In Your Neighborhood - 08/02/12

Dancer Paulina Estrella participated in Shooting Stars School of Performing Arts’ summer recital, where she received a rising star award. Following the performance, Paulina celebrated with her friends and family members. Her proud parents are Pablo Estrella and Jeanelle Gorbea of Berkshire Park.

Igor and Nicole Machado of Carriage Pointe welcomed a son into the world April 11, 2012, at 1:58 p.m. Ian Antonio weighed 9 pounds, 10 ounces and was 22 inches long. He was welcomed home by his grandparents, Kathy Hale of Silver Woods and Antonio and Sueli Machado of Sand Lake Cove.

The Rotary Club of Dr. Phillips received a District 6980 Above & Beyond Award. In recognition of the club’s achievement, Rotary District Gov. Art Brown  personally congratulated President Larry Lynch.

More than 175 Keene’s Pointe residents attended the neighborhood’s inaugural Safety Day that was sponsored by Keene’s Pointe Community Association Inc. The event was held at the Lake Burden commons and boat ramp area, and more than 13 co-sponsors and guest organizations were in attendance, including the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Patrol and Marine Patrol units, and Orange County Fire Rescue Department. Activities included a child ID/fingerprinting station, raffles, safety vendors and more.

Winter Garden City Commissioner Robert “Bobby” Olszewski graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in business administration from Northcentral University. The Sterling Pointe resident, a graduate of Dr. Phillips High School and the University of Central Florida, earned his master’s at Rollins College. Bobby was recently appointed by Winter Garden Mayor John Rees to represent the city on the MetroPlan Orlando Municipal Advisory Board for Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. Additionally, Southwest resident and Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs and the Board of County Commissioners appointed him to the Orange County Community Action Board. Bobby is also the managing principal of Emerson Management & Consulting Group in Winter Garden.

Hundreds of Windermere residents attended the town’s annual Fourth of July Pancake Breakfast that was held at Windermere Town Hall. Guests were greeted by Windermere and Orange County officials, including Windermere Mayor Gary Bruhn and Orange County District 1 Commissioner Scott Boyd.

Members of the Rotary Club of Windermere held an installation ceremony at The Golden Bear Club at Keene’s Pointe for its 2012-13 officers. Congratulations to Steve Fasen, who was installed as the Rotary’s new president.

Foundation Academy 2012 graduate Brandon Burnette received his third consecutive best of show award at the Florida Association of Christian Schools International Fine Arts Festival. His winning artwork was a self-portrait done in pencil, which also received an award of excellence at the Winter Park Art Festival. Brandon was also a winner in the Art in Public Places competition for his drawing of the Winter Garden Clock Tower, which was on display at city hall. Additional artwork by Brandon — made entirely from barbecue sauce — is on display at 4Rivers Smokehouse in Winter Garden. Brandon was accepted to Ringling College of Art + Design and Savannah College of Art and Design. His proud parents are David and Lauren Burnette of Windermere.

Rotary Club of Lake Buena Vista 2012-13 President Eddie Fernandez (far right) and sponsor Jeff Calvert (far left) welcome new member Jean Campana of Bay Park.

Park Square Homes officials announced the appointment of Vishaal Gupta as president and chief operating officer. The Southwest resident received his bachelor’s from Emory University in Atlanta and master’s in real estate from Columbia University, New York City. He has been with Park Square Homes for six years. Vishaal plans to focus on a major study of post-recession homebuyer preferences, as well as the unveiling of new home designs.

Officials from West Orange Habitat for Humanity’s Home at Last project are seeking a sixth veteran to benefit from the program. Founded in 2007, Home at Last provides a handicap-accessible, mortgage-free home to a veteran who has been permanently disabled by injuries sustained in the Iraq or Afghanistan wars. Interested veterans must be willing to relocate their family to west Orange County. A recipient must be selected by Sept. 1, 2012, or the program risks losing financial support from one of its key benefactors. For more information, call Bill Criswell at 407-876-2472 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Donna Boyer of Palm Lake and her daughter-in-law, Emily Scotson of Woodlands Village, attended the Runway To Hope Spring Fashion Soiree, one of the 25 largest fundraisers in Central Florida. This year’s event was hosted by actor Mario Lopez and co-hosted by Miss USA 2011 Alyssa Campanella. Proceeds from the event co-benefited the pediatric oncology units at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Florida Hospital for Children.

The O-Town Sound chorus inducted its 2012-13 management team, which will lead the group of 30 women barbershop singers from 11 Florida counties. O-Town Sound is a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, a worldwide organization representing more than 30,000 female singers. O-Town Sound placed second in the small choruses division at the recent SAI Atlantic-Gulf Region 9 regional competition, which included choruses from Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. Rehearsals are held each Monday from 7-10 p.m. at Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church, located at 3900 S. Hiawassee Road in Orlando. For more information, call 352-442-8441 or 407-873-6602, or visit
www.otschorus.com on the Web.

Members of Cub Scout Pack No. 114 participated in the pack’s annual Pinewood Derby competition. Congratulations to winners Thomas Kelly, C.J. Goodyear and Cabot Zarn, who placed first through third, respectively.

Elizabeth Parsons School of Dance recently held its annual recital, which featured both young and experienced dancers. Musical selections were from a variety of genres, and many routines combined two or more classes. The dance school is located in downtown Windermere.