SO U T H W EST O RA N G E
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YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. VOLUME 5, NO. 14
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020
Year in Pictures Look back through 2019 with some of our favorite images. 3-9.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! YOUR TOWN
Caught in the act
NEHRLING EXHIBIT OPENING NEXT WEEK
Leah Lewis stars in the mystery/ drama “Nancy Drew,” but the 23-year-old actress first found her love for performing while growing up in Gotha. SEE PAGE 4.
The opening of “Henry Nehrling and His Gotha Legacy,” an exhibit featuring the accomplishments of renowned botanist Dr. Henry Nehrling, will run from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, at the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation, 21 E. Plant St. On property he purchased in the German colony of Gotha in 1885, Wisconsin-born Henry Nehrling established Palm Cottage Gardens and began to experiment with both native and introduced plants. He hybridized thousands of varieties that significantly helped Florida’s foliage industry to flourish. The exhibit will run through March 31, 2020.
Courtesy photo
Leah Lewis stars in the teen detective show “Nancy Drew” as George Fan.
Drone a finalist for Teacher of the Year Keene’s Crossing media specialist Jennifer Drone is proud to represent her school and West Orange County. TIM FREED MANAGING EDITOR
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Jennifer Drone was thrilled to get a closer look at a Buick Encore SUV — a one-year lease on the car is the prize if she wins the title of Teacher of the Year.
When Jennifer Drone learned she was a finalist for Orange County Public Schools Teacher of the Year, she was at a loss for words — literally. She was sitting in a dentist chair getting a root canal when she got the call from Superintendent Dr. Barbara Jenkins. “I was under Novocaine when
the phone rang,” she said. “I ignored it the first time, and I ignored it the second time, and the third time I thought, ‘I better answer this,’ even though I could hardly speak due to the amount of Novocaine I was under.” The Keene’s Crossing Elementary School media specialist has become known for empowering students with a love for reading SEE FINALIST PAGE 4
YEAR IN SPORTS The year 2019 included plenty of highlights in local sports. SEE 12-13.