Editor: Reading all the letters about the proposed supercenter can only make you laugh. Residents in Pasco are always saying more jobs need to be created, traffic is a nightmare, and dead shopping centers are on the rise. Smaller businesses aren't in jeopardy anymore or less since the Ridge Road Supercenter is already in the county. So how does another one essentially effect small businesses?
The traffic seems to be a major concern for the majority of the Beacon Woods residents and the fact the people will use their development as a short cut to access the supercenter.
Being a resident of west Pasco for the past 23 years, U.S. 19 access through Beacon Woods is no secret. Everyone uses it now and everyone used it 23 years ago, also. Most senior citizens usually opt not to drive on 19 if they don't have to, so accessing Wal-Mart from their development would be to their benefit.
One letter mentioned younger people speeding by when children are waiting at the bus stop for school. The only people you usually see in any store at that time of the morning are usually retirees. Younger people are either in school or working at that time of the day. Speeding through Beacon Woods was a problem in the past, is a problem now and always will be just as it is in other developments that provide any access to a main road.
A Wal-Mart in Hudson would curtail some of the traffic at the store in Port Richey. But rather than do that, the residents of Beacon Woods prefer to keep adding to the traffic woes in Port Richey. If having a store at the entrance of the neighborhood is such a problem, then why not try and shut down the Kmart that is there now?
Pasco is not the secret retirement area that it once was, much younger families are settling here now. To be able to hold a job close to home and near your kids is a great benefit and convenience for young people in the job market today. Large businesses attract other large businesses which brings more money and jobs into the county.
-- Gus Morris, Port Richey
Beacon Woods residents shop at Wal-mart, too
Re: Wal-Mart
Editor: It is a wonderful idea. If all the residents living in Beacon Woods who have a Sam's Club Card or Wal-Mart card would turn in their cards, think of all the traffic that it would cut down on U.S. 19. Maybe if they were asked to turn in their cards, they would have a better outlook on life. I visit both places and see cars there with Beacon Woods tags on the vehicles.
-- D. Dupree, Hudson
Woman's safety trumps the right to bear arms
Editor: At the Tuesday meeting of the Pasco County Commission the National Organization for Women (NOW) chapter of Pasco received a proclamation from the commissioners extolling their good works aiding women with various problems. including domestic violence. However, what they didn't expect were very pointed remarks by their President Jo Ann Ross, who pointed out the women of Pasco, and perhaps the rest of Florida, have been recently subjected to a court ruling that would deny them equal protection of the law.
The gun violence prevention community and NOW are extremely concerned by a recent statement by Circuit Judge John Renke III that if a domestic violence injunction is served against an abuser, Florida law is so vague that it forces the judge to decide if the man' right to bear arms is more important than the safety of his estranged partner.
Indeed, we can find no such vagueness in Florida or federal law, which is fact is quite clear that the abuser must turn in all guns and ammunition. Our concern is how many women in Pasco and the rest of Florida have been subject to a test which in our view is clearly unconstitutional. No woman's safety should ever be measured based on gun ownership by a abusing partner.
October is Domestic Violence Prevention month. We have pledged to get to the bottom of this unacceptable interpretation of Florida Law.
-- Arthur C. Hayhoe, Zephyrhills
New parking lot designs good for auto body shops
Editor: Has anyone from Pasco County government ever driven a car into a shopping center parking lot that they have approved? They would find black tire marks on all the corners where a car has to make a turn. There is no way a car can complete a turn around these square corners except to scrape the curb (good for the alignment shops) or end up in another lane going in the opposite direction (fender benders, good for body shops).
I am speaking about two new Publix shopping centers: One at Ridge Road near Regency Park and the other center is Little Road next to the Veterans Clinic. These corners are not designed the way a car turns.
Take a look when you are out shopping next time and be careful or you will be at your friendly alignment shop very soon - thanks to our county.
-- Don F. Konrad, New Port Richey
Heat, lightning, dogs could stop mail carriers
Editor: Who came up with the idea of having the mail carriers park their vehicles and walk the route? It has to be someone who has not been in Florida very long.
To tell men and women to walk a route in 90-degree weather with a heavy mail bag on their shoulder has got to be gross stupidity. Also, aside from extreme heat, Florida is noted for its sudden rain showers. Showers means lightning. If the poor carrier doesn't get heat exhaustion he or she is going to get zapped by an unfriendly lightning bolt.
If the mail service is having financial problems, it should find a better way besides raising the rates again, to solve the problems besides putting a mail carrier's life in danger.
Maybe they can put a higher postal rate on the junk mail. I get enough to paper a wall.
Please take care of the mail carrier and let them ride in the vehicles. I'd hate to lose my carriers. They work very hard. They have to dodge dogs running loose and kids running loose.
-- Kathryn L. Robinson, Holiday
County, not homeowners, needs homework lessons
Re: Before buying property, better do your homework, Sept. 23 letter
Editor: I take exception to the letter. We purchased our property in 1979. Before buying we talked to people who had lived in the area all of their lives. No water.
We had at least 20 live oak trees on our property that the Forestry Department said were at least 200 years old. One of these 200-year-old trees just toppled over this week. The county, to this day, says we are in a no-flood zone.
We had a gravel road in front of our house. Then came the county which decided to take part of our property and build a road behind our house, which turned our back yard into our front yard, because the county was building a dump on Hays Road and didn't want all the garbage trucks on State Road 52. The county built the road up 8 feet and now tells us we built in a low area, but that didn't change our flood status. We now have had 10 inches of water standing in our house since mid August.
So don't tell us about homework or how ignorant we are. Maybe we should be telling the county to do their homework.
-- Karen Melady, Hudson
Singer hits right note with audience member
Re: Barbara L. Fredricksen's review on Goin' Hollywood, Sept. 21.
Editor: In the past Barbara's reviews have always been great. But this time, Barbara, I have to disagree with you. The show at The Angel Cabaret Theatre that I attended with a group of friends in the entertainment industry is in agreement with me that Krista Marie singing Barbra Streisand's The Way He Makes Me Feel was not off key or flat.
I have collected videos of her performances over the last 10 years in my shows and other productions and not once has she been a disappointment to her employers or fans. She has coached many female vocalists and performers locally who have become great talents.
Let's give credit where credit is due and applaud a woman who was on the Perry Como show for many years with Ray Charles Singers as the lead.
-- Tony Corio, New Port Richey
Review of performance misses target by miles
Editor: As a fan and follower of Krista Marie for many years, I must disagree with your review of her performance at the Angel Theatre. She is not only beautiful to look at, fun to watch, but also a wonderful singer that can still give the crowd chills.
Maybe Barbara Fredricksen should see the show again. Maybe Barbara wasn't herself that night because Krista sure was!
-- Laurieann Johnson, New Port Richey
[Last modified September 26, 2003, 01:49:38]
