Letters to the Editor

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Help battle heart disease

Too many lives are cut short by heart disease and stroke, and that doesn’t have to be the case.

Thanks to the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk, lifesaving science is being conducted to improve treatments and inspire prevention, including three locally funded research grants right here in Central Florida.

Our family knows firsthand the power of research. Our daughter Avery was born with two holes in her heart. Just 10 years ago, this common birth defect may have required our baby to undergo open heart surgery.

Fortunately, with the advancements in research, Avery benefited from a minimally invasive procedure that safely implanted a cardiac coil to repair the hole in her heart.

With heart disease and stroke remaining the No. 1 and No. 3 killers of Central Floridians, we hope our community of Winter Park will join us in taking steps toward advancing care at the Heart Walk on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 7 a.m. at Loch Haven Park. For more information, log onto www.GreaterOrlandoHeartWalk.org

—Amanda and Roman Vega

Winter Park

New park restroom serves purpose

(In response to “Barking about the budget,” published Sept. 1) Ms. Shutts, the new restroom is being put in because the current restroom is not handicapped accessible. The people in the community who are disabled can not use the present restroom. Maybe you think the disabled should not have to use the restroom. Also, the new restroom is going to be closer to the entrance so the joggers and bikers who use the new trail can access it easily.

—Michael Palumbo

from the web

Quit being so mean

(In response to “Hold off on dog park additions” in letters to the editor published Aug. 24) Nancy Shutts — I paid $75 to register my dog to go to Fleet Peeples dog park for one year. The money was refunded to me. Before you go off on a tangent, remember, your city council voted to rescind fees to dog owners using the park. Evidently, they had other means available to maintain the park for residents and non-residents alike. Don’t be such a meanie!

—Chris Fales

from the web

Make move on the moon

(In response to “Don’t forget about the oil spill” published Sept. 1) How can you fix an ocean or for that matter a planet? I say build panels on the moon!

—Jim Bob

from the web

Remembering a TV legend

(In response to “Orlando’s newsman” about longtime TV anchor Ben Aycrigg published Sept. 1) I was friends with his kids and in-laws’ kids! He was like Walter Cronkite to us! Tall, friendly and commanding, but down to earth.

—Suzanne R. Barnes, from Facebook

Rail systems doomed to fail

(In response to “Maitland SunRail station stays put” published Sept. 2) So it is more important to forge ahead with the old plans, even though they almost guarantee less patronage? Central Florida is too spread out for these proposed rail systems to be of any real benefit. Do some research on Miami’s monorail system and see how beneficial it is to them before wasting more tax dollars.

—Scott Gibson

from the web

Checklist for hiring a contractor

Doing your homework when finding and hiring a contractor may help you have a better outcome when having work done on your home.

Use this checklist to help you select a contractor to work on your home.

• You can ask family, friends or coworkers for recommendations.

• Make sure the contractor has a permanent business location and a good reputation with local banks and suppliers.

• Find out how long they have been in the business. It usually takes three to five years to establish a financially sound business. You want to make sure they will be around after the construction is complete to service any warranties.

• Make sure the contractor has sufficient workers compensation and general liability insurance. If not, you may be liable for any construction-related accidents on your premises.

• Ask the contractor to provide you with names of previous customers. If they won’t, beware. If they do, ask the customers if they would hire the contractor again.

• Do you feel you can easily communicate with the contractor? Remember you will be in close contact with them throughout the construction process and afterward. (This is your home)

• Make sure the contractor provides you with a complete and clearly written contract. The contract will benefit both of you.

• Be cautious of unusually low-priced bids. If the contractor is unable to pay for the materials and labor as the project proceeds, this may indicate a potential problem.

Keep in mind that less expensive does not necessarily mean better!

—Cheryl Nunley

Owner, DRS Inc.