Circulating to over 5,000 plus subscribers in Orlando and surrounding communities

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Volume III Issue VI



Delta Rocket over Publix- Photo Credit:  Amy Meador
AVALON PARK GAZETTE
Volume III Issue VI
Building Community One Issue at at Time

                   

IN THIS ISSUE

Avalon Park Foundation,  Back to School Rally, Birth Mothers who Adopt, East Orlando Safety,  Orange County, Neighborhood Conference, Basics of Vegetable Gardening, East Orlando Expansion, Real Estate 32828, Summer Flag Football Camp, and AP Gazette Opportunities
Avalon Park Foundation
Newsletter

Submitted by Brenda Kolbrich

The Avalon Park Foundation awards a grant at the annual Foundation Gala in November. The grant awarded is up to $5,000 to a local organization. This is one way the Foundation gives back to our local East Orlando community. To apply for the 2014 grant the application can be found at
www.avalonparkfoundation.org.

The deadline for applications is October 1, 2014. 

by Carly Sullens, an Avalon Park Resident

Birth Mothers Who Do Not Want To Be Found

Birth mothers, also known as first mothers, biological mothers, bio moms and natural mothers, are women who became pregnant, gave birth and then gave their baby up for adoption. Some birth mothers gave their baby up for adoption during a time period when adoptions were closed. She was lead to believe she will never see her biological child again once the adoption was finalized.

For some birth mothers, after the adoption happened, they needed to close the door and move on from the painful adoption experience. There are many reasons why a birth mother may not want to be found or have a reunion with their now adult, biological child.

A birth mother may not want to be contacted by their adult biological child for the following reasons:
  • She was promised by the adoption agency her biological child or the adoptive family will never make contact with her.
  • She may have feelings of shame and remorse from the pregnancy and subsequent adoption that is too painful to feel and face.
  • She does not want anyone to know about her secret, of giving birth and giving a baby up for adoption.
  • She has since remarried and had additional children and has not told her husband or current child about her past history of giving a child up for adoption.
  • She may fear what her biological child will say, do or want.
  • Her pregnancy, birth, and adoption experience were traumatic and she may fear the emotions a reunion might resurface.
  • She may have been told by the adoption agency, adoptive parents, or her own family that it is in the best interest of her child to never have contact with her, even when this child becomes an adult.
  • She may have been raped and gave the baby up for adoption instead of an abortion. She may fear seeing the child, now an adult, would resurface the traumatic memory of the rape.
  • She may not want to face the adoptive parents who raised her child.
  • She may fear the adoptive child will ask who his or her biological father is. She may not even know who the father was if the child was conceived when she had multiple sexual partners, or conceived during a one night sexual encounter without ever having contact with him again.
  • She may fear the reunion will bring remorse and painful memories of a broken heart when the biological child's father left her or broke up with her because of her pregnancy.
  • The biological father may have been threatening, abusive, an alcoholic, or treated her poorly. She may be frightened a reunion with her biological child may also reconnect her to a man she fears and wants to stay away from.
  • She may be unsure how to relate to her biological child who is now an adult.
Prepare for a Reunion Even if You Do Not Anticipate One

It is best for birth mothers to be prepared for the possibilities of their biological child finding them. A Birth mother who prepares for a reunion, regardless if it happens or not, will give herself the ability to work through some of her past issues.

The possibility of an adoptee finding their birth mother increases as sealed adoption records are opened and modern technology makes it easier to track down someone when you have their identifying information.

The choice for an adoptee to find their birth mother is an individual one and the reasons behind it are unique as well. The adoptee may want to find their birth mother because he or she is seeking medical history, or wants information on their biological lineage. Or an adoptee may be seeking their birth mother because he or she may hope to grow a relationship with her.

Here are some steps to help birth mothers prepare for the possibility of their biological child making contact:
  • Be aware, if your biological child is now over the age of 18, he or she may try to seek and make contact with you at any time.
  • Be prepared for him or her to write you a letter, call, email you or come knocking on your door.
  • You may want to write a note today listing all the medical information and peculiar traits he or she has inherited so you can offer at least this information when your biological child connects with you.
  • Be forthcoming and truthful when he or she does contact you.
  • Do not ignore him or her and hope he or she goes away.
  • If you are positive you do not want a relationship with your biological child after he or she contacts you then be upfront, truthful and sensitive about your feelings. You will probably devastate him or her. A sharp clean cut is painful but easier to heal than a long jagged and deep cut.
  • Perhaps you can be forthcoming in giving him information about his or her medical history, or who the biological father is, and even help him or her connect to full or half siblings, even if you do not want a relationship with your biological child .
  • If you are unsure how to proceed after he or she contacts you, be truthful about that.
  • Be prepared for him or her to contact you and once hearing his or her voice or seeing his or her picture you might have a drastic change of heart and a need to see your child.
  • Perhaps ask yourself why you are keeping this secret from your husband all these years, and if it is time to have a full disclosure. The truth does set you free. That way, if your son or daughter does contact you, you have already dealt with this part of the experience.
  • If you tell your children, the ones that you raised, you once gave a child up for adoption, know they might be so excited to know their half or full brother or sister they might want to seek and find him or her.
  • Go to therapy. If the past is too much, perhaps it is time to unload the hurt and gain a different perspective of yourself and the situation you were in. Therapy can provide an opportunity to let go of the grief and pain.
  • Some states, such as in Ohio, sealed adoption records are now in the process of being opened. Ohio allows for a birth mother to leave a note with the child's original birth certificate. If the adult adoptee seeks their original birth record, they can be notified if their birth mother would like contact or not and how they would like to be contacted. Know the laws in the state where you gave your baby up for adoption. Times are changing and sealed records are now being mandated by the courts to be available to adult adoptees.
Reunions are Emotional

Times are changing and the rights have shifted away from protecting and sealing the hidden away. The 'hidden away' is a person. Let go of the promise you were told as a young adult that he or she will never find you. This promise offered, formulated from the adoption agency, your parents and whomever was done in a way to be 'supposedly helpful.' When this legal binding promise was made the interest of your son's or daughter's need to know their kin was overlooked. So was the fact he or she would not have his or her necessary medical and heritage information.

Remember your son or daughter is a living breathing part of who you are. Can you make room if he or she does find you? Can you integrate that part back into your life? And if the answer is still, no, then let him or her know you are not at a place in your life to embrace your son or daughter again, and it is not about him or her but your inability to open a door that was once shut.

Mother and Son Adoption Reunion

Adoption Reunion

Reunions are complicated and a life changing event. They are not simple and highly complex. So is adoption. Some birth mothers may fear their adoptive child is seeking them out for revenge because of the initial abandonment. This fear is quite the opposite of what most adoptees feel when they are seeking to find their mom. They usually want an opportunity to meet the woman who is in fact their biological mother, and often this desire to meet their mother comes from a place of love and curiosity.

Bill writes about this in a letter to his birth mother. Adoption: A Letter To My Birth Mother Who I Never Knew.

He states in this heartfelt letter:

"It is not for me to judge you; you did what you thought was right at the time and I can never know why you made that decision because I wasn’t there and I am not you. There is no blame in this letter."

This sentiment is often shared by many adoptees.

He continues with his letter:

I guess I wanted you to know that I love you and I wanted to thank you.

Each birth mother has a decision when her biological child seeks and finds her. She can either provide the opportunity for a reunion or disown the reunion. Before she makes a decision to deny her biological child of a reunion, it is recommended she firsts reconcile her own past and makes peace with who she is now and who she was then. Reconciling the past and making amends can be life altering and freeing. It might just help her understand why she fears a reunion and what the walls around her represent. It also might help her break down the walls and initiate the process of reuniting and hold her baby in her arms, sometimes for the very first time.

http://hubpages.com/hub/What-To-Do-If-You-Are-A-Birth-Mother-And-Do-Not-Want-To-Be-Found

REAL ESTATE 32828
written by  Eddy Solon, 32828 Realtor, AP Resident
Remax Avalon Park
http:///www.Realestate32828.com

For Foreclosures listings, Home Valuations,
and for luxury homes in East Orlando, please visithttp://www.Realestate32828.com 

The Latest price per square feet on homes sold in
the 32828 can also be located on the site.

If considering selling, you must determine an estimate
of what your home is worth or what you will need to
begin the process.


Free Lawn care and Carpet Cleaning Offer- Expires
July 31st


The Solon Group Real Estate posted an offer.
List your home with us and get *Free Carpet Cleaning
and Lawn Care! Like our page!


Recent under contract/ Purchased/ Sold
12306 Gingham Ct, Orlando, FL, 32828 
(3 days)


10045 Mooreshire Cir, Orlando, FL, 32829
(6 days)



4204 Austen Falls Lane, Orlando, Fl 32828
(Sold in 20 days)

Photo: Sold!!!!!! Pending within a day, sold within 2 weeks! Beautiful Avalon Park Town Home.   Our wonderful Seller took our advice and were able to sell their house quickly and for top dollar.   If we can't sell it, we don't want it!  It's that simple.  We are not afraid to educate on market realities while working aggressively on your behalf.  Don't waste your time.   Call 321-800-8213 or email Realestate32828@gmail.com to sell or rent your home.



Avalon Park 3rd Annual Summer Flag Football Camp 2014
mbstrainingclub@gmail.com

June 9th-13th
9:00 am -12:00 pm

Location:

Avalon Middle School Football Field

Register online at:

www.mbstrainingclub.org

Cost: $75

Thank you to our most recent Sponsor (Below) who have made a committment:




If you would like to become a Sponsor of MBS, please email sponsorships@tsb4sb.com

 

Interested in Submitting an Article

Articles are due by the third Thursday of the Month, email them to Publishing@apgazette.com

You understand by Submitting an article:
1. It may be edited to fit in the issue without my input
2. All final edits are completed by Avalon Park Gazette Reviewers and Editors in conjunction with the contributor, when deemed necessary
3. I will abide by AP Gazette creed, To build community one issue at a time through practical, informative, and lifestyle oriented articles in commitment with Integrity, Trust, Good will and Honesty.
4. I will submit to final edits made by the AP Gazette Team with my input when deemed necessary or without at the discretion of the AP Gazette Reviewers and Editors
5. I will submit an article before the 3rd Thursday of the month prior to 12 pm to be considered.
6. My article may or may not be considered or may be used in a future article under the sole discretion of the AP Gazette Reviewers and Editors.

If you do not agree, please do not submit an article.

AP Gazette Opportunities

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.  Safety Contributor- Preferably someone in law enforcement who lives or patrol our community to provide monthly contribution on safety trends, practices, and awareness.

6. 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

7.  Have A Birthday or Anniversary coming up, Email us and we will showcase it in the associated issue.  Email publishing@apgazette.com
 
Back to School Rally in Town Park
Getting inspired to kickoff a Great School Year


Bounce Houses. Music. Giveways. Tutoring. After School Programs

We are still in needs of sponsors, partners, and volunteer for this event.  Please email avalongazette@gmail.com if you would like to participate.

 

ORANGE COUNTY NEWS


Save the date! Save the date! Save the date! 
2014 Florida Neighborhoods Conference
July 10 to July 12, 2014
Loews Royal Pacific Hotel
6900 Hollywood Way Blvd

In lieu of holding the Community Conference, NPRD and the City of Orlando will be hosting the 2014 Florida Neighborhoods Conference.

Click here for more information.

Monthly Adopt-A-Tree
Saturday, July 12th ~ 8am to 12pm
Orange County Extension Education Center, 6021 S. Conway Road, Orlando, 32812
                                   
This is a FREE program for all Orange County citizens designed to encourage residents to add trees to our environment.  Adding trees to the landscape has many long-term benefits.  Along with the obvious advantages of shade and beauty, trees provide oxygen, filter pollution, and create habitats for wildlife.  In addition, trees replenish our lost tree canopy that has diminished due to storm damage, age, and development.  Each county resident must provide proof of residency and will receive up to two trees while supplies last.

Basics of Vegetable Gardening in Central Florida
 
New to Florida and like to grow your own vegetables, this class is for you. Learn the basics of Florida vegetable gardening including soil preparation, adjusting soil pH, fertilizing, irrigation, pests and diseases. Gardens may be grown year-round in Florida, vegetable gardening season starts in September in Central Florida.

Saturday, July 12th ~ 9:00am to 10:30am
Wednesday, July 16th ~ 10:00am to 11:30am
Orange County Extension Education Center, 6021 S. Conway Road, Orlando, 32812

Thursday,July 17th ~ 6:00pm to 7:30pm
Jessie Brock Community Center, 310 N. Dillard Street, Winter Garden, 34787

 FREE.  Register online athttp://OCMGS.eventbrite.com.

Block Party Application

Have you or your neighbors considered having a block party in your neighborhood?  Block parties are a way to welcome new neighbors to the neighborhood or a way to celebrated with neighbors on a annual basis.  If so, there is a block party permit that has to be completed prior to having the block party.   Click here to download the block party permit.

For more information, contact  Sharon Cutler at 407.836.8378 or atSharon.Cutler@ocfl.net.

2014 Florida Neighborhoods Conference
July 10 through July 12

This year the Neighborhood Preservation & Revitalization Division is hosting the 2014 Florida Neighborhoods Conference (FNC) in lieu of hosting the yearly Orange County Community Conference.  Please share with your neighbors that we will be hosting the 2014 FNC and we encourage you to register and attend the 2-day event.

The Florida Neighborhoods Conference (FNC) is just weeks away!  This year marks the 18th year of FNC and Orange County is proud to host this statewide event. The Conference will be held July 10th through July 12th, at Loews Royal Pacific Hotel at Universal Orlando.  Participants will benefit from over 25 workshops that illustrate local government programs, answer homeowners associations concerns, and provide assistance with projects and initiatives designed to enhance and revitalize neighborhoods.  The FNC is a 2-day conference where citizens, community leaders, grassroots leaders, and non-profit organizations can learn about improvements that can be made in their communities.  Platinum Conference Sponsors this year include Bright House Networks, TECO Peoples Gas, and Truly Nolen.

Visit Ocfl.net for more info.

EAST ORLANDO SAFETY
32828 Statistics: Zone 22B
Retrieved from OCSO Website
Safety@apgazette.com


MONTH TO MONTH TREND:  

While 59 incidents were reported last Newsletter, 36 incidents were reported this month in our zone, which includes Avalon Park Area and surrounding communities.     Based on the data available, there were 0 Arm to Person Robbery, 5 Auto Burglaries, 36 Commercial Burglaries, 15 Residential Burglaries, 6 Stolen Vehicles, and 1 Strong Arm to Person Robbery.

This month and every month after, we will report a summary of crimes reported in our specific area and adjacent neighborhoods.  The first step in crime prevention is awareness.

Avalon Park Residents, Have a safety concern?  Feel free to email our off duty deputy Sal.Saldano@ocfl.net   He is very responsive!   What does off duty mean?  It really does not mean they are completely off duty.   They are hired by funds set aside by our HOA dues, on their off duty hours, to help secure the safety of our Avalon Park community.    We have three deputies, and Sal is the primary coordinator.

To receive future statistics, Subscribe to our newsletter here

Since first step in crime prevention is awareness, everyone can contribute by forwarding these updates to their neighbor.

East Orlando Resident, have an incident, a report, or safety event, please email Safety@apgazette.com to be distributed to our 2,000 plus subscribers.
 

Abrakoodle Artistic Flare

Some Photos taken from the Kid Art Installation

Photo Credit: Amy Meador

Exclusive: Work on $53.3M east Orlando interchange may start next year
by Anjali Fluker, Senior Staff Writer, Orlando Business Journal


The Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority is set to approve an agreement that is the first step in getting things going on the long-awaited Innovation Way/State Road 528 interchange in east Orlando.

The $53.3 million project — which has been called a critical link in the Innovation Way corridor, set to attract high-wage jobs to the area — will involve the construction of a full interchange with a loop ramp in the northeast quadrant and a flyover above SR 528, documents showed. It also would include the removal of an existing interchange at ICP Boulevard and the extension of Amsterdam Avenue to ICP Boulevard, documents said.
The cost of the project is being split by the authority, Orange County and Salt Lake City-based Suburban Land Reserve, the developer of the nearby International Corporate Park that wants to develop a 6,000-plus home community near the interchange.

The project would require additional approvals before construction could begin. However, documents said construction is set to begin 10 months after an agreement is finalized and then would be completed 18 months after breaking ground.

The agreement also said that design of the project is contingent on Coral Gables-based All Aboard Florida’s intercity passenger rail corridor connecting Orlando International Airport to downtown Miami. All Aboard Florida, which plans to build a $1.5 billion privately funded system, is building a new passenger rail corridor from an existing freight rail line in Cocoa into Orlando along SR 528.

Meanwhile, the meeting could be one of the last hosted by the authority, as Gov. Rick Scott is slated to sign a bill that would consolidate it into a regional expressway authority.
 

The Case for "UPTOWN AVALON"
Avalon Park Blvd and East Colonial, the new development and area should be referred to as Uptown Avalon
Written by Publishing@apgazette.com



Don't we already have an Uptown Avalon Park?

Tou·ché!  We do have wonderfully built luxury townhomes in Avalon Park situated adjacent to Town Park located, in what most of us call, Down Town Avalon Park, however it is in down town AP, but Up town Down Town.  If that makes any sense.   ( side bar: There are only a few homes left, so if you are interested visit the Remax in Avalon Park).

Making the Case

Here are the facts.  Although many, Avalon Park Residents, distinctly separate their community from other surrounding neighborhoods down Avalon Park Blvd, most of our neighbors have no clue that they do not live in Avalon Park.

"Oh, no Darling, you don't live in Avalon Park, you live in Avalon Lakes..."

Any Realtor can tell you that the majority of residents living down Avalon Park Blvd say they live in Avalon Park.   And most Realtors can also tell you that the majority of buyers who are familiar with the area considers any neighborhood on Avalon Park Blvd as Avalon Park.  Why is that, um maybe, because the main road is called Avalon Park Blvd, the proximity to Avalon Park, and the association and familiarization used as talking points about the community are all factors that play into this perception and belief.

There was a drive a couple years ago to make Avalon Park, it's own city and the surrounding neighborhoods were proposed to be a part of that city, so although many would like to believe Avalon Park ends at the roundabout and the intersection of Alafaya & APB, the reality is that our community extends beyond those parameters.  We have neighbors who live in AP and own local businesses down Avalon Park Blvd, and residents who live in surrounding neighborhoods who directly contribute to our local economy daily, so when we say Avalon Park Community, it has a broader meaning then that of Avalon Park Neighborhood which many of us dutifully pay our quarterly HOA payment to.

I say we should embrace the reality in front of us and capitalize on it while building a broader sense of community.  Staying in our bubble and telling ourselves that "the neighborhood down the street from us is not in our community" will only leave us with very little influence to help encourage more development that can help beautify the area.  A rise in property values down the street equates to a higher rise in Avalon Park.    

So What is being proposed here?

As many of you have seen, the new WAWA, Aldi, Wendy's, Dunkin Dounuts, and several others shops are coming to the area.  It's situated "UP" Avalon Park Blvd about 3.5 miles from "Down Town."   Get where I am going with this?

The shopping plaza is currently being named, Avalon Commons, but I propose that it is renamed Uptown Avalon, not Uptown Avalon Park, but simply Uptown Avalon.   In fact, this entire area, including Grandeville Luxury Aparments, should be considered/ perceived as Uptown Avalon.   When Grandeville first was being developed several years ago, they called themselves Grandeville in Avalon Park, but was challenged and had to change their name to Grandeville on Avalon Park, but now, as our community has matured and the upswing potential of building a stronger brand for our community which can yield more commerce, a rise in property values, and a beautification of the area which will attract more developers.   For the thousands of drivers that pass this intersection daily, the consideration will now be, If there is an Uptown Avalon, where is Down town?  Uptown Avalon seem to be an eventual fit for the area, but who knows!

Of course, there is cons.... there are always cons!

1. More commerce, may lead to more traffic
2. As in the past, news reports associated any crime occurring up Avalon Park blvd as Avalon Park although it was wrong, it will become fact.  Our community understanding will certainly grow which is already the case in some of our groups on Facebook.
3. It will certainly promote community with other surrounding neighborhoods which may be a challenge


In Conclusion...

Should Uptown Avalon become a reality, a vision of more shopping, fine dining, and AP style housing in the area will help promote safer neighborhoods and help bring up an area that has been struggling for years.

What are your thoughts?  Please send them to Publishing@apgazette.com