thumbs_up DAVE WIELENGA’S “MASSIVE FARMERS MARKET PROPOSAL CREATING QUITE A PICKLE,” JULY 8

I have been a customer of the current Sunday market [in the Alamitos Marina parking lot] since its inception and I don’t see any reason to have another market within walking distance on the same day. The current market is well-established and has been in the marina location for over 10 years. To have another market so close would dilute the farmer and customer base. I also am deeply concerned about the location of the proposed [new] market being so close to the wetlands. I oppose the Thacker proposal. / JOEL COLBERT

Doesn’t it make more sense to start a farmers’ market in another district that doesn’t already have a thriving market? I have to ask, what are the Thackers’ true motivations here? / VEGGIE GIRL

The Pumpkin patch parcel is owned by Tom Dean! The applicant is Ted Thacker. Has Ted bought the Pumpkin Patch from Dean (memories of Sean Hitchcock buying subarea #23 from Dean—a surprise to all—and then grading immediately) or just leasing? If people oppose this then they must email either Jeff Winklepleck (Jeffrey.winklepleck@longbeach.gov) or Derek Burnham (Derek.Burnham@longbeach.gov) immediately to have written testimony on record. Only by doing this will you be able to appeal the Zoning Adminstrator’s decision to the Planning Commission. The general consensus is this is a clever ploy to rid the Marina of our favorite farmers market. No two farmers markets could probably be held in such close proximity to each other. It is also a rarity to have a farmers market held on two consecutive days. The city could find the Marina Farmers Market (on Marina Drive, adjacent to the proposed Second+PCH) obsolete thus freeing up that parking lot for Second+PCH’s underparked cars. The Marina’s Farmer’s market as well as the Arts and Crafts Festival is held on a paved cement parking lot off Marina Drive. The Pumpkin Patch is dirty, windy and right at the “iconic” gateway (PCH) to the city. Oh, it’s also a historic wetland, not something Zoning would care about though. And why is Mr. Thacker requesting 370 parking spaces? A bit much? That’s well over 1/4 of the parking spaces that Second+PCH would have. Thinking… / TAMMY

Always so cynical…did you not see that they were proposing ponies? No one with evil in their heart would want to bring ponies to the children. / LB CITYGIRL

They forgot something. A wetlands viewing platform would be perfect for that parcel. / GORDANA

As the manager of the existing Sunday Farmers Market in the Southeast Long Beach area, I would like to make a couple of comments to help folks keep their facts straight. First, I would guess that the proposed hours of 7am to 4pm for the proposed “Pumpkin Patch” market are actually the ACCESS HOURS for that market. Such hours would indicate SALES HOURS of 9am to 2pm, with two hours at either end to set up and take down. These sales hours are the same as we have at our existing Sunday market. Second, to the best of my knowledge there are only six farmers markets currently open in Long Beach. There used to be one on Tuesday at the World Trade Center on Ocean Blvd. It has been closed for several months now, but it is still listed in many publications that do not regularly check their listings for accuracy. There are already two markets running on Sundays in Long Beach, however—ours and the one at Longfellow Elementary School. Finally, we at the Sunday Alamitos Bay Farmers Market like our current location and customers very much, and we will stay and do business there just as long as we possibly can, no matter what! / DALE WHITNEY (manager, Harbor Area Farmers Markets)

 LBREPORT’S “CONGRESS CLEARS LAURA RICHARDSON OF ETHICAL ALLEGATIONS,” JULY 2

I have $10 that says this won’t be her only interaction with the ethics committee. I must admit a certain curiosity as to exactly how the ethics committee investigated this, what with Washington Mutual not existing anymore. / HOWARD X

KRISTIN CHALMERS’ “THE HAPPINESS PROJECT: ACING A CLASS NEVER FELT SO GOOD,” JUNE 27

Happiness comes from with in. We do not have control over the things that happen to us in life, but we do have control over how we react to them. Being happy in life is a choice. / JEANINE

STEVE LOWERY’S “VECTOR CONTROL,” JUNE 25

Hey Steve, let’s leave the Beverly O’Neill jokes to the other joke, the clown who scribbles for the Grunting Gazelle, who is on an ass-kissing mission to be recognized for something. Amazing, a book about her! I mean, fawning over Beverly O’Neill? I could understand fawning over Flossie Lewis—but her daughter? Give us all a break. She is nothing but a bad memory and a symbol of our sorry city. She really belonged in Maywood, South Gate or Compton, where her true qualities would have stood out over the rest. What a failure! How appropriate that the dirtbags at the Gazette are glorifying the old bag! / LB LOVER

STEVE LOWERY’S “VECTOR CONTROL,” JULY 2

Please include the full title of Star Parker’s book in any future references: “Pimps Whores and Welfare Brats: From Welfare Cheat to Conservative Messenger.” A self-admitted welfare cheat wants us to trust her enough to send her to congress. / HOWARD X

Just FYI, the Bayou Festival is produced by Rainbow promotions who partners with Comprehensive Child Development who received a donation as well as runs a raffle booth – to support child care for low income working families. There is a nice side-benefit to dollars spent at this family-friendly fun event. / THE COMMISH