WINDERMERE
Observer Serving Southwest Orange County
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 2, NO. 19
FREE
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017
A rainbow of possibilities Mallow out and raise a toast to these gourmet confections. SEE PAGE 5.
Stop sign will stay in place Proponents of the sign at the intersection of Forest Street and Second Avenue say it will help alleviate safety concerns.
Windermere Realtors heat up chili competition. SEE 7.
Dear Pen Pal Since 1951, Dr. Phillips resident Karen Brown had been corresponding with her New Zealand pen pal, Robyn Chrystal. Nearly seven decades later, the two ‘spirit friends’ finally met. SEE STORY PAGE 4.
GABBY BAQUERO STAFF WRITER WINDERMERE To stop or not to stop. That is the question. And for now, the red octagon installed in January at the intersection of Forest Street and Second Avenue in Windermere will remain in place. During a Feb. 14 Windermere Town Council meeting, council members discussed whether to remove the new stop sign. All the residents in attendance, except for Windermere resident Karen Fay, argued that the stop sign was necessary because it had the
YOUR TOWN HUSBAND RAISES BAR
An Independence husband took Valentine’s Day to new heights by renting a helicopter for his wife. Natasha Proto had just put her kids down for a nap when she heard a helicopter nearby. She and her husband, Jonathan, went outside to look. A chopper had landed in the adjacent field. That’s when he told her it was her gift. The helicopter took the couple on a 45-minute ride that ended at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando, where they received massages.
WALK OR RUN FOR PREEMIES The Gift of Life is holding a Super Run 5K from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake, 3401 S. Hiawassee Road, Orlando. Registration fee is $40 ($45 the day of the race). Sign up at goo.gl/MPeOMg.
New Horizon West church opens arms to community
SEE STOP SIGN PAGE 8
SPORTS
Life Church Horizon West, which meets Sundays at Bay Lake Elementary, officially opened Feb. 5. DANIELLE HENDRIX STAFF WRITER
Olympia Titans top Vero Beach to earn spot in Final Four.
SEE PAGE 11. PRSRT STD ECRWSS US POSTAGE PAID WINTER GARDEN, FL PERMIT NO. 81
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Karen Brown treasures the gifts from her pen pal of 66 years, including a scarf, pearls and necklaceand-earring set.
“The world is really very small. We all have the same wishes and the same dreams. I think it’s neat to have a journey through life with someone who’s like a soulmate, a sister.” — Karen Brown
Horizon West resident Brandt Leich’s desire to plant a church began a couple of years ago, but now the surrounding area is seeing the fruit of his team’s labor. Life Church Horizon West opened its doors to the community on Jan. 15, with an official grand opening on Feb. 5. It meets at 10 a.m. Sundays at Bay Lake Elementary. Leich, Life Church’s lead SEE CHURCH PAGE 2