Orlando Earth Hour

Highgate Park : More local news and local events from in and around the Highgate Park Orlando ares as the Orlando skyline — or a portion of it — went dark for an hour last weekend as Central Florida participated in Earth Hour 2010.

The Orange County Courthouse and the SunTrust building had no lights, joining the movement the world to go green. The electricity didn't appear to be on at either building a few minutes before the 8:30 p.m. start of the hourlong event — or after.

Tonight was the fourth annual Earth Hour, organized by the World Wildlife Fund and designed to draw attention to climate change. More than 4,000 cities in 120 countries switched off their lights for an hour to show support for the cause, according to earthhour.org.

Highgate Park Davenport the place to go when looking for the best selection of villas in orlando near disney

Rent Direct From The Owners
villas in orlando and florida vacation home rentals

Posted By : Highgate Park Owners Association

Quilt Show

Highgate Park : More local news and local events from in and around the Highgate Park Davenport area as Quilts and all things quilted make up the new Art in the Square exhibit at City Hall. The show, which includes 39 pieces ranging from bed quilts and wall hangings to clothing and a backpack. The pieces, which are the work of the Lake County Quilters Guild, have common themes, such as boats, mermaids, beaches, patriotism and memories.

One of the reminiscences is Louise Claflin's "Quiet Times," in which a horse-drawn wagon moves from darker squares into the light.

Nancy Weichert's "Dragonfly" was created in a workshop with Jeanne-Marie Robinson, a member of the guild until her death this year.

"She was born in Switzerland and was an accomplished quilter and a ballet dancer who danced in Europe and the United States in the 1960s," said Stuart King, the guild's president. "She was very adventurous. Her quilting was not traditional. She inspired people to reach outside of the box."

Weichert is just one of the members to have made a piece with a dragonfly as its focus, from Robinson's original design.

Highgate Park Davenport the place to go when looking for the best selection of villas in orlando near disney

Rent Direct From The Owners
villas in orlando and florida vacation home rentals

Posted By : Highgate Park Owners Association

Rail Buzz

Highgate Park : More local news and local events from in and around the Highgate Park Davenport as Lakeland-Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer joined the mayors of Tampa and Lakeland here in a regional briefiing on the high speed rail project. Others are being planned in the coming months, according to state transportation officials.

"Everybody's excited. Everybody realizes that we're going to be first in the nation in terms of developing true high speed rail that goes 150 to 160 miles an hour," said Dyer.
Florida Department of Transportation officials reported that construction could begin sometime next February or March with completion still on schedule for 2015.

Dyer called the meeting "an unprecendented opportunity for us to develop relations all along the I-4 corridor" as the cities along the rail line grow into a super region.

Highgate Park Davenport the place to go when looking for the best selection of villas in orlando near disney

Rent Direct From The Owners
villas in orlando and florida vacation home rentals

Posted By : Highgate Park Owners Association

Art Festival

Highgate Park : More local news and local events from in and around the Highgate Park Davenport areas as Downtown Winter Park will be packed with sculptures, paintings and an estimated 300,000 people this weekend as the city hosts its biggest event of the year: the Sidewalk Art Festival. About 225 artists will set up displays in tented galleries in Central Park, and tonight Peter White and other jazz artists will perform before a crowd sipping wine and munching on cheese.

"It's just a very festive weekend," says Carole Moreland, an event organizer. "It's free. It's very family-oriented."

More than 1,000 artists applied to participate, but only a fourth of those were accepted. Festival-goers can expect to see everything from peaceful landscapes to bold glass jewelry.

Artists start displaying their work at 9 a.m. today, but for many, the event starts with the jazz concerts. People are allowed to bring alcohol into the park Friday night, but this year the festival is also offering a beer and wine tent for all three days.

The event poster, which many Winter Park residents collect from year to year, was designed digitally for the first time this year. Artist Ken Bowser, who teaches at Full Sail University, created a bright and playful scene of a sidewalk café in the city.

While many of the artists at the festival are experienced and well-known, festival judges also select a handful of "emerging artists" to participate each year. These artists have never displayed their work at an outdoor show and are considered at the beginning of their careers.

Highgate Park Davenport the place to go when looking for the best selection of villas in orlando near disney

Rent Direct From The Owners
villas in orlando and florida vacation home rentals

Posted By : Highgate Park Owners Association

Virgin America

Highgate Park : More local news and local events from in and around the Highgate Park Davenport area as Virgin America is going to Disney World. The airline announced new daily nonstop flights to Orlando from Los Angeles and San Francisco beginning in August. One-way fares will start at $149 and $199 respectively.

The three-year-old airline also announced plans for its first international destination, with direct flights to Toronto from Los Angeles and San Francisco, pending a decision by the Department of Transportation. Three more destinations are also in the works for 2010.

The new routes come on the heels of Virgin America’s announced plans to expand its fleet of aircraft by as much as one-third by 2011. The airline’s low fares and in-flight amenities like Wi-Fi at no extra charge and power outlets have helped build its brand and strengthen customer loyalty, according to Abby Lunardini, a spokesperson for the airline.

Highgate Park Davenport the place to go when looking for the best selection of villas in orlando near disney

Rent Direct From The Owners
villas in orlando and florida vacation home rentals

Posted By : Highgate Park Owners Association

Baby Eagles

Highgate Park : More local news and local events from in and around the Highgate Park Davenport area as a pair of young bald eagles is being cared for by the Audubon Society after high winds blew down their nest at Orlando's Greenwood Cemetery on Saturday.

Cemetery director Don Price said blustery winds caused the top of the dead pine tree where the eagles nested to topple Saturday afternoon. The nest was home to two adult eagles and two hatchlings that could not yet fly.

A volunteer from the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey rescued the young eagles on Saturday.
"They're in really good shape — totally perfect," said Susie Warren, another volunteer at the Maitland facility.

The nest's destruction caused concern among cemetery officials, who were never informed the birds had been rescued.

Unaware that the young eagles had been taken to the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey, Price searched the grounds of the city-owned cemetery Saturday night. A state wildlife official joined the search today, this time only discovering in the nest remains of fish, smaller birds and rodents that the eagles had preyed upon.

They assumed the mother had taken her young elsewhere. Young eagles have fallen before, including during Hurricane Charley and again last year, when an adult bird retrieved a hatchling that had fallen.

The eagles had been popular with birdwatchers for years. The city had left the dead pine in place because of the nest.

Highgate Park Davenport the place to go when looking for the best selection of villas in orlando near disney

Rent Direct From The Owners
villas in orlando and florida vacation home rentals

Posted By : Highgate Park Owners Association

Sneak Peak

Highgate Park : More local news and local events in and around the Highgate Park Davenport as Universal Orlando provided a sneak peek inside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter on Monday. It will be the newest addition to Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park when it opens soon. It's been a popular series on store shelves, selling more than 400 million books in 200 countries, and the movie series garnered more than $5 billion.

The section of Islands of Adventure will cover 20 acres and includes the Hogsmeade train station, where guests will board a train to Hogwart's Castle.

Inside the village, visitors will find what officials called a thrilling, state-of-the-art attraction called "Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey," which will use new technology to bring the magic, characters and stories of the young wizard to life in ways never seen before.

Another roller coaster called the "Dragon Challenge" will allow riders to experience the iconic elements of a Triwizard tournament. A family-style coaster will also take guests on the "Flight of the Hippogriff" over Hogwart's castle.

Plenty of shops and restaurants will also welcome guests at the village.

Universal Orlando officials said they expect the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to open during this spring.

Highgate Park Davenport the place to go when looking for the best selection of villas in orlando near disney

Rent Direct From The Owners
villas in orlando and florida vacation home rentals

Posted By : Highgate Park Owners Association