Osceola County to break ground for new parking garage

Osceola County commissioners, along with county staff, will host a groundbreaking ceremony at 1 p.m. Monday to mark the start of the Courthouse Square parking garage construction project.

Work on the parking garage will begin later in the month, with a budget of approximately $15 million. The garage will have approximately 800 parking spaces and will be built directly east of the existing county Administration Building. The precast concrete garage will be eight stories high.

The garage is designed to accommodate future flex space on the ground floor and will have many similar architectural features as the adjacent county buildings, according to a county press release. For example, the building façade will include red brick and precast stone elements to blend with the rest of the complex.

“I am pleased that we are moving forward on this project, as it is a much-needed improvement for all those visiting the courts and county facilities downtown,” County Commission Chairman Brandon Arrington said. “This parking garage will also serve to make available more on-street parking for surrounding businesses and create a future parking spot for SunRail commuters.”

The project architect/engineer is Heery International, of Orlando. The civil engineer for the project is Hanson, Walter & Associates, Kissimmee, while the construction manager will be Manhattan Kraft Construction, Kissimmee.

The parking garage construction will employ hundreds of workers in various trades over the course of the project, company officials said.

The groundbreaking will take place at 521 Bryan St., behind the Administration Building. For more information, contact the Osceola County Community Outreach/Public Information Office at 407-742-0101.

Due to recent rainfall that has reduced wildfire danger, the South Florida Water Management District is once again allowing the careful building of campfires in designated areas on certain district lands open for recreation.

The action follows the July 7 lifting of a similar ban on campfires in state forests by the Florida Division of Forestry.

While conditions have improved, regional water levels will need time and significant rainfall to recover from a record drought.

The district, which includes Osceola County, continues to ask residents and businesses to conserve water and follow landscape irrigation restrictions to stretch and protect the public water supply.

For water saving tips, visit www.savewaterfl.com.

Tourist taxes up 7.7 percent so far this year

Osceola County tourist development tax revenue eight months into the 2010-11 fiscal year is running 7.7 percent ahead of the same period for last year, according to the latest report from the Osceola County Tax Collector.

The year to date total was helped by May revenue, which was up 10.2 percent compared to May of last year – $2.42 million compared to $2.22 million. Year to date revenue was $21.63 million.

Business sectors collecting the tourist tax and the percentage of the total collected by this sector in May was: hotels and motels, 60.8; vacation homes, 33.6; timeshares, 4.5; and RV parks and campgrounds, 1.

The hotel/motel occupancy rate (excluding Disney resorts) for May was up 10.9 percent compared to the prior year – 50.7 percent versus 45.7 percent. The average daily room rate was up by 4 percent for May as well – $70.39 this year versus $67.71 last year.

The county’s fiscal year runs Oct. 1 to Sept. 30. The 6 percent tourist development tax is collected on overnight stays of 180 days or less.

School lunch prices to go up a nickel

The Osceola County School Board recently voted to raise the paid school lunch price by 5 cents for the 2011-12 school year.

As a result, the full-pay lunch prices will be $2.15 for elementary and middle school students and $2.40 for high school students.

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 requires school districts participating in the National School Lunch Program to ensure that schools are providing the same level of support for lunches served to paying students as they are for lunches served to students eligible for free lunches. This provision became effective July 1.

To comply with the provision, the district had to compare the average price for paid lunches at all of its schools to the difference between the per meal federal reimbursement for free and paid lunches. If a district’s average paid lunch price is less than the difference between the federal free and federal paid meal reimbursements, it must increase the average paid lunch price. The maximum required annual average paid lunch price increase is capped at 10 cents.

The last time the Osceola County School District raised student lunch prices was in 2009.

New candidate in Kissimmee seat 3 race

The 2012 Kissimmee City Commission seat 3 race now has four candidates; with Debra L. Rosado, of 2962 White Cedar Circle, as the latest addition to the nonpartisan contest.

Other candidates who filed earlier are Jaime Matos, Hector Rodriguez and Druvonda Woods. Matos ran unsuccessfully for the seat in 2008 against Jerry Gemski, who is terming out and who is running for an Osceola County Commission seat.

The first municipal election will coincide with the 2012 August state primary, with a run-off the following November on Election Day if no single candidate garners more than 50 percent of the vote. Candidates run citywide.

Democrat files for tax collector

The first person to file against incumbent Republican Patsy Heffner for Osceola County tax collector in the 2012 county election is Democrat Romuald Jose Leydon, of 1425 Sophie Way, Kissimmee.

Heffner ran unopposed in 2008.

Alvarez files for seat 1 in Kissimmee

Jose Alvarez, of 1633 Windsor Court, Kissimmee, has filed to run for seat 1 in the 2012 city of Kissimmee nonpartisan municipal election.

The other candidate in the race is John Cortes, of 216 Old Mill Circle. Cortes in 2008 ran unsuccessfully for seat 5 (mayor). Art Otero, who holds seat 1 now, is running for mayor.

Redistricting regional meeting

The Florida House and Senate redistricting committees will hold public meetings in Orlando at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center, 401 W. Livingston St., from 2-4 p.m. and from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday.

These meetings will give the public an opportunity to start the conversation about redistricting and share their ideas directly with Florida legislators.

For more information on redistricting efforts, visit floridaredistricting.org.

Harford to hold community meeting

Osceola County Commissioner Michael Harford at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday will host a Neighbor to Neighbor Community Conversation meeting at the Wellington Woods Apartments clubhouse to discuss projects, updates and to answer questions residents may have.

Scheduled topics include library programs and services; parks services and activities, human services, housing, social and veterans services, among others.

“My goal with our Neighbor to Neighbor Community Conversation is to identify our common needs and services for our neighborhoods and community throughout district 1,” Harford said.

The clubhouse is at 4100 Wellington Woods Circle, Kissimmee. For more information, contact the Osceola County Community Outreach/Public Information Office at 407-742-0100.

Explorers receive top honors at recent competition

Two teams from Osceola County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Post 816 recently competed in the State Delegates Competitions in Broward County and took top honors in two of the events.

In the competition, which was hosted by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, Explorer Maj. Kimberly Zsuffa placed first and Capt. Zach Truchly took third in the sharpshooter competition. Zsuffa, Truchly and Lt. Sean Salazar were named the overall high team.

Other awards included third place for domestic violence and third place for crisis intervention. In addition, Zsuffa was honored as the Regional Explorer of the Year and received a scholarship. At least 14 teams from agencies in Florida competed in the competition.

“The Explorers Program supports youth by building character, increasing self esteem, reinforcing positive behavior and encouraging teamwork. It gives teens an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the law enforcement profession while providing valuable community service. We are proud of our Explorers’ recent accomplishments and applaud their success,” Sheriff Bob Hansell said in a press release.

Hospital update set for Thursday

Kathryn Gillette, CEO of the Osceola Regional Medical Center, at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Association of Poinciana Villages Community Center, 395 Marigold Ave., will present an update on the proposed Poinciana Hospital.

The site for the planned hospital is adjacent to the Marketplace and in front of Solivita.

FWC again allowing campfires in managed areas

Because recent rains improved dry conditions across the state, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, in cooperation with the Florida Division of Forestry, has rescinded an executive order that prohibited campfires in wildlife management areas, wildlife and environmental areas and all other lands it manages.

Campfires are again allowed in designated areas. For rules and regulations pertaining to individual wildlife management areas, visit MyFWC.com/Hunting and click on “WMA brochures”.

While the campfires are allowed, the commission reminds everyone how important it is to properly manage any campfire to ensure it is under control and completely extinguished when done.

Student fashion show set for July 30

The International Academy of Design & Technology Orlando at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 30, will present its fifth annual student fashion show at Kissimmee Air Museum.

Against a backdrop of vintage aircraft, the show runway will feature garments designed and constructed by students receiving a bachelor of fine arts degree in fashion design and merchandising from the academy.

Guests will experience a patriotic celebration of American fashions for the fall/winter 2011-12 season. The romance of vintage travel will be seen in day, club, cocktail and evening wear designs. Students also will compete in a designer challenge judged by guest industry professionals. The two-week-long competition will require students to test their creativity while incorporating the nostalgia of the event.

At the conclusion of the show, six awards will be presented to participating designers, including best in show, most marketable collection, and most innovative design.

A portion of the proceeds from event ticket sales will be donated to the Jacksonville-based Wounded Warrior Project. The objective is to raise awareness and funds in support of the charity’s efforts to help injured servicemen and women.

All aspects of the show from planning and marketing to behind-the-scenes production involve students, Sharon Smith, department chair for fashion design and merchandising, said.

“For students exhibiting collections, this is a fabulous opportunity to showcase their talent to the local community, while further developing their fashion design and garment construction skills,” Smith said.

Professional runway models from Benz Modeling Agency will wear the student designs. Hair and makeup for the models will feature finger waves and vintage-inspired styles of the 1940s created by Aveda Institute Orlando.

The Kissimmee Air Museum is at 233 N. Hoagland Blvd., Kissimmee. The event starts at 6:30 p.m., doors open at 7 p.m., and the fashion runway show starts at 8 p.m.

Tickets for the show are available from http://imagine2011orlando.eventbrite.com/ or from the International Academy of Design & Technology bookstore. Tickets can be purchased at the door as available for $20.