In Your Neighborhood - 07/05/12

Chris Bessette, a Realtor with Keller Williams Classic Realty, was named rookie of the year for the Dr. Phillips office. The Belle Meade resident is also a certified distressed property expert, and he received five-star Best in Client Satisfaction recognition for 2009-11.

Anabelle Brielle Silipino celebrated her third birthday June 24. She shares her birth date with her maternal grandfather, Todd Swiernik, who resides in Independence with his wife, Christine. Anabelle’s proud parents are Ray and Erica Silipino of Independence, and paternal grandparents are Raymond and Sonja Silipino of Pensacola.

Rhodes+Brito Architects started design work for a new Ocoee Community Center that will be built across from the city hall in downtown Ocoee. The 6,500-square-foot facility will include a banquet hall, meeting rooms and warming kitchen.

Catherine Deutsch, B.S.N., R.N., T.N.C.C., was inducted into the invitation-only Sigma Theta Tau International, the only international nursing honor society. Catherine attended Dr. Phillips Elementary, Southwest Middle and Dr. Phillips High schools, after which she graduated from the University of Central Florida’s College of Nursing. She is a certified critical care nurse in the neurosurgical/trauma intensive care unit in the Memorial Healthcare System in Fort Lauderdale. Catherine is pursuing her master’s degree at Barry University and plans to become a critical care nurse practitioner. Her proud parents are Bill and Christine Deutsch of Orange Tree.

During career day at Forest Lake Academy, Sandy Springs resident Valerie Friedman of The Voyage Institute demonstrates an experiment in basic biological reactions.

Linda Landman Gonzalez, Orlando Magic vice president of community relations and government affairs, was recognized during Orlando Business Journal’s annual Women Who Mean Business awards celebration. The Southwest resident was named Business Executive of the Year, as well as 2012 Businesswoman of the Year.

Pace Brantley School salutatorian Joey LaPointe received a President’s Award for Educational Achievement, which included an award and letter from President Barack Obama. He was recognized for showing outstanding educational growth, improvement, commitment and intellectual development in academic subjects, despite facing various obstacles. In addition to performing well academically, Joey garnered achievements in the arts. His proud parents are Emile and Sue LaPointe of Windermere.

Olympia High School student Jessica Day led a community service project to provide food for the hungry. In support of her foundation, Fruit for Friends, the Southwest resident received a $1,000 Disney Friends for Change grant from Youth Service America and The Walt Disney Co. Jessica led a gleaning project in Central Florida that resulted in thousands of pounds of leftover fruits and vegetables being donated to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida Inc.

Rotary Club of Windermere President Brad Busbin visited with Rotary Club of Lake Buena Vista President David Brinckerhoff. The two discussed the Windermere club’s Festival Among the Lakes event, which benefits numerous local organizations, including the School Nurse Program, Edgewood Children’s Ranch, Habitat for Humanity’s Home at Last project, and American Cancer Society. Proceeds from this year’s event also benefited Relay For Life of Lake Buena Vista.

L.A. Acting Youth Players (front, l. to r.) Taylor Bertone, Madison Oliver, Kean Jones, Alex Morrero, Jack Caffey, (back, l. to r.) Jasmine Kaur, Abby Moore and Paige Piccinini celebrate the end of the academic acting season and gear up for summer camp.

Central Florida Women’s League members held their second annual Taste of Windermere event, which featured food samples from more than 20
restaurants, wine samples from Tim’s Wine Market, and beer samples from World of Beer. The event also included hand-rolled cigars, a disc jockey and 1940s décor. More than 500 people attended the event, which raised more than $20,000 to benefit CFWL charities.

Several students from Orlando Ballet School went to New York to participate in the Youth America Grand Prix, the world’s largest student ballet scholarship competition. Blake Kessler received first-place honors in the Junior Grand Prix, the top award for male and female dancers ages 12 through 14. Briana Berrios and Kessler placed second for their pas de deux, and dancers in the Children’s Trio from Orlando Ballet’s production of Vampire’s Ball placed in the top 12 for ensembles.

The Junebug Foundation held its inaugural Steak on the Lake fundraiser, which raised $50,000 for the Boys & Girls Club of West Orange. Orlando Magic ambassador and Southwest resident Nick Anderson spoke during the event, and Joanne Kostantinidis and Jamie June served as chairwoman and co-chairwoman, respectively.