WINDERMERE
Observer Serving Southwest Orange County
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 1, NO. 17
YOUR TOWN
FREE
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2016
Palate Pleaser
The third annual Windermere Wine & Dine event will bring between 650 and 700 people together to benefit the community. Page 3.
Welcome, Danielle! The Windermere Observer has added a new writer to its editorial staff. Danielle Hendrix joined the newspaper Jan. 6. She will cover news, features and sports. Hendrix holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in world comparative studies from the University of Central Florida.
Jennifer Wilson performed with The Down Brothers band.
Social climbers
Singh opens satellite offices Orange County Property Appraiser Rick Singh has opened satellite offices to help homeowners file their Homestead Exemption paperwork. In West Orange and Southwest Orange, offices are available at the following times and locations: 1 to 7 p.m. Jan. 26 and 27, at Windermere Library, 530 Main St., Windermere; 1 to 7 p.m. Feb. 1 and 2, at Winter Garden City Hall, 300 W. Plant St., Winter Garden; and 1 to 7 p.m. Feb. 15 and 16, at Southwest Library, 7255 Della Drive, Orlando.
STAFF WRITER DR. PHILLIPS Reviews were more
Jessie Nowak, 6, had a blast swinging from and climbing up the trees at this year’s Treebute.
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PRSRT STD ECRWSS US POSTAGE PAID WINTER GARDEN, FL PERMIT NO. 81
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Postal Customer
Developers moved new parking spaces away from Hidden Valley in the latest expansion plans. ZAK KERR
ARTS & CULTURE
Baby girl inspires Windermere mom’s new jam company.
Redrawn temple lot pleases residents
he town of Windermere celebrated Florida’s Arbor Day with its annual Windermere Treebute Arbor Day Festival Jan. 16 in the Town Square. Children got a bird’s-eye view of the town at the children’s tree-climb challenge, while more experienced climbers tested their mettle in the Geezers in Treezers competition.
SEE ON PAGE 4
positive Jan. 14 at Bay Meadows Elementary regarding plans for a 3,000-square-foot expansion to the Maa Durga Sri Sai Baba Temple within Buena Vista Commons, located on the western side of the intersection of Third Street and South Apopka-Vineland Road. Constance Owens, of Tri3 Civil Engineering Design Studio, said the difference was a straightforward move of project expansion away from Hidden Valley homes and removing a section of additional parking altogether. Now, in addition to the 3,000-square-foot administrative building used for priest office space, only 130 parking spaces on the eastern edge of the owner’s land and dry retention ponds would be added, Owens said. The dry retention ponds would further separate the commons from Hidden Valley homes abutting the western edge of the lot, as would PVC fencing and landscaping, she said. The total acreage of the property would become 8.52 gross SEE TEMPLE PAGE 4
INFORMATION
Photos by Michael Eng
Portrait artist Lee Van Holton demonstrated his technique at this year’s Treebute.
Contact Orange County Case Planner Jason Sorenson for more information on Buena Vista Commons PD at Jason.Sorenson@ ocfl.net or (407) 836-5602. Sorenson said this proposal likely would face the Orange County Board of Zoning Adjustment in either March or April, with advertisement in advance.