02.07.19 The Observer

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

VOLUME 4, NO. 20

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019

B-E A-G-G-R-E-S-S-I-V-E! In just its second year, Windermere Prep’s competitive cheerleaders earn a spot at states. SEE PAGE 9.

YOUR TOWN NIGHT TO SHINE SET FOR FEB. 8

Let’s put this to bed The Windermere Police Department Foundation Inc. and Windermere Wine & Dine need volunteers to help build 20 bunk beds for nonprofit Sleep in Heavenly Peace. PAGE 4.

Volunteers will roll out the red carpet for a starstudded evening from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, as First Baptist Church Windermere hosts the Night to Shine prom-night experience.

Night to Shine, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, allows people ages 14 and older with special needs to enjoy an evening of royal treatment.

Volunteers are needed.

Call (407) 876-2234.

Proposed preschool triggers objections A proposed private 200-student preschool on Windermere Road sparked concern from residents.

Traffic concerns dominated discussion during an Orange County community meeting regarding a proposed preschool near the town of Windermere.

The meeting was held Wednesday, Jan. 30, at Windermere Elementary School.

About 80 to 100 residents attended the meeting to hear SEE PRESCHOOL PAGE 4 PRSRT STD ECRWSS US POSTAGE PAID WINTER GARDEN, FL PERMIT NO. 81

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NEWS EDITOR

Michelle Thomas will lead the new middle school in Horizon West, which will open in the fall.

REAL BLACK

GABBY BAQUERO

District appoints principal for Bridgewater relief school AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

POWER OF THE PURSE

Central Florida Women’s League hosted its second Power of the Purse luncheon. 8.

Parents with children zoned for the new Bridgewater Middle relief school met their new principal and were allowed one-on-one time with her at a 40% construction meeting Wednesday, Jan. 30.

Bridgewater Middle hosted the SEE PRINCIPAL PAGE 2

Michelle Thomas

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THURSDAY, FEB. 7

YOUR CALENDAR

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019

RETIRED EDUCATORS POTLUCK LUNCHEON 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, at the College Park United Methodist Church, 644 W. Princeton St., Orlando. Retired Orange County teachers and others who worked in education can attend. Take a side dish to share. (407) 3668962 or ocrea-fl-org.

SATURDAY, FEB. 9

EIGHTH ANNUAL WINTER GARDEN BLUES & BBQ 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, in downtown Winter Garden. The festival pairs blues-and-roots musicians with award-winning local barbecue connoisseurs for an afternoon celebration of Southern soul. Performers are Sean Chambers at 4, Lauren Mitchell Band at 6 and Selwyn Birchwood Band at 8. (407) 656-4111.

MONDAY, FEB. 11

CENTRAL FLORIDA RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETING 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 11, at the Central Florida Railroad Museum, 101 S. Boyd St., Winter Garden. Patrick Smith presents “Trains in Belgium and Germany.” Program is free. (407) 656-0559.

mind and body. Meet at the library to carpool to a local park walking trail. Ages 18 and up.

Attendees are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Light refreshments will be provided. (407) 835-7323.

THURSDAY, FEB. 14

ROMANTIC JAZZ PERFORMANCE 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, at the Centennial Plaza gazebo, 101 W. Plant St. Be serenaded under the stars by Breezeway Trio in this free performance. Hosted by the city of Winter Garden.

Visit cwgdn.com.

WEST ORANGE REPUBLICAN WOMEN MEETING 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14, at West Orange Country Club, 3300 West Orange Country Club Drive, Winter Garden.

Guest speaker is Alisa Artigas, deputy grassroots director of Americans for Prosperity – Florida. Lunch is $20. Guests also are asked to take a dessert or dessert mix for the Edgewood Children’s Ranch. RSVP at rebeccatmellen@gmail.com or (407) 230-5968. For information, email worw.federated@ gmail.com.

WINDERMERE GARDEN CLUB NEHRLING TOUR 9:30 a.m. refreshments, 10 WEDNESDAY, FEB. 13 a.m. general meeting Thursday, NATURE WALK Feb. 14, at Windermere Town AND BOOK TALK 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Feb. Hall, 520 Main St. Following the meeting, attendees will tour the 13, at the Southwest Library, Florida Heritage Landmark Neh7255 Della Drive, Orlando. Join rling Gardens in Gotha. Meetthe library for a casual walk ings are not limited to Winderfollowed by a lively discussion mere residents. For information, of the book “Hillbilly Elegy: A call Peggy at (407) 876-4239 Memoir of a Family and Culture or visit the Windermere Garden in Crisis,” by J.D. Vance. Enjoy Club Facebook page. the benefits of exercising your ORHW-0030 - WindermereObserver HalfPg_10.375x8_FINAL.pdf 1 1/24/19 5:16

FRIDAY, FEB. 15

A SPLASH OF MASQUERADE 6:30 to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15, at the Winter Garden Pavilion, 104 S. Lakeview Ave. The evening under the stars is the annual fundraising gala of the Winter Garden Art Association. It includes cocktails, auctions, dinner and music by Nova Era. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased at wgart.org. Sponsorship packages are available. Attire is black tie or creative costume. (407) 347-7996.

SATURDAY, FEB. 16

LOBSTER & LAUGHTER 6:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, at Windermere Town Hall, 520 Main St., Windermere. The Rotary Club of Windermere’s annual fundraiser includes cocktails and cash bar, dinner of surfand-turf and wine, a live comedy show and a dessert and coffee bar. Tickets are $100 and can be ordered at windermererotary. org/lobster. (407) 877-6110.

MONDAY, FEB. 18

WHS GOLF TOURNAMENT 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18, at the West Orange Country Club, 3300 West Orange Country Club Drive, Winter Garden. Windermere High School’s Children’s Miracle Network Dance Marathon program is hosting the tournament to raise money for children at the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies. The cost is $100 and includes dinner, tee, snack, cart and a tax-deductible donation to the hospitals. Rentals are limited and not included.

Register and pay at tinyurl.com/ Y7VKZVKC. PM

Principal Thomas CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

meeting in the media center, and a large crowd of families attended to meet Michelle Thomas and ask questions regarding the new school in Horizon West’s Lakeside Village. The relief school will open in August.

Thomas comes from Dillard Street Elementary School, in Winter Garden, where she served as principal for two-andone-half years. She received her new assignment in early January.

She has been working since Jan. 23 to get her school ready in time for the 2019-20 school year.

Bridgewater Principal Andrew Jackson told parents: “There is no assistant principal, no secretary. It’s a one-man show when you build a new school. Your kids are still Bobcats for a little while longer.”

Parents were most concerned about the course offerings and whether they will be similar to what currently is offered at BWMS. Thomas said once the students have selected their classes this spring, she will look at their choices and plan a curriculum and schedule.

“Everything you’re getting now will transfer,” Jackson said.

Thomas said she hopes to see a great deal of involvement from the parents and the community.

“I want our parents to know that community engagement, and family involvement, are vital factors to the success of the new school,” she said. “With the sup-

NAME THE NEW SCHOOL Orange County Public Schools is asking for community input on naming the new middle school. A naming survey is open until 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, and parents, students and community members are invited to submit a name through the survey, bit.ly/2MQSrcR.

port from our current Bridgewater PTO and other current community members, we are working through the fundamental processes such as naming the school, selecting a mascot and colors. This is a joint effort, and I want us to continue collaborating as we move into our new building and establish new traditions.”

Thomas said she expects a smooth transition from Bridgewater to the new school.

“I have been fortunate to have known (Principal Andrew) Jackson … for several years, and we have similar educational philosophies and high expectations for all students’ success,” she said. “I want to assure our parents that their students will continue to have a principal that is invested in their overall success.”

To allow the parents and students time to become familiar with her, Thomas said she will be present regularly at the Bridgewater campus until her school is built.

“I want the transition for the students to be seamless,” she said. “I am also working closely with the feeder elementary schools and will be offering events for rising sixth-graders to help them prepare for the transition into middle school.”

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Heartbeat of the town STAFF WRITER

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oan Foglia always has been a fan of nature. She enjoys hiking, gardening, camping, birdwatching and just being outside.

“I love being in the outdoors,” Foglia said. “I loved being in the yard, but I didn’t know much about trees … when I joined.”

This love of the outdoors is something that made her fit in with the town of Windermere’s Tree Board, where she served for about 11 years. In that time, she’s been involved with planting hundreds of trees around town, and has learned more about them along the way.

She no longer serves as a board member, because she has to travel for work. However, she continues to stay active on the Tree Board as a volunteer. The Town Council honored her at its Jan. 8 meeting with an award for years of service.

“I met Theresa Myers, who is our chairman, when our daughters were in kindergarten together, and she told me about the Tree Board and asked if I’d be interested in joining,” Foglia said. “I was very interested, and I came to one of the meetings, and I decided I wanted to be part of it.”

Foglia has a background in accounting and works as a production accountant in the film and television industry. She currently is part of a production team filming the TV series, “David Makes Man,” which will be premiering on the Oprah Winfrey Network. Part of the show was filmed at a set built on the Dr. Phillips High School campus. Her background in accounting is one of the reasons she was asked to join the board, Foglia said.

“The real reason Theresa asked me to join was to manage the finances for the board when we have events,” she said.

Educating residents about the town’s tree canopy always has been a mission of the board. The board teaches residents about proper pruning, mulching, fertilization and even the best place to plant a tree, Foglia said.

“Really, the mission and the goal is to educate people in the town about the tree canopy and how precious it is and what an asset it is to the town and the importance of protecting, preserving and proliferating it,” Foglia said. ”We teach them where to plant the right tree in the right place — teach (residents) where to plant them in their yards.”

Foglia added educating residents about the town’s tree ordinance has been a challenge.

Windermere’s Joan Foglia was recently honored for her 11 years of volunteering on the Town of Windermere’s Tree Board.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019

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Chain of Lakes Middle School teacher arrested on battery charge

Because the charge is a misdemeanor, Tiffany Rollins returned to school following the incident.

GABBY BAQUERO NEWS EDITOR

“(Some of) the residents in town, when they moved in, probably weren’t aware that there’s a tree ordinance that needs to be followed,” Foglia said. “Education is everything. And just because you don’t like the tree where it is, that doesn’t mean you have a right to take it down. You can’t just call a tree guy and have the tree taken out. You need to apply for a permit.

You need to be granted a permit. … We’re trying to educate people about that (ordinance), as well.”

In addition to educating residents, Foglia said getting more people involved with the board also has posed as a challenge. She also said fundraising always has been a challenge.

“What we’re trying to do now is get more board members or volunteers or get the youth in town more involved to help with these activities,” Foglia said. “I think the biggest challenge is raising money

Courtesy

for projects that we want to do. …

We’re in the middle of coming up with new ideas of generating revenue for projects around town.”

Each year, the board hosts a clean-up of the town’s 1887 Schoolhouse as well as the Windermere Treebute.

“This year’s Treebute was just amazing,” Foglia said. “It’s a great event. Everybody was very happy.

We had a lot more vendors. People were buying more trees, so I think it was very successful this year.”

Town Manager Robert Smith said Windermere is fortunate to have Foglia as part of its community.

“Joan is one of many heartbeats of the town,” Smith said. “We are blessed to have so many passionate residents willing to help out their family, neighbors and community. Joan has always been and will always be one of them.”

Joan Foglia loves the outdoors, but she didn’t know much about trees before she joined the town of Windermere’s Tree Board.

Following an arrest on Jan. 21 and first-degree misdemeanor battery charge, a teacher is back in the classroom at Chain of Lakes Middle School.

According to an Orlando Police Department arrest report, Tiffany Rollins faces charges of battery after an altercation at her home in MetroWest. According to the report, Rollins was accompanied by the victim to pick up her medication from a store, and upon returning, Rollins became aggressive once she noticed the medication was wrong.

Rollins allegedly struck the victim in the face, making contact.

The victim then locked himself in a bedroom out of fear, the report states. However, Rollins broke into the room and struck the victim again using a two-by-four.

The victim made his way out of the residence and called the police. Once police arrived, Rollins told officers she never hit the victim with anything, but the victim pushed her against the window, grabbed her hair and scratched her face, the report states.

The officers did not see any visible signs of physical injury on Rollins and said both Rollins and the victim appeared to be intoxicated.

Rollins was released from jail Jan. 22 after posting $500 bail.

According to Orange County Public Schools spokesperson Wendy Roundtree, the district’s Office of Professional Standards is aware of the arrest. However, internal investigations are not done unless the victim also is an OCPS employee or student.

Roundtree confirmed Rollins returned to her post at Chain of Lakes following the arrest.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019

Hammers of hope GABBY BAQUERO NEWS EDITOR

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he Windermere Police Department Foundation Inc. and Windermere Wine & Dine are sponsoring a community event to build bunk beds for West Orange families in need.

The community event, scheduled from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 23, at Windermere Town Hall, will benefit Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a nonprofit organization that provides beds for families in need in the Greater Orlando area, including West Orange County.

Windermere Police Chief David Ogden is spearheading the event, and as of Thursday of last week, 15 volunteers had signed up, but about 65 more are needed to complete the goal of constructing 20 bunk beds in three hours.

“I thought it would be an excellent community event and a great charity to get involved in,” Ogden said. “I learned there are so many kids in our West Orange County community, Clermont and the south Lake County community who really don’t have beds to sleep in. I was shocked there are so many people living just above the homeless level not considered homeless because they have a house to sleep in and, yet, do not have a bed to sleep in.”

The Windermere Police Department Foundation has contributed by purchasing the beds, ancillary equipment, bedding, sheets and pillows, Ogden said. And SHP will supply all the required tools and wood, so volunteers just need to show up ready to work with a good heart and the ability to swing a hammer, he said.

Once constructed, the beds will be loaded into a truck and taken to a warehouse to await distribution to families in need, Ogden said.

The beds always are delivered to families ready for immediate use, said Lake County resident Bill Car-

leton, president of the local SHP chapter.

“At the moment, we’re the only chapter in Orlando, so we have bed requests from all over the metropolitan area,” Carleton said.

“We have about 110 requests right now and just got about 10 more this week. And we have about 80 beds at the moment, so we’re going to get all those delivered in the next few weeks.”

The chapter, which launched in August, often partners with other community organizations and businesses wishing to host a community project. To date, the chapter has built about 120 beds, Carleton said.

“There are different types of families we end up helping,” he said. “Sometimes, it’s singleparent families struggling to make ends meet, and the kids are literally sleeping on the floor with just blankets and pillows. Other times, there are several kids sharing one bed or kids sleeping in the same bed as their mom. We also have cases where children are on an air mattress. But those aren’t too comfortable, and we don’t really consider those suitable.”

Carleton said SHP sometimes gets referrals from social-service agencies requesting help on behalf of a family in need. They also help foster-care or other family-service agencies get help for children at risk of being removed from a family and entering the foster-care system.

“We also get referrals from all kinds of social-service agencies and people on the front lines of society — school counselors, social workers, teachers, sheriff’s offices, Child Protection Services,” he said. “Sometimes, CPS notifies us of parents who are trying to get reunited with their children and going through the steps mandated by the system, one of which is to have a good sleeping situation for the child. We try to prioritize those

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.”

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IF YOU GO BED-BUILDING EVENT WHEN: 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Feb. 23 WHERE: Windermere Town Hall, 520 Main St., Windermere DETAILS: Lunch will be provided courtesy of Ellie Lou’s Brews & BBQ restaurant. Volunteers also will receive the opportunity to purchase a limited amount of advanced tickets for the 2020 Windermere Wine & Dine.

REGISTRATION: Call (407) 876-3757 and speak with Lori Sipek to be included on the volunteer list.

requests and get them to the front of the queue.”

The local chapter also has helped families who’ve moved to the area with “nothing, or next to nothing” as refugees from hurricanes Michael and Maria, Carleton said.

“We have some families still recovering from Hurricane Michael that happened up in the Panhandle late last year,” he shared. “People ended up dispersing across the state and, really, across the country, but we have a lot of those in Orlando. There’s this one lady who had a great job up there, and her home was severely damaged and declared uninhabitable by FEMA. So she was given a $1,500 check and told she needed to move and find another place for her family to live. She couldn’t find anywhere in her hometown, so she ended up in Orlando, and her kids were on the floor. So we got her some beds.”

During the Feb. 23 community event, Ogden hopes to build 20 bunk beds to aid SHP in its mission.

“It’s just a great way for us to spend some time together and do something that’s really worthwhile for our community,” Ogden said.

“And it’s an awesome program with a great mission. I can’t see why anyone wouldn’t want to get behind this. It’s just a good community project.”

more about the proposed project, titled Wondermere Garden Preschool.

According to county documents, the applicant for the preschool is requesting a specialexception use for the site. The 22.4-acre site — 16 acres of which is designated wetland — is zoned Rural Country Estate. It is located east of Windermere Road off McKinnon Road.

If approved, the preschool would be about 10,000 to 15,000 square feet and constructed in a farmhouse style on three of the six developable acres, said a project representative who declined to provide her full name.

“This will be a progressive, private preschool,” the representative said. “There are very few options in the immediate area. We feel the prevailing culture of our programming fits beautifully into a town that values its natural surroundings and chain of lakes. This is meant to be a home away from home for very young children, and there’s nothing like it in this area.”

The school’s program, inspired

by Innovation Montessori, would include outdoor classroom experiences, the representative said.

The campus would feature a large

organization garden, an art studio and a playground. The curriculum would offer music, language, after-school enrichment and mommy-and-me classes.

However, residents said their primary concern is the school’s impact on the residential area and the surrounding roads that already are stressed from traffic.

“The fact is that if it’s approved, the traffic issue won’t be dealt with until after, and I just think that should be taken care of in conjunction with their plan,” said Tracy Goodwin, who lives within a quarter-mile of the site. “And I don’t see that happening at all.”

Windermere Mayor Gary Bruhn also said the town of Windermere cannot support any development that would further stress surrounding roads.

“We have about 10,000 cars coming through Windermere every day,” Bruhn said. “Our roads … are backing up for hours.

We recently had a workshop, and we’re actually looking at doing some drastic things that I never thought I’d hear us talk about, such as dead-ending residential roads in Windermere, because the cut-through traffic is unsustainable. And we are paying for this with our tax dollars, so it would be very hypocritical for me to sit here

and say I can support 400 more trips through Windermere, when we already have the major issues we’re dealing with right now.”

A few residents asked if there were any existing plans to mitigate the traffic. Orange County District 1 Commissioner Betsy VanderLey reminded residents that any time a development is proposed to the county, the transportation department reviews the plans and requires the developer to include mitigation that may be needed to handle projected traffic impacts.

A county traffic engineer added there currently are no plans to widen any of the roads within the area because they are all “environmentally and physically constrained,” but a traffic study will be done to address any deficiencies.

However, some meeting attendees, including Windermere Mayor-elect Jim O’Brien, noted traffic mitigation and solutions already should be included in the plans for proper evaluation by the community.

“For the town of Windermere, our issue is not the building itself, or the school — it’s the ongoing development that impacts these roads,” O’Brien said. “But that’s the difficult thing about this process, because you have to weigh in

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Preschool proposal draws ire CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

egutierrez@OrangeObserver.com

The beds made at the event will go to local children and families in need.

before you’ve even seen any traffic plan. I mean, they’re asking us to support something that we’re just guessing at. And there’s an official meeting that comes afterward.

But … the reality is once the train leaves the station, it tends to go. I mean, let’s face it: We’re talking about a lot more tax revenue for the county than if you built some houses there. So there’s a lot of pressure.”

Despite traffic concerns, some residents did support the idea of a new preschool, citing long wait lists and lack of options in the immediate area.

“I can’t tell you how much this is needed,” Windermere resident Cindy Cash said. “I interact with a lot of families, and many have had to deal with wait lists. I’ve personally had to do wait lists. My son’s friends, their moms, also had to deal with wait lists. I can count about 12 people I’ve spoken with who had issues within the last year with preschool wait lists, and not a daycare or anything like that, but actual schools that educate. There are very few around here, and we need more options.”

The county’s Board of Zoning Adjustment will consider the proposal during its meeting Thursday, Feb. 7, at the Orange County Commission Chambers.

Let us know about your events, celebrations and achievements. To contact us, send your information via email to Michael Eng, meng@OrangeObserver.com.

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Lake Avalon neighbors oppose land-use request in rural settlement Dozens of neighbors near the Lake Avalon Rural Settlement presented their opposition to a proposed future land-use amendment during a recent Orange County community meeting.

Held Thursday, Jan. 31, at Whispering Oak Elementary, the meeting’s topic was a request to change the future land-use designation of 9.08 acres at 3104 Avalon Road. The parcel sits north of Avalon Road, west of Mann Road and east of Sanctuary Lake, within the Lake Avalon Rural Settlement. The land is owned by applicant VP Real Estate Inc., which has submitted a request to change the future landuse designation from rural settlement 1/2 (RS 1/2) to rural settlement 1/1 (RS 1/1). Orange County Case Planner Jennifer DuBois told those in attendance the applicant ultimately seeks to build up to nine single-family homes.

Originally, the property had a designation of rural settlement 1/5 (RS 1/5) and the applicant requested the change to RS 1/1 nearly three years ago, DuBois said. However, at the Local Planning Agency adoption hearing in May 2017, the applicant changed that request to R 1/2, which was adopted by the Orange County Board of County Commissioners the next month.

Currently, the land is designated RS 1/2 and zoned as A-1 citrus rural district, but VP Real Estate is seeking the originally requested RS 1/1 designation again.

Rebecca Wilson, the land-use attorney representing the applicant, told attendees the current designation allows for four homes, but the RS 1/1 designation would allow up to nine.

However, the property neighbors what is known as the Lake Avalon Planned Development, which is approved for 46 single-family homes and has a 50% open-space agreement

Por el presente, se le notifica a la población de Windermere sobre un referéndum que se celebrará el 12 de marzo de 2019. A los residentes de Windermere se les pedirá aprobar mediante un referéndum un endeudamiento de la población hasta de $5,200,000 para construir un nuevo cuartel de policía, un centro de obras públicas y oficinas administrativas. La deuda se pagará en su totalidad en un plazo de 30 años después de que haberse incurrido. Los pagos del capital y de los intereses anuales serán más o menos de $295,800.00, sujetos a las tasas de interés del mercado en la fecha que se otorgue el préstamo. Los pagos del capital y de los intereses de la deuda se garantizarán por una prenda que se deriva de los ingresos de la población aparte de los impuestos inmobiliarios. La pregunta siguiente aparecerá en la boleta:

in place because of its location in the Wekiva Study Area. VP Real Estate’s adjacent, 9.08-acre property also would comply.

Wilson said if the property only could be developed with four homes, it would result in four different curb cuts onto Avalon Road. Should the future land-use amendment be approved, Wilson said the developer would propose one entrance.

Residents said they already compromised with the original request two years ago and were not willing to do so again. Their primary concerns were regarding the development’s lot sizes and infrastructure. Other concerns included whether the new homes would have access to water and sewage or would have wells; contribution to local schools overcrowding; adding more traffic onto Avalon Road; destruction of the rural settlement; and residual home values.

However, those questions remain unanswered.

“How large the lots would figure out and what infrastructure would look like — we don’t ask them to do that right now, because they don’t have the rights to do them yet,” Orange County District 1 Commissioner Betsy VanderLey said.

Most in attendance remained against a change in designation, because they are worried about the precedent it would set for others to come into rural settlements.

As part of the neighboring Lake Avalon Planned Development’s agreement, it’s required to seek Orange County utilities and bring them to the site at the developer’s expense, and the property in question would have to seek county utilities, VanderLey said.

The request is scheduled to go to the Local Planning Agency Thursday, April 18. Should it be adopted by the LPA, it would head to the Board of County Commissioners sometime in May.

ASUMIR UNA POBLACIÓN LA DEUDA PARA CONSTRUIR UN NUEVO CUARTEL DE POLICÍA, UN CENTRO DE OBRAS PÚBLICAS Y OFICINAS ADMINISTRATIVAS ¿Asumirá la población de Windermere una deuda hasta de (sin sobrepasar los) $5,200,000 para construir un nuevo cuartel de policía, un centro de obras públicas y oficinas administrativas? Los impuestos inmobiliarios legalmente no se pueden y no se podrán comprometer para pagar tal deuda. El reembolso sólo se garantizará con los ingresos de la población aparte de los impuestos inmobiliarios, y la deuda debe pagarse en su totalidad en un plazo de 30 años.

Sí – Asumir la deuda _____ No – No asumir la deuda _____ Puede obtener más información en relación con el referéndum al visitar http://www. town.windermere.fl.us, o al enviar correo electrónico a Robert Smith, Administrador de la población - rsmith@town.windermere.fl.us. Se ofrecerán talleres de información pública los días 7 de febrero de 2019 y 26 de febrero de 2019 a las 6:00 p.m. en el Ayuntamiento de Windermere, 520 Main Street, Windermere, Florida 34786.

El Supervisor de Elecciones del Condado de Orange y de la Población de Windermere realizará el referéndum en conformidad con las leyes electorales de Florida.

Este aviso se presenta de conformidad con la sección 100.342 de las Leyes de Florida.

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BLACK TIE EDITOR

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019

POBLACIÓN DE WINDERMERE REFERÉNDUM SOBRE LOCALES EN LA POBLACIÓN

Many neighboring residents expressed their disapproval regarding a future land-use amendment request for a 9.08-acre parcel in the Lake Avalon Rural Settlement.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019

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Award winners and West Orange Chamber of Commerce staff were all smiles at the end of the evening.

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The Town of Windermere will be hosting a Candidates Night forum on Monday, February 11, 2019, at 7:00pm in the Town Hall, located at 520 Main Street. There are six candidates vying for three seats. This is open to the public and you are encouraged to attend.

— DANIELLE HENDRIX

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019

Pediatric cancer battle heats up at annual cook-off S

ome chilis had beans, some had big chunks of meat and some had corn, but they all were made with the same idea in mind — helping children fighting cancer.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty in Windermere held its second annual chili cook-off Thursday, Jan. 31, to benefit The Sunshine Kids Foundation. Cook-off competitors had their chilis judged by Sunshine Kids, and other participants got to sample the chilis, as well.

The Sunshine Kids Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing young cancer patients with positive group activities and emotional support. Proceeds of the BHHS Chili Cook-Off will benefit The Sunshine Kids.

“It’s like a family,” said Sunshine Kid Alondra Flores.

“They’re so welcoming with open arms. … The experiences they give us is something that some families can’t afford or get to because of medical expenses or how sick they are.”

“It gives them hope, and that’s the best thing you can give to a child,” her father, Tony Flores, said.

Tony Flores took his chili-tasting seriously as he sampled one of the entries.

Three Sunshine kids got to judge each of the chilis at the event. From left: Alondra Flores, Grayson Zrelak and Javier Montalvo.

Above: Mary Alice Stwara, left, and her mother, Katrina, were all smiles.

— ERIC GUTIERREZ

Left: Nine slow cookers full of chili lined a table as hungry guests sampled each chili.

Right: Sam Andrews-Jarvis smiled after successfully lighting a bonfire for roasting marshmallows.

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

win. 3.

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

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

Moderated by Jeff Loeffert and Jane Dunkelberger.

For more information, email MeetTheCandidateOC@ gmail.com.

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

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

GABBY BAQUERO

NEWS EDITOR

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

According to Lauren Roth,

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

ERIC GUTIERREZ

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Planning and zoning commisSTAFF WRITER sioners cited density, traffic and access concerns when they recDespite a recommendation for ommended denial of the Monk denial by the Orange County Property Planned Development on Planning and Zoning Commis9.6 gross acres west of Duncaster sion, a developer seeking to build Street, south of Little Lake Sawyer 113 homes on a piece of land near and north of Overstreet Road. the Lakes of Windermere com“Our strategy now is we’re munity in Horizon West is moving moving forward with our BCC the project forward to the Orange County Commission.

TIE

Clermont Hillside Terrace 2400 S. US Hwy 27, Suite 101• Clermont, FL 34711

SEE DISTRICT PAGE 4

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County P&Z recommends denial of Monk rezone

REAL BLACK

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

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VOLUME 3, NO. 50

The Town of Windermere hereby provides notice of a referendum to be held on March 12, 2019. Windermere residents will be asked to approve, via a referendum, a borrowing by the Town of up to $5.2 million to construct a new police headquarters, public works facility, and administrative offices. The debt will be repaid in full no later than 30 years after it is incurred. Annual principal and interest payments will be approximately $295,800.00, depending on market interest rates on the date the borrowing occurs. Payment of principal and interest on the debt will be secured by a pledge of only Town revenues other than property taxes. The following question will appear on the ballot: WHETHER TO INCUR TOWN DEBT FOR NEW POLICE HEADQUARTERS, PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY, AND TOWN OFFICES Shall the Town of Windermere borrow up to (but not exceeding) $5,200,000 for construction of a new police headquarters, a public works facility, and administrative offices? Property taxes legally cannot and will not be pledged to pay the debt.

Repayment will be secured only with Town revenues other than property taxes, and the debt must be paid in full within 30 years.

Opening soon!

Yes – for the debt _____ No – against the debt _____

13599 West colonial Drive Winter Garden (407) 554-3206

The Orange County Supervisor of Elections and The Town of Windermere will conduct the referendum in accordance with Florida election laws. This notice is provided pursuant to Section 100.342 of the Florida Statutes.

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You may obtain more information regarding the referendum by visiting http:// www.town.windermere.fl.us, or by e-mailing the Town Manager, Robert Smith – rsmith@town.windermere.fl.us. Public information workshops will be held on February 7, 2019 and February 26, 2019 at 6:00, p.m. at Windermere Town Hall, 520 Main Street, Windermere Florida, 34786.

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SPORTS

HIGH

As a freshman, Nyla Harris already is turning heads as part of The First Academy girls basketball squad. Page 10.

1

5

In a 59-55 upset of Windermere Friday, Feb. 1, Dr. Phillips’ Rakeem Perry helped lead the boys basketball team to their biggest win of the season with his 21 points on the night. The win was the Panthers’ 11th of the season.

2

At the competitive cheerleading state championship on Friday, Feb. 1, the Dr. Phillips cheerleading team finished state runner-up. The achievement is the ninth time in the last 11 years that the Panthers have finished either in first or second at the competition.

3

In Windermere’s 7-1 blowout of East Ridge in girls soccer district-tournament action Tuesday, Jan. 29, Victoria Gonzales had a career night for the Wolverines as she racked up five goals.

4

In Olympia’s dominant 4-0 win over Dr. Phillips in the Class 5A, District 4 soccer semifinals Wednesday, Jan. 30, Beto Yorach notched two goals to lead the Panthers to victory. The Titans went on to the district final, where they defeated West Orange 2-1.

5

Despite a tough 65-47 loss at the hands of Apopka Wednesday, Jan. 30, Olympia boys basketball’s Jalen Brinson still had a strong showing as he picked up 15 points for the Titans.

Flying high Troy Herring

Windermere Prep seniors Emily Work, Bailey Leasure and McKenzie Fraley helped lead the way for the Lakers’ second year cheer program.

In only its second year, the Windermere Prep competitive cheer team is finding success at both the local and state level.

TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR

A

s they stand in waiting, the moment seems to become all too real for members of the Windermere Prep competitive cheer team.

In just minutes, the Lakers will take the floor to perform in front of the large crowd at the state competition at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center on the campus of the University of Florida.

For the team’s three seniors — Emily Work, McKenzie Fraley and Bailey Leasure — this is the last hoorah, and they know it.

“Before we took the mat, I know that Bailey and I started crying

— we had a very emotional little moment, because I don’t think it really hit us that this was it,” Fraley said. “We had such a high and low season where everything was so chaotic and dramatic.

“I started crying, and I was trying to tell everyone how much I loved them, and then Bailey started crying, and then other girls on the team started crying,” she said. “I just had to be quiet, because I was like, ‘We’re literally going to take the mat in two minutes and we are sobbing.’”

The girls recovered nicely — regardless of the pre-routine cry — as the Lakers finished in fourth place. It’s an impressive feat for SEE LAKERS PAGE 10

Courtesy photo

The Lakers competitive cheer team placed fourth at this year’s state finals.

FHSAA approves changes to football playoff qualification The new Ratings Percentage Index will be utilized starting this year.

TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR

File photo

The FHSAA hopes the new rule change will make the playoffs more competitive.

Change seems to be a constant as it relates to football and the Florida High School Athletic Association.

The most recent of these changes came Monday, Jan. 28, when the FHSAA Board of Directors endorsed the recommenda-

tion set in place by the Football Advisory Committee relating to the use of a Ratings Percentage Index to rank football teams for the state playoffs.

Unlike the old system — which took into account a team’s winning percentage and their opponent’s winning percentage — the new RPI will include those two metrics, as well as the winning

percentage of the opponents of opponents. The first two metrics count for 35% of a team’s ranking, while the newest addition will count for 30%.

For many coaches, it’s a positive change from the playoff point system that was used last year.

“It’s just going to make for SEE FHSAA PAGE 11

10

SPORTS SPOTLIGHT

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019

GAME FILM

SPONSORED BY SHANNON TILL STATE FARM IN FOWLER GROVES

Dr. Phillips girls soccer claims district title in 2-0 win over Apopka

Nyla Harris Nyla Harris, of Dr. Phillips, is only a freshman on the girls basketball team at The First Academy, yet the noise she has made on the court has drawn the eyes of college coaches from all over the country. Her 20.6 points per game is best on the team, and she already has become a leader. She eventually hopes to play college basketball, before making her way to the NBA.

What got you into the game of basketball?

I started basketball when I was in sixth grade, but I was doing dance before. When I first came to school I was dancing, and coach was like, “You’re too tall to be dancing; I’m going to put you at center.” So I decided to come to the tryout and made JV — wasn’t really satisfied by that, but I kept working and did a lot more training because I really, really started liking basketball.

What is your favorite part about playing basketball at TFA? I just love the atmosphere and the coaches — when it gets tough they help me push through. I just feel like my coach … just pushes me to go a lot harder. There are times when I want to quit, but something inside me says, “I’m trying to get somewhere.”

What’s the most difficult aspect of basketball?

I feel like when we miss a lot of layups or something, we

THE BASICS SCHOOL: The First Academy YEAR: Freshman AGE: 15 POSITION: Forward/ center HEIGHT: 6-foot-1

have to run 17s for a long time. When things get hard pushing through, that’s one of the hardest things, but I manage to overcome that.

Grace Owens and Jillian Ross celebrated with a hug following a big goal from Ross.

So far through two years of varsity basketball, what’s been the biggest highlight?

I’ve gotten noticed by a lot colleges. … I have like, 75 letters at home and it’s crazy.

Dawn Staley — she coaches South Carolina — I went to the camp for her, and I just played myself and she told my dad she wanted to offer me a free ride. She was my first offer and she said, “I wanted to be the first,” because she didn’t want me to forget about them.

O

What is the strongest aspect of your game?

I feel like I’m a very good center who runs the court.

Most centers are big, bulky girls, and they just really can’t move that much or run as fast as I run.

Goalie MacKenzie Montague stretched out for a ball fired her way.

Lakers squad starts strong CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

a cheer team that is only in its second year.

No one expected the Lakers to finish the competitive season the way they did. It’s what made the accomplishment that much more satisfying for coach Kari Land. The squad finished in the top three in regionals before going on to pass through the semis and make it to the finals.

“It was an incredible day and an incredible journey,” Land said.

“We had a lot of things that we went through leading up to it — which every team goes through challenges and hurdles — but we did it, and the girls were ecstatic.

Last year was a great year with it

If you could go anywhere, where would you go and why?

I would say Barbados. I just love the name, and I just love how it looks — it looks so calming. Plus that’s where my favorite singer (Rihanna) is from.

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n a chilly night at the Spoone, Dr. Phillips (122-3) notched its second district title in four years as the Panthers blanked visiting Apopka 2-0 Thursday, Jan 31.

Despite being out-possessed by the Blue Darters (12-5-1), the Panthers found pay dirt in the 25th minute, when senior Belle Robinson blasted a ball into the back of the net. Jill Ross doubled the lead with under four minutes to play in the first half with her own goal to make it 2-0.

The win pushed the Panthers to the regional quarterfinal where they faced Lake Mary (10-3-1) Tuesday, Feb. 5, after press time.

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Jillian Ross split defenders as she fought for the ball.

being our first year, but we went up to unheard of levels for our second year.”

It takes most schools years to reach this level of success, but Windermere Prep did it with quick precision, despite some growing pains along the way.

Although some, such as Work, had been competing with organizations like Top Gun, many of the girls who tried out for the Lakers’ first season had no prior cheer experience.

But, that inexperience from last year may have helped the Lakers, Leasure said.

“The start of last year, we didn’t know what to expect and how it would go,” Leasure said.

“A lot of teams had seen our routine from last year, and they knew us going into the competition this year. But they really kind of underestimated us. From last year to this year, we learned how to push ourselves.”

Pushing themselves to the level they reached this year required a lot of time and patience on everyone’s part early on, especially since practices were a bit unorthodox to start.

Because the program was new, there were no facilities set in place. The girls had to practice in the school’s cafeteria or out on the basketball court at a friend’s house. There also was the issue of not having enough mats.

“You have to practice on nine panels, and we only have two, so

that kind of limits us to what we can do with our routine,” Work said. “And the ceilings in there (the cafeteria) — if I was to put Kenzie in the air, she touches the ceiling.”

“Last time we were in there, I hit the ceiling two times,” Fraley replied with a laugh.

Regardless of the practice space and other challenges, the trio said the obstacles have brought the team closer together. Adversity is often the test that pushes teams to either one of two conclusions: They break and fall apart, or they band together and become stronger.

Luckily for Land and her girls, the future of Lakers cheerleading is pretty bright.

“What goals we had in mind for this year, we exceeded them,” Land said. “All we can do is get better each year and add a little bit of encouragement to the girls.

Now that they saw what can happen and how close we were to making the top three, I think it’ll encourage them more to do bigger things next year.”

And despite the trio of seniors not knowing what lies ahead, they do know one thing that’s certain — they never will forget their time at Windermere Prep.

“Even though we might not all cheer at college, we always feel like we had those special bonds on the cheer team, and we will always be cheerleaders at heart,” Leasure said.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019

FHSAA looks to make playoffs more competitive CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

much better games across the board, which is great,” Windermere Prep coach Jacob Doss said.

“And we are finally — I think — getting some pageantry and some traditions in high school, because you’re going to get better coaches. It’s going to be great because right now there are just so many teams and everyone makes the playoffs. … Now, they’ll deserve to be there.”

One of the biggest issues has been that not all team’s schedules are what they may appear, and it has led to many blowouts in the first round.

A team could finish with eight or nine wins throughout the regular season, but if its schedule is padded with sub-.500 opponents, then its success could be misleading. It’s a topic that has been a thorn in the side of coaches

who want to see playoff-worthy teams in the tournament.

Olympia head coach Travis Gabriel said the rules should go even a step further to make it more difficult to allow teams into the playoffs.

“One strict rule should be‚ if you have a losing record, you can’t make the playoffs — period,” Gabriel said. “You can’t make the playoffs at 4-6 or 3-7.

You shouldn’t even be thought of. I think that’s something that should be done.”

Although Doss’ Lakers team plays in the SSAC — which is sep-

arate from the FHSAA — the new playoff changes have sparked a debate: Should Windermere Prep stay in the SSAC or make moves to join the FHSAA? “I have a list of eight or nine questions, because we are at that critical juncture where, ‘Do we stay in the SSAC for one more year and then potentially go out and do this?’” Doss said. “Off the top of my head, I think it’s pretty awesome, and it makes sense. I love what they’re doing across the board with all the sports. It’s going to be really good for our school.”

The ultimate goal of the FHSAA is to make the field more competitive and renew old rivalries, which would hopefully make the whole experience more fan friendly.

Having more excitement on the field by avoiding a barrage of blowouts also could help with another key issue — dwindling fan attendance, especially in the playoffs.

No one wants to sit through a 60-0 drubbing, whether they be in the stands or on the field.

However this season’s schedules already are set, much to the dismay of many coaches.

Although Gabriel understands the intended purpose, the thought of having new metrics set into place was excessive in its nature. Instead, Gabriel would like to go back to a simpler method of determining who makes it into the playoffs.

“It’s a little complicated to me and confusing, because the fact is they’re taking the winning percentage of your opponent and then the winning percentage of your opponent’s opponent — that’s a lot of percentages and movement to determine,” Gabriel said. “Since we implemented the Free Single Vision Lenses Dr. John Nowell new system, I’ve always Withplayoff The Purchase of Any Frame Dr. Ben Konynenbelt August 1, 2018-August 31, 2018 been a fan of taking the district champs, and then you take what “One strict rule should be‚ if you have a losing record, you can’t make the playyou would consider the best of the offs — period. You can’t make the playoffs at 4-6 or 3-7. You shouldn’t even be rest. “

thought of. I think that’s something that should be done.”

— Olympia head coach

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ADVERTISE OR SUBSCRIBE TODAY! Call 407-656-2121 Email AdvertiseNow@OrangeObserver.com or Subscribe@OrangeObserver.com

9th Annual

GOLF TOURNAMENT FUNDRAISER Join us for a fun day of golf and good food, to benefit the Jimmy Crabtree Cancer Fund.

Monday, March 4th, 2019

at The West Orange Country Club Register online: www.jccancerfund.org Per player - $100 pre-registered ($110 the day of the event) Per foursome - $400 pre-registered ($440 the day of the event) Check in: 11:30am • Shotgun Tee off: 1pm Includes light lunch and BBQ pork dinner.

Dinner will begin at 5:30 and is open to golfers, guests and public.

(Additional BBQ dinners will be available for a donation) Award Ceremony to follow tournament (cash bar) Seniors, Ladies and Regular Divisions Available Silent Auction all day until 7 p.m. The public is invited.

SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE

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For more information email: jccancerfund@aol.com

12

OBSERVER

|

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019

REAL ESTATE

Keene’s Pointe estate sells for $1.4 million A

home in the Keene’s

SNAPSHOT

Pointe community in

Total Sales: 58 High Sale Price: $1.3 million Low Sale Price: $93,000

Windermere topped all West Orange residential

3,178 square feet of living area.

The price per square foot is $173.06.

real-estate transactions from Jan. 25 to Feb. 1.

SANDPOINTE TOWNHOMES

The home at 6115 S.

The townhouse at 8248 Ambrose Cove Way, Orlando, sold Jan. 28, for $313,000. Built in 1989, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,720 square feet. The price per square foot is $181.98.

Hampshire Court, Windermere, sold Jan. 31, for $1.4 million. Built in 2002, it has five bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 6,231 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $224.68.

DR. PHILLIPS

CARRIAGE HOMES AT SOUTHAMPTON

The home at 7021 Della Drive, No. 51, Orlando, sold Jan. 28, for $237,500. Built in 1990, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,312 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $181.02.

DIAMOND COVE

The home at 10033 Crystalline Court, Orlando, sold Jan. 25, for $408,000. Built in 1994, it

realtor.com

This Keene’s Pointe home, at 6115 S. Hampshire Court, Windermere, sold Jan. 31, for $1.4 million. This two-story home is situated on the eighth hole of the Golden Bear Club golf course.

has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,751 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $148.31.

baths and 1,112 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $184.35.

COUNTRY CLUB

The condo at 7601 Canada Ave., No. 402, Orlando, sold Jan. 31, for $93,000. Built in 1999, it has one bedroom, one bath and 542 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $171.59.

The home at 7659 Pinemount Drive, Orlando, sold Jan. 25, for $340,000. Built in 1984, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,852 square feet of living area.

The price per square foot is $183.59.

ISLES AT CAY COMMONS

RUBY LAKE

HAWTHORN SUITES

The condo at 4024 Breakview Drive, No. 10204, Orlando, sold Jan. 29, for $205,000. Built in 2008, it has two bedrooms, two

The home at 10920 Citron Oaks Drive, Orlando, sold Jan. 25, for $550,000. Built in 2018, it has four bedrooms, four baths and

Offices in Celebration and Windermere

The home at 5020 Spring Run Ave., Orlando, sold Jan. 25, for $340,000. Built in 1984, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,988 square feet of living area.

The price per square foot is $171.03.

n KEENE’S POINTE. The home at 6115 S. Hampshire Court, Windermere, sold Jan. 31, for $1.4 million. Built in 2002, it has five bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 6,231 square feet of living area.

The price per square foot is $224.68.

TANGELO PARK

The home at 7703 Ravenna Ave., Orlando, sold Jan. 31, for $140,000. Built in 1958, it has four bedrooms, one bath and 1,065 square feet. The price per square foot is $131.46.

n VIZCAYA. The home at 7950 Versilia Drive, Orlando, sold Jan. 31, for $1.3 million. Built in 2006, it has six bedrooms, seven-and-one-half baths, a pool and 7,316 square feet of living area.

The price per square foot is $177.69.

VISTAS AT PHILLIPS COMMONS

The townhouse at 7143 Cadiz Blvd., Orlando, sold Jan. 25, for $279,250. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 1,668 square feet. The price per square foot is $167.42.

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9042 Leeland Archer Blvd Spacious Upgraded Home in Newbury Park 3 Bed/2 Bath/2,085 Sq Ft Offered at $319,000 MLS # O5752990 SEE REAL ESTATE PAGE 14

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OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

The home at 7950 Versilia Drive, Orlando, sold Jan. 31, for $1.3 million. Built in 2006, it has six bedrooms, seven-and-one-half baths, a pool and 7,316 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $177.69.

The home at 12937 Bosworth Ave., Windermere, sold Jan. 25, for $290,000. Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 1,782 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $162.74.

The home at 6378 Oak Chase Court, Orlando, sold Jan. 31, for $492,500. Built in 2006, it has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,935 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $125.16.

WINDERMERE TRAILS

WINDHOVER CONDOMINIUMS

realtor.com

This Vizcaya home, at 7950 Versilia Drive, Orlando, sold Jan. 31, for $1.3 million. It was the largest transaction in Dr. Phillips from Jan. 25 to Feb. 1.

HORIZON WEST

Jan. 25, for $205,000. Built in 2009, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,455 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $140.89.

ALEXANDER RIDGE

The home at 2400 Alexander Ridge Blvd., Winter Garden, sold Jan. 29, for $425,000. Built in 2016, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 3,295 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $128.98.

NEWBURY PARK

The home at 8808 Leeland Archer Blvd., Orlando, sold Jan. 31, for $345,000. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,411 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $143.09.

ASHLIN PARK

The townhouse at 11692 Water Run Alley, Windermere, sold Jan. 31, for $300,000. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 1,727 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $173.71.

The home at 15668 Honeybell Drive, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 28, for $350,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 1,946 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $179.86.

propertypanorama.com

This Alexander Ridge home, at 2400 Alexander Ridge Blvd., Winter Garden, sold Jan. 29, for $425,000. This 2-year-old home features a front porch with no front neighbors.

HIGHLANDS AT SUMMERLAKE GROVES

The home at 15570 Murcott Blossom Blvd., Winter Garden, sold Jan. 30, for $280,000. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,196 square feet of living area.

The price per square foot is $127.50.

INDEPENDENCE/ SIGNATURE LAKES

The home at 7001 Old Greenfield Lane, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 30, for $294,000. Built in 2010, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,700 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $172.94.

The townhouse at 5693 New Independence Parkway, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 28, for $240,000. Built in 2010, it has two bedrooms, two-and-one-

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LAKES OF WINDERMERE

The home at 12634 Arley Drive, Windermere, sold Jan. 28, for $305,000. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,926 square feet of living area.

The price per square foot is $158.36.

LAKESIDE AT LAKES OF WINDERMERE

SUMMERLAKE GROVES

The home at 15449 Murcott Blossom Blvd., Winter Garden, sold Jan. 25, for $340,000. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,646 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $128.50.

WATERLEIGH

The home at 10067 Beach Port Drive, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 30, for $429,841. Built in 2018, it has four bedrooms, three-andone-half baths and 3,224 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $133.33.

The condo at 8256 Maritime Flag St., No. 307, Windermere, sold

MABEL BRIDGE

The home at 11525 Chateaubriand Ave., Orlando, sold Feb. 1, for $358,000. Built in 2014, it has four bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 2,888 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $123.96.

WEST ORANGE WATERSTONE

The home at 11622 Waterstone Loop Drive, Windermere, sold Jan. 25, for $1 million. Built in 2016, it has five bedrooms, four-and-one-half baths, a pool and 4,458 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $224.32.

WINDERMERE

BELMERE VILLAGE

The home at 11657 Vicolo Loop, Windermere, sold Jan. 31, for $445,000. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,794 square feet of living area.

The price per square foot is $159.27.

The home at 1030 Via Tivoli Court, Windermere, sold Jan. 25, for $356,501. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 2,220 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $160.59.

The home at 910 Lascala Drive, Windermere, sold Jan. 25, for $349,000. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, three-andone-half baths and 2,742 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $127.28.

So local, it feels like your garage!

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IN WINTER GARDEN

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The home at 8147 Jailene Drive, Windermere, sold Jan. 25, for $355,000. Built in 2013, it has three bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths, a pool and 2,226 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $159.48.

And we’ll be having specials all through the month to celebrate those friendships.

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LAKE SAWYER SOUTH

The home at 14830 Winter Stay Drive, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 25, for $411,400. Built in 2018, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 3,288 square feet. The price per square foot is $125.12.

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half baths and 1,541 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $155.74.

The home at 14849 Winter Stay Drive, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 28, for $438,865. Built in 2018, it has four bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 2,385 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $184.01.

www.westorangehabitat.org

298967-1

The home at 6642 Dwarf Lemon Alley, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 25, for $360,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 2,193 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $164.16.

PANTHER VIEW

The home at 9010 Reflection Pointe Drive, Windermere, sold Jan. 25, for $523,800. Built in 2014, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths, a pool and 3,264 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $160.48.

407-905-7898 www.maguireroadstorage.com maguireroadstorage@cfl.rr.com

298857-1

The condo at 6156 Peregrine Ave., No. D10, Orlando, sold Feb. 1, for $110,000. Built in 1974, it has two bedrooms, one-andone-half baths and 999 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $110.11.

HAMLIN RESERVE

13

WICKHAM PARK

WINDER OAKS

The home at 14149 Eden Isle Blvd., Windermere, sold Jan. 28, for $395,000. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,701 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $146.24.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019

The home at 16287 Wind View Lane, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 31, for $407,500. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,909 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $140.08.

VIZCAYA

EDEN ISLE

|

OBSERVER

|

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019

FORECAST

I LOVE WEST ORANGE

W EAT HER

14

THURSDAY, FEB. 7 High: 81 Low: 59 Chance of rain: 10%

FRIDAY, FEB. 8 High: 80 Low: 58 Chance of rain: 10%

SUNRISE / SUNSET

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Feb. 7

7:11a

6:10p

Friday, Feb. 8

7:10a

6:11p

Saturday, Feb. 9

7:10a

6:11p

Sunday, Feb. 10

7:09a

6:12p

Monday, Feb. 11

7:08a

6:13p

Tuesday, Feb. 12

7:07a

6:14p

Wednesday, Feb. 13

7:07a

6:14p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, FEB. 9 High: 73 Low: 64 Chance of rain: 20% Winter Garden resident David Driver submitted this beautiful image, which he calls, “Nature’s Canvas.”

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

ACROSS

1 PC guts 4 Quechua speaker 8 Doctoral hurdles 14 Norwegian and Caribbean 18 Ponte Vecchio’s river 20 Any minute now 21 Novelist de Balzac 22 Rodgers’ partner 23 Police procedure 26 Italy’s Villa d’___ 27 Nail polish brand 28 Oprah’s production company 29 Grueling grilling

Tuesday, Jan. 29

0.00

Wednesday, Jan. 30

0.00

High: 74 Low: 63 Chance of rain: 50%

Thursday, Jan. 31

0.00

Friday, Feb. 1

0.00

Saturday, Feb. 2

0.00

Sunday, Feb. 3

0.00

Monday, Feb. 4

0.00

30 “Enough already!”

31 Conquistador Hernando 33 Food and shelter are basic ones 35 Mai ___ 37 Hit on the noggin 38 S.F. NFL team 40 Two-ingredient cocktail 44 “___ up to you” 45 Pro ___ (proportional) 47 Half marathon, for one 48 Divining rod 49 Core subjects for engineers 53 Foamy Starbucks choice

54 “The Morning Watch” author James 55 Crestfallen 56 Addressed the court 59 SpongeBob, e.g.

60 Entertainer of Hollywood 63 Put in seventh heaven 66 Tolkien meanie 68 “Just kidding!”

69 What to do with a perfume strip 74 ___ es Salaam 77 Ben Carson’s dept.

78 Big Mac topper 79 “Poor, poor you!”

83 Disney president Bob 85 Oldest son of Isaac 88 Had a snack 89 Tear to pieces 90 Palindromic performances 92 Separation mandated by many governments 98 Shipping containers 100 Relief map, for short 101 Regard 102 Aging A.L. sluggers, often 103 Tub combo 107 Sault ___ Marie 109 School in Troy, N.Y.

YEAR TO DATE:

FEB. TO DATE:

2018 3.22 in.

2018 0.00 in.

2017 2.16 in.

2017

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44 Big-screen Apple product 46 Balance sheet plus 50 Wife’s towel stitching 51 Course after trig 52 Postal ID? 57 Forever and a day 58 Piddling amount 61 “___ bin ein Berliner” 62 Motley ___ 64 Sunlamp result 65 Computer introduced in 1946 67 $$$ exec 70 Clio contenders 71 “The lady ___ protest ...”

72 Masters champ Sam 73 Snowball fight shelter 74 Bronco stoppers?

75 One afraid of open DOWN spaces 1 Checked out a joint 76 Of connections 2 Modern times 80 Eye candy 3 Like the rarest of triple 81 Served with ice plays 82 Flattering poems 4 Book end?

84 Kind of IRA 5 Skipper of Genesis 86 Parts of plays 6 O’Brien on TBS 87 “We’re in trouble!”

7 Guitarist Segovia 91 Cook meat on high 8 Abraham’s neighbor on 93 Straddling Mount Rushmore 94 Crafts with oars 9 ___ polloi 95 Classic game console 10 Automaker Ferrari initials 11 Lip-puckering 96 Like Helen Keller 12 List of mistakes 97 Said “cheese,” say 13 Spot a shore 99 Gave the cold shoulder 14 “___ All That” (1999 104 Top-of-the-line rom-com) 105 Take home 15 Logan locale 16 Astromech droid of “Star 106 Cherry Starburst ingredient Wars” 108 Noted Santa tracker, 17 Adopter, often briefly 19 Hunter constellation 112 Default-restoring button 24 Et follower 25 Blueprint detail, briefly 114 Wintry weather mix 116 Actress DaCosta whose 32 Algerian port in “The name repeats a syllable Plague” 118 “___ boy!”

34 Hulk co-creator Lee 119 Get off ___-free 36 Fan letter recipient 121 Tiniest puppy 39 Avg. 125 Buckingham Palace 41 Sputnik insignia letters 42 End of a loaf 126 Cryptanalysts’ org.

43 Go for a fly

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110 Feel remorse 111 L.A. Laker, for one 113 Gold Medal and others 115 Shout to a matey 117 “Gil ___” (Lesage novel) 120 Not just a request 122 Flynn of “Captain Blood” 123 Mauna Loa coffee 124 Early train robbery duo 127 Auction site with a colorful logo 128 Take by force 129 Hankerings 130 Hockey fake-out 131 Ward of “The Fugitive” 132 Lives lost in video games 133 Jazzy James 134 Queue after Q

©2019 Universal Uclick

RAINFALL

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.

“ZNMOAE OU AYM VYNHXM UNOXANX, KDM OM OU ZA ZVM RYVF. BLZM TYD ZVX CYOAE OU OGGDFOAZMOAE LDFZAOMT.” –SOYGZ CZSOU

“AZ ATA OKZO VWKV R GKO XDCS 45... R UD CLALAXLC KV ORP VWRSJRSY VWKV R OWDTNU XL LKCSRSY AZ DGS NRFRSY.” –JLRCK JSRYWVNLZ Puzzle Two Clue: P equals X

HANDS by Randall J. Hartman CROSSWORD JOIN Edited by David Steinberg

Feb. 26 Last

SUNDAY, FEB. 10

See other winning photos at OrangeObserver.com

Let us host your holiday parties and other special events!

Feb. 19 Full

Feb. 12 First

Puzzle One Clue: E equals G

ONLINE

Feb. 4 New

©2019 NEA, Inc.

SUDOKU

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

©2019 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

2-7-19

|

HERE’S MY CARD - BUSINESS DIRECTORY AUTO SERVICE

AUTO SERVICE

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019

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OrangeObserver.com

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CLASSIFIEDS

Thursday, February 7, 2019

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

INVENTORY REDUCTION FEBRUARY 9 & 16 8:00 AM TO 1:00 PM

299332

611 Business Park Blvd. #101 Winter Garden Lawn & Garden Equipment

SAWMILLS FROM only $4397.00- MAKE & SAVE MONEY with your own bandmill- Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship! FREE Info/DVD: www.NorwoodSawmills.com 1-800-578-1363 Ext.300N 2/7fcan

Merchandise Wanted

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers

13178 W. Colonial Dr. Winter Garden

NOW PURCHASING

SCRAP BATTERIES 407-656-3495

299015

Announcements

Schools/Instruction

Puzzle One Solution: “Acting is not rocket science, but it is an art form. What you are doing is illuminating humanity.”

– Viola Davis

This week’s Crossword answers

Puzzle Two Solution: “My mum says that I was born 45... I do remember at six thinking that I should be earning my own living.”

– Keira Knightley

This week’s Sudoku answers

AVIATION GRADS work with JetBlue, United, Delta and others - start here with hands on training for FAA certification. Financial aid if qualified. Call AIM 888-242-2649 2/7fcan

Positions Wanted

POLICE OFFICER - Police Dept – Town of Windermere is accepting applications for the position of Police Officer.

For more information go to town.windermere.fl.us. DFW and EOE. 2/21tow ©2019 NEA, Inc.

This week’s Crossword answers

2019

LV11097

Windermere Observer reserves the right to classify and edit copy, or to reject or cancel an advertisement at any time. Corrections after first insertion only. *All ads are subject to the approval of the Publisher. *It is the responsibility of the party placing any ad for publication in Windermere Observer to meet all applicable legal requirements in connection with the ad such as compliance with town codes in first obtaining an occupational license for business, permitted home occupation, or residential rental property.

OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019

OrangeObserver.com

Give your money a raise Make your money work harder by earning higher interest rates.

Talk to a banker for more details. Offer expires March 22, 2019.

Platinum Savings Account

Fixed Rate CD

2.10%

2.60%

Annual Percentage Yield for 12 months1

Annual Percentage Yield for 11 months2

Enjoy a special interest rate for 12 months with new money deposits of at least $25,000 and a minimum daily account balance of $25,000 or more.

T:8”

Guaranteed fixed rate with new money deposits of at least $25,000 for an 11-month term.

Both accounts are FDIC-insured up to the maximum allowable limit. Platinum Savings offer available in CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, MD, NJ, NY, SC and VA. Fixed Rate CD offer available in AL, AZ, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, MD, NJ, NM, NV, NY, PA, SC and VA. Portfolio by Wells Fargo® customers are eligible to receive an additional interest rate bonus on these accounts.3 1. To qualify for this offer, you must have a new or existing Platinum Savings account and enroll the account in this offer between 01/21/2019 and 03/22/2019. This offer is subject to change at any time, without notice. This offer is available only to Platinum Savings customers in the following states: CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, MD, NJ, NY, SC and VA. In order to earn the Special Interest Rate of 2.08% (Special Rate), you must deposit $25,000 in new money (from sources outside of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., or its affiliates) to the enrolled savings account and maintain a minimum daily account balance of $25,000 throughout the term of this offer. The corresponding Annual Percentage Yield (APY) for this offer is 2.10%.

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

Are not Insured by FDIC or any Federal Government Agency

1

May Lose Value

Are not a Deposits of or Guaranteed by a Bank

© 2019 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved.

Deposit products offered by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLSR ID 399801

298378-1

Investment and Insurance Products:

P3002_BB_Phase 1_19_East 1_2.1_10x8.indd

Saved at

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Ac t i v e l i v i ng | A s si s t e d l i v i ng | sk i l l e d n u r si ng | r e h A bi l i tAt ion

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