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Focus must be on those who hurt our children

I am appalled at the threat of requiring those who have been arrested or convicted of DUI to have a license plate of pink.

How much must these folks bear? Florida laws on DUI are some of the most stringent of any state. These people have already endured the embarrassment of arrest, emptied their pockets and bank accounts for bail, fines and fees to attorneys, paid an exorbitant amount for a license to even be able to drive to and from work, paid the price of community service and endured probation with probation officers who use their power over them to poke into every aspect of their life. Wouldn't anyone in their right mind think enough is enough?

Perhaps political figures, like Sen. Mike Fasano, should think about and re-evaluate their priorities. Instead of continuing to berate those who have had a DUI, maybe they should focus their considerable political clout on our greatest asset: our children!

Our children are living among pedophiles who have little or no supervision. There are either not enough probation officers to keep track of these deviants or the probation officers are too busy worrying about the poor DUI men and women who have already paid for their crimes. We spend more time and money on security devices for our cars and "home again" chips for pets than we do for our children.

In case you haven't been reading the papers, a good example is the young girl who was brutally killed in Citrus County. It seems to me, and those at our VFW Post, that Sen. Fasano has a misplaced priority list. Is it because DUI is easier to take on than pedophiles?

What's next? Pink license plates for DUI, L for lesbians, G for gays, or B for bankruptcy license plates? Where will it end?

I am a longtime supporter of the senator, and most in our post support him in his endeavors. It's time for him to stand up and step up to fix a problem that's killing our children and grandchildren. And quit worrying if I have a pink license plate or not.

Lakes of Regency bingo loses longtime friend

On Dec. 7, 2005, the Lakes of Regency and the bingo he previously ran lost a devoted and good man, Lester Bloom. Lester was curt, sometimes a bit caustic, but under that entire facade was a true devoted member of his association.

To understand Lester is to know where he came from. Here was a man who was in the D-Day invasion. He never spoke about it. Here was a man who lost a beautiful son due to a diving accident. His other son is now in a home for the mentally disabled and is well taken care of, thanks to his father. After the loss of his wife he was alone.

He was the man who kept the Lakes in Regency Park's bingo going for 20 years. Lester was the most honest man I have ever known. He was the one who loaned the club $20,000 to fight the takeover of the club by Zeke Blevins. During his testimony he had the judge laughing. We won, and his appearance in his wheelchair showed the jury how intent we were to show how we were taken advantage of.

To me and many members of the clubhouse, the many friends he made in the two years he lived in Baypoint Village and to those who loved him as a man, he will be missed and his death leaves an empty hole in our hearts. Lester, now you are with your son and wife. We will never forget you.

Gulf High girls' basketball coach is not "classless'

Re: Coach's sideline behavior showed a lack of class , Dec. 20 letter

I had Coach Mike Quarto as a teacher in 2004, and I also volunteered to help him in the concession stands during his games. I would have to say the word "classless" is the antithesis of what Coach Quarto is.

The letter writer appears to envision the Gulf basketball fans as one massive unit who solely base emotions on what the coach does; that is not the case. The students, faculty, staff, parents of the players and community are so proud of this team, and we support them 100 percent. However, the coach is not followed blindly.

If a parent or faculty member is unhappy with the way things are handled by Coach Quarto, I am more than confident they will take it up with him after the game, as opposed to writing a letter. The letter writer's efforts to publicly shame a local coach, who brought a program from the bottom of the rankings to the top in less than three years, is clearly seen by me to be out of jealousy, since Gulf did win that game. Mr. Howard, if he was so concerned, should have spoken with Coach Quarto after the game. The girls that play basketball for Gulf High are extremely hard-working, determined and passionate, as is their coach. I am extremely disappointed that a parent, regardless of where their child goes to school, would try to put a black mark on this program; the Gulf girls have been nothing short of amazing.

[Last modified December 27, 2005, 15:22:14]