- April 18, 2024
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Dear Editor:
I guess Commissioner Troy Kent is so fascinated by his vision of having a concrete pier like the one he remembers from his youth in California, that he forgot to read the weather report. You know, the one provided by the scientific community under the heading "Global Warming."
We aren't going to need a pier, Mr. Kent, we're going to need a wall. He thinks it will really enhance our beachside. He thinks wrong. Beaches don't need to be enhanced. They are perfectly beautiful the way they are.
He already has naming rights in his head. I bet his vision includes the sign, "Kent Pier," flashing in colored neon at night. If he's looking for his legacy, then let him sell the idea of changing the name of the Kelley Dog Park to Kent Dog Park. Win-win! He'd have his trophy, and we taxpayers would only have to change a couple of letters.
Alan Hovey
Ormond Beach
Editor’s note: Commissioner Troy Kent has suggested raising funds by allowing members of the community to donate money for naming rights.
Save water in the winter
Dear Editor:
Even in Florida, lawns and landscapes take a break during the winter and naturally go dormant. During December, January and February, landscapes typically need less irrigation, so now is a great time to train your lawn to sip water instead of guzzling it.
On Dec. 3, the St. Johns River Water Management District launched its winter “Skip A Week” water conservation campaign and is asking everyone to voluntarily skip every other week of lawn watering. If property owners who irrigate skipped every other week of watering this winter, north and east-central Florida could save more than a billion gallons of water.
Lawn and landscape irrigation accounts for more than half of all residential water use, so it is important to follow year-round watering restrictions that help ensure the efficient use of water. Research shows, ½- to ¾-inch of water per irrigation zone every 10–14 days is sufficient during winter months. However, if you see signs that your grass needs water, such as wilting blades, manually turn on your irrigation system, saturate the root zone and then let the soil dry, which encourages healthy, deep root growth.
Skipping every other week is as easy as manually turning off your irrigation system. Using less water encourages roots to grow deeper, which makes them more drought-tolerant and less susceptible to pests and disease.
Your help is critical in meeting the current and future water supply needs of our region. You can learn more about Skip a Week on our website at www.sjrwmd.com/skipaweek. You’ll also find tips on year-round water conservation and efficient irrigation at www.sjrwmd.com/water-conservation.
Ann B. Shortelle, Ph.D.
Executive Director
St. Johns River Water Management District
