Well, It Is Finally Cool - Last Sunday was just another hot summer day; in fact, folks who attended Clearwater's Jazz Holiday on Saturday felt the warm Florida sun.
Too hot for most folks.
Alas, Monday was windy and cool. Monday evening required a long-sleeve shirt or a sweater for people who enjoy a brisk evening walk. Aahhhh, the smell of autumn is in the air.
To many people, this is the best time of the year to visit sub-tropical Florida. Low 70's during the day and low 60's at night. Perfect weather. Isn't it about time for the snowbirds to arrive?
A Mess - If you drive along Clearwater Beach, you know that driving involves roads under repair and traffic during off-season. There are fewer parking spaces, vacant construction sites and our local tourism season just around the corner.
A mess.
Merchants on Clearwater Beach are having one of the worst years, thanks to a re-development plan that did not consider merchants, and available motel/hotel rooms for visitors are at a low. Makes you wonder who was involved in providing leadership for this unbelievable state of affairs. (Is there anyone at city hall who would like to take credit for all of this?)
The beach roundabout is still fraught with driving problems and the city's attempt to replant new trees to beautify the area has done nothing but add an additional taxpayer expense. In fact, truck drivers still drive over remodeled roadway curbs at the city marina location.
Parking?
There are only a few city-owned pieces of real estate to build a much needed city parking garage on Clearwater Beach. If the city consensus is to build a parking garage on city-owned property, then the choices on Clearwater Beach are but few.
At least three (probably more to come) Clearwater citizens have said they are running for city elected office to help remedy past decisions regarding spending habits and development. Whether the newcomers win election or not, the message seems to be in Clearwater: WE NEED HELP!
Largo Does It Once - When you drive through Largo on East Bay Drive you might notice plants tastefully located in the middle of protective roadway median strips. Yes, there are small plants and trees, but beneath the trees you would find spreading ivy. The ivy, over time, fills the empty spaces and looks good. City of Largo planned for this form of plant life and it has worked - it looks good and it is not requiring replanting every month.
Kudos to Largo city planners, job well done within the city budget.
Child Porn Probe - Over 125 people were recently caught in a child porn probe beginning in New Jersey and covering several states. Young children, and I mean young children, were found to have been molested by adults, including a Boy Scout Leader. Adults placed in leadership positions over children were caught as a part of the child porn investigation. Religious and other respected adult leaders were caught in this sting operation. Not much of this is shocking news to many of us who have observed child porn sting operations on television snare alleged respected adults.
Message to parents? You can't be too careful when you trust your children to other adults. Then again, perhaps the message is: Don't trust anyone.
Roman Catholic Priest Says He Molested Rep. Foley - Who says that early sexual encounters can't damage young boys and girls?
Recently a Catholic priest, admitted to sexual encounters with Rep. Tom Foley when he was a young boy.
The priest said he was taking drugs and having a mental breakdown at the time of the encounters with young Foley.
How many times have we heard such stories?
No charges were filed against the priest at the time of the molestations and the legal clock has run in chasing the retired priest. Rep. Foley, however, much like other young boy victims, has had to deal with the deranged affair.
This is just another sad ending about a religious leader who abused his power with young children.
This problem is not about one particular church or another, it is about any church leader who abuses his/her church authority.
Here is the worst part of the Foley/Priest story, the retired priest says it is now time to "move on." Move on? To what? Foley may not have the same legal protection as the retired priest. If Foley touched boys, he will get what the priest should have gotten. Child molestation is unacceptable behavior.
Child abuse and child porn must be addressed by everyone in leadership.
Nancy Pelosi - If San Francisco senator Nancy Pelosi (D-Cal.) is hiding from the media during the last weeks of the 2006 election due to her possibly becoming the third most powerful person in America, then one thing is clear; the liberal media is also trying to hide Nancy Pelosi from voters who would vote against liberal Democrat candidates just because of Pelosi's far-left politics.
Voters would expect Pelosi to support only liberal judges instead of more moderate judges if Democrats take-over the U.S. Congress.
The liberal media hopes conservative voters are frustrated and will not vote on election day.
The media spin in Washington, true or not, is that Republicans will not vote in big numbers.
Not true.
Republicans and Democrats will vote along party lines. Independent voters must decide whether they would support liberals running the government rather than moderate conservatives. Voters must decide what type of judges would likely get appointed if moderates or liberals win the election. There is more at stake than just the war in Iraq.
Imagine an America with Nancy Pelosi in charge, Barney Frank in charge, Ted Kennedy in charge, Hillary Clinton in charge, Charlie Rangel in charge, Jesse Jackson back on television and Jane Fonda dancing at the Election Ball to music of the Hollywood elite.
Thinking of not voting?
Think again.
VOTE - Every legal American has the right to vote for people that best represent their political views. It is difficult to imagine how citizens might feel if there was ever a day when citizens could not vote. Yes, there are frustrated citizens with both major political parties. Yes, there is an air of frustration by voters. However, the right to cast a vote is so important we should never forget this basic American right.
Please vote on Election Day! Cast your vote for the person who you believe can best represent you and your values. Every vote counts.