Letters To The Editor
The following is a letter written by a concerned citizen to State Senator Nancy Argenziano, in regards to the Rainbow River Ranch development. The author has graciously agreed to let us publish it on Dunnellon Online.
We commend the author for her erudition, as well as her civic pride. The letter is followed by the Senator’s terse response. As of this date, April 9th, 2006, we have received no reply from the Senator to our own inquiries, but hope springs eternal.
Dear Senator Argenziano,
My name is Tammy Croft-Nicholson and I am writing to you as a concerned citizen opposed to the development of the Rainbow River Ranch. I have a most unique perspective over this debate. I was raised on the ranch and lived there until I was 21 years of age. My father and uncle were both managers of this ranch for a combined period of over 30 years. I love this property in a way no one ever could and know the area better that almost anyone. Having grown up on this property and been a "river rat" for most of my childhood it disturbs me that our elected officials at both the local and state level have no more consideration of one of the state's top waterways than to sign it's death warrant by continuing to allow development such as the one proposed. There is validity in the recommendations handed down by the DCA and these should not be ignored.
I can attest that the river itself is not nearly as clear now as when I was a child. There is a green algae that covers the once sandy and turtle grass covered bottom until you travel well up the river and this I can only attribute to the increase in development around the area. Should this development continue our small town's greatest resource will be destroyed and we will have only the politicians to thank. The ranch itself houses many historical sites relevant to both the state and the town of Dunnellon. There is a phosphate pit left over from Dunnellon's boom town days, a cemetery of a family long ago and also as with any river bank in Florida possible American Indian artifacts to consider. The natural vegetation on the ranch is abundant as well as wildlife. There is a pond that is home to many species of birds, fish, and reptiles.
My husband and I are both Floridians and our son's are 6th generation Floridians. We are both graduates of Dunnellon High School my husband being the 3rd generation to play football for our school. We both attended CFCC in Ocala and UCF in Orlando. We now reside in the area and our boys attend school in Dunnellon and play Dunnellon Little League the same as their mother. As you can see my roots in this area run long and deep. If you are or have ever thought of yourself as a Floridian you cannot possibly believe that what is best for our state is the loss of our small towns to over development, or the loss of our state's beauty to the greed of those who have only one goal that being to line their own pockets with gold.
Please take this letter into consideration.
Thank you
Tammy Nicholson
And the Senator's reply:
Thank you for writing. I have no control over the development. The only thing
I can do is make sure that the laws and rules are adhered to. I am doing just
that. There are some, however, who think I can and should just deny this from
happening. I do not have that power.
I very much appreciate your concern and wish this area could remain untouched.
Nancy
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