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Veterans Day is opportunity to teach kids

Re: Veterans Day should not be a makeup day, Oct. 28 letter

As one of the so-called always caring, dedicated-to-teaching-our-children-by-example educators that a letter writer mentioned, I would like to inform him, and others like him, that the first makeup day, if needed, for missing school due to a hurricane is the observance of Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday, Jan. 16, 2006, not Veterans Day as mentioned in his letter.

I would hope that people would not jump to conclusions based on wrong information, but take the time to find out the facts before reacting. The second makeup day, if needed, is Veterans Day.

Speaking of Veterans Day, I, as an educator, feel that we should be in school on that day to better learn and understand about the horrific and disabling injuries and the sacrifice of life that the men and women of our great country have given for our freedoms. Giving the day off in observance is a great honor to our veterans, but to be honest, what do most of the students do on that day off? They go to the mall, the movies, the beach, friends' homes and maybe sleep in. Most students do not visit a VFW hall or veterans on their school day off. They spend the day doing a variety of other things, none of which pay tribute to our veterans. Yes, there was a time that the communities used to have special parades and other activities for our veterans, but those days are long gone.

My thought would be to have school on Veterans Day, and during the week leading up to Nov. 11, spend time in the classrooms talking about the importance of the day and the men and women who have served and are serving in the armed forces. Then, on Veterans Day, have several of the retired veterans who live in Pasco visit the classrooms and share their experiences with the students. Giving the students first-person information like that is much more meaningful than a day off. With the number of retired veterans in the area, we might have every classroom with a veteran to talk to the students directly.

Examine statistics before penalizing older drivers

Before we go off half-cocked and punish older drivers, perhaps we should look at the following statistics.

The average age of those ticketed for speeding and running red lights. The average age of people engaged in road rage incidents. The average of those arrested for DUI and driving while impaired by drugs. The actual number of road deaths of all kinds caused by people 65 and over and by people younger than 65.

I see nothing wrong with periodic testing of all drivers. I am 85 and still drive, except after dark (self-imposed), and I have never had or caused an accident of any kind.

Wal-Mart at Bayonet Point would benefit community

Welcome Wal-Mart! I, like an earlier letter writer, find that soaring gas prices and congestion on U.S. 19 have made the trip to Wal-Mart at Ridge Road tedious and time consuming, and I agree, dangerous. We need a Wal-Mart closer to the community which it serves.

Commissioners: Please do not be swayed by a vocal minority that is thinking only of its selfish desires. Think of how the community as a whole will benefit.

In the aftermath of Katrina, Wal-Mart provided New Orleans with trucks, supplies, food and water. Wal-Mart was there before FEMA, before other government agencies. Some day, we in this area may need a service of that kind.

The New York Times carried an article Oct. 24 noting that Wal-Mart has improved its health insurance plans for its employees, which will benefit the employees financially. Wal-Mart is listening and improving.

A Wal-Mart at Bayonet Point will provide employment, tax money and benefits for the community. Give Wal-Mart a chance.

Want to disband this city? Then stay off its boards

I was at the Nov. 1 legislative meeting at Pasco-Hernando Community College and heard someone from the political action committee wondering why a council member said he didn't believe people who wanted to disband the city should be allowed to serve on Port Richey's city boards.

My question is, Why do any of them want to be on a city board when they don't even want Port Richey to remain a city? How do we know they will have the best interest of the city in mind when they have spoken so strongly about getting rid of the city government.

They want to have their cake and eat it, too. I don't think any of them deserve to be on city boards. Maybe, they can volunteer for a county board since they think the county is so great.

[Last modified November 3, 2005, 01:06:17]