Positively Osceola News Today, Osceola County's Leading and Trusted Source for News!

2023, a New Year, a New Hope, with Osceola Kowboys Head Football Coach Eric Pinellas

St. Cloud Pink Heals to Host Pinktoberfest at St. Cloud Lakefront January 21

St. Cloud Main Street to Host Downtown Ghost Tours, and a “Little Less Creepy” Walking Tours Florida’s 2023 Toll Relief Program Has Started

ON DEMAND LIVESTREAMS

Daybreak LIVE with Charlie Draper of Draper Law Office December 22nd, 2022

Daybreak LIVE with Kristen Arrington, State Representative for District 46 December 16th, 2022

Osceola Matters LIVE with Brandon Arrington, Commissioner for District 3 October 12th, 2022

Daybreak LIVE with Silver Spurs Big Boss Clifton Chapman October 12th, 2022

Daybreak LIVE with Bri Stefek from Osceola Arts October 6th, 2022

IN & AROUND OSCEOLA

LIVE for the Cloud drop to ring in 2023 at City of St. Cloud’s Rockin’ the Cloud!

LIVE for Harlequin at Rockin the Cloud!

LIVE with St. Cloud’s Senior Public Information Manager Andrew Sullivan at an upcoming cold shelter

LIVE with the St. Cloud Police Chief Douglas Goerke for shop with a cop!

LIVE with Kathleen Sippio, Executive Director with the Celebration Foundation

VIDEOS ON DEMAND

41st Annual Holiday Craft Market at Osceola Arts

The Osceola Arts Crafters’ Guild is inviting the community to the 41st Annual Holiday Craft Market at Osceola Arts in Kissimmee through December 18th. It’s the perfect way to find that very special and unique gift for that very special someone you care about in your life.

St. Cloud Light Up the Park

The City of St. Cloud, Florida will “Light Up the Park” on December 10, 11, 16, 17 & 18 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Peghorn Nature Park, located at 2101 Peghorn Way in St. Cloud.

Osceola Business Referral Service

For over 20 years the Osceola Business Referral Service has been a trusted source for the community to look to for highly trusted, quality professionals for everything from custom home builders to pest control, and real estate in Osceola County. Just go to OBRS.net and you’ll find a host of businesses that are sure to exceed your expectations!

Kissimmee Valley Feed’s Customer Appreciation Day

Kissimmee Valley Feed’s Main Store in St. Cloud LOVES it’s customers, and to show that love, they are having a Customer Appreciation Day on Saturday, December 10th, from 8am – 2pm. Everything in the store is on sale that day! It’s their way of saying thank you, and happy holidays.

Oliver at Osceola Arts

Next up at the Osceola Arts main stage is the Charles Dickens classic, Oliver! This must-see show will take place December 2nd through December 18th. Showtimes are Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2pm. On Saturday, December 17th at 2pm there will be a special American Sign Language interpreted performance.

2023, a New Year, a New Hope, with Osceola Kowboys Head Football Coach Eric Pinellas

Positively Osceola asked Eric Pinellas, Osceola Kowboys Head Football Coach Eric Pinellas to share his hope and outlook for 2023.

“Happy New Year to all, the 2022 season for us at Osceola was filled with some great wins as well as some challenging moments.  Week 11, we played a pretty good West Orange ball club, that week we were hit with the flu bug and over 20 of our kids missed practice time during the week. We knew that we needed the win however to solidify our seeding for the playoffs. Our kids were able to dig deep and pull out a last second win to solidify our playoff spot. Our biggest win of the year had to be round 1 of the playoffs. It was a rematch of our week 1 opponent Treasure Coast. We knew going in that they were a great defensive team and that we had our work cut out for us.

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

2023, a New Year, a New Hope, with local realtor and community leader, Marcy Theobald

Positively Osceola asked Marcy Theobald, local realtor and community leader to share her hope and outlook for 2023.

“As your local professional realtor, I would say my best experiences in 2022 were fulfilling customers dreams. They filled my heart joy and love. I was proud to be president of Rotary of Kissimmee, and the president of the Women’s Council of Realtors, which brought education, stability, strength in women, guidance, and direction. 2022 was a phenomenal year, but of course as we know, difficulties were in supply and demand. In 2023 i’m looking forward to simplifying life, grounding with family and friends, growing my sphere with communications, and working with new clients. I’m always available for people’s needs in real estate, and am there to assist in every way possible. So, if you don’t know already know me , just give me a call at 407-908-4042. Happy New Year!

Marcy Smiley Theobald PA Realtor, Iron Valley Real Estate -Osceola

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2023, a New Year, a New Hope, with Kissimmee Commissioner, Community Leader, Angela Eady

Positively Osceola asked Angela Eady, City of Kissimmee Commissioner and community leader, to share her hope and outlook for 2023.

“The hope for tomorrow must start today. Each one of us has a true responsibility to mold our county to the dynamics that suits the diversity that reflects us as a unified group of unique individuals. All to benefit one cause, to teach and learn from each other. We must open our hearts and minds to a new form of love and understanding that we all have place and a voice for each other. To motivate, enhance, and excel to the fullest without compromising the integrity on which our upbringing carried us. We must promote the absence of pride and welcome grace and dignity. After all, we are in this together, and together we will stand, and succeed. #TomorrowStartsToday”

Angela Eady

Commissioner, City of Kissimmee

2023, a New Year, a New Hope, with Osceola Council On Aging President/CEO Wendy Ford

Positively Osceola asked Wendy Ford, President/CEO of the Osceola Council On Aging, to share her hope and outlook for 2023.

“As we plunge into 2023, it’s obviously important to look towards the future. Similarly, it’s just as important to look to the past and remember all the blessings which have been bestowed. The past few years have been challenging. Sadly, many have had to endure illness, personal tragedy, natural disasters, and even death. But we have persevered to become not only stronger individuals, but also, a stronger community.

I’m proud to say, The Osceola Council on Aging (OCOA) has continued to be an ever-growing, ever-expanding, stronger, more resilient organization. Despite the last couple of years of pandemic upheaval, we have persevered through obstacles with great outcomes which have constituted overall growth in these times of inflation and economic crisis.

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2023, a New Year, a New Hope, with Kissimmee Advocate, Community Leader, and Department of Health PIO Jeremy Lanier

Positively Osceola asked a number of positive leaders in the community to share their hope and their plans for the new year, and how we can encourage and support each other in 2023. We asked Jeremy Lanier, Kissimmee business owner, positive advocate for the City of Kissimmee, and Public Information Officer with the Florida Department of Health in Osceola, to share his hope and outlook for 2023.

“2023 is upon us. For many, there is pressure to review the previous year and reflect on what will be done differently in the future. It’s the same every New Year’s – we promise ourselves to eat better, to work out more, to excel at work. We place unnecessary pressure on ourselves to set goals and timelines, all in an effort to be the “perfect human”.

But I have a suggestion for this upcoming year. In 2023, I will do things differently and refrain from repeating the routine of past New Year’s. Instead of setting unrealistic goals for myself, I’ll strive to simply be a better human.

I’ll work harder to be kinder to others. I’ll remember that empathy is the true key to building a harmonious community. I’ll take more time with my loved ones, and cherish those moments that are so fleeting. I’ll remember that a simple smile can change the course of another person’s day. 2023 will be less about myself, and more about others. I’ll live in the present and not dwell in the anxiety of future thinking. I’ll be truly thankful for what I have. And I’ll work harder at just giving myself a break and loving who I am. I hope you join me in this effort.

So many wonderful things happened this past year in Osceola County. And even with the challenges we experienced – hurricanes, emerging health threats, political differences – we have so, so much to be grateful for. Our community has shown its resiliency time and time again. And that resiliency is worth more than any currency on the planet. So in 2023, I challenge each of you to be kinder to yourself, and kinder to others. Let’s worry less and hope more. In doing so, I know we will make this the best year yet!”

Jeremy Lanier Public Information Officer, Florida Department of Health in Osceola

Florida’s 2023 Toll Relief Program Has Started

A new toll relief program in Florida began on New Year’s Day that provides credits to frequent commuters using toll roads across the state.

Under the Toll Relief Program, drivers of two-axle vehicles who use toll transponders, like SunPass or other Florida-based transponders, and have accounts in good standing with 35 or more qualifying toll transactions per month will receive a 50 percent credit to their account. The toll credits will be applied automatically to each qualifying account. The program that was proposed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and passed into law by the Florida Legislature, will run through December 31, 2023.

“I promised Floridians that I would find additional ways to provide toll relief for Florida families,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “With this legislation, we are keeping that promise to help hardworking families keep more money in their pockets. I applaud the Florida Legislature for prioritizing this during the special session.”

“FDOT is thrilled to offer the Toll Relief Program to help Floridians with the challenges of rising costs of life,” said Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared W. Perdue, P.E. “Customers are at the center of all we do at FDOT, and this program will truly make an immediate impact on the everyday lives of our customers.”

Source: FDOT

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St. Cloud rocked in the new year Saturday night with its Rockin’ the Cloud 2023 celebration. The city’s downtown entertainment district proved to be the place to be in Osceola County with people lining the downtown streets ready to welcome in 2023.

Local headliner band, The Supervillians, a five-piece reggae, ska/punk band, had the crowd singing, dancing, and shouting in the new year, that included the signature “Cloud Drop” at midnight,

The event’s main stage was shared with other local band favorites Harlequin, and Maiden Voyage, and was emceed by “Theatre in the Cloud.”

2023 kicked off with temps in the upper 70s, only a week after Central Florida experienced a Christmas holiday with near record lows in the upper 30s.

If you’ve pulled into a gas station lately you’ve most likely noticed that gasoline prices have moved back above $3 a gallon in Florida, and look to be trending upward. Florida is currently sitting a nickel higher than the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded at $3.26, which is where Osceola County gas prices are at.

According to GasBuddy, a tech company that monitors the fuel industry, is predicting that we’ll see gas prices move back above $4 a gallon in 2023, and unless something unexpected takes place we’ll probably see that happen during the summer.

Gas Buddy also believes we’ll see “normal seasonal fluctuations” with prices falling after Labor Day and that the national average will drop to about $3.17 before the start of 2024. Average prices hit $5 nationally and $4.89 in Florida in June before dropping through much of the year, until recently.

St. Cloud Rocks in the New Year with its “Rockin’ the Cloud” Celebration

Florida gas prices on the rise after last week’s low, expect ups and downs in 2023

Osceola County Fair to Return to Osceola Heritage Park February 10-19, 2023

The Osceola County Fair is back February 10th through the 19th, 2023 at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, and it’s sure to bigger, better, and more fun than EVER before.

Celebrating its 79th year, Osceola County’s largest event will feature amusement rides, games, exciting exhibits, livestock shows, positively delicious fair food, a demolition derby, a LIVE concert by Warner Music Nashville Country Music artist Chase Matthew on Sunday February 19th, and so much more! Tell your friends, tell your family, it’s the 79th Osceola County Fair at Osceola Heritage Park!

St. Cloud Pink Heals to Host Pinktoberfest at St. Cloud Lakefront January 21

The City of St. Cloud and Pink Heals St. Cloud Charter have teamed up once again to host Pinktoberfest on Saturday, January 21st, from 10am – 4pm at St. Cloud’s beautiful Lakefront Park.

The event helps raise awareness and funds for the St. Cloud Charter of Pink Heals, a non-profit healthcare support group that provides financial and emotional support for individuals and families battling cancer within the St. Cloud Community.

The free family event will feature raffles, vendors, a bounce house, and fun for the entire family. AND, of course, the highlight of the event, the Pink Fire Truck pull contest is back, where teams of 10 compete to pull partially-loaded pink fire truck at the St. Cloud Lakefront in the fastest time possible.

Each truck pulling team will consist of a maximum of 10 people and can raise money by hosting fundraisers, individual pledges, and corporate sponsorships. The cost of entering a truck pull team is only $200.00. To find out more about how you can participate, or to be a vendor for the event, contact Shawnta Price at 407-957-7226.

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Congratulations to Catherine Finneran who was recently named as the 2022 Employee of the Year by the City of Kissimmee!

Catherine has been with Kissimmee’s Development Services Department for 26 years and is integral to her department and the city as a whole. The city says that Catherine’s upbeat attitude and willingness to help others improves morale in her department and makes the City of Kissimmee a better place to live, work, and visit.

Positively Osceola joins the City of Kissimmee in congratulating and thanking Catherine for making a positive difference in and around Osceola County!

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City of Kissimmee names Catherine Finneran as 2022 Employee of the Year!

Osceola County Association of REALTORS® Announces Annual Award Winners

The Osceola County Association of REALTORS recently honored local REALTORS and Vital Industry Partners during their Installation and Awards Ceremony held on December 10, 2022, at the Embassy Suites. The winners were nominated by Association members for going above and beyond in their service to the community and the Association. OSCAR is pleased to announce their 2022 award recipients.

Vital Industry Partner Rising Star of the Year – Kristina Groetsch

The Vital Industry Partner Rising Star of the Year Award recognizes a newly active Vital Industry Partner of our Association who has contributed outstanding service and volunteered time toward the success of our Association and our REALTOR® members.

Vital Industry Partner of the Year – Leslie Hanna Coatney

The Vital Industry Partner of the Year Award acknowledges the contributions and commitment of a Vital Industry Partner who actively participated in OSCAR programs and activities, supported our association, our mission, and our REALTOR® members during this year.

Vital Industry Partner Office of the Year – Oliver Title Law

The Vital Industry Partner Office of the Year Award recognizes a Vital Industry Partner that has contributed outstanding support to our Association.

Public Policy Award – Cheryl Grieb

The Public Policy Award recognizes a REALTOR® member who works effectively on our local, state and national public policy issues.

St. Cloud Main Street to Host Downtown Ghost Tours, and a “Little Less Creepy” Walking Tours

St. Cloud has a lot of history, but did you know that it’s been said that there are ghosts lurking about the Historic Downtown area? Well, here’s your chance to find out, and to possibly meet them… if it’s true!

On January 25th from 8pm -9pm, the St. Cloud Main Street ghost tour will feature multiple stops where you’ll have an opportunity to learn about the ghosts they say haunt some of the creeeeeepy old downtown buildings, as well as the history behind them.

Looking for something a little less eerie? Take one of St. Cloud Main Street’s Historic Walking Tours. The historic walking tour begins at 5:30pm on January 25th. Just go to stcloudmainstreet.org/walking-tours for tickets and more information.

City of Kissimmee to host Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Festival January 14 at Kissimmee’s Lakefront Park

Join the City of Kissimmee in celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and his ideals of unity, diversity, and goodwill on Saturday, January 14th from 12 PM – 5 PM at the City of Kissimmee’s Martin Luther King Jr Unity Celebration at Kissimmee’s Lakefront Park.

The celebration will feature live performances from some of the best gospel, R&B, and soul artists in all of Central Florida. There will be food trucks, craft vendors, the KUA Kids Power Zone, and a unity garden that will highlight the continued influence of Dr. Kings message through original works of art. This amazing City of Kissimmee event is free for the community. For more information go to kissimmee.gov/MLK

The Osceola Chamber to Host 19th Annual Three Kings Day Celebration at Old Town January 3

The Three Kings will once again visit Osceola County in early 2023 in celebration of the Three Kings Day holiday when The Osceola Chamber and its Hispanic Business Council host the 19th annual Three King’s Day Osceola at Old Town in Kissimmee on Sunday, January 8, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. .

The Osceola Chamber’s Hispanic Business Council hosted their annual press conference on Tuesday to announce the arrival of the Three Kings in Osceola County. The council’s current chair, Melissa Zayas-Moreno, led the press conference.

“It has been an honor to be the 2022 Hispanic Business Council Chair and work alongside some of the most amazing professionals in Osceola County. It has been a great year for the HBC board,” Zayas-Moreno shared. “We gave $5,000 in scholarships to Osceola students, celebrated ‘Businesses under the Stars’, and awarded two Hispanicowned businesses for their practices in community involvement.”

You can meet the Three Kings and take a photo with them on January 8 at Old Town as part of the chamber’s 19th Annual Three Kings Day Osceola event!

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INJURY LAW

Draper Law:

minor

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.

Even

car accidents can cause back injuries, don’t wait to seek medical attention

Mecum, World’s Largest Collector Car Auction Returns to Kissimmee January 4-15 with 4,000 Cars

With a projected 4,000 vehicle consignments to be offered at the annual live auction event at Osceola Heritage Park in Florida, Mecum Kissimmee 2023, the world’s largest collector car auction, will feature a broad selection of American muscle cars, classics, Corvettes, exotics, trucks, Hot Rods, customs and more to cross the auction block Jan. 4-15.

The 2023 auction lineup is building momentum right out of the gates with The Chuck Cocoma Judge & GTO Ram Air IV Collection joining the roster to kick things off with serious muscle power. The collection is led by an exceedingly rare Orbit Orange 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge Ram Air IV Convertible and includes a total of six Pontiac GTO Judge Ram Air IVs from the 1969 and 1970 model years among the nine lots that make up the rare muscle-car collection.

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.

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!”

Keith Urban has won four GRAMMY© Awards, thirteen CMAs, fifteen ACMs, three AMAs, two People’s Choice Awards and celebrated nine consecutive gold, platinum or multi-platinum albums. His concerts have become legendary – as unpredictable as they are explosive.

By J. Daniel Pearson For Positively Osceola

Osceola County High Schools Sports Wrapup

While the county schools have been on break, it hasn’t been the end of the action as wrestling and basketball teams competed in holiday action. Here is a review of action from around Osceola County:

GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL: The Orange Belt Conference coaches voted on the all-county team last week. Freshman Cate Palmi was not only named first team but she was also selected as Player of the Year. Palmi led Osceola in kills (591), hitting percentage (.341), and aces (58). Palmi was joined on the first-unit by Kowboy teammates Alex Liggeri (junior), and Kaitlyn Taylor (Senior).

Tohopekaliga placed two players on the all-OBC team with a pair of juniors in Danna Aguilera and Nyah Moore. The first team was rounded out by Harmony senior Wilyamarie Hernandez, Gateway sophomore Angelys Figueroa, Celebration senior Joharis Castillo, and St. Cloud senior Delia Macdonald.

Osceola head coach Carrie Palmi, who led the Kowboys to a regional championship and a state semifinal game in Class 7A, was tabbed as OBC Coach of the Year as the Kowboys finished the season with a stellar 26-5 record.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL: Last year, persistent issues with Covid resulted in the OBC Championship being decided by round robin play and St. Cloud ended up winning the title with a tight 60-55 win over Gateway – denying the Panthers their first conference title. Although an outstanding incoming freshman class made the Panthers co-favorites, St. Cloud sent a message last week that they may not be ready to hand the title over just yet.

The teams ended up meeting on a neutral floor at the Mike Doyle Memorial Classic at Melbourne last week and St. Cloud (11-1) came away with an impressive 46-30 win. Since an early season loss to state power Lake Highland Prep, Chad Ansbaugh’s team has won eight consecutive games heading into its game with Orange Park (5-6) in the opening round of the Jim Clark Classic at Bishop Moore on Tuesday. Juniors Emily Lockey (16.6) and Haley Collins (13.1) are leading the Lady Bulldogs in scoring.

By J. Daniel Pearson For Positively Osceola

Osceola Takes Two Championships in Knockout Christmas Classic Wrestling Tournament

Make no mistake about it. The Knockout Christmas Classic has become one of the premiere high school wrestling tournaments in the country. Evidence comes from the fact that the 10th annual event, which concluded at Osceola’s Silver Spurs Arena on Thursday, featured 63 teams from 11 states and 53 individual defending state champions.

So it’s understandable why Osceola coach Rick Tribit was more than pleased that three his wrestlers advanced to the finals of the Classic and two of those athletes – Anderson Heap (145) and Cooper Haase (152) ended up as Classic Champions. A third Kowboys wrestler, Gunner Holland (170), finished second.

“I’m not only extremely proud of our three finalists and two champions but I am also proud of our entire team,” Head Coach Rick Tribit said following the event. “To get three guys to the finals in a tournament of this magnitude is a great achievement, but I am also so proud of how the entire team wrestled. We won a lot of matches the last two days against a great field and we had some guys who wrestled their tails off and made tremendous progress which will give us a lot of confidence moving forward.”

Haase, who is attempting to become just the second wrestler in Osceola’s storied history to win four state championships, dominated his class in going 6-0 during the tournament .

He took a decisive a decisive 13-5 win over Lake Gibson’s Gianni Maldonaldo in the championship match to run his season record to 17-0. Haase won his first three matches via pin fall, before defeating Jensen Beach’s Dylan Fox by technical fall in the quarterfinals (23-4) and then taking an 11-3 major decision over Devin Stone in the semifinals. Stone, the 7A Georgia state champion from Thompson High, was 17-0 heading into the match with Haase.

Meanwhile, the Panthers still have a solid 13-2 record and are now off until Jan. 4 when they host Mater Brighton Lakes at home. Gateway and St. Cloud may be headed for a collision course when the OBC Tournament is held Jan. 17-20.

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.

CIJS uses the Reggio Emilia approach to learning, which allows children to direct their own learning process according to their needs, and in a less-structured environment. This gives the students a apportunity to grow at their own pace, both as individuals – and community members.

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

OSCEOLA BUSINESS

R E F E R R A L S E R V I C E

Making Business better, together

HEALTH

Orlando Health hospitals awarded top grades for patient safety

Orlando Health Dr. P. Phillips Hospital, Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC), Orlando Health – Health Central Hospital and Orlando Health South Lake Hospital have received “A” grades for patient safety by The Leapfrog Group, an independent nonprofit organization committed to driving quality, safety and transparency in the U.S. health system. For Orlando Health South Lake, this is its 9th consecutive “A” grade from Leapfrog.

“Our clinical teams work extremely hard to achieve and maintain outstanding quality of care across the entire Orlando Health system,” said George Ralls, MD, chief medical officer, Orlando Health. “We have implemented quality and safety clinical practices across our system that protect our patients from harm and ensure the best possible outcomes. Our focus on quality and commitment to excellence has resulted in awards and recognition by other national, well-respected organizations.”

The American Heart Association recently recognized six Orlando Health hospitals for consistently following the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of stroke. In addition, U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice, ranked five Orlando Health clinical programs amongst the top 50 in the US, including a number one ranking for Neonatology in the state of Florida in 2022. Additionally, six Orlando Health hospitals were recognized as 2022-2023 High Performing hospitals in a total of twelve categories. And Orlando Health recently received 24 Beacon Awards for Excellence in nursing care from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses – more than any other healthcare system in Florida – recognizing high-quality patient care and a healthy work environment.

“Earning top recognitions for quality and safety is a continual journey,” adds Dr. Ralls. “Every achievement is a reflection of our mission to improve the health and quality of life of the individuals and communities we serve”

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HEALTH

Ashlee Wright MDA, RD, LD/N Orlando Health Outpatient Registered Dietitian

5 Tips for a Healthy, and Satisfying, Holiday Season From Orlando Health

It can be tough to resist your aunt’s special stuffing or mom’s once-ayear Bûche de Noël when you’re trying to avoid packing on the pounds over the holidays. The truth is: You don’t have to. You just need to be smart and intentional about what you eat.

The following tips will help you enjoy the holidays – and not feel regret come New Year’s Day.

Try These Strategies

1. Don’t abandon hard-earned good habits just because it’s the holiday season.

Even if you’re doing OK maintaining other parts of your healthy routine, like exercising and getting good sleep, food and alcohol — ever-present at this time — can create special challenges. But many holiday traditions — shopping, wrapping, decorating, caroling — don’t necessarily involve food. Make a list of celebratory activities that don’t revolve around eating, then enlist your family and friends to brainstorm even more personal, meaningful favorites.

2. Don’t skip breakfast — do skip treats you can get 365 days a year. (We see you, M&Ms.)

You can make mashed potatoes any day. But your aunt’s stuffing? That’s special‚ so enjoy it — but skip that store-bought roll. Yes, mindful eating can be hard to practice in a busy season, but the holidays roll around every year — odds are good this won’t be your last piece of pumpkin pie ever. Sugar cravings are real, for sure, and also totally normal. Rather than struggling to eliminate those feelings, try to manage them and find balance in your diet. Give yourself a “cookie budget” — or whatever it is that you really want — and then use it wisely on things that are truly special to you. Ordering pizza on a crazy night? Add a salad. A more balanced diet will help you stay mindful because you’ll get better nutritional value from what you are eating. Just slowing down and making more conscious decisions can cut the calories quickly. But don’t overthink it — if all else fails, eat a vegetable.

POSITIVELY DELICIOUS

Florida Shrimp Sandwich with Avocado, Positively

Delicious!

Shrimp, not just any shrimp… Florida Shrimp, and add in some fresh avocado and without question. It’s positively delicious!

INGREDIENTS

• 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

PREPARATION

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.

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IN THE LOOP - THEME PARK NEWS

Walt Disney World Railroad Returns

Guests will once again be able to enjoy a trip aboard the Walt Disney World Railroad this holiday season at Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort.

“The familiar whistle of its steam engine will be complemented by exciting new sounds and voices,” Disney’s team of Imagineers shared. “A new conductor has assumed the role, carrying on the long tradition of warm welcomes and amusing anecdotes while adding fresh commentary and story to the journey.”

This opening-day attraction returns with a completely refreshed track looping the park and an all-new voiceover guiding guests as they travel from one magical land to the next.

Source: Disney World, Photo: Courtney Kiefer

IN THE LOOP - THEME PARK NEWS

Universal’s Great Movie Escape is Now Open at Universal Citywalk

Universal’s Great Movie Escape is now officially open at Universal CityWalk – bringing an entirely new level of escape room experience to Universal Orlando Resort.

Created by the same masterminds behind some of the destination’s most exciting and innovative entertainment, Universal’s Great Movie Escape is comprised of two distinct, cinematic escape adventures inspired by Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s iconic Jurassic World and Back to the Future films – each boasting eight immersive environments that feature state-of-theart challenges, detailed sets and captivating storylines that allow guests to step into blockbuster films like never before.

Universal’s award-winning entertainment team partnered closely with escape room industry experts and the visionary Jurassic World and Back to the Future filmmakers to create this innovative experience that goes beyond the typical escape room. One of the unique features of Universal’s Great Movie Escape is the variety of challenges guests must work together to complete, with each one specifically crafted so that the experience is enjoyable for novices and escape room aficionados alike. The activities within both adventures are:

• randomized – so the solution can vary with each visit

• story-driven – as guests must complete tasks as part of an immersive original story

• customizable depending on party size – ensuring everyone gets to participate

• adjustable based on skill level and complexity – so there’s always a challenge to solve

The adventure begins as soon as guests enter the art deco, theater-inspired venue, where they’ll immediately be swept into one of many experiences.