Evening star., 1951-09-03
Readers Clearing House
Eonduc+ad H., RETeY %AcMEII
Conducted by BETSY CAsWELL
ORLANDO. FLORDA.

From Mrs. C. T. A., WaShington.J
Mrs. T. c. B. Congratulations
on your husbands transfer to Or
lando. Florida. 1t is one of the
loveliest cities! In fact, / think
it is the loveliest with its beauti-
full homes and 80 lakes-so lovely
that I, a native Washingtonian
intend to return to Orlando this
fall (after an absence of 20
months) and become permanent
resident.
The food problem in Orlando
is easily solved either by super
markets or privately owned gro
Gerry stores. Prices are about the
same as here. Electricity and gas
are also the same. although the
base has a rental service where
owners list their property for
rental to servicemen at a slight
discount. Houses near the base
run from $50 to $l20, those far
ther away from $50 to $65. There
are school buses accompanied by
motorcycle police who stop traf-
f1c when the bus stops to prevent
children from being hurt by mo-
torists while crossing the street.
The public schools are fine. also
there are several church schools.
AS to the Clothes. the tempera-
Iture in December through Febru-
ary varies from 80 to so degrees.
Winter coats and fall clothes such
as are used here will be needed.
Wool suits. etc, are generally put
on in November. although a spring
weight coat over crepe dress is
adequate for daytime wear. The
sun sets around or $50 o'clock
in the fall and winter. There is
little twilight.
As Orlando is only so miles
from Daytona Beach, 10 from Co
roa or Melbourne and also has a
nice swimming pool itself and a
lake at Sanlando Springs, Is miles
and large lakes to swim in with
in 4 miles of the center of the
city. there will be plenty of need
for your swimming suits. The
movies there cater to the children
with Saturday morning matinees.
There are also plenty of chain
stores. smaller stores and 2 large
department stores. Every one is
very friendly and I am certain you
will enjoy living there.
(From Mrs. E. B. G., SilUer Spring.
Since my husband and I re-
turned from Orlando in July, per-
haps the following information
will be helpful to you:
First, there is no housing avail
able at the base at the moment.
However. applications were being
accepted by the base commander
from officers which would indi-
cate that housing facilities for
families are planned. We had a.
lovely well-furnished wo-bedroom
house on a lake, within five min
utes' driving time from the base.
for 500 month. UnfurniShed
houses can be obtained for less,
especially prior to the tourist sea-
son. which begins in November.
No commissary is available at the
base. but one can obtain commits
sary privileges at Patrick AFB, so
miles away.
The base dispensary cares for
emergency and routine depend
ents' cases and the base hospital
d25 beds) is to open about Sep
tember /. The base is one of the
most beautiful I've seen, both I'M
the United States and at stations
abroad. The officers and MOO
clubs are perfectly delightful and
afford swimming and tennis, plus
the usual facilities.
The climate is mild except for
about six weeks during February
and March, when we found itI
chilly enough to warrant daily use
of the oil burner. I wore wooden
clothing until the end of April,
though the military uniform for
the men is consistently khaki.
Orlando is progressive commu-
nifty. Because of the proximity
of both Rollins College and Stet-
son University, many cultural ad-
yantages are afforded if one Isl
interested in lectures. concerts, etc.
The Orlando Chamber of Com
merce has endeavored to make
military families a part of the
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