04.16.20 West Orange Times & Observer

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Health Matters APRIL 2020

Winter Garden, Ocoee, Oakland

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. VOLUME 87, NO. 16

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BEST & BRIGHTEST Ingenuity, research and some good ol’ fashioned hard work already have yielded major wins in the local fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Pages 6 to 8.

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

A dash of adorable West Orange Twin sisters use their quarantine time to bake. SEE PAGE 13.

Others before self

municipalities offer relief on utility bills The coronavirus has taken its toll throughout the area, and cities and towns are working to help residents.

TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR

With the coronavirus pandemic having shuttered the economy — forcing layoffs, furloughs and pay cuts — West Orange municipalities are doing what they can to alleviate financial pressure on residents’ utility bills.

In Winter Garden, city officials have enacted a program that gives residents relief from late payment consequences.

“Right now, we are sort of SEE MUNICIPALITIES PAGE 4

YOUR TOWN

Danielle Hendrix

House Blend Cafe managers Kelly and Josh Taylor, and Jonathan Daigle, love being part of a movement to feed hospital workers during this time.

Staff at Ocoee’s House Blend Cafe has partnered with the community and health care organizations to provide meals for hospital workers. SEE PAGE 2.

ONP NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT

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Ocoee-based LuBelle’s Cakes also created some cute cookies to thank doctors and nurses for their hard work.

SPORTS

Gotha family mourning 6-year-old’s death Sean Michael Bridges-Rivera, a Westbrooke Elementary kindergartner who loved watching Marvel superhero movies and making people laugh, died April 1.

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High school seniors share thoughts on their shortened seasons. 15.

COMMUNITY EDITOR

Giselle Rivera has learned through experience that the most tragic circumstances can bring out the best in people. She is discovering that after tragedy comes strength

and hope, and there are many people walking beside her in her grief.

Giselle Rivera’s community and church — as well as the neighborhood elementary school — are SEE SPECIAL PAGE 4

The Oakland Nature Preserve, like many other organizations, has lost a significant amount of income due to cancellations of fundraisers, classes and programs.

There are three ways to support it from home: Purchase a T-shirt at bonfire. com/ONP; visit smile.amazon.com when using Amazon and choose the preserve as the nonprofit; or make a direct donation at oaklandnaturepreserve.wildapricot.org/ donate.

LIBRARY STORIES ARE A CALL AWAY The Orange County Library System is giving children a way to hear stories even during the quarantine. They can call the OCLS Storyline at (407) 789-1390 and follow the prompts to select a story.

Stories are told by professional storytellers, and children can enjoy a classic fairytale, folktales and fables in English or Spanish.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

Mobilizing for meals DANIELLE HENDRIX ASSOCIATE EDITOR

At House Blend Cafe in Ocoee, the motto always has been, “Others above self.”

That phrase rings true now more than ever worldwide, as thousands of people and essential workers mobilize to fight the coronavirus and help those affected by it in various ways.

House Blend Cafe believes in eating good and doing good, and 100% of the net profit goes back to the community. So, when Hunter’s Creek resident Natalia Nardone reached out to the cafe a couple of weeks ago inquiring about purchasing and donating meals to health care workers, the cafe and its staff were ready and willing.

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HOUSE BLEND CAFE

‘THIS IS WHY WE EXIST’

Although Nardone doesn’t live in the West Orange County community, her connection with House Blend Cafe was born out of a desire to provide meals to hospital workers.

Nardone posted on her Facebook page about wanting to reach out to a hospital and make a meal delivery. She collected some money from friends to pay for the meals, and she and her husband spotted the difference. In fact, her husband pressure washed houses and sidewalks for donations only.

The next step was finding the right local business with which to partner. When her friend suggested House Blend Cafe and told Nardone about their philosophy, she decided to give them a call.

“I’ve never eaten there and never heard of them prior to this,” Nardone said. “I was thinking I was just going to call a business and place an order, and (Manager Jonathan Daigle) was just so willing to help me, and not only to help me but to ... feed more people.”

10730 W. Colonial Drive, Ocoee PHONE: (407) 656-7676 ADJUSTED HOURS: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays FACEBOOK: facebook.com/ houseblendcafe1 WEBSITE: houseblendcafe. com INFORMATION: During the pandemic, House Blend Cafe is open for takeout and delivery orders. Staff continues to offer the normal in-store menu. The cafe also is offering a pasta dinner for four — which includes salad and garlic bread — for $19.75, or $29.95 delivered.

DONATIONS: House Blend Cafe is able to prepare and donate as many meals for hospital workers as financial contributions allow. To donate and help feed hospital workers, visit houseblendcafe.com/ donate.

Daigle, one of House Blend’s managers, answered Nardone’s call and took it a step further. He and his staff loved the idea of being able to help provide meals to those on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. They want to provide as many meals as possible.

House Blend Cafe now has a donation link on its website that accepts money specifically for the purpose of feeding hospital workers.

“This is why we exist — it’s to help our community,” Daigle said.

“The thing that’s great about it, of course, is we can give (hospital workers) not just a meal, but for us our product is healthy, it’s sometimes locally sourced.”

As of press time, the cafe and community’s partnership allowed House Blend to prepare and deliver 200 meals to hospital workers at Orlando Health’s Health Central Hospital in Ocoee, AdventHealth Altamonte Springs and Orlando Health’s Dr. P. Phillips Hospital.

“This is just another direct outlet of a very tangible need,” Daigle said. “It’s the reason our organization is in the food business — it’s to create that environment of being welcomed, loved and cared for. We can’t think of a better way of doing that than feeding people.”

EAT GOOD, DO GOOD

Nardone and Daigle play different roles in this joint outreach, but the goal remains the same — to let health care workers know that they are appreciated and loved, and to acknowledge their needs during this time, too.

For Daigle and his staff, the

hope is to be able to do multiple deliveries each week.

“Just because you’re home (doesn’t mean) you can’t still be involved in your community,” Daigle said. “Here’s a way you can impact them now. You don’t have to let up on that desire to help.”

The reactions from hospital staff who have been blessed with the community’s generosity through House Blend thus far are those of gratitude.

Nardone also has been contacted by Ocoee resident Cortne Oser, owner of LuBelle’s Cakes, who wanted to make a contribution of cookies with cute decorations.

Some of them read, “Thank you,” and others say, “Best nurse/doctor ever!” Oser donated them to a hospital in Winter Park.

Daigle added that hospital workers have been surprised and delighted, often sending selfies with or group photos holding up signs that read, “Thank you!”

“We’re just happy that we can be an avenue for the community to get involved,” Daigle said. “Our ability to continue to donate more meals is based on the community’s ability to donate. It was because of people getting involved by still frequenting our business through this that has allowed us to be available to offer these meals.”

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STRENGTH in flexibility

Jour de Crepe Alex Figueira, owner of the Jour de Crepe food truck, has shifted to online ordering and delivery to keep his business running during the pandemic.

Editor’s note: Strength in Flexibility is an ongoing series highlighting changes local businesses are making to adapt to life during the coronavirus pandemic.

City leaders met via remote electronic attendance for the first city commission meeting since March 12.

DANIELLE HENDRIX

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

As a food truck owner, Alex Figueira’s business thrives on his presence at community events.

But with so many events and social gatherings canceled because of COVID-19, the Southwest Orange resident has been forced to shift his business model as the world navigates a time of uncertainty.

Figueira owns the Jour de Crepe food truck, from which he sells sweet and savory crepes. From the fan-favorite strawberry or banana with Nutella to another bestseller, the langostino lobster crepe, Jour de Crepe offers a variety of crepes suited to various palates.

Figueira and his family moved to the area from Brazil five years ago, and he has been operating the food truck for more than four. His typical clientele consists of people who attend community events and food truck nights.

However, event cancellations — along with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ order to restaurants to temporarily cease dine-in options — have been hitting restaurants across the state hard.

For Figueira, it’s the event cancellations that have forced him to reinvent his business. For the first time since Jour de Crepe’s launch, he is offering online ordering and delivery through services such as Uber Eats and GrubHub. “When we came here, we just wanted to open something like a store,” Figueira said. “But before opening a restaurant, you want to see how the business is going and the kind of food and everything.

Then a friend of mine — he had this creperie in Brazil — and he decided to open up a food truck, that was his idea.”

The two were business partners for a while, until Figueira decided to buy out his friend’s share in the business. Over the years, he has worked to build clientele in the area. It was a challenge, he said, because crepes aren’t as popular in America as they are in Europe and Brazil.

Now, the business has grown so much that there soon will be a Jour de Crepe storefront in Clermont, in addition to the food truck.

“People get to know us and

Winter Garden commissioners met in a different format Thursday, April 9, as they conducted the first commission meeting via remote electronic attendance since the county stay-at-home order began.

Commissioners and attendees gathered online in a webinar format to discuss the March municipal election results and various business items.

GARDEN WEST

PHONE: (407) 913-9496 WEBSITE: jourdecrepe.com FACEBOOK: facebook.com/ jourdecrepe DETAILS: The mobile creperie offers a variety of sweet and savory crepes ranging from $6 to $15 each, according to its website. You can visit Jour de Crepe’s website to place a minimum $40 online order, purchase through GrubHub or UberEats for orders under $40, or call to place an order.

people come back for us,” he said.

“They know what we sell and everything. Things have started getting better and better and more popular in the area here.”

Before the coronavirus pandemic, Figueira was working between six and seven events each week. With no events in sight for the foreseeable future, he has changed the Jour de Crepe website to allow for online ordering.

“We’re not selling as much as we used to before this whole thing — I would say our sales went down about 20%, but still not too bad,” he said. “Before, we were work-

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ing all the city events and have never done deliveries or anything like that. I’ve just adapted for the situation right now.

“People started shifting to delivering because there’s no other way to do business right now,” he said. “All the city events are canceled. ... If you do (deliveries), that’s the only way to go, to be honest with you.”

Jour de Crepe’s direct online orders require a $40 minimum purchase. Anything less than that must be ordered through Uber Eats or GrubHub. Figueira said they are using gloves and masks to put safety first.

Once the pandemic is over, he hopes to open the Clermont storefront. The tough part is weathering the storm.

“Everything’s pretty much ready,” he said of the storefront.

“We’re just now waiting. As soon as we have some light at the end of the tunnel, we’re going to open. … We don’t know what’s going to happen in the near future, so that’s the main problem — not knowing what’s going to happen in two or three weeks from now.

“The customers that we have … everybody’s hoping that things go back to normal as soon as possible,” he said.

Among those items was city staff’s recommendation to approve the final plat for the Garden West development, located at 707 W. Plant St. City Manager Mike Bollhoefer said the project has been going on for a while, and the plat approval allows the developer to sell the lots.

The Garden West subdivision consists of approximately 3.07 acres just north of Plant Street, east of Brayton Street and south of Bay Street. The applicant is developing the property with 11 single-family lots.

According to city documents, plans for the subdivision include park and stormwater areas.

Directly north of the subdivision is the West Orange Trail.

Commissioners unanimously approved the final plat.

MANHOLE REHABILITATION

City leaders also discussed and unanimously approved a change order with Engineered Sprayed Solutions LLC, for sanitary sewer manhole and stormwater structure lining services.

On Feb. 27, commissioners authorized approval of a $650,000 purchase order with an initial work release to rehabilitate two fiberglass manholes on Ninth Street at the cost of about $33,000 per manhole. Since then, staff issued the second work release for the remaining balance of that purchase order. They also recommended adding nearly $600,000 in funding to rehabilitate all manholes on State Road 50.

“If you remember quite some time back, we started having some issues on (State Road) 50, where the road was starting to

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IN OTHER NEWS n City Clerk Angela Grimmage presented two resolutions declaring results of the city’s general election on March 17.

Mayor John Rees ran unopposed, and Commissioner Lisa Bennett was victorious over opponent Joseph Richardson.

Both took their oaths of office at the April 9 meeting. n Commissioners approved the eighth amendment to the Restated Interlocal Agreement for Joint Planning Area between Orange County and the city.

sink,” Bollhoefer said. “We found out what the problem was — there was a problem with the manholes.

We initially budgeted $650,000 to do approximately 25 of these. We did two of them on Ninth Street, we checked and they worked very well. We’d like to recommend adding an additional $592,000 to the budget, which includes a contingency, to go ahead and do all 48 manholes on (State Road) 50 and get them done.”

Bollhoefer added that by getting all of the manholes fixed at once, the city was able to get the price down from about $30,000 per manhole to about $24,000.

“All of them will need to have this done,” Bollhoefer said. “This will be a good fix, and we’re confident this will hold up long term.”

FOOD DELIVERY PROGRAM

In addition to regular business, Bollhoefer brought the idea of a food delivery program for residents in need to the table. The city would budget $40,000 for the program, Bollhoefer said, and will partner with Healthy West Orange to deliver food and paper products to residents who need them most. Commissioners unanimously approved this.

“We would partner with Healthy West Orange ... and what we would do is look for families, mainly seniors and stay-at-home people within the east Winter Garden community who can’t go out and get food our toilet paper,” Bollhoefer said. “We’re not sure exactly what the cost is. We’re guessing it’s going to be between $8,000 and $10,000 every two weeks. That’s approximately $40 for the food bags, plus ... adding the paper towels and toilet paper.

We’ll also be working with local charitable groups in the neighborhood and the churches to identify people in need of this.”

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JOUR DE CREPE

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

Winter Garden approves new subdivision, food delivery program

DANIELLE HENDRIX

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Dr. Bao Huynh

Dr. Said Malas

Dr. Usman Lone

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Observer

‘Special calling’

“If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.”

Friedrich Hayek

“Road to Serfdom,” 1944

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

showering the Gotha mother with support following the death of her son, Sean Michael Bridges-Rivera. A devastating car crash sent Sean to the hospital March 25 — two days after his sixth birthday.

He died April 1.

Giselle Rivera, while overcome with grief, said she is comforted knowing her son’s organs have been donated.

“It wasn’t an easy decision but … it tugged on my heart that even though I lost mine, (I have) peace of mind that (I) don’t want somebody else to feel that pain,” she said.

Four children — including a 9-month-old and a boy who has been waiting for a transplant organ for four years, the Rivera family said — have been given a second chance at life with the Westbrooke Elementary School kindergartner’s heart, kidneys, pancreas and liver.

Before Sean was taken off life support, Giselle Rivera took care of her youngest child, bathing him and keeping his skin moist with lotion.

“She knew she had lost him, and it was heartbreaking, but she stayed by his side for two days,” the family said.

To honor Sean, the administration at his school printed 100 copies of his kindergarten photo superimposed with the shadow of Batman for the Riveras to pass out to family and friends.

His older sister, 8-year-old Mia, is struggling, Giselle Rivera said.

“She’s just so sweet and more concerned about me than anything else,” she said. “But I can just tell she maybe puts her feelings aside so it doesn’t upset me. … We had several conversations that she doesn’t have to do that, that it’s OK to be sad.”

Sean’s grandmother, Hilda Rivera, whom he called “Nani,” is trying to cope, as well.

“The last memory I know she’s going to hold dear is my son car-

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HELP THE RIVERAS Donations can be made on a fundraising page that was set up: gofundme.com/f/ rememberingsean-michaelbridges-rivera.

The money will help pay expenses related to Sean’s medical care.

“Sean was a special little boy to many of us and … made every person he ever met laugh,” the GoFundMe page read.

Courtesy photo

Sean Michael Bridges-Rivera, pictured with his mother and sister, loved Pokémon, Hulk, sports and Cocoa Puffs cereal.

ried her cake out for her 60th birthday, and he was so proud to bring her cake out and give her love,” Giselle Rivera said. “You can see all over his face how proud.”

The crash totaled the family’s only car, a 2007 Hyundai Elantra, leaving the single mother without transportation. She currently is not working, and the hospital bills are steep, so a crowdsourcing fundraiser was established.

“She’s so humbled, and she tries to smile and say thank you, but behind that is a broken heart,” the family said.

Bishop Clint Brown, the pastor of Judah Church, where the Riveras attend, has been in constant

contact with the family since the tragedy.

On Easter Sunday, Brown stood on the back of a pickup truck and spoke over a loudspeaker to his congregation, which gathered in the parking lot in vehicles to hear the message.

“To be absent from this body … is to be present with the Lord, and Sean is not in any pain,” Brown said. “He’s shouting. He’s dancing. And I can tell you he’s not wearing a mask. He’s not in quarantine.”

Brown shared with his congregation a recent experience. He honored Sean last week on Facebook Live, where watchers came

from throughout the country. He said he was blown away when he later learned the mother of the little boy who received Sean’s heart was listening to that live broadcast from another state.

The church then had a surprise for the Riveras.

“The Rivera family got a ride here today, but they’re not going to have to borrow a ride to go home,” Brown said.

With the help of church donations and Sutherlin Nissan of Orlando, Giselle Rivera was presented a 2014 Nissan Rogue.

There were enough donations to pay for a year of insurance on the vehicle, too.

Photos of a smiling Sean have been shared on Facebook since the crash, but there’s one Giselle Rivera was happy to see. A few years ago, a friend took their photo at the front of their previous church. Sean was holding his mother’s hand, and the pastor had placed his hands on the boy’s head.

“The pastor said, ‘Son, you are a very special child. You have a special calling, and your life will be ministering other youth and people in the future,’” the family said.

In Sean’s six short years, the family feels like he made a huge impact on the people he knew and loved.

“I know it sounds cliché, but he was kind and sweet and such a boy’s boy,” Giselle Rivera said. “He liked everything boyish — fishing, basketball, anything athletic.

That was my baby.”

in triage, so we aren’t doing any cutoffs and there are no late fees — so if people don’t pay, there are no consequences,” Winter Garden City Manager Mike Bollhoefer said. “As we get through this, we’ll figure out if we’re going to do any long-term assistance.”

The relief set started a few weeks ago.

“It was real simple,” Bollhoefer said. “There was two purposes for that: One, people are in financial trouble, and two, I didn’t want people coming into City Hall — with all the human contact — and meeting people and paying fees. People can make payments through the drop-off box, they can still do it online or they can mail it, but for a lot of people they pay with cash and they only want to come in. So it killed two birds with one stone, if you will.”

A few miles away in Ocoee, the city is taking the same measures, Community Relations Manager Joy Wright said.

For the most part, people have been paying either via the drop box at City Hall, by phone or online.

“We get people coming to City Hall wanting to pay their bills, and they’re most concerned about, ‘Oh, is my water going to get turned off?’” Wright said. “No, we’re not turning off anybody’s water or utilities. At the beginning of March to mid-March, people were still concerned about that.”

As Winter Garden and Ocoee continue to take their current course, the town of Oakland received an unexpected — yet welcomed — gift.

Thanks to an anonymous donor, eligible residents will receive relief on their utility bills thanks to the newly developed COVID-19 Utility Assistance Program. The program will help offset a portion — or all — of residents’ water, wastewater and garbage bills by as much as $80.

“We had someone who indicated that they were going to donate some money — they wanted it to go toward people affected by

COVID-19,” said Oakland Town Clerk Elise Hui. “So we started thinking, ‘What is the best way we can do this?’ And so we’re like, ‘Well, let’s use it to offset utility bills for those that are impacted, because people were already calling in saying, ‘I can’t pay my bill this month.’”

All together, $4,000 was donated to the town, although $1,000 of that was put aside for small businesses and the self-employed, because they don’t qualify for reemployment assistance through the state.

For residents to qualify for assistance, applicants must recently have had a break in employment (through a layoff, furlough or temporary displacement) due to COVID-19 and must be a residential utility customer of the town of Oakland. Furthermore, the property’s water/wastewater service must be through the town of Oakland, and the property served must be occupied and used by the applicant as his or her principal residence during the period for

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Municipalities offer utility relief CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

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which a reduced rate is applied.

Finally, the applicant must not be delinquent in any utility payment owed to the town.

If a resident fits these guidelines, he or she should complete a written application for the Utility Assistance Program and provide a copy of a notice of Re-employment Assistance filed through the state of Florida. Once done, residents can submit their information via e-mail to tmastin@oaklandfl.gov, or place it in the side door mail slot at Town Hall or in the town of Oakland drop box at Town Center Circle.

Hui said the program will continue to run as long as the money lasts.

“As soon as the money is expended, we’ll be putting notices up that the program is done,” Hui said. “The word that we are hoping to get out is this donor made this possible, and maybe other people are willing to donate to the same pot of money to assist. If people really want to assist local residents, there’s a good way to do it.”

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Designer makes a stitch switch Fashion designer Sentia McKoy went from sewing dresses to face masks in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

ERIC GUTIERREZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

This time of year, Sentia McKoy normally would be designing and sewing custom prom dresses.

The Ocoee fashion designer had some custom dresses already in the works, but then, proms were canceled because of COVID-19.

“All the prom dresses (have been) canceled,” McKoy said. “Everything I was supposed to do was canceled. I have a fashion show I was supposed to do on April 11, but everything is canceled because of the pandemic.”

This time of the year is typically one of the busiest for McKoy’s business, S&M Custom Design, so the recent cancellations hurt her business. Despite the financial impacts, McKoy found a different use for her sewing skills. After hearing about the nationwide short supply and high demand for face masks, she decided to start making them herself. Before she knew it, she switched from stitching prom dresses to cotton face masks.

“I said to myself, ‘Let me start making some masks and then donate them,’” she said. “I made three and then I did a post (on social media). After that, it was over.

Everybody shared it on social media. …

Now, everybody is asking me for masks.”

Because they are cotton masks, they don’t offer the same level of protection as N95 masks. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently recommended individuals going out in public should wear some type of cloth face covering to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

“You can still wear the medical masks under it,” McKoy said of her cloth masks.

“You can wash it, too. As soon as you get home, you can put it in the washer.”

Since making the switch, McKoy has sewn hundreds of face masks for health care workers. So far, she has sewn more than 250 masks that were sent locally, as well as to other parts of the country.

Although she has other designers who work for her and her business, she has taken up the task of making the face masks on her own so the other designers can stay home. She does get a little help from her husband, though.

McKoy added that although she’s been shipping masks to medical workers, she also has masks available to any individual who might need one. She only asks that individuals who want a mask contribute a donation in exchange for one, as the donations help McKoy make more masks. Individuals who want a mask can reach out to McKoy through social media.

“What inspired me (to help) is the whole situation happening,” McKoy said, referring to the pandemic. “I think it’s necessary for me to help, because I’m in a community that’s helping to support me (through my business), so it’s time for me to show, in some way, (support) back to the community.”

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Sentia McKoy, of S&M Custom Design, has been sewing since she was 16 and can make anything from shirts and suits to dresses and, now, face masks.

WANT A MASK?

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Individuals who need a face mask can contact Sentia McKoy via Facebook at facebook.com/Haitianfashiondesigner.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

Birthday blessing

2nd Campus: Foundation Worship Foundation Academy High School 15304 Tilden Rd., Winter Garden (407) 730-1867 Sundays: 9:45 a.m. All Ages FoundationWorship.com Starke Lake Baptist Church Pastor Jeff Pritchard PO Box 520 611 W Ave., Ocoee (407) 656-2351 StarkeLakeBaptist.org

CHURCH OF GOD

EPISCOPAL

Church of the Messiah 241 N. Main St., Winter Garden Services: 8, 9:30, & 11 a.m., 7 p.m.

ChurchoftheMessiah.com

METHODIST

First United Methodist Church 125 N. Lakeview Ave., Winter Garden (407) 656-1135 Services: Livestreaming Sunday @ 9 AM. Viewable on Facebook and Youtube

Pilar Fernandez

Pilar Fernandez and her daughter, Alyssa, were beyond thankful for the surprise celebration.

Friends and neighbors in Horizon West managed to make a 6-year-old’s birthday memorable during the coronavirus crisis.

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Windermere Union Church 10710 Park Ridge-Gotha Rd., Windermere (407) 876-2112 Adult Worship: 9 a.m.

Sunday School: 10 a.m.

WindermereUnion.org

TIM FREED CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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One young girl in Horizon West still had a special sixth birthday last month despite the current COVID-19 pandemic.

After resident Pilar Fernandez was forced to cancel the birthday party of her daughter, Alyssa, because of the fear of COVID-19, friends and neighbors went out of their way to drive by her home and wish her a happy birthday.

“The day before her actual birthday, I had the idea of sending out messages to friends and family to see if they were available to drive by the evening of her birthday,” Pilar Fernandez said.

“Everyone immediately jumped in and said they were so excited to drive by, and the rest was history.”

When Alyssa’s birthday arrived March 24, a parade of cars drove by holding signs and banging on pots and pans to throw Alyssa a celebration at a safe distance. Even Alyssa’s kindergarten teacher and her cheerleading coach showed up.

“We had friends drive 45 minutes to see her — we had my Cuban friends drive by with their ‘cazuelas’ pots, making noise,” Pilar Fernandez said. “We had neighbors riding bikes (and) saying happy birthday — some came by in the bed of a truck with blasting music and poster signs. Never would I

have imagined this celebration — ever.”

The surprise celebration was an emotional moment for the Fernandez family.

“To be honest, I almost cried,” Pilar Fernandez said. “It was such a beautiful moment to see everyone come together and share some love. (Alyssa) was filled with so many emotions. She even told me the next morning that she wanted this again for next year.”

The pandemic may have caused the Fernandez family to cancel a birthday party, but it led to an important lesson, Pilar Fernandez said.

“Here I was, all nervous because she couldn’t have the party we had planned, and something so simple as friends and family honking and saying happy birthday is all she needed,” Pilar Fernandez said. “Kids teach us in the rarest moments that life can be very simple and minimal as long as you have loved ones around you.”

Now is the time everyone needs to have each other’s back, she said.

“These times are very difficult for most, and now more than ever we need to be here for one another — 6 feet away, of course,” Pilar Fernandez said. “All I ask is that you continue to go bike riding with your kids, take evening strolls and continue family dinners with them. It’s the little things they cherish and remember.”

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First Baptist Church Pastor Tim Grosshans 125 E. Plant St, Winter Garden (407) 656-2352 Sundays: 8:30 a.m. Traditional 9:45 AM Bible Study 11:00 AM Contemporary Wednesdays: 6 p.m.- Awana

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OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

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7

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

Caring for Our Community The safety of our loyal patients is dear to our hearts.

Amy Quesinberry

Diana Tran has opened a new tea spot called Pinky Up, with a fun, pink décor.

Pinkies up for tea time Tea lovers have a new place to order their drinks at Pinky Up in Winter Garden.

AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

In order for us to maintain patient care in our community, during our temporary closure, we have temporarily transitioned to Virtual Visits during the COVID-19 outbreak.

This allows you to have a medical visit from the comfort and safety of your home or anywhere.

We promise to provide the same level of customer service and compassionate healthcare experience you are accustomed

Diana Tran has blended her love to receiving at Paramount Urgent Care of tea and bobas and her desire to start a business — and Pinky Up PINKY UP is the tasty result. The new tea spot opened last week on West 12750 W. Colonial Drive, Colonial Drive in Winter Garden Winter Garden (behind Moon and offers a variety of teas, sevSalon) eral coffees and a selection of topHOURS: Temporarily 10 a.m. pings to personalize the flavor of to 8 p.m. Mondays through the drink.

Saturdays; noon to 7 p.m.

Pinky Up resembles a sunroom Sundays and is located behind Moon Salon, PHONE: (407) 900-7702 owned and operated by Tran’s FACEBOOK: Pinky Up Serving Lake, Sumter, Seminole, Orange, Osceola, & Polk Counties! parents, Moon and Vicki Tran.

INSTAGRAM: One wall is covered with pink @pinkyuporlando roses, and a white, gold-trimmed settee awaits customers beneath it. Silver and gold beads hang in vors; we use natural fruit to the windows, and funky crystal enhance the flavor. … We don’t chandeliers adorn the ceiling. use the syrups or powders.”

She said her mother created the Once the business is estabfun decorations and inviting inte- lished, Tran plans to offer private rior after seeing photos of Tran’s after-hours tea parties and gathvision. erings. She would like to offer tea Another person who was catering for social events. instrumental in getting Pinky Up “The soft opening was really started is Tran’s boyfriend, Min great,” Tran said. “We had a lot of Yu, who was a barista and created great traction. Everyone is super The safety ourdrinks loyal dear to in our In order for us to maintain patient mostof of the on patients the menu. is supportive the hearts.

Winter Garden “He’s a huge part of why we are community.” care in our community, during our temporary closure, we have temporarily transitioned able to accomplish this today,” she Her family has been supportive, to Virtual Visits during the COVID-19 outbreak.

This allows you to have a medical visit said. as well. She and her parents wantTran said her top four drinks ed to open a shop when she was from thearecomfort and safety of your home or anywhere. We promise to provide the same the Brown Sugar Milk, But- in high school, but intead waited level of customer service and and compassionate healthcare experience you are accustomed to terfly Tea, Thai Milk Coffee a few years longer.

Viet Coffee. Others on the menu “We decided, ‘OK, let’s start receivinginclude at Paramount Urgent Care. black, green and rose teas; with something small and see fruit and butterfly teas; matchas; how that goes,’” Tran said. fresh-brewed teas; classic milk She wanted her new place to teas; and toppings such as boba, be in Winter Garden because it’s mixed jelly, coffee jelly, espresso “such an amazing place,” she said.

Multiple to connect: shot and extra cheese mousse.

There isways an eclectic mix of resiThe recipes are fairly simple, dents and personalities, and she is Smart Phone • Tablet • Desktop • Laptop • Telephone she said. excited to meet all who walk into “A lot of it is just prep work,” her tea spot. she said. “For us, it was finding Because of all the precautions out how to brew it properly, how and advisories pertaining to long you brew it. (For) a lot of the COVID-19, Tran said, she is conScan Here One of our providers teas, we brew it with the brown ducting business through phone To Download sugar, like the thai milk. And the orders or Instagram messaging will contact you golden tea is with golden tea and for now. When customers arrive Our App non-dairy creamer. to pick up their order, they can go for your Virtual Visit.

“For the fruit teas … the fruit inside or someone on the staffthrough will Spruce enhances the tea,” she said. “We take it to their vehicle. don’t have a lot of ‘slushie’ fla-

We Are Open 7 Days A Week

9 am - 5 pm

Multiple ways to connect

Caring For Our Community Since 2008!

Smart Phone · Tablet · Telephone We Are Open and Treating Most Injuries and Illnesses via Virtual Visits Desktop · Laptop Stay Home! Stay Safe!

Schedule Your Virtual Visit Today!

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OBSERVER

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

Beauty in adaptation

ABOUNDING HEALTH The Cannons’ nonprofit serves to empower parents of those with special needs to thrive in a healthy, encouraging and connective environment.

For more information on Abounding Health and what resources it offers or how to get involved, visit aboundinghealth.org or facebook.com/ aboundinghealth.

Winter Garden residents Jason and Kara Cannon’s nonprofit, Abounding Health, was founded out of their experience as special-needs parents.

DANIELLE HENDRIX ASSOCIATE EDITOR

While navigating the coronavirus pandemic, many have realized that connecting with others and building community is more important now than ever.

For Winter Garden residents Jason and Kara Cannon, staying connected with their community has been integral in their yearslong journey as special-needs parents. In their own journey, isolation and loneliness proved to be roadblocks to becoming the parents their children need them to be.

That’s why they founded their nonprofit, Abounding Health.

Abounding Health empowers parents of those with special needs by helping them learn to thrive through healthy, empowered and connected living. The purpose is to move special-needs parents from an unhealthy state of overwhelmed, strained and drained into a thriving, abundant self-care mindset and lifestyle.

The Cannons believe through empowering special-needs parents in this way, those parents can enjoy life to the fullest, live out their big dreams and ambitions,

and help their children learn to overcome challenges hindering them from enjoying a fulfilled childhood and life.

The Cannons’ son, Dylan, has diagnoses including autism, ADHD and apraxia of speech.

“We would just feel so exhausted trying to keep up with all the sensory things,” Jason Cannon said. “And it’s tacked on to a dual-income household with two full-time working parents, and our younger one, Ashlyn.

She was a toddler (at the time).

The exhausted, overwhelmed, burnt-out feelings and what they took us into is where everyone is at right now. … We ended up feeling isolated.”

In mid-2017, that isolation came to a head. They realized many other families in the special-needs community were experiencing the same feelings of stress, isolation and exhaustion.

“Once we hit that point, we sensed God saying there’s a mission here for our family, and we can turn this around and create this organization, this nonprofit that can come alongside others who are where we’re at and … take that isolation out of the equation so we’re connected,” Jason Can-

Courtesy Cannon Family

Kara and Jason Cannon with their children, Dylan and Ashlyn.

non said. “Once we are, we can encourage and help each other learn how to thrive.”

Now, in the COVID-19 world, the Cannons feel that Abounding Health’s mission is more important than ever. Just as they have constantly adapted their lifestyle and routines as special-needs parents, people worldwide are having to adapt. And now that they’re home more, they’ve been able to put more focus on officially launching the nonprofit.

Right now, the Cannons are

When When it it comes comes to to your to-do list, put your to-do list, put your your future future first. first.

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taking time to focus on laying the foundation and building their community. Their first step is to guide those in the special-needs community to their social media page and discuss one another’s challenges to better determine how Abounding Health can help.

Kara Cannon is a certified health coach and is delving into writing to share her experiences and knowledge — from health and nutrition to finances — with other special-needs parents.

Jason Cannon also recently began

working on his health-coach certification.

“We want to start a group with special-needs parents to establish community and be able to offer that connection,” Kara Cannon said. “It’s being able to be consistent with quick things they can incorporate into daily life.”

“We want to hear from them and come alongside them,” Jason Cannon said. “People feel so validated when we’re heard. We want to hear from people who are hurting and feeling isolated in this space so we can write articles and do posts and quick tips … to be able to come alongside people.”

The couple shares many of their tips on the Abounding Health Facebook page. In dealing with COVID-19, their ideas and resources are shared to help parents take better care of themselves and their children, both special needs and typical.

“Getting in the virtual space is all we have right now,” Jason Cannon said. “We commit to being more active and coming alongside people who are really wanting that connection and community — to just be there for them.”

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8

OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

WEST ORANG E HISTO RY

THESE OLD TIMES

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION

|

9

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

THROWBACK THURSDAY APRIL 15, 1971 The flat-roofed building on North Main Street once was the hub for all telephone service in Winter Garden.

In 1971, Florida Telephone Winter Garden Exchange held an open house to offer residents a glimpse at the larger space and “millions of dollars’ worth of sophisticated telephone equipment.” Visitors were able to follow a call from the time a caller picks up the phone until the party answers, and they could see how the Extended Area Service worked.

75 years ago

Fulmer Cleaners, located on North Main Street, enlarged its plant, adding two more rooms using concrete blocks in the construction.

50 years ago

An open house was held to celebrate the 60th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Stinnett, of Ocoee, at the home of their son, William E. “Bill” Stinnett.

40 years ago

West Orange Memorial Hospital CEO Richard Irwin presented detailed plans for the new hospital and health campus to members of the West Orange Chamber of Commerce. Construction was a few months away on the 40acre orange grove in Ocoee for the new medical facilities, to be named Health Central.

Ocoee became the first city in Orange County to pass an ordinance requiring two people

The Municipal Swimming Pool at Winter Garden’s Lakeshore Park opened in July 1934.

Measuring 75 by 100 feet, with a depth that ranged from three to eight feet, it was one of the “finest swimming places in Central Florida,” according to The West Orange News. Among its amenities were 20 dressing

mer, warm for winter bathing.

A wading pool for children is adjacent.”

In 1975, the facility was renamed Farnsworth Memorial Swimming Pool to honor Everette L. Farnsworth Jr., a Winter Garden city commissioner who served from 1967 until his death that year.

rooms with lockers. By August, the pool complex was lit for night swimming. Swimmers were charged an entry fee of 10 cents, and use of the dressing rooms cost a nickel.

According to a 1938 brochure, “the water flowing from deep under the ground is 70 degrees — cool for the sum-

The mission of the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation is to preserve the heritage and architecture of Winter Garden while creating new cultural experiences. The Foundation also preserves the material culture of West Orange County, using it to educate the area’s youth on the community’s rich history. to be on duty in convenience stores, gasoline stations and other late-night businesses between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.

The Movie Scene advertised two coupons — rent one movie,

get one free; and a free lifetime membership good at all locations. Stores were in Winter Garden, Ocoee and Pine Hills.

Moonlight Express was one of the headliners at the

Together we pause.

Spring Bluegrass Festival at the Withers-Maguire House in Ocoee. Members of the group, which formed in 1987, are Larry Cochran, Pat Moran, and Judie and Jack Lewis.

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L.E. “Larry” Cappleman Jr. was elected a director of the First State Bank of Winter Garden at a recent stockholders meeting.

The Windermere Town Council passed a motion directing Barbara Babair to write a letter to Orange County recommending a traffic light at the dangerous Conroy Road/Apopka-Vineland Road intersection.

REAL ESTATE

10

OBSERVER

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

Isleworth estate sells for $1.75 million A home in the Isle-

SUMMERLAKE

The home at 8068 John Hancock Drive, Winter Garden, sold April 3, for $357,000. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,998 square feet. The price per square foot is $178.68. Days on market: 24.

worth community

in Windermere topped all West Orange-area residential real-estate

The home at 8112 Surf Bird St., Winter Garden, sold April 3, for $315,000. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,650 square feet. The price per square foot is $190.91. Days on market: 28.

transactions from April 2 to 9.

The home at 9636 McCormick Place, Win-

SUMMERPORT

dermere, sold April 8, for $1.75 million. Built in 1997, it has four bed-

buyorlandoflorida.com

rooms, four baths, a pool

This Isleworth home, at 9636 McCormick Place, Windermere, sold April 8, for $1.75 million. It features golf and water views extending from the second fairway to Lake Chase.

and 5,235 square feet of

HORIZON WEST

living area. The price per

The townhouse at 7117 Thicket Branch Alley, Windermere, sold April 3, for $299,500. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,725 square feet. The price per square foot is $173.62. Days on market: Seven.

These are the highestselling homes in each community in West Orange.

HAMLIN RESERVE

The home at 15349 Shonan Gold Drive, Winter Garden, sold April 3, for $383,000. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,204 square feet. The price per square foot is $173.77. Days on market: 109.

HAWKSMOOR

The home at 16651 Wingspread

INDEPENDENCE/ SIGNATURE LAKES

The home at 15606 Expedition St., Winter Garden, sold April 7, for $304,000. Built in 2012, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,148 square feet. The price per square foot is $141.53. Days on market: 191.

LAKE SAWYER SOUTH

The home at 8026 Jailene Drive, Windermere, sold April

DILEMMA by Christopher Adams and Steve Faiella; CROSSWORD DESSERT Edited by David Steinberg

©2020 Universal Uclick

ACROSS

1 Training group 6 Like a wet noodle 10 Sour candy morsel 14 Caramel Hershey candies 19 Bay window 20 The Buckeye State 21 Gym shoe woe 22 Muse of love poetry 23 “If ___ Street Could Talk” 24 Large quantity of fabric 25 Formal ceremony 26 “Bad and Boujee” trio 27 Choice about buying

a fruity dessert with ice cream?

31 Praise highly 32 “Certainly, monsieur” 33 Remove one’s approval, on Facebook 36 Adidas competitor 38 Bargains that may influence you to buy a tart dessert?

44 Cause of many computer errors 45 Tehran’s country 46 Threw 47 Dalmatian marking 48 “Buenos ___!”

98 What Jack Sprat’s wife couldn’t eat 99 Modern acknowledgment 100 Holly Holm’s combat sport, for short 101 Coffee brand 103 Ice cream and meringue dessert that you finally bought?

111 Director Sam 113 Neural transmitter 114 Tied 115 Settlement-building game 116 Elected (to) 117 ___ bar (mai tai venue) 118 Saag paneer go-with 119 Build 120 System of belief 121 Home of Laos 122 Hit, as a fly or a homer 123 “Floppy” data holders

DOWN 1 Salad with bacon 2 Realm of expertise 3 Best Actress after Faye Dunaway 4 They make hair easier to straighten 5 Colleague of Sonia 6 Maine course need?

7 Flapjack chain 8 Rumor spreader?

9 Magical liquid 10 Bygone Quebec NHLer 11 “Tommy” star Falco 12 Campus cadets’ org. you to buy a custardy 49 Small metal fastener 13 Square root of neun dessert?

51 Fashionable Fisher 14 Jog the memory of 77 5,280 feet 53 Anti-vaping ad, e.g.

15 Baltimore birds 79 Small battery 54 Addams cousin 16 Small gift for a customer 80 Donkey’s sound 55 Felt sorry for 17 Ear doctor’s prefix 81 Tough spot 57 NASA thumbs-up 18 Sailor’s “Help!”

58 Passes with flying colors 82 Like moldy food 28 “For ___ care ...”

60 Internal conflict about 83 Confident step 29 Derriere 86 Snare or tom-tom buying a dessert with a 30 Blue shoe material 87 Bit of praise graham cracker crust?

34 “Project Runway” host 88 Felipe in MLB history 64 “Prolly not” Karlie 90 Madden 65 Some Met stars 92 Apple of Discord thrower 35 This, in Tijuana 66 “I’m ___ roll!”

36 One at a certain beach 94 Adidas competitor 67 Egyptian beetle 95 Judgment about buying 37 “Am I missing some71 Temper tantrum 72 Sample that may entice a swirly breakfast dessert? thing?”

SNAPSHOT

WATERLEIGH

Total Sales: 50 High Sale Price: $1.75M Low Sale Price: $200,000

8, for $450,000. Built in 2012, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,580 square feet. The price per square foot is $174.42. Days on market: 12.

OVERLOOK AT HAMLIN

The home at 7479 John Hancock Drive, Winter Garden, sold April 7, for $820,000. Built in 2019, it has six bedrooms, five baths and 4,817 square feet. The price per square foot is $170.23. Days on market: 101.

39 Ana’s “Knives Out” role 40 TV studio sign 41 Dickens’ Heep 42 Distribute 43 Smell like a dump 50 Crusoe creator 52 Civil rights org.

55 “Check this out!” noise 56 “Queen of the Blues” Washington 59 Spicy Indian tea 61 Texter’s “That’s hilarious!”

62 Iroquois tribe members 63 Played Fortnite, perhaps 64 (This is risque) 68 Breathes new life into 69 Easternmost U.S. national park 70 Cry over 72 Scottish terrier variety 73 Picker-upper tool?

74 Author of a novel with no E’s (although this answer has two) 75 “Star Trek” officer 76 Members of one household, often 77 Elder Obama daughter 78 “No need to fear me!”

79 Tuscan river 82 Composer J.S. 84 Home of ASU 85 Extreme self-importance 87 Desert where the lions may sleep tonight 89 Like many lions 91 Trees that line streets 93 Talk while drunk 96 Jujitsu relative 97 Los Angeles team 102 Emailed surreptitiously 104 Stuff to crunch 105 Center of revolution 106 “Thor: Ragnarok” role 107 Declare 108 Org. fighting for faux fur 109 Hit the ___ 110 Tolkien’s sentient trees 111 “Arabian Nights” bird 112 Mortgage figure, for short

The home at 16136 Wind View Lane, Winter Garden, sold April 8, for $420,000. Built in 2016, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,291 square feet. The price per square foot is $183.33. Days on market: Seven.

WINDERMERE SOUND

The townhouse at 12831 Gracehill Lane, Windermere, sold April 8, for $375,000. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,617 square feet. The price per square foot is $231.91. Days on market: Four.

CELEBRITY CIPHER

By Luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present.

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

“MKBGAM DJ K TEBB LADVG MCKM IDBB REM AUMCDAF EABGJJ DM DJ IDGBTGT IDMC FOGKM VUORG.” – JMGXCGA LDAF “BS RUL JGCK UPK TLPAR XH RG MPD BAZGTL RPVLH, UL’K UPEL TPKL XH HTPCR LAGXNU RG MCLMPCL RUL CLRXCA.”

– OBCO OBCOMPRCBZO Puzzle Two Clue: S equals F

Days on market: 570.

Loop, Winter Garden, sold April 9, for $393,000. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,020 square feet. The price per square foot is $194.55. Days on market: 20.

Puzzle One Clue: U equals O

square foot is $334.29.

ASHLIN PARK

The home at 13845 Amelia Pond Drive, Windermere, sold April 7, for $390,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,785 square feet. The price per square foot is $140.04. Days on market: 160.

© 2020 NEA, Inc.

SUDOKU

Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.

©2020 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

04-16-20

OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

11

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

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This Waterside home, at 16737 Broadwater Ave., Winter Garden, sold April 3, for $1.06 million. It was the largest transaction in Winter Garden from April 2 to 9.

The home at 462 Fern Meadow Loop, Ocoee, sold April 10, for $325,000. Built in 1998, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,966 square feet. The price per square foot is $165.31. Days on market: Six. EAGLES LANDING

The home at 2999 Westyn Cove Lane, Ocoee, sold April 3, for $392,000. Built in 2015, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 3,661 square feet. The price per square foot is $107.07.

Days on market: 236.

FORESTBROOKE

The home at 3410 Starbird Drive, Ocoee, sold April 6, for $370,000. Built in 2004, it has five bedrooms, threeand-one-half baths and 3,616 square feet. The price per square foot is $102.32. Days on market: Nine.

JOHIO BAY

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Pat Sharr Realty

BUYING A HOME? SELLING YOUR HOME?

WINTER GARDEN COBBLESTONE

The home at 248 Black Springs Lane, Winter Garden, sold April 9, for $343,000. Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,164 square feet. The price per square foot is $158.50. Days on market: 87.

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OXFORD CHASE

The home at 16737 Broadwater Ave., Winter Garden, sold April 3, for $1.06 million. Built in 2018, it has six bedrooms, four-and-one-half baths and 4,462 square feet. The price per square foot is $237.56. Days on market: 248.

WINDWARD CAY

The home at 3413 Turningwind Lane, Winter Garden, sold April 7, for $464,480. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,917 square feet. The price per square foot is $159.23. Days on market: 12.

Take a look at this 3 Bdrm. 2 Ba. home before it is GONE...Open the door to the tiled foyer, living room and family room floors have been upgraded with beautiful WOOD LAMINATE. Delightful kitchen with every convenience and tiled flooring... Split bedroom plan, master bedroom is adjoined by REMODELED master bath. On the other side of the house is the remodeled guest bath centered around the other two bedrooms. Just off the family room open the door to the covered and screened large patio complete with ceiling fans. Open the door from your screened patio to a concrete pad that is perfect fit for your grill... the large fenced back yard also features a storage shed. ASKING ONLY $220,000

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS HONEY OF A DEAL, THIS HOME IS SITUATED ON 3.89 ACRES OF LAND WITH STABLE/ BARN FENCED FOR HORSES/COWS!!! PRIVATE DRIVEWAY, COVERED FRONT PORCH. OPEN THE DOOR TO THE COZY UPDATED FAMILY ROOM FEATURES LAMINATED FLOORING WITH DINING AREA. KITCHEN HAS BREAKFAST BAR, TILE FLOORING, SIDE BY SIDE REFRIGERATOR, DISHWASHER AND RANGE, ALL APPLIANCES STAY!!! LARGE LIVING ROOM WITH LAMINATE FLOORING, BRICK WOOD BURNING FIREPLACE! THE BONUS ROOM IS A PLUS AND IS BEING USED AS BEDROOM SUITE. THE OTHER BEDROOMS AND BATHS ARE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF HOUSE. OUTSIDE YOU WILL FIND AN INGROUND POOL NO SCREEN FOR PLENTY OF SUN!!! THERE IS ALSO A BARN/STABLE FOR THE HORSES AND FENCED! 4 CAR COVERED CARPORT. THIS HOME NEEDS SOME TLC ON THE OUTSIDE, MOTIVATED SELLER’S!!! ASKING ONLY $375,000

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JUST LISTED 14 DAYS!!!

JUST LISTED !!!

HONEY STOP THE CAR...

HAVE YOU BEEN LOOKING FOR A GREAT HOUSE LOCATED CLOSE TO ALL MAJOR HIGHWAYS, SHOPPING & SCHOOLS...

NO HOA... LOOK NO FURTHER!!!

IN END

The home at 132 Stanton Estates Circle, Winter Garden, sold April 3, for $645,000.

Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 3,568 square feet. The price per square foot is $180.77. Days on market: Zero.

UNDER CONTRACT IN 2 DAYS!!!

IMMACULATE CONDITION IS THIS 3 bedroom, 2 bath home!!! Very open split bedroom floor plan, living, dining area, kitchen with upgraded appliances that all stay!!! All window coverings, washer and dryer stay!!! Plus a fabulous Florida room over looking lush landscaping and no rear neighbors!!! ASKING ONLY $229,000

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The home at 5317 Tildens Grove Blvd., Windermere, sold April 7, for $853,000. Built in

The home at 9810 Quail Cove Court, Windermere, sold April 8, for $489,000. Built in 1984, it has three bedrooms, twoand-one-half baths, a pool and 2,258 square feet. The price per square foot is $216.56. Days on market: Four.

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TILDENS GROVE

WINDERMERE DOWNS

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The home at 1163 Estancia Woods Loop, Windermere, sold April 4, for $952,161. Built in 2019, it has four bedrooms, four-and-one-half baths and 3,972 square feet. The price per square foot is $239.72. Days on market: 195.

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The home at 2924 Butler Bay Drive N., Windermere, sold April 8, for $607,000. Built in 1999, it has six bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths, a pool and 4,901 square feet. The price per square foot is $123.85.

Days on market: 114.

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WINDERMERE

The home at 2162 Kane Park Way, Windermere, sold April 7, for $661,000. Built in 1993, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,666 square feet. The price per square foot is $247.94. Days on market: 16.

STANTON ESTATES

Plenty of Room for Social Distancing

OUR PRICES

WILLOWS AT LAKE RHEA

The home at 14829 Winkfield Court, Winter Garden, sold April 7, for $490,000. Built in 2019, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 3,108 square feet. The price per square foot is $157.66. Days on market: 86.

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The home at 2747 Hornlake Circle, Ocoee, sold April 9, for $290,000. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 2,344 square feet. The price per square foot is $123.72. Days on market: 64.

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WINDSTONE AT OCOEE

The home at 13031 Water Point Blvd., Windermere, sold April 3, for $980,000. Built in 2000, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 4,298 square feet. The price per square foot is $228.01. Days on market: 275.

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The home at 2421 Johio Bay Drive, Ocoee, sold April 8, for $429,000. Built in 1991, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,102 square feet.

The price per square foot is $138.30. Days on market: 254.

We are following CDC guidelines and deemed essential and will remain open

WATERFORD POINTE

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CROSS CREEK

OPEN FOR THE 2020 U-PICK SEASON

WHAT A GREAT BUY!!!

THIS HOME WAS BUILT IN 1910, IT CURRENTLY HAS 4 BEDROOMS, 1 BATH, ALL FURNITURE, APPLIANCES, PICTURES ALL STAY!!! HOME IS BEING SOLD “AS-IS”, WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET... SELLER IS NOT REMOVING ANYTHING!!! THIS HOME FEATURES BUILT IN SHELVING IN DINING ROOM, ALL APPLIANCES STAY, AS STATED EVERYTHING STAYS THAT IS CURRENTLY IN THE HOUSE... LIVING ROOM, DINING ROOM, EAT IN KITCHEN, INSIDE LAUNDRY ROOM, FRONT PORCH, SIDE PORCH... THERE ARE NO OTHER DISCLOSURES /ADDENDUMS OTHER THAN WHAT IS ATTACHED...GREAT LOCATION, WALK TO DOWNTOWN WINTER GARDEN!!! ENJOY DINING, SHOPPING, FARMERS MARKET ON SATURDAYS... ZONING IS C-2/GENERAL COMMERCIAL, PROPERTY USE: 1200/STORE/OFFICE/CONVERTED RESIDENTIAL (county). MOTIVATED SELLER!!! ASKING ONLY $249,000

MOTIVATED SELLER!!!

WINTER GARDEN , 3 BDRM., 2 BA. NO HOA!!! YOU CAN PARK A BOAT/ RV, LARGE LOT! ONLY MINUTES AWAY FROM DOWNTOWN WINTER GARDEN. This home features glowing wood flooring throughout the house except for the wet areas which are tile. Entertainment size living room with plenty of room fro big, comfortable chairs & sofa and highlighted by a large picture window. The family room has a beautiful brick wood burning fireplace. Step saving kitchen with all appliances including built in oven...

Three bright, bedrooms all down the hall. This home was built in 1959 with almost 1600 sq. ft. heated) total sq.ft.3724,.MOTIVATED SELLER, bring your highest and best offer. Asking Only $250,000

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OCOEE

2005, it has four bedrooms, four-and-one-half baths, a pool and 4,584 square feet.

The price per square foot is $186.08. Days on market: 48.

See more real estate transactions at OrangeObserver.com

The home at 10503 Spring Arbor Lane, Winter Garden, sold April 4, for $327,990. Built in 2019, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,212 square feet. The price per square foot is $148.28. Days on market: 43.

ONLINE

WINDING BAY PRESERVE

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www.CraigMartinInsurance.com 13330 W. Colonial Dr., Suite 110 • Winter Garden, FL Hablamos 34787 Español

OBSERVER

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OCPS postpones graduation ceremonies Class of 2020 graduation ceremonies are being postponed, Orange County Public Schools announced Thursday, April 9.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a press conference April 9 he was not ready to announce a return-to-school date, and OCPS stated his decision is critical to the district’s plans.

According to OCPS, Superintendent Dr. Barbara Jenkins is working with her student advisory council. High school principals also have received input from student government representatives regarding options. Some options that have been discussed include smaller ceremonies in school auditoriums or football stadiums, as well as virtual ceremonies.

“We know this has been a difficult time of uncertainty for our seniors,” OCPS officials said. “In the superintendent’s discussions with students, she has heard their disappointment but also witnessed their resilience.”

Final graduation plans will be announced as soon as possible, but the district said it believes ceremonies may be delayed until June or July.

College Board to host AP exam meeting College Board Senior Vice President of AP and Instruction Trevor Packer will lead an online meeting regarding at-home AP exams at 7 p.m. Thursday, April, 16.

Connecticut State Colleges & Universities Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs Jane McBride Gates and Glenbard West High School Social Studies Department Chair Kristin Brandt will join Packer to share information about this year’s at-home AP exams and how to help students prepare.

For more information and to register, visit bit.ly/2xpIG2b.

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Glad Tidings Church Associate and Worship Pastor Tyler Howell has a knack for ministering to those in the Ocoee community alongside his family. His father and mother, Gary and Christy Howell, have served as pastors at the church for years, while his wife, McKenzie, serves as associate pastor and administration assistant. For Tyler Howell, his family and his job mean a lot, and so does the chance to help those in the community. Recently, Glad Tidings became a distribution site for Orange County Public Schools’ Grab-andGo Meals.

What do you love most about your church?

What I love about our church is that we are outwardly focused and not just inwardly focused. We’ve been helping local needs and needs all around the world. We’re a multicultural, multigenerational church that believes in helping people.

What brought you to Glad Tidings Church?

I had actually lived in Tennessee for a little bit. What brought me back (to Florida) was the community that we’re a part of and the genuineness of the community. I’ve always said this: “I’d rather be a small part of something big than a big part of something small,” and to be a part of what God is doing is at the core of my part.

What is your favorite part of your job?

Being around the teams that we have built and are building — the people that are part of those teams, the relationships … a majority of everything we do is led and done by volunteers. We’re a little biased, but

REPORT CARD ROLE: Associate and worship pastor at Glad Tidings Church TIME IN ROLE: Seven years

EXCELLENCE IN PATIENT-CARE

What motivates you and pushes you to do your best?

A lot of it has to do with our faith — my personal faith that God has given and done his best for us and wants us to do our best for others.

It’s recognizing the love that we have been shown first, and when you fully embrace and discover to the depths of the love that was given to us, it causes you to go, “I can’t be living the same way — I want to live and give my best so others can taste and see a little bit of the goodness of what we have felt.”

What is the nicest thing a church member has done for you?

The nicest thing would be not holding past mistakes against me but allowing me to continue to grow and continue to develop as a leader, as a pastor, as a Christian and as

an individual. That outweighs any material blessing or material thing that anyone has done.

What is the church doing to help the community deal with the current coronavirus pandemic?

When all of this was going on, we really set out and said, “What are the three things that a church is responsible for?” So we broke it down to three things — spiritual needs, relational needs and physical needs.

With spiritual needs, we have moved everything on line to make sure everyone is social distancing; relational needs — we have moved all of our small groups online through Zoom; the physical needs is when it comes to those directly affected by COVID-19. … On our website, we have COVID relief — on a case-bycase basis, we go through each need and help those we are able to help.

We’ve also received supplies that we give to people.

— TROY HERRING

NOMINATE YOUR INFLUENCER

Do you have an “unsung hero” at your school? If so, please nominate him or her for our Influencer of the Week feature. Nominations can be sent via email to contact@orangeobserver.com.

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QUALITY AND SAFETY.

we think we have the best volunteers in the world. And to see people’s dreams and passions come alive in the local church and the local church to be a vehicle for people to find their God design and purpose … it is probably my favorite (part).

Orlando Health — Health Central Hospital is proud to be recognized with a Top Hospital Award and an "A" Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group.

We are committed to providing the highest level of safe, quality care for you and your family.

Orlando Health is dedicated to excellence in patient-care quality and safety throughout our system.

To learn more about our award-winning care, visit ChooseOrlandoHealth.com.

Source: The Leapfrog Group Top Hospital award, 2019, and Safety Grade program, Fall 2019.

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TYLER HOWELL

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

INFLUENCER OF THE WEEK

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OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

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THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

OBSERVER SCHOOL ZONE

Little miss muffins AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

When Foundation Academy asked students for suggestions on how to be creative and have fun during the COVID-19 quarantine, Molly and Ava Stephens were eager to share their tasty idea.

The twins, who are in third grade, have created several videos for their baking show, “Twin Treats.”

So far, the girls have given directions for making wholewheat banana muffins, homemade brownies, carrot applesauce bites and, just in time for Easter, carrot cake cookies. Their shows “air” on their mother’s Facebook page.

“We’ve been watching a show called ‘Just Add Magic,’ and it’s about these kids that are bakers,” mom Ashley Stephens said.

“Ava and Molly love to help me bake and put our ideas together, and we decided to do our own.”

“They make magical recipes to make magical food,” Ava said.

For their baking shows, the girls put on their bright floral aprons, step up onto stools and give step-by-step instructions from their kitchen. There are occasional giggles when the butter sticks to the wrapper or if their spoons clink when they both are stirring.

In Molly and Ava’s first episode, they created whole-wheat banana muffins.

“We have already pre-prepped some of the ingredients we are going to use, and our mom had made the link below in case you want to make the recipe for yourself,” Ava told viewers.

“Bon appétit; enjoy,” they said in unison at the end of their episode.

After the muffins were baked and cooled, the bakers had to test their creation, and both said they were good with just the right amount of banana.

They wanted to make brownies, but since there’s a quarantine in place and they can’t go buy a brownie mix, they showed in Episode 2 how to make them from scratch.

“Before you get started, be sure to ask an adult to preheat the oven to 350 degrees,” Molly told viewers.

The consensus? Their brownies were “very chocolate-y and yummy.”

For their third episode, the sisters made carrot applesauce bites using a recipe from a new cookbook they received from their mother. When tasting them after baking, both said they were delicious.

While making the carrot cake cookies in their Easter video, the girls took turns adding pre-

Ava and Molly Stephens have created “Twin Treats,” a baking show that debuted on their mother’s Facebook page.

Courtesy photo

In Episode No. 4 of “Twin Treats,” Molly and Ava Stephens baked carrot cake cookies.

measured ingredients and folded, whisked and mixed them all together. When the bakers had to continue giving instructions while running the mixer — which was several times — they hollered, “Mix it really well!” No one should miss this important step, they reasoned.

When the cookies were out of

the oven and iced, the girls performed a taste test and agreed they were delicious.

More shows are in the works, and the girls, who are almost 9, are deciding what sweet treats they want to make next.

“I was kind of thinking of making apple crisps sometime,” Ava said. “Or braided bread.”

Both girls like to bake, and their mother said they make a great team in the kitchen. They aren’t sure, however, if they want to pursue baking as a full-time career.

“I want to be a doctor, but maybe I could do that on the side,” Molly said.

“I want to be a president, so …,” Ava said, indicating a baking career is not an option.

When the sisters aren’t baking, they are writing.

“I’ve been starting a book,” Ava said. “I’ve already done the prologue so far. (It’s about) this one day that changed a girl’s life and now she has magical powers. A library book called ‘Savvy’ is what inspired me.”

She is titling her book, “That One Day.” “I’m also starting a book but with my friends,” Molly said.

“Me and my friends, and most of the third grade, like these things called Cutetitos.”

Cutetitos are stuffed animals wrapped in a plush burrito blanket. There are Puppitos, Cattitos, Slothitos, Piggitos, Bunnitos, Bearitos and Monkitos.

“I’m writing a whole ‘Zebrito the Awesome,’” she said.

The innovative and creative girls are the daughters of Dan and Ashley Stephens, of Winter Garden.

YEARS OF PREPARING FUTURE LEADERS

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(407) 905-7737 info@windermereprep.com windermereprep.com

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Pre-K3 through Grade 12 International Baccalaureate World School Offering 5 and 7 Day Boarding

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Windermere Prep’s Virtual School Experience Now in Session

OBSERVER

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

1000 DEGREES PIZZA A. MECERA COMM/PSG CONSTRUCTION AAA AUTO GROUP CLUB ABNEY INSURANCE ADAM’S HOME IMPROVEMENT ADDITION FINANCIAL ADVANCED DERMATOLOGY ADVENT HEALTH / BROWN PARKER DEMARINIS ALBIN HUBSCHER/CENTRAL FLORIDA PRIME REAL ESTATE ALBIN POLASEK MUSEUM ALL ABOUT COORDINATION, LLC ALLEGRO SENIOR LIVING ALLSTAR SOCCER ACADEMY ANDY CRABTREE ANGLICAN COMMUNITY FELLOWSHIP OF WINTER GARDEN ANIMAL HOSPITAL AT BALDWIN PARK ANNES ART AND DESIGN ARMSTRONG AIR & HEATING ASSOCIATES IN DERMATOLOGY AUTONATION COLLISION CENTER AXIOM BANK N.A. AZPIRA AT WIINDERMERE B. ROSSER C. CERVELLERA / EDWARD JONES BALDWIN FAIRCHILD FUNERAL HOME BALDWIN PARK EYE CARE BAPTISTE ORTHODONTICS BECK’S BLUEBERRIES BELLA COLINA BEN M. COLE III, INC BENCHMARK REAL ESTATE GROUP, INC BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESERVICES BEULAH BAPTIST CHURCH BIG BOB’S FLOORING DEPOT BLAIR M. JOHNSON, ESQUIRE BLOOM N GROW SOCIETY BRADSHAW & ASSOCIATES OF BALDWIN PARK BRIGHT FUTURE ELECTRIC BRIGHT HORIZONS FAMILY SOLUTIONS BROWNINGS BRUCE YOUNG / EDWARD JONES BRUSTERS ICE CREAM BUDGET U PULL IT CATHERINE D’AMICO, REALTOR CAVENDER’S CENTRAL FLORIDA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY CENTRAL FLORIDA COMMUNITY ARTS CENTRAL FLORIDA EXPRESSWAY AUTHORITY CENTRAL FLORIDA FOOT & ANKLE SPECIALISTS CENTRE FOR DANCE & PERFORMING ARTS CERTIFIED ASSOCIATES/CERTIFIED MEDICAL CHARLES SCHWAB CHILDREN’S LIGHTHOUSE CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH CITY OF DAVENPORT CITY OF OCOEE CITY OF WINTER GARDEN CLERMONT DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP CLERMONT PERFORMING ARTS CLERMONT ROOFING COLLISON CAREY HAND FUNERAL HOME COMMERCE NATIONAL BANK & TRUST COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, INC. CORNERSTONE COMMUNITY CHURCH CRAIG MARTIN / STATE FARM CRANIUM ACADEMY CRAWFORD TIRE CRAZY LENNY’S EBIKES CREALDE SCHOOL OF ART CREMATION CHOICES CULVER’S DEGUSIPE FUNERAL HOME DIXIE CREAM CAFE DOXOLOGY DR. BRIAN RAMSKI, D.M.D. DR. JOSEPH SHIRER, M.D. DR. STEVEN J. SOBER ELYSIUM INTERIORS ENGEL & VOLKERS FANNIE HILLMAN & ASSOC. FIRE TECH EXTINGUISHER SERVICE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF WINTER GARDEN FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF WINTER GARDEN FLORIDA MOBILITY & MEDICAL PRODUCTS FLORIDA PRIMARY CARE CENTER FLORIDA RUNNING COMPANY FOUNDATION ACADEMY FOUNDATION FOR A HEALTHIER WEST ORANGE FRAVEL BREWER ORTHODONTICS FREEDOM HEALTH & OPTIMUM HEALTHCARE G & S AIR SYSTEMS, INC. GARDEN THEATRE GARY MEREDITH / STATE FARM GENTLE GOODBYES PET AQUAMATION INC GIANT RECREATION WORLD GLENN JOINER & SON, INC. GOLDEN POND COMMUNITIES GOLF & ELECTRIC VEHICLES GOOD SAMARITAN SOCIETY GOSSELIN REAL ESTATE GRAIN & BERRY GREATER ORLANDO AVIATION AUTHORITY GURU HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HARBOR CHASE HCA URGENT CARE HD POOL CARE LLC HEALTH CENTRAL HIGH LINE CAR SALES, INC. HILLCREST INSURANCE AGENCY HOPE CHURCH HUDSON TIRE INDIGO SPA & WELLNESS CENTER INSPIRED LIVING ISLAND H2O MARGARITAVILLE RESORT JACQUELINE HUGHES / PREMIER SOTHEBY’S JEAN ANN WEAVER / EDWARD JONES JIM ACKERMAN / STATE FARM JJ MACKLE / REGAL CHRISTIE’S REALTY JO BARSH / STATE FARM JOHN PSOMAS / STATE FARM JOHNSON, INC. JOWERS BATTERIES JUSTIN YVONNE WIECHART REALTOR K&K ROOFING, INC. KARLA ROBINSON REALTY

JO BARSH / STATE FARM WINTER GARDEN SENIOR HOME CARE KELLY PRICE & COMPANY JOHN PSOMAS / STATE FARM WINTER GARDEN WHEEL WORKS KIMBERLEY GERNERT, REALTOR WINTER OAK FUNERAL HOME & CREMATIONS JOHNSON, INC. KMP TRAVEL-CRUISE PLANNERS JOWERS BATTERIES WINTER PARK PLAYHOUSE LAKE APOPKA NATURAL GAS JUSTIN YVONNE WIECHART REALTOR WINTER PARK VETERANARY HOSPITAL LAKE BALDWIN CHURCH K&K ROOFING, INC. WINTER PARK VILLAGE LAKE BALDWIN DENTAL KARLA ROBINSON REALTY WOODLAWN MEMORIAL LISA FLEMING, REALTOR 1000 DEGREES PIZZA KELLY PRICE & COMPANY LITTLE GREEK KIMBERLEY GERNERT, REALTOR A. MECERA COMM/PSG CONSTRUCTION LYNN WALKER WRIGHT, P.A. KMP TRAVEL-CRUISE PLANNERS AAA AUTO GROUP CLUB MAIN STREET MOWER LAKE APOPKA NATURAL GAS ABNEY INSURANCE MARIJUANA CARE CLINIC LAKE BALDWIN CHURCH ADAM’S HOME IMPROVEMENT MARK LANG & ASSOCIATES LAKE BALDWIN DENTAL ADDITION FINANCIAL MARK’S FLOORING ADVANCED DERMATOLOGY MASTER ROOFING LISA FLEMING, REALTOR MATTHEW’S HOPE ADVENT HEALTH / BROWN PARKER DEMARINIS LITTLE GREEK ALBIN HUBSCHER/CENTRAL FLORIDA PRIME REAL LYNN WALKER WRIGHT, P.A. MEAD BOTANICAL GARDENS, INC. ESTATE MICHAEL LAPORTE FINANCIAL MAIN STREET MOWER ALBIN POLASEK MUSEUM MICHAEL OSTHEIM PAINTING & RENOVATIONS MARIJUANA CARE CLINIC ALL ABOUT COORDINATION, LLC MIKE THE MECHANIC MARK LANG & ASSOCIATES ALLEGRO SENIOR LIVING MIKE’S AC SOLUTIONS MARK’S FLOORING ALLSTAR SOCCER ACADEMY MONTVERDE ACADEMY MASTER ROOFING ANDY CRABTREE MUNKBERG BIANCA REALTY GROUP MATTHEW’S HOPE ANGLICAN COMMUNITY FELLOWSHIP OF WINTER MY FAMILY ORTHODONTICS MEAD BOTANICAL GARDENS, INC. GARDEN NEHRLING GARDENS MICHAEL LAPORTE FINANCIAL ANIMAL HOSPITAL AT BALDWIN PARK OAKLAND NATURE PRESERVE MICHAEL OSTHEIM PAINTING & RENOVATIONS ANNES ART AND DESIGN OCOEE CHURCH OF GOD MIKE THE MECHANIC ARMSTRONG AIR & HEATING OCOEE PEDIATRICS MIKE’S AC SOLUTIONS ASSOCIATES IN DERMATOLOGY OCOEE TACO COMPANY MONTVERDE ACADEMY AUTONATION COLLISION CENTER ONE SENIOR PLACE MUNKBERG BIANCA REALTY GROUP AXIOM BANK N.A. ONE STOP HURRICANE SHUTTERS MY FAMILY ORTHODONTICS AZPIRA AT WIINDERMERE OPERA ORLANDO NEHRLING GARDENS B. ROSSER C. CERVELLERA / EDWARD JONES OAKLAND NATURE PRESERVE ORANGE COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM BALDWIN FAIRCHILD FUNERAL HOME OCOEE CHURCH OF GOD ORANGE TECHNICAL COLLEGE BALDWIN PARK EYE CARE ORANGE TREE GOLF CLUB OCOEE PEDIATRICS BAPTISTE ORTHODONTICS OCOEE TACO COMPANY ORLANDO BALLET BECK’S BLUEBERRIES ONE SENIOR PLACE ORLANDO COIN EXCHANGE BELLA COLINA ONE STOP HURRICANE SHUTTERS ORLANDO FOOT & ANKLE CLINIC, INC. BEN M. COLE III, INC OPERA ORLANDO ORLANDO PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA ORANGE COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM BENCHMARK REAL ESTATE GROUP, INC OVIEDO MEDICAL CENTER ORANGE TECHNICAL COLLEGE BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESERVICES PAMMIE’S SAMMIES BEULAH BAPTIST CHURCH ORANGE TREE GOLF CLUB PARAMOUNT URGENT CARE ORLANDO BALLET BIG BOB’S FLOORING DEPOT PARK LIFE KW REALTY ORLANDO COIN EXCHANGE BLAIR M. JOHNSON, ESQUIRE PAT SHARR REALTY BLOOM N GROW SOCIETY ORLANDO FOOT & ANKLE CLINIC, INC. 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APRIL 16, 2020

SPORTS

Announcing the Observer’s All-Area baseball teams TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR

Although the season has not been officially canceled by the FHSAA, as the days pass, it seems more unlikely that spring teams will take the fields again this year.

Despite the disappointment, it doesn’t mean their hard work should go unnoticed.

That’s why the Observer is presenting its series of AllArea teams. This week, we’re honoring the best in baseball.

FIRST TEAM

Jacob Worley, Legacy Charter, senior Stats: .389 Avg, 18 RBIs, four extra-base hits; 1.05 ERA, 3-0 record, 33 strikeouts Quick Hit: Worley was an allaround solid player for Legacy, leading the team in multiple categories at the plate and on the mound.

Isaac Sewell, TFA, sophomore Stats: .000 ERA, 13 IP, 2-0 record, 22 Ks Quick Hit: Through 13 innings of work this season, Sewell was largely untouchable as he dominated on the mound for the Royals.

Cooper Mills, Dr. Phillips, senior Stats: .485 Avg, 12 RBIs, two extra-base hits Quick Hit: Mills put up the highest average at the plate for the Panthers, making him an offensive threat.

Foundation Academy lacrosse’s Kyle Huntt dominated on defense for the Lions. Page 16.

WEIGHT OF THE MOMENT

Legacy’s Jacob Worley dominated at the plate and on the mound.

Pablo Delgado, Windermere Prep, senior Stats: .619 Avg, 11 RBIs, led team in hits, seven extra-base hits Quick Hit: Delgado holds the highest batting average among players in the area.

Jack Bellah, Windermere High, junior Stats: .42 ERA, 16.2 IP, 1-0 record, 18 strikeouts Quick Hit: On the mound, Bellah dominated for the Wolverines as he pitched a team-best .42 ERA in a team-high 16.2 innings pitched.

Justin LaGasse, Legacy Charter, senior Stats: .429 Avg, 13 RBIs, six extra-base hits, 12 stolen bases Quick Hit: One of Legacy’s three outstanding seniors, LaGasse was not only a threat at the plate, he also wreaked havoc on the base paths, picking up 12 stolen bases.

Troy Herring

Braden Holcomb, Foundation Academy, freshman Stats: .611 Avg, 17 RBIs, 10 extrabase hits Quick Hit: On a talented Foundation squad, Holcomb proved a threat at the plate as he picked a whopping .611 average and 17 RBIs.

Mitch Harding, Olympia, senior Stats: 1.72 ERA, 3-0 record, 31 strikeouts Quick Hit: Fewer pitchers got off to a hotter start than Harding before the season was suspended.

He led his team in strikeouts and record.

Carson Montgomery, Windermere High, senior Stats: .370 Avg, .452 OBP, six RBIs, two runs / 1.80 ERA, 11.2 IP, 1-0 record, 1.20 WHIP, 23 Ks Quick Hit: Ever the 1-2 threat, the FSU commit’s season saw the senior do what he always does — dominate on the mound and at the plate.

Derek Arroyo, Dr. Phillips, senior Stats: .345 Avg, 14 RBIs

SECOND TEAM

Dylan Rose, Foundation Academy, sophomore Stats: .464 Avg, six RBIs, one extra-base hit; 1.31 ERA, 2-0 record, 12 strikeouts SEE ALL-AREA PAGE 16

Photos by Troy Herring

Windermere’s Carson Montgomery shined during his final season.

Seniors around the area are grappling with emotions as they cope with the reality that their high school playing days are over.

TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR

C

hloe Vorhovac feels empty.

Like many, she’s stuck in the house playing a waiting game that doesn’t feel like it will ever end, and the days grow increasingly longer.

She has hobbies she loves — cooking, painting and embroidering — but there is one constant that’s been taken out of her life: softball. It’s hit the Ocoee senior centerfielder hard. So hard, in fact, that she has made changes to her own home.

“I’ve basically been doing everything but looking at things in my house that remind me of softball,” Vorhovac said. “I cleaned out my drawer with all my softball pants in it, and I took all of my trophies down and put them in a box because I was like, ‘I can’t look at it.’ It makes me sad to look at it.”

Vorhovac isn’t alone. For a good number of seniors such as Vorhovac, this was it — this was the swan song of their athletic careers. It’s why not having control of the end is what hurts the most.

“I guess I didn’t get the ending

that I really wanted,” Vorhovac said. “I was looking forward to my last 12 games. I was looking forward to all the good parts of the ending.”

Although Vorhovac’s career is done, teammate Karleigh Curtis will go on to play softball at St. Petersburg College, but the pain of seeing such a positive year come to an abrupt end is heartbreaking.

“It sucks that I didn’t get to finish my senior year,” Curtis said.

“This year was probably going to be the best year for us, out of all of my four years. The fact that it got cut short was disappointing.”

Of course, the seniors understand how serious the pandemic is, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t feelings of sadness, frustration and anger, said Jonah Best — who had been enjoying stints on the lacrosse, weightlifting and track teams.

“I wouldn’t say that I’m upset, but it’s annoying for sure that our spring sports are just kind of gone,” Best said. “I’m kind of one of the lucky ones that my main sport is in the fall with football, but I had a lot going on this spring. Me and Ross Fournet are both actually playing three spring sports — that’s three seasons of ours that got cut short.”

Having your season cut short is soul-crushing as it is, but it’s made even worse when you’re on a mission that has been building up for years.

The last time the Olympia girls water polo team made it to states was in 2017 — a long time for a program that is used to success.

This year was supposed to see the Titans right the ship, said senior utility player Ali Wagner.

“Going into this season, that SEE SENIORS PAGE 16

“I guess I didn’t get the ending that I really wanted.

I was looking forward to my last 12 games. I was looking forward to all the good parts of the ending.”

— Karleigh Curtis, Ocoee softball

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THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

SPONSORED BY MARK’S FLOORING AND SHANNON TILL/STATE FARM IN FOWLER GROVES

Kyle Huntt As the lone senior on the Foundation Academy lacrosse team, Kyle Huntt only got the chance to play seven games before the season was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic. After he graduates, he will attend the University of North Florida, where he’ll work toward becoming a physical therapist.

How did you end up making your way to lacrosse?

I’ve played football for most of high school, and when I wasn’t able to play my senior year because I had to work, I had an opportunity to play a spring sport and lacrosse just popped up at Foundation and I was like, “I’ll try it out.”

THE BASICS

SCHOOL: Foundation Academy YEAR: Senior AGE: 18 SPORT: Lacrosse POSITION: Defender

sports, there isn’t as much running as there is in lacrosse — other than that, I think it was worth it. I had a lot of fun.

What was the biggest difference for you between football and lacrosse?

The contact. In football, there are rules for hitting, but not as many as there are in lacrosse, and that took some adjusting to get used to.

What did you enjoy most about playing defense? What was something that took time to get used to?

Something I really enjoyed while playing it was just the aggression it takes to play on that side of the field. One thing that took time getting used to is I play in the middle — there are three defenders that play in the middle — and so I would try to attempt to block shots with my body.

What were those first few practices like for you?

Honestly, it was a lot of fun, because I had never played lacrosse before. I’ve had other people tell me that they don’t believe that I’ve even played lacrosse before, but that was because of (head coach Victor Rodriguez). For the first few weeks around Christmas, we just practiced fundamentals, and that’s where I really learned it.

Despite the season being cut short due to the coronavirus, how did you like playing lacrosse?

I can say that through the season, it was the first sport that I have ever played that I was excited to go to practice and learn more. Then when the games started coming, it just got better, because that’s one thing that lacrosse and football has in common — games are a lot better than practice.

What was your favorite of playing lacrosse? The hardest part?

My favorite part has probably been being a part of a brand-new sport for a school and still playing like a team that has been around for a while.

The most difficult thing I had to tackle was probably getting used to the running. In all the other

As a senior, what is it like knowing that you’ve probably played your last high school game due to the season being suspended?

It’s tough. It’s tough to think about honestly, because I’ve had a lot of fun with lacrosse, but if there are any intramural teams that need a defender, I’d be willing to play.

— TROY HERRING

All-Area baseball CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

Adonis Stewart, Legacy Charter, sophomore Stats: .500 Avg, nine RBIs; 1.91 ERA, 10 strikeouts John Petit, TFA, senior Stats: 0.61 ERA, 11.1 IP, 1-0 record, one save, 16 strikeouts

Dr. Phillips’ Cooper Mills led the Panthers in batting average.

Ricky Reeth, West Orange, junior Stats: .400 Avg, five RBIs, 10 runs

Austin Tanner, Windermere Prep, senior Stats: .500 Avg, five RBIs, second on team in hits

William Ross, West Orange, sophomore Stats: 1.47 ERA, 1-0 record, 21 strikeouts

Jacob Pacheco, Windermere Prep, junior Stats: 3.46 ERA, 2-0 record, one game saved, 22 strikeouts

Jason Grant, Windermere High, senior Stats: .387 Avg, .525 OBP, .548 SLG, five RBIs, 13 runs

Keenan Milroy, CFCA, junior Stats: .378 Avg, .430 OBP

Troy Herring

Gaven Book, Olympia, junior Stats: 1.56 ERA, 1-2 record, 18 strikeouts

Justin Lewis, Olympia, junior Stats: .360 Avg, 12 RBIs

Andrew Birko, Legacy Charter, senior Stats: .333 Avg, four RBIs; ERA 0.00, 10 strikeouts

Alex Gonzalez, Legacy Charter, junior Stats: .367 Avg, 12 RBIs, five extra-base hits

Nico Banez, Olympia, sophomore Stats: .423 Avg, four RBIs, five stolen bases

THIRD TEAM

Brandon Fields, Dr. Phillips, senior Stats: .379 Avg, eight RBIs, four extra-base hits

HONORABLE MENTION

Logan Wirt, Dr. Phillips, sophomore Stats: 3.82 ERA, 0-2 record, 18 strikeouts

Matt Campina, TFA, senior Stats: .389 Avg, .600 OBP, nine RBIs, seven runs Jimmy Duncan, West Orange, senior Stats: .375 Avg, 11 RBIs, led team in hits

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REMEMBERING THE GOOD TIMES

stop Charles Kwarteng — now a senior — saw reactions from around the city that he hadn’t been expecting. Of everything he experienced during his time at Ocoee, that will be the memory that will last the longest.

“We already knew it was a big accomplishment for the school and for the guys on the team and guys who played here before, but we didn’t take into consideration how big it was for the whole city,” Kwarteng said. “I would go to Publix, and people who would see me with my baseball shirt on and say, ‘Congratulations, it means a lot to us,’ so for my school to finally do something like that … it was really cool.”

JJ Paulsen, Dr. Phillips, junior Stats: 3.39 ERA, 2-1 record, 10 strikeouts

Zale Lugo, Ocoee, freshman Stats: .320 Avg, four RBIs Brandon Merrill, Ocoee, senior Stats: 2.98 ERA, 1-2 record, 17 strikeouts Alex Britton, Olympia, senior Stats: .360 Avg, seven RBIs, one homer, three stolen bases Matt Barrett, TFA, senior Stats: 4.35 ERA, 17.2 IP, 1-2 record, one save, 16 strikeouts Tracy Mitchem, West Orange, junior Stats: .286 Avg, seven RBIs Blake Cyr, Windermere High, sophomore Stats: .300 Avg, five RBI, seven runs Damian Goulart, Windermere High, junior Stats: .296 Avg, nine RBIs, eight runs Adam Matthews, CFCA, senior Stats: .328 Avg, .395 OBP Ivan Vanbeverhoudt, Dr. Phillips, senior Stats: 2.94 ERA, 2-2 record, 15 strikeouts

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was kind of our main goal — getting back to that spot,” Wagner said. “We’ve all been playing with each other the last three years, and we had really good chemistry this year, and everything was just working in our favor.

“We got so close to getting to the playoff and getting past that point that we knew we could get to,” she said. “It just feels like it was taken away from us.”

For West Orange High second baseman Sarah Leach, it isn’t her time on the softball field she will remember the most. “(It’s) probably the time before games when we’re all getting ready and we’re all in the locker room, and it’s just us — we’re just cracking jokes on each other and just having a bunch of fun,” Leach said. “It’s a different story every time.”

As friends were made and bonds formed off the field, on the field there were moments that affected not only the team but the community, as well.

When the Ocoee baseball team won its first district title last year in a stressful 7-6 win over Lake Minneola, short-

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THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

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mail your photo to Community Editor Amy Quesinberry at AmyQ@orangeobserver.com. You can also mail or drop off the photo: Observer Media Group, 661 Garden Commerce Parkway, Suite 180, Winter Garden, FL 34787.

Emailed photos should be at least 200 dpi. Include the names of everyone in the photo, where it was taken and a phone number where the editor can reach you.

As part of an excursion in Reykjavik, Iceland, Jo and Phil Denmark, Karin and Jim Bechwith, and Evelyn and Tom Strunk visited Gullfoss Waterfall in the Gullfoss Nature Preserve. They were able to visit many beautiful and interesting sites in Iceland and Greenland on their cruise.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

TOGETHER, WE CAN POWER THROUGH THIS CRISIS. Reliable energy is always important, but never more so than now as we navigate this challenging time together.

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BEST & BRIGHTEST Ingenuity, research and some good ol’ fashioned hard work already have yielded major wins in the local fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

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Observer “If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.”

PICTURE PERFECT

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“Road to Serfdom,” 1944

President and CEO / Matt Walsh, mwalsh@yourobserver.com Editor and Publisher / Michael Eng, meng@OrangeObserver.com Design Editor / Jessica Eng, jeng@OrangeObserver.com Community Editor / Amy Quesinberry, amyq@OrangeObserver.com Sports Editor /Troy Herring, therring@OrangeObserver.com Associate Editor / Danielle Hendrix, dhendrix@OrangeObserver.com Multimedia Advertising Executives / Ann Carpenter, acarpenter@OrangeObserver.com Cyndi Gustafson, advertising@OrangeObserver.com Iggy Collazo, iggy@OrangeObserver.com Creative Services Lindsay Cannizzaro, lcanniazzaro@OrangeObserver.com Advertising Operations Manager / Allison Brunelle, abrunelle@OrangeObserver.com

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The Observer is published once weekly, on Thursdays. It provides subscription home delivery. The Observer also can be found in commercial locations and at our office, 661 Garden Commerce Parkway, Suite 180, Winter Garden, Florida 34787.

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OrangeObserver.com

Orlando Health team members cut the ribbon to the brand-new Orlando Health Imaging Centers — Summerport.

Orlando Health officially opened the doors in February to its newest imaging center near Summerport Village.

DANIELLE HENDRIX ASSOCIATE EDITOR

West Orange residents, especially those living near Summerport Village in Horizon West, now have access to state-of-the-art imaging technology just minutes from home.

Orlando Health team members, community members and elected officials celebrated the ribbon cutting for Orlando Health Imaging Centers — Summerport Feb 20.

The diagnostic center is located inside the existing 60,000-square-foot medical pavilion off County Road 535 and West Lake Butler Road.

Orlando Health Imaging Centers is a joint venture between Orlando Health and the Medical Center Radiology Group. It was created in 2014 to address Central Florida’s increased imaging needs, and the Summerport location is the newest member of the family.

The 4,800-square-foot space is compact, but it is packed with high-quality equipment and services. This includes 3D mammography/tomosynthesis, bone densitometry, digital X-ray, wide-bore 3T MRI and 128-slice CT. According to Orlando Health, all images are read by board-certified radiologists experienced in various subspecialties. Same-day results are then sent directly to physicians to determine the next course of action.

“We’re really excited about everything that’s happening in the West Orange market,” said Mark Marsh, president of Orlando Health’s Health Central Hospital in Ocoee. “I was reminded today by (Orange County District 1) Commissioner Betsy VanderLey that there’s 1,500 new residents per week

Photos by Danielle Hendrix

This is a 128-slice CT machine, which provides fast scans and quick results.

moving into Central Florida. … A lot of that is happening here in the West Orange market.”

Dan Honerbrink, corporate director of Orlando Health Imaging Centers, said a lot of work has gone into the concept over the last few years to make it a reality. There also will be more imaging centers opening in the future, he said.

“This imaging center provides highly specialized, state-of-theart imaging services for the community,” Honerbrink said. “At the end of the day, we brought in all of this equipment because this community deserves it and Orlando Health wouldn’t stand for anything less. We put all this in to a very compact space. It’s efficient, it’s effective, and we expect when you walk through the door, you’ll appreciate how we tried to line it up.”

Honerbrink added that imaging is on the forefront of breakthrough technology and Orlando Health wanted to ensure it provided and kept up with that technology. The imaging center also provides a more convenient location for nearby residents to receive necessary services.

The imaging center at Summerport is the sixth of its kind within the Orlando Health network. The organization also has

“At the end of the day, we brought in all of this equipment because this community deserves it and Orlando Health wouldn’t stand for anything less.”

— Dan Honerbrink, corporate director, Orlando Health Imaging Centers

imaging centers in Altamonte Springs, Ocoee, Lake Mary and Spring Lake. Two more imaging centers are on the way in Winter Park and downtown Orlando.

Dr. Wei-Shen Chin, president and CEO of Medical Center Radiology Group, added that Orlando Health has essentially brought a “Formula 1 race car” to this portion of West Orange County and its drivers are the radiologists. His organization has partnered with Orlando Health for more than 70 years now.

“When we do imaging, what we’re really trying to do is solving a problem for someone as quickly and effectively as possible to make a diagnosis and to get that patient the right care,” Chin said. “The reason we have imaging here is to support everybody else in this facility. … We’ve tied this center to our specialty radiologists.

“Our group has nearly 50 radiologists, and we are very proud that we’re able to provide that level of subspecialty care right here to support every specialty that’s in this building,” Chin said. “We are the imaging experts behind all this amazing equipment. We help with every single part of the protocols, all the technology and the investment in infrastructure to make this all work.”

HEALTH MATTERS

HEALTH BRIEFS

OrangeObserver.com

Melrose Center delivers 3D-printed PPE to Orlando Health

Courtesy photo

Fab Lab instructor Harold Singh delivered the 3D-printed masks to Orlando Health.

Staff from Orange County Library System’s Melrose Center connected with local maker groups to 3D-print critical personal protective equipment and delivered face-shield visors to Orlando Health.

In late March, the Melrose Center’s Fab Lab team began investigating ways it could 3D print personal protective equipment for health care professionals. Working with files provided freely by Budmen Industries, a company that designs and sells 3D printers, staff started printing visors from home using 3D printers and supplies borrowed from the Melrose Center’s Fab Lab, a makerspace that offers hands-on classes and equipment for DIY projects.

“The Melrose Center’s Fab Lab team is really happy to be able to join the maker community’s efforts to help our health care workers,” said Jim Myers, department head of the Dorothy Lumley Melrose Center for Technology, Innovation and Creativity. “They are a focused and energized bunch, and glad to be in a position to make a small difference. I’m really proud of them.”

Using supplies at his home makerspace, Fab Lab instructor Harold Singh began the initial process of printing the parts.

With the help of his daugh-

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APRIL 2020

5

ter, who works in the ICU, he delivered them to Orlando Health. At the same time, Fab Lab Instructor Yesenia Arroyo connected with the Central and South Florida chapters of the nonprofit Open Source COVID-19 Medical Supplies, a group working to connect makerspaces with medical professionals in need around the world.

Soon after, the group received information from Orlando Health with details on what equipment could be accepted and work began. Arroyo and fellow Fab Lab Instructors Jennifer Michalicek and Frank Mackey each took home a 3D printer, filament and other supplies from the Fab Lab. Melrose Center staff now has four printers creating face shield parts, which take about two hours each to complete.

Singh has also created a rubber mold of the visor frame and can produce an additional four per hour using liquid acrylic.

So far, there have been 41 visors printed, all of which are ready for delivery to Orlando Health for final assembly and sterilization.

Florida Blue contributes meals to food bank Florida Blue contributed 300,000 meals to assist Central Floridians struggling because of the COVID-19 health crisis. The contribution to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is part of a $2 million initial investment Florida Blue is making to address urgent health and safety needs across the state as a result of the crisis.

“Florida Blue is collaborating with leaders and organizations across Central Florida to address critical needs facing our neighbors,” said Tony Jenkins, Florida Blue’s Central Florida market president. “Second Harvest Food Bank is an essential lifeline to tens of thousands in our community who suddenly find themselves out of work due to the health crisis.”

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APRIL 2020

TESTING SITES Three temporary testing sites have been set up in Orange County to alleviate overcrowding and the potential spreading of the virus in health care facilities. More sites are being planned. n The Orange County Convention Center’s North Concourse parking lot, 9400 Universal Blvd., Orlando, is a daily testing site. It opens at 9 a.m. and closes after 400 tests have been performed each day. Only residents who meet the criteria will be tested.

They must be experiencing respiratory symptoms, have a pre-existing condition or have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Health care workers and first responders can get tested regardless of symptoms.

Call the Florida Department of Health in Orange County at (407) 7235004 to set an appointment. Testing is free. This site is run by the Florida Division of Emergency Management. n The Florida Department of Health in Orange County is offering free testing for residents with an appointment. The call center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Residents who meet the criteria will be given an appointment date, time and location. The DOH-Orange has the capacity to run 50 tests daily. n The University of Central Florida has partnered with Aventus Biolabs to provide a testing site. It is by appointment only; call (855) 282-4860 to set one up. Up to 250 tests can be administered daily. Testing hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays in UCF’s Garage A, 12491 University Blvd., Orlando. n Walgreens has been working with national health officials to provide free testing to eligible residents.

The first drive-thru site was activated in Illinois last month, and the company is working to expand to seven states, including Florida.

Walgreens reports it soon will provide COVID-19 tests “with rapid results” — positive results are delivered within five minutes, and negative results are ready within 13 minutes.

ALL IN TH

TOGETH F

rom 3D-printed personal protective equipment and convalescent plasma infusion to a growin

the blood, sweat and tears of doctors and nurses, Central Florida’s medical community is eng

present the latest information regarding the coronavirus pandemic and what our local medica

Stories from the fron Dr. Charlotte Charfen, emergency physician and owner of the Oakland Manor House, has been battling the COVID-19 pandemic in Central Florida.

DANIELLE HENDRIX ASSOCIATE EDITOR

These days, heroes are known more for scrubs and surgical masks than capes.

Doctors, nurses, technicians and countless other health care workers worldwide have been battling COVID-19 on the front lines for weeks. In Florida, officials estimate the virus’ peak will occur around mid- to late April.

In the meantime, tens of thousands of health care professionals are working overtime, separated from their families and often scrambling for personal protective equipment — all of them putting their own health at risk to help save lives.

Dr. Charlotte Charfen, former Oakland resident and owner of the Oakland Manor House, is among those heroes. As an emergency physician for 20 years, she often is among the first to see patients when they enter an emergency department.

Charfen always had been driven to go into medicine, even before she had any real experience with the medical field. It wasn’t until well into her medical school education that she made a promise to herself to spend a month training in the emergency department. It was love at first sight.

MANY UNKN

INTO THE FIRE

Today, Charfen lives and works in Hawaii and does a good amount of travel work. A few weeks ago, though, she found herself temporarily back in Oakland after the coronavirus pandemic interrupted her spring break plans.

Charfen and her teenage daughter were supposed to fly to New York City to see a concert before returning to Florida.

Then, her daughter was supposed to visit her father while Charfen completed travel work in another part of the state.

Instead, the two ended up in Florida for a prolonged “spring break.” After completing the shifts she had committed to

est thing. It re because we ar in when other the other wa run in now b we endangeri endangering a “It’s not th cine — it’s t your safety w you’re not be said. “It’s a te Upon comp ment, she retu Oakland and s two weeks to sick. Then, sh out at her n Central Florid this organiza at providing a

Courtesy Charlotte Charfen

Dr. Charlotte Charfen wears a surgical mask over her N95 mask, protective goggles, gloves, scrubs and even a welding-style face shield to protect herself while treating patients.

working in another hospital, Charfen was asked to stay in state into May to help with the growing needs many hospitals are seeing.

“There’s always need,” she said.

“There’s always need in this area … and there’s definitely a need because of COVID-19.”

One of the biggest challenges health care workers are facing right now, she said, is lack of personal protective equipment.

After all, she added, PPE is their armor.

“That has been the hardest thing for me to wrap my head around, is how … all of a sudden, we have some crazy shortage (of PPE), and we think it’s OK to send people on the front lines into something that could kill them without the appropriate gear,” she said. “That blows my mind, and mentally has been the hard-

Charfen said admitted a f hospital, she had any criti patients that s yet. Many pat afraid more th “The energ got everybody “A lot of my jo ate some of th it all away, bec going to be a majority of p right now are However, sh critical cases fact, she said misconcepti COV I D -19 and thera Hyd rox yc h chloroquine a prescription d touted as pote Both have malaria and ce conditions. investigation treatment of C according to Disease Cont says there cur or other ther by the U.S. Administrati treat COVID“There is a hydroxychlor cure their CO said. “I canno

HEALTH MATTERS

OrangeObserver.com

HIS

HER

ng number of available tests and, of course,

gaged in the battle of our lifetime. Here, we

al community is doing to keep residents safe.

nt lines

eally is a mind game, re so used to rushing r people are running ay. We cannot just because not only are ing ourselves, we’re all of our workers. he practice of medithe anxiety around where you feel like eing cared for,” she errible feeling.” pleting that assignurned to her home in self-quarantined for o ensure she wasn’t he geared up to help next assignment in da. Luckily, she said, ation has been great all necessary PPE.

requests I got for hydroxychloroquine, and those people don’t even have COVID-19. There’s a lot of case reports that it’s helpful, and a lot of case reports that it’s not. It’s not hard data. I think a lot of people are putting way more stock into it than what the studies are showing thus far.

“It just feels like we’re so focused on trying to find that magic pill or that magic something, where really and truly it’s all about just basic fundamentals (like hand washing),” she said. “If we can do those, we’ll be fine. Yes, people are dying, and yes, that is tragic, but I think overall if we can do the basic things, most of us will be OK.”

NOWNS

Despite all the bad news surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, Charfen said there have been countless positive and uplifting moments she’s experienced over the last several weeks. Family, friends and community members have dropped off groceries and supplies for her, donated coffee and PPE, and are ready to help however they can.

“Even though I am isolated and kind of alone in this house by myself, I don’t feel alone at all,” she said. “On a personal level, I feel extremely supported by the community, and I feel a lot of gratitude. … I always tell people the biggest help is for people to stay at home, do those things you’ve been asked, and that is the greatest gift to a health care worker right now.”

d although she has few patients to the e has not personally ically ill COVID-19 she’s had to intubate tients she’s seen are han anything. gy around all this has y so afraid,” she said. ob is to try to allevihat fear. I can’t take cause there’s always , ‘What if?’ But the patients I’m seeing e not so sick.” he knows severe and s are out there. In d, one of the biggest ions surrounding i s t rea t m e n t peutic options. h l o ro q u i n e and are among those oral drugs that have been ential treatments. been used to treat ertain inflammatory They are under n in clinical trials for COVID-19 patients, o the Centers for trol. The CDC also rrently are no drugs rapeutics approved . Food and Drug ion to prevent or -19. misconception that roquine is going to OVID-19,” Charfen ot tell you how many

SILVER LININGS

“I always tell people the biggest help is for people to stay at home, do those things you’ve been asked, and that is the greatest gift to a health care worker right now.”

— Dr. Charlotte Charfen

|

APRIL 2020

Local hospitals see hope in plasma treatment for COVID-19 AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

OneBlood and AdventHealth are collaborating on a project that potentially could treat patients with life-threatening coronavirus infections. The organizations are calling for people who have recovered from coronavirus to make blood plasma donations; the plasma and its antibodies will be transfused to eligible patients.

“This is an extremely exciting development that shows promise in helping our sickest patients,” said Dr. Juliana Gaitan, who is leading the project at AdventHealth. “We’re among the first hospitals in the country to begin offering this therapy.”

COVID-19 convalescent plasma is an experimental treatment that has been approved by the FDA to be used on an emergency basis to help people with lifethreatening coronavirus infections, according to OneBlood.

“This is a monumental moment in the fight against coronavirus,” said Bud Scholl, president and chief executive officer of OneBlood. “The OneBlood team has worked around the clock in order to implement the new FDA protocols to begin collecting COVID-19 convalescent plasma.”

Officials at Orlando Health reported their first successful convalescent plasma infusion last week.

Doctors at Orlando Health’s Orlando Regional Medical Center infused their first COVID-19 patient with convalescent plasma Wednesday, April 8. Fifty-twoyear-old Michael “Kevin” Rathel received the investigational therapy around midnight, 12 hours after compatible blood was donated.

“Normally, getting plasma requires going through a long process, because it’s investigational,” said Rathel’s physician, Satya Mukkera, MD, critical care physician at Orlando Regional Medical Center. “In a normal timeline, this might take

DONOR ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS n COVID-19 convalescent plasma must only be collected from recovered individuals if they are eligible to donate blood n Required testing must be performed and the donation must be found suitable n Prior diagnosis of COVID-19 documented by a laboratory test n Complete resolution of symptoms at least 14 days prior to donation n Have a negative result for COVID-19 n Meet all standard FDA blood donation requirements

a few days. So working through the process in a few hours in phenomenal.”

The process to obtain and infuse convalescent plasma is complicated. Donors’ blood types must be compatible with recipients. Donors must have recovered from COVID-19, been symptomfree for a minimum of 14 days and be tested to ensure the virus is no longer active in the body. The hospital administering the treat-

SOMETHING FROM NOTHING Hospital leaders, including those at AdventHealth, are scouring the world for masks and other protective equipment.

But Jodi Fails didn’t have to look far. She simply turned to a 3D printer at AdventHealth and found an innovative solution that will help create thousands of face shields for clinicians.

Fails, a product development engineer manager at the AdventHealth Nicholson Center prototype lab in Celebration, usually uses the 3D printer to create and test novel devices for clinicians and external companies — like models of a patient’s hip or tools to help physicians during surgery.

“It’s an honor to be able to assist our team members as they fight this pandemic,” Fails said. “We may not be providing direct patient care, but through the lab, we can help protect our colleagues on the front lines.”

Fails began researching and

found designs for face shields created by her fellow 3D community online. Much attention has focused on the need for surgical masks, but face shields — clear, curved pieces of plastic attached to a headband — are also vital and in short supply.

Fails soon created a successful prototype.

Fails and the Nicholson Center team then enlisted the help of academic and industry partners to mass-produce the equipment. Companies large and small are taking part, including Universal Orlando Resort, Cimquest, Taz 3D and Out of This World Embroidery.

Production of the face shields is currently at 1,000 a week, with a preliminary goal of 20,000. The shields are being distributed to AdventHealth hospitals across Central Florida. If more production partners join the efforts, those numbers could go up and help more clinicians.

ment must receive approval from the FDA on a case-by-case basis.

“This was like catching lightning in a bottle,” said Dr. George Ralls, vice president of quality and clinical transformation for Orlando Health. “The donor had the proper blood type to allow his plasma to be given to Kevin.

Things lined up the way we could have hoped for.”

Orlando Health is urging individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate blood.

“This is something anyone who has recovered from COVID-19 should be aware of,” Ralls said.

“The goal is to have enough plasma in inventory so we don’t have to rely on a one-to-one connection as we did in this case. We need to have an inventory of plasma that can be used for patients no matter where they are.”

Doctors say it’s too early to predict Rathel’s prognosis.

“It usually takes a couple of days to see initial changes in lab parameters after giving plasma,” Mukkera added. “We’re hoping to see some positive changes in the next two to three days. The good news is his condition is not worsening, which is a positive sign.”

Prospective donors can visit oneblood.org/lp/covid-19-convalescent-plasma. tml#btndonate.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHES CALL CENTERS The Florida Department of Health has created a call center to answer general questions residents might have about COVID-19. To support the state’s efforts, the Florida Department of Health in Orange County has established a number, as well.

The dedicated number for the Florida department is (866) 779-6121, and the call center is available from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Residents can send questions via email at COVID-19@ flhealth.gov.

Orange County residents can call (407) 7235004. The DOH-Orange call center is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

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HEALTH MATTERS

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APRIL 2020

STAYING CONNECTED

Orange County Government is providing multiple ways on social media to inform residents of the most up-to-date information regarding COVID-19.

FACEBOOK Orange County, Florida Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings District 1 Commissioner Betsy VanderLey Orange County Animal Services Orange County Convention Center Orange County Regional History Center Orange County Fire Rescue TWITTER Orange County, Florida Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings Orange County Animal Services Orange County Convention Center Orange County Fire Rescue Orange County Parks Orange County Regional History Center LINKEDIN Orange County Government FLICKR Orange County Government NEXTDOOR Orange County Government INSTAGRAM Orange County, Florida Orange County Animal Services YOUTUBE Orange TV Orange County Regional History Center

ON THE SURFACE

By now, we all have heard that it’s important to routinely clean the surfaces we touch. But do you know why health officials are stressing this?

The COVID-19 virus is heavier and contains more proteins, said Kent Donahue, public information officer for the Florida Department of Health in Orange County. He compared this virus to last year’s measles outbreak.

Measles particles from a cough or sneeze can stay in the air longer because they are light in weight, he said. The droplets from a COVID-19 cough or sneeze are falling and landing on surfaces, and the germs are being picked up by other people touching the surface.

And what about non-COVID-19 issues?

TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, questions regarding health care have been pushed to the forefront of many people’s minds.

Many involve the coronavirus itself, but a few questions also involve issues unrelated to the virus.

What are signs that I need to go to the hospital?

What do I do if I need medical attention that isn’t coronavirus related?

Dr. Omayra Mansfield, who serves as vice president and chief medical officer for AdventHealth Apopka and AdventHealth Winter Garden, said the answer to the first question depends on the symptoms one is experiencing in that moment.

“While certainly COVID-19 is on the forefront of everyone’s mind, it doesn’t mean that we don’t have other patients who have other illnesses who are still coming to the hospital,” Mansfield said. “What I would ask them to do is really listen to their bodies and use their best judgment, because we know when something is out of our normal and also just the severity of symptoms.

“If someone is having symptoms where they are having shortness of breath … or chest pains or if they are having neurological symptoms — weakness, change in speech and altered mentation — then absolutely, the hospital and the emergency department is here 24/7 for a reason,” she said.

Along with those specific symptoms and issues, Mansfield said those experiencing other issues — such as limb-threatening situations — also should go to the hospital.

But what about for the nonlife-threatening scenarios? The answer is to utilize your primary care doctor — although it likely will have to be done in a virtual way.

Many medical offices — such as Paramount Urgent Care — have closed their physical locations, but that doesn’t mean they can’t offer assistance. Paramount is offering telemedicine to help those in need of non-emergency medical assistance, said Paramount Urgent Care Marketing

Director Suzie Socier.

“They can go to our website, and we have a phone number listed where they can call in and schedule for a telemedicine visit, which they can do by video or phone,” Socier said. “It has been around a while, but I don’t think it has been utilized to the extent that it is used now. You want to know that people with everyday needs are able to be taken care of.

“We have some great providers, and they are trained to be able to assess what the next step is for a patient,” she said. “If they call us concerned about an injury or a cut and they don’t know, ‘Do I need stitches?’ or ‘Where should I go?’ we still have the capability to talk with them.”

One of the big goals is keeping those who don’t have life-threatening issues out of the hospital — allowing those at AdventHealth and Orlando Health to focus on their jobs of dealing with serious situations, as well as the coronavirus.

Socier said Paramount Urgent Care has seen an increase in calls, while Mansfield said AdventHealth had seen a decrease in the number of people visiting.

Another organization that has seen an increase in patients is Community Health Centers, which has locations throughout the area. Unlike other facilities, it has kept its doors open while taking significant precautions in keeping staff and patients safe.

So far, its staff has seen an uptick in patients, especially as it relates to emergency dental care, said Dr. Gregg Stewart, CHC’s chief dental officer.

“Since March 23, we have seen (more than) 700 urgent or emergent dental individuals, and of those, almost half of them were truly very, very bad emergencies,” Stewart said. “Had we not been here, they most likely would have ended up in the ER. We’re working with our community partners to take care of this urgent need during this time.”

Just like regular doctor’s offices, a big issue at the moment is that many dental offices are either closed or only serving patients in need of emergency dental care. At CHC, emergencies are dictated by three criteria: pain, swelling and trauma.

CHC also is utilizing telemedicine for its patients and their needs. The big takeaway here is that if you have medical needs, you need to seek assistance like you usually would, said CHC President and CEO Debra Andree.

“We don’t want someone deferring care and doing more harm than good,” Andree said.

“Medical issues will continue — just like they did before the pandemic — that are not related to the COVID-19 virus, and there are certainly many things that need to be assessed and treated.”

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HEALTH MATTERS

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Essential lifeline

Continual blood donations are crucial to saving people’s lives — especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COMMUNITY EDITOR

The Big Red Bus is a common sight in shopping center parking lots when OneBlood is holding one of its donation events. Some folks donate blood regularly because they like the philanthropic aspect of giving. Others are enticed by the free wellness checkup, and still others are drawn in with the offer of free T-shirts or movie tickets.

The reason people board the bus or walk into a donation center isn’t important; what’s important is that they are donating their blood, platelets and plasma — and saving people’s lives.

Blood is made up of four main components: red blood cells, platelets, plasma and white blood cells. Each one-pint whole-blood donation has the potential to save up to three lives.

WHO CAN DONATE?

Healthy adults are encouraged to donate blood on a regular basis.

According to OneBlood, even people who have health issues can still donate. This includes: n Those with anemia or low iron, high blood pressure, diabetes or localized skin cancers n People taking certain medications for non-infectious diseases n Those who have a healed tattoo received at a state-licensed and regulated facility n Those who have a healed body piercing done with single-use equipment

n People who are 18 and older or 16 and older with a parent’s or guardian’s signature n Those who are free of illness such as cold or flu and who have not had minor surgeries, including dental work, within 24 hours n Women six weeks after giving birth Courtesy photo

DONATING METHODS

There is more than one way to give blood. n Whole blood donation is the traditional way of donating and draws a pint of blood containing red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma at one time.

People with blood types O-, O+, A-, A+ and B- can donate whole blood every 56 days for a total of six donations a year. n Double red cell donation involves collecting only red blood cells and not platelets or plasma.

People with O-type blood and those with certain Rh negative blood types are encouraged to donate this way because their red cells are in the highest demand by hospitals. People with blood types O-, O+, A-, A+ and B- can donate every 112 days for a total of three donations a year. n Platelets are important to cancer patients, the primary recipients. It would take six to eight whole-blood donors together to produce one complete platelet dose. People with the blood types A+, B+, AB-, AB+ and O+ can donate platelets every seven days, up to 24 times a year. Those who

Kristelle Calderon, left, received a life-saving blood donation 20 years ago.

have donated whole blood must wait at least seven days before donating platelets. n Plasma has the clotting factors that stop patients from bleeding.

Trauma patients, burn patients and transplant patients are often recipients of plasma. People with AB-type blood are the universal plasma donors. This means their plasma can be transfused into any patient, regardless of the recipients’ blood type. People with blood types AB- and AB+ can be donated every 28 days up to 12 times a year.

REASONS TO DONATE

When Debbie and Arcenio Calderon’s daughter, Kristelle, was 3, she had her tonsils removed. This typically is a routine surgery, but for the Ocoee family, it marked the day their daughter nearly died.

Three days after the surgery, Kristelle hemorrhaged, began going in and out of consciousness and arrived at the hospital in critical condition. She needed two full units of blood.

“They said that she didn’t have

much blood left in her little body,” Debbie Calderon said.

Kristelle, now 23, is healthy and has regularly donated blood since she was 16 as a way of paying forward the blessings of blood donation.

“The blood she received saved her life, no question about it,” Debbie Calderon said. “Without it, she would have never made it, and her dad and I are forever grateful to the donors who saved our baby girl.”

Kathryn Austin, of Winter Garden, and her son, Ryan, both are alive today because of blood donations.

Austin had a troubled pregnancy and ended up on bed rest. Doctors planned an early delivery with a team of surgeons on hand.

“Chances were, I would hemorrhage; chances were, I would die,” she said. “And with this condition, we would not know until I was opened up.”

Multiple ports were put in “because the expectation was that I would bleed out,” she said.

“I had asked to stay awake because

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if I was to die, I wanted to see the baby first. He was going to be safe; I was promised that his chances were very good. Mine were not.”

Austin required 23 units of blood in the operating room — at no blood pressure and no pulse because the blood was free flowing, she said. The next day, she started bleeding out again and had to get six more units of blood, four units of platelets and two more of fresh, frozen plasma.

“I thank God almost every day for the people that give blood, and I have friends who still text me that they give on Ryan’s birthday in my honor,” Austin said.

Ryan turned 20 earlier this year.

“If you ever questioned why giving blood is important, my story is just one example of a mother who only gets to watch her children grow up because of the people who gave blood unknowingly to save my life,” she said. “People don’t know the role they play in saving a life.”

BLOOD DONATIONS CRITICAL

COVID-19 has forced the temporary closures of businesses and schools, and OneBlood is experiencing a decrease in available locations to host blood drives.

It has reported more than 1,900 blood drive cancellations through May, which would have accounted for more than 30,000 blood donations.

To find a OneBlood donation location, make an appointment or book the Big Red Bus for a blood drive, visit oneblood.org.

The U.S. Surgeon General and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration have stated it is safe to donate blood and attend blood drives.

Blood centers are regulated by the FDA and are required to follow strict guidelines. Social distancing protocols have been implemented.

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APRIL 2020

10,000 patients and counting

407.297.0080 For All Your Growing Needs!

Ginny Guyton, MD, FAAP •

Denise Serafin, MD, FAAP • Afra Ali, MD •

Larissa Negron, MD •

Amber Eastwood, APRN • Maryann Dunn, APRN • Ana Souto,CPNP •

As Orlando Health’s Horizon West ER passes this milestone, the new COO is preparing for the campus’ growth in the coming years.

Providing comprehensive health care that compassionately supports infants, children and adolescents through every stage of their lives.

AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

Orlando Health opened a freestanding emergency room and medical pavilion in the growing community of Horizon West in September 2018. Just 18 months later, the facility on Porter Road in Winter Garden has celebrated the treatment of its 10,000th patient.

Drs. John Cheesebrew and Christen Gregory treated the patient, Jessica Sexton, a 31-yearold Windermere resident, for an undisclosed medical issue.

Dr. Whitner Davis, chief of staff and an Emergency Department doctor, said the high volume of patients he and the staff have been able to treat in 18 months speaks to the community’s confidence in the facility.

“I think that it shows that Orlando Health has seen the impending growth of West Orange County and has provided a health care structure that is able to care for that growing population,” Davis said. “We expect to see a lot more growth in that area, and with the hospital coming online … we can meet all the health care needs of that area.”

A third-generation Central Floridian, Davis said he recalls driving west and seeing nothing but orange groves. Now, he’s working in an emergency facility built on those same grounds.

“We hopefully can get ahead of the growth,” he said.

Davis was working at the Orlando Health - Health Central campus prior to this facility opening and currently is working shifts at both locations.

“We’re so excited to have reached that milestone of 10,000,” said Brian Wetzel, assistant vice president of Orlando Health and chief operating officer of Orlando Health Horizon West Hospital. “That’s 10,000 visits to that ER department that didn’t require the community out there to drive a distance that made them uncomfortable.”

As newly appointed COO, Wetzel is responsible for supporting the team at the new Emergency Department and medical office.

The Orlando Health campus also will include a 103-bed, six-story

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hospital now under construction and expected to open early next year. In his position, Wetzel will support the hospital, as well.

While the hospital is being built, Wetzel — who has been with Orlando Health for nearly 25 years — has been busy developing staffing plans.

“We’ve got a lot of staffing matrices to make sure we’re planning well enough ahead so we have our team of equal and competent individuals ready,” he said. “We’re talking about posting positions. …

Long lead times are necessary to find the highly skilled folks to service the very best medical care.”

This is not the first construction project in which Wetzel has been involved. He oversaw the expansion of Orlando Health’s Dr. P. Phillips Hospital and the renovation and redesign of Orlando Health’s Orlando Regional Medical Center.

He was COO of Orlando Health UF Health Cancer Center beginning in 2016 and was responsible for developing, leading and implementing the cancer center’s operational direction.

Orlando Health continues to grow as the community itself grows.

“What we’re planning on is providing access to the high-quality care that Orlando Health provides as conveniently as possible to that community,” Wetzel said of Horizon West. “We’ll be focusing on what most often we are seeing after (18) months in the ER department; we will be offering the basic medical services, orthopedic services, gastro services, gastrointestinal services.”

But this is a community hospital, and not all services can be provided there, Wetzel explained. As different medical needs show up in the ER, staff can evaluate whether these services should be added on a permanent basis.

Specialized needs will be directed to other hospitals within the Orlando Health system.

“For pediatrics, if we can’t provide, we have Arnold Palmer Hospital,” he said. “We won’t be providing (obstetric) services initially; we’ve got the support of Winnie Palmer behind us. Any of the more complex things, like neuro … we’ve got the support of Orlando Health ORMC behind us.

“We’re planning as comprehensively as we can … to provide for the needs of the people right there in Horizon West,” he said.

HEALTH MATTERS

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APRIL 2020

Necessary changes Community Health Centers is adapting its services so it can continue to serve its patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

President and CEO Debbie Andree spoke about the global demand for protective masks and other equipment for doctors and nurses to use.

It’s a difficult scenario for which to plan ahead, she said.

“Even if the supply was there, there are things that expire and have a shelf life or have to be stored in certain conditions,” Andree said. “I just don’t know that anyone would have had that capacity or forethought to be even half prepared for what the demand is for that personal protective equipment. … I hear everyone talking about that on TV, but some of the realities of it and the logistics ... I think for the first few months after a pandemic’s over people would pay attention, but 10 to 15 years down the road no one’s going to store all of that or know what to store for which possible emergent pathogen there may be at what unknown time. I think everyone’s just responding the best they can, and we’re using the personal protective equipment as indicated by the CDC. We have it, we use it when we need it and we’re trying to keep everyone safe.”

TIM FREED CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Community Health Centers is on a mission to provide primary health care services to insured, uninsured, underinsured and underserved children and adults — despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The private, not-for-profit organization has new precautions in place, screening team members and patients for cough, fever and respiratory issues before they can enter facilities to keep everyone safe.

Community Health Centers also has been adjusting some of its services, suspending general dental services such as cleanings and checkups and instead providing emergency dental for adults fulltime. That includes urgent issues such as swelling, infections and pain.

“Even though our dental services have been limited by orders, we are reaching out to our partners in the community to hopefully take some of the burden out of the emergency rooms of those dental emergencies that might present (themselves) there to free them up to care for patients needing other emergency care,” President and CEO Debbie Andree said.

Community Health Centers currently offers telehealth services related to behavioral health, but additional services over the phone pertaining to family medicine and pediatrics soon will be provided.

NATIONAL RECOGNITION Photo by Tim Freed

LOCAL LOCATION COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS WINTER GARDEN 13275 W. Colonial Drive, Winter Garden PHONE: (407) 905-8827

“We’ve been adapting rapidly, and it’s ever-changing as we try to continue to meet the needs of our patients,” Andree said.

“We are continuing to see well visits … we want everyone to have preventative care so that they don’t end up with an unanticipated illness due to delay of medical care,” she said. “We understand that the care we provide is essential medical care, and to the best of our ability we’re still offering that at our 13 locations in Orange County.”

John Riordan, director of marketing and community relations, said Community Health Centers is pushing its free mail-order service for prescriptions patients might need while also extending their refills to 90 days so they have a good supply. It’s a similar approach to the optometry services — glass-

es and frames are being mailed at no cost.

Hours for the facilities haven’t changed, but there has been an uptick in patients not showing up for previously scheduled appointments, specifically after Orange County’s stay-at-home executive order began March 26, Riordan said.

“It’s impacted us quite a bit,” he said. “Any time a pandemic happens, people are a little cautious.

The longer it goes, the more comfortable they’ll be with the processes and procedures we’ve put in place to protect not only our team members but our patients.”

Riordan said the pandemic shouldn’t affect the timeline for the new Four Corners center — Community Health Centers’ 16th location set to open the first half of 2020.

Four Corners Community Health Center, at 508 Cagan View Road in Clermont, will offer pediatrics, family medicine, pediatric dental, adult dental, optometry, behavioral health, pharmacy and lab.

The building construction is

Community Health Centers recently was recognized as a Best and the Brightest Company to Work For by the National Association for Business Resources for the second consecutive year.

The program awards companies that excel at employee relations, use innovation to motivate employees and implement creative compensation programs. Winners will be recognized at the National Best and Brightest Illuminate Summit in March 2021, in Dallas, Texas.

The 2019 national winning companies were assessed by an independent research firm. The program honored 540 national winning organizations from across the country out of 5,000 nominations.

finished, and a certificate of occupancy should be coming soon, Riordan said, adding that Four Corners Community Health Center hopefully will start serving patients in June.

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ADVERTORIAL LEARN MORE To see more health news and trends, wellness & prevention tips, visit the Orlando Health Content Hub at OrlandoHealth.com/ContentHub.

CONTRIBUTED BY Orlando Health I Health Central

T

he best way to deal with any medical condition — even COVID-19, the disease caused by the new strain of coronavirus — is by using prevention. It’s important that we do whatever we can to avoid getting sick, and that includes washing your hands thoroughly, regularly and effectively.

Many viruses are transmitted by your own hands.

STRENGTHEN YOUR SYSTEM Here are 7 ways to fight off possible infections by boosting your immune system:

mation and actually suppressing your immune system, making it less effective. Many studies have shown those reporting the least amount of stress were also the least likely to get infections.

3. Maintain an adequate amount of sleep. This doesn’t only mean getting the right number of hours of shuteye, but also doing what you can do to ensure quality sleep as well. One reason for this: Sleep-deprived patients are more likely to develop an illness after exposure to a virus. Aim for 6-7 hours of quality sleep per night.

1. Establish (or continue) an exercise routine. Regular exercise has been shown to keep your immune system functioning at top levels.

When you’re physically active, you can keep pathogens out of your lungs and airways, minimizing illness. If you have a current routine you’re following, don’t let up on it. If you don’t, it might be a good time to begin.

4. Drink less alcohol. Limiting alcohol consumption may mean a more restful night, but that’s not all.

Studies have shown that excessive alcohol consumption leads to an increase in respiratory infections and impaired immune responses. Consider drinking moderately, up to one drink a day for women or two per day for men, according to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

2. Minimize stress. When you experience stress, it can release the hormone cortisol, boosting inflam-

5. Vaccinate against other infections. It is possible to get more than one infection simultaneously —

and it’s also dangerous. If you contracted the flu on top of COVID-19, for example, it would mean a much more complex medical situation.

Vaccines are currently available for protecting against the flu, pneumonia and pertussis (among others).

6. Stop smoking/vaping. As a general rule, anything you put in your lungs unnecessarily is going to lead to a higher likelihood of respiratory infection.

7. Support a healthy immune system. Eating healthy is important. A healthy gut will allow you to fight infections more effectively. Support your immune system by adding foods rich in vitamins A, C and D as well as zinc into your dietary regimen. Consume them often — at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily.

KNOW YOUR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES Wondering what the differences between a serving of fruit and a serving of vegetables are?

A serving of fruit amounts to either a medium-sized piece of fruit (roughly the size of a tennis ball)

or a half cup of fresh, frozen or canned fruit that’s packed in either water or 100 percent juice.

A serving of vegetables can be one cup of raw, leafy vegetables; a half cup of fresh, frozen or canned vegetables (look for those with “no added salt” on their label); or a half cup of vegetable juice (such as V8 Vegetable Juice).

Don’t be afraid to get creative with your nutrition. You have options.

In fact, there are many ways to get your five recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables.

FROM A TO ZINC Some healthy (and delicious!) suggestions include: Vitamin A Cantaloupe Carrots Dairy products Eggs Fortified cereals Green, leafy vegetables Pumpkin Red peppers Sweet potatoes

The Orlando Health Center for Health Improvement at Orlando Health Medical Pavilion – Horizon West also hosts classes, workshops and other programming centered around nutrition, stress management and more.

For more information, visit OrlandoHealth.com/CenterforImprovement.

Vitamin C Broccoli Brussels sprouts Cantaloupe Citrus fruits Kiwi Peppers Strawberries Tomatoes Vitamin D Eggs Fish liver oil (such as cod liver oil) Fish (herring, mackerel, salmon, trout, tuna) Fortified products such as cereals, dairy products, orange juice, soy milk Zinc Beans and peas Beef Dairy products Fortified cereals Nuts Poultry Seafood Whole grains

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Orlando Health — Health Central Hospital is proud to be recognized with a Top Hospital Award and an "A" Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group. We are committed to providing the highest level of safe, quality care for you and your family.

Orlando Health is dedicated to excellence in patient-care quality and safety throughout our system. To learn more about our award-winning care, visit ChooseOrlandoHealth.com.

Source: The Leapfrog Group Top Hospital award, 2019, and Safety Grade program, Fall 2019.

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