BALDWIN PARK L IVING
December/January 2010
A Year in Pictures... & much more inside!
WINTER 2009/2010 Events Calendar Saturday, December 5
UPCOMING EVENTS
WINTERFEST 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Glenridge Middle School
WINTERFEST
Tuesday, December 8 NEW RESIDENT ORIENTATION 1:00 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. Grace Hopper Hall
Saturday, December 12 BALDWIN PARK FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Village Center
Saturday, December 19 JINGLE BELL RUN/WALK ORLANDO Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., race begins at 8:30 a.m., 4892 New Broad Street
Saturday, December 19 NEIGHBORHOOD TREE TOASTING (A progressive holiday party) 7:00 p.m. Various Baldwin Park Residences
Wednesday, January 27 ROTARY CLUB INFORMATION MEETING Wednesday, January 27 6:00 p.m. New Broad Street Realty, 4926 New Broad Street
Saturday, January 30 ORLANDO CHILI COOK OFF @ BALDWIN PARK 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Corrine Commons
CLIP & SAVE See the Community Network
www.BaldwinParkNetwork.com
Saturday, December 5 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Glenridge Middle School This event is held on the Glenridge campus immediately following the Winter Park Christmas Parade, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Come enjoy the carnival atmosphere with food, entertainment, games, vendors and a silent auction. For more information, please contact a PTSA Board Member at glenridgeptsa@yahoo.com.
NEW RESIDENT ORIENTATION Tuesday, December 8 1:00 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. Grace Hopper Hall The next New Resident Orientation sessions will be held on Tuesday, December 8 at Grace Hopper Hall at 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. These sessions are designed for new residents and include an overview of the Community Network, a review of the procedures for using recreational facilities and general information about the community. Attendees will receive a lovely welcome basket full of gifts and goodies, coupons, and menus from local merchants and restaurants. Please RSVP to Susan Comisky, Community Director by Thursday, December 3 by emailing her at SComisky@BaldwinParkpoa.com. Please include your name and which session your plan to attend. The next orientation session will be in March.
BALDWIN PARK FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS Saturday, December 12 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Village Center Enjoy horse and carriage rides starting at 5:00 p.m. Then line up for Baldwin Park’s Holiday Parade, sponsored by New Broad Street Realty, which steps off at Jake Street at 6:00 p.m. and continues down New Broad Street to Chatfield Place, then over to Lakemont Avenue. Afterwards, the Village Center will be alive with activities for everyone including Merchant Open Houses, visits with Santa, Face Painters, Balloon Artist, Sandy Candy, Make-N-Take Arts and Crafts, Popcorn, and Military & Municipal “Rigs for Kids”, and a movie on the green at 7:00 p.m., as the carriage rides continue until 10:00 p.m. Enjoy Musical Performances by the Glenridge Middle School Orchestra, Belle Chanson Winter Park High School Choir, A Gift for Music Ensemble, the Boone High School Choir, and the Belles & Beaux Quartet.. For more information, see the ad on Page 6.
JINGLE BELL RUN/WALK ORLANDO Saturday, December 19 Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., race begins at 8:30 a.m. 4892 New Broad Street This event benefits the Arthritis Foundation. For more information and to register to walk or run, please go to the following web site: http://2009jbrorlando.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=313448.
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for more details on these events. 4
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Letter from the Community Director
Winter Events Calendar & Upcoming Events... 4 Letter from the Community Director...5
Dear Resident,
Letter from the Association President...7
As I walked through the mall in early November I couldn't believe I heard holiday music blaring from the speakers. I thought to myself “this can not be happening.” I barely had the Halloween decorations down and hadn’t even planned Thanksgiving dinner yet. But, I wasn’t hearing Susan Comisky things…..it was indeed holiday music. My 14 year old son became almost giddy and started listing off all of the “stuff” he wanted as gifts as I groaned inwardly or maybe it was out loud! We proceeded to have a discussion on what could be done with the money if it wasn't spent on “stuff” and other ways to help people that were in need.
For the New Year: Begin With Love...8
There are many organizations around that know of needy families. I encourage you to seek them out and find ways you can help others. It may not be a monetary gift that is needed but just the gift of time. I always have a soft spot in my heart for the enlisted men and women and their families during this time of year. It can be a very lonely time for them. My dad tells the story of when he was in the Army and away from home during the holidays. There was a small celebration amongst the men in his unit and their personal beliefs about the holiday were set aside. They were just thankful to have others with them. Afterwards, he said he went back to his bunk and cried like a baby because he was so lonesome for his family. Remember these folks during the holiday season.
Featured Merchant: BullFish...10 Feature Merchant: Tiny Toes Children’s Shoes...12 Baldwin Park 101: Baldwin Park Traditions...14 Meet Your Neighbors: LTC Steven Thomas...18 Special Merchant Section....Center Spread A Year in Pictures...28 Tennis Anyone?...37 Business Directory...42
I can’t believe this is my fourth holiday in Baldwin Park. This is an exciting time for me as I watch the snowflakes being put into the trees on New Broad Street and the lights wrapped on the palm trees. Planning the Baldwin Park Festival of Lights event is always one of the highlights of my year. It will be the third year for the parade and it is with pride that I can say there will be close to 40 participants this year!
Featured Club: Baldwin Park Tennis Club...43
A lot of hard work and hours of planning go into the event. I would like to thank Pat Jones-Petrick, owner of Trish’s Teas and marketing director for the Merchant Association, resident Sarah Campbell with New Broad Street Realty, Luke Peterson, president of the Merchant Association and resident, Mayra Bonynge, resident and Activities Committee member, resident Colonel Steve Thomas and Heather Baker with Heather Baker Events for helping make the event possible.
Baldwin Park Living is published by Baldwin Park Joint Committee, Inc. (Joint Committee), a Florida not-for-profit corporation. The publication is for the purpose of commercial and merchant advertising and is circulated to all owners and tenants of the residential and commercial units within Baldwin Park.
See you on the 12th and have a safe holiday season!
All advertisements are subject to approval, revision, or rejection by the Joint Committee, which decisions may be made in the sole judgment of the Joint Committee.
Publication Info
The presence of an advertisement in this publication for products or services which affect the exterior appearance of your home or lot does not in any way imply that Baldwin Park’s Architectural Review Committee will approve of such items. Any and all planned modifications to the exterior of your home must be approved by the Architectural Review Committee in advance. ®Baldwin Park is a registered service mark of Orlando NTC Partners, a joint venture d/b/a Baldwin Park Development Company.
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Editor:
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NEIGHBORHOOD TREE TOASTING (A progressive holiday party) Saturday, December 19 7:00 p.m. Various residences in Baldwin Park There are five homes (Hosters) on the schedule for the night. If you would like to attend as a “Toaster” please send an email to Greg Martinez at Greg@GregMartinez.com. The Hosters will provide light hors d'oeuvres and mixers for adult beverages. Toasters will BYOB.
ROTARY CLUB INFORMATION MEETING Wednesday, January 27 6:00 p.m. New Broad Street Realty, 4926 New Broad Street Come learn about a unique Internet-based Rotary Club concept which was launched three years ago specifically for the X and Y generations. Marilen Marnett, Events and Operations coordinator with the Central Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and resident of Baldwin Park is leading the way in bringing Rotary International to the residents of the community. ”Being an involved resident of this community and knowing how Rotary exists to improve communities with its wide range of humanitarian, intercultural and educational activities has made me step up to the challenge of opening up a club in Baldwin Park,” said Marilen. Rotary International is a network organization of business and professional leaders who come together as a club to provide humanitarian service, assistance to local schools and build goodwill and peace in the world. There are 33,000 clubs in communities worldwide in more than 200 countries. In conjunction with other Rotary members in the Orlando area, Marilen is planning a one hour Rotary Information meeting to take place in the offices of New Broad Street Realty in the Baldwin Park Village Center on Wednesday, January 27 at 6:00 p.m. All residents are invited to this event. To R.S.V.P. for the event, send an email to RotaryBaldwinPark@Gmail.com Information on Rotary can be found at www.Rotary.org.
ORLANDO CHILI COOK OFF AT BALDWIN PARK Saturday, January 30 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Corrine Commons Come out and support an incredible event that includes chili samples, live music, food vendors, adult beverages, children activities, and much more…. If you are of the chili connoisseur type, please share your best and enter your chili to compete in this sanctioned event by CASI. The goal is to bring people together for a great cause and great memories! The majority of all proceeds will go to local charities. Mark your calendar and watch the Community Network at www.BaldwinParkNetwork.com for more information about how to enter. (Baldwin Park resident Kenneth Roberts applied for and received funding for this event through the Resident Led Activities Fund.)
Get connected and be up-to-date on community events by visiting www.BaldwinParkNetwork.com for future updates.
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Letter from the Residential Owners Association President
What a Great Neighborhood We Live In!
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wanted to give you an update on the Residential Owners Association (ROA) Board of Director’s efforts to reduce fiscal year 2009 expenditures that prevented a special assessment on residents in 2009. As stated in the October/November issue of Baldwin Park Living, the current economic crisis and its effect on ROA assessment collections have caused your ROA Board to review the 2009 budget situation every month this year to see what could be done so the level of services and use of facilities would not be reduced. While the Board had projected a decrease in collectable assessments in the 2009 budget and approved a budget that took that into account, the number of residents not paying assessments exceeded what was projected. The Board is making all efforts allowed by the Florida Statute that governs homeowners associations to collect assessments. Also, the Board and our management company, Sentry Management, Inc., have renegotiated several contracts with vendors to lower expenses, postponed or cancelled certain items that had been budgeted for 2009, and deferred action on non-budgeted items. To date, these measures have offset the assessment collection shortfall. Thus, a special assessment this year to cover any shortfalls has been avoided. Below is a summary of the actions the Board has taken. The Board made the following decisions on the below budgeted items for 2009: 1. Decided not to contract for the twice yearly treatment of the playground equipment at the parks, a savings of $2,800. 2. Decided not to contract for touch-up painting of the facility centers this year. The centers had been completed in 2008. This is an approximate savings of $5,143 for the year. Staff is completing small touch ups as necessary this year. 3. Decided not to pressure clean the facility centers this year, as this had been completed in 2008. Staff can touch up as needed this year. This is a savings of $14,500 for the year. 4. Decided not to caulk and weatherproof the maintenance garage (at Enders) and the High Park buildings since this was completed in 2007. This is a savings of $2,000 for the year. 5. Re-negotiated the cleaning contract for the facility centers and pool baths from three days per week to two days per week. The savings projected by the end of the year are $5,593. 6. Re-negotiated the pool maintenance contract to $3900 per month for five day service (May thru September) and $3,300 per month for three day a week service (October thru April). The savings projected by the end of the year is $11,700. 7. Decided not to do a reserve study for 2009 since one has been completed every year for the prior 6 years. This is a savings of $4,740. 8. Decided not to contract for a planned splitting of the Community Director's office and the separate creation of a file storage area in the office area of Grace Hopper Hall. This is an estimated savings of $13,350 for 2009.
9. Decided to discontinue the fitness equipment monthly maintenance inspection, at a savings of $212 per month. Projected estimated savings thru 2009 is $4,600.
Denny O'Neil
10. Decided to turn off all hot water heaters at the facility centers. 11. Decided not to adjust Bailey Square Park/Markham Place turning radius for a savings of $6,000. 12. Decided not to do shrubbery landscape replacements for a savings of $11,795. 13. Decided not to buy new swimming pool lane ropes at this time for a savings of $3,600. 14. Decided to defer irrigation upgrades to Ardsdale Mews for a savings of $1,100. 15. Decided to defer the March mulch application for the ROA parks for a savings of $5,400. 16. Decided not to install drinking fountain at Union Park. It was budgeted for $5,000. This $10,000 (new estimate) item has been deferred. The savings are the budgeted $5,000. Total savings of $97,321 in fiscal year 2009 budgeted items. This is a substantial amount of money. If the Board had not taken these types of opportunities to reduce expenses, a special assessment would have been levied. The hope is that when the economy improves, we will not have as large a shortfall in assessment collections and it will be possible to reinstate these types of expenditures. The Board made the following decisions on these NonBudgeted items for 2009: 1. Decided not to replace the rubber mulch with bark mulch at the High Park playground area. This item has been deferred and was proposed to cost $1,309. 2. Decided not to install tile in the entries of Enders’ gym and facility center. We repaired the current wood floors instead. Installation of tile has been deferred. The proposed cost was $3,600. 4. Decided not to contract out the deck painting and caulking at Enders Pool. Staff did it for a savings of $11,959.65. 5. Decided not to replace entertainment systems at Grace Hopper saving approximately $11,000. Instead, staff found a $150 alternative fix for each entertainment system. 6. Decided to hold off on proposal to fill in beds at Ardsdale Mews totaling $784. 7. Decided to hold off on proposal to replace sod at Ardsdale Mews totaling $810.
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For the New Year: BEGIN WITH LOVE By Dr. Richard Betts
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his fall I lost a family member to leukemia. I had not taken time out to see her for a few years and prior to that only once every two years at most. She was diagnosed with leukemia two years ago and of course the family encouraged her to battle the disease and win. Currently Atypical Chronic Myeloid Leukemia has no cure no matter what time during the disease it is diagnosed. She was apprehensive to believe that her life would end soon but she did realize she needed to get her affairs in order if she lost the battle. The disease had taken its toll and she was admitted to the hospital for the third time in less than two months. We immediately left sooner than anticipated for a planned visit. Once we arrived in Iowa we drove directly to the hospital where she received her third and what was to be her final blood transfusion. Her doctor gave her two recommendations which included Interferon to elongate her life with excruciating side affects or hospice care to keep her comfortable until death. She chose hospice. She was released from the hospital and loaded into the car for what was to be her last trip anywhere. It was a pleasant drive home under a bright warm sun with a cool brisk wind that blew colorful leaves in the big oaks while the smell of autumn entranced our nasal senses. We traveled to her old neighborhood she left 10 years ago to marvel at how all of the trees and plants had grown so beautifully. Sweet silence enveloped the car as we sat, watched and experienced wonderful memories of time past. There was no discussion of the disease and the end result. I noticed her disheveled hair, how frail her thin bony arm felt in my hand and how slow, unstable and labored her walking and breathing were as we supported and guided her to the front door of her house. This transfusion didn’t allow her to bounce back like the past two. It was then I understood we would be elongating our stay to help our beloved family member make her transition. I willingly accepted the responsibility of performing the difficult medical tasks needed and guiding and giving support to other family members helping her pass. There comes a time when you love a person so much that you put all of your life on hold to help those in their time of need. Spending her last days in a nursing home was out of the question but at the same time she softly revealed that she didn’t want to become a burden. She never ever wanted to be a burden. Unanimously home hospice care was the only choice especially after visiting several depressing institutions. I share this to remind you that although the holiday season is upon us we must remember what is truly important to us. Time is a precious commodity that should not be taken for granted or squandered away. Take this holiday season to reflect on each task you agree to perform. Ask a few questions - “Is this task taking me away from
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my family? Is it worth the time allotment since I only have so many days, hours, minutes or seconds on the earth and I don’t know when they will be up? What is most important to me? What do I love doing?” With the New Year come resolutions. Normally I have one or two. However, in the past I have put so much physical and mental stress on trying to bring my resolutions to fruition that this year, due to my Iowa experience, my only resolution will be to do what I love with those that I love. With the passing of my family member I have been taught that life is too short. I will stop and enjoy the scent of roses. I will have those relationship enhancing conversations with family, friends or neighbors that I would have otherwise brushed off with excuses of too busy to talk. If your goal is to lose weight or stop smoking or any other of a plethora of desires, realize that those bad habits may have their creation in your unhappiness and not doing what you were meant to achieve. Maybe a great resolution for the New Year would be to ask yourself, “Am I doing things that I love to do? Am I in a career that I love? Am I in a relationship that I love?” Remember you have the power to change if there is no love. Don’t give the excuse that you are too old, too skinny, too fat, too ugly or too unintelligent. Realize and understand that it is never, ever, ever too late to change! If you are happy in what you are doing and you are doing what you love you won’t ever be too skinny, too fat, too ugly, too unintelligent and yes, even too old. Once you decide to do what you love and you sustain that love your anatomical body reflects your love within by reversing the aging process as well as any other physical or habitual changes you desire. You’ve seen 70 or 80 year old people looking 50 or younger because they are in love with themselves and their lives. Live your life as if you will live forever and as if you will die tomorrow. By thinking you will live forever you make better health choices and create better habits and a more vibrant body. By thinking that you will die tomorrow you will focus on the important aspects of your life making certain you continue to love and spend precious time with those in your life that you cherish and are grateful for. Remember a lifetime is made up of journeys not destinations and to be happiest one must enjoy every single voyage. Just do the best you can. Most importantly see yourself as limitless.
Dr. Richard Betts is a Baldwin Park resident and practices Chiropractic and Nutrition. Go to www.drrichardbetts.com for more health information.
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FEATURED MERCHANT: BullFish
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ou’ve probably been asking yourself this question since the store opened earlier this year...what in the world is a BullFish? If you have shopped in the store, you probably know the answer, but if not (and if you haven’t, you’ve missed quite a treat!), we are here with the answer to your question! “BullFish comes from the fact that I’m a Taurus and he’s a Pisces,” said Brian Wettstein, who co-owns BullFish with Jeff Brow. “So that’s where the name comes from!” More than just the combination of astrological signs, the BullFish concept is in fact a combination of talents and interests of the two owners. Brian’s background is in corporate retail. Jeff worked in real estate for 20 years, selling new homes. Brian worked for many years in musical theater. Jeff loves to fly. And they both love dogs! About 10 years ago, they opened their first store, The Doggie Door. “Jeff always had this itch to open his own store,” said Brian. “The real estate business was good,” said Jeff. ”But I was bored. I wanted to do something more interesting.”
Brian Wettstein (left), with Jet, and Jeff Brow, holding Snickers, are the Taurus and Pisces who own BullFish.
The success of the Doggie Door led to the opening their second store, Olive This, Relish That, an olive oil and wine shop.
Because of the expansion of the food, wine and speciality items now carried at BullFish’s Baldwin Park store, Brian and Jeff decided to rejuvenated the Doggie Door store on Park Avenue in Winter Park.
After a few years, the two shops were combined into BullFish. “With the new name, we were not confined to the two store concepts that we started with,” said Brian. “Jeff got his pilot’s license and we started ‘toying’ with the aviation collectibles, and that was kind of fun!” They also started bringing in environmentally friendly products, music themed items, gifts, stationery and greeting cards. As the inventory got larger, Brian and Jeff began looking for new space. As residents of Baldwin Park (family #30 to be exact), the move to the Village Center made sense and allowed them to expand their specialty concept. BullFish carries aviation and nautical themed accessories and gifts; the Hatley casual clothing line; gourmet food and wine, including Stonewall Kitchen collection of jams, jellies and mustards, pancake mixes and syrups; Robert Rothschild Farms products; estate olive oils and balsamic vinegars; cocktail olives; two different lines of crystal glass and decanters; and other wine accessories. The wines they carry are from limited production boutique wineries. And they carry their own private label wines.
And just in time for the newest addition to the family, Jet, a 3year-old male recently adopted from Gold Coast Greyhounds, who joins Snickers, the dachshund. Brian and Jeff have adopted other greyhounds, including Sebastian, in whose memory they established the Sebastian Haul Fund, to assist Local greyhound adoption organizations with transportation costs to get greyhounds to their forever homes. “In 2008 we assisted 96 greyhounds to their homes. This year we are on track to double that number,” said Brian. “It costs approximately $65 per dog to get them to their homes. We help the following local groups: Gold Coast Greyhounds, Greyhound Pets of America Greater Orlando, Greyhound Ranch. ” Their private label wines and many of the events held at BullFish and The Doggie Door help raise funds for the Sebastian Haul Fund, including their annual Doggie Art Festival held this year on New Broad Street.
“We now have space to do parties, with the wine area,” said Jeff. And the space to add a “post office.”
“There are too many retired racing greyhounds to find adoptive home in Central Florida for all of them,” said Brian. “That is why hauls are done to other states that do not have racing where other greyhound groups work to find suitable homes.”
“We are able to do everything a regular post office does except money orders and receiving mail,” said Jeff.
For more information about BullFish, please visit their web site at www.bullfish.net.
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FEATURED MERCHANT: Tiny Toes Children’s Shoes
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t might sound just a bit cliché to quote the proverb “if the shoe fits, wear it” in conjunction with a story about a shoe store, but it doesn’t take long talking with Leo and Rosanna Cal to know that it is an appropriate description of their life and their philosophical approach to their business. It wasn’t the goal of the Puerto Rican couple to open a shoe store when they moved to Florida. “We didn’t decide, it happened for us,” said Rosanna. “I was working full time as an attorney. That was my career, period,” said Rosanna. And then Leo got laid off from his job and the couple had to decide the next step. “Well, what are you going to do, Leo?” Rosanna recalls asking her husband. His response...“I’ll open up a shoe store!” To many, this might seem to be a far fetched notion, but for the Cal’s it was an obvious choice based on what they had experienced since moving to the United States. “In Puerto Rico, there is a very heavy influence of European design in shoes and clothing,” said Rosanna. “So our kids are used to wearing very colorful shoes.” Because they could not find, in Orlando, the brands of shoes they were accustomed to buying in Puerto Rico, Leo’s mother would buy them and ship them, or bring them with her on visits. Rosanna said parents from their children’s day care started asking where they could get similar shoes for their children. When they started asking the Cals to purchase shoes for their children “a big light bulb went on,” said Leo. “Rosanna always wanted to do something kid related,” said Leo. “I had the retail experience because I was born into a pizzeria/restaurant over in Puerto Rico, that we kept until we moved.” After Leo got the store up and running, Rosanna resigned from her firm and joined him full time. “And the rest is history,” said Rosanna. “Our little dream of doing something with children, ended up turning into our life!” Rosanna said that one of the greatest things that has come with owning their own store is ”being involved with charity and donations and working with the community, which we have never really done other than the minimum.” Rosanna said they have become involved in a situation which allows them to make a difference in children’s lives, by providing them with the first pair of brand new shoes they may have ever had.
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Rosanna, Mia Sofia, Leo, and Emilio Cal
“That’s our way of giving back to children who have nothing,” she said. They also collect gently used shoes, any size, for local charities or send to Soles4Souls (www.soles4souls.org), which provides shoes for children in third world countries. “A lot of people don’t think about the need that children have for shoes,” said Leo. “Being able to participate in that way with children is very satisfying,” said Rosanna. Their working relationship is also that of a well-worn shoe (to use another cliché). Rosanna is the micro manager, tending to all the small details and financial stuff. Leo is the “front man” and self-described “clown.” “It really works well,” said Rosanna, “we really do compliment each other.” Another advantage of running your own business is you can bring you kids to work, said the Cals. “Saturday is come-to-work day,” said Leo. When they close the store, and go home, it’s all about family, said Rosanna and Leo. “Sunday is family day,” said Rosanna. “Leo loves swimming with the kids...and barbecuing.” After three years in Central Florida, the Cals have yet to tire of going to the theme parks. “It’s different when you go and see things through the eyes of your children,” said Rosanna. For more information about Tiny Toes Children’s Shoes, please visit their web site at www.tinytoesusa.com.
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BALDWIN PARK 101: Baldwin Park Traditions By Jim Schirtzinger
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reat neighborhoods usually have housing that is well maintained, beautiful landscape, caring neighbors and residents that take pride in their community. These contribute to a feeling for the residents that their place is unique from all that is around it. Immediately upon arrival, you just feel the difference. The developers of Baldwin Park had this goal in mind and using sophisticated urban planning concepts, have created a physical environment that accomplishes many of these attributes. But while they have built a lovely environment; they can’t build a “community spirit.” That is up to each one of us! All the best neighborhoods I have known possess a pride shared by all of the members making them feel that they are part of something very special. This pride is what binds them to a place and gives them feelings of belonging. To maintain this feeling of belonging, just like a family, there are times when all the community members need to come together to feel they are part of something much bigger. There are times when a community needs to come together to have a sense of itself and to celebrate that self.
Jacket Park. The Baldwin Park Resident Owners Association has an Activities Committee that has produced such get-togethers as the Halloween Party, the Holiday Parade, the Easter Egg Hunt, the Porch Sale and wonderful musical events. A special fund, The Resident Led Activities fund, RLA, has been created to contribute grants of up to $1000, twice a year to encourage residents to create their own events that can become a Baldwin Park tradition. The Doggie Derby is on its way to being a unique, yearly tradition. This winter, a Chili Cook-Off is planned through the use of the RLA funds. In October, a group of residents came together to generate ideas in a “Traditions Workshop.” Our task was to explore events that would be unique to Baldwin Park and not just a clone from other area neighborhoods. Something like the Winter Park Arts Festival is difficult to compete with. It has become their tradition.
Baldwin Park Needs You!
While I think we can all agree that Our old neighborhood, Upper we need our own traditions, the Arlington, in Columbus, Ohio, execution of these is very difficult was a new development in the of a lack of community early 1920’s and not unlike “Your help in leading or because volunteers to help. All the current Baldwin Park. Over the years, the residents there created supporting a Baldwin Park activities are promoted by a small, hard working community events that became tradition can be a contribution to relatively number of volunteers who have yearly traditions that brought generation after generation a legacy that will continue far stepped up to take the lead on making the current events a home to touch their pasts and into the future.” success. Many, if not all events in renew old friendships. The most our neighborhood suffer from a popular event was the Fourth of lack of volunteers to share the load. After a while, without July Celebration. Part of that was a parade that started quite supporting participants, the work is just overwhelming and small at first but over the years grew to a massive hour and a only through their own dogged tenacity, they continue. half extravaganza that included marching bands from all over Ohio, the Air Force flying over in ear numbing formations and For our community to be as successful as is its promise, we the Ohio State Alumni Marching Band providing a rousing need all of our residents to contribute in some way by either musical finish. It was me, my family and my neighbors sharing leading an activity or volunteering to lend support. If not, all a nearly perfect moment. these efforts will eventually fall by the wayside. That is not good for our Baldwin Park family. Your help in leading or Baldwin Park is a new community that needs to create its own supporting a Baldwin Park tradition can be a contribution to a unique community traditions. Early on in Baldwin Park's legacy that will continue far into the future. Give your name to creation, the developer sponsored some parties to get the ball the folks in Grace Hopper Hall to let them know that you’d like rolling. The commercial business owners continue these efforts to do your share to make our community great. Also share your by sponsoring many events that occur in the Village Center. ideas that can become a Baldwin Park tradition. Some have been very successful while others have become one time events. One has to admire all these wonderful efforts because they raise the quality of life for us all. The Smooth Jazz A resident of Baldwin Park from 1966 to 1967 and from 2004 to present, Jim Festival also has had great success with its two shows in Blue Schirtzinger is the vice president of the Residential Owners Association.
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MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR: LTC Steven Thomas
When the 2009 Festival of Lights Parade steps off on Saturday, December 12, LTC Steven Thomas and the 3-347th “STINGER” Battalion will be out in front, leading the way. Baldwin Park resident Steve Thomas feels comfortable out in front, leading the way...leading by example.
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teve Thomas is a “citizen soldier,” a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, who gets to live in Baldwin Park and walk to work most days.
Nice work if you can get it, some might say, but for Steve, it’s a sense of responsibility to his country that drove him to “re-up” after serving in the regular army and the reserves. And it’s his sense of responsibility to his family, also, that keeps him stateside. Steve is the battalion commander of the 3-347th “STINGER” Battalion, which is headquartered just outside of Baldwin Park, in a building at the corner of General Reese and Corrine Drive.
“I want to be part of a community,” he said. “But there’s a big piece of me that is the “patriotic me”. I didn’t join the Army back in 1985 for the money. I joined because I have a lot of pride in my country.” As a matter of fact, being in the army was all Steve ever wanted to do, until he met Mia, who became his wife, and he knew that he had to make a decision. So, he took a job in sales and settled down to being a husband and a father, while remaining active in the reserves, until March of 2008, when he was asked to take over command of the training battalion.
“I consider the reserves and the national guard as citizen soldiers,” said Steve. “These are people that have regular jobs, like I have.
The job of the unit is to prepare the reserve or national guard unit for what they will experience when they are sent overseas. They teach skills such weapons firing, counter ID, and “lanes training.” The training simulates the experience of a convoy moving through an Iraqi town, with persons dressed in Iraqi garb, speaking the language, the firing of small arms fire, or the ignition of road side bombs. The next unit he will be training is a combat convoy security unit.
“I’m a resident of Baldwin Park. My home and my heart is here. This is my family, this is where I live. If I had wanted to do this full time, I would have stayed on active duty,” said Steve.
“What does that mean...that means that they get shot at, they have road side bombs,” said Steve. “You always hope you did your best to get them ready.”
The unit is part of the First Army, which trains Army Reserve or National Guard soldiers who are going to Iraq or Afghanistan.
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The solider and the civilian: Steve training the 48th Brigade Combat Team (Georgia National Guard), which was deployed to Afghanistan this past summer (left photo), and with his family, wife, Mia, and two boys, Andrew and Jonathan, on a cruise this past summer in St Thomas. Making a difference in peoples lives is important to Steve, from shaping a soldier to teaching Sunday school to volunteering at community events. When he left active duty, Steve worked in sales for nine years. And he was good at what he did, but he was never happy doing it, he said, because it did not fulfill his need to “serve.” “If I can help a soldier who works for me, I can shape them, and make them better for life,” said Steve. “For me, it’s important to do something from my heart.” As a father, he is there for his sons, to coach their baseball teams. But it is also about service to the community.
Last year, Steve got involved with the Festival of Lights parade and volunteered his unit to help work the barricades along the parade route. This year, the color guard unit will again lead the parade down New Broad Street. “Our unit does a lot of community outreach. We do Meals on Wheel pretty frequently,” he said.
“I personally think that there is nothing better than you can do than serve your country.”
“If you can teach a kid how to hit a baseball, and see the joy in his face, that is service,” said Steve. “I personally think that there is nothing better that you can do than serve your country.”
“It goes back to the mentorship part of me. If I can get all of my soldiers over there to feel proud of giving back to the community, then I’ve made a difference,” he said. “I may not be an astronaut, I may not be the president of the United States, but I made a difference in people’s lives, and that’s a good thing.
“And hopefully, I set a good example for other people to quasiemulate, whether it’s the soldiers in my unit, kids on the baseball field, or people in my community.”
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t’s been quite a year in Baldwin Park, filled with fun and events, and we’ve got the pictures to prove it. Starting on the page to the left, with the 2008 Festival of Lights (which took place on December 13, 2008), take a photo tour of the events of 2009, including: March 14 - 3rd Annual Baldwin Park Arts Festival (on Page 30)
August 28 - BullFish Dog Days of Summer Wine & Beer (on Page 32) September 26 - Baldwin Bark Annual Dog Wash (on Page 36) October 24 - Halloween Parade & Party (on Page 40, including the most recent Trophy of Awesomeness winners, Cole Mohanna & Keaton Mohanna, for their
April 5 - Doggie Art Festival (on Pages 30 & 32) April 11 - Easter Egg Hunt (on Page 34) May 2 - 2nd Annual Doggie Derby (on Page 36) May 17 - Green Fest 09 (on Page 34)
decorated wagon, which was part of the Play Club Halloween Parade.)
For more photos of these and other events in Baldwin Park, check out the Photo Gallery at www.BaldwinParkNetwork.com.
June 19 - Artygator Crawl (on Page 30) July 19 - July Art Stroll (on Page 30) August 27 - Resident Ice Cream Social & Movie Night on the Green(on Page 38)
(Thanks go to Harry Lim, our resident volunteer photographer, who took many of these photos and designed the photo pages for this issue. Check out Harry’s web site at www.harrylimphotography.com)
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Tennis Anyone? The 2nd Annual Baldwin Park Tennis Tournament was played at the Orlando Tennis Center under sunny skies on Saturday, November 14. This mixed doubles tournament featured 40 of the best (nonprofessional) tennis players in the world. After players were initially seeded with assigned partners, everyone played five 20minute timed matches. After every match, each winning team moved up a court, each losing team moved down a court, and players switched partners. Medals were awarded to players with the most individual games
won. Congratulations goes out to Oscar Osorio (1st place) and Nolan Negron (2nd place) for the men and Jill Mickle (1st place) and Robin Bressler (2nd place) for the women. The trophy for “Best Dressed” was shared between Cole Mohanna and Micah Mohanna (kneeling, front center of photo). The après-tennis party took place at Paddy Murphy’s in the Village Center with tasty beer, tantalizing conversation, and an adorable puppy. For more information on the Baldwin Park Tennis Club, please see the Clubs page on the back page of this magazine.
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For more information on these businesses, please go to
www.BaldwinParkNetwork.com
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
and click on Directories in the side menu bar.
VILLAGE CENTER RETAIL
Janney Montgomery Scott, LLC
Hess & Hess CPAs, P.A.
Amy Ridge Allstate Agency
KRG&G, LLP
Hoskins Quiros Osborne &
Artistic Expressions Photography
MSCW, Inc.
Baldwin Bark & Meow Supply
Post Properties
Human Development - Dr. Mary Travis
Baldwin Nails & Day Spa
The Majestic Apartments
Kay Green Design
Barnie’s Coffee & Tea Company
The Rosenthal Law Firm, P.A.
Lake Baldwin Dental - Dr. William Dunn
Best Cleaners
VOA Associates, Inc.
Lamm & Company Partners
BullFish
Websolvers
Marchena & Graham, P.A.
LaBeaume, CPA, LLC
Mark Rash Interiors
Chi Pan Asian Restaurant Cold Stone Creamery
VILLAGE CENTER LIVE/WORK
Martin Orthodontics - Dr. Jeff Martin
Colibri
Access LLC
McCorkle Construction Company
CVS Pharmacy
American Home Companions
MSI Design
Dental Excellence at Baldwin Park
American Mortgage Company
Nishad Kahn P.L. Attorneys & Advisors
Farris & Fosters Famous Chocolate Factory
Ana Ivonne Aviles, CPA, LLC
New York Life Insurance - Larry B. Rash
Fitness Together
Anh’s Nails & Skin Care
Orlando Pediatric Dentistry -
Five Guys Famous Burgers & Fries
Baldwin Granite - Focus Builders
Dr. Maubashir Chaudhry
Hair Cuttery
Belle Vie Day Spa & Gifts
Park Avenue Group
Jack’s Steak House
Blue Fox Services
Park Place Title, Inc.
Kennedy’s All American Barber Club
Cameron’s Design
Physician Associates - Dr. Penny Danna
Ki Marital Arts Academy
Charis Counseling Center
Complete Health & Wellness -
La Bella Luna
Crystal Clear Concepts
Lago Restaurant
FRS Planning Associates - Frank Arnall
Loco Motion
GW Financial
Lulu Belle Baby Boutique
Hearing Associates of Central Florida
Merrigan’s Boutique
IE Site Designs
New Broad Street Realty
In Florida Mortgage
R.W. Block Consulting, Inc.
Orlando Metro Gymnastics - Coming Soon!
Interior Talent Inc.
Reflections Dermatology -
Paddy Murphy’s Irish Pub
Joyce Ducas, PhD
Planet Beach Tanning Salon
Lake Baldwin Church
Rey Group
Planet Smoothie
My Stage Dance Studio
SaJune Medical Center
Publix
Pro-Active Family Chiropractic -
SGM Engineering, Inc.
Regions Bank
Dr. Chris Brouillette Psychological Services, LLC Dr. Becky Eades Psychotherapy Works, LLC Maria Darcy, Ph. D., ABS
Dr. Luke Peterson
Dr. Dimitry Palceski
Smart Start Learning Center State Farm Agents -
Seito Japanese Restaurant
Rosa’s Design and Alterations
Subway
Setnor Byer Insurance & Risk
SunTrust Bank
Solodev Internet Software
Sweet Glides Segway Tours of Florida
Tiny Toes Children’s Shoes
The Home Mag
Therapeutic Hands of Steele
Jim Ackerman & John Psomas
Wade P. Luther P.A. Law Firm
Trish’s Teas
WomenCare - Dr. Brenda M. Barry
Uptown Park Wine Bar
NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE
Victoria Jewelers
AdepTech, Inc.
VIBE Center for Performing Arts
Animal Hospital at Baldwin Park
OTHER COMMERCIAL
Weight Watchers
Architects in Partnership
Cuhaci & Peterson Architects
WineStyles Wine Bar & Market
Beattie Family Orthodontics
Fairwinds Credit Union
Bird Eye Institute - Dr. Eugenio Bird
Florida Institute of Technology
VILLAGE CENTER OFFICE
Brown Cooper Architects
Nature’s Table
Centerline Homes
Central Florida Foot & Ankle Specialists -
North Park Baptist Church
Commerce Financial Group
Dr. Victor McNamara
St. Paul Travelers
CPA Wealth Management Services
Dyer, Riddle, Mills & Precourt, Inc.
Executive OfficeSuites of Baldwin Park
Florida Retina and Vitreous Center
(Baldwin Park Merchant Association
J Martin Black & Associates
Hanover Capital Partners
members are noted in bold.)
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FEATURED CLUB: Baldwin Park Tennis Club
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1913 Meeting Place Orlando, Florida 32814
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