Letters to the Editor: Nov. 1, 2003

The Naples Daily News welcomes letters of up to 250 words. We reserve the right to reject letters or edit for clarity, brevity, good taste and accuracy, and to prevent libel. No poetry, attacks on private individuals, or letter-writing campaigns, please. Writers should limit submissions to one letter every two weeks. Include a phone number and make certain you have signed your letter.

Letter of the Day — Making America great

Editor, Naples Daily News:

In communities such as ours where steeples dominate the landscape and religious services are a crucial part of our lifestyle, the debate over the separation of church and state has a deep meaning.

To a large extent, our values have been shaped during our early childhood.

Strong religious beliefs planted by our parents are vital.

Like it or not, those church-based values have played a crucial role in the development of our community as well as the development of the country as a whole.

Yet, we each take great pride and pleasure in the fact that this country has given us the right and opportunity to worship as we see fit -- a freedom of religion that in turn has been an important factor in attracting diverse individuals and groups from around the world.

The issue arises in trying to balance faith and individual rights. There can be no doubt that the Founding Fathers based many of their actions and decisions on faith in God. There also seems to be little doubt that they had no desire to turn the country from that faith when they declared a separation of church and state.

Their goal, rather, was to ensure that people were no longer treated unjustly because of their religious beliefs.

It is our responsibility to elect people with high moral standards. We can acknowledge a belief in God. We can be a part of a grass-roots effort to keep our faith and our country strong.

Safe and simple

Editor, Naples Daily News:

I read with interest the article on the width of sidewalks on Marco Island. The engineers offered "on-road bike lanes" as an option and everyone shied away from that idea.

The Collier County attitude seems to be that bike riders, pedestrians, Rollerbladers, dog walkers and baby-carriage pushers belong on the sidewalk and the road is for exclusive use by the motor vehicle. All too often the bicyclist is shouted at to "Get on the sidewalk where you belong!" as the car passes.

Yet there is overwhelming evidence that the road, especially with a designated bike lane, is the safest place to operate a bicycle.

That is why the bicycle is a vehicle by law.

I have noticed increased bicycle usage in the county by the utilitarian user. People are riding to work often before 6 a.m. A majority of those users appear to be Hispanic, which is a concern, as a recent Health Department survey indicated. They do not have lights on their bikes and there is a lot of wrong-way riding (bikes need to go in the same direction as traffic).

This might be corrected if more of our bike lanes were signed and marked. Then the painted bicyclist with the directional arrow would point the correct direction of travel and you wouldn't have to read English to understand it.

I think that both Marco Island and Collier County would benefit by separating the bike from the pedestrian with designated bike lanes and separate sidewalks.

Let's make sweet harmony

Editor, Naples Daily News:

I have been reading this "letter campaign" that has been fostered by a letter written by a Barron Collier High School parent, Jan Hudson, regarding the Southwest Regional Band Show at Naples High School last Saturday.

I am terribly disappointed at her feelings. I happened to be at the same show and haven't missed a single home or away game this year. While I'm not a Gulf Coast High parent (my son attends Lely High School), I have to say that I have always been proud of the band members of all the schools, who have always shown exemplary behavior and showmanship during and after their performances.

I didn't hear one negative comment about any of the bands, and I happened to be sitting with a Barron Collier and a Gulf Coast parent on either side of me.

Our band directors work very hard to fine-tune these kids' performance and the children have great respect for their directors' ability and authority. I'm sure if there were any negativity by any of the schools (which, by the way, were all clumped together, so how could you tell who was booing, if someone was?) it was nipped in the bud immediately.

Ms. Hudson reminds me of one of those parents that you read about at soccer games.

You know, the ones who get in fights with referees over calls made that they don't agree with?

Why can't she be proud of the kids and directors (in all the bands) who work so hard to make music happen?

I would like to apologize to Gulf Coast Band Director Robert Hamberg and Principal Eric Williams for her outrageous letter. I applaud the music program in Collier County, and all the hard work it takes to make it all come together. It's a shame that there has to be one "bad apple" in every barrel.

Ever so sharp

Editor, Naples Daily News:

There was a map in Wednesday's paper about the two new special districts.

I think the same map was also in last Sunday's paper. Everglades Boulevard was identified as "Everblades Blvd." both times.

The map maker must be a hockey fan!

Obvious love

Editor, Naples Daily News:

In the past few days I have been flying search and rescue missions in just about any machine capable of flight. My local community has lost three of its own at sea, and I have to say we are sore losers!

I have never seen a group of people mobilize to the extent that this family, their friends and all who have heard the story have done. Political pressure has forced the Coast Guard to reactivate their abandoned search on two occasions. The local appeal has produced pilots, all manner of airplanes, boat captains and their launches, spotters, administrators, coordinators, planners, computers, materials, food and funds to keep it moving.

Local media and networks have picked up the story and are keeping it in the forefront of everyone's minds.

Apart from the obvious love of our missing friends, what is keeping everybody motivated? We all need to know that someone would do the same for us.

Today is the day we bring the boys home.

P.S. -- The search group, Rescue Three, needs donations to keep the search going. Donations can be made to the Rescue Three account at any Community Bank of Naples branch; or call 430-HELP.

Something to chew on

Editor, Naples Daily News:

I am sincerely sorry about Eddie Filer's accident causing a broken hip.

I'd like to advise him to eat meat; it will strengthen his bones.

My milkweed experience

Editor, Naples Daily News:

Regarding Nancy Payton's letter about mosquito spraying harming butterflies:

She states, "What a sad day it will be when the only way people can enjoy butterflies in their backyard is to repeatedly purchase them from commercial breeders." Well, I wanted to help butterflies so I bought two milkweed plants from a local nursery and planted them in my backyard. Milkweed is the only plant a monarch butterfly will lay eggs on.

As soon as I planted the milkweed, monarchs started laying eggs. To my dismay, ants ate the tiny hatching monarch caterpillars. So I started taking leaves containing hatchlings and putting them in a fishbowl, daily feeding them a fresh leaf or two. When they got to be about an inch long, I put them back on the milkweed plant (yes, with my bare fingers).

I am happy to say that five caterpillars out of nine lived and are now on their way to soon pupate. If you want some free milkweed seeds and more information on monarchs, please visit www.livemonarch.org

We already do it

Editor, Naples Daily News:

I would like to comment on the recent column by Ben Bova and letter by John Roque concerning the accessibility of classical music to the youth of Naples.

I too am a native of Philadelphia and enjoyed many Philadelphia Orchestra concerts from the amphitheater of the Academy. The musical artistry of those evenings helped fuel my desire to pursue a career as a musician.

The Naples Philharmonic offers a full range of opportunities for the youth of Naples to experience great classical music at affordable prices. The orchestra presents a "Magic Carpet" series for children ages 3 to 9. These programs give children their first exposure to the orchestral instruments. Student tickets are $5.

A chamber orchestra travels to all 24 public elementary schools in Collier County and presents a concert that introduces students to the orchestra and the fundamentals of composing music. No charge.

Each season every fifth-and seventh-grader in the county is bused to The Phil for a concert featuring the entire orchestra. No charge.

We offer two concerts each year specifically for families. Student tickets are $5.

The orchestra presents a free concert in Cambier Park annually.

Student tickets are available for most orchestra events at the Philharmonic Center for the Arts. Even those 50-cent student seats that Dr. Roque referred to in Philadelphia now cost $8 in a hall that is twice the size of The Phil.

The Naples Philharmonic provides the opportunity for everyone's lives to be enriched by its musical offerings. I hope everyone will take advantage of this local treasure.

Rarely heard

Editor, Naples Daily News:

The editorial on Collier special districts was nicely done.

The taxpayers (who subsidize the government) seldom realize that they are buying a pig in a poke every time any government agency buys property (e.g., takes land off the tax rolls).

Your indicating that "while the developers are getting rid of their otherwise worthless properties, the developers (with the aid of those in the government) are, thus, jeopardizing 'future residents' (aka our descendants) by assigning them the roles of having to pay higher taxes" is a truth normally not printed in the media.

Thanks and congratulations for same.

How much?

Editor, Naples Daily News:

Re: new taxing districts.

How much money does an entrepreneur need to start his own government?

Where are we going?

Editor, Naples Daily News:

"Speeders beware" was an apt title on your Thursday picture of the lurking traffic officer with his radar set to catch speeders on the Gordon River Bridge.

It brings to mind the warnings that are given out occasionally by travel advisories that certain towns have "speed traps." They make their income on unsuspecting tourists who are suddenly confronted with an unusually slow speed limit when entering their town.

Time was when traffic officers purposely showed their presence in high accident areas to slow down speeders. Now, by hiding, it must make it easier to meet their monthly "quota" of speeding tickets. Or is it just a coincidence that it was the end of the month?

Why, with a speed limit of 45 miles per hour on the approaches, does it suddenly decrease to 35 mph on the bridge?

Let's hope Naples doesn't get a reputation as another one of those "speed trap" towns!

Sacking Sapp

Editor, Naples Daily News:

Re: Daily News sports writer Tom Hanson's column about Warren Sapp talking his way out of Tampa.

I just have one thing to say: Do we think alike or what?

I'd like to add "Amen!"

In the race

Editor, Naples Daily News:

I am a candidate for Naples City Council. My wife, Mary, and I have been residents of the city of Naples for 14 years.

We have been married for 26 years and have raised five wonderful children, all of whom went through the Collier County School System.

I have volunteered in Naples Pop Warner and Naples High School. Mary and I own and operate two businesses here. I know and care about this city.

I am for more parks and green space.

We acquire the property now, or forever lose the opportunity.

I am against tax increases unless the funds are earmarked for a specific purpose with a "sunset" provision clearly spelled out.

I will devote my tenure to utilize the Naples Municipal Airport property in a far more productive manner. An independent board should oversee the development of a thoroughly planned neighborhood. Done correctly, this could mean hundreds of millions of dollars in land sale proceeds, permit fees and new property taxes to the city. Now, we simply have a nonproductive property that represents noise and safety hazards for area residents.

The money generated should be allocated to reducing taxes. Few cities are fortunate enough to have the land, money and ability to showcase an area with amenities and assets that will benefit our citizens and reaffirm our position as one of the finest places to live in the world.

Your input is welcome at PerfectNapless@aol.com

Check it out; I did

Editor, Naples Daily News:

As part of my ongoing practical education in the art of beach renourishment versus beach access, I ventured into the promised "beach access" of Hideaway Beach on Marco Island.

I started at Tigertail Beach, where the beach attendant tried his best to dissuade me by saying, "It's a private beach and they could ask you to leave."

Throwing caution to the wind, I felt that every adventurer should take some risk so I chose to ignore his beckoning cries.

After all, I had a Pepsi, my cell phone and video camera should I encounter any threatening species along the way!

My wading through water several feet deep, is well documented in rare photographs at www.geocities.com/collierwatchdog under the title "Hideaway Beach Trail."

What I failed to comprehend after my two-hour walk was how this trail could be considered "beach access." Surely to promote tourists walking along such a hazardous trail is foolhardy and could lead to serious injury.

How can tourists access the beach without putting their lives in danger?

But still, a Marco Island councilman and a Hideaway resident feel that tourists are indeed part of the Hideaway equation and they, the Hideaway residents, should be entitled to the tourist tax fund.

The bottom line is: If you owned property at Hideaway, would you want to pay millions of dollars to repair your beach when, with a little smooth talking, you could dip into the tourist tax fund?

A suggestion: Pay for your own beach, yourselves!

Now, how about a group hug?

He did the right thing

Editor, Naples Daily News:

The arrest of Nathaniel Heatwole for his test of airport security is disappointing, but not a surprise. The Transportation Security Administration is a classic example of a federal bureaucracy penalizing someone doing a public service by pointing out inept performance.

TSA leadership (or lack thereof) should be punished, not Heatwole.

Greed, greed, greed

Editor, Naples Daily News:

Our country is on the path to self-destruction with the following senseless steps. Most are not done with approval of U.S. citizens.

1. Outsourcing millions of high-paid, high-tech manufacturing and information jobs to other countries.

2. Importation of foreign workers to the United States, displacing hundreds of thousands of higher-paid U.S. workers.

3. Mass immigration of millions of poor, unskilled Mexican and Latin American workers displacing millions of U.S. citizens in lower-paid jobs.

4. Allowing corporations to move their headquarters offshore, denying tax revenues to the United States.

5. This is unbelievable -- planning by our government to give Social Security benefits to foreign workers (including illegal aliens) and giving them Social Security benefits after working only four years while U.S. citizens have to work 10 years.

This includes disability benefits when a doctor's letter is presented. In corrupt Mexico, that won't be difficult.

A Daily News article says Social Security's 75-year deficit will rise to $3.7 trillion with immigration and expanded life expectancies -- and no mention of illegal aliens and their six-year gift.

A proposal is to construct a building in Mexico City to handle all the claims -- another magnet to more illegals. These will lead to our devastation.

It appears we have a government of the politicians, by the politicians and for the politicians and their greedy corporate cronies.