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Letter to the editor

Today's Letters: Driver's record sets it all straight

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published September 26, 2007

After reading Under the radar no longer in the Sept. 14 St. Petersburg Times, we should all thank Linda Bollea for setting the record straight and clearing up any misconceptions regarding her son, Nick Bollea.

If, in the future, any of us should be so unlucky as to get into the way of young Nick as he operates his vehicle at speeds in excess of 100 mph on our public roads, we can take comfort in knowing we've been mowed down by, to quote Mrs. Bollea, "a smart, serious, level-headed businessman" and not some immature, reckless driver as may have been previously thought.

My best wishes for the recovery of John Graziano.

T.B. Meligan,Clearwater

School better than portrayed

In a recent interview with the St. Petersburg Times, Linda Bollea defended the reputation of her son, Nick, and also the tactics she and her husband, ex-professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, used in raising their children.

I attended St. Cecelia School in Clearwater with Nick for a few years and am currently a junior at Clearwater Central Catholic High School, where Nick was a student before his parents chose to homeschool him "so he could be on (VH1's Hogan Knows Best) and because his mother ... would rather have him at home than at (CCC), where she said students were exposed to drugs and fights."

The need that Mrs. Bollea feels to protect her son is understandable, but she digresses into vindication of herself and a biased description of CCC.

In my three years at the school, I have never once witnessed or heard of the outbreak of a physical fight, and seriously, is any high school able to label itself as 100 percent drug free?

Sure, there are parties where drugs and drinking may be on the list; however, it is up to the individual whether or not to partake in such activities. The ineffectual exposure to drugs is not enough to override the education I have received at both schools concerning the dangers of such substances, although I know I cannot speak for everyone in that sense.

If you don't want the nation to get the wrong impression of your "smart, serious and level-headed businessman" son, don't advertise his day-to-day activities on a VH1 reality show that portrays him as quite the opposite. And bringing a great school as CCC into it merely weakens the argument. If you're a good parent, you're a good parent. No blame needs to be thrown.

The students and faculty of Clearwater Central Catholic continue to keep the Bollea and Graziano families in their prayers.

Angela DelPrete, Largo

Re: Legislator fights land deal story, Sept. 16

Anderson as a resident gets a say

In reading your recent article on the Weaver property and Dunedin Mayor Bob Hackworth's negative comments regarding state Rep. Tom Anderson, I would like to offer my comments.

Rep. Anderson has lived in Dunedin for many years. He was also the mayor of Dunedin. He and his wife, Alice, have done a lot of volunteer work for the city and for many organizations in the community. They have been taxpayers for many years and contributed greatly to the community.

In addition, we have a First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that gives us all freedom of speech. Why can't Rep. Anderson express his opinion on city matters?

As taxpayers, I and many of my friends are opposed to the purchase of the Weaver property.

Lillian Landoos, Dunedin

Re: Legislator fights land deal story, Sept. 16

$18-million can be better spent

The purchase of this tract of land has too many negatives for Dunedin. It's not a very good move.

First and foremost, $18-million is a mind-boggling price. Can you imagine the present problems our city faces that could be solved by that fantastic amount of money?

There are safety issues because of Alt. U.S. 19. And last but most emphatically not least, the horrible and consistent odor that pierces your nostril from the adjacent Dunedin wastewater plant, a problem that shall never go away.

My strongest point is that there is really no need for additional parkland and therefore, I do not see any justification for making a purchase of this magnitude.

A.J. Voiland,Dunedin

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 September 25, 2007, 21:23:30]