Positively Osceola Weekly - Osceola News

POSITIVELY OSCEOLA WEEKLY

Making a Positive Difference in and around Osceola County!

Inside this issue Osceola County announces work to begin on $9 Million Fortune Lakeshore Trail in Early 2022

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Universal Orlando will require face coverings for guests, team members while indoors beginning Christmas Eve

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Disney’s Animal Kingdom welcomes new baby white Rhino, 3rd in thirteen months Page 25

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NEWS Happy Holidays from everyone at Positively Osceola – to all of you!

For most, the Holiday season is a time of celebration, joy, gathering with friends and family, and of reflection.

This year, Positively Osceola would like to wish everyone in the community a holiday season filled with light, laughter, and happiness – but let us keep in our minds and hearts, those that will not be with us this year, and the families and friends who will miss them.

We pray that memories of good times and positive moments will help mend the hurt, and the loss.

To everyone – we wish you the best during this holiday season.

May it be one of peace, love, joy, and safety. Happy Holidays from everyone at Positively Osceola – to all of you!

Osceola County announces work to begin on $9 Million Fortune Lakeshore Trail in Early 2022 Work on the new Fortune Lakeshore Trail is set to begin in early 2022. Actual start dates are uncertain because of supply chain issues. However, a utility crew working for Toho Water Authority is marking the area for “soft digs” to relocate utilities. This work will be concurrent with trail construction.

Osceola County gave the contractor, Southern Development & Construction, Inc., the notice to proceed with the project. In addition, residents in the area will be receiving information via a “door-hanger” on the construction planned for the coming months.

Residents with questions should call (407) 683-3928.

The $9 million project consists of the construction of a 10-foot wide multi-use trail that will run along Fortune Road/East Lakeshore Boulevard from the intersection of U.S. Highway 192 to the existing City of St. Cloud Lakefront Regionally Significant Trail, just west of the intersection at East Lakeshore Boulevard and Columbia Avenue. The total project length is approximately 7 miles.

“Adding options for safe cycling is a great asset for our community – whether you want to get out for recreation or are looking for options for your commute. The trail will provide missing connectivity in a portion of the County that really needs it,” said Viviana Janer, the District 2 Osceola County Commissioner. The project spans portions of Commission districts 2 and 4.

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NEWS

Osceola County Dedicates Courthouse to the Late Judge Jon B. Morgan The Osceola County Courthouse has been officially named the Judge Jon B. Morgan Courthouse, that after a public dedication ceremony that took place on Friday, December 17.

The Osceola County Commission passed the resolution with the name change in February and the lettering on the façade of the building was installed in the Fall.

The longtime Circuit Court Judge was a fixture of the legal system for more than four decades. After serving on the bench for nearly 23 years, he retired in December 2020 and passed away of cancer on January 28, 2021.

Chief Judge of the Ninth Judicial Circuit Lisa T. Munyon recalled the many attorneys Morgan mentored over the years, as well as the respect held for him by the legal community.

“Judge Morgan’s kind heart and generous spirit were legendary,” Munyon said. “He was renowned for his tireless work ethic, never-ending patience, and abiding integrity.”

Migdalia Perez, president of the Osceola County Bar Association and local defense attorney, Richard Nick Kelley recalled years of friendship with Morgan. Kelley told the crowd Friday about his first day on the job at the state attorney’s office in 1979 – and how Morgan was assigned to teach him how to pick a jury. The day didn’t go as planned but a life-long friendship was established. Perez said Morgan used to joke about knowing when she was in the courthouse because he could hear her (loud) voice. Friday she called the Courthouse “Jon’s House” and that he was home.

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NEWS Osceola County working with FDOT to install traffic signal at U.S. 192 and Nova Road after numerous crashes If you live anywhere near the eastern side of Osceola County, you realize there has been an increase in car crashes over the last year, unfortunately, many of them fatal.

In an effort to remedy this, Osceola County is working with the Florida Department of Transportation to expedite a much-needed traffic signal at the intersection of U.S. 192 and Nova FDOT has the funding to design and construct the traffic signal – and design is already underway, officials said.

“I knew this situation was very important to public safety in District 5 and I asked that the County work with our partners at FDOT to move this project forward as quickly as possible,” said Commissioner Ricky Booth, who represents the area. “I’m satisfied that we were able to take a fast-forward approach to a lot of the preparation that goes into the installation of these traffic signals. FDOT is looking to have the light operational in less than 12 months, if not sooner – and given the constraints on the supply chain that’s a win for residents.”

FDOT was able to speed up the construction of the traffic signal by ordering the strain poles and signal cabinets early.

In addition, FDOT is looking to extend the left-hand turn lane on U.S. 192 to Nova. The County has offered the use of any of its equipment that could further expedite the project.

Two dead after SUV flips over into pond on US-192 at World Drive in Osceola Two people are dead after the SUV they were in missed a turn on US 192 near World Drive and overturned into a nearby pond in Osceola County, according to Florida Highway Patrol.

Just before 2:30 am a 25-year-old man from Valrico Florida was driving westbound on US192 when he failed to negotiate a turn, causing his SUV to overturn into a pond near World Drive.

The passenger, a 28-year-old woman from Louisiana, was pronounced dead at the scene. The drive died later at Celebration Hospital, according to FHP. The crash remains under investigation.

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NEWS Universal Orlando will require face coverings for guests, team members while indoors beginning Christmas Eve Universal Orlando has updated its face-covering requirement for its park guests and team members beginning Christmas Eve. As of December 24 face coverings are once again mandatory in all indoor areas of their theme parks – regardless of vaccination status.

Universal Orlando made that policy change known via their website header and safety guideline page: The health and safety of our guests and team members is always our top priority. As a result, face coverings will now be required, effective Friday, December 24, 2021, at all public indoor locations within Universal Orlando Resort for both guests and team members regardless of vaccination status – including restaurants, shops, and indoor hotel public areas. Face coverings are also required at all attractions from the moment guests enter the queue to when they exit the experience.

Here are the latest safety updates for your visit.

• Face coverings are required at all restaurants, shops, indoor hotel public areas, and at all attractions from the moment guests enter the queue to when they exit the experience.

• Guests are expected to bring a face covering with them for their visit • Universal does not require proof of vaccinations • Universal says it remains focused on maintaining the highest cleanliness and sanitization standard

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Huntington On-Demand How-To Webinar: The PSAT: Taking the Next Steps After Receiving Your Scores The PSAT is a preliminary college entrance exam intended to help students prepare for the experience of taking the SAT and can also be used to identify National Merit Scholars and award merit scholarships.

Now that your student has taken the PSAT, what are the next steps?

During Huntington Learning Center‘s On-Demand FREE webinar, their education expert provides an overview of the PSAT and what steps students need to take each year of high school through their senior year after taking this exam.

The webinar covers: What the PSAT is and how to interpret the score, Sophomore year planning, Junior and senior year college checklists, How Huntington can help teens prepare for college, Questions that took place during the LIVE Q&A section of the webinar.

To register and view the FREE On-Demand webinar, go to HuntingtonHelps.com For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website!

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NEWS Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber to host 2022 Three Kings Day celebration at Old Town Jan. 9 Thanksgiving is behind us, and it won’t be long before Christmas and New Year’s are as well, but that won’t be the end of the holiday season. For many Christians around the world, including Spain, Latin America, and Osceola County, the holiday season will officially come to an end in January on the Feast of the Epiphany, or Three Kings Day (Día de los Reyes).

This year’s Three King’s Day celebration will take place on Sunday, January 9, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Old Town (5770 W Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, Kissimmee, FL 34746). Three King’s Day celebration will include a brand-new free photo booth experience with the 3 Kings sponsored by Kissimmee Utility Authority. Children will be able to meet the 3 Kings and get a printed photo strip keepsake to take home.

Click here for the full article on PositivelyOsceola.com

Positively Osceola’s Mayor’s Minute with St. Cloud Mayor, Nathan Blackwell I’m Nathan Blackwell, Mayor of the City of St. Cloud. We hope you are enjoying a wonderful holiday season with your friends and family. The City of St. Cloud is thrilled that so many of you have joined us for many of the local holiday events, including the tree lighting, the parade, Light Up St. Cloud, and our holiday downtown monthly market.

We aren’t quite finished yet. Make plans now to join us for Rockin’ the Cloud, our New Year’s Eve party downtown. After taking 2020 off due to COVID, we are bringing back our annual Rockin’ the Cloud New Year’s Eve party on December 31st, from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. downtown.

Rockin’ the Cloud will feature live bands on 3 different entertainment stages, including our event headliner, Tim Montana. And let’s not forget about the highlight of Rockin’ the Cloud – the midnight Cloud Drop to ring in the new year!! We hope you will join us here in St. Cloud… Your CenterPlace for Life!

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NEWS

Over 10,000 pounds of pepperoni recalled over possible Bacillus Cereus contamination They say timing is everything, and that can include bad timing – as we are in the midst of the holiday season, a time where people work hard to prep for special meals for friends and families. Smithfield Packaged Meats, doing business as Margherita Meats, is recalling approximately 10,990 pounds of ready-to-eat pepperoni products that may be adulterated with Bacillus cereus, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The unsliced pepperoni product was produced and packaged on June 17, 2021, with the following products subject to recall: 8-oz. plastic shrink-wrapped packages containing unsliced pepperoni “Margherita PEPPERONI” with lot code P1931C and a “use by date” of 12-14-21 represented on the label.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 19” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide.

The problem was discovered when the Department of Defense notified FSIS that they found B. cereus during routine product testing.

B. cereus is a toxin-producing microorganism that causes diarrhea and vomiting in people. Those with compromised immune systems are at risk for more severe illnesses. Vigorous rehydration and other supportive care including antibiotics are the usual treatment.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to the consumption of these products.

Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

FSIS is concerned that some products may be in consumers’ pantries or refrigerators. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

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NEWS Looking for COVID-19 testing, vaccinations during the Christmas holiday week?

There will be no COVID-19 testing at the Florida Department of Health in Osceola County’s main campus on Friday, December 24, and Saturday, December 25. Testing will resume on Sunday, December 26.

Prescriptions Unlimited, located at 2521 13th Street, Suite A in St. Cloud, provides COVID-19 testing and vaccinations and will be following the Florida Department of Health’s holiday schedule, but will have supplies of take-home rapid testing kits available in their pharmacy for those looking for them.

Florida Department of Health vaccinations are by appointment. To schedule a vaccination appointment, call 407-552-0120. They are providing first, second and booster doses of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccine.

The following Florida Department of Health in Osceola County offices will be closed on Thursday, December 23, and Friday, December 24 in observance of the Christmas holiday: • Main Campus, 1875 Fortune Road, Kissimmee • WIC Office, 1050 Grape Avenue, St. Cloud • WIC and Vital Statistics, 105 N. Doverplum Avenue, Poinciana • Environmental Health, 1 Courthouse Square #1200, Kissimmee FDOH Offices will also be closed on Thursday, December 30, and Friday, December 31 in observance of the New Year’s holiday. FDOH-Osceola patients needing immediate medical assistance should call 911.

Additionally, testing will not be available on Saturday, January 1, 2022, but will resume on Sunday, January 2, 2022. Appointments for testing are required and can be made at https://book.curative.com/sites/31240.

Avoid Slips, Trips, and Falls This Holiday Season How common are slip and fall accidents over the holidays?

Unfortunately, the frequency of these types of accidents increases as people focus on preparing to celebrate and having fun with family and friends. In Central Florida, there are so many places to go and an abundance of different things to do. With so much going on everywhere we go, unfortunately sometimes slip and fall or trip and fall accidents take place.

If you’re involved in a slip and fall or trip and fall accident, it can change your life – how you live, how you go to school, or even how you work and earn a living. So where do you turn for advice? Where do you go to find answers?

Call Draper Law Office. Charlie Draper and Draper Law Office have been serving the community since 1984, and they can help you. Slip and fall, or trip and fall cases are often related to someone else’s negligence and can be proven with the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer.

If you’re looking for an attorney that you can trust and that will help you protect your rights and win your case, call Draper Law Offices at 407-846-0075. Remember, in times of need, you can count on Draper Law. For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website!

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UPCOMING EVENTS Rockin’ The Cloud The City of St. Cloud, Florida and OUC - The Reliable One will host the 5th Annual Rockin’ The Cloud event on December 31st in downtown St. Cloud from 7:00pm to 2:00am. This year’s event will offer three stages of live entertainment with performances from Maiden Voyage, Raspberry Pie, Raging Son, Harlequin and event headliner Tim Montana. Once again the countdown to midnight will include St. Cloud’s iconic Cloud Drop to ring in the New Year!

Friday, December 31st

“Oh, What Fun” Holiday Festival Step into a spectacular winter wonderland with holiday magic around every corner at Lake Nona’s annual holiday festival, Oh, What Fun! Through January 2, 2022, you can take a walk through Town Center, and enjoy a holiday beverage, some delicious fare from food trucks and pop-up food stands, or spend some time with Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

Visit OhWhatFunLakeNona.com for more information.

Now Through January 2nd

Don’t Curb It... S.W.A.P. It! This year, instead of kicking your old Christmas tree to the curb, SWAP it out for a new LIVE tree to plant at your home! On Saturday, January 8th, from 9 am to 1 pm the City of St. Cloud is hosting a Don’t Curb It...SWAP it event at the St. Cloud Civic Center on 17th Street. And by the way, if you don’t have an old Christmas tree to swap - no worries, you can still stop by to get a FREE tree.

Saturday, January 8th For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website!

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Books are just the beginning!

Visit us in-person or online! osceolalibrary.org | 407.742.8888

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NEW YEAR Special 1 Ticket $10

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THE OSCEOLA COUNTY COUNCIL ON AGING, INC. #SC00067 HAS COMPLIED WITH THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF CHAPTER 496, F.S., SOLICITATION OF CONTRIBUTIONS ACT. "A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE." 1-800- HELP-FLA (435-7352) WWW.FLORIDACONSUMERHELP.COM

SPORTS

By J. Daniel Pearson For Positively Osceola

It’s JD’s Weekly Musings, talking Bills Mafia, Travis Hunter Jr., Deion Sanders, and more!

The venom being directed at Travis Hunter Jr. and Deion Sanders by SOME FSU football fans on the internet is among some of the most misguided, idiotic, and ridiculous stuff I have ever read. For those unfamiliar, Hunter is a 5-star high school prospect from Georgia, who pledged to attend FSU a while back but changed his mind and signed with Jackson State last Wednesday.

Jackson State is an HBC (Historically Black College) coached

by Sanders, a former FSU player. This signing has resulted in a few irrational, crazy FSU fans going ballistic, burning Sanders memorabilia, calling him a traitor, and just being plain being nasty to one of the greatest players in Seminole history. These people need a reality check. First, Sanders is the head coach at Jackson State. His number #1 priority in life (besides making cool AFLAC commercials with Nick Saban) is to be the best football coach he can be and that includes signing the best players he can sign. As a former long-time FSU athletic department employee who worked with the Seminoles when Deion was a student-athlete, I am actually quite proud of Deion. In the previous four seasons, Jackson State has been 22-43 and in his just his second year, Deion has guided them to an 11-2 record. Since the star rankings have started. Hunter is the first 5-star recruit to sign with an HBC. Deion deserves no criticism for successfully recruiting Hunter, and Hunter certainly deserves no darts or arrows for changing his mind on where he wants to play college football as hundreds of kids a year change their minds from non-binding oral commitments (Funny how you hear moans and groans when a kid decides not to attend your school, but you never hear fans complain when their coaches flip a kid to your school)….

Favorite Christmas Quote: “Adults can take a simple holiday for Children and screw it up. What began as a presentation of simple gifts to delight and surprise children around the Christmas tree has culminated in a woman unwrapping six shrimp forks from her dog, who drew her name”…

Hunter Schinabeck is a long-time member of the Bills Mafia – which is a group of diehard Buffalo Bills fans.

Upset at a perceived no-call pass interference on Stephon Diggs during the waning moments, Buffalo’s loss to Tampa Bay last Monday, Schinabeck decided to donate $17 to Visually Impaired Advancement (VIA), a Buffalo non-profit that works with the visually impaired in the community. In a note with his donation, Schniabeck noted the donation was in honor of the NFL officials who obviously had vision issues. Word got out of the donation other members of the Bills Mafia ended up donating more than $40,000 to the non-profit. It’s not the first time Bills Mafia has been involved in charitable work. Last year, in a show of good sportsmanship, Bills Mafia donated more than $360,000 to Lamar Jackson’s favorite charity after he was knocked out of the RavensBills playoff game with a concussion. When former Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick’s mother passed away last year, Bills Mafia raised and donated $1 million for the Oshei Childrens Hospital in her name. Well played Buffalo, well played….

The coaching decision by Chargers Head Coach Brandon Staley to bypass three-chip shot field goals against the Chiefs was baffling to say the least. If Kansas City was scoring touchdowns on every drive, I would get it, but Patrick Mahomes and his offense looked pretty pedestrian all game. Had they kicked those field goals they probably would have won the game…

Without his talented weapons around him, Tom Brady looked a little lost on Sunday night against the Saints, who won despite scoring a whopping nine points. About the only lesson here is when you take Evans, Godwin, and Fournette out of Tampa Bay’s offense, the GOAT looks like any other 44-year-old QB… Y’all Have A Great Holiday Season For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website!

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SPORTS

By J. Daniel Pearson For Positively Osceola

Knockout Classic Highlights Holiday Season Tournaments in Osceola County Although students are on holiday break, athletes from Osceola County will stay busy with both practices, games, and tournaments for the next two weeks. “This is my favorite time of the year,” Gateway basketball coach Travis James said. “No school is in session so we get some really quality practice time in. This is the time period where we can get work on bonding, team chemistry and fundamentals without a lot of distractions.”

Gateway, like many other teams, will be participating in a Holiday Basketball Tournament, but perhaps the biggest event will take place at Osceola’s Heritage Park, where the Osceola Kowboys wrestling team will host the Knockout Christmas Classic, Dec. 27-28.

One of the premiere high school wrestling events in the country, more than 60 teams from 10 different states are expected to compete in the event including Florida powers Southwest Miami, South Dade, Lake Gibson and host Osceola.

“Without question this is one of the biggest and best tournaments in the nation.

A lot of weight classes are going to have multiple state champions in them,” Osceola Head Coach Jim Bird said. “In some weight classes, winning a title in this tournament may be more impressive than winning a state championship. For the wrestling fan, this is the tournament you do not want to miss.”

Two-day tickets at $30 and single-day tickets are $10. A separate middle school and girls high school knockout tournament is also scheduled with the girls tournament taking place on the 27th and the middle school tournament on the 28th. Those tournaments are included in the admission price.

Here is a look at area county schools: BOYS BASKETBALL Osceola (7-1) lost its first game of the season on Friday night when it fell to the state’s second-ranked team in Class 7A, Olympia, by a 73-59 score. The Kowboys fell behind by as many as 21 in the second half but rallied back to close the gap to nine before running out of gas. Cory Vega led Osceola with 16 points; while electric super sophomore Jizzie James had 34 for Olympia. Osceola did win twice last week, defeating Celebration (6351) on Monday night and rival Gateway (54-53) on Thursday.

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HEALTH Orlando Health: How To Make New Year’s Resolutions Stick New year, same resolutions: Lose weight, exercise more, quit smoking. If you vow to make changes every year but never succeed, you need to have a better plan.

Setting goals is a great first step, but to transform those goals into permanent lifestyle changes, you need a plan of action. This plan sets realistic expectations and provides the support you’ll need to reach them.

Reframe Your Goal How you define your goal is important. Nobody “gives up” something they’re attached to, whether you’re ditching cigarettes or daily dessert. And while resolutions such as “start exercising” may sound positive, they lack specifics and a greater motivation.

To get the best head start, reframe your goal so that it positively identifies not only what you are seeking to achieve, but how and why. For example: • “Stop smoking” becomes “replace smoking with healthy actions that ensure I’ll be a fun grandparent.”

• “Lose weight” becomes “improve my BMI by eating vegetables at every meal and moving my body for 30 minutes every day.”

• “Start exercising” becomes “exercise 30 minutes a day, five days a week to lower my risk of heart disease and set a good example for my kids.”

Realistic Expectations and Attainable Goals It’s important to set end-goal resolutions, but to avoid getting discouraged, you should set smaller, attainable mini-goals along the way. Understanding the “why” behind the changes you want to make can reinforce your decision, especially if you become frustrated.

Using the most common resolution — to lose weight — as an example: Rather than focusing on the end-goal of “lose 50 pounds,” create several smaller goals that are easier to achieve but still lead you in that direction, including: • Change your afternoon snack from potato chips to fresh vegetables.

• Use a salad-sized plate for dinner to limit portion size.

• Shop from your grocery store’s peripheral shelves and don’t buy prepackaged or frozen meals.

• Change your weekend grill night from burgers to chicken or fish.

Turn Bad Habits into Good Routines Life is busy, and it’s normal to slip into mindless habits. Turning a bad habit into a better one is challenging because you not only have to change your mindset, but the automatic behaviors that are attached to it.

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HEALTH

Benjamin Kaplan, MD Internal Medicine Physician Orlando Health

Orlando Health: Coping with Holiday and Seasonal Blues The holidays are celebrated as a festive and joyful time, but unfortunately, sometimes they also can trigger depression.

For some, seeing distant relatives and feeling that everything must be perfect can cause stress and anxiety. Others may see the holidays as a time that they are without loved ones. Financial concerns also may surface as individuals feel pressure to participate in costly gift giving and decorating.

How to Deal with Holiday Blues To help cope with depression during the holiday season, the National Alliance on Mental Illness suggests that you: • Try to set modest expectations for the holidays.

Keep a log of your spending and have a range you would like to stay within. This may help prevent feelings of disappointment, being let down or letting others down.

• Know that it is okay to feel sad or lonely – it happens to all of us.

• Spend time with friends and other people you enjoy, if spending time with relatives is a source of depression.

• Do some things you want to do, not just the things you have to do because it is the holiday season. It’s fine to say no sometimes.

• Exercise to keep the body and mind healthy when the weather is nice and if you like being outdoors.

• Understand that the holidays will be a difficult time if you have lost a loved one, but know that it’s OK to enjoy the festivities and the company of others. Try to remember your loved one in a way that brings you joy and focus on the times that you shared.Know that it is okay to feel sad or lonely – it happens to all of us.

Is It Seasonal Blues?

Those with a diagnosed history of depression or a mood disorder also can be affected by the physical change from summer to winter. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), often associated with lower levels of sunlight, is most common in the fall and winter months then subsides in the spring.

For those with SAD, bright light therapy has been shown to sustain the mood and promote higher energy levels. Keep in mind that this therapy should be under the supervision of a healthcare provider.

If you find your depression symptoms worsening and strategies such as these are not helping, set up an appointment with your primary care physician. Your doctor is a great resource to help get symptoms under control.

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REAL ESTATE Goodwin Realty: Homebuyers Are Going on a Shopping Spree This Winter

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are over, which means some shoppers have wrapped up their holiday buying.

But there’s still a group of buyers that are very active this holiday season – homebuyers.

Experts anticipate the real estate market will see a flurry of activity this winter, and that’s great news for today’s sellers. If you’re planning on listing your home, there’s no need to wait until the spring for better conditions – today’s real estate market is already heating up.

Buyers Have Warmed Up to the Idea of Purchasing This Winter The past 18 months brought about significant lifestyle changes for many of us, including the rise in remote work, job changes, and even early retirement for some. For many people, it’s prompting a search for their next home now rather than waiting for warmer months.

Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), points out how this winter may see a significant number of sales: “Compared to other past winter seasons, this winter season’s sales activity will be stronger. . . . This winter, there will be more sales compared to pre-pandemic winters going back all the way to 2006.”

You might be wondering: what does strong sales activity mean for you? It means there are likely to be more buyers active in the market this winter – far more than more normal, pre-pandemic years.

In the same article, Danielle Hale, Chief Economist for realtor.com, puts it in these simple terms: “Sellers can expect to see plenty of buyers.”

The more buyers there are in the market, the more likely it is your home will get noticed. That can lead to a multiple-offer scenario or a potential bidding war. Receiving multiple offers on your home means you can select the right offer and terms for your situation – so you can truly win as a seller when you list your house this winter.

Bottom Line If you’re thinking about selling your house, you don’t need to wait until the spring. Buyers are ready now.

Let’s connect to discuss why selling this holiday season could be the gift that keeps on giving. Just call Goodwin Realy & Associates at (407) 846-2787. We’ve been assisting home buyers and sellers for 48 years in and around Osceola County. You can also visit GoodwinRealty.net.

For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website!

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COMMUNITY Osceola Council On Aging, Mercedes-Benz of South Orlando to Raffle 2021 Mercedez Dec. 31, Still time to enter!

The Osceola Council on Aging and MercedesBenz of South Orlando have partnered to raffle a 2021 Mercedes GLA-Class Luxury SUV to benefit the Council’s social service programs which enable self-sufficiency for seniors, disabled adults, and disadvantaged families, as well as funding for the OCOA’s expansive Meals on Wheels initiatives.

The Meals on Wheels program has played a vital role in our community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. It has allowed the OCOA to deliver over 440,000 meals to more than 2,500 Osceola County seniors just in 2020 alone. In addition to these efforts, the OCOA’s food pantry program also distributed over 1.8 million pounds of food last year to thousands of families in need.

“The Osceola Council on Aging receives more requests for nutrition services than any other of our social service programs offered,” said Wendy Ford, Osceola Council on Aging President/CEO. “With the pandemic hitting Central Florida especially hard, our Meals on Wheels and food pantry funding capabilities have been overwhelmingly affected.”

According to Ford, the Council has been required to be creative in its fundraising efforts while finding new and innovative ways to attain donations to support the general program demand for Osceola seniors and families. One of those creative strategies is the OCOA’s second annual car raffle for a brand-new luxury vehicle.

Click here for the full article on PositivelyOsceola.com

The Osceola County Fair to Return to Osceola Heritage Park February 11-20, 2022 The Osceola County Fair, one of the leading county fairs in Florida, and the largest annual event in Osceola County will open its gates to the community on February 11-20, 2022.

As always the fair will feature fun for everyone, with amazing rides, remarkable exhibits, the best in livestock shows, agriculture, LIVE entertainment, and of course positively delicious fair food!

Save the date for the 2022 Osceola County Fair!

For more information, including sponsorship and vendor opportunities visit OsceolaCountyFair.com.

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COMMUNITY St. Cloud to Rock in the New Year with the Return of its Rockin’ the Cloud Event on December 31st Get ready to rock in the new year with St. Cloud’s Rockin’ the cloud! The City of St. Cloud, along with OUC The Reliable One, will host the 5th Annual Rockin’ the Cloud event on December 31st in downtown St. Cloud from 7 pm. to 2 am.

Rockin’ The Cloud is an annual celebration that rings in the New Year like nowhere else… it’s in the cloud!

This year’s event will offer three stages of live entertainment with performances from Maiden Voyage, Raspberry Pie, Raging Son, Harlequin, and event headliner Tim Montana.

Once again the countdown to midnight will include St. Cloud’s iconic Cloud Drop to ring in the New Year.

Tell your family – tell your friends, and get ready to rock in the new year with Rockin’ the Cloud in Downtown St. Cloud!

Donate to Junior Achievement of Central Florida today and inspire tomorrows!

Looking for an impacting organization to support before the end of the year? Consider Junior Achievement.

By supporting Junior Achievement of Central Florida, you will be making a direct and lasting impact in the lives of young people.

JA alumni report higher levels of educational attainment, greater career satisfaction, more confidence in managing money, and higher levels of business ownership. THIS is how a gift to Junior Achievement of Central Florida makes a difference.

All qualifying gifts will be Matched 2:1, thanks to the generous support of Dr. Phillips Charities and their support of 3DE by Junior Achievement. Donate to Junior Achievement of Central Florida today and inspire tomorrows!

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ENTERTAINMENT Central Florida Animal Reserve Hosts “Big Cat Sip & Stroll Event to Support its “Big” Cats The Central Florida Animal Reserve is all about cats… Big cats, and recently it opened its doors to the community with a “Big Cat Sip & Stroll” event to share its big cat and wildlife sanctuary which houses lions, tigers, leopards, and cougars.

According to CFAR’s website, it’s building a platform to address the challenges of big cats in the future and provide value to society today, its mottos being compassion, conservation, and commitment.

The event had over 55 attendees and raised over $3,500 – which will help with caring for the cats – not an inexpensive venture. There were wines and pairings thanks to Kissimmee’s Vintage Vino, along with meet & greets of the Big Cats on-site as the guests sipped wines and toured during the day and twilight.

For more information about the Central Florida Animal Reserve visit cflar.org

KUA’s Movie in the Park Series on Friday January 7 to Feature Spirit Untamed Kissimmee Utility Authority will kick off the new year in a big way as it continues its Movie in the Park series on Friday, January 7th, at beautiful Kissimmee Lakefront Park.

The event will feature free admission, free popcorn, contests, prize giveaways, and the showing of Dreamworks’ Spirit Untamed on its 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 Spirit Untamed!

The movie series is a partnership between KUA and the City of Kissimmee.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Disney’s Animal Kingdom welcomes new baby white Rhino, 3rd in thirteen months

The holiday season is filled with celebrations, hope, and gratitude, and at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, they’re celebrating the new arrival of a baby white rhino last month at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park! Lola, one of the white rhinos in Animal Kingdom’s care, delivered a healthy and adorable female calf in early November.

The baby and mom are now thriving backstage under the watchful eye of Disney’s Animals, Science, and Environment team.

This baby marks the third white rhino born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in the past 13 months – and the 13th white rhino born at Walt Disney World Resort – which is incredible news for the conservation of this nearthreatened species.

Sadly, rhinos in the wild are hunted for their horns, and their populations continue to dwindle. Because of this, rhino births are increasingly important to maintain healthy populations. Disney is helping to protect white and black rhinos in the wild through the Disney Conservation Fund, supporting projects focused on habitat monitoring and restoration.

Lola’s successful delivery was on the heels of two other births within the past 13 months. In all three births, the calves cozied up to mom right away and began nursing.

Rhinoceros are the world’s second-largest land mammal. After a gestation period of 16 to 18 months, white rhinos typically weigh in around 140 pounds at birth. Lola and her new bundle of joy will spend the next several months bonding backstage before joining the rest of the herd on the park’s Harambe Wildlife Reserve. In the meantime, guests can keep an eye out for the firstborn of these three calves, Ranger, named in honor of the rangers who protect rhinos in the wild, while experiencing Kilimanjaro Safaris.

Lola’s calf joins a happy contingent of baby births this year, including Humphrey the Masai giraffe, Greta the hippo, and Ada the western lowland gorilla, just to name a few. All told, Disney’s Animal Kingdom has welcomed everything from the tiniest insects and snails to mammoth-hoofed creatures like the white rhino.

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