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The Pinellas County Commission's positions on fluoride in our drinking water and on crossing guards for Ridgecrest Elementary School's children are examples of their continued disconnection from the people they serve. They claim to represent unincorporated residents, they are elected by us all, but they don't seem to hear any of us.
The Great Fluoride Controversy has been raging since I was a kid. At a time when we are strapped for cash, why add the expense of fluoridating county water?
I choose to use a fluoride rinse and fluoridated toothpaste. If others choose to remain fluoride free, why force it on them?
For the record, I am cavity free. How does putting fluoride in the drinking water benefit me?
Commissioner Susan Latvala raises the same lame objections to placing crossing guards at Ulmerton Road and 119th Street (Trail offers safest crossing, guest column, May 26). The children of Ridgecrest need and deserve to be safe on the way to and from school.
Since Largo police Chief Lester Aradi offered to place Largo crossing guards there, I thought the issue was moot. Largo seems more concerned about Ridgecrest residents than does the County Commission or the Sheriff's Office.
Suggestion: Take the money saved by not fluoridating and build an elevated walk for the Ridgecrest Elementary kids to cross Ulmerton at 119th Street.
Re: Trail offers safest crossing, guest column by County Commission Chairwoman Susan Latvala, May 26.
I never realized how fortunate I was, as a youngster going to elementary school in the Midwest (Skokie, Ill.). Living approximately 1 mile from school, perhaps even a little under, I qualified for school-provided transportation services, or a bus.
In fact, most of the children at school traveled by school bus. School crossing guards were provided for the children who actually lived within walking distance - maybe a block or two.
A 2-mile walk is a bit of a stretch, especially for the younger children. Gee, what do they do during the heavy downpours when their families may not be able to drive them?
We have Susan Latvala telling us that the Pinellas Trail offers the safest crossing for the Ridgecrest Elementary School children, although the trail is four more blocks out of the way for the children to walk.
This is the best that the community can do for its children? These children are our future. Not only is this an insult, it is the height of ridiculousness.
Many readers, including myself, have shared suggestions in order to remedy the dangerous intersection at Ulmerton Road and 119th Street. Do Latvala and her committee members read the letters on the Opinion page?
Please come again, with a better alternative. Looking back upon my own childhood, we kids were made to feel safe and loved. We thought that the world revolved around us.
There was none of this dissension in our community, as there is here. Safety of the children was No. 1, as it should be.
I wonder how safe the children of Ridgecrest Elementary School feel?
As a project, it would be interesting to survey them to find out.
It just may shock Latvala and other members of the Metropolitan Planning Organization's School Transportation Safety Committee, which she chairs, to hear what comes out of the mouths of babes.
Shortly after the opening of our new Clearwater Main Library, I had a marvelous time taking pictures for friends. They were most enthusiastic. A college classmate especially admired the building, location, displays of artwork and dollhouse. I'm hoping she'll take a few pictures to our 50th reunion next month.
A friend who worked for an architectural firm for many years complimented the view of the gulf, the furniture and the interior colors.
She plans to show the pictures to the person in charge of the reference area in her city's new library.
Congratulations to all those who worked hard to create the new Main Library - a fine addition to our progressive city.
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