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Today's Letters: Boat parade beads can harm

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published April 4, 2007

I would like to thank those who so tirelessly devote countless hours toward making Chasco Fiesta a huge success each year. As a long time resident and volunteer myself, I see the efforts first hand, of many hard-working community members who spend months preparing for this major event.

However, while attending the boat parade over the past few years, I was appalled to see many parade participants tossing beads from their boats to the crowds positioned along the banks of what I consider one of the jewels of Pasco, the Pithlachascotee River. I realize that throwing beads into the river by the parade participants was not intentional, and the goal was to land them in the hands of the spectators along the parade route. Unfortunately, I witnessed many strands of beads miss their target and land in the water.

As an educator in Pasco County, I feel that littering our waterways and endangering our wildlife, some of which are currently on the endangered species list, should be stopped. My colleagues and I work hard to teach our youth about the importance of taking care of our environment and protecting the existing wildlife, much of which is rapidly disappearing. Apparently, it's time to remind the adults in our community about these environmental issues and the importance of role modeling and "practicing what we preach" to our youth.

Having participated over many years in various Pasco County cleanup events, it was disheartening to see community leaders and residents undo what many work so hard to accomplish each year - cleaning up the river and the coastline. It is my hope that most of the beads landing in the water ended up floating on the surface so that they could easily be retrieved. Fish and wildlife, however, are drawn to shiny objects as a food source, which are floating or submerged in the water, and could obviously ingest the beads.

The possibility of one strand being consumed by a manatee or entangled around the neck of a turtle, bird or other living creature is of enough concern that the bead throwing practice needs to be curtailed. I'm willing to bet that if beads were tangled in boat propellers and caused damage to expensive boat engines this issue would be addressed by those boat owners involved!

Chasco's longevity over the past 85 years indicates that as a community we can be proud of this festival, which now draws crowds from all over the state and is recognized by the Southern Tourism Society as one of their top twenty events. However, as the tradition continues, it is my hope that future boat parade participants will take these bead throwing concerns into consideration.

Kristi Theurer, New Port Richey

Keep a lookout over your shoulder

This is to the woman with the cane and driving a green car who keyed the whole driver's side of my car at Winn Dixie on State Road 54 around 12:45 p.m. Tuesday, March 27. Yes, I saw you commit this mean, vicious, spiteful act when you saw I didn't have a handicapped card hanging from my mirror. Then you looked at my license plate which clearly displayed the proper symbol.

How arrogant of you to judge my disability to be any less than yours just because mine may not be as visible as yours. I have an incurable illness and pray you never have to suffer the constant pain I have. If you'd asked, I'd have given you my spot as I'm a very giving person.

I suspect you've displayed this despicable and childish behavior before.

We all get frustrated at the shortage of handicapped parking spots, but we don't go around vandalizing other people's cars. You have issues and should seek some help.

Remember, what goes around comes around. If you continue these acts of criminal mischief you will be caught and I'll be watching for you.

Annette Pinnell, New Port Richey

Crash debris is a safety hazard

I've noticed that our streets and especially the intersections are full of debris from traffic accidents.

Bits of metal, glass, screws, bolts, etc. make this area look terrible, not to mention a safety problem. I've never seen a motorized street sweeper on the streets either. Does the county or New Port Richey even have them?

The police working the accidents scenes need to ensure that the accident debris is cleaned up properly to prevent future accidents. A driver recently cut over into my traffic lane to avoid some glass and metal from an earlier accident, nearly hitting my car.

John Wilkins, New Port Richey

[Last modified April 3, 2007, 21:32:03]