Pasco: Play should have a place in education

Play should have a place in education

Published May 2, 2003

Re: Districts should put FCAT money toward education, April 30 letter

Editor: While I won't disagree that some of the FCAT bonus money was wasted on inappropriate expenditures, I think the writer who used playground equipment as an example was off base.

Play is one of the missing elements in our educational system. Too many adults today attempt to place the burdens of adulthood on children far too early, and then wonder why they act like children! A safe, supervised playground with a variety of activities and equipment available is just as important as a variety of good reading materials in the library.

Just for the record, I taught English, not physical education.

-- Brent Yaciw, Wesley Chapel

Bruce Blake more deserving of State Road 56 honor

Editor: Instead of naming State Road 56 for Darce Taylor Crist, a woman with little connection to Pasco County, why not call it Bruce Blake Boulevard in memory of a gentleman who devoted his retirement years to work for the betterment and beautification of Pasco County?

Bruce Blake died April 20 and what better way to remember him for his tireless work than to name this road for him. All of us in Pasco can see the results of his efforts through Scenic Pasco as it pertains to the tree ordinance, bus bench restrictions, billboard limitations and monument signs. He has made his mark on this county, and it would be a fitting memorial to him.

-- Joan Abrams, Wesley Chapel

Tax cut plan will stimulate economy and create jobs

Re: Brown-Waite's support for tax cuts is surreal, April 25 letter

-- Editor: Bush's tax plan will stimulate the economy. U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite and all the other supporters of President Bush's tax plan are 100 percent right. Tax reductions will result in more money in people's pockets to spend which in turn will create jobs to supply the increased demand for goods and services. Lower taxes encourage and enable people to buy homes, start businesses, and take vacations.

I think the Democratic leaders don't want the president's tax cut because they know it will work to stimulate the economy. If the economy is sluggish, they can blame the president in 2004.

-- Ann Bunting, Bayonet Point

Right turn lane will ease traffic at intersection

Editor: Who can help us motorists traveling Little Road to Ridge Road?

Every day, I travel Little Road north to Ridge Road, where I take a right and go east on Ridge. At Little and Ridge, there are five lanes. Three go north on Little. Two go left (west) on Ridge, but nothing for east on Ridge. Previously, there was a turn lane in each direction.

Every morning it's a problem getting through the intersection if you turn east on Ridge.

-- Seven of 10 drivers go straight on Little. Two out of 10 go right. One out of 10 goes left. Why can't the lanes be as they were before? I and many others use it every day and it would make the traffic flow better through there.

William Brady, Hudson

Funeral home recognized for repairs to veterans' graves

Editor: American Legion Paradise Post 79 will join the city of New Port Richey Tuesday in acknowledging the exemplary cooperation and invaluable service rendered by North Meadowlawn Funeral Home and Cemetery in the restoration of the American Legion Section at Pine Hill Cemetery.

The American Legion Section is the final resting place of 43 veterans of the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II and the Korean War. The shifting ground over the many years had caused some grave markers to sink further into the ground or list badly out of line. Efforts to procure funding to reset the grave markers proved fruitless.

As a last resort, the post presented its dilemma to Joseph A. Magaddino and Thomas J. Dumas of North Meadowlawn Funeral Home and Cemetery and they graciously offered to undertake the restoration task as a community project and a service to our veterans at no cost to American Legion Post 79.

Thanks to their exemplary participation in the betterment of our community and service to our veterans, the American Legion Section at Pine Hill Cemetery is once again a respectful setting befitting a veteran's burial ground.

-- Mario Battista, past commander

Florida Guard forming to help with homeland security

Editor: I am presently a battalion commander assigned to the Florida Guard. My mission is to recruit volunteers within the Pasco and Hernando counties. The goal is to make citizens aware of dangers within our borders such as hurricanes, fires, and accidents.

We were unprepared for the no-name storm in 1993. On Sept. 11, 2001, our country was assaulted by people without feelings only to ruin our freedoms. We are so complacent and gullible. People should be made aware that the perpetrators lurk everywhere, but we are not trained to recognize these people. The guard would be formed as homeland security to patrol waterways, water plants, any entity that could imperil us.

The guard will accept people between the ages of 18 and 74. It would be desirable for retired servicemen or women to come aboard. There are spaces for people who have never served, they can be trained.

We were not prepared before, now we need to be prepared. To volunteer, call 727-842-6026.