HRT for Women in Killarney, FL

Living in Florida has many benefits, one of which is that summer is almost practically year-round. We aren’t called the Sunshine State for nothing! Our weather makes enjoying the many lakes in Central Florida an ideal option for a date day. The Winter Park Chain of Lakes is one of our favorite destinations. And there are many other options too.

To help you plan your next outdoor adventure, we put together a Guide to Orlando's Best Lakes where you can enjoy swimming, fishing, kayaking, or just simply having a lovely day with someone special. Plus, we share an introduction to the best natural springs near Orlando.

Updated December 2023 by Meghan Roth

ORLANDO LAKES

Winter Park Chain of Lakes

There are plenty of Orlando lakes for a great date or activity with friends. And a magnificent collection of lakes in one spot is the Winter Park Chain of Lakes. This group is connected by navigable canals.

Residents of the area tend to take full advantage of the beauty and recreation these Orlando lakes offer. But visitors to Orlando would be remiss to overlook the Winter Park Chain of Lakes.

A fun way to explore the Winter Park Chain of Lakes is in a clear kayak with Get Up and Go Kayaking. They have locations all around the state of Florida, including Winter Park.

Our favorite way to explore the Winter Park Chain of Lakes is with an experience that has been offered in Central Florida for many decades. The Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour is a must-do. You'll cruise along Lake Osceola, Lake Virginia, and Lake Maitland, navigating narrow canals between each lake while learning about numerous estate homes, Rollins College, and Winter Park history.

Boat tours run hourly from 10am-4pm, and are first come, first served. The cost is $20 per person. Dress comfortably and bring water, sunscreen, and sunglasses.

Besides being a popular launch spot for Paddleboard Orlando tours (they do a $35 beginner-friendly paddle board tour of the nearby chain of lakes every Saturday), Lake Virginia is also home to Winter Park Beach (a.k.a. Dinky Dock). Here you can set out a beach chair under the shade of a live oak, soak up some rays, or take a swim.

Be aware, that it's not always safe to swim here in the summer months due to an increase in harmful bacteria in the water. This area is sampled bi-weekly for bacterial contamination. The beach is posted with a ‘no swimming' warning when bacteria counts exceed State of Florida guidelines for swimming areas.

While Winter Park's Lake Virginia gets most of the attention, another sparkling gem is Lake Maitland. This lake is part of most tours and experiences involving the chain, however, it is lovely enough to explore on its own.

Many residents love to launch their boats and other watercraft from Fort Maitland Park. Fort Maitland Park now offers a new playground, restrooms, and picnic areas.

Other Orlando Area Lakes

While many people might not think of Lake Eola as a typical “lake,” it is one of the most popular options for Orlandoans looking to have a good time. You can even bring your furry friends, too.

Known for its white and black swans, the lake is located in the middle of Downtown Orlando and features restaurants, the Disney Amphitheater, swan boats to paddle around the lake, and a fountain that illuminates at night in the middle of the lake.

Every Sunday from 10am-4pm, there is the Orlando Farmers' Market. Held in the southeast corner of Lake Eola, the market features local vendors who sell homemade crafts, food, and art.

Lake Toho is one of Florida's largest lakes. It is renowned as one of the best fishing places in Florida for catching trophy bass. The lake’s tributary streams headwaters to the Everglades ecosystem. The lake has multiple RV/camping sites and is home to Big Toho Marina. Scenic Brinson Park sits on the shore and has a fishing pier, BBQ grills, picnic tables, and access to the Florida Trail.

Lake Toho is also home to Makinson Island, which is situated on the northern third of the lake. This 132-acre island offers approximately 3.5 miles of hiking trails and wildlife viewing opportunities. The island is only accessible by boat or kayak.

Lake Kissimmee has it all when it comes to marine life to sink, hook, and catch: bluegill, largemouth bass, catfish, crappie, and chain pickerel. The best part is you don’t even need to have a boat.

While the lake boasts a boat ramp with direct access to Lake Kissimmee, budding anglers can fish from the marina, dam, and canal banks. They also allow kayaking and canoeing on the lake.

Sprawling over 35,000 acres, Lake Kissimmee and it's neighboring lakes and creeks of the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes is the place to go to catch some fish. You can also see some wildlife and just relax on the open waters.

RELATED: Natural Parks Near Orlando's Theme Parks

Lake County residents got lucky because instead of just having one option of a lake for fun in the sun, they have eight. The Harris Chain of Lakes are a part of the Upper Ocklawaha River Basin, which is a sub-basin of the St. Johns River.

The lakes that make up this chain include Lake Eustis, Lake Harris, Little Lake Harris, Lake Dora, Lake Beauclair, Lake Griffin, Lake Yale, and Lake Carlton.

Lake Harris is the largest of the lakes, measuring 13,788 acres with an irregular shape. Fisherman’s Cove Marina is one option for enjoying Lake Harris; it has a marina, RV sites, lodging, and recreational areas.

Lake Harris and all the other lakes are go-to places for sailors, boaters, and even water skiers alike. Not to mention, there are plenty of bass to go around.

NATURAL SPRINGS

READ MORE: Explore the BEST Natural Springs Near Orlando

Wekiwa SpringsLocation: Longwood

Come swim in the crystal clear waters of Wekiwa Springs. The water is 72 degrees Fahrenheit year-round and always beautifully clear. With the springs holding 42 million gallons of water, there are so many water-related activities to engage in.

Wekiwa Springs and Wekiva River can be explored via canoe or kayak, which can be rented onsite by visiting or calling the canoe rental stand at 407-884-4311 or by visiting www.canoewekiva.com. There are also several trails available at Wekiwa Springs State Park, ranging in length from .8 of a mile to 13.5 miles.

While you're in the area, consider visiting Wekiva Island.

Kelly Park/Rock SpringsLocation: Apopka

Rock Springs is home to Kelly Park/Rock Springs Run, one of the go-to places for tubing in Central Florida. Kelly Park has a free-flowing natural spring that is 68 degrees year-round. It's perfect for just relaxing in the sun inside an inner tube. They also have areas to kayak and canoe in. Admission to the park is $3 per vehicle for 1-2 people; $5 per vehicle for 3-8 people and tubes can be rented outside of the park for a nominal fee.

Tallahassee Reports has learned that the Killearn Homes Association (KHA) is taking steps towards selling vacant land located at the Thomasville Road – Killarney Way entrance to Killearn Estates.

According to KHA meeting minutes, a vote was taken on March 12, 2020 by the KHA Board to sell the 3575 Tallahassee Road lot and an optional portion of the 3565 Thomasville Road lot. Both lots are located on the northside of the entrance to Killearn Estates via Killarney Way.

The vote was 7-1 to move forward with the sale.

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At the April 7th meeting, the KHA minutes indicate that a property appraisal of the land considered for sale is underway.

In a recent Facebook post, the KHA stated that “when the appraisal is presented to the Board, it will discuss how to proceed. The Board will examine the buffer, define restrictions placed on the property and finally, whether to sell the lot or not.”

The KHA also stated that the “front entrance is not being sold. The lot, 3575 Thomasville Road is adjacent to the north section of the front entrance, at the corner of Tallahassee Drive.”

The KHA minutes indicate that part of the proceeds from a sale would go to fund approximately $100,000 in repairs that are required at the Killearn Swim Club located on Killarney Way.

The KHA stated that the Board voted to lend the pool funds from the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) reserve and that the Swim Club will pay back the loan out of its revenues.

According to property records, the Killearn Estates entrance currently consists of approximately 5.4 acres, with 2.4 acres on the southside of Killarney Way and 2.9 acres on northside.

The land under consideration for sale is 1.43 acres of the 2.9 acres located on the northside as outlined in the Leon County Property Appraiser map below, plus the yet to be determined acreage amount of the “optional portion” of the the 3575 Thomasville Road lot.

According to the KHA minutes, KHA officials will “provide details of the sale of the entrance lots and report back to the Board as soon as possible.”

The next KHA meeting is scheduled, via Zoom, on May 5th.

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March is one of our more curious months. In addition to knowing we need to beware the Ides of March, we have celebrated everything from National Grammar Day (the 4th) and Dentist’s Day (the 6th) to International Women’s Day (the 8th) and both Potato Chips and Pi on the 14th. (3.14 is, of course, the perfect day for “pi.”)

For the 31.5 million Americans who claimed Irish ancestry in the 2020 census — even our Irish-American dentists, grammarians and junk-food addicts — the month’s most important day is March 17, St. Patrick’s Day. That is especially important in Florida where the New World’s celebration of Ireland’s Patron Saint, a man never officially canonized a saint, began. In 1601 Padre Ricardo Arturo, the St. Augustine parish priest, sponsored the first parade in honor of San Patricio.

Like many who came to La Florida with the Spanish, Ricardo Arturo was actually an Irishman, Fr. Richard Arthur. During the generations when Irish Catholics could not own land, attend schools or hold office in their native land, many sought careers and fortunes in France and Spain. In France they founded wineries and one, Richard Hennessy, began distilling and exporting brandies. He succeeded so well that Hennessy Cognac is now the world’s best-selling brand.

The Irish who migrated to Spain became an essential part of Florida’s heritage. Miguel (Michael) O’Reilly and Thomas Hassett, two of the many Irish priests who came to Florida, supervised the building of St. Augustine’s Cathedral from 1793 to 1797. Arturo (Arthur) O’Neill led Spain’s Hibernian Brigade, composed primarily of Irish soldiers, during our Revolutionary War as it supported the colonies by raiding English settlements throughout the Caribbean and eventually capturing Pensacola in 1781 to force the surrender of British troops in one of the two American colonies that remained loyal to England. .

For his service Colonel O’Neill was appointed the first Spanish Governor of West Florida from 1781 to 1792. Another Dublin-born Spanish officer, Enrique (Henry) White, served as Governor of East Florida from 1796 to 1811.

Our state’s Irish heritage is not, of course, solely military or ecclesiastical. We have four unincorporated areas (Hibernia, Shamrock, Dublin, Killarney) named in honor of the land the Romans called Hibernia, the land of winter, a place they considered far too cold to even consider invading. That may be why so many Irish citizens choose to hibernate in the Sunshine State each year, joining the 8.4% of the state’s residents who claim Irish ancestry.

Above all, St. Patrick’s Day is a celebration of the man who in the fifth century transformed himself and Ireland. Kidnapped as a teenager and brought to Ireland as a slave, he escaped, became a priest, and returned as a missionary. Among all the legends about him, the most convincing ones have him converting the Irish to a new kind of Christianity, one that celebrated life and beauty and treated men and women equally. At the same time he convinced his adopted people to abolish and condemn slavery almost a millennium and a half before our country did.

This year we are especially fortunate that the acclaimed Winter Park Art Festival begins on St. Patrick’s Day. As we celebrate both, remember that the traditional Irish toast on St. Patrick’s Day is sláinte (slahn-cha [to your health]), although my father, especially as he grew older, preferred, “May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.”

Maurice O’Sullivan (Muiris Ó Súilleabháin), Rollins College professor of English and Irish literature emeritus and president of the Florida Historical Society, lives in Orlando.

Sometimes, a helping hand can make all the difference in the world.

In the case of Killarney Elementary School, that hand up came from the folks at Calvary Orlando who have helped the school with multiple projects — the first of which was aimed at sprucing up the campus.

“As a church, we decided that we would partner with local schools and local organizations just to be a church in the community,” said Manny Rosario, the church’s outreach pastor. “One of the objectives and goals was to partner with Killarney Elementary.

“Killarney Elementary’s demographic — although it is in Winter Park — has a high amount of transient families,” he said. “I want to say about 35% of their students are homeless, and when I say homeless, they live in weekly stay hotels. … It’s a 100% free-lunch school.”

The first step was to help clean the campus in spots that needed it the most.

For three to four hours in the middle of July, about 45 volunteers made the short trek over to campus to clean up trash, do some minor landscape work and fix the garden area, power-wash buildings and even repainted doors. Prior to the cleanup, the church had met with school administration to learn their greatest needs.

And it was actually the simple repainting of doors to the school’s media center from brown to shamrock green that had one of the most positive effects.

“Kelly Steinke — who is the principal — she took a picture of it and she said, ‘My media center director is going to be so happy when she sees these doors painted, she has been waiting for so long for change,’” Rosario said. “And she (Steinke) came to me and said, ‘She is in tears because she is excited about coming back for the new school year and having fresh painted doors.’ That was an awesome highlight for that project.”

The cleanup itself is based on a 90-day project the church is participating in called “Serve the City,” a church-wide outreach campaign to help local organizations.

Rosario said more than 150 volunteers have signed up to help among all the current initiatives the church is undertaking.

Most recently, those volunteers from the church helped collect a school bus full of supplies for students to utilize for this new school year. For a week, a school bus — loaned to Calvary by Orange County Public Schools — sat in the church’s parking lot as it was packed with tons of school supplies just for the kids at Killarney.

“This Tuesday (Aug. 7), we dropped off (more than) 150 backpacks, (more than) 400 notebooks, and pens and paper,” Rosario said. “We had local partners — along with the church — fill that bus. It was amazing to see all the teachers and faculty and unload this delivery of all these school supplies — it was a lot of fun.”

And the good deeds of those at Calvary won’t stop now that the school year has started, Rosario said. The church already has future plans for those teachers and students at Killarney.

Currently, Calvary is putting on its “Shamrock Shake,” where members and local civic leaders come in to have conversations with students.

“Our main goal is to let them know that there is hope,” Rosario said. “If we can spark hope into somebody’s life — spark hope into a mother that is struggling in getting school supplies, (or) spark hope in a kid that is fighting anxieties of coming to school and not having clothes for the school year — (we can) help them know that it’s not over and they don’t have to live in despair.”

Rollins College continued a tradition of community service on Saturday, Aug. 26 as it celebrated the 12th anniversary of SPARC Day of Community — during which more than 500 members of the freshman class volunteered and served Central Florida.

The Service, Passion, Action, Rollins College Day included stops at 25 different locations where students served the community, including the Wells Built Museum, where volunteers organized and categorized museum artifacts and did general cleaning; Mustard Seed, where they broke down mattresses and organized clothing and furniture; and Killarney Elementary, where Rollins students painted a mural, cleaned and gardened.

Since SPARC Day’s inception in 2006, more than 7,000 students, faculty, and staff have contributed nearly 30,000 hours of community service.

“It sparks this type of commitment all throughout the year, that’s why it’s called SPARC Day,” Communications Manager Jo Marie Hebeler said. “We want it to spark a lifelong commitment to service.”

Being a global citizen means far more than sitting in a classroom, and SPARC Day demonstrates that, Rollins College President Grant Cornwell said.

“These students are going to be studying at Rollins for four years, and we want them to understand that they’re part of a social, cultural, economic ecosystem,” Cornwell said. “We don’t want them just to parachute in and study their subjects, we want them to be immersed in the local issues.

“We want them to be learning not just by studying, but learning through experience,” he said. “Our mission is to educate students for global citizenship and responsible leadership — you have to do that by actually rolling up your sleeves and doing something, not just studying it academically.”

Rollins College helped Killarney Elementary in a number of areas. Students put a fresh coat of paint on classroom doors, painted a kindness tree mural where children can post their acts of kindness, and painted poles along the parent pickup loop so children know where to line up.

Volunteers also weeded a garden area and gave it new soil, making way for a new fall planting this school year. That garden serves as an education tool for the children while providing food for 100 homeless students, Killarney Elementary School Principal Kelly Steinke said.

“We were just delighted when we were selected to be one of the recipients of all of the volunteers,” Steinke said. “I’m so glad that Rollins College is doing this. It’s a great opportunity for those students. We certainly appreciate it here at Killarney.”

Rollins students such as Mya Hurwitz took pride in giving back to the community, and were thankful that SPARC Day gave them something productive to do on a Saturday morning.

“Especially coming to Rollins, it’s nice to be able to explore out into the Orlando community and help the kids that really need it, other than just sitting in our dorm rooms doing things that wouldn’t be as productive as this,” Hurwitz said. “We’re all freshman, so it’s really a great way for all of us to meet and bond. I think we all have the same mindset: we’re all new, we all want to help and this is a way to all come together.”

Kerry's cheerleading troupe, who plan to compete in Florida this year, put on quite a display this St. Patrick's Day.

Kerry's cheerleading troupe, who plan to compete in Florida this year, put on quite a display this St. Patrick's Day.

The Killarney Scorchers Cheerleaders are the first Irish troupe to have been invited to compete at the Summit, in Florida. They're currently training hard, seekng sponsorship and crowdfunding to make sure the Kerry team makes it to the US!

You can read more about the below, but first a history lesson...

Patrick was a 5th-century Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. It is believed that he was born England in the fourth century, into a wealthy family. His father was a deacon and his grandfather was a priest in the Christian church.

At the age of sixteen, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken as a slave Ireland and legend has it that he spent six years working as a shepherd and that during this time he "found God".

God told Patrick to flee to the coast, where a ship would be waiting to take him home. After making his way home, Patrick went on to become a priest.

According to tradition, Patrick returned to Ireland to convert the pagan Irish to Christianity. Legend also says that he drove "snakes" out of Ireland.

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by people attending mass – wearing the shamrock (a small 3-leaved plant that was used by St Patrick to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagan Irish); people attend parades around Ireland and the world and wear green clothing and accessories.

The Theme for the Killarney St Patrick’s Day Parade 2018 was “Killarney You’re Looking Good”. This was a particularly suitable theme for the parade as Killarney always looks well! It is famous around the world for its National Park, The Lakes and Mountains as well as the wonderful buildings – The Cathedral, Muckross House, Killarney streetscapes.

Killarney Scorchers’ journey in search of sponsorship and funds continues Sponsors are invited to make contact with Barry or Brian our Sponsorship Co-ordinators by emailing scorchers.sponsorship@gmail.com if anyone wishes to assist our Summit Team to compete in Florida.

Killarney Scorchers have also set up our crowdfunding page for anyone who wishes to give the team a donation to help them on their way to the USA.

If you think you can help the Killarney Scorchers All-Stars email Margaret Dineen, their Fundraising Co-ordinator at margaretdin@gmail.com. For more information visit their Facebook page or follow them on Twitter.

This article was submitted to the IrishCentral contributors network by a member of the global Irish community. To become an IrishCentral contributor click here.

Sunsets make us swoon. Being landlocked, we Orlandonians don’t get the pleasure of watching the ocean slowly swallow the sun. We’d have to travel to our lovely Gulf Coast for that unrivaled vista. But on clear nights, our local sunsets can smear our skies with a kaleidoscope of color. So plan your next date night around the best places to dine with Orlando sunset views.

Updated June 2023 by Dani Meyering

Perched on the shores of Lake Killarney, Hillstone features an expansive outdoor lounge where Adirondack chairs dot the grassy knoll and give guests a place to drink in fabulous sunset views alongside their cocktail or glass of wine.

This enchanting Italian villa in Longwood sits on the shores of Lake Fairy and offers sunset views from a few tables inside. Enzo's on the Lake has been charming diners for decades. You’ll get the best views from the outdoor sculpture garden and patio where you can start your romantic night out with a sunset champagne toast.

Stroll through the garden before or after dinner. Plus, there are multiple dining rooms in this intimate cottage restaurant, so if your table does not have a view of the sunset just ask your server to direct you to the outside garden. There are plenty of tables and chairs to sit for a bit as you enjoy the view.

Lake Nona is full of fabulous restaurants for couples to choose from. But our top pick goes to Canvas, which not only features amazing sunset views but spectacular food, too! Sit outside by the water for maximum sunset dining enjoyment.

Bonus idea: Haven Kitchen and Haven Lounge located at Lake Nona Wave Hotel offer an incredibly stylish atmosphere. And while the views are a little limited, the sunset is still gorgeous from this space. The modern, artistic decor and hand-crafted cocktails make for an unbeatable combination. Parking is free at the parking garage near the hotel's entrance.

Knife & Spoon took over the former home of Norman's located inside the Ritz-Carlton Orlando in late 2020. Large windows and a spectacular outdoor terrace offer stunning sunset Orlando views that set this picturesque 500-acre Grande Lakes property aglow. In addition, the JW Marriott next door (also on the Grande Lakes property) has a fabulous outdoor lounge perfect for sumptuous cocktails paired with colorful sunset views.

Sweeping sunset views pair well with California Grill’s award-winning Pacific Coast cuisine. Located on the 15th floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, the restaurant’s dining room, lounge and outdoor observation deck all provide great sunset views as well as of Disney’s nightly fireworks.

Reservations can be hard to get, so here's what to do if you can’t get a Disney Dining Reservation.

Imagine watching the sunset with stunning views of Walt Disney World close by. Illume is one of Orlando's most beautiful rooftop bars and restaurants, located at JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek. This rooftop roost also offers spectacular views of the nightly Disney fireworks.

And bonus, after about 9:00pm it becomes an adults-only spot. Reservations are required and can be made via OpenTable.

Enjoy a glass of wine with some assaggini (small plates of food) at this Italian bar tucked into the Harbor Piazza of the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel. Live entertainment on select nights, as well as the piazza’s gorgeous atmosphere exponentially up the romantic vibe.

Bonus idea: Bar 17 Bistro is a rooftop bar at Universal Orlando that we love. Both Bar 17 Bistro and The Thirsty Fish are some of the best restaurants at Universal Orlando for date night.

A dining staple of the ever-evolving Disney Springs, Paddlefish features excellent seafood, refreshing cocktails, and spectacular sunset views. Head to the rooftop deck to take in stunning waterfront views of Disney Springs while sipping on a cocktail or glass of wine.

This casual waterfront spot boasts a huge outdoor deck, live music, a dock and a menu comprised of beachy cocktails and seafood dishes. You'll enjoy fantastic sunrise views during breakfast, although the sky puts on its own colorful show during sunset. If the kids are along for the fun, Grills Lakeside has a small playground right next to the outdoor dining deck.

Epic date idea: For the best sunset views, book a private sailing tour aboard a 25 foot sailboat with Sailing Orlando ahead of dinner to see the sunset from Lake Fairview. Then look out onto to the same lake during dinner afterward! Tours are $59/person and last for 2 hours.

Between the incredible wine selection, expert service, and delicious food there is so much to love about Wine Bar George at Disney Springs. Plus, they have a selection of craft cocktails that are some of the best on Disney World property. The upstairs dining room and terrace offer breathtaking sunset Orlando views. Even if you're not able to get an outside table, there are plenty of seats inside the dining room that offer a sunset view.

There's no need to book a table at one of these outdoor spots, although you might consider packing a picnic dinner. A few of our favorite picnic spots with views include:

Or, you could spring for a full picnic setup from a local company like Orlando Picnic or Our Dream Date Greater Orlando. Find more full-service picnic options and romantic spots in our guide to Everything You Need to Know to Plan a Romantic Orlando Picnic. We also love Wine Bar George's Basket to-go, which offers gourmet goodies taken to-go.

Okay, technically the focus here is Key West's sunset rather than the Orlando sunset. Still, Sloppy Joe's at ICON Park is a fun spot to watch the sunset because it is celebrated here. Sloppy Joe's originated in Key West, and to continue that island culture, the Orlando location broadcasts a live stream from Mallory Square all day.

Then there is a countdown sign that ticks away the hours, minutes, and seconds until the sun sets in Key West (which is essentially when the sun sets in Orlando). So grab a frosty tropical drink and play tourist for a night!

For even more breathtaking views, check out the best rooftop bars and restaurants in Orlando.

Feature image: illume at JW Bonnet Creek, by Dani Meyering

WINTER PARK, Fla., Dec. 9 (UPI) -- A Florida school district pulled rice from its menus after an elementary school student found a worm in his food and live mealworms were found in uncooked rice.

Kelly Steinke, principal at Killarney Elementary School in Winter Park, sent a letter home to parents Tuesday night explaining a student had found a dead mealworm in his food and school employees subsequently found live mealworms in the uncooked rice.

"As a precaution, the rice has been recalled at Killarney and every other school in the district to ensure that this matter has not been replicated," Steinke said.

Steinke said the rice had been delivered to the school within the previous 24 hours, leading officials to believe the worms were already in the food when it arrived.

She said the rice was replaced in the meals Tuesday and the vendor that delivered the rice was informed of the issue.

"The health and safety of our students is paramount and the reputation of our award-winning food services division is highly guarded. OCPS will be investigating this matter until we have the necessary answers," Steinke said.

She said the mealworms are believed to be non-toxic, but parents were urged to watch their children for symptoms of illness.

Parent Shauna Jackson said she will be packing her child's lunch for the foreseeable future. "Because then it makes you wonder what else is in there," Jackson told WFTV.

"I feel like somebody should have seen it when they first opened the container. And if not, then somebody should have seen it when it was being cooked," Jackson said. "I mean, it took a child to bring it up."

Steinke's full letter to parents read:

"Good afternoon parents, this is principal Kelly Steinke at Killarney Elementary School. I want to make you aware that today, during lunch, one of our students identified what appeared to be a worm in their meal. Technical staff from food service immediately inspected the meal and found the presence of a dead mealworm. Upon further inspection, the presence of live worms were confirmed in the uncooked rice. The vendor was contacted immediately, as a precaution, the rice has been recalled at Killarney and every other school in the District to ensure that this matter has not been replicated.

"Students were given an alternative replacement for the rice. Because the rice had been delivered to the school within the last 24 hours, OCPS does not believe the issue arose at the school. The health and safety of our students is paramount and the reputation of our award winning food services division is highly guarded. OCPS will be investigating this matter until we have the necessary answers. OCPS does not believe that consumption of the rice will lead to serious health issues. The mealworm present in the meal was cooked and the District has consulted with a statewide expert who believes that the worms would not be toxic or would not cause health problems if ingested. However, we do ask that you please contact the school tomorrow should your child report any unusual symptoms this evening. Thank you for your support of Killarney Elementary School."

80 years of recording rainfall at Muckross House

The National Park has been measuring rainfall for 80 years – records began in 1943 – when the Park was known as the Bourne Vincent Memorial Park. In that year […]

Published

20 hours ago

on

6 January 2024

In that year it recorded 63 and a half inches of rain, (63 I/2 inches) handwritten results were sent to the Meteorological Station in Dublin.Every morning at 9.00am dedicated staff , 365 days a year, would measure the rainfall, at the weather station.

Gerry Murphy is the Horticultural Supervisor, at National Parks and Wildlife Service, Killarney National Park, took over the task when the late Bill Carson retired in 2000.

Automation of Muckross weather station began in 2019 with data transmitted directly to Met Eireann.

Using the old method of gathering water from the funnel together with the automated system, Gerry has been keeping records both manually and by computer.

The wettest year in Muckross was recorded in 2015 with a total of 87 and three quarter inches of rainfall.

The driest year recorded in Muckross was in 1971, with a total of 48 and a quarter inches.

The total for last year at Muckross on December, 31 2023 was a total of 75 Inches of rainfall.

Over the years there were substations at St. Finan’s Hospital – which was always drier, the highest levels were recorded on Mangerton Mountain and Muckross Peninsula, which has its own microclimate with the proximity of the mountains and lakes, making it much wetter.

Bats or buildings as Port Road development rejected

The recent decision by An Bord Pleanála to reject a proposed three-storey apartment block on Port Road, primarily over concerns for the Lesser Horseshoe Bat, brings into sharp focus the […]

Published

20 hours ago

on

6 January 2024

This rejection represents not just an environmental victory, but also a significant setback in addressing the acute shortage of housing in Killarney.

At the November meeting of Killarney Municipal District Cllr Maura Healy-Rae, said the shortage of housing in Killarney “has now reached an emergency situation.”

The need for additional housing in Killarney is pressing. There are 1,542 waiting on the housing list in the Killarney Municipal District area as of November 2023, an increase of over 10 per cent from the previous year.

The Port Road project, which proposed 10 apartments on Port Road, was seen as a potential relief to the local housing shortage.

However, the concern for the commuting patterns of the Lesser Horseshoe Bat in the nearby Killarney National Park led to its rejection by the planning board.

This decision, while environmentally sensitive, underscores the growing challenge of finding suitable locations for new housing developments that do not disturb local ecosystems especially adjacent to the National Park.

This housing issue is further complicated by the earlier refusal in August 2022 of a larger residential project of 228 houses, also due to environmental concerns.

The Killarney Advertiser covered this extensively in September 2022 and conducted an online survey. The overwhelming view at the time was that this large-scale development was too ambitious for the area considering the traffic pressure in the area. It is a main access route to Mission Road and secondary schools.

Over 75% of people surveyed disagreed with An Bord Pleanála decision.

Such rejections, though made in the interest of preserving local biodiversity, exacerbate the housing crisis.

The shortage of housing in Killarney is a critical issue that requires urgent attention. The decision by An Bord Pleanála, while respecting environmental concerns, highlights the complexity of balancing conservation with housing needs in urban planning.

This situation calls for innovative solutions, especially for developments adjacent to the National Park in town.

Treasure Coast Newspapers

Latarra S. Lawson, 37, 5000 block of Killarney Avenue, Fort Pierce; retail theft.

Tasha Denis Smith, 32, 2800 block of Navajo Avenue, Fort Pierce; retail theft.

Misty Dae Moore, 32, 100 block of 27th Avenue, Vero Beach; possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine).

Thomas Robert Lee, 54, 10000 block of U.S. 1, Sebastian; warrant for violation of probation, DUI.

Jean Paulo DaSilva, 45, Melbourne; fleeing & eluding.

Fletcher Alan Ewing, 24, 2300 block of 29th Avenue, Vero Beach; possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamines).

Dwayne John Gordon, 45, 1200 block of U.S. 1, Vero Beach; burglary.

Brian Michael Chalker, 41, 7900 block of 94th Court, Vero Beach; warrant for burglary of an unoccupied structure while unarmed on Aug. 10.

Ronshaun Rejai Jones, 33, Orlando; battery on an officer; deprive officer of means of communication; resisting arrest with violence.

Ryan Michael Reed, 36, 400 block of Avocado Avenue, Sebastian; aggravated battery/domestic violence.

Gary Eugene Butler, 49, 4100 block of Cypress Green Lane, Vero Beach; possession of cocaine with intent to sell.

Luke R. Johnson, 36, 1400 block of U.S. 1, Vero Beach; warrants for grand theft, dealing in stolen property, giving false information to a pawnbroker.

Makhail Malik Chambliss, 23, 4400 block of 27th Avenue, Vero Beach; warrant for violation of probation, use or possession of drug paraphernalia, discharge of firearm from a vehicle.

Cory Thomas Ingram, 33, 700 block of 18th Avenue, Vero Beach; warrants for grand theft, dealing in stolen property, giving false information to a pawnbroker.

Susan Lynn Lissberger, 59, no listed street address, Vero Beach; warrant for violation of probation, battery on an officer or firefighter.

Toranto Vashawn Thomas, 36, 4500 block of 30th Avenue, Vero Beach; warrant for violation of probation, sale, manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver cocaine, possession of cocaine, fleeing or eluding.

Joseph Michael Kelnhofer, 36, 1000 block of 10th Place, Vero Beach; warrant for violation of probation, sale, manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver methamphetamine.

Jonathon Rodriguez Gonzalez, 35, 2600 block of 13th Place, Vero Beach; warrant for violation of probation, petty theft.

Gerry Duane Smith, 23, 3900 block of 47th Street, Vero Beach; grand theft of a motor vehicle; possession of a controlled substance (amphetamine) without a prescription; fleeing/attempting to elude an officer. Arrested in Martin County.