Letters to the Editors

Water at Pine Island a problem

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 11, 2000

Editor: Re: Health officials try to close inn, July 8 Hernando Times:

From the beach at Pine Island, you can almost see the inn in question, which both front on the same body of water.

I was instinctively never happy with the quality of water at Pine Island. I can't explain it; I just felt as if it wasn't clean, for a lack of a better word.

There are a lot of young mothers who bring their children to Pine Island who should now think twice. The people who come here from other states are completely unaware of the present situation.

When was the last time the Health Department checked the water at Pine Island? I'm curious if it has ever been checked.

I am a resident of Spring Hill, and for a lack of a decent beach in this area, I travel one hour south to Howard Park in Tarpon Springs. But at least I feel comfortable going in the water there.
-- Charles J. Miller,Spring Hill

Hernando is shortchanged on services from an HMO

Editor: Re: Insurers finalize Medicare HMO plans, July 1 Times:

Why is it Hernando gets the short end of the stick on everything? We are losing our HMO because the government will not help out. I am one who is on a fixed income because of the government. Now they are taking away our HMOs, so I am getting the short end of the stick, as is everybody else who lives in Hernando who has that provider. Anybody who is planning to move in Hernando and who is on a fixed income or handicapped, should think twice because they will get the short end of the stick, too.

I think what the government is going to do when our HMO is gone from Hernando -- instead of helping us out they will hand everybody a shovel and say, "Here's your HMO, start digging."

The only time you hear anything about what the government is going to do is around election time; they promise everybody the moon and we get nothing. So, when it comes around to voting,think about who you are going to vote for. I have no idea who I am going to vote for, because most of them talk from both ends.
-- Leo Shirkey,Spring Hill

Young painter insulted by art show directors

Editor: Rename the Promising Picassos art exhibition at the Pasco Arts Council. Picasso would roll over in his grave if he heard what they did to a promising young artist on July 1.

My daughter Joy has shown her work at the Promising Picassos exhibit for the past two years. In 1998 she was awarded a honorable mention ribbon. This year we were sent the usual invitation, and Joy and I drove the 90 minutes to the gallery to submit her paintings. She was complimented on her yellow collage, etc.

We paid and went home. Joy's dad informed us he just had a call at 3 p.m., three hours after we dropped off Joy's paintings, and the woman who runs the Pasco arts council wanted us to come get the pictures out of her office as soon as possible as she is not going to allow Joy in the art show.

They changed the rules, and my daughter can't show her artwork because of her age. She said it's real nice art but come back in 10 years. She said Joy can't compete this year because the older people's art is better, and it's not fair for Joy to compete against them.

Joy and I took a walk through the gallery, and I noticed her stuff looked as good or better in one case, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Joy has won 17 blue ribbons over the past three years and three best-of-show awards, so she can't be that bad.

I have to keep telling Joy not all adults are mean, just some of them and let's keep our chins up and not let race, age, gender, income levels or handicaps discourage us. She has all these strikes against her, you see, but we won't let any discrimination, politics or status quo stop our daughter from exhibiting her artwork.

This is America, a wonderful country where opportunity abounds and hard work and persistence pay off. Meanwhile her artwork lies in the corner of the Pasco Art Council's office until I can bring myself to subject my daughter to this humiliating experience.

Anyone out there know where a real promising young artist can exhibit her artwork without being insulted?
-- Patty Young,Brooksville

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