I am proud of being a citizen of Deerfield Beach. I was born in Shamrock, FL in 1942. I moved here with my father, Rev. Moses L. Bryant; mother, Mrs. Essie Mae Bryant, and two older brothers – Bobby Lee and Robert Lee. I was the third son. Since then, there were three more boys and four girls born into the family.
I am very proud that the city honored my father, who was chosen to become the first black policeman; SW 5 Court was renamed Rev. Moses L. Bryant Court at the street unveiling ceremony held on Oct. 27, 2007.
I attended Braith Waite Elementary, where I was captain of the basketball team and became a slate member of the school’s first newspaper. I helped to name it “The Star.” From 1957-1963, I attended Blanche Ely High, where I played basketball and football and received several scholarship offers. Then, I chose to attend Allen University in Columbia, SC and became an elementary school teacher. I retired from the Broward County School Board in 2006.
Clarence Bryant, Sr. (BDAT)
Deerfield Beach
CVE bus drivers treated poorly
Dear Editor:
I am very happy that there is someone else who has the nerve to complain about the buses in Century Village. I have been writing letters to your paper for over a year – first the trolleys, now the buses.
We have a bunch of the nicest and sweetest people who are caring, helpful and bend over backwards to help anyone on and off buses with their canes, walkers and bundles. These drivers are truly dedicated to their fellow man and, yet, they are treated like slaves. Why? They cannot walk through the front door to go to the bathroom or get a drink from the machine. They were told to go through the back and knock on the door. Does the committee know that slavery has been abolished?
The drivers would also like to stop at Hillsboro Boulevard to let people off to go to the doctor and J & J for produce, but that, too, is a no-no. The owner of the trolleys has no backbone to fight for his workers. Maybe he should take his own advice and pray – he is, after all, a Rabbi. These are bad times, true, but when you compound them with misery, ignorance and suppression, instead of compassion, you have a big problem. It’s true money talks and bull— walks, but hey, what goes around comes around and, in the end, will bite you (you know where). So, my advice to the committee is help, don’t hinder. One day, you will need help and maybe no one will be there for you.
Marilyn Fernando
Oakridge A
Deerfield Beach
Planned parking for The Cove benefits its restaurant
Dear Editor:
I read the letter to the Observer entitled “Cove parking questioned” [in the June 4 issue]. Andrew Beny, who wrote the article, asked the question, “Who does a parking garage at The Cove benefit?” Those of us who are residents and live near The Cove Shopping Center know the answer to that question — The Cove Restaurant.
His statement that you can always find a parking space, with the exception of Friday night, is definitely true. I decided to check it out by going to the shopping center at different times of the day and evening and found that there is always parking space available.
Why would anyone want to spend the amount of money that it would cost to build and operate a parking garage right now? It does not cost the patron anything to park. You can be sure the patron will park in the parking lot, rather than in a garage where it would cost them money.
I think we need to concentrate on moving forward with the plans that were approved by the City Commission. Improvements will be made to the design and layout of the parking lot, which will add 27 parking spaces to the current 501 by reconfiguring the parking lot and going to smaller spaces for a total of 528. The parking lot will have enhanced landscaping and safe pedestrian walkways. To me, this is common sense, especially in these economic times.
Vivian Jeffers
Deerfield Beach
President’s national health initiative
Dear Editor:
The United States can’t afford to be without a plan that offers the opportunity for all Americans to have health insurance. We shouldn’t pass the problems of the insurance industry’s failure on to those individuals and families who are suffering, because the insurance industry won’t let them participate in health care plans. For more information, go to http://lnk.ms/0FmWK
