The Orange County Health Department is offering immunizations to children 2 months to 18 years of age at no charge during the “Back-to-School Immunization” event.  This event will take place from July 6, 2009 through August 8, 2009 every Monday through Friday from 7:30am-3pm at the Central Florida Learning Community Center located at 1200 West Colonial Drive, Orlando.  This site will also be open on Saturday, July 11, 2009 and August 8, 2009 from 7:30am-3pm. Due to the high demand for immunizations, services will be provided on a first come, first served, walk-in basis.  The maximum number of children will be immunized each scheduled day based on staffing. Children must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to receive immunizations.  If not, a notarized permission form must be presented. Identification of parent or legal guardian and copy of child’s shot record is required. For more information on childhood immunizations, call 407-836-2517 or visit our website at www.orchd.com.

Don’t Miss the 2009 Orange County Community Conference. Come and bring your neighbors to the 16th annual Orange County Community Conference! We’ve scheduled a day of exciting workshops to help you keep your neighborhood safe and beautiful. You can enjoy an old-fashioned BBQ lunch, live entertainment, door prizes, community awards, neighborly networking and much more. Sponsored by the Neighborhood Services Division, this event will take place Saturday, July 18th, from 8am to 2:30pm, at the beautiful Renaissance Senior Center, at South Econ Community Park, 3800 South Econlockhatchee Trail. Everyone is welcome to attend! Due to limited on-site parking, participants are asked to park at the Orange County Utilities Headquarters, 9150 Curry Ford Road, and take our free shuttle to the event. The cost is $10. Pre-registration is required and space is limited, so don’t delay! To register, go to www.orangecountyfl.net/neighborhoods and download the registration forms. For more information, call the Neighborhood Services Division at 407-836-5606. We can’t wait to see you there!

Learn to Create a Rain Garden, and Ultimately, Help Our Environment. Summer in Central Florida means afternoon showers, so why not use them to your advantage? Join us at the Seminole County Extension and learn to create a beautiful and colorful garden that will grow right from a rainwater holding area in your yard. This type of garden helps protect our ground water by reducing stormwater runoff. The free class takes place Saturday, July 18, from 9-10am, at 250 W. County Home Road in Sanford. Registration is required. Please call 407-665-5575 to register or for more information.

National Black Chamber to Host 17th Annual Convention. The National Black Chamber of Commerce, Inc. the largest Black business association in the world, will be hosting its 17th Annual Convention in Washington, DC from July 22 – 24, 2009 at the Fairfax at Embassy Row Hotel – 2100 Massachusetts Avenue, in downtown Washington, DC . The theme for this year is “Change Has Come” and all of the updates and initiatives of the Obama Administration will be discussed, including the current Stimulus Bill. The general public is invited to register and participate. For more information on the convention, visit te website at www.nationalbcc.org or join the new FREE social networking site www.mynationalbcc.org. 

FAMU Alumni Association Greater Orlando Chapter Monthly Meeting, Every Second Monday 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm at the FAMU College of Law, 201 Beggs Drive, Orlando 32810.  Rattlers, we would like to see you there !!  Each One Bring One ."

Ongoing Services
Look Good… Feel Better -   Co-sponsored by the American Cancer Society.  Specially trained cosmetology professionals in the community donate their time & expertise to teach women how to use cosmetics, wigs and scarves to cope with the unpleasant side effects of cancer treatment. Look Good Feel Better is held the second Monday of each month from 1 to 3 p.m. Seating is limited, registration is required. Contact Michele Delafranconi, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, at 321-841-5742 to register.  For other dates or locations, please contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345.

Hospice Volunteers Needed. VITAS Innovative Hospice Care of Central Florida needs volunteers in your area who can befriend terminally ill patients, provide relief for weary caregivers, accompany their pet on Paw Pals visits, visit with veterans, provide art and music therapy, make bereavement calls, sew, make crafts, help repair medical equipment, or help with administrative work. Call 407-691-4541 or e-mail central.floridavolunteers@vitas.com if you would like to find out more information.