Times& WEST ORANGE
Observer WEST ORANGE COUNTY’S NEWSPAPER FOR 109 YEARS
THURSDAY
FEBRUARY 19, 2015
FREE
WINTER GARDEN, FLORIDA
INSIDE
ARTS & CULTURE
ACTIVE
Sunset Park throws party for boys, fathers. PAGES 12A
Dr. Phillips High School thespians take stage for ‘The Drowsy Chaperone.’ PAGES 13-15A
This week, we activate our new fitness section. PAGE 4B
by Zak Kerr | Staff Writer OUR TOWN fifty shades of cray
Teens rush West Oaks movie theater A suspect also fired shots during the incident. No one was injured, and Ocoee police were able to arrest the shooter.
+ Rescue Rider raises $18,000 Based on a New Year’s resolution in 2007 and continuing through 2014, cyclist Sherry McMahon has ridden a total of 8,300 miles and raised more than $18,000 for animal-rescue efforts. Nicknamed the “Rescue Rider,” McMahon pledged to ride one mile on her bicycle for every dollar donated with a goal of 1,000 miles and $1,000 a year. On Jan. 18, she completed her goal for 2014 by pedaling 1,000 miles and raised more than $3,400, the largest annual amount to date. Support riders Allen Wooldridge and W.E. Harris rode the excess miles. Rescue groups that have benefited donations this year include Candy’s Cats; The Haven for Injured and Orphaned Wildlife; the new TREATS Program of Osceola County, which teaches prisoners to train shelter dogs at The Transition House; and Poodle and Pooch Rescue. For more information or to make a donation, visit rescuerider.com.
OCOEE — At least 100 teens rushed the movie theater without paying, late Feb. 14 at West Oaks Mall in Ocoee, according to Orange County Sheriff’s Office. As many as 300 had been causing a disturbance in the food court and theater area, according to Ocoee Police. Gunshots sounded as Orange County deputies and po-
lice from Ocoee, Winter Garden and Windermere arrived to quell crowds and control the situation. No injuries have been reported. “During this time, there was a shot fired and somebody was robbed,” said Lt. Paul Hopkins, of the Sheriff’s Office. “But the Ocoee Police Department jumped on that quickly and
were able to catch the gunman with the gun and make an arrest out of that.” An Ocoee Police Department official said officers had arrested one child for battery and resisting an officer without violence, and a second juvenile was under arrest on misdemeanor drug charges off mall property. Whether the latter offense was related to the theater incident is unknown. “Our main concern is this: These are middle- to highschool kids who have guns, who are shooting guns, who
are robbing people, driving stolen cars, and they have drugs in their car,” Hopkins said. “You need to know where your kids are at all times.” Anna Khavulya, director of marketing and specialty leasing at West Oaks Mall, said the teens — all younger than 17 — were trying to see R-rated “Fifty Shades of Grey,” released the previous day. This 2011 erotic romance novel-turned-film motivated the children to rush the theater after its personnel refused to sell them tickets as unaccompanied minors. Po-
lice escorted them from the mall property without incident, she said. “Furthermore, effective immediately, after 9 p.m. every day, all minors under the age of 17 must be accompanied by an adult while on mall property, and all unaccompanied minors will be escorted off the property,” she said. Video of the theater entrance at the time of the incident is available through the Ocoee Police Department,
SEE TEENS / PAGE 4A
SAGA SETTLED
AWFULLY BIG ADVENTURE
by Zak Kerr | Staff Writer
Windermere approves Windsong revisions The approval includes upgrades to sewer pipes and a potential left-turn lane. WINDERMERE — The Windermere Town Council approved the third rendition of a Windsong at Windermere final development plan at its regular meeting Feb. 10. Construction will begin presently at the parcel, which is in the area of 1800 Maguire Road. To the east, across Maguire Road, are Down Yonder Lane and Wonder Lane. To the south are some small bodies of water. To the west is the back
SEE WINDSONG / 4A Courtesy photo
First-graders from Westbrooke Elementary School enjoyed a day on the big campus on a recent field trip to see West Orange High School’s production of “Peter Pan.” The first-graders even had a chance to meet members of the cast. For more school news, see Class Notes, page 9A. Courtesy of La Merc Photography
+ Ocoee senior wins scholarship Ocoee High School senior Andrew Kennedy was surprised with a music scholarship Feb. 7 during the fifth annual HapCO Sunshine Jazz Festival at Ocoee High School. The festival also featured clinics and performances by trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, jazz singer LeNard Rutledge and the University of Florida Jazz Band.
I
WO This week’s winner is
Melissa Ginsberg. See the photo on PAGE 5B.
ice breaker by Peter M. Gordon | Contributing Writer
POLITICS by Zak Kerr | Staff Writer
Commission OKs Oakland residents Solar Bears facility seek county seats Officials confirmed the facility will be open to the public.
WINTER GARDEN — The Orlando Solar Bears Training Facility is coming to Winter Garden. With several members of the Solar Bears’ management in attendance, Winter Garden city commissioners unanimously approved plans to build a hockey training facility on land at 530-630 E. Crown Point Road. Community Development Director Ed Williams called this a significant development that will spur further development on the
site and in that part of the city. The 16-acre site will contain a two-story, 115,595-squarefoot training facility with two rinks, parking, stores and restaurants. Plans include a youth training facility for local teams that can also host highschool and college teams and tournaments. Williams said the developers will pay impact fees and other costs usually associated with the development. “I hope it’s open for people of West Orange,” Mayor John Rees said. “They are currently driving to Maitland.” The RDV Sportsplex is cur-
SEE HOCKEY / PAGE 4A
Orange County District 1 Commissioner Scott Boyd plans to run for property appraiser, while Betsy VanderLey hopes to succeed Boyd. OAKLAND — Two of the next elects to public office in Orange County could be from a town of barely more than 2 square miles, Oakland. Both Orange County District 1 Commissioner Scott Boyd and Betsy VanderLey, District 1 Planning and Zoning commissioner and chairwoman, live in Oakland and will be on the 2016 ballot for Orange County elections.
As of press time, VanderLey is the only candidate who has filed for Orange County District 1 commissioner, from which Boyd plans to move on to become Orange County property appraiser. Current Property Appraiser Rick Singh has filed for re-election. VanderLey has worked on Boyd’s past campaigns, and the two will have the same
SEE POLITICS / 4A
IN OTHER NEWS • Molly Rose raised several discussion topics: the town’s boat lift needing repairs and the possible lack of a need for the town to have a boat; a moving truck parked for months before a Windermere residence; and buying a generator for police use during power outages. • Richard Gonzalez recommended added training and bonuses for Dave Ogden and Town Manager Robert Smith. • Smith reported on recent charity events for the town, including the Central Florida NFL Alumni’s Caring for Kids fundraiser last month that raised more than $23,000. He also announced the Robbie German Memorial Softball Tournament and Family Fun Day for March 22. • Ogden will lead a group of town staff and council members to Washington, D.C., for a trip spanning March 13 to 16.
INDEX Arts & Culture.......................13A Classifieds..............................8B
Community Calendar..............2A Crossword...............................7B
History..................................17A Obituaries.............................17A
Sports.....................................1B Weather..................................7B
Vol. 82, No. 8 , Two sections
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