Osceola County Leaders Prepare at FEMA’s

Emergency Training Center as 2023 Hurricane Season Approaches

During the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season we saw 14 named storms, eight became hurricanes , two intensifying to major hurricane status with winds reaching 111 mph or greater. Hurricane Ian first made landfall as a Category 4 storm in Cayo Costa, Florida on Sept. 28, with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph and tied for the fifth strongest hurricane ever to make landfall in the United States. Hurricane Nicole made landfall near Vero Beach on Nov. 10th, devastating parts of Florida’s east coast and caused severe beach erosion, and extreme flooding. Nicole marked the third November Hurricane to strike Florida.

Fifty-five leaders from all over Osceola County traveled to Emmitsburg Maryland in March, after being selected to participate in the Integrated Emergency Management Course at the National Emergency Training Center that FEMA holds only 12 times during the year. The IEMC is a a four-day, exercise-based training activity for Emergency Operations Center personnel to practice simulated, but realistic, crisis situations, within a structured learning environment. Osceola County was the only Florida jurisdiction to be selected to participate this year, and hasn’t attended the training center since 2017.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/416eQrL

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

Florida to Become First State in the Nation to Collect Cancer Recurrence Data

Osceola County Supervisor of Elections has simplified the process of accessing public records with addition of an option of submitting Open Records Requests through an online form called JustFOIA. While other methods for submitting requests are still available, the Osceola County Supervisor of Elections chose JustFOIA to help streamline their citizens’ open records request process and improve efficiencies within.

“It is my hope that by implementing this platform we can better serve our community in a timely and efficient manner”, said Supervisor Mary Jane Arrington.

To submit a publics record request, go to https://voteosceola.justfoia.com/ publicportal/home/newrequest.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/3mbnKW2

Florida Highway Patrol Combats Rise In Street Racing, Takeover Events

Street racing, street takeovers, and stuntdriving incidents have risen in Florida, but the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the Florida Highway Patrol are intent on combatting these dangerous driving behaviors.

Florida law, enacted in 2022, prohibits street racing. Takeovers, drag racing, donuts, burnouts, wheelies, drifting, and other related activities create unsafe roadways.

Overtaking a road is dangerous for many reasons; it impedes the normal flow of traffic, can delay emergency vehicles responding to those in need, and endangers participants, spectators, and innocent bystanders.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/3KEzRo7

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

City of Kissimmee Names Familiar, Respected Spokesperson, Stephanie Bechara to Communications Team

The City of Kissimmee has a new Communications and Public Affairs Manager, one that for many in the community, is an established professional and respected friend. Stephanie Bechara has been appointed to serve as a liaison between the City, the community, and the media.

Bechara graduated from the University of Florida with a master’s in journalism and has been a multimedia journalist since 2010. Her reporting has led her to cover a number of high-profile stories within Central Florida. Bechara is bilingual in English and Spanish and her exposure to diverse people with unique stories is what ignites her spark to connect with others.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/436bbMl

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center Achieves Magnet® Recognition

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

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

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

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

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

Harmony ends Osceola’s three consecutive crowns run, wins OBC Title with power hitting, clutch pitching

Caden Scarborough escaped a bases loaded and no out situation in the sixth inning and then pitched a perfect seventh inning to lead the Harmony Longhorns to the 2023 Orange Belt Conference baseball championship with a 5-4 win over top-seeded Osceola on Friday night.

The win capped a perfect week for the third-seeded Longhorns (8-8), who earned a trip to the championship by beating Liberty, 2-1 in extra innings, in the quarterfinals and then upended second-seeded Tohopekaliga in Wednesday’s semifinal by a 6-1 score. Harmony got off to a fast start in the championship.

With two outs and no one on base, the Longhorns touched Osceola starter John Rodriguez for four consecutive hits – including RBI singles from Jhon Peralta and Iziah Santiago to take a 2-0 lead.

They would extend the lead to 4-0 in the second with three more hits as Yathniel Matos and Samuel Castillo delivered run-scoring singles. All four RBI for the Longhorns in the first two innings came from underclassmen. Harmony was playing without its top player Cade Walter, who is recovering from a knee injury, started four juniors, three sophomores and a freshman in the game.

“We’ve had trouble hitting all season but tonight we barreled up some balls, particularly early in the game,” Longhorn coach Heath Williams said. “A lot of that came from some younger guys stepping up and contributing and the fast start played a key part in the win.”

Osceola managed to cut the lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the third on a two-run single by Jason Ramos. But Harmony got one back in the top of the fourth, taking advantage of two Osceola errors to plate an unearned run.

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

By J. Daniel Pearson For Positively Osceola

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

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

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

Baseball

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

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

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

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/42IIpRK

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

Dunkin’ Celebrates Orlando Health Staff During Child Life Specialist and Social Work Month

Dunkin’ of Orlando kicked off Child Life Specialist and Social Work Month at Orlando Health by gifting the Child Life Specialist, Social Work and Music Therapy units with Dunkin’ Gift Cards and limited-edition branded socks.

This is Dunkin’s small way of saying thank you to the amazing staff at Orlando Health for all they do to help the community. Dunkin’ is excited to be able to recognize this team that works so hard to bring joy and comfort to so many children and their families.

Dunkin’ encourages guests to celebrate the Child Life Specialists and Social Workers in their lives this month that make such a meaningful impact on our communities.

For more information about Orlando Health, visit OrlandoHealth.com.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/3KA0tq1

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