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Letters: Protect the elderly, not the birds

 
Published April 22, 2015

Let's protect our elderly from birds

We have had numerous attacks on the elderly residents of Timber Pines from red-shouldered hawks, all when the people are attacked without cause and injured.

On our street (Renown Way), a husband and wife had both been attacked twice recently, and just yesterday a neighbor of theirs was attacked also. This is a "protected" bird. However, when does society protect their own citizens, especially the elderly?

We have had no recourse other than to post signs warning of the hawk's nest. I cannot understand how we can protect a bird but leave our residents vulnerable to their vicious attacks. And what happens when an elderly person actually dies as a result of an attack?

Something is very wrong with this picture, and we need to provide a method to protect our citizens before any birds!

George H. Nott, Spring Hill

Thank those who serve the public

Across the United States and in communities like Brooksville and Spring Hill, government employees serve and protect us every day. Throughout the year, but especially during Public Service Recognition Week, May 3 to 9, we should gratefully acknowledge their service.

This is personal to me because my father was a New York City firefighter. He was a first responder to the SS Normandie blaze in New York Harbor in February 1942. He and several of his colleagues developed breathing problems from toxic fumes from the fire (no gas masks in those days). He died in 1954 at the age of 41.

I want to publicly thank the thousands of active and retired federal, state, county and municipal employees in Florida for their unheralded but vital work.

Federal employees work side by side with our military at home and abroad to defend our country. They protect our borders and regulate the safety of our food and medicines. When natural disasters strike, they are there to help us recover.

During Public Service Recognition Week, please join me in thanking and recognizing the important work of the public employees in our community. If you are a current or retired federal employee, thank you for your service. Contact me if you'd like to join NARFE — the National Active and Retired Federal Employees — at peacock1973@att.net or (352) 754-6160.

Dennis Foley, Brooksville

Too many days for trash pickup

I cannot believe our local leaders think the trash pickup is so great and now they are adding another day. This means that we will have trash out on the curb four days a week. Wow, that sure makes the neighborhood look really spiffy.

I get a letter from my home­owners association if I have a dead spot in my yard, but it is okay to have trash out most of the week. In Ohio, where we lived, trash was picked up every Thursday — recycle, brush, any trash, they just had different trucks picking it up. That way you didn't have to remember what day to put out certain trash. It was quite simple.

We do not need two days for trash; one day a week should be enough. If you have a lot of trash, buy another trash can. And don't say it smells; keep a lid on it and keep it outside.

Is Republic telling us how they want to pick up our trash? I thought we are paying them to do a service for us.

Charles Addy, Spring Hill

Fees were key in lifting education

I read today in the Hernando Times about "County impact fee hopes dashed." Talk about "Government Gone Wild." We are in the wilds of the jungle of nonsense. This is the most disgusting evidence of our Hernando County Board of County Commissioners being completely dysfunctional if they let this happen. As a senior citizen, I'm glad I don't have any children in Hernando County schools. I'm afraid we are in the midst of destroying a generation of kids.

What is the next course of action for our schools? Shut them down, fire teachers, let the buildings collapse, parents homeschool their children? As a grandparent with grandchildren in schools in Arizona, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York, I see them developing in an excellent atmosphere of learning by dedicated public school teachers and administrators. All while the local political atmosphere is not hostile to the environment of their academic growth. In the future, the dysfunction of our local political system will surely cause us to regret that we allowed this to happen.

It's time we get the job done by reinstating the county impact fees and educating our children in an atmosphere of cooperation and trust. We owe it to them to see that they get the best possible public education we have to offer. Great education is the great equalizer in life. That atmosphere undoubtedly creates our best return on investment for the future of Hernando County and our country.

Dennis Fischer, Spring Hill

Laws don't seem to apply at marina

In the latest "rules do not apply" action in Hernando County, we can drive just a hair north of Hernando Beach on Shoal Line Boulevard and witness a second load of Saturday earth-dumping on some for-profit property. Tons of it.

Forget that they haven't the permits.

Forget that they have been fined (maybe).

Forget that they were exposed in front-page news by the Tampa Bay Times.

Blue Pelican Marina has, essentially, given the middle finger to our county and various other agencies. Hernando County stands helplessly by. Or does it stand with the infraction of the company? Hard to say.

They say they don't, but actions always speak loudest.

Dumping tons of earth without the required permits. Soil that appears to be owned by the county itself, meaning taxpayer-owned, gets Blue Pelican a paltry fine of $450. Meanwhile, you might turn right on red at certain traffic lights and get a fine of $158.

Chances are Blue Pelican's peeps will never have to pay it anyway.

Some people sit in jail for defying the law, and some people do a startup business.

Jennifer Sullivan, Spring Hill

Mine, nature make odd pairing

So, Hernando County wants to distinguish itself and its unique natural assets. An "Adventure Coast" brand bragging of "Nature's Place to Play."

In contrast, Hernando County leaders and entrenched business folks can't say no to the Cemex mine in the middle of town.

What are they thinking? Perhaps a tourist zip line over the mining operation? Boom! Now there's an adventure.

Nora Pratl, Spring Hill