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Letters to the EditorsYes, many teenagers are doing good things© St. Petersburg Times published August 21, 2002 Re: 61st Central center serves and served by teenagers, July 28. As a parent of teens who serve on the 61C Teen Center Teen Council, I would like to thank you for the great story letting the public know of the positive influences teens can have on today's hectic society. It seems lately all we read about or see on TV are negative comments about teens. How about more positive stories about our youth? The 61C Teens are making great progress in showing the community that teens can make a difference when given the opportunity. This summer the Pinellas Park location has served an average of 45 teenagers a day. That is 45 teens in just one day who were not pushing drugs, stealing cars, breaking into homes and businesses, or disrespecting adults. Take that 45 a day and multiply it by five (four more teen centers are scheduled to open in the next three years). That will give us 225 more young adults in Pinellas County alone doing positive things. These 225 youth are our future leaders. "Created for teens, by teens, about teens." That is the motto of the 61C Teen Center. Pinellas County teens came up with the idea for this youth-empowered program to help all teens. The teen program is a nonprofit organization that in its first two years has raised more than $1-million, mostly from grants, all by teenagers. How many for-profit adult-run organizations have done that recently? Again, thanks for letting the public know that just because teens wear baggy pants or short skirts or have hats turned sideways that they are not bad kids. Let's hope that more media and the general public open their eyes and minds and remember that they, too, were once teenagers.
Count your change to avoid scamsWe got scammed at the Tropicana Field parking lot entrance. It's bad enough that you have to pay $10 for parking. We handed the man at the booth $20 and got $9 back, folded in half. I should have counted the money before we parked, or made him count it out to us before we moved on down. I told my story to a fellow employee at work, and he said that just happened to him at Tampa International Airport. Fellow readers, be aware. Count your change.
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From the Times South Pinellas desks Editorial Letters |
