Letters to the Editor: June 23, 2017
Thanks to good Samaritans
On June 2, my mother was at the Target store on Pine Ridge Road and Airport-Pulling Road and wants to thank a very kind stranger she met that day.
A side praise here is for the Collier Area Transit bus system, which she raves about constantly and is so grateful for since she has poor vision. She had to give up her driver's license years ago, but the CAT bus allows her to maintain her independence.
My mother was waiting for the bus as the rains approached. A very nice young lady sat next to her on the bench waiting for her ride and they chatted about never having an umbrella when you need one. The lady was trying to show my mom the radar picture on her phone, but since my mom can't see well, she proceeded to explain to her about the various colors of impending storms flashing on the screen.
It started to rain and the women and her son went into Target. A few minutes later, my mom was surprised by the woman's son who handed my mother a new umbrella that they had just purchased.
Mom was disappointed that she never got the woman's name. She wanted me to write this letter, hoping that the woman and her son realize how touched she was with their generous act of kindness.
Chris Maritato, Naples
Christians too silent on abortion
I’ve concluded that the abortion on demand people operate on an "end justifies the means" mindset. Nowhere is this more obvious than with America's largest purveyor of abortion, Planned Parenthood.
Recently Planned Parenthood released quite late its annual report for 2015-16. Many felt that the delay was to prevent the damaging revelations to Planned Parenthood's claims justifying the half a billion of our federal dollars being given to it because of its claims of being "essential providers of woman's health care." The words in its report show anything but. Clearly, its "business" continues to center on the grisly business of abortion.
The report shows 328,345 abortions performed, making Planned Parenthood the largest provider of abortions in the world. In spite of all these figures, Planned Parenthood has the unmitigated gall to claim abortion makes up but 3 percent of its "services." This figure is arrived at by counting a single visit multiple times.
Facts:
+ Planned Parenthood's annual report shows a sizable decrease in contraception services provided.
+ Breast exams decreased significantly.
+ Mammograms not provided:
+ Prenatal care was down 50 percent over the past five years, with a decrease of over half a million patients seen over these same five years.
+ Adoption referrals of 2,889 listed on the report were a measly 1 percent of the 328,345 abortions they claim.
Many who call themselves Christians choose to stay silent in this modern-day holocaust. May almighty God have mercy on their souls and on America.
Jim Finnegan,Naples and North Barrington, Ill.
Outstanding teacher
I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to an outstanding role model in our community. She is creating such a difference in the lives of our future leaders that it deserves recognition in this newspaper.
Her name is Annette Castor, a fifth-grade teacher at Osceola Elementary School. I'm not sure if this is allowed or if it will even get published, but it certainly should. Castor has many talents, but some of her innovative lessons, like baking with fractions, create a motivating learning environment.
Every child in Castor's class learns the importance of integrity, responsibility, creativity, solidarity and dedication. These core values are represented so well by Castor that even when she provided optional weekend homework, almost every kid in the class took pride in completing it even with no grade associated. It was, in fact, that weekend homework strategy that got every child in her class to pass the Florida Standards Assessment with an above-average score.
Castor also takes time every day to communicate with all the parents showing what the class has accomplished through photos and email. I can honestly say Castor's passion for education shines so bright it deserves recognition.
Natali Betancur, Naples
Yellow journalism
Annika Hammerschlag's June 13 front-page hit piece on Kelly Lichter, founder and board chairman of Mason Classical Academy (MCA), drones on for more than half an entire page of the newspaper before it comes to the only relevant bit of information in the whole article. The very last paragraph ends with a quote from state Rep. Byron Donalds. "The education there is top-notch," he said. "It's the best in the county."
The results of Florida statewide testing of public school students have been made public and those results show that Donalds spoke the truth. The academy is the best public school in the county.
Instead of reporting the phenomenal fact that a 3-year-old school outshines all the others in Collier County, the Naples Daily News chooses to try to denigrate MCA by reporting old news.
The article "reports" that if Kelly Lichter had stepped down from the MCA board last year, the school would have saved money on financing loans. What is not reported is that Lichter conceived of the idea of MCA in 2011, not just to create a school, but to create an extraordinary school. It is only natural that she would resist losing control of that goal before it has been fully realized. When Apple recalled Steve Jobs to lead it in 1997, they could have easily found a "cheaper" CEO, but the object was to have a visionary leader to lead them to success.
A front-page "news" article criticizing Lichter for incurring costs to MCA without highlighting the tremendous success of MCA is yellow journalism of the lowest kind. Shame on you, Naples Daily News.
Paula Rappaport, Naples
Pier no longer public
I read in the paper that consideration was being given to closing our iconic Naples Pier during the overnight hours.
The pier is not just another city park to be managed in the same way that Fleischmann Park or Anthony Park are managed.
The pier is not just an extension of the beach.
The pier has history, a history that is uniquely Naples.
While I am sure that each of you knows the history of the pier, have any of you been a part of the history of the pier? Has the Naples Pier ever been part of your history?
For those of us who grew up here, the pier was the centerpiece of many of our activities and is an integral part of our personal histories. Memories of fishing, watching storms roll in, seeing submarines and taking photographs of friends and family are all part of my pier history.
When the city started routinely closing the pier whenever stormy weather threatened, I knew we were being groomed for arbitrary closings such as this. Then the city closed the pier for a ticketed, private gathering, converting public property to private use as the citizens (i.e., taxpayers) were excluded in favor of those who bought a ticket.
Sadly, it seems the pier is no longer the public's park, it is the city's park that the people get to use, but only when a city bureaucrat deigns to permit its use.
William Kelly, Naples
Bashing unwarranted
I just wanted to write a few lines regarding the individuals who believe it is OK to bash Publix daily for not paying a penny more on the pound for tomatoes.
I do not believe it to be possible to receive better service from any other company in this town. If you don't want to shop there, then just shop somewhere else. We who appreciate a clean, orderly and friendly place to shop probably don't want you in the way crying anyway. The service from this great company is unrivaled and I applaud Publix for its business model.
It seems if you do not have anything to cry about, you will not be able to dictate how someone runs their business. Remember it was their money at risk, not yours, my friend. Good day.
Rick Jones, Naples
Thanks for investigative reporting
While attending Collier County School Board meetings, I've listened to board member Kelly Lichter repeatedly disparage the Naples Daily News and education reporter Annika Hammerschlag. The vehemence and choice of forum for Lichter's remarks puzzled me.
I've further struggled to reconcile my understanding of Mason Classical Academy's values, where Lichter is founder and president, with her behavior at Collier County School Board meetings.
No longer am I wondering why Lichter is complaining about freedom of information requests at a Collier County School Board meeting and why Lichter seems reluctant to recuse herself on Mason Classical Academy matters that are being voted on by the Collier County School Board. Hammerschlag's June 13 article, headlined "Charter school board faces criticism, complaints,” provided information on recent events at Mason Classical Academy that helps me understand some of the recent dynamics at Collier County School Board meetings.
Thank you for taking the time to investigate and report.
Colleen Brady, Naples
Waiting for confirmation
I am waiting for radio show host Alex Jones, et al., to confirm that the recent shooting at the congressional baseball practice was all staged by actors. It certainly looked it, no?
Ed Feldman, Naples
Like yelling “fire”
Did you wonder why James Hodgkinson decided to assassinate Republican congressmen at a baseball practice the other day? It is not hard to figure out. He had been listening to the ever-increasing drumbeat of hatred from the left-wing media.
The hatred is real; you hear it every day on CNN, ABC, CBS, MSNBC, et al. You read it every day on the pages of The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA TODAY, etc. The columns of Dick Meyer and Ann McFeatters, along with the letters to the editor from the local lefties and all the rest, keep escalating the hate as President Donald Trump remains in office.
There will always be useful idiots who will take your hatred as an excuse to murder people that you on the left vilify. Please give our duly elected president a chance, and please no First Amendment boohoos. You haters are crying -- nay, screaming -- fire in a very crowded theater.
Dan Dronkers, Estero
Abortion leading cause of death
Too many folks argue this or that is the first, second or third most common cause of death and mayhem in a class of people. They are always wrong. It is never cancer, heart failure or car accidents.
The number one cause of death, every year for the last 44 years, is abortion. More than a million. Many, virtually all, are not accidental but deliberate.
People say, “I don't have the money" to have a baby. "I won't be able to work or go to school.”
Let me repeat: deliberate killing. Start at the start. Otherwise, you teach others a life can be taken if you don't like it or have an argument against it. Then you want to tell others don’t do that, it's wrong?
Honesty with yourself and others is always the best way to see things. Can you Naples Daily News handle it? You haven't chosen to yet.
Dennis Wichterman, Naples
Testimony embarrassing, disgraceful
On June 6, 1944, over 150,000 courageous, honorable American young men stormed the beaches of Normandy in the beginning of the end to World War II.
Here we are 72 years later and are listening to how far our country has sunk.
There are admirals, generals, career federal judicial scholars, four heads of national intelligence agencies who refuse to answer a simple question to the U.S. Senate investigation regarding the Donald Trump presidential campaign and its involvement with Russia's interfering with the 2016 elections. They cited what the president said to each one in closed session.
Sen. John McCain was exasperated as he could be regarding the issue of The Washington Post exposing in detail whatever information these intelligence heads refused to answer.
The battle ribbons and uniforms these men wear are not befitting the United States of America that sent our young "believers" to Normandy in 1944, where many died on the beaches, never to be forgotten as examples of how great we can be.
The insulting non-testimony was embarrassing and unworthy of those who died for truth and honor and exhibited with disrespect to members of our Senate. Disgraceful.
Irene Ketover, Naples
Proud grandfather
One of our very talented, accomplished native-born students is presently in Brazil participating in a prestigious international volleyball tournament known as Marina Barra Clube "International Challenge." She was chosen to do so because her athletic credentials are beyond reproach.
Her name is Emily Hancock, a sophomore attending Berry College in Georgia. She is a former all-state athlete at Seacrest Country Day School in Naples and was the most valuable player when the school won the state championship in her junior year (2015). She now is a starting outside hitter at Berry.
Volleyball is fast becoming the world's most-watched and best-attended sport. Over 60,000 spectators watched it at the Olympic Games several years ago and all seats sold out.
Since your sports section was unaware of this accomplishment, I wanted to share the news with our Naples readers. I am a bit prejudiced though since I am her grandfather. Just saying.
Paul Camposano, Naples