Where to get COVID vaccine: East Orlando, St. Cloud to get area’s 1st FEMA satellite sites.

The Engelwood Neighborhood Center in east Orlando and the St. Cloud Civic Center will vaccinate up to 500 people per day from March 3 to March 6, the first “satellite sites” to open in Central Florida under a new federal vaccination program.

Wednesday marks the formal kickoff of the federal vaccination program, which will be anchored by a larger permanent site at Valencia College’s West Campus off Kirkman Road. There about 2,000 vaccines will be given daily, officials said.

The smaller satellite sites will shift to Kelly Park in Apopka and the Sebring Ball Field in Highlands County from March 7 to March 10, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

Federal officials hoped that the “spoke and wheel” model would increase vaccine supplies into major regions of the state, while allowing the satellite sites to equitably reach areas further from federal and state sites.

To make an appointment at these sites, you can register at myvaccine.fl.gov.

The mobile sites are expected to rotate every few days to sites across four counties. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings proposed nine locations to state officials last week.

“In my district, I have a lot of seniors and a lot of my seniors don’t have transportation,” said city Commissioner Tony Ortiz, whose district includes the Engelwood site. “I’ve been getting calls from my community left and right ... and if we need to do it again, we’ll continue to do it.”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

expanded criteria in recent days to include those who are deemed extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 by a doctor. Previously, only seniors, those in long-term care facilities or front-line healthcare workers were eligible.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer last week touted the Engelwood Neighborhood Center as a vaccine site, noting it was in a part of town — the Semoran Boulevard corridor — in need of vaccine resources.

I am ticked off at pet owners who “train” their dogs to poop in their neighbors’ yards. They walk them around the neighborhood so they can poop in my yard instead of training them to poop in their own yard. Eventually, these dogs have a well-established habit and favorite yard to poop in. Have some consideration and train your dogs to poop in their own yard! If you can “train” them to poop in my yard, you can train them to poop in your yard. I work in my yard and don’t want any surprises. Plus, eventually the habitual pooping will kill the grass in that “favorite” spot.

I’m ticked off that the White Castle ghost kitchen closed after only one day.

I’m ticked off that some lamebrain judge gave approval for Nestle Co. to pump more water out of Ginnie Springs for their profit. With all the trouble the Florida rivers and springs are having and all the people moving to Florida to pump water out of the aquifer for profit, (it) is deplorable. I hope the lawsuit that will be submitted will overrule this judgement.

I am ticked off that Seminole County does not maintain the appearance of the flyover at State Road 436 and Red Bug Lake Road. There are many scuff marks, a little paint would make it look so much better. And all the plants or weeds growing out the sides should be cut or killed. All the money that was spent to build this, it should be better kept.

The flip side

It was such a nice day Saturday that I went to the Enzian for lunch. I want to thank the group at the next table for paying for my lunch. First time that ever happened! What a pleasant surprise on a beautiful afternoon. Thank you!