Community Bulletin and Business Briefs

Baldwin Park resident Cassidy DeVault recently turned 3. In lieu of birthday gifts, she collected more than 50 pounds of food as well as monetary donations for Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. Second Harvest is in need of the following items: nonfat dry milk, oatmeal, canned meats/poultry, canned tuna, nutritional drinks, dry beans, canned soup, canned fruit, diapers, rice, beef stew and baby food. For more information about donating to Second Harvest through birthday, baby shower and/or wedding show events, contact Mindy Ortiz at 407-423-1754 or [email protected]

Foley & Lardner LLP was recently awarded the 2011 Chief Justice’s Law Firm Commendation Pro Bono Service Award from the Florida Supreme Court. Winter Park resident Ed Baxa heads Foley’s national pro bono initiatives.

The Maitland Art and History Association has a new stage name — Art & History Museums, Maitland or A&H for short. The new name comes with the launch of the nonprofit’s new brand, which includes a new logo and a new message, “Discover, Engage, Inspire”. “The brand change more closely reflects all we currently offer as a cultural destination as well as our exciting plans for the future,” Andrea Bailey Cox, Director and CEO said in a press release. “Moving forward, we will be better able to promote our historic properties, art and history exhibits, and educational offerings with a unified message.”

Several members were recognized for their contributions to the Park Avenue Area Association at the annual Meet & Greet on Jan. 26. Please congratulate the following winners:

• Restaurant of the Year - Tolla’s Italian Deli & Cafe

• Boutique of the Year - Tuni

• Specialty Shop of the Year - The Doggie Door

• Service Professional of the Year - Grafton Wealth Management

• Salon/Spa of the Year - Marvaldi Hair and Makeup Studio

• Volunteer of the Year - Paige Blackwelder

Junior Achievement of Central Florida’s annual Bowl-A-Thon fundraiser, where local companies form teams, find sponsors and bowl at local alleys to raise money for JA, will take place throughout the spring across Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Volusia and Lake counties. To receive more information about how your company can participate, contact 407-898-2121, extension 19 or [email protected]

Alexandra N. Mitchell of Maitland has been named to the Georgia Southern University Fall Semester President’s List.

Full Sail University graduate Gary Rizzo has been named as an Academy Award nominee in the category of Best Achievement in Sound Mixing for his work on “Inception”.

Last week, Winter Park donated 10 electric usage monitors to the Winter Park Public Library for patrons to check out for home use. Beginning Tuesday, Feb. 15, the monitors will be available for two-week periods at 460 E. New England Ave. For more information, please call the library at 407-623-3300.

The Military Retired Officer Wives Club of Central Florida meets the third Tuesday of each month from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. September-May, for lunch and mutual interests at the Elks Club at 12 N. Primrose Drive. Active duty wives are also welcome to attend. For information, contact Marty Harrison at 407-886-1922 or Ellen Paul at 407-696-4809.

The deadline for filing homestead tax exemptions is March 1.

The 20th annual Florida Film Festival, sponsored by Full Sail University, announces a special community program asking online users to submit an original film title and personal photo that best captures the Florida film of their fantasies. Visit FloridaFilmFestival.com

Fifth Third Bank Central Florida is partnering with Orlando’s WCFB radio station, 94.5 FM, to highlight an African American history maker each weekday in February. The 20 featured individuals are well- and lesser-known African Americans whose unique contributions to society helped shape American history.

Tax-Aide volunteers, trained and certified by the IRS, will provide free income tax assistance at the Winter Park Library, 460 E. New England Ave., from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, through April 14. Visit aarp.org/taxaide or call 1-800-227-7669.

Tickets are now on sale for CHOICES 2011, held March 16 at the Westin Lake Mary on International Parkway. This annual event is the largest fundraising event for the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando Women’s Division. For more information, call 407-645-5933 or visit jfgo.org

Registration is now open for the 31st Annual Conference of the Florida Native Plant Society. It will take place at the Sheraton Orlando North in Maitland from May 19-22. Visit http://fnps.org/pages/conference

Volunteer opportunities

The National MS Society Mid Florida Chapter is looking for anyone who wants to support their community to take part in Walk MS 2011 and Bike MS: The Citrus Tour 2011. Visit MidFloridaMSwalks.org and FLC.NationalMSsociety.org or call 813-889-8363.

Seniors First is seeking drivers to deliver Meals on Wheels to elderly clients in Orange County. Contact Lorraine Shumaker at 407-615-8982.

Business briefs

For the third year in a row, Jewish Family Services of Greater Orlando was recognized by the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation (OMYF) as a community program that “empowers families and changes lives.” In January, OMYF distributed $1 million in grants at a ceremony at the Amway Center. Hundreds of agencies apply for the grant, but only 19 local charities were selected to be this year’s recipients. To learn more about the Family Stabilization Program and other services offered by JFS, please contact us at 407-644-7593 or visit our website jfsOrlando.org

Brokers Mike Winn and Lief Erickson of Winter Park Land Commercial handled the lease of the 10,000 square-foot building at 151 E. Welbourne Ave. for a Mexican restaurant and bar, called Cocina 214. Formerly Apenberry’s, the building is owned by the Charles Hosmer Morse Foundation. After a total reconstruction of the interior, opening is planned for spring.

Jewett Orthopaedic Clinic is pleased to announce that board-certified orthopaedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist Sean M. McFadden, D.O., joined its medical team.

The Central Florida Chapter of The Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) has awarded its CPM of the Year Award to Lou Nimkoff, CPM, CCIM of Brio Properties, Winter Park.

The commercial division of Palmer Electric Company has completed its contract with construction manager Turner Construction Company for the renovation of a club suite for Florida Citrus Sports at the Citrus Bowl.

Lawrence Kolin, a preeminent peer-reviewed attorney and recognized community leader, announced the formation of a new alternative dispute resolution firm, Lawrence H. Kolin, P.A.

Attorneys from the national labor and employment law firm Fisher & Phillips LLP prepared and edited the 2011 Florida Employment Law Manual.

Dr. Henry Ho, Florida Hospital otolaryngologist, was recently named Otolaryngologist of the Year by the Network of Florida Otolaryngologists, Inc.