- November 23, 2024
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Why the June 7 school tax is important for senior citizens
Dear Editor:
I have been following the letters regarding the upcoming school referendum. As is usual with such matters, unless we have a personal investment in an issue/tax/ referendum, we tend to take a “laissez-faire” attitude. However, as a senior resident of Palm Coast, I feel personally invested in this election.
I have been a volunteer in the “I Can Read” program for four years and have witnessed the dedication of the teachers to the children they serve. I do not envy the challenges faced by today’s educators, and I marvel that they are able to achieve so much with these little ones in such a short period of time.
As a senior/retiree, I have also enjoyed the wonderful water aerobics and pole walking classes offered by the continuing education program. Imagine my surprise when I was informed that the instructor I have had for the past four years received a letter from the school district informing her that her position will be eliminated next month due to budget cuts. She has been a school employee for 16 years and is a terrific teacher, but because the priority for funding is for K-12, support staff will be cut.
Wait a minute — that means that we seniors (who are the primary participants in the exercise classes offered in continuing ed) are going to be affected by this referendum. These classes help me both physically and mentally, and if it means I need to pay a few more dollars a year in class fees to keep the classes and my instructor, then I am a willing investor.
If we want to entice new residents to the Palm Coast area, we need to have viable, quality schools and educators, as well as opportunities for affordable recreation for senior citizens. An investment in our children, our future leaders, is worth your consideration in the upcoming election on June 7.
Ronaele Bowman
Palm Coast
Red light cameras leave me with ill will toward government
Dear Editor:
I'm not against all red light cameras, but when you have as many as we do, some are clearly a money making scam. Take the $158 blackmail/scam money I will mail in soon week for rolling through a red light turning right off Moody into Flagler Hospital Flagler. That is a T intersection. If a green right-turn arrow for westbound Moody traffic turning into the hospital was installed and made simultaneous with the green leaving the hospital, there would be no problem.
It leaves me with a “screw the county” attitude, which, among other things, will make me vote against the June 7 tax referendum. So, there are consequences to the scam.
Brian Angland
Palm Coast
Editor’s Note: The red light cameras are administered by the city of Palm Coast. The June 7 tax is for the School Board.
Miller trial teaches a lesson: De-escalate the situation first
Dear Editor:
I've been following closely the murder trial and subsequent conviction of Mr. Miller for killing his neighbor. Barking dogs, although a nuisance, should not be cause for someone losing his life. My prayers go out to both families for this needless act of violence. Unfortunately, one life is gone and another is ruined, and both families are suffering the tragic consequences.
Based on my knowledge of the case, Mr. Miller, although he felt his life in danger, could have "de-escalated" the incident by simply walking away from an intoxicated Mr. Mulhall. He could have called the police and reported his neighbor as being out of control and a possible threat to him, his wife and others. By doing this, Mulhall would have been the person who needed to explain himself. In hindsight, everyone second guesses and say this or that, but the bottom line is that Mr. Miller took upon himself to be judge, jury and executioner and will pay for that decision.
Miller used deadly force to defend himself because he thought his life was in danger. According to the law, you have a right to defend yourself, but the threat must be immediate and must be so serious that a “reasonable” person would fear death or great bodily harm. Did Miller feel this during the incident? He stated that he did, but what did he do to defuse the situation, and did he escalate it at any time? I personally believe that Miller pulled the trigger because he truly thought his life in danger, but didn't consider the full extent of the law and how events leading up to the murder would affect his case for innocence. He should have known the law before he brought the pistol outside with him.
Moral of Story: Only use a gun as a last resort in defending yourself. Do not do anything to escalate the conflict. If you can stop a threat with something less than deadly force, you are required to. If you can retreat, you must. Miller could have gone back into his house and called the police. When one uses a gun to settle arguments, you better know the laws before pulling the trigger.
Jim McCarthy
Flagler Beach
Thank you for the Wadsworth Dog Park improvements!
Dear Editor:
I am writing to publicly thank personnel at the Flagler County Parks Department for the recent renovations to Wadsworth Dog Park. The park looks beautiful and the dogs love the new “open” areas that have been cleared of brush. The new design gives the dogs so much more room to roam.
My heartfelt thanks to Frank Barbuti and Luanne Santangelo for their commitment to this project and to others who made this happen. Thanks again for a wonderful job!
Sandra Richards
Flagler Beach
