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© St. Petersburg Times, published June 14, 2001
Editor: I found it hilarious that Robert Eaton, a builder, thought the county should have received more input from the Hernando Builders Association on the new landscaping ordinance. The problem is the commissioners, in the past, have received too much input from the builders and Realtors.
Lawyer Joe Mason is bandying about comments like "The best government governs least." Why? Could it be, Mr. Mason, that in the past they let you, and those you have represented over the years, do the governing?
I think what our commissioners are doing is a healthy sign. They are listening to the public and working to serve our interests. I am tired of having our county bullied and threatened by large companies trying to sue us taxpayers. It is a sad day when the people voters put in to govern have to do their job knowing that people like Mr. Mason lurk around, ready to pounce on them about everything that might inconvenience your clients. Maybe, finally, in this county, the days are gone when the good ol' boys called the shots.
I have sat through many commission meetings, seeing the public come out in large numbers only to have some lawyers dictate what was going to be done, totally contrary to what the public wanted.
My compliments to our commissioners for starting to address the water problem and urban sprawl on our Nature Coast. I encourage them to continue to stand up against the special-interest bullies who try to tell them how to do their job.
The bigger the outcry from the builders and Realtors, the better it will be for homeowners and their existing home's value.
-- Jennifer Sullivan, Spring Hill
Re: Let kids be kids at graduation, June 3 opinion column by Jeff Webb:
I stand by Hernando High School Principal Elaine Sullivan's action regarding withholding the diplomas for the four students who failed to adhere to her warning, and I have four reasons for doing so. Two are direct and two are oblique. The latter just may have been unstated by the principal simply because of political correctness that is rampant in everything we do today.
First, there are many who think this should be a solemn event. When walking to get a diploma that signifies 12 years of effort, you do not want a lot of hootin' and hollerin' going on. You desire a scene that typifies the solemnity of the moment. If you want to raise a ruckus, do it after everyone's diplomas are handed out.
Second, a program disrupted by constant noise for every student who steps up causes delays and prolongs the ceremony, making it insufferably lengthy. Should the announcer/emcee continue to call out names in the middle of the hootin' and hollerin', the next student's family is deprived of hearing their child's name called. Half of the thrill of going to a graduation is to hear your child's name being called.
Third, who can tolerate so much noise inside a gymnasium? The acoustics are horrid! It's an assault on your eardrums with all that noise going on, and people who expect and prefer a solemn ceremony would have their rights to peaceful presentations violated.
Lastly, to allow a bunch of noise during the ceremony is to neglect the "feelings" of our most sensitive students. After all, how will society be able to deal with their future feelings of inadequacy generated during this ceremony when they realize others got more cheers and claps and noise than they did? They'd be forever traumatized and in need of psychological counseling for the rest of their lives. At least they think they would, since every time someone breaks a finger in school the psychologists are called out to make sure the children can deal with the trauma.
-- Vilmar Tavares, Spring Hill
Re: recent newspaper articles about Tampa Bay Water Authority compiling a list of future water sources for their region:
Two sources, the Weeki Wachee Spring and a well field in eastern Hernando County, are listed. It was gratifying to see an immediate response from Hernando County government and our entire legislative delegation, denouncing such action. Their response was in unison with clear and direct language of total opposition to such a consideration.
It is important that our local and state lawmakers know we support their position completely and will stand with them through this or any other attempt to tap our water supply or degrade our environment.
-- Don Fish, vice president, on behalf of the board of directors, H.E.L.P. (Hernando County Environmental Land Protectors)
Re: Close to the future, June 1 Hernando Times photograph:
What's wrong with this picture? Or should I say, the placement of this picture.
Plastered on the front page of the Hernando Times is a 7- by 10-inch color photograph of Mandy Loomis, "listening to the belly" of her pregnant friend, Charlene Lewerentz. While I commend Charlene for graduating high school with a baby in "her belly," I would like to know why the photos (black and white, 1- by 1 1/2-inches) of valedictorian Daniel Yates and salutatorian Janet Levics grace Page 9 of your newspaper?
What kind of message are we sending to our children?
No, I am not the parent of either the valedictorian or salutatorian, although I would be proud to be either one of their parents. I'm just a concerned reader who wonders what I'll find on the front page of "our" newspaper next week.
-- Joanne Lewis, Spring Hill
Re: Commissioners need to shape up now, May 31 letter to the editor:
Letter writer Billy Luecke decided that because he watches television he knows how the Board of County Commissioners should act and what they should do. I find that very strange. I find his assumptions stranger.
All of the commissioners are working toward the betterment of Hernando County. Mr. Luecke thinks he knows better. I am glad the board is trying to reduce the potential, devastatingly negative effect of a Wal-Mart Supercenter at the intersection of U.S. 19 and Spring Hill Drive. The list of negatives is endless. Who in their right mind would want to put one there? John Ehlenback and the other good ol' boy group of bankers, lawyers and developers from Brooksville? Yes. They will never be affected by it.
Mr. Luecke objects to the fact that Commissioner Chris Kingsley runs the board in an effective and efficient manner. That is his job, Mr. Luecke. If you want to see how it is not supposed to be done watch Anthony Palmieri and the Planning and Zoning Board for a real laugh. I have found Mr. Kingsley to be humble and caring in my dealings with him. I suppose Mr. Luecke has never met the man.
I find it unreasonable that a person could be so sure of his facts from watching television that he presumes people would listen to him and vote according to his sarcastic wisdom. But I also would suppose that Mr. Luecke believes that by watching The West Wing on television he knows what it is like to be President.
-- J. Nikodem, Spring Hill
Re: In the end, children right, school wrong, June 1 letter to the editor from Barbara Mello regarding her daughter and the vandalism perpetrated on Central High School:
Ms. Mello seems to think what her daughter was involved with was a "prank." I beg to differ. What she did was a criminal act that, thanks to a forgiving school administration, she will not be prosecuted for.
When someone enters a locked facility with the purpose of defacing property contained within, it is not a prank. Anything that was done by any member of that group makes all the others accessories to that crime.
It cost the Hernando School District and Central High School money to cleanup the mess that was created. It cost the administration valuable time dealing not only with those involved, but time spent in meeting discussing the entire matter over and over again. It also cost the them time at the end of the school year, when everything is hectic and those students who have done as they should need an extra few minutes to smooth hurdles that may seem insurmountable to them.
The group Mello's daughter chose to participate with that night, cost more to more people than I have mentioned; they also took some of the shine off the other seniors, and those who will follow in years to come.
When Mello's daughter came forward and confessed her guilt and involvement, she wasn't "tricked." She, like many other foolish criminals, were done in by good detective work.
To Mello's daughter, I recommend she not allow herself to "pulled in" to stupid acts. And for Ms. Mello, I suggest she accept what her daughter already has and stop trying to excuse her behavior. She was wrong. The best thing Ms. Mello can do is to help make sure it doesn't happen again.
-- Stan Kane, Spring Hill
Re: U.S. 19 roadwork:
After all is said and done, the work went quite smoothly and a lot of that was because of the efforts of the inspectors who made sure the work was completed properly and according to plans.
For that, a "well done" goes to Danny Ferland and his crew of inspectors. I'm sure the majority of taxpayers feel the same. Thanks, and I hope Ferland are on the next project for the state Department of Transportation in this area.
-- Bert and Jeanne Beaucage, Spring Hill
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