The Lifeline Bringing you the best local stories in and around our community. My Three-Year-Old’s First Trip to the Dentist By Samantha Taylor I definitely do not enjoy going to the dentist. I dread it when my appointment is a few weeks away. So when it was time for my three-year-old daughter Billie to have her first appointment, I was certain she’d hate it as much as I do. Plus, she’s three. I was positive that there was no way the dentist could get her to lay still to have her teeth cleaned. .naturally I prepared myself for a morning of screaming and crying. As the appointment approached, I got more and more anxious about what I was certain would be an epic disaster. Give and Get Some Exercise with the Pet Alliance Loaned Jogger Program By Heather Loomis Today is #GivingTuesday, a global day of charitable giving. Why not give the gifts of extra love and a dose of exercise to a new four-legged friend? You can do this with Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando’s Loaned Jogger program. Read about our art director’s experience on an early morning run with her new furry friend, Bella. Anthony Bowie to Speak at Local United Negro College Fund Breakfast By Chip Colandreo Always bigger than life, Orlando Magic icon and Goldsboro Elementary School physical education teacher Anthony Bowie will be the keynote speaker at the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Seminole County Leadership Breakfast on Thursday, March 2, at the Orlando Marriott Lake Mary. 8 Tips to Keep Away Extra Holiday Pounds By Georgia Fojo Before you bite into that delicious turkey meal, read these 8 tips to keep away those unwanted holiday pounds. And try to make em’ stick throughout this holiday season! 16 Things To Do This Holiday Season: Extended Family Edition By Georgia Fojo Check out these 16 off-the-beaten-path activities for Thanksgiving weekend, Christmas, and New Year’s. Holiday Gift Idea From Walk on Water By Samantha Taylor Are you looking for a creative gift idea for the holidays? When we saw this bag from Brighton at Walk on Water, we couldn't wait to share it with our readers. You can take any photo and print it on a leather bag. The quality is incredible, and the recipient will love it! Zoo Tales By Pam Neff I recently bought our family of five an annual pass to the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Sanford. We’ve been to the zoo a handful of times over the years with our three boys, ages ranging from three to ten. It’s outdoors, it’s educational, and the boys get to burn off that never-ending energy at entertaining spots including the Wharton-Smith Tropical Splash Ground, KaBOOM! playground, and Zoom Air Adventure Park. We have a winner for our Elmo Live contest By Samantha Taylor Thank you to everyone who participated in our Elmo contest! We have a lot of contests coming up, so stay tuned. Congratulations to the winner! Longwood Dad Becomes Permanent Lead Singer For Chicago By By Samantha Taylor One of our most popular recent articles was about Longwood musician, Jeff Coffey. Jeff had put his music career to the side for over a decade to be home with his two sons Chase and Bryce. When opportunity knocked, Jeff answered, and filled in as lead singer/bass player for the band Chicago on their summer tour. Recently, the band announced that Jeff would be a permanent member of the band. He recently started on another tour with Chicago and the famous band Earth, Wind, and Fire. Professional Wrestling: It's A Father-Daughter Affair By Chip Colandreo When Lake Mary Life's Chip Colandreo is off the clock, he and his adorable daughter, Grace, spend quality time together. That father-daughter time is spent doing the things they both enjoy – like going to local wrestling shows and cheering on their favorite superstars. Lake Mary Life Grandmas share their favorite Thanksgiving recipes By Samantha Taylor Thanksgiving is a few weeks away. Personally, it’s my favorite holiday. It’s the day my parents met 42 years ago. I’m hosting our family at my new home for the first time, and I needed some help deciding what to cook. I asked the three Grandmas in our office (Sheila, Penny, and Pam) for their favorite holiday recipes. They all look pretty amazing, and I can speak from experience that Sheila’s stuffing gets rave reviews every year! From our Lake Mary Life family to yours- Happy Thanksgiving, and happy cooking! A Hero's Welcome at OIA By Chip Colandero Lake Mary Life's own Chip Colandreo was fortunate enough to tag along on the most recent Honor Flight. A full recap of his adventure and the experience of several local vets will appear in the Jan/Feb issue of LML, but for now, in honor of Veteran's Day, enjoy this brief video recapping the raucous welcome that was waiting for the Honor Flight vets upon their return to Orlando. Hi, Hi, How Do You Do? Welcome to My Gym By Heather Loomis Swings, hayrides, ball pits, tumbles, singing, dancing, jumping, stories, and my 10-month-old daughter Reagan’s favorite–BUBBLES! We had no idea what we were getting into when we went for a trial class at My Gym Lake Mary. Meet A Local Group That Is Surprising Our Officers With Random Acts of Kindness By Georgia Fojo This group is showing our local enforcement that we care about them and appreciate their service. A Real Life Fairytale in Sanford Goes Viral By Samantha Taylor Read about this magical moment right here in Seminole County. Donation Shopping With The Kids And How You Can Donate, Too By Samantha Taylor In the November/December issue, I wrote a story about giving for the holidays. The story was designed to help readers navigate through all of the nonprofits in our area. I wanted to make giving as easy as possible. I highlighted a few local organizations that do great work in the community, listed what each nonprofit needs for the people it serves, and provided steps on how best to help out. I decided to follow my own advice and take my kiddos donation shopping this weekend. Remember – Your Vote is Your Choice By Mike Ertel Do you remember voting in your first presidential election? Lake Mary Life wants to take you to Sesame Street! By Samantha Taylor Lake Mary Life Magazine is giving away four tickets to Sesame Street Live. Why I Felt Like a Proud Mom on Cover Shoot Day By Georgia Fojo You know what I love most about attending our cover shoots? It’s not necessarily getting behind the scenes to stage the perfect picture (although that is absolutely what we strive for and a ton of fun). It’s having complete confidence that this story is The Chosen One. The one we hope makes a good first impression. The one we feel our readers will give pause to and say, “Wow!” Each cover story is carefully selected with the hopes of bringing pride and awareness of the greatness bubbling up all over Seminole County. Welcome to the Lake Mary Lifeline By Samantha Taylor Check out our brand new blog, The Lake Mary Lifeline, covering local happenings and more in between print issues. East Meets West for Oviedo High Diplomat By Chip Colandreo This summer, Oviedo High School junior Payton Bogert had the unique opportunity to live for ten days at Princeton University and serve as a High School Diplomat during a cultural exchange program with students from Japan. Payton was one of 40 American students chosen nationwide to live with 40 Japanese high schoolers. The young women spent their time introducing each other to cultural celebrations from each country and discussing world even A Beauty-ful Proposal By Jill Duff-Hoppes While playing the role of Belle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Kaley McLean found herself living out a real-life fairy tale. Her boyfriend, Brenden McNeil, surprised Kaley with a marriage proposal on stage during a recent performance of the musical at the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center in Sanford. “I Am Joe’s Garbage” By Peter Reilly A trash’s-eye-view of perhaps Seminole County’s most underrated facility Talk of the Town By Susan Shalhoub Sanford teen develops his own iPhone app, and it’s a real conversation starter A Million-Dollar Idea By Natalie Costa The school district’s vision for a high-school curriculum based on real-world problem-solving earns SCPS a $1 million award Blue Gratitude By Samantha Taylor Local ladies lead the charge to ensure area police officers and deputies know how much they are respected and appreciated ROAR: What a Friendly Web They Weave By Mike Berry When one of Seminole County’s most worthwhile and sensitive charities needed a new website, local Web developers donated their time – and more than a little careful thought – to create a site that is as functional as it is discreet Lake Mary-Heathrow Festival of the Arts Moves to March By Jill Duff-Hoppes To mark its 30th anniversary, the popular festival is changing dates and attracting more artists Crystal-Clear By Mike Berry Meet Lake Mary’s Crystal Candy, who earned legions of loyal fans pitching everything from quilts to vacuum cleaners on the Home Shopping Network Fabulous at 40 By Jennifer Clemens The Longwood Arts & Crafts Festival prepares for its 40th annual exhibition The MVCs- Most Valuable Coaches By Pam Neff They grew up playing football together, and now they’re helping other young players do the same. Meet two Lake Brantley High football stars who are giving back to the local program that made them. A Community Double Play By Mike Berry Two Lake Mary High baseball stars have committed to play for top universities, but they’ll leave behind a legacy of community service on and off local fields Perfect Harmony By Jill Duff-Hoppes In song and in life, local members of the O-Town Sound a cappella chorus complement each other beautifully Border Junkie: 142 Countries and Counting By Marilyn Vaca LMHS grad is traveling the globe and capturing his adventure for all the world to see Up to Speed By Mike Berry As a high schooler, she ran hundreds of miles on the roads and trails around Oviedo. This summer, at the Olympic Games in Rio, Jenny Simpson made history as the first American woman to medal in the 1,500-meter race. A Ride Across America By Mike Berry After recovering from a vicious cycling accident, this Winter Springs retiree decided to get back on his bike and pedal coast to coast 102 is Really Something By Rebekah Grier Winter Springs centenarian Red Christensen has an entrepreneurial mind and an enduring spirit Artist and Ambassador By Kevin Fritz Winter Springs WWII veteran, Emil Abrahamian, has a new and important job to help honor those who fought in Desert Storm. How To Help This Holiday By Samantha Taylor Last issue, we helped you get in the giving spirit early by sharing what local nonprofits need in the months before holiday giving begins in earnest. Now, the green-and-red rubber is meeting the road, and it’s time to help our local charities make the holidays merry for neighbors in need. From serving meals to sponsoring a wish list for a child in foster care, there are dozens of ways, both big and small, that you can make a difference. The Heirs Apparent By Laura Breen Galante How do you make a family business work? Just ask the leaders of these multi-generation organizations. Employment on the Cutting Edges By Georgia Fojo A Q&A with three Lake Mary High School grads hard at work in the top tech companies that are changing the world Great Day in the Country Spreads Its Wings By Susan Shalhoub Oviedo’s iconic festival moves to Oviedo on the Park this year, making “Great Day” that much greater Platter Up! By Pam Neff The new lunchroom manager at Wekiva Elementary is... a professional baseball player? Yep, and he couldn’t be happier. Wearing Talent on Her Sleeve By Rebekah Grier Whether it’s acting or art, this Winter Springs six-year-old is skilled beyond her years, and now she has her own Life is Good T-shirt to prove it Better Together By Jill Duff-Hoppes Local arts groups of all types and sizes give budding artists and seasoned pros a place to share and be inspired Honor Guards By Chip Colandreo As another Honor Flight carries veterans from Central Florida to Washington, D.C., we pay tribute to the local Guardians who accompany them Sinking Putts and Taking Names By Lamar Thames Young Oviedo golf phenom Bella Dovhey is dominating her competition and earning the attention of the game’s most famous figures Assisted Coach By Jill Cousins The Oviedo High School basketball community is lifting up assistant coach Bryan Price as he battles stage 4 stomach cancer The Selfless Gift of Love By Jack Roth I didn’t give you the gift of life, But in my heart I know. The love I feel is deep and real, As if it had been so. For us to have each other Is like a dream come true! No, I didn’t give you The gift of life, Life gave me the gift of you. While the origin of this touching poem is unknown, it captures the special bond between parents and their adoptive children. In honor of November being National Adoption Awareness Month, Lake Mary Life salutes two couples from our community who made the choice to adopt in the face of some extraordinary obstacles, and an organization that helps keep families together. Educational Excellence, Through the Decades By Georgia Fojo Walk through a century of time at Goldsboro Elementary Magnet School as the community celebrates its centennial Better Than They Hoped By Chip Colandreo One of Oviedo’s most important charities, HOPE Helps, is almost ready to move into its new resource center, where thousands of local men, women, and children will be given the food and support they need to avoid homelessness. The new facility is a wonder, and a testament to the community’s support of HOPE, but the community isn’t done yet. The Clubs Calling By Ashley Cisneros Mejia As water rose this summer over homes and businesses in Louisiana, so did the desire of local Rotarians to honor their motto by placing Service Above Self The New Shredder-In-Chief By Chip Colandreo Mike Bley is the new man in charge of the Shred-a-Thon, one of Lake Mary’s largest – and most handy – fundraising events The Right FIT By Pam Neff Local fitness experts offer free weekend boot camp workouts and encourage participants to come as they are and return better than they were The Arts Are Alive and Well By Jill Duff-Hoppes The school district’s annual showcase of artistic talent is about to turn 20. Learn more about what makes Arts Alive in Seminole! a must-see event every year. Mad Props By Jill Duff-Hoppes In the Lake Mary High School drama department’s upcoming production of Noises Off, the actors and actresses will be the stars, but the incredibly elaborate set just might steal the show Special Delivery and a Special Request By Hedy Bass Oviedo’s Military Support Team delivers a taste of the holidays to soldiers overseas, and the team needs your help! Green Sweep By Jill Cousins Winning an international golf tournament is one thing. Winning every competitive event during the entire tournament week is another. Doing it all at 12 years old is downright incredible. Robots in Disguise By Kevin Fritz In case you haven’t noticed, robot-building teams at Hagerty and Oviedo High are some of the fastest-growing and most career-building clubs on campus. Three Decades of Dedication By Jill Cousins Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Boys Town Central Florida in Oviedo has a rich history of building bright futures
My Three-Year-Old’s First Trip to the Dentist By Samantha Taylor I definitely do not enjoy going to the dentist. I dread it when my appointment is a few weeks away. So when it was time for my three-year-old daughter Billie to have her first appointment, I was certain she’d hate it as much as I do. Plus, she’s three. I was positive that there was no way the dentist could get her to lay still to have her teeth cleaned. .naturally I prepared myself for a morning of screaming and crying. As the appointment approached, I got more and more anxious about what I was certain would be an epic disaster.
Give and Get Some Exercise with the Pet Alliance Loaned Jogger Program By Heather Loomis Today is #GivingTuesday, a global day of charitable giving. Why not give the gifts of extra love and a dose of exercise to a new four-legged friend? You can do this with Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando’s Loaned Jogger program. Read about our art director’s experience on an early morning run with her new furry friend, Bella.
Anthony Bowie to Speak at Local United Negro College Fund Breakfast By Chip Colandreo Always bigger than life, Orlando Magic icon and Goldsboro Elementary School physical education teacher Anthony Bowie will be the keynote speaker at the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Seminole County Leadership Breakfast on Thursday, March 2, at the Orlando Marriott Lake Mary.
8 Tips to Keep Away Extra Holiday Pounds By Georgia Fojo Before you bite into that delicious turkey meal, read these 8 tips to keep away those unwanted holiday pounds. And try to make em’ stick throughout this holiday season!
16 Things To Do This Holiday Season: Extended Family Edition By Georgia Fojo Check out these 16 off-the-beaten-path activities for Thanksgiving weekend, Christmas, and New Year’s.
Holiday Gift Idea From Walk on Water By Samantha Taylor Are you looking for a creative gift idea for the holidays? When we saw this bag from Brighton at Walk on Water, we couldn't wait to share it with our readers. You can take any photo and print it on a leather bag. The quality is incredible, and the recipient will love it!
Zoo Tales By Pam Neff I recently bought our family of five an annual pass to the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Sanford. We’ve been to the zoo a handful of times over the years with our three boys, ages ranging from three to ten. It’s outdoors, it’s educational, and the boys get to burn off that never-ending energy at entertaining spots including the Wharton-Smith Tropical Splash Ground, KaBOOM! playground, and Zoom Air Adventure Park.
We have a winner for our Elmo Live contest By Samantha Taylor Thank you to everyone who participated in our Elmo contest! We have a lot of contests coming up, so stay tuned. Congratulations to the winner!
Longwood Dad Becomes Permanent Lead Singer For Chicago By By Samantha Taylor One of our most popular recent articles was about Longwood musician, Jeff Coffey. Jeff had put his music career to the side for over a decade to be home with his two sons Chase and Bryce. When opportunity knocked, Jeff answered, and filled in as lead singer/bass player for the band Chicago on their summer tour. Recently, the band announced that Jeff would be a permanent member of the band. He recently started on another tour with Chicago and the famous band Earth, Wind, and Fire.
Professional Wrestling: It's A Father-Daughter Affair By Chip Colandreo When Lake Mary Life's Chip Colandreo is off the clock, he and his adorable daughter, Grace, spend quality time together. That father-daughter time is spent doing the things they both enjoy – like going to local wrestling shows and cheering on their favorite superstars.
Lake Mary Life Grandmas share their favorite Thanksgiving recipes By Samantha Taylor Thanksgiving is a few weeks away. Personally, it’s my favorite holiday. It’s the day my parents met 42 years ago. I’m hosting our family at my new home for the first time, and I needed some help deciding what to cook. I asked the three Grandmas in our office (Sheila, Penny, and Pam) for their favorite holiday recipes. They all look pretty amazing, and I can speak from experience that Sheila’s stuffing gets rave reviews every year! From our Lake Mary Life family to yours- Happy Thanksgiving, and happy cooking!
A Hero's Welcome at OIA By Chip Colandero Lake Mary Life's own Chip Colandreo was fortunate enough to tag along on the most recent Honor Flight. A full recap of his adventure and the experience of several local vets will appear in the Jan/Feb issue of LML, but for now, in honor of Veteran's Day, enjoy this brief video recapping the raucous welcome that was waiting for the Honor Flight vets upon their return to Orlando.
Hi, Hi, How Do You Do? Welcome to My Gym By Heather Loomis Swings, hayrides, ball pits, tumbles, singing, dancing, jumping, stories, and my 10-month-old daughter Reagan’s favorite–BUBBLES! We had no idea what we were getting into when we went for a trial class at My Gym Lake Mary.
Meet A Local Group That Is Surprising Our Officers With Random Acts of Kindness By Georgia Fojo This group is showing our local enforcement that we care about them and appreciate their service.
A Real Life Fairytale in Sanford Goes Viral By Samantha Taylor Read about this magical moment right here in Seminole County.
Donation Shopping With The Kids And How You Can Donate, Too By Samantha Taylor In the November/December issue, I wrote a story about giving for the holidays. The story was designed to help readers navigate through all of the nonprofits in our area. I wanted to make giving as easy as possible. I highlighted a few local organizations that do great work in the community, listed what each nonprofit needs for the people it serves, and provided steps on how best to help out. I decided to follow my own advice and take my kiddos donation shopping this weekend.
Remember – Your Vote is Your Choice By Mike Ertel Do you remember voting in your first presidential election?
Lake Mary Life wants to take you to Sesame Street! By Samantha Taylor Lake Mary Life Magazine is giving away four tickets to Sesame Street Live.
Why I Felt Like a Proud Mom on Cover Shoot Day By Georgia Fojo You know what I love most about attending our cover shoots? It’s not necessarily getting behind the scenes to stage the perfect picture (although that is absolutely what we strive for and a ton of fun). It’s having complete confidence that this story is The Chosen One. The one we hope makes a good first impression. The one we feel our readers will give pause to and say, “Wow!” Each cover story is carefully selected with the hopes of bringing pride and awareness of the greatness bubbling up all over Seminole County.
Welcome to the Lake Mary Lifeline By Samantha Taylor Check out our brand new blog, The Lake Mary Lifeline, covering local happenings and more in between print issues.
East Meets West for Oviedo High Diplomat By Chip Colandreo This summer, Oviedo High School junior Payton Bogert had the unique opportunity to live for ten days at Princeton University and serve as a High School Diplomat during a cultural exchange program with students from Japan. Payton was one of 40 American students chosen nationwide to live with 40 Japanese high schoolers. The young women spent their time introducing each other to cultural celebrations from each country and discussing world even
A Beauty-ful Proposal By Jill Duff-Hoppes While playing the role of Belle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Kaley McLean found herself living out a real-life fairy tale. Her boyfriend, Brenden McNeil, surprised Kaley with a marriage proposal on stage during a recent performance of the musical at the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center in Sanford.
“I Am Joe’s Garbage” By Peter Reilly A trash’s-eye-view of perhaps Seminole County’s most underrated facility
Talk of the Town By Susan Shalhoub Sanford teen develops his own iPhone app, and it’s a real conversation starter
A Million-Dollar Idea By Natalie Costa The school district’s vision for a high-school curriculum based on real-world problem-solving earns SCPS a $1 million award
Blue Gratitude By Samantha Taylor Local ladies lead the charge to ensure area police officers and deputies know how much they are respected and appreciated
ROAR: What a Friendly Web They Weave By Mike Berry When one of Seminole County’s most worthwhile and sensitive charities needed a new website, local Web developers donated their time – and more than a little careful thought – to create a site that is as functional as it is discreet
Lake Mary-Heathrow Festival of the Arts Moves to March By Jill Duff-Hoppes To mark its 30th anniversary, the popular festival is changing dates and attracting more artists
Crystal-Clear By Mike Berry Meet Lake Mary’s Crystal Candy, who earned legions of loyal fans pitching everything from quilts to vacuum cleaners on the Home Shopping Network
Fabulous at 40 By Jennifer Clemens The Longwood Arts & Crafts Festival prepares for its 40th annual exhibition
The MVCs- Most Valuable Coaches By Pam Neff They grew up playing football together, and now they’re helping other young players do the same. Meet two Lake Brantley High football stars who are giving back to the local program that made them.
A Community Double Play By Mike Berry Two Lake Mary High baseball stars have committed to play for top universities, but they’ll leave behind a legacy of community service on and off local fields
Perfect Harmony By Jill Duff-Hoppes In song and in life, local members of the O-Town Sound a cappella chorus complement each other beautifully
Border Junkie: 142 Countries and Counting By Marilyn Vaca LMHS grad is traveling the globe and capturing his adventure for all the world to see
Up to Speed By Mike Berry As a high schooler, she ran hundreds of miles on the roads and trails around Oviedo. This summer, at the Olympic Games in Rio, Jenny Simpson made history as the first American woman to medal in the 1,500-meter race.
A Ride Across America By Mike Berry After recovering from a vicious cycling accident, this Winter Springs retiree decided to get back on his bike and pedal coast to coast
102 is Really Something By Rebekah Grier Winter Springs centenarian Red Christensen has an entrepreneurial mind and an enduring spirit
Artist and Ambassador By Kevin Fritz Winter Springs WWII veteran, Emil Abrahamian, has a new and important job to help honor those who fought in Desert Storm.
How To Help This Holiday By Samantha Taylor Last issue, we helped you get in the giving spirit early by sharing what local nonprofits need in the months before holiday giving begins in earnest. Now, the green-and-red rubber is meeting the road, and it’s time to help our local charities make the holidays merry for neighbors in need. From serving meals to sponsoring a wish list for a child in foster care, there are dozens of ways, both big and small, that you can make a difference.
The Heirs Apparent By Laura Breen Galante How do you make a family business work? Just ask the leaders of these multi-generation organizations.
Employment on the Cutting Edges By Georgia Fojo A Q&A with three Lake Mary High School grads hard at work in the top tech companies that are changing the world
Great Day in the Country Spreads Its Wings By Susan Shalhoub Oviedo’s iconic festival moves to Oviedo on the Park this year, making “Great Day” that much greater
Platter Up! By Pam Neff The new lunchroom manager at Wekiva Elementary is... a professional baseball player? Yep, and he couldn’t be happier.
Wearing Talent on Her Sleeve By Rebekah Grier Whether it’s acting or art, this Winter Springs six-year-old is skilled beyond her years, and now she has her own Life is Good T-shirt to prove it
Better Together By Jill Duff-Hoppes Local arts groups of all types and sizes give budding artists and seasoned pros a place to share and be inspired
Honor Guards By Chip Colandreo As another Honor Flight carries veterans from Central Florida to Washington, D.C., we pay tribute to the local Guardians who accompany them
Sinking Putts and Taking Names By Lamar Thames Young Oviedo golf phenom Bella Dovhey is dominating her competition and earning the attention of the game’s most famous figures
Assisted Coach By Jill Cousins The Oviedo High School basketball community is lifting up assistant coach Bryan Price as he battles stage 4 stomach cancer
The Selfless Gift of Love By Jack Roth I didn’t give you the gift of life, But in my heart I know. The love I feel is deep and real, As if it had been so. For us to have each other Is like a dream come true! No, I didn’t give you The gift of life, Life gave me the gift of you. While the origin of this touching poem is unknown, it captures the special bond between parents and their adoptive children. In honor of November being National Adoption Awareness Month, Lake Mary Life salutes two couples from our community who made the choice to adopt in the face of some extraordinary obstacles, and an organization that helps keep families together.
Educational Excellence, Through the Decades By Georgia Fojo Walk through a century of time at Goldsboro Elementary Magnet School as the community celebrates its centennial
Better Than They Hoped By Chip Colandreo One of Oviedo’s most important charities, HOPE Helps, is almost ready to move into its new resource center, where thousands of local men, women, and children will be given the food and support they need to avoid homelessness. The new facility is a wonder, and a testament to the community’s support of HOPE, but the community isn’t done yet.
The Clubs Calling By Ashley Cisneros Mejia As water rose this summer over homes and businesses in Louisiana, so did the desire of local Rotarians to honor their motto by placing Service Above Self
The New Shredder-In-Chief By Chip Colandreo Mike Bley is the new man in charge of the Shred-a-Thon, one of Lake Mary’s largest – and most handy – fundraising events
The Right FIT By Pam Neff Local fitness experts offer free weekend boot camp workouts and encourage participants to come as they are and return better than they were
The Arts Are Alive and Well By Jill Duff-Hoppes The school district’s annual showcase of artistic talent is about to turn 20. Learn more about what makes Arts Alive in Seminole! a must-see event every year.
Mad Props By Jill Duff-Hoppes In the Lake Mary High School drama department’s upcoming production of Noises Off, the actors and actresses will be the stars, but the incredibly elaborate set just might steal the show
Special Delivery and a Special Request By Hedy Bass Oviedo’s Military Support Team delivers a taste of the holidays to soldiers overseas, and the team needs your help!
Green Sweep By Jill Cousins Winning an international golf tournament is one thing. Winning every competitive event during the entire tournament week is another. Doing it all at 12 years old is downright incredible.
Robots in Disguise By Kevin Fritz In case you haven’t noticed, robot-building teams at Hagerty and Oviedo High are some of the fastest-growing and most career-building clubs on campus.
Three Decades of Dedication By Jill Cousins Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Boys Town Central Florida in Oviedo has a rich history of building bright futures