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On May 13th, St. Cloud is offering a great way to spoil that special momMothers Day in the Park from 11am to 3pm at Peghorn Park. Cost is $10.
On May 20th, St. Cloud is holding a free Women’s Empowerment Circle at 11am at Hopkins Park and is open to all women ages 18 and older.
Do you want to help reduce the amount of dogs that are in need of a loving home, 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 shortterm in-home care for dogs in need. Its FREE and all veterinary care, food, and supplies are provided.
On June 3rd, 12-4pm, Pridefest Kissimmeee, sponsored by Kissimmeee Utility Authority and Experience Kissimmeee, forster awareness and acknowledges the contributions of the LGBTQIA+ community.
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.
Positively Osceola’s Krissi Marie Hardy spent some time with one of Wild Florida’s educators, Desiree, to learn about their amazing animals: Alvin, Simon, and Theodore the Capybaras! To learn more about Wild Florida, visit WildFL.com.
Osceola County will host an Osceola County Roads Summit this morning at the Kissimmee Civic Center at 10.a.m. in partnership with the Central Florida Expressway Authority, the Florida Department of Transportation District 5, Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise and MetroPlan Orlando. The summit aims to showcase and explain the County’s recent collaborations with these agencies to bring about significant improvements to the County’s transportation infrastructure. The summit will be LIVE streamed on Positively Osceola’s Facebook page.
The summit will feature presentations by key government officials and transportation experts. Attendees can expect to learn about ongoing road projects, future plans, and how these initiatives will ultimately positively impact residents’ lives.
Osceola County has been working closely with CFX, FDOT, Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, and MetroPlan in a comprehensive manner to improve its transportation network. The collaboration has enabled billions of dollars in planned road improvements – some that will get underway this year – leading to the declaration that 2023 is the “Year of Transportation” for Osceola County.
For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website! PositivelyOsceola.com
Orlando Health, a not-for-profit healthcare organization that serves the southeastern United States, and Visit Orlando, the Official Tourism Association® for Orlando, have partnered to launch the Orlando Health Virtual Care Center inside the Orange County Convention Center.
At the Virtual Care Center, located in the west building, near the Visit Orlando Welcome Center in the central lobby, medical providers will be able to evaluate medical conditions for attendees during large conventions.
Visit Orlando member organizations and the tourism community further benefit from the alliance through a website located at https://www.visitorlando.com/ healthy-travel. Health and wellness information is available on a variety of topics relevant to visitors and local residents including tips on hydration, how to stay sunsafe and instructions on what to do in an emergency.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/41edQS9
Worrell hosted a summit on Monday, focusing on gun violence prevention in Orange and Osceola counties. The event took place in Orlando and was attended by community leaders, law enforcement officials, and elected officials from both counties.
The state attorney also brought in experts from outside Florida including Chicago, Jacksonville, and Los Angeles, who shared what programs and initiatives have worked reduce gun violence in their cities. By learning from these programs, Worrell said she hopes to find effective strategies to reduce gun violence in Orange and Osceola counties.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3NVTBFE
For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website! PositivelyOsceola.com
Toho Water Authority (Toho) will continue water line flushing in targeted areas of the City of St. Cloud this week, May 8-12, with some customers 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 this week are:
• St. Cloud Villas ll
• St. Cloud Fire Rescue Station 32
• Sawyer Estates Apartments
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/42D1Evf
The City of St. Cloud, in collaboration with the Early Learning Coalition of Osceola and Heart of Florida United Way, will host a ribbon-cutting, grand opening ceremony Wednesday, May 10 at 10am for the brand-new ‘Born Learning Trail’ at Wheel Park in St. Cloud.
The beautifully colorful ‘Born Learning Trail’ is geared towards young children, aiming to promote their growth and development while encouraging meaningful interactions between them and their caregivers.
City of St. Cloud Deputy Mayor Kolby Urban will speak at the event, which will feature lots of enthusiastic kiddos running through a crepe-paper ribbon to officially inaugurate the park’s new creative feature and explore its interactive stations.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3B1ES4l
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Brightline unveiled its highly anticipated Brightline Orlando Station at Orlando International Airport on Thursday, opening a new era of passenger rail that will connect two of the fastest growing regions in the state: Central and South Florida.
Brightline also announced that Orlando ticket sales will launch in May for future dates, with one-way fares starting at $79 for SMART and $149 for PREMIUM. SMART fare bundles for families of four will be available for less than $199 one way.
More than 300 invited guests took part in the Brightline Orlando Station reveal, the latest milestone moment for Brightline and transportation in America. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority Kevin Thibault joined Brightline CEO Mike Reininger, President Patrick Goddard and Brightline teammates to celebrate the historic occasion. Elected officials, dignitaries and community leaders, including the tourism and hospitality sectors, stepped inside the first intercity passenger rail station of its kind, located in the Orlando International Airport.
“As a lifelong Central Floridian, it made me proud to see the advancement of our community today as our true multimodal hub becomes a reality and we celebrate the Brightline Orlando Station and soon to come train service to our international airport. This station represents so much more than a new train service, it is a critical connection for our community to jobs and opportunity and further showcases the power of partnerships and what our culture of collaboration here in Central Florida can do to improve the lives of our residents, workers and travelers when we work together,” Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said after the Brightline reveal. The guest journey begins at the main entrance, located off the airport’s expansive twostory glass atrium. Once inside the station, passengers can purchase tickets from guest services or one of several self-service kiosks, and check luggage before proceeding through touchless turnstiles into the security screening tunnel.
For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website! PositivelyOsceola.com
The City of Kissimmee hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, May 4th, to mark the beginning of the construction of The Allen Apartments, the first phase of the Beaumont Redevelopment Project. The 20-acre project, located in the Downtown Kissimmee Community Redevelopment Area (CRA), aims to address the city’s need for additional housing options.
The development will feature 312 multi-family units available at market rate, as well as 16 units reserved for affordable housing. This will help the city extend the street grid and enhance connectivity to the Medical Arts District. The project has been in the planning stages for a long time and is part of the city’s long-term mission to augment the availability of housing in the Downtown Kissimmee area.
“The Allen Apartments Project really meets all the goals that the Kissimmee Commission has for making Downtown Kissimmee a place to live, work, recreate, and enjoy themselves,”: Kissimmee Manager Mike Steigerwald said after the groundbreaking.
Five regional champions headline a large contingent of Osceola County athletes that will compete in the FHSAA Class 3A (May 19) and Class 4A (May 20) track state championships on the North Florida University campus in Jacksonville next week.
That group will be led by Gateway sprinter Amela Johnson, who won both the 200-meter and 400 meter events at the Class 3A, Region 2 Championships at Davenport High School. Johnson won the 200 with a 25.15 clocking and the 400 in 56.99. She won the 200 by full half second over her closest competitor and was a full second faster in the 400.
Also gaining automatic qualifying status for the Panthers was the 4 x 400 Relay team of Darius Young, Kaleb Hill, John Pagan, and Lawson Chaponda, that finished second in that race. Jose Calderon (4th- 400 meters) and Williams Martinez (5th – Pole Vault) were awaiting a report of Region 3 Results to see if they secured at-large spots in their event.
Osceola County’s other regional champions came at the Class 4A, Region 3 Championships at Dwyer High School in Palm Beach. Those champions included Harmony’s Drea Thompson, who won the girls’ high jump with a leap of 5’-1 ¾”; Osceola’s Shannon Levy who won the girls’ 100-meters (12.01) Tohopekaliga’s Johan Comacho who took the boy’s 3200-meters(9:36.62).
The top two finishers in each regional event automatically qualify for the state championship meet. While up to 10 additional individuals (state wide, across four regions) could earn at-large spots in the state meet based on their performances at regionals.
Garnering automatic advancement to the state finals via second place finishes were Harmony’s 4 x 800 relay team of Byrnn Magner, Shelby Fertic, Rebekah Wiles and Lailana Decker; Toho’s Brianna Rodriguez in the girls’ Pole Vault (9’-4 ¼”), and Osceola’s 4 x 100 girls’ relay team of Quanaya Jenkins, Kadrea Varnado, Zanaya Bright and Levy (47.98).
For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website! PositivelyOsceola.com
Betty Holland has taken over the role of Kissimmee Chief of Police, Kissimmee City Manager Mike
Steigerwald announced on Friday. Chief Holland began her term on Saturday, April 29, and will be sworn as the 29th Police Chief of the City of Kissimmee during the next city commission meeting on Tuesday, May 2.
“I’m pleased to welcome Betty Holland as our next Chief of Police, one of the City’s most critical leadership positions,” said Steigerwald. “Her 35 years of law enforcement experience, including the past 5 years as a key member of Chief O’Dell’s leadership team, have well positioned her to take our police department to the next level. Given the growth of our police force in recent years, I am especially excited about Chief Holland’s ideas for the continued development of our police force. I believe her prior experience leading the Polk County Sheriff’s training academy will be of great benefit in preparing future leaders within our agency.”
Chief Holland has worked at the City of Kissimmee Police Department since March 2018 where she was hired as Deputy Chief. Before that, she worked at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for 30 years, where she began as a civilian and rose through the ranks. She has experience in nearly every major facet of law enforcement including telecommunications, uniform patrol, criminal investigations, strategic investigations, school resource officer, intelligence, special operations, and training.
O’Dell was appointed in 2016 as KPD Chief after serving as Deputy Chief in 2016. He will move into an office at Kissimmee City Hall as Kissimmee’s assistant city manager overseeing public safety and internal security before transitioning to an eventual retirement.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3oJRzOj
For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website! PositivelyOsceola.com
Depressed? Anxious? Stressed out? There’s an app for that. In fact, there are some 25,000 mental health and wellness apps aimed at everything from eating disorders to PTSD to addiction.
With so many choices, it may be tough to figure out which one is right for you.
Used in conjunction with care from a mental health professional, so-called mHealth apps offer tips, advice, webinars and reminders that make self-care a part of your daily routine.
But if you’re using a mental health app without the partnership of a psychotherapist, it is more likely to provide you with limited benefits.
The growth of mHealth took off during the pandemic. We were forced to confront financial and physical health challenges, along with an unprecedented level of isolation and disruption to our normal lives and routines.
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
Join Osceola History for “Walk Away May” as members of the community “walk on the Shingle Creek trail” to experience the beauty and history of Osceola County, while staying healthy, and possibly win some great prizes! The event’s feature sponsor is Kissimmee Utility Authority!
Osceola History’s “Walk Away May” encourages the community to live a healthy lifestyle while building awareness of Osceola History’s two museums, Pioneer Village, located at 2491 Babb Road, and the Welcome Center & History Museum, located at 4155 West Vine Street, in Kissimmee.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3NnEtkh
With a unanimous vote, the Florida House of Representatives recently passed CS/HB 141/SB 196 sponsored by Representative Kristen Arrington (DKissimmee).
If signed by the governor, the bill will require guidance counselors to advise public middle and high school students of all educational opportunities available to them to gain skills that are in demand in the labor market, including technical and trade education programs and how to prepare to obtain post secondary degrees in those areas.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/417pNJh
St. Cloud’s City Council approved two large projects during Thursday’s council meeting focused on bringing improvements to the River Road/Hopkins Park area.
The council voted to accept a $1,051.360 Community Project Funding grant for the construction of a centralized sewer system to replace aging, privately-owned septic sewer systems at homes along River Road, Bibbens Street, and Mency Street near Hopkins Park. Grant funds will be used to cover the cost for residents to connect to Toho’s sewer system. Once connected to the sewer system, residents will be responsible for paying the monthly utility bill for sewer.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/41NnCM7
For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website! PositivelyOsceola.com
Robb Larson, General Manager of OHP, and Mary Burd, Assistant General Manager & Director of Finance at OHP have been nominated for the 2023 SPORTYS Awards, which are presented by Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute and honor sports business professionals who excel in their field, and whose contributions and help make the Greater Orlando area one of the country’s premier sports destinations.
Robb Larson, General Manager of OHP, has been nominated for Executive of the Year, and Mary Burd, Assistant General Manager & Director of Finance at OHP, was nominated the Best in Business Operations.
The 2023 SPORTYS will air on WKMG-TV News 6 and stream online on Saturday, June 17 at 7:00 PM with the winners being revealed during the broadcast.
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
The Osceola County Boy Scouts held their annual Golden Eagle Dinner on Tuesday, an event aimed at honoring local community leaders who have demonstrated exceptional service to the the community and to the scouting program. This year’s event featured honoree and guest speaker Don Fisher, County Manager of Osceola County.
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
Regular physical activity strengthens your muscles and joints, and it’s also key for heart health. Exercise helps your heart more efficiently pump blood and circulate oxygen, lowering your risk of cardiovascular conditions like heart failure and heart disease.
If you’re in good shape, highintensity activities such as hiking, biking and running can give your heart health a big boost. So get ready to lace up your sneakers, fill your tires or hit the trails.
Here are tips to safely make the most of your workout.
Hiking: Hitting the Trails Helps Your Heart
Hiking forces your heart to pump harder, particularly when you choose a route with an uneven trail or incline. The increased blood flow is essential to circulate nutrients and oxygen-rich blood to your muscles, especially your legs. There are mental health benefits, too. Hiking lowers your stress levels and improves your mental health, which is connected to heart health. Research shows that stress raises your blood pressure, increasing the risk of hypertension.
How to get the most from your hike: Join a hiking club or hike with a few friends to stay motivated. If you’re hiking a trail with a higher elevation, the more difficult it will be. As the altitude increases, your heart will pump blood harder to balance the decreased air pressure. If you’re just starting out, tackle shorter, gradual incline trails first.
Biking: Cycling Tops for Cardio Health
Biking is a lower-impact exercise that also can help you condition your heart. Many athletes who bike have lower resting heart rates. This means your heart is working optimally, since a lower resting rate means more blood is pumped with every contraction, maintaining an efficient heartbeat.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3oNssu5
For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website! PositivelyOsceola.com
This World Wish Day, Walt Disney World Resort and Make-A-Wish America granted the 150,000th Disneyinspired wish to 16-year-old Mikayla from Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. who began her battle fighting cancer three years ago.
“This is an incredible milestone moment in our more than 40-year relationship with Disney,” said Leslie Motter, Make-A-Wish America President and CEO. “We know that wishes have the transformative power to renew hope, uplift spirits and unite families. When you pair that with Disney stories, characters and experiences, lives are forever changed thanks to the unmatched joy that’s delivered when it’s needed most.”
Mikayla and her family were surprised with being Grand Marshals during the Festival of Fantasy Parade at Magic Kingdom Park, where they helped reveal Disney’s newly redesigned specialty Florida license plate benefitting Make-A-Wish children and families throughout the state.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/42csURc
Underwater Grill Sunday, May 14
Looking for something extra special for Mom’s Day this year? SeaWorld Orlando has something new and exciting at Sharks Underwater Grill that is sure to show the mom in your life how much you care!
Celebrate mom with an exclusive dining experience this year! Enjoy a special three-course menu designed by SeaWorld’s culinary chefs, a complimentary rose and glass of champagne for each mother, and more.
Experience this special brunch in the amazing atmosphere of Sharks Underwater Grill, the signature full-service restaurant that puts world-class entrées on your plate and gives you a fascinating window into the world of sharks.
There are still openings on Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 14), but they won’t last! Book your family’s brunch today, and show mom your heart at SeaWorld Orlando!
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/42csURc
For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website! PositivelyOsceola.com
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.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/40RDrR2
Grab your best buddies and get ready to splish, splash, spray, and play in Aquatica’s ALL-NEW water adventure attraction filled with watering palms, tipping buckets, spraying jets, water bobbles, and more.
Plus, your kids can grab a tube and glide into fun on the ALL-NEW Tamariki Twirl, a kid-sized wave slide designed just for them!
Turi’s Kid Cove will be tucked away between Big Surf Shores and Mango Market. With plenty of splashy water fun and ample seating all around for rest and relaxation, it’s the perfect place for you and your little ones to cool off.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3MPDqJm
For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website! PositivelyOsceola.com
Shrimp, not just any shrimp… Florida Shrimp, and add in some fresh avocado and without question. It’s positively delicious!
• 1 pound medium-sized Florida shrimp, peeled
• 1 large Florida avocado, peeled and seed removed
• 1 small red onion, sliced thin
• ½ cup rice vinegar
• Seafood seasoning
• 4 slices whole-wheat bread
• Olive oil for cooking
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, stripped off the stem and chopped fine
• 6 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped fine
• Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
In a small bowl combine the thin-sliced red onion and vinegar; let this mixture marinate for about 10 minutes. Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil. Season the water with 2 tablespoons of your favorite seafood boil seasoning. Make a bath of ice water in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Place peeled shrimp into the seasoned boiling water. Cook shrimp for 2 minutes, or until cooked throughout. Remove shrimp from the hot water and place them in the ice water bath, allowing shrimp to cool. Place the bread on a cookie sheet; lightly drizzle with olive oil and a dash of seafood seasoning. Place the bread under the broiler to toast (being careful not to let them burn). Remove the shrimp from the ice bath to a bowl. Add 1 tsp olive oil, 1 tsp seafood seasoning, juice of ½ lemon, fresh thyme, and half the garlic; stir to coat. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. In a small mixing bowl, combine the avocado, juice of ½ lemon, remaining garlic, and a pinch of seafood seasoning. Mash the avocado mixture, leaving it somewhat chunky if desired. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. To assemble spread the avocado mixture on top of each piece of toast. Next place a few shrimp on top of the avocado mixture. To garnish place a few slices of the pickled onions on top of the shrimp.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3U3dN7R
Fresh and healthy, simple and inexpensive to make, and a great way to enjoy ingredients grown right here in the sunshine state. We think you’ll agree… it’s positively delicious!
• 1 pound Florida snap beans, stems trimmed
• 16 large Florida button mushrooms, rinsed and sliced
• 2 large onions, peeled and sliced
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped fine
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Preheat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to the preheated sauté pan. Add sliced onions to pan and cook them for 3 to 5 minutes until almost caramelized. Add the green beans and garlic to the pan and continue to cook ingredients for another 3 to 4 minutes until the green beans are almost to desired tenderness. Add mushrooms, Worcestershire sauce and butter. Cook another 2 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and fresh ground pepper to taste. Remove from heat and serve warm.
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.