Times& WEST ORANGE
Observer WEST ORANGE COUNTY’S NEWSPAPER FOR 109 YEARS
THURSDAY
JANUARY 15, 2015
FREE
WINTER GARDEN, FLORIDA
OUR TOWN + Home At Last to dedicate sixth home Home At Last, the special project to build disability-friendly homes for combat wounded veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns, will dedicate its sixth mortgage-free home to U.S. Marine Sgt. Stephen Tovet and his wife, Krystina, Saturday, Jan. 17. The two-part program will start with a 9 a.m. flag raising at the home, 303 Cross St., Oakland, followed by the 11 a.m. dedication ceremony in the Oakland Presbyterian Church Christian Life Center, 218 E. Oakland Ave. Maj. Gen. Michael Regner, currently serving as staff director, Headquarters Marine Corps, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., will be the special guest speaker. His military career includes participation in Operation Desert Storm, U.N. operations in Somalia, NATO and support of Operations Enduring and Iraq Freedom.
INSIDE
IN THIS ISSUE
SPORTS
West Orange kids jam with String Beans Band. PAGE 3A
Runners brave the cold at Oakland Nature Preserve run. PAGE 12A
Senior duo leads Olympia High soccer squad. PAGE 1B
1932-2015 by Amy Quesinberry Rhode | Community Editor
Beloved Ocoee principal, mayor dies J. Lester Dabbs Jr. was a celebrated local educator and public servant. J. Lester Dabbs Jr. was well known for his service in both education and politics. He taught at the original Ocoee High School and was the last principal at Lakeview High School and the first principal at West Orange High School when it opened in 1976. He also served the city of Ocoee as a commissioner from 1986-89 and mayor from 1989-92. Dabbs, 82, died Tuesday, Jan.
13, after a long battle with lung cancer. As an educator, he taught at Ocoee High, impacting the lives of the students, who expressed admiration to him long after they were in his classroom. In 1969, he earned a master’s degree at Stetson University while preparing to open a new junior high school in Apopka. Dabbs also served as the first principal of West
Orange High School and as principal of Stonewall Jackson Middle School for 18 years before sharing his knowledge through training new principals for the school district. Carol King, the media specialist at Stonewall Jackson Middle, worked with Dabbs for 19 years and said he was tough but fair. “If he had a shred of info to go on, he would defend his
NOW OPEN by Amy Quesinberry Rhode | Community Editor
+ Don’t forget to file your exemptions The Orange County Property Appraiser staff will be available in West Orange County to help residents file for property-tax exemptions, such as homestead, limited income senior and veterans. The staff will be available from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, and Wednesday, Jan. 21, at Winter Garden City Hall, 300 W. Plant St., Winter Garden; from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2, 1 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, and Wednesday, Feb. 4, at the South West Branch Library, 7255 Della Drive, Orlando; and from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16, Tuesday, Feb. 17, and Wednesday, Feb. 18, at the Windermere Branch Library, 530 Main St. Windermere. For more, call (407) 8365044.
This week’s winner is
Bill Martini.
See the photo on PAGE 5B.
Lester Dabbs
GOVERNANCE by Peter M. Gordon | Contributing Writer
The Winter Garden City Commission voted unanimously in favor of the increase. The second reading will take place Jan. 22.
Photos by Amy Quesinberry Rhode
District 1 Orange County Commissioner Scott Boyd, left, WGHF Director Kay Cappleman, WGHF Board President Lori Gibson, Winter Garden Mayor John Rees and U.S. Rep. Dan Webster all spoke at Friday night’s housewarming party.
PAST & PRESENCE
The Winter Garden Heritage Foundation held an invitation-only housewarming party Jan. 9 and a community open house Jan. 11 that gave people a chance to tour the new History Research and Education Center at 21 E. Plant St. Guests could look at displayed memorabilia that has been collected through the years and peek in cabinets full of artifacts and history pertaining to Winter Garden and West Orange County. Food and drink were plentiful throughout the evening. A program was held under an adjacent tent that brought guest speakers to the podium. Winter Garden Mayor John Rees shared the beginning of the city’s history and called the new center “a great addition to historic downtown.” U.S. Rep. Dan Webster talked about the national Rails to Trails program, which led to
WINTER GARDEN — To ensure Winter Garden will have enough money to pay for the additional police, fire and recreational services the city will need as it grows, commissioners voted to raise impact fees on future development. Winter Garden hired a consultant, Public Resources Management Group, to study the city’s projected growth and recommend appropriate impact fees. The commission voted to accept the report’s recommendations to raise police and protection fees from $260 to $339; fire and rescue from $340 to $491; and recreation from $671 to $1,300, for a total increase of
67% from $1,271 to $2,130 for a single-family residence. Commercial developments such as professional offices and retail stores will pay fire and police impact fees but not recreation fees. “The primary way we make sure development pays for itself is by impact fees,” City Manager Mike Bollhoefer said. He also noted that Winter Garden had not raised impact fees in several years, and the city needed higher impact fees to serve its growing population. He cited the city’s need for additional recreational space and parks, a
SEE FEES / PAGE 6A
at the helm by Zak Kerr | Staff Writer
Drama students at East Ridge High School shared a few theories as to how Winter Garden got its name. the creation of the West Orange Trail, and said, “I don’t think anyone could have envisioned a million visitors to the area.” He also presented an American flag that had flown over the U.S. Capitol to WGHF Director Kay Cappleman. “Nothing great happens without a great community, and this is, no doubt, a great
community,” Webster said. Cappleman thanked the many donors who made the center possible. “The train has reached the station,” she said. As well, students from East Ridge High School put on a short performance that shared a few theories as to how the city of Winter Garden was named.
I
WO
SEE DABBS / PAGE 6A
W.G. impact fees could increase 67%
+ Ocoee native completes training U.S. Army Pvt. Kianna S. Muschett has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, South Carolina. Muschett is the daughter of Melone M. Birch, of Orlando, and granddaughter of Shirley T. Dubissette, of Lauderdale Lakes. She is a 2014 graduate of Ocoee High School.
staff to the end,” King said. “He was a principal who allowed his teachers to teach. He let us do our jobs and was always available for counseling and guidance if we needed it.” Russell Crouch, of Winter Garden, said he and Dabbs were longtime friends. “When (Kathy and I) got married, we moved next door
Former City Manager Hollis Holden and his wife, Jeannette, were in town for the event.
Rod Reeves, left, and Irv Lipscomb took in the festivities. Reeves is the former executive director of the history museum, and Lipscomb is a foundation board member.
Area health care providers name new leaders
For the first week of the will not officially begin his new year, two major provid- new role until early April. He currently is presiers of health care in dent of Rex HealthWest Orange County care in Raleigh, appointed new leadNorth Carolina — an ers of their compaaffiliate of Universinies. ty of North Carolina Within a day of Health Care — and Community Health chief operating offiCenters appointing cer for system affilMargaret Brennan iations at the UNC as its new president Brennan Health Care System and CEO, Orlanin Chapel Hill. do Health gave the same positions in its MARGARET hierarchy to David Strong. BRENNAN Brennan formally Brennan applied began Jan. 12, after for her new post in 12 years as division September and was manager of Orange among the final inCounty Govern- Strong terviewees in Dement’s Health Sercember, when she vices and Administrator for accepted the position. Orange County’s Primary “As CEO and president, Care Access Network. Strong, on the other hand, SEE CEOS / PAGE 6A
INDEX Classifieds..............................7B Community Calendar..............2A
Crossword...............................5B History..................................14A
Neighborhood.......................11A Obituaries.............................15A
Sports.....................................1B Weather..................................5B
Vol. 84, No. 3 , Three sections
WOTimes.com