Avalon Park Sun Orlando October 2023

Autumn Adventures Await: Downtown Avalon Park’s Fall Event Line-Up

Downtown Avalon Park is gearing up to offer a fantastic lineup of fall events and traditions this year. Whether you are looking to kickstart your holiday shopping at the annual craft fair on November 11th or dive into the autumn festivities with the annual Oktoberfest Celebration, there’s something for everyone in store. The excitement begins on Friday, October 13th, from 5-10 pm with the Beer Garden Preview. Friday night will be filled with traditional food and beer, complemented by live music from Europa and Alpine Dancing by Schuhplatter Gruppe Alpenrose, all in the heart of Town Park.

On Saturday, October 14th, the fun continues with activities for the whole family. Besides the Town Park Beer Garden, the community festival starts at 5 pm, featuring over 150 vendors, live music, dancing, a car show, wiener dog races, and a free bounce park.

But the excitement does not stop after Oktoberfest! Fall in Avalon Park is the start of an event-packed season, designed to get families outdoors and active. With the changing weather, safe family-friendly events, extensive walking and biking paths, and local dining options, there are countless opportunities to create new fall traditions this year.

Here are some other exciting family-friendly activities happening this fall in Downtown Avalon Park:

Movie Under the Stars

Grab your blanket or lawn chair and enjoy free popcorn, local vendors, and a free movie in the park. The movie starts at dusk, but come early to enjoy a picnic dinner and meet friends and neighbors.

-October 20th: Casper

-November 17th: Elemental

-December 8th: Elf

Location: Town Park, 3651 Avalon Park East Blvd., Orlando, FL 32828

Food Truck Night

Join us at Town Park on the 3rd Sunday of each month for beats and eats! Approximately 20 local food trucks featuring a variety of cuisines are available for families

to try something new or enjoy an old favorite while grooving to music.

Grace Foley Rock Your Socks 5K

-Date: October 14th

-Time: 7:00 a.m. Onsite Registration, 8:00 a.m. Race Start

Join us as we pay tribute to community member Grace Foley in the Avalon Park Foundation Annual 5k Fun-Run, raising funds to support the Grace Foley Scholarship Fund.

Spooktacular

-Date: October 28th

-Time: 5:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Dress up as your favorite character or in your favorite costume and join us in Town Park for a hometown Halloween celebration. This complimentary event offers trick or treating, food trucks, performances, bounce houses, and vendors.

Location: Downtown Avalon Park, Orlando, FL 32828

Fall Craft Fair

-Date: Saturday, November 11th

-Time: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Local vendor booths will showcase homemade items such as holiday decorations, sweet treats, paintings, candles, plants, and more! This year will also feature a VIP area hosted by the Avalon Park Arts and Culture Center with art, mimosa bar and shaded seating. Location: Town Park, 3651 Avalon Park East Blvd., Orlando, FL 32828

Turkey Trot

-Date: November 23rd

-Time: 7:00 a.m. Onsite Registration, 8:00 a.m. Race Start

Join the Avalon Park Foundation for this annual fun run 5k for a cause through Downtown Avalon Park. Run Now, Gobble Later.

Avalon Park Arts and Culture Center

From the Hispanic Heritage Artist Reception on October 6th to Spooky Craft Halloween Crafts for Kids there’s something for everyone at the Avalon Park Arts and Culture Center this fall.

For an up-to-date listing of our shops, restaurants and professional services, visit our online directory and to stay in the know with what is happening in Downtown Avalon Park, follow us on Facebook & Instagram and check out the online calendar.

Live:

unwavering: to change the way people live, learn, work, and play. While there have been noticeable changes, we want to emphasize our ongoing commitment to improving Avalon Park for all. Below are a few updates on what has been happening and what is on the horizon for Avalon Park in the future:

Avalon Park offers a diverse range of housing options, catering to various sizes and price points, encompassing apartments, townhomes, single-family homes, and assisted living residences. Our ongoing efforts now focus on providing additional housing options tailored to seniors. Presently, we are actively working on an age-targeted home option for active adults, which will be located on the “Flagpole Lot,” with plans to introduce the design in the near future.

Learn:

Avalon Park takes immense pride in the consistent excellence of its schools, spanning from elementary to middle and high school levels, all maintaining A-rated statuses. Notably, Avalon Elementary and Avalon Middle have earned the prestigious distinction of being recognized as National Blue Ribbon Schools, a distinction reserved for the top 300 schools in the United States. Additionally, Pinecrest Avalon Park charter school, situated in Avalon Park South Village, provides an alternative educational option and proudly holds an A rating. Many families have chosen Avalon Park as their home due to the outstanding schools. We firmly believe that the remarkable performance of our schools contributes to the continued appreciation of property values above market averages. As we look to the future, Avalon Park remains committed to expanding educational opportunities within the community through programming in our state-of-theart daycares, the Avalon Park Arts and Culture Center, the Avalon School of Music, All-Star Dance, Championship Martial Arts,

outshine other communities of our size. Our community boasts a diverse job market, catering to individuals from the age of 16 with opportunities in numerous restaurants, all the way to highpaying managerial positions in globally recognized companies like Data Transfer Solutions, The 5th Floor, and more. The landscape of the “Work” component has changed globally, where many residents have embraced remote work, appreciating the convenience of having all their daily necessities within the community. We understand that the realm of work and jobs is an ongoing endeavor, and we remain committed to its development in Downtown Avalon Park.

Play:

While Avalon Park Group shares in the community’s sadness surrounding the closing of the YMCA location in Avalon Park, we look at this as an opportunity to reevaluate health and wellness in our community. Our vision remains that individual and family wellness is instrumental to a healthy community. Avalon Park Group has always subsidized this space and will continue to do so. Current members will see an improvement in equipment, lower rates, and more accessible hours. While there will be a few down days to swap out equipment, APG is committed to keeping the facility open. Again, the facility will remain open and accessible as a fitness facility.

We value your input on the improvements you would like to see and the services you wish to see continue. To gather your valuable feedback, we have created a survey accessible through the following link: https://share.hsforms. com/1YnZdF0vHRQarqHljr94JfQ5f9ld.

For the past 25+ years APG has kept an open-door policy for the community to access us with their concerns, ideas and ways that they see the community flourishing. We will continue to do so. So, as you have feedback on this community, we welcome it, by reaching out to info@AvalonParkGroup.com and we will do our best to promptly answer you. It has always been and continues to be our philosophy that everyone belongs in Avalon Park. We have spent the past two decades committed to that ideal by changing the way the world lives, learns, works, and plays. So, whether you live, learn, work or play, or all four, we want you to know that You Belong in Avalon Park and we are committed to that for the next 25 years and beyond.

From the Desk of Commissioner

Maribel Gomez Cordero

Happy October!

As October begins, Summer is now officially over, and Fall has begun. Whether it’s taking a quiet moment to think or having fun outside, this transitional period offers a perfect balance of reflection and excitement. Hopefully, the temperatures will continue to cool off in the coming months and make outside activities more pleasant for the whole family. It’s the ideal time to embrace the changing seasons and all the joy they bring.

October closes the national Hispanic Heritage Month. In commemoration of this, the Hispanic Heritage Network of Orange County is hosting the end of Hispanic heritage month celebration. This event will showcase the rich diversity of Hispanic culture we have

in Orange County. Delicious food will be provided alongside great entertainment. I encourage everyone interested to attend this event. It will take place from 6pm to 9pm at the Center for Health & Wellbeing in Winter Park (2005 Mizell Ave, Winter Park FL 32792).

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. You can also meet me in person on the first Wednesdays of the month at the East Orange Community Center (12050 E Colonial Dr) or on the Third Wednesdays of the month at the Meadow Woods Recreation Center (1751 Rhode Island Woods Cir). My time at both locations is from 10am to 12pm.

Thank you again and enjoy October!

5 Tips to Sell in a Higher Interest Rate Market

Selling your home in a high-interest rate market can be challenging. Higher rates can make it more expensive for potential buyers to secure a mortgage. However, you can still successfully sell your home with the right strategies. Here are five tips to help you sell your home in a high-interest-rate market:

Price it Right.

The home that’s priced right will attract more potential buyers. Will sell faster and for a higher price. Listen to your local market expert… sometimes it’s hard to admit they might be right.

An overpriced home stays on the market forcing you to lower its price. Buyers are less likely to view your home and dropping the price may indicate something is wrong with it.

Work With an Experienced Realtor.

work tirelessly to get your home sold for its highest price.

Staging & Curb Appeal: Prepare Your Home for Sale.

There is no substitute for experience. An experienced agent will discuss the tough subjects, including those that might bruise your ego. They understand your local market and

The buyer of your home needs to Feel like it’s their home! They need to imagine themselves living there. Removing yourself by taking down personal photos, kid’s art, removing excess furniture, and especially any kind of pet odor will make your home feel clean and spacious. A little fresh mulch is always a good thing.

Prepare Your Home for The New Owners.

Very few buyers have the time, energy, or extra cash to make changes after buying a home. Take care of any cosmetic repairs. The building inspection is going to find them anyway. A move-in ready home is a beautiful thing!

Be

Flexible and Willing to Negotiate.

We’re in a buyer’s market which means you may need to be a little flexible when an offer is presented to you. And, not all offers are created equal; sometimes the highest offer is not the best. Offers usually come with contingencies such as Home Sale Contingency, Financing, and Appraisal Contingencies. Some buyers will ask you to cover some of their closing costs. Your experienced broker will help guide you towards your best offer.

Fun Fall DIY Crafts for Apartment Residents

3. Leafy Table Centerpiece: Bring the essence of fall to your dining table with a DIY centerpiece. Gather a few branches with colorful leaves (real or faux) and place them in a tall vase or jar. Add some pinecones, acorns, and small pumpkins to complete the look.

4. Pumpkin Spice Scented Potpourri: Create your own natural air freshener by combining dried orange peel, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and nutmeg. Place this aromatic mix in a decorative bowl for a fragrant touch of fall in your apartment.

5. Autumn-Inspired Wall Art: Get artistic by painting or drawing your favorite fall scenes or quotes on canvases. Hang these on your apartment walls to infuse your space with autumn charm.

Autumn has arrived at The Flats at Avalon Park, and it’s time to embrace the cozy spirit of the season! Living in our vibrant apartment community doesn’t mean missing out on the fun of fall crafting. In fact, it’s the perfect place to get creative and decorate your apartment for the season. Plus, we have some exciting upcoming events, including a front door decorating contest and a spooktacular Halloween event. So, let’s dive into some delightful DIY fall crafts to make your apartment feel like a warm and inviting autumn haven.

1. Festive Fall Wreath: Start with a simple foam or grapevine wreath from your local craft store. Gather colorful leaves, pinecones, and small faux pumpkins. Use a hot glue gun to attach these items to the wreath, creating a welcoming decoration for your apartment door.

2. Mason Jar Candle Holders: Collect empty mason jars and wrap them in twine or burlap. Place a tea light or LED candle inside, and you’ll have a charming and rustic candle holder that radiates a warm fall glow.

Don’t forget to put your crafting skills to the test in our Front Door Decorating Contest! Show off your fall-themed door decor and stand a chance to win exciting prizes. Stay tuned for more details about this event and how to participate.

And for all the Halloween enthusiasts, mark your calendars for our spooktacular Halloween event on October 31st. We’ll have costume contests, candy, and a ghoulishly good time for all ages. It’s a fantastic opportunity to meet your neighbors and celebrate the season together.

At The Flats at Avalon Park, apartment living in the fall is full of opportunities for creativity and community. Try out these fun and easy DIY fall crafts to make your apartment feel warm and inviting. And don’t forget to participate in our upcoming Front Door Decorating Contest and Halloween event to make the most of this fantastic season. Interested in becoming a part of our welcoming community? Contact us today to learn more about leasing opportunities! 407-273-4337 | TheFlatsAtAvalonPark.com

Importance of Staying Active and Learning for Seniors

As you get older, there’s nothing stopping you from continuing to grow your brain through learning and staying active through doing light activities each day. How much you do varies for each person, but even doing a little bit each day will continue a healthy lifestyle. Lifelong learning and activity for seniors is a key component of intellectual and overall wellness.

Exercise produces endorphins (the “feel good” hormone), which can help relieve stress and can improve one’s mental health. There are also many studies that show physical activity can improve cognitive function and suggest a lower risk for dementia.

Growing Your Brain

Improving your cognitive function can also be done by continuing to learn and work your brain. Seniors can do a hobby they love or try out a new one to grow their brain. There are different ways to do this, one of the simplest ways being to pick up on an old hobby. This can include reading, sewing, painting, or cooking. Another way is to self-teach yourself a new topic or new hobby. Have you always wanted to learn how to do yoga or a new game? This is the perfect way to get your brain going.

Just like staying active, learning and putting your brain to work has many health benefits as well. The reduced risk of memory loss and dementia is one that most seniors may benefit from. These activities give seniors something to do throughout the day, as well as make social connections within their community. Whatever brings them joy and fulfillment in life will help improve their overall health in so many ways!

Staying Active

Regular physical activity for seniors improves mental and physical health, which will help maintain independence as you age. To stay active, there’s no need for excessive exercise each day. A simple walk outside with a loved one can be all someone needs! If it’s too hot for a walk outdoors, look at your community’s exercise classes. This can include water aerobics, light weight exercises, yoga, and swimming.

These activities will not only give seniors a healthy lifestyle, but also contribute to many other benefits. Staying active can reduce certain diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.

Continuing to Stay Active and Learn at Encore

At Encore Avalon Park, we want our seniors to have a healthy, active lifestyle that suits them. In addition to comfortable accommodations and delicious meals, our senior living community offers a full schedule of recreational and social activities for our senior residents, many of which are perfectly accessible for seniors in wheelchairs to enjoy.

Find out more about what makes Encore at Avalon Park the premier senior living community in the Central Florida area by calling 407-270-7500 and scheduling a tour.

LEARN

Valuable Resources for Nonprofit Organizations

sures that your messaging is clear, concise, and impactful, empowering them to communicate confidently with donors, volunteers, and other stakeholders. Whether you are writing grant proposals or crafting engaging social media posts, Grammarly provides essential resources to help them effectively present their nonprofit’s mission.

For further guidance and support, Nonprofit Enthusiast specializes in consulting and assisting nonprofits. Nonprofits seeking to optimize their operations and make a significant impact can find helpful articles and resources on NonprofitEnthusiast.com. Recognizing the challenges of running a nonprofit alone, we offer consulting services to strategize and tailor solutions based on each nonprofit’s needs and goals.

Running a nonprofit can leave individuals with endless goals and few ideas for executing them. However, numerous free or discounted online resources are available to help improve nonprofits and make your journey smoother. These resources can provide valuable support and enhance your operations, enabling you to achieve your mission and create a positive impact.

One such valuable resource is Canva Pro for Nonprofits. It allows nonprofit organizations to bring their vision to life through beautifully crafted content that can inspire their community to take action. With user-friendly graphic design tools, they can create eye-catching visuals for social media, events, and various campaigns, thus strengthening their visual presence and engagement.

Additionally, G Suite for Nonprofits offers an invaluable set of productivity tools to streamline operations and enhance collaboration within nonprofit organizations. With applications like Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Docs, nonprofits can revolutionize their workflow and communication processes. Gmail provides a professional and reliable email service, enabling efficient communication with donors, volunteers, and other stakeholders. Google Drive is a centralized cloud storage platform that facilitates easy access to essential documents and files from anywhere, promotes seamless teamwork, and enhances productivity.

Similarly, Microsoft for Nonprofits offers valuable resources to bolster nonprofit organizations’ efficiency and productivity. Nonprofits can access Office 365 subscriptions, granting them access to powerful applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more. These tools facilitate seamless document creation, data analysis, and presentations, ensuring nonprofits communicate their mission and progress effectively.

Nonprofits can also enhance the tone of their writing using Grammarly for Nonprofits. This powerful tool en-

For those interested in unleashing the full potential of their nonprofits and spreading your message effectively, Nonprofit Enthusiast invites you to schedule a free 15-minute consultation by https://nonprofitenthusiast. com/social-tree. With the proper support and resources, nonprofits can confidently present their causes and create a lasting impact on the world. Let’s work together to empower nonprofits and turn their visions into reality!

13000 Avalon Lake Dr # 207, Orlando, FL 32828 (833) 959-7446 nonprofitenthusiast.com

WORK

How to Most Effectively Update Your Resume

and know that you could be a fit.

Refresh Contact Information

A resume is one of the first things employers look at when searching for potential hires. Keeping up to date with your experience and skills will show hiring managers that you’re on top of things. Submitting new and improved resumes shows that you’re staying up-to-date with the latest trends in your industry, learning new skills, and moving forward in your career path. Here are some things to keep in mind while updating your resume.

Update Your Design

The design of the resume isn’t necessarily what an employer is focusing on, but making it eyeappealing is a huge plus for you. Stick with neutral colors if you want to add some color to your resume. To make the layout look neat, make sure you have 1” margins on all sides and use font sizes between 10-12. Fonts like Arial, Georgia, and Times New Roman are standard for resumes.

Label Every Section

Organization is a great skill to have and showing it on your resume will go a long way. Label each section accordingly: “Work Experience”, “Skills”, “Education”, and you can even put a section of what you’re certified in. If you’re redoing your resume completely, this will be a perfect outline to revamp your resume.

Change Keywords Accordingly

Depending on your field and what job you’re looking into going to, make keywords stand out to the employer. Look at the job description and try to incorporate that into your resume if it fits your skills and past work experiences. This way, employers will see these words almost automatically when looking at your resume

Addresses and phone numbers can change throughout our life, so make sure your contact information is updated correctly. If you haven’t updated your resume in a while, there’s a chance something could be wrong, and that wouldn’t look good on you. It’s also important to make sure your reference’s contact information is correct. References can be changed over time, but if you want to keep the ones you’ve had, contact them to double check everything is still right.

Updating your resume is a crucial step in advancing your career. By following the tips above, you can ensure that your resume stands out to potential employers and reflects your current skills and experience. Don’t wait any longer; invest some time this October in enhancing your career prospects.

And if you’re looking for a new opportunity in the Orlando area, don’t forget to explore the job listings and resources available at The 5th Floor Orlando. We’re here to support your professional journey!

OUC Board Votes to Decrease Electric Retail Price for Second Time in Four Months; Combined Monthly Savings of $15 for Average Residential Customer

For the second time in four months, OUC’s Board of Commissioners voted to lower electric rates. The two rate changes total a net average savings of $15 per month for the average residential customer with 1,000 kilowatts (kWh) hours of usage.

“This additional rate adjustment reflects our commitment to pass along savings to our customers whenever possible. It’s the right thing to do,” said Mindy Brenay, Chief Financial Officer. “Throughout our 100-year history, OUC’s focus has been and remains to provide affordable, reliable, and sustainable electric and water services.”

In May, the Board approved a decrease in pass-through fuel costs that took effect in June – a move that yielded on average a 10% reduction in customers’ monthly electric bills across all customer segments. The average residential customer using 1,000 kWh saw a savings of $13 a month in Orlando/Orange County and $13.52 a month in St. Cloud/Osceola County.

Yesterday, OUC’s Board of Commissioners voted to further decrease the electric customer bill. The average residential customer using 1,000 kWh can expect savings of approximately $2 a month in Orlando/Orange County and $2.08 a month in St. Cloud/Osceola County. The rate adjustment will take effect on Oct. 1, pending review by

the Florida Public Service Commission.

OUC’s rates remain below the average of its peers, which can be viewed here.

To further assist our customers, OUC offers a variety of programs including the Power Pass prepaid program, Budget Billing and payment plans. Visit OUC.com/ assistance for more information. To learn about OUC’s efficiency programs and tips to use less energy and water, visit OUC.com/waystosave. Additionally, OUC’s Project CARE assistance program provides emergency relief to those experiencing financial hardships.

About OUC—The Reliable One

In June 2023, OUC—The Reliable One celebrated 100 years of providing exceptional value to our customers and community through the delivery of sustainable and reliable solutions. Services including electric, water, chilled water, lighting and solar are provided to more than 400,000 accounts in Orlando, St. Cloud and parts of unincorporated Orange and Osceola counties. As OUC prepares for the next century, the utility remains committed to its goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 while supporting its community with conservation, sustainability and energy efficiency resources. Visit www.ouc.com to learn more.

2023 Business Expo “Another Success”

On August 23rd the East Orlando Chamber of Commerce hosted their 11th Business Expo. This year’s event was again located at the gorgeous DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando Airport Hotel. Over 145 exhibitors showcased their products and services with over 500 people in attendance enjoying food, beverages, networking, and prizes. We’d like to thank the following sponsors and all the attendees who participated in making this year a success. A very special thanks to Walmart Business who was the Presenting Sponsor, Duke Energy the BINGO Sponsor, Kingdom Car Service the Shuttle provider, AdventHealth Gold Sponsor, Banke IT Consulting, The Orlando Law Group, Urbander, VIVA Agency, Central Florida Life Coaching Institute, Office Depot, Clear Channel Outdoor and WUCF.

Several of our members had great things to say about the expo. Ryan Ramirez, Senior Manager with Walmart Business and Business Expo Presenting Sponsor was quoted “Thank you again for your support and hospitality for the event. It was a fantastic turnaround, we had so many great conversations and it was definitely one of the better expos we’ve been a part of this year.” We thank you for their support as the Presenting Sponsor.

you again for you and your teams’ hard work in putting this together for the East Orlando Business Community.”

Estee Santoni, owner of VIVA Agency, and Expo water sponsor stated “What a wonderful event! I heard nothing but positive comments throughout the evening. We appreciate you and your support always. You guys have such a huge impact on the central Florida business community. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”

“What an amazing EXPO… It was our first time participating, and certainly not our last, because we felt it was very valuable to be able to engage with so many diverse product and service providers in our business ecosystem…” Samí Haiman-Marrero, President & CEO, Urbander and Expo Silver Sponsor.

Stephanie Lerret, SVP Marketing & Community Relations for Avalon Park Group, said “The turnout was great, and we made lots of great contacts! Thank

If you missed attending this year’s Expo, mark your calendar for August 22, 2024, to attend the next one.

The East Orlando Chamber of Commerce supports our local businesses and encourages you to patronize our members who support the East Orlando community. You can find these businesses in our member directory at: https://business.eocc.org/list/. If you’d like more information on the East Orlando Chamber of Commerce or to have your business listed, visit www. EOCC.org and contact us at 407-277-5951 or eocc@ eocc.org.

We Can Print Your Next Art Project

Everything to Market Your Business or print your colorful Invitation Cards for your kid’s next birthday party! Our designers are available to assist you, to put your ideas into production. Types: Business Cards, Marketing Materials, Gift Mugs, T-Shirts, Invitations and Signage.

We personalize our services for Avalon community. Anyone can email your artwork, resume, party flyers or restaurant menu to be printed. You can then pick it up at your convenience. We will print your documents and make copies while you shop at our local Publix or CVS Pharmacy. With this full service, the entire process is easy, so you don’t need to be a tech guru to get perfect results every time.

Mail Merge Address Label Printing. Private mailing list is one of the most targeted, measurable, and cost effective ways to stay in touch with clients or send invitations to friends and family. It is an inexpensive way to print your customized address

labels for any functions you may have.

Custom wedding labels or circle labels are also popular for special events. These labels can be designed and be printed per what you need. You can also design it yourself or you can have one of our graphic graduates do it for you for a nominal fee.

Come visit us at Avalon Mail Center, 3564 Avalon Park E Blvd, Ste 1, we are always here for your next art project.

By Leo Yong, Constance Jones

PLAY

Featured Fall Recipe to Make with your Family

PUMPKIN PIE BARS

FOR THE BARS:

- 1 and 1/3 Cup flour

- 3/4 Cup granulated sugar, divided

- 1/2 Cup light brown sugar

- 3/4 Cup butter, softened

- 1 Cup oats, uncooked

- 1/2 Cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

- 1 pkg. of cream cheese (8oz.), softened – can be reduced

fat

- 3 eggs

- 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin

- 1 T pumpkin pie spice

FOR THE TOPPING (Mix & Set Aside):

- 1/3 Cup flour

- 1/4 Cup butter, softened

- 1/3 Cup oats

- 1/4 Cup light brown sugar

- 1/4 Cup chopped pecan or walnuts (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.

- Line the back of a 13×9 inch pan with foil with ends of foil extending over sides and spray with cooking spray

- Mix flour, brown sugar, 1/4 Cup sugar and softened butter in a medium bowl until blended. Mix in oats and nuts (if desired)

- Press oat mixture onto bottom of the prepared pan.

- Bake for 15 min

-Beat softened cream cheese, remaining sugar, eggs, pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice with a mixer until well blended. Pour over crust. Sprinkle with crumb topping.

- Bake for 25 min at 350 F. Cool on a wire rack in pan. Once completely cooled, pull the sides of the foil to release the pumpkin pie bars from the pan and cut into squares.

Guide to Pumpkin Patches in Central Florida

- Scotts Country Market

- A Lot of Pumpkins

- Southern Hills Farms

- Painted Oaks Academy Pumpkins & Ponies Festival

- Corn Maze Orlando

- Central Parkway Baptist Pumpkin Patch & Trunk or Treat

- Club Lake Plantation

- Lil’ Bit of Fall on the Farm

- CPUMC’s Pumpkin Patch

- Fall Festival at Horses With a Mission

- Florida Railroad Museum’s Pumpkin Patch Express

- Fox Squirrel Corn Maze

- Hamilin’s Pumpkin Patch Palooza

- Harvest Holler Corn Maze

- OCB’s pumpKIND Patch

- Partin Ranch Corn Maze

- Skyes Family Farms

- Brown’s Corn Maze and Fall Extravaganza

Click here to see all the details, times, dates & locations for each of the pumpkin patches above.

DINING

Coming together to create a healthy community

ARTS & CULTURE CORNER

COMMUNITY CORNER

Olive Garden Marks 20-Year Anniversary of Harvest Food Donation Program to Fight Hunger in Orlando

More Than 1.3 Million Pounds of Food Donated Locally Since 2003, Benefiting Orlando Union Rescue Mission and Other Local Nonprofits

September marked Hunger Action Month, but Olive Garden has been continuously working to help fight hunger in Orlando through their Harvest food donation program, which has been in place for the past 20 years. Since the program’s inception, 1.3 million pounds of food have been donated to local nonprofits near Olive Garden’s restaurants, amounting to more than 1 million meals.

Olive Garden locations nationwide participate in the Harvest program. Each day, restaurant team members gather unused, surplus food like pasta, steak, soup, chicken and vegetables to prepare for donation. Nonprofit organizations pick up these donations each week to provide to those in their community.

“Hunger continues to be a significant issue in Orlando, and at Olive Garden, we’re in a position to help” said Jennifer Klaers, General Manager of Olive Garden in Orlando. “The Harvest program has allowed us to give back to the community we serve for years, and our team takes immense pride in knowing that we’re making a difference.”

According to Feeding America, 34 million people in the United States face hunger, and food banks have experienced greater demand due to high grocery prices and the end of pandemic-era benefits like Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program (SNAP) emergency allotments.

Olive Garden restaurants nationwide participate in Harvest, and over the past 20 years, their collective food donations have totaled more than 49 million pounds of food — or 41 million meals. Locally, Olive Garden donates to Orlando Union Rescue Mission, Daytona Rescue

Mission, Lighthouse Mission Orlando and more.

In addition, Olive Garden has worked with Feeding America for more than 13 years, and since 2017, the Darden Foundation, the charitable arm of Olive Garden’s parent company, has donated $16.3 million to support Feeding America member food banks across all 50 states.

As part of these ongoing efforts to fight hunger, Olive Garden has helped to enhance mobile food pantry programs for Feeding America’s food banks in communities where food insecurity rates are disproportionately high. Since January 2021, 35 Feeding America food banks across 18 states have received a 26-foot refrigerated box truck to help address transportation needs and give access to nutritious food for those who need it most. In 2021, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida was a recipient of one of these trucks.

ABOUT OLIVE GARDEN

Olive Garden is the leading restaurant in the Italian dining segment with nearly 900 restaurants, more than 99,000 employees and more than $4.9 billion in annual sales. Olive Garden is a division of Darden Restaurants, Inc, (NYSE: DRI), which owns and operates more than 1,900 restaurants that generate over $10.5 billion in annual sales. Headquartered in Orlando, FL, and employing more than 190,000 people, Darden is recognized for a culture that rewards caring for and responding to people. Olive Garden is committed to making a difference in the lives of others in the local community. As part of this commitment, Olive Garden restaurants have donated more than 49 million pounds of food to local community food banks across the country. For more information, visit OliveGarden. com. Connect with us on Facebook.com/OliveGarden, Twitter. com/OliveGarden and Instagram.com/OliveGarden

MEDIA CONTACT

Brittany Baron (407) 245-4614 | bbaron@darden.com

Orlando Squeeze Major League Pickleball Team

Down 2 games to 0 to the D.C. Pickleball Team, the Orlando Squeeze Major League Pickleball team came back to tie the match and then win in the Dreambreaker overtime game 21-10 aired live on ESPN2 Sunday.

Squeeze player Rachel Rohrabacher, originally from Tampa who earned a Master’s in Social Work from USF, slammed a forehand counter to give Orlando back to back mixed doubles wins for the 2-2 tie. This sent the match into the Dreambreaker, which the Squeeze won 2110. Anna Bright, who lives in Pompano Beach FL., was named MVP. Lots of Orlando Squeeze fans were on hand in Atlanta to help celebrate the comeback victory.

The D.C. Pickleball Team will put on an exhibition this week starting Thursday when pickleball courts are rolled out on the National Mall in Washington D.C. Pickleball fan and journalist Katie Couric and other celebrities are expected to play.

Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who started playing pickleball in March, announced the city will soon build 4 more pickleball courts to try to keep up with the demand.

Sponsor Humana says the event on the National Mall will demonstrate one way all ages, especially seniors, can become active and engaged in their community by playing the inclusive sport of pickleball. Avalon Park has 2 tennis/pickleball combo courts at Tanja King Park and 2 in South Village where you can play.

Orlando Squeeze Players (L to R) Rachel Rohrabacher, Andrei Daescu, Zane Navratil, Anna Bright

FusionFest Announces the 2023 MYgration Film Competition

The MYgration films will premiere as part of the annual Global Peace Film Festival on September 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the Rollins College Bush Auditorium, where attendees can vote for their favorite movies.

FusionFest, in partnership with the Global Peace Film Festival, today announced the 2023 MYgration Film Competition, an opportunity for filmmakers to share stories of migration, perspectives, and cultural intertwining. This annual competition seeks to capture the stories of Central Floridians from around the world in short five-minute documentary films. The films will be either from the perspective of a filmmaker’s migration journey or from a subject allowing a filmmaker to portray their experiences.

In August, filmmakers and subjects were paired and had just five days to produce the film and submit the final reel for judging by a FusionFest panel. The 2023 MYgration film competition resulted in eleven entries.

The MYgration Film Screening and Award Presentation will take place at the Enzian Theatre on October 1, 2023, at 12:30 p.m. with the announcement of the 2023 MYgration Film Competition winners. Awards will include an Audience Choice winner, a Grand Prize, and a Student Prize. Prizes range from $200 – $1000. Before the Awards Presentation, FusionFest’s weekly talk show, Diverse Orange, will film live from the red carpet at the premiere. Tickets are available at https://www.fusionfest.org/ mygration-films-premiere

From December 2023 through August 2024 on the third Monday of each month, FusionFest will host a digital watch party featuring the films and their filmmakers. https://www. youtube.com/@FusionFestOrlando

Teachers of the Month:

Avalon Elementary:

Bonneville:

Camelot Elementary:

Castle Creek Elementary:

Columbia:

Stone Lakes: Timber Lakes:

Avalon Middle:

Timber Springs Middle: East River High School: Timber Creek High School:

Moss Park: North Lake:

Susan Cragin

Alyssa Savitz

Amanda Webb

Lisa Lewis

Joseph Zagarella

Alba Franco

Sue Carey Dean / Elana Allende

Crystal King

Shanese Hutchinson

Gary Roth

Elisha Tisdale

Cristin Witherell

Katie Rosenfarb

The Kiwanis Club of Avalon Park has resumed its school reading program on Thursday and working with 15 service leadership programs at all the local schools, in addition to having several upcoming events and projects planned for the upcoming months. Anyone interested in helping be a part of this group and servicing our community, please contact Dave Schmitt at dave.schmitt@dseorl.com. Thank you.

Growing Bolder Day presented by Senior Resource Alliance

New Community-Wide Initiative to Celebrate the Opportunity of Aging While Providing Program Awareness and Assistance for Community Senior Service Providers

Florida has the largest percentage of adults 65 and older in the nation (21%), and as the state’s senior population continues to increase, Florida’s future is linked to the health and wellbeing of its elder population.

Growing Bolder Day is a free, community-wide, intergenerational celebration of aging presented by the Senior Resource Alliance to promote the importance of active lifestyle, social engagement, purpose, creativity and regular health screenings. The event will be hosted at the Center for Health & Wellbeing in Winter Park, Fla. on Saturday, Oct. 7 during the International Council on Active Aging’s 20th anniversary of Active Aging Week (Oct. 2-8).

“Growing Bolder Day is designed to celebrate our local seniors and encourage all community members to embrace the process of aging,” said Karla Radka, president and CEO of Senior Resource Alliance. “The unprecedented age wave will continue to put increased stress on families, as well as the state and local senior service providers. To alleviate this, our goal is to raise awareness of what can be done at every age to prepare, and the resources we have available for local seniors and their families to help them age happily and healthily.”

Infused with energy, activity, education and entertainment, Growing Bolder Day is designed to appeal to all ages with interactive activities including an intergenerational Wisdom Walk, social gaming, yoga, tai chi, a Growing Bolder Film Fest, free professional portraits, Rock Stars of Aging® longevity forum, healthy nutrition demonstration, balance workshop, brain health seminar, inspiring speakers, engaging demonstrations and more.

While smashing ageist stereotypes and celebrating the nearly endless opportunities for lifelong learning, Growing Bolder Day also underscores the reality that a large and growing number of older adults in our community are struggling and the many dedicated organizations working tirelessly to meet their needs require community support.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 90% of U.S. healthcare dollars are spent treating largely preventable chronic illness and only 3% goes toward prevention. “Countless studies confirm that individuals have a large degree of control over their health and wellbeing as they age,” said Growing Bolder CEO Marc Middleton. “By our actions, we can delay and prevent many of the illnesses that older Floridians suffer from, including cancer, diabetes, cardiac disease and Alzheimer’s. Inspiring daily lifestyle choices that increase our health span is the ultimate win-win. An improved quality of life for individuals and a reduced care burden on families, state and local senior service providers.”

“The Winter Park Health Foundation is thrilled to host such an inspiring, intergenerational event at the Center for Health & Wellbeing,” said Patty Maddox, Winter Park Health Foundation President & CEO. “Our goal in the development of the Center was to promote community wellbeing and we look forward to showcasing its variety of wholeness, fitness and medical services.”

Contact Lynne Mixson

lmixson@growingbolder.com

407-404-1198

Growing Bolder Day presented by the Senior Resource Alliance

October 7, 2023 7:00am-1:00pm Center for Health & Wellbeing 2005 Mizell Ave Winter Park, FL 32792

About Senior Resource Alliance

Senior Resource Alliance (SRA) is your local resource for accessing the many services and programs of the state and federal government, available to senior citizens, their caregivers and family members. SRA also is an objective clearinghouse for information and services offered by local, state, and national organizations. We have been serving our community since 1985. https://seniorresourcealliance.org/

About Growing Bolder

Growing Bolder is an award-winning multimedia content producer and lifestyle brand. The Orlando-based company engages with over 200 million 50+ adults annually on television, radio, podcasts, magazine, and multiple digital and social media channels.

More than media, Growing Bolder is a movement, a growing community of passionate adults who are actively engaged in life, value experience, and are searching for what’s next. More at: https://growingbolder.com

About Center for Health & Wellbeing

The Center for Health & Wellbeing is a state-of-the-art community center carefully designed to offer the best health and wellness programs, empowering healthy and active lifestyles. A collaboration between the Winter Park Health Foundation and AdventHealth, CHWB supports the desire from both organizations to make a more significant, longer-lasting impact on the whole-person health of our communities. More at: https://yourhealthandwellbeing.org

About Active Aging Week 2023 - Oct. 2 – Oct. 8

Active Aging Week, started in 2003 by the International Council on Active Aging, is an annual weeklong campaign aimed at celebrating and highlighting the positive aspects of aging. The overarching goal of Active Aging Week is to challenge society’s negative perceptions of aging by demonstrating that older adults can thrive in all aspects of life. Active Aging Week seeks to provide older adults with opportunities to engage in wellness activities and exercise in a safe, supportive environment, promoting the benefits of healthy, active lifestyles throughout the lifespan. More at: https://www.activeagingweek.com/

Bowigens Pickleball Bash Raises $7,000 for the Ed Lynt Legacy Scholarship

Inaugural Bowigens Pickleball Bash Raises $7,000 for the Ed Lynt Legacy Scholarship

The Avalon Park Foundation would like to extend gratitude to all the wonderful participants, sponsors, and supporters who made the inaugural Bowigens Pickleball Bash a resounding success! This event not only celebrated the up-and-coming game of pickleball but also served a higher purpose.

Through the community’s generosity, the Foundation was able to raise over $7,000 for the Ed Lynt Legacy Scholarship. This incredible achievement will undoubtedly make a significant impact on the lives of deserving individuals pursuing their educational dreams.

We encourage you to visit our website at AvalonParkFoundation.org to relive the memorable moments from this fantastic event and stay updated on our future initiatives.

Thank you for making the Bowigens Pickleball Bash a remarkable event, and for helping us advance our mission of fostering education and community engagement.

Congratulations to the winners:

1st Place : Derek M. and Vivian Merideth

2nd Place : TJ Messineo and Martha Arcia

3rd Place : Ryan Hamley and Ed Lynt

Stronger Together: A Joint Initiative by the Rotary Club of Avalon Park and East Orange County Kiwanis Club in

honor of local First Responders on 9/11

In a world that often seems increasingly divided, the spirit of unity and community thrived in the east part of town this 9/11. Twenty-two years after a day that changed our lives, the Rotary Club of Avalon Park joined forces with the East Orange County Kiwanis Club. Together, they honored our local heroes, the first responders, through a partnered initiative on that day.

The collaborative event witnessed an overwhelming outpouring of support from the community. In a solemn act of remembrance and appreciation, over 22 volunteers worked to assemble and distribute lunches and goodie bags to four local fire rescue stations and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Subsector Station II. The Wilkins Way Home Team became the home base for a big, profound project that brought two community clubs together.

refreshing coffee and donuts, ensuring that our first responders were treated to a feast of delights. Pasquale’s at Eastwood stepped up to contribute gift cards, making the day even more special.

The event left the community with a growing sense of hope and fellowship. The Rotary Club of Avalon Park and the East Orange County Kiwanis Club plan to do this on a larger scale, hoping to include even more first responders and public safety workers in the future.

Terri Bernhardt, president of the Avalon Park Rotary Club, noted, “As a community-service-driven club, we often find ways to work with other organizations to make a bigger impact. Working with the East Orange County Kiwanis Club was an honor, and we thank them for their contribution and partnership on this joint project.” The two clubs worked hand-in-hand to ensure the success of the initiative, underlining the sentiment that we are indeed, ‘stronger together’.

Furthermore, Kiwanis Club member Stephanie Chandrasekaran said, “Stronger together was our phrase while planning this joint event. Partnering with the Rotary Club of Avalon Park went so well that we are talking about doing this each year and growing the effort to reach more first responders and public safety personnel.”

Marketplace at Avalon Park and the Avalon Park Group sponsored delightful sandwiches, adding a heartwarming touch to the day’s events. Their kindness was complemented by hand-written cards from students from Sunrise Elementary School and also from Girl Scout Troop 608. These cards were a symbol of love and appreciation, carrying heartfelt messages to the heroes who guard our community tirelessly.

The local Walmart and Dunkin Donuts generously added to the donations with snacks, fruits, and

A big thank you goes to the kind volunteers who made this event happen: Thomas Beanland, Terri Bernhardt, Barry & Joyce Borrell, Judy & David Bynum, Stephanie Chandrasekaran, Daryl Flynn, Terri Gullette, Eve Kochman, Gene Leonard, Stephanie Lerret, Gary Mayer, Derek McCracken, Sara Monk, Amber CloreMorales, Pat Nicols, Pamela Reilly, Kiwanis Regional Governor-Prairy Riehl, and William Umansky.

If you are moved by this project and want to help, please contact the Rotary Club of Avalon Park via Facebook or Instagram.

The Rotary Club of Avalon Park is one of the highly recognized clubs in the area and noted by the regional directors for outstanding leadership and innovation.

You are invited to join them each week at the Avalon Pavilion at 7:30 a.m. 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!

Complimentary refreshments and inspiring guest speakers!

Lights On For Children!

Did you know that Florida is ranked third in the nation for calls to the human trafficking hotline and Orange County ranks second in the state for child trafficking according to DCF?

These statistics are frightening but can be dramatically improved. That’s why Paving the Way Foundation is committed to disrupting the cycle of exploitation with their powerful educational programs for youth and families.

How? Glad you asked. Paving the Way Foundation is partnering up with APG and hosting a fabulous fundraising event - Lights on For Children - on November 18th to support educating more kids in Central Florida.

Our children are bombarded daily with DMs (direct messages) and pictures they did not ask for and they’ve been battling this mostly alone. Not anymore. We are here to educate and empower kids, families, educators, community leaders in ways to disrupt the cycle and invite you to stand shoulder to shoulder with us to prevent child exploitation. Paving the Way Foundation has tools and tips for parents, teachers and kids on their website to reduce fear, increase awareness and teach kids to stand up against predators.

Lights On For Children is Paving the Way Foundation’s annual awareness campaign in advance of World Children’s Day in November to shine a light in the darkness, ending child trafficking with help from the community and sponsors.

The Lights On For Children Fundraiser will take place on November 18, 2023, and there are opportunities for the entire community to participate. Throughout the month of November, the Avalon Park Arts and Cultural Center will display poster art crafted by children inspired from the highly engaging educational programs provided by Paving the Way Foundation.

Additionally, community members and businesses alike can participate by purchasing blue light bulbs and Lights on For Children yard signs to raise awareness about child trafficking right here in Central Florida and let kids know they are not alone in the battle anymore. Plus, don’t forget to join us at the Avalon Park

Fountain at dusk on November 18th as the fountain turns blue for our children.

About Paving the Way Foundation: Founded in 2016, Paving the Way Foundation is a non-profit organization that aims to disrupt the cycle of child trafficking and exploitation in Central Florida and beyond. Paving the Way is driven by three principles: Educate. Empower. Prevent. The organization educates about human trafficking and grooming tactics, empowers children to act and be safe, and prevents them from being lured into the silent crime of human trafficking. The organization has educated over 29,000 children, parents, teachers, and community leaders plus provides a Parent Tool Kit on how to communicate this valuable information to children. Visit https://www.pavingthewayfoundation.org/ programs.html for more information.