Latest news with #McNair
Miami Herald
02-05-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Paragliders invade Orlando Wetlands! Birds spooked, birders aghast
ORLANDO, Fla. - Most weekends, the Facebook pages dedicated to the Orlando Wetlands focus on spectacular pictures of nature in action - huge, hungry gators, mischievious otters and a flamboyant array of nesting birds. But last weekend, a pair of unwelcome fliers sailed into the 1,650-acre park about 25 miles east of Orlando, causing a commotion that sparked an outcry among visitors and led to the filing of complaints with the Federal Aviation Administration and the state Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission law enforcement division. The fliers piloted motor-powered paragliders into the protected space where even drones are forbidden. "I saw them coming in," said James McNair, 61, a hospice nurse who spends most weekends with his camera gear at the wetlands and who serves as moderator of the Facebook page Orlando Wetlands Photography. McNair snapped pictures of the fliers, one of whom headed directly toward a cypress tree dome, the main spot for nesting birds, which included wood storks, a long-legged wading species federally listed as threatened. The wetlands is home to hundreds of species of birds from plain-looking flycatchers to bright pink Roseate spoonbills, and more than 60 kinds of butterflies. Alligators, bobcats, coyotes, otters and raccoons also roam the marshy grounds. McNair said he watched the paraglider sail toward the rookeries, flying closer and closer before pulling up at the last second. Dozens of birds scattered, abandoning nests and chicks. When the paraglider drifted away, the birds slowly returned. "But it definitely spooked a lot of them," McNair said. The nature community reacted angrily online to McNair's photos of the fliers. Some called for the FAA to investigate. Others described the fliers as self-entitled and idiots. "Wish they landed on a gator," one post mused. In response to critics, a man posted an apology in the Facebook group, suggesting he was one of the fliers. The Orlando Sentinel was unable to verify his identity or contact him. "I respect nature and always try to respect people…I was out flying around and didn't know the wetlands park was there," the post read. "If I would have known, we would have steered clear of it. Never try [to] ruffle anyone's feathers, and I'm sorry to anyone that might have gotten upset with [us] flying by. It won't happen again since we know it's there now." Mark Sees, the Orlando Wetlands manager, referred an inquiry to the city's communication team. Spokesperson Ashley Papagni said the city learned of "low-flying paragliders over the Orlando Wetlands" from photos and community concerns. "One of the individuals involved later contacted us directly, expressed regret, and we were able to clarify the sensitive nature and the importance of protecting wildlife," Papagni said. She did not name the individual, but said incident was reported to the FAA and FWC. Chad Weber, a law enforcement officer with the state wildlife agency, said investigators were gathering information about the incident, and it could potentially fall under Florida laws prohibiting harassment of wildlife. The city acquired the 1,650 acres in 1986 for about $5.13 million to filter reclaimed wastewater. Water flows through the marsh and the plants, which consume the nutrients before the cleaned liquid spills into the St. John's River. In December 2022, the city opened a 2,200-foot boardwalk to allow hikers, birdwatchers and other visitors a view over the water and closer to the coots, egrets, herons and wood storks who nest near the cypress dome. "It's what I consider a hidden jewel of Central Florida," said Bruce Doerle, 77, a nature photographer. Doerle said the paragliders are probably attracted to the wetlands area for the same reasons as birds. Not many houses and a beautiful view from up high, he said. On its website, the United States Powered Paragliding Association notes that "Airspace can be very intimidating to a lot of paramotor pilots." "It means there are some places where we need permission to fly and other places where we don't." -------------- Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Paragliders invade Orlando Wetlands! Birds spooked, birders aghast
ORLANDO, Fla. — Most weekends, the Facebook pages dedicated to the Orlando Wetlands focus on spectacular pictures of nature in action — huge, hungry gators, mischievious otters and a flamboyant array of nesting birds. But last weekend, a pair of unwelcome fliers sailed into the 1,650-acre park about 25 miles east of Orlando, causing a commotion that sparked an outcry among visitors and led to the filing of complaints with the Federal Aviation Administration and the state Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission law enforcement division. The fliers piloted motor-powered paragliders into the protected space where even drones are forbidden. 'I saw them coming in,' said James McNair, 61, a hospice nurse who spends most weekends with his camera gear at the wetlands and who serves as moderator of the Facebook page Orlando Wetlands Photography. McNair snapped pictures of the fliers, one of whom headed directly toward a cypress tree dome, the main spot for nesting birds, which included wood storks, a long-legged wading species federally listed as threatened. The wetlands is home to hundreds of species of birds from plain-looking flycatchers to bright pink Roseate spoonbills, and more than 60 kinds of butterflies. Alligators, bobcats, coyotes, otters and raccoons also roam the marshy grounds. McNair said he watched the paraglider sail toward the rookeries, flying closer and closer before pulling up at the last second. Dozens of birds scattered, abandoning nests and chicks. When the paraglider drifted away, the birds slowly returned. 'But it definitely spooked a lot of them,' McNair said. The nature community reacted angrily online to McNair's photos of the fliers. Some called for the FAA to investigate. Others described the fliers as self-entitled and idiots. 'Wish they landed on a gator,' one post mused. In response to critics, a man posted an apology in the Facebook group, suggesting he was one of the fliers. The Orlando Sentinel was unable to verify his identity or contact him. 'I respect nature and always try to respect people…I was out flying around and didn't know the wetlands park was there,' the post read. 'If I would have known, we would have steered clear of it. Never try [to] ruffle anyone's feathers, and I'm sorry to anyone that might have gotten upset with [us] flying by. It won't happen again since we know it's there now.' Mark Sees, the Orlando Wetlands manager, referred an inquiry to the city's communication team. Spokesperson Ashley Papagni said the city learned of 'low-flying paragliders over the Orlando Wetlands' from photos and community concerns. 'One of the individuals involved later contacted us directly, expressed regret, and we were able to clarify the sensitive nature and the importance of protecting wildlife,' Papagni said. She did not name the individual, but said incident was reported to the FAA and FWC. Chad Weber, a law enforcement officer with the state wildlife agency, said investigators were gathering information about the incident, and it could potentially fall under Florida laws prohibiting harassment of wildlife. The city acquired the 1,650 acres in 1986 for about $5.13 million to filter reclaimed wastewater. Water flows through the marsh and the plants, which consume the nutrients before the cleaned liquid spills into the St. John's River. In December 2022, the city opened a 2,200-foot boardwalk to allow hikers, birdwatchers and other visitors a view over the water and closer to the coots, egrets, herons and wood storks who nest near the cypress dome. 'It's what I consider a hidden jewel of Central Florida,' said Bruce Doerle, 77, a nature photographer. Doerle said the paragliders are probably attracted to the wetlands area for the same reasons as birds. Not many houses and a beautiful view from up high, he said. On its website, the United States Powered Paragliding Association notes that 'Airspace can be very intimidating to a lot of paramotor pilots.' 'It means there are some places where we need permission to fly and other places where we don't.' --------------
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Paragliders invade Orlando Wetlands! Birds spooked! Birders aghast!
Most weekends, the Facebook pages dedicated to the Orlando Wetlands focus on spectacular pictures of nature in action — huge, hungry gators, mischievious otters and a flamboyant array of nesting birds. But last weekend, a pair of unwelcome fliers sailed into the 1,650-acre park about 25 miles east of Orlando, causing a commotion that sparked an outcry among visitors and led to the filing of complaints with the Federal Aviation Administration and the state Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission law enforcement division. The fliers piloted motor-powered paragliders into the protected space where even drones are forbidden. 'I saw them coming in,' said James McNair, 61, a hospice nurse who spends most weekends with his camera gear at the wetlands and who serves as moderator of the Facebook page Orlando Wetlands Photography McNair snapped pictures of the fliers, one of whom headed directly toward a cypress tree dome, the main spot for nesting birds, which included wood storks, a long-legged wading species federally listed as threatened. The wetlands is home to hundreds of species of birds from plain-looking flycatchers to bright pink Roseate spoonbills, and more than 60 kinds of butterflies. Alligators, bobcats, coyotes, otters and raccoons also roam the marshy grounds. McNair said he watched the paraglider sail toward the rookeries, flying closer and closer before pulling up at the last second. Dozens of birds scattered, abandoning nests and chicks. When the paraglider drifted away, the birds slowly returned. 'But it definitely spooked a lot of them,' McNair said. The nature community reacted angrily online to McNair's photos of the fliers. Some called for the FAA to investigate. Others described the fliers as self-entitled and idiots. 'Wish they landed on a gator,' one post mused. In response to critics, a man posted an apology in the Facebook group, suggesting he was one of the fliers. The Orlando Sentinel was unable to verify his identity or contact him. 'I respect nature and always try to respect people…I was out flying around and didn't know the wetlands park was there,' the post read. 'If I would have known, we would have steered clear of it. Never try [to] ruffle anyone's feathers, and I'm sorry to anyone that might have gotten upset with [us] flying by. It won't happen again since we know it's there now.' Mark Sees, the Orlando Wetlands manager, referred an inquiry to the city's communication team. Spokesperson Ashley Papagni said the city learned of 'low-flying paragliders over the Orlando Wetlands' from photos and community concerns. 'One of the individuals involved later contacted us directly, expressed regret, and we were able to clarify the sensitive nature and the importance of protecting wildlife,' Papagni said. She did not name the individual, but said incident was reported to the FAA and FWC. Chad Weber, a law enforcement officer with the state wildlife agency, said investigators were gathering information about the incident, and it could potentially fall under Florida laws prohibiting harassment of wildlife. The city acquired the 1,650 acres in 1986 for about $5.13 million to filter reclaimed wastewater. Water flows through the marsh and the plants, which consume the nutrients before the cleaned liquid spills into the St. John's River. In December 2022, the city opened a 2,200-foot boardwalk to allow hikers, birdwatchers and other visitors a view over the water and closer to the coots, egrets, herons and wood storks who nest near the cypress dome. 'It's what I consider a hidden jewel of Central Florida,' said Bruce Doerle, 77, a nature photographer. Doerle said the paragliders are probably attracted to the wetlands area for the same reasons as birds. Not many houses and a beautiful view from up high, he said. On its website, the United States Powered Paragliding Association notes that 'Airspace can be very intimidating to a lot of paramotor pilots.' 'It means there are some places where we need permission to fly and other places where we don't.' shudak@
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Tiny homes in Fayetteville? Potential pallet village could offer relief for unhoused
Fayetteville is exploring the creation of a 'pallet village' — a temporary shelter community made up of small, prefabricated housing units — to provide short-term refuge for people experiencing homelessness and mental health challenges. Council members voted at their April 28 regular meeting to vote on the proposal at their May 5 work session. Councilman Mario Benavente voted in opposition because the motion was paired with an anti-panhandling signage proposal, but said he is in favor of the pallet shelters. The Pallet Shelter initiative comes amid a growing urgency to address the city's rising unsheltered population, especially following the recent closure of the local Salvation Army, Councilwoman Brenda McNair said April 28 in a phone interview prior to the regular meeting. She said Pallet Shelters could offer a safer, more stable alternative to encampments and overcrowded facilities. 'I visited all the encampments because I wanted to see for myself what we were faced with,' said McNair, chairwoman of the Council Homelessness/Mental Health Committee. 'Some people don't want to go into shelters because they feel their independence is restricted. The pallets would give them some independence — and a strong hand up.' McNair has served on the Council Homelessness/Mental Health Committee since she was elected to the City Council in 2022. She said there has been interest in something similar to a pallet village since last year, but this is the first time a shelter village proposal has been moved to a city work session. Pallet shelters are small, prefabricated units designed for crisis housing. They range from 70 to 120 square feet and are insulated, lockable and easy to maintain. McNair and Councilman Malik Davis toured Pallet Shelter communities in Tampa, Florida, in November. She said the site was well-maintained and managed by nonprofits, including Catholic Charities. McNair said the proposed village would allow residents to stay three to six months while receiving case management, mental health support, job assistance and other services. McNair shared an email from Ben MacKrell with Pallet Shelters that said possible sites include city-owned land on Eufalia Street, the former Salvation Army lot at Russell Street and Alexander Street, and property near the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park on Blue Street. According to MacKrell, the structures are classified as crisis shelters rather than homes or accessory dwellings, which may allow them under public-use zoning. The communities are run by the city or another entity delegated to the task. McNair said she has already spoken with zoning and permitting departments to determine whether any of the proposed locations are feasible. In a presentation to the Council Homelessness/Mental Health Committee on April 3, MacKrell explained the design options for a village in Fayetteville. MacKrell said Pallet Shelters can be assembled in under an hour, with lockable doors and windows to provide security for individuals housed in them. Unit designs range from one to four-person units, some units would be Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant. While there are unit options that include a bathroom, the option recommended for Fayetteville is a 50-unit village comprising one-person units with a communal bathroom and communal laundry. Brook Redding, senior assistant to the city manager, said Fayetteville has cleared five high-risk encampments over the past four years under the Impact Reduction Program. The sites were shut down due to safety risks, including unsanitary conditions, crime and proximity to schools and highways. Redding said individuals at the sites were offered up to 21 days in hotel rooms, and more than half accepted further assistance such as referrals to housing programs and reunification with family. The Fayetteville Police Department's CARE Street Engagement Team continues to monitor encampments and work alongside nonprofits such as Manna Dream Center, CommuniCare and Fayetteville Urban Ministry, Redding said. In an April 8 email to McNair shared with The Fayetteville Observer, DeAnna Bragg, the city's homelessness coordinator, identified several potential benefits to the pallet village model. These include a safer environment for residents, centralized service delivery, fewer trespassing incidents and a more dignified way of living. But there are challenges, too. Cost, security, neighborhood resistance and management oversight are major concerns. 'It's not going to be a drop-in site,' MacKrell said. 'Residents would be placed through referrals, and site operators will set clear expectations for behavior and participation.' McNair said she plans to involve Cumberland County and nearby municipalities such as Hope Mills and Spring Lake in the initiative. She noted that homelessness affects more than just those living in encampments. 'We have young people, domestic violence survivors, veterans and seniors on the streets,' she said. 'We need to work together — as a city, county and community — to address this.' Even if the City Council does not move forward with a pallet village, McNair said she hopes the city considers some form of non-congregate sheltering. 'This is urgent to me,' she said. 'We've wasted too much time. If someone is out in the woods, sleeping in their car or on the street — that's a situation. And we need to respond.' Government Watchdog Reporter Claire C. Carter can be reached at ccarter@ This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Pallet shelter proposal moves forward in Fayetteville, NC
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
UCF helping Puerto Rican students pursue their academic dreams
The last-minute preparations are in, and the annual Florida Puerto Rican Parade and Festival is set to kick off in downtown Orlando Saturday. Through the years, the connection between central Florida and Puerto Rico has grown stronger. That connection was on full display with the University of Central Florida giving a helping hand to students on the island in pursuing their academic dreams. The University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla has a beautiful campus, where you'll find plenty of sharks, seeing as its mascots are Sharky and Tintorera. But you'll actually find some Knights there as well. This is thanks to the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program, a federally funded program designed to prepare undergraduate students for doctoral studies, research and other activities. 'They're UCF McNair program students, but at the University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla,' said Fernando Rivera, director of the UCF Puerto Rico Research Hub McNair was a physicist, astronaut and scholar. His legacy lives on following the Challenger space shuttle's explosion. Now that legacy inspires new generations through education. "They put a program together to increase the number of unserved and unrepresented populations to go into grad school," said Rivera. The program recently spotlighted Nathalie Nieto-Torres from Aguadilla. She's a first-degeneration STEM student and future Ph.D. candidate in molecular biology. She says McNair empowered her to pursue her dreams. There's also Adriana Camacho-Badillo, a junior studying biology who has a passion for research. She says UCF's McNair program has provided unwavering support. The two visited UCF for a conference recently. It was just one of many opportunities the program offers to give students the chance to network and gain new mentors. "The scholars are doing fantastic, getting a lot of summer programs, placement into grad programs," Rivera said. The director of UCF's McNair program recently visited La Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico and UPR to share insights on graduate school and summer research with current and future scholars on the island. 'A very neat collaboration and sort of tells you sort of the capacity that the students from Aguadilla do actually have, and sort of the collaborations and that tie between Puerto Rico and Florida," Rivera said. Those students are from Aguadilla, which is the city being featured in this year's Orlando parade. WFTV is the official broadcast partner for the Florida Puerto Rican Parade and Festival. It will be streamed live on air and online at starting at 11 a.m. Saturday. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
