Arnold Palmer

I interviewed Arnold Palmer several times. One was a sit-down during a U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. This came after two incidents that week. In the first, Palmer came out of a port-a-john on the course during his round to face a crowd of fans waiting for him. He blushed and hurried on. This was followed the next day when he dropped a few golf balls on the practice green near the pro shop. While other golfers indicated through body language they were not to be bothered, Palmer was incapable of putting up such a shield. People crowded in on him, to chat and ask for an autograph. He did not get a single putt in.

So I asked him if this adoration by the fans and his willingness to go out of his way to be polite and considerate hurt his game and may have over the years perhaps cost him a few titles. He said he didn’t think it did, but even if it had he owed them every consideration, and he would never do otherwise. He was a sensitive, kind man and would have been terribly embarrassed over comments made recently by the Republican candidate for president. That person owes an apology to Arnold Palmer’s family.

— Steve Hauk, Pacific Grove

Celebrating Carter

On Jimmy Carter’s 100th birthday I decided to stop by the Habit for Humanity store in Fort Ord to make a donation in his name. When I got there, I found the front totally overtaken with free books, free furniture and appliances in honor of the birthday. How wonderful of their great staff to take the initiative to do that. Job well done.

— Cheryl Warner, Prunedale

Larry Itliong

How ironic that during Filipino American History Month the achievements of Filipino Americans are still overlooked. The unidentified man next to Ethel Kennedy in the “Looking Back” photo on Oct. 14 is Larry Itliong, the trailblazing Filipino American labor leader and civil rights activist who is best known for coordinating the Delano grape strike. He was instrumental in founding the United Farm Workers and is recognized as a “Father of the West Coast Labor Movement.” For his impact on American labor rights, Oct. 25 is designated as Larry Itliong Day in California.

— Betty Aynaga, Seaside

Mary Ann Leffel

I have known Mary Ann Leffel for more than 40 years. We first met while she was managing a bank branch in downtown Carmel. I was a detective with the Carmel Police Department at that time so we worked together frequently trying to keep fraudsters from victimizing her unsuspecting customers. Her unique ability to see through a budding scam prevented multiple customers from suffering serious loss.

We stayed in close touch over the years, working together on multiple boards and commissions. Her intellect, drive and compassion always impressed me, as did her unerring ability to listen to her constituents and choose the best course of action for everyone concerned.

Mary Ann has served on the board of the Monterey Peninsula Airport District since 2008. The residents of the Monterey Peninsula, the flying public, indeed everyone with an interest in good and fair government could do a lot worse than having Mary Ann continue serving as a member of the District board. As a resident of Carmel Valley outside the Airport District’s boundaries, I am unable to vote in this election. But if I could, Mary Ann would unquestionably be my choice.

— Warren “Pete” Poitras, Carmel Valley

Childcare

Should children and families be forced to experience financial hardship due to childcare costs? Presently, childcare costs are increasing rapidly, leaving some families in a disadvantaged household. According to tootris.com, estimated childcare costs are $1,412 per month per child. Although there are subsidized programs for low-income families, not all of the children will be given childcare services (calbudgetcenter.org). This leaves dual or single parent families with no care for their child. Families without childcare have a higher probability to lose their job, which is their financial income to care for their children. Despite the possibility that dual or single-income families were able to pay for childcare, this still would leave them with other unaffordable basic needs.

Several solutions to address help to families could be to lower childcare costs to meet families’ income, to hire more care providers to minimize the waitlist, to have more availability for spots at the childcare centers that are already in business, to open new locations and to increase the wage for care providers. Increasing wages can encourage more individuals to look into the field of study for Early Childhood Education. In addition, these solutions open opportunities for families to have better jobs, cover basic needs, and be able to go to work knowing that their children are being cared for. Finding a solution for families in need of childcare could help protect the children’s futures.

— Jessica Mejia, Monterey