I've been closely watching the St. Petersburg Times' coverage of downtown Clearwater's economic difficulties, almost all of which can't help but mention the notorious Scientology organization.
All the rhetoric about how the core problems in Clearwater are related to Scientology's unfortunate presence is fully justified. Clearwater has become synonymous with Scientology, a goal that the organization deliberately set out to achieve when it sneaked into town under the assumed name "United Churches of Florida" and promptly tried to frame and eliminate Gabe Cazares, then-mayor of Clearwater.
Just how synonymous Clearwater is with Scientology is something that most of the St. Petersburg Times' readers are probably not aware of unless they read national news. It might not be much of a surprise to learn, however, that encyclopedias are starting to make the association, inexorably equating Clearwater with Scientology. Horribly, if you visit the Web site Encyclopedia.com and enter "Scientology" in the search request, Clearwater is offered as one of the four encyclopedia entries.
In a fairly recent court case in the county, a judge reviewed documentation covering the more than 100 video cameras Scientology has set up to watch and record vehicle and pedestrian traffic in downtown Clearwater. The judge turned to the Scientology lawyers and rhetorically asked them, "I just don't get it. When is the invasion coming?"
The fact is Scientology's invasion - what the organization called "Operation Normandy" - was a success. The city of Clearwater lost.
-- Fredric L. Rice, Glendora, California
Beverland is a man of integrity
Re: Being true to herself, story, June 8.
I know Oldsmar Mayor Jerry Beverland and Leslie Sasso. I knew Ed Koslowski. I have not had the pleasure of meeting Jennifer Edwards.
I, for one, have always looked to the St. Petersburg Times for pertinent, informative and newsworthy stories of my world on a local, state and national level. I hate to say it, but I agree with some of the talk in Tampa Bay that the Times, a Pulitzer Prize-winning paper, has stooped to a new low when you compete with the National Enquirer by exposing your subscribers to this unusual format for controversy.
Yes, I said controversy. I don't think you would have had a story at all if it had not contained some controversial remarks in it. Who would want to read (or the St. Pete Times write about) a subject with no negative remarks? And, of course, you knew who to talk to, didn't you?
Jerry Beverland is a person of integrity, honor and pride. He was born at a time when people kept their private matters private. I am sure that this is the first experience he has had with this type of subject. Were Mayor Beverland's remarks intended to rob a citizen of his rights as a human being and taxpayer? I think not. I have experienced your "quotes" in the past with remarks I said in jest. When your story was published, my remarks were misinterpreted to mean something of a serious nature. That experience taught me to choose my words very carefully when talking to St. Petersburg Times reporters.
I know Leslie (and knew Ed) to be of fine character and well-respected citizens of Oldsmar. To Leslie, I send my sincerest condolences for the loss of her husband. To Jennifer, I am confident she will do everything in her power to continue to be an effective chairperson of our Code Enforcement Board. Her tenacity for truth and pursuit for happiness are values put to good use on this thankless volunteer board.
I can only believe that Jerry's remarks (about Edwards) were out of shock and disbelief. When you want to know who will stand up for the citizens of Oldsmar, when you want to know who will admit a mistake when one is made, when you need someone to talk to about issues that affect the pockets of the taxpayers in Oldsmar, who will fight to the death for a person's right to speech, who loves life and nature like no one I know, who takes freedom, loyalty, family and community pride to levels most people don't even strive for - then you will know what kind of a man Mayor Beverland is and what he stands for.
Jerry Beverland's personality may not be "politically correct," and, yes, I will go so far as to say he should practice saying, "No comment." That way the next time anyone from your newspaper calls or visits him, he can never give another comment to your paper unless he writes it himself.
-- Rita Diehl, Oldsmar
Hats off to 3 emergency workers
On June 3 my husband had a medical emergency that required a 911 call. The response was prompt. A team of three men arrived from Seminole Fire Rescue Engine 29.
As always, the men were professional, calm, efficient, thorough and most considerate. When matters were under control, they saw to it that we (my husband and I) were transported by ambulance to Morton Plant Hospital where the situation was further attended to.
The reason I'm writing about this is to let you know that on June 5, fewer than 48 hours after this incident had occurred, my husband received a get-well card in the mail from the lieutenant and the two paramedics who had accompanied him in that response to our home. Needless to say, we were deeply touched by this most unusual gesture and felt the need to share it with your readers. It is surely a great example of an action far beyond "the call of duty."
Thank you, Lt. Ken Eversole, firefighter/paramedic David Hudak and firefighter/paramedic Jeff McManigal.
-- Estelle L. Delo, Seminole
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