Greenwood Cemetery: Where Orlando's Past Lies

January 29, 2024

Good morning, Orlando! Ya’ll seem to like Monday’s 7am delivery schedule. Based on reader feedback, the Thursday weekend fun issue delivered at 2pm seems to get buried in your pile of other email that arrives during the day. I’m going to drop Thursday’s issue into your inbox at 7am as well and see if that works better for everyone.

Don’t forget to click (or tap) the poll at the bottom of this issue and tell us how we did today!

👇 In today’s issue: 👇

  • Orlando’s most eminent burial ground

  • 911 upgraded with video calls

  • Candlelight Sinatra & Nat King Cole

  • ….and much more

🚦If you enjoy this issue, please forward it to a friend. If you’re that sexy friend, subscribe here.

Let’s dive in!

- Philip

P.S. Happiest of birthdays to Felicia Beckford! 🎉

ORLANDO REWIND ⏪
Greenwood Cemetery: Where Orlando's Past Lies

Within the heart of downtown Orlando lies a serene 80-acre sanctuary that harbors the historic tales of the city's pioneering settlers - Greenwood Cemetery.

Established in 1880, this burial ground is the oldest and most eminent in the area, founded by eight visionary men - C.A. Boone, J.H. Livingston, James Delaney, and Samuel A. Robinson among them - who pooled their resources to purchase the initial 26 acres.

Prior to Greenwood's creation, early Orlando residents were laid to eternal rest on private plots of land around the city, making it challenging to maintain records. Thus, the aim with Greenwood was to centralize burials and preserve the memory of those who shaped Orlando in its formative years.

In the early days, most graves were marked with wooden cypress tombstones, but all except three were destroyed in a devastating fire. Eventually, stone and marble monuments became customary, many featuring ornate statues and grand mausoleums that stand majestically to this day.

Though the City of Orlando now owns the cemetery grounds, families continue the time-honored tradition of tending to their loved ones' sites.

Interred at Greenwood are some of the most influential figures in Orlando's past - pioneer farmers, politicians, judges, soldiers, trailblazing entrepreneurs and more.

Wander the shady paths and you may chance upon the names Harry P. Leu, Joseph Bumby, T.G. Lee, Joe Tinker, July Perry or J.A. Colyer - all memorializing key contributors who left enduring marks on the city's social, cultural, and economic landscape.

Indeed, Greenwood Cemetery connects modern-day Orlando to its rich heritage in a profoundly intimate way. Among its landscape rests the physical remnants of those who laid the early foundations that enabled the city to flourish over the decades.

Though their time above ground was fleeting, their legacies continue to be set in stone amongst the hallowed burial plots of historic Greenwood Cemetery.

🎩 Hat tip to reader, Keith F., for pointing me in this direction.

THE SQUEEZE 🍊
Video Calls Are the Future of 911: Orange County Rolls Out High-Tech Upgrades

Orange County has implemented groundbreaking new emergency communications technology that allows residents to make video calls to first responders. When a 911 call comes in, dispatchers first gather background details.

Callers are then sent a text with a link to activate their phone's camera for a livestream. This means people in distress can show dispatchers their situation in real time - helping to swiftly pinpoint locations and accurately assess danger levels.

The software is the first of its kind in Central Florida and has immense lifesaving potential. Video calls can aid lost hikers, injured citizens, hazmat incidents, home invasions, hostage situations, and more. They also provide video evidence to help bring criminals to justice.

The tech was developed by Carbyne to modernize 911 systems. After exhaustive testing and planning, Orange County’s emergency response teams recently launched the video call service for their 400 daily 911 calls.

Dispatchers have a live visual to pinpoint locations, assess dangers, and send appropriate aid to those most in need. This brave new world of emergency video calls is already saving lives across the county each day.

Click below to see how it works.👇

Orlando VA Launches Spravato Lifeline for Vets Battling PTSD

After 12 tours across the Middle East, Army Sergeant Major Edgardo Rosa returned home to Florida struggling with PTSD. He pushed through the darkness for years until a friend's suicide in 2016 jolted him awake - he had to get help before becoming another grim statistic.

What followed was a tedious cycle of temporary relief and relapse. In 2019, after retiring, Rosa's condition worsened. He isolated himself, contemplating ending his pain completely. But thoughts of his family kept him alive.

In March 2023, the Orlando VA Hospital launched one of Florida’s first esketamine programs for treatment-resistant depression and suicidal ideation.

The nasal spray, called Spravato, worked in as little as 1-2 weeks for some patients. For Rosa, after over a decade of darkness, he felt the fog lift that first week - his wife noticed the transformation too.

Today, Rosa is in remission after 12 sessions. Life feels manageable again - he can focus on trade school and spend time with family. Rosa now speaks out so other vets understand Spravato allowed him to reclaim light amid the darkness. He urges them not to give up.

Rosa moves forward determined to leave the world brighter through a nonprofit auto shop aimed at helping underprivileged families.

Mobile Shower Seeks to Refresh Homeless Youth's Lives

Over 3,500 youth grapple with homelessness nightly in Central Florida, the highest nationwide rate. 20-year-old Charles De Guzman has struggled since aging out of foster care at 16. Though longing for a job and apartment, he feels trapped.

Next month brings hope as a mobile shower unit is deployed for homeless youth across Orlando. With $150K Funded by Simply Healthcare Plans, the trailer has three bathrooms and laundry. Operated by the nonprofit SALT Outreach, it will traverse Orlando five days a week, serving up to 100 young people daily.

SALT’s 20-year-old director, Eric Camarillo, connects with the youth, having spent agonizing months homeless after living out of his car at 18. Providing what was once his own need gives purpose. The trailer’s driver Kenneth Denizard recalls an encounter in Tampa helping a man bathe for the first time in over a year, underscoring taken-for-granted necessities like water.

The Homeless Services Network of Central Florida coordinates the effort, powered by an $8.4 million federal grant to address the crisis. The Network says the trailer could shift life trajectories, breaking poverty cycles.

For Charles De Guzman, it brings much needed stability and optimism that with some support, his dreams of a job and home can shift from mirage to reality.

Camaraderie on Cobblestone: How Community Cultivated Budding Businesses

On a cobblestone street in Orlando lies a blossoming entrepreneurial community, where women are turning passion projects into successful businesses with the help of supportive neighbors.

Along Lang Avenue, off busy Mills Avenue, a collection of women-owned shops have emerged, bringing new vitality to the formerly quiet area. The proprietors call themselves the "Ladies on Lang."

Christie Edwards and her mother-in-law Julie opened an artisan shop, The House on Lang, three years ago in a charming bungalow. They transformed each room into a creative haven, hoping to make it a true shopper's destination.

The close-knit community grew when Shelby Sloan opened a global housewares store called Gold Dust Home across the street after visiting The House on Lang. She and her sister Allie were drawn to the quaint avenue.

Now several boutiques stock the street, each with distinctive offerings, collectively attracting voyagers to this previously hidden gem.

The business owners support each other, cross-promoting events and leveraging specialties, allowing each passion project to flourish.

Their first joint event, "Love on Lang," will take place February 10th, cementing the spirit of inspirational camaraderie found among the Ladies on Lang.

Florida illuminates path for Alzheimer's support

Over 720,000 Floridians currently face the profound challenge of Alzheimer's disease, with many more cases likely going undiagnosed. This perplexing illness robs individuals of memory, identity, and dignity. For family members, confusion and unpredictability make caring for their loved ones painstaking and worrisome.

Amid this landscape, the Florida legislature has recently proposed Senate Bill 208, spearheaded by Senator Danny Burgess, to provide specialized Alzheimer’s training for law enforcement officers across the state. While currently optional, this innovative online course educates officers on communication strategies, alternatives to restraints, and early warning signs of distress.

Advocates like Disability Rights Florida stress the immense benefits this knowledge could provide in recognizing symptoms early and approaching situations with compassion. Many advocates hope to make such training mandatory in the future as understanding continues to grow.

For families weathering the devastation of Alzheimer’s, small gestures of support make an incredible difference.

Senate Bill 208 signifies a meaningful step toward community awareness and properly equipping those who interface with vulnerable populations.

WEEKDAY FUN?
Candlelight: The Best of Frank Sinatra & Nat King Cole

Let your senses be awakened as you are transported into an enchanted world of candlelit concerts in Orlando. Immerse yourself in the velvety vocals of iconic crooners coming to life against a flickering amber glow.

The acclaimed Candlelight Concert series returns, casting its magic on the grandeur of The Abbey venue.

On Wednesday, January 29th, timeless classics will fill the majestic space - the likes of Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole reinvented before your eyes performed by the Pure Soul Jazz Band.

Surrender to the atmosphere of imagination and intimacy as world-class performers pay homage to these legends of song.

#ORLANDOSIGNAL 📸

Koi on Park Ave.

📷 via @winterparkcitylifestyle  |📍Winter Park

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FOODIE FIND, FORK YEAH! 🤩
eet - Modern, fun Indian cuisine

📍Disney Springs, or map to this location, right here.

The aromas of rich Indian cuisine beckon at eet, the new fast-casual eatery by acclaimed Chef Maneet Chauhan (Food Network’s Chopped fame) in Disney Springs.

Garlic naan hot from the stone ovens pairs heavenly with smooth, tangy paneer cheese. Sweet coriander-honey naan proves a sublime match for curries and kebabs. Crisp, flaky samosas served with lip-smacking chutneys are a must-try.

Favorites fuse classic dishes with creative twists, like the chicken tikka naan pizza swirled with makhani gravy, protein-packed chicken tikka bowl and loaded Indian poutine.

The DIY pani puri transports guests to Mumbai's street food carts. Chef Chauhan names it the dish most reminiscent of childhood afternoons indulging against her mother’s wishes. Beyond exceptional food, EET provides warm, welcoming service and lively ambience with colorful murals.

This exciting new addition earns its place among Orlando’s best dining scenes, whetting appetites for India’s incredible cuisine.

ORLANDO WEATHER 🌤️

Monday

63🌡️ 44 | ☀️ | Plenty of sunshine

Tuesday

65🌡️ 46 | 🌤️ | Sunny to partly cloudy

Wednesday

67 🌡️ 50 | ☀️ | Plenty of sunshine

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THANKS! 🙏

I appreciate your attention and interest! We’ll see you again on Thursday for the weekend fun issue.

My Best,
Philip - Publisher, Orlando Signal