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Leave Wal-Mart to Spring Lake

Re: Wal-Mart, other forces are bad fits Jan. 31 letter to the editor

I would ask letter writers Doug and Holly Sheffield what's wrong with new development in the Spring Hill community? As a Spring Lake resident, I've read numerous letters to the editor about how the proposed Hickory Hill housing development will benefit our community. I find that the majority of the letters in favor of the proposed development are from readers who don't even live in the Spring Lake community, e.g., Spring Hill, Wesley Chapel, etc.

Think of all the benefits that a new Wal-Mart will bring. Residents living nearby won't have to drive their cars, and can simply walk across the street, thus saving gas. The crime rate will probably go down in your area because of the lights from the parking lots. And, finally, when you need that new golf club or new golf balls, you can drive your cart from the course to that new Wal-Mart.

All joking aside, I believe we will agree that the residents living in the area should have a voice as to future developments that effect their community -without outside opinions.

Lori Lee, Brooksville

How much water will we sacrifice?

I have been reading all letters to the editor pertaining to the proposed Hickory Hill project and I am confused about which side is presenting the straight facts about the impact that a community this size would have on Hernando County.

It seems to me that the Southwest Florida Water Management District, with all its warnings about the dangerously low levels of our water supplies, should be the key figure in the disallowance of the Hickory Hill project. What, if any, is its input to this confounded dilemma?

How much more are we to cut back on our vital consumption of this precious water supply? Lawns and landscaping be darned; if necessary we can live without them. It's the living beings who need to survive.

Come on, Hernando County residents, let your voices be heard!

Dick Smith, Spring Hill

Driver could have at least said sorry

This year for Christmas, my 3-year-old son, Patrick, asked Santa for one thing: a puppy. With a week left and money tapped out, I did the very best I could to grant his wish. With the help of great co-workers, I was given a young Jack Russell terrier. Come Christmas morning, the look on my son's face was a memory that will last forever.

Recently, I promised my son pizza for adapting so well to the family while we helped another co-worker by caring for her newborn girl while she worked. Our evening was great; we had pizza and came home.

When we returned I took my son into the house to settle down while my son's father was gathering the stuff from the car to bring into the house. My son, concerned that his father was taking too long, dashed out the front door. I ran after him, but both my son and his puppy - Captain Jack Sparrow - were out the door.

A passing car hit Jack and kept going. I do not blame the driver for hitting the dog because my son let him out the door. What kills me is that this person hit a living, breathing thing and never stopped. My son saw the entire event. He has severe allergies and a few other medical conditions that do not allow him to attend day care, so he has no playmates. The dog had become his best friend and added glow to our family. It was two days before he even slept and we still deal with fits of crying and feelings of guilt.

I feel sorry for the person who hit our dog. There was no reason not to stop. Now I have had to take my son to the doctor because the stress of the event has caused his eczema to break out worse than ever before. I am unable to explain why this person did not stop to even say he or she was sorry. My son knows to do that and he's only 3.

Sara Tanner, Spring Hill

[Last modified February 13, 2007, 06:57:47]