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LIVE for the Celebration Memorial Day Ceremony at Founders Park
LIVE with City of Kissimmee’s Rod Bargaineer and Stephanie Bachara talking Juneteenth festival June 17
LIVE with KUA’s Director of Corporate Communications Tiffany Henderson on their Osceola Hurricane Handbook!
LIVE with St. Cloud Police Department Chief Douglas talking safety on the roads
April
March
March
Kissimmee’s Juneteenth Festival will return to Kissimmee’s Lakefront Saturday, June 17 from 12pm-2pm
Swim lessons save lives! Sign up for the 14th annual World’s Largest Swimming Lesson on June 22nd from 9am-12pm.
Junior Lifeguard Training Program for ages 10 thru 15 begins June 9th. Each session is held over 3 days ending on July 30th. Classes are filling up! City of St. Cloud, Florida
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Wild Florida is without a question one of Central Florida’s most precious gems. Take a look at their Ring-Tailed Lemurs up close and personal with Positively Osceola’s Krissi Marie Hardy and Wild Florida’s educator Desiree! To learn more about Wild Florida, visit WildFL.com
The St. Cloud Historic District was officially recognized by the National Register of Historic Places this week, a goal St. Cloud Main Street has been focused on for a number of years. The National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program by the National Park Service to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic resources.
St. Cloud Main Street, led by Executive Director Paula Stark, obtained three grants which assisted in inventorying the downtown historic buildings along with the creation of the Historic Preservation Board, which assisted in obtaining its Certified Local Government designation in the summer of 2019.
St. Cloud Main Street is hoping to obtain another historic preservation grant which will assist in identifying historic structures for future historic designations.
St. Cloud Main Street Program, which began in September 1999, is a comprehensive revitalization program designed to encourage ongoing economic development in conjunction with historic preservation. The organization’s goal is to bring more recognition to St. Cloud’s downtown, and to help the community honor and preserve its past.
For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website! PositivelyOsceola.com
After being signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, State Representative Kristen Arrington’s HB 1467 has opened up the opportunity for numerous restaurants in Kissimmee’s Vine Street Community Redevelopment District to join downtown restaurants in selling alcohol, as long as these establishments primarily focus on food and non-alcoholic beverages in their sales.
The bill was signed into law after successfully making its way through the Florida Legislature during the 2023 session and now creates a new overlay district within Kissimmee to allow smaller restaurants to be issued special liquor licenses by the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation at a lower cost. The bill passed unanimously by a vote of 116-0.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3NgLFwC
In May, Hope Partnership’s CEO shared an email with the community about her outrage over the death of Jordan Neely, a 30-year-old homeless man who was choked to death on a New York City subway train by 24-year-old Daniel Penny. Penny has since been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury and the incident has set off a national debate. This is Reverend Mary Lee Downey’s message.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/42JwBNV
For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website! PositivelyOsceola.com
The U.S. National Science Foundation announced its list of semifinalists for the first-ever NSF Regional Innovation Engines competition, and the NeoCity Semiconductor Technology Accelerator proposal was one of 34 proposals selected to be led by BRIDG, a notfor-profit, public-private partnership specializing in advanced system integration and packaging based at NeoCity in Osceola County.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/42NB0iK
Kissimmee’s Juneteenth Festival will return to Kissimmee Lakefront Park on Saturday June 17 from 12pm – 4pm and will commemorate the end of slavery in the United States.
The annual event is a festive community celebration of African American culture, with live music, delicious food, the KUA Kids Power Zone, and craft vendors and exhibitors.
This year’s Juneteenth Festival will be packed with laughter from this year’s emcee comedian Tight Mike, and will feature R&B singer Christopher Williams.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3p0lbrm
For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website! PositivelyOsceola.com
The School District of Osceola County selected Dr. Mark Shanoff as its next Superintendent during its Tuesday June 13 board meeting.
Dr. Shanoff is the current Chief Interim Information Officer with Orange County Public Schools, with prior experience as the Chief Operating Officer with the Volusia County School District and principal at a number of Orange County schools, including Edgewater High School, Ocoee Middle School, and Dillard Street Elementary School.
“I am excited to work with our forward-thinking Board, and alongside the outstanding professionals in the School District of Osceola County, to create opportunities for all students. The formal educational experience for our children is a mere short segment of their lives and we have a duty and an obligation to ensure it’s high quality, meaningful and positive.”
Shanoff received his teaching certification at Harvard University, his Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education at Rollins College, his Master of Science in Educational Leadership at Nova Southeastern University, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Florida, and his Doctorate in Education at the University of Central Florida.
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An anticipated exhaustive search for the right candidate to replace retiring Osceola baseball coach Scott Birchler lasted just a few days, as Kowboys Athletics Director Rick Tribit named former Tohopekaliga skipper Nikko Martell to the post on Tuesday afternoon.
“When he applied for the job I was intrigued by the possibility,” Tribit said. “From my days at Winter Springs, I know how difficult it can be to start a new program – especially in baseball where you are often behind the eight ball in terms of facilities, equipment, resources and even players. Nikko has done a fantastic job of building the program at Tohopekaliga. In a very short period of time, he not only transformed the Tigers into a competitive program but a winning one.”
Entering his 11th year as a high school coach, Martell spent five years as an assistant coach at Gateway. When Tohopekaliga opened for 2018-19 school year, Martell became the first head baseball coach. A 4-15 initial season was followed by a 3-4 Covid year and a 5-12 mark in 2020-21.
He posted his first winning season in 2022 with a 10-9 season before winning a school record 12 games last season. That achievement — combined with the culture he created — earned Martell the prestigious “Mike Fields Distinguished Leadership Award.” Named after the former St. Cloud and Harmony baseball coaching legend, the award recognizes athletic achievement, sportsmanship and community service. Under Martell, Tiger baseball players and staff volunteered to work numerous campus events, including handling parking duties and interacting with campus visitors.
For the past couple of years Martell has organized and run the XT Preseason Classic, an honorary baseball tournament to remember his friend Xavier Torres; he also works closely with the Latinos in Action, helping create a Roberto Clemente Community Service Award for high school athletes who do volunteer work inside the community.
For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website! PositivelyOsceola.com
The Southwest Florida Water Management District is encouraging residents who irrigate their lawns to take advantage of the upcoming summer rainy season and “watch the weather, wait to water.”
During the summer months of June, July, August and September, yards need no more than ½ to ¾ inch of water every two to three days. If your lawn has received enough water from rainfall, turn off the irrigation system and turn it back on when needed. The simplest way to determine if your yard needs water is to look for these visual clues:
• Grass blades are folded in half lengthwise on at least one-third of your yard.
• Grass blades appear blue-gray.
• Grass blades do not spring back, leaving footprints on the lawn for several minutes after walking on it.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3J2qXiX
Gone are the days when diet soda was thought to contain cancer-causing agents (unless you are a lab rat with a serious soft drink problem). The artificial sweeteners and chemicals they contain have been found safe for most people in reasonable amounts, and some brands are even fortified with vitamins and minerals. But are they the best choice for your body?
We’ve all heard stories of someone who simply cut out sweetened soda and lost a ton of weight. But unless you are that addicted lab rat, there’s very little evidence to support that switching to diet soda alone will have much effect, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
While switching to diet soda might make a difference, even a big one, for someone trying to manage blood sugar or diabetes, no single fix is going to yield all the health improvements you might need or desire.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3NGfbxD
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
The Osceola County branch of the YMCA has joined forces with Osceola Reads to open an Osceola Reads Little Library.
The Osceola Reads Little Library initiative allows children to take a book, leave a book, expand their athome library, or help support one of their fellow little readers. Now children at the Osceola “Y” location will be the first to be part of this initiative from Osceola Reads.
“At the Osceola County YMCA, one of our three focus areas is Youth Development, and we believe that early literacy is a critical need in our community,” said John Lewis, Executive Director of Osceola County YMCA. “The Osceola YMCA has several summer programs that will serve over 100 kids weekly, ranging from preschool to school-aged children. Through this partnership, every child will have the opportunity to read daily with the goal of promoting early literacy and curbing the summer learning loss.”
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/42qYk62
Mecum Kissimmee will hit the gas and pull back into Osceola Heritage Park July 6-9. Mecum Auctions, the world’s largest collector car auction will once again place thousands of cars up for auction, along with a wide array of classic Road Art items, and more.
Mecum Kissimmee attendees can expect live auction action, entertainment acts, Dodge’s Thrill Ride, and the Mecum Midway, which offers food, exhibitors, and more.
The upcoming event in July at Osceola Heritage Park continues the tradition of the Mecum Kissimmee auctions, where car enthusiasts gather to buy and sell collectible vehicles of all kinds. This event attracts participants from around the world who are interested in classic cars, motorcycles, tractors, and other related items.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/42y9Zjh
In May, the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation called on America to sip from their hearts on Dunkin’ Iced Coffee Day and help bring joy to kids in local hospitals across the country, including a $25,000 grant to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children at Orlando Health through the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation.
Thanks to support from guests nationwide, Dunkin’ Iced Coffee Day collectively raised $1.64 million to support kids in children’s hospitals throughout the country.
To learn more about the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation, visit www.bringjoy.org.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3JcoCSt
St. Cloud Police Department
Captain Denise Roberts graduated from the FBI’s 286th session of the National Academy this week. The National Academy is a prestigious 10-week program that provides advanced training to law enforcement leaders from around the world.
Captain Roberts is a 20-year veteran of the St. Cloud Police Department. She has held a variety of positions, including patrol officer, detective, and sergeant. She is currently the department’s Investigative Services Division Captain, and is the first from the agency to complete the Academy.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/43vqe1L
For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website! PositivelyOsceola.com
ARTS Unlimited, LLC is thrilled to announce its upcoming production of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, a Tony Award-winning play by Christopher Durang. The performance will take place on Friday, July 28th at 7:00 p.m. for the public at the Osceola Council on Aging in Kissimmee.
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike is a hilarious comedy that revolves around three middle-aged siblings. Vanya and Sonia, who have spent their lives caring for their parents, find their routine disrupted when their glamorous movie-star sister, Masha, arrives with her new beau, Spike. With a soothsaying cleaning woman, an aspiring actress, and family plans in disarray, the stage is set for a laugh-out-loud ruckus.
Parking lots can be tricky for drivers to navigate. Whether you’re at a grocery store, restaurant, doctor’s office, apartment complex, concert or sports venue, or school, getting in and out of a parking lot can be tricky due to the sheer number of cars and pedestrians in the area.
Many of these accidents are caused by distracted driving. The good news is that these crashes are often at low speeds, so the injuries involved are not typically too bad.
Parking lots are often crowded, making accidents likely. If you have been involved in an accident, the Kissimmee auto accident lawyers at Draper Law Office can help you gather evidence and recover compensation for the losses you have suffered. To schedule a free consultation, call (407) 743-6628 or fill out the online form.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3OOjsQg
The Osceola Council on Aging is warning the community to beware of fraudulent websites while searching for home weatherization programs. These websites ask people to fill out online forms, which are then used to steal the applicant’s personal information. Unfortunately, when a victim of this malicious fraud attempts to contact the company, they receive no response or support.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/44DSoZo
When parents of minor children divorce, it can be several years before their involvement with the court will end. Ideally, both parties will abide by their thoughtfully created parenting agreement and make changes which support their children’s wellbeing. However, as time passes and circumstances change, it is not uncommon for parents to disagree about what is in the best interest of their kids. A parent may also claim the other does not have good parenting abilities and seek to make legal changes to the parenting plan. In this situation, the other parent may have to provide evidence of their positive parenting skills.
The Draper Law Office has attorneys who are experienced with helping clients with child custody and parenting time issues and can help. 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.
Overhauling your diet sounds daunting, right? But small tweaks can make a lasting difference in your health and nutrition. These five changes — plus tips on how to achieve them — can help you score quick improvements in how you feel and give you the confidence to try for even bigger changes over time.
If you’re only going to try one thing on this list, make it adding more fiber — it’s easier than you think. Look at a list of high-fiber foods — odds are, you’ll find things there that you already love (for example raspberries and blackberries, which each pack 8 grams of fiber per cup). Increasing fruits and veggies you already like is as simple as adding them to your grocery list more frequently.
Why does fiber matter? It’s often associated with improved digestion — a big plus for anybody who has issues there — but it also helps with blood-sugar control and weight management. A lot of fiber-rich food is also rich in prebiotics, which helps to feed the “good” bacteria in our gut. A word of caution: Go slowly. The goal is 25 grams of fiber a day — most Americans don’t get anywhere near that, and if you add that much in a hurry you may feel bloated and uncomfortable while your body adjusts. Instead aim to add about 5 grams a week until you reach the recommended amount.
Easy ways to start: Switch from white bread or pasta to whole wheat. For picky eaters, try the middle ground of breads and pastas with fiber added that don’t taste quite so wheaty.
We know, we know — many people don’t like the taste of water. But being wellhydrated improves brain and digestive function, maintains your skin’s elasticity and keeps blood sugar better controlled (because it makes your blood more dilute and the sugars less concentrated than if you are dehydrated). You don’t have to guzzle from a jug — refilling a small cup multiple times a day can seem more doable at first. Try a bottle with a built-in infuser where you can add fresh fruit to flavor the water.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/442Me49
Erika Booth, Osceola County School Board Member for District 5, has announced that she will run in the special election to fill former Representative Fred Hawkins’ District 35 seat in the Florida House. Hawkins recently resigned after accepting the position of President of South Florida State College.
“I’ve dedicated the last 20 years of my life to educating our children. Most importantly as a parent and also as a classroom teacher,” Booth said. “As I began my service on the school board, I have realized the issues facing educators, parents and our students cannot simply be solved locally and so, today, I have decided to run for State Representative.”
Celebrate the Red, White, and Blue on Tuesday, July 4th with a free firework display and celebration presented by Old Town and Fun Spot America Kissimmee from 6-10pm.
Bring the family for an entire day of free fun including streetmosphere entertainment and live music on the Old Town Main Stage featuring Rocktown.
At 9pm, experience an amazing fireworks display in the skies above Old Town.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3J6cVga
SeaWorld Orlando is making sure dads feel special this year on Father’s Day Weekend with a Pub Crawl experience certain to bring a smile to that very special guy and friends.
On Saturday, June 17 & Sunday, June 18 starting from 11:30a.m. to park close, SeaWorld Orlando is offering a perfectly curated foodie adventure!
Purchase a 9-item sampling lanyard for $89.99 to use toward SeaWorld’s Father’s Day specials. Stop at designated food stands throughout the park for a refreshing drink and treat.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3JcONsj
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Summer is heating up at LEGOLAND® with Red, White & BOOM! Nightly from July 2nd – 4th, families can enjoy many fun activities and end the night with an unforgettable firework show that explodes into 3D LEGO® bricks right before your eyes with special viewing glasses!
During this exciting, limited-time event families can enjoy a LEGO flag building, MINILAND scavenger hunts, DJ dance parties that are sure to have everyone on their feet, a fireworks pre-show, and of course, FIREWORKS!
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3qsN3o8
Without question, Central Florida is experiencing some hot June weather, but Disney is celebrating Halfway to the Holidays with festive cheer already in the air at Walt Disney World Resort. This year, celebrate the season of all that is merry and bright in a magical way with new jolly experiences, glittering sights, sounds and scrumptious sweet treats. Plus, thrill to the return of fan-favorite Disney holiday traditions.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3Njd8hA
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Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer and a dangerous time of year for young drivers. Nationwide, more than 30 percent of deaths involving teen drivers occur during what’s called the “100 Deadliest Days” – a period that runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
“Summer is historically a dangerous time for teen drivers,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Now that school is out, teens will spend more time on the road, often driving with friends at odd hours of the day and night. Because of their inexperience, teens are more susceptible to dangerous driving behaviors – like speeding, driving distracted, and not wearing a safety belt. AAA urges parents to model safe driving behavior and reinforce safe driving habits with their teen drivers to help keep them safe this summer.”
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3oAvthx
The first of two 14-day sales tax holidays to help residents save money on hurricane supplies is currently taking place and will continue through June, as the Atlantic Hurricane season rapidly approaches.
Florida House Bill 7063, which describes several sales tax holidays for Florida, was passed unanimously by the Legislature May 5 and sent to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis May 23, which he signed.
Here’a a list of what’s included in the 2023 list of tax-free items in Florida
• Self-powered lights of $40 or less.
• Portable self-powered radio, two-way radio or weather-band radio of $50 or less.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3WyNxp3
taking place now, here’s what’s on the list!
Grilled Florida Chicken Sandwich, It’s Positively Delicious!
Fresh chicken with crisp Florida arugula on toasted bread, it’s Positively Delicious!
• 2 Florida chicken breasts, grilled
• 1 Florida tomato, sliced thin
• 2 cups Florida arugula
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 lemon, zested and juiced
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• Sandwich bread (your favorite)
• Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/43XgVI3
Garlic Roasted Florida Shrimp and Blueberry BBQ Saurce, It’s Positively Delicious!
This recipe puts a sweet twist on Florida Shrimp…it’s Positively Delicious!
• 12 jumbo Florida shrimp, peeled and deveined with the tail on
• 2 tablespoons Florida Blueberry BBQ Sauce
• 1 tablespoon Florida seafood seasoning blend, divided
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 lemon, half juiced, half sliced for garnish
• 1 tablespoon fresh herbs (parsley, oregano, thyme), chopped fine
• 1 tablespoon fresh garlic, minced
• Hot sauce, to taste
• Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3Cw24Z9
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It’s heating up outside. Time to cool off my the pool with a Fresh Watermelon Popsicle… it’s Positively Delicious!
INGREDIENTS
• 4-6 cups Florida watermelon (seedless), cubed
• 4 tablespoons Florida Key lime juice
• ¼ cup Florida sugar
• 1 lime, zest only
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3P8dw4Z
Honey-glazed fried chicken wings with the perfect mix of crunch and tang…it’s Positively Delicious!
INGREDIENTS
• 12 Florida chicken wings
• ⅓ cup Florida honey
• ¼ cup Florida orange juice
• 10 sprigs fresh thyme, finely chopped
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups bread crumbs
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose seasoning
• Vegetable oil for frying
• Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3CDS3sU
For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website! PositivelyOsceola.com
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.