Baldwin Park Living January 2023

BALDWIN PARK LIVING

C lient Testimonial

“Charles and I take great pleasure in highly recommending our outstanding realtor, Kimberley Gernert. When we decided to sell our home, there was no question who we would choose to help us. Kimberley was extremely diligent, energetic and professional. She was in constant contact, guiding us through every step of selling our home. As a result of her hard work we had 3 offers in the first three days on the market and our home sold above our asking price!

Orlando

Kimberley’s personal touch didn’t end there. She helped us find an apartment and offered to assist with our move. She made what could have been a difficult transition very easy. We could not have done it without her.

Charles and I would not consider anyone else when selling a home. She is simply the best”!

- Charles and Jane Brandon

Orlando

CONTENTS

SPOTLIGHT

VIRTUOSO

JANUARY

2023

DEPARTMENTS

8 BALDWIN PARK NOTEBOOK

Read about recent decisions made by community leaders.

10 WE ARE BALDWIN PARK! Instead of resolutions, try intentions in the new year.

12 COMMUNITY CALENDAR Find your community fun in our monthly calendar.

14 HEART OF THE MATTER

Resident Dale Perrigan received a new heart.

19 BEAUTIFUL BALDWIN Looking for fun? Check out a Baldwin Park club!

20 SLEIGH BELLS RING! Hundreds enjoyed the 2022 Winter Wonderland.

21 WHAT’S SELLING

See one home that sold recently in Baldwin Park.

16VIOLIN

Baldwin’s Jocelyn Hsu already has found on-stage success.

Baldwin Park notebook

ROA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

BY STACEY FRYREAR

The ROA Board of Directors and the on-site Sentry Management staff wish to keep Baldwin Park a great looking community in 2023. To promote that, we would like to remind residents of a few items. You will notice that throughout the coming year, reminders such as these will be sent out periodically to keep residents better informed. There are new residents who may not be aware of some of these items and others who have lived here for a while who can look at it as a refresher.

HOMEOWNER’S ASSESSMENTS

Assessments must be paid in full for you to have access to the amenities, including the gathering rooms, the pools and fitness centers. Semiannual assessments were due Jan. 1. Assessment letters were mailed in November. If you did not receive, contact Community Manager Stacey Fryrear by email at sfryrear@baldwinparkpoa.com or by calling (407) 740-5838. You can also log onto sentrymgt.com and make a payment.

BALDWIN PARK SOLUTIONS

This platform allows users to submit maintenance issues quickly and efficiently, and communicate directly with parties handling submitted requests to the common areas and townhome service areas that are covered by the association. Residents can connect with management through this work order system to improve the quality of life in Baldwin Park by reporting maintenance requests.

Mobile home shortcuts. There is also a quick way to make an icon on your mobile phone home screen (iPhone and Android) so you can get back to BP Solutions easily. There are YouTube video links for both types of phones on the Baldwin Park Network. When you see something that needs attention from management, use your new shortcut on your mobile phone — or find the link on the Resident Homepage of the Baldwin Park network. Any covenant violations should be reported to covenants@baldwinparkpoa.com.

AIRBNB/TEMPORARY SHORT-TERM RENTALS

Recently, there has been discussion occurring regarding the popular Airbnb in the neighborhood. The Baldwin Park covenants, along with a city of Orlando ordinance, prohibit the temporary short-term renting of residential properties. Most residents are not aware of the covenants or ordinance on short-term rentals. If you have any questions about this, please contact Community Director Susan Comisky at scomisky@ baldwinparkpoa.com or by calling (407) 740-5838.

RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP

Orange County has ordinances that assist in keeping communities pet friendly while being responsible. Pets off leashes and not removing excreta are two of the biggest complaints from residents. Baldwin Park utilizes Orange County Animal Control for any animal complaints, because it is staffed by professional, expertly trained people and have enforcement ability. The quickest and easiest way to report animal violations to Orange County Animal Control is to dial 311 on

your phone or download the app. OCFL 311 is a mobile app for Apple and Android users. Once downloaded, there is a category Animals & Pets. Clicking on this takes you to a page with several categories listed, and you can pick the one best suited for what you are reporting. You also can visit its website at orangecountyfl.net/AnimalsPets/ascForm. aspx#.WEW8PmwzWUk to report issues. Always dial 911 if it is an emergency.

SWIMMING POOLS

Please do not sit or hang on the lane ropes in the pools. This is a maintenance issue, as well as a hindrance to lap swimmers. Grace Hopper is the only pool that is heated, so it is getting used more for swimming laps now than at other times of the year.

The ROA Board of Directors and Sentry Management staff would like to say thank you to those residents who abide by the covenants and maintain their homes. We realize it takes a lot of work and effort, and we truly appreciate the ambition and drive you have to do this.

BALDWIN PARK COMMERCIAL OWNERS ASSOCIATION INC.

BY BILL PATTERSON

Did you know more than 6% of gift cards are never used? Do not let that money go unspent. Come to the Village Center and spend it here. Enjoy our many different delicious food options or shop to your heart’s content — either choice will not disappoint.

THINGS TO KNOW

n Loading Zones. Most parking lots around Baldwin Park have loading zones. These areas are for short-term loading and unloading vehicles only and not for parking. Please make deliveries and unloads quickly; it causes a traffic jam if these zones are blocked. Vehicles parked in these areas which are not loading/unloading will be tagged for towing at owner’s expense.

n Trash Talk. The dumpsters in the commercial lots are meant for trash bags and small

items only. For all large items, including trees (artificial or live), please use OUC bulk pick-up. Stuffing these items in the dumpster or leaving them causes multiple issues including dumpster breakdown and rodents. Visit orlando.gov/ Trash-Recycling for more information and to schedule future pick-ups.

n Baldwin Park Solutions. Commercial owners, tenants, and managers can submit work requests through our new Baldwin Park Solutions system.

It is located on the Baldwin Park Network. Simply click “Resident Home” at the top right, and you will find the link in the middle of the page. If you do not have a Baldwin Park Network account, you can request one from that page, as well. Visit baldwinparknetwork.com to start.

n Parking lot guidelines. The Commercial Owners Association has clarified and adopted new parking lot restrictions and rules effective Oct. 10, 2022. These rules govern all the commercial-owned parking lots,

TOWNHOME SERVICE AREA COMMITTEE MEETING

BY MELISSA PARKER

The following information is a glimpse of the business that the Townhome Service Area Committee addressed in the Nov. 17, 2022, meeting. A complete copy of the official minutes can be obtained on the Community Network (BaldwinParkNetwork. com) once approved at the Jan. 19, 2023, meeting.

n The TSAC moved to approve the contractor recommendation for the Issa 28 roof replacements.

n The TSAC moved to approve a tree removal and replacement at 4743 Anson Lane.

UPDATES

n Please remember to report any landscape, building or irrigation issues on Baldwin Park Solutions. Reporting items on Baldwin Park Solutions allows residents to share photos of the reported area(s) and receive real-time updates from management staff on corrective measures being taken. Baldwin Park Solutions can be accessed on the Baldwin Park Network.

HELPFUL INFORMATION FOR TOWNHOME OWNERS

MAINTENANCE TIPS

If you live in a townhome, you have probably received the below information in the past, but it’s great information to keep handy in case one of these situations happen to you.

n Dryer not drying? Clean the vent to prevent lint build-up and a possible fire hazard.

n Use the correct wattage light bulbs for exterior lighting fixtures. Plastic fixtures will melt. Check the tag posted on the inside of the fixture or with the manufacturer for the proper wattage.

n Install weatherstripping around your doors and windows to help lower utility bills, prevent water intrusion and unwanted pests from entering your home.

n See black lines running down your garage door? Adjust the garage door tensioner heads.

n Need a copy of the Master Insurance Policy for your townhome? Please email Melissa Parker at mparker@ baldwinparkpoa.com with your request.

n All association buildings that have been repainted have used AllGuard — a specialized coating with a 10-year warranty for use on stucco surfaces. Do not to pick, poke, rip, tear or penetrate the protective seal. Using brushes or scraping tools will harm the surface. If you pressure-wash, do not use pressure higher than 1,500 psi. Simple Green is the only approved cleaning product. Avoid spraying any chemicals directly onto the building because of a possible chemical reaction with the product.

n The contract for the first phase of roof replacements within Issa 28 is currently being finalized between Baldwin Park Residential Owners Association and Advanced Roofing.

n New sod that was installed in December has been treated with a fungicide.

n Weeds in the plant beds were a challenge in November due to excess rain from Tropical Storm Nicole. BrightView added extra spray days to its schedule and hand-pulled weeds in areas.

n BrightView has started the annual trimming of crepe myrtles within the service areas.

n Per DRS Inc. here is the Townhome painting schedule for January 2023: Cambridge: Lake Baldwin Lane.

n Roof replacements are occurring in the Issa 22 service area. A notice will be left on the townhome’s front door a week prior to the projected start date confirming the roof replacement is beginning. Make sure to remove all items located in the backyard/private zone area — the roofing contractor nor the Association will be held responsible for these items.

n Here is the current roof replacement schedule provided by R.F. Lusa & Sons: 909-919 Fern Avenue (Dec. 19, 2022) and 901-907 Fern Avenue (Jan. 9, 2023). Dates are subject to change due to weather delays, city or county document reviews/processing, and if work is completed ahead of schedule.

n Per DRS Inc. here is the Townhome maintenance schedule for December 2022: Issa 28

Schedules will be projected one to two months out in order to anticipate any possible future changes or delays. Notices are still being left on townhome front doors one to two weeks in advance to inform residents of any upcoming projects beginning in their address range.

Continued from opposite page

including the nine parking lots in the Village Center and the lot at the Neighborhood Business District off Lake Baldwin Lane. Village Center parking areas shall be used by the employees and customers of any businesses in the Village Center and employees or tenants of the Village Center residential apartments. The Neighborhood Business

District parking lot only should be used only by owners, tenants and patrons of the buildings there. No overnight parking is permitted without prior written approval from the association. You can find a full breakdown of the parking lot uses restrictions and rule at the following path on the Baldwin Park Network: Home/Resident Home/Association Information/Commercial Owners Association/COA

OVERVIEW & DOCUMENTS/ COA Declaration & Supplements.

n ARC. Architectural Review Committee meetings take place twice a month on the second and fourth Tuesday for application reviews regarding commercial changes to exterior structures (roofing replacements and painting), landscaping and signage. All correspond-

ing applications can be located on the Baldwin Park Network under Commercial Owners Association and Commercial Architectural Review Committee. For questions and application submission, please feel free to email Bill at BPatterson@ BaldwinParkPOA.com.

Taking on the new year

Hello friends and neighbors, and happy new year!

WILL CAMPBELL PRESIDENT BALDWIN PARK JOINT COMMITTEE

Every year seems to go by faster and faster, so of course, here’s where I say, “I can’t believe 2022 went by so quickly!” I truly believe the pandemic has made time so wishy-washy, timeywimey. It’s often hard to remember if something happened five days, five weeks, five months or even five years ago at this point.

All that said, it is now a new year — with new opportunities around every corner. People are prone to ask in general conversation for the next month or so, “What are your new year’s resolutions?”

Personally, I am not a big fan of the traditional new year’s resolution. I feel like we’re putting

too much pressure on ourselves to achieve these tasks or goals that, like it or not, usually don’t work out.

Now, I’m not saying goals are bad. I just feel like a resolution isn’t always the best for us when trying to better ourselves, which is usually the end goal of a resolution. I’m also not suggesting you not try to better yourself, because we could all find something about ourselves or in our lives that could be better.

For the last few years, instead of setting resolutions that are usually hard and fast goals that are either achieved or broken, I go into the new year setting intentions for myself. I know, I know, you’re reading this thinking that it’s the same thing with a different

name — but hear me out.

How many of us have set a new year’s resolution to lose X amount of weight by a certain time — like a birthday or holiday? And how many of us have failed to meet that goal for a litany of reasons? My hand is up, and I suspect many of yours are, as well. Instead of those hard deadlines or definitive goal weights, what if we set an intention to generally better our health in the new year?

Often, resolutions tend to focus on the negative or what you’re missing in your life, while intentions focus on what you have and tend to be more positive. Intentions also give you the flexibility to adapt what you’re doing to achieve them and, in most cases, indirectly lead to an outcome in

line with what your original resolution might have been.

I’ve set two intentions for myself for 2023: improve my health and increase my knowledge base. Sounds vague, right? While it might appear that way, it gives me the opportunity to take different directions in achieving my intentions. There are countless ways people can better their health and increasing their knowledge base could be anything from taking one of our awesome resident classes, to taking a continued-education course or even just learning something simple from a friend.

Now, I’m not saying resolutions are bad or don’t work but, they definitely aren’t for everyone, including myself. After years of setting resolutions I didn’t achieve (and beating myself up for not achieving them), I figured, why not switch it up? And this is where I’ve landed. If resolutions work for you, that’s awesome! Share you secrets to success with us! If you’ve failed on one too many resolutions, try something new.

In the end, both are about achieving goals in a new year. It’s just how you want to go about it and hopefully succeed. On that note, I need to go work on my health intention. My doctor is reading this article, so there’s at least one person besides me who will know if I succeeded.

Until next time, stay safe, stay well and remember: We Are Baldwin Park!

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BALDWIN PARK ALTAMONTE SPRINGS

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Often, resolutions tend to focus on the negative or what you’re missing in your life, while intentions focus on what you have and tend to be more positive.

AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Community Calendar

SATURDAY, JAN. 7

LOVE OUT LOUD 5K 8 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, at Harbor Park, 4990 New Broad St. At the Orlando Center for Justice’s run/walk, participants can express their love for our community and support a local nonprofit organization. Celebrate with your family, friends, partners, pets, neighbors, community members or even by yourself to show some love right in Harbor Park! For more, visit orlandojustice.org/5k.

MONDAY, JAN. 9

ROA COVENANTS HEARING 6:30 p.m. at Grace Hopper Hall. Check your weekly newsletter for updates.

THURSDAY, JAN. 12

ROA ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE Meets at 6:30 p.m. virtually. Because of the current high volume of Residential ARC applications, the number of applications accepted is being capped at 25 per meeting. Once this number is reached, subsequent applications will be held for the next scheduled ARC meeting. As a reminder the ARC meets twice a month. More information can be found in your weekly newsletter.

SATURDAY, JAN. 14

BALDWIN PARK COMMUNITY MARKET DAY 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, on New Broad Street. Enjoy goodies from 30-plus local vendors while enjoying the beau-

tiful weather. Find out more information by visiting them at BPCommunityMarket.com.

SATURDAY, JAN. 14

TREFOIL COOKIE CHASE 5K FUN RUN/WALK 8 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, at Harbor Park, 4990 New Broad St. Join Girl Scouts of Citrus for its inaugural run/walk in support of its mission for “Giving Investments for Tomorrow’s Girls.” For more, visit runsignup.com/ Race/FL/Orlando/Trefoils5khostedGirlScoutsofCitrus.

THURSDAY, JAN. 19

TOWNHOME SERVICE AREA COMMITTEE MEETING 6:30 p.m. virtually. All information for the meeting can also be found on the Baldwin Park Network, along with the link to join the meeting.

THURSDAY, JAN. 19

BALDWIN PARK SOCIAL CLUB (FORMALLY SINGLES CLUB) Meets Thursday, Jan. 19, at Gators Dockside. Please RSVP to Jenny by emailing her at jennylake94@gmail.com or join the Baldwin Park Singles Club Facebook page and RSVP there. The group is now for anyone single, married, in a relationship or just not looking. Feel free to come and meet new neighbors and friends.

SUNDAY, JAN. 22

SOCA REGGAE 5K AND WELLNESS FESTIVAL 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22, at Harbor Park, 4990 New Broad

St. All runners receive a free T-shirt, goodie bag and free postrun beer! Soca, reggae and dancehall will be played along the route for a unique 5k experience. Fresh coconuts, Caribbean food, and an array of health and wellness vendors will all be present for the festival component of this event. For more, visit socareggae5k. eventbrite.com.

TUESDAY, JAN. 24

JOINT COMMITTEE BOARD Meets at 5:45 p.m. virtually. All information for the meeting can also be found on the Baldwin Park Network.

TUESDAY, JAN. 24

ROA REGULAR MEETING 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month. All members of the ROA can attend the meetings. Call-in information can be found on the Baldwin Park Network, BaldwinParkNetwork.com.

THURSDAY, JAN. 26

ROA ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE Meets at 6:30 p.m. virtually. More information can be found in your weekly newsletter.

FRIDAY, JAN. 27

BACKYARD FOOD FARE 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, at Corrine Commons, 1913 Meeting Place. This event will feature four local food vendors. Dine with vendors such as Table TGK (roasted chicken, vegetables + mac and cheese), Fui Yo Mexicana (birria tacos) and more. Take a blanket or chairs, and we will see you there! Email Brie Bernstel at Mediacomm@BaldwinParkPOA. com with any questions. Please check our Facebook and Instagram at @VisitBaldwinPark for up-to-date information including weather cancellations and your weekly newsletter for all of the upcoming happenings.

‘He shouldn’t be alive’

After suffering a massive heart attack in December 2021 and being given the smallest chance to live, Dale Perrigan has received a new heart.

ANNABELLE SIKES STAFF WRITER

On Dec. 21, 2021, Dale Perrigan awoke with the worst pain he had ever felt in his life.

Although it was gone less than a day later, Dale and his wife, Page Perrigan, knew there was something wrong.

“I’m a physician, a gynecologist surgeon, and I didn’t even recognize that I was having a heart attack,” Dale Perrigan says. “I had never experienced pain like that. … At first, I thought maybe it was COVID-19,

but I got tested and was negative. Then I thought maybe pneumonia or the flu, but I had pain in my whole upper body.”

Less than a year later, Dale Perrigan has received a new heart, defying all odds of survival and coming home with his wife Monday, Nov. 14, 2022.

“He almost died three times,” Page Perrigan says. “There were thousands — literally thousands of people — praying for him from all over the world from all of the mission trips we have been on. The doctors … they couldn’t believe that he was alive. We believe that God’s hand is in this whole journey with

us. I believe that’s the reason we are still here.”

WARNING SIGNS

After a few days of rest, Dale Perrigan still felt abnormally tired, but the couple carried on with their normal schedule. They took his 94-year-old mother to Tallahassee, where they take care of her eight months out of the year.

The family drove from their hometown in Tennessee to Tallahassee, about eight to nine hours. They didn’t know it at the time, but Dale Perrigan’s heart was working at only 10%.

“He had a blood clot in his heart,

Annabelle Sikes

Page and Dale Perrigan have found a new home in Baldwin Park after a life-altering event.

and he also had one around his heart in a soft place,” Page Perrigan says. “He shouldn’t be alive.”

The next part of the yearly trip included a drive to Naples, where Page Perrigan goes to teach Zumba, line dance and personal training for the season.

Page Perrigan said her husband went to bed as soon as they arrived in Tallahassee. When he woke, he asked her to drive to Naples — an extremely uncommon request.

“He never lets me drive, and when we got to Naples, he couldn’t even unpack the car,” she says. “He said he needed to go to bed. I knew this wasn’t the flu, and I knew he needed to go see someone.”

Dale Perrigan again went to sleep. When he woke, he could barely get out of bed.

The couple decided to go to a walk-in clinic. As the hours ticked by, his condition worsened.

The doctors ran Dale Perrigan through the normal tests, which all came back clean. But before he left, they performed one more — an electrocardiogram test.

“That’s when our life changed,” Page Perrigan says. “They said, ‘Get him to the hospital now.’”

HOSPITAL HAVAN

An ambulance took Dale Perrigan to the NCH hospital in Naples, where he had a balloon pump inserted into him before doctors said the case was too big for their location.

On Jan. 1, 2022, he was airlifted to Orlando, and the couple has been in the area ever since.

Dale Perrigan was placed on an impella, the world’s smallest heart pump used to help maintain blood flow during high-risk protected percutaneous coronary interventions.

On Jan. 17, 2022, Dale Perrigan then received an LVAD in his heart, a left ventricular assist device used for patients who have reached endstage heart failure.

Throughout Dale Perrigan’s time in the hospital, his wife stayed nearby at The Bartch Transplant House with AdventHealth where she traveled back and forth daily, staying at the hospital from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“They (AdventHealth) are amazing,” Page Perrigan says. “I cannot say enough about that hospital. Our doctors are amazing. Our transplant

team, our LVAD team, the nurses, everybody is fantastic. … If we had been in our little country town when this happened, it would not have been good news, and that’s why we are living here.”

Dale Perrigan was in the intensive care unit for 50 days, then another part in the hospital for two weeks, before moving to a rehabilitation facility in Winter Park.

At the time, Dale Perrigan needed to be plugged into the wall at night or on batteries during the day time. About 90% of his heart was a machine, with only 10% being his own function.

BALDWIN BEGINNINGS

Although Page Perrigan said The Bartch House was beautiful, she knew she had to find another place for when her husband recovered.

She found a small apartment in Baldwin Park.

When the couple moved to Baldwin Park in March, their church in Tennessee, Revolution Church, took over with helping. The church packed all of the couple’s items, put them on a U-Haul and even paid for tickets for the Perrigan children to come and visit their father.

Page Perrigan’s sister, an interior designer, decorated the new apartment after connecting with Shannon and Abbey Brown from the church in Tennessee, who measured every piece of furniture to help Page Perrigan’s sister with the decorating.

Shannon and Abbey Brown even drove to Orlando from Tennessee with all of the couple’s special belongings.

“The people (who) came out and did things were amazing.” Page Perrigan says.“My sister said, ‘Page, I don’t want you to step foot in this place until I have every picture on the wall, until everything is done.’ She did everything. This is the most perfect, perfect rehab place that I could ever imagine. ... We are so thankful for Baldwin Park, we are so thankful for our neighbors.”

Neighbors have offered to be the back-up contacts to make sure Dale Perrigan gets to his appointments if Page Perrigan is not able. One neighbor helps the couple with maintenance work, and Page Perrigan says people are always checking on them.

HEART OF THE MATTER

On Friday, Oct. 21, Dale Perrigan went into the hospital because of an infection. That’s when he received a new heart — thanks to Linda Bogar at AdventHealth.

Just a few weeks later — on Monday, Nov. 14 — Dale Perrigan was released and went home.

Currently, doctors are monitoring how Dale Perrigan’s body is accepting his new heart. He also is participating in a variety of therapies to help him recover from the onslaught his body has endured in the last year.

He tries to do some sort of physical exercise two to three times a week. He also completes Constant Therapy, which delivers brain exercises that can help reignite his cognitive, speech and language abilities.

In addition, he does Neuro Speech Therapy and even retook his medical licensing tests to help stimulate his mind where he was board certified with a 97% pass rate.

The couple starts every morning off with a bible study together.

Page Perrigan says their family has in fact become closer because of the journey.

Their daughter, Julie, helps with finances and organization, their son, Nathan, supplies emotional support and faith, and their daughter Bethany, a travel nurse, helps them to understand terminology with the doctors.

In the future, Page Perrigan said she would love for the couple to travel again if her husband ever recovers.

“But, if it isn’t that way, we will be fine,” she says. “Because we go to bed holding hands, I wake up, and he’s there, and we hold hands again. … Knowing that we’ve got each other … whatever happens, happens, we will be OK. We’re best friends. We talk about everything. We share every part of our lives. That’s rare … and I’m not ready for it to go away.”

“All of this has even more so affirmed the love that my wife has for me,” Dale Perrigan says. “I think that’s the main thing that I have discovered in going through this. I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future, so each day is just another day of opportunity and we try to do the best we can. Every day I hope to get a little stronger.”

“

This is the most perfect, perfect rehab place that I could ever imagine. … But I didn’t know this, I was just placed in Baldwin. But I know the Lord is watching over every detail of this journey. We are so thankful for Baldwin Park, we are so thankful for our neighbors.”

— PAGE PERRIGAN

Four strings attached

olin to follow in her older sister’s footsteps. However, her older sister then switched to cello; she didn’t want to be copied.

Unlike piano, Hsu’s talent showed early on with violin.

ANNABELLE SIKES STAFF WRITER

At only 8 years old, Baldwin Park resident Jocelyn Hsu knew she was born to perform.

In her childhood home, Hsu spent hours sitting at her family piano, which was situated in front of a window in the practice room. Before she practiced, Hsu would open the blinds and prop the window open.

“I wanted to share the music,” she says. “For some reason, I wanted people to see me practicing. Our neighbors would come by and tell our parents they enjoyed

the piano music, and I remember feeling so happy because of that.

I always felt like whatever I was playing, whether it was piano or now violin, I always really wanted to share that.”

Although she’s faced an immense amount of obstacles in her music career, the now 27-year-old is continuing to pursue her dream, regularly performing at venues such as House of Blues and Universal Studios, as well as private corporate events and weddings.

STRING START

Hsu was born in Taiwan, China but was raised in Orlando.

She comes from a large music

family — two of her father’s three sisters are professional musicians. Hsu started playing piano at 5 years old.

“I remember there just always being a piano around, and I think my parents knew to start introducing us (Hsu and her two sisters) to music when they felt we were ready,” she says. “I started taking lessons when I was really young. I think my mom always had the intention of eventually introducing us to a second instrument. We were allowed to pick which one we wanted.”

Hsu is the middle of three sisters, and although she originally selected cello, she switched to vi-

“I really struggled practicing piano growing up,” she says. “I didn’t find it particularly fulfilling or interesting. I wasn’t the best at it, and I’m a very achievement-oriented person. … I’m kind of an all-or-nothing person. … But with violin, I never felt this way. I always enjoyed playing the instrument itself, and I felt very motivated to be better.”

At 9 years old, Hsu started violin lessons with a well known local teacher Dr. Lev Gurevich. Gurevich, who died in 2020, was the only teacher she ever had in Orlando, and she stayed with him until she was 18.

Hsu’s first gig was when she

Baldwin Park resident Jocelyn Hsu has played violin since she was 9 years old. Although she’s faced obstacles in her music career, her passion to perform is just as strong.

was still in elementary school.

Two members of her youth orchestra, also from China, combined with her and her sister to form a string quartet. The group performed for local organizations, at a holiday concert in a local Pub-

lix and even at one of Hsu’s teacher’s weddings.

Hsu won her first competition with her youth orchestra where she competed with students all the way up to the high school level.

“For some reason, I was se-

lected as one of the winners,” she said. “That’s when I decided that I wanted to be a performer.”

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

Hsu went on to study music at Florida State University, a por-

tion in her musical journey she describes as her biggest accomplishment.

“You grow up being constantly critiqued, that’s the only way you improve, so when I was done with undergrad, I had plans to go to grad school for music,” she says. “At the time, I was making a lot of progress. … Something was finally clicking where I was really starting to master my craft and be able to communicate with my violin professor at school on a higher level with musicality. … But in classical music, there’s not really much wiggle room. In my experience, it’s not really about how much you improve, it’s about the end product. Even though I made a lot of progress, my end product was still not where it was expected to be in terms of the school I wanted to go to.”

After being selected through a pre-screening process, Hsu was invited to audition at a conservatory. She had to prepare a large

Courtesy photo

ROLL.

repertoire of music for a 10-minute interview.

“I played for probably about four minutes before I was stopped, and everyone got up to go to the bathroom,” she says. “At the time, I was just in shock, but looking back, it was very disrespectful. We have to fund everything to be there. … At that point in my life I really began to question what I had done all of this for. I graduated from music school really hating my instrument.”

One of her original dreams was to pursue the academia route for violin. After that experience, that dream felt like “it was crumbling in my hands,” Hsu says.

However, the experiences led Hsu to what she describes as one of her proudest moments.

After graduating, Hsu moved to Baldwin Park and fell in love with the area, the people and its close proximity to a plethora of Asian restaurants

She taught music to young students and worked on connecting to the community.

In 2019, Hsu was scouted for an audition and went on tour with Jon Anderson, singer of the progressive rock band Yes. She played electric violin, ukulele and sang.

The six-week tour began in the spring on the East Coast in Boston and ended near California. The performers took a break for the summer and then toured again from July to September.

Hsu lived on a tour bus with about 11 other people doing two to three shows a week in notable places such as the American stage in Disney’s Epcot, a festival in Texas, Ryman Auditorium in Nashville and even a residency at Levon Helm studios in New York.

Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Although the tour did not continue, Hsu found a new home in October 2020 at Lockheed Martin as a library assistant for the research library.

“I feel really blessed that now I have the freedom and flexibility to still do music in a capacity that I find fulfilling,” she says. “During

FOLLOW HSU’S JOURNEY

Website: jocelynhsumusic.com

Instagram: bit.ly/3FuH2vb

TikTok: bit.ly/3HHcQQp

Email: jocelynhsuviolin@ gmail.com

COVID, I really grappled with the question of, ‘If I’m not a musician, then who am I?’ These last few years, I’ve learned to dissociate my sense of self from my vocation. I’m really grateful every day … Even being able to live here in a home in Baldwin Park. That’s all because of all of the obstacles that led me to where I am today.”

MAKING MUSICAL MOVES

Today, Hsu is continuing to pursue her musical passions through a relatively normal year in local gigs.

In terms of her future at Lockheed, she will be starting graduate school at FSU’s online program in January and plans to eventually transition into becoming one of the librarians at the company.

“I have a desire to kind of take a step back from being a gigging musician and work on recording more in the studio and building more of my music and my brand,” she says. “I’m still booking — but a little more sparingly — so I can connect with other musicians, form collaborations and fuel my creative fire that’s been growing.”

This past year, the musician has been working on a record with some of her friends on tour, which she is planning on finishing up and releasing next year.

In addition, she already has been planning her next project, which she said she has a lot of material already written for, but would love to focus on a goal of releasing original material more frequently.

“As a string player, especially a classical musician, we grow up very used to playing other people’s works,” Hsu says. “I am very comfortable doing that, and I’m trying to step out of my comfort zone and do things I never believed I was capable of doing.”

IF

WANT TO GIVE YOUR HOUSE PERSONALITY, IT MIGHT AS WELL BE A COLORFUL ONE. THAT’S HOW WE

Join your perfect group in Baldwin Park!

Bust a move or sip and relax. Depending on your mood, there is a club or group for you right in your backyard, and all you have to do is sign up!

Baldwin Park is home not only to tons of delicious restaurants, creative shops and local watering holes, but also during the week, when you are looking to get out of the house for an hour or two, there are plenty of active groups for you to join!

BRIE BERNSTEL MULTIMEDIA & COMMUNITY COORDINATOR

for beginners who are just looking for a little fun and exercise. Page, who hosts the dance class, also will lead a walking group once a week around Lake Baldwin. More information, including Page’s contact information, can be found in your weekly newsletter.

Speaking of great exercise, did you know Baldwin Park has yoga classes exclusive to residents?

Starting up in January, after a short hiatus, free dance classes will take place at Enders Gathering Room twice a month. Taught by a Baldwin Park resident, this family friendly class is perfect

These beginner- to intermediate-level classes are hosted by 18-year yogi-veteran Becca. She offers several fun and intimate class options for all levels. This class is for residents and their guests only. Please email Becca

at becca@bluemoon.yoga or text (407) 276-3478 to sign up for your first class at 50% off. You can now connect on Facebook, too! Sometimes, the week gets away from us, and all we want to do is sit on patio and enjoy a refreshing beverage. Luckily for us, there are places and clubs for that! Join the Nifty Fifty Plus Club if you or your significant other are over age 50 and looking to join fellow neighbors for a splendid night of good drinks and great food. This group meets for an outdoor Happy Hour from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at a local Baldwin Park business. Email niftyfiftiesplus@gmail.com with any questions.

Some other fantastic clubs that love traveling around to different local businesses are the Baldwin

Park Social Club and the GalPals of Baldwin Park. Both groups meet monthly and have more than 50 members each. Both groups also have their own private Facebook pages, so you can stay in touch no matter the day.

There is always something going on in Baldwin Park. These are just a few active groups that are always looking for new members to join! Head to BaldwinParkNetwork and click on “Groups” at the top of the page. This will take you to the entire groups/classes directory that includes contact information and full details about the group. Don’t see anything that speaks to you? Fill out the “new club form” and start your own! We will help you find members and get the ball rolling.

Let’s have the best year yet in #BeautifulBaldwinPark!

Your Baldwin Park Neighborhood Church

Join us for worship Sundays at 11 AM. 2047 Prospect Ave., Orlando, FL 32814 www.gonorthpark.com

BALDWIN PARK WINTER WONDERLAND EXTRAVAGANZA 2022

Baldwin Park kicked off the holiday season with the annual Winter Wonderland Extravaganza Saturday, Dec. 3.

The event, presented by Orlando Health and Orlando Regional Medical Center, included a tree-lighting ceremony, food vendors, live music and photos with Santa Claus on New Broad Street.

The night began with the highly anticipated parade led by Orlando City Commissioner Robert Stuart.

— ANNABELLE SIKES

Locals

Families

Dance 360 Orlando children waved to parade attendees as they passed by.

decorated their golf carts with a variety of materials including floats.

attended the parade together.

Brothers Tommy and Max Vann collected bags of candy from the parade.

Children of all ages walked and rode in the parade.

Children of all ages had a blast at this year’s event.

Lauren and Finley Sparks matched in their Christmas pajamas.

WHAT’S SELLING

1637 LAKE BALDWIN LANE, ORLANDO

SOLD PRICE: $675,000 BEDROOM: Two BATHROOM: 2.5 SQUARE FEET: 2,019

DETAILS: This impressive and highly desirable two-story, end-unit built was by Issa Homes. This home features high ceilings and lots of natural light. The flooring includes wood in the living and dining rooms, and tile in informal family room and kitchen. The open chef’s kitchen includes an island, granite counters, stainless-steel appliances, 18-inch wood cabinetry, pantry, upgraded stove/oven and breakfast nook. The large family room overlooks the beautifully landscaped backyard and private patio. The upstairs features a large study/loft and washer/dryer. The spacious master suite includes dual sinks, shower and separate garden bathtub.

LISTING AGENT: Jenni Sloan, Kelly Price & Company SELLING AGENT: Kimberley Gernert, Keller Williams Winter Park

Photographer: Rickie Agapito

happy new year!

L E T ' S T A L K

numbers

F a n n i e H i l l m a n + A s s o c i a t e s h a s b e e n t h e # 1 R e a l E s t a t e C o m p a n y i n B a l d w i n P a r k s i n c e 2 0 2 1

I a m r a n k e d a s o n e o f B a l d w i n P a r k ’ s T o p A g e n t s i n H o m e S a l e s .

I w a s t h e # 1 i n d i v i d u a l a g e n t i n t o w n h o m e s a l e s f o r 2 0 2 1 a n d t h e # 1 i n d i v i d u a l a g e n t i n c o n d o s a l e s f o r 2 0 2 2 .

F a n n i e H i l l m a n + A s s o c i a t e s s o l d o v e r $ 4 0 0 M i n 2 0 2 2

F E A T U R E D P R O P E R T Y !

KELLY PRICE & COMPANY 2022 SNAPSHOTS

(L to R): Kelly L. Price, Jen Certo, Tiffany Grindstaff, Jenni Sloan, Leah Bonich, Padgett McCormick

(L to R): Tanya Smith, Teresa Jones-Cintron, Debbie Batchelord

Kelly L. Price

(L to R): Kelly L. Price and Nicholas A. Falbo

(L to R): Mack Alston, Kimberly Slinger, Kelly L. Price, Rhonda Chesmore

(L to R): Jackie Wilson and Grace Wilson

(L to R): Kelly L. Price and Lauren Kuharske

(L to R): Shelby Smith, Grant Stallings, Jenna Torres, Pat Good

(L to R): Kimberly Slinger and Maria Velez

(L to R): Kelly Tiley, Caroline Croft, Cody Judge