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© St. Petersburg Times, published March 8, 2001
Editor: Re: Christians crowd meeting that misses the point entirely, March 1 column by Jeff Webb, and Board's exploitation of children is shameful, March 4 column by Greg Hamilton:
I would like to commend the writers of your paper for the fair and comprehensive reporting of the controversy taking place in connection with our School Board. Hamilton and Webb have expressed the sentiment of many people who were not at the School Board workshop Feb. 27.
I'm impressed with board member Carol Snyder's ability to confront her detractors with a calm demeanor, which reflects her true Christian ethics. Certainly, we are all in favor of promoting good character in our youth. This is not demonstrated with shrill hysteria, but by a person's everyday behavior.
Carol Snyder's questioning of the two points of contention was made in good conscience. Chairwoman Patience Nave appeared to be reveling in the choreographed scene that took place at Forest Ridge Elementary School. This attitude may not bode well with the Anti-Defamation League and the American Civil Liberties Union, both of which are observing this affair.
-- Anne Beggs, Inverness
Editor: Re: Board's exploitation of children is shameful, March 4 column:
Hurrah! Hurrah! for editor Greg Hamilton for having the courage to write about the revival meeting sponsored by the oh-so-righteous members of the School Board. That gathering was an unprecedented display of poor taste, and as Hamilton so ably pointed out, a sideshow of child exploitation.
Just because those who agree with board member Carol Snyder don't wail and weep and wave Bibles doesn't mean we aren't interested in this situation. Many of us do our praying in private. And, as one reader so aptly pointed out, we doubt God is hard of hearing.
Do Citrus County School Board members actually think they're above the rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court? Although we're not vocal like the Bible-wavers, there are many of us out here who cringe at the thought of our elected officials pushing the Christian Coalition agenda on unsuspecting citizens at every chance. Thanks, Mr. Hamilton, for saying it like it is. That column was a breath of fresh air.
-- Joyce Moore, Hernando
Editor: Re: County floats refuge proposal, Jan. 14 Citrus Times:
I want to add my two cents in reference to your article about manatees and the dive shops. In the story, Development Services Director Gary Maidhof said "For the most part, the dive shops are trying to control the behavior and do things right." I had the honor to be part of three dives since 1998: Dec. 21, 1998, Jan. 16, 2001, and Jan. 18, 2001, all with the Crystal Lodge Dive Center.
Captain Andy Fischer maintains a high standard of education for the divers he takes out on his tours. He teaches with dignity, respect and compassion for the manatee, as well as divers. There are no dumb or stupid questions, as all questions are answered honestly and competently. We were taught so many little things that made the day so enjoyable, but there is one I'll never forget. The proper way to get off the boat and into the water, so as not to scare or stress the manatees, what not to do when approached, and how to wear the gear for those of us who don't do it on a daily basis.
Then, on to King's Bay, we had another "education session," of all the state and federal laws pertaining to the protection of the manatees. As for grooming our "behavior," he did an excellent job and made the day perfect for us.
Then, the moment I was waiting for, face-to-face, eye-to-eye, with my first manatee. I was underwater less than one foot away from another living life form and my heart starts pounding. I remember what captain Andy says about oxygen tank bubbles startling them. I wonder if my pounding heart startles them! I wondered if they could hear my heart beating, as I could.
Later on, a mom and her calf swam in front of me, stopped, as if to show the calf the humans that were out that day. I heard the communication sound between the mom and the calf, had never heard it before, and again was educated by Andy as to what it would sound like and to listen for it.
Thank you to all who made that week possible. I have yet to find the words to express that moment in time, but when I look at all the underwater photos I took I relive it.
-- Marcie Sutphin-Butcher, Marion, Ind.
Editor: If not for a small group made up of two members of the Humanitarians of Florida Inc., the mayors of Inverness and Crystal River, and the director of the Citrus County Animal Shelter and his staff, Spay Day USA (Feb. 27) would have slipped by Citrus County completely unnoticed.
Spay Day USA is about companion animal overpopulation, not just in Citrus County, but everywhere in the United States. This overpopulation results in the killing of 4- to 6-million cats and dogs each year. Although many of these animals are healthy and adoptable, the sheer number of them outweighs the availability of good homes. Taxpayers bear the cost of picking up, housing and ultimately killing these homeless animals -- as much as $176 for each one in some jurisdictions. Millions more cats and dogs never make it to shelters. They are abandoned by their guardians and ultimately die from starvation, exposure or disease.
In Citrus County, through the 10-year period beginning 1989-1990 and ending 1999-2000, there were approximately 34,000 cats and 37,200 dogs impounded. During this same period, the shelter saw approximately 12,500 adoptions while about 57,400 animals were euthanized.
The good news is that the innovative program Spay Day USA has made great strides in overcoming this tragedy. Feb. 27 marked the seventh annual Spay Day USA, the simple objective of which is to encourage every humane American to take responsibility for having one cat or dog spayed or neutered. Altering our pets prevents the births of unwanted puppies and kittens and, by extension, needless suffering and death.
In Citrus County alone, shelter workers were forced to kill 4,845 cats and dogs in fiscal 1999-2000 simply because there weren't enough good homes. Our community can help fix this sad situation by contacting the Humanitarians of Florida Inc. for information on low-cost spay-neuter programs available in this area.
By participating in 2001: A Spay Odyssey, you can help set a course for a kinder future for our companion animals. Let's all work together to make the routine killing of thousands of cats and dogs in Citrus County a distant memory. The Humanitarians may be reached by mail at P.O. Box 924, Inverness, FL 34451-0924 or by phone at 563-2370. Let's not let Spay Odyssey go by without it having a significant impact on Citrus County shelter's statistics.
-- Ray Worjciulewicz, Inverness
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