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Dog isn't human, so don't take it out to dinner

I recently had the good fortune to be at the Crab Trap in Port Richey on a beautiful fall evening. We enjoyed good food and good company with music by the Forever Young Band. All was great until patrons arrived with their dog in tow. This particular canine took the opportunity to display his personality, which was mostly bad. He barked repeatedly, whined and pulled at his leash. It made it difficult to enjoy the music and ordinary conversation.

We are a pet-loving family: We have three dogs and two cats, and they stay at home, where they belong, when the family dines out.

People who feel the need to bring their animals everywhere they go are annoying. If you have a dog and he is not a service animal, leave it home. I have noticed an increase in the number of people who feel the need to bring their dogs to grocery stores and other public areas where dogs do not belong. No matter how much you love your dog, he is still a dog. He is not a human and never will be.

Restaurants that allow animals in areas where humans dine, indoor or outdoor, will not have my patronage.

Why not let every pet that behaves well dine out?

Re: Dogs at outdoor restaurants

This proposed legislation is unfair because it is far too limited. Why not include all well-behaved pets of reasonable size: cats, gerbils, lizards, small ponies, etc.?

Although this legislation seems biased, it does have an upside. Citizens Property Insurance Corp. could bail itself out by creating a new market. It could offer high-premium, high-deductible policies insuring "dining out" pets against attacks by badly behaved birds that frequent most outdoor eating establishments.

There is a downside, however. The restaurant management might be concerned that the doggie bags being requested by patrons, accompanied by their pets, are for something other than leftovers.

Rock on, Tallahassee!

Rec center seems good for only some, yet all pay

Re: Deal for Wesley Chapel rec center, April 13

Pasco County commissioners set in motion the construction of eight soccer fields, two football fields, six baseball fields, four tennis courts, four basketball courts, playgrounds and picnic shelters.

They approved the $11.4-million contract and the funds for construction, and further maintenance will be coming from impact fees levied on new development. Aren't impact fees levied for the purpose of improvement and construction of schools, roads, drinking water supplies, land fills and recycling facilities? These are things being impacted by increased population and land development. The aforementioned recreation center is being constructed for the benefit mainly of organizers of sports clubs on county-owned property and will not generate any property tax.

Will there be enough participation in the sports and park activities to validate the use of tax dollars for the center?

EDITOR'S NOTE: Pasco County charges impact fees for schools, transportation, utilities, parks, libraries and public safety.

I read with a twinge of sadness that Jerry Calhoun is resigning his position as Port Richey's city manager.

In my few personal dealings with him and in my observation of him at several City Council meetings, he impressed me as a man who went about his work without verbosity but with much dignity, integrity and genuine concern for the people.

Regrettably, public service in a political environment can be a street fight. Calhoun is an upright presence who will be sorely missed.

New Port Richey voters didn't study to pick mayor

I had to vote absentee this time for New Port Richey as I was out of town on election day.

What a horrid surprise I received on my return April 20. Again, the citizens did not do their homework. Had they done so, they would have known that Bob Langford attended all of the city's functions and attended lectures on city government. He worked hard to be a mayor, doing right for both the city and its people. I guess it was easier for people to keep what they had rather than give a good man a chance.

I'm so glad you all voted Matthew McCaffery back into office. He was the spark that this city needed. He is smart and uses his common sense, doing one heck of a good job. Most people feel more comfortable with names they know, so we keep getting the same, old ones back in office. This city needs new blood, and I'm sure Mr. Ferreri would have been right for the job.

To all who were elected, my congratulations.

Political correctness hides, not eliminates, poison

More than 10 years ago, I predicted the development of John Ubele. Oh, not by name, but I knew his kind would be created by the political correctness movement.

I'm not talking about racists or bigots in general: They have been around for ages. No, I'm talking about the rattlesnakes with their rattles cut off, those who hide their poisonous attitudes behind clean-cut, softspoken facades that disguise their true nature.

I've opposed political correctness, which is merely censorship wrapped in academic tweeds, since it first began gaining a foothold in our culture. Only a fool would cut the rattles from those snakes, making them far more dangerous, but I guess the world is filled with well-meaning fools.

If Ubele and his supporters gain power, the PC supporters have only themselves to blame. You can't cure rattlesnake bites with Band-Aids.

Elsewhere, drivers stop for funeral procession

Re: 3 hurt in traffic halted for funeral, April 22

The article by Jamal Thalji caught my interest. I just came back from a visit to my niece in Georgia, and a funeral procession was coming down the road. I was amazed to see all traffic come to a dead stop on both sides of the road.

I asked the waiter in the restaurant why they stopped. She said, "It's out of respect for the family of the deceased." I said, "In Florida, where I come from, no one stops. There's no respect."

New Port Richey library a valuable resource for all

Re: New Port Richey Library

Thank you for letting the people in our community know of this valuable resource. Included in the remarkable educational programs that this library promotes are the AARP Driver Safety Program classes held there nearly every month.

All of these opportunities offered by the library staff introduce our residents to the fine assets provided by our library.

Libertarian Party works to eliminate the IRS

Another tax day has come and gone, and we are still working this year to earn enough to pay our 2006 taxes.

According to the Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan tax research organization in Washington, D.C., we have to work 116 days this year to be able to start earning money for ourselves. That is only to pay our federal taxes. By year's end, we will have paid half of our income in taxes of all kinds. We pay taxes on top of taxes. A pizza delivered to your house will have been taxed at 13 different levels.

The IRS eats up $18-billion a year, just collecting our federal taxes, and will confiscate our property if we don't or can't pay up - at the point of a gun, if necessary. There has to be a better way.

While the Libertarian Party does not officially endorse the "Fair Tax" proposal, it has been suggesting ways to get rid of the IRS. One benefit of the flat tax would be to eliminate Social Security payroll tax deductions. Another would be to get rid of the insidious alternative minimum tax. It would effectively lower the tax rate for low- and middle-income earners. What you earn is what you get. Just think, no forms to fill out, no deadlines and no IRS.

More information can be found at www.lp.org

Volunteers, businesses get thanks for helping school

As our community celebrates the accomplishments and service of our many volunteers during National Volunteer Week, through Saturday, I would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to those who have assisted West Zephyrhills Elementary School. As of March 8, our volunteers have contributed 3,493 hours. Because of them, West Zephyrhills Elementary has been nominated for the 2005-2006 Golden School Award.

West Zephyrhills Elementary is also appreciative to our community organizations that assist us with their time, talents and generous contributions. Our business and community partners have provided opportunities for our students to learn about the importance of responsibility, citizenship and academic achievement. Betmar Garden Club has provided opportunities for our students to learn about gardening. Together, they have worked on student and community garden projects at school and at Betmar Mobile Home Park.

Nothing against children, only those breaking rules

We were pleased to read that Gulf Harbors Woodlands prevailed in the suit regarding the play set in the yard.

We thought the objection was to the roofed-over playhouse that also was in the yard, not the swing set.

If you live in a deed-restricted area, then you should abide by the regulations that are in force in that area. Real estate agents should certainly be aware of this fact. If you do not want to conform to the regulations, then don't move into such a neighborhood. There are lots of nice areas that do not have such restrictions.

We moved into our neighborhood because there are deed restrictions. We have nothing against children playing: In fact, one of the reasons we moved to Gulf Harbors was because children were there. We like seeing the school bus come down our road to pick up the children. We like seeing the kids have fun.

What we do not like are people disregarding the rules of the associations. We do not want to see people doing motor jobs on their cars, cars on blocks in the driveways, trailers parked in the driveways for weeks on end, commercial vehicles parked in driveways, illegal out buildings on property, etc. Without deed restrictions, this is what you will have.

[Last modified April 26, 2006, 01:22:18]