Look Inside For Your MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION LOYALTY CARD
L IVING
June/July 2009 4TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION!
BOB SHOWALTER: High Flying Father Summer Events Calendar:
BALDWIN PARK 101:
No Reason To Leave WHAT IS YOUR SPARK?
SUMMER SLEEPING BAG MOVIE SERIES & MORE
New Columns on Fitness &
MINI PROFILE: Landon Hurd
ARTYgators Crawl Into Village Center
Community Involvement
Ellyse, 4, Claire, 5, and Elle, 4, are ready for the Summer Sleeping Bag Movie Series. See Page 4 for more details.
S UMMER E VENTS C ALENDAR Sunday, June 7th SUMMER SLEEPING BAG MOVIE SERIES 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Grace Hopper Hall Gathering Room
Friday, June 19th ARTYgator CRAWL 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Village Center
Saturday, June 20th BALDWIN PARK LITTLE ARTISTS PLAY DATE & SHOWCASE 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., My Art Studio
Thursday, June 25th MOVIE NIGHT ON THE GREEN Dusk, Village Center
Sunday, June 28th 5th ANNUAL ORLANDO TRIATHLON 7:30 a.m., Village Center Waterfront
Thursday, July 9th ART STROLL OF BALDWIN PARK 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Village Center
Sunday, July 12th SUMMER SLEEPING BAG MOVIE SERIES 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Grace Hopper Hall Gathering Room
Thursday, July 23rd MOVIE NIGHT ON THE GREEN Dusk, Village Center
Sunday, August 2nd SUMMER SLEEPING BAG MOVIE SERIES 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Grace Hopper Hall Gathering Room
CLIP & SAVE See the Community Network
www.BaldwinParkNetwork.com for more details on these events.
UPCOMING EVENTS Summer Sleeping Bag Movie Series Sunday, June 7th, July 12th, & August 2nd 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Grace Hopper Hall Gathering Room Mark your calendars now for some summer fun out of the sun and heat. The Baldwin Park Play Club is hosting a neighborhood-wide Summer Sleeping Bag Movie Series at Grace Hopper Hall. Tell your kids to pack up sleeping bags, pillows and snacks and bring their friends for a free G-rated movie showing. Thanks to a grant from the Resident-led Activities Fund, we’ll be able to project on the large wall and have speakers to conquer the background noise of dozens of children. Parents/sitters must stay for the movie. Doors will open at 1:45 p.m., with movies showing promptly at 2:00 p.m. The movies will be: June - High School Musical; July - High School Musical 2; August - High School Musical 3.
ARTYgator CRAWL Friday, June 19th 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Village Center Join the ARTYgator Community Art Project in partnership with the Baldwin Park Merchant’s Association and find out more about those colorful creatures who have recently taken up residence in the Village Center. There will be an ARTYgator exhibit, a scavenger hunt, drawings and giveaways, live music, food and drink samplings, entertainment, live animals, surprises and more!
Baldwin Park Little Artists Play Date & Showcase Saturday, June 20th 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. My Art Studio, 4882 New Broad Street Join the Baldwin Park Play Club at My Art Studio for a Little Artist play date led by Helen Neal. Each child will create a mixed-media portrait of their house. The Play Club will be partnering with new Village Center merchant BullFish to display the resulting artwork, in a showcase called “Baldwin Park Through Little Eyes.” It will be a fun, messy class intended for children up to 7 years of age. Children are asked to bring a photo of their home for inspiration. The cost is $10 per child, paid in advance. Please RSVP with advance payment to My Art Studio at 407-894-5950.
Movie Nights on the Green Thursday, June 26th & July 23rd Dusk Village Center Brought to you by the Baldwin Park Merchants Association; June’s movie is Father of the Bride and it is sponsored by New Broad Street Realty. July’s movie is Bedtime Stories. Continued on Page 6
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE Summer Events Calendar & Upcoming Events...Page 4
Letter from the Community Director
Letter from the Community Director...5 Letter from the Association President...7
Dear Resident, What is Your Spark?...10
Baldwin Park Living publication is
Mini Profile: Landon Hurd...11
turning 4! The first edition was
Featured Merchant: Grouper & More...12
published four short years ago under the name Neighborhood Marketplace. The publication was filled primarily
Susan Comisky
with advertisements as there weren’t a lot of people living in Baldwin Park at that time. As the neighborhood grew and
At Your Service: Complete Health & Wellness...15 Baldwin Park 101: No Reason To Leave...20
more people moved in, the need for a news source for the community was
Baldwin Park Merchant Association
apparent. Thus, the changes began. Baldwin Park Living is the new name for
Loyalty Program Cards...21
Neighborhood Marketplace. Along with the new name comes a new format aimed towards providing residents with pertinent information about living in
ARTYgators Crawl into Village Center...22
Baldwin Park. Watch for more changes in the coming months as the magazine
Meet Your Neighbors: Bob Showalter...24
continues to evolve. Happy Anniversary and thanks to editor, Shari King, who continues to do a great job!
Wellness Enhancing Lifestyle in Baldwin Park...31
No one can complain about not having anything to do this summer. The
What if Baldwin Park had a Theme Song?...36
calendar of events is full! Check out upcoming events on page 4.
Featured Club: Sisterhood of Greatness...37
Thanks to those who participated in the annual porch sale and attended the
Picture Page: Spring Events Photo Gallery...38
concert in the park featuring Matt “the saxman” and the Cornucopia band.
Business Directory...39
Even though people flocked to the back of the park to stay out of the sun, a great time was had by all. Vicki and Bob Crozier had a fabulous set up with a four course meal by candlelight and Block 95, under the direction of Block Captain Eric Norber won the gift certificate for the most people attending from
Publication Info
a block. They will in turn host their own block party in the future. Thanks to all who accepted the Challenge. Many folks will be heading off to different areas of the country for summer vacations. Be sure and send us pictures! We would love it if you held up a picture of Baldwin Park Living in your picture and let’s see how many places it travels this summer. Email pictures to me at SComisky@BaldwinParkpoa.com.
Have a great summer!
CALL OUT FOR AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2009: “What I Did (or Will Do) On My Summer Vacation!” Tell us about your plans for the summer. Submit a brief description (100 words) and a photo to Susan Comisky, Community Director at SComisky@BaldwinParkpoa.com
Baldwin Park Living is published by Baldwin Park Joint Committee, Inc. (Joint Committee), a Florida not-forprofit 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. 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. 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 Town Architect will approve of such items. Any and all planned modifications to the exterior of your home must be approved by the Town Architect in advance.
Editor: 407.365.3128
Advertising Sales: Creative Printing & Publishing
sharik214@aol.com
407.302.9147
Shari King
by Friday, July 10th.
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Continued from Page 4
5th Annual Orlando Triathlon Sunday, June 28th 7:30 a.m. (Awards Ceremony: 10:30 a.m.) Village Center Waterfront This is one event you don’t want to miss, whether you are participating or cheering on the hundreds of athletes as they swim, bike and run through Baldwin Park. Join us for this fun filled family activity day! Categories include: Triathlon - Swim 0.75 km - Bike 13.4 miles - Run 2.5 miles; Duathlon - Run 5 km - Bike 13.4 miles Run 2.5 miles; and Aquabike - Swim 0.75 km - Bike 13.4 miles. The event is free to spectators. Participant information and registration website is http://buttar.com/events /triathlon/OrlandoTri/index.htm
Art Stroll of Baldwin Park Thursday, July 9th 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Village Center
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The Baldwin Park Merchants Association will present the Art Stroll of Baldwin Park. The Art Stroll will start on New Broad Street downtown at 6:00 p.m. and continue until 9:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. This Art Stroll will feature the Central Florida Plein Air Artists and the B Side Artists. The Art Stroll will feature live painters creating artwork on the sidewalk, original fine art for sale by some of the region’s emerging and accomplished artists, along with live music. The Affiliate Operation Music Collective will be performing downtown. The Baldwin Park Merchant’s Association is sponsoring this event. Started in February, the Art Stroll has already attracted a lively crowd of community residents, and visiting groups have now begun to notice this exciting new place in the city of Orlando. For more information, contact curator Brad Biggs of BiggsLee Artistic Services at 407-923-8085, or via email at bbiggs214@aol.com.
Letter from the Residential Owners Association President What A Great Neighborhood We Live In!
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id you know that the neighborhood we live in has won several design and environmental awards? You can view the awards at www.BaldwinParkFL.com /web/news.asp. The work that earned these awards also resulted in the beautiful neighborhood we all love. In this letter, I want to educate you a little about the management company hired by the Joint Committee (JC), the Residential Owners Association (ROA), and the Commercial Owners Association (COA). I also will address the parking lots serving the Village Center. And finally, I want to go over a bit of the Baldwin Park history concerning Lake Baldwin Lane since that road is of concern to a number of residents. Management Company It has been my experience that many residents don’t understand the role of our Baldwin Park management company. Sentry Management, Inc. was selected by the associations to manage the neighborhood in 2002. The management company has responsibilities per the JC, ROA, and COA contract and performs those responsibilities under the direction of the JC, ROA, and COA boards of directors. The ROA has no employees; 10 Sentry Management employees perform work for the ROA under the contract. The employees at Grace Hopper Hall and the employees you see in trucks/NEVs with Baldwin Park signs on the vehicles are all Sentry Management employees. The management company responsibilities are extensive and too long to include here. You may view the duties by going to Community Network at www.BaldwinParkNetwork.com, click on Associations and Committees in the side menu bar. (By the way, the website www.BaldwinParkFL.com is the Baldwin Park Development Company’s website; and the ROA has nothing to do with that website.) Since several residents have been inquiring about records that the
management company keeps for the ROA, I thought that it would be helpful if you knew what records the ROA is required to keep per the Florida statutes and the rules about inspecting and copying the records so maintained. The following is an extract of the statute (note – “common areas or property” refers to parks, club houses, pools, etc.): (4) OFFICIAL RECORDS.—The association shall maintain each of the following items, when applicable, which constitute the official records of the association: (a) Copies of any plans, specifications, permits, and warranties related to improvements constructed on the common areas or other property that the association is obligated to maintain, repair, or replace. (b) A copy of the bylaws of the association and of each amendment to the bylaws. (c) A copy of the articles of incorporation of the association and of each amendment thereto. (d) A copy of the declaration of covenants and a copy of each amendment thereto. (e) A copy of the current rules of the homeowners’ association. (f) The minutes of all meetings of the board of directors and of the members, which minutes must be retained for at least seven years. (g) A current roster of all members and their mailing addresses and parcel identifications. (h) All of the association’s insurance policies or a copy thereof, which policies must be retained for at least seven years. (i) A current copy of all contracts to which the association is a party, including, without limitation, any management agreement, lease, or other contract under which the association has any obligation or responsibility. Bids received by the association for work to be performed must also be considered official records and must be kept for a period of 1 year.
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Denny O'Neil
(j) The financial and accounting records of the association, kept according to good accounting practices. All financial and accounting records must be maintained for a period of at least seven years. The financial and accounting records must include: 1. Accurate, itemized, and detailed records of all receipts and expenditures. 2. A current account and a periodic statement of the account for each member, designating the name and current address of each member who is obligated to pay assessments, the due date and amount of each assessment or other charge against the member, the date and amount of each payment on the account, and the balance due. 3. All tax returns, financial statements, and financial reports of the association. 4. Any other records that identify, measure, record, or communicate financial information. (5) INSPECTION AND COPYING OF RECORDS — The official records shall be maintained within the state and must be open to inspection and available for photocopying by members or their authorized agents at reasonable times and places within 10 business days after receipt of a written request for access. This subsection may be complied with by having a copy of the official records available for inspection or copying in the community. (a) The failure of an association to provide access to the records within 10 business days after receipt of a written request creates a rebuttable presumption that the association willfully failed to comply with this subsection. Continued on Page 8
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(b) A member who is denied access to official records is entitled to the actual damages or minimum damages for the association’s willful failure to comply with this subsection. The minimum damages are to be $50 per calendar day up to 10 days, the calculation to begin on the 11th business day after receipt of the written request. (c) The association may adopt reasonable written rules governing the frequency, time, location, notice, and manner of inspections, and may impose fees to cover the costs of providing copies of the official records, including, without limitation, the costs of copying. The association shall maintain an adequate number of copies of the recorded governing documents, to ensure their availability to members and prospective members, and may charge only its actual costs for reproducing and furnishing these documents to those persons who are entitled to receive them. If any resident desires to see records, the process begins with calling the Sentry Management folks at Grace Hopper Hall at 407-740-5838. Village Center Parking Lots How about that parking in the Village Center! Have you ever cruised New Broad Street searching for parking? Did you know that there are parking spaces that you can use located behind all of the buildings on both sides of New Broad Street from Common Way north to Jake Street and on the west side behind the buildings from Jake Street north to the fountain? That’s right; visitors to the Village Center may park in any of those parking lots which are maintained by the COA. Homeowners in the buildings surrounding the parking lots have their own designated parking. Based on Baldwin Park Traffic Committee recommendations, the Urban Orlando Community Development District (CDD) has recently added parking signs along the streets perpendicular to New Broad Street to show you where to turn into the parking lots. On each block along New Broad Street from Chatfield Place north, there are pedestrian walks located between the buildings (about in the middle of the block) which you can use to move from the parking lots to New Broad Street.
One of the most common resident suggestions is that we get the city to not allow Lake Baldwin Lane to be used as a “cutthrough” the neighborhood. Here is why that would be very difficult to do. The “Baldwin Park Settlement Agreement,” signed November 7, 2002, by Orlando NTC Partners, and the cities of Orlando, and Winter Park addressed certain regional transportation issues. Basically, Orlando NTC Partners was to construct an east-west road that linked State Road 436 on the east to State Road 50 on the south “in the Humphries alignment.” This was based on the hope that such a road would provide traffic coming from the northeast of Baldwin Park an alternate route to downtown Orlando and thus take traffic off of State Road 436 and off of Aloma Avenue and Lakemont Avenue. (The couple of blocks of road connecting State Route 50 at Linda’s La Cantina to Baldwin Park was named Humphries Avenue at the time of the Agreement and was later changed to Lake Baldwin Lane.) Part of the Agreement specified that Baldwin Park residents would have access to Lakemont Avenue to go north from the neighborhood because the City of Orlando and the Orlando NTC Partners “believe that the Lakemont egress from the property [Baldwin Park] is important to the health and safety of future residents of the Project, because it provides the most direct route from the Property to Winter Park Memorial Hospital. Winter Park will permanently open Lakemont Avenue to the public when the East-West Road is available for use by the public.” That happened on May 11, 2006. Many residents have asked why Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) school buses can use Lindale Avenue. Article 5 of the Agreement provided that “Orlando Partners agrees that it shall provide pedestrian and vehicular access to Winter Park High School from the northeast section of the Baldwin Park Property.” Why don’t we just change some of these things? Article 6 states ”This Agreement may not be amended, modified, altered, or changed in any respect whatsoever, except be an amendment in writing duly executed by the Parties hereto.” So, the developer, and the cities of Orlando and Winter Park would have to agree to any change. And, if the change affected the OCPS, we probably would have to get their agreement also.
Lake Baldwin Lane The Baldwin Park Traffic Committee gets a lot of e-mails concerning Lake Baldwin Lane. The committee has addressed these resident concerns with the city limits of Orlando, and the city has taken some actions (driver feedback signs near Baldwin Park Drive, no parking zones for 30 feet on side streets that connect to Lake Baldwin Lane) to help the traffic situation along the road. The city is reviewing the effectiveness of these actions and still reviewing other Traffic Committee recommendations for the road.
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What is Your Spark?
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nyone who listens to National Public Radio has surely heard the highly popular segment, This, I Believe, where people average listeners - were given air time to express their truest convictions. The NPR series has ended, but there is an on-going “wave” of self-expressionism that we are seeing in blogs, letters to the editor, and other mediums that give us a sense of empowerment to express our innermost passions. Through this publication and on the Community Network, we’d like to challenge Baldwin Park residents to share your vision for the neighborhood - in other words, show us your Spark. Tell us what your passion is and how it affects your actions here
in the neighborhood. Whether your Spark is picking up trash, volunteering as a school crossing guard, tossing people’s newspapers onto their porch, or bringing your new neighbors a casserole, tell us about it! Submit an essay for our new column called, “This is My Spark.” There are criteria of course: Column must be original; it must have a positive tone; be around 200 words or less. It should apply to living or working in Baldwin Park. And finally, it should be about yourself (or your family) and how you keep the fire burning, so to speak. Below is our first entry.
This is My Spark!: Becca Schmidt iving here in Baldwin Park, I’ve met quite a few residents who have “theme park history,” including a neighbor who had a summer job as a Disney walk-around character, and another who spent years on the Cypress Gardens water-ski team.
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My “park history” was a 12-year career as a publicist for SeaWorld. In those years, there was for me, a “spark” ignited that has since become a fiery passion: cleaning up the environment. I remember walking around SeaWorld with the park president and breaking stride so
he could stoop over and pick up a piece of trash. Everyone, from the directors to the animal trainers, picked up stray napkins, straws or anything else that might have drifted into the walkways. The attraction was spotless because employees had an authentic sense of ownership and pride for the park. I believe that Baldwin Park residents can, and should, have this same sense of pride at the pools, playgrounds and Village Center. It is our job to ensure that we don’t overstuff a trash can, that the recycling goes into the right bins, and that a gust of wind doesn’t carry the napkins off our table. I realize I may 10
never convince those around me to reduce, re-use and recycle, but I’d be thrilled if my “little spark"” would encourage residents to break their stride just a little, and help keep our community clean.
Becca Schmidt, who has lived here for 3 ½ years, is a Yoga teacher and a passionate environmentalist. Becca worked with Keep Orlando Beautiful to bring a recycling program to Blue Jacket Park. Baseball teams and anyone else who uses the park can now toss plastic water bottles and soda cans in recycle containers.
Mini Profile: Landon Hurd Landon Hurd, age 5 is the son of Rusten and Patty Hurd. He was interview recently by Bridget Lovett.
Q. What do you think was in Baldwin Park before homes were here?
Q. What kind of silly food would taste good on a pizza? A. Well, they don’t serve chicken pizza at a restaurant. Or if a person was standing on a pizza, that would be super silly.
A. I remember when George Washington was here, and he built a house with sticks. I learned that at school.
Q. What kinds of bugs or animals have you seen in Baldwin Park? A. Well, I found a dead mosquito in our house one time. And I saw a ladybug in the grass one time, and ducks. And we have a bird’s nest on our front porch. Daddy found it. And you can’t touch the bird’s nest because the mommy bird will never come back. And baby birds will come out of the eggs. And birds eat worms, but people don’t touch them because they’re slimy.
Q. What’s the best place to play in Baldwin Park? A. Probably the playground, because I can slide down the pole and swing on the monkey bars, and there are two spots where you can play soccer and football. Q. What’s a good way to meet a new neighbor kid? A. You can go anywhere that you see them, and then you can play with them if your mommy and daddy say it’s okay. And if you like playing with them, then you have a new friend.
Bridget Lovett is a former teacher and current stay-at-home mom who found her spark as a volunteer writer.
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Featured Merchant Grouper & More: Taking Seafood to New Heights in Baldwin Park
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efore becoming a restaurateur, when Mitch Weiss wanted a good grouper sandwich, he drove to Naples to get one! It was a long way to drive but it helped that his “best friend in the world” and radio controlled airplane buddy owned a restaurant in the southwest Florida town. “I used to drive to Naples specifically for the crab cakes and the blackened grouper pasta dishes with the beurre blanc sauce,” said Weiss. “And I used to bring home enough to put in the freezer to last me for a month.” Inspired and assisted by his friend, Weiss opened Grouper & Chips (now Grouper & More) in May of 2007. “He gave me all of his recipes,” said Weiss. Weiss’ goal with the 2-year-old Baldwin Park restaurant is to duplicate the success of his friend’s 13-year-old Naples location, which has been described as the “the best food in town” by local and out-of-town visitors.
in trans fat free canola oil, so what is fried comes out light. The most popular dishes in Baldwin Park include grouper and haddock, either fried or blackened, such as blackened grouper linguini, Weiss said. Crab or lobster bisque soups and crab cakes are also popular. Caribbean salmon salad, with seared salmon, Caribbean spice seasoning, romaine lettuce, fresh vegetables, pineapple, mandarin orange slices, sun-dried cranberries, cherry tomatoes and sunflower seeds served with homemade balsamic vinaigrette, is a favorite with the lunch crowd. ...& More Landlubbers can also get a 9 ounce sirloin steak served with garlic mashed potatoes, and surf & turf with black tiger shrimp, or a chipotle mayo and blue cheese burger. Your server at Grouper & More can suggest a wine to pair with many of the entrees, by the bottle or the glass. A good selection of domestic and imported beers can be had, as well as micro brews, such as “Orange Blossom Pilsner - Florida’s Honey Beer.”
Grouper... “We spend more of the money customers give us on the food that we serve than any other restaurant in town,” claims Weiss. Grouper used to be a “cheap” fish, said Weiss. Now it is one of the most expensive, because of changes in commercial fishing regulations. “I buy the best I can buy and I won’t compromise on the quality of the food, that’s why we have the following that we have.” The bouillabaisse and the fried fisherman’s platter include lobster, scallops, shrimp, or mussels and fish for under $20. The batter recipes are unique to the business and the frying is done
And course, the ubiquitous Florida dessert favorite, homemade Key lime pie, is available. For fresh air enthusiasts, outdoor seating provides a beautiful view of Lake Baldwin and the lakefront park. Lucky for you, you won’t have to drive as far as Mitch Weiss did to get some great seafood. Grouper & More is located in your neighborhood at 4932 New Broad Street, near the fountain at the end of New Broad Street. It is within easy walking distance of parking in lots located off Jake Street near Lakemont and in front of Publix. Reservations are accepted at 407-647-3474. For more information and to view a full menu, please go to www.grouperandmore.com.
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itch Weiss was born in Philadelphia and moved to Orlando from St. Petersburg in 1981. His varied career includes a stint in the army where he learned electronic surveillance. He was a small plane flight instructor in Virginia, a pool general contractor in St. Pete, and owned a large computer company for many years on Lee Road in Winter Park. His 40-year passion is radio controlled airplanes, large and small. His collection includes turbo powered model jets, like the one shown to the left, which can reach speeds of 200 miles per hour.
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At Your Service Lifestyle Medicine: Benefits Could Outweigh Costs By Dr. Chris Brouillette How would you like to feel 10 years younger? How would you like to optimize your health to a level beyond the freedom from disease? It is more possible than most people realize. For most of us it is difficult to find that balance in our lives between all of our obligations and our wellness. As a result, our health and wellness often falls way down on the priority list. What we have a hard time grasping, though, is that we would be so much better at “all the other stuff”, the more attention we gave to our own wellness. Furthermore, the financial impact of making health and wellness a priority is stunning. The United States currently ranks number one in the world in healthcare spending at around $2.3 trillion and rising, yet we are 42nd in life expectancy. It seems quite clear that the system is broken. How can a country like America…with its leading edge technology, wealth and abundance…have such a short falling in overall health? Take a look around the next time you are out and about. Our society is one of indulgence, convenience, instant gratification, and entitlement. No wonder two thirds of our country is overweight or obese. In 2000, $82 billion of healthcare costs were attributable to this epidemic
alone. It is expected that by 2010 the cost will be over $190 billion. The nation’s number one cause of death for both men and women is cardiovascular disease. Three major risk factors for CV disease (high cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure) are directly related to being overweight or obese. The government is unable to solve the healthcare crisis because it has no control over our self-destructive behaviors. It is up to us, and not the government, to take responsibility for our health. Additionally, most physicians need to do a better job at educating patients. It is hard for a patient to really understand exactly what is happening inside their blood vessels and heart when their blood pressure and cholesterol are high. They can’t look into a crystal ball and see just how much pain they are going to have in their knees and back 10 years from now as a result of obesity. After all, they can’t feel the plaque forming on their arterial walls or the destructive process of osteoarthritis. So, where do we start? The delivery of healthcare needs an overhaul at the primary care level. A greater focus needs to Continued on Page 16
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remained committed to these interventions have realized just how dramatic the results can be. What is also interesting is that their “new” lifestyle is not drudgery. The motivation to adopt the changes becomes self-perpetuating by the results. Sounds great….what is the catch? The catch is that this level of service is not covered by most insurance plans. This is an “out of pocket” expense. However, if you consider the cost of copays to see the doctor, tests and labs, and medications one can quickly recognize that this far exceeds the cost of these noncovered services. As with most things, it is widely recognized that the cost to “fix” a problem greatly outweighs the cost to “prevent” it. Medical problems are no different. Certainly, lifestyle medicine is not going to have an impact on every disease process, but it will on most. Give it a try…see what it can do for your health.
Continued from Page 15 placed on “lifestyle medicine.” Lifestyle medicine is nothing more than placing emphasis on better lifestyle habits in the prevention and treatment of disease processes. This level of care is provided through nutritional counseling, fitness training and exercise prescriptions, and weight management programs. They, also, extend this care in a broader sense through corporate wellness programs. For those patients that have
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Dr. Chris Brouillette is a Family Practice physician who felt that there was a better way to care for his patients than writing one prescription after the next, chasing lab values and blood pressure numbers. He is a member of Primary Care Specialists and founder of Complete Health & Wellness. He and his staff of highly trained professionals provide intense education and coaching to help patients achieve their health goals through “lifestyle medicine”. His office is located in the Neighborhood Office district, at 891 Outer Road, Suite A. He can be reached at 407-895-4737. Look for Dr. Brouillette’s monthly column on health and lifestyle on the Community Network (www.BaldwinParkNetwork.com) starting on Wednesday, June 17th.
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BALDWIN PARK 101: No Reason To Leave By Jim Schirtzinger nce you spend a little time to discover the variety of shops, restaurants and businesses available right here in Baldwin Park, you quickly realize there is very little reason to leave the community to satisfy your needs. It is all right here and all within walking distance. Four major areas to check out more thoroughly are:
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Village Center: The Village Center serves as the “living room” of Baldwin Park. It is the social center for the community where you can shop, catch a quick snack, enjoy many choices of fine dining, be pampered by professionals, find a variety of needed services, listen to live music or have cocktails in a gorgeous setting overlooking the Village Square or Lake Baldwin. (In orange on the map to the left.) The architectural style of the buildings along with the brick streets harkens back to a time when life was seemingly less complicated and moved at a slower pace. It is the place that gives Baldwin Park its small town character within the large city. It’s the place where you casually run into friends; deal with familiar shopkeepers…a place where people know you….a place that feels like it belongs to just you and your friends.
Village Center Business District: Located adjacent to and just south of the Village Center on New Broad Street is the Village Center Business District. This prestigious location has no retail outlets other than Sun Trust Bank but is home to many successful businesses located in the multi-storied buildings. This area still has a prominent corner location that will be developed in the future. (In green on the map to the left.)
Live/Work District on Lake Baldwin Lane: Along Lake Baldwin Lane, just east of the Village Center, is a unique area that combines both businesses and residences. The buildings were designated as Live/Work units when they were being developed. They follow the historic concept of “living over the store” where the proprietors had a deep, personal involvement in their businesses with time spent fretting over quality and providing the best services possible for their customers. Spend a few minutes walking down the sidewalk and you will be amazed at the large diversity of services that are provided. You’ll find everything from financial planning, accounting, chiropractic, massage therapy, skin care, law practices, counseling services, clothing alterations, real estate related services, counter tops, contracting and design studios for interiors and web design and even more. (In pink on the map to the left.)
Neighborhood Office Business District: The area north of the entrance on Lake Baldwin Lane from Colonial Drive is defined by multistory office buildings on the east and one story buildings on the west. This area is much different, yet just as unique, as the other commercial areas of Baldwin Park. This professional center has the same feeling one can find in an historic setting like colonial Williamsburg, Virginia where many businesses were housed in residentially scaled buildings. One major benefit of this commercial location is the large amount of
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A resident of Baldwin Park from 1966 to 1967 and from 2004 to present, Jim Schirtzinger is the vice president of the Residential Owners Association. convenient, centralized parking hidden from the road, just inside the cluster of buildings. This allows for easy fast in and out access. (In yellow on the map on the previous page.)
CALL OUT FOR AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2009:
Again, the large number of businesses, too many to list here, varies from medical, dental, architectural, engineering and accounting offices to computer repair.
Do you know someone who never seems to leave
Other Locations: Other areas west and northwest
trying to find a Baldwin Park resident who can
of the Village Center contain a credit union, architectural offices, a large office building and a future place of worship now under construction. All have convenient parking for quick in and out access. (In teal on the map on the map on the previous page.)
A comprehensive list of Baldwin Park businesses can be found on Page 39 of this publication or online at www.BaldwinParkNetwork.com, click on Directories in the side menu bar.
Baldwin Park? Do they walk to Publix, eat at Seito every night and attend every social function? We’re claim to “stay in the bubble” for the longest time...three days? A week? A month? Or possibly longer? Tell us their story. Submit your stories to Susan
Comisky,
Community
SComisky@BaldwinParkpoa.com.
CLIP &
$AVE!
Introducing a new program for Baldwin Park residents: The Baldwin Park Merchants would like to provide you with Cut along the dotted line.
a Loyalty Card as a neighborly “Thank You” for supporting our businesses. Please clip these Loyalty Cards and present them each time you visit your local Baldwin Park Merchant. (Participating merchants will display the Loyalty Program emblem.) You will receive a special gift or discount.
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Director
at
ARTYgators Crawl into Village Center for an 8-month Stay
S
ome colorful characters took up residence in the Village Center earlier this spring, and it looks like they are going to be here for a while!
The Baldwin Park Merchants Association and RP Realty Partners have partnered with the ARTYgator Community Art Project to bring dozens of six foot tall, fiberglass ARTYgator sculptures (like the Cows on Parade art project in Chicago and LizArt lizards in Orlando in 2002) into the Baldwin Park for the public to enjoy. ARTYgators were created for the community, to be in the community, and to give back to the community. According to Mindy Matthews, ARTYgator Project Director, “they provide high quality and unique art to the public, give artists an opportunity to showcase their talent and creativity, involve the entire
community, increase tourism and visitors, foster economic development and support nonprofit organizations.” Unlike any other city has created, ARTYgator designs include fountains, solar power, fiber optic and LED lighting, mosaics, webcams, kiosks and audio. Baldwin Park’s exhibit will be officially unveiled on Friday, June 19th, at the ARTYgator Crawl event. The event is free and open to residents and the public. There will be an ARTYgator exhibit, a scavenger hunt, kid’s activities, drawings and giveaways, live music and a karaoke contest, food and drink samplings, entertainment, live animals, surprises and more! After the exhibit ends, the ARTYgators will be auctioned at a Swamp Party event October 2009, in the Baldwin Park Village Center. Auction proceeds benefit more than 25 nonprofit organizations selected by each ARTYgator sponsor. Check the Community Network at www.BaldwinParkNetwork.com for more details on the ARTYgator Crawl. For more information on the project, please go to www.artygators.com.
Please see other side for details on the
Baldwin Park Loyalty Program!
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Meet Your Neighbors Q & A with BOB SHOWALTER: High Flying Father, Entrepreneur & World Traveler
Q.
Tell us about your background. Where were you born? Where did you go to high school and college?
I was born in Orlando, as there was no hospital in Winter Park. My father’s family built a house on Interlachen Avenue in Winter Park in 1915-16 that still stands today. I grew up in Winter Park, went to Winter Park High and Rollins College where I met my wife, Kim, when I was in graduate school there. My father died saving a little boy caught in a riptide at New Smyrna Beach when I was a freshman in college. The Winter Park High football field was named in his honor for that sacrifice. In 1973, my wife and I bought in to the original family business, Showalter Flying Service, which is still run by us today at the Orlando Executive Airport.
Q. Tell us about your family. What does your wife do? How many children do you have? Grandchildren? My wife, Kim, runs our core business and is president of Showalter. Our children, daughter, Jenny, and son, Sandy, both work at the business as well, full time. Jenny has two boys, 7 months and 4 years old; and our son and his wife, Jamie, are expecting their first son in September.
aviation business in Florida, celebrating 64 years in business this year. Founded by my father, my uncle and their first cousin in 1945, it originally was located at a grass runway “airpark” that ran along Aloma Avenue east of Winter Park. The company added facilities at what is now known as Orlando Executive Airport in 1947. Executive Airport was developed into a full service airport facility during World War II, when what is now known as Baldwin Park was the Orlando Army Air Force Base! Showalter Flying Service has ranked at or near the top of all businesses of its type in the United States. When asked what we do, the simplest answer is “a gas station for private planes.” We also act as rental car agents, hotel reservationists and tour guide to the many passengers that come into our facility from all over the world each year. We regularly (including 2009) host the National Business Aviation Association’s annual convention and trade show when it comes to Orlando. Up to 35,000 people have attended this show here and as many as 1,200 private planes can be counted on to visit Orlando during that show, which will happen in late October this year.
“Parenting is perhaps your
most important assignment in life.” - Bob Showalter
Q. Your children also live in Baldwin Park. Tell us about them and what it is like to have them as neighbors. Jenny and her husband, Brent Harwood, were the first in the family to move to Baldwin Park. We followed when we purchased a custom lot on the children’s park and had a home built there in 2006. Sandy and Jamie bought their home in Baldwin Park almost two years ago, making the entire family Baldwin Park neighbors! It is terrific for all of us to be able to be together so easily, what a blessing for us all! Additionally, sonin-law Brent is a corporate pilot for a local corporation and daughter-in-law Jamie is an executive with a Fortune 500 company with offices in East Orlando.
Q. Tell me about your career. Discuss your background. What do you do? What lead you to make the career choice you made? Showalter Flying Service is the oldest family owned private
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Q. What do you for fun? Do you have any hobbies? Do you participate in sports, etc.? Do you have any special activities you like to do with your wife or your children? Sandy and I share a passion for flying and light tackle sight fishing. Sandy, Kim and Jenny are all avid runners and can be found most mornings circling Lake Baldwin at sunup. Kim and I take care of our own yard and garden and enjoy it more every year. The whole family takes advantage of the family retreat, a house in the Green Mountains of Vermont. Kim and I are active in our church; Kim teaches an adult Sunday School class and I sing in the choir.
Q. If you were not doing your current job, what would you want to do (could be a fantasy job)? I can’t imagine a better job than one that takes you to the airport every day, so I am quite certain that I already have my fantasy job! I was lucky enough last year to lead a trip around the World in a customer’s airplane. Five guys, 37 days in 17 countries, no one could have asked for a more spectacular experience! The trip cemented my long held belief that there is no place like the U.S. of A, but there are some truly wonderful places to see and things to do.The experience of a lifetime doing two of the things I love the best: traveling and flying!
Q. Who has influenced you the most and why? Who were your mentors? My dad and my grandfather Showalter
were instrumental in forming my early values. My sixth grade teacher at Park Avenue Elementary (where Starbucks is now across from the Winter Park City Hall), Miss Krause, built a fire in me, and my business school professors, Rufus B. Smith and Ross Evans, made lasting impressions on me. They all taught me to make sure that giving and giving back had to be a part of everything I did and that every deal in business had to have two winners to be truly successful.
Q. Tell us about any special memories you have about raising your children. What do you like best about being a father? What was your greatest challenge of parenthood? Well, Kim and I get pretty boring when we talk about the raising of our kids. They both were, and are, great people that did not contribute in any real way to the fact that my hair is gray. I’m married to one heck of a mom who was
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fortunate to be able to delay her professional career outside of the home until our youngest was well into grade school. Even then, we all knew that Kim would be going home around 3:00 p.m. to be with the kids. Parenting is perhaps your most important assignment in life.
Q. What do you want to be remembered for? I would hope that people would smile when they think about me someday and think also that I helped raise some great human beings: both my real family and my “airport family;” those hundreds of folks that spent time working with us at the airport over the years.
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Wellness Enhancing Lifestyle in Baldwin Park By Dr. Richard Betts
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n its most basic elements the human body is an amazing amalgamation of water, chemicals, minerals, and air. From these elements come bone, muscle, organs and tissue that make up this biochemical machine which should last for approximately 70 or more healthy years. This machine was made to move. At the beginning of the human race people gathered, hunted, and did constant strenuous work only to be still when sleeping. It is true that as we become more sedentary our muscles begin to grow smaller and less useful and we lose bone mass. It is our current way of living that decreases our ability to maintain proper weight and wellness. Health is defined by the World Health Organization as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Wellness is the act of creating health through various activities that allow the body to work as it should. In order for the body to maintain health it must be provided with the basic elements; fresh clean water, good natural food, abundant clean air and sunshine. These are not only needed for physical health, but in order for our bodies to provide natural pharmaceuticals that enhance body systems,
we absolutely must do some form of exercise. During exercise our brain releases endorphins and encephalins, which are our mood modulators. These are the drugs that provide us with our “runners high” that many avid exercise enthusiasts rave about. The bottom line is without providing our body with the proper building blocks and proper amount of exercise to help build and maintain our physical and psychological health, the only choice the body has is to succumb to disease. The truth is the body knows what it needs in order to stay well. The innate understanding or program instilled from birth is ultimate wellness. Never in history has there been so much disease and yet the United States of America is the most scientifically advanced country in which very few cures have been discovered. Taking drugs only decreases a diseases’ advancement and creates other diseases stemming from the use of a particular drug. These diseases are known as “side effects.” Continued on Page 34
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Continued from Page 31 For the human body to stay healthy and happy its origins and innate understanding of how to stay well must be practiced. The body reaches low capacity to fight off disease if it isn’t given the proper building blocks and exercise to manage ultimate wellness. Those who live in Baldwin Park are so lucky to reside in a community where it is almost impossible not to be healthy. There are so many opportunities to increase healthy movement and supply the body with fresh air and the building blocks needed to sustain health and ward off illness. If you have extra weight or are obese, no drug or surgery will help you lose weight and maintain weight loss. Diets are always yo-yo, so just going on the latest fad diet won’t guarantee that you will lose weight and keep it off. One must exercise more, at least 40 minutes a day. Exercise in a pleasant environment will increase your natural pharmacological biochemistry and in turn will help you shed unwanted pounds quickly and easily even without changing your current diet. By providing your body with clean air, clean water, sunshine and excellent food along with physically enhancing exercise, you will reach ultimate wellness. With current economic woes people are looking for things to do that are free and convenient. Baldwin Park Residential
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Owners Association, Inc. has three pools for swimming laps and two gyms for weight training and aerobic workouts. You can also find miles of trails surrounding the area for walking, jogging, biking or rollerblading and two gorgeous lakes for canoeing or kayaking. Blue Jacket Park offers tennis courts, baseball diamonds, basketball courts, and a running track to top off a short list of free exercise and health enhancing possibilities. Sitting on the shoreline of our beautiful lakes watching wildlife go about its business while taking in fresh clean air and immune stimulating sunshine will enhance wellness. There is absolutely no reason why one cannot find something that promotes wellness in Baldwin Park. It is a beautiful spring this year. Do your body a favor so it can keep you fit, healthy and well. Go out and take advantage of one of the many opportunities we have to live the wellness enhancing lifestyle in Baldwin Park. Future installations of this article will go into more detail on the different amenities Baldwin Park has to offer residents to stay healthy and well. Future topics will include natural food, exercise, mental wellness, organized events, innovative resident ideas, and resources to help you and your family be healthy and happy.
Dr. Richard Betts is a Baldwin Park resident and a practicing chiropractic physician in the Orlando metro area, an author and motivational speaker on wellness.
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What If Baldwin Park Had A Theme Song? By Laura Lapointe
W
e all know Baldwin Park has its own blissfully unique character, but what we don’t have is a theme song! Just as our favorite movies and television programs have their own songs, we thought it would be fun to entertain the idea of Baldwin Park having it’s own definitive tune. So I ventured out into our buzzing Village Center and asked a few cheerful residents what song they would like to grace our airwaves, you know, if Baldwin Park had a radio station. (Hey, now that’s a good idea…)
If Baldwin Park had a theme song, what should it be and why?
Baldwin Park’s theme song should be the Three’s Company theme song. “...Come and knock on our door...” because we’re so friendly! – Madeline Obler
I feel like “Mr. Sandman” should be playing while driving down New Broad Street because New Broad reminds me of the opening scene from Back to the Future, with “Mr. Sandman” playing. – Eric Short
If Baldwin had a theme song it should be “I would walk 500 miles” since most living areas are really a comfortable walking distance from the Village Center. – Mike Weckerle
I keep thinking of Disney/sitcom songs…like “Cheers,” “It’s a Small World After All,” “Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow,” “Happy Days,” etc. because Baldwin Park is like it’s own little bubble. It feels safe, comfortable and welcoming. – Jessica Muffs
And just for fun…If you were a Baldwin Park duck, where would you hang out?
If I were a duck I would hang out as far away from Fox Street as possible! Maybe hang out with my cousins on Osprey Avenue or Robin Road. – Mike Weckerle
Laura Lapointe is a Rollins College graduate who currently works at Schwalb Public Relations and loves living in Baldwin Park with her puppy Emma.
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If I were a duck in Baldwin Park, I would hang out in the fountain at the end of New Broad Street. I would swim there and grant the wishes of all the people who throw coins in. I would also work together with all my other duck friends to spread world peace. – Rob Braleski
Featured Club: The Sisterhood of Greatness
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For more of these and more events, please go to
Spring Events Photo Gallery
www.BaldwinParkNetwork.com and click on Photo Gallery, under the How You Can Get In Touch header.
6TH DOGGIE ART FESTIVAL - Jackie Hodgson (left photo) at the booth of , artist Sam Charles. Meredith Tracy, with Tanner, and Jessi Van Pelt (from left, right photo) of the Friends for Fleet Peeples Park. (Photos courtesy of Winter Park Magazine)
Baldwin Park Merchants Association
3RD ANNUAL BALDWIN PARK ARTS FESTIVAL
2ND ANNUAL DOGGIE DERBY - Luke Peterson (left photo) Duke, who won the Heavyweight division. Two of the organizers, Julie Hemphill and Lisa McWhirter (from left, right photo).
ANNUAL PORCH SALE & FLEA MARKET - Front porches throughout the community, like the one in the left photo, were filled with bargains. Flea markets were set up at Enders Park (middle photo) and Corrine Commons. Elle Vickey (right photo), with the help of her mom, Nicole, ran a lemonade stand during the sale and raised $34 for the SPCA of Orlando.
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For more information on these businesses, please go to
Business Directory
www.BaldwinParkNetwork.com and click on Directories in the side menu bar.
VILLAGE CENTER OFFICE
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
Barnie’s Coffee & Tea Company
The Majestic Apartments
Kay Green Design
Baldwin Nails & Day Spa
VOA Associates, Inc.
Lake Baldwin Dental - Dr. William Dunn
LaBeaume, CPA, LLC
Bead Bee Boutique & Beaderia
Lamm & Company Partners
Best Cleaners
VILLAGE CENTER LIVE/WORK
Chi Pan Asian Restaurant
Marchena & Graham, P.A.
American Home Companions
Cold Stone Creamery
Mark Rash Interiors
American Mortgage Company
Colibri
Martin Orthodontics - Dr. Jeff Martin
Ana Ivonne Aviles, CPA, LLC
CVS Pharmacy
Baldwin Granite - Focus Builders
Dental Excellence at Baldwin Park
Belle Vie Day Spa & Gifts
Farris & Fosters Famous Chocolate Factory Fitness Together Five Guys Famous Burgers & Fries Greenough Interior Design Grouper & More Hair Cuttery Jack’s Steak House Kennedy’s All American Barber Club Ki Marital Arts Academy La Bella Luna Lago Restaurant Loco Motion Lulu Belle Baby Boutique Merrigan’s Boutique My Art Studio New Broad Street Realty Paddy Murphy’s Irish Pub Planet Beach Tanning Salon Planet Smoothie Publix Regions Bank Seito Japanese Restaurant Subway SunTrust Bank
McCorkle Construction Company MSI Design Nishad Kahn P.L. Attorneys & Advisors
Blue Fox Services
New York Life Insurance - Larry B. Rash
Cameron’s Design
Orlando Carolers
Charis Counseling Center FRS Planning Associates - Frank Arnall GW Financial Hearing Associates of Central Florida
Orlando Pediatric Dentistry Dr. Maubashir Chaudhry Park Avenue Group Park Place Title, Inc.
In Florida Mortgage Interior Talent Inc.
Physician Associates - Dr. Penny Danna
Joyce Ducas, PhD
Complete Health & Wellness Dr. Chris Brouillette
Lake Baldwin Church
Psychological Services, LLC -
Magic USA Tours
Dr. Becky Eades
Mortgage Max Direct
Psychotherapy Works, LLC -
My Stage Dance Studio onePOS
Maria Darcy, Ph. D., ABS
Perfect Score Landscaping
R.W. Block Consulting, Inc.
Pro-Active Family Chiropractic -
Reflections Dermatology -
Dr. Luke Peterson
Dr. Dimitry Palceski
Rosa’s Design and Alterations
Rey Group
Setnor Byer Insurance & Risk
SaJune Medical Center
Solodev Internet Software
SGM Engineering, Inc.
The Home Mag
Smart Start Learning Center
The Skin Care Center of Excellence TwoCare
State Farm Agents Jim Ackerman & John Psomas
Tiny Toes Children’s Shoes
Sweet Glides Segway Tours of Florida
Trish’s Teas
NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE
Uptown Park Wine Bar
AdepTech, Inc.
Victoria Jewelers
Animal Hospital at Baldwin Park
VIBE Center for Performing Arts
Architects in Partnership
Weight Watchers
Beattie Family Orthodontics
WineStyles Wine Bar & Market
Bird Eye Institute - Dr. Eugenio Bird
OTHER COMMERCIAL
Brown Cooper Architects
Cuhaci & Peterson Architects
Central Florida Foot & Ankle Specialists -
Fairwinds Credit Union
VILLAGE CENTER OFFICE Centerline Homes
Dr. Victor McNamara
Therapeutic Hands of Steele Wade P. Luther P.A. Law Firm WomenCare - Dr. Brenda M. Barry
Florida Institute of Technology
Commerce Financial Group
Dyer, Riddle, Mills & Precourt, Inc.
Nature’s Table
Executive OfficeSuites of Baldwin Park
Florida Retina and Vitreous Center
North Park Baptist Church
J Martin Black & Associates
Hanover Capital Partners
St. Paul Travelers
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1913 Meeting Place Orlando, Florida 32814
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