A TALE OF TWO LETTERS

If you've ever written a letter to the editor to your local newspaper you know that it gets edited before it gets printed for everything from improper word usage to just plain too many words. They usually attempt to leave the spirit of your letter intact, however.

The following two letters, the one submitted and the one printed in "In The Woods" are from the same person obviously. This person had some strong feelings about the bonds proposed by the FW Tax District. See if you can tell if the spirit of the letter was left intact in this case. Everything in red was removed from the letter before it was printed. The printed letter follows this one.

From: Richard Coffey, 23 Cottonwood Drive

To: Farmington Woods “In the Woods”

• I write regarding the proposed $4 million borrowing by the District in order to upgrade the golf course and club house. I am strongly opposed to the proposal for several reasons:
   
• I can’t imagine any project for borrowing such a vast sum of money to be less worthy than one that has to do with leisure time and recreation.  There are other more pressing needs.

• Already the golf course has become a debt to the non-club member homeowners, and that is egregious enough.  The golf course and the club must become self-supporting by those who make use of the facilities.  If that is not possible, I recommend the closing of the course, with the land become meadow or wild-flower beds, and the closing of the club house (thus relieving all home-owners of the perpetually frustrating monthly charge no matter how little one makes use of the restaurant, if at all).

• Eliminating the course and the golf club would reduce Farmington Woods expenses far and wide, including staff, maintenance, utility consumption, excessive traffic, and wear and tear on the property.

• The present club house could be put to much better use by the 1100 home-owners by creating a fully equipped health/workout center and a well-stocked store for the purchase of food items, toiletries, supplies, and other of life’s daily needs.  The facility could still be available for renting on a per-use basis.

January 21, 2012

   

Sir,

I am opposed to this proposal for several reasons:

• There are other more pressing needs than those dealingwith leisure time and recreation.

• The golf course is already a debt to the non-club memberhomeowners. The golf course and the club must become
  self-supporting by those who make use of the facilities.
  If that is not possible, I recommend closing the course,
  allowing the land to become meadow or wild-flower
  beds, and closing the restaurant, relieving home-owners
  of the monthly charge.

• Eliminating the course and the golf club would reduceFarmington Woods expenses far and wide, including staff,
  maintenance, utility consumption, excessive traffic, and
  wear and tear on the property.

• The present clubhouse could be put to different use bythe homeowners; for example, a fully equipped health/workout
  center and/or a convenience store. The facility
  could still be available for renting on a per-use basis.

Richard Coffey, 23 Cottonwood Drive

Kinda makes you want to sit down and write a letter to the editor, doesn't it?



Comments? You're welcome to email me at 2chewman@gmail.com.