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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
During their June 6 meeting, the Kissimmee City Commission voted unanimously to explore the possibility of partnering with a development firm to construct a hotel in downtown Kissimmee. The commission is considering two options along with that move, either demolish the existing Kissimmee Civic Center or refurbish it as part of a larger convention center complex.
In July, the city will issue a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to firms interested in submitting concepts for the estimated 3.15 acre site across from the Downtown Kissimmee SunRail station.
“We’re looking at targeting this potential, and I stress potential, hotel development where the existing civic center is and the parking lot there,” Kissimmee Economic Development Director Tom Tomerlin explained during the commission meeting,
City officials have been trying to attract hotels to downtown Kissimmee for a number of years. The original plan was for the Mosaic redevelopment project to include a boutique hotel, but that was removed. Another attempt was to include a hotel in the Toho Parking Garage plan, but that also failed to come to fruition due to financing challenges.
For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website! PositivelyOsceola.com
There’s nothing like watching live pearl farming and walking away with a beautiful keepsake! That’s what is back happening at SeaWorld Orlando during its Summer Spectacular!
The crowd favorite pearl diving takes place at the lagoon next to Oyster’s Secret beginning at noon during the Summer Spectacular. Park guests can see a diver pick the perfect oyster for them and even add a setting of your choice to the freshly “farmed” pearl.
This one-of-a-kind experience gives guests the chance to watch pearl farming live with engaging and friendly SeaWorld Orlando pearl divers!
Stop by during the Summer Spectacular and grab a photo, when the divers have a chance we’ve even seen the strike a pose!
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3Ctqwur
The Toho Water Authority (Toho) Customer Service Center in St. Cloud will be closed Monday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth. Regular business hours will resume at 8 a.m. Tuesday, June 20.
The lobby at the Kissimmee administrative office, located at 951 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, June 19. Staff will be available to assist customers enrolling in Toho’s new payment portal.
Customers can always make payments, report emergencies and use other selfservice features on Tohowater.com or by using the 24-hour customer service line at 407944-5000. Customers located in the City of St. Cloud can report emergencies by calling 407-957-7344.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3XowuXf
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.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3PgQXv2
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.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3Pciv4p
For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website! PositivelyOsceola.com
Saturday June 17
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.
Be sure not to miss this year’s Kissimmee Juneteenth Festival, sponsored by KUA, Star 94.5, Orlando Health, and Toho Water Authority.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3P9kxlU
For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website! PositivelyOsceola.com
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
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has put forward a rule proposal that would mandate the installation of automatic emergency braking systems on “nearly all” cars and light trucks in the United States. The proposed rule is expected to dramatically reduce crashes associated with pedestrians and rear-end crashes.
NHTSA projects that this proposed rule, if finalized, would save at least 360 lives a year and reduce injuries by at least 24,000 annually. In addition, these AEB systems would result in significant reductions in property damage caused by rear-end crashes. Many crashes would be avoided altogether, while others would be less destructive.
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.
The magnificent human nervous system carries electrical signals from the brain to every corner of the body and back, so if something goes wrong, it could happen anywhere on that neural highway. The symptoms of the malfunction vary greatly depending on the locale, and so does the treatment.
The nervous system has two parts. The brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system. Think of them as the control center (brain) and superhighway (spinal cord.) Everything else is the peripheral nervous system – think state highways, county roads and city streets – carrying messages between the central nervous system and every organ, system and limb, right down to your fingertips and toes. The peripheral nerves are further divided into those controlling your autonomic functions – breathing and digesting food, for example – and the sensory nerves, which carry messages to the brain about the environment – messages like “my feet are cold” or “that surface is hot.”
When something goes wrong with the peripheral nerves, the various disorders are called peripheral neuropathy, which can be felt as tingling, numbness or pain when the sensory nerves are affected, or muscle weakness, twitching and even paralysis in some cases involving autonomic nerves.
Peripheral neuropathy is not a single disease – it’s an umbrella term for any disorder that causes damage to the peripheral nervous system, whether from trauma, injury, compression, inflammation or disease. More than 100 types of peripheral neuropathy have been identified, and about 2.4 percent of the general population – more than 20 million people in the United States alone – are estimated to have some form of it. The prevalence is almost four times higher (8 percent) in people over 65.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3N6YpG8
For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website! PositivelyOsceola.com
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
For more Positively Osceola, visit our Social Media & Website! PositivelyOsceola.com
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
Universal Orlando Resort is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the groundbreaking film Jurassic Park, with special #JurassicJune limited-time experiences. Theme park guests can celebrate one of the greatest cinematic adventures ever created with exclusive merchandise, specialty food and beverage offerings and screenings of the 1993 iconic film.
Here’s how guests can celebrate Jurassic Park at Universal Orlando Resort:
• Universal Orlando guests can step through the iconic gates of Jurassic Park at Universal Islands of Adventure and explore an immersive land home to exciting experiences inspired by the record-breaking franchise, including “Jurassic Park River Adventure” – where a leisure raft ride turns into a daring eight-story plunge to escape a ferocious T. rex; “Jurassic World VelociCoaster” – Florida’s fastest and tallest launch coaster; and more.
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3IUwN67
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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
Florida Vegetable and Chicken Pasta, It’s Positively Delicious
Looking for a fun dish to bring to summer cook-outs? Try this chicken pasta with fresh Florida vegetables…it’s Positively Delicious!
• 2 cups Florida Chicken, cooked and chopped
• 2 Florida tomatoes, diced
• 2 Florida zucchini, diced
• 2 cups Florida spinach
• 4-5 garlic cloves, minced
• ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 12 ounces whole wheat penne, cooked
• ½ cup vegetable broth
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 lemon, juiced
• Olive oil, for cooking
• Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
• Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3X6XRon
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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
On a hot summers day, there is nothing better than an ice cold glass of tea. Why not try this Florida Citrus Tea…it’s Positively Delicious!
INGREDIENTS
• 1 cup Florida orange juice
• 1 Florida orange, cut into rounds
• 1 Florida grapefruit, cut into rounds (optional)
• 1 lime, cut into rounds
• 1 gallon sweet tea, home made or store bought
READ MORE, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/3WUyaaB
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be confident.
We provide trusted, quality care in your community. At Orlando Health St. Cloud Hospital, get access to care from an expert and compassionate clinical team for all of your healthcare needs — from emergency services to heart care, surgical services and more — all close to home. Giving you more reasons to choose well. OrlandoHealth.com/StCloud choose well.