Published April 25, 2001|Updated Sept. 9, 2005
Editor: At its annual meeting April 22, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Nature Coast approved the following resolution.
"The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Nature Coast, founded on Judeo-Christian principles, honors all the great world religions. We believe religion is a source of unifying love for all elements of the great web of existence.
"In that tradition, therefore, we urge the Citrus County School Board to open board meetings with a moment of silence, reflecting respect for our interdependence while unifying our community."
Jackie Evans
social justice chairwoman
Unitarian Universalist
Fellowship of the Nature Coast
Teacher's hard work shouldn't be tossed
Editor: Re: Arrest imperils Internet grant, April 17 Citrus Times:
What is wrong with this picture?
This is not in defense of driving under the influence, but of what a teacher must do to get a grant such as Robert Chambers received. He had to come up with a new and viable program to even be considered. Chambers felt elated when he heard it was granted and it was a high for him he probably never knew before. He felt it was well-earned, as anyone would. Of course, he allegedly committed a grievous error, and he will suffer for this.
Should we now throw the baby out with the bath water, or consider the program that will benefit many? I initiated a similar program 27 years ago; it has exceeded all expectations, has grown over the years, and has (been) copied many times. Many students who would have dropped out of school because academics was not for them, became very successful after taking these well-structured courses.
Now we must, in fairness, compare what happened in George W. Bush's DUI conviction. I do not know what reason he had to be elated over an accomplishment that he made to celebrate (he admitted he was a bit of a hell raiser in the past). I never heard of anything he accomplished as a citizen to help anyone, or without his family's power being a factor. He now sits in the Oval Office.
We do have a double standard between the powerful and the average. I believe this now more than ever. That is a sad commentary for the younger generation.
Harry Norman
Crystal River
Make growth fit in with natural beauty
Editor: There has been a lot of talk about controlling the negative aspects of growth. I guess it has been all talk.
There are parts of Citrus County that are becoming downright ugly. One example would be the intersection of County Road 486 and Forest Ridge Boulevard. This once-pristine location of natural forests has been transformed to ugliness. Instead of a Publix with trees dotting its parking lot and some forest lining the road, we have concrete broken only by a bank, a fast-food restaurant and a gas station. On the opposite corner the forest has been replaced by another retail store with its accompanying concrete. The remaining section has lost its forest to a developer who has replaced the trees with sod that has been sucking up our dwindling water supply.
This intersection is a commercial pod that is in compliance with the Comprehensive Plan and is good for our county. However, why are developers allowed to clear-cut land, use minimum setbacks from the road and plant a smidgen of landscaping? Does a commercial pod mean we have to pack businesses in like sardines in a can?
It appears this same scenario will repeat itself with the Home Depot in Crystal River. Home Depot should have been required to put trees in its parking lot and fully landscape an area alongside the highway. The Nature Coast is fast becoming the Ugly Coast.
Ugliness is now being planned for Beverly Hills with the six-laning of County Road 491. How much more beautiful it would be if County Road 491 were four-laned with a median strip with huge, flowering bushes or palm trees its full length? Here we would have something not only serviceable, but also aesthetic and appropriate for a residential neighborhood.
Naples has emerged as the fastest-growing city in Florida. I can tell you why. When I visited this city, I was extremely impressed by its beauty. Business thrives but the city's aesthetics have been preserved. Palms and flowering shrubbery line their streets while businesses flourish, set back from the roadway.
County commissioners, we need supermarkets, restaurants and retail stores. However, we do not have to sacrifice the natural beauty this county has to offer. Please care and do something before all of Citrus County looks like County Road 486 and Forest Ridge Boulevard. We will have to delete the "Forest" and simply call it "Ridge" Boulevard.
Isabell Spindler
Beverly Hills
