What We Think – The Op-Ed Saloon

Do Firefighters Need
a Moral Compass?

Posted by on May 6, 2013 in Editoral, Local, News | 0 comments

By Curt Middleton
Executive Editor

Throughout the nation, actually across the globe, firefighters are justifiably held in high regard. This is a reputation earned since the public views the fire service as a “constant,” a “rock” of strength and stability to which the public KNOWS it can turn to in times of need. Firefighters are crisis managers whether that crisis is a dwelling fire, a road accident, medical disaster or other medical emergency. Firefighters run toward danger and protect or free us, a grateful public, from impending harm. Yes, they receive training for their special mission but it does take a person of unquestionable, unflinching character to lay their own life down to save yours. (more…)

Coach Andy Enfield
and his FGCU Eagles

Posted by Editor on Mar 31, 2013 in Editoral, Local, Sports | 0 comments

By Jim Clark

Like most SW Floridians, I was swept up in Dunk City Mania.  It was so much fun watching Coach Andy Enfield and his Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles play an exciting brand of basketball and win a couple of games in the NCAA Tournament.   What made it even better was how humble the team was in accepting the national spotlight.  This team epitomizes what the NCAA Tournament used to be all about.  These are true student-athletes who will finish their college years by entering the workforce, not the NBA draft.

Two weeks ago, 99% of the country had never even heard of FGCU.  Since the wins over Georgetown and San Diego State, it was tough to turn on network TV and not find a reference to the school. (more…)

Eugen Borosch, who is he?

Posted by Editor on Nov 7, 2012 in Editoral, Local, News | 0 comments

Editorial by Anthonie P. Barrett
Special to The Lehigh Acres Gazette

Is Eugen Borosch, King of the Poor, User of Politicians, The Burgermeister of Lehigh, a Bad Businessman or just the Puppet Master of Lehigh Acres?

Borosch and his company Kings Greens Development Company, LLC refused to pay condominium and assessment fees of over $500,000 dollars payable to Kings Greens at Majestic Condominium Association, Inc. of Lehigh Acres. As one might suspect, not paying these fees placed an enormous burden on all of the other members of the association. But did the ”King of the Poor” worry about these poor people?

Early this year the President of the Condominium Association Melissa Dortch at the direction of her board reminded the ”User of Politicians” that he owed the condominium association over a half of a million dollars and he must pay up or they would foreclosure on the property.

By this time, Borosch had an $820,000 mortgage placed on the property held by Hilcone, LLC. Yes, you guessed it, Hilcone, LLC is owned by ”The Burgermeister of Lehigh” himself Eugen, and his wife Conchita Borosch and Hildegard Goertz.

According to Public records on June 18, 2012 Kings Greens Development Company, LLC magically satisfied the $820,000 mortgage including 8.75% interest to Hilcone, LLC. (more…)

Welch: In A Pig’s Eye

Posted by Editor on Nov 3, 2012 in Editoral, News | 0 comments

Editorial by Anthonie P. Barrett
Special to The Lehigh Acres Gazette

Mike Welch: Promises Made, Promises Kept. Right in A Pig’s Eye

According to Welch’s website, he “Fought against EVERY Tax Increase Effort Since Elected to Office” BUT WELCH chooses to take health insurance paid for by the taxpayers. *

According to Welch’s website,  he “Nixed plans for the purchase of an expensive “Taj Mahal” Complex for the District on the Taxpayer’s Dime,” BUT documents show that Welch voted to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars more for the new building. **

Welch also has  stated in his mailers that he personally is against special interest, BUT Welsh took more than $5000 of special interest money for his campaign. ***

So is Welch a politician or just a lair?    

* According to ECWCD Budget  ** According to ECWCD  meeting minutes ***
According to Welch’s campaign report documents click here

Editor’s Note: The views expressed by Anthonie P. Barrett do not necessarily reflect those held by the staff of the Lehigh Acres Gazette. The Gazette provides a venue for people to express their opinions concerning any subject matter and presents this as “opinion,” not news.

What the Voters Need To Know: ECWCD Candidates

Posted by Editor on Oct 31, 2012 in Editoral | 0 comments

Editorial by Robert Anderson
Publisher The Lehigh Acres Gazette

In the ECWCD races you may want to learn who is supporting whom and why? ECWCD doesn’t always run smooth. Iis it because of special interests? Is it time for this community to stand up and say enough is enough and fight against special interest?

Seat 1

Neal Horrom – Former ECWCD Commissioner.  See his campaign reports click here

Dewey A Tyler – Former Businessman. See his campaign reports click here

Michael J Welch – Incumbent – Being supported by persons outside of Lehigh Acres including Political Action Committees out of Tallahassee.  See his campaign reports click here (more…)

What The Voters Need To Know :
Lehigh Acres Fire Board Candidates

Posted by Editor on Oct 31, 2012 in Editoral | 4 comments

Editorial by Robert Anderson
Publisher, The Lehigh Acres Gazette

In the Fire Board races, you may want to learn who is supporting whom and why?

Does Lehigh Acres need another union controlled board? Or do we as a community need to stand up and say “enough is enough” and fight to get back a fire department that we as a community can be proud of.

Seat 1

Robert G Hewitt – No support. See his report click here

Cathy Kruse – 95 percent supported by the Firefighters and Fire Political Action Committees. See her report click here

Seat 2

Larry Becker – Incumbent – Becker has stated for the record Lehigh Fire will not be in the ambulance business if he is is re-elected. Becker has said he wants Lee county EMS to take over the job for LAFD.  See his report click here

Ronald L Krome – is 100 percent supported by the Firefighters and Fire Political Action Committees. See his report click here

Willam Liedtke – is supported by himself and a former Lehigh Acres Fire Chief. See his report click here

Rob Robbins – has had no contributions but has had almost $500 in expenses. Why? See his report click here (more…)

The Secret Life of
The Not So Fabulous

Posted by Editor on Oct 29, 2012 in Editoral, News | 0 comments

Editorial by Anthonie P. Barrett
Special to The Lehigh Acres Gazette

Mike Welch is a surrogate of the Puppet Master and Burgermeister Eugen Borosch, who finances local candidates and turns them into obedient patsies just like Welch. Certain individuals are for sale in Lehigh Acres as people are everywhere in local politics. These kind of people will get into local offices or on controlling government boards and then act nearly normal until someone speaks from behind the scenes in favor of his position. For example, let’s say, a major property tax payer or a land developer wants to enhance the value of his holdings though manipulating elected officials to make favorable decisions.

Land value here is very dependent on water control, especially when it includes lakes. An obedient patsy of such a developer would naturally vote to lower property taxes, even if it means letting water control property deteriorate further and preparations for a true catastrophe such as a one-in-one hundred year storm. (more…)

First Amendment Rights
Trampled Upon Locally

Posted by on Oct 28, 2012 in Editoral, Featured, News | 1 comment

By Curt Middleton
Executive Editor

Gary Bright CEO / President of the Greater Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce, an obvious Eugen Borosch surrogate, tried to command Robert J. Anderson to not publish a photo of him in the Gazette

I was going to pen a news story concerning incidents related to the title of this missive. But, upon clearer reflection I determined I could not maintain that “third person” omnipotent voice needed to write an objective news item.  This is because I am incensed.

I am outraged and quite incredulous about a conspiracy preventing representatives of the Lehigh Acres Gazette from covering local news. Robert J. Anderson, publisher of the Gazette, was prohibited from covering a gathering of politicians hosted yesterday, Thursday Oct. 25, 2012, by the Greater Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce. Here’s a re-cap of the events leading up to Anderson being Gestapo-like barred from basically doing his job:

• Wednesday night David Deetscreek, a chamber member, informed Anderson that if he attempted to attend the chamber event, Eugen Borosch would have local law enforcement remove him from the premises.
• Anderson, wishing to be proactive, called Capt. Ron Curtis of the Lee County Sheriff’s Dept.,Bravo District (Lehigh Acres) commander, asking him how this could possibly be legal.
• Curtis approached Borosch, who owns the building where the chamber rents space, asking him why he intended to ban Anderson from attending the event. According to Curtis, Borosch said he did not like what Anderson wrote in the Gazette.
• Curtis informed Anderson that if he did attempt to attend the event, Anderson would be issued a trespass citation, a misdemeanor offense, requiring a court appearance to answer the charge. Furthermore, Curtis told Anderson that if he then still refused to leave he would be arrested.

ARRESTED? Did Lehigh Acres enter some diabolical time warp sending the community back to Borosch’s native Germany of the 1930s-40s where civil rights were not only disregarded, but abolished? Isn’t it this incredibly ironic? Think about it. A German-born local businessman would trample upon First Amendment rights banning a news organization from attending a function where political candidates running for election on Nov. 6, 2012, were appearing to solicit support. (more…)

State Senator Caught
Eyeing Porn on Senate Floor

Posted by Editor on Oct 15, 2012 in Editoral | 0 comments

Editorial by Anthonie P. Barrett
Special to The Lehigh Acres Gazette

Poor  Florida State Sen. Mike Bennett  was just trying to pass the time as his colleagues talked about what he apparently thought was some dull, dull abortion bill, when he got caught looking at a very NSFTSF image (Not Safe For The Senate Floor). (more…)

Educate Yourself and Vote

Posted by Editor on Oct 10, 2012 in Editoral | 0 comments

Editorial by Douglas Patterson
Special to The Lehigh Acres Gazette

Count down to election day and we are being barraged with political ads, commercials, phone calls, posters everywhere and a mail box crammed full of political stuff.

As a concerned citizen of Lehigh Acres, I urge you to read those flyers, listen to the phone calls, and when confronted with a person running for office, remember this “I am from Lehigh Acres. Why should I vote for you?” See how fast of a response you get that talks about Lehigh Acres NOT Lee County,

Look at your flyers you get that are associated with a Political Action Committee (PAC). What about  the phone call?  Is it a call from the real person or is it generated from a support group that is out for gain not associated with the office being selected.

I urge you to educate yourself. It doesn’t matter what political party you belong to, the most important factor we face now is at the very local level. Beware about claims of what they will do if elected, or the claim to clean house if they are elected. Keep an open mind, educate yourself and vote with this We are Lehigh Acres and we will be heard. Please VOTE.  “You do count.”