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We must band together to keep our kids safe

Re: Jitters about strangers jangle 911 lines, March 8. We - as parents, teachers and administrators, police officers, coaches and neighbors - have to band together and do something about this rash of predators.

We first need to talk to our children regularly about the dangers and what to do and not do to avoid being a target. We need to organize group discussions at our schools by police officers and at our libraries by crime prevention specialists to tell our children exactly what to do. We need to speak to our schools now and start these programs.

Get two or three grades together at one time, in the auditorium, and talk to them on their age level. Have at least three of these discussions at each school so all the kids will hear about it.

Talk to your librarian and find out how we can get a group discussion going on there. If you live in a community that has a clubhouse or recreation center, contact the manager and get an awareness discussion put in place for all your neighbors.

Something has to be done and has to be done now! These incidents are almost daily, and we need to educate our children consistently and immediately! Under no circumstances should children be walking alone. If parents cannot walk with them, they need a friend or neighbor to go to the bus stop with. Talk to your neighbors and have the kids meet in the morning and walk together after school. It is not worth taking a chance right now.

I will be contacting police to find out what is being done to catch these predators and help protect our kids; my local library; my clubhouse manager and my children's school. Please do the same. Talk to your neighbors for more ideas and share them with the rest of us - it is going to take all of us to keep our children safe!

Politicians forget to serve the public

There is a problem with our political system that continues to spread throughout our country. Our politicians, once in office, strive first of all to find enough money to run for re-election; then find the hot buttons that appeal to their perception of their voter base; and ultimately become captives of their party, its mantra for what they think the voters need or want.

It is unfortunate that politics and the parties have come down to wielding raw power from the national to the local levels. Instead of politicians serving the voting public that elected them, they serve their party and its special interests and monied supporters. When Commissioner Steve Van Gorden switched parties and stated his reasons, it was not good enough for the Pasco County Republican Party chairman since it was not on message of what the party mantra presumably is.

GOP chairman Bill Bunting's need to clarify Mr. Van Gorden's statement is just another example of spin-doctoring and damage control that is so rampant at the national level via Karl Rove, et al. If Mr. Van Gorden could not provide sound reasons on his own for his party switch, then the voters can decide at the next election if he should continue in office. It is a shame that maintaining and expanding power instead of serving the public's needs is the goal of all party managers.

We all should heed suggestions for retirees

Re: If you are unhappily retired, March 9 letter.

The letter writer's suggestions to the unhappily retired should be required reading for all seniors whether retired or not, reprinted periodically by newspapers and posted on all homeowners association bulletin boards.

It is framed on my wall.

New school is fortunate to lure Fox Hollow principal

A few years back, I wrote a letter praising Fox Hollow Elementary School. After my daughter finished kindergarten, I was moved to write about how wonderful this school is and how lucky we were to be part of such a wonderful family.

As the years have passed, I have found myself being even more part of this wonderful family at Fox Hollow. Last week, we had to say goodbye to Arlene Moreno, Fox Hollow's principal.

She has decided to become the principal of Long Leaf Elementary, a new elementary school. I wanted to take this opportunity to congratulate Mrs. Moreno, even though we all hate to see her leave. We are all so proud and excited for her new prospect of helping build a school from the ground up.

When Mrs. Moreno came to Fox Hollow as principal, we were a "D" school. After only a couple of years, Fox Hollow went from a D to an A. Not a small feat by any means. I know Mrs. Moreno did not do this alone; there are so many wonderful people working at Fox Hollow!

Mrs. Moreno is an example of what every principal hopes to be. Long Leaf will be the luckiest elementary school in Pasco to have the leadership it will have in Mrs. Moreno.

Thank you, Mrs. Moreno, for your tireless dedication, and thank you to all at Fox Hollow who are dedicated to making sure our children are safe and have a quality education. Many elementary schools could learn a thing or two from the Fox Hollow family.

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[Last modified March 10, 2005, 01:15:14]