Community Bulletin and Business Briefs

Community Bulletin

Orlando Shakespeare Theater has a redesigned website —www.OrlandoShakes.org— that features extensive content on plays and events, advanced ticket purchasing, location rentals and an impressive array of educational resources and classes.

Thirteen Full Sail University grads worked on all five games that were nominated for 2010 SPIKE Video Game of the Year last month. Rounding out the nominees were “Red Dead Redemption” (winner), “Call of Duty: Black Ops”, “God of War III”, “Halo: Reach” and “Mass Effect 2”. In total, 41 graduates were credited on 19 nominated projects at this year’s awards.

Fifth Third Bank (Central Florida) recently raised more than $11,000 for the Camaraderie Foundation, an Orlando-based nonprofit that provides counseling services at a discounted rate to veterans and their families.

For the ninth year, Bright House Networks volunteers delivered hundreds of presents, including dozens of bicycles, for 160 AIDS and HIV-affected children at the Hope and Help Center in Winter Park. The volunteers also delivered presents to more than 100 students attended Orange County Public Schools on Dec. 16.

David B. Auerbach, D.O., of Eye Physicians of Central Florida in Maitland recently held his second annual “Gift of Sight” program, a holiday initiative that provided free cataract surgery to four local patients who lacked health insurance. The total value of last year’s gift was estimated at $20,000 ($5,000 per surgery).

Beginning Saturday, Jan. 8, the JCC will extend its Saturday hours at its campuses in Maitland and Southwest Orlando, opening at 8 a.m. rather than 1 p.m. The closing time will be 5 p.m. At the same time, the JCC will slightly adjust its Sunday hours to the same 8 a.m.-5 p.m. schedule. For more information or to schedule a tour of the JCC, visit www.orlandojcc.org. The JCC is located at 851 N. Maitland Ave. and can be reached at 407-645-5933.

Joel Micah Ingram, of Winter Park was one of 475 students who was named to Union University’s Dean’s List for the fall 2010 semester.

Cameron Lyon, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. V. Frederic Lyon of Winter Park, was named to the Fall Term 2010 Deans’ List at Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Conn.

A Christmas gift arrived early for Winter Park resident Gaby Daily: keys to a new home, built by hundreds of community volunteers under the coordination of Habitat for Humanity Winter Park/Maitland. Forty-six homes have been completed in the Winter Park-Maitland community. For more information, visit http://www.habitatwpm.org.

The Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) announced last month that Matthew Curtis, programming director for Enzian and the Florida Film Festival, is this year’s recipient of The Golden Orange award, a distinction given for significant contributions to film and filmmaking in Florida.

Insight Credit Union donated $2,000 to New Hope for Kids to provide much-needed Christmas gifts to children and families in the Central Florida area. This donation was made possible by generous member and employee contributions.

The Orlando Chili Cook-Off, held Feb. 26 in Orlando’s Baldwin Park community, is looking for local restaurateurs to enter chili and sell food at the event. Participants will get exposure to about 10,000 people. Registration is tax deductible and helps Special Olympics Florida. For details, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.OrlandoChiliCookOff.com.

Animal Sanctuary of CFL, Orlando, recently has joined other animal welfare organizations in the area that list their homeless pets on Petfinder.com, the oldest and largest database of adoptable animals on the Internet. The site currently has more than 3,324,700 homeless pets listed, and it is updated continuously.

Orange County Property Appraiser Bill Donegan would like new homeowners to be aware that now is the time to file for homestead exemption. “If you bought a home prior to January 1, 2011 you may be eligible for a significant tax savings.” E-file at www.ocpafl.org. The deadline is March 1.

Business Briefs

Dr. Hugh Morris, orthopedic surgeon at Winter Park Memorial Hospital, has advanced and implemented a new pain management technique, making recovery gentler and easier for knee replacement patients.

Palmer Electric Company has secured a continuing services contract from the Facilities Department of the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

Winter Park-based Anson-Stoner won nine HSMAI Adrian Awards – three Gold, two Silver, and four Bronze – for advertising and PR excellence in the hospitality industry.

Lou Nimkoff has been awarded a Chairman’s Award at the Annual Awards Ceremony by the Orlando Regional Realtor Association.

Eight real estate agents with Fannie Hillman + Associates earned prestigious Five-Star status for homebuyer satisfaction in a 2010 survey of Orlando area homebuyers and industry experts.

Bright House Networks is pleased to announce the addition of Donald Forbes as Senior Director of Corporate Communications.

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects was recently awarded a contract to design the remodeling of a Michael’s crafts store at Waterford Lakes.

Marketplace Advisors recently negotiated the $1.15 million sale of a 1.2-acre commercial outparcel at the Shoppes at Aloma Walk.

O,R&L Facility Services was recently awarded the building management and maintenance contract from Florida A&M University for their College of Law in downtown Orlando.

Maitland general contractor Birchmier Construction was recently recognized by Southeast Construction for creating the best worship project in a four-state area.

Stockworth Realty Group has added two new agents to its sales team to serve the real estate needs of Orlando’s Baldwin Park and surrounding areas.

Tri-City Electrical Contractors is handling $141,000 of work at the new 13,800-square-foot Lakewood Center dormitory and health care facility in Fern Park.

The Orlando Regional Realtor Association has appointed Linda Hitchcock as the group’s vice president of professional development.

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects has named Chris Abbey electrical department manager.