Letters to the Editor

Touched by the Van Son story

The article you (Isaac Babcock) wrote in Thursday’s paper (“Waiting to say ‘I love you’” published Feb. 9) was so touching and has moved me to tears. What a tremendous story and reminder of what is truly important in our lives. My heart goes out to the Van Son family. I just can’t imagine their journey. It’s not often I read stories that pull at my heart strings, and your writing not only pulled, but nearly broke them… what a meaningful story of unconditional love. Thank you.

—Clarissa Howard

Director

Winter Park Communications Department

I just wanted to compliment you (Babcock) on your story featuring Jeff and Michele Van Son (“Waiting to say ‘I love you’”) — it was one of the best-written stories I have read anywhere in a very long time. The story is beautifully written and incredibly moving. You have such a nice touch!

Congratulations!

I look forward to reading many more of your stories.

—Lynn Phillips Carolan

Communications Specialist

Winter Park Health Foundation

Odds stacked against rail

I’m not a fanatic football or Super Bowl fan, but I caught parts, until my interest waned. My favorite commercial was with Clint Eastwood for, ostensibly, Chrysler. Though it was sad to see that Jerry Seinfeld must both be broke and out of new material, shilling for Toyota.

"This is halftime in America," Eastwood tersely rasps though tight lips. And, "The second half is about to begin."

This is one of the many reasons I had put forth regarding the foolishness of SunRail. I would be all for it, including subsidies, if people were really going to ride it in acceptable numbers.

For whatever your reasons — mostly grandiose — you've elected to take on a truly uphill battle in an attempt to make SunRail a success. Our secretary of transportation stated recently — and you have to read between the lines — "This train has to be a success for the future of Florida." Italics added for emphasis.

But the odds are so stacked against you it isn't funny. And now you have a win-at-all-costs defensive mentality. With a large part of your business plan being simply cheerleading, and sucking in some developers. Good luck with that.

We are just too entrenched in our dependence upon the private auto — from its ostentation to convenience to the personal freedom it affords. Then there's the huge "machine" (a.k.a. our economy) that is dependent upon the auto: big oil, parts suppliers, distributors, railroads, retailers (from the corner gas station/convenience store to Borders), road builders, drive-throughs (that new Panera Bread on Aloma Avenue seems to be hopping), etc. The list goes on and on. The only silver lining — for me — is the huge number of people that are now shopping online, and the continued growth in that distribution industry might just save us from transit building insolvency.

We still, at least for the time being, and here in Winter Park, will shop frequently for fresh foods at Whole Foods; take and pick up the kids from school, especially the private schools; get our hair done; go to school events, restaurants, the malls and the movies. We ain’t ever getting out of our cars.

I don't know what you all were thinking, but it was clearly wishful, and probably more accurately, wistful.

And now a few ‘BTWs’:

What would have happened if Orlando didn't build a parking garage at the new arena? I wonder how much parking Madison Square Garden provides. You know, we can't afford it both ways.

Only fools rush in — why don't we hold off on "investing" even more money in SunRail, re: silencing train whistles, until we see which way the wind is blowing. And in the interim, work the feds to change the whistle law. Train whistles are really ineffective anyway, because the hapless and the hopeless will continue to die under the wheels, regardless of inhibitors.

And last but not least, I’m sure you all are aware that we are to build a new Amtrak train station at Central Park with even more “free” federal money, but outside of SunRail costs. The real kicker is that U.S. Rep. John Mica is bringing the $950,000 bacon for the train station from the Federal Transit Administration's 2009 Bus and Bus Facility Allocations budget. Business as usual?

—William Shallcross

Winter Park