Positively Osceola News Today, Osceola County's Leading and Trusted Source For Local News

ON DEMAND LIVESTREAMS

LIVE with State Representative

Kristen Arrington for District 46

February 20th, 2023

LIVE with Orlando Health St. Cloud Hospital

President Brian Wetzel

February 14th, 2023

LIVE with Ryan Munns, of Bogin, Munns and Munns

January 26th, 2023

LIVE with Dr. Chris Burns, from SDOC Fine and Performing Arts

January 19th, 2023

LIVE with William Morea & Wey Wey Wong, from Huntington Learning Center

January 19th, 2023

VIDEOS ON DEMAND

The Mayor’s Minute with St. Cloud Mayor, Nathan Blackwell

☑️ On April 3rd, St. Cloud is starting the “Kids in the Kitchen” 5-week hands-on cooking class tailored for junior chefs.

☑️ On Friday, April 7th, the Adult Moonlight Egg Hunt will be held at The Ranch in St. Cloud from 7pm to 10pm for adults 21 and older.

St Cloud Monthly MarketMarch 29th

It’s time again for another stroll through the Saint Cloud Downtown Monthly Market. On Wednesday, March 29th, you can enjoy walking through St. Cloud’s beautiful downtown district, browsing through the iconic shops and pop-up vendors. Enjoy live music along with a great selection of positively delicious fare from downtown St. Cloud’s unforgettable restaurants.

Celebration Foundation Jaclyn Hayden Concert

The Celebration Foundation continues their concert series on Saturday, April 22nd with Jaclyn Hayden! The concert will take place at Lakeside Park, 631 Sycamore Street in Celebration. Tickets and Information: celebrationfoundation.org Thank you to Experience Kissimmee, Florida for their community support with Celebration Foundation in this concert series.

St. Cloud Walking Ghost Tours

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.

Sloth Encounters at Wild Florida

Positively Osceola’s Krissi Marie Hardy spent some time with one of Wild Florida’s educators, Desiree, to learn about an amazing animal, Chloe the Sloth! To learn more about Wild Florida, visit WildFL.com

City of Kissimmee Celebrates Six Women in Honor of Women’s History Month

City of Kissimmee Commissioners celebrated six different women in honor of Women’s History Month during its commission meeting last week for their dedication, willingness and ambition to better serve the area.

“All of these women have professional careers but also go above and beyond within their community on a personal level and this is why we want to acknowledge them,” said Mayor Olga Gonzalez.

“Let’s take a moment and recognize the hard work and sacrifice of our local women and women everywhere who are leading the charge,” said Deputy City Manager Desiree Matthews. “And at the same time changing other people’s lives in a remarkable way.” Matthews read a proclamation into the record, in honor of Women’s History Month, recognizing Ivette Rodriguez, the Founder and Director of Operations for Beyond Pregnancy Care.

Beyond Pregnancy Care is a non-profit that has been providing services to the community since 2017. Beyond Pregnancy Care is a crisis pregnancy center that focuses on empowering families that face unexpected family crisis and unplanned pregnancies.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/3z7fx8i

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Florida to Become First State in the Nation

to Collect Cancer Recurrence Data

Florida will be the first state in the nation to collect cancer recurrence data – the Cancer Connect Collaborative’s first action to remove data access barriers for easy and timely research, announced last week by Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis. While a survivor is in remission, the same or a different cancer may recur, called a cancer recurrence. There is currently no collective population-level data system in the United States monitoring cancer recurrence.

“Through this mission, Florida will be the first state in the country to collect cancer recurrence data on a statewide scale,” said Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis. “By having this data reported to the State, this will be a resource to help identify new avenues resulting in better care and treatment standards to help all individuals battling the fight against cancer, regardless of where they are receiving care.”

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

Unincorporated Osceola County Under Burn Ban Due to Dry Conditions

In light of dry conditions throughout the county that have sent our Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) over 500, Osceola County is instituting a burn ban for all types of outside burning, including open fire pits, campfires, and yard debris within the unincorporated areas of Osceola County.

The burn ban is effective immediately and will be lifted as weather and vegetation conditions improve. The ban will be enforced by Osceola County Code Enforcement, Law Enforcement and Emergency Services personnel.

Osceola County Fire Rescue will continue to monitor conditions to determine when the burn ban will be lifted. Once the ban is lifted, another notice will be distributed, along with updates to www.osceola.org and at http://fire.osceola.org.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/3z8RhCz

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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

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Help Now’s 5th Annual “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” to Focus on Domestic Violence Awareness March 29

Walking a mile in someone else’s shoes… not an easy thing to literally do, but on Wednesday night March 29th at 6 pm, Help Now of Osceola will host the 5th Annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event where a group of men will walk down New York Avenue during the St. Cloud Monthly Market event, wearing heels, and hoping to raise awareness of domestic violence in the community. The goal is to get people listening, learning, thinking, and working together to help solve this terrible reality of abuse.

The walk will begin – in heels of course – at St. Cloud City Hall and will make its way down New York Avenue, in conjunction with the St. Cloud Monthly Market. This event is not only for men, though! Women and children are welcome and encouraged to join the walk to make a collective voice to end domestic and sexual violence in our community. Here are some domestic violence statistics:

• Every two minutes another American is sexually assaulted.

• 1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime (14.8% completed, 2.8% attempted).

• 11.2% of all students experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation (among all graduate and undergraduate students).

• Male college-aged students (18-24) are 78% more likely than non-students of the same age to be a victim of rape or sexual assault.

• Female college-aged students (18-24) are 20% less likely than non-students of the same age to be a victim of rape or sexual assault.

“Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” is an international men’s march where men and boys lead the way on the road to end sexual and domestic violence.

NEED IMMEDIATE HELP?

For immediate assistance, please dial 911. If you are in immediate need or wish to speak with a domestic violence counselor or advocate, please call our 24-hour crisis hotline at (407) 847-8562 or text us at (321) 306-0677.

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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

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By J. Daniel Pearson For Positively Osceola

Tohopekaliga Tigers Walk to Win Over St. Cloud Bulldogs in Boys Baseball

In a game that featured plenty of walks, strikeouts and questionable base running, Tohopekaliga took advantage of a wild pitch to score the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth inning and then held on for a 3-2 win over St. Cloud on Monday night.

“We did not hit the ball well tonight, we made some base running mistakes and we made a few errors, but at the end of the day, we did enough to win the game,” Tigers head coach Nikko Martell said of his team that went to 7-1 on the season.

The winning rally was far from text book on how to win a game.

With the score tied 2-2, Jose Montalvo ripped a double to the right centerfield gap to open the inning. Pinch hitter Christian Viali missed on a bunt attempt and Bulldogs catcher Roman Lopez would gun Montalvo out after he wandered too far off of second base. Viali would then strike out.

But pitcher Aiden Peguero would exit the game after walking Austin Montalvo. Relief pitcher Ayden Hampton would walk pinch hitter Anthony Paradiso and Diego Miranda would load the bases after reaching on an infield single. Hampton would then unleash a wild pitch to score Austin Montalvo for the game winner.

It was a somewhat sloppy game indicative of two teams coming off of spring break.

St. Cloud would fall behind 2-0 in the game as starting pitcher Logan King failed to retire any of the first five batters he would face to start the game. After allowing two walks and a single to load the bases, King would allow two runs on back-to-back walks to Hudson Moberly and Jose Montalvo.

Relief pitcher Aiden Peguero relieved King and got a pop out and would then get out of the inning on a sensation play from Hampton, who started the game in centerfield. Hampton would chase down and then make a diving catch of Austin Montalvo’s line drive, and followed the catch by doubling off Moberly at second to end the inning.

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

Toho Water Authority to Continue Water Line Flushing This Week in St. Cloud in These Areas

Crews contracted with Toho Water Authority (Toho) will continue flushing in targeted areas of the City of St. Cloud next week, March 27-31. The map shows the area where customers are 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 next week are:

Briarwood Estates

Esprit

Whaley’s Creek

Season’s at Deer Creek By Richmond American Homes

Northstar Painting and Pressure Washing

JT @ LA Rosa Realty

Looking to Plan Your Next Vacation? Check Out Visit Orlando’s Free Vacation Planning Services

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

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Florida welcomes 137.6 million visitors in 2022, highest in state history

Florida had record visitation in 2022 with 137.6 million visitors, an increase of five percent over 2019 and 12.9 percent over 2021, according to Visit Florida.

Florida welcomed 33.2 million travelers between October and December 2022, marking a six percent increase from Q4 2021, and the sixth consecutive quarter of overall visitation surpassing prepandemic levels. 30.1 million domestic visitors traveled to Florida in Q4 2022, representing 21 months of domestic visitation growth from 2019, according to Visit Florida.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/3Z0W97X

Tesla to build third Central Florida dealership in Kissimmee, more V3 charging stations on the way

Tesla, the world’s most recognizable name in electric vehicle development and manufacturing, looks to be building a dealership in Kissimmee, its third in Central Florida, according to a report in GrowthSpotter.

Currently, there is a dealership located in Maitland/Eatonville, and one being built in Clermont. The proposed third dealership would be located on S. Orange Blossom Trail near Osceola Parkway in Kissimmee on a 5.3-acre site across from the Orange Blossom Plaza.

Tesla, which describes itself as an artificial intelligence and clean energy company, recently announced that it would open 3,500 new and existing superchargers along highways to non-Tesla customers, and would offer 4,000 slower chargers at locations like hotels and restaurants.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/3Z0Qvmd

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Florida Department of Health in Osceola County to Distribute Narcan Nasal Spray kits

The Florida Department of Health in Osceola County (FDOH-Osceola) is announcing the availability of free Naloxone (Narcan) Nasal Spray kits. This lifesaving medication could reduce thousands of substance abuse deaths across the state.

Naloxone is available to people who use drugs, people with a history of drug use, others at risk of experiencing an overdose, friends, family members, and others who may witness an overdose. Kits consist of two Naloxone nasal sprays that are administered even without a health care professional present.

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

Orlando Health Cancer Institute Introduces CAR T-Cell Therapy for Treating Advanced Blood Cancers

Orlando Health Cancer Institute has added CAR T-cell therapy as a new option for treating advanced blood cancers.

CAR T-cell therapy is an immunotherapy that works by harnessing the power of a patient’s immune system to attack tumors. Treatment begins with the collection of the patient’s T-cells, which help protect the body from infection. The T-cells are then sent to a laboratory, where they are genetically re-engineered to produce proteins on their surface called chimeric antigen receptors. The new T-cells are reproduced by the millions in preparation for infusion back into the patient.

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

INJURY LAW

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

Draper Law: Even minor car accidents can cause back injuries, don’t wait to seek medical attention

Creative Inspiration Journey School sees continued student growth amid school facility expansion

From the first day that Creative Inspiration Journey School opened its doors in the Fall of 2019, it was easy to see that it wasn’t going to be just another tuition free public charter school, it was focused on creating an environment of learning for its students unlike any other school in the St. Cloud and Osceola communities.

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

FAMILY LAW

Draper Law: Ten Mistakes to Avoid During Your Divorce

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

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Country Thunder to roar back to Osceola County in 2023 with Country Music Superstars Keith Urban, Cody Johnson, & Hardy

Buckle up country music fans, Country Thunder Florida has announced that its October 2023 all-star lineup at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee will feature country music superstars Cody Johnson, HARDY, Keith Urban & so many more.

“When you have the world’s greatest country music fans show up the way they did in Florida in 2022, you owe them a follow-up of epic proportions,” says Country Thunder Music Festivals CEO, Troy Vollhoffer. “And we’re making that promise with one of the best lineups from start to finish we’ve had in years. We can’t wait to bring Cody Johnson, HARDY, and Keith Urban to the fans in Florida!”

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

HEALTH

Ana Cristina Mercedes Germosen, MD Orlando Health FACC – Cardiovascular Disease

Orlando Health: 9 Sneaky Signs of Heart Disease

It’s February – American Heart Month – a time when the nation spotlights heart disease, the No. 1 killer of Americans. You’re probably familiar with the most common symptoms of heart disease. The one that gets the most attention is chest pain (or angina), which can feel like tightness, pressure, aching or pain in your chest, but heart disease can create a wide range of symptoms, some far less common than others. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Struggling To Breathe While Lying Flat

You may find yourself gasping for breath or otherwise struggling to breathe easily while lying down. You might only be able to sleep by propping yourself up with several pillows. This could be related to fluid buildup in your lungs. If your heart isn’t pumping as strongly as it should be, it will have difficulty keeping your blood flowing, allowing more of it to pool. For some people, this condition – known as orthopnea – may be the only symptom of congestive heart failure.

Legs or Hips Hurt While Walking

If your legs feel fine while resting, but then start hurting or cramping when you go for a walk, it could be a sign of congestion or blockage in your arteries. The pain (claudication) is often a symptom of peripheral artery disease (PAD), which is caused by the buildup of plaque (fats and cholesterol) on artery walls.

The pain occurs when you become active because your muscles can’t get enough oxygen and nutrients from your clogged arteries. The pain then fades away when you rest. People with PAD are at higher risk of congestive heart failure.

Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction can be caused by several things, including diabetes and stress. But it may also be an indicator of heart disease. The root cause is endothelial dysfunction, a condition in which the blood vessels have a hard time expanding or contracting the way they’re supposed to. The condition reduces blood flow both to the penis and the heart.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/3IXM6er

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New Experiences and Returning Favorites

at Walt Disney World Resort Take Center Stage Throughout 2023

Exciting new experiences at Walt Disney World Resort are set to debut this year including one of the fastest coasters at any Disney theme park, a new restaurant to savor, the continued transformation of EPCOT, returning nighttime spectaculars filling night skies throughout the resort and so much more.

Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Continues

Through March 31

It’s your last chance to experience a party fifty years in the making as the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary celebration will conclude March 31, 2023. Make plans to visit now to see Mickey Mouse and his pals in their EARidescent finery one last time and enjoy all the special sights, tastes and merchandise that mark this momentous event.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/3yVCo6y

Get ready for oceans of flavor and fun at SeaWorld

Orlando’s Seven Seas Food Festival

From foodies to families, everyone will find tasty delights among more than 200 distinct offerings and more than 50 fresh global cuisine choices to pair with over 75 refreshing wine and cocktail selections, including more than 75 craft brews at SeaWorld Orlando Seven Seas Food Festival Thursdays -Sundays through May 7.

Revitalize your taste buds as you add a taste of rock, country, Latin, or throwback sounds at SeaWorld’s live music shows, and enjoy even more diverse entertainment and surprises during special times like Mardi Gras, St. Patrick’s Day, and Cinco de Mayo. With so many exquisite flavors to top off exhilarating coasters and extraordinary animal encounters, SeaWorld’s Seven Seas Food Festival is a voyage to stir the soul!

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/3SG20h1

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IN THE LOOP - THEME PARK NEWS

Select Tickets and Packages Now On Sale For Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 2023

The world’s premier Halloween event, Universal Orlando Resort’s Halloween Horror Nights, returns to Universal Studios Florida for a recordbreaking 44 nights this fall – unleashing a new slate of horrifying haunted houses and scare zones filled with menacing creatures, and outrageous entertainment on select nights September 1 through October 31.

Guests can officially begin to summon their scream squad and plan the ultimate fall getaway with a variety of offers available now, including single-night event tickets, event upgrades and a vacation package that allows them to relish in the thrills of the parks during the day before braving the chills of Halloween Horror Nights at night.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/3TQUoJ8

Disney Dreamers Academy Students Dream Big at Walt Disney World Resort

This weekend, 100 students from across the country celebrated the conclusion of the 16th year of Disney Dreamers Academy with an emotional commencement ceremony at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, featuring an inspirational speech by Grammy-nominated singer Halle Bailey, who will play Ariel in the upcoming live-action remake of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.’’ The annual fourday event also included empowering sessions from a host of celebrities; special once-in-a lifetime surprise opportunities for students; performances from Disney Live Entertainment; and a moving ring ceremony to mark the teens’ special achievement at the culmination of the event.

The teens, recognized as Disney Dreamers, were selected from among thousands of applicants to participate in the mentoring program.

READ MORE, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/3zcKuI0

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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.