You don’t often hear someone say they are going to transform a community. Then actually start doing it. You don’t often see the work that goes into revitalizing an area from the inside out. You don’t often feel the dedication it takes to change generations of neglect. UGO Volunteers organize and hand out clothes during the recent Fall Festival event in Bithlo. More than 600 residents attended the event. But sometimes, you do. United Global Outreach (UGO) is an organization dedicated to improving communities around the world through four key elements: food, clothing, shelter and... Read more
The holidays are a time for celebration. This year, when the family is in town, consider starting a new tradition or expanding on some old ones with some of the many holiday-themed area attractions. That’s right, Orlando has plenty of inexpensive holiday festivals for you and yours to enjoy, and many of them are right in our backyard here in East Orlando. One holiday option, located just outside the University of Central Florida Arena, is Light Up UCF. The holiday extravaganza runs from November 20 through January 8 and features a holiday film festival, nightly light show and the largest... Read more
When you think of the holidays, what comes to mind? Along with Christmas lights and reindeer, most of us associate the season with hours waiting at the airport or hair loss from those pleasant extended family visits. For 2009, many experts are predicting that travel will go up compared to last year, although fewer people will travel by air due to budget concerns, reduced airline capacity and added charges. A recent study reported by AAA says that for the recent Thanksgiving holiday, nearly 86 percent of Thanksgiving travelers chose to travel by automobile while only six percent said they planned... Read more
Students are stepping up and out in the community to make the season even brighter for locals in need. “I applied for the position because I’ve always had a passion for helping the less fortunate,” says Anya Kroytor about her position as the Hunger & Homelessness Volunteer Coordinator for Volunteer UCF. Now a junior at the University of Central Florida, she began her volunteering efforts in high school and continued to give back once she entered college. Anya Kroytor and other volunteers at their 16th Annual Hunger Banquet in November. While the Hunger & Homelessness... Read more
Waterford Lakes Town Center is becoming more than just East Orlando’s largest outdoor shopping destination this winter. This year, the center will become a holiday-themed Winter Wonderland Village from December 4 through January 3, 2010 featuring activities, rides, an ice skating rink and more for kids of all ages. “We’re constantly trying to bring the community together and we knew that a Winter Wonderland would be the perfect addition for the holiday season,” says Andrea Bjornlie, assistant director of marketing for Waterford Lakes Town Center. “We wanted to create... Read more
