Community members needed to listen

Safe School Healthy Students will host a teen summit at Osceola Heritage Park Tuesday.

During the day, teens will be taking part in break-out sessions and other activities.  Community Vision has partnered with the group on a number of successful efforts.

Between 3 and 4 p.m. that day, a student from each high school has been selected to talk to the community about what he or she is challenged by as a young person, the assets they possess and how the community might help.

“In this world full of noise, much of it negative chatter about gangs, drugs and teen pregnancy, we are asked to listen for just one hour. It is vitally important to Community Vision that these hand-picked students have people of stature and leadership ability there to hear what they have to say,” Donna Sines, executive director of Community Vision, stated in a press release.

The event will be at Osceola Heritage Park, Exposition Hall. Contact Donna Sines at dsines@communityvision.org to attend the student comment portion.

John Young Parkway project meeting to be May 26

The Florida Department of Transportation on Thursday, May 26, will hold a public information meeting about roadway design on John Young Parkway.

The project involves the widening of John Young Parkway from a four-lane divided roadway to a six-lane divided roadway from Portage Street to Vine Street (U.S. Highway 192), a distance of 1.37 miles. This project is partially funded for right of way acquisition in fiscal year 2011 of FDOT’s Work Program; however, construction is currently not funded.

The meeting will be at the Kissimmee Civic Center, 201 E. Dakin Ave., Kissimmee, beginning at 5 p.m. with an open house. A presentation will be given beginning at 6 p.m., and the meeting will adjourn at 7 p.m. This project is currently in the design phase and this meeting serves as input for design.

Persons who require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or persons who require translation services should contact Rebecca Zawadski of Ghyabi & Associates at 386-677-5499, at least seven days prior to the public meeting.

You also may view project information at www.cflroads.com.

Public hearing for Triple N Ranch WMA plan is May 19

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will hold a public hearing for the Triple N Ranch Wildlife Management Area Management Plan from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, May 19, at the Osceola County Commission Chambers, 1 Courthouse Square, Room 4100, Kissimmee.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive public comment on a draft of a 10-year management plan the agency is developing for the Triple N Ranch Wildlife Management Area in Osceola County. Components of the draft management plan will be presented to the public, followed by a question-and-answer session and public testimony.

A management prospectus for the area is available upon request from the agency’s Conservation Acquisition and Planning group. Call David Alden at 850-487-9588, or Larame Ferry at 850-487-9102, or email to Larame.Ferry@MyFWC.com for the prospectus.

For more information, go to MyFWC.com/Conservation and click on “Terrestrial Programs.”

Poinciana Boulevard second phase opened

The second phase of the Poinciana Boulevard road widening project was officially opened on April 26 with a ceremony at the southeast corner of the intersection of Poinciana Boulevard and Trafalgar Boulevard.

“It is a great honor to be able to complete this improvement that will make driving safer and  provide  more economic opportunities for the residents and businesses,” Osceola County Commission Chairman Brandon Arrington said. “However, we must continue to seek the necessary funding for the additional two phases, which  are still  two lanes.”

The length of this phase was approximately 2.6 miles and included the reconstruction of the two-lane rural roadway to a four-lane urban divided facility with four 12-foot lanes. It also included two, four-foot bike lanes,  five-foot-wide sidewalks and  a median within a right of way of 200  feet.

The project  was completed in February at a cost of $ 21 million. The Color Guard of the Veterans Club of Solivita in Poinciana participated with a flag ceremony and the “Pledge of Allegiance.”

Reedy Creek Bridge work planned on Interstate 4

The Florida Department of Transportation is beginning traffic pacing operations on Interstate 4 over the Reedy Creek Bridge, near Celebration.

The operation will be on the following dates from 1 to 5 a.m.: May 16-18, eastbound; May 19-20, westbound.

The traffic pacing operations will slow traffic to low speeds and allow the contractor time to jack crutch bents (bridge supports) into place. It is part of a larger project designed to rehabilitate the bridge to prolong its useful life and improve safety.

The Lane Construction Corp. is performing the work. The total project will last approximately 300 calendar days, weather permitting, and the project began Aug. 2. The project cost is $4.37 million.

Traffic delays will occur as a result of the work to be completed. Motorists should be alert for law enforcement vehicles, construction personnel and equipment along the construction corridor.

Motorists are urged to use caution and drive with care.

Lake cleanup competition Saturday

The city of Kissimmee Parks and Recreation Department will host a Lake Tohopekaliga cleanup competition Saturday.

Residents and businesses are encouraged to form a team and assist with collecting trash at the lakefront. Registration of teams begins at 8 a.m. and the cleanup gets under way at 8:30 a.m. Registration is open to the first 150 volunteers and will be at the historical Community House at 300 Monument Ave., Kissimmee.

Breakfast will be provided at no charge by Signature by the Lake and the event will wrap up at noon.

Teams will consist of six people: four will be in two canoes, provided by the city, while the other two team members collect debris along the shoreline. Prizes will be awarded to the team that collects the most garbage.

This community cleanup day is a result of the $1,000 stimulus check the city received from Reader’s Digest. The magazine recognized the city in January, during its 100 Cities in 100 Days RV tour.

For more information or to register a team, call the Parks and Recreation Department at 407-518-2340.

Fire at Kissimmee business Monday

The Kissimmee Fire Department responded to a structure fire at Masterpiece Custom Cabinetry on Grissom Lane just after 10 a.m. on Monday.

The state Fire Marshal’s Office determined the flames originated in a rear corner of the building. The fire was controlled by a sprinkler head dousing the flames until firefighters could extinguish it, according to a city press release.

“This serves as a reminder why installing a sprinkler system is a worthwhile investment for protecting a home or business from major fire damage,” Fire Chief Bob King said.

The cause of fire is considered to be accidental. The city’s fire and building inspectors also responded to the scene.

The property has since been turned over to the owner.

For more information, call the Kissimmee Fire and Life Safety Hotline at 407-518-2585 or visit the city’s website at www.kissimmee.org.

New candidate in Kissimmee race

Hector Rodriguez, 2675 Forest View Lane, Kissimmee, has filed to run for Kissimmee City Commission seat 3.

Rodriguez will compete against candidates Jaime Matos and Druvonda Woods, who had already filed to run for the seat currently occupied by Commissioner Jerry Gemskie. Gemskie cannot run again due to term limits. Commissioners can serve two four-year terms.

The race is non-partisan and candidates run citywide.