News & Bizness Briefs - 01/19/12

Representatives from Dell and Goodwill Industries announced the opening of an additional 319 Dell Reconnect donation sites throughout the U.S. The free program provides residents a way to safely recycle computer equipment and other electronics. Goodwill currently accepts computer and electronic donations at all of its Orange County stores and donation sites, including the Winter Garden location at 13221 W. Colonial Drive. Dell Reconnect diverts used computers and computer equipment from area landfills and provides consumer education about the importance of environmentally responsible computer disposal.

For more information and a complete list of participating locations, visit www.dellreconnect.com on the Web.

The final West Orange Chamber of Commerce Trustee Luncheon of 2011 was held at Cariera’s Cucina Italiana in Dr. Phillips, owned by Southwest resident Tom Cariera. U.S. Air Force Ret. Lt. Gen. Thomas Baptiste, president/executive director of The National Center for Simulation, served as the event’s guest speaker. For more information, call 407-656-1304 or visit www.wochamber.com on the Web.

Winter campers from the Jewish Community Center of Southwest Orlando at the Jack & Lee Rosen Campus, located at 11184 S. Apopka-Vineland Road in Orlando, took a field trip to Palm Restaurant at Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando. The event was sponsored by General Manager Michael Martin, who provided the students with lunch, drinks and a tour of the restaurant. For more information, call 407-387-5330 or visit www.orlandojcc.org on the Web.

Joy McGinty, founder of The Gift of Swimming and Southwest Aquatics, located at 205 Windermere Road in Winter Garden, was named as a board member for Florida Swimming Inc.’s newly formed Outreach and Diversity Committee. Florida Swimming is an affiliated member of USA Swimming Inc. Its goal is to reach out to youths and families who are most at risk of drowning, as well as those who are under-represented in the sport of swimming. For more information, call 407-905-0999 or visit www.giftofswimming.org on the Web.

Orange County Regional History Center, located at 65 E. Central Blvd. in Orlando, will host Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service’s Beyond Baseball: The Life of Roberto Clemente from Jan. 21 through March 18. Opening-day events include a presentation by Pittsburgh Pirates commentator Steve Blass, Clemente’s former teammate and friend. For more information, call 407-836-8500 or visit www.thehistorycenter.org on the Web.

Foundation Academy is holding open houses for its preschool/elementary school North Campus, located at 125 E. Plant St. in Winter Garden, on Jan. 27 from 10 a.m.-noon; and middle school/high school South Campus, located at 15304 Tilden Road in Winter Garden, on Jan. 28 from 10 a.m.-noon. Individualized consultations also are available. For more information, call 407-656-3677 for the North Campus or 407-877-2744 for the South Campus, or visit www.foundationacademy.net on the Web.

County Line Ornamental & Tree, located at 13246 W. Colonial Drive in Winter Garden, held a drawing for a 30-gallon live oak tree. Congratulations to David Ware of Westside Lawn Care, who was the lucky winner. For more information, call 407-654-4648 or visit
www.countylineot.com on the Web.

Kim Meredith-Hampton, L.T.G., R.E.P.M., of Hampton & Hampton Management & Leasing Inc. received the 2011 Member of the Year award from the Women’s Council of Realtors. The Bay Lakes resident also received a Presidential Award from the Orlando chapter of the National Association of Residential Property Managers. For more information, call 407-253-9324 or visit www.leasingorlando.com on the Web.

Bravo Cucina Italiana, located in the Dellagio at 7924 Via Dellagio Way in Orlando, hosted its second annual Breakfast with Santa, which included a breakfast buffet, pictures with Santa Claus, toy drive and more. Proceeds and toys collected at the event benefited Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. In attendance was Dena Pichardo, the hospital’s donor relations manager. For more information, call 407-351-5880 or visit www.bravoitalian.com on the Web.