- November 21, 2024
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Dear Editor:
Doug Courtney’s letter to the editor referencing the impending financial changes to the Belle Terre swim club couldn’t have been better written, or more timely in its delivery.
My family had been renting up till December 2021, but we are now home-owners in the Palm Coast. I had visited the Belle Terre swim club several times during the COVID restrictions last August to obtain swimming lessons for my son. What a wonderful club, with so many activities!
Preoccupied with not only the COVID, but with moving, I have been held back from joining my family up as members of this hidden gem — with has so much to offer, and with such reasonable rates. And now that the weather is improving, and my family is looking forward to a full-blown membership, I discover heretofore unknown information (as a new subscriber) in the Palm Coast Observer, detailing a plan to reduce hours as springtime approaches.
The Palm Coast’s real estate market is exploding, with more people calling this their home every day. Rather than curtail activities, I would suggest using a better form of marketing.
I heartily recommend that we wait until summertime to see whether there is an actual financial crisis, or whether the fiscal problems faced by the club were merely a temporary setback.
Please reconsider any actions until all members have been apprised of the contemplated decisions, and allow feedback from everyone who enjoys this hidden gem. Maybe the community can pull together to rectify the problem without such drastic measures, which in themselves would certainly hurt more than help.
Marc Stevenson
Palm Coast
Dear Editor:
When I read the article in the Palm Coast Observer that they are thinking of closing the pool on Sundays, I couldn’t understand why, when the weekends are the busiest days for the pool, especially now that the summer is coming. Also if business is dropping, why would you decrease the monthly rates from $30, which is still an excellent price for a month, to $25 a month? Why would you lower the price from $4 a day to $3 a day? Those prices include the pool, the gym and the sauna all day long.
Also when an adult buys a monthly membership, children under 12 are free. That is an excellent deal especially in the summer when the children are home from school. Hopefully they will reconsider this matter.
Pat Stasio
Palm Coast
Dear Editor:
I see that the planning board has again approved yet another large development, this one off Old Kings Road. It’s bad enough to have to deal with so much traffic in Palm Coast any time of day. I see from the map of the development you are going to allow many, many trees to be taken down. How can we maintain the designation "Tree City" with all of this being allowed? Not to mention all of our utilities being overburdened?
I don't even want to talk about how much taxes went up. If utility rates go up any more, I think you will see an uprising from the established community; it is not fair to existing residents to have to suffer financially from all of this population explosion that is happening and just being allowed. What about the damage being done to our streets from all of the heavy vehicles?
I suppose yet again we will hear that you have no choice.
So sad what's happening to this once quiet community and the planning commission just keeps approving and approving.
Gary Sabol
Palm Coast
Dear Editor:
The planned expansion of Eagle Lakes subdivision off Old Kings Road at the Volusia County line has increased the number of requested homes to 1,218 homes, more than double the density approved for the remaining acres of the development planned for 610 homes in 2014.
A townhall meeting is set for 6 p.m. March 4, at Hilton Gardens Inn, 55 Town Center Blvd., Palm Coast. The meeting is hosted by Citizens Monitoring Developments, the ad hoc group of neighbors opposed to the higher density and out-of-character, Margaritaville-like, 55+ community portion of the plan. Nearly half of the unrestricted-age homes will be 1,000 square feet on 40-feet-wide lots.
The request will go before the Planning and Development Board for a second time at 6 p.m. Tuesday March 8, in the commission chamber meeting room at Government Services Building.
Both the land owner and proposed developer are represented by attorney Michael Chiumento.
Sallee Arnoff
Editor's Note: Sallee Arnoff is a member of Citizens Monitoring Development
Dear Editor:
Your article on the Youth Black History Program captured the essence of what the African American Cultural Society is attempting to do with our youth: give them a sense of their ancestors’ accomplishments from ancient times up to the present.
Unfortunately, the true history of ancient Africa up to the present time is not often taught in our schools, colleges and universities. Therefore, the AACS has a very important and vital role in the education of all of our youth in Flagler County.
Thanks for your part in promoting what we do.
Robert W. Whiting
Palm Coast
Editor’s Note: Robert Whiting is the chair of the AACS’ Education Committee.
Dear Editor:
The recent news about the obscene increase in the trash pickup expenses is disturbing. What is more disturbing is the bungling of the bid process by the city’s administers. Who is to be held accountable? And to be sure, someone should be held accountable.
Why hasn’t the town considered bringing the trash collection under the Public Works Department? It stands to reason that any private concern would have to build in a profit margin to the fees charged.
By exploring making the town responsible for trash pickup you could accomplish many things: control of the costs, control of the quality (do away with fines), put potential bidders on notice that their proposals could steer the award towards the city, and add jobs to the local population. This effort could also be expanded to include surrounding communities to take advantage of scale.
Admittedly it would take some work and initial capital, but that could be amortized over several years.
Other communities control their trash pickup and benefit from the savings and control; why not Palm Coast?
Mike Verrault
Palm Coast
Dear Editor:
The former president has a talent for bringing out the worst in all of us. It’s not a coincidence that there has been an exponential rise in the level of anger, racism and foul language. We even see it in our local School Board meetings and City Council, apparently now known as the “Trump Club.”
Trump didn’t create the problem, he just made it OK to be uncivil — to be “free”! After all, if the president can do it, why can’t I?
The Founding Fathers didn’t count on one party, the Republicans, making an attempt to destroy our fragile democracy, which depends on our elected officials to do what is “right” for the country. Republicans, unfortunately, are no longer a “party” at all, but a “cult,” a cult of Trump, that has infected our democratic system.
When “facts are not facts” and “there are alternative facts,” we are lost. More than 70% of Republicans believe that the election was stolen regardless that there is absolutely no evidence; in fact, all evidence is to the contrary. However, if your source of information is only Fox News, Newsmax or one of the other conspiracy sites who constantly spout misinformation and outright lies, you will become a “believer.”
There have been 34 laws passed by 19 Republican-led states that suppress voting, including Florida. The Florida Legislature is currently about to pass another vote suppressing bill, SB524, that would create an “election crimes and security” force and would make voting by mail harder.
The upcoming election is the “tipping point” that will determine the future of our democracy. Please think about what you would like to pass on to your children and vote accordingly.
Larry Wright
Palm Coast
