Re: Pastor conflict riddles Calvary Baptist, story, March 21.
The amount of space you gave in your article to the noisy few seriously skews the truth. When issues have been brought to the church for a vote, the membership has been strongly behind the deacons, who are also voted in, by the way. As a church, we've faced challenges recently, but we are united in our desire to put them behind us and move forward and realize the vision that was begun under Pastor Bill Anderson.
There are a few items that didn't make it into your article. Instead of adding to the volumes of negative reporting, why not focus on positive things happening at our church, like:
Calvary's Heartline Ministry, which reaches out to the homeless.
Fantastic children's and youth programs.
Many opportunities for seniors through Power Impact.
Phenomenal music in both the contemporary (9:15 a.m.) and traditional (10:50 a.m.) services.
Highly qualified staff members.
And most important, a family of people who care and support each other, and who have served the community for more than 100 years.
My family and I feel blessed to be a part of Calvary Baptist. In future articles, I would encourage you to balance your story and not just seek out the disgruntled.
-- Tom Olney, Safety Harbor
Family has moved on; why can't paper?
Re: Pastor conflict riddles Calvary Baptist, story, March 21.
I am writing to you to express my deep disappointment with your choosing to allow the printing of negative, unprofessional and damaging stories about Calvary Baptist Church's internal affairs.
I write not as a Calvary member, but as an individual who is really surprised that you allow one or two people's nasty opinions to form the basis of a string of articles.
I am a youth minister, wife of an Episcopal priest, and mother of two small children and was delighted when just over a year ago the Alford family moved into my neighborhood.
Over this past year I have witnessed in the Alfords a very strong family, with a loving father who comes home and invests time in his family, often fishing and playing football, basketball, etc. We were so saddened when your newspaper began to print stories relating to and naming the issues that led to Dr. Ken Alford's resigning his position from a former parish.
The Gospel message is one of forgiveness and reconciliation and as far as this family and the vast majority of members at Calvary are concerned, the past is over, forgiveness has been asked for and received, and this wonderful family has moved on. However, each time you allow staff writer Eileen Schulte to print these inaccurate and biased opinions about Ken Alford, you are effectively giving a huge public platform for the few who oppose him and are dredging up and hurting this family all over again.
The Alfords have two delightful children, and I cannot imagine what it must be like for them to have to wake up and be told that yet again you have allowed another attack on their father to go to print.
In a day and age when we are doing everything we can to protect and support the family unit, one has to ask, what is your agenda for continuing to go after these dear folks?
Churches are made up of people. People do not always agree. Within a church there are forums to settle disputes. Printing dirty laundry reflects very poorly on what you like to call "Florida's Best Newspaper."
For three years I have been taking my Episcopal youth group down to Calvary for their interactive Judgment House dramatization. The impact of this ministry on the youth in our group has been very positive. Dr. Alford has presented the gospel message to these youths in such a loving and caring way, and I have only praise for his style of ministry.
In my opinion, in this troubled day and age, anyone who can reach our youths effectively with the gospel message is to be held in the highest respect. I only hope that the beautiful photograph of Dr. Alford humbly kneeling in prayer will speak louder than the hateful words that surround the picture.
Re: City's quality of life is its most important value, letter by Safety Harbor Mayor Pam Corbino, March 22.
I was very involved with our fine Safety Harbor museum for many years, and in all those years the director and the board members have gone to the Safety Harbor City Commission to beg for any monies they deemed we deserved to keep the doors open.
Now some on the Commission are willing to commit taxpayers' money (nearly $200,000 annually) if the museum is moved to Philippe Park. What is wrong with this picture?
We have a gem and an important institution on lovely Bayshore Boulevard. We need to incorporate it into downtown with red bricks across the boulevard and up the driveway and enlarge the building by installing a kitchen (yes, there is no kitchen). A conference or meeting room and a front porch would be perfect.
Last, but most important, there is an Indian mound right on our property.
I feel very deeply for and committed to our museum with no ulterior motives. Let's hope the powers that be come to their senses.
-- Barbara Nelson, Safety Harbor
Moving museum to park is a waste
Re: City's quality of life is its most important value, letter by Safety Harbor Mayor Pam Corbino, March 22.
Mayor Corbino, spending taxpayer money to move the Safety Harbor Museum to Philippe Park is ridiculous. No matter if it is city, county, state or federal dollars, this is pork barrel spending at its worst. I would like to know what your agenda is for pushing this project. Put it on the ballot in the fall with the cost involved and see how much public support there is for it. I believe it won't be much.
-- J. Mills, Safety Harbor
JROTC helps young people in many ways
I recently had the pleasure and privilege of being inspection officer for the Dunedin High School Navy JROTC unit. During the personnel inspection, as I carefully scrutinized the 126 cadets standing at rigid attention with their carefully pressed uniforms, shined shoes, gleaming belt buckles and neatly trimmed hair, I was very impressed by these patriotic young men and women.
I was further impressed with the smart performances of their armed and unarmed drill teams, and the stirring pass-in-review on the football field, which reflected their long hours of practice.
Before I left, I was given a private briefing by the cadet leaders, where they told me, among other things, the achievements and goals of their unit. I evaluated the entire unit as outstanding in all areas.
As I reflected on my pleasant experience, I concluded that not enough people realize what a tremendous asset such ROTC units are to their schools and communities. Their discipline and camaraderie are a good example to their fellow students. Cadets learn about military service, and such training helps them if they decide to pursue a career in the armed forces. If they decide on a civilian career, their training makes them better citizens.
One asset of high school JROTC units that I feel should be publicized more is their strong emphasis on education. Dunedin High School's principal, Dr. Mildred Reed, was very cognizant of the fact that more than 40 of the ROTC unit members were on the honor roll for the last semester. For the ROTC members who need academic assistance, the unit schedules training sessions where the older, more experienced cadets tutor and encourage the younger cadets with their school work. What an efficient program!
Cmdr. Larry Richardson, USN, and Gunnery Sgt. Ron Wilson, USMC, deserve much credit for leading the Dunedin JROTC cadets so well, for encouraging them to improve themselves, and for being such excellent role models for them.
-- Rear Adm. Bill Schwob, U.S. Coast Guard, Clearwater
Voters want real park of Coachman
Re: Why did Clearwater voters turn on park plan? Diane Steinle column, March 21.
Your column said it all, except that your sorrow over the cement parking lots (west of the Harborview Center) is misplaced. No referendum is necessary for the cement to be replaced with grass and other open space recreation needs. Unfortunately, the city councilors have voted to move the $2-million Penny for Pinellas funds set aside for Coachman Park to a fund for streetscaping downtown Clearwater - again.
You bemoan the seeming lack of trust in the City Commission you admire so extravagantly and urge us to accept public hearings in place of referendums. It was, however, the current mayor who treated with contempt the people who brought him more than 6,000 certified petitions at a public hearing (to hold a referendum on building a bridge). The public meetings on both the bridge and the roundabout presented an entirely different majority opinion than the eventual decision on the route of the bridge and the construction of a roundabout.
Furthermore, we suggest that there is a difference between "government by referendum" and the right to vote on issues vital to the people's interest, such as use of public land. This is especially true in view of newspaper reports that the city fathers are interested in selling the City Hall site and the beautiful land overlooking the Seminole docks. Knowing that the real estate agents who are marketing the Calvary Baptist Church property used the proposed changes to the bayfront as a selling point to a private developer cast additional doubt on the "public purpose" of the proposed developments.
Now that the baseball stadium is built, shouldn't the large, commercial concerts be moved there to a more controlled environment rather than building a large amphitheater on the bayfront or continuing to put up ugly fences and ugly trailers for entertainments? Is it too much to ask that Coachman Park be made into a real park? The majority of Clearwater citizens who care to vote dream of a park with flowering trees, bushes and flowers, with family recreation activities both visitors and residents can enjoy. I believe the vote expressed that dream, along with some of the things you mentioned.
The voting majority doesn't need to be educated to accept the Chamber of Commerce viewpoint. It needs to be listened to!
-- Anne Garris, Clearwater
EDITOR'S NOTE: Anne Garris is president of Save the Bayfront.
Hamiltons do much for Clearwater
I want to use your forum to say that I totally disagree with the insinuations made against the Hamilton family in the recent flier distributed by the Save the Bayfront group.
I have known members of the Hamilton family for 57 years, and I know that all of them are honest, hardworking citizens who sincerely wish to make Clearwater a better place to live. Although I do not always agree with City Commission member Hoyt Hamilton, I feel that he has done an excellent job while on the council, and I admire him for the dedication that he shows to the city.
I thank the Hamilton family for its contributions to the betterment of Clearwater.
-- Bill Justice, Clearwater
YOUR VOICE COUNTS
We invite readers to write letters for publication. To send a letter from your computer, go to www.sptimes.com/letters and fill in the required information. Type your letter in the space provided on the form, then submit your letter to the appropriate section of the newspaper. If you prefer, you may instead fax your letter to us at 727 445-4119, or mail it to Letter to the Editor, St. Petersburg Times, 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756.
Letters should be brief and must include the writer's name, city of residence, mailing address and phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length. We regret that not all letters can be printed.
