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Letters/Online Comments

RE: “Boatel, food hall, water taxi among initial concepts for Channel Islands Harbor

visioning” (FEB. 5-18)

There are no Theme Destination Project Directors involved in this notable harbor on the West Coast. This county plays games with consultant fees going to friends that have no experience in harbors. It is set up for failure as is and run-on dark money. The poll was not opened to state, the true stakeholders of this harbor, it’s public land. Then you have the people/ leads on the Nextdoor website who undermine facts about this project and how dirty it is. By the way, this is the fi fth largest harbor on West Coast, so maybe do some research, and the Boatel at former Harbor Town in Ventura was a bust! Maybe hire a Project Theme Director and ditch anyone who has no harbor theme experience. This has been stalled for 25+ years. Now, do you get it? It’s the new way to do favors for your friends or family with Consulting Contracts. — Dotty Pringle

RE: “Ports O’ Call Village

1971” (MARCH 5-18)

The days of old. I was a dishwasher at The Siam West Restaurant in 1984. I remember a man dressed up as a native American like a statue and then scaring folks as they walked by. The many times in the 70s and 80s when fi lming a movie and meeting stars, they were pretty common at Ports of Call. The great food and music that were found every weekend were very enjoyable. I hope the future at the site/The San Pedro Marketplace, will bring back good times for future generations for years to come. — Michael W Campbell

RE: “Port of San Diego Invites Boating Community to Participate in In-Water Hull Cleaning Survey”

(MARCH 19 – APRIL 1)

When a vessel will permit and of course budget, all vessels should be on a dry berth boat fl oat. It makes sense when practical and possible.  —Christopher Carafi no

All comments are edited for grammar and clarity.

Reader Q&A By Lindsey Glasgow

RE: “Catalina Island Reopens for Leisure Travel as Los Angeles County Eases COVID Restrictions”

No Flyer service during this time? Just the Express? — @timstuart7 via Twitter

ABoth the Catalina Express and Catalina Flyer are currently traveling to and from Catalina Island. Capacity on the Flyer has been reduced from 600 to 325 to allow for social distancing between passengers and until further notice, passengers and employees are required to wear a face-covering or mask when waiting in line to board and while onboard the vessel. For a limited time, the Flyer is o ering $21 o an adult roundtrip ticket. Visit catalinainfo. com for more information or to purchase tickets. FAST FACTS

Don’t Feel Guilty About Gefilte Fish

By: JORDAN B. DARLING

UNITED STATES—As we near the last days of Passover, I thought we could take a look back at one of the more fishy moments in history.

In the winter of 2013, the northern part of the United States was plunged into a polar vortex that by the time spring rolled around left the Great Lakes region with four-feet of ice on the lakes and a low supply of white fish, the preferred variety for the “spam of Jewish food” gefilte fish according to an April 15, 2014, article on Grub Street.

Normally I could not care less about the pickled colorless blob that is gefilte fish but I acknowledge that it has graced my Nana’s Passover table every year since before I was a twinkle in my father’s eye.

In April of 2014, the shortage of fish left many Jewish families in a scramble, and commercial agencies pulling their hair out as their shipments of fish were mere fractions of their orders.

“Everybody’s pulling their hair out,” said Kevin Dean, co-owner of Superior Fish Co., a wholesaler near Detroit whose latest shipment provided just 75-pounds of whitefish although he requested 500-pounds, in an April 15, 2014 article from NBC News. “I’ve never seen it this bad this time of year.”

The shortage was felt across the United States but mainly by those looking for fresh white fish to avoid the processed jarred fish.

A dietary rule on Passover is to avoid all wheat and bread-like products, which can include processed foods because they could have been prepared in the same space as products that contain, flour, yeast, wheat, oats, etc. In an April 18, 2014 interview with NPR Matt Chaban a New York Times reporter, shared that bigger suppliers like Manischewitz order their fish a year in advance because they have dealt with shortages in the past.

While this is a kosher-approved supplier those that are strictly observant and avoid processed food had a harder time that year obtaining fresh white fish to make their own gefilte.

Much to my chagrin, there is no such problem for 2021, although we are still in a pandemic there is plenty of geflite fish to go around. Happy Pesach everyone!

The Great Lakes were completely frozen over in 2014 causing a white fi sh shortage and many families scrambling to fi nd gefi lte fi sh for their holiday tables.

On Board With Johnson by J.R. Johnson