There are not many things in life that I won’t talk about. However, when I was asked to talk about myself I was a bit perplexed. There is not much to say about me; at least I thought there was nothing “special.” I was born in a small town in New Jersey and was a “latch-key” kid before there was even a name for them. I grew up in a single parent home, helped my Mom raise my little sister and then went to work. Then I paused and smiled. There is something very special about me: my family. I am the proud mom of Daniel and Sarah, and the wife of my husband, Bill. Daniel... Read more
Community service doesn’t mean you have to think inside the box. Many communities have needs that most people don’t stop to think about. But those who do discover they can help in ways they never thought possible. One of those people is Gary Landwirth, who founded the Orlando-based organization A Gift For Teaching (AGFT) in 1998. A friend of Landwirth’s, who was a teacher, was in need of school supplies and had to resort to purchasing them himself. Landwirth recognized that this was a problem for many teachers in the community and took it upon himself to find companies that would... Read more
When tourists think of Orlando, they think of theme parks, shopping and warm, sunny weather. But when East Orlando residents think of their neck of the woods, they think of traffic and construction, both of which are currently affecting South Alafaya Trail. The stretch of Alafaya from Curry Ford to Avalon Park Boulevard is being widened from two to four lanes with construction expected to be completed in Sept. 2013. Until then, then road will be torn, traffic will be delayed and frustrations will be high - even higher than usual. Local businesses along the road are also forced to cope and adapt... Read more
A rendering of the proposed memorial at the new VA Medical Center in Lake Nona. You may never be able to honor those who gave their lives in the name of everything this country stands for enough. But you sure can try. That’s the underlying idea behind the proposed world-class memorial to be built adjacent to the new VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Lake Nona. Designed to be a quiet place where tranquility meets art, the memorial is more than just a monument. “Nowhere else in the country will have a place like this where veterans and their families can go,” says Jerry Pierce, president of the... Read more
Everyone knows expanding the family unit costs money and, when you factor in living and education expenses over 18 plus years, the projected bill can be daunting. The added strain on a family budget calls for heightened awareness of what your family spends their money on and what can be done to become more efficient at spending and saving. Even without children, people need to save for a rainy day, retirement, possible elder care and many other expenses that come along with the act of living. However, when adding children to your family budget, the results can get out of whack very quickly. Few... Read more
