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Letter to the editor

Today's Letters: Ruth Eckerd staff gives back plenty

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published October 19, 2007

It is one thing for reasonable people to disagree about public funding for the arts. But it is quite another thing to personally attack the integrity of individuals who do indeed give back to our community. The Oct. 12 letter (Measure hall against Rotarians by John Wiser of Clearwater), attempted to pit the work of Rotary Clubs against Ruth Eckerd Hall and its staff.

I have participated as a speaker in many Rotary Clubs throughout the country and so know of and admire the work that Rotary Clubs do in our community. But the letter writer has no business impugning Ruth Eckerd Hall and its staff as noncontributors to our community.

As far as I know, he did nothing to check his facts and to inquire as to whether the staff is involved in our community. They indeed are. Not only do staff members work hard every day to help make Ruth Eckerd Hall one of the most successful venues in the world and, more importantly, provide the best performing arts and educational experiences to our Clearwater region, but they also donate numerous hours to community organizations.

Ruth Eckerd Hall itself donates hundreds of tickets each year to not-for-profit community organizations to assist in their fundraising activities so that they can, in turn, raise thousands of dollars for their efforts to serve the community. Among the numerous organizations to which Ruth Eckerd Hall donates tickets are UPARC, Countryside Football, YMCA Clearwater, the Rotary Club, several Pinellas County schools, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Citizens Academy Alumni Association and other organizations.

We also provide thousands of dollars annually in scholarships and tuition assistance for classes at the Marcia P. Hoffman Performing Arts Institute at Ruth Eckerd Hall, including five $2,500 scholarships to high school students who wish to pursue careers in the performing arts.

For the past five years, our staff has held an event for Camelot Care, a worthy organization helping foster parents and at-risk foster children. Our staff donates personal funds, time and volunteers to provide a holiday dinner and fun to these families.

Our staff members serve on boards and personally give of their time as well as donations for such organizations as the Junior League, Pet Pal Rescue, the American Cancer Society, Temple Beth El, Susan G. Komen Race For a Cure, Paint Your Heart Out Tampa, Paint St. Pete Proud, Pinellas County Schools, All Children's Hospital, Starlight Starbright Foundation, Taste of Pinellas, Clearwater Jazz Holiday, Major League Baseball Players Alumni Charities, the Homeless Emergency Project, the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, Girl Scouts of West Central Florida, St. Clement Migrant Mission, Golden Retriever Rescue of Mid-Florida, the American Red Cross, Congregation Beth Shalom, WEDU and many more. We are also initiating a program whereby each Ruth Eckerd Hall staff member will be given a day off to volunteer in a community organization of his or her choice.

Also this year, the Eckerd Theater Company did a performance for young audiences titled The Hundred Dresses. The performances here were used to collect clothing for the Homeless Emergency Project, and 50 percent of the ticket sales were donated to the Homeless Emergency Project as well. Over 150 dresses and outfits were donated by the community, many by our own staff.

Numerous volunteer hours are donated by our board members, our own volunteers and students of the Marcia P. Hoffman Performing Arts Institute. Each year our Leading Ladies Volunteers give approximately 25 bikes and hundreds of other toys to children as well as generous financial gifts from their various fundraisers toward student scholarships. Our Teen Troupe routinely performs in the community for various functions and volunteers as participants in our Arts in Medicine program in association with the Morton Plant Mease Foundation, through which performances are done right in the hospital environment.

The Ruth Eckerd Hall staff members are proud of their community involvement and service. Their dedication truly has a positive impact in our community. I truly believe the letter writer owes the Ruth Eckerd Hall staff a sincere apology for anything that suggests they are not deeply involved in creating goodwill in our community and donating their personal time and funds. I am proud of every person who works at Ruth Eckerd Hall and what they achieve day in and day out.

Robert A. Freedman,president and chief executive officer, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater

Outsourcing libraries is crazy

While reading USA Today on Oct. 5, I came across an article that should be on the front page of every newspaper in our country! Medford, Ore., is "outsourcing the running of its libraries." Just how down is our country going to go before we say, "Enough!" What in the world would Benjamin Franklin say about this?

It appears that a company called Library Systems and Services (LSSI) has now taken over the running of the libraries in about 15 or so U.S. municipalities. The first thing the company will do is cut the hours of operations and cut the staff.

Is this something that will become just one of our fond memories of the "good old days" when we had public libraries? Who will decide what books and magazines to buy for the library? Will they censor a book because of political differences?

One of the library employees is quoted as saying this is a "major shift from public trust into private hands." Has our country really sunk to this level? We must do everything possible to keep this from happening here.

Margaret Hyde, Clearwater

Re: Adding cameras to parks is not needed letter by Chuck Schult, Sept. 28

Police 'presence' is not enough

When reading a previous letter suggesting surveillance cameras be placed in Clearwater's Crest Lake Park, I considered the possibilities. Living near Crest Lake Park and exercising there twice daily, I see firsthand what goes on there. I've spoken in front of the City Council, outlining some of the problems. The council has been open to suggestions and realizes the situation in our city parks is not ideal in a lot of cases.

We, as citizens, observe and pass on to our Police Department the events as we see them. A city police officer may respond to the call, yet these calls are of low priority. The illegal activity may be over before they arrive. We observe many questionable activities, including drug deals, business between prostitutes and johns, and illicit sex acts.

We experience the so-called homeless begging from passers-by, being drunk asleep on the grass or on tables or benches, urinating in the bushes, hanging out near the restrooms, and bathing in the fountains and the lake. We can be sure these vagrants have been inside the restrooms due to the messages left on the walls, written in fecal materials. Bathroom drains are plugged, fixtures damaged and drug paraphernalia left behind.

These are not persons down on their luck, without a place to call home. Any one of us with a turn of bad luck may become homeless, yet do not choose this as a way of life. We observe them not interested in following the rules of society. These people have chosen a career of carefree living.

We also observe police officers driving through the park - a "presence." Uniformed police volunteers drive through - a "presence." Volunteers using taxpayer-owned trucks, radios and uniforms ending their tour of the park in an air-conditioned cab, facing Cleveland Street and Lake Avenue while illegal activities are still going on behind them - "uniformed presence."

Maybe a videocamera would have more of a "presence," no longer requiring tax dollars for volunteer uniforms and costly equipment.

Mr. Schult, instead of attempting to recruit additional Police Department volunteers to fill an "easy, gratifying position," maybe adopting and instilling an attitude of "What can I give back to this community?" could further the cause. Possibly we'll get to see how good you look in our uniform when you get out of our truck to walk the park. Maybe we'll see you on video.

Richard Sanderson, Clearwater

23 years later, grief is still strong

On Oct. 8, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission held a beautiful and exceptionally respectful memorial for my lifetime friend, Florida Fish and Wildlife officer Peggy Park, who was killed in the line of duty on Dec. 13, 1984. Col. Julie Jones and her staff went out of their way to honor Peggy 23 years after her extremely brutal murder in Pinellas County.

Peggy was my lifetime friend, and my grief has not abated these last 23 years. I am a 100 percent, service-connected disabled veteran, and my VA doctors all said I was too sick to attend the memorial. I hope that God will give me the strength to attend the execution of Martin Grossman, who has appealed his death penalty for 23 years.

With all my heart, I thank everyone who worked so hard on this lovely remembrance.

Linda Waters, U.S. Navy Corps (retired), St. Louis, Mo.

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 October 19, 2007, 00:33:31]