Grapevines Without Roots

As reported by Dan DeWitt, columnist of Hernando Times, a series of grapevine gossip caused him embarrassment when calling Mary Ann DeWitt to offer condolences for the passing away of her husband Bob DeWitt, soon to leave his volunteer post on the Planning and Zoning Board. Oh, what a relief it must have been to recant misbegotten information! Unfortunately, the grapevine couldn’t be traced from the immediate source of the information, Anna Lisa Covell, who in turn had heard it from Anthony Palmieri.

Hold it right there! All three are on the P&Z department, right? And all three are retiring, again as informed from the reporting of Dan DeWitt, right? And there was some “supposed” misunderstanding about the living dead man amongst Palmieri and Covell, right?

Sounds like a practical joke to me! I don’t think it’s fair to Bob DeWitt to be the brunt of the “mishap” but, fortunately, Bob is an easy-going guy and shrugged it off with humor.
But, what might we expect next? Is there a tit-for-tat in the making from Bob? This may prove to be insightful on my part but, in the meantime, who will be the “source” of the rumor? In retaliation of the band of two, I might suggest that Mary Ann DeWitt join forces with Bob and send a tasty grape about the other two through the vine, but place the roots of the news too far buried to verify the true source.

As touched on Dan DeWitt in his column titled “News of his demise is spun by the Web”, seeking the source of information isn’t easily available from a reputable, recognized source. The perfect example in today’s technology is the Web, just as Dan wrote.

When looking for information on a given topic of interest, I quickly learned how very questionable many sites are. The first telltale signal is a perceived slant of a political view as put forth by the writer, especially when basic prior information conflicts with another source. I entrust my belief in the honesty of journalism to prominent newspapers and magazines. If I want different views on a subject, all I have to do is switch from one cable news station to another.

Blogs, each of mine included, should be viewed as suspect of accuracy. I think I do an honest job of providing a little bit of known knowledge on a subject, enhance it with information from Web searches to a number of official news services and organizations then make my own comments, which I attempt to be creative and/or humorous, if not at least recognized as well-written.

I don’t document where I retrieve information, other than jotting down the site and the information I was looking for and tossed in the trash once the blog entry has been published. If in doubt, I go to two, three or maybe be more sites when there are too many discrepancies with facts and figures. Forbes. Reuters. Bloomberg. Local, state, federal and international governments. These are just a few of my “Favorite Links”, plus sites of various corporations, universities and research groups.

Let me just leave it this way: no more Dan DeWitts writing about any Bob DeWitts from sources who turn out to be half-wits. Just the facts... please, just the facts.

Where's My Newspapers?

It seems that on a daily basis I go through a series of whiplashes as one business after another either seeks the temporary shelter of Chapter 11 or, worst of all, going out of business entirely. Whiz – there goes another one, not necessarily a name I’ve ever heard but turns out to be another significant cog in the wheel of misfortune of the economic crisis.

Whiz, whiz, whiz – one failure along side a dozen others and I’ve got a very severe crick in my neck. If I should close my eyes to escape the worsening affects of a demoralized business atmosphere, the winds of change won’t shelter my senses from the inevitable bad news.

Over the past few years, newspaper readership has steadily declined, thanks to the ever-flowing streams of data on the Internet. As circulation decreases so do advertising dollars and subscription increases would result in further deterioration of incoming revenues, the announcement that The Tribune Co (L A Times and Chicago Tribune) are biting the bitter bullet of its own filing of bankruptcy. At one time each of these newspapers greeting me every morning at the front door – an entry door to the ways and means of the world.

I’m nearly distraught at the thought that my current subscriptions are in jeopardy. The St. Pete Times and it’s driveway sidekick The New York Times - I dread the thought of loosing touch of local, national and worldly news at my fingertips.

What next? The demise of other publications? The Economist, Time, Discover, Business Week, etc., may one day no longer fill my mailbox with their individual in-depth reporting.

I say with determination that I will never rely on the Inet to gather news as I see fit to read. It’s all time-consuming and cumbersome in the scope of sifting through pop-ups and countless clicking to find items of interest. Generally speaking, an item of importance can be supplemented with information on the Inet but I don’t foresee a day when I will accept this as a primary source of news; I can’t take it with me or save articles for leisurely reading at a later time. Cable news is too extreme with lop-sided viewpoints.

What would I do without the Hernando Times? Days without Dan DeWitt? The loss of being informed on community affairs? I get distraught at the very thought.

I don’t anticipate an immediate loss of newsprint smudges around the house but one day I may have no choice but to accept the loss of the free press as I define it.

A Spring of Life

On November 1, 2008, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection became the proud owner of Weeki Wachee Springs, the latest of the 161 parks in the State Park Service. The deal had been signed on February 18 for a couple of ‘fins’!

Ten bucks and what do you get? Breathing room for “The Only City With Live Mermaids”! After nearly three decades of declining tourism, thanks to Disney and other exotic attractions, the survival of the Springs has ‘sprung’ back to life.

In celebration, bring out the bubbly! through air hoses, giving life support to those wide-tailed beauties!

The depth of the Springs, at 403 feet, is considered the deepest of known natural springs in the United States. Some changes can be expected with the removal of the water slide and a review of the boat ride. Safety and environmental concerns of the Southwest Florida Water Management District, SFWMD or Swiftmud, were factors in the lengthy legal battle with the previous owners of the Springs.

The Springs may never reach the popularity it once had in the 50s and 60s but there’s a strong belief that, with the State Park Service in control, it will be rehabilitated to a newfound glory with Buccaneer Bay, Florida’ only spring-fed waterpark, providing visitors with fun in the sun with its white sandy beaches.

The State can’t do much about the declining water level, which in the past pumped 117 million gallons of 72-degree water from the depths of the Florida Aquifer, but there’ll come a day when Weeki Wachee will be as glorious as Wekiva Springs in Apopka, Florida. Such is my belief, albeit with a unique character of its own.

Just as Blue Springs State Park, in Orange City, and Wekiva, manatees are an attraction in themselves. Big and cumbersome in appearance and endangered by the ways of humans, they’re such lovable creatures, especially when seen lolling about with their young. Such was a sight I witnessed with inspiration and a sense of peace and harmony. Another wonder of Mother nature!

And here I sit with guilt that, as yet, I haven’t taken the time to visit Weeki Wachee. After living in Florida in excess of half my 58 years of life, I’ve not made a trip to Key West. With a personal commitment, this won’t be the case with the Springs located a mere five miles from my home. Shameful.

We should all be honored that Weeki Wachee Springs is safe, secure and reassured that the “Only City With Live Mermaids” will continue to be one of most treasured gifts to Hernando County, knowing the grace and beauty of those aquatic wonders will keep those fins a-flappin’.

A Rose Is Still A Rose

In every election there are disappoints whether it be the a national, state or local candidate. The broadest perspective places the voting for the President of the United States of more importance than all other political contests, followed by other national contests, namely Congressional races.

Getting closer to home, the selection of state representatives will shape the direction of where and how taxpayer dollars will be spent.

It’s the local elections that can make the biggest difference in the next four years. County and city candidates have a large control of the landscape of your daily living and what the view outside your front door will be.

In my singular opinion, there’s a sense of regret that the most outspoken and un-molded personality will no longer be among the Hernando County Board of County Commissioners.

Although I fail to understand the importance of the political party affiliation of local officials, it’s the branding of the reds and blues of elected representatives that gives me cause to pause and dwell on the implications that will follow the two defeated Democrats, Chris Kingsley and Diane Rowden. Their lives will go on as will that of the rest of us and yet there’s a sense of loss that’ll bring a time of adjustment.

Chris is an exceptional neighborhood friend and has been considerate of issues most important to constituents. I’ve taken a bit of interest in the goings on in the County these past two years, since Election Day 2006, and feel a loss for what will be his lack of input in making local decisions. His vocal inquiries at County hearings always seemed timely and appropriate.

Diane is a woman consistently vocal in her opinions, taking issue with unabashed determination to make her individuality something of contention to get down to the nitty gritty. Chances have often been 4 to 1 that her viewpoints would be different from the mold of special interests. She hasn’t always displayed the kindest of expressions but, while some people have expressed a certain dislike (without giving specifics because they’re “too numerous”), others have placed her among the best at listening, responding and taking action when warranted.

Diane has been the sole Board member consistently expressing a concern about the too often acceptance of one development after another. I’m talking the Hickory, the Sunrise and the Hideaway decisions. Those decisions are not what I call “forward thinking”. S.O.S.O comes to mind.

Jeff Stabins, in spite of running as a Republican, which I write in jest, remains fully seated for the next four years. He’s still my District 1 Manager, so to speak. Actually, I’d be pleased to nominate his placement as permanent Chairman with his quirky comments and, at times, attire. Nonetheless, he has a mind of his own and makes it known.

Change is good, otherwise this great nation wouldn’t be the leader of this planet called Earth.

I was more in line with the recommendations of the Hernando Times than Hernando Today on local candidates but on this Day 1 after the General Election all is not lost to the past.

James Adkins and John Druzbik will join the Board alongside Rose Rocco and David Russell. Congratulations to both. Whatever influence on future changes in the County, no one can doubt their sincere goals to make Hernando a better community.

I can’t help but make reference to Rose. She must feel the lonely one. She’s a minority of 1 times 2 – a woman and a Democrat. Stand firm, dear lady. Two years on may bring an opponent too familiar to the Board – a Republican man. Stand firm, indeed!

Join Me In My Press Box

Extra!! Extra!! Read all about it!

My reporters are quick on the draw with pens in hand jotting down notes as they interview each and every one of their sources for personal viewpoints. And every story is handled with expertise, as anyone would expect of seasoned professionals. They take newsworthy tips with vigor, clarifying the stories as they question their sources so as not to misrepresent their daily tidbits.

The printed words come in daily sections of the Early Edition, Hernando Today and a section for Health and Beauty advice as some readers need a little clarification on what the paper has to offer for their personal well-being. The Foreign Affairs section is particularly intriguing with for the layers of tidbits to pick and choose from, some of them worthy of consideration as the individual decides what will be of their best interest.

The Mid Day Express is another section, along with the Sunrise or Sunset Editions) but there’s an array of options to keep the reader busy trying to decide which activity will fulfill the day’s needs. By Lunch, it’s a wrap-up but the Evening News is still a great read, hearty and full of the good stuff you can sink yourself into.

You can't go wrong in The Classifieds section and its listed opportunities.

Wes and Donna are the publishers. They’re kind and attentive to the reporters, each of who have already proven their worthiness for the positions they hold. Talk about dedication to the printed word! If they were any more attentive to the words, and the verbal interest of the readers, you’d think they were clairvoyant!

Reportes include Jackie, Nancy and Wes, Jr…. and then there’s Sara who told me, “Get the “h” out of there!” in reference to the spelling of her name! But, yes, she was right on!, accuracy is always first and foremost, right next to making the sure the reader is 100% satisfied. Regardless, each of them are whizzin’ about, doing their jobs with the degree of professionalism that every reporter should attain.

So, I’m the critic as I linger in a booth, not so much judging the bearer of good service but the knowledge that whatever my plate should hold, it’ll be good eatin’ to my palate.
The Press Box is on Mariner just south of Elgin “sandwiched” between a convenient store and an Italian icemaker.

The eatin’s good, to say the least; the service is among the best; prices are easy to digest.

My press box is The Press Box.

God Hates Gays? What Of Straying Sheep?

In response to Hernando Today’s Guest Column of October 23rd, “Amendment 2 Won’t Correct Genetic Anomaly; Vote ‘No’”, an on-line opinion espoused, “You should know God hates Gays!!”

God hates Gays?

The comment deserves to be worded as "god HATES gays". It's a very small god that embraces hate in a world created by Him.

Supporters of Amendment 2 are unable to articulate anything other than what’s been expressed time and again by every like-minded conservative extremist. They go around in circles to avoid addressing the affects that the passage of Amendment 2 will have on all partners of domestic nature.

"You have the same freedom to marry, etc that all Floridians do" ... is a trumpet song from the ultra-conservative that says it's okay for a gay man and a gay woman to wed and do as they may... perhaps consummate the holy matrimony to have a baby, or adopt an infant, and raise the child as they will... with each of them having their own same sex partner. Very communal.

Homosexuals do not make attempts to force their lifestyle on anyone; they are not
homogeneous to their lifestyle. They are more astute to an individual's needs than are most legally married/divorced non-gays. Gay parents can impress upon their young to consider all viewpoints on religion and politics, which don't mix any better than oil and vinegar, unless the far right shakes 'em up in a frenzy, giving the concoction an appearance of legitimacy when in fact it's an act of collusion.

Because of being chastised and, gays are more astute to giving a more rounded view of the different classes of people and their beliefs that would otherwise be impressed upon them by partisan minds. Gays have broader insights on social awareness than most other minority groups.

There's much more riff raff in traditional marriages than domestic partnerships, putting children at a disadvantage to learning skills and dropping out of school, thus society, than others.

Amendment 2 isn't just about a man and a woman and marriage

Conservatives demand rights to the unborn living, but what of the undead living in poverty, starved for love and nourishment, in poor health with no means to care for life-threatening ailments, abused by health care professionals and ignored by society?The politics of government assures that bureaucracy will continue to leave millions without medical, and mental, treatments thus wasting taxpayer money. Neither presidential candidate can afford taxpayers the medical bills necessary to provide effective health care to every American.

"True believers", as they may call themselves, should become noble saviors to the unfortunate.

They got the moneyThe Church is very rich. It's virtually impossible to find information on the figures that represent the worth of religious groups, although it's easily imagined that it amounts to trillions of dollars.

A Boston Cardinal's home on a 60-acre urban site with a chancery and a seminary is worth $130,000,000.

The Boston Diocese owns a $31,000,000 television station.

The 75-acre estate at the Aldrich Mansion and owned by the Boston Diocese is valued at
$22,000,000. It's rented out for parties.

The Detroit Diocese owns a golf course and conference center: $18,000,000.

A Chicago Cardinal's home is worth $10,000,000.

These are just a few examples of the assets held by the little guys within the Catholic Church. It must be chump change to the riches held by the Vatican and the amounts of money held by other denominational churches.

Give, give, give then give some more

A tithing increase to 15 to 20% could provide massive funds toward saving souls. Love and charity comes from where the money rolls. Yet, Christians only give about 2.5% of their income to churches, not the recommended 10% gratuity. Up the ante for goodwill toward all destitute men, women and children! What value are parishioners willing to place on their salvation toward the betterment of their fellow men, women and children?When faithful followers ask questions about tithing, the pastor will likely avoid the issue. Or, as can also happen, a wife may seek guidance on tithing because a meager salary of less than $6.00 per hour isn't enough to raise a child and provide insulin to her gravely ill husband.

A response unbecoming of spiritual guidance often leads to scripture Malachi 3:10: "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse … and test me now in this, says the Lord of hosts. If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows."The holy man told the woman that she would be cursed without tithing. His words meant for her to hand over dollars, leaving pennies in her hand. A forsaken soul, a lost parishioner.

Churches pay out the dough for litigation, don't you know?

The poor man's contributions have, for years, been used in sex abuse settlements.

The Diocese of St. George sold assets toward a $14 million settlement for the abuse of boys by Rev. Kevin Bennett.

A $7.89M settlement with 15 men was rendered for the sexual abuses of Rev. James McGreal of the Archdiocese of Seattle over a 20-year period. He had served in 10 parishes and 2 Catholic hospitals during that period of time. Of the settlement, $6.89 million was covered by with five insurance carriers and the remainder came from the archdiocese self-insurance program.

In 2003, the Boston Archdiocese paid out a whopping $85M to 552 people sexually abused by clergy. This was the largest settlement in history but by the end of 2002 the church had already paid out over $100M.

In December 2002, Pope John Paul II accepted the resignation of Cardinal Bernard F. Law. Although he hadn't been involved in the abuses, Law admitted his failure at protecting the young and innocent. Pope John Paul II accepted his resignation.

By the end of 2002, over 1200 priests were accused of sexual abuse in the United States. Many of the abused began in the 1940's. Multiply 1200 priests x 62 years = way too many criminal abuses on way too many children's lives, over 70-thousand per year... minimum.

The morals of The Church are always in question. Their deeds are good but only when done for the good of all. The Church has squandered its charitable contributions and poorly distributed them. It has led the most innocent astray and rewarded it’s sinful ministries with freedom to once again pursue.

Estimates put the cost to the Catholic Church in 2002 at $1.5B!

The passage of Amendment 2 will see throngs of lawyers in love with the hourly rates for a lengthy period of more litigation. With moneys that should be spent resolving the sad affairs of destitute people, which is apparently of less concern to The Church.

Everybody looses

In 2003, the Archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky, paid out over $30M in settlements and legal and medical bills. Some had called for the resignation of Archbishop Thomas C. Kelly who had kept priests in the ministry even though he was aware they had abused minors. Cover-ups and reassignments kept these deeds hidden for decades.

One parishioner, Cathy Stone, then 78, commented on Kelly, "I think the good he's done outweighs the things he let slide. Nobody is perfect." How forgiving of her.

A total of 243 plaintiffs, mostly men, had endured childhoods that left them emotionally scarred. Many of the abuses had occurred in the 1940's before parishes began carrying litigation insurance so the settlement came from church funds, affecting charities, soup kitchens for the hungry and poor, the deaf, those with drug addiction, and the homeless.

How forgiving of Cathy Stone, indeed. Archbishop Kelly left the church in 2007 for retirement.

“Homosexuals are an abomination!” No more so than are predators within The Church and those who lied under God’s temples in denial of these sins.

These crimes aren't exclusive to the Catholic Church but the fortunes spent on litigation rather than toward social consciousness are enormous. The worth of organized religion is unknown. Annual statements aren’t shared - this may be the only example of separation of Church and State.

The world of religion has wealth in trillions upon trillions of dollars. Perhaps godzillions?

The right remains speechless

Those in favor of Amendment 2 continue to ignore questions and comments that put their moral standards on the grandstand of judgment, just as they judge others.

There is still the question as to how determined the religious right is willing to express their dislike of gays. What of companies that provide domestic partner coverage? Do religious convictions become less ethereal when earthly needs and desires override beliefs? Will the truly devout embrace their creed and forsake giving legitimacy to businesses that provide corporate-enforced recognition of homosexual behavior and give benefits to heterosexuals living outside the sanctity of marriage?Or will they stand by with no conviction? Pick and choose as they will, it is they who will surely continue to give-in to the temptation of material goods and services, regardless the source of religious contempt.

What of neighbors, friends, relatives and businesses that have gay members within their realm of acceptance? Are they treated with contempt, as are the targets of their hatred?

What if same-sex marriages were legal, which they aren't? Would those couples be a threat to the unions of the accepted definition of holy matrimony? It's entirely possible that gay marriages would have fewer divorce rates. For sure, there would be no higher infidelity amoung their numbers.

Just as with politicians, the religious tend to skirt the issues, an apparel not in my wardrobe.

Getting’ down to the skivvies

Amendment 2 is much more than just about banning marriage of same-sex, domestic partner or any two people dependent upon one another, including elderly couples. The unintended aftermath of passage of the Amendment will put into jeopardy the health and well-being of countless men, women and children.

The Amendment brings into question the role that The Church is willing to take for those desperately in need, not just those who have wants in their own denominations. Can organized religion uphold the integrity of God through good will toward all men and women?

People shouldn't have to beg, plead or cry to Heaven when this Earthly life treads hard on their souls.

To paraphrase a statement that most of us heard in our youth, If the Church spent as much time and money as it does to goad people into voting Yes on Amendment 2, millions of people would be much better off than they are.

God hates gays? God does not hate. Man hates. Man is not god.

Piddle Drips

A fine mist to those who believe that, if it weren’t for the County Commissioners of the past four years and more, there would have been a different scenario than what has been the tendency to spend beyond fiscal responsibility. Nearly every local, state and federal government has taken part in spending easy moneys garnered from taxpayers.

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A good spraying to Charlie Crist for his absenteeism of governing Florida to resolve issues most worrisome to its residents. His spotlight faded as he shunned the Sunshine State while campaigning with John McCain as a Vice Presidential contender. And where is he right now for McCain, or Florida?

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A steady stream goes to The Blaze, the supporters and self-interest groups who have demonized the three incumbent County Commissioners. The act of contributing thousands of dollars to put a personal brand of politicians in county seats is a bad bet unless the slight of hand will eventually handsomely pay off to make it a wager well pocketed.

* * *

A deluge goes to Wall Street and its history of pandering to questionable lending practices. Overflows go to Congress for buckling in to the unpopular means of bailing out those who have largely contributed to manipulating homeowners to spend beyond their means.

A Promise Kept?

It was at the end of a long, drawn out day in April when the surprise decision of a 4 to 1 vote on the Hickory Hill subdivision that I committed myself to do a bit of campaigning for the odd-Commissioner out-of-line with the rest. Each of our mouths dropped at the end of the hearing. A bit of anger and a swelling of the eyes and a promise was made.

There’s no secret who this Hernando County Commissioner is. So much so that I really don’t have to spell out the name or the gender.

So, when the time came a couple of months ago to act upon that my commitment, The Commissioner verified that I was “the guy who writes blogs” and the inquiry as to what I was willing to do for the re-election. What else could I say but “Write”. Not exactly what The Commissioner had anticipated. I got the impression my point was mute. I silently agreed with The Commissioner’s tone that I was being shamefully shy in acting on my commitment.

But… since that conversation, I have followed The Commissioner’s very own style of promoting a victory next month on Election Day 2008. A very important day indeed on every level of voter decision-making. You gotta check the right box on the ballot or forever hold your foolish mark on the future.

So, what have I been up to over the past weeks? As has been reported, The Commissioner’s tactics are simple. Talk friend-to-friend, neighbor-to-neighbor and acquaintance-to- acquaintance about the wise choice(s) that I have made for voting on the three up-for-grabs Commissioner seatings. Who of the candidates will place their butts on the Board for the next four year? We shall see how the voting goes… with anticipation.

Each of my conversations leads to the decisions that have been made at the Hernando County Government Center over the past two, too long years. Not just Hickory Hill, but the other approved subdivisions of Lake Hideaway and Sunrise. Build, build, build for as far as the future can be seen. Not one of the people I’ve talked to were aware that amid this period of known reduction in property taxes and what I view as giving away of infrastructure moneys (impact fees) to accommodate the proliferation of daunting home building.

Not one of these voters can understand what the rush has been to pass, pass, pass the land use hearings that will lead to Hernando County through another phase of employment opportunities dependent on construction jobs, lawn maintenance careers and incomes that will assure the success of retail stores for at least the next two decades - mediocre salaries. It's no secret to me that the developers were well aware of changes that would be more costly to their enterprises at the expence and suprise to taxpayers - hidden costs.

I should hope The Commissioner views my efforts as positive re-enforcements for the re-election bid against the “droozly” opponent.

Here’s an exercise at solving an anagram. Re-arrange the letters ADDEEINNORW. Clue: it's a synonym of MAVERICK. Not the Republican kind, though.

I Cried Like A...

... person who embraces a long lost friend.

The blog entry “Good To Be Back… Or Is It?” was quick in the making after a lengthy period of isolation from submitting any letters to the editor of Hernando Today.

Finally, words that suited my personal acceptance was delivered, by e-mail, for consideration of being printed. A fine time to do it after a couple of months of the far and few entries in my blogs.

There was a bit of passion on the topic. A feeling of accomplishment for writing on a subject that got my goat. It was an opportunity to express emotions about the state of affairs in Hernando County. And I did it without the gloat of self arrogance.

The words came about as a second-round thought process. Boy oh boy the first word document was a bunch of gibberish, making comments about a variety of topics from Sundays’s editions of Hernando Today and the Hernando Times.

Goats, the supervisor of elections and amphibians. It went on and on, making a few points here and there but, upon re-reading the words, most definitely going nowhere in slow motion. I was rather upset when I shut down the computer at the end of Sunday’s hours.

What did I finally come up with? Monday morning brought about a frenzy and pointed thoughts on a single topic. A bite here and a lashing there. And what did I come up with? Something that brought back a feeling of creative accomplishment. Will it get printed anywhere else than on my blog? Whatever. The important matter is that it truly mattered to me.

Yes, my eyes dampened on completion of saving the expressions on Word Document. Then, the send key shot it out to be reviewed by the Editors. ‘Nuff said, ‘nuff done. The exercise was fun.

And now this somewhat private, candid explanation of my dampened pleasures.

May this drought of blog entries come to an ending.

No, I didn’t need a tissue to soak up the salty moisture. It quickly evaporated as swift typing on the keyboard added this very blog to my repertoire.

Getting Malled

I understand that on Tuesday, Oct. 14, the Hernando County Planning & Zoning Commission approved that Board of County Commissioners the opportunity to further review a request of H. R. Hernando LLP to instill in the County a 57-acre shopping center in the vicinity of I-75 and SR 50. It is to be named Nature Coast Commons.

The unanimous decision came of no surprise since the request was “consistent” with the current master plan and zoning requirements. So it goes and let it be.

I did a little Googling and found nothing on H. R. Hernando LLP, although Nature Coast Commons immediately referred me to a web site that told me the project intends to splatter the east side of the County with anchor stores that include Best Buy, JC Penney (gotta love ‘em), Office Depot and Ross Dress For Less, among others.

Blue blazers shot before my eyes. Here we go again: the big box mentality is “in consistency” with what goes on around this town.

There are no enticements that will prompt me to grace those acres and acres of another blimp of a larger-than-usual strip mall. I won’t go there any more than I frequent all those retail stores that proliferate the rest of Hernando County.

I want a mall! Right there just off I-75 on Hwy 50 where the SunCoast Toll Road to Tampa would entice shoppers from surrounding areas. Just as tourist dollars from non-residents are cream on the topping of county funds, it could have been a small gold mine.

As is the common practice of shopping in the County, it sends me spending time traipsing from one store to another in the heat of summer, the short periods of chills in the air in our winter wonderland and the sometimes-inclement stormy weather of spring, summer and hurricane seasons.

The creeks don’t rise and the rivers don’t flow in this fair County, but the numbers of strip malls continue to grow!

I want to be malled! No waste of gas, time and the aggravations of going here, there and somewhere else. I want the convenience of entering one REALLY BIG box that provides a leisurely stroll along the storefronts that are side-by-side and across from each other. I want a place where I can see more people of a variety than I can imagine. Adults, young adults, kids, toddlers and, yes, senior citizens. Families together and family members cruising stores of each of their singular interests. Groups of elderly people strolling together on days when there are fewer shoppers for a peaceful period of mild exercise. These are signs of life as we should view it.

You may say, lump it, leave it, just don’t peeve it! Fed up in Hernando? Not quite yet. Now is not the time to expect a quick or even lengthy time period of selling a home, although it’s a dandy period to purchase a home elsewhere.

Elderly relatives in Zephyr Hills are of primary concern. Their minds are well but their aching bodies foretell the inevitable. I don’t desert loved ones.

I blame government officials and business leaders for the spreads of ever-growing unoccupied homes, and those not yet built on Hickory Hill, Sunrise and Lake Hideaway. They’ve done their best to boxed us in with small town decisions. I’d like to take each of these people and box their ears, one by one. This is no threat of bodily harm, just an upside down euphemism strewn with sarcasm. What a good humor man, I am!

Cases in point: a shopping center in the vicinity of Spring Hill Drive and the SunCoast-Tampa Toll Road, was to be named “Shoppes of Spring Hill” but changed to “SunCoast Crossing” this past April to better identify the location along the toll road. Or to distance the 53-acre tract from local identification? That’s kind of impersonal.

I suppose the remaining location for a mall in Hernando County would be along County Line Road off the SunCoast, although chance would put a Wal-Mart there.

If we can’t attract a developer to build Masaryktown Mall, another chance would bring about Pasco County Mall… in another county.

For the time being I’ll continue to walk among the shops at the Gulf View Mall… in another county. Or, for a less congested, less red light-infested journey, I can head to the Crystal River Mall… in another county. One trip – one parking spot. Two choices... not in Hernando County.

Any guesses where I’ll do my primary Holiday shopping?

The $25K Run

What could a person do with $25,000?

Investing such a sum might be the wisest of choices – these economically distraught times could be the perfect opportunity to realize financial security in 5 to 10 years. Stock prices have declined dramatically and sure to level off and, eventually, offer profits to the wise: those who contact a professional advisor rather than decide to pick and choose, then lose.

With the price of gas currently the lowest than it will be anytime in the future, that $25K will put you in a Prius - taxes, title and delivery charges included. It’s a hybrid, gets over 45 mpg and a Toyota. And push-button start is standard. You couldn’t possibly go wrong. I might choose this option, considering the mpg of my ’95 4Runner – paid off years ago and maintained by Mike, the Toyota/Lexus expert, at Toyodoc. It’s still a keeper for transporting anything larger than the purchases at the grocer.

A responsible person would take care of debt. Pay off credit cards, catch up on house payments and pay property taxes and insurance premiums on time.

Attend to medical conditions that have been cost-prohibitive, maybe dental.

This is a perfect time for a first time homebuyer to cash in on the fallen housing market: a sizable down payment and cash to boot for home improvement purchases. It’s still a worthwhile American dream, although on hold for too many.

There are surely those who would just blow the $25K on good-time excursions.

A newspaper trail

Or, as reported by Barbara Behrendt in the Monday, August 25th, edition of Hernando Times, a concerned resident of Hernando County plans to direct the money-flow toward his choice of candidates in the General Election. The article can be viewed at: www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/article783284.ece

Many of the 2008 candidates on the Primary Ballot had been given donations from Blaise and his businesses, but on August 26th, Election Day, he let the candidates “battle it out”. The gentleman is one determined individual to put each and every incumbent commissioner out of office. His conviction is flaunted with plans to spend $25,000 of his own money toward that end.

He can be commended for his determination. As he has been a successful businessman with Hartland Homes Inc, America One Home Loans and Juris Title of Hernando County, he is without a doubt a man who has personal goals and the determination to achieve success with each venture.

Backtracking on the newspaper trail

Let’s go back almost one year to the day, on August 25th, 2007, when Barbara Behrendt wrote an article titled ‘Spirit’ trumps the numbers. The full article can be viewed at
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/08/26/Hernando/_Spirit__trumps_the_n.shtml

A book deal in the making, motivational speaker for pre-construction investment seminars, investor-financed homes… the very type of homes that are vacant, taking up space without occupants to pay for the property taxes that they would bring into county funds. Lowing homeowner property taxes to 1.35% would have made it easier to unload unoccupied, discounted homes and opened opportunities in the future to keep on building.

Ms. Berhendt wrote that Mr. Ingoglia “will come forward later with ideas on how to shrink county government without massive layoffs or service cuts.” At the time, “he hasn’t gotten around to devising those yet.” Whatever those ideas may have been, it’s now apparent layoffs and service cuts are unavoidable and the number of unemployed county workers will increase with little consideration of the position and/or pay level. Primary cost-saving measures include the consolidation of department heads and reduced hours for various services.

One-track minds

The point is that Blaise is determined to prompt voters with a principal that puts decisions in the same vane as voting for a candidate because of a physical appearance, voting strictly along a party line or voting for the candidate based on similar religious beliefs. Single-issue voting is narrow-minded and can compromise the selection of the best-qualified candidate. The odds of making a responsible choice are variable but it’s nowhere near a 50-50 proposition.

Take for instance the current President. Time and again I had talked to people who had voted for Bush in the 2000 election had expressed their dismay and hinted they would go with Gore. These were middle-aged to elderly friends, acquaintances and, just as often, people that would be one-time social contacts (standing in line in a retail store!). Guess what? They made a last-minute flip-flop because of one sole issue. And guess what? It was Iraq and the “war” on terror.

Apparently they make the assumption that it was the patriotic thing to do. This was single-issue voting that kept Bush occupying the Oval Office these past four years. The choice was poorly made as people look forward to the change in January 2009; hopefully mundane McCain won’t be elected on the same premise.

$25K run

Just as Mr. Ingoglia spent over $12,000 last year presenting his Government Gone Wild seminars, he’s prepared to make a $25K run at replacing the incumbent commissioners at whatever cost. Fellow grass roots activist and political action citizen, Linda Hayward, and other members of the Hernando County Taxpayer Alliance haven’t anything better to do, either.

County Administrator David Hamilton is determined to make Hernando County an example in responsible government with cautious steps at balancing a reduced budget by downsizing every level of government. One means of saving resident’s total tax burden is by attrition, such as the announced retirement of Grant Tolbert. And, do the names Tom Leto, Barbara Dupre, Stephanie Anderson, Michael Silvey or Carl Kennedy ring a bell?
The eventual fate of Charles Mixon is uncertain.

Even though these events are decidedly shy of achieving the ultimate goal of reducing taxes further than what has already been realized, Mr. Hamilton is a pro at tackling the issues and delivering successful results - he came on board with no personal, emotional bonds, so his decisions are unbiased and affective.

Blaise can spend his money and Linda can offer solidarity to the one goal of voting against incumbent Commissioners, but it’s poor reasoning gone wild. Their allegiance to that end is wrought with what should be voter concern. The theme will be well received by many who might be less informed as there will likely be no other issues discussed with the same gala.

Nevertheless, with or without their influence, snippets on the budget will continue regardless the vote tally of any given candidate.

It's not just the taxes, stupid

Another concern expressed by many residents is the reliance of construction and related jobs on the local economy. There’s a solid murmuring that the job performance of Mike McHugh should be reviewed for consideration of termination. It appears drawing alternative, higher paying jobs is a haphazard success in that there are businesses that have shown an interest of relocating to Hernando County without the involvement of the Growth and Development Director.

Namely, Precision Alliance has expressed an interest in drawing some 135 machine tool businesses to Hernando County with 4,000 high-paying, technical jobs. The company’s goal is to make this happen within 5 years although the full number of job opportunities may not be realized for a few years beyond, depending on a sufficiently educated work force and the infrastructure to accommodate their needs.

Ignominious and blasé

November is two months in the future. Hopefully residents will become educated voters on a variety of the topics of local concern and not be overly influenced with the preaching of selective topics. There’s no telling how the $25K will be allocated in the coming weeks or what affect it will have on the outcome of Election Day. Perhaps the disappointments of less-than-expected tax savings on recent TRIM notices are all that’ll be needed to make a sweeping change in the makeup of the Board this coming November.

Smear Graphics

What do we have here, juvenile politicians or intense campaigners or overzealous supporters? Whatever the reason, at the southeast corner of the intersection at Mariner and Northcliffe the land has been cleared with what could be considered a small mountain of dirt in this flatland state. In time, it’ll be the site of other businesses that’ll make the intersection another bonanza of traffic congestion, making it an accident-prone location. But that’s not what this writing is about.

The item of comment is the larger-than-me political sign that’s red-and-white against a backdrop of blue sky. Leaning against a wire fence to keep in it an upright position, the sign has been confetti-eed with additional streaks of red with definite hints of being done by a poor expressionist of pre-school mentality.

Whether done out of zeal to oust incumbent Democrat Diane Rowden, Hernando County Commissioner District 3, or to seat the opposing candidate, Republican John Druzbick, it makes a point in that there are delinquents of any age.

Whoever the culprit, the fact is that the smaller sign positioned next to that of Diane Rowden had no memorable characteristics of its own - I have no recollection the candidate's name or election office. This might give the advantage to Mrs. Rowden.

The Commissioner’s sign stands out so, out of name recognition, perhaps ROWDEN will be easily remembered when voters enter their checkmark on the General Election ballot.

UPDATE:

Just great! Two days later and the sign has been stolen!

Newspaper Confetti

I remember so well during the final stretch leading up the 2006 General Election the frequent Guest Columns submitted by Mia Rushing and how she was always rushing to place judgment on each and every Democrat. Initially, I was aghast at such vehemence of distrust of her opposition party. Labeled a “grassroots activist”, I made my own judgment that she was every bit as “radical” as any protester in the 70’s.

At one point, I decided to stop reading her words of ragged patriotism, but the temptation to check out her latest rant found me a regular reader, deciding to accept her words as propaganda, at which she did the best of efforts to get her message across: vote straight Republican on the General Election ticket or face years of flimflam government, which was ironic considering the six years of George W.’s bush-hogging the freedoms given with the Constitution. I eventually took humor in her words.

I don’t expect Mia to contribute her words on the Opinion page this election. I would welcome her uncompromising positions (strictly for entertainment purposes, I assure you) but her work at providing support and services to senior citizens is of much more relevance.

Here we are: another election and another writer taking a turn at bat, although this time the swing is from the left. Frances Earl issues a Call to Patriots but there are so few true patriots enlisting in the military that her . Until there are sufficient troops to fulfill the needs of their service, we will continue to be labeled with a ragtag army.

A draft system would get those American fat-assed kids away from their computer games, cable and wireless services. There’s nothing patriotic about sitting on a sofa while real patriotism lies with others who are risking their lives, any more than it is for a cheerleader to root for a football player – at least the quarterback will get immediate and thorough medical treatment; there’s always a back-up player to take his place.

Don’t worry, I’m not voting against McCain… I’m voting for Obama. Just as I was very concerned in 2004 that Bush would be re-elected, I again feel a sense of dismay and fear that another Republican presidency will further endanger the middle class, continue to be at odds with historic alliances and wage conflicts against an ideology of an unseen threat of terror, and put the world at risk of expanding global war initiatives - with or without a sufficient military force.

There, I’ve done my best to make peace with the former vice-chairperson of the Hernando County Democratic Executive Committee. What could anyone ask for but to have a voter on the right side of your own personal view? Although.... as I would have voted in 1968 if I had been but two months older for Eugene McCarthy, I would place my for Ron Paul this election season.

The Doctor Visit

The news from the Doctor was very disturbing. He showed no consideration whatsoever when the graphic photographs were presented before me; they have turned out to be life-changing views to the future of my physical and mental well-being.

I wonder if the Doctor would have recommended counseling in advance, but then I might have decided not to attend a meeting so detrimental of my immediate future. The diagnosis was unexpected but my spontaneous understanding of the condition

It’s non-native in origin - an invasion of a foreign agent. The diagnosis was bad, the prognosis in favor of the “enemy”. The Doctor admitted that even with his extensive education in this specialized field he has no remedies to offer; there is no known way of eradication. I feel defeated had become a personal nemesis.

At the Board of County Commissioners hearing on July 22, guest speaker Dr. Stacy Strickland, Regional Specialized Agent of the Hernando County Extension Service of the University of Florida, gave a ghastly presentation of a non-native plant to Florida, cogon grass. I had in immediate feeling of deja vu and a sense of despair for what this vegetation has wrought on my life these past three years.

Cogon grass is a plant that is considered to be one of the 10 worst weeds in the world, damaging crops and ecosystems, costing billions of dollars in lost harvests. In the U.S., Florida is the epicenter, extending from the Everglades north to South Carolina and west toward Texas. It has been reportedly seen as far north as Oregon on the west coast and West Virginia on the east. Global warming will most likely see further invasions around the world, as it is adaptable to moist types of soil, including wetlands and clay and sandy soils but needs little water to survive.

Although I didn’t know the name of the plant that was shown before me, that off-center vein was a familiar sight to my eyes. As Dr. Strickland proceeded to explain fact about this aggressively invasive grass, which grows anywhere between 2 to 4 feet, I felt a sense hopelessness, already having spent three years of my life repeatedly uprooting and applying vegetation killer in an attempt to rid a section of my backyard of these yellow-green strands of grass.

In one sense, my mind wanted to find comfort with the fact that my efforts were as good as they could get but it was with dismay and distress to know that I will forever spend my days hawking the growth of this weed grass in an area of the backyard where I had successfully grown a patch of ruellia.

Also known as Florida bluebell, Mexican petunia and Purple Showers, but better known to myself as “bluebell”, it too has some commonality with cogon grass – they both are invasive plants with rhizome root systems. This characteristic spreads the plant quicker and farther than by airborne seeds. Small pieces of the plant can be transported on tires or in displaced soil. Just a piece of a stem of either plant will eventually thrive even though they may lay dormant for a period of time.

From one small potted bluebell, I was able to grow an area of about 12’ by 6’ in a matter of three months. Snap off a branch, stick it in dirt, water it a little and healthy sprouts will appear in a two to three weeks.

In my case, the area of coverage was contained to keep the plant from invading the whole back yard although it would be an awesome sight to see a field of these purple flowers in full bloom every morning, beginning to wilt in mid-afternoon and falling off one-by-one by nightfall.

Although I haven’t let the cogon grass get to the stage of blooming, it has white fuzzy-hairy flowers. The leaves are fibrous and razor-edged, which has two affects: inhibits animals from eating the grass and cuts into other plants as its density increases. It not only overtakes native vegetation but also disrupts animal and bird habitats, affecting whole ecosystems.

Cogon grass is native to Southeast Asia, where it has been widely used for thatched roofing, but now is found in most parts of Africa, South America, Central America and the Middle East and stretches from Japan, throughout Southeast Asia and Indonesia downunder to Australia. It inhabits and suppresses other plant growth, reduces crop yields and delays harvests on all continents, save Antarctica.

I’m not really concerned about other places around the globe but for as long as I can imagine living in Spring Hill, I shall spend many days unsuccessfully uprooting this grass, with full knowledge that my efforts won't be fruitless in that I will not allow it to overtake those beautiful bluebells.

I shan't blame Dr. Strickland for the aggravation he brought to me when he gave the presentation on cogon grass. I truly appreciate the Doctor's successes to casually share his knowledge, but it’s not just the thought of cogon grass alone but it’s also the sights of Bermuda grass overtaking my yard that haunts the darkened visions behind my closed eyelids.

Bi-polar Conviction

“She must be bi-polar.”

I’ve heard those words more than once as I’ve went about my business of shopping or running errands over the past three years. It’s a presumptive claim and nothing unique in Hernando County although it’s a cop-out when a passerby makes a casual statement based upon an unavoidable moment of eavesdropping on a person whose volume and tone might be filled with anger and threat, a little out of control. Bi-polar depression is nothing to casually speculate about.

I’ve spent my life pretty much control myself in public when irritations arise without notice, but it hasn’t always been such. A combination of work stresses, health conditions and dental expenses, car repairs, money concerns, traffic (Orlando, Chicago, Los Angeles) and more work stresses has at times led to a few public outbursts. People would turn their heads, giving an inquisitive stare as they checked out what the ruckus was all about. A person might have even made an unsympathetic retort.

No, I’ve never been diagnosed as having a bi-polar disorder but a long-term friend has dealt with the ailment for over a decade. In hindsight, the symptoms were always present but, as happens often, a series of traumatic events can exacerbate the condition and can lead to the extreme states of euphoria and severe depression. Medications to help balance the condition include mood stabilizers Lithium, Depakene, and Depakote. Regular liver and kidney blood tests are required to determine their function levels.

Psychiatric evaluations determine the severity of the disorder. It’s like a balancing act to identify what dosage of which drug will do the best at bringing the condition under control. A regimen of medications usually also includes alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin) and other anti-depressants. It takes months, sometimes years, to evaluate the interaction of different prescription drugs.

Medications alone are seldom enough to bring the condition control. Regular visits to a psychologist are necessary to sort out situations that destabilize the patient’s mental well-being. Suicidal ideations are inclusive with the other symptoms – periods of recurrence are frequent.

People shouldn’t be presumptive of someone’s public outburst. It might just be a bad day, a troubling relationship, physical pain or any combination of life’s stresses.

Hernando County is rather unique in that nowhere else have I heard with such frequency a reference to “bipolar”. Some seem to wear the term on the sleeve. Too often, the claim turns out to be self-diagnosed and perhaps the need of sympathy, straining a friendship because random reactive rants have taken a toll.

True, some of the symptoms may be evident and valid but assuming doesn’t make it true. Insomnia, tremors, panic attacks and periods of deep depression with days on end confined to bed can all be considered evidence but these symptoms are side effects from the use of other drugs.

Take for instance the use of illegally acquired drugs. Oxy’s, Roxy’s, Perc’s and Vicodin’s and other painkillers do quite a number on a person’s awareness, moods and judgment. Chasers such as Xanax, Klonopin and alcohol take the user to different levels of incoherency.

In fact, there might actually be some validity to all those undiagnosed cases where individuals insist they are living with a bi-polar depression condition. A 1999 study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that 5 out of 6 “incurable” and severely depressed patients were helped with the use of Oxycodone. Perhaps the attraction to the drug has merit.

Regardless, after living nearly 6 decades, 4 states of residency, living in numerous apartments and two homes, each with diverse neighbors, I find Hernando County has the distinction of being the only place where drug abuse is prominent. It's been said to be a problem nationwide but it is only here where I have been faced with the realities of the situation. No wonder local media has cause to make it a feature presentation. No wonder there's a degree of apprehension from my choice of residency.

This is a community of retail stores galore, strip malls aplenty, vacant houses to the nth degree and, now, I conclude that the illegal use of prescription drugs lies with the fact that the population is rife with a bi-polar .

As I have accepted other contentious conditions since moving to Spring Hill, I shall, for now, also take note that it could likely be about me that someone might be saying, “He must be bi-polar”.

Poor Form at the Forum

The political forum held Thursday, August 14, where candidates vying for voter appeal did a little question and answer series in front of a full house in the Commissioner’s Chamber, wasn’t much more than what anyone could have expected. It appeared people were already pretty well decided in their picks, some wearing campaign attire to attract the attention of undecided voters.

It wasn’t quite a social affair, but most of the after-five crowd was nicely dressed as they mingled and indulged on some of the munchies laid out in the lobby. With an hour of time before the question and answer period began allowed candidates the opportunity to mix and mingle with intimate discussions on how current commissioners have lost connection with their constituents. For many candidates that one hour was the better part of the glory they had envisioned. Which is to say, too often there was plenty of silence and stuttering that kept some of us anticipating what the candidate was trying to communicate.

The candidates’ performance at the forum was less impressive than others have suggested but there were no trick questions. As a matter of fact, the questions were very clearly articulated and shouldn’t have created an obstacle for any of the candidates. Some were moderately impressive but for others it didn’t work out that way.

Fortunately, there was only one blithering idiot which was one too many considering the importance of seeking election as a representative of the residents of Hernando County.

Some who have been outspoken at many of the commission hearings were nearly tongue-tied in trying to make sense of their answers. The disappointments were all too apparent.

There was that same old yawn-inspiring promise to cut spending, cut services, cut employees because economic conditions have cut revenues. If anything needs to be cut, it’s all the rhetoric. These are already being addressed. Fresh ideas are needed but they often sound like pipedreams, without details. Is it wrong to contemplate that a citizen/candidate might get some insight on the possibilities through discussions with county employees?

There were some who were mild-mannered while others talked fast and furious yet made their points within the allotted time period. Some were impressive while others on the opposite end of the spectrum appeared overly seasoned with a casual style of presumptive intellect.

There were moments when the candidates were noticeably shy on their knowledge of certain topics; other candidates were honest in their lack of knowledge. Neither was acceptable. Repeat performances on Hernando County Government Broadcast on Brighthouse channel 622 ought to bring a bad case of déjà vu.

The “kid”, Richard Skandera, may have been a little soft-spoken but his thoughts were well presented as he did less humming and hawing than many. His opponent in the race for State Senator in District 11 poorly arranged his involvement by not appearing at the forum. Invitations were sent out well in advance. Being judgmental, without an explanation his priorities are questionable.

An interesting item offered by Michael Robinson, running for Commissioner in District 5, centered on promoting a charter government for Hernando County. The possibilities appear far-reaching with a board of some 25 residents offering voters a charter that addresses the specific needs of the county. Hopefully, the board would include a cross-section of citizens on every socio-economic level, not just those of selective importance.

Come October, The Hernando County Chamber of Commerce will host a forum for the final candidates to present their visions on the direction Hernando County will take in the years ahead. Hopefully, these finalists will have their acts together and impress voters with less restrictive solutions to the challenges facing Hernando County.

Once the primary ballots have been counted, the real campaigning will begin.

Too Many Empty Houses - Too Many Overgrown Yards

Ask not what a candidate for Hernando County commissioner can do for you - ask him what degree of understanding he has that residential construction is on hold for an undetermined amount of time and what course of action he/she will take to avoid further anger from local residents who see their hopes of selling their homes further dampened by the inequities of the housing market.

There are thousands of vacant lots, cleared lots not yet built on, investment homes not yet occupied and foreclosure homes. They’re just sitting there with developers, lenders, investment brokers and homeowners from every socio-economic level who can’t get rid of what they have. For now, and what may seem like forever, no new houses are necessary.

It’s a real darn pity but that’s just the way it is here, there and just about anywhere, if not everywhere. There’s not much Washington, Wall Street or The Federal Reserve can do to guide us through these doleful days of economic destitution. The affected markets will have to work their ways to mutated entities.

How many times have you said, or heard someone say, It can’t get much worse than this? Well, this is a period of time in the United States that shows how things can get much worse and still there’s a high probability that it will get even more so.

Everyone is pretty much on their own this time around. The federal government’s stimulus checks haven’t done much to bolster the economy. The collapse of the banking industry is an ongoing realization just how severe the housing bubble bust has affected America’s way of living, and how it may paint a pastel picture the future.

Booming oil prices have made times more difficult for everyone – no one is exempt from the addiction to fossil fuels. There’s no quick fix. There’s no quitting cold turkey. For now, we’re pretty much stuck where we are and the sad truth is that it will most likely to remain this way for at least 10 years.

All 50 States are also short on funds so local communities are left to fend for themselves, which means you and your neighbors will have to be reliant on city and county leaders to give direction on how to work through these lean, mean times.

There’s plenty of blame to go around

These past two years have lead up to this election year when everyone blames every level of government for the current state of affairs. It’s easiest to look toward local officials to offer solutions because they’re right there in front of you and anyone else concerned about the well-being of their families and personal investments in the community.

And yet, they know not what to do, either.

Political campaigns offer more for the candidate than they do the voter, or non-voter, as the case may be. There’ll be a winner in every race and at least one loser, but it’s always the resident who is left in limbo and can never be certain the direction and decisions of the elected official will be in his or her best interest. There are no guarantees in politics.

Considering the number of unoccupied houses in Hernando County, who can honestly entrust any politician with a background that encompasses any facet of the construction industry? From investor to builder to realtor to broker to inspector to appraiser – the individual’s focal point of interest in the past will still be entwined in that same sphere of influence.

A dead end trip on THE Bus

Cutting taxes, reducing the headcount and/or reducing the salaries of department heads, consolidating and laying off segments of the workforce, limiting amenities at recreational parks and giving THE Bus a final heave-ho and, just as controversial, cut spending but still take care of those lime-rock roads. Not one of the candidates of any party or district can offer these promises any better than the rest.

So, what’s the BIG PLAN that a candidate might offer the voter? You can’t help but be curious what a politician has in mind when he/she makes a declaration of intent but doesn’t offer to explain the how or when it might be accomplished. For instance, THE Bus is not a popular “waste” of taxpayer money but, other than putting the brakes permanently on the service, no serious alternatives are forthcoming from the candidates, at least not on their websites.

A socially conscience community doesn’t throw the needy in the middle of the street to fend for themselves. It makes no difference if the person is an invalid, without transportation because of the economic requirements, a suspended license or any other reason for the need of the service – you do not leave people stranded. Period.

To create situations that bring the despair of confinement (isolation) or the danger of lack of medical attention (doctors, prescriptions) or the fear of losing a job, thus the means to feed and shelter the person or family (because of no transport), is unconscionable. You can pretty much bet those riders on THE Bus would rather not spend the excessive hours in transit due to limited times and routes, but most don’t have the benefit of having someone they can rely on for transportation. But their gratitude is paramount to their needs because, otherwise, other people would dictate the events in their lives. Don’t you dare believe otherwise! Let a politician put him/herself in that same position….

Don’t tax but be ready to spend anyway

Serious consideration is also overdue for lime rock roads. It’s a great campaign promise but will the funds be available? And over what period of time would the project see completion?

A repeated theme from too many candidates calls for an end to “tax and spending”. Enough is enough already! As if the current commissioners aren’t fully aware of the lean years ahead. As if there aren’t other concerns that put them at odds with residents.

Providing assistance for homeowners on the verge of becoming another victim of lax lending practices in the past is complimentary but what of those people already doomed to years of a sub-prime credit rating? The demise of home ownership can’t be resolved on a local basis – the problems are too many; they reach beyond the American economy.

You can’t just do nothing

An alarming affect of the large number of vacant homes centers on the appearance and hazardous conditions that accompany those left unattended. Knee-high grass are a big concern because of what kinds of critters may lurk out of sight. When weeds are allowed to propagate, nearby lawns are subject to the same.

More alarming are the number of swimming pools and other vessels with standing water that remain unattended through these summer months when mosquitoes are in perfect harmony with mother nature to multiply beyond normal urban levels. Fortunately, the lack of rainfall this past spring has kept encephalitis and the West Nile virus from becoming sever health risks.

Code Enforcement can go street by street, house by house and issue citations for whatever responsible party to take care of the properties but they’re not likely to have much affect at resolving the problem. The fines will become the responsibility of the eventual buyer. The number of homes are daunting, the volume beyond the scope of county employees.

This is a major problem that must be addressed now, not later when the problems will become exacerbated. Home values will continue to decline when a neighborhood remains a blight to the esthetics of every real estate property. At some point the problems may become beyond resolve when deterioration of these homes brings doubt that anyone will ever take ownership of such poor investments.

What to do?

It would be refreshing to have a candidate demonstrate a committed interest in community affairs and gave priority to the problems with unoccupied homes. It’s much too easy (lazy? boring!) for a candidate to idly sit by and do little more than repeat what every other candidate suggests will bring prosperity back to Hernando County. Nothing is as simple as promoting a reduction in taxes, employees and services.

It’s old news that residents are without jobs. The recent defeat of the proposed 25% reduction of impact fees to spur a little construction clearly indicated “no new homes” regardless how many (temporary) jobs might have been created. It was a wise decision. It would have put further stress on future projects toward the upkeep of the infrastructure.

But, what about the possibility of putting people to work at resolving the unsightly condition of too many yards? The idea deserves consideration. It shouldn’t be tagged as “thinking outside the box” – at this point in time, it makes common sense as a means to avoid Hernando County from becoming a prime real estate dead zone.

The interiors of previously occupied homes will surely be overcome with dust, dirt, and insects and a good possibility of mildew in addition to whatever condition the previous inhabitants left them, like missing appliances, holes in walls and other destructive acts. An obtrusive stench will affront a person when the doors are opened months, possibly years, of vacancy.

Investors, builders and banks will ultimately have to address the deteriorating conditions of unoccupied homes. But the county could very well take steps to clean up the outside exterior conditions of homes and at least give the community an appearance of relative normalcy.

This would be a win-win-win situation. People would get jobs. Health hazards would be lessened. Neighborhood residents would be relieved, and oh-so thankful, that the view of their homes aren’t marred by the blighted sight next to them.

Voting for the politician, not the person

Whatever candidate the individual voter may support through the voting process, the truth in the effectiveness of his/her term in office won’t be realized until well after the last person in line has placed an X on the ballot. The choice may prove to be positive, negative or indifferent in addressing the challenges facing Hernando County.

Just remember, when it comes to a politician, in the end you just don’t know what the future holds.

Now, That's A Lot of Lots!

The implications will be long in coming. The long term promises that it will, in part, attract a diversified, higher paid workforce and a better quality of life than any other period of history in Hernando County may never be realized. As a matter of fact, those same promises may be of less impact than the costs of supporting the needs that will result from of its development. Fortunately, whatever concerns there may be at this point in time will have little or no affect for a quarter of a century. By then, another generation of residents will have spent their allotted time on Earth, leaving the financial obligations to today’s infants and those not yet born.

To most residents in Hernando County, April 26, 2007, was pretty much an uneventful day, nothing out of the ordinary. Even without verification, it can pretty much be assumed to have been a pleasant day – Florida winter temperatures were gone and the intense heat of summer were a couple months away. No doubt, there were no rain showers that day due to drought conditions. The intensity of wallowing through the 2008 county budget process was a number of months away, not that the hearings had anything to do with the decision made in April.

Decisions, decisions…

Recent data indicate there are so many cleared, yet not built on, lots in Hernando County, many of which were built during the last of the investor-happy years and never occupied, that it might take 11 years to warrant new single-family construction. This compares to 4 to 5 years each for Hillsboro, Pinellas and Pasco Counties. Citrus County is looking at 42 years of blighted construction.

Developers can’t be entirely blamed any more than real estate agents. Commissioners in each county deserve the finger that points their way. They are entrusted to provide the basic, immediate social and economic well being of their residents. The higher level of government, the less oversight and importance are given, especially when “residents” become referred to as “citizens”.

I should hope that that common man or woman would agree that community leaders who approve development to such an extent that it would take years and years to reach completion, but continue to approve additional building requests, have other interests than that of the individuals he or she was elected to represent.

Tomorrow, tomorrow…

When Sierra Properties claimed victory for the approval of its Hickory Hill subdivision in April 2007, it seemed there were too few individuals in the commission’s chamber stuttering sentences that began with “Who….?” “How…?” and “Why…?”

All of a sudden the whole atmosphere changed before my senses. It wasn’t like the Twilight Zone or the Outer Limits or Night Gallery. It was one of those Tales From the Darkside. It was a tale of unreality, where everything becomes a series of what appears to be the black and white of negative exposures with colors taking on such unnatural hews that their descriptions are lost in gray matter. I’m still not sure if realtor Rose was doing an overly enthusiastic at rubbing lotion on her hands or wringing them in sinister delight for the brew that was dished up that day with the eventual 4 to 1 decision.

Nonetheless, in addition to the possibility it will actually take 11 years to build on currently vacant lots, there are also nearly 4,000 empty homes in Hernando County, some of which were investor-built, not yet sold and occupied, and others from foreclosure. There are also an unknown number of homeowners hoping to sell their value-declining home with intentions to move elsewhere. These facts and figures indicate it will be a very, very long time between now and when additional land use hearings are given consideration for residential construction.

The next construction binge has already been approved three-times over. Hickory Hill, Sun Rise and Lake Hideaway have a total of over 10,000 lots not yet cleared. Now, that’s a lot of planning for the future! By the time new housing is needed, these will be the very developments that will bring residential construction back to prominence.

In the meantime, county commissioners will have more time to spend on how to spend less and less taxpayer contributions toward a dwindling budget that will never pay for the level and quality of services that residents will have to do without. Unfortunately, this isn’t something they had planned on.

Signs of the Times

I hadn’t realized how the economy had affected my grocery purchases until I noticed there was a shortage of plastic bags that I use to discard the prizes found in Elvis and Sassy’s cat box.
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I don’t remember the last time I saw a stranded driver trudging along the roadside with a gas can in tow, but I do know that I have never seen more than one such instance in a single day. Until now, that is.
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The other day a saw a man, most likely in his thirty’s, walking with a bag of groceries at Mariner and Northcliffe Boulevards, then later on County Line Road at the Suncoast Parkway entrance. He apparently walked a mile or more in his shoes to get from here to there.
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I found it disturbing to see a young woman with two children, maybe 3 and 5 years old, standing along U.S. 19 holding a sign that read ‘WE NEED MONEY’. Maybe family and friends help with food but cash is needed for housing, electricity, doctors…

When charity is short in coming at home, the last resort is roadside begging.

Impact Fees & Other Discounts

As a follow-up to the hearing held on July 15, the Hernando County Board of County Commissioners has set the date of August 5 to further their discussion of applying for a piece of the $20-million that the State Housing Trust Fund has been allocated to stimulate local economies by reducing impact fees by 25%.

Fishkind & Associates was selected to provide an economic outlook on the prospects of providing housing to first-time homebuyers who may otherwise find it impossible to purchase their own piece of long-term investment – a home. It’s not all about the prospective homebuyer; it’s squarely directed toward boosting the local economy with jobs within the construction industry.

“Experts” will give testimonies that will probably center on presenting facts and figures that fit the mold for people and businesses of interest, namely builders.

In February of this year, at a speech to the Bay Area Real Estate Council, a group of real estate attorneys, Hank Fishkind faithfully stuck by the Federal Reserve’s belief that interest rate cuts would be an affective means to avoid a recession. This has proven to be a misguided approach as the Fed has hinted that a rate hike may be needed in the near future to slow down another negative economic indicator – inflation.

Mr. Fishkind also gave a forecast that claimed Hernando County home sales had already hit bottom and was set to be a bit on the upswing during the last quarter of 2008. The economist also gave the analysis that foreclosures aren’t as alarming as the media portrays because “It’s a thimble in the ocean.” Foreclosures were viewed as having an affect on certain neighborhoods but “not counties as a whole.”

The gentleman made the same promise at the Jully 22 BOCC hearing that the housing market in Hernando County it at it's lowest. Recovery will be a slow road through a three-year period. Ben Barnanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve, has a different outlook that gives the housing market Hernando County a gloomy view. With more foreclosures are in the foreseeable future and with a growing number of Americans experiencing a protracted decline in spendable income, people just won't have the money that banks now require to put down on mortgages.

Positive thinking can be an art but it doesn’t necessarily fit well with the reality of a situation. In this case, in a matter of just a few months, these same purveyors of recovery "just around the corner” are no more convincing than they were the first time around.

Americans have been enticed and dependent upon home quity loans to keep the economy spurring. Without home equity loans to continue to spur the economy, as they had over the past decade, the future looks too frighteningly real. The times are worse in Florida because of the financial handicaps from property taxes and ever-increasing homeowner insurance. These aren't expected to down anytime soon, which indicates a possible further delay in recovery.

Many analysts put the decline of the American economy, and the world at large, to extend into 2011. Even so, prospects of recovery are uncertain, surely to be a very slow process. With a myriad of economic indicators sucking the life out of nearly all financial institutes, everyday people will continue to lose their jobs, their homes and whatever life savings they may have at their disposal. A job loss means their health concerns become a casualty of lost benefits.

There is no doubt that Fishkind & Associates is a respected entity of engineering prowess and serve the interests of a vast variety of businesses. On the company’s website http://www.fishkind.com/ the list of names on Our Client List are nothing but impressive.

Out of nearly one hundred interested parties, a minimum of one-quarter is builders, real estate associations, title companies and land developers. Some are engineering and survey companies specializing in high-end golf course communities and resorts. The firm also represents property appraisers in various Florida counties. Economic development is a priority and, as the site informs, environmental concerns go hand-in-hand with every project.

Fishkind was a prominent advocate on April 26, 2007, for the approval of Sierra Property Inc and its Hickory Hill subdivision in east Hernando County, turning those rolling acres of land into roiling property investments. Fishkind & Associates is expected to fully support the impact fee reductions more for the benefit of builders than the individual who may purchase a home.

…if only there were a second opinion…

In contrast to the expertise of Fishkind, William Fruth of POLICOM Corporation, presents an unbiased “Economic Analysis Everyone Understands”. The website is at http://www.policom.com/.

Mr. Furth takes multiple factors into consideration when developing an economic evaluation/outlook of a selected area. Per capita statistics and overall jobs, earnings and wages are just a part of data sources, then broken down to statistics of individual and per capita indicators.

There is a sector that negatively reflects on a poor economy – an increase in the number of welfare recipients, including Medicaid and Social Security benefits.

Another group includes small business, construction and retail industries. They are considered “reactive” to the spending ability of consumers. Periods of poor economic times tend to be in direct proportion to the negative economic stability of a community.

As with the construction industry, retail jobs might still grow in a declining economy but the overall local job market reflects declining earnings numbers. A business might layoff a number of full time employees and increase part-time workers. Thus, there are a number of temporary new jobs, but both wages and earnings are in decline, showing an unhealthy local economy. More jobs at reduced pay follows suit when the number of jobseekers outnumbers the jobs available.

POLICOM is a member of the Pasco-Hernando Jobs & Education Partnership and Regional Board, Inc. The Career Central program has a stated goal “To serve as a catalyst in the community for promoting self-sufficiency through the development of a quality workforce.” Most of the board members are volunteers from local, private businesses. Resources and services, including training, recruiting, staffing, career fairs and incentive programs highlight the degree of commitment of this non-profit organization.

POLICOM has more than just a local presence. It offers economic development strategies throughout the region but also extends its services from coast to coast - north to south, east to west.

Another local client is Hernando Progress, Inc., an independent, tax-exempt organization. Information at http://www.taxexemptworld.com/ identifies 459 non-profit organizations with its network in Hernando County and over 1.6-million nationwide. The local director is Hernando Today publisher Duane Chichester.

Although the site doesn’t handle the application of new charity enterprises, there are links offering assistance.

POLICOM’s goals are not self-serving and would be a positive option of taking a broader look of Hernando County’s economic future.

…so this is what tomorrow might bring…

When August 5th comes around, the BOCC will host a number of speakers, including residents, workers in the construction business and builders. Much like the Hickory Hill LLC hearings in the spring of 2007, the same aisle that pitted one group against another will once again separate interested groups. You can’t have it both ways. Sierra Properties gained a super-majority of votes from the Commissioners but the fruits of their success won’t be realized for a generation.

Impact fee reductions might be quick in coming but a yeah vote would be felt by more taxpayers over a longer period of time than those who would benefit from the short-term benefits.

And yet, developers, builders and real estate agents are not evil - it’s a small mind that even suggests so. Their past contributions to the economy can’t be denied anymore than those of retail businesses. For now, those glory days are behind the times. One last hurrah would be as hollow as the vacant rooms in a foreclosure home.

The problem centers on the years of poor planning by the Commissioners with their zeal and overkill of unabated approval of rezoning thousands of acres of agricultural land for residential development. Time after time, they have taken the path of least resistance with their acceptance of the recommendations of the Planning & Zoning Commission. Having joint board meetings would have saved time and money.

If a majority of Commissioners vote in favor of reduced impact fees, there will still be a multitude of questions as to the fairness of distribution of profits. If eight applicants qualify as would have been the case in 2007, which builders would be awarded the slim pickin’s? What of real estate agents, title companies and mortgage lenders? Subcontractors?

What about the workers themselves? Will they be given the same pay scale as they have had in the past when jobs were plenty? Or will the paymasters offer less compensation than what would otherwise dictate? The cost of living has gone up as should wages. But supply and demand takes precedence.

Would it be possible to award a single County District the sole rights of constructing with no regard to how profits will constrict the impact of future upgrades on the infrastructure? In any given District, impact fees are restricted for use within that same District. Why not choose the big loser in advance?

Would District 5 please absorb the reduction in impact fees? Your lime rock roads aren’t likely to be paved anytime soon anyway. District 1 is already overbuilt and already has plenty of roads that aren’t getting repaired because of limited funds. Somewhere out there in your vast domain there must be a few tracts of land that are at sufficient distances from unoccupied homes so as not to create animosity for building homes where existing homeowner debts keep building.

…if they really wanted to make their own contributions to the community…

Builders could prove themselves community-minded by taking steps that others have offered in a housing market with thousands of pending sales and foreclosures. They could give the buyer a 10 to 25% discount on the purchase price of the home itself. Pre-qualification of securing a loan would be just one step – obtaining property insurance could be an insurmountable obstacle.

Remember, the purpose of the impact fee reduction is targeted to first time homeowners. When home mortgages have gravitated to only the most credit worthy, lowering the loan amount may give the buyer an edge toward realizing this once-in-a-lifetime dream home in Hernando County… or any other county in Florida that accepts the state funding.

Serving Time In Hernando County

Steve is off probation. It was a shorter period of time than what had been handed down by the judge. It appears he failed a drug “piss test” then failed to appear for a court date, a double dose of violation of probation.

He had no intention of turning himself to the sheriff’s office and avoided the eventual arrest by not going to work, which they had from court records. They hadn’t been able to locate him at the latest known place of residency because he had moved out, staying with a friend, but there came a day when he made a venture to return to work although he was well aware of the consequences.

So, he’s back in jail after just three months of the initial sentencing of probation for forging a doctor prescription. Steve had speculated that with the latest run-in with the law he might be sentenced to perhaps eight months of prison. To him, this would be acceptable because, when released, it would coincide perfectly with a planned move to Indiana for a job in a unionized company. He’d start out at about the same pay he made locally in his masonry job, but the benefits were exceptional including a company contribution into a 401k and a full array of medical coverage.

A big problem with that scenario is that he could actually be incarcerated for up to two years. His court date is coming up shortly.

Patrick is also off probation. Again, it was a shorter period of time than his sentencing dictated. He chose the two years of house arrest instead of accepting the judge’s recommendation of serving an eight-month prison term and be done with the whole affair. The judge was given an assurance from Patrick’s girlfriend that she would help him through the twenty months of relative confinement. Two months later and she should be deemed in contempt of court.

Failure to make a court-mandated payment and he’s now in jail, possibly facing his own two-year prison sentence. His most likely sharing time with Steve. There’s also a good possibility there’s a reunion of fellow small time drug users and abusers, caught with possession, driving under the influence with a suspended license, or any combination thereof plus array of other infractions.

Elizabeth is a different story. She spent a couple nights in jail waiting for someone to post bail for driving under the influence. She avoided possession by relaying the goodies to a passenger/friend. She was so out of it the first night in jail that, while sitting against a cell wall, she fell forward, breaking a front tooth.

This happened within a week of her 21st birthday and a week prior to a planned move to live with grandparents in Michigan. It was a six-week delay until a private lawyer and a few thousand dollars put her back on the route to get out of Spring Hill, FL.

Eight months later she made a trip back to Hernando County to pick up some personal items she had left behind. She planned to buy a car to haul more than just a few mementoes. Come to find out she had primarily come back to party. A month turned into two. Again, just a matter of days before heading back to grandma & grandpa she found herself once again in jail. Out of three carloads of friends, she was the only one left behind in Ybor City because she had strayed into the maddening crowd and failed to show up by a predetermined departure time. Her version of events put everyone else at fault.

She ended up having to take a taxi back to Spring Hill, claiming that a police officer put her in the cab knowing full well she had no means to pay for the ride. When back to Hernando County, her recollection is unclear but the driver says she did what is called a “theft of service” – she tried to scoot away to avoid payment of the transportation fees.

After another month’s delay she had boxed and shipped her belongings up north. For the time being she’s doing well, having gotten a fast food job and enrolled in a community college. She now has the opportunity to take steps toward a safe, productive life after four years of un-common sense with the money she received when both her parents passed away – same year, different cancers.

Elizabeth is very fortunate to have family that truly loves and cares for her well-being. She’s not surprised that Steve and Patrick are once again in conflict with the law – it’s inherent with living in Hernando County. She’s so relieved that she prompts others to get out of Spring Hill – way too many drugs to compensate for the lack of entertainment, limited opportunities for success and too few people who can truly be considered friends.

Boxed In - Boxed Out

In these times of reduced property taxes and the resultant limited funds available for services to Hernando County residents, we come to realize, and accept, that severe cuts in the budget are over due and in a matter of weeks hearings will eventually bring the matter to a vote by the County Commissioners.

In preparation, Administrator Dave Hamilton painstakingly took steps to not only inform concerned residents of the history of county expenditures but also gave them opportunities to identify what services they would be willing to sacrifice toward a balanced budget. Through no fault of his own, it looks like he may need to guide us through remedial meetings to identify where an additional twenty-five percent of cuts can be made.

He knows what to do and how to get things done so the challenge wouldn't daunt him one bit, but is it really necessary?

As the Commissioners dwell on the opportunity to cash in on the $20-million appropriated by the Florida Legislature from the State Housing Trust Fund, there will be a lot of give and take to consider. Give first time homebuyers incentives to purchase a home. Take away the intended purpose of covering the economic impact on county infrastructure of their purchase. And what do you get? Another shortfall of money and deeper in debt.

Road improvements, schools, parks, libraries and/or emergency services are on the line, again. Take your pick. I’m sure Mr. Hamilton and his staff would be glad to deliver a few more tally sheets to the Board. Regardless, deeper cuts would be necessary.

In my late fifties, I have private insurance and, for now, in pretty good health. Maybe I’d be willing to sacrifice the whole pot of lost funds allocated for emergency services. User fees to those in need?

Maybe you don’t read, so all libraries could be sold as-is to Borders and people can pay for knowledge at their own expense. Isn’t that the direction budget cuts are supposed to take us? It’s called macroeconomics.

Better yet, I don’t have kids so terminate at least half the working teachers, hold one big class in a gymnasium and save beaucoup bucks! Another plus side? School Superintendent Wayne Alexander would have less to oversee, so a reduction in pay would be in order.

And you can bet those living on lime rock roads would gag on the dust and gasp their way to the podium to ask that road improvement moneys be left alone - another attempt to get the County to keep its promise to upgrade their roads.

Commissioner Dave Russell wants to “think outside the box” but the county is already boxed in with thousands of empty houses. Administrator Hamilton gave the number at 3,689 (at last count) when he expressed the negative effect it would have on the County. County Planning Director Ron Pianta has the same concern. Diane Rowden continues to be leery of speculative development. This past year she was a frequent dissenter of rezoning requests for new subdivisions. She was one step ahead of the times but out of step to others’ interests.

Something would have to give. Out of about $9,200 in impact fees, over $2,200 would be sacrificed to the benefit of developers, real estate agents, title companies and mortgage lenders – and their employees, plus the buyers themselves. Last year, only eight homebuyers would have qualified, and those were for existing home sales.

The Commission has set aside a public hearing for July 15. There’ll be a group of builders and a long line of other influences behind them. They prompted the Commission to hold the hearing and will by far outnumber residents who will eventually be the ones to pay for the shortfalls. Builders have the time – they want the money.

There’ll be another time and another housing boom that warrants construction to once again begin, but for right now it’s a losing proposition to existing homeowners, especially those who have homes they can’t get rid of. Until better economic times, Hernando County is all boxed out.