Get Your Vaccination Before Summer Vacation

The Orange County Health Department (OCHD) will offer free immunizations for children, birth to age 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 17 at the OCHD office at 832 West Central Blvd., Orlando, 32805.

Remember to bring the child’s shot record. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and a valid ID is required.

For more information on this event, call 407-836-2502, or visit : www.orchd.com

Whole Foods Market Hosts Hunger Banquet With Local High Schools

Whole Foods Market in Winter Park, in collaboration with Winter Park and Timber Creek High Schools, will present a Hunger Banquet to benefit the Whole Planet Foundation at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 3 at Glenridge Middle School.

A Hunger Banquet illustrates the disparity in distribution of the world’s resources by randomly assigning attendees to dinner tables representing different areas of the world to highlight the circumstances involved in the distribution of food in those areas. The event is open to the public, ages 12 and over.

For more information, go the the Whole Foods Market website.

Whole Foods Market Hosts Hunger Banquet With Local High Schools

Whole Foods Market in Winter Park, in collaboration with Winter Park and Timber Creek High Schools, will present a Hunger Banquet to benefit the Whole Planet Foundation at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 3 at Glenridge Middle School.

A Hunger Banquet illustrates the disparity in distribution of the world’s resources by randomly assigning attendees to dinner tables representing different areas of the world to highlight the circumstances involved in the distribution of food in those areas. The event is open to the public, ages 12 and over.

For more information, go the the Whole Foods Market website.

Need Help Paying For Medicine? Visit “Help Is Here Express”

Low-income residents can find out if they qualify for free or nearly free medicines by visiting the “Help Is Here Express” bus from 10 a.m. to noon on March 26 at Florida Hospital East, 7727 Lake Underhill Road, Orlando.

The bus is equipped with computer terminals and phones so people can find out if they may be eligible for help. Trained specialists will be on board to make sure the process is quick and easy.

Third Annual Fast Start Invitational Draws 600 Plus Kids

Some 600 elementary school children of all ages and sizes from Winter Park Consortium Schools participated in the Third Annual Fast Start Invitational Track and Field Event at Showalter Field on January 26.

Despite the sporadic rain showers, the event drew 50 to 60 more students than last year. And event organizer Scott Millson estimated that if the weather had been better, the total would have been closer to 650 to 700.

Read more about the event by clicking here.

Smile Mile Gives Kids Another Chance to Run

The Smile Mile, a one-mile children’s race for kids age five to 11, begins at 8 a.m. Saturday at Blue Jacket Park at Baldwin Park in Orlando. One school from each county with the highest participation wins a plaque and a $500 Track Shack Foundation grant for physical education programs. To qualify, a school must have at least 25 runners participating.

Kids receive a t-shirt and finisher’s medal provided by the Musante Family Trust in support of kids health and fitness.

Visit the Track Shack website for more information.

Healthy Fun and Fitness Guide Published by Winter Park Health Foundation

The Healthy Fun and Fitness Guide to Winter Park, published by the Winter Park Health Foundation in an effort to inspire residents and visitors to become more active, has just been released and is available free of charge at the Winter Park Welcome Center, 151 W. Lyman Ave., Winter Park.

The guide points out biking and walking trails, as well as parks with a variety of fitness options. It identifies places to swim, boat, run, walk and play with the dogs.  And it includes a map showing the location of most area parks and their features.

It’s Back: The Third Annual Fast Start Track and Field Invitational

The third annual Fast Start Track and Field Invitational will be held January 26, 2008 at Showalter Field in Winter Park.

Launched by Scott Millson, a local elementary school parent, the free event is open to all elementary school students attending schools in the Winter Park Consortium of Schools–Aloma, Audubon Park, Brookshire, Cheney, Dommerich, Hungerford, Lake Sybelia and Lakemont elementary schools.

Students will receive applications at school in the near future. For more information, contact Millson at 407-466-8036 or skmillson@cfl.rr.com.

Orange County Health Department Offers Free Flu Shots

With the flu season just around the corner, the Orange County Health Department (OCHD) is getting ready to offer free flu shots at four outreach events over the next month. It has been going out to the community to encourage the elderly and others at high risk of complications from influenza to get a flu shot.  The high risk category includes children six months to five years old.

Shots will be offered on a first come, first served basis.  Sessions will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.  November 16 at the Capehart Community Center; from 9 a.m. to noon  on November 28 at the Denton Johnson Community Center in Eatonville; from 9 a.m. to noon December 5 at the Pine Hills Community Center, and from 9 a.m. to noon on December 12 at the Bithlo Community Center.

Click here for more information.

Winter Park Family Fall Festival Coming Up

Winter Park’s Family Fall Festival, a kick-off event for Orange County’s celebration of National Family Week which focuses on strengthening the community by strengthening families, will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27 in Central Park on Park Avenue.

Fun family events will include a children’s costume parade, old-fashioned hay rides, a pumpkin patch in the park, swimming pool safety tips, musical art-making by the Central Florida Music Studio and entertainment by The Outer Toons.

The Winter Park Health Foundation will be on site to introduce the new, free Healthy Fun & Fitness Guide to Winter Park. It provides tips on biking and walking trails, parks, as well as places to swim, boat, jog and play tennis.