- April 18, 2024
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+ Seminole Woods is forgotten by the city of Palm Coast
Dear Editor:
The city of Palm Coast continues to treat the Seminole Woods area of the city as the forgotten stepchild. It seems that all of the infrastructure improvements are occurring in other sections of the city.
An example of neglect by the city is the fact that the sign signifying the Seminole Woods section on the corner of State Road 100 and Seminole Woods Parkway was torn down for potential commercial development and never replaced. (It is ironic that all of the trees were also eliminated right behind the sign that indicates that Palm Coast won an award for being a Tree City.)
Hopefully, the City Council will realize the importance of improving the infrastructure of this area; the plan is to bring in new businesses, and there seems to be quite a few pieces of land that are zoned as commercial property.
As a side note, not even the Palm Coast Observer is delivered to this area.
Patrick Mulvihill
Palm Coast
Editor’s Note: Mr. Mulvihill, thanks for your concern about the newspaper. We hope to continue to expand our circulation in the future. In the meantime, all of our content is available on www.PalmCoastObserver.com. In addition, we are on Facebook, where you can receive notices whenever content is posted on our website.
+ Economic development must involve the residents
Dear Editor:
Much has been written and spoken about Enterprise Flagler and economic development during the past weeks and months. It is now time to take very seriously the importance of economic development in, and for our county.
Economic development efforts are difficult at best (I know because I’ve been there). It takes a melding of many talents, cooperation and knowledge, working in harmony. Having a definitive plan with which all agree is utmost, in addition to being creative, having the ability to switch gears when necessary, and leaving all egos behind.
The success of an economic development effort is one of collaboration between private businesses and government. What is frequently left out of the equation is the citizens, whose participation (in my estimation and experience) is an absolute necessity to the success of such a venture. There is no government board or business entity which can, or will, succeed by working in a vacuum.
I am hoping that the new economic development structure will understand and implement these basic principles. This is a requirement for the success and future of the citizens, and that of Flagler County.
Bob Alex
Palm Coast
+ Thanks to all who participated in the funeral of Sgt. Celico
Dear Editor:
There are no words to adequately describe the feelings of thanks and pride for the outpouring of support during the funeral services for our son, Sgt. Frank Celico, of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
The number of law-enforcement officers; state, county and local agencies who assisted; as well as the volunteers who helped during this difficult period was, at times, overwhelming to see, but brought comfort, as well.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all those who stood in line at the funeral home to offer their condolences and support; the police, fire and EMS personnel who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with family and friends during the church services; and last, but certainly not least, the citizens of Flagler County who stood on the side of the road with their hands over their hearts in silent tribute and prayer to our son as we passed by, in the funeral procession.
Frank loved his profession, and he proudly wore the uniform. He cared about people and was determined to make Flagler County a better place to live. He loved life and lived it to the fullest in his 33 years.
The family takes great comfort from the support we have been given and know that Frank will live on in the hearts of those whose lives he touched.
Carlo Celico
Palm Coast
+ Children should not be allowed to sell items door-to-door
Dear Editor:
The city of Palm Coast has rules and laws forbidding door-to-door solicitation. These laws should be respected by everyone, including children.
What about kids going door-to-door to sell some product or whatever else related, from school promotions?
This is not the first time this has happened in the Belle Terre area. We have had this problem from time to time during school day, but three times in a week teenagers and kids, chaperoned with parents, have gone door-to-door, ignoring no-trespassing and private-property signs, soliciting with the school educators’ blessing.
This kind of harassment should neither be encouraged nor tolerated for any reason.
The no door-to-door ordinance from the city of Palm Coast must be enforced and is applicable to everyone. No excuses.
Dallas Prentice
Palm Coast
+ Thanks to the residents who supported Community Chorus
Dear Editor:
Congratulations to the Community Chorus of Palm Coast and Chamber Orchestra for a beautiful concert commemorating the anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001. The inspiring performance was warmly appreciated by a very large audience.
Donations were generous and will be sent to New York City’s 9/11 Memorial Site fund. Thank you, citizens of Palm Coast!
Evelyn Hoth
Board member, Community
Chorus of Palm Coast
SCHOOL MATTERS: ON SPARKS AND STARCH
+ Ask questions and learn from the students; don’t use Tasers
Dear Editor:
In his Sept. 29 letter to the editor, Mr. Pusey acknowledges that “the deputies already (my emphasis) have guns, batons and Mace in their possession.” That’s more than enough weaponry being brought into schools.
How does he justify the escalation, I wonder?
The schools are institutions of learning, not war zones, but we’re making them so by escalating the potential use of brute force by allowing the use of Tasers. We’re taking the easy, irresponsible way out. Whatever happened to preventive measures? What’s being done to show the students we care about them, and not treat them like they’re the enemy?
In Socrates Cafe, Christopher Phillips recounts the beginnings of his Johnny-Appleseed-like movement and its successful growth across the country. He speaks about the Socratic method, allows us to listen in on some of his groups, describing the many and varied applications in cafes, informal meeting places, schools, and prisons.
Referring to Socrates’ fate due to his radical philosophical style, Phillips said: “His persecutors’ preferred brand of questioning was one in which they already had the authoritative answers to the questions posed. They duped themselves into thinking they knew the truth, and they weren’t about to let anyone make them appear to be less than all-knowing sages.”
Our leaders, too, often think they know the truth, so they see no use for asking questions, learning more and going deeper than the obvious surface problems.
Yes, what we see as problems are problems in themselves, it’s true, but if we don’t understand that they are symptoms of a much greater problem, then we are doomed to repeat many mistakes, make more enemies, and in the end still have the original problem — maybe even on a greater scale.
I think it’s time to start asking a lot more questions and not assume we have all the right answers for everyone’s health and well-being. Let’s have some discussions with students and determine their questions and concerns. Let’s give them a chance to hear our questions and listen to our concerns. Let’s use a democratic process of working with, not against, our students, our future adult citizens whom we would like to see make responsible decisions and live productive, fruitful, healthy lives. Do it for them.
Deborah Susswein
Palm Coast
+ School uniforms would be a hardship on struggling families
Dear Editor:
I just caught the couple of sentences about school uniforms at the end of the article on bus routes in the Oct 6. issue of the Palm Coast Observer. I was disappointed to see the topic resurface again.
So, I just have one question for Mr. Fischer and the School Board. Are you going to pay for these mandatory school uniforms?
Flagler County is economically the hardest hit in the entire state of Florida. The majority of citizens with children in the public schools are likely in the working class and therefore the hardest hit of our citizens.
Most working-class families are struggling just to put food on the table these days (with rising prices and decreasing wages), let alone providing the other needs of their families. School uniforms are a second wardrobe, as children can not wear them 24/7 and will still need regular clothing, as well.
Uniforms are an unnecessary, added expense and a burden on struggling families, especially those with more than one child in our public school system.
And what about those families who are even harder hit than most — those who are forced to buy their children’s clothing from thrift shops, discount stores, clearance racks, yard sales and the like? They will not be able to purchase these uniforms in that way and will be forced to purchase them new at the sacrifice of other necessities.
Regardless of the arguments you may try to bring about school uniforms not being an added expense, the fact is that they are. I notice there is no mention of the nature of the typical statistics in the article, but I imagine they are the same as before: violence down, bullying down, etc. I would just like to point out the obvious: Uniforms are not going to change the morals, values and behavior of students.
Compared to other factors, clothing is probably the least common reason for being picked on. Kids will still torment other kids about their weight, their height and their looks, whether their uniforms came from The Gap or Walmart. Behavior of a student is learned at home, and it is frankly the responsibility of the parents to raise their children rightly. Uniforms aren’t going to change that, no matter how much you want it to. It is just putting a Band-aid on the problem.
For the sake of the families who are struggling, I hope that the School Board members will try to put themselves in our shoes and reconsider.
Keri Crider
Palm Coast
