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Letter to the editor

Todays Letters: Protect theater and its owner

Re: Save the Royalty from its owner letter by Alfred Jarry, Jan. 8

I know Socrates Charos, owner of the Royalty Theatre in downtown Clearwater, and he is a true man of God. We need more people like him in the world. He will not compromise his beliefs.

We've promoted many events there. Our praise and worship team and our dance team have been blessed by his stage. He's opened his stage up for us to celebrate many of our biblical holidays, such as Sukkot, there, and opens it for many messianic and Christian events, not to make money but to celebrate the Lord.

He is a man of true faith. It's a shame that the city of Clearwater won't step in and help protect this beautiful landmark. The theater itself is a landmark worth protecting, and next to God, Socrates puts his heart, soul and sweat into the Royalty Theatre. It would be such a shame to lose such a landmark like the Royalty and such a man of God like Socrates.

Stuart Minsky, Tampa

Re: Save the Royalty from its owner letter by Alfred Jarry, Jan. 8

Owner has done an excellent job

I rehearsed my big band in the Royalty Theatre in 1976. It was full of rats, mice and vermin. The theater was in shambles.

Socrates Charos had the foresight to take those shambles and turn them into a beautiful place to enjoy music and shows. He made the theater a tribute to artists and musicians. He allowed them to perform so they would get the exposure needed for them to continue. Many of our citizens wanted to come downtown but were afraid of all the Scientologists who roamed the downtown area.

I am past president of the Clearwater Musicians Union Local 729. Because of the theater, our people were able to perform. Parking is a problem during the day, but not at night.

God bless Socrates Charos and all who help and believe in him.

Buddy Verdi, Clearwater

Re: Scientology is a burden on the city letter, Jan. 24

Don't point fingers at church

The letter writer who asks that a list of all Scientology-owned properties in Clearwater be published so that the tax exemptions can be calculated opens a Pandora's box.

The "new age" religions that are building massive meeting centers are stalling or ignoring congressional inquiries into how they take in and how they spend their money.

In some major and wealthy suburbs, large homes are being bought by organizations thatname the former residences "prayer houses." Guess what? Now we have another tax-exempt status.

Religions are tax-exempt and that is a good thing. Why disparage the presence of an organization that aids in the safety and aesthetic appeal of downtown Clearwater? For many of us, God is in our hearts and minds, and perhaps that is the way it was intended. Pointing a finger means the other four are pointing right back at us.

Harriet P. Sherwood, Clearwater

Re: Renovated bus garage ready to ease jail crowdingstory, Jan. 24

Tents are cheaper than $3M place

Gee whiz, only $3-million to convert a bus garage to a nice, comfortable jail for prisoners.

I'm sure the county's compassion for criminals keeps the ACLU happy.

I like the sheriff from Maricopa County, Arizona, Joe Arpaio, who houses criminals in tents and saves the county millions each year. He keeps getting re-elected over and over. He tells the prisoners if they don't like the accommodations, not to commit crimes in his state.

Fran Glaros-Sharp, Clearwater

[Last modified January 28, 2008, 21:44:43]