W E ST O RA N G E T I M E S &
Observer Celebrating 110 years in West Orange
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 83, NO. 8
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The Osets share school, passion for diamond. See page 21
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016
Making (sense of) the grades The state released 2015 school grades Feb. 12. But what do they mean? And how should parents interpret them? Page 8.
YOUR TOWN
“In children’s minds nowadays, unless they’re taught or told from experience where food comes from, they just think it comes from Publix in a plastic container.” — Julia Ugartechea
Crabtree Fund names recipient The Jimmy Crabtree Cancer Fund Inc. made a presentation to its 20th recipient, Dan Colonna, who had a brain cancer called glioblastoma. The tumor was removed two years ago, and he underwent radiation and chemotherapy for six months; every PET scan to date has been clear of new cancer growth. Colonna volunteers at the Winter Garden Art Association’s SoBo Gallery. He is married to Rhonda, a teacher. Their son is a senior at West Orange High, and his son is a student at the University of Central Florida.
Oakland honors Welch Willie Welch was the longestserving community leader in Oakland when he died Oct. 24 at age 69. His love for his hometown never wavered, and he spent more than 33 years taking care of Oakland as a reserve police officer, town commissioner and vice mayor. On a recent Sunday, the town honored him by dedicating the Willie Welch Pavilion at Westside Park, just down the street from the home he shared with his wife of 22 years, Peggie. Other officials, along with community members and Welch’s family, attended the ceremony, held in remembrance of his love, hard work and dedication to the town.
Dallas, Madelynn and Emily Stone hope to raise their own chickens — and their own eggs — in Winter Garden.
Jennifer Nesslar
Coming home to roost? The Winter Garden Chicken Club wants to make backyard chickens legal in Winter Garden and hopes to dispel foul perceptions of the egg-producing birds. Story on 4.
A day in their shoes
ARTS+CULTURE
West Orlando Church is hosting Compassion International’s poverty experience to give residents a look at daily life in third-world countries. AMY QUESINBERRY RHODE COMMUNITY EDITOR WINTER GARDEN Churches
Courtesy of Compassion International
and organizations from throughout the United States send members on mission trips each year to the far reaches of the globe to help improve the lives of impoverished children. And although thousands go each year, many more feel a call-
ing to help but may not have the means to make the trip. Enter Compassion International. This weekend, the childadvocacy ministry is bringing the experiences of two children living in poverty in Kenya and the Dominican Republic to West SEE COMPASSION PAGE 6
SoBo Art Gallery goes SoBlue at 2016 fundraising gala.
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