The Orlando Sentinel from Orlando, Florida • B3

Orlando Sentinel: PRODUCT: OS DESK: LOC DATE: 02-12-2006 EDITION: MET ZONE: MET PAGE: B3.0 DEADLINE: 0.24 OP: sreeves COMPOSETIME: 00.49 CMYK Orlando Sentinel FINAL SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2006 B3 CENTRAL FLORIDA STATE Hispanic caucus seeks fresh ideas The Area i in Brief ORLANDO Police issue warning in Kesse case Some state House Republicans meet with community leaders to brainstorm about changes in public policy. Investigators put out a warning Saturday night to anyone who may have played a part in Jennifer Kesse's disappear ernment employees that have the sensitivity of a crab." Jose Hoyos, a Realtor-lender and Valencia Community College trustee, said government should simplify procedures for foreign doctors wishing to practice here. He also suggested the state invest more heavily in medical and biotech industries at the local level. "Right now, all the money is going elsewhere, and that's great," Hoyos said. "But, if in two years we don't see some of that economic success spill over to Miami, Tampa, then we have a problem.

We have to create our own initiatives." There are currently 15 Hispanic representatives in the Florida House. Quinones is the only one representing Central Florida. Claudia Zequeira can be reached at 407-931-5934 or czequeiraorlandosentinel.com ment and health. Marytza Sanz, president of Latino Leadership, a nonprofit group, suggested parenting classes and better-enforced truancy laws as ways of deterring potential high-school dropouts. "I don't think anyone moved here saying, 'I don't want my son to have no educational opportunities' 'I want to lose my Sanz said.

"People moved here to have a better life." La Prensa publisher Dora Casanova de Toro proposed more Hispanic-friendly places for fledgling entrepreneurs. Casanova recounted her difficult experiences as a businesswoman attempting to secure a building loan for her Spanish-language paper. "The SBA Small Business Administration here is not working," said Casanova. "There are some gov ance: Speak up now or pay the price later. Orlando police investigators also implied for the first time that more than 100ideas.org, a Web site launched by Rubio that will collect comments from the public about how best to govern the state.

Rubio, 34, plans to include the best ideas in a book he hopes to publish by December, a month after possibly assuming the position of House Speaker for Florida. Chosen by fellow Republicans, Rubio is in line to become the first Hispanic Speaker in Florida history. The Cuban-American politician, first elected in 2000, will serve if Republicans maintain control of the House after elections this November. Saturday's gathering mostly steered clear of discussions of Ru-bio's political success. Topics included education, economic develop By CLAUDIA ZEQUEIRA SENTINEL STAFF WRITER State House Republicans want to know what people think.

Really. During an informal meeting Saturday, Reps. Marco Rubio, R-Miami; John Quinones, R-Kissimmee; and Juan Zapata, R-Miami urged area Hispanics to submit their ideas for future public policy. "We want the daily debate in Tallahassee to be about your community," said Rubio, who spoke to community leaders gathered in Orlando's El Quijote Restaurant. "I think Democrats and Republicans can agree on goals." Organized by the Legislature's Hispanic caucus, the event promoted PETS UP TO THEIR TRICKS IN OSCEOLA KESSE one person may be involved in her disappearance, though they would not confirm or deny it.

Sgt. Rich Ring said those responsible for Kesse's disappearance are watching the coverage. "If this is a situation where there's more than one person involved and you may have got caught up in something that was an accident, something that you didn't want to get caught up in, now is the time to distance yourself from the person that is mainly responsible," he said. "Don't wait because the deals won't be there later on in the game," he said. On Saturday, more than 500 people scoured the area looking for Kesse, 24.

Search teams will continue today. Kesse was last seen Jan. 23. Anyone with information can call the Orlando Police Department or Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477. REVIEW Orlando opera 'Elixir' light but satisfying By SCOTT WARFIELD SPECIAL TO THE SENTINEL To be honest, the operas of Gaetano Donizetti can be pretty thin stuff most of the time.

The story lines are simple, the characters one-dimensional, and even the music especially the accompaniments can descend to the generic. Despite these very real limitations of the material, many of his operas retain interest today, and Orlando Opera showed why in its new production of The Elixir of Love on Friday evening at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre. The essence of any Italian opera, especially one from the early 19th century, is melody, which places a premium on the singing actors, and that is the strength of this production. All four leads were in very good form, and they were supported by an excellent chorus and orchestra. Aaron Pegram, who has been a resident artist with this company in recent years, gave what may have been his best performance yet in Orlando in the role of Nemorino, the insecure young villager who finds his confidence in Dr.

Dulcamara's dubious potion. Pegram was a very winning presence from his first moments on stage, and it was clear that his voice is maturing and filling out nicely. His finest singing came in the second-act aria "Una furtiva lagrima," which drew deservedly strong applause from an appreciative audience. The comic center of this work was handled with style and aplomb by Ron Nelman, whose big bass voice perfectly fit the outsized character of Dulcamara, the peddler of the phony elixir. Nelman also gave several impressive displays of vocal dexterity in patter arias.

Nemorino's rival, Sergeant Belcore, was well played and sung by Carlos Archuleta. These sorts of roles are easy to overdo, and both Nelman and Archuleta created characters just broad enough to amuse without going overboard. As Adina, the object of everyone's affection, Anna Vikre was an animated figure on the stage, and her voice was generally solid, although her uppermost notes were occasionally edgy or pinched. Robin Stamper, who has been doing an excellent job preparing choruses for Orlando Opera for several seasons, continued in that vein for this production, and he also handled the conducting duties in a capable fashion. The only slight negative in this production was the staging, whose problems began in the first act with sets that were placed so far downstage as to leave no room for any creative movement by almost anyone in the cast.

There were plenty of small comic bits scattered in the chorus, however, which did add to the atmosphere on stage. Such a limitation merely focused the attention back on the voices, which is, as any fan of Donizetti will tell you, where it ought to be, and why one should see Orlando Opera's latest effort. Scott Warfield is an assistant professor of music history at the University of Central Florida. ORANGE COUNTY Bicyclist struck, killed by car A 43-year-old bicyclist was killed early Saturday as he tried to cross against the light on South Orange Avenue, police said. David Garcia of Orlando was riding east across Orange near Wetherbee Road when he was struck by a car about midnight, according to State Highway Patrol.

Garcia died at the scene. Jacqueline Feda, 33, tried to veer right as she drove south on Orange but was unable to avoid hitting Garcia. Troops were investigating the crash Saturday. ORANGE COUNTY UCF actors sweep regionals Theater students from the University of Central Florida have swept the Southeastern regional competition for the prestigious Irene Ryan Acting Scholarships, given each year through the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival program. Two pairs of UCF acting students Ben Hope and Ed Davis, along with Michael Swickard and Margaret Ellen Jeffries will progress to the national competition in April at the John F.

Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington. Two other sets of UCF students Amanda Steven and Charita Coleman, along with Jenny Ashman and Ed Davis were named alternates. Hope and Davis also won regional comedy and diversity awards. The students competed at the regional finals in Jacksonville last week against participants from colleges and universities from all over the Southeast. PENSACOLA Harris campaigns for Senate Just back from Iraq, U.S.

Rep. Katherine Harris brought her Senate campaign to an area of the state that's dominated by the military, and told groups that the United States is succeeding and troops don't want to come home yet. Harris told a crowd of about two dozen in a small park near downtown Pensacola that Iraqi police and troops, 'fc? PHOTOS BY ED SACKETTORLANDO SENTINEL Nathan Herstich, 4, (above) of St. Cloud, tries to get his duck Huey to jump through a hoop as they compete in the best-trick portion of the Children's Pet Show at the Kissimmee Valley Livestock Show on Saturday. Meanwhile, Marina Beck, 7, (below) also of St.

Cloud, waits with her hairless rat Katie to be judged in the ugliest pet competition. The competition is limited to children 4 through 12, who are each allowed to bring 2 pets, though no pet may compete in more than 2 categories, and no child may enter more than one pet in any category. Other categories include best cat, best dog, best livestock pet, best costumed pet and most unusual pet. The livestock show and Osceola County Fair run through Saturday, with the Silver Spurs Rodeo scheduled Friday through Feb. 19.

The fair is at Osceola Heritage Park, 1911 Kissimmee Valley Lane, one mile west of Florida Turnpike exit 244 on Highway 192 in Kissimmee. with U.S. help, are doing a better job of finding and defeating insurgents. She said that she pulled aside many of IF YOU GO WHAT: Orlando Opera production of the Gaetano Donizetti opera The Elixir of WHEN: 2 p.m. today and 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday. WHERE: Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre, 401 W. Livingston Orlando. COST: 120. CALL: 407-426-1 700.

ONLINE: orlandoopera.org HARRIS the soldiers she met and they asked to be allowed to complete their missions, she said. Harris, a Republican, faces incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson. Amy C. Rippel, April Hunt and Elizabeth Maupin of the Sentinel staff contributed to this report. Information from The Associated Press also was used.

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