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© St. Petersburg Times, published November 30, 2001
Editor: As a new resident of Florida and Hernando County, I have been watching cable television Channel 19 when its airs the meetings of the Hernando County Commission. It's refreshing to live in a county where their discussions can be viewed by the public and not held in secluded sessions.
The board seems to function effectively through healthy disagreements and debates. It's refreshing when the board shows true concern on containing costs. County Attorney Garth Coller is an interested participant and addresses concerns as they come up.
After viewing the session on County Administrator Paul McIntosh's contract renewal, though, it made me wonder why the county would want to award an employee with his attitude.
Mr. McIntosh is a disturbing entity in each of these weekly sessions. Granted, I only see him in these sessions and hopefully he functions differently and relates more effectively with his colleagues. Usually, when an individual can't look the person he's addressing in the eye, something's wrong. Mr. McIntosh comes across as if Hernando County needs him or owes him, rather than the other way around. He comes to many of the meetings unprepared for questions posed by the board. If he knew what his department heads were doing, he should have most of the answers.
Several sessions ago, Commissioners Nancy Robinson questioned if he had looked into holding an upcoming employee conference in a county facility, hospital, etc., rather than Silverthorn Country Club to save money. If he addressed her concerns, I missed it.
I applaud what I have seen of our commissioners, but they definitely need to knock the chip off Mr. McIntosh's shoulder.
-- Beverly Brown, Spring Hill
Editor: Re: Wiccans are not all that wild about Harry Potter, Nov. 16 Jan Glidewell column:
As a Pagan, I agree with Glidewell that this whole Harry Potter thing is downright hilarious. I don't know of any Pagans who take this movie seriously or believe it to be anywhere near the truth, and the fact that some people do is hilarious.
First, the movie is just that: a movie. It is fiction, and meant strictly for entertainment value. Anyone who believes that witches fly on broomsticks, cast evil spells and can change shape, seriously needs a reality check. The truth about Wicca and Pagans is out there, if people care to put aside their misconceptions and learn the truth.
Secondly, if you disagree or have any problems with the movie, then don't see it. It's that simple. People have a right to see or not see any movie they choose, and no one can take that right away.
Also, be sure you know the truth about what it is that you have a problem with. If more people took the time and effort to educate themselves about things they don't understand, there would be far fewer problems in society today, and goodness knows there are too many problems to begin with. To those who have a problem with this movie, I would say this: Making an issue out of this is only going to make people want to see it, which kind of defeats your purpose, don't you think?
If you don't like it, don't watch it, but respect other people's rights who do want to see it. Realize that this movie is fiction (because it is), and focus on things that are really important, such as your family, your friends, and the freedoms we enjoy in this country.
-- Chris Behrens, Pinellas Park
Editor: Re: Incident another example of disgraceful sheriff's office, Nov. 21 letter to the editor:
What's more disgraceful than Deputy Tony Mazza's behavior is the disgraceful comment of Mary Lyn Bates. Just what we need in Hernando County, another disgruntled, ungrateful citizen eager to publicly degrade our sheriff and deputies.
Sheriff Richard Nugent did his job by reviewing both sides of the issue before he made the decision to fire Deputy Mazza. Yet, it wasn't good enough or fast enough. Tell me, Ms. Bates, if Mr. Johnson was driving a rock truck instead of his Mercedes, and did not obey stopping for a red light instead of Deputy Mazza's hand signal, would it have made a difference to you then?
Mr. Johnson broke the law, regardless of his age or social status. Yes, the deputy's behavior was questionable, but Sheriff Nugent did his job. Get off his back!
As for drugs running rampant in south Brooksville, our deputies are doing their jobs. The dealers are getting locked up, but "the system" lets them go. By the way, dealers make much more money than our law enforcers and can afford the best legal defense. A simple slap on the wrist and the dealers are back on the street.
As for the people speeding around Hernando, there are traffic units that take care of that. Unfortunately, they can't be everywhere. Find comfort in knowing when you see someone getting away with running a red light, a speeder on the other side of the county is receiving a traffic ticket. However, the courts are full of traffic violators, too. You would be amazed at the excuses they come up with for speeding, road rage, driving under the influence, not wearing a seat belt. That is what is disgraceful! Another slap on the wrist.
Perhaps you would feel all warm and fuzzy living in another county where there are no drugs or speeding rock trucks. Good luck finding such a place.
Our law enforcers need our support, not rock-throwers. Go to the Sheriff's Office and sign up for the Citizens Academy. Ride along with a deputy and see first-hand what they put up with. The abuse they take on a daily basis is what's disgraceful. Check out the Sheriff's Office Web site; you'll be surprised to learn how many arrests are made each day, making your community a safer place to live.
It's remarks like yours that make law enforcement the thankless job it is.
-- Carol Daleo, Spring Hill
Editor: My first Christmas gift came to me Nov. 26 via a Hernando Times guest column written by Dr. Pariksith Singh, Hinduism could promote unity.
First, it was a gift because I got to hear a medical doctor speaking about love, unity, leaps of faith, selfless service, compassion and striving to attain one's true purpose in life. Dr. Singh transcends the stereotype that the only thing medical doctors are interested in is money. To find a doctor who is so profoundly and sincerely spiritual is truly a gift to our community.
Second, it is a gift to hear a religious person who is not busy building a case for the superiority of their own religion. Dr. Singh spoke of the similarities of all of the world's great religions; that all religions are "different paths to the same goal," which is love and unity through worship of and service to the "Supreme Being," the "Divine who is the lord and master of our works." Whether that Supreme Being is called God, Allah or Yahweh ultimately makes little difference to me.
If the choice is between solving religious squabbles with bullets or by cultivating an appreciation and acceptance of the other philosophies and religions of the world, I will choose the latter any day of the year.
Happy holidays! Peace! Shalom!
-- The Rev. Dwight Lee Wolter, Spring Hill United Church of Christ
Re: Support a ban on pig gestation crates, Nov. 23 letter.
Editor: Isabell Spindler wrote a long letter in support of the constitutional ballot proposal regarding a ban on pig gestation crates. Now, I usually oppose getting things like this on the ballot simply because they are not constitutional issues. The current attempt to get a workplace smoking ban is just as silly as a constitutional issue.
What a laughingstock we would become. Does something on pig gestation crates belong in a document that begins "We, the people of the State of Florida"? The preamble talks about things such as liberty, civil and political rights for all, and so forth.
Pigs? I would hope the readers noticed that nothing in the letter talked about why we would need such a ban here. What facts there were dealt with North Carolina. I don't doubt they have a problem there, but we don't here. Even the letter concluded what might happen "if" the offending conglomerates come here, and "it appears" it will be difficult to regulate them.
A ridiculous constitutional amendment to solve a nonproblem. Makes all kinds of sense.
-- Ernest Lane, Trinity
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