Insight Magazine - March 2015

March 2015 • www.InsightEastOrlando.com

Serving The Communities Of East & Southeast Orlando

This Month: Transportation

East Orlando Dental Gives New Meaning to

Service with a Smile

Eagle Creek Expansion Plans Cause Dissent Within Rural Community

EastWood Residents Come Together to Save Their Golf Course

Osceola County Expressway Hits Many Roadblocks on the Path to Approval

Plus:Colonial Drive Construction to be Completed in 2017

About the Cover:East Orlando Dental, located off of East Colonial Drive in Orlando, is

providing service with a smile and a unique understanding of the dental experience from a patient perspective. Details om page 9.

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East Orlando roads seem to always be under construction. Even though the

widening of South Alafaya Trail has been completed, East Orlando residents still have to wade through construction on 5.1 miles of SR 50, also known as Colonial Drive, from Dean Road past Avalon Park Boulevard.

The project being overseen by the Florida Department of Transportation began in 2013 and is expected to finish in spring 2017, depending on weather and other unforeseen conditions. Overall, the project will cost more than $68 million.

“The improvements will reconstruct the existing four-lane roadway to a six-lane roadway - eight near SR 408 - with bike lanes, curbs and sidewalks,” says FDOT

Public Information Specialist Jessica Keane.

The road is being widened to increase the capacity to meet traffic demands. Features like bike lanes, sidewalks, bus pads, added lighting and extended turn lanes at intersections are intended to make SR 50 safer.

“Existing traffic patterns will be impacted by improvements,” Keane says. “Directional median openings will replace some full median openings, others will be closed. U-Turns at signals will be required where median openings will have changed. These changes will improve access and traffic flow for the length of the project.”

Despite the benefits, residents will have

to encounter lane shifts, traffic pattern changes and lane shifts, which are required to happen after 8 p.m., before the project is completed. Commuters are looking forward to the end of the project.

“I always have to give myself extra time in the mornings to get through the nightmare traffic and coming home from work is just as bad,” says Danielle Owings, who drives on SR 50 almost everyday.

“So, I am definitely looking forward to the construction to be completed and for traffic to run smoother."

Lane closures will affect both southbound and northbound Alafaya Trail just north and south of SR 50 for a pressure pipe crossing Alafaya.

“The first traffic shift will be implemented in March 2015. Eastbound SR 50 traffic will be shifted slightly to the north, partially covering the old location of the median,” Keane says.

“This will allow the new pavement work to begin, creating two new eastbound lanes, the outside curb, and sidewalk for the new roadway.”

The majority of the work is being completed underground placing underground potable water, sanitary sewer pressure and storm drains. AT&T is also installing underground fiber and copper. The underground work that is being completed may result

in erosion control measures, sidewalk removal, temporary driveways side-road pipe installations. Above ground work will include creating new storm water ponds and installing new signal poles.

On top of the construction on SR 50, the I-4 Ultimate project has begun and may cause a traffic increase on SR 408. This traffic could affect commuters on SR 50 and the FDOT recommends that commuters give themselves more time to travel, stay alert and avoid distractions.

“We sincerely appreciate the patience of drivers, business owners and residents during this improvement project,” Keane says.

The improvements will reconstruct the existing four-lane roadway to a six-lane roadway - eight near SR 408 - with bike lanes, curbs and sidewalks.

Colonial Drive Construction to be Completed in 2017By Ashley White

For more information on this project, those interested can visit and sign up for email updates at CFLRoads.com.

Construction on 5.1 miles of SR 50, also known as Colonial Drive, stretches from Dean

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The Orange County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) met January

27 to discuss the proposed Eagle Creek Expansion, in which the developer plans to add 856 acres of land and 254 single-family homes to the rural development.

Situated adjacent to Lake Whippoorwill rural settlement community, the original approval in 2001 preserved 86 acres of pasture and exacted a 200-foot natural buffer for neighboring residents.

As reported in November, many residents do not support the expansion, fearing that it will encroach on their rural lifestyle.

County Commissioner, District 4, Jennifer Thompson points out, “The City of Orlando has annexed so much of the surrounding property, and I am fearful that if we don't work it out now, the rural settlement is going to be dealing with this again, but with the City because the developer will request annexation of that portion of their property. My preference is to work with Eagle Creek and protect the rural settlement once and for all.”

The Board ultimately decided to transmit, but Commissioner Thompson emphasized several contingencies, including

enforcement of the originally promised 200-foot buffer, enhanced landscaping, drainage management to preserve Lake Hart and a targeted date for the equestrian trail along the conservation corridor.

Miranda Fitzgerald, the attorney representing Jim Hall and Eagle Creek Development Company, thinks the 200-foot buffer is over-reaching and that the proposed 50-foot buffer is more than sufficient.

Working within Department of Environmental Protection guidelines, Fitzgerald pointed out that the developer has met the criteria for building and should the request for the 200-foot buffer be transmitted, they “fully intend to have urban intensity south of that 200-foot buffer.”

“The homeowners are not the environmental agencies,” she says.

Developers are requesting a concurrent rezoning of the Eagle Creek planned development to include these proposed changes, citing benefits such as “deeper distance to any future house” and a “strip of rural [Future Land Use] FLU to retard any future requests.”

Community members in attendance like Michael Moore says that they were opposed because the plan deviated so much from the original 2001 comprehensive plan that the residents, county and developers agreed to.

“Eagle Creek [community] should be proud of what it has built and what it has done so far… we would like you all to push back,” he says, entreating the Board to deny transmittal.

Community member Frances Randall shared in Moore’s opposition.

She says, “We believed that this was a contract between the county and the residents

… and we were given a number of assurances by the developer in 2001.”

In response, Fitzgerald says that contract zoning is illegal and that the developer reserves the right to change his mind, especially with such considerable changes in circumstance, referencing Narcoossee Road and the urban

sprawl that surrounds the rural area.

“We have an obligation to protect rural land—and we are—but we don’t have an obligation to protect upland pasture land,” says Fitzgerald.

An adoption public hearing will be held before the Orange County Local Planning Agency on May 21, 2015 at 9:00 a.m., and a final decision will be made around June 2015 by the Board of City Commissioners after considering the impact of the proposed expansion on the rural land and its residents.

Eagle Creek Expansion Plans Cause Conflict Within Rural Community By Natalie Costa

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Dear Readers,

Transportation is huge part of our lives here in East Orlando. With roadways that constantly seem to be under construction to major renovations at the airport, big changes are coming to how we get around in East Orlando.

This month we give you an in depth updates on road construction and when you can expect to see completed projects. State Road 50, Colonial Drive, is having major work done, as I am sure you noticed. While the construction may be causing traffic problems, the finished project will include widened roads, bike lanes and sidewalks. I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to a smoother drive.

The Osceola Expressway has sparked a heated discussion lately. Many East Orlando residents are against the expansion putting a highway in their backyards. This is provides an update on this developing story as it continues.

Our cover this month features East Orlando Dental. Located off Colonial Drive, this patient-focused office strives to put patients at ease by offering friendly service and cutting edge technology.

Spring Break is coming up so we’ve asked a few of our reader their plans and even put together a few ideas to keep the kids entertained while they are out of school.

Transportation will always be a big part of our daily lives, so it’s important to know what’s going on and how it can affect our daily commute. Stay up to date with changes to these stories and others at InsightEastOrlando.com

Safe Travels!

Table Contentsof

Features

Colonial Drive Construction to be Completed in 2017

Eagle Creek Expansion Plans Cause Conflict Within Rural Community

Orlando International Airport Updates Fly Into Action: 4 Things You Need to Know

Fieldstream Planned Development Cause for Environmental Concerns, Among Others

Rideshare Companies in Orlando Still Balking at Price Mandate

5 Things to Do With Your Kids This Spring Break

Osceola County Expressway Hits Many Roadblocks on the Path to Approval

EastWood Residents Come Together to Save Their Golf Course

Who Shoulders the Workload in Your House?

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4

6

10

12

14

16

17

18

Cover Story

East Orlando Dental Gives New Meaning to Service With a Smile

9

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This year, Orlando was rated the No.1 2015 travel hot spot by Priceline.com.

With this kind of popularity, Orlando has to keep up with the demand. This includes a $1.1 billion Capital Improvement Plan for the Orlando International Airport.

“Supporting the dynamic growth in Central Florida has always been the hallmark of our phased development philosophy,” says Greater Orlando Aviation Authority Chairman Frank Kruppenbacher in a release. “Sharing in the momentum generated by activity in tourism, medical research and services, and the arts provides a catalyst for job creation and economic vitality.”

The last large update to OIA was when the North Terminal was built in 1981. This new plan includes upgrades and the creation of new facilities to resolve growth constraints. Not only will the airport be growing, but the airport will also get technological updates.

“As Orlando grows as a destination that’s desirable – it’s back at the third year as one of the most visited destinations in the country – and as it grows, we need to have different amenities for different passengers,” says OIA senior director of public affairs and community relations Carolyn Fennell.

Here are four things you need to know about the plan.

1. What new things should I expect?

Many renovations and new facilities will be coming to OIA. The baggage system will be improved, gates will be modified to support next generation aircrafts, international gates will be added to support new, large aircrafts and the customs and border protection facilities will be expanded.

“Today’s travelers expect a higher level of service, so it is essential that we strive to stay at the forefront of innovation and customer care,” says Greater Orlando Aviation Authority Executive Director Phil Brown in a release. “Our goal is to identify, develop and implement projects that meet the needs of the community and provide an optimal travel experience.”

One of the ways OIA is staying innovative is with its ticket lobby expansion in the North Terminal. The expansion will incorporate new technology and will be designed to support travelers with larger luggage. Check-in kiosks will allow flyers to print their boarding passes without having to go to a specific airline counter.

A new addition to OIA will be a travel plaza to generate non-aviation revenue. A cell phone lot is also being added for additional parking. The South Terminal will also be receiving improvements to the automated people mover that will allow for four rails, including SunRail.

The airport also has its own mobile app. The app uses blue dot technology to work like GPS guiding passengers through the airport. It also allows passengers to check their flight statuses, dining, where gates are and find information about Orlando and the community.

2. What are the benefits of these improvements?

One of the main goals of this project is to expand the capacity of the airport from about 25 million to 45 million.

“Overall it is about maintaining the facilities that we have, modifying and expanding for the capacity, improving international processing – which is important – and then certainly increasing multi-modal access,” says Fennell.

The project is designed to meet the demands of the community. As I-Drive,

Orlando International Airport Updates Fly Into Action: 4 Things You Need to KnowBy Ashley White

This shows the proposed design for the Intermodal Transportation Facility.

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Orlando International Airport Updates Fly Into Action: 4 Things You Need to Knowdowntown Orlando, Medical City and UCF grow, the airport needs to grow to accommodate those growths, says Fennell.

3. What can flyers expect during construction?

Pre-work has began at the airport as canopies are being replaced at the baggage curbside. Soon, full construction will begin and passengers may be redirected through the

terminal as walls will be put up that describe projects being completed.

“We’re going to make every effort while we are in construction so that passengers are inconvenienced as little as possible,” says Fennell.

In order to mitigate the delays passengers might encounter, Fennell suggests that passengers make sure they arrive in the

terminal two hours early for domestic flights and three hours for international flights.

4. What is the cost breakdown and how long will construction take?

The plan is broken into two major parts: maintaining current facilities and supporting capacity growth. Maintaining current facilities will cost approximately $520 million while supporting capacity growth will cost about $554 million.

The cost breakdown is as follows:

• Baggage handling system improvements and upgrades: $148 million

• Ticket lobby expansion and refurbishment: $113

• Automated people mover replacements at Airsides 1 & 3: $90 million

• Airfield Projects: $76 million

• Other terminal projects: $60 million

• Ground Transportation Improvements: $33 million

• South Airport APM complex: $470 million

• Airside 4 international passenger processing improvements: $114

While preliminary work has already begun, the plan isn’t expected to be completed until 2018. The work on the ticket lobby, Airside 4 international passenger processing improvements and automated people mover complex will occur at the same time.

This shows the proposed design for the Intermodal Transportation Facility.


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Community CommentsThis month we took our camera into the community and asked your neighbors,

“How are you spending spring break?”

Have a comment you’d like to share with us? Check out our Facebook page and let us know what you're

doing for spring break.

"I have to work half of it and then I plan to relax the rest of it. I'm a teacher.”Donald

"I don’t know yet, maybe I am going to travel to a beach" Eric

"I'm going to Universal, I'm going to take my nieces to Universal." Jamie

"We're old, spring break doesn't apply to us." Alexis

"I have a couple grandkids, 13 and 10, so I'll probably end up spending time with them." James

Visit us on Facebook and leave a comment to let us know what you are planning for spring break.

Join the conversation:

Photos and quotes courtesy of Ryan DiPentima

"When you retire, you are always on spring break." Sue"UCF Rowing is taking us to the

mountains of North Carolina. At the end of the week, we are having a regatta in Tennessee for the Cardinal Invite at Oak Ridge, Rachel


About the Cover

East Orlando Dental Gives New Meaning to Service With a Smile By Natalie Costa

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East Orlando Dental operates cutting edge technology that allows for things like same-day crowns.

Unlike other dental offices, Dr. Morales does not try to sell products or perform unnecessary work to make more money.

Grounded in core values that include a commitment to patients, employees and consistency, the practice has been the recipient of some glowing testimonials.

East Orlando Dental, located off of East Colonial Drive in Orlando, is

providing service with a smile and a unique understanding of the dental experience from a patients' perspective.

Office administrator, Abby Garcia points out that "Dr. Morales feels fulfilled when he makes a difference in his patients' lives."

She says, "We're family oriented and patients like that Dr. [Karim] Morales puts patients at ease; He's peaceful and caring."

What patients might be responding to is Dr. Morales's personal experiences at the dentist as a child.

Growing up in Puerto Rico, Morales admits that he was uncomfortable at the dentist. He says, "I grew weary [at the dentist], and I have been through the tough experiences my patients go through."

He continues, "My orthodontist is the one who sparked my interest in dentistry more than 25 years ago. He motivated me, saying

"If you want to be like me, you have to be a dentist first."

Morales admits that at first he was unsure of going into dentistry, but while in school, he became more and more fascinated.

Today he is owner of East Orlando Dental, which has been part of the East Orlando community for four years.

Grounded in core values that include a commitment to patients, employees, and consistency, the practice has been the recipient of some glowing testimonials.

Long-time patient James Festa shares that he has been to many dentists in his life and explains that "This one is the best. They are so kind and caring, I actually look forward to going for my checkups."

Festa admits that having people work on his teeth is on the "bottom of the list" of things he likes to do, but at East Orlando Dental, he has "never experienced pain before, during or after a procedure. I can't say enough good things about Dr. Morales," he adds.

In addition to providing superior customer service, East Orlando Dental operates cutting edge technology that allows for procedures such as same day crowns.

Dr. Morales explains that the technology has existed for over a decade, but has evolved in such a way that it is completely user friendly and is actually fun to work with.

"The main advantage is that you could take care of a dental issue in a single visit and get back to your life," he says.

He emphasizes, "I would tell you what I would do as if I was treating myself because my main goal is for you to achieve oral health."

Of course, the experience for patient and dentist can be very different. For some patients, it can feel like a chore, but for dentists, the experience can be very rewarding.

To see a patient who is in pain show up miserable, complaining about getting no sleep, and 20 minutes later I perform a procedure and they are so happy; that is very rewarding," says Dr. Morales.

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The Board of County Commissioners held a public hearing on January

27 and initially approved the proposed Fieldstream Planned Development, allowing for a mix of community– and neighborhood-scale commercial and office activity and residential development at a maximum density of ten (10) dwelling units per acre.

The applicant, R. Lance Bennett, P.E., Poulos and Bennett, LLC, is proposing a land use change to convert the area located on the south side Lake Underhill Road, east

of S. Dean Road and west of Fieldstream West Boulevard from a previously approved industrial use and allow for the development of 15,000 square feet of commercial/professional office space plus single family homes.

As of right now, the subject site only allows for general industrial uses, which include processing, manufacturing and assembly of materials, wholesaling, storage, and distribution activities.

Some residents currently living near the Fieldstream development off of Dean

Creek Lane expressed their opposition at the January 27 meeting, citing environmental and traffic concerns.

The area in question prompts environmental concerns because it was formerly used as an unofficial landfill.

Paul Rosenthal, who is representing the applicants for this

planned development, noted that a study conducted in 2002-2003 identifies specific areas where waste was buried.

Still, some residents say there is waste that is cause for concern.

“If in the course of development, any waste is identified, that waste is going to have to be removed. Ultimately there will be a clean up of the entire site under the FDEP [Florida Department of Environmental Protection] guidelines,” says Rosenthal.

Rosenthal says they expect to have FDEP approval by the end of February although after initial water tests, there was cause for additional intermediate groundwater testing.

Diane Rambo spoke out against the Fieldstream land use change, emphasizing environmental concerns and admitting that she has found items previously dumped at the landfill, like car batteries, in her own yard.

“We would love to see the property cleaned

up before this is transmitted,” she says.

Another point of contention was the well water used by the 28 homes south of the property. Residents, including Rambo, questioned if the future land use would affect the water source and whether it would pollute the water.

To that point, Brandon Tanguay reminded those in attendance that in 2008 OCPS determined the same land unsuitable for its purposes (West Orange High School relief), leaving him to wonder, “Why is it good enough for people to buy homes on?”

In response, Rosenthal addressed traffic concerns saying, “The land use proposal is not proposing any access through adjacent households,” adding that “development of this property provides an opportunity to clean up and better the environment.”

Many residents affected by this change would like to see the environment cleaned up prior to a sale of the property, however

Fieldstream Planned Development Cause for Environmental Concerns, Among Others By Natalie Costa

“We would love to see the property cleaned up before this is transmitted.”

The area is located on the south side Lake Underhill Road, east of S. Dean Road and west of Fieldstream West Boulevard.


Fieldstream Planned Development Cause for Environmental Concerns, Among Others

Rosenthal rebuts that “it is not economically feasible to clean up this property with the absence of a sale in this economy.”

After hearing comments from the applicant and members of the public, District 4 Commissioner Jennifer Thompson asked that the notification area for any subsequent public meetings be expanded beyond the minimum requirement of 500 feet around the perimeter.

She also adds, “I’d like to see the site cleaned up; I think its unfortunate that neighbors have to live near this site already and there was a landfill in this area of town that was never addressed. We don’t want to develop around the sites, we want to clean the entire site up.”

Mayor Teresa Jacobs shared this sentiment saying, “If there is going to be some sort of a mechanism to remedy the downstream property owners, I would urge our staff to work toward a condition that would place that burden on the developer today. It can’t be placed on the homeowners; It’s

irresponsible to put that responsibility on the homeowners.”

The Board moved to transmit the proposal with contingencies intended to protect existing home and landowners in the area.

The Adoption Public Hearing will be held on May 21 before the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Commissioner Jennifer Thompson has requested an additional community meeting prior to the next public hearing so that the community may help shape the developers agreement that will be presented to the Land Planning Agency.

Many residents affected by this change would like to see the environment cleaned up prior to a sale of the property.

The Adoption Public Hearing will be held on May 21 before the Planning and Zoning Commission.


Rideshare companies Uber and Lyft have yet to follow Orlando’s new rules,

which say they must charge customers a minimum fare, gain proper permits and adhere to the city’s safety regulations.

The city gave the companies until February 1 to come into compliance after passing a rideshare-specific ordinance on December 15, 2014. Drivers found in violation are fined $210 for a first offense, $410 for a second and must appear in court after a third. Since June 2014, 80 citations have been issued.

Uber and Lyft are transportation companies that partner with independently contracted drivers who are booked electronically by customers. Since establishing here last summer, the companies have accrued thousands of drivers.

Orlando’s Chief Administrative Officer Byron Brooks said rideshare drivers have yet to pull a vehicle-for-hire permit, which costs $250 annually. Uber and Lyft said their drivers are not yet charging the $2.40-per-mile minimum fare.

Uber Spokesperson Taylor Bennett said they

are waiting for all the new processes that come along with the city’s new rules to be in place before they can alter their business model—processes such as an online permit system. Lyft Spokesperson Chelsea Wilson said they consider negotiations with the city to be ongoing.

“We’re in the final stages of making sure everyone’s coming into compliance. I’m still hopeful that changes [to the city’s ordinance] will be made,” Wilson said.

Both Uber and Lyft said that their low rates are what makes their business model so popular and that Orlando is the first city among dozens across the nation where rideshare has established to impose a minimum fare. Bennett said he believes it’s to protect the taxi industry here.

“Rather than letting the market compete, rather than letting the consumer have an option that’s safe and convenient, they are going to make us charge more,” he said.

“This not only impacts riders but drivers as well and that, in turn, impacts the city. Uber can no longer be as reliable if there aren’t as many drivers out there on the platform. And

right now there is an incredible demand for Uber in Orlando.”

The city maintains that the minimum fare is in place to protect its citizens. Brooks said the Uber/Lyft model excludes parts of the population. By not having 24-hour dispatch or a designated fleet of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles, they cannot guarantee service for disabled persons, he said. He also argued that not everyone has access to a computer to book the online-only service, nor does everyone have access to a debt or credit card—also required to book the service.

“The rideshare companies could sweep in and take a good portion of the service,” Brooks said, explaining that if existing transportation companies are put out of business, those who cannot access ride share will be displaced. “The minimum fare is really a red hearing.”

Bennett argued that all of their vehicles can handle foldable wheelchairs and they are

working to partner with more drivers who have WAV in the future.

While the city won’t let rideshare companies charge less than $2.40, they will let them charge more, which is something other VFH in Orlando cannot do. They are only allowed to charge a fixed rate of $2.40 per mile. When asked why, Brooks said they were trying to work with the rideshare companies.

Uber’s pricing model, for example, is a $1 base fare and a combination of a $0.13 per minute charge and a $0.75 per mile charge. Both companies said their prices rise when demand exceeds the supply of available drivers, but still stays competitive with other VFH.

Both Uber and Lyft also fought the $250 permitting fee, asking that they adopt an annual fee that the rideshare companies can pay rather than putting the burden on the drivers. Brooks said the permitting fee ensures that the financial burden of

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“Our ordinance, at its heart, is to ensure public safety.”


Fighting Fare: Rideshare Companies in Orlando Still Balking at Price Mandateregulation—the city spends more than $725,000 annually—falls on the companies, not the taxpayers.

“Our drivers are not professional drivers. We have stay-at-home moms, students who do it after class and even teachers. We just want to make sure that the regulations passed will allow those who do just want to do this a few hours a week can still participate,” Wilson said.

Beside these issues, the city and the rideshare companies said negotiations have been productive. In addition to the soon-to-be online permitting process, Orlando has allowed rideshare drivers’ background checks and vehicle safety inspections to be done by an approved third party—something that was not allowed before.

“Our ordinance, at its heart, is to ensure public safety,” Brooks said.

The Orlando International Airport got a court-issued injunction against Uber and Lyft saying they cannot operate there. The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority Director of Operations Tom Draper said drivers must have the proper permits from the city and

pay for a permit from the airport to use the commercial area where more than 4,000 other vehicles from 750 different companies already operate.

“It becomes a safety concern if businesses operate where the traveling public is moving around,” he said. “We have to manage efficient flow of traffic at the airport and I don’t think we can do that when businesses are mixing in. Above all, we have to operate on a level playing field for everyone.”

Wilson said many airports across the nation have designated drop off and pick up areas exclusively for rideshare companies. “They are realizing that this is a different model,” she said.

Brooks said the city does realize that rideshare companies are different.

“We are changing things on an incremental basis,” he said. “We have over 50 million visitors that come to our area and many people form their perceptions based upon every aspect of that experience, including their cab experience. We want to make sure we get it right.”

Rideshare companies, which allow customers to book transportation online, are trying to establish here in Orlando but say some of the city's rules are making it difficult. P

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Most children are excited for spring break - a week off without having to

get up early or do any homework. Keeping children entertained over spring break can be hard.

With Orlando being one of the top destinations for spring break, you won’t have to travel very far to find entertaining activities for your kids. Many of these fun things to do will keep your kids happy and keep your wallet full.

1. Get SportyIf your kids love watching sports, baseball, softball and tennis are in season at the University of Central Florida. Adult tickets are $5 and youth tickets for those ages 2 to 17 are $3.

A full schedule of games for all UCF sports can be found at www.ucfknights.com. Here is a schedule for the week of Orange County Public School’s spring break:

Friday, March 27 Women’s Tennis vs. Drexel at 2 p.m. Men’s Tennis vs. Tulsa TBA

Baseball vs. Houston at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 28 Men’s Tennis vs. Drexel at 9:30 a.m. Softball vs. UConn at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Baseball vs. Houston at 4 p.m.

Sunday, March 29 Softball vs. UConn at Noon Baseball vs. Houston at 1 p.m.

2. Knock Pins Down

Bowling is an activity that can be shared with the entire family. It’s great for competitive families who want to beat each other’s scores or families who want to bowl leisurely. Both Boardwalk Bowl Entertainment, located on Colonial Drive, and Firkin and Kegler, located in Waterford Lakes, offer daily bowling specials.

Boardwalk Bowl Entertainment has all you can bow for $10 on Mondays from 8 p.m. to midnight. On Tuesdays and Thursdays games are $1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. At Firkin and Kegler on Wednesdays, three games of bowling and shoe rental costs $10.50 from 7 p.m. to close. On Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. is family bowling where up to five people per lane can enjoy an hour and a half of bowling, shoe rental, a pitcher of soda and one medium pizza for about $50 per lane.

3. Get in Touch with Nature

East Orlando is home to wonderful parks where your family can explore the outdoors or have a picnic. If you want to bring your pet, Downey Park at Dean Road and SR 50 is an option. Another great park to explore is Moss park off Narcoosee Road, which has picnicking, camping, boating, hiking and volleyball.

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Alongside those parks are UCF’s Arboretum with nature trails. The arboretum and trails are open to the public. There are five trails including the Lake Claire Nature trail at the Lake Claire Recreational Area. On the trails there are picnic areas and the Cypress trail has a pavillion area. For families who geocache, there are eight caches hidden in the 82-acre Arboretum.

4. Practice Your Swing

Take advantage of sunny days or cool nights with mini-golf. At Congo River Golf, families can score putt through the 18-hole course for about $13 per adult and $10 per child.

While at Congo River Golf, families can do more than just practice to become the next Jack Nicklaus. They expand their adventurous side and feed the alligators on site. They can also discover buried treasure with Congo River Mining. For an added adventure, families can play the exploration game where they can search for lost treasures while following in the footsteps of famous African Congo explorers Henry Stanley and David Livingston.

5. Have a Stay-at-Home Playday

While getting out of the house and exploring new things can be fun, staying at home can be relaxing and is great for rainy days. There are lots of things to do like create slime using, play board games or break out some puzzles.

Another option is to play dress up and act out a bedtime story or a movie your kids know by heart. You can even cook dinner

early by having your kids help in the kitchen to create their favorite dish. This can also be the perfect time for spring cleaning and going through and getting rid of your children’s old toys and clothes.

UCF Women’s Tennis serving up some fun at the UCF Tennis Complex on the UCF Main Campus


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The Osceola County Expressway (OCX) has been the topic of heated debate

among community members and city officials since its inception.

The idea for the parkway was the result of a 2012 feasibility study and subsequent public meeting held in 2013, which cites growing travel demands and population growth as some of the reasons behind the extension.

Now, nearly six months later, the extension project, which aims to extend the 12-mile along existing parkway to a point east of Narcoossee Road by 2040, continues to be the subject of controversy.

Orange County District 4 Commissioner, Jennifer Thompson, called into question the local government’s authority in the issue last year. Ultimately, any development within Orange County by a neighboring county will come before the Orange County Board of County Commissioners for approval.

At present, she emphasizes,“My role was to bring awareness to the issue and get people involved in the process. Members of the community have been working with

the engineering firm to come up with viable solutions. Ultimately, whatever OCX decides, the Orange County Commission will have a final say if their proposed road comes through Orange County.”

As reported then, she urged that “It is of the utmost importance to me that our citizens and our commission have the authority to determine what roads are built in Orange County,” Thompson says. “After listening to dozens of constituents who do not want a toll road in their backyard, the time for action is now.”

To put it plainly, parts of the parkway extend into Orange County, making this the concern of the County’s city commissioners and homeowners in the area who feel that they have no say in the matter.

In July, we provided an update on the Osceola Parkway Extension issue, citing a resolution that asserts Orange County’s authority to review and approve or reject any alignment lying within Orange County.

As a testament to the dissent on the issue, an Alternatives Public Meeting was held on July 10, considering western, eastern

and central alternatives to the proposed extension.

In response, an ongoing Project Development and Environment (PD&E) study is being used to facilitate the alternative plans and, ultimately, decide on a new course of action.

To that end, a letter written by Carlos de la Ossa in response to a presentation at a public meeting held in September of last year identifies that alternatives W-1, W-2 and W-3 have been eliminated from further consideration and the OCX Board has been notified.

It goes on to read that “This will result in the elimination of alternatives that had the potential to directly impact Wyndham Lakes. W-4 and W-5 are the only alternatives being considered for the western side of the project at this time.”

Still, homeowners in the affected areas are concerned that these plans could result in the demolition of their homes or potential relocation.

The extensions and other development

projects that affect the same area have even spurred the creation of a Facebook group called NoBuild.Org. The group has 223 members to date.

Moving forward, Osceola County Expressway Authority will manage its current road projects through 2018 or until certain financial milestones are met before joining the regional authority.

In response, Thompson says, “I think the new regional authority provides greater oversight for the system as a whole. It's important to have elected representatives serving on the authority rather than appointees. Elected officials are accountable to the citizens and that accountability impacts the decision making process.”

A final decision on the planned parkway is projected to come as early as this summer.

The next meeting will be held on March 10 at 9:00 a.m. at the Commission Chambers in Kissimmee, FL and Commissioner Thompson has requested a community meeting prior to the April Board Meeting.

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Plans to rezone the EastWood Golf Course and make it a mixed-use

property have sparked outrage among community members who feel that the added stress to the roads and general community would be reductive to their overall quality of life.

County planners held a pre-application meeting on January 16 with Randy June of June Engineering Consultants, owner of EastWood Golf Course James Dunn and their attorney James Pratt of Burr & Forman, LLP, who were forced to withdraw their application after 1,200 EastWood residents came together in November at Avalon Middle School to oppose these proposed plans.

The original plans include the redevelopment of the EastWood Golf Course for up to 304 single-family residential units and 75,000 square feet of commercial space and/or a middle school or public park.

Community advocate and member of the Neighborhood Action Committee, Casey Saxon, noted that the revised pre-application removed the request for a public school, but maintained its request for additional homes and development.

“It is the position of our Board that we are not open to any redevelopment of our golf course,” says Saxon.

As a follow up to the January 16 meeting, Saxon reached out to the Orange County Planning Division for details.

In response, Case Planner Nikki Williams of the Planning Division said of the meeting,

“[Planning Division] staff expressed the need for the applicants to contact the community. Staff also reiterated the challenges and difficulties associated with the future land use map amendment request to the members of the applicant team. If the applicant decides

to move forward, the application deadline is February 27, 2015.”

According to the attorney representing the golf course owners, they are filing another application in an effort to revitalize the failing golf industry in America.

In turn, area residents have been clear in their opposition, citing environmental concerns for wildlife, groundwater and air quality.

An online petition with nearly 3,000 signatures is prefaced with the sentiment that “The adverse impact on the neighborhood and the environment of losing that much open land far outweighs the benefits of developing the property.”

Another signee, Dr. Johns Hynes, even added a comment when signing the petition. He said, “Stop destroying family home values and prevent other golf courses in Florida from doing the same.”

Even students in the community are

expressing environmental concern for this real estate development.

In January, students at Sunrise Elementary reached out to the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey, which explained the hardship native birds would experience if they lost the golf course.

County Commissioner for District 4, Jennifer Thompson, anticipates the same opposition from the community moving forward, clarifying that “Schedules are being worked out now for the [next] community meeting although I don't have confirmation yet that [the owners] have even submitted an application. Essentially, there's a pre-app, then an application, then a community meeting. Until there's an official application, it's not really ‘official.’”

Mayor Teresa Jacobs echoed the uncertainty of the situation in a recent Orlando Sentinel article, saying, “"We may just be seeing the tip of the iceberg in terms of what could come.”

EastWood Residents Come Together to Save Their Golf Course By Natalie Costa

“ Stop destroying family home values and prevent other golf courses in Florida from doing the same.”

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Find out who the newest retailers and businesses are moving into our community.Looking for something to do? Check out our community events calendar.Stay current on issues affecting your commute, schools and quality of life.

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Healthy Living

Do you ever find yourself bickering with your partner over who should prepare

dinners, bathe children, whose turn it is for the girl’s/guy’s night out or to go exercise, who should vacuum the floors, or fold the laundry? In any household—particularly that of two working parents—the everyday stressors of managing a house and family are compounded exponentially. How can we find a healthy balance in the chaos?

The president of Florida Hospital, Dr. Peter Weiss, recently co-authored a book with Dr. Tony Ferretti called The Love Fight which tackles among other things the unique challenges of raising a family in a day of more distractions, more pressure to perform, and ironically, less communication than ever. According to Drs. Weiss and Ferretti, studies consistently show that in households where both spouses work full-time, women still assume a majority of the household and child rearing responsibilities (Ferretti & Weiss, 2014). Imagine the conflict when the wife in these situations still expects equal bearing of responsibilities but does not express that expectation to her spouse, or vice versa? Clear communication in a multi-working household (or any household for that matter; because staying home to raise children is often more stressful than a full-time job outside of the home) is critical to a tension-free household.

If you find yourself intrigued by these statistics or identifying with these all-too-common lapses in communication, take this quick self-assessment taken directly from the pages of The Love Fight:

Based on these questions, are you communicating effectively with your partner? Rather than resting on assumptions or suppression of frustrations, it’s important to keep a clear line of communication open with your spouse or significant other. Even a household without children demands clear communication of responsibilities around the house.

Try this: Try writing some answers down for these questions and asking your significant other or housemate to do the same, and then share answers. This eliminates assumptions and the potential to hurt your loved one’s feelings in the event that miscommunication occurs. Be honest, direct, and approach your partner from a place of love and respect for

his/her responsibilities both professionally and around the house; do not assume your jobs and responsibilities are greater than the others’ unless you’ve worn his/her shoes. And finally, remember that we are all wired differently; men and women especially share unique differences in strengths and shortcomings when it comes to work, communication, managing a home, and raising a family. It might be helpful to discuss what matters most to each other and use that greater purpose or mission to anchor the day-to-day tensions and stressors of raising a family in something greater and more important than who takes the trash out. It can be tough to communicate effectively, but it’s worth the work in the end.

Who Shoulders the Workload in Your House?

By Lauren Hodges, Ed.D. Owner, Executive Wellness Strategies

• Have you had a meaningful conversation with your partner about roles and responsibilities?

• Are you working as a team in raising your children and running the household?

• Do you ever feel like there are two separate entities in your marriage, each striving for different goals?

• Have you discussed how best to raise your children? Do you agree with each other on this?

• How often do you work on tasks jointly and discuss expectations?

• Have you shared your feelings openly about your own role in the family?

Ferretti & Weiss, 2014

Self-Assessment – Connecting or Disconnecting

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Crowds flocked to the chopper for familiarization tours.

On Sunday, February 8, 2015, a fundraiser was held for 10-year old Aubrey Clark at Mulberry Street Bar & Grill in Avalon Park. Aubrey died on February 5th as a result of injuries sustained when struck by an SUV while riding her bike on the way home from Citrus Elementary School.

First responders from Osceola County and other locales were present.

UCF spirit and cheerleaders added to the fun.

On Saturday, January 24, 2015 A Fire in the Park Chili "Cook-Off for the Cure" was held in Avalon Park.

Marlene Spiegel's "Wildtree Chili" took first place in the cook-off competition.

Donations came from a variety of sources and will help defray family medical expenses.

Community Photos Submit Photos and See Full Event Gallerieson InsightEastOrlando.comCheck out some great photos from East and Southeast Orlando. Want to see more and stay connected to your community? Visit www.InsightEastOrlando.com today! All photos courtesy of PotShots Photography unless otherwise noted.

Kennedy-Joy (on left) and Victoria 'Band Together' to bring joy to the world and raise money to help cure breast cancer.


Understanding the 'construction chaos,' especially the traffic delays and paralysis that routinely occurs when construction crews widen an existing four lane highway to six lanes – think Highway 50 – is much more about what you don't see, what isn't readily visible because it happens below ground! Several months ago I spent a night with a pipe crew to gain an understanding of this seeming man-made disaster. As one Prince construction worker said, "There's a lot of moving pieces." Here, workers set up lights, equipment and traffic safety cones as they prepare to begin work at about 8 p.m.

A tracked excavator operator prepares to dig in order to replace underground utility pipes and conduits. Water and sewage cannot be together (green pipe is sewage). Other utilities include electricity, natural gas, traffic signals, street lights and fiber optics.

Compacting helps prepare the dirt for a coating of asphalt. This road work is temporary and will be redone when the final paving of Hwy 50 takes place.

The trench is filled.

The Patriots score another touchdown! Their joy was short-lived as the Seahawks evened the score by half-time and pulled ahead during the third quarter.

Surveyors use GPS to insure accuracy.

A quality control person checks the semi-finished work. 'Close' isn't good enough; the pipe is 1/4" too high.

It's Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET, NBC University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona. It's Super Bowl XLIX, New England Patriots VS. Seattle Seahawks. Connie and I accepted an invite to enjoy the game with Joe and Joanne, are ardent Patriots fans.


Insight on Education

Attending a large high school I sometimes felt that I was just a

number and I struggled to be a person there wanting to learn. After graduation I swore to myself that I would not set foot back in a school! You see, I was not a great student and lacked motivation and the drive to succeed.

After high school reality set in, and I knew I had to make some changes in my life and pursue a positive path for my future.

Determined to succeed, I followed in my father’s footsteps and joined the United States Navy. During my 10 years as a sailor, I learned responsibility and gained the motivation to seek further trainings. I learned to serve my fellow man and what real loyalty was all about. Realizing that I still needed more education, experience and had a family to support, I transferred military branches. I Joined the Army and served there for 15 years. The experiences that I had during my 25 years in the Military is

priceless. My military career has taken me to many countries with assignments or visits to Afghanistan, Iraq, Korea, Japan, Germany, Italy, Israel, Australia and the Philippines just to name a few. After 25 years of service and many discussions with my family we felt it was time to retire. With both kids in college and my real desire to be closer to my family. I wasn’t sure of my next career move but I have always enjoyed making a difference in the lives of others. A friend suggested working for the school system. Great, I can continue to make a difference in others. Wow, I ended up at OCPS!

So this brings me to WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO!

All of us have a direct hand in shaping the future of children, that of our Country, Society and our world. On my outgoing emails is a quote from Leo Buscaglia, “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch , a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”

We do not do this job for the money. We do it because we love children, we want

them to succeed and grow to be better people. We do this because there is such a thrill in experiencing the process of helping every child become the best that he or she can be. There is absolutely nothing more rewarding than seeing students blossom into happy, joyful and successful young adults. As we look to the future, we have to lead our children through the power of our example. In the Famous words of Mahatma Gandhi, “We have to be the change we want to see in the world.” I believe in showing our students that we care about their growth and success, they learn to trust themselves. By our meeting a student’s need and lighting their path, they learn to trust us.

So I leave you with one final thought. As you look at our current events in the world, I strongly feel there has never been more of a need for positive and motivational role models to emerge than now. Our culture and society face so many challenges. The children are asking for and seeking those positive interactions from us to inspire them. Every child we see has unlimited potential for greatness, success, happiness and joy. It is beautiful to think of the world we could all share tomorrow.

Why We Do What We Do! By Mark Nelson, 2015 OCPS Support Person of the Year Acceleration Academy West High School, Uniformed Security Officer

Mark Nelson, Support Person of the Year winner, with members of the Orange County Public School Board

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Insight Magazine - March 2015