Author: Michael Turner

Soliciting letters to the editor in the high summer season is a little like asking a Formula I driver for an autograph mid-race. Nevertheless, here we are hoping some of you are itching to participate. We’d love to hear from our readers about whatever may be on their minds. And we know you’re out there because we know our papers are being picked up at a brisk pace. We like to think of letters to the editor as a community discussion and welcome the vast majority of viewpoints. (We will draw the line at obscenity and letters advocating violence, for instance.) But we will most decidedly not withhold or edit letters based on their political slant. Nor do letters have to address weighty issues. They can cover a wide range of topics or just offer thanks. And a quick note about letters: Just because they appear in these pages does NOT mean we agree with them or they in any way represent the views of this newspaper. Your letters, your views. Bring ’em on. Letters may be emailed to editor@winterparktimes.com or submitted online under the “letters” link. Letters should include the author’s name, address and telephone number for verification...

Weigh in on Topics of the Day Online   It seems everyone has an opinion about nearly everything nowadays, judging by social media chatter and the cable news channels. Why should our readers be any different? So we’re providing a new outlet for you to weigh in on the hot topics of the day with our weekly poll. The questions can be found on this page as well as at www.winterparktimes.com. While the results will be far from scientifically valid, the polls will nevertheless provide a modicum of insight about how your fellow Grand Countians feel about issues such as immigration, health care, gun control and local initiatives that may arise. Below you’ll find this week’s inaugural poll. The results will appear in the paper next week as well as at www.winterparktimes.com. Happy polling....