Most Friday’s my staff and I find a volunteer opportunity in District 5. Today we helped plant trees at Blanchard Park. If you would like to be added to our list of volunteers, please email us. We would love to have you join us.
Recently, my team and I visited the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey to volunteer. We helped clean up to get the center ready for their re-opening. Did you know that Audubon’s center in Maitland helps rehabilitate and care for hundreds of injured birds of prey a year? Go out and visit if you get a chance! They are doing great work.
We want to thank Orange County, Osceola County – Liberty High School football Team and Habitat for Humanity for everything they do in our neighborhood.
In honor of the Acts of Love and Kindness movement, my team and I recently spent some time playing board games with the young people at the Zebra Coalition, an organization that supports LGBTQ+ youth. To find out how to get involved with the coalition, click on the link below. They currently have an amazon wish list with a variety of products that you can donate to help meet their needs. #ActLoveGive https://www.zebrayouth.org/donate/
Hidden Pond Preserve, a 113-acre natural area in East Orange County characterized by mesic and wet flatwoods, is home to a wide variety of native and migratory birds as well as wildlife species. Wildflowers can be seen blooming year-round throughout the area. Hidden Pond Preserve offers a quality nature-based experience for everyone visiting this beautiful natural sanctuary. Residents and visitors are invited to enjoy hiking and wildlife viewing along the Preserve’s newly created trails.
Back to School event at the Bithlo Community Center. Over 350 kids were served with the basic needs to start their school year with supplies, back packs, reading books, immunizations, and dental cleansing. Immense gratitude for the vendors, volunteers and parents who committed their time. Best wishes on a great school year.
Emily Bonilla is worried her district in metro Orlando will be undercounted during next spring’s once-in-a-decade head count of everybody in the United States because of who lives there: new arrivals, immigrants, the poor, renters and rural residents who sometimes regard government with suspicion. “We’re growing so fast that I know we have more people in the area than the data is stating. This area already is undercounted,” said Bonilla, a county commissioner in one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the U.S.
Orange County Commissioner Emily Bonilla, whose district includes Christmas, gave the bulk of the credit to Beagles for getting the project off the ground. “He was the one to convince Orange County to purchase this property back in the day and he also went to Tallahassee to get the funding for it,” Bonilla said. “For years to come, families in Christmas and visitors will be able to enjoy the natural beauty of this local park.”
The Gang and Sex Trafficking Event was a great success! I want to thank everyone for attending and for your support. I would like to thank the community partners for everything they do: African Leaders Council, Ruben Saldana with Rucamp, JV’s Foundation, Marketing and Public Relations, Orange County Government, Orange County Library and Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation.
Split Oak Forest portion of the Florida National Scenic Trail is now open! The Florida National Scenic Trail’s route includes travel through multiple natural jewels we have here in Orange County, such as the Hal Scott Preserve, Pine Lily Preserve, Savage/Christmas Creek Preserve, Seminole Ranch Conservation Area, Orlando Wetlands, before it exits our County through the Charles H. Bronson State Forest.