Ocoee Briefs 06.12.14

+ 5k Run/Walk assists football program

The Ocoee High School Football Program conducted its premier 5k Run/Walk fundraiser, ‘The Knights of the Round Table Medieval Run,’ on May 17.

Close to 100 people participated in the event, the proceeds from which will benefit the program’s purchase of new equipment. With the emphasis on player’s safety, the football program wants to be on the forefront of concussion prevention and player safety.

All race participants received a T-Shirt and a participant medal, and prizes where awarded to the winners in different categories.

One of the football program’s main missions is to build a sense of community and school pride and to enhance the promotion of health and social wellbeing to the students, faculty and surrounding communities of Ocoee High.

+ Ocoee pool welcomes swimmers

The Ocoee Parks and Recreation Department’s Family Aquatic Facility is open for the summer season.

Located at the Jim Beech Recreation Center, 1820 A.D. Mims Road, the facility features a safe, zero-depth entry pool with a maximum depth of four feet.

Pool admission is $1.50 for adults and $1 for children and seniors. Group swim lessons for all ages, including infants who are at least six months old, are offered from June through August and are taught by American Red Cross-certified instructors.

The pool will close for the season on Sept. 28. For information on pool hours and swim lessons, visit www.ocoee.org or call 407-905-3180.

+ W.O. Seniors are busy having fun

The West Orange Seniors hold their events at the Tom Ison Veterans and Seniors Center, 1701 Adair St., Ocoee.

At 9:30 a.m. June 18, the group will take a trip to the Mission Inn and Lakeridge Winery. The cost is $58 per person.

The group will visit Tampa Hard Rock on June 21. The cost is $15 per person. And the seniors will have a potluck at the Ison Center at 12:30 p.m. June 19.

Free arthritis chair exercises sponsored by Health Central take place at the senior center at 8 a.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays.

A free Tai Chi class takes place at 11 a.m. every other Thursday.

Spanish classes are held from 3:30-5 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday. The cost is $15 weekly.

Line dancing is held weekly at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays. The minimum donation is $2.

Dominos, walking, social, TV and coffee are held at 9 a.m. on Wednesdays.

Free belly-dancing exercise sessions are held at 1 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Bingo is held from 3-6:30 p.m. every Sunday and from 1-3:30 p.m. every Monday.

Card games are played from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Seniors can work on crafts from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Thursday. The group will meet at a restaurant for lunch first.

Chorus practice is held from 10:30-11:30 a.m. on Fridays.

Go to westorangeseniors.yolasite.com or call 407-592-4498 for more information.

+ Churches announce Bible School schedules

Starke Lake Baptist Church welcomes children to attend its Vacation Bible School from 6-8:30 p.m. June 23-27, at 611 W. Ave., Ocoee. The theme is “Agency D3: Discover. Decide. Defend.” The event is free for ages 3 through sixth grade, and a family night will be hosted on Friday, June 27. Register on a Sunday or Wednesday at the church, or register the first night of VBS.  For more information, call 407-656-2351.

West Orlando Baptist and Child Discovery Center invites children to its free Vacation Bible School from 6:30-8:30 p.m. July 21-25, at 1006 E. Crown Point Road, Ocoee. The theme is “Agency D3: Discover. Decide. Defend.” Register the first night of VBS, but come at least 20 minutes early. Call 407-905-9508 for more information.

Ocoee Oaks United Methodist Church will have Vacation Bible School July 7-11 from 6-8:30 p.m., at 201 S. Clarke Road, Ocoee. The theme is “Wilderness Escape Camp.” Children will camp out with Moses and the Israelites, and learn about the Ten Commandments and crossing the Red Sea. Dinner will be offered at 6 p.m. with a $3 donation per person. The program will start at 6:30 p.m. and is open to the public. Call 407-293-0700 for more information. 

+ City seeks photos for calendar contest

The city of Ocoee is accepting submissions through Sept. 15 for its annual Calendar Photo Contest. The public is invited to give it their best shot and enter photos that showcase the beauty and uniqueness of Ocoee.

Winning photos will be published in the city’s 2015 Community Calendar, and photographers will be given photo credit in the calendar. Amateur and professional shutterbugs are invited to submit color pictures of people at work or play in Ocoee, scenic or historic places around town, or a favorite snapshot of life in the city.

There is a limit of three photo entries per photographer. The format may be 8-by-10-inch print, 600 DPI TIF or JPEG file on CD. Photographs can be mailed or delivered to City Hall, Community Relations, 150 N. Lakeshore Drive, Ocoee, FL, 34761.

Photos will be selected on the basis of originality, creativity and the quality of reproduction. Photo entry forms are available at www.ocoee.org or by calling 407-905-3100.

+ Students earn degrees

Alyssa Jayne Burkert, of Ocoee, graduated cum laude May 18 from Wofford College, in Spartanburg, S.C., with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology as part of the Teacher Eduction program. She is the daughter of Timothy and Dannielle Burkert.

Kendrick Perry, of Ocoee, graduated from Youngstown State University in May with a Bachelor of Science in applied science in criminal justice. The school is in Youngstown, Ohio.

+ Student named to dean’s list

Christopher Brooks, of Ocoee, who is a senior majoring in pre-physician assistant studies, earned a spot on the dean’s list for the spring 2014 semester at Hofstra University, in Hempstead, N.Y.

+ Police Academy to start soon

The Ocoee Police Department will host its Annual Teen Police Academy from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 14-18 at High Point Church, 476 Ocoee Commerce Parkway.

The program is free and covers numerous law-enforcement topics. It is open to teenagers who are 13-18 years old and have no felony convictions.

All participants will receive a free Ocoee Teen Police Academy shirt. Individuals interested in the program must complete a registration form, which can be downloaded at www.ocoee.org. For more information, contact Officer Patera Scott at 407-905-3100 ext. 3024, or [email protected].

+ Yard sale to benefit local ministries

Bread of Life Fellowship and Glad Tidings Church of Ocoee will host their “Summerific” Yard Sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at the church, 2009 Fullers Cross Road. Organizers said the sale will feature great deals on new items, and purchases will support those in need in Central Florida. For more information, visit www.breadoflifefellowship.com.