041819 SWB DIGITAL EDITION

SUMMER KIDS CALENDAR ... PAGE 22 

May 2 — 15, 2019 | Since 1986 

Christopher Forsyth of Lake 

Fischer Estates, overall winner, 

is pictured with best mom 

Patricia Byrne. 

Sponsored by TooJay’s Deli • Bakery • Restaurant

Gift Card 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 

IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD ............................................................... 6 

29 

28TH ANNUAL BEST MOM IN SOUTHWEST CONTEST ........................ 9 

SUMMER KIDS CALENDAR ............................................................... 22 

SOUTHWEST SOCIAL SEEN ............................................................. 35 

Hard Rock Hotel's Velvet Sessions 

NOTEWORTHY NEWS .................................................................... 37 

A House of Many Purposes 

, 2016 

SOUTHWEST SOCIAL SEEN ............................................................. 39 

WOCC's Best Fest "The Taste of West Orange" 

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD ....................................................... 40 

SOUTHWEST SERVICE DIRECTORY ................................................... 42 

PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER 

AnnVarkeyRealtor@gmail.com 

Rick V. Martin 

VICE PRESIDENT 

Yvette Martin 

May 2, 2019 

Vol. XXXIII, No. 13 

MANAGING EDITOR 

Lisa Sagers 

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT 

Lauren Salinero 

FREELANCE WRITER 

Blair Parke 

CIRCULATION 

Robert Barlow 

Visit our site today to: 

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6 x May 2 — 15, 2019 x www.SouthwestOrlandoBulletin.com 

n Dr. Phillips 

I’m in Events and Base Camp 

Children’s Cancer Foundation 

will co-sponsor Black and White 

Weekend’s 10 Year Anniversary 

(The Reunion) at Rosen Plaza from 

May 10 through May 11. To mark the 

significance of the year, a portion of 

the proceeds donated to Base Camp 

will be used to create a scholarship 

fund for local children impacted by 

cancer. The first recipient of the I’m in 

IN YOURNEIGHBORHOOD 

Scholarship is Emma McDonald 

of Lake Howell High School. She 

is a four-time cancer survivor and 

is currently enrolled at Seminole 

State College. The Black and White 

Weekend was created by Dr. 

Phillips resident, entrepreneur, philanthropist 

and University of Central 

Florida Hall of Famer Heissam 

Jebailey. For more information, visit 

blackandwhiteweekend.com. 

n Windermere 

compiled by Lauren Salinero 

Windermere residents Rene 

Tau bensee and Yvonne Zavada, 

along with Eddie Taubensee 

and Jay Zavada, co-launched 

GymGuyz, a local franchise that 

brings personal trainers to clients, 

whether it is at home, work, a park 

or anywhere else. The mobile fitness 

model uses certified personal trainers 

to help clients achieve their goals, 

whether that is losing weight, improving 

cardio or any other fitness goal. 

Female clients say it is especially great 

for busy moms who seem to struggle 

with finding time for themselves. 

Dr. Phillips 

resident Heissam 

Jebailey (front 

right), CEO and 

founder of I’m 

in Events, and 

representatives 

from Base Camp 

Children’s Cancer 

Foundation 

co-present the first 

I’m in Scholarship 

to Emma 

McDonald (front, 

left) of Lake Howell 

High School. 

Windermere 

residents (l. to r.) 

coach Nicole 

Moenssens 

and co-owners 

Eddie and Rene 

Taubensee, and 

Yvonne and Jay 

Zavada launch 

GymGuyz, a 

mobile personal 

training business 

that serves the 

Southwest Orlando 

area. 

Dr. Phillips | Bay Hill | Windermere | Lake Buena Vista 

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n Et Al 

Congratulations to the following 

residents for being initiated into The 

Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi: 

• Hana Ahmed of Windermere, 

Florida State University. 

• Winter Garden residents 

Joseph DeRienzo, Lauren 

Mansuy and Sarah Tatum, the 

University of Florida. 

• Karlee Gordon of Celebration, 

the University of North Florida. 

• Dara Jarvis of Ocoee, Florida 

Atlantic University. 

• Alejandro Ward of Windermere, 

Arkansas State University. 

• Jeff Zajac of Windermere, 

Slippery Rock University in 

Pennsylvania. 

Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest 

and most selective all-discipline collegiate 

honor society. They are among 

approximately 30,000 students, faculty 

members, professional staff and 

alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa 

Phi each year. Membership is by 

invitation only and requires nomination 

and approval by a chapter. 

Rotary Club of Lake Buena 

Vista inbound exchange student 

Michele Carboni from 

Sardinia, a large Italian island in the 

Mediterranean Sea; and outbound 

exchange student Alex Benjamin, 

who will be traveling to Peru, joined 


a breakfast meeting to talk to Rotary 

members about their adventures. 

Club member Dianne Adcock, 

entertainment manager for Walt 

Disney World, also shared her life 

story of incredible accomplishments 

in establishing businesses in dancing 

classes, building floats, fundraising 

and bringing shows to Universal 

Rotary Club of Lake Buena Vista Foundation Chair Jean Campana (far right) 

welcomes exchange students Alex Benjamin (far left) and Michele Carboni (second from 

right) and speaker Dianne Adcock to a breakfast meeting. 

Studios Orlando. She has spent 27 

years providing dance shows at various 

Disney parks in Orlando. 

Rotary Club of MetroWest 

recently sponsored the Rockin’ for 

Base Camp, featuring entertainer 

John Charles. The event benefited 

Base Camp Children’s Cancer 

Foundation, a local 37-year-old organization 

that provides support 

programs for children with oncology 

and hematology illnesses in 

the Central Florida area. The event 

was held in the Founder’s Hall at 

St. Luke’s United Methodist 

Church. Attendees enjoyed great 

music and comedy by John, one of 

Disney’s hottest cruise entertainers 

who was awarded Solo Artist of 

the Year by American Entertainment 

Magazine. Special guests from the 

Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra 

also played in the rotunda before 

the show. 

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 

Legal Areas of Practice 

By our Team of 

Attorneys 

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Contracts 

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Real Estate 

Special Needs 

Title & Closings 

Trusts 

Trademark 

Estate Planning 

Wills, Trusts, Probate, Living Wills, Powers of Attorney, Health Care Directives, 

Pre-Need Guardians, Trust Administration, Pet (Animal) Trusts 

Probate 

With or without a Last Will, in order to obtain assets, pay debts and taxes 

and distribute remaining assets to the heirs or beneficiaries, the deceased’s 

estate requires the assistance of an attorney to manage the court supervised 

administration. 

Corporation & Business Law 

Contracts, Start-ups, Purchase or Sales, Corporations (Inc.), Limited Liability 

Companies (LLC’s), Trademarks, Copyrights, Franchise Agreements 

Real Estate 

Closings, Title Insurance, Sales & Purchases, Leases, Contract Review, 

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 

Moms, Dads, Grads and YOU! 

Give a delicious gift to your favorite 

people and get a bonus for yourself! 

Spend $25 and get a $5 Bonus card! 

Colin Galloway (right), president of the Rotary Club of Dr. Phillips, exchanges flags 

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Ocoee: 10185 W Colonial Drive • 407- 798 - 2000 

Orlando: 7600 Dr Phillips Blvd • 407- 355 - 0340 

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Although we try to ensure that all information presented above is the most current, correct and dependable 

available, we do rely on others for the source of our news. Therefore, the Southwest Orlando Bulletin and 

Cornerstone Publishing & Multi-Media LLC cannot be held responsible for the validity of the information 

presented here, nor does mentioning it constitute an endorsement. In Your Neighborhood news is welcome 

and may be mailed to P.O. Box 851, Windermere, FL 34786; or emailed to Lauren@kearneypublishing.com. ª


28th Annual 

Best 

Mom 

in Southwest 

Contest 

In 1992, the Southwest Orlando Bulletin — 

then just a little more than 6 years old — 

introduced what has become a Southwest 

Orlando institution — the annual Best Mom 

in Southwest Contest. Now in its 28th year, 

the contest is a way for residents to express to 

their moms how important they truly are. 

It seems that mothers are perpetually 

protecting their children from the ills of the 

world, tirelessly cooking and It seems that 

mothers are perpetually protecting their 

children from the ills of the world, tirelessly 

cooking and cleaning, and preparing their 

children for adult life, all while managing to 

somehow be the kindest and gentlest 

women, despite occasionally having to dole 

out discipline. 

Congratulations to this year’s winners: 

Christopher Forsyth, overall winner; 

Jared Pent, 12-and-older winner; Hailey 

Benton, 10-11 winner; and Gabnella 

Brown, 9-younger winner; and all of our 

honorable mentions. They join a long list of 

past participants who believe that their 

mothers are truly the best. 

10-11 

Winner 

12-and-older 

Winner 

Jaren Pent (center) of Gotha, 

winner in the 12-and-older age group, 

is pictured with best mom Boni Pent 

(front, left), dad Timothy, wife 

Stefanie and son Levi. 

Hailey Benton of Westfield, 

winner in the 10-11 age group, is 

pictured with best mom Lori Benton. 

9-AND- 

YOUNGER 

Winner 

Gabnella Brown of Bronson’s 

Landing, winner in the 9-and-younger 

age group, is pictured with best mom 

Shirley Brown. 

Sponsored 

by:


OVERALL WINNER 

Christopher Forsyth, 11 

Lake Fischer Estates 

Best Mom: Patricia Byrne 

Whether it’s taking care of me or 

staying up half the night helping me 

with my homework, my mom is the 

best. Because my birth mom had some 

problems, I had to go into foster care 

when I was a baby. That’s when I went 

to live with the parents who adopted 

me. 

My adoptive mom, Pat, will go to 

any lengths to take care of me and 

protect me. She is there whenever I 

need her. When I had eye muscle surgery 

when I was 5, she didn’t leave 

my side. 

Last August, my adoptive dad, Gus, 

died. He was the best dad I could ever 

have asked for, and my mom is helping 

me through my grief. She is sad herself, 

but she stays strong for me. 

While my mom is loving and caring, 

she still gets on me about doing 

my work, because she wants me to 

grow up and have a good life. Every 

morning before I leave for school, she 

tells me, “Do your best. Be your best.” 

She inspires me to work as hard as 

I can. She paid her way through college 

so she could become a teacher, 

and she taught at a community college 

for 35 years. She is the reason I’m determined 

to get good grades and go 

to college to become a police officer. 

Every night, I say a prayer of thanks for 

my wonderful home and family, especially 

my amazing mom. 

12-AND-OLDER WINNER 

Jared Pent, adult 

Gotha 

Best Mom: Boni Pent 

What do a teacher; FBI agent; combustion 

engineering Ph.D.; communications 

specialist; agronomy Ph.D.; emergency/ 

trauma nurse; and soon-to-be baccalaureate 

graduate in child-life, event management 

and nursing have in common? 

A mother who invested more than three 

consecutive decades to raising, educating 

and loving her nine children. 

Growing up, our home in Gotha was 

full of laughter, learning and an endless 

number of chores. Mom (and Dad) led 

us by example to love God and serve 

others before ourselves. If raising nine 

children wasn’t enough of a full-time 

career, Mom also worked on a daily 

basis as the accountant of the family 

business, a landscape contracting corporation 

that completed residential and 

commercial projects throughout Florida. 

After more than 30 years of changing 

diapers, taxiing children to countless activities, 

bookkeeping late into the night, 

and teaching subjects ranging from phonics 

to algebra, you’d think it would finally 

be time for Mom to begin relaxing. But, 

the service to her family and community 

continues, even with “only” the youngest 

two children remaining at home. 

Mom is as busy as ever, serving the 

families of her church, enjoying her 

13 grandchildren, and answering the 

around-the-clock phone calls from those 

of us who have begun our own families 

and wonder how Mom survived all of 

us. But, by nothing short of a divine 

miracle, Mom did survive, and her nine 

children will be forever grateful to her. 

10-11 WINNER 

Hailey Benton, 10 

Westfield 

Best Mom: Lori Benton 

If someone were to ask me who my 

idol was, it would not be an actress or 

actor. It wouldn’t be an Olympian or 

YouTuber. It wouldn’t even be a famous 

singer. I would say ... my mom! 

My mom is selfless. She tries to give 

me the world. Every night, she helps 

me with my homework, even if I get 

frustrated and yell at her. She gave 

up her job when my older sister was 

born so she could stay at home to 

take care of us. She also volunteers 

at my school all the time and was the 

PTO president at my school for a term. 

She helps raise puppies for Canine 

Companions for Independence, too. 

So far, we have raised one puppy, 

and we are in the middle of raising 

our next one. 

She is also fearless. The word “fearless” 

does not describe me, but without 

a doubt it describes my mom. 

Everywhere we go, my mom always tells 

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me, “Try everything once.” She lives up 

to this phrase, but I don’t. Sometimes, 

she makes dinner with ingredients I’ve 

never even heard of. She rides all the 

roller coasters at theme parks, even if 

they look super scary and unsafe. 

My mom is the best, because she is 

thoughtful. If I’m sick, she will do everything 

to help me get better. She believes 

in me and supports me in everything I 

do. My mom is my sun and my hero, but 

most of all, she is my best friend. 

9-AND-YOUNGER WINNER 

Gabnella Brown, 9 

Bronson’s Landing 

Best Mom: Shirley Brown 

I have the best mom in the whole 

entire universe, because she’s the full 

package and everything I could ask 

for. My mom is like my best friend, 

because we can share secrets, and 

she uplifts me. She teaches me about 

Jesus, how to love others, and to have 

a humble spirit. She is also super funny, 

tells amazing jokes and has a beautiful 

laugh. 

My mom can talk to anybody, even 

total strangers, and make them feel special. 

She has a generous heart and has 

shown me how to do the same. When 

my mom loves, she does it with all of 

her heart. 

My mom makes me feel important, 

loved and cherished. I love my mom so 

much, because she is the perfect mom 

in every way. When I grow up and 

have kids of my own, I want to be just 

like her! She is the best role model that 

a daughter could ask for. 

HONORABLE MENTIONS 

Mom, to others, you are just another 

mother, but to our family, you mean 

the absolute world. You were there for 

me during the ups and downs, and I 

admire your bravery going through 

cancer twice. You are the best mom, 

not just because you’re my mom, but 

because you traveled over the world 

for me. There are more than 100,000 

children who are in orphanages just in 

America, let alone other countries, but 

you chose me out of so many others you 

could have adopted. I know that God 

sent you to me as a special gift from 

Him to teach me life lessons and the 

greatness of God’s love. 

As Stephanie Precourt said, "There 

are so many times you feel like you 

failed, but in the eyes, heart and mind 

of your child, you are Super Mom!” 

I want you to know that I look up to 

you and hope to be just like you when 

I grow up. All that you have taught me 

has allowed me to understand that everything 

you do is what’s best for me. 

If I had to write one sentence to describe 

you, it wouldn’t be possible, because 

one sentence would become an 

essay and so on. If I had to think of 

any day without you, it would be impossible, 

because it’s too heartbreaking to 

even imagine. I know these words are 

said a lot, but I love you. 

Joanna Mei Schafhauser, 13 

Dr. Phillips 

My mom is the best in the world. She 

picks us up from school, does our laundry, 

prints pictures for us, pushes us on 

the swing, gives us hugs after school, 

helps us make slime, turns on the TV for 

us, and makes dinner. I love when she 

makes banana bread, puts blankets on 

us when we go to bed, and lays in our 

room at nighttime when we go to sleep. 

I love Mommy so much! 

Beckett Smith, 5 

Bay Hill 

If someone asks you who is your 

friend, you might say a buddy at school, 

but I would say a buddy at school after 

my first friend, who is my mom. 

My mom is sweet, because she gives 

me the best hugs and kisses. She keeps 

me comfortable. She also brightens my 

day by helping me out and calming me 

down. For example, once there was a 

hurricane, and she calmed me down by 

saying, “Don’t be scared, because you 

never know what will happen.” 

She mostly cares for me, because I 

have siblings. If I would dream, it would 

be about my mom. She helps me on stuff 

like schoolwork. Sometimes she doesn’t 

let me buy certain things and she says, 



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“Let’s buy things we want after we buy 

things we need.” I think she is right. My 

mom is proud if I get straight A’s, but 

if I don’t, we go over stuff. She says, 

“Learn from my mistakes.” 

In conclusion, my first friend is my 

mom, because she does a lot of things 

for me. My mom is like a star. I don’t 

always see her, but I know she is there 

for me. 

Nicole Pham, 8 

Windsor Landing 

Since I was a child, my mother has 

been my ultimate role model for every 

aspect of my life. I admire the way she 

completes each task that comes her 

way with a sense of purpose, determination 

and ambition. She inspires me 

to do the same in my life. My mom not 

only works to help support our family, 

but she never fails to be there to help 

me with the smallest of things. Although 

she is busy, she sets aside time to spend 

with her family. She wants our family to 

eat all our meals together, so we can 

interact, become closer and learn more 

about each other. 

A mother may foster and take care 

of the family at home, but my mom 

does so much more. Both my parents 

work almost all the time, which made 

it extremely difficult to take care of me 

when I was too little to stay at home 

alone. This may have been a struggle, 

but on all occasions, my mom met the 

challenge. Despite her busy schedule, 

she makes time to do activities with 

my family and me. 

As I grow up, I constantly look to 

her as a role model for my future self. 

She takes on all tasks with a huge 

heart and an amazing sense of determination. 

She taught me to always try 

my best on everything that I encounter 

in life. 

Annalise Blomberg, 13 

Westchester 

My mom is like no other mom. She 

cares for me way too much, because 

she loves me more than her life. She 

would travel all the universes just for 

me. My mom is calm. Even when we 

give her a hard time, she does not 

scream. She calms my brother and 

me down. 

At night, she prays for me to be protected. 

She feeds me the best foods, 

so I can be healthy and strong. She’s 

with me wherever I go and won’t miss 

a soccer game. She is always happy. 

She makes me laugh, and I make her 

laugh. She’s funny, that’s why. 

When I get sick or hurt, she helps 

me feel better. She gives me everything. 

She spends most of her time 

working in the house. I feel bad for 

her, but she does it for me. I want to 

give her something worth a lot. She 

loves me way too much. 

Leonardo Zeka, 9 

Wingrove 

Our mommy is the best, because 

she gives us the encouragement to try 

new things while keeping us safe at the 

same time. When we are sad, she dries 

our tears and comforts us. When we 

give her apocalyptic levels of chaos, 

she shows us extreme patience and understanding. 

When we fight over who 

gets to hold a receipt from Target, she 

helps us figure out why it is just a receipt 

that no one needs. She doesn’t 

mind answering us 200 times when we 

ask, “Are we there yet?” even though 

the drive is only one hour. 

Mom keeps us alive by making sure 

we eat our meals and drink plenty of 

water. She is the best at playing any 

character we want her to be, even if 

it is a Star Wars character (which we 

know she has never seen). She makes 

us stronger by not letting our ouchies 

get the best of us. Mom lets us know 

every day how much she loves us. We 

think our mom is the best in the whole 

world! 

Declan, 4, and Melania 

Guastella, 6 

Watermark 

My mom loves me a lot. She helps 

me when I need help. She is very fun to 

play with. Even though we don’t have 

a billion bucks, I’m happy. She makes 

sure I’m safe. I have a health problem, 

and she takes me to hundreds of doctors 

to take care of me. She makes me 

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smile and does not treat me like a slave. 

She is beautiful and nice. She supports 

me when I’m feeling sad. She looks after 

me like a mom duck with all of its 

babies. When I’m feeling scared, we 

talk until I forget about it. She loves me 

like no one ever does or ever will. She 

thinks more of me than she does of herself. 

I wouldn’t be happier. I couldn’t be 

happier. When she smiles, it makes me 

smile, too. 

Siena W., 10 

Wintermere Point 

It is said that the mark of an excellent 

and caring mother often lies within the 

love she has for her children. Her love 

for her children should be a love that 

can endure the toughest of times; cast 

away all feelings of doubt, despair and 

darkness; and create bonds that last for 

a lifetime. 

My mother definitely goes beyond 

those things. For 14 years, her love has 

nurtured and cared for me, mentally, 

physically and spiritually. Her occupation 

as a stay-at-home mom for my 

brother and me requires her to be calm 

and strong, which are two traits that 

can quickly disappear after spending 

her whole day with a 14-year-old and 

a 13-year-old. 

My mother is a generous and 

thoughtful person. She never hesitates 

to give her time, effort and money to 

honorable causes. Also, my mother 

treats anyone she meets with a shine in 

her eyes and a sparkle in her voice. My 

mother was and still is a resilient and 

steadfast person. 

As a toddler, my family was required 

to move around the country 

often and without much warning due 

to my father’s position in the military. 

My mother somehow managed, under 

much stress and strain, to raise my 

brother and me; and I think she did 

quite a nice job. My favorite trait of 

hers is her ability to cheer up her children 

with a hug, smile and a word or 

two of kindness. 

Joshua Salva, 14 

Arden Park 

I want you to learn about my lovely 

mom. My mom surprises me with candy. 

She gives me extra hugs when I feel 

sad. My heart shines when my mom 

kisses me on the cheek. She is fantastic. 

Nadin Abdelsamid, 6 

Courtleigh Park 

My mother is special to me. She is 

the one for whom I am able to see the 

beautiful universe around me. She is 

responsible for all the joy, happiness, 

pleasure or any other emotion I am 

possessing right now. She keeps me 

shielded from everyone. My mother 

becomes my umbrella when I get stuck 

in the rain. She supports me in my bad 

times. For me, it is because of her that 

our house feels like a home. I have a 

profound admiration in my heart for 

my mother. She is the first best friend 

of my life. It is because no one else 

can be fully authentic and genuine in 

love like her. The proof that the bond 

of our love reflects upon is the fact that 

I love her. 

She is never tired of giving me 

love and affection. Considering my 

mother’s love to be an ocean, it can 

never be dry. She is unique and irreplaceable 

by anyone else in the universe. 

I cannot find any kind of love 

in the world that is comprehensively 

as mighty, liberal and genuine. She 

removes all the darkness. 

My siblings and I must try to understand 

her feelings and make her 

smile all the time, no matter what the 

circumstance is. 

Mom, you are in my soul, and I love 

you. 

Miah Phillips, 10 

Windermere 

Two, four, six, eight: My mom is so 

great! 

My mom takes me to dance, and she 

also takes me to dance competitions. 

For competitions, she does my hair and 

makeup. She also pays for my costumes 

and for me to go to the competitions. 

Not only is she helping me become a 

good dancer, she also takes me to a lot 

of fun places. 

Last year, we went to New York 

City for my birthday. While there, we 

saw two Broadway shows and ate at 

amazing restaurants. When I thought 

a trip could not get any better, my 

mom surprised me with a ski trip to 


Breckenridge, Colorado. On the trip, I 

skied black diamond slopes. It was the 

best trip ever. 

While you would think my mom taking 

me on fun trips and supporting my 

dancing would make her the greatest, 

you would be wrong. What makes her 

the greatest is that she loves me when 

I am not at my greatest, like when I am 

yelling at her at 5:50 a.m. while she 

is doing my hair and makeup for my 

dance competitions or when we are at 

a Broadway show and I tell her I want 

to leave right now when the show starts. 

Those are bad enough, but imagine 

how this Florida girl may have acted in 

5 degree weather in Colorado. Let’s just 

say I was not at my best, but my mom 

still loved me in all those moments like I 

was the best. Thank you for always loving 

me in those moments, Mom. 

Claire Neville, 8 

Estates at Windermere 

My definition of a perfect mom is one 

who does the work of five people with 

her whole heart and never-ending love. 

My mom does exactly that. 

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My mom is the best for several reasons. 

She supports me in everything 

I do, teaches me that success comes 

from hard work, inspires me every day, 

and, most importantly, teaches me to 

always believe in myself. My mom is 

always there for me, even during those 

impossible times. She is there when I 

need her, even though she stays very 

busy between my activities and me. 

She makes sure I’m OK and that I have 

everything I need. 

To everyone else, she may seem to 

be just a regular mom, but to me, she 

means so much. We may fight, but our 

bond is inseparable. 

Everyone has accomplishments in 

their life, and usually, behind them is 

someone who stays by their side to 

help them achieve those accomplishments. 

My mother encourages me 

to go beyond my goals. Even when 

other people do not believe in me, 

she does. 

“A mother is someone who is still 

there after everyone has deserted you.” 


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When I fail my goals, Mom is there 

to pick me up and say, “It’s OK. Get up 

and keep trying. You’ll get there.” 

Mariana Millan, 14 

Gotha 

There are about 43.5 million moms 

in the world. That’s a lot of moms, 

but in my opinion, my mom is the 

best. She is kind, loving, hardworking, 

smart and has a good sense of 

humor: a perfect combination of traits 

that makes a perfect mom, just like 

how a McDonald's Happy Meal has 

the perfect number of fries. There are 

two major events that have happened 

to my family that showed me why my 

mom is the best. 

On my 12th birthday, I got a black 

puppy named Lucy. We took her out 

front at night without her leash. She ran 

into the road when a car was coming, 

and my mom jumped in between Lucy 

and the car, saving her life. She is now 

a 1-year-old healthy French bulldog. 

When I was very young, my family 

went on a trip. I had a stuffed bunny 

that I got when I was born, and we 

were inseparable. Once we were on 

the plane, my mom realized they’d forgotten 

my favorite toy. While I was crying, 

she ordered my dad to go back 

and get it. She kept me calm until my 

dad came back, and I had my beloved 

bunny. 

Clearly, my mom is the best. I will 

never forget these memories of my 

mom. I am so thankful that I was gifted 

with someone as special as her. 

Keira Collins, 13 

Windermere 

Moms are people who know us the 

best and love us the most. My mom 

always puts our family first. She thinks 

about how her decisions will affect our 

family. My mom is also very family-oriented. 

She makes it easy for my dad 

to have time with my sister and me, 

even if it means she doesn’t get us for 

a weekend. My mom made the decision 

to enroll us in The First Academy, 

so we could have spiritual teaching in 

our lives. She wants to help us in any 

way. 

One of her passions is animals. My 

mom has rescued squirrels, birds and 

dogs. She has taken in injured squirrels 

and birds and nursed them back to 

health. She has found dogs wandering 

in our neighborhood and found their 

owners. Recently, my grandmother was 

unable to take care of her bird anymore, 

so my mom brought him home. 

Taking care of animals is one of my 

mom’s favorite things to do. 

My mom is very supportive of me. 

She helps me with my decisions, even 

if she doesn’t like them. She is also supportive 

of me with school. One time, 

when I did a project about our family 

tree, she helped me all the way through 

it. That night, I even got to learn who I 

got my name from in our family. 

I love my mom so much! What would 

I do without her? 

Ava Tomlin, 12 

Southwest Orlando 

When people think of their mom, 

they probably just think of that person 

who packs them lunch and takes them 

to school, but my mom is special. There 

is no one like her on the planet. She is 

always there for me. She’s the person 

I look up to. She is who I follow and 

take notes from. The two things I love 

most about her is that she will never 

give up on me, and she will never stop 

loving me. 

My mom will never give up on me. 

I know this, not because she tells me 

every day, but because whenever I 

make a mistake or make her mad, she 

forgives me. I love my mom, and I will 

never stop loving her. Even if I break 

something of hers and she gets mad, 

she always comes back to tell me she’s 

sorry. 

Through thick and thin, she supports 

me and is on my side. Every decision I 

make, I make thinking about her, even 

if it’s a bad decision. I imagine that she 

will still throw her arms around me and 

love me. Her fondness of me is indisputable. 

It is astonishing how much she 

would do for me. She’s changed my life 

more than she will ever realize. 

“A mother is she who can take the 

place of all others, but whose place no 

one else can take.” 

Landon Begley, 11 

Windermere

My mom is my hero. First of all, my 

mom makes me feel better when I’m 

sick and takes me to the doctor’s if I’m 

not feeling well. She also helps me with 

my homework when I need help, and if 

I don’t understand something, my mom 

teaches me new things. 

My mom says, “Take your time and 

try your best. You’re doing great,” and 

it doesn’t just make me smile, but it 

makes me hug her. 

My mom gives me happy dreams 

by hugging and kissing me before my 

bedtime. She also gives me happy days 

when I am on break or not in school. 

My mom takes care of me when my 

dad is not home and he’s at work. 

My mom is awesome in many ways and 

one way is she signs me up for stuff I want 

to do. For example, I wanted to take gymnastics 

lessons, so Mom signed me up. 

My mom is my heart, and my heart is 

in me, and in me is my mom. 

Grace Siegrist, 9 

Saddlebrook 

You may think your mom is great, but 

my mom is the best! Whether she is working 

or at home, she always helps others. 

First of all, she is the best, because 

she teaches me to treat everyone with 

respect and not to judge people by their 

outside. For example, if I see someone 

different than me, I treat them how I 

would like to be treated — with kindness 

and respect. Next, if I need help 

with my homework or advice on issues 

with friends, she shows me what to do 

and listens with an open mind before 

dispensing words of wisdom. 

She is also the best, because she has 

a heart of gold. My love of animals and 

big heart come from my mom. Her kindness 

to all inspires me every day to try 

to be kind to people. She inspires me to 

respect others no matter the differences 

between me and them. 

My mom is the best, because she is a 

huge inspiration to everyone. She inspires 

me to be a helpful person. She cares for 

and teaches my older brother and me to 

be amazing people. There are multifarious 

reasons why my mom is the best. 

To conclude, from being a stupendous 

teacher to being an over-the-top 

parent, my mom is the best. 

Noah Kaminski, 11 

Lakes of Windermere 

My mom is the best, because she 

spends lots and lots of time helping 

me learn and have fun. She wakes 

up early every day to make breakfast 

and drive me to a special school. She 

takes me to classes at the library every 

week, so I can learn how to program 

computers. She stays up late 

every night after putting me to bed, 

so she can do work for our family like 

laundry and cleaning. She even takes 

me to see rocket launches at Kennedy 

Space Center and to the beach, too! 

My mom helps me to do better at 

school, in the sports I play like soccer 

and basketball, and to be a better person 

with my friends. My mom loves me 

more than anything in the world, and 

I love her, too! 

Max Miyahara, 10 

Courtleigh Park 

Mother. As powerful as that word is, 

many of us never take the time to truly 

appreciate our mothers. Mothers are 

the ones who not only give us life, but 

the ones who are with us every step of 

the journey. My mother is no different. 

Her capacity to love is one that I have 

never seen in another person. Her embrace 

makes me feel as if the moon 

has wrapped its gentle rays around 

me. She is my everything. 

My mother gave up everything, 

leaving her home country of Peru and 

moving to the United States with my 

father. They risked it all just to give 

me a better opportunity in life. At first 

they struggled, living in a tiny apartment; 

using a dog bed as a mattress; 

and driving an old, broken-down car. 

Yet, they managed to rise up from the 

ashes and gave my sister and me the 

lives they never had. Although my father 

has taught me many things, my 

mother is the one who taught me how 

to love and how to give back. Her 

smooth, gentle voice calms me whenever 

anxiety strikes. She never fails at 

finding a way to make me feel better. 

She is the best mother a girl like me 

could ever ask for. I am proud to not 

only call her my mother but my best 

friend. 

Erika Zavaleta, 14 

Stoneybrook West 



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My Mimi is the best. She is like a 

mommy to me, and I love her very 

much. Mimi gave me a home to live in 

and makes sure I go to school to learn. 

She buys me lots of dolls and other 

toys. Mimi cares for me and thinks I am 

pretty. She is so beautiful. Mimi loves 

me, and I love her. She loves me in her 

heart forever. 

Addyson Harrigan, 6 

Windermere Downs 

Dear Mom, 

I love you so much and for so many 

reasons. You’re sweeter than chocolate. 

You always fight for me. You 

support me no matter what as long 

as it’s reasonable. You have helped 

me up when I was down and never 

let me fall. You care for me while caring 

for everyone else in our family, 

including me, my brother, my sister, 

my dad, two fish, two dogs (they are 

rowdy); and you still do everything 

you can for me. You have never given 

up on me, and you never will. Every 

day you improve my heart, and you 

improve yours. This will never change 

because of how much you love me. 

Roses are red, violets are blue, I 

would not be here, without you. 

Tiernan Hansen, 10 

Sunset Lakes 

Mothers, in general, are all outstanding, 

but there seems to be something 

special, something amazing, that 

stands out in mine. Ever since I was 

little, my mom has pushed me to do my 

best, even when I thought I couldn’t do 

any better or compared myself to others. 

I remember that I would confide in 

her or turn to her in many sticky situations. 

She, along with my dad, immigrated 

to the United States in her 20s. 

She somehow still managed to spend 

time with my siblings and me while she 

was studying for exams and working 

simultaneously. My mom is clearly a 

busy woman, but she is able to put everything 

aside to spend time with her 

family. I have heard plenty of amazing 

things about her from many of my 

family members, and I can confirm that 

they are all true. 

Not just I, but everyone can learn so 

many amazing qualities like humility 

and perseverance from her. My mom 

manages to juggle her job, her children 

and a million other things on top of everything 

that is going on at home. I do 

not need to know that she is proud of 

me, but rather I just need her to know 

that I am proud of her. 

Misha Aduri, 12 

Chaine du Lac 

Did you know that “Mom” spelled 

upside down is “Wow?” Well, that 

would definitely be a word to describe 

my mom. I think my mom is the best in 

Southwest for many reasons. 

My mom is very helpful. She makes 

me feel better when I’m sad. She drives 

me to soccer practices and games. 

She also was my soccer team’s manager 

for 1.5 years. My mom is a pre-K 

teacher who helps prekindergartners 

learn. She also pays for all my soccer 

equipment. 

She is very athletic. She can do 

eight really good pullups. My mom 

also does races like half marathons 

and marathons. In the mornings, my 

mom goes to work out and then goes 

for a run. One time when she was 

cooking dinner and was waiting for it 

to be ready, she did about 50 situps! 

She is also funny. She sings and 

dances to old songs, and she tells bad 

jokes. She is also sarcastic sometimes, 

and she is pretty funny when she is. The 

biggest example of how she is funny 

is that she thinks she’s cool. One time 

when we were in the Volcano Bay parking 

lot, a car’s siren went off, and when 

she said, “Stop it,” it stopped. Now she 

thinks she has magical powers. 

It’s clear to see that my mom is the 

best in Southwest! 

Caroline Ritchey, 9 

Belmere Reserve 

My mom is the best mom. My mom 

makes surprises for me when it is not 

my birthday! My mom lets me play 

outside with friends. I love it when she 

takes me and my friends to the park. 

Now you know why my mom is the 

coolest! 

Rafael Costa Corgozinho, 6 

MetroWest 


Do you think your mom is the best 

in Southwest? “Pffffft,” well, you are 

mistaken, because my mom is the best 

in the whole wide Southwest. As the 

youngest child of the family, I know that 

my mom is the best ever. 

Not only is she the best mom but 

the nicest mom. Every time we see 

a homeless person, she says that we 

should give money to him/her (well, 

we try to). Another reason is that she 

loves to go to the places to help those 

with special needs. She loves helping 

people. Adding to the first two examples 

is she takes me to all my activities, 

such as soccer games, school, 

amusement parks, restaurants and, 

most importantly, home. My mom has 

a golden heart. 

She is also a creative person. In my 

lunchbox, my mom makes notes in a 

way that is incredible by poking holes 

in my bananas to write messages. Isn’t 

that crazy? Every time I get a project, 

she helps me with it, and it’s one of the 

most colorful ones turned in. To top it all 

off, every time we are trying to watch a 

movie or do an activity, and it doesn’t 

work, she improvises. She connected 

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her computer to the TV, and that’s how 

we watched the Super Bowl. 

Now are you convinced? Whether or 

not you are, I know in my small brain 

that my mom is the best in the whole 

wide Southwest Orlando. 

Angel Rivera, 11 

Brookestone 

My mom is the best, because she 

cares for me when I am sick and comforts 

me when I feel blue. When I scare 

her, she doesn’t care. She laughs with 

me. She likes to play video games with 

me, and she says, “Don’t kill me.” If I 

need help with homework, she helps 

me until we get hungry. 

My mom is very nice to me, and she 

does everything to make me happy. 

My mom is very funny. She makes me 

laugh until I’m crying. She buys me 

food, drinks and other things I need 

and helps me with anything. 

I hope you have a mom like mine. 

Christian Tomeu, 9 

Pembrook Pines 

Dr Rupal Thakkar 

CONTINUED ON PAGE 18



My mom is my star. She is the light that 

I follow. She is the sun in my life. My mom 

could break a bridge if she wanted to. 

She is the most wonderful person I know. 

My mom is awesome. I remember 

when she surprised me with a new dog. I 

blew up with joy! Whenever I have problems, 

my mom fixes them. She is one of 

the strongest people I know. 

My mom works in the FBI. She’s also 

a Zumba instructor and more. She works 

the entire week, and she has her Zumba 

classes Mondays and Tuesdays. But, 

she still has time for me and my family. 

Sometimes I believe she is Wonder 

Woman. She works for money, so we 

can do the things we want. 

My mom could be a mathematician. 

When I don’t understand my math homework, 

she can help me. She makes math 

more fun. She has her master’s degree, and 

I’m pretty sure she’s done college two times. 

My mother is my superhero, savior, 

sun, light and many other amazing things 

I can’t explain. I love her. 

Kynnedi Bradley, 10 

Belmere 

You know how one word can have 

numerous definitions? Take the word 

“mother” for example. Every person 

in the world has a different definition 

of “mother.” Now, the question is how 

would you define your mother? That is 

a question that cannot be answered in 

one word. My mom has several qualities 

that make her, what I would say, 

the best mom in the world. 

The relationship I have with my mom 

is like peanut butter and jelly — perfect 

together. She works excessively hard 

to support our family. My mom does 

not only teach us right from wrong and 

the correct morals and values in life, 

but she also exemplifies all of them. 

She constantly shows her love for me 

and my sister, Sarah, equally. 

One day, I curiously asked her, “If 

someone told you to save one person, 

would it be Sarah or me?” 

“The person who asked would have 

to take me with the two of you, because 

I love you both too much to let 

either one of you go,” my mom replied. 

Back to the original question, I 

found my definition of “mother.” She 

is the one person in your life who will 

surrender anything, including her life, 

for you. 

Sarina Sioson, 14 

Waterside 

I love my mom the most. She’s the 

best on the coast. 

A few years ago, my mom discovered 

she carried a gene that could 

cause her to have breast cancer, so 

she decided to have surgery to remove 

her breasts. It was painful but 

brave, because she wanted to stay 

healthy, so she can watch my sister 

and me grow up. 

My mom also cares for my sister 

who has autism, which makes it 10 

times harder, but it makes her 10 times 

stronger as a mom. 

So, this goes out to my mom. You 

are my universe, my light in me and 

the world. Without you I would be a 

wreck. You are my sunshine. Mom, 

you are my life. 

Now, a poem dedicated to you: 

Mom, roses are red, violets are blue, 

this is a paragraph I love about you. 

Your love has never fallen short. You 

have been my only support. I hope you 

love my rhyme. For you, I will always 

have time. 

Mom, this is what I love about you. 

When it comes to me and Lola, you 

don’t cut us short. 

Christopher Drewes, 10 

Windermere 

My mom should win this contest. 

She drives me and my five siblings everywhere. 

We have so many appointments. 

She shows up to every school 

and sporting event for each of us. She 

always, always puts us first. She even 

has a great boss at work. Her boss 

gives my mom time off to care for the 

things we need. 

It used to be just David, my two 

brothers and me up until a year ago. 

My mom heard of three siblings in 

foster care. She talked about it with 

us. We made lots of changes to our 

family, so the three of them could join 

us. It has been really hard for me. I 

had to give up my bedroom for my 

mom and David to move into, and 

my mom and David gave up the big 

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edroom so all four boys would be 

in one room. My mom says it is organized 

chaos. She is home with us 

every night. She tries to help me with 

homework. I usually get frustrated, 

but she tries. 

I volunteer places with my mom. My 

favorite place to volunteer is Second 

Harvest Food Bank. We used to go 

there about once a month, but with all 

the kids now, it’s been harder to get 

there. 

My mom takes us on road trips. 

She talks to everybody along the way 

when we stop. She says, “You never 

know who you might meet by saying 

hello.” 

Chris Gatto, 12 

Independence 

My mother is the most incredible, 

understanding woman I know. She 

has set so many amazing examples 

of how to live my life in God’s eyes. 

My mother is considerate to everyone 

she encounters, including people 

she doesn’t know. Her radiant, kind 

smile can light up an entire room. 

My mother loves me and all five of 

my siblings unconditionally. The most 

amazing part is that my mother has 

also dedicated all her love and attention 

to God, our Father, as well, 

which is why the Lord and I are so 

close today. 

My mother has courage to be able 

to suffer for my family. Especially this 

year, my family has gone through a lot 

of pain and suffering, but my mother 

has gone through the most. She still 

manages to put food on the table for 

eight people every day, buy us what 

we need, and, most importantly, find 

the time to give us the attention we 

need. 

I’m a teen, so that means I struggle 

with multiple things and often need 

attention. Luckily, my mother is there 

when I need her. This amazing, courageous, 

fearless woman is the reason I 

am who I am today. 

My mother has always said to me, 

“I love you to the moon and back, my 

little Sophia.” 

Little does she know, I love her to 

God and back! 

Sophia Muscaro, 14 

Windermere 

When you are first born, you look 

up to see a smiling, loving, caring 

face. That is your mom. As life goes 

on, that smiling face will continue to 

hold, love and care for you. And, no 

matter how embarrassing our mothers 

can be, we love them for many reasons. 

Some reasons I love my mother 

without end and think she is the best 

are: I can tell her my secrets, she loves 

me no matter what, and she is a fabulous 

role model. 

My mom is very trustworthy. I can 

tell her things that I would not dare 

tell anyone else. If I broke something 

of my dad’s, I could tell my 

mom, and she would keep the secret, 

secret. My mom also loves and 

forgives me no matter what. I may 

end up doing something really bad, 

and even though my mom still gets 

mad, that does not mean she stops 

loving me. After a couple of days, 

she will forgive me, and we will become 

closer than ever. Additionally, 

my mom is a stupendous role model. 

I cannot think of a better person to 

walk in the footsteps of. Everyone 

has reasons to love their mom, and 

these are mine. 

As you can see, I love my mom, 

and she is probably the best person 

I am ever going to meet. I would yell 

it off a rooftop if it would mean the 

entire world would get to know. All 

the more reason, I think my mom is 

the best in Southwest! 

Elle Mangin, 11 

Meadow Ridge 

Did you know that my mom is a 

mother bear who works as hard as 

a honeybee? Well, Michelle N. 

Carter (my mom) takes care of me, is 

loving and is very hardworking. 

My mom takes me to the doctor’s 

and dentist’s when I need to go. 

When I needed to get my first two 

(yes, two) cavities filled, she took 

time out of her day to make sure I 

got there on time. Also, when I need 

to get my flu shot, she takes me. She 

makes sure I have what I need to survive, 

too. She does this by making 

sure the pantry, fridge and my closet 

are full. 

My mom is loving. She helps me 

when I am hurt, which happens a lot. 


She also makes sure I’m OK when I am 

sad. She never forgets to put love notes 

in my binder. On my spring break, my 

mom took me to Defy Orlando with my 

friends. 

My mom is hardworking. She works 

very hard to make breakfast, lunch 

and dinner for the entire family. She 

works even harder when people come 

over. She does everything she has to to 

take care of the family when my dad is 

at work. She puts hard work and TLC 

in everything she does. 

For these reasons and many, many 

more, my mom is the bomb! 

Alexis Carter, 9 

Belmere 

Mom, Mommy or Mama. It doesn’t 

matter what you call her. You probably 

love her with all your heart, and you 

know she would do anything just for 

you. I say, “Mom,” and I have the best 

mom in Southwest. 

First of all, my mom had me at 19. 

Most 19-year-olds are worried about 

whether or not they are going to get 

to a party on time, not what a baby 

needs to eat! My mom has a nevergive-up 

attitude. Being 19 with a baby 

was challenging, but my mom still went 

to college and got her degree to become 

a paralegal. Wow, my mother 

had a very busy life at such a young 

age, but she still took great care of me. 

That’s why she’s the best. 

Furthermore, that 19-year-old 

is now 31, and instead of that one 

baby, she now has four. In 12 years, 

she had three more kids, who are my 

siblings — Gracie, 8; Eli, 4; and 

James, 6 months. Four kids is a lot 

of responsibility, but my mom handles 

us like a champ. She is loving and 

caring, but she has a tone of voice 

that will also set us straight. She has 

high expectations for my education, 

because she knows that education 

is the key to success in life, and she 

knows I am capable of reaching 

those expectations. 

My mom is simply the best. There’s 

no other mom like her. 

Michael Taccetta, 11 

Gotha 

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I know everyone thinks their mom 

is the best, but I am certain that my 

mom wins that category. As a mother, 

it is her job to care for us; nurture 

us; cook; be a chauffeur, therapist, 

nurse/doctor, and the list goes on. 

Not only does she do all of these 

things, but she does them with ease. 

People ask my sisters and me how she 

does it, and we simply reply, “She’s 

Superwoman.” 

She always makes a delicious breakfast, 

lunch and dinner, all while keeping 

a clean household. Best of all, she 

makes sure we get the best education 

possible and helps us with our homework 

if we need it. My three sisters and 

I go to three different schools, and my 

mom somehow manages to pick us up 

on time. My family and I consider being 

a mother a full-time job, because 

she is always working. 

She is devoted, not only to her 

family, but also to Jesus. She ensures 

that we go to church every Sunday 

and pray before bed every night. 

We also pray in the car on the way 

WE’LL MAKE 

YOU LOOK LIKE 

A HERO 

to school every day. She tries to be 

humble and keep a close relationship 

with God. She loves us so much, and 

I do not think that I could ever live 

without her. 

Mom, if you’re reading this, to the 

world you are only one person, but to 

me, you are the world. 

Ava Scoma, 14 

Magnolia Pointe 

East or west, all moms are the best, 

but my mom is exceptional, because 

she is one in a million. 

My mom works hard to provide for 

me. She sometimes works early in 

the morning and late in the night, but 

still manages to cook my food, wash 

my clothes, help me with my homework, 

cuddle me and tell me bedtime 

stories. My mom tells the best 

bedtime stories, because she makes 

them up to teach me important things 

about life. 

My mom loves me to the last star 

and back. She cleans me up when 

I’m messy and carries me on her back 

when I pretend I’m lazy. When I’m 

bad, my mom has unlimited patience, 

and when I’m nice, she says I’m a 

good boy. 

My mom makes sure my tummy is 

filled. Even when I’m not hungry, she 

asks if I want to eat. Every morning before 

I go to school, she gives me a cup 

of milk to drink, even if I fuss about it. 

When I talk, my mom listens to me. 

She laughs at my jokes and discusses 

ideas with me. She explains things that 

I don’t understand, and, most importantly, 

she teaches me what’s right and 

wrong. 

My mom is genuinely honest with 

me. She keeps her promises to me and 

gives me more than I deserve. I believe 

her when she says, “I’ve got you covered, 

my love.” 

If I summarized everything and put 

it in a nutshell, I would say my mom is 

my world, and that’s what makes my 

mom the best mom in Southwest. 

Adiyan Alli, 10 

Ocoee 

You may say Mom, you may say 

Mommy, you may say Mama, but I say 

Daddy! I am going to write about why 

my two dads are the best in Southwest. 

My dads are the best, because they 

are amazing caretakers and the best 

protectors of me and my siblings. 

To begin, my dads are the best in 

Southwest by being amazing caretakers 

and providers. They nourish, make 

sure our needs are met, and provide 

us with the best childhood we can 

have. My dad, Clifford, would win 

best cook in Southwest, because he 

cooks the best meals ever! My dad, 

Larry, also cooks many different delicious 

dishes. My dads take us to many 

special and fun places. Wherever they 

take us is always enjoyable. My dads 

make sure we are well-educated, so 

we can go far in life. This proves that 

my dads are amazing caretakers. 

In addition, my dads are the best 

in Southwest, because they are the 

best protectors of me and my siblings. 

When I am tucked into bed each night, 

I feel safe. I always feel safe and fortunate 

with two dads who love me. 

To conclude, my parents protect and 

care about my family and me. 

Collier Alexander-Sawyer, 10 

Parkside 

My mom is the most wonderful person 

in the world. In my perspective, 

my mom walks to flowers and in one 

touch, makes them bloom like spring 

in my mind. Her smile reminds me of a 

rainbow, glimmering in the big, bright 

sun. She can be gorgeous, helpful 

and even brave at certain times. We 

do many things together, and she is 

wonderful. 

She can be very courageous everywhere 

and anywhere by helping people 

in need. We do this thing called 

Coalition for the Homeless, where 

you come to a cafeteria and feed the 

homeless. She also even helped an 

old lady down the stairs. Now, is that 

kind or what? 

My mom is helpful. She can be 

helpful when I, my friend or someone 

else needs help. One time, I fell 

off my bike. She came immediately 

with a first-aid kit. She took me home 

and healed my wounds. She can 

be helpful with our house. My mom 

cleans the house every morning. It is 

squeaky clean! 

Mom takes risks, and she is very 

brave. One time, my mom and I were 

on a scary roller coaster. I was terrified, 

but she was not screaming at all 

while I was. My mom also was brave 

and dived off a high diving board. I 

said, “I could never do that,” and I was 

impressed. 

My mom is filled with everything I 

like, and she is the best mom. 

Graham Parker, 9 

Windermere Crossing 

My mom is beautiful on the inside 

and outside. She brings me to the 

park. She gives me ice cream cones. 

My mom plays GaGa ball with me. 

That is why she is beautiful. 

Azariah Belamour, 6 

MetroWest 

Almost everyone has a special and 

caring mother. I am writing this not 

only for extra credit but also so I can 

express how much I love my mom. She 

is very important to me, and I would 

like to brag about her, so you can see 

why I love her so much. 

My mother is caring and only wants 

the best for me. She makes me a

healthy lunch, breakfast and dinner 

every day, with a few exceptions. For 

instance, on rare occasions, we get 

pancakes for dinner. 

She makes sure I understand my 

mistakes, homework and the possible 

outcomes of my life decisions. 

She also is there for me whenever I 

need her. For example, when I got 

my braces on, she was ready to give 

me medicine, hug me and buy me 

a milkshake. On my birthdays, she 

spoils me with gifts, but on other 

days, she makes sure I understand 

that life isn’t easy, and I won’t just 

be handed what I want. Finally, she 

appreciates the things we do for her 

and really understands the effort we 

put into things. 

As you can see, my mom puts in lots 

of effort to care for me. She is such an 

important part of my life, and words 

cannot describe how much I love her. 

Katie Heald, 11 

Windermere Chase 

Who is your superhero? Most people 

say Batman, Superman, Ironman, 

Wonder Woman or Captain Marvel. 

Well, mine is my mom. No, she can’t 

shoot lasers and doesn’t have super 

speed or super strength, but there are 

three things about her that make her 

the best. 

To begin, my mom works really hard. 

She spends her time doing laundry 

and going to shops to buy clothes and 

school supplies. For example, when 

I am at school, she is doing laundry, 

cleaning the house and doing other 

mom things. 

Furthermore, she loves me a lot. I 

can be pretty mean to my mom, but 

she still loves me to the moon, back 

and more. I know this because she 

tells me that she loves me a million 

times each day. When I’m not having 

a good morning, she puts notes in my 

agenda. 

My mom is awesome. When I come 

home, I come home to a nice, clean 

house. One of the most important 

things throughout all her work is she 

still finds time for me to go to baseball, 

get to school on time, and do what I 

have to do. I never miss my baseball 

practices or games. 


This is why my mom is the best superhero 

ever. 

Alejandro Diaz, 9 

Reserve of Belmere 

Honestly, there is no doubt that my 

mom is the best mom in the world for 

hundreds of reasons. My mom has all 

the great qualities of a normal mom, 

but there is way more to her. My mom 

is the mother of four children, and they 

are all boys. She works her tail off every 

day to keep us under a roof. A lot 

of children may say that their mom is 

the best mom ever, but my mom really 

is. She is hardworking, trustworthy and 

straightforward. 

My mom works hard every day. She 

is the mother of four, and she runs tournaments 

for Copa America, which is 

a mixed martial arts (MMA) competition. 

She also is a personal assistant 

to many people. If anyone is in need, 

she is right there beside them, ready to 

work hard and get the job done. 

You can talk to my mom about anything 

at any time. She keeps other people’s 

secrets to herself and doesn’t spill 

the beans. She respects other people’s 

lives and doesn’t judge them for their 

decisions but helps guide them back to 

the right path. 

My mom is straightforward. She 

chooses her words wisely and gets to 

the point. She is honest and doesn’t tell 

you lies. For example, she will let you 

know if you don’t look good in an outfit, 

and I love her for that. 

Brae White, 12 

Windermere 

The staff of the Southwest Orlando 

Bulletin extends special thanks to the 

following schools that participated 

in the 28th annual Best Mom in 

Southwest contest: Lake Whitney, 

Palm Lake, Thornebrooke and 

Westbrooke elementary schools; 

Holy Family Catholic School; 

Orlando Gifted Academy; Premier 

Academy; The First Academy 

and Windy Ridge School. 

Editor’s note: Entries may have been edited for grammar, 

punctuation, length and content. To pay tribute to 

as many “Best Moms” as possible, School News and 

Southwest Sports do not appear in this issue. ª 

Think of it as ordering takeout. 

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Summer Kids 

C a lendar 

Summer is just around the corner, and soon, the 2018-19 school year 

will be over. If you’re seeking kid-friendly activities to keep your children 

entertained, active and out of trouble, then look no further. Southwest 

Orlando Bulletin’s annual Summer Kids Calendar provides great ideas 

to get you started! 

ACTING FOR FILM & TV CAMPS at StarCatcher Acting Studio, 

8810 Commodity Circle, Suite 25, Orlando, info@star-catcher.biz. Current and 

former students can be seen on Netflix’s Fuller House and Orange Is the New 

Black, AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead, Disney’s Fast Layne, CW’s Legacies, 

Nickelodeon’s I Am Frankie, War for Planet of the Apes, and more! There are 

two summer intensives to choose from: June 17-21 for ages 8-12 and July 8-12 

Prestigious Preschool through Fifth Grade 

Preschool curriculum soars beyond ABCs and 123s 

into critical thinking, science, foreign language, 

music, art, character development and more 

Advanced K-5 curriculum measured one full grade 

year ahead of Common Core standards 

Custom learning paths and low student/teacher 

ratios 

State-of-the-art technology (touchboards, laptops, 

iPads) combined with hands-on exploration 

Sign Up For 

Summer Camp Today! 

Full-day themed camp sessions for ages 3-10 

Weekly themes centered around art, science, 

reading, math, critical thinking and more! 

STEM camps now available 

Gym, playground and bounce houses 

A+ Preschool + Elementary School + Camps + After School + Parties 

CraniumAcademy.com (407) 294-6950 

4068 Winter Garden Vineland Road, Winter Garden, FL 34787 

for age 13-older. Find 

your process through 

exploration, imagination 

and empathy. 

ACTING, MODELING, IMAGE & CONFIDENCE DEVELOPMENT 

CAMPS at The Maile Image, Modeling & Acting School, 803 S. 

Orlando Ave., Suite F, Winter Park, 407-628-5989, www.lisamaile.com. The 

Maile School has been 

training since 1982. The 

school trains in the areas 

of image and confidence 

development; professional 

modeling and on-camera 

acting for TV, commercials 

and film. Camps are 

held at the Maile School, 

and there’s a special fashion 

camp at The Mall at 

Millenia. One-day workshops 

are available in 

etiquette, casting, vocal, 

auditioning and more, and 

StarCatcher Acting 

Studio students excel in 

an environment where they 

are fostered, nurtured and 

challenged. 

Campers learn self-esteem while experiencing modeling 

and more at The Maile Image, Modeling & Acting 

School. 

all sessions are taught by industry professionals. Camps also include a free, 

professional industry seminar on breaking into the industry for parents. 

ACTING, MUSICAL THEATER & PRODUCTION CAMPS presented by 

Shine In the Limelight, a performing-arts training program operating out of 

the Gotha Community Center in Windermere and The Parke House Academy in 

Winter Park, 407-558-8687, www.shineinthelimelight.com. Theater summer stage 

camps are offered for children entering kindergarten to graduating high school 

seniors. Aspiring stars learn production, acting and musical theater skills from June 

3-29 and July 15-Aug. 9. Musicals are Legally Blonde, My Son Pinocchio, Winnie 

the Pooh and Jungle Book. Auditions are May 4 and May 18. Other offerings

include Creative Acting (Incredibles, 

Toy Story, Harry Potter and Star Wars) 

and Musical Theater (Descendeants, 

Moana, Frozen and Musical Theatre 

Intensive for Teens). Costs range from 

$200-$450. 

BASKETBALL CAMPS, 407-488-7214, orlandomagic.com/youth. There 

is no better way to improve your game of basketball this summer than to 

attend an Orlando Magic 

Summer Basketball Camp! 

Join them at one of their convenient 

camp locations where 

they offer expert instruction 

designed to improve all levels 

of players, fantastic giveaways 

and NBA excitement. 

(Sessions will sell out). All 

players ages 6–17 are able to 

participate. Also look into their 

specialty camps such as the 

Mini Camp, Overnight Camp 

and Challenge camps. 

Shine In the Limelight offers camps 

for children and teens entering kindergarten 

through high school senior. 

Orlando Magic Summer Basketball 

Camps are for players ages 6-17. 


CREATIVE ARTS CAMPS at Orlando 

Premier Music Instruction, www. 

orlando-premier-music-instruction.com, 

opmi@opmi-lessons.com. If your child 

has a passion for music, cooking, art, 

dance, theater, writing or film, an OPMI 

specialty summer camp can be his or 

her perfect summer experience. OPMI 

offers a wide variety of specialized summer 

camps that help children explore 

their creativity, improve social skills, 

grow physically and emotionally, and 

broaden their knowledge and perspectives, 

all while making new friends! 

DANCE CAMPS at Elizabeth 

Parsons School of Dance 

(EPSOD), 116 W. Sixth Ave., 

Windermere, 407-876-4604, 

epsod.dance@gmail.com, www. 

elizabethparsonsschoolofdance. 

com, consist of ballerina camps 

from June 10-14 for ages 4-6 and 

June 17-21 for ages 6-9. Spaces 

are limited, so register now. The 

school is also currently registering 

students for its 2019-20 dance 

season. 

Orlando Premier Music Instruction 

offers a wide variety of specialized summer 

camps. 

Ballerina camps at Elizabeth Parsons 

School of Dance put the fun in summer. 

CONTINUED ON PAGE 25


CAMP 

More than just a Camp! 

Serving Dr. Phillips, Windermere, Celebration, Winter Garden & MetroWest 

Summer 2019 June 3 - August 9 

10 weeks of fun! 

Register today: 

rosenjcc.org/campj 

Save $20 

per week! 

Promo code 

SOB19 

Expires 4/30/19 

General Camp 

Juniors (K-3) 

Seniors (4-8) 

Sports (K-8) 

General Camp 

water play 

Special events and 

performances 

Fantastic JCC 

Varied activities 

All Camps 

Daily lunch 

Easy pick-up 

Extended Care 

available 

7am-6:30pm 

All camps 

available in 

1-week sessions 

Includes 

afternoon snack 

Specialty Camps 

Orlando Repertory 

Theatre 

Orlando Science Center 

Heart N Hustle Basketball 

iBrickAcademy 

SuperAwesomeCool Art 

Pop Squad 

Cooking 

Challenger Sports Soccer 

programs available 

every week 

Best instructors 

from partner 

organizations 

June 10 – 14 (Grades K - 2) 

Pet Vets 

June 17 - 21 (Grades 3 - 5) 

OSC La-BOR-atory 

ENTERING GRADES K-2 

THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS: 

REVEALED 

June 17-21 | 9am-4pm 

FROZEN: WE CAN’T LET IT GO 

July 1-5 | 9am-4pm 

(No class July 4) 

FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC: 

MAGIC IN PONYVILLE 

July 15-19 | 9am-4pm 

DISNEY SUMMER CINEMAGIC 

July 29-August 2 | 9am-4pm 

ENTERING GRADES 3-8 

HARRY POTTER AND THE REP 

WIZARD TOURNAMENT 

June 10-14 | 9am-4pm 

PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP: 

ALADDIN JR. 

June 24-28 | 9am-4pm 

DESCENDANTS: 

WAYS TO BE WICKED 

July 8-12 | 9am-4pm 

MISSION IMPROVABLE 

July 22-26 | 9am-4pm 

LOCATED AT THE 

ROSEN JCC 

June 24 – 28 (Grades K - 2) 

Eww! That’s Gross 

July 8 - 12 (Grades K - 2) 

Pokémon Evolve 

July 15 - 19 (Grades 3 - 5) 

Our World of Minecraft 

July 22 – 26 (Grades K - 2) 

Junior Astronaut 

July 29 – Aug. 2 (Grades 3 - 5) 

Superhero Science 

Rosen JCC 

Orlando, FL 

11184 S. Apopka-Vineland Rd. 


For more information: 

Dr. Phyllis Bochman, Sr. Director of Children’s Programs 

PhyllisB@rosenjcc.org | 407-387-5330


DANCE CAMPS at Footworks 

Dance Studio, 1201 Winter Garden 

Vineland Road, Winter Garden, 

407-877-2260, www.footworksdance 

studio.com, offer summer fun programs 

for all ages. Camp sessions 

with fun themes include “Dance 

With Me,” “Creative Movement,” 

“Elementary Dance & Art,” “Fairy 

Tale Fun & Tea Party,” dance-intensive 

workshops and more. 

Footworks Dance Studio campers 

have fun while learning dance techniques. 


StarCatcher Acting Studio | 8810 Commodity Circle, Ste. 25 | Orlando, FL 32819 

Acting for Film & TV 

Finding YOUR Process through exploration, imagination and empathy. 

2019 SUMMER INTENSIVES 

Two great sessions to choose from! 

Session 1: June 17 th – June 21 st Ages: 8-12 

Session 2: July 8 th – July 12 th Ages: 13+ 

EDUCATIONAL CAMPS at 

Holy Family Catholic School, 

5129 S. Apopka-Vineland Road, 

Orlando, 407-876-9344, www. 

hfcschool.com, provide fun while 

learning. From June 3-7, HFCS offers 

Camp Invention, a hands-on 

STEM camp for emerging K-sixthgraders. 

For younger children ages 

3-5, Discovery Camp is offered. This 

fun-filled camp provides an introduction 

to summer camp with music, art, 

science and more. (All campers 

must be fully potty-trained.) 

Campers at Holy Family Catholic 

School learn while playing. 


REGISTER NOW info@star-catcher.biz 

Current and former students can be seen on Netflix’s Fuller House and Orange Is 

the New Black, AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead, Disney’s Fast Layne, CW’s Legacies, 

Nickelodeon’s I Am Frankie, War for the Planet of the Apes, and many more! 

Weekly Sessions 

June 3- August 2, 2019 

www.mgtennis.com


Summer Camps begin june 3! 

4 caMpUSes: 

UCF 

Orlando 

REP 

Rosen JCC/ 

Dr. Phillips 

Lake 

Nona 

407.896.7365 

orlandorep.com


ENTREPRENEURIAL CAMPS 

at The Startup Studio, bit.ly/ 

sus-summercamp. Are you looking 

for a way to nurture your child’s 

entrepreneurial spirit and develop 

their competitive edge? The Startup 

Studio’s Entrepreneurship Summer 

Camp offers the perfect opportunity 

for both, giving participants the 

chance to explore their passions 

and interests while discovering their 

power and the entrepreneur within. The studio has multiple dates and locations 

available: Windermere Preparatory School, Foundation Academy and 

Trinity Preparatory School. 

LAKE CYPRESS SUMMER 

CAMP at Windermere Preparatory 

School, 407-905-7737, 

ext. 8; camp@windermereprep. 

com, camp.windermereprep.com, 

offers a variety of activities for 

children ages 5-14. Daily activities 

include field game activities, art 

and group activities, sports, swimming, 

dance, cooking, science, a 

water slide, foam pit, Gatorland, a 

The Startup Studio's summer camp 

teaches participants to build their own startup 

ideas, from ideations to actual solutions. 

Kids at Lake Cypress Summer Camp 

cool off by swimming, along with many other 

fun activities. 


petting farm, magician, Drums Alive, Slip 'N Slides, a video game truck, giant 

obstacle courses, martial arts, yoga and more! Weekly themed sessions are 

offered June 3-Aug. 2, and specialized half-day mini-camps are also available. 

Register online today. 

LIBRARY CAMPS AND CLASSES through the Orange County 

Library System, 407-835-7323, ocls.info. Registration is open for the 

Orange County Library System’s annual Summer Reading Program. This year’s 

theme is “Universe of Stories,” and they have space-themed camps, classes 

and programs for kids of all ages, as well as fun events featuring animals, science, 

coding, art and more! Engage in amazing experiences, opportunities 

ELIZABETH PARSONS 

School of Dance 

Member of: 

Florida Dance Masters, I.D.E.A, & 

IBC International Dance School 

REGISTER NOW 

for Summer Camp and the 2019-2020 season! 

CALL 407-876-4604 

EMAIL epsod.dance@gmail.com 


Professional Instruction 

for All Ages in Classical 

Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, 

Acrobatics, Lyrical and 

Hip Hop 

(407) 876-4604 • www.ElizabethParsonsSchoolofDance.com 

116 W. 6th Ave., Windermere, FL 

OPMI SUMMER ARTS CAMPS 

Whether you are looking for an all-day camp or a specialty camp that will inspire 

your child, OPMI has the camp for you! With Showcases every Friday for Family 

and Friends, $25 Discounts for Siblings, and even Extended Camp Hours 

available! See what we’re offering kids ages 5-15 in the Greater Orlando area! 

INQUIRE ABOUT LOCATIONS ON OUR WEBSITE 

www.orlando-premier-music-instruction.com 

OR EMAIL US AT OPMI@OPMI-LESSONS.COM 

DANCE FX 

CREATIVE ARTS CARTOON ANIMATION 

MUSICAL THEATER 

ART OF ENRICHMENT 

LEGO STOP-MOTION ANIMATION 

TASTISIONS “COOKING WITH A VISION” 

MULTI-MEDIA ART


In The 

Limelight 

Entering our 11 th summer of the highest quality 

performing arts camps in Central Florida! 

Musical Theater 

Creative Acting 

Broadway Production 

Camps 

Shine in the Limelight offers a variety of 

summer stage experiences for your 

young thespian! Top notch staff, themed 

enrichment experiences and Broadway 

Style production programs performed in 

professional theater venues in Central 

Florida. This is THE place for your 

performer to spend their summer! 

SUMMER STAGE 

FOR KIDS ENTERING GRADES 

K-Graduating Seniors 

FULL DAY SCHEDULE 9am-4pm 


Amanda Murphy/Orange County Library System 

Youngsters 

enjoy a variety of 

activities, including 

live performances, 

through Orange 

County Library 

System’s camps 

and classes. 

to learn and explore, and create your best summer at the 

library! 

PERFORMING ARTS CAMPS offered by Orlando 

Repertory Theatre, 1001 E. Princeton St., Orlando. 

Orlando 

Repertory 

Theatre camps 

foster self-confidence, 

creativity, 

problem-solving skills 

and more. 

Orlando REP, now at five campuses across Central 

Florida, produces the most dynamic camps in Central 

Florida, with offerings for students in pre-K through high 

school: building confidence, creating joy and exploring 

personal artistry through theatre. Campers can focus 

on acting, dance, improv, costuming or scenic design. 

Which adventure will you choose? For more information, 

visit www.orlandorep.com. 

SUMMER CAMPS at Cranium Academy, 407- 

294-6950, www.craniumacademy.com/summer-camps. 

Cranium Academy’s 11-week summer camp program 

offers the perfect combination of learning and fun. 

Campers can become junior paleontologists discovering 

fossils, aspiring astronauts exploring outer space, junior 

game makers learning computer science, and more. With 

more than 20,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor space 

Cranium 

Academy’s summer 

camps offer a 

perfect combination 

of learning and fun. 

Themes: Incredibles, Toy Story, Moana, 

Frozen, Harry Potter, Descendants, Star 

Wars. One week productions: Winnie 

the Pooh, Jungle Book. New! Musical 

Theatre Intensive for Teens. 

AUDITION DATES 

May 4 or 18 

Legally Blonde 

Disney’s My Son Pinocchio 

Schedule an audition by emailing 

Katie@shineinthelimelight.com 

Now serving 2 locations: 

The Parke House Academy, Winter Park 

The Gotha Community Center, Windermere 

Productions performed at the ME Theatre 

407-558-8687 

shineinthelimelight.com 

3 or 5-day option 

Starts Monday May 27th

to explore, exciting curriculum and classrooms equipped with state-of-the-art 

learning technology, Cranium Academy is the ultimate summer camp destination. 

Various schedule options are available for ages 2-10. STEM — science, 

technology, engineering and math — camps are now available! Space is 

limited. 

SUMMER CAMPS at 

Gan Israel Day Camp, 

407-354-3660, www.ilovegi. 

com, are camps on 27 beautiful 

acres that are dedicated 

to enriching the lives of children 

from diverse Jewish 

backgrounds and affiliations 

through stimulating camp experiences. 

Activities include 

sports, swimming, archery, a 

ropes course, water sports, 

art and specialty fun shops. 

Camp Gan Israel is part of the 

largest, fastest-growing network 

of day camps, enjoying 

a reputation as a trendsetter 

Campers enjoy a variety of outdoor activities at 

Gan Israel Day Camp. 

in Jewish camping, with innovative ideas and creative programs. CGI is accredited 

by the American Camp Association. Camp sessions are June 24-July 

19 from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Extended care is available. 



SUMMER CAMPS AT 

HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC SCHOOL 

Growing in Faith, Knowledge & Love. 

June 3-7 

9 AM - 3:30 PM 

$230 before discount 

Save $15 if you sign up before 05/10/19 

Use promo code: PLAY15FLYER 

Register@campinvention.org 

For emerging K-6th grades 

Open Enrollment 

For 2019 – 2020 School Year 

VISIT US ON: 

Discovery Camp 

7:45 AM - 5:30 PM 

Ages 3-5 

(flexible schedule) 

$250 

Register@hfcschool.com 

5129 S. Apopka-Vineland Rd., Orlando, FL 32819 

407-876-9344 | hfcschool.com 

SWIM LESSONS REDUCE RISK OF 

DROWNING BY 88%* 

DROWNING IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF ACCIDENTAL 

DEATH IN CHILDREN 1-4 YEARS OLD.** 

*National Institutes of Health **U.S. Centers for Disease Control 

Safety First Swim School teaches children as 

young as six months old how to roll on their back and 

float in case they accidentally fall into water. 

call 321-236-0240 ext. 5 visit www.safetyfirstswim.com



SUMMER CAMPS at the Rosen 

JCC, 11184 S. Apopka-Vineland 

Road, Orlando, 407-387-5330, 

campjorlando.org. Camp J at the 

Rosen JCC in Dr. Phillips is the place 

to be! It offers a full selection of summer 

programs, open to all, including 

a general camp, sports camp and a 

variety of specialty camps. This summer, 

Rosen JCC is proud to host the 

Campers make lifelong memories at Camp J 

at the Rosen JCC. 

Orlando Repertory Theatre Camp (The REP) and the Orlando Science Center as 

part of its growing program. Extended care from 7 a.m.-6:30 p.m. is available. 

SWIM LESSONS at Safety 

First Swim School, 321-418- 

6532, safetyfirstswim.com, offers survival 

swim lessons at West Orange 

Country Club, 3300 West Orange 

Country Club Drive, Winter Garden. 

Drowning is the leading cause of accidental 

death in children ages 1-4 

(U.S. Centers for Disease Control). 

The truth is that although drowning is 

the No. 1 cause of accidental death 

in young children, it is also true that 

this unfortunate statistic is 100 percent 

The staff at Safety First Swim School 

makes students their first priority. 


Named a “Best Summer Camp” by Orlando Magazine 

LAKE CYPRESS 

SUMMER CAMP 

at Windermere Prep 

• For Children Ages 5-14 

• 9 AM to 3 PM (Extended Day Available for Morning and 

Afternoon) 

• A Variety of Activities including: Crafts, Field Games, 

Swimming, Sports, Dance, Cooking, Martial Arts, Drum 

Circle, and more! 

• Weekly Themes for Each Session: June 3 – August 2 

• On Campus Field Trips Weekly 

• New Academic and Fine Arts Half-Day Mini-Camps 

• Discounts for Siblings and Entire Summer Early Enrollment 

For information, call 407.905.7737 (option 8), 

email: camp@windermereprep.com, or visit 

camp.windermereprep.com. Register Online Now!


LEARN MORE & REGISTER: 

joinstartupstudio.com/summer-camps 

THE 

STARTUP 

STUDIO 

A Startup Studio Event 

Entrepreneurship 

SUMMER CAMP 

Open to rising 6-10th graders 

Monday - Friday, 9am-3pm 

Cost: $349 per student 

3 Beautiful Locations, 

Multiple Dates 

Windermere Preparatory School 

Trinity Preparatory School 

Foundation Academy



preventable. According to the National Institute of Health, 

swim lessons reduce the risk of drowning by 88 percent. 

TENNIS CAMPS at Lake Cane Tennis Center Fun 

and Sun Tennis Summer Camp, 407-254-9170, www. 

mgtennis.com, make tennis, the sport of a lifetime, easier 

and more fun than ever to learn and improve on for kids of 

all ages and abilities. The passionate coaches make each 

camper’s experience fun and positive while instructing children 

in fundamental tennis skills that ensure a connection 

and love of the sport for years to come. The outgoing and 

fun environment for the camp is conducive for children to 

learn the sport while having an opportunity to make new 

friends and participate in tennis skills and games. Weekly 

sessions are June 3-Aug. 2 from 9-11:30 a.m. 

The Tennis 

Academy at 

Windermere 

Preparatory 

School gives 

its campers 

hands-on tennis 

experience. 

Lake Cane 

Tennis Center 

Fun and Sun 

Tennis Summer 

Camp boasts a 

fun and outgoing 

environment. 

TENNIS CAMPS at The Tennis Academy at 

Windermere Preparatory School, 6189 Winter 

Garden Vineland Road, Windermere, 407-928-6666 

— a five-star facility with five-star coaches in Southwest 

Orlando. The program, which begins May 27, includes 

fun, games, activities and keeping cool inside and 

outside with a swimming pool option included! The 

cost is $275 per person for five days or $175 per person 

for three days from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. If required, before 

and after care is provided from 7:45-9 a.m. and 

2-5:45 p.m. for a cost of $115 per week. Lessons/ 

junior programs continue throughout the summer, as 

well as Elite Training Camps that run Monday-Thursday 

and cost $320 per person each week. For more information 

and electronic registration, visit www.orlando 

tennisacademy.com or www.elitetennisusa.com, or email 

info@thetennisteam.com. 

Send us your favorite photo — old or new — of you 

and your dad. (Don't worry, we'll return it!) The best 

ones, as judged by our editorial staff, will win your dad 

some great prizes from area businesses. Even if you don't 

win, your picture could appear as an honorable mention 

in the Southwest Orlando Bulletin. Don't delay! All 

photos must be received by May 29 for a chance to 

appear in our June 20 issue. 

Be sure to include your name, address, phone number, email address, your 

dad's name and your dad's neighborhood. Feel free to include any additional 

information about the photo. You and your dad must reside in Southwest 

Orlando. Professional photos will not be considered. 

Submit online at www.southwestorlandobulletin.com 

To submit photos, email lauren@kearneypublishing.com 

2018 Winner 2017 Winner

Campers at the Garden Theatre take center 

stage! 

THEATRICAL CAMPS at 

Garden Theatre, 407-877- 

4736, gardentheatre.org, are 

for young theater fans entering 

kindergarten through grade 

12. Camps focus on developing 

performance abilities and 

encouraging a curiosity for 

theater in a fun and supportive 

environment. All courses 

are designed to build confidence, 

strengthen communication 

skills, develop imagination and create a sense of community through 

collaboration. Take center stage at Garden Theatre! ª 


Camp Gan Israel is a summer camp dedicated to enriching the lives of 

children from diverse Jewish backgrounds and affiliations, through a 

stimulating camping experience. Campers are infused with a deep sense 

of pride in their Jewish heritage, and love for the land of Israel. We put 

great focus on child safety and program quality. We offer a variety of 

“Funshops” to suit each camper’s interest and talent.


Southwest Social 

SEEN 

Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando held a Velvet Sessions concert, featuring Taylor 

Dayne, to benefit the onePulse Foundation and honor the three-year anniversary of the 

Pulse nightclub shooting. One dollar of each ticket sold and 100% of the silent auction 

proceeds went toward onePulse Foundation’s mission to build a memorial and museum 

honoring those affected. The silent auction raised more than $7,000 for the foundation. 

The Hard Rock Heals Foundation also donated $10,000 to the onePulse Foundation. 


call today for a free estimate 

Residential interior & exterior painting 

Licensed & Insured 

Michael Nevius / owner/operator 

See more of Dr. Phillips Painting by logging onto facebook! 

407-235-5388 • mikeInevius@aol.com 

Therapists Specializing In: 

- Marriage & Relationships 

- Family Issues 

- Adolescents 

- Depression & Anxiety 

- Addictions 

- Divorce 

- Grief & Bereavement 

- Eating Disorders 

- Women’s Issues 

- Individual Direction 

Now Serving 3 Locations 

Dr. Phillips, Baldwin Park, Brevard County 

Dr. Phillips Location 

7575 Dr Phillips Blvd. Suite 365 Orlando, FL 32819 

Main Phone 

407.894.5202 

Online 

www.chariscounselingcenter.com


Michael J. Tortorella, MD 

Obstetrics & Gynecology 

Board Certified 

Pregnancy 

Family Planning 

Menstrual Disorders 

Menopause 

Second Opinion for Surgery 

In-Office Ultrasounds 

In-Office Surgery 

Minimally Invasive 

Surgery 

Sterilization 

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7300 Sandlake Commons Blvd. 

Suite 320, Medplex A 

next to Dr. P. Phillips Hospital 

Listed in Best Doctors 

in Orlando Magazine 

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Lake Mary/Heathrow 

1210 S. International Pkwy. | Lake Mary 

407-549-2436 

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251 South Lake Destiny Dr. | Orlando 

407-660-8400 

New Smyrna Beach 

237 Canal Street | New Smyrna Beach 

386-957-4944

An unforgettable wedding at a location 

that is just as unforgettable — those 

attending might feel this defines the wedding 

that took place between Glorie 

Santos and Lennox Theodore at 

the home of James and Rosalina 

Rothrock in Windermere. 

The story of the circumstances that 

brought Glorie and Lennox together can 

only be eclipsed by the story of the location 

of their wedding — a house resembling 

Tara (Scarlett O’Hara’s house) in 

the film Gone with the Wind. 

The March wedding was one of several 

ways that Rosalina and her husband, 

James, give back to their community as 

their service to the Lord. 

“We use the house for whatever purpose 

where it can be of use to the community,” 

Rosalina said. “We dedicated 

this house to the Lord, because we are 

believers and see this house as a blessing 

from the Lord, and that we are really 

stewards of the house.” 

The Wedding of a Lifetime 

The idea to have Lennox and Glorie’s 

wedding at Rosalina’s house came about 

at the request of Glorie’s mom, Maricor, 

NOTEWORTHY 

who is a good friend of Rosalina and attends 

at least one of the two Bible studies 

Rosalina has at her home each month. 

“I didn’t know anything about the engagement 

until my friend, Maricor, approached 

me and asked if they could 


NEWS 

A House of Many Purposes 

Windermere Couple Uses Their Home to Serve 

by Blair Parke 

use the house for Glorie’s wedding,” 

Rosalina said. “I said I would be honored 

to have her wedding. Her mom 

In addition 

to several 

community 

events, James 

and Rosalina 

Rothrock of 

Windermere 

host a wedding 

at their 

Tara-style home. 

has been coming to our Bible study 

for many years and has also come 

to just sit on the lake and meditate at 

times. She is like a matriarch to the 

community.” 

Rosalina also knew about the love story 

of Lennox and Glorie, which started when 

Glorie survived a hit-and-run accident in 

2007 while walking across the intersection 

of Good Homes Road and West Colonial 

Drive and sustained a traumatic brain injury 

that resulted in her being in a coma. 

She had to re-learn everything once 

she came out of the coma and required 

transportation to a CrossFit gym to help 

her regain strength in one of her legs. 

When her driver had to leave for a 

lengthy mission trip, Lennox (who knew 

Glorie from Sunday school) offered to 

drive her three times a week to the gym, 

and their love bloomed during the regular 

car trips. 

Their wedding combined their heritages 

of Filipino (Glorie) and Trinidad 

(Lennox), though Rosalina states the food 

was definitely done in Filipino tradition. 

“For the wedding, people made and 

brought food. I told the guests to take 

home everything, because there were so 

many leftovers. The Filipino people like to 


12500 Overstreet Rd. 


Oversteet Rd. is 1/4 mile south of the intersection 

of Chase Rd. and Hwy 535 in Windermere. 

Open 7 days a week from 9-5 

Open On Mother's Day 

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eat and like to cook,” Rosalina said with 

a laugh. They also take care of family 

and bring food to new moms and those 

[who] are sick at home. This has been 

happening since before I moved here in 

1987. It’s such a strong union of Filipinos 

here, and they have each other.” 

Even with 43 guests in attendance, 

Rosalina knew the house would accommodate 

the attendees for the outdoor 

ceremony/indoor reception, with four 

bedrooms, four bathrooms and three 

half-baths, about which Rosalina humorously 

added, “That is seven commodes I 

have to clean on a regular basis.” 

Serving More Than Self 

The house was built as part of an investment 

made by Rosalina and her husband 

years ago, part of three houses they purchased, 

of which two homes were given 

to Rosalina’s sisters. The original house 

on the property was torn down to build 

the current house, and the couple is still 

in the process of finishing a bonus room 

and garage area to bring the square 

footage of the home to 6,000. 

missionaries and, once a year, welcome 

children from the Edgewood 

Children’s Ranch to enjoy boating, 

picnicking and relaxing on the spacious 

grounds. 

Giving back has always been something 

special to Rosalina, who grew up 

poor in the Philippines with six siblings. 

She learned her business sense from her 

mother’s selling of scraps that helped 

pay for four college educations. 

“The only way we could get out of poverty 

was by finishing college,” Rosalina 

said, mentioning that there are three 

nurses and two hotel managers among 

her siblings. 

She met James while working at a doctor’s 

office as a scheduler. 

“I saw him there waiting for his prescription, 

and by the side view, he looked 

like Harrison Ford,” Rosalina said. “With 

my big mouth, I said out loud, ‘Hey, are 

you Indiana Jones?’ He turned red, and 

I was embarrassed, but he followed me 

back to my office and called me later 

for a date. 

“He is a good Christian and loves the 

Lord. I’m blessed to have a husband like 

him.” 

Lennox 

Theodore and 

Glorie Santos 

wed with Lake 

Down as the 

backdrop at the 

home of James 

and Rosalina 

Rothrock. 

James, being an engineer, designed 

the house to resemble that of the famed 

Tara house from Gone with the Wind, 

with four big columns in front and a twostory 

house in black and white, which is 

situated on Lake Down. Regularly, neighbors 

and friends have asked to bring 

their high school and college graduates 

to take photos by the lake, dock or in 

front of the house. 

However, the couple said they choose 

to use the house to help those around 

them as humble servants to the Lord. 

Besides hosting two Bible studies and 

one prayer meeting for the Filipino 

community, they have housed visiting 

Come September, the home will be 

prepared for another wedding for a 

friend’s nephew, and Rosalina already 

has the future in mind with the possibility 

of opening up an assisted living facility 

when she and her husband are older. 

“I’m 68 now, and I thought, ‘Why don’t 

I make this house into an assisted living 

facility when I’m 85, so I can stay in the 

house and have friends to play with?’” 

she said with a laugh, although she currently 

does operate a small assisted living 

facility in Clermont. 

Whatever else lies ahead for their 

house, Rosalina and James plan to continue 

using their home to serve. ª


Southwest Social 

SEEN 

SeaWorld Orlando 

West Orange Chamber of Commerce held its annual Best Fest “The 

Taste of West Orange” along the shore of Stark Lake in Ocoee. For the 

past 16 years, Best Fest has been the event for local restaurants and 

business leaders to showcase their culinary skills. It has wowed thousands 

of guests from around Central Florida as they enjoyed the best west 

Orange County has to offer in food, wine, spirits and local products. 

Congratulations to the winners of this year’s Best Fest: Table Top Catering 

for best healthy option, Bruster’s Real Ice Cream for best dessert, Black 

Rock Bar & Grill for best food, Pilars Martini for best beverage, and 

Matthew’s Hope Ministries for best business booth. WOCC 

representative send huge thank-yous to all the co-sponsors and volunteers 

who helped make the event a success. 

 

Best Business Booth: Matthew's Hope Ministries 

photos by Jason Cannon, 

Cannonfire Photography


n Charities/Fundraisers 

May 3 — Movement To End Hunger 

The Founder’s Hall at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 

4851 S. Apopka-Vineland Road, Orlando, hosts a symposium 

co-organized by SLUMC and Bread for the World. The 

event focuses on ending hunger in Central Florida through 

a new organization called Central Florida Alliance to End 

Hunger. Time: 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Cost: $30 registration 

fee. For more information, visit www.st.lukes.org/endhunger. 

May 4 — Pastor David Stephens 5K Run/Walk 

First Baptist Church Windermere’s parking lot, 300 Main St., 

Windermere, serves as the starting point of the fourth annual 

Pastor David Stephens 5K Run/Walk. Registration packets 

are available for pick up at St. Luke’s United Methodist 

Church, 4851 S. Apopka-Vineland Road, Orlando, through 

May 3 at 6 p.m. Any unclaimed packets are available at 

the race site May 4 at 7:30 a.m. The first 150 registered 

participants receive a race shirt. Time: promptly at 8 a.m. 

Cost: $25, $15 for children 12-younger, with proceeds 

co-benefiting St. Luke’s Family Assistance Ministries and 

Recreational Ministries. For more information or to register, 

visit www.st.lukes.org/5k. 

May 8 — Celebration Of Motherhood Breakfast 

The public is invited to the 2019 Celebration of 

Motherhood, including a plated breakfast and silent 

auction, at Harry P. Leu Gardens, 1920 N. Forest Ave., 

Orlando. Time: 8:30-11 a.m. Cost: $50, with proceeds 

benefiting Healthy Start families of Orange County. 

Sponsorships are available. To purchase tickets or register, 

visit www.healthystartorange.org/com2019. For 

more information, visit www.healthystartorange.org. 

May 10-11 — Black & White Weekend 

I’m in Events and Base Camp Children’s Cancer Foundation 

co-sponsor the 10th anniversary of the Black and White 

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD 

Weekend (The Reunion), a get-together for adults of all ages 

and work backgrounds that includes eating, drinking, dancing, 

mingling, socializing, networking, photos, entertainment 

and more, at Rosen Plaza Hotel, 9700 International 

Drive, Orlando (across from Pointe Orlando). Attendees 

must be 21-older. Dress code is formal or semiformal (no 

jeans) and is strictly enforced. Time: Friday at 8:30 p.m. 

through Saturday late night/early morning Sunday. Cost: 

$46 in advance, $65 at the door, with access covering 

the entire weekend. For more information, tickets or hotel 

accommodations, visit blackandwhiteweekend.com. 

May 16 — Spring Egg-A-Thon & Charity Luncheon 

Carrabba’s Italian Grill, 8355 International Drive, Orlando, 

hosts West Orange Women’s charity luncheon and Spring 

Egg-A-Thon. Reservations are required by May 9. Time: noon. 

Cost: $26. To RSVP, call Dottie Ansel between 10 a.m.-9 p.m., 

407-258-8155. For more information, call Mary Borgan, 

407-929-3030; or visit westorangewomen.com. 

May 18 — Runway To Hope Spring Soiree 

Rosen Shingle Creek, 9939 Universal Blvd., Orlando, 

hosts the Runway to Hope Spring Soiree, presented by The 

Adam Michael Rosen Foundation and including a fashion 

show that features more than 150 brave children, all of 

whom are currently battling or have overcome pediatric 

cancer. Time: 6:30 p.m. For more information, email 

info@runwaytohope.org or visit www.runwaytohope.org/ 

spring-fashion-soiree-recap-2019.html. 

May 22 — Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast 

The Historic Dubsdread Ballroom, 549 W. Par St., 

Orlando, hosts the seventh annual Harvey Milk 

Diversity Breakfast, during which several local 

people are recognized for significant leadership/ 

influence in championing or progressing the local 

LGBT+ community. The awards ceremony is hosted 

by Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell. Time: 

7:30 a.m. for registration, 8 a.m. for breakfast. 

Cost: $50, with proceeds benefiting The LGBT+ 

Center Orlando Inc. For more information, call 407- 

228-8272, email info@thecenterorlando.org or visit 

www.thecenterorlando.org. 

June 21 — Celebrating Independence Gala 

The Alfond Inn, 300 E. New England Ave., Winter 

Park, hosts Center for Independent Living’s Celebrating 

Independence Gala, including a silent auction, key 

raffle, photo booth, dinner, a cocktail hour, dessert, 

complimentary beer and wine, and the presentation 

of the Beverly Chapman Legacy Award. Time: 6:30 

p.m. Cost: $115, with proceeds benefiting Center for 

Independent Living. To reserve a room for the evening, 

visit www.thealfondinn.com. A discounted room rate 

is available by entering the code “Independence” 

in the group code box. For more information, 

call Brittany, 407-623-1070, ext. 5534; or email 

bpilcher@cilorlando.org. 

n Classes/Programs 

Ongoing — Group Fitness Classes 

compiled by Lisa Sagers 

AdventHealth Wellness Center Orlando, 2520 

N. Orange Ave., Suite 101, Orlando, invites the 

public to participate in a variety of group classes, 

including 30-minute express lunchtime sessions, 

BodyPump, dance, yoga, tai chi, Zumba and more. 

Group fitness classes are included in all memberships, 

and $5 day passes are available. For more 

information, visit www.adventhealth.com/hospital/ 

adventhealth-orlando/wellness-center-orlando. 

Through May 6 — Money Talks For Women 

Orlando Public Library, 101 E. Central Blvd., 

Orlando, hosts Money Talks for Women, a 

nine-week series, where participants learn 

about library services such as Morningstar 

Investment Research Center, goal-oriented tools 

for saving, investing and more. Time: Mondays 

at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call 

407-835-7323. 

May 7, 14, 21 & 28 — Stitching-Group 

Gatherings 

The Twisted Stitchers stitching group meets at the 

Southwest Library at Dr. Phillips, 7255 Della Drive, 

Orlando. All crafters are invited to attend. Time: 

Tuesdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information, 

call Alouise Bergeron, 407-351-1324. 

May 13 — Meditation For Everyone 

The Southwest Library at Dr. Phillips, 7255 Della 

Drive, Orlando, hosts Meditation for Everyone, 

a guided breathing meditation to help reduce 

daily stress and anxiety and to learn how to 

use meditation to live with more peace, compassion 

and wisdom. Anyone 13-older is welcome, 

and prior experience is not necessary. Time: 

7-8:30 p.m. Registration is preferred; however, 

walk-ins are welcome. Chairs are provided. For 

more information, call 407-835-7323 or visit 

attend.ocls.info/event/1895462. 

5

n Events/Performances 

Through May 12 — Seussical Performances 

Orlando Repertory Theatre, 1001 E. Princeton St., 

Orlando, presents performances of Seussical, the 

final TYA production of The REP’s 2018-19 season. 

Showtimes vary, and ticket prices start at $15. For 

more information or to purchase tickets, call 407-896- 

7365 or visit orlandorep.com. 

Through May 12 — Art Exhibition 

The Mennello Museum of American Art, 900 E. 

Princeton St., Orlando, hosts The Unbridled Paintings 

of Lawrence Lebduska, an art exhibition that features 

the notable paintings of Lawrence Lebduska, a popular 

modern folk-art painter of 1930s America. Time: 

Tuesday-Saturday from 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Sunday 

from noon-4:30 p.m. Cost: $5, adults; $4, seniors 

60-older; $1, children 6-17 and students with a valid 

ID; and free for children under age 6 and military 

personnel, active or retired. For more information, call 

407-246-4278 or visit www.mennellomuseum.org. 

Through May 12 — Art Exhibition 

The Cornell Fine Arts Museum at Rollins College, 1000 

Holt Ave., Winter Park, hosts De La Torre Brothers: 

Rococolab, an art exhibition that brings together art 

historical imagery, religious symbolism and pop culture 

in unexpected dialogue. Time: Tuesday from 10 a.m.-7 

p.m., Wednesday-Friday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and 

Saturday and Sunday from noon-5 p.m. Admission is 

free. For more information, call 407-646-2526, email 

hberji@rollins.edu or visit www.rollins.edu/cfam. 

May 7-Aug. 25 — Precious Pollinators Art Exhibition 

The Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, 

633 Osceola Ave., Winter Park, hosts Precious 

Pollinators, an art exhibition presented by the Central 

Florida Watercolor Society and including art surrounding 

one of the world’s most important natural 

resources — the bee and other pollinators. Time: 

Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday 

from 1-4 p.m. For more information, call 407-647- 

6294 or visit polasek.org. 

May 11 — Faith News Performance 

The Founder’s Hall at St. Luke’s United Methodist 

Church, 4851 S. Apopka-Vineland Road, 

Orlando, hosts a performance of St. Luke’s Music 

Ministries’ Faith News, featuring the St. Luke’s 

Children’s Choir. Time: 2:30 p.m. Cost: $5. Tickets 

are nonrefundable. For more information, visit 

st.lukes.org/childrensmusical. 

May 12 — A Mother’s Day Bouquet Concert 

The Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, 

Queen of the Universe, 8300 Vineland Ave., 

Orlando, presents A Mother’s Day Bouquet, part 

of the Basilica’s concert series. Time: 3 p.m. 

Cost: $25 for adults, free for children under 12. 

For more information, call 407-239-6600 or visit 

maryqueenoftheuniverse.org. 

May 15 — Warriors In Pink Celebration 

Duffy’s Sports Grill, 4158 Conroy Road, Orlando, 

hosts the Susan G. Komen Florida Warriors in Pink 

Celebration, a free event to honor survivors, cosurvivors, 

those currently on the journey, individuals 

living with metastatic breast cancer, advocates and 

supporters of Susan G. Komen. Attendees enjoy complimentary 

appetizers, drinks, prizes and giveaways, 

including a $10 Duffy’s gift card. There is also a competition 

for the most creative pink outfit. Time: 6-8 p.m. 



SOMETHING FOR THE 

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to book your party today! 

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To RSVP, visit southflorida.info-komen.org/site/Cale 

ndar/325324356?view=RSVP&id=23579&fbclid= 

IwAR17-GoTcYhynHY9RCYu2L9Y97BaPx2shlYbnd 

Wn-FpLQa8ndYKo7yukJM0. 

June 14, Aug. 16 & Oct. 4 — Harry’s Sip & 

Savor Series 

As part of the Harry’s Sip & Savor Series, Harry’s 

Poolside Bar & Grill in the Rosen Centre, 9840 

International Drive, Orlando, hosts the following events: 

June 14, a summertime showcase of signature spirits 

and cocktails paired with a menu; Aug. 16, beers from 

Central 28 Beer Co. in DeBary paired with an eclectic 

menu; and Oct. 4, signature spirits and cocktails, featuring 

Jameson Irish Whiskey, Smooth Ambler Bourbon 

and Monkey 47 Gin, are paired with multiple courses, 

celebrating autumn. Seating is limited, so reservations 

are required. Cost: $60 per event, which includes 

complimentary valet parking but doesn’t include tax 

and gratuity. For more information or to RSVP, call 

407-996-3970 or visit harryspoolside.com. 

n Miscellaneous 

Through May 31 — Don Quijote Award 

Nominations 

The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro 

Orlando and Prospera accept nominations for the 

22nd annual Don Quijote Awards. The awards 

honor individuals in Central Florida who demonstrate 

extraordinary abilities in their field of work and 

make a significant impact on the community. For more 

information and additional nomination criteria, visit 

www.donquijoteawards.com. 

n Mother’s Day Dining 

May 11 — Mother’s Day Tea & Ballet 

Performance 

Clarion Inn Lake Buena Vista, 8442 Palm Parkway, 

Orlando, hosts the Mother’s Day Tea & Ballet 

Performance, a themed tea party that features a 

ballet performance by students of Elizabeth Parson’s 

School of Dance. Delicacies include an assortment 

of pastries and homemade jam, finger sandwiches, 

a fresh fruit display, vegetable crudités and many 

sweets. A selection of hot tea, coffee, iced tea and 

pink lemonade is available. Guests receive a flower 

for Mom and a keepsake craft for children. Time: 

2-4 p.m. Cost: $15.95, plus tax and gratuity, adults; 

$9.95 for children 4-11. For more information, call 

407-996-7236, email sales@clarionlbv.com or visit 

www.clarionlbv.com. 

May 12 — Mother’s Day Buffet 

Rosen Centre Hotel, 9840 International Drive, 

Orlando, hosts a Mother’s Day buffet with dozens 

of dishes, including sushi and seafood, a waffle and 

omelet station, carving stations, a variety of desserts, 

and complimentary champagne and mimosas. Time: 

11 a.m.-7 p.m. Cost: $50.95, adults; $19.95, children 

4-12, both plus service and sales tax. Children 

3-younger are free. For more information, call 407- 

996-3969, email sales@rosencentre.com or visit 

www.rosencentre.com/mothersday. 

May 12 — Mother’s Day Buffet 

Café Osceola at Rosen Shingle Creek, 9939 Universal 

Blvd., Orlando, hosts a Mother’s Day brunch, including 

a variety of food choices, like a seafood station, 

traditional carving station, broiled mahi-mahi, 

bourbon-glaze pork chops and more. There’s also a 

kids station, breakfast pastries, desserts and a chocolate 

fountain. Adults enjoy unlimited champagne and 

mimosas. Reservations are required. Time: 10 a.m.-6 

p.m. Cost: $69.95 for adults; $29.95 for children 

4-11, both plus tax and service charge. There is a 

25% discount available for Florida residents, and 

children 3-younger are free. For more information, 

call 407-996-3663, email sales@rosenshinglecreek. 

com or visit www.rosenshinglecreek.com/mothersday. 

May 12 — Mother’s Day Brunch 

Rosen Plaza Hotel, 9700 International Drive, Orlando, 

hosts a Mother’s Day brunch, including fresh pastries, 

made-to-order omelets, seafood, various dishes, a dessert 

bar and complimentary champagne and mimosas. 

Time: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Cost: $46.95 in advance for 

adults, $48.95 at the door; $18.95 for children 4-11; 

free for children 3-younger. For more information, call 

407-996-0256, email sales@rosenplaza.com or visit 

www.rosenplaza.com/mothersday. 

n Networking/Clubs 

Ongoing — Members Wanted 

The West Orange Women seeks women of all ages 

to join its group for fun, friendship and philanthropy. 

Members can participate in more than 20 activity 

groups and attend a monthly charity luncheon. For 

more information, call Mary Borgan, 407-929-3030; 

or visit www.westorangewomen.com. 

May 7, 14, 21 & 28 — Toastmasters Meetings 

The Seventh-day Adventist Church Hall, 4100 

McKinnon Road, Windermere, hosts Windermere 

Toastmasters Club No. 4662754 meetings. Attendees 

learn to develop their oral communication and leadership 

skills in a supportive and positive learning 

environment. Time: Tuesdays at 7 p.m. For more 

information, visit www.windermeretoastmasters.org. 

May 8, 15, 22 & 29 — Toastmasters Meetings 

The Florida Turnpike Headquarters Building No. 5315 

in the Turkey Lake Service Area on Florida’s Turnpike at 

Mile Marker 263, hosts Turnpike Toastmasters meetings. 

Guests must check in at the reception desk for meeting 

access. Time: Wednesdays from noon-1 p.m. For more 

information, visit 2362.toastmastersclubs.org. 

May 14 — Skal International Meeting 

Bohemian Hotel Celebration, Autograph Collection, 

700 Bloom St., Celebration, hosts a Skal International 

Orlando meeting, featuring D.T. Minich, president/ 

CEO of Experience Kissimmee, as guest speaker. 

Skal International Orlando is the only international 

organization that brings together sectors of the travel 

and tourism industry while networking, conducting 

business and helping communities locally. For more 

information, email Ross Burke, membership development 

officer, at rossmburke@aol.com. 

May 28 — Southwest Book Club Meeting 

The Southwest Library at Dr. Phillips, 7255 Della 

Drive, Orlando, hosts a meeting of the Southwest 

Book Club to discuss this month’s selection, Natural 

Causes: An Epidemic of Wellness, the Certainty 

of Dying, and Killing Ourselves to Live Longer by 

Barbara Ehrenreich. Anyone 18-older is welcome to 

attend, and registration is not required. Time: 7 p.m. 

For more information, call 407-835-7323 or email 

southwest@ocls.info. 

Contributions to Community Bulletin Board are welcome. 

Please send information six weeks before the event to P.O. 

Box 851, Windermere, FL 34787; call 407-351-1573, 

option 5; or email Lisa@kearneypublishing.com. ª 

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P.O. Box 851 

Windermere, FL 34786

041819 SWB DIGITAL EDITION

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