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written by Eddy Solon, Northwest Village
East Orlando Realtor, Keller Williams
Realestate32828@gmail.com
Welcome neighbors. Congratulations to the many hard working Avalon Park residents that are taking a leap to the next stage of their lives-AP graduates. As parents, Uncles, Aunts, neighbors, we are so proud of your accomplishments and are excited about what the future holds for you. We are here, at a time of reaping the rewards of hard work and determination and at a time that is often full of hope and fear.... graduation time. From Creative World Schools, Primrose, and Kids r Kids Pre K graduates, to Avalon Elementary and Stone Lakes, to Avalon Middle School soon to be 9th graders, to our very own college bound (for some) graduates of Timber Creek High School, YOU MADE IT! You will soon come to know how life is full of new beginnings, and though change can be scary, it is often necessary for growth. This past month in Avalon Park there were so many events, promotions, and activities that took place, including Movies under the Stars with REMAX sponsoring rides for residents in a Hot Air Balloon (wow!), to the Clinic now offering discounted services one day a week to residents, to the many coordinated clubs activities such as Running clubs and Triathlon group. It is so simple to get connected to neighbors, just join a club!
Last month we were asked why an event or an issue impacting our community was not included. The simple answer is, although we strive to cover issues impacting our community, unless someone writes an article and submits it, it most likely will not be included. This newsletter is truly a newsletter developed by neighbors for neighbors and the content responsibility is shared by the community, therefore we all are part of the Gazette Team. Hence, if you have an event or life style oriented article that you would like to submit, please do so! Submit your article by the third Thursday of the month, by 12 pm, to publishing@apgazette.com for consideration in the next issue.
Lastly, one new series has received a positive response from our readers, “My Journey." We are excited. Every month, we have had the opportunity to be inspired by one of our neighbors and peek inside their life’s journey. We will share their challenges, disappointments, triumphs, and reflections. It has been enriching, rewarding, and most of all, a great contribution to our monthly articles. In this issue, we have the opportunity to read the journey of myself, Eddy Solon, an East Orlando Business Owner, Avalon Park Resident, and a community organizer.
EAST ORLANDO SAFETY
Avalon Park Neighborhood Watch: This Past Month
written by Brian Jones, Parkside Landing
Overall Neighborhood Watch Coordinator
brianj4u2@gmail.com
In January we launched Business Watch to create an avenue for participants that want to help keep our downtown Avalon Park community safe and thriving. Business watch is designed to work with the Neighborhood Watch model, which is to report all suspicious incidents or activity even if minor in nature. Avalon Park business owners and residents are encouraged to participate in this initiative that is supported by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. To participate, join the “Avalon Park Business Watch” Facebook group.
Avalon Park Neighborhood Watch continues to grow. Residents are reporting incidents in our community. The OCSO off duty deputy team have made several arrest in relation to several incidents in our community.
You are invited!
Neighborhood Watch meetings are held at the South Village Clubhouse on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 7pm. All residents are welcome to attend.
32828 Statistics: Zone 22B
Retrieved from OCSO WebsiteSince the last Newsletter, there were 13 Auto Burglaries, 10 Residential Burglaries, and 2 Stolen Vehicles Reported.
Case Number Crime Location Date
130041621 AUTO BURGLARY [3000 - 3048] LAMBERTON BV 5/15/2013
130040619 AUTO BURGLARY [401 - 625] CANARY ISLAND CT 5/12/2013
130403740 AUTO BURGLARY [13110 - 13198] MARSH FERN DR 5/11/2013
130040258 AUTO BURGLARY [3101 - 3149] ERSKINE DR 5/10/2013
130039695 AUTO BURGLARY [11901 - 11999] LAKE UNDERHILL RD 5/9/2013
130039825 AUTO BURGLARY [400 - 698] S ALAFAYA TL 5/9/2013
130040003 AUTO BURGLARY [2800 - 2998] ARA DR 5/8/2013
130039075 AUTO BURGLARY [201 - 599] MARK TWAIN BV 5/7/2013
130038687 AUTO BURGLARY [14100 - 14398] GOLDEN RAIN TREE BV 5/6/2013
130038498 AUTO BURGLARY [13200 - 13498] EARLY FROST CI 5/5/2013
130038504 AUTO BURGLARY [13200 - 13498] EARLY FROST CI 5/5/2013
130403550 AUTO BURGLARY [7000 - 7298] H C KELLEY RD 5/5/2013
130035860 AUTO BURGLARY [14200 - 14268] LOVERS KEY LN 4/27/2013
130041013 RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY [3900 - 4028] HEATHCOTE DR 5/13/2013
130040643 RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY [601 - 829] BELLA VIDA BV 5/12/2013
130040738 RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY [13517 - 13599] FORDWELL DR 5/12/2013
130039311 RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY [12001 - 12049] AVALON LAKE DR 5/7/2013
130038088 RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY [16701 - 16799] CEDAR CREST DR 5/4/2013
130038271 RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY [12601 - 12759] ALEGUAS LN 5/4/2013
130037815 RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY [3850 - 3898] CLEARY WY 5/3/2013
130037827 RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY [100 - 598] WOODBURY PINES CI 5/3/2013
130037627 RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY [16701 - 16799] CEDAR CREST DR 4/29/2013
130035919 RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY [14001 - 14025] TURNING LEAF DR 4/27/2013
130041875 STOLEN VEHICLE [13840 - 13898] PHOENIX DR 5/15/2013
130035872 STOLEN VEHICLE [300 - 398] S ALAFAYA TL 4/27/2013
BLANKETS OVER BOLIVIA- AP Rotary Club
hcortassa@gmail.com
What do you think of when you think of paradise? A white sandy beach with tranquil blue seas, lush mountains blanketed with trees, or grass and wild flowers. Perhaps it is a hammock swinging gently in the wind by a lazy river. There are paradises all over our world. We visit them for vacation or business. We stay for a short time. We eat the local food and we enjoy the landscape. Sometimes we get lucky enough to venture off the beaten path that the locals use. But do we really SEE that paradise. Do we actually take the time to get to know the culture and the indigenous people? Do we take the time to find out what their pleasures and hardships are?
Here is a story of one Interact* member named Nicole and her experience in Bolivia.
Nicole Balderrama’s family is from Bolivia. Nicole and some of her family reside here in Avalon Park. Every year they go back to Bolivia to visit friends and extended family. In 2011 Nicole went to Bolivia to visit her family. When she really looked around, she became dismayed at the amount of impoverished children. Children, as young as five, on the street begging for food, money, clothing, anything, that would help their families.
When she returned home to the US, she decided to send toys to the local church in Cochabamba, Bolivia for Christmas. The church was very grateful, but said, what we really need is clothing. Every year, the indigenous people of the Andes Mountains, located in the West of Bolivia, travel by foot to this church. They seek shelter, clothing, food, and medicine.
Nicole wanted to do more than provide clothing. So, she did some research. She discovered that the major cause of death for children in Bolivia is hypothermia. She decided she wanted to provide blankets, blankets for some of the 53% of Bolivians that live in poverty.
She partnered with the Cochabamba Rotary Club and the San Martin De Porres Orphanage. The San Martin De Porres Orphanage takes in children that have been abandoned due to loss of limbs, mental disorders, lack of family income to take care of them, autistic children, and any disorder that would place a financial burden on the family.
Through her tireless efforts, Nicole was able to provide T-shirts from Timber Creek High School and blankets and jackets donated from local families and the Rotary of Avalon Park.
Through Nicole’s efforts, there are children that now have hope. Hope for a better tomorrow, and the warmth of knowing that there are people that care.
So what is next for Nicole? She has enrolled at Southern Union State Community College. She is in the process of introducing Rotaract** to their community, and is working on raising funds to provide wheel chairs to the San Martin De Porres Orphanage.
The author wishes to thank Nicole for sharing her story, and to acknowledge the Balderama family for supporting Nicole on her journey.
The world truly is a small place. You can effect change. You can make a difference. When you reach outside of your busy world and get involved, you will begin to experience the unexpected exhilaration of helping others.
We invite you to come to one of our meetings. We meet every Wednesday at 7:15am, at the South Village Community Center.
Coffee and breakfast are complimentary. The rewards are priceless.
For more information, please visit our website at RotaryClubOfAvalonPark.org.
*Interact is an extension of Rotary on the High School level. All Interact groups are sponsored by one or more local Rotary groups.
**Rotaract is an extension of Rotary on the College or University level. All Rotaract groups are sponsored by one or more local Rotary groups.
EAST ORLANDO REAL ESTATE
CHIT AND CHAT
brenda@TopOrlandoHomes.com
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A REALTOR!
BRENDA: What to look for in a realtor is a very important question in many aspects. Choosing the correct realtor for your real estate needs whether buying or selling can save you time, money and headaches. It truly amazes me how many sellers choose a “friend” or a realtor who is out of the area when the seller goes to sell their home their most valuable asset in most cases. This is the single biggest error a seller can make. When selling your home it is crucial to find a highly experienced, local agent who sells actively within your community. That realtor will know the community, the current market value and history of the homes and usually has numerous connections in the community/neighborhood to help sell the sellers home. A local realtor will have a number of listings in that community and this helps tremendously to “cross market” with their other listings to obtain a qualified buyer who will close. If the realtor doesn’t know the community or area this puts the seller and their home sale at a true disadvantage.
PAMELA: Yes I would agree with this, selecting a top buyer’s Realtor familiarity with the areas and homes the buyers are looking for is crucial. A buyer needs to find a Realtor they like and. As a buyer you will be working closely with your Realtor, your lender and your home inspector. These individuals and you will make up your team that will move you through the closing process. It‘s vital to know that you can trust everyone on your team and that you enjoy spending time with them as you will all be working together. Look for an experienced agent who is willing to schedule a Buyer’s consultation and will take the time to explain the process of buying and the current market.
BRENDA: Yes, the Buyer’s consultation is the most important first step where the Realtor and Buyer meet, get to know one another and to truly understand what the buyer is looking for to suit their needs and their budget. Many realtors miss this important step and waste the buyer’s and their time as the Realtor is not understanding what the buyer’s criteria and motivations are in looking for their home.
PAMELA: Working with a Realtor who has good relationships with listing agents is key in all markets but especially in this strong sellers’ market. Most homes in this market are listed and pended within a few days of the listing going on the market. With numerous multiple offers on many of the homes. it really helps if a Realtor has experience working with the listing agents.
BRENDA: Yes, as an experienced listing specialist it makes the selling process run much more smoothly when the buyer’s agent knows the market and knows what they are doing. As a seller I would look for a listing agent who has the designation of CRS Certified Residential Specialist and SFR Short Sale Specialist, if you are doing a short sale on your home. This is a realtor who has invested in their education, certification, and is even more qualified to handle your real estate sale.
PAMELA: As a Buyer, I would also recommend looking for a Realtor who has the designation ABR – Accredited Buyer’s Representation. This is a Realtor who has furthered their education on the buying process and is considered a specialist in the buying process. Choosing a Realtor who truly listens to your needs and works toward your goals in obtaining a property.
BRENDA: A recommendation from a friend, colleague, or neighbor is certainly a good starting point but not a good idea to hire an agent solely on a friend’s recommendation. You can call the local real estate board to get the agent’s standing in the board based on their sales. This way you’ll have a good idea how active of a realtor they are. It’s never a good idea to hire a realtor who just does real estate “part time”. You want a Realtor who is working full time for you to obtain the best property for you and/or to sell your most valuable asset your home.
REAL ESTATE 32828 by the Numbers!
written by Eddy Solon, 32828 Realtor, AP Resident
Keller Williams Advantage Realty II
Keller Williams Advantage Realty II
This past month, April, by the numbers: 91 single family homes sold in the 32828 zip code, the average price per square feet was around $91.06 (numbers taken from http://eastorlandorealestatenews.blogspot.com). As of 05/15, there were 31 SHORT SALES and 33 FORECLOSURES homes for sale in all of Orlando.
MY JOURNEY: Eddy Solon
One Neighbor's Story
written by Eddy Solon, Avalon Park Resident
TheSolonFamily@yahoo.com
It's funny to reflect on who you are now, who you were then, and who you are becoming. These questions can be somewhat scary considering it may unearth some unwanted memories, triumphs, and disappointments, but in the same breath, it speaks to my Journey, my personal story that has shaped my perspective, my being, and my life.
Who am I now?
I am a Father of four beautiful girls, a Realtor, a Husband to my wife of seven years, Vanessa, and most of all a believer. I have lived in Avalon Park going on seven years, was a past overall coordinator for the neighborhood watch program, 2009 Avalon Park Citizen of the Year, and currently volunteer in our community through the Gazette.
Who was I back then?
The first part was the easy part, because I am here, living, breathing, and blessed and on the surface we can keep everything nice and tidy; if we did so it really wouldn't speak to my personal journey, but only to who I am today. Lord knows, I would just like to keep it with a nice bow on top but the truth is what it is. I was born to immigrant parents from Haiti, with a mom that takes every opportunity to remind me how she arrived to America on a plane and how she had flushing toilets in her house growing up. I didn't know what that meant until I got older. Didn't everyone have flushing toilets? A big part of who I am is my Mom. My mother's Mom was of Cuban descent that had a God parent that lived in Haiti. Upon visiting her God Parent one summer, she was kidnapped and never saw her family again. To this day, my mom talks about her mother's beauty and her amazing eyes which she often reflects upon when looking at her grandchildren. My mom was her mother's first born and a product of a rape. Her Mother was violated by the school master, the principal. Her mother later married and had three other daughters and one son with her husband, who worked for the Government, hence their social status. They had maids (and flushing toilets too) and were considered upper class. My dad, a Wall Street Banker who made it to VP in Chase Manhattan, lived on the same street as my Mom growing up and also had a very interesting upbringing. His father worked directly for the President of Haiti, as the photographer, and his mom was a seamstress. He too came here on a plane!
I grew up in the suburbs in Hempstead, NY. When I look back, I am so appreciative of my upbringing, since I know now the importance of having a global perspective. Having neighbors who were lawyers, doctors, dentist, engineers that came in all shapes, sizes, and colors, I had no idea or concept of race, nor did it impact one decision throughout my youth. I had best friends and neighbors of all shapes, sizes and color. I emphasize this because for the longest time I did not make any connection to what was being experienced in my twenties when I was in Florida. My Dad and Mom was both very hard workers and my Dad specifically was not only a hard worker, he was highly intelligent. Although he was intelligent, he was very cold and not a loving father. I don't remember him ever telling me “I love you” when I was growing up nor ever remember him hugging me. He was also very mean and angry and not the best influence in understanding the proper way of speaking to your spouse. I remember making him a card one year for his birthday and he looked at it and said "You couldn't just buy a card in the store" and laughed. I don't think he thought it was being harsh. He probably was considering it as joking, but it definitely crushed my spirits. I grew up in a household where my Dad's dinner was served on a platter and that platter was taken up to his room every evening, while my Mom and her six kids ate together at the dining table. There was a disconnect between him and his children. It seems like the more I try not to be like my Dad, by being loving to my wife and children and being connected, I am haunted by the same demons- being short-tempered, struggling to connect deeper, and keeping everything business, yes even in relationships. I am very good in business relationships, but struggle to get deeper personally.
At 17, my parents divorced, and I left NY to go to Florida to live with my Dad. I was kicked out in a matter of months and was homeless for about a day. My Aunt took me in and I finished High School in Ocala, FL. Ocala is very beautiful, it's horse country, but it was vastly different from NY and as a young man, reflecting back, I know now how my ignorance has kept me out of some very ugly stuff. I was considered different by everyone. Some said I spoke too proper, others saw me based solely on my skin color, but in any case, I was considered different and was accepted for my differences which I do appreciate, especially in a small town like Ocala. Oh, that's just Eddy, he is different. Because I was accepted for my differences, now looking back, culturally several barriers were broken and I somewhat enjoyed the same relationships I had growing up even in a divided school. Now knowing what I know now, Ignorance is truly bliss!
Upon graduating from High School, I assessed my life and told myself that I needed to build a life for myself since no one was their financially to help me or support me. My meal ticket with my Aunt has expired, so I decided that I wanted to go to college and to pay for it, I would join the Army Reserves. I joined the Army Reserves in 1996, going to boot camp one summer, starting college that fall and spring, and then going back for my Military training the following summer. I did not miss one semester of school. I majored in Mechanical Engineering. My junior year of college, my girlfriend became pregnant. During my senior year, we had twin girls. Looking back, honestly, I wish I had an opportunity to speak to myself and advise myself of the consequences of pregnancy and raising children with another. I was dumb and full of my own opinions. I was 22! Looking back, I did have family and friends speak to me, but I thought I knew it all. During that same time, my Dad kicked out the two youngest kids from his home, and they came to live with me. I was 22 with two kids living with my girlfriend in a two bedroom apartment in east Orlando, now taking in my two younger brothers and getting ready to graduate Engineering School. We had our hands full. I seriously don't know how we did it. During that time, I sent a letter to my father letting him know how disappointed I was in his continued actions. He wrote me back and told me how I was always the stupid child and didn't have any brains. Looking back, I just so loved how supportive he was!
Within a year, I graduated college, got a job at Lockheed Martin, broke up with my girlfriend; twins came to live with me full time and my brothers went back to NY to live with Mom. I was a single Dad who was raising twin girls. I left Lockheed after two years to start my first engineering business with college buddies. We were fairly successful for three years, buying and selling obsolete parts. However, the purchase orders ranged from $5K to $25K each and it just felt like it was feast or famine all the time. I also self-started an entertainment business on the side which we provided talent including entertainers for parties and models for tradeshows and TV. Our models were featured on the TV show the Daily Buzz (don't know if they are still around). It was a nationally syndicated show at the time and we were contracted by TJ Maxx to model their spring collection. As far as the party entertainer’s side of the business, that is a whole another story!
So it was only me and the twins for four years, and after suffering some business losses, I found myself at a point where the whole world was on my shoulders and I was only 26. I felt abandoned, I felt like I was failing, and I felt like there was no purpose. After finding myself sleeping in my office, I started to seriously contemplating suicide. At that point, I came to myself. I told myself that this isn't me, I am so upbeat. This isn't me. After that, that very weekend, I started going to church just to find a place of peace, not to be religious, just to get away... that was my sole purpose! I am not one to be led by anyone, so I decided that I will have to read the bible for myself. So at that point, I told myself to take everything seriously and give it 100 percent to see saw where it took me. I decided to believe whole heartedly no matter how ridiculous the story I read sounded, in my logical being. I believed and held on to the belief expecting it to be. THIS WAS THE BEST DECISION THAT I HAVE EVER MADE IN MY LIFE.
After reading the word for myself and starting to fully believe and practice all the principals, I found my wife at membership class. She was a quiet and reserved, beautiful women. I was 27 she was 22. I experienced the world full on, she was sheltered and was the youngest child so we were actually further a part in years, but we had one thing in common, our belief. She thought, rightfully so, that my twin daughters were my sisters and I knew after meeting her that she would be my wife. We were married in 2006 and had our wedding on 07/07/07. We became a blended family and had two daughters: the first on our wedding anniversary, 07/07/08, Hannah Marie, and second on 09/26/11, Gabriella Elizabeth. Soon after meeting my wife, I was contacted by NASA to my delightful surprise (considering I applied all throughout college) to come work for them
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We purchased a house in Avalon Park, and I worked for NASA for 5 years as an accomplished Space Shuttle Reliability Engineer receiving numerous prestigious awards including a Launch Director Award and worked hand in hand with astronauts. Prior to the Space Shuttle Retirement, since the writing was on the wall, my wife and I decided to take the leap of faith and start our own engineering company but with lessons learned from my past life, we decided to write proposals for major contracts. Within a year of starting our company, we were selected for two major contracts worth $3 Million, one with BAE Systems that provided reliability engineering support to the new Ground Combat Vehicles and another with the United States Air Force to provide sustainment engineering for aging missile test equipment. We received notification first from BAE that we were selected, and at that time I gave notice to NASA that I was leaving. My wife, seven months pregnant with Gabriella at the time, was very faithful and so was I, so we were surprised after waiting for the BAE contract to turn on, that the Army will not be funding the project. Imagine this, a pregnant wife, four children depending on you, and no job. We were devastated and went back to our faith for we went forward always believing a promise that was given to us, and three days later, to our amazement, the United States Air Force sent an email notifying us of our win on a contract that we submitted. While most were losing their jobs, we were hiring! We just could not believe how we were being kept. We executed the contract in 2012 successfully and with that success we invested in real estate specifically purchasing properties in the 32828 zip code. And here we are today, I am doing something that I always wanted to do by being an investor and a real estate professional. How did we get here?
Who Am I becoming?
I hope I am becoming a better husband, a more loving husband, a more sweet and kinder husband. I hope that I get rid of my tendency to be somewhat harsh and critical. I hope that I am becoming a good father, a father that is loving to his twins daughters without holding onto guilt and regret from the past, a father that is not so disappointed in making a past decision that he does not enjoy the relationship of his present, a father that above all is loving and accepting. I sure hope this is what I am becoming because I surely do not feel it. I hope that I am a man that continues to seek to build our businesses with my wife and respect her decisions. I am hoping above all that I reflect the one who brought me here, who has kept me throughout it all, and who has made my journey one filled with Faith, Hope and Love.
SOCIAL ME
Here's what's on Social Media:
Avalon Park Band: Peyote Moon
We're playing again - come listen to us rock on some new songs, as always there will be a good upbeat mix of covers and originals
3891 Avalon Park East Boulevard Orlando, Orlando
Northwest Village Lemonade Stand
When: June 8 between 10 am-2pm
Where: on Red Mangrove and Earpod
AP Gazette Opportunities
As a new and growing newsletter, we have many opportunities for neighbors to contribute and volunteer their writing talents and time to help build community. We are a group of volunteers. Below are several positions still needing to be filled:
1. Reviewers- to review final submittal of newsletters prior to publishing
2. Education Contributor- An article written by an Educator in one of East Orlando schools. Topics may be anything to do with Education and teacher, student, and parent awareness. This will be a good place to highlight top achievers in our school (teachers and students).
3. Sports Contributor- To discuss East Orlando Sports, anything from little league and up
4. Political Contributors- Discuss local politics that impact East Orlando Residents along with other Political contributors
To be able to participate, you must be an East Orlando resident, if writing, submit an article prior to 3rd Thursday of the Month 12:00 pm, and send your interest and brief description of your background to Publishing@apgazette.com Keep in mind, any neighbor can submit an article.
5. Tell us your story- Have a personal story about a triumph or a life transition that took place and you think it will benefit others, tell us your story by
emailing publishing@apgazette.com
6. Have A Birthday or Anniversary coming up, Email us and we will showcase it in the associated issue. Email publishing@apgazette.com
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