Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
Editor: As secretary for the Homosassa River Alliance, I was asked to keep the newspaper articles from the local newspapers and file them. Over the past two years or so, we have accumulated four books (photo albums) with 100 pages in each book, with approximately 350 articles referring to the Halls River time-share condo project.
Since 2001 to the present day, this proposed condo project has brought to light the importance of what informed citizens can do to protect the environment and enforce the land development codes and the Comprehensive Plan.
When the commissioners voted 3-2 in favor to override the planning board's recommendation to not approve this plan, the citizens group challenged this decision and ultimately the courts decided in our favor.
Some interesting headlines, taken from the newspaper files, follow:
Page 1: Proposed condos stir controversy
Page 33: Commissioners face legal action from opponents of time-share condos
Page 40: Commission decision based on poor logic
Page 43: Riverfront time-share foes prepare for extended fight
Page 45: Condo project not fit for Citrus County
Page 50: Condo project draws more fire
Page 65: Groups' action shows what they're made of
Page 80: High-rise development not parts of vision
Page 100: Dept. of Community Affairs sides with citizens group on Halls appeal
Page 188: Plans for condos on Halls River must not go forward
Page 210: Public can make difference in area's future
Page 222: Don't open floodgate to business at cost of the environment
Page 226: Court blocks Halls River retreat project
Page 272: Judge rules against county in condo case
Now the citizens of Crystal River are faced with a similar challenge with an annexation plan motivated by the desire to bypass the Citrus County planners who have chosen to reject a Wal-Mart plan to destroy wetlands that protect the Crystal River and the aquifer.
Editor: On Jan. 21, while reading the St. Petersburg Times, I came across the Publix grocery ad and saw Pepsi 12-packs at two for $5. Since we were low on pop, I thought, good price, I'll pick some up.
I went to the Homosassa Publix and loaded four 12-packs into my cart and headed for the checkout. The automatic price beeped four times and recorded my bill as more than $16. I was flabbergasted because using my senior citizen in-the-head math calculations, it should have been $10, plus tax. My protest to the checkout clerk brought only a "that's what the price is," so I simply told her that I didn't want it and walked back down the aisle looking for a smiling clerk (they talk about smiles, prices and service in their latest TV commercials) to locate the $5 Pepsi.
I found an executive-looking one who told me that they didn't have any Pepsi at that price and that I must be referring to their newspaper ad in that day's paper and that prices don't start until the next day! I left murmuring to myself and went to another store and bought my pop.
When I got home I pulled out the Publix ad and there it was, in small print at the bottom. "Prices effective Thursday." My consumer common sense says to me that when you run a large newspaper ad, the given prices should start the day the ad appears, not later. I called Publix twice and talked with a manager, who was cordial and actually agreed with me on some of my concerns.
My second call to the manager came after discussing the matter with my wife, who thought that it was quite common for grocery ad prices not to kick in until a later date. The Andy Rooney in me sent me back to the newspaper to read the big Wednesday ads by Kash n' Karry and Winn-Dixie. Both of them started their "good deal" prices on the day of their ads.
I wonder if any other Publix ad readers out there agree with me. If you do, maybe a call to the store might get some results.
The Citrus Times welcomes letters from readers for publication.
Because of space limitations, letters should be of reasonable length.
Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length.
All letters must be signed and must contain the writer's address and telephone number. Addresses and telephone numbers will not be printed.
Send your letters to Greg Hamilton, editorial page editor, Citrus Times, 301 W Main St., Inverness, FL 34450. To fax a letter, call 860-7320.
We have changed the way we accept electronic letters to the editor. Here's how the new system works: Go to www.sptimes.com/letters
You will find a form to supply us with your personal information. (As always, we will only publish your name and city of residence.)
Fill that out, as well as the subject line, and then type your letter in the space provided. You also may cut and paste a letter that you have prepared elsewhere in your computer. If you are writing in response to a story in the Citrus Times, you should send your letter to that section. If you are not sure, you don't need to do anything. The form is automatically set up to send it to the Editorial Page letters editor.
When you are done, hit the button that says "Submit My Letter." If you have done everything right, you will get a message saying your letter has been received. If you write frequently, you may want to add the Web address for letters to your Favorites list.