02.06.20 West Orange Times & Observer

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VOLUME 87, NO. 6

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Meet West Orange’s new football coach. 15.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

Fundraising fashionistas Bloom & Grow Garden Society members hit the runway for their annual fundraiser. PAGE 8.

Om sweet om Horizon West Alliance hosts safety meeting Stranger danger, mental-health resources and an update on crime in the area were the topics of discussion.

ERIC GUTIERREZ STAFF WRITER

In the wake of recent tragic events in the area, members of the Horizon West Alliance and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office came together to host a safety workshop.

SEE CRIME PAGE 6

YOUR TOWN FARMER’S MARKET TO TABLE KIDS COOKING CLASS A cooking class just for children ages 7 to 16 will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Winter Garden Masonic Lodge, 230 W. Bay St. The event is hosted by The Kids Cooking Connection.

The cost to participate is $75, and parents can register their child at kidscookingconnection.com.

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Above: Pandit Batuk Shukla blessed a child during the Saraswati Puja.

Right: Monica Adhikary performed aarti during the ritual.

Shree Jalaram Mandir, a Hindu temple in Oakland, recently celebrated the manifestation of Saraswati — the Hindu goddess of knowledge and the arts.

SEE STORY ON PAGE 4.

Photos by Troy Herring

Oakland searching for missing pillars Town commissioners want to locate more, if not all, of the white pillars that once stood at Grace Park near Town Hall.

AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

When the town of Oakland’s Healthy West Orange Arts & Heritage Center was planned, drawings called for it to wrap around

the existing Grace Park, which stands west of Tubb Street near Oakland Town Hall. This appeared to be a natural fit: a history center abutting a historic icon.

But as construction continued on the new building, some town

officials decided it was too close to Grace Park. The entire project is ADA compliant; it’s a matter of aesthetics.

Moving an important piece of SEE TOWN PAGE 4

YOUR CALENDAR

THURSDAY, FEB. 6

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PLANT CLINIC 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, at the Winter Garden Library, 805 E. Plant St. Bring your plants, get your soil pH tested and ask questions. Master gardener volunteers from the UF/IFAS Orange County Extension Office will be available to answer your gardening questions. (407) 835-7323.

RETIRED EDUCATORS TO MEET 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, at College Park United Methodist Church, 644 W. Princeton St., Orlando. The February program is the annual potluck luncheon and 90-plus birthday celebration. Members are invited to bring a side dish to share. The program includes a musical performance by

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

Winter Park High School a cappella singers. Anyone who has worked in education is invited to attend. (407) 843-6909; ocrea-fl.org.

FRIDAY, FEB. 7

AARP INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays, Feb. 7 through 28, at the West Oaks Library, 1821 E. Silver Star Road, Ocoee. AARP volunteers will provide free income tax assistance. Attendees will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, visit aarp. org/taxaide. (407) 835-7323.

GROCERY STORE TOUR 9 to 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 7, at a local grocery store to be announced. Do you know which foods are the healthiest choices? Do you know what to look for on a food label? Join an Orlando Health dietitian for a grocery store tour to learn how to navigate the aisles and make the healthiest choices for the family. Space is limited; RSVP required at (407) 407-3046.

PAINT & SIP CLASS 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, at Oakland Manor House, 620 N. Tubb St. Enjoy a fun and relaxing paint class suitable for all levels. Includes a glass of wine, all instruction and materials so you can create your very own masterpiece to take home with you. Price of $40 includes all materials, snacks and a glass of wine. Space limited, pre-book at (407) 969-8897 or theartofescapes@icloud.com.

SATURDAY, FEB. 8

FAMILY HISTORY FAIR 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at the West Oaks Library, 1821 E. Silver Star Road, Ocoee.

Explore your roots. Beginners, get started. Experienced genealogists, learn new tips.

The Central Florida Genealogical Society, other local societies and library staff will share genealogy information. (407) 835-7323.

SUNDAY, FEB. 9

MULTICULTURAL HAIR-CARE MANAGEMENT 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9, at the West Oaks Library, 1821 E. Sil-

ver Star Road, Ocoee. Explore how to properly detangle textured tresses with and without hair tools. (407) 835-7323.

SWEETHEART ART 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9, at Sweet Dee’s Cupcakery, 21 S. Main St., Winter Garden. Kids can paint a Mason jar flower vase and decorate a Valentine’s cupcake. Cost is $20; must prepay at Sweet Dee’s. Email the child’s name and the name of the event at paintlifeflorida@ gmail.com.

THIS LADY SINGS THE BLUES 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9, at the West Oaks Library, 1821 E. Silver Star Road, Ocoee. Join Dr. Naima J. Bush for a musical adventure as she delves into the history of women and blues music. (407) 835-7323.

MONDAY, FEB. 10

CENTRAL FLORIDA RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETING 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10, at the Central Florida Railroad Museum, 101 S. Boyd St., Winter Garden. Dutch Johnson presents “The Rocky Mountaineer.”

Free. (407) 656-0559.

MEET THE ARTIST: DELORES WILLIAMS 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10, at the West Oaks Library, 1821 E. Silver Star Road, Ocoee. Meet artist Delores Williams, whose Caribbean-inspired work is on display at the library. Delores studied at the University of Buffalo and has displayed her work in a variety of places, including New York and Chicago. (407) 835-7323.

TUESDAY, FEB. 11

VALENTINE SURPRISE 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11, at the Winter Garden Library, 805 E. Plant St. Create heartshaped valentine crafts to surprise the special people in your life. Listen to stories and play games to fill your heart with love. (407) 835-7323.

THURSDAY, FEB. 13

GALENTINE’S DAY 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, at the Winter Garden Library, 805 E. Plant St. Galentine’s Day is a time for honoring female friendships — and breakfast foods. Celebrate with an evening of waffles, mock mimosas and crafts. (407) 835-7323.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

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The father they never had AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

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tuart Eldridge’s resume isn’t very long, but it tells of his deep devotion to youth.

He and his wife, Lisa, first visited the campus of the Edgewood Children’s Ranch 37 years ago, ready to serve one year at the ranch before seeing where else their life would take them.

They never left.

Eldridge — who began as a cottage parent in 1983, became an operations manager and, ultimately, served the last eight years as the executive director — died of a sudden heart attack Tuesday, Jan. 28, at the age of 59.

The longtime Winter Garden resident spent nearly four decades with the children who went through the program at the ranch, and he had a reputation for being anywhere other than behind his desk. Even after taking the leadership role, Eldridge still picked up donations for the Edgewood Ranch Thrift Shop, dug the ditches when the toilets were clogged and served as the ranch’s jack-of-all-trades.

Gaby Acks, director of development at Edgewood, met Eldridge when she began volunteering at the ranch nearly 30 years ago.

“Our staff is just heartbroken,” Acks said. “He was a man of faith.

That man that you always knew was going to do what was right. … He was a man of character. He was a good leader. … He worked 24/7 for the ranch.

“He was a man of faith. That man that you always knew was going to do what was right. … He was a man of character. He was a good leader. … He worked 24/7 for the ranch. … He had an MBA and was not too proud to clean out a sewer pipe.”

— Gaby Acks, director of development, Edgewood Children’s Ranch

Stuart Eldridge, the beloved leader of the Edgewood Children’s Ranch, devoted his life to guiding youth toward their best potential in life.

Courtesy photo

Stuart Eldridge was happiest when he was helping a child make better choices for his or her life.

“He had an MBA and was not too proud to clean out a sewer pipe,” Acks said.

Other colleagues shared the same respect for him.

“He was a man who loved the kids and was a great role model,” Joan Consolver said. “I just felt the Lord had led me to have Stuart become my successor.”

Eldridge became director when Consolver retired eight years ago. She remembers hiring the Eldridges right out of college and newly married. She said they were a Godly couple and they both earned the respect of everyone at the ranch. “(Stuart) was loved by the kids; he was the father many of those boys never had,” Consolver said.

“And he also was well respected as a leader of his staff. He’s just a fine Christian man who devoted his

life to serving the Lord and making the lives better for children.”

The day after Eldridge’s death, Kenneth D. Robinson, president and CEO of Dr. Phillips Charities wrote: “Stuart may have been one of my favorite people in philanthropy. He found his calling early and stayed committed, his dedication to the ranch never wavered, and it can be seen in their work and success.”

Edgewood opened in 1966 when a juvenile court judge saw a need for a residential facility for young boys who exhibited negative social behavior due to family circumstances. It now serves up to 70 boys and girls ages 6 to 17.

Eldridge was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Aug. 29, 1960. He graduated from Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa, Georgia, in 1982.

He was a past president of the Florida Association of Christian Child Caring Agencies.

Eldridge was preceded in death by his mother, Johnnie Eldridge, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and infant daughter, Alyson Joy. Besides his wife, who remains a counselor at the ranch, Eldridge is survived by sons, Ryan, of Denver, Colorado, and Terry, of Buffalo, New York; sisters, Susan (Frank) Landis, of North Carolina, and Donnie Castillo, of California, and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held Monday, Feb. 3, at Westwood Church in Orlando. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be directed to the Edgewood Children’s Ranch, 1415 Edgewood Ranch Road, Orlando, FL 32835; or edgewoodranch. com.

Monthly market opens at Winter Garden Village About 30 vendors set up their tents on the second Saturday of every month on the east side of the outdoor mall.

AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

There are even more shopping options at the Winter Garden Village at Fowler Groves now that a new artisan market has opened.

The Second Saturday Market will be set up monthly in between Best Buy and Burlington, and close to 30 vendors have signed up to sell their products.

Organizer Stacey Klawinski held the first one earlier this month, and she said she’s excited to see it get off the ground. The first two, held in November and December, were holiday markets, so 2020 is providing the first opportunity for more vendors to

IF YOU GO SECOND SATURDAY MARKET WHEN: The second Saturday of each month; the next one is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 8 WHERE: Winter Garden Village at Fowler Groves, 3041 Daniels Road, near the southeast entrance DETAILS: For more information or to get on the vendor list, email stacey28topkin@ gmail.com or call (352) 5523994

sell their varied items and foods.

The Jan. 11 market included direct-market booths selling Scentsy and Origami Owl, a honey company and tents with children’s clothing and handmade bags. Food vendors sold crepes, stuffed churros, cotton candy, omelets, hotdogs, snow cones and baked goods.

Klawinski said the market

already has grown from the original 12 vendors to 20 and, now, 30. Her goal isn’t to compete with the Winter Garden Farmers Market but to complement it, she said. The Winter Garden market doesn’t allow direct-sales booths, only hand-crafted items, she said, so she set out to find a location where she and others could set up together.

She contacted the management company, which liked the idea and proposed a monthly event.

There are basically three rules, she said — food vendors must operate under a tent and not in a food truck, vendors cannot sell the same merchandise as the stores in the Winter Garden Village, and every booth must sell something different.

Klawinski said vendors can sign up for as many or as few months as they’d like; there is no yearlong commitment that is required at other markets. Booths are $75 each Saturday; she said there cur-

Courtesy photo

About 30 vendors are selling a variety of items, from Origami Owl and Scentsy to creative clothing and baked goods.

rently is a waiting list but folks are welcome to add their name to it.

Pregnant and due in March, Klawinski said she will be set up at the February market and

then is taking a few months off.

Her Scentsy team will fill in over the summer, but expect the new mother to be back at her booth by fall.

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WEST ORANGE TIMES &

Hidden temple

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

BIANCA MORALES

President and CEO / Matt Walsh, mwalsh@yourobserver.com Editor and Publisher / Michael Eng, meng@OrangeObserver.com

STAFF INTERN

T

ucked away in Oakland, a Hindu temple offers a home to willing devotees.

Hindu residents congregated at Shree Jalaram Mandir Saturday, Feb. 1, to celebrate the birthday of Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and the arts.

The Shree Jalaram Mandir, unlike many mandirs — or temples, is dedicated to a Hindu saint instead of a devi or deva — a goddess or god. That saint’s name was Jalaram Bapa — he was born a week after Diwali, the Hindu Festival of the Lights.

The temple in Oakland has been open to devotees for 10 years, but the group that attends is small and tight-knit.

Pandit Batuk Shukla officiated the Saturday service and expressed great respect and appreciation for Saraswati.

“The flowers bloom,” Shukla said, pressing his hands together and splaying his fingers outward like the petals of a blooming flower. “The trees give fruit because of Maa Saraswati Durga.”

A murti — an idol of a deity or religious character — of the goddess was placed in the middle of the hall so everyone could see her golden sitar, her blue sari, her loyal swan and her intelligent eyes.

“Today is a very holy day,” Shukla said. “The birthday of Saraswati Mata.”

Women in colorful silks strung flowers into a mala — a garland of flowers and beads — and looped them around Saraswati’s neck in reverence. Decorating the murti is a symbol of respect.

This was all in preparation for the Saraswati Puja — the goddess’ “birthday party”.

Pujas, or poojas, are prayer rituals dedicated to deities in which offerings of money, fruits, desserts and flowers are presented as tokens of appreciation for blessings.

Kautuka — a red and yellow colored string — is tied around the puja participants’ wrists to protect the wearers against evil and negative energies.

Dots of sindoor — a red cosmetic powder — are pressed onto the middle of the attendees’ brows as a

Photos by Troy Herring

Food offered by the devotees was placed in front of a shrine.

Pandit Batuk Shukla spoke to a small crowd about the goddess Saraswati.

PRIMORDIAL SOUND Sound is an important pillar of Hinduism, especially the “Om” sound, which is believed to be the primordial sound of the universe. Gongs, bells, frenzied tabla beats and conch shells are used to replicate the sound during puja.

The Bhagavad Gita, one of the Hindu sacred scriptures, cites that the god Krishna blows the conch before charging into battle.

In addition, prior to setting offerings before the goddess, the women participating in the puja emit an ululating sound.

The high-pitched howl, accompanied by the wavering of the tongue, is part of Bengali tradition, and it’s a sound of victory of all that’s good.

symbol of the third eye chakra.

Hindus believe that the third eye chakra, which could awaken during intense sessions of meditation,

would bring them intuition and closer to Brahman, the ultimate reality.

A CLOSE COMMUNITY

From his chair among the crowd, Shukla gave out the order of procedures for the ritual.

“Sister,” he said to one of the devotees participating in the ritual, giving her the kautuka. “Tie these around their wrists.”

Usually, women and men sit separately, but before Saraswati’s statue, they all sat together in mass adoration.

“We prepare a seat for the goddess,” Shukla said, passing a leaf to one of the women. “Like when we welcome guests into our house.”

Toward the end of the ritual, parents and their children handed books and school supplies to the pandit — or priest — for a blessing from Saraswati.

One of these families was the Sadhu family. Ayangshi Sadhu and her parents, Madhebi and Arnab Sadhu, received the blessing of Saraswati when Shukla drew the symbol of the goddess on Ayangshi’s chalkboard with sindoor.

“We had a good time, offering to the goddess,” Madhebi Sadhu said.

She said that while it was the first time they visited the Shree Jalaram Mandir, they would like to return.

Saraswati Mata, as bestower of intelligence, holds a special place in their lives.

“We have a child, and we want Saraswati, the goddess of education, to bless her,” Arnab Sadhu said.

Monalisa Roy, another devotee, had been excited to celebrate Saraswati’s birthday.

“I have been fasting since the morning,” Roy said.

Fasting allows the body to purify itself and prepare to receive blessings from the holy.

Roy said that, back in India, the little girls would wear saris — garments wrapped around the waist — to represent Saraswati.

“This mandir is very good,” Roy said. “They’re welcoming and very friendly.”

Like in every birthday party, there’s conversation, laughter and sharing.

At the back of the worship hall, the devotees sit by tables, enjoying the home-cooked meal prepared during the ritual.

Bowls of yogurt were shared between family members, the scent of spices wafted through the air and children toted around the books that had been charged with Saraswati’s blessings.

The temple creates an environment that resembles home. Roy said the other devotees are very friendly and welcoming.

“My son loves to come here and play with friends at the mandir,” Roy said.

Town plan would relocate columns CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

history puts the town in a predicament, but the Town Commission hopes it has found a compromise everyone can live with.

Just four of the 12 columns remain of Grace Park, and town staff think only one of those is an original from the 1913 project.

The plan is to relocate the two eastside columns to the other side of the westside columns, ensuring that at least part of the park remains in its original location.

All of this is contingent upon price, and if commissioners aren’t happy with the amount, they will continue discussions on what can be done.

Mayor Kathy Stark has objected to moving any part of the historic park.

Town staff believes there are

more pillars buried underneath the West Orange Trail and expects several could be unearthed if the town opts to move a portion of the trail further south, away from the park and heritage center.

Grace Park was built in response to the Mather-Smiths’ sponsorship of a town beautification program. The park was laid out and landscaped through fundraising events. It featured two circular reflecting pounds, flowering vines on trellises, benches and a 12-column pergola with a lattice roof and fountain in the center.

Roughly 30 years ago, two columns remained of the 12; two others were later discovered and erected. The town built a new pergola and placed personalized bricks underneath.

Oakland entered a $1 million partnership with the West Orange

Healthcare District last year and agreed to add a health and wellness component to the facility programs.

SEWER, WATER AGREEMENTS

The Oakland Town Commission voted in favor of amending its sewer and water agreements at its Jan. 28 meeting.

The first amendment pertains to the sewer improvements project.

In 2018, the Florida Legislature appropriated $1 million, which has made it possible to install a gravity sewer system on West Oakland Avenue and a force main that connects the area east of Tubb Street with the Longleaf neighborhood.

The improvements have been bid and currently are under construction; however, the lift station portion of the project has been slow to come together.

The amendment extends the construction time to Dec. 31 to allow for completion of the lift station.

The second amendment is to clarify the town’s position with the town of Montverde for a potable water interconnection for emergency use in 2016. A year later, the agreement was updated to provide bulk water for potable use and fire protection, to the Apopka Sound neighborhood.

Delayed construction created a need to modify the plans to the connection point. The changes to the interlocal agreement, among other things, place a limit on the amount of water the development can use through the connection and states Montverde will pay the full water impact fee instead of a reduced fee for each home.

Managing Editor / Tim Freed, tfreed@OrangeObserver.com Design Editor / Jessica Eng, jeng@OrangeObserver.com Community Editor / Amy Quesinberry, amyq@OrangeObserver.com Sports Editor /Troy Herring, therring@OrangeObserver.com Associate Editor / Danielle Hendrix, dhendrix@OrangeObserver.com Staff Writer / Eric Gutierrez, egutierrez@OrangeObserver.com Multimedia Advertising Executives / Ann Carpenter, acarpenter@OrangeObserver.com Cyndi Gustafson, advertising@OrangeObserver.com Iggy Collazo, iggy@OrangeObserver.com Creative Services Lindsay Cannizzaro, lcannizzaro@OrangeObserver.com Advertising Operations Manager / Allison Brunelle, abrunelle@OrangeObserver.com Office Coordinator / Accounting Ashley McWilliams, amcwilliams@OrangeObserver.com

CONTACT US

The West Orange Times & Observer is published once weekly, on Thursdays.

The paper can be found in many commercial locations throughout West Orange County and at our office.

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

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To contact us, send your information via email to Michael Eng, meng@ OrangeObserver.com.

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Full STEAM ahead: Amazing Explorers Academy to open ERIC GUTIERREZ STAFF WRITER

A new preschool coming to the West Orange area has a STEAM-centric emphasis.

The Amazing Explorers Academy will be opening up a location in Hamlin and in Ocoee. The Hamlin location will be at 5796 Hamlin Groves Trail, Winter Garden, and the Ocoee location will be at 1651 Amazing Way. Both locations will be opening in August — just in time for the beginning of the new school year. The school also has locations in Lake Nona, Waterford Lakes, Winter Springs and Ponte Vedra, and out-ofstate locations will be opening up in the near future.

The academy focuses on stimulating student minds through STEAM — science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. The programs offered at the Amazing Explorers Academy are tailored to infants through 4-year-olds.

“Brain development is a lifelong process, and the first (few) years pretty much lay the foundation,” said Fabrizio Spinelli, who is the founder and principal of the Amazing Explorers Academy. “An important part of that brain development that occurs is experience dependent and defined by environment interactions. Our concept is: How do we create something that makes these kids successful in the future?”

In addition to being a preschool, the Amazing Explorers Academy also offers an after-school program and summer programs for children ages 5 to 12. Like the preschool, after-school programs also put an emphasis on STEAM and are implemented in a way that engages children beyond learning through memorization, Spinelli said.

“We created a STEAM curriculum that places an emphasis on fostering self-identity, forming relationships, collaborating intellectually — we want these kids to collaborate with each other — learning socially and promoting creativity all the time,” Spinelli said. “(We) do everything within the concepts of STEAM. We want them to get prepared for the careers of the future (and) the ideas of the future. In essence, we want these kids to grow, but learning through activities — something extremely engaging — so it’s not just a teacher standing in front of the room explaining (subjects) to them (and) just working with memory.”

Spinelli, who has lived in Windermere since 2005, said he’s excited to open up the Amazing Explorers Academy in the West Orange area. He said the academy will be more than just a preschool and after-school spot for children; it also will offer occasional events for the community.

Call for information (407) 654-2724

“We know the potential of this area, and we understand the people of this area want the best education for their kids,” Spinelli said. “The public schools are very good, and the environment is very good for the kids growing up (here). … We feel like there’s a strong community here. That’s part of what we do: We partner with companies, we partner with the community, we partner with local schools. … We have a lot of relationships here, so we feel like this is a great place to do our best work. As soon as we open, we have a series of events that we’re going to hold during the year. We have farmers markets and other festivals, and all of them (will involve) partnerships with the community.”

sensiblehealthcare.net

Courtesy

Each campus of the Amazing Explorers Academy includes structures — such as spaceships — that foster each child’s interest in STEAM.

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One location is planned for Hamlin, and another is planned for the Ocoee area.

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Crime prevention CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

First Baptist Church Pastor Tim Grosshans 125 E. Plant St, Winter Garden (407) 656-2352 Sundays: 8:30 a.m. Traditional 9:45 AM Bible Study 11:00 AM Contemporary Wednesdays: 6 p.m.- Awana 2nd Campus: Foundation Worship Foundation Academy High School 15304 Tilden Rd., Winter Garden (407) 730-1867 Sundays: 9:45 a.m. All Ages FoundationWorship.com Starke Lake Baptist Church Pastor Jeff Pritchard PO Box 520 611 W Ave., Ocoee (407) 656-2351 StarkeLakeBaptist.org

CHURCH OF GOD

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

The safety workshop was held Wednesday, Jan. 29, at the Summerport Clubhouse in response to an alleged armed robbery that was deemed unfounded by detectives and after the recent tragic death of a Windermere High student.

Topics of discussion were crime prevention tips, mental health resources and a sector update on overall crime in the Horizon West area.

“We thought it would be a good idea to come out here to go over some crime prevention, how our children should be interacting with strangers if they encounter them and some other things,” Orange County Sector 3 Capt.

Tony Marlow said. “From the Sheriff’s Office perspective, it’s always our goal to make sure that we’re putting out accurate information — timely information — so that residents in the community are well informed of issues of importance.”

Deputy Victoria Santos, of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Crime Prevention Unit, shared several tips related to crime prevention. She said there are three elements to a crime: desire, ability and opportunity. She added that although residents can do little to impact a would-be criminal’s desire or ability to commit a crime, one of the simplest ways to prevent crime is to minimize the opportunity for crimes to occur.

“With one element missing, a crime cannot occur,” Santos said in relation to the three elements of a crime. “In regards to personal safety, always be aware of your surroundings. I know in the digital age, our heads are always on our phone — we’re looking down, we’re not paying attention to what’s going on around you.

Please have your head on a swivel, maintain that situational awareness and trust your instincts. If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.”

Another tip Santos shared was to change one’s daily patterns and/or routines to help prevent burglaries. She also suggested that if an individual — particularly if the individual is a juvenile — is going somewhere, they should let someone else know where they’re going and what time they plan on returning. Other crime prevention tips she shared are to keep a cell phone accessible and charged, make sure the doors to houses and vehicles are locked, avoid poorly lit areas and keep a well-lit house.

EPISCOPAL

Church of the Messiah 241 N. Main St., Winter Garden Services: 8, 9:30, & 11 a.m., 7 p.m.

ChurchoftheMessiah.com

METHODIST

First United Methodist Church 125 N. Lakeview Ave., Winter Garden (407) 656-1135 Services: 9 and 11:15 a.m. fumcwg.org

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Windermere Union Church 10710 Park Ridge-Gotha Rd., Windermere (407) 876-2112 Adult Worship: 9 a.m.

Sunday School: 10 a.m.

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“House numbers … are of particular importance, particularly to first responders, because if you guys don’t have a house number either on the mailbox or driveway of your home, it’s going to be difficult for first responders to get to you,” Santos said. “Lighting is the bad guy’s enemy. If you have good lighting on the exterior of your house, it’s kind of going to deter anybody from wanting to break in.”

Sandara E. Williams is a victim advocate with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. She discussed the different resources related to mental health during the workshop.

She said although the Orange County Sheriff’s Office does not endorse any particular mental health care provider, it does provide a list of different providers organized by ZIP code.

“My role is to go and give moral support to wherever the scene is — be it at someone’s residence, be it at a school, be it at a bank,” Williams said. “We also leave resource booklets for when we leave (a scene). … In this resource booklet, it has step-by-step (instructions) to do if you run into the situation of different types of crime scenes or callouts. It also has a list of counselors.”

Williams added that the resource booklet includes free counseling services, as well as services that accept insurance. The booklet also includes information related to crimes that go to trial and the steps that take place during the trial process.

“We just believe that once we leave (a crime scene), we know that there’s a lot of questions,” Williams said. “(The booklet) just kind of gives you a step-by-step (guide) so that you’re not completely lost, because when you’re under stress — especially if you’re under the stress of losing a loved one — there are a lot of times where you don’t know what steps to take and sometimes you don’t even know what questions to ask.”

Marlow and Deputy Frank Del Guercio both went over the sector update for overall crime in Horizon West. They said crime in Zone 31, which includes Horizon West, is still low and that the most common crime that occurs in the area is vehicle burglaries.

“Everything is down right now,” Del Guercio said. “Hopefully, that’s the way we can keep it, but that goes along with people reporting things, seeing something (and) saying something.”

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WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

Tattered flag gets proper retirement Military veterans at Colonial Lakes Health Care gathered around the flag pole for the removal of the old flag and the hoisting of a new one.

AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

Photos by Amy Quesinberry

Fernando Cuevas held the old flag, while Quang Le and Marshall Ricketts, students in West Orange High School’s Air Force Junior ROTC program, gave a final salute.

during an attack in World War II. Two of his brothers were serving in Germany, and another was in Korea.

Stone said he was disappointed because he wanted to join his brothers in service.

Ortiz served in the Army during the Vietnam War, following in the footsteps of his father, who served 35 years in Army.

Robinson worked in Army telecommunications in Alaska for three-and-a-half years. He participated in the Veterans in the Park program at Silver Star Village, in Orlando. After serving his time in the Army, Robinson found himself living on the streets and in the woods until the Salvation Army helped him with housing.

He now lives among other veterans at Colonial Lakes, proud to have served his country.

Wisner-Stephens said the old flag will be properly disposed of at a VFW post.

7

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

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The red stripes had faded to pink and the ends of the cloth were shredded from the weather — the flag had served its purpose well.

The American flag flying at the entrance of Colonial Lakes Health Care, in Winter Garden, was due for a proper retirement.

And so it was on a breezy afternoon Jan. 29. Members of the Air Force Junior ROTC at West Orange High School, representatives from Kindred Hospice, Colonial Lakes staff and several veterans gathered around the flag pole at the health care facility’s front entrance to honor the American flag — which flapped in the wind even as it was being lowered.

Junior ROTC members Quang Le, cadet master sergeant; Fernando Cuevas, cadet senior airman; and Marshall Ricketts, cadet technical sergeant and the commander for the ceremony, removed the old flag, folded it and gave it a final salute before raising a new flag in its place.

Their instructor, Sr. Master Sgt. Shonda Spencer, was there giving the boys moral support.

Pamela L. Wisner-Stephens, a hospice specialist with Kindred Hospice, said a ceremony is arranged “if I see one of our communities with a flag that needs (to be) retired. I came from a military family, and it’s respect for the flag.”

Wisner-Stephens handed out “thank you” pins to the veterans who were present, including Edwin Stone, Pedro Ortiz and Eric Robinson.

Stone, 82, was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War but said he was sent home under the Brother Act, a ruling established after five Sullivan brothers serving on one Navy vessel died

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WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

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ozens of women had the chance to browse trendy tunics, colorful dresses and fashionable jewelry during the Bloom & Grow Garden Society’s Steppin’ Out fundraiser. Held Monday, Feb. 3, at Winter Garden’s Tanner Hall, the event included a fashion show and pop-up shop featuring women’s fashion items.

Attendees also enjoyed wine, light bites and jazz music. Funds raised will go toward horticulture scholarships, 1,000 trees for 1,000 years and a monarch butterfly sculpture.

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WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

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9

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

Roaring ’20s F

lapper dresses, pearls and feathers filled the ballroom as the West Orange Chamber of Commerce kicked off the roaring 2020s with the annual Big Orange Awards. Held Friday, Jan. 31, at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, the Big Orange Awards celebrated members of the West Orange community and honored those who have made a difference.

This year’s award winners were Pam Birdsong, Pat Gleason, Ken Harker, Ellen Korbin, the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation, the West Orange Christian Service Center, Jim Karr, Dawn Willis, Cannonfire Photography and SeaWorld.

— DANIELLE HENDRIX The Big Orange Awards winners were happy to celebrate the evening.

Lesa Boettcher, Oakland Mayor Kathy Stark and Tracy Swanson

Orange County School Board Member Pam Gould, West Orange Chamber President Stina D’Uva, and Jay and Carrie Galbraith

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Orange County Tax Collector Scott Randolph, Orange County Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles, Dawn Burns and Scott Boyd

See more photos at OrangeObserver.com

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

WEST ORANGE OBITUARY

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

STEPHEN DENNIS CRAFT DIED FRIDAY, JAN. 24, 2020.

Stephen Dennis Craft, age 78, of Farragut, Tennessee, formerly of Winter Garden, Florida, and Detroit, Michigan, went to be with the Lord Friday afternoon, Jan. 24, at his home surrounded by his family.

Dennis loved the Lord with all his heart and had a strong desire to serve Him. He was a member of Farragut Church of Christ and was very active in Vacation Bible School and Heaven’s Pantry.

Dennis graduated from Pershing High School, Detroit, Michi-

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gan, in 1959. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and remained extremely patriotic his entire life. Dennis was a retired estimator and operator from Hatley Pest Control in Winter Garden, Florida. After retirement, he worked at Orlando Auto Auction in Ocoee, Florida, and drove many exotic cars.

He was a former member and deacon of Highland Church of Christ in Detroit. Dennis was an avid golfer, bowler, pool player, grill master and gardener who raised orchids and was a huge baseball fan.

He loved people and loved music, having a song to play for every situation. He was an avid reader and was self-taught in many fields of expertise. Dennis earned many awards along the way. He was patient, kind, hardworking and extremely devoted to his family.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, Donald Craft and Jewell Thomas Craft Blonde; and sister, Sheila Craft.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Maida Craft; daughters, Sheila Parham, and husband, Johnny, and Lisa Craft; beloved grandson, Jacob Parham and beloved wife, Maxey, all of Farragut.

Special thanks to Tom and

Lorraine Galloway, Kevin and Heather Hines, Lindsay and Rony Pizzaro and several nieces and nephews, lifetime friend John Tomaszewski and his wife, Helen, friends, family, Farragut Church of Christ friends, as well as his medical team, care givers, hospice team and friends at Brigs Center for Cancer Care.

The family received friends Thursday, Jan. 30, at Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel with a service following. Family and friends gathered Friday at East Tennessee Veterans Cemetery, Knoxville, with full military honors conferred by the U.S. Navy and the East Tennessee Veterans Honor Guard.

Memorials may be made to Farragut Church of Christ, 136 Smith Road, Knoxville, TN 37934.

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OBSERVER

SCHOOL ZONE FEBRUARY 6, 2020

MUSIC TO HIS EARS

West Orange High School grad Gabriel Preisser earned the award for Best Opera Recording in the 62nd annual Grammy Awards.

ERIC GUTIERREZ STAFF WRITER

T

he moment Gabriel Preisser found out he won a Grammy, he was on stage doing what he loves: singing opera.

“I really wanted to go to the show, of course, but it just so happened that I was booked that same night singing with the Utah Opera in Salt Lake City doing an opera that I love — a modern piece called, ‘Silent Night,’” Preisser said. “I had my phone with me, and I knew people would text me or I could Google search to find out if we’d won because they do the classical awards in the afternoon and we had a matinee.

“I was actually in the wings (offstage) and I had my phone on me,” he added. “People just started texting me … when it was announced and my phone started blowing up. It was kind of cool that I was in the middle of a show when I found out about the Grammy. It was kind of a crazy day.”

A Winter Garden resident and the executive director of Opera Orlando, Preisser earned his first Grammy win for Best Opera Recording in the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. He shares the award with other performers who were involved in an opera rendition of “Fantastic Mr. Fox” by composer Tobias Picker. Preisser played the role of a villain in the opera, which was originally recorded in 2014 but wasn’t released until 2019.

Courtesy photo

Gabriel Preisser graduated from West Orange High in 2002 and is now the executive director of Opera Orlando.

“(Redding and Rush) instilled the right values in the students.

We had standards. We had expectations.

It was very professional — both the drama and choral departments.”

— Gabriel Preisser

“The Opera is called ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox,’ based on the Roald Dahl children’s book, ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox,’” Preisser said. “In the opera, I play the role of Farmer Bean, who is the bad guy. It’s kind of funny to win a Grammy for playing a cartoonish, villainous character, but anytime you get nominated (for) — and, gosh, any time you win — a Grammy is an amazing thing.

It’s really kind of surreal and I’m just honored to be part of it.”

Growing up, Preisser was a fan of singing and stage performing. He always was involved in singing and performing in the community through school and his church.

During his high school career, the 2002 West Orange High graduate honed his skills in musical theater under the tutelage of former drama teacher Ken Rush. He also sharpened his singing voice under the

instruction of choir teacher and fellow Grammy Award-winner Dr. Jeffery Redding, who still is at West Orange today.

“It was my teachers there at West Orange — Jeffery Redding and, at the time, Ken Rush — who really encouraged the possibility of studying music and theater at the next level,” Preisser said. “It was not on my radar, so a lot of credit goes to good educators, good music educators. … They really opened my eyes up to what the possibilities were.

“They instilled the right values in the students,” Preisser added of Redding and Rush.

“We had standards. We had expectations. It was very professional — both the drama and choral departments.”

After graduating from West Orange, Preisser attended Florida State University, where he was introduced to the world of opera and majored in vocal

performance. He then got a master’s degree in vocal performance from the University of Houston. From there, his music career took off and has taken him all over the country and the globe.

“I’ve been singing professionally for 11 years now,” Preisser said. “The nice thing about getting trained classically or trained in opera … I’ve been able to cross over to (other singing roles). … I’ve done my fair share of musical theater as well, which I love. I also do a lot of concert work. I just did a Christmas Pops concert with the Jacksonville Symphony singing all sorts of stuff like ‘White Christmas’ and ‘O Holy Night.’ I get to do it all, which is fun.”

WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

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Annual OCPS survey available

Parents are one of OCPS’ greatest resources and vital to the success of schools. In an ongoing effort to improve, all OCPS schools are conducting a parent survey. Parents can take the survey by visiting ow.ly/dUts50xYzqu.

Donate blood at Legacy Charter High

The Big Red Bus will make visit the Legacy Charter High School campus from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6. All donors will receive a free OneBlood longsleeved T-shirt and free pizza, along with a wellness checkup. To make an appointment, visit oneblood.org/donate-now and use the sponsor code #57487.

Foundation Academy’s Color Run 5K and Fun Run

All are invited to the “I Love FA” Color Run 5K starting at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Feb 14, at the Tilden Road campus. The Color Run is open to seventh- through 12th-grade students, FA parents, faculty and friends.

Cost is $20. The school’s goal for the Color Run this year is to raise $10,000, which will go to provide new picnic tables for the Tilden Road Campus. A Fun Run also will take place on the Plant Street campus starting at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 2:25 p.m. That race is open to prekindergartners through sixth graders.

Register by visiting bit.ly/2OrnRbV by Monday, Feb. 10.

WOHS dance set for Saturday

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

The West Orange High School SGA presents Sweet Sadie’s in association with National Honor Society. The dance will run from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, in the gym. Tickets are on sale in Room 527 for $15, cash only. Guest forms are available in 527 and student services.

INFLUENCER OF THE WEEK

12

KRISTY CASTELLANOS LEGACY CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL As the new principal of Legacy Charter High School, Kristy Castellanos has risen to the challenge by being visible, encouraging and supportive of staff and students. She always has an affirming attitude toward the students, even those who must receive redirection. Expectations are high, and the students know Castellanos believes they can reach those expectations.

What do you love most about your school?

I love how much the staff at Legacy cares for each and every student.

Everyone here goes above and beyond to ensure that all students understand the course work. Teachers spend their lunches tutoring students and will stay after school to work with them. Everyone at Legacy wants the best for our students! I truly work with the most amazing people!

What’s your favorite part of your role?

Working with the students. I meet with students on a regular basis because I want them to know that I care for them and believe in them.

I want them to share their victories and struggles, encouraging them all the way and to let them know that the bad will pass and to never give up.

What motivates you and pushes you to do your best?

My love of children and sharing in their success. I was a student that struggled in school, and luckily I

REPORT CARD ROLE: Principal TIME AT SCHOOL: This is my first year at Legacy Charter High School.

had amazing teachers that always believed in me. I want to be that same way for all of my students. I want them to know that they can accomplish anything with hard work and dedication.

What’s the nicest thing a student or faculty member has done for you?

One of my seniors is a former student of mine. He gave me a card for Christmas with a note letting me know how excited he was when he found out his favorite first grade teacher was going to be with him again for his senior year. That really made me smile, as I hope I have had a positive impact on all my former students.

If you could take a vacation anywhere, where would you go?

A road trip around the United States.

There are so many beautiful places around the United States that I haven’t seen. I also think it is fun meeting people from other states and learning about their culture.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Spending time with my family creat-

ing memories is most important. You can also find me in downtown Winter Garden with my friends enjoying the restaurants and local events. I am an avid shopper, so any time that is an option I will be there. I also love to work out, and my gym, Hardcore Fitness, is like a second home.

If you could meet anyone, from present day or throughout history, who would it be?

Ellen DeGeneres. I love her outlook on life and her sense of humor.

“Find out who you are and be that person. That’s what your soul was put on this Earth to be. Find that truth, live that truth, and everything else will come.” — Ellen DeGeneres Cats, dogs or other pets?

I love cats and dogs! I currently have a poodle named Charlie!

— TIM FREED

NOMINATE YOUR INFLUENCER

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

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World tour

Frances Barra and Haytham and Karam Ghanayem greeted students with smiles as they served the food in the Jordan classroom.

I

t was an evening of food, fun and learning about new cultures at Central Florida Preparatory School’s annual International Night Friday, Jan. 31. Students took a tour of classrooms representing 12 different nations from around the world. Different dishes from each nation were served, and each classroom was adorned with student artwork representing the country. Some students even came to the event wearing traditional clothing from one of the 12 countries.

Third-grader Mariah Francois couldn’t wait to try the Mexican food.

Third-grader Adrian Rodriguez liked becoming a Russian nesting doll in the Russia room.

— ERIC GUTIERREZ

Fourth-graders Makena Lorden and Krisztian Goodwin looked festive in their traditional Mexican attire.

Fifth-grader Natali Jawad, right, and her mom, Suzan, enjoyed the artwork and food at the India classroom.

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15 seconds of fame West Orange High’s TikTok Club is making a statement with each short clip it records and shares.

AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

It’s 2:30 on a Monday afternoon, which means West Orange High School government teacher Michael Callahan is doing one of two things — supervising the TikTok Club or managing the Politics Club.

On this particular day, TikTokers are gathering in Room 566.

The TikTok Club is new to the school this year and was started by two students, Kate Sandoval, who is club president, and Jayleen Zayas, who no longer is at West Orange.

During the hour, three video “sounds” are chosen, and members watch 15-second videos of mostly teens dancing, singing or lip-syncing on the TikTok social media app. They pick one and then create their own versions of the video — adding filters, text, sounds and music.

“Right now, they are rehearsing their TikTok and then they’ll recreate their TikTok in the hall or the courtyard or wherever

they want,” Callahan said about halfway through the meeting.

The students then share them with the others, hoping to be voted the best.

It’s their shot at fame —15 seconds at a time — and it can happen more than once. Challenges are popular, and having your video go viral is the goal.

Callahan said he plays a minor role in the club; he’s there because an adult must be present.

“It’s really a student-led club,” he said. “After-school activities are meant to be fun.”

And he has one rule: He doesn’t want to appear in any of the videos.

Several WOHS teachers have incorporated TikTok into their lesson plans, using the 15-second clips to review facts, he said.

Kate said the club has gained popularity “because it has never been done before, and students already incorporate TikTok into their daily lives.”

Kate and Darcy Friday have been creating short videos for several years, starting with the Musical.ly app, then Vine and now TikTok. Other members, such as Amanda DiCastro and Morgan Townsend, joined the club to hang out with their friends and have some fun.

“I think it is extremely important to allow students to create clubs that are original because

Amy Quesinberry

Kate Sandoval, Darcy Friday, Carlos Sandoval, Morgan Townsend and Amanda DiCastro coordinated their moves for a TikTok video.

it gives us a creative outlet and meetings relieve stress that the school day brings,” Kate said.

Besides participating in their own club competitions, the members have spoken to famous TikTokers in the community, including a homeschooled student who goes by @itsbrandonmax, who heard about the club and asked to visit during a meeting.

At the Feb. 3 meeting, there was another guest — Kate’s brother, Carlos, who doesn’t typically participate but hopped up on this particular afternoon and took direction from the four girls. After practicing their

choreographed dance, they took their phone into the hallway and recorded several versions until they had one they liked.

Callahan sits at his desk in the corner of the room, casually observing. He said he’s amazed at how many different students are interested in the club. Teens who normally would not socialize in the same settings are coming together, learning about other personalities and having fun.

“They’re really crossing barriers,” Callahan said.

Orange County Public Schools doesn’t track after-school clubs, as they are coordinated individually by the school, said Sara

Au with OCPS media relations.

There could be other TikTok clubs, she said, but the one at West Orange is the most established.

“In Orange County Public Schools, after-school clubs are student-driven, meaning any group of students can start any type of club as long as they have a staff member to sponsor it,” Au said. “Clubs in our 199 schools range from robotics to fishing, math to poetry, FFA to coding and Harry Potter to TikTok, among many others. We want to engage students in learning in every way possible.”

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14

FEBRUARY 6, 2020

HIGH

SPORTS

1

5

After the West Orange boys basketball team stormed its way to the finals of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Honoring Legends Invitational — held at Boone High School — the Warriors (14-9) brought home the championship trophy in their 63-55 win over Boone Saturday, Feb. 1. The Warriors (14-9) were led by Mike McCalister’s 14 points.

2

For the third year in a row, the Dr. Phillips girls weightlifting team claimed the regional championship Saturday, Feb. 1. The Panthers finished with 69 points and won eight of the 10 weight classes while finishing in second in the other two weight classes. Winners included: Jessica Corredor (101-pound class), Gabby Serpa (110-pound class), Grace Fay (119-pound class), Zamora St. Cyr (129-pound class), Jordan Reed (169-pound class), Jada St. Cyr (183-pound class), Destinee Alford (199-pound class) and Ty Smith (unlimited class).

Ocoee High School shooting guard David Green is looking to finish his high school career on a high note. Page 16.

Ocoee, Dr. Phillips win state cheer titles The Panthers and Knights pulled off resounding wins, while Windermere Prep and Foundation Academy finished with state runner-up titles.

TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR

Drama, intrigue, underdog stories and overcoming the odds — that is just a sampling of the busy weekend in the world of local competitive cheer teams who participated in the state championships in Gainesville.

From Friday, Jan. 31, to Saturday, Feb. 1, a handful of schools from the area took to the mat to showcase their talents for the last time this season and four went out with style.

Dr. Phillips brought home a state title in the small all-girl division, and Ocoee High grabbed

a state title in the small division (non-tumbling). Meanwhile, Windermere Prep and Foundation Academy each finished state runners-up in the small tumbling division, and large non-tumbling division respectively.

DR. PHILLIPS RETURNS TO GLORY

To say that the last few years for the Panthers have been frustrating may be an understatement.

From 2009 to 2013, the Panthers became a cheer dynasty as they dominated their way to five straight state titles. Then, something happened — they became the proverbial bridesmaid instead of

Courtesy photo

the bride, as the Panthers have landed runner-up finishes the last four years. It’s why winning the state title has the Panthers feeling good, head coach Samantha

Hoffman said.

“It’s a long time coming, because we’ve had a run of runner-ups for SEE CHEER PAGE 16

The Warrior way

3

The Windermere wrestling team had a productive outing during the Wolfpack IBT held at Timber Creek High School Saturday, Feb. 1.

Hendrix Paterson grabbed first place in a dramatic victory in the 170-pound championship match, while freshman Kollin Kuenhold finished third in the 106-pound weight class. Jerry Lewis added to the Wolverines’ successes as he finished fourth at 145.

4

In Windermere Prep girls basketball’s 5039 victory over Lake Mary Prep Friday, Jan. 31, junior guard Madison Workman racked up a team-high 22 points while also snagging eight steals for the Lakers (7-8).

5

In the Foundation Academy girls basketball team’s 40-33 win over Trinity Prep Friday, Jan. 31, Aliyah Perry led the way for the Lions (12-4) as she picked up 14 points, four assists and three rebounds. Teammate Chelsey Bryant added on 10 points, five rebounds and three assists.

Troy Herring

Mike Granato’s dream job was to coach football at West Orange High School. Now, after years in the sport, his dream has come true.

TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR

T

he football field at West Orange High is a place of familiarity for Winter Garden resident Mike Granato.

He’s sat in the bleachers and he’s watched battles unfold on the field.

Now he’ll watch the games from a slightly different perspective — that of the program’s new head coach.

Even though the news is fresh, Granato can’t help but think about how West Orange High football

and his life are intertwined.

“Funny little thing about it is the first high school football game I went to was a West Orange football game back in 1997,” Granato said.

“I think it’s just surreal that my first head coaching opportunity — and what I ultimately want to be my last head coaching opportunity — (is West Orange).”

The news broke that Granato — who previously served as an assistant football coach at Edgewater High School — had SEE GRANATO PAGE 16

16

SPORTS SPOTLIGHT

WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

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Granato joins the Warriors

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David Green

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

Senior David Green has been a force of nature on the Ocoee High School basketball team since he arrived his freshman year. The 6-foot-7 shooting guard is a team leader, scoring machine and one of head coach John “Sarge” Siers’ go-to players. His talents on the court also have led him to his future at Hofstra University.

When did you first get into basketball?

I’ve been around basketball my whole life — I always watched it and watched my older brother play. When I got to actually playing in an organized setting it was probably around middle school — sixth or seventh grade.

What has kept you in the sport for so long?

It was just the love that I developed for it. It became something that I could go to to clear my mind and have fun. It was the only thing that brought me a lot of joy, so I just kept playing it. I ended up wanting to take it further to the next level and that’s what drove me more — when I realized I had an opportunity to take it to another level.

Since your freshman year, what would you say is the biggest change that you’ve seen in yourself?

Biggest change would probably be my confidence — it was something that just developed over time. When I started to really get into the gym after ninth grade it just gave me more confidence to play the way that I knew I could play, and it showed on the court.

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

THE BASICS

SCHOOL: Ocoee High School GRADE: Senior AGE: 17 SPORT: Basketball POSITION: Shooting guard

What would you say is the most challenging thing about playing at shooting guard?

What is your favorite?

The most challenging part, I would say, is just decision making — knowing when to attack and when to defer to your teammates. The most fun part is playing the way that I know I can play. I know I’m pretty big for a shooting guard, but I know that I can shoot the ball, dribble it and handle it, so it gives me free reign on the court to play how I know I can.

Is there a highlight moment for you during your time at Ocoee?

Last year when we beat Edgewater — we knocked them out in the district tournament. They were ranked No. 1, and we were the underdogs and we knocked them out — they had beat us earlier that season pretty bad at home.

What has been your favorite thing about playing at Ocoee High?

It would probably (be) just my teammates and me being so comfortable just playing here, because I know who does what and I know how my coach is. It just gives me the opportunity to play my game the way that I know how to play it.

NBA legend Kobe Bryant recently died tragically. Were you a fan of his, or did you ever get a chance to watch him play?

I actually really despised Kobe a while, because he killed the Magic and I didn’t know why he was so good.

But as I got older — toward the end of his career — I started studying up on him, and I started watching and taking some of the things that he did and tried to apply it to my game.

— TROY HERRING

Athlete of the Week sponsored by:

been hired as the program’s coach Monday, Jan. 27.

FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME

Granato always has loved football, but it wasn’t until 2007 before he decided to give coaching a chance.

That year, he walked into the office of Winter Park High School football coach Tim Shifflet looking for something — anything — to do.

“The only reason I was given a job was because they had an intensive reading position open,” Granato said. “I told coach Shifflet — who was one of my coaches when I was at Bishop Moore — and I said, ‘I want to be a football coach and I’ll take any job that you have.’”

Granato was offered a role coaching on the ninth-grade team, and there he helped turn a 4-6 program into a regional championship team from 2017 to 2019. He also helped establish one of the first spread offenses in Central Florida, Granato said.

From there Granato’s stock rose and rose as he found work coaching at schools like Madison County, Seminole, Wekiva, Apopka and most recently at Edgewater — a school that has seen a resurgence under head

coach Cameron Duke, who Granato sees as an inspiration for his own coaching. But it was at Madison County — where he helped lead the Cowboys to backto-back state title appearances in 2011 and 2012 — that Granato developed his coaching mindset the most.

“It’s a truly, truly special place and I tell everybody that I may have been 27 years old at the time, but Madison County taught me how to be a man, how to be a better teacher and ultimately taught me how to coach football the right way,” Granato said.

“What I learned up there from Mike Coe — who is a very dear brother to me — was that Xs and Os are the last part about being a high school football coach. And I learned there that relationships are ultimately what define who we are in this life.”

CHANGING THE CULTURE

Granato’s selection as the new head coach came after an interview process by the school, which was looking for someone who could provide stability to a program that has seen two coaches come and go in the last two years.

“I knew that the principal needed to make the right hire, and Ms. Gordon was more than upfront and transparent about

being able to hire the right person given what the program had been through,” Granato said. “I’ve been through some coaching transitions before as an assistant and I’ve seen the good, the bad and the ugly.”

Between Granato being a local who understood where the program should be and having dealt with these types of situations in the past, it was logical that he would be the guy who could change the culture of the program.

While Granato will oversee the team as a whole, he’ll also work with the defensive backs — a position he holds near and dear.

And though he can’t name names yet as it relates to assistants, he said that he’d be working with a staff that puts players’ wellbeing first, because in the long run that’s what leads to greater things — for both a program and its people, Granato said. It’s something he saw work firsthand at Edgewater.

“Championships are decided by great men and great players that have great character,” Granato said. “Getting them to a level of excellence and achieving the best version of themselves personally, spiritually and in the community is what will ultimately drive a championship program.”

Cheer teams win state titles CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

the past four years, so we just missed winning it,” Hoffman said. “We just fell short every year — like by one-two hundredths of a point and it was always so, so close — so this year coming in first was a good thing.”

Unlike that first dynastic run at Dr. Phillips — which saw everyone come in with experience — many of the girls on the team arrived to the school with little to no experience in cheer.

Despite that fact, the girls worked hard and did what they had to do to finally grab that elusive state trophy by scoring an impressive 87.2.

“This is probably my most consistent group of cheerleaders that I’ve coached for 15 years in this program,” Hoffman said.

“This is the first year that, to this competition, we have never had a fall in any of the competitions that we have been to.”

KNIGHTS CHARGE TO TITLE

If you’ve followed the Ocoee cheer team, you’ll know that the Knights have dealt with a lot — injuries, athletes leaving out of the blue and so on.

Even though there were a few breakdowns here and there, the Knights never faltered, and it’s what makes this year’s state title — the first for the program since 2018 — so much sweeter, head coach Kristin Johnson said.

“It was a pretty incredible feeling,” Johnson said. “This team went through many, many challenges this season, but not once did they let it deter them from their goal, which was not even so much winning as much as they wanted to execute a perfect routine with no deductions.”

And that’s exactly what the Knights did on the mat, as they were flawless, with no deductions. They finished with a score of 84.8 — a full 4.7 points ahead of second-place Miramar.

Winning the state title was obviously huge for Johnson and her squad, but the thing Johnson will remember most from the weekend was the emotion and elation of the girls as they walked off the mat.

“When they were done and they knew that they had executed everything perfectly, they grabbed each other and there were a lot of tears,” Johnson said. “Everyone just kind of

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embraced each other crying out of pure excitement and joy that no matter what happened after that, they did exactly what they set out to do.”

WINDERMERE PREP NOTCHES BEST FINISH

When it comes to fledgling programs, it’s understandable that there will be struggles. But in the case of Windermere Prep’s competitive cheer team, that’s not the case.

The program — under the leadership of head coach Kari Land and assistants Brittani Fulmer and Nikki Sullins — exploded in its third year of existence by bringing home the runnersup trophy in the small-tumbling division by scoring a 77.

Last year the team finished in fourth place, which at the time was great, but this year they wanted a bit more, Land said.

“We told the girls, ‘Our goal is to do better than the year before,’ so we hoped to get fourth or better,” Land said. “We’re all on the mat all huddled together … they call state runner-up and that was us, and the girls went crazy and us coaches went crazy.

It exceeded our expectations.”

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WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

TFA celebrates alumni during Hall of Fame night Katherine Clevenger, Foster Griffin, Adam Haseley and the late Tim DeBoom were recognized for their athletic contributions to the school.

TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR

Three former students and one longtime supporter were honored Jan. 24 by The First Academy as they were inducted into the school’s athletic Hall of Fame.

At halftime of the boys var-

sity basketball game against Lake Highland Prep, Katherine Clevenger, Foster Griffin, Adam Haseley and the late Tim DeBoom were recognized for their contributions to the school and its athletic department in front of a sold-out crowd in the Cramer Family Field House.

“Obviously it’s a really great honor,” said Haseley, a 2014 graduate who now plays for the Philadelphia Phillies. “This is kind of where it all started, so to come back here to have my now wife and my family that was here — kind of bring it all full circle — is pretty special.”

Haseley’s accomplishments on the baseball diamond at TFA — as well as his play at the University of Virginia and for the Phillies — made him a first-ballot Hall of Famer, said school athletic director Will Cohen. One requirement at TFA is an athlete must be five years removed from his or her time at the school. They also need to be voted on by a committee of faculty at the school.

During his three-year stint at Virginia, Haseley racked up honor after honor and helped lead the Cavaliers to the 2015 NCAA

by Paul Coulter; CROSSWORD CONTRADICTIONS Edited by David Steinberg

©2020 Universal Uclick

ACROSS

28 Yearly 29 “Talk” at a concert 1 White house?

30 One may have a flat head 6 Pets that may hiss 32 Wedding, say, for a DJ 10 New moon, e.g.

33 Female bays 15 Covered in sauce, as a 34 Saying about taking burrito action 18 Attack ad, maybe 42 World traveler?

19 Letter before beta 43 Mai ___ 20 Angling boxful 44 Caspian feeder 21 Battery in many remotes 45 Search-and-find book 22 Saying about taking series action ... or the opposite of 46 With 80-Across, saying 34-Across? about someone who’s far 25 ___ Friday’s away ... or the opposite of 26 Balaam’s mount 63-Across?

27 “Really?”

54 Literary Harper 55 Pepsi, e.g.

57 Be a good sinner?

58 Warner Bros. creation 59 Sandbar 60 Took one’s turn 62 Propelled a shell 63 Saying about someone who’s far away 69 Scatter 70 Word after sack or senate 71 “Waves of grain” color, in song 72 Cheat, slangily 73 Do-nothing 76 Real nuisance

cloudy day” tune 104 PC shortcut key 105 PC shortcut key 108 Chinese steamed bun 109 Saying about similarity 113 Channel that Madonna performed on 114 Bicker 115 Linen fabric 116 Care for 117 Anonymous John 118 Chiefs and Royals 119 Old-timey “Good grief!”

120 “Ick!”

77 Special attention, for short 80 See 46-Across 85 Like an unconvincing excuse 86 Speckled horse 87 H.S. science class 88 Show off some moves 89 Saying about similarity ... or the opposite of 109-Across?

97 Prone to crying 98 Ab ___ (from day one) 99 La Saint-Valentin focus 100 Classic street liners 101 “I’ve got sunshine on a

DOWN 1 Cuba, por ejemplo 2 Controversial crops, briefly 3 Some summer births 4 Wood that can flavor chardonnay 5 “Pretty Woman” singer Roy 6 Shuts 7 0% ___ financing 8 Not just “a” 9 “Huh?” 10 Drop quickly 11 Netflix competitor 12 Square footage 13 Shut, as an envelope 14 Telepathic skill, for short 15 Does a flower bed chore 16 Young raptor 17 Heads’ counterpart 19 Burning 23 Carve in stone 24 Taking care of business 29 Ming of Rockets fame 31 Mental keenness 33 Srta., across the Pyrenees 34 It may be pea-sized 35 Something ___ entirely 36 Diaper bag item 37 “Listen up!”

38 ___ Bo 39 Major sport in Japan 40 Ayatollah’s land 41 Sushi bar drink 46 “Woe is me!”

47 Island east of Java 48 Boat in an Olympic slalom event 49 “___, Brute?”

50 Flight segment

national championship before being taken eighth overall by the Phillies.

Joining Haseley as a firstballot athlete was Foster Griffin, who was both a baseball and golf standout at the school. Griffin — who couldn’t attend due to work obligations — was a First Team All-American (like Haseley) before getting drafted by the Kansas City Royals with the 28th pick. He was represented by his family during the event.

Rounding out the athletes was the track program’s first state champion: Katherine Clevenger.

“I was surprised and incredibly honored — obviously — to be included in a very awarded cohort,” said Clevenger, who won the 300m hurdles state title at the school. “It’s been over 20 years since I first started running with The First Academy.

(It’s great) coming back and seeing how everything has grown up and so many more champions have come through the program since I’ve been gone.”

Clevenger, who now lives in Atlanta, hadn’t been back to the school in years but recalled her time on both the cross-country and track teams and how everything was a bit simpler during those early days — especially as it related to facilities.

“It’s funny looking at the complex now — the Payne Stewart Complex,” Clevenger said. “That whole complex was developed in 2001-02, which was when I was running track — those were big days for our programs.

“But you know the way out there was mud,” she said. “Cross country would run around John Young (Parkway), and we were just all trying to figure it out — it was fun. At the track, it wasn’t 51 Conflicted 52 Worked the soil 53 The 29th, for February 2020 55 Fluffy dog from China, informally 56 Gut-punch reaction 59 Animal in a roundup 60 Place to moor a ship 61 “Yada, yada, yada” (Abbr.)

62 Black cat, maybe 63 Missouri River tribe 64 Bear up?

65 Got bigger 66 Glue alternative, perhaps 67 “Rubaiyat” poet Khayyam 68 “Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity” org.

69 “I’m trying to study!”

73 Gershwin’s “___ Rhythm” 74 Apothecary’s weight 75 Actress Anderson 77 “Beloved” author Morrison 78 Wrestling hold 79 Manitoba native 81 Cafeteria carrier 82 Antiquated 83 Thing to pick 84 Qatar’s capital 85 Buddy 88 Dear 89 Silky-textured Italian dessert 90 Eliminate 91 Albums such as Lil Nas X’s “7” (Abbr.)

92 Sounds 93 TiVo products 94 “Brr” 95 “I didn’t do it!”

96 Certain northern Iraqi 97 Site with a “Health A-Z” section 101 “Encore!”

102 Pilates relative 103 Dour 105 Lauryn Hill ‘do 106 Amount to make do with 107 “___ bien!”

109 Like a big paycheck 110 One might cross a stream 111 Day, in Tijuana 112 Mink’s coat

17

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

even surfaced yet, and we didn’t have hurdles so we literally jumped (over) orange cones.”

While each new member walked to center court to a raucous round of applause, no ovation was bigger than the one Lisa DeBoom and her children received when they accepted the honor on behalf of the late Tim DeBoom.

The DeBoom family has been a part of TFA for years, with Lisa DeBoom serving as a librarian at the school, while her two daughters attend as students. Then there was Tim DeBoom — the embodiment of TFA spirit.

Tim DeBoom served at the school as a coach, colleague and supporter of TFA athletics for 14 years until he died in February 2018 after a battle with cancer.

“It really means a lot to my girls and me,” Lisa DeBoom said.

“Losing him, one of the things that you worry about is that time will pass and life will go on and people will forget, and so for the school to reach out and honor him in this way, and honor his memory, it really means a lot to the three of us.”

No one ever was going to let the memory of Tim DeBoom slip away, Cohen said. That’s why — despite the fact that Tim DeBoom hadn’t hit the required five-year mark — he was elected into the Hall of Fame anyway as a friend of the program.

“He was a huge fan when he wasn’t coaching and just did so much for the athletic program,” Cohen said. “It’s fitting that he goes in with this group. It’s one of the best classes that we have ever had — they represent who TFA is.”

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.

“WUVHJWA (JVIUI) HW... JAUSSZ ELA RV-RJAUEVJ VM ELHW GHEL PA. ELAJA HW IV PZ ‘SHEESA GVPAI’ GHELVCE WUVHJWA.” – XJAEU XAJGHX “J’PY VXCNB ST NJWD KA TOXYBWM’ KSMJE WOMWYM, RJMWYBJBV WC IRYYWNCCG KOE OBG WDY XCRRJBV MWCBYM.”

– MOCJXMY XCBOB

Puzzle Two Clue: A equals Y

Troy Herring

Hall of Fame inductees, alongside their families, were honored during halftime of the Royals’ basketball game.

|

Puzzle One Clue: C equals U

OrangeObserver.com

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SUDOKU

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

©2020 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

02-06-20

my ‘Little Women’ without Saoirse.”

– Greta Gerwig

CLASSIFIEDS

Puzzle Two Solution: “I’ve grown up with my parents’ music tastes, listening to Fleetwood Mac and the Rolling Stones.”

– Saoirse Ronan

This week’s Sudoku answers

Thursday, February 6, 2020

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers

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– Saoirse Ronan

Health & Medical

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Puzzle Two Solution:

Puzzle Two Solution: “Saoirse (Ronan) is ... really the “I’ve grown up with my parents’ music “I’ve grown up withwith my me. parents’ co-creator of this Theremusic is no tastes, listening to Fleetwood Mac and tastes, listening to Fleetwood Mac and my ‘Little Women’ without Saoirse.” the Rolling Stones.”

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– Greta Gerwig This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers – Greta Gerwig

LV16621

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