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The cancer comedy show

Sunday, April 5, at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Funeral Home, 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road, Gotha

The town of Windermere honored its outgoing mayor with plenty of laughs — at his expense. 5A.

Meet the former Panther who will lead Dr. Phillips High’s storied football team. 9A.

Photo by Megan Bruinsma

Dr. Phillips High teacher and breast cancer survivor Suzanne Scherfer has dedicated herself to helping others who have battled cancer, while being back in the classroom to expand students’ minds.

5FAST

Retired OCPS deputy superintendent to run for school board chair

Dr. Mike Armbruster has thrown his hat in the ring for Orange County School Board chair.

Armbruster retired from Orange County Public Schools as a deputy superintendent in December.

The West Orange resident has served the district for more than 35 years, initially retiring after 33 years in 2020 but returned to the district in 2022 as a deputy superintendent.

Armbruster started his career as a teacher and coach and went on to become principal of West Orange High. He later opened Ocoee High, where he introduced the “house system.”

Armbruster is one of three candidates vying for chair of the board. The other candidates are current school board members Angie Gallo and Alicia Farrant.

Special Hearts Farm receives donations

Special Hearts Farm announced it has been

At the mall, people can purchase items such as meals, clothes and livestock through the vending machine, with 100% of donations going directly to nonprofits.

Winter Garden’s Special Hearts Farm received $18,661 in donations.

“We are incredibly grateful and blessed to have been selected as a recipient of The Giving Machine last year and receive this amazing funding towards our mission,”

Special Hearts Farm officials wrote on social media. “It has truly been a privilege to be a part of this amazing experience. … We are forever grateful.”

3

Fire erupts at Vida Winter Garden Winter Garden and Orange County fire rescue units responded to an apartment fire around 7:40 p.m. Friday, March 27, at Vida Winter Garden apartment complex.

According to reports, the fire was coming from the third floor at 1223

“After making entry they found heavy smoke and fire in the kitchen,” Winter Garden Fire Chief Jose P. Gainza said. “The fire sprinkler system was activated, (and) crews evacuated residents from all floors.”

The fire was extinguished at about 8:04 p.m.

After that, overhaul and water removal procedures began.

“Contact has been made with apartment management to have a fire suppression system provider to respond to place a system back in service,” Gainza said. “Until such

determine which apartments will need to be evacuated due to water damage.

He said the number of residents who will need to evacuate is unknown, but once that’s figured out, they will reach out to Red Cross for housing assistance.

Beware of this new scam

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is warning drivers of an ongoing fraudulent scheme

Florida county courts and related judicial offices, saying recipients have outstanding traffic and toll violations, demanding immediate payment.

While these court notices resemble official government correspondence, there are a few ways to tell if they’re fake including QR codes directing recipients to payment portals, instructions to provide funds immediately and fabricated case numbers.

The FLHSMV reminds residents that official government entities will not request payments through QR codes, third-party links or unverified online platforms.

If residents receive one of these false notices, they’re instructed to report it the Federal Trade Commission and local law enforcement.

Horizon West Hospital earns Joint Commission certification Orlando Health Horizon West Hospital received a Joint Commission’s certification for disease-specific care regarding total shoulder replacement.

“We’re excited to bring this elite level of orthopedic care to Horizon West and nearby communities,” said Dr. Jacob Cox, an orthopedic surgeon with Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute. “This designation shows that we are committed to following the latreceived a certification

Courtesy photo

The Light the World Giving Machine is a not-so-traditional vending machine at the Altamonte Mall. Instead of users purchasing items for themselves, they do it for local and international nonprofits.

BENEFICIAL TO ALL CONCERNED!

The Rotary Club of Winter Garden celebrated its 100th anniversary at its beloved Evening at the Pops, with co-sponsorship from the city of Winter Garden, Saturday, March 28, at Newton Park. The annual event brought back the Plant Street Pops Orchestra with Matt Catingub, Steve Moretti and Suzy Park, for the second consecutive year.

Guests parked their lawn chairs, blankets and picnics on the lawn of Winter Garden’s Newton Park and enjoyed dancing through the centuries. They didn’t allow the gray skies and windy weather dampen their spirit, and smiles shined brightly throughout the night.

— MEGAN BRUINSMA

Discovery Church earns county approval

Orange County commissioners approved Discovery Church to build a 42,000-square-foot building in the Lake Avalon Rural Settlement.

LETICIA SILVA STAFF WRITER

After years of debate, Orange County commissioners approved Discovery Church’s request to build a new campus Tuesday, March 24.

While the project was approved, changes to the church’s size had to be made, from 45,934 square feet to 42,000 square feet.

Church representative Scott Gentry initially applied for a special exception in the A1 zoning district, which would allow the facility to be built in the Lake Avalon Rural Settlement, as well as allow grass parking in lieu of an improved space.

The one-story facility will be located on 19.97 acres, with 15 acres dedicated solely to preservation.

However, District 1 Commissioner Nicole Wilson opposed the facility.

“We want you in Orange County doing great work every single day,” she said. “With that said, we were here having this exact conversation in 2022. … This was about the size and the number of people coming and going.”

The main sanctuary will hold 800 seats, and a student ministry will include 162 seats. The facility also will include classroom spaces, a kids’ auditorium and offices.

Wilson said the board determined the facility did not meet the standards of the county’s comprehensive plan and its protections for the rural settlement in 2022, which still stands today.

“It’s the same project,” she said. “With that understanding, I’m going to make a motion to deny this project. … It’s a beautiful concept, but it is not for the rural community, and that has been an ask of the community of the district commissioner.”

Discovery Church’s Director of Operations Rob Garrett said the reason this location was chosen is because it is centrally located to all its members, which would allow the church to better serve its community. During public comments, District 1 residents expressed concerns about the church.

“Mayors and commissioners, approving even one mega facility will have far-reaching consequences,” Winter Garden resident Denise Martinez said. “It will trigger additional applications and the cumulative impact will fundamentally and irreversibly transform the character of our community undermining the very purpose for which rural settlements were created and rapidly and permanently shifting (the area) from rural to urban.”

Commissioners who were unopposed to the church agreed a decrease in size would better suit the church’s environment. While Discovery Church approved the condition, team members were adamant not to decrease its size any further.

District 6 Commissioner Michael Scott advised church leaders to continue meeting with community members.

“We’re going to do outreach and continue it because we want the members of this rural community to love this church and use this church,” Rebecca Wilson said on behalf of the church. “You 100% have that commitment.”

District 3 Commissioner Mayra Uribe proposed a motion to approve Discovery Church’s request. District 2 Commissioner Christine Moore second the motion, and it was passed 5-2. Now, the site plan and elevations will need to be modified.

Garrett said the next step is to meet with the community after modifications are complete before submitting permits and beginning construction.

TIMELINE

February 2022: Initial proposal was presented to BCC June 2022: Proposal denied December 2025: Improved proposal went before the Board of Zoning Adjustment March 2026: BCC approved the proposal with conditions

Carolynn and Elara Hoffman danced together to the live music. They had a blast spending time together at Newton Park.

Winter Garden Mayor John Rees thanked everyone for attending the beloved event in the city.

Left: Ted and Bonnie Kellogg enjoyed the concert with friends Susie Marshlla, Julie Boniec and Alain Boniec. They have been attending for years.

TJ and Rosemarie Redman enjoyed a charcuterie board filled with cheese, crackers and grapes.

Right: Suzy Park from the Plant Street Pops Orchestra performed for the guests at Evening at the Pops.

Mari Cole and Jeanna Sims said they love hearing the music at the annual Evening at the Pops. They live down the street and look forward to the event every year.

Left: Tracy Main, JC Main, Austin Arthur and Terry Fawley were happy to see one another and celebrate with the city of Winter Garden.

Humor bolsters Dr. Phillips High School teacher’s cancer battle

MEGAN

BRUINSMA STAFF WRITER

“Cancer was one of my greatest gifts.”

It’s a sentence Dr. Phillips High Exceptional Student Education and Learning Disability teacher Suzanne Scherfer never thought she would say when she was diagnosed with Stage 1 triple negative breast cancer Sept. 22, 2021. But rather than taking away from the light in her life, cancer gave Scherfer a new beginning. She reconnected with old friends who reached out when they heard the news. She celebrated throwing the first pitch at Dr. Phillips softball team’s Strike Out Cancer Night game Thursday, March 26. Head coach Jessica Jobst gifted Scherfer a pink jersey, which was custom made for the game and signed by all the players.

Most important, Scherfer found her calling.

When she underwent reconstruction surgery in January 2023, it was one of the scariest times of her life. She had friends telling her not to do it, while others stopped talking to her out of the fear of losing her. Her surgery was successful, and she decided to leave her number at the plastic surgeon’s office to give it to new patients who were experiencing the same fear.

Scherfer frequently calls and meets with individuals to provide them a listening ear and a word of advice from someone who was in their shoes not too long ago. She always has been a pay-it-forward type of person, and helping those navigate their fears and make them feel comfortable has given her a new purpose.

“Every year, the plastic surgeon has a reconstruction event, and I usually speak at them, and then people love me because I’m a comedy show,” she said. “I’m comedic relief. I want to help people because it’s scary.” But she’s always been a helper and a teacher.

LIFE-CHANGING REALIZATION

Scherfer has dedicated her life to helping students who struggle in school, those that require extra patience and someone who is willing to fight for them. Her journey to become an ESE teacher wasn’t just professional — it was personal.

Throughout high school, Scherfer frequently was called “stupid” and “lazy” by her teachers. She said the teachers always were right, so if they called her those names, she must have been. She also never told her parents because she thought they wouldn’t believe her.

While she was earning her master’s degree at Florida International University, she learned something that changed how she viewed herself.

“I learned that I was learning disabled myself,” she said. “We were studying learning disabilities and I said, ‘That’s me.’ … My other professor who tested me was like, ‘How’d you get through high school?’ I said, ‘I don’t know, but I’m getting my master’s.’”

She was diagnosed with a learning disability and dyslexia. All of a sudden, her childhood made sense. The struggle to read a book, the constant feeling of having to work harder than her peers was due to her disability.

Now working as an ESE teacher, she understands completely what her students are going through, but that doesn’t mean she lets them off the hook.

“I understand them,” she said. “But it’s frustrating sometimes, because I worked so hard and some of them use it as an excuse.”

Without her students, Scherfer might not have been able to catch her cancer as early as she did.

THE RED DEVIL

Following COVID-19, Scherfer was placed back into ESE teaching after a few years as a reading teacher. The day before school began, one of the students with autism jumped into her lap when she was sitting in her office chair.

It hurt her hip, so the doctors decided to do a hip X-ray.

During the X-ray, the doctors thought they saw something on her uterus and ordered further testing. Scherfer had a mammogram, then a biopsy, and doctors recommended she undergo genetic testing to see what challenges her genes could present.

“It wasn’t supposed to go this far,” Scherfer said.

The manner in which the doctors were talking to Scherfer, she knew it was going to be a tough diagnosis. A few days later, she received the call.

It’s cancer.

She thought it would just be a lumpectomy, a surgery that removes a portion of the cancerous tumor from the breast. The surgery is quick. It only takes about 15 to 90 minutes, and the recovery timeline lasts from one to three weeks. The doctors assured Scherfer her Stage 1 cancer would easily be removed.

Then the genetic testing came back.

The results showed she had a genetic marker linked to triple negative, an aggressive form of cancer that grows more rapidly. Her treatment plan escalated.

“It went from a lumpectomy to everything has to go, and (I) had to be on the most extreme chemo because it was a genetic thing,” she said. “With my genetics, it’s your breasts, your ovaries and your pancreas, but they can’t take your pancreas. … I had no choice.”

She began her chemo process. For the first 12 weeks, she was OK, but the second round of chemo brought “the red devil.”

“They pump this stuff into you,” Scherfer said. “It looks like a Jello shot, and they have to time how they put it in. … He said, ‘Your hair will fall out within so many weeks.’ Thanksgiving, hair fell out. By week eight, the fatigue was really starting to kick in.”

Her humor became her tool for survival.

“I had lost all my hair, and one of my students was like, ‘I wish my hair was longer,’” Scherfer said. “And I

said, ‘I know, me too.’ My student said, ‘Miss, that’s not funny.’”

THE RECOVERY

Throughout her treatments, Scherfer never was alone. Friends from her fitness community when she used to coach at Gold’s Gym stepped in to support her. Scherfer’s mom, who lives in Miami, drove up to Dr. Phillips whenever she could to support her.

But allowing others to step in and help her wasn’t easy for the independent Scherfer. The hardest part was letting others do daily chores for her. Someone told Scherfer she needed to let people help her because they wanted to and eventually she understood what it meant.

She never went to the doctors alone, and after returning home after her chemo treatments, she had people with her. She had friends come over to clean her house so she could be surrounded in a welcoming environment.

After finishing her chemotherapy six months later, she underwent a mastectomy in May 2022.

She became cancer-free, but the recovery didn’t end there.

Over the next year, she had her reconstruction surgery and a total hysterectomy due to her genetic risk.

Scherfer still has to go to the doctors every three months to check her bloodwork because of her genetic testing. She is grateful she wasn’t any sicker because the cancer was just one part of her battle — she also was battling insurance the whole step of the way.

“Two hours after getting my port, I’m on the phone fighting my insurance for my chemo,” she said.

It was a constant battle with insurance, which added another level of stress to the point her friend even started a GoFundMe to help alleviate the costs. It took her three years to get a Positron Emission Tomography scan. She had Computed Tomography scans done, and her insurance wouldn’t approve it.

She said the insurance was a struggle when it came to any preventative tasks; even her diabetes is costing her more money than her chemo did.

Through the years of battling chemo, cancer, surgery and insurance, Scherfer tried her best to stay uplifted. She’s back in the classroom. She’s back to working out.

Now that it’s over, she’s finally begun to process it.

“You never process it until you’re done,” Scherfer said. “My first thought was, ‘How am I going to get to the end?’ My life became, ‘What appointment is next? What procedure’s next?’ Then three years later, it was my three-year anniversary and it was like, ‘Wow.’ That’s when it hit because I was finally done with everything.”

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WEST ORANGE TIMES

The West Orange Times (USPS 687120) is published weekly for $60 per year and $110 per two years by the Observer Media Group, 210 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden, Florida, 34787. Periodical postage paid at Winter Garden, Florida. POSTMASTER:

Dr. Phillips High teacher Suzanne Scherfer used her sense of humor to maintain her spirits while battling breast cancer.

Photos by Megan Bruinsma

Dr. Phillips High softball team recognized DP teacher and breast cancer survivor Suzanne Scherfer during the team’s game dedicated as Strike Out Cancer Night. Scherfer was honored to throw the first pitch and be gifted a team jersey.

Bittersweet farewell

The farewell party for former Windermere Mayor Jim O’Brien was filled with both laughter and tears.

LIZ RAMOS MANAGING EDITOR

Former Windermere Mayor Jim O’Brien donned a crown, red faux fur cape and a key to the town while sitting on his throne and holding onto a golden striped plunger.

After resident and former Windermere Town Council member Bill Martini properly roasted O’Brien, the dozens of residents in attendance of the farewell party for O’Brien Friday, March 27, listened to heartfelt speeches from former Mayor Gary Bruhn, current Mayor Andy Williams and O’Brien’s family members. O’Brien was elected to Windermere Town Council in 2011 and later won his bid for mayor in 2019. For 15 years, he has sat in Windermere Town Hall one Tuesday night per month leading the town into the future.

In January, he decided not to seek reelection for mayor. He felt he accomplished everything he wanted in his time on council and believed Windermere was in good hands with its current leadership.

“When I first stepped into the role of council person 15 years ago, I had a simple vision to keep our town a place where families can thrive, residents are safe, transparency and integrity are core values, and everyone feels they belong,” O’Brien said. “Small but smart ... but that’s not just my vision. That’s the vision of every individual who I’ve had the pleasure of serving with. ... The last 15 years have never really been about politics at all. They’re about service and have been some of the most rewarding of my life.”

Williams said O’Brien stepped

BAPTIST

First Baptist Church

Pastor Tim Grosshans 125 E. Plant St, Winter Garden (407) 656-2352

Sundays: 8:30 AM Traditional 9:45 AM Bible Study 11 AM Contemporary Wednesdays: 6 PM Awana

2nd Campus: First Baptist Church @ Horizon West ANGLICAN COMMUNITY

Rector

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

in on Town Council when the town was in need of stability, direction and focus, and he approached it with thoughtfulness, humility and a steady hand.

“Jim has always worked to strengthen the foundation of our community by working in and alongside council, with staff and residents, to truly rebuild the trust, to improve the communications and to ensure that Windermere continues moving forward in the right direction,” he said. “What stands out about Jim’s leadership, to me, isn’t the decisions that were made over time. It was how he made them. He showed up, he listened and he treated people with respect, even when there were passionate differences of opinion.”

125 E Plant St., Winter Garden 407-656-2352 SUNDAYS 8:30 am Traditional 9:45 am Bible Study 11:00 am Contemporary WEDNESDAYS - 6pm - Awana Pastor Tim Grosshans www.fbcwg.org 2nd Campus: FOUNDATION WORSHIP

SUNDAYS 9:45 am - All Ages Foundation Academy High School 15304 Tilden Rd., Winter Garden www.FoundationWorship.com 407-730-1867

First United Methodist www.fumcwg.org 125 N. Lakeview Ave., Winter Garden (407) 656-1135

Services: 9 AM Traditional 10:45 AM Contemporary Also viewable on YouTube

Jim O’Brien’s children, Emily and Jacob, thanked their father for setting an example of leadership and service. They beamed with pride as they talked of their father’s accomplishments and dedication to their family and the town.

CHURCH

STARKE LAKE BAPTIST CHURCH PO Box 520, 611 W Ave, Ocoee Pastor Jeff Pritchard (407) 656-2351 www.starkelakebaptist.org

CHURCH OF GOD OCOEE CHURCH OF GOD Pastor Thomas Odom 1105 N. Lakewood Avenue, Ocoee 407-656-8011

EPISCOPAL

CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH 241 N. Main, Winter Garden Services: 8, 9:30, & 11am, 7pm www.churchofthemessiah.com

METHODIST FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 125 N. Lakeview Ave Winter Garden Service Times 9:00 AM and 11:15 AM Phone – 407-656-1135 Web: fumcwg.org

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST WINDERMERE UNION CHURCH 10710 Park Ridge-Gotha Rd. Windermere, FL 34786 407-876-2112 Worship times: 9:00am Adult Sunday School 10:00am Worship www.windermereunion.org

Jacob, Emily and Kristin O’Brien have been along for the ride as Jim O’Brien served the town of Windermere for 15 years. Jim O’Brien said he wouldn’t have been able to serve without the love and support of his family.

Anne and Derek DeBoer were thrilled to celebrate their friend and neighbor of nine years, Jim O’Brien. “He is the biggest part of why we have felt so welcome in this town,” Derek DeBoer said. “He is an incredible person.”

Photos by Liz Ramos

The farewell party brought together three mayors: former Mayor Gary Bruhn, former Mayor Jim O’Brien and current Mayor Andy Williams.

Windermere Prep proposes new campus

JUSTICE COVERT

WRITER

CONTRIBUTING

Horizon West residents worry that Windermere Preparatory School’s proposed elementary campus in Horizon West will exacerbate the area’s existing traffic and pedestrian safety issues.

Residents raised concerns during an Orange County community meeting Thursday, March 26, at Bridgewater Middle School’s media center regarding the private school’s expansion

Orange County officials and Windermere Prep leadership presented two proposals at the meeting: a Change Determination Request to reduce framework streets for connectivity requirements and a Development Plan Request to build a two-story pre-K-5 elementary school for 880 students with associated sports fields at 15765 New Independence Parkway.

Windermere Prep’s Head of School

Alex Birchenall said the school is looking to expand into Horizon West because its pre-K-12 main campus at Lake Butler has reached capacity. He added leadership has wanted to move closer to the Hamlin area for many years, even before he was brought in, seeing this as a great growth opportunity.

Birchenall said the decision to only have up to 880 elementary students is a determination the school and its owner, Nord Anglia Education, worked out to “make the financial model work.”

The school building would be about 93,000 square feet and house 44 core classrooms, with each set of four

“We don’t want to cause congestion. We want to work with the community and figure out what makes sense for the school side and support what we need to be good community members.”

— Head of School Alex Birchenall

classrooms connected by a pod with an internal learning environment.

Plans also feature a media center, cafeteria, gym and outdoor gardens.

The parking lot is set to have 160 spaces, one entrance and two exits. The main entrance and exit will sit on the west side of the property, using Lakewalk Drive as a “buffer zone” to steer traffic. The other exit will be on the opposite end of the parking lot flowing into New Independence Parkway.

David Boers, a Horizon West resident, was concerned about the traffic buildup the pick-up and drop-off times could cause.

He said the proximity of this new elementary school to Independence Elementary School, which is less than 2 miles away, will worsen road congestion in the area.

“It’s not real common to see elementary schools like that plugged in right next to each other,” Boers said. “There could have been a better opportunity in a different area that wasn’t going to impact the actual residents who do live in the area as opposed to the students that would be coming to (the new elementary) from a much greater distance.”

To mitigate congestion, Chris Godwin, a professional engineer with Traffic & Mobility Consultants, displayed a site plan developed with county staff to manage the queue of student drop-off and pick-up times.

The plan is to split the students into three sections spread across 20-minute intervals.

Graphics illustrated with colorcoded lines showed paths cars would take across the entire width of the parking lot stretched across the 13.69acre property. The plan anticipates the total number of pre-K students to be 240; first- through third-grade students to be 320; and fourth- and fifth-grade students to be 320.

Mohammed Abdallah, founder of Traffic & Mobility Consultants, said each queue line is expected to fit 60 to 80 vehicles at a time, with peak hours of student drop-offs from 7 to 9 a.m. He said they expect around 600 vehicles during that timeframe.

In regard to when the drop-offs

would occur, Birchenall said the school probably would start at 8:20 a.m. and possibly would adjust its start times taking the other elementary schools’ start times into account.

“We don’t want to cause congestion,” Birchenall said. “We want to work with the community and figure out what makes sense for the school side and support what we need to be good community members.”

District 1 Commissioner Nicole Wilson brought up pedestrian safety. She said the area around 15765 New Independence Parkway gives her “so much heartburn.”

“(Horizon West) was created to be a walkable, bike-able community and

there are people living (by New Independence Parkway) who don’t really have a safe way to even cross for the businesses that are over here,” Wilson said. “The concern is real about safety.”

Lindsay Turner lives across the street from Horizon High School, where she said pedestrian safety is an issue. She said there aren’t any crossing guards present at every intersection by the high school and asked if it’d be different for the new elementary.

Birchenall said the current Windermere Prep main campus has two Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies that direct traffic in the area along with a school resource officer.

Abdallah added the overall evaluation for the property recently completed includes a pedestrian crossing. The type of crosswalk has not been decided; that is up to the county.

The plans for the new private elementary school still are in the technical review stage. Next, the Development Review Committee will meet on a date to be determined to offer a recommendation for the Change Determination Request and make a final action on the Development Plan Request. If the DPR is approved, the CDR will be seen by the Board of County Commissioners for a final decision. The BCC meeting would be open for public testimony.

Courtesy image

The proposed Windermere Preparatory School elementary campus will be about 93,000 square feet and house 44 core classrooms, with each set of four classrooms connected by a pod with an internal learning environment. Plans also feature a media center, cafeteria, gym and outdoor gardens.

Town of Oakland swears in new commissioners

Three commissioners took their oaths of office and will serve the town for two to four years.

After the town of Oakland’s general election took place March 10, commissioners officially were sworn into the Oakland Town Commission.

Kris Keller, Yumeko L. Motley and Joseph McMullen took their oaths of office Tuesday, March 24. Keller and McMullen will serve four-year terms.

“It’s just been my great honor to serve the residents, and I look forward to continuing to do so with thoughtful and fiscally responsible decisionmaking,” Keller said.

Keller was appointed commissioner in 2025 after former commissioner Rick Polland stepped down. This will mark her first full term as a commissioner.

McMullen was elected Seat 4 Commissioner after defeating opponent Anne Fulton, with 308 votes.

“Thank you for those (who) believed in me and that continue to come alongside me, pray for me and my friends and family,” he said.

“Those who did not vote for me, let’s talk. Let’s have a conversation. My cell phone (number) is everywhere; my email is everywhere, I’m here everywhere, so let’s talk.”

After serving as commissioner for for the past 20 years, McMullen said he is pleased to continue to represent the town and is grateful for all those who voted for him.

Motley will serve a two-year term, replacing Commissioner Sal Ramos, who stepped down from his seat two years before his four-year term ended. This is her first time as a commissioner.

“Oh my goodness, I’m overwhelmed with joy and gratitude this evening,” she said. “I want to say thank you to God first for allowing me to accept this endeavor in His charge to me. … I look forward to working dutifully, faithfully and with integrity for the residents of the town of Oakland.”

Mayor Shane Taylor congratulated the elected commissioners and said he is confident they will serve the town and its residents with thoughtfulness, collaboration and respect.

“Public service is an honor and a responsibility,” Taylor said. “The decisions we make will shape the future of our town.”

Ramos also was recognized for his commitment to serving the town of Oakland since 2015.

Taylor recognized Ramos for his work to enhance residents’ quality of life, promote the well-being of the community and support of responsible growth.

“The town of Oakland is grateful for Commissioner Ramos’ years of dedicated service and commitment to making the community a better place to live, work and thrive,” he said.

Ramos congratulated Keller, Motley and McMullen and thanked the commission, the residents, family, friends and God for the opportunity to serve Oakland.

“The wisdom and leadership you guys have shared with me, I’m going to carry it for a long time,” he said. “It helped me a lot here.”

COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES

Taylor said a cell tower and telecom ordinance soon will be brought to the commission.

“Cell tower reception here is abso-

IN OTHER NEWS

n Mayor Shane Taylor proclaimed April Water Conservation Month, as well as Child Abuse Prevention Month, and April 10 will be considered Wear Blue Day.

n The Oakland Town Commission unanimously voted to keep Vice Mayor Michael Satterfield in the role.

n The Oakland Police Department acquired a new police cruiser. It has a white base rather than a black one and is colorful. Grants and Communication Manager Kelly Sims designed it. Police Chief Darron Esan said the cruiser includes the latest technology in safety equipment to reduce crashes.

n Commissioner Kris Keller will serve as the town’s representative on the Metro Plan Orlando Municipal Advisory Committee.

n The road resurfacing project of Millholland Way, Vandermeer Avenue, Starr and Demens streets will be revisited during a future commission meeting after Hubbard Orlando Paving Project Manager Courtney Court said the existing base is in bad shape.

lutely horrible,” he said.

Once the ordinance is drafted, bids for operator carriers will be solicited.

Taylor said there are several large companies that handle and build cell towers, but they must allow the tower to go on town-owned land.

This would allow the town to receive revenue off leased land as well as from the carriers themselves, he said.

“In some instances, this could be a very big win for the town,” he said.

Beyond cell towers, the town also is working on a Tubb Street Overlay ordinance to provide more economic opportunities.

“It would help us establish a main street off (State Road) 50 all the way up to the town center,” Taylor said. “It would establish commercial opportunities, a corridor that will reflect our charm of our town center.”

It would allow a mix of uses including retail, restaurants, offices and residential.

“As of right now, there’s 19 potential developments that would be coming into (S.R.) 50 … and they’re in various stages,” he said.

Taylor reminded the town’s residents he will not allow gas stations, car dealerships, car washes, etc., to preserve the town’s charm.

“We’re being very meticulous about what we are allowing in town, and it’s got to be something that caters to the residents,” he said.

He said these commercial opportunities could help the town “tip the scales” in its favor, in case homestead property tax reforms do take place.

Taylor also spoke about creating a food truck ordinance to manage food trucks that want to operate in the town.

“I’m not opposed to food trucks,” he said. “Food trucks are awesome, but what I don’t want to see is just food trucks popping up everywhere. … What you don’t want is to have so much of the food trucks in town that it takes away from the brick and mortars that could potentially come in.”

He said while the town is not allowed to ban food trucks, it can enforce an ordinance to facilitate management.

“It will be a great asset if it’s in certain areas of the town,” Taylor said.

LETICIA SILVA STAFF WRITER

Courtesy photo

Commissioners Yumeko L. Motley, Joseph McMullen and Kris Keller smiled with Oakland Mayor Shane Taylor and Vice Mayor Michael Satterfield after taking their oaths of office.

Winter Garden leaders approve rezone, hear legislative update

The approvals will allow for more uses, including medical aesthetic/clinics; yoga, ballet and dance; retail; and pet care.

More commercial service uses will be allowed at 761 Garden Commerce Parkway after the Winter Garden City Commission unanimously approved Thursday, March 26, the second readings of two ordinances for the property.

Commissioner Lisa Bennett was absent.

One ordinance updated the future land use to Commercial, and the other ordinance rezoned the 2.88acre property to Planned Commercial Development.

The property currently is designated as Multi Office Industrial and zoned as Planned Industrial Development.

With the ordinances approved, the owner can accommodate more commercial service uses such as medical aesthetic/clinics; studios such as yoga, ballet and dance; retail; and pet-care facilities.

MIXED-USE BUILDINGS APPROVED

An ordinance rezoning properties along East Oakland Avenue and Tilden Oaks Trail will allow for the development of four mixed-use buildings consisting of commercial uses on the bottom floors and residential uses on the second floors.

Commissioners unanimously approved the second reading of an ordinance rezoning the properties at 15411, 15540 and 15541 E. Oakland Ave. and 841 Tilden Oaks Trail from Planned Unit Development to Planned Commercial Development.

The neighborhood commercial component will be 12,515 square feet with a total of 12 dwelling units on the second floors.

The neighborhood general open zone permits uses such as attached single-family units such as townhomes, multi-family residential and neighborhood oriented commercial uses, said Kelly Carson, the planning director for the city.

Carson said city staff required the property proposal to be Planned Commercial Development to further define the neighborhood commercial uses and all the specific development requirements of the parcels, such as setbacks, buffers and architectural standards.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

State Rep. Leonard Spencer provided an update on the U.S. House of Representatives’ 60-day legislative session. Spencer said the Legislature still is locked in negotiations over the final state of the budget of more

than $113 billion, and the session was extended into overtime.

A topic of debate was regarding local autonomy and the state preempting local decision-making.

“I will consistently try to push back against state overreach, and the state Legislature, in my opinion, should not be preempting local communities and stripped decision-making power away from cities (such as) Winter Garden,” Spencer said. “Municipalities are best equipped to deal with and manage their own growth and community standards.”

Spencer spoke about HB 1001, which passed alongside SB 1134. The bill prohibits counties and municipalities from funding, promoting or taking any official action related to diversity, equity and inclusion. Any member of the local governing body who violates these prohibitions commits malfeasance or misfeasance in office, meaning Gov. Ron DeSantis could suspend any local official for actions previously held within the official’s authority.

“I oppose this, because regardless of where you stand regarding DEI policy, it represents a massive erosion of local home-rule authority,” Spencer said. “When (there is) a ban on local governments from using these contracting programs that actively limit competition, we risk losing massive federal infrastructure grants.”

Spencer also addressed property-tax reforms, saying the common comment from his constituents is “people are working harder than ever,” and “they’re feeling squeezed from every direction.”

He said voters should have an opportunity to weigh in on decisions about property taxes. Although he opposes eliminating property taxes, he said it’s “important to have an open and informed discussion that includes our voters.”

Mayor John Rees requested Spencer think about property taxes and its impacts “a little bit more,” because many Winter Garden residents he’s spoken to do not “fully understand the ramifications” of the potential reform.

With reductions in funds, city staff will have to work to find ways to make financial cuts, consider special fees and more, resulting in

The Winter Garden City Commission tabled ordinances pertaining to New Life Slavic Church to the commission’s next meeting on Thursday, April 9.

One ordinance would allow for the construction of an 11,162-square-foot church that will contain a one-story worship area with 286 seats that will connect with a two-story area for offices and meeting rooms. Another

staff spending more hours looking into alternatives and having public meetings to explain the changes to the community.

“It’s a lot of work to go down a road that we should not be going down,” Rees said. “I understand what you’re saying, let the voters decide, but up here, I kind of think that’s our job. So anyway, I respectfully request that you think about that, because it is going to be on the city of Winter Garden and all the municipalities an added layer of work to their already busy schedules.”

Regarding e-bikes, Spencer worked on a bill that would cap e-bike speeds at 10 mph on sidewalks when pedestrians are nearby. It also will require operators to yield to pedestrians on shared pathways, and it makes violations a noncriminal traffic infraction. The bill also includes the creation of a ninemember e-bike safety task force that’s expected to deliver recommendations by October.

Other legislation Spencer mentioned were related to corporate taxes, veteran housing, vertiports and more.

SPORTS

HIGH 5

A member of Ocoee High’s track-and-field team broke the school record in the 100-meter hurdles. Senior Jaiden Manning recorded a time of 13.83 second during the 2026 Bob Hayes High School Invite Saturday, March 21. Not only did Manning break Ocoee’s school record in the event, but also he won firstplace at the invitational. Manning’s previous time in the event was 14.37 seconds, which he ran at the 15th annual Hawks on the Hill Invitational Saturday, Feb. 28. Manning became the second Ocoee track-and-field athlete to break a school record in the past two weeks. He received his first Division I offer from Barry University in December.

West Orange High boys soccer team celebrated two players being named All-Stars following the end of the 2025-26 season. Seniors Lucca Dasilva and Rafael Tomirrotte were recognized for their accomplishments.

The team ended the season with a 14-5-2 record and ranked No. 32 in Florida and No. 73 in the nation. The team fell in the regional championship game in overtime to Seminole. Dasilva led the team in steals this season with six per game. Tomirrotte had the second most assists with 0.2 per game.

Once Dr. Phillips softball team got hot in its game against Lake Nona Thursday, March 26, it never let up. The Lions were first up to bat and tallied three runs on the board, but the Panthers never allowed the team to touch the board again. In the fifth inning, DP racked up five runs, which sealed the team’s 13-3 win over Lake Nona.

The First Academy football team celebrated 21 of its players joining the 1,500-, 1,250- and 1,000-pound clubs during the off-season training. The numbers are for the total weight the players bench, squat, deadlift and clean lift combined. In the 1,500-pound club is Jdeion Jackson with 1,600, Khiran Daniels with 1,580 and Bam Whitfield with 1,525. The players who lifted 1,250-plus are JP Furtadd, Ky’Mani Fils-Amie, Reed Ramsier, Brycsen Robb, Jacob Duffy, Masen Price and Leo Rivera. In the 1,000-pound club are Rhett Pifer, Gianni Guadagnoli, Trace Johnson, JD Loveless, David Coleman Jr., Taj Anderson, Jackson Fleming, Jaylen Jackson, Carson Cramer, Micah Brinkley and Deuce Woods Jr.

The end of the basketball season didn’t mean the end of accomplishments for Dr. Phillips High boys basketball team’s Isaiah Gillard. Gillard was selected to play in the Cure All-Star Game at Windermere High Saturday, March 28. Windermere High’s seniors Ben Bunnell and Lucas Boyd also were selected to play in the game.

Building with Walls

MEGAN BRUINSMA STAFF WRITER

Caleb Walls, the newest head coach of Dr. Phillips’ storied football team, remembers the feeling of stepping on the field in his Panthers’ gear under Friday night lights.

He spent three years on the varsity football team, spending summers, early mornings and late afternoons training under the guidance of head coach Rodney Wells.

Walls spent a year with the team that fought all the way to the state championship game but had its dreams of a title crushed. Those years prepared him to become a wide receiver at Keiser University, where he became the first player in the school’s history to return a kick for an 89-yard touchdown.

When Walls stepped back into Dr. Phillips’ locker room four years ago after graduating college, it felt as if nothing changed. The walls of the locker room remained painted in black and blue, the jerseys and the weight room brought him back to when he was training as a young athlete. And most important, he knew the expectations.

“To be around that, I think that’s what made me fall back in love with it because it was like, ‘Man, I missed this so much,’” he said. “But now leading it and being a part of it again is the greatest thing ever.”

In that moment, Walls realized he never wanted to leave and now — four years later — he won’t.

Walls was hired as DP’s newest football head coach following Wells’ announcement he was stepping away from the football sidelines. His journey all began from a gas station run-in.

Dr. Phillips High School football team’s head coach Caleb Walls is prepared to continue the winning legacy established before him.

Walls didn’t plan on returning to his old stomping grounds in his adulthood.

But it all changed when Walls’ dad, Herkie Walls, ran into Wells at a gas station four years ago. Wells told Herkie Walls to invite Caleb Walls to come out and help with the receivers during the summer workouts.

So he went.

During those summer workouts, Walls found purpose. He felt an instant spark inside of himself as he helped current players become the best version of themselves. Wells asked Walls to join the coaching staff as a wide receivers coach, and he never looked back.

“I’ve showed up every day since,” Walls said. “I was a receiver coach for the last three years, just working with the different kids, interacting with the kids, getting close with them, building relationships. What God called me to do was to help these kids and try and get them to the next level. Get them to places I’ve never been before.”

SEE FAMILIAR PAGE 10A

Hawks boys volleyball team set up for success

The secret to Horizon High boys volleyball team’s 15-3 record starts with the unselfish play.

MEGAN BRUINSMA STAFF

Since its inception in 2021, the Horizon High boys volleyball team has enjoyed a steady pace of improvement and success. The Hawks were 8-9 in its first season, second year 17-10, third 23-5 and 19-11 last year. In its five years, the Hawks have tallied two district championships, two Metro West championships and most recently, a regional championship and 6A State

Championship Semifinal appearance in 2025.

This year has been no different. Under first-year head coach Kristen Caleo, the Hawks have tallied a 15-3 record, and it all has come to fruition from the group of 15 boys who support each other through every step of the way.

“These boys are wonderful,” she said. “I love them. They’re all my kids. They’re all my boys. Our seniors are

Senior Miguel Acosta has been leading the Warriors on their quest for victory this season before he departs for Florida Southern University to play college ball. Page 10A.

WRITER

Photo by Megan Bruinsma

Head coach Kristen Caleo and seniors Rafael Melo, Joshua Robinson and James Caleo, are continuing Horizon High boys volleyball team’s history of success.

Photo by Megan Bruinsma

Dr. Phillips football team’s newest head coach, Caleb Walls, is taking over the program with the same vision and hunger for success.

File photo

Caleb Walls played three years at Dr. Phillips and for its state runners-up team in 2016.

Miguel Acosta

A passion that began at 3 years old has led West Orange High’s Miguel Acosta to become a college baseball committee for Florida Southern University and a leader on the Warriors’ dugout. Acosta, a senior second baseman, boasts a .433 batting average, .529 on-base and .597 slugging percentages, 22 runs, 29 hits and four triples, and leads the team in all those statistics. He’s ranked No. 12 in Florida Class 7A for his 22 runs and No. 1 in West Orange’s District 4.

The four-year varsity player has helped the Warriors compile a 66-36 record since 2022 and its current 14-7 record with a No. 55 ranking in Florida.

What do you enjoy most about baseball?

What I enjoy the most is the competition and the feeling of being a part of a team working toward the same goal.

When did you start baseball and why did you join?

I started playing baseball when I was 3 years old because I loved the game and wanted to challenge myself while having fun.

What is your biggest accomplishment in baseball?

My biggest accomplishment is continuing to improve every year and earning the opportunity to play at the next level.

What has baseball taught you? Baseball has taught me discipline, patience and how to handle failure while staying focused on getting better every day and just flipping the page when things don’t go your way.

How would you describe yourself as a teammate?

Supportive, hardworking and someone who leads by example on and off the field helping others when they need it and just being the one that everyone can rely on.

What advice would you give someone who just joined baseball?

Stay patient, work hard, don’t take it for granted. Time goes by fast, and don’t get discouraged by failure. It’s part of the game.

If you were a coach, what speech would you give the team?

I need everyone to play for each other, trust the work you’ve put in and give everything you’ve got every pitch. Nobody has put in as much effort and dedication to the game like you’ve done.

What is your pre-game ritual?

I like to stay focused, listen to music, visualize success, watch a little bit of YouTube, make sure to get a good meal in before the game, and just relax and get locked in before the game.

If you could pick a different sport what would it be?

I’d pick football because of the intensity and teamwork involved. I feel like I have the body and mind shape for it.

Whom do you admire?

I look up to my family because they’ve always sup ported me and pushed me to be better every single day. I also like to look up to Ronald Acuña Jr. because of the passion

THE BASICS Age: 17 Grade: Senior School: West Orange High Sport: Baseball

and energy that he plays with. He just goes out there and plays with his own style.

What is something new you’d like to learn?

I’d like to keep improving my skills and learn more about the mental side of the game, stay in my craft and just keep working hard getting better at something new every day.

What is your favorite holiday? Why?

My favorite holiday is Christmas because of the time spent with family and just being able to spread love and surprises around the whole family.

What future career do you want to have?

I want to pursue a career in baseball as long as I can or something related to sports.

If you became famous, what would it be for?

It would probably be baseball or something like me making my own business to help people with sports.

If you had to pick a spirit animal, which would you choose?

I would have to choose dolphins because of their intelligence, problem solving skills, their relationship, leadership, strength and confidence.

What is your perfect day?

A perfect day would be getting up around 10 a.m., having a good breakfast, hang out with my family for a little, go hit, have a game, win the game and spend time with my teammates after.

Why did you pick your jersey number?

I picked my jersey number (No. 13) because it represents who I am and motivates me every time I step on the field.

— MEGAN BRUINSMA

Familiar face to lead

Dr. Phillips football

CONTINUING A LEGACY

Walls always has looked up to Wells since he first stepped on the field as a Panther.

“Everything I do in my every day life as a father, as a husband, as a coach, was to represent what Coach Wells did because that’s what I saw growing up,” Walls said. “(I) just have been mirroring what he did and following the steps he did as far as the standard he set here.”

The pair went from a coach and player relationship to a brother, coworker and family relationship.

“That relationship me and him have, he has that with over thousands of kids that he’s been with in the 24 years he’s been coaching around and that’s inspiring,” Walls said. “And I want that … that’s the beauty of the whole thing, as far as the head coach job and the role, it’s not stressful because of the staff I have and the guys I have around me.

“I want to get Dr. Phillips not back to where it used to be but keep it at that standard of being excellent,” he said.

During his time as a Panther from 2014 to 2017, he played on the 2016 state runners-up team and with some incredible names in DP’s history, including Robert Porcher, Tanner Ingel, Nick Smith, Emare Hogan and DJ Charles. Many of those players have gone to the highest level, and combining their skills as a player with the lessons they learned from playing in the state championship is the blueprint for DP.

Walls has brought in Robert Porcher, Hogan and Bart Bryant, who all played in the state championship, to come back and coach.

“We’ve done it,” he said. “We’ve been there, so we know what it takes to get there. We (have) coaches that were part of the state championship

team that won, so they know what it takes and having the right group of guys. I just want the best interest for the kids.”

And the players have bought into Walls and the other staff members’ new titles. They haven’t left after the legendary Wells, who has put hundreds of players into college football and in the NFL, left.

“Some guys may not want to risk or take the chance on a 27-year-old coach,” Walls said. “But the guys (who) are here, they’re all-in, and I think that speaks volumes. The guys (who) are in this locker room, (who) are in this weight room (who) are grinding as much as we are — they’re here to stay.”

Those are players that Walls seeks. He wants athletes who are there to win, who are all-in. Walls not only has learned from Wells but also his college coach, Doug Socha, and his strength coach, David Padilla.

Both Socha and Padilla taught him to fall in love with the process of working out as well as how the weight room, strength and conditioning, and speed and agility all are intertwined together when he played at Keiser. Without one, the other areas will lack.

Those coaches and Wells taught Walls one of the most important lessons in football, “You can’t cheat the game.”

“You have to put in the work if you want to be great,” Walls said. “That’s what I pulled from them. But that’s not even just talking about football. That’s life. If you want something, you have to work for it. So (I’m) just taking those things, those little nuggets they gave me and now I can pour it into this next generation.”

Without his coaches’ lessons, he never would have developed his fascination with football that led him to where he is now.

DR. PHILLIPS FOOTBALL

2016: State runners-up, 11-3

State Champions, 13-2 2018: Regional Final, 7-6

2019: Regional Semifinals, 9-3 2020: Regional Semifinals, 5-3

2021: 4-7

2022: 4-6

2023: Regional Semifinals, 7-5

2024: State Semifinals, 12-2

2025: Regional Final, 9-4

FINDING PURPOSE

Herkie Walls, who had played football at the University of Texas before playing four years in the NFL and also coaching as an assistant at DP, introduced Walls to football when he was 4 years old.

Through the grind of football, he fell in love with training and went to Keiser University as a wide receiver while also pursuing his degree in sports medicine and fitness technology. Even during COVID-19, he curated personalized training plans for each of his family members after all the gyms closed. Following graduation, Walls worked as a personal trainer at Esporta Fitness and did that job for about a year, until Wells offered him the coaching position.

After taking his stance on the sidelines, Walls also took a position at DP as the Health and Opportunities through Physical Education teacher.

“I always wanted to coach, once I got here and the opportunity presented itself, I fell in love with (coaching football) way better than working at Esporta, because now I affect more lives and relate to the kids and that was the thing that sold me,” he said.

Outside of football, he also accepted a position as dean at Dr. Phillips this school year. He works with the general student population every day to make each student the best version of themselves.

Throughout the whole journey, Walls has found his new purpose in life — to develop young players. He wants them not to have regrets about their high school years.

State title is Horizon’s goal

wonderful. They’re great role models for the team. They hold each other accountable. They get the others locked in when they’re goofing off a little bit.”

Stepping into the helm of the program felt natural for Caleo. She was an assistant weightlifting coach and track-and-field coach at Horizon

“My motto is always hire staff around you that’s better than you in certain areas but also hold the same moral and ethical values as you and your philosophy to keep that team chemistry and camaraderie,” she said.

Despite not coaching volleyball before, she has been around the sport because of her son, James Caleo. She entered the position surrounded by a group of players who already knew the basics — they knew what it took to win.

Senior outside setter James Caleo is one of the players leading the Hawks to another incredible season. He leads the team with 3.8 kills per set and 17 aces this season. The senior is committed to the University of Mount Olive.

Fourteen of the 15 players on the roster are upperclassman who helped lead the Hawks to the state semifinals last season. Keeping them has been crucial for the team’s success. Kristen Caleo stepped into a team with the framework set. All

she has to do is help encourage them and fine tune their pre-developed skills, which have come through club and high school.

“I feel really blessed to join something like this, especially since I joined so late, I just feel really blessed,” Joshua Robinson said about joining a successful program.

“I thank God for everything because there’s so much I’ve been offered, especially in club.”

He is one of the newer players to volleyball. The senior middle only has played for two years, but with his 6-foot-6 stature and a group of teammates around him, he naturally fell into the leading blocker role with 25 total.

Aside from the players already understanding how to generate success, they also don’t have a strong ego and all support one another, which can be hard to find in competitive team sports. Kristen Caleo said she and the staff don’t have anyone they have to say, “You’re coming on too strong,” and reel back into the team mindset.

“They respect me,” she said. “They respect the rest of our staff, my other assistant coach and my managers. They respect everyone, and they play hard for us because of that respect.”

But the chemistry doesn’t just come from the coaches; it also comes from the players. Their personalities have allowed the coaches to focus on everyone, rather than one particular person.

“They have their arms wrapped around each other,” Kristen Caleo said. “I couldn’t ask for a better situation.”

James Caleo and Rafael Melo,

senior setter, have been playing together all four years of their volleyball careers. Both players also play club volleyball at Orlando Gold, and they said growing together is what’s allowed them to develop the close bond they have as well as the setter-hitter relationship.

That strong bond helped the Hawks begin the season 12-0. But on March 25, Lake Brantley proved to be Horizon’s biggest test.

James Caleo said the team should have been more serious before it began the game. The Hawks entered the match with a “we’re too good” mentality, and that’s what led to the Horizon’s first loss.

“It was definitely an emotional game,” he said. “We were all, especially me, I was really upset that game, and I feel like it affected the people around me.”

Going into the game against Lake Brantley undefeated made the players feel like they were invincible, Kristen Caleo said. They also came off Spring Break and were rusty. But James Caleo said it was a good learning experience for the team so they can adjust and take future games more seriously.

The players are unified in their goal to add another championship title to Horizon’s record books. Their goal is a state title.

“That’s why we need to remind ourselves one game at a time and just remain focused,” she said. “It really tested who we are as a team and how we’re going to stick together and fight through these tough matches. That’s our goal to keep fighting one game at a time and just getting better and better for that postseason play.”

BRAINFOOD

Let it bee! I Michael Eng // Editor and Publisher

Later this month — April 22 to be exact — the United States will celebrate Earth Day. In recognition of that day, the Orange County Library System and the Observer are teaming up to celebrate the amazing Florida honeybee! You’ve probably seen bees buzzing about in your backyard — especially when flowers are in bloom. But did you know they serve an incredibly important role in our environment? Read on to learn more!

— are all female. They search for food, build honeycombs and protect the hive. Finally, the drones — all — are there to mate with the queen. But what happens when the queen dies? In that case, worker bees will anoint a new queen by feeding her a special food called “royal jelly.” This nourishes that worker bee and helps her develop the ovaries she needs to

SWEET SUCCESS

There are two things bees eat — pollen and nectar — and both come from flowers. They eat pollen for protein and nectar for carbohy -

The problem with this is flowers aren’t always in bloom. That’s why bees make honey! Bees turn nectar into honey for storage and then place it inside

BEE THE CHANGE

Unfortunately, because of pesticides, loss of habitat, disease and other factors, the honeybee population is declining.

However, you can help!

Planting Florida-friendly plants in your yard can give honeybees more food sources, and some people even decide to become beekeepers themselves!

“It’s high time we shift our focus from relying solely on honeybees for pollination to embracing a more holistic approach to conservation,” said Forest Hecker, an educator with Sarasota County’s UF/IFAS Extension and Sustainability Department. “Our landscapes can help mitigate the impact of habitat loss, as long as we do not focus on nonfunctional turf grass and invasive exotics. Instead, utilize a mixture of natives and Florida-friendly plants to meet our landscape needs.”

UPCOMING EVENTS

PLANT CLINIC

10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 7, at the Windermere Branch, and 10:15 a.m. Saturday, April 11, at the Winter Garden Branch. Master Gardener volunteers from the UF/IFAS Orange County Extension Office will be available to answer your gardening questions.

TISSUE PAPER FLOWERS

4 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, at the Southwest Branch. Create colorful tissue paper flowers to top gifts or decorate a room. Recommended for ages 6-12. Registration required.

SUSTAINABLE GARDENING WITH THE FLORIDA GARDENISTA

WELCOME TO THE SUNSHINE STATE

Did you know honeybees aren’t native to Florida? Pretty incredible, considering how common they are in the Sunshine State. However, Europeans brought them to North America to pollinate and also to manufacture honey.

HONEYBEES?

MORE LIKE MONEYBEES!

The honeybee — with its incredible work ethic — is an incredible pollinator and essential to a wide variety of crops.

And how do bees make honey? Well, when a bee eats nectar, it stores it in a special organ called the honey stomach. The enzymes in that stomach are able to break the nectar down. Once they return to the hive, the bee passes the nectar to another bee through their mouths. This process takes some of the water out of the nectar. The bees then place the nectar into the cells in the honey

In Orange County, the Orange Blossom Beekeepers Associa tion hosts monthly meet ings and workshops for beekeepers and those interested in learning more. For more infor mation, visit orange blossombeekeepers.org.

INFLUENCER OF THE WEEK

ASHLEE MIKELS THE FIRST ACADEMY

Dr. Ashlee Mikels is a fourthgrade teacher at The First Academy. She has served as a teacher at the school for four years.

“Dr. Mikels is a beloved fourthgrade math teacher at TFA whose passion for both students and subject matter shines in everything she does,” a TFA representative said. “She has a unique ability to make math engaging and accessible, building confidence in her students while challenging them to think critically. What makes her especially special to TFA is her genuine care for each student—she invests in their academic growth as well as their character, reflecting the heart and mission of The First Academy every day.”

What brought you to your school?

I was in another state interviewing for a different job when I decided it wasn’t the right fit. The next day, on the way to the airport, (Assistant Head of School Jennifer) Jackson called and asked if I wanted to interview at TFA.

My flight home was canceled, so I rented a car and drove all night to make the interview the next morning. It was a whirlwind experience, but it worked out perfectly, and I am exactly where I was meant to be. The rest, as they say, is history.

What do you love most about your school?

I love the culture of servant leadership. It is modeled not only by our administration but also by the teachers and staff throughout the school. That example carries over to the students, who demonstrate a servant’s heart in the way they care for and support one another each day.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

The most rewarding part of my job is spending the day with the people I deeply care for — my students and colleagues. It is a blessing to have a job that I enjoy coming to every day.

What would you be if you weren’t in this profession? I was a social worker for children in foster care prior to being a teacher, so I would most likely still be doing that.

Who influences you?

My husband. He has been my best friend for over half my life. He has made so many sacrifices for our family and has truly been there for me for better or worse! He is an amazing teacher, too!

Who was your favorite teacher when you were in school? Why?

Brenda Cosmi. She was my thirdgrade teacher at Thacker Elementary School in Kissimmee. I had quite a few struggles at the young age of 9. She was a consistent,

kind adult in my life who made me feel loved and cared for. She made me want to be a teacher.

What is your favorite children’s book and why?

“Twinkle and Boo.” It is a small, unknown book that my dad used to read to me every night. I still have it memorized to this day:

“There were two little kittens with eyes of blue, one named Twinkle and one named Boo …”

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I love spending time with my husband and children.

If you could dine with any famous person, past or present, who would it be and why?

Dr. Seuss. He had resilience. Did you know his first book was rejected 27 times before it was published?

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why? Time travel. Wouldn’t it be fun to travel back in time so we could learn from others and appreciate all we have today?

If you could only listen to three bands or artists, who would they be and why?

I would choose Elevation Worship, Garth Brooks and Michael Jackson. Elevation Worship’s music is uplifting, Garth Brooks is a great storyteller, and Michael Jackson created timeless music that continues to influence artists today.

What was your go-to lunch as an elementary student?

Peanut butter and banana sandwich. It was one of Elvis’ favorites, too.

What is your favorite holiday and why? My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. It is a time to relax, be thankful and spend time as a family.

Who was your best friend when you were in school and why? Are you still in touch?

I had two best friends in high school: Tiffany and Erica. We are still friends, supporting each other through the highs and lows of life.

What were your extracurricular activities as a student?

I played basketball, volleyball and softball in high school.

— LIZ RAMOS

Sunny skies & carnival rides

Laughter erupted as a bucket of water fell on a willing victim’s head over and over again at the Whispering Oak Elementary Spring Carnival Friday, March 27. One by one, students lined up to take a shot at the target, aiming successfully almost every time.

Held at the school’s green space, the carnival included a plethora of activities for all involved. Beyond the splash tower, students enjoyed rock climbing, train rides, inflatables, carnival games, face paint, balloons and more. Adults also bid on silent auction baskets.

The hundreds of attendees walked around, chatted, tried food trucks and had loads of fun while enjoying music from DJ Michael C., from The Event Specialists Inc., as well as live entertainment.

Proceeds from ticket sales and silent auctions will directly impact the school’s PTO and its ability to provide financial support for resources often not covered by the school’s budget.

— LETICIA SILVA

Natasha and Jerome Charles attended the event with sons Braylon and Jayce.

Rachael, Lincoln and Dani DeMarco were prepared for the sun.

Coco and Monica Agovino were happy at the event.

Left: Kumar, Ella and Nathan Asnani waited in line to hop on a carnival ride.

Wolverine seniors enjoy a day of fun

From a dunk tank and tug-of-war to inflatable obstacle courses and potato-sack races, Windermere High School’s Field Day gave its seniors one final chance to enjoy life as kids. Held Wednesday, March 11, the event featured a plethora of carnival-style games, activities, a DJ and more. Members of the Class of 2026 were able to set down their backpacks and enjoy a morning of celebration, fun and treats from Pelican’s Snoballs.

— MICHAEL ENG

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ADDITIONALLY ... by Ricky Sirois, edited by Taylor Johnson

By Luis Campos

Front row from left: Amira Karin, Angela Tran and Vivianna Foster. Back row: Ashlynn Haddix and Angelina Suarez.

Windermere High seniors relished a chance to relax and have fun for a few hours.

Right: Zachary Hamberg and Olivia Lee thoroughly enjoyed Field Day.

Julia Faber and her friends had a blast playing with the parachute — just like in elementary school P.E. class.

Left: Ryan Delva, Lyric Eng and Nathaniel Parish have been friends since middle school.