01.20.22 West Orange Times & Observer

W EST O RA N G E T I M E S &

Observer Winter Garden, Ocoee, Oakland

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. VOLUME 89, NO. 2

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Local resident meets man who saved his life. 6.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022

‘Hate is too great a burden to bear’ Winter Garden celebration honors the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. SEE PAGE 3.

YOUR TOWN REGISTRATION OPEN FOR SOFTBALL The West Orange Girls Club has opened its spring season registration and is looking for girls for the 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U and 16U teams. Registration will remain open through Feb. 11, when teams will be drafted.

Evaluations will take place Feb. 8 and 10. The registration fee includes a full uniform.

Opening day will be March 5, and teams will be playing other Babe Ruth Leagues this season. Games may be played on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday evening with some Saturday games.

West Orange Girls Club operates at 881 Ocoee Apopka Road, Ocoee, with six fields. All practices are held at the club.

For information, email michaalrossi@gmail.com.

HIP TO BE

SQUARE

Vincent Urick-Brokus, aka TikTok’s The Camping Cuber, is spending the season in Winter Garden. SEE PAGE 4.

ARTISTS CAN APPLY FOR CHALK CONTEST

Applications for the Spring Fever in the Garden Festival’s popular chalk art contest are now online for this year’s event April 2 and 3 in downtown Winter Garden. For the Chalkin’ it Up form, visit springfeverinthegarden.org/chalk. Download, fill out and send it to the email on the application soon.

There are prizes for all categories: adult, elementary, middle school, high school and family group; as well as $400 for People’s Choice and $700 for Best in Show.

TOWN SEEKS BOARD MEMBERS The town of Windermere currently is looking to fill a variety of open member positions.

The town has openings on the Development Review Board, Historic Preservation Board and Long Range Planning Committee.

Only those who reside within the 2.2 square miles of incorporated Windermere are eligible to join as voting members, according to the town’s website. Those who are interested can send their application to the Town Clerk Dorothy Burkhalter at dburkhalter@ town.windermere.fl.us.

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Annabelle Sikes

Vincent Urick-Brokus, also known as “The Camping Cuber,” can solve a 3X3 cube in an average of 20 seconds and has more than 170,000 followers on TikTok.

GRACE UNDER PRESSURE

OCPS plans bus depot on Story Road

DP’s Riley Kugel hit two free throws in the final second to propel the Panthers past Windermere. SEE PAGE 11.

The depot would replace OTC — Westside Campus. Some east Winter Garden residents are opposed to the plan. PAGE 8.

BEST IN CLASS

Windermere Prep girls golf coach Rick Steward was named 2021 Florida Dairy Farmers Class 1A Coach of the Year. PAGE 11.

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OBSERVER

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022

Leaders postpone discussion on voting boundaries IN OTHER NEWS n The commission approved an interlocal agreement between the city of Winter Garden and the town of Oakland to transfer jurisdiction of right-of-way and the road on the western edge of Oakland Park. n Commissioners approved several events, including the American Legion Post 63 Ruck Walk and Crooked Can Brewing Company’s Celtic Festival. n Rees presented a proclamation of National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, which took place Jan. 9.

The City Commission will consider the new ordinance at its Jan. 27 meeting.

ANNABELLE SIKES STAFF WRITER

Because not all commissioners were present, the Winter Garden City Commission opted Thursday, Jan. 13, to postpone its discussion on an ordinance regarding the city’s voting district boundaries.

City Attorney A. Kurt Ardaman began the first reading and public hearing of a proposed ordinance which addresses the establishment of voting district boundaries.

The ordinance suggests adopting the report of the districting commission, enacting the district boundaries proposed by the report and providing for conflicts, severability and an effective date.

However, Mayor John Rees requested a postponement of the ordinance until the Jan. 27 meeting, because a commissioner was not present.

“It’s important that everyone is here for this and the presentation,” Rees said.

Adraman then moved on to a series of ordinances pertaining to the property at 1010 Vineland Road.

The ordinance provided for

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the annexation of certain land located on 0.24 acres at 1010 Vineland Road, as to give the city jurisdiction over the property.

Community Development Director Stephen Pash stated the annexation was voluntary by the owner.

Pash said the proposed ordinances are consistent with the surrounding area and the owner intends to apply for a special exception which would allow office use and development of the parking lot and pond.

Following staff recommendations, the ordinance was approved 4-0, with a second reading and public

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hearing to occur at the next meeting on Jan. 27.

AMERICAN LEGION

A special presentation was given by American Legion Post 63 Commander Kurt Gies to kick off the meeting.

Gies addressed the importance of education on veteran suicide with the help of a video put together by community member and Gymnastics USA owner Austin Arthur. The presentation highlighted the recent 2021 Challenge 22 Walk and Picnic.

The video explained 22 United States veterans die every day from

suicide.

“Our comrades served, and when they decide that they want to take their life, somebody needs to be there to say no,” Gies said in the video. “We’re here for you. We love you.

We support you. And your life is too important. Don’t leave.”

Gies then went on to discuss the Ruck Walk event.

Ruck Walk will take place on Nov. 12, Veteran’s Day weekend, and will raise awareness for veterans.

“Thank you Kurt and thank you for all that you do for this,” Rees said.

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Annabelle Sikes

Mayor John Rees presented to the police a proclamation declaring Jan. 9 National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022

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Have you seen the petitioners in downtown Winter Garden?

The at-times aggressive groups are trying to gather signatures to get gambling initiatives on the 2022 Florida ballot.

ANNABELLE SIKES STAFF WRITER

Photos by Annabelle Sikes

The Gerry Williams Band performed at the downtown pavilion in Winter Garden after the conclusion of the parade.

‘Let no man pull you so low as to hate him’ T

he city of Winter Garden honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a downtown parade and celebration Monday, Jan. 17.

The gusty winds and unusually chilly weather didn’t stop residents from dancing in the streets with joy and setting up chairs with blankets along Plant Street to watch the event.

The event kicked off with a parade, which featured community leaders such as Florida Sen. Randolph Bracy, U.S. Rep. Val Demings and Orange County Clerk of Courts Tiffany Moore Russell. Organizations such as Foundation Academy and Soul Haven Ranch’s Miniature Horse Therapy Programs also participated.

Following the parade, The Gerry Williams Band performed an integration of funk, soul and rhythm music at the downtown pavilion.

Other performers included Corrinne Thompson, Nick Melvin and Selwyn Birchwood.

Mayor John Rees welcomed residents and spoke of King’s life and legacy.

“His destiny was set, and we all sit here and just thank Dr. King for all that he did in his 39 years of life,” Rees said. “One of the best quotes I think of Dr. King that I always love is: ‘I have decided to stick with love.

Hate is too great a burden to bear.’

If we all followed that, I think we would all agree what a wonderful world we can live in.”

Pastor Anthony Hodge, of Finding the Lost Sheep Ministry, also played a large role in the gathering as he recited Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

King delivered this speech on Aug. 28, 1963, from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

Almost 60 years later, the historic speech still holds true.

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character,” Hodge quoted.

“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed — we hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.”

U.S. Rep. Val B. Demings was one of the many important community leaders who participated in the parade and celebration honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Winter Garden Little League members waved U.S. flags as they rode through the parade.

Above: Winter Garden Mayor John Rees welcomed residents to the celebration.

Left: Asher, Danny, Abi and Ali Connor were excited to attend the celebration.

— ANNABELLE SIKES

The push to get gambling expansion initiatives onto Florida’s 2022 ballot has reached Winter Garden. And some are uncomfortable with it.

Two organizations, Florida Voters in Charge and Florida Education Champions, are determined to get gambling expansion initiatives onto Florida’s 2022 ballot.

“The petitioners that you see around our city are aggressive in gathering signatures, because they are paid to do so,” said Tanja Gerhartz, city of Winter Garden Economic Development director.

“These petitioners are hired by outof-state corporations to collect signatures to put an item on the state referendum.”

Gerhartz said the petitioners, who began showing up in October, have encroached on the city and are intruding on private property, arguing with local businesses and aggressively campaigning residents for signatures.

Keri Fleck, The Real Estate Collection owner and broker, said some of the petitioners put a table outside the front office on Plant Street unannounced and proceeded to address patrons walking by.

“I’m really not objecting to people petitioning for change, but by setting up the table on our property, it has the potential to lead people to the assumption that we are associated with the petitioners, which we are not,” Fleck said.

Fleck said the petitioners appear to be aggressive with their agenda.

“We have a lot of our residents and visitors in the downtown area, and it doesn’t give a good impression when these people are assertively interrupting the normal downtown flow,” Fleck said.

Chris Chan, Winter Garden resident and business owner, said he has seen the petitioners mostly on weekends.

“When I do see them, I don’t know what they are petitioning for,” he said. “I avoid them pretty well when I see them actively pursuing others.”

Dana Brown, who helps to oversee the Winter Garden Farmers Market, said the primary complaint she has received from vendors recently has been about the petitioners.

“They go up to customers at

“The petitioners that you see around our city are aggressive in gathering signatures, because they are paid to do so.These petitioners are hired by out-of-state corporations to collect signatures to put an item on the state referendum.”

Tanja Gerhartz, City of Winter Garden Economic Development Director

THE ISSUE In May 2021, The Florida Legislature approved legal sports betting in a gambling deal, known as a gaming compact, with the state’s Seminole tribe.

But what does this really mean?

The deal legalizes online sports betting in Florida with the tribe gaining exclusive control, with certain profit-sharing opportunities and negotiations.

If the deal stands, it will be the biggest gambling expansion in state history.

However, the deal hasn’t been made a law just yet, and many organizations are working to ensure the deal doesn’t go through.

DraftKings Inc. and FanDuel Inc., two wager supergiants, are

Florida Sen. Randolph Bracy waved to residents as the parade passed by on Plant Street.

David, Brklyn, Tink, Dez and Kerrie Adams sported matching hoodies at the celebration.

Copies of the petition courtesy of Dana Brown.

booths who are either looking around or trying to pay and they interrupt them with no regard of anything else going on except getting a signature,” Brown said.

She said the petitioners target a variety of local markets — not just Winter Garden.

Brown said the petitioners are generally aggressive and have tried setting up their own booths inside the market.

“They try to set up tables, but I control them from setting up inside the market, because everyone there has had to pay and put in the work to be there so it wouldn’t be fair if I allowed them and not someone else,” she said.

Brown said she asked one of the petitioners for a copy of the petition, if she was to be signing it, and the petitioner refused and got upset. She then asked to talk to the petitioner’ supervisor on the phone and had to push to receive copies.

“A lot of these people have really nasty social skills, and it seems the freedom of speech is really being taken way too far,” Brown said.

“People come here to shop and hang out with their friends and families — not to be solicited for a cause.”

Gerhartz said despite outside interests paying the petitioners for their service, the petitioning still falls under the constitutional rights of free speech and assembly.

“Unfortunately, our hands are tied because this is a state issue,” Gerhartz said.

“Our city does a wonderful job of keeping the community feel here but there’s only so much they can do when it comes to this issue,” Fleck said. “The petitioners just don’t belong here.”

Florida District 11 Sen. Randolph Bracy did not return repeated attempts seeking comment by press time Tuesday.

pumping millions of dollars into getting a referendum on Florida ballots this year. The referendum aims to legalize sports betting outside of Seminole lands.

To get on the ballot, the organizations have both hired hundreds of signature-gatherers, backed by lobbyist-consultants, and launched a media campaign.

As a result, tribe is pushing back with its own “blocking” campaign.

The blocking campaign works to hire away paid petitioners to make it harder for the organizations to gather voters’ signatures. At the same time, the tribe has put together its own petitioners to gather signatures for a non-binding petition to protect its control over sports betting, slots and some card games.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022

Camping Cuber pulls into Winter Garden ANNABELLE SIKES

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To view Vincent Urick-Brokus’ content, find him on TikTok and YouTube as @thecampingcuber.

Friedrich Hayek

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The West Orange Times, West Orange Times & Observer and Southwest Orange Observer are published once weekly, on Thursdays. The papers can be found in many commercial locations throughout West Orange and Southwest Orange.

If you wish to subscribe, visit our website, OrangeObserver.com, call (407) 656-2121 or visit our office, 661 Garden Commerce Parkway, Suite 180, Winter Garden.

Photos by Annabelle Sikes

Vincent Urick-Brokus, his girlfriend Rachael Piper and their cat Buddy Brokus travel the United States in their RV while Urick-Brokus works on his cube skills.

engineer his own extensions of cubes and even create his own through 3D printing, which he does with the help of a filament from ZYLteach.

He is now an affiliate and has discount codes with both this company and TheCubicle, a cube store with unique designs.

“I’m most passionate about designing my own cubes, and I can really showcase my engineering capabilities this way,” he said.

Urick-Brokus is so addicted to cubes that he recently decided to showcase that passion in the form of a tattoo. The ink, done by Handspuntattoos in Orlando, showcases the artistic concept of pointillism.

“I’ve been talking about getting this tattoo for years,” Urick-Brokus said. “Then we are driving around looking for shops, and we just so happen to go into a shop where the guy also had a Rubik’s cube tattoo.

It was one of those ‘stars align’ kinda moments.”

GOING VIRAL

In September 2020, Piper suggested her boyfriend make a TikTok page.

At first, Urick-Brokus resisted the idea.

“I really thought nobody would be interested, because I’m like a grown man with a kid’s toy,” he said. “But then we would have friends over, and they would watch me solve them and

be like, ‘Oh my God,’ and eventually I was like, ‘OK, I’ll make a TikTok.’” The Camping Cuber now has more than 170,000 followers on the platform.

In May 2021, his first video went viral. Urick-Brokus talked about the hardest cubes he owned at the time; the content received 12.5 million views.

Then, an unexpected disaster occurred.

That same month, the owner of Piper’s house decided to sell the property from underneath them with little warning.

The couple scrambled to find options.

Urick-Brokus had just finished his prerequisites at Fayetteville Technical Community College and was going to transfer to North Carolina State University for aerospace engineering. The couple planned on moving closer to the university and opening a coffee food truck.

Although the pair explored their options, apartments in the area were expensive. Instead, they decided to put a down payment on an RV and moved in to it the day before they were to be out of the house.

“Rachael has always wanted to drop everything and travel,” UrickBrokus said. “However, going from a three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath house to a 33-foot trailer in 30 days was stressful.”

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STAFF WRITER

incent Urick-Brokus owns 150 puzzle cubes.

Of those, only two have stumped him.

Urick-Brokus, better known as “The Camping Cuber” on his YouTube and social media, is known for traveling the United States in his RV while solving and creating cubes.

Now, The Camping Cuber has made his way to Winter Garden.

Urick-Brokus and his girlfriend, Rachael Piper, arrived Dec. 5 in West Orange. Since then, they have enjoyed the entertainment, dining and activities available in the area.

“Our favorite part is the downtown area,” Urick-Brokus said. “I love the night vibe with the music and the golf carts.”

Although the couple is thriving and The Camping Cuber’s influence is growing, the journey has been anything but easy.

The 25-year-old was born in Michigan and joined the U.S. Marines out of high school.

In 2017, Urick-Brokus was in South Korea on a training operation when he first learned to solve a Rubik’s cube.

As a radio operator, after setting up equipment, Urick-Brokus was tasked with hourly check-ins. That left a lot of down time. Some guys picked up crosswords, cards or word searches. Urick-Brokus spent his 12-hour shifts learning the parts of the cube from a fellow Marine.

When he returned to the U.S., Urick-Brokus bought his own.

For years, Urick-Brokus kept the one branded Rubik’s cube. One day, while shopping in a Barnes and Noble, he was checking out the S.T.E.M. section when he saw unique variants of the cubes. He bought a bunch and immediately began to attempt to solve them.

Although it took a long time, he was determined to solve the cubes with no help. He explained there are multiple methods to solve a standard cube. It took him six months to learn to solve a Square-1 cube.

“I was like ‘Wow I did this by myself with no help,’” he said. “It’s awesome. That’s the whole reason I love this. I like the feeling of figuring it out, but it’s only satisfying if I get no help at all.”

In 2019, Urick-Brokus was attending the metal music festival “Epicenter” in North Carolina when he met Piper.

Two weeks later, he moved in with her and her family.

“I wasn’t ready to go home, because I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do with my life,” UrickBrokus said. “I thought it would be easier to find myself if I didn’t go home.”

That Christmas, Piper’s family bought him a dozen different types of cubes, which he solved immediately.

“It became like an addiction at that point,” he said.

Urick-Brokus also has begun to

Observer

The couple is still adjusting to the change. Urick-Brokus said there are things they didn’t know they had to pay attention to until actually having the experience of living in the RV. The couple devised small additions to make the living space cleaner and more comfortable, including a shoe cleaner to help keep the dirt out of the RV, a shoe rack to hold essentials such as deodorant or lotion, an ottoman for leg room, water jugs for clean water, and, of course, a space for cubes.

“With how rough this last year has been, we have been so lucky with all of the places we’ve been able to travel to,” Urick-Brokus said. “I wouldn’t trade this last year for the world.”

Urick-Brokus also recently attended his first cube competition — The Florida Fall 2021 by the World Cube Association in Orlando in December.

Although he has had experience with cubes for years now, he said he was always focused on solving different puzzles on his own and wasn’t

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SEND US YOUR NEWS Seeing all of this happen is like validation. It’s seeing some of these followers keep coming back and genuinely looking forward to and enjoying my content that, for me, is showing that all of this hard work really means something to somebody, and that makes it all worth it.”

— Victor Urick-Brokus

serious about timing or competition until last year.

“I got absolutely destroyed by everybody pretty much,” he said.

“I knew going into it I was going to get absolutely obliterated, but I’m like 25, and most of these kids are 12 and 13. But then I was like, ‘I’ve only been doing this seriously for about a year.’”

He averaged only 20 seconds for a standard 3X3 cube.

Although by normal standards, Urick-Brokus’ skills are undeniable, he said he still has a long way to go.

The fastest solution of the Rubik’s Cube, as of 2021, is currently 3.47 seconds by Yusheng Du. “There were world records set at the competition, and now I want to focus on getting faster and building my brand,” he said.

Urick-Brokus also is working with TheCubicle to get some of his designs on the market.

“I don’t know of anyone else who prints their own puzzles and makes content with them, so it’s unique,” he said.

In addition to Winter Garden, the couple has traveled in the RV to North Carolina and Virginia. They plans to stay at the Winter Garden campground until March. Maryland is up next on the list.

“Seeing all of this happen is like validation,” Urick-Brokus said. “It’s seeing some of these followers keep coming back and genuinely looking forward to and enjoying my content that, for me, is showing that all of this hard work really means something to somebody, and that makes it all worth it.”

We want to hear from you. Let us know about your events, celebrations and achievements.

To contact us, email to Michael Eng, meng@OrangeObserver.com.

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OBSERVER

Oakland Town Commission considers streetscape proposal A contractor specializing in planning and landscape design shared details of a proposed streetscape project for Tubb Street and Oakland Avenue at the Oakland Town Commission’s Jan. 11 work session.

GAI’s Community Solutions Group previously held two public meetings Sept. 2 and 30 and a walking tour to get community feedback on what improvements residents would like to see on these two important thoroughfares that intersect south of downtown. Sheeba West, landscape architecture manager, and Donald G. Wishart, director of landscape architecture, also have met with town staff and St. Johns River Water Management officials in the last four months.

Last week’s workshop was a chance for the Town Commission to see what GAI has created based on all of these meetings.

“We’re pretty lucky to have GAI,” Town Planner Jay Marder said. “They are really good; they are really talented. They’ve really gotten the image of Oakland, the feel of Oakland, the character of Oakland.”

GAI staff was tasked with looking at different aspects of the proposed Complete Streets project.

The Complete Streets approach incorporates multiple modes of travel — motorists, trucks and buses, experienced and novice cyclists, and pedestrians — to create a roadway that performs at peak level.

“As soon as you get into Oakland, it’s that zen feeling; it’s like, ‘Oh, I’m back in a hometown,’ and we want to not only preserve that, but we want to extend that,” West said. “How do we extend that image, that experience to the user?”

West said the town needs gateways at its east and west ends of Oakland Avenue to announce citizens’ arrival

but also to preserve Oakland’s character.

The work session provided streetscape renderings that include more trees and landscaping, median plantings, more sidewalks, traffic circles, clear crosswalks and tightened intersections to slow traffic.

The total project is estimated to cost $12 million; it can be implemented in phases as funding comes available. It would be started after the completion of the west-end roundabout.

The project likely would be divided into five phases: Tubb Street, the gateway entries into the town, the area of gridded streets, the area where Oakland Avenue parallels the West Orange Trail and the area west of the Florida’s Turnpike.

The plan is to maintain the character of the town while connecting the community and its old and new neighborhoods, Town Manager Steve Koontz said. One aspect of that is to create safe connections across West Colonial Drive to give southern residents access to the West Orange Trail, town square and its amenities.

“I would love nothing more than to connect Johns Landing and Johns Cove to the downtown,” he said.

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CITY OF

WINTER GARDEN IS HIRING!

Tired of commuting?

Looking for more time to do the things you love?

Work where you live and add to your quality of life.

As our community continues to grow and thrive, the City of Winter Garden is seeking qualified individuals that exemplify the “Winter Garden Way” of providing top-notch service that residents expect, deserve, and appreciate. Candidates should possess a motivated mindset and a can-do attitude to find creative solutions, while always putting the citizens first.

Winter Garden is a great place to both live and work.

Explore the job opportunities and the impressive benefit package at www.cwgdn.com and click on Jobs at bottom of home page.

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COMMUNITY EDITOR

THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022

Work in Your Own Backyard!

Consultants presented to elected officials the results of months of work on an improvement plan for Oakland Avenue and Tubb Street.

AMY QUESINBERRY

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IN OTHER NEWS n At the regular meeting, the Town Commission authorized the town manager to contract with graphic design firm Alarie Design to work with staff to develop several options for a town rebrand. The effort would streamline multiple logos into one brand and update the logo for a growing town. n The commission passed a resolution that revised utility rates to include multi-family properties. The town will soon connect its first apartments and needed to establish an appropriate method to bill mastermetered multi-family customers for monthly utility services. n Commissioners passed the second public hearings of three ordinances pertaining to The Grove at Oakland annexation, Comp Plan amendment — changing the future land-use plan map designation from Oakland Commercial and Orange County Low Density to Oakland Low Density Residential — and amended the zoning map designation from Agriculture to Planned Development with a master plan. The ultimate use of the property, 16.4 acres located at 15738 State Road 438, will be 44 single-use homes. The annexation is for the remaining 3.067 acres; the future land-use designation pertains to both properties. The property is bordered by Winter Garden to the east, Oakland Avenue to the north, Catherine Ross Road to the west and commercial property to the south.

n The commission proclaimed Jan. 17 as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 23 through 29 School Choice Week and Jan. 24 through 28 Celebrate Literacy Week in the town of Oakland.

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n Commissioners appointed Blaine Dooley as a regular member on the Planning & Zoning Board for a three-year term.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022

Local resident meets man who saved his life Horizon West resident Richard Broccolo was able to thank the 19-year-old man who pulled him from a blazing car and saved his life.

AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

BAPTIST

First Baptist Church Pastor Tim Grosshans 125 E. Plant St, Winter Garden (407) 656-2352 Sundays: 8:30 AM Traditional 9:45 AM Bible Study 11 AM Contemporary Wednesdays: 6 PM Awana 2nd Campus: First Baptist Church @ Horizon West 15304 Tilden Road, Winter Garden Sundays: 9:45 AM All Ages www.FBCWG.org Starke Lake Baptist Church Pastor Jeff Pritchard PO Box 520 611 W Ave., Ocoee (407) 656-2351 www.StarkeLakeBaptist.org Victory Baptist Church & Christian Academy 1601 A.D. Mims Rd, Ocoee FL 34761 (407) 656-3097 www.VBCOCOEE.com Sunday: 11AM & 6 PM Wednesday: 7 PM

125 N. Lakeview Ave. Winter Garden (407) 656-1135

CHURCH OF GOD

Ocoee Church of God Pastor Thomas Odom 1105 N. Lakewood Ave.,Ocoee (407) 656-8011

EPISCOPAL

Church of the Messiah 241 N. Main St., Winter Garden Sunday: 8, 9:30, & 11 AM., 4PM (French & Creole), 7 PM www.ChurchoftheMessiah.com

METHODIST

First United Methodist Church 125 N. Lakeview Ave., Winter Garden (407) 656-1135 Services: 9 AM Contemporary 11:15 AM Traditional Viewable on YouTube

NON-DENOMINATIONAL Purpose Church Orlando 13640 W Colonial Dr. Ste 110, Winter Garden (407) 654-9661 Sunday Service: 10:05 AM Sunday Brazilian Service: 7 PM Saturday Service: 6 PM www.purposechurchorlando.org

FOOD PANTRY

2nd & 4th Tuesday of the month 1-3pm in Education Bldg

CARING TABLE

4th Monday of the month at Elks Lodge from 5-7pm

As the flames inched closer to Richard Broccolo, the Horizon West resident who spent nearly 42 years in fire service thought of the irony of the situation as he waited for someone to pull him from his overturned and burning car.

His life would be saved that day by a teenager working nearby.

Now, nearly two years after that day, Corey Purinton — the man Broccolo calls a hero — is receiving a Carnegie Medal, the highest civilian honor for heroism.

Broccolo, then 62, was returning from a golf outing with friends Aug. 23, 2020, when his car went off the road on a stretch of State Road 429 close to his home in Summerlake.

What happened next is a combination of what he remembers and what witnesses and family told him.

“I felt that I went off the edge of the road,” Broccolo said. “Within a split second — this is what was told to me — my tire blew, I saw a puff of dirt, and that’s all I saw. I woke up in the car a minute or so later groggy, because I had a concussion. … I broke my scapula in half, tore my labrum in my left shoulder, broke every rib on the left side, and that punctured my left lung, (and) one rib on right side that punctured a lung. I guess they said I had a DVT (deep vein thrombosis) behind my knee.”

His car rolled several times and came to rest on its roof against a chain-link fence and with its back end about four feet in the air.

When Broccolo awoke, he was in pain and unable to move much because of his injuries.

“I heard a pop and fizz, and I looked through the broken glass — and I saw flames,” he said. “I thought, ‘This isn’t good.’ I know from experience

that the fire would take four to five minutes to get to the cabin.”

As he lay on the interior roof of his car, he saw the rear window was broken out but couldn’t get to it. He knew his only way out was for someone to pull him out.

“But no one came,” he said. “About four minutes later, the interior is cooking. I’m hearing the pop and the crack. … The fire was in the car.

I could feel the heat on my legs. … I have about one minute. I made peace with this. I thought of the irony of doing this for 42 years and this is how I’m going to go out.”

And then he saw Purinton’s face.

“I said, ‘You’ve got to help me;

Courtesy photos

Richard Broccolo, right, was able to thank Corey Purinton, the man who saved his life.

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Richard Broccolo’s car landed upside down against a chain-link fence.

I’m going to give you my arm, and, no matter how hard I scream, keep pulling,’” Broccolo recalled.

He was later told he screamed and then passed out.

Purinton inhaled smoke and suffered burns to his hands and has recovered.

“Next thing I knew, I was being dragged on the ground in extreme pain,” Broccolo said. “I was like 198 (pounds) at the time, so pretty difficult to pull that weight out. … My back was in flames. The only thing I remember is barely talking to the paramedic. I heard a firefighter turn the nozzle, I heard the water, I heard the helicopter, I felt the wind.”

Broccolo was transported to a trauma center, where doctors didn’t expect him to survive the first night.

After the third day, they began the tedious and painful process of surgery and skin grafts.

About 30% of his body suffered burns — from his big toe on his right foot to his left shoulder, his left buttocks, elbow, the back of his lower left leg and lower right ankle, and the small of his back all the way up to his shoulder blades. The left side was burned significantly; the right side of his back wasn’t burned as badly.

Skin grafts were made using tissue from both of his thighs.

After his hospital stay, Broccolo, by then 35 pounds lighter, went to a

rehabilitation facility, where he had to relearn how to walk and perform other tasks. He went home Oct. 7.

Broccolo has had multiple laser surgeries and is scheduled for four more. This works on the burn scars, giving his skin more elasticity and reducing the pain.

“It’s hurt 24/7 for almost a year and a half now,” he said.

Broccolo and his family had the opportunity to meet Purinton, a laborer from Homosassa, and enjoy a meal together.

“I thanked him from the bottom of my heart,” he said. “People say, ‘It wasn’t really anything and it wasn’t heroic.’ People like me, in the fire service and the police, when we see what they actually do, that’s what’s actually a hero. (I told Corey), ‘I was three seconds from me dying, and you came in and saved me when others didn’t. That’s what we call going above and beyond what anyone would normally do.’

“This is what you saved me for — my kids and grandkids,” Broccolo told Purinton, who was 19 at the time of the crash. “I’m still in their life and get to spend another day on Earth.”

Purinton is among 17 citizens who risked their lives for others and will receive the Carnegie bronze medal.

Broccolo said Orange County Fire Rescue could be honoring Purinton, as well.

“If he wasn’t here, I would have died,” Broccolo said. “Nobody else came to help me. He’s the hero, and I’m really proud of him and thankful he did it. I’d like to see Corey get the recognition he deserves.”

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BAY MEADOWS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Mandy Fillenwarth is the STEAM magnet coordinator at Bay Meadows Elementary School and has done many great things in the past several years to help the magnet program grow, Principal GeRai Mays said. She conducts teacher trainings, supports students and staff via numerous projects and events such as Family Science Night, coaches the STEAM Dream Team competition team, runs the News Crew, serves as MTSS coach for several grades and inspires others to love learning. She was named Teacher of the Year in 2015.

What brought you to your school?

I had heard great things about Bay Meadows Elementary. It has such a wonderful family atmosphere. I actually started as a substitute when my children were very young then was hired as a teacher when my children started school.

What do you love most about your school?

I love our STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) magnet program. I am passionate about science and STEAM education, and I am thrilled to work at an elementary school that engages students in hands-on, project-based learning. The students, teachers and families are excited about learning, and their excitement and curiosity are incredibly rewarding.

What is your motivation?

Knowing that we are preparing today’s students for our future motivates me to inspire and engage students in learning. Today’s young students need to be prepared for jobs that have yet to be created, so we focus on critical skills such as collaboration, communication, creative problem-solving and resiliency to learn from failure. We have learned that students who pursue careers in science and engineering are typically excited about the subjects by age 7, so I am motivated to engage students in STEAM at a young age.

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What is the most rewarding part of your job?

I love the excitement and smiles on the students’ faces when they accomplish a challenging task. I am thrilled when former students contact me and tell me about their accomplishments.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I enjoy hiking, biking, kayaking, traveling and spending time with my family. Both my kids are at Florida State University, so I enjoy going to FSU football and basketball games.

Who was your favorite teacher when you were in school? Why? My fourth-grade teacher, Mr. Kazakoff, had a passion for science and inspired me to pursue my career in science education.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

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I enjoy photography, cooking and traveling.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

I would love to have the ability to fly, so I could visit beautiful places quickly.

If you could only listen to three bands or artists for the rest of your life, what would they be and why?

Jimmy Buffett, Garth Brooks and the “Hamilton” soundtrack, because they are great songs to sing along to.

What was your go-to lunch as an elementary student? Any favorite snacks or special treats you remember?

As a student, my go-to lunch was a PBJ sandwich, carrot sticks and milk. My favorite snacks were Little Debbie snacks when we got home from school.

What is your favorite holiday and why?

Christmas is my favorite holiday because our family and friends spend quality time together enjoying traditions, playing games, relaxing, baking cookies and enjoying all the holiday activities in Central Florida.

What were your extracurricular activities as a student? Did you win any accolades or honors?

I loved doing Girl Scouts, sports and science as a kid. I played basketball and won a top honor in my school’s science fair. I also remember winning a cake-baking contest when I was a young Girl Scout.

— AMY QUESINBERRY

NOMINATE YOUR INFLUENCER

Do you have an “unsung hero” at your school? If so, please nominate him or her for our Influencer of the Week feature. Nominations can be sent via email to contact@orangeobserver.com.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022

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OBSERVER SCHOOL ZONE

One Winter Garden rallies against bus depot The organization, formerly East Winter Garden Neighborhood Alliance, has a new name to better reflect its goal of working toward a safer, thriving community.

AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

A community organization has changed its name and is fighting for inclusion and a new identity for its residents.

The East Winter Garden Neighborhood Alliance is now One Winter Garden, and the updated Facebook page includes “Advocating for East Winter Garden and Beyond” in its name. Jamie Holley is president of One Winter Garden, and Chloe Brunson serves as vice president.

“The purpose is just to step up and make our community a better living environment, a safer environment, and we’re standing in the gap for the community — not just for ourselves and for our own families,” Brunson said. “The purpose for One Winter Garden is to advocate for Winter Garden, going out in the community and being a voice for the community for the good, for change.”

The first issue the group is facing is a big one. Orange County Public Schools is relocating Orange Technical College — Westside Campus from East Story Road, in east Winter Garden, to property near Ocoee High School and is considering putting an OCPS bus depot in its place.

The community learned of the technical center’s move when former Winter Garden City Manager Mike Bollhoefer shared the information with residents.

A discussion from the June 25, 2020, Winter Garden City Commission meeting is recorded in the minutes: “City Manager Bollhoefer informed the City Commission of (OCPS’) plan to demolish and move the Westside Vo-Tech Cen-

ter to Ocoee, replacing the current location with a bus depot, which will service the entire West Orange County. He described how this would flood the city’s streets with buses on an ongoing basis. He noted that the city has several issues with this and informed that the city attorney submitted a letter of opposition to Orange County, as this would require going through their rezoning process before approval.

He strongly expressed that this type of use in this type of neighborhood would be of negative impact.

“He asked that the City Commission stand with staff in opposition of Orange County bringing this type of use to the community the city is trying to redevelop, expressing that it is not good for the city. Mayor (John) Rees also voiced his opposition. … (City Attorney Kurt) Ardaman assured the City Commission of future updates on this item. He noted that if the county staff issues a determination that a transportation compound/bus depot is consistent with the zoning, then the city would do everything to challenge it.

“City Manager Bollhoefer spoke of how the City Commission and the community could also come together to show their opposition to this item. City Attorney Ardaman noted that this could be up to 400 buses.”

Holley and Brunson said neighbors are unhappy with the proposed plan.

GENERATIONAL HISTORY

“Even though we don’t have a say in them moving the school … we just don’t want a bus depot there,” Brunson said. “There’s history there with Drew High School. To

take it away and put in a bus depot — people feel like there already is not enough love shown. It says: ‘Well, they don’t care. Let’s dump a bus depot there.’”

The Westside campus was once the facility for Drew High, a school for black Winter Garden students. It opened in 1956 as Charles R. Drew Junior High School and became a high school when more grades were added. Drew High became accredited in 1959 and held its last graduation exercises in 1969.

“Our older grandparents live here,” Brunson said. “We’re having (residents) voice their opinions of how they don’t want a bus depot right in the center of the community. It can cause cancer, (put) pollution in the air, (create a lack of) traffic control (and affect the) value of their homes.”

Both women grew up in Winter Garden and want to see their neighborhood thrive. Holley was born here 41 years ago and attended Maxey Elementary, Ocoee Middle and West Orange High schools.

Brunson attended Maxey as well

before moving to Atlanta with her family; she returned a decade ago when she was 24.

According to One Winter Garden, there are more than 1,600 individuals living in east Winter Garden and nearly half of the families earn less than $25,000 per household annually.

COMMUNITY MEETING

OCPS will host a community meeting from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, at OTC Westside Campus, 955 E. Story Road, Winter Garden. The meeting originally was scheduled for last week but was postponed because of the recent COVID-19 spike, said Lauren Roth, senior manager of OCPS Facilities Communications.

“We’re just trying to get the community to get out (to the meeting),” Brunson said. “We just want to say, ‘Don’t do this to our community; don’t do this to us.’”

In addition to the upcoming meeting with OCPS, One Winter Garden continues its regular meetings from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. the first

Thursday of each month, at Healthy West Orange’s new facility on East Plant Street.

“We’re just trying to show (residents) that we care, that it matters,” Brunson said. “Things won’t always be easy, but if we take on these tasks with the right mind set, things can get accomplished.”

This will be the fourth community meeting regarding the new Westside campus, Roth said. The most recent was the 60% design plan meeting last August, when details of the proposed site plan were revealed. The campus will have 1,110 student stations, 506 parking spaces, separate access for buses and deliveries, bike access to West Orange Trail, an event center, hybrid labs, construction yard, student commons, space for future expansion and a construction budget of $42.3 million.

The design phase should be completed in the spring, with construction to begin this summer. The projected opening is 2025.

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56 Preacher, e.g.?

27 “Hold on!”

61 Scrape (by) 28 Not good, not bad 62 Word after “false” or 29 Travelers’ electrical “flying” devices 63 Timbuktu’s country 31 Just *know* 33 Waze guesses (Abbr.) 64 Suckling spot

66 Took steroids 69 Like milk on a Brit’s floor 71 “Land ___!” (“Goodness!”)

73 Venison descriptor 74 Tel ___ 75 Words said while conceding 78 Overcharge by a lot 81 Convention runner, e.g.?

87 Film character who says “Ogres are like onions” 89 Peak in Switzerland 90 Like low-quality footage 91 Put a black coat on?

92 Vaccine container 93 Accumulate 95 Name hidden in “rel-

evance” 96 Eco-friendly commuter’s ride 97 Electrician, e.g.?

101 Attack from all sides 102 Leading lady, perhaps 103 ___ contendere (legal term) 104 Like, for-EV-er 106 Zoological environments 110 Outback sprinters 113 Main course 117 History text chapters, say 118 Colorist, e.g.?

122 Payment for digs 123 Blown away 124 Missile Command game company 125 Contributes

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Puzzle Three Clue: V equals K

58 Antipasto bit 59 Using TurboTax, say 60 Boba, e.g.

65 What makes a bettor worse 67 Brooding music genre 68 Houston MLS team DOWN 70 Broadcast team 1 Hairdo seen in “The Get 72 “Right you are” Down” 76 Slithering reptile 2 Only big cat that lives in 77 10-Across wader a group 78 Answer an invitation 3 Sitting around 79 LeBron James’ home 4 Achieves great success state 5 Sweet, in Sicily 80 Group with horns 6 Sound of a connection 82 Caramel-topped being made? custard 7 Lines in a sun drawing 83 Printer maker 8 The final lineup of Des- 84 Where icicles may form tiny’s Child, for one 85 “Level Up” singer 9 Karate teacher 86 “Bel Canto” author 10 Zine Patchett 11 Bama’s state (Abbr.)

88 Some members of 12 Tomato type the 1% 13 Lose, as fur 93 Carrier based near 14 Tastes wine, say Kuala Lumpur 15 “You’re so helpful!”

94 It’s NW of LAX 16 Family film?

96 One may gently roast 17 The “U” of UX a groom 18 BIC products 98 Pic on a temple, 24 Hammer’s striking end perhaps 25 “___ minute?”

99 Desperate request 30 Potpie bit 100 Tuba sound 32 Aspiring esquires’ 101 Flexed exams 105 Wish fulfiller 34 Ctrl-___-Del 106 Gnus’ group 35 Small, blue toon 107 Bay ___ (Oakland’s 37 Oozes region) 38 Forestall 108 Soaks up some sun 39 Put new film into 109 Make laugh and laugh 41 “Well, hello!”

111 Until 42 Rebounds, in billiards 112 Use a 52-Down 43 Idris of “Luther” 114 Overhaul 44 Fingers or toes 115 Split ones are often cut 45 Disposal site?

116 “Keep commerce hu46 Seize man” website 48 “___ All That” (Addison 119 Have bills to pay Rae movie) 120 “Nothing but ___!”

52 Sci-fi device that lets (basketball announcer’s someone blast off line) 53 Even (with) 121 Taxing org.

55 With apparent timidity 57 Kermit, e.g.

126 Family punsters, stereotypically 127 To this point 128 Knight’s animal 129 All up in others’ business

By Luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present.

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

Puzzle Two Clue: N equals M

IT’S A LIVING by Ross Trudeau. Edited by David Steinberg

Puzzle One Clue: M equals V

crossword

sudoku Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.

©2022 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

1-20-22

JANUARY 20, 2022

SPORTS HIGH

Foundation Academy’s Zoe Sedo was named an EXOS Select 50 2nd Team All-American. Page 12.

1

5

Horizon’s boys soccer team erased a two-goal deficit in the second half to tie against Edgewater 2-2, Jan. 13. Gustavo Castellanos and Caua Cunha each scored for the Hawks in the draw. The Hawks on Jan. 15 lost to Dr. Phillips, 2-1, at home. They will play their last regular-season home game Jan. 20 against Cypress Creek.

2

Windermere Prep’s girls weightlifting team emerged victorious in the inaugural weightlifting Citrus League competition. The team featured six first-place finishers as it took the competition by storm en route to victory.

Windermere Prep has won all five competitions that it has taken part in so far this season and started the District tournament Jan. 19.

3

Ocoee’s girls basketball team had a good week, compiling two wins and a loss to Apopka.

The Lady Knights defeated Olympia and University by scores of 41-20 and 69-28 before losing to the Blue Darters 54-35. The team’s record now sits at 12-6 (as of press time Tuesday) and now plays three straight home games to close out the regular season. The first of these will be against CFCA Jan. 20.

4

Dr. Phillips’ competition cheer team won the 2022 West Metro Championship Jan. 14 at West Orange High School.

The team now gets set to compete at the FHSAA Regional Championships to be held Jan. 22 at Bishop Moore High School in Winter Park. The state competition will be held Feb. 1 and 2, in Gainesville.

Despite being held to only four points, DP’s Ernest Udeh Jr. was a defensive force during the Panthers’ 38-37 victory over Windermere.

POWERHOUSES COLLIDE Dr. Phillips’ Riley Kugel sunk two clutch free throws to win the OCPS Metro West tournament.

CHRIS MARTUCCI SPORTS EDITOR

A

close, hard-fought game between Dr. Phillips and Windermere Monday, Jan. 17 — the final of the OCPS Metro West tournament — came down to two free throws.

Panthers senior Riley Kugel stepped up to the line; that was all DP coach Ben Witherspoon needed to see. Confident Kugel was going to sink both free throws, he told the bench that the game was over.

“Riley always has a calm demeanor; he never gets too high or too low at any point,” Witherspoon said.

“When he got fouled, we weren’t worried. We’ve had guys step up and make game-winning free throws over and over the past couple weeks, so we were confident.”

Surely enough, Kugel displayed

composure in that pressure-filled moment.

“I didn’t feel nervous at all,” he said. “I felt calm, because all I had to do was make two free throws. I knew I was going to make at least one, but I told myself that I had to hit both of them.”

He did just that and gave DP a 38-37 win over Windermere in a game between two of the area’s strongest teams.

From the start, both teams wanted to push the pace and create opportunities. However, both defenses were more than up to the challenge — contesting shots and making sure there were no second chance opportunities on either side of the court.

Windermere led after the first quarter 10-7. Sean Stewart was a big part of that lead, making plays

Photos by Chris Martucci

Dr. Phillips’ Riley Kugel came in clutch as he sank the game-winning free throws.

SEE DP PAGE 12

Windermere Prep’s Stewart named Coach of the Year 5

Central Florida Christian boys basketball notched its fourth consecutive win since returning from the holiday break, defeating Santa Fe Catholic 79-48, Jan. 14. The Eagles took a 38-26 lead at halftime and then blew the game open in the second half. They allowed just six points in the fourth quarter.

CFCA’s record improves to 12-3 (as of press time). The Eagles travel Jan. 20 to Victory Christian Academy in Lakeland for a game.

Girls golf coach Rick Stewart led his team to a Class 1A state championship.

CHRIS MARTUCCI SPORTS EDITOR

Rick Stewart came into his first season as the head girls golf coach at Windermere Prep with the simple goal of building a team that eventually would compete at the state level.

That goal quickly evolved after the team won the Citrus League tournament. He already knew he had a good group of strong competitors, but that victory also convinced him this team could accomplish more And it did just that; the Lakers won the 2021 Class 1A state championship.

It was Windermere Prep’s first state championship in girls golf since 2012, the last of three consecutive state championships they won.

Chris Martucci

Rick Stewart added one more piece of hardware to a remarkable first season as Windermere Prep’s girls golf coach.

As the metaphorical cherry on top, Stewart now can add being 2021 Florida Dairy Farmers Class 1A Coach of the Year to a year full of

accomplishments.

“It was a surprise when (Athletic Director Pat Hollern) sent me the text,” Stewart said. “But at the same

time, I feel very honored and very proud to be named Coach of the Year.

It’s very unexpected because it was my first year. It’s awesome.”

Although he was quick to credit his award to the team and the work players put in to win that state championship, Stewart said winning the award was a validation he did the right things in helping his players reach their potential.

“The girls have their own personal coaches, but what I was preaching to them the whole season (was) about course management, being mentally tough, (taking it) one shot at a time and being in the present,” Stewart said. “I think it validated all that I was teaching to the girls, telling them. … So, yeah, I feel a lot of validation.”

Stewart credited plenty of others for the honor, including Hollern for taking the chance on him, his father SEE STEWART PAGE 12

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

12

OBSERVER

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022

SPONSORED BY MARK’S FLOORING AND SHANNON TILL/STATE FARM IN FOWLER GROVES

Zoe Sedo

Zoe Sedo is a sophomore point guard for Foundation Academy and has proved to be a valuable contributor to the Lions this season. She is third on the team in scoring, averaging 10.5 points per game, and leads in assists with four per game and steals with 3.7 per game. On Jan. 10, Sedo was named an EXOS Select 50 2nd Team All-American as one of only two representatives from Florida. She has been at Foundation Academy since the eighth grade.

How does it feel to be named an All-American?

It felt really good. All of my hard work paid off, and it feels very well-deserved. I’m very excited to reach new goals.

THE BASICS

What do you like about playing for Foundation?

The family around me. We’re all family — my team, my teachers, my coaches, everyone. They all support me in everything I do, and that’s the greatest thing I have here, is the support from everybody.

How do you feel about how the team has performed so far this year?

We have had a rough start trying to mesh all of our different players together, but now we finally have good chemistry. If we keep going like this and playing aggressive, we are going to take it very far playing together.

Highlight of the season?

Developing my role as leader.

My team named me captain, so working on encouraging everybody, because that’s been my weakness — being a team leader. I’ve worked on that this year. I’ve tried to bring positive energy to everywhere we go. I’m the loudest one — my teammates get very annoyed— but I’m the loudest one and encouraging. It’s something a team really needs.

AGE: 15 SCHOOL: Foundation Academy GRADE: Sophomore SPORT: Basketball POSITION: PG/SG

with kids, so I think I’d be really good in that.

With districts coming up, what’s one thing you feel the team needs to do to succeed?

There are two things. One is working together, using all of our pieces correctly and meshing together. Another thing is being aggressive; going out hard every game, putting it all out on the court every day, going for the loose ball. All the little things are what’s going to make us great this year.

Favorite movie?

“Matilda.” I’ve loved that movie since I was little.

TV or Netflix show you’re watching now?

“Money Heist” — great show.

I love the thrill of it and not knowing what’s going to happen. It’s exciting.

What’s your favorite subject in school?

My chemistry class. It’s my favorite class, because I love science and math.

What are you thinking of pursuing in college?

I want to work in behavioral and psychology to become a behavior analyst. I want to own group homes and help kids with disabilities live a better life. It’s a family business; my dad and my uncles are all in it. I love working

Favorite basketball player?

I have two. One that I like is Trae Young, because I play like him a lot and use some of the things he does, especially with how he motivates himself. The other one I like is Zach LaVine, because I’m a Chicago Bulls fan. I like a lot of the other Bulls players too, though.

Which of the Bulls’ championship teams is your favorite?

The 1995-96 Bulls team. They were great, nothing else to really say about them. I loved the way they played in terms of the confidence they had. I love confidence in basketball players.

Players like Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman had plenty of that.

Favorite food?

Pizza. (Because) I’m vegetarian, I go for a cheese pizza with a lot of vegetables on it such as green peppers, spinach, and — for my own spin — honey and sriracha sauce on it. It’s so good, because it’s spicy and sweet at the same time.

Favorite ice cream flavor?

Cookies ’n’ creme.

Universal or Disney?

Universal — my favorite ride is Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. It’s so much fun.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Thailand, because I like to see different cultures and different ways of living.

It’s amazing to me to study those cultures. I’ve always wanted to visit there.

— CHRIS MARTUCCI

Athlete of the Week sponsored by:

Photos by Chris Martucci

Denzel Aberdeen was kept off the scoreboard but made several plays to help his team during the game.

DP bests Windermere CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

on defense along with a couple baskets.

DP pushed back in the second, as Kugel, along with Jordan Tillery, helped give the team a narrow 18-17 lead going into halftime.

The third proved to be just as tight; both teams came out of the break looking to gain an edge on the other. There was a point of controversy when the referee ruled Stewart had stepped out of bounds after a steal, which Windermere coach Mark Griseck tried to argue was not out of bounds.

Heading into the final frame, DP was looking for someone to light a spark to carry them to possible victory.

Enter Jackson Slater.

Slater scored six straight points, including three consecutive free throws, to push the Panther lead to 36-29 in the beginning of the fourth quarter.

“We can’t do what we do without Jackson Slater,” Witherspoon said. “Having him as another ball-handler, another decisionmaker, a guy (who) knock down open threes. He’s also the ultimate teammate; he’s unselfish.

He’s everything you want in a college basketball player. He’s going to help somebody win conference championships one day.”

Slater ended the game with eight points.

While Slater started off the fourth quarter, it was Kugel who ended it. After Windermere crawled back to take a one-point lead with fewer than 10 seconds to go after a dunk by Stewart, DP had one last chance to win the game.

Kugel took a pass from Slater and drove down the lane, going up for a jump shot. At first, it seemed the shot had been blocked, and Windermere would win.

But the referee called a foul,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

and many old coaches.

Hollern was impressed by how quick Stewart was able to mesh with the players and get them to respond to his coaching. Part of that was being a calming influence on the team when it needed it most, especially when senior Yoko Tai couldn’t compete at the state competition.

“He did a phenomenal job this year of maintaining consistency and patience throughout the year.

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putting Kugel at the line.

Kugel led the Panthers with 15 points; Tillery finished the game with eight points.

Kugel’s other two partners, Denzel Aberdeen and Ernest Udeh Jr., were held in check by Windermere. Udeh ended the game with four points, while Aberdeen was held off the scoreboard entirely.

For Windermere, Stewart and guard Jalen DeBose finished the game with 11 points each, while Stewart made several key defensive plays to keep the Wolverines in the game.

The next highest scorer for the Wolverines was Chalier Torres, who had eight points.

With districts and the state playoffs upcoming, Witherspoon said the focus is on maintaining the course.

“Windermere’s a great team, one of the best in the state — no question,” he said. “They can compete with anybody any day, so we’re looking forward to the challenge.”

DP next plays host to Potter’s

Jackson Slater got things started in the fourth quarter for DP. He scored six straight points to spark the team.

House Christian High School (Jacksonville) Jan. 21. The Panthers and the Wolverines will meet again Feb. 1 at Windermere High School in DP’s regular-season finale.

Stewart wins Coach of the Year

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Windermere’s Chalier Torres was a fierce competitor.

His course management with the girls is consistent, which allows the girls the opportunity to share their ups and downs and know that the person they’re talking to that’s guiding them isn’t going to show those emotions,” Hollern said. “I believe they benefited from that tremendously, especially after they won the Citrus League. … Our girls, Shannon Till, Agent from that point forward, Fowler’s Grove 3279believed Daniels Rd they had a shotWinter to Garden, (win FLthe state 34787 championship).”Toll Free: 855-742-1591 www.shannontill.com Stewart appeared on Hollern’s radar for the head coaching posi-

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Encouraged, he gave her his résumé and met with Hollern. It was on a hunch he was selected to be the man, and that hunch seemed to have paid off.

“We’re going to try and find the We’re all in this together. best fit for our school and for our State ”Farm has a long tradition kids, Hollern said.

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OrangeObserver.com

OBSERVER

JOE P. ANDREWS, JR. DIED JAN. 11, 2022.

Joe P. Andrews Jr. 86, of Ocoee, Florida, passed away in his home surrounded by his family on Jan. 11, 2022.

Among his interests were boating and watching Nascar, and traveling with his family.

Joe is preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Caroline. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Margaret; his children, Joe (Annette), Marty and Brenda (Dan) Blasko; and by his grandchild and greatgrandchildren, Laura (Logan) Freijo, Faith Freijo and Logan Freijo Jr. Funeral Services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 22, at Woodlawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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Charles Royce Nelson, 84, of Nunnelly, Tennessee, passed away on Jan. 11, 2022. Born Nov. 4, 1937, in Geneva County, Alabama, to the late Otis and Jewell McCall Nelson, he moved to Winter Garden, Florida, at the age of 17.

He worked for Pounds Motor Co. before joining the Winter Garden Police Department. He served as Chief from 1966-1974. He left the police department for a short while

Barbara DeMany; dear brother-inlaw of Susan (Miguel “Mike”) Gonzalez, Jamie, Laurie, Mickey and Barry Martine; proud uncle of seven nieces Dawn, Nikki, Sam, Stevie, Michelle, Dani and the late Cara, as well as several great-nieces and great-nephews.

Donald proudly served our country in the U.S. Air Force, serving during the Vietnam era. Donald was and owned his own business, “Nelson Building and Repair,” until he left Winter Garden in 1996.

He went back to the Winter Garden Police Department and retired in 1993. He also worked a short time with Oakland Florida Police Department before moving to Tennessee in 1996.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Bobby Ray and Gatchet Nelson; and sister, Robbie Nell Nelson.

He is survived by his wife, Brenda Morris Nelson, of Nunnelly,

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Tennessee; son, Charles Richard (Stacey) Nelson, of Woodland, Tennessee; daughter, E. Anita Baker, of Nunnelly, Tennessee; sister, Jimmie L. Commander, of DeFuniak Springs, Florida; grandchildren, Chris Nelson, of Springfield, Tennessee, Jessica Nelson, of Clarksville, Tennessee, Becki Nelson (Tony Turner), of Indialantic, Florida; two great-grandchildren, Alex and Gavin; niece, Mary (Paul) Rushing; along with many other relatives, friends and loved ones.

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Jeremy C. Green, 33, of Oakland, died Monday, Jan. 10, 2022. Winter Oak Funeral Home & Cremations.

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Donald Vincent “Labeets” Lebedda passed away suddenly on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, age 70 years, of Ocoee, Florida, formerly of Lincoln Place, Pennsylvania. Born in Braddock, Pennsylvania; son of the late Frances (Minnick) and Michael Lebedda.

Beloved husband of Marlene A. (Feltes) Lebedda, of whom he was married to for 16 years. Loving stepfather of Edward (Jen) McCallum and the late Craig McCallum; cherished grandfather of Amanda (Bryan Davis) and Cody McCallum and great-grandfather of “Bob” Dylan Davis; loving brother of Michael Lebedda (Patty), Robert “Goose” Lebedda (Lynn), Debbie Mackey (late Rusty) and the late

an avid golfer. He enjoyed his retirement in Florida and loved to putz around the house, be outdoors, and was a great Mr. Mom. He was also a true Pittsburgh Steelers fan.

Donald will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Family and friends were received from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 14, 2022, at the George Irvin Green Funeral Home Inc., 3511 Main St., Munhall, PA (412-461-6394), where a Blessing Service was held 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. His family welcomed everyone, but if you could not make it, as Donald would say, “No Biggie.”

Memorial contributions can be made in Donald’s name to the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

Please share your memories and condolences at georgeigreenfuneralhome.com.

13

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WEST ORANGE OBITUARIES

DONALD VINCENT “LABEETS” LEBEDDA DIED MONDAY, JAN. 10, 2022.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022

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Service Directory - Friday at 10AM • PAYMENT: Cash, Check or Credit Card Observer Media Group reserves the right to classify and edit copy, or to reject or cancel an advertisement at any time. Corrections after first insertion only. *All ads are subject to the approval of the Publisher. *It is the responsibility of the party placing any ad for publication in the Observer Media Group to meet all applicable legal requirements in connection with the ad such as compliance with towncodes in first obtaining an occupational license for business, permitted home occupation, or residential rental property.

Notice: All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

As our community continues to grow and thrive, the City of Winter Garden is seeking qualified individuals that exemplify the “Winter Garden Way” of providing top-notch service that residents expect, deserve, and appreciate. Candidates should possess a motivated mindset and a can-do attitude to find creative solutions, while always putting the citizens first.

Winter Garden is a great place to both live and work. Explore the job opportunities and the impressive benefit package at www.cwgdn.com/ and click on Jobs at bottom of home page.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022

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