No waivers as public schools can't afford to miss any days
Published September 9, 2004
Editor: You noted in response to the letter asking about the lost school days that the commissioner of education can waive up to three days of the school year.
He shouldn't. For planning purposes, he should announce as soon as possible that there will be no waiver.
Frankly, in general, public schools are doing a bad job as it is, and the schools just can't afford to give up any days.
-- Ernest Lane, Trinity
Thanks to diligent, patient crew
Editor: Thank you again to the electric crew diligently working at 10 p.m. Tuesday to bring power back to the residents of our Lakewood Villas neighborhood who had gone without it for 36 hours.
Bless you for your hard work and most of all for your stoic patience with the neighbor who drove over to where you were working to rant and scream filthy language at you because the power wasn't back on. It was back on 45 minutes later.
I apologize again for her behavior and commend you for understanding.
-- Marjorie L. Goetz, New Port Richey
A ballot, a pencil, honest voting
Re: Bracing for November storm, Sept. 8 column
Editor: Interesting article about voting. I am an Englishman and therefore neutral about your voting system. However, I was here on your last election and saw the outcome.
I was fascinated with one Katherine Harris who "delegated responsibility" - her words - and I said to my wife "watch that lady and watch her promotion due to the fiasco."
Regardless of the outcome, I cannot for the life of me understand why you do not follow the English voting system. All we do is go to the voting booth, get a piece of paper, put a cross with a pencil against whom we vote for, put it in a box. End of the day votes are manually counted by, in your country, Liberal/Democrat and Republican. Each one sat next to the other.
It is very cumbersome but it has worked for the last 400 years in England. Cuts out cheating, etc., which is the object of the voting. I am now awaiting to see if Florida can manage it this time, and I am still watching the promotion of the lady Katherine Harris, as are my friends in England.
We are not sure if you can manage it this time in Florida; I hope so!
-- David Blythe, Hudson
Pasco needs regular storm updates
Editor: With the recent passing of Frances, I realized how little coverage was provided by the Pasco Emergency Operations Center and the television media.
To me, it seemed Pasco was the poor relative that you ignore as much as possible.
I realize that politics play a big part in coverage of a county. But in an emergency such as Frances, politics should be set aside for the safety of all.
To see that a hurricane or tropical storm is exiting through your county and not be provided with updates of winds and rain is a mistake that could cost lives.
-- Joseph Adam, Port Richey
[Last modified September 9, 2004, 01:09:20]
