Earth – the stormy frontier?

Fifth-grade science is pretty turbulent these days.

Hurricanes, typhoons, monster storms – they’re all part of a new curriculum unit on water cycles for fifth-graders. Wekiva Elementary science lab teacher Julie Gabrovic recently debuted the program for her pupils at the planetarium at Seminole State College.

Developed in partnership with Derek Demeter, director of the Seminole State College Planetarium and Holli Riebeek, Sigma Space NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Earth Observatory/Terra Education & Public Outreach, it is intended to be implemented statewide as part of the elementary science curriculum.

As part of the program, Gabrovic and Demeter spent a week at the Goddard Space Center in Maryland. Their stay was funded through NASA’s Terra Mission, which emphasizes collaboration between educators and planetariums.

The Terra Mission relies on Terra, a satellite launched in 1999 to study how different parts of the Earth work together to create an overall system.

Want to see some of that the students experienced? Check out Gabrovic’s Planetarium Project page.

SunRail Groundbreaking

Great turnout this morning for the SunRail groundbreaking in Altamonte Springs. The Sentinel estimated the crowd at about 500. I’ll let them tell you about the event – click that link to read the article – and I’ll show you some photos.

Altamonte Mayor Pat Bates was there (that’s her in the pic below – scroll down, okay? – with State Sen. David Simmons and Altamonte City Commissioner Gardner Hussey) along with County Commission Chair Brenda Carey, Commissioner Carlton Henley (that’s him at the microphone), Longwood Mayor Joe Durso, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs.

Congressional reps and political opposites John Mica and Corrine Brown not only worked on the rail project together for years, they sat next to each other and shared speaking duties. That photo and many others will be on our website soon, so check ’em out! And by the way, check out our virtual magazine too!

Here Comes the Train

Don't miss the ground-breaking ceremony for SunRail this Friday -- a major milestone in the long and winding track SunRail has traveled so far.

It'll be a while (2014, by state DOT's estimates) before we can buy tickets to ride, even on the first segment of the project, but we can see shovels go into the ground this week. Some 200 people have already RSVP'd , per DOT Public Info Officer Steve Olson.

A who's who of regional dignitaries will also be there, including Altamonte Springs city officials, Carlton Henley and others from the Seminole County Commission, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, U.S. Reps. John Mica Corrinne Brown, Florida Transportation Secretary Ananth Prasad and officials from counties along the route from Volusia to Osceola.

Here are the basics:

• When: 10 a.m.
• Where: Future home of the Altamonte Springs SunRail station, corner of State Road 436 and Ronald Reagan Boulevard
  
• RSVP: 407-487-4035

Check out the invitation/image for additional details, including driving directions, or view it here on SunRail's website.

MLK parade in Sanford

Behind the scenes this morning as marchers lined up for the MLK Day parade in Sanford:

From AmvetsPost 17, Mary Hayes and James Melton:

Showing the flag!

Supervisor of Elections Michael Ertel with Voter Outreach Manager Joe Culotta.

Yay for Midway Elementary!



Bundle up, it's chilly!

SOE Michael Ertel with the Seminole Democrats' Black Caucus:

Gourmet on wheels

The latest gastronomic trend recently rolled into Lake Mary, at least for a trial run: food trucks.

Shortly before Christmas, a collection of culinary coaches opened their windows and offered their wares in the city’s downtown park. Decising what to eat was no easy task (below).

Among the vendors was Bryce Balluff of Fork in the Road. The classically trained chef – he studied at the French Culinary Institute and has worked in some of the finest kitchens from New York to south Florida – is shown (up top) with one of his creations: truffle mac-n-cheese on a stick. Big hit with the dining public.

Other participants included Kona Dog and Baxter and Tilly’s Cafe on Wheels.

Is Lake Mary ready for regular occurrences of the gastro-sensation that draws fervent crowds in Apopka, Maitland, Winter Park, the UCF area and elsewhere?

Bob Jones, one of the founders of the Florida Food Truck Association, is working on that. His group is negotiating with the city for a monthly event, possibly on a Sunday. It would be family-friendly, he says, and might include a band or a movie.

That’s Bob on the left with Keri Ureski, Jimmy Nelson and Bonnie Lease of the Nubu truck. And notice the TV screens in the side of the vehicle – local businesses were offered the chance to have their ads displayed during the event.

Sanford also is expected to get a taste of food truck mania on Jan. 7. Watch our Lake Mary Health & Wellness Facebook page for details.

Happy Holidays!

From all of us (and a friend) at Topper Publications!

Heathrow Women’s Club in the Holiday Spirit

If holiday treats and gift-giving can’t get you in a festive mood, I don’t know what can. Maybe a chorus -- like this one from Seminole High School, under the direction of Bob Maguire.

The Heathrow Women's Club held its annual holiday get-together recently at Heathrow Country Club. Participants brought unwrapped toys for donation to Friends of Abused Children of Seminole County – and there was a satisfyingly large pile of thoughtful presents that will bring smiles to the faces of youngsters who need a little kindness in their lives.

Over the past few years, Heathrow Women’s Club Charities Inc. has donated $500,000 to charities benefiting women and children in Seminole County.

Another money-raiser at the event – a table full of homemade desserts! Cookies, cakes and pies, oh my! And baklava – that’s Roslyn Sellers with a plate full of that she made from scratch.

More photos will be posted soon here on our website.

Fields dealership grand opening

Fields Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram near the mall in Sanford is opening its doors with a party in the parking lot this weekend.

The kids are loving the Power Jumps (a bungee-trampoline combo that lets you safely jump two stories high), the bounce house, the kiddie train and the climbing wall, said General Manager David Simoni (that’s him standing in front of his brand new building).

Also on hand: food trucks! Local faves are there, including Firehouse BBQ, Tree House Truck, Gastro Truck, Monsta Lobsta, Yum Yum Cupcake Truck, The Batter Bowl and Jeremiah’s Italian Ice.

Participants can also ride a mechanical bull, have a caricature done or watch Jeremy Possman rassle a reptile – that’s him and his gator co-star below.

The party continues Sunday from noon to 4.

FIT for Golf... Golf for FIT

...speaking of Families in Transition (you did read my last blog post, didn’t you? If not, here it is), more than 60 golfers turned out at Mayfair Country Club in Sanford for the first annual FIT Golf Tournament.

Not bad for the first year, said Danny Trosset, who organized the event. Funds raised will go toward enrolling a homeless child in community sports and paying for registration fees, equipment, uniforms and other sports necessities.

And that’s FIT Liaison Beth Davalos in the photo with County Commissioner John Horan, who golfed in the event, and Trosset.

We’ll have photos on the website soon.

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Also, check out the latest issue of our sister publication, Lake Mary Health & Wellness, where you can read more about Families in Transition... and be inspired to cook up a Cuban-themed holiday dinner. Recipes and wine pairings courtesy of Finesse Restaurant in Lake Mary.

Another Day in Paradise

Did you see that piece that 60 Minutes did on homeless kids in Seminole County? (If you didn’t, click the link above for the video.) It did a great job of telling the story of kids and their families who live in cars and of showcasing Families in Transition, an organization that works with homeless students to make sure they get their education – and have a childhood. Updates here and here.

Our December-January issue of Lake Mary Health and Wellness also looks at the issue of homelessness here in Seminole County. We’re not talking bums on park benches. You can’t just look at someone and say with any certainty, “Oh, he’s homeless.” Or, “She lives in her car.”

People without a space to call their own are in line with you at Walmart. Their kids go to school with your kids. And the problem is growing, especially here in Florida, home – ironically speaking – to one-third of the homeless families in the nation.

Our fantastic writer, Kristin Harmel, introduces us a family that lives in a budget motel in Sanford.

Kristin also spoke in-depth with Beth Davalos of Families in Transition. FIT works with families of more than 1,200 homeless kids – 30 percent more than this time last year.

Read this story. It’s an eye-opener. The magazine will be out in a couple of days and posted online as well -- check our website for updates.