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Little Leaguers need to have restrooms near fields

I am a 12-year-old girl and my brother plays for Countryside Little League. He has now been asked to raise money for a new bathroom because the current bathroom is far away from the fields at the playground or in the recreation center.

The bathroom at the playground is not always open, and it's too far away for the baseball players to use. My father was a baseball coach, and on numerous occasions during the course of a game he had to tell players to pick out a good bush and do their business there. A player on one of my brother's past teams once was not allowed to re-enter the game because he had to go to the bathroom at the rec center, which took too long. If the bathroom had been close by, this would not have happened.

The city of Clearwater has paid for Clearwater Beach, North Greenwood and Morningside to have water slides. Ross Norton has a water slide under construction. Today, May 13th, Countryside Little League sent out a letter to the parents of the children of the Little League asking them to raise funds for a bathroom because Penny for Pinellas money won't be available before 2013.

Is it right for the city of Clearwater to pay for water slides for some city pools, and for us not to even have a bathroom that can be used for our Little Leaguers?

Curbside recyling not very helpful, cost-effective

Re: Largo shouldn't step backward by getting rid of trash recycling, letter by Anne Money Buck, May 23.

In response to Anne Buck's letter, the truth will set us free. I'll make no comment about her suggestion of instead "trashing the city manager," because he's a big boy and can defend himself, but it must be stated that his pay increases have nothing to do with budgetary savings, as in dumping this recycling program. It's 100 percent based upon his contract and the vote of the elected body. He does not have a city-supplied vehicle; instead, he gets $400 per month vehicle expense plus mileage reimbursement over a certain distance driven.

In the days of old, I was one of the staunch supporters of a countywide curbside recycling program, but these are not the days of old. We spent millions of dollars building and operating a state-of-the-art, power generating, self-sustaining resource recovery plant. What we discard is not wasted. Combustibles generate power (smoke is scrubbed), and metals and glass are sorted and sold.

We need to dump Largo's recycling program, and for good reason. Every dollar we generate in trash removal savings and revenues from sales of the recycled materials costs us $8 in taxes and program operating costs.

I do not consider that a prudent investment of our environmental preservation dollars. Largo's curbside recycling is nothing more then a feel-good program; financially, it's a train wreck.

Honor is also due the dogs of war

In the Veterans Memorial Park in Safety Harbor, you will find a stone that is far different than most others. It is my tribute to scout dog Bandit. He and thousands like him have served in our armed forces for many years and serve in Iraq today. They have given their lives to protect the soldiers they served. They have carried medical supplies, scouted for enemies and guarded our bases. They, too, were soldiers.

On Memorial Day I remember my fallen comrades, those who gave all. I also honor Bandit, my loyal companion. He served with honor and never came home. This letter is my tribute to that service.

God bless and protect our fighting men and women. God give strength and comfort to the families of those who have fallen.

Well-planned graduation a pleasure to attend

I was privileged to attend the Clearwater High School graduation exercises on May 17. As a former high school principal, and having witnessed many graduation exercises over the years, I feel that I am qualified to judge the exercises.

I want to commend the faculty, staff, and especially the students for a well-planned program. The graduates were very excited and happy to have finally reached the end of their high school careers, but they did not resort to loud or unnecessary exhibitions. They showed that they were proud of their school and respected the staff and above all respected the parents and relatives who had come to witness this important step in their lives.

I also commend the staff for the planning and preparation that they made. Each individual in the ceremony knew his or her part and consequently, the ceremony moved quickly and everyone was recognized. They had devised a plan for calling the names of the graduates so that every graduate was recognized as they came across the stage, yet it was a plan that allowed the ceremony to move quickly and not become boring or redundant.

I congratulate the students, faculty and administration for a job well done.

[Last modified May 31, 2006, 02:17:06]