Hill Country

I’ve been enjoying your publication for many, many years, ever since I lived in Tampa. I’ve lived in

Zephyrhills for 10 years now, but I still read the Planet every chance I get. (I know what you’re thinking,

and no, I do not live in a trailer, our home is concrete block and slab in order to not anger the tornado gods, I have all my teeth, am not married to my cousin, am not registered Republican, nor am I a member of AARP.) I’ve been meaning to write for some time now to tell you all that Pasco County exists! You give plenty of press to Sarasota, despite the fact that they have their own Creative Loafing paper, but beyond the occasional listing of a concert at Bourbon Street, it’s almost like the world ends at the Hillsborough County line. There are a heck of a lot of people that live in Pasco but work in Hillsborough and Pinellas, and making them feel included could increase your readership and you could probably increase ad revenue through Pasco businesses.

That said, imagine my surprise when I saw a full-page article about our little town (Urban Explorer, “The Hills Are Alive,” by Max Linsky, Sept. 28-Oct. 4), and that’s what I’m writing to complain about. We have two movie theaters (one which is under renovation, the other probably ought to be) for a total of eight screens! Get your facts straight next time! Do the research! Damn, I hate it when you journalists write articles without knowing what you’re talking about!! Otherwise, well, uh, I guess that’s about it, Linsky pretty much got the pulse of this town. I like it, because there’s hardly any crime, we don’t need bars on our windows or weapons under the pillow, it’s nice and quiet, and if I’m in the mood for big-city fun, Tampa is only about a half-hour drive or so.

Keep up the good work, I really love your rag. Why don’t you send Linsky back up here and I’ll show him around Dade City! It’s not only the county seat, they got one’o’them a-dult bookstores up thar!

John Encke, Zephyrhills

Good Catch

“The Starfish Parables” (by RondaK, Oct. 12-19) is one-a the better articles you’ve published in ages. The tales of tails, the attention to history, the illustration of local crackers — shoot, the writer even captured the smell of the village! — made for a beautiful story.

I’m also a fourth-generation Floridian who has close friends in Cortez and Bradenton. One of my closest friends was a fisherman’s son who — himself a fisherman with four children — lost his livelihood and his boat after the ill-advised, unnecessary legislation was adopted.

I know the stories about the craven (yet politically crafty) folks who orchestrated the outlawing of net fishing. I also know these Cortezians and admire their devotion and adaptability.

“The Starfish Parables” is the kind of reporting and writing that projects the Weekly Planet above over local print media. It was a parable told well and without guile.

Wayne Shelor, Palm Harbor

Young Hearts

Thank you so, so much for writing about the Neil Young tribute (“This One’s For Neil,” by Scott Harrell, Oct. 5-11) and the mention of the Bay Area Arts & Music Organization (BAAMO). Support from the Planet ultimately helps us help more local musicians, and exposure in the Planet definitely helps get people to the event. Now, about the weather…

Laura Keane, BAAMO

This article appears in Oct 19-25, 2005.