Welcome 2012!

Happy New Year! Hope you all have a great one!

Our January issue is all about how to have a happy, prosperous ... and daring ...new year. Change your attitude - -and maybe your altitude -- and you can change your life for the better.

We practiced what we preached to get this feature article -- photographer Betsy Hansen went up in a glider and also took ziplining photos. Writer Kristin Harmel learned to "fly" in a vertical wind tunnel. And several of us (including your truly) went up in a hot-air balloon.
Betsy was there for the serious stuff (you can see her pix in the magazine, which should be in mailboxes soon, as well as online), but I caught the behind-the-scenes action. Thought you guys would like to see how hard we work to bring you our excellent magazine. So ...enjoy! Happy New Year! Hope you all have a great one!

Our January issue is all about how to have a happy, prosperous ... and daring ...new year. Change your attitude - -and maybe your altitude -- and you can change your life for the better.

We practiced what we preached to get this feature article -- photographer Betsy Hansen went up in a glider and also took ziplining photos. Writer Kristin Harmel learned to "fly" in a vertical wind tunnel. And several of us (including your truly) went up in a hot-air balloon.

Betsy was there for the serious stuff (you can see her pix in the magazine, which should be in mailboxes soon), but I caught the behind-the-scenes action. Thought you guys would like to see how hard we work to bring you our excellent magazine. So ...enjoy!

Jingle Bell Rockin' for a Good Cause

Adam Stratton’s family turned tragedy into an opportunity to help others.

Stratton, a Apopka High School standout (honor society, Disney “Dreamer and Doer,” athlete, Bible School teacher) and freshman at Florida State, was killed in a car crash in May 2005. He was only 19.

His family and friends formed the Adam Stratton Memorial Scholarship Foundation in his honor to help other Apopka students. Among its fundraisers is a party – 2011’s was called Rockin’ on the River, at Wekiva Island. The foundation also holds a chili cook-off, a golf tournament and a 5K run. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded more than $100,000 to deserving students and organizations and aims to be Apopka’s largest scholarship program.

That’s organizers Tammy Eagle, Donna Stratton, Paula Armstrong, Claudia Shellhammer and Becki Lewis up top with a poster of Adam at the Rockin’ party in December.

In other photos, Belinda Stratton (married to Adam’s brother) works the entry desk and party-goers enjoy the festivities.

Check the foundation’s website for additional info.

Adam would have been proud.

Happy Holidays!

From all of us (and a friend) at Topper Publications!

Odds and Ends at the End of the Month

Wow, where did the time go? Just yesterday, it seems, our friends at Keep Seminole Beautiful were planning a river cleanup, its 30^th of 2011. That was (ahem) three weeks ago.

Volunteers, who started showing up at Wekiva Island 9 a.m., pulled more than 50 pounds of soda cans, plastic bottles and other trash from the Wekiva River. A-1 Assets, which recycles and remarkets electronics and similar scrap, also did a radio show from the event. Jackson Hewitt brought computers and other e-waste to be recycled, which they donated in KSB’s name.

You can see additional photos and read more about this event – and, more importantly – future happenings in the calendar section of the KSB website. There’s another river cleanup scheduled for this Saturday, Dec. 3.

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It has been a busy month in Seminole County, with more events scheduled for the holiday season.

Check out our photos of the Greek Festival at Holy Trinity church in Maitland (click the links for all of these events to see more photos on our website):

... the JCC’s Family Day at Crane’s Roost:

... and the Rotary Art, Craft and Wine Festival (no link yet -- check our website in a few days)

... and the Longwood Art Festival (again, pix will be posted soon on our website):

Whew!

On tap for December:

• The Holiday Tour of Homes in Sanford, now in its 23^rd year. All of the info is on the Sanford Historic Trust website here. You can buy tickets online too.

• Rockin' on the River, a benefit for the Adam Stratton Memorial Scholarship Foundation. Event starts at 7 p.m. Dec. 17. Info is on the Adam Stratton website here.

So good, there oughta be a law

Yes, that’s Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings taking a short break from catching bad guys to be a judge at the recent Taste of Apopka.

The sixth annual event (held at CenturyLink) drew more than 650 people – the biggest crowd ever, according to the Apopka Chamber.

In addition to food samples, the event featured local businesses showcasing their wares and services – including a pest control company that was joined by the biggest roach in Apopka.

Demings’ fellow food judges were Heather McPherson, Orlando Sentinel food editor; Shannon Butler, a reporter at Fox 35 News; and Joey Conicella of Yum Yum Cupcake Truck fame. Which restaurant best tickled the panel’s taste buds? They didn't say -- too busy eating to talk. If you know, tell me! I know which food I liked best...

See more photos of the event here on our website.

An Oasis of Caring

As the number of homeless (and potentially homeless) families in Seminole County rises, so do their needs. Where can they shower? Or get a haircut and clothes for an interview?

The Christian Sharing Center recently opened an Oasis – yes, that’s the official and aptly chosen name – where people can get those services and more. The storefront on U.S. 17-92 in Longwood also includes laundry facilities and computers for job-hunting and resume-writing. The Center’s main office, thrift store and food pantry are just a few doors down.

Plenty of local officials, donors, church people, renovation contractors and their families turned out for a ribbon-cutting and grand opening last Sunday. That’s Longwood Mayor Joe Durso up there speaking to the crowd and Sharing Center President/CEO Angie Romagosa cutting the cake.

A shout out to Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Lake Mary, which donated $122,000 to cover the cost of the renovations.

The Oasis is open Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon and 4 to 6 p.m.

Changing the subject, part 1: Kudos to Keep Seminole Beautiful (click the link to go to KSB's website and see their photos) and all of the volunteers who planted a rain garden last weekend at Wekiva Island.

Changing the subject, part 2: Check out our fabulous Sweetwater Wekiva Springs magazine that is hot off the press! Yowza! Our holiday issue celebrates the gift of giving and includes tips for relaxing and enjoying the upcoming season.

Fore..... glasses of wine

Shouldn't all golf tournaments include a wine-tasting night? A few of the participants in the first ever Ladies Open Golf Championship at Sweetwater Country Club enjoyed a little vino Thursday night at Cork and Olive in Lake Mary. They were joined by a couple of event sponsors.

Pictured above are Dawn Lipori, Donna Craig, Erika Higgins, Elizabeth Saunders, Anita Runfola and Ginny Morris-Ardin.

Play begins Saturday morning at the club and will raise money for the Youth Education Scholarship Fund (YES Fund), which awards a minimum $500 scholarship to a deserving local high school grad.