Tiny Traffic Light Tenant

At Orlando's Robinson Street and Bumby Avenue intersection, a shoebox-sized wooden...

June 30, 2025

Welcome to Monday Morning in Orlando

Yesterday I learned the Waffle House in Casselberry (Semoran & Oxford Road) and the one in Clermont on Rt. 50 vie for the “Nicest Waffle House in Greater Orlando” title. 😀

In today’s issue: 👇

  • Tiny Traffic Light Tenant

  • Maverick's Miracle

  • Adriatico Trattoria Italiana

  • ….and much more

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Let’s dive in!

- Philip

ORLANDO REWIND ⏪
Orlando's Tiny Traffic Light Tenant

At Orlando's Robinson Street and Bumby Avenue intersection, a shoebox-sized wooden structure has quietly made history for nearly eight decades. The Bumby Birdhouse began as one man's simple act of compassion and evolved into the city's most beloved micro-landmark.

In the mid-1940s, city engineer W. Aubrey Hickman noticed birds building nests in traffic signal frameworks, only to lose their homes during maintenance. His solution? A pine birdhouse crafted in the city workshop.

With help from sign painter "Sparky" and paint from Bumby Hardware Company, the original featured "Orlando" on its peaked roof and "Better Homes" along the sides.

Though the original succumbed to Florida weather by 1952, the tradition lives on. Each replacement faithfully recreates Hickman's design, maintained by city workers who know residents will call within days if it disappears. Ironically, birds rarely use the exposed house, preferring sheltered signal boxes instead.

The birdhouse has spawned urban legends, including debunked rumors of hidden traffic cameras, but its true power lies in symbolizing Orlando's character: a city that makes room for whimsy, kindness, and the unexpected intersection of human creativity with urban life.

(Learn more about the Bumby Birdhouse with Whitney Broadaway, right here)

THE SQUEEZE 🍊

Maverick's Miracle: How One Injured Dog Inspired a Greater Orlando Rescue Mission

Sometimes extraordinary stories begin with a single word: "No."

When a veterinarian recommended euthanizing Maverick, a dog found severely injured on the roadside, Heidi Hardman refused. She found another vet, saved his life, and discovered her calling. Today, that survivor pup is the mascot for Polka Dogz Pet Rescue.

Since co-founding the rescue in 2015 with two partners, Heidi balanced running her Winter Garden jewelry store, Polka Dotz, with helping build an infrastructure that’s saved nearly 2,000 dogs across greater Orlando. Operating from their Howie in the Hills sanctuary, the team specializes in senior and special needs dogs, the forgotten ones often overlooked elsewhere.

Starting in a fifth-wheel trailer at an RV park, their vision grew into a proper facility where broken spirits heal and abandoned hearts learn to love again.

Since moving her store to downtown Winter Garden four years ago, the rescues dedicated employees and army of volunteers have kept the rescue thriving, crafting perfect family matches that teach children compassion while giving deserving dogs their forever homes.

Maverick's story embodies their mission: every life has value, regardless of circumstance.

👉 Want to tell me about a Community Superstar? Then, click here.

Historic Hall's Feed Store Trades Grain for Gourmet

Where horses once chomped hay, hungry humans now devour gourmet delights. Hall's On 5th, Apopka's shiny new food hall, has given a century-old feed store the ultimate glow-up at 15 East 5th Street.

This weathered brick beauty served as Hall's Feed Store since 1928, Apopka's second-oldest business where folks grabbed dog chow and hay bales. Co-owner Ella Duke ditched Downtown Orlando after spotting the magic happening in trendy spots like the Mills district, knowing Apopka was ripe for something delicious.

Six food vendors now sling tasty treats where livestock feed once towered in stacks. Duke's crew lovingly preserved creaky hardwood floors, faded photographs, and that charming 1928 "Hall's Feed" sign. This isn't just business for Duke, it's her love letter to downtown Apopka.

(Learn more about Hall’s on 5th launch with Emma Delamo, right here)

From Danger Zone to Sky Walk: Orlando's $36M Safety Bet

Orange County is building something special at International Drive and Sand Lake Road, a stunning $35.5 million pedestrian overpass.

This busy intersection handles 72,000 daily vehicles but has seen 661 crashes between 2017-2022, including a dozen involving pedestrians. Tragically, a Tampa teenager celebrating her 17th birthday was killed last year while trying to cross the challenging roadway.

The elegant concrete structure will gracefully connect all four corners, letting pedestrians and cyclists move safely above the traffic below.

Construction begins January 2028 and wraps up by July 2030, helping transform what was once considered America's most dangerous walking area into something much safer for everyone.

(Learn lots more about the I-Drive Pedestrian Overpass with Stephan Hudak, right here)

Ocoee Police's Clever New Program Keeps Seniors Safe (and Their Doors Intact!)

When medical emergencies strike, first responders sometimes face an awkward choice: save precious seconds or save the front door. The Ocoee Police Department's ingenious new Lockbox program lets them do both.

This smart initiative targets seniors aged 65 and older living solo, providing secure metal storage devices that house spare keys. For just $15, the cost of equipment, participants can wave goodbye to worries about emergency crews having to break down their doors during a crisis.

The department notes this addresses two pressing needs: lightning-fast emergency response for seniors who might not reach their doors during medical emergencies, plus protecting property from damage.

Only authorized police, fire, and EMS personnel know the entry codes, keeping security tight while ensuring help arrives quickly when it matters most.

TASTY NEWS 🧑‍🍳
Orlando Area Eateries Coming & Going

1️⃣ Jala Indian Fine Dining - Authentic North Indian Flavors Arriving

A sophisticated new venture brings 25 years of global restaurant expertise to Winter Park with Jala Indian Fine Dining (Insta). This upscale establishment promises uncompromising North Indian authenticity, featuring 85 total seats, and innovative wine-based cocktails opening soon. "Jala" means "Water" in Sanskrit, symbolizing culinary purity.

😔 Dearly Departed/ing: Guy Fieri’s Chicken Guy is closing in Winter Park, while the Daybreak Diner on Curry Ford also announced their closure.

#ORLANDOSIGNAL 📸

Sunrise over Nemours Childrens Health

📷 via @orlandosignal |📍Lake Nona

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

FOODIE FIND, FORK YEAH! 🤩

📍2417 Edgewater Drive, Orlando, FL 32804. See location info, right here.

In College Park's dining scene, Adriatico Trattoria Italiana (Insta) stands apart as an authentic slice of Italy.

Husband-and-wife team Rosetta and Marco, natives of coastal Ortona, have spent over a decade crafting genuine Italian cuisine that earned the prestigious Ospitalita Italiana seal of quality, the only local restaurant so honored.

Their scratch kitchen showcases seafood specialties like shrimp fra Diavolo and rich zuppa di pesce beneath candlelit ambiance.

This isn't your typical pizza joint; it's where Italian tradition meets intimate dining perfection.

Image Courtesy of Adriatico Trattoria Italiana

MORE PULP! 😎
Weekday things to check out

📄 Next Step Screenplay Series: "Kingdom City" 
📅 Monday, June 30, 2025 | 7-10pm 
📍 Bynx Orlando, 420 E. Church Street

Staged reading of an original screenplay about a man transported to a world of anthropomorphic animals, followed by Q&A.
👉 Get Tix

🎮 Game & Hobby Night at The Burrow 
📅 Tuesdays | 5-8pm 
📍 The Burrow Cafe & Play, Mills area

Weekly gathering for games, crafts, reading, and relaxation with drink specials available. 👉 Play Together

🪶 Native American Heritage: Music, Dance and History 
📅 Tuesday, July 1, 2025 | 2-3pm 
📍 OCLS Chickasaw Branch

Educational program with living historian Jim Sawgrass exploring Indigenous Floridian culture through performance.
👉 Learn Together

🍔 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.
👉 Dine Alfresco

🎆 Red Hot & Boom 
📅 Thursday, July 3, 2025 | 5-10pm 
📍 Cranes Roost Park, Altamonte Springs

Central Florida's premier Independence Day celebration featuring live music, food, family activities, and fireworks.
👉 No Admission Cost

🎸 Rock & Brews Latin Night 
📅 Thursday, July 3, 2025 | 7-10pm 
📍 Rock & Brews, Oviedo

Live music with The Rundown, dancing, and food & drink specials.
👉 Dance Away

🌿 Late Night Thursdays 
📅 Thursdays | 5-8pm 
📍 Leu Gardens

Extended evening hours featuring the Origami in the Garden exhibit with picnicking and drinks allowed.
👉 Evening Stroll

🍶 Sake, YA! Sake Class 
📅 Thursday, July 3, 2025 | 6pm & 8pm 
📍 Bar Kada Winter Park

Cultural exploration of Japanese sake featuring three tastings with paired small bites.
👉 Learn & Taste

🎧 Cat Dealers 
📅 Thursday, July 3, 2025 | 9pm 
📍 Live! at the Pointe Orlando

Global DJ duo brings electronic beats to Palm Tree Club for a late-night party experience.
👉 Party Time

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