Experiencing Christ’s Love Through Service

Giving of one’s time to help others most often results in a feeling of satisfaction and meaning. Adam Barcott, founding pastor of New City Church, is committed to providing service opportunities for those looking to make a difference. New City invites everyone to participate in the numerous service projects the church coordinates.

“Whether people attend our church or not, we want them to feel comfortable to serve with us,” Barcott said. “My goal is to give them the opportunity and steps to realize that quality of life is improved as you enter into a life of meaning, impact and community.”

Christ-centered and nondenominational, New City’s services are designed to be interactive, combining multimedia with sermons that are relatable to today’s world. The church meets Sundays at 6 p.m., and sermons also are available as podcasts via the church’s website.

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Eye Care Dedicated to Health & Comfort

Coming from a family of medical professionals, Amanda Stebbins, O.D., always knew she would follow the same career path. When it was time to choose a speciality, all she had to do was reflect back on a personal experience.

“I was blind as a bat,” Stebbins said, jokingly. “When my vision was first corrected, I remember the great feeling I had walking out of the office, and I wanted to do that for others.

Stebbins, who owns and operates The Spectacle Shoppe in the Rialto, graduated with honors from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C., and went on to earn her Doctorate of Optometry from the University of Alabama School of Optometry. She gained valuable experience during her internship in ocular disease and pathology at the Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Viera, Fla. Stebbins is board-certified in the treatment and management of ocular diseases, and is a member of several national and state optometric associations.

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Face-Off Against Cancer

Generally, October is the month when people “think pink.” However, here it is February, and a group of high school lacrosse players have not put away their pink socks, jerseys and laces — nor do they intend to for a long while.

Lax Bros Fightin’ 4 a Cure is the brainchild of three Olympia High School students with a mutual connection — each has dealt with the reality of a relative being diagnosed with cancer. Greg Ferone’s mother, Debbie; Bryce Frohlich’s mother, Leslie; and Nick Terlecki’s grandmother, Sandi Redmon, are all breast cancer survivors.

“You don’t really think about it until it happens in your family,” Greg said.

“My mom had cancer when I was in middle school, and it was really hard for her, because she couldn’t come to a lot of my activities,” Bryce added.

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Spring Lake Elementary

Spring Lake Elementary students Emily Arias, Byron Johnson, Carly Keen, Roberto Macareno, Ixcel Orozco, Ethan Pierce, Axel Rodriguez and Kaleb Shanaway displayed their artwork in the Principal’s Art Gallery, which was installed by art teacher Stephanie Miller in the school’s front office.

Olympia High

Olympia High’s PTSA is sponsoring the Upscale Vendor Market on Feb. 4 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Windermere Town Hall. A variety of vendors and home-based businesses will sell products and services, including jewelry, home décor, fashion accessories, stationery, personalized items, wedding planning, flower design and more. Proceeds from the event will benefit PTSA projects. For more information, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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Southwest Sports

Orlando Area Rowing Society earned two first-place and five second-place finishes to take home the All-Points Trophy at the fifth annual Head of the Giblet Regatta held at Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake. Congratulations to the gold-medal men’s Varsity 8 boat of Michael Caravello, coxswain; Max Carter; Justin Clonts; Ben Delaney;

Drew Dobson; Alex and Charlie Harding; Ryan Lansberry; and women’s Varsity 8 rower Christine Cavallo, who rowed with the men’s boat when one of the team members had to leave the regatta early. Congratulations also to the women’s Novice 8 team, which also placed first.

The Golden Bear Club at Keene’s Pointe and Keene’s Pointe Ladies Golf Association co-hosted their second annual golf tournament to benefit Women Playing for T.I.M.E. The event raised more than $24,000 for the organization, which supports cancer technology, immediate diagnosis, mammography and education.

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