The Midtown Press - Dec 2022/January 2023 Issue

Carthia Joachim, ARNP

Virginia Santana Felix, MD

EDITOR’S CHAIR

Here we are at the end of 2022! Maybe because it is still unseasonably warm, it doesn't quite yet feel like the holidays. I am always so inspired (and embarrassed) by the incredible job that the neighbors in my subdivision do for decorating. In fact, my next-door neighbors decorate a Christmas tree every year that could be displayed on the floor of any department store. On the other hand, I have looked at my tree in the past and would prefer that no one sees it because of how sad it looks.

Despite my personal issues with my tree decorating skills, I love the holiday season. I believe it brings out the warmer side of people. People get in a giving mood as they embark on purchasing presents for their loved ones. I enjoy the bible verse, “It’s more blessed to give than receive.” (Acts 20:35) Many people will automatically assume that their giving is based on what they can offer materially. I tend to view it differently. I believe giving is inclusive of your time and talents. During this time of year, many non-profit organizations, including mine, Hebni Nutrition, are blessed to receive financial donations to support their mission. However, contributions of time in the form of volunteers often increase and are needed and appreciated.

There have been studies about people's happiness levels who gave money to charities or volunteered their time. Across the board, these studies point to the happiness of people who give. One survey by the National Opinion Research Center’s General Social Survey showed that people who donated blood 2-3 times per year were very happy 43 percent of the time as opposed to 29 percent who didn’t. It makes sense that when we give to others, they feel closer to us. We might need to realize that giving to others also makes us feel closer to them. I believe that giving is contagious, which is why I am

a fan of the concept of paying it forward. When people experience genuine kindness, they're more apt to treat others with the same sort of benevolence. So while the masses will focus on the latest tech gadgets, toys, and big-screen televisions, I hope that you consider a new tradition that embodies gratitude.

It has been a long year, and with Thanksgiving recently behind us, and with guarded optimism, it seems like things are back to "normal" - coming off the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many families who were unable to make plans to gather over the past few years are looking forward to being together again. As an official "empty nester," I look forward to having my children together again under one roof for Christmas.

As we look forward to 2023, I have many plans on my goal-planning list. This year I found myself not having enough time to make an impact on my to-do list. And while I am not big on New Year's resolutions, I plan on prioritizing my list to achieve my goals. I am a proponent of the adage that "you make time for the things that are important to you." So ask yourself, what is important to you? What should you be spending time on to make yourself better? It may be reading more books, learning another language, or starting a business - now is the perfect time to start crafting your plan. A certain sense of accomplishment and amazement comes from crafting a plan at the beginning of the year and then seeing how successful you were at the end of the year. So in the words of the 90's philosopher Arsenio Hall, "Let's Get Busy!"

Tidbits

Orange County Hurricane Debris Removal

More than 220,000 cubic yards collected - Completion estimated by mid-December

Orange County contractors continue to remove debris from across Orange County. Projections indicate the County will be cleared of debris from Hurricane Ian and Tropical Storm Nicole by mid-December.

Since October 6, 2022, crews have collected more than 220,000 cubic yards of debris, filling 5,500 commercialsized dumpsters or nearly 15,000 average-sized dump trucks.

Crews continue to work 12-hour days, 7 days-a-week to clear County maintained streets and roads, focusing on subdivisions with critical needs before addressing lesser affected areas. Orange County Utilities staff is committed to restoring the expected level of customer service through daily contact with the haulers and holding them contractually accountable to ensure collection schedules return to normal as soon as possible.

For storm debris collection information, visit www.ocfl.net/storm or dial 311 (407-836-3111).

Community Organization Award Winners Recognized

Orange County Neighborhood Services hosted a Community Awards Recognition breakfast on during which the 2022 Citizen of the Year and Community Organization Award winners were honored.

The Citizen of the Year awards recognize dedicated individuals who continue to work diligently to improve the quality of life in Orange County, either through their professional work or volunteer activities. Each of the six District Commissioners selected a Citizen of the Year for their respective district to recognize them for their contributions.

• The Office of the Mayor Distinguished Citizen of the Year is Dr. George A. Wallace, CEO of The LGBT+ Center in Orlando.

• The District 1 Citizen of the Year is Jennie Joseph, a British-trained midwife who fights to ensure every person has their healthiest possible pregnancy, birth and postpartum experience with dignity and support.

• The District 2 Citizen of the Year is Robert J. Samson, an active volunteer in Orange County who has served 15 years with the Central Florida Crime Prevention Association

• The District 3 Citizen of the Year is Noel Howard who provides unselfish assistance to the district’s youth. He tutors students for the ACT and SAT, while also teaching reading.

• The District 4 Citizen of the Year, Cynthia Borgwing, is the founder and executive director of Rebuild Yourself Inc., a nonprofit focused on building self-esteem, confidence and friendships for teenagers in a post-pandemic environment.

• The District 5 Citizen of the Year, Florida Rising Together, is an organization that conducts dedicated voter registration, education, housing justice and disaster response.

• The District 6 Citizen of the Year is Debi Meli, chair of Orlo Vista United Safe Neighborhood. Under her leadership, she petitioned Orange County Parks and Recreation to renovate a Ranger house located at Orlo Vista Park. 

Tidbits continued

The Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to adopt Vision Zero, an effective method of eliminating all traffic fatalities and severe injuries by focusing on designing safer roadways. Pine Hills, a thriving community that has seen impressive growth over the past decade, is one of the first areas of focus for the Vision Zero initiative.

Extensive work is underway in the Pine Hills area and Robinswood community to address safety concerns for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers. Residents and neighborhood leaders met with representatives from Orange County Public Works, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and Orange County Commission District 6 to share their concerns about the increased traffic in the area.

“As part of the early deployment of the Vision Zero strategies and mitigations, numerous traffic, pedestrian, and biking improvements are underway,” said Humberto Castillero, traffic engineering manager, Orange County Public Works Department. “In assessing the engineering solutions for these communities, several options were evaluated to manage both vehicular and non-vehicular traffic.”

Public Works has implemented what it refers to as the “4E” approach to engagement, which focuses on the four critical components of traffic safety – engineering, enforcement, education and emergency services.

For the educational component, the Robinswood and Pine Hills communities will hold meetings with residents to discuss traffic safety, initiate or enhance neighborhood watch programs and bring attention to pedestrian and bicycle safety on the residential streets.

The plan also includes adding modified speed cushions – traffic calming devices that include raised humps in the road and digital radar feedback signs – to accommodate the needs of Orange County’s emergency services.

While many safety improvement solutions are underway, other projects will take more time to implement. One of the recently completed projects is the new traffic signal upgrade at the intersection of Balboa Dr. and Powers Dr. In addition to the new mast arm signal, ADA-compliant ramps were installed along with sidewalk improvements at the intersection.

Vision Zero initiative safety enhancements will continue in Pine Hills throughout the year. 

Bridging the Gap for Low-Income Students Pursuing Trade Certifications at Valencia College

TheHeart of Florida United Way (HFUW) and Valencia College announced a strategic partnership to support students of ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families. The focal point of the announcement was a $1,000,000 investment by HFUW to support lowincome students at Valencia College’s Center for Accelerated Training Northwest facility in the Pine Hills area through a “Live United Scholarship.”

“Certified workers in trades such as welding, carpentry, and distribution warehouse operations are in high demand, and can often pay in the $17 to $22 per hour range. Getting this certification can be life-changing for an ALICE family who is struggling to pay for even their basic needs with minimum wage part-time jobs,” said Jeff Hayward, President & CEO, Heart of Florida United Way. “However, for most students, putting food on the table and being able to make rent payments comes first, especially if they have children. Stepping away from a job to complete a 12-week certification is next to impossible, even though the results can yield higher wages and a better career. That’s what we hope to do – provide the financial boost for basic needs so that a student can take advantage of this career-altering, life-changing program.”

Students accepted into the Live United Scholarship program will receive a living stipend of $125 per week for each week of their certification. Training programs range from four to 22 weeks in specialties like welding, carpentry, distribution operations tech, residential maintenance tech, CDL, industrial automation tech and electronic board assembly Valencia anticipates being able to assist 200 students per year with this program.

Funding for this initiative is from a historic $20 million gift from philanthropist and author MacKenzie Scott. The funding was the largest single gift HFUW has ever received in the organization’s 83-year history. 

Senior Focus

Pine Hills Seniors: Staying Active & Involved!

We Share Because we Care!

PHS Thanksgiving Celebration

On November 17th the Pine Hills Seniors, Inc., held their 15th Annual Celebration at the Pine Hills Community Center. The Seniors were happy to be able to meet in person after not being able to meet for the past couple of years due to COVID-19 restrictions. The group was treated to a delicious, traditional Thanksgiving feast with all of the fixins, sponsored by the generosity of the men of Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity, Inc., Orlando Alumni Chapter.

In the past, the featured entertainment has always been the highlight of the event, and this year was no different. The event was emceed by Andrea Jackson and included a presentation by The Daffodils, songs by John Moore & Petrina Ferguson, and Millie Swaby , poems by Pearlin Lee, Beverly Jordan and Theodore Burgan, a comedy routine by Llewelyn Parks , words of wisdom by Compton Belle, and a dance by Sheila Belle. Pine Hills Seniors President Lorna Wilmoth also presented plaques of appreciation to several individuals and organizations for their dedication and commitment to the group.

In the end, one theme that resonated throughout the day was one of thanks ! The group is entirely thankful to all that attended the event and wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

Orlando Health Imaging Center Visit

The Pine Hills Seniors visited Orlando Health Hospital to attend a seminar on cancer screening and preventive health. The seminar, conducted by the Imaging Test Department, provided the group with information on new technology being used for mammograms and other cancer detections. The team also mentioned that all men should remember to get their screenings for cancers, including breast cancer. The Seniors concluded the visit with a tour of the new Imaging Area.

Born in St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, Barbara Chandler is a long-time Central Florida resident. She has worked for 10 years as the manager and cultural arts educator at the Hannibal Square Heritage Center, in Winter Park, Florida where she educates visitors on African Americans' contributions (past and present) throughout Central Florida. Barbara has the passion for creating dynamic cultural exchanges, organizing educational events and curating art exhibitions.

The Hannibal Square Story Quilters quilt group is dedicated to supporting all our quilt artists in a creative community. We share techniques, equipment and supplies to make meaningful art while supporting each other in all aspects of our lives. We listen to each other’s stories and work together to preserve our cultural heritage. We learn from each other, have fun and enjoy life. The exhibition, collectively curated by the group, gives each quilter an opportunity to tell her unique story. Exhibit themes include artist reflections on the Black experience, spirituality, justice, femininity, family, and nature. Artists will reflect on their works with the public in celebration of Black History Month.

642 W New England Ave. Winter Park, FL 32789

Where are the HBCU's ?

Thomas Coston Sports & Music Entertainment Contributor

As we enter the holiday season, the college football regular season ends heading into the Bowl season. Some universities are fortunate enough to have an opportunity to extend their season for one more game. A majority of these universities usually are at least in the top 5 of their conference. If a team wins six games they are guaranteed a bowl game at neutral locations throughout the country. As I think about the above, it caused me to think about this question, “Where are the HBCU’s”? For those wondering, an HBCU is a Historically Black College or University, which are colleges that were established before the Civil Rights Act with the intention of primarily serving African-Americans.

As a kid, I was and still am, an avid sports fan, and I can only remember HBCU schools participating in the Celebration Bowl. I would always look forward to this game. Being of African American descent, all of the participants looked like me. The teams and fans donned their school colors. The cheerleaders, the broadcast anchors, the commentators, heck, even the referees all looked like me. The Celebration Bowl was the one, and still only Bowl game being held for HBCU’s. Why? This bowl game celebrates the heritage, legacy, pageantry and tradition of HBCU’s. The game features only two HBCU conferences nationwide, The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) & The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Last year’s game featured South Carolina State and Jackson State University at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. According to the Bowls' website, 48,653 people attended the game. I’m far from controversial type but shouldn’t more of our HBCU’s be able to showcase and celebrate? Once again, we are back at the question, “Why”? To get this answer, the question may require more detail in a future article, however, let's tackle what we can.

According to the website www.thehundred-seven.org with a handful of exceptions there are 107 colleges identified by the Dept. Of Education as Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Of that number, 92 of those colleges are located in the South. Collectively, HBCU’S generate $14.8 billion in economic impact annually. Granted, this type of impact is pales in comparison to major colleges and universities. Knowledge of that fact leaves prying minds to wonder what the potential impact could be.

HBCU’s have been represented by numerous legendary sports figures through the years! Dare I remind you of the likes of the legendary Coach Eddie Robinson from Grambling State. His accolades over his 56-year career are so illustrious I would need half of this publication to list them all. Other prominent names include Althea Gibson, Bob Hayes, Walter Payton, Edwin Moses, Jerry Rice, Wilma Rudolph, Michael Strahan & Steve McNair, to name a few. With legendary figures of such influence, it continuously takes us back to the question, Where are our HBCU’s? Let's delve into trying to answer this question.

HBCU’s have gained much popularity in recent years, so why are they still so disadvantaged? Most of these programs top-notch educational institutions. Recently, Tennessee State University President, Brenda Glover went before a Senate committee to gain assistance in expediting the use of $250 million in state funds. President Glover found herself in defense not only about how to use the funds (which were put on hold) but also about how students were choosing her university over other predominantly white institutions in the state.

Why was this so important to a Senate committee who were meeting with the institution on how to expedite funds? One word, money! It boils down to enrollment which generates more revenue. Revenue, in turn, helps athletic programs improve their facilities and other projects. This makes the

institution more attractive to top-notch athletes. If HBCU's can get more students & student-athletes enrolled, the state of the HBCU will only continue to improve. Athletes who attend and play sports at HBCU's are provided a nurturing learning environment like other major institutions. They can also offer the necessary leadership for student athletes to be successful. A number of social and economic issues can be addressed by a student-athlete who attends an HBCU. So to all student-athletes (and parents of athletes), regardless of the sport, if a recruiter comes knocking on your door, be sure and consider all of your options, including HBCU's. Are HBCU's still needed and relevant? Yes! The status of these schools are poised to gain even more in attendance, popularity and notoriety. Just pay attention to what Coach Deion Sanders was able to achieve at Jackson State University .The sky's the limit if these institutions continue to ride this popularity. 

Thomas Coston, Jr. is an avid Sports Enthusiast, he has a love and passion for many sports. He believes the love that we have of sports connects us as one and brings us together. Thomas himself played football and basketball at Columbia High School. (Fl) He graduated and lettered 4 years. Thomas signed a scholarship to play basketball the Junior College level. He played two years in his hometown at Lake City Community College (Currently Florida Gateway Community College). Thomas’ resume includes him managing a team of personnel that engage in motorcycle motorsports. Thomas has also managed mixed martial arts at the pro level. Additionally, he has volunteered as a coach in youth sports for Pop Warner football as well as AAU basketball. Thomas has also reffereed basketball for the Central Florida Officials Association and other organizations. Thomas loves sharing his knowledge of sports with everyone. More importantly, sharing others knowledge, passion and love for sports is something he truly enjoys.

Maynard Evans High School

Teach In 2022

Each November, in celebration of American Education Week, business and civic leaders come into classrooms at Evans High School to talk with students about academics, careers, and the future. This year, Teach-in had its largest community participation yet. On November 18th, students in grades 9-12 had the opportunity to hear from and talk with industry leaders from a wide variety of organizations and businesses in Central Florida, including Orange County Government, Onyx IP, Valencia College, Hebni Nutrition, Orlando Magic, SMILE Ice Cream, The Midtown Press, Jobs Partnership of Florida, Orlando Health and more. Presenters spoke with over 750 students in more than 30 classrooms and when asked, students described their sessions as: “I loved it;” “I would love to have him come back again to do another lesson;” “It was life-changing and encouraging;” and an “uplifting and a powerful message.” If you are interested in joining us for next year’s Teach-In or volunteering to share your career story with our students through one of our career conversations, please contact evanshub@chsfl.org.

Think, Dream, Believe, Dare Program Becomes a Reality

This Fall, Children's Home Society of Florida was excited to participate in The Walt Disney World Earidescent Celebration that honored 50 years of Community Giving. At this event, CHS was one of the twelve organizations in Central Florida to receive a 2022 Disney Impact Grant Recipient for the Think, Dream, Believe, Dare Program. This $100.000 grant will support students at Evans and at Jones Community Partnership Schools to prepare for college and career through hands-on interactive workshops, standardized test preparation, college visits, and mentoring. Thank you to Walt Disney World for this great honor!

Evans Becomes First Orange County Earn to Learn School

Established in 2011, Earn to Learn Florida is a successful matched savings financial assistance program. It combines student savings with financial assistance, personal finance training, and college success coaching to help low-to-moderate-income, and under-represented students obtain a college education and graduate career-ready with little to no student loan debt. Our Trojans will be matched with Joy and Ruth-Ann, our new Earn to Learn Near Peer Coaches from UCF, who will help them prepare for college by assisting with college applications, FAFSA completion, scholarship essays and more. Evans is the first Community Partnership School in the state to be part of this program and is the first and only high school in Orange County.

One of the milestones of a student’s senior year in high school is the completion of the FAFSA, which can serve as the gateway to an affordable college education. This year, Evans CPS partnered with the Evans College and Career Resource Center to hold the firstever, FAFSA Extravaganza, to assist students and their families with the completion of the often time challenging form. Representatives from financial aid offices at Rollins College, UCF, and Valencia provided expert guidance and support to the students and families. Walt Disney World was on hand as the lead sponsor of the event and made the experience magical with park ticket giveaways, information about the Disney Aspire program, and provided games and sweet Mickey crispy treats for all. The Orlando Magic and Electronic Arts also provided additional prizes. With the support of all our partners, Evans was the most improved high school in the State of Florida in FAFSA completions.

FAFSA Extravaganza Magic Comes to Evans

Ask the Expert

| By Celines Martinez, MS, RDN/LDN

Holiday Eating: Beyond Holiday Weight Gain

Are you fearing the dreaded holiday weight gain? It is that time of year again when we start to indulge in all the holiday goodness while stressing out about how this will affect our waistlines. Well, I am here to tell you not to worry. Studies have shown that holiday weight gain only results in about 1-2 pounds. Extra weight gain could be due to other factors, including water weight from eating out more, holiday stress, not sleeping enough, or poor sleep quality. Unless you put in extra effort to eat your way from Thanksgiving through the new year, keeping your weight on track requires just a few tips and a plan.

Do you have a wellness plan routine? Are you currently using a specific eating plan or exercise routine? This time of year, our priorities shift, and our wellness routine is the first thing to fall off our schedule. Sticking to your plan, and keeping up with your current diet will keep your body consistent and allow you not to feel guilty about indulging in holiday treats. Be sure to choose your holiday splurges carefully and eat items you truly enjoy. Be mindful, and don’t consume everything in sight for the sake of holiday celebrations.

Exercising through the holidays is great for avoiding weight gain and has countless benefits. Maintaining an exercise routine during this busy time helps with stress management, sleep quality, insulin resistance, lowering blood pressure, etc.

Don’t have a wellness plan/routine? You do not have to wait until January to begin. The end of the year is an excellent time for reflection and a great time to start incorporating new habits that can roll into the new year.

Adding physical activity to your daily routine can be as simple as walking after dinner or cycling to reap the benefits.

Being mindful about what you eat and focusing on healthy foods outside of holiday gatherings will support your health through the new year. The holidays are about enjoying our families and friends. Don’t let the stress of weight gain affect your enjoyment. In between parties, look for ways to stay healthy through physical activity, eating healthy, and getting enough sleep. Creating a wellness plan and sticking to it will make you merry all season long.

If you don’t have a wellness plan and need help getting started, check out our free programs at Hebni Nutrition to help you end the year right and start 2023 with a bang.

Celines Martinez is a Registered Dietitian with Hebni Nutrition who facilitates nutrition education programming and content in Spanish and English to better meet the needs of our diverse community. In addition, she is responsible for data collection analysis of community health and nutrition projects. Celines holds a Master of Science degree in Nutrition and Dietetics and Associates of Science in Culinary Arts

Local Authors Host Book Launch Event

Sunday, December 4th was a day of celebration for three incredible women who came together to introduce their respective book projects to the community. Complete with an official proclamation from City of Ocoee, District 4 Commissioner George Oliver, the trio of authors held an event at The Worship Center Orlando, where Bishop Elect Dr. Frank Thompson is the Sr. Pastor.

As a VPK teacher, Jennifer Abraham wrote her book, "How I Eat my ABCs," because she sees many children enter the school system struggling with the alphabet. She decided to write some thing for them to have fun while they learn. Her book can be purchased by emailing her directly at jlove104@yahoo.com or at PO Box 682437 Orland, Florida 32868.

Andrea Jackson's book "I Too Built America" is a collection of the programs she conducted in churches, schools and other venues during her years as an educator in the public school system. The book is intended to show how America became the great country it is, in part from the contributions of African-Americans who help made a differ ence in our country. For more information, she can be reached at andreajackson5@icloud.com.

"The Paper Bouquet and Other Poems" by Patricia NiBlack is a collection of poems that were written through out the author’s lifetime during periods which were rich with social opinion, during times of spiritual reflection, to celebrate family relationships, and in response to special occasions. Several were penned as verses for Freehand Greetings TM cards. The author published these poems so they would be preserved for generations because books continue to speak long after the authors are gone. Some of the poems are fun, some are intense, but all are in tended to bring enjoyment and enlightenment to the reader. This collection brings them all together so they can be enjoyed like a bouquet of flowers. You can purchase a copy of the book on Amazon.com or directly from the author by emailing pfreehand@bellsouth.net, through Facebook Messenger, or Instagram at patricianiblack.