Letters to the Editor

Editor:

What a great performance from the LW Orchestra on June 7! People were tapping their toes and nodding their heads in recognition of the fine tunes and orchestration. More than 300 Leisure World residents enjoyed a terrific, free, concert put on by our LW Orchestra conducted by Linda DeRungs. It featured Yuri Lotakov, a Leisure World resident, performing Piano Concerto in A minor, and Carol Winston, soprano, singing “The Sun Whose Rays are All Ablaze” from Gilbert and Sullivan and select Rodgers and Hammerstein favorites. It was a wonderful way to spend an hour and a half with very talented orchestra and soloists.

At the concert’s conclusion, the orchestra hosted a luncheon reception that featured a variety of foodstuffs and beverages. It was a most delightful way to spend the afternoon.

The orchestra continues to grow and welcomes LW residents who perhaps haven’t picked up their instruments in years. Not to worry, patience and practice will bring you back to full performance. Why not join them? They meet Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Amphitheatre stage from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Its next performance will be a holiday concert in December.

Donna Gambol Mutual 1 Editor:

What a fantastic concert the LW Orchestra performed for a capacity crowd in Clubhouse 2 on June 7. I came away amazed by the high-end musical talent our community contains.

For instance, what good deeds did Leisure World do in order to claim a world-class pianist among its residents? Yuri Lotakov’s superbly passionate performance of the Grieg concerto created a profound connection between the artist and audience. A standing ovation for the concerto was a fitting testament to the performance!

Linda DeRungs, artistic director and conductor, crafted a fascinating and enjoyable program that resulted in a fun, full-of-energy, high-spirited concert.

I could tell that orchestra members poured a tremendous amount of hard work, dedication and talent to perform very challenging music.

It was a joyful experience for the audience to hear such highquality classical music across many genres. I am looking forward to future performances!

Anita Miller Mutual 12 Editor:

June 7 was certainly more than another music-filled afternoon here in Leisure World for me. It was an afternoon of fantastic music played by the Leisure World Orchestra during its spring concert. If the word “fantastic” was printed across this newspaper page from top to bottom, it would still be a signifi cant understatement of the quality of the music played by our Leisure World Orchestra. Its segments included masterpieces from many genres, including opera, Broadway, classical and Americana.

After the second segment operetta masterpieces ended, the gentlemen sitting behind me, a complete stranger to me, tapped my shoulder and said, “This music is very powerful.”

Congratulations to our Leisure World Orchestra and Linda DeRungs, the new conductor and artistic director, for a concert that is going to long be remembered. Ms. DeRungs, thank you, for a fantastic afternoon of music under your powerful direction.

And, of course, then congratulations to “our Yuri!” Our very own Leisure World resident Yuri Lotakov, a worldrenowned concert pianist who played Piano Concerto in A minor, 1st Movement by Edvard Greig. Watching him play and hearing the music, I thought I had been transported to a BBC production. For a split second after Yuri completed this piece, the audience was dead silent, as many of us were stunned at watching him play. Then the audience exploded in applause.

A special thank you also to the Leisure World Orchestra members for the huge quantity and wide variety of after-concert food that members personally provided. There was enough food to feed 350 people.

Debbi Fudge Mutual 1 Editor:

Am just curious, what happened to SCAN? I have made several unsuccessful attempts to meet with a representative at its new office. No one is ever there.

After the grand opening, I was looking forward to learning about my policy.

I inquired through a customer service person at the office and she asked me to hold while she researched, to no avail. No one there knew anything regarding the times and dates of opening, or even a person’s name, to perhaps follow up with.

It’s quite a let-down, considering the celebratory gathering a few weeks ago. Hopefully, the office will be staffed soon.

R. Gene Vesely Mutual 3 Editor:

Regarding masked El Salvador jail staff, I wonder why these individuals in positions of immediate authority wear masks. I wonder why the senior leaders allow mask wearing to prevail.

Could it be they are hiding feelings of general shame in what is being practiced? When civil societies ultimately render condemnation, they will be identified and found to lack common decency and face the disgust and retribution they deserve. Or do they very purposely intend their anonymity to increase feelings of despair in their victims—maximize intimidation and humiliation (guards, perhaps, selected for their anti-social inclinations)?

And what of those who feed helpless individuals to the mask wearers. Should we not be questioning their role? And am I mistaken or do I see in news clips masked federal ICE officers arresting individuals whose (citizenship) is presumed insufficiently documented? Perhaps they are valid arrests, but do arresting officers need to be masked?

Are we sliding to a reduced level of civility?

Stan Verdi Mutual 2 Editor:

Lee Hoyt’s letter (May 29) is totally realistic and relevant about what’s going on in the current administration in the White House. And so is this funny, little joke I recently heard: President Trump arrives at the Pearly Gates and tells God on his throne that “he is sitting in his seat.”

And that’s exactly what Trump thinks and believes of himself, being some sort of a god. But I know better. He is a lifelong con man, liked by people because he was going to drain the swamp and be their protector. He promised that he was going to stop the war in the Ukraine on his first day. He lied. The war is still raging.

He is breaking the law every day and gets away with it. It started on his very first day as president, and he is most definitely draining the prisons of convicted criminals, like the Jan. 6 rioters and many of his own kind, white collar criminals, his friends. He sure was a terrifying choice for president. He is most definitely using Hitler’s playbook and strategies by dismantling democratic institutions and consolidating his power through intimidation. That’s the dictator’s way.

Ilona Denes Mutual 6 Editor:

In response to Mr. Ward’s letter (June 5), what truly makes America great is the United States Constitution, with separation of powers and rule of law. While differences of opinion are valid in how to handle the immigration situation, Donald Trump is accomplishing his signature immigration purge by ignoring due process and sending non-violent immigrants to prison camps; canceling valid visas; repurposing DHS officers who are not trained in crowd control to carry automatic rifles and terrorize restaurants and places of business in pursuit of non-violent people who may or

LETTERS, page 24 may not be illegal aliens; and arresting high school honor students who have been here since kindergarten, but don’t have $5 million dollars to buy citizenship.

The Republicans had an opportunity to pass a conservative immigration package under Biden but were discouraged from doing so by Donald Trump. It is still the job of the legislature to make the laws. The Dred Scott decision said that Negroes were not included in birthright citizenship. It was overturned by the 14th Amendment in 1868. The Republican Party at that time had an entirely different agenda and focus.

It was not the MAGA party, and any good thing the Republicans have done in the past cannot be attributed to the policies of the current administration.

Although PBS and NPR may have a liberal bent, their news is based in actual verifiable facts (not alternative ones). Silencing opposing views is not democracy it is an authoritarian dictatorship.

Beth Winslow Mutual 8 Editor:

Speaking as a person unaffiliated with any political party, I find what’s happening in the United States completely insane! Insane in that what I am seeing is being described as the polar opposite by our politicians and many “newscasters.” I have what many have told me are the “eyes of an eagle.” I will say that what I am seeing is not peaceful demonstrations! And those are not peaceful protesters. In fact they look, to me, just like looters!

We have just celebrated the 250th birthday of our country. As a footnote, we all should know that a country is defined by its borders, and a country’s society is defined by its laws. It seems, to me, these truths are being, sadly, distorted. Does anyone out there think I could speak these words in a country like China? The founding fathers said democracy would last 300 years. The point I will leave you with is this: I hope everyone enjoyed to the fullest the 250th party. Long live the good old U.S. of A!

Robert Barnum Mutual 1