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Combine library, activity building, and give seniors back their center

Re: For all its benefits, Palm Harbor Library deserves our support, letter by Phil Tropea, April 18.

Mr. Tropea states that he cannot let the recent "No" vote on increased funding for the Palm Harbor Library fade without comment. Maybe I can help him by explaining why my friends, neighbors and I voted "No."

Not many years ago, there was a senior center in Palm Harbor. It was an old building in need of a few repairs, yet loved by the seniors. They played cards and bingo there. They had a small kitchen to personally cook in. They had a piano and organ to entertain one another. They were happy.

Then someone had the idea to build a huge, new senior center on 16th Street and close down the old one. The attitude was, "If we build it, they will come." But many did not. It was too big, impersonal and too institutionalized. With the exception of a few functions, neighborhood meetings and Sunday breakfast fundraisers, it was mostly unused.

The citizens voted against the senior center becoming a taxing body. So the center became part of Palm Harbor Parks and Recreation, was renamed the Community Activity Center and now receives our tax dollars anyway. So basically our seniors lost their own senior center.

I supported Pennies for Pinellas, which I learned paid $85,000 for that Gazoo sculpture or whatever it is at Alt. U.S. 19 and Florida Avenue. How many books and opera records could that have bought for the library?

So now the library (a repository for books) wants more tax dollars to expand, and the only explanation given is that it needs more space for jazz dance, a teen room, a larger children's play area, more office space with computer routers for those with laptops - and now, Mr. Tropea, you tell us for operas and music, too? Why not just name it the Multiactivities Cultural Center?

How about this solution: Mr. Tropea of the Sunstate Opera Society takes the short walk from the library to the Community Activity Center and helps put on a monthly opera. Maybe the library can move there so everything is in one place. And the old library can be given to the seniors for their own senior center again.

I'd be more than happy to pay a little more tax for this, and I'm sure my friends would, too.

Voter's wrist likely to get slapped

Re : Businessman's vote gets legal scrutiny, story, April 20.

Why does it take the Times to alert officials to illegal voting practices? When I vote, I'm required to present a valid driver's license. Why is Fred Thomas any different?

Letter writer G. Randal is so right: It's past time to catch up with those who try to cheat the system.

Maybe Largo just didn't want to bite the hand that pays so well, so it just ignored his credentials when he voted.

I'm also sure the legal scrutiny will be minimal, if any is even done. I also doubt he will pay one red cent for his dishonesty. This man knows how to manipulate the system as well as those who run the system. It's been proven over and over - it's his way or no way.

Businessman a carpetbagger type

Re : Businessman's vote gets legal scrutiny, story, April 20.

The second definition of carpetbagger in my Webster's New World Dictionary is "any politician, promoter, etc. from the outside whose influence is resented." Does that sound like Belleair's Fred Thomas or what?

Demands to close airpark illogical

With the 2006 hurricane season fast approaching, it merits reinforcing the value that we have in Clearwater Airpark being an integral part of our community.

As the only airport in the Tampa Bay area that is not within storm surge elevation, the airpark would be pressed into service as a lifeline with the outside world should a Katrina-type event happen in the bay area.

Clearwater has been my home for more than 20 years. When I moved into the area, I knew that there was an airport that had already been there for almost a half-century, and I chose not to live right near the field.

Neighbors who complain about airplane noise had the opportunity to make the same decisions as I did when they moved into the area, and they chose to purchase their homes where they did.

Demands from these people to close the airpark because of noise, etc. not only endanger all of us in the event of a major hurricane but also make no logical sense because these people obviously were aware that they were buying their homes near an airport that was built in the late 1930s.

[Last modified April 25, 2006, 01:08:16]