Our family had a powerboat on Lake Michigan from 1998 to 2006. It was a new model Sea Ray 310, a very seaworthy vessel that could handle the often-rough waters of our majestic lake. At 31 feet long and 10,000 pounds, it was a very big machine that we had no idea how to operate. While the marina salesperson showed us all the bells and whistles, before we launched it at a Chicago harbor, our entire family — mom, dad and 16-year-old son — took the Coast Guard Auxiliary class that covers weather, navigation, the lock systems, radio operation, how to call for help and a comprehensive list of important information to safely enjoy our boat. The instructors were excellent, and we passed the final exam.

Ready to roll, right? No! Learning how to get in and out of a harbor slip, managing the harbor traffic (no brakes on a boat), and taking out family and friends for a day cruise took a tremendous amount of skill, energy and patience even with knowledge from our coursework. Our primary rule was no alcohol before or during cruising, period. Once safely back in the slip, we couldn’t wait to crack a cold one, well deserved.

The Playpen looks like fun, but to us, it was a spot to avoid. “Too many amateurs” was our mantra. Air and Water Show weekend was amazing out on the lake, but the energy spent avoiding a collision wasn’t worth it.

The recent news reports of injured, missing and deceased people along the Chicago shoreline is heartbreaking. It always amazed us that anyone with a few extra bucks or really good credit could buy a boat, drink alcohol and navigate Lake Michigan.

We’re so blessed with our sparkling lake! Perhaps it’s time to upgrade the rules and require more education and licensing for boaters.

The state of Illinois and the city need to license or regulate the boats and the number of people allowed to party in the Playpen. Who is responsible for people on the boats drinking and whether they are of age? The tragedy on Saturday wouldn’t have happened if there weren’t that many boats there.

Regulate the number of boats allowed and the time period. Every boat owner should make sure that they have completed a boat safety course and first aid course. They should not be allowed on the lake without proper certification by the state and city and the Coast Guard.

After all, one death is one too many. Everyone likes to party, but at whose expense?

I lived for over seven decades in Chicago, and for 33 years, I worked as a Chicago police officer. In the 1960s, I was working Chicago’s streets during the time of Jeff Fort and the late Eugene “Bull” Hairston, co-founders of the Blackstone Rangers street gang that terrorized the South Side.

Since then, the gangs of Chicago have grown in size, and one can honestly say that hardly any part of the city is free from gang activity. So it was with interest and sadness that I read about the shooting of a 6-year-old child at a party recently.

Since the beginning of the year, at least 30 children younger than 17 have been killed in Chicago, and many more have been shot. I can’t remember such shocking numbers of children becoming victims of violence in past years. Many of the shooters are likely teens themselves. Children armed with guns, in what seems like a PlayStation mentality of killings and shootings.

Has Chicago lost the ability to be shocked? These children need help. If they can’t get it at home, our leaders have to step up and do more.

Chicago has a deputy mayor for public safety, if ever there was a need for transparency. Chicago’s children are powerless.

— Bob Angone, retired Chicago police lieutenant, Austin, Texas

The debate regarding the placement of statues of Christopher Columbus is easily ended. Mayor Lori Lightfoot should just take a lesson from a former mayor and apply the Meigs Field precedent.

Just replace the statues in the middle of the night and endure criticism for a week or two. End of story.

That letter to the editor from Barry Wasserman (“A lesson learned at Marshall Field’s,” Aug. 20) reminded me of traveling with my parents on Route 66 to visit relatives.

We stopped at a store, I think in Gila Bend, Arizona. My sister and I were tweens, and she asked the price of an item. The salesperson in a Texas hat and boots told her that since there was no price on the item, it must be free.

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