08.18.17 Winter Park/Maitland Observer

WINTER PARK/MAITLAND

Observer

Wine, good times flow at second Italian fest. 8.

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. VOLUME 29, NO. 33

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Summertime splash Winter Park enjoys one last soiree at city’s Luau by the Pool. PAGE 7.

New year, new school The Cardenas family is excited about the opportunity for their daughter, Camilla, 5, as she starts kindergarten at Audubon Park.

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 2017

YOUR TOWN CALLING ALL GREEN THUMBS The Tarflower Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 5, at Harry P. Leu Gardens, 1920 N. Forest Ave., Orlando.

Nancy Bissett, Horticulturist and Native Plant Expert, will present a program titled, “Diversity Versus Cloning in the Garden.”

The meeting is free and open to the public. Go early to enjoy refreshments and visit with other native plant enthusiasts.

Maitland City Council cans developer bonus program

TROY HERRING ASSOCIATE EDITOR

S

ylvia Cardenas stands in the shade beneath a tree outside Audubon Park Elementary School.

It’s the second day of school — and about time for kids to barrel out of the door and into their parent’s arms.

She spots quickly her little Camilla, who, at 5 years old, is just starting kindergarten at Audubon Park Elementary School.

The ordinance eliminates a program through which developers were allowed to construct taller buildings with greater density.

TROY HERRING

SEE STARTING PAGE 4

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Troy Herring

Camilla Cardenas, right, shows her mom, Sylvia, work she had done during school.

After almost an hour of discussion and public input, the Maitland City Council adopted a proposed ordinance to amend the city’s Land Development Code during its meeting on Monday, Aug. 14.

The ordinance, which council members approved unanimously, amends the code by SEE MAITLAND PAGE 4

City buys wetland, bans marijuana dispensaries Winter Park commissioners made several key decisions at their Monday meeting.

bowling alley property along Fairbanks Avenue.

TIM FREED

The Winter Park City Commission approved the purchase of 55.6 acres of wetlands surrounding Howell Creek.

The land comprises seven parcels just north of Howell Branch Road, with 12.2 acres located in Maitland and the rest located within Winter Park city limits.

That mass of wetland currently

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Winter Park City Commissioners waded through a thick agenda and made a series of critical votes during their meeting Monday, Aug. 14.

The decisions affected everything from a parcel of wetlands surrounding Howell Creek to medical marijuana dispensaries to the potential sale of the former

THE THREE CHOCOLATIERS

CITY PURCHASES WETLAND AREA

SEE COMMISSION PAGE 6

Winter Park children end summer on a sweet note at Peterbrooke Chocolatier’s summer camp. SEE 7.

CORNHOLE CLASSIC 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, at Miller’s Ale House, 1251 Lee Road, Winter Park. The Winter Park Breakfast Rotary is presenting a cornhole tournament, which will benefit college scholarships. Teams of two will compete for the grand prize of $500 to be donated to the college chosen by the team. Cost of entry is $50 per team. For more information, visit (321) 439-1007.

TUESDAY, AUG. 22

PHOENIX JAZZ ORCHESTRA CONCERT 8 to 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22, at the Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts, 1905 Kentucky Ave., Winter Park. Hear some big-band jazz featuring Bruce Staelens, Gary Listort and some of Orlando’s finest musicians.

Cost is $15. For more information, visit bluebambooartcenter. com or call (407) 636-9951.

THURSDAY, AUG. 24

COFFEETALK FEATURING COMMISSIONER GREG SEIDEL 8 to 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, at the Winter Park Welcome Center, located at 151 W. Lyman Ave., Winter Park. If you have a latté beans to grind or you simply want to espresso your thoughts, CoffeeTalk may be the cup for you. This free, popular CoffeeTalk series gives the community an opportunity to sit down and talk with the mayor, city commissioners and city manager over a cup of coffee provided by Barnie’s Coffee Kitchen. CoffeeTalk provides a more informal setting to share ideas, concerns and thoughts with city leaders. For more information, call (407) 644-8281.

FLORIDA FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS Thursday, Aug. 24, through Sunday, Aug. 27, at the Winter Park Playhouse, 711 Orange Ave., Suite C, Winter Park. The Winter Park Playhouse presents the first Florida Festival of New Musicals, a four-day event that will showcase six brand new musicals from around the country. The first act of each musical will be fully read and

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 2017

sung concert-style, without staging, by varying casts of professional actors and musicians.

Cost is $10 for general admission tickets (general admission tickets guarantee a seat but the location is on a first come, first served basis). Call for tickets at (407) 645-0145 or visit their website at winterparkplayhouse.org.

THURSDAY, AUG. 24

KWPB INVASIVE SPECIES ROUNDUP 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26. Join an invasive species removal effort on Lake Knowles. Must be 12 years of age or older to participate.

Please wear closed-toe shoes and be prepared to wade in knee-deep water. Meet at Knowles Circle/Elm Avenue (look for the KWPB tent) at 7:30 a.m. for supplies. For more information, call (407) 5993364.

MONDAY, AUG. 28

BOOK DISCUSSION AT THE UNIVERSITY CLUB 1 to 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 28, at the University Club of Winter Park, 841 North Park Ave., Winter Park. Participate in a book discussion on “The Graves Are Walking: The Great Irish Famine and the Saga of the Irish People,” by John Kelly. The author has written what Amazon called a magisterial account of one of the worst disasters ever to strike mankind: The Great Irish Potato Famine. The magazine History Today said it was an unusually vivid narrative of the famine’s enormity and the cruelty it inflicted on Ireland’s poor.

For more information, call (407) 644-6149 or visit uclubwp.org.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 2

ANNUAL RUMMAGE SALE 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, at the Woman’s Club of Winter Park, 419 S. Interlachen Ave., Winter Park. Find locally donated items, including clothing, home/kitchen items and much more. Proceeds will be used for charitable giving. There’s a bake sale at 9 a.m., and lunch available from George’s Gourmet to Go. For more information, call (407) 644-2237.

Permit requests for cell poles rise in wake of state legislation Winter Park Mayor Steve Leary said the city has received more than 20 requests since July 1. one company puts a cell pole in a specific spot, then other companies can place poles in that same location — without local government oversight.

The bill also does not mandate a co-location requirement, which means municipal governments cannot require the companies to share cell poles.

“We could have repetitive poles just dropped in our rights-of-way around the city, and we have no say about it,” Leary said. “The state Legislature really took a shot at local home rule authority, which is a constitutionally guaranteed authority.”

Not only do local governments have little say, but they are also asked to accept applications in an expedited manner. The bill requires that if an application is not approved or denied “on a non-discriminatory basis” within 60-days of being received, it is automatically considered approved.

Another issue earning the outrage of mayors and city officials is the bill prohibits local government from requiring providers pay for routine maintenance fees — meaning the cost of upkeep rests on the cities and taxpayers.

Despite the bill, city leaders are attempting to control what they can. However, Winter Park already lost its battle relating to undergrounding utility poles.

TROY HERRING ASSOCIATE EDITOR

In less than two months following Gov. Rick Scott’s signing of bills that paves the way for 5G technology throughout the state, Winter Park has received more than 20 requests for permits to erect poles within the city limits.

Local leaders say the bills — Senate Bill 596 and its House counterpart HB 687 — have taken power from municipal governments relating to regulating permit requests from telecommunication providers such as AT&T and Sprint.

“The wireless industry lobbied at the state level to have the state preempt cities from setting their own rules for these 5G networks — small cell networks — in their cities,” Winter Park Mayor Steve Leary said. “It basically preempted the cities from setting a certain price to the poles, it mandated that the cities could not restrict access to the rights-of-ways for these poles, so basically we have to open our rights-of-way up to the wireless networks to build these small cell network systems in our cities.”

There are a slew of issues that have arrived with the new legislation, Leary said. The bill does not set into place a minimum distance between poles — which can be as tall as 50 feet. If

“We’re going to spend upwards of $75 million to underground our electric utility, because we decided to put these poles underground not only for a liability sake, but we would also do it for aesthetics so we wouldn’t have poles all around the city,” Leary said.

“And the state Legislature, in one fell swoop, just basically said, ‘This was more important, and we are going to mandate that you do this.’”

The city also has taken a few other approaches to address the issues, including amending the local ordinance regarding companies placing structures in the rights-of-way throughout the city.

“We are amending our ordinance to address and get more specificity to how they have to meet requirements within our city to put these poles up,” Leary said.

Winter Park also has submitted a joint resolution, alongside other cities in Orange County, to the Legislature to voice opposition to the bill.

Leary emphasized the city’s fight was not against the technology itself but rather the manner in which it is being implemented.

“Local municipalities are not against technology improvements,” he said. “We want the latest technology for our residents, but it has to be done on our terms. Nobody knows their local constituents better than the local leaders.”

“Local municipalities are not against technology improvements. We want the latest technology for our residents, but it has to be done on our terms. Nobody knows their local constituents better than the local leaders.”

— Winter Park Mayor Steve Leary

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NO SILVER BULLET Kimley-Horn consultant Brett Wood emphasized that there is no single solution that will fix Winter Park’s parking issues. Rather, it likely will be a combination of strategies.

Improving the employee parking program would ensure city and business employees would have their own place to park — moving them away from competing for public spaces with residents, Kimley-Horn Vice President Stephen Stansbery said.

Paid parking — though unpopular — could push residents to comply with the existing rules and encourage a turnover of spaces, allowing more people to park throughout the day.

THE PROBLEM STATEMENT

Kimley-Horn created a problem statement — a summarization of what’s motivating a parking strategy.

1. Insufficient turnover of primeparking to support equitable access to downtown merchants.

2. Utilization of parking resources.

3. Policies and practices do not align with community expectations.

IS THE PROBLEM IN PERCEPTION? Kimley-Horn consultant Brett Wood said although there may not be a numbers-based lack of parking, there appears to be the perception of a parking problem, which still is damaging to the city because it affects the overall experience on Park Avenue and whether people visit.

“That’s not to say there isn’t a real parking problem during big events and peak conditions in the future that would necessitate something different, but we’re battling perception, reality, behavior and all of those types of things,” Wood said.

SPOT CHECK

A second downtown parking summit in Winter Park helped residents understand the possible solutions to the city’s parking problems.

A

potential approach for Winter Park to solve its downtown parking problems continued to come into focus Thursday, Aug. 10, during another downtown parking summit at the Winter Park Community Center.

Officials from consulting firm Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc. presented what they have learned from talks with the Winter Park City Commission, city boards, city staff, the Park Avenue Merchants Association and downtown property owners.

During a polling session of residents and business owners at the last parking summit in June, participants were asked to describe the parking conditions on Park Avenue. The most popular answer at 36% was that the avenue is packed but that they can still find a parking spot if they need it. Many attendees said the city needs more off-street parking and that it is important for the city to maximize the use of existing parking.

One potential solution — a new parking garage — met the ire of some residents in attendance.

“I caution the thought of a parking garage,” resident Sally Flynn said. “Why would we want to do that when the one we have has empty spaces? People don’t want to park in parking garages in Winter Park, so I don’t think that’s a solution.”

The consultants will add the public’s input to their overall findings before it’s presented with their final recommendations to the Winter Park City Commission next month.

— TIM FREED

50 to 60

The number of residents who had a chance to share opinions on which parking strategies were the best fit for the city during the Thursday, Aug. 10 parking summit. Posters representing each of the strategies were presented on easels after the meeting and residents were given green stickers to place on which strategies they like the most and which strategies were worth pursuing.

Residents were allowed to place more than one sticker on any given strategy, but were given a limited number of stickers. “Modernized parking policy” and “staying the course” were not provided as options.

39 5 0 0 18 8 21

(26%) voted the downtown trolley

supported supply additions supported conventional paid parking supported validated paid parking supported centralized valet

supported progressive paid parking

(14%) voted for the improved employee parking program

25 11 18 145

(17%) voted for modernized enforcement

voted for wayfinding voted for flexible time limits

total votes for their favorite (doesn’t include other votes made to projects as “part of a larger solution”)

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 2017

12 STRATEGIES 1

Stay the course.

Continue to operate and manage parking as it is today.

2

Flexible time limits.

Allows for changes in parking time limits based upon time of day and day of week. Time limits are based on real data, so the policies capture the needs of the local parking system.

3

Modernized enforcement. Uses new technologies such as automated license plate recognition to digitize enforcement.

4

Modernized parping Policy. Update Winter Park’s codes and policy to support shared parking, good community design and adequate parking capacity.

5

Wayfinding. Utilizes modern parking apps and varied signage to direct users to available spaces.

6

Centralized valet.

Provides a collection of centrally organized valet stands to support retail and restaurant use along Park Avenue.

7

Conventional paid parking. Charges a set rate based upon parking for a given amount of time.

8

Validated paid parking. Parking is monetized, but businesses can validate so parking is free for their patrons.

9

Progressive paid parking. Paid parking is set up to use revenue to improve transportation and aesthetics along the Avenue, while using simple payment methods.

10

Supply additions.

Adds additional parking to the community through capital investment projects.

11

Downtown trolley. Serves both visitors and residents by providing convenient transportation from remote parking locations, hotels and activity centers to downtown attractions.

12

Improved employee park program. Designated employee-only spaces would ensure an adequate parking supply for downtown merchants employees and discourage employee parking at prime on-street spots.

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Starting Aloma Elementary school welcomes new principal CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

After a minute of looking around, Camilla spots her mom and makes a short sprint to give her a hug — the smile on her face stretched from ear to ear.

It’s an exciting time for the Cardenas family, with Camilla now starting at a new school.

Their youngest, Charlize, 4, is a year away from attending Audubon with her sister.

Leading up to the first day of school, Cardenas approached the new environment for her daughter with optimism and excitement.

“I’m just so excited for her, because I feel like she is ready — she wants to do it,” Cardenas said. “I think it is a big opportunity for her to try new things, to learn new things.”

Although she knew many parents who were sad as they dropped off their children, Cardenas beamed with excitement.

Camilla isn’t the first child Cardenas has seen go through school. Her oldest, Rodrigo, now a student at the University of Central Florida, had prepared her for how to handle sending a kid to class, Cardenas said.

It also helps that Camilla was able to make many friends even before starting thanks to the Baldwin Park Kids Club, where she met and befriended kids her age who attend Audubon.

The Cardenas family originally came in 2007 to the United States from Peru. They moved to Baldwin Park in 2012 after spending a few years in Texas and New York.

“When she started in the Kids Club, she was a shy girl, she wouldn’t let me go anywhere,” Cardenas said. “And now, she is already talking and wanting to see her friends. She had a chance to meet different people in different situations, so she is ready for this.”

For Cardenas, Camilla starting kindergarten is just another step in her growth — on both an educational and personal level — so watching her make friends and learning how to express herself are just as important as reading and writing.

“I know academics are important, but for me, at this age, the most important thing is her selfconfidence and social skills,” Cardenas said.

TIM FREED

removing the bonus program relating to density and height regarding sites in the Downtown Maitland Zoning District.

Before the approval of the new change, if developers met one of the requirements defined by the code — such as height or open space — then those companies would be allowed a 25% increase in density and a height increase from five stories up to eight.

Examination of the bonus program started in January, when the council asked City Manager Sharon Anselmo to review the code as it related to multi-family construction within the district.

“After Maitland City Center was approved — it was the first project with bonuses and incentives — we got feedback from the community that we felt it was too

“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.”

“Road to Serfdom,” 1944 Publisher / Dawn Willis, dwillis@OrangeObserver.com Executive Editor / Michael Eng, meng@OrangeObserver.com Associate Publisher / Tracy Craft, tcraft@OrangeObserver.com Design Editor / Jessica Eng, jeng@OrangeObserver.com Associate Editor / Troy Herring, therring@OrangeObserver.com Associate Editor / Tim Freed, tfreed@OrangeObserver.com Creative Services Tony Trotti, ttrotti@OrangeObserver.com

Tim Freed

Incoming Aloma Principal Don Vega was excited for the year to begin.

school with more than 900 students. He spent the majority of his time as a school teacher, but spent the last three years as an administrative dean.

He later went to Fern Creek Elementary, where he spent a year as an assistant principal.

“I’ve seen both sides of the spectrum, working at Avalon Elementary — a high-performing school traditionally with well-off families where free and reduced lunch is pretty low,” he said. “And then at Fern Creek, I got to see the other side of the spectrum. That was my first experience with Title I. “I’ve not only seen it, but walked through the various chal-

lenges that each holds,” he said.

“I really think Aloma is somewhere in the middle of those two schools that I’ve had the pleasure of serving.”

Vega said that he can’t wait to get started, giving back to a community that has welcomed him very warmly.

“I had the principals from this area reach out and ask if I needed anything and they’re checking up on me,” Vega said.

“Our school board member Joie Cadle has already come out and visited and sent me some nice emails being supportive. …

The community has been wonderful, and I can’t wait to give back.”

Sweet start

B

rookshire Elementary School kindergartners and their parents had a chance to make new friends and enjoy sweet treats at the Popsicles on the Playground event Saturday, Aug. 12, at the Cady Way Park playground.

— TIM FREED

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See more photos at

OrangeObserver.com Justin and Brielle Yonker, 2, were all smiles at the Popsicles on the Playground event.

Maitland ends bonus program CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Observer Friedrich Hayek

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

As Aloma Elementary School welcomed new and returning students, it also welcomed a new principal.

Don Vega hopes to continue Aloma Elementary’s success this school year as he takes the helm.

He brings 15 years of experience as a school teacher, administrative dean and assistant principal.

“I’m super excited,” Vega said.

“I’m very familiar with the community, and for the past year, I was serving as assistant principal at Fern Creek. On my way home, I’d cut through the Winter Park area, and I drove by Aloma every day. I enjoyed reading the marquee and seeing these fun facts. … Never once did it cross my mind that I’d be serving as principal at Aloma.”

Vega’s biggest goal for Aloma is building on top of the school’s current success. The school moved up 116 total points from the previous year in its state rating. Vega also hopes to build on Aloma’s Global Studies Academy. Last year, the program partnered with schools in Costa Rica for live Skype sessions.

Teachers plan to connect with schools in China and New Zealand this year, Vega said.

Before coming to Aloma Elementary, Vega spent 14 years at Avalon Elementary, a larger

WINTER PARK/MAITLAND

dense and too high, and so those bonuses are what enabled that to happen,” Anselmo said. “So [we decided] to set the playing field to say, ‘We don’t want anything above five stories, and we don’t want anything about five acres.’”

After a Planning and Zoning Commission hearing in June and recommendations from the Development Review Committee in July, the Council met July 24 to introduce the ordinance as drafted — setting the hearing for this week’s session.

During the night’s discussion, Anselmo reminded the council that this was a fast means of setting a cap on building height to five stories and unit capacity to 55, ensuring developers could not exceed those limits — though she said bonuses could be brought back in a different and efficient level if the Council so desired.

Councilman John Lowndes asked about possibly having multiple revision options to make the downtown look consistent with the current development plan.

“There are a lot of people concerned about all the apartments and complexes that are popping up down here — especially in regard to the area from here south to Lake Lily,” Lowndes said.

“A brief menu of options would be great to have to look over and discuss.”

Lowndes’ comments reflected those of resident Leslie Smith.

“I understand that we have created a situation of entitlement to assisting property owners that can not be reversed, and I am concerned about setting that precedent in the future of increasing density in areas that don’t already allow it in particular,” she said.

Councilwoman Bev Reponen

IN OTHER NEWS

n The City Council moved to adopt an ordinance amending Chapter 6 of the Maitland Code of Ordinances regarding Fire Protection and Prevention. n Dimitra Sokos was appointed to the open position on the Planning and Zoning Commission. n Joseph Hegedus was reappointed to the Board of Zoning Adjustment for another term.

believes even the allowed five stories is too much.

“We want to make a city that is unique, that will draw people here — it has to be different,” Reponen.

“It can’t be same-day, same-way in our city as it is everywhere else, or nobody is going to come. If we build around that (the arts center) and build other unique things, it will create more draw.”

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Food Patrol

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HOW TO HELP Items can be donated at the Winter Park Police Department, Community Services Division, 500 N. Virginia Ave., Winter Park.

Those interested in helping should contact Officer Javier Rodriguez at (407) 599-3301 (office) or (407) 754-7128.

A special program organized by the Winter Park Police Department works to help feed local seniors in need.

TROY HERRING ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Once a month, he plays the role of a Santa Claus-type figure — except he wears blue instead of red and delivers food and not toys.

The badge on his chest reads, “Winter Park Police Department,” but he has become more than just a police officer — he’s become a man of charity.

For the past two years, Officer Javier Rodriguez, a community services officer, has been at the forefront in collecting food for emergency pantries at Tranquil Terrace Apartments and Plymouth Apartments.

“It was the 2015 holiday season — that’s when it came about that we noticed there was a senior community (Plymouth Apartments) that were in need,” Rodriguez said.

“The community adviser there reached out and said, ‘We have an emergency food pantry that goes without food on a monthly basis, would you be able to help out?’

So during that holiday season, we were able to do that, and we began the program.”

That eventually went on to become the Seniors 1st Program and has become a staple for Rodriguez and the department. It was a good fit for Rodriguez, who also serves as a community service officer in the Community Services division, where he acts as a liaison between the community and department. Rodriguez has been

FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 2017

Troy Herring

Officer Javier Rodriguez, of the Winter Park Police Department, has been leading the Seniors 1st/Helping Others Program, ensuring that seniors and families in need don’t go without food.

with the department for 18 of his 21 years in service.

Since officially starting the program last April, Rodriguez and the department have received donations every month from local organizations such as St. John Lutheran Church, the First Baptist Church of Winter Park and from residents looking to lend a helping hand.

“Every month, we have been able to have our community provide food for this emergency pantry at the Plymouth Apartments, and if it wasn’t for our community helping out, we wouldn’t be able to do this,” Rodriguez said. “We are thankful to be a platform or a segue to help the community.”

Although the original idea started out to simply help Plymouth Apartments, Tranquil Terrace — another senior living complex — was added recently. With more mouths to feed, the need for donations is becoming greater, Rodriguez said.

Throughout the the month, the department collects donations, before stocking the emergency pantry with food on the third week each month. The program

alternates between Plymouth and Tranquil Terrace. Choosing the third week of the month became a coordinated effort once Rodriguez realized it was the time of the month during which residents needed food the most.

“The first week, most seniors get Social Security, and they do OK,” he said. “(The) second week, they have Second Harvest come into their communities. Then the third week, we are noticing that that’s when we start seeing the food deficiencies, so that’s where we step in and we try to provide that. That will give them enough for the third and fourth week and then the cycle starts all over again.”

Last year, the program helped feed 300 families.

Like most programs that help to feed the hungry, Rodriguez said

the best type of foods to give is canned items that keep longer.

“Usually canned food, cereals, vegetable soups, canned meats, anything that is non-perishable is best for us to supply to them,” Rodriguez said. “Because at least they have a great shelf life.”

Although the program is currently serving seniors, Rodriguez is looking at shifting it to incorporate seniors and families in general within the community and changing the name to the Helping Others Program.

“It’s overwhelming, and it’s the satisfaction of helping your community,” Rodriguez said of the pride he has about the program.

“That moment when a senior comes up and tells you ‘thank you’ for bringing them food, it’s just … there are no words.”

DONATION SUGGESTIONS n All non-perishable canned goods (soup, fruit, veggies, tuna, chicken, etc.) n Cereal n Cake mixes n Boxed meals n Hamburger Helper, Stove Top, Pastas and Rice n Dried beans n Snack foods (peanut butter/jelly; granola bars) n Cooking items (sugar, flour, pie filling, etc.) n Toiletry items (shampoo, soaps, deodorant, lotion, personal hygiene, tissues, etc.)

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IN OTHER NEWS

Commission OKs dispensary ban CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

belongs to two property owners.

About 32 acres belong to JBC Land, while the remaining land is owned two-thirds by JBC Land and onethird by resident Jerry Banks.

City Commissioners jumped at the opportunity, unanimously approving the purchase of the land for $304,500 and giving residents a new path to kayak up to Lake Waumpi.

A state grant will cover half the cost, while the rest will be paid for with park impact fee funds.

“Not only does it give us an opportunity to have that path and kayak trail, but it gives us the tree canopy cover,” Commissioner Carolyn Cooper said.

Winter Park resident Donna Colado said she was concerned with how much the city was paying though, noting that the land was only appraised at $166,000.

City Manager Randy Knight said the purchase price was what it took to complete the sale.

“As you know, any transaction in real estate takes a willing seller and a willing buyer,” Knight said.

“That was the price it took to get willing sellers.”

Tim Freed

Winter Park took another step toward selling a piece of land along Fairbanks Avenue.

CITY NARROWS SEARCH FOR BOWL AMERICA BUYER

The Winter Park City Commission also found themselves on the selling end of a piece of property: the former Bowl America property at 1111 W. Fairbanks Ave. Winter Park put the piece of land — valued at $2.96 million —

up for sale earlier this year after purchasing it with CRA funds last year.

After vetting six different offers, the commission narrowed it down to two: an offer of $3.5 million

by Verax Investments LLC and another offer of $3 million by Towers Realty Partners Inc.

n The Best of Show — 2017 Sidewalk Art Festival was presented to the City Commission and will be on display at the Winter Park Public Library. n Commissioners approved the establishment of a nonprofit foundation to facilitate donations for improvements to the Winter Park community. n The Commission approved the first reading of the ordinance amending Chapter 40, Article IV of the City Code regarding communications facilities in the public rightsof-way.

Verax seeks to develop the land as a mixed-use medical and business office, while Towers plans to build a mixed-use retail and office building.

Both projects would be about 20,000 square feet.

However, some residents believe the city should hold onto the property because of its close proximity to Martin Luther King Jr. Park to the north, although a portion of Comstock Avenue between the two properties would have to be vacated.

At a public meeting on May 2 for the park’s pending master plan, three groups of residents illustrated their own vision of the park on a map. Two of the three groups suggested building a new softball field on the former bowling alley property to make space for more amenities in the park.

The city will continue working with both Verax and Towers to see which offer will be chosen.

of 4-1, with Commissioner Sarah Sprinkel dissenting.

The decision came following Gov. Rick Scott’s signing of the state’s new medical marijuana legislation, which preempts any local regulations in place but gives cities the opportunity to ban dispensaries if they so choose, City Attorney Kurt Ardaman said.

Unless the facilities are banned outright, though, the city has no control over where the dispensaries go or how many of them can be established in the city, Ardaman said.

WINTER PARK OKS DISPENSARY BAN

The City Commission also took a final vote on whether or not to ban medical marijuana dispensaries.

It passed on Monday by a vote

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numbers 72 Expected to come in 73 Complete and total 76 Shakespeare, the Bard of ___ 77 St. ___ Girl (beer brand) 80 Consumed 81 Something hanging near a decorated 36-Across 85 “___ give you the shirt off his back!”

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the pope) 45 It’s 90 feet from home 48 Animal cries of distress 49 Type of pony or shirt 50 Ice cream treat popular in the 1950s 51 Urban house pest 57 Some court hearings 58 Phoenix-to-St. Louis dir.

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WINTER PARK / MAITLAND OBSERVER

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 2017

7

Candy canvas I

t was a tasty time at the kid’s chocolatier summer camp, hosted recently by Peterbrooke Chocolatier on Park Avenue.

As the scent of fresh chocolate filled the air, children wearing hand-colored caps “painted” with chocolate, made chocolate molds and sneaked tastes here and there when no one was looking.

At the end, the kids walked away with a little experience about what it takes to be a chocolatier, and handfuls of the goodies they made.

Left: Zach Mendez, left, helped kids with their chocolate “paintings” during the chocolatier camp.

— TROY HERRING

Above: James Pancake “painted” a picture frame-shaped piece of chocolate alongside other kids during a chocolatier camp at Peterbrooke Chocolatier on Park Avenue.

Left: Juliet Pancake, right, helped Gianna Piacenti with her chocolate “painting.”

Winter Park residents make a big splash

W

inter Park residents had plenty of fun in the sun at the fifth annual Luau by the Pool event Saturday, Aug. 12, at the Winter Park Community Center.

The pool area was given the luau treatment, with leis galore and fun Hawaiian music playing.

— TIM FREED Julie, Eden, 1, Charles, and Noah Snell, 3, had a blast at Saturday’s luau event.

ONLINE

See more photos at OrangeObserver.com

Gareth and Kyla Hearn, 2, soaked up the sun and had a great time at the pool.

Zeus and I are a package deal.

Like many hospice patients, Judy believes that the companionship of a beloved pet is better than any medicine. That’s why Cornerstone became the first hospice in the state to implement Pet Peace of Mind—a national program designed to keep her and Zeus together through every step of her end-of-life journey. Cornerstone dedicated itself to being in Judy’s corner. And thanks to Pet Peace of Mind, Zeus could, too.

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WINTER PARK / MAITLAND OBSERVER

CULTURE FOR YOUR CALENDAR

8

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 2017

WHERE WILL YOU BE FOR THE 2017 SOLAR ECLIPSE?

JOSH GARRICK

AUG. 19

ORLANDO SHAKESPEARE’S OPEN HOUSE AND MOVIE NIGHT Including an open rehearsal of the season-opener “Man of La Mancha,” Orlando Shakes’ annual free event is a whole day of fun for all ages. The familyfriendly event is open to the public with activities from 2 to 11:30 p.m. at the Shakespeare Center, 812 E. Rollins St., and on the lawn in Loch Haven Park. Lighting and sound demos, story times with costumed characters, craft activities, a “props and costume museum” and a free screening of “Shakespeare in Love,” make this your free backstage pass to the actors and production team of our brilliant Shakespeare company. Call (407) 447-1700 or visit orlandoshakes.org.

AUG. 19

TASTE! FOR CHILDHOOD HUNGER RELIEF The region’s premiere food event, Taste! brings the area’s finest culinary experience to our community in an evening featuring celebrity chefs, signature tastes and specialty drinks. Childhood hunger touches thousands of residents in Central Florida, and Taste! will direct every dollar raised to those who need it most in our community. This volunteer-driven event benefits Second Harvest Food Bank and Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida — the leading non-profits fighting childhood hunger. At 6:45 p.m. at the Orlando World Center Marriott.

Tickets are $150 each. Visit centralfloridataste.org/taste.

AUG. 19 AND 20

HARVEST GRAPE STOMP AT LAKERIDGE WINERY The grape harvest has arrived, and it’s time for Old World grape-stomping competitions.

This family-friendly weekend offers continuous live music; Lakeridge wine, beer, soft drinks and food available for purchase; complimentary winery tours and tastings; and the wine and cheese bar. Admission is $3; children 12 and under free. Call 1-800-768-9463 or visit lakeridgewinery.com.

The Aug. 21 event is the first total solar eclipse that will be viewable from the West Coast to the East Coast of the United States in 99 years. Florida residents will be able to view the solar eclipse at 85% totality, which means the moon will almost completely cover the sun. Those seeking the “complete experience” should be at one of these very special and unique locations. The best viewing in Florida will take place from 1 to 4 p.m.

ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER 777 E. Princeton St., Orlando DETAILS: Visit the Orlando Science Center for a fun and safe celebration of the eclipse.

Their peak viewing time is 2:45 p.m. If you RSVP to the event, OSC will offer more information as the eclipse draws near, including free Orlando Science Center hosted “pop-up viewing locations” around Orlando. Visit osc.org.

BUEHLER PLANETARIUM AT SEMINOLE STATE COLLEGE 100 Weldon Blvd., Sanford DETAILS: The planetarium will hold its “Observation Event” on the sidewalks in front of the Automotive Technology building on the main campus of Seminole State, with the point of maximum eclipse occurring at 2:51 p.m. This event is created to view the eclipse with Planetarium staff and volunteers from the Central Florida Astronomical Society offering properly-filtered telescopes and binoculars set up for safe viewing. The planetarium also will offer several short presentations for those interested in learning more about the eclipse and the science behind it. Call (407)7082360 or visit seminolestate. edu/planet.

BOK TOWER GARDENS 1151 Tower Blvd., Lake Wales DETAILS: This day in history is the perfect chance to surround yourself with the beautiful Gardens around the Bok Tower. The gardens’ first 400 visitors will each receive a complimentary pair of CE- & ISO-certified viewing glasses.

For the adventurous, viewing will be optimal at the Knoll or bring a picnic blanket for a relaxing view on the Great Lawn or Pinewood Estate lawn. Call (863) 676-1408.

CONTACT JOSH GARRICK AT JOSHGARRICK9@GMAIL.COM.

Catherine Orn, Kevin Orwae, Katherine Cooper, Annette Moreau, Jewel Smith and Kelly Kellogg had a blast at the Italian Wine and Cheese Festival.

Wine Room uncorks second Italian festival

T

he Wine Room on Park Avenue held its second annual Italian Wine and Cheese Festival Sunday, Aug. 6.

Guests had the chance to sip wine and mingle while trying various cheeses and meats.

World-renowned cheese expert Max McCalman chose the selection of cheeses at the event for guests to enjoy.

— TIM FREED

Matt Reilly, of Specialty Operations and Procurement, was at the event slicing Mortadella with pistachio, Bresaola and other meats.

Shawn Conner and Kristina Trujillo got their fill of cheese and wine at the festival.

ONLINE

Amy Churchill, of Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, and Brian Clay, of Stacole, work for competing companies, but that didn’t stop the couple from getting hitched.

See more photos at OrangeObserver.com

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 2017

9

Dawg Days The Winter Park Diamond Dawgs capped off the season with a championship appearance.

TROY HERRING ASSOCIATE EDITOR

They were so close, yet seemingly so far away.

After a long season, the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs found themselves in the Florida Collegiate Summer League title game against the Sanford River Rats.

Held at Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays, this was the culmination of all of the hard work the Dawgs (20-18-1) had fought for.

Unfortunately for the hometown Dawgs, their luck ran out in the 10th inning of an exciting title game, as they fell 6-5 to the Rats.

“It was a good ballgame,” said Dawgs head coach Chuck Schall.

“We knew that we needed to jump out early, because Sanford has a very good bullpen, and that’s exactly what we did. But we had to take our starter out, and they just got to our relief guys. … We tried to hold on there as much as we could.”

By the time the second inning had ended, the Dawgs had the 4-0 lead over the Rats after a two-RBI shot off the wall by Matt Mackey and a two-run dinger by Jordan Bowersox.

Starting pitcher Riley Troutt was wheeling and dealing through five solid innings, before things started getting iffy in the sixth, when the Rats made it 4-1 off of an RBI-single.

The Diamond Dogs went 10 innings with the Sanford River Rats in the championship game.

The Dawgs started off the season a bit slow, going 3-6 in the first nine games behind an offense that really didn’t start clicking until a game against the Rats — though they lost in a 14-10 shootout.

From there, the Dawgs hit their stride and exploded for 14 wins in 16 games between June 21 and July 10.

“Through the first part of the season, our starting pitching was strong — we had a good staff,” Schall said. “We had very good defense, especially when all of our guys were healthy, so we were in every game. And then when we came around and started swinging the bat we went on a good run.”

The offense was led by first baseman Jacob Katzfey, of Wichita State University, whose seven homers and 30-RBI were a team

best. His .316 batting average was second to that of Kyle Guttveg’s .331 average.

Guttveg also was second in dingers with four of his own, while shortstop Christian Rivera and outfielder Zach Howard racked up three apiece. Guttveg was second in the team in RBI with 21, while Rivera had 19.

On the mound, the Dawgs relied on the arms of a slew of players to help sit opposing batters down.

In seven games, Conner Andrews went a team best 4-1 with a solid 2.88 ERA — striking out 27 batters and walking 14.

Behind Andrews, six other Dawgs won at least two games.

Pitcher Eric Goldstein managed an impressive ERA of 1.03, the best on the team, while attaining a 1-0 record in 12 appearances. Zachary

Courtesy photo

Drury would finish with a second best ERA of 1.54, while Tyler Keysor capped off his season with a 2.02 ERA. As the season pressed, the Dawgs began experiencing a string of injuries, which led to a third place finish in the league. After three straight losses to end the season, the Dawgs limped into the FCSL playoffs, but that didn’t stop them from making their run to the championship game.

“It was a successful season, (and) our kids had a good time,” Schall said. “We had the opportunity to go to the Trop and win that championship game. I think a lot of our kids benefited from the summer, and that’s what it’s all about — what those kids are going to take back to school next year.”

Winter Park/Maitland Observer reserves the right to classify and edit copy, or to reject or cancel an advertisement at any time. Corrections after first insertion only. *All ads are subject to the approval of the Publisher. *It is the responsibility of the party placing any ad for publication in the Winter Park/Maitland Observer to meet all applicable legal requirements in connection with the ad such as compliance with town codes in first obtaining an occupational license for business, permitted home occupation, or residential rental property.

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After walking a couple of runners on base, Troutt came out during the seventh, replaced by Grant Baker.

A couple of big singles later swung the momentum around, leading to a four-run inning for the Rats and 5-4 lead late into the game.

The Rats’ lead wouldn’t last much longer as Christian Rivera led off the top of the eighth with a double, before finding himself on third after a wild pitch. Christian Maglich would bring Rivera on home after a single to tie the game up at 5-5.

The Dawgs managed to hold off the Rats and force extras.

In the 10th inning, the call was made to intentionally walk Omar Villaman to load the bases as a means of creating a force out position at any base — it didn’t work.

Dathan Prewett was hit by a 1-2 fastball, walking in Rodney Tennie for the game-winning run to end the Dawg’s season in difficult fashion.

The trip to Tampa wasn’t a total loss, though. Schall sees it as a learning experience for his players.

“It’s summer baseball, so these kids are there to get better in competitive situations,” Schall said.

“We tell them from day one that our goal is for them to develop under competitive situations and to try and get to the Trop to play in that championship game.”

Puzzle Two Solution: “I think ... ‘Saturday Night Fever’ and ‘Pulp Fiction’ were kind of bookends for – or the pillars of – my career.”

– John Travolta

2017

WINTER PARK / MAITLAND OBSERVER

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 2017

OrangeObserver.com

“ Difference We Make a

“One of the attractions for me to join Observer Media Group’s advertising sales team … in a word … was opportunity.

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I like that challenge. It’s exciting.”

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Please send resume and cover letter to: Penny DiGregorio 1970 Main St., 3rd Floor Sarasota, FL 34236 or jobs@yourobserver.com

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10

Health&Wellness Observer

AUGUST 2017

It’s in the Card’s

Winter Park’s Card’s Opticians Inc is celebrating its 60th anniversary of helping the local community see.

TROY HERRING ASSOCIATE EDITOR

H

e works his magic in the workroom of Card’s Opticians Inc. Cases of lenses, frames and tools clutter the tables and walls of the small space, but he moves around them with ease.

Some of the tools are a bit newer, allowing him to shape lenses with the press of a button, while others are ancient in their days, like the edger that had been used by his grandfather before him.

Even with the older technology, he is proficient — his hands work effortlessly with almost clockwork efficiency.

The want to shape and form the best pair of glasses — and the passion to help others — is the only explanation Harold “Hal” Card III and his sister, Terri Munroe, can SEE CARD’S PAGE 14

Photos by Troy Herring

“Everyone that comes in loves Card’s Opticians and loves us, so it’s the joy of working with the Winter Park people. Whenever you help people see better, it’s inspiring.”

— Harold “Hal” Card III

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 2017

Back to school doesn’t have to mean back to the doctor Aloma Elementary School nurse Renae Medley shares five tips for parents to keep in mind as their children head back to school.

TIM FREED ASSOCIATE EDITOR

It’s that time of year again. Back to school means new teachers, new classes and making new friends. And parents know it’s also the time when their children often catch a virus going through the classroom.

However, with the proper care — and perhaps just a little bit of luck — students returning to school can avoid a trip to the pediatrician.

Aloma Elementary School nurse Renae Medley offers some helpful advice to parents on keeping their children healthy.

1

GET ENOUGH SLEEP

Tim Freed

Medley said sleep is critical to children functioning well at school. It helps them stay on task and energized throughout their day.

Children should be getting at least eight hours of sleep every night — that means no latenight video games or TV, so be sure to check on the little ones if they have issues with staying in bed.

Making sure your child eats a good meal before bed can also help them stay asleep.

A great night’s sleep also goes

Renae Medley has been a school nurse at Aloma Elementary for more than a decade.

a long way in bolstering your child’s immune system, Medley said.

“Now you’re coming back to school, and you’re being exposed to all the other kids’ germs,” Medley said. “If you’re not getting enough sleep, then your immune system starts to break down. That’s why always after about the sixth or eighth weeks, you start seeing the kids coming in with colds.”

2

EAT BREAKFAST EVERY MORNING

Children should always start their day with some kind of breakfast, Medley said, because it jumpstarts their minds and bodies.

Even if your child doesn’t normally eat breakfast, just a glass of orange juice, a piece of toast or some fruit can give them the boost they need to come to class alert and focused, she said.

“Now that we’re a Title I

school, every child gets free lunch and breakfast, so there’s no reason for anybody not to eat now,” she said. “Even when they’re running late, we still make sure they get their breakfast. They can take it to their classroom.”

3

WASH THOSE HANDS

Keeping hands clean and free of germs is a fundamental step in not getting sick. It starts at home and needs to start at a young age, Medley said.

Aloma Elementary teachers go to great lengths to keep the school clean — wiping down desks and doorknobs — but it has to carry over to home life, she said.

Just washing your hands with simple soap and water can be more effective than hand sanitizer in the travel-size bottles.

It’s also important that children wash their hands thoroughly, scrubbing their hands long enough.

Medley’s rule of thumb? Have them count 10 elephants, similar to the one Mississippi, two Mississippi rule.

“If you give them something like ‘A, B, C, 1, 2, 3’ or ‘10 elephants,’ they’ll remember that, but if you tell them ‘just 10 seconds’ they’re not going to remember that,” Medley said.

4

PREPARE FOR THE ELEMENTS

Making sure your child is wearing the right clothing is also important, especially in Florida’s temperamental weather, Medley said. Check the forecast and make sure your child has a jacket in their backpack if it’s going to rain or get chilly. The same goes for having a cold classroom — be

aware of your child’s comfort and dress them appropriately.

The same mindset goes for hot days. Send them to school with short sleeves so they stay cool.

“Right now, you go out, and it’s hot when they go out to play,” Medley said. “If you got a longsleeved shirt on and you start running around, in five to 10 minutes you get overheated.”

And most importantly, keep them hydrated by adding a water bottle to their backpack — whether it’s hot or cold outside, Medley said.

5

DO WHAT YOU CAN

If there’s anything that Medley has learned in her 11 years as a school nurse, it’s that not every single healthy precaution is feasible for parents. Many parents on a tight budget usually won’t be able to buy the healthiest foods, or have the time to keep their children on a strict exercise regimen.

The important thing is to do the best you can, she said. Look after their needs, be aware of their health and don’t feel guilty for not jumping through every healthy hoop.

Some “practical” healthy steps aren’t very practical at all, Medley said.

“I’m looking at my picture — when you’re a single mom, you’ve got to do this, this, this and this, you don’t have time to go out there and play.” Medley said. “You can’t fault them for that.

“Everything in this world depends on your time, economics and what you’ve got to work with,” she said. “You do the best you can. That’s it.”

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Card’s turns 60 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

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give for how the family business could last for 60 years.

“My grandpa always told us to give them good service and treat them nicely,” Munroe said.

“Like they’re part of our family,” Card said.

Card and Munroe now largely run the family-owned Card’s Opticians, although their mother, Carol, and father, Harold Card Jr., come in on Fridays to help.

The history of Card’s starts in 1957, when their grandfather, Harold Card, bought the company from another local optician.

Originally, Card’s started on the

corner of Minnesota Avenue and 17/92, before moving a few times until finding a home in 1968 at its current location on South Knowles Avenue.

The elder Card had worked as an optician many years before taking over his own business and also had started grooming the next few generations of opticians in the family. His son, Hal Card Jr., and his grandchildren, Card III and Munroe, all took up the craft of making glasses.

Being around the artistry of his grandfather and father his whole life, during his time at Seminole Community College, Card decided to take the dive into the field of optometry.

“I apprenticed under my grandfather — you can apprentice for three years — and after I apprenticed, I took my test and passed it the first time,” Card said.

The test was so difficult that most people had to take it multiple times, but luckily his experience had helped him tremendously, Card said. In 1980, Card became a full-time optician.

Just like her brother, Munroe went on to take the test as well, passing it to become a licensed optician herself — continuing the family tradition alongside her brother.

Since those early days, a lot has changed in the field — and in the world, in general — some for the better, and some for the worse.

The most common issue of bigger competition always comes into play as a mom-and-pop store, Card said. Another is the rapid growth and low cost of online shopping.

For Card, that prospect brings up two major issues — making sure someone gets the right care for their eyes and building a community through a local business.

“How do you take they’re PD (pupillary distance) online?” Card asked. “And you lose all the camaraderie of coming to Card’s — I can’t fathom it.”

But despite the changes, Card’s still stands 60 years later as a pillar of Winter Park — all while helping the community see just a little bit better.

“What I love is that I get to work with people — it’s different people every day,” Card said. “Everyone that comes in loves Card’s Opticians and loves us, so it’s the joy of working with the Winter Park people. Whenever you help people see better, it’s inspiring.”

Troy Herring

Terrie Munroe and her brother, Hal Card, enjoy helping the community one pair of glasses at a time.

CARD’S OPTICIANS INC. Professional Center, 180 S. Knowles Ave., Suite 8, Winter Park PHONE: (407) 644-1814 HOURS: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturdays

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 2017

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Medical marijuana: Another Easy recipe makeovers treatment option for some?

ASK THE TRAINER

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

NANCY RUDNER

Medical marijuana is now a treatment option in Florida, but it is still illegal under federal law. Last year, voters approved Amendment 2, which legalized medical marijuana for 10 qualifying conditions.

This applies to Florida residents older than age 18 who are under the care of a physician and diagnosed with one of the following conditions at least three months previously: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease), cancer, Crohn’s disease, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, seizures, chronic muscle spasms, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder.

The state is responsible for the regulation and oversight of medical marijuana through the Florida Office of Compassionate Use. Currently, only nine businesses are authorized by the state to grow, process and distribute marijuana and derivative products for patients. The state maintains a list of physicians who have completed the required training and are qualified to diagnose patients and determine if medical marijuana would be an appropriate treatment, in accordance with the Florida regulations.

The American Medical Association sets practice standards for physicians prescribing medical marijuana. The AMA advises practitioners to ensure patient care include — and document in writing — advice about other treatment options and risks, a thorough assessment to determine that the patient may benefit from medical marijuana, and a specific ongoing treatment plan.

Additionally, treatment should be for a specific duration, no more than 12 months.

Medical marijuana is not without risks. Because medical marijuana is approved by the state but illegal under federal law, the FDA does not approve or monitor the quality, strength or purity of medical marijuana.

Few studies have been conducted to assess its safety and effectiveness. A 2015 systematic review of studies of cannabinoids for medical use was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The authors reviewed 70 studies found some evidence that medical marijuana can help relieve chronic pain and spasticity. The studies did not show strong support for improvements in nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy, weight gain in HIV infection, sleep disorders and Tourette syndrome. The studies did show some short-term adverse effects, including dizziness, dry mouth, nausea, fatigue, drowsiness, and hallucina-

The name of the plant and medicine is cannabis. Its use goes back 2,000 years. Cannabis is one of the fundamental herbs in traditional Chinese herbology, used to treat gout, arthritis and poor memory. It was used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine for relief of stress and anxiety.

The United States Pharmacopeia listed cannabis as early as 1850, for treatment of nerve pain, gout, “insanity� and other conditions. It was named “marijuana� by the first head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, when cannabis as medicine was banned for all but medicinal purposes in the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937. This was around the same time the classic movie “Reefer Madness� came out, touting its dangers.

In 1970, the Controlled Substance Act outlawed all use of marijuana, listing it as a controlled substance along with heroin. In the past five years, about half the states, including Florida, have legalized some medicinal use of cannabis.

tions. Other studies have shown medical marijuana may provide some relief from severe seizure disorders.

Florida joins the other states in increasing access to medical marijuana and more Floridians may have another avenue to alleviate their suffering, but like any medication, judicious, cautious use is best.

Dr. Nancy Rudner Lugo, local workplace nurse coach with HealthAction.biz, helps individuals and employees understand their health, make healthy choices and achieve their health goals. Send your questions to Nancy@HealthAction.biz.

PATRICK MCGAHA JR.

I tend to eat the same things and stick to the same diet routine just to keep things simple.

Do you have any recommendations on easy ways to mix up my recipes and avoid boredom with what I’m eating?

— MARGARET G.

Great question, Margaret! I actually hear this a lot and fall victim to recipe boredom myself. When our lives get busy, we tend to push eating (and healthy cooking) to a secondary activity, and this leads to compromising healthy options for quick options.

Many times, this leads to eating fast food or calorie-dense ready-to-eat foods from the freezer.

However, it doesn’t have to be this way. There are some easy and creative ways to break out of the rut and rejuvenate your diet. Considering different resources from the web and around town can help with keeping eating interesting.

1

MAKE EVERY DAY A HOLIDAY

At Anytime Fitness in Winter Park, we’ve started celebrating holidays all year and are finding simple and healthy recipes to couple with them. For example, did you know that Aug. 3 was National Watermelon Day? When was the last time you had watermelon?

We celebrated with an easy watermelon salsa recipe. Did you also know that the month of August is Peach Month? Or that September is Honey Month and Chicken Month? Or that Sept.

13 is National Peanut Day and Fortune Cookie Day? Granted, you can’t make a healthy meal from fortune cookies, but catering easy recipes around random holidays is a fun way to keep your diet fresh and fun.

Check out holidayinsights. com to see how many random, fun and quirky holidays and celebrations are out there. The site even offers recommended recipes that pair with holidays and monthly celebrations. Not all of them are healthy, but it’s a start to get your creative juices flowing.

2

THE OLE TRUSTY WEB

Because all the recipes on holidayinsights.com aren’t healthy and we want to celebrate these holidays with healthy offerings, I had to take to the internet for some assistance. I found a great website called delish.com that has hundreds (maybe thousands, but I didn’t count) of easy and healthy recipes. This website is super easy to use and brings up slideshows for your search results.

For example, September is also Better Breakfast Month, so I searched for easy breakfast recipes that I could offer our members next month to help them with their busy schedules but still fit in breakfast in the morning. Did you know that you can make tasty oatmeal in a slow cooker overnight, so it’s ready for you in the morning? Or that you can slice sweet potatoes and put them in the toaster?

The other great thing about the slideshows on delish.com is that you can see

what the finished product looks like before you make it.

Some of the recipes even have how-to videos for the recipe.

Check out this easy resource to help mix up your diet.

3

FIT LIFE FOR A FULL YOU

Still too busy to cook and want to skip the calorie and fat-dense fast-food options? Fit Life Foods in the shopping center across the street from Hillstone, at the corner of Morse and Orlando avenues, has great healthy and portioned options for those of us on the go. Fit Life has a variety of options, so you don’t get bored with the same foods every day. The shop has small, medium and large options that match with your ideal daily calorie intake and lifestyle goals.

Don’t know how many calories you should be eating daily? Fit Life offers a nutritional consultation to help you learn how much you should be eating daily. Employees even will help you put together a custom diet plan to help you reach any diet goals you may have. These pre-made meals are great, because you can just pop them in the microwave for a minute or two and you have a ready-to-eat healthy meal that would have taken you an hour to prep and cook. But be sure to get there early in the day, because Fit Life Foods has quickly developed a following (like me), and the food can go quickly.

Patrick McGaha Jr. is the member experience manager at Anytime Fitness in Winter Park. He helps build a welcoming environment in the club that is conducive to helping members and clients reach their health fitness goals. To get your fitness and nutrition related questions answered by a certified personal trainer, or for a free personal training session, call (321) 972-5833 or email askatrainer@ anytimefitness.com.

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