W E ST O RA N G E T I M E S &
Observer Celebrating more than 110 years in West Orange
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
Chamber pleases palates with annual Best Fest. 9. FREE
VOLUME 86, NO. 16
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APRIL 18, 2019
Wishes welcome here Apartment Make-A-Wish celebrates 25th annual Wishmaker’s Ball. PAGE 14.
Miles in memory
project passes first hurdle The Winter Garden commission approved the first reading of a rezoning ordinance for the proposed complex. GABBY BAQUERO NEWS EDITOR
City leaders approved the first reading of ordinance 19-17 regarding the rezone request for a proposed apartment project known as the Alta Winter Garden Character Area Planned Unit Development. The project developer, WP South Acquisitions LLC, aims to rezone the 14.87-acre propSEE REZONE PAGE 5
YOUR TOWN CITIZEN ACADEMY STARTS THURSDAY The Ocoee Police Department and Ocoee Fire Station 25 are hosting their sixth Citizen Public Safety Academy from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursdays, April 18 through June 20. For more, contact Officer Jason Strange at (407) 554-7204.
Amy Quesinberry
Andrew Raphael, left, and Joe Cassidy are two of the eight members of the Chapter VIII local team raising funds and riding their bikes 254 miles for the Police Unity Tour next month.
SPOTLIGHT
WGPD cyclists will pedal in the Police Unity Tour, which brings 2,500 riders together at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. STORY ON PAGE 4.
RECORD-BREAKER West Orange High School’s Matt Nastasi broke the 200-point mark this season. SEE PAGE 21.
Rotary to launch new club in Horizon West Horizon West resident Bryan Fifer is leading the way toward launching the club this July. DANIELLE HENDRIX BLACK TIE EDITOR
As Horizon West continues to grow and establish its brand, the opportunities for community involvement are increasing, too. For Horizon West resident Bryan Fifer, giving back to and making a difference in the community is something he enjoys doing, and
he wanted to share that with others who are likeminded. “I was at a networking event one night, and we started talking and asking each other, ‘Are you a part of Rotary?’ and nobody really was,” Fifer said. “There were a couple of really good Rotary groups around here, but we said we wanted to SEE NEW PAGE 4
JOIN WESTLY’S DANCE CHALLENGE Healthy West Orange wants you to shake your groove thing during National Dance Week. The dance challenge takes place from April 19 to 28. Participants can share their video or photo at Westly@healthywestorange.org or share with #WestlysDanceChallenge and #HealthyWestOrange for the chance to win four tickets “Billy Elliot” at the Garden Theatre. Register for a free dance kit at healthywestorange.org.