The aftermath of Hurricane Ian in Orlando and throughout the state was anything but a joke in terms of damage and flooding. And yet, it was impossible not to take some sort of low-key joy in seeing the Lake Eola swans immediately adapt to the flooding and basically take over the area. Completely unruffled, they cruised down what used to be sidewalks and walkways, all but flipping one feathered digit at any humanity they came across: "Can't float? What a pity."
Best of Orlando: Local Notables
1st: Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, feedhopenow.org
2nd: Zebra Coalition, zebrayouth.org
3rd: Aeras Foundation, aeras.foundation
1st: Equality Florida, eqfl.org
2nd: Stand With Abortion Now (SWAN), swanoforlando.org
3rd: League of Women Voters of Florida, lwvoc.org
1st: Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando, petallianceorlando.org
2nd: Pet Rescue by Judy, petrescuebyjudy.com
3rd: Orange County Animal Services, orangecountyanimalservicesfl.net
1st: State Rep. Anna Eskamani, annaforflorida.com
2nd: Mayor Buddy Dyer, orlando.gov
3rd: U.S. Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost, frost.house.gov
1st: Scott Maxwell, orlandosentinel.com/author/scott-maxwell
2nd: Savannah Boan, facebook.com/thesexysavannah
3rd: Johnny Magic XL 106.7, xl1067.iheart.com/featured/johnny-magic/about
1st: WTKS 104.1-FM Real Radio, realradio.iheart.com
2nd: WMFE 90.7-FM, wmfe.org
3rd: WDBO 107.3-FM and 580-AM, wdbo.com/on-air
1st: Johnny Magic, XL 106.7 xl1067.iheart.com/featured/johnny-magic/about
2nd: Sabrina Ambra, Real Radio 104.1, facebook.com/sabrina.ambra
3rd: Russ Rollins, Real Radio 104.1, realradio.iheart.com/featured/monsters-blogs-russ-rollins
1st: "Johnny's House" on XL 106.7, xl1067.iheart.com/featured/johnny-s-house-live-blog
2nd: "Monsters in the Morning" on Real Radio 104.1, realradio.iheart.com/featured/as-heard-on-the-monsters
3rd: "The News Junkie" on Real Radio 104.1, thenewsjunkie.com