02.03.22 Southwest Orange Observer

SO U T H W E ST O RA N G E

Observer Windermere, Horizon West, Dr. Phillips

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

VOLUME 7, NO. 18

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DRIBBLING TO DISTRICTS

Resource center opening

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Bob Goff to speak at Mosaic Church. ONLINE.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

The area’s high school basketball teams are preparing for postseason play.

SEE PAGE 11.

HITTIN’ THE ROAD

Winter Garden is putting the facility on the east side to begin the area’s revitalization.

SEE PAGE 2.

The Horizon West Golf Cart Club is working to designate the area as a cart-friendly community.PAGE 4.

YOUR TOWN ONP PLANS POURS AT THE PRESERVE

The Oakland Nature Preserve is celebrating Valentine’s Day a little early with its Pours at the Preserve from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12.

Participants are invited to walk the upland trails in the evening, sipping wine or tasting beer, enjoying the sunset through the trees, enjoying the stars in the night sky, and listening to the owls and frogs. The half-mile trail will be lighted with luminarias, and refreshments will be offered at tables along the paths.

Guests can share a love note or honor someone on a luminaria, to be arranged upon registration. The event is limited to 200 guests; indicate the preferred time when registering. Tickets are $40 each. This is an adult-only event for ages 21 and over.

To register, visit oaklandnaturepreserve.wildapricot.org/ pours.

SCOUTS SELLING MULCH The Boy Scouts in troop 6 and 4006 are back with their annual mulch sale. Cypress blend and Pine bark nugget mulch will be available. Proceeds from this fundraiser help fund scouting activities, including weeklong summer camps, winter camp and high adventure camps. The deadline is Feb. 28 to order online, at troop6mulch.com.

The scouts will deliver the mulch for free April 2 and 3 to a limited area bound by Gotha Road including MetroWest, downtown Windermere, Turkey Lake Road and Darlene Drive.

They will spread it for an additional donation.

Email troop6mulch@gmail. com or call Brad DeLong at (407) 342-8533 or Linda Smith at (407) 453-4888 with questions.

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

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Postal Customer

Club founder Jack Dominick said with its unique village-centric master-planned design, Horizon West is best explored by golf cart.

Passion for pets The owners of Ocoee’s The Paw Shop aim to give pooches the pampering they deserve.

SEE PAGE 3.

LEADING THE BOBCATS

Courtesy Photo

WINTER GARDEN APPROVES DECADES-OLD ANNEXATION The enclave will become part of the city and undergo upgrades.

SEE PAGE 2.

The new principal of Bridgewater Middle is familiar to Horizon West families . PAGE 9.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

Residents support Winter Garden annexation The City Commission approved bringing in an east Winter Garden enclave that has been in the works for more than five decades.

ANNABELLE SIKES STAFF WRITER

Residents gathered in the halls of the City Commission Chambers on Thursday, Jan. 27, to speak out in support of an interlocal agreement between the city of Winter Garden and the Orange County Board of County Commissioners for the annexation of an east Winter Garden enclave.

Community Development Director Stephen Pash said the agreement annexes the properties as well as the rights of way. The agreement also has requirements for Orange County to provide the city of Winter Garden with plans from previous projects.

The maintenance of roads and ponds will be turned over to the city.

Pash explained there is one portion in the agreement that requires the county to do what is known as the “East Bay Street Paving and Drainage Improvements” that allows the county up to five years to complete.

Although the project will be

funded, permitted, constructed and maintained by the county before it is turned over to the city, several commissioners and residents questioned why the project would take so long.

“What’s the reason that this is going to take (Orange County) five years to complete the project, other than it’s the county,” Mayor John Rees asked.

Pash said Rees’s statement was accurate.

City Manager Jon C. Williams said he does not anticipate the project will take five years but the county wanted a bit of a buffer in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Commissioner Mark Maciel said the drainage in the area is a major issue, as he is told from calls by county residents even now.

“When we annex, it will become our issue, so is there a vehicle to monitor this and at least make sure they’re making steady improvements?” Maciel asked.

Pash said the city will have to continue to pester the county for the improvements; Rees asked if the city could do the work with the county reimbursing them. Pash said the question has never been proposed but the city could ask

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tion and she is happy the city is honoring the agreement.

“We are excited about finally coming into the city, because, like I said, my dad worked on this about 60 or 70 years ago. … It’s good that I will actually live to see this being done,” Jefferson said.

Maciel made a motion to approve the annexation and the motion was carried unanimously by the commission. “(It’s a) long time in coming,” Rees said.

VOTING DISTRICT BOUNDARIES

The City Commission heard a first reading on an ordinance regarding the city’s voting district boundaries.

Districting Commission Chairperson Derek Blakeslee said the committee believes the map presented to the commissioners best accomplishes the goals of the commission and the goal of redistricting with minimal movement and fulfills the committee’s goal of “doing no harm” to the best of its abilities.

Blakeslee explained this redistricting is due to the 10-year census in 2020 where the population stood at 47,000.

The districts previously were adjusted in 2001 after the 2000 Census when the city population was at 14,350 and each district had 3,600 residents.

The districts were adjusted again in 2008 because the city had grown to 31,000 residents.

According to the city charter, if a

n Wendell Coates Jr. was given the Outstanding Citizen Award for his work in the community through Global Not Local. n Commissioners passed the second reading and public hearing of ordinances pertaining to voluntary annexation of .24 acres at 1010 Vineland Road.

The owner intends to apply for a special exception that would allow office use and development of the parking lot and pond. n The City Commission heard a reading of the city’s Fiscal Year 2021-22 budget totaling $50,696,365.

district becomes 50% larger than the smallest district, then the city is required to redistrict.

Blakeslee said the district and commission must follow the rule of the four districts because of the same charter. Within the city charter rules, the population was divided into four districts with the exceptions of not exceeding 5% or 1,000 people throughout the entire redistricting.

“For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction,” he said.

Blakeslee said he believes the committee hasn’t split any neighborhood HOA organizations or census blocks and that all sitting commissioners have been kept in the same district in which they currently serve.

The second reading and a public hearing will take place on a date to be determined.

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the county.

“We know we would be able to do it much faster than they could,” Williams said. “We will certainly reach out to them before this item appears on their agenda.”

Maciel said he suspects the city could even do it cheaper than the county.

Winter Garden resident Angelia R. Taylor-Dean said her family owned property on Trumbo Street and Christopher Street and for years they had heard about the possibility of being annexed.

“Our parents that left us those properties, they would have pride and ownership of land and home, so if y’all come in there, we want to ensure that we, the older generation as well as the ones they’ve left it to, can continue to make sure that we leave that in a better place than they left it to us,” Taylor-Dean said. “So, anything y’all bring into there, we want y’all to give us the same pride and respect that y’all would do other communities and not take but help to enforce and ensure that we continue to have a community that we can say our parents left us and we can leave our generation.”

Beverly Jefferson, a resident of Christopher Street, said her family was one of the first families in the area of discussion. Her father, John Jefferson, worked with Joe Brown and others to get the city annexed.

She said her family and others have waited a long time for the annexa-

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

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Lashonda Geffrard promotes black excellence through The Paw Shop Lashonda and Josue Geffrard are the owners of the Orlando area’s only brick-and-mortar black-owned dog grooming business, The Paw Shop, in Ocoee.

THE PAW SHOP ADDRESS: 401 N. Clarke Road in Ocoee PHONE: (407) 757-0742 HOURS: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday WEBSITE: www.thepawshoponline.com PAWS OF HOPE: To make a donation to this nonprofit organization that helps seniors and low-income residents get their pets vaccinated, microchipped and medically treated, visit www.bit.ly/3g9MIPa.

ANNABELLE SIKES STAFF WRITER

Lashonda Geffrard said she wants to make her business the “Chickfil-A for dog grooming” — the place you know you can go for great service, the place that gives back to the community, the place that is on every corner with a line out the door and the place that values the families and the community in which they live.

Geffrard has big goals, and even bigger dreams, but she has never been one to back down from a challenge.

She and her husband, Josue, are the owners of the Orlando area’s only brick-and-mortar blackowned dog-grooming business, The Paw Shop in Ocoee.

It was started in 2015, and the owners already have built quite a reputation.

Geffrard grew up in Pine Hills, which is why she says community involvement is so important to her.

The area is, and always will be, her home.

In her younger years, she said, she never felt like she fit in.

Her parents were never fans of animals, but that didn’t stop her from feeding strays and trying to bring them home. She always wanted a dog and felt a natural connection with animals.

“I remember my cousins would always make fun of me for playing with dogs, and it was never really acceptable to follow that as a career choice,” Geffrard said.

Now, as an adult, she thanks her parents for their opinion because it helped her to grow her passion and fight even harder to work with dogs, she said.

In 11th grade, her family moved to

Photos by Annabelle Sikes

The family-owned business strives to provide quality salon products and services that owners and pets will love.

Clermont, where she said she was one of the only black girls in a predominantly white school.

“I had a hard time trying to find myself because I didn’t feel like I fit in anywhere,” Geffrard said.

Now, the owner is using the gifts that make her different to create an impact.

The family-owned business strives to provide quality salon products and services that pets and their owners will love.

“Our belief is that happier pets make happier families and it’s important that your pet has a comfortable and stress-free grooming

Lashonda Geffrard is using her gift for connecting with people and pets to make a difference in the community.

experience,” Geffrard said.

After high school graduation, the owner said, she wanted to pursue veterinary medicine. When that fell through, she attended and graduated from the former Florida Institute of Animal Arts.

She has now been professionally grooming for 15 years.

PAWS OF HOPE

Another unique aspect about The Paw Shop is its setup. Unlike some grooming shops where all work is done behind closed doors, the stylists work in an open salon, where anyone can drop off their pet and watch the entire experience.

“We want to make sure we are fulfilling our customers’ wishes to the best of our abilities,” Geffrard said. “These are their babies, and they are entrusting us to take care and love them like they’re our own.”

However, the services offered

by Geffrard and her team go way beyond the walls of the shop.

In 2017, the owner said she noticed a call for help from people taking care of their pets. Many dogs brought through the doors were unvaccinated, missing collars and tags, and not properly groomed.

That’s when she created her nonprofit, Paws of Hope. The program provides free pet-related resources to seniors, families and deserving individuals through free pet food, supplies, medical care and vet bill assistance year-round.

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between giving up their pet or possibly facing more financial hardship if their animal ever needed urgent medical attention,” Geffrard said.

“People have a lot of love to give, and sometimes they don’t have the ability to get the extra stuff.”

Last year, Geffrard decided she wanted to expand those resources and learn from other black owners in the pet industry. She said she searched but couldn’t find any information online.

CREATING A NETWORK

The owner then started her next big step, the Black Owned Pet Business Network, a non-profit organization committed to growing blackowned businesses and leaders in the pet-care industry.

“African-Americans are very underrepresented in the pet-care industry,” Geffrard said. “Very rarely will you see someone of color working as a pet professional, but there is a need and a love in the black community for animals.”

The owner said she currently is working on obtaining small-business grants to be able to gift other black-owned pet businesses with resources and provide scholarships for students.

On top of all these accomplishments, Geffrard also recently joined Pet Boss Nation, a business development group for pet professionals and pet businesses around the world. That’s when Geffrard met founder Candance D’Agnolo, who had recently launched her own

podcast “Boss Your Business” and was looking to diversify and create open conversation for fellow members.

Geffrard has already been featured multiple times and even talked through a whole episode with D’Agnolo about diversity in the pet industry.

The podcast has since inspired Geffrard to create her own podcast centered around Paws of Hope where people can share their stories about how their pets have impacted their lives. She is hoping to launch the new podcast this summer.

“We all have excuses and things that happen, but it’s always humbling to be reminded in the most gentle way that some people have it worse, and even those people that have it worse, they’re doing everything they can to make it better,” she said.

The owner said as much as it seems all she does is work, it has never felt like work to her.

As much as she loves pets, she shares the same passion for people and is able to combine both of those together in her work.

She credits a large part of this to her co-workers and team — people she refers to as her family.

Her husband, Naomi Rembert, Tierra Adams and Kennith Jones make up the small but resilient staff.

“We’re not all blood related, but we are family,” Geffrard said.

“I focus intentionally on creating an environment where everyone is comfortable, and I think that translates well into the quality of work we provide and the customers who we serve as part of that family.”

The Paw Shop team already has plans to expand and offer their services to even more underserved individuals. The shop’s mobile unit will dispatch in the next few weeks.

Geffrard said she hopes in the future to open more locations and possibly explore franchising.

The owner said although she always knew she would make it, the experience has been surreal.

“It means so much to me that I have been given the opportunity to pursue this passion by my family, friends and community,” Geffrard said. “I was so ashamed of my gift for so long because I didn’t feel like it was acceptable, but Christ has put me in a position to do something that’s never been done before.

My true heart’s desire is to impact people in a different way, and now I get to help a new demographic of people that may have otherwise been overlooked.”

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

Golf cart gurus

Observer “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 Editor and Publisher / Michael Eng, meng@OrangeObserver.com

ANNABELLE SIKES

Design Editor / Jessica Eng, jeng@OrangeObserver.com Community Editor / Amy Quesinberry, amyq@OrangeObserver.com Sports Editor /Chris Martucci, cmartucci@OrangeObserver.com Staff Writer / Annabelle Sikes, asikes@OrangeObserver.com

STAFF WRITER

Imagine it’s Sunday afternoon and you and your family are riding around town in your golf cart.

The breeze is in your hair, the sun is kissing your cheeks and the sound of AC/DC plays from the stereo. Your children laugh from the backseat, and your family waves to neighbors as they pass by in their own golf carts.

Life is good.

The Horizon West Golf Cart Club has started a petition to designate the area as a golf cart-friendly community.

Group founder Jack Dominick said with its unique village-centric master planned design, Horizon West is best explored by golf carts.

“There’s nothing better than enjoying an open-air cruise through one of the most beautiful parts of Winter Garden,” Dominick said. “Locals can enjoy the warm temperatures all year-round while using their golf carts as their primary form of transportation to enjoy dining, entertainment and shopping.”

The petition currently has more than 150 signatures.

Dominick said he has been working with District 1 Commissioner Nicole Wilson to submit an application for the designation and that it is now in Orange County’s hands.

He said the carts are convenient, energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and cheaper to buy and maintain than cars — plus, drivers say they are fun and easy to drive.

Dominick knows from personal experience the many benefits golf carts can bring to life.

He was working at Walt Disney World when the pandemic hit; his title changed from operations manager at a Disney resort to non-essential worker in a matter of a few weeks.

Dominick explained he was traveling around town and working all the time.

That’s when he decided to begin marketing for dentists and doctors instead.

The new job has given him more free time to discover his love for golf carts and spend time with his family.

“When I got the golf cart everything, kind of slowed down for me and I wasn’t trying to beat every stoplight, and it wasn’t about buckling up your kid as fast as you can and rushing to your next destination,” Dominick said. “I started leaving in the golf cart 15 minutes early so we could enjoy the ride.”

Dominick said he came up with the idea for getting the golf cart when he

The Horizon West Golf Cart Club came together for its Christmas parade event.

saw another neighbor taking his family in one to the local park. He said the neighbor’s golf cart provided them shade and the children appeared to be having a blast.

“I thought, ‘Wow, this guy really has everything figured out,’” Dominick said.

‘A GREAT WAY TO MEET NEW PEOPLE’

The golf cart literally changed his life, he said, and he’s not the only one who shares the belief.

David Spinabella, one of the coadministrators in the Facebook group along with Matt Aguiar and Joseph Bammer, said it’s a fun and enjoyable way to get around.

“It’s not as expensive to maintain, like a car, and it’s fun for the whole family,” he said. “When we have friends and family that visit, they always look forward to a golf cart ride.

It’s fun to go to the local spots, and it’s a great way to meet new people. I have family members that have difficulty getting in and out of cars, but with the golf cart they can get in and out with ease and feel like they are a part of what we are doing.”

Club member Ashely Gorokhovski also agreed, saying her husband chose to buy one when they first moved to the area from California this past summer.

“It took about a month to find what we were looking at, but we are so glad we did,” she said. “Our daughter’s preschool is in the neighborhood, so we take her and pick her up in the cart daily. During the holidays, we threw lights on it and drove around after dinner nightly to check out our neighbors’ displays.”

Spinabella said when he and his family moved to the area they were told the neighborhood would be a golf cart community and it was one of the selling features for them.

His family was one of the earliest families to the neighborhood with a

golf cart, and his wife suggested they start a Facebook page to see if there was anyone else who enjoyed owning a golf cart.

“I created a group, and then a mutual friend of ours sold a golf cart to Jack,” Spinabella said. “That’s how I got to know Jack and realized he also started a group for the same reasons.

So, we combined both groups to make it more efficient for everyone.”

The group was started last July, and now has nearly 250 members.

The group plans events year-round, including a Halloween and Christmas parade, Spinabella said what makes the group special is the people.

“The people that I have met through the group are an awesome group of people, and the friendships I made wouldn’t have happened if the group wasn’t here,” he said.

The club’s next big upcoming event is the Golf Cart Poker Run, set to take place the week after Valentine’s Day if the weather isn’t too cool.

The run will serve as a fundraising opportunity to help a charitable cause.

Participants will attempt to find various playing cards from a standard deck that have been spread throughout different spots in the area. As people collect cards from sponsor booths, they will attempt to create a winning poker hand that beats everyone else involved in the event.

The winnings from the event will be donated to a charity that has not yet been selected.

On top of the seasonal events, members of the group often plan to take their golf carts and meet for a movie, dinner, drinks and other activities.

DISCOVERING THE COMMUNITY

Dominick, who has lived in the area since 2013, explained that the group is also a great way for residents to learn more about what is going on

Winter Garden opening community resource center AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

East Winter Garden residents will soon have a place to apply for jobs, seek community services, obtain housing assistance and more.

The city of Winter Garden has been working on huge plans for the east side and is ready to launch the revitalization efforts in the community.

City Manager Jon C. Williams calls the next step “an asset for the residents of Winter Garden.”

A 1,000-square-foot modular building has been placed at 125 Center St. near 10th Street to serve as a Community Resource Center and to provide programming and services to residents.

A jobs center, housing assistance, business opportunities, a Healthy West Orange kiosk, community liaison office, meeting space and additional community services will be offered. The public will be invited to an open house in late spring or early summer to learn more about all that will be offered.

“The overall area was identified as the East Winter Garden Plan, which was to plan jointly with the city and residents of Winter Garden,” Williams said. “They felt a good way to

jumpstart the community was with this community center.”

Winter Garden City Commissioner Mark Maciel, who represents this district, said former City Manager Mike Bollhoefer envisioned such a neighborhood location.

“It is meant to be the center of our improvement efforts in east Winter Garden,” Maciel said.

A jobs center will make all city of Winter Garden job opportunities accessible to the community with a computer to submit an online application. Current job opportunities include a plans examiner, building maintenance personnel, mechanic, parks supervisor, public service worker, police officers, school crossing guards, school resource officers, and solid waste and public utilities workers according to City Hall.

“The city is looking for good people to fill these jobs and would like to provide our residents with an opportunity to apply for them,” Williams said.

Plans for the facility still are being developed, he said. The city expects to offer job fairs and will invite community-resource organizations to share their services.

“There’s a lot of available resources out there, and I just don’t think everything is consolidated in a central loca-

tion,” Williams said. “I think by having a community liaison for residents as their needs come up will be an asset for the entire community.”

The city currently is not staffed with a Health/Social Services Department; staff is creating additional duties for its personnel to be sure the city can make the needed services available.

“Further, city staff and I will be available to meet with residents at the resource center when the need arises,” Maciel said.

Winter Garden Police Officer James McLeod, who is a member of the city’s Community Liaison Unit, will have an office there and will have set office hours when he’s not out in the community.

“I am looking forward to working in east Winter Garden again and will support and help the community any way I can,” McLeod said.

Maciel said many residents have been attending community meetings and speaking with him and city staff — and they are supportive of the resource center and all it will offer.

“There was some misinformation about this building being a police substation; that was never the intention,” he said. “That said, the city and I need to be more communicative with the

Courtesy Photo

HORIZON WEST GOLF CART CLUB For information on the golf cart group in Horizon West, visit the Facebook page.

To read and sign the petition, visit bit.ly/3AJu9dW.

in the Horizon West community. He said he will post about updates in the community, business openings, golf carts for sale and more.

The club has even gained local sponsorship and support from organizations like Extreme Golf Cart Service.

The service, owned and operated by founder Sean Courterier, is a one stop shop for all golf cart needs, from minor repairs and regular maintenance to full custom builds and golf cart sales.

Gorokhovski said the organization was at the local Food Truck Night recently and checked everyone’s batteries and fluids for free.

“This was great for us, because as novice owners we weren’t 100% sure how to maintain our cart properly,” she said. “Sean was great and explained everything in detail to my husband.”

Dominick said he hopes the group can continue to grow, host future events and become a golf cart-friendly community.

“This community is awesome,” he said. “We are in the backyard of Disney World, the weather is great, we live in a master-planned community, so everything we need is within a few miles. We have so much to do with beautiful parks, jogging trails and beautiful lakes. It’s the best place to live in the world, and the golf carts just bring that out even more.”

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WEST ORANGE TIMES residents. COVID has made it difficult to have regular meetings. We are scheduling a community meeting for late February, early March, pandemic permitting. I encourage all residents to stay involved and attend community meetings.”

The cost of the building is $136,725, and the site cost was close to $115,000, Williams said. The building and its programming are funded by the city and the Community Redevelopment Agency.

He said the center will remain at that location for three to five years.

Once it is removed, the property will be redeveloped with commercial and residential uses.

“As I meet and speak with the east Winter Garden residents, I am constantly being reminded of the needs of the community,” Maciel said. “This location is at the heart of our efforts. I encouraged the city to buy this property even before I became commissioner. At some point in the distant future, it’s the city’s intention to make this property available to a development that will benefit the community.

The Community Resource Center is a vital step to the revitalization efforts at 10th and Center Streets to breathe life back into the historic business district for east Winter Garden.

“I’m passionate about improvements to the east Winter Garden community,” Maciel said. “The annexation, CRA, resident involvement and city support are the real engines behind our efforts.”

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

5

Vision for Watermark Park coming into focus CHRIS MARTUCCI

GET INVOLVED

SPORTS EDITOR

Orange County District 1 Commissioner Nicole Wilson hosted a virtual community meeting along with the Orange County Parks and Recreation office Jan. 18 to gather community input on what should go into the planned Watermark Park in Horizon West.

More than 25 community members were on hand for the call.

“I love listening to things that are important to people and seeing the potential in this,” Wilson said. “It’s exciting.”

The park is to be built at the area of Seidel Road and Summerlake Grove Street on a plot of land south of Panther Lake and just across the way from Horizon High School. It will be located adjacent to the elementary school under construction.

Watermark Park is part of the greater expansion of parks into Horizon West that will open within the next five years and is expected to open in 2024. With the rapid growth of the area, it already had been foreseen that the area would need more parks as families move in.

Much like the Bentonshire Park meeting held in November, Wilson and Parks and Recreations Director Matt Suedmeyer explained to the community members that logged on what they could expect to see out of the park and also how they could give their input on what might go into the park.

Because of its status as a neighborhood park, Watermark Park is expected to be about five acres of space, with on-street parking being provided onsite for residents. Some of the items being considered were playground equipment that would come with a shade awning, fitness equipment and a community garden.

Big-ticket items such as athletic centers or pools are not being considered because of the amount of traffic they would bring, as well as the maintenance they would require.

Basketball courts are not being considered either for similar traffic reasons.

Suedmeyer said the look of the park would be similar to Independence Park and Summerport Park.

Watermark is expected to cost $1.2 million for design and construction.

After the presentation on the park’s aesthetics, the group fielded questions and received input from

Community members were encouraged to fill out a survey that would help the department gauge exactly what they want to go into the park. The survey closed Jan. 26, but those who have questions can email parks@ocfl.net.

the community members. Some of the items that gained the most traction were tennis courts, but Suedmeyer said they would only be used for recreation and not organized tournaments.

One attendee brought up the idea of adding more skating structures into the park because of the amount of kids they saw skating up and down Hamlin. Suedmeyer said that was something the planners would consider.

The meeting was the first of at least two that will take place. A follow-up meeting is set to take place March 30, and a third meeting will be in April, if needed.

NOTICE CITY OF OCOEE CEMETERY LOT/PLOT OR NICHE OWNERS A renewed effort to have all the lots/plots or niches come into compliance with the Rules and Regulations governing the City of Ocoee Cemetery located at 368 E. Geneva Street is underway. A letter has been sent to those individuals who have their address on file with the City as owning a lot/plot or niche within the Cemetery. The City will allow until May 2, 2022, for lot or niche owners to bring their space(s) into compliance with the Rules and Regulations. A large trash container will be provided within the Cemetery during this clean-up period. Should those space(s) not be compliant by May 2, 2022, City staff shall make necessary corrections, which may include the removal and disposal of unauthorized items from such lot/plot or niche, to have the space(s) conform to the Rules and Regulations.

To acquire a copy of the Rules and Regulations for the Ocoee Cemetery, please visit www.Ocoee.org. You may also contact the Office of the City Clerk for more information at 407-905-3105.

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District 1 Orange County Commissioner Nicole Wilson hosted a virtual meeting about the new Horizon West park.

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OBSERVER

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

THESE TIMES

MIKE YOAKUM Pastor P: 407.656.1520 C: 407.758.3570 MYOAKUM407@AOL.COM

Wii can do it

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Who needs a pricey Peloton, with its sleek graphics and high-tech interaction with dozens of real instructors like Cody or Becs or Matty? I have my trusty Wii console, which, after about 15 years, still gets me moving.

1333 East Crown Point rd. oCoEE, FL 34761 That isn’t consecutive years, mind you. It’s an AMY QUESINBERRY intermittent relationship. “thE stonE thE buiLdErs rEjECtEd is now COMMUNITY EDITOR When the pants are feelthE CornErstonE.” –Psalms 118:22 ing tight, I dust off the Wii, pull out the Wii Balance Board, grab the controller and click on my Mii. There are few things more unsettling than seeing a The only podcast that roly-poly Mii staring back delivers your hyperlocal news. at me — but that’s what I get for skipping 1,760 days of training, as I was reminded.

Listen on your favorite platform The more you exercise with the Wii, the skinnier your small twin gets. Those are real goals right there.

As a side note, my children haven’t been on the Bruce Young, CFP®, CRPC® Wii in many years, so their Financial Advisor edwardjones.com Mii will always look youthMember SIPC 17301 Pagonia Road Ste ful and thin. It might be time 100 to age them.

Clermont, FL 34711 The familiar sound of the 407-654-4915 marimba as the Wii warms up is so distinct, followed by Bruce Young, CFP®, CRPC® Bruce Young, CFP®, CRPC® the warnings to give yourFinancial Advisor Financial Advisor edwardjones.com edwardjones.com self plenty of space and to Member SIPC 17301 Pagonia Road SteSte Member SIPC 17301 Pagonia Road tighten the wrist strap so 100 100 Clermont, FL 34711 your controller doesn’t fly Clermont, FL 34711 407-654-4915 out of your hands and into 407-654-4915 your TV. You’re prompted to turn on your balance board and step on. I cringe waiting to see if the board will let out a disappointing “Oh” as my feet hit the mat, as if Bruce Young, CFP®, CRPC® it’s being crushed under my Financial Advisor edwardjones.com weight.

17301 Pagonia Road Ste Member SIPC Some people have to exerBruce Young, CFP®, CRPC® 100 Financial Advisor cise to get rid of their baby Clermont, FL 34711 edwardjones.com fat or their beer belly. I need 407-654-4915 17301 Pagonia Road Ste Member SIPC to work out to fix my carb 100 butt. To be accurate, it’s my Clermont, FL 34711 407-654-4915 “too many good shows on my DVR/carb butt.”

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I trudge on. This little machine will not best me!

I do my weigh-in and body mass index test, make a silent promise to do better — and then it’s time to get reacquainted with my 2007-era trainers.

I usually stick with Margo, as I’ve named her. She’s very encouraging, very supportive, very annoying. When Margo starts getting on my nerves with her chipper attitude, I can easily switch trainers. The other option is a male; I named him Roger.

He’s fit and cute and all, but he can be condescending.

Too bad there isn’t a third option like a goat or a rabbit. Because there’s nothing funnier than talking animals.

When my kids first got their hands on the system, they immediately made dozens of Miis — all of our family members (including an ex), their friends, Carl their sweet childhood dog, Tom Petty, Michael Jackson, Harry Potter and Dobby, Peanuts characters, someone who looks like Gary Sinise, Mario, Dora the Explorer, Pac-Man, the Jonas Brothers, Conan O’Brien, Ugly Betty. There’s even one named Mayor that looks suspiciously like Daddy.

The Wii system really does set you up for a fun session. You can work on yourself with yoga, aerobics, strength training and balance games. And what makes the activities even more exciting is you’re competing against the other characters.

My kids have always been my competition and the ones to try to beat. Also, no one else ever played the games. You see user rank-

ings and are notified when you reach a new record. Fist pump!

You get one to four stars for each performance. It’s always encouraging when I earn professional level.

My favorites are the aerobic and balance activities, because you get to interact with your Mii friends instead of the trainers. I love stepping in time to boppy music with Joe Jonas and Charlie Brown and hulahooping with the kids and Mother.

You also can head-butt soccer balls, balance on a tilting table, snow ski and walk a tightrope. And there’s no fear of me face-planting into a coffee table or my TV; the graphics are nowhere near the level of Oculus virtual-reality headsets.

This little machine, antiquated by today’s technology standards, still tracks my center of balance — I apparently lean back and to the right — and it gives me my Wii Fit age.

I tested at 43 — a whole decade younger. I’ll take it!

Who would give that up?

Once you reach the end, you get to “rest” on the Wii board in lotus position — that’s criss-crossapplesauce fashion for you non-yogis — for a final meditation. With the slightest wiggle, your candle is blown out — and that’s a wrap!

Your results are posted — not on Facebook or Strava — but on your Wii so you can track your progress.

I don’t want to be confronted by a pudgy “Amii” on the screen, so that is all the encouragement I need to keep doing the Warrior 1 pose and steppin’ in time with my kids’ buddies.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

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Tres Amigos gives locals something to taco ’bout The family-owned restaurant in Winter Garden has become a local staple for residents and visitors alike.

ANNABELLE SIKES STAFF WRITER

TRES AMIGOS GRILL ADDRESS: 1025 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden PHONE: (407) 614-3975 HOURS: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Monday through Saturday INFORMATION: www.tresamigosgrill.com

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John Kresl immediately put the idea on his vision board, and that year they were signing the lease papers for the restaurant building.

Johnny, who is 19, was just recently promoted to assistant general manager and said he is excited about the future and the possibilities.

“The inspiration behind my idea was to learn business, and I love to learn, so there’s no better opportunity to learn than to manage a restaurant,” Johnny Kresl said. “The best part is helping people, and we get the chance to do that every day.”

John Kresl said family is a huge part of what they do at the restaurant. His other son and one of his brothers also work at the grill, and his wife works at the Winter Garden Farmers Market on the weekends.

One of his brothers, Tom Kresl, who also serves as the grill’s general manager, runs the restaurant in his absence and is at the Clermont Farmers Market on Sundays to sell the salsa.

“My passion for this business and cooking comes from the love of making people feel good about not only the food but also the need to serve others as a family,” Tom Kresl said. “It all comes from God. He has given me some talents to help others enjoy life with us at the farmers markets and at our restaurant.”

The menu includes tender skirt steak, marinated chicken, succulent wild-caught shrimp,

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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.

slow-cooked carnitas and locally sourced veggies. Customers can choose from an entree platter, bowl, stuffed tacos or street tacos.

“We go out of our way to provide outrageously fresh and locally sourced food so that way we can provide the taste but also support other local businesses,” John Kresl said. “This community is all so supportive of each other.”

The business even sells its own homemade spice blend so customers can take the flavors home with them and share them with their own families.

But although residents enjoy the food, perhaps the most memorable part of the dining

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Photos by Annabelle Sikes

Work in Your Own Backyard!

The restaurant’s skirt steakstuffed tacos are a popular option on the menu and include homemade guacamole and the signature salsa.

experience is the people.

Another special partnership the non-profit has formed is with Matthew’s Hope. The restaurant donates all of its tips to the homeless organization, and a member from the organization even helped to build the signature Tres Amigos sign inside the eatery. John Kresl also has catered events and donated items for other local fundraisers and organizations, including West Orange High School and Harbor House.

In the future, he hopes he can continue to serve the community and would love to expand the restaurant, he said.

The family is about to open a second booth at the Winter Garden Farmers Market, which will be the grill aspect, and will offer breakfast options like skillet potatoes, eggs, sausage and, of course, fresh salsa.

John Kresl said he could see Tres Amigos opening a smaller version of the grill in one of the open markets with other vendors in the future like Plant Street Market or East End Market.

“We truly love everyone exactly the same; I don’t see anyone as different, no matter what they believe or what they look like or what they do,” he said. “To me, if I get a chance to serve you some good food with a smile and make you feel better, then that’s all I care about.”

Chef John Kresl started Tres Amigos to serve the community and give back to others through food.

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It starts with the perfect bite of salsa.

Freshly crushed tomatoes paired with chiles, garlic, lime juice and signature spices is enough to attract any growling stomach to the doors of Tres Amigos Grill in Winter Garden.

The family-owned restaurant has become a local staple, but what many people don’t know is that it all began with salsa and a vision board.

About 10 years ago, Chef John Kresl and his family began to sell their salsa at the Winter Garden Farmers Market. It turned out to be an instant hit.

“People were grabbing the collar of my chef coat and shaking me, saying, ‘You must do something with this salsa because it’s the best salsa we’ve ever had,’” John Kresl said. “The energy you get from the people who love the salsa and taste it is amazing.”

John Kresl was doing private chef work for families, as well as catering events, but his cooking experience bloomed from a young age.

The love for food and cooking was embedded in his family life growing up in Chicago.

Kresl’s father found relaxation in cooking on the weekends and inspired him to take classes.

In college, John Kresl worked at Red Robin while he studied law. He said the restaurant business enamored him and he found himself wanting to learn everything he could. Instead of finishing college, he chose to pursue a career in the restaurant, which paid off as he quickly climbed the ladder to managerial positions and opened some locations from the ground up.

He said around 2009, his wife, Stephanie Kresl, helped him to realize that although he was good at his job, it wasn’t what he loved to do.

“I loved to throw parties and feed families and friends, especially those in need,” he said.

“That’s when we started our catering company, The Take Home Chef.”

The family had been selling its salsa at the market for about two years when The Fresh Market grocery store called John Kresl and asked if it could carry the salsa in store. Lucky’s followed suit.

Now, he and his family make 500 to 1,000 pints for The Fresh Market every week.

The Kresls were thrown a curveball in 2019 when Lucky’s went out of business, and they lost one of their biggest business partners.

“I knew at the beginning of 2020 that we needed to have more ways to ensure our success, because what if something happened like this again?” the owner said.

That’s when one of his sons, Johnny Kresl, came up with the idea for them to open a restaurant and he could manage it.

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OBSERVER

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

INFLUENCER OF THE WEEK

8

LIZ QUINN UNITED METHODIST LEARNING CENTER PRESCHOOL Liz Quinn is an assistant in the VPK program this year at the First United Methodist Learning Center Preschool. She has taken her years of teaching and her fun-loving personality to the 4-year-old classroom, and the children love her ways of exploring different things and looking at the world differently. Quinn is the one who will find nature in everyday adventures, like the funny-looking bug crawling on the sidewalk, a butterfly and the hawk that is resting high in the tree.

What brought you to your school?

I relocated from the Washington, D.C., area, and our new neighbors found out I was a teacher. They recommended the Learning Center because of the excellent reputation.

What do you love most about your school?

Everything, from the shared love of learning, staff camaraderie, focus of the kids’ development and the support from the families.

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What is your motivation?

Inspiring children to begin a lifelong journey of learning.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Setting a spark and seeing the moment when it clicks in a child’s mind.

What do you do in your spare time?

Explore new places and travel while visiting art galleries and museums.

Discovering new national parks and interesting cities and countries.

Who was your favorite teacher when you were in school? Why? Dr. Weatherhill for biology — he taught me that there are many answers and many ways to find the right solutions. He also taught me not all people learn the same way and sometimes you need to think outside of the box.

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

Time travel, to experience life in different periods from the past and the future.

What was your go-to lunch as an elementary student?

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were my go-to. However, the best was my father’s roast beef sandwiches from the Sunday leftover dinner.

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

I played many sports including softball, swim team, basketball, volleyball.

— AMY QUESINBERRY

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

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What are your hobbies?

Being out on the water, kayaking, crossword puzzles, sketching, gardening, walking with my dog Fenway.

NOMINATE YOUR INFLUENCER

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The YMCA of Central Florida is a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening our community.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Why? I always knew I was going to be a teacher and loved working with kids.

OrangeObserver.com

OBSERVER

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9

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

OBSERVER SCHOOL ZONE

Bridgewater Middle welcomes Amy Klaber as principal The new BWMS leader is ready to continue the traditions established before she arrived at the school.

ANNABELLE SIKES STAFF WRITER

Bridgewater Middle School has named Amy Klaber as its new principal. The school took to Facebook on Wednesday, Jan. 12, to announce the addition to the staff.

“Welcome, Ms. Klaber, to the Bridgewater Family,” school officials said.

Klaber said she feels honored and beyond excited to continue to serve the community.

“I am looking forward to getting to know students, staff and parents so that I’m able to provide continuity in upholding longstanding traditions, and supporting academic excellence,” the new principal said.

Klaber is no stranger to the Orange County Public Schools system, where she has served both in an administrative and instructional capacity since 1999.

She has taken on several roles within OCPS as an instructional coach, curriculum resource teacher, elementary teacher and music teacher.

She then served as an assistant principal at Union Park Elementary and Robinswood Middle schools.

Prior to her newest role, Klaber was the principal at Water Spring Elementary, established in August 2019, which she helped to build and open as a new school in the Horizon West community.

Now, she will bring her experience and knowledge to Bridgewater.

“Our Horizon West cohort of leaders knew the importance of continuity

in serving the Horizon West community,” Klaber said. “When Principal (Andrew) Jackson was tasked with moving on to lead Horizon High and Water Spring Middle School, it only made sense that someone who shared the vision and values of our area move in to continue the work.”

Klaber said Bridgewater provides many unique opportunities and course offerings for its students. The opportunities tap into something as general as providing new life experiences to students, who can find their spark and illuminate an interest, which can then turn into a career path. The school provides a plethora of electives, clubs and programs for both students and their families.

The new principal is a native Floridian who moved to the Central Florida area in 1994.

She holds degrees from both the University of Central Florida and Stetson University.

However, her path toward a career in education started as early as high school.

Klaber had teachers who inspired her and helped her to see her own potential in the field of education.

She said her high school band director, Stephen Johnson, was pivotal in helping her decide her career path and supported her family in finding the right college for her, and, to this day, he continues to check in and support her life goals.

“This is when I truly began to understand that teachers do so much more than just teach their content,” Klaber said. “They help children find their

way, support them through tough times, mentor them and continue to follow their students to ensure their success. This world of education is pivotal to how our children will live in the successful future world of tomorrow.”

The new principal said she enjoys having students share their creative thought processes, how they learned to persevere or how they were able to solve something.

“Students are honest, give the best feedback and have amazing ideas,” she said. “We just need to stop, listen and validate them.”

On her days off, she enjoys spending quality time on Disney property with her two children, both OCPS students, and her husband.

“My immediate goal is to learn as much as I can from our students, staff, parents and community about Bridgewater Middle,” Klaber said.

“The vision is to continue to foster this elite academic environment while ensuring that we are able to meet the individual needs of all we serve. I know that with the support of staff, parents and the community, our students will continue to excel.”

OCPS’ JENKINS AWARDED FOR LEADERSHIP OCPS Superintendent Dr. Barbara Jenkins was awarded the Baldrige Foundation Award for Leadership Excellence within education Jan. 28.

“The Foundation Awards for Leadership Excellence were established to recognize leaders in Business (Manufacturing, Service, Small Business), Nonprofit, Government, Health Care, Education and Cybersecurity, who provide exceptional support to Baldrige and the foundation’s mission, helping to sustain Baldrige into the future, and promoting the positive impact of Baldrige on organizational and community success,” Baldrige Foundation CEO Al Faber said in a press release.

Jenkins was one of 11 recipients of the award.

The Baldrige Foundation was created as the private partner to the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program in 1988. Its mission is to ensure the long-term financial viability of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program and to support organizational performance excellence throughout the United States and the world.

LAKEVIEW’S WORLD LANGUAGE ACADEMY RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION Lakeview Middle School’s World Language Academy was named a National Magnet School of Distinction by Magnet Schools of America. The school’s academy provides an instructional model for English-speaking students to learn a second language and become biliterate.

For a school to receive a national excellence award, members of Magnet Schools of America must submit a detailed application that is then scored by a panel of educators.

Participating schools are judged and scored on “their demonstrated ability to raise student academic achievement, promote racial and socioeconomic diversity, provide integrated curricula and instruction, and create strong family and community partnerships that enhance the school’s magnet theme,” according to the program.

As a member, the school will receive magnet certification, gain the ability to participate in the organization’s awards program and receive representation on Capitol Hill.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

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2-3-22

FEBRUARY 3, 2022

SPORTS

Jayden Huygens has made an impact in his first year with the TFA basketball team. Page 12.

second; Olympia at home, 68-67; and fellow defending Class 2A state champion Orlando Christian Prep.

Head coach Ben Witherspoon’s squad looks poised to take care of business and make noise in the state playoffs as it looks to defend its title.

The Panthers get a first-round bye in the Class 7A District 5 tournament and will play the winner of West Orange-Celebration Feb. 9.

OLYMPIA TITANS

Windermere earns a first-round bye in the Class 7A District 5 tournament.

Photos by Chris Martucci

West/Southwest Orange County District preview

SPORTS EDITOR

With high school basketball reaching the end of its regular season, it’s time for districts and getting set for postseason play, which will begin on

DR. PHILLIPS PANTHERS

The defending Class 7A state champions avoided the letdown most championship teams go through,

adding yet another strong regular season under their belts with their three Division I commits – Denzel Aberdeen, Ernest Udeh Jr. and Riley Kugel – leading the way.

Besides its Big 3, DP’s complemented by players such as Jordan Tillery and Jackson Slater, who provide the extra spark that makes the Panthers a handful for any opponent.

Some of DP’s noteworthy wins this season were against Windermere in the Metro West Conference tournament championship game, which the Panthers won 38-37 thanks to Kugel’s two free throws at the last

WINDERMERE WOLVERINES

Windermere maintained its reputation as one of the most formidable teams in Central Florida, as well as the state of Florida, with another strong showing this season.

The Wolverines started the season hot right out the gate with 11 wins in 12 games before losing on a lastsecond three to Olympia. Since then, losses to Dr. Phillips in the Metro West tournament championship and Osceola have been the only other blemishes on the team’s record.

Windermere rides on the backs of its starting five, which is led by junior Sean Stewart and senior Chris Nurse. Point guard Chalier Torres ignites the offense and is key to the Wolverines averaging 68.3 points per game through the season.

As the second seed in the Class 7A District 5 tournament, the Wolverines get a first-round bye and will play the winner of Olympia-Haines City Feb. 9.

SEE DISTRICTS PAGE 12

WEST ORANGE WARRIORS

West Orange has a chance to make something out of what some would consider a disappointing season for the Warriors.

After a rough start to the year, West Orange managed to string along some victories over major opponents Olympia and Wekiva to give the team confidence as the season continued.

Seniors Brady Scott and Aaron Walker lead the team in scoring, averaging 10.8 and 10.6 points per game, respectively. Junior Caleel

TOWN OF OAKLAND NOTICE OF CHANGE OF USE ZONING MAP DESIGNATION PUBLIC HEARING THIS WILL BE A HYBRID IN-PERSON/VIRTUAL MEETING The Town of Oakland will hold a public hearing to consider rezoning certain property generally located generally north of Oakland Avenue and south of Lake Apopka, containing approximately 69.83 acres.

ORDINANCE NO. 2022-05

AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF OAKLAND, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE TOWN’S OFFICIAL ZONING MAP DESIGNATION FROM A-1, AGRICULTURE (COUNTY) AND R-1, SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, TO PD, PLANNED DEVELOPMENT WITH A MASTER PLAN, IN THE TOWN OF OAKLAND, FOR CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY OWNED BY JEFFERSON R. VOSS, JEFFERSON RICH VOSS TRUST, VOSS FAMILY HOLDINGS, LLC, AND OAKLAND LAND, LLC, BEARING PROPERTY TAX PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS 20-22-27-0000-00-005; 20-22-27-0000-00-004; 20-2227-0000-00-009; 20-22-27-0000-00-036; 20-22-27-0000-00-021; 20-22-27-0000-00-078; 20-2227-0000-00-003; 20-22-27-0000-00-010; 20-22-27-0000-00-056; 20-22-27-0000-00-054; 20-2227-0000-00-020, AND MAKING FINDINGS, AND PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS, SEVERABILITY AND FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Location Map:

Public hearing will be held on the request as follows: 373882-1

OAKLAND PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD DATE: Tuesday, February 15, 2022 WHERE: Town Meeting Hall, 221 N. Arrington Street, Oakland, FL WHEN: 6:30 P.M. or VIRTUALLY: See Join Zoom Meeting Instructions below All hearings are open to the public however attendance inside the Oakland Meeting Hall may be limited to accommodate social distancing. Any interested party is invited to offer comments about this request at the public hearing or in advance by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, February 14, 2022, in writing to the Town of Oakland, PO Box 98, Oakland FL 34760, or by e-mail to ehui@oaklandfl.gov. A copy of the request can be inspected at the Town Hall. Any party appealing a land use decision made at a public hearing must ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which includes the evidence and testimony that is the basis of the appeal.

The time and/or location of public hearings are subject to change. Changes are announced at the initial scheduled hearing. Notice of any changes will not be published or mailed.

Any person needing special accommodations to attend a public hearing must contact Elise Hui, Town Clerk, at 407-656-1117 x 2110, at least 24 hours before the meeting.

This meeting will be held as an in-person meeting and attendees may also attend virtually through the Zoom Platform. Instructions below will allow you to join the meeting virtually: Topic: February 15th Planning and Zoning Board Regular Meeting Time: February 15, 2022, 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84713569547 Meeting ID: 847 1356 9547 Passcode: 4eW9B4 One tap mobile +13126266799,,84713569547#,,,,*689889# US (Chicago) Dial by your location +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) Meeting ID: 847 1356 9547 Passcode: 689889

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CHRIS MARTUCCI

Feb. 8. The girls teams have already started their district tournaments this week, so this preview will take a look at the boys teams.

For some of these teams, districts is a springboard toward bigger things come regional and state playoff time, while it could be everything to others. Here is how the teams in West and Southwest Orange County have fared this regular season.

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West Orange and Southwest Orange high school teams prepare for the basketball postseason with district tournaments.

After suffering a losing season in 2018-19, Olympia has now put up three straight winning records.

The Titans started the year off strong, winning 11 of their first 12 games, which included wins over quality opponents OCP, Central Florida Christian, Apopka and Windermere. The team then stumbled a bit with losses to Dr. Phillips, Wekiva and West Orange but still positions itself with a chance to make noise in the tournament.

Olympia is led by guard Edgerrin James Jr., who hit the dagger threepointer against Windermere to give the Titans their first win over the Wolverines in school history. He leads the team with more than 20 points per game, four assists per game and more than two steals a game. Josh Meo is the only other Titan averaging double-digit points with 10 per game.

The Titans enter the Class 7A District 5 tournament as the third seed and will play Haines City in the first round of the tournament Feb. 8.

Horn leads the team in assists and steals, giving the Warriors some needed playmaking ability.

West Orange enters the Class 7A District 5 tournament as the fourth seed and will face Celebration in the first round Feb. 8.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

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

Jayden Huygens

LEARN MORE

Jayden Huygens transferred to The First Academy for his junior season and already has been making an impact on the Royals’ basketball team this season after transferring from Cornerstone Charter. He leads the team in points per game, steals per game and rebounds per game and has set the Royals up for success in the postseason with two games remaining on the regular-season schedule. Huygens scored his 1,000th high school career point Jan. 21 during TFA’s 47-41 loss to Bishop Moore Catholic High School.

What brought you to TFA? Whenever I played here, you could walk into the gym and could tell right away that it’s a different kind of atmosphere; they really take pride in athletics. The fact their baseball team won the state championship and had nine (Division I) commits helped push me that way, too.

My dad also always liked the school. It’s different than a lot of schools, such as we take one Bible course. It’s a different kind of school atmosphere; the kids are really nice and always reach out to you if you need help.

What was the adjustment period like for you?

When I had officially transferred here, I played with the team in the summer. Coach had seen me play a lot and knew what I was capable of, so we had some good talks with the team. As far as being able to play, they accepted me easily once I showed them what I could do.

Describe your play style as a guard.

With injuries to the team this season, I’ve had to shoot the three a little more than I normally would. Usually, I play more of a mid-range, over-therim kind of a game. I’d say my game is a bit like Terry Rozier, because he’s explosive, but he also knows how to score really well. I’ve had to play a big role here to get points on the board for us.

How do you anticipate the rest of the regular season to go to set you guys up for playoffs?

The rest of our schedule seems easy to set us up into districts. I expect to go on a bit of a run to get us into districts. We’d likely play Foundation Academy in the second round, which would be a good game. If we can make it through that, we play Windermere Prep, whom we didn’t play well against the first time, so we’ll have a chip on our shoulder to show people what we’re capable of.

Courtesy photo

The Orlando Magic Wheelchair team prepares to host its tournament for the first time in two years.

THE BASICS AGE: 17 SCHOOL: The First Academy GRADE: Junior SPORT: Basketball POSITION: Point guard/ shooting guard

I’m not an English guy, but my teacher helped open it up to actually learning how to write rather than a teacher expecting you to know how to write. He’s actually teaching you how to analyze when you’re reading and with how to get the best score on the SAT you can.

Wheelchair basketball tournament returns The Orlando Magic Wheels basketball team will host its tournament for the first time in two years.

CHRIS MARTUCCI SPORTS EDITOR

You recently scored your 1,000th career point. Tell me what that feeling was like.

It felt great. When I first started playing varsity, my dad and I set a goal to hold the record at Cornerstone for scoring. I set it last year and still have it, which was a cool thing. I planned to get my 1,000th point in my junior year.

I know a lot of good players may get 1,000 points, but they won’t get it their junior year. I wanted to show I was capable to do that.

Many people would say it was the closing of a door when Connie Sloat had brain surgery 31 years ago. In reality, she had no idea just how many doors would be opened to her.

Before the anesthesia took hold, she requested the doctor wait until she was fully under before he shaved her head. Her first words when she woke up and saw her shaved head were that she looked like Sinéad O’Connor but she couldn’t sing.

Now wheelchair-bound, she has been involved with the Orlando Magic Wheels wheelchair basketball team for 25 years. She said

Favorite basketball team?

Iowa. I like college basketball more than the NBA, plus my family’s from Iowa, so we’re huge Hawkeye fans. I love how they play; they’re a very underrated team. Hopefully they have a run this year.

District Play

Favorite movie?

“American Outlaws” – It’s funny, and I like the way the action was presented in the movie. I’ve always liked it since I was young.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

TV or Netflix show you are watching right now?

“How I Met Your Mother” – I started on season 1, and now I’m up to season 8.

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

Bora Bora.

Favorite class at TFA? My English class.

Anyone with a lowerlimb disability who is coordinated enough to push a wheelchair and hold a basketball is a candidate to play on the team. For information, visit www.Orlandomagicwheels.org.

— CHRIS MARTUCCI

OCOEE KNIGHTS

After a 4-14 season in 2020-21, Ocoee rebounded to increase its win total in 2021-22.

Perhaps Ocoee’s biggest win of the year was against Tampa’s Wharton High School, handing it its only loss of the season with a 52-47 victory in the second game of the season. Wins against Horizon and Lake Buena Vista also highlighted the Knights this season.

Senior Michal Vyskocil leads the team in points and rebounds with 14.9 and 4.4, respectively.

Ocoee will play Apopka in the first round of the Class 7A District 4 tournament Feb. 8.

HORIZON HAWKS

An up and down year for the Horizon Hawks now hits the postseason as the first-year team has gone through many of the growing pains young teams go through.

Horizon’s highlight of the season was a 57-43 win over Legacy Charter in the Court of Dreams game at the Amway Center. Coming out of the holiday break, the team dealt with some adversity with the loss of a key player, which coach Ben Wright said put them back at square one.

However, the team has powered through those rough times and has made due with what it had, pulling out a big win over Teneroc Jan. 26.

Freshman Korvante Hatter and sophomore Trei Ginn are the team’s top two scorers and rebounders, with Hatter averaging a doubledouble for the season.

The Hawks are set to play in the Class 4A District 6 tournament Feb. 8.

there is no room for negativity when one can use his or her new abilities for a greater good than they ever thought possible.

“I never thought I would be playing wheelchair basketball,” Sloat said. “It’s phenomenal when you see people from all walks of life and (they) have a disability, but that doesn’t take away their personality or their sense of humor. I never dwell on the negativity. I’ve never been that kind of person.”

The annual basketball tournament she and the team have helped put on is back after taking a twoyear absence due to COVID-19. The tournament will take place Feb. 5-6 at the West Orange Recreation Center, on West Crown Point Road in Winter Garden, and will feature Vista went through a trial by fire in its first year as a varsity team.

The Vipers earned their first home victory Jan. 10 against Oasis Christian, winning by a score of 79-45. They followed that up by winning at Lake Region Jan. 21.

Junior Christ Gilles leads the team in scoring and steals with 12.7 points and two steals per game. Fellow junior Alewis Soto is a monster on the boards, averaging 8.1 rebounds per game while also adding 9.6 points per game to be second in scoring.

The Vipers are set to play in the Class 4A District 6 tournament Feb. 8.

CENTRAL FLORIDA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY EAGLES

The Central Florida Christian Eagles aim to win their seventh straight district championship as they begin postseason play.

Much like the past few years, CFCA has maintained consistency on both sides of the ball, making the Eagles a tough matchup for any opponent that comes their way.

CFCA likes to play fast and push the tempo on offense, averaging more than 72 points per game this season and scoring 80 points six times.

Sophomore Ta’Veon Jones leads the team in points per game with 15.2 points and is one of four players averaging double-digits for the Eagles. He also leads the team in assists with more than four per game.

CFCA will begin play in the Class 2A District 7 tournament Feb. 8.

FOUNDATION ACADEMY LIONS

Foundation Academy concludes a strong season a year after finishing at .500. The Lions have shown throughout the season that they are ready to make noise in the postseason, starting with the Class 3A District 4 playoffs.

Shannon Till, Agent Top wins against Cornerstone Fowler’s Grove 3279 Daniels Rd Charter, Celebration, Orangewood Winter Garden, FL 34787 Free: 855-742-1591 Christian and Toll Lake Mary Prep www.shannontill.com highlighted the Lions schedule.

Sophomore forward Jacob Crain leads the way for the Lions as their

five other teams vying for a chance to go to the national championships in Topeka, Kansas, in March.

Altogether, 120 athletes are going to participate in the event.

For Sloat, it was no question as to whether they were going to have the event again once the pandemic calmed down — especially since it’s the only way she and the other players on her team can interact with each other.

“It’s been a part of me for so long that you have to stay in touch with everybody,” Sloat said.

Coming together was especially important because two new players were making their way onto the team. She and two other athletes are the veterans, having been with the team for more than 20 years.

Sloat is disappointed no spectators will be allowed in the gymnasium for the event, but she said she is hopeful people will be able to attend next year.

The team is a member of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association, where athletes with lower-limb disabilities that range from amputations to paraplegia play wheelchair basketball.

top scorer, rebounder and shot blocker. Fellow sophomore Jacob Osborne leads the team in assists with 3.6 per game.

Foundation Academy will begin play in the Class 3A District 4 playoffs Feb. 8.

THE FIRST ACADEMY ROYALS

The First Academy Royals concluded a season that could be considered an up and down year after going 15-9 in 2020-21 — but they still feel good about their position heading into the Class 3A District 4 playoffs.

Wins over St. Cloud, South Fort Myers and Zephyrhills Christian Academy were the highlights for the Royals season. One moment that stood out for them this season was junior transfer Jayden Huygens scoring his 1,000th career point. He transferred to TFA from Cornerstone Charter prior to the season.

Huygens leads the team in scoring and is tied for the lead in assists.

Sophomore Rylan Jean-Baptiste is the other player in double-digits for points with 10.8.

TFA will begin play in the Class 3A District 4 playoffs Feb. 8.

LEGACY CHARTER EAGLES

With more wins to hang its hat on this season from last year, Legacy Charter could have been even better if it had won some of the close games it lost this season.

Wins over Cornerstone Charter and Tavares this season give the Eagles confidence heading into district play that they can make noise in the playoffs, especially knowing that most of their losses were close enough to go either way.

Coach Emmanuel Flanders’ squad is led by Jayme Oliver for scoring and Tyreak Holgate on defense, but the Eagles have a squad that adds something to the table in any situation. That strong We’re all in this together. team play is going to be key if LegStateisFarm hasto a long tradition acy going show that it’s much of being than there. its That’s one reason better record shows. why I’m proud to support Legacy begins theWest Class 2A DisOrange7 county.. trict tournament Feb. 8.

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OBSERVER

He lovingly built many things for himself and his family, from toys to fine furniture. He was, indeed, a man of many talents and enjoyed sharing those talents with others. Material things didn’t mean a great deal to him; he was generous with what worldly goods he possessed.

A compassionate man, Dave tenderly cared for his wife, Ellen, through a near fatal bout of tetanus, and then for seven years prior to her death singlehandedly cared for her as she suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.

After Ellen’s passing in 2015, Dave enjoyed walking to the Ocoee Café to have lunch, where the owners, Teresa and Eric Sopp, and their daughters, Chelsea and Danielle, treated him as one of the family. He also enjoyed visits to his bank, BB&T, where he was a favorite customer, and getting his hair cut by Dave the barber. He loved talking to people and could stand in line next to someone and know their life history before reaching the cashier.

But, most of all, he will be remembered as a loving son, husband, father, grandfather, and an honest and compassionate man. To his children, he was not only a Dad but the best of men.

Dave was preceded in death by his loving wife of 65 years, Ellen; his beloved son, Charles; and six brothers and sisters.

He is survived and will be sadly missed by his five children, Jennifer (Glenn) Hawkins, Ocoee, Laurin (Mindy) Milton, Durham N.C., Elizabeth (Robert) Solomon, Franklin, N.C., George (Joye) Milton, Ocoee, and Nancy (Scott Beddingfield) Draughon, Chapel Hill, N.C.; 17 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 12, at the Ocoee Christian Church, 15 S. Bluford Avenue, Ocoee.

Morris Milton Buzan, 94, of Winter Garden, died Friday, Jan. 14, 2022.

Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Home.

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He served as a city commissioner for the city of Ocoee from 1997 – 2006. He coached Little League baseball, umpired Little League baseball, coached a boxing club, loved playing pool, golfing with his friends, hanging out with his brothers singing and playing the guitar, and watching his favorite football team, the Gators, play.

But, most of all, he loved spending time with his family.

Services will be held Saturday, February 5, 2022, at Glad Tidings Church, 2009 Fullers Cross Road, Ocoee, FL 34761. Public viewing will begin at 11 a.m. with the service to follow at 12 noon. He will be laid to rest at Orlando Memorial Gardens in Apopka, FL. To all who loved our dad…. We thank you!

We’ll take the first step with you

@Observerorange

Lal Kamra, 78, of Winter Garden, died Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022.

Winter Oak Funeral Home & Cremations.

Homer J. Miller, 82, of Ocoee, died Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. BaldwinFairchild Funeral Home.

Accepting New Patients

Robert Bit le

Thomas W. Linville, 81, of Windermere, died Monday, Jan. 31, 2022.

Winter Oak Funeral Home & Cremations.

Ted Adams Jr., 66, of Ocoee, died Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022. BaldwinFairchild Funeral Home.

Howell, Miranda Howell, Maelynn Howell, Reagan Howell; great-grandchildren, Camden Allred, Kensley Gibson, Kade Allred.

Danny loved people, and he loved to make you laugh. He always had a joke to tell, a funny song to sing or to impersonate someone. He was loved by so many.

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373837-1

David Wellington Milton, 96, passed away on Friday, January 28, 2022, at home surrounded by his loving family. Born on October 27, 1925, to Shirley Kirksey and Annabelle (Smith) Milton in Lokosee, FL, he was proud to be a native Floridian. He grew up in Fairvilla, a rural neighborhood in Orlando. After graduating in 1944 from Orlando High School, where he was an outstanding member of the track team, he served honorably in the United States Army. He married an English girl, Ellen May Parker, on November 5, 1949, and they went on to have six children. They lived in Fairvilla before purchasing property and building a home in Ocoee, FL, in 1989.

Dave was a builder in Orlando, building many houses from the ground up and doing extensive remodeling work on existing homes.

In addition to being an excellent builder and craftsman, he more often than not became a beloved part of the families for whom he worked.

After retiring, he built two seafaring boats which he moored and enjoyed taking out from Cape Canaveral. He learned to Rollerblade at the age of 80, amazing fellow frequenters of the West Orange Trail. He grew beautiful roses, had large vegetable gardens and grew citrus, often sharing his harvest with friends and neighbors.

Danny Lane Howell of Ocoee, Florida, went home to be with his Lord on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, at the age of 71. Danny was born September 22, 1950, in Clarksdale, MS, to Curtis Dewitt Howell and Hazel Marie Franklin.

He was preceded in death by his father, Curtis Howell, and his sister, Sandra Carter.

He is survived by his mother, Hazel Howell; brothers, Wayne (Marie) Howell, Rickey (Linda) Howell, Mark (Kathy) Howell; children, Kimberly (Danny) Motes, Kelley Hudson, Scott (Erin) Howell, Austin (Brittany) Howell; grandchildren, Dana (JT) Allred, Sarah Hudson, Jacob Motes, TJ Howell, Samantha Hudson, Nycole Cheney, Kori

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

373829-1

DAVID WELLINGTON MILTON DIED FRIDAY, JAN. 28, 2022.

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DANNY LANE HOWELL DIED WEDNESDAY, JAN. 26, 2022.

373822-1

WEST ORANGE OBITUARIES

OrangeObserver.com

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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.

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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

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

For those ready to take advantage of our Moving Forward Program, the following is a partial list of assistance available through our Program.

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