What's an AXEpert?

December 21, 2023

Reading time: 4 minutes

Good afternoon, Orlando! Next Monday is Christmas day so weā€™re taking the holiday off and will resume normal programing NEXT Thursday, December 28th. I know thereā€™s a lot online pulling your attention in different directions. Weā€™re grateful youā€™re here giving us 5 minutes twice a week. šŸ™

šŸŽ„ For those of you who celebrate, have a happy and healthy Christmas holiday!

In todayā€™s Orlando Signal, Thursday (weekend fun) issue:

  • Swimming for Gold

  • Whatā€™s an AXEpert?

  • Drone show

  • + some pre-Christmas weekend recs

Letā€™s get on with it!

- Philip

QUICK NEWS BITS ā²ļø
Swimming for Gold: Paralympians Converge on Orlando

Nearly 120 of Americaā€™s best Paralympic swimmers will compete this weekend at the 2023 U.S. Paralympics Swimming National Championships in Orlando, the first time the prestigious event has been held in the city.

The world-class Rosen Aquatic Center, home to one of the fastest pools in the USA, will host the athletes as they race in events like butterfly and backstroke, striving for top times and a chance to qualify for the 2024 Paris Paralympics.

Team USA Director Erin Popovich, a legend herself with 14 Paralympic golds, expressed excitement for the swimmers to race in the superb Orlando facility. According to Popovich, the fast pool and city's vibrant energy will help the athletes achieve success.

Stars like freestyle phenomenon Grace Nuhfer and backstroke ace Noah Jaffe will battle this weekend while newcomers also hope to make their impact felt. Top finishers advance to the June 2024 Trials in Minneapolis where only the worldā€™s best will clinch a ticket to Paris and get their shot at Paralympic glory. With courage, skill and determination, Orlando may be the springboard that propels American swimmers to future gold.

A Beacon of Hope on Wheels Faces Growing Demand and Shrinking Budget

A retrofitted ambulance parks outside Orlandoā€™s Christian Service Center each week, providing free healthcare to the areaā€™s ballooning homeless population. Long lines form as the American Muslim Community Clinic's mobile medical unit treats wound infections, bronchitis, diabetes - name a condition, they see it.

But while patient volume has spiked 200% during the pandemic, finances are heading in the opposite direction. Clinic Director Atiff Fareed says they've seen huge growth in homeless patients, but his budget hasnā€™t grown 200%. Operating costs are up with medical supplies increasing 150-200% and monthly insurance premiums quadrupling to $4400.

Yet the mobile clinic perseveres as the sole provider treating homeless on the streets. Physician Assistant Muhammad Hamid "MacGyvers" first aid when antibiotics run low. 52-year-old Denise Rosa gets meds for the bronchitis and bum ankle keeping her from finding work. As patient loads and expenses swell, the American Muslim Community Clinic strains to meet demand - a healthcare lifeline to Central Floridaā€™s most vulnerable.

Orlandoā€™s Uneasy Step Towards School Safety

Wekiva High School broke in a new security pilot program this past Monday as the first of seven OCPS schools to install high-tech weapons screening portals dubbed ā€œOPENGATE.ā€ The $475,000 trial aimed to detect guns and contraband through theme-park style screening at entry gates.

Superintendent Maria Vazquez selected the schools at random across board districts to test whether the systems could make inroads against campus violence after deputies confiscated nine firearms across Orange County schools last year. She touted the long-debated move as ā€œanother way we tried to make schools safe.ā€

The district will evaluate whether to expand the program based on early evidence. For now, Wekiva students faced new procedures from the moment they stepped through the school gates this Monday, with disciplinary action possible for those caught in secondary screenings with banned items.

Despite privacy concerns, Vazquez felt an obligation to piloting proactive safety measures - even if it means turning schools into fortresses. The community anxiously awaits proof that OPENGATE provides security without sacrificing student wellbeing.

WEEKEND SPOT HIGHLIGHT šŸ”¦
The Axe Trap

šŸ“2600 Lee Road, Winter Park, FL. Map to this location.

šŸ• Tue, Wed, Thur. 11:30 AM - 10:00 PM, Fri & Sat, 11:30 AM - 2:00 AM, Sun, 11:30 AM - 8:00 PM

šŸ‘‰ Get more info, right here.

Behind the soaring 20-foot art deco walls of a converted 1920s Winter Park warehouse, a one-of-a-kind sanctuary awaits. Welcome to The Trap - equal parts axe-throwing arena and eatery, fused into an industrial-chic gathering venue for thrill-seekers, foodies, and everyone between.

Led by expert AXEperts, the 5,000 square-foot space guarantees exhilarating yet safe axe-throwing adventures for groups big and small. When arms tire, wander to the lounge where bites crafted by an award-winning chef steal the spotlight. With locally-sourced shared plates and a drink menu spanning craft brews to curated wines, the exceptional fare matches the venue's throwback charm.

Whether you're an axe aficionado itching to hit the targets or simply desire a great meal in an iconic setting, The Trap aims to amaze and unite. Founded by entrepreneurial surgeons Manny Perez and David Varnagy as a modern community hub, it welcomes all who seek competitions, camaraderie, and exceptional experiences - axes optional.

TOP 3 FUN RECS FOR THE WEEKEND šŸŠ
The Magic of 500 Dancing Drones Over Downtown Orlando

šŸ“Lake Eola Park, 512 East Washington Street, Orlando, FL 32801. Map to this location.

šŸ• Saturday, Dec. 23rd, 8pm

Imagine gazing up at the night sky to see a fantastic aerial display unlike anything youā€™ve witnessed before. This holiday season, the city of Orlando invites you to experience the magic of technology and the spirit of the holidays colliding in an unforgettable event.

As darkness falls over scenic Lake Eola Park on December 23rd at 8pm, a swarm of 500 intricately choreographed drones will launch into the air, synchronizing and morphing into dazzling images inspired by the most wonderful time of the year. Snowflakes will glisten, snowmen will wave, reindeer will prance - a true winter wonderland in the Sunshine State.

Gather the family, pack your coziest blankets, and claim your spot to soak in a 12-minute extravaganza of holiday cheer from Mother Natureā€™s best seats. Before the big event, meander through the parkā€™s festive market brimming with local artisans, tasty treats, and holiday tunes.

This celebration promises glowing holiday magic against the Orlando night sky that simply canā€™t be missed. Donā€™t just tell your friends about it later - be part of the lively audience when 500 drones bring the spirit of the holidays to life at Lake Eola this Saturday.

Dickens by Candlelight


šŸ“Audubon Park Covenant Church. 3219 Chelsea St, Orlando Map to this location.

šŸ• December 21st, 22nd, 23rd at 7pm.

A beloved Orlando holiday tradition returns as the Audubon Park Covenant Church presents a captivating three-actor production of "A Christmas Carol" adapted by local theater legend Robin Olson. Starring Robin alongside his talented wife Terry and actress Monica Long Tamborello, this lively retelling transports audiences to Victorian England for a heartwarming night with Scrooge, Tiny Tim and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future.

Festivities begin at 7pm sharp with joyful Christmas carols filling the church halls. Then at 7:30, Robin and company weave their magicā€”bringing the timeless Dickensian tale alive through dynamic storytelling that has spellbound attendees since 1997. Sip steaming cups of tea and nibble on home-baked treats as this holiday spirit-igniting show unfolds nightly from December 19-23.

Tickets are $49.50, with discounts available. A limited supply of $15 rush tickets will be released 30 minutes before showtime each evening. Feel free to bring canned items for the church's food pantry and receive $20 off your admission.

However you attend, this acclaimed Orlando tradition promises a captivating night of Victorian Christmas cheer.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra


šŸ“Kia Center. 400 West Church Street, Orlando, Florida 32801. Map to this location.

šŸ• Friday, December 22nd. 2:30Ppm and 7:30pm

The stage explodes with light and sound as the legendary Trans-Siberian Orchestra bursts onto the scene at Orlando's iconic Kia Center. This titan of Yuletide tunes returns on December 22nd, wielding a sonic extravaganza that infuses classical compositions with the raw energy of rock and roll.

At 2:30PM and 7:30PM, the curtain rises on "The Ghosts of Christmas Eve: The Best of TSO & More," the group's latest innovation on their perennial holiday spectacular. Prepare for a multimedia blitzkrieg of music, dancers, lasers, and yes, even pyrotechnics, as this 60-piece ensemble reshapes Christmas classics into epics worthy of the Bolshoi Ballet. The very walls will shake from audio overload in this celebration of festive favorites by these maestros of mock-metal merrymaking.

So ring in the season with a sonic feast for the senses as the Trans-Siberian Orchestra stakes its claim as the undisputed heavyweight champion of Yuletide jam sessions. This symphonic spectacular will leave your ears ringing with joy to the world.

WEEKEND HAPPENINGS šŸŽ­ šŸ„ 

Friday:

Saturday:

ORLANDO WEATHER šŸŒ¤ļø

Friday

74šŸŒ”ļø 59 | ā›…ļø | Nice with intervals of clouds and sun

Saturday

76 šŸŒ”ļø 58 | ā›…ļø | Partial sunshine

Sunday

77 šŸŒ”ļø 61 | ā›…ļø | Intervals of clouds and sunshine

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THANKS! šŸ™

Weā€™ll see you NEXT Thursday! Many thanks for reading the Orlando Signal today. If you found something useful or interesting, please share this edition with someone you know!

My Best,
Philip - Publisher, Orlando Signal