Today's Letters: Learn to love the nature available

Let's develop a Pasco beach Feb. 20, letter

The letter writer displays a lack of knowledge about ocean coastal processes. There is a reason for the lack of beaches along Pasco's coast. Look at a map of Florida and it can be visualized that we are the start of the Big Bend from Pasco to Franklin County in the Panhandle. This quiet water is enjoyed by many divers and fisherman, but the lack of waves precludes formation of barrier islands and beaches. A drive north will find the first beach again at Bald Point State Park. Trying to re-engineer nature by creating a beach where one does not exist is doomed to failure.

In one sense, Pasco does have a fine beach. It is called Anclote Key and yet another forming north of the key with the sand bar. Unfortunately, this state park is several miles offshore and one needs a boat to get there. Where was the letter writer a few years ago when the state proposed a ferry service so everyone could enjoy this park? At that time, the newspaper was full of letters opposing the ferry service to keep the island "pristine." I suspect they were mostly from people who could afford their own boat.

Clearwater Beach was completely natural, until it was overdeveloped. When we build too close to the ocean and destroy the natural dune system, erosion will occur. Millions of taxpayer dollars are spent on beach re-nourishment to maintain property values if not prevent out right property loss. To keep a beach natural, we need to leave it alone and not interfere with the movement of sand by wind and waves.

I further suspect the writer and his wife located to Pasco County more than 21 years ago because it was so economically advantageous. If he wants to live within 10 miles of a beach, he will have to pay for it. Not in grandiose schemes of re-creating nature, but in the cost of living to reside in Clearwater, Sarasota or Miami.

The hundreds of thousands of county residents have many recreational opportunities such as hiking, horseback riding, kayaking and nature study. The writer and his wife should learn to appreciate them. It is ironic that his letter was published the same day the Pasco Times ran an article about the great nature study opportunities our children are receiving with the environmental center at Cross Bar Ranch.

We should all be lobbying the state government to fully fund the jewel we have in Salt Spring State Park in Port Richey. We should be creating more boardwalks, kayak landings, and yes even a trail, so the writer can get to the springs and go swimming. Unfortunately, the state is not funding these projects.

The question is, should we? And the answer is a resounding no!

Mark DeCrosta,marine science teacher ,

J.W. Mitchell High School

New Port Richey

Rising fares an insult to citizens

The Pasco transit system for the disabled, handicapped, blind and people needing chemotherapy and with other medical issues is doubling its fares as of March 1.

While we barely get by on Social Security or small pensions, with huge electric bills due to fuel costs, our county now sees fit to double the fares. I think it comes at a bad time since some choose between food or medicines.

Our country is going down the tubes. We can give billions for a war in two countries, billion to countries for aid, give illegal aliens access to welfare and Social Security, while Americans who worked and contributed to these have nowhere to turn for help. Our politicians are inactive as is our government on domestic issues.

It's become a shame to say I am an American.

Joseph Kuhn, New Port Richey

State lawmaker puts promotional spin on pot raid Feb. 21, story

Rep. Nehr's story is just too odd

I thought it was rather bizarre in 2003 when a picture of a shirtless, flabby and pale Rep. Peter Nehr graced the pages of my morning paper. He sent the photo to 300 of his closest friends in order to add motivation to his work-out regime. Somehow it leaked to the Times and hundreds of thousands of strangers were treated to the vision. It was equally weird when he exposed us to the new and improved model of himself several months later.

I wonder why a state representative is walking dogs for people. Dogs rarely escape from their collars. If the representative was at my house and it was the middle of winter and the temperature was in the high 70s, like it was this week, my air conditioning would be on also. Electrician wasn't on his resume, but he noticed the wiring seemed altered. He also peeked in the windows. This is illegal.

The best part of his story is that he recognized the smell of marijuana and said he recognized the odor from his teen years, when some people around him partook of the leafy controlled substance.

In my teen years, the athletes hung around together, the car guys hung around together and the nerds were in their group. I wonder why he hung around the marijuana smokers?

Do you think the honorable representative would submit to a polygraph test? I hope he doesn't make a habit of peering into houses because the air conditioning is running.

Thomas Karcher,New Port Richey

[Last modified February 23, 2008, 20:39:03]