CONNECT
In Partnership with Observer Media Group
NOVEMBER 2016
2016
FR E E Sunday, December 11 4-8 pm MetroWest Golf Club
Santa and Mrs. Claus Dual snow slides Outdoor ice skating rink Live performances Food and beverages and much more!
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2 • MetroWest CONNECT
November 2016
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MetroWest CONNECT • 3
MetroWest Corner A Letter from your Neighbor and President of the MetroWest Master Association Board Dear Neighbors: It’s election season and I’m not talking about political elections – I’m talking about candidacy for an open term on the MetroWest Master Association Board of Directors. This year, however, as there were only two (2) qualifying candidates for the two open positions, there will be no need for an election in December. The candidates accepted and the MWMA Board approved their services at the November Board meeting. Effective at the Annual Meeting on December 13, 2016, we will welcome the following Board members to their second Board term:
• Stina D’Uva, Fairway Cove • Madeleine Francois, MetroWest Unit Five
And the MetroWest WinterFest will be here before we know it! I’d like to extend a personal invitation for you to join the MetroWest Master Association at our 5th Annual WinterFest, benefitting the Edgewood Children’s Ranch, Sunday, December 11 from 4 to 8 pm, at the MetroWest Golf Club. Enjoy the traditional holiday film How The Grinch Stole Christmas on the big screen. Kids may even slide down dual snow slides and folks of all ages can ice skate! You will also enjoy Santa and Mrs. Claus, live performances, great food and beverages and wonderful exhibitors. This is a free, family event you won’t want to miss. I hope to see you there as we kickoff the holiday season! I look forward to connecting with you at the MetroWest WinterFest. Sincerely,
Jim Drayton
Jim Drayton President, MetroWest Master Association Board of Directors
MetroWest Master Association
2121 S. Hiawassee Rd., Suite 132 Orlando, FL 32835 (407) 601-5995 www.metrowestcommunity.com
MetroWest
CONNECT Published four times a year by:
in partnership with the MetroWest Master Association Publisher
Dawn Willis Executive Editor
Mike Eng
Creative Designers
Andres Tam Tony Trotti
Advertising Executive
Ann Marie Vibbert avibbert@orangeobserver.com or call 407-656-2121
4 • MetroWest CONNECT
November 2016
Premier Host
FR E E
Charity Challenge Is your community or business the most connected?
Sunday, December 11 4-8 pm MetroWest Golf Club
MetroWest Master Association is engaging our entire community in a charity challenge. We’re collecting needed goods for Edgewood Children’s Ranch, the beneficiary of WinterFest 2016, and
2016
we need your help! Can your community or business gather the most items?
Santa and Mrs. Claus
We invite all of MetroWest to participate and share in spreading
Dual snow slides
holiday cheer! Participating communities or businesses will receive a collection box decorated
Outdoor ice skating rink Live performances Food and beverages and much more! Platinum Sponsor
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Gold Sponsors Bronze Sponsor Silver Sponsors
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MetroWest Master Association MetroWestCommunity.com • 407-601-5995 • MetroWest Master Association 2121 S. Hiawassee Road, Suite 132 • Orlando, Florida 32835 Register to be a Sponsor here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/WinterFestSponsor2015
by the children at Edgewood Children’s Ranch to station wherever they will be collecting goods. The community or business that collects the most goods and drops them off at WinterFest 2016 on Sunday, December 11, will receive a $200 cash prize and recognition in the MetroWest CONNECT. Are you interested in participating? Think your community or business is the most connected? Contact the MetroWest Master Association at 407-601-5995 or by email at mwma.admin@cfl.rr.com to receive a collection box.
November 2016
MetroWest CONNECT • 5
MetroWest WinterFest Features The Grinch! ‘Tis the season to celebrate with family, friends and MetroWest! MetroWest Master Association is hosting their 5th Annual WinterFest on Sunday, December 11 from 4:00 – 8:00 PM at the MetroWest Golf Club. This free, family event will be a fun evening for all ages – featuring the hit movie How The Grinch Stole Christmas shown on the big screen on the MetroWest Golf Club green. How will Whoville survive the Grinch’s holiday thievery? There will be dual snow slides for children and folks of all ages can take a spin on an ice skating rink.
Santa and Mrs. Claus and a life-size snow globe will be available for photo opportunities. Festivities will also include holiday-themed performances by students from Perfect Pointe Productions, MetroWest Elementary School and FSR (For Services Rendered.) Grab a bite to eat from local food trucks while you stroll around the exhibitor zone to discover what MetroWest businesses have to offer. The beneficiary of the event is the Edgewood Children’s Ranch. (See Charity Challenge information.) To learn more about the event or to participate as a sponsor, exhibitor or donor, visit www.MetroWestCommunity.com. WinterFest 2016 will be a night full of holiday cheer and festive, family fun! We hope to see you there. Don’t forget to bring your blanket to sit on while enjoying How The Grinch Stole Christmas!
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6 • MetroWest CONNECT
November 2016
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By Peter M. Gordon “MetroWest has the best of everything,” said Dr. Ramon Nunez, MetroWest resident and Medical Director of Emergency Services for the recently opened Winter Garden campus of Florida Hospital. “There’s space, but things are close by. If I need milk at 9:00 PM it’s one minute away. No matter where I go (in Orlando) I can easily get there.”
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Dr. Nunez and his family moved from the New York City area to MetroWest in 2006. He’s a New Jersey native who majored in physical sciences at Rutgers University in New Brunswick and earned his M.D. from the New Jersey College of Medicine. He always worked in emergency medicine. “It’s what matters most,” he said. “Every day I make decisions that determine people’s lives.”
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After medical school, he worked in emergency services at Lincoln Medical Center in the Bronx, eventually becoming Chief Resident for Emergency Medicine. Life in New York was becoming cramped. He, his wife, and son were living in a one thousand square foot apartment, and wanted to move somewhere they could afford more space with room for a larger family. His father-in-law lived in Orlando, and after several visits Dr. Nunez and his wife decided MetroWest was the best place to raise their family. Dr. Nunez said Central Florida’s growth is one of the best reasons to live here.When he moved to MetroWest, Florida was the fourth most populous state, and now it’s the third. “This is where it’s happening,” he said. “It’s exciting to serve a growing community.” He recently joined the faculty of UCF’s new College of Medicine as an assistant professor of emergency medicine. Although that adds to his busy schedule leading the emergency department at Florida Hospital Winter Garden and taking care of a growing family, he said, “It’s important to give back.” A growing population needs more doctors.Teaching also helps him connect with why he became a doctor in the first place – to make a positive impact on people’s lives, and sometimes bring them back from the brink of death.
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8 • MetroWest CONNECT
MetroWest CONNECT
November 2016
• PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Shugart Plans To Change Learning Outcomes At Valencia College
By Peter M. Gordon When Dr. Sandy Shugart moved from North Carolina to become Valencia College President, he and his family decided to live in MetroWest. They found the neighborhood was the best of both worlds: “a perfect mixture of proximity to downtown with a country feel.” He moved his office to an administrative building in the area three years ago and enjoys his short commute. Dr. Shugart presides over a growing college that includes seven campuses, approximately 70,000 students, and over 1500 full time employees. “66% of high school students in Orange and Osceola counties access college through Valencia,” he said. The Valencia West campus in MetroWest is home to over 30,000 students. Valencia’s impact on West Orange and the Central Florida community goes beyond numbers. In 2011 the college won the inaugural Aspen Institute Prize recognizing Valencia as the best community college in the nation. The award cited Valencia’s success with a large, diverse population of students from all sorts of economic and ethnic backgrounds, a student body that reflects our community’s diversity.
Dr. Shugart and his staff are not resting on their laurels. They are currently implementing a plan to increase Valencia’s positive community impact.Their first goal is to empower students by providing even better learning outcomes. “Valencia is best known for being a learning college,” Dr. Shugart said. “If we’re good at that, everything else will follow.” They plan to help grow the local economy through focusing on two areas: training students for careers in the knowledge economy with four-year majors in areas such as Computer Engineering and Computer Imaging, and developing short, intensive training experiences to help low-income workers find betterpaying jobs. Dr. Shugart called it “adding rungs to the ladder.” For example, after a short training program in construction, a fast-food worker making $9 per hour would have skills to find a job paying $12 per hour, a 33% increase. Valencia’s third area of impact is to improve the overall quality of life in Central Florida. One way Valencia will do this is to increase awareness, outreach and attendance for its high-quality arts programs. Another is through its School of Public Safety, which trains thousands of the next generation of public safety professionals. Dr. Shugart plans to grow Valencia to match Central Florida’s growth. He is proud of the college’s achievements and enjoys living in MetroWest. He said, “I’m not going anywhere.”
November 2016
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November 2016
Two Veterans Return to Service on MetroWest Master Association Board of Directors Usually, there is an election for openings on the MetroWest Master Association Board of Directors each December. This year, however, as there were only two (2) qualifying candidates for the two open positions, there will be no need for an election in December. The candidates accepted and the
MWMA Board approved their service at the November Board meeting. Effective at the Annual Meeting on December 13, 2016, we will welcome the following Board members to their second Board term:
Stina D’Uva, Fairway Cove Agostina “Stina” D’Uva has been an integral leader in the Orlando community throughout her illustrious career. As President and CEO, her direction has helped grow The West Orange Chamber of Commerce into a thriving business force, recognized as a two-time winner of the coveted Chamber of Year Award from the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals. Stina’s career blossomed upon her arrival in MetroWest in 1989. She served as the Greater Orlando Mothers of Twins and Triplets Club President, MetroWest Elementary School PTA President, Gotha Middle School PTSA President and SAC Chairman, Board member and Chairman of the Health Central Foundation, President of the Fairway Cove Homeowners’ Association and founding president of the Olympia High School PTSA. She served on the MetroWest Master Association Board of Directors from 2008 to 2009, before becoming President in 2010 and serving through 2012. She was reelected to the Board in November 2014. These are just a few highlights of her extensive community involvement. Stina’s volunteer service was recognized as Orange County’s District 1 Citizen of the Year in 2007 and as the 2013 Central Florida Women’s League Heart of Central Florida Woman.
Madeleine Francois, MetroWest Unit Five A resident of MetroWest for the past 21 years, Madeleine Francois was a licensed Independent Life and Annuity Agent before retiring. Throughout her MetroWest residency, she has been actively involved in the MetroWest Master Association through committee service including the Finance, Security, Landscaping, National Night Out Event, Fine & Hearing and the DRB Committees. Madeleine currently serves as President of the HOA 5 Board and has served as chairperson for the Beautification Committee, as a member of the Welcome Committee and Social Committee and as Neighborhood Watch Program Coordinator.
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MetroWest CONNECT
November 2016
• GROWING NEWS!
The Residences at Veranda Park: MetroWest Luxury By Peter M. Gordon “You feel like you’re walking into a luxurious home when you enter your apartment” in The Residences at Veranda Park, said Property Manager Amy Risinger. The rental apartments offer luxury features such as granite countertops, state-of-the-art appliances, hot tubs, gas fireplaces, gas stoves, and mosaics.The buildings include courtyards for residents to enjoy and views of either the MetroWest Golf club or downtown Orlando. The location in the heart of MetroWest provides easy access to shopping, job opportunities and attractions. They are four miles from Universal Studios, nine miles from downtown Orlando, and fifteen miles from Disney World. Other amenities for residents include a gym, salon, convenient restaurants and other shops. Risinger plans monthly events in the courtyard, including live bands, happy hours, and educational events. The Residences not only provide luxury living for their residents, they also plan to provide value for the entire MetroWest community. The Residences at Veranda Park’s first farmer’s market, open to the entire community, took place on Saturday, November 5, 2016, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Vendors were still being confirmed at press time, but community members can expect similar offerings to other local farmer’s markets: vendors selling fresh fruits and vegetables, live music, involvement of local businesses, and food. The goal is for the MetroWest farmer’s market to
provide a gathering place for the community and grow until it becomes as established as the markets in Winter Park and Winter Garden. Other community initiatives include sponsoring the National Night Out in October, and a Christmas Tree Lot located next to the apartment buildings that will open during the holiday season. Look for holiday fireworks displays for the community, and more events scheduled throughout the year. The Residences expects to prosper as the MetroWest community prospers. Property manager Risinger grew up in the Dr. Phillips area and still lives in West Orange county. She knows the MetroWest community well. She said that The Residences are not like a normal apartment community. Her goal is to make residents feel “more like a home owner than a renter.” More information about The Residences at Veranda Park, including apartment floor plans, lists of amenities, and rental applications, are available at their web site, http://www.veranda-park.com.
Excellence Assisted Living Coming to MetroWest By Peter M. Gordon Florida has the largest percentage of citizens over 65 in the United States, per the 2010 census. Seniors are living longer and remaining more active than ever. Central Florida residents Bruno Portigliatti and his father, Anthony, designed Excellence Assisted Living to meet the needs of active seniors. The company’s mission is “to provide a stimulating and safe environment with excellent services, personal care and development, aimed at the well-being and happiness of residents in their mastery age.” The Portigliattis opened their first facility on South Semoran Boulevard in July, 2016.They are pleased with its growth and plan to start construction on a MetroWest facility in 2017 on a site overlooking MetroWest Golf Club. One of the current facility’s most unique amenities, also planned for MetroWest, is a full size medical clinic with exam rooms to enable residents to receive the same medical care on site as they would in a doctor’s office. A dental suite enhances the convenience. Residents will find everything they need under one roof. Amenities include a wellness center with a gym for people who want to work out and physical therapy resources for people that need more attention. The facility includes an on-site beauty salon and a game room. There’s a covered patio and gazebo for outdoor activities, and a dining hall, laundry rooms, and lounges where residents can mingle and watch TV. The Portigliattis also lead Florida Christian College, which launched in 1999. Anthony is the President and Bruno the Chief Operating Officer. They plan to bring the techniques they practice in education to keep Excellence Assisted Living residents mentally stimulated. In addition to scheduling a full calendar of entertainment and social events the facility will provide life coaching. They plan to involve students and faculty from the college to bring the benefits of state-of-the-art neuroscience to residents. Bruno Portigliatti said they want the MetroWest facility to grow within “a community context.” They are in discussions with several local businesses and community groups. While nothing has been set at press time, Bruno expects by opening day they will have established relationships throughout MetroWest to help realize their vision of “a community of people living with dignity and satisfaction in their maturity, active and socially connected, fully enjoying each day.”
November 2016
MetroWest CONNECT • 13
Hosts
” h c t a P e h t f “Pick o Realtor Tour MetroWest Master Association (MWMA) recently hosted its 4th Annual “Pick of the Patch” Realtor Tour to share information about MetroWest’s newest businesses, residential opportunities and the exciting developments happening in our community with area realtors. Over 50 participants enjoyed updates on community connections through public safety initiatives, the West Orange Chamber of Commerce, MetroWest CONNECT magazine, the YMCA and the MetroWest Golf Club. The community bus tour featured Stonebridge Commons Communities, Valencia College, Veranda Park and the Crystal Ballroom.
14 • MetroWest CONNECT
November 2016
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MetroWest CONNECT • 15
• LOCAL EATS
Chicken Bites Brings Brazilian Tastes to MetroWest By Peter M. Gordon Raul Boesel is used to challenges.When he was younger he raced Formula One and Indy Cars professionally in Europe and the U.S., competing in marquee races including the Indianapolis 500 and 24 hours of Le Mans. He is now a Florida resident, and facing his latest challenge of bringing one of Brazil’s most popular snacks to America with his new MetroWest business: Chicken Bites. Chicken Bites introduces the popular Brazilian street snacks, coxinha, to a new generation of American consumers. A coxinha wraps savory dough around chicken or other filling to make a tasty snack or meal. Chicken Bites features snacks with regular chicken filling, cream cheese, chicken wings, pork and beef.The store provides veggie fillings for those who prefer that to meat, and dessert snacks containing dulce de leche and Nutella. Chicken Bites launched in 2016 with a food truck offering the savory snacks at different locations throughout Central Florida. Boesel said from the very beginning they received a “great response. Every day people call about food truck appearances.” He recently opened a store at 2405 South Hiawassee Road so fans can find Chicken Bites
without having to follow the food truck around town. The store is open 10 AM to 6 PM Monday through Saturday. Boesel, a West Orange resident, said Orlando was the top choice for the first Chicken Bites location. “Orlando is a city that never stops growing,” he said, “we can introduce the product to people from different states and countries.” He sees a great deal of growth in Chicken Bites’ future. He plans to open more stores and franchises not just throughout Florida but also in other states. Boesel’s experience as a professional race car driver has helped him make deals to bring the Chicken Bites truck to Daytona and other racing locations. He’s qualified to drive the truck himself, although he said it doesn’t handle quite the same as an Indy car. He trusts that Americans will develop a taste for Chicken Bites just like they have in Brazil. “This is a new challenge for me. I’m enjoying it so far,” he said. Customers can find more information about Chicken Bites and their menu at www.chickenbites.net.You can find more information, including the current location of the food truck, on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/chickenbitestryit
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November 2016
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