Opinion: Shortage of pharmacists felt at Free Clinic

In a June 2 article featured in the career section of the St. Petersburg Times, Pharmacy crunch places grads in demand, a representative of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacies said that "as of January, chain drugstores had 6,503 vacant pharmacy positions... " The impact of that shortage is also felt locally with the number of pharmacists available to volunteer at the St. Petersburg Free Clinic.

For 31 years, the Free Clinic has depended on volunteer doctors, nurses and pharmacists as well as others to provide health care services to the uninsured. Six extraordinary pharmacists (four retired and two employed) donate time each month to provide medications to patients who could not otherwise afford to purchase them. However, more volunteer pharmacists and others are needed to help at the Free Clinic. Financial contributions from the community pay for the cost of pharmaceuticals, and sample medications from doctors' offices supplement the supply. By helping the uninsured gain control of their health, the St. Petersburg Free Clinic has reduced the need for emergency-room admissions and prevented medical problems from escalating.

The Free Clinic would welcome pharmacists who are willing to give an hour or two each month.
-- Chris Almvig, director of health care services, St. PetersburgFree Clinic, St. Petersburg

Shocking art cheapens us all

Re: Execrable art trivializes Holocaust, by George F. Will, June 20.

George Will thinks it contemptible to trivialize the state-sponsored, cold-blooded murders of 6-million men, women and children, called the Holocaust, by "artists" who depict the victims surrounded by Diet Coke and perfume bottles, hatboxes, etc., and he is right, of course. The museum exhibit he deplores rivals in obscenity the "art" recently exhibited in another New York City museum depicting Mary, mother of Jesus, in excrement. And it is doubly offensive to think that the current desecration is exhibited in the city's Jewish Museum.

Efforts by the "art" and "entertainment" businesses to sell products on the basis of shock value have escalated beyond bad taste, pornography and sadism. It cheapens us all, not just the miscreants who produce trash, because it is we who, by our silence, encourage escalation of their contemptible activity.
-- Joseph H. Francis, St. Petersburg

What would Mayor Baker do?

Re: Officer fired after alleging 2 colleagues assaulted her, June 22.

The firing of St. Petersburg police Officer Brie Bicknell is a perfect example of "good ol' boy" CYA at the St. Petersburg Police Department. Let me get this straight: this probationary female officer is invited out by a male officer, the two meet up at a bar, along with another male officer. The male officers pick up a porn video and condoms and tequila and went to an apartment where the two male officers took turns having sex with the probationary female officer.

In fact, the female officer went to the hospital the day after this incident and had visible signs of injury on her knee, arms and thigh. Yet, the two male officers received no punishment, and have not even been put on leave while the investigation into Officer Bicknell's accusation that she was drugged and then raped is investigated. The two male officers got no punishment, no reprimand, nothing. But with 11 days until she was a certified cop, Officer Bicknell was fired.

The issues and actions in this matter are very alarming and disturbing to say the least, but just the manner in which the chief handled this and pursued this investigation is unjust and unfair. Officer Bicknell deserves the same treatment as the two male officers, nothing more, nothing less. How can the female cop be fired and the two male cops who lured her and had sex with her face no consequences?

This smells to high heaven . . . Where is the mayor on this one?
-- Rich Unger, Sarasota

Not fit to serve or protect

Re: Officer fired after alleging 2 colleagues assaulted her.

I do not think you could convince me that the sloppiness in the personal moral codes of Officers Chris Leconte and Luis Rivera-Rivera ("We're just all having a good time") does not spill over into their professional interactions with colleagues and the public that they have sworn to protect and serve.
-- Linda N. Prieto, M.D., Clearwater

Taunting act is legal but not moral

Re: Cat spat turns offcolor, June 22.

I read about the dispute between the Miloslavic family and Joel Wells over a missing cat. And when I read of Mr. Wells' fence decor, obviously meant to torment his neighbors, I couldn't help but think what an arrogant jerk he is. Surely he could tell the difference between a feral cat and a house pet.

In my opinion, his actions go beyond cruel. You may have the law on your side, Mr. Wells, but that doesn't make you morally right. You have the right to put up your fence, but you do not have the right to torment your neighbors, who are already suffering a loss because of your actions.

The other little girl who stole your trap -- yes, her actions were impulsive. But her mother brought the trap back, you said you wouldn't press charges, then you broke your word and called the police on her.

Just remember, Mr. Wells, what goes around comes around.
-- John Sullivan, Pinellas Park

Keep your cats inside

Re: Cat spat turns offcolor, June 22.

According to this article, Jole Wells traps the neighborhood cats, takes them to Animal Control and has them euthanized. My stand is that he is morally wrong if he does not at least make the effort to return these cats to their owners, but that is not that point that I am making today. It was printed in the article that Christine Miloslavic will not get her daughter another cat for fear that this will happen again. Two words come to mind: house cat.

With all of the dangers present in today's world, excluding Mr. Wells, there is no need for an animal to be outside, loose without supervision. They do not hunt for their food, we provide it in a bowl. Hopefully, they are fixed to prevent more overpopulation of the feline kind, and it has been proven over and over again that house cats live significantly longer than their outside friends.

My message to Mrs. Miloslavic and her daughter: Don't be afraid to get another cat but please, keep your animal safe and inside. They will live a much happier life and you and your neighbors will not have to deal with the likes of Mr. Wells.

Lastly, when and if you do get another cat, please consider adopting from the Humane Society or the SPCA. They have more animals than they can take care of and these animals make the most amazing pets. Adopt an animal and save a life.
-- Jessica Clarke, Oldsmar

Pets get skin cancer, too

I would like to warn pet owners about something that I learned the hard and expensive way. If you ever have a cat, or any other animal, that has a white nose, ears, or eyelids, (or wherever there is short hair or no hair) please keep it out of the sun, because it could get skin cancer. Even if the skin is pigmented, it could get skin cancer, too, although it is less likely.

I had to have my "little boy" euthanized almost 15 weeks ago, because he was misdiagnosed. Had he been properly diagnosed, he would have gotten treatment much earlier and would be alive today. It first started out as tiny holes that eventually became ulcerated. I took him several times to his veterinarian and a specialist who thought that it was "probably herpes." There is only one problem. Herpes causes blisters, and not ulcers. I eventually had the lesion biopsied, and the diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma. I figured that this kind of cancer was fairly tame, and didn't worry too much about it. I learned late in his treatment that he had also the feline AIDS virus. This is why every imaginable treatment failed us. His treatments never caused him any real discomfort, and I would gladly do it over again -- but only much earlier.

It is important for pet owners to be aware of a treatment which few veterinary oncologists seem to know about. It is photodynamic therapy, and is highly successful if this kind of cancer is treated early enough. My cat didn't endure this treatment, because it was too late and the cancer was too aggressive.

I miss my "little boy" dearly. He was much like a best friend for his 11 years with me. He was very loving, loveable, sweet, and joyous. I hope that no one else has to endure the suffering that he and his family did. Now all I can do is to try to educate.
-- Elka Zwick, St. Petersburg

Thinking of the hens

Re: Cypress Foods chicken farm.

Thank you for running the story about the defunct Cypress Foods chicken farm in Trilby (State urged to charge egg farm owner, June 20). I would be as anxious as any to see owner James R. Biggers prosecuted, since I was also one of the rescuers who witnessed firsthand the horrific plight of these helpless hens. My sons and I and one other member of our 4H club managed to rescue more than 250 of the hens despite the unspeakable sights, sounds and smells all around us inside the facility.

Biggers must be held accountable. Animals' lives were at stake here, not just a simple "corporate decision."
-- Susan Gardner, Clearwater

A waste of taxpayers' money

Re: Animal rights.

Are we really going to waste taxpayers dollars and prosecute people over the deaths of chickens? If the state attorney really wants to make a name for himself then maybe he should consider prosecuting Jeb Bush for lying to Floridians about what he is doing for the elderly and for our children's education.

As for the animal rights activists, maybe we should consider prosecuting them for worrying about chickens instead of doing their part to help save the millions of people who are starving throughout the world!
-- Danny Wade, Zephyrhills

Thanks for exposing these killers

Re: "Canned hunt" isn't sportsmanlike, editorial, June 17.

Thank you so much for exposing the ludicrous claims that hunters make for the justification of killing. The St. Petersburg Times has become our favorite newspaper and we are using you more and more often for my real estate advertising because you stand up for what is right and provide a superior service. Thanks again.
-- Carole Lewis, founder, WildLife on Easy Street, Tampa

Who are you calling namby-pamby?

Re: U.S. soccer team's strong showing, editorial, June 22.

If it is the quality of "namby-pambyness" that you wish to discuss, you may be interested to know that, for many foreigners, the essence of namby-pambyness is American football (try playing rugby) and baseball (try playing cricket -- harder ball, no gloves for fielders).
-- C.W. Ferguson, Largo

Share your opinions

We invite readers to write to us. Letters for publication should be addressed to Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.

They can be sent by e-mail to letters@sptimes.com or by fax to 893-8675.

They should be brief and must include the writer's name, address and phone number. Please include a handwritten signature when possible.

Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length. We regret that not all letters can be published.

Back to Opinion

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright

From the Times
Opinion page