Letters to the Editors

Concert offended and blasted neighborhood

Re: Coachman Park concert, Dec. 8.

The so-called concert all day and night Sunday was an outrage and an insult to every decent person and a shame on Clearwater. This program was offensive. It could have been such a lovely Christmas program that all could enjoy.

Tapes have been made of this event. It was so loud that the dishes rattled in the cupboard. Even with the doors and windows closed and the hurricane shutters closed, it was impossible to read, watch TV or sleep. Thirteen hours is too long for any concert. The behavior of this group whipped the kids and those older kids into a frenzy.

In the article in the Times on Saturday, Clearwater City Manager Bill Horne referred to the concert he disapproved of last December and that the agreement was to tone this one down. This is the third concert that has been approved this year, and none has been "toned down." We hope you will live up to your promise to give serious consideration to discontinue these offensive concerts. When it was seen that they were not living up to their agreement, why was it allowed to go on until after 11 p.m.? Even the boats turned away from this one.

We understand that there are a lot of people who enjoy rap music. That's fine, but don't force it upon the rest of us. There is no escape.

Hardly a sentence was yelled out without the F word. "Would you rather listen to music than watch a f------ football game?" "Hold up your f------ hands." References to the "f------ Army" were particularly offensive at a time when we are on the verge of war.

This should be enough to show that this is not acceptable entertainment to broadcast over the city. We believe that we, as taxpayers and citizens of Clearwater, deserve better, and we would like to have your assurance that we don't have to sink to the level of this class in order to be considered normal.
-- Joe and Agnes Beno, Penny Jones, Pat and Elinor Kreckel, Harry and Kay Burdette, Dan and Doris Ryback, M.S. Brown, Dan and Laura Feeley, Clearwater

Sleepless in Clearwater: Turn it down

I want to add my voice to those who wrote to the Times about the terrible annoyance of the "concert" in Coachman Park this past weekend -- and every other time all through the year.

I have lived at Harbor Bluffs several blocks north of Coachman Park for 14 years and am very happy here -- with the one exception that I am forced to endure the awful noise produced during various events in the park.

How can the city give performance permits that allow producers to pollute our air? I'm sure I have heard of the concept of property owners having the right to the quiet enjoyment of their property. Am I mistaken? Why does the city have a noise ordinance if it is completely ignored every time there is an event in the park?

The producers of these events take away my right to peace and quiet or my right to listen to the music I choose. I listen to music at a very low level, but in order to block out the horrible noise from the park, I have to turn up my own music to uncomfortable levels.

There is no possible excuse for allowing the decibel levels that condemn everyone for blocks around to misery. The noise was so bad on Sunday night that I could not go to sleep when I wanted to. I had to keep my own music on to block out the other.

I have been meaning to write about this for years, but this was the last straw. Please let me know that in the future you will prohibit the producers from raising the decibel levels beyond what can be heard within the park.
-- Marjorie Wheaton, Clearwater

Let the teens have their music

Re: Tone down music in Coachman Park, and Band in the park is loud; language is insufferable, letters, Dec. 10.

I have been a resident of Clearwater for 30 years. I am a 33-year-old health professional with a 3-year-old child. We live within earshot of Coachman Park, and yes, the concert was loud on Sunday night.

The bands that were featured play the music that I choose to listen to. There are many shows at Coachman Park, especially this time of year. I always check the newspaper to keep myself updated on all the events.

My point in responding to your letters in the Tuesday Times is this: Clearwater has come a long way with events and concerts. When I was a teenager, we had to drive a long way to see something we would be interested in.

I feel that to be inconvenienced for a few hours a year noise-wise is what we must do in order for everyone in the community to feel that our city is providing for all of us and not just the religious concerts or the craft shows or the charity events.

I say kudos to Clearwater for providing a little noise for our teens to enjoy. Close your windows and let our community come together and let everyone have their day in the sun.
-- Karen Murray, Clearwater

Consider a different type of list

It is with absolute disgust that I must take time out of my lists of "to-dos" during this holiday season to respond to the guest column on Nov. 29 by Douglas Spangler, titled Santa has a list; so should we all.

In this season of caring and sharing, I am appalled that our newspaper should waste valuable space printing such a pompous column. Isn't it wonderful that Mr. Spangler's house is always immaculate and he is so serene going into the "holiday chaos," as he describes it? He might not know what he is missing, hiding behind his polishing cloth.

I'd love to have my house look perfect, but there are always more valuable demands on my time in our community. My home looked very festive Thanksgiving Day, when I was blessed to have a few family members join me at my dinner table, but more "strays" who would have been alone at Thanksgiving.

I cleaned a little bit when I could and did a great crash program in my free time after working long days in my health care profession, but I consider neither feat newsworthy. I derive more happiness from helping others than always having my home ready for display each day.

The smiles my patients had on their faces when they received a Thanksgiving meal prepared by their team cooks beat a shiny faucet by far. I don't think our team's adopted Christmas families will care when we non-neatniks pitch in with gifts and food to make their holiday brighter than a mirror. And the church kids. So happy to have an excuse to get toys and clothes for them. Shopping beats scrubbing any day.

I hope when Douglas checks his holiday lists for the second time, he'll cross out "wash my windows" and "mow my lawn" and will go and do those things for someone who might want to be neat but is too old or too ill this year.

That is newsworthy.
-- Marcia Dooher, Clearwater

Mail will come through, even if we don't

Re: Radiation concerns fuel need for protective pill, story, Dec. 4.

Doesn't it make you feel good that we may still get our mail delivered? We may not be available to read it because we didn't get the potassium iodide pill to take just in case a dirty bomb was dropped containing radioactive iodine.

There go stamp prices again. Give us a break!
-- Jack A. Garber, Clearwater

Your voice counts

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