W E ST O RA N G E T I M E S &
Observer Celebrating more than 110 years in West Orange
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. FREE
VOLUME 86, NO. 2
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JANUARY 10, 2019
Bobcats win national titles The West Orange Bobcats’ 10U and 12U squads were crowned AAU national champions. PAGE 11.
Blooming business
Reckless driving charges dismissed Prosecutors dismissed two reckless driving charges against a Winter Garden driver accused of killing two pedestrians. GABBY BAQUERO NEW EDITOR
Troy Herring
Front row, from left: Hugo Putigna, Ayantu Putigna, Jaime Landis, Ayana Putigna, Ella Putigna, Jonas Putigna; middle, Katelyn Landis, Taylor Landis, Maja Putigna and Magnus Putigna. Back row, from left: Flor Putigna, Niesa Putigna, Lize Landis and Gregg Landis.
Oakland’s Farm 9 is cultivating fresh flowers from seeds and bulbs and becoming a popular booth at local farmers markets. SEE PAGE 4
Contamination sends recyclables to landfills It’s been a year since China imposed restrictions on imported recyclables, and those restrictions are impacting recycling in Orange County. ERIC GUTIERREZ STAFF WRITER
Courtesy photo
Plastic bags are one of the biggest cause for recycling being rejected because they can clog recycle-sorting machines.
After the Chinese government imposed new restrictions last year on imported recyclables, the recycling industry around the world changed, and those impacts have been felt close to home.
At one point, about 45% of the world’s recyclable plastics were sent to China, but that changed when the country passed its National Sword policy in 2017 — which took effect in January 2018 — to help combat climate change. SEE RECYCLING PAGE 6
Although Tammer Magdy Mansour, 36, of Winter Garden, still faces charges of vehicular homicide, prosecutors dropped two charges of reckless driving following a deadly crash during the Ocoee Founders’ Day Festival Nov. 2. The crash, which occurred around 10:50 p.m., took the lives of Richard Gianazzo, 54, and Diana Marie Cole, 55. The two were found dead on Silver SEE VEHICULAR PAGE 4
YOUR TOWN SENIORS: GET BILL ASISTANCE Qualifying senior citizens can get a reduction of up to $35 on their utility bill from the city of Winter Garden. To qualify, residents must be 65 years old or 62 and receiving Social Security benefits, they must have been a continuous Winter Garden resident for the past five years, and monthly household income must not exceed $1,322.47 for single residents and $1,848.85 for married. Applications are available at the reception desk at Winter Garden City Hall, 300 W. Plant St. or by calling (407) 656-4111, Ext. 2297. The deadline to apply is May 1.