Letters to the Editor: June 2, 2022

When kids are in the right environment, it unleashes talent

As the father of a Florida State University Medical School graduate I see a little “Ben Carson” in Laurence Reisman’s May 15 column about Cortez Brown and how he is giving back to his community.

My daughter, Kate, graduated in 2020 and is about to start her third year of an orthopedic surgery residency at Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

It is amazing to see the talent that is unleashed when kids are provided the right environment. FSU’s med school matches for residency this year we very impressive.

I hope Reisman’s column provides some inspiration for others, and I thank him for writing it.

Jim Harrison, Tallahassee

Think how much children could learn from Alma Lee Loy

I started my day listening to a videoed interview with Alma Lee Loy, sometimes called the First Lady of Vero Beach. That video was absolutely fascinating.

Born in Vero in 1929, she talked about pivotal steps in her life which made her the leader she became during her 91 years. A woman of simplicity with no pretense. She was raised with three key values — family, church and school. The Golden Rule, a mantra which resulted in her being a partner and never brash or argumentative as she moved through life in Vero and got countless good things done as a team player. Things big and small that made a difference as Vero grew from a very small town to a much larger “very special place.”

I’ve thought a lot about that video and concluded that it is something school children would benefit from seeing. Afterwards there could be a Q&A. Students could be asked to describe what they see and know about today in Vero, in Florida, in America and the world that would make Alma Lee proud. Also, what would trouble her and disappoint her in these same geographic areas. Students could then be asked to come up with their three biggest concerns and how they think Alma Lee would handle them. They could also be challenged to do one nice thing each day. Can you imagine how much nicer life could be for all around?

Alma Lee Loy is certainly missed, but her legacy will remain forever. Wouldn’t it be just wonderful if she could stand on the political stage today and speak about the importance of working together for the greater good? Something so simple, but so infrequent in the partisan world of today. She was indeed one of a kind.

Barbara Ruddy, Vero Beach

Photo enforcement can be effective in changing drivers’ behavior

Blake Fontenay’s May 17 column about safety at Brightline crossings stimulated me into thought about what simple steps could be taken to mitigate the danger. I will make a leap that many of these fatalities are occurring at rail crossings and intersections where cars/pedestrians are trying to beat the train, running the lights, and driving around crossing barriers. I have seen this many times personally.

There seems to me to be a simple step in reducing the number of fatalities. Photo enforcement is effective in modifying these types of behaviors. If drivers learn that even if they can avoid death and beat the train they will receive a ticket in the mail. They will be more likely to wait, rather than risk a ticket (and death). I do believe this to be an effective tool to at the least mitigate deaths at crossings.

Heinrich Ferne, Fort Pierce

Drivers need to know how trucks with trailers are turning right ahead of them

I’m writing this to plead with drivers to review what they should know about driving when semi-tractor trailers or trucks pulling trailers are in front of them.

If they are in front of you, and need to make a right turn, they need to move to the left and swing to the right to give them room to make the turn without clipping anything like a street sign, etc., that might be there. Do not attempt to pass a truck to the right, when the truck has moved left to make the turn!

Three days in a row I have put my right turn signal on, swung left to make the right turn, only to have the driver behind me try to go around me to the right. All three drivers blew their horn at me as if I did something wrong, when it was them who did the wrong thing. Please, drivers, review the driving laws on this! If you cause an accident, you will be cited! And show a little courtesy. Pulling trailers isn’t easy. I’m always looking in my mirror at the driver behind me, anticipating that they will do this.

Dana Sanderfer, Stuart

The Garden Club of Stuart is celebrating National Garden Week

On May 9 The Garden Club of Stuart received a proclamation of Garden Week, June 5 to 11, from Mayor Merritt Matheson.

For 86 years the Garden Club of Stuart has been promoting gardening activities in Stuart and Martin County. As we celebrate National Garden Week, watch for floral designs from our members in the libraries around Martin County. Pick up a bookmark from our display for information about joining us!

We encourage all to celebrate National Garden Week by planting a flowering tree, shrub, herbs, flowers, possibly a Florida summer vegetable. June is too early to be planting a traditional vegetable garden in South Florida. It’s not too early though, to begin planning what to plant in the fall when tomatoes, lettuce, and such will grow and thrive.

This year two of our Circles applied for and received matching grants for gardening from The Florida Federation of Garden Clubs: one to Allamanda Circle for Historic Preservation in Gardening at The House of Refuge for $250, where they continue restoring the native plantings; and another to Satin Leaf Circle for $500 to develop a Butterfly Garden at the Sewall’s Point Town Park.

To celebrate the life of their three-term Circle secretary, Marjorie Sayers, Allamanda Circle recently planted a Florida native “Tree of Life,” Guaiacum sanctum, at Possum Long Memory Gardens. They will have a dedication ceremony on June 2. Each Circle maintains a garden at Possum Long, Hibiscus Circle will be there gardening on June 9.

Let’s all celebrate this very special week, June 5 to June 11; look for little surprises tucked into your surroundings, support the local nurseries, enjoy the flowers and pollinators. Check out our website gardenclubofstuart.org, and our Facebook page “The Garden Club of Stuart” to see what our club is all about.

Ann McCormick is the National Garden Week chairman of The Garden Club of Stuart.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Letters to the Editor: June 2, 2022