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Today's Letters: Leave the players on the stage

Letters to the Editor
Published October 31, 2007

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A call for noisy bar to exit the stage Oct. 20, Barbara Fredricksen column, and Towing will chase people away Oct. 24, letter

When did the owner of the Karl Reef try to chase away a patron of Juan's Black Bean Cafe? I know for a fact there are many people who have visited the Karl Reef and Juan's Black Bean Cafe in the same evening and vice versa. If anything, both businesses help each other profit.

Of course, it's all in a matter of preference of what atmosphere you may be looking for that evening. I may add that the Karl Reef also has long hours, beer, wine and liquor, beautiful dcor, outside seating, and live music. The only thing missing would be the extended menu and I might add that the Karl Reef does offer free appetizers early Friday evening. Both businesses are an asset to downtown New Port Richey.

The Karl Reef's parking lot is not a shared parking lot. It is fully owned and maintained by the Karl Reef. What if a patron from Juan's Black Bean Cafe walked out of the restaurant and got hurt in the Karl Reef's parking lot. Would Juan's pay for the damages if someone were to sue? I think we know the answer.

When I first saw the "No Parking" signs placed in the parking lot, the first thing I did was ask if it was okay to park in that location. Not only that, there is plenty of city parking available just across the street (which takes me all but 20 seconds to get to either business).

I will agree the music could be toned down on the outside seating area. I really don't think that any business should exit the stage. Maybe we all just need to have more communication between businesses so that all patrons and business owners are happy.

Dawn Luper,New Port Richey

Gave too much information

I was a little shocked by the back page of the Pasco Times on Thursday, Oct. 24.

I am concerned by the information that was given about the young athletes. Their names, ages, what school they attend, where they play soccer, and what park they play at is far too much information about these young girls. Plus the article had their pictures alongside.

Does anyone realize how risky that is? It would be so easy for someone to take these young girls, especially with all the information that was printed. Soccer fields are crazy on game days; it would be easy for a young child to get taken. I think the parents as well as the newspaper had good intentions, and it probably made the young girls excited to have their pictures in the paper; but there was far too much personal information given if you ask me.

I am studying to be a special education teacher and would consider myself to be cautious not just for my daughter, but for other people's kids. It breaks my heart to hear or read about a child being hurt. There are too many sick people out there that prey on kids. Next time, a little more caution about the children in the community would be better.

Joanna Hirsch,Holiday

What's important is what you can't see Oct. 26, column by Andrew Skerritt

Don't base case solely on video

Skerritt stated the case against Hernando High School coach Shawn Bingham regarding the $75 missing from a student's wallet and that he should be cleared based on the school's videotape. Okay, let's take this onestep at a time.

Did school officials or the deputy ask Mr. Bingham if he ever touched the wallet before advising him there was a video? If he said "no," then was shown the video, case closed. But that wasn't done.

Skerritt goes on to say the video doesn't show if, in fact, there was $75 in the wallet. Is he casting a shadow on the alleged victim's claim?

He also states the video shows another student who sat on the wallet for nine seconds before leaving. If this kid was able to sit on a wallet for nine seconds and without the use of his hands remove $75, I want to enter him on the next America's Got Talent.

The video also shows Mr. Bingham pick up the wallet and disappear from the camera's view for 24 seconds, then return and place the wallet where he found it. Why? Many years ago my 20-year-old son, while working in the shoe department of a large store, found a wallet under a chair with more than $300 in it. He took it right to his supervisor.

I'm not saying Mr. Bingham is guilty or innocent. All I'm saying is Skerritt is leaning too heavily on just dropping the case based on the video.

In this situation, doesn't it make sense to pick up the wallet, look for identification, then bring it to the principal's office? What sense does it make to take the wallet and come back 24 seconds later to place it back where it was?

Almost 40 years ago when I received my bachelor's degree, my father told me, "Congratulations, but don't get a big head because you're the first one in the family to do so. Sometimes the more education you get seems to take away some people's good old common sense."

Gene Huber, Spring Hill

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[Last modified October 30, 2007, 20:12:42]

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