Re: He fights on, but is anyone listening?, Aug. 1 Editor: The thrust of your recent article on Clay Colson, Pasco County's high-profile activist, seems to be that he is a flawed human being. Anyone who has known Clay for longer than, say, five minutes, knows that for goodness sake. But I dare say that if you peeled away the layers of suits and money and well-connected lawyers from those Clay opposes you'd see some real flaws.
Perhaps the big difference between Clay and the developers and politicians he questions lies in motivation. When the latter group succeeds, what do they get? Money. Lots of it. When Clay is successful, what does he get? Money? No. He's always broke. The satisfaction that he's saved another part of Pasco County from the backhoe and the asphalt? That's it. And guess what - all of us get to share in that kind of success.
Nitpick all you want, Clay. There are still many of us who are grateful for your tireless, selfless, and, yes, sometimes imperfect efforts. Pasco County is a better place because of you.
-- Richard Downing, Hudson
Involvement is key to classroom success
Editor: School bells rang all across the county Monday morning marking the beginning of another year for students, parents, teachers, administration and support staff. For the first year in many, my own home fell silent to the scurry of activities that envelope the start of a new year. With the graduation of my youngest child in last spring's class from Ridgewood High, my family's public school days have ended. The sound of that last bell in May left a thunderous sigh of sadness where new year mania belongs.
I must admit that it was nice not to have to get caught up in the race to find the perfect backpack or not to have to count how many shirts we needed to go with the jeans or skirts that were lined up next to the new shoes. It was nice not to have to worry about lockers or parking passes. But somewhere in all of that freedom, I also found a sense of emptiness, of disconnection from a system that I loved to be a part of for so long. No sooner had that thought come to me than did the next: while my own children were off to work and college, many more still need the nurturing and guidance that adults like myself can give.
Knowing that my own personal work of volunteering in schools is not complete, I want to urge others in our community to do the same. The rewards are immeasurable. Pictures on my desk are numerous. Sitting beside my own children are photos of kids I have tutored over the years. When I spent time sitting on bleachers at sports events, I rarely sat alone. In my unassuming seat, kids always knew they could wander up and chat about things they needed to say. It cost me nothing to help solve what seemed to be to them the problems of the world. The funny thing is that they probably never knew that it was I who probably profited from those conversations more than they did.
They empowered me by allowing me to be a part of their own journey toward being an adult - it was a win-win for us all, but again, I think perhaps it was actually I who came away with the greatest gifts.
My family has made it through the system safe and sound as I am happy to have predicted. I believe we did so successfully because we made school a family adventure. The wisdom in being connected to your child's school is unweighable. When parent's night is announced, be sure to mark it on your calendar and make it a priority. When you find your employer offers any time from work to be at your child's school, be there. There are many volunteer opportunities - use your time and talents to help secure your student's academic success.
My work background has allowed me to see what can happen when parents are not involved. I have spent countless hours working with incarcerated and court involved kids. More often than not one reality is clear: Parents who know who their kid's friends are and who the adults are in their schools are less likely to have many of the problems that are seen in courtrooms daily. Grandma was right when she said "an ounce of prevention," and in the middle of the prevention I will humbly add that you also receive a ton of love from kids who know you care!
-- Roxanna M. Torre, New Port Richey
Dealers unloading cars on U.S. 19 is a danger
Editor: It appears to me the newspapers are not the only ones with a look-the-other-way deal on U.S. 19. One only has to drive past a car lot with the cars parked almost on the roadway trying for a sale.
The car dealers must have cut a deal somewhere to have a huge lot and only unload cars in the turn lanes on U.S. 19. Any other business would have to do their unloading on their own lot. We can only hope this unlawful practice is stopped before someone is killed.
-- Sam Gregory, Holiday
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