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Henry Madlonado hopes to break new ground at the Enzian movie theater during the annual Florida Film Festival in April 2014. The proposed expansion includes two new theater spaces that would increase opportunities for the company and its members.

"We're doing this because our members already want it," said Maldonado, board president, at a press conference held Dec. 3 at Valencia College West. He claims that the Enzian will be able to add more variety to their venue, increasing their selection of family offerings, documentaries and student films.

The Enzian has offered a unique selection of films since it was first founded in 1985 and will diversify its programming further if the plan continues. The two additional theaters will host up to 60 and 80 guests each, which will provide movie-goers with more options.


"In adding two screens, we hope to be able to give people more of what we do so well here and what we're proud of with our existing theater," said Elizabeth Teidtke, vice president of the board, as told to local news site wesh.com.

The Enzian's proposal for expansion was initially presented to the city of Maitland last November and the logistical issues it presented are still being reworked. Although the city has historically supported the theater, the possibility of project elimination remains.

"Parking is our biggest problem," said Maldonado. Due to small availability of space, "we will possibly introduce off-property, free valet parking." 

If a nearby business is able to provide a solution for The Enzian, the only remaining obstacle will be to secure finances. Maldonado believes that the members will show their support and provide the necessary funds, as they have already donated over $2 million to the cause.

"There aren't too many places where you can go to have a good, old-fashioned drink and watch a good, old-fashioned movie on a big screen," said Cecil Stone, Orlando millionaire and former construction business owner. "This place is one of the good ones. Their plans seem solid and I really hope to see them grow."

Hope is not lacking for the future of The Enzian. When the Teidtke family envisioned this theater, their hope and dedication led them to open it. When its members desired to restore the space to its former glory, their hope and support led them to see it reopen. Now, when a community wants to see it grow, their hope and ambition will create new arenas to open.

Maldonado anticipates great things for the future of The Enzian. The new space will offer a lot of new potential."

Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6o1GXbQQ5CI

Man with a Microphone 2

Let there be light for motorcycles

Mike Dickenson shined light on a new technology that enables motorcyclists to enjoy their two-wheeled companions without worrying about disappearing into the dark.

“You see a lot of bumper stickers that say ‘check twice for motorcycles.’ That’s because the biggest problem for every single one of us is not being seen,” said Dickenson. “Some of my friends never ride at night because they’re worried that they’ll get hit by a car.”

A new system of active side lighting called Lunasee can decrease this problem. It uses photo-luminescent tape that goes around both sides of the wheel and charges under a UV light on the fender. The tape is made from the same kind of material found in glow-in-the-dark stickers.

"Lunasee creates those iconic rings of light that immediately identify us as a motorcycle to other vehicles," said Dickenson. “It’s an easy way to be seen.”

A spinning wheel glowed onstage at his side at the American International Motorcycle Expo, or AIMExpo, in Orlando on Oct. 19. Dozens of people were drawn from other areas of the Orange County Convention center to find out what it was.

“This would really make me feel a lot safer at night than I do now,” said motorcyclist Jon Conner. “My wife would probably still worry about me, but I’m sure it’d give her at least a little peace of mind, too.”

Although Lunasee was originally designed for bicycle tires, Dickenson realized that it could help a lot of motorcyclists after he learned how to ride his first motorcycle. From that moment on, the company became determined to keep motorcyclists safe.

"I can't believe I've never seen this before! I want to show it to bikers everywhere!” said Roy Craft, a New York motorcycle safety teacher, who now plans to make it available in his classroom.

Many people use various colors of neon lighting on their motorcycles to create interesting visual effects, but Lunasee is the first lighting system of its kind. The aesthetic reminded many AIMExpo goers of Tron, which impressed some just as much as the safety factor.

"All bikers fear not being seen in the dark and too few can afford customized neon lighting. This is a perfect alternative," said Dickenson.

Let there be light for motorcyclists: 1400 words

One man shined light on a new way for motorcyclists to enjoy their two-wheeled companions without worrying about disappearing into the dark.

"Lunasee creates those iconic rings of light that immediately identify us as a motorcycle to other vehicles," said exhibitor Mike Dickenson.

Small circles of light transform a potentially dangerous nighttime ride into a safe one by increasing motorcycle visibility from both sides.

"Lunasee was created for bicycle tires," said Dickenson. When he first learned to ride, though, "we realized how much it could help people."

Dickenson exhibited and explained his company's technology at the American International Motorcycle Expo, or AIMExpo, in Orlando on Oct. 19.

"I can't believe I've never seen this before! I want to show it to bikers everywhere!” said Roy Craft, a New York motorcycle safety teacher.

Dozens of people were drawn from other areas of the AIMExpo at the Orange County Convention center to investigate the glowing wheel onstage.

“This would really make me feel a lot safer at night than I do now,” said motorcyclist Jon Connor. “Plus it looks like something from Tron!”

The circles are actually tape that's very similar to children's glow-in-the-dark stickers and absorbs light from a small bulb in the fender.

"All bikers fear not being seen in the dark and too few can afford customized neon lighting. This is a perfect alternative," said Dickenson.

Illiterate Woman Becomes a Solar Engineer

Rafea Badr transformed from an uneducated mother of four living in a tent to a solar power engineer. She left her life as a secondary wife in the impoverished village of Rowdat Bardon, Jordan, to train for a career at the Barefoot College in India.

Threats of abandonment and divorce from her husband forced Badr to give up on her dreams of success after just one month of her education in India. She returned home immediately after her husband called her and demanded that she do so or lose her children forever.

Her time in India with other women from all corners of the world in a place where they gained new skills together inspired Badr. She wanted to work. The sight of hungry families burning everything that they owned to stay warm without hope for a better future further motivated her to finish the journey that she had begun.

She could not sit and only sip tea and smoke cigarettes every day when she knew that she had another choice. She could not allow herself to tolerate her husband’s harsh words and discouragement, so instead returned to India to finish her program.

Badr pushed forwards and conquered her final exam as the first of all of the women in her class to build a functioning solar-powered light. She returned to her home in Jordan where she brought solar power into her own home. Through her labor and determination she birthed new light into her life.

The Barefoot Institute teaches solar power engineering skills to approximately 40 women at a time for a stretch of six months. These women are mothers and grandmothers from poverty-stricken areas with minimal education and experience.

The documentary film, “Rafea: Solar Mama,” tells the story of this one woman’s struggles and ultimate success through this institution. Since its release in 2012, Badr’s story has inspired viewers in 82 different countries. To date, she and her family have brought solar power into 80 homes in her Jordanian village.

Eldai Ef, co-director, presented the film to an audience at Valencia College where she revealed the details or Badr’s hardships. Ef divulged information that the original intent of her work was to tell the stories of four different women who attended the Barefoot Institute in India, but decided to follow Badr exclusively after her confession about the real reason that she was leaving after only one month.

After watching her work with diligence and passion at the college, Ef suspected something was awry when Badr suddenly claimed that she wanted to go home, “because the food was too spicy.” This out of character statement did not fool Ef for one moment, so she followed Badr to the airport and learned the truth about her husband’s threats to take away her children to his other wife and leave her with nothing.

“Rafea: Solar Mama” provides insight into the lifestyle of those who suffer without food or heat, yet shows how the right resources can inspire and illuminate lives.