What stays with me is the intense blue-sky beauty of what seemed like was going to be a fantastic morning… before. What haunts me are the faces of the perished smiling out from wedding photos and family portraits on the flyers tacked up in Grand Central by hopelessly desperate family members… after.  What happened in early September stretched into months of anguish kept fresh by the lingering smoke and debris that wafted across the river into our Brooklyn neighborhood, but it is all etched in my mind as a single day.

A defining moment, by definition of course, is forever tied to these kinds of befores and afters. Everyone in the nation, arguably in the world, will remember where they were that day, but for those of us who lived it the difference is as stark as the mutilated Manhattan skyline. Remembrance (some might say survivor guilt or even PTSD) hits often, and at the most innocuous times, like an errant plane through the heart.

Before, Manhattanites would orient themselves in the city by looking up and finding the WTC towers. I find myself continuously doing that in spirit nearly every week. Something happens, most often on the news, and I have to think back to the sight of the towers disintegrating that day to reorient myself before continuing on forward.

The anniversary itself doesn’t mean so much; it’s just the first in a long line of round numbers. The decade that has passed has been filled with typical ups and downs - children, a move to Florida, new jobs - and I don’t for a day forget the thousands who were robbed of those years. The permanent scars, thankfully only skin-deep as I didn’t personally lose anyone in the attacks, most often manifest themselves as pangs of recall that hurt more in the middle of a randomly beautiful day than any official anniversary. I know others must feel similarly - I see remembrance stickers on cars every so often and wonder if their loved one was my neighbor or someone whose photo I stared at for months afterwards in between trains.

I can’t listen to the “reading of the names” on the anniversaries, and I tell myself it’s because I attempt to honor their memories every day of my life, but the honest truth is that it just causes too much pain.

After 10 years, I’d expected the world would have moved the needle further on international relations. After 10 years, I thought I’d be able to think about it without tearing and choking up. But after 10 years, the shadows of the towers of the World Trade Center - indeed of the Pentagon and even those of the corn plants mowed down in Pennsylvania - still loom large.

The longest shadow cast on my life is an increased awareness of the type of anti-tolerance for others that brought us to this point in the first place. The immediate aftermath brought cultures together in an unprecedented way, and I had hopes that this was a path, albeit horrible, to a watershed moment in human relations. Unfortunately, a majority quickly slipped back into the intractable, xenophobic positions of the past.

After 10 years, what infuriates me about that experience is that I fear the world as a whole learned nothing. The heroes of 9/11 certainly did not die in vain, but unless we move ourselves forward with the same kind of bravery they displayed as they faced their deaths, the moment will be written in the history books as a missed opportunity. And that would just compound the greatest tragedy of our lives. I hope the 20^th Anniversary finds us all in a much better world, where the sight of a brilliant blue sky doesn’t evoke thoughts of planes taking down buildings.

Article by Sara Au

Dr. David R. Lach, owner of Lach Orthodontic Specialists, is giving back to the community in a variety of ways as part of his commitment to make East Orlando a better place to call home.

Free Colored, Customized Mouth Guards for Youth Sports Teams

In an effort to educate parents, coaches and young athletes about the prevalence of sports injuries and how many of these can be reduced or prevented by wearing proper protective mouth gear, Dr. Lach’s office will be providing free mouth guards to local sports teams.

“Accidents and injuries are a part of sports, but many involving the mouth can be avoided if proper mouth guards are worn,” says Dr. Lach. His office will be offering colored, custom fit mouth guards (valued at $250) free of charge as an alternative to the “one size fits all” guards found in sporting goods stores. “These special devices are carefully designed to provide optimal protection from facial and dental injuries during sports,” he says.

The office also welcomes players from all organizations to join them for an end of the season sports parties with food and games.

Promoting and Rewarding Positive Behavior

Dr. Lach would also like to acknowledge area youth’s accomplishments in academics, athletics, arts, music and community service through the use of the office’s Fin-Tastic Rewards Card.

“The program allows us to work directly with coaches, parents, teachers and community leaders to recognize our youth through a points system,” says Dr. Lach. “Participants simply track points and cash in on free prizes from retailers like StarBucks, McDonalds, Sports Authority, Target, Game Stop and iTunes.”

For complete details about the program, visit www.Lach-Ortho.com.

Smiles for Hope Foundation Offers Orthodontic Care to Kids in Need

The Smiles for Hope Foundation aims to provide orthodontic care for several patients each year that may not be able to obtain the assistance they require because of their financial or special situations.

“We have several children participating in our program now and each time they visit our practice for orthodontic treatment they arrive in style,” says Dr. Lach. “A stretch Hummer limo brings them to their appointment and while they’re here, we have a Family Fun Night of games, inflatables, free food and ice cream.”

Family Fun Nights are open and free to all patients and residents in the community.  Events are hosted every two months. Applicants can enter online or at the practice’s office.

Lach-Star Winner to Receive Free Braces

Recognizing that not everyone can receive free braces through the foundation, Dr. Lach created a contest to win free orthodontic care called “Lach-Star” which is open to all area children.

To enter, contestants must first post a video of themselves dancing, singing or performing to the practice’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LachOrthodonticSpecialists. Then, simply tag the video with “Lach Ortho” and have friends comment on the post.

The contest will end August 5. The top three finalists will perform onstage during the next Family Fun Night on August 9. The winner will receive free braces with the runners up going home with an iPod product.

If you would like more information, visit Lach-Ortho.com or call us 407-359-1960.

Volunteering has been encouraged in children for years. In elementary school, educators first plant the seed in children with clubs and other activities. From there, students can pursue philanthropy through middle, high school, college and so on if they desire through various organizations and groups both inside and outside of school. Today, many of those opportunities stem, in part, to area Kiwanis Clubs. In East Orlando, schools have the luxury of being served by two such groups: the Kiwanis Club of East Orange County and the Avalon Park Kiwanis Club. Both are dedicated to helping shape the leaders of tomorrow, today.

“We teach children the value of community service through our Service Leadership Programs, and we provide for them by collecting necessities for local agencies such as Second Harvest Food Bank,” says Brent Hambly, vice president of the Kiwanis Club of East Orange County.

“We read every week in each of the elementary schools,” says Jennifer Englert, president of the Avalon Park Kiwanis Club. “We also sponsor the Terrific Kid programs, Bringing Grades Up programs, and Teacher of the Month programs in all of the Avalon schools. That means our members get donations for the prizes and make the certificates each month.”

Englert became involved with Kiwanis shortly after opening her law office in Avalon.

“The club was just getting going and since its mission is to help children, especially in local schools and community, I knew it was the right place for me to get involved,” she says.

Prairy Riehl, president of the Kiwanis Club of East Orange County and teacher at Legacy Middle School, says she was asked by her assistant principal to be the advisor for the Builders Club at Legacy. “I will always be a Kiwanian because of the change we are making in the community and I have developed lasting friendships through this organization,” she says.

There are big plans for both groups in coming year. The Kiwanis Club of East Orange County is in the process of creating new K-Kids and Builders Clubs in schools without them. They are also going to build on an officer-training project which began last year and open it up to all of the service leadership club officers in all of the schools in Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties. “We will do all of these things again along with a food collection in November, a toy collection in December, a holiday 5K in December and several other service projects without school clubs,” says Englert regarding the Avalon Park group.

“The students in Orange Country have numerous opportunities to mold them into successful citizens,” says Riehl, “including dedicated teachers, before and after-school programs like our Service Leadership Clubs, and the talents they develop at and away from home. Continued and increased support of parents, community members and local businesses will assure that our children have the skills needed to be positive leaders in every changing world.”

The Avalon Kiwanis club will also be participating in this year’s East Orlando Celebrates Education Day in October held in Avalon Park. They will have a booth with the Child Rescue Network so that parents will be able to get free I.D’s made for their children. The event is a fun-filled festival that supports education in the community by showcasing students’ talents, academic abilities and activities.

“I think anyone who wants to be involved with the community should really think about a service club like Kiwanis,” says Daryl Flynn, Kiwanis member and school board vice chair. “They can come and join us at one of our meetings and they can talk to any of us. If a parent of a student is looking to volunteer or work in the community, Kiwanis is definitely the place to be.”

Article by Katelyn Dobkin

It takes more than great teachers and engaged students to make a successful school. It takes an entire community - and that doesn’t just mean parents. Many times even without a family connection to a school, our local businesses offer support in various ways, some obvious, others not so.

They do so through Orange County Public Schools’ Partners in Education program, which pairs businesses with schools.  Relationships between businesses, organizations and schools enhance student learning and promote school improvement. In a partnership, a business “adopts” a school or schools, and shares its resources. This support supplements the work of professional educators and provides students with even more opportunities for success. At each school is an appointed Partners in Education coordinator who nurtures the relationship. Partnerships are designed to be dynamic, innovative and mutually beneficial.

From scientific technology to school supplies to cruises - yes, even cruises - there are hundreds of Partners in Education which contribute time, products, services and resources to help students in the East Orlando community succeed.

Kindergarten teacher Martha O’Connell is the Partners in Education coordinator at Timber Lakes Elementary. She highlighted Brianto’s Original Hoagies and Chick-fil-A at Waterford Lakes Town Center as her school’s Outstanding Partners in Education last year. Brianto’s and Chick-fil-A assist her school, and many others, by hosting fundraisers and providing food for teachers on special occasions such as conference nights or staff meetings. Similar partnership activities at area eateries were highlighted by other schools - Beef O’Brady’s Waterford Lakes by Camelot Elementary, Tijuana Flats Avalon by Sunrise Elementary and Qdoba Waterford Lakes by Discovery Middle to name a few.

O’Connell adds that Publix at Avalon Park donates items, as well as encouraging employees to volunteer in the school and hosting field trips. “The children are thrilled when they get to actually scan groceries ‘just like a real cashier.’ Publix also explains college scholarship opportunities highlighting our Destination College program from the very beginning of their school career.”

FORTUNE 500 company Science Applications International Corporation’s (SAIC) corporate mission is tied to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) activities in all grade levels of education. When Lanny Wood, Timber Creek High’s ‘Project Lead the Way’ instructor, presented at a conference last year, SAIC managers were so impressed they awarded the school $20,000 to further that STEM program.

Columbia Elementary and BJ’s partnership is going on four years; when school started last year they dropped by with a surprise:  a brand new laptop computer!

But while big donations like those are fantastic, smaller companies also make a huge difference. Sunrise Elementary’s Partners in Education coordinator Jenny Burton offers kudos to Cruise Holidays, a two-person company owned by parents in the neighborhood. “Cruise Holidays steps up in a BIG way to help whenever asked, both with man power as well as funding.  They were the title sponsor for our PTA Fall Festival, donating $1,000 cash and hours of volunteer time. Also, they host a cruise fundraiser and are talking about sponsoring a Geography Bee next year.”  She notes XTreme Bounce donated bounce houses for the festival, making it a fun event for the kids.

Timber Lakes’ O’Connell notes that in order for the Partners in Education program to be successful, businesses need to feel the community’s appreciation for their efforts. “The next time you stop into any of East Orlando’s businesses, take a moment to thank them for their efforts with our schools. And if you know of a business who isn’t yet engaged, encourage them to call a nearby school and ask how they can help!”

Article by Sara AU, Orange County Public Schools Partners in Education Coordinator

If students choose to attend college, there are literally hundreds of programs available to help them pay for and succeed in the secondary education program of their choice. One such opportunity available locally to students attending Valencia College is the Bridges to Success (BTS) program, which offers a wide range of support services to minority and socio-economically disadvantaged students who need assistance getting through college.

Students accepted to the BTS program are offered a two year scholarship to Valencia College and presented with numerous leadership and teambuilding opportunities. One such opportunity is joining the Men of Success Acquiring Ideal Character (MOSAIC) and Leading and Taking In New Achievements (LATINA) arms of the BTS program. Among other activities, students are given the chance to become a mentor for younger Orange County Public School students who need some assistance themselves at Cheney Elementary, Timber Lakes Elementary or Legacy Middle School.

“Each of the students in either the MOSAIC or LATINA program are assigned a mentor themselves, which is a faculty person or staff person at Valencia,” says Donna Rivera-Kalala, academic advisor to the Bridges to Success Department at Valencia College. “Those students then are given the opportunity to ask questions and learn from staff here while going out to the community, giving back and mentoring students of their own in one of the three partner schools.”

The Valencia students typically spend time assisting the elementary and middle school students improve their FCAT readiness, reading, mathematics and general productivity in the classroom. Students being mentored in the school range from ESE/ESOL students to at-risk youth and everything in between. “Who they’re helping really depends on the school’s particular needs at that time,” says Rivera-Kalala. “Typically they’re paired with students who are learning at different levels than some of their peers.”

The results have been very positive to date. “Legacy Middle’s Assistant Principal, Monica Johnson, says that there have been significant gains, which she attributes directly to our involvement at the school with students,” says Rivera-Kalala. “Most every student has progressed academically and we’re very proud of that.”

BTS students spend several hours per week at the school they’re assigned to. Although they’re given the option to change schools at the end of a semester, most tend to stay at the school they were originally assigned.

Rivera-Kalala thinks the program is so successful for Valencia students because the sheer exposure they are given throughout the local community. “It’s not just volunteering at the schools, but it’s a wide-array of activities and leadership opportunities they are presented with,” she says. “They get to go out and meet other students and gain exposure to various aspects of the community, whether that’s visiting the Ronald McDonald house or taking part of a breast cancer walk.”

Students accepted to the BTS scholarship program are “middle of the road” students, according to Rivera-Kalala. They aren’t 4.0 GPA stars, nor below average students struggling to get by. “We take average students who want to succeed and give themselves a boost,” she says. “There’s a significant difference in their demeanor when they graduate with their two year degree after being in the program; and I think that has to do largely with the experience and leadership development offered in our program.”

The fact that they donate time to help local public school children in need makes the success of the Valencia students that much sweeter for Rivera-Kalala. “I think the most inspiring thing about the program is the progression that students make,” she says. “When it’s all said and done, I can really see the students are headed down a great path for future success.”

Article by Corey Gehrold