Northpinellas: East Lake city boosters don't take no for an answer

The writers of the following two letters listed Palm Harbor addresses, but they live in the area of northeast Pinellas County that the Times and many of our readers know as East Lake.
--
Re: Will signs welcome incorporation to East Lake? story, May 26.
Use of the name East Lake to describe a geographic entity has become almost commonplace. It was not always so. Most who use the term are newspaper writers and civic activists who have an agenda to unite into a cohesive community the disparate neighborhoods that have grown up along the so-called "scenic corridor" designated County Road 611.
And why unite areas that often have so little in common? Because residents of a united community might be prevailed upon to approve taxes that could fund municipal-style services; maybe even incorporate a new city named East Lake. And there could be prestige and even power for those who might become the leaders of that city, and tax revenues to collect, appropriate and administer.
If this seems a far-fetched notion, scroll back to 1987, when an organization calling itself the East Lake Civic Association polled residents about whether they wanted to name the area East Lake. Voters said no when a referendum was held on whether to pay for special taxing districts that would provide municipal services. Most thought the idea would probably lead to incorporating a city. And they were right!
Later, the East Lake Civic Association reinvented itself as the East Lake Community Council and tried anew to convince taxpayers it would be a good idea to establish special taxing districts, raise real estate taxes and consider incorporating a city of East Lake. Again, voters said no. Later still, the group came to call itself East Lake 2000 and tried once more, without success, to persuade skeptical residents that raising property taxes and adopting the name East Lake would benefit all.
Ironically, some of the most vocal activists in this effort are themselves residents of neighboring Pasco and Hillsborough counties or of Pinellas outside the proposed new municipality. It must be that their motives are so noble they can justify raising the taxes of other people.
And for area resident taxpayers who endorse a new name, new postal address, new ZIP code and the probability of higher taxes, I offer congratulations on their tenacity if not admiration of their judgment.
Lloyd VanSchoyck, East Lake

Majority not behind city of East Lake

Re: Will signs welcome incorporation to East Lake? story, May 26.

Somehow these self-serving, attention-seeking characters from the East Lake area of Palm Harbor always seem to find a soapbox in this newspaper. Maybe it is because East Lake 2000 chairman Dan Bobel cannot get results with his own community newspaper.

Once again, these clowns do not speak for the majority of people in this area. The East Lake area of Palm Harbor has changed over the years. The people who oppose Bobel and his stuck-in-the-'80s attitude are not senior citizens who oppose change. They are younger people as well as older people who would like some green spaces and a quieter place to live and for children to grow up in.

Regarding County Commissioner Susan Latvala: There are now two neighborhoods off East Lake Road named Eagle Cove and Eagle's Cove. The residents of the older, smaller neighborhood appealed to the developer of the newer area just north of Boot Ranch to change the name of the subdivision to avoid confusion in an emergency. This fell on deaf ears. Where were our local politicians with their signs then?
-- Marianne McCarthy, East Lake

Thanks for memorial service

Thanks to all the people involved in the Bay Pines Memorial Service, from the Boy Scouts to musicians, singers and speakers. A special thanks to Congressman C.W. Bill Young, who is always there for the veterans and their families.
-- Walter Godfrey, Clearwater

Why did Largo ignore veterans?

What happened to officials of the city of Largo in ignoring the responsibility of having some kind of ceremony on Memorial Day in Largo Central Park to honor all veterans on this special day? Other communities in the area were more responsive in this respect.

Largo Central Park has one of the most impressive areas set aside to honor all veterans and it is sad to see that it is not being fully used for the purpose it was intended, especially on Memorial Day.

I had gone there to take some pictures about 11 a.m. Memorial Day and I was the only one there.
-- James McGinn, Largo

Memorial Day isn't what it once was

Although I am now in my 90s, I can remember when Memorial Day was a somber, solemn occasion instead of a time for special sales and entertainment.

There was always a parade in the small village where I was born and grew up. In the parade would be veterans of the Civil War, the Spanish-American War and World War I. Not many Civil War survivors were left and most of them rode in cars with the village dignitaries and the "speaker of the day." But there was usually the one rugged soldier of Shiloh or Missionary Ridge who doggedly marched all the way.

Then there were the boys on bicycles and the dogs, of course, barking and leaping about among the parade marchers but lagging after only a few blocks to go off and lie in the shade.

The dignitaries and speaker of the day would ascend to the bandstand in the center of the old cemetery; then, after the singing of the national anthem and the invocation, the speaker would be introduced. Villagers sat or lay on the grass while children played a subdued game of tag among the gravestones, which had been decorated with fresh flowers.

After it was all over and the benediction said, everyone straggled back to town. In the afternoon there might be a sandlot baseball game between our town and a rival team from a neighboring village.

When you published some of my reminiscences 12 years ago, the contrast between those days and the present was less striking than it is now in our new century.
-- Alice Lyon McKenzie, Clearwater

Push-button leashes are dangerous

No one loves animals more than I do. I own 3 dogs, whom I love dearly and walk on a daily basis. There is nothing that makes me more furious than another pet owner who is walking his (or her) dog and uses one of those push-button leashes.

Those types of leashes are supposed to be used for training a puppy how to walk, not a full-grown dog. I believe these leashes should be made illegal, as they are misused. When I am jogging with my 100-pound dog, these irresponsible dog owners release the button on the leash handle, allowing the dog to dart across the street, right into the path of me and my dog. I usually wrench my back because the action causes my dog to become startled and pull on the leash. Sometimes my dog panics and runs in front of me, causing me to trip and fall.

These dog owners who do not control their animals while on a leash should be held responsible for any injury and damages caused to another.
-- Pat Hoffman, Palm Harbor

Handicapped need better beach access

Are there other handicapped people who would like a sidewalk extension to the north Clearwater Beach area beside the old pier, so we could get to the water easier? I have asked the offices of the mayor and commissioners for help, but no one cares how hard it is for the handicapped to walk through the sand.
-- Marjorie Dinsmore, Clearwater

Mall should reconsider Sertoma decision

After 14 years of selling tickets for our annual classic Mustang raffle at Countryside Mall, the Clearwater Breakfast Sertoma Club has been informed by the mall management company that it might not allow it to continue this annual fundraiser.

This event raised over $15,000 per year for the Sheriff's Youth Ranch. Generous people of Clearwater and winter residents from all over the United States come to the mall to give to this worthy cause. Parents with children who stop by the booth have instilled the value of giving to the less fortunate that is priceless.

We hope that the mall management will realize the value of this at their mall during the holiday season. If not, this community has lost an event that not only provides needed dollars to one of our most valued programs, but part of the heart of our city. We thank the citizens of Clearwater for their support and hope they will continue their generous donations. We hope that Countryside Mall management will allow us back again this year.
-- Gary Zumbaugh, Clearwater

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