The earthquake that struck western India on Jan. 26 is quickly turning out to be one of the worst natural disasters in South Asian history. With the death toll at 100,000 and rising by the hour, multitudes rendered homeless and the danger of epidemics looming large, the area is in dire need of outside help. As a concerned citizen with strong ties on both continents, I would like to help make people in our community aware of the urgent need to help the victims of this tragedy. There is a ready vehicle available locally to efficiently assist those in need. The Northeast Florida branch of the American Red Cross, with its ties with the International Red Cross, has provided urgent relief to disaster victims abroad, including those on the Indian subcontinent, time and time again in a most effective manner, bypassing the legendary bureaucratic hurdles of developing countries.
Time is of the essence.
In recent months, there has been much discussion about the pros and cons of the Nocatee project, which is planned for St. Johns and Duval counties. The question of roads, schools and impact on the area as a whole will be debated for some time to come. But, the one thing that I think we can all stop being concerned about is how all these new folks are going to be able to get to our beaches. St. Johns County is unique in Florida in that it has a vast amount of oceanfront in public ownership. By the last count, over 10 miles, or approximately 26 percent of the total beachfront of the county, is owned by the people of Florida.