Positively Osceola Weekly for November 24, 2021

POSITIVELY OSCEOLA WEEKLY

Inside this issue

Making a Positive Difference in and around Osceola County!

Osceola County Dedicates Fallen Firefighter Memorial

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Osceola County is asking the community to help name their pair of Brownie Wise Park Eagles

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Osceola Kowboys Fall Short of Goal, Look Forward to 2022 Run Page 18

Drawn to Life Presented by Cirque du Soleil and Disney Opens at Walt Disney World Resort

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NEWS

Osceola County Dedicates Fallen Firefighter Memorial Osceola Dedicates Fallen Firefighter Memorial Osceola County, Florida – During a ceremony held Friday morning, Osceola County Fire Rescue & EMS dedicated a memorial space at their Fire Training Facility to the memory of the department’s fallen firefighters. Osceola County Vice Chairwoman Viviana Janer and Osceola County Fire Chief Larry Collier spoke during the ceremony.

“Each of you play an essential role in the protection of lives and property in Osceola County and the surrounding communities,” said Commissioner Janer. “As people visit our Fire Training Facility, they will see the honor that our Commission and community gives to the brave men and women who protect us.”

The Osceola County Fallen Firefighter Memorial is located near the entrance to the County’s Fire Training Facility, located at 3186 Pershing Street in Kissimmee. The memorial features a bronze statue of a kneeling Osceola County firefighter, surrounded by bronze helmets featuring the badge number and rank of each member of Osceola County Fire Rescue & EMS who has died in the line of duty. They are: -Lt. Lyle Garlinghouse, an original department member, who passed on July 20, 1995 from cardiac arrest.

-Lt. John Mickel, whose service began April 19, 1993 and who passed on July 30, 2002 from injuries sustained during a live fire training drill.

-Firefighter Dallas Begg, whose service began July 22, 2002 and who passed on July 30, 2002 from injuries sustained during a live fire training drill.

-Lt. Randy Donaldson, whose service began October 28, 1996 and who passed on February 17, 2016 after a prolonged battle with cancer.

“Each of these men’s sacrifice has impacted our daily lives, and how we do our jobs,” said Chief Collier, who likened the continuity of the fire service to running a relay race. “It is our jobs now to carry the baton, the lessons we have learned through the work and sacrifice of others, so that we can pass it on to the next generation of firefighters.” The Osceola County Fallen Firefighter Memorial is possible in part thanks to Quinn Construction and the Osceola FD Benevolent.

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NEWS

Thanksgiving holiday gas prices highest in 8 years after 10-cent jump at the pump last week

If you’re planning on driving your car during the Thanksgiving holiday you will likely experience the most expensive gas prices since 2013, according to the American Automobile Association.

The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Florida jumped 10 cents in the middle of last week to $3.36, the highest price at any point since September 2014. Currently, the average price is at $3.35 in Florida, just six cents below the national average of $3.41. Oceola County’s average is currently a bit lower at $3.34.

AAA says that 2.6 million Floridians will hit the road for Thanksgiving, with the average fill-up costing $50 for a 15-gallon tank. That’s $13 more than drivers paid before the pandemic in 2019.

“High gas prices are not something drivers will be thankful for this Thanksgiving,” AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said. “The good news is gas prices should gradually decline through the holiday. Crude oil and gasoline futures dropped last week, and that should restore some downward pressure on prices at the pump.”

Hookah Bar Shooting Suspect Arrested by Florida Troopers, turned over to Osceola Sheriff’s Office On Thursday morning Florida Troopers stopped a 2010 Acura on SR 408 for illegal window tinting.

Once stopped FHP confirmed that there was an active Osceola County murder warrant on the driver stemming back to an October shooting at the Red Star Restaurant and Hookah Bar on West US 192 that left a woman dead and a man in a local hospital.

38-year-old Daniel Alfredo Cruz was arrested by troopers who then contacted the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office and turned the arrested suspect over to them, along with a pink gun they has found in Cruz’s car.

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NEWS Osceola County is asking the community to help name their pair of Brownie Wise Park Eagles Since 2016, the activities of breeding pairs of American bald eagles nesting at Brownie Wise Park have been available for all to see by way of the “Osceola County Nature Camera.” A total of eight chicks have fledged there over the last four seasons – and this year there are currently two eggs in the nest.

Now, Osceola County Commissioner Cheryl Grieb, who pushed for the camera, is urging residents to keep watching – and to also name the pair of majestic birds that symbolize America. For the potential names, Grieb reached out to the families of Sergeant Sam Howard and Officer Matthew Baxter, two Kissimmee police officers slain in the line of duty in 2017. Names in consideration are “Starlight” and “Legend” for the female eagle and “Skyler” and “Unity” for the male.

“I love that we’re able to bring these magnificent birds into homes and classrooms around the world,” said Grieb. “People are really excited about being able to see them as they add to the nest and go about their daily activities. Naming the eagles with the help of Sergeant Howard and Officer Baxter’s families is a small way to pay tribute to their sacrifice and a fitting way to honor their memory.”

Vote online here: www.osceola.org/go/eagles. The “bird’s eye view” can be found at https://tinyurl.com/ Osceola-Eagle-Cam. Since, 2016, the 24/7 camera has been supported and encouraged by Grieb.

Located on the shores of Lake Tohopekaliga, Brownie Wise Park is a prime birding location, including eagles like the two currently nesting there. Osceola County is blessed with numerous lakes, making it an ideal location for bald eagles to hunt, nest and raise young. Osceola County has one of the largest concentrations of bald eagle nests in the entire state, according to wildlife officials. It is estimated that over 115 pairs of Southern bald eagles nest in Osceola County any given year. The public voting will close on Sunday, December 12, with the names announced later that week.

Preparing your Thanksgiving meal?

Make sure these onions aren’t in your ingredients The US Food and Drug Administration and the CDC are warning consumers to avoid purchasing certain onions because of a Salmonella outbreak reported in 38 states and Puerto Rico, according to a CDC press release.

Multiple companies have recalled whole yellow, red, and white onions due to the potential risk of Salmonella that were supplied by ProSource Produce LLC and Keeler Family Farms and imported from the State of Chihuahua, Mexico, between July 1, 2021, and August 31, 2021, according to the CDC. The FDA listed some of Green Giant Fresh’s whole yellow and white onions, and onions in certain meal kits from EveryPlate and HelloFresh as those being recalled due to potential contamination.

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NEWS KUA’s Movie in the Park Series on Friday December 3 to Feature Christmas Epic “Home Alone”

Kissimmee Utility Authority continues its Movie in the Park series on Friday, December 3rd, at beautiful Kissimmee Lakefront Park and will feature the epic Christmas movie, Home Alone.

KUA’s popular community event will feature free admission, free popcorn, contests, prize giveaways, and the showing of Home Alone on a 50-foot screen! Activities begin at 5:30 pm and the movie will start at 7 p.m. Bring your blankets or lawn chairs and a picnic-style dinner – it’s the KUA Movie in the Park Series and Home Alone! The movie series is a partnership between KUA and the City of Kissimmee.

Osceola County Offices and Courthouse Thanksgiving Operations

City of Kissimmee Administrative Offices to Close on Thursday & Friday for Thanksgiving Holiday The City of Kissimmee’s administrative offices will be closed in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday on Thursday, November 25 and Friday, November 26.

There will be no solid waste services on Thanksgiving Day and there’s no makeup day. Solid Waste Service for Friday, November 26, will continue as scheduled. The City’s administrative offices will resume regular business hours and operations on Monday, November 29 at 8:00 a.m.

For more information about the City of Kissimmee, visit www.kissimmee.gov.

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In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, Osceola County Administration offices and the Osceola County Courthouse will not be operational on Thursday, November 25, and Friday, November 26.

The Bass Road Resource Recovery Site also will be closed on Thursday and Friday, and there will be NO County curbside collection on Thursday. County residents with service through Advanced Disposal who would normally have collection on Thursday will instead have pickup on Friday, November 26, and those who would normally have pick up on Friday will have pickup on Saturday, November 27.

Provision of other County services will resume on Monday, November 29th. Please contact Osceola County Communications at 407-742-0100 for more information.

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NEWS

Governor Ron DeSantis proposes more than $1 Billion in gas tax relief for Floridians On Monday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that during the upcoming legislative session, he is proposing more than $1 billion in gas tax relief for Floridians. This gas tax holiday will save up to $200 for the average Florida family. The Governor made the announcement at stops at Buc-ee’s in Daytona Beach and at Daily’s in Jacksonville and was joined by leaders in the gas and transportation industry.

“Gas prices have been rising due to inflationary pressures from bad federal policies, so we here in Florida need to step up and provide relief to our citizens,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Today, I am proposing that during session, the Florida Legislature provide more than $1 billion in gas tax relief for Florida families. This will have a positive impact on millions of Floridians.”

“I’m proud to stand alongside a Governor who puts Floridians first every day,” said Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez. “With inflation and gas prices on the rise, Governor DeSantis’ proposal to the Legislature of a five-month gas tax holiday will empower our Florida families and businesses who have felt the impacts of Biden’s reckless policies.”

“Wawa is supportive of the Governor’s leadership and this action to provide relief for consumers at the pump,” said Chris Gheysens, President & CEO of Wawa, Inc. “Given recent cost increases and supply chain challenges, this initiative will have a positive impact on Florida families. We are proud to be a part of the Florida community and look forward to growing our presence and continuing to make a positive impact on the communities in which we operate.”

This gas tax relief proposal is in addition to other announcements Governor DeSantis has made over the past few months to fight the rising costs of inflation. Governor DeSantis announced that Florida ports were available and able to aid the current US supply chain crisis in October.

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NEWS Positively Osceola’s “Mayor’s Minute” with Kissimmee Mayor Olga Gonzalez

Hello, I’m Mayor Olga Gonzalez from the City of Kissimmee The Holiday season is around the corner and we want to share some information with you. The City of Kissimmee’s administrative offices will be closed in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday on Thursday, November 25, and Friday, November 26.

Solid Waste Services will not be working on Thanksgiving Day, and there’s no makeup day. Solid Waste Service for Friday, November 26, will continue as scheduled. The City’s administrative offices will resume regular business hours and operations on Monday, November 29 at 8:00 a.m.

Meanwhile, the Parks & Recreation Department is now accepting requests for the “Santa Calling Program,” an annual tradition taking place on Wednesday, December 1, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Parents interested in having Santa Claus call their children may send the following information via email to santa@kissimmee.gov: Child’s name and pronunciation, Age (10 years old or younger), English or Spanish speaker, Gender, Phone number, A list of what they want from Santa Claus, Names and ages of the siblings, School/ Grade/ teacher, Pet type and their names. Parents, what would you like your child to improve on something positive? Do you have an Elf on the Shelf? Is it a girl or a boy? Name? First-time call or returning call?

Best time to call between 5:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 1?

“Santa Calling” is a phone calling service and not a gift-giving service. The deadline to receive requests will be on Monday, November 29, at 5:00 p.m. Please remember the time and day selected as Santa will be calling many children, and Santa will only call each child once.

And if you are looking for holiday events- the City of Kissimmee will be celebrating the Festival of Lights Parade on Saturday, December 11, a signature event that illuminates the historic streets of downtown Kissimmee. You don’t want to miss this event so mark your calendars. As always, if you have any questions or want to learn more about the City of Kissimmee, call our Communications and Public Affairs Office at 407-5182314 or send an email to news@kissimmee.gov. Thank you, and see you next time in the Mayor’s Minute!

Positively Osceola’s Mayor’s Minute with St. Cloud Mayor, Nathan Blackwell I’m Nathan Blackwell, Mayor of the City of St. Cloud. The holiday season is in full swing, and we’ve got lots of great events planned here in St. Cloud for you and your family. The City’s annual tree lighting celebration will be downtown in front of City Hall on Friday, December 3rd from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Festivities include singing, elf driving school, crafts, and much more, plus the lighting of the city’s tree in front of City Hall. Mark your calendars; you won’t want to miss it!

And, you’ll certainly want to join us on Saturday, December 4th at 10 a.m. for the annual Christmas parade, which starts at the lake and comes downtown before heading back to the lake. The parade is guaranteed to chase the bah-humbugs away and get you in the holiday spirit! If you can’t join us in person, tune in to Spectrum Cable Channel 499 to watch it live.

Plan to stay around downtown on Saturday for the holiday craft market, which runs Saturday and Sunday. It will feature lots of great vendors with unique gifts for everyone on your holiday list, plus lots of food vendors and a car show! And don’t forget to visit our downtown businesses while you’re there!

We hope to see you soon at these events here in St. Cloud….

Your Centerplace for Life!

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NEWS Osceola County Invites Community to Provide Input on Boggy Creek Road Widening Project The community is invited to learn about the design of the upcoming Boggy Creek Road Widening Project. The public information meeting is scheduled for December 2, 2021.

Osceola County is designing the preferred alternative that was approved earlier this year by the Osceola County Board of County Commissioners. The project includes adding one lane in each direction between Simpson Road (County Road 530) and Narcoossee Road, adding a raised median, a multi-use path, and a sidewalk. The public meeting is an opportunity for the community to learn about the design, ask questions and provide input. The County is offering three ways for interested persons to participate.

In-Person Open House: The community is invited to attend an open house at the Osceola Heritage Park Events Center, St. Cloud Rooms A, and B, 1901 Chief Osceola Trail, Kissimmee, FL 34744. Attendees will have an opportunity to come anytime between 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to view a looping presentation and project displays, speak with project team members, and provide comments. The County requests advance registration for this option by contacting the project manager using the contact information below. In light of the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, steps are required to protect the health of the public while still ensuring continuity of County business. Virtual access to the public meeting is also being provided.

Virtual Meeting (Online): The second option is to participate in a Virtual Public Meeting (VPM) from a computer, tablet or mobile device. The VPM will begin at 6 p.m. and will include the same presentation offered at the in-person open house. Attendees in the virtual meeting will have an opportunity to download project displays and provide comments or ask questions. Advance registration is required for this option by going to: https://bit.ly/3lzvZYZ. *Please note that GoToWebinar does not support Internet Explorer. You will need to use Google Chrome (click here) to download for free) or Microsoft Edge (click here to download for free) to register and participate in the virtual meeting.

Phone Option (listen-only): Persons may also call into the meeting by telephone by dialing 1-562-247-8422 and entering the passcode 820-391-828 when prompted. Persons choosing this option are encouraged to contact FDOT Project Manager Daniel Kelly at 407-742-0533 or Daniel.Kelly@osceola.org after the meeting to submit comments or ask questions.

All participants will receive the same information and have an opportunity to provide comments. Comments received by December 13, 2021 will become a part of the record for this meeting. Those who cannot attend the meeting may review project information and submit a comment on the project webpage at www.osceola. org/go/boggycreek. All comments will receive the same consideration. Public participation is solicited without CHOOSE SAFE AND regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, EXPERT ER CARE disability or family status. Persons with disabilities who require accommodations under the Americans with YOU CAN TRUST. Disabilities Act or persons who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Hind Huda, Osceola County ADA Coordinator, at 407-742-1200 (TTD: 800-9558771) or email at Hind.Huda@osceola.org at least 7 days before the meeting. For media inquiries, please contact Osceola County Communications at 407-742-0100 or bccpio@osceola.org.

Emergencies are never convenient, but your emergency can be. With 24/7 care that’s here in your community, our team is ready to help when you need medical attention.

And even in times of uncertainty, there’s one thing you can be certain of – our commitment to your safety.

MyChart

Now Available

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NEWS Florida Tourism Continues to Prosper, Topping Pre-Pandemic Levels of Visitors

Governor DeSantis announced that Florida’s visitation from July to September 2021 exceeded 2019’s visitation over the same period for the first time since 2020. The announcement is based on VISIT FLORIDA’s estimates that show Florida welcomed a total of 32.5 million travelers in Q3 2021. It marks the second consecutive quarter of growth in domestic visitation, with 31.2 million domestic travelers to Florida in Q3, reflecting an increase of nearly 7 percent from 2019. In addition, approximately 1.2 million visitors traveled to Florida from overseas, and 85,000 from Canada between July and September of 2021, representing a 597 percent increase from 2020, and a 16.1 percent increase from Q2 2021.

Since launching in August 2020, VISIT FLORIDA’s in-state, drive market, and domestic marketing campaigns have yielded consistent growth for Florida tourism and the state’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In 2020, the experts thought Florida’s economy would be among the most impacted in the nation because of how important tourism is to our state; instead, we are setting the pace for job creation and visitation in the U.S.,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “We have been able to set these records because in Florida we kept businesses open and made sure Floridians could keep working. In just fifteen months, Florida’s visitation numbers have surpassed past pre-pandemic levels, helping drive revenue, job growth, and economic activity to all 67 counties in our state.”

“VISIT FLORIDA and its tourism partners around the state continued to deliver outstanding results for Florida tourism in Q3 2021, with total visitation surpassing 2019’s for the first time since the pandemic began,” said Dana Young, VISIT FLORIDA President and CEO. “Though the ever-evolving nature of the pandemic may continue to pose challenges, the steps we have taken as an industry and as a state have put us in the best possible position to overcome anything that comes our way. Looking ahead, VISIT FLORIDA will only be hitting the accelerator as we reenter the global travel arena and the lucrative winter travel season.” While tourism in other states was completely paused, Florida was the only state marketing outside its borders for seven months, seeing steady growth in visitor volume each quarter. As a result, Florida is driving the recovery of the U.S. travel industry.

Toho Water Authority Administrative Office to close November 25-26 for Thanksgiving Holiday Toho Water Authority’s administrative office will be closed on Thursday, November 25, and Friday, November 26, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Regular business hours will resume on Monday, November 29, at 8:00 a.m. You can always make payments, report water emergencies, and use other self-service features at www.tohowater.com, or by using our 24-hour customer service line at 407-944-5000.

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NEWS Shop Local and Shop Small Business Saturday November 27th in St. Cloud It’s time to shop and shop… small!!!

Kick off the shopping season on Saturday, November 27th with Small Business Saturday and St. Cloud Main Street. Get an early start in Downtown St. Cloud and you can be one of the first 100 who will get some FREE delicious breakfast provided

by Jimmy Bears BBQ and 10th Street Produce and Deli!

The St. Cloud Main Street Program, which began in September 1999, is a comprehensive revitalization program designed to encourage ongoing economic development in conjunction with historic preservation. Their goal is to bring more recognition to our downtown and what it has to offer, and they’ve done that, behind the leadership of Executive Director Paula Stark.

This Saturday, share joy, shop small, and enjoy 15% off participating merchants with St. Cloud Main Street! Remember… it all starts at 9 am in downtown St. Cloud.

Central Florida McDonald’s Golden Grants Program to Award $40,000 to Benefit Local K-12 Students Educators and individuals who represent programs and organizations that fuel the imagination, education, and growth of students can now apply for a McDonald’s Central Florida Golden Grant. This is the first year for the Central Florida Golden Grants program and is funded by the local McDonald’s Owner/Operators.

The program will award $40,000 in grants to various teachers and organizations to positively impact the lives of thousands of students.

Ten Golden Grants will be awarded based on creativity, innovation, need and hands-on application of projects: • One – $10,000 grant • Three – $5,000 grants • Six – $2,500 grants Activities that qualify for a Golden Grant include arts and crafts programs, education initiatives, mentorship and empowerment programs, after-school programs, community service outreach, sporting programs, technology, and COVID-19 relief efforts. Activities and programs must be executed by Dec. 31, 2022, in one of the Greater Central Florida counties listed on www.goldengrantsfl.com.

“The hard work of teachers and community leaders on behalf of our students is immensely appreciated.

The Golden Grants program is a great opportunity to support educators that impact our next generation of leaders,” said Ania Nitzsche, president of the Central Florida Business Unit. “Our youth are vital to the pulse of our communities and we recognize the importance of supporting education in our neighborhoods.”

Eligible teachers and organizations are invited to submit an application at www.goldengrantsfl.com.

The deadline to enter is Dec. 10, 2021, and grant recipients will be announced in February 2022. For more information about Golden Grants and official rules, visit www.goldengrantsfl.com.

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NEWS It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and on Saturday, November 27th… you can Shop Small!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. With the kids jingle belling and everyone telling you to be of good cheer…

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and on Saturday, November 27th from 10 am – 7 pm you can get jingling and shopping at the same time and at the same place. It’s Small business Saturday with Kissimmee Main Street!

Shop small and support local Kissimmee businesses that take care of us ALL year long. Come participate in shop small specials, sidewalk sales, arts & crafts & more.

Oh, and a little elf let us know that from 11am-3pm at the Kissimmee Main Street office, Santa will be stopping by to take pictures and kick off the holiday season and reminding you to SHOP SMALL! The first 100 families will receive a printed picture in a commemorative holiday card.

Remember… shop local and shop small November 27th beginning at 10 am in downtown Kissimmee!

Women’s Council of Realtors in Osceola County Celebrates Marcy Theobald as 2022 President On Tuesday, November 16, the Women’s Council of Realtors in Osceola County came together to do what they do every year, celebrate the passing of the gavel from the current president to the incoming president.

This year the recipient of the gavel and the 2022 President of the Women’s Council of Realtors in Osceola County is Marcy Theobald.

importance of strong and experienced leadership being in place.

The real estate business is without question on fire throughout the nation, but in Osceola County, the last few years will likely be remembered as some of the most robust times in history for realtors – thus the

This year’s Women’s Council of Realtors Installation and Awards Dinner took place at Royal Links Golf Course in St. Cloud and gave the opportunity to the 2021 President Wanda Linscott to reflect upon her year of leadership and to thank those who stepped up to make her year productive, special, and memorable.

After a wonderful dinner, the official installation of 2022 officers took place, and then the highlight of the evening, the gavel was passed officially to incoming President Marcy Theobald. As a small business owner, realtor, and past Chairwoman of the St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce, Theobald is sure to hit the ground running for the Women’s Council of Realtors in Osceola County and will work hard to make 2022 a year to be remembered in Osceola County!

Congratulations to Marcy Theobald and to everyone at the Women’s Council of Realtors. You truly radiate positivity and attract success!

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SPORTS Osceola Kowboys Fall Short of Goal, Look Forward to 2022 Run

The Osceola Kowboys (9-3) fell short of their goal of returning to the FHSAA Class 8A State Championship Game for a second consecutive year, but the direction of the program remains promising as head coach Eric Pinellas will have considerable talent returning for his second year at the helm in 2022. “We came up short, I apologize for letting the city down tonight but we will definitely be back next year,” Pinellas posted on his Facebook account after Friday’s 16-7 Regional Semifinal road loss to West Orange on a blustery, rainy night where his team turned the ball on over four times and could never get the offense on track. It was a game where the two defensive-minded teams battled to a scoreless tie in the first half before West Orange broke through with a long touchdown drive to start the second half. A muffed snap on a punt would result in a safety that saw the Kowboys fall behind 9-0. Freshman running back Taevion Swint would cut the lead to 9-7 with a touchdown run and the Osceola defense gave the ball back to the offense in the final minutes to set up a potential game-winning drive. But the Kowboys could pick up just one first down and turned the ball back to West Orange. By the time Osceola got the ball back, there was less than a minute to go in the game and they found themselves deep in their own territory. A desperation play led to another fumble and scoop and score for the final margin of victory. Osceola will return a lot of talent but will have some key holes to fill, among them quarterback Chad Mascoe—who finishes his two-seasons as starter with an 18-6 record with 3,300 passing yards and 33 touchdowns.

Heading into spring, sophomore Gunner Holland – who won a state wrestling championship as a freshman– will be the odds on favorite to take over a quarterback. Pinellas says Holland is an “Intelligent kid with great knowledge of our offense. He’s tough as nails and has a good enough arm to run the same offense we did the last two years under Chad.” Although the Kowboys lose running back Ja’Randy Swint to graduation, Holland will have a plethora of weapons at his disposal – including Swint’s young brother Taevion – who amassed more than 1000 all-purpose yards and scored 15 touchdowns as a freshman. Slot Isaiah Jean-Baptiste and Perry Garrett return as do wide receivers Akeem Knox, Donald Cummings and Ja’Keem Jackson to give the Kowboys plenty of big-play potential. Defensively, the Kowboys lose talented linebackers Jaheim Graham and Lamont Lee and couple of starters in the defensive backfield in Kaylon Walters and Jeremiah Wilson, who had two interceptions each. But do not feel sorry for Osceola, as the defense will once again be stout. With a front that includes Derrick LeBlanc, John Walker and Elijah Palermo, the 2022 Kowboys will feature a defensive line that combined for 26 quarterback sacks last year and was near impossible to move the ball on the ground against – giving up just 532 rushing yards the entire season (44 yards a game) and just over a yard a carry (1.2 YPC).

At linebacker, the Kowboys will return Joel Campbell and will look for Drevon Lee, Matt Amboise and Jalon Bell to fill the gaps left by graduation. In the defensive backfield, Division-1 prospect Bo Campbell (7 interceptions) returns as does Jayden Bradford, who received significant playing time as a backup. Despite the losses of Walters and Wilson, Pinellas believes the defensive backfield should be very good as rising sophomores Jeff Banks and Talon Jackson are stars in the making. Overall, Pinellas said his team should once again be competitive for a run at a state title. “The goals here seldom change. It starts with winning the district and then making a strong run in the post-season.

We lose some talented seniors this year and we certainly owe them our thanks and gratitude,” Pinellas said.

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SPORTS State Champion Highlights Busy Week in Osceola County Sports A rare state championship performance by an Osceola County swimmer, high finishes in both cross country and golf, and an impending change at the top of the football program at Tohopekaliga highlights an incredibly busy week in county high school sports.

COSTA-CELEBRATION SHINE AT STATE SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS Celebration’s Felipe Costa became just the third Osceola athlete to win a state championship in swimming and diving when he won the 100-back in 49.04 – winning by more than 7/10 of a second over the runner-up. Costa joins Bryan Gillooly and PJ Frueler as the only individual swimming and diving champions from Osceola County. Gillooly, a former two-time NCAA Champion at Miami and the current diving coach at the University of Florida, won four consecutive FHSAA one-meter dive titles at Gateway High from 1990-93; while Frueler, who swam at Columbia University, won the 500-free at the state meet for Osceola High back in 1995.

It was a great meet for Celebration, as Costa, Roman Sukhorukov, Brandon Cunningham and Greg Kamensky also teamed up to earn all-state honors by finishing 8th in the 200-medley relay and 6th in the 200-free relay.

The Storm finished with the highest score in team history, taking 10th place overall with 90 points. Osceola High also had an all-state performer in Anthony Ambrosi, who finished tied for 6th overall in the 50-free in a time of 21.09. Harmony sisters Amelia (Sr.) and Meredith (Jr.) Wagner finished 17th and 21st respectively in the diving competition.

BEAULIEU EARNED ALL-STATE HONORS IN GOLF St. Cloud senior Morgan Beaulieu capped off her sensation high school career at the FHSAA Class 3A Championships by finishing fourth and shooting a 73-75-148 over the tough 5575-yard, Las Colinas Course at the Mission Inn Resort in Howey-In-The-Hills, Fla. The score was 13 back of the winner, Lake Mary’s Izzy Pellot – who shot a stellar eight-under-par 135 over the two-day event. Forest High School’s Haley Davis was the only other golfer to break par for the tournament, as she went 69-72 for a three-under 141. Lake Mary’s Ryleigh Knaub was solo third with even-par 144. Beaulieu tied for fourth with Niceville’s Gracie Grant.

The Lady Bulldogs also qualified for the championship as a team, finishing in 12th place (16 teams qualified) with a team score of 341-354-695. Lake Mary (291-298-589) easily won the tournament by 28 shots over its closest competitor Niceville (300-317-617). Jenna Barnett (82-86-168 – 50TH), Nadia Burda (90-94-184-78th), and Tess Shieve (96-99-195-87th) posted counting scores for St. Cloud. “Tremendous all-around season for this young ladies,” Endicott added. “To qualify for the state championship as a team is a tremendous achievement and given it was a first-time state tournament, I thought they handled the pressure well.” The 2021 St. Cloud team is only the second girls’ golf team in history to qualify for the state championship tournament from Osceola County.

JULIAN POMALES/CATALINA EDWARDS OUTSTANDING AT STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEET Tohopekaliga’s Julian Pomales and Celebration’s Catalina Edwards were the top county athletes at this year’s FHSAA State Cross Country Championships that were contested at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Fla. on Nov. 12. Pomales was the top individual boy’s finishers from Osceola County as he finished 22nd overall – covering the 5K course in 16:16.7. Pomales led the Tigers team, which had its highest finish ever, taking 14th place in the Class 4A State Championship.

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SPORTS Celebration and Harmony Look to excel, St. Cloud Teams Hope for Rebound Season Winter sports for the county, including the 202122 soccer season, has opened with several Osceola County teams hoping to complete for district titles and playoff runs this season.

The Celebration boys’ team has found great success in recent years under Chad Boudreaux, going an impressive 58-15-13 in the last four years and appearing in the playoffs all four seasons.

Bourdeaux’s team is both talented and deep, as evidenced by the fact that seven different players scored goals in their season-opening 8-0 win. That talented roster includes junior striker Mohammad Rally and brother midfielders Ruben (Sr.) and Edgar (Jr.) Marquez.

Boudreaux believes it is the process and not the score that matters most. “We teach our young athletes what it means to work hard, stay focused, and be a contributor to society. What happens on the field may be out of our control. However, you can control your effort, your reactions, and your behavior,” Boudreaux said. “If we focus on what we are supposed to, we will always be successful.” The Storm is off to an impressive 2-0 start this season, having outscored the opposition, 16-0.

After a 14-4-3 record two years ago, Rebecca Holder’s Celebration girls’ team hopes to rebound from a 7-9-2 campaign last year. Holder will have several explosive weapons, including three-sport star Erin Ozyurek – a junior striker – who netted 17 goals last season. Midfielders Lyan Cassamalhupa (6 goals last season) and Sophia Lazari (15 goals last season) will join Ozyurek as co-captains. One of the stronger county programs in recent years has been Harmony.

In his 14 seasons with the Longhorns, Scott Marlega has been a head and assistant coach for both the boys and girls programs. Beginning his sixth season as head coach of the Lady Longhorns, Marlega has put up some impressive numbers – including a 40-14-6 record in the last three seasons. Top returning talent for the Longhorns includes Morgan Sullivan (Sr., D), Brynn Magner (Jr., MF), and Bekah Wiles (Jr., M).

Still, Marlega loses quite of bit of graduated talent from a season ago – and then lost senior standout Reinna Scott to a pre-season ACL tear, but he says his team has the character to overcome those obstacles. “Losing Reinna to an ACL tear was a major setback but I believe our on-field team chemistry will help fill that void. We expect to be competitive in the OBC and district races this year.” Harmony opened their 2021-22 campaign with a 9-1 win over Poinciana.

Osceola Head Coach Dean Oliff moves over from Gateway, where he takes over an Osceola boys program that lost 17 seniors off of last year’s 8-4-3 team. Oliff will look for Axel Andino and Nicholas Ruiz to link up as Osceola’s goal scoring threats; while Rey Morris and Christopher Chacon will be pulling the midfield strings. Benjamin Izaguirre and Geronimo Rosero will lead the defensive back line.

The regular season runs now through Jan. 22, with district playoffs beginning Jan. 26 and Regional play starting on Feb. 9.

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SPORTS It’s JD’s Weekly Musings, talking Baker Mayfield, Gators, FSU, USF and UCF If I am Cleveland Browns management, I am thinking long and hard before signing Baker Mayfield to any type of “franchise quarterback” contract. They loaded the roster for him this year and the Browns are a .500 team. If you start paying Baker $40 million a year, you are not going to have money to keep an all-star roster around him and frankly, he hasn’t shown enough on the field to justify that type of contract.

Talent-wise he’s a lot closer to Kirk Cousins than Patrick Mahomes and frankly I do not see too many teams beating down the free-agent door to sign him to a mega-deal. Going to agree with Rex Ryan’s analysis, when he said “He’s not terrible but he’s not elite. He’s not going to lose you games but he isn’t going to win you games either. In every meaningful stat, he’s ranked in the 20s in the league among starting quarterbacks.” On the other side, his “At Home with Baker Mayfield” Progressive commercials are hilarious…

What a difference seven weeks make. Back on Sept. 27, the Gators were ranked #10 in the nation with a 3-1 record with the only blemish being a two-point loss to then #1 Alabama. FSU was 0-4 and had an inexplicable loss to a Jacksonville State team. Back then if you told me one of those guys was going to get fired this week, I would not have guessed it would be the guy in the orange and blue. Still, once again, we have a ridiculous situation where a public university is going to spend millions paying some guy and his staff not to coach and spend millions more to hire a replacement. Frankly, I find it distasteful that one losing season in that league — even if you won a national championship a few years earlier (like Ed Orgeron) – gets you fired…

Speaking of college football, I can’t help but wonder if Friday will be either the last or next to last meeting ever between USF and UCF. With the Knights eventually joining another conference, it is not as simple as saying let the series continue as a non-conference game as both teams have multiple non-conference games already scheduled for the years ahead. Mentioned in an earlier column that if UCF wanted to be vindictive, they have every right to tell USF they don’t need them anymore – particularly after the Bulls tried to block their admission to the Big East for years. And frankly, the Bulls need a yearly game with the Knights a lot more than the Knights need one with the Bulls. Still, here’s hoping the Presidents and ADs from both schools can find a way to make this series continue…

I’ve had amnesia for as long as I can’t remember….

A lot of baseball fans talk about the ridiculous numbers posted by Cy Young and other players from a century ago, but these fairly modern baseball stats are almost as crazy. Greg Maddux faced 20,421 batters in his career, only 133 of them ever saw a 3-0 count against Maddux and that number included intentional walks. More men have walked on the moon (12) then have scored earned runs in the post-season against Mariano Rivera (11).

Rivera pitched in 96 playoff games over 141 innings and compiled a 0.70 ERA. For Tony Gwynn’s career average to drop below .300, he would have had to play more than two additional seasons and go zero of 1,183 for it to drop to .2994. And finally, one of my favorites, if player hit a home run and a single in five at-bats every game for 162 games, his OPS (on base percentage plus slugging percentage) of 1.400 would still be less than Barry Bonds OPS in 2004 (1.422)…

Back in 2017, I really wanted UCF to get into the College Football Playoff but not because I was screaming for fairness or access, I was carrying their banner because I truly believed they were one of the four best teams in the country. This year, I am not convinced Cincinnati is one of the four best but as teams like Oregon, Michigan State, Oklahoma continue to shoot themselves in the foot, I can see where the Bearcats might at least have a halfway decent shot to get in. If they do get in and let’s say lose by three touchdowns, you are going to hear a million fans scream – “see they never belonged.” But that will be total hogwash. I would like to point out that since this system started in 2014, we have seen some of the “four best” teams in the country like FSU lose by 39, Oklahoma lose by 20 and 35, Michigan State lose by 38, Notre Dame lose by 27, Ohio State lose by 31 and mighty Clemson lose by 21 and not one peep from the Power 5 Elites talking about how those teams “did not belong”.

Just saying if Cincy does get in and lose big, they are no different than power fives mentioned above…

Just occurred to me that the Swiss Military must have been pretty confident of victory because they included a corkscrew on their knives...

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COMMUNITY Positively Osceola, Draper Law Office, join school district in honoring featured teacher and staff Positively Osceola and Draper Law Office visited two Osceola County Schools in November to celebrate, honor, and “surprise” a featured teacher and a professional support staff member. It’s a program developed 6 years ago by Positively Osceola, Draper Law Office, and the Osceola County School District that focuses on saying thank you to teachers and staff that make a positive difference and impact in the lives of our most precious resource in the community, our students.

This month, we featured two very special people, Michigan Avenue Elementary’s Jannine Williams-Wilson, our Featured Teacher for November, and LaShanna Ward, ISS Paraprofessional at St. Cloud Middle – our Featured Professional Support Staff.

Jannine WilliamsWilson, Literacy Coach at Michigan Avenue Elementary, leads professional development presentations for educators, develops assessment schedules, assists teachers with student assessment, analyzes student work, and much more. She is also the School Advisory Council Chair and an overall major contributor to Michigan Avenue Elementary. During our visit, it was announced that she is also Michigan Elementary’s Teacher of the Year! Congratulations to Jannine Williams-Wilson!

Right next door to Michigan Avenue Elementary is St. Cloud Middle School, and so after a short walk, we were able to pay a visit to Ms. Ward, ISS Paraprofessional with St. Cloud Middle.

Ms. Ward is known for consistently stepping up and supporting all of St. Cloud Middle. She assists with ESE units, serves as a back-up for St. Cloud Middle’s Dean’s secretary, supports restorative practices within ISS, helps monitor in the cafeteria during lunch, and much. more. It is safe to say that she can pretty much do any job on campus and does. Ms. Ward is the epitome of a team player and we loved being able to recognize her during our recent visit!

Positively Osceola and Draper Law Office would like to thank the School District of Osceola County, and of course, Superintendent Dr. Debra Pace, who joins us in our visits to the schools, and is without a question, the most excited person in the group – showing her care and thankfulness for every teacher and professional support staff we celebrate!

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COMMUNITY

Take the pressure off your Thanksgiving meal this year, ask Publix to help!

The holiday season is here, but sometimes life doesn’t slow down enough to make it simple to enjoy. This year, consider letting someone else handle most of the cooking responsibilities. Publix is offering a number of holiday meals to choose from, including meals that can feed two to 18 people. With a 48-hour notice, you can place your order on their website or give your local deli a call and focus more on family and friends. Have a Positively awesome Thanksgiving holiday!

Win a $4000 College Scholarship from Huntington Learning Center

November is National Scholarship Month and Huntington Learning Center is offering a chance to win a $4,000 college scholarship!

If you’re a high school senior headed to college next year, enter the Huntington College Scholarship Sweepstakes by texting 4000 to 84444.

Don’t miss this great opportunity for your education! For official sweepstakes rules, visit HuntingtonHelps.com.

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COMMUNITY TrophyCatch to give away new bass boat in live drawing One lucky TrophyCatch registrant is going to win a brand-new bass boat next weekend and the public is invited to join the festivities. Thanks to conservation partnerships, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) TrophyCatch program will be awarding a brand-new Phoenix Bass Boats Pro 819 to one of five randomly selected finalists.

This boat is powered by a 200hp Mercury Marine motor, guided by Lowrance HDLive electronics and Ghost Trolling Motor, anchored by Power-Pole Shallow Water Anchor System, supported by MotorMate and lettered by WrapThis.

“It’s time again to award our incredible $60,000 boat package to one lucky winner. This would not be possible without our amazing partnerships with companies including Phoenix Bass Boats and Mercury Marine and many others.” said Thomas Graef, director of FWC’s Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management. “We are grateful to all anglers who have submitted fish into our TrophyCatch program this season. Each approved fish has helped FWC gain valuable data about Florida’s incredible bass fishery and will help to ensure Florida remains the trophy bass capital of the world.”

The five drawing finalists were randomly selected from 36,237 TrophyCatch program registrants and club winners and were announced on the TrophyCatch Facebook Page. The finalists are Clinton Kilgore, Loren Perez, James Boggs, Jessie Riddle, and James Bernard. The drawing will determine which of the lucky finalists will go home a winner of the new Phoenix bass boat package. Anglers recognize the brand-name products on this boat package, which will spur on the hunt to catch even larger bass. It is only because of generous partnerships with industry and conservation leaders, such as Phoenix Bass Boats and Mercury Marine, that make such an offering possible.

The drawing for this $60,000 boat package will take place next Saturday, Dec. 4, following the 2 p.m. weigh-in for the Bobby Lane High School Cup fishing tournament at Camp Mack, a Guy Harvey Lodge, Marina & RV Resort, 14900 Camp Mack Rd., Lake Wales, Florida 33898. The public is invited to attend the reverse drawing.

The Bobby Lane Cup is a nonprofit youth tournament held annually to raise funds for educational scholarships for high school seniors who have an interest in bass fishing. Teams from southern states come to compete for the title of BLC Champions.

TrophyCatch is a citizen-science conservation program that rewards anglers who catch, document and release largemouth bass heavier than 8 pounds throughout Florida. Data collected by the program help the FWC better enhance, conserve and promote trophy bass fishing. Anglers who wish to participate — and who want to be included in next year’s boat drawing — can visit TrophyCatch.com to register and learn more.

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ENTERTAINMENT Drawn to Life Presented by Cirque du Soleil and Disney Opens at Walt Disney World Resort The highly anticipated new collaboration from Cirque du Soleil and Disney, Drawn to Life, premiered Thursday night at Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort to a full house of enthusiastic fans who demonstrated their appreciation with a lengthy standing ovation.

Animation Studios, and Walt Disney Imagineering.

The show is a love letter to Disney Animation interpreted through Cirque du Soleil’s acrobatic performances, dazzling choreography, innovative design, and eclectic costuming alongside all-new characters created by Disney Animation artists and an original score inspired by timeless Disney music.

It marks the first-ever theatrical collaboration of three creative icons: Cirque du Soleil, Walt Disney

Drawn to Life, written and directed by Michel Laprise with Fabrice Becker as Director of Creation, is a live acrobatic journey telling the story of Julie, a determined girl who discovers an unexpected gift left by her Disney animator father: an unfinished animation. As she dives into the inner world of animation guided by a surprising pencil, Julie embarks on an inspiring quest filled with childhood Disney memories. Developed along with Michael Jung, Executive Theatrical Development, Walt Disney Imagineering, the story is driven by 10 unique acrobatic acts alongside animation from beloved Disney films as well as all-new animation created by Disney Animation artists led by Animation Director Eric Goldberg, best known for characters such as the Genie in the animated classic, “Aladdin.”

Cirque du Soleil acrobatics and characters from classic Disney animation films blend throughout Julie’s journey. Along the way she encounters rhythmic gymnasts interpreting pages of drawings in continuous sequence, a pair of human trapeze artists moving as paintbrushes to create a kaleidoscope of colors, teeterboard artists displaying the squash and stretch principle of animation, and beloved Disney Animation characters from across eras.

Years in the making, the show was researched through extensive visits Cirque du Soleil teams made to Disney theme parks, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Animation Research Library, Walt Disney Archives, and The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco. As a result, the show pays homage to classic Disney Animation techniques and many trailblazing Disney Animation artists including Mary Blair, Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas.

The show is an immersive production featuring an all-original score of new music pixie-dusted with playful snippets of melodies from Disney’s classic animated feature films; makeup that reflects animation principles like exaggerated lines, highlights and shadows; larger-than-life costumes and props that are more than meets the eye; and a set that envelops the audience in sketch pages and an animator’s drawing table.

Originally slated for a March 2020 opening, but delayed due to the pandemic, the show played to an electric theater of excited guests. Among those in attendance were Lamarre, Vahle, Goldberg as well as other top Cirque du Soleil and Walt Disney World executives. “It means so much to finally be raising the curtain on Drawn to Life,” said Laprise. “Every step of this journey has been emotional, from researching and viewing original Disney Animation, to writing this beautiful story, to meeting our cast and becoming a family supporting each other through our unexpected ‘intermission’ together. I’m overwhelmed at the magic we have the opportunity to create for families.” Drawn to Life is the 50th production created by Cirque du Soleil and its premiere coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort. With an international cast of 62 artists, Drawn to Life will perform Tuesday through Saturday at Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort.

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ENTERTAINMENT Osceola Arts to Celebrate the Holidays with Plaid Tidings and Other Festive Events

Osceola Arts will be spreading some holiday cheer with Plaid Tidings. Beginning Friday, December 3rd, and running through Sunday, December 19th, the Osceola Arts Main stage will host this fun and festive musical celebration that is a perfect holiday treat for the whole family.

The Plaids, a barbershop quartet of high school pals, are here to spread yuletide cheer with some of the greatest holiday hits of the past! Frankie, Smudge, Sparky, and Jinx share their renditions of “Jingle Bells,” “Let it Snow,” “Joy to the World,” and many more in this Holiday edition of Forever Plaid. Directed by Michael Knight, Plaid Tidings will feature a live on-stage band and four talented local actors as The Plaids.

Tickets are only $28, with Senior, students, and group rates available. Showtimes for Plaid Tidings are 7:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, 2 pm on Sundays, and an additional 2 pm matinee performance on Saturday, December 18th. An American Sign Language-interpreted performance will be featured during the December 18th matinee.

Osceola Arts is pleased to also offer more holiday magic with the 40th Annual Holiday Craft Market. The Craft Market will feature handmade crafts by local artists, such as ornaments, woodwork, jewelry, wreaths and so much more.

The Market will be open November 19th through December 19th and features free weekly raffles and one grand prize. The Craft Market will be open Monday through Saturday from 10 am till 4:30 pm, Sundays from 12 pm till 4:30 pm, and during all Plaid Tidings performances.

Additionally, Osceola Arts Young Actors Company and Rock Band will be holding 2 events this December. A Night on Broadway: A Musical Cabaret will feature a talented group of the Osceola Arts Young Actors Company. They will take to the stage Tuesday, December 14th, and Wednesday, December 15th performing some of the most popular Broadway songs of all time. The Youth Rock Band will also perform a Festive Holiday Rock Concert on Thursday, December 16th.

For additional information and to purchase show tickets visit OsceolaArts.org or call 407-846-6257.

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