Positively Osceola News Today, Osceola County's Leading and Trusted Source For Local News

ON DEMAND LIVESTREAMS

LIVE with State Representative

Kristen Arrington for District 46

February 20th, 2023

LIVE with Orlando Health St. Cloud Hospital

President Brian Wetzel

February 14th, 2023

LIVE with Ryan Munns, of Bogin, Munns and Munns

January 26th, 2023

LIVE with Dr. Chris Burns, from SDOC Fine and Performing Arts

January 19th, 2023

LIVE with William Morea & Wey Wey Wong, from Huntington Learning Center

January 19th, 2023

VIDEOS ON DEMAND

The Mayor’s Minute with St. Cloud Mayor, Nathan Blackwell

☑️ On April 3rd, St. Cloud is starting the “Kids in the Kitchen” 5-week hands-on cooking class tailored for junior chefs.

☑️ On Friday, April 7th, the Adult Moonlight Egg Hunt will be held at The Ranch in St. Cloud from 7pm to 10pm for adults 21 and older.

St Cloud Monthly MarketMarch 29th

It’s time again for another stroll through the Saint Cloud Downtown Monthly Market. On Wednesday, March 29th, you can enjoy walking through St. Cloud’s beautiful downtown district, browsing through the iconic shops and pop-up vendors. Enjoy live music along with a great selection of positively delicious fare from downtown St. Cloud’s unforgettable restaurants.

Celebration Foundation Jaclyn Hayden Concert

The Celebration Foundation continues their concert series on Saturday, April 22nd with Jaclyn Hayden! The concert will take place at Lakeside Park, 631 Sycamore Street in Celebration. Tickets and Information: celebrationfoundation.org Thank you to Experience Kissimmee, Florida for their community support with Celebration Foundation in this concert series.

St. Cloud Walking Ghost Tours

Once a month through May 31st, St. Cloud Main Street will host a series of historic ghost tours featuring multiple stops where you’ll have an opportunity to learn about the ghosts they say haunt some of the old downtown buildings as well as the history behind them.

Next Historic Ghost Tour - Wednesday March 29th.

Sloth Encounters at Wild Florida

Positively Osceola’s Krissi Marie Hardy spent some time with one of Wild Florida’s educators, Desiree, to learn about an amazing animal, Chloe the Sloth! To learn more about Wild Florida, visit WildFL.com

Habitat for Humanity Greater Orlando & Osceola County inaugural golf tournament on May 8 to benefit affordable housing

Habitat for Humanity Greater Orlando & Osceola County will host its inaugural charity golf tournament, Homes Fore All, as an additional way Central Floridians can support efforts to solve the wicked problem of affordable housing.

“As a nonprofit, we rely on the generous support of individuals and businesses to continue our mission of providing safe, affordable housing,” said Habitat for Humanity Greater Orlando & Osceola County President and CEO Catherine Steck McManus. “Supporting our upcoming tournament with a sponsorship or foursome will make a difference in the lives of Central Florida families.”

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/3M7DljX

One dead, Two Hurt in Kissimmee Shooting Near OBT and U. S.

192

Thursday Afternoon

One man died and two others were injured in a shooting in Kissimmee that took place in the middle of the day on Thursday in the parking lot of a chicken wing restaurant, just outside of downtown, police said. During a news conference, Kissimmee Police Deputy Chief Betty Holland said that the shooting took place around 1:45 p.m. in front of the Mighty Wings Restaurant between two men in the parking lot, located on the corner of Orange Blossom Trail and West Vine St.

The Deputy Chief said it appeared that a stray bullet from the shooting struck a man who was driving by on Vine Street (US 192) at the time. The man in the vehicle sustained non-life-threatening injuries and it was unclear whether the man was actually struck by the bullet, or whether he was hurt by the shattered glass when the bullet passed through the driver-side window.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/3U202rC

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Help Now Osceola’s “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event raises awareness for domestic violence

Walking a mile in someone else’s shoes… not an easy thing to literally do, but on Wednesday night in St. Cloud a group of men walked down a New York Avenue during a crowded St. Cloud Monthly Market event, while wearing heels, to raise awareness of domestic violence in the community and to get people listening, learning, thinking, and talking about domestic violence, and how we can end this terribly tragic reality in our community.

“Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” is an awareness event for victim survivors of domestic violence bringing awareness to our community about what survivors experience, and how we can come together as a community by walking a mile in her shoes,” Executive Director Tammy Douglass shared with Positively Osceola at the start of the event.

Osceola County Clerk & Comptroller Kelvin Soto Esq. spoke prior to the walk, “our office serves dozens of victims who come through our doors, seeking the court’s assistance to break free from a life of domestic violence. According to data from the Florida Department of health, occurrences of domestic violence in Osceola County exceed the state averages with our county ranking 18th out of 67 in terms of occurrences. We are happy to join our friends at this important event, to “walk a mile in her shoes, standing with victims at every stage of their battle.”

City of Kissimmee Celebrates Six Women in Honor of Women’s History Month

City of Kissimmee Commissioners celebrated six different women in honor of Women’s History Month during its commission meeting last week for their dedication, willingness and ambition to better serve the area.

“All of these women have professional careers but also go above and beyond within their community on a personal level and this is why we want to acknowledge them,” said Mayor Olga Gonzalez.

“Let’s take a moment and recognize the hard work and sacrifice of our local women and women everywhere who are leading the charge,” said Deputy City Manager Desiree Matthews. “And at the same time changing other people’s lives in a remarkable way.” Matthews read a proclamation into the record, in honor of Women’s History Month, recognizing Ivette Rodriguez, the Founder and Director of Operations for Beyond Pregnancy Care.

Beyond Pregnancy Care is a non-profit that has been providing services to the community since 2017. Beyond Pregnancy Care is a crisis pregnancy center that focuses on empowering families that face unexpected family crisis and unplanned pregnancies.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/3z7fx8i

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Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center Achieves Magnet® Recognition

Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC) achieved Magnet recognition in February as a reflection of its nursing professionalism, teamwork and superiority in patient care.

The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program® distinguishes organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence. Orlando Health ORMC joins its sister hospitals, Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies, in achieving Magnet recognition. Orlando Health ORMC, a designated advanced comprehensive stroke center and Orlando’s only Level One Trauma Center, is the only adult acute care hospital in Orlando to achieve the Magnet recognition.

With this credential, Orlando Health ORMC joins the global community of Magnet-recognized organizations. Just a small, and select group of U.S. health care organizations have achieved Magnet recognition.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/3ZjU32w

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Florida to Become First State in the Nation

to Collect Cancer Recurrence Data

Florida will be the first state in the nation to collect cancer recurrence data – the Cancer Connect Collaborative’s first action to remove data access barriers for easy and timely research, announced last week by Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis. While a survivor is in remission, the same or a different cancer may recur, called a cancer recurrence. There is currently no collective population-level data system in the United States monitoring cancer recurrence.

“Through this mission, Florida will be the first state in the country to collect cancer recurrence data on a statewide scale,” said Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis. “By having this data reported to the State, this will be a resource to help identify new avenues resulting in better care and treatment standards to help all individuals battling the fight against cancer, regardless of where they are receiving care.”

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/3KbRDPe

Unincorporated Osceola County Under Burn Ban Due to Dry Conditions

In light of dry conditions throughout the county that have sent our Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) over 500, Osceola County is instituting a burn ban for all types of outside burning, including open fire pits, campfires, and yard debris within the unincorporated areas of Osceola County.

The burn ban is effective immediately and will be lifted as weather and vegetation conditions improve. The ban will be enforced by Osceola County Code Enforcement, Law Enforcement and Emergency Services personnel.

Osceola County Fire Rescue will continue to monitor conditions to determine when the burn ban will be lifted. Once the ban is lifted, another notice will be distributed, along with updates to www.osceola.org and at http://fire.osceola.org.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/3z8RhCz

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By J. Daniel Pearson For Positively Osceola

Harmony Longhorns Advance, to Face Osceola Kowboys For OBC Championship in Boys Baseball Friday

Four Longhorn pitchers combined on a three-hitter as Harmony (7-8) trounced host Tohopekaliga, 6-1, to advance to the championship game of 2023 Orange Belt Conference Tournament. The Longhorns will face Osceola – a 10-0 winner over St. Cloud in the other semifinal — at neutral site Poinciana on Friday night at 7 p.m.

“We have struggled with our control all season,” Harmony coach Heath Williams said. “Tonight we were able to throw strikes, stay ahead of the hitters and at the end of the night that made the difference for us.”

Meanwhile, second-seeded Tohopekaliga had nothing but trouble on the mound and in the field in losing for just the third time this season in 12 games.

With one out in the second, starting Tiger pitcher Jose Montalvo walked Angel Ramos and hit freshman Shawn Brabrant with a pitch. Both players moved up a base on an errant pickoff attempt and Caden Scarborough drove in the first run with an RBI single. Brabrant would come in to score on a sacrifice bunt by Angel Medina and the Longhorns would tack on another run on the play when the Tigers threw the ball away on that bunt attempt.

A dropped fly ball for a two-base error and an RBI single by Yathniel Matos made it 4-0 in the fourth. Iziah Santiago and Angel Ramos would lead off the fifth with walks before Brabrant loaded the bases with an infield hit. Santiago would race home on a wild pitch, before Scarborough’s drive to left center fell in for a double when Toho’s outfielders collided to drive in Harmony’s sixth run of the game.

In all, five of Harmony’s runners that scored reached base via walk, hit batter or error; as the Tigers issued eight walks, hit three batters, committed four errors and uncorked two wild pitches.

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

By J. Daniel Pearson For Positively Osceola

Osceola County Sports Roundup: Orange Belt Conference Titles On Line for Baseball, Flag Football

Two more Orange Belt Conference Championships will be determined this week as conference tournaments are held in the sports of baseball and flag football. Both tournaments will be week-long affairs, with Poinciana hosting the baseball title game and Harmony hosting the flag championship game.

Osceola will be the top seed in the baseball tournament; while Harmony will be the top seed in flag football. Both title games are scheduled for Friday night. A look around the county:

BASEBALL

OBC Quarterfinal games are slated for today (Mon.) with #8 Gateway at #1 Osceola, #5 St. Cloud at #4 Celebration, #6 Liberty at #3 Harmony and #7 Poinciana at #2 Tohopekaliga. Seedings were determined by MaxPrep power rankings at the end of last week. First round winners will meet on Wednesday at the home field of the highest seed. Consolation placement games will be played on the same day. The third place (4:30 p.m.) and championship game (7 p.m.) will be played Friday (Mar. 31) and will be hosted by Poinciana.

The Kowboys (8-5) enter the tournament after dropping two of their last three games — but it should be noted those games came last week to Polk County teams that had a combined record of 32-6. Junior Jason Ramos continues to lead the Kowboys in batting average (.485), hits (16) and RBI (13). In Osceola’s lone win, an 11-7 win over Lake Wales (11-2), Nick Palmi slammed a three-run homer. Tohopekaliga has the top record at 8-2, with one of its two losses coming to Osceola. The Tigers are led by a pair of players hitting above .500 through 10 games, including senior Justin Diaz batting a torrid .550 (11 of 20) and sophomore Hudson Moberly’s .519 (14 of 27).

Celebration is coming off a 2-0 week and has now won six of their last seven. The Storm have outscored its opposition 74-37 this year and is led by Alejandro Hernandez, who is hitting a county-best .600 (21 of 35) so far this season.

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

Toho Water Authority to Continue Water Line Flushing This Week in St. Cloud in These Areas

Crews contracted with Toho Water Authority (Toho) will continue flushing in targeted areas of the City of St. Cloud next week, March 27-31. The map shows the area where customers are likely to experience a temporary drop in water pressure and discolored water. Water pressure and clarity will return once flushing operations in the area are completed.

Affected areas next week are:

Briarwood Estates

Esprit

Whaley’s Creek

Season’s at Deer Creek By Richmond American Homes

Northstar Painting and Pressure Washing

JT @ LA Rosa Realty

Looking to Plan Your Next Vacation? Check Out Visit Orlando’s Free Vacation Planning Services

Do you find planning vacations difficult?. Well if you do, you’re not alone. Start planning your dream Orlando getaway with the help of Visit Orlando’s complimentary Vacation Planning Services, which includes insider advice and special offers on the best Orlando experiences.

Visit Orlando’s Vacation Planning Services are staffed by friendly, knowledgeable Vacation Planners who are available via telephone, email and live chat. They offer trusted resources and unbiased destination information like tripplanning advice, dining and entertainment options, and more.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/3KQxbE8

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Florida welcomes 137.6 million visitors in 2022, highest in state history

Florida had record visitation in 2022 with 137.6 million visitors, an increase of five percent over 2019 and 12.9 percent over 2021, according to Visit Florida.

Florida welcomed 33.2 million travelers between October and December 2022, marking a six percent increase from Q4 2021, and the sixth consecutive quarter of overall visitation surpassing prepandemic levels. 30.1 million domestic visitors traveled to Florida in Q4 2022, representing 21 months of domestic visitation growth from 2019, according to Visit Florida.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/3Z0W97X

Tesla to build third Central Florida dealership in Kissimmee, more V3 charging stations on the way

Tesla, the world’s most recognizable name in electric vehicle development and manufacturing, looks to be building a dealership in Kissimmee, its third in Central Florida, according to a report in GrowthSpotter.

Currently, there is a dealership located in Maitland/Eatonville, and one being built in Clermont. The proposed third dealership would be located on S. Orange Blossom Trail near Osceola Parkway in Kissimmee on a 5.3-acre site across from the Orange Blossom Plaza.

Tesla, which describes itself as an artificial intelligence and clean energy company, recently announced that it would open 3,500 new and existing superchargers along highways to non-Tesla customers, and would offer 4,000 slower chargers at locations like hotels and restaurants.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/3Z0Qvmd

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Florida Department of Health in Osceola County to Distribute Narcan Nasal Spray kits

The Florida Department of Health in Osceola County (FDOH-Osceola) is announcing the availability of free Naloxone (Narcan) Nasal Spray kits. This lifesaving medication could reduce thousands of substance abuse deaths across the state.

Naloxone is available to people who use drugs, people with a history of drug use, others at risk of experiencing an overdose, friends, family members, and others who may witness an overdose. Kits consist of two Naloxone nasal sprays that are administered even without a health care professional present.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/3Hbgwbh

Orlando Health Cancer Institute Introduces CAR T-Cell Therapy for Treating Advanced Blood Cancers

Orlando Health Cancer Institute has added CAR T-cell therapy as a new option for treating advanced blood cancers.

CAR T-cell therapy is an immunotherapy that works by harnessing the power of a patient’s immune system to attack tumors. Treatment begins with the collection of the patient’s T-cells, which help protect the body from infection. The T-cells are then sent to a laboratory, where they are genetically re-engineered to produce proteins on their surface called chimeric antigen receptors. The new T-cells are reproduced by the millions in preparation for infusion back into the patient.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/3ZGQRzp

INJURY LAW

Car accidents can happen in an instant. Even though these crashes happen quickly, recovery is not always quick and easy. A car accident can cause a variety of injuries, including back injuries. Even a minor crash can cause back injuries because the back tends to absorb most of the impact in an accident.

If you have suffered a back injury, seek prompt medical treatment. These injuries can be hard to treat, and sometimes can lead to secondary medical issues, such as hypotension, osteoporosis, pressure ulcers, sleep apnea, bowel problems, urinary tract infections, sexual dysfunction, and more. Draper Law Office understands how serious a back injury can be. These injuries can be long-lasting and costly to treat. Schedule a consultation by filling out the online form or by calling their office at (407) 846.0075.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/3VmqbB0

Draper Law: Even minor car accidents can cause back injuries, don’t wait to seek medical attention

Creative Inspiration Journey School sees continued student growth amid school facility expansion

From the first day that Creative Inspiration Journey School opened its doors in the Fall of 2019, it was easy to see that it wasn’t going to be just another tuition free public charter school, it was focused on creating an environment of learning for its students unlike any other school in the St. Cloud and Osceola communities.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3wbfyXv

FAMILY LAW

Draper Law: Ten Mistakes to Avoid During Your Divorce

When you are going through a divorce, it can feel like every aspect of your life from where you live to how you are going to support yourself is at risk. At a time like this it is a natural response to be afraid but, if you are not careful, that fear can lead you to make errors which could hurt your case. The good news is that you can avoid mistakes during your divorce.

Knowing what actions to avoid during divorce is critical. Draper Law Office has experience helping clients circumvent mistakes and make the right choices during divorce. Call 407.846.0075 today or go to DraperLawOffice.com to set up your free, no-obligation consultation in one of their three locations: St. Cloud, Kissimmee, and Orlando.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/3i91cD0

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Country Thunder to roar back to Osceola County in 2023 with Country Music Superstars Keith Urban, Cody Johnson, & Hardy

Buckle up country music fans, Country Thunder Florida has announced that its October 2023 all-star lineup at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee will feature country music superstars Cody Johnson, HARDY, Keith Urban & so many more.

“When you have the world’s greatest country music fans show up the way they did in Florida in 2022, you owe them a follow-up of epic proportions,” says Country Thunder Music Festivals CEO, Troy Vollhoffer. “And we’re making that promise with one of the best lineups from start to finish we’ve had in years. We can’t wait to bring Cody Johnson, HARDY, and Keith Urban to the fans in Florida!”

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

HEALTH

Ana Cristina Mercedes Germosen, MD Orlando Health FACC – Cardiovascular Disease

Orlando Health: 9 Sneaky Signs of Heart Disease

It’s February – American Heart Month – a time when the nation spotlights heart disease, the No. 1 killer of Americans. You’re probably familiar with the most common symptoms of heart disease. The one that gets the most attention is chest pain (or angina), which can feel like tightness, pressure, aching or pain in your chest, but heart disease can create a wide range of symptoms, some far less common than others. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Struggling To Breathe While Lying Flat

You may find yourself gasping for breath or otherwise struggling to breathe easily while lying down. You might only be able to sleep by propping yourself up with several pillows. This could be related to fluid buildup in your lungs. If your heart isn’t pumping as strongly as it should be, it will have difficulty keeping your blood flowing, allowing more of it to pool. For some people, this condition – known as orthopnea – may be the only symptom of congestive heart failure.

Legs or Hips Hurt While Walking

If your legs feel fine while resting, but then start hurting or cramping when you go for a walk, it could be a sign of congestion or blockage in your arteries. The pain (claudication) is often a symptom of peripheral artery disease (PAD), which is caused by the buildup of plaque (fats and cholesterol) on artery walls.

The pain occurs when you become active because your muscles can’t get enough oxygen and nutrients from your clogged arteries. The pain then fades away when you rest. People with PAD are at higher risk of congestive heart failure.

Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction can be caused by several things, including diabetes and stress. But it may also be an indicator of heart disease. The root cause is endothelial dysfunction, a condition in which the blood vessels have a hard time expanding or contracting the way they’re supposed to. The condition reduces blood flow both to the penis and the heart.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/3IXM6er

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IN THE LOOP - THEME PARK NEWS

Universal Orlando Offers Florida Residents Buy a Day, Get 2 Days FREE Tickets

Universal Orlando Resort invites Florida residents and locals to visit the ultimate road trip destination this spring and summer with its all-new “Buy a Day, Get 2 Days Free on a 2-Park, 1-Day Park-to-Park Ticket” offer – allowing guests to enjoy three days of theme park thrills for the price of one. Starting today, guests can take advantage of this incredible offer for travel on non-consecutive days through September 29, 2023 – giving them the ability to experience a full range of emotions in exhilarating rides and attractions across Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure throughout the road trip season.

Whether guests plan three separate visits to the parks or a multi-day vacation, there’s so much to see and do at Universal Orlando, and with this offer, Florida residents get to explore the hold-on-tight thrills and unparalleled entertainment that can only be found at the award-winning theme park destination.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/40RDrR2

Get ready for oceans of flavor and fun at SeaWorld

Orlando’s Seven Seas Food Festival

From foodies to families, everyone will find tasty delights among more than 200 distinct offerings and more than 50 fresh global cuisine choices to pair with over 75 refreshing wine and cocktail selections, including more than 75 craft brews at SeaWorld Orlando Seven Seas Food Festival Thursdays -Sundays through May 7.

Revitalize your taste buds as you add a taste of rock, country, Latin, or throwback sounds at SeaWorld’s live music shows, and enjoy even more diverse entertainment and surprises during special times like Mardi Gras, St. Patrick’s Day, and Cinco de Mayo. With so many exquisite flavors to top off exhilarating coasters and extraordinary animal encounters, SeaWorld’s Seven Seas Food Festival is a voyage to stir the soul!

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/3SG20h1

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

IN THE LOOP - THEME PARK NEWS

Select Tickets and Packages Now On Sale For Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 2023

The world’s premier Halloween event, Universal Orlando Resort’s Halloween Horror Nights, returns to Universal Studios Florida for a recordbreaking 44 nights this fall – unleashing a new slate of horrifying haunted houses and scare zones filled with menacing creatures, and outrageous entertainment on select nights September 1 through October 31.

Guests can officially begin to summon their scream squad and plan the ultimate fall getaway with a variety of offers available now, including single-night event tickets, event upgrades and a vacation package that allows them to relish in the thrills of the parks during the day before braving the chills of Halloween Horror Nights at night.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/3TQUoJ8

Disney Dreamers Academy Students Dream Big at Walt Disney World Resort

This weekend, 100 students from across the country celebrated the conclusion of the 16th year of Disney Dreamers Academy with an emotional commencement ceremony at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, featuring an inspirational speech by Grammy-nominated singer Halle Bailey, who will play Ariel in the upcoming live-action remake of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.’’ The annual fourday event also included empowering sessions from a host of celebrities; special once-in-a lifetime surprise opportunities for students; performances from Disney Live Entertainment; and a moving ring ceremony to mark the teens’ special achievement at the culmination of the event.

The teens, recognized as Disney Dreamers, were selected from among thousands of applicants to participate in the mentoring program.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/3zcKuI0

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be confident.

We provide trusted, quality care in your community. At Orlando Health St. Cloud Hospital, get access to care from an expert and compassionate clinical team for all of your healthcare needs — from emergency services to heart care, surgical services and more — all close to home. Giving you more reasons to choose well. OrlandoHealth.com/StCloud choose well.