Letters to the Editor for Nov. 27, 2012

Walkers on the newly opened 13th Street overpass.

Brad McClenny/The Gainesville Sun
Last Modified: Monday, November 26, 2012 at 2:37 p.m.

The new overpass is a sight to behold

Anyone traveling south on 13th Street approaching the Archer Road cut-off has certainly noticed the redesign and construction of the so-called "Double Helix" overpass. I took my first trip across it on my bicycle today. It is fantastic.

The new ribbon-like design atop the overpass is as striking when seen from the overpass itself as it is when seen from Southwest 13th Street or Archer Road. Newly added are the walkout/rest areas on both sides of the overpass, as is ready sidewalk access from the streets to the overpass.

Finally, the new landscaping that has been added to the approaches to the overpass is tasteful.

The overpass serves as a wonderful path to downtown from campus for walkers and cyclists and provides a striking introduction to Gainesville as you approach from the south.

Richard Moyer,


Ice in a glass isn't really an experiment

Harold Provins (What happens when the sun won't shine? 11-25) has a peculiar way to formulate an opinion about rising sea levels. He wants you to fill a glass of water with ice and see if it runs over the top when it melts.

Well, first, Harold, how much ice can we add? Can we pile the ice over the top of the rim like the Arctic? The ice there is definitely over the rim.

Where should we place the piles of ice that we might know as Greenland (for starters) and have them run into the glass?

I'm not seeing a very well designed experiment as it was initially proposed.

Larry Currie,


President Obama is no King George

Michael Rawson (Voice, Nov. 21) excuses the excesses of modern-day secessionists by claiming that the list of grievances in the Declaration of Independence is comparable to those of the Obama administration. Consulting the document itself yields a different conclusion.

The complaints of the Declaration were serious and real. Among other things, England forbade governors to pass laws, prevented migration to various regions of the country, dissolved representative assemblies, made judges dependent on his will alone, quartered troops in people's homes, cut off trade with other countries, waged war against the people, burnt their towns, and excited insurrection.

None of these acts nor others cited in the Declaration have been carried out by our president or his Cabinet or any other government official.

Secessionists, however, are certainly trying to excite insurrection among us. And it is to our detriment for them to continue to do so.

Joseph N. Wilson,


The passing of a true Gainesville treasure

We mourn the passing of artist Lennie Kesl, a true Gainesville treasure. They don't make 'em like Lenny anymore.

Don Geier,

Venice, Calif.

Here's to Lennie

Sometimes on a Monday night in the early '80's I'd go to Rickenbackers. It wouldn't be the usual band, and some old guy would be croaking out a ballad. But the place would be packed with people cheering him on.

It took me a while to figure it out. Lord knows they weren't there because he had a beautiful voice. They were there because it made them happy to see someone they loved so much doing something that made him so happy.

In time, I was lucky enough to understand why they felt that way.

Here's to you, Lennie. We'll miss the nearness of you.

Jim Aikin,



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