Community Bulletin and Business Briefs

On Saturday, April 23, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida hosted its inaugural Wine, Women & Shoes fundraising event at the Royal Plaza and raised more than $85,000, which will go toward fighting hunger in Central Florida. For more information, visit www.WineWomenAndShoes.com/SecondHarvest

Susanne Shepherdson, a senior history and entrepreneurial small business management major from Maitland, was honored with the Huntington University Outstanding Senior Award for history. Dr. Dwight Brautigam, professor of history, called Shepherdson “one of the most outstanding students in every respect.”

With an impressive 93 percent graduation rate across all programs, the latest Rollins MBA class graduated on April 30. In addition, Early Advantage MBA graduates are seeing salary offers of almost five percent higher than last year’s class as they move into the workforce. For more information about Rollins, visit www.rollins.edu

Junior Achievement of Central Florida recently partnered with OCPS to form a Junior Achievement Academy for Leadership and Entrepreneurship at Oak Ridge High School, which will serve as a magnet program. The magnet program will stress business topics — as well as financial literacy and entrepreneurial subjects — and a lot of local business people will be involved in the venture. For more information, visit http://orlando.ja.org or call 407-898-2121.

The following students were awarded bachelor’s degrees from Flagler College in St. Augustine:

• Margaret Ward Weathersby, of Maitland, graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in communication.

• Chelsea Elizabeth Gleiter, of Maitland, graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in economics and business administration.

• John Stanley Pietkiewicz, of Winter Park, graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in business administration.

Fifth Third Bank — together with the city of Orlando and K. Hovnanian Homes — announced a 10-week summer program that will provide daytime activities, transportation, breakfast and lunch for the children, and financial wellness workshops for the parents. At this point, funding has been secured to cover 750 children for the entire summer program. For more information about “Summer of Dreams”, visit www.TheSummerofDreams.com

The Maine Conservation Corps recently welcomed Neal Watercutter of Maitland to serve as a Team Leader and AmeriCorps volunteer for the summer season. More information about the Maine Conservation Corps can be found at www.maine.gov/doc/parks/mcc

The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications for its 2011 Chamber Cares campaign, a small business and community philanthropy effort, through May 27. The funds requested must be within the $10,000-20,000 range and must benefit the Winter Park community. For full requirements, visit www.winterpark.org and select Events and Programs, then Chamber Cares.

Tickets on sale

The Friends of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, volunteer corps of the Orlando Philharmonic, proudly present Jeans & Jewels Speakeasy, a fundraising event, on Saturday, June 4, at 7 p.m. at the Winter Park Garden Club, 1300 South Denning Drive, Winter Park (in Mead Gardens). Tickets are $75 per person ($65 per person for members of the Friends). Call 407-896-6700 extension 223.

Ways to give back

Jude Wilson, owner of Orlando-based Wilson Group Financial Management, recently spoke at the Eatonville Boys & Girls Club “Keepin’ It Real Speaker Series” to nearly 30 young people. Additional speakers are needed for upcoming programs. To learn more, please contact [email protected]

Maitland is looking for residents to serve on various city boards. Contact the City Clerk for an application at 407-539-6219 or [email protected]

Help your favorite charity win up to $500,000 by “liking” the Chase Community Giving program on Facebook at http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving, and casting your vote.

Become a Hospice Volunteer Orientation is 9 a.m.-1 p.m., May 20 at Samaritan Care Hospice of Florida, 1300 N. Semoran Blvd., Suite 210, Orlando. Call 407-514-1327.

Firehouse Subs announces the “Round Up” program, allowing guests the opportunity to “round up” their bill to the nearest dollar in participating locations, benefiting first responders and survivors of recent tornado devastation in the Southeast. For more information, visit firehousesubs.com

Business Briefs

The Central Florida office of SIKON Construction, Maitland, sponsored the 2011 Lakeland Golf Classic benefiting the National Kidney Foundation of Florida.

Mercantile Capital Corporation closed a commercial loan for Clark & Albaugh, LLP to purchase and build out new professional office space in Winter Park.

Orlando Philharmonic Music Director Christopher Wilkins has been named music director of the Boston Landmarks Orchestra. He also serves as Music Director of both the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra.

More than 50 employees, family and friends of Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed, P.A., came together and volunteered their time to help the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, the Mustard Seed of Central Florida, and Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge.

Forbes Magazine recognizes BARR Financial Services, LLC, a Winter Park based firm, as one of the top five Financial Services Firms in the State of Florida. The firm will be featured in the May 2011 Florida subscribers edition.

SchenkelShultz Architecture announced that Seminole County Public Schools’ Midway Elementary School of the Arts, a magnet school it designed, is officially the first LEED® Certified Elementary School in Central Florida.

Bill Tomala, government relations and permit coordinator at Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, was appointed to an Orange County Task Force charged with reviewing county regulations to streamline the permitting process.

Crossman & Company closed three new long-term lease agreements for retail space totaling 24,914 square feet in Casselberry, College Park and Clermont. It also completed four lease agreements at Aloma Shopping Center and the Shoppes of Aloma in Winter Park.

SIKON Construction, Maitland, completed the new $3 million, 45,600-square-foot Publix at St. John’s Plaza.

Barefoot Brothers Construction owner Ron Scarpa of Winter Park was inducted into the AWSEF Water Ski Hall of Fame on April 30 in Lakeland.