“Crafting Kindness” Library Valentine Program
This Valentine’s season, the Osceola Library System is inviting community members to turn creativity into compassion through Crafting Kindness, a heartfelt program designed to spread joy to local seniors.
Crafting Kindness encourages patrons of all ages to create handmade Valentine’s Day cards that will be delivered to three local senior living facilities, including Amberlake Assisted Living, Windsor at Celebration Senior Living, and Providence Living at Hunter’s Creek.
Every card created will be shared with seniors in the community, helping to brighten their Valentine’s Day with a personal, handmade touch.
The Library will provide all crafting supplies; participants simply bring their creativity and a kind heart on these days: Wednesday, Feb. 4: Poinciana Library, 4:30-5:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Feb. 11: West Osceola Library, 4:30-5:30 p.m.; Friday, Feb. 13: Hart Memorial Library, 3:30-5 p.m.
“Programs like Crafting Kindness remind us that libraries are more than places to borrow books. Libraries are spaces where community, empathy, and connection are nurtured.” said Osceola Library Director Amy Jones.
2026 KUA Calendar of Energy Conservation now available
Kissimmee Utility Authority’ 2026 Calendar of Energy Conservation, the 32nd annual edition of its bilingual calendar in English and Spanish, featuring the winning entries from its 32nd annual student art contest, has been released, the utility announced Friday.
The free calendar is now available at the KUA customer service center at 1701 W. Carroll Street in Kissimmee. The calendar features 12 months of electrical safety tips and, incorporates the Osceola County School District calendar for convenient planning as 18 area elementary schools sent 1,748 art entries to be included.
The K-5 students used their art to promote energy conservation among students and their families. A panel of judges selected 12 entries—one for each calendar month—to be featured in the calendar.
They are: Holy Redeemer Catholic School—Maria Pirela (grand prize cover winner), Camila Torres, Emma Ramos, Shaira Nicole Cintron;
Osceola Science Charter School—Amina Adam, Andrea McGee, Krystal Montalto;
Oak Tree Christian Academy—Arianna Lee Gines;
Voyager K-8—Dylan Londoño;
Lakeview Elementary— Gretza Rivera- Roman;
Michigan Avenue Elementary—Liam Yafac Leon;
Flora Ridge Elementary— Sebastian Cuberos.
Sheriff’s Office implements service to curb false alarms
The Osceola County Sheriff ’s Office announced it has implemented an Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP) Service, a technology designed to automate alarm notifications in hopes of significantly reducing the burden on 911 telecommunicators by cutting down on automated false alarms.
According to OCSO and ASAP, at a rate of handling more than 12,000 alarm notifications in a year like 2025, the Sheriff ’s emergency communications center is expected to save telecommunicators between 33 and 133 hours monthly—time that can be redirected to higher-priority emergency calls.
“Our agency decided to implement ASAP Service to reduce the volume of alarm-related calls that must be handled manually by our telecommunicators,” Osceola County Sheriff Christopher A. Blackmon said.
“We are hoping this will help with false alarms,” said Sheriff’s spokesperson Capt. Kim Montes.
Typically, alarm notifications require multiple voice calls between ECC and alarm-monitoring center personnel to enable telecommunicators to capture the information needed to make dispatch decisions. Those interactions, company officials say, can. add an average of six to eight minutes to response time.
“Shifting alarm notifications to an automated system enables our telecommunicators to dedicate more of their time and attention to higher-priority emergency calls, ultimately improving overall operational efficiency and enhancing public safety within our community,” Blackmon said.
