Welcome to Monday Morning (Easter Monday?) in Orlando

DRANK LOCAL: So we tried Dutch Bros Coffee this weekend for the very first time to see if it lives up to the hype. The fam picked up a White Chocolate Lavender w/ Soft Top coffee. Some might say this isn’t coffee anymore, it’s a milkshake, but damn….it was tasty as hell. Give it a shot!

In today’s issue: 👇

• Pages in Motion

• "Chief Poop Scooper"

• Pollo Campero

• ….and much more

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🛑 Don’t forget to click (or tap) the poll at the bottom of this issue so we know if we’re on the right track. Every time you vote in a poll, our cat Luna gets a little treat. 🐈

Let’s dive in!

- Philip

ORLANDO REWIND ⏪
Pages in Motion: Orange County's Bookmobile Story

In last Monday’s issue I mentioned how bookmobiles are making a surprising comeback in early 2026, so I thought it would be fascinating to look back at their heyday.

In early 1949, the Orange County Chamber of Commerce hatched a brilliant idea: why not bring books to people instead of making people trek downtown? The spirited ladies of the Orlando Sorosis Club, with Ruth Gilbert Smith waving the literary banner, rallied twenty teams to rustle up $6,000 – no small change back then – to transform a school bus into a traveling treasury of tales.

What rolled out was a vibrant orange Wayne Bus Company creation perched atop a sturdy Studebaker chassis – the first bookmobile to roam Florida's countryside! The Friends of the Library sweet-talked legislators while County Commissioners cheerfully forked over $10,000 to keep the wheels turning.

By 1958, this book-laden chariot was zooming between communities like a literary butterfly. In 1961, an even fancier air-conditioned Gerstenslager model joined the mission, hauling 3,500 books across 8,507 miles yearly.

Story-wielding librarians like Eileen Willis and Del Jupiter didn't just deliver books – they delivered adventures, turning parking lots into impromptu theaters of imagination.

The bookmobile journey concluded in 1979, but not before planting permanent libraries across Orange County – proving that sometimes, the most powerful ideas have wheels!

(Learn a ton more about Bookmobiles + historic photos with Gildeagirl, right here)

THE SQUEEZE 🍊

Healing Grounds: How Health Challenges Sprouted a Flourishing Local Farm

Talk about an egg-cellent adventure! When Bernadette Girvin battled health issues in 2022, she never imagined her 11 backyard chickens would hatch into a blossoming business. Now, as the self-proclaimed "Chief Poop Scooper" at 4 Girvins Farm in Tavares, she oversees a flock of 500+ hens that keep Orlando plates happy.

"Know your farmer like you know your doctor," Bernadette quips. When searching for healthier food options, the Girvins' left Orlando's bustle for peaceful Tavares.

"We knew we wanted land, some backyard chickens, and a garden," she explains. This spot offers the perfect balance— close enough to serve city families, yet secluded enough to farm properly.

Along with husband Charlie, this Orlando native has transformed her health quest into a thriving food movement, offering pastured eggs, poultry, pork, and seasonal produce. 

Their signature farm-to-table events—dinner parties where guests feast under twinkling lights just steps from where their food was raised—have become local sensations. I attended one, and it was delectable!

"In a world that values convenience, we offer something slower and deeply human," Bernadette states.

For the Girvins family, this farm isn't just about feeding bodies and minds—it's building a legacy their kids can literally sink their roots into.

🐐 Catch all their farm adventures, right here.

Home Run for Hope: Miracle League Gets a Second Inning, Y’all!

🔥 As a follow-up to this story in last Monday's issue, I've got a bad-ass (ahem, I mean heartwarming) update that'll make you smile! Remember the Central Florida Miracle League with that crumbling baseball field?

The deteriorating field at Trotter's Park threatened to end the league's 20-year legacy. League president Mike Houlihan faced an $80,000 dilemma: replace the dangerous playing surface or shut down operations.

After News 6 anchor Justin Warmoth highlighted their plight, the community responded swiftly. Nearly $4,000 arrived within 24 hours from small donors, but the game-changer came when businessmen Jesse Eisner and Matt Steinberg contributed $40,000 each after seeing the story shared by Rep. Anna Eskamani.

The overwhelming support left league leadership emotional and humbled. Now with over $100,000 raised and a new field under contract for November completion, the league looks toward even bigger dreams.

Design & Dollars as Mayor's Youth Jobs Program Makes Splash at Local Print Shop

Orlando's creative scene buzzed last Thursday as Mayor Buddy Dyer and City Commissioners launched the 2025 Summer Youth Employment Program at We Print, where Mayor Dyer and student Jamarion King turned blank fabric into fashion gold.

The program, powered by CareerSource Central Florida, matches eager teens with five-week paid gigs that delivered real-world skills and paychecks without costing businesses a dime.

With 400+ students ready to dive in this summer, Orlando hunted for business partners willing to help transform today's ambitious teenagers into tomorrow's talent superstars – proving that summer jobs could be both seriously valuable and seriously fun.

Boots on New Ground with Henderson's Veteran Support Victory

Trading combat boots for community outreach, decorated Marine Norris Henderson now battles red tape instead of enemies as the spirited leader at Heart of Florida United Way. His 20-year military background serves as perfect preparation for navigating the labyrinth of veteran benefits.

Recently crowned Orange County's 2024 Veteran of the Year, Henderson insists the honor belongs to his entire support squad. Under his energetic direction, his team has transported 715 veterans via 800 Lyft rides, secured a game-changing $50,000 housing grant, and rescued over 150 veterans from legal quagmires.

While juggling multiple advisory roles, Henderson's mission remains clear: rally the troops to elevate every veteran in Central Florida.

TASTY NEWS 🧑‍🍳
Orlando Area Eateries Coming & Going

1️⃣ Black Phin Coffee Bar - Winter Park's Vietnamese Brew Gem

Tucked inside All Inclusive CrossFit, Black Phin Coffee Bar (Insta) is now soft opened (10:00am-3:00pm Monday-Saturday) brings authentic Vietnamese drip coffee to Orlando. Their energizing Vietnamese Iced Coffee with oat milk and ube foam captivates, while their matcha yuzu intrigues. Don't miss their exceptional citrus and matcha white chocolate cookies!

2️⃣ Tropix - Tropical Heat Wave Set to Spice Up Downtown Orlando

The visionary behind Negril Jamaican Restaurant, is bringing Caribbean flair to Downtown with Tropix. The upscale venue, currently under construction, will seat 80 guests and feature sophisticated island cuisine and craft cocktails when its full build-out completes.

#ORLANDOSIGNAL 📸

The Sugar Shack. Also, one of the stops on the OS Brews & Bites Tour.

📷 via @orlandosignal |📍Ivanhoe Village

Tag @orlandosignal to get your photo featured in the newsletter!

FOODIE FIND, FORK YEAH! 🤩

Pollo Campero

📍2520 S Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32806. Map to this location.

Pollo Campero (Insta)—Guatemala's 1971 gift to chicken lovers, with 6 locations right here in Orlando!

At their SODO location, we discovered fried chicken nirvana: impossibly crispy outside, juicy-flavor-explosion inside! Their grilled chicken rocks too! Craving adventure? Dive into empanadas, yuca fries, and sweet plantains with that magical Campero Sauce!

Score the $15 Half Chicken Special: 4 scrumptious pieces, 2 sides, bread and drink—fried, grilled, or mix it up!

👉 Check out Pollo Campero, right here

MORE PULP! 😎
Weekday things to check out

🍔 Tasty Takeover in The Milk District 
📅 Tuesdays | 6:30-10pm 
📍 The Milk District – E. Robinson St Orlando's premier weekly food truck block party featuring diverse culinary offerings behind the shops and bars.
👉 No Admission Charge

🎭 Disney's The Lion King 
📅 April 23 - May 18, 2025 
📍 Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

The stunning musical adaptation of the beloved Disney classic returns to Orlando with breathtaking costumes, puppetry, and timeless music.
👉 Join the Pride

🎻 Damien Escobar 
📅 April 24, 2025 | 8pm 
📍 The Plaza Live

World-renowned violinist known for his inspiring comeback story and innovative approach to classical music.
👉 Experience the Music

THANKS!

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Thanks for reading! I’ll see you again on Thursday’s weekend fun issue.

My Best,
Philip - Publisher, Orlando Signal