Central Florida Lifestyle October 2022 Altamonte Springs

Your partner to a lifetime of health. Begin your relationship with a primary care doctor at Orlando Health Physician Associates, getting wellness exams and up-to-date immunizations. Orlando Health offers online scheduling, virtual visits and next-day appointments at over 50 locations across Central Florida. Giving you more reasons to choose well. OrlandoHealth.com/Checkup

be present. choose well.

October!

Besides being an amazing month to be a resident of Central Florida (picture perfect weather and fall festivals galore) it is also Central Florida Lifestyle’s birthday month! This year is particularly special as we celebrate 20 years, that is 240 months of hav ing the opportunity to come into your home and highlight the amazing people and businesses mak ing a difference throughout Central Florida.

In this issue we are once again honored to high light some incredibly brave women, share a bit of Halloween fun and introduce you to this year’s 2022 Cutest Toddler Winners!

As we start our next chapter, there is absolutely no way we could be celebrating 20 years without the support of our advertisers! This issue is dedicated to you all!

Sincerely, Kristi K. Gomen Publisher

Proud Member of:

the publishers nor advertisers will be held responsible for any errors found herein, and the publishers accept no liability for the accuracy of statements made by advertisers in ads and/or in paid promotional features. October 2022.

Contents|October 2022

Departments

6 EXPERT ADVICE BANKING How You Can Reach Your Financial Goals by Planning and Budgeting

8 EXPERT ADVICE LAW Falling in Front of People May be More Than Just Embarrassing, it Could be Helpful.

10 YOU ASKED, WE ANSWERED Understanding Why You Need a Health Care Directive

12 CREATIVE CORNER Creating The Perfect Halloween Look at Goodwill

14 TALK OF THE TOWN Conversations for Your Community

32 HOW YOU CAN HELP Hope Gala to Benefit Those Experiencing Homelessness and Poverty

Features

16 THE WOMAN NEXT DOOR IS A SURVIVOR

In partnership with AdventHealth for Women, we’re recognizing some of the women in our community who are survivors of breast cancer, who have had a recurrence, or who are currently undergoing treatment.

26 MEET NEW YMCA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SONYA CRIDER

As the new Leonard & Marjorie Williams Family YMCA comes to life, learn more about Sonya “Coach” Crider who will serve as Executive Director.

28 2022 CUTEST TODDLER CONTEST

Get to know the adorable winners of the 2022 Cutest Toddler Contest, sponsored by AdventHealth for Children.

36 HEALTH & WELLNESS GUIDE

Your guide to a healthier and more mindful lifestyle with an inside look at some of the area’s top medical professionals.

34 HOW YOU CAN HELP Harvesting Hope at the Harvest of Hope Garden Party

42 HEALTH AND WELLNESS 4 Ways to Immediately Take Charge of Your Health

44 YOUR LOCAL Fostering a Healthy Lifestyle, Mind and Body

46 YOUR LOCAL The “Medical City” Continues to Focus on Health and Wellness

48 WINE AND SPIRITS Spooktacular Cocktails for a BOO-zy Good Time

50 CALENDAR

Web Life

Go to CentralFloridaLifestyle.com to see what’s happening near you!

How You Can Reach Your Financial Goals by Planning and Budgeting

With just a few months left in 2022, now is a great time to examine your budget and investments

By Patrick LaPorta

Fall is in the air, summer vaca tion is a distant memory, the kids are back at school, and you might even be looking ahead to the holiday season. With only a few months left in the year, the autumn months are a great time for a finan cial checkup to see if you’re on track to meet your personal finance goals.

While 2022 has been volatile for the financial markets, interest rates are climbing, and inflation is taking its toll – I always advise investors to look beyond the headlines and trust that time is on your side, and it will help you weather the storm. If you’re new to investing, don’t be deterred by these turbulent times. When it comes to financial planning and in vesting, it’s best to start as soon as you can. Time is your greatest asset because it allows you to persevere through volatile market conditions.

There are a lot of mis conceptions when it comes to financial planning. Sometimes people think that they

need to make a lot of money to work with a financial planner, or they’re too young to start saving for retire ment. The reality is that it’s never too early to start, and the sooner you do, the better off you’ll be. When you work with Trustco Bank to plan for your future, we understand that everyone’s situation is different and that reaching your financial goals is important to you. Rest assured, it’s a priority for us too.

We value everyone’s unique po sition. If you’re already an investor, you know that this year is presenting opportunities amid volatility. Your team at Trustco can help you iden tify strong buying opportunities if you have longer to invest. If you’re planning to retire in the next decade, now is the time to get the guidance to make sure you have an appropri ate amount of cash available to take care of your expenses while ensuring that your investments remain strong. And if you’re an adult early in your career, you might be interested in

learning how you can manage stu dent loan debt while saving for a home purchase – we can help with that too.

With Trustco, you benefit from working with an experienced team that approaches all our clientele with the same level of care – whether you have a modest savings account or you’re a multimillionaire. Our team wants to understand your goals, your tolerance for risk and volatil ity, whether you’re planning to make any major purchases and how much cash you need available. With this information, we’ll design a plan that’s tailored to you, your lifestyle, and your financial goals.

Patrick LaPorta has been with Trustco Bank for over 22 years. He is the bank’s Chief Trust Officer, and he is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Trustco’s Financial Services Department. He has over 30 years of experience handling estates, trusts and estate planning as an attorney. Trustco Bank operates 147 branches in total, 53 located within the state of Florida, 39 of which are in Central Florida. To learn more visit www.TrustcoBank.com or call 407-794-1441.

Falling in Front of People May be More Than Just Embarrassing, it Could be Helpful

By Michael B. Brehne, Law Offices of Michael B. Brehne, P.A

What is worse, falling when nobody sees you or falling when people do see you?

For those of you who believe that fall ing when people see you is worse, you might be wrong. When you fall, you will suffer the same injury whether somebody sees you or not. So having witnesses can be very useful if you hurt yourself because of the negligence of another person or company.

Slip and fall accidents are less common than motor vehicle ac cidents but can cause just as much damage or worse. When you are in jured on somebody else’s property or place of business, the landowner may be liable for your injury if they cre ated the condition that caused you to fall.

For example, if a waitress spills a glass of water and fails to clean it up right away or fails to put warnings around the spilled water and you en counter it, fall and get hurt, the res taurant would be liable for your dam ages. This is because a landowner has a duty to inspect and maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condi tion.

At our office, we have represent ed hundreds of people injured in slip and fall accidents. The absolute first question that must be answered for us to pursue a case would be, “What made you fall”? If a client cannot

state with certainty what caused them to fall i.e., water on the floor, salad dressing on the supermarket floor, a raised or uneven surface, then we would not be able to represent them.

Once we determine what caused the fall, we must now investigate how long that condition has existed. If the condition (like a spill) was cre ated by a third party (like a shopper or patron of a restaurant) moments before the client encountered it, most likely the landowner will not be re sponsible. The law requires that the landowner be put on notice of the dangerous condition (assuming they did not create it) before they can be held responsible. Evidence is required to substantiate how long the condi tion existed.

The best evidence would be a witness! If somebody saw you fall in an area that they have recently been, they might be the best person to state whether the condition existed before you encountered it and possibly for how long. If an employee of a busi ness witnesses your fall, they might be required to fill out a witness state ment. That would be a good memo rialization of where and how the fall occurred.

Photographs are also excellent examples of evidence necessary to support your claim. If you cannot take photographs of the condition

that caused your fall, oftentimes other witnesses will. Not only can the photographs demonstrate where the dangerous condition was located, but it also might provide evidence of how long the condition existed. This could be the evidence you need to show that the business knew or should have known about the condi tion.

So, if you are going to fall, it just might be best to fall in front of other people. Who knows, they might even catch you!

Understanding Why You Need a Health Care Directive

By Kristen Jackson, Jackson Law P.A.

Q:

How on earth can doctors, hospitals or any medical facility allow someone to die if the medical experts at the facility believe a procedure may save the person’s life?

It happened to my aunt because I had no authorization to make med ical decisions for her. The hospital’s legal staff explained that “may save a life” is speculative, without guar antee, and not a risk a hospital or a doctor can take without direction from someone given legal authority to do so by my aunt. With a Health Care Directive, an immediate deci sion could have occurred.

My aunt arrived at the hospital by helicopter following an aortic an eurysm while grocery shopping in Cross City, Florida. I arrived almost 90 minutes later because the hospi tal that specialized in her condition was almost 45 miles away from my home. Being the closest relative at the time of the incident I was con cerned that if any medical decisions were required, I needed to arrive as soon as possible. Upon my ar rival, the doctor said that my aunt’s

condition was dire because of her diabetic condition and swelling in her left leg. He said it “may save her life” if amputation above the knee was performed immediately. Otherwise, he said she might die momentarily. Without any hesita tion I informed the doctor to pro ceed with the amputation. That was just the beginning of my nightmare.

The doctor asked if I was my aunt’s health care surrogate, meaning, did I have the authority in writing to make health care de cisions on my aunt’s behalf? I said, ‘I don't even know what a health care surrogate is.’ The doctor ex plained. He said it is a document known as a Health Care Directive that authorizes someone, known as a surrogate or proxy, to make health care decisions on behalf of another, should such person be incapacitat ed and unable to make decisions for

themselves. He further explained that without such written author ity, neither he nor the hospital staff could make decisions that might re sult in legal liability against them. I panicked.

My aunt’s closest relative, who may have such a health care docu ment, was her daughter, my cousin, with whom my aunt lived in Lara mie, Wyoming. Of course, I called my cousin right away only to discov er that she too was unaware of the term health care surrogate. I asked the doctor that upon the approval from her daughter, could I make the decision needed to save my aunt’s life. He said he would need approval from the medical facilities legal ad visory board before any amputa tion could be performed. Sadly, my aunt died before any decision could be made.

A:Even though Florida law entitles persons closest to an incapacitated person requiring immediate medical decisions to save their life, without a Health Care Directive, hospitals, doctors or any medical facility are within their legal right not to provide care to avoid personal liability or malpractice. If you or someone you love have no Health Care Directives, contact an estate planning lawyer today.

Kristen Jackson is the founding partner of Jackson Law P.A. (407-363-9020). She is experienced in estate planning, real estate law, business and contract law. Her firm has earned an AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell signifying the highest level of professional excellence as obtained through opinions from members of the bar and judiciary. For more information, visit www.JacksonFloridaRealtor.com

Creating the Perfect Halloween Look at Goodwill

Halloween season is upon us and that means it’s time to dress up. Today, more and more people are choosing to embrace DIY costumes. A survey conducted by LoveCrafts.com in 2020 polled 1,500 Americans and found that 65% preferred making a costume to buy ing a pre-packaged ensemble at a big box store. Making a costume is a good way to have fun and put your creative skills to the test. There’s no time like the present to get started and Good will has you covered!

Halloween is Goodwill’s biggest season. This year people have visited Goodwill as early as August to find the perfect pieces for their costumes. Marketing Specialist Desi Pappas says that in keeping up with the trends, the team at Goodwill has really embraced a culture of DIY costumes.

“One of the ways we do that in our stores is by having costume coor dinators in each of the store locations. Coordinators can help people shop for the items that they need or the costumes that they want to create,” Pappas says.

If you need more assistance, Goodwill has created a Halloween look book available online and in Central Florida stores. The look book features Halloween costumes that you can create from items in store. There’s also a supplemental page for each cos tume that shows all the pieces needed to complete a desired look.

Whatever your desired look might be, a DIY costume from Good will can save you between 20-50% compared to finding one at a big box store. You will also avoid matching ev eryone else at your Halloween festivi ties. Bonus: Help support Goodwill’s mission of building lives that work with your purchase.

According to Kim Praniewicz, Vice President of Marketing and Mis sion Advancement, more than 90% of revenue goes directly to mission services like job placement programs, job skills training, vocational reha bilitation and more. “We employ over 1300 people within 6 counties here in Central Florida and provide prosper ity planning for all our employees and community members.”

Additionally, when you shop or donate to Goodwill you help reduce landfill waste. “Just last year alone we kept 18.9 million pounds out of local landfills and we’re on track to do more than 20 million pounds this year, so that’s another benefit of our mission to build lives that work,” Praniewicz says.

So, remember, Goodwill has you covered. You can enjoy shopping for your Halloween costume all while giv ing back to your community.

To learn more about how you can create your perfect costume this spooky season, visit Goodwillcfl. org. You can also visit one of the 30 retail stores across Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Brevard and Volusia counties.

Your Community Conversations for

By Rich Maladecki

From Halloween and Oktoberfest celebrations to health and wellness observances, there is much to keep up with and plan for in the month of October. Here’s what you need to know.

Did you know that the month of October is Breast Cancer Aware ness Month? This is an annual ef fort to increase awareness of the impact of the disease. Question: is it time for a screening?

It seems that everyone in Central Florida is discussing and/or playing the sport of PickleBall. As our regional temperatures start to ease, you may want to research the game of PickleBall and discover opportunities for lessons and host locations near your home. This is an easy and enjoyable form of exercise.

Looking for a new weight loss or weight management strat egy? An effort that is currently circulating is the Intermediate Fasting Program. This concept focuses on the topic of “when you eat”, not what you eat. Please research this program to find the pros and cons relating to your lifestyle.

Cycle Mt. Dora is occurring Sept.30-Oct.2! Several biking activities are scheduled for both the beginner and seasoned bicyclist. Please review the web site for additional information. https://runsignup.com/Race/FL/ MountDora/CycleMountDora (Note: several Florida towns feature cycling events during the next 3-4 months).

It’s time to finalize plans for Halloween - to include costumes, pumpkins, candy, school activities, decorations, and gatherings. As we have witnessed over the past few years, Halloween has emerged as one of America’s favorite holidays.

Oktoberfest is here!!! Central Florida features several events and venues that capture the spirit of this traditional German October season. For a change of pace, take this challenge and participate in one of these funfilled activities.

As the month of October will inevitably come to an end, it may be appropriate to start finalizing November and December holiday and/or travel plans with your family and friends. As you know, this 60-day period is always hectic, so plan now for a season of joy and comfort.

The Woman Next Door is a Survivor

By Tarre Beach

This month, in partnership with AdventHealth for Women, we’re recognizing some of the women in our community who are survivors of breast cancer, who have had a recurrence, or who are currently going through treatment. To us, all of these women are survivors in their own right. It is the hope of these women that by telling their stories they inspire and educate other women who are facing a breast cancer diagnosis.

Putting YourHealth First

Jana Sutter

Dr. Phillips

iHear tRadio, Magic 107.7 and XL 106.7 radio host Jana Sutter says just like a lot of women, she often puts others’ needs, espe cially her daughters, before her own.

Because her mother was a breast cancer survivor, Jana had annual mammograms pretty early on. Then the pandemic hit and Jana’s annual mammogram got pushed back by six months. When she finally had her ap pointment she was expecting to be told ev erything was fine. When she didn’t get that message, she says everything just stopped. “The biopsy came back. It was stage 1 breast cancer. That was something I wasn’t prepared for.”

Although it was scary, Jana feels infinitely lucky she caught it early. She says she got a lot of support from her mom. “My mom’s form of breast cancer may have been differ ent than mine, but she had walked down a lot of the same streets I was going to have to walk down. I leaned on her and my core group friends. I needed it.”

For the last 12 years Jana has partnered with AdventHealth to encourage women to get regular mammograms on her radio programs, social media and events. She also reminds women to make sure that they are taking care of themselves as much as they are taking care of everyone else. “I have to remember that too. I do a pretty good job of it, but I think as women we just go into caretaker mode and can put our own needs on the backburner. I won’t do that anymore,” Jana says.

Having just finished her treatment this summer, Jana says facing her own mortality has given her a new outlook on life. “I’m living a life less filtered. I want to be an example for my daughter and other women about living honestly. Don’t wait to say what you mean or do what you want. Now is the time. Make yourself, your health and your joy the priority.”

Two Time Survivor

Karen Moore Ocoee

In 1992, Karen Moore was 29 and newly mar ried to her husband Richard when she found a lump in her breast. A biopsy found it was benign. She had surgery and felt like everything was fine. A few months later, she found another lump and this time it was positive for cancer. She had an other surgery and started radiation and chemo shortly after.

In the midst of treatment, she and Richard went on vacation. When Karen returned from vacation, she thought she might have caught a stomach bug because she didn’t feel well. She went to her doctor for a follow-up and found out she was pregnant.

In 1994, Karen gave birth to a healthy baby girl and shortly after was given a clean bill of health. As recommended, Karen returned for regular mammograms and checkups and for the last 30 years, Karen has remained cancer free.

Earlier this year Karen’s doctor found a nodule growing in her breast. A biopsy determined it was cancer. This time around, Karen has decided to take a more aggressive approach for peace of mind. “Finding something, getting a biopsy, hav ing surgery, going through treatment and wait ing between each step is a lot of worry to have on your mind. I just feel so much better doing it this way.”

Karen knows that there is no guarantee that the cancer won’t come back, but given that she fought cancer before and won, she’s determined to tackle her latest diagnosis aggressively. She says comparing how she feels now to how she felt 30 years ago, she feels even stronger and sure that she wants to live life and not sit back and let it pass her by.

One of the first things Karen wants to do once she recovers is travel. She’s hoping to visit the continent of Africa and go to Morocco with her husband Richard and her family.

“I believe God is using me to be a testimony of his strength. I think I’m ready for the next part of my journey.”

Team Support

Katharine Brice Lake Buena Vista

One of the first things Katharine “Kathy” Brice talks about when sharing her breast cancer survivor journey is how great her team is. There’s Dr. Amber Orman, her ra diation oncologist; Dr. Roxanne Sylora, her reconstruction surgeon; Dr. Lisa Minton, her breast surgery specialist; Dr. Adnan Akhtar, her medical oncologist.

“I feel like I need to name them all because they saved my life. I truly believe I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for their awesome medi cal skills and compassionate care,” she says. Kathy admits she was scared when she first heard the word cancer. She was diagnosed in 2019 after finding a lump about the size of a pecan in her left breast. “It was the fear of the unknown. It was the fear of what comes next,” she says.

Now, three years and many treatments later, Kathy admits she hasn’t been able to overcome all her fear, but says she has long periods when she’s not afraid.

A few things Kathy has found most helpful has been her daughters Cailyn and Amanda, amazing friends, the unconditional love and companionship of her Norwegian elkhound puppy named Stitch, and the music and art therapy program at AdventHealth.

The therapy programs are funded by private donors and use a variety of creative techniques to address the different needs of those receiving cancer treatments, their care givers and survivors.

Kathy happily notes another name to add to her team: music therapist Amelia Lane, who would sing and play guitar at the infu sion center Kathy went to. “It was so relaxing,” Kathy says. “I still like to attend music thera py, although on Zoom for now. For the hour that I’m there I feel like I’m able to forget all the negative things in my life and feel some peace.”

Pretty Beyond Pink

Dr. Meadow Maze Good is an ob/gyn and urogynecologist, who specializes in pelvic floor reconstructive surgery. When she was ready for a family, Meadow and her husband needed infertility treatments. Thankfully, Meadow was able to give birth to two healthy babies three years apart—a boy and a girl with the help of Invitro Fertilization (IVF). When pregnant with her second child, Meadow felt a mass in her breast but was told it was normal with younger women with dense breasts. “It’s amazing how even as a physician something that was abnormal was normalized,” Meadow says.

When her youngest child was nine months old, Meadow got very sick and was rushed to surgery with a ruptured appendix. After she was discharged from the hospital, Meadow finally or dered a mammogram for herself. Within hours, she had a scan, report, biopsy and diagnosis: ad vanced breast cancer.

Meadow had a long road ahead. She under went chemotherapy and was bald for her baby’s first birthday. After a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery, Meadow developed a deadly infection and had to have her implants removed. Radiation followed, resulting in scar ring and lymphedema, swelling in both arms and chest. Meadow had loved her career, but was not able to resume performing surgery.

Along her cancer journey Meadow found her new calling. She became a certified patient experience professional, and now advocates for the patients at Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies as the Physician Advisor. “I love being able to bring my unique experi ence as both a doctor and a patient to my work,” Meadow says.

Meadow has also shared her story publicly via social media posts. Her Instagram page “Pretty Beyond Pink” focuses on inclusive fashion. To day, she doesn’t wear prosthetics and feels a sense of freedom in her new shape. “I want to help other individuals who have suffered from body trauma from breast cancer or any other ex perience. I want them to know that even as their bodies may be different, they can still look and feel beautiful,” Meadow says. She lives as though every day is a gift and a chance to help others advocate for themselves.

Meadow Maze Good Maitland

You Don’t Have to Do It Alone

Lyn Berelsman Kissimmee/Celebration

Longtime community volunteer Lyn Ber elsman was 47 when she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer after a routine mammo gram. During her treatment she learned two things: that she was glad she accepted help from others, and as a result, she discovered that she was stronger than she knew.

Lyn reminds other women going through breast cancer that they don’t have to do it alone. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help or accept assistance from others. Family and friends are looking for ways to show that they care, so let them be there for you,” Lyn says.

Lyn discovered that taking a friend or fam ily member with you to appointments was in credibly useful. “Especially when you’re newly diagnosed, you probably aren’t going to be able to retain all that information,” Lyn says “Bring your spouse, a family member or friend to act as a second pair of ears. It’s so easy to forget what your doctor tells you when you are dealing with the emotions of your diagno sis.”

Lyn was apprehensive before her first treat ment but found the nurses and oncologists were so competent, caring and friendly that she soon forgot her fears. She also started to make friends with other people getting treat ments at the same time. “We would share sto ries with one another and even a few jokes. I felt like we were on the journey together.”

Lyn also suggests that other breast can cer patients make good use of the resources that their medical team provides. Patients at AdventHealth Cancer Institute Celebration can access services offered by experienced staff. Lyn says, along with support from family and friends, a good attitude and determina tion were key to helping her during her cancer journey.

AdventHealth Cancer Survivor

Awareness Advocate

Juliet Milligan College Park

At 75 years young, Juliet “Julie” Milligan is excited to have the opportunity to advocate for other women. “When I got diagnosed it was a wakeup call to make my life more meaningful,” Julie says.

After successfully completing breast can cer treatment, which Julie described as “hell ishly unpleasant,” she continued having regu lar breast cancer screenings and went on with her life. Then she found a lump on her side and was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. “I did not realize that having breast cancer increased my risk of getting ovarian cancer. It caught me by complete surprise. I want to make sure other women know more than I did.”

Currently, there are no routine screening tests for uterine or ovarian cancer. By the time a woman has any symptoms the cancer is often in an advanced stage. Citing the advancements in breast cancer screening, treatment and re search as a blueprint, Julie hopes to increase awareness of uterine and ovarian cancer.

Just last month Julie participated in AdventHealth Foundation’s Teal Takeover where she walked 5K every day for 30 days. Teal is the awareness ribbon color for ovarian cancer. Ju lie also helped fundraise for the Teal Magnolia Luncheon in May.

Never letting her cancer diagnosis keep her from living life to the fullest, Julie enthusi astically shares how she and her late husband George went fly fishing on six different conti nents and how she has loved getting to spend time with her three grandchildren who live in Geneva, Switzerland.

According to the American Cancer Society, ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of can cer deaths among women. “My hope is that with more awareness and research we’ll find a reliable screening test for ovarian cancer and eventually, just like breast cancer, we’ll be able to catch it earlier and have better outcomes.”

AdventHealth Cancer Survivor

Breastfeeding Through Cancer

Melissa Hilliker

Clermont

Melissa Hilliker and her husband Dana thought they had completed their family after having their two daughters: Sydney, 11, and Josie, 9. Then last year they got a sur prise—they were pregnant again.

At 36 years old, Melissa felt blessed to become a new mom again. She ate well, did CrossFit and took her prenatal vitamins. At the 20-week ultrasound for her baby, she found a suspicious lump, and shortly after, had it scanned and biopsied. A few days later the results came back. It was breast cancer.

While many women know that a family history can increase their risk of developing breast cancer themselves, Melissa, a pediatric cardiology nurse, was stunned by her diag nosis. “Not only is there no history of breast cancer in my family, but I’m also the first per son in my family to have any type of cancer,” Melissa says.

Radiation, hormone and targeted therapy are not generally advised for pregnant wom en. So, Melissa began chemotherapy dur ing her third trimester. She completed four rounds of treatment, but her tumor didn’t shrink. After discussing it with her medical team, Melissa decided she would breastfeed her new daughter Savannah with her left breast (which was unaffected) while she pre pared for surgery to remove six lymph nodes and her right breast.

“I’m just so grateful that I’ve gotten to have this precious time with my daughter,” Melissa says. In a few weeks Melissa will start hormone therapy and will have to stop breastfeeding. “It’s not how I planned it, but I praise God that I’ve gotten more time [to breastfeed] than I originally thought I would.”

Through it all Melissa says feels like there’s been overwhelming joy in her journey. In fact, her baby’s middle name is Joy. She attributes staying grounded to the support of her family, her women’s Bible study group and her faith. “I know that God can do big and bold things and that he is walking with me on this journey. I know our family is going to be OK.”

AdventHealth

Sonya Crider Meet New YMCA Executive Director

Sonya “Coach” Crider has re turned to her second home town of Orlando to serve as the Executive Director of the Leonard & Marjorie Williams Family YMCA.

Crider prides herself in leav ing a community better than how she found it, making the workplace a family environment, and bringing diversity, equity, and inclusion to the forefront.

While obtaining her Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Biological Scienc es at Northern Illinois University near her hometown of Chicago, Crider de veloped her historic collegiate career, then spent several years in Europe and South America playing professional basketball.

Following an unforeseeable medical injury that ended her basketball career, Crider made good use of her recovery time by obtaining a Master

of Science in Sport Management. Orlando provided a new start in cor porate roles with the Orlando Magic, Walt Disney World, and Universal Orlando Resorts. She also coached girls basketball with the Amateur Ath letic Union (AAU).

Crider then decided to become a full–time teacher and coach to en sure that the girls on that AAU team would be given the best opportunity for a college scholarship. Before and during the beginning of her career with the Y, Crider would also become an integral member of the Orange County Public Schools Minority Leadership Consortium, thwarting practices that would give 85% of all out-of-school suspensions and expul sions to children of color (15% of the student population).

Throughout her YMCA career, Crider has served as the Senior Pro-

gram Director of the Gateway Region YMCA (O’Fallon Park Rec Complex) in St. Louis, Mo, Executive Director of the Emerson Family YMCA in Ferguson, Mo, and Executive Direc tor of the Downtown Seattle YMCA. In each of these roles, Crider con nected with community leaders to support the Y’s mission to grow ath letic and outreach programs for local communities and guided her staff to strive to become the heartbeat of each community they served.

Crider credits her parents and grandparents for all her community involvement. When asked, she states that her greatest accomplishment is her daughter Ashley, who personifies all the better parts of her personality.

We are proud to welcome Sonya “Coach” Crider back to Central Flori da and our Y family!

Sonya Crider

As the new Leonard & Marjorie Williams Family YMCA comes to life, learn more about Sonya “Coach” Crider who will serve as Executive Director.

1st Place: Reagan and Ryleigh

Age: 4 years old

Parent Names: Ryan and Tiffany

What are some of your Cutest Toddler’s favorite things?

Reagan’s favorite lovey is Belle. She has had her since she was born and must have her to sleep. She also loves Disney and dressing up like a princess.

Ryleigh’s favorite lovey is her unicorn. She also loves to sing- hearing her make up her own songs is the best!

What is your Cutest Toddler’s most precious moment?

Reagan: We say our prayers nightly, and usually, I say them and they mimic me, but one night, Reagan said ,“mommy, I say it.” And she started to pray by herself. It was the most beautiful thing I heard her say.

Ryleigh: During the Christmas church service, we were singing “Mary Did You Know” and Ryleigh went into the aisle and started singing and dancing to the song. Everyone around us was in awe of her and it made my mama heart overflow with joy.

What is your favorite story to tell about your Cutest Toddler?

Reagan loves to dress up. She also loves to pretend to put on makeup like Mommy. One day I was at work, and she snuck into my makeup and put on makeup like I do. She came out and her daddy asked her what she did, and she responded with “I want to look like Mommy” and she had red lipstick all over her lips.

Ryleigh is our firecracker. She is strong willed and very independent. But she is also so sweet and loving. My favorite story of Ryleigh is when she was two, she and her sister were dancing and singing in the living room. Ryleigh fell into the bottom of the TV stand and under her eyebrow was cut. We took her to the after-hours urgent care, where they determined she needed 4 stitches. She was so brave! They put a topical numbing cream on the wound and when they began the stitches, sticking the needle in the wound directly, she never cried, never flinched. She handled it like a champ, and we will never forget how tough she was.

What is your Cutest Toddler’s favorite treat? Reagan loves Oreos, veggie sticks or “veggie fries” as she calls them.

Ryleigh loves Kinder eggs or anything chocolate.

What has been the best part of this contest experience for you and your toddler? They don’t understand yet what they have won. But when they are older, we can’t wait to share with them this experience and tell them all about it.

Get to know the adorable winners of the 2022 Cutest Toddler Contest

BRADY GIN PHOTOGRAPHY

Sponsored by:

2nd Place: Carter

Age: 2 years old

Parent Names: Cory and Krystal

What are some of your Cutest Toddler’s favorite things?

His paw patrol cars and his blaze and the monster machines car.

What is your Cutest Toddler’s most precious moment?

When he grabs dad or mom’s face and gives an eskimo kiss.

What is your favorite story to tell about your Cutest Toddler?

The favorite story to tell about my cutest toddler is the time we took Carter to Animal Kingdom, and he got to pet the goats. The goats said baa baa, and Carter screamed baaa baaa at the goats whenever they came around for the rest of the day.

What is your Cutest Toddler’s favorite treat? Ice cream and pizza.

What has been the best part of this contest experience for you and your toddler? The photo shoot was a lot of fun. Dad and mom work extremely hard to get Carter to smile.

3rd Place: Anton Age: 4

Parent Names: Glenda and Alvin

What are some of your Cutest Toddler’s favorite things? All kinds of trucks.

What is your Cutest Toddler’s most precious moment?

When he first started to walk. He was so scared and finally did it at 1 ½. LOL.

What is your favorite story to tell about your Cutest Toddler?

Anton is a very smart kid. When he started spelling and writing his name on his own at age three, it was a great moment for him. He was so happy and proud.

What is your Cutest Toddler’s favorite treat? Anton loves ice cream.

What has been the best part of this contest experience for you and your toddler? The excitement of telling him if he got a lot of votes that he will win something.

Shout out to Lifestyle’s Honorable Mentions

World-Class Care for Kids

Your child deserves the best care available, and we’re passionate about being our best for them. AdventHealth for Children is honored to be nationally recognized as one of the best children’s hospitals for newborn care by U.S. News & World Report for the fifth year in a row, and one of the safest children’s hospitals by The Leapfrog Group.

Our extensive pediatric care network includes the Walt Disney Pavilion at AdventHealth for Children in Orlando, 250+ pediatricians and pediatric specialists, regional specialty clinics, pediatric emergency departments and Centra Care Kids urgent care locations. Busy parents can turn to our complimentary Health Navigation services. As registered nurses, our navigators can assist with answering questions, scheduling appointments and screenings, and coordinating care between various practices and facilities. Get connected by calling 407-537-5516.

Bryson

Ethan

Isabella

Kamryn

Bobbi Mia

Alexis Malachi

Drew Luna

Sponsored by

BRADY

Hope Gala to Benefit Those Experiencing

Homelessness and Poverty

Learn more about Hope Partnership as it hosts its 1st annual Hope Gala Fundraiser.

By Alexis George

Hope Partnership is hosting its 1st Annual Hope Gala Fun draiser at Westgate Vacation Villas Resort on Oct.29. Prepare to enjoy dinner, cocktails, a casino, silent auction, and much more at this Roar ing Twenties-themed Gala. Marketing and Events Coordinator Drew Pinney says the team at Hope Partnership is very excited for the event.

“This is going to be our first for mal gala benefitting those experienc ing homelessness and poverty in Cen tral Florida,” says Pinney. “The last big event we held was in the beginning of 2020 right before the pandemic kicked off, so we’ve been trying to find ways to fundraise.”

Over the last nine years, Hope Partnership and its entities have served over 100,000 individuals. Rev. Mary Lee Downey, CEO of the Hope Partnership, says it was important to start the non-profit to close the gap in ser vices for people experiencing homelessness and poverty.

“Personally, I’m a pastor and so doing the work of caring for people in my neighborhood and community

is important to me. I also experienced a lot of situations growing up where I wish there were organizations like Hope Partnership that could have helped me and my family,” Downey says. “So, I’m giving back to the world what I wish had been around when I was a kid.”

By focusing on rapid rehousing and Permanent Supportive Housing, Hope Partnership provides a holistic continuum of care.

“We’re looking at systemic and community change and so we need good investors and good partners to do that work with us. Having a gala like this gives us an opportunity to share our story and hopefully get people engaged and wanting to be financial contributors and volunteers to help change our community to gether,” Downey says.

While homelessness and poverty are hard topics to discuss, Hope Part nership is looking to bring fun to the event and get people excited about the future. In this future, the organization hopes to become a developer of af fordable housing.

“Living in a post-pandemic world, we don’t know what the next five years will bring. But we know that we want to be the organization that is leading the way in making sure that we are addressing not just individual barriers but also systemic barriers in our community. Right now, a big one for me is attainable and affordable housing,” Downey says.

She adds that as Hope Partner ship continues to engage with the community and support those in need, that there are a plethora of ways in which the organization intends to fulfill its mission.

“The most important thing for people to remember is that at Hope Partnership we believe everyone de serves a safe place to call home and that it takes many different pathways to get people to a safe place to call home,” Downey says. “No story is the same and no pathway to housing is the same.”

To learn more about Hope Partnership and the Hope Gala visit www.thehopepartnership.org/

Harvest of Hope Garden Party Harvesting Hope at the

By Tarre Beach

Matthew’s Hope, a nonprofit that supports men, women, and children who are expe riencing homelessness become inde pendent, is getting ready to celebrate its annual Harvest of Hope Garden Party on Nov. 12.

This annual fundraiser for Mat thew’s Hope has become something of a defining creative for West Orange County. Friends, local businesses as well as large corporations purchase tables and pick a theme for their invi tees/employees to dress up as. You can purchase a table for eight for $600 (no meal) or just $1000 which includes a catered meal.

In years past, there have been group costumes such as the characters from the board game Clue, the book Alice and Wonderland, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as well as Disney movies. Originally held in the ministry’s vegetable garden, this year the event will be held at Ocoee Lakeshore Center due to the massive growth of the party as well as the loss of its garden space.

Being a Guest

Matthew’s Hope Founder, CEO and President Scott Billue is an ordained minister and a self-described “big guy with a big heart.” He says the Harvest of Hope Garden Party, which has been a mainstay for the organiza tion since it began 12 years ago, may not be in a garden anymore but that doesn’t mean the group of volunteers

and staff as well as the event’s present ing sponsor AdventHealth can’t still harvest hope for their “guests.”

At Matthew’s Hope those seek ing support are given the more dig nified name of guest, rather than client, homeless, or person in need. Billue says another way the organi zation is a little different from other nonprofits addressing homelessness is that Matthew’s Hope focuses on the causes, not just the symptoms of homelessness, with the goal of mov ing people towards a life of indepen dence and self-sustainability.

Doing the Work

Having experienced being un housed himself as a child and a young adult, Billue says that sometimes well-meaning nonprofits, churches, and government agencies may en able those experiencing homelessness and prevent them from becoming independent. He started Matthew’s Hope to help guests grow emotion ally, mentally, spiritually, physically, and vocationally. He says although mental illness and substance or alcohol addiction may be a factor for some guests, the goal is for them, irrespec tive of ability, to grow cognitively and demonstratively; and that might look different from one guest to the next.

“We’ll meet them where they are, but they have to do some work. Their participation in helping themselves is key,” Billue says.

According to Billue, some of Matthew’s Hope guests don’t consider themselves homeless. “They may be what I call ‘structurally challenged.’ They may have a place they call home, but it’s not what we traditionally think of as a building with four walls and a roof.”

Growing in Brevard

The organization currently assists approximately over 1,300 people in West Orange County. Earlier this year it also started providing support to about 200 people in Brevard County. Billue says the Brevard County cam pus which is still being developed presently consists of nearly six acres of land and 35,000 square feet of building space which includes a small chapel, sanctuary, fellowship hall and dozens of classrooms previously owned by a Methodist church.

“Unfortunately, with the pan demic and the rising cost of rent, along with the increased cost of just about everything, we’ve seen the need for the support Matthew’s Hope can offer grow exponentially.

Get Involved

Purchase a table for the Harvesting Hope Garden Party at www.matthewshopministries.org/ garden-party or donate at www. mattheshopeministries.org and click which location you’d like to donate to.

Matthew’s Hope, a ministry that supports those experiencing homelessness, prepares for a big fundraiser and continues development on a new location.

Florida Lifestyle MEDICAL GUIDE

REMAGIN

For over ten years, the teams at Orlando Eye Insti tute and Parbhu Oculofacial Plastic Surgery have proudly treated the residents of Dr. Phillips and Windermere, serving your eye and oculofacial plastic needs with compassion, respect and professionalism. As they have grown, thanks to the support of their patients and their community, they have been able to integrate cutting-edge technologies into the practice and broaden the scope of what they can provide. This was the concept in fusing the two practices and chang ing the name to Remagin. While their commitment to your care remains the same, they can now provide a wider array of treatments, all under one roof, without the restrictions or barriers of conventional thinking. In stead, they want you to concentrate on the things that make you happy and let them help you get there!

Drs. Parbhu and Raja are both board-certified phy sicians and believe in providing direct care to their pa tients. They perform all procedures and surgeries and provide all perioperative care to patients. All injectable and laser treatments are also performed by Dr. Parbhu. Recent additions include light adjustable lens technol ogy for cataract surgery, corneal cross linking for kera

toconus, nonsurgical lower facial rejuvenation, facial fat transfer, and Dr. Parbhu’s own medical grade skincare line.

While the doctors have always been about improv ing the quality of their patients’ lives, they now have a much clearer vision of how to do so. This allows them to optimize vision, decrease spectacle and eye drop use, bring comfort and instill confidence in your appear ance — all in a safe and welcoming environment that their patients have come to expect. Refine. Refocus. Remagin.

Deepak Raja, MD and Keshini Parbhu, MD

Remagin (Formerly Orlando Eye Institute and Parbhu Oculofacial Plastic Surgery)

4750 The Grove Drive, Suite 230 Windermere, FL 34786 407-704-3937 www.Remagin.com shop.remagin.com

Keshini Parbhu, MD and Deepak Raja, MD

PHAN-TASTIC SMILES

Dr. Cuong T. Phan, known in Central Florida as “The Man Behind Beautiful Smiles,” is the recipient of the prestigious Mastership Award, the highest Academy of General Dentistry honor available. It’s one of the most respected designations within the dental pro fession. Less than 2% of general dentists throughout the United States and Canada have earned this title (MAGD).

Dr. Phan has been practicing dentistry for over 20 years. Humbled to be distinguished by the AGD, Dr. Phan says it was his patients who inspired him to work toward his goal. “I strive to become a better dentist every day to provide the best care for my patient’s dental health,” he says.

Dr. Phan has always gone above and beyond the ADA and CDC guidelines for the safety of his patients, staff and families. Additional measures that have recently been taken include wearing N95 masks, installing UV-C air pu rification systems and using ultraviolet disinfecting wands in addition to disinfectant sprays, wipes and touch-free protocols throughout the Phan-tastic Smiles office. These are just a few examples of Dr. Phan’s commitment to his patients and staff.

Dr. Phan’s patients are top priority! He is constantly educating himself on the latest cutting edge of dental

technology. He offers same-day porcelain crowns, ve neers and laser dentistry to provide patients a gentle and more comfortable experience.

Compassion, education and skills are what make Dr. Phan the caring dentist he is. He and his team are very thankful for the loyalty their patients have shown over the years.

Currently, Dr. Phan serves as a Florida Dental Exam iner for the Commission on Dental Competency Assess ments (CDCA).

Get to know Dr. Phan and his friendly team at your next appointment. Call the office to schedule an appointment.

New patients can take advantage of a $99 special that includes a new patient exam, x-rays and the initial cleaning.

Cuong T. Phan, DMD, FAGD, MAGD

Phan-tastic Smiles

Family • Cosmetic • Implant Dentistry

407.282.7498

www.PhanTasticSmile com

DR. JASON BATTLE

Dr. Jason Battle is the owner of Premiere Ortho dontics in Dr. Phillips, Waterford Lakes and Winter Springs. He has been practicing orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics since 2004 with a focus on ac celerated and cosmetic orthodontics. Dr. Battle stays up to date on the latest orthodontic research, studies, treat ment and technology, including expertise in accelerated orthodontics and invisible orthodontics, by attending conferences worldwide and by being a member of seven orthodontic study clubs. He treats all his patients like fam ily, incorporating them into all aspects of treatment. Com munication, openness and respect are his first priorities.

Premiere Orthodontics is a cosmetically driven prac tice that customizes each treatment plan based on the patient’s individual needs. The idea is to help patients straighten their teeth quickly and affordably without peo ple noticing, and ensuring the perfect smile is achieved before their big day.

Dr. Phillips Office

7009 Dr. Phillips Blvd., Suite 200 Orlando, FL 32819 (407) 381-3376

Waterford Lakes Office

448 S Alafaya Trail #10, Orlando, FL 32828 (407) 381-3335

Winter Springs/Oviedo Office 5733 Canton Cove, Winter Springs, FL 32708 (407) 699-1200

Jason Battle DDS, CAGS Premiere Orthodontics www.BattleOrtho.com 407-381-3335

Building Families

One Healthy Baby at a Time

Creating a family is a dream for many, but that dream isn’t al ways easily achieved. In fact, one in eight people struggle with in fertility.

The RMA Network has been at the forefront of research, inno vation, and patient-focused fertil ity treatments for over two decades. Since 1999, Reproductive Medicine Associates of New Jersey, the net work’s flagship practice, has helped thousands of hopeful patients from around the U.S. and the world become parents.

Dr. George Patounakis, who be gan seeing patients at Reproductive Medicine Associates of Florida in Lake Mary in December 2017, pro vides personalized patient care based on a proven method from RMANJ, where success rates are well-above the national average among all age groups. This success is based on a

three-prong approach: science, suc cess and support.

“We’re truly committed to help ing the patient build their family one healthy baby at a time,” Dr. Patou nakis says. “We also work with fami lies of all types to help them fulfill their dreams of being a parent.”

How it Works

RMAFL thrives on its patientfocused care philosophy that incor porates the latest scientific research and breakthroughs as well as industry-leading expertise to provide patients with the most positive ex periences possible. Each patient receives an individualized treatment plan geared toward providing the best possible chances of starting their own family.

Dr. Patounakis is extremely hands-on throughout the process. Every time the patient visits the of

fice, they see him. He performs ultrasounds in the mornings and stops to chat during blood work ap pointments. Most importantly, he is always accessible should they need anything along the way.

“We’re not just about using standardized protocols,” Dr. Patou nakis says. “We will tailor each plan to each patient, and not just the clin ical aspect but also in the lab.”

Right there on the premises, technicians can fertilize eggs, culture embryos and perform biopsies to en sure they are genetically normal. Us ing the genetic results, they are then able to select one single embryo that has the highest chances of leading to the desired result: a live birth.

“Overall, we are both high tech and high touch,” Dr. Patounakis says.

At Reproductive Medicine Associates of Florida, Dr. George Patounakis and his team help couples fulfill their dreams of being a parent.

Success is the Priority

Using the model developed by RMANJ, Dr. Patounakis dedicates himself to patient success. While RMAFL constantly pursues the de sired outcome of each patient, the facility is willing to share in the risk of failure.

“We feel so strongly about help ing people build their families that we have a shared risk program that takes out the financial risk of going through treatment but not getting the desired result of a live birth,” Dr. Patounakis says.

Care Share is a fertility care re fund program that provides hopeful parents with reassurance and avoids the financial risk should they require alternative means of family building.

A Circle of Support

Along with his staff, Dr. Patou nakis understands that there is not one single answer to every infertil ity case, so patients can expect an unparalleled personal degree of at tention and care throughout their treatment. They can also expect a full range of emotional support.

“One of the deterrents to being successful is that people get emotionally burnt out,” Dr. Patounakis says. “A large part of my job and the job of my staff is to make sure that we provide emotional support to give them the energy to keep moving forward.”

In addition, a private Facebook group called FertiliFriends is a re

source that was created by RMA pa tients for patients from everywhere and any center. Members include individuals who are struggling with infertility as well as former patients who have gone through fertility treatments successfully.

Helping Patients Become Parents

Dr. Patounakis and his entire staff are focused on one goal: helping infertility patients become parents in the Greater Orlando area and across Florida. “As a father of two girls, I know how much that means and I’m driven by that purpose every single day,” he says.

If you’re ready to take the next step in starting your own family, call Reproductive Medicine Associates of Florida to schedule a new patient ap pointment.

MEET THE DOCTOR

George Patounakis, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.O.G., is the lead physician of Reproductive Medicine Associates of Florida. After earning his bach elor’s degree, master’s degree and doctorate in electrical engineering, Dr. Patounakis’ passion shifted to health.

He went on to earn his M.D. from Rutgers — Robert Wood Johnson Medical School before completing his internship and residency in ob stetrics and gynecology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. Dr. Patounakis pursued his fellowship training in reproductive endocrinol ogy and infertility at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. While there, his research focused on cholesterol transport in steroidogenic cells using live-cell microscopy, IVF outcome predictors and genetic influences on infertility.

In addition to being the medical di rector for RMAFL, Dr. Patounakis is an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology with the University of Central Florida College of Medi cine. His research interests include statistical IVF cycle modeling, fer tility preservation and diminished ovarian reserve. He also serves as an ad hoc reviewer for Fertility & Sterility and the Journal of Assist ed Reproduction and Genetics

ASSOCIATES OF

400 Colonial Center Parkway, Suite 150 Lake Mary, FL 32746 407.804.9670

RMA-FL.com

4Ways to Immediately Take Charge of Your Health

By Healthy West Orange

When it comes to a healthy lifestyle, it’s not always easy. However, the beauty of the journey is that it’s your own. And whether you start today or next week, taking the first step is worthy of celebration. As you continue through your health journey, here are four tips to take your efforts to the next level.

Start with joy

Taking charge of your health shouldn’t feel like a chore. Will it be hard sometimes? Absolutely. But start ing with a positive mindset can set the foundation of transforming your new habits into a daily routine. As you’re outlining what you want to accomplish, don’t forget to have fun, enjoy your new experiences and welcome the happiness and changes that will inevitably come because of your hard work.

Get up and get moving

There are a number of ways to engage in physical activity, includ ing at your local gym or even biking

and walking on a nearby trail. Don’t like weights? Dance! Not sure about running? Swim! No matter your pref erence, movement is one of the best ways to contribute to your overall fitness. Exercise can also positively impact cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, muscular endurance, body composition, and muscular strength.

Make nutrition a priority

Eating the right foods is just as important as physical activity. In fact, healthy foods are what fuel your work outs. And just like exercise, eating healthy can be fun! Experiment with recipes, swap out your regular fruits and veggies with new ones, and be sure to craft your diet based on your individual lifestyle. What’s important is to simply keep it balanced.

Invest in your self care

Sometimes when we think of health, we stop at food and exercise, but those are only part of the equa tion. Things like sleep quality, mental health and social connectivity all con

tribute to your well-being. It’s impor tant to keep these aspects of your life in balance to maximize your healthy lifestyle choices.

A healthy lifestyle not only makes you look and feel better, but it can also help reduce illness and disease, while influencing your mood and overall well-being. It’s a journey well worth the investment and can lead to a more active and enjoyable life.

And that’s where Healthy West Orange can help. Kickstart your jour ney by visiting healthywestorange.org. You’ll find lots of content to guide you, from HUBB – a free one-stop shop to access health and wellness resources in your community — to “Community Connections,” an interactive work shop series that provides education on various health and wellness topics, from cooking classes, to mental wellbeing, and financial planning.

To learn more, visit healthywestorange.org.

Fostering a Healthy Lifestyle, Mind and Body

By Stina D’Uva

Last year, I wrote an article about my journey to be as healthy as I could be and take advantage of preventative measures to avoid health issues as I age. I have continued on that journey because I really enjoy being a grandmother (Nonna) and this year, not only will I be a Nonna to Brennan D’Uva, but I will also be Nonna to another baby boy D’Uva in Cincinnati.

I continue with my bi-annual visits to my internal medicine doctor, take routine blood tests and annual mammograms, not to mention any and all of the tests that my doctors recommend to keep me on a good path. My health is not only important in my role as Nonna, but also in my role as President/CEO of the West Orange Chamber. I need to be in good physical and mental health to continue my service to the com munity leading this Chamber and as Vice President of the MetroWest Mas

ter Association. Additionally, I must have good health for volunteering for Shepherd’s Hope, American Diabetes Association and continuing another West Orange Habitat for Humanity project for the Women’s Build. That one took physical and mental health since they let me use a miter saw as did Westly’s Healthy Selfie 5K with the Chamber team.

I can do all these things because I am fortunate to have access to medi cal care to keep an eye on my mind and body. I’m also fortunate to live in a community and state that fosters so much outdoor activity to keep the mind and body healthy. As many of you know, I enjoy bike riding. It’s a time that usually allows my mind to focus solely on riding a bike and en joying the scenery. I also have other more sedentary hobbies. I love to read and listen to books. These are times that allow my brain to rest and regroup to find peace.

Each of us has different ways to balance work life and home life. In addition to riding and reading, I re ally enjoy just hanging out with close friends in a small group. Oftentimes it involves some good eating and re sponsible drinking, and West Orange certainly has many places to fulfill that hobby of mine.

The “Medical City” Continues to Focus on Health and Wellness

By Don Long, Lake Nona Regional Chamber of Commerce

More than 10 years ago Lake Nona began to build its reputation as the Medical City. Starting with UCF’s College of Medicine and growing to embrace numerous organizations now includ ing Nemours Children’s Hospital, Or lando VA Medical Center, Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Insti tute, UCF Lake Nona Hospital, UCF Cancer Center, Lake Nona Perfor mance Center and so much more, the combined influence of these health and wellness influencers continues to bring area residents plentiful choices for not only healthcare but also meth ods to maintain their fitness for im proved performance.

As the Medical City of Lake Nona continues to grow, it influences the entire region by bringing together education, treatment and research institutions that can now meet and work together to find solutions for ef fective illness treatments and progres sive technological procedures while also providing preventive options for patients.

The Lake Nona Regional Cham ber of Commerce (LNRCC) specifi cally focuses on bringing the benefits of the area to its members. LNRCC created a Health Committee to help guide these efforts. Kristine Ford, Se nior Nurse Manager of AdventHealth Lake Nona ER, leads the committee and offers to other health providers

the opportunity to host one of LN RCC’s quarterly Health Collabora tive Seminars. To join the committee, Ford recommends sending an email to Kristine.Ford@AdventHealth.com. The LNRCC Health Committee sup ports the entire health and wellness community of Lake Nona. All these institutions affiliated with LNRCC are found at the chamber website member directory page.

Among other recent develop ments in the Medical City is the De partment of Veterans Affairs VHA SimLEARN National Simulation Center at the Orlando VA Medical Center in Lake Nona. This center fo cuses on using simulation to improve the care of veterans throughout the country. Add to this the advances in children’s care afforded by Nemours, research conducted at the UCF Can cer Center, start-up health and well ness businesses hosted by the Guide Well Innovation Center and the UCF Life Sciences Incubator, Lake Nona continues to set the pace as a leader in medical and wellness innovation.

Part of the innovation move ment, UCF Lake Nona Hospital opened in March 2021. According to the hospital’s Communication Direc tor, Jean Shawgo, the hospital was, “recently named the inaugural site for HCA Healthcare Care Transforma tion & Innovation, a team focused on innovations designed to solve health

care challenges facing care profession als worldwide. Known globally as the largest healthcare network, HCA Healthcare identifies advancements in care occurring at UCF Lake Nona Hospital to lead the transformation of healthcare delivery.”

Because of these and many oth er innovative accomplishments, the Medical City attracts not only resi dents searching for modern healthy lifestyles but also the entrepreneurs and providers of services allowing va rieties of methods and services that enhance the attractiveness of the area.

Lake Nona is known as a commu nity centered on wellness of the mind and body. With plentiful avenues for safe outdoor recreation along with ease of movement and access it sets the regional example of a community designed for healthy lifestyles. To find out more about the exciting develop ments in the Medical City and how you might benefit, visit the LNRCC website at www.LakeNonaCC.org.

LNRCC is a membership not-forprofit organization with offices in Lake Nona at 6555 Sanger Rd, Orlando, FL 32827. It is not affiliated with, or sponsored by, Lake Nona Property Holdings, LLC, or its affiliated entities. Comments or requests for information are encouraged at Administration@ LakeNonaCC.org.

for a BOO-zy Good Time Spooktacular Cocktails

By Nicole Paskowsky

Halloween is the time for fright and fun, and your cock tail menu is no exception.

Whether you’re hosting a full-blown costume party or sinking into the couch for a thrilling movie mara thon, the Halloween season calls for ghastly libations that are scary good. A mix of tricks and treats, give these show-stopping and delicious drinks a try throughout the month to add a spooky touch to any gathering.

The Jack-o’-Lantern

This cocktail is a trick and a treat because it looks like a pumpkin but doesn’t taste like one. The “trick” comes from the pumpkin-topper gar nish made with an orange slice and a lime peel “stem.” Underneath is a mix of brandy, orange liqueur, and fizzy ginger ale for a refreshing, slightly va nilla flavor that’s as fun to look at as it is to drink.

■ In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake 1½ ounce cognac, ½ ounce brandy-based orange liqueur (such as Grand Marnier), and 1 ounce orange juice.

■ Strain into a tumbler glass over fresh ice and top with 2-3 ounces ginger ale.

■ Twist a lime-peel slice into the center of an orange wheel and float on top.

Vampire Kiss Martini

This stunning, semi-sweet cock tail gets its blood-red hue from a mix of vodka, raspberry liqueur, and Champagne—and the sparkling bubbles do all the mixing for you, no shaking required. Adding a red sugar rim gives the concoction a dazzling yet frightful finishing touch. Drop wax or gummy vampire teeth into the mar tini glass for a special surprise.

■ Dip a martini glass in a shallow dish of raspberry liqueur (such as Chambord), then roll in red sugar until evenly coated.

■ Pour 1½ ounces vodka and ¾ ounce raspberry liqueur into the glass. Top with 1½ ounces Champagne (or sparkling wine).

■ Pour another ½ ounce raspberry liqueur over the back of a spoon so it floats on top.

Swamp Water Surprise

This pleasant mix of rum, curaçao and citrus juices takes a creepy turn with the addition of a colorful, gooey “slime” made from vodka-spiked gela

tin. You can customize your swamp’s color tone based on the choice of cu raçao, with blue curaçao resulting in an eerie aqua glow. Orange curaçao and blue Jell-O slime will give the drink a murkier, more sinister effect.

■ In a mixing bowl, dissolve 1 (3-ounce) box of flavored gelatin in boiling water. Stir in ¾ cup vodka and set in the freezer for about 20 minutes. Stir with a whisk to form loose lumps before the gelatin sets up completely.

■ In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour 2 ounces rum, ¼ ounce blue or orange curaçao, ½ ounce lemon juice, and 1 ounce orange juice.

■ Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Carefully spoon in 2 tablespoons of “slime.”

Put the boos in your booze with these Halloween-themed cocktails.

How far will you go to fight breast cancer?

Show the world what you’re really made of! Cypress Cove’s Nudeapalooza charity concert has raised over $360,000 for breast cancer research. Six awesome tribute bands, an all-day fun and natural resort experience, and the proceeds go to fight breast cancer. Get tickets now for this one-of-a-kind event happening on Saturday, October 22!

of Events

1–October 1

Naturalist Nature Walk Day

11am - 12 pm

Lake Lorna Doone Park 1519 W Church St.

2–October 8

Windermere: Sleep in Heav enly Peace Community Bunk Bed Build

8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Town Square Park 520 Main Street

3–October 8

Winter Garden: Hamlin Pumpkin Patch Palooza

5pm -9 p.m.

14111 Shoreside Way

4–October 8th and 9th

Winter Park: Autumn Art Festival

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Central Park Downtown Winter Park

5–October 22

Altamonte Franklin’s Friends Howl-O-Ween

9 am to 12 pm

Cranes Roost Park at Uptown Altamonte

6–October 23

Horizon West: 2022 BEARS WHO CARE OKTOBEARFEST 5K FUN RUN & WALK

7:30 am-10 am

Orlando Health Horizon West Hospital (Parking Lot) 17000 Porter Rd, Winter Garden, FL 34787

7–October 26

College Park Wine Walk –Sip & Tour

5:00 PM - 8:00 PM 648 Dartmouth St

8–October 27

MetroWest Food Truck Connection

5:30 pm - 9:00 pm

2100 S Hiawassee Rd

9–October 29

Making Strides of OrlandoPresented by AdventHealth

Opening Ceremonies:

7:00 am Walk: 9:00 am

Lake Eola Park -Northeast Grassy Area 566 E Robinson St

10–Lake Nona Halloween at Boxi Park

Friday, October 29th

5 p.m. | Pumpkin Patch Opens

6:30 p.m. | Audio Exchange

October 30th

11 a.m. | Pumpkin Patch Opens

1 – 4 p.m. | Run Raquel

6 – 10 p.m. | SoundUp

7 – 11 p.m. | DJ Rick GZ

7 – 10 p.m. | Roaming Entertain ment

9 p.m. | Adult Costume Contest

October 31st

12 p.m. | Pumpkin Patch Opens 12-4 p.m. | DJ Korndogg

1 – 4 p.m. | Face Painters & Bal loon Artists

2 p.m. | Dog Costume Contest

4 – 8 p.m. | Nerd Ranger & SWITCH

5 – 10 p.m. | DJ PopRoXxX

6877 Tavistock Lakes Blvd

in Breast Health

Greater Orlando’s Best Cancer Care

U.S. News & World Report has recognized AdventHealth as providing the Best Cancer Care in Greater Orlando. From 3D mammography and genetic testing to a world-class, multi-specialty care team, AdventHealth offers the leading methods for early detection of breast cancer along with the most advanced treatments. And, with comprehensive support groups and survivorship programs, we’re here for you in body, mind and spirit.

LeadingBreastCare.com.