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Last Updated: Jun 19th, 2005 - 20:05:13 |
Columns
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Wistfully Thinking: Valerie Parnell -
Jun 19, 2005
Freshman commissioners illustrate best and worst of behavior
Getting elected as a county commissioner is one thing. Acting effectively in the role is another. To see that, all one has to do is to compare Bob Dallari's performance in office with that of Brenda Carey.
Columns
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Wistfully Thinking: Valerie Parnell -
Jun 5, 2005
Just like a decade ago, commissioners lack courage to take necessary action
Seminole County commissioners agree that the county's public library system is in serious need of improvement. They said the same thing ten years ago. Just as they failed to act then, they seem afraid to act now to take the proper steps needed to make the necessary improvements.
Columns
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Wistfully Thinking: Valerie Parnell -
May 29, 2005
Bandwagon rolling through Seminole may not be taking proper path
Outgoing Casselberry City Manager Frank Clifton advised commissioners of the dangers of jumping on the sexual offender bandwagon that is rolling through Seminole County. Hopefully, they will heed his warnings.
Columns
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Wistfully Thinking: Valerie Parnell -
May 22, 2005
Where the line is drawn should not depend upon personal motivation
We need to reform the way political boundaries are determined, and to take it away from the politicians. It needs to be placed into the hands of fair-minded, independent arbiters whose goal is the public interest and the public good rather than parochial partisan concerns. In Florida, an effort is being made to do just that, and we should all lend our support, regardless of our personal political persuasions.
Columns
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Wistfully Thinking: Valerie Parnell -
May 15, 2005
School District again relents after stirring up hornets' nest of unnecessary controversy
Just when all was quiet on the eastern front of the School District's multi-faceted war with the residents of Seminole County, the District felt the need to whack the beehive and, pardon the mixed metaphors, stir up yet another hornet's nest.
Columns
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Wistfully Thinking: Valerie Parnell -
May 7, 2005
Disingenuous School Board members can use a lesson in civics
A television sitcom expresses reverence for the underpinnings of democracy
while the Seminole County School Board reduces it to a bad joke
Columns
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Wistfully Thinking: Valerie Parnell -
May 4, 2005
Light up, Oviedo: City Council's decision even worse than originally thought
Although it has been said before, it will now be said again, with much more emphasis: It is sad when city officials give approval to an establishment whose primary product will only do harm to its users. It is sadder still when those same city officials have gone out of their way to do so.
Columns
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Wistfully Thinking: Valerie Parnell -
May 1, 2005
The smoking gun: Oviedo City Council changes ordinance to allow cigar bar
Whether one smokes is a personal decision, but there are things that society does that can influence the choices people ultimately make. It is sad when city officials undercut the attempts of those messages by giving approval to an establishment whose primary product will only do harm to its users. It is sadder still when those same city officials went out of their way to do so.
Columns
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Wistfully Thinking: Valerie Parnell -
Apr 24, 2005
When I'm gone will be too late to do all that must be done
The time to do the right thing is now, simply because it will be too late to do so when I'm gone.
Columns
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Wistfully Thinking: Valerie Parnell -
Apr 17, 2005
The folly of government: making sport of what they do
If we paid as much attention to our government as we do our favorite sports teams and players, we would likely live in a much different world.
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