Community Bulletin and Business Briefs

Community Bulletin

Designer Christy Scanlon of Winter Park-based Masterpiece Design Group has discovered some trends homeowners can expect to see in 2010, as well as those you won’t. Heavily textured rugs, entertainment armoires and dark, rustic kitchens are out. Kitchen designs are sleeker and streamlined and incorporate materials such as stainless steel and granite.

Robert G. Murray, who serves as chairman of the Central Florida Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution’s Eagle Scout Program, presented the prestigious SAR Eagle Scout Medal to Andrew Popp, a member of Troop 225 of Windermere.

Electronic Arts Tiburon employees and artists recently stopped by Florida Hospital for Children with 30 new video games and T-shirts. Some drew individual caricatures and played Rock Band with the children.

Ruth Rebecca Jackson, Rollins College's 2009 Crossley Service Award honoree, and Will Graves, the fundraising head of Five Stones Project.org, enjoyed two wedding proposals on Valentine's Day, thereby ending her 22-year dating freeze.

Rollins College recently hosted the Seventh Annual Dr. Nelson Ying Orange County Science Exposition. More than 300 students competed. “Can a Dog Lower Pressure of an Elderly Person?” by eighth-grader Chris Wattles of the International Community School in Winter Park and “Residential Roadkill” by eighth-grader Sam Greene from St. Margaret Mary School were among the winners.

Orange County Property Appraiser Bill Donegan would like new homeowners to be aware that now is the time to file for homestead exemption. Those who bought a home before Jan. 1 may be eligible for a significant real estate tax savings. File for the homestead exemption online at www.ocpafl.org by March 1.

The 19th Annual Florida Film Festival, sponsored by Full Sail University, asks online users to submit original, humorous videos containing chickens that will celebrate its iconic image and theme, “Film Sweet Film.” Fans are encouraged to upload their original videos at www.youtube.com. The producer of the video with the most viewings by 5 p.m. on Monday, April 5, will be the recipient of 16 festival tickets to the movies of their choice. For more information call 407-629-1088 and press zero or visit FloridaFilmFestival.com.

On Thursday, Feb. 11, the Bach Festival Society, in partnership with the Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens and Crealdé School of Art, announced the winners of the Spirit of Bach Festival Photography Exhibit. First place was Pat Remington for “Overhead of John Sinclair and the Orchestra,” 2009. Second place was Thomas Raupach for “Chapel Interior—Facing Organ,” 2009. Third place was Cindy Murray for “Violin and Music Detail,” 2009.

Business Briefs

Randy Pritchard, former president of Mercury Printers, has joined Abbott Printing Co. as a market services provider.

Marc L. Levine, attorney in the Orlando office of GrayRobinson, P.A., recently established the Marc L. Levine Award at Stetson University College of Law.

SchenkelShultz Architecture, one of Florida’s leading green design firms, announced that Brent A. Johnson joined the firm as Vice President of Federal Programs.

The University of Central Florida Student Athletic Trainer's Organization received a check for $2,250 this month thanks to Orlando Orthopaedic Center.

Attorney Greg McNeill, a partner at Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed, P.A. in Orlando, was recently inducted into the Committee of 100 of Orange County Inc.

The Arena Football League officially announced its return after a one-year hiatus to retool the economic model of the league. Previously known as Arena Football One, the AFL will play with 15 teams for the 2010 season. Of those 15 teams, seven are AFL legacy teams, including the Orlando Predators.

Continental Homes Inc., a local builder in Winter Park, has been selected by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) to create The New American Home 2011 in Central Florida. The NAHB 2011 International Builders’ Show will be held in January 2011 in Orlando.

The Central Florida office of SIKON Construction announced the company is building a three-story Fresh Market specialty foods store and parking garage project located on West Avenue in South Beach, in Miami.

Leslie “Les” Simmonds, L.G. Simmonds Real Estate Corp., was recognized with the Orlando Regional Realtor Association’s 2009 REALTOR of the Year award, the highest honor bestowed on an ORRA member.

A total of 14 project managers, including seven from Florida, were recognized at The PBSJ Corporation 2009 Project Awards ceremony last week for their work on notable projects and innovative applications of technology.