Community Bulletin and Business Briefs

Community Bulletin

Maitland Chamber staff and members celebrated the grand opening of NYPD Pizza in Maitland on March 8 with a pizza party. Maitland Chamber staff and members joined owners Anna and Jim DeRusha and their staff, city of Maitland Mayor Doug Kinson, Maitland Chamber Executive Director Mary Hodge and the vice president of the board of directors, Ed Doyle.

March of Dimes Florida Chapter is seeking proposals for grant projects for community-based programs addressing the health concerns of pregnant women and infants in Florida. Forms and instructions for the 2010 community awards program are available at marchofdimes.com/florida. Completed applications are due no later than April 15. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

Berklee College of Music announces that Drew Moore of Winter Park has earned placement on the Dean's List for the fall semester of the 2009 academic year.

The following area residents were named to the Dean's List for the fall 2009 semester at Washington University's College of Arts and Sciences in St. Louis.

-Joel Michael Cohen of Maitland, a graduate of Winter Park High School

-Susan Kimiko Kunihiro of Maitland, a graduate of Winter Park High School

-Jason Chase Sanders II of Winter Park, a graduate of Lake Highland Preparatory School in Orlando

4-H Exploding Bacon Robotics, also known as FRC Team 1902, competed in the Florida Regional held at UCF arena this past weekend. As a result of their hard work they earned the Chairman's award, the most prestigious honor presented at the competition. Exploding Bacon is a 4-H team made up of students from 10 different schools including Timber Creek and Winter Park High School. They participate in the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Program founded by Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway. For more information on Exploding Bacon please visit www.explodingbacon.com and for more information on FIRST please visit www.usfirst.org.

The Orange County Health Department (OCHD) was awarded a grant of $6.6 million for tobacco prevention and control in our community. OCHD will work with the Orange County Tobacco Free Partnership to implement policy changes and will partner with key community agencies such as the American Lung Association, Orange County Public Schools, and community based organizations like the Center for Multicultural Wellness and Prevention and county and city governments to improve the health of Central Florida residents and to help prevent deaths associated with smoking and second hand smoke. To learn more about Communities Putting Prevention to Work, visit www.hhs.gov/recovery and www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/recovery.

Councilman Jeff Flowers has offered a $250K gift to the city of Maitland for a performance stage in Lake Lily Park. He said the money provides a continuing funding source for the city. "My desire is to leave [Maitland] in a strong position financially to provide community events on a more frequent basis than it could have done in the past," said Flowers.

Nonprofit organization Shepherd's Fold began a pilot program helping to provide job skills, coaching and support with a web design class and music recording for people with disabilities. Winter Park Police Chief Brett Railey and Fire Chief Lars White donated the pilot program space. For information, call 407-645-1782.

Borders Bookstore in Winter Park Village hosted a lecture and book signing with Thomas J. DiLorenzo, New York Times best-selling author of "How Capitalism Saved America" and "Lincoln Unmasked." The event was organized by the Orange County Campaign for Liberty. Visit www.campaignforliberty.com.

Business Briefs

The Florida Retail Federation is accepting nominations for the 2010 Florida Retailer of the Year Award for Leadership now through Wednesday, April 14. This award recognizes retailers who have demonstrated a blend of sound business practices with commitment to their communities, customers and employees. Nominations can be made online at www.frf.org.

Charles E. Merz has been named a representative with Ibis Financial Group, a financial services firm affiliated with the Securian Financial Network.

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects based in Orlando's Baldwin Park was recently awarded contracts to design remodeling efforts at Sweetbay Supermarket facilities in Tampa, Pinellas Park and Fort Myers.

TrustCo Bank Corp NY, (TrustCo, Nasdaq: TRST), parent company of Trustco Bank, was once again named as one of America's top banks by Bank Director Magazine.

O,R&L Facility Services, a Winter Park-based property management company, recently received the "Office Building of the Year" award in the government category from the Orlando Chapter of the Building Owners and Managers Association for its work with Orlando's City Hall.

Palmer Electric Company has completed contracts totaling $2.9 million for the renovation of the Lake Buena Vista Holiday Inn located on Hotel Plaza Boulevard.

On March 11, the mayor of Winter Park, Ken Bradley, presented a proclamation to RLF, an architecture, engineering and interior design firm located in Winter Park, stating that the month of March 2010 was officially the celebration of Rogers, Lovelock & Fritz 75th Anniversary.

William T. Dymond, president, CEO and managing partner with Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor, & Reed, P.A. and past president of the Florida Citrus Sports Board of Directors helped the Capital One Bowl secure a television agreement with ESPN through 2018.

Orlando's Engineering & Computer Simulations announced that it has been selected by the United States Small Business Administration as the 2010 Florida Small Business of the Year.