Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive should have opened
Whoever at the St. John’s Water Management District made the decision to close the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, based on “guidance” from the state, made a very regrettable decision. At a time when people across Central Florida and the rest of the state are crying to get out of their homes, where they’ve been cooped up all week, what better opportunity than to get in the car and enjoy a beautiful and educational experience than to enjoy the wildlife drive this past weekend?
If they were afraid that people would gather in groups to watch gators or birds, then just require that people remain in their cars. While I was reading the posted sign at the gate of the wildlife drive stating that it was closed because of the COVID-19 crises, at least three other cars drove up and had to turn around, with cars full of disappointed children and parents. Over the course of the weekend, I would imagine that hundreds of cars, full of disappointed families, had to, likewise, turn around.
St. John’s Water Management District missed a wonderful opportunity during this unique time to provide the citizens of our state a chance to escape the environs of their homes, and “refresh their spirits through nature’s bounty.”
I would encourage that those responsible for this decision reconsider and open the Apopka Wildlife Drive during its regular operating hours. If necessary, require that visitors remain in their cars during the drive.
Mike Galyean Winter Park
Virus can put life, treatment on hold
For the past six months, my husband and I have been making plan after plan in preparation for him to have brain surgery, a hopeful cure for his epilepsy. This past week, those plans turned into a battle…a battle against coronavirus. Coronavirus has won the battle, forcing the surgery to be postponed by nearly a year because of restrictions against elective procedures at area medical facilities.
To us, this surgery was not elective. Ryan has been on countless medications but none help. Even right now, Ryan is on three different medications and he still started having myoclonic jerks after getting the news of the surgery being postponed. Surgery is the last resort and the only possible treatment and cure. Now we have another year of seizures to expect.
Coronavirus should not have won this battle. If people would use the same precautions as they should to keep from getting any illness, then there should not be an issue of spreading. There are other medical issues right in front of us that cannot be seen due to the consumption with coronavirus.
So another year it is. Another year counting down. Another year that will hopefully not end in a losing battle.
Marissa O’Connor Longwood
What if coronavirus meets hurricane?
The Trump Administration said that the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic could go beyond August. Unfortunately, here in Florida we have another looming and more familiar threat, the Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1 and could go as long as Nov. 30.
Dealing with a serious hurricane and COVID-19 at the same time will overstretch our resources, to say the least.
In 2017, Hurricane Irma left over 10 million people without power during the sweltering heat of summer. The power loss was not only in homes, but in hospitals too. The last thing we need is another major power outage — we cannot risk losing power to ventilators and other critical equipment saving lives of those affected by the coronavirus.
We need to ask ourselves and our policy makers, is Florida prepared? If a hurricane strikes, will the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Guard have the resources?
We need to urge our public officials to start preparing us now for hurricane season and any scenarios we may face.
Guido Weiss Wellington
The author is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House in the 21st District.
