The Midtown Press - June/July 2023 Issue

Dates to Know Press THE Midtown

JUNE 2023

2

JULY 2023

About the Cover

We saw these adorable siblings, at picturesque Orlo Vista Park, welcoming summer the right way, complete with bubbles, yo-yos, and sidewalk chalk. We couldn't help but capture the moment for this issue. We hope you enjoy it!

EDITOR’S CHAIR

Summertime, and the livin’ is easy. The jazz standard was composed in 1933-34 by George Gershwin for the opera “Porgy & Bess.” The song has covered more than 25,000 times & sung by artists including Janis Joplin & Billie Holliday, Ella Fitzgerald/Louis Armstrong & Willie Nelson. Well, it is summertime in Orlando, and our neighborhood children are all out of school, livin easy! While the official start of Summer doesn't begin until June 21st we are already in Summer mode. This is officially our summer issue so we hope you enjoy it. From the adorable siblings on the cover to articles addressing swim safety, summer travel tips, and hurricane safety (hurricane season officially began on June 1st), we believe there is something for everyone.

By the time this issue goes to press, we should have had all the area graduations, so I would like to say "congratulations" to the Class of 2023! Whether you graduated from high school or college, we celebrate your accomplishments. I was a proud dad when I saw my daughter, Madison, graduate from the University of South Florida! It was a special moment to see her walk across the stage. USF does need to fix the leaks in the gymnasium roof, as water kept streaming down my face throughout the ceremony (LOL)!

II'd like to give a special shout and welcome Kassandra

M. Santiago to The Midtown Press team as a Community Contributor. I first met Kassandra at the last Pine Hills Hob Nob event in the Summer of 2022, and I have been impressed with her dedication to our community. We both share a strong desire to help tell the good happening in our neighborhood, so we have decided to partner toward that very mission. You can see articles in this issue by Kassandra, where she covers the Pine Hills Community Council's Global Earth Day Community Cleanup Day and the Orlando Metro Treesilience program.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention Mrs. Sheila Belle, one of the founders and past President of the Pine Hills Seniors, Inc. The group held a recognition luncheon in her honor (see story on Page 10) as she takes a well-deserved step down. What the Pine Hills Seniors organization has accomplished over the years is a testament to her dedication and love for the group and the community. I have known and worked with Mrs. Belle both personally, and professionally and I am elated to see her being celebrated in this manner. You deserve every minute of it, Mrs. Belle!

The month of June also includes Father's Day (celebrated this year on June 18th), so please be sure to stock up on traditional gifts, including socks, power tools, and underwear for the special father in your life. While it doesn't have the same appeal as Mother's Day, if you have a father (or father figure), be sure to celebrate him. They would appreciate it.

I also thank Roy Leath of the Pine Hills Community Center for allowing me to interview him for our Community Leader Focus section. Roy provides steady leadership to the Center where many of our community members spend time. This would be an excellent opportunity for our readers to learn more about him and the Center. You can read more about Roy in our interview on Page 20.

This section is always a reminder of how fast time is moving. Our next issue, (August/September) will feature information about our kids returning to school for another school year. Until then, I hope you can find time to relax on vacation or grab a good book and sit by a pool or the ocean to enjoy the Summer

Press THE Midtown

The little paper with the big picture!

“The little paper with the big picture”

Publisher EJP North, LLC.

Editor Glen R. Providence

Associate Editor

Barbara Chandler

All materials contained herein (unless otherwise noted) are owned and copyrighted by EJP North, LLC and Glen R. Providence. No material may be reproduced in any manner or form without the written consent of the publishers or their designated representative.

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www.themidtownpress.com

Habitat U

Free classes open to all!

As part of our commitment to educate and inform our community about homeownership and home preservation, we have debuted a new lineup of classes. All classes are free but space is limited, so please reserve your spot today!

June classes:

June 7:

June

June

June

Senior Focus

Pine Hills Seniors: Staying Active & Involved!

We Share Because we Care!

OnMay 11, 2023, the Pine Hills Seniors celebrated one of its founders and former President, Mrs. Sheila Belle What started out as an opportunity for people to come together to socialize and have fun, the Pine Hills Seniors group has blossomed into an award-winning registered 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization whose mission is to "Empower our Seniors to Live Active, Healthy Lives."

The event hosted by the group's current President, Ms. Lorna Wilmoth, allowed attendees to "give Mrs. Belle her flowers." Ms. Wilmoth stated, "Mrs. Belle has inspired so many people in our community, and it was only fitting for us to come together to celebrate her contributions to the Pine Hills Seniors group." While Mrs. Belle will step down from performing her day-to-day administrative role, she will remain an active member of the group.

The event featured a Proclamation, musical selections, reflections from friends, and a delicious meal complemented by beautiful decorations. The Midtown Press would like to recognize and honor Mrs. Belle's dedication and commitment to the community.

JUNETEENTH 2023

8th Annual Celebration in Historic Hannibal Square:

Saturday, June 17, 2023 | 10am-2pm

Events & Presentations include:

Remembering Rosewood Valada Flewellyn will be in conversation with Lizzie Jenkins, Historian of Rosewood, Florida and Founder of The Real Rosewood Foundation. Joining the discussion will be Dr. Alexandra Cornelius, Director of the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies at Florida International University. Dr. Cornelius will share the reason why/how many women inherit the sacred role to be keepers of community history.

Collective Body & Breath Release This is a 15-minute creative decompression exercise led by Performing Artist Joanna Tress and Visual Artist Eric Andre. Collective Body & Breath Release is a way to begin community healing and peace building. Audience members will have the opportunity to write an affirmation, which will then be embedded into a clay pot and displayed in the Hannibal Square Heritage Center ceramics 2024 exhibition.

Honoring Hannibal Square Orlando Poet Laureate Shawn Welcome pays homage to Historic Hannibal Square, an African American enclave located in West Winter Park. Welcome has prepared a customized spoken word tribute to the Families and Friends of Hannibal Square as a gift from Bridging The Color Divide and The University Club.

Black Music Month & Juneteenth Tribute Songstress Nancy Ford will celebrate Black Music Month throughout the Juneteenth program. Nancy Ford, will open the program by singing The National Negro Anthem: Lift Every Voice & Sing written by Weldon Johnson.

For the full event schedule, visit hannibalsquareheritagecenter.org

hannibalsquareheritagecenter.org

Tidbits

Orange County Government Invites Community to Participate in Vision 2050 Town Hall Meetings

Orange County Government wants to hear from you! Please join the conversation about the future of Orange County. Vision 2050 is Orange County’s comprehensive plan that will guide the next phase of growth. The plan strives to protect natural resources and habitats, respect the diversity and character of established communities, increase transportation choices, encourage housing that meets the needs of every family, and connect vibrant places. Residents will also have a chance to shape the County’s vision by reviewing the plan and providing feedback through a new interactive mapping website, which can be accessed at www.bit.ly/v2050web

Town hall meetings are taking place throughout the County so residents can learn about the principles of Vision 2050 and how to participate using online tools and resources to share their thoughts. Each town hall meeting is tailored to its region and community and will consist of brief staff presentations, question and answer sessions, and panel discussions.

Community Arts Spotlight

Inhonor of Black Music Month and as a pre-Juneteenth celebration, The Winter Park Playhouse has teamed up with Barbara Chandler Productions to present Sounds Of Soul, an evening of storytelling through spirituals, drumming, and spoken word. This unique one-night event will occur at The Winter Park Playhouse in their beautiful lobby bar/cabaret space on Thursday, June 8, at 7:30 pm.

Sounds of Soul will feature an evening of spirituals, drumming, dance, and spoken word. Curtis Branson will headline the event, performing gospel songs along with spoken word artist JASON TIE DAVIS and the extraordinary talents of Ajose Afrikan Drum and Dance, featuring dancer Desiree Coleman and Osabi and Oba Ogunlani on the drums.

Mariah Roman is one of Orlando’s talented visual Artists and Curators who is moving and shaking up things to create space for all Artists! She is the co-curator with The Art of Collab Studios, whose mission is to create “accessible art” in neighborhoods with limited or no access to museums or galleries. Mariah has co-curated A Community Museum Without Walls, including the Parramore Mural Project and Eatonville’s RISE Mural Project, featuring Zora Neale Hurston. These mural projects are works of art collaborating with visual artists and poets from the Central Florida community.

Mariah is also the co-founder of Black Shell Studios, a black-owned business founded by Women. Mariah is a multimedia artist, photographer, videographer, graphic/web designer, and painter. As an artist working in underserved/ underrepresented spaces, Mariah uses photography to share a story and be seen as the subject, not the object. Recently Black Shell Studio partnered with The Black Lunch Table and organized a pop–up event to help archive Central Florida’s creative community. These images will help bridge the visibility gap of BIPOC artists’ faces by assisting them in archiving their work and legacy. “Wherever there is a wall, there is a canvas for us”- states Roman.

www.mariahroman.art

IG @BlackShellStudio

MAY

George Nock: Breaking Barriers

The Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens is honored to partner with The George and Mary Nock Foundation to present a retrospective exposition of George Nock’s artwork and celebrate his contributions as artist, athlete, and barrier breaker. An accomplished artist and former NFL running back, Nock devoted his life to the creation of realistic figures in bronze.

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Community Leader Focus

Roy Leath, Jr. - Pine Hills Community Center

For multiple reasons, I have visited the Pine Hills Community Center over 100 times since 2019. It probably would have been double that amount if it were not for the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the mainstays during my many visits has been Roy Leath, Jr. His calm and professional demeanor always resonated with me, making it easy for us to connect. On several visits to the Center, Roy would summon me to his office, where I would pull up a chair and chat for a few minutes. Our conversations were always lighthearted but meaningful. In those few minutes, we would discuss upcoming changes and upcoming events happening at the Center and throughout the community. I decided Roy would be the perfect person to feature for our first ever Community Leader Focus. The section, much like the name, will introduce our readers to a community leader whose work makes an impact on the daily lives of our residents.

The first thing you will notice about Roy is his height. At 6' 8", he is, by all definitions, tall. His height would come in handy growing up as a basketball player. The high school standout from Polk County (Lake Wales) would catch the eyes of recruits and would end up attending and playing collegiately at Seton Hall University His basketball journey would bring him back to central Florida during his senior year to be closer to family, where he wrapped up his college career playing for the University of Central Florida

Roy's work career is checkered and unique and includes stints as a teacher at Lockhart Middle School and Wekiva High, where he taught History, served as a SAFE Coordinator, and taught AVID. He would also use his experience as a basketball player to coach the girl's basketball team, where he would not win a game in the first two years. In his third year, his team went to Elite Eight, and in his fourth year, they won the County, marking the first time the school ever won a county title.

Roy's tenure working for Orange County began at Great Oaks Village, an almost 100-year-old residential foster group home for children. It is the only foster care facility operated by Orange County. He would serve multiple roles at the Village. However, his time at the Community Action Division began at Holden Heights Community Center before landing at the Pine Hills Community Center in 2019.

I asked Roy what is his primary job as a Center Supervisor? Without hesitation, he responded, "To make sure that people leave here better, period." Roy wants the community to know that they can come to the Center for help. "If we can't help you physically help you here, we can direct you to where you should go," stated Roy. Roy takes his role very seriously. He has a deep sense of responsibility to the Center and everyone who visits and works there. From the Headstart program, which boasts over 200 4-year-olds, to the various community groups that meet there, including the Pine Hills Seniors, he takes pride in ensuring that Pine Hills Community Center runs smoothly. Multiple programs and groups currently meet at the Center. Roy aims to expand partnership offerings so more community members can become involved.

As a Central Florida transplant, I am always interested in learning trivia about Orlando. One piece of trivia I learned from Roy about the Pine Hills Community Center is that it used to be a YMCA center with a pool! Who knew?

Thank you Roy for all you do to help our community!

Maynard Evans High School

In February of this year, I was honored to be inducted into 100 Black Men of Greater Orlando. Since its origin in 1963, 100 Black Men of America Inc. has volunteered its time, talent, and skill to improve life in our communities while enhancing educational and economic opportunities for all African Americans. To this end, the organization has implemented a youth-focused strategy that includes training and mentoring youth in education, health & wellness, and economic development programs. The Orlando Chapter, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit corporation since 1991, awards scholarships to Jones High School graduates to provide financial support during their four-year undergraduate term.

The organization hosts an end-of-year closeout dinner to recognize the seniors graduating from high school who have participated in the program. To my surprise, I was asked to serve as the keynote speaker for the dinner event. I was hesitant but agreed to take on the speaker role. My challenge would become, what was I actually going to speak about? I kept asking myself, "What do I have in common with a group of 18-year high school seniors?" My eventual solution was to put myself in their shoes. What was my frame of mind as an eager 18-year-old with the rest of my life in front of me? I got busy digging out my high school yearbook from 1992 and started to write a speech that I hope connected with them.

The speech served as a point of introspection for me. Thinking back 30 years ago to me as that 18-year-old kid, am I where I thought I would be, both personally and professionally? Have you ever reflected on your life and all of its ups and downs, highs and lows, successes and failures, and if so, how do you feel it has turned out...so far? I say so far because I believe it is never too late to change.

I remember reading a story a year ago about a grandmother in Toronto, Canada, who graduated with a university degree at age 85.

I subscribe to the notion that we create the life we want. Choosing to create the life you want may mean letting go of what no longer serves you, including toxic relationships, unfulfilling jobs, and unhealthy lifestyles. This, however, requires change. When change happens, it can seem like the end of a chapter in a book. The transition often feels confusing, uncertain, or even scary as you enter a new chapter. It takes time to find your way. I am a fan of quotes. One quote by author Margaret Atwood describes it well:

“When you are in the middle of a story, it isn’t a story at all, but only a confusion; a dark roaring, a blindness, a wreckage of shattered glass and splintered wood.”

Between two life stages, you find yourself on shaky ground, looking for ways to refocus. Feeling confused, uncertain, and afraid of the unknown is natural. You might feel alone in your struggle to refocus your life, but most people experience this at some point in their lives.

I will tell you, am not yet where I want to be in life. I have goals and plans that I still want to achieve. I have become resigned to the fact that it will not happen overnight. It is genuinely an exercise of patience. I believe one method is to create a plan, write it down and refer to it periodically. You will find opportunities to reflect on your plan and see how much you have accomplished. Whatever you do, please don't take the stance that it is over. Everything begins with a first step.

-The Editor