Volume II Issue IV

"Building Community One Issue at a Time!" An East Orlando Neighborhood Newsletter written by Neighbors for Neighbors reaching Avalon Park Residents and surrounding communities.  (This Newsletter is not affiliated or represent Avalon Park POA Newsletter and is independently ran by Neighbors for Neighbors) Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

The AP Gazette "Building Community One Issue at a Time!"

Avalon Park Gazette presents New Beginnings: New Look Volume II Issue IV In this Issue: Welcome, AP Neighborhood Watch, AP Rotary Club, Real Estate 32828,  My Journey, Kite Day,  and AP Gazette Opportunities (Any neighbor in the 32828 zip code can contribute by sending their article to Publishing@apgazette.com for consideration) Lead Reviewer: Sara Morris Managing Editor: Eddy Solon Front Cover Photo: 1.  Easter Day AP Flag,  Taken and Submitted by Ken Denning 2.  AP  Kite Day- Submitted by Russ Mozier Welcome written by Eddy Solon, Northwest Village East Orlando Realtor, Keller Williams Realestate32828@gmail.com   Welcome neighbors.   Summer is right around the corner and for some this means "Aloha."   It's the time of year when Hawaiian themed parties are sprouting up like those pesty chinch bugs.   This past month the Gazette, a newsletter reaching close to 2,000+ residents, received one of the best compliments from one of our subscribers, "Thanks for giving a voice to neighbors and the community."  In light of the many networks we have established here in Avalon Park, including neighborhood Watch, Avalon Park Voice, and Avalon Residents group on Facebook, it is this voice and connection that we have with one another that is key to fostering safer neighborhoods, enriching lives through community activism, and simply being connected.   When I first came to this quaint little cul-de-sac in East Orlando seven years ago, I realized how easy it would be to just go home, lock the doors, and wave occasionally to neighbors. If I simply lived in a neighborhood or a subdivision, I would have done so without much thought, but fortunately we do not only live in a sub division or a neighborhood, instead in Avalon Park, A LIVE AND DYNAMIC COMMUNITY.  The framework that was laid out by Beat Kahli, AP developer, has definitely been built upon by many of AP residents.  This framework has not only impacted AP residents, but East Orlando residents and beyond who come to enjoy the many festivities and "home town" events we have locally.   This Gazette and their AWESOME contributors and editors help enrich the lives of East Orlando residents through their volunteerism and I am so appreciative of that! This past 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 cannot be included.  This newsletter is truly a newsletter developed by neighbors for neighbors and the content responsibility is shared by the community, not only the Gazette team.    Hence, if you have an event, issue, article that you would like to covered, please feel empowered to write the article!  Please submit your article by the third Thursday of the month, by 12 pm, to publishing@apgazette.com   Each article received will be considered for publishing.  Also, we are developing an Avalon Park Easter Egg Hunt Collage, so please feel free to send pictures of your Easter egg hunts to be included in the next issue (please email publishing@apgazette.com). Lastly, we are always evaluating new series to add and consider shelving old ones based on relevance.  Next month, we will be expanding our safety portion of this newsletter to include all of East Orlando, hence Crime Statistics and updates on safety in East Orlando will replace the existing contribution.   Also, one of the new series we are excited about is “My Journey."    Every month, we will have 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 will be 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 Veronica Figueroa, an East Orlando Business Owner-REMAX, Avalon Park Resident, and a community organizer. Avalon Park Neighborhood Watch: This Past Month written by Brian Jones, Parkside Landing Overall Neighborhood Watch Coordinator brianj4u2@gmail.com Great things are happening in our community neighborhood watch program.   Participation has increased at all levels.  Since October 2012, our block captain team has grown 50%, Avalon Park Neighborhood Watch Facebook (FB) group has grown 12%, and we have gained several key players in our overall efforts to keep a close eye on safety and crime prevention in Avalon Park.  Many residents ask me, “Why is it so important to join the Avalon Park Neighborhood Watch FB group?”  Fun facts:  “48% of young Americans said they found out about news through FB and also log in to FB right when they wake up in the morning.  50% of all active users log in every day.  The average user connects to 80 community pages, groups, and events.  People who use FB on their mobile device are twice as active as non-mobile users”.   All these facts support the theory that FB can help get information out to everyone quickly, and this will help all of us stay safe and prevent crime in Avalon Park.  Communication is the key to success in every network and it can only help the effort to be a part of the FB group.  With the help of Jennifer Ingram-Houswright (business watch coordinator) of Soho Office Avalon Park and OCSO Crime Prevention DFC Melissa Belmont, the Downtown Avalon Park area is a Business Watch participant.  (All business owners and managers should email Brian Jones, apwatchcordinator@yahoo.com to join the business watch network in order to stay updated on safety and crime prevention initiatives). This past month the incidents reported on Avalon Park Neighborhood Watch website  by neighbors were: March 2013 Statistics Number Incident Reported Disposition by Off duties/ Update 1 We came home to find our back yard had been entered without our permission and a 1/3 of the passion vine (about 30') had been cut back off our 6 foot privacy fence. The vine had been cut and pushed into our back yard so that the rear windows are now visible from the road. We are concerned it was either a confused contractor, I will not pay anyone for doing unauthorized damage to my house or a weird peeping Tom who wants to be able to see in at night! Not your normal vandals but too weird not to let someone know. OCSO off duty deputy 2 At 8:35pm, noticed shadows behind house that is not well lit. Stepped out to see 3 black males dressed in black walking east in the alley away from residence. They heard my door open, and as I stood and watched them they confronted me asking, "What are you looking at?" I didn't answer them, only stood still. They changed direction, and headed south. OCSO off duty deputy 3 Middle aged woman knocked on the door and asked for a cigarette. Wondering if she was just looking to see if anyone was home. She wasn't any one of my neighbors. I saw her go across the street and knock on a few other doors. OCSO off duty deputy 4 Sometime between the hours of 11 pm on 3/22/13 and 9:30 am on 3/23/13 a some of the cars on Morelyn Crest Circle that were parked on the street were egged. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. OCSO off duty deputy 5 At 8:35 PM tonight, a young man in an orange football jersey knocked on our door to sell newspapers. I told him that people are not allowed to sell door to door here, and he backed up and went away. I was just wondering if he was checking houses to see if people were home. OCSO off duty deputy 6 On 18 March at approx 5:15p I was driving on Golden Raintree toward Guiana Plum. A brown older model pick up passed me (see photo). Unknown where this vehicle came from and once I saw him he was almost beside me. I motioned for him to slow down since someone was ahead crossing the street walking two dogs. The vehicle turned right on Guiana Plum and then left on Chinese Elm. At that point I assume he turned on an alleyway behind the town homes. I was not able to get the license plate number. I estimate the vehicle was traveling at about 45mph as he passed me. OCSO off duty deputy 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 So what do you do when you see something suspicious?  First, contact the non-emergency like at 407-836-HELP or 911, if needed. Secondly, submit an online incident report so neighbors who live in your area can be notified.   You can submit an online incident report at http://www.avalonparkwatch.org/incident_report.htm  Please only monitor and report suspicious activity.  Do not engage any criminals or suspicious individuals. 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 four deputies, and Sal is the primary coordinator. AP Rotary Club: Come Join Us! written by Heidi Cortassa, Avalon Park Neighbor hcortassa@gmail.com Our family moved into the active and tranquil town of Avalon Park about a year ago. We instantly fell in love with the family environment and the sense of community. After about three months of settling in, I began to notice my neighbors bustling about and being very busy in their community. I started to wonder, how can I get involved? On a lazy Sunday morning while drinking my first cup of coffee of the day, I picked up a local magazine that had just been delivered to my house. As I flipped through the glossy pages, I came across an article that forever changed how I looked at volunteer programs. It was written by Whitney Russell and described her experience with our local Rotary Club. I have participated in some volunteering in the past, so this appealed to me. After reading the article, I realized how serious and dedicated these Rotarians were in their community and around world. The World! Wow! Now, I knew that I could help change a community, but, The World? How do you do that!? I wanted to find out so I attended my first Avalon Park Rotary meeting in late September. I was immediately greeted by warm and welcoming smiles. After learning a little more about what Rotary does, I was ready to join. Some of you may be asking, “What is Rotary? And what do they do?” Rotary's 1.2 million members believe it starts with a commitment to Service Above Self. In more than 34,000 clubs worldwide, and 200 countries, you'll find members volunteering in communities, at home and abroad, to support causes such as, education and job training, provide clean water, combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, combat illiteracy, and eradicate polio.  We do this by holding fundraisers in our community. I choose to call them FUNraisers, because we do have fun with them!  Much of our effort is concentrated on our local schools and community. As a result of joining Rotary, I have developed some great new friendships, met fantastic leaders in our community, and have a great sense of pride in our accomplishments. So, this is my personal invitation to you, to come join us for one of our meetings. We meet every Wednesday morning at 7:15am at the Avalon Park South Village Community Center. Breakfast and coffee are complimentary, the rewards are beyond measure. 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 hope to see you soon! For more information, please visit our website at RotaryClubOfAvalonPark.org. Real Estate 32828 written by  Eddy Solon, 32828 Realtor, AP Resident Keller Williams Advantage Realty II http:///www.Realestate32828.com What a dynamic market!  It is a strong seller's market. Yay, for sellers, and also yay for buyers because interest rates are still good and banks are loosening up on lending, requiring less down.   This past month by the numbers:  82 single family homes sold in the 32828 zip code, the average price per square feet was around $77.40 (numbers taken from http://eastorlandorealestatenews.blogspot.com).  As of 04/17, there were 110 Short sales and 67 Bank Owned homes for sale in all of Orlando.  It is good to note that the price per square feet can be misleading because it isn't quite reflective of the upward trend in home prices, but a reflection of homes that sold after months of waiting, when home prices were selling in most cases at a considerably lower price.   Today, in Avalon Park, inventory is starting at the high to mid-100ks, where less than six months ago, home sales started in the low $100ks.    It is definitely a solid sellers’ market and a dynamic one at that.    We still have several neighbors locally that are working with their banks for modifications and some have simply given up because of the lack of progress.    Every situation is different and I tell my buyers and sellers that regardless of what an institution is requesting, they should do what is best for their specific circumstance. Don’t feel pressured or don't allow fear to dictate your next move.  And remember, you do have some control over this process.  A little education and understanding of the various options available along with how to navigate the terrain can go a long way toward resolving your unique real estate situation. Making the best decision requires education, understanding the market realities, and planning. My Journey: Veronica Figueroa One Neighbor's Story written by Veronica Figueroa, Avalon Park Resident veronica@figueroateam.com When asked to share my journey, I wasn't sure where to begin. The reason I was nervous was because my story is not a fairy tale, a rags to riches story, nor a tragic story. It started December 5th, 1995 when I gave birth to my premature son as a single teenage mother not knowing what life would have in store for me next. I came from a family of hard workers. My father was in the Army and my mother was an entrepreneur who managed to open a business outside each military station my father was sent to, whether it was in Germany, Kansas, or Georgia. She figured something was missing and opened some sort of business everywhere she went.  When my son was born I felt it was the beginning of a journey.  A journey I was not prepared for.  And as a single parent, it was not the journey I had imagined. I wanted to go to college; I was a driven student who now faced a different path.  Yet I still had so many goals that I wanted to accomplish.  I took total responsibility for myself and my child while weighing many options for our future. I knew I wanted to go to college but I did not know how I would be able to balance working full time, living on my own, and raising an infant all at the age of seventeen. I was scared! My parents were supportive and encouraged me to follow my dreams.  However, at this point in their lives, they were focusing on their retirement.  My father was no longer in the military. My mother had sold her businesses after suffering multiple burns from an oven exploding at her store.  So financially, my son and I were on our own. But my parents had taught me a strong work ethic (since the age of 12, I had worked for them in the family businesses) and perseverance demonstrated by my mother’s determination to succeed in business. So I knew I had the foundation to succeed in life. I graduated with my high school class and moved on to college a year late. But, I still managed to catch up and graduate from college the same year as my high school class. College life for me looked very different than the average 18 year old. There were no sorority or tailgating parties for me. Instead it was managing a full time job, full class schedule, and being a full time mom. This established the building blocks for what was to come. By the time I graduated college I was married, had a beautiful family and thought life was finally normal. Right after college, at the age of twenty-one, I obtained my real estate license. A friend of mine was scared to take the test alone and I figured extra education would not hurt. So I took the test although I had no intention of pursuing real estate.  I had bought a house, had a good corporate job, and was content. By now my son was in school and loved playing with his beautiful baby sister. I felt I had succeeded and beat the odds. Little did I know, but there was a lot more in store for us. At this point in my life, my mother’s entrepreneur spirit started kicking in and I wanted more from my career. About this time, my husband and I realized we wanted different things in life and amicably divorced after six years of raising a family together. I found myself once again at a crossroads. This is where I feel my journey really began. It was 2005 and I knew I had to once again provide for my children alone. After having some part time success doing real estate while working Human Resources, I took a leap of faith and became my own boss. I realized I did not want to be limited and I felt real estate was the way. I jumped in with both feet. I had no idea that the next seven years would be such a rollercoaster ride. It was a completely different chapter in my life. I never looked back and my career soared. I give credit to the experience of overcoming adversity as a single teen mother for giving me the determination to start and succeed in this new chapter of my life. Soon I was remarried.  My amazing husband became my best friend in life and business partner. Together we have five children.  Our children have grown up in our business, the same way I did as a child. We moved to Avalon Park in 2007 and we fell in love with the Live, Learn, Work and Play concept the community was built on. We knew this was home. My husband Tony and I became involved in the community right away. We both had a vision to be an impactful part of Avalon Park.  We started off by establishing relationships through our real estate career with community members, through the kids' sports, and anything we could get involved with.  In 2009, we established a real estate company in the heart of Avalon Park. Our entrepreneurial spirits led us to other business ventures, which although not always successful, have taught us valuable lessons and helped us understand our niche. In April 2012, we were presented with the opportunity to open a RE/MAX Franchise in Avalon Park. My husband and I were excited and nervous. We felt this was a great opportunity for our business and family. Never did we expect to be franchise owners of such a reputable real estate organization. It indeed has been an amazing ride. In addition to our business success, we consistently stay committed to our community through volunteering. Through our business and our involvement in the community, we have been honored to give back by hosting events. With the help of our entire office, as well as their families, we have hosted many fundraisers to give back to the community. Some of the events we have been able to put on have been a haunted house, back to school bash with supplies given away, free hot air balloon rides, and the New Year’s Eve lantern release. Recently, I was honored to receive 2nd place by the Orlando Regional Realtor Association for How I Positively Impact the Community. I received $1,500 which was donated to the Avalon Park Foundation where I sit as a founding board member. I chose this foundation because I know it goes directly back into the community. The community events that we sponsor would not be possible without the support of my family and my five kids-Shyheim 17, Angelica 16, Haleigh 15, Talisa 14, and Meghan 8. Shyheim looks like he will be following the family tradition of business. Angelica is currently at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado to become a USA Olympic Weightlifter and is an amazing student. Haleigh is a natural athlete exceling in both cheerleading and softball for Timber Creek. Talisa has the balance of being extremely talented in music, art & writing. And little Meghan lights up the room when she walks in. Our five kids willingly help when needed and their energy is infectious. They give us the daily inspiration to never give up. They have been a part of giving back to others, have amazing discipline in life, and at times, have even been an example to my husband and I. My family is extremely proud of being a part of Avalon Park. We love the schools, the businesses, our neighbors, the leaders and the sense of community. We feel that Avalon Park has helped raise our family and will continue to be an integral part of our family’s journey. KITE DAY, A BLAST: How it came to be? written by Russ Mozier, Avalon Park Resident russmozier@yahoo.com I have been making and flying kites most of my life. My wife Pat and I have been making kites and banners for more than twenty years. We fly kites and do kite workshops all over the world. Our involvement began when we joined a kite club up north in 1992. The club was South Jersey Kite Flyers and we are still members, I am the webmaster for their web site. Some of the kite festivals in the United States we attend annually are the Niagara Kite Festival, Virginia Beach Kite Festival, the Wildwood International Kite Festival in New Jersey, the Wright Kite Festival in Kittyhawk North Carolina, the Treasure Island Kite Festival and many more. Locally we have done kid's kite making workshops at Primrose Academy here in Avalon Park, at the Orange County Library and Life Song Church to name a few. We have recently spent two weeks in Mexico where we made kites with kids in orphanages and shelters for abused children.      After living in Avalon Park for six years I was finally able to convince the Avalon Park Group and Leland Management that we needed a kite event here in Avalon Park. I got the go-ahead this year and “Kites Over Avalon” took place on March 16th. The weather that day turned out great; sunny, eighty degrees and a light wind. About sixteen students from the Beta Club at Timber Creek High School showed up to help the kids make their kites. The students worked from ten to three  o'clock and made more than three hundred kites with the kids. Professional kite flyers came from as far away as Tampa, New Smyrna Beach and Melbourne. Gary Resnick from Dade City did six candy drops from a kite, totaling over ten pounds of candy. It was like a pinata in the sky!  Walmart Neighborhood Market provided the candy and I would also like to thank the other locals for their support and donations.  Avalon Park Group for letting me stage this event, Leland Management for providing the materials to make the kites, Remax for the DJ, Publix and Walgreen's for the water and snacks for the volunteers and Eastside Bistro for the coolers and ice, and especially the volunteers from Timber Creek. All of this community involvement made this event a huge success. I am already planning for next year. 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 Easter Day Flag taken by Ken Dennings,  Mr. Denning can be reached at ken@realestateappdesign.com (This Newsletter is not affiliated or represent Avalon Park POA Newsletter and is independently ran by Neighbors for Neighbors)

Volume II Issue III

Avalon Park Gazette presents New Beginnings: New Look Volume II Issue III In this Issue: Welcome, AP Neighborhood Watch,Timber Creek High, Real Estate 32828,  My Journey, East Orlando Arts, Lake Underhill Construction, and Relay for Life, (Any neighbor in the 32828 zip code can contribute by sending their article to Publishing@apgazette.com for consideration) Reviewer: Sara Morris Managing Editor: Eddy Solon

Welcome written by Eddy Solon, Northwest Village East Orlando Realtor, Keller Williams  Realestate32828@gmail.com   Welcome neighbors.   What a busy month!  Time can be evasive, time can be rewarding, time can be healing, and time can be punishment, but in any case, as parents, brothers, sisters, and neighbors, we all are fighting for more of it.    This past month in East Orlando, specifically in our quaint little community here in Avalon Park, our residents had many opportunities to join in on the local events, like Kite Day and the 5K runs.   As we continue to grow every issue and receive the great contributions from neighbors, our purpose and vision becomes clearer and clearer.   We are a Neighborhood Watch community centered newsletter who believes in the Avalon Park vision. As the New York times is to the world's political and financial community, the Avalon Park Gazette will be to Lifestyles and Safety community of East Orlando, and hopefully all of Orlando.   Hence, we are always excited about new series that we are considering and old ones that we are shelving.   One of the new series we are excited about is “My Journey."    Every month, we will have the opportunity to be inspired by one of our neighbors and peek inside their life journey.  We will share their challenges, disappointments, triumphs, and reflections.  It will be 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 Nina Yoakum, a dedicated East Orlando Resident, Avalon Park Cheer Leader, and a great neighbor. Lastly, we would like to take a moment to share one of our major milestones accomplished in this issue.   This issue will also be our very first print issue distributed to areas in the 32828 zip code.  With the support of our contributors, reviewers, and subscribers, we continue to grow.  Thank you! Avalon Park Neighborhood Watch: This Past Month written by Brian Jones, Parkside Landing Overall Neighborhood Watch Coordinator brianj4u2@gmail.com Since the last publication, no incidents have been reported to the Avalon Park Neighborhood Watch website.  Although, residents have reported to me some general traffic safety concerns. It is important for all residents to know, we are working daily with Orange County Sherriff Office (OCSO) off-duty deputies on all reported concerns.   In response, the OCSO off-duty deputies have organized traffic detail on numerous occasions over the past 30 days.  The effort from the deputies is present at all times.  With spring break approaching, I’ve asked for extra patrols during that time.  Please report all suspicious activity, even if minor in nature to avalonparkwatch.org. 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 This past month the incidents reported on Avalon Park Neighborhood Watch website  by neighbors were: March 2013 Statistics Neighborhood Watch: 0 Orange County Sector 2 Zone 22: below This month and every month after, we will report a summary of incidents and any updates from our off duty deputies in a table like above. So what do you do when you see something suspicious?  First, contact the non-emergency like at 407-836-HELP or 911, if needed. Secondly, submit an online incident report so neighbors who live in your area can be notified.   You can submit an online incident report athttp://www.avalonparkwatch.org/incident_report.htm  Please only monitor and report suspicious activity.  Do not engage any criminals or suspicious individuals. Have a safety concern?  Feel free to email our off duty deputie 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 four deputies, and Sal is the primary coordinator. Timber Creek High Gabriel Berrio, Principal Retrieved from TCH Newsletter Thank you to all of our students and parents and community for all of your continuous support.  Congratulations to our TCHS Cheerleaders who won the State Championships recently! They worked hard all year and truly earned this recognition. Congratulations to the Debate Team for their most recent victories at UPenn the weekend of July 15. There were many individual and team trophies awarded to our students as well as the overall team championship trophy. Congratulations to Sarah Costello who won first place in a local Shakespeare competition and won a trip to New York to compete nationally. Good luck Sarah!  Congratulations to Mr. Dencker and the Programming Team students who won 2nd place in the 16th Annual Invitational at University HS. They won a total of $120,000 in scholarships in competitions recently!   We are in full swing with March Madness! Please help support Timber Creek with our goal of adding technology and resources for our students to utilize. You can do this by participating in the many events to come. These events include the Timber Creek Gala which will take place April 21st from 4-7PM. This event will include our first TCHS “Picnic in the Park” in downtown Avalon. A silent Auction will also give participants an opportunity to contribute while having a chance to walk away with some amazing treasures.   I want to take a moment to recognize all students for a wonderful year thus far. Thank you students especially the many of you who have taken on leadership roles either through SGA, NJHS, BETA, ROTC, Pit Crew, Athletics, or clubs. I want to send a special thank you to seniors, who have truly led the way in many areas, and will be graduating soon. Graduation is only three months away on Friday May 31 at UCF at 2PM. Seniors, if you are on track to graduate, make sure you stay on track. Any senior who is not on track to graduate has been notified and given options for getting back on track.     Real Estate 32828 written by  Eddy Solon, 32828 Realtor, AP Resident Keller Williams Advantage Realty II http:///www.Realestate32828.com What a dynamic market!  This past month by the numbers:  112 homes sold in the 32828 zip code, the average price per square feet was $79.60 (numbers taken from http://eastorlandorealestatenews.blogspot.com).  It is good to note that the price per square feet can be misleading, because it isn't quite reflective of the upward trend in home prices, but a reflection of homes that sold after months of waiting, when home prices were selling in most cases at a considerably lower price.   Today, in Avalon Park, inventory is starting at the high to mid-100ks, where in less than six months ago, home sales started in the low $100ks.    It is definitely a solid sellers’ market and a dynamic one at that.    We still have several neighbors locally that are working with their banks for modifications and some have simply given up because of the lack of progress.    Every situation is different and I tell my buyers and sellers that regardless of what an institution is requesting, they should do what is best for their specific circumstance without pressure.   Don't allow fear to dictate your next move, since you have the control.   There are several options out there and a little education in understanding what is fully in front of you and how to navigate the terrain is really what is needed.   In real estate there is a place for everyone.   Making the best decision requires education, understanding the market realities, and planning. My Journey: Nina Yoakum One Neighbor's Story Written by Nina Yoakum, Avalon Park Resident marksmom9a@aol.com It has been requested that I take you on my journey. I shall liken it to the Wizard of Oz! We shall follow my yellow brick road. It only seems natural. Perhaps you'll see why. I was born in Kansas City, Missouri. The two houses I grew up in were two blocks away from Kansas. Everyone confused me as a Kansan unless they were a geography buff. You see, Kansas City, Missouri is a much larger metropolis than Kansas City, Kansas. Nonetheless, when I told people where I was from they would respond, "Oh, I see like Dorothy, Toto, and Auntie Em. I bet you have tons of tornados!" According to my research, Florida actually has more tornadoes than Kansas; Texas has the most of all, but back to the Wizard of Oz. When I grew up we watched the Wizard of Oz annually. It was a big to do. I chuckled because one of the munchkins was a coroner and one was a mayor just like my dad. Only my daddy wasn't a munchkin but he too was and continues to be adorable. Kansas City, Missouri is the home of the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, and at that time was home of the Kansas City Kings basketball team. Growing up, we even had a hockey team called the Kansas City Blues. Kansas City was full of amenities including the Starlight Outdoor Theater where I fell in love with musicals over many hot summers. There were concerts at Brush Creek on the Country Club Plaza. It's a spectacular festivity to see the lighting of the Plaza Christmas Lights every Thanksgiving night at the outdoor shopping center: it's a ritual for thousands. It is a gorgeous event to take part in if you ever get the chance. The city was even large at that time with well over a million people living in the city and surrounding suburbs.   This brings me back to my original point: for people to confuse Kansas City, Missouri with Uncle Henry, a farm house, and pig sty in rural Kansas is outrageous. Kansas City has so much to behold. I loved Kansas City, Missouri and took offense when anyone confused it with Kansas. I still give them a quick geography lesson when this happens. I worked as an usherette at the Royals Stadium during college at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg. This gave me spending money and afforded me the opportunity to pay for my sorority. I was lucky in that I got to work in the section behind home plate. Therein, I met management for both baseball clubs, baseball players on both teams, employees that worked there, fans, and last but not least the baseball scouts. In my humble opinion, scouts are the unsung heroes in baseball. They sat right underneath my nose. My job was to wipe everyone's seats when they arrived. I greeted them and spoke to them. I made sure they were seated in the correct place. In between innings I would stand down in the front of the aisle and make small talk with whomever was sitting in my section. On some days Dave Yoakum would sit in my section. He scouted for the Toronto Blue Jays back in the day. Dave would ask me whom I was dating, then with whom I was married, and then asked when my baby was due. You see I had a "starter-marriage" and had quit my job at Kauffman Stadium. I was a fulltime employee as a counselor and Employee Assistance Professional for Southern Pacific Railroad. I was also a mother, wife, and domestic goddess. I asked Dave Yoakum if he wanted to come to my home, meet my new husband, and meet my baby-boy Mark, for dinner. He said he would love that. Unfortunately, my marriage to Mark's daddy was terminated before we had the chance. On the first weekend without my Mark, who kept me ever so busy, I went off to Chicago to get away from Kansas City and not miss my baby as much as possible. I went to the Comiskey Park and ran into Dave Yoakum there scouting a White Sox game. A coincidence you say? I think not ... merely miracles from God in which He chooses to remain anonymous. He wanted to take me out after the game and show me Chicago but I was with a friend. I passed. He then said, "I will be in Kansas City next weekend and maybe I will see you at a game." The next weekend my girlfriend Sheila asked me to attend the Royals game with her. We had great seats right down by the scouts' section.   Before going, I told her there was a scout that was going to be there that I would love to introduce her to. I have always thought myself a matchmaker extraordinaire. We went to the game on Friday night. I was in my black and white striped top, black jeans, and black and white striped tennis shoes from Payless Shoe Store. My outfit was from thrift stores and the shoes cost $1.00. My entire outfit cost $20.00. Sheila's outfit cost over $1,000.00. Sheila told me if I ever wanted to get a date again in my life I better ditch the shoes. I said, "If a guy wants me for my shoes I don't want him anyway!" We laughed but I meant it. We saw Dave after the game. I asked him where he was going after this, hoping to learn what restaurant or bar he was headed to. He told me that he was headed to Minnesota, Toronto, and then back to Florida. Such is the life of a baseball scout. I told her what he said and again we laughed. We decided to head to the Adam's Mark Bar for a drink. Our cars were parked in the lot in front of it and we thought we'd let traffic clear. Then we would proceed home. We went in and she ordered her scotch and water and I ordered an O’Doul’s. Someone got our drinks and kept ordering them for us. That's just dandy if you are drinking scotch but with non-alcoholic beverages it becomes harder to stomach. I had about eight of those bad boys lined up with a big vat of popcorn. Sheila and I were chatting up a storm when Dave entered the room. First words out of his mouth were "Nina, I LOVE your shoes!" I about tipped over in my barstool sober. We visited for hours and then Dave asked Sheila what she was doing tomorrow. She replied going to garage sales then heading to Payless Shoes! We all got a good laugh out of that one. Then Sheila arose to use the facilities. Dave grabbed my arm. In 11 years of knowing him, I never knew he had any attraction to me. Suddenly electrical currents went through my body. He said softly yet sincerely, "I know you want to set me up with your friend but I am interested in you. I would like to see you again." Gulp. I was taken aback 100%. Sheila returned from the restroom then Dave went into the restroom. She said, "I can tell he is interested in you.  Go for it.You have my blessing. He has restored my faith in the male species." I asked her if she was sure and she nodded yes. Dave then returned to the bar and the night wound down. Sheila then went home. Dave said goodnight to me. We planned to meet again the next day.   In The Wizard Of Oz Dorothy said, "If I ever go looking for my heart's desire again, I won't look any further than my own backyard, because if it isn't there, I never really lost it." For me I feel like Dave was right there for me in section 101 all along. That is where he proposed to me on August 11th, 1993. We took the Hot Air Balloon (Chevy Nova) with Mark to Orlando, Florida where Dave and I still reside. This is now my home. I started out my life in Orlando as a substitute teacher at Dover Shores Elementary School. I enjoyed that job immensely, but I didn't enjoy where I lived. It was no place to raise munchkins. I gave Dave a good old ultimatum: we either need to move back to Kansas City or head off to see the Wizard in the Emerald City (Avalon Park). Having family nearby, Dave did not want to head north to Kansas. He tried to talk me out of moving many times. Finally, he gave in and we built a new home in Village three. He has never looked back and this is one thing in our 20-year marriage he truly thanks me for. We have lived in Avalon Park for nine years now. One of the legacies I want to be remembered for is walking. I love the fact that I got to walk Anna and Dax to preschool and elementary school. Now Anna is riding her bike to middle school with friends. One day soon she will be riding her bike to high school. We have so many friends and neighbors who look after my children and we look after theirs. We truly have a community: I guess it does take a village. We are members of the YMCA and love it. My Nikes say RUBY RED SLIPPERS on the back of them. My kids participate in various sports at the Y and I did a couple of triathlons put on with the assistance of the Y. The triathlons were a first for me; I was fifty years old when I started them. We rarely leave the Emerald City (Avalon Park) because we don't have to. We have a church here, we have a pool across the street, we have community events nearly every weekend, and we have restaurants to frequent and support. I have always said, "Help build Avalon Park and shop local." That's why you might see me out and about walking with our little dog Toto, I mean Cali. We always try to keep our business dealings right here in Avalon Park; saves on gas too these days. We can always go "porching" (sitting on our front porches watching life go by), play sports with our kids in the fields, or visit with our neighbors. I'm even lucky enough to be a block watch captain. My journey in life has truly has had many ups and downs, like yours I would guess. Some days I'm a good witch and some days I'm a bad witch. Sometimes I'm Glinda and sometimes I'm Elphaba the wicked witch of the west. I have sad moments and I see musicals to snap out if it when I do. They are my very favorite source of entertainment. If one is not showing, I listen to the soundtrack of one of my favorite musicals and belt out the lyrics. It does not matter if my kids are in the car, I will sing the lyrics anyways.   They tell me I sound like an angel that has descended from the heavens. Wicked is my favorite musical. Ironically, it is an offspring about the witches in the Wizard of Oz. I just finished a book today where the author mentioned in a chapter near the end of her book the song "For Good" from Wicked. I cried when I read it. I have always said, "I want that song sung at my funeral." It has an important message and reminds me of how much people impact us along our journeys. It reminds me of the people I've met in Kansas, Missouri, and Avalon. It even reminds me of those here with me, those no longer in my life, and the departed. Thankfully, I have not departed from this earth and my journey continues. I want to see my kids graduate from college, I want to live in a retirement home built in Avalon Park, and I want to live there at least 30 years. The words in the song direct me towards the past more so than the future. The lyrics say, "Because I knew you I have been changed for good!" I am home here in Avalon Park. I have made this place my home and love it. I am still on my life journey and not at my destination; I continue to walk across my yellow brick road. I've been journaling daily about it since 1985. It is one of my favorite hobbies. One day I want to turn my journals into a book. I love where I'm at in life and can truly say there is no place like home!   East Orlando Events: Beer Festival Enjoy beer (2 oz.) and food sampling along with local area business displays. Tickets are $25 in advance and $35 at the gate. Price of admission gets you unlimited tastings of a great selection of beers and also food samples from some great area restaurants. Entertainment will be provided by Clear Channel Radio along with contests and giveaways. For additional information and to purchase tickets, visit www.floridabeerfestivals.com Relay for Life: Avalon Park Residents Fighting Cancer Together! Submitted by Courtney Tomasi, Insight Magazine Kindergarten Teacher, East Orlando Resident Courtney.Tomasi@ocps.net If you are interested in more information, please contactaly.muse@ocps.net Lake Underhill Road Construction Construction continues from Alafaya Trail to Waterford Chase From the Waterford Lakes March E-Blast by Ken Zook, Becky Black, & Lynn Simonton, Aleyda Morales, Brian Patton and Kyle The Lake Underhill road construction from Waterford Chase to Alafaya and back continues. This last month was tough on everyone. The contractor has been working on the second phase of the project between Bradfordt Lakes and the conservation area on the westbound side for some time now. The contractor found that the base of the roadbed contained tree roots and stumps that were used as fill years ago. This unsuitable base is what has been causing a lot of the issues because the base shifts and causes the cracking and pot holes in the road. The contractor had to go back to the county requesting a change order for the problem which created a delay in the work.  Also, during the construction, the contractor damaged a large lateral irrigation line for the Waterford Lakes Community Association (WLCA) that was not located and was not on any of the original construction plans for Waterford Lakes. After a couple of weeks of discussion with the county and a special meeting at their John Young Parkway office, a new bore was completed under the road bed for a new 4-inch sleeve in which we then ran a new line through the pipe. Within 24 hours of that work being completed, the contractor tore open the new pipes, and since repaired things back together. They have added this “new pipe” to the drawings for future identification and I’m happy to report that this section of roadbed should be completed soon. The bad part is that we were told the opposite side of the street is the next phase. So our neighborhoods like Lakeshore Landing, Sapphire Place, Emerald Trace, and Bradfordt Village will still be subjected to the “Detours” through the neighborhoods.   Should anything change with this project and I hear about it, I will communicate that with you as fast as possible. Remember, construction on roads is never an easy process; things happen, surprises are found underground and the reality is that there is never a good time to do construction. It is a painful process and all we can do is grin and bear it. Stay calm and don’t let it raise your blood pleasure and please don’t get so irritated that it may cause you to do something dangerous and potentially hurt yourself or someone else. Remember, be safe and slow down and always anticipate the need for extra time.   AP Gazette Opportunities As a new and growing newsletter, we have many opportunities for neighbors to contribute and volunteer their writing talents/ time to help build community.   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 in the associated issue.  Email publishing@apgazette.com Art Work in this issue by Olisem: Avocado and Cherry Blossoms Ivonne, a local East Orlando Resident... More to come next issue!!!!!

Volume II Issue II

Avalon Park Gazette presents New Beginnings: New Look Volume II Issue II In this Issue: Welcome, AP Neighborhood Watch, East Orlando Arts, AP Real Estate, Kite Day, Relay for Life, and Pics of the Month (Any neighbor in the 32828 zip code can contribute by sending their article to Publishing@apgazette.com for consideration)
Welcome written by Eddy Solon, Northwest Village East Orlando Realtor, Keller Williams  Realestate32828@gmail.com   Welcome neighbors.   I am very excited to announce a new section in our Newsletter starting next month, titled "My Story."   Every month we will have the privilege of reading a real story of one of Avalon Park Residents sharing the story (their journey to today).  We foresee it being an exciting and inspiring contribution, and most of all an enriching experience for our subscribers.  The Board of Overseers, responsible for the growth and integrity of this newsletter, is hard at work at establishing a functional organizational structure.   Considering time is a valuable commodity, we have been very committed to addressing the realities and responsibilities needed to be successful.   Dr. Purvi Gandhi, one of the original AP Gazette Contributors, AP YMCA Yoga Instructor, and an East Orlando psychologist nomination has been accepted and will be helping the Gazette meet some of their Sponsorship Goals for 2013, as Sponsorship Chair (dr.purvigandhi@yahoo.com).  Mike Seif, an invested Avalon Park Resident, a contributor of ideas, and the Orange TV Operations Manager, nomination has also been accepted and will be contributing by leading the expansion of our Distributionship as its Chair (mpseif@gmail.com).   As we expand, we will need input from you to help us to continue to grow into a community centered newsletter.  We encourage and welcome any Interest Group Organizers in East Orlando to submit their articles to publishing@apgazette.com by the third Thursday of the Month.  With a subscriber base of close to a 1,000 plus residence and growing every day, we are committed to providing the most up to date events and life style oriented articles.  Last month alone, we saw a subscription increase of 7%. The theme embraced for 2013 is "New Beginnings."  Last year, considering our launch, it was "Embarking on a Journey Together."  We also refined our creed, "To build community one issue at a time through practical, informative, and lifestyle oriented articles in commitment with Integrity, Trust, Honesty and Good Will." Lastly, please welcome our newest contributors, Elizabeth Horn, Drama Director at Timber Creek High School, contributing in the "East Orlando Arts" section.  Special thanks to Ingrid Klein, Avalon Park Residents, for coordinating this connection. Avalon Park Neighborhood Watch: This Past Month written by Brian Jones, Parkside Landing Overall Neighborhood Watch Coordinator brianj4u2@gmail.com Thank you to those who attended our Annual Neighborhood Watch meeting.   With our block captain and coordinator team, we kicked off the year with new safety and crime prevention initiatives.  First Class Deputy OCSO Crime Prevention unit, Melissa Belmont, and Commissioner Administrative Aide to Jennifer Thompson, Jason Russo were both in attendance.  We announced our plans to launch Business Watch.   Using the neighborhood watch model, business watch takes the “neighbors looking out for neighbors” concept to the commercial level, creating a partnership between business, law enforcement, and other organizations.  Bringing our business owners and employees together as a network connected to residents and law enforcements, it will help deter and detect crimes and diminish opportunities for crime in our community. This past month the incidents reported on Avalon Park Neighborhood Watch website  by neighbors were: February 2013 Statistics Number Incident Reported Disposition by Off duties/ Update 1 2/15 burglary false alarm OCSO off duty deputy 2 Last night, 2/10/13, on the 2600 block of Wild Tamarind Blvd., someone broke into a resident's truck. It was parked in his driveway, which faces conservation. The vandal took his wallet. His wife's car was also broken into. It was located in the front of the house on the street. OCSO off duty deputy 3 Vandalism Report.... Noticed a shattered car window this am. A student was walking by on their way to the bus stop this morning as we were outside looking at damage and said that they knew who did this. A student got off the bus stop yesterday pm and was throwing rocks at the car. Police report filed.....   OCSO off duty deputy 4 We were out from 1230 pm till 530 pm and got home when i noticed the front porch was all wet and smelled of bleach. The welcome mat was strewn all the way to the mulch in the front yard. I also have a pot of plant on the side and it was moved. The patio chairs were soaked and front windows were wet as well. My husband went to the back porch/pool area, and somebody came in there as well l since he just filled the pool w/ water and he noticed the hose was out of the pool. We did not notice anything missing and the inside of the house was not compromised.   OCSO off duty deputy 5 Black GMC Acadia SUV with tinted windows, parked for 3hrs (2 - 5PM approx)in front of my house. Male inside the vehicle with the engine running. Called non emergency line around 3PM and reported it, police car drove by afterwards but didn't stop. A lady in a Black Chrysler Magnum drove by a couple of minutes after the police car and stopped, talked to the guy for a while and left. I called the non emergency number again close to 4:30PM but the no information was provided. The same lady in the Black Magnum drove by again and spoke to the guy for a second time and he left. She stayed in front of my house for about 20 minutes and left. I called the HOA office both times after I called the non emergency number.   OCSO off duty deputy 6 Reckless driver could be under the influence on red small ford pick-up driving north on Avalon Park Blvd speeding and almost side swept 2 cars and rolling through stop signs. VERY dangerous individual and I fear for pedestrians in Avalon. Watch out for this person. Obviously up to no good.   OCSO off duty deputy 7 A well dressed white male maybe in his 50's just came to my door trying to sell me Scott's Lawn Service. I told him that there was n "No Soliciting" allowed in Avalon Park. He told me that he was exempt from this since he had an Orange County soliciting permit OCSO off duty deputy This month and every month after, we will report a summary of incidents and any updates from our off duty deputies in a table like above. So what do you do when you see something suspicious?  First, contact the non-emergency like at 407-836-HELP or 911, if needed. Secondly, submit an online incident report so neighbors who live in your area can be notified.   You can submit an online incident report at http://www.avalonparkwatch.org/incident_report.htm  Please only monitor and report suspicious activity.  Do not engage any criminals or suspicious individuals. Have a safety concern?  Feel free to email our off duty deputiesSal.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 four deputies, and Sal is the primary coordinator. East Orlando Art Life: East Orlando Festival of the Arts Offers Fun for All Aerial arts presented by Orlando Aerial Artist's performance company, "Suspended Artistry." Photo courtesy of Jennifer Drabik Pierce. Written by Elizabeth Horn  Timber Creek High School, Festival Coordinator Elizabeth.Horn@ocps.net Description: Family-friendly performances, entertainment, food, and crafts will bring together East Orlando organizations and community members while raising money for Give Kids the World Village at the inaugural East Orlando Festival of the Arts in March. The Timber Creek Thespians will host the inaugural East Orlando Festival of the Arts on Saturday, March 9, 2013 at Timber Creek High School. “We are thrilled to have so many great performances at the Festival, which represent some of the finest performing arts organizations in East Orlando,” says Elizabeth Horn, Festival Coordinator. Performing organizations will include Orlando Aerial Arts, Magic Curtain Productions, Avalon School of Music, and Timber Creek High School Performing Arts.   “The Festival will also feature an improv comedy show, hosted by a guest performer from the SAK Comedy Lab, and a ‘Play in a Day’ competition - where teams create original plays over a 24-hour period,” Horn says. These specialty acts will take place in addition to more traditional plays, dance, and music performances. Ten percent of the Festival proceeds will be donated to Give Kids the World Village, a nonprofit storybook resort that provides children who have life-threatening illnesses and their families with an all-expenses paid dream vacation to experience all of Central Florida’s attractions. “Give Kids the World gives such hope and joy to the children and families it serves, and the Timber Creek Thespians volunteer at the Village regularly. When looking for a charity to support, it was a natural fit,” Horn says.  Attending the Festival is free, with some ticketed performances at $5 each. Attendees may purchase wristbands good for all ticketed performances for $12. Additional outdoor entertainment will be free or low cost and includes food, a bounce house, a balloon artist, face painting, games, storytelling, character meet and greets, a petting zoo, and arts and crafts. Avalon Park Jewelers, a sponsor of the Festival, will raffle off two $500 pieces of jewelry.  The Timber Creek Thespians is a division of Timber Creek High School in Orlando, FL. Its mission is to strengthen the bond between Timber Creek High School students and their community through the timeless art form of live theatre. Founded in 2009, the Timber Creek Thespians annually engages over three hundred students in its program, and reaches thousands of audience members with its diverse and quality productions and special events.   Contact Information:  Timber Creek Thespians 1001 Avalon Park Boulevard, Orlando FL 32828 www.EOFestival.com      AP Real Estate written by  Brenda Kolbrich, Remax Avalon Park, Village Two brenda@TopOrlandoHomes.com We want to welcome all of our current and past readers in East Orlando and area and we hope you enjoy our monthly newsletter which will come out the first week of each month. We will have pertinent and local real estate information for East Orlando and area. Many of you know me and Pamela from the East Orlando Sun where we wrote our real estate article Chit N’ Chat for a number of years. We will also have a lender and a title company update for you each month as well. So please look for our newsletter and always feel free to ask us any questions on the market as we are here for you.  Thank you and enjoy! BRENDA:  The market to say the least is very busy and a lot of new construction going up which is a good sign for the market.  The inventory of existing homes for sale is at record lows.  This matched with record low interest rates has driven up the home prices in the past year. We have seen multiple offers going in on homes for the past year especially. Many of the homes I list are sold before they go on the market as we have so many buyers looking for homes. And when the homes go on the market they are often sold within a week or less depending on the asking price and condition of the home. Pamela what are you seeing for your buyers in this market? PAMELA:  The resales have been extremely active which has driven the inventory of homes for sale down tremendously. There are not many homes to sell and when a home comes on the market it is often in a multiple offer situation with many homes selling for over the asking price depending on the list price of the home. The SOLD homes for January 2013 are: Avalon Park 15, Stoneybrook 6, Avalon Lakes 2, Eastwood 7 and Waterford Lakes 13.  The ACTIVE homes for sale as of Jan. 31 on the market are: Avalon Park 22, Stoneybrook 8, Avalon Lakes 4, Eastwood 21 and Waterford Lakes 34. BRENDA: The absorption rates tell us if the market is a sellers or a buyer’s market and this is Definitely a Seller’s market. A balanced market is six months' supply of homes on the market for a community. This would mean it would take six months to sell all of the inventory of homes for sale. The absorption rates as of Jan. 31 are: Avalon Park one month, Stoneybrook one month, Eastwood two months, Waterford Lakes two months, Avalon Lakes Less than one month.  No wonder we are seeing so much new construction out there as not many homes for sale.   AP Special Events: 2nd Annual Park Kite Day Written by Russ Mozier, Safety Advocate, Avalon Park Resident russmozier@yahoo.com Saturday March 16, 2013    -   10am – 4pm   P repare for a fun day of kite flying and kids kite making in the Avalon Park town park along Avalon Park East Boulevard. The band shell stage will be used for free kids' kite making and the area in front of it will be for flying and a picnic area. There will be a vendor selling kites and a community group selling lunch. The open field to the right of the band shell stage will be used for other kite flyers that attend. Banners should be set up in areas along Avalon Park East Blvd so as to be visible for traffic. The field to the left of the band shell stage near the CVS can be used for overflow parking. If you want to see the general overview of the fields the closest address is 3600 Avalon Park East Blvd, Orlando, FL 32828 and zoom in on the satellite view. For more information contact Russ Mozier atrussmozier@yahoo.com  or call at 407-208-1455.   Relay for Life: Avalon Park Residents Fighting Cancer Together! Submitted by Courtney Tomasi, Insight Magazine Kindergarten Teacher, East Orlando Resident Courtney.Tomasi@ocps.net Walkers will go around the clock in the battle against cancer when the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Avalon Park gets underway with teams of residents gathering at Timber Creek High School on May 10, 2013 at 4:00 pm. Relay For Life events are held overnight as individuals and teams camp out at the Timber Creek High School track, with the goal of keeping at least one team member on the track or pathway at all times throughout the evening. Teams do most of their fundraising prior to the event, but some teams also hold creative fundraisers at their camp sites during the Relay. The Relay brings together friends, families, businesses, hospitals, schools, faith-based groups and people from all walks of life – all aimed at furthering the American Cancer Society’s efforts to save lives by helping people stay well, get well, by finding cures and fighting back. “Relay is a unique opportunity for our community to come together to celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember those we’ve lost, and fight back against the disease,” said Alyson Muse Relay For Life of Avalon Park chair. “Many of the participants are cancer survivors, which serves as a reminder that the Avalon park community is not immune to this disease and that by participating in Relay, we are joining with the American Cancer Society’s efforts to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays.” Funds raised at Relay For Life of Avalon Park help the American Cancer Society to impact the lives of those touched by cancer within the community. In 2012, Relay For Life events across great state of Florida raised over $21 million to help cancer patients and their families in local communities and to fund lifesaving cancer research. The Relay For Life of Avalon Park has raised more than $65,000 that helped to fund lifesaving programs and services locally! All of this is made possible by Relay For Life. We welcome you to join us in the fight against cancer today! If you are interested in joining the fight, go to www.relayforlife.org/avalonparkfl to register your team for the event! All businesses, schools, churches, and organizations, etc. are welcome to register their team! If you are interested in more information, please contact aly.muse@ocps.net Pics of the Month Avalon Hawk submitted by AP Resident, Michael Rhing  Live music presented by Avalon School of Music. Photo courtesy of John Kolbrich submitted by Elizabeth Horn. Thank you for all the submittals.  Ones not used, may be used in future publications. To submit a pic of the month, please email Publishing@apgazette.com AP Gazette Opportunities As a new and growing newsletter, we have many opportunities for neighbors to contribute and volunteer their writing talents/ time to help build community.   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 in the associated issue.  Email publishing@apgazette.com Picture Below "Epic Adventures in a Rinky-Dink Art Museum" presented by Discovery Middle School. Photo courtesy of Pam McDonald.