Dodging lightning

Schools and parks install warning systems to prevent tragedies

A T A GROWING NUMBER OF SCHOOLS and parks in Southwest Florida, a 15-second horn blast will warn of a lightning threat, often minutes before the sky turns dark and begins to crackle. Three shorter five-second blasts will signal “all clear” well after the weather clears. That’s when most people are killed or injured by lightning — not during, but […]

Floridians face same-sex marriage conundrums




If equal rights were a Florida fire, once upon a time that fire was so distant for marriage-minded members of the same sex that they couldn’t even see the smoke. Now, at least, they can, although they continue to struggle with a complicated woodpile of laws and cultural reflexes designed to freeze them out of the fire circle shared by […]

Nothing to say




I have absolutely nothing to say about Trayvon Martin or George Zimmerman, who met for a few minutes like two converging trains on a shared American track, each freighting a different history and culture. They collided, then they parted company, one dead and one breathing. I have nothing to say about the promoters of tobacco products designed for addicts and […]

An Obamacare surrender




Washington is riven by conflict and deep-seated division. It is rare indeed when both sides can agree on anything consequential. Therefore it is incredibly heartening that there is now bipartisan agreement that the implementation of Obamacare is a mess. Republicans have long maintained this, but now the Obama administration has lent its implicit assent with its astonishing decision to delay […]

GUEST OPINION

‘Save Our Septics’ group opposes proposed sewer mandate

Save Our Septics — or S.O.S. — is a loosely organized group of citizens fiercely opposed to the installation of sewers. The members of the group favor clean water and well-maintained septic systems. Members believe sewers are not needed and that the economic impact of the sewer expansion project will be devastating to affected taxpayers and revival of the local […]

Maho Beach: Body surfing of a different kind




St. Maarten — or St. Martin — is a small island in the eastern Caribbean that’s half French and half Dutch, which is why there are two different spellings of the name. The dividing line on the island is also the only land border shared by these two countries anywhere on earth. We sailed into our port of entry, the […]

Get a move on

Exercise therapy: Tired dogs are more likely to be well-mannered


The joke in dog training these days is that when you get two trainers together, the only thing they’ll agree on is that a third trainer is doing it wrong. But there’s something else that the fiercest advocate of a no-punishment training approach will find in common with the trainer who believes that a dog’s actions need consequences: They’ll both […]

Pets of the Week



These animals are available for adoption at the Animal Welfare League, 3519 Drance St., Port Charlotte. All animals are neutered and current with their shots. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. To view adoptable pets, visit www.awlshelter.org. EARS is now offering the Pampered Pets program to the community 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday […]

THIS WEEK ON WGCU-TV



¦ THURSDAY, JULY 18, 9 P.M. Doc Martin The Wrong Goodbye Martin and Pauline are surprised by the number of patients coming to see him on the last day before his Surgery closes and he moves to London. Taxi driver Tommy delivers a patient to the Surgery, but complains of migraine headaches himself. Martin rushes after Louisa, finding her safe […]

COMMUNITY NEWS



Disaster planning guides available The 2013 Charlotte County Disaster Planning Guide, with new fold-out evacuation zone map, is available to residents at all public libraries, many government offices, the Cultural Center of Charlotte County and most houses of worship. The comprehensive guide contains life-saving information on a variety of subjects that will help residents develop a detailed family action plan […]