LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 278949
Parade Safety Needed
I am very pleased to have a parade and enjoy it every year but just concerned. While hearing about a child in Tampa being killed at a parade, I am thankful the Brooksville parade turned out safe.
The only concern is allowing just anyone to operate a vehicle in the parade and especially those on motorcycles. I watched gentlemen on motorcycles stop and let the parade get ahead than accelerate rapidly to catch up only a few feet from spectators, including small children watching. I also watched individuals doing wheelies on four-wheelers, which were also a few feet from viewers.
I only hope that the Brooksville parade doesn’t turn out tragic in the future. Hopefully, my concern will reach the organizers of the parade before next year.
James Patton
Spring Hill
Father’s House Lights
Up Neighborhood Spirit
I am sending you a letter about my parents, specifically my dad, William “Woody” Wood and Helen Wood. They have lived at 12375 Corrine Ave. in Spring Hill for 13 years.
Since my parents moved there, my father decorates his house for Christmas every year, starting at Halloween and lighting the up on Thanksgiving Day. You can find him anytime sitting on his front stairs watching and talking to all the people that drive or stop by admiring his work.
My Dad is 69 years old with eight children. When we were little he always had the Christmas spirit, and I think it’s beautiful that he now shares this with the community.
We have come from Rhode Island the last few years just to see his display. It is awesome to sit outside and meet or watch all the cars parade down the street to see the display.
Colleen Fogell
Warwick, R.I.
Solid Waste IDs
Need Re-evaluation
Awhile back when I visited the county waste and recycling facility in Ridge Manor, the annual renewal permit stickers residents were required to display on our windshields were not available for almost two years
Finally this year we got plastic ID cards designed to be hooked on to our rearview mirror, much like a handicapped parking permit. But it apparently can’t be recorded when it’s hung there so it has to be removed and shown to the attendant so he can record one’s presence with a hand held recorder.
Fine. Within a couple of months after receiving the original plastic ID card, I received a second one. When I asked the attendant as to why I got a second ID, he, of course, had no idea.
Today, I received a third ID! All have the same ID numbers on them.
Now, unless I’m mistaken (unless the county has a photo ID of me, taken secretly) for the recycling facilities purposes, I could (as any holder of this portable ID can) pass this around to whoever I choose whether they live in Hernando County or not. And whether they pay taxes in our county or not.
The window sticker was not so easily portable, being stuck to the windshield. And I can say without fear of contradiction that the cost of the stickers was a fraction of the cost of the plastic IDs.
In addition, I have made visits to the facility and on more than one occasion been behind a vehicle with an out-of-county license plate. When I questioned the attendant about it, his response was, “as long as they have the ID, they can use the facility.”
Does this make sense? Whoever came up with the plastic card idea didn’t really think this through and I bet he/she has never been to one of the county facilities to see how they actually function.
Lastly, I visited the local facility the other day and the attendant was inside of the gatehouse having lunch and just waved me through, no ID was requested. He seemed to be the only employee in attendance at the facility, when there are normally at least two or three – but never just one. No criticism of employees is intended, but management sure deserves a look-see!
Jack Jensen
Ridge Manor
Maybe Chavez Will
Donate To Rays Stadium
Well, well, well. The Rays have finally established a presence in Latin America, primarily Venezuela. They must be finding an enormous amount of talent down there. Probably better players than they could here in what used to be known as the United States. I wonder if Hugo Chavez would be willing to pay $400 million for the new stadium that the Rays insist that they need in order to be competitive.
Is there no baseball talent here in this country? Do we need to go outside for everything? Are the players from outside cheaper? What happened to our Little League players that grow up each year, or the kids who play baseball in the parks and on the school grounds
Have we restricted our kids that much that they are no longer allowed to play “America’s pastime” without it being “organized?” I’ll bet the kids in Venezuela play in every vacant field they can find. That alone would make them more talented as they have the freedom to develop through interaction with the other kids.
It’s just a shame that kids don’t gather to play ball on their own anymore, like they used to. I sure hope Hugo Chavez will donate the construction money, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.
Fred Greenwalt
Spring Hill
