POSITIVELY OSCEOLA WEEKLY
Making a Positive Difference in and around Osceola County!
Inside this issue Orlando Health Cancer Institute Adds New Cancer Specialist for Osceola County Patients Page 8
Osceola Library System to Host English for Families at BVL Library beginning March 21st Page 10
Osceola Arts to Kick Off Spring with “The Bridges of Madison County” Page 24
FHSAA votes to make big changes to high school football in Florida Page 21
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WEEKLY LIVESTREAMS Good Morning Osceola Mon, Wed, Fri at 7:30AM
In the Loop LIVE Tue at 6:00PM
Daybreak LIVE Wed at 9:00AM
Osceola Matters Thu at 6:00PM
In the Loop LIVE Sat at 8:00AM For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website! 4
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ON DEMAND LIVESTREAMS Daybreak LIVE w/
Wey Wey Wong & William Morea Huntington Learning Center February 23rd, 2022
Daybreak LIVE w/
Kristen Arrington State Representative, District 43 February 28th, 2022
Positively Osceola’s Sports Talk LIVE with Nolan Bottomley March 1st, 2022
Positively Osceola’s Good Morning Osceola LIVE With Krissi Hardy February 28th, 2022
The Silver Spurs Rodeo Parade in St. Cloud February 19th, 2022
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IN & AROUND OSCEOLA LIVE with February’s Featured Teacher
LIVE with February’s Featured Support Staff Member
LIVE at the St. Cloud Monthly Market
LIVE at Vanessa’s Coffee Shop, Voted Best Coffee in Osceola
LIVE at the St. Cloud Little League Opening Ceremony
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VIDEOS ON DEMAND 2022 Kowtown Festival at Kissimmee Lakefront Park
Get ready for the City of Kissimmee Government’s big birthday bash at the 2022 Kowtown Festival on Saturday, March 19th from 12:00pm - 5:00pm at Kissimmee’s beautiful Lakefront Park. There will be delicious food, live music, the KUA kids zone, exciting games, and a large assortment of craft vendors you don’t want to miss.
St. Cloud’s Paint, Plant, and Pave Program
The City of St. Cloud, Florida Community Redevelopment Agency - (CRA) - has launched its Paint, Plant, and Pave Program, a home improvement grant to assist single-family and multi-family 2-unit properties within the residential neighborhoods of the St. Cloud CRA Downtown area. The CRA will reimburse homeowners with approximately $2,000 per property for exterior improvements.
Hop on Downtown
Hop on Downtown to Historic Downtown Kissimmee on April 16th from 11am – 2pm for a hippity hoppity day of awesome Easter fun! Bring your basket and set out to search for over 1,000 hidden eggs throughout the area. There will be cookie decorating, a jelly bean hop, pictures with the Easter bunny and more! This FREE event starts at the Kissimmee Main Street Welcome Center and will be fun for the whole family!
Kissimmee “Rock the Bald” Would you shave your head to be a part of conquering childhood cancer? Well the answer from the Kissimmee Police Department and City of Kissimmee Fire Department is yes! On March 26th at 4:00pm next to Three Sisters Speakeasy, KPD and KFD will “Rock the Bald” in partnership with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. Whether you want your head shaved, or you’re looking to make a donation, you can go to stbaldricks.org/events/kissimmee2022 to register.
Sports Talk Live with Nolan Bottomley Positively Osceola’s Sports Talk Live with Nolan Bottomley, talking high school sports in and around the Osceola County School District. #OsceolaSports
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MAKING A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE Orlando Health Cancer Institute Adds New Cancer Specialist for Osceola County Patients Orlando Health Cancer Institute – Osceola reached two important milestones this month with the addition of infusion therapy and a new medical oncologist to serve patients in Osceola County. The expansion of service means Osceola cancer patients will now be able to access chemotherapy treatments close to home and much more conveniently than ever. “We’re very excited to continue to open up more services to our Osceola County patients,” says Margo Shoup, MD, president of Orlando Health Cancer Institute. “We listen to our patients and know they really appreciate and benefit from the convenience of having their treatments nearby, in their communities.” Treatments will be administered in three newly-built chemotherapy infusion bays in the 5,500-square-foot clinic located inside Orlando Health Emergency Room and Medical Pavilion – Osceola (1001 E. Osceola Pkwy., Suite 250, Kissimmee, Florida 34744). Construction on a fourth infusion bay is expected to begin soon. The space also features 12 exam rooms where patients are able to meet with Orlando Health Cancer Institute specialists for medical oncology and surgical oncology consultations. To help guide the debut of the infusion treatment program in Osceola County, Orlando Health Cancer Institute has hired Dr. Simi George. Dr. George is a board-certified medical oncologist specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of all cancer types with special expertise in gastrointestinal cancers. She received her medical degree from SUNY Downstate College of Medicine in Brooklyn, New York, and completed a residency in internal medicine at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick. She performed a fellowship in hematology/oncology at Hofstra North Shore-Long Island Jewish School of Medicine in New Hyde Park, New York. She has been in practice for eight years and has professional memberships in the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, American College of Physicians, and the American Medical Association.
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MAKING A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE Hope Partnership in Osceola, Announcing New Sponsorship Opportunities In every issue of Positively Osceola Weekly, Positively Osceola features a leader or organization in the community that is focused on solutions to challenges in the Osceola County community. In this issue, we are featuring Hope Partnership and sharing an opportunity they recently reached out to the community with.
Every year, Hope Partnership serves thousands of heartbeats experiencing poverty and homelessness in Central Florida. With your help, Hope Partnership has served over 90,000 heartbeats with services that empower our neighbors, strengthen our community and build hope; our goal is for everyone in our community to have a safe place to call home. We have shifted our efforts to meet the demands of the pandemic over the past two years. While we are not holding our annual spring fundraiser this year, we would like to offer you the opportunity to partner with us. We’d like to introduce you to our new Annual Sponsorship Program, “Hope Champions.” This sponsorship program will raise funds to sustain our work all year long. With this new program, we hope to raise $100,000.00 to continue serving our neighbors most in need. If you are willing to join us in this campaign, we’ll be that much closer to meeting our goal! Our work would not be possible without a caring community. By becoming an annual sponsor, you are helping us provide life-changing essential services to our community’s most vulnerable neighbors. Through your support, YOU are a hero to those in need of housing stability, identification, food security, safety, and hope. We hope you will consider joining us by becoming a Hope Champion. The Sponsorship Packet includes pricing and benefits so you can find the level that’s right for you. Your sponsorship is tax-deductible (EIN:80-0855060). Please indicate your willingness to continue partnering with us in this work through sponsorship by filling out the sponsorship form. You can find a printable version HERE. We’d like to thank you in advance for your generosity. If you have any questions or need further information, please contact Drew Pinney at Drew.Pinney@thehopepartnership.org or at (407) 910-2214. Hope Partnership Inc. For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website!
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MAKING A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE Osceola Library System to Host English for Families at BVL Library beginning March 21st English for Families is a weekly family reading program designed for those whose native language is not English (ESOL). This 10-week program will be offered on Mondays at 6 pm at the Buenaventura Lakes Library beginning March 21, 2022. Families are encouraged to attend each of the 10 sessions to benefit fully from the curriculum. In this fun and engaging weekly program, parents and children will explore and practice specific reading strategies using various children’s stories. Parents and children will also learn vocabulary and basic grammar to use at each session to help increase confidence and fluency. Participating families that complete the full 10 weeks will receive two free books at the end of the last session. Registration is required for each week of the 10-week program. Click the link below to get started. The Library will reach out to confirm reservations. English for Families’ goal is to improve English as a Second Language reading strategies in both children and parents and develop fundamental literacy skills needed for everyday life. Research shows that when parents support good reading habits and get involved in early literacy practices, the child is much more likely to find reading success.
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NEWS Eleven Involved In Osceola County Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced To Federal Prison Eleven members of an Osceola County-based drug trafficking organization were sentenced to federal prison by U.S. District Judges Paul G. Byron and Carlos E. Mendoza to sentences ranging between 15 and 300 months for a conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute heroin. One individual was also sentenced for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. These 11 individuals were charged in 5 separate indictments and information beginning in August 2019 and culminating in an indictment charging 7 members of the conspiracy in February 2020. Beginning in November 2017, a law enforcement investigation learned information about when shipments of heroin would be delivered from Mexico to Chicago and from Chicago to Osceola County by the DTO, which was led by Roberto Nunez-Cebrero. Law enforcement also learned when money would be paid by conspirators in Chicago and oftentimes transported to Osceola County. Law enforcement agencies seized more than 10 kilograms of heroin on its way to Osceola County from either Chicago or directly from Mexico, by Antonio E. Moya, Luis Vazquez-Trujillo, Jose Antonio Cruz-Garcia, and Roberto Oduardo-Suarez. Once the heroin was in the Middle District of Florida, Yenitza Garcia-Cosme, Michael Agosto-Martinez, Erik Velazquez-Cosme, Jorge Alberto Quijada-Moreno, and Jose Robles-Roque distributed the heroin to others. Michael Agosto-Martinez and Yenitza Garcia-Cosme also traveled to Chicago to pick up money and transport heroin back to the Middle District of Florida. Timothy Smith was a Chicago-based drug trafficker who received his heroin from this drug trafficking organization. In total, from January 2012 through August 2019, this DTO was responsible for more than 100 kilograms of heroin coming into the Middle District of Florida. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn P. Napier. SOURCE: United States Department of Justice
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NEWS As oil prices continue to surge, Florida drivers should brace for more pump price increases Florida gas prices increased another 4 cents last week and more pump price hikes are likely on the way, AAA says. Amid growing concerns that the Russian invasion of Ukraine could impact global crude supplies, crude oil prices surged in overnight trading.
“Unless oil prices reverse course, the pain at the pump is about to get even worse for Floridians,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. The crude oil market was already tight before the Russian attack on Ukraine began. Oil prices have increased by nearly $20 per barrel in 2022. The US price for oil is up nearly $50 (100%) since the beginning of 2021 and is currently $96 per barrel. The busy spring and summer driving seasons are drawing near, which typically lead to strong fuel demand. Summer gasoline is moving into the market, which is more expensive to produce. Refineries are conducting seasonal maintenance, which can reduce normal gasoline production levels. And in addition to all those seasonal trends, there was an explosion at a Louisiana refinery last week.
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2, 205 lbs. of Skyline Chili recalled after customers find chicken soup inside cans Morgan Foods of Austin Texas is recalling approximately 2,205 pounds of Skyline chili after some consumers reported that their cans of chili contained cream of chicken soup instead. The recall was activated due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The Skyline chili product contains milk, wheat, and soy, which are known allergens and are not declared on the product label.
The cans labeled as chili products may actually contain cream of chicken soup and were produced on Dec. 21, 2021. The following product is subject to recall: 10.5 oz. cans containing “Skyline CHILI ORIGINAL CHILI” with a lot code “L2121”, product code “CHC8T UPY” on the bottom of the can, and a best by date of Dec. 21, 2023.
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NEWS Osceola County Clerk to Offer Operation Green Light, Suspended Drivers License Program The Osceola County Clerk of the Circuit Court & County Comptroller will once again be offering residents with a suspended driver’s license the opportunity to pay overdue court obligations, including traffic tickets while saving up to 40% in additional fees during Operation Green Light 2022 from Saturday, March 26 2022, through Saturday, April 9, 2022. Customers may also be able to have suspended driver licenses reinstated. Payment plans will be available for those individuals that are not able to completely satisfy the amount owed. Individuals can attend the event in person at the Osceola County Courthouse, located at 2 Courthouse Square, Kissimmee, FL 34741, during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am. through 4:30 pm. Any payment plans completed during the weekend days of the event will be honored.
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NEWS Kissimmee driver dead after weaving in and out of traffic, flipping over into oncoming pickup truck Monday night A two car crash in Kissimmee Monday night left one man dead and another hospitalized According to FHP, a 27-year-old man was driving westbound on US192 in Kissimmee near the Simpson Rd. Intersection and was weaving in and out of traffic when he lost control, traveled into the center median ands flipped over into the eastbound lanes of US192 where he landed on top of a pickup truck that was driving eastbound. The 27-year-old Kissimmee man was pronounced dead at the scene and the 65-yearold driver of the pickup from Homosassa was taken to Osceola Regional Medical Center.
Record Breaking Weekend at Orlando International Airport According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Orlando International Airport (MCO) was the busiest airport in the nation on Saturday, February 26 for departures with over 78,287 passengers, according to the Transportation Security Administration. Sunday, February 27 was also the 4th busiest with more than 74,772 departures, making the weekend the busiest at MCO in the COVID-19 era. On the same days in 2021 MCO saw only 40,577 and 44,642 passengers. That’s an 80 percent increase over last year. It is still, however, short of the all-time record number of passengers which was registered on March 16, 2019, when 90,804 travelers were screened at the TSA checkpoints. For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website!
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NEWS Elon Musk activates free SpaceX Starlink satellite internet service in Ukraine amid Russian invasion SpaceX founder Elon Musk announced on Saturday evening that SpaceX’s Starlink satellites were active in Ukraine as an answer to some of the connectivity challenges that the country was facing amid the Russian attack. Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has reached out to Musk on Saturday morning, saying that Musk’s “rockets successfully land from space — but Russian rockets attack Ukrainian civil people!” Only 10 hours later, Musk conveyed the message that Starlink was active in the eastern European country and that there would be more terminals are on the way. Starlink internet works by sending information through the vacuum of space, where it travels much faster than in fiber-optic cable and can reach far more people and places.
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NEWS Operation Best Foot Forward Highlights Pedestrian Crosswalk Safety in and around Osceola County Law enforcement agencies across Central Florida are stepping up patrols at local crosswalks and cracking down on drivers who fail to yield and stop for pedestrians in marked crosswalks, including the St. Cloud Police Department, Kissimmee Police Department, and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. Dubbed Operation Best Foot Forward, crosswalk enforcement actions are part of a greater, comprehensive effort to educate drivers about Florida’s driver yield laws and curb the pattern of aggressive behavior towards pedestrians. During the operation, plainclothes deputies and officers cross the street at marked crosswalks, giving drivers ample time to yield as Florida law requires. Drivers who fail to comply may be issued a warning or a citation starting at $164 and three points on their license.
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Help Now’s 4th Annual “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” to Focus on Domestic Violence Awareness April 27th On Wednesday, April 27th at 6 pm Help Now of Osceola will host the 4th Annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes! There is an old saying: “You can’t understand another person’s experience until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.” So, to get people listening, learning, and talking, Help Now of Osceola’s Walk a Mile in Her Shoes will center around local men literally walking one mile in women’s high-heeled shoes. It’s not an easy walk, but it’s an experience focused on education, self-reflection, and change. It’s all about increasing Domestic Violence Awareness, which unfortunately is still a terrible reality in and around Osceola County. For more information call (407) 847-0128, or email info@helpnowshelter.org.
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SPORTS
By J. Daniel Pearson For Positively Osceola
Thirty Osceola County Wrestlers to Compete at State Wrestling Championships This Week Thirty Osceola County wrestlers will have a chance to compete for individual state crowns as the Silver Spurs Arena hosts the 2022 FHSAA State Tournament, Mar. 3-5. A look at sports around Osceola County for the week: Nineteen boys and 11 girls will be competing for state titles in 14 weight classes at this week’s FHSAA AllClassification State Wrestling Tournament being held at Heritage Park on Thursday (Mar. 3) through Saturday (Mar. 5). Harmony, which won its first-ever regional team title by edging Wellington (210-206) to take the Class 3A, Region 3 crown, will send 10 wrestlers to the boys’ tournament. Qualifiers for the Longhorns include three regional champions in JC McNichols (138-lb. weight class, 47-1 on the season), Anthony Falotico (160, 28-5), and Nelson Toro (220, 44-2). Also qualifying via top-four finishes in regionals are Landon Davis (106-4th), Carson Estrada (120-3rd), Rey Ortiz (126, 3rd), Shawn McAllister (132, 3rd), Kade Toner (145-3rd), Maverick Hauser (152-4th), and Caden Gayle (285, 2nd). “Our expectations have changed in the last couple of years as our program has joined the group of state elite wrestling schools,” Longhorn head coach Vic Lorenzano said. “Just trying to get there and do our best is no longer the goal. We want to win matches, put guys on the podium and win individual state titles.” Osceola, which finished second in the 3A Region 2 tournament to Palmetto Ridge (240-148.5), will send seven grapplers to the state tournament including regional champions Anderson Heap (126-lb. weight class, 46-5 season record) and Cooper Haase (138, 54-3). Gunner Holland, who won a state title at 152 as a freshman, returns to states at 160. Holland finished second in regionals with a gut-wrenching sudden victory overtime loss to Palmetto’s Roman Garcia. George Duncan (170) and Elijah Vansickle (285) also placed second for the Kowboys, and those six will be joined by teammate Melvin Ewen (145-4th).
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SPORTS
FHSAA votes to make big changes to high school football in Florida To quote the great Bob Dylan, when it comes to the Florida High School football playoffs — The Times They Are A-Changin. Now whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing is certainly depends on who you ask, but the change is still coming. On a split 9-7 vote on Monday afternoon in Gainesville, the FHSAA Board of Directors approved changing the classification and playoff structure for the sport of football. The current format has schools divided into eight different classes based solely on school enrollment. Championships are contested in eight classes, 1A-8A in the sport. Authored by Dunnellon Football Coach Price Harris, the new plan calls for the organization to establish two new divisions, called the Metro and the Suburban. The Metro will be made up of the eight most populous counties in Florida: Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Hillsborough, Orange, Duval, Pinellas and Seminole; while the Suburban Division will consist of the other 59 counties, which includes Osceola. Under the new format, schools would still be separated into one of four classifications (1A-4A) based on population and each would crown a champion at the conclusion of the playoffs. The reason for the change is that many athletic directors and football coaches in what will now be called the Suburban Division, felt that open enrollment and unlimited transfer rules gave too much of an advantage to schools located in large metropolitan areas.
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SPORTS
By J. Daniel Pearson For Positively Osceola
JDs Weekly Musings, talking Coach Juwan Howard, female high school wrestling, the NBA, and more! A lot of fans from the cheap seats are commenting about the punishment delivered to Head Coach Juwan Howard and others involved in the post-game brouhaha after the Michigan – Wisconsin basketball game on Feb. 20. But if you don’t have a rooting interest in either team, the punishments handed out seemed both fair and reasonable to me. Consider some of the shenanigans that Bobby Knight pulled in his career and remember former Temple Coach John Cheney once threatened to kill then Massachusetts Coach John Calipari after a game and neither faced repercussions. But in fairness, there is one thing you should always remember about college athletics – any punishment is always going to be a reflection of the coach’s record at the time of the crime. Anyone want to bet that if Juwan Howard was 27-56 at Michigan rather than 5627, he would have been fired in a New York Minute for “cause”?… For some reason, my Facebook page has been hammered this past week with ads for non-alcoholic cocktails. Yeah, don’t want that buzz, but I sure could use that beer gut… One of the best lines of the week comes from long-time Miami Hurricanes public address announcer Jay Rokeach. The Canes hosted Harvard in baseball this past weekend and when someone pointed out that because of Covid, Harvard had not played a college baseball game in 722 days, which led to Rokeach to deadpan… “Well, I guess their pitching staff will be well rested”…. For the first time ever, female high school wrestlers in the state of Florida will be able to compete for an official FHSAA State Title in the sport. It is huge that the state is finally recognizing the growing sport of girls wrestling and is will now conduct both a boys and girls championship this week. Previously girls were required to compete against the guys if they wanted to pursue a sanctioned state championship.
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TechCentral is a brand new creative space providing access to tools and technologies that will help the community gain the necessary skills to make their dreams a reality! Featuring: Recording Studio Sewing Studio iMac Computer Lab with Adobe Creative Suite Virtual Reality Equipment Robotics for Kids Photography Studio 3D Printing On Demand Located on the second floor of Hart Memorial Central Library 211 E Dakin Avenue | Kissimmee, FL | 34741
osceolalibrary.org/techcentral | 407.742.8888
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Osceola Arts to Kick Off Spring with “The Bridges of Madison County” Osceola Arts is excited to kick off Spring with a beautiful musical making its first appearance at Osceola Arts. Beginning Friday, March 11th, and running through Sunday, March 27th The Bridges of Madison County will be live on the Main Stage. This musical is based on the 1992 best-selling novel of the same name by Robert James Waller. With a book by Marsha Norman and music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, The Bridges of Madison County centers around a forbidden love affair between an Iowa housewife and a handsome photographer who is in town on assignment. A live band will accompany a talented cast as they tell a story of passion, romance, duty, and devotion. The production, directed by Shana Burns, is not suitable for children under the age of 13. Tickets start at only $28, with Senior, students, and group rates available. Showtimes for The Bridges of Madison County are at 7:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, 2 pm on Sundays, and an additional 2 pm matinee performance on Saturday, March 26th. An American Sign Language-interpreted performance will be featured during the March 26th matinee. Safety protocols are in place for all performances. Osceola Arts is pleased to also offer two new visual arts exhibits. DIVINITY: Works by Patricia Cavazos is an abstract interpretation of the Aztec world’s creation and the gods behind it. The Studio Gallery will feature this exhibit now through April 1st. Additionally, Dream Shapes will highlight works by members of the Florida Sculptors Guild. This exhibit will be on display in the Main Gallery through April 1st. An Artist Reception will be held for the exhibits on Saturday, March 5th from 2 pm-5 pm. All exhibits and receptions are free and open to the public. For additional information and to purchase show tickets visit OsceolaArts.org or call 407-846-6257. For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website! 26
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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407-979-4161 www.CIJSstcloud.org
Paint the Cloud Green St. Patrick's Day LIGHT PARADE Sat., March 12 Parade starts at 7 p.m.
at Lakeshore Blvd. and Pennsylvania Ave. traveling up to 12th Street, then to Massachusetts Ave. back to Lakeshore Blvd.
Don't miss your chance to promote your business or organization in the Paint the Cloud Green LIGHT parade! To register your float or for more information, contact St. Cloud Parks and Recreation at
407-957-7243 or parksandrecreation@stcloud.org Thank you to our sponsors:
IN THE LOOP - THEME PARK NEWS Disney’s Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Launches for a Galaxy Far, Far Away Starting March 1st When “Star Wars: A New Hope” blasted into theaters 45 years ago, the film created a monumental cultural event, setting the imaginations of generations to come ablaze with tales of heroism, villainy, adventure, mysticism, and romance. What is it like to travel to a galaxy far, far away? What is it like to fly on a starship? To make friends with an alien? To wield a lightsaber? To engage in a space battle? What is it really like to see, feel and live Star Wars? The answers to these questions and many more will be answered on March 1, 2022, when Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser debuts at Walt Disney World Resort. This first-of-its-kind immersive adventure is a vacation experience going beyond anything Disney has created before. Guests become the heroes of their own Star Wars stories during a two-night adventure aboard the Halcyon starcruiser, a vessel known for its impeccable service and exotic destinations. Passengers relax in well-appointed cabins, enjoy exquisite dining and out-of-this-world entertainment, experience Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in new ways, and explore the ship in search of hidden secrets and new opportunities. Throughout the voyage, guests’ choices determine their personal stories as they interact with characters, crew and other passengers, becoming part of the action and the broader Star Wars saga. They may be asked to keep a secret, deliver a covert message, take part in a high-stakes heist, defend the ship, hide an ally … the possibilities are seemingly endless. Decisions guests make affect how these tales unfold, intertwining with those of other passengers and well-known characters such as Chewbacca and Rey as momentum builds on an action-packed adventure that may determine the fate of the galaxy. The adventure begins when guests arrive at the Galactic Starcruiser Terminal near Disney’s Hollywood Studios and check in for their two-night experience. Guests enter a Launch Pod to begin their Star Wars Through viewports, they see their world fall away as they jump to hyperspace and draw closer to the magnificent Halcyon starcruiser.
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IN THE LOOP - THEME PARK NEWS EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival in Full Bloom A perennial guest-favorite springtime event is now bursting with fragrant blossoms, seasonally inspired flavors, and lively entertainment. The EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival runs through July 4, 2022, cultivating fresh experiences for the entire family as part of the “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” honoring the Walt Disney World Resort 50th Anniversary. Over the course of 125 days, the event is one of the longest flower and garden festivals in the United States. Encompassing more than 300 acres, the seasonal plantings change throughout the festival, offering evolving displays of vibrant hues, textures, shapes, and scents. Here’s what guests can discover: Eye-Catching Topiaries, Brilliant Blossoms, Playful Fun Nearly 100 individual topiaries, breathtaking garden spaces, exciting exhibits, and more are available to explore. A few highlights: • Disney Character topiaries offer a perfect backdrop for springtime photos: • A new main entrance display features Goofy with a birthday cake celebrating the Walt Disney World Resort’s 50th • New topiaries of the Seven Dwarfs will accompany Snow White near the Germany pavilion in World Showcase. • Returning favorites include Lumiere and Cogsworth topiaries in the France pavilion; Peter Pan, Captain Hook and Tick Tock Croc between the United Kingdom and Canada pavilions; and Pumbaa and Timon near Imagination! • Near a topiary of Chef Remy in the newly expanded France pavilion in World Showcase, a new France Bouquet Garden invites guests to admire blooms perfect for a bouquet of cut flowers. • On the bridge to World Showcase, guests can enjoy the sights and scents of spring at a new garden, Blossoms of Fragrance Presented by Scentsy.
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POSITIVELY DELICIOUS Get ready to enjoy this grilled Florida chicken sandwich, it’s Positively Delicious! In Florida, we’re in the “cooler’ months of the year, so it’s the perfect time to head outside and have some fun grilling. In this Positively Delicious recipe, we’ll help you create the perfect Grilled Florida Chicken Sandwich! It’s simple, it’s quick, and you’ll love it! INGREDIENTS • 2 Florida chicken breasts, grilled • 1 Florida tomato, sliced thin • 2 cups Florida arugula • 3 garlic cloves • 1 lemon, zested and juiced • ½ cup olive oil • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature • Sandwich bread (your favorite) • Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste PREPARATION In a blender or food processor combine arugula, garlic cloves, lemon zest, and juice, then pulse until combined. Turn on low and slowly drizzle in olive oil until loose paste forms. Pour into a small bowl and set aside. Heat grill to high. Season chicken with salt and pepper and grill for 4 minutes on both sides. Brush arugula pesto onto the chicken and continue to cook until internal temperature reaches 165. Remove and set aside to rest. Spread butter on inside of sandwich buns and place directly over heat for 1-2 minutes or until warm and toasted. Remove from grill and assemble the sandwich. Serve with your favorite Florida vegetables, and get ready to say… mmm, it’s Positively Delicious! Source: Fresh from Florida For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website! 34
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POSITIVELY DELICIOUS Florida Cucumber and Tomato Salad… It’s Positively Delicious
Sometimes less is more, and simpler is better, and with Florida’s fresh vegetables so readily available… you can create a healthy lunch or dinner in just minutes. Check out this simple Florida Cucumber and Tomato Salad recipe. We know you’ll agree that it’s it’s Positively Delicious! INGREDIENTS • 1 Florida cucumber, sliced thin (peeled if desired) • 1 pint Florida cherry tomatoes • ½ red onion, sliced thin • ½ cup white vinegar • ¼ cup water • Pinch red pepper flakes (optional) • Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste PREPARATION Combine the vinegar, water, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Pour over sliced vegetables and marinate in refrigerator for at least one hour (the longer it marinates the more flavorful it will be). Serve chilled. For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website!
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COMMUNITY OUC says hang up on utility scammers, immediately!
The call looks legit. Your caller ID says OUC and a stern voice on the line is telling you that unless you make immediate payment your power and/ or water service will be turned off. That’s enough to alarm anyone, but not because of the threat of losing their utility services. It’s because such a call, or email, is a scam. Don’t disclose any information, such as Social Security or credit card number. Hang up or delete the email. Aided by “spoofing” technology that disguises caller ID information, scammers try to fool you into making an over-the-phone payment via a pre-paid debit card, credit card or banking information. They may tell you to buy a “Green Dot MoneyPak” temporary debit card at a local convenience store and call back with a receipt number and PIN number, resulting in a money transfer.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3hrvtcB Attention Muscle Car and Classic Car Fanatics: Old Town to Host Old Town AutoFest – A Judged Car Show! If you’re a fanatic for Muscle Cars and Classic Cars, Old Town in Kissimmee has the event for you! It’s the Old Town AutoFest – A Judged Car Show! On Saturday, April 9th, at 8:30 pm Old Town will host a car cruise packed with the best in Muscle and Classic Cars – cruising down the streets of Old Town. Come out early and enjoy the shops, restaurants, and awesome entertainment around Old Town and take your time experiencing some of the finest in muscle cars and classic cars in and around Florida. Interested in showing off your pride and joy in the cruise? Participating cars must be show quality 1964 and newer muscle and highperformance cars and trucks, and 1985 and older antiques, hot rods, and classics. Registration will take place from 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm, and judging will take place from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm and the cruise kicks off at 8:30 pm. For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website! 38
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COMMUNITY Help support Meals on Wheels at March for Meals
It is that time again! Time to gather your team for the Osceola Council on Aging’s (OCOA) annual March for Meals St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run/Walk to support Meals on Wheels (MOW).
The 16th annual event, scheduled for Saturday, March 12, will be held at Kissimmee Lakefront Park. Sponsored by the Kissimmee Utility Authority, the ‘fun run’ is held annually to raise money for MOW initiatives. One of OCOA’s largest fundraisers, the mission is to raise money to help feed those in the Osceola community who are unable to prepare meals and feed themselves. Though demands have evolved based on the socioeconomic needs of the Osceola community, the core mission is consistent; provide meals and services for community members in need, no matter what.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3Lg95R8
KUA’s FREE Movie in the Park Series to continue with “Encanto” Friday March 4
Kissimmee Utility Authority, in partnership with the City of Kissimmee, will host a free Movie in the Park event on Friday, March 4 at the Veterans Lawn of Kissimmee Lakefront Park. The movie event is part of KUA’s annual 6-month Movie in the Park series held on the first Friday of every month, beginning October through March. Activities begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the movie at 7 p.m. Participants are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket. The event will feature “Encanto” shown on a giant 50-foot screen. Attendees will enjoy KUA’s inflatable Kids Power Zone, a craft station, photo booth, free popcorn, and prize giveaways. Through hands-on demonstrations, attendees will also learn how to lower their monthly electric bills. For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website!
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COMMUNITY reThink Your Commute with City of Kissimmee Bike to Work Day On Friday, March 4th at 7 am, Kissimmeearea employers and their employees will have an opportunity to participate in a Bike to Work Day event along with reThink Your Commute and the City of Kissimmee. The 3-mile long ride will take place primarily on Kissimmee’s scenic Lakefront Trail and is estimated to take about 30 minutes long, depending on the bike rider. The slowpaced bike ride will begin and end at Ruby Plaza in downtown Kissimmee with all traffic laws being followed. Individual riders will be able to leave the group ride at any point along the route to get to their actual worksite. A police escort is expected to be at the event. Participants are expected to bring their own bicycle or ride to the morning meetup location. Parking is available at Ruby Plaza for those who drive a motor vehicle to the morning meet-up location.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3vaEhM7
Report horseshoe crab sightings to FWC for science It’s almost spring and that means it’s peak mating season for horseshoe crabs. Help biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) gather valuable information about these ancient creatures by reporting sightings on the online survey.
Horseshoe crabs mate by pairing up, with the smaller male attached to the larger female. They then crawl onto the beach up to the high tide line where the female digs a nest and lays her eggs, all while the male is attached and fertilizing the freshly laid eggs. They mate year-round, but it is most common to see mating groups along the shore of sandy, lower wave action beaches in March and April as well as September and October. Beachgoers will have the most luck spotting horseshoe crabs around high tide within a few days of a new or full moon. Reporting horseshoe crab sightings provides valuable information about habitat use, population distribution and environmental conditions for nesting to the FWC.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/35GYG0u For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website! 40
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HEALTH
Melissa Perry RD Registered Dietician
Orlando Health: 5 Strategies for Healthier Grocery Shopping
strategies for healthier grocery shopping:
Before heading to the supermarket, prepare to make healthy choices before you even get in the car. Planning your meals, making lists of weekly necessities, and checking the stock of your refrigerator and pantry before buying will set you up for success and help you avoid making impulse purchases. Here are five
1. Shop with Your Brain, Not Your Blood Sugar Don’t go grocery shopping when you’re hungry. When you’re thinking about what to eat next, your blood sugar is in control, not your brain. And when blood sugar is low, your body responds with a “scarcity” mindset — it literally believes it is starving. This isn’t the ideal mindset for choosing healthy foods, because your brain and body are just looking for quick energy and satisfaction. You’re more likely to buy items you simply want and that may not be the most healthy or logical choice for your short- and long-term health goals. Make sure to eat something before shopping so you can take your time and make well-reasoned decisions on what goes into your cart. 2. Make a Grocery List It may seem obvious, but making a list is one of the best ways to prepare for grocery shop and ensure your choices meet your needs and goals. Check your pantry to see what’s missing and what you already have. Then, write down potential meals for the week and base your grocery list on that. Keep a list of staples like Nuts, Eggs, Fruits, Vegetables, Whole-grain pasta or breads, Low- or non-fat dairy products. These are usually foods you restock weekly, so having a list of your family’s staple foods can save you time. When you get to the store, you may feel overwhelmed by the options and forget what you want. With your grocery list in hand (or on your phone), you’ll know exactly what you want and where to find it in the store.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3to2CeU For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website! 44
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HEALTH Orlando Health: Calorie Deficit Key to Weight Loss – Here’s Why When it comes to losing weight, deciding which diet and exercise plan to follow can be overwhelming. While diets may differ in approach, the basic principle is the same for most: Burn more calories than you consume. Eating fewer calories than you expend through exercise and daily living is called a calorie deficit. While the concept is simple, there are several factors that can affect whether you lose weight, and every person’s calorie deficit will be different. What Is a Calorie Deficit? In basic terms, a calorie is a unit of energy. So if a milkshake contains 250 calories, it means your body will obtain 250 units of energy by consuming it. To avoid gaining weight from drinking the milkshake, your body will need to burn either the same number of calories or more calories as the milkshake contains, creating a deficit. But sometimes the math isn’t that simple. How your body burns, or metabolizes, calories differs based on a variety factors: Basal metabolic rate (BMR): This is the amount of energy your body needs to keep all its basic systems — breathing, heartbeat, digestion and cell growth, among others — functioning correctly. Calculated using your height, weight, gender and age, the BMR accounts for 50 percent to 80 percent of your daily calorie expenditure. Several online tools exist to help you calculate your BMR, including this one. Muscle-to-fat ratio: Determined through a person’s body mass index (BMI), those with higher muscle mass will burn calories faster. Activity level: The more intense your activities, the more calories you will burn Hormone function: Endocrine issues such as menopause, diabetes and even stress can affect hormonal weight gain. Similarly, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, women may need to consume additional calories to keep their babies growing at a healthy rate. Overall medical health: Certain illnesses and medications, like steroids, can cause you to put on weight, regardless of your diet and exercise level.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3K8rUEn For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website!
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INJURY LAW What to do After a Pedestrian Crash in Osceola County When a pedestrian collision happens, it usually makes the news. This is because pedestrian crashes are simply terrifying. With decades of experience litigating injury claims in the central Florida region, the folks at Draper Law Office understand just how devastating pedestrian crashes can be. We also understand what it takes to recover maximum compensation. With this in mind, it’s worth taking a quick look at a few simple tips in case you or a loved one are ever involved in one of these horrific situations. Obviously, if you are hit by a motor vehicle, you will want to make sure you get emergency medical care. For those who are still capable of communicating and requesting help, some people tend to think they can ‘tough it out’ and get help later on. This is the wrong answer. Many injuries are latent, meaning you cannot see them easily, and these injuries may show up weeks later. By then, you have given an insurance company all the ammunition they need to deny your claim.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3puvVva
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FAMILY LAW Children with Special Needs and Divorce Parents of children with special needs have all the responsibilities which come with being a parent and those required to meet their child’s unique requirements. Often caring for their children’s needs means being a diligent advocate for their medical care, education, and therapeutic services. When families in this situation are faced with divorce, there will be additional concerns when it comes to planning for their child’s needs. In Florida, how parents spend time with their children or “time-sharing” will be reflected in a parenting plan which has been approved by the court as being in the child’s best interest. While the law supports time-sharing which allows children ongoing contact with each of their parents, when a child has special needs, the time-sharing arrangement may need to be structured according to their requirements.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3vE1ZjQ
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REAL ESTATE Goodwin Realty: Millennials, Do You Need a Home with More Space? If you’re a millennial, home buying might be top of mind for you. Your generation is the largest group of homebuyers in the market today and has been since 2014, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). And while other millennials are looking to buy for the first time, you may be one of the many who are now discovering you’ve outgrown your home.
If that’s the case, you’re not alone. The past two years brought about significant changes for many people, and today, homeowners are reevaluating what they truly need in a home. As a recent report from the Wall Street Journal states: “They say the pandemic and the emergence of remote work accelerated millennial home-buying trends already under way. . . . Millennials who already owned homes traded up for more space.” So, if you’re working remotely now or simply have a growing need for additional space, it may be time to move. And even if you purchased your current home sometime over the last few years, you can still move into a different one that has the space and features you’re looking for. That’s because there’s a good chance you have more equity than you realize. As Diana Olick, Real Estate Correspondent for CNBC, notes: “The stunning jump in home values over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic has given U.S. homeowners record amounts of housing wealth. . . . Even homeowners who weren’t listing their properties for sale were gaining equity. About 42% of homeowners were considered equity-rich at the end of last year, meaning their mortgages were half or less than half the value of their home.” Growing equity can be the key you need to fuel your next move, especially if you’re looking to purchase a larger home. When you sell your current house, the equity that comes back to you in the sale can be used toward the down payment on your next home. In other words, your purchasing power may be greater than you realize, making a move to a larger home a realistic option. That, plus your changing needs, might make moving now more desirable than ever.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3sA3z4u For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website! 50
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