Letters to the Editors

Coachman Ridge supports overlay

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 16, 2001

We are one of the original homeowners in Clearwater's Coachman Ridge, since early 1982. We have both served on the Coachman Ridge Homeowners Board for about 20 years combined. We are disappointed, saddened and angry that one homeowner out of 255 would prepare a flier that would distort, mislead and be untruthful with the facts with regard to our neighborhood overlay issue.

The overlay proposal is and would be very beneficial to any neighborhood, and in the case of Coachman Ridge, would help correct many issues that were neglected by the original developer.

It's comforting that the current board and city management would propose the overlay plan. We urge the city commissioners and city manager not to be swayed by one selfish individual who is attempting to mislead his neighbors on this issue.

Our neighbors and friends -- and we believe we probably know more than most (Helen welcomed all new residents for a number of years ) -- overwhelmingly support the overlay plan. We know of only one person who is opposed: the originator of the flier.

We are confident that, as elected or appointed officials, you will do what is right and implement the overlay plan in Coachman Ridge, which is the desire of the great majority of the homeowners therein.
-- Frank and Helen Kennedy, Clearwater

Let's improve baseball facilities

Re: $14-million could be better spent, and Disillusioned with Dunedin, letters, Aug. 5.

I feel compelled to address the two letters regarding the Toronto Blue Jays.

First, the $14-million would never be used or budgeted for the road improvements or extensions because this money was budgeted by the state and county to promote and preserve spring training and minor league baseball in Florida. I believe at least six other cities participated in this funding.

Second, it was nice to hear from this person who opposed the transfer (of Dunedin law enforcement) to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, which was approved by 75 percent of the citizens that voted for the referendum.

None of the city commissioners are members of the country club. The mayor is a non-voting social member.

Please let us give the city and our officials an opportunity to improve our baseball facilities, not only for the Blue Jays but also for our local community baseball teams.
-- Ted Napp, Dunedin

Going upscale could ruin pier festival

Re: Sunsets at Pier 60: A festival on the rise, story, July 30.

Thank you for that great article about Sunsets at Pier 60. I was especially pleased that you gave Gerri Raymond due credit for creating the idea and working hard to get it started. It is a great, grass-roots project, run by the people, for the people.

And how dare you ridicule the delightful idea of blowing conch horns to signal the sunset. That is island charm at its best and what Sunsets is all about.

While we're at it, we should give kudos to former Clearwater Commissioners Fred Thomas, Sue Berfield and Art Deegan who had the courage to tear down the old building, open up the view and give us the splendid park for all citizens to enjoy.

I was appalled to read that city Parks and Recreation director Kevin Dunbar will consider providing electricity to make the vendors' job easier only "as long as the festival can demonstrate how the investment would help attract top artisans."

What a snobbish idea! That kind of thinking is what ruined the Jazz Festival. The Jazz Festival used to be a friendly, pleasant event where people gathered with their picnic lunches and occasional bottle of wine to hear good music from good bands.

Then someone decided we had to have "name" bands, and now they sell alcoholic beverages to make the funding possible. That led to making a fenced-off "Stalag 13" out of Coachman Park to make sure no criminals brought in their own alcoholic beverages.

Further, the "name bands" were so hooty-toot they demanded personal trailers; and we were treated to those dreadfully ugly gray trailers marring the beauty of the waterfront for days before and after the performance.

If Mr. Dunbar gets his way and we "attract top artisans," then the local artisans will be run off by higher fees and snobbish quality standards. The families looking for some inexpensive trinkets to take home will not find them, and the whole face of the project will be changed to something "upscale" and snobbish and no longer grass-roots.

The ordinary craftsmen of our community who work hard and produce some very lovely items are worthy of the city's investment in electricity for their use. The charm of Clearwater has always been its grass-roots ambiance. The new kids on the block at City Hall need to become aware of that and lend their assistance to what the people are doing, not try to manipulate things to enhance their own reputations or egos, or whatever they're doing.
-- Anne M. Garris, Clearwater

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