Today's Letters: Goodwill's move will hurt some

I recently learned the Brooksville Goodwill store will be closing in January, with staff and stuff being transferred to the new superstore off U.S. 19. I immediately called their district headquarters to protest. My call was returned the following day by Chris (sorry, I didn't get her last name), who told me they were consolidating for financial reasons. The Brooksville store isn't as profitable as Spring Hill and they have to go where the money is if they want to continue serving the Hernando County community.

I could understand and was not unsympathetic; if you can't make money, you close your doors. I heard Goodwill doesn't want to renew its lease. Once again, Brooksville is being dumped for Spring Hill. I guess my part of the Hernando County community isn't worth serving.

I am fortunate that I shop Goodwill for fun; Halloween costumes, the pins I collect, treasure-hunting with my kids. I won't even be inconvenienced by the move, as I work right across U.S. 19 from the new location. But, there are a lot of people in Brooksville who are going to be hurt by this move.

It will definitely be cheaper to operate out of a company-owned building and I am looking forward to shopping the new store. But that isn't the point. Which shopper is Goodwill supposed to be there for, me or someone who really needs them? Just what is Goodwill's mission these days?

Liz Hamilton, Brooksville

Frank McDowell will be missed

We heard that Hernando County Code Enforcement Director Frank McDowell retiring. We give our personal gift as tribute and farewell by bestowing upon Frank the title, "Hernando County's Best Employee of the Decade," because we love him so dearly. After Frank departs, several will find out how much he improved their quality of life by being here for everyone 24/7.

Frank's qualities range from being personable, a top negotiator, animal rights protector, animal adoption provider and mentor, and mender. He is special and irreplaceable, but most of all, Frank never quit on us; he stayed the course.

We honor Frank with the additional farewell title, "King of the Courthouse Forever."

Gus and Cy Hollister, Brooksville

Landfill plan needs a careful eye Dec. 18, Andrew Skerritt column

Columnist hit right on the mark

We whole-heartedly agree with his conclusions. These types of projects, in the proper location, require community trust that our governmental leaders or private companies will do the right things and backup their commitments.

Angelo's Aggregate Materials has not been forthright about this project from the very beginning. Originally, it was claimed to be a development and golf course to mislead the public. Then their two permit applications to Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the one to Pasco County incorporated inconsistent information regarding the high degree of sinkhole risk as well as other details at the proposed site. Now, in their public meetings, they ask us to trust their statements and science as being the only possible answer.

The reality is there is just as much, if not more, independently developed science and engineering raising questions about their proposed landfill technology versus the unsubstantiated promises they continue to make. The applicant's only objective is to operate their first Class 1 dump regardless of the consequences to everyone else in the community.

When you look at their proposal in detail and ask the hard questions (that they don't answer!), their pitch is just not persuasive at all.

Carl Roth, Dade City

Your voice counts

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[Last modified December 20, 2007, 20:20:49]