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Today's Letters: Kids deserve promised fields

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published March 27, 2007

Re: Start with meaning of "preserve" editorial, March 15

In answer to the editor's comments on the use of the wells in the Brooker Creek Preserve for irrigation, I agree. Golf courses charge fees and they should drill their own wells.

Now, to the 38 acres of planted pines that were promised to the East Lake Youth Sports Association for fields, that promise was made and should be kept. The children of East Lake have only those fields, as the East Lake High School field can be used only by the high school students.

Sometimes we can't see the forest for the trees. The No. 1 priority for the revenue from the Penny for Pinellas sales tax is for jails and beds for jails. Wouldn't it be better to provide recreation for the many children here? Teaching discipline, taking your turn, winning and losing, instead of letting them spend their time getting into trouble.

Use your common sense. Can't the trees and the children grow together?

Mrs. James Bryan, Tarpon Springs

Schools should be open for playing 

Re: Preservation vs. place to play story, March 16

It's about time a decision was made not to clear part of the Brooker Creek Preserve for a sports complex.

Kids today literally have no place to go after school. Why can't kids go to school playgrounds and fields to play? There are plenty of schools to play at. They can get on their bikes and ride over.

The schools should not deny the use of their fields to any child who wants to have a pickup game or just throw a ball around. Everyone complains that students have too much time on their hands during the summer or on days when schools are closed, but if they had a neighborhood school to go to, their idle time would be changed.

Today you can't get on school grounds after school is let out. If we are asked to help maintain our schools, then that money should also be used to enable students to use the outdoor grounds.

Barbara Troop, Tarpon Springs

Leave Brooker Creek for posterity 

Re: Preservation vs. place to play story, March 16

It's important to preserve the land at Brooker Creek. So much of our area is now condos, and we need to keep Brooker Creek pristine for our grandchildren.

Mr. and Mrs. A. Lincoln, Clearwater

Preserve 'issues' should be simple 

Re: Preservation vs. place to play story, March 16

Yet another meeting to discuss "issues and policies in the Brooker Creek Preserve." What is there to talk about? It is like deciding about building condos next to Old Faithful. An area is preserved and protected, or it is not.

Patricia D. Stapp, Palm Harbor

Dunedin should use local artists 

Re: Sculpture swirls into city's center story, March 14

Could the city of Dunedin not find a local sculptor for the work of art? I can think of several local sculptors. Live locally, buy locally, use local talent! That's my motto.

"I'm really disappointed" is putting it mildly!

Tabitha B. Hirschfeld, Dunedin

'Highest and best' is a misnomer 

Re: Land purchase creates a rift story, March 22

Once again, the concept of "the highest and best use of property" is offered as a rationale for replacing single-family housing with something supposedly better.

"Highest and best" is a concept beloved by developers and subscribed to by tax assessors. Unfortunately, "highest and best" usually ultimately results in "ugliest and worst." If you don't believe me look at the eyesores of New York City, Miami Beach, Clearwater Beach and of the rest of the condominium canyons on the barrier islands.

There must be some way to keep that sort of "progress" out of little old Largo.

Palmer O. Hanson Jr., Largo

Good parents can set teens right

I would like to share my concern regarding teens today. They are under a constant barrage of media messages that are designed to promote and glorify destructive behavior. Many large media and Hollywood companies are profiting from coercing our teens by promoting images of explicit sex that are borderline pornography. Many companies promote video games and gangster rap music videos that focus on a message of violence as the solution to everyday life challenges.

There is no question that our society today faces fundamental problems regarding the war on drugs. This serious problem is rapidly rising in our children's environment, where far too many teens are using intoxicating substances such as alcohol, marijuana, heroin, cocaine and methadone.

I feel parents should constantly remind their children that drug use is amoral and it will ultimately enslave the mind and destroy the soul. Having raised two children myself, I realize that parents are not powerless and that it is not impossible to set children on the right path.

A successful family starts in the home, when a mother and father give their children quality time, respect and heavy doses of love.

Joan Atkins, Palm Harbor

Keep your litter to yourself

Attention, all smokers of cigarettes and cigars; purchasers and eaters of fast foods, candy bars, candy, snack foods, breakfast bars and energy bars; drinkers of beer, pop, water and hydration boosters; purchasers of losing scratch-off lottery tickets:

Please take your rubbish and dispose of it in your neighborhoods. We are tired of seeing it in ours. Thank you.

Joan I. Shemansky, Largo

In time of distress, hospice came in

There's nothing more sad than watching a loved one wading out into the cold waters of their passing. That's when hospice will step in, if asked. Not only do they offer a strong, loving hand to the one who's leaving, they also offer a knowledgeable, caring hand to the loved ones hopelessly standing by.

I thank each and every one of the kind and considerate staff at Hospice of the Florida Suncoast (the Rose team) who were such a blessing to me during the passing of my husband.

Lorena Ihnen, Clearwater

Your voice counts

You may submit a letter to the editor for possible publication through our Web site at www.tampabay.com/letters, or by faxing it to (727) 445-4119, or by mailing it to Letters, 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. You must include your name, address and phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length.

[Last modified March 27, 2007, 06:53:46]