Positively Osceola, Osceola County's Leading Source of News!

The 149th Silver Spurs Rodeo rides into Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee June 3rd – 4th Click Here to Read More: https://bit.ly/3PsdiDu

Inside this issue

Hope Partnership opens Home Commons in Downtown Kissimmee, focuses on ending homelessness, poverty

Page 11

Tentative Agreement Reached on $8 Million Compensation Package for Osceola School District Teachers Page 17

Education Foundation of Osceola Launches Bookmark Buddies 2.0 to Improve Early Childhood Reading

Page 18

St. Cloud community commemorates the fallen on Memorial Day at Mt. Peace Cemetery

Page 19

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149TH SILVER SPURS RODEO The 149th Silver Spurs Rodeo rides into Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee June 3rd – 4th The Silver Spurs Riding Club will host their 149th Silver Spurs Rodeo Friday, June 3 & Saturday, June 4 at 7:30 pm in the Silver Spurs Arena at Osceola Heritage Park.

Fans will be treated to seven of rodeo’s traditional events: bull riding, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, women’s barrel racing, steer wrestling and team roping.

For the second year now, breakaway roping will be added to the event schedule. In addition to this great tradition, the June rodeo will present junior barrel racing, junior bull riding and the junior quadrille (square dancing on horseback). These events feature our youth who are starting their rodeo careers in the Silver Spurs Arena! The 149th Silver Spurs Rodeo will also feature everyone’s favorite event before the performance, ‘mutton bustin’ (also known as sheep racing)!

“We are looking forward to this summer’s rodeo, since this is how the Silver Spurs Rodeo and our community kicks off the summer break from school, highlighting our local youth in bull riding, barrel racing, and quadrille,” said Dustin Bronson, Big Boss of the Silver Spurs Riding Club. “This has been a tradition since 1944 in Osceola County, so come out to the Rodeo in June for one of the longest-running traditions east of the Mississippi.”

Single night tickets are just $20 per adult and kids 10 and under are FREE with a new “Joint Performance” ticket that includes two performances for $30.

All active and retired military receive FREE admission at the June 3, 4. Please bring proof of military service to the Silver Spurs Arena box office.

A portion of the ticket sales from the Friday and Saturday June Rodeo performances will be donated to a local charity.

For more information, to purchase tickets and to read the Rodeo Guidelines for a safe rodeo go to www.silverspursrodeo.com.

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149TH SILVER SPURS RODEO The 149th Silver Spurs Rodeo returns to Kissimmee June 3-4, so does Mutton Bustin’ for the kiddos!

June kicks off in a big way with the 149th Silver Spurs Rodeo riding back into the Silver Spurs Arena on Friday June 3, and Saturday June 4 – both rodeos kickoff at 7:30pm. Of course, it wouldn’t be a June Silver Spurs Rodeo without the crowd favorite Mutton Bustin’.

Serving as an additional rodeo event just for the little cowboys and cowgirls, Mutton Bustin’ is a family-friendly event that fun and entertaining for participants and spectators.

During Mutton Bustin’, a sheep is held still by a few of the rodeo handlers and a child is placed on top of the sheep in a riding position. Most children will wrap their arms around the sheep’s chest and hold on to the sides of the sheep with their legs. Once the child gives the go ahead, the sheep is released and off the sheep, and hopefully, the kiddo go.

There are no set rules for Mutton Bustin’ and no “winner takes all” scenario, unlike what you’d find in the traditional rodeo events. However, during Mutton Bustin’ all participants will receive a Mutton Bustin’ belt buckle to remember their long, eightsecond (or less) ride.

Regardless of how long each participant actually holds on for, the action on the dirt, along with the roar of the crowd, brings just as many thrills and spills as the other major rodeo events.

The Mutton Bustin’ event is held just before the Silver Spurs Rodeo begins, so make sure to get to the rodeo early and grab a great seat to the biggest professional east of the Missippii. Spots for our Mutton Bustin’ are limited to 10 children per Silver Spurs Rodeo performance so as soon as doors open at the Silver Spurs Rodeo, head on over to sign up at the Mutton Bustin’ registration table in the lobby. Children must be under six years old or weigh less than 40 pounds in order to participate. See y’all at the rodeo!!

For tickets and more information go to SilverSpursRodeo.com For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website!

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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!

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ON DEMAND LIVESTREAMS In the Loop LIVE with Guests: Bill Litton and Andrew Sullivan from Osceola County Emergency Management

June 1st, 2022

Daybreak LIVE with Guests: Kayla Rogers and Wanda Curtis for Experience Osceola May 4th, 2022

LIVE with Bill Litton and Mallory Nichols talking about the upcoming hurricane season May 28th, 2022

Daybreak LIVE with Guests: Dustin Bronson and Clifton Chapman for the Silver Spurs Rodeo May 29th, 2022

LIVE with The Osceola Chamber to present the Beautification Award to Carinos Cafe in Downtown Kissimmee May 26th, 2022 For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website!

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IN & AROUND OSCEOLA LIVE with Hope Partnership CEO Mary Lee Downey and State Representative Kristen Arrington

LIVE with The Osceola Chamber’s Event Director Kayla Rogers discussing the upcoming Experience Osceola event

LIVE at Hope Partnership’s Official Ribbon Cutting of their Downtown Kissimmee facility Hope Commons

LIVE with KUA’s Tiffany Henderson talking about their free 2022 Hurricane Guide

LIVE at Mount Peace Cemetery for St. Cloud’s Memorial Day Laying of Wreaths and Remembrance Ceremony For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website!

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VIDEOS ON DEMAND The 149th Silver Spurs Rodeo on June 3rd & 4th

The hottest professional rodeo action in the United States is heading back to the Silver Spurs Arena on June 3rd & 4th! The Silver Spurs Rodeo has been an Osceola County tradition since 1944, and in June, fans will be treated to seven traditional rodeo events including bull riding, bareback riding, team roping, and more! For more information, visit SilverSpursRodeo.com.

Experience Osceola on June 18th On Saturday, June 18th at the St. Cloud Lakefront from 10AM 5PM, the community is invited to Experience Osceola like never before! This FREE event, brought to you by The Osceola Chamber and Orlando Health St. Cloud Hospital, is a showcase of the Osceola business community that will include food, fun, and live entertainment for the whole family.

Juneteenth Festival at Kissimmee Lakefront Park

On Saturday June 18th from 12:00pm - 5:00pm at Kissimmee Lakefront Park, you can visit the Juneteenth Festival, a local celebration of the African American community, culture, and unity. Stop by and experience the live music, delicious food and amazing craft vendors! Learn more at kissimmee.gov/juneteenth

St. Cloud’s Hurricane Expo on June 4th

On Saturday, June 4th from 11am to 1pm at the St. Cloud Civic Center on 17th Street, St. Cloud will share tips from the experts, as well as provide an abundance of other helpful information designed to ensure that you and your family are prepared for the soon coming Hurricane season.

Osceola Animal Services’ Dog Fostering Program!

Do you want to help reduce the amount of dogs that are in need of a loving home in the community, but aren’t sure you can make the long term commitment? Osceola County Animal Services is encouraging the community to try their Dog #Fostering Program, for those that are willing to provide short-term in-home care for dogs in need.

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

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MAKING A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE

Orlando Health Providing Care at 2022 Special Olympics USA Games Orlando Health is delivering care to more than 4,000 athletes and 1,500 coaches plus 10,000 volunteers and an expected 125,000 fans at the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games. Orlando Health serves as the Games’ official medical team, a role that required more than a year of planning and training for doctors, nurses, technicians and other medical professionals.

“It is a massive undertaking — the biggest Special Olympics in history. We’re basically in charge of anything related to healthcare, and it even goes a little bit beyond that,” says Dr. Michael Jablonski, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute.

Dr. Jablonski regularly provides care to professional and collegiate athletes in the area. This week he’s serving as the chief medical officer for the event on June 5-12 held at multiple venues in Central Florida. Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, is working hand in hand with the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games.

“We wanted to partner with the Special Olympics and the Games because we are about inclusion,” D’Ortona says.

Dr. Jablonski is determined to give athletes and their delegations the most sweeping medical coverage Special Olympians have ever experienced.

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MAKING A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE

Hope Partnership opens Home Commons in Downtown Kissimmee, focuses on ending homelessness, poverty For most of us, we have a safe place that we can call home. Sadly, that’s not the case for everyone.

On Thursday, the community came together to support and celebrate an organization whose focus is to provide opportunities for those without a safe place to call home and for those that have obstacles – obstacles that can be overcome with some help.

That organization is Hope Partnership, and with the official opening of its Hope Commons facility in Downtown Kissimmee, there is hope, through its partnerships in a centralized location, that there will be opportunities for lives to be changed.

Hope Partnership works to provide affordable housing and other necessary solutions for those in need in the Osceola community, and with the official opening of its Hope Commons facility, it can provide those solutions from one central location. Other organizations that will provide services from the downtown Kissimmee Hope Commons are iBuild, A Helping Hand Counseling Center, IDignity, and Habitat for Humanity.

“We need partners and we need support, and we need people around us to be a part of it.

We have so many volunteer opportunities. We’re going to need people in this space to be welcomers in our lobby and to talk with people and welcome them and help to figure out what they need and what they’re looking for,” said CEO Reverend Mary Lee Downey.

All of this doesn’t happen without funding and volunteerism. Congressmen Darren Soto, looks to have secured $1 million for Hope Partnership, Commissioner is bringing financial support to Hope Partnership, while State Representative Kristen Arrington has been working on $500,000 being allocated from the State budget.

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149TH SILVER SPURS RODEO Coca-Cola Cowboy and Women’s Lifetime Achievement recipients Tom and Martha Booth For over eight decades, members of the Silver Spurs Riding Club have worked yearround to coordinate rodeos and other events, making an impact in the community alongside several generations of their family. The Clubs’ foundation is built on good values and morals, charitable contributions, and volunteerism. As a thank you for years of service, the Silver Spurs Riding Club Board of Directors celebrates long-time volunteers with the Coca-Cola Cowboy award and Women’s Lifetime Achievement award each year.

Continuing generational legacies are 2021 Coca-Cola Cowboy and Women’s Lifetime Achievement honorees Tom and Martha Booth.

Born into a founding family of the Silver Spurs Riding Club, Martha Booth upholds a long-standing tradition of ranching and rodeo in Osceola County. Growing up as a Silver Spurs kid, she served the community through rodeo events each year. Wooden floors, vegetable bins along the wall, and barrels of Gladiolus grouped by rubber bands welcomed the concession stand ladies to Rollie Rolls in downtown Kissimmee before each performance. While her service to the club started by eating grapes on the countertops while the ladies of the Silver Spurs concession stand hand-pattied hamburgers for rodeo performances, she eventually carried on a family tradition riding in the Silver Spurs Quadrille team, getting initiated at 21 years old, and serving as the concession stand committee chairperson.

Tom Booth was born in a small town in Alabama to a hardworking, Christian family.

He was committed to three sports in high school: football, track, and wrestling before graduating and attending the University of Alabama on an athletic scholarship. Moving back to his hometown to coach, he met the student-teacher, Martha. After realizing she liked football and the woods, Tom proposed, and the two married. Alabama residents for the first four years of their marriage, Tom flew to Kissimmee on Labor Day weekend, in between games and practice schedules, to be initiated into the club at 25 years old.

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149TH SILVER SPURS RODEO The 149th Silver Spurs Rodeo is bucking its way back to Kissimmee July 3-4 Silver Spurs bucking bulls, they’re mean, they’re fierce, they’re strong, and they’re ready to do what they do on Friday June 3rd and Saturday June 4th in Kissimmee… BUCK! Bull riding is rodeo’s most dangerous and exciting event where competitors must ride a bucking bull for eight agonizing seconds with no more than a bull rope as a handhold.

Like bareback and saddle bronc riders, the contestants in bull riding must ride on the back of a 2,000-pound animal and stay on for an eight-second ride. Grasping onto a flat braided rope tied around the chest of the bull with one hand, his other hand will need to stay above his head. If at any point his free hand touches the bull or himself, he will receive no score.

One end of the bull rope, called the “tail,” is threaded through a loop on the other end and is tightened around the bull. Unlike the other rough stock contestants, bull riders are not required to mark out or spur the animals (have their spurs touching the bull).

While spurring a bull can add to the cowboy’s score, riders are commonly judged solely on their ability to stay on the bull.

Like bareback and saddle bronc riding, the judges not only look at the cowboy’s performance during a ride, they also look at the roughstock. Both bull rider and bull can receive a max of 50 points each during a ride, meaning they can potentially score a total of 100 points.

For the contestant, they are scored on elements such as their ability to stay balanced on the bull, display quick reflexes, and ability to coordinate with the bull’s movements.

For the bull, a judge will be looking at their unique bucking style to help come up with a total, final score for the ride as no two bulls have the same type of style. For example, while one bull may prefer to make tight spins in a continuous circle, there are other bulls that will jump high in the air or buck.

For tickets and more information visit SilverSpursRodeo.com.

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OSCEOLA BUSINESS REFERRAL SERVICE

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NEWS

Hurricane Season arrives with potential tropical development that could lead to Florida soaking rains National weather forecasters are tracking a disturbance north of the Yukatan that could develop into a tropical depression or tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico this first week of hurricane season potentially bringing soaking rains to parts of Florida, Cuba and the Bahamas late this week into the weekend.

This broad, large low, known to meteorologists as a Central American gyre (CAG), could include some remnant spin and moisture from what was once Hurricane Agatha, which made a Category 2 landfall Monday, the strongest May hurricane to landfall along Mexico’s Pacific coast dating to 1949.

Forecast guidance suggests a tropical depression or tropical storm could form in the southeast Gulf of Mexico Thursday or Friday. If it becomes a storm, it would be named Alex, the first name in the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season name list.

The National Hurricane Center has tentatively scheduled the first hurricane hunter mission into the system for early Thursday afternoon.

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NEWS Tentative Agreement Reached on $8 Million Compensation Package for Osceola School District Teachers The Osceola County School Board and the Osceola County Education Association have a reached tentative agreement on an $8 million compensation package for teachers for the 2022-2023 school year. This tentative agreement now goes to both the School Board and OCEA members for ratification and settlement.

“I speak on behalf of our School Board members when I say we remain optimistic that we will be able to collaborate with OCEA in order to get these dollars into the hands of our dedicated educators as soon as a tentative agreement is ratified by both parties,” said Superintendent Dr. Debra Pace.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3M8nTk3

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NEWS

Education Foundation of Osceola Launches Bookmark Buddies 2.0 to Improve Early Childhood Reading

Who doesn’t like a buddy? Especially if that buddy helps you to learn how to read, or read better. Those are the kinds of buddies that the Education Foundation of Osceola has, and needs more of. On Thursday the Education Foundation of Osceola, a non-profit organization that works tirelessly to ensure that kiddos around Osceola County are proficiently reading at grade level, relaunched one of its signature program, Bookmark Buddies, a one-on-one, eye-to-eye, knee-to-knee mentoring program that helps students who are struggling to read on grade level.

Osceola School District Superintendent Dr. Debra Pace opened Thursday’s Bookmark Buddies breakfast event sharing that 3rd graders are still in need of assistance throughout the district in the area of reading and that the Education Foundation of Osceola needs more reading mentors willing to help those students improve their reading skills before the important state testing that they must take each spring.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3NMAXNa For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website!

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NEWS

St. Cloud community commemorates the fallen on Memorial Day at Mt. Peace Cemetery The St. Cloud community came together on Monday, to pay homage to, to remember, and to honor the fallen American heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their nation.

It was the St.Cloud Annual Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony held at Mt. Peace Cemetery, and it was filled with community leaders, veterans, students, musicians, and members of the community who just wanted to say – thank you.

The Master of Ceremony was Mike Midgley, Commander of the American Legion Post 80 in St. Cloud, who introduced the Girl Scouts of Citrus – Mishawaka who led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a powerful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner sung by Brooke Envall.

The ceremony’s guest speaker was American Legion Department of Florida Eastern Area Commander Daryl Bass and the Armed Force Medley was sung by Veteran Leo Murphy.

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NEWS

Florida launches new program to help “hometown heroes” in 50 different professions buy their first homes Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has announced the June 1 launch of the Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program which is designed to help Floridians in over 50 different professions purchase their first home.

The Hometown Heroes Housing Program will be available to Floridians including law enforcement officers, firefighters, educators, healthcare professionals, childcare employees, and active military or veterans. Including this $100 million program, the Governor also announced his intent to support the total of nearly $363 million appropriated for affordable and workforce housing in the 2022-2023 budget, the highest total in 15 years. The assistance program will be administered by the Florida Housing and Finance Corporation (Florida Housing) and is geared to expand Florida’s existing housing programs in order to reach critical workers and those who have served our country.

“In Florida, we value the contributions of our police, firefighters, teachers, and nurses,” said Governor Ron DeSantis.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3M7i9XU For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website!

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NEWS UCF Football Stadium to be renamed FBC Mortgage Stadium The UCF Athletic Association and FBC Mortgage, LLC, have come to an agreement on the naming rights of the Knights’ home football stadium. As of them upcoming 2022 season the UCF football venue will be known as FBC Mortgage Stadium.

The 10-year, $19.5 million deal means UCF football teams will play their home games in FBC Mortgage Stadium through the 2031 football season. The new arrangement begins July 1–following its approval today by the UCF Board of Trustees.

“It’s an exciting day for UCF Athletics and for FBC Mortgage to be able to collaborate on the naming of our football stadium,” says Terry Mohajir, UCF vice president and director of athletics. “Sellouts have become the norm at UCF. Our game day experience has been widely recognized–and I believe it is second to no one. Knight Nation has established the atmosphere at FBC Mortgage Stadium as one of the best in the country.

We are building the future of college football here at UCF. This represents the next step for us as we reimagine our football campus—and we’re excited to have FBC Mortgage join us on our journey.”

“FBC was founded in 2005 in downtown Orlando, and we are very proud to partner with our hometown university, UCF,” says Rob Nunziata, FBC Mortgage co-CEO. “We would like to thank the UCF athletic department, especially athletics director Terry Mohajir and assistant athletics director Malik Thomas who worked very hard to make this sponsorship a reality…Go Knights!!”

The first UCF football game to be played at FBC Mortgage Stadium will be the Knights’ 2022 season opener Thursday, Sept. 1, against South Carolina State (7 p.m. ET on ESPN+).

“On behalf of our football program, I would like to express our appreciation for the support of FBC Mortgage,” says UCF football coach Gus Malzahn whose first Knight team in 2021 finished 7-0 at home. “This provides a legitimate boost to us when it comes to creating a great homefield advantage. We take tremendous pride in the environment at our home football games–and this only adds more luster to that.”

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149TH SILVER SPURS RODEO The 149th Silver Spurs Rodeo to feature crowd favorite,Tie Roping, this Friday and Saturday In moments where ranchers’ calves become sick, the only way for them to reach and treat their livestock is to rope and tie them down for medical treatment. Formerly known as calfroping, tie-down roping originated during the days of the Old West. As ranchers roped calves faster and faster, ranchers soon made this chore into a competition.

As this ranch chore grew in popularity, the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association turned tie-down roping into one of its seven traditional rodeo events. However, unlike what you might find on the ranch, this timed event requires not only roping skill, but extraordinary teamwork between the cowboy and his horse.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3Nqov6d

Rodeo Fans Get Ready for Barrel Racing in June’s Silver Spurs Rodeo in Kissimmee

Barrel racing is one of four timed events in rodeo and will be one of the featured rodeo events in the upcoming 149th Silver Spurs Rodeo which returns to Kissimmee June 3rd and 4th at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee. While both women and men compete at the youth and amateur level, this sport is primarily a rodeo event for women.

Originally developed as an event for women, the pattern that contestants were required to run alternated between a figure-eight and a cloverleaf pattern until the cloverleaf pattern was favored over the figure-eight because of its difficulty in the early 50s. Combining the barrel racer’s horsemanship skills and the horse’s athletic ability, barrel racing is a fast-paced event that requires the rider to successfully maneuver a horse in a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels placed in a triangle formation in the center of the arena.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3ln9RQy

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149TH SILVER SPURS RODEO Bareback bronc riding to hit the dirt in Kissimmee June 3-4 for the 149th Silver Spurs Rodeo!

Bareback bronc riding is perhaps rodeo’s original and oldest sport and June 3-4 you can catch one of professional rodeo’s most exciting and popular events at the 149th Silver Spurs Rodeo.

Dating back to the early days of the Wild West, ranchers would need horses to help with their ranch chores along with providing transportation from their home to town or wherever they needed to go. Because of this need, cowboys would find wild horses and “break,” or tame them for their personal use. With nothing more than a riggin’ and his arm, bareback riding is one of the most physically demanding sports in and out of the rodeo sports industry. A riggin’ is a suitcase-style handhold that is customized to a rider’s grip and attached to a molded piece of leather that is wrapped around the bronc’s girth.

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

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NEWS FWC encourages reef fish anglers to “Return ‘Em Right” and conserve our fisheries The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is celebrating the launch of Return ‘Em Right, a multi-entity effort in the Gulf of Mexico led by Florida Sea Grant, University of Florida, Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission, NOAA Fisheries, and a coalition of anglers, industry groups, universities, government and non-government organizations committed to maintaining healthy fish stocks and fishing access.

Return ‘Em Right promotes best fishing practices to increase the survival of released reef fish. This includes proper fish handling and use of venting tools or descending devices to mitigate barotrauma, a condition seen in many fish caused by the expansion of gases in the swim bladder when brought up from deeper depths. Barotrauma can be fatal for fish and signs include the stomach coming out of the mouth, bulging eyes, bloated belly and distended intestines.

Weighted tools such as descending devices can help fish suffering from barotrauma overcome buoyancy issues and return them back to depth.

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

FWC announces 2022 Lionfish Challenge The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has announced its 2022 Lionfish Challenge tournament, which will run through Sept. 6.

The Lionfish Challenge is a summer-long lionfish tournament open to competitors around the state of Florida. This is the seventh year of the Lionfish Challenge with a goal of removing as many lionfish as possible in just 3.5 months. Are you up for the Challenge?

Participants will compete in either the commercial or the recreational division.

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NEWS Gas prices spike to a new record-high, Osceola paying $4.73 average for regular unleaded The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is continuing to climb and has increased by nine cents to $4.76.

Florida drivers are paying $4.74, while Osceola County drivers are paying an average of $4.73.

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), total domestic gasoline stocks have decreased while gasoline demand has increased. These supply and demand dynamics have contributed to rising pump prices.

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

Osceola County Announces Neptune Eastbound Road Closure Beginning Monday June 6 Osceola County has announced a road closure for eastbound traffic on Neptune Road beginning Monday, June 6th and running through Friday, June 10th. Traffic delays can be expected in the area of the road closure and nearby alternate routes are expected to see additional traffic during the road repair project. The closure is scheduled for underground stormwater drainage repairs and will run from Brighton Place Boulevard to Adrian Park Circle.

The scheduled road closure may vary based on weather conditions or equipmentrelated issues.

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How can Goodwin Realty & Associates help you?

Call (407) 846-2787 or visit GoodwinRealty.net The Name You Trust… The Company You Keep!

Providing the best in real estate services for over 48 years!

NEWS

FDACS, USDA Helping Feed Florida’s Children While School’s Out During Summer Break Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are working together to provide summertime meals for Florida’s school children while school is out.

To ensure that Florida children have access to wholesome meals during summer break, the FDACS Division of Food Nutrition and Wellness are partnering with schools and organizations to provide free meals to kids and teens from low-income households.

The Summer BreakSpot Program provides meals at no cost to children 18 and under while schools are closed for the summer.

“One of the most important missions of our department is providing access for all of Florida’s kids to healthy, nutritious meals regardless of family income,” said Commissioner Nikki Fried.

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Age acl.gov/oam

my way!

149TH SILVER SPURS RODEO 149th Silver Spurs Rodeo to Feature the Best in Saddle Bronc Riding June 3-4 in Kissimmee Saddle bronc riding is rodeo’s classic event, tracing its roots back to the Old West where cowboys would break and train wild horses to work the cattle ranches.

In the rodeo industry, contestants refer to saddle bronc riding as the toughest rodeo event to master because the bronc rider must be synchronized with the movement of the bronc.

This is a stark contrast compared to the wilder and less controlled rides you would find in bareback bronc riding.

In both saddle bronc riding and bareback riding, riders must follow a “mark out” rule during their ride. Marking out is where the rider must have both spurs touching the bronc’s shoulders until the bronc’s feet hit the ground after the initial move out of the chute. If the rider forgets to make his mark or pulls his legs in before the bronc’s feet hit the ground, he will be disqualified.

Unlike bareback riding, where the rider has a riggin’ to hold on, the saddle bronc rider only has a thick rein attached to the bronc’s halter to hold on to during his ride. While sitting securely in his saddle, the contestant will have one hand holding the rein and the other up in the air. If at any point the cowboy’s free hand touches the bronc or his own body, he will be disqualified.

Like bull riding and bareback riding, both the performance of the rider and the bronc are judged to make the final score out of a possible 100 points. While the saddle bronc rider keeps one hand on the rein and one hand in the air, the judges will look at his control of the bronc, his spurring action, and if he’s able to keep his toes pointed outward. For the bronc, the judges will consider the bronc’s bucking ability and if the ride is smooth and rhythmic. Save time in line… get your tickets for the 149th Silver Spurs Rodeo in Kissimmee here now!

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149TH SILVER SPURS RODEO Saddle up for the 149th Silver Spurs Rodeo June 3-4, the Best in Steer Wrestling in the Lineup Steer Wrestling, also known as bulldogging, is a rodeo event that demonstrates strength and teamwork between a bulldogger and hazer and their horses. The objective of steer wrestling is to wrestle, or “wrassle,” a steer to the ground as quickly as possible.

This may sound easy, but wrestling a steer is no simple task. Not only does a cowboy have to successfully grab a steer at 30 miles per hour, they then have to wrestle this steer, which weighs more than double their own weight, down to the ground.

Similar to team roping and tie-down roping, two contestants enter a box with a chute in between them. Both the contestant who will wrestle the steer, known as a “bulldogger,” and his partner, the “hazer,” will start on both sides of the chute on horseback. With the steer loaded in the chute, a breakaway rope barrier is attached to the steer to make sure the steer is given a head start. As the steer runs out of the chute, the barrier is stretched across the open end of the box. When the steer reaches the advantage point, the barrier is released and the bulldogger and hazer chase after the steer. However, if the bulldogger breaks the barrier before the barrier is released, a 10-second penalty will be added to the contestant’s time.

As the hazer and bulldogger run after the steer, both cowboys work together to guide the steer closer to the steer wrestler, so he’s able to reach down and wrestle the steer.

When the cowboy reaches the steer, he slides down off of his horse and hooks his right arm around the steer’s right horn, grasping the left horn with his left hand. While holding onto the steer, the cowboy digs his feet into the dirt to slow the steer down, while using his strength and leverage to wrestle it to the ground. His work isn’t done, nor does the clock stop, until the steer is on its side and all four feet are pointing the same direction Save time in line and get your tickets to the 149th Silver Spurs Rodeo now!

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INJURY LAW Have You Been a Victim of Road Rage?

“Road rage,” may be a term that is thrown around loosely, but it is also a dangerous and increasingly common phenomenon. In fact, statistics reflect that 1 out of every 3 traffic accidents involve road rage.

Road rage can include aggressive driving tactics such as honking, cutting other cars off, driving other vehicles off of the road, speeding, baiting other cars into accidents, and other actions intended to cause harm, confusion, and intimidation. These actions pose a real threat to other drivers on the road, and should not be taken lightly. If you or a loved one have suffered serious injuries as a result of a rageful driver’s aggressive tactics, you do not have to shoulder the burden alone. You can hold this driver responsible for their reckless and malicious conduct by bringing a personal injury lawsuit against them. If you have been injured by an aggressive driver, you do not have to fight this battle alone. Our experienced Kissimmee car accident lawyers will make sure that you get the maximum amount of compensation that you are entitled to.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3z83QiR

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FAMILY LAW Child Support and Your Child’s Mental Health Condition A parent of a child with a mental health condition has the dual responsibilities of caring for their child’s daily needs and making sure they get the specialized care they require. When parents in this situation divorce or are no longer together, future support will be an important issue.

Child Support in Florida Florida law generally requires that both parents support their children until they turn 18 or until they graduate from high school or turn 19. However, when a child has a mental disability which inhibits his or her ability to support themselves during adulthood, the support can last longer. The child’s condition will determine how long the support will last. For instance, if the child has a severe mental illness which keeps them from working or living independently, support may be indefinite. Likewise, the amount of support will depend on the child’s needs.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3xa7ozR

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REAL ESTATE Goodwin Realty: The Dream of Homeownership Is Worth the Effort If you’re in the market to buy a home this season, stick with it. Homebuyers face challenges in any market, and today’s is no exception. But if you persevere, your decision to purchase a home will be worth the effort in the end. In fact, a recent survey from Bankrate shows homeownership is so powerful that: “Nearly three in four homeowners say they would still buy their current home if they had it to do [sic] all over again.”

That means the results – owning a home and the benefits that come with it – outweigh the effort needed to achieve their goal. If you’re a homebuyer, let that provide you with the confidence to know the work you’re putting in today will pay off for years to come. Here are a few reasons to stick with your search and focus on the outcome.

Homeownership Contributes Significantly to Your Financial Well-Being The National Association of Realtors (NAR) lists several motivations to consider if you’re thinking about buying a home. One of the top financial reasons is the equity you build. As NAR says: “Money paid for rent is money that you’ll never see again, but mortgage payments let you build equity . . . Building equity in your home is a ready-made savings plan.”

Your equity is a powerful tool you can leverage in a number of ways. And with recent home price appreciation, homeowners are seeing record levels of equity today. That may be one reason why so many people view owning a home as a great investment and a top indicator of financial well-being. As the survey from Bankrate mentioned above shows: “. . . Americans place a higher value on homeownership than on any other indicator of economic stability, . . .”

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3NQYgoW For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website!

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COMMUNITY KPD honors “Back up Bob,” Education Foundation sets up Police Academy Scholarship Fund, community can participate KPD and the Kissimmee community are mourning the loss of a friend and beloved community member, Robert “Back-Up Bob” Tarr. Robert “Back Up Bob” Tarr passed away peacefully on Monday, May 16, 2022.

Bob was born in Brooklyn, New York the son of George Edward and Margaret M. Schandel Tarr and moved to Kissimmee in the 1980’s. Bob is survived by his wife: Veronica Martinez of Kissimmee, his Kissimmee family at Greenleaf A.L.F., the Kissimmee Police Department and a host of friends he made while living in Kissimmee.

The Osceola Education Foundation has set up a scholarship to send students to the Police Academy in his honor. To donate, visit https://bit.ly/3Nd1WS7

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3x5UfWW

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COMMUNITY Kissimmee Utility Authority Releases 2022 Hurricane Preparedness Guide With the start of the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season approaching, Kissimmee Utility Authority released its 2022 Osceola Hurricane Handbook, a free, bilingual, comprehensive preparedness guide offered annually to Osceola County residents.

A partnership between KUA, Osceola County, the cities of Kissimmee and St. Cloud, Toho Water Authority and UF IFAS Extension in Osceola County, the handbook includes information on emergency shelters, evacuation routes, generator safety and power outage restoration as well as helpful telephone numbers, a disaster supplies checklist and a tropical cyclone tracking chart.

The handbook can be downloaded in English and Spanish from KUA’s website at www.kua.com/storm. Printed copies of the bilingual handbook are now available in KUA’s Carroll Street lobby.

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

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COMMUNITY School District of Osceola County Graduations

Congratulations NeoCity High School!

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COMMUNITY School District of Osceola County Graduations

Congratulations Harmony High School!

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COMMUNITY School District of Osceola County Graduations

Congratulations Poinciana High School!

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COMMUNITY School District of Osceola County Graduations

Congratulations Osceola High School!

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COMMUNITY School District of Osceola County Graduations

Congratulations Liberty High School!

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COMMUNITY School District of Osceola County Graduations

Congratulations Tohopekaliga High School!

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POINT OF SALE IN OSCEOLA COUNTY

WHAT IS POINT OF SALE? When we say “Point of Sale,” we’re referring to marketing and promoting tobacco products in retail environments – like gas stations, convenience stores, and other retail outlets.

SOME TACTICS THEY USE ARE: Discounting products, appealing to children and young adults.

POINT OF SALE IS THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY’S MAIN MARKETING METHOD.

Paying retailers for prime product location and advertising.

Targeting lower-income communities.

WHY IS POINT OF SALE IMPORTANT?

Studies show that tobacco use is associated with exposure to retail advertising and relatively easy access to tobacco products.

Schools with a higher number of tobacco retailers nearby tend to have higher smoking rates.

More cigarettes are sold in convenience stores than in any other type of store.

WHAT IS OSCEOLA COUNTY DOING?

We are implementing tobacco education and prevention to create awareness within our community. This includes educating local decision makers about the local tobacco retail environment which includes information about product placement and the amount of tobacco retailers near schools.

YOU CAN GET INVOLVED!

CONTACT JEANNE@CIVCOM.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION.

COMMUNITY School District of Osceola County Graduations

Congratulations Gateway High School!

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COMMUNITY School District of Osceola County Graduations

Congratulations St. Cloud High School!

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COMMUNITY School District of Osceola County Graduations

Congratulations Celebration High School!

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COMMUNITY School District of Osceola County Graduations

Congratulations Osceola County School for the Arts!

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HEALTH

Jennifer S. Thielhelm, MD Orlando Health

Orlando Health: Can’t Find Baby Formula? Here Are Some Tips With the nationwide infant formula shortage, it’s stressful not knowing where your baby’s meals will come from. But don’t panic. There are options to find formula. Here’s what you can do.

Call Your Pediatrician The first thing you can do is call your pediatrician. Many pediatricians have formula in their offices and are supplying it to patients as needed. If your baby is on special formula, try calling your pediatric gastroenterologist as they, too, likely have a supply of formula available.

Consider Generic Brands and Smaller Pharmacies Another option is to switch to a generic brand of baby formula, such as the house brands offered by CVS or Target. One caveat: if your baby has allergies, these may not be a good fit. It’s also worth checking smaller pharmacies to see what they have on the shelves.

Try Toddler Formula If your baby is 10 months or older, you can consider toddler formula. The recommendation is to start giving your child toddler formula once they are 1 year old, but starting them on this kind of formula could work. It is not perfect, but it is better than not having formula.

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HEALTH

Cody C. Green, MD Orthopedic Surgery Orlando Health

8 Tips To Prevent Seniors from Falling at Home A fall can be life-changing, especially for seniors. We think it won’t happen, but falls remain the leading cause of injury and death among adults over 65. Whether it’s broken bones or a fractured skull, seniors are at high risk for orthopedic injury.

For the elderly, a fall can be much more serious than when it happens to a younger person. A senior can break a hip or develop a brain bleed with one fall. In fact, falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injury. Older adults are five times more likely to be hospitalized with a fall.

Falls More Serious as We Age As we age, our skeletons change. Our bone quality and density begin to decrease.

Starting as early as 24 years old, our reaction times also start to lengthen, meaning we can’t correct ourselves as quickly as we used to. Our sense of balance also fades with aging. These changes caused by normal aging set up the perfect storm for injury.

How can one ensure the golden years remain golden when the risk for falling is high? If you or your loved ones are over 65, it’s time to consider “senior proofing” your home and theirs. Whether you are caring for a parent or trying to maintain your own independence, prevention is the key to keeping seniors safe. A few simple steps can help keep you and your loved ones safe.

How To Prevent Falls • Remove hazards. During the day, take a good look at your walkways and clear the pathway. Because we are familiar with our homes, we tend to be less observant. Strive for wide-open walkways, free of clutter.

• Install safety devices. Bathrooms can be dangerous when wet. A simple non-slip mat can create a more accessible surface for our feet to grip. Grab bars and handrails should also be considered in high-risk areas.

• Light the way. Add a nightlight in dark areas such as bathrooms and hallways, and keep a lamp within reach of your bed. A little extra light can make a big difference.

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IN THE LOOP - THEME PARK NEWS

It’s going to be an “Awe-Summer” at Legoland Florida Resort, June 4 – August 7 Legoland Florida is about to kick off its AWE-Summer, and its sure to be the longest summer celebration EVER, with over ten weeks of family fun-packed activities, special weekend events, new LEGO® friends, colorful LEGO fireworks and much more! Legoland Florida’s AWE-Summer fun will take place from June 4 – August 7.

LEGO® Friends Weekends Visit the LEGO® Friends gang and help them crack the secret code to stop the villains’ evil plan! Enjoy the Fab 5 meet & greets, fun activities and ​the coolest shows.

Event Dates: June 4-5, 11-12, 18-19, 25-26 Admission: Included with daily tickets, Awesome, Awesomer and Awesomest Annual Passes Red, White & Boom!

Celebrate America’s independence with us! Watch as the skies fill with the biggest fireworks show of the year in the only place that transform fireworks display into LEGO bricks before your eyes.​ Event Dates: July 2-4 Admission: Included with daily tickets, Awesome, Awesomer and Awesomest Annual Passes For tickets and more information visit www.legoland.com/florida For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website!

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IN THE LOOP - THEME PARK NEWS

Electric Ocean Returns to SeaWorld Now through September 5th to Light up the night and more When the sun goes down, the night fires up at SeaWorld’s Electric Ocean beginning May 27. It’s a summer party like no other at the #1 theme park in North America!

Electric Ocean Stay late all summer to immerse yourself in exotic worlds of light and music and experience your favorite SeaWorld attractions in a whole new way. Join playful, glowing sea creatures and world-class DJs for a family-friendly dance party beneath the waves. Then end the night with Ignite, a fireworks and fountains spectacular that brings the brilliance of the sea to the sky above. Put a charge in your summer at SeaWorld’s vibrant Electric Ocean. Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, May 27 – Sept. 5, including Memorial Day and Labor Day. Ignite Surf the wave to a whole new level with Ignite, a fireworks and fountains spectacular that brings the brilliant colors of the sea to the skies above the park. The fireworks can be seen from all around SeaWorld’s large central lake, including from Bayside Stadium, The Waterfront, and the Orca Encounter Pathway.

Club Sea Glow The party amps up after dark at Bayside Stadium, where a DJ will be mixing dance music all evening leading up to the start of our fireworks finale. Enjoy plenty of space to spread out and dance while enjoying the entertainment. That includes dancers and high-energy atmospheric acts to get the party going!

Electric Current Get the excitement started early with hot music as our DJ transforms The Waterfront into an all-ages dance party beneath the waves, only during Electric Ocean evenings.

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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

Research from Home

with your Osceola Library Card!

Britannica Library

From the makers of Encyclopedia Britannica

Gale Business: Plan Builder Create a customized business plan

America’s News

Archives of newspapers from across America

Mango Languages Learn a new language

And so many more!

osceolalibrary.org/databases

osceolalibrary.org | 407.742.8888

POSITIVELY DELICIOUS Panko Crusted Florida Avocado Fingers, They’re Positively Delicious!

Summer is nearly here, and many of us our in search of that special treat to present at your next gathering of friends and family… it’s Panko Crusted Florida Avocado Fingers, and we think you’ll agree… they’re Positively Delicious!

INGREDIENTS • 2 Florida avocados, peeled, seeded and sliced • ½ lime, juiced • 1 cup whole wheat flour • 1 egg, lightly beaten • 2 cups panko (Japanese breadcrumbs) • Nonstick cooking spray Olive oil for drizzling • Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste PREPARATION Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly spray a cookie sheet with the nonstick cooking spray. In a mixing bowl add the avocado slices and lime juice, season lightly with salt and pepper. Carefully toss avocados to coat. Remove seasoned avocado slices from bowl and coat them completely with the flour. Dip each flour coated avocado slice into the beaten egg to coat. Coat each egg dipped avocado slice with panko. Place each evenly coated avocado slice on the cookie sheet. Lightly drizzle olive oil onto the coated avocado slices. Place avocado slices into the preheated oven and bake for about 15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce.

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POSITIVELY DELICIOUS Classic Florida Beef Sliders, They’re Positively Delicious!

Summer is coming on fast, and that means get togethers with friends and family in the backyard, around the pool, or hanging around the patio.

Summer is a special time that can be where we get together to create memories. So often, when we get together there are meals involved and when it involves Classic Florida Beef Sliders, we think you’ll agree, they’re Positively Delicious!

INGREDIENTS • 1 pound Florida ground beef • 2 Florida tomatoes, sliced • 1 head of Florida lettuce • 1 red onion, sliced thin • 1 tablespoon all-purpose seasoning (such as Everglades) • condiments (mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup) • 8 mini buns or slider rolls • Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste PREPARATION Preheat grill to medium-high. Season ground beef with all-purpose seasoning and mix thoroughly. Form into 8 (2-ounce) patties and season with salt and pepper. Place onto grill and grill for 3-4 minutes per side, depending on the desired internal temperature.

Remove from heat and assemble burgers as desired. Serve immediately.

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