I would like to thank Mr. Volz and your newspaper for coverage and promotion of the recent Letter Carrier Food Drive. Postal employees appreciate your support of the largest one-day canned good collection in the country. We’re still counting the cans, but it looks like this year’s drive was another overwhelming success! As you know, the canned goods remain in the local community so we are happy to help “stamp out hunger” in our own neighborhoods.
Thank you.
Debra Fetterly
Public Information Officer
US Postal Service – South Florida District
Pembroke Pines
Boinis property revisited
Dear Editor:
The headline for the Boinis property purchase should have been “City acquiesces to profiteer’s ransom demand.”
The citizens of Deerfield deserve better fiscal management than this. Spending nearly half of our meager reserves for a portion of the beach that’s assessed by the Broward County Property Appraiser at $172,480 is irresponsible.
This land is not required to bring the existing restrooms up to ADA [Americans with Disabilities Act] compliance. It would be far better to reconfigure the existing structure and to let Mr. Boinis enjoy his unusable slice of beach, “no trespassing” signs and all.
Richard Carlson
Deerfield Beach
A new sandbox!
Dear Editor:
Recently, I returned from the University of Florida to my home of Deerfield Beach. But things have certainly changed in our community. After new elections, the era of corrupt local government was thought to be over. Yet, how do our elected politicians justify spending half-a-million dollars on a sandbox? Oh … wait for it, our dear mayor Peggy Noland says it’s for the “children.” What kids does the mayor speak of? The kids playing on my busy street? The very kids who break up their game every minute or so because another car comes barreling down 4 Court? The kids left with no close neighborhood park? Surely, it must be them. So kids, please come out of the street and run down to the pier. The mayor just bought you a half-a-million-dollar sandbox. Granted, I think they are past the building-sandcastle stage.
Unfortunately for Deerfield Beach, it seems our elected officials never grew up. They never left the sandbox. Commissioner Miller says the city is only spending 200K. Mr. Miller, I hate to break it to you, but a grant is real money. It’s your job to come up with the best way to spend that money. I wonder if there was no better way to spend 310 K. Perhaps, and I know this is a crazy far-fetched idea, just perhaps, the city could have bought an abandoned foreclosed home, torn it down and built a beautiful inviting neighborhood park? That would have been such a wonderful open space.
In such tumultuous economic times, what message are we sending to “our children” by irresponsibly spending half-a-million dollars on a sandbox? How is this sandbox in the interest of the whole community? Truth be told: It isn’t. It’s in the interested of Pete Bonis who made out like a Fortune 500 CEO, with his golden parachute.
Congratulations Deerfield Beach! Break out the shovels and buckets. You have a new sandbox probably worth more than the house you’re living in.
Steve Campion
Deerfield Beach
Decision to buy Boinis property applauded
Dear Editor:
Congratulations and thank you to the Mayor and two commissioners who voted to purchase the Boinis beach property, putting an ugly past behind us.Like it or not, our options were limited and failing to do so would have allowed an open sore to fester for many years to come.The argument used against this purchase by two opposing commissioners only shows their stubbornness and inexperience.Gaining permission from Boinis to demolish the existing bathrooms for relocation would not have come without an expensive court battle. Add in the cost of new bathroom construction and we would have easily exceeded the $200,000 paid for this property.The commission did not bail out Boinis; rather they proactively decided to protect our interests and that of our children.Good job Peggy, Sylvia and Joe!And good riddance to Boinis.
Gary Lother
Deerfield Beach
Commissioner Ganz goes the extra mile
Dear Editor:
I have a house in Waterford Homes and at the end of April, our home was burglarized. Our Commissioner Bill Ganz called our house when he found out to make sure that my family and I were all right and said that if we needed anything, don’t hesitate to ask. I appreciate the dedication he has to his job and concern he showed for our family. Our family thinks he is a great man who is turning out to be a great Commissioner.
