Letters to the Editors

State must help preserve water in Hernando

© St. Petersburg Times,
published June 8, 2001

Editor: Hernando County residents should be up in arms regarding the recent proposal to raid the water resources in Hernando County. We are currently paying taxes to the Southwest Florida Water Management District that are being used to help finance many water projects in the district, but none in Hernando County. Why?

What happened to the bill that was supposed to preserve local water resources? Swiftmud is buying up land to preserve our resources; are they really helping Hernando County?

I do not want Hernando County to suffer the same fate as Pasco County with over-pumping of well fields. Where is Swiftmud on this subject? Where is the state in helping preserve Hernando County's water resources? Why should Hernando County suffer because of the lack of planning in other counties?
-- George E. Miller, Spring Hill

Green towns vs. blacktop cities

Editor: On a trip to Fort Lauderdale I couldn't help but notice how beautiful the town is. It sure puts Hernando County to shame.

When we build places like Wal-Mart, Publix and Beall's, all they do is plow the trees down and blacktop parking places. In Fort Lauderdale they make small islands in the parking yards with trees planted.

There must be someone here who can put a stop to this. At the rate they are going, Spring Hill will have nothing but blacktop. Look at the new Publix under construction at Mariner and Northclifee boulevards. They are already clearing everything that is green away.

When the Spring Hill Garden Club wanted to put palm trees in the median on Northcliffe Boulevard near U.S. 19, the county said no, because cars might run into them. In Fort Lauderdale, they have islands with trees on all of their main roads, and it looks beautiful.

With all the sun we have, it sure would be nice to have some shade. And don't forget the oxygen that comes from the trees.

I would like to live in a nice green town and not a blacktop city.
-- Bette R. Kosatko, Spring Hill

Parents should act responsibly

Editor: Re: Central High School pranksters.

It sickens me to read about the parents of these students who did so much damage to Central High School. These are the parents who say, "No, not my child. He or she is a good kid. They never would do anything like that."

Why don't you parents thank God that your children are still here to receive their diplomas? I wish my granddaughter, Chelsea, was here to get her diploma Wednesday, even if she couldn't join in the ceremonies and had to spend a night in jail. At least we would still have her here with us.

Stop complaining and start acting like responsible parents.

Thank you, principal Dennis McGeehan and the School Board for doing your duty.
-- Dorothy Anderson, Spring Hill

Focus on grades and jobs

Editor: Re: Close to the future, June 1 photograph of Springstead High School's graduation:

I cannot believe the picture on the front page of the Hernando Times. A girl (graduate) listening to the pregnant belly of her friend, also a graduate. Is this what school and graduation is all about? A pregnant girl?

Graduation is about good grades, looking to the future and getting a job. Being a useful person to society.

I admit I'm older, but I cannot believe this is happening. How about pride and respect for one's self? What did that picture do for our graduates? How sad!
-- Lilianne Thomson, Spring Hill

Retain civility at graduations

Editor: Re: Let kids be kids at graduations, June 3 opinion column by Jeff Webb:

Webb discussed his attendance at his oldest niece's graduation in Milan, Tenn. He stated that he "wished (he) had broken the rules and stood and clapped at our darlin' Elizabeth." But, to his credit, he didn't. Then, he indicated that others in the audience started clapping, yelling, etc., and some of the graduates waved, showed a peace sign, blew a kiss, etc. The principal threatened to have armed police remove the non-compliant moms and dads. The attending adults seemed to be more upset than the graduates.

Upon return to our county, Webb learned about the relatively minor problem at Hernando's graduation. He described principal Elaine Sullivan's control as an "overreaction."

My comments:

Webb's restraint at his niece's graduation was 100 percent correct!

The graduates and audience at the ceremony seemed to be a lot more boisterous than Hernando's. That's a credit to Hernando.

Think about it! Look ahead! If we allow such graduate/audience celebrations to start, next year 50 percent of the graduates will start to "perform" and 60 percent of the audience will "over-perform." And it won't be just waving or yelling.

The so-called problem should remind all of us of our own nation's past 30 or so years. When you have a rule or law, it should be enforced. If it isn't, chaos results. Look at our legal system today. If you open the door just a little, your rules and laws are finished.

Elaine Sullivan, principal at Hernando High School, should be complimented on her action. I admire her.
-- Donald G. Peck, Spring Hill

Sensationalism is not helpful

Editor: Re: Commission must protect quality of life, May 28 letter to the editor from Linda Prescott of Hernando Beach:

I believe this letter was an attempt to overly stir the emotional side, rather than the rational side, of an issue.

Ms. Prescott likens the Chamber of Commerce's position in support of the proposed Wal-Mart super center and the potential harmful effect on small businesses to what Timothy McVeigh calls collateral damage. When Timothy McVeigh referred to collateral damage, he was speaking of the children who perished in the Oklahoma City bombing. I see no rational correlation. This type of sensationalism is designed not simply to make a point, but rather to create an atmosphere of anger, distrust and ill feelings. For the record, small business owners I have spoken with who are located on U.S. 19 south of Spring Hill Drive, are adamant supporters of the project.

Ms. Prescott also states how I personally feel about local government's financial commitment to economic development as a result of my board membership on the Economic Development Commission. True, I was an EDC board member, but only within the past couple of months. The extent of my involvement was attendance at one board meeting. How does she know how I feel about the county's support of this organization? I do not recall ever having made a public statement regarding this, and Ms. Prescott and I have never discussed it privately.

I could point out other comments I feel were inappropriate, but wish rather to focus on my major point, which is to ask that all involved in debates such as this try to keep positions and discussions on an issues level, not personal. The county will be facing many touchy decisions as we continue to grow. Healthy dialogue will benefit all. After all, it was Ms. Prescott who on May 5 wrote that her college students "have learned that even though your neighbor may have an opposing viewpoint, you can still work together for the betterment of the community."

My capacity with the Chamber of Commerce is diminishing. I am now immediate past president and have not regularly chaired the Governmental Affairs Division in more than two years. I do appreciate the rapport I have had with the community, press and governmental officials. I wish to thank all for their assistance and patience in dealing with the Chamber of Commerce and me.

Lastly, I'd like to point out that it is sometimes presumed that the chamber supports growth or business expansion at all expense. Two relatively recent positions by the chamber, at the recommendation of the Governmental Affairs Division, that I believe are contrary to this assumption are the chamber's support of more stringent sign ordinances, and the chamber's vehement support of frontage roads along commercial thoroughfares.

Many do not agree with past positions, nor will they always agree in the future. I do, however, plead that when a chamber official or an official of any other organization communicates their organization's position, that the individual not be personally dragged into the debate. There actually have been times that I have communicated chamber positions that I did not necessarily support.

Please recognize that the person performing the communicating is providing a service and is responsible for delivery of the communication. Again, keep it on an issues level, not a personal level. Our county has so much to accomplish. Let's not be our own worst enemy.
-- John E. Ehlenbeck, Brooksville

Let's end the blame-passing

Editor: Re: In the end, children right, schools wrong, June 1 letter to the editor:

Please, enough already! I cannot believe the mother of this Central High School class president is still going on with this "These kids did not do anything that hasn't been done before" attitude, as if that makes it okay.

And why does she refer to them as children? Is her daughter not 18 years of age? She also refers to them as ladies. Ladies do not behave that way.

I say we put this to rest. The mom is a blame-passer, saying it's the school's fault and the newspaper's fault. People like that will blame anyone.
-- Lisa Withrow, Brooksville

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