Woods files for city election

Druvonda Woods last week filed to run for seat 3 in the 2012 non-partisan city of Kissimmee Commission election.

Woods joins Jaime Matos, who announced his bid for the seat earlier. Jerry Gemskie, who will not seek re-election due to term limits, currently holds the office and is running for the district 1 Osceola County Commission seat.

Burn ban lifted

The Kissimmee Fire Department earlier this week announced that the immediate threat of wildfires is reduced due to warmer weather and recent rainfall and that the burn ban in Kissimmee had been lifted.

KFD reminds residents to keep vegetation cut back at least 30 feet from their homes and property to reduce potential hazards from wildfires. Most wildfires occur near the urban interface, which is the zone of transition between unoccupied land and human development.

“KFD and the Division of Forestry will continue to monitor conditions in accordance with the burn ban ordinance and further bans may be necessary based on the vegetation and drought index,” Kissimmee Fire Chief Bob King said in a press release.

The burn ban has been lifted, but there is still a potential for wildfires to occur. Residents are asked to be aware of the ground conditions in the area where they are burning and burn only vegetative yard waste. Residents are encouraged to dispose of all yard waste through their solid waste provider.

For more information about fire safety, or if you are a city resident interested in a free smoke alarm or replacement battery, contact the city’s Fire and Life Safety Hotline at 407-518-2585 or send an e-mail to LifeSafety@kissimmee.org.

City lowers rates for summer camp

The city of Kissimmee Parks and Recreation Department has reduced its summer camp rates by nearly 20 percent for the upcoming summer.

Camp Discovery (kindergarten through fifth grade) will be $70 per week and Teen Extreme (sixth through eighth grade) will be $80 per week.

Camps are Monday through Friday for 10 weeks. A $10 deposit per child is required to reserve a space in the camp each week. The remaining balance must be received by the payment due date to confirm enrollment. It is highly recommended to reserve a spot early since space is limited.

Registration for Camp Discovery and Teen Extreme Summer Camps begins Monday, March 28. Registration is accepted at the Oak Street Park Community Center, 717 N. Palm Ave., Kissimmee, or online at www.kissimmeeparks.org.

Camp Discovery locations include: Denn John Middle School and Kissimmee Elementary School. Teen Extreme Camp will be at Kissimmee Middle School.

For more information, call 407-847-2388.

Tom White on water authority board

Tom White, community president of the Central Florida Region of CenterState Bank of Florida, was recently appointed to the board of supervisors of Toho Water Authority by the city of Kissimmee Commission.

White replaced charter member James Wells Jr. White’s term will run through Sept. 30, 2013.

White graduated from the University of Central Florida in 1977 with a business degree in marketing. He also graduated from the School of Banking of the South at Louisiana State University in 1983.

White started his career in banking in 1977 with Flagship Bank of Florida. In 1987, White and several other local business partners started the independent First National Bank of Osceola County with White as president and CEO. First National Bank of Osceola County went public in 2000 as part of the CenterState Banks of Florida Holding Company.

In charge of six offices in Osceola and Orange counties, White is a former chairman

of the Kissimmee/Osceola Chamber of Commerce, Osceola United Way and Junior Achievement. He is currently serving on the board of Osceola Center for the Arts, Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce and is the chairman of Team Osceola, a liaison to the Metro Economic Development Council. He also is a member of Kissimmee Bay Rotary Club.

OSCAR to present forum April 21

The Osceola County Association of Realtors, or OSCAR, will host an International Alliance Forum for its members and their guests from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, April 21, at the OSCAR Auditorium, 1105 Shady Lane, Kissimmee.

Speakers for the event will include Carlos Fuentes and Dave Garrison. Fuentes, from Lutz and a commercial realtor, has received many national and international awards dating back to 2003.

Garrison, the vice president of finance and internal operations for Florida Realtors Association, is responsible for the management of financial activities, investment portfolio, physical assets and risk management for the association.

“We are extremely thrilled to have two highly qualified and respected gentlemen from the real estate industry speaking at our event,” Carol Platt, OSCAR’s association executive, said.

This event is free to OSCAR members and they are permitted to bring one guest; non-members must pay a $35 fee. To register, visit www.osceolarealtors.org or call 407-846-0117.