Community Bulletin and Business Briefs

Winter Park resident Bonnie Jackson’s USTA Team, the “No Drama Mommas,” won the Florida title in the 3.0 ranked adult tennis league, earning the chance to compete this past weekend in the USTA Nationals held in Tucson, Ariz. They came in second in the nation, after being considered the underdogs as they were the oldest team there (all of them older than 40). They chanted their captain’s favorite slogan all weekend: “Booya!” FRONT ROW: (L to R) (holding banner on L) Stephanie Schwartzberg (captain), (2 in center) Julie Saracco, Hue Sun Lee Dasher, (holding banner on R) Kim Wells. BACK ROW: (L to R)- Lori Weisberg, Bonnie Jackson, Sharon Browning, Shanda Redding, Anne Ryan (blue hat), Pam Sheehan, Cindy DeWitt, Sandra Ruark

Mission: Fit Possible

As a new component of Florida Hospital for Children’s Healthy 100 Kids, the “Mission: Fit Possible” program equips local schools and community organizations with proven childhood obesity prevention tools that get children excited about healthy living. Hundreds of kids from around Central Florida recently got a sneak peek experience of the first-of-its-kind interactive program that will be launching in January 2012. “When children have fun learning about being healthy, they are more likely to retain those messages. They go home and get their family excited about what they learned,” said Cindy Moon, Head of School at Park Maitland School. “We have been on this journey with Florida Hospital and this added program will only enhance our efforts to make sure we have healthy students. We’re excited to participate in this program and see the difference it will make at our school.”

New anti-scam site

Maitland resident Bill Kahn has developed a public service website that informs people how they can protect themselves against being scammed or defrauded. The website, StopTheScam.org, is an expanding Encyclopedia that quickly identifies crook’s actions. It presently contains 16 major topics, and more than 60 sub-topics, 80 video clips, mostly from TV news investigative reporters and news anchors, and more than 1,000 scam/fraud/con items to watch out for.

Donation see 37% hike

A Gift For Teaching, Central Florida’s primary provider of essential school supplies and resources for students in need, has experienced some unprecedented events this year. About 1,500 teachers and school personnel shopped at AGFT’s main Orange County/Orlando store this past August — a 37% increase from the prior August. Year-to-date, the organization has distributed $2 million worth of supplies — $200,000 more than the prior year. It’s estimated that critical learning tools have reached 55,000 deserving students so far this year. Contact the organization at 407-318-3123 or visit AGiftForTeaching.org

New student

Julia DiPasqua of Winter Park has enrolled this fall as freshman at DePaul University in Chicago.

T-shirt campaign for Eastern Africa

Luxury Trips, a Winter Park-based luxury travel consultancy, brings you Fight Hunger Feed Hope: a new fund devoted to famine relief in Eastern Africa through sales of a limited edition T-shirts. In a region where nearly 12 million people are suffering, and in the midst of a severe draught, the contributions are well warranted. One hundred percent of the profit generated from shirt sales will be dispersed through Rotary International to long-term aid such as medical supplies and housing projects in the Horn of Africa. The shirt design features a bold graphic of the continent of Africa, emblazoned with the Fight Hunger Feed Hope message. The unisex T-shirts have been well-received by community members, and are offering a humanitarian chic clothing option this fall. This holiday season, make a statement in more ways than one and fuel the movement to fight hunger and feed hope. To pick up a limited edition T-shirt, stop by Luxury Trips' Winter Park office location at 190 E. Morse Blvd. or visit FightHungerFeedHope.com

Get involved

Interested in serving your community? The city of Maitland has openings on the following volunteer boards: Board of Adjustments & Appeals, Personnel Board and the Transportation Advisory Board. You must be a Maitland resident to apply. Please contact the City Clerk at [email protected] or 407-539-6219 for information.

Posters for sale

The Chamber is selling 38th annual Winter Park Autumn Art Festival posters for $15 each. In addition, there are T-shirts (regular, ladies and kids), men's Izod polo shirts, tote bags, hats and note cards. Contact Andrea Hall at 407-644-8281 or [email protected] for details.

Fill a wallet for a senior

Seniors First, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping senior citizens remain living independently in their homes, has launched its holiday gift drive: “Fill a Wallet for a Senior.” The organization hopes that through this drive, each of its 2,500 clients will receive a gift to brighten their holiday season. To donate, purchase a wallet and include $10 cash or a gift card. You may also make a $20 donation and the wallet will be provided. The drive runs until Dec. 1. For details, email [email protected] or visit SeniorsFirstInc.org

Send bulletin submissions to [email protected]

BUSINESS BRIEFS

The Rollins MBA at the Crummer Graduate School of Business is included in the Princeton Review’s “Best 294 Business Schools” book for 2012.

Fannie Hillman + Associates posted 93 existing home closings for $32.3 million in the third quarter, giving the Winter Park firm seven consecutive quarters in which transactions and sales volume have been up over comparable periods in previous years.

Ride Green Scooters on West Fairbanks Avenue in Winter Park has been named the exclusive area dealer for battery-powered TNT E Scooters designed and manufactured by Top Notch Technology Inc. of Ligonier, Ind.

Bobby Kuykendall, executive vice president of Kuykendall Gardner, a Winter Park-based insurance brokerage firm, was recently appointed president-elect for the Florida Citrus Sports Association. Baldwin Park resident Nicholas Carbone was recently hired as vice president of transactional risk for Kuykendall Gardner.

Shaw Mechanical Services LLC of Orlando is starting work on a $1,473,118 contract with Doster/Breen Construction for new HVAC systems in a 30,000-square-foot building being renovated and a 49,000-square-foot new building at Princeton Elementary School in Orange County.

Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, based in Baldwin Park, recently completed the design of five residential handicap ramps valued at $25,000 for the Center for Independent Living of Central Florida.

The Central Florida office of SIKON Construction, Maitland, was a proud sponsor of the 14th Annual "Golf fore the cure" Tournament held Oct. 21 benefiting The Sophie's Cure Foundation for those diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

The Orlando Regional Realtor Association Board of Directors has appointed Margaret “Pegi” Brock, of Keller Williams Heritage Realty, to fill a vacancy on the board.

Ronald Lowry, AIA, NCARB, was recently elected to the Orlando Chapter of the American Institute of Architects’ Board of Directors.