The voice you’ll hear is that of Rachael Todd, Miss Florida 2009 and a resident of Oviedo, Florida, commenting on why ending homelessness matters.
Feature length – 03:37

Central Florida Matters encourages you to post your own reaction to this commentary. You will also find useful links related to the commentary, including a transcript, biographical information and related pictures.

Should you wish to be considered for a commentary segment on Central Florida Matters, please click on the “contact” link to send us an email which should include adequate information for us to understand your issue. And please include a daytime telephone number where we may reach you.

Extended Interview & Pictures

Additional Feature Information

• Commentary Transcript
• Rachael Todd Biography
• Rachael Todd
• Hope Foundation

On Thursday January 21, 2010, the mayor of the city of Oviedo, Florida – Mary Lou Andrews — presented the State of the City in remarks given to a luncheon audience of members of the Oviedo/Winter Springs Regional Chamber of Commerce, their guests and members of the public.

Mayor Andrews shared the stage with the Mayor of the City of Winter Springs, Florida – John F. Bush. Mayor Bush offered a similar address regarding the state of his city. Geographically, Winter Springs adjoins Oviedo to its east. The chamber’s membership draws from both cities.

After both mayors completed their prepared remarks, each responded to questions from the audience.

This shorter feature accompanies the full length version of the State of the Cities Address. To hear both mayors’ unedited remarks and their responses to audience questions, please visit “Annual State of the Cities Luncheon,” a presentation of Heard in Central Florida – HCF. Each mayor’s remarks at the luncheon were time and format restricted, a chamber rule and typical protocol followed for most business lunches.

While helpful and informative material was communicated by or between the mayors and the audience, time or inclination did not allow for more in-depth responses or follow-up during the luncheon…thus this feature.

To this end, each mayor accepted our invitation to respond to Steck’s questions asked of them a week or more after their luncheon remarks. Each mayor was separately recorded at their respective city hall office

Some of the questions you’ll hear Steck pose are follow-up or “drill-down” in nature, seeking further information or clarity on selected time-limited responses Mayor Andrews offered at the luncheon.

This page also provides Steck’s extended interview with Mayor Andrews, as well as informative links to additional websites giving you yet more information or context to issues she addresses.

Preceding Steck’s questions, as may be necessary, he offers brief context AND plays the actual luncheon remark or audience question which prompt his follow-up.

While this feature follows up with Oviedo Mayor Andrews, Winter Springs Mayor John F. Bush is accommodated in a separate feature.

In the extended interview with Mayor Andrews, hear her expand on 4 other issues. They are the relationship of the city with the State legislature and the US Congress; incentives offered or in-place for local businesses; her expectations of the upcoming review of the city charter; and population increases within the city.

In a future Central Florida Matters, we are planning interviews with principals related to a dominant issue addressed in the Mayor’s remarks –it is the role of Land Design Innovations in the economic development of the cities of Oviedo and Winter Springs.

Extended Interview & Pictures

	Mayor Mary Lou Andrews and Stephen McKenney Steck Extended interview (01:11:58)

Additional Feature Information

• City of Oviedo, Florida
• Oviedo on the Park (“New” downtown Oviedo)
• City of Oviedo Charter Review Committee and Economic Development Committee
• Land Design Innovations, Inc.
• M&I Bank
• Oviedo Marketplace Mall
• General Growth Properties
• Seminole Way
• Oviedo/Winter Spring Regional Chamber of Commerce

Seminole Chronicle newspaper articles

• State of the City Address (1)
• State of the City Address (2)
• Broadstreet Partners
• “New” downtown Oviedo

Seminole Voice newspaper articles

• Broadstreet Partners
• “New” downtown Oviedo

As you follow Ms. Sladek’s walking narrative, we have provided in the order of the tour she takes us on still pictures of each location, addresses, a locator map and a brief text description of each of the 10-historic locations she describes. Additionally, we have provided links to external Websites featuring additional information relative to the tour and to the Oviedo Preservation Project.

Sladek notes the cost for both breakfast and the tour is “whatever you can afford.”

The breakfast will be hosted by First United Methodist Church of Oviedo with assistance from the Oviedo Woman’s Club, the HOPE Foundation, and TOPP.

All of the profits from the breakfast will benefit those in the Oviedo community who are in need. All of the proceeds from the tour will assist students in Oviedo learn more about local history.

Extended Interview & Pictures

Megan Sladek and Stephen McKenney Steck Extended interview (28:43)

Walking Tour Map

View Larger Map

Additional Feature Information

• The Oviedo Preservation Project (TOPP)
• Walking Tour Flyer

Paper Resources (recommended by TOPP)

• Circa 1960 (a booklet produced by the Oviedo Historical Society in 1982)
• Oviedo: Biography of a Town, by Richard Adicks and Donna Neely (Executive Press, 1979)
• Guide to Florida’s Historic Architecture (University of Florida Press, 1989)
• Oviedo Historical Trail – Online Hiking Trail Route (Steve Ratjar, 1999)

Lacrosse is an upstart sport transplanted from northeastern states that has found a home in Florida. It is a fast, aggressive game that got its name from the French word for field hockey. First played by as many as 48 Native Americans tribes, the teams consisted of 100 to as many as 1000 players on a field ranging in size from 500 yards to miles long. Players passed a ball to teammates using a net attached to a long pole. There was religious significance to the game and a single game could last many days.

Modern lacrosse became codified in 1867 and became popular on college and high school campuses. It was a demonstration sport in the Olympics in the 1920’s.

Played in a men’s and women’s version, it requires speed, endurance and stick skill. Many players start young in lacrosse clubs and then join high school teams. Many colleges and universities offer scholarships in lacrosse that make it a valuable game to master.

The furious pace and fierce body checking and stick handling make lacrosse look dangerous. Protection is afforded by large helmets and small pads. The US Lacrosse association says — “Field lacrosse is sometimes perceived to be a violent and dangerous game, however, injury statistics prove otherwise. While serious injuries can and do occur in lacrosse, the game has evolved with an emphasis on safety, and the rate of injury is comparatively low.”

Oviedo High School is one of the teams in the highly competitive Seminole County school district. Their coach, Sean O’Dell, brings many years of experience as both player and coach to the job.

Trevor Liljenquist is one of the seniors on the squad and has played this sport since the 5th grade. He is following in his brother’s footsteps as a star at OHS.

Both the coach and the team’s young players bring a love of the game and athletic ability to the field. As one player said “ Once you pick up a lacrosse stick you’ll never put it down.”

The lacrosse season is in full swing. Visit the website of your favorite high school and check for game schedules. Or attend one of the indoor professional lacrosse games featuring the new Orlando Titans.

Extended Interview & Pictures

Coach Sean O’Dell and Desta Horner Extended interview (17:12)		Trevor Liljenquist and Desta Horner Extended interview (10:26)

Additional Feature Information

• Florida High School Athletic Association
• US Lacrosse
• Oviedo High School
• Orlando Titans

On Thursday January 21, 2010, the mayor of the city of Winter Springs, Florida – John F. Bush — presented the State of the City in remarks given to a luncheon audience of members of the Oviedo/Winter Springs Regional Chamber of Commerce, their guests and members of the public.

Mayor Bush shared the stage with the Mayor of the City of Oviedo, Florida – Mary Lou Andrews. Mayor Andrews offered a similar address regarding the state of his city. Geographically, Oviedo adjoins Oviedo to its west. The chamber’s membership draws from both cities.

After both mayors completed their prepared remarks, each responded to questions from the audience.

This shorter feature accompanies the full length version of the State of the Cities Address. To hear both mayors’ unedited remarks and their responses to audience questions, please visit “Annual State of the Cities Luncheon,” a presentation of Heard in Central Florida – HCF. Each mayor’s remarks at the luncheon were time and format restricted, a chamber rule and typical protocol followed for most business lunches.

While helpful and informative material was communicated by or between the mayors and the audience, time or inclination did not allow for more in-depth responses or follow-up during the luncheon…thus this feature.

To this end, each mayor accepted our invitation to respond to Steck’s questions asked of them a week or more after their luncheon remarks. Each mayor was separately recorded at their respective city hall office

Some of the questions you’ll hear Steck pose are follow-up or “drill-down” in nature, seeking further information or clarity on selected time-limited responses Mayor Bush offered at the luncheon. Other questions center on issues Bush did not address in his formal remarks.

This page also provides Steck’s extended interview with Mayor Bush, as well as informative links to additional websites giving you yet more information or context to issues he addresses.

Preceding Steck’s questions, as may be necessary, he offers brief context AND plays the actual luncheon remark or audience question which prompt his follow-up.

While this feature follows up with Winter Springs Mayor John F. Bush, Oviedo Mayor Mary Lou Andrews is accommodated in a separate feature.

In the extended interview with Mayor Bush, he expands on 5 other issues. They are the relationship of the city with the State legislature and the US Congress; incentives offered or in-place for local businesses; actions the city is taking to make their budget more accessible and transparent to residents; how the Mayor feels the city “can do better” – to quote a recently elected US Senator; and his view of the pending city elections for Mayor and commissioners.

In a future Central Florida Matters, we are planning interviews with principals related to a dominant issue addressed in the Mayor’s remarks –it is the role of Land Design Innovations in the economic development of the cities of Oviedo and Winter Springs.

Extended Interview & Pictures

Mayor John F. Bush and Stephen McKenney Steck Extended interview (52:33)

Additional Feature Information

• City of Winter Springs, Florida
• Seminole Way – brochure
• State referenda– amendment of local government comprehensive land use plans.
• Winter Springs Town Center
• James Doran Company
• Land Design Innovations, Inc.
• Oviedo/Winter Spring Regional Chamber of Commerce

Seminole Chronicle newspaper articles:

• State of the City Address (1)
• State of the City Address (2)
• City Audit
• Former City Manger Ron McLemore
• Winter Springs Town Center
• One cent sales tax extension