04.02.20 West Orange Times & Observer

W E ST O RA N G E T I M E S &

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VOLUME 87, NO. 14

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THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020

Long-distance love West Orange teachers put on parades to bring smiles to their students. SEE 11.

Options to eat, shop locally

Sewing machines

Despite restrictions due to the coronavirus, you can support local businesses and safely obtain your necessities.

DANIELLE HENDRIX ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Dozens of local and independently owned restaurants from Winter Garden and Ocoee to Horizon West and Dr. Phillips have reinvented themselves to keep serving customers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings’ stay-at-home order, many are relying more

Through the Army of Masks Facebook groups, West Orange-area residents have been sewing fabric face masks for those on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. SEE PAGE 4.

SEE DELIVERY PAGE 4

YOUR TOWN READING IN THE TIME OF CORONA

Danielle Hendrix

Normally, we love to see photos of readers enjoying the West Orange Times & Observer on vacation in some exotic destination, and we showcase them in our ongoing It’s Read Everywhere feature.

But we’re changing it up!

Send us creative photos of you enjoying our newspaper at home, and we will feature them in future editions! Email to Amy Quesinberry, amyq@ orangeobserver.com.

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Hope in the darkness Local churches continue to meet and worship using online platforms.

TIM FREED MANAGING EDITOR

Local churches may not be meeting together under one roof, but that isn’t stopping them from using technology to worship together and encourage one another.

Following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

guidelines in the wake of COVID-19, churches are live-streaming and recording services so their congregations can still hear a positive message and worship from home.

Among those churches is Mosaic Church in Winter Garden, which has transitioned to an online-only approach since March 15. The church posts new services at 9 a.m. every Sunday on its website, with ASL interpreting and Spanish translation available.

SEE WORSHIP PAGE 2

SPORTS

Erin Morris — pictured with son, Ronan — has sewn more than 200 fabric face masks to donate to health care workers and others in the community who need them most.

Local athletes see down time as a window of opportunity to improve. SEE PAGE 15.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020

WATCH A SERVICE

Worship

AN ANCHOR IN THE STORM

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The church’s missional communities, groups and classes won’t be meeting in person but will instead be meeting through Zoom and Google Hangouts. It’s a similar approach for Mosaic Students and Mosaic Young Adults, which will be using online platforms with a discipleship schedule posted on the Mosaic Church website.

“There’s something very powerful and profound about meeting together in regularity that is now going to be lost for a certain period of time … we’re finding other ways to do that,” Lead Pastor Renaut van der Riet said.

For Mosaic Kids, the church is offering worship, stories and devotional resources for parents on its website, as well.

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Courtesy photo

Mosaic Church’s online services have included music from Worship Pastor Zack Olsen.

“What we’ve gained, oddly enough, is this unique space where we’re calling parents into disciplining and pouring into their kids spiritually in very unique ways,” van der Riet said.

The pastor hopes Mosaic Church gives people an opportunity to look back several months from now and realize that slowing down and staying inside actually gave them a chance to refocus —

to invest in their relationship with God and each other.

It’s going to feel amazing when the church finally reunites when it’s safe to do so, van der Riet said.

“It is going to have brand-new, profound and powerful experience of something that was totally ordinary before all this,” he said.

“There’s something beautiful about losing something that you took for granted and getting it back and going ‘Wow, this is awesome.’”

The congregation at Ocoee Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Ocoee has met since 1883, but even a church with so much history now is forced to adapt under the current circumstances.

Instead of meeting in the building the congregation has called home since 1891, members of the church are watching a Facebook Live stream of Pastor Margaret Marquis in her dining room at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays.

The services are condensed into about a half hour but still include prayer, a sermon and communion.

“In a time when everything seems out of place, it’s important to have something that we sort of anchor to,” Marquis said. “For many Christians, Sunday morning worship is one of those things that becomes the anchor for the week.”

“Being together is important for Christians — our health is also important,” she said. “The health of the congregation is important to me. I can’t imagine doing anything that would endanger any of them.

If that means, for now, being in one place in a building where we’ve worshipped for almost 130 years or my congregation being healthy, I’ll choose being healthy any time.”

A small congregation of around

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OCOEE CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST) To watch services, visit the church on Facebook at bit. ly/2ULsoZi.

35 people normally meets at the Ocoee church on Sundays, but over the past two weeks of online services from Marquis’ home, people have watched from as far away as Australia, England and Turkey. The church has reached people like never before.

It’s made the leadership group think about how the church could function in the future, Marquis said.

“Once we’re back in our sanctuary, once we’re worshiping together that way, what are ways that we can either record the service and then put it on our Facebook page after service is over or do it as an online live stream?” she said. “(We’re) looking ahead to how we can we extend our ministry beyond our doors.”

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THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020

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PRINTING PROTECTION Barry Maxwell is giving away his medical face shields for free to individuals, hospitals and medical offices.

AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

As the coronavirus continues to spread more and more throughout the United States, Barry Maxwell is doing his part to help professionals in the medical field. The Winter Garden resident is temporarily suspending his hobby of printing children’s 3D prosthetic hands so he can tackle another important project: printing 3D medical face shields.

He is making these face shields available to medical offices, hospitals, nursing homes and individuals in response to a growing need for them in recent weeks.

“All I was trying to do was to help out people, and it’s really exploded,” Maxwell said last week.

TO HELP Barry Maxwell is giving away the medical face shields free of charge but has had inquiries from people wanting to make a donation. Those who would like to can send a donation to enablingthefuture.org, an organization Maxwell supports by printing 3D prosthetic hands for children in need.

Volunteers are needed in several capacities — to print the face shields if they have a 3D printer, cut the acetate sheets if they have a Cricut or donate filament.

For information, visit wgfaceshields.com or email wgfaceshields@outlook.com.

The two 3D printers in his home office have been running 24 hours a day for more than a week to try to keep up with the demand. The requests have been increasing rapidly as word spreads about his face shields.

Deliveries and pickups have been constant.

“I have friends in the medical profession, and they just don’t have these,” Maxwell said.

“Everybody’s talking about N95 (respirator) masks, but I can’t print that product. But this is something that’s needed, and it’s something I can put together relatively quickly.”

Maxwell can make between 14 and 20 each day. Since he started about 10 days ago, he has been contacted by several large companies with 3D printers that want to get involved. More help means a quicker turnaround for getting the face shields distributed to those who need them, he said. As of Sunday, 20 printers were turning out the face shields.

“The folks who use 3D printers have pretty much jumped on this worldwide,” Maxwell said. “I’m one of a bunch. It’s not necessarily an organized thing, but people are jumping in and doing it.”

Since his story was aired on national television, requests have come from as far away as Alaska.

Maxwell said he has recieved more than 300 requests for the face shields.

The face shields are made of four parts: the shield, fitted between a headband at the top and a connector piece at the bottom, and the elastic strap to hold it on the person’s head.

Barry Maxwell can print an average of 17 medical face shields every 24 hours.

The headband and bottom piece make up the printed component, and the shield is cut from acetate sheets.

It’s getting increasingly more difficult to obtain the parts, Maxwell said, especially the plastic filament that typically is sourced from China, where factories were shut down in an attempt to curb the virus’ spread. Amazon currently has a one-month delivery time, and that’s if the product is in stock.

“I’m making them out of whatever color I can get,” Maxwell said.

“I’ve done pink, white, red, blue; it’s basically whatever filament that I get my hands on.”

His neighbors are assisting with the project, cutting the face shields with Cricut machines. On the West Coast, Maxwell’s brother, Duane, is working on the same project.

A website has been set up to give medical professionals a cen-

tralized place to make requests: wgfaceshields.com.

Maxwell, a defense contractor, plans to continue printing the shields until they are no longer needed. Then, he will return to printing prosthetic hands for children around the world.

Courtesy photos

Barry Maxwell has two 3D printers working around the clock to create as many medical face shields as possible for as long as they are needed.

Venue closures quiet local bands, musicians The coronavirus has impacted the bands and performers that play the venues of West and Southwest Orange County.

BIANCA MORALES STAFF INTERN

The coronavirus isn’t just forcing businesses to close and residents to stay home, it’s keeping musicians off of local stages.

Singer-songwriter Layla Brisbois and The Down Brothers vocalist and guitarist Jeff Wilson are among those performers eager to pick up their instruments and play for crowds again once the COVID-19 pandemic dissipates.

Brisbois, an Orlando native, started her career as a musician six years ago when she played a gig with local musician Guy Walker. She plays the acoustic guitar and the piano, but she said her true passion is singing.

“I ended up making it a fulltime thing about two years ago,”

Courtesy photo

Singer-songwriter Layla Brisbois said she plans to work on original music during the shutdown of local venues.

Brisbois said. “It’s the one thing that brings me absolute, pure joy.”

She’s made her career by playing at Winter Garden venues, local breweries, restaurants and places such as Disney Springs.

However, as the COVID-19 crisis continues, venues have been closing their doors in an effort to minimize the spread of the virus

and keep the public safe, cutting off gigs for the time being.

“When the whole month gets canceled, you lose all your income,” Brisbois said. “You’ve got no way to pay your bills.”

Brisbois is now out of work for the forseeable future, and there are many musicians in the same situation.

“I know people who live gig by gig and have no way to cover their expenses,” Brisbois said. “Live music is a bit of a luxury for some places.”

By the time local businesses open up again, it’s not certain they will be able to afford live music again, she said.

“I could be out of work for more than 30 days while businesses get back on their feet,” Brisbois said.

“We’re at the bottom end of the totem pole right now.”

Brisbois said, while stressed out by the situation, she’s trying her best to stay positive.

“It’s OK to be upset,” she said.

“In a day, we lost everything for a month. ... Feel what you need to feel to get past this.”

In the meantime, Brisbois will be focusing on her original music.

She also will be doing live streams on social media platforms.

“I’m gonna miss playing out,” Brisbois said. “I look forward to every gig. I do what I love because I genuinely love going out and playing gigs.”

Pittsburgh native Jeff Wilson plays guitar and sings with local

band The Down Brothers, which performs numerous events in Windermere, Dr. Phillips and beyond.

He’s been a full-time musician for 25 years and has traveled all over the country with his music.

He said he always wanted to be a musician.

“It’s definitely not about the money — money isn’t the driving factor,” Wilson said. “It’s for the pleasure of making music. It’s the greatest thing in the world.”

With businesses in the area shutting down for the next month, money is scarce and making a living is daunting.

“It’s not good,” Wilson said.

“I’ve been through riots, earthquakes and fires in Los Angeles.

You could go to San Francisco to play. You could go to Phoenix to play. But this … this is a total shutdown. It’s devastating.

“It’s hard to keep the music business going,” Wilson said. “It’s important for musicians to stick together.”

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WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020

Rockin’ bobbins DANIELLE HENDRIX ASSOCIATE EDITOR

ARMY OF MASKS

As Bani spoke a few weeks back with a friend who is a doctor, they knew the situation was going to escalate — and quickly.

“About two weeks ago, he called me and said, ‘I know you know how to sew and you should start maybe trying to do masks — my mom has already started,’” Bani said. “So we started chatting, she gave me a couple of patterns, and then I found others online, and I tried on the one I liked. When I saw that I was able to do it — I consider myself a beginner — I figured, ‘Wait a minute, lots of people would be able to do this.’”

On Friday, March 20, Bani decided to create the Army of Masks group on Facebook. She invited her friends, who invited their friends, and the group began to grow. She quickly realized there was a good amount of interest in the Orlando area, from Winter Garden, Ocoee and Gotha to Windermere, Horizon West and Groveland.

Although the masks won’t eliminate risk of inhalation of aerosolized virus particles, they can decrease the probability of transmission of airborne particles.

They serve as a contingency plan for those who can’t obtain surgical masks on the market.

heavily on both food and grocerydelivery services.

DOWNTOWN WINTER GARDEN CURBSIDE

In conjunction with the Winter Garden Merchant’s Association, the city of Winter Garden has implemented the Downtown Winter Garden Curbside Program for pickups of merchandise and food from your car.

As of press time, 12 stores, 12 food and retail businesses, and 25 restaurants in downtown Winter Garden are participating in the

“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.”

“Road to Serfdom,” 1944 President and CEO / Matt Walsh, mwalsh@yourobserver.com Editor and Publisher / Michael Eng, meng@OrangeObserver.com Managing Editor / Tim Freed, tfreed@OrangeObserver.com Design Editor / Jessica Eng, jeng@OrangeObserver.com Community Editor / Amy Quesinberry, amyq@OrangeObserver.com Sports Editor /Troy Herring, therring@OrangeObserver.com Associate Editor / Danielle Hendrix, dhendrix@OrangeObserver.com Staff Writer / Eric Gutierrez, egutierrez@OrangeObserver.com

ARMY OF MASKS If you can sew masks, deliver them or want to know how to help, here’s how to get involved: Email: thearmyofmasks@ gmail.com Facebook: bit.ly/2V0QbEL (Orlando/Central Florida group) Website: armyofmasks. com Mask Maker Registration: register.armyofmasks.com Mask Requests: request. armyofmask.com

“We absolutely know that this is not replacing any type of N95 mask or whatever, but we also believe that having something really covering your face if you need to go out for an hour or two … is better than nothing,” Bani said.

Patterns and sewing instructions for the types of masks the group is producing are available on the Army of Masks page. Some of the fabric face masks — made with two layers of cotton, ideally cotton flannel — resemble pleated surgical masks but all are non-surgical masks. The masks all are given to those who need them for free.

“The most important thing is it needs to be washable … so it can be reused,” Bani said. “All factories around the world right now are doing not just double but triple, quadruple duty to get as many masks out (as possible), but this is happening at the same time as all the countries in the world, so it’s very difficult.”

As of press time, there were more than 50 members of the Army of Masks Greater Orlando/Central Florida group. In one week, the Central Florida group made and delivered more than 1,000 masks — with many more in process.

“I know that the orders are just going to increase and increase, because now they come in from other places,” Bani said. “We will

Danielle Hendrix

see how this evolves. … In regards (to) health care facilities, what I can say so far is that most of our demands come from smaller facilities (such as) nursing homes and assisted living. We have some of the nurses that are on the road and have to travel to go visit people. We had an order mailed out to Spring Hill … for a pet hospital.”

Bani’s Canadian friend and group moderator, Tonya Dickenson, has been working with a university team to build an app that would match requests for masks with the mask makers themselves.

Army of Masks group members complete a form with their information, skill and ability level to be matched with such requests.

“I’m convinced that soon (health care workers) will run out of masks, and obviously (fabric masks) are not the best choice — we all understood that, you don’t need to be a researcher to understand that — but our motto is, ‘Having a fabric mask is better than nothing,’” Bani said. “That’s why we are doing that. … My next step will be to encourage everybody to keep on going and to try to find more people (to help).”

‘I CAN DO THIS’

Erin Morris, a Winter Garden/ Horizon West-area resident who owns a small sewing business, has been sewing as many masks as she can in a short period of time. She began seeing posts a few weeks ago about the mask shortages and knew she could do something to help.

Morris posted in a few Facebook groups asking if anyone needed masks. The first day there were some arguments back and forth

from group members debating the efficacy of fabric masks, but ultimately, many people began to realize there was a need.

“The first day, there were a lot of naysayers, but then it seemed like almost overnight, it was like an explosion,” she said. “People realized, ‘Oh, these really are needed and have been asked for.’ I have a ton of fabric, and my industrial machine is going as much as I can until I get tired for the day. All these other mask groups started popping up the next day. … It’s kind of scary that they all need these.”

Within a couple of days, Morris made and delivered 80 masks, including 20 masks for Matthew’s Hope, 10 for a critical-care nurse and others for various health care workers and organizations.

Morris has been making pleated masks that look like surgical masks. Elastic is in short supply at the moment, so at some point, she will have to switch over to making masks with fabric ties.

Making dozens of masks at a time can be a daunting task, but Morris is up to the challenge. As of press time, she alone has made and delivered 200 masks.

“It makes me feel great that people are finally coming together and helping the community out,” she said. “People have asked me if I’m selling them, and I’m not selling them — I’m donating them to where they need to go first. I feel like it’s the least I can do to help out. I can’t go out and help at the ER or help a doctor treat a patient because I’m not trained, qualified or educated to do that, but I can do this.”

Delivery options boost businesses CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Observer Friedrich Hayek

N

o one can do everything, but everyone can do something.

As the coronavirus continues to dominate headlines, there is a good amount of uncertainty and anxiety permeating society. However, there are also armies of people mobilizing to do what they can to contribute.

In Winter Garden, members of the Army of Masks group have been putting their sewing skills to work by creating homemade fabric masks for health care workers and others on the front lines of the pandemic.

Winter Garden resident Mireille Bani, the Facebook group’s creator, knew there was going to be a growing need for masks and other medical supplies as the virus spread.

“A week after I started this site, some people have started realizing that this is real and it’s happening, and we all need to step up,” Bani said. “We are in this all together, right? What I do is going to impact what’s going to happen to my neighbor here, or the person I would cross paths with elsewhere. … I consider that if I can do something here to help at least a couple of people, that will be great.”

WEST ORANGE TIMES &

program. Customers can choose the restaurant or shop they’d like to purchase from and place an order via phone or the merchant’s website. The next step is to arrive at the location and park in the designated curbside location or nearest parking spot.

FOOD DELIVERY

Many people already are familiar with services such as Uber Eats, DoorDash, Postmates and GrubHub. Each of these allows customers to place orders with participating restaurants for delivery.

These platforms typically charge delivery fees, but Uber

Eats and GrubHub are temporarily waiving those fees for orders to independent restaurants.

“Our focus is on helping drive demand to local, independently owned restaurants and small businesses,” said Javier Correoso, spokesperson for Uber Eats.

“We’re taking steps to protect the health and safety of everyone on Uber Eats — ensuring we are a reliable platform when people need it most.”

Each of these platforms is offering contactless delivery, in which couriers will simply drop the food off at the customer’s doorstep or where specified. Users can add

special instructions to communicate additional drop-off preferences.

GROCERY DELIVERY

Although heading to the grocery store is an acceptable reason to leave the house while the stayat-home order is in place, some people are turning to grocerydelivery services such as Shipt and Instacart to avoid heading to the store.

Both services employ shoppers who will claim an order, shop for it at the designated store and bring the groceries and household essentials to customers’ doors.

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The paper can be found in many commercial locations throughout West Orange County and at our office.

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Orange County launches rent assistance program HOW TO GET HELP

ERIC GUTIERREZ

COVID-19 RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Web form: ocfl. net/COVID19RentalAssistance Phone: (407) 836-6500 Appointment Line Hours: 8:30 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday

The COVID-19 pandemic has left many across the nation without a job.

In Orange County, where much of the local economy is driven by tourism and the service industry, many residents have personally felt those impacts, as the virus caused closures of hotels, theme parks and restaurants.

In response to this, Orange County government is working toward providing a little financial relief.

The county launched its COVID-19 Rental Assistance program Monday, March 23, to assist residents in need. The program will run until May 23. Those interested in the program must be a legal resident of Orange County who has had an unforeseen event occur that causes a need for emergency assistance and lacks the resources to meet that need on their own. A total of 1,500 households will be able to receive rental assistance.

To apply, residents must call the Orange County Citizen Resources & Outreach Division to schedule an appointment or submit their contact information online. Residents who opt for the online option will be contacted by an Orange County staff member, who will screen the individual for eligibility and provide additional information.

Appointments are filled in the order they’re received. “(For) appointment requests calling into the (hotline), the line is very, very busy,” said Lonnie Bell, director of Orange County’s Community and Family Services Department. “As is normal with a program such as this, we’re getting a huge amount of calls; however, we’re managing those calls.

Our goal is to get 32 appointments a day. That gets us to our 1,500 (households) number over two months.”

Bell added that once residents receive an appointment, they must take all the required documents to the appointment. Those documents may include photo ID for all adults in the household; Social Security cards for all household members; lease information; bank statements and pay stubs for the last 30 days; any other household income documentation, child support, food stamps, social security, etc.; and, if available, a letter from an employer regarding layoff, reduced hours, etc. The final eligibility for assistance will be determined after all supporting documentation has been submitted and reviewed by county staff.

WHAT TO TAKE TO AN APPOINTMENT Residents who receive an appointment are asked to take the following documentation: n Photo ID for all adults in the household n Social Security cards for all household members n Lease information n Bank statements and pay stubs for the last 30 days n Any other household income documentation, child support, food stamps, social security, etc. n If available, a letter from an employer regarding layoff, reduced hours, etc.

STAFF WRITER

Call for information (407) 654-2724

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“We’re asking for … lease information because we’re working with (renters) only,” Bell said.

“We’re not working with mortgages. The process for removing someone out of their home if they have a mortgage is much more lengthy. If someone misses a rent payment, they could be evicted in a matter of weeks, and so we’re trying to maintain the stability for those families who are in a lease for an apartment or a home.”

The COVID-19 Rental Assistance program is also known as

the Crisis Assistance Program, which provides financial assistance to Orange County residents each year. The average cost per client of the program is $1,200, and the cost to serve the 1,500 households over the two-month period would be $1.8 million. The program is a one-time benefit for assistance with one month’s rent.

“Rent is normally the largest expense (for families),” Bell said.

“That is why we’re targeting rent as the best means for assisting families during this time. There’s other resources that are available.

If they have some money coming in from these other resources, we’d like for them to use that for other expenses. The largest expense, we’d like to help them with, which is (through) the rent assistance.”

“Rent is normally the largest expense (for families).

That is why we’re targeting rent as the best means for assisting families during this time.”

— Lonnie Bell, Orange County’s Community and Family Services Department

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Residents who have seen a significant financial impact due to COVID-19 can get help from the county.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020

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the animals that frequent the area like birds and people’s pets.

“If there’s any residue, animals could be harmed,” Carter said.

“It’s possible.”

Zepess and Carter said they mostly found water bottles, Gatorade bottles and wrappers for athletic accessories.

“I know these are things used by runners because my husband runs, so does my cousin,” Zepess said. “I have little sympathy for people who dump their trash on the floor. There’s no excuse, unless a serial killer jumps at you and cuts your hands off, and you had to rush to the hospital. I’d let it slide.”

Amanda Kimmer, public relations information officer for Orange County Parks and Recreation, said county staff does a great job at maintaining the trail, receiving praise from residents frequently use it. However, it’s difficult to keep the entire 22-mile trail clean.

“It can be a lot of territory for staff to cover,” Kimmer said.

“We’re very responsive when people tell us things. It’s absolutely important we keep it clean — not only for beautification, but for sanitation.”

Kimmer said if people need to report something going on along the trail, they can call 311 or (407) 836-3111. Residents can choose to remain anonymous if they wish.

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The 22-mile West Orange Trail offers residents an opportunity to commune with nature, but that doesn’t keep visitors from tossing their trash on the ground instead of throwing them in the trash cans along the path.

That’s exactly what Winter Garden resident Audrey Carter

and Windermere resident Danielle Zepess have noticed firsthand. The two met at Lucky’s Lake Swim and decided to walk the West Orange Trail one day.

Carter had been frequenting the trail since it opened.

They started walking at Killarney Station and brought a plastic shopping bag from Publix to pick up trash along the way.

“We had already filled and emptied the shopping bag once before we found the big one,” Zepess said.

“Audrey had climbed over some shrubs to grab this huge garbage bag,” she said. “Her white sleeve was bloodied because she had scraped her arm. She’s a woman on a mission.”

“It’s frustrating,” Carter said.

“You’d think people who use it would love nature. We couldn’t believe it.”

While there are trash cans along the trail, they are far apart, Carter said.

“I wish there were more garbage cans along the trail,” she said.

“The littering increases with the increase of visitors. I’d like to see more organizations and groups keep the trail clean.”

Zepess said that the county should not have to worry about picking up a “stray gum wrapper” — it’s up to residents to keep the trail clean.

“My mother used to say, ‘If you try and keep your room neat from the beginning, there’s less work to do later,’” Zepess said.

Not only is the littering unpleasant, Carter said, it’s harmful to

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THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020

7

Angela Campbell promoted to second-in-command The Oakland Police Department lieutenant was hired as a reserve officer in 2009.

AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

Most police officers receive two or three commendation letters a year; Oakland Police Lt. Angela Campbell averages nine annually. That is in addition to the numerous awards and medals she has earned in her decade at the Oakland Police Department.

Her latest achievement is being promoted to lieutenant. She is now second in command and is the department’s commander of operations.

Chief John Peek said Campbell’s promotion is well-deserved because he can always count on her to step up in any capacity.

“The past three years, she was (the) detective for us,” he said.

“She is outstanding in that role.

She cleared so many felonies for us. Some of them, I thought they were going to be unresolved. …

She’s done some amazing stuff.

When it came time to promote, she was the obvious person.”

Campbell has close to 100 commendation letters — written by the three chiefs she has worked under, as well as many of the Oakland residents.

It is hard to compare her achievements to other officers, he said, but to put it in per-

spective, he has been with the department since 2007 and has about half the commendations Campbell has.

“The amount she acquires in a year is staggering,” Peek said.

Campbell attributes it to her efforts to build relationships with residents.

“I don’t just do police work,” she said. “It’s not just go to traffic stops and arrest people. I get involved in the community.”

In addition, Campbell has earned the Distinguished Service Medal and twice received the Chief Award Ribbon for exemplary service, duty and commitment to the town.

COMMITTED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT

It has always been Campbell’s dream to become a police officer.

She was a member of the Police Explorers program from ages 14 to 18 and went to college to pursue a criminal law degree. The dream was set aside temporarily when she met her husband. They had two children, and she wanted to stay home with them.

Campbell was a stay-at-home mom for 12 years before making the decision, at age 39, to become a police officer. She graduated from the police acad-

emy in October 2009, applied at several agencies and ultimately chose Oakland, in part, because of its size.

“I like small town,” Campbell said. “My biggest thing is … (residents are) not just a number. … My residents — I know them, they know me. So I’ve watched these kids grow up since they were babies, and I can’t leave them.

“I can do so much good in a smaller town,” she said.

During her 10 years in Oakland, she steadily moved up the ranks: reserve officer, full-time officer, corporal, sergeant and lieutenant. She also served three years as the town’s police detective.

In addition to her policing duties, she has been involved in the town of Oakland’s Thanksgiving food drives, Christmas food and toy drives, car seat and bike helmet initiatives, and back-to-school supply parties.

Of all the accolades Campbell has received, several moments stand out. She earned a lifesaving award, and even though the man didn’t survive, officers, including Campbell, kept him alive long enough for his wife to say goodbye. She also remained in contact with a sexual assault victim whose case went to trial.

One particular arrest taught her a big lesson, one she has always remembered. She said she arrested a man about 21 years of age who constantly fought with

Courtesy photo

Angela Campbell celebrated her graduation from The Southern Police Institute.

police and had charges of battery on a law-enforcement officer.

When she got him in the back of the police car, she asked him why he didn’t fight her.

“He said, ‘You’re the first officer who’s ever shown me respect,’” Campbell said. “So me giving a better light to this kid, totally respectful, turned around and gave me his hands. That’s was a big learning (moment).”

Campbell said she never set out to earn the most commen-

dations. It’s something that has happened organically through her daily interactions with residents and her commitment to the community.

“I never worked anywhere else, and I don’t want to work anywhere else,” Campbell said. “I can do more (here).”

“Since she’s had (the lieutenant) job, she’s been doing a fantastic job,” Peek said. “She’s absolutely killing it.”

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THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020

Private schools adapt to COVID-19 world Like public schools, local private schools have closed campuses and moved classes online.

ERIC GUTIERREZ STAFF WRITER

Schools and universities around the world have shut down to slow the spread of COVID-19 — and local private schools are no exception.

As businesses began closing, private schools also initiated precautions and took steps to move classes online.

Since then, like Orange County Public Schools, local private schools have implemented distance learning measures to keep classes going while students stay home to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

THE FIRST ACADEMY

The First Academy began preparations for an online learning environment before dismissing students for spring break in midMarch. The school has followed the lead of its accrediting body, the Association of Christian Schools International, as well as the recommendations given by national and state leaders as it moves forward, said Christina Richart, the director of development and communications at TFA. The school also has taken steps to address the mental and spiritual aspects of its families.

“We have established a Family Ministry Team to support and connect with our families during this time,” Richart said. “We feel

it is so important that we support students and families educationally, but also socially, emotionally and spiritually.”

The First Academy launched its Remote Learning program Wednesday, March 25. Principals start each school day with a Facebook Live session. Additionally, each student has a daily virtual morning meeting with his or her teachers and fellow classmates.

Upper School students check in virtually at the start of each class period, which allows the school to keep attendance. The school will continue implementing its Remote Learning environment as long as deemed necessary by the state and federal government.

“While our school buildings may be closed, The First Academy teachers and students will be actively engaged in remote learning,” said Head of School Steve D. Whitaker. “We are working together to flatten the curve and serve one another as a community of devoted Christ-followers.”

FOUNDATION ACADEMY

Foundation Academy also began taking precautions related to COVID-19 prior to beginning its spring break. School administrators began coming up with a draft of what an online program would look like the week before spring break. Before students left, the administrators already had completed the program. The school calls its distance learning program,

FACE, which stands for, “Foundation Academy Classrooms Everywhere.” The FACE program launched March 25.

“What’s been amazing to see on social media is teachers with pictures (of them) communicating to their kids,” Foundation Academy President Dave Buckles said.

FACE is being implemented for all Foundation students — from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade.

Teachers and students are using online tools such as Google Meets to hold classes and stay in touch.

Buckles also said that, although the program is temporary, the school is prepared to continue for the rest of the year if needed. “(FACE) will be to allow us to finish the school year at a normal time,” Buckles said. “We are testing students. We are taking grades.

We are taking attendance. We are trying to make (everything) as normal as possible.”

Buckles added that the school

is following the lead of local, state and national governmental bodies to determine how to continue moving forward.

“The teachers are missing their students already,” Buckles said.

“They love their students. Going back to our family atmosphere, that face-to-face communication is so important — hence why we named our virtual program, FACE.” WINDERMERE PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Following recommendations from the Florida Department of Education, Windermere Prep closed its campus March 16 and it will remain closed until further notice in an effort to help keep staff, students and the community safe and healthy. The school has been working with its parent organization, Nord Anglia Education, to help prepare its distance learning program. Windermere Prep calls

that program the WPS-NAE Virtual School Experience. Launched March 23, the program connects students to a global network of the 9,000 expert educators within Nord Anglia.

“While the NAE campuses are closed, our school is still very much open and colleagues across Nord Anglia are working tirelessly to deliver an outstanding educational experience for our students,” Head of School Dr. Steven Lyng said. “Our teachers are going the extra mile to provide a seamless, personalized experience that keeps students engaged by leveraging technology, innovation, creativity and humanity. This allows our students to connect to their teachers, peers, clubs and more through various web meeting, applications such as Zoom meetings, Google Classrooms and many other online tools to allow our students to continue to learn.”

Lyng said several of Windermere Prep’s boarding students returned home with their parents.

The remaining boarding students are restricted to the Windermere Prep dorms.

“Travel restrictions permitting, if families of any remaining boarding students wish for their child to come home, they can work closely with the school on the logistics,” Lyng said. “As of now, about half of our Residential Life students have opted to stay in the dorms with their peers.

“Our students’, families’ and our community’s response has been outstanding,” Lyng later added.

“We’re one team and ​we are working together every step of the way.”

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WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

January 26, 1982 – April 7, 2002

I

t goes without saying that, the day we lost our sweet boy, life, as we knew it, changed forever.

For many years, we struggled to become “normal” again; a challenge far beyond words with such a gaping hole in our hearts. However, with God’s strength, the ability to regain our life would commence, one moment, one day at a time. As each year passed, the tears would turn to smiles, and the joyous memories of who you were, filled our hearts.

View the petition at change.org/NeighborsHelpingNeighbors

Justin, you continue to inspire our family, friends and even strangers, with your story, our story. You had an unending enthusiasm for life; your laughter would fill a room. You had the ability to love and accept others, unconditionally.

You were also compassionate and kind, in abundance, always there for those in need.

Please watch over everyone during these difficult times.

Just know, you will forever be the Captain of Heaven’s Team and our sweet “Angel in the Infield.”

We love you.

We miss you…

Dad, Mom & Ashley 331567-1

www.PECC.US.com

ONLINE

A Horizon West-based nonprofit hopes to ease the burden on families struggling financially during the COVID-19 crisis.

Horizon West Neighbors Helping Neighbors has launched a petition to have Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspend tolls along highways until the end of the pandemic. The petition has 1,909 signatures as of Sunday, March 29.

Horizon West Neighbors Helping Neighbors CEO Linda Sibley said she believes it is wrong for families to have to pay tolls during the coronavirus crisis.

“Those were the people I wanted to do this for — the ones that got furloughed, the independent contractors that only are paid when they’re working,” she said.

“And then I was thinking about the people that needed to go travel in order to get groceries to help their families that needed to selfquarantine, that had to quarantine because they had a compromised immune system. We’ve got these incredible toll roads — open them up.”

The nonprofit in Horizon West was founded by Sibley and other residents as “a safety advocacy group established to provide a forum for discussions regarding Horizon West safety concerns.”

That mission has focused mainly on advocating for better lighting along local roads and

strengthening distracted driver laws in Florida. There’s also been a push to apply for Orange County grants that could help residents injured during road-related incidents.

A letter regarding the suspension of tolls and the petition has been sent to numerous elected officials, including DeSantis, Sibley said.

“There are hundreds of thousands of people in Florida (who) have no income, yet they are trying to take care of their parents, their grandparents, their friends,” Sibley said. “They need to go donate blood, they’re going to need to get over to the convention center in order to get tested. … For God’s sake, open up these toll roads so that the people who need to be on the roads can get from point A to B in 15 minutes as opposed to having to (use) the back roads.”

Earlier this month, the Central Florida Expressway Authority announced it will be temporarily suspending cash collection for tolls and shifting to license plate tolling, known as Pay by Plate, starting March 19. The decision was made in an effort to reduce the potential exposure of both drivers and employees to the COVID-19 virus.

Cash-paying drivers who normally pay at the toll booth will continue to pay the same rate and receive a Pay by Plate billing statement in the mail for tolls incurred.

9

Justin Matthew McWilliams

Horizon West Neighbors Helping Neighbors is circulating a petition to make toll roads free during the COVID-19 pandemic.

MANAGING EDITOR

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020

In Loving Memory

Nonprofit advocates for suspension of tolls TIM FREED

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BAPTIST

First Baptist Church Pastor Tim Grosshans 125 E. Plant St, Winter Garden (407) 656-2352 Sundays: 8:30 a.m. Traditional 9:45 AM Bible Study 11:00 AM Contemporary Wednesdays: 6 p.m.- Awana 2nd Campus: Foundation Worship Foundation Academy High School 15304 Tilden Rd., Winter Garden (407) 730-1867 Sundays: 9:45 a.m. All Ages FoundationWorship.com Starke Lake Baptist Church Pastor Jeff Pritchard PO Box 520 611 W Ave., Ocoee (407) 656-2351 StarkeLakeBaptist.org

CHURCH OF GOD

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020

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

IT’S READ EVERYWHERE!

10

EPISCOPAL

Church of the Messiah 241 N. Main St., Winter Garden Services: 8, 9:30, & 11 a.m., 7 p.m.

ChurchoftheMessiah.com

METHODIST

First United Methodist Church 125 N. Lakeview Ave., Winter Garden (407) 656-1135 Services: 9 and 11:15 a.m. fumcwg.org

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Windermere Union Church 10710 Park Ridge-Gotha Rd., Windermere (407) 876-2112 Adult Worship: 9 a.m.

Sunday School: 10 a.m.

WindermereUnion.org

Sherry and Junior Wise celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary under the elk antlers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

E

mail your photo to Community Editor Amy Quesinberry at AmyQ@orangeobserver.com. You can also mail or drop off the photo: Observer Media Group, 661 Garden Commerce Parkway, Suite 180, Winter Garden, FL 34787. Emailed photos should be at least 200 dpi. Include the names of everyone in the photo, where it was taken and a phone number where the editor can reach you.

NON-DENOMINATIONAL

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West Orange County adults are active participants in their health care journey

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• 78% of West Orange adults are actively engaged with maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

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11

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020

An A+ parade

Leading the Whispering Oak Elementary Teacher Parade was Nicole Machado and the Whispering Oak mascot.

Brendon and Alexander Souza made a sign for their teachers, Jennifer Roop, Kimberli White, Kerry Kuhn and Nicole Machado, for the Whispering Oak Elementary Teacher Parade.

A

lthough all of Orange County Public Schools’ campuses remain closed, that hasn’t stopped many local teachers from figuring out a way to see their students. Teachers and staff members of Keene’s Crossing Elementary School gathered Thursday, March 26, for the school’s Cougar Staff Parade. Keene’s Crossing personnel paraded in their cars throughout the Summerport community to let their students know how much they’re missed during times where everyone is encouraged to stay home.

That same afternoon, students at Whispering Oak Elementary School saw just how much their teachers care for them and miss them during a teacher parade around the school attendance zone. Students lined the streets, waiting for a glimpse of their teachers as they drove past, waving and honking their horns.

— ERIC GUTIERREZ AND AMY QUESINBERRY

Fourth-grade teacher Barbara Hernandez gave a shout out to each of her students on her parade sign at the Keene’s Crossing Elementary Cougar Staff Parade.

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Third-grade teacher Keara Jones was excited for the Keene’s Crossing Elementary Cougar Staff Parade to start so she could see her students.

WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020

OCPS to modify list of Grab-and-Go locations The Grab-and-Go meals program will continue with hours of 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Monday through Friday at approximately 50 school sites in Orange County. The list of schools, which can be found at bit. ly/3aEAWbb, will be modified April 1, after press time, to better serve areas with the greatest need.

As of Sunday, March 29, these were the schools listed in West Orange County: n Maxey Elementary School — 602 E. Story Road, Winter Garden n Gotha Middle School — 9155 Gotha Road, Windermere

New tools, changes coming to AP Program The College Board is developing tools to mitigate the impact of school closures on students in the Advanced Placement Program. All AP students and teachers will be able to draw on the free online resources that were provided to every AP classroom this fall. Additional resources will be made easily accessible to AP students and teachers through mobile phones and other devices. These include free online AP lessons and review sessions from some of the top AP teachers in the country.

The AP program is finalizing streamlined AP exam options that would allow students to test at home, depending on the situation in May. They’re working to give every AP student the opportunity to claim the credit they’ve earned. The AP Program will communicate the details of these additional solutions to your AP educators when they are available.

The College Board’s focus will remain on student safety and ensuring all students have opportunities to receive the credit they have earned during this challenging time.

For more information about the changes, visit bit.ly/2ylNwhf.

INFLUENCER OF THE WEEK

12

HUGO CANCEL PAGAN SPRING LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Hugo Cancel Pagan is a bilingual paraprofessional at Spring Lake Elementary School, working with fourth- and fifth-grade English-language learners.

He is teaching them to write essays, and students who didn’t know a single word of English last year — and some just a few months ago — are able to write a paragraph in English and carry on conversational English now.

He serves as a translator for schoolwide conference night, impromptu parent conferences, non-English-speaking parents and more. He came to the United States from Puerto Rico two years ago and has worked hard to get his credentials. He recently got his teacher certification for Florida and hopes to have his own classroom next year.

What do you love most about your school?

The staff and faculty are always willing to help, and the students are so enthusiastic that it makes me love going to work.

What’s your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of my job is seeing the faces of joy on the students I work with when I go pick them up from their teachers. They are always willing to learn something new and make the best out of every lesson.

What motivates you and pushes you to do your best?

The enthusiasm of the students I work with is what keeps me motivated and pushes me to do my best.

I would feel like I am letting them down if I do not do the best I can.

REPORT CARD ROLE: Bilingual paraprofessional SCHOOL: Spring Lake Elementary School TIME AT THE SCHOOL: 2 years

What’s the nicest thing a student or faculty member has done for you?

One time the students noticed that I was running out of pencils and they came with brand-new packs of pencils with sharpeners so I can always have pencils for them.

What’s your favorite restaurant and favorite meal?

I love Hispanic food, so that is my go-to when I want to eat out.

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

The best way to use superpowers is to help people around us. I already feel I am doing that by going to work every day and making sure that the students have their expectations met and mastered.

What’s your favorite vacation spot and why?

There is no place like home. That is why I would always choose my hometown in Puerto Rico when I want to have a getaway from any stressors.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I love learning. I try to learn something new every time I can, so in my free time I like to research, read and watch documentaries.

What’s your favorite book and why?

My all-time favorite book is “The Little Prince,” because it shows the value of caring for others and it puts in perspective how important it is to be empathetic and understanding.

Tell us about your family.

My mother lives here in Florida and is retired from HeadStart. My father is an inspector at the Puerto Rico Police Department, which is why he lives in Puerto Rico.

— AMY QUESINBERRY

NOMINATE YOUR INFLUENCER

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

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WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

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13

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020

OBSERVER SCHOOL ZONE

Bender named principal of Summerlake-area relief school Delaine Bender has been principal of Citrus Elementary School, in Ocoee, for 10 years. Former Freedom High principal Robert Walker is her replacement.

AMY QUESINBERRY

Courtesy photo

Delaine Bender is working out of the West Learning Community office until her new school is built.

Bender is eager to continue the positive work she did at her previous school. She is proud of the relationships and trust she built with the parents, families, students and community members.

Other accomplishments at Citrus include updating technology throughout the campus; providing laptops for teachers and additional laptops for students to use in classrooms; and providing teachers with projectors, document cameras and iPads. In addition to building a strong and supportive PTA and SAC, Bender saw the 2018-19 school grade increase by three percentage points, including learning gains for all students and the lowest 25%.

Before becoming a principal, Bender spent 10 years as a teacher with Orange County Public Schools.

The new 92,000-square-foot school will have a capacity of 837, but it is expected to open with an enrollment of more than 1,000 students. Fourteen portable classrooms will be set up on the campus. The 14.8-acre property is located on the south side of Porter Road, north of Wood Sage Drive and west of Bluejack Oak Drive.

The school will have enhanced technology, as well as art and music lab spaces. An updated design increased the size of the parking lot from 120 to 174 vehicles. The campus will be secure with fencing, cameras and one public entrance.

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After 10 years as principal of Citrus Elementary in Ocoee, Delaine Bender has been hired to lead the relief school for Independence, Keene’s Crossing and Water Spring elementaries. The school is being built in the Horizon West community of Summerlake on Porter Road in Winter Garden.

The newest Orange County elementary school, currently named Site 85-E-W-4, soon will have an official name, too — either Summerlake, Lake Hancock or Hamlin.

These three names were the finalists in a community vote.

After the Orange County School Board approves the final name, the selection process begins for the school colors and mascot.

Construction has passed the 40% mark. The walls are up, the roof is on, and painting has begun. Permanent power and the heating/air-conditioning system should be operational next month, and the playfields are expected to be finished.

Substantial completion is targeted for June. Teachers, faculty and staff should move in sometime in July — well before the start of the 2020-21 school year in August.

Until her school is finished, Bender is reporting to work at the West Learning Community office off Windermere Road. Robert Walker, the former Freedom High principal, is moving to Citrus to replace Bender, who also spent one year there as assistant principal.

Bender has begun the hiring process for the new school, and she said a few teachers from Citrus have applied.

“The secretary and registrar are coming with me,” Bender said.

“They have 20 years of experience each at Citrus. They’re very well versed in policies and procedures and customer service skills, and they are going to be a great asset to me.”

When the school year begins, Bender wants to incorporate several clubs that were popular at Citrus: chess, art, music, STEM and books.

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COMMUNITY EDITOR

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THESE OLD TIMES

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION

THROWBACK THURSDAY MARCH 19, 1954 If you were looking for a new Ford vehicle, you only had to look as far as East Plant Street in downtown Winter Garden. Winter Garden Ford Inc. advertised the addition of three cars to its inventory of 28 models in a March issue of The Winter Garden Times: the Crestline Skyliner, the Crestline Fordor and the Customline Ranch Wagon.

The Skyliner touted a “tinted transparent roof panel” with its open-car feeling. The Fordor “set the trending in styling for 1954” with its “clean, honest lines and completely new interiors.” And the new Customline Ranch Wagon was a “six-passenger beauty (that) converts to a cargo hauler in seconds.”

The average price of a Ford car in 1954 was $2,000.

85 years ago

Several pupils of Mrs. A.C. Bray’s kindergarten, including Selby Burch, Ellen Corbett and Emily Pruett, appeared on WDBO’s radio birthday program.

75 years ago

At the meeting of the Winter Garden Welfare League, plans were made for the league to sponsor a “Womanless Wedding” and beauty contest.

This month, the scarlet emblem of the American Red Cross will appear in the windows of American homes, indicating that Mr. and Mrs. America are solidly behind the 1945 Red Cross War Fund campaign.

45 years ago

Editorial: How many were amused to learn a group of West Orange High School students painted the Beulah Road bridge columns orange and blue?

40 years ago

Vera Carter, of Windermere, filed as a candidate for the District 1 Orange County Commission seat held by Lamar Thomas.

Nancy Heidt and Lisa Trombly were winner and runner-up in the Dillard Street Elementary School spelling bee.

The Winter Garden Police Department acquired a new employee, one of the canine variety. His name is Russ, and he is a German shepherd.

FROM THE ARCHIVES Longtime resident Cecelia Ledford shared this photograph of the Dodd home that stood until 1984 at 168 S. Lakeview Ave. in Winter Garden. In this photograph from the early 1930s are, from left: Buster Dodd, Sue McCann, an unnamed uncle, and Madalyn and Louis Neal Howell.

ACROSS

1 Comparable (with) 6 Show that had a Miami spinoff 9 Sound of sorrow 13 Knock the socks off 18 Established routine 19 State with a panhandle 21 Frequent sci-fi enemy 22 Subsides 23 Move like some babies (unscramble letters 9 to 13) 25 1040 ID 26 German for “one” 28 Flurry of activity 29 Time at a lodge

30 Burn a bit 32 Elliptical 34 “Um, obvi!”

36 “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction” 42 The heart, functionally 45 “Mm-hmm” 46 Tools with teeth 47 Certain caucus voters 49 ‘19 and ‘20 51 Italian city known for cheese 53 Honey quaff 55 SiriusXM medium 56 Broadway backdrop

Foundation thanks all the people who have shared photographs with the foundation.

It makes the collection richer and more fascinating. When you can see history depicted in a century-old photograph, you gain an appreciation of your place in the world.

The mission of the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation is to preserve the heritage and architecture of Winter Garden while creating new cultural experiences. The Foundation also preserves the material culture of West Orange County, using it to educate the area’s youth on the community’s rich history.

30 years ago

Professional golfers saw a different Bay Hill Club from years past at The Nestle Invitational.

The Bay Hill golf course went through some changes for an even more exciting experience.

All 18 of the championship

THE RECIPE by ALISON OHRINGER; CROSSWORD FOLLOW Edited by David Steinberg

©2020 Universal Uclick

Cecelia’s grandfather Dodd, married to her grandmother Mary, was a cobbler who worked in a shop on South Main Street. Buster Dodd worked for Hoyle Pounds at the Pounds Motor Company on Plant Street for decades.

The Winter Garden Heritage

tournament holes were redesigned, and three holes had par changes. The new greens were redesigned by tournament host Arnold Palmer and widely known golf architect Ed Seay.

A crowd gathered at a public meeting to view the Florida 106 Part of OTOH 107 Conde ___ 110 Wiley of “Orange Is the New Black” 114 Golden rule preposition 115 End result of this puzzle’s recipe 118 Pointed green vegetable (5 to 9) 122 Maximally 124 Gulf of Guinea country 125 Literary periods?

126 Beer often served with lime 127 Cabernet sauvignon alternative 128 College official 129 Chapter of history 130 Prepared to pray

Department of Transportation’s proposed plans for the widening of a 12-mile stretch of State Road 438 (Silver Star Road/ Franklin Street/Plant Street) from Hiawassee Road in Pine Hills to Dillard Street in Winter Garden.

41 Walk in a kiddie pool 43 Site whose users were all friends with Tom 44 News conference, informally 48 Machiavelli or Paganini 50 Knights’ horses 52 QB’s stat 54 2005 Pussycat Dolls hit, or an informal contraction 58 Present, like a sacrifice 59 Chinese philosophy 60 Fib 61 Volunteer’s response 62 Pawnee and Pueblo 63 Guilt 64 Natural, as a photo 65 Take a long bath 70 ___ Angeles 71 German chancellor Merkel DOWN 72 “Everything on red,” e.g.

1 Spheres 2 Reason to leave a message 75 Rents 76 Must 3 Honey holder 77 They make some chefs cry 4 Olay competitor 78 “Monsters, ___” 5 Step down 80 Word before “colors” or 6 Clotted cream creators “crime” 7 Reggae precursor 81 Like flannel sheets 8 Feverish, perhaps 82 “It’s 100 degrees out here!”

9 Indecisive question 87 Lasso 10 Particles like K+ 88 Alternative to a Lyft Line 11 MBA hopeful’s hurdle 89 “Chandelier” singer 12 Lecture setting 90 Business card no.

13 Bark sound 93 Has the lead role of 14 ___ pork (Chinese dish) 95 Musk of Tesla 15 Share a boundary with 98 Scored 95 out of 100, 16 ___ Neale Hurston 17 Online crafts marketplace perhaps 18 State of matter that fills its 100 Like Fortnite purchases 57 Event in which the moon DuBois (5 to 9) 101 Engage the enemy container 83 Some MDs’ workplaces obscures the sun (3 to 6) 102 Unit of light 20 “Great” Mogul emperor 84 Spiritual emanations 62 Team-building activity 104 Patriotic acronym 24 Guided 85 French friend that has a catch?

107 Pesters 27 Jonathan Van ___ of 86 Result of mixing the 66 Veto 108 Dry, as skin “Queer Eye” ingredients hidden in 23-, 67 Music box?

109 Practice boxing 31 Couple, on a gossip blog 68 The Biggest Little City in 36-, 57- and 79-Across 111 Like fine wine 32 “Shucks!”

91 Atlanta-to-Miami dir. the World 112 Horse/donkey hybrid 33 Travel documents 92 Gushes 69 Enemy 113 Cuba, por ejemplo 35 Convinced to spend more 94 Home for a groundhog 70 4G ___ 114 Astronomical bear 36 Tiny bite 96 Theater award 71 Blood type letters 116 “This ___ my day!”

37 That, in Spain 97 Margin 73 Nailed, as a test 117 H, in sorority names 38 Dish in a corn husk 74 Stick with a point 99 One may evoke pity (9 119 Cheerleader’s syllable 39 Eco-conscious Dr. Seuss 76 Ad ___ to 13) 120 Jargon suffix character 77 Short jokes 103 Buckeyes’ sch.

121 It’s about 21% oxygen 79 Contemporary of W.E.B. 105 Raisins on a celery “log” 40 Wage ___ of words 123 G.I. grub

CELEBRITY CIPHER

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

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

“MIV FZWVVB NF U YUONZ YVTNGY ... NM ZABDVXF VYAMNABF UBT YAATF MIUM BA AMIVW UWM LAWY ZUB IAJV MA MUZCEV.” – FMUBEVX CGPWNZC “ZOVZ KDRWSLC... 103 PXLVC DI MBOC XLVMB. MBLM’C WDM L IOTX VOIW MD OM! WVXLM BLIWOIW FOMB PDR, ALI.”

– KLIIP KXNOMD

Puzzle Two Clue: A equals M

WEST ORANG E HISTO RY

WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

Puzzle One Clue: L equals F

14

© 2020 NEA, Inc.

SUDOKU

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

©2020 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

04-02-20

APRIL 2, 2020

SPORTS

Ocoee senior Kordell Brown will be attending Avon Old Farms School in the fall to work on his studies and play basketball. Page 16.

TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR

Troy Herring

Atlanta Braves pitcher Shane Greene gets in a workout at the Turn2 facility in Oakland Thursday, March 26.

WINDOW of opportunity

With the sports world shut down by the coronavirus, athletes and trainers are finding different ways to stay in shape.

T

he sports fields around the state and country are quiet. The same can be said about the cavernous warehouse that is a part of Turn2 Sports & Performance in Oakland.

The usually busy facility is all but empty, sans Barrett Stover of Revolution Sports Performance and his client, Shane Greene — a Clermont local and relief pitcher for the Atlanta Braves.

With Spring Training canceled, Greene has a lot of time on his hands. He — like other athletes of all levels — finds himself doing his best to keep in shape while the coronavirus keeps the sports world shut down.

“I come here in the mornings, and then somedays, I go to another place that is in Orlando — I’m not training there, but I’m doing body function,” he said. “I can use that space like a training room. And then I go home, and I go fishing.

SEE TRAINING PAGE 16

Legacy baseball hopes to return to the diamond Before the season was suspended, Jack Chambless and his Legacy Charter High Eagles baseball team were flying high, but questions remain about what happens next.

TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR

During a baseball season, there’s usually not a lot of downtime to sit and just talk.

Yet sitting in the dugout before a game against Orlando Christian Prep, Legacy Charter High School head coach Jack Chambless and his three senior pitchers — Jacob Worley, Justin LaGasse and Andrew Birko — found themselves with a few minutes to spare.

It’s the first time in four years with these seniors that Chamb-

less actually had time to talk alone — with no one else around. And in that moment, Chambless decided to share a life lesson.

“I had about six or seven minutes just to sit and talk with the three seniors, and I told them that the one wish I had for them is that they could realize the most important moments of their life while they are taking place,” Chambless said. “When you get into your 40s and 50s and you look back on your senior year, you kind of regret that you didn’t enjoy things more and process how important it was.”

That game — which Legacy won 15-5 — was Thursday, March 5, but the message offered by Chambless rang with a clarity that wouldn’t be realized until a week later when the Eagles played what could be their final game of the 2020 season.

A day after Legacy beat Foundation Academy 7-2, the Florida Department of Education announced Friday, March 13, that an extra week off would be added to spring break, closing school down for two weeks to keep students safe during the coronavirus. It was later announced that schools would be closed until at least April 30.

During that timeframe, Legacy will miss the remainder of its Troy Herring

Legacy jumped out to a 9-2 record before the season was suspended.

SEE EAGLES PAGE 16

SPORTS SPOTLIGHT

WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020

SPONSORED BY MARK’S FLOORS

Kordell Brown After finishing a historic year with the Ocoee High basketball team, senior Kordell Brown is looking forward to bigger things after graduation. Brown will be attending Avon Old Farms School in the fall to work on his studies and play basketball before going to the collegiate level.

How did you first get into basketball?

I think I first picked up a basketball when I was 4. My parents, they were both basketball players — we came from a small city — and they weren’t necessarily legends, but they were pretty close to it. They basically instilled basketball into me, and I just loved it from there.

THE BASICS

SCHOOL: Ocoee High GRADE: Senior AGE: 18 SPORT: Basketball POSITION: Small forward

— they can pass, dribble, and they’re the most skilled players on the court. They go insideout and just play anywhere they want. There is really no hard part — it’s not like being a point guard where you have to make heavy decisions while passing — but I would say hard matchups. If you have a hard matchup to go against, and you don’t really know how to go at them — you don’t know whether to go inside against him, or outside against him.

How do you feel about how your senior season went down?

It was a pretty historic season, but I feel like we could have done more. We could have gotten a state title — but we were for sure going to go down as a historic team.

What is the biggest change that you’ve seen in yourself since you first started playing at Ocoee as a freshman?

I want to say maturity. When I say maturity, I mean as in I used to be mad all the time if I made a mistake or something like that, and I learned to live with mistakes and just keep playing.

Do you have a favorite player that you enjoy watching?

I would go with Carmelo Anthony actually. I try to model some of the things that he does, like jab step and utilizing that to its full potential.

What was your favorite memory of playing basketball at Ocoee?

It was definitely the senior season. The bond that I had with these guys was just beyond basketball. That relationship that I had with them is like, forever — we’re going to know each other’s kids.

Is there a highlight moment that stands out?

It had to be my freshman year, when we won the district championship. That was my first time winning an actual championship, because I won one in middle school — when I was in seventh grade — but at that level … it opened my eyes that you could be better and strive for better.

What happens after you graduate?

That first or second week of June I’m going to post-grad (at Avon Old Farms School) — that’s a likely destination for me. It’s like a college preparatory before you go off to college — I want to be a pharmacist.

What is your favorite part about playing at small forward?

The hardest part?

My favorite part would be the versatility you get playing that position. Small forwards can do anything

— TROY HERRING

Athlete of the Week sponsored by:

Training in quarantine CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

I’m going to be the tannest person that comes out of quarantine.”

For just over two hours, Stover puts Greene through a routine that focuses on his lower body with different running and weight exercises. This is how elite athletes get better, Stover said.

“A lot of it is just being able to finish his rotation in his front leg,” Stover said. “ It’s something that he has felt could possibly get back to — he had a really good year last year — the next level.

It’s something his body doesn’t naturally do well, so for someone who is already an elite-level guy, it’s about where you can find that extra one or two percent.”

While Turn2 and Revolution — which work in collaboration — have been doing solely oneon-ones with their most elite athletes, everything else has been shut down.

Instead of seeing familiar faces walking through the front door, it’s been a ghost town.

“It has decimated business,” Turn 2 partner Randy Pundsack said. “We’re in an environment — and in a group-training format — where we like to run hitting sessions with six to eight athletes and one trainer. We’ve communicated with attorneys and insurance companies … to try and find a way to stay open — and not from a profiteering standpoint.

“A majority of our conversation is how can we help these kids — who become accustomed

to training every day and look forward to that — expand their potential opportunities to play at the next level,” he said.

NO TIME TO BE LAZY Not everyone has access to workout equipment, and with gyms shuttering alongside sports, the challenge for many local athletes is figuring out how exactly to work out at home.

Just before the season was suspended, Stover received numerous phone calls from athletes trying to figure out what to do to stay into shape.

His answer was basically, “Do whatever you can.”

Along with the programs Stover offers via virtual workouts, he said there were numerous makeshift ways of staying in shape. He offered suggestions such as simply standing on a towel — pulling up and twisting as a sort of resistance exercise — or filling up a book bag with cans or water bottles to use for squats.

“It’s trying to get as much out of this time period as we can, so guys aren’t just sitting around and doing nothing,” Stover said.

Keeping athletes and people in general moving is the biggest concern for trainers around the area, because it’s easy to get lazy, said Micah Kurtz, director of sports performance at Windermere Prep.

Kurtz has spent most of the time away from campus sharing full-blown workout routines with the school’s studentathletes via social media. He also has received questions from athletes concerned about losing

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

regular season games. There is still no word on postseason play officially, but chances are it could be canceled as well.

Just like every other school in the state, there’s uncertainty about if the season will start back up, but Chambless said his players continue to work out on their own. If there is a season, they need to be ready to go, he said.

“As soon as the season was postponed the first time — and we have reiterated this when it was postponed again — we emphasized with the players that the coaches would not be able to do anything with them,” Chambless said. “The players have taken it upon themselves to get together in small numbers … and I have been keeping up with my players through email just to find out how their individual workouts are going on.”

While players continue their workouts away from campus, the future is still unknown — especially for those seniors looking to take advantage of their last year.

“To look back and be like, ‘Wow, I didn’t even know I was playing my last game when I played Foundation — or whatever game it may be,’ that, no question, is scary,” LaGasse said.

“But, Lord willing, it won’t happen.”

Up until the season was suspended, Legacy was playing some of the best baseball in the area.

The Eagles had pulled off a 9-2 record thanks to talent and depth the program has never seen before. At the plate, Legacy has scored 106 runs in only 11 games — last year, the team only scored 178 through 27 games.

As the offense exploded, the team’s pitching kept the Eagles always ahead. At one point, the Eagles had three straight

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no-hitters, with Worley being one walk away from recording a perfect game.

“To be honest, it was really cool to have that kind of experience, because that’s never happened on our team before,” Birko said. “Maybe we got lucky and got one in a season, but never do you think you’ll have three nohitters in the exact same week.”

No one wants to see those kinds of results — and the season itself — go to waste, so as of right now, the hope for Chambless and his team is that they can somehow get back out to the diamond.

“My plan is to trust my players and believe that they’re all out there thinking that the harder they work, the more of an advantage they have against the schools whose players aren’t putting in the work,” Chambless said. “That’s the only plan I have is to trust my kids to be ready if we get to play again.”

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the strength and speed gains picked up in the gym.

“There is some good news from that, where even if they don’t have access to a gym, strength and aerobic capacity generally can last up to 30 days with minimal training,” Kurtz said. “So if they don’t have access to weight room, but they’re still staying active and doing bodyweight exercises, they’re really not going to lose their strength gain.

“Speed and power adaptations go away much quicker — those can diminish within five days,” he said. “So I try and talk with them … make sure you’re getting out in your yard or your driveway or an open space, as long as you’re social distancing, go put force into the ground and run sprints and do vertical jumps.”

For an athlete to keep up the pace, Kurtz suggested training four to five days a week — making sure at least two to three involve total-body strength exercises, while the other days focus on speed and agility training.

It’s also important to keep up the effort if you’re an athlete, because it’s a chance to get a leg up on others, Kurtz said.

“There is a lot of good that can come from this kind of chaos, and it’s really a huge window of opportunity that they can potentially separate themselves from their competition,” Kurtz said. “With everybody being thrown off their normal routine and their gyms being closed, a lot of people can potentially get lazy and slack off.”

Eagles’ season halted too early

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“thE stonE thE buiLdErs rEjECtEd is now thE CornErstonE.” –Psalms 118:22

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1333 East Crown Point rd. oCoEE, FL 34761

We’ll take the first step with you

Direct Cremation $750 plus container

Madeleine Eastwood, a student at Foundation Academy’s Upper School, used a swimming pool as a backdrop for the flowers.

The West Orange Times and Observer is hosting this weekly contest, and winners will have their photograph featured. To enter, email your photo, along with your name, city and a caption, to amyq@orangeobserver.com; put “I Love West Orange” in the subject line.

Family Owned & Operated

Full service funeral provider with onsite crematory.

FRANK SCARLATA

All inclusive direct cremation only $795 Burial starting at $2,295

(407) 695-CARE (2273) 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

Let Us Tell The Story of Your Life

Pre-Planner

TODD DEGUSIPE Director/Owner

UNIONTOWN 65 N. Gallitan Ave Uniontown, PA 15401

Winter Garden’s ONLY family owned funeral home.

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We Proudly Offer Traditional Burial and Cremation Services Prearranged Funeral Services

Director/Manager

COLLEEN GILLIS

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“Because You Care”

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

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

WE ARE HERE TO SERVE YOU

407-614-8350

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

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795

Direct Cremation for:

$

Including the alternative container.

Call for details.

“Home of the area’s first certified therapy dog.

Feel free to stop in and say hello to Charley Girl!

Let her be YOUR Superhero!”

1132 E. Plant Street, Winter Garden, FL 34787 LIC #F080822

407-877-6700

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We make it personal.®

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www.winteroakfuneralhome.com

Robert Bittle

Funeral Director In Charge

CLASSIFIEDS

other art form can hope to tackle.”

– Stanley Kubrick Puzzle Two Solution: “Kirk Douglas ... 103 years on this Earth. That’s got a nice ring to it! Great hanging with you, man.” – Danny DeVito

This week’s Sudoku answers

Thursday, April 2, 2020

West Orange Times & Observer 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 West Orange Times & Observer to meet all applicable legal requirements in connection with the ad such as compliance with This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers town codes in first obtaining an occupational license for business, permitted home occupation, or residential rental property.

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers

“The screen is a magic medium ... it conveys emotions and moods that no other art form can hope to tackle.” conveys emotions and moods that no – Stanley Kubrick other art form can hope to tackle.”

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers – Stanley Kubrick

Health & Medical

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Puzzle Two Solution:

Puzzle One Solution:

“Kirk Douglas ... 103 years on this “The screen is a magic medium ... it Puzzle Two Solution: Earth. That’s got a nice ring to it! Great conveys emotions moods that no “Kirk Douglas ... 103and years on this hanging with you, man.” – Danny DeVito otherThat’s art form can hopering to tackle.”

Earth. got a nice to it! Great – Stanley Kubrick hanging with you, man.” – Danny DeVito This week’s Sudoku answers ©2020 NEA, Inc.

Announcements

GET YOUR – MEDICAL MARIJUANA – CARD HERE

Puzzle Two Solution: This week’s Sudoku “Kirk Douglas ... 103 years answers on this Earth. That’s got a nice ring to it! Great hanging with you, man.” – Danny DeVito

TO ADVERTISE IN OUR CLASSIFIEDS CALL 407-656-2121 Or email us at

advertisenow@ orangeobserver.com

This week’s Sudoku answers

Call now for your FREE pre-evaluation by phone

Orlando: 407-755-0012

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FREE MARIJUANA DELIVERY Delivered directly to your home or business

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!

©2020 NEA, Inc.

You NOW get the dry flower to

SMOKE!

This week’s Crossword answers ©2020 NEA, Inc.

2020

This week’s Crossword answers ©2020 NEA, Inc.

Help Wanted

House Cleaner needed $930 weekly. 4 days/week Time Schedule: 10AM - 4PM. Interested Applicant should Apply Via Email: johntodd94@outlook.com 4/2 jt

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This week’s Crossword answers

Help Wanted

Need to make some room?

NOW HIRING! We’re looking to fill (2) different parttime positions with flexible hours. (1) Front Desk This week’s Crossword answers Associate // Hours are 2 PM to 8 PM Sunday - Saturday. (1) Outdoor Maintenance Associate // Hours are 8 AM to 3 PM Sunday - Saturday. Stage Stop Campground | Email: stagestop@centurylink.net.

3/26, 4/2 ss

Use Observer Classifieds to sell your items quickly

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HERE’S MY CARD - BUSINESS DIRECTORY AUTO SERVICE 332484

AUTO SERVICE

2020

LV11098

Merchandise Wanted

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Puzzle One Solution: INFO & RATES: 407-656-2121 • EMAIL: classifieds@orangeobserver.com • ONLINE: www.orangeobserver.com HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 8:30am-4:30pm • DEADLINES: Classifieds - Monday at 10:OOAM • Service Directory - Friday at 10AM • PAYMENT: Cash, Check or Credit Card Puzzle One Solution: “The screen is a magic medium ... it

AUTO SERVICE

2020

2020

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

GARAGE

TFN 332487

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

BUSINESS

DIRECTORY

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WORKS FOR YOU Call 656-2121 to reserve your space

Phone 407-656-6646

Richard Hudson • Reggie Hudson

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TRAYWICK'S

TFN

330901

REG# MV-01095

STRESS

GET YOUR NAME

OUT THERE! Advertise your business

in The Observer Business Directory Call 407-656-2121 to advertise Make Your Phone Ring

FREE

Financing See store for details

BRAKE PAD SALE

BMW 3 Series Mercedes C-Class

179.95 BMW 5 Series $199.95 $

179.95 $199.95 $

Mercedes E-Class

Full Synthetic Oil Service ONLY

89.95

$

Includes up to Service includes: Front or Rear Pads, Parts and Labor.

7 quarts of Full Synthetic Oil. Tax and recycling fees are extra. Not valid with any other offers. Expires 4/30/20

GROW YOUR BUSINESS

Team Up With Classifieds

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Call today to reserve your space

407-656-2121

SPREAD THE WORD

ADVERTISE IN THE OBSERVER’S BUSINESS DIRECTORY

For more information, call 407-656-2121 or email advertisenow@orangeobserver.com classifieds @orangeobserver.com

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WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020

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THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020 19 OrangeObserver.com

HERE’S MY CARD - BUSINESS DIRECTORY CONSTRUCTION

Residential & Commercial Construction Rick Weber ‧ Brooks Weber License #CBC1253779

TFN

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Serving Central Florida Since 1972

ROOFING

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OrangeObserver.com 2 WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

NEW CONSTRUCTION INTERIOR BUILDOUTS Office: 352-394-5364 weberbuild.com

• Bridgestone • Michelin • Toyo • BFG Tires

635 W. Hwy 50, Clermont weber @weberbuild.com 332490

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

FIRE TECH

EXTINGUISHER

SERVICE

UPGRADES & REPAIRS

Ocoee, FL

CATERING

Willie’s Bar-B-Que

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“A luxury everyone can afford!”

• Chicken • Ribs • Pork • Beef • Small & Large Orders • Catering

Cell 407-466-4738 Tel 407-654-2395 Fax 407-654-2986

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Willie J. Fulmore Owner

We make Old Fashioned, Texas Style BBQ!

17436 7th Street • 407-469-0060 Montverde, FL 34756 Open Friday and Saturday • 11 am until 7 pm

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A portion of the profits help to fund Homeless Women and Children.

WORKS FOR YOU

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TFN

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Danny Motes

VIRUS & SPYWARE WinterREMOVAL Garden’s Premier Roofing Company Since 1978 Serving All of West Orange County DATA & PASSWORD Fully Licensed and Insured Roof Repairs and Replacement RECOVERY today to reserve your space 407-656-8920 WestOrangeRoofing.com WIRELESS &Call WIRED NETWORKING FREE 407-656-6075 ESTIMATES

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to reserve your space

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WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020

OrangeObserver.com

Heartburn isn’t

Harmless

Frequent episodes of heartburn, or acid reflux, can put you at higher risk for developing esophageal cancer. Learn about the treatments that can protect your esophagus from the harmful effects of heartburn.

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20-DIGESTIV-02910

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 407-605-3752 or visit StopTheReflux.com.