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© St. Petersburg Times, published April 24, 2000
Just off Tampa Road and behind one of the many strip malls in the county lies a hidden natural jewel called Lake St. George. Many might be aware of the subdivision or apartment complex that sits adjacent to it, but not many others are aware of it.
As a resident of the Lake St. George subdivision, I have been venturing to the lake for years to enjoy its fishing and serene views. Unfortunately, on April 16, I was aghast at what I found at the main entrance to the lake.
Vandals had trashed the boat launch area. I found dozens and dozens of bottles and beer cans floating in the water along with other garbage (even a bicycle!). It's terrible to find that the bored youth of the neighborhood decided to use the lake as there own personal dump and place for mischief.
Can the county please step in and rescue this hidden jewel of North Pinellas? Between vandals and other problems facing the lake, such as a company attempting to build a store on an adjacent lot to add to the pollution, the lake is starting to seriously suffer, and help is needed.
The Lake St. George homeowner's association can't take care of this lake by itself anymore, and it would be beneficial to all if the lake was restored to its previous splendor.
-- John Fontana, Palm Harbor
A new stop sign is needed in Philippe Park. I was riding my bike on the main road in the park about a week ago. As I was passing the driveway with a sign "Official Use Only" attached to a stop sign facing the main road, a maroon sedan suddenly came speeding out of the driveway. The only thing I could do was continue as fast as possible and hope I didn't get hit if the car didn't stop. The car finally did stop, but as the car turned onto the main road, it cleared my bike by no more than 6 inches.
There is no stop sign for cars leaving that driveway to enter the main road. The stop sign that faces the main road is to keep those not on official business from entering the driveway. Apparently, park employees feel that they do not need to stop when entering the main park road. Considering the many walkers and bikers using the main road, that practice is very dangerous. I recommend that a new stop sign be installed as soon as possible for cars leaving the driveway.
In addition to installing the stop sign, enforcement should be stepped up to assure that drivers stop at stop signs. These days, many drivers only stop if a car is coming. They usually don't see walkers or bikers. Attention to safe driving might have helped to avoid several recent serious or fatal accidents between bikes and gas-powered vehicles in Pinellas County.
I hope that we can encourage biking and walking for health by practicing safe driving.
-- Virginia C. Chamberlain, Safety Harbor
Re: Some fear club may be limiting its future, story, April 16.
The article is so inaccurate and incomplete I can only assume that it's purpose is to create a controversy among the older residents, younger residents and the city officials of Dunedin.
The reporter's figures on membership are totally inaccurate. As of March, there where 166 family members, 155 single A members, 73 single B members and 146 social members. The statement "a select group of elderly Dunedin residents who have controlled it for years" is ludicrous.
There is nothing select about the membership since anyone who wants to join and lives in Dunedin or the surrounding area is welcome. So what's so select? Over the last several years the club has had 30 to 50 vacancies even after concerted effort has been made to enlist new members.
If the reporter had any comprehension of what she was writing about, she should have figured out that the demographics of Dunedin indicate a large portion of the population is 60-plus. It shouldn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why the members are older than those at most clubs.
There is no mention of the fact that the club is substantially run by volunteers who dedicate extensive time to the daily operation of the course and the clubhouse. The efforts of these volunteers play a large part in keeping the cost of memberships affordable. No mention was made that the members own the clubhouse and surrounding property and have re-invested millions of dollars to improve the course and keep it an affordable, first-class facility for those people in Dunedin who enjoy the golf.
-- Jim Harpham, Palm Harbor
EDITOR'S NOTE: Membership numbers used in the story were provided by the country club president.
Re: Cardiac crisis devices on shelf, story, April 3.
After reading the story, I immediately called Jeff Barnard, executive director of the county's Office of the Medical Director, to inquire if our condo complex would qualify for one of these free defibrillators. We are a three-building complex with a total of 168 units and an average resident age of approximately 75 to 80. During the past few years, we have lost a number of residents due to cardiac arrest. We will lose more in the future, as this is an over-55 complex.
When I talked to Mr. Barnard, he advised that the article was incorrect and he did not have any free defibrillators to give away, as they all had been placed with the facilities that were listed in your article. If we had been offered one of these, we would have accepted at once.
If another offer of these is made, please give me a call, as our residents are very important to us.
-- Jack F. Bequette, vice president,
Imperial Pines Condo Association, Clearwater
Re: Scientology's tribute will be hard to miss, letter, April 10, and Scientology's tower seals fate of downtown, letter, April 4.
In their letters, these writers demonstrated their complete ignorance of what Scientology really is and what it's done for communities like ours the world over. They also obviously are not aware of the remarkable and selfless contributions to humanity of its founder, L. Ron Hubbard, who worked tirelessly throughout his life to assist his fellow man. But perhaps even worse, they have shown an utter disregard of the freedoms for which the founding fathers of this country risked their lives. And freedom of religion was certainly not the least important of the freedoms they fought for and won.
It's unfortunate that both of these letter writers, along with a small handful of others like them, for some reason find it hard to understand that this new building is simply providing its growing number of parishioners a much-needed facility in which to practice their religion of choice.
Scientology is presently the fastest growing religion on Earth. And, folks, we are here to stay!
-- Ron Savelo, Dunedin
Re: Wary officials keep watch on lobbying for billboards, story, April 11.
I am writing to correct errors and spin contained in the referenced story. The first paragraph states a proposed bill would "gut local governments' ability to order the removal of billboards." This statement is not true. Local governments would still regulate; they would just have to stay within the spirit of the Florida Constitution and pay for a taking when and if it occurs.
Allowing the owner of a billboard, a house, an orange grove or any other private property to keep something they have owned for seven to 10 years is not paying anything. The bill would require local governments to use the same rules for a governmental taking (condemnation) that the Florida Department of Transportation does -- pay fair market value. Some local governments use amortization to try to avoid paying fair market value; amortization is just a delayed taking.
The third paragraph is almost correct. It does not include future potential revenue. The fifth paragraph seems to insinuate that which government pays the compensation seems to matter; it doesn't. A taking is a taking.
Paragraph six uses the language of "exorbitant payments would kill their appetite to see billboards taken down." What is exorbitant? Exorbitant is a very prejudicial term for fair market value. Also, in the same paragraph, is the phrase "depreciate in value." These lawfully erected structures appreciate in value each year.
Bill Jonson, if quoted correctly, also indulges in a lot of spin. The measure does not take away any home-rule rights to regulate billboards. It does require that cities and counties obey the Constitution and the spirit of the law: fairness and justice. Thirty-eight states require payment of fair market value in these circumstances.
It shall be noted that the St. Petersburg Times is an advertising business that sells ads by producing a newspaper. The Times should include the information when they lobby in print against legislation in which their competition may be interested.
-- S. Wayne Mock, president, Florida region,
Eller Media Co., Clearwater