Letters to the Editor: Nov. 17, 2003

Letter of the Day — Problem, solution

Editor, Naples Daily News:

On a recent outing to the beach, two new residents were dismayed at the number of people smoking and tossing cigarette butts. It was a sobering reality for folks who thought they had just found paradise.

The couple decided to write to the Daily News in hopes of gaining some much-needed attention.

We have a community support organization, Supporters of Delnor-Wiggins Pass Stare Park. A member, Heidi Kulpa, came across their letter to the editor and pondered the situation.

She had heard of a pouch-like product called a pocket ashtray. A smoker could utilize the pouch to hold cigarette butts until they were close to a trash can. Heidi brought the idea before other members and it was agreed that the group would purchase a couple thousand pocket ashtrays for the park.

She then contacted a tobacco company to place her order. To her surprise, the tobacco company offered to ship, free of charge, 10,000 of them to the park. Not only did she get more ashtrays than anticipated, she also saved the volunteers' funds for other projects.

And so it goes. We now have a greater appreciation and a helpful product to provide a little more understanding for Mother Nature.

Thanks to the two squeaky wheels that led Heidi to find some grease.

Sweet

Editor, Naples Daily News:

About two weeks ago, on a sunny, windy Tuesday morning, my wife and I were enjoying the beach near the Naples Pier. While I was working on the Naples Daily News' crossword puzzle, my ears picked up the sweet drone of four powerful 1,200-horsepower engines of a World War II Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. It was on approach to the Naples Municipal Airport, coming in low, directly over the pier.

What a thrill!

Later, maybe an hour, we again saw it cruising down the coast and subsequently enjoyed another landing approach to the airport.

This magnificent plane was in Naples for three days, sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Association of Naples, providing flights for the public and also tours of the plane.

Each February or March, a New England foundation, whose name escapes me now, brings a B-17 and, I believe, the only flyable B-24 Liberator to our area. The sole purpose of the foundation is to keep these planes, and planes of other generations, flying for as long as possible. I urge everyone to support this endeavor and, when they arrive in 2004, to spend five bucks to tour one or both of them and support the effort to keep them flying.

Stop that right now

Editor, Naples Daily News:

Re: Fred Rogers' outrageous diatribe against Gene Vaccaro.

In contrast to Mr. Rogers, who knows nothing of Mr. Vaccaro, I know him personally. Mr. Rogers' name-calling of Gene and all others who are informed about the actions of our unelected president is personally offensive to me, and is beneath contempt.

A factual, rational response, easy to make to Mr. Rogers' invective, would probably go over his head because, like many others on the radical right, he is not interested in facts or the truth.

Just one example: "This is patently aid and succor to our true enemies, the terrorists of al-Qaida and Iraq ..." Those who get most of their news from the White House, Rush Limbaugh and Fox News believe the above statement. All others know that there was no connection before the war between al-Qaida and Iraq. Of course, now, because of Bush's war, there is a close connection with the terrorists multiplying rapidly.

It's plain Mr. Rogers is among the unthinking, toadying, lemming-like followers of President Bush toward an America none of us want. This nation is more divided now than at any time since the Civil War and the blame is not Mr. Vaccaro's; it's Mr. Bush's.

Jeff Lytle, please, please start using your editing authority and throw this type of personal attack gutter-trash in the basket where it belongs. Let my well-deserved, personal attack be the last one.

On a mission

Editor, Naples Daily News:

Thank you for your editorial focusing attention on the crime of domestic violence and recognizing prosecutor of the year, Deborah Schwartz.

The volunteers and the staff of the Shelter for Abused Women & Children have worked side-by-side both in and out of court with Ms. Schwartz. We have witnessed firsthand her extraordinary professionalism and dedication.

We are proud she also serves as a member of our board of directors. The recognition of her efforts is well deserved.

We will be in court with Ms. Schwartz providing support to the family and friends of Collier County domestic violence homicide victim Margo Whiteman Valkamp when Ms. Schwartz prosecutes Margo's abusive husband for murder.

The enforcement of domestic violence laws is, indeed, homicide prevention. Law enforcement in both the State Attorney and Collier County Sheriff offices have long treated domestic violence as a serious crime and homicide prevention.

Lt. Bill Rule, head of the sheriff's Domestic Violence Unit and vice president of the shelter's board, also deserves special recognition for his outstanding leadership against domestic violence in our community.

On behalf of thousands of victims of domestic-violence crimes in Collier County, I'd like to thank these two fine public servants.

Still serving after all these years

Editor, Naples Daily News:

I have a bone to pick with you. In the Neapolitan section of the paper you gave suggestions about making a craft item. It was a very nice article, nicely written and interesting.

My objection is that our store was not even mentioned as a craft store where the supplies for this could be purchased. Shame on you.

The Family Hobby Center has been a part of this community forever. In fact, it was the only craft store where supplies could be purchased for many years. We have been serving this city and county for 39 years -- thirty-nine years. We have always been here to provide for the community and to give advice and direction for projects that mamas and daddies and kids are making. That is why we are called The Family Hobby Center.

I am sure this was just an oversight of the person who wrote the article, but I just felt I should remind you that we are still here on 10th Street North and are waiting to help all our loyal and future customers.

Goofy

Editor, Naples Daily News:

The Gulf Shore Association of Condominiums (GSAC) has established a blue-ribbon committee to fight against the decision of the Collier County commissioners to use beach nourishment dollars to buy land in order to bus people to the beaches.

This is a goofy decision.

If the beaches are not nourished and maintained, why would tourists ever want to come to Naples?

There are four access points in the Gulf Shore Boulevard North area and much free parking.

I quote from the letter of Marco Island City Council to Collier County: "Using tourist tax (money) to acquire beach access property in North Naples is being sought for purely local political purposes and will not improve tourism."

Treat them properly

Editor, Naples Daily News:

I have very high praise for our Emergency Medical Services. What would we do without them? They save lives every day. What will we do without them if things don't get straightened out between the county and the union?

A lot of the paramedics are getting tired of waiting for answers. These medics have families to take care of just like everyone else. They went to school and studied long hours to be able to take care of the emergencies that come up hourly.

Dr. Robert Tober has spent hours in the final training of these men and women who have shown that they can be the best in the state -- or nation, for that matter.

What can we as residents do to show the support they need so we don't lose some of these great medics to other EMS services? Let's treat them well; they have tirelessly given excellent service to this community.

I don't think these negotiations would have gone on this long if they were voting for something that would serve themselves financially. Money won't help when you need a fast, efficient, maybe "save-your-life" ride to the hospital.

Come on, Collier County. Give the medics a break.

With friends like these ...

Editor, Naples Daily News:

Most drivers are usually aware of the many road hazards present while driving.

They keep a vigilant eye out for anything that potentially could cause a traffic accident, from animal crossings to drunken drivers. However, recently I've discovered a new threat on the road -- coming from those commissioned to protect and serve.

Numerous times I've observed Collier County law-enforcement officers engaging in reckless driving practices which jeopardize the safety of other motorists.

Common practices include excessive speeds and a general disregard of traffic signals and rules of the road -- all without the use of sirens or lights to provide any warning to surrounding traffic.

In one instance at an intersection on Pine Ridge Road I found myself nearly colliding with a patrol car making a sudden left turn in front of my oncoming vehicle. The fact that I had my wife and 2-year-old daughter in the car made the reality of what could have happened all too real for me.

In another instance, a patrol car speeding through the night almost caused me to swerve off the road in an attempt to avoid it halfway blowing a stop sign -- once again without flashing lights or siren.

It's getting to the point that coming home on a Friday night after work I feel getting into an accident with a reckless cop is more likely than having one with a drunken driver. Something must be done about these reckless cops.

More about the flag

Editor, Naples Daily News:

Most ridiculous Letter of the Day?

I proposed John Thomas' Nov. 5 letter that ranted about the "Stars and Bars" as being "the icon of ... skinheads and neo-Nazis."

I wonder if he knows that he as an American is seen as an Al Capone type by many foreigners who hate America and who see our flag as an icon of the Al Capone types.

Those thoughts are somewhat warped, but realize that many people do have reasons to hate us.

Mr. Thomas may not realize that more Union Jacks have been burned than Stars and Bars and that the burnings were not done by people proud of their Southern heritage, but by people who were unhappy, not with what our beautiful flag stands for, but with its government.

The "normal" people who fly the Stars and Bars are proud of their Southern heritage and proud to be Americans, and are in the higher percentage of those who have fought for our country and its beautiful flag over the past 138 years.

Mr. Thomas thinks that the Stars and Bars (instead of the Union Jack) represents slavery -- even though Gen. U.S.

Grant owned slaves and Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation did not free those slaves.

Another story, please

Editor, Naples Daily News:

Naples has lost one of its truly finest police officers. Officer Hugh May was a well-respected and well-liked officer as well as a wonderful friend.

I had the opportunity to work with Officer May several times during my employment with Valor Security in the Coastland Center mall.

I find it very disrespectful that the Naples Daily News decided to include the part where they say he was fired once before rejoining the force. I don't think it was something that needed to be printed, especially since it had nothing to do with his death.

Maybe the Naples Daily News should think about doing a new story on Officer May -- a story that could be cut out of the newspaper so his wife and children can look back and remember what a wonderful man he was and how well-respected he was by the community.

I know I will truly miss Officer May and will continue to pray for his family and friends daily.

Think about it

Editor the Naples Daily News:

I recently saw a program on television about the displacement and torture of the people of southern Sudan. The methods of displacement include starvation and other forms of torture.

This is being done by the Sudanese government to move the people out of their villages to make room for the oil companies to come in and replace them for the oil in the southern region of that county.

The next time you fill the tank -- especially those of you who drive gas guzzlers -- think about it!

Not all

Editor, Naples Daily News:

I would hope that the courageous members of our National Guard who have served and are serving in combat are not as thin-skinned as letter-writer James Cavanagh.

Not all members of the Guard used political influence to get into their units at a time when very few of them were going to Vietnam. Not all members of the Guard volunteered to be trained as pilots on an aircraft that they knew was not being deployed in Vietnam.

Not all members of the Guard chose not to take their flight physical, knowing they would be grounded. And not all members of the Guard failed to report during their last year and a half of commitment.

The National Guard and its members have served our nation well. Criticism of one former member should not be interpreted as a censure of the entire organization.

Promoting wildlife

Editor, Naples Daily News:

James Tuzzolo's recent letter describing his wildlife sightings in an urban environment should serve to remind us all of the amazing tenacity of our local fauna despite our ongoing urban sprawl.

However, Mr. Tuzzolo and other citizens should be warned that feeding wild animals can spread disease through contact with a common food source. This practice also can allow animals to lose their natural fear of humans, thereby making them potentially dangerous. Most bites or attacks by wild animals occur because they have become habituated to people.

Furthermore, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is currently considering a law (Proposed Rule 68-4.001) that "would prohibit the intentional feeding of black bears, foxes, and raccoons" for the reasons described above.

The best way to aid the survival of our native species is to create a Certified Backyard Habitat in conjunction with the National Wildlife Federation. Go to www.nwf.org to learn about safe and beneficial ways to help wildlife around your home, business, school or church.

How to beat the law

Editor, Naples Daily News:

In response to D.R. Zabrycki's Nov. 9 letter on the smoking ban:

As a restaurant and bar owner I despise the smoking ban as it has been very bad for our business, but we do follow the law of the land.

I have felt at a disadvantage for following the rules, as enforcement has seemed to be a joke.

There are several establishments that suspend food sales through happy hour or in the evening and allow smoking -- which is not allowed.

This law was a joke but the enforcement is hilarious.

A public servant

Editor, Naples Daily News:

The veterans in Collier County are indeed fortunate to have "Eddie" Hartnack as their Veterans Service officer. He is a well-organized person and fulfills his area of responsibilities. I find him to be an extraordinary person and a great asset to the Veterans Service Department.

I am a World War II disabled veteran and find it gratifying to have a person like Eddie to be able to talk to concerning my problems. He has the patience, personality and knowledge veterans need to work with them on all veterans matters.

Within the past three years he has assisted me more in obtaining veterans benefits than one could imagine. For the veterans to have a person of Eddie's caliber working for us is a credit to the Veterans Service Department.

Eddie is the type of person all organizations should have to work with and service people. I find it unusual to meet an individual with the qualities Eddie has. He is always accessible, cooperative and courteous.

We are indeed fortunate to have him as our representative. The Veterans Department should be congratulated for having such an outstanding individual as Eddie assisting us on veterans matters.

Nice guy finishes first

Editor, Naples Daily News:

It was such a pleasure to read the great article by Tom Hanson about Greg Norman and his hosting the clinic for children at the Franklin Templeton Shootout.

What a wonderful difference from so many articles regarding athletes who have raped, killed, cursed, etc.

Keep it up!