TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Hernando Today

Letters to the Editor

ADVERTISEMENT

Hernando Today

Published: June 17, 2008

Parental Involvement in
Children's Education Makes A Difference

Five years ago, there was an educational "experiment." Two teachers wanted to start a middle school emphasizing science and technology using the state's charter school system. The Tellone administration, with the school board in tow, fought the plan. But the State approved the Charter, and the school gained supporters. In the June before the school was to open, a lottery was needed because the number of applicants exceeded the available slots.
Many of the initial students at the school did not choose to go to the school. Their parents chose for them to go to the school, because it offered a unique opportunity for a stronger educational program. The parents even had to put in REAL volunteer time to help the school operate. Their reward was a middle school that's ranked as high as second in the state by FCAT scores.
With the opening of the new gifted center coming, it might be a good time to remember that the parents' involvement with their children's education can make all the difference in the education their children receive.

Ray Gustafson Hernando Beach

Mandatory Trash Pickup
Should Apply To Whole County

I am writing this letter to the taxpayers of Spring Hill only. We, who live in Spring Hill, are being singled out for mandatory trash pickup. Somewhere after a countywide vote in 1986 and again in 1992, it appears that the people who run this county (and we all know who they are) decided to enact mandatory trash pickup ONLY in Spring Hill. I hope the taxpayers of Spring Hill see that word "ONLY." Why isn't it mandatory for the rest of the county? One word says it - PROFIT for Waste Management. If that is not the reason, then why doesn't it apply to the rest of the county?
I guess county leaders do not think we deserve the same as the rest of the county. It is bad enough they tax us each year to use the disposal site here in the county and we here in Spring Hill have to pay an additional fee imposed by Waste Management every quarter to pickup our trash too. The taxpayers of Spring Hill need to have a choice whether or not they want the trash company to pick up their trash. I suggest that you find out. I have been questioning this for the past five years. I refused to have them pick it up but they just keep on billing me. but I refuse the billing because I have refused there service until the county makes it mandatory for everyone. If the people of Brooksville have a choice so we should here in Spring Hill.
People of Spring Hill, write or call the county commissioners and ask them why?

Gary Mercer
Spring Hill

Pass Brown-Waite Bill
To Lift Ethanol Tariff

It seems like our candidates for president are more interested in talking about gender, race and what they will do when elected. As one of their taxpaying employers, I would like to know if they have introduced any bill to lower the high cost of gasoline and food prices.
Well, Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite has. What is amazing, my husband, George, told me several months ago that if the ethanol tariff imported from foreign countries was lifted, we could bring gasoline and food prices down.
Senator Clinton, Senator Obama and Senator McCain, if you vote for Bill H.B. 6183 introduced by Ginny Brown-Waite, we can forgive you for campaigning on company time (please take time out to vote on this bill when passed in the House of Representatives).
Senators, while you are at it, you might want to talk to the lawmakers in farm states who vigorously defend the tariff. You especially need to speak to Congressman Ben Nelson from Nebraska. According to news accounts, Senator Nelson responded to Bill H.B. 6183 by declaring the tariff would be lifted "over my dead body."
Being curious people, we checked into the subsidy bill 2008 Farm Bill Commodity Title, etc. passed for farmers. We feel we are average intelligent, but you would have to be an attorney or legislator to interpret the bill.
There were three factors interpreted to us by a reliable source: 1. A farmer making $500,000 in non-farm income can be subsidized (that sounds like a gentleman/woman farmer to us); 2. A farmer can be subsidized for not planting; 3. Florida is subsidized for citrus and sugar cane. My present information is that the largest sugar cane growers are a family named Fanjul (if this is incorrect, we stand to be corrected and hope we are wrong). Our farmers, who are the backbone of our country, definitely need help during a time of crisis. We do resent supporting the gentleman/woman farmers. (By the way, we hear the Fanjul family are not U.S. citizens).
There is no quick fix. The sub-prime loans are an example of that. It was a fix that has left a black mark on this country. No matter who is elected our next president, there is no quick fix. We need Congress and our president to work together on a plan to again make us, "America the Beautiful."

Eleanor Marholin
Brooksville

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT