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From dangerous to ridiculous

Re: Jazz Holiday was not fan friendly, letters Oct. 24

We are glad this has been brought to your attention.

First of all, opening day of the Clearwater Jazz Holiday was very warm, and the lines were very long at 4:45 to get into the Kenny G show, which was scheduled for 8 p.m.

Many of us had taken a plastic bottle of water, which we were told had to be discarded, health problems or not. We were asked to empty the contents and throw away the container.

Did the committee think its profits would go down and no one would purchase a drink? We were there to eat and be entertained and I must say the food was very good. And yes, we bought a cold drink at $5 each.

Once it got dark, we did not venture out of our seats, because the lighting was so poor it became dangerous to try and get around. People were tripping over those on blankets and falling over chairs, and there were tempers flaring.

What would happen if a fire broke out or a person suffered a heart attack or stroke? We would all be trampled on, for people would scramble in the darkness and fall over one another.

When a popular entertainer such as Kenny G performs, why can't this be staged in our new stadium or the older ballfield? Something is going to have to change.

Also, the VIP section should be opened to others when it is being used by so few people (25-30) in a spot reserved for 500. How ridiculous.

V. Mclntire, Clearwater

Don't punish all teen drivers

Re: Raise driving age, protect teens, letter Oct. 25

I knew that it would come. After the recent spate of accidents involving teenage drivers that have been brought up in the media, it was only a matter of time before someone would write in making vast generalizations that do not represent the bulk of teenage drivers.

The letter writer proposes that the driving age be raised for drivers' permits and licenses, and cites maturity and lack of experience as reasons.

Granting for the moment that some adolescent drivers exhibit these poor qualities that make them unsuitable drivers, to punish the vast majority who have had proper instruction, 50 hours of driving experience minimum, and have matured to the level where they could be capable drivers, is wrong and an overreaction.

Thousands of accidents occur in this very area all year, by incompetent drivers young and old, and to further degrade the situation into setting a higher line for teenage drivers to get their permits and licenses is not the solution. There are teenage drivers who should not be on the road, just as there are adult drivers in the same boat.

I would hope that driving instructors and parents would have the logical discretion to keep unprepared or dangerous drivers off the road, and even though this is not going to be met with a 100 percent success rate, it is still much better than coming to some rash, arbitrary conclusion based on a few weeks of bad press.

Patrick Kennedy, Clearwater

Keep supporting wonderful shelter

Re: Cats are euthanized, roiling animal shelter, story Oct. 23

Please don't let the news about Barbara Snow, new executive director, have any negative effect on supporting the great Humane Society of Pinellas.

Its policy for many years has been not to euthanize pets. After all, there are other shelters that euthanize every day or have euthanized in the past. That doesn't make the news. HSP's tragedy did because a policy and trust have been broken.

So please, keep supporting this wonderful shelter so it can continue to move on and do whatever it needs to do.

Belinda Blease, Largo

Issues are waiting in Safety Harbor

Re: New Safety Harbor City Manager Billy Beckett

I wish Billy Preston Beckett well and am impressed with what I read about him, but reflecting my Connecticut Yankee heritage, "seeing is believing," so I'll wait and see what develops with his managing this nice little town.

In my opinion, there are a number of issues that need addressing soon, such as flooding in some parts of the city, including Main Street during the rainy season.

Also, a way needs to be determined to discourage drivers from using Main Street as an express route to go to and back from Tampa, especially during work days.

Thirdly, even during the dry season, this city experiences power outages, brownouts, spikes, etc. Perhaps putting all of the electricity in concrete conduits underground may be a viable solution.

I no longer live in Safety Harbor, but do visit from time to time, because I miss its small-town atmosphere and still have many friends there.

Joseph P. Corell, Clearwater

[Last modified October 29, 2006, 07:28:28]