Airport business to host free community event for youth

Kissimmee Gateway Airport Monday announced that its airport business, Orlando-Gateway Sport Pilot Flight Training Center, will host an Experimental Aircraft Association Young Eagles Flight Rally through the Kissimmee association chapter on Saturday, Nov. 6.

The rally will feature free flights for aviation enthusiasts 8 to 17 years old, a continental breakfast, flight simulators, a static display of T-6 Texan Warbirds and more.

“Our goal is to provide young people with an educational opportunity to explore the field of aviation,” Stephen Gatlin, president of the Kissimmee association chapter, said.  “This rally will allow a new generation of aviation enthusiasts to experience interactive aircraft displays, speak with pilots and learn what it’s like to fly.”

Participants who experience a flight will receive certificates verifying their official status as an Experimental Aircraft Association Young Eagle, and their names will be entered into the “World’s Largest Logbook,” displayed at the association’s Air Adventure Museum in Oshkosh, Wis. Participants also will receive their own pilot logbook signed by their pilot and a certificate valid for a free online Private Pilot ground school program.

Registration is from 8 to 10 a.m. with flights commencing at 8:30 a.m. at Orlando-Gateway Sport Pilot Flight Training Center, 3956 Merlin Drive, Hangar 4.  The event is open to the public.

For more information or to pre register, e-mail eaa1496@smartcity.net or contact the training center at 407-432-6156. For more information about the Young Eagles Flight Rally and the Young Eagles program, visit www.eaa.org or www.youngeagles.com.

Participating in food program

Sunflower Day Care Center, 110 Michelle Lane, Kissimmee, is now participating in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Child Care Food Program, which reimburses child care providers for serving nutritious meals and snacks at no additional charge to enrolled, eligible children.

Kissimmee has artists program

The city of Kissimmee is seeking local artists to participate in the city’s Call for Artists program.

Through the program, artists agree to display their artwork in Kissimmee City Hall for three months. The display periods are: November to January; February to April; May to July; and August to November.

The artwork will be available for public viewing Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Five artists will be selected to showcase their work for each quarter.

Interested artists can contact Desiree Matthews in the city manager’s office at 407-518-2300.

Playground in Poinciana to open Thursday

The Polk County Parks and Recreation Division Thursday will open a new playground in Poinciana on a 1.6-acre parcel donation by Avatar Properties.

The dual-age modular playground is at the corner of Halibut Road and Mackerel Road in Village 4.

The playground for children from 2 to 5 years old has wave, cloverleaf and toad stool climbers, plus a little foot and curved zip slides. Among the features included in the playground for 5 to 12 year-olds are loop ladders, a spiral slide with hood, a schooner and tree climber.

Polk County invested approximately $90,000 for site preparation and purchase of playground equipment, and will enter into a maintenance agreement with the Association of Poinciana Villages for the day-to-day upkeep of the playground.

Workforce job fair to be Nov. 1

Workforce Central Florida will present a Professional Power Seeker Workshop as part of its Veteran’s Day Job Fair from 10 a.m. to noon Monday, Nov. 1. The job fair runs from 12:30 to 4 p.m.

The workshop and job fair will be at the Florida Hotel and Conference Center, 1500 Sand Lake Road, Orlando

This career enhancement seminar will explore resúmé tips and tricks, interviewing, networking, creating a digital footprint and job-hunting strategies. There is no cost to participate.

Job seekers who attend the workshop as well as veterans will receive priority admission into the job fair, immediately following the workshop. You must sign in and stay for the entire presentation to receive priority admission.

Reservations for the workshop are required and space is limited. To register, call Vernique Dillon at 407-531-1222, Ext. 2024.

There is no registration necessary for the job fair.

For more information, visit www.WorkforceCentralFlorida.com.

Ribbon-cutting for business incubator

The city of Kissimmee, Osceola County, the Kissimmee Community Redevelopment Agency and University of Central Florida Business Incubator will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at City Centre, 111 E. Monument Ave., Suite 401, in downtown Kissimmee.

The community is invited to attend the ribbon-cutting and tour the facility following the ceremony. Refreshments will be served.

Business training session offered

Osceola County School District’s Purchasing Department will host a training session on how to do business with the district from 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday in the Media and Instructional Technology Training Room 1, 817 Bill Beck Blvd., Building 2000, in Kissimmee.

The session will provide an informative overview of VendorLink, the district's new, automated online solicitation notification system. Attendees will also learn about the district's solicitation process, obtain assistance with the new online registration process and receive answers to questions about specific commodities and services that the district procures.

Call the Purchasing Department at 407-870-4630 for more information and to RSVP for this event.

Family Halloween event Friday at Babb Landing

Babb Landing at the Shingle Creek Regional Park will be the site from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday for a free family-friendly event filled with good, old-fashioned fun.

Plans include a horse-drawn wagon ride, re-enactors, storytelling, a bluegrass music concert and a campfire for roasting marshmallows.

The landing is at 2491 Babb Road, one mile north of West U.S. Highway 192.

For more information, contact the Osceola County Historical Society at 407-396-8644.

Open house for nonprofit

Vocational Perspective of the Westcoast, a nonprofit that has opened an office at 916 Mabbette St., Kissimmee, will host a grand opening and open house beginning at 4 p.m. Thursday.

Amy Campbell, executive director, said the nonprofit specializes in vocational evaluation services.

Working in collaboration with state, local and private agencies, the nonprofit evaluates educational and vocational needs through the administration of vocational and career guidance testing to individuals with varied disabling conditions, Campbell stated in a press release.

Guests being invited to the open house include public officials, business leaders, community activists, Osceola County School Board officials, state educational officials and local businesses.

The ribbon-cutting will be at 4 p.m. followed by the open house from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. There will be a meet-and-greet and live music by the group Quintessence, playing jazz, rhythm and blues, soul and pop, hors d’oeuvres and a complimentary glass of wine. The gala also also will have raffles and door prizes.

For information about the event, call 888-448-9222 or e-mail vpitesting@aol.com.

Hawkins to hold town hall meeting

Osceola County Commission Chairman Fred Hawkins Jr. will host a town hall meeting for residents of commission district 5 at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4, at the Harmony Golf Clubhouse banquet room, 7251 Five Oaks Drive, Harmony.

The event starts at 6:30 p.m. and will continue until all questions have been answered. Residents are welcome to attend to discuss county projects and issues and to hear about updates on county operations.

“My commitment is to the citizens of Osceola County and keeping them informed on what their county government is doing,” Hawkins said in a press release. “I can think of no better way to gauge their opinions and needs than to meet with citizens face to face in a setting designed for friendly, informative interaction. Town hall meetings like this keep government accessible, which has always been a commitment of mine.”

For more information, contact the Osceola County Public Information Office at 407-742-0100.