On Wednesday, July 20, The Osceola Chamber hosted an in-person Hob Nob at Osceola Heritage Park for the first time since 2018.
All candidates running in races that touch Osceola County at the local, state, or national level were invited to pre-record a brief statement for the event to help event attendees become better acquainted with their platforms and positions. These video statements played in loop throughout the event and may be viewed below.
In addition, all candidates were invited to participate in the event with a physical booth space alongside our sponsors and other member businesses. Candidates with booth spaces also participated in a “Parade of Candidates” emceed by Chamber President/CEO John Newstreet.
Said John Newstreet, “The Osceola Chamber was pleased to host our Hob Nob for the community. As the saying goes, ‘Elections have consequences,’ and businesses of all sizes are feeling great pressure today and for the foreseeable future due, in large part, to decisions made by elected officials. Attendees were able to engage candidates, vote in our straw poll, and build their network. The event showcased candidates across the spectrum on the Osceola ballot and highlighted how ‘Business Works Better Together.’”
The Osceola Hob Nob was sponsored by Kissimmee Utility Authority, Walt Disney World Resort, the University of Central Florida, and SkyWater Technologies Foundry. The event partnered with the City of Kissimmee, Access Osceola, the Supervisor of Elections, Positively Osceola, The Osceola News Gazette, and El Osceola Star Newspaper.
All ticketed attendees had the opportunity to vote for their favorite candidates with a straw ballot provided by the Osceola County Supervisor of Elections office. Votes were tabulated at the end of the evening.
Straw poll results for the contested races were as follows:
U.S. House of Representatives Florida Congressional District 9
*Darren Soto – 65%
Scotty Moore – 10%
Adianis Morales – 9%
Jose Castillo – 8%
Sergio Ortiz – 7%
Florida Senate District 25
*Victor Torres – 58%
Peter Vivaldi – 42%
Florida House of Representatives Seat 45
*Carolina Amesty – 34%
Allie Braswell – 21%
Mike Zhao – 16%
Vennia Francois – 11%
Bruno Portigliatti – 9%
Janet Frevola – 9%
Florida House of Representatives Seat 46
*Kristen Arrington – 63%
Christian De La Torre – 19%
Ivan Rivera – 18%
Florida House of Representatives Seat 47
*Paula Stark – 40%
Daniel Marquith – 29%
Anthony Nieves – 16%
Andrew Jeng – 14%
Florida House of Representatives Seat 35
*Fred Hawkins – 50%
Tahtiana Chaffin – 13%
Dianna Liebnitzky – 12%
Ken Davenport – 9%
Tom Keen – 9%
Rishi Bagga – 7%
Osceola County Commission District 2
*Viviana Janer – 75%
Beulah Farquarson – 25%
Osceola County Commission District 4
*Cheryl Grieb – 54%
Jackie Espinosa – 43%
Carlos Irizarry – 3%
Osceola County School Board Seat 1
*Teresa Castillo – 59%
Jennifer Arguello – 23%
James Nickles – 18%
Osceola County School Board Seat 4
*Heather Kahoun – 48%
Will Fonseca – 40%
Mindy Brewster – 12%
Osceola County School Board Seat 5
*Erika Booth – 76%
Debra Mann – 24%
City of Kissimmee Commission Seat 2
*Angela Eady – 59%
Felix Ortiz – 41%
City of Kissimmee Commission Seat 4
*Jim Fisher – 58%
Janette Martinez – 42%
St. Cloud City Council Seat 4
*Ken Gilbert – 68%
Tom Lord – 32%
St. Cloud City Council Seat 5
*Christine Ladas-Drake – 29%
Jeffery Rivera – 28%
Shawn Fletcher – 27%
Stephanie Chmielewski – 15%
Circuit Court Judge – Circuit 9, Group 9
*Fay Olga Pappas – 68%
Alison Kerestes – 32%
Circuit Court Judge – Circuit 9, Group 14
*John Beamer – 62%
Michael Stewart – 38%
Circuit Court Judge – Circuit 9,Group 44
*Vincent Chiu – 78%
Aldo Bartolone – 22%
A new senior living community will soon join the St. Cloud community. St. Cloud will be blessed to add another quality senior living option this year: Benton House of Narcoossee. The community is currently offering scheduled tours and founders club rates, and is experiencing rapid growth.
“We’re so honored and humbled by the welcome the residents of St. Cloud have given us,” says Angela Young, Executive Director of the Benton House.
The Benton House community in St. Cloud is designed to create a very specific lifestyle. The community is single-story, so everything is on one level. There are just 52 apartments – enough units to create a sense of community, but still really get to know your neighbors. The dedicated memory care neighborhood design is one of the best in the country with a large open floor plan and 20 apartments. Two large courtyards offer places to relax and reconnect with nature.
Services are planned to be comprehensive. Included with the monthly rental are meals, housekeeping, activities, and a host of other services. Residents may also choose other care services like medication assistance or personal care.
Finally, Angela recommends that the residents of St. Cloud think of Benton House not only a senior living community, but as a resource for help with senior care in general. “We’re proud to have served thousands of seniors at our communities over our 25-plus years of service. But we are equally proud to have served thousands more at home by sharing tools and offering advice.”
The Benton House team believes that, though not everyone will call Benton House their home, they want everyone to feel part of the Benton House family. There are some real keys to successful aging, and their mission is to share those keys with all who call to maximize their service to seniors. Wherever you are in your journey, they are there to help!
For more information about Benton House, you can call 321-895-2121, email narcoosseeinfo@bentonhouse.com, or visit www.bentonhouse.com. Benton House is located at 2910 Narcoossee Road, St Cloud, FL 34771.
We have exciting news for anyone who has ever lamented a lack of more centrally-located, business-friendly accommodations in the Kissimmee area. Hampton Inn Kissimmee North opens in September at 151 Centerview Blvd., just off Orange Blossom Trail across from Tupperware and the Osceola County School for the Arts.
Hampton Inn Kissimmee North boasts 128 guest rooms, a fitness center, an outdoor pool, and even a brand new First Watch Café right on-site. The location is extremely convenient to the shopping and dining offered at The Crosslands and The Loop, and despite being removed from the busy tourism corridor, this new Hampton Inn is still within only 16 miles of the Orlando International Airport, Walt Disney World, and Universal Orlando Resort. Even better, Gatorland Orlando is barely two shakes of a gator’s tail down the street.
Most enticing for the business community, the hotel features 900 square feet of flexible meeting space that can accommodate up to 100 guests depending on room configuration. The location and amenities make a perfect place to stay for clients, customers, out-of-town partners, prospective developers or employees, and any others who might have business here in Osceola County.
They are already accepting reservations beginning September 12. Get to know them and their new role in our community by reaching out to General Manager Rosa DeLeon or Director of Sales Caitlin Sullivan, or visit their website.
