Nice Article

NICE article on the perennial subject of the graying of classical music audiences ["The Ageless Audience" by Diane Haithman, Oct. 5]. It was clear, concise and brought authoritative sources to bear, told with admirable fluency. Dare I say, hip? Things I hear from colleagues and audience member friends across the country bear out the continued interest in this type of performance. And I note there always is a generous slice of younger listeners for opera, symphony, chamber music, etc., doubtless drawn from the rather constant number of classical-loving nerds that comes up every generation.

Read your nice article Aug. 1 about the new Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, soon to be opened to the public. Is this how it works in Orange County? The money is concentrated in this type of wilderness area while Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley becomes Mile Square Regional Golf Park? If the county gets its way and puts in a third golf course in Mile Square, where are the 800,000-plus recreational users going to go? There is precious little park space already serving the poor and middle class of Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Westminster, etc. Is the county Parks and Recreation Department planning on seeing a large number of those people in this new location?

Thank you for the nice article announcing the formation of a North East San Fernando Valley Coalition to address women's health care needs ("Group to Study Female Health Needs" Times Valley Edition Oct. 30). We appreciate being able to get the word out. We do have one correction, though. San Fernando Valley/ Northeast Los Angeles NOW and YWCA of Greater Los Angeles, North Valley Center, the two co-sponsors of our recent press conference, are fortunate to have bylaws which enable us to come together very quickly to advocate on the subject of women's health care.

I was very happy The Times wrote about Tyrus Wong, who has made art accessible to everyone ("From Kitchen Cabinet to Museum Display Case," by Barbara King, Aug. 12). Next time you are in Chinatown, go to the United Savings Bank at 951 N. Broadway and see the dragon mural that Wong captured for all to see. Dragons are a symbol of good luck, and some of that luck must have rubbed off on Tyrus Wong. Thomas Edward Wall Rancho Palos Verdes I was just going through today's paper before calling it a night and on the front page of the Home section saw the words "Harwell Harris" ("When Houses Are Cousins")

Your Sept. 8 issue included a nice article by Louis Hill on the naming of subdivisions. It was well-written, to the point, and really had a lot of insight. I liked del Safari being singled out as an exotic development, suggesting that the guide "will be none other than Tarzan, or better, Bo Derek." When del Safari was originally conceived in 1969, that was exactly the concept, patterned along a real African safari. Today, the only remnants of the original development are the street names and the project name of "del Safari."

There's often a slow-down in news during the holiday season, with lawmakers out of town, businesses closed and many people on vacation. In turn, newspapers tend to run more feature stories, photos and retrospectives. Whether that touches readers' hearts -- or perhaps readers just have more time to write -- the letters to the editor at The Times often include thanks and appreciation this time of year. Here's a selection. And a happy New Year to all. Ann Bourman of Los Angeles savored a photograph : “Thank you for a lovely Christmas present -- a photograph of adorable children playing and singing Hanukkah and Christmas music in the Breed Street Shul.

Hulse's nice little article about Kaua's Na Pali coast was surely the height of irony. It extolled the beauty of this magnificent spot that "remains silent save for the voice of the wind" . . .etc. That is what I hiked for miles to find. It is not there anymore. Instead there is a pervasive and intrusive chatter, clatter and roar of helicopters overhead every 20 minutes and zodiacs off the shore carrying hordes of tourists. I don't know when I have gone so far, spent so much and exerted myself so much to be so disappointed.