Want to participate in the Winter Park Paint Out?

On Saturday, Aug. 6, the Winter Park Breakfast Rotary Club participated in HOPE’s Back-to-School Bash in Oviedo. The celebration was attended by more than 500 children from their Kids of Hope summer meal program. Winter Park Breakfast Rotary meets each Monday morning at 7:30 a.m. at the Best Western Mount Vernon Inn on Orlando Avenue.

The Bach Festival Youth Choir is auditioning for new members ages 9-16. Contact Bach Festival Youth Choir conductor Devon Kincaid to schedule an audition for your student. Email [email protected] or call 407-206-1900, extension 3312.

The Orlando area’s overall median home price climbed to $117,000 in July. Since January, Orlando’s median price has increased by 23.29 percent. The median price is also 7 percent higher than the $108,700 recorded in July 2010. Visit www.orlrealtor.com and click on “Housing Statistics” for more information.

A little more than 15 months ago, Robin Sanchez opened her heart and home to Reardon, a black Labrador-golden retriever mix who is training to be an assistance dog. Holler Driver’s Mart honored Sanchez, Reardon and Canine Companions for Independence as Heroes during the July 23 Orlando Predators game.

More than 600 students at the Park Maitland School are on a journey to combat obesity and create a culture of health and wellness in their school. They recently got a surprise visit from Orlando Magic Community Ambassador Bo Outlaw and Magic Dancers as well as Florida Hospital for Children’s Master Disease Fighter, Doc Fu.

Seniors First Inc. was recently awarded a $375,000 grant from Dr. Phillips Charities. The funds will be used to remodel Seniors First’s west office on L.B. McLeod Road. Following the renovation, the consolidation of staff under one roof will centralize services, create staffing efficiencies and save expenses.

If you wish to take part in the Winter Park Paint Out in 2012, send a letter of interest to [email protected] no later than Thursday, Sept.15:

·Explain your interest and commitment.

·Include an active link to your website in the email.

·Attach a current resume.

School news

On Thursday, Aug. 11, Dairy Queen hosted its sixth annual “Miracle Treat Day” to benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Miss Florida and local Miracle Families visited Dairy Queen locations around Orlando. Grace Braswell, a Miracle Child from Casselberry, poses with Kristina Janolo, Miss Florida 2011.

Orange County Public Schools has received a Florida Healthy School District Silver Award, which recognizes it as a leader in the state when it comes to health services, family/community involvement and health promotion to staff members.

State Rep. Bryan Nelson is now seeking applicants for the Florida House of Representatives’ page and messenger program. You must live in the Orange County community and be 13-18 years old. The program is one week during the 2012 legislative session in Tallahassee. The deadline to apply is Sept. 16. Call 407-884-2023.

Ways to give back

Mrs. Shirley Guignard was recognized as the winner of Maitland’s Best Recycler by City Manager Jim Williams (Left), Mayor Howard Schieferdecker (Right) and Maitland Recycling Manager Roxanne Long (Right).

The first $10,000 raised through the Foundation’s Classrooms Supplies Campaign will be matched $1 for $1 by the state’s School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program to support low-income classrooms. More than 100,000 Orange County students are on the Free and Reduced Meal Program. Invest by visiting www.foundationforocps.org

Business briefs

Barnie’s Coffee & Tea Company is becoming Barnie’s CoffeeKitchen. This fall, the company will remodel their flagship Park Avenue store followed by Baldwin Park and will open a new location in the CityArts Factory building in downtown Orlando. The stores will double in seating capacity and feature a breakfast and lunch menu drawing from the farm-to-table philosophy of utilizing seasonal, local ingredients.

The Girl Scouts of Citrus Council honored Andrea Massey-Farrell, president and CEO of Massey Communications, in its 14th Annual Women of Distinction Awards Program on July 29.

The Orlando Health Foundation’s ONE NIGHT event, with a sold-out crowd of 700, netted $260,000 for the Orlando Regional Medical Center Level One Trauma Center.

NAI Realvest recently negotiated a renewal agreement for 7,520 square feet of office space at 800 Fairway in Deerfield representing Orlando-based TLC Engineering for Architecture.

On Aug. 3, Full Sail University was named “2011 School/College of the Year” by the Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools & Colleges (FAPSC) during the FAPSC Annual Conference.

The Orlando Museum of Art has again been awarded the highest honor a museum can receive: Accreditation by the American Association of Museums.

The American Nurses Credentialing Center has officially named the Walt Disney Pavilion at Florida Hospital for Children as a recipient of Magnet recognition status, which recognizes hospitals for excellence in nursing.

Moore Stephens Lovelace welcomes Donna Haynes, CPA, to the firm as an audit supervisor.

RLF, a Winter Park-based architecture, engineering and interior design firm, has announced the addition of three new employees to its team of talented professionals: Sam Sampoux, AIA, John Stellpflug, PE, and Daniel Chapman.

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects LLC, based in Baldwin Park, was awarded a contract to design the remodeling of Michael’s Arts & Crafts store located in Altamonte Springs.