A Grade Above: The 2022 Public High School Report Card

With the new school year right around the corner, we are taking our annual look at how the area’s public high schools measure up in key areas. Gleaning information from the Florida Department of Education, we were able to gather key data in areas like average SAT scores, graduation rates and senior class sizes. Furthermore, we also had the chance to speak with Dr. Maria Vazquez,... Read More

Close Call

Glenn Close is truly in a class by herself. There are few film, stage and television actors who have portrayed such a wide range of unforgettable characters and consistently done so at such a high level of excellence and critical acclaim. In fact, Close has won more than 70 acting awards over four decades, including three Golden Globes and three Emmys. Her remarkable career serves... Read More

Parenting Guide: Special Needs

Tara Halaychick, the high school guidance counselor at Pace Brantley Preparatory, notes that students often greet their first day at the school—which exclusively enrolls K-12 children who have learning disabilities—with a learned mistrust. “Typically, when they first step foot on campus as a new student, they’ve had an experience before Pace that wasn’t so great, so they... Read More

Parenting Guide: Senior Living

The onset of COVID and the wide-ranging interruptions and upheaval it unceremoniously dropped on a global population meant that everyone had to adapt to a new normal, and fast. Suddenly, our worlds shrunk as loved ones, neighbors and daily routines were off-limits and feeling inaccessibly far away. Quickly pivoting to digital avenues to both stay connected and tend to those daily... Read More

Parenting Guide: Health and Wellness

For parents, the care and well-being of their children is one of the most important things in the world. Therefore, finding a pediatrician who best meets the needs of their child is paramount. But how do you know who the best doctor for your child is? Orlando Family Magazine recently spoke with several experts in the field who offered advice on things to look for and some pertinent... Read More

Parenting Guide: Family Fun

Now that school is out, many families are looking into summer vacation options. Living in Central Florida offers an abundance of choices for staycations, as well as easy access to cruising ports. Road trips and air travel allow families to explore areas outside of their everyday lives. Whatever the selection, traveling as a family has many advantages and can help create precious... Read More

Parenting Guide: Education

Parental support and guidance are often integral components to a child’s early successes. However, finding the right balance of nudging without nagging has proven to be a struggle for many parents. Tim McDermott of Tim McDermott Tutoring & Test Prep in Maitland believes, “it’s actually healthy for parents to hold their children to high standards, but only to the point... Read More

Hometown Heroine

Growing up in Orlando, Ashley Eckstein attended Dr. Phillips Elementary School, Southwest Middle School and Dr. Phillips High School. The talented performer has since gone on to star in numerous films and television shows. Eckstein is best known for voicing the role of Ahsoka Tano throughout the Star Wars franchise, beginning with Star Wars: The Clone Wars in 2008. In addition... Read More

Trailblazer

Tim McGraw is a damn fine American—humble, heartfelt and wholly unafraid of a hard day’s work. This Louisiana native grew up writing poetry and riding rodeo, two seemingly disparate experiences that helped shape him into one of America’s brightest stars in music, TV and film. It is quite fitting that renowned screenwriter Taylor Sheridan asked this living embodiment of the... Read More

One Sizzling Summer

With the summer season upon us and families across the area looking to get out and about we decided to round up some of Greater Orlando’s best outdoor events. From neighborhood gatherings and Independence Day celebrations to some of the theme park’s biggest happenings, let this be your guide to soaking up the sun in style. June 3-4 Florida Funk Fest 2022 at the Central Florida... Read More

A Captivating Collaboration

After Cirque du Soleil’s long-running hit show La Nouba closed at the end of 2017, Orlando audiences eagerly awaited the company’s next production. A dream collaboration was soon formed between Cirque and Disney in the form of Drawn to Life. The highly anticipated show was primed to debut in the spring of 2020 but was shut down just days shy of opening due to the pandemic. Nearly... Read More

‘A History of Being Resilient’

It’s been a rough two years.  Whether you feel surreally suspended in March 2020 or are convinced you’ve somehow aged a decade since then, the upheaval of everyday life has influenced every facet of existence, leaving even those who sidestepped major loss, disruption and medical bills exhausted and wondering how much longer this can last.  There is some renewed optimism about... Read More

Feeding Those in Need

Food banks across the country have spent the past two years noting that when demand is high for their services, times are tough for their communities.  But those tough times can also showcase the best of humanity when people come together for a good cause, which is exactly what the team at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida has witnessed throughout the pandemic.  “What... Read More

Vacation Season

Summer is right around the corner, which means vacation plans are being finalized and a much-needed break from the daily grind will soon be on its way. While some local residents will surely be looking forward to visiting different parts of the country or even international locations, others prefer staying a little closer to home. Fortunately, there are options upon options just... Read More

All Hail the Queen

When socialite Jackie Siegel and her billionaire husband, Westgate Resorts founder David Siegel, began work on their dream home, they certainly didn’t envision the project taking over 20 years to complete. The house gained great notoriety worldwide following the 2012 documentary The Queen of Versailles. Currently, Siegel and her family can be seen on Queen of Versailles Reigns... Read More

A Healing Touch

The Top Veterinarians in the Greater Orlando region! DERMATOLOGY VETERINARIANS Dr. Dawn Logas | Maitland Dr. Marcia Schwassmann | Maitland   EMERGENCY VETERINARIANS Dr. Alexandria McKemie-Foster | Orlando Dr. Steve Schindler | Orlando Dr. Lori Tilley | Orlando   EQUINE VETERINARIANS Dr. DeHaven Batchelor | Serving Central Florida Dr. Erin Denny-Jones  Florida Equine... Read More

‘His Book is Still to Be Written’

Most governors don’t have name recognition beyond their state. Sure, some of the more outspoken ones might grab national headlines for a news cycle or two, but those names rarely have staying power, especially when there’s plenty going on closer to home. But everyone seems to know who Florida’s current governor is and whether Gov. Ron DeSantis evokes cheers or jeers depends... Read More

Feeling the Squeeze

Everywhere you look these days, prices are up. From small essentials such as fruits, vegetables, eggs, meat, gas and clothing to big-ticket items including cars, housing, utilities and home improvements, consumers are experiencing sticker shock that hasn’t been seen in 40 years. Yet while the average person is just now feeling the squeeze of inflation in their everyday lives,... Read More

Helping Hands

Life as a mother of seven kids between the ages of 17 and 8 certainly gets hectic, to say the least, but Susanna Gedaro isn’t one to complain. Considering what she went through on the road to parenthood, she makes it a point to appreciate all of the highs and lows that come with the role. Gedaro suffered through multiple miscarriages—the first of which came very late in her... Read More

For the Thrill of it All

With most COVID restrictions beginning to ease and many people returning to their pre-pandemic activities, the local theme parks and other nearby attractions are more poised than ever to welcome back guests.  Over the past several months, attendance at the area theme parks has soared. Guests from near and far have returned in droves after the parks were temporarily shut down for... Read More

A Rising Star

At just 17 years old, Central Florida’s own Logan Allen already has quite an impressive acting résumé. From television to the big screen, Allen has worked alongside some of the industry’s best. Yet, with the support of his loving family, he remains humble and level-headed. The up-and-coming actor currently stars on the hit Netflix show Sweet Magnolias and will soon appear... Read More