The Harmony Institute operates Spirit Farm Summer Camp across the street from the town of Harmony. There, children ages 8 – 13 have the opportunity to spend the summer on a 20 – acre farm where they experience the natural world through daily activities such as gardening, horseback riding, feeding and caring of farm animals, reading, nature walks, animal tracking, crafts, and team sports.   Campers will spend part of their days as a “Pony” (a cowpoke) and part of their days as a “Hawk” (Seminole Indian).

This experience helps children to develop an appreciation for our area’s history and heritage while expanding environmental awareness, cultivating a respect for diversity; enhancing teamwork skills; increasing physical activity; learning healthy habits;  deepening interest and knowledge in science, the arts, and language; and, of course, doing all this while having fun!

Parents of campers have said; “It was an adventure that builds character in children.” “Thanks for the amazing opportunity; I wish all children could have the same experience.” “Words can’t express how wonderful it was to hear them both come home each day and hear about their daily adventures on the farm. . .Most of the time the first thing they would say was, ‘Why did you come so early to pick us up?’”

The camp runs for 8 weeks this coming summer as follows:   June 13-17,  June 20-24, June 27-July 1, July 11-15, July 18-22, July 25-29, August 8-12, August 15-19.  Hours are Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Early drop-off and late pick-up can be arranged for an additional fee.) 

The cost is $120 per week and includes lunch and snacks. Early registration is suggested, as the number of campers per week-long session is limited to 14.  

For registration materials or further information, including a tour of Spirit Farm, please contact Stephanie Carey, Marketing & Communications Manager, at 407-957-0207 or scarey@harmonyinstitute.org. You are encouraged also to visit our website at www.harmonyinstitute.org for more information.

The keynote presentation will take place at the Harmony High School auditorium immediately following the Osceola County School District’s SMACK-down competition. The Florida Institute of Technology will present the top four high school competition winners with four-year scholarships. At 8:30p.m., Derek Demeter, director of the Seminole State College of Florida Planetarium, will conduct a one-hour workshop in the Harmony Town Square introducing children to astronomy.

                Saturday is filled with valuable workshops and a forum led by industry experts.   Workshops include Autism Spectrum Disorders: Knowing How to Help led by experts from the Scott Center for Autism Treatment at FIT and The Humane Brain: Tapping the Sources of Empathy led by Dr. Randall Lockwood of the ASPCA.  The forum “Balancing High Pressure with Special Needs in Young Lives” will be led by workshop leaders, the executive director of Nemours BrightStart! Dyslexia Initiative and luncheon keynote speaker Dr. Daniel Kindlon a clinical and research psychologist at Harvard University. Panelists will focus on the particular pressure of children with special needs-including autism and related disorders, attention deficit disorder and dyslexia

Teachers from Osceola and Brevard Counties are eligible for continuing education units (CEU’s). CEU’s may be available through other counties. Teachers should check with their staff development office for details. The Osceola County School District’s ESE department will pay the registration fee for the first 100 ESE teachers that register. Please contact the ESE Department at (407)343-8725.

                On Saturday from 4-7 p.m. conference attendees can participate in a BBQ & Dance Marathon at the Institute’s Spirit Farm. On Sunday, a number of nature-oriented activities such as canoeing, nature photography tours and discounted golf are available for additional fees. Please see the Harmony Institute website www.harmonyinstitute.org for complete details.

Registration fee of $40 ($30 if registration and payment are received by December 24) includes the Afterburners presentation, all workshops and Saturday luncheon, two $250 raffle drawings, and the BBQ and Dance Marathon.  For those wishing to attend only the Afterburners presentation, tickets are $10. Discount accommodations at local area hotels and discount tickets at local area attractions have been secured for those staying overnight in Osceola County.  For detailed information and to register for the conference, please contact Stephanie Carey at (407)957-0207 and/or visit the website at www.harmonyinstitute.org.

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Marcia Verduin, M.D., a psychiatrist who has held leadership roles at the University of Central Florida’s new medical since 2007, has been appointed associate dean for students.

She previously served as assistant dean for students and replaces Randolph Manning, who has retired.

In her new role, Verduin, shown at left, will continue to work on medical students’ quality of life issues. With the inaugural class of 41 students already having completed its first year of studies, Verduin is in the process of preparing for the arrival of the second class, this time 60 students.

The first two classes are scheduled to start classes in August in the new medical school building in Lake Nona.

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Kevin Sousa, QB, Lake Nona (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel / October 22, 2009)

In it’s first year of existence, Lake Nona High school has a little secret.

Well, OK, he’s not so little. But how about little-known. And that description won’t last long.

Six-foot-four, 210-pound junior quarterback Kevin Sousa is starting to make a name for himself and the school that just opened this year. He’s a big, athletic, force of a QB that college scouts are starting to recognize. And drool over.

He led Lake Nona to it’s first-ever victory Friday night, a 34-13 romp past Celebration. In the victory, Sousa was 13-for-17 passing with 238 yards and two touchdowns and had 12 carries for 198 yards rushing and three more touchdowns.

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In the past, strings programs were offered in isolated situations at certain schools. The district is taking steps to begin to develop programs in feeder patterns so that students interested in strings can begin instruction in the fourth grade and continue to play in orchestra through 12th grade. The Osceola County School Board has invested in stringed instruments to grow this program from the bottom up.
During the 2009-10 school year, the following elementary schools will be equipped with strings instruments: Boggy Creek, Cypress, Sunrise, Thacker Avenue and Ventura elementary schools. Expansion of existing programs have already begun at Neptune and Parkway middle schools and the Osceola County School for the Arts by providing significant repair money to get all existing instruments in working condition, as well as to provide basic instruments to the schools.

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Some teachers from Osceola, Volusia and Brevard are getting applause, too, along with some from Marion, Hillsborough and Polk counties.

The event at Sea World’s Ports of Call recognizes teachers who inspire and motivate their students in math and science.

Narcoossee’s winner was Michelle Thompson from Narcoossee Elementary School.

For more information, or to see the full list of winners in other counties, continue reading

Although the director of the new Florida Hospital-Burnham Clinical Research Institute has gained a national reputation for his groundbreaking obesity and diabetes research, only in recent years has his field of study become recognized as a legitimate scientific discipline — and one of the top health concerns in the nation and around the world.

“It’s like AIDS was in the ’90s. Everybody is talking about obesity and its related health issues,” said Smith, 48.

And for good reason.

Not only has obesity been linked to Type 2 diabetes, but also everything from increased prevalence of cancer to cardiovascular disease.

“The American Heart Association and other medical groups were seeing deaths from cardiovascular disease in the last 25 years going down, then saw that those affected by obesity and the diabetic epidemic have higher numbers of heart problems,” said Smith. “The American Cancer Society saw that obesity increased risk of cancer. They’re started doing the math, and they got on the bandwagon.”

Read the Rest: The doctor is in: ‘Everybody is talking about obesity’

Four prominent members of the University of Central Florida community were named to Orlando Magazine’s list of the “50 Most Powerful People in Orlando,” released today.

Among those making this year’s list are:

UCF President John C. Hitt. President Hitt was ranked eighth for his leadership of the fifth-largest university in the country and his involvement in the UCF area’s progress in becoming a high-tech research and development sector. Orlando Magazine calls him one of “the most influential and powerful nonelected members on our list.” The publication also honored him with a “Hall of Power” designation, bestowed on people who’ve frequently appeared on the list.

UCF Board of Trustee Member Harris Rosen. Rosen came in No. 9 for his work in expanding his hotel empire at a time when hotel occupancy rates are slipping. In addition to providing jobs for workers in the construction industry, Rosen is a leader in green lodging and is continuing his philanthropy efforts with a new Jewish Community Campus in Southwest Orlando. Rosen was also named to the “Hall of Power.”

UCF Vice President Helen Donegan. Donegan, vice president of UCF’s Division of Community Relations, was named No. 10 for her civic involvement. A favorite among local boards, charities, arts councils, business groups and politicians, Donegan is described as “a star attraction among women in powerful positions.”

College of Medicine Dean Deborah German. Dr. German placed 32nd for her work in building UCF’s new medical school from the ground up. In addition to raising $6.4 million to fully fund scholarships for the college’s charter class, her leadership will make the new Medical City in Lake Nona a hub for biotechnology and medical research.

Orlando Magazine’s list of the area’s most powerful people includes leaders from all areas of the community who have made an impact in Central Florida. Many in the top 50 are also UCF graduates.

The full list can be found at Orlando Magazine

It’s been a little over three weeks since Osceola County schools let out for the summer, and two St. Cloud juveniles have already found themselves in trouble with the law.

18-year-old Demetrius Rios, of 1406 Maryland Avenue, and 16-year-old Marcus Rex Haney, of 600 California Avenue, were arrested June 28 and charged with Grand Theft Auto, Criminal Mischief and Unoccupied Burglary after their joy ride in a John Deere cart came to a crashing halt.

In the early morning hours of June 28, deputies from the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office responded in reference to a disturbance on Eastern Avenue in St. Cloud. Deputies and St. Cloud Fire Rescue met three juveniles who were identified as Marcus Rex Haney, Demetrius Rios and Devon Beck. The former two were treated for injuries sustained when the John Deere cart they were riding in crashed into a barbed wire fence on Eastern Avenue.

Rios told sheriff’s deputies he, Beck and Haney were attending a party in Narcoossee when law enforcement arrived on scene. He and Haney then left for Narcoossee Community School, Rios said. He said Haney took the John Deere cart from a shed on the school’s property, and upon driving back to the party, they picked up Beck. The young men drove through the yards of several residents and hit more than a few mailboxes before they struck the fence on Eastern Avenue and crashed in a field.

An on-going investigation is being conducted with pending additional charges.

On June 12th, 13th, and 14th, a community event will be held for you to share your vision for the Narcoossee area. At anytime over those three days, you are invited to drop in to meet your planning team, share your thoughts, help identify opportunities and issues living in a high-growth area and explore different ideas for the community’s future. Each day will have different exercises tailored to creating your community vision, beginning with a community cookout on Friday, June 12th from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Or stop by with your family on Saturday or Sunday – Each day will also include kid-friendly activities.

Day 1: Friday June 12, 2009 – 5:30pm – Community Cookout
Day 2: Saturday June 13, 2009 – 9:00am – 3:30pm
Day 3: Sunday June 14, 2009 – 9:00am – 12:00pm