balls and have invasive roots pushing up the pavement. Liquidambar trees belong in a park. At least the city didn’t build anything weird on the medians.”

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Garage sale, Sat., May 14, 7 a.m. to 12 noon, 26481 Espalter Drive, Mission Viejo. The cross streets are La Paz and Mosquero. Aliso Viejo Republican Women Federated will have the sale at the home of Brenda Cooper, (949) 859-5607. To donate items, call Dorothy Oreyzi for assistance with picking up, (949) 910-6871.

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How did the media miss this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s9StxsFllY . By viewing this video as well as the rebuttals and responses (also on You Tube), birthers, truthers and Obama supporters can find opposing arguments. Two sides are readily available, with the media presenting only one.

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The controversy over putting schools on the “surplus list” in the Saddleback Valley district was covered last week by Patch.com ( http://missionviejo.patch.com/articles/controversy-prompts-school-closure-committee-to-meet-again-thursday?ncid=M255 ). According to an update in the link, the only potential closure to be discussed on the SVUSD Board of Trustees agenda for the May 10 meeting will be Aliso Elementary. Readers also reacted on Mission Viejo Dispatch, including a letter to the editor ( http://missionviejodispatch.com/letters-to-editor/letter-school-surplus-committee-a-farce ).

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SVUSD showed its cards more than a year ago by opposing Measure D, the Mission Viejo Right To Vote, which was on the June 2010 ballot. Residents should ask why a school district would take a position on future zoning matters if it didn’t envision the possibility of selling “surplus” school property to housing developers. Had Measure D passed, voters would have the final say in rezoning of major parcels. Those who live near a school, park, open space, golf course or shopping center – in short, anything that isn’t already zoned for housing – can mobilize their neighborhoods to oppose high-density housing projects while developers buy council votes with “campaign donations.”

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Mission Viejo High School Performing Arts is presenting “Beauty and the Beast” on May 12, 13 and 14, 7:00 p.m., (949) 837-7722. Saddleback College is presenting “Phantom of the Opera,” on May 14 at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and May 15 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., (949) 582-4656, http://www.saddleback.edu/arts

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Resurfacing of a section of Olympiad Road has been a challenge for the city. The stretch of road between Alicia Parkway and Jeronimo Road has been resurfaced three times. The first two attempts failed when large strips of the pavement peeled away. Approximately two weeks ago, the process began anew with scraping off the layers of deteriorating pavement. Drivers report the most recent resurfacing work is the worst to date, resulting in rough, uneven asphalt.

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From a message forwarded by Mission Viejo Tea Party Patriot Kathy K.: The trading privileges afforded to the Chinese should be suspended. We don’t need the government to suspend trading privileges when we can do it ourselves by looking at the label on products. If the label says Made in China or PRC (which now includes Hong Kong), don’t buy it. If 200 million Americans each reject just $20 worth of Chinese goods, that’s a huge trade imbalance resolved in our favor. Please support the current nationwide campaign to BUY AMERICAN during the month of May.