Twitter, Parkpreneurs & Partypreneurs!

I haven’t been the biggest Twitter fan in the past. Yeah, I think it has something to do with my ability to say in 100 words what others may be able to communicate in 20. I wrap myself in my wordiness like a warm blanket on a hot summer’s day! Alas, my wordy wings have been clipped by la Editor of The Observer, so maybe I’m turning over a new leaf. LESS wordy I shall now be, so I feel Twitter ready, willing, able, prepared, excited, oh, sorry . . . momentarily forgot the less wordy part. Anyway, I’m gonna Twitter my fingers off! But in doing so I want to assist Local businesses who are already ON Twitter, or prepared to sign up. Here's how . . . .

Offering a promotion at your business? Tweet #ILUVWinterPark

Doing something specific to Totally Local Tuesday? Tweet #ILUVTLT

Organizing or promoting a Local event? Tweet #ILUVWPEvents

For the Twitter novice . . . when you put a ‘#’ sign – making all that follows a 'hash tag’ – you make it viewable to anyone looking for that specific hash tag wording. So, each late afternoon I’ll look for these specific hash tags and I’ll RE-Tweet any which contain them. And, thinking that this goes out to an ever-increasing number of people . . . it gets the Local word out to a larger and larger group. It’s called economies of scale, synergy! Winter Park Local powers activate . . . . form of a Tweeting machine! (Shout out to those who grew up on the same Saturday morning cartoons I did! Old school. Nice!)

Previously I have sought nominations from YOU – yeah, YOU – for Parkpreneurs who deserve a public pat on the back. And so far? Nothin’! But I know such as this is about repetition and even providing some examples. Well, it just so happens I have a few. I’m not even really sure how this evolved. Some things happen like that . . . . you’re in the middle of something and you look back trying to figure out exactly how. Enthusiasm has that impact. You just see a party and want to join in. I got an invitation on facebook a few weeks ago to attend a ‘Get Together’ of Winter Park High School graduates. I thought, okay, maybe they didn’t really mean it, so I asked if it was kosher to accept. Absolutely, I was told. Well, this group quickly made me wish I HAD gone to Winter Park High School cause they’re just chompin’ at the bit to have some fun; and, I am game for that! This whole effort was started by one enthusiastic grad – Bruce Corn – and then later helped along by many others. I wish I could just group pic include them all right here. But for Bruce, especially, for his Winter Park school spirit and gung ho effort, Bruce is definitely a much appreciated Parkpreneur!

But there have also been others who have helped, quietly from behind the scenes, including City of Winter Park Human Resources Manger Rene Brogan and two city commissioners, Sara Sprinkel and Carolyn Cooper. All three of these people have helped expedite some processes to allow this celebration to become larger, due to the enthusiasm it has met.

So, the first Parkpreneurs – those people who help make Winter Park a more enjoyable, fun and interesting place to live – I’d like to offer a big THANK YOU to are those four individuals: Bruce Corn, Rene Brogan, Sarah Sprinkel and Carolyn Cooper. I’m looking forward to a very fun evening next Friday evening, August 24, and writing about it the following week! THANKS!

I received the NICEST e-mail today from Deanna Plyler of Apopka. Part of her e-mail was to alert me to her parents’ Local produce stand in Apopka called Kathy's Produce. As she says, “It is interesting to see this old fashioned produce stand that cooks their DELICIOUS boiled peanuts out on an open wood fire kettle, meanwhile the hustle and bustle of the surrounding corporate businesses makes this outdoor market seem like it is of another place and time. That is because it is. They have been there for over 35 years. Nothing was around at the time, except this charming little produce stand. The business is open 7 days a week. Hours: Daylight to Dark. And they use paper and pencil to check out customers. Everything is written and added on a sheet that is taped on the counter. As I said, another place and time. Other than fresh Produce and awesome boiled peanuts (they won a contest for the best boiled peanuts in central Florida), they sell honey, jelly, molasses and some antique items. Please stop by and meet Kathy and Charlie. They are my parents. At 65 years old, they are the hardest working people I have ever met. Oh, and sample some peanuts while you are there. Would you like cajun or regular?”

I found her story delightful and reminded me of a gift stand one of my grandfathers used to have in North Carolina where he also sold boiled peanuts! THANKS for sharing, Deanna. Local and a great story!

Also, recently received from Rebeka Brown of The Marketing Square of Winter Park, news of performances planned for 2012-13 Florida Opera Theatre season, including:

• Opera in the Park, A Winter Park Opera Concert Series to be held in downtown Winter Park in an intimate setting for exclusive operatic performances at the Winter Park Wedding Chapel, 301 West New England Ave.

o Friday, September 7, 6 p.m., Baritone Kenneth Stavert

o Friday, September 14, 6 p.m., Soprano Samantha Barnes Daniel

o Friday, September 21, 6 p.m., Soprano Janette Zilioli

Tickets for all concerts and operas may be purchased online at the website www.FLOperaTheatre.org or send a check written to: Florida Opera Theatre. Mail to: Florida Opera Theatre, P.O. Box 547937, Orlando, FL 32854-7937. Call 407-718-4365 for information. Calls will be returned Monday through Friday and in a timely manner as received.

Join the Menello Museum from 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, August 23, for the Mills 50 Celebration of Art. Meet and greet all the artists who transformed neighborhood utility cabinets into works of art. RSVP to [email protected].

Quick kudos to Erika Boesch at the Bistro as her new Bistro Loft Shop is looking great . . . and you can now see some of her new gift shop items – OWLS! Yep, I LUV me some owls! – in the Bistro front window!

Hope to see LOTS of people at Toast tomorrow evening in Winter Park Village! This should be fun and I’m HAPPY for the skewed time . . . starts at 6 and ends at 10! You can still buy tickets at:

Tonight’s ‘Give A Dog A Home’ comes from Pet Rescue by Judy. This is Bailey, a Boxer and Labrador Retreiver mix. He’s looking for a partner that will spend time with him every day and take him running! Although has lots of energy, he also likes to cuddle. He was rescued from a home where there was domestic abuse so sometimes it takes him a little longer to warm up to people, but once he does he’s in LUV!! He’s not always friendly with other dogs, but kitties are just fine by him! His best friend in the whole world was a cat. Find out more about Bailey and the other animals available from Pet Rescue by Judy.