LOOKING AHEAD THIS WEEK
Prioritize water solutions
Lee Constantine,
Now that every vote has been counted, let’s get to work. WATER must be the first item on the governor’s agenda. To avoid the looming economic and environmental disaster, we must immediately do five things. First, establish a water fund (A fund that the legislature cannot divert to other issues must be mandated; it is estimated that $1 billion per year is needed to secure Florida’s current and future water needs). Second, prevent pollution at its source. Third, reduce existing sources of pollution. Fourth, protect land to protect water resources. Lastly, secure Florida’s long-term water supply. We must begin this process aggressively to secure Florida’s future.
Airbnb’s decision
Francisco Gonzalez,
I visited Israel this August for the first time in my life. It is a beautiful country, filled with such history and great people of many faiths coexisting in as peaceful a way as any do in the Middle East. It’s also a state with many enemies surrounding it. That’s why it’s especially troubling to hear that Airbnb has delisted all Jewish listings in the West Bank of Israel for future visitors. Florida leaders are now looking at taking action against Airbnb here. Whether they do or not, I’ll quit using Airbnb as a personal boycott against their anti-Semitic discrimination.
Awaiting new YMCA
Joel C. Hunter,
Kudos to Dr. Phillips Charities for providing the means to make a new YMCA a part of the downtown Packing District development in Orlando. The way to combat community ills is to offer alternatives that increase healthy lifestyles and educational classes and community group meeting spaces. The Y is perfect for preempting the wasted potential of the screen-hypnotized or the couch-called. With all the efforts related to crisis that our community is recruited to join, it’s wise and hopeful and helpful to build in places of gathering, exercise, and education to complement our civic and religious organizations.
Hanukkah and music
David Kay,
As a kid, growing up in a decidedly non-Jewish neighborhood of Chicago, I had the annual task of explaining that Hanukkah is NOT “the Jewish Christmas”. Now that we’re once again into the 24-hour Christmas music cycle, though, I have a better understanding of the confusion. Many of the most popular seasonal songs were written by Jewish songwriters for their Christian neighbors to enjoy. From “Winter Wonderland” and “Let It Snow” to “Silver Bells” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”, the list includes some of the most beloved evergreens: “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”, “The Christmas Song” (the “chestnuts roasting on an open fire” one), and the mostrecorded song of them all, “White Christmas”.
Fun for kids on break
Anna McPherson, past
Winter break is coming — the kids will be home for two whole weeks. Theme parks are filled to capacity. Here are some Orlando-centric activity suggestions: Look for frogs hidden around Leu Gardens. Take the bikes for a spin on the many paved trails around Cypress Park. Check out the Orlando Fire Museum (housed in an original fire station), a great hidden gem in Loch Haven Park. The Orange County History Center also has an amazing array of kid-friendly local lore. And who doesn’t love a SunRail ride to the Science Center for the day or Park Avenue for lunch? Happy holiday break!
Aerial gondolas returning
Pamela Nabors,
Disney’s aerial gondolas are coming back! Not to mix my theme park metaphors, but it seems like a bit of back to the future, as Magic Kingdom used to have gondolas between Fantasyland and Adventureland. I had a chance to see these being constructed this past week while visiting Disney Springs, and what I saw seriously impressed me. Nobody does transportation — especially elevated transportation — better or more creatively than Disney. I would consider the parks’ Monorail and overall transportation system as another ride unto itself. Now guests can travel by air to the resorts in a whole new, but familiar way.
Sentinel departures
Carol Wick,
On Monday morning, the world will shift a bit on its axis. Not only did we lose award-winning photographer Red Huber a few weeks ago, last week Jacob Langston and George Diaz hung up their press passes, put away their tape recorders and said goodbye to the Orlando Sentinel. These are people that we have come to trust to wade through the politics, stir up the muck when things got ugly and tell us, most importantly, the truth. There are still quite a few good people at the Sentinel and we are excited that Nancy Meyer has returned but an era has passed. Good luck, gentlemen. And thank you for the truth.