Parents can learn from Polings
Letters to the EditorPublished October 20, 2006
Re: Newest generation shows promise of leadership Oct. 17
Diane Steinle has not only given honor to the late leaders Gabe Cazares and John Doglione, but she has also given us hope concerning our younger generation and its willingness and knowledge to serve when and where needed.
I'm sure if you read the whole article, you will see that not only does Mathew Poling of the Friends of Brooker Creek Preserve volunteer, but so does his father, who sets a very good example for his son to follow.
I'm sure the job of heading the Friends of Brooker Creek Preserve is a great undertaking for such a young person, but with his dad's help, I'm sure Mathew will do a great job.
The job of parenting has become a sideline, as many parents think that earning the almighty dollar has to be the No. 1 priority. If more parents took a lesson from the Poling family and did more volunteer work, our children would be learning some very useful skills for their adult lives.
Just this past summer, when I volunteered at the soup kitchens, I saw several young folks helping serve meals to the homeless. They are not only learning food preparation, but they also see how folks live when they have no education or job skills. I pray that all young people realize they can go nowhere without an education.
Thanks, Diane, for the column, a lesson for all.
Fran Glaros, Clearwater
A way to make used butts pay
Re: Why do smokers continue to litter? Oct. 17
I cannot help but agree with Jim Whidden, who wrote a letter about smokers' ability to casually toss cigarette butts out their windows at will.
Well, I do have a simple solution.
When the manufacturer prints the design on the filter, just add a bar code, then charge a 1-cent deposit for each filter. The filters could be collected and counted, much the same way coin machines count coins. If a smoker still feels the need to litter, someone will surely pick up the filters. The cost will be minimal at about 20 cents per pack, which would be recouped upon return of the 20 filthy little filters.
Within one year, problem solved.
Rob Tonova, Largo
Decision on acres was a sound one
Re: New Glen Oaks Park in Clearwater
At the signing of a contract on July 12, 1973, the decision was made to retain the Glen Oaks Golf Course as a community green space. U.S. Home Corp. acquired Glen Oaks Golf Course one morning in late 1973 and sold it to the city of Clearwater that afternoon - for its cost.
We considered the hundreds of proposed zoned units at Glen Oaks, in the middle of Clearwater, as unacceptable development. The city had few available resources, so 80 percent of the resale included a "slow" note.
Today it is proven that our concern for the green area of Glen Oaks was relatively short term. I am impressed with the utility of the Glen Oaks Golf Course acreage as I drive Court Street today, and I sincerely hope our senior golfers have found a good substitute executive course to maintain their golf skills.
Fred Fisher, former vice chairman and chief financial officer, U.S. Home Corp., Tarpon Springs