Neighborhood News – August 18, 2016

compiled by Lauren Salinero


Dr. Phillips

081816iyn01ShuffieldLowman & Wilson PA attorney Stephanie Cook is named a Legal Elite Up & Comer by Florida Trend magazine.

Florida Trend magazine staff members collect ballots from Florida Bar members, asking lawyers to name attorneys whom they hold in the highest regard and would recommend to others, publishing the results as the Legal Elite. A special under-40-year-old distinction of Legal Elite Up & Comer was given to Dr. Phillips resident Stephanie Cook, attorney at ShuffieldLowman & Wilson PA. Stephanie practices in commercial and fiduciary litigation.


Windermere

081816iyn02Alain Labrecque of Windermere joins the team at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney Resort as director of tennis.

Windermere resident Alain Labrecque accepted the position of director of tennis at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort. He brings more than 28 years of experience and enthusiasm. Alain is responsible for overseeing the resort’s tennis facilities and coordinating a variety of instructional and fun guest programs and activities, ranging from private lessons to clinics for all ages and skill levels. He holds a U.S. Professional Tennis Association certification and Tennis Canada Level 1 certificate, and is also a badminton and squash instructor. He has traveled extensively and, in addition to the U.S., has worked in the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Malaysia, St. Martin and Switzerland. Alain’s professional experience also includes 14 years as a physical education teacher at a private school in Versoix, Switzerland. While he’s lived in seven different countries, Alain can’t stand winter and is enjoying the year-round warmth of the Sunshine State.


081816iyn03Florida League of Cities representative Rebecca OHara presents a 2016 Home Rule Hero Award to Windermere Mayor Gary Bruhn.

Windermere Mayor Gary Bruhn was recognized by the Florida League of Cities with a 2016 Home Rule Hero Award. Mayor Bruhn earned the honor through his tireless efforts to advance the league’s legislative agenda and help protect the home rule powers of Florida’s cities during the 2016 legislative session. Home Rule Hero Award recipients are local governmental officials, both elected and nonelected, who consistently responded to the league’s request to reach out to members of the legislature and help give a local perspective to an issue. Mayor Bruhn is serving his seventh term as mayor. This is his third year in a row to win the award, and his fourth year since the award’s inaugural year in 2009.


Winter Garden

Winter Garden resident John Scott, a master’s student in the Global Field Program from Miami University’s Project Dragonfly, traveled to Baja California, Mexico, to study desert and marine landscapes through ecological and social field methods. Since the program began 12 years ago, Project Dragonfly’s Earth Expeditions graduate courses, on which the master’s programs are based, have engaged more than 1,700 people in firsthand educational and scientific research at critical conservation field sites in Africa, Asia, Australia and the Americas.


Et Al

Congratulations to the following Southwest-area residents on their recent academic achievements:

MetroWest resident Alexandra Beecher, a marketing major, was named to Georgia Southern University’s 2016 spring semester president’s list.

Winter Garden resident Sarah Chapman graduated from Miami University with a Bachelor of Science in engineering with a major in mechanical engineering.

Mark Chironna of Dr. Phillips earned a Doctor of Ministry at George Fox University.

Arin Crowell of Windermere graduated cum laude from State University of New York at Oswego with a baccalaureate in adolescence education.

• The following students earned the 2016 spring semester dean’s list at their respective schools: Ocoee resident Emily Galbraith and MetroWest resident Anastasia Remoundos, Ithaca College; MetroWest resident John HattonMiller, Quinnipiac University; Windermere resident Carla Lima, Ocoee residents Jennifer McDonald and Jambvant Ramoutar, Winter Garden residents Jacquelyn Reynolds and Jose Rivera, and MetroWest resident Tiffany Taylor, Columbia College; MetroWest resident Kevin Spehar, Washington University in St. Louis; MetroWest resident Jonathan Sundstrom, Coker College; Celebration resident Jamie Moran and Southwest resident Katherine Triolo, Saint Mary’s College; and Ocoee resident Brittany Wendzel, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Deidre Persaud of Gotha graduated with a Doctor of Pharmacy from Fairleigh Dickinson University — College at Florham, located in Madison, New Jersey.

Vanessa Pierre of Winter Garden graduated with distinction from University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts in classical languages. She was also named to the 2016 spring semester dean’s list.

081816iyn04Michael Frohnappel of Southwest Orlando becomes a principal at Baker Barrios Architects.

Representatives of Baker Barrios Architects announced the appointment of industry-leading design expert and Southwest resident Michael Frohnappel as a principal for the company. Michael will oversee the company’s hospitality practice and lead expansion initiatives to introduce a new entertainment studio in an effort to support external growth opportunities with theme parks, destination entertainment districts and resorts, and major branded attractions worldwide. He holds a bachelor’s in architecture and is an active member of the American Institute of Architects, National Council Architectural Registration Boards, Themed Entertainment Association, and International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.


081816iyn05Rotary District 6980 Gov. Dan Semenza (right) and his wife, past Rotary District Gov. Jo (left), speak at a Rotary Club of Lake Buena Vista meeting. They are joined by club President Jean Campana.

Rotary District 6980 Gov. Dan Semenza and his wife, Jo, who is a former district governor, visited the Rotary Club of Lake Buena Vista. Dan presented an uplifting report about Rotary International’s efforts to eliminate polio worldwide. The organization continues to make strides to conquer the dreaded disease.


081816iyn06Congressman Daniel Webster discusses his role as a congressman with Windermere Boy Scout Troop 225.


081816iyn07Southwest resident Anthony Velardi (back, far left) graduates from the Public Allies of Central Florida program.

The Public Allies of Central Florida Class of 2016 held a graduation ceremony at the Orlando Science Center. A program of AmeriCorp, Public Allies offers leadership development to young adults through a 10-month paid apprenticeship, during which the allies work on special projects with local nonprofit organizations and governmental entities. Among the graduates was Southwest resident Anthony Velardi. The ceremony featured keynote speaker Falecia Williams, doctor of education and president of Valencia College’s West Campus, and included a $5,000 scholarship fund presentation to Parramore Kidz Zone. The majority of the funds donated were raised by young adults in the Public Allies program, many of whom grew up in low-income areas.


081816iyn08Angi Perretti of Southwest Orlando hopes to inspire creativity and goodwill with her new book, The Identity of AngiArts.

Southwest resident and author Angi Perretti held a book signing at Eola House at Lake Eola Park to promote her new book, The Identity of AngiArts. The story features a time-traveling art zealot with super powers from the art gods who delivers joy and goodwill to all people during the third millennium. Through her book, Angi hopes to rally the arts and inspire readers to explore their own creative imaginations and live the best versions of themselves every day. For more information, visit www.angiarts.com on the web.


081816iyn09(L. to r.) Jose Arias, M.D., receives a Paul Harris Fellow award from Rotary Club of Dr. Phillips former President RuthAnn Di Lauri and Foundation Chairman Dave Lehman.

Paul Harris Fellowship contributions support Rotary International programs providing educational opportunities, food, potable water, health care, immunizations and shelter for millions of people around the world. Jose Arias, M.D., of the Rotary Club of Dr. Phillips received a Paul Harris Fellow award because of his special donation toward Rotary Foundation and the ways in which his life exemplifies the humanitarian and educational objectives of the Rotary Foundation.

Although we try to ensure that all information presented above is the most current, correct and dependable available, we do rely on others for the source of our news. Therefore, the Southwest Orlando Bulletin and Kearney Publishing Corp. cannot be held responsible for the validity of the information presented here, nor does mentioning it constitute an endorsement. In Your Neighborhood news is welcome and may be mailed to P.O. Box 851, Windermere, FL  34786; or emailed to Lauren@kearneypublishing.com.💓