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Teacher deserves some compassion

A caring teacher is being subjected to a very public lack of compassion by the Pasco County school superintendent and the hired attorney who view mental illness as "evil."

I feel the teachers who recognized a problem and gave aid should be commended. It appears from your article that Patti Withers has taken the necessary steps to obtain and receive appropriate medical attention.

Is the School Board going to kick a person when they're down?

Joan O. Hedlund, San Antonio

Are we exchanging sidewalks for traffic in Beacon Woods?

As Beacon Woods residents, we do not believe it is a good idea. We would like to keep our community as it is now.

With Wal-Mart and Home Depot coming into Hudson, there is no way our roads would handle the traffic generated by these two giants. This community should stick to the original Development Review Comittee-approved plans.

The Beacon Woods Board of Directors and its residents have been fighting the bridge over Bear Creek from the planned Wal-Mart Supercenter's parking lot. After three and a half years of negotiations with Wal-Mart engineers, Pasco County engineers, and Beacon Woods traffic consultant engineers, a plan for a one-way-out bridge to U.S. 19 was approved at the beginning of this year.

All parties involved agreed on this plan of a one-way-out bridge coming from the Wal-Mart parking lot. Most importantly, the DRC approved the plans and gave Wal-Mart the go-ahead for the supercenter.

After a few months, the Florida Department of Transportation decided not to approve the Wal-Mart plans because the state felt the way-out bridge will not ease the traffic. They suggested Wal-Mart bring another plan, perhaps including a left turn for traffic coming from U.S. 19 into Wal-Mart. This means a two-way bridge.

As Beacon Woods residents, we will not accept the new bridge proposal. DOT is not taking into consideration the traffic that will be dumped into our streets from these two superstores.

The Beacon Woods board of directors and the residents must be ready to fight this bridge again. If the DRC changes plans and approves a two-way bridge, then we, the residents, must ask the county to approve the building of a gate for this road into our community with sensors for emergency vehicles only.

With a gate, we will not have the worries about motorists taking shortcuts through our neighborhood to and from Wal-Mart and Home Depot.

Ignacio and Olga Rodriguez, Hudson

As we celebrate National School Bus Safety Week, I'd like to thank each of the almost 500 bus drivers who safely transport over 36,000 Pasco County students to school daily. They are indeed one of our district's most valuable assets. As a result of their valuable contributions to the Pasco County School District, our students are better able to reach their highest potential.

The job of a school bus driver is not easy and must never be underestimated. For, it is only when a student arrives to school safely and on time every day that he or she can be ready to learn.

Our bus drivers collectively travel over 8,462,186 miles annually and drive 422 different routes throughout the county. The ultimate multi-tasker, a bus driver must maintain control of all passengers while following the rules of the road and ensuring the safe delivery of their students to school each day.

It takes a special kind of person to be a good school bus driver; one who is highly skilled, patient and has a strong commitment to excellence. Fortunately for our community, we have many dedicated professionals on our team who meet these high standards and choose to serve our district as bus drivers. They have my eternal gratitude.

I'd also like to remind motorists to be extra cautious when driving near bus stop locations, especially as we near the conclusion of Daylight Savings Time. Our county is experiencing rapid population growth and with that growth comes added students and additional buses on our roads. Your vigilance and caution can make a huge difference. Remember, we can best ensure the safety and security of our children if we work together!

Heather Fiorentino, Superintendent of Pasco Schools

Six buzzing for seat on bug board, Oct. 16

What a slap in the face to say that the voters of Pasco County are lazy voters when they vote. This coming from someone who has been elected to the board four times.

Board member Rosemary Mastrocolo also said others are terrified of working with me. I have been a UPS driver for 27 years. I currently a volunteer with the Alzheimer's family organization, was on the advisory committee at Ridgewood High, coached girls Dixie League softball for 13 years, served three years in the U.S. Army, a year in Vietnam and have been a shop steward for 20 years. No one has ever said they were terrified while working with me.

Gus Martinez, Hudson, Pasco Mosquito Control Board candidate.

[Last modified October 20, 2006, 08:11:16]