W E ST O RA N G E T I M E S &
Observer Celebrating 110 years in West Orange
West Orange girls hoops making waves. PAGE 17
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
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VOLUME 84, NO. 2
YOUR TOWN West Orange welcomes first baby of 2017
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 2017
Windermere Country Club owner files lawsuit against Orange County PAGE 6
Heaven calls home a hero Orlando Police Master Sgt. Debra Clayton, an Ocoee resident and alumna of Dr. Phillips High, was killed in the line of duty Monday morning.
Antonella AponteFigueroa had the honor of being the first baby of the year born at Health Central Hospital, in Ocoee, on New Year’s Day. She came into this world at 4:15 p.m. weighing 6 pounds, 9.5 ounces and measuring 20.25 inches in length. Her parents are Sharalexis Figueroa and Steven Aponte.
OBSERVER STAFF
The passion Debra Clayton had for the Orlando community — and the Central Florida community, at large — was evident in the work she did as a master sergeant for the Orlando Police Department. She grew up in the community, was educated in the community and chose to work in service of the community. And, on Jan. 9, Clayton made the ultimate sacrifice for the community she cared so deeply about. Clayton was shot and killed in the line of duty while attempting to apprehend a murder suspect at Walmart in northwest Orlando at the intersection of North John Young Parkway and Princeton Street. Clayton, who lived in Ocoee with her husband, was a 17-year veteran of the department.
Kids can explore nature The Oakland Nature Preserve is registering firstthrough fifth-graders for its After-School Science Club. The spring session runs from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays and/or Thursdays, Jan. 17 through April 13. The class is limited to 20 students. Cost is $50 for ONP members, $110 for others. For information, call (407) 905-0054 or go to oaklandnaturepreserve.org.
Donate artificial trees for Bridgewater dance The PTSO at Bridgewater Middle School is looking for donations of artificial Christmas trees for its Jan. 28 Winter Wonderland eighth-grade formal dance. Trees of all sizes will be accepted and can be dropped off at the school office, 5600 Tiny Road, Winter Garden, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The trees will be stored and reused each year. For questions, contact Jennifer Benton or Debra Allen at bwmsevents@gmail.com.
SEE PAGE 4
Ocoee to construct two solar farms During the Jan. 3 Ocoee commission meeting, city leaders approved the first reading of a construction contract for two planned solar farms.
ARTS & CULTURE
GABBY BAQUERO STAFF WRITER
With the planned construction of two solar farms, the city of Ocoee will soon hop on the solar-energy bandwagon by March 2017. Florida ranks third in the nation for rooftop solar potential, but, despite its nickname – the Sunshine State – it ranks 14th for cumulative solar capacity installed. SEE SOLAR PAGE 4
Meet the ‘Violin Lady’
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