Stauber road shouldn't be a race track

When I moved to Holiday almost two years ago from Dunedin, it never occurred to me that there would be such a difference in how our laws are enforced. My home backs up to Stauber Memorial Highway (between Gulf Trace and Baillie's Bluff) or should I say Stauber Raceway.

Beginning on Thursday night through Sunday evening each weekend, the procession of motor scooters, motorcycles and of course cars flying by is unbelievable. Behind my home is the straightaway. You can actually hear these folks gearing up to increase their speeds. Many of these folks are doing 90 to 100 mph as they pass our home.

I have called the Pasco Sheriff's Office on several occasions trying to enlist some assistance but to no avail. This is truly a no-brainer. Assign officers to watch the straightaway between Gulf Trace and Baillie's Bluff at least on Friday and Saturday nights and they would have their quota of tickets for the month, no problem.

This is a scenic drive beginning at Trouble Creek and U.S. 19 traveling west, which eventually turns into Stauber Memorial then Baillie's Bluff and eventually Anclote Road. This route is published in different periodicals for riding enthusiasts. The posted speed limit gives you ample opportunity to view the beautiful natural setting, in addition to enjoying wildlife. We have seen numerous osprey, eagles, a flock of Flamingos, roosting pelicans, acocks, gopher turtles, the list goes on. Every day that I drive this route, it reminds me of how Florida use to be. This is a treasure that our county needs to cherish and protect. Enforce the posted speeds, stop the dumping (yes,that is a big problem too), perhaps save a life, preserve and protect the environment.

7 miles to library isn't a hardship

I read with horror the stunning fact that residents of Trinity currently have to drive 6 or 7 miles to reach their nearest library branch.

My family has driven further than this to reach the Hudson library for over 20 years. While it is a little inconvenient, it never dawned on us that this was a hardship. Now we know better.

Florida's children deserve free and better health care

With reference to your report on state Sen. Mike Fasano's bid for funding for a new clinic for uninsured people, can someone tell me why children in our state do not have access to a doctor or free medicine?

It is not a child's fault to be born to parents who do not have insurance. Every country in Europe (even our neighbor Cuba) looks after the medical well-being of its children by giving them free medical care from a general practitioner and free medicine until they are 18.

We give free medical care to elderly people, and they can vote! Children are the future of this country, and our No. 1 asset. We give them free education; we should also give them free medical treatment. With so many families loosing their company medical plans and unable to qualify for Medicaid or the Florida well kids program, we will soon have a state with a lot of unhealthy kids.

Schools' day of tolerance isn't promoting lifestyle

Pastor challenged hypocrisy of school administration, April 29 letter.

I feel this letter writer is misinformed if he believes the school administration was promoting alternate lifestyles by having a day of tolerance. This was a feature of the teaching tolerance curriculum formulated by the Southern Poverty Law Center and the efforts of Morris Dees, a lawyer who has devoted his life to helping victims of hate crimes of all types. He has seen firsthand the devastation intolerance can cause.

The teaching tolerance curriculum is now being taught in schools across the country thanks to the generous donations of people who support his efforts. Morris Dees himself is not gay, so why would he want to promote that lifestyle? In fact, he is a practicing Christian who, I feel, through his heroic efforts to promote fairness in our society, exemplifies what Jesus was really teaching.

Kudos to the school administrator and principal for celebrating this worthy cause.

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[Last modified May 4, 2005, 00:58:13]