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Paper Porch stays open for business

A sign they're not sold on Brooksville Jan. 7, story

A recent article regarding the closing of the Creative Porch in Brooksville has generated serious confusion regarding the status of the Paper Porch, also in Brooksville. The Paper Porch is not closing. The Creative Porch is the shop that is closing. The Paper Porch continues to enjoy a strong and loyal customer base in Hernando County. Now even some customers are confused about our status.

We are the local retailer of Vera Bradley Designs, Waterford Crystal and monogram sterling silver jewelry. The Paper Porch is located at 510 E Liberty St., Brooksville, in the Hawkins House, along with Westover's Flowers & Gifts and Mallie Kyla's Cafe.

Brooksville has many successful businesses, and I would appreciate it if you would help clear up the confusion your article has generated.

Ellen Lovelock, Brooksville

Sic our deputies on real criminals

The crime rate must be at a really low rate for Hernando County sheriff's deputies to be spending so much of their time awaiting the innocent at their speed traps (the usual one at Forest Oaks Boulevard) and catching them speeding 9 mph over the limit - not 12 mph, because 12 mph would raise your ticket from $83 to $150.

What happened to "This is your first offense; I will just give you a warning"? Was it not that way years back?

I guess they have no shoplifting suspects to catch, drug dealers to stake out, people on probation to check on or accident victims to help. Instead they spend time under shade trees watching people come and go, trying to get on the road from a side street, or trying to pass people who aren't sure where they are going. You try to get around them when they are going 25 mph, but that is speeding?

Just wondering exactly how perfectly do these deputies drive when they are out of uniform? I bet they don't drive perfectly all the time, but we don't hear much about that.

Perhaps Hernando County residents need to think about changing some things in this county of ours.

Mrs. B. Turner, Spring Hill

Why not merge city and county? Jan. 7, letter

Miami-Dade isn't really a merger

I lived in either Miami-Dade or Broward counties for my entire 45 years prior to moving to Hernando in July 2006. Contrary to how it sounds, Miami-Dade is not a merger of the two governments there. It was a public relations ploy to get name recognition for Dade County. Around the country, everyone knew Miami, but hardly anybody knew the name of the county it was in (Dade). The cities of Miami, Miami Beach, North Miami Beach, Hialeah, Coral Gables all still have independent government, as well as police and fire service. I do not know about the situation in Duval, as also mentioned in the letter. But, as a Miami native, I do know that part about Miami-Dade is incorrect.

Jerry Sellers, Brooksville

'Organic' may not mean 'healthy' Jan. 1, letter

Studies really do back organic food

I was dismayed to see a letter printed recently in your paper attempting to discredit organic food, and claiming, among other things, "there is absolutely no evidence that organic food is any more nutritious than food fueled by industrial fertilizers or sprayed with synthetic pesticides."

The letter's author, unfortunately, relied on information supplied by the Center for Global Food Issues, as reported in the National Review. The writer probably was unaware this so-called public interest group is part of the Hudson Institute, a right-wing think tank based in Washington, D.C., and that the National Review often acts as one of its mouthpieces.

Furthermore, I'm sure the letter's author was unaware that the Hudson Institute has received long-term funding from the fertilizer and agrochemical lobby, including corporate giants Monsanto and DuPont.

We would encourage your readers to seek out a more independent analysis of the benefits of organic food.

As an example, the Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, conducted research and concluded that not only were there demonstrably lower detectable levels of toxic contaminants in organic foods, but that they also contained far higher levels of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Many consumers find organic foods a creditable way to deliver higher-quality nutrition to their families.

Mark Alan Kastel, Cornucopia Institute, Cornucopia, Wis.

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[Last modified January 18, 2007, 06:41:41]