KEEPING THE NEWS LOCAL & THE COMMUNITY CONNECTED.
SEPTEMBER 2021
LIVE
Fall Events in Avalon Park Wesley Chapel!
Artist Receptions, Spooktacular, Movie Under the Starz, Jazz Under the Stars PAGE 2
LEARN
PAGE 7
WORK
PAGE 11
PLAY
PAGE 15
COMMUNITY UPDATES
VOLUME 2 EDITION 9
friends and family during Avalon Park residents are our monthly Jazz Under also encouraged to show- the Starz event hosted case their Spooky side all by Coffee Speaks N Tea month by participating Talks. Every 3rd Saturin the Porch Decorating Celebrate the fall season day of the month, bring with a variety of fun and Contest. out your lawn chairs, sit family-friendly events back, relax, and enjoy the Support talented local art- sounds of wonderful muin Avalon Park Wesists, Pete Colangelo and ley Chapel. Kicking off sic. Ed Perez during their galthe fall activities is our monthly Movie Under the lery exhibits throughout As always there are opthe months of September, portunities for the comStars event, taking place October, and November. munity to participate the second Friday of evPete’s fascinating exhibit with a community perforery month at sundown. of his Pen & Ink works Join us for this month’s mance by filling out the will begin on Monday, featured movie, RataPerformance Request, set touille on Friday, Septem- September 13th followed up a Vendors Booth or by an Artist Reception on even showcase your busiber 10th. Friday, October 1st. Ed’s ness with a sponsorship. stunning art featuring Get the whole family his abstract expressiontogether for a Spooky For more information on night of costume parades, ist paintings will be on this and other Avalon display starting Monday, Park Events visit Avalonhaunted houses, music, November 1st. food and much more at ParkWesleyChapel.com our annual Spooktacular or call 813-783-1515. Finally, enjoy a sweet celebration on Saturday, night of smooth jazz with October 23rd, 5-8 pm.
LIVE ORLANDO
Coffee Hour with BEAT
Companionship within a community is an essential ingredient for successful aging. For me Encore, Avalon Park’s assisted living and memory care community was one of the most important institutions we built in the Avalon Park Orlando Community. At times I have even called Encore the “Town Hall” of Avalon Park. When planning Encore more than a decade ago, we visited many assisted living communities. While we learned a lot, I found that one thing seemed to be missing, that was at the forefront of Encore’s design: community involvement. Even the most expensive assisted living communities cannot compare if they lack the integral component of being part of a community and that community being actively involved. It has always been my vision to constantly evaluate and improve the services and care we provide at Encore. With that in mind, shortly after we opened Encore in 2015, we invited a top executive of a well-known senior care company to visit and give us his opinion on our building, care and programming. I was pleased when he announced that he was impressed with the
management, care, food, layout of the rooms, etc. But then he said one thing that still sticks with me to this day, “I am not sure if you can succeed with Encore at this location, it is surrounded by young families.” He continued, “When our company plans new facilities, we look for an older demographic and you do not have that.” As a long-time entrepreneur I am used to fixing problems, and anything I could change, but of course not the location of Encore. And with full conviction, I did not want to. I continued to believe that the location of Encore was a strength and not a weakness as indicated by the industry-leader.
When it came to the design of the Encore building it was important to our entire team to include a space where people could gather. After all, when you gather you begin to feel like you belong, and that is where the foundation for a healthy community begins. That space was named, Carnegie Hall, and from the onset it was designed to serve as a meeting room and event space where families, neighbors and friends could meet and interact. And while this was a costly component to the building and very unique to a senior living community, we felt it imperative that this feature should not be “value engineered” out of the building. Value is measure more than just financially. We know that to provide a high value to our residents and the community at large, this space would be important and could serve as a heart of the community. I believe that we were right, and I still think of Encore as the “Town Hall” of Avalon Park.
Everyday community organizations such as the American Legion, Jet Setters, Rotary Club of Avalon Park, Boy Scouts, and public-school groups, just to name a few, use Carnegie Hall as meeting and event space. By doing so they not only meet our residents, but they interact and form relationships. It is such a joy to see young and old meeting and sharing life experience. Even when our building had visitation restrictions for health and safety throughout the COVID pandemic, these organizations still found a way through technology and other creative means to interact with the residents. It is our vision to replicate the synergies of a community for all ages in Avalon Park Wesley Chapel. I always wondered why one would not want to have their mom or grandfather close to them. With today’s urban sprawl, families are often hours apart from each other, but this is not the case in Avalon Park. Families have options for all ages to live a full and abundant life in the same community, all while being close to each other. You can live with your family and if a family member who needs as-
sistance to live a full life, they have options just a few blocks away! We have daughters and sons who live in Avalon Park and have loved ones at Encore and visit them every day. Grandkids who go to school in Avalon are just a stroll away from there great grandfather. By and large most Encore residents have strong ties to Avalon Park, either having lived themselves in the community or by moving to Encore to live closer to loved ones. That was the vision, and it was fulfilled in Orlando and we hope to soon see if fulfilled in Wesley Chapel. I continue to believe that one of the most important elements in a healthy town is that it is open to all ages. As I mentioned before we are always looking at ways to improve our care and programming and even as I write this, we are working on initiatives to provide a broader spectrum of care to an even wider population of all ages, who need daily care as a part of a community. I firmly believe that like Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, like Encore and our Orlando community, will as well become a complete community for people of all ages. Stay Tuned!
GET IN TOUCH - Have an inclusion for the Avalon Park Sun? Email: info@AvalonParkSun.com - Editorial Staff: Publisher: Beat Kahli Content Editor: Marielle Fernandez and Stephanie Lerret Graphic & Layout Editor: Kenzie Farrish 407.658.6565 3801 Avalon Park East Blvd. #400 Orlando, FL 32828
LIVE (Cont.)
September Update from Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore I hope you had a wonderful summer and August! As always, thank you for taking the time to read this column every month, I greatly appreciate your time and interest in what is happening in Pasco County.
clonal antibody therapy treatment site in Pasco County. Governor DeSantis visited in August to announce the new state-run treatment site at Fasano Shelter in Hudson. This COVID-19 treatment site is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The new recreation center at Wesley Chapel District Park is almost ready to open! Crews Vaccine rollout is conare putting some final tinuing with all Floridians of age now eligible touches on the facility and you can look forto receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Please check out ward to a community the Florida Department grand opening event of Health in Pasco Coun- soon. The recreation center is 18,000 square ty’s website at pasco. floridahealth.gov for all feet and will feature indoor courts and space the latest information. for community groups to meet. This is another There is also a monogreat asset for the Wes-
ley Chapel community and all of Pasco County! I am proud to share some more exciting news from Pasco tourism efforts. From January to June 2021, the hotel occupancy rate in Pasco County exceeded the rate in Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, and the entire state of Florida. This was not an accident and is a credit to the great work of the Florida’s Sports Coast team and their work to bring tournaments and events to Pasco County.
in September.
During August, Pasco County Public Transportation announced they are rebranding as GoPasco. The new logo will be on buses and other transit vehicles starting
About: Commissioner Mike Moore represents District 2 on the Pasco County Commission. He lives in Wesley Chapel with his wife and three children.
Please check out Pasco County’s website at MyPasco.net for all the latest information. Remember, and we will continue to get through this by working together!
LIVE (Cont.)
LEARN ORLANDO
New River Elementary Update
New River Elementary staff excitedly welcomed back students on August 10th. We are looking forward to a great year of learning and growing! Our theme this year is “Our Future is Limitless” and we are all eager to see our students reach new goals. This year we became a Fine Arts Integration School and will begin implementing Fine Arts Academies later this fall. During Academy time students will be able to engage in unique and fun learning experiences such as vocal performance, theatre, photography, animation, dance, gymnastics, engineering and more. Please be on the lookout for dates and times for our virtual open house to meet with your child’s teacher and hear more about what students are learning each day. Thank you for your support!
Pinecrest Wesley Chapel Update During Art class with Mrs. Travis, students worked to create this amazing puzzle masterpiece. Amazing job Panthers!
I will begin to welcome school-wide volunteers September 1st in classrooms. At this time, I am in need of volunteers at the carline during arrival and dismissal. Please see the details below. If you are able to volunteer at any of the times below, please email Mrs. Todd DIRECTLY (mtodd@ pinecrestwesleychapel.com). YOU MUST EMAIL HER BEFORE VOLUNTEERING FOR THE CARLINE. Morning Volunteers, 7:30-8:45 AM: -Please arrive to school by 7:30 AM and park in the parking lot. -Sign in with Mrs. Soto in the Front Office to get your volunteer badge. -Volunteers will need to be at their posts by 7:45 AM. Afternoon Volunteers, 2:45-4:00 PM: -Please arrive to school and park in the parking lot by 2:45 PM. -Sign in with Mrs. Soto in the Front Office to get your volunteer badge. -Volunteers will need to be at their posts by 2:55 PM.
LEARN (Cont.)
click here to check out all of our upcoming events & don’t forget to sign up for our reading challenge below!
WORK ORLANDO
PLAY ORLANDO
PLAY
(Cont.)
Coming together to create a healthy community
An East Orlando Health Alliance
ORLANDO
Nationally recognized expertise dedicated to the whole you 5-Star Rating in Overall Hospital Quality
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
At AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, we’re unwavering in our commitment to provide you with the safe, quality care you deserve. And that dedication has earned us a 5-star rating – the highest score possible – from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings. From safety of care to outcomes, you can feel confident we always put you, and your safety, first.
Learn more at AdventHealthWesleyChapel.com
687195200
LIVE WELL (Cont.)
Know Where to Go for Kids’ Health Needs From a minor boo-boo to a more serious fall, kids’ accidents can happen any time. As a parent, you want to know exactly what to do to get your child feeling happy, healthy and whole again. No family plans to have an emergency, but you can prepare by making sure you have easy access to the resources you need, close to home. Our care network offers state-of-the-art, child-friendly emergency pediatric care in convenient deeper level and, in generlocations across Central al, we do have better toys.” Florida. Dr. Kellock, Medical Director of our pediatric urgent and emergency care departments, says “The big difference between a pediatric emergency department and a general emergency department is in the type of staff and services they provide. When a child is truly in distress, any emergency department is a good idea. But in a pediatric emergency department, we have specific services created just for your children.” Our physicians are board-certified in pediatrics and our nurses specialize in taking care of children. Dr. Kellock explains, “We’re able to understand child-specific issues at a
ER, Urgent Care or Virtual Visit For a quick reference, check out the chart below to know when to go to the ER , urgent care or a virtual visit through the AdventHealth app . If your child is experiencing a true medical emergency, please dial 911 immediately. Dedicated Emergency Care Created Just for Kids Our convenient network of care has nearly 20 locations staffed with pediatric-certified nurses and doctors ready to assist you, 24 hours a day. To locate an
Virtual Visits From Anywhere For the treatment of minor illnesses, consider a virtual visit from one of our trained pediatric medical providers through the AdventHealth app, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
emergency room near you, visit AdventHealthforChildren.com/ER.
Urgent Care Just for Kids When the situation doesn’t call for an emergency room visit, consider Centra Care for non-life-threatening pediatric medical needs. You have access to AdventHealth’s 30 convenient Centra Care locations throughout Central Florida. Centra Care locations are staffed with adult and pediatric-trained physicians that are accessible when you need us — seven days a week — with some centers open until midnight. Find the location nearest you or make an online reservation at CentraCareKids.org.
From the comfort of home (or anywhere), you can have a doctor’s appointment with a provider via secure video chat on your smartphone or tablet. Afterward, your doctor can send a prescription to your preferred pharmacy where you can pick it up at your convenience. You can download the AdventHealth app on the Apple App Store or Google Play to get started. Find a Pediatrician For routine pediatric care, you can select from our network of board-certified pediatricians in Central Florida. Find the right pediatrician for your child by visiting AdventHealthforChildren.com/PrimaryCare or call Call407-303KIDS.
LIVE WELL (Cont.)
COMMUNITY CORNER ORLANDO
valon pplauds
Boy Scouts of America If you know a student or nonprofit deserving of recognition, please email your nominee suggestion to kcarmack@lakerlutznews.com.
Clarissa Castillo
PROFILED NOMINEES RECEIVE A $50 GIFT CARD FROM A LOCAL BUSINESS.
CONGRATULATIONS to Boy Scouts of America, for being applauded by Avalon Park Wesley Chapel. Founded in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is an international youth program that focuses on character development and values-based leadership training that is meant to prepare both young men and women for life. Clarissa Castillo, the Suncoast District executive for the BSA since 2019, says the local western Florida council participates in many service projects in the area that helps give its young members a sense of community. These projects include community cleanups, food drives and much more. “It’s quite impactful that everything that we’re doing for our community goes back into it,” says Castillo, “We help our community, which helps others around us... I feel like it's more along the lines of the ripple effect.” Castillo’s main duties include recruitment, scouting and forming the committees that help run and maintain each district. She also helps bring awareness to Friends of Scouting, which is an annual giving campaign that raises money for scouting programs across the nation. According to Friends of Scouting’s website, it costs $240 to provide one year of quality program for each scout. This investment helps with camp scholarships, uniforms, registration fees, professional staff, and so much more. “We talk to the local community about who and what we are, and a lot of that helps us continue to push forward the
scouting program. It helps us keep our five camps in the area regulated and maintained,” says Castillo. According to Castillo, not only does the BSA teach young scouts confidence and leadership skills, but it also helps them get into colleges and get jobs when they are older. “We help develop our scouts into the leaders of tomorrow,” says Castillo, “Because of all the volunteer experience and life skills learned from BSA, our scouts will certainly impress their future employers.” Members who participate in BSA walk away with various skills and lasting memories, so much so that a lot of alumni come back to the program and volunteer in hopes to impact the current generation of scouts, Castillo adds. To find a local unit near you, visit BeAScout.org. If you would like to contribute to support the Boy Scouts of America, Greater Tampa Bay Area Council, follow the link, tinyurl.com/4w7v6tws, and select “Suncoast” as the district. You also can find a list of upcoming events on the website.
WESLEY CHAPEL
LIVE
LEARN
WORK
P L AY
33613 state road 54. • wesley chapel • (813) 783-1515
