02.10.22 Southwest Orange Observer

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

Observer Windermere, Horizon West, Dr. Phillips

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. VOLUME 7, NO. 19

FREE

•

Olympia tennis team remembers beloved coach.

PAGE 15.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

KEEPIN’ IT FRESH Healthy West Orange encouraged locals to kickstart the new year with healthier, happier habits. SEE PAGE 8.

YOUR TOWN

MORE PARKING COMING TO DOWNTOWN WINTER GARDEN The city of Winter Garden is creating more parking spaces in the downtown area. The North Boyd Street parking lot project began last week on two city-owned parcels at 37 N. Boyd and 63 N. Boyd.

The project includes the construction of an asphalt parking lot — providing a total of 124 spaces and including landscaping, lighting improvements and a bicycle repair shelter.

The lot at 63 N. Boyd will close starting Feb. 7 and remain closed until the new parking lot is constructed. Anticipated completion is mid-May.

EXPANSION ON THE HORIZON The hospital celebrated its first anniversary in January and already has plans for more growth.

PAGE 4.

Photo by Annabelle Sikes

OCPS considers school bus compound The Orange County School Board is considering building a bus lot on the property being vacated when Orange Technical College – West Campus moves to Ocoee.

SEE PAGE 6.

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

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

Postal Customer

The Orlando Health Horizon West Hospital began providing in-patient care in January 2021 and already has admitted more than 2,000 patients for in-patient care.

BRINGING THE HEAT Feb. 19 chili cookoff is challenging chefs for a good cause. SEE PAGE 2.

MEMORIES OF AN OLD COMMUNITY

Deloris Riggins was born and raised in Tildenville, and her memory of “the way it was” is long.

SEE PAGE 3.

WOHS theater seeks help SEE PAGE 13.

2

OBSERVER

|

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

Chili cookoff to benefit Legacy Events for Education The inaugural event will kick off at noon Saturday, Feb. 19, at the Hamlin Town Center.

ANNABELLE SIKES

IF YOU GO

STAFF WRITER

Color, aroma, consistency, taste and aftertaste.

David Terry, CASI Terlingua International Championship qualifier, said these five criteria can help anyone judge a good bite of chili.

Terry and nine of the other top chili chefs in the country are headed to West Orange for the inaugural Central Florida Chili Cookoff.

All proceeds raised at the event will go toward Legacy Events for Education, of which Terry also serves as president.

Although the organization has put together events in the past, the highly anticipated cookoff is set to be one of the biggest events of the year to take place in Horizon West.

The fundraising event aims to support local students and teachers through the sampling of more than 60 chilis created by chefs, residents, restaurants and organizations.

Locals will be able to enjoy a bite from food trucks, listen to live music, participate in a cornhole tourna-

WHAT: Central Florida Chili Cookoff WHEN: Noon Saturday, Feb. 19 WHERE: Hamlin Town Center, 14422 Shoreside Way, Winter Garden TICKETS: bit.ly/3B7BLr2

ment, sip on refreshments and play in a Kids Zone area.

“Our goal is that you come out, have fun and raise money by accident,” Terry said. “I don’t want you to be there thinking you’re at a fundraiser; I want you to be there thinking ‘I’m at a community event having fun with my neighbors’ — and we’re going to make money for our schools while we’re at it.”

As part of CASI, the Chili Appreciation Society International, cooks will also be able to submit their chili in competitive categories.

Several local organizations are showing their support for the nonprofit through their sponsorship.

Orlando Health will serve as the presenting sponsor, and Terry will be making its chili.

“I can’t speak highly enough about the people that are coming out,” Terry said. “The

TO

RO

X-

support we’ve gotten, I mean, we wouldn’t be here without them, both big and small organizations.”

He said the event is an homage to Events for Change, an organization that helps to put together the Orlando Chili Cookoff.

HISTORY OF THE PROGRAM

Legacy Events for Education began as the Wolverine Legacy Fund in 2017 and was founded to award monetary grants to support and enhance Windermere High School’s academics, arts and athletics.

After bringing in more than $60,000 in donations to the school, the board launched a new and separate organization called Legacy

EN

CH

30

HOW TO SAMPLE CHILI LIKE A PRO David Terry, one of the top chili chefs in the country, shares his tips on getting the most out of your chili experience. n Color —We eat with our eyes!

Chili should have an appealing appearance. Chili should be viewed in good light and be red in color. Excessive grease should not mask the appearance. n Aroma — Smell really can be the deciding factor in many people’s food choices. Chili should smell good. A good aroma is a tipoff to good taste. Beware of foreign aromas or bad smells. n Consistency — Chili should be a good meat-and-gravy combination. Chili should not be dry, watery, grainy, lumpy or greasy, but good and smooth. Meat should be tender but not broken down. Chili should not melt in your mouth! n Taste — Chili should taste good above all else. Although individual opinions will vary, a really good taste will stand out. “You can cook my recipe, but you can’t cook my chili!” n Aftertaste —Residual taste should be pleasant and not bitter, metallic or foul. Also present may be an afterbite, which is that glow that develops in the mouth (front bite) and throat (back bite) that says this is chili rather than soup or stew.

IN P GR STUM

STX

ER

0

DER

38

373832-1

TR

TR

David Terry is a chili champion qualifier.

Events for Education last spring.

The nonprofit’s mission is to put together large-scale events in West Orange County to raise funds for scholarships and grants to students and teachers at local schools.

The president said he was inspired by the program’s first scholarship class, which consisted of two students who “blew his mind.”

One of the students started a hotline for at-risk teenagers while the other gathered T-shirts and ties for children in the Dominican Republic. He even flew the clothing to the small village using his own money.

“The kids that I have met in the last three years are enough to keep me going for many years to come,” Terry said. “The motiviation I get from seeing what these kids can accomplish when given the opportunity is just amazing. My goal is to help encourage these kids that 20 years from now they’re sitting where we are today and making a difference in the community. They’re not just doing volunteer hours because they have to; they genuinely have a passion for these types of efforts.”

Terry said he and the other board members hope to continue to grow the program in the future.

“Let’s make a difference in as many children’s lives as we can,” he said.

The president said the organization is always looking for help and is still accepting sponsors.

“I think any person from a nonprofit will tell you that there’s never enough volunteers,” he said. “It really is a labor of love, but I couldn’t be more thankful for it.”

TORO DINGO 12403 W. COLONIAL DR., WINTER GARDEN

407 - 654 - 9299 FINANCING AVAILABLE

TX1000

"BIGGEST DINGO DEALER IN FLORIDA"

ER CARE CLOSER TO YOU Orlando Health Horizon West Hospital is nearby and on standby, 24/7, to provide emergency care you can trust.

When you need medical attention, turn to the experts in your community with an ongoing commitment to your safety.

For ER care, closer to you, choose Orlando Health.

371914-1

OrlandoHealth.com/ER

OrangeObserver.com

OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

Photo courtesy of Peter Schreyer

This image of Deloris Riggins and her 9-year-old son originally was printed in a book on small-town living created by Crealdé School of Art. The photo is among 30 on display at the Maxey Community Center documenting Winter Garden’s black communities.

Remembering yesterday’s Tildenville Deloris Woodard Riggins was raised in the once-thriving community, and she lives in the same house where she was born 67 years ago.

AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

Deloris Woodard Riggins was the last of 16 children born to James and Beulah Woodard in the small and once-thriving community of Tildenville. It was 1955, a time when a midwife came to the home when it was time to deliver the babies in the area.

Celeste Poole delivered all the black babies in this rural area south of Highway 50.

This house on Coscester Street is special to Riggins, and although she moved away after high school, she eventually made her way back about 20 years ago to the home built with her father’s hands. It has been in the family for nearly a century.

Several of her older siblings are still liv-

Photo by Amy Quesinberry Deloris Riggins’ parents, siblings and other family members have always been an important part of the Tildenville community. The Woodards owned a community store and, later, the popular Silver Moon Grocery & Bar.

ing, but she is the lone Woodard of her generation to remain where their roots were first planted.

Riggins smiles recalling her childhood.

She admits she was a tomboy and a rebel and the ringleader in her circle of friends.

“It was just, it was carefree,” she said of her youth. “I always was in some type of trouble. … Over on this side (of Avalon Road) they had a pond that I used to always sneak out, and I loved to fish, and I would go fishing. And where they have the new (SunRidge) Elementary School at, it used to be all orange groves. I used to walk in there and hike up in there; just ripping and running, walking around.”

LIFE AMONG LABORERS

Tildenville was planned in the late part of the 19th century as a home for transplanted agricultural workers from Georgia. It was a citrus community with several labor camps.

Riggins remembers there being several near her home, including the Top Hat Labor Camp, which has efficiencies inhabited by folks — mostly young men — who came from places like Arkansas and Missouri and Jamaica to pick citrus in Winter Garden and harvest vegetables at the muck farms in Zellwood.

“My mother was like a caretaker for a lot of those young men who came in,” Riggins said. “She made sure they ate and they kept in touch with their families while they were away. She was like the mother hen.

“My dad was basically like my mom — he was a caregiver of the community,” she said.

“We used to have orange trees all up in here. … They had hog pens back on the back half of this property, and he would slaughter the hogs and take them and clean them out and divide the meat and send the meat around the community and make sure everyone had food to eat.”

Riggins’ father — a pillar in the Tildenville community — died when she was 9.

The Woodards were strong Christians and regularly attended Tildenville Missionary Baptist Church.

“It was expected of me to go every Sunday,” Riggins said. “But did I go every Sunday? I went in the front door and out the back.”

She usually marched from the back door of the church straight to the labor camp.

“They always had something going on in the camp, and I had to be part of it,” she said.

“It was kind of hard to tell me no, because I was a tomboy and I fought, physically. …

I was one these kids who, you ever see a child whose self-esteem is low? And that’s the way I was. It seemed like everybody had something to say, always picking at me or talking about me, and I would always be fighting someone.”

A community school once stood south of the Woodard home, and this is where the children of Tildenville went for first through sixth grades. The remaining school years were spent at the segregated Charles R. Drew High School, on East Story Road.

Drew closed before Riggins graduated, so

she and her classmates attended Lakeview High School. This wasn’t an easy transition for Riggins and her low self-esteem.

“I stayed in so much trouble at lakeview,” she said. “Mr. (Robert) Ford was the principal. He was used to me being in the office almost every day.

“Back then was (when) desegregation first came about,” she said. “The kids didn’t want us coming to Lakeview; they wanted us really to stay at Drew. They did not want to integrate with us. I, in turn, ‘Because you don’t want me there, I don’t want to be there.’ I used to be a little instigator.”

Riggins graduated from Lakeview in 1972 and lived her life in several different states before returning home to Tildenville.

STAYING IN BUSINESS

The Woodards owned a community store next to the family home when Riggins was a child. It was one of three in the neighborhood. She remembers Boise Jones owned the other two, one of which was located on the west side of Avalon Road where Tucker Ranch is now.

Just west of the Woodard house was the Silver Moon Grocery & Bar, a family-owned one-room juke joint that has offered music, drink and respite to Tildenville’s residents for decades. A small piece of the original Silver Moon still stands.

COVID-19 temporarily shuttered the operation, but when it eventually reopens, it will continue offering sodas and chips and knickknacks by day and a tavern setting by night. Riggins’ nephew, Willie Woodard Jr., runs the place.

TURNING POINT

“At one time Tildenville used to be thriving,” Riggins said. “That was before the (Florida’s) Turnpike came in. When the turnpike came in, it changed everything.

There used to be a camp (called South Lake) on this side of the expressway, and when the turnpike came, they had to tear those houses down.

“That became a dividing line; this was the quarters,” she said. “This was where everything was at; this was where you had to come if you wanted to purchase anything other than going up to Winter Garden.”

But, eventually, the stores closed and many of the residents went away.

“This side dwindled; you could see the decline in it because of the turnpike (and) when the freeze came through and killed all the citrus,” she said.

But life has a funny way of coming full circle for some, as it did for Riggins. Tildenville is her home, despite the lack of businesses. And this century-old house is her home, despite the weather-worn boards and peeling paint.

“I just always wanted to stay here,” Riggins said, looking at her home and smiling.

3

4

OBSERVER

|

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

Orlando Health makes progress in Horizon West ANNABELLE SIKES STAFF WRITER

As beautiful as the glass building of Orlando Health Horizon West is, the true beauty is born from within the walls of the hospital.

The hearts of dedicated health care providers who work tirelessly at any cost, despite any hurdle because, like you, they care.

Providing outstanding care and connection at home and in the local community is what the hospital strives to do and although it’s in its early stages, the location has already achieved major milestones and is embarking on plans of expansion.

COMING SOON

In the next few weeks, the hospital has plans to add an additional 30 patient care beds.

Orlando Health Horizon West currently operates with 30 in-patient beds on the third floor. With the expansion, the hospital will reach its full capacity of the 60 inpatient beds for which the hospital is currently licensed.

Brian Wetzel, president of Orlando Health Horizon West, said it has been hard to project the exact date of opening due to the ongoing COVID-19 spikes unexpectedly bringing in high volumes of patients.

According to the president, on Thursday, Feb. 3, the hospital had 24 people in inpatient care, while a couple of weeks ago, with the recent spike, the facility was at full capacity.

“As health care providers we are currently working very hard to diminish the impact of these COVID spikes,” he said.

Since its official opening to the public in January 2021, the Horizon West hospital has treated more than 800 COVID patients.

The facility currently is utilizing only three of its six floors. Over the next few years, the hospital will continue to expand to its full potential as a 120-bed facility. The medical campus has an additional 40 acres to grow upon to meet the needs of the growing community.

“The future for Orlando Health Horizon West as a hospital facility is very bright because of the culture we’ve established and the roots we’re putting down in this community,” Wetzel said.

“We wanted to be here to grow with Horizon West, and I think we are doing a wonderful job of that.”

Wetzel said as the hospital adds more physicians to

the team it will be developing programs to allow it to expand beyond the typical medical services.

“We want to continue to accommodate the demands and the needs of this Horizon West community,” he said. “It’s my job to make sure that we have the physician resources so that we can keep patients in this community and they don’t have to be transferred to another hospital outside of their community. They can get the care that they need right here from their home.”

He said the bariatrics program is a good example of this concept. He said the members of the program are interested in developing into the Horizon West area and the development is already underway.

“We have one of the finest bariatric surgical programs downtown at Orlando Regional Medical Center, and that team is very enthusiastic about growing out into this area,” he said. “There is a great potential for us to provide those services to other local counties so that people don’t have to go downtown.”

Throughout the ongoing expansion, the president said they are working hard to keep their ultimate goal at the center of the development.

“We want to continue that wonderful trend of keeping patients close to home when they have a health care need,” he said. “That’s a commitment that we’re making, and we’re following through on that commitment.”

Wetzel said the hospital will continue to track and monitor the kinds of specialty services that are needed in the community and continue to expand upon those as they are identified.

In addition, Orlando Health is building a standalone emergency room on a 28-acre campus in Davenport.

The new one-story, 11,500-square-foot standalone emergency room in Reunion Village will open in March and will send patients in need of in-patient care to the Orlando Health Horizon West hospital.

HISTORY

The West Orange Healthcare District and Health Central Hospital established a plan to purchase 40 acres of land in Horizon West for a health care services campus that would serve the needs of the newly developing community in 2000.

Though the area was mostly citrus land at the time, the board and leadership team

CHRIS MARTUCCI SPORTS EDITOR

After months of negotiations with Orange County Government, the Ocoee City Commission announced preparations are being made to install a traffic light at the intersection of ClarconaOcoee and Ingram roads, which has gained notoriety for the frequent crashes that occur there.

Ocoee Mayor Rusty Johnson read a letter from Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings announcing the county will be installing a traffic light and construction will begin in the near future.

“Now that the interlocal agree-

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

Friedrich Hayek

“Road to Serfdom,” 1944 Editor and Publisher / Michael Eng, meng@OrangeObserver.com Design Editor / Jessica Eng, jeng@OrangeObserver.com Community Editor / Amy Quesinberry, amyq@OrangeObserver.com Sports Editor /Chris Martucci, cmartucci@OrangeObserver.com Staff Writer / Annabelle Sikes, asikes@OrangeObserver.com Multimedia Advertising Executives / Iggy Collazo, iggy@OrangeObserver.com Cyndi Gustafson, advertising@OrangeObserver.com Creative Services / Lindsay Cannizzaro, lcannizzaro@OrangeObserver.com Advertising Operations Manager / Allison Brunelle, abrunelle@OrangeObserver.com

Photo by Annabelle Sikes The Bloom & Grow Garden Society visited Orlando Health and drew appreciative messages in chalk outside the hospital.

recognized the area would grow in the coming years and would need reliable health care services.

In 2005, the hospital purchased an additional 40 acres of land, located right next to the initial 40-acre purchase.

The WOHD and Orlando Health joined forces in March 2016 to improve health care in West Orange County. The $100 million project aimed to help transform Health Central Hospital’s Ocoee location into a destination medical campus and brought muchneeded health care services to Horizon West.

Orlando Health and the WOHD officially broke ground on the Orlando Health Emergency Room and Medical Pavilion in Horizon West in January 2017.

Wetzel said it was a long time before it made sense for the hospital to develop the campus because the population at the time could not support an emergency department.

By September 2018, the Orlando Health Emergency Room and Medical Pavilion in Horizon West was opened to the community.

The emergency room featured 24 patient beds plus six observation beds, while the medical pavilion provided health care services including primary care, family medicine, OB/GYN, general surgery, a diagnostics laboratory, orthopedics, neurology, urology, cardiology, a pharmacy, outpatient rehabilitation and a center for health improvement.

Since the emergency room opened in 2018, it has had more than 30,000 emergency

room visits, according to the Orlando Health location.

On Jan. 30, 2021, the sixstory, 228,000 square foot Orlando Health Horizon West Hospital officially opened to the public.

The hospital is the health system’s 10th acute care facility and the organization’s first newly constructed hospital in more than 15 years.

TODAY

Since then, more than 2,000 patients have been admitted for in-patient care and more than 700 surgeries and procedures have been performed.

“Our desire is that we are accessible, convenient and someone people have confidence in,” Wetzel said. “We want people in the community to come to us with trust and know that they can bring their loved ones here or even themselves.”

The president said the community has responded well to the work the hospital has been doing.

The Horizon West location has received good volumes and although he said it’s unfortunate there is a need, realistically the need exists, and the hospital is there to address them.

According to Orlando Health, 87% of patients who needed to be admitted for services could be treated and stay at the Horizon West hospital in January.

Wetzel said this meant the hospital had enough specialists to manage patients with varying needs. The president said the remaining 13% of patients who visited needed acute specialty care so they

Traffic light coming to Clarcona-Ocoee, Ingram After months of public pushing, Ocoee is putting a light at a dangerous intersection.

Observer

ment has been fully executed, (they) are proceeding with the construction process,” Demings’ letter read. “(Their) public works department staff held a court nation meeting on Jan. 12, 2022, with the contractor to initiate the project.”

However, due to the supply shortage around the country, key parts will not be available to allow the light to be installed right away.

Because of this, the contractor said it would take six months to construct, according to the letter. “(The) team will do everything in (their) control to expedite completion,” Johnson read.

The traffic light at ClarconaOcoee and Ingram has been a frequent topic of discussion, with citizens asking the commission to install a light to help curb the amount of crashes taking place there.

While the commission has promised it is doing everything possible to get that set up, it ulti-

mately came down to whether or not Orange County would be involved in helping with the construction.

CLARKE ROAD PROJECT

Commissioner George Oliver announced construction to widen Clarke Road is underway and is to be completed in the fall. While work on the road had been going on since March 2021 with much of the underground work being handled, the visible parts of the construction are to begin this month.

“I get a lot of questions on when that is going to happen, so now we are in the middle of the project with the signs coming up that will signal construction is beginning soon,” Oliver said.

Construction will be taking place on the east side of the road so it doesn’t disrupt the flow of traffic.

were transferred to where they would best be served in downtown Orlando.

LEADERSHIP

Wetzel is in his 27th year of working with Orlando Health.

Wetzel consistently used the words passionate, prideful, love and the need to serve, when speaking of the facility, its services and his team.

“There’s a constant conversation in this facility about the kind of place we want to be, the kind of health care environment we want to create and the kind of work environment we want to work in,” the president said. “We talk about mutual respect, partnership, appreciation, support and encouragement.”

He said he works hard to share his expectations and model his own behavior for others.

“I think ‘thank you’ are the two most important words that come out of my mouth, and I thank this team constantly,” he said.

“Set aside quality as an ambition, because quality is a given for us,” he explained.

It’s the kindness that makes us different. Being kind is the easiest thing we do in this building.”

Now, Wetzel and the rest of the team are sharing their passions with the rest of the Horizon West community.

“I think the only thing better than being a part of something great is creating something great,” Wetzel said. “We are creating our own history here. We decide how great we want to be here, and we plan on exceeding all expectations.”

IN OTHER NEWS

n Commissioner Larry Brinson read a proclamation commemorating February as Black History Month, which is honored by the entire country to celebrate the accomplishments of African-Americans. It also coincides with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, two key figures in the abolitionist movement to end slavery in the United States. n Prior to the meeting, the commission held its State of the City meeting with a video featuring Johnson speaking on how Ocoee fared during 2021.

“2021 brought us so much progress and development,” Johnson said, speaking on updates on the construction of the new City Hall and other projects going on around the city. “We are invested in Ocoee’s continued success as a hub of nature, family, health and fun,” Johnson said in his closing remarks. n Annexation and rezoning of a property on North Lakewood Road was unanimously passed by the commission. n Commissioners voted to cancel the March 15 meeting.

CONTACT US

The West Orange Times, West Orange Times & Observer and Southwest Orange Observer are published once weekly, on Thursdays. The papers can be found in many commercial locations throughout West Orange and Southwest Orange.

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.

TO ADVERTISE

For display or digital advertising, call (407) 656-2121.

For Classifieds, call (407) 656-2121.

SEND US YOUR NEWS We want to hear from you. Let us know about your events, celebrations and achievements.

To contact us, email to Michael Eng, meng@OrangeObserver.com.

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP PUBLIC NOTICES The West Orange Times meets the legal requirements to publish legal and public notices in Orange County per F.S. 50.011 USPS Periodicals Permit (USPS# 687-120)

WEST ORANGE TIMES

The West Orange Times (USPS 687120) is published weekly for $40 per year ($50 outside of Orange County) by the Observer Media Group, 661 Garden Commerce Parkway, Winter Garden, Florida, 34787. Periodical postage paid at Winter Garden, Florida. POSTMASTER: Send changes of address to the (name of pub; i.e., West Orange Times, West Orange Times & Observer or Southwest Orange Observer), Observer Media Group, P.O. Box 135, Lincolnshire, Illinois 60069-0135.

Observer Media Group Inc.

is locally owned.

Publisher of the Longboat Observer, East County Observer, Sarasota Observer, Siesta Key Observer, Palm Coast Observer, Ormond Beach Observer, West Orange Times & Observer, Southwest Orange Observer, Business Observer, Jacksonville Daily Record, Jacksonville Record & Observer, LWR Life Magazine, Baldwin Park Living Magazine and Season Magazine

Founding Editor and CEO / Matt Walsh President / Emily Walsh Vice President / Lisa Walsh Chairman Emeritus / David Beliles

1970 Main St. Third Floor Sarasota, FL 34236 941-366-3468

OrangeObserver.com © 2019 The Observer Media Group Inc. All Rights Reserved

OrangeObserver.com

OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

5

Theatre South Playhouse to stage ‘Nunsense’ Executive Director Hillary Brook, the playhouse family and guest supporters are coming together for the comedic musical in February.

ANNABELLE SIKES STAFF WRITER

What started out in a small office at the Rosen JCC has now turned into an artistic staple in the Dr. Phillips community.

Executive Director Hillary Brook started Theatre South Orlando in 2009 with a philosophy that when students are inspired by working with diverse professional artists, anything is possible.

“The programs we offer are so unique, and although we primarily started off with a youth focus — we have so much pride in our youth — we now have so many amazing professionals who have joined us, and we really want to be seen as a legitimately professional theater company,” Brook said.

As part of that journey, the theatre is now taking on its first professional performance of 2022, “Nunsense.”

“Nunsense” follows the story of The Little Sisters of Hoboken who have just discovered that their cook, Sister Julia, Child of God, has accidentally poisoned 52 of the sisters, and they are in dire need of funds for the burials. The sisters decide the best way to raise the money is to put on a variety show.

The musical takes audience members on a comedic journey where they meet the Rev. Mother Regina, a former circus performer; Sister Mary Hubert, the Mistress of Novices; a streetwise nun from Brooklyn named Sister Robert Anne; Sister Mary Leo, a novice who is a wannabe ballerina; and the delightfully wacky

Sister Mary Amnesia, the nun who lost her memory when a crucifix fell on her head.

“The characters are so perfectly cast that they’re really just an extension of who they are, and that’s what performing is all about — taking yourself and putting yourself into someone else’s shoes,” said Brook, who plays Sister Robert Anne.

The show features tap and ballet dancing, an audience quiz, comic surprises and more.

A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

Since its original production in the 1980s, the show has become an international phenomenon.

“Nunsense” has had more than 5,000 productions worldwide and been translated into 21 languages.

Tom Vazzana, who was part of the original production’s creative team more than 30 years ago, will also be joining the playhouse as a guest director.

“It was amazing because this little show became a monumental hit and then a franchise,” Vazzana said.

“People always say how funny the show is … and that’s all true, but what they forget and what they don’t know is that the reason it worked is because of these five exceptionally strong and authentic women with a heart who carry the show. What they say between the lightning strikes of comedy was kind of ahead of its time in a way.”

The guest director said the play was one of the first to showcase individuality and inclusivity.

“It’s not what you do or what you

“Nunsense” follows The Little Sisters of Hoboken who attempt to raise money for the unexpected burial of 52 of the sisters by putting on a variety show.

wear — it’s who you are,” he said. “It was one of the first shows to have a person of color in a role dedicated to a person of color, and it showcased women in roles of power. What may have back then seemed untraditional actually was a success.”

“The play really is a tribute to the original show,” Brook said. “Normally, at the playhouse, we do our own take of shows, but it’s been really special having Tom here to help us preserve this play.”

The playhouse will use most of the original direction by Dan Goggin and the original choreography by Felton Smith.

In fact, Goggin contacted the playhouse and bought two tickets for every show and gave them back as a donation to give to others who might not yet have experienced theater.

COVID-19

Brook said the coronavirus pandemic has had a serious impact on the playhouse.

The playhouse sold out its “Matilda” rendition in 2019 and was on its way to another big hit when the pandemic hit.

“It really took us a while to think outside the box, and we went to

LEGACY EVENTS FOR EDUCATION PRESENTS THE INAUGURAL

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Main Stage production of “Nunsense” WHEN: Feb. 10-20 WHERE: Theatre South Playhouse at 7601 Della Drive, Suite #15 TICKETS: bit.ly/3HyQ3Ds

online programming because safety is 100% our top priority,” she said.

“If someone gets sick, we can’t have a show, and theater is here to teach us and to help us escape, especially during these times.”

Vazzana said Brook has gone above and beyond to protect the people who visit the theater, performers, staff and audience. He said she does onsite COVID testing a few times each week and everyone stays masked in the building.

HISTORY

Since 2009, Theatre South has not only become a safe place for young people to learn their craft, but also a place for local artists to share their gifts.

Theatre South Orlando then became a non-profit in 2016 under the new name, Theater South Play-

house.

Today, the playhouse has evolved into a professional theater, an academic conservatory and a community center for chidlren, teens and adults to perfect their craft.

The theater’s unique conservatory, going into its fourth year, allows young professional performers to do their schoolwork and stray away from the traditional school schedule.

“This accredited school is a special place for someone who may be a little unique and different,” Brook said. “They can sit in and feel okay with who they are and being a creative artist.”

Brook said having the support of Dr. Phillips, the theater’s board of directors, friends, family, professionals and the Orlando community as a whole has meant the world to her and the playhouse.

“This playhouse is made up of theater artists in the area, and I am so happy to provide them an opportunity to work and develop their craft,” Brook said. “They’re able to give back to the community, teach, perform, build a safe space — and we wouldn’t be able to do any of this without this special community.”

GET ‘EM

BEFORE THEY’RE GONE! TICKETS

E ADVANC ALES TICKET S OST ARE ALM OVER!

ON SALE NOW!

HAMLIN TOWN CENTER FEBRUARY 19,2022 I 12PM - 5PM

$12 IN ADVANCE $15 AT THE GATE TICKETS AND SIGN UP INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT WWW.CENTRALFLORIDACHILICOOKOFF.COM cfchilicookoff

Are you known as

THE CHILI MASTER by your family and friends?

JOIN THE COMPETITION! more information at www.centralfloridachilicookoff.com

PRESENTING SPONSOR

KID’S ZONE SPONSOR

370030-1

CO-SPONSORS

5 0 + C H IL I B O OTH S F O O D TRUCKS BEVE RAG E S V E NDO RS T RUC K DJ O B STAC L E CO URS E K ID S B O UNC E H O US E S C ORNH O L E TO URNAME NT

OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

|

OCPS making progress with technical school relocation

YOU HAVE A CHOICE! You can choose your real estate title closing agent when buying, selling or refinancing!

www.treasuretitle.com

12200 W. Colonial Dr., Suite 200B Winter Garden, FL 34787

CALL TREASURE TITLE TODAY

In LovIng MeMory

Jerry Ragan

Learn how we can save you money, provide peace of mind and help protect your investment.

COMMUNITY EDITOR

373823-1

info@treasuretitle.com 407-654-8811

2/06/1961 • 11/04/2008

In Loving Memory

Jerry Ragan 2/06/1961 • 11/04/2008

Happy Bir thday!

374607-1

Forever in our hearts. All our love, Mama, Daddy, Jamie, Jacob, Jared, Renee, and Family

Orange Technical College – West Campus is moving to a larger campus and into a new facility that will be custom-built for a tech school, said Lauren Roth, senior manager of Facilities Communications for Orange County Public Schools. OTC West, traditionally known as Westside Tech, opened in 1974 in the former Charles R. Drew High School, which closed in 1969 following desegregation.

OCPS has nearly completed the design phase for OTC West’s replacement school, and construction should begin this summer. The new facility, to be located near Ocoee High School on Ocoee-Apopka Road, is on track for a spring 2024 opening, Roth said.

“The new site is larger, and it also will allow us to continue offering technical classes in the community without disruption,” Roth said.

“There is currently no space for additions.”

OTC West sits on 18.8 acres; the new site is 37.5 acres, allowing for more space for handson education. There will be 506 parking spaces and 1,110 student stations, but there is room for future expansion.

The school will offer instruction in construction trades, welding technology, apprenticeship, human services and adult education.

The facility will have event space, a hybrid lab, student commons, human services labs, construction labs, campus store, childcare and a salon for the community. A construction yard and solar panels are in the plans as well.

“It’s that community’s turn,” Roth said of West Orange. “They deserve an updated facility like the others are going to be. This is going to be a custom facility built for the needs of the community, and we’re really excited about it.”

The construction budget is $42.3 million.

When You Need the Very Best.

Forever in our hearts

Pure Silk Wonderfulness in 200+ Colors.

Infants thru Plus Sizes Boys to Size14

Mama, Daddy, Jamie, Jacob, Jared, Renee, and Family.

All our love,

e m o c l e W

REFRESH YOUR

! l l HOME a F Starting at $190 Appointment Required

COMMUNITY MEETING SET

AMY QUESINBERRY

194456

6

IS A BUS COMPOUND COMING?

OCPS is considering building a bus compound for about 100 buses on the East Story Road site after OTC West moves to its new home in 2024.

The idea still is in the planning stages, Roth said.

The first community meeting is taking place Wednesday, Feb. 16, so neighbors and residents can hear from OCPS staff as well as facilities, transportation and environmental department representatives.

Parked buses are kept at depots; buses can be parked and serviced at the compounds. OCPS currently has four depots and three compounds.

OCPS district staff and School Board Vice Chair Melissa Byrd are hosting a community meeting to discuss the proposed future use of the Orange Technical College - West Campus property after the school is relocated in 2024. OCPS is considering building a bus compound on the site.

WHEN: 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16 WHERE: 955 E. Story Road, Winter Garden DETAILS: Call Lauren Roth, OCPS Facilities Communications, at (407) 317-3774 with questions.

Roth said a study showed OCPS needed to find more bus locations.

“We had a study in 2011 that said we had buses driving a long way out of their way,” she said. “That wastes a lot of staff time and money,” Roth said.

Roth said other compounds are located in neighborhoods. She added that Melissa Byrd, Orange County School Board vice chair, lives in a neighborhood near a bus compound and has said it’s not disruptive.

Byrd will be at the Feb. 16 meeting, and attendees will hear a presentation on the proposed idea and why this is the best location.

OCPS has not hired an architect, Roth said.

“It’s in planning,” she said. “We’re starting the process so we can talk to the community so we can show them what we’re thinking.”

Roth said it costs more than $1 million extra annually to move school buses back and forth instead of parking them close to the area they serve.

The bus compound, Roth said, would bring more than 150 jobs to the area and save taxpayers money.

“It would be a job center, and it would be a new high-tech facility with the latest, most updated pollution standards for the buses, and there would be (intentional construction) for minimal impact on the neighborhood. The buses and maintenance bays would be positioned closer to the industrial uses near there.”

HONORING HISTORY

100 $50 Dress up that plain door for the season!

OFF OFF OF 374726-1

407-928-2377 PEGEEN.COM $

Any Full MORE Glass BUY MORE & SAVE Leaded

DOG DAY$ OF DOG DAY$

The former Drew High site is full of history, and OCPS intends to memorialize the space with possibly a historical marker, Roth said.

“OCPS is very aware of how meaningful, of how important this site is to the community, and we respect that, and we want the highest and best use of the property, just like they do.”

Any 1/2 Leaded Glass

$AVING$ $AVING$ t r a h e t S we e eals DAY$ OF DDOG

TOWN OF OAKLAND NOTICE OF MULTIPLE FAMILY TAKE DEVELOPMENT MORATORIUM F O E G A T N PACKAGE DEAL DAYS ARE BACK! PUBLIC HEARING PACKAGE DAYS ARE BACK! ADVADEAL !

S L A DE FULL GLASS HALF GLASS E S E FULL GLASS HALF FREEGLASS H T THIS WILL BE A HYBRID IN-PERSON/VIRTUAL MEETING EE FR $ $ $ ouse Door 100 OFF Door In-House $In50-HOFF 50 OFF Door 100 OFF $Door matesThe $Town of Oakland will hold a public hearing to consider a moratorium ordinance regarding all INTERIO R DOOR es at $ $Esti tim Es 125 OFF Door & 1 Sidelight Door & 1 Sidelight multiple use, development, site plan, zoning and permitting.

125 OFF DoorSLAB & 1 Sidelight 75 OFF Door75&family 1OFF Sidelight SPECIAL $ $ $ $ 150 & 2 Sidelights 100 OFF Door & 2 Sidelights ORDINANCE 2021-28 150 OFF WeDoor & 2OFF & 2 Sidelights have COMPLETE DOOR aSidelights largeDoor selection of slabs: 100 OFF Door $ AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF OAKLAND, FLORIDA, ESTABLISHING A TEMPORARY Assorted Styles, REPLACEMENTS NOW AVAILABLE! Pantry, $Homegrown, 100 OFF Matching (over 5 sq. ft.)

100 OFF Matching Transom (over 5 sq. Transom ft.)

MORATORIUM (180 DAYS) ON THE ACCEPTANCE AND PROCESSING OF NEW APPLICATIONS Wheat-Frosted,

Package ! out? ealswearing DDoors Are your Entry

$AVING$

Leaded only.

Not good on closeout marked downsales. glass.Must Notbegood on priorbetween sales. Must be purchased Reedglass, Leaded glass only. Not good on glass closeout or marked down glass. Notorgood on prior purchased 8/1 thru 8/31/21. between 8/1 thru 8/31/21.

Laundry FOR SPECIAL EXCEPTION USES, REZONINGS, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENTS, AND ANY Change out those old sliding glass doors with new French doors with blinds!

OTHER DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS OR PLANS PROPOSING TO INCREASE MULTI-FAMILY FRONT NEW DOORS COMPLETE DOOR REPLACEMENTS NOW AVAILABLE! ENTITLEMENTS WITHIN THE TOWN OF OAKLAND, FLORIDA; PROVIDING FOR LEGISLATIVE ENTRY WITH YOUR anyDOOR full door panel Are your Entry Doors wearing out? * FINDINGS OF FACT AND DEFINITIONS; AND PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS, SEVERABILITY, AND W/ 1 SIDE-LIGHT CHOICE of Change out those old sliding glass doors with $ $ AN EFFECTIVE DATE. OR Door or FULL doors wearing Door Are your½ entry new your French doors with IN-STOCK blinds!

Are entry doors out? wearing out?

ANY 2 SIDE-LIGHTS GLASS Location Map: $ $ NEW DOORS DOORS FRONT Door&&11 sidelight Sidelight Door &out 1 Sidelight any full door Change out those Change those WITH YOUR ENTRY A second and final public hearing by the $ OF old$ sliding glass DOOR oldDoor sliding glass CHOICE Door & 2 Sidelights & 2 Sidelights Town Commission is scheduled to be held of slabs: 1/2 OR FULLWe have a large selection We have a large selection of slabs: WITH 1 doors with new at the following time, date, and place: doors with new Pantry, Homegrown,Pantry, Assorted Styles, GLASS $ Homegrown, Assorted Styles, SIDELIGHT ANY DBL DOOR, SWAP

PACKAGE DEALCOMPLETE DAYS ARE BACK! $100 OFF COMPLETE DOOR REPLACEMENTS DOOR REPLACEMENTS 25-40% FULL GLASS NOW NOW AVAILABLE! AVAILABLE! FREE HALF GLASS OFF ouse 50 OFF 100 OFF -H In $150 OFF Estimates 75 OFF INTERIOR DOOR DOOR INTERIOR 125 OFF 150 OFF

SLAB SPECIAL SLAB SPECIAL

100 OFF

RS OFF MIRRO$200 100 OFF Matching Transom French doors French doors (over 5 sq. ft.)

2 SIDELeaded glass only. Not goodMirror on&closeout or marked down glass. Not good on prior sales. Must beOR purchased between 8/1 thru 8/31/21.

After any full door 2 Wrap sidelights

or PRE-HUNG LIGHTS with blinds! with blinds! UNIT

OUTWheat Frosted, Reedglass, Wheat Laundry Frosted, Reedglass, Laundry

* * 25-40% OFF 25-40% OFF NEW DOORS WITH ANY IN STOCK DOORS NEW DOORS WITH

Before Mirror Wrap

FRONT ENTRY DOOR FRONT ENTRY DOOR COMPLETE W/1 SIDE-LIGHT REPLACEMENTS YOUR CHOICE OF $50 OFFDOOR W/1 SIDE-LIGHT YOUR CHOICE OF OR 2 SIDE-LIGHTSINTERIOR SLAB DOOR½SPECIAL OR FULL GLASS OR 2 SIDE-LIGHTS ½ OR FULL GLASS any 1/2 door panel NOW AVAILABLE! We have a large selection of slabs: After Mirror Wrap Before Mirror Wrap

Mirror Wrap e your entry doors wearing out? BeforePantry, Mirror Wrap Homegrown,After Assorted Styles,

$75 OFF 10% OFF 15% OFF $100 OFF 2 OR ...

INTERIOR DOOR Wheat Frosted, Reedglass, Laundry Change out those SLAB SPECIAL any 1/2 door & 1 sidelight old sliding glassOR We have a large selection of slabs: doors with new Pantry, Homegrown, ANY IN STOCK DOORSAssorted Styles, In-Hom Wheat Frosted, Reedglass, Laundry French doors Estim e with blinds! * MORE at

FREE25-40% OFF*

SLIDING SHOWER DOORS DOORS SLIDING SHOWER installed $ any installed OFF $OFF any sliding door

50 50

sliding door

All hearings are open to the public however attendance inside the Oakland Meeting Hall may be limited to accommodate social distancing. Any interested party is invited to offer comments about this request at the public hearing or in advance by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 18, 2022, in writing to the Town of Oakland, PO Box 98, Oakland FL 34760, or by e-mail to ehui@oaklandfl.gov. A copy of the request can be inspected at the Town Hall. Any party appealing a land use decision made at a public hearing must ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which includes the evidence and testimony that is the basis of the appeal.

SHOWER DOORS DOORS DOORSWING 10% 10% OFF SWING SHOWER S$ OFF OFF Any 1 Frame OFF $100 OFF $ F R E E OFF OFF Any 1 Frame $ $ $ In-15% Home OFF 50 OFF any carved design any clear swing SLIDING SHOWER DOORS EsShower Any Sliding tima2tDoor 15% OFF or esMore swing shower door over sf shower door over 15 any sf clear swing any25carved design any installed 2 or More OFF $ swing shower door over 25 sf shower door over 15 sf $ 50 OFF SHOWERS door Perry’ssliding Decorative Glass any 1/2 door & 2 sidelights

MIRROR MATE

ONT ENTRY DOOR SIDE-LIGHT 2 SIDE-LIGHTS

Mirror Wrap

ANY IN STOCK DOORS

DATE: Tuesday, February 22, 2022 WHERE: Town Meeting Hall, 221 N. Arrington Street, Oakland, FL WHEN: 7:00 P.M. or VIRTUALLY: See Join Zoom Meeting Instructions below

NEW DOORS WITH YOUR CHOICE OF ½ OR FULL GLASS

es

25-40% OFF

ANY IN STOCK DOORS

100100 50 50

any After matching Mirror Wrap transom (over 5 sq.ft.)

50

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

THRU 8/31/21

THRU 8/31/21

Any person needing special accommodations to attend a public hearing must contact Elise Hui, Town Clerk, at

407-656-1117 x 2110, at least 24 hours before the meeting.

Any Clear Swinging This meeting will be held as an in-person meeting and attendees may also attend virtually through the Zoom Shower Door up1122 to 25Bichara s/f Blvd, Next to Publix on Route 441/27

Perry’s Decorative Glass $100 OFF $50 SWING SHOWER DOORS $ 1122 Bichara Blvd, Next• to Publix on Route 441/27 www.EntryPointbyPerrys.com 751-0883 10%OFF OFF 100 OFF ANY SHOWER DOOR Any UP TO1 21Frame S/F Any

SHOWERS

100

$

ANY SHOWER DOOR

50

$

15% OFF 2 or More

any carved design any clear swing Lake, swing1122 showerBichara door overBlvd, 25 sf Lady shower doorFLover 15 sf

*FREE Can of Glass Cleaner w/Any Shower Purchase (352) 751-0883 THRU 8/31/21

Topic: February 22nd Town Commission Hybrid Work Session and Regular Meeting (In-person and Zoom)

*Not good with sales, promos or OFF www.EntryPointbyPerrys.com • 751-0883 already marked down.

Clear22Swinging S/F and upOFF Facebook.com/entrypointbyPerrys Time: February 22, closeouts 2022Lic. 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) # SCC131151683 *Not good with sales, promos or Shower Door over 26 s/f closeouts already marked down.

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83200860019 Facebook.com/entrypointbyPerrys

Perry’s Decorative Glass

www.entrypointbyperrys.com

Perry’s Decorative Glass

*Not good with sales, prior orders, promos or closeouts already marked down. Lic. # SCC131151683

1122 Bichara Blvd, Next to Publix on Route 441/27

www.EntryPointbyPerrys.com • 751-0883

1122 Bichara Blvd, Next to Publix

*Not good with sales, promos or closeouts already marked down.

Lic. # SCC131151683

Meeting ID: 832 0086 0019 Passcode: 2nEURg One tap mobile

+19292056099,,83200860019#,,,,*858264# US (New York)

Dial by your location +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) Meeting ID: 832 0086 0019 Passcode: 858264

374418-1

373850-1

Platform. Instructions below will allow you to join the meeting virtually:

OrangeObserver.com

OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

7

Chamber announces triumphant return of Big Orange Awards The annual celebration of accomplishments returns with a groovy theme.

AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

Pull out your flowered jumpsuits, leisure suits and other ’70s-inspired cocktail attire and join the West Orange Chamber of Commerce for its annual Big Orange Awards — back after a hiatus because of COVID-19.

The annual program takes place at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11.

The chamber, which was started in 1972, is taking guests back to where it all began with a ’70s-themed celebration of accomplishments and triumphs of some of its 1,100 member businesses.

“The West Orange Chamber is excited about this event and having the opportunity to honor those who have done so much for our community,” said Krista Compton Carter, chamber vice president.

Two awards will be announced that night — the recipients of the small and big businesses of the year.

Other members are receiving the following awards: Chair’s Award, Orlando City Commissioner Bakari Burns, for his commitment to advancing the business community; Mary Van Deventer “The Spirit of West Orange” Award, Lynetta Tipton Steed, for her nearly 20-year commitment to the community and sharing her expertise to help others, especially women, succeed; Sam Hovsepian Award, Oakland Town Commissioner Joseph McMullen, for his contributions to the community in his capacity as president of The Tri-County League of Cities and his leadership of HAPCO; George Bailey Award, Joe Dunn, for being the master of building partnerships that better the community that are

BIG ORANGE AWARDS WHEN: Friday, Feb. 11: reception at 6:30 p.m., dinner and program from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

WHERE: Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, 1000 W. Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista TICKETS: $110 for chamber members, $150 for non-members and $900 for reserved corporate tables for eight.

Reservations can be made at bit.ly/3APoNOp.

focused on protecting and enhancing the natural environment; Bert Roper Award, West Orange Healthcare District, for its continued focus on improving the wellbeing and quality of life of this community; Lifetime Ambassador, Joan Bailey, for her compassionate nature and dedication to the West Orange Chamber Ambassadors; and the Danniel J. Petro “The Bright Future of West Orange” Award, JoAnne Quarles, for being committed to the community for the last 45 years and emulating the qualities of this award’s namesake: tenacity, determination and building lifelong relationships.

Event sponsors are Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando Health, AdventHealth, Duke Energy, Healthy West Orange, Dawn Gilmore Productions and State Farm Insurance – Jo Barsh Agency.

ADVERTISMENT

What it means to

L VE YOUR SMILE F

or over 30 years, our doctors have dedicated their careers to empowering people of all ages to smile and laugh with confidence. We believe that orthodontics goes beyond just straightening teeth. It’s an opportunity to encourage expression and build self-esteem. “I have the opportunity to brighten people’s smiles every day...literally! It doesn’t get better than that.” says Dr. Brewer of his job.

THERE’S ALWAYS A REASON TO SMILE!

At our office, your care begins before we even place a bracket or deliver an aligner. We want everyone who walks through our doors to feel welcomed and excited about the possibilities ahead.

Whether you are an adult, teen or child, our dedicated team of highly qualified professionals will work closely with you to develop a treatment plan that is best suited for your orthodontic goals.

Orthodontics have changed a great deal in the last decade as a result of incredible new digital technology. Whether a patient chooses to be treated with braces or aligners, in many cases, we are able to complete a full digital impression of the teeth and actually show our new patients what their teeth will look like at the conclusion of treatment!

Both Dr. Fravel and Dr. Brewer bring incomparable knowledge and enthusiasm to each office visit. Their team approach is unmatched! And when treatment is complete, they want you to walk away loving your smile. “I love when patients return to let me know how their orthodontic experience made such a difference in their lives.” says Dr. Fravel.

We want you to have fun while we work to brighten your smile.

THAT’S WHY WE OFFER: The Selfie Station Video Game Area

Tell Your Story allows brands and businesses to connect directly with the Observer’s readership — and participate in the converation — by creating engaging content on the observer’s digital publishing platform. For more on Tell Your Story, email us at advertising@OrangeObserver.com.

373324-1

374346-1

Office Contests with Prizes

8

OBSERVER

|

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

Healthy West Orange hosts 2022 Fresh Start Festival

Sandra Murphy and Greg Gordon didn’t let the icy winds stop them from running in the 5K.

Jennifer Hunt from the Oakland Nature Preserve cuddled with Primrose the opossum.

H

ealthy West Orange hosted the 2022 Fresh Start Festival Saturday, Jan. 29, at the Healthy West Orange Arts and Heritage Center at the Town of Oakland.

The festival aimed to encourage locals to kick start the new year with healthier and happier habits such as exercising, eating healthy and having a good time.

The event kicked off at 9 a.m. in the town of Oakland and ran through noon.

Adults, children and pets came together despite the cold weather and gathered at the center, where they played games, took part in activities, tasted delicious bites and listened to catchy tunes.

Familiar faces from area businesses also were in attendance, including Warrior One Yoga, Live2Row, YMCA of Central Florida and Vitality Bowls.

Perhaps the main event, the 5K, had attendees running, biking and walking, with the option to participate virtually.

Top: iCycle Indoor was one of the many local organizations that attended the event.

Left:Anyelika Arboleda from Healthy West Orange hosted a fun wheel to get attendees active.

— ANNABELLE SIKES

THE WORLD’S GREATEST FIREARMS EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU WORK WITH ME, YOU WORK WITH THE

#1 NAME IN 373844-1

REAL ESTATE

TAKE YOUR FIRST SHOTS AT SHOOTERS WORLD FREE CLASS DAILY FOR BEGINNERS

www.tennillebiggers.com

weekdays at 6pm, weekends at noon* Children 7+ are welcome and must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Reach Out Today!

*Please call ahead to confirm class time, as classes may change due to private events

(850) 628-4455

student physicals $30 On-site services include X-Rays, IV rehydration, drug screens, work & DOT physicals, auto accident evaluation & injury care, and FDA Approved Covid-19 Testing

Office Now Open 9am-7pm, 7 Days a Week

Walk-In Clinic

TennilleBiggers@kw.com

373839-1

407.500.GUNS | WWW.SHOOTERSWORLD.COM/ORLANDO | 4850 LAWING LANE ORLANDO, FL 32811

TELEMEDIC INE AVAILABLE 407-960-218 8 Quality healt h at your finge care Seven Days rtips, a Week 9am-7pm

Next to Windermere High School

373841-1

407-203-1682

OrangeObserver.com

REAL ESTATE

OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

9

Work in Your Own Backyard!

CITY OF

WINTER GARDEN IS HIRING!

Tired of commuting?

Looking for more time to do the things you love?

Work where you live and add to your quality of life.

As our community continues to grow and thrive, the City of Winter Garden is seeking qualified individuals that exemplify the “Winter Garden Way” of providing top-notch service that residents expect, deserve, and appreciate. Candidates should possess a motivated mindset and a can-do attitude to find creative solutions, while always putting the citizens first.

coldwellbankerhomes.com

The home at 5943 Masters Blvd., Orlando, sold Jan. 12, for $2.1 million. This custom home features a total renovation and overlooks multiple fairways.

Bay Hill estate for $2.1 million community in Dr. Phil-

lips topped all West Orange-

SNAPSHOT Total Sales: 58 High Sale Price: $2.1 million Low Sale Price: $218,000

and Southwest Orange-area

area. Days on market: 37.

residential real-estate trans-

BRENTWOOD CLUB

Blvd., Orlando, sold Jan.

The home at 8714 Beckingham Place, Orlando, sold Jan. 18, for $750,000. Built in 1991, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 3,132 square feet of living area. Days on market: Two.

12, for $2.1 million. Built in

HERITAGE BAY

actions from Jan. 8 to 14.

The home at 5943 Masters

5,447 square feet of living

The home at 9007 Heritage Bay Circle, Orlando, sold Jan. 14, for $786,000. Built in 1999, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 3,196 square feet of living area. Days on market: One.

area. Days on market: Six.

HIDDEN BEACH

1996, it has four bedrooms, six baths, two half-baths and

in West Orange

The home at 6561 Hidden Beach Circle, Orlando, sold Jan. 14, for $485,000. Built in 1986, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,072 square feet of living area. Days on market: Eight.

DR. PHILLIPS

ISLES AT CAY COMMONS

These are the highest-selling homes in each community

BAY HILL

The home at 5943 Masters Blvd., Orlando, sold Jan. 12, for $2.1 million. Built in 1996, it has four bedrooms, six baths, two half-baths and 5,447 square feet of living area.

Days on market: Six. The home at 6087 Barrington Court, Orlando, sold Jan. 11, for $860,000. Built in 1983, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,827 square feet of living area. Days on market: 22.

The home at 8950 Royal Birkdale Lane, Orlando, sold Jan. 14, for $790,000. Built in 1980, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 3,668 square feet of living

The condo at 4114 Breakview Drive, No. 11002, Orlando, sold Jan. 12, for $349,000. Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,412 square feet of living area. Days on market: 32.

NORTH BAY

The home at 9137 Dollanger Court, Orlando, sold Jan. 11, for $553,000.

Built in 2000, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,236 square feet of living area. Days on market: 64.

PARKSIDE

The home at 8167 Chilton Drive, Orlando, sold Jan. 12, for $860,000.

Built in 2015, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 3,306 square feet of

373321-1

A

home in the Bay Hill

Winter Garden is a great place to both live and work.

Explore the job opportunities and the impressive benefit package at www.cwgdn.com and click on Jobs at bottom of home page.

TOWN OF OAKLAND NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ANNEXATION OF 44.45 ACRES THIS WILL BE A HYBRID IN-PERSON/VIRTUAL MEETING

The Town of Oakland will hold a public hearing and proposes to adopt an ordinance to annex property located in the north-central area adjacent to Lake Apopka in the Town of Oakland, Florida, containing approximately 44.45 acres, as follows:

ORDINANCE 2022-03 AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF OAKLAND, FLORIDA, ANNEXING BY VOLUNTARY PETITION CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY OWNED BY JEFFERSON R. VOSS, JEFFERSON RICH VOSS TRUST, AND VOSS FAMILY HOLDINGS, LLC BEARING PROPERTY TAX PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS 20-22-27-0000-00-005; 20-22-27-0000-00-004; 20-22-27-0000-00-009; 20-22-27-0000-00-036; 20-22-27-0000-00-021; 20-22-270000-00-078; 20-22-27-0000-00-003; AND 20-22-27-0000-00-010, AND LOCATED CONTIGUOUS TO THE TOWN OF OAKLAND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION PROVISIONS OF SECTION 171.044, FLORIDA STATUTES, AND OTHER CONTROLLING LAW; REDEFINING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE TOWN OF OAKLAND TO INCLUDE SAID PROPERTY; PROVIDING FOR FINDINGS; PROVIDING FOR CONDITIONS; DIRECTING THE TOWN CLERK TO RECORD THE ORDINANCE WITH THE CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT, WITH THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER OF ORANGE COUNTY AND WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE; PROVIDING FOR LEGAL DESCRIPTION AND A MAP; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR NON-CODIFICATION AND THE TAKING OF ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. General Site Description: Approximately 44.45 acres, generally located on the north side of the Town of Oakland, adjacent to Lake Apopka.

A public hearing by the Town Commission is scheduled to be held at the request of the property owner/developer at the following time, date, and place:

DATE: Tuesday, February 22, 2022 WHERE: Town Meeting Hall, 221 N. Arrington St., Oakland, FL WHEN: 7:00 P.M. or VIRTUALLY: See Join Zoom Meeting Instructions below All hearings are open to the public however attendance inside the Oakland Meeting Hall may be limited to accommodate social distancing. Any interested party is invited to offer comments about this request at the public hearing or in advance by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 18, 2022, in writing to the Town of Oakland, PO Box 98, Oakland FL 34760, or by e-mail to ehui@oaklandfl.gov. A copy of the request can be inspected at the Town Hall. Any party appealing a land use decision made at a public hearing must ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which includes the evidence and testimony that is the basis of the appeal.

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

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

This meeting will be held as an in-person meeting and attendees may also attend virtually through the Zoom Platform. Instructions below will allow you to join the meeting virtually: Topic: : February 22nd Town Commission Hybrid Work Session and Regular Meeting (In-person and Zoom)

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83200860019 Meeting ID: 832 0086 0019 Passcode: 2nEURg One tap mobile +19292056099,,83200860019#,,,,*858264# US (New York) Dial by your location +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) Meeting ID: 832 0086 0019 Passcode: 858264

374414-1

373883-1

Time: February 22, 2022, 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

OBSERVER

|

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

Personalized care with compassion and excellence.

REAL ESTATE

living area. Days on market: 20.

Office Hours:

Mon-Fri 8AM-5PM Saturday Mornings 8-12

By Appointment Only 1551 Boren Drive, Suite A Ocoee, FL 34761 Wellington Esquea, PA-C Dr. Bindu Kakkanatt Dr. Shaista Usmani • Dr. Shahid Usmani

SAND LAKE PRIVATE RESIDENCES

The condo at 8801 Latrec Ace., No. 8103, Orlando, sold Jan. 14, for $218,000. Built in 1994, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,003 square feet of living area. Days on market: Two. VISTA CAY AT HARBOR SQUARE

The condo at 4840 Cayview Ave., No. 107, Orlando, sold Jan. 14, for $345,000. Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,097 square feet of living area. Days on market: 13.

HORIZON WEST

ALEXANDER RIDGE

The home at 2245 Romanum Drive, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 12, for $595,000. Built in 2014, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,974 square feet of living area.

Days on market: Three.

Se Habla Español

CARRINGTON

The townhouse at 8630 Via Tavoleria Way, Windermere, sold Jan. 12, for $362,000. Built in 2014, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,919 square feet of living area.

Call 407-395-2037 • www.OcoeeKidsDocs.com 373834-1

Serving the Community Since 1966

THE COVE AT HAMLIN

The home at 5554 Thomas Square Drive, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 12, for $545,000. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,252 square feet of living area.

Days on market: Six. The home at 15143 Kirsty Alley, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 10, for $545,000.

Built in 2017, it has five bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 3,055 square feet of living area. Days on market: Nine.

Now Offering PRP Injections

ENCORE AT OVATION

The home at 12056 Encore at Ovation Way, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 10, for $525,000. Built in 2021, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,819 square feet of living area.

Days on market: Two.

Empowering Patients and Restoring Active Lifestyles.

Open Monday - Friday Call us at (407) 654-3505 For Appointments: Press 3

HIGHLANDS AT SUMMERLAKE GROVES

Authorizations and Referrals can be faxed to (407) 654-4956

www.westorangeorthopaedics.com

The townhouse at 15651 Kinnow Mandarin Lane, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 10, for $380,000. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, three-and-onehalf baths and 2,196 square feet of living area. Days on market: 73.

373848-1

596 Ocoee Commerce Pkwy, Ocoee, FL 34761-4219

TOWN OF OAKLAND NOTICE OF CHANGE OF FUTURE LAND USE PLAN MAP DESIGNATION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PUBLIC HEARING THIS WILL BE A HYBRID IN-PERSON/VIRTUAL MEETING The Oakland Town Commission will hold a public hearing to consider a proposed change to the Town’s Future Land Use Plan Map Designation of its Comprehensive Plan of the following property generally located in the north central quadrant of the Town of Oakland, containing approximately 44.45 acres.

ORDINANCE NO. 2022-04 AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF OAKLAND, FLORIDA, CHANGING THE TOWN’S FUTURE LAND USE PLAN MAP DESIGNATION OF ITS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FROM “RURAL” (ORANGE COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN) TO “LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL” IN THE TOWN OF OAKLAND’S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, FOR CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY OWNED BY JEFFERSON R. VOSS, JEFFERSON RICH VOSS TRUST, AND VOSS FAMILY HOLDINGS, LLC, BEING ORANGE COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISER PARCEL NUMBERS 20-22-27-0000-00-005; 20-22-27-0000-00-004; 20-2227-0000-00-009; 20-22-27-0000-00-036; 20-22-27-0000-00-021; 20-22-27-0000-00-078; 20-22-270000-00-003; AND 20-22-27-0000-00-010, WITH AN APPROXIMATE SIZE OF 44.45 ACRES; MAKING FINDINGS, AND PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS, SEVERABILITY, AND FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Location Map:

A public hearing by the Town Commission is scheduled to be held at the following time, date, and place:

DATE: Tuesday, February 22, 2022 WHERE: Town Meeting Hall, 221 N. Arrington Street, Oakland, FL WHEN: 7:00 P.M. or VIRTUALLY: See Join Zoom Meeting Instructions below All hearings are open to the public however attendance inside the Oakland Meeting Hall may be limited to accommodate social distancing. Any interested party is invited to offer comments about this request at the public hearing or in advance by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 18, 2022, in writing to the Town of Oakland, PO Box 98, Oakland FL 34760, or by e-mail to ehui@oaklandfl.gov. A copy of the request can be inspected at the Town Hall. Any party appealing a land use decision made at a public hearing must ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which includes the evidence and testimony that is the basis of the appeal.

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

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

This meeting will be held as an in-person meeting and attendees may also attend virtually through the Zoom Platform. Instructions below will allow you to join the meeting virtually: 374421-1

Topic: February 22nd Town Commission Hybrid Work Session and Regular Meeting (In-person and Zoom) Time: February 22, 2022, 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83200860019 Meeting ID: 832 0086 0019 Passcode: 2nEURg One tap mobile +19292056099,,83200860019#,,,,*858264# US (New York) Dial by your location +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) Meeting ID: 832 0086 0019 Passcode: 858264

374415-1

10

INDEPENDENCE/SIGNATURE LAKES

The home at 14775 Old Thicket Trace, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 10, for $590,000. Built in 2009, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 3,204 square feet of living area. Days on market: 23.

LAKE BURDEN SOUTH

The townhouse at 7357 Brightland St., Windermere, sold Jan. 18, for $359,000. Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,497 square feet of living area.

Days on market: Five.

LAKE REAMS TOWNHOMES

The townhouse at 12445 Cruxbury Drive, Windermere, sold Jan. 13, for $360,000. Built in 2005, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,311 square feet of living area. Days on market: Three.

LAKES OF WINDERMERE

The home at 12575 Cragside Lane, Windermere, sold Jan. 14, for $430,000. Built in 2003, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,972 square feet of living area. Days on market: Three.

LAKESHORE PRESERVE

The home at 15507 Panther Lake Drive, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 12, for $1,570,000. Built in 2017, it has five bedrooms, four-and-one-half baths and 4,093 square feet of living area.

Days on market: 13.

The townhouse at 8931 Lakeshore Pointe Drive, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 12, for $585,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,162 square feet of living area. Days on market: 27.

LAKESIDE VILLAGE TOWNHOMES

The townhouse at 10765 Village Lake Road, Windermere, sold Jan. 12, for $502,000. Built in 2013, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,317 square feet of living area.

Days on market: Four.

LATHAM PARK NORTH

The home at 14382 Shocklach Drive, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 13, for $660,000. Built in 2018, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,855 square feet of living area.

Days on market: 13.

PROVIDENCE

The home at 13436 Swansea Ave.,

OrangeObserver.com

OBSERVER

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

|

11

Windermere, sold Jan. 11, for $600,000. Built in 2004, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 3,167 square feet of living area. Days on market: Five.

STILLWATER CROSSINGS

The home at 4345 Saltmarsh Sparrow Drive, Windermere, sold Jan. 11, for $663,000. Built in 2015, it has six bedrooms, five-and-one-half baths and 3,389 square feet of living area. Days on market: 47.

STOREY GROVE

The home at 10223 Love Story St., Winter Garden, sold Jan. 14, for $462,000. Built in 2018, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,042 square feet of living area.

The home at 10217 Love Story St., Winter Garden, sold Jan. 13, for $460,000. Built in 2018, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,042 square feet of living area. Days on market: Five.

SUMMERLAKE

The home at 7984 Wood Sage Drive, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 13, for $515,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,203 square feet of living area. Days on market: Four.

SUMMERLAKE GROVES

The home at 15552 Murcott Harvest Loop, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 14, for $605,000. Built in 2018, it has four bedrooms, three-and-onehalf baths and 3,074 square feet of living area. Days on market: Four.

The townhouse at 7995 Ava Jade Alley, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 10, for $370,000. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,684 square feet of living area. Days on market: Two.

OAKLAND

JOHNS LANDING

The home at 204 Largovista Drive, Oakland, sold Jan. 11, for $450,000.

Built in 2002, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 3,137 square feet of living area. Days on market: 18.

OAKLAND TRAILS

The home at 2183 Standing Rock Circle, Oakland, sold Jan. 14, for $420,000. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,052 square feet of living area.

Days on market: 17.

coldwellbankerhomes.com

The home at 15507 Panther Lake Drive, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 12, for $1,570,000. It was the largest transaction in Horizon West from Jan. 8 to 14

two-and-one-half baths and 2,334 square feet of living area. Days on market: Four.

OCOEE

ADMIRAL POINTE

The home at 884 Chauncey Court, Ocoee, sold Jan. 14, for $517,000.

Built in 1998, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,730 square feet of living area. Days on market: 140.

SAWMILL

The home at 6927 Sawtooth Court, Ocoee, sold Jan. 14, for $337,000.

Built in 1989, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,732 square feet of living area. Days on market: Four.

AMBER RIDGE

The home at 2075 Hedgerow Circle, Ocoee, sold Jan. 12, for $335,000.

Built in 1992, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,626 square feet of living area. Days on market: Seven.

EAGLES LANDING

The home at 2858 Eagles Landing Trail, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 14, for $690,000. Built in 2014, it has five bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 3,763 square feet of living area. Days on market: 22.

FOREST RIDGE

The home at 167 Laurel Ridge Ave., Ocoee, sold Jan. 11, for $335,000.

Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,446 square feet of living area. Days on market: Four.

REMINGTON OAKS

The home at 1996 Hargate Court, Ocoee, sold Jan. 10, for $345,000.

Built in 2000, it has four bedrooms,

SOUTHWEST ORANGE ROYAL LEGACY ESTATES

The home at 9234 Royal Estates Blvd., Orlando, sold Jan. 12, for $910,000. Built in 2018, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 4,199 square feet of living area. Days on market: 15.

WINDERMERE

BELMERE VILLAGE

The home at 1005 Lascala Drive, Windermere, sold Jan. 11, for $601,000. Built in 2002, it has five bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,442 square feet of living area.

Days on market: Three.

SILVER WOODS

The home at 9142 Palm Tree Drive, Windermere, sold Jan. 14, for $455,000. Built in 1985, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,026 square feet of living area.

WINDERMERE

The home at 125 North Drive, Windermere, sold Jan. 14, for $1.075 million. Built in 1955, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,862 square feet of living area. Days on market: 40.

WINTER GARDEN AVALON ESTATES

The home at 11400 Lovers Lane, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 11, for $765,000. Built in 1999, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,517 square feet of living area. Days on market: Two. AVALON RESERVE

The home at 1070 Vinsetta Circle, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 11, for $525,000. Built in 2014, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,504 square feet of living area.

Days on market: Three.

CARRIAGE POINTE

The home at 15657 Golden Bell St., Winter Garden, sold Jan. 14, for $510,000. Built in 2008, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 2,435 square feet of living area. Days on market: Four.

DANIELS CROSSING

The home at 1462 Daniels Cove Drive, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 10,

Happy Birthday

ORANGE COVE

The home at 717 Sunburst Cove Lane, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 10, for $319,000. Built in 1995, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,249 square feet of living area.

Days on market: Four.

VILLAS AT TUCKER OAKS

The townhouse at 1441 Scarlet Oak Loop, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 10, for $326,000. Built in 2013, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,599 square feet of living area. Days on market: Three.

The townhouse at 1353 Scarlet Oak Loop, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 14, for $324,900. Built in 2013, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,589 square feet of living area. Days on market: 16.

WESTFIELD LAKES

The home at 300 English Lake Drive, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 13, for $690,000. Built in 1998, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 3,204 square feet of living area. Days on market: 16.

CLIENT TESTIMONIAL

I had some kidney issues a few years back and Advanced Kidney Care got me straightened out fairly quickly.

Dr. Bao Huynh has been great at communicating with me and keeping me up-to-date on test results. He explains things so I can easily understand what is going on.

If you are in need of a nephrologist this is a good choice for anyone.

- Stephen Marquez

Dr. (Major) David Clark 9 Feb. 1967 - 30 Nov. 2019

“A young man who’s as nice as you are and as fine as he can be brings special pride and happiness to all his family” Words from Ruth Clark and Paul Woolry, grandparents.

(Google Review)

Dr. Bao Huynh

We love you and miss you every day David.

55 th Earth Birthday 3 rd Heavenly Birthday

374869-1

NOW ACCPETING NEW PATIENTS

Mom, Dad, and all the family

CALL TODAY (352) 240-3812

407-656-5521 blairjohnsonlaw.com

Our Services

Now Offering

Wills/Advance Directives Estates Corporation/LLC Commercial Transactions Landlord/Tenant Real Estate: Contracts, Closings, Short Sales, Deed in Lieu And Other Matters

374177-1 310499-1

373819-1

✳ Dental Implants ✳ Sedation Dentistry ✳ Cosmetic Clear Braces ✳ Pain Free Injections ✳ Accepting New Patients

Proudly serving West Orange County for over 40 years 425 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden, FL 34787

CONVENIENT LOCATIONS

WINTER GARDEN

1327 Winter Garden Vineland Rd, Ste 130

CLERMONT

3175 Citrus Tower Blvd, Ste A

Protection for your pride and joy

Attorney at Law

www.drbrianramski.com

2

www.KidneyCareCentralFlorida.com

BLAIR M. JOHNSON

BR DENTAL 407-905-9965

213 S Dillard St., Suite 140 Winter Garden, FL 34787 Office Hours: Mon: 8-4 Tues-Thurs: 8-12 & 1-5 Fri: 7-1 Call Today for Your Appointment!

for $298,000. Built in 1997, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,359 square feet of living area. Days on market: Two.

C Martin Ins and Fin Svcs Inc Craig Martin ChFC CLU CLF, Agent 14416 Shoreside Way Winter Garden, FL 34787 Bus: Bus: 407-656-1040 407-656-1040

Craig@CraigMartinInsurance.com www.CraigMartinInsurance.com

State Farm Life Insurance Company (Not licensed in MA, NY or WI) State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company (Licensed in NY and WI) Bloomington, IL 2001571

For the family you’d do anything for, life insurance could mean everything.

I can help you find easy, affordable ways to protect their future. Call me today.

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®

371425-1

The home at 7942 Summerlake Pointe Blvd., Winter Garden, sold Jan. 11, for $755,000. Built in 2014, it has three bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 3,536 square feet of living area. Days on market: 15.

OBSERVER

|

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

VISIT YOUR LOCAL Y! DR. P. PHILLIPS YMCA ROPER YMCA 7000 Dr. Phillips Blvd 100 Windermere Rd Orlando, FL 32819 Winter Garden, FL 34787

INFLUENCER OF THE WEEK

12

$0 JOIN FEE

SAVE NOW

ymcacf.org

WINDERMERE ELEMENTARY Kim Taylor is the media specialist at Windermere Elementary. Not only does she run the media center, but she also teaches technology, library science and robotics to all students. She runs the News Crew, Robotics Team and Battle of the Books Team.

She supports all faculty, students and parents with technical issues, maintains inventory of all digital devices, and trains and supports faculty and staff with OCPS digital programs. In addition, she oversees all social media, school newsletters and the website for the school. One of her favorite tasks is running the Book Fair and raising funds for library books for

What brought you to your school?

I have four sons, and my two oldest sons were attending Windermere Elementary. I had been a stay-athome mom for nine years. My youngest sons were in preschool, and it was time for me to return to the classroom.

I was thrilled to be able to teach at the same school that my children were attending.

What do you love most about your school?

WES truly means family. It is a wonderful place to learn and a great school family. Everyone is fully invested in our children.

373874-1 373877-1

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

KIM TAYLOR

What is your motivation?

The kids are absolutely my motivation! They bring such joy, and it is so rewarding to witness a child grow and flourish. Our children come to us so eager to learn, and to watch them learn and grow never gets old.

VISIT YOUR LOCAL Y! DR. P. PHILLIPS YMCA ROPER YMCA 7000 Dr. Phillips Blvd 100 Windermere Rd Orlando, FL 32819 Winter Garden, FL 34787

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

It is a tie between making learning fun and celebrating students’ success. Both are extremely rewarding. I love when kids leave my class saying, “That was fun!” or “This was the best day ever!” and not realizing that they just learned something new.

$0

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I love to spend time with my boys, who are all golfers. They recently gave me golf clubs for Christmas so that I can play with them. I’m learning! I also love to spend time with friends.

JOIN FEE

SAVE NOW

ymcacf.org

NOMINATE YOUR INFLUENCER

373878-1 373872-1

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

Character Matters.

An education should not only develop intellect, but also character.

373856-1

Building character since 1958

PREVIEW EVENT

MAR

TILDEN CAMPUS

5

RSVP at FoundationAcademy.net/RSVP

Building a Foundation for Life A Private Christian School Serving Grades Pre-K - 12

Three Beautiful Campuses, All-Christ Centered, One Great School.

PLANT ST. CAMPUS

125 E. Plant St. Winter Garden, FL 34787 Grades Pre-K - 6

LAKESIDE CAMPUS

8464 Winter Garden Vineland Rd. Orlando, FL 32836 Grades Kindergarten - 4

TILDEN CAMPUS

15304 Tilden Rd. Winter Garden, FL 34787 Grades 7 - 12

Lakeside Campus now K through Grade 4!

373860-1

FoundationAcademy.net 373868-1

POSITION: Media Specialist YEARS AT SCHOOL: 16 years, OCPS 25th year

Who was your favorite teacher when you were in school? Why? I loved being in school and had many wonderful teachers. My first true favorite was Miss McBride. She was my third-grade teacher, and she used to bring her guitar to class and sing with us just for fun. She was hip and cool and sang current songs. We would all do anything to get her to play her guitar for us.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Why? I’ve always known that I wanted to be a teacher. My mom was a teacher and inspired me. At one point we were both teaching kindergarten at the same time for OCPS, and we had the best time sharing ideas.

What is your favorite children’s book and why?

My favorites tend to be based on how the book made me feel when I was reading it. “B is for Betsy,” because it was the first chapter book that I ever read by myself. “Good Night, Gorilla” because I used to read it a million times to my babies, and anything by Eric Carle because when I met him in

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

E s TD. 1958

ONE OF ORLANDO’S TOP PRIVATE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS

REPORT CARD

OrangeObserver.com

OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

13

OBSERVER SCHOOL ZONE person, I was absolutely starstruck.

What are your hobbies?

Reading! I also like to do home improvement projects. We also recently began gardening. In fact, we just had broccoli that we grew for dinner!

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

If I could have a superpower, I would want to be able to influence people’s minds and lead them to make choices that, in effect, make the world a better place, such as solving world issues such as clean water, education for all, cures for diseases. I would want to influence them to make such issues top priorities and to take the path that may not have all of the glory or monetary rewards, but truly helps people all over the world.

If you could only listen to three bands or artists for the rest of your life, what would they be and why?

If I think of it more as my favorite bands rather than listening to them forever, I am better able to narrow it down. My taste fluctuates with my mood. If I am feeling nostalgic, I like to listen to ’70s and ’80s groups such as Fleetwood Mac or Queen.

If I am feeling stressed, I like to listen to spa music. Currently I like Thomas Rhett, Maroon 5 and Adele.

What was your go-to lunch as an elementary student? Any favorite snacks or special treats you remember?

When I was in school in Chicago, we used to walk home for lunch. Our moms would have lunch ready for us, and if we were quick, we could watch a few minutes of “Bozo’s Circus” before we walked back.

Sometimes I would be jealous of the kids that lived further from the school and got to stay for lunch and recess.

Who was your best friend when you were in school and why? Are you still in touch?

I was born in Chicago, and my very first best friend, Roberta, is still my good friend.

While we live hundreds of miles apart, we still visit each other each year and our families are close. After we moved to Florida, my next best friend, Jodi, is still my friend to this day, and we get together monthly.

I truly value all of my friendships and wouldn’t have been able to survive without my village.

— ANNABELLE SIKES

West Orange High Theatre Department in need of community support Although the department’s recent accomplishments are huge, it now has bills that will be, too.

HELP THE WOHS THEATRE DEPARTMENT

ANNABELLE SIKES STAFF WRITER

The students of the internationally recognized West Orange High School Theatre Department are making an impact that goes way beyond the walls of the classroom.

The students have been resilient in persevering despite the pandemic.

In the last few months, the department’s Thespian Troupe 1983 participated in the Florida State Thespian Festival for its oneact play “Ruby’s Story,” which the 33 students involved in the play put together in only two weeks.

“Ruby’s Story” received the Critic’s Choice One-Act award; Critic’s Choice Tech award; the Outstanding Student Design award, which went to Ryan Chillinsky; and the Outstanding Lead Actress award, which went to Eislinn Gracen.

Additionally, the show received superior ratings in both performance and technology.

The All-Star Cast award went to Annabelle Peebles, and the All-Star Crew award went to stage manager Alex Battenfield.

Two West Orange students won Best in Show for their individual events, including Gina DiGiovani for Solo Musical and Zachary Miles for Lighting Design.

The department’s “Pippin” fall musical, which premiered in October, also was invited to perform as a Mainstage at the state festival. The production took about seven weeks to put together and has about 65 students.

“I’m really proud of my students,” WOHS Director of Theatre Tara Whitman said.

“They really work hard, and they don’t need to be led one on one. They understand the importance of the work they do and will constantly ask me if they can do something to help or make things better to improve.”

Although the department’s recent accomplishments are huge, it now has bills that will be, too.

Whitman said the department is currently focusing on fundraising. Taking both shows to the state festival in March will require about $30,000 to $40,000.

TICKETS: teachtix.com/wohs FUNDRAISING PAGE: bit.ly/3g6Wstu TO HELP OR DONATE: Email Director Tara Whitman at tara.whitman@ocps.net FUNDRAISING FOR A CAUSE

Now, the theater department is asking the West Orange community for its help.

The director said the theater is drastically out of date and under-resourced. She said the department owns no working microphones, uses a 30-year-old sound console, has broken lighting fixtures and is running a lighting console that stopped updating at Windows Vista. The six-foot holes in the theater’s curtains also hint at a need for replacement.

Because of the deficits, the department works harder to rent equipment for every show. Whitman said the bills cost the theatre at least $10,000 each time it rents equipment.

“You may wonder why we take on such ambitious things and so many of them if we don’t have the means,” she said. “It’s simple: I do it for the students. They are being offered a hands-on theater education and find their purpose. I have a group of teenagers who have a strong work ethic and are here with me, staying out of trouble. These students are deserving of so much and should not be offered less opportunity simply because our facilities are in terrible shape.”

The director emphasized WOHS Principal Matt Turner and administrators continue to support the department in any way they can, but that the scope is “beyond them at this point.”

The students are in need of several big asks from the community, including donations of light and sound equipment, a semitruck to transport the productions to states in Tampa — although the department already has a licensed driver — and box trucks for the smaller show.

Whitman shared there are multiple ways the community can help to support the

Courtesy Photo

school’s theater program.

Locals can sponsor the students, many of whom will have a hard time paying for the trip to Tampa; help with the bigger asks; or even pass along the need for help to other friends or family members.

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

Another way to help is for residents to see the department’s upcoming shows.

WOHS Theatre will present Disney’s “Frozen Jr.” Feb. 10 to 13. Whitman said the show will be family friendly and will even have an additional 10 a.m. performance on Saturday, Feb. 12, for young audience members, which will include a sing-along, dancing and nap time.

“Any families with small children that may want to get them out of the house to see a beloved story can bring them to this show,” she said. “Although the show is meant for children, as we know, everyone loves ‘Frozen’ and the story it tells. It’s going to be a beautiful performance.”

“Pippin” will then run again from March 4 to 6, and “Ruby’s Story” will run again March 9.

The theater’s next show, “Les Miserables,” will come after states and run May 4 to 8.

“It feels really nice to be supported by this community,” Whitman said. “I just have this huge sense of pride for Winter Garden because, to me, it still has that small-town feel that it did before. So being Winter Garden’s oldest high school currently, it’s nice to have that community feel.”

Join the Conversation!

We’re on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter with daily tips and advice to help you eat well, stay active and enjoy life.

Like, follow, comment and share as together we build the healthiest community in the nation.

REGISTER FOR OUR OPEN HOUSE ON FEBRUARY 12th at 3:00 p.m.

WE THINK BEYOND TRADITIONAL EDUCATION

TO TRANSFORM LEARNING International Baccalaureate Diploma & Certificate Program

SCHEDULE A TOUR TODAY!

Collaborations with MIT, The Juilliard School, and UNICEF

windermereprep.com

Award winning Fine Arts programs Athletic program that offers over 21 different sports for Grade 6 - 12

373864-1

(407) 905-7737 info@windermereprep.com

Differentiated Curriculum for PreK-3 to Grade 12

Increase the value of your home and save money with Increase the value of your home and one simple phonewith call!one simple phone call! save money At Lake Apopka Natural Gas, we’re helping At Lake Apopka Natural Gas, we’re helping families like families like yours connect to affordable, yours connect to affordable, reliable, and efficient natural reliable, and efficient natural gas, with gas, with appliances that pay dividends for years to come. that of pay your dividends for years Increaseappliances the value home and Studies show a home with natural gas has a 6% greater to come.

Studies show ahome house with Increase the value of your and save money with one simple phone resale value than an all-electric call! home. Natural gas is right save money with one phone natural gas has asimple 6% greater resale call!

At Lake Apopka Natural Gas,your we’re door. helping families like outside value Gas, thanwe’re an all-electric home. yours connect to Natural affordable, reliable, and efficient natural At Lake Apopka helping families like gas, with appliances that payreliable, dividends for years to come. yours connect to affordable, and efficient natural Discover services and offers Studies show aNatural home with natural hasyears a 6% greater gas isdividends rightgas outside your door. available in your gas, with appliances that pay for to come. resale value than an all-electric home.

Natural gas is right Studies show a home with natural gas a 6% by giving us a has call at greater 407-656-2734 ext. 307 outside your than door.an all-electric home. Natural gas is right resale value or email marketing@langd.org. outside yourDiscover door. services and offers available Discover services and offers available in your neighborhood in and your neighborhood by neighborhood giving us services offers availableext. in your byDiscover giving us a call at 407-656-2734 307 giving us a call 407-656-2734 ext. 307 ext. 307 orby email marketing@langd.org. a atcall at 407-656-2734 or email marketing@langd.org.

or email marketing@langd.org

neighborhood

Learn more at HealthyWestOrange.org

www.langd.org

373852-1

www.langd.org www.langd.org

373871-1

Join the Conversation

14

W EST O RANG E HISTO RY

OBSERVER

|

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

THESE OLD TIMES

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION

85 years ago

Mayor George Walker announced that work was to begin again on the construction of the auditorium at Trailer city. He said the completion of the new City Hall would not be reached until March 1.

The Winter Garden Welfare League held its monthly meeting at the home of the president, Mrs. C.W. Irrgang Jr. Plans were completed for the Valentine Dance to be given at the West Orange Country Club with Buddy Rogers and his Rhythm Club furnishing the music.

Miss Clara Wendell was hostess to the American Childhood Education Club at her home in Gotha.

80 years ago

Florida was allotted a quota of 1,813 new passenger automobiles for rationing in March, April and May to eligible buyers. This was the third highest number allotted to any state in the southeast.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

70 years ago

Plans were made for the start of a Little League Baseball unit. Temporary officers were Dr. Otho Watford, president; Flip Sterns, vice president; and Bob Ken, secretarytreasurer.

Mrs. Milton Deariso entertained for her little daughter, Bea, on her 7th birthday.

Randy Freeman, a 1973 graduate of Ocoee High School, was named the Top Debater in Florida for 1977. He won first place in varsity speaking at the Florida Intercollegiate Forensics Tournament in Gainesville.

40 years ago

Members of the Lakeview Junior High School Valentine Court were the following girls: Kim Craven, Julianne Morris, Julie Purdy, Lisa

Reagan, Debbie Baird, Robin Barber, Ramona Brown and Heather Hawes.

20 years ago

Ashley Keating, Kelsey Tressler, Kate Stewart and Jenna Cross, all of Winter Garden, competed in a schooling horse show at Affinity Farms in Eustis. Kelsey and Jenna showed their horse, Blended Perfection, in the beginners level, winning three first-place ribbons

and a third place. Kate showed Too Cute for You in the beginners level and won a first and several other ribbons. Ashley showed her horse, Admiral Jones, in a Green Horse level, winning three firsts, a second and two fourth places.

Confetti cannons and a dramatic painting of Cinderella Castle added to the festive atmosphere at First Presbyterian Church of Oakland as its new Christian Life Center was dedicated.

celebrity cipher

WALK AROUND THE BLOCK by Paul Coulter. Edited by Amanda Rafkin 56 Mine extractions 58 Not “with it” 60 Duel-purpose equipment?

61 Gets on DOWN 62 Bring together 1 “___ the season ...”

67 Burn a little 2 As many as 68 Little kids 3 On a ___ (just for fun) 69 Singer India.___ 4 Bad day for Caesar 70 “Go ahead!”

5 Person living the high 71 French film award hidlife? den in “chances are” 6 Brewing ingredient 72 “Ad ___” (2019 film) 7 Boxer dubbed “The 73 “The Matrix ResurrecGreatest” tions” genre 8 Bedside light 74 Reduce by cutting 9 Hot water, metaphori75 Snooped cally 76 Dutch cheese 10 Dutch beer 77 Take in or let out 11 Narrow valley 78 Subtly suggested 12 Beam of sunlight 80 In the center of 13 Not the same 81 Org. that inspects air 14 Its capital is Minsk bags?

15 Fender flaw 83 Blueprint detail, for 16 The “A” of BART short 17 Curiosity rover’s 87 Thurman who played destination Poison Ivy 19 Many kilt wearers 90 “Bravo!”

24 Podcast interviewer 91 Away, in a way 26 Quaint stopovers 92 Egg-based paint 29 Words before a kiss 93 Slam-dancing spot 34 Sound heard through a 95 Fail to articulate stethoscope 96 Small amount 35 Fine-tunes 97 Classic theater name 36 Constantly irritate 99 Does as a group?

37 Holey shoe 100 Bumpy amphibians 38 Like sundial numerals 104 Skater Rippon 39 Artist Yoko 105 Brain section 41 “Still awake?”

106 In need of directions 42 Salsa and guacamole, 107 With proficiency e.g.

108 “Little piggies” 43 LGBTQ+ activist 109 Talk back to George 110 Jason’s ship 44 Bean products?

111 Flirty eye gesture 45 “Ya think?!”

112 Joint with a cap 48 ___ and cheese 114 Dallas NBAer 52 Tennis champ Ste116 Letter before omega phens 117 Football scores (Abbr.)

53 Per item 54 Give the cold shoulder to 55 Capital near a fjord

122 Ran into 123 Group of quail 124 Desert refuge 125 Takes a hit

©2022 Universal Uclick

32 Under-cover location?

33 Coffee vessel 1 Bulb bloom 34 San Francisco gaybor6 Mediterranean island hood (last 4 letters ...) nation 40 Biden’s secretary of 11 Food, informally defense (... + first 2) 15 Beaver’s construction 46 Squirrel away 18 Apple tablet software 47 “I’m treating!”

20 It’s a real eye-opener 49 Cooking liquids 21 Narrow road 50 Big fuss 22 Prohibition, e.g.

51 “Do ___ others ...”

23 Long rides? (See the last 3 letters of this clue’s 52 Country with a Taualuga dance answer ...)

25 Certain makeup pencil 54 Chicken noodle, e.g. (... + the first 2 of this one) 56 Gave the thumbs-up 57 “My fault!” (last 2 let27 “Let’s hear it!” ters ...)

28 Add 30 Airline with a kangaroo 59 Agency measuring the U.S. population (... + logo 31 Non-earthlings (Abbr.) first 2) 63 L.A. winter hours

FEB. 10, 1972 To celebrate the day of love, “The Winter Garden Times” printed in its Feb. 10, 1972, issue the images of several postcards reportedly found in an attic that were dated 1910.

This edition also included advertisements from jewelry stores and card shops offering promise rings and other sentiments of love.

64 “High” time?

65 Orange juice option 66 About an hour before two 67 Get dry, like lips 68 ‘90s exercise trend 70 Speaker’s platform 71 Redeem, like chips 74 Opening for sweat 75 Dessert wine 76 Practical joke 79 Houdini, e.g. (last 2 letters ...)

82 Go it alone (... + first 4) 84 Use a swizzle stick 85 Artistic inspiration 86 Spades and hearts, e.g.

88 Mini-golf stroke 89 Response to “Speak!”

90 Enter 92 Not wild

93 Euripides tragedy 94 A life’s purpose (last 3 letters ...)

98 Online shopping button (... + first 2) 101 Texter’s chuckle 102 Archer’s asset 103 Lip balm brand 104 Indirectly refer (to) 107 Turn into a musical, say 109 Seattle NFL player 113 Part of a frame that you pass through (last 3 letters ...)

115 Material spotted on a runway? (... + first 2) 118 Tummy muscles 119 Racetrack shape 120 Lock of hair 121 Conversed in ASL

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

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

“SDJU HMBBYGT EGSEJG ADTGBLRMDT USA NMD CG HYLGBMCJG MDT PMEEU MR RPG LMHG RYHG.”

– NPBYL BSNZ

“GZF TGFYK TGZYK DP DPNNPF JX UGFP XGYYGTPK OPF PBWURYP. JN JV KJUJEJVOPK TJNO OPF RWVVJEI.” – KWE FWNOPF GE DPNNH TOJNP

“JB WOO EPH DBBJ TBK GWY, VT WOO EPH SHWYX WNWFOWVOH, FY WOO EPH CWTX TBK GWY, FY WOO EPH ROWGHX TBK GWY.” © 2022 NEA, Inc.

– SFW ZWIIBC

Puzzle Three Clue: N equals V

crossword

ACROSS

THROWBACK THURSDAY

Puzzle Two Clue: B equals X

Beverly Johnson, a student at West Orange High School, was selected as a judge for the Walt Disney World Community Service Awards program.

Lakeview Junior High School was the setting for a festive Valentine Dance. Chris Orie, escorted

by Timmy Carter, was crowned queen of the dance. Principal Otto Dickman was the star dancer for the evening.

The Winter Garden Heritage Foundation documents and preserves both images and the history of the region’s black citizens. Call (407) 656-3244 to share your heritage with the collection.

Puzzle One Clue: Z equals K

45 years ago

Worshipers stand in front of Tildenville Missionary Baptist Church, on Massey Street, in the traditionally black neighborhood of south Tildenville. The present church building replaced this structure, shown in the 1950s. Amanda Booker operated the church’s childcare center on the property for many years; it no longer stands. The church also administers Oakland’s African American Cemetery.

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

©2022 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

2-10-22

FEBRUARY 10, 2022

SPORTS A ‘TITAN TITAN’-IC 5 CELEBRATION 1 HIGH

Alexis Beaulieu won a district championship in weightlifting and is headed to states. Page 16.

Former West Orange wrestling coach Kristen Iannuzzi was honored Feb. 5 as an inductee of the West Metro Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame’s class of 2022 during the Metro West Conference Championships at Winter Park High School. Iannuzzi retired as head coach of the Warriors prior to the start of the wrestling season after serving for 13 years.

She left coaching to take an administrative position with Orange County Public Schools.

The Olympia tennis team honored its beloved late coach in the first match of the season.

CHRIS MARTUCCI SPORTS EDITOR

O

n a sunny, slightly chilly day — by Florida standards — in early February, the Olympia High tennis team held its first home match of the season against Wekiva.

While the action on the court was a big part of the day Monday, Feb. 7, the biggest moment came before the match started with a ceremony to honor former Titans head coach Harvey “Bubba” James, who passed away during the winter break at the age of 65. He spent nine seasons as the Titans’ head tennis coach.

James’ sister, Carol Haderer, took over as head coach not long after he passed away — and right away proclaimed the season was dedicated to James and that it would be done “the Bubba way.”

What’s “the Bubba way”?

It was easy to proclaim in the three sayings the Olympia tennis team wore on the back of the shirts players wore for the match against the Mustangs: “One point at a time” — take each match only one point at a time rather than the whole; “Power of the pen” — as James always used to say, “You never know when you need

2

Windermere Prep’s girls weightlifting team will send a school-record eight athletes to the Class 1A state championship competition after placing third at the regional championships. The Lakers won the district championship Jan. 19 and sent three athletes to states in 2021.

The state meet begins Feb. 10 at Port St. Joe High School and will last until Feb. 12.

3

Windermere’s wrestling team placed six wrestlers in the top five at the Metro West Conference Championships at Winter Park Feb. 5.

Senior Jerry Vargas placed the highest with a secondplace finish in his weight class. The Wolverines had three third places, including senior Kurt Vollenweider, and two fifth places.

Windermere’s last regularseason meet will take place at Ocoee at the Ocoee Mat Classic Feb. 12.

4

Foundation Academy girls basketball took home its third straight district championship by defeating Windermere Prep 75-18 Feb. 4. The Lions’ victory capped off a banner week for Foundation Academy, which included both the boys and girls soccer teams winning district championships and the competitive cheer team winning a state championship. Foundation Academy will play P.K. Yonge at home in the first round of the Class 3A state tournament Feb. 10.

SEE BUBBA PAGE 16

Photo by Chris Martucci

The Olympia tennis team released balloons in the school colors in honor of former head coach Harvey “Bubba” James prior to its first match against Wekiva.

Windermere Prep alum wins Latin America Amateur Championship Aaron Jarvis will be the first golfer from the Cayman Islands to compete at the Masters.

Nine teams from West Orange County will compete in the state tournament.

CHRIS MARTUCCI SPORTS EDITOR

West Orange County high schools will be well-represented at the FHSAA state soccer playoffs taking place this week with nine teams (including two from the same school) vying for the title of state champion.

CHRIS MARTUCCI SPORTS EDITOR

5

Central Florida Christian Academy’s girls basketball team won its first district title since 2003 with a 52-23 defeat of Geneva in the championship final. The Eagles held Geneva under 10 points in each quarter, including only allowing one point in the second. CFCA begins its playoff journey against Legacy Feb. 10, whom the Eagles defeated in the semifinal of the Class 2A District 7 tournament 52-20.

Aaron Jarvis waited anxiously as the final trio of golfers came up onto the green on the 18th hole at Casa de Campo’s Teeth of the Dog course in La Romana, Dominican Republic. He had just taken the lead at seven under par after hitting a birdie on the final hole — and this was after trailing for much of the Latin America Amateur Championship tournament.

Then came the hardest part. He had done his part to position himself well for the victory, but now it was out of his hands.

“It was the most nerve-wracking I had ever been in my life,” said Jarvis, a Windermere Prep alum and freshman at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. “I went to go do my scorecard interviews and then I heard … all the chaos around the green; the cameras were there on me. It was a cool experience.”

Who is going to the high school soccer state playoffs?

Editor’s note: All of this is as of press time Tuesday with games taking place Feb. 8 for the girls and Feb. 9 for the boys. Results will be put in online when the paper comes out on Feb. 10.

Courtesy Photo

The other two golfers in the group, including former leader Fred Biondi of Brazil, came up. Biondi missed the birdie that would have tied him with Jarvis, leaving Argentina’s Vicente Marzilio with a chance to win.

With a bounce that was almost sheer luck, Marzilio’s shot onto the SEE GOLF PAGE 17

GIRLS SOCCER FOUNDATION ACADEMY

A strong season for Foundation Academy continues to the state playoffs. The Lions won the first district title in team history with a 4-0 victory over Mount Dora Christian Academy in the Class 2A District 5 tournament and now will host a home playoff game against Circle Christian in the first round of the Class

2A tournament.

Foundation is led by a trio of scorers that scored more than 16 goals during the season. Junior Kaitlyn Clark led the team with 20 goals and 23 assists for a grand total of 63 points, but she is closely followed by teammates Samantha Wall (19 goals) and freshman Madison Krause (18 goals).

THE FIRST ACADEMY

The First Academy Royals rallied from a disappointing 202021 season to finish with a record of more than 10 wins in 2021-22.

Their reward? A rematch with Lake Highland Prep after losing to them in the Class 3A District 6 final by a mere score of 2-1.

TFA had four players register double-digit goals during the season, as well as strong goaltending. The Royals will travel to Lake Highland Prep for the first round match of the Class 3A tournament.

SEE SOCCER PAGE 16

16

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

OBSERVER

|

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

Playoff Excitement

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

Alexis Beaulieu

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

HORIZON

Alexis Beaulieu is a member of Windermere Prep’s weightlifting team and has gone to the private school since she was a Pre-K student.

Beaulieu competes in the 129-pound weight division for the Lakers and has emerged as one of its top athletes. She won a district championship in the 129-pound division at the district meet at Trinity Prep in January and will compete at the state competition at Port St. Joe Feb. 10 to 12.

This is Beaulieu’s second appearance at the state championships after competing last year.

What do you like about Windermere Prep?

I like the environment. I’ve been here forever, so I don’t have much else to compare it to. Middle school was very enjoyable for me, and I’ve made a lot of friends here, especially on the weightlifting team. The environment in the weight room is so awesome, so I’ve almost created a second family.

What do you like the most about being on the weightlifting team?

I love the environment, the friendships I have made with my teammates as well. The environment is super supportive; we encourage mistakes because we want to grow from it. I also love that you want to grow personally and as a team and you’re always setting goals for yourself and not trying to compete with anybody else. You’re your biggest competition. I love that you can set little goals along the way, and as you achieve them, you start feeling better about yourself and growing physically and mentally.

How would you describe having (head coach) Micah Kurtz as your coach?

He’s great; he has a lot of titles and awards, and he’s nationally known and recognized, which is amazing, but knowing him all these years has been a blessing inside the weight room and outside the weight room. He’s given me so many opportunities. He creates that environment that makes you want to be better for yourself and not for other people.

I think that’s great for anybody’s mental health, especially the times we’ve been going through lately. It shows the kind of person that he is, and he cares about everybody that sets foot in the weight room.

You’re headed back to states.

How does that feel?

I competed last year, but I’m younger for most kids in my grade – I just turned 16 in August.

Being so young, I was surprised to compete at states last year. Regionals wasn’t my best performance

THE BASICS

AGE: 16 SCHOOL: Windermere Prep GRADE: Junior SPORT: Weightlifting

— I matched my worst total of the year — but I was still able to place 11th in the state. That was surprising for me. Going to states this year, we almost tripled the girls we brought last year. Bringing eight this year is a big improvement, and I’m happy about that for the team. With this being our third year, the goals that we have accomplished have been tremendous.

What’s your goal for states?

To do better than I did at regionals, which is the goal every week.

Another thing I want to do is have fun with my teammates and develop deeper bonds with them.

We’re going to make a fun trip out of it and do better. It’s something to learn and grow from for next year as well.

What are your hobbies outside of the team?

I’m president of the Sports Medicine Club, an editor for the yearbook, and I’m very involved with school athletics. I also assist Coach Kurtz with his FASST program (Future Athlete Strength and Speed Training) by coaching middle-schoolers every Tuesday and Thursday. It’s really fun being called “Coach Alexis.”

What’s your goal in sports medicine?

I’ve always been interested in sports because some of my family members have gone to the University of Alabama. That piqued my interest because I love watching the team, Nick Saban and all that. When I watched the football teams here and saw the athletic training club doing their work, I wanted to be part of that – being on the sideline of the game, watching the games for free. I joined last year and became the president this summer. The club has grown to 100 people after starting at 20 people, which is one of the biggest clubs at Windermere Prep. It’s something I’d like to do in the future as well.

Horizon shocked many by going undefeated the first two months of the season, and the team refused to look back. The Hawks plowed their way through the district tournament to face McKeel Academy in the championship final. Although they lost that game 4-0, Horizon showed it could compete with the big teams despite being a first-year program.

Horizon, under the direction of head coach Thomas Brown, scored goals in bunches with contributions from everyone on the team and didn’t allow many with a strong defense and goaltending. The team scored 78 goals in 16 games, including an astonishing 19 in the first two games of the district tournament before being shut out

by McKeel.

The Hawks travel to The Villages for their first-round matchup with The Villages Charter.

WINDERMERE

Windermere’s strong season culminated in a district championship, defeating Olympia by a score of 2-0 in the Class 7A District 5 championship game. The team also

Olympia honors coach CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

to change the lineup”; and “Nobody home” — something he’d say during a doubles match when a player hit the ball so well that no opponent was there to send it back.

Olympia Athletic Director Kevin McElveen was the first speaker of the afternoon. He shared the last conversation he had with James before he died and the memories he’d always carry with him. A couple of days before he died, McElveen was speaking with James about the upcoming season and the academic — CHRIS standing of an athlete he was conMARTUCCI cerned about.

The small crowd gathered for the ceremony featured more than just the Olympia tennis team, coaches and parents, but also several other faculty and coaches within the Olympia community who showed up to pay their respects for James’ memory.

There was a table with photos of James, which featured his water bottle and mask with “Coach Bubba” on it.

After an emotional speech from Haderer came the moment that was only fitting for a day like this.

The tennis courts, which had been completed less than two years ago, We’re all in this together. would bear James’ name as the State Farm has a long traditionCoach Bubba James Tennis Courts. of being there. That’s one reason It was appropriate because he had why I’m proud to support Westlobbied to get those tennis courts Orange county.. built for a number of years.

Get to a better State .

Haderer said the day was more

Family.

Friends.

Community.

Shannon Till, Agent Fowler’s Grove 3279 Daniels Rd Winter Garden, FL 34787 Toll Free: 855-742-1591 www.shannontill.com

®

Family.

Family .

Friends.

Friends.

Community.

Community . ®

®

1211007 State Farm, Bloomington, IL Farm, Blooming ton, IL

With a new head coach heading into the season, Foundation Academy faced questions as to how good it would be. The team answered those questions with a district title in a heart-pounding championship final against Legacy Charter, which culminated in the Lions winning in penalties 6-5.

The Lions will host Faith Christian in the first round of the Class 2A state playoffs.

LEGACY CHARTER

The Legacy Eagles had their best regular season in years and were seeded first heading into the Class 2A District 5 tournament, but they fell to Foundation Academy in penalties in the championship final.

The Eagles travel to Winter Haven for their first round game against All Saints’ Academy.

HORIZON

Just like the girls team, the Horizon Hawks boys soccer team impressed

than she ever could have expected or hoped for.

“The players, the parents, being at Olympia on their courts is the best feeling ever,” Haderer said. “I know that Bubba worked hard to make sure Olympia got their full courts, and they did. Them being dedicated with his banner as the entrance onto the court, it’s wonderful.”

When the banner was unfurled, Haderer was visibly emotional, full of pride to be associated with someone who had such a large impact on anyone who came in contact with him. His presence loomed large over the game, and it almost felt like he was there in spirit, she said.

“I’m proud of the legacy Bubba has put out there,” Haderer said.

“I’m proud to be his sister. We’ve helped each other in so many different ways growing up. I’ve always been by his side, and today, he’s right above us. I know he’s here; I feel him. I think the kids feel him, too.”

Several former players also showed up to pay their respects to James. Karin Zikra was one of them.

She went to Olympia from 2014 to 2018 and played for the Titans tennis team for three years. She now attends the University of Central Florida.

“He was so supportive, he always encouraged us and pushed us to always be our best,” Zikra said of James. “He really made it a special time.”

When she heard the news on New Year’s Day that he had died, it came as a shock because he appeared to

“I know that Bubba worked hard to make sure Olympia got their full courts, and they did.”

- Carol Haderer

®

Fowler Groves, Winter Garden, FL 34787 407-656-4000 I www.shannontill.com Hablamos Español

DR. PHILLIPS

A strong regular season for DP ended in disappointment as the team was upset by Olympia in the second round of the Class 7A District 5 tournament. Despite that setback, the team enters the state tournament with a chance to redeem itself.

The Panthers travel to Tampa for their first-round matchup against Plant High School.

OLYMPIA

After stunning many with a second-round upset of No. 1-seeded Dr. Phillips in the Class 7A District 5 tournament, Olympia’s run came to an end against Celebration in the championship final, losing by a score of 3-2.

The Titans earn a first-round matchup against Lakewood Ranch in the first round of the Class 7A state playoffs.

be in good health up until his death, she said.

“He was always so active, so it was heartbreaking,” Zikra said. “I reached out to Coach Carol a couple days after and wanted to see how I could convey my condolences and have his memory live on.”

Many players, current and former, had a special memory of James that would always live on in their hearts. While most of them were conversations about life or a piece of advice he had given them — senior Ella Sobeck loved talking about the Chicago Cubs with him — he also was not afraid to express tough love when needed.

Grant Novotny, a junior on the team, started playing tennis when he was a freshman. Being relatively new to the sport and to team sports, he brought only a water bottle with him to a match rather than a large water jug, as James had requested everyone have.

Novotny said he used to be a hotheaded player. That led to a moment between them that still sticks with him.

“I came off the court after playing singles and was about to go out and play doubles,” Novotny said.

“He stopped me and said, ‘Grant, is that a water bottle?’ I said, ‘Yeah,’ and he got mad at me. He said that I won’t be playing doubles then. I said, ‘Coach, that wasn’t fair,’ and I spiked my water bottle. He had me run five laps around the court. That taught me that there’s always consequences for my actions.”

Perhaps the biggest symbolism for the day came when each of the players carried a balloon, starshaped and colored in Olympia school colors, out onto the court and let them fly off into the sky. While it was a new season, and a whole new way of competing without James on the sideline, his memory will never be forgotten by the team as it moves forward with the season.

Looking for new floors?

minneola 301 E. Washington St. Unit F (352) 394-0303

West

winter garden 731 S. Dillard St. Unit 101/103 (407) 410-8998

Call us to have our mobile showroom come to you!

373836-1

State Farm has a long tradition of being there.

That’s one reason why I’m proud to support West Orange county.

FOUNDATION ACADEMY

many with its inaugural season.

The team went all the way to the Class 4A District 7 championship game before losing to McKeel Academy in penalties.

As a reward, the Hawks will get a rematch against those same Wildcats in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs in Lakeland.

Shop our extensive flooring selection.

Shannon Till, Agent We’re all all in this together.

We’ re in this together.

TM Fowler’s Grove 3279 Daniels Rd ® State Farm® has a long tradition State Farm has a long tradition Winter Garden, FL 34787 Toll Free: 855-742-1591 of being there.there.

That’s one reason of being That’s one reason www.shannontill.com

why I’m proudproud to support West why I’ m to suppor t Orange county..

Orange count 1211007 y..

State Farm, Bloomington, IL Get to a a betterbetter State .

Get to State .

BOYS SOCCER

Athlete of the Week sponsored by:

Athlete of the Week Sponsored by Shannon Till,

We’re all in this together.

shut out Dr. Phillips 2-0.

The team will host Lakewood Ranch in the first round of the Class 7A state playoffs.

Follow us

Shop our entire catalog now at www.marksfloorsonline.com

OrangeObserver.com

OBSERVER

|

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

17

Nailbiting Finish CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

Foundation Academy wins first competitive cheer state championship.

Robert Bit le

CHRIS MARTUCCI SPORTS EDITOR

Head coach Rachel Carey was nervous Feb. 2 as the Foundation Academy competitive cheer team prepared to head out for its performance at Exatech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville.

The team’s warmup had not gone very well, which did not bode well for the team’s optimism going onto the mat for the potential first state championship win in competitive cheer in the school’s history. Any little mistake that could be made was made during that warmup. Several of their competitors, such as Tampa Catholic, had solid warmups by comparison.

“They were in our heads a little bit,” Carey said.

Prior to going out, the team gathered around and prayed together for a good performance. The message was simple: Whatever happened in warmups stays in warmups. That seemed to have calmed down the jitters as the team took to the mat to give its performance.

To Carey’s delight — as well as the contingent of FA fans who made the trip — the routine went off without a problem.

Within that span of a few minutes between warmup and the routine, the team gelled to perform for an audience. That nervous feeling slowly gave way to the feeling they could actually win.

“It was the best feeling because … I didn’t know after warmup if we had a shot,” Carey said. “Once we hit the routine, and I knew the other teams didn’t hit

Funeral Director In Charge

theirs, I knew we had a shot.”

That was an even more stressful wait.

Unlike in sports such as figure skating or gymnastics, the judges do not announce scores immediately after a performance, so teams do not immediately know what they scored.

“It’s subjective, so you never know where it’s going to fall,” Carey said. “Are they going to want difficulty, or are they going to want execution and hit? You never know.”

The names of teams slowly were released as the results for the large, non-tumbling team division were announced. Tampa Catholic — the team that had a perfect warmup — came in third place. The anticipation was high as the audience waited to see who would be announced for second place: Suncoast High School.

First place: Foundation Academy.

Euphoria. After a state runner-up ranking in 2021, the team had finally broken through to the top.

“It was unreal,” Carey said. “It’s my third year with the program, and each year I had goals for the program. It was a sense of relief and great accomplishment that it all paid off for that.”

Back in Winter Garden, athletic director Lisa Eaves received the news shortly after.

She wanted to be at the competition, but two football players were signing their letters of intent at the school, and she had to be present for that.

When it officially was confirmed, tears came to her eyes because of what the moment meant — not just for the program, but for the entire Foundation Academy community.

“It’s huge for the school,” Eaves said.

“Seeing their hard work come true, you can’t ask for more than that. It’s fun seeing the kids beginning to believe that we can compete and be a premiere athletic program. Cheerleading is setting the standard for what it takes to win the championship.

It’s exciting to say.”

And the team is not done yet. With hardly a chance to let the victory sink in, the team now prepares to compete against the rest of the country at the UCA National Championships at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World during the weekend of Feb. 12.

Direct Cremation

$750

plus container

@Observerorange

921 S. US Hwy 27, Minneola, FL One block north of Citrus Tower 352-394-8228 I CremationChoicesfl.com

Let us tell the story of your life

®

We Proudly Offer Traditional Burial and Cremation Services Prearranged Funeral Services

Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home Winter Garden

BaldwinFairchild.com I 407-656-2233 428 E Plant St, Winter Garden, FL 34787

374878-1

WE ARE HERETO SERVEY1 O48EU.PlantSt. - Rachel Carey Head Coach

Full service funeral provider with onsite crematory.

(407) 695-CARE (2273)

www.DeGusipeFuneralHome.com

MAITLAND 9001 N. Orlando Ave Maitland, FL 32771

SANFORD 905 Laurel Ave. Sanford, FL 32771

OCOEE 1400 Matthew Paris Blvd Ocoee, FL 34761

Family Owned & Operated FRANK SCARLATA

TODD DEGUSIPE

Director/Manager

Director/Owner

UNIONTOWN 65 N. Gallitan Ave Uniontown, PA 15401

Collison Carey Hand Funeral Home is a proud fixture of Windermere and West Orange County. We have built our homes and reputations here.

We are here for you.

E ARE HERE TO SERVE YOU

All inclusive direct cremation only $895 Burial starting at $2,295

“Because You Care”

and he is exempt into the Final Qualifying for the U.S. Open, the British Amateur Championship and U.S. Amateur Championship.

Jarvis, who hales from the Cayman Islands, went to Windermere Prep during the 202021 school year and played on the boys golf team. From there, he received an offer to play golf for UNLV, which he accepted.

We’ll take the first step with you

Wemakeitpersonal. 407-87 -670

“It was unreal. It’s my third year with the program, and each year I had goals for the program. It was a sense of relief and great accomplishment that it all paid off for that.”

Courtesy Photo

373838-1

CHEERLEADING PRIDE

373825-1

Courtesy Photo

green hopped off a sprinkler head, giving him a chance to set up for an eagle shot that would force a playoff between him and Jarvis. The shot came up short, giving Jarvis the victory.

“My heart was beating on that last putt when he missed it,” Jarvis said. “I learned a lot with how to deal with the nerves, but it was an incredible experience.”

That shot was the culmination of a weekend’s work. Jarvis started the tournament in the middle of the pack at two under, but he felt his play was strong enough to put him in a position to be there by the end of the tournament.

“I told myself, ‘Just be patient,’ throughout the whole week because it’s a long four days of golf,” he said. “Anything could happen.”

That patience paid off as the top of the field fell off on the third day, while he kept getting stronger. On the fourth and final round of competition, Jarvis maintained his strong play,

nailing some key birdie putts to put him in position to take the lead on the 18th hole.

“It feels incredible; it was one that I’ve always dreamt about winning the past few years because the prizes on the line are pretty sweet,” Jarvis said.

“Now, just going into the tournament, I told myself to go out and have fun.”

With the victory in hand, Jarvis, 19, will be able to compete at the Masters tournament in April. That milestone is even bigger when considering he will be the first golfer from the Cayman Islands to compete at Augusta.

“It’s something I can learn about, meet a bunch of cool people and learn from them, and enjoy the whole experience, but I still want to compete and do well for myself as well,” Jarvis said. “It’s going to be an incredible opportunity, and I’m looking forward to it.”

Jarvis also will be competing at the Open Championship in July,

WE ARE SERVE YOU WE ARE HERE TO YOU WE AREHERE HERETO TOSERVE SERVE YOU Collison Carey Hand Funeral Collison Carey Hand Funeral Collison Carey Hand Funeral Collison Carey Hand Funeral Home is a proud fixture ofof Homeisisa a proud fixture Home proud fixture of Home is a proud fixture of Windermere and West Orange Windermere and West Orange Windermere and West Orange Windermere and West Orange County.

We have built our County.

We have built County.

We have built our County.

We have built ourour homes and reputations here. homes and reputations here. homes and reputations here. homes and reputations here.

We are here for you.

We are here for you.

We are here for you. here for you.

Robert Bittle Robert Robert BittleBittle

373816-1

Director InInCharge Funeral Director Charge FuneralFuneral Director In Charge

5.092”x4” Collison_Rob’19

5.092”x4” Collison_Rob’19

Direct Cremation for

$

Including the alternative container. Call for details.

make We make itpersonal. personal. ® WeWe make ititpersonal.

5.092”x4” Collison_Rob’19

WinterGarden,Fl 895 c a re y h a n d . c o m

Winter Garden’s ONLY family owned funeral home.

® ®

407-877-6700 407-877-6700

407-877-6700 1148 E. Plant St. St. 1148 E. Plant 1148Garden, E. Plant Winter Fl St.Fl Winter Garden, Winter Garden, Fl careyhand.com careyhand.com careyhand.com

Exceptional - Not Expensive

(407) 614-8350 1132 E. Plant Street Winter Garden, FL 34787

www.winteroakfuneralhome.com LIC #F080822

373831-1

WE ARE HERE TO SERVE YOU

RED PAGES INFORMATION & RATES: 407-656-2121

Furnishings

redpages@orangeobserver.com • orangeobserver.com/redpages

PLACE YOUR AD: Call: 407-656-2121

Email: RedPages@ OrangeObserver.com

Tired of commuting?

Looking for more time to do the things you love?

Work where you live and add to your quality of life.

OCOEE GARDEN VILLAS 1901 Adair St. Ocoee, FL 34761 407-877-2670

373885

CERTIFICATION

Condos/Apts. for Rent

As our community continues to grow and thrive, the City of Winter Garden is seeking qualified individuals that exemplify the “Winter Garden Way” of providing top-notch service that residents expect, deserve, and appreciate. Candidates should possess a motivated mindset and a can-do attitude to find creative solutions, while always putting the citizens first.

Winter Garden is a great place to both live and work. Explore the job opportunities and the impressive benefit package at www.cwgdn.com/ and click on Jobs at bottom of home page.

Plumbing Help Wanted ASAP Established Family Owned Comp - New Const & Res Service Plumbers, Plumbing Helpers – WEEKDAYS 6:30 – 3:00 WEEKENDS!!

Clean DL, 13178NOW. Colonial Dr. Background & References Winter Garden Great pay w/ Benefits 407-295-0267 NOW PURCHASING

Merchandise Wanted

FAST & EASY

FIND BUYERS & SELLERS HERE!

373322

374382

GET YOUR MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARD HERE

NOW PURCHASING

407-656-3495

On a mission to fix your transmission? Then cal

13178 W. Colonial Dr. Winter Garden

BUYERS & SELLERS HERE!

On a mission to fix your transmission? Then cal

407-656-3495

1801 E. Colonial Dr Orlando, FL 32803

Accounting

SCRAP BATTERIES FIND

SCRAP BATTERIES

407-755-0012

Senior Citizen Complex 1 & 2 BEDROOM APARTMENTS 62 and older and/or handicapped Mon, Wed, Thurs 9:30AM - 3:00PM

373884

Call now for your FREE pre-evaluation by phone

13178 W. Colonial Dr. Winter Garden

349888

373890

Color background: $ 5 per week Ad border: as low as $3 per week

City of Winter Garden is Hiring

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

Notice: All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

delivered directly to your home or business

15% DISCOUNT FOR 4-WEEK RUN

Work in Your Own Backyard!

Service Directory - Friday at 10AM • PAYMENT: Cash, Check or Credit Card

DELIVERY

First 15 words ..................... $ 15.00 per week Each add’l word ........... 25¢

Help Wanted

DEADLINES: Classifieds - Friday at Noon

FREE

RED PAGES AD RATES

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

374728

Made for where you live. Here!

407-656-2121

IONWORLD AOnLLa TmiRssiAonNtoSfixMyourISStransmi ssion? Then call

ALLTRANSMISSIONWORLD

RED PAGESALLTRANSMISSIONWORLD for great F F O % deals.

10 VICE

ALLTRANSMISSIONWORL

SCRAP BATTERIES

NY SER A OrmondBeachObserver.com/RedPages

On a mission to fix your transmission? Then

373353

407-880-9300

FISSION 10%TROANFSM E

ANY SERVIC

ALS RE-SEENGINE CHECK LIGHT?

TRANSMISSIONS FLEET SERVICES

Call Now for Appointment. . ed Coupon Requir CALL US TODAY! CALL US TODAY! 1 /2 2 31 /2 8/ 28 Exp. 2/

407-880-9300 407-877-7600 407-880-9300 FREE STRESS

Financing See store for details

ran Blvd. Apopka, FL, 32703 mo Se st Ea -B 50 11 CHECK ENGINE SERVICES FLEET SERVICES

Service includes: Front or Rear Pads, Parts and Labor. Synthetic Oil and new filter.

Tax and recycling fees are extra. Not valid with any other offers. Expires 2/28/22

LIGHT?

12939 W. Colonial Dr., Winter 34787 FL, 32703 1150-B East Semoran Blvd. Garden, Apopka,FL FL, 32703

1150-B East Semoran Blvd. Apopka, FL, 32703

Cal Now fort. pA pointmen d. ire u q e R n o p u Co TODAY! US LL CA 1 2 / 31ICE / 8 .

V p x R E E S Y AN 00 93 088 740 r o Cal Now f Auto Service pointment. p A On a missionuito fix The .GINEyour transmission? d e r EN K q EC IC e CH RV R SE T EE FL n o p Cou LIGHT? CALL US TODAY! ALLTRANSMISSIONWOR Exp. 8/31/21

407-880-9300

ISSION SM AN TR TRANSMIS F F O 10% REE-SERVALICS E ANY S for Call Now CHECK ENGINE t. • BFG Tires en tm FLEET SERVICES ppoin • Toyo • Bridgestone • AMichelin ed. ir qu Re upon CoLIGHT? CALL US TODAY p. 8/31/21

373355

Mercedes E-Class $99.95 $199.95 199.95 Blvd.

Apopka, Includes up to 7 quarts of Full

BMW 5 Series

Puzzle Three Solution: “Do all the good you can, by all the means available, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can.”

Mia Farrow

01 % OFF

ONLY

$

oran

ANY SER

Puzzle Two Solution: “Our world would be better if more followed her example. It is diminished with her passing.”

Dan Rather on Betty White

TRANSMISSION BRAKE PAD SALE Full Synthetic TRANSMISSIONS BMW 3 Series Mercedes C-Class Oil Service RE-SEALS TRANSMISSION $179.95 TRANSMISSIONS $179.95 TRANSMISSIONS RE-SEALS FLEET

F F O % 10 VICE

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers

Puzzle One Solution: “Only married people understand you can be miserable and happy at the same time.”

Chris Rock

aC l Now for . pA pointment d. e r i u q e R n o p CoYu SERVI/C2E1 DAY! TO US LL CA AN Exp. 8/31 7-880-9300 40 Cal Now for Auto Service . Service pointmentAuto p A ur transmission?

Then call On a mission to fix Then call .your transmission? d e r i u q e R n o p Cou CHECK ENGINE CALL USFLEETODAY! T SERVICES 1 MISSIONWORLD ALLTRANSMISSIONWORLD 2 / 1 3 / 8 Exp.LIGHT?

01 % OFF

This week’s Sudoku answers

©2022 NEA, Inc.

SEARCH the

407-656-3495 This week’s Crossword answers

CALL 407-656-2121 OrangeObserver.com/RedPages

Ex

Blvd. Apopka, FL 1150-B East Semoran407-880-930

LIGHT? TRANSMISSION RE-SEALS TRANSMISSION RE-SEALS CHECK ENGINE

FLEET SERVIC

TRANSMISSIO

TRANSMISS

1150-B East Semoran Blvd. Apopka, FL, 373892

We provide Medical Marijuana in a variety of forms such as tinctures, pills, pain patches, vapes, concentrates, buds, vape shatter pills, dry flower & much more!

©2022 Universal Uclick

www.CMMDR.COM

You’re only cheating yourself.

SMOKE!

peekers’ place

You now get the dry flower to

NOW PURCHASING

1150-B East Semoran Blvd. Apopka, FL, 327 TFN

OrangeObserver.com

OBSERVER

Painting 373893

FIRE TECH

FREE

EXTINGUISHER

ESTIMATE

SERVICE

1207 North Lakewood Avenue Ocoee, FL 34761

The First Time.

Dean Rooker Painting LLC 29 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

Danny Motes

802-236-0849

• Screen Door Repair and Replacement • Sliding Door Roller Replacement • Sliding Door Track Replacement • Sliding Patio Door Alignment • Handles and Locks • Window Repair

Veteran Owned and Operated

“Your Complete Service Center” 10 West Story Rd., Winter Garden, FL 34787

WE RECOMMEND LE INSTALLING A DOUB Y ER EV ON BOLT LOCK O TI PA G IN SLID DOOR. Call us for a

FREE Estimate www.CSSlidingGlassDoorMaintenance.com 863-594-4788 centerstatesgd@gmail.com

REG# MV-01095

Phone 407-656-6646

Personal Property Liquidation Services

373900

TIME TO BUILD YOUR BUSINESS

373755

• Estate Sales • Consignment • Downsizing • • Clean-Outs (Storage Units & Hoarder Homes) • • Buy-Outs •

Call to reserve your ad space:

407-656-2121

HEROES found here.

Relax. You’ve got better things to do.

Find a professional here in the Red Pages.

RED PAGES Made for where you live. Here!

Call 407-656-2121 or visit OrangeObserver.com/RedPages

102 W. McKey Street Historic Downtown Ocoee www.LetItGoLifestyle.com (407) 797-3534

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

RED PAGES

373896

373895

No job is too sma

• Door Cut-Downs

WITH THE RED PAGES

TFN

epair.

R r o o D s We are experts in Sliding Glas ll.

407-656-1817

Richard Hudson • Regie Hudson

Roofing

Center State Sliding glaSS door MaintenanCe

TFN

TFN

www.Firetechextinguisher.com

Professional Services

1045 S. Vineland Rd. • Winter Garden • New and Used Tires • Alignment • Complete Auto Repair • A/C Serv. & More

TFN

Cell 407-466-4738 Tel 407-654-2395

368050

GARAGE

374406

dlrpainting@yahoo.com Dean Rooker Painting

TRAYWICK'S

19

Professional Services CALL TODAY FOR YOUR

Do It Right

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

BOOST YOUR BUSINESS Showcase your products or services each week in the Red Pages.

CALL 407-656-2121

373894

Auto Service

|

20

OBSERVER

|

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022

BAPTIST

First Baptist Church Pastor Tim Grosshans 125 E. Plant St, Winter Garden (407) 656-2352 Sundays: 8:30 AM Traditional 9:45 AM Bible Study 11 AM Contemporary Wednesdays: 6 PM Awana 2nd Campus: First Baptists Church @ Horizon West 15304 Tilden Road, Winter Garden Sundays: 9:45 AM All Ages www.FBCWG.org

CHURCH OF GOD

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

EPISCOPAL

Church of the Messiah 241 N. Main St., Winter Garden Services: 8, 9:30, & 11 AM, 4 PM (French & Creole), 7 PM www.ChurchoftheMessiah.com

METHODIST

First United Methodist Church 125 N. Lakeview Ave., Winter Garden (407) 656-1135 Services: 9 AM Contemporary 11:15 AM Traditional Viewable on YouTube METHODIST NON-DENOMINATIONAL

CHURCH DIRECTORY

www.starkelakebaptist.org

Victory Baptist Church CHURCH OF GOD OCOEE CHURCH OF GOD & Christian Academy BAPTIST Pastor Thomas Odom 1601 A.D. Mims Rd,Ocoee 1105 N. Lakewood Avenue, Ocoee BEULAH BAPTIST 407-656-8011 astor Casey Butner (407) 656-3097 71 Beulah Rd, Winter Garden Sunday: 11 EPISCOPAL AM & 6 PM 07-656-3342 | BeulahBaptistWG.org CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH UNDAY BIBLE STUDY 9:30AM Wednesday: 7 PM 241 N. Main, Winter Garden UNDAY SERVICE 11:00AM www.VBCOCOEE.com Services: 8, 9:30, & 11am, 7pm WEDNESDAY SERVICE 6:00PM

IRST BAPTIST CHURCH 25 E Plant St., Winter Garden 07-656-2352 UNDAYS 8:30 am Traditional :45 am Bible Study 1:00 am Contemporary WEDNESDAYS - 6pm - Awana astor Tim Grosshans www.fbcwg.org nd Campus: OUNDATION WORSHIP UNDAYS 9:45 am - All Ages oundation Academy High School 5304 Tilden Rd., Winter Garden www.FoundationWorship.com 07-730-1867

PURPOSE CHURCH OLANDO 13640 W. Colonial Dr., Ste 110, Winter Garden 407-654-9661 • Prayer 9:30AM, Fellowship 9:45AM, Service 10:05 AM

NON-DENOMINATIONAL

Purpose Church Orlando 13640 W Colonial Dr. Ste 110, Winter Garden UNITED CHURCH OF (407) 654-9661 CHRIST SundayUNION Service: WINDERMERE CHURCH 10:05 AM 10710 Park Ridge-Gotha Rd. Sunday Brazilian Service: 7 PM Windermere, FL 34786 407-876-2112 WorshipService: times: Saturday 6 PM 9:00am Adult Sunday School www.purposechurchorlando.org 10:00am Worship

Advertise your Services or Events on this page weekly.

This page appears weekly in the West Orange Times & Observer and online at OrangeObserver.com.

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

www.windermereunion.org

www.churchofthemessiah.com

MIKE YOAKUM PASTOR

P: 407.656.1520 C: 407.758.3570 MYOAKUM407@AOL.COM

1333 EAST CROWN POINT RD. OCOEE, FL 34761

LV14252

146 East Plant St, Winter Garden UNDAY SERVICE 10:00 AM nd us at: Theacf.net

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 125 N. Lakeview Ave Winter Garden Service Times 9:00 AM and 11:15 AM Phone – 407-656-1135 Web: fumcwg.org

316889-1

Starke Lake Baptist Church Pastor Jeff Pritchard PO Box 520 611 W Ave., STARKE LAKE BAPTIST ANGLICANOcoee CHURCH ANGLICAN COMMUNITY PO Box 520, 611 W Ave, Ocoee ELLOWSHIP (407) CHURCH 656-2351 Pastor Jeff Pritchard ector The Rev. Canon Tim Trombitas www.StarkeLakeBaptist.org (407) 656-2351

Matthew’s Hope Chest Creations

Check out the custom Used Furniture and New & Used Here isitems a brief Snapshot of what that looked like. • Gently made silent auction Household Items Follow us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/MatthewsHopeChest/ that will be available at Visits: 13,630 Personal Hygiene Items: 139,300 Total Weekly the Garden Party on Visit our Workshop Location at 611 Business Park Blvd. #101, Winter Garden Clothing Items Distributed: 50,600 New First Time Guests: 639 November 9!!

407.905.9500 • 8am-4pm Mon - Fri • 8am-3pm Saturday Plus, we provided weekly laundry service, showers, assistance with food stamps, Florida ID's, COVID Testing, and more.

374366-1

Protective Masks: 53,900 Hand Sanitizers: 9,930 Nursing/Medical Care: 1,300 Prepared Foods: 54,400 Nonperishable Foods:169,000 lbs.

XNSP18213

ORDER YOUR CUSTOM MADE • Custom Furniture, Farm Tables, Barn CHRISTMAS In 2020, Matthew's Hope experienced a 300% increase in theDoors, numberand of More • Repaired, Refinished and GIFTS weekly NOW!visits with those finding themselves homeless in our community.

Repurposed Wood Furniture

TEXT

TO DONATE

This is a secure site for giving

351376-1

“MHM” TO 4 1 4 4 4 Help Us. Help Them. 611 Business Park Blvd #101, Winter Garden, FL 34787 (407) 905-9500 I MatthewsHopeMinistries.org Help Themselves.

WANT TO SEE YOUR LISTING HERE? CALL (407) 656-2121 374544-1

or email AdvertiseNow@orangeobserver.com