01.24.18 The Observer

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

Observer

WINDERMERE • HORIZON WEST • DR. PHILLIPS • BAY HILL FREE

VOLUME 4, NO. 18

Town treasure

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INSIDE

Windermere hosts Arbor Day hangout.

PAGE 3.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019

UPCOMING

Windermere Wine & Dine set for Saturday.

SEE PAGE 7.

Bruhn aims to make road project his last achievement

Bird Island may get new designation A solution may be coming for Windermere residents who live near Egret Island, commonly known as Bird Island.

The Windermere mayor hopes to convince Orange County and MetroPlan Orlando to build a road connecting ApopkaVineland to C.R. 535.

GABBY BAQUERO NEWS EDITOR

A 10-acre island located in Lake Butler known as Bird Island has long been a hotspot for partiers prone to playing loud music and littering.

The partiers who visit the

GABBY BAQUERO NEWS EDITOR

Windermere Mayor Gary Bruhn has, for years, championed the idea of building an east-west corridor that could relieve the town’s cut-through traffic and benefit commuters throughout West Orange.

The approximately onemile road he envisions would link Apopka-Vineland Road to

SEE TOWN PAGE 4

SPORTS

SEE ONE PAGE 2

YOUR TOWN CHURCH TO HOST COMPASSION EXHIBIT

TALL TALE

At 6-foot-9, Fanbo Zeng is the big man on campus.

SEE PAGE 11.

PRSRT STD ECRWSS US POSTAGE PAID WINTER GARDEN, FL PERMIT NO. 81

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Postal Customer

Alice Marshall owned and operated Windermere’s Finders Keepers antiques and collectibles shop on Main Street for nearly 40 years. She died Jan. 2, 2019, at age 94.

SEE STORY ON PAGE 4.

Lifebridge Church is bringing an immersive exhibit to its Windermere campus Feb. 1 through 4, and the community is invited to experience other cultures and the realities of global poverty.

The exhibit is free and familyfriendly. The church is at 12120 Chase Road, Windermere. The exhibit is open 9 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1; noon to 6:40 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2; 12:40 to 4:40 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 3; and 11 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. Monday, Feb. 4.

OBSERVER

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FRIDAY, JAN. 25

YOUR CALENDAR

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019

IRONMEN OF GOD COFFEE 7 to 8 a.m. Friday, Jan. 25, above Axum Coffee, 146 W. Plant St., Winter Garden. Join with other Christians in this independent men’s ministry focused on serving the men in the community.

The first 2019 guest speaker is legendary Notre Dame Coach Lou Holtz. IronMenofGod.com.

“LITTLE WOMEN THE MUSICAL” 7 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays from Jan. 25 to Feb. 3 at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 4851 S. Apopka-Vineland Road, Orlando. This timeless musical is filled with personal discovery, heartache, hope and everlasting love as it follows the adventures of sisters Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March. Tickets start at $15.

(407) 876-4991, Ext. 221.

SATURDAY, JAN. 26

MUSIC IN THE LIBRARY: HANDBELLS 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at the Southwest Library, 7255 Della Drive, Orlando. Ring in the new year with an inspiring music performance by solo handbell artist Marie M. Loeffler. The delightful stories behind the songs are combined with amusing bell facts and techniques in this engaging musical program.

For more on Loeffler, visit belldancer.net.

PAPER FORTUNE COOKIES 11 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 26, at the SoBo Art Gallery, 127 S. Boyd St., Winter Garden.

Create a box of unique and fun fortune cookies to give as gifts. $10 for Winter Garden Art Association members, $15 for others.

Visit wgart.org.

WESTLY’S WEST ORANGE WALK 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, starting at Orlando Health Emergency Room and Medical Pavilion — Horizon West, 17000 Porter Road, Winter Garden.

Get a fresh start to 2019 and complete a 5K with the Healthy West Orange team. Event is free.

Check the Healthy West Orange Facebook page.

SUNDAY, JAN. 27

BETHUNE-COOKMAN CONCERT 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 27, at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 4851 S. ApopkaVineland Road, Orlando. The Bethune-Cookman Concert Chorale will lead the morning worship services, an annual tradition for more than 20 years.

The chorale is comprised of about 60 students from all majors and nationalities and is known for performing a variety of music, including classical, jazz, gospel and music by black composers. Director is Terrance L. Lane. st.lukes.org.

MONDAY, JAN. 28

STEPPIN’ OUT! 4 to 7 p.m., with fashion show at 5:30, at Tanner Hall, 29 W. Garden Ave., Winter Garden. Join the Bloom & Grow Garden Society for an evening of shopping, complimentary wine, jazz music and the chance to support local charities. The cost is $15. Mail checks to Bloom & Grow, 1000 W. Plant St., Winter Garden, FL 34787. For questions, call (407) 656-4796.

TUESDAY, JAN. 29

SOUTHWEST BOOK CLUB 7 to 8:45 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29, at the Southwest Library, 7255 Della Drive, Orlando. This month’s selection is “Manhattan Beach” by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jennifer Egan. Years after she is placed in the hands of a stranger vital to her family’s survival, Anna takes a job at the Brooklyn Naval Yard during the war while meeting with the man who helped them and learning important truths about her father’s disappearance. Ages 18 and up. (407) 835-7323.

FRIDAY, FEB. 1

SCOUT BSA GIRLS TRAIL-BLAZER WEEKEND Starting at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1, and continuing Saturday, Feb. 2, and Sunday, Feb. 3, at Camp Joy at Kelly Park, 5303 Baptist Camp Road, Apopka. Girls 11 to 17 are invited to start their scouting journey during this official Scout BSA Troops for Girls weekend. Campout cost is $26; participants must be a registered scout. For more details, call (407) 889-4403 or visit scoutingevent.com/083-trailblazerweekend#. The website includes a detailed packing list.

FRIDAY, FEB. 15

A SPLASH OF MASQUERADE 6:30 to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15, at the Winter Garden Pavilion, 104 S. Lakeview Ave. The evening under the stars is the annual fundraising gala of the Winter Garden Art Association.

It includes cocktails, auctions, dinner and music by Nova Era. Tickets are $100. Sponsorship packages are available. Attire is black tie or creative costume.

(407) 347-7996.

One last battle CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

County Road 535/Stoneybrook West Parkway. And on Thursday, Jan. 17, Bruhn had a meeting with Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings to discuss the merits and logistics of such a roadway.

“The Darryl Carter flyover that was created several years ago linked the area around SeaWorld over I-4 to Turkey Lake Road,” Bruhn said. “So, today, if you go all the way down Turkey Lake Road, you will have a flyover that lets you go over I-4 and go directly into SeaWorld, and that was a big plus.

So anyway, about six to eight weeks ago, they approved the next extension of it, which takes that flyover from Turkey Lake Road to Apopka-Vineland. So that means that now we’ll have a roadway that goes from I-4 to Apopka-Vineland. But the missing piece is to take it from Apopka-Vineland to County Road 535.

So, what I’m proposing is to take that road and extend it across.”

The problem: The road would need to be built on top of wetland area, which makes the idea less palatable to many, including some Orange County government officials, Bruhn said.

However, he asserts any potential impact to wetland areas could be mitigated with the use of culverts and referenced Wekiva Parkway, a proposed 25-mile expressway, as an example that there’s a precedent for such a project. According to the project’s dedicated website, 13 miles of the parkway were opened to traffic in 2018, with

the entire parkway scheduled for completion in 2022.

“The Wekiva Parkway goes through wetland, and it was very controversial,” he said. “But they found they were able to go through wetland with minimal environmental consequences.

And it’s just going to take one mile to link Apopka-Vineland to 535. Some people think it would have to be all bridge, but it doesn’t. You’d only need one or two bridges. And we could build the road and put a culvert underneath so the water can flow to both sides.”

Bruhn emphasized the road would provide major benefits to anyone who lives in Windermere or near Independence Parkway, Hamlin and Horizon West.

“If we made this road, this would give everybody the opportunity to go from I-4 or Turkey Lake or Apopka-Vineland roads to (C.R.) 535 and not have to spend 45 minutes every day trying to go from Apopka-Vineland to (C.R.) 535 through the town of Windermere,” Bruhn said. “It would have a dramatic impact on mobility in West Orange County.

But the two key steps to getting approval is getting MetroPlan to say, ‘Hey, this sounds like a good idea’ and making it a priority.

“The other thing is getting backing from the county because it would be a county road, since it would go from one county road to another county road,” he said. “But the first challenge is to get everyone on board and have them recognize that it can be built without significant environmental impact.”

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OBSERVER

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Out on a limb

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019

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Monk Property moves forward Orange County Planning and Zoning commissioners recommended approval to rezone the property to allow for the development of 81 single-family homes.

ERIC GUTIERREZ STAFF WRITER

Jackson Teuton smiled as he climbed up the side of a large tree.

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— TROY HERRING

Rick Wood quickly lowered himself from a tree as he tried to beat the timer during a competition.

Shawn Nelson worked to get a dummy in distress down from a tree during an emergency climb event.

Paula Ashby, a volunteer at the Avian Reconditioning Center in Apopka, showed off one of the center’s owls during an informative session.

Mark Moeske competed in the throw-line event as others looked on.

Charlotte Grier, right, got some last-minute tips from instructor Devon Marchinko before climbing a tree.

“We reduced our program by about 30%, and our density now is about 3.19 dwelling units per acre, which is significantly less than what our surrounding neighborhoods have.”

— Erika Hughes, of VHB Inc.

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ocals around the area flocked to downtown Windermere Saturday, Jan. 19, to celebrate nature at the Windermere Treebute.

The day-long Arbor Day celebration featured tons of food, art, nature education and tree-related competitions that featured members of Legends — formerly known as Geezers in the Treezers.

Legends competed in a number of tree-climbing and tree-specific competitions, as locals watched on in awe.

A proposed residential development that has been a source of contention among some Horizon West residents is one step closer to breaking ground.

Orange County Planning and Zoning commissioners on Thursday, Jan. 17, voted unanimously to recommend approval of a rezoning request for the 49.60-acre parcel known as the Monk Property. The applicant, Erika Hughes, of VHB Inc., is requesting to rezone the property from A-1 (Citrus Rural District) to PD (Planned Development) to allow for the development of 81 with a minimum lot size of 50 feet at a density of 3.19 units per acre. The property is located at 13000 and 13003 Orange Isle Drive and is west of Duncaster Street, south of Little Lake Sawyer and north of Overstreet Road.

“The applicant has substantially changed that request to 81 (residential) units,” Orange County Planner Steven Thorp said. “DRC (Development Review Committee) has recommended that the commission make a finding of consistency with the comprehensive plan and recommends approval of the Monk Property PD.” The 81 homes in the requested development is a reduction from a previous request of 113 homes.

The previous request received a recommendation of denial by the Planning & Zoning Commission at its Sept. 20 meeting. The applicant reduced the number of homes as a compromise, Hughes said.

“We were back here in September with the original proposal of 113 dwelling units, which created a density of four-and-one-half dwelling units per acre,” Hughes said. “We reduced our program by about 30%, and our density now is about 3.19 dwelling units per acre, which is significantly less than what our surrounding neighborhoods have.”

The areas surrounding the Monk Property have posed as a challenge for the project and as a source of contention for area

residents. Protected wetlands border the 49-acre property to the west and north, a private dirt road is to the south and the Lakes of Windermere neighborhood is to the east. Because of these limitations, access to the proposed development is limited to going through the Lakes of Windermere neighborhood. The limited access has been one of the biggest grievances among area residents, particularly residents of the Lakes of Windermere.

Although a number of residents have expressed their oppositions at previous meetings related to rezoning the Monk Property, there were no residents who came to the Jan. 17 Planning and Zoning meeting to express support or opposition to the proposed development.

However, some residents sent emails to the county, Thorp said.

In previous meetings, residents raised concerns over limited access to the development, school overcrowding, traffic and density, among other concerns, Thorp said.

“There were two community meetings for this request,” he said. “(At) the first meeting, we discussed the original request at the 113 dwelling units. At that meeting, we had 25 residents present. The ones expressing opposition to the project (were opposed) due to the proposed density, wildlife impacts, traffic and vehicular access through the existing subdivision as (far) as access related to the construction traffic.”

Thorp added the second community meeting had about 20 residents in attendance, but their reasons for opposing the development were the same as the grievances from the first community meeting.

Anyone aggrieved by the action taken by the Planning and Zoning Commission can file an appeal within 15 days of the decision date of Jan. 17. Appeals are subject to a filing fee of $483.

The Planning Commission’s recommendation of approval does not become final until the 15-day appeal period expires without anyone filing an appeal in a timely manner.

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019

Amazing Alice

ALICE GAMBOE MARSHALL

AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

F

olks knew they could stop by Finders Keepers on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays to browse the antiques and collectibles or simply to enjoy a cup of tea with the owner, Alice Marshall, and catch up on the town’s happenings.

Many of her friends were frequent customers, and even more of her customers became longtime friends.

Marshall, who ran the shop on Main Street in downtown Windermere and operated hundreds of estate sales in southwest Orange County from 1969 to 2008, died Jan. 2, 2019, at age 94.

Close friend Gaby Spector said probably half of the furniture in her house — as well as the plates and tablecloths and vases — came from Finders Keepers.

“In the beginning, I thought I was going in to see what was available,” Spector said. “When I went back a couple of times, I just found it was a place to sit and have a conversation. … I was a good customer, and then we became good friends.”

It was a stop-over-and-visit place, said Ruth Gillard, who worked many Finders Keepers estate sales and has known Marshall for decades.

“We had a lot of memories together,” Gillard said. “I can’t say enough about her because she was a fine lady and I really did enjoy the years with her.”

To befriend Marshall was to become a member of her closeknit circle of friends. They shared their tea and biscuits, their peas and cornbread.

“She had the gift of friendship, which means that she would not let you go,” Spector said. “We often meet people (and think), ‘Oh, I really like that person,’ but then you don’t call or keep in touch. … But that wasn’t the case with Alice; she always called. … She would never let you go as a friend.”

Luisa Acosta is another dear friend who eventually worked at

Alice Marshall was considered a friend to many.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE A celebration of life for Alice Marshall, former longtime Windermere resident, will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10, at Windermere Town Hall, 614 Main St., Windermere.

A formal service will begin at 2:15 with a reception to follow. Anyone who would like to submit photos to be displayed during the celebration can email them to JordanAMarshall327@gmail.com.

the shop with Marshall.

“We would just talk for hours,” Acosta said. “She was my best friend. Her friendship and her personality — it transcended age. … She had a young spirit.

“In 20 years, she was the best gift, her friendship,” she said.

“She could be my mom in age — but the connection we developed, so many similarities, and she was a woman (with) out-of-the-box thinking on her experience in life, … in her creativity. She was an amazing woman.”

Marshall was a world traveler when she was young, her passport

Courtesy photo

filled with international stamps, including ones from the Suez Canal, Japan and England.

She loved hosting gatherings, especially her annual Christmas pie party, when she set out the china and served her special punch.

She was quite the animal lover, said her daughter, Laura Zern.

Through the years, the family owned cats, dogs, a monkey and an angora goat, as well as a menagerie of rabbits, squirrels, ducks and baby birds.

Marshall bottle-fed and raised many baby raccoons, including one that slept in the household curtains, and she was known to take her pony foal to the shop with her and keep it in a playpen.

Finders Keepers was a gathering spot — for animals and humans — as much as it was a business.

“It was a place not only to sell all the different antiques and collectibles, it was a place just to meet and remember old times and also comment on what was going on and just to cherish friendship,” Acosta said. “So many people would stop by to say hi, and it was so refreshing to sit down with people who have the same connection and the same community. … That place was the heart of Windermere for sure.”

Alice Gamboe Marshall was born April 3, 1924, in Bilaspur, India, to Christian missionaries Homer Gamboe and Francis Waller Gamboe.

She spent most of her childhood in India with year-long furloughs to the United States every three years. She was educated at Woodstock School in the foothills of the Himalayan mountains and earned her bachelor’s degree from Transylvania University, in Lexington, Kentucky.

In 1945, she married Maurice P. Marshall.

They lived in Tennessee and had two boys, Pete and John. The Marshalls moved to Windermere in the mid-1950s; they had another son, Stuart, and a daughter, Laura, in the 1960s.

Alice opened Finders Keepers in 1969 with her good friend Dot Greenman in the Cal Palmer Memorial Building in downtown Windermere.

She organized and operated hundreds of estate sales all over southwest Orange County.

In 2008, she closed Finders Keepers, sold her home and moved to a cottage in Geneva on her daughter’s property, where she lived independently until late 2018.

Surviving are her three sons, Maurice P. “Pete” Marshall, John P. Marshall and Stuart A. Marshall; one daughter, Laura M. Zern; one grandson, Adam H. Marshall; and four granddaughters, Michelle Marshall, Jordan A. Marshall, Haley Alana “Lana” Marshall and Skylar Zern.

island, designated a bird sanctuary in the late 1950s, have been a chronic nuisance for lakeshore Windermere residents.

And for years, residents have been able to do little except watch in frustration, because the town’s police department has no jurisdiction over the island or the surrounding water.

All residents could do is complain about the loud music to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office or the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. But those officers, too, faced challenges when it came to enforcement.

“To do a trespass, they have to have someone who owns the property who’s willing to say, ‘Yes, I want to prosecute,’” said Windermere Town Council member Bob McKinley. “That way, if the sheriff’s department or Florida

Wildlife pull up and see someone physically on the island past the ‘no trespassing’ signs, they can actually do something.”

The issue of who actually owns the island is also a little murky, because part of the island is owned by two private individuals and the other portion is owned by Audubon Florida, McKinley said.

Enforcement of the county’s noise ordinance also is problematic. If Orange County deputies working in a marine patrol unit were to hear a boat playing excessively loud music, they cannot enforce the county’s noise ordinance without someone else making a complaint, McKinley said.

“Orange County’s noise ordinance is enforceable, but it can only be enforceable if there’s a victim,” said McKinley, who serves as the town’s liaison for the Butler Chain of Lakes Advisory Board. “So if you live by the lake and you hear some

filthy and loud music coming from out there, you can call up the Sheriff’s Office and tell them about it.

“So now they have a victim, but law enforcement cannot be the victim; they can’t be the one to file the complaint and cite you for it,” he said. “Then there’s also the problem of trying to find out which boat the music is coming from. If you’ve got 30 boats out there all playing music, which one is the one you heard? So it’s just a situation that has no real solution at this point.”

However, that soon may change.

During the Jan. 8 Town Council meeting, McKinley told his fellow council members on the Butler Chain of Lakes Advisory Board is looking at the option of getting the island the state designation of Wildlife Refuge.

“Making it a Wildlife Refuge gives it a whole new precedence,” Windermere Mayor Gary Bruhn

“If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.”

Friedrich Hayek

“Road to Serfdom,” 1944 Publisher / Matt Walsh, mwalsh@YourObserver.com Executive Editor / Michael Eng, meng@OrangeObserver.com Design Editor / Jessica Eng, jeng@OrangeObserver.com Community Editor / Amy Quesinberry, amyq@OrangeObserver.com News Editor / Gabby Baquero, gbaquero@OrangeObserver.com Sports Editor / Troy Herring, therring@OrangeObserver.com Black Tie Editor / Danielle Hendrix, dhendrix@OrangeObserver.com Staff Writer / Eric Gutierrez, egutierrez@OrangeObserver.com Advertising Executive Cyndi Gustafson, advertising@OrangeObserver.com Multimedia Advertising Executives / Ann Carpenter, acarpenter@OrangeObserver.com Terri Hope, thope@OrangeObserver.com Advertising Operations Manager / Allison Brunelle, abrunelle@OrangeObserver.com Creative Services / Tony Trotti, ttrotti@orangeobserver.com Customer Service Representative Katie Rehm, krehm@orangeobserver.com

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Town seeks designation for island CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

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said. “Before that, it was a bird sanctuary, and there wasn’t a lot of clout. So that’s a big achievement; that’ll be a big plus if we can do that.”

McKinley said nothing is definitive at this point, but if the island receives the designation, then enforcement of the no-trespassing policy would be easier. And fewer trespassers would mean less litter and fewer partiers.

“From what I understand, it would make it easier for law enforcement to get somebody off the island,” he said. “And that’s what they’re trying to do: keep people off the island. That’s been a thing Bruhn has been working on for a long time, even though it’s not a part of Windermere and it’s really under Orange County. We only own down to the waterline, but it still affects us. The residents can’t even enjoy their backyard.”

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019

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West Orange chamber’s Big Orange Awards set for Feb. 1 AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

Petro “The Bright Future of West Orange” Award.

Two more awards will be distributed for the Small Business Member of the Year and the Big Business Member of the Year. The recipients won’t be announced until the event.

Sponsors are Disney, Platinum; Orlando Health, Presenting; Duke Energy, Premier; and Dawn Gilmore Productions, Entertainment.

For tickets, go to wochamber. com or call (407) 656-1304.

Last year’s winners were Florida Hospital, Large Business Member of the Year; Pammie’s Sammies, Small Business Member of the Year; Rob Maphis, Chairman’s Award; Becky Roper and Charlie Roper, Bert Roper Award; Gary Shif, the Danniel J. Petro “The Bright Future of West Orange” Award; Chick-fil-A Winter Garden and Ocoee, George Bailey Award; Jennifer Talbot, the Mary VanDeventer “The Spirit of West Orange” Award; David Billsborough, Sam Hovsepian Award; Kurt Ardaman, Lifetime Director Award; and Denise Fisher, Ambassador of the Year.

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Exciting surprises await the attendees of the West Orange Chamber of Commerce’s upcoming Big Orange Awards. With a theme of “Under the Big Top,” one can expect circus-style entertainment, interactive activities and décor at this annual signature event for the chamber. No word yet on whether or not Chamber President Stina D’Uva will arrive on a trapeze.

The program takes place from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1, at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

Tables of eight can be reserved for $800 for chamber members and $1,000 for others. Individual tickets are $96 and $116.

Live and silent auctions will be featured, and businesses still have time to donate an auction item.

The main event of the evening is the distribution of the 2018 Big Orange Awards, which celebrate the accomplishments of select chamber members who have facilitated opportunities and contributed to the betterment of the West Orange business community.

This year’s recipients are Mike Bollhoefer, who will receive the Chairman’s Award; Dennis Foltz, Sam Hovsepian Award; Chris Garcia, Ambassador of the Year; GeeGee Burmeister, Mary VanDeventer “The Spirit of West Orange” Award; Heichel Plumbing, George Bailey Award; Teresa Jacobs, Bert Roper Award; and Lynn Walker Wright, Danniel J.

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1. To qualify for this offer, you must have a new or existing Platinum Savings account and enroll the account in this offer between 01/21/2019 and 03/22/2019. This offer is subject to change at any time, without notice. This offer is available only to Platinum Savings customers in the following states: CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, MD, NJ, NY, SC and VA. In order to earn the Special Interest Rate of 2.08% (Special Rate), you must deposit $25,000 in new money (from sources outside of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., or its affiliates) to the enrolled savings account and maintain a minimum daily account balance of $25,000 throughout the term of this offer. The corresponding Annual Percentage Yield (APY) for this offer is 2.10%.

The Special Rate will be applied to the enrolled savings account for a period of 12 months, starting on the date the account is enrolled in the offer. However, for any day during that 12 month period that the daily account balance is less than the $25,000 minimum, the Special Rate will not apply and the interest rate will revert to the standard interest rate applicable to your Platinum Savings account. As of 12/10/2018, the standard interest rate and APY for a Platinum Savings account in CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, MD, NJ, NY, SC and VA with an account balance of $0.01 to $99,999.99 is 0.03% (0.03% APY) and with an account balance of $100,000 and above is 0.05% (0.05% APY). Each tier shown reflects the current minimum daily collected balance required to obtain the applicable APY. Interest is compounded daily and paid monthly. The amount of interest earned is based on the daily collected balances in the account. Upon the expiration of the 12 month promotional period, standard interest rates apply. Minimum to open a Platinum Savings account is $25. A monthly service fee of $12 applies in any month the account falls below a $3,500 minimum daily balance. Fees may reduce earnings. Interest rates are variable and subject to change without notice. Wells Fargo may limit the amount you deposit to a Platinum Savings account to an aggregate of $1 million. Offer not available to Private Banking, Wealth, Business Banking or Wholesale customers. 2. Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is effective for accounts opened between 01/21/2019 and 03/22/2019. The 11-month New Dollar CD special requires a minimum of $25,000 brought to Wells Fargo from sources outside of Wells Fargo Bank N.A., or its affiliates to earn the advertised APY. Public Funds and Wholesale accounts are not eligible for this offer. APY assumes interest remains on deposit until maturity. Interest is compounded daily. Payment of interest on CDs is based on term: For terms less than 12 months (365 days), interest may be paid monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or at maturity (the end of the term). For terms of 12 months or more, interest may be paid monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually. A fee for early withdrawal will be imposed and could reduce earnings on this account. Special Rates are applicable to the initial term of the CD only. At maturity, the Special Rate CD will automatically renew for a term of 6 months, at the interest rate and APY in effect for CDs on renewal date not subject to a Special Rate, unless the Bank has notified you otherwise. Due to the new money requirement, accounts may only be opened at your local branch. Wells Fargo reserves the right to modify or discontinue the offer at any time without notice. Offer cannot be combined with any other consumer deposit offer. Minimum new money deposit requirement of at least $25,000 is for this offer only and cannot be transferred to another account to qualify for any other consumer deposit offer. If you wish to take advantage of another consumer deposit offer requiring a minimum new money deposit, you will be required to do so with another new money deposit as stated in the offer requirements and qualifications. Offer cannot be reproduced, purchased, sold, transferred, or traded. 3. The Portfolio by Wells Fargo program has a $30 monthly service fee, which can be avoided when you have one of the following qualifying balances: $25,000 or more in qualifying linked bank deposit accounts (checking, savings, CDs, FDIC-insured IRAs) or $50,000 or more in any combination of qualifying linked banking, brokerage (available through Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC) and credit balances (including 10% of mortgage balances, certain mortgages not eligible). If the Portfolio by Wells Fargo relationship is terminated, the bonus interest rate on all eligible savings accounts, and discounts or fee waivers on other products and services, will discontinue and revert to the Bank’s then-current applicable rate or fee. For bonus interest rates on time accounts, this change will occur upon renewal. If the Portfolio by Wells Fargo relationship is terminated, the remaining unlinked Wells Fargo Portfolio Checking or Wells Fargo Prime Checking account will be converted to another checking product or closed.

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019

Vet clinic opens in West Orange Dr. Pedro Santiago and staff opened Wintermere Pointe Animal Hospital in December.

M/I Homes to build new Horizon West neighborhood The 139-home Encore at Ovation neighborhood will be among the newest communities in Horizon West.

DANIELLE HENDRIX

DANIELLE HENDRIX

BLACK TIE EDITOR

BLACK TIE EDITOR

Whether your dog or cat is sick or due for its annual wellness exam, there is a new veterinarian in Winter Garden ready to welcome pets and their people.

Dr. Pedro Santiago opened Wintermere Pointe Animal Hospital in early December in the plaza at the corner of Winter Garden Vineland and Tilden roads. Santiago has been practicing in Central Florida since 2008 and is eager to provide quality care for local pets.

Santiago grew up in Puerto Rico, where he began volunteering at veterinary clinics at age 14. His interest in medicine and love of animals meshed, and he attended undergraduate school in Puerto Rico before completing his education in veterinary medicine at Alabama’s Tuskegee University.

“I just love medicine,” he said.

“I love the science behind it, but also the pets. … Pets are fun — they’re funny, they’re happy, they’re your best friend. I wanted to become a doctor for the medicine, but it’s always fun to (take care of) pets.”

Upon finishing veterinary school, Santiago relocated to Central Florida and has worked at different clinics in the area. But about two years ago, he decided it was time to open his own practice.

“I think I was ready, emotionally and professionally, to do this,” Santiago said. “I see it as a challenge — I can bring ideas as to what I want to do. … I think veterinary medicine is moving along very quickly, and we have so many things to offer to the pets right now that were not available 10 years ago. As an owner, I can keep up with the times and offer clients and their pets the newer stuff, like equipment and new medications.”

The 1,600-square-foot clinic took about seven months to build,

A new neighborhood soon will be underway in Horizon West.

M/I Homes closed early this month on 71 acres located near the intersection of Avalon Road and Western Way/Fleming Road. The homebuilding company plans to develop 139 single-family home sites in Phase One of the new community, to be called Encore at Ovation.

David Byrnes, area president in M/I Homes’ Orlando region, said that 92 of the home sites will be set on 50-foot lots. These one- and two-story homes will range from 1,900 to 3,700 square feet.

The other 47 sites will be 32-foot lots with new two-story, detached homes ranging from 1,800 to 2,800 square feet. Site development for Encore at Ovation is expected to begin Feb. 1.

Daniel Kaiser, vice president of land for M/I Homes’ Orlando region, said the company has enjoyed success in delivering communities in the active Horizon West market for the past several years.

“The location and access are really unique,” Kaiser said.

“Encore at Ovation will be minutes from the 429 via the brandnew Western Way Extension, which will end right at the intersection of Fleming and Avalon,” he said. “Our community will be directly accessed off of Fleming.

This will afford our homeowners about a five-minute commute to Disney property. Additionally, with access to the 429 you have a great road network to hit all of the major employment centers in the Orlando area.”

Kaiser added that the Encore at Ovation community design — which includes the integration of different lot sizes — also takes advantage of views of Lake Mac and surrounding wetlands. “(This) will provide a serene

Danielle Hendrix

The staff at Wintermere Pointe Animal Hospital are excited to care for their new clients. From left: Carla Hodge, Dr. Pedro Santiago, Rebecca Fox and Joselyn Pinto.

WINTERMERE POINTE ANIMAL HOSPITAL 13848 Tilden Road, Suite 142, Winter Garden PHONE: (407) 554-3422 HOURS: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Mondays through Fridays FACEBOOK: facebook.com/ wintermerepointeah INSTAGRAM: wpahvet TWITTER: @WPAHVet WEBSITE: wintermerepointevet.com EMAIL: info@ wintermerepointevet.com

but for Santiago, it was worth the wait. He currently is living in Longwood but plans to move to Winter Garden with his family in the coming months.

“This is an up-and-coming, wonderful area, and I saw the need there was for a local veterinarian in this area as the population continues to grow,” he said. “I love the area and look forward to moving here soon.”

Santiago and his staff will care mainly for dogs and cats and can perform anything from routine wellness services to dental work,

surgeries and X-rays. Other services include diagnostics, vaccinations, dermatology, nutrition, behavioral counseling, pharmacy, microchipping and end-of-life care. The team also has contacts with local specialists, who can come in and perform services such as ultrasounds and orthopedic surgeries.

“We offer very personalized, individual care,” Santiago said. “We have state-of-the-art equipment, quality medicine and good pain management. I just want (clients) to understand what we do and take the time to explain things so they can see the value of what we do. At the end of the day, you just want the pet to do well and feel better if they’re sick. We’re here to help.”

Santiago looks forward to building long-lasting relationships with his clients and their animals, as well as providing care for pets at every stage of life.

“That’s the beauty of the profession, to a certain level — you get to know a client and their pets throughout the years,” he said.

“Some of them feel like family, and you kind of grow with them.

It’s a fantastic thing.”

ENCORE AT OVATION One of Horizon West’s newest communities, Encore at Ovation, will be located on 71 acres near the intersection of Avalon Road and Western Way/Fleming Road. The neighborhood will have 139 one- and twostory, single-family homes.

To stay up to date on the community, sign up for the VIP list at mihomes.com/ orlando.

experience in many of the rear yards of the homes,” he said.

“The community will have lots of passive recreational areas, as well as a centralized clubhouse and pool area.”

Four new floor plans for M/I Homes’ new product line are currently underway. All final styles and floor-plan offerings are still being designed, Kaiser said, but there will be dozens of options for homebuyers.

“The new line is innovative, and we’re very excited about the diversity and potential of Encore at Ovation,” Byrnes said.

The company expects that sales will begin by September, and prices are estimated to range from $290,000 to $450,000, which includes a 15-year structural warranty. Development of all 139 home sites is expected to be complete by the fourth quarter of the year, Byrnes said.

In addition to the Horizon West market, M/I Homes currently is building throughout 16 markets nationwide and has 16 existing communities in Central Florida.

Kaiser said M/I Homes will set up an interest list in about six months, and updates will be provided to interested buyers. Join the VIP list for Encore at Ovation at mihomes.com/orlando.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019

MAKE SOME

P O UR QUICK BITES

Here are a few dishes you can expect to try at this year’s event: n Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ Not So Southern Cuban sandwich Homecomin’ chicken & donuts Homecomin’ Famous Sweet Tea Shine n Capa Steakhouse & Bar Braised short ribs Cuba Libre Ceviche mixto (made with poached lobster tail, shrimp and squid) Coconut chips n Deep Blu Seafood Grille Black & Blu linguine Bubbly Blu cocktail n Dixie Cream Cafe Spanakopita Mini biscuits with Italian sausage and Southern gravy n Ellie Lou’s Brews & BBQ Brisket chili Sweet corn muffins n The Boathouse Fresh oysters Mignonettes and sauces Peach bellini n The Capital Grille Lobster macaroni and cheese PARTICIPANTS n Capa Steakhouse & Bar n Cathee Brady Catering n Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ n Cuba Libre n Deep Blu Seafood Grille n Dixie Cream Cafe n Ellie Lou’s Brews & BBQ n Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar n Hawkers Asian Street Fare n Highball & Harvest n Javatino n Market to Table n Nothing Bundt Cakes n Ocean Prime n Paddlefish n Pilars Martini n Ravello n Seasons 52 n STK Orlando n Terralina Crafted Italian n The Boathouse n The Capital Grille n The Oceanaire Seafood Room n The Sacred Olive n The Whiskey n The Palm Orlando n Tim’s Wine Market

DECISIONS More than two dozen restaurants and wine suppliers are ready to serve up their fares at the sixth annual Windermere Wine & Dine.

DANIELLE HENDRIX BLACK TIE EDITOR

I

n each of Windermere Wine & Dine’s five years running, tickets have consistently sold out, and thousands have attended it at least once.

This year, the signature Windermere-based fundraising event broke a record by selling out its ticket allotment within 20 minutes.

“When we launched ticket sales Sept. 1 we sold out in 20 minutes,” said CT Allen, one of the event’s primary organizers.

“I added 50 tickets on Saturday (Jan. 19) at noon, and they were gone in seven minutes.

That blew us away. We all feel so blessed that people love this event so much that we’re able to give.”

Now in its sixth year, Windermere Wine & Dine has cultivated a brand and experience that keeps residents coming back time after time.

What started as a fundraiser to buy technology for students at Windermere Elementary has grown each year. The first year, 13 restaurants participated and 350 guests attended. This year, 26 restaurants will bring their fares to the table for guests to munch on as they roam around the Town Hall.

During the event some restaurants will offer craft beers and cocktails and wine suppliers will be available to provide samples from the world’s finest wineproducing regions. Grape varietals and blends on hand include cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, pinot noir, red blends, white blends and rosés. Guests also will be able to purchase select bottles at the Tim’s Wine Market table.

The festivities don’t stop at food and wine samples, however.

A robust silent auction of more than 100 items — ranging from vacation resorts and gift certifi-

cates to sporting-event tickets and date nights — will take place.

Attendees must be present to bid on auction items.

Since the fundraising event has grown, so has its impact on the town of Windermere — and on the greater Central Florida area. To date, Windermere Wine & Dine has raised $350,000 for the town and local charities, such as the Windermere Police Foundation. And last year, the event committee announced the Wine & Dine Outreach Grant, a specialty outreach grant to be awarded to an organization in the greater Central Florida area.

This year’s grant will go to the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness’ Impact Youth project, which assists homeless youth in the public-school system.

New this year is a partnership with Uber, which is also a sponsor for the event. Guests who use Uber to come to the event will receive a $5 credit for the ride, a private entrance and earlyentrance privileges at 5:30 p.m.

Ticket holders will need to enter the code “WWD2019EVENT” in their Uber app to redeem this offer. Uber also is going to enhance Wine & Dine’s grant for Impact Youth, which is going to purchase transportation vouchers for the youth benefitting from the project.

“We’re all about safe fun — that’s been our push the last two years, because we know there’s a lot of wine being poured,” Allen said. “We just want people to come have fun but be safe leaving.”

Also new is the addition of the exclusive premium lounge, sponsored by the Isleworth Golf & Country Club. “(Isleworth) came onboard, and this lounge has been requested for a couple years, but we weren’t sure how to play it out,” Allen said. “We approached (Isleworth) about it, and they were 100% in. We have an outside rental company that’s coming in to set it up with lounge seating. We’re pouring specialty wines in there, and it’s the first time we have a full bar in there.

There’s some bells and whistles, plus we’ll have designated servers going out collecting samples from restaurants and bringing them back to the lounge.”

Seeing the community embrace this event and thoroughly enjoy themselves each year — all while making a difference in the town of Windermere and beyond — is the most rewarding part for Allen and her committee.

“I think because of the impact we have with the grants, we created a really fun event that is completely different — we found a niche that the community was looking for,” she said. “This is community-based, it was perfect timing that this type of event landed, and we had all the right sponsors and restaurants.

My favorite part is the energy the night of. I love how everybody totally gets into it … and the restaurants have a good time, too.

Everyone loves this one night because they can just let loose and enjoy.”

“My favorite part is the energy the night of. I love how everybody totally gets into it … and the restaurants have a good time, too. Everyone loves this one night because they can just let loose and enjoy.”

— CT Allen

BY THE NUMBERS

1Exclusive Premium

Lounge, new this year

24 Total sponsors 26 Participating restaurants 100 Varieties of wine, beer

and cordials offered over the years

1,100 Participants $150,000 Raised last year $350,000 Raised in last four years IF YOU GO WINDERMERE WINE & DINE WHEN: 6 to 9 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 26 WHERE: Windermere Town Hall & Terrace, 520 Main St., Windermere WEBSITE: windermere wineanddine.com

7

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019

Our finest dreams St. Luke’s United Methodist Church to debut its production of ‘Little Women: The Musical’ Jan. 25.

ERIC GUTIERREZ

IF YOU GO

STAFF WRITER

“LITTLE WOMEN: THE MUSICAL” SHOWTIMES: 7 p.m.

Jan. 25 to 26 and Jan. 31 to Feb. 2; 2:30 p.m. Jan. 27, Feb. 2 and 3 WHERE: St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 4851 S. ApopkaVineland Road, Orlando TICKETS: $15 to $30; tickets can be purchased online. For questions about tickets, call the church at the number below.

WEBSITE: St.Lukes. org/littlewomen PHONE: (407) 8764991, ext. 221

Louisa May Alcott’s classic tale of love, personal discovery and empowerment will be hitting the stage at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church.

“Little Women: The Musical” premieres Jan. 25 and runs through Feb. 3 at St. Luke’s, 4851 S. ApopkaVineland Road, Orlando. Showtimes for opening weekend are 7 p.m. Jan. 25 to 26 and 2:30 p.m.

Jan. 27. The following week will have shows at 7 p.m. Jan. 31 to Feb. 2. Matinees will take place at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 2 and 3. Tickets cost $15 to $30 and additional processing fees apply. Tickets can be ordered online, and anyone with questions about tickets can call the church.

The musical production is based on Alcott’s 150-year-old novel, “Little Women” — a timeless tale based on the author’s life. The story follows the adventures of the four March sisters — Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy — as they experience growing up during the Civil War era. With their father gone fighting in the war, the sisters and their mother must look after themselves, according to the show’s director, Steve MacKinnon.

“This (production) is based on the Broadway version (of Little Women), which came out 10 years ago,” MacKinnon said. “The story, I think the reason it holds up over

Courtesy photos

Above: “Little Women: The Musical” tells the story of the March family.

Left: Jo March, played by Meg Stefanowicz, looks lovingly into the eyes of Laurie Laurence, played by Erik Nelson.

time is because it is so relatable. It’s about family … and about growing up and finding your voice and your way in the world. (It’s about) find-

I N D E P E N D E N T, A S S I S T E D L I V I N G & M E M O R Y C A R E C O M M U N I T I E S

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ing your passion or whatever your calling is, and that’s what these girls do.”

Each of the March sisters has a distinct personality of her own.

Jo is based on Alcott herself and is driven, precocious, passionate and “has a fire within her to be a writer.” Meg is the oldest of the March sisters and desires to be a stay-athome mother. The youngest of the March sisters is Amy, an artist who wants to see the world. The fourth March sister, Beth, plays the piano and is known for seeing the good in everything. Beth is also “the glue that holds the girls together,” MacKinnon said.

“The mother (is) trying to understand how to be a mother to these four girls alone,” MacKinnon said. “There’s dancing and love and a lot of drama. It’s not what people think when you think of ‘Little

Women.’ … It packs a lot of punch.”

Meg Stefanowicz is cast for the role of Jo. “I have always gravitated toward the book ‘Little Women,’” Stefanowicz said. “Jo, in particularly, always resonated with me — even before I listened to the musical — because she was so strong and volatile. … It’s a story about a woman who was growing into her own power and she wanted to pursue her dreams and still take care of her family. … It’s the first real depiction I had of a strong girl who ended up not being afraid of her soft side as well. She fights it sometimes, but I love that dichotomy about Jo.” Stefanowicz added one of the biggest challenges of the role was letting go of her own defense mechanisms to portray the character’s “raw, rough-around-theedges” personality.

“I’m stripping everything away and taking away all of my personal defense mechanisms because (Jo) is very open and emotional,” Stefanowicz said. “That’s been something that’s terrifying and rewarding for me — to be comfortable enough letting all of that go so I could be honest to her (character).”

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019

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CHURCH DIRECTORY EPISCOPAL

CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION 4950 S. Apopka-Vineland Rd., Orlando Sun.Serv 8:30am, 10:30am, 5:30pm.

407-876-3480 www.ascension-orlando.org

Advertise your Services or Events on this page weekly.

This page appears weekly in the Windermere Observer and online at orangeobserver.com.

To advertise in the Church Directory call 407-656-2121 or email AdvertiseNow@orangeobserver.com

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Observer

Keene’s Crossing breaks record with event. 12-13.

HORIZON WEST • WINDERMERE • DR. PHILLIPS • BAY HILL FREE

VOLUME 3, NO. 50

•

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2018

Out of their cages Blue Zoo cheers Panthers on to a Homecoming win. 3.

Precious purpose

Call Today!

Windermere resident Virginia Ann Rodriguez, owner of Gianni Vincent Jewellers, designed and is renting out the $200,000 Hope Tiara for pediatric research. SEE PAGE 4.

YOUR TOWN MEET THE CANDIDATES Residents are invited to hear from each Orange County Sheriff candidate — Joe Lopez, John Mina and Darryl Sheppard — as well as House District 44 Rep. Geraldine Thompson, at a meet-thecandidate event.

The event will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 8, at the Garden Room above Axum Coffee, at 146 W. Plant St., Winter Garden. Doors open at 6 p.m., and drinks and light refreshments will be served.

Moderated by Jeff Loeffert and Jane Dunkelberger.

For more information, email MeetTheCandidateOC@ gmail.com.

OCPS invests $75M in school renovations The district’s 2018-19 renovation projects include 16 in West Orange.

GABBY BAQUERO NEWS EDITOR

Several Orange County public schools soon will be getting some fresh paint and system upgrades.

According to Lauren Roth, SEE DISTRICT PAGE 4 Danielle Hendrix

IN WINTER GARDEN

Orange County Planning and Zoning commissioners expressed concerns over density, traffic and access for a proposed 113-home development.

ERIC GUTIERREZ STAFF WRITER

407-654-3037 www.stoneybrookweststorage.com

Golden Oak estate tops weekly sales in Windermere and Southwest Orange.

PRSRT STD ECRWSS US POSTAGE PAID WINTER GARDEN, FL PERMIT NO. 81

*****************ECRWSSEDDM****

Postal Customer

SEE SEE 8.

Despite a recommendation for denial by the Orange County Planning and Zoning Commission, a developer seeking to build 113 homes on a piece of land near the Lakes of Windermere community in Horizon West is moving the project forward to the Orange County Commission.

Planning and zoning commissioners cited density, traffic and access concerns when they recommended denial of the Monk Property Planned Development on 9.6 gross acres west of Duncaster Street, south of Little Lake Sawyer and north of Overstreet Road.

“Our strategy now is we’re moving forward with our BCC

REAL BLACK

County P&Z recommends denial of Monk rezone

REAL ESTATE

TIE

Windermere resident Virginia Ann Rodriguez, owner of Gianni Vincent Jewellers, designed the Hope Tiara in memory of her nephew, who lost his battle to cancer five years ago.

HATS &

ELVIRA “VERA” SPIROS HORNE DIED WEDNESDAY, JAN. 9, 2019.

ED MORIARTY DIED FRIDAY, DEC. 28, 2018.

Elvira “Vera” Spiros Horne went to meet our Lord on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. She was a homemaker and mother to five children, two of whom preceded her in death: her son Richard and daughter Laura.

She is survived by her sons, Dean and Chris; and daughter, Melissa. She is at peace now.

Ed Moriarty — June 20, 1941 to Dec. 28, 2018 “Celebration of Life, A Memorial for Ed Moriarty” will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 4851 S. Apopka-Vineland Road, Orlando, FL 32819.

ANITA MARGUERITE CAMPBELL ALLEN, 93, of Orlando, died Jan. 16, 2019. DeGusipe Funeral Home & Crematory — West Orange, Ocoee.

JAMES WILLIAM STAFFORD, 86, died Jan. 18, 2019. Collison Carey Hand Funeral Home, Winter Garden.

HEROES

JAMES EDWIN ISAACS, 69, of Ocoee, Florida, died Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019. Loomis Family Funeral Homes, Apopka.

Kids Beating Cancer hosts annual ball at Waldolf Astoria Orlando.

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JANUARY 24, 2019

HIGH

SPORTS

Windermere High sophomore Delany Loos is a first-degree black belt in taekwondo. Page 12.

YEAR OF THE

ZENG

1

5

In Olympia’s 62-50 win over Winter Haven in boys basketball action Saturday, Jan. 19, sophomore Tyeree Bryan had a big night as he hauled in 14 points, eight rebounds and seven steals for the Titans.

A freshman on the Windermere Prep boys basketball team, Fanbo Zeng already is gaining attention for his versatile abilities on the court.

2

In Windermere’s 75-52 blowout of Lake Howell Thursday, Jan. 17, Josh Colon exploded for 26 points for the Wolverines to lead them to their 15th win of the season.

TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR

W

hen Fanbo Zeng arrived to Windermere Prep last August, he wasn’t quite sure what to expect — both on and off the court.

Zeng — a native of Harbin, China — was literally on the other side of the world, far from everything he knew. Everything, that is, except for basketball.

“My first game, I was a little bit nervous, but I was still excited for it,” Zeng said. “I just had to try my best.”

The game of basketball has become one of international intrigue over the last few decades, and with that intrigue comes a diverse pool of players. Now kids growing up in different parts of the world — from the U.S. to China — dream of one day becoming the next LeBron James or Stephen Curry.

And with Central Florida being a melting pot for people of all backgrounds, it’s no surprise to find international players such as Zeng making noise on the hardwood.

Although this is his first season of basketball here in the States, the stats that Zeng has stacked up for the Lakers are, well, impressive. Through 20 games Zeng has put up 11.4 points per game while racking up 8.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.7 blocks.

When you throw in his height — a sky-scraping 6-foot-9 — and raw talent, it makes him a coach’s dream player.

“Fanbo has been a joy to coach — he’s extremely coachable, and he learns really fast,” said Brian Hoff, who coaches the boys basketball team.

“He’s a very unique player because he is 6-foot-9, and he is extremely skilled.

It’s a nice challenge for me to find way to utilize a guy like him, because it’s not often you get to coach a guy who is 6-foot-9.”

And the most impressive thing — as it relates to his long, lanky frame — is that he can be used anywhere on the court, from the post to the wing.

For a lot of players with that kind of height at the high-school level, one would expect him to be only a legitimate threat in the paint, but that’s not the case.

While his height gives him a clear advantage in the paint, allowing him

3

Dr. Phillips girls weightlifting dominated the opposition as it won its third district title in four years Wednesday, Jan. 16, at West Orange High School.

The Panthers had 14 place-winners, including five individual champions.

4

Windermere girls basketball picked up an impressive 42-33 win over Lake Howell Thursday, Jan. 17, thanks in part to the heroics of Abigail Crain — whose 15 points led the way for the Wolverines.

5

The Dr. Phillips cheer team put together a strong showing, as the Panthers took home the program’s fifth regional championship in program history Friday, Jan. 18. The Panthers will compete in the finals at the FHSAA State Championship Friday, Feb. 1, in Gainesville.

SEE BIG MAN PAGE 12 Photo courtesy of Brandon Berry

12

SPORTS SPOTLIGHT

OBSERVER

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019

SPONSORED BY SHANNON TILL STATE FARM IN FOWLER GROVES

Delany Loos

THE BASICS

SPORT: Taekwondo TRAINS AT: Victory Martial Arts in Windermere AGE: 16 FROM: Windermere

A sophomore at Windermere High School, Delany Loos is a first-degree black belt in taekwondo, as well as a member of the Wolverines girls basketball team. In her spare time Loos enjoys typical teen things — like hanging out with friends — and loves eating Italian food.

When did you get into taekwondo, and what got you hooked on martial arts?

I’ve been doing that for about four to four-andone-half years. I got started through a few of my friends, who were also black belts — they started me in it.

You teach the younger kid’s class at Victory Martial Arts. What’s your favorite part about teaching?

I love when they are able to look up to me and see me as their role model, and then they start to take the lead and action toward everything that they do throughout their classes. When I see them come back, they’ll show the other students how to stand and are just super loud every single class.

Now what’s been a highlight for you during your time in martial arts?

Most likely my bootcamp for testing for my first degree (black belt). It was a lot of hard work, but it paid off in the end, for sure.

What’s the hardest aspect of taekwondo?

For me, probably remembering my forms.

Between taekwondo, basketball and school, how do you keep your life balanced?

This definitely helped me be more disciplined toward getting stuff done, because it’s obviously one of the life skills we teach here. Just being able to manage my schedule and then working on getting my focus on my times and how to space it all out, so that I have time for myself as well.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I go to Universal a lot with all of my friends — that’s one of the big things that I like to do. And then when I’m not here (Victory Martial Arts), I like to go shopping and do anything a regular teen would do.

What is your favorite meal?

I would have to say probably spaghetti — I love Italian food. It’s so good.

What was it about taekwondo that drew you to that specific martial art?

I think it was more that I love the kicking aspect, and usually, karate focuses on the upper body. It’s more fun to work on your lower body with the kicking and the forms and the weapons that you get to use, too.

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

Venice, Italy — I’ve always wanted to go there, and I want to go there so bad, because I want to be able to go on one of the boats down the canals.

Family.

Family.

Friends.

Friends.

Community.

Community.

— TROY HERRING

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Dr. Phillips draws 1-1 with Windermere

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n a battle between two of the top girls soccer teams in the area, neither Windermere (11-1-2) nor Dr. Phillips (9-0-3) could best the other as the Wolverines and Panthers drew to a 1-1 tie Tuesday, Jan. 15.

Both teams exchanged chances throughout the first half, but the Panthers’ Jill Ross would kick off the night’s scoring with a goal off of an assist from Kaitlyn Montague.

Windermere’s Callie Rizzo found the back of the net in the second half to knot the game up at 1-1.

— TROY HERRING

Big man on campus CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

to block shots and clean the glass, Zeng has a soft touch when he pulls up for a shot, whether it be 12 or 16 feet out.

Utilizing that raw talent and playing at the highest level is also something that has been a must for Zeng, because the talent level he plays against here is higher than what he faced back home.

“The basketball is faster here than in China,” Zeng said. “Playing against the better competition makes me feel like a better player.

American players jump higher, and run faster and stronger. (It) makes me play harder.”

Although there are differences both on and off the court — in addition to the language barrier — Zeng has shown he has the determination to accomplish the goals he set as a young kid in Harbin.

Growing up in Heilongjiang, China’s northernmost province, Zeng grew up with a love for basketball — thanks largely to the influence of his father, who had played professional ball in China.

“He taught me when I was little, but I was 11 years old when I went to a Beijing basketball club and started my basketball career,” Zeng said.

From there, Zeng torched the competition before finding himself on the Chinese Junior Nation-

al Team in the months leading up to his U.S. arrival.

Of all his experiences in basketball, that short stint on the national team last summer may have been one of the most crucial moments of his young career.

“I was there for a couple of months of practice — they’re a little bit older than me and a little bit stronger,” Zeng said. “So I didn’t (get to) play too much, but playing with strong players made me stronger.”

That experience and fire to be able to compete with the best followed Zeng on the 20-plus hour flight — which covered more than 7,000 miles and 13 time zones — from Beijing to Windermere, and it shows.

With Windermere Prep being his chosen destination — which he picked based on the basketball and academic programs, along with the school offering boarding — the hope is the school will lead to some big things in the future.

Although Zeng hopes to pick up some hardware while playing for the Lakers, the ultimate goal is to get a scholarship to play at Duke, before hopefully making it to the highest level of basketball.

“They (my family) think the school is good for my future and good for my chances at going to an American college,” Zeng said. “My goal is to play (in the) NBA.”

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PARTNER OF THE WEEK

OBSERVER

TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR

B

asketball is a game defined by tempo, rhythm and flow — it’s like a ballet of athleticism.

That aspect of the game is what draws millions of people — including me — to the game. We want to see players run up and down the court with a bounce in their step as they wow us with their talents.

But then, there’s games like the most recent Boone/ Oak Ridge contest, which took place Thursday, Jan. 10.

Oak Ridge is a good team — a nationally ranked level of good — while Boone is a middling team that sits just above .500.

On that night, Boone outlasted Oak Ridge in a lowscoring 20-16 win, which is even more crazy when you consider that going into halftime, Oak Ridge was up 3-0.

Soak that all in: three to zero.

You may be asking yourself, “How and why?”

The answer is simple: Florida high-school basketball doesn’t utilize the shot clock.

As a fan of the game, the concept of “stall ball” is an affront to the game I grew up loving, but there is a point that needs to be made. What Boone did was totally within the rules, and to be honest, slowing Oak Ridge down was the only way they were going to win that game. It’s smart basketball.

“For Boone to do what they did, right now, it’s within the rules, so for me I thought it was a great win — it was their strategy to win,” said Brian Hoff, the boys basketball coach at Windermere Prep.

“There are a lot of schools when they play Oak Ridge, they’re going to run up and down the court with them, and that’s not going to work. I think Boone executed a great strategy.”

Hoff said despite his approval for the strategy utilized by Boone, he would welcome the shot clock, because it would help give the game a boost — specifically as it relates to getting talented players ready for the next level and making basketball more exciting.

In collegiate ball, both the men’s and women’s game incorporate a 30-second shot clock, while the NBA and WNBA utilize a 24-second shot clock. The International Basketball Federation also uses the 24-second shot clock.

The rationale behind the shot clock is basic — it allows equal opportunity between teams and forces them to make plays in a timely manner.

It also helps the game flow,

13

Opening soon!

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compared to stalling out that’s induced by what us North Carolinians know as “Four Corners Offense” — a tactic that Dean Smith perfected during his time at the “school that shall not be named” in Chapel Hill.

“I think it would improve the level of play,” Hoff said.

“Some people would say it would encourage less coaching, but I think it would encourage more coaching because every possession — every second — becomes magnified. I think it would be good thing for the game.”

Mark Griseck, head coach of the boys basketball team at Windermere High, echoed those thoughts on player preparation and helping bolster the game itself.

“We played with it last night at Master’s Academy, and it was kind of cool,” Griseck said. “The one thing that it does do is if you have a lead, it doesn’t allow you to hold the ball.”

The game changes a lot when you only have to play offense — or defense — for 30 seconds or so, so a shot clock could greatly equal the playing field.

That said, there are also ways for a defense to break up another team’s attempt to hold the ball.

By pressuring the ball, a defense can force a stalling offense into turnovers and open up the game. That never came into play during that Boone/Oak Ridge game, which surprised Griseck.

“When I had really good teams, I have had people try to hold the ball, but there are ways to not let that happen — I’m going to trap or press the issue,” Griseck said. “But then Oak Ridge sat there and let them, and then they got pissed off apparently and they held the ball, which made no sense to me.”

But of all the talk of a shot clock, there are issues most coaches acknowledge — cost and personnel.

Finding the people to man the shot clock correctly — while also finding money for the devices themselves — would be tricky. It ultimately is what has led to the lack of shot clock in high-school basketball in the state, and it’s a problem many think will keep serious talks tabled for the foreseeable future.

“I just don’t think it will happen, because I don’t think financially schools will be able to do it, and logistically it’s just not feasible for a lot of people,” Griseck said. “I’ve played at schools sometimes, and there’s a high-school student is running the clock, and they’re struggling to get people to do that.”

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FROM THE CHEAP SEATS

OrangeObserver.com

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019

I LOVE WEST ORANGE

ONLINE

FORECAST THURSDAY, JAN. 24 Winter Garden resident Mary Jacobs Leff submitted this beautiful image, which she calls, “Red Beauty.”

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The Observer is hosting this weekly contest, and winners will have their photograph featured and receive a $20 prize. To enter, email your photo, along with your name, city and a caption, to amyq@ orangeobserver. com; put “I Love West Orange” in the subject line.

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86 Abe’s Mount Rushmore neighbor 88 “Copacabana” girl 89 Great king, in Sanskrit 93 Letter in or anagram of “Eve” 94 Kind of cotton 95 Tai ___ 98 High or low card 99 Smooth-strumming country music star?

103 Villainous Vader 105 Water park fixture 106 Course with many parts?

(Abbr.)

107 Just some 108 Hatchet relative 109 Question raised at the RNC in 1996?

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117 Toss out a line 118 Become less vivid 119 Seth of “Steve Jobs”

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W EAT HER

|

CELEBRITY CIPHER

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

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

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Puzzle Two Clue: U equals C

OBSERVER

Puzzle One Clue: W equals B

14

©2019 NEA, Inc.

SUDOKU

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

©2019 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

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296993

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Financing

BRAKE PAD SALE

Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10am-7pm

294232

292427

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881 S. 9th Street • Winter Garden, FL 34787

SERVICE

WE BUY JUNK CARS WE BUY SCRAP METAL

Carlos Arteaga • Owner/Operator

Licensed & Insured Commercial & Residential Puzzle One• Solution:

“One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was from a horse master. He told me to go slowROOFING to go fast..”

– Viggo Mortensen

295186

Puzzle Two Solution: “I’m no different... I want people to like me. I just don’t particularly want them to understand me.”

– Willem Dafoe

407-656-4707

295188

295175

• All Engines $200.00 each • All Transmissions $100.00 each • Tires $15.00 and up • Batteries $25.00 • Warranties on all parts sold!

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297426

This week’s•Celebrity Cipher answers 407-625-0742 cnalawns@gmail.com

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK • 8AM - 5PM

TFN

• Cleanups • Mulching • Sod Removal & Installation • Landscape & Design • Irrigation Repairs • Light Tree Trimming

UPGRADES & REPAIRS

This week’s Sudoku answers

VIRUS & SPYWARE WinterREMOVAL Garden’s Premier Roofing Company Since 1978 Serving All of West Orange County DATA & PASSWORD Fully Licensed and Insured Roof Repairs and Replacement RECOVERY 407-656-8920 WIRELESS & WIREDWestOrangeRoofing.com NETWORKING FREE ESTIMATES

CLASSIFIEDS

Thursday, January 24, 2019

INFO & RATES: 407-656-2121 • Fax: 407-656-6075 • EMAIL: classifieds@wotimes.com • ONLINE: www.wotimes.com HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 8:30am-4:30pm • DEADLINES: Classifieds - Tuesday at 10:OOAM • Service Directory - Friday at 10AM • PAYMENT: Cash, Check or Credit Card ©2019 NEA, Inc.

Garage/Moving/Estate Sales

Motor Homes/RVs

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers

2013 HEARTLAND SAN ANTONIO 40 5TH WHEEL 4 SLIDEOUTS KING BED FURNISHED GENERATOR HYDRAULIC JACKS GREAT CONDITION READY TO ROLL $46,500 Private seller-www.poprvs.com | STOCK # 163981

296992

ESTATE SALE - 16360 W Colonial Dr, Oakland.

Thurs, 1/24 through Sat, 1/26. 8am-2pm. Pioneering West Orange County Family Estate Sale. Grove Equipment, antiques, collectibles, households, tools, history, and treasures. 1/24rs

SELL IT!

Homes For Sale

407-656-2121

Puzzle One Solution: “One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was from a horse master. He told me to go slow to go fast..”

– Viggo Mortensen

This week’s Crossword answers

Puzzle Two Solution: “I’m no different... I want people to like me. I just don’t particularly want them to understand me.”

– Willem Dafoe

This week’s Sudoku answers

HOME FOR SALE BY OWNER - OPEN HOUSE to view this vintage 3/2 house in N Winter Garden near Lake Apopka on 01/26/2019 from 1 pm to 4 pm only. Inspection and appraisal will be available for viewing.

42 Regal Place, Winter Garden 1/24vh

Merchandise Wanted 13178 W. Colonial Dr. Winter Garden

NOW PURCHASING

TO ADVERTISE IN OUR CLASSIFIEDS CALL 407-656-2121

407-656-3495

advertisenow@orangeobserver.com

SCRAP BATTERIES 295169

Or email us at

©2019 NEA, Inc.

This week’s Crossword answers

2019

LV11097

Windermere Observer 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 Windermere Observer to meet all applicable legal requirements in connection with the ad such as compliance with town codes in first obtaining an occupational license for business, permitted home occupation, or residential rental property.

OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019

OrangeObserver.com

Active senior living in the heArt of downtown orlAndo

Active lifestyles are just the start at westminster towers! our senior living community offers spectacular skyline views and spacious apartment homes in a location convenient to arts, fine dining, shopping, healthcare and so much more. let us make life easier with services and amenities to enhance your lifestyle, like maintenance-free living, delectable dining, scheduled transportation and 24-hour security. You’ll also enjoy the assurance of a full complement of supportive and healthcare services, if they should be needed.

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