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Family's sacrifice a gain for another

Re: Last time with a good friend, June 21.

As I read the column by Jim Verhulst, I could feel the sense of loss of his best friend Skipper. What a wonderful family the Verhulsts are to take the time to raise a puppy from nine weeks of age only to return Skipper back to the Southeastern Guide Dog organization 21 months later.

I can't imagine the heartbreak felt by this family leading up to that day. Although the Verhulst family is feeling a real sense of loss, I applaud their courage and am thankful for their compassion knowing that Skipper will be improving the quality of life for a handicapped individual.

Thank you to the Verhulst family for making this world a better place, and thank you to Southeastern Guide Dogs for helping our community.

Dan Hester, Seminole

Pet stores aren't only option for dogs

Re: Store's care of animals upsets pet owners, June 11.

Most people know the risk involved in purchasing puppies from pet stores, particularly a pet store that will finance your purchase. It is all about profit, which may not be a good thing for the animal involved.

I recently paid $30 for an adult dog that received excellent training from its previous owner. I found the dog at Pinellas County Animal Services and received professional and friendly assistance.

My only complaint is of the dog's fondness for pizza: Twice he has eaten my lunch.

Glenda Pittman, St. Petersburg

Spread of development must stop

I keep reading article after article in the newspaper about the water supply in this area. Clearly, there is not even enough water for the people who are already here. Why in the world do our so-called leaders, city officials, county commissioners, etc., keep permitting new dense development, i.e., condos, townhomes and dense subdivisions?

Will someone please explain to them the only answer is to stop building. And please stop before you completely destroy the environment.

Daniel R. Wickham, St. Petersburg

Living Green event should be annual

Re: Pinellas Living Green Expo.

I was intrigued while reading about the Pinellas Living Green Expo and, thus, decided to check it out last month. It was great to see so many local exhibitors who have a genuine concern for the environment, and I was surprised to see such a large display from the city of St. Petersburg.

I hope the Living Green Expo becomes an annual event in our city. St. Petersburg needs to continue to promote environmental awareness and walk its talk by working toward being even "greener."

Renne Stachnik, St. Petersburg

Bartlett Park misrepresented in story

Re: Enough police for city?, June 18.

In this story, Neighborhood Association vice president Scott Swift paints a picture of Bartlett Park that is inconsistent with the facts. The streets of Bartlett Park are not "strewn" with litter and medical debris.

While Swift moved to the neighborhood in the past year, I have been associated, in partnership, or an investor in the Bartlett Park Neighborhood for slightly more than the past six years. I have had extensive conversations with homeowners and residents with decades of experience in Bartlett Park, and found the comments published in the story in conflict with reality.

The work of dedicated neighbors, City Neighborhood Partnership staffers and Neighborhood Housing Services Inc. have attracted an unprecedented wave of investment and new homeowners.

City Parks Department investments in new recreation facilities in the park are coming on line, and the boom in values is adding millions of dollars in equity to the net worth of homeowners who had seen stagnant real estate values in previous decades.

Those details may be more difficult to report than one person's hyperbolic comments, but your readers, and Bartlett Park neighbors, deserve a more accurate portrayal of our community.

Chris Kelly, St. Petersburg

Nights on the street not so dangerous

Re: Transients are an affront, safety risk, letter, June 18.

The more I read this letter, the more my blood boiled. As a former "Regular Citizen," now a "Transient" sleeping in my car on the waterfront, I'd like to comment on what I have observed during my unfortunate, temporary circumstance. Absolutely nothing!

That's right. I park my car near the bathrooms (for obvious reasons) and have never witnessed a drug deal. Never witnessed a crime. It has become so hot I've had to sleep with my car windows down.

Two times I have been disturbed during the night. The first time was a gentleman knocking on my car hood to wake me up and get my attention. I woke up terrified and kept yelling, "Get away." The guy ran off so fast I'm sure I scared him more than he scared me.

The second time a woman knocked on my car and asked if she could sleep in my car in the driver's seat next to me. Her boyfriend kicked her out of their suite at the Heritage Inn in the middle of the night. Go figure.

What happened to the friar several weeks ago was sad and also a fluke. I picked Bayshore Drive because I feel safe there. Police and city workers drive up and down the street all day and all night.

Barbara Hecht, St. Petersburg

Mobile home residents have rights, too

Re: Cities must help displaced residents, letter, June 14.

As president of Bay Pines Mobile Home Owners Association, I feel I must respond. I have never pleaded for anything other than for everyone to follow the letter of the law, laws that protect mobile home owners in nonresident-owned parks.

Florida Statute 723.083 assures us adequate, suitable and affordable housing before they can bulldoze us out of our homes for $1,375 or $2,750.

Would you give up your home for that amount of money? I think not.

I have never said park owners do not have a constitutional right to sell whenever they want, but years ago we were lured here to retire; and when we pay to rent space and put our property in their parks, we also have constitutional rights.

I have never pleaded with any politician to be 100 percent for park residents, but I have pleaded over and over for all residents, investors, park owners, developers, and city and county officials to sit down and work out a solution everyone can live with without circumventing the law.

The letter writer is the president of the Florida Manufactured Housing Association. His attitude is "like it or not" we will be redeveloped! Well, let me say, like it or not, this "small group of homeowners who mistakenly believes they can stop the sale of all manufactured home communities" will certainly be out there every day trying to do just that, fighting to keep what we already own! Let's go by the letter of the law.

Leo Plenski, St. Petersburg

[Last modified June 28, 2006, 08:11:58]