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Letter to the editor

City can widen pool of top swimmers

As a concerned citizen, an active master swimmer and a proud resident of beautiful downtown St. Petersburg, I am writing in regard to the addition to North Shore Pool. I am a multiple world masters swim champion and I realize that as beautiful as the facility we have is, it is far from the facility that would be required to host large swim meets of national and international standards.

I also participate in swim meets that our youth swim team, St. Pete Aquatics, hosts and on numerous occasions have seen what impact these meets can have on the economy of downtown St. Petersburg. I believe that when we voted for "Penny for Pinellas," dollars were earmarked for this purpose, and I would like to see this followed through.

Recently, St. Petersburg hosted a very successful Grand Prix right outside my home, and I would love to see money from the city used toward getting swim meets of that caliber to downtown St. Petersburg, where we all know that nothing beats sunrise over North Shore Pool.

I realize that swim meets do not attract spectators of the number that the race car drivers do, but we all know how tremendously popular swimming is every four years when the Olympic Games are upon us.

The next Olympian from St. Petersburg is to be found at North Shore Pool in Megan Romano, 14 years of age. She and the rest of the extremely hardworking swimmers, families, coaches, master swimmers, triathletes and "swim-to-stay-fit" swim-lesson families deserve another pool that will put St. Petersburg on the map as the place to go for all sorts of swimming: meets or just the twice-a-day workout.

Charge it up, and bike away

President Bush has spoken many times about the oil shortage and a need for alternative fuels, and although I am a great fan of the president, some of our senior citizens have found an alternative that saves gasoline: battery-powered bicycles.

In Pinellas Park, my friend Bernie, who is 75 years old, and I, 62 years old, have 12-volt battery-driven bicycles, and we go to breakfast, the store and other places with our bikes. Using my bicycle on these short trips saves about $200 a year in gasoline costs.

Mine goes 20 miles on a single charge at a speed of 13 mph and costs me less than a dollar in electricity to charge it.

On my street, I have seen other seniors driving gasoline-driven bicycles that get about 90 miles to the gallon. Other battery-driven bicycles with 36-volt batteries do about 35 mph, a great savings on gasoline.

If more people used these vehicles, look at the money they could save. Mine cost me less than $1,000, even with a charger and a basket to carry my groceries. It is street-legal with head, tail and brake lights and does not need a registration tag because it is classified a bicycle.

You do need a driver's license because it is also classified as a motor-driven vehicle.

Thanks for Relay for Life support

As chair of this year's American Cancer Society Relay for Life committee, I would like to thank the residents and businesses of St. Petersburg for their generosity and support. Twenty-two teams participated in this year's event, raising more than $55,000 for the American Cancer Society's research, education, advocacy and service programs. The outstanding support received proves that the people of St. Petersburg are truly committed to the fight against cancer.

I want to applaud the more than 50 survivors who participated in the opening lap and the survivor recognition. They are the reason we continue the fight because each year there can be more and more people living wonderful lives after a diagnosis of cancer.

A special thanks to the many Relay for Life volunteers who worked to make this event a success. The Relay for Life committee did an outstanding job of putting the event together.

We also appreciate the generosity of this year's corporate sponsors. Relay for Life would not be possible without them. Our corporate sponsors include Ceridian, World Travel BTI, Gulfcoast Oncology and the city of St. Petersburg.

Again, thank you for supporting the American Cancer Society, and remember, it's not too early to become involved in Relay for Life for next year!

Pinellas creates an asphalt jungle

Driving down Park Boulevard, Ulmerton Road or any other street in this county, anyone can see that unrestricted growth has destroyed what used to be a beautiful place. Our government has taken the position of pack 'em, rack 'em and stack 'em. Put as many people as possible in the least amount of space.

Just a few years ago, we were all concerned about water. The dry years will come. The county fathers have ignored the issue and allowed more development to strain the system.

With unrestricted growth, the quality of life has diminished to the point where native Floridians want to leave. Property taxes are some of the highest in the state, and all one can hear at night is the loud reverberations of car stereos, unlimited sirens and the endless stream of traffic.

It takes a good 45 minutes to an hour to drive east to west, and forget about north to south.

This is not New York, Boston or Philadelphia. Stop trying to turn it into those.

Our elected officials have ignored their responsibility and should be impeached for allowing this county to be destroyed by unlimited construction. Stop the growth. We need a moratorium on construction or Pinellas will be one huge asphalt jungle.

Good Samaritans gave assistance

I want the people of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County to know that we do have good Samaritans who are willing to help out their fellow man in trouble.

A big thanks to two unknown wonderful people: the Air Force gentleman who was on his way to MacDill Air Force Base and the tall, lovely woman who stopped to help me on May 10.

I was walking with two large dogs on 14th Avenue N near Crescent Lake when the dogs were distracted and I fell in the street.

These good Samaritans took time from their busy schedules to help me and assist in getting the dogs back home. I certainly appreciate their efforts and hope they will be rewarded some day in some way.

Thank you very much for your kindness, whoever you are!

[Last modified June 1, 2005, 00:38:18]