Insight Magazine - April 2015

April 2015 • www.InsightEastOrlando.com

Serving The Communities Of East & Southeast Orlando

This Month: The Environment

Orlando Dental & Implant Studio: High Tech, Environmentally

Sustainable Dentistry

Organic Community Farm

Calls Alafaya Trail Home

Is East Orlando's Air Clean?

We Find Out

Back to Nature Celebrates One Year in New Lake Nona Area Home

Plus:Update on the Avalon Middle Relief School

About the Cover:Orlando Dental & Implant Studio, the first GreenDoc Gold Certified

in Central Florida as recognized by the Eco Dentistry Association, is pioneering the way for environmentally sustainable dentistry.

Details on page 9.

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Intellectual Decisions on Environmental Awareness Solutions, better known

as IDEAS for UCF, has been bringing environmental awareness to UCF since 2008.

Co-Founders Chris Castro and Henry Harding started the organization with sustainability in mind and have since been integral to the expansion of the organization to a multi-national 501c(3) nonprofit organization, IDEAS for Us.

Now, there are 100 different chapters around the world that are based on the UCF chapter, which has 30-50 dedicated members.

IDEAS for UCF was founded shortly after President Hitt signed the President's Climate

Commitment, which highlights UCF’s proposed solutions and commitment to environmental action to this day.

Most recently, UCF submitted a Climate Action Plan, outlining its long-term plan for energy conservation and efficiency, fuel switching, renewable energy, and carbon mitigation.

In fact, a progress report submitted on January 15 of last year to the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment shared that “UCF has pledged to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by at least 17 percent by 2020 and by 42 percent by 2030. UCF will strive to reduce its energy

consumption by 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2013, increase its recycling rate to 75 percent and have 40 percent of its commuters using an environmentally preferred method to commute to campus by 2020.”

In tandem with this commitment, Castro says,

“Our goal is to develop different solutions to achieve climate action solutions.”

Solar program coordinator (IDEAS for Solar), Matthew

Aberman echoes this sentiment emphasizing, “IDEAS for UCF empowers its members to engage in opportunity, and create it. This dynamic reinforces UCF’s continued mission in standing for opportunity.”

The more central focus of IDEAS for UCF center around pillars such as Energy, Water, Ecology, Food and Waste.

Aberman says programs like Sustain Bithlo will also contribute to environmental sustainability in a big way.

This project is combining efforts of three organizations, two with UCF affiliation (IDEAS for UCF and Engineers Without Borders), that will enhance the quality of life and sustainability of the Bithlo community and its residents by supporting and adding value to the existing efforts by United Global Outreach (UGO),” he says.

Other initiatives include Bikes Save CO2 and the Spokes Council, which bring awareness to the benefit of cycling over driving to reduce our carbon footprint.

Executive Director for IDEAS for Us Clayton Ferrara explains that “East Orlando is one of our priorities because they hold a lot of potential for sustainable development. Action in energy, water, food, waste, and

ecology issues are a sure way to re-engineer a sense of community and ownership for the area.”

He continues, “IDEAS For Us emerged out of East Orlando, and we have a great interest in building Orlando into one of the most sustainable cities in America.”

Moving forward, IDEAS for UCF will be instituting an off-campus recycling initiative, distributing solar-powered compactors, and launching a new website to keep the community informed.

“I am proud to be a member of such a strong and sustainable movement and in a position to help get other interested UCF students engaged and into creating and growing,” says Aberman.

IDEAS for UCF Sustaining Environmental Awareness in East Orlando By Natalie Costa

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Maya Papaya Organic Community Farm began in 2011 with a vision

of being a “holistic, nourishing, healing, educational and creative agri-tourism space anchored by a working farm.”

The name, a moniker of a childhood nickname, was founded by Maya Fiallos, her husband Lawrence, and two young sons, and is located right off Alafaya Trail in East Orlando.

The farm yields seasonal crops ranging from summer squash to cabbage to turnips as part of its Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.

CSAs provide consumers with the option to collect and benefit from local farms and farmers, paying for half or whole shares as part of a 10-week cooperative.

At the time of this writing, half shares cost

$200 for five pounds of goods (or $20/week) and full shares cost $350 (or $35/week) for 10 pounds of goods.

The money is used to pay for the organic goods and goes back into sustaining the program and promoting local agricultural autonomy.

“We always select non-GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) seeds. We choose organic seeds when possible, though some varieties of seeds are available only as ‘not treated,’” says Fiallos.

Maya says she started this initiative when she “began to understand the encroaching pollution of our natural food supply with unlabeled GMOs, growth hormones, pesticides, and herbicides.”

As for the land, the farm consists of more than three acres of muck soil, using traditional organic row cropping techniques.

Greens and herbs are also grown in a 3,000 square foot aquaponic greenhouse, where fish waste water is recycled to directly fertilize lettuces and greens.

Aquaponics is a closed-loop system that uses up to 80 percent less water than traditional agriculture.

The broader vision for the farm is to “connect children directly to the healthiest, most nutrient dense natural foods possible, making sure they have hands-on experience in how to grow food from seed to table,” according to Fiallos.

And it’s doing just that. One of the first members of the co-op, Kristen Kuebler, says, “I’ve been trying to feed my family as much organic and local food as possible. The amount of plastic and Styrofoam packaging that goes into food delivery these days is excessive.”

In terms of land maintenance, Fiallos and her husband practice cover cropping during the summer to improve soil health, fertility, and structure.

Maya Papaya Farms are not certified organic however Fiallos emphasizes that she grows in accordance (and sometimes beyond) USDA standards.

“We seek to be a lasting destination in the community where individuals, children, and families come together to learn about sustainable farming, organic agriculture, the

importance of local food to the health of the community,” says Fiallos.

Kuebler reinforces the value of a local farm co-op like this, noting that it is closer than the grocery store to her home.

She says, “[This] is a great way to decrease your negative environmental impact, improve the quality of food you eat, and learn about local food production and interesting veggies you won’t find at the supermarket. You do have to be willing to clean and cook some things you probably would never have encountered before – but usually that’s an adventure.”

Maya Papaya Organic Community Farm “Shares” the Green By Natalie Costa

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Dear Readers,

Spring is officially here, luckily living in Florida, we didn’t experience much of a Winter. This month we focus our attention on the environment and ways we can make a difference here in East Orlando. From ways to improve the air quality to simple ways to make your home more “green,” there are several ways we can protect and improve the environment we call home.

Several local organizations work to protect and maintain environmental conditions in East Orlando. The Florida Forest Service conducts routine prescribed fires and IDEAS for UCF works to develop solutions to big climate problems and raise awareness.

While the environment is our main focus this month, we also want to fill you in on changes that affect you in East Orlando. New schools and new businesses are coming to the area and we’ve got the latest on how these changes affect your community.

This month’s cover features Orlando Dental & Implant Studio in Lee Vista. Check out their story on page 9 and discover their eco-friendly approach to dentistry!

As always, stay tuned to InsightEastOrlando.com for the most up to date East Orlando news and don’t forget to like us on Facebook to keep you in the know while you’re out and about.

Happy Reading!

Table ContentsofLetter from the Publisher – David Mullins

FeaturesIDEAS for UCF Sustaining Environmental Awareness

in East Orlando

Maya Papaya Organic Community Farm “Shares” the Green

Avalon Park Middle School Finds No Relief in Timber Springs Community

Keeping East Orlando’s Air Clean

Master Gardener Program Continuing to Bloom

Nature’s Plan: Injured Animals Find A Home

The Good Side of Fire

15th Annual Orlando Wetlands Festival Showcases Orlando’s Beautiful Environment

5 Tips to Help You Make Your Home More “Green”

3

4

6

8

10

11

12

15

17

Cover StoryOrlando Dental & Implant Studio: High Tech,

Environmentally Sustainable Dentistry

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The overcrowding of Avalon Park Middle School has caused strife

within the local community with many citing land use incompatibility and traffic concerns.

The Orange County School Board is applying for a land use zoning change on a piece of property they own in Timber Springs. However, the property is currently zoned for an elementary school and not a middle school.

The requirement to build a middle school

is 25 acres and this property is only 16.7 acres.

After several community and individual meetings, the Orange County Development Review Committee has recommended denial in a 4-1 vote.

The potential rezoning has even spurred community-backed websites that reinforce the dissent, saying, “People support the school for the obvious reason that ‘a’ school is needed in Avalon Park, without regard for the location. Many of those

supporting the school in Timber springs will not have to deal with the problems because their kids will remain at Avalon Middle School.”

The site suggests there are suitable alternatives, including three sites in the area, totaling 51 acres, which could be

“sold to purchase a more suitable site.”

However, Orange County School Board Representative for District 2 Daryl Flynn shared an issued statement suggesting that converting an existing middle school would cost approximately $22 million of taxpayer dollars.

With more than 1,800 students and a student capacity of only 1,278, there is certainly a need for a relief school, but some argue that the Timber Springs land is not the answer.

And yet, some residents in favor of building the school like Timber Springs resident and parent Lori Schalk say that the addition of a school is one of the reasons she moved to the area.

“A school in my neighborhood is what I

want for my child,” she says.

Similarly, Timber Springs residents Christy Tant says, "I want to send my children to a middle school in my neighborhood. Locating the school in Timber Springs would both greatly benefit our community and be the best use of county resources. I know OCPS will build a school that my community and my children will be proud of."

Residents like Schalk and Tant see the value in a comprehensive new school that includes tennis courts, a gymnasium and baseball fields, as well as 21st century technology to facilitate learning.

School Board Representative Flynn underscores this point, adding, “East

Avalon Park Middle School Finds No Relief in Timber Springs Community By Natalie Costa


Avalon Park Middle School Finds No Relief in Timber Springs Community

Orlando is known for close-knit communities, parent engagement and high-achieving schools. The relief middle school will continue this tradition by providing its students with an excellent education in a modern facility that will boast 21st century technology. Each classroom will have audio enhancement

devices for teachers, digital projectors, interactive whiteboards and wireless internet access throughout the school. I am confident it will become the pride of its community.”

The suburban Avalon Park area, which is flanked by commercial real estate and urban sprawl, hosts 1,480 homes, but is

in close proximity to the Sunflower Trail Rural Settlement, where some homes have private gun ranges.

The proximity of these ranges to the proposed site is another point of contention for concerned parents like Douglas Sherwood who say that “Because the County cannot restrict the use of guns on private land, they are going to have to implement something like a 100 foot ‘buffer’ around the school, effectively shrinking the 16 acres down even further.”

Glenn Rubenstein shares this sentiment, adding, “You can’t build a quality middle school on 16.7 acres. The newer schools being built in this area should be just as good, if not better than the other schools.”

Rubenstein highlights this traffic concern, noting that “people will be trapped in

their communities if the school is built on that land.”

The School Board statement addressed this concern, noting that “OCPS understands the concern for potential traffic impact to the surrounding neighborhood.”

A proposed solution is to offer a parking lot designed to “double-stack” as many as 164 cars, as well as a secondary access lane to the school.

In the event a relief school is ultimately not approved, the School Board will redistribute students among nearby, existing schools.

The Orange County Board of Commissioners will vote on this issue on April 21st at 2:00 p.m. to decide whether a middle school relief school will be built on the Timber Springs land.

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We’ve got lots to boast about in Central Florida and now we can

add one more thing to that list. Central Florida has some of the cleanest air in the United States.

“Air quality is assessed by measuring the presence of various air constituents,” says Erma Slager, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, an agency that protects Florida’s air quality. “These measurements are compiled using what is called the Air Quality Index (AQI). This important tool provides an indicator of air quality using a color-coded scale that runs from 0 to 500. The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution.”

In Florida, the AQI rarely exceeds 100, says Slager. Orlando’s AQI typically doesn’t exceed 50. The most polluted city

in the U.S. is Fresno-Madera, California had an AQI of 74 on the same day that Orlando had an AQI of 36.

The air quality is measured through an air monitoring network that covers more than 92 percent of the state. Throughout the state, 214 monitors are strategically placed and measure different types of air pollutants. There are two in Orange County.

“The two pollutants most often associated with impacts on respiratory health are ozone and fine particles (particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter),” Slager says. “Both are found in relatively low quantities in Florida. Monitored levels of these pollutants on any given day will vary depending on a number of factors, such as meteorological conditions, traffic density and source emissions.”

The ozone and particle pollution can severely affect residents’ health. Unhealthy levels of these pollutants can cause respiratory problems, lung cancer or even premature death. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection ensures that facilities use the latest technology to curb pollution.

Central Florida, which consist of Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties, is in attainment with the EPA’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

“Air emissions from Florida’s industrial facilities have hit their lowest levels since the department began tracking them in 1985,” Slager says. “Florida has experienced a 63 percent reduction from ten years ago and a 22 percent reduction since 2010.”

In Orlando, Metroplan Orlando is a regional transportation partnership that works to improve transportation in Central Florida. The Clean Air team works as a part of Metroplan Orlando to improve the air quality.

“Transportation and air quality are directly related,” says Mary Ann Horne, the community outreach specialist for the Clean Air Team. “Transportation accounts for a lot of our particulates in the air.”

The Clean Air Team works to educate and encourage people about air quality. It also gives out an award to a business or organization

that makes clean air initiatives. An award also goes to a student who does exceptional work related to air quality.

People can make small changes that can make a positive impact on air quality. Here are some tips from the Environmental Protection Agency for reducing air pollution:

• Conserve energy by turning off lights and appliances

• Recycle paper, plastic, glass bottles, cardboard and aluminum cans

• Choose products that have less packaging and reusable

• Avoid waiting in long drive-thru lanes and whenever possible, park and go inside

• Join a carpool, public transportation, walk or ride a bike to get to work

Keeping East Orlando’s Air Clean By Ashley White


About the Cover

Orlando Dental & Implant Studio: High Tech, Environmentally Sustainable Dentistry By Natalie Costa

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Orlando Dental & Implant Studio institutes environmentally sound energy practices and a practice they call “biologic dentistry.”

The office offers biocompatibility testing to determine if patients are susceptible or nonreactive to any treatments in lieu of traditional procedures and alleviates waste by being almost completely digital.

The practice purchases non-toxic disinfectants from SciCan which is CDC, EPA and FDA approved.

Orlando Dental & Implant Studio, the first GreenDoc Gold Certified in

Central Florida as recognized by the Eco Dentistry Association, is pioneering the way for environmentally sustainable dentistry.

General and implant dentist Dr. Charles Cuprill has been practicing in the Lake Nona area for four years, instituting environmentally sound energy practices and a practice he calls “biologic dentistry.”

The safe removal of mercury-containing silver fillings, as outlined by the International Association of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IOAMT), is a critical component of biologic dentistry, which is rooted in holistic practices. Orlando Dental & Implant Studio also offers alternative options like fluoride free and natural products. Plus, the office offers biocompatibility testing to determine if patients are susceptible or nonreactive to any treatments in lieu of traditional procedures and alleviates waste by being almost completely digital.

Cuprill says, “Green dentistry is more than a dental practice that happens to have digital X-rays and digital charts. Green dentistry is the effort to exercise our profession while being stewards of the health of the environment by minimizing our environmental impact and carbon footprint.”

High-Tech Dentistry In addition to being green, the practice is high tech, too, using roughly 10 percent

(recycled) paper products in the office, as well as digital Xrays, which yield 70-90 percent less radiation than paper Xrays.

“This is done by combining the technologies available in dentistry (digital X-rays and charts, CAD/CAM for crowns, lasers, etc), along with environmentally-responsible building practices and green products and services that are in tune with a healthy planet,” says Cuprill.

Patients like James McQuiggan take notice of the office’s high technology approach to dentistry. He says, “I really appreciate that they keep up with technology with text messages to remind me about upcoming appointments, [as well as] their social networking activities on Facebook to learn about the staff, the office ongoings, and interesting facts about dental hygiene.”

To facilitate this environmentally sound “green dentistry”, Cuprill and his wife, Anja, say they “started with the end in mind.”

All work was done by a LEED-certified contractor and all woodwork in the office is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified and therefore sourced from sustainable forest. Moreover, paints are free from Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC).

What’s more, the office utilizes a waterless suction system that eliminates water use to create a vacuum, saving hundreds of gallons of water a day.

In his 12th year as a dentist, Cuprill says he has always wanted to do this.

“We decided to do whatever we could to minimize our impact on the environment,” he says. Adding, “We have to do our part and leave a better place for our kids.”

Environmentally-Friendly Dentistry Unknown to most, dentistry, from an environmental standpoint, is a dirty profession because it’s very disposable heavy.

“Dentistry has transitioned to an over use of disposables in the recent past and present, and this is no good for the environment,” says Cuprill. He continues, “When it comes to disposables we have eliminated close to 80 percent of those by using reusable (stainless steel) instruments in lieu of plastic disposables such as suction and water tips).”

In response, the practice purchases non-toxic disinfectants from SciCan which is CDC, EPA and FDA approved.

“In our practice, we minimize use of disposable materials and don’t cover chairs in plastics. People ask me all the time

about green dentistry, and I tell them it's just going back to basics and using instruments and materials that can be cleaned and sterilized, no need to use all the throw aways, as there is no ‘away,’” says Cuprill.

Moreover, the toothbrushes that are given to patients are eco-friendly and sourced from a Brooklyn-based company called Preserve that uses recycled materials like plastic yogurt cups, which typically wouldn’t be recycled in Orange County.

Sustainable Dentistry When possible, Cuprill tries to source cleaning products from local companies like City Maid Green in College Park.

“We formulate a lot of our own cleaning agents for all non-clinical areas, using distilled white vinegar and essential oils,” he adds.

At the end of the day, Cuprill concludes that “peace of mind is worth more than anything else.” And it’s clear that piece of mind resonates with his patients.

“Whenever asked by friends, I am always willing to recommend Orlando Dental & Implant Studio for excellent care and service in dental hygiene, implants and other dental care,” says McQuiggan.

Orlando Dental and Implant Studio is the first practice in Florida to become a member of

the Eco Dentistry Association.

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The Orange County Master Gardener program is a volunteer-based program

for residents interested in helping others learn the ins and outs of gardening. Since 1981 the program has been connecting garden lovers throughout the county in need of a little help.

To become a Master Gardener, volunteers must go through more than 70 hours of gardening education and pledge at least 75 hours of volunteer service the following year. A majority of this volunteer service is spent answering homeowner questions on the telephone as well as maintaining demonstration gardens, teaching classes and

helping run special programs.

On April 29 the Orange County Master Gardeners will be hosting an event that will serve as an introduction to the Master Gardener program from 9 A.M. to 11:30 A.M at the Orange County Extension Education Center located at 6021 S. Conway Road.

“The master gardeners have been trained where to find scientific, unbiased, research solutions to homeowner problems,” says Edmund Thralls, Master Gardener Coordinator for Orange County.

For those interested in a do-it-yourself project, the Master Gardeners can be contacted by telephone to answer questions to assist with your project. Need a visual? Stop by the Plant Center in the Extension Education Center to meet with a gardener in person.

“Usually when homeowners come to us they have got a problem,” says Thralls. “It might be ‘something is eating my plant’ or ‘my plant is dying’ or ‘I have spots on the leaves.’”

Those who are interested in learning more about the master gardener program can attend the introduction event. At the event, prospective volunteers will receive information about the commitment necessary to take part in the program and

discover just what it takes to become a master gardener.

“Orange County is a big county, and not that many people are even aware of us,” says Advisory Committee Chair, Ed Paulson.

This event hopes to generate more awareness of the programs they offer and hopefully recruit more volunteers.

“Last year we had maybe 60 people that came to the event and probably ten people showed active interest,” says Paulson. “This year we have room for about 50 applications for a master gardeners.”

Becoming a master gardener requires a large dedication of volunteer time, so, as you may have guessed, many of the volunteers are retired. This commitment causes the program staff to be picky with who they select into the program, and the introduction event helps prospective volunteers decide if they are willing to commit their time to train to become a master gardener.

“They will have about two hours to talk with other master gardeners, who are currently volunteering, about the program and the things that we get involved with, and then they can make a better decision if it is right for them or not,” says Thralls.

Some find the commitment to be a small

price to pay in order to do something that they enjoy.

“Its just a rewarding experience to help people with their gardening problems,” says Mary McKenzie, a current volunteer.

Many volunteers initially apply so that they can overcome problems that they are facing in their garden and learn the correct techniques for gardening. Master gardeners also want to spread that information with the community around them.

“They have a really strong desire to help others overcome some of those problems they have gone through,” says Thralls.

Regardless of their reasoning, these volunteers devote their time and make a commitment to the program mainly because of their passion for gardening.

“It really is a labor of love,” says Paulson.

By Ryan DiPentima

Some Master Gardeners volunteer their time to maintain various demonstration

gardens throughout Orange County.

Master Gardener Program Continuing to Bloom

For more information visit Orange.IFAS.UFL.edu/mg


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Located off Narcoossee Road, Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge has been

a hidden oasis which serves to rescue, raise, rehabilitate, and release injured or orphaned Florida native species since 1989.

Last year, BTN moved locations from a small, noisy location off of East Colonial Drive to a new location that better fits the staff and animals near Lake Nona. This month marks the one year anniversary of their move to the bigger and better location. Their new home houses a variety of animals, from a fox, to bobcats, and even an emu. For $5, the public can tour BTN’s facilities and see over 30 different species of animals.

While many animals do make it back into the wild, some have sustained injuries that make releasing them a death sentence. These animals live the remainder of their lives under the care of the BTN staff.

One animal that has suffered injuries too severe to be released is Mongua, a Barred Owl, who is the longest tenured animal at the BTN refuge.

“Mongua arrived in 1983, came into Back to Nature, and was a victim of a wing injury,” says Executive Director Debbie Helsel. “He had flown into a barbed wire fence and had got entangled in the fence, and some citizens rescued him, cut the barbed wire, and he came in still entangled in the barbed wire."

“Unfortunately the wing was so badly damaged that the whole wing was amputated all the way up to the shoulder. The regulations now-a-days wouldn’t allow that to happen, he would have to be put to sleep, but back then the regulations were a little looser so he was able to be kept as an educational animal.”

Mongua, a glove trained bird, was able to go on programs and be used in an educational capacity.

“People love to go and visit and see their, what we call, educational ambassadors,” says Lori Cunniff of the Orange County Environmental Protection Division.

Something else that makes Mongua unique, besides his amount of time with BTN, is his age. When he arrived, Mongua was already an adult and because he was an adult when they received him, nobody is sure exactly how old Mongua is.

“He’s getting up there in age so he is not a candidate, obviously, to go back into the wild, he has spent 30 years being an educator, so far, which has been really great, but he is getting really old,” says Helsel.

Mongua has spent many of this 30 years at the old Back to Nature location, but will spend the rest of his time at the new facility that better suits his needs. This dream did not always appear like it would become reality, but BTN was able to open their new facility amid tough financial times thanks to the support of the East Orlando community.

“Two weeks was about all we had in the bank, so it was scary, and it was definitely a leap of faith, but we just had to believe,” says Helsel.

This leap of faith may have benefited everyone involved. Cunniff believes that without BTN, the entire community, both humans and animals would suffer.

“If we didn’t have [BTN], I don’t see our

wildlife doing as well as it is,” says Cunniff.

It is Back to Nature’s love for the animals that they care for that has kept them motivated through every struggle that they have faced. Whether it is a long tenured animal like Mongua or a newer edition like Kenny the fox, these animals have a special part in the hearts of the BTN staff.

“We love these animals, and we just couldn’t fathom the thought of not being able to give them a forever home,” says Helsel. “I couldn’t even think of having a day without them, that would be, to me honestly, worse than killing me.”

To donate to BTN or schedule a group tour, visit BTNWildlife.org

Mongua, a Barred Owl, is the longest tenured animal at the Back to Nature refuge.

“ People love to go and visit and see their, what we call, educational ambassadors.”


With the large population growth in East Orlando, a wildfire similar

to the one that ravaged it in 1998 could produce devastating results. To mitigate the chances of such a wildfire, the Florida Forest Service facilitates prescribed, or controlled, fires.

“A prescribed fire is a safe way to apply a natural process, ensure ecosystem health

and reduce wildfire risk,” Chelsea Ealum, the Florida Forest Service’s communications and public relations coordinator. “In Florida especially, prescribed fire is necessary for the ecosystem. We have fire adapted plant and animal species so they need fire to continue and survive.”

The Florida Forest Service typically has prescribed fires during the late winter and early spring because that’s when the weather

conditions are best. Often times there are multiple fires happening everyday around the state.

When administering a prescribed fire, the Florida Forest Service understands that fire is innately fire so it takes as many precautions as it can.

“We make sure to be as careful as possible,” Ealum says. “If the weather shifts and goes out of prescription – the prescription is certain weather and drought conditions that have to be in place in order for us to conduct the burn that day – if the weather changes in the middle of that burn, they’ll re-evaluate to see if it’s safe to continue and if not, they’ll shut the burn down.”

While the Florida Forest Service conduct prescribed fires, it also helps landowners and other agencies conduct their own prescribed fires. Anyone who has the proper equipment may conduct a prescribed fires so long as they contact their local Florida Forest Service office and see if the day is approved for a burning.

One group that the Florida Forest Service assists with prescribed burns is the University of Central Florida’s Landscape and Natural Resources Program.

“We used prescribed fires currently on campus to mitigate fuel loads,” says Ray Jarrett, the coordinator of the Landscape and Natural Resources program. “Letting fuel loads, or vegetation, build up for a long time without it seeing a natural fire makes it a wildfire hazard.”

In order to keep fires from getting out of control, the lands that are burned are divided into burn units. The units’ edges are disked, creating fire breaks, and certain pine trees are cut down to reduce the chances of flames getting into the tree canopy.

“When we go to burn a unit, that particular unit has a fire break all the way around it, which protects [the fire] from jumping out of the spot where we intended the fire,” Jarrett says. “Then, additionally, we have other professionals on site to help us through the burn.”

Residents should still report smoke or fires, even if they think it’s a prescribed fire.

“A lot of time [the fires] do look very similar especially if you’re seeing something far off – smoke is smoke regardless,” Ealum says.

“But if you call your local Florida Forest Service office and tell them where it is, they can tell you ‘oh, that’s a prescribed burned’ or ‘oh, well, that’s not a prescribed burn, we need to respond to that.’”

Many wildfires are reported when residents call the Florida Forest Service to see if smoke is related to a prescribed burn or not, says Ealum. If residents see fire or smoke on UCF’s campus, they can call their local fire department to see if it’s a prescribed burn or

not.

Photos courtesy of The Florida Forest Service

The Good Side of Fire By Ashley White

“A prescribed fire is a safe way to apply a natural process, ensure ecosystem health and reduce wildfire risk,” Chelsea Ealum, the Florida Forest Service’s communications and public relations coordinator.

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High DeductibleNo Problem!

Vascular Vein Centers is excited to

announce a new office! In March,

we moved our Waterford Lakes office

to a new location on the second floor of

the Econ Professional Plaza. This bright

orange building is located at 100 North

Dean Rd., just a few miles west of VVC’s

old office.

“We love being in the Waterford Lakes

area, and wanted a larger office space

to offer lymphedema and wound care,”

comments Dr. Samuel Martin, MD,

Medical Director and Vascular Surgeon

at VVC. “We have expanded to seven

procedure rooms, a light and airy waiting

area on the second floor, and our second

Doc’s Socks n’ Skincare store showcasing

a variety of compression socks, stockings

and wraps, along with our PCA skin care

products.”

At VVC, we continue to be dedicated

to our patient’s optimum leg health. We

find that education and developing a

lasting relationship with our patients

is as important as using the advanced

technology we employ to treat vein

disease.

“Part of my job is being a health advocate

and telling people things they can do to

avoid, or at least lessen, the impact of vein

problems,” says Dr. Martin. “For example,

I’m a huge proponent of compression

socks, which I have worn daily for over

40 years. I recommend them for people

who have occupations that require a lot

of standing or continual sitting, as well as

women who are pregnant. It’s something

I’m passionate about.”

When it comes to vein care, it’s important

to go to someone you trust and who has

the proper credentials and expertise

to diagnose and treat leg problems

accurately and effectively.

“Varicose veins are a medical disease;

therefore it’s vital to find someone who

has suitable training and knowledge to

provide proper care,” explains Dr. Martin.

“In the past, only general surgeons,

cardiothoracic surgeons and vascular

surgeons were authorized to treat veins.

However, as the new laser technology

moved vein care into the office setting,

the hospital credentialing process was lost.

Now there are professionals in unrelated

medical fields treating vein issues with

no residency or fellowship training. As

a result, some people are receiving ill

advised and often inadequate treatment

for their leg issues.”

At VVC, patients are assured that every

specialist is highly trained and skilled in

vein therapy. We have more than 30 years

diagnosing and treating the most difficult

vein and arterial problems.

“Hugo Hart, MD, Daniel Arnold, MD, and

I are trained to handle the complications

veins can cause. For example, most ulcers

in the legs are venous in origin, and we

are capable of treating not only the ulcer

or wound but also the underlying vein

issues which caused the problem,” says

Dr. Martin.

“I think people appreciate our practice

more when they see the way we do things,”

adds Dr. Martin. “After all, our patients

deserve the best, and they can rely on us

to deliver the care they need.”

Leg Health Moving Forward at Vascular Vein Centers

At VVC, we treat the entire realm of vein issues from cosmetic spider veins to varicose veins and venous ulcers. We are a “one-stop” specialist for vein issues: initial consults, ultrasound scans for diagnosis and procedures are all done in our office. Our team works with your insurance company to cover many of the procedures, as most insurance companies recognize the treat-ment of painful varicose veins to be medically necessary.

Pictured from left: Samuel Martin, MD; Daniel Arnold, MD; and Hugo Hart, MD

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Alligators, snakes and birds, oh my! Just a few of the exciting sights for

attendees of the 15th Annual Orlando Wetlands Festival at the Fort Christmas Historical Park on February 21.

The festival was a group effort presented by The City of Orlando, Orange Audubon Society, Orange County Parks & Recreation Department and Atkins Global.

The Orlando Wetlands Park is a 1,220-acre man-made environmental project that purifies up to 35 million gallons of reclaimed wastewater as it travels through over 17 miles of pipeline.

At the event wild reptiles including a two year old female alligator, an 11-foot long python and a friendly Savannah Monitor named Shark were presented for kids to pet and learn about.

Other children's activities included games, face painting, rock climbing wall, bounce house and Out-on-a-Limb Tree Climbing. Live entertainment, refreshments, merchandise booths, informative exhibits,

door prizes and hayrides made the event fun and interactive for everyone.

Orange Audubon Society, led guided bird-watching excursions and The Florida Native Plant Society conducted native plant identification hikes.

Audubon Center for Birds of Prey brought in several birds including a bald eagle.

City of Orlando’s Iron Bridge Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant had an exhibit that allowed kids to be scientists. Complete with tiny lab coats and protective glasses, the kids got to see the water purification process with models of the water pumps. Attendees loved the hands-on educational experience.

“You can teach kids with a book, but when they have the chance to actually see and touch something, I think they learn a lot more,” says Kathy, Christmas resident and mother of three.

The Orange County Sheriff's Department did helicopter demonstrations and the Orange County Fire Department gave tours of their firetrucks.

Buses drove attendees to and from the wetlands and the Florida Trail Association provided guided wilderness hikes.

Douglas Kucklick is a trail builder with Central Chapter Trail Crew of the Florida Trail Association. He works with his team to clear trails by removing fallen trees or cutting back overgrown brush. In addition to trail maintenance, Kucklick provides guided group hikes as well.

The event boasted a large community turnout and the festival will continue to bring excitement for years to come.

By Danielle Owings

The Orange County Fire Department conducted interactive tours of their firetrucks.

15th Annual Orlando Wetlands Festival Showcases Orlando’s Beautiful Environment

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Insight on Education

STEM and the Importance of Real World Experiences for Students: My SunRail Success StoryWhen planning my daily activities,

I always try to incorporate real life situations or events that will make a lasting impact on the students. My job is to inspire others to hopefully someday want to work in the field of Science themselves. Now, more than ever, science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) are important for the future of our students, our region and our country. By providing as many meaningful STEM activities as possible for my students, I am ensuring that they are being exposed to relevant material that will help them have success in college, careers and life.

Students are more motivated to learn about topics that they can relate to. So, at the beginning of last year, it was announced that the Florida Department of Transportation would launch SunRail, Central Florida’s first ever commuter rail system, in May 2014. Knowing that the majority of my students have never ridden a train, I saw this as an amazing opportunity and quickly began planning what would become a very memorable and exciting year long STEM activity.

It all began on September 21, 2013 when an exhibition SunRail train came to Central Park, in Downtown Winter Park. Radio Disney partnered with SunRail to provide an exciting sneak peak in conjunction with a free concert to the public. In my bi-weekly parent email, I invited all parents, grandparents and siblings to come out and share in this event. On our morning school news, I extended the invitation to all teachers, staff and students. When the event day finally came, the students were filled with excitement. Our principal showed up as did many curious parents! Most took pictures next to the train and some students even recorded videos inside the cab cars to share with those students that could not make it to the event.

What followed next was a variety of real world STEM activities that I brought into the classroom. Mr. Finfrock, a civil engineer and parent of one of my students, joined us during our annual Maitland Middle School STEM Careers Day and gave the students a firsthand look at a day in the life of an engineer. Several weeks later, Bill Land from the SunRail team spent the entire day

in my classroom providing information about the SunRail system including a copy of ‘blueprints’ that conveyed the dimensions of the cab car and locomotive.

After gathering up several hard hats and safety vests, the students dressed as engineers and journeyed outside into the courtyard. Once outdoors, the students used surveyor’s instruments and stakes to ‘lay out’ the actual dimensions of the cab car and locomotive. Students did research on the environmental effects of trains, such as the gopher tortoise relocation program associated with the construction of SunRail, and then held class debates to discuss the associated issues. Some students were asked to follow the news and write current event reports on the progress of the SunRail construction project throughout the year. Later, when studying vectors and scalars, the students also calculated the speed and acceleration of the train. The grand finale was when the Central Florida Rail Corridor

(CFRC), who operates SunRail, awarded my entire class with an exclusive and private trip on one of their morning commuter trains.

On Tuesday, May 20, 2014, three (3) SunRail engineers (on hand to answer any parent or student questions), 146 students, 14 chaperones and I boarded the train. You could feel the excitement in the air! When the school year came to an end, and I asked the students to fill out my yearly survey, almost every student listed their most memorable event as – “When We All Rode SunRail Together.” The knowledge that my students gained during this year-long event is immeasurable. My hope is that it inspired a few if not many of my students, to one day

pursue a STEM career.

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Making your home more “green” can keep more green in your

pocket, keep you healthier and help the environment.

When Anja Valdés, a resident of Lake Nona, was in the eighth grade, her passion for making the places around her more eco-friendly began to come to light. Her school used a lot of paper and Valdés thought that it should go somewhere other than just the trash.

“I decided that we should make a recycling program,” Valdés says. “We would take the office and school paperwork that was going to be put in the trash and compile it all – from the teachers, the library, the students – get it all together in a huge garbage can and

take it somewhere, I didn’t know where to take it but that was the beginning of it.”

When Valdés got married, she made sure to start implementing more eco-friendly practices at home. She referenced books such as My House Is Killing Me by Jeffry C. May; Use Less Stuff by Robert Lilienfeld and William Rathje; and 1,001 Ways To Save the Earth by Joanna Yarrow.

Valdés buys eco-friendly products like toothpaste, makes her own home cleaning products and buys organic food and from local farmers. It has even carried over into her work life. She is now the co-owner and office manager of the Orlando Dental & Implant Studio, which is the only DOC Certified Dental Office.

There are many benefits to taking steps to make a home more environmentally friendly.

“[Families] are going to save a lot of money if they make their own products,” Valdés says

“They’re not ingesting, smelling or touching any poisonous products. It’s better for us to use products that are safe for the planet.”

Here are five tips from Valdés to help you have a “greener” home:

1. Keep plants in your home. Plants release blood-enriching oxygen and they will clean your indoor air of chemicals. NASA

researched for ways to clean the air on the space station and found several plants that could do the job. Some of these are:

• Snake plant • Peace Lily • Bamboo Palm • Rubber plant

2. Take your clothes out of the dry cleaners’ bag when you get home. When you bring your clothes from the dry-cleaners, take them out of the plastic bag ASAP and hang them outside to air for a couple of hours before putting them away this will help to dissipate all the chemicals that are used during the process of cleaning. Another great option is to find a green dry cleaner in your neighborhood.

3. Be sure to clean your dryer vent. Clean your dryer vent of any lint on each cycle and between 5 to 10 cycles with a brush to prevent any lint accumulation in the vent. Aside from preventing fires from lint build-up it will make your dryer more efficient. Also have a professional inspect the exhaust once a year.

4. Take your shoes off. Don’t use shoes inside the house. Your floors will stay cleaner longer. You are dragging all kinds of pesticides, dirt, bacteria, and who knows what… Yuck!!!

5. Use homemade cleaning products. Clean your countertops with chemical free products. Use water, vinegar, lemon, alcohol, and essential oils.

"When my son started crawling I noticed he would lick or touch the floors then put his hands in his mouth, basically he was ingesting Lysol or any other poisonous products I was using" Valdés says. That’s why she creates her own cleaning products.

Solid surface cleaner:• Spray bottle

• 2 cups of water

• ¼ cup of rubbing alcohol

• 10 to 15 drops of essential oil. My favorite is lavender essential oil.

Mix all the ingredients in the spray bottle and enjoy your squeaky clean, chemical-free countertops.

Laminate countertops cleaner:• Spray bottle

• 2 cups of water

• ½ of vinegar

• 10 to 15 drops of essential oil

Mix and use! Don’t worry about the vinegar smell. I promise your kitchen will not smell like a salad forever; the scent will dissipate within 10 minutes.

5 Tips to Help You Make Your Home More Green” By Ashley White

Check Daily for New Stories | InsightEastOrlando.com

SOmE Of thE LOCaL StOrIES YOu’LL fIND

• Top 5 WorsT InTersecTIons In easT orlando • common core may Take BITe ouT of educaTIon • magIc players, fans ouTlasT raIn for meeT and greeT •

• Back To naTure’s neW Home | pHoTo essay •

only aT InsIgHTeasTorlando.com

Anja Valdés buys eco-friendly products like toothpaste, makes her own home cleaning products and buys organic

food and from local farmers.

Applicants Withdraw Proposed Rezoning of EastWood Golf CourseConstruction Begins to Replace Dangerous Econlockhatchee River Bridge

Waterford Lakes Town Center Adding New Stores


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Community CommentsThis month we took our camera into the community and asked your neighbors,

"What do you do to help the environment?"

Have a comment you’d like to share with us? Check out our Facebook page and let us know what you

do to help the environment.

"“I recycle my water bottles”Bud

“I conserve water by turning it off when I brush my teeth” Ray

“I use premium gas” Tim

“I try to take short showers so I don’t use up too much water” Cameron

“Respect people and the environment. I think if you do that you help”

Rosana

Visit us on Facebook and leave a comment to let us know what you do to help the environment?"

Join the conversation:

Photos and quotes courtesy of Ryan DiPentima

“I recycle plastic bottles” Giovanni

“I have cleaned the beach before” Julia

Visit InsightEastOrlando.com to Nominate Your Favorite Local Business.

For more information, contact us at 866-994-3639

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See a David Weekley Homes Sales Consultant for details. Prices, plans, dimensions, features, specifications, materials, and availability of homes or communities are subject to change without notice or obligation. Illustrations are artist’s depictions only and may differ from completed improvements. Copyright © 2015 David Weekley Homes - All Rights Reserved. CBC1257289 Weekley Homes, LLC. Orlando, FL (ORLA62773)

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As night falls, shiny paint and accessories on this custom bike reflects Bike Week night life.

The 74th Daytona Beach Bike Week, March 6-15, 2015 was biker heaven. Billed as "The world's largest motorcycle event," event promoters expected a half million visitors to this year's event. The first Daytona Bike Week was January 24, 1937. Young motorcyclists on powerful Japanese

and European "crotch rockets" are visible.

The displays of Bike Week T-shirts for sale was endlessly mind-boggling!

Law enforcement personnel were visible everywhere. The character of the 10-day festival has changed immensely over the years from a rough and tumble biker "invasion" to a tame, fun-for-all annual event.

Headed home after a 12-hour long 'bike day.'

Biker "fashion accessory" Galleon Skull Neoprene Face Masks added to the carnival-like atmosphere.

Community Photos Submit Photos and See Full Event Gallerieson InsightEastOrlando.comCheck out some great photos from East and Southeast Orlando. Want to see more and stay connected to your community? Visit www.InsightEastOrlando.com today! All photos courtesy of PotShots Photography unless otherwise noted.

Feed me! One of many biker 'watering holes.'


A visitor ponders the activities list at the 15th Annual Orlando Wetlands Festival, Ft. Christmas Historical Park on Saturday, February 21, 2015.

A day of fun and learning for the entire family, visitors line up for guided bus tours of Orlando Wetlands Park.

The empty shoes scattered about attests to the multitudes of kids enjoying the bounce house and other games.

The free tree giveaway was very popular.

The Florida Wildlife Commission's exhibit mesmerized children and adults.

Kyle (red shirt) makes bird feeders out of pine cones by coating them with shortening and rolling them in bird seed while his brother and mom look on.

One of the imaginative Ibex creations.

Happy Bee Orange Blossom (raw) Oak Honey made Connie a happy camper!


Healthy Living

Scenario A: Danielle is a stay at home mom. She has three children between

the ages of 6 and 13 who are all in sports, tutoring, weekend tournaments, and music lessons. Danielle helps her husband with his business for about 10-15 hours a week and is responsible for all laundry, cleaning, bills, chauffeuring, homework, meals, shopping, and more. She also tries to hit the gym daily or else she feels sluggish and unhealthy. Danielle was told long ago through either direct or subliminal messages that taking a breather during the day as a stay at home mom was lazy, so she never stops moving because family comes first.

Scenario B: Tom owns his own business. Time is money, so Tom wakes up at 5:30 AM and gets to work before the kids are up. He skips lunch or hits a drive thru most days and considers his workout the times when the elevator is broken and he has to take the office building stairs. Tom has three children and a wife who helps with the business a bit but mostly manages the household duties. Tom gets home at 6 or 7 PM just in time to eat a hasty dinner by himself because the kids are just getting home from practices. He’s too exhausted to talk or help with homework so he watches the news. Tom has high blood pressure and is overweight. Tom was told long ago through either direct or subliminal messages that this was the best way to provide for a family and that his children and wife knew he was often totally unavailable physically or emotionally because he was working hard to support them…because family comes first.

Do either of these scenarios seem familiar?

Somehow over the past few decades we’ve drastically entwined productivity and busy-ness as mutually exclusive concepts. If we’re not moving, we’re lazy; if we don’t text or

email back right away, we’re unproductive or apathetic; if we don’t go full throttle, we’ll never be happy and have everything we want for ourselves and kids, right? Wrong, of course. It seems silly to even say aloud. Somehow along the way, we’ve forgotten how productive recovery time can be for ourselves and our families. Imagine how restful and energetic you’d be if you took a few minutes every hour of the day to stop, breathe, stretch, perhaps eat, get some fresh air, or even connect back to the ones you love. In fact, this recovery time has been proven to increase our productivity, creativity, connection, and even intelligence. Mindful disengagement with our busy lives can prove to be extremely beneficial to our health and happiness. So next time you feel overwhelmed with the chaos of life, try one of these recovery tricks:

• Breathe deeply for a minute, pausing a few seconds to hold your breath on each inhale.

• Text a loved one for a “how’s the weather” check.

• Stand up and give yourself a full body stretch.

• Walk outside or walk the stairs to get the blood flowing.

• Designate a “no technology” time during the day to disconnect and reconnect with loved ones.

• If there’s time, do a quick workout—even a few squats and pushups makes a difference.

• Meditate or practice visualization.

When you get into the routine of mindful recovery, you’ll soon find the stressors of everyday life slowly lose their momentum and the most important things in life come to the forefront of your energy and attention…because it’s true, family comes first…right now.

Take a Break: The Myth of Productivity and “Busy-ness”

By Lauren Hodges, Ed.D. Owner, Executive Wellness Strategies

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On February 23, The Meatball Shoppe on Lake Underhill Road celebrated

their opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

With many hungry visitors in attendance, The Meatball Shoppe opened their doors and shared their story.

howing off the wall of family portraits that is located inside the restaurant, called the wall of fame, co-owners Isabella Morgia di Vicari and Jeff Morgia invited guest to join them in the parking lot to sample meatballs and enjoy conversation.

One thing that was immediately noticeable to everyone in attendance was the emphasis on a family atmosphere.

“We are all about family, I mean we both come from very large Italian families and it’s all about family, that’s what we live for and that’s what we do,” says Jeff Morgia.

Jeff and Isabella, who are husband and wife, have spent years in the food industry and have been influenced by family along the way.

“Isabella and I both have basically grown up in the restaurant business with restaurants, catering throughout the hotel industry and so forth,” says Morgia. “Her family owned six restaurants in Orlando over the years.”

While the family influence on her cooking is strong, Isabella also learned life lessons and values from her family.

“My father taught us the meaning of true famiglia and that you do for one another, you help one another no matter what, you stick together no matter what, you do not throw your family away no matter what,” says Morgia di Vicari.

These family values are evident through the ways in which The Meatball Shoppe operates and are what Jeff Morgia is most proud of.

“We have stayed true to our foundations and beliefs of operating a business and taking care of customers, as well as our staff,” says Morgia.

The small restaurant is operated by many of the same people that operate Isabella’s Bella Cucina. This is the reason behind the small, cozy atmosphere.

“The mission of Isabella’s Bella Cucina is

bringing the famiglia, our community, our corporation and America back to health at the table,” says Morgia di Vicari. “At the table is where it all begins and the table is where we build relationships and where we go back to our family roots and traditions.”

So far, the atmosphere and values have led to the growth of the business. Isabella would like to build off the success.

“If things continue like they are, we plan on, before the end of the year, opening up another Meatball Shoppe,” says Morgia di Vicari.

The Meatball Shoppe Celebrates Grand Opening at Lake Underhill Location By Ryan DiPentima

Nominations Begin May 1.

We will share the stories online and hold an online poll to

determine who has the best story. The winner will be announced

in our August Back to School issue.

Students must be in Pre K - 12th grade. Sponsorship opportunities are available. To learn more, call 407.382.5660.

________________

Jianna Simonet took home $500 just in time for back to school shopping last year.

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Insight Magazine - April 2015