Follow Us on Twitter

Echo Goes to Florida where Silk is Better than Gold

Mazik in Dora


Echo's been busy packing for our relocation in Mt. Dora.  Of course, our arrival comes 35 years after Ken Mazik received approval to open an "educational facility" for the treatment of mentally disabled children while also providing on-the-job training for the then-next generation of specialist treating  children with similar disabilites.  It was, by all means, a rather compassionate action...  If you didn't know Mazik's history in Delaware. On July 31, 1986, the Lake Sentinel covered the story.

It wasn't Mazik's first visit to Florida, but rather part of an effort to grow Au Clair into a conglomerate of facilities. Mazik was making a move to become a leading treatment provider by utilizing his geo-political capital. The Sentinel cited the developer as Au Clair Properties. However, it wasn't just that easy. Mazik had to overcome the objections of neighboring land owners (2) and the vote for a recommendation to rezone the property to transform a former nursing home into a "public facility district" was a tight 5-4.  The Sentinel also mentioned that Mazik intended, some time down the road, to build another facility in Orlando.

Mazik presented a plan to serve 20 -30 children ages 7 to 18 and to provide them with 24 hour care.  Additionally, college grads in related fields would have an opportunity to work with Mazik's staff to gain firsthand experience treating children with autism.  It wasn't long after opening that the plan changed.

With the recommendation in hand Mazik was scheduled to face the county on August 12, 1986.


Category: 0 comments

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Word Verification May Be Case Sensitive