Community Bulletin and Business Briefs

Orlando Utilities Commission completed the first solar farm in Orange County. The Stanton Solar Farm, which is located at OUC’s Curtis H. Stanton Energy Center along Innovation Way in east Orange County, is generating enough renewable energy to power more than 600 homes. Duke Energy Renewables will own and operate the 5.9-megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) array, which was built by Regenesis Power LLC. OUC will purchase the green power from the system for the next 20 years. Pictured left to right: Orange County Commissioner Jennifer Thompson, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, OUC General Manager & CEO Ken Ksionek, Regenesis Power LLC COO John Pinholster, OUC Board President Maylen Dominguez, Duke Energy Renewables Vice President Brian Stallman and OUC Commissioner Dan Kirby.

In honor of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, on Wednesday, Dec. 7, Captain Floyd R. Petiprin, a Pearl Harbor survivor, was presented with a donor paver engraved with his name and U.S. Navy service record. Presenting the paver to Petiprin, age 101, will be members of the Central Florida Navy League and other Navy personnel. The paver will be placed at the site of the Lone Sailor statue at the Navy Memorial of Central Florida when it is built.

Congratulations to the winners of the Winter Park Chamber’s Holiday Card Competition: Juliet Myers, Park Maitland School; Angelina Schreyer, St. Margaret Mary Catholic School; Alexis Tamvakis, St. James Cathedral School and Marlaina Wakim, Park Maitland School. Their cards, along with winners from past years, are on display throughout downtown and at the Winter in the Park skating rink.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Orlando is in need of donations this holiday season. The nonprofit organization, dedicated to transforming the lives of low-income, hard-working families through home ownership, urges individuals and families to consider making a donation. Thousands of Central Floridians live in homes that are cramped and unsafe … without heat or air conditioning, working kitchens or even functional plumbing. A donation, no matter what size, can make a real difference. Donations are vital to Habitat for Humanity’s success and can be made online, by check, by credit card or in honor of a friend or family member. For more information on Habitat for Humanity of Greater Orlando, visit www.habitat-orlando.org.

The General Municipal Election of the city of Maitland will be held on Tuesday, Jan 31, for electing a mayor and deciding on the economic development ad valorem tax exemption referendum. Voting will take place at the following locations: Orlando Korean Presbyterian Church, 2405 Dianjo Drive; Maitland Civic Center, 641 S. Maitland Ave.; Asbury United Methodist Church, 220 W. Horatio Ave.; Lake Island Recreation Center, 450 Harper St.; 1st Baptist Church Winter Park, 1021 N. New York Ave.; First Baptist Church of Maitland, 1950 Mohican Trail. The polling places are accessible to handicapped voters. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Data Transfer Solutions LLC (DTS), based in east Orlando’s Avalon Park, has been awarded a three-year contract to inventory and evaluate highway assets controlled by the Delaware Department of Transportation.

Elizabeth Villegas, Vice President of Kuykendall Gardner, a Winter Park-based insurance brokerage firm, was recently appointed to the Winter Park Community Foundation Grant Advisory Board, where she will assist with capacity-building grants for Winter Park nonprofits.

Kevin Lansberry and Michael “Micky” Grindstaff have been elected to the board of directors for the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

Ashton Woods Homes reports it sold 34 new homes in six Orlando communities in November at an average sale price of $198,750.

Tolaris Realty Group, which sells luxury homes throughout Central Florida, recently appointed Peter Sileo a sales associate. Rick Bavec, who heads Tolaris Realty Group, said Sileo is a former New York police officer who recently earned his Florida real estate license.

Emerson International Inc. recently negotiated a new three-year lease agreement for 1,245 square feet at Major Plaza II, an office building located on Major Boulevard in Southwest Orlando off Kirkman Road near the International Drive tourism corridor.