Saved a marriage: I am writing in response to the article by Joanne Green, "Rough Love" (June 22). We have a daughter who has been at Tranquility Bay for the past thirteen months. I can tell you that sending her there is the best thing we ever did. Our daughter was a ninth-grader at Cooper City High. She was on drugs, running away, disrespectful, and cutting. We lost control of her and ourselves. My wife and I were heading for divorce from all this chaos.
The best thing about this program is that they work on both the kids and parents. I can honestly say this program has saved my marriage and my daughter's life.
Tim Humphries
Cooper City
Saved one from addiction: I was dismayed to hear of Joanne Green's story, "Rough Love," about Tranquility Bay. My husband and I sent our only daughter in April 2005. She was an honor student who got involved with drugs and quickly fell on her face. Unfortunately, when a teen is caught by the demon of addiction, reason, therapy, grounding, et cetera, have no effect. We tried it all. Then we were led to TB.
Our daughter was also escorted by two "strangers" who treated her very respectfully. This was our choice.
Our daughter is home now, and I can quote her in this: "TB saved my life." She chose to move out when she turned eighteen this past November, and is living independently near us. We have a terrific relationship. She was able to complete her high school degree while attending TB and is currently a clean and productive member of society.
Christine Meara
Atlanta, Georgia
Saved another from death: Joanne Green's story "Rough Love" is nothing but gossip. I highly suggest you learn how to substantiate your position. Gossip from naysayers does not give an accurate account of anything. I encourage you to note that none of the children sent to behavior modification programs is sent there for singing too loudly in the church choir. Many of them, including my own son, would be dead from drug abuse or suicide if it were not for these programs.
My son has been at Tranquility Bay for seventeen months and is on target to graduate in October. He told his dad and me that if we had not sent him there when we did, he would have been dead within a couple of weeks. Today he is a happy and healthy sixteen-year-old.
Perhaps you do not realize the epidemics that have hit our country — teen drug abuse, suicide attempts, cutting, and other addictions. Our children are growing up in a society of mixed messages with very lax and clouded values exhibited by adults. This program not only teaches our future leaders to be accountable for their actions, but it also produces a whole and healthy family — the ultimate goal.
I don't think you realize how much harm you may be doing to so many families that are at a total loss of where to turn for help with their teens.
Gale Weeks
Las Vegas, Nevada
Two daughters saved: My oldest daughter was at Tranquility Bay from 2001 to 2003. She told me she would have liked to use the excuse of abuse, neglect, or hardship while at TB, before beginning to "work" the program, but in fact there was none. She returned to TB after graduation to become a staff member and finish eleventh-grade course work. She certainly would not have done that if there were abuse and neglect. She laughed and said it was kids scamming their parents. She is now stationed in England with the U.S. Air Force.
This past March my youngest daughter, who had never been a discipline problem, began getting into drugs and asked to go to TB. She told me in a recent letter: "I hate it when people dis the program, because it helped my sister and it is helping me. They are mad at their parents for sending them, so they are making up stories to have their parents pull them from the program."
Both of my daughters have reported that kids sit around trying to come up with stories that will cause their parents to "rescue them." In fact most of these parents have been trying to make their children accountable for years. I was one of those parents.
I am a mental health administrator. This program stands out in its work for healing and creating healthy families. Parents have to be willing to take the courageous step to participate in the program.
This program saved my oldest daughter's life — and her sister liked the changes she saw enough to want that for herself.
O'Connell McKeon
Urbanna, Virginia
Money Is Money
Unless you're a homophobe: In reference to Forrest Norman's "Wedding Trasher" (June 15): I am surprised that man turned away the lesbian couple who wanted to give his store business. If I want to buy a coke and I am gay, is a 7-Eleven owner not going to sell me the soda? I don't get how he can get away with this. It's none of his business. As long as their money is green, he should take it. I hope other citizens remember this man and do not buy from him.
Rob Crowley
Miami
You just can't say no: In reference to "Inherit the Worth" by Francisco Alvarado (June 8): How does Sally Heyman justify $300,000 in campaign contributions from developers, lobbyists, and lawyers? Her response is that she has made many friends during her nineteen years in politics. When one sits in traffic on U.S. 1, the response is self-explanatory. These high-powered people appear to have received a good return for their paltry $300,000 invested. It will probably suffice to re-elect her.
Next time you sit in traffic on Biscayne Boulevard, ask what you as a voter got. Ask if your commissioner gave you affordable housing. Ask to which developer Heyman responded just plain no. Ask what she has done for this county, and then please ask what this county has done for her.
Marion Burson
Aventura
No food critic is bossing him around: Let's hope this will be the last word about Fox's Sherron Inn and Bill Citara's review "Not So Good Old Days" (June 8). But does anyone really care what some person, who has the mentality to pick on the handicapped, thinks of a restaurant? I was at Fox's last night for my weekly visit. It didn't look to me as if anyone was being forced to be there against his or her will. We still, at least at this time, live in a country where we can dine where we please. We don't need a food critic to tell us which establishments we should or should not frequent.
Jeff Haller
Miami
Boy, does she make the food sound good: That was a ruthless and totally unrealistic review of Fox's by Bill Citara. It's an insult to all of us who have been going there for 30 plus years, and some for 60 years. The food has always been excellent, and your description turns it into some joke. Citara appears very immature with his "sucks" comments. Every restaurant can have an off day. The review was very childish — even though I grant you that at times I've been disappointed — but the place tries very hard to provide good food. Bean soup is not bland; it's actually very hearty, and you can always add salt. House salad comes with dinner and has iceberg lettuce in it, and the dressing is homemade. If Fox's isn't your kind of place, fine, but many people love it just the way it is. What dive do you know serves lobster, prime rib, and duck? Then again, your reviews are a play on words for entertaining young people and should not be taken too seriously.
Denise Smith
South Miami
So forget about it, bucko: Thank you, Estrella Eguino, for your letter "Don't Pity the Rich, Pity the Reader" (June 8). I haven't laughed this genuinely in a good long while. "Little Whatever"! Too funny. To New Times: Who is this woman? She's funny and right on the money. I think I'm in love.
John Greenfield
Coral Gables
Art director Michael Shavalier's work has been chosen for Print magazine's prestigious Regional Design Annual 2006. Judges determined that a cover design for a story that appeared this past September titled "Disintegration" was among "the best designs ... being produced throughout the U.S."
