Letters to the Editors

Fluoride pills provide cheaper alternative to fluoridated water

© St. Petersburg Times,
published June 3, 2001

Editor: Re: It's ignorant to just reject fluoridation, May 20 letter to the editor from Dominick A. Ruggiero Jr.:

Yes, Mr. Ruggiero, dentistry is expensive. Yes, Mr. Ruggiero, fluoride in the water system would be flushed down the toilet, watering your lawn, cleaning your car, hosing down your driveway, washing your house, doing your laundry, entering your bathwater -- all unnecessary uses for fluoride. An expensive and wasteful addition, to say the least.

As a mother of seven children and a former dental assistant, I took my dentist's advice and gave my children inexpensive fluoride pills, which worked wonders. No more cavities, no more expensive dental bills, no more fluoride bought to go down the drain at the expense of the taxpayers.

Do your child a favor, give him fluoride pills, stop decay, high dental bills and stop before we start the wasteful use of fluoride in the water system.
-- Lillian Tetley, Spring Hill

"Super Duper' Wal-Mart is a credit to community

Editor: The controversy over a proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter at Spring Hill Drive and U.S. 19 is diminished by the presence of the new "Super Duper" center on U.S. 19 in Port Richey, south of Gulf View Square Mall.

My wife and I go there weekly for groceries, gas and shopping. Try it, you will like it.
-- D. Shipley, Spring Hill

Decision in building department's favor needs to be appealed

Editor: Re: 17 complaints against building department.

I don't believe it, but it's true; 17 complaints against Building Department Director Grant Tolbert and the Building Department. They were found not guilty of any complaints about wrongdoing. That is hard to believe, with the reputation the Building Department has.

The Department of Business and Professional Regulation (Relaxation?) and the good ol' boys do flock together to save face. The cost was more than $100,000 for a whitewash. Lawyers got their share.

The complainants should appeal the verdict. Hernando County is the building industry's haven.
-- Frank Vicchiullo, Brooksville

Hernando High principal should lighten up, let graduates have fun

Editor: Re: Graduates' jubilation brings punishment, May 30 Hernando Times.

It's a good article about the incident. The event, a joyful landmark in a student's life, soured the principal of Hernando High School. This is what I have to say to Ms. Sullivan:

I have been an admirer of yours for years. Not only for having been in national news for being selected best school principal of the year, but for placing Hernando High and the Hernando County School District in the national limelight.

I am a supporter of public school systems, and I suppose you are, too, because I believe private education might be good for certain sectors of our nation, but it is not for all people. And at times when local people, state politicians and our governor, federal education gurus, and even our president knocks at the public school systems, I thank the Hernando County School Board, and especially you, for having established a high standard of education at your high school.

However, here is what is happening to the students: You, the board, the state of Florida, the federal government and the local, state and national media have pushed our kids, especially in high schools, to the limit to improve their grades. The students are being measured in their behavioral, academic and intellectual performance, most of the time just for politicians to make their point, that they care. And the public school system is pushed around, threatened with all kind of statements, like implementing a private imperium of education, with the support of all kind of promises, that the public systems do not have.

This generation of students is the best we've had in many years, but without acknowledgement, you insist on treating them like troops that are assigned for a special mission. You and your staff of capable teachers have pumped them up to do their best in the tests they passed in the last month. You have advised them, taught them, pumped them up and, as they get ready to walk up to the podium to receive their hard-earned rewards for their 12 years of hard work and improved performance, you expect them to walk quietly, robotically, up to the stage in stoic jubilation.

Like the brilliant educational leader you are, would you please inform Hernando County residents of your students' tremendous achievements and that the forceful and joyful reaction at the graduation was a little exaggerated, but understandable? And please do enlighten your assistants that your school is still a high school, full of young people who are just about to join the not-so-happy world.

So, why don't you lighten up and let them have a little fun while they still can?
-- Federico Wolter, Brooksville

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The Hernando Times welcomes letters from readers for publication.

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Send your letter to Hernando Times, 161 E Jefferson St., Brooksville, FL 34601. Send letters by electronic mail (in text only format) to hernando@sptimes.com

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