Letters to the Editor

+ Maus & Hoffman’s Circle store will be missed

Dear Editor:
Thanks for the nice article about Maus & Hoffman (April 16 issue). I had been a customer of its Boca Raton store and was pleased when Tommy (Maus) opened the shop on the Circle.

In addition to the philanthropic community organizations it supported, please add the Florida West Coast Symphony and its silent auction.

Just recently, the Maus & Hoffman staff went out of their way to help me refurbish some shoes.

We will miss Maus & Hoffman and wish it good fortune in Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Naples. I hope it comes back to Sarasota some day.

All the best, Tom.

Kip Cohen
Longboat Key

+ Beautification project not needed in affluent area
Dear Editor:
Five-hundred thousand dollars for beautification for Gulf of Mexico Drive, in my opinion, is unconscionable.

Longboat Key is in one of the foremost affluent areas in the United States. And this stimulus package is for economically distressed areas. Why can’t this stimulus package help the people who are really in need?

Feed families, pay college tuitions, help small businesses. Call Congressman Vern Buchanan. Call Governor Charlie Crist. Let’s stop this wasteful spending now.

Jean Hanna
Longboat Key

+ ‘Poverty Island’ finally sees some financial relief
Dear Editor:
All I can say is it's about time! The Longboat Observer, a local newspaper here on “Poverty Island,” has announced that this island of hardship will finally be receiving a part of the stimulus package. Yes, it’s true.

Longboat Key will receive $500,000 for the “beautification” of the dreadful-looking Gulf of Mexico Drive. How could it have taken so long for those morons in Washington to understand that we have feelings, too? Why should we have to drive our BMWs, Mercedeses and Lexuses along that unsightly stretch of road? I was forced to buy rose-colored glasses just so I could make it home each day without throwing up.

I don't know about you, but I can't think of a better reason to put the next two or three American generations in debt up to their eyeballs than to enhance the aesthetic of one of the wealthiest communities in the country. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to think about thousands and thousands of other “needy” communities in this country receiving this kind of working taxpayers’ hard-earned money needlessly.

Following the president’s model, I would like to apologize to the rest of the world's citizens who vacation here and are forced to look at this ugly side of America.

T.L. Longwell
Longboat Key

+ Trolley service is a wonderful addition to Longboat Key
Dear Editor:
What a great idea! Attractive, green trolleys plying Gulf of Mexico Drive, offering thrifty transportation to Longboat tourists and citizens along with their bikes. Alas, not many happy faces look out of the trolley windows. Others could also be saving gas and enjoying leisurely sightseeing. I believe The Longboat Observer could offer a truly useful service by printing the trolley schedule and encouraging riders to take advantage of this unique service. This should not be a well-kept secret on our island.

Jane Oaks
Longboat Key