I am a sponsor and one of the major contributors to the refurbishment project for the Mirror Lake Library and its necessities. It is painful to me and others I know to visit the library and see it in its current condition. Mirror Lake Library is desperately in need of a security guard.
When Eugene Bauillette was employed as security guard, there were no problems. When "sleepers," loafers and drug addicts were requested to leave, they left! If they refused, they found themselves conducted to the door with scant ceremony.
Eugene is no longer with us and we do miss him. Since he left, an indifference to conditions he handled with such expertise is now unmistakably there. There is an unhealthy benevolence often felt in this library for those who use, take and abuse, but seldom felt for those who offer friendly advice because they care.
There is also the charming little patio where staff members could enjoy a quiet break but which is now used by loafers, sleepers and loud-mouthed vulgarians, often with the stench of a sewer.
This elegant Carnegie Library with its historical, cultural heritage... why is it so neglected and ignored?
-- Ruth Chamberlain, sponsor and friend of Mirror Lake Library, St. Petersburg
Hold dog owners accountable
I have been following, with growing concern, the articles the past couple of weeks concerning the dog attacks on mail carriers in Pinellas Park. While I agree that the carriers have every right to safety on their routes, I do not agree with the idea of curbside delivery.
In this age of identity theft and mail fraud, putting our mail out at the curb is inviting problems. Anyone could just drive up and take your mail. They then would have access to your credit card, bank account and other personal information. Having our mailboxes on the house is a deterrent to mail theft. Someone is less likely to walk up to your front door to steal your mail. Not to mention the safety concerns involved in trying to retrieve your mail from the curb of a busy street, with cars flying by.
I think a more rational solution to the problem is to hold dog owners more accountable for their pets, i.e., heavy fines, responsibility for any medical bills incurred as a result of their pets' actions, confiscation of the offending animals, jail time for multiple offenses. These actions would help to ensure pet owner responsibility and mail carrier safety.
-- Perley Fernandes, Pinellas Park
Disposable society, disposable pets
America has a pet overpopulation problem because of our disposable society. More than 7-million cats and dogs are killed each year nationwide. Florida is the worst state, killing more than 800,000 animals a year! The Tampa Bay area kills about 60,000 animals a year.
Wake up, America. Take responsibility and spay and neuter your pets. If you want a new pet, don't buy one. Adopt from your local shelter or breed rescue. They have thousands of beautiful cats and dogs waiting to be adopted.
-- Pamela Borres, Pinellas Park
Most animals aren't sheltered for long
Eight out of 10 animals that enter the county animal shelters are killed. More than $10-million is spent each year to operate Pinellas and Hillsborough County animal shelters.
Euthanasia should not be the way to control the pet overpopulation problem. Educating the public about the importance of spaying and neutering, and adopting animals from your local shelters or breed rescue groups is the best way to control the problem. Pinellas County Animal Services has a spay/neuter van, and does free and low-cost surgeries at the shelter.
If you are an animal lover, you should be appalled at all the animals being killed because there are not enough homes for them, and vow to change things. If you are not an animal lover, you should be appalled at the amount of your tax money spent to kill these animals, and vow to change things.
-- Lenore Day, Palm Harbor
Fighting mad about fluoridation
I have been a Pinellas County resident for 15 years and enjoyed being here in Florida, but I have also watched with disdain a handful of Pinellas County commissioners make important decisions recently, for me and thousands of other residents, that have not been acceptable.
I agree with the letter writer who said, "We do not need big government to help us take care of our teeth" (County doesn't need to be dentist, Sept. 7). I am fighting mad at the prospect of cooking with fluoridated water, washing in fluoridated water and having to drink fluoridated water. The extra household expense of buying bottled water for cooking and drinking will not be welcomed by retirees who live on fixed incomes but feel that fluoridation could damage their health.
Something as important a subject as fluoridation should have been put out to the residents of Pinellas County to vote on, not stuffed down our throats whether we like it or not.
-- Phyllis I. Heinly, Tarpon Springs
How many drink bottled water?
Re: Pinellas joins the flow, adds fluoride, Aug. 27.
Our county commissioners voted 6-1 to add fluoride to our drinking water. I wonder how many of those who voted "yes," have filtration systems in their homes and drink bottled water.
-- David H. Miller, St. Petersburg
Thanks for accurate story on Muslims
On the behalf of the Muslim community in the Tampa Bay Area I would like to thank the St. Petersburg Times and Waveney Ann Moore for the Sept. 10 article titled Bringing a faith into focus.
It's people like you and organizations like yours that make a difference in bringing our community together especially at this time when our country is faced with many challenges. This is the reason why I subscribe to the St. Petersburg Times although I live in Tampa.
I hope to see more positive articles that show the Muslim viewpoint in the society without stereotyping and bigotry as we often see it in the mainstream media. Thanks again and keep up the great efforts.
-- Ahmad M. Erchid, Tampa
Smoking ban hurting businesses
I think the no-smoking signs in restaurants and other places are way out of line. Let's have our no-smoking and smoking areas as we had before. Businesses are losing customers and money. What about the economy?
I do not smoke but have been around smokers all my life. I enjoyed every friend I had who did smoke. If the so-called do-gooders don't like it, let them stay home or go elsewhere!
-- Ginny Townsend, Largo
[Last modified September 21, 2003, 02:03:13]
