Life & Family - OrlandoSentinel.com

Start holiday weekend with Saturday's Fighting Hunger 5K run

By Kate Santich — Fri, 25 May 2012 04:50:00 GMT

Whether you want to run, walk, volunteer or participate in spirit only, there's a role for you in this Saturday's second annual Fighting Hunger 5K . The May 26 event starts at 7:30 a.m. at the Pinecastle United Methodist Church and will benefit the hunger-relief programs of Orlando's Community Food & Outreach Center .

Third-grade reading scores fall for tougher FCAT, worst in 12 years

By Leslie Postal , Orlando Sentinel — Thu, 24 May 2012 20:57:55 GMT

More of Florida's third graders struggled with reading this year than in the past dozen years, thanks to revised FCAT exams and a tougher scoring system, results released this morning showed.

5 ways to give your house curb appeal

By Marni Jameson, Orlando Sentinel — Thu, 24 May 2012 20:52:00 GMT

If you drive up to your house every day and say, "Now there's a HOUSE," do not read on. You do not need me, and you certainly do not need Kimberly Lacy, co-host of HGTV's Curb Appeal, whom I prevailed upon this week for her curbside opinion of my place.

UCF trustees OK 15 percent tuition hike; grad students face smaller increase

By Dave Weber , Orlando Sentinel — Thu, 24 May 2012 18:28:00 GMT

Undergraduate students returning to the University of Central Florida in the fall will be hit with a 15 percent tuition hike that may make it harder for many to afford a college education.

Sublette's State of the Schools: Orange needs to compete better for neighborhood schools to survive

By Lauren Roth, Orlando Sentinel — Thu, 24 May 2012 15:13:00 GMT

Orange County School Board Chair Bill Sublette said the county's schools need to compete to survive, during his second State of the Schools speech this morning.

Thousands of pages of evidence detail killing of FAMU drum major Robert Champion

By Stephen Hudak , Orlando Sentinel — Thu, 24 May 2012 02:48:00 GMT

The beatings began well before the Nov. 19 hazing death of Florida A&M University drum major Robert Champion, according to more than 2,300 pages of documents and 30 audio files released Wednesday by the Orange-Osceola State Attorney's Office.

Safety first: Memorial Day grilling tips

Heather McPherson — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:08:00 GMT

To keep the sizzle and spark on the serving plates this Memorial Day, here are 10 tips for safe grilling

Florida injury rate ranks No. 18 in nation, with 12,000 deaths per year

By Marni Jameson, Orlando Sentinel — Wed, 23 May 2012 02:45:00 GMT

Every year, more than 12,000 Floridians could dodge an untimely death if only they or those around them were more careful. That's according to a national injury report, released Tuesday, which ranked Florida at No. 18 in the nation for fatal injuries.

UCF trustees considering 15 percent tuition increase

By Denise-Marie Balona , Orlando Sentinel — Tue, 22 May 2012 23:32:00 GMT

Trustees at the University of Central Florida Thursday will consider raising tuition 15 percent — an increase that campus administrators say UCF needs to hire enough faculty to keep up with growing enrollment and avoid program cuts next school year.

Tupperware executive plans English Channel swim

By Anika Myers Palm, Orlando Sentinel — Tue, 22 May 2012 21:37:00 GMT

In July, John Collingwood plans to attempt something only about 1,000 people in the world have accomplished since 1875: swim the English channel.

If FAMU loses hazing suit, law may limit damages awarded

By Stephen Hudak , Orlando Sentinel — Tue, 22 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

With every troubling new revelation about Florida A&M University's Marching 100, the pending civil case against FAMU seems to grow stronger for the parents of Robert Champion, the drum major who died from being hazed on a charter bus in Orlando.

Disney delivers grant checks to local children's charities

By Kate Santich , Orlando Sentinel — Tue, 22 May 2012 02:37:00 GMT

If you run a children's charity in Central Florida and Mickey Mouse shows up at your door, you know a big check is not far behind.

FCAT call center, parent websites go live

By Leslie Postal , Orlando Sentinel — Mon, 21 May 2012 23:12:00 GMT

A new FCAT "call center" and two parent-friendly websites launched this morning, part of the Florida Department of Education's "campaign to communicate with parents."

FCAT reading: Half of 10 t h graders miss the mark

By Leslie Postal , Orlando Sentinel — Fri, 18 May 2012 23:08:00 GMT

Half of Florida's sophomore class failed to score at grade level on FCAT reading this year — a key test they must pass before earning a high-school diploma.

Eagle Scout restores dignity to abandoned graveyard in Casselberry

By Martin E. Comas, Orlando Sentinel — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:56:00 GMT

Concord Cemetery will be dedicated Saturday

Marshall Polston stood under the canopy of giant oaks and admired the new white monument, brick pavers and flagpole at the center of Concord Cemetery in Casselberry.

FCAT writing scores fall in Central Florida

By Leslie Postal , Orlando Sentinel — Fri, 18 May 2012 15:54:00 GMT

FCAT writing scores fell dramatically across Central Florida, just as statewide scores did, results released this morning showed.

DOE launches FCAT call center, parent websites

By Leslie Postal , Orlando Sentinel — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:40:00 GMT

On Monday, Florida's Department of Education plans to launch a new "FCAT call center," two parent-focused websites and a "just for parents" email address to help sort through questions and concerns about FCAT scores, state-education policies and new graduation standards.

More minority births signal major shifts ahead for Florida

By Michael Muskal, Los Angeles Times — Thu, 17 May 2012 22:41:21 GMT

The United States has reached a historic tipping point — with Hispanic, Asian, mixed-race and black births constituting a majority of births for the first time, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Thursday.

2 plead no contest to reduced charges in hazing of Fla. A&M band member who suffered bruises

BILL KACZOR — Thu, 17 May 2012 22:19:00 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Two former members of the Florida A&M University band pleaded no contest to reduced charges of misdemeanor hazing in the beating of a freshman clarinet player as part of a deal with prosecutors Thursday.

Two FAMU band members admit hazing female clarinet player

By Stephen Hudak and Kathleen Haughney, Orlando Sentinel — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:47:20 GMT

Victim was punched on legs with fists, smacked with metal ruler

TALLAHASSEE — Two Florida A&M University band members, including one charged in the felony hazing death of drum major Robert Champion in Orlando, admitted Thursday to hazing a first-year female clarinet player who was treated at a hospital after being beaten last year.

Young people using Internet for religion

By Jeff Kunerth, Orlando Sentinel — Thu, 17 May 2012 18:21:00 GMT

Almost half of all American adults who are online are using the Internet for religious purposes, according to a new study from Grey Matter Research in Phoenix, Ariz.

Table linens make everyday meal feel special

By Marni Jameson, Orlando Sentinel — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:45:00 GMT

Though I knew better, I couldn't wait to use the pretty new table linens that arrived in that day's mail. "Made for every day," the website assured. That was all the encouragement I needed.

Crossing the color line: Unmarried couples twice as likely to be interracial

By Jeff Kunerth, Orlando Sentinel — Thu, 17 May 2012 02:38:00 GMT

On vacation, David Baker-Hargrove and his partner, Robert, gravitate toward couples just like them. They are not hard to find. In any large group of gays, there are always a half-dozen or so black-and-white couples.

Trayvon, Cady Way killings prompted Lake school-uniform vote

By Erica Rodriguez, Orlando Sentinel — Wed, 16 May 2012 23:01:00 GMT

Parents are angry they weren't notified and say the decision will be costly

Longtime Lake County School Board member Kyleen Fischer said her support for mandatory uniforms for the district's roughly 40,000 students was sparked by the recent violent deaths of high school students in the area.

Food Revolution Day: New take on the plate

Heather McPherson — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:00:00 GMT

Florida grouper is in peak supply from April to October and is available year-round