NCSA Gets Stimulus Money – Florida Hospital

Located in Celebration, Florida, the Nicholson Center for Surgical Advancement (NCSA) was recently awarded $4.2 million by the federal government as part of the 2009 federal stimulus program. The project was one of two earmarks requested by Congressman Allan Grayson that would have directly affected Celebration. The House Appropriations Committee rejected the other, $750,000 requested to upgrade the planned Celebration library.

The Nicholson Center for Surgical Advancement, located at Florida Hospital Celebration Health, develops and disseminates cutting edge surgical knowledge and techniques through state-of-the-art teleconferencing technology. Participants perform minimally invasive surgical procedures at one of nine state-of-the-art endoscopically equipped stations, mastering invasive surgical skills.

The money will pay for the training of doctors and the development of robotic surgery techniques. The money will create dozens of new high-paying jobs. A primary goal of the project is to save the lives of U.S. troops in the field. The directed spending (earmark) will come from the Department of Defense and is the largest single award in the 8th Congressional District for 2010.

Doctors will eventually be able to use the technology to perform life-saving operations on troops in the field, long before they can get to a hospital, performed remotely by surgeons that might be located anywhere in the world. The funding will lead to the direct creation of at least 50 high-tech jobs over a five-year period here. The workers will make an average of $55,000 a year.

The award will help establish a new “Global Center of Excellence in Medical Robotics and Simulation,” which will be housed at the NCSA.

“It is our vision to expand the reach of the Nicholson Center and this grant will help us make this goal a reality,” said Lars Houmann, president and CEO of Florida Hospital. “The support of the local community and lawmakers has provided us with assistance that allows Orlando to continue on its path of becoming a medical destination.”

“It is so important that physicians have access to a training facility that advances the understanding of robotic and simulation technologies,” said Dr. Monica Reed, administrator of Florida Hospital Celebration Health. “Florida Hospital Celebration Health is so fortunate to house this outstanding facility where physicians from all over the world will have the opportunity to further improve their skills in robotic surgery.”

In a press conference following the announcement of the award, Congressman Grayson admitted that the award was an earmark that apparently did not have to pass much Congressional scrutiny, but defended it on the basis of 1) earmarks are such a relatively small percentage of congressional spending, 2) because it represented defense department spending that would ordinarily go to traditional defense contractors located outside the district, and 3) because it will be used to save lives of combat soldiers in the field.

Celebration – 10th Annual Spring Art Festival

Don’t miss the 10th anniversary of Celebration’s Spring Art Festival at Celebration Town Center on March 27-28 from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This year the festival will include a childrens’ area, live entertainment, great food, and hundreds of booths displaying the arts and crafts of many great local artists. To volunteer, please call Katie or Dulcy at Celebration Town Hall at 407-566-1200.

Celebration Library Planning Underway

The long anticipated permanent library branch building for Celebration is moving closer to construction. The County and The Celebration Company (Disney) reached an agreement on the terms of transferring the planned parcel of land to the County. As reported previously, the site selected is in the civic corridor near the intersection of Celebration Boulevard, Campus Street, and Celebration Place. Construction may start by the end of the year.

According to Osceola County’s Beth Knight, the County is now conducting a detailed due diligence assessment prior to the closing currently scheduled for April 1; they will be reviewing the many issues affecting site appropriateness. . Looney, Ricks, Kiss Architects have been chosen to design the project.

The County has $1.55 million appropriated to build the facility. Said Ms. Knight, “We anticipate this funding will be sufficient.” This a fortunate, since the U.S. Congress House Appropriations Committee did not approve the earmark request by Congressman Allan Grayson for additional funds for the library as part of last year’s Federal Stimulus package.

On the other hand, Ms. Knight revealed that the County Staff recently discovered a half million-dollar grant available for new library construction. The County is in the process of completing the application due in later February. “We are excited about the possibility of receiving such a grant,” said Ms. Knight. The funds would be used to enhance and upgrade the technology and other resources available to library patrons.

Once construction begins, hopefully in the late Fall 2010, the normal expected construction time would be 12-18 months, according to Ms. Knight. That could mean an opening around the early to mid part of 2012.

Relay for Life – Celebration

Sign up now for Relay for Life here in Celebration! You and your team are welcome to participate in this great event. Relay for Life will take place in Celebration on May 14, 2010. Sign up by going to www.ACSevents.org. If you have someone that you are remembering, supporting, or celebrating ,you can stop by 851 Celebration Community Center and decorate a luminary for a donation to the American Cancer Society. We want to see them all around the downtown Lake in Celebration.

For any further questions, call Katie or Dulcy at 407-566-1200.

Celebration Florida’s Fun Station Closes

The Family Fun Station, a Celebration Town Center business that has specialized in delivering family fun, has sadly decided to close its doors.  Mike and Pattie Gaw, well-respected and much admired Celebration residents, announced the closing with a December 30 posting on the Front Porch website.

According to their post, “We have made a decision to close the Family Fun Station at the end of the business day on December 31st. We have made this decision for several reasons. First, the business as currently structured cannot generate sufficient income to justify remaining open; second,we have not had success in any attempts for the addition of different activities that would generate revenue;and third, we no longer can afford to pay the rent, utilities and wages required to remain open. We are saddened by this set of circumstances, and the fact that our dream of providing a wholesome place for the community,young and old, to relax and have fun will not be realized. We fully accept the fact that we made a business decision to open the Family Fun Station in October 2007, but as it turns out like thousands of other small businesses the decision in retrospect was not timely. We had hoped that the economy would improve and business would be better, but we learned a lesson that I well knew from my military experience that hope is not a method. “

Mike and Pattie were among the first residents of Celebration, having had their name chosen during the original lottery held by Disney in November 1995.  A former army major general, Mike is one of the town entrepreneurs, and has served the community as a CROA board member.  Pattie is a successful real estate agent who plans to continue that business. 

The Gaws explained that they would be selling the contents of the Fun Station over the next few weeks, including games, vehicles, prizes and bikes.   That includes the popular Celebration Express train that has given thousands of passengers a mini-tour of Celebration around the immediate Town Center area.   Anything that is not liquidated would be donated to Give Kids the World, an organization that they have long supported.

Magnanimously, the Gawsacknowledged that many children have been saving redemption tickets and that they would do their best to redeem them for prizes, cash they can spend, or donations to a charity.

The Gaws can be contacted through the Front Porch posting thread or at the Fun Station while liquidation and clean-up proceeds.

Pattie and Mike concluded by noting, “We would like to sincerely thank each and every customer who has frequented the Family Fun Station, our long time immediate neighbors Kilwin’s Ice cream–the very best ice cream in the area, and our new neighbors the unique Spot Me Kids. We wish continued success to you both.”

Celebration Hosts Community Covenant Soldiers

Last Fourth of July the Town of Celebration signed a “Community Covenant” in support of our Armed Forces and decided to adopt a local Army National Guard Unit scheduled to be deployed overseas in early 2010.  Recently, residents of the Town organized a combination Christmas and Send-off party for the soldiers and their families at the Celebration Community Center.  The event was a resounding success that buoyed spirits and touched the hearts of those who attended.

The Unit being deployed is the Headquarters Company of the Second Battalion, 124th Infantry of the Florida National Guard, led by Captain Jason Craft..  Stationed at the Ferncreek Armory in Orlando, the unit has been activated for deployment in the Middle East Theater.  Ferncreek Armory is about 20 miles northeast of Celebration, and a few miles north of the Orlando International Airport.  But the soldiers are from all over Florida, not just the Orlando area. 

South Village resident Karen Whelden spearheaded the planning and organization of the entire event for the soldiers and their families.  Her spouse, retired Army Major General Craig Whelden, developed the Community Covenant Program now used to support all branches of the United States Military.  Covenants with military units have now been signed by 400 American towns, communities, groups, and States across the country (www.army.mil/community).

The recent event held in Celebration was not only a Holiday party, but also served as a venue for awarding Unit commendations earned while the soldiers have been preparing for deployment.  After a breakfast and other business, the Company’s 108 members assembled and marched smartly two blocks down Celebration Avenue to Founders Park and the Veterans Memorial.  Family members followed along on the sidewalk, while residents lined the street to applaud their adopted heroes.  With the Company in precise formation, Captain Craft and Battalion commander Lt. Colonel Ralph Ribas thanked the community and bestowed about 10 commendations to unit members.  In particular, Captain Craft presented framed certificates of thanks to Katie Tamanini of Town Hall, Karen Craft, and Corpus Christi Catholic Church.

Following that troop formation ceremony, the soldiers and their families (numbering about 220 in total) returned to the Community Center for a Christmas feast, entertainment, children’s games, and other activities.  Later, children and their parents were transported by Mike Gaw’s Celebration Express train to the Santa Station on Front Street for a visit with Santa, photos, and a present.

Said Captain Craft afterward, “My soldiers and their families were absolutely overwhelmed by the visible and practical outpouring of care demonstrated by the people of Celebration and the surrounding area.  Our children will not soon forget the great food, train ride, visit from Santa, presents, entertainment, and so much more.  Our soldiers could not have been prouder as they paraded in the town.  They and their loved ones could see, in a real way, the reason for their sacrifice.  For a short time they did not have to think about deployments and separation; for a short time it was all about enjoying the season.”

Much credit goes to all those residents and groups that contributed time, materials, and food.  They include CROA, Celebration Town Hall Staff, Joseph Judge, Hank Wake, Desiree Eastman, Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Joe Magic, Mike Gaw, Family Fun Station, Lee Moore, Town Tavern restaurant, other local businesses and entertainers, and scores of resident volunteers.

Deployment date for Headquarters Company is now set for January 6.

We will be following the progress of both the soldiers in theater as well as families left back home, and we will be periodically reporting on how they are doing.

Corpus Christi Opens New Church in Celebration

Celebration’s Corpus Christi Catholic Church, which had previously held its services at Celebration High School Cafeteria, recently competed its new church building on Celebration Avenue and Waterside Drive, just in time for Christmas.  The result is a stunning, classical-style building inside and out that not only fits well with the architectural pattern established by The Celebration Company, but also becomes an attractive, prominent landmark of the community.

Groundbreaking for the church was held in November 2008, though construction did not begin in earnest until the following January.  “It seems remarkable that they could finish such a large and complex building in such a relatively short time,” said Celebration resident Dan Tomsick, who during his daily walks past the site kept track of progress.  Brasfield & Gorrie, the general contractor for the project and a Fortune 500 company, kept up a steady pace, especially in the last three weeks when the seating, altar art, and stained glass windows were installed.

As a consequence, pastor Father Gregory Parkes, was able to celebrate the first Mass in the new building on December 24 morning to a nearly full house of excited parishioners from not only Celebration, but also Orlando, Kissimmee, and the entire Four Corners area. In a ceremony beforehand outside the front doors, Tim Dwyer of Brasfield & Gorrie handed the keys over to Building Committee Chairman Jack Blitch, who in turn presented them to Father Gregory.   After humbly thanking the Committee, Father Gregory acknowledged the hard work and support of the trades people, the Parish, and the Town.

“We received the certificate of occupancy only a few days before,” later confided Father Gregory, “and the parishioners scrambled to move our liturgical materials from the High School and to set up the church, complete with the Nativity scene and various Christmas flowers and decorations.”  Parishioners were particularly touched by the members of the Celebration Presbyterian Church down the street; they brought two lighted Christmas trees that were placed alongside the exterior front doors of the church, as well as some beautiful Christmas wreathes that were hung on the front facade.

Fortunately, everything worked relatively smoothly at that first mass.  Seven hours later, the Church hosted an overflow crowd for its 5 pm Christmas Eve Mass that featured the Children’s Choir. Father Gregory opened the liturgy with a greeting and then the rhetorical exclamation, “Can we give glory and praise to God for this beautiful church?” — to which the congregation responded with enthusiastic and prolonged applause.

Even without any advertising or notices in the neighboring hotels, the turnout for the four Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses was remarkable.  Observed Bert Fitzgibbons, “We had about 3200 people attend those four Masses, nearly double the number at the same number of Masses held last year in the High School cafeteria.”

The Church will be formally dedicated at 5 pm on Saturday January 16, with Bishop Thomas Wenski of the Orlando Diocese presiding.

Details about Corpus Christi Catholic Church can be found at www.celebrationcatholic.org.