Marilyn raises cash as hurricane hits homeland
A Puerto Rican woman, who now calls Stirling home, was on a fundraising mission to help people suffering after a catastrophic hurricane hit the Caribbean island in 2017.
Marilyn Chaparro-Connolly, 49, had been on a trip back home to visit her elderly parents when Hurricane Maria devastated the US territory.
Marilyn had just arrived in Aguada, Puerto Rico, when the storm made landfall, sparking a humanitarian crisis on September 20 that year.
The mother-of-one had travelled home alone to spend time with her parents, leaving husband, Kevin and son, Rio, back in Stirling.
Once the hurricane struck she was unable to return to the UK for almost three weeks.
Marilyn’s 85-year old father, Efrain, was a grower of mango and avocado trees, but his vegetation had been completely wiped out.
Marilyn said: “I arrived in Puerto Rico prior to this tragic event and witnessed first hand how the Island went from lush green to being devastated of vegetation, water and electricity.
“I was fortunate enough to be evacuated with my sister and my elderly parents but most were not as lucky as we were.
“All of the vegetation is gone.
“It even stripped the paint off of the houses. There are so many homes lost, missing roofs. Fortunately my parents have a concrete house, but the entire area was really badly damaged.
“There were dead pets everywhere. It was really awful.”
Winds reached up to speeds of 118 miles per hour on the island as many areas were left flooded, with waist-deep water and some towns were almost completely wiped out.
The death toll stood at 48, with 117 people still missing.
The cost of damage on the islands was reported be around £6 billion and around 80 percent of the territory’s agriculture was lost.
The storm also battered the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas and the southeastern United States.
Marilyn launched a fundraiser aimed at raising cash to help those in her native country. She arranged an event at one of Stirling’s oldest pubs as Nicky Tams, in Baker Street, staged a fundraising night.
The money was being raised to try and help accelerate the re-establishment of shelter, food and health on the island.
Marilyn added: ”I have so many family members back there.
“It’s really difficult being so far away from them at a time like this.
“There’s no electricity, there isn’t much clean drinking water and there’s no food in the supermarkets.
“It will take years for the island to get back to the way it was.”
The event featured live blues music by Doon at the Crossroads and DJ George Brock alongside a charity raffle with many prizes. All donations went to the Hurricane Relief Fund ‘United for Puerto Rico’.
Union Flag plans pulled
A controversial motion to fly the Union Flag from the roof of Stirling Council headquarters was withdrawn just hours before it was due to be debated in October 2013.
On the agenda for a full meeting of Stirling Council, the motion by Conservative councillor Callum Campbell and seconded by Labour’s Danny Gibson caused an outcry even before making it to the debating chamber.
It sought to have the Union Flag flown above Old Viewforth and stated that council “resolves to stand up for the symbols of our country.”
Referencing next year’s independence referendum the motion also stated: “While understanding there is a diversity of views in the area, council believes that there is a place for its voice in this debate.
“Council believes that Stirling’s and Scotland’s interests are best served within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.”
Remaining defiant as he announced the withdrawal of the council motion Councillor Danny Gibson commented: “We wanted a serious and mature debate about the future of our country, but sadly this is not possible as an atmosphere of negativity has developed.
“There is much to discuss with regards to Scotland’s place in the UK and the future of our country and the effect this will have on Stirling.”
Rescuers held up inconsiderate drivers AGAIN
Daytrippers parking dangerously were shamed after another rescue was hampered by cars dumped in emergency vehicle lay-bys.
A 39-year-old man, believed to be from the central belt area, slipped and was suspected to have broken his arm at the Devil’s Pulpit, Finnich Glen, near Killearn in October 2020.
Police Scotland, Scottish Ambulance Service and Lomond Mountain Rescue Team members were all called in to assist.
But they had difficulty reaching the area as they were hampered by up to six cars parked in and around an emergency lay-by.
Police called out the selfish motorists as mountain rescue workers urged those visiting Stirling’s beauty spots to be more considerate.
MP Alyn Smith said tough penalties to deal with illegal parking are necessary. He said: “I fully support tough enforcement action against the sheer recklessness of some drivers and visitors – who are the minority. I urge them to think about the consequences of their actions.”