Times& WEST ORANGE
Observer WEST ORANGE COUNTY’S NEWSPAPER FOR 109 YEARS
THURSDAY
MARCH 5, 2015
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WINTER GARDEN, FLORIDA
INSIDE
ARTS & CULTURE
SPORTS
Oakland Nature Preserve hosts open house. PAGE 10A
Singer Sam Harris will headline Garden Theatre fundraiser. PAGE 13A
Lacrosse players acclimate to new headgear. PAGE 1B
by Peter M. Gordon | Contributing Writer OUR TOWN governance
W.G. leaders approve water tanks for anticipated growth
+ Philanthropist celebrates birthday Cynthia Perry, of Bay Hill, celebrated her 80th birthday in style. Perry, whose birthday was Feb. 22, is a wellknown philanthropist in West Orange County. She began her career as a volunteer as a founding member of the West Orange Junior Service League. Her volunteering continued with the Payne Stewart Charity Golf tournament for The First Academy that raised more than $1 million for an athletic complex. She has served on the Orlando Health Foundation Board for more than 25 years. She and her husband, Bill, donated the Perry Pavilion at Dr. Phillips Hospital. This 12-room addition is for families from out of town who have a loved one in the hospital and need a place to stay. They have also donated chapels and private rooms for families in many of the hospitals associated with Orlando Health. Cindy Perry is still volunteering a few times a week for Shepherd’s Hope and Orlando Health. She is a member of St. Luke’s Methodist Church and believes she has been blessed by God to bless others. The Perrys also founded the Quality Assurance Institute, a business for IT professionals. They developed and grew this company for more than 30 years before selling it in 2008. The Perrys have been married for more than 50 years. They have three children: Scott Perry, Jeff Perry and Deb Perry Melnick (Tim). They also have four grandchildren: Justin Melnick, Ryan Melnick, Carly Melnick and Paige Perry.
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The two tanks — expected to cost $3.5 million to build — will serve the southwest section of the city. WINTER GARDEN — The Winter Garden City Commission likes to plan ahead. During its Feb. 26 meeting, commissioners voted to start the design process for a one million-gallon potable water tank and a two million-gallon
water reuse storage tank to serve anticipated new development in the southwest section of the city. Assistant City Manager for Public Services Don Cochran said each tank would be built as growth dictates. However,
he needed approval to begin design so construction could start as needed. Cochran estimates the construction costs will be about $1.50 per gallon, or about $1.5 million for the potable water tank and $2 million for the reuse storage
tank. The city awarded the design contract to Tetra Tech, the highest qualified engineering firm. Cochran said the tanks, combined with planned high-tech pumping stations, should keep home water pressure steady. Winter Garden’s water pressure is currently
SEE TANKS / PAGE 6A
HEAT OF THE MOMENT by Zak Kerr | Staff Writer
Ocoee PD begins java program The officers will meet residents in relaxed spaces to discuss city issues.
SEE COFFEE / PAGE 6A
ACTS OF LOVE Zak Kerr
This new truck is just one honor Oakley Transport driver David Fredericksen has received for saving a 1-year-old from a burning car in August.
HERO ON THE
“I don’t think I did anything extraordinary, just put in an extraordinary situation and did the right thing. I got kids, and for somebody to do that for my kids, of course I’d be appreciative if they did it. We’re not Samaritans, but we think we’re good Americans.”
HIGHWAY
Windermere resident David Fredericksen pulled a 1-year-old from a burning car. Now, he’s a finalist for Goodyear’s Highway Hero Award. There are times in life when a split-second decision can change everything, from the score of a championship game to an academic future in the final minute of a standardized test. But some must make split-second decisions with lives on the line, possibly risking theirs, such as firefighters and police officers. “To me, heroes are police, firefighters, EMTs, soldiers — people who put their
This week’s winner is
lives on the line every day,” said Oakley Transport driver David Fredericksen, of Windermere. “I really don’t like being called a hero.” Gary Medalis, director of marketing for Goodyear Commercial Tire Systems, disagreed. “Each of this year’s Highway Hero Award finalists is a true hero in his own
— David Fredericksen, Oakley Transport driver
SEE HERO / PAGE 8A
by Zak Kerr | Staff Writer
Unique Conference bolsters W.O. teens’ faith WEST ORANGE — For Valentine’s Day weekend the past six years, Adrenaline and The Roots student ministries have collaborated on community service as part of the Unique Student Conference. This year, about 70 middleand high-school students from across West Orange performed various acts of service around the community on Feb. 14 and 15. “On Saturday and Sunday, we take our students out for four to five hours of community service,” said Marcio Pacheco, youth pastor of Adren-
SEE SERVICE / PAGE 8A
Randy Free.
INDEX Arts & Culture.......................13A Classifieds..............................6B
VOTE FOR
GEORGE
OLIVER MARCH 10
by Zak Kerr | Staff Writer
OCOEE — Many police officers and residents agree that they must collaborate to improve their communities. But with the busy, intense formality of officers’ duties, some residents feel uncomfortable approaching officers with important non-emergency matters when officers are on duty. For more informal relations in a relaxed space, the Ocoee Police Department has joined a national initiative through the Department of Justice, “Coffee with a Cop.” Several officers, likely including Chief Charles Brown, will host Ocoee’s first such event from 10 a.m. to noon
WO See the photo on PAGE 8B.
POPO ESPRESSO
Community Calendar..............2A Cops Corner............................7A
Crossword...............................8B Obituaries.............................17A
Sports.....................................1B Weather..................................8B
FOR CITY OF OCOEE COMMISSIONER • DISTRICT 4
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