Avalon Park Sun Orlando June 2021 Edition

KEEPING THE NEWS LOCAL.... AND THE COMMUNITY CONNECTED. VOLUME 2 EDITION 6

JUNE 2021

LIVE

Fourth of July in Avalon Park Bike Parade, Apple Pie Bake-Off, Porch Decorating Contest

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COMMUNITY UPDATES

Start your summer off with a bang at the Avalon Park Fourth of July Festival presented by AdventHealth on Sunday, July 4th, 5-9 pm.

This annual patriotic community festival celebrating our great country will feature a wet/ dry bounce park, community performances, an apple pie bake-off, bike parade and fireworks at 9 p.m.

bikes, strollers and wagons and head to the Avalon Park YMCA at 5:30 pm for the Annual Bike Parade around Avalon Lake. Participants are encouraged to register online.

Prizes will be awarded for Most Patriotic and Best Group.

Avalon Park residents are also encouraged to showcase their patriotic spirit all month by The day-long celebration begins at 8 a.m. participating in the Porch Decorating Conwith the Annual Avalon Park Foundation test.

Firecracker 5K. Run, jog, walk, stroll or roll through Downtown Avalon Park at this fes- As always there are opportunities for the tive family fun run all while supporting the community participate with a community grants and scholarship programs provided performance by filling out the Performance by the Avalon Park Foundation. Online reg- Request, set up a Vendors Booth or even istration is now live here and the first 300 par- showcase your business with a sponsorship. ticipants will receive a commemorative patriotic medal.

Thank you to the sponsors that make this event possible: Avalon Park Group, AdvenWant to showcase your baking skills? Chal- tHealth, Leland Management, Avalon Park lenge 2-time bake-off winner, Courtney En- POA and Avalon Park COA. glert in the Apple Pie Bake-Off. Pre-register online here. Prizes will be awarded for 1st, For more information on this and other Ava2nd and 3rd Place. lon Park Events visit AvalonPark.com or call 407-658-6565.

Get the whole family together to decorate

LIVE

Coffee Hour with BEAT

Never bet against America.

Several times in recent history I have heard quite a few people from other parts of the globe say that they have been convinced that after a period of political divide and pandemic that the ‘American Dream’ is no longer achievable.

However, it is my belief that America has always and continues to have the ability to come back from adversity by changing course and then being able to prosper again.

One does not have to be a historian to see how many times the United States has came back from disaster. I imagine England felt that America had lost all power after the civil war. And again, after the great depression in the 1930’s, others talked about the end of United States economic power. And yet again after the global financial crisis in 2008 the end of the US capitalist system was declared. All of those predictions were wrong.

There is no question that the past year has been filled with hardships

from our health to the economy and everything in between. While travelling to Europe last year, I was on flights that were more than 90% empty.

On a few of those flights, with a capacity well over 300 passengers, I was amongst just a handful of regular travelers. At one point I arrived in Zurich, Switzerland where all the stores, restaurants and offices were closed, and I walked through the airport without seeing one other person.

We are blessed to live in Florida, where even during the Pandemic,

of the rest of the country and the world. And just in time to enjoy the summer months. The airports in the US are starting to be full again, with planes packed to the last seat with business and personal travelers.

The theme parks and other Florida attractions are getting busier by the day. It is also great to get back to the gym and see friends and neighbors at local stores and restaurants. All of these are great for Floridians, great for the economy, and great for America.

While we were not able

AMERICA HAS ALWAYS AND CONTINUES TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO COME BACK FROM ADVERSITY BY CHANGING COURSE AND THEN BEING ABLE TO PROSPER AGAIN. family barbecues, going to the beach and many more outdoor activities were possible. And while following the rules and recommendations outlined by the CDC and government, Avalon Park Group was fortunate to be able to keep our business activities in full swing. In fact, many at APG have expressed that we never worked as hard as we have during the past year of the pandemic. Now, with much of the population vaccinated, we are starting to see a shift back to normalcy for much

1.We have committed to order and pay for the needed sewer system investments for Transformation Village.

2. We will continue to assist Pastor Dale provide quality nutrition opportunities in Bithlo through community dinners and any other means to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry. WE will pay for food and help with associated logistics, including new infrastructure.

3. We will help United Global Outreach “UGO” in the planning, design and building at our cost a minimum of 10 small homes to ensure that safe, quality affordable housing is available in Bithlo.

We continue to work with Tim and the UGO team on the logistics of meeting these commitments. I have been continuously encouraged by the great work from the community, like the Roto celebrate the 4th of July together last year as tary Club of Avalon Park and their work at Transa country or a commuformation Village! Addinity, I am happy to say tionally, I was pleased to that we will be able to see many local vendors do so this year! As we continue to overcome the were also able to participate in the monthly Freechallenges presented by dom Market this month.

Covid-19, we can start getting back in the comAgain, we encourage you munity. I remain proud to get involved and to to live in this free and reach out to Tim McKingreat country. ney at 407-810-2214, Dale Brooks at 407-497-8545 As we move into the summer months, I want- or myself at 407-658-6565 for any additional ways ed to provide a brief update as it relates to our to get involved. work and commitment in Have a great summer! the Bithlo community.

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ORHE-0286 RANDAL PARK_AVALON PARK_10x7.2.pdf

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OPENING SOON

CHOOSE EMERGENCY CARE CLOSER THAN EVER. At Orlando Health, part of caring for our neighbors is making sure everyone has access to expert emergency care. Opening soon, Orlando Health Emergency Room - Randal Park will provide even more Central Florida families with the highest level of safe, expert emergency care close to home.

OrlandoHealth.com/RandalPark

A service of Orlando Health Dr. P. Phillips Hospital

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From the Desk of Commissioner

Maribel Gomez Cordero This month is your last chance to get involved in Orange County’s Vision 2050 Town Hall series. Starting in late May and concluding in early July 2021, the final Vision 2050 virtual Town Hall Series will occur. This series will feature ‘Orange Code’, the county’s updated zoning code that implements the Vision 2050 comprehensive plan.

Orange Code is form-based, meaning it will regulate development and manage compatibility by addressing building form (height, setbacks, lot coverage) ahead of building use. The code update will more clearly direct development outcomes, in line with the Place Types and other built environment goals within Vision 2050. To register for any of the Town Hall meetings, please visit: www.bit.ly/ v2050townhalls

development process in Orange County and how you can be involved. On Wednesday, June 16th we will have Brightline and SunRail present future projects and answer your questions about local and regional rail at the Meadow Woods Recreation Center at 6:00 PM.

Did you know I have been hosting my own District 4 Town Halls every month? These town halls focus on topics that affect our community. Last month, we discussed the

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, or if you would like to receive my newsletter, you can email me at district4@ocfl.net or call my office at 407-836-5881.

If you have not been vaccinated, I encourage you to do so. The Pfizer vaccination eligibility has been expanded to include individuals 1217 years old with parental consent.

There are many places in the county open for walk-up vaccinations.

The Meadow Woods Recreation Center and South Econ Recreation Center are both located in our district and are open Tuesday-Sunday.

For more information on Orange County vaccination sites visit, ocfl. net/Vaccine.

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Florida Day Trips for the Summer The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about things to do in Florida are the theme parks, but did you know there are many other enjoyable destinations that can be reached all within a day’s time? Here is a list of 5 of these places, and why they’re worth checking out!

1. The Salvador Dalí Museum in Tampa Nested in St. Petersburg, the Dalí museum is a wonderful place to visit for art lovers and others alike. This museum has the largest collection of Dalí’s work (outside of Europe!) as well as beautiful gardens and special exhibits. You are guaranteed to see something breathtaking at this museum!

2. The Beaches in Seaside Perhaps best known for being the shooting location of the 1998 film The Truman Show, Seaside, located in Destin, is an incredible display of New Urbanism and daz-

zling beaches. From its quaint local shops and restaurants to clear, blue water, Seaside feels like a little utopia, perfect for relaxing and soaking up the Florida sun.

Florida’s capital city can be added to your itinerary!

tion, but have you ever been? Take an airboat ride and explore the nation’s third largest na4. St. Augustine tional park and all of the native and endangered Consider visiting St. Au- species and wildlife withgustine, the country’s in. And because it’s in 3. Wakulla Springs near oldest city! Take a guided South Florida, the city of Tallahassee tour to see all the greatest Miami is worth checking landmarks, such as the out too, from its art disAnother film location— Castillo de San Marcos tricts to the zoo!

The Creature from the and the famed Fountain Black Lagoon—is Wakul- of Youth. There are also For more information on la Springs near Tallahas- premium outlets to get The Flats Apartment Livsee. Wakulla is one of the your shopping fix, and ing in Downtown Avalon biggest and deepest nat- the World Golf Village is Park, call 407-273-4337 or ural springs in Florida, close by for golfing afiemail Info@TheFlatsAtfilled with crisp, cool wa- cionados.

AvalonPark.com. ter. Enjoy taking a dip in the spring, a jungle cruise 5. Everglades National By: Raven Halle tour to discover the naPark in Miami tive wildlife, or staying at the historic lodge located Aside from the theme within the park. It’s less parks, the Everglades is than 20 miles south of perhaps the most wellTallahassee, so a trip to known Floridian destina-

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Staying Healthy During the Summer for Seniors

Everyone enjoys some fun in the sun during the summer, including seniors. However, during the summertime, the sun and heat can be potentially dangerous to a senior’s health. While this does not mean that you or your senior loved one should completely avoid going outside during the summer months, you should take precautions during this particular time of the year if you plan on frequenting the outdoors. Here are some ways seniors can stay healthy and enjoy the outdoors while avoiding the summer heat.

Pay Careful Attention to the Weather In many places, the weather can vary dramatically during the summer. For instance, summers in Florida are known for their fickle weather patterns: one minute it is sunny and hot, and the next it is thundering and lightning. Therefore, if you are heading outdoors for some fresh air this summer, check the weather first.

Dress Appropriately While a temperature in the 80s may be fine for a stroll outdoors, you’ll want to dress appropriately. Avoid darker colored clothing as it can attract and absorb heat. Instead, wear light weight clothing that is light in color to help reflect UV-rays. You can also invest in dry-fit clothes with moisture wicking properties so you don’t get soaked in sweat. While the right clothes can protect you to a degree, if the temperature outside is pushing

100 degrees Fahrenheit, you may want to opt for an indoor activity instead. Also, pay special attention to heat advisory warnings.

you can protect yourself from the risk of sunburn and skin cancer.

Premium Senior Living for Every Season If you’re looking for a health-focused assisted Drink Lots of Water Regardless of your age or living community that seniors can enjoy year what the weather looks round in all kinds of like, you should always stay hydrated; however, weather, look no further than the senior living this advice is especialcommunity Encore at ly important for seniors Avalon Park. At Encore venturing outdoors during the summer. A common recommendation is to drink at least eight glasses of water or other hydrating beverages each day in other to avoid heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

If you have difficulty drinking that many glasses of water in one day, at least cut back on caffeine drinks which can dehydrate the body.

Invest in a Good Sunscreen Wearing sunblock is another piece of advice that applies to everyone during the summer.

If you are not already wearing sunscreen every day, invest in a good one and start wearing it every time you go outside.

Most dermatologists recommend wearing a minimum of SPF 30 to shield your skin. By taking this small step and adding it to your morning routine,

at Avalon Park, our seniors enjoy access to both recreational and social activities to ensure that they stay healthy and also get an ample number of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors.

Furthermore, our senior residents also enjoy comfortable accommodations, healthy meals, and attentive assistance from our caring staff. All these reasons and more are why our assisted living community is one of the best in all of Central Florida.

For more information on why we are the senior living solution for you or your senior loved one, schedule a virtual tour of our community by calling us at 407-270-7500 today.

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Orange County Government and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Provide Options for Proper Disposal of Worn U.S. Flags New Flag Disposal Boxes Offered in Orange County

In partnership with the National Association of Counties and Service Officer. “Orange County is unified in helping enable Florida Association of Counties, Orange County Government our citizens to respect our great nation while disposing of old and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office have installed flag or worn out flags.” retirement boxes at the following locations: Orange County Government’s Administration Building, located at 201 S. Rosalind Avenue in Orlando. The box will be located in the 1st floor lobby.

Orange County Sheriff’s Office Central Operations, North Lobby, located at 2500 W. Colonial Drive in Orlando.

When an American flag becomes worn out or torn, the U.S. Flag Code dictates how to respectfully retire it. The United States Flag Code prescribes flag etiquette — everything from flying it near other flags to instructions on how to raise and lower it. Per the Code, “The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.”

Flags should be folded respectfully before being placed in the box. Orange County Facilities is heading this program and will take the flags to the Veterans of Foreign Wars on Goldenrod Road in Orlando for proper disposal. This program is also in partnership with Orange County’s Veterans Service Office and Orange County Mayor Demings’ Veterans Advisory Council.

“These centrally-located drop-off locations at Orange County Government and at the Central Operations Center at the Orange County Sheriff’s Office provide convenience while also respecting our national symbol,” said Tommie Maldonado, program manager for Veterans Services and Veterans

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Ad Discounts for Chamber Members!

NEW Chamber Members enjoy a FREE advertisement in one edition of your choice + 15% off each ad in the remaining months of 2020!

EXISITING Chamber Members enjoy 50% off your first advertisement + 15% off each ad in the remaining months of 2020!

The Publication date is the 1st of the month or the 1st Monday of the month.

Need an Ad Designed? We Can Help!

Please Submit a 1/4 Page Ad: 4.9w x 7.2h inches 354w x 518h pixels Accepted formats: .PDF, .JPG, .PNG. 300DPI Deadline: Last Wednesday of each month

Attention Chamber Members!

Our Mission

The Avalon Park Sun seeks to effectively reflect upon the vitality of our community through the distribution of purposeful community news.

Working to clarify and bring acknowledgement to the individuals and events that embody Avalon Park and surrounding communities, the ongoing goal is to improve upon the quality, content, and reach that is presented throughout each issue.

Reach Your Audience

The Avalon Park Sun uses a multi-platform approach to reach your target audience by distributing our issues via print, online and social media. Our newspaper is updated dynamically and electronically mailed monthly, with weekly features also sent. The Avalon Park Sun reaches over 50,000 readers monthly.

Please fill out the form on our website below with all of the details for your advertisement!

New members receive a FREE ad & existing members enjoy 50% off!

Fill out the form here: AvalonParkSun.com/Advertising and use code “NEWCHAMBERDISCOUNT” or “CHAMBERDISCOUNT” For more details email Infor@AvalonParkSun.com or call 407-658-6565

https://avalonparksun.com/advertising Use codes: “NEWCHAMBERDISCOUNT” for new members and “CHAMBERDISCOUNT” for existing members.

Don’t wait to get your ad in the Avalon Park Sun!

Contact us at (407) 658-6565 or Info@AvalonParkSun.com with any questions!

LEARN

Avalon Park Foundation Update The Firecracker 5k is around the corner, register early to save. Online discounted preregistration is open.

Looking for volunteer opportunities?

You got it! Go to our website Avalonparkfoundation.org and sign up to volunteer at a 5k or the Back 2 School Bash.

At the Avalon Park Foundation, we are dedicated to encouraging friends and neighbors to take part in positively influencing our community through service.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2021 AND OUR SCHOLARSHIP

RECIPIENTS! Grace Foley Scholarship Recipients: Natalie Garay, Rafael Cardenas, Riley Roth, Dawn Royster, and Elizabeth Kyhos.

Ed Lynt Legacy Award Recipent: Katheen Avella.

WELCOME TO OUR NEW DIRECTOR! This Spring we welcomed a New Director to our Board. Avalon Park Resident, Mary Lynn Foley, has joined our team and is very excited to serve with us at the Avalon Park Foundation.

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Summer Camps!

Sign up today!!! $195 per week No Registration Fee *All meals and snacks included All activities are inhouse

12881 Tanja King Blvd, Orlando, FL 32828 (407) 306-9035 • www.kidsrkidsAvalonPark.com

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Summer Camps!

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WORK

Meet You at The 5th Floor business; Clary Torres of International Home Education held a Saturday Open House and Sandro Ramos of Don’t Trade Alone has a series of Financial Education Seminars. Marketplace vendors like Pico de Gallo and Rosso’s coffee have also taken the opportunity to cater events and promote their business at the same time.

By: Jacqueline Seaton, Community Manager It’s that time of year again when school lets out, the weather heats up and our

minds turn to barbecuing in the backyard, camping, traveling, and hitting the beach.

Here in Avalon Park, there

is so much going on this Summer, like our Food Truck Nights, 4th of July Celebration, Sidewalk Sale, and now that the Avalon Innovation Center Building is open, we can look forward to The Marketplace on the ground floor and all the great food and drink and good times that will bring.

Our next events are a networking breakfast for real estate entities in Avalon Park on June 16th, an ice cream social for our Book Challenge Club, a Charity Casino Cocktail Night and there will be so much more to come throughout the year.

What kind of event would you like to hold or attend at The 5th floor? Book club, origami class, wine tasting, webinar, cocktail party, poetry reading, team building, writer’s group Located on the second floor and holiday celebrations are just a few that we have of the Avalon Innovation heard. Whether you need Center is The 5TH Floor a meeting room, presenco-working space. From tation room or just a quiet the Grand Opening Event place to make a call, we on March 18, with over have an option for you. a hundred attendees, the space has become so much Reach out to us at 407-730more than a great place to 3493 or Info@The5thFloor. work. The 5th Floor has already hosted an amazing com and let us know what Cinco de Mayo networking types of opportunities you would like to see at The 5th mixer, a networking series with the East Orlando Floor. Already have yours in mind? Call us today to Chamber of Commerce, the Jetsetters May meeting reserve the perfect space! with Beat Kahli speaking, weekly podcasts and 4 commercials filmed! Our members have held events to get the word out on their

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Star Wars Month

at Avalon Mail Center The Star Wars franchise originally debuted in 1977, and in May of 2021 the U.S Postal Service By: Abby Havicon, Mary Marcella, and Rachel released their new Forever Stamps, Star Wars Kempfe droid edition, depicting much beloved characters such as R2-D2, C3PO, and other droids featured in the films.

These stamps were created by Greg Breeding and designed by William Gicker. Their intention was to shed light on the unique influence that these intricate characters brought to the Star Wars franchise. These Forever Stamps will continue to carry out the memory of the Star Wars story with younger generations.

Many young people are unfamiliar with how to mail a letter. This younger generation appears to be unenthused by the many wonders of the U.S Postal Service, and all that it can provide.

However, the creation of new Star Wars stamps may be just what we need in order to entice young people into the joys of mailing physical envelopes. Receiving an email simply does not bring the same amount of excitement as opening your mailbox and finding a physical card, especially one that features one of our many Star Wars Forever Stamps. The existence of Star Wars stamps can not only enhance the experience of receiving mail, but also that of sending it out. Upon finding Star Wars Forever Stamps at Avalon Mail Center, people become inspired to send out mail, causing them to reach out to friends and family with cards and letters, putting smiles on both the faces of the sender and the recipient.

When viewing the Star Wars Droid edition of Forever Stamps, we are able to become inspired by the lessons we have learned from our Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program. Receiving mail featuring Star Wars stamps may serve as an inspiration to many young students to embrace technology and encourage innovation.

If you are a Star Wars fan, don’t miss out on this opportunity to add these 2021 limited edition Star Wars droid stamps to your collection.

These limited editions are available at Avalon Mail Center, right here at Avalon Park. Even if you are not an avid Star Wars fan, mailing a Star Wars stamped envelope to a young loved one can bring a smile and perhaps even a new generation of innovators.

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THE AUTO ENTHUSIASTS TRUSTED SOURCE

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Getting Out of A Dark Place in CRM How Avalon Park’s Captivea helped improve this logistics business

“Well, I’ll just start out by saying we were in a very dark place.” Said Ryan Ziemba, Process Manager and Technology Lead at Bridge Logistics, Inc. “You know, we were using another program that was archaic and very 1990s Excel based. And because of its lack of capability, our salespeople were not managing their pipelines. They were more just using it as an address book, you know, like, “hey, this is my account and this is where I keep the person’s contact name and number,” no accountability and reporting was not helpful. It wasn’t very user-friendly. It was hard to flex with it as the company grew. It wasn’t even cost-effective honestly. So, yeah, it was like I said, do I have to go back there?” “We embarked on a journey two years ago to look into developing an SDR program and quickly identified that in order to have an SDR program, you need email automation, which that software didn’t have. And so we started looking at email automation software and quickly recognized that it would need to be cohesive with your CRM, which ours wasn’t.” “So, we’re like, all right, well now we need to look at a new CRM that has more capabilities in it. And we started looking around, and doing so we found out how much more we were missing out on. That was really the driving force as to what broke the camel’s back per se.”

CTA: To read the full testimony visit: https://www.captivea.us/blog/captivea-usa-blog-1/odoo-crm-success-story-bridge-logistics-and-captivea-161

CLICK HERE FOR FULL DIRECTORY!

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Summertime Fun: How to Find it as as Entrepreneur With a little planning you can have a great summer! You can make great summertime memories and still keeping your business moving forward.

Summer is right around the corner.

The feeling of barbecues, hanging out with friends, beach time, vacations and all the fun things that come with summer are just within our reach. But, how do you balance Summer fun when you are an Entrepreneur?

This summer try creating a schedule where you block out work time and family/ friend fun time and DON’T NEGOTIATE WITH IT! Prioritize what is most important to work on in your business and focus on that by assigning it to the blocks in your schedule. Then schedule your summer time

fun in the blocks as well. You don’t have to sacrifice one or the other, just make intentional time for both.

Once you have your schedule established, stick to it! By the end of the week you will not only feel productive with work, but have made the most of your summer time fun!

Need some ideas for some summer time fun with the family?

Check out this Woman Owned Business: www.orlandoparentsmag.com. Founder/Owner, Mikaela Walker makes it easy for you to stay in the loop with family fun throughout Central Florida. **If you are business owner, rising professional or just a woman who wants to take more ownership of her life and connect with other smart, like-minded women, join us for our next WOMANtrepreneur meeting at the 5th Floor in Avalon Park. Send an e-mail for more information on dates and times to: info@ womantrepreneur.org**

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Vision 2050: Orange County Government Needs Your Feedback Regarding Zoning Code, ‘Orange Code’ Virtual Town Hall Meetings and Surveys Offered to Engage the Community WHAT: What do you think Orange County should look like in 30 years?

More public transportation? Rural preservation? More housing density?

Smarter Growth? Now is your chance to make your voice heard.

In October 2020, Orange County introduced Vision 2050, a new comprehensive plan for smart, thriving and healthy growth in our region. This initiative will guide how and where growth will occur over the next three decades.

Beginning in late May 2021 and concluding in early July 2021, the Orange County Planning Division will host the last of three series of virtual town hall meetings aimed at informing residents about the initiative and soliciting invaluable public input.

WHERE: To register for any of the town hall meetings or participate in an online survey, visit: ocfl.net/Vision2050

ange County shape its plan for how the Central Florida Region will grow.

To learn more about Vision 2050, visit: ocfl.net/Vision2050 and click on the “Get Involved” tab.

WHEN: - Town Hall Meeting #1: Tuesday, May 25, 2021 – 6 p.m.

- Town Hall Meeting #2: Wednesday, Additionally, the Planning Department May 26, 2021 – 6 p.m. has launched several online surveys, - Town Hall Meeting #3: Monday, June including regarding public spaces, 7, 2021 – 6 p.m. infrastructure and more. Residents may - Town Hall Meeting #4: Tuesday, June participate in the survey by visiting ocfl. 8, 2021 – 6 p.m. net/Vision2050.

- Town Hall Meeting #5: Wednesday, July 7, 2021 – 6 p.m.

The community’s engagement in this - Town Hall Meeting #6: Thursday, July critical planning process will help Or8, 2021 – 6 p.m.

MORE INFO: During the third virtual town hall series, the Planning Division staff will focus on the new Orange Code format. The first two meetings will introduce Orange Code and the concept and purpose of transect zones. The third and fourth meetings will cover the proposed transect zones and their allowable uses. The fifth and sixth meetings will cover remaining aspects of Orange Code and respond to public feedback.

MEDIA MATERIALS: Video of Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings introducing this initiative: https://vimeo. com/464334005 Video of an overview of Vision 2050: https://vimeo.com/466676727 Additionally, if you are interested in discussing Vision 2050 further with our Planning Department, please contact PIO@ocfl.net.

Orange County Elections Office Website Certified Accessible

Contact:

for the The Orange County Supervisor of Elections office recent- Works is affiliated with the National Bill Industries Cowles Orange County Supervisor of Elections Blind, the nation’s largest employment resource for peoly had their website certified accessible by a third-party (407) 836-2070 organization. The website was audited to make sure the ple who are blind.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE content is accessible to people with disabilities.

Our local Lighthouse Works conducted the audit using automatic and manual testing of various pages on the elections office website. Analysts for Lighthouse Works who are blind and visually impaired performed these tests.

“We are very happy to have made our website fully accessible,” said Bill Cowles, Orange County Supervisor of Elections. “It is important that every voter – including voters with disabilities – has access to the information they need to vote.”

The Orange County Supervisor of Elections website was certified accessible according to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 AA. The website will have to be re-audited once a year to maintain its certification.

The seal of certification is on the bottom of their website.

For more information, visit www.ocfelections.com or call the Orange County Supervisor of Elections office at (407) 836-2070.

About Lighthouse Works Lighthouse Works provides job training, employment and career opportunities to help advance people who are visually impaired. Lighthouse Works operates as a subsidiary of Lighthouse Central Florida – Central Florida’s only private, nonprofit agency offering a comprehensive range of services to people living with sight impairment in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. Lighthouse

Orange County elections office w

The Orange County Supervisor of Elections office re by a third-party organization. The website was audit people with disabilities.

Our local Lighthouse Works conducted the audit usi pages on the elections office website. Analysts for L impaired performed these tests.

“We are very happy to have made our website fully County Supervisor of Elections. “It is important that disabilities – has access to the information they need

The Orange County Supervisor of Elections website Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 AA. a year to maintain its certification. The seal of certif

For more information, visit www.ocfelections.com o Elections office at (407) 836-2070.

About Lighthouse Works Lighthouse Works provides job training, employmen people who are visually impaired. Lighthouse Work Central Florida – Central Florida’s only private, non range of services to people living with sight impairm counties. Lighthouse Works is affiliated with the Na largest employment resource for people who are blin ###

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Welcome to June: Professional Wellness Month Dorothy Hardee, East Orlando Chamber Director of Operations June brings delicious fruits, vegetables, bouquets, and the urge to get outside to enjoy the sunshine. It is also, Professional Wellness Month throwing a light on the importance of creating an accomplished environment for employees. What makes this year so different from all the rest is that after a year of shutdowns and being shut in, 15% of Americans are afraid to leave their homes.

Many employees are emotionally on edge and physically worn out, making this the best time to focus on celebrating wellness in the workplace. Adults spend a significant amount of time working in their offices or now remotely making a healthy balance so important for overall well-being.

Corporate Wellness Magazine explained that chronic disease is one of the biggest challenges facing employee health and productivity at work. “More than 150 million American adults in the workforce have at least one chronic disease: including heart disease, arthritis, diabetes and mental health disorders”. Chronic disease, financial stress and psychosocial stressors at work limit performance, promotes absence, ability to carry out tasks and ultimately cost employers significantly. In fact, chronic physical

and mental issues have accounted for more than $136 billion (about $420 per person in the US) in health-related loss.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) (Centers for Disease Control) explains that, Health-Related Quality of Life is associated with many health, job, family, and economically related benefits. The greater well-being equals decreased risk of disease, illness and injury. It also means that employees who experience higher levels of well-being, made up of a good exercise routine, healthy diet, sleep patterns, etc. are also more productive, community conscious and an asset to an organization. Organizations need to step up their game creating an environment where employees can thrive and be happy and healthy.

An effective wellness program educates employees and creates a culture of health, while aiming to help workers develop health behaviors. The benefits of the program include: • Improved productivity • Saves cost.

• Promotes teamwork and collaboration.

Working Mother highlighted 10 companies providing outstanding office health and wellness benefits to enhance employee health while on the job with impressive “well-

ness zones” in their offices. From Unilever’s Quiet Room for meditation, Nike’s fitness center including the “Bo Jackson Center” featuring indoor basketball court and turf field, to Microsoft’s paid gym memberships, workout facilities on campus, multiple restaurants, free health screenings, diet counseling and wellness coaching, may have you dusting off your résumé.

Who else made the top ten? Google, General Mills, Zappos, Rodale, Inc., Genentech, SAS and Twitter.

Workplace wellness is not a new concept but has become a popular benefit for companies to offer supplying a positive impact for your organization. A wellness program is more than counting steps on a fitness band or offering free fruit.

A well-thought-out program is a set of activities and initiatives promoting employee wellbeing and encourages staff to prioritize their health and fitness. Before dismissing the thought of incorporating a program for your organization, consider the benefits: Improved employee satisfaction & ability to attract talented employees.

Starting a wellness program that delivers measurable results and tangible benefits can be as simple as these five-step shared by the blueprint (A Motley Fool Service): • Get support from management who will not only be on board but serve as a champion.

• Survey employees to make sure the program initiatives match what your employees are looking for and they are on board with the program.

• Make it a game with leaderboards and prizes so employees can compete and get extra motivation for taking part.

• Set goals, tracking and planning everything to ensure the initiatives succeed and contribute to business growth.

• Tap into your HR Software, many of which include wellness functionality. Wellness modules “allow you to track the wellness of employees over time, asking them to input information such as sleep patterns and how much they are using technology such as their phones”.

Encourage employees to take part, stressing the importance of the benefit, but do not make it mandatory. Finally remember to communicate the benefit clearly and ask if there are any changes that can be made to accommodate them.

Ready to celebrate “National Employee Wellness month”? Here are a few ideas addressing one of the six key dimensions of well-being: emotion, financial, occupational, social, physical and purpose.

• Emotional Well-being: Teach Mindfulness • Financial Well-being: Supply Resources • Occupational Well-being: Focus on the Future • Social Well-being: Host Virtual Events • Physical Well-being: Introduce a Wellness Challenge

• Purpose: Encourage Mission Statements Looking for more ways to celebrate the month? Consider walking meetings, naps and sleep time, fitness breaks, healthy menu options, goal setting, signposts and supply health information regulatory.

For the health of your business reach out to the East Orlando Chamber for a menu of unique offerings elevating your businesses visibility and connect you with others helping your business thrive. We are the first in the state offering traditional Health Insurance plans, as well as supplemental products including dental, vision, critical illness, accidental and more.

Hear from our local lobbyists Tuesday, June 8th as we present, “Florida Politics 2021” at the Celeste Hotel Orlando, sponsored by University of Central Florida. Fred Kittinger, Sr. Associate VP University Relations (UCF (University of Central Florida) will moderate our distinguished panel including Chris Carmody, Gray Robinson, PA; David Mic, Jr., Florida Hospital Association; Janet Owen, University of Central Florida; & Sharon Smoley, Orlando Economic Partnership. Breakfast opens at 7:30 AM with the program following at 8:00. Register at eocc.org.

Do you know what happens when most of the work you are doing can be done instantly, accurately and cheaply with Artificial Intelligence? What are the ethical and legal concerns? Find out this and more when OPTIC (Orlando s Professional Technology & Innovation Collaborative) presents, “AI & The Social Dilemma” June 11, 2021, at 9:00 AM, presented by EOCC and hosted by Full Sail University. This virtual presentation is moderated

by Ean Meyer, Full Sail University. Our panel of experts include Werner Barkhuizen, PhD (RWENRB Holdings); Ian Johnson (Losey PLLC); Haifa Maamar, PhD (Full Sail University) and Kunal Patel (BrandXR). Free for EOCC members and $10 for non-members.

Our Healthcare collaborative afterhours will feature Dr. Angela D. Mazza, DO double board-certified in endocrinology and internal medicine with Metabolic Center for Wellness discussing Radiofrequency Ablation of Thyroid Nodules. Radiofrequency Ablation is a safe scarless alternative to in-patient surgery. The Healthcare Collaborative Afterhours is Thursday, June 24 at 6:00 PM at The 5th Floor in Avalon Park. Your $10 registration fee includes drinks, appetizers and valuable information.

For more information or to register call (407) 277-5951 or visit our website at eocc.org. The East Orlando Chamber of Commerce everywhere East of I-4.

WORK (Cont.)

WORK (Cont.)

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PLAY

PLAY (Cont.)

PLAY (Cont.)

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DINING

PAPA GIO’S

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DINING (Cont.)

Coming together to create a healthy community

LIVE WELL (Cont.)

Utilizing the Power of Prayer All Year

• Middle: local, national, and world leaders who have to make impactful decisions every day • Ring: all of the individuals who may be sick, Start a Prayer Journal lonely, or struggling Some find it easier to con- • Pinky: the smallest fincentrate and stay focused ger reminds us to pray for Did you know the Unitif they write, so find a pa- ourselves last ed States has set aside a day for pause and prayer per or notebook to write together every year since your prayers. Remember Adopt Healthier Habits 1952? This year, National to look back through your “The earth is the Lord’s journal to see how God and everything in the Day of Prayer took place has been working in your world, and all who live in on May 6—but as we life. it...” know, merely one day Psalm 24:1 of prayer isn’t enough.

Submit a Prayer to the Our local communities, Do we truly believe these the nation, and the world YMCA Prayer Wall The Bible commands us words? Are we living our should continue to look lives as people who beto God to guide our path to carry one another’s burdens. Our virtual lieve that everything beand to bring hope, healPrayer Wall allows us to longs to God? That would ing, and restoration. carry the burdens of those mean that our families in our community and and relationships are His, The YMCA has been an have other help carry organization that has our own burdens. Let us understood the impact prayer can have for more know how we can pray for you and see how you than 176 years. George can pray for others.

Williams, our founder, Suggested areas to foknew it wasn’t the one cus your prayer time who prays but the one on beyond your family, who hears. George had no idea he’d be starting a friends, and church inglobal movement by sim- clude: • Government employply praying for those he worked with and inviting ees in local, state, and federal positions to lead them into a relationship with Jesus, but this simple with our nation’s best act led to one of the larg- interests at heart, • Military members, both est Christian nonprofits active and veteran, so dedicated to supporting every individual, no mat- they know their service ter who they are or where is appreciated, • Men and women in the they come from. Below media so they may conare a few activities you and your family can do to tinue to shine a light on the truth, and remember to rely on the power of prayer all year! • Educators, so they may continue to persevere through all obstacles and Go for Prayer Walks prepare the leaders of It really is a simple as it tomorrow. sounds! Go on a walk or run while you pray for the people and places you Do the Hand Prayer (Children’s Activity) see along your journey.

Start off by asking God to As you work look at make you aware of those your hand as a guide around you, and be guid- pray for the following ed by the Holy Spirit. You things • Thumb: those closest to could choose a specific you like your friends and scripture or verse for the family walk, or get inspired as • Pointer: people who you journey along. For lead and guide you, such instance, pray for the as teacher, pastors, and safety of neighbors you coaches see riding by on bicycles, or pray for the well-being of anyone who might sit on a bench you see on the trail.

and our spirit, mind, and body are as well. While our bodies are not our own, our attitude towards it should never be one of neglect. Recall in Genesis that God has called us stewards to care for his creation. We must recognize that our bodies are, too, part of that command and His creation. We only have one body this side of eternity: do one thing today to care for it well!

Choose to go for a walk or hike on one of the scenic trails across Central Florida, check out our healthy recipes and add a healthier option to your weekly menu, or come take a group exercise class at the Y.

LIVE WELL (Cont.)

Wellness with Jen: Summer Lovin When kids get bored, they get crazy and to be quite frank, they can really get on your nerves, am I right??! It can be tempting to plop them in front of the TV or hand them an iPad or video game controller. While I am not trying to suggest that your kiddos can absolutely, without a doubt, NEVER watch TV or use technology, the speech therapist in me does feel the need to remind the world to put the technology down, especially for the littles. Not only is it not great for their brain development, but it is so important to be present with your kiddos and enjoy life with them to the fullest. On a side note, though, I do get that there are some moments in life when you just need 5 seconds, especially in the world’s current situation. In those moments, take the time you need. I like to work in pockets of time.

During the summer months, it can be hard to keep the kiddos busy and entertained. Here are some fun ideas for being present with your kiddos during the summer while making lasting memories and keeping everyone sane <3 LEMONADE STAND! Don’t worry, we are not about to hype the kids up on lemonade full of processed ingredients. You have to be a label reader when advocating for your children’s health... and your own for that matter. Many store bought processed lemonades contain high fructose corn syrup, soy lecithin “natural flavors” - this is a great cover up for adding a bunch of crap and labeling it “natural” :-O Who would have thought??

So here is a perfect lemonade recipe for your lemonade stand: 14 cups water 1 cup fresh lemon juice 1 cup demerara sugar 8 drops Young Living Lemon Vitality Essential Oil 1 Drop Lavender Vitality Essential Oil optional drop of Peppermint Vitality Essential Oil - some people find this to be too strong for their tastes. I love it!

Adult Beverage addition to the lemonade stand, if you so choose ;-) Mojitos!

2 shots rum 1 shot agave syrup ½ squeezed lime sprig of mint splash of soda water 1 ½ cups ice 2 drops Spearmint Vitality Essential Oil 4 drops Lime Vitality Essential Oil By adding Young Living vitality essential oils into your foods and drinks, you are adding support to your immune system, cardiovascular system, digestive system, and more!

PAINT! Paint paper, paint rocks, paint the driveway, put on some old clothes and get messy.

BUG HUNTING! Read a book about bugs and go out for a walk to see what you can find. I recently saw a cute little bug collection activity in the under $5 section at Target.

PLAY DOUGH! I hate the smell of store bought play dough, ick! There are some really simple DIY play dough recipes out there, and you can add essential oils to make it smell great and benefit your little ones at the same time.

Here’s the simplest recipe: 1 cup water 1 cup salt 2 teaspoons vegetable oil 3 cups flour 2 tablespoons cornstarch Mix water, salt, oil, food coloring (if you choose) and essential oils (if you choose) in a bowl. Gradually add flour and cornstarch until the mixture reaches the consistency of bread dough.

PLAY! My fav oils to add are Young Living Lavender, Seedlings Calm, Gentle Baby, Peace & Calming, Cedarwood, or any kind of citrus oils.

When summer comes to an end, it can be sad for both the kiddos and the Mommies and Daddies. Even though there are crazy times during summer when you might be counting down the minutes until school returns, there are many more moments that make you think “I wish that these moments could last forever”.

Make the memories last by collecting mementos of your summer activities. Pictures, sea shells,

sand, flowers,... and make a summer memories scrapbook or shadow box. Fill an empty bottle with sand and sea shells from your beach trip.

Make a necklace or bracelet out of the sea shells or flowers that you collected over the summer.

I know it is easy to feel like you don’t have the time for any of this, especially if you are like me and don’t get the summer months off from work with your kids, but do your best to make some summer memories, even if it is just a walk in the evening time after daycare/summer camp and work. Slather on the bug repellent (I’ve got a great natural recipe if you need one!), head out for a walk, collect some amazing colors from nature or just point out everything great in nature that you see and draw of picture of everything that you remember when you return home.

Pack a picnic and head to the park for a picnic dinner. Whatever it might be, do what you can to make some amazing summer memories.

I found this really great website, www.familyeducation.com with many great ideas for family activities and so much more! *I have done extensive research on products and companies and choose to recommend Young Living products whole heatedly. Young Living has a Seed to Seal promise that guarantees from the time that the seed is selected and planted to the time that the product arrives on your doorstep, no harmful ingredients will come in contact with that product at any step along the way. Young Living goes as far as testing their soil and using their own essential oils to protect against pest in lieu of using harmful pesticides.

Young Living performs their own testing in addition to third party testing to guarantee that you receive the most effective and most beneficial products.

Follow me on social media or shoot me a message if you have any questions or concerns.

Happy Summer, everyone!

Jen Cosby jcdiamondwellness@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/yljennifercosby https://www.facebook.com/groups/ oilshowyouthewayed/ https://www.instagram.com/jen_cosby/

COMMUNITY CORNER

Life on the Rocks

When Coronavirus shut down the world it had a shocking rippling affect. It changed people’s lives everywhere. For me it took our family from being a single income family and me being a stay-at-home mom to a standstill. We had to get innovative and QUICK. With two small kiddos my options were limited, so I started a business I could run from home.

A crystal and mineral company called Life on the Rocks I run almost entirely on Facebook!! Once things settled down some, I knew I had to find more ways to get my business out there. I started attending a farmers market the second Saturday of every month. I loved attending it so much I eagerly started searching for more venues to attend. I quickly realized that most markets were also a casualty of the virus, and my options were extremely limited. The ones that remained either had no openings left or far too high of a vendor fee for me to justify. Once again, I decided to take things into my own hands!! That’s when I had the idea to start the East Orlando Freedom Market!!!

I am very blessed to live on the same street as Orange County Academy in Bithlo. We have been going to the school to

play with the students and attending various affairs there since we bought our house in 2017. Knowing the school and Timothy McKinney’s community-based mission I knew they would be the perfect people to ask about starting my very own market right in Bithlo!! Without hesitation, Tim said yes, and we got right to work making the first event a huge success!

We hold the market the last Saturday of every month from 10AM to 2PM at 18415 11th Ave. Orlando, FL 32833. The market is filled with small business owners from the community just like me!! We try to keep a wide variety of vendors in attendance so there really would be something for every person who attends. Including delicious food trucks that rotate every month. Last month we even had a free bounce house for any of the kids who came! I am really excited to watch the East Orlando Freedom Market grow into a community staple. But to do that we need your help!! Find us on Facebook to stay up to date on all of our events or even better come by and visit us in person the last Saturday of every month!!

COMMUNITY (Cont.)

The Future Promise of Bithlo

In what has been a ten-year relationship, Rotary Club of Avalon Park finished another service project at Transformation Village in Bithlo. The project, in partnership with Avalon Park Kiwanis Club, entailed the purchase and installation of new gutters on two buildings where the roofs had been replaced. The gutters were badly needed as the small-town lacks infrastructure that most of us take for granted. Things like water, sewage and improved transportation.

much more manageable.

“When it rains, our team knows what needs to happen,” stated Tim McKinney, Executive Vice President of Global Outreach (UGO). ”We mentally prepare to get the pumps ready to prevent our buildings from flooding.” The gutters Rotary installed diverted the run-off water into a downward spout, making the flooding situation

“Last Saturday our Rotary Club took a tour of Transformation Village provided by Tim McKinney,” stated Jim McQueeney, Rotary President Elect. “Tim shared stories and updates on Bithlo’s main street, which has a combination library/coffee shop, K-12 schools, a hydroponic lab, on-site mental health clinic, church/multipurpose

Since 2010, UGO has been focusing on nine key areas of improvement: education, transportation, the environment, health care, basic needs, sense of community, economic opportunity, the arts – and housing.

UGO is continuing to work hard breaking the cycle and circumstances of generational poverty. The reality of the situation is that lives have been lost – both children and adults.

room and plans for new housing. All things long missing from Bithlo. What they have accomplished to date is absolutely amazing and there is much more work to be done.”

What is their greatest need?

A water system - solutions are currently being reviewed.

They also need mentors to visit the kids once a week at Orange County Academy and donations such as playground equipment, a coffee bar for their gatherings and picnic tables.

Please show your support of Transformation Village with optimism.

“Rotary Club of Avalon Park has been the cornerstone for Transformation Village,” Tim stated. “They were the first group to reach out to us in 2010 and that outstretched arm

by Jim Foulks, club president at the time, opened up many

doors for us and I am a proud honorary member.”

“We stand by as a club ready to step up our commitment to UGO and partner with other groups who are willing to help,” stated Jim McQeeney.

“And we encourage other clubs to do reach out to us and/or UGO.” For more information: https:// www.ugo2.org Rotary, Connects the World and Opens Opportunities.

Come join us each Wednesday morning @ 7:30 at the Pavilion located at 13401 Tanya King Blvd. Meet your neighbors, find out what Rotary is about and how you can Serve to change lives. For more information click on this link: Take Me There!

Rotary Club of Avalon Park seven years ago installing a wheel chair ramp at Transformation Village.

Save the Date!

COMMUNITY (Cont.)

Kiwanis Club Update

The Kiwanis Club of Avalon Park helped feed the homeless this past month in the East Orange County/ Bithlo area providing food and serving. The club also provided the sneakers and socks from their drive a few months earlier.

Kiwanis Outstanding Student of the Year

The Kiwanis club again recognized some of the top service leadership students in the local schools. Although no formal ceremony could be held, these awards were given out to some outstanding students based on academics, service and citizenship.

Camelot Elementary Vincent Pace Castle Creek Elementary Valeria Guzman Stone Lakes Elementary Maxwell Chubb Lake Nona High Dhruv Patel Timber Creek High Amelia Packham Kiwanis Scholarships

Kiwanis provided three scholarships to three outstanding high schools seniors from Timber Creek, who were all involved in Key Club at Timber Creek and had phenomenal years especially with everything they had to go through during COVID.

Olivia Packham Amelia Packham Lorena Sosa

COMMUNITY (Cont.)

OCPS Students Paint Rain Barrels to Benefit Art Program

Local students are spreading their message of saving the environment through their artwork.

Since 2006, OUC’s Water Color Project has set out to teach future generations about the importance of water conservation and to appreciate the value of this natural resource. The program works in partnership with Orange County Public Schools. Students have a lesson on conservation, then share what they’ve learned by creating artwork on rain barrels.

Students across 16 teams at Orange County schools were selected to paint a rain barrel for the 2021 Water Color Project.

The rain barrels are currently being auctioned off, and all proceeds will benefit OCPS’ art program at each participating school. This is the first year the auction has been opened to the general public. Past auctions have raised more than $4000.

Photos and b-roll are available here.

Lighthouse Central Florida Receives Two Grants for Vision Rehabilitation Services Grant Information Lighthouse Central Florida, which provides vision rehabilitation services to those living with vision impairment or blindness throughout Central Florida, has received two grants totaling $3,000 from Paycom and Rotary Club of Maitland. The funds from Paycom’s $1,000 grant were used to create a virtual classroom critically needed to improve the effectiveness of Lighthouse’s vision rehabilitation services being delivered remotely to blind or visually impaired children, teens, adults and seniors, due to circumstances surrounding COVID-19. Paycom is a leading provider of comprehensive, cloud-based human capital management software.

The funds from Rotary Club of Maitland’s $2,000 grant will be

The Jetsetters Update

And another month is here! Jetsetters re-started in March with limited activities but we’re adding more each month.

Our next meeting is scheduled for June 9 at 1pm at the South Village Clubhouse. At this time we’ll be looking for more group inspired suggestions for activities.

Last month we journeyed to Titusville’s Dixie Crossroads restaurant and this month we’re off to New Smyrna Beach’s Norwood’s Treehouse.

Planning for the summer ahead includes gatherings at Nuno’s for breakfasts, Lakeridge Winery, Boxi Park, hopefully a cruise on the Halifax River.

We invite all seniors to join us, register, meet new friends or reconnect with old ones.

See you at the Clubhouse.

used for Lighthouse Central Florida’s Early Intervention Services, Children’s Program and Transition Program, which benefit infants, children and youth. Lighthouse’s Early Intervention Services are provided to infants and children ages 0-5 and their families with learning structured to maximize the visual and developmental progress of each child. The Children’s Program supports children ages 5-13 and their families with services that enhance each child’s learning and ability to function independently, as well as engage with parents, guardians and family members. The Transition Program benefits students age 14-22 who are currently in the school system under an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), providing them with skills and experience to facilitate successful transition from high school to post-secondary activities, such as college, vocational school and employment.

COMMUNITY (Cont.)

Click here for more information!