Presented by the MetroWest Master Association
AUGUST 2019
CONNECT Live.Work.Play.Connect.
IN THIS ISSUE
Highlights and Photos
MetroWest Food Truck Connection
Back to School Safety Tips
Enjoy Food and Fun
From MetroWest Public Safety
2 • MetroWest CONNECT
AUGUST 2019
Come and visit us for
FREE Estimates Keeping You On the Road Specializing in BMW, Mercedes and Volvo Service & Sales
Vehicle consignment sales and vehicle locator available
Stress-Free
Financing See store for details.
BRAKE PAD SALE BMW 3 Series
179.95 BMW 5 Series $199.95 $
Mercedes C-Class
179.95 Mercedes E-Class $199.95 $
Full Synthetic Oil Service
Service includes: Front or Rear Pads, Parts and Labor.
ONLY
89.95
$
Includes up to 7 quarts of Full Synthetic Oil.
Tax and recycling fees are extra. Not valid with any other offers. Expires 12/31/19
HIGH LINE CAR SALES, INC. SALES • SERVICE 407-877-3841 2718 Rew Circle • Ocoee, FL 34761 Located at Hwy 50 & Bluford Ave South www.highlineinc.com
290538-1
Email: highlinecarsalesinc@gmail.com
MetroWest CONNECT • 3
AUGUST 2019
MetroWest Corner
MetroWest Master Association
2121 S. Hiawassee Rd., Suite 132 Orlando, FL 32835 (407) 601-5995 www.metrowestcommunity.com
MetroWest
Dear Friends: I hope you enjoyed the MetroWest Master Association’s new MusicWORKS event on July 4. The Independence Day celebration featured music, food and fireworks and was held at the beautiful MetroWest Golf Club. Have you noticed the progress on the MetroWest signage project? It has been exciting to watch this comprehensive signage and landscape renovation project, which is on schedule to be completed by August, come to fruition. Be sure to save the date for the MetroWest National Night Out event on Oct. 1. National Night Out helps to increase Neighborhood Watch participation by promoting the work that police, fire, residents and businesses do together to make our neighborhoods safer and better places to live.
CONNECT
All of MetroWest’s governing documents are being updated and will soon be sent out to residents. They will also be available on the MWMA website, www.metrowestcommunity.com.
Published four times a year by: MetroWest Master Association
If you’d like to receive important information about neighborhood news, do so by liking the MetroWest Master Association on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MetroWestMasterAssociation. Stay connected with us!
Julie Sanchez, LCAM, CFCAM General Manager MetroWest Master Association For more information or to advertise please contact mwma@connectsales.com Or call 407-601-5995.
Sincerely,
Jim Drayton
Jim Drayton President MetroWest Master Association Board of Directors
4 • MetroWest CONNECT
AUGUST 2019
MetroWest MusicWORKS Draws 10,000 for an Evening of Food, Music and Fireworks An estimated crowd of more than 10,000 attendees enjoyed an evening of music, food and fireworks at the inaugural MetroWest MusicWORKS event on July 4 at MetroWest Golf Club. The free, public event featured a dozen food trucks, live performances by Will Donato and Absolute Queen, a fun and popular Kids Zone, and was highlighted by an amazing fireworks show staged by Pyro Shows.
“We’ve envisioned a July 4 event for the MetroWest community for several years,” said Julie Sanchez, MetroWest Master Association (MWMA) General Manager. “We are pleased and excited to finally bring this event concept to fruition.”
MetroWest CONNECT • 5
AUGUST 2019
During MusicWORKS, MWMA presented representatives from Westpointe Elementary and MetroWest Elementary each with checks for $2,500. MWMA donates $10,000 every year to the schools. Prior to staging MusicWORKS, MWMA gathered several years of experience with successful special events attracting thousands of attendees, including MetroWest’s 6th annual MusicFest and 8th annual WinterFest, which drew more than 5,000 total attendees in 2018.
Premier Host
Gold Sponsors
Critical Intervention Services Bronze Sponsors
6 • MetroWest CONNECT
AUGUST 2019
Don’t Miss the Food and Fun at MetroWest Food Truck Connection!
If you haven’t yet attended the monthly MetroWest Food Truck Connection, what are you waiting for? The Food Truck Connect is an
food truck trend is the creativity, unique menus and
evening of food, fun and community spirit showcasing
Thursday of the month from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at Veranda
some of the best bites in town, created by some of
Park. In addition to food,
international cuisine that is served. The Food Truck Connection takes place every fourth
Central Florida’s most inventive
the Food Truck Connection
chefs who are elevating street
features music, family
food to the next level. You can find
fun activities and themes.
everything from tacos and pizza to
Upcoming themes include:
lobster rolls and gourmet donuts.
• “Pet Bow Wow” on Aug. 22
This event presents a great opportunity to try something
• “Fall Festival” on Sept. 26
new as well as enjoy old favorites. Food trucks enjoy
• “National Night Out” on Oct. 1
widespread and deserved popularity for offering delicious meals at a reasonable price for a generation
organized by
on the go. One of the most exciting things about the
Visit www.metrowestcommunity.com or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MetroWestMasterAssociation for the latest news about the MetroWest Food Truck Connection.
MetroWest CONNECT • 7
AUGUST 2019
Spring into Summer with a brand new smile Zoom Whitening $
359
Dr. Simmonds
00
Dr. Catral
Call 321-319-4281
with $40 rebate from Phillips ZOOM! Limited availability. (D998) Offer valid for patients that qualify for zoom procedure. Not valid with insurance.
• Complete Exam (D0150) • Prophy (D1110) in Absence of Gum Disease • X-rays (D0274)
1601 Park Center Dr #1 • Orlando, FL 32835
simmondsdentalcenter.com
We also provide these services INVISALIGN • TOOTH WHITENING GENERAL DENTISTRY • COSMETIC DENTISTRY IMPLANTS • VENEERS
272753
New Patients Only $109
*New patients only. $100 off initial exam & X-rays or $100 off towards initial treatment on any procedure. Limit 1 per patient. These offers cannot be combined with insurance and are not valid with other offers or prior service. No cash value. ADA Code (D0150, D0274)
WE FIT IN, SO YOUR BATHROOM WILL STAND OUT!
ACNE TREATMENT ANTI-AGING TREATMENT
EYEBROW DESIGN
BRAZILIAN WAX
A beau�ful new bath right over your old one, in as li�le as one day.
FULL BODY WAX
FACE WAX MENTION THIS AD AND GET
$10
DISCOUNT
www.waxingart.com
(407) 394-6089
2295 South Hiawassee Rd Suite 209 - Orlando
bathfi�er.com | 1-888-277-2617 VISIT US AT OUR SHOWROOM 7655 Currency Drive Orlando, FL 32809
8 • MetroWest CONNECT
AUGUST 2019
MetroWest Public Safety Offers Back-to-School
SAFETY TIPS For children attending Orange County Public Schools, the first day of school is Aug. 12. MetroWest Public Safety urges everyone to follow these safety tips for
• If the yellow or red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, traffic must stop • The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most
sharing the roads with our children, whether they are
dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow
walking, riding the bus, or riding their bikes to school.
them space to safely enter and exit the bus
When sharing the roads with young pedestrians: • Don’t block the crosswalk when stopped at
• Be alert; children often are unpredictable, and they tend to ignore hazards and take risks
a red
When sharing the roadways with kids riding bikes:
light or waiting to make a turn, forcing
• On most roads, bicyclists have the
pedestrians to go around you; this could
same rights and responsibilities as
put them in the path of moving traffic
vehicles, but bikes can be hard to
• In a school zone when flashers are blinking, stop
see. Children riding bikes create
and yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or
special challenges for drivers
intersection
because usually they are not
• Always stop for a school patrol officer or crossing guard holding up a stop sign • Take extra care to look out for children in school zones, near playgrounds and parks, and in all residential areas • Don’t honk or rev your engine to scare a pedestrian, even if you have the right of way • Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians • Always use extreme caution to avoid striking pedestrians wherever they may be, no matter who has the right of way. When sharing the roads with school buses: • If you’re driving behind a bus, allow a greater following distance than if you were driving behind a car. It will give you more time to stop once the yellow lights start flashing. It is illegal to pass a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children. • Never pass a bus from behind – or from either direction if you’re on an undivided road – if it is stopped to load or unload children
able to properly determine traffic conditions. The most common cause of collision is a driver turning left in front of a bicyclist. • When passing a bicyclist, proceed in the same direction slowly, and leave three feet between your car and the cyclist • When turning left and a bicyclist is approaching in the opposite direction, wait for the rider to pass • If you’re turning right and a bicyclists is approaching from behind on the right, let the rider go through the intersection first, and always use your turn signals • Watch for bike riders turning in front of you without looking or signaling; children especially have a tendency to do this • Be extra vigilant in school zones and residential neighborhoods • Watch for bikes coming from driveways or behind parked cars • Check side mirrors before opening your door
MetroWest CONNECT • 9
AUGUST 2019
OUC Provides Generator Safety Tips
TO GET YOU THROUGH A STORM In the aftermath of a storm, a generator can be an incredibly useful tool to give you some comfort while waiting for utility crews to restore power. But, if you plan to use one, always be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. John Chapman, OUC Emergency Management Administrator, shares tips to keep you, your family, your neighbors and your utility crew safe: • Select a Safe Spot. Never run a generator in an enclosed space or indoors. Most generatorrelated injuries and deaths involve carbon monoxide poisoning that can build up. Always place a generator at least 20 feet from your house, and never in an attached garage, with the engine exhaust pointed away from windows and doors. • Never plug a generator directly into your home’s outlets because it could re-energize power lines. This could
endanger the lives of your neighbors who may be served by the same transformer, and tree-trimming and utility crews working to restore power in your area. • Install a transfer switch before a storm hits. This connection costs between $500 to $900 with labor for a 5,000-rated-watt or larger generator. A transfer switch connects the generator to your circuit panel and lets you power hardwired appliances while avoiding the glaring safety risk of
using extension cords. Most transfer switches also help you avoid overload by displaying wattage usage levels. • Obey all local, state and national electrical and fire codes. You may not be aware, but it’s against the law and a violation of electrical codes to connect generators to your home’s electrical circuits without approved automatic-interrupt devices. • Do not run a portable generator in rainy or wet conditions.
• Before refueling, turn off a gas-powered generator and let it cool. Any fuel spilled onto a hot surface could ignite. And a cool generator decreases the risk of burns while refueling. • Always read the instructions carefully. Consult a licensed electrician if you have questions or concerns. • Keep children and pets away from generators. • Always keep a fully charged fire extinguisher nearby.
For more information, visit OUC.com/stormcenter. About OUC—The Reliable One Established in 1923 by a special act of the Florida Legislature, OUC—The Reliable One is the second largest municipal utility in Florida. OUC provides electric and water services to about 400,000 accounts in Orlando, St. Cloud and parts of unincorporated Orange and Osceola counties. Visit www.ouc.com to learn more about our commitment to reliability, affordability and sustainability.
Resident 10 • MetroWestSpotlight CONNECT
AUGUST 2019
Alejandro Pezzini MetroWest resident Alejandro Pezzini is the Chief Executive Officer of AMP Group. In this role, he has spearheaded the re-development of multiple high-visibility distressed properties on the north end of International Drive. Projects include the 119,000-square-foot Orlando Crossings shopping plaza, and an 88,000-square-foot warehouse converted into the IDRIVE NASCAR Indoor Kart Racing Entertainment Complex. Pezzini is a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina and lived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for 10 years prior to moving to the United States in 1988. He possesses more than two decades of experience as a business leader in Central Florida with vast market expertise and in-depth understanding of local government, politics and business. In his executive role, he works closely with the business community, local and state elected officials. As a key leader in Central Florida, Pezzini is often invited to participate in business panels and other programs with regional officials. These events have included Orange County and City of Orlando Mayors, City Commissioners and Orange County Property Appraiser, Visit Orlando, University of Central Florida and major local developers. Under Pezzini’s leadership, AMP Group revenue has grown exponentially with accumulated sales in excess of $300 million between 2011 and 2017. As a result, AMP Group rose to become the second largest minority owned business in Central Florida and ranked as the 25th largest privately held company in Central Florida.
Does your business need to reach residents in
SOUTHWEST ORLANDO? By advertising in MetroWest Connect magazine, you can reach more than 23,000 southwest Orlando households. For more information, contact Julie Sanchez, General Manager, MetroWest Master Association, phone 407.601.5995, email mwma.mgr@cfl.rr.com.
AUGUST 2019
Save the Date Oct. 1, 2019 5:30 – 8:30 pm
MetroWest CONNECT • 11
MetroWest Communities will be hosting National Night Out 2019. Mark your calendars and watch for more information coming soon! The annual National Night Out event helps to increase Neighborhood Watch participation by promoting the work that police, fire, residents and businesses do together to make Orlando neighborhoods safer and better places to live.
Honesty Integrity Results We are dedicated to treating our clients like family!
A 120-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility, serving the long and short term care needs of Orlando and the surrounding area.
SERVICES
• Post Acute Rehabilitation • Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy • Specialty Nursing Services • Wound Care • Nutritional Therapy
At The Law Office of Paulette Hamilton, P.A. we provide compassionate and real advice to help our clients through their toughest time.
We accept Medicare and most insurance plans. Please call our admissions office for details and to schedule a tour.
Schedule your consult today!
www.SolarisHealthCare.org
Phone: 407-420-2311 6965 Piazza Grande Avenue Suite 215 Orlando, FL 32835
407-420-2090
4875 Cason Cove Drive • Orlando, FL 32811 A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit
12 • MetroWest CONNECT
Free Save The Date
Saturday, Dec. 21 | 4-8 pm
FEATURING
Premier Host
MetroWestCommunity.com • 407-601-5995 • MetroWest Master Association 2121 S. Hiawassee Road, Suite 132, Orlando, Florida 32835
AUGUST 2019
MetroWest CONNECT • 13
AUGUST 2019
Simplify and Save Money on Back-to-School Shopping It’s time for back-to-school shopping, which, depending on how many schoolage children you have, can mean a bit of a dent in your bank account, not to mention many hours spent looking for the best deals. Read on for some backto-school shopping advice that can save you money, time and frustration. • Shop online: This may be the one piece of advice that saves you the most all the way around. It’s easier to stick to your shopping list and compare for best prices if you shop online. You’ll also save yourself the time and aggravation that can come from going from store to store in search of specific items or sales. • Look beyond traditional big box stores: Give resale shops a try, especially if your older kids are enamored of trendy labels. Even the most label-conscious teen can enjoy shopping at resale stores because they can buy more designer/brand names for less.
• Take advantage of sales tax holidays: Florida’s back-to-school tax holiday is Aug. 2-6. During this sales tax holiday period, qualifying items will be exempt from tax including: certain school supplies selling for $15 or less per item; clothing, footwear, and certain accessories selling for $60 or less per item; and computers and certain accessories selling for $1,000 or less per item, when purchased for noncommercial or personal use. • Wait until Labor Day, if you can: While there are good deals during the backto-school shopping rush, there can be even better deals available after school starts. If you can do without certain items for a few weeks, wait to buy them until after Labor Day. • Don’t do it all at once: If possible, spread out your shopping over time. If you try to do it all in one or two days, you’ll be exhausted and frazzled. • Keep your shopping list on your phone: Have your list handy so that you’re always ready to grab a good deal. • Hit the sales racks first: Especially when it comes to clothes, check out the clearance section first before looking at the regularly priced items.
• Compare prices on e-books: For classes with reading lists, perhaps buying the electronic version of a book would be less expensive than purchasing a physical copy. • Use coupons and watch ads: If you really need to cut corners, use coupons (digital or print) and keep an eye on back-to-school ads for deals on must-have items. • Ask your friends: Do you have friends with children a bit older than your kids? If so, see if they have any gentlyused school supplies that they’d be willing to part with. For instance, in Florida an item like a winter coat might not get much wear before it’s outgrown and your friends might want to clear out their kids’ closets in anticipation of new back-to-school clothes.
14 • MetroWest CONNECT
AUGUST 2019
MAKING A DIFFERENCE Every Day. As Florida’s residential property management company and proud management partner of MetroWest Master Association, we know what it takes to create great communities that residents are proud to call home. We start by putting the right teams in place – local property experts who deliver genuinely helpful service. Then we back them up with the tools and resources that only North America’s leading property management company can provide – fullservice solutions and exceptional customer service that enhance the value of every property and the lifestyle of every resident we serve. That’s how we make a difference, every day, for great communities like yours.
www.fsresidential.com
AUGUST 2019
MetroWest CONNECT • 15
16 • MetroWest CONNECT
Metro West,
AUGUST 2019
You have put your trust in us to care for you and your families for generations. And with new and expanded facilities in West Orange, Orlando Health - Health Central Hospital is bringing world-class care closer to home.
WINTER GARDEN • OCOEE • METRO WEST • APOPKA • GOTHA • ZELLWOOD • OAKLAND • WINDERMERE • HORIZON WEST
ChooseOrlandoHealth.com/WestOrange