Parents Everywhere, a locally-owned and produced podcast network, expanded its podcast show offerings to eleven with the introduction of the Yomagination Show and The Real Parenting Show. Founders Suzette and Troy Boyette recently attended the New Media Expo in Las Vegas. All Parents Everywhere podcasts are available for free via iTunes and at www.parentseverywhere.com .

Family Services of Metro Orlando, the lead agency for Community-Based Care in Orange and Osceola counties, served more than 8,500 children and more than 5,000 families, during 2007-08. It placed 194 children in adoptive homes, provided permanent placement for 31 difficult to place youth, and placed more than 48 percent of the children adopted throughout the year with at least one of their siblings, totaling 37 sibling groups adopted.

Starting October 4, Avalon Park is hosting a very traditional Farmers Market Saturday mornings from 7 a.m. to noon in Town Park on Avalon Park Blvd. A wide range of vendors will be on hand, including unique kitchen and table products and home crafts in addition to fruits and vegetable stands.

Florida Hospital East Orlando Urologist Dr. Stephen Dobkin will host a seminar on the top Men’s Health Concerns on October 15 at 5:30 p.m. FHEO’s Men’s Health Program is also sponsoring the East Orlando Chamber of Commerce’s Golf Tournament on September 26 at Stoneybrook Golf Course. In addition, the hospital’s Cancer Institute is launching a new diagnosis and second opinion clinic for women who have been newly diagnosed with breast cancer.

The East Orlando Chamber of Commerce announced it has adopted Chickasaw Elementary for the 2008-2009 school year. The Chamber will provide supplies, tutoring, guest speakers, and see to other school needs.

The Oviedo-Winter Springs Regional Chamber of Commerce will host its inaugural Kidstravaganza from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 2 at Saint Luke’s Lutheran Church in Oviedo.

Ocean Potion donated 26 cases of Solaplex sunscreen to the Central Florida YMCA to protect summer camp kids from UVA rays. The donation allows the summer camp counselors to provide the sunscreen to kids who wouldn’t be able to afford it otherwise.

UCF will help 50 Orange County freshmen from low-income families succeed in high school and prepare for college through the inaugural Upward Bound program on
campus, featuring a free, six-week summer program and academic instruction and tutoring throughout the school year.

Heart of Florida United Way offers companies the opportunity to both give back and improve the skills and knowledge of staff through their Loaned Executive (LE) Program. Visit www.hfuw.org for details.

Rock Your Business will host its next power lunch with 80+ professionals in a high-energy, productive experience Tuesday, August 19 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Winter Park Civic Center.

Nemours Children’s Hospital (NCH) unveiled their master site plan for its health care campus that will be located in the Lake Nona medical city. The plan is a basic footprint for what will be an integrated destination for pediatric health care.

Grubb & Ellis|Commercial Florida recently appointed Robert R. Horton vice president of the firm’s Commercial Florida Management Division to manage more than 2.2 million square feet of existing commercial space throughout Florida.

Orlando Sanford International Airport announced that domestic passenger service topped international traffic for the first time ever since it began offering the service in 1999.

The College of Optometrists in Vision Development announces that August is “Children’s Vision and Learning Month” to raise awareness about the connection between vision and learning problems and vision therapy treatments.

The Lake Mary Jane Alliance opposes a proposal to change zoning of Magnolia Ranch from rural to high-density. County Commissioners vote July 8th. Contact administrator@lakemaryjanealliance.com .

Eagle Creek Golf Community of Lake Nona will host the Scott Mounce Memorial Golf Tournament on Saturday, July 12.

Christmas HELP wants you to get into the holiday spirit early by donating gifts for teens at Metro Life Church on July 18, from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Nemours finalized its acquisition of 60 acres of land in the heart of Lake Nona’s medical city, on which it will build a pediatric health care facility.

Engineering & Computer Simulations received a $3.7 million contract from the National Guard Bureau Joint Training Directorate.

Central Florida YMCA recognized Jim Hinson and Lucky Meisenheimer at a 2007 Annual Meeting.

Ray Larsen has been appointed as the new executive director of the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness.

Z88.3 adds Tracy Leek to the Ride Home with Dean O’Neal, promotes Alana Chambers to evening personality, and hosted The Russian Academy of Ballet performance to help orphans in Malawi.

WORKFORCE CENTRAL FLORIDA presented $40,000 in scholarships to students interested in pursuing science, technology, engineering, math and manufacturing careers.

The Health Care Center for the Homeless has a new 37-foot medical clinic on wheels, which houses two exam rooms, a Physician Assistant and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor.

The Small Business Association has teamed with FranNet to provide a new interactive tutorial as a free educational service to potential franchise buyers. Visit sba.frannet.com. 

The East Orlando Chamber of Commerce appointed George Spaeth as Government Affairs director. This position was created to propel the EOCC's political agenda into a new direction for the east Orlando area. 

Family Services of Metro Orlando, the lead agency for Community-Based Care in Orange and Osceola counties, hosted the fourth annual Foster Parent Appreciation Banquet in May. 

Four Central Florida women have established the Foundation for Foster Children. The non-profit is committed to raising awareness and support for the approximately 1500 foster children in the tri-county areas through collaborative leadership between the public and private sectors. 

Newsweek magazine released its annual "Top of the Class" list, which included 13 Orange County high schools ranked among the best in the nation. 

WebOut Technologies LLC has become  Rich Media Global, offering a host of rich media technologies.

Nationally acclaimed organization expert Monica Ricci has teamed up with Beazer Homes to address homeowners' desires for ample storage space and home efficiency elements. 

Heart of Florida United Way raised $17.757 million during the 2007-08 annual campaign, its third consecutive year of increases. Also, the organization collaborated with Coca-Cola and the Texas Roadhouse to complete projects at Camp Thunderbird in Apopka, and Give Kids the World in Kissimmee. 

Digital Ribbon, a grid computering firm, held the largest online gaming simulation ever.

Saturn of Orlando announced the Outlook has won the MotorWeek Driver’s Choice Award for Best Crossover Utility Vehicle for a second time.

Ryland Homes is constructing three new town home models at Somerset Chase.

Taylor Morrison recently named Karin Jiminez its 2007 sales associate of the year. She sells The Enclave at Lake Jean in east Orlando.

Timber Creek High School's Regiment (Marching Band) 3rd Annual Golf Tournament will take place on Saturday, May 10, at Stoneybrook East.

Media that Sells is holding a Mother’s Day fundraiser for Safe House of Seminole at the Airport Lanes in Sanford on May 16. Cost is $25-30, and a donation.

Family Services of Metro Orlando recently named Vanessa Rindone as a case assignment unit counselor.

iConvene launched as the first online marketplace for booking and planning small meetings in Central Florida.

The MT3 Conference June 1-3 at Disney's Coronado Springs, will showcase innovative healthcare technologies.

Register NOW for Colonial High School's Annual 5K Fun Walk/Run Saturday, June 7th at Moss Park to benefit the track teams - www.colonialhigh.ocps.net.

Avalon Park Opens First Phase of Technology Skills Vocation School, $50 Million in Commercial Construction Under Way Now

Avalon Park in east Orlando celebrated the opening of the first phase of a new technology skills vocational school adjacent to Timber Creek High School. Beat Kahli, who heads Avalon Associates, said the 60,000 square foot, two-story building was a joint venture between Avalon Associates and Orange County Schools. The second phase of the project includes 40,000 square feet of additional construction. Currently, more than 50,000 square feet of commercial construction is underway at Avalon Park. Workers will complete work on Avalon Park’s three-acre Central Park in downtown Avalon Park in about 90 days, Kahli said. Finishing touches include a performance stage for community events. Other projects underway now include the 15,000 square foot CVS Pharmacy building, which will open in about 90 days, the 6,000 square foot Fairwinds branch banking facility, which will open before the end of the year and 22,000 square foot mixed use retail office building that will open after Jan. 1. Construction of a 45,000 square foot medical services facility in downtown Avalon Park will start within the next 30 days, Kahli said. Sixty percent of the facility’s space has already been leased.

Beazer Homes names top sales person for the month of August

Beazer Homes in the Orlando region has named Jena Sangiorgio its New Home Sales Counselor of the Month for August. Theresa Tilton, vice president of sales and marketing for Beazer Homes in the Orlando region, said Sangiorgio posted sales of five units for a dollar volume of $1,002,020. Sangiorgio works out of the homebuilder’s community, Timber Point Townhomes at Timber Springs off Avalon Park Blvd. in east Orlando.

BioTraits Makes The Workload Easier

As a human resources director, Christy Doyle uses an entire day processing the payroll for the 100 employees at Quality One Wireless in Oviedo. But, thanks to BioTraits Time Manager System, she now has time to do the payroll, plus other work she usually pushes aside every week. “It has made my job a lot easier,” Doyle said, adding that she wishes she’d had the I-Guard Finger Scanner system sooner. “What used to take me an entire day to do payroll now only takes me about an hour.” The finger scanner is the first commercial product of BioTraits. Another benefit of the I-Guard Finger Scanner is its accuracy. “It’s a lot more accurate,” she said. “There will be no more ‘buddy punching’.” Even the employees seem to like it, she said, because instead of lining up to use one time clock, they now have two machines to use and it doesn’t take as long for them to clock in. While the wireless company uses BioTraits’ I-Guard Finger Scanner to replace their time clock inside their building, BioTraits’ sophisticated software program also can be used as a mobile time clock, according to Ricardo Aguilar, BioTraits co-owner and president. A Sanford-based construction company has installed wireless Time Manager terminals in eight foremen’s trucks. It allows the company’s 150 workers to clock in and out remotely with their fingerprints at each worksite with job code tracking capability. The high-tech Internet-based system, which the construction company says has already shown substantial savings by eliminating wasted time, allows employees to be paid for the actual time they are working. If sales are any indication, BioTraits products – which control verification, access, security and time and attendance – are really catching on. And, because the system is easily adapted for use just about anywhere, even small businesses can and are benefiting from them, Aguilar said.

Group 142 Orlando to Start Construction of 70,000 Square Foot Retail Center at Avalon Park

Group 142 Orlando Limited LTD, an Orlando investment group, is reporting that it will start construction of a 70,000 square foot retail center before the end of the year on a 23-acre site located on Avalon Park Blvd. in southeast Orlando. Ron Schwartz, one of the principals of the investment group, said Avalon Lakes Commercial Center will include a 7-Eleven convenience store and fast food restaurants Burger King, Taco Bell and Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Levitt and Sons Appoints Viva Paradiso Sales Associate in Fort Lauderdale

Levitt and Sons, which ranks as one of Florida’s largest and most active home builders, is appointing Viva Paradiso E-sales counselor in the Company’s Fort Lauderdale headquarters. Katie Millikan, regional marketing director for Levitt and Sons, said Paradiso has more than seven years of sales experience with real estate sales and previously served as a sales trainer. She is also a former music teacher who taught in Tampa.

Levitt and Sons Names Brooke Dalen Marketing Manager for Florida Region

Brooke Dalen is now the marketing manager for Levitt and Sons for the state of Florida. Katie Millikan, regional director of marketing for Levitt and Sons, said Dalen graduated from Georgia State University and has four years of experience in marketing with Morrison Homes in Atlanta, and most recently as Internet marketing manager at Levitt and Sons’ corporate headquarters in Fort Lauderdale. In her new position as marketing manager, Dalen will be based out of Levitt and Sons’ Orlando regional office.

M/I Homes Names Sales Consultant for Provenance Townhome Community in Southeast Seminole County

Joshua “Josh” Holloway is now the sales consultant for M/I Homes at Provenance, the homebuilder’s community located off Aloma Ave. in Oviedo. Steve Wood, vice president of sales and marketing for M/I Homes in the Orlando region, said Holloway – a 1999 graduate of the University of Central Florida’s School of Accounting – won numerous industry awards while working for previous employers Transeastern Homes, Coldwell Banker and KB Home. In his new position as sales consultant at Provenance, a gated townhome community near UCF, Holloway will assist buyers in selecting and purchasing two and three bedroom townhomes priced from $227,990, Wood said.

MILES YU, M.D. JOINS NEMOURS DIVISION OF ENDOCRINOLOGY

Nemours Children’s Clinic, a division of one of the nation’s largest children’s health systems, is announcing that Y. Miles Yu, M.D. is joining the Endocrinology Division in Central Florida. Dr. Yu joins a comprehensive team of nine pediatric endocrinology specialists including two other physicians. The Diabetes Education Center run by this team continues to be the only pediatric program in Central Florida that has received the Education Program Recognition certification from the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

Morrison Homes Enhances Below Market Mortgage Loan Rate Offer, Now Good Through Dec. 21

Morrison Homes is enhancing its latest buyer incentive offer: below-market mortgage interest rates. Kyle Marik, marketing manager for Morrison Homes in the Orlando region, said Morrison currently offers 30-year fixed-rate mortgage financing at 5.875 percent on select Morrison-built homes in all of its Orlando area neighborhoods. Morrison upped the ante, Marik said. “We’ve had very good response to our interest rate incentive and we want to be pro-active about it,” said Marik. The new offer, good through Dec. 21: for qualified buyers, a fixed-rate mortgage at 3.875 percent interest the first year, 4.875 percent interest the second year, and 5.875 percent for the remainder of the 30-year term. A separate offer allows buyers to lock rates in as soon as a buyer makes a commitment for a pre-construction home. “Those rates are good for almost seven months, through March 11, 2008,” Marik said.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Lease Agreement for 7,560 Square Feet of Industrial Space in DeBary

NAI Realvest has a new lease agreement for 7,560 square feet of industrial space at 220 Springview Commerce Drive, Unit 170 at Springview Industrial Park in DeBary. Michael Heidrich, a principal at NAI Realvest, is representing the landlord, Madland Holdings, LLC of DeBary. Real Estate Diversified represented the new tenant, K & K Electric, Inc. of Sanford.

PowerfulEducation Technologies has powerful lesson for young people: “You've Got The Power”

PowerfulEducation Technologies, Inc. has a powerful message for young people---a learning resource module called You’ve Got The Power. Dr. Lesia L. Crumpton-Young, president of the firm, is author of the curriculum workbook that’s designed to teach character education and life skills development to middle and high school students. The workbook, which has sold more than 3000 copies nationwide over the past four years, focuses on principles that build strong character needed for improved performance and life long success, such as goal setting, strategies for life-long learning, believing in yourself and learning from your mistakes. “You’ve Got the Power” began as a single workbook,” Dr. Young said. PowerfulEducation Technologies recruited co-writers to expand Dr. Crumpton-Young’s curriculum workbook into a series of 11 workbooks that target different stages of life – childhood, adolescence and young adults as well as At-Risk Youth and Juveniles.

“The important life skills learning processes that helped build the character and responsibility of our parents and grandparents aren’t available to many children today,” Dr. Young said. “Our society is changing. Schools are experiencing problems of more student violence, misbehavior, poor performance and poor decision making. The You’ve Got the Power series makes those important character-building processes accessible to young people today, in terms they can more readily accept and internalize,” she said. Young, who earned a Ph.D. in Engineering from Texas A&M University has 20 years of educational experience in Texas, Mississippi and Florida. She currently serves as a program director for the National Science Foundation in addition to her duties at the University of Central Florida.

“ Evening at Whitney ”  Public Lecture Thursday, September 13th at the University of Florida

The University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience public lecture series, Evenings at Whitney, resumes Thursday, September 13^th at 7:00 pm with “Hide and Seek in the Open Sea” presented by Sonke Johnsen, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology at Duke University. Evenings at Whitney occur the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm at the Whitney Lab’s Center for Marine Studies located at 9505 Ocean Shore Blvd., St. Augustine, on the border of Flagler and St. Johns counties. Speakers are recognized experts in their fields who welcome questions and discussion. The Whitney Lab is a research institute of the University of Florida that uses marine organisms for basic biological research that can be applied to human health, natural resources and the environment. The lab’s mission includes the training of future experimental biologists, educational programs for children and college students and monthly lectures for the general public. Whitney’s Center for Marine Studies (CMS) houses its rapidly growing education programs, and enables the Lab to offer courses and workshops for undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students. Space in the CMS is available for rent including a 272-seat, tiered auditorium for public lectures, meetings and concerts.

Ryland Homes to end 40th Anniversary Sale with added incentives in Seven Orlando Communities

Ryland Homes will close out its 40th anniversary new homes sale in seven Orlando area communities. Jeff Agar president of Ryland Homes in the Orlando region, said special pricing starting from the low $200s and bonus incentives are available at:

• Avalon Park on Alafaya Trail in east Orlando;

• Oak Hill in Apopka;

• Clifton Park and Strafford Green town homes both located off Aloma Ave. and SR 417 (Greeneway);

• Esprit, located off Canoe Creek and Friar’s Cove Rds. in St. Cloud;

• Oasis Cove Townhomes and Grand Pine, located on Reams Rd. in Windermere;

• Southbridge Village Townhomes at Summerport, located in Windermere.

Agar emphasized that special pricing and bonus sales incentives are offered on ready-to-move-in homes in all of these neighborhoods.

UCF Hires First National Academy of Engineering Scientist

The University of Central Florida has hired its first National Academy of Engineering member, a distinction that elevates the academic prestige of the university and may pave the way for additional academy members on campus. Marwan Simaan, the Bell of PA/Bell Atlantic engineering professor at the University of Pittsburgh, will join UCF in the spring as the Florida Chair and a distinguished professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He brings to the university extensive research strengths in the areas of control and signal processing. “My work is highly interdisciplinary in nature,” said Simaan, who was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2000. “I’ve worked with engineers from almost all engineering fields, as well as physicists, mathematicians, computer scientists and economists.” Election to the academy is recognized as one of the highest professional distinctions awarded to an engineer.

“Our success in recruiting such an accomplished faculty member is a testament to the strides we have made in advancing the quality of education and research at UCF,” President John Hitt said. “Working with Dr. Simaan will be a great opportunity for our students and faculty, and we are eager to support his efforts to help patients awaiting heart transplants lead longer, more comfortable lives.”

Simaan was recognized for the development of signal processing techniques for imaging the Earth's subsurface zone. The process involves getting a more precise picture of what is under the earth's surface by sending shock waves from sources on the surface and analyzing the echo signals that come back. Simaan's work allowed for the interpretation of some of the weakest information bearing signals in the return echoes, providing new details about the Earth's layers directly beneath the surface.

“The arrival of Dr. Simaan serves as a milestone for how far we have come as a College of Engineering and Computer Science,” Dean Neal Gallagher said.

Barbeque Bus Gives Free Ride, Food to UCF Fans

Waterford Lakes Town Center and Smokey Bones Barbeque are teaming up with the University of Central Florida to provide a free shuttle service to fans attending home football games in 2007.

Waterford Lakes Town Center will operate two shuttle stops, one between Panera Bread and Smokey Bones BBQ (adjacent to SuperTarget) and the other behind the mall office, adjacent to Waterford Lakes Parkway (near Friendly Confines). The service will operate two hours prior to and after each home game and both stops will allow the busses easy access to Alafaya Trail. Smokey Bones will offer passengers on each bus lunch and dinner discounts for pre- and post-game meals.

There are six home games on the 2007 UCF Football schedule, including the big home opener against Texas, September 15. Other home games are as follows: Memphis (September 22), Louisiana-Lafayette (September 29), Tulsa (October 20), Marshall – Homecoming (November 3) and UTEP (November 24).

JoS. A. Banks Clothiers, Inc. Opens at Waterford Lakes Town Center

JoS. A. Banks Clothiers, Inc. , the classic menswear retailer known for service, selection and savings, opened its doors to East Orlando shoppers at Waterford Lakes Town Center.

JoS. A. Banks opened a 4,400 sq.ft. store near the Boulevard between California Pizza Kitchen and Too Jay’s Original Gourmet Deli. JoS. A. Banks has been in business for more than 100 years, offering an extensive selection of tailored and casual men’s clothing, at prices typically 20 to 30 percent below competitor stores. As part of a plan to grow the chain to 500 stores by 2008, the men’s retailer continues its retail expansion with a planned 50 new stores in 2007.

Olympic Accomplishments – Tops In Twirling

Two local teams of baton twirlers, Brite Star Twirlers of Central Florida and all of the Timber Creek Majorettes, recently participated in the AAU Junior Olympics, held in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The local teams, led by Coach Candy Dowdy, performed in the opening ceremonies held on July 30th. During the two days of team competition, both of these twirling teams qualified for finals. Timber Creek Majorettes brought home the Gold Medal in Sr. Twirling Corp. Brite Star Twirlers came home with Gold Medals in Parade Corp. and Novelty Show Twirl team, a Bronze for Jr. Dance Twirl Team, and a Copper for Juvenile Dance Twirl Team.

The members of the teams are Jordan Cooper, Jessica Dowdy, Melanie Aybar, Lynette Denelsbeck, Karina Emeric, Julia Fine, Alyssa Gagnon, Brianna Gowan, Marissa Grice, Stephanie McCloud, Nikki Navaille, Karli Smith, Meghan Hettenbach, Allison Nichols, Sarah Nichols, and Mallory Sowa.

Brite Star Twirlers also had team members compete in individual competition as well. Julia Fine, Marissa Grice and Mallory Sowa were awarded Gold Medals for solo and strut routines. Jessica Dowdy, Allison Hettenbach, Meghan Hettenbach, Stephanie McCloud, Nikki Navaille and Nikki Sutterby won Silver, Bonze, and/or Copper Medals for their performance in individual performance.

EMBRACE THE POWER OF ANGEL INVESTING WORKSHOP FOCUSES ON SPECIFICS OF ANGEL INVESTING, GOALS & STRATEGIES

The “Power of Angel Investing” workshop is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of angel investing. This workshop will provide adequate opportunities for interacting with the experts and other participants, registration will be limited to 25 individuals, with preference being given to accredited individual investors, as per the criteria of the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC).

Led by instructor John May, this seminar features local experts in high growth ventures and early stage investing opportunities, including seasoned angel investors with diverse investment experience, tax and legal experts, and angel-financed entrepreneurs.

The workshop is being held on Thursday, October 25^th, 2007 from 7:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Rollins College, Crummer School of Business and if the attendee is an accredited angel investor, they pay $250 per person if they register by September 15.

Alzheimer’s Association’s Memory Walk 2007

The Alzheimer’s Association’s annual Memory Walk ^® will take place on Saturday, October 6 at Lake Eola Park in Downtown Orlando . Nearly 1,500 people across Orlando are expected to participate in this year’s event to raise awareness and funds to fight the disease. This year’s Memory Walk national sponsor, Evercare, will host a family tent at the Orlando Memory Walk. Evercare caregivers and friends will have a safe and healthy environment to leave their loved ones who have Alzheimer’s disease while they walk to end Alzheimer’s. To register, please call the local Evercare representative, Rebecca Clero, at 407.659.7124. The Alzheimer’s Association’s Memory Walk, nationally presented by Genworth Financial, is the nation’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support and research programs. Held annually in hundreds of communities across the country, this inspiring event calls on volunteers of all ages to become Champions in the fight against Alzheimer’s. Champions include those living with the disease, families, caregivers, and corporate and community leaders. Americans who have participated in these walks have raised more than $200 million.

Brentwood/Jones Joint Venture Opens New $1.7 Million Model Luxury Home at Eagle Creek in Southeast Orlando

Brentwood Custom Homes/Jones Homes, USA joint venture has opened a new $1.7 million model luxury home at Eagle Creek, located off Narcoossee Rd. in southeast Orlando. Frank Pizzica, Chief Executive Officer of Brentwood, said the professionally decorated 4,458 square foot luxury home offers four bedrooms, bonus room and den on the 15th green at the Eagle Creek Golf course. Brentwood/Jones recently completed three luxury spec homes at Eagle Creek that range in size from 3,300 square feet of living space to 4,562 square feet, Pizzica said. The spec homes, which are open daily, are priced from $999,000 to $1.3 million.

Historian, Author of Best Seller Season's Greetings from the White House to Exhibit White House Christmas Memorabilia, speak at Orlando Museum of Art’s 21st Annual Festival of Trees

Mary Evans Seeley, author of the best selling book, “Seasons Greetings from the White House,” will exhibit her world renowned collection of presidential Christmas memorabilia and speak to participants at the 21st Annual Festival of Trees at the Orlando Museum of Art on Monday, Nov. 12 at 11 a.m. Paula Marmorstone, event chairperson of the Council of 101, the museum’s principal fundraising arm and producer of the annual Festival of Trees, said Seeley is a Tampa resident who holds a masters degree in American History. She is the nation’s foremost expert on Christmas celebrations in the White House and is the largest collector of presidential Christmas memorabilia. “Her collection has been on display at most presidential libraries and at the White House,” said Marmorstone. Seeley’s collection of presidential Christmas memorabilia includes the tragic Kennedy family Christmas card that was never mailed after President Kennedy’s assassination in November of 1963. Seeley’s collection will be on display during the Festival of Trees from Saturday, Nov. 10 through Sunday, Nov. 18. For more information about the presidential Christmas memorabilia and all Festival of Trees events, visit www.councilof101.net.

Levitt And Sons Appoints Brooke Keysor Marketing Specialist

Brooke Keysor is now the marketing specialist of Levitt and Sons for the Florida region. Brooke Dalen, regional marketing manager for Levitt and Sons in Florida, said Keysor attended Florida State University and has two years of experience in marketing.Keysor will be based at the homebuilder’s Orlando office on High Tech Drive in East Orlando.

Levitt and Sons appoints Curt R. Hooper Regional Controller in Central Florida Region

Curt R. Hooper Regional Controller for Levitt and Sons in the Central and Southwest Florida region.

Katie Millikan, regional marketing manager for Levitt and Sons in Florida, said Hooper holds a BSBA degree in accounting from the University of Central Florida. He has ten years of experience in the home building industry, including assistant controller for Morrison Homes in Orlando/Atlanta and most recently was director of finance and accounting for Central Florida operations of KB Home. Hooper is a member of the Osceola County Municipal Planning and Review Board.

NAI REALVEST NEGOTIATES LONG TERM RETAIL LEASE AT CRYSTAL LAKE PLAZA IN ORLANDO

Recently negotiating a new five-year lease, NAI Realvest now has 1,400 square feet of retail space at the Crystal Lake Plaza, 3000 Curry Ford Rd. in Orlando. NAI Realvest Associate Matt Cichocki and Principal Kevin O’Connor negotiated the transaction representing the landlord, Crystal Lake at Orlando of Boca Raton, Fla.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Long-Term Lease of 4,595 Square Feet of Office Space at The Quadrangle

Recently negotiating a long term lease agreement for 4,595 square feet, NAI Realvest now has office space at University Center at The Quadrangle, 118 High Tech Ave. in east Orlando. Senior Associate Mary Frances West, CCIM brokered the transaction working with both the tenant, ProActive Technologies, LLC, a defense contractor from Winterville, Ohio and the landlord, Jebden LLC of Orlando.

Ryland Homes Names Keith Meerfield Branch Manager of Ryland Mortgage in Orlando

Keith Meerfield is the new branch manager at Ryland Mortgage in the Orlando region. Jeff Agar, president of Ryland Homes in the Orlando region said Meerfield transferred to Ryland Mortgage in Orlando from Ryland’s northeast Florida division in Jacksonville.

LAKE NONA TEAMS UP WITH SAK COMEDY LAB TO HOST COMMUNITY COMEDY NIGHT

On Friday, October 12, the SAK Comedy Lab will arrive at Lake Nona for a night of improvised comedy on the grounds of the NorthLake Park Elementary School/YMCA Family Center. The family-friendly, high energy battle of wits will star seasoned improv comedians from the SAK Comedy Lab, voted Best Live Act in the 2007 Orlando Weekly “Best of Orlando” Reader’s Poll. Guests are invited to bring their blankets and picnic baskets to enjoy a night of comedy and cuisine alfresco. Popcorn and soft drinks will be provided. The high energy show will feature audience judges, the infamous Scum Box and lots of Tootsie Rolls.

The free event is open to the public and will take place from 7-9 p.m., on the athletic fields at the NorthLake Park Elementary School/Lake Nona YMCA Family Center, located at 9055 NorthLake Parkway, Orlando, Fl. 32827. Limited parking will be available at the YMCA. Contact the Lake Nona Information Center at 407-888-6500 with any questions.

UCF Bowling Club

Here is some of the basic information we spoke of. First, let me re -state one think, the school does give them some money in the amount of $10,000, which covers maybe one of the tournaments they need to travel too. The club consists of 12 girls and 13 guys, even though they are not an NCAA sports they have to follow the same guidelines. They have to have a full schedule and before tournament their grades are verified. There are no scholarships given for bowling, so these students work hard in keeping the grades up, paying for classes and books if they have no other scholarship and work. On top of school and work, like I explained they each have to raise $200.00 towards fund raising. We hold many events to aid them with this, such as youth bowling tournaments, silent auctions, bake sales and golf tournament. We also, do raffle tickets for things such as Christmas baskets, picnic baskets etc.

When Charity, Community Service Turn Sour: Board Members of Non-Profit and Religious Organizations can Eliminate Risk of Fraud, Embezzlement with Common Sense, Oversight

Non-profit organizations in Central Florida deliver literally thousands of valuable community services that help define community life in Central Florida, from Boy Scouts to Little League to local churches to homeowner associations. Essential as they are, non-profit agencies are perhaps more susceptible to internal problems of fraud, embezzlement, and mismanagement than their for-profit counterparts, and board members, who volunteer their time, energies and often their contributions to arts, charitable, church and civic organizations are usually left on the hook. Orlando Attorney A. Brian Phillips says board members can reduce their exposure to such shenanigans by exercising common sense and oversight or basic organizational functions.

“In the for-profit world, business and financial operations are compartmentalized in order to reduce the risk of fraud or embezzlement,” said Phillips. “But even with sound financial controls, fraud and embezzlement are prevalent,” he added. “For non-profit community organizations with limited budgets and few administrators, the problem can be even more acute,” Phillips explained. Board members can protect themselves –– and their organizations –– by exercising a little common sense,” Phillips said. “Basic accounting controls can keep the entire process from going horribly wrong,” Phillips said. “Fundamental controls would include making sure the person who balances the checkbook isn’t the same person who opens the bank statement, and making sure someone looks at the check register periodically to assess whether all the payees are legitimate vendors and employees,” he said. Phillips said “ghost” employees and vendors are the most common form of embezzlement for both corporate and non-profit organizations. “Whether there’s an economic downturn, we see a rash of employee embezzlement in the construction industry,” Phillips said. “You have one person responsible for hundreds of checks to dozens of vendors and subcontractors, and if someone’s dishonest, it’s easy to slip in a “mystery vendor,” he said.

The former Assistant U.S. Attorney said board members often conflate the purposes of an organization with the good intentions of its employees. “No reputable employee will ever object to fiscal oversight or financial controls and smart managers will demand them,” Phillips said. But board members should institute new control mechanisms as regular policy and take care to explain them to all concerned. “If you surprise your manager on Thursday with a request to examine the books and talk to vendors, it can seem an awful lot like an accusation when none is intended or warranted,” he said.

Waterford Lakes Town Center is pleased to announce the following events at the shopping center for October 2007.

October 5, 12, 19 and 26: Family Night on the Patio, 7 p.m.-11 p.m., entertainment provided by DJ Lauri

October 13: East Orlando Chamber of Commerce Celebrate Education Event, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., The Boulevard

October 20: Smokey Bones Barbeque Bus - Free Shuttle to UCF Football Game vs. Tulsa (will run two hours prior to and after game time). Two shuttle locations, one between SuperTarget and Panera Bread the other behind the center, near Friendly Confines

October 28: Florida Hospital East Orlando Women’s Health Pavilion Event, sponsored by Affinity Wellness, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., The Boulevard

October 31: Trick-or-Treat, 5 p.m.-7 p.m., watch for orange pumpkin signs posted at participating stores

Former New York Mayor, Rudy Giuliani Keynote Speaker for 3^rd annual 9/11 Remembrance Luncheon

The third annual 9/11 Remembrance Luncheon was held on September 7^th at the Orange County Convention Center which featured special keynote speaker, and former Mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani. This special event truly recognizes our local law enforcement, fire, EMS and hotel security staff for their above and beyond service in the line of duty. Two other very special guests, Marla Weech of WKMG – local 6, and State of Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum were also in attendance.