WEST ORANGE TIMES &
Windermere’s John Nabers remembers life way back when. SEE 3A.
Chamber’s feast of fun
The annual Best Fest — Taste of West Orange pleases palates. SEE 7A.
Labor of love
Builder and architect Raymond C. Stevens founded R.C. Stevens Construction Co. in 1926. This year, the company is celebrating 100 years of service. STORY ON PAGE 4A.
Creating healthy habits
Kids of all ages flocked to the Roper YMCA Family Center last weekend as the Y hosted its Healthy Kids Day. PAGE 6A.
Oakland leaders approve $2M agreement for water supply project
The project is meant to create an alternative water supply source to decrease the use of high-quality drinking water for irrigation. SEE PAGE 5A.
5FAST
1Man arrested after breaking into Rialto Apartments
A man was arrested after breaking into multiple Rialto Apartments units Thursday, April 16.
According to the arrest affidavit, Israel Jacobowitz, 31, broke into the Rialto Apartments, located in Dr. Phillips, and stole a variety of valuables from multiple apartments.
The Rialto was evacuated Thursday, March 19, because of structural instability and has since been vacant.
On Thursday, April 2, the Orange County Division of Building Safety deemed the apartments unsafe for human occupancy, which made it unlawful for any unauthorized personnel to occupy the building.
According to the affidavit, Jacobowitz entered the apartments at about 11 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, and stayed in the building until the morning, when he was confronted by Building Manager Eric Roberts.
According to Roberts, he received multiple calls from tenants regarding video footage captured by Ring cameras of Jacobowitz entering or
belonging to a tenant in Jacobowitz’s possession.
Other belongings taken from different apartments were found inside the same tenant’s apartment, where Jacobowitz seemed to be residing.
He now is in the Orange County Jail, with a bond set at $42,000.
He faces seven different charges: burglary of dwelling, attempted burglary of dwelling, possession of burglary tools, trespass in structure, grand theft in the third degree, petit theft, and criminal mischief.
2
The Attic Door sells in downtown Winter Garden
The Attic Door, a wine bar located at 28 W. Plant St., Winter Garden, has been sold.
Kevin and Laurie Tarter became owners in 2019, and after a sevenyear run, they’re handing over the keys to a new owner.
4
Starke Lake Boat Ramp reopens The city of Ocoee announced the reopening of Starke Lake Boat Ramp.
The dock has been closed since Monday, March 23, for renovations, which now are complete.
Upgrades include durable composite decking to replace all previous wooden boards; a slight elevation increase to help prevent flooding during heavy or prolonged rain; and sheet piling installed beneath portions of the dock to reduce erosion and protect the ramp.
“These improvements enhance the dock’s durability, safety, accessibility and overall appearance creating a cleaner, brighter space for everyone to enjoy,” city officials wrote on social media.
The Tarters said they are confident Jim Larweth, the new owner, will respect the legacy of the business while also adding “his own positive touch” to it, just like he did at the Chef’s Table.
“Thank you, Winter Garden, for letting us be a part of your lives,” the Tarters wrote. “We’ll see you on the other side of the bar!”
Ocoee High student arrested for sex crimes
“We are retired,” the Tarters posted to the Attic Door’s Facebook page. “We are thrilled to announce for (more than) 20 years. You can expect the same iconic vibe and the local musicians you love to continue entertaining our community.”
Ocoee High School stu
His arrest comes after a monthslong investigation from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, who received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in November 2025 claiming possible sexual exploitation or endangerment of a child.
According to FDLE’s report, investigators found multiple files of young girls, 12 years old and younger.
Brantley was arrested and is facing two third-degree felony charges. He is ordered to have no contact with any person under the age of 18 and no access to the internet. He has filed a waiver
The ramp is located at Municipal Lakefront Park, 150 N. Lakeshore Drive, Ocoee.
5
Lake Buena Vista Golf Course to close temporarily Walt Disney World has announced its Lake Buena Vista Golf Course will close for renovations.
The golf course is located at 2200 Golf Drive, Lake Buena Vista.
From late spring to early fall, crews will be working on improvements such as renovating greens with new contouring and eleva
File photo
The boat ramp is located at Municipal Lakefront Park, 150 N. Lakeshore Drive, Ocoee.
WAY BACK WHEN John Nabers
The 88-year-old Windermere resident recalls a childhood full of going fishing, attending a two-room schoolhouse and making frequent visits to the town dump to find “treasures.”
AMY QUESINBERRY PRICE HISTORIAN
Editor’s note: Way Back When is an ongoing feature that records and preserves the stories and memories of lifelong West Orange and Southwest Orange residents.
John Mills Nabers, now 88, remembers Windermere as a lonely town when he arrived here as a 5-year-old. He and his parents moved to Oakdale Street following his father’s retirement from the United States Department of the Treasury — years after helping agent Eliot Ness of the Untouchables take down notorious Chicago gangster Al Capone.
Nabers’ loneliness was compounded at the age of 12 when his father died; then it was just him and his mother. He recalled going fishing regularly to put supper on the table.
“Windermere was a natural paradise then,” Nabers said. “As a child, we spent the days fishing, swimming, boating, hunting. … We made our own poles from local bamboo for catching shiners and brim. … When we fished, it was serious because we would clean them and eat them the same day for supper. We ate fish several times a week, which was encouraged by our mothers, due to the much harder times economically during World War II.” The war affected everyone in America.
“I’m a child of World War II, and people today don’t realize how the culture was just completely dominated by the war,” Nabers said. “Everybody either had a family member fighting the war or a friend.
… There was nobody who wasn’t extremely patriotic.
“And then you had ration stamps,” he said. “Butter wasn’t available — it all went to the military. The average person could not go to the store and buy butter. That’s how margarine came about. It came in a long plastic bag, and it was snow white, but there was a little capsule the size of a marble, concentrated red dye or
IN THEIR WORDS
An audio legacy project was started by the Town of Windermere Centennial Committee for the town’s 100-year observance in 2025. The town is continuing the project and wants to record as many oral histories as possible. To recommend a person for an interview — either a longtime Windermere resident or someone with ties to the town — contact Chris Sapp at (407) 574-1002 or chris@revel.realty.
dark orange, and you would squeeze that till it punctured in the bag and you kneaded it from the outside so it was of uniform color and the color was yellow like butter. It was totally cosmetic.”
Everything used by soldiers was rationed, he said. Ration stamps were handed out for commodities such as coffee, flour, gasoline, cigarettes, rubber tires and nylon stockings.
“Transportation was difficult due to rationing of gas,” he said. “Most families had only one car, if any, and we had no bus service, so Windermere was pretty much our own world, except for the weekly trip to Orlando for items you could not buy at Parramore or Grice’s stores.”
A CHILDHOOD OF IMAGINATION
As a child, Nabers and his friends often made trips to the town’s small dump at the end of West Seventh Avenue near Lake Butler where Fernwood Park now is.
“Exploring items from the dump was a fun adventure,” he said. “I would occasionally bring items home to Mother as a great gift, and she would thank me before storing it in neverland. I remember (finding) antique irons. … We used them as doorstops.”
This is where folks got rid of unwanted items that couldn’t be burned in the backyard burn pit — anything from old furniture to fireplaces and other metal pieces.
Everyone had an area for burning trash in their backyards, Nabers said.
“People would dig them 6 or 7 feet deep, and you would burn everything until eventually there was nothing left but tin cans,” he said. “When it filled up, you filled it up with dirt and dug another one. … Everybody had wells … the septic tank was homemade … out of concrete … and it was about 20, 25 feet from our well. It was crazy, but nobody got sick. It was a shallow well, and you could see the water.”
Lake Butler was a popular destination when Nabers was growing up.
“Bird Island was always teeming with birds,” he said. “During the nesting season when we explored the island, we literally had to step over the (bird) nests. The trees were so full they had to nest on the ground. Snakes, gators, turtles, muskrats, raccoons and other animals (were) frequently seen on the island.”
Growing up in a rural area made several items invaluable to a child — a pocketknife and a BB gun.
“By the time a boy was 5 or 6 years old, he was given a pocketknife,” Nabers said. “We spent our time fishing, and you would need a knife
to cut the fishing line or whittle a piece of wood to build a sling shot.
… One of my prized possessions is a green handled Boy Scout knife.”
WILD WINDERMERE
Because there were fewer than 300 residents — mostly snowbirds — inhabiting the town, it was common to see and hear wild animals in the vicinity, Nabers said. His father once told him he could hear panthers screaming in the wooded areas south of Windermere.
He called his childhood a Tom Sawyer-like existence but also remembers the solitude. There weren’t many children his age in the area. Windermere Elementary School, then at Main Street and Sixth Avenue, had two classrooms for all six grades, and some grades only had four or five students.
When it was time to continue his schooling, Nabers said, his mother thought he would get a better education in Orlando so he attended Memorial Junior High and Boone High schools. He graduated from Edgewater High School.
Children had to be creative with their activities; there were no organized programs such as Little League.
“You had to be self-reliant and creative,” Nabers said.
Television had yet to be invented, but listening to radio shows was a popular pastime.
“Adventure programs like ‘Sky King’ and ‘The Lone Ranger’ were sponsored by cereal companies, and on Saturday mornings, we would all gather around the radio to hear three or four of these programs in sequence,” he said.
“One of our favorites was ‘Sky King’ … who used his airplane to fight evil,” he said. “You could
mail in some pocket change and the box top of the cereal and get special prizes. The most memorable was this ring that glowed in the dark, and I remember spending half the night with my good friend, Ray Duncan, talking about this amazing ring. It had a secret compartment and a miniature ball-point pen; it would recharge itself in the light and then glowed for about an hour. … It also had an embossed recess you could press on hot wax and … press the logo of Sky King.”
Free time also was spent swimming in Lake Bessie, riding bicycles, shooting BB guns and collecting comic books.
“My parents gave me a subscription to Disney Comics and Marvel Comics,” Nabers said. “They would come once a month, and you would go to the post office and ask, ‘Did my comic books come in?’ You would go home and start reading them. And of course, you saved them. If other kids had different ones, you could trade.”
One source of entertainment that included all the townsfolk was the weekly potluck supper held at Windermere Town Hall. They always ended with a cake walk, and the winner left with a cake baked by one of the Civic Club members.
Other times, traveling entertainers made a stop in the town to put on a show or residents would show movies. Nabers’ mother enjoyed showing fishing pictures as well as cartoons sponsored by Castle Films.
“These sessions were well attended,” Nabers said. “There was nothing else to do.”
HOME SWEET HOME
Nabers still owns his family’s first Windermere home, and his granddaughter lives there today — about six blocks from his current home
on Lake Bessie. The original was built around 1916 and probably is the third or fourth oldest house in Windermere, he said. It was a small home, just big enough for Nabers and his parents, Albert and Lou. After his father died, his maternal grandmother moved from Georgia and occupied one of the bedrooms that had been added.
“We didn’t have central heat,” Nabers said. “We had a central fireplace and kerosene space heaters. It wasn’t insulated very well … and we didn’t have exterminators, so we’d throw DDT (insecticide) in the closets to kill the roaches. … Nobody ever died or got sick that I knew of.” The family also kept a vegetable garden and a poultry coop, and everyone enjoyed fresh harvests, eggs and chicken. His grandmother taught him how to ring a chicken’s neck and pluck the feathers.
“The best part of this was sitting down at the dinner table and enjoying the delicious fried chicken and biscuits and whatever vegetables were growing in the yard,” he said. For other food, families shopped at the two retail businesses on Main Street in Windermere, The Parramore Store, at Sixth Avenue, and Grice’s Store, at Fifth Avenue. Both sold groceries and gasoline, and Grice’s had a cold storage room to keep meat.
“My mother would send me to Parramore with a gallon jug to get kerosene for our lamps,” Nabers said. “I would stick my head in the store and say, ‘Hey, Eunice, I have a gallon of kerosene; put it on our bill.’ (Mother) would send me down there for food. I was about 6 or 7. I would walk there barefoot.”
Surrounding their house were a few neighbors, John Luff and Loren Robertson (L.R.) “Andy” Williams; vacant lots; and multiple orange groves and wooded areas.
Nabers remained in Windermere until he attended the University of Florida, preparing for a career in banking and joining the Air Force Reserves. He worked for such companies as Florida National Bank, SunBank and SunTrust and retired at age 55 as SunTrust’s senior vice president and senior credit officer.
John Nabers and Patricia Cade Nabers made Windermere their home after marriage. They enjoyed 59 years of married life until her death in 2022. They had two children, Kerry Nabers Sharpe and the late Cade Nabers, and two grandchildren
all attended Windermere Elementary School.
John Nabers commissioned four paintings that tell the history of the town of Windermere. These paintings hung in the lobby of the Windermere Administration Building during the town’s centennial in 2025.
John and Patricia Nabers raised their children, Kerry and Cade, in Windermere.
Photo by Amy Quesinberry Price
A young John Nabers was photographed with his parents, Albert and Lou Nabers, prior to their move to Windermere.
Courtesy photos
John Nabers, far left, and his friends were members of Windermere’s Boy Scout troop.
R.C. Stevens celebrates 100 years
LETICIA SILVA STAFF WRITER
If you’ve spent any time on Plant Street in downtown Winter Garden, more than likely, you’ve enjoyed the fruits of R.C. Stevens Construction Company’s labor.
You might have grabbed a coffee at Foxtail or shopped at Apricot Lane Boutique in the Winter Garden Exchange Building. Perhaps you’ve attended an event at the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation. Or maybe you’ve seen a show or movie at the Garden Theatre.
All of these iconic buildings — and many more throughout West Orange and the Southeast — were built or renovated by R.C. Stevens.
Last week, the Winter Gardenbased company celebrated a huge milestone — its 100th anniversary.
On Wednesday, April 15, team members, alongside subcontractors, architects, engineers and former employees, gathered at Pilars Martini & Loft to celebrate the company’s anniversary, look back at its past accomplishments and share information about its future.
JUICY PAST
Raymond C. Stevens founded R.C. Stevens Construction Co. in 1926 as the first general contracting firm in the Orlando phone book.
R.C. Stevens led the way in designing and constructing packinghouses for citrus icons such as Chester and Jack Fosgate, Dr. P. Phillips and the Gentile Brothers. Furthermore, the company also built family homes.
“Through those relationships, (R.C. Stevens) got into some health care jobs, as well as commercial work,” R.C. Stevens Vice President Timothy Keating III said. “So we pretty much stayed in the business through relationships and building on those relationships. … It was word-of-mouth and doing a good job.”
Stevens was involved heavily in the Central Florida scene and sat on many boards. Throughout the ’60s and ’70s, Stevens’ son, Allyn, led the company in designing and building health care, industrial and commercial projects around Central Florida, which continued into the ’80s and ’90s.
Keating’s father began working at the company in the ’80s and became vice president in 1993, with Dave Smith as president.
In 2007, Keating’s father pur-
chased the company and became the sole owner.
Keating grew up around the company, accompanying his father to work and outings, though, Keating said his father never pushed him to follow in his footsteps.
“My dad started here right out of college, and I was kind of born into it,” he said. “I’ve been around the company my whole life and went to school for construction, as well. Out of high school, I came to work here as a laborer, and then went to college and came back after I got some outside experience and been here for about eight years now.”
Keating recalls considering going into the agricultural sector, but after working in construction, he took a liking to it. Realizing he had the potential to be successful in it, he went for it.
“It just kind of happened,” he said.
The company has worked on a variety of local projects, including the Winter Garden Exchange Building, the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation, Boyd Street Commercial, Orlando Health Imaging Centers in Ocoee, the Garden Theatre, the Roper Garden Building and many more.
Keating’s father even helped with renovations of the Bond Building, where R.C. Stevens Construction Co. currently is located.
“It’s a labor of love, I like to call it, and we get to see it every day,” said Jennifer Simikian, business development manager at R.C. Stevens.
‘WE’RE ALL OWNERS NOW’ R.C. Stevens is centered on its culture.
From the beginning, relationships were the most important aspect of the company.
That remains the same today.
“We pride ourselves on understanding what people have going on outside of work,” Keating said.
“What we say is, people have stuff in their backpack and they’re always bringing it to work. You don’t know if it’s a light load or a really heavy load, so we’re making sure we take care of the people. Our clients are the same way — making sure we understand their needs, satisfying it and getting
NOTABLE R.C. STEVENS PROJECTS
n Bond Building n Boyd Street Commercial
n The Exchange Building
n Garden Theatre
n Orlando Health Imaging Centers in Ocoee
n Roper Garden Building
n Winter Garden Heritage Foundation
the next job. We don’t want to make as much money on the one job we get from (them). We want to make our fair share and get the next job with (them).”
In 2022, R.C. Stevens Construction Co. merged with Cianbro, a 100% employee-owned construction and engineering company.
Keating said he and his father thought that was the best option to keep the culture alive and the company progressing.
“We’re all owners now,” Keating said. “It’s a key benefit. The main thing is that it makes everybody accountable for how the company’s doing (and) where we’re going.”
The words, “No one in the room is smarter than all of us,” are written on the company’s conference room’s wall.
“We’re all owners, and that requires us to all talk to (one another) and make decisions together,” Keating said.
The company also is offering growth opportunities to its employees through education.
“It’s nice that as we’ve grown, we have more opportunities for advancement for our team members, more opportunity to invest in our futures through our employeeowned company,” Simikian said. “We’ve always been good, but I think we are at this really great precipice of greatness for our team members. It really is. I can’t imagine it being any better.”
Keating said his father prioritized taking care of team members, so they can take care of the business. Team members even completed a community power communications class,
Design
/ Jessica Eng, jeng@OrangeObserver.com
Managing Editor / Liz Ramos, lramos@OrangeObserver.com
Historian / Amy Quesinberry Price, amyqhistory@OrangeObserver.com
Staff Writer / Megan Bruinsma, mbruinsma@OrangeObserver.com
Staff Writer / Leticia Silva, lsilva@OrangeObserver.com
Multimedia Sales Manager / Cyndi Gustafson, advertising@OrangeObserver.com
Multimedia Advertising Executive / Iggy Collazo, iggy@OrangeObserver.com
Graphic Designer / Sarah Santiago, ssantiago@OrangeObserver.com
Advertising Operations Manager / Allison Brunelle, abrunelle@OrangeObserver.com
helping them become more confident in what they do at work and in their personal lives.
THE FUTURE
“It’s weird to think about the next 100 years, but I see R.C. Stevens still being around,” Keating said. “We’re not going to lose sight of the people aspect of the business. We used to build everything by hand. There (were) no battery-powered tools. There (were) no electrical tools on construction sites, because there was no power and the technology just wasn’t there.”
While technology such as drones, 3D models, and electric- and batterypowered tools now are available, he said the company will continue to value people over technology.
Simikian sees the company growing.
“We’re in growth mode,” she said. “It’s exciting. More people, more education, more work, more profits. The team wins.”
Keating said the company has survived World War II, the Great Depression, the Great Recession and COVID-19, and will survive anything that comes in the future.
While it is hard to keep a construction company going — only about .5% of all companies in the U.S. make it to 100 years — R.C. Stevens has beaten the odds.
And although competition is a challenge, Simikian and Keating are confident the company will continue to thrive with Cianbro.
“We’re looking to expand and grow, and so we got a lot of work in Tampa right now,” Keating said. “We’re really looking forward to expand to growing Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville. Those are our main targets.”
Keating said R.C. Stevens hopes to remain local to Florida but isn’t opposed to working in other states occasionally. The company currently has projects in Georgia, and is considering jobs in Alabama and South Carolina.
Working for the community they live in, though, is the most special to Keating and Simikian.
“I just can’t imagine being anywhere else,” Simikian said. “The community’s helped us, and we’ve
community.”
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: Send changes of address to the (name of
helped the
R.C. Stevens, located in the Bond Building in Winter Garden, was designed by team members themselves.
Courtesy photos
The Exchange Building is one of many notable projects on which R.C. Stevens has worked company has worked on.
Oakland OKs water supply project funding
LETICIA SILVA STAFF WRITER
Two Oakland residents have been sworn in to the town’s Appearance Review Board.
The board reviews architectural and building related matters.
Laura Kettle was sworn in during the town’s commission meeting Tuesday, April 14, and has an educational and professional background in architecture, as well as experience in real estate.
Meredith Rhein already is a part of the board, but her term expires in May. She has expressed interest in remaining on the board and serving another term.
Kettle and Rhein will serve for two years.
ALTERNATIVE WATER SUPPLY
In 2023, the town entered an agreement with the state in the amount of $2 million, meant to fund an Alternative Water Supply project.
The project is meant to create an alternative water supply source to decrease the use of high-quality drinking water for irrigation. However, due to issues caused by natural disasters and multiple Requests for Information, the Consumptive Use Permit was delayed. This led to the design and permitting to be delayed.
Because of that, an amendment has been made to defer the project’s end date to June, 30, 2028.
Similarly, the town entered an agreement with the state in the amount of $2 million to fund an alternative water supply facility that includes a source water pumping station in the northwest corner of Oakland Nature Preserve and a distribution pump station, which will connect to about 160 homes.
The goal is to capture and treat stormwater before it is discharged to Lake Apopka, which reduces the use of potable water for irrigation.
This project also will reduce the phosphorus and nitrogen loadings introduced to Lake Apopka by polluted stormwater runoff.
Again, because of issues, design and permitting was delayed. An amendment was made to extend the task end date to April 30, 2028.
PRAYER IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS: CLEARING UP THE CONFUSION
Dear Editor:
In recent months, there has been significant confusion surrounding prayer in public schools. New federal guidance, updated state guidance and local district memos have left many teachers, students and parents unsure about what actually is allowed. As both an educator and a person of faith, I believe it is important to clarify what these guidelines actually say — and what they do not.
First, the most important point: Prayer in public schools has never been banned. Students always have had the constitutional right to pray individually or in groups, as long as participation is voluntary and does not disrupt instruction. That has been true under every presidential administration. What has changed recently is the emphasis placed on protecting individual religious expression.
The U.S. Department of Education’s updated guidance, released in February, reaffirms that students, teachers and school staff all retain their First Amendment rights while on campus. The guidance states individuals may act and speak according to their faith as long as schools do not sponsor religious activity and participation remains voluntary. This distinction is critical. Schools themselves cannot organize prayer. However, individuals, including teachers, do not lose their constitutional rights when they enter a public school building.
The Florida Department of Education issued similar guidance, emphasizing students and teachers may engage in voluntary prayer, while schools must remain neutral and may not favor or suppress religious expression. The state also created a reporting process, FLFaith@fldoe. org, for situations where religious expression may be improperly restricted. Much of this guidance aligns with longstanding Supreme Court precedent, including recent rulings that reinforce the protection
IN OTHER NEWS
n Mayor Shane Taylor proclaimed Wednesday, April 22, as Earth Day.
n Taylor also proclaimed Friday, April 24, as National Arbor Day.
n The town is hosting its third annual Car Stroll from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, May 2, at 126 W. Petris Ave., Oakland.
n A new exhibit now is available for viewing at the Healthy West Orange Arts and Heritage Center. From Saturday, April 18, to Friday, July 24, visitors can enjoy the “Color Speaks” exhibit, celebrating the ways colors connect people.
Commissioners approved the amendments unanimously.
PUBLIC WORKS
Public Works Director Johnnell Kemp requested approval to enter an agreement with West Tree Services to keep up with proper tree management.
He said it is essential to ensuring public safety, maintaining community aesthetics, protecting the town’s urban canopy and protecting infrastructure.
Services such as tree trimming, pruning and removal are included in the agreement, as well as arborist consulting and assessment, emergency response, site clean-up and restoration, traffic control and safety, reporting and documenting, and more.
Kemp also requested approval to purchase more than $60,000 in water meters and related materials.
According to a letter sent to the Town Commission, the town is switching from Mueller meters to Kamstrup meters to improve meter accuracy, data collection reliability and compatibility with the town’s infrastructure.
To support ongoing meter replacement, Public Works requests approval to make such purchases.
Both requests were approved unanimously.
of individual religious expression while still prohibiting coercion or school-sponsored prayer.
Despite this, some local guidance, intentionally or not, has managed to cause confusion.
For example, a recent memorandum from Orange County Public Schools emphasized concerns about coercion and liability, cautioning teachers to pray quietly away from students during non-instructional time to avoid potential legal claims. While avoiding coercion is important — and required under the Constitution — it is equally important not to misinterpret these protections in a way that discourages lawful religious expression. Teachers should not lead students in prayer. Schools should not organize prayer. Students should never feel pressured to participate. At the same time, individuals should not feel they must hide their faith.
The First Amendment protects both freedom of religion and freedom from government-sponsored religion. These principles are not in conflict; they are complementary. Public schools must remain neutral, not hostile, toward faith. For many Americans, prayer is not a political act. It is a personal expression of hope, gratitude and conviction. Students who quietly pray before a test, teachers who bow their heads quietly before class begins, or students who form voluntary prayer groups are exercising rights protected by the Constitution. This moment provides an opportunity to help stop some of the continuous division in this country. Students should know they are free to express their faith respectfully. Teachers should know they may live according to their beliefs without fear. Parents should know public schools are to remain neutral, not hostile to religion. As a nation founded on religious liberty, we should not fear faith in public life. Instead, we should protect the freedom of every individual to think, believe and express themselves freely. That is not only constitutional. It is foundational to who we are as Americans.
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 15304 Tilden Road, Winter Garden Sundays: 9:45 AM All Ages www.FBCWG.org
Starke Lake Baptist Church
Pastor Jeff Pritchard PO Box 520 611 W Ave., Ocoee (407) 656-2351 www.StarkeLakeBaptist.org
Victory Baptist Church & Christian Academy 1601 A.D. Mims Rd, Ocoee FL 34761 (407) 656-3097 www.VBCOCOEE.com
Sunday: 11AM & 6 PM Wednesday: 7 PM
Roper YMCA fosters family fun at Healthy Kids Day
The Roper YMCA Family Center invited the community out for a day of fun and fitness Saturday, April 18, at Healthy Kids Day. This year’s event featured a variety of booths from local organizations. Children enjoyed roaming the grounds and participating in a variety of healthy activities, including a fun cardio workout, Bosu ball obstacle course, the Fun Bus and more.
HOSTED BY: GEORGE GIDEON AUCTIONEERS, INC. 2753 N. HWY 441 ZELLWOOD, FL 32798 (407) 886-2211 www.ggauctions.com Items may be inspected at Gideon Auctioneers:
Wine & Dine raises $51K for Legacy Fund
MANAGING EDITOR
Stephen Lewis, the president and CEO of the West Orange Chamber of Commerce, presented a $51,066.74 check to the Windermere Legacy Fund during the Windermere Town Council meeting Tuesday, April 14.
The check was 25% of the proceeds from the annual Windermere Wine & Dine.
“We can all agree it may have been a little colder than we were used to, but it certainly didn’t stop our community from showing up in full force,” Lewis said. “This event would not have been possible without the town’s partnership and the vision of the original founders who created something so special for this community. I’m especially grateful for your trust in allowing the West Orange Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the West Orange Chamber, to take the reins and continue building on that legacy, ensuring the event remains meaningful and impactful for years to come.”
The foundation took over the event after the initial group of seven Windermere Elementary School parents who created Windermere Wine &
Dine were looking for the right organization to host the annual event.
The funds raised from Windermere Wine & Dine will directly support the work of the West Orange Foundation and the Windermere Legacy Fund, “allowing us to continue investing in programs and initiatives that strengthen and serve this community we all call home,” Lewis said.
CT Allen, a member of Windermere Town Council and one of the founders of Windermere Wine & Dine, said it was difficult to pass the leadership of one of the most popular Windermere events to another organization, but she knew Lewis and the West Orange Foundation were going to be “great stewards of an event we put in blood, sweat and tears and a lot of love for 12 years.”
The Windermere Legacy Fund is going to help residents fund charitable initiatives they have and find important by applying for grants through the fund.
SPORTS COURT GETS SLAM DUNK
The Windermere Town Council unanimously approved a variance to permit the placement of a sport court in the front yard of a single-family
residence where the Land Development Code requires sport courts to be located within the side or rear yard.
The variance will allow George and Paige Couros to construct a 1,083-square-foot basketball court in the front yard of the property.
The addition of the sport court results in a total impervious surface area of 9,196 square feet, or about 44.1% of the total project area, which is less than the 45% permitted for residential properties.
The front yard is the only area on the property where the sport court in its current size and configuration could practically be placed, resulting in the need for the variance.
The Development Review Board unanimously voted in favor of recommending approval of the variance with the conditions that no lighting or sound projecting equipment shall be installed as a component of the proposed sport court and landscape hedging shall be maintained in a matter that adequately screens the sport court from view from the public right-of-way and adjacent properties.
George Couros, the owner of the home, said his family moved from Windermere, Canada, to Windermere, Florida, because of the focus on community in the town.
“As a kid, I played basketball in my yard, and we want to have that experience for our kids, and we just honestly love it here, and we’re very appreciative,” he said.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Representatives from Windermere Town Council, the Windermere Legacy Fund and the West Orange Foundation celebrated the success of this year’s Windermere Wine & Dine.
— MICHAEL ENG
Riley Kolbjornsen, 6, made quick work of this hula-hoop maze.
Micah Coe, 3, showed off his balancing skills at the Bosu ball obstacle course.
Damienne Aurora loved having her photo taken.
Left: Children and adults alike had a blast at Healthy Kids Day.
Flavor town!
he West Orange Chamber of Commerce’s 21st annual Best Fest — The Taste of West Orange was a feast of epic proportions. Taking place Thursday, April 16, at Ocoee’s Bill Breeze Park, the event featured wide array of food and drinks from some of West Orange’s top restaurants,
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BRUINSMA
Thomas Zavaln took a break from walking to sit in the lawn and enjoy his Chick-fil-A nugget.
MissingLink Entertainment owner Matt Leiva kept the entertainment flowing throughout the night.
Right: Sage’s Kitchen’s chef Sage Telfort, right, handed out his BBQ honey jerk chicken, truffle five-cheese mac, honey butter cornbread and deviled eggs. His catering service is focused around his Caribbean heritage.
Graze Craze had beautiful displays of treats for guests.
Right: Mystery Funhouse Arcade Experience, Westgate Towncenter Resort and Westgate Vacation Villages’ wizard was popular among the guests.
The hula-hoop contest was popular among the children at the festival.
Right: Judy and Josie Schmidt loved trying out new flavor combinations. Josie Schmidt won a prize in the hula-hoop contest.
Buss Woodley and Melissa Norri enjoyed the community the festival brought.
Ahome in the Waterstone community near Horizon West topped all West Orange-area residential real-estate transactions from April 6 to 12.
The home at 6109 Orta Court, Windermere, sold April 10, for $4,029,999. Built in 2016, it has five bedrooms, five baths, two half-baths and 5,895 square feet. Days on market: 70. The sellers were represented by Monica Lochmandy, Isleworth Realty LLC.
These are the highestselling homes in each community in West Orange.
DR. PHILLIPS
EMERALD FOREST
The home at 8606 Terrace Pines Court, Orlando, sold April 9, for $772,000. Built in 1995, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 3,099 square feet. Days on market: Five.
POINT CYPRESS
The townhouse at 8926 Della Scala Circle, Orlando, sold April 8, for $635,000. Built in 2010, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,642 square feet. Days on market: Seven.
RUBY LAKE
The home at 10713 Berry Creek Road, Orlando, sold April 8, for $790,000. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,744 square feet. Days on market: 110.
VISTA CAY AT HARBOR SQUARE
The condo at 5012 Shoreway Loop, No. 20607, Orlando, sold April 10, for $670,000. Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,001 square feet.
VIZCAYA
The home at 7923 Versilia Drive, Orlando, sold April 6, for $1,150,000. Built in 2002, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 3,161 square feet. Days on market: Seven.
HORIZON WEST AVALON COVE
The home at 9008 Morgana Court, Winter Garden, sold April 9, for $2,050,000. Built in 2022, it has five bedrooms, five baths and 4,934 square feet. Days on market: 76.
AVALON WOODS
The home at 15105 Tea Tree Drive, Winter Garden, sold April 10, for $682,283. Built in 2026, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,235 square feet.
ENCLAVE
The home at 17520 Black Rail St., Windermere, sold April 6, for $777,000. Built in 2014, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 2,380 square feet. Days on market: Eight.
GLENMUIR
The home at 6314 Clearmeadow Court, Windermere, sold April 9, for $795,000. Built in 2002, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,581 square feet. Days on market: Three.
HORIZON ISLES
The home at 13214 Dendy Way, Winter Garden, sold April 9, for $850,000. Built in 2024, it has five bedrooms, four-and-one-half baths and 3,719 square feet. Days on market: 90.
INDEPENDENCE/ SIGNATURE LAKES
The home at 6621 Point Hancock Drive, Winter Garden, sold April 6, for $2,775,000. Built in 2019, it has five bedrooms, four baths, two half-baths and 5,713 square feet. Days on market: 72.
OVERLOOK 2 AT HAMLIN
The home at 5365 Bowman Drive, Winter Garden, sold April 9, for $1,150,000. Built in 2015, it has four bedrooms, three-and-onehalf baths and 4,000 square feet. Days on market: Two.
SANCTUARY AT HAMLIN
The home at 7686 Tangerine Knoll Loop, Winter Garden, sold April 10, for $775,000. Built in 2019, it has four bedrooms, twoand-one-half baths and 2,283 square feet. Days on market: 31.
SUMMERLAKE
The home at 15210 Southern Martin St., Winter Garden, sold April 9, for $925,000. Built in 2017, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 3,728 square feet of living area. Days on market: One.
SUMMERLAKE GROVES
The home at 15481 Murcott Harvest Loop, Winter Garden, sold April 6, for $795,000. Built in 2015, it has five bedrooms, twoand-one-half baths and 2,696 square feet of living area. Days on market: Nine.
SUMMERPORT
The home at 4773 Blue Major Drive, Windermere, sold April 6, for $570,000. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 2,620 square feet. Days on market: Eight.
SUNSETS. SADDLES. GROW.
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OCOEE
FENWICK COVE
The home at 272 Longhirst Loop, Ocoee, sold April 6, for $485,000. Built in 1998, it has three bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 2,056 square feet. Days on market: 74.
PRESERVE AT CROWN POINT
The home at 2024 Cresswell St., Ocoee, sold April 7, for $620,000. Built in 2018, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 3,202 square feet. Days on market: 14.
WINDSOR LANDING
The home at 3352 Beazer Drive, Ocoee, sold April 7, for $800,000. Built in 2001, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 3,076 square feet. Days on market: Two.
SOUTHWEST ORANGE ARLINGTON BAY
The home at 9036 Edenshire Circle, Orlando, sold April 6, for $555,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, three-and-onehalf baths and 2,824 square feet. Days on market: 31.
WINDERMERE
KEENE’S POINTE
The home at 11255 Macaw Court, Windermere, sold April 7, for $2,948,000. Built in 2003, it has five bedrooms, five-and-onehalf baths and 5,845 square feet. Days on market: 24.
The home at 6134 Keene’s Pointe Drive, Windermere, sold April 9, for $2,018,800. Built in 2002, it has four bedrooms, three-andone-half baths and 4,440 square feet. Days on market: 163.
WESTHAVEN AT OVATION
The home at 15060 Brodie Lane, Winter Garden, sold April 7, for $875,000. Built in 2024, it has five bedrooms, three-and-onehalf baths and 3,256 square feet. Days on market: 336.
WESTSIDE VILLAGE
The home at 12676 Salomon Cove Drive, Windermere, sold April 10, for $760,000. Built in 2018, it has six bedrooms, four baths and 3,667 square feet of living area. Days on market: 120.
OAKLAND OAKLAND PARK
The home at 1207 Ridge Lake Way, Winter Garden, sold April 9, for $1,700,000. Built in 2026, it has five bedrooms, threeand-one-half baths and 3,909 square feet of living area. Days on market: 291.
TOWN OF OAKLAND
The home at 15722 E. Oakland Ave., Oakland, sold April 6, for $1,525,000. Built in 1952, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 3,340 square feet. Days on market: Four.
WINTERS LANDING
The home at 501 E. Oakland Ave., Oakland, sold April 6, for $850,000. Built in 2007, it has four bedrooms, three-and-onehalf baths and 3,448 square feet. Days on market: 89.
The home at 8160 Tibet Butler Drive, Windermere, sold April 10, for $1,950,000. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, three baths, two half-baths and 4,806 square feet of living area. Days on market: Two.
The home at 6023 Blakeford Drive, Windermere, sold April 8, for $1,400,000. Built in 1999, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 3,013 square feet. Days on market: Nine.
WINTER GARDEN
BURCHSHIRE
The home at 634 Burch Ave., Winter Garden, sold April 7, for $608,000. Built in 2024, it has four bedrooms, three-and-onehalf baths and 2,351 square feet. Days on market: 50.
COUNTRY LAKES
The home at 14126 Lake Tilden Blvd., Winter Garden, sold April 10, for $1,490,000. Built in 1995, it has four bedrooms, four baths, two half-baths and 3,517 square feet of living area. Days on market: 12.
PARK PLACE
The townhouse at 149 S. Park Ave., Winter Garden, sold April 8, for $902,500. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, threeand-one-half baths and 2,938 square feet of living area. Days on market: 222.
The home at 6109 Orta Court, Windermere, sold April 10, for $4,029,999. At the heart of the home is a gourmet kitchen appointed with Thermador appliances and granite countertops. The sellers were represented by Monica Lochmandy, Isleworth Realty LLC.
Courtesy photo
The home at 11255 Macaw Court, Windermere, sold April 7, for $2,948,000. It was the largest transaction in the Windermere area from April 6 to 12. The sellers were represented by Ken Pozek, Real Broker LLC.
SPORTS
HIGH 5
1West Orange High has found a familiar face for its boys basketball team’s bench.
The Warriors announced Tuesday, April 12, Tyrone Curnell has been hired as the new head coach of the program. Curnell graduated from West Orange in 2006 and led the team to the State Final Four in 2005 as a player. He went on to become a first-team All-American at Seminole Community College and Valdosta State University. Following his college years, Curnell played 16 years of international professional ball and competed in eight countries, with seven championships under his belt. After Curnell retired from professional basketball in 2025, he returned to West Orange and became a Exceptional Student Education paraprofessional and an assistant coach.
West Orange High officials shared Curnell’s philosophy: “Work hard, stay disciplined, play all 40 minutes and enjoy playing for each other.”
2
Horizon High girls lacrosse team clinched its Class 2A, Region 2 District 8 championship Thursday, April 16. The Lady Hawks dominated Lake Nona 20-9 to earn the title. Horizon entered the district tournament with a 10-3 record and now holds a 12-3 record. The team has been dominant this entire season, averaging 16.2 goals per game, 2.8 assists and racking up 294 points total. Sophomore Sarah Walsh has led the Hawks in goals and assists, while senior Ana Rampazzo has posted a perfect shot percentage with 86 shots on goal. Horizon will play in regionals against Hagerty High (11-9) at noon Saturday, April 25.
3
The Dr. Phillips High baseball team fell in its district final game to Windermere High 6-0 Friday, April 17. The Panthers now are 14-11, and Windermere extended its record to 17-8. Before Dr. Phillips the game, the Panthers recognized its group of seven seniors who will take their talents to the next level. Dr. Phillips baseball Class of 2026 Commitments; Maddox Stinson, Coker University; Ryan Pyka, UConn Avery Point; Edwin Jaimes, Jamestown Community College; Brody Cone, Davis & Elkins College; Ramses De Maio, Carolina University; Isaiah Morales, Community College of Baltimore County Catonsville; Diego Diaz, Community College of Baltimore County Catonsville.
4
The Windermere Prep boys tennis team claimed the district championship, while the Lakers girls team finished as the district runnersup Tuesday, April 14. The First Academy’s girls tennis team claimed the district championship crown and the boys earned the runners-up. Windermere High’s boys and girls tennis teams both finished the district tournament in the No. 2 slot.
5
Windermere boater Dylan Quilatan tipped the scales of the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on the Harris Chain of Lakes tournament. His five bass totaled 34 pounds, 7 ounces, which won him the tournament and a prize of $4,590.
Quilatan collected his fish from four lakes — Apopka, Dora, Beauclair and Eustis. Within an hour and one half, he already had caught two of his fish.
ZIP, ZIP, HOORAY!
Dr. Phillips Elementary’s kindergartner Shawn Crawford began track this year. In his first meet, he earned three gold medals and now has climbed the Florida and national rankings.
MEGAN BRUINSMA STAFF WRITER
Every Friday before a trackand-field meet, Dr. Phillips Elementary kindergartner and runner for CDR Elite Track Club Shawn Crawford plants himself in front of the television.
On the TV screen flashes Usain Bolt, who has won eight gold medals and holds the world record in the 100M of 9.58 seconds. He reached a top speed of 27 mph before retiring from world competitions in 2017.
The 5-year-old Shawn looks up to the fastest man alive.
“My son thinks he can grow up to be Usain Bolt,” Donna Murray, Shawn’s mom said. “We always tell him that you are not a Bolt, you’re a Crawford, but you definitely can be Usain Bolt. … We put on any videos we can find of him. Shawn looks at it, studies it, and that gives him the
ammo he needs to take off the next day when he does race.”
Even at 5 years old, Shawn already is making a name for himself in the track community. He runs similar times as 8-year-olds, consistently medals at his meets and has climbed the rankings.
According to MileSplit, Shawn is ranked No. 1 in Florida in the 200M dash with his time of 36.47 seconds and No. 4 in the country, while racing in the 6U age group. He also is ranked No. 2 in Florida and No. 6 in the country for his personal record of 17.34 seconds in the 100M.
His journey began just two months ago, at his first meet Saturday, Feb. 14.
FIRST STRIDES
Shawn’s first track meet began with the field events. He tried the long jump, simply to see how he would do,
New coach, senior player lead Titans beach volleyball to West Metro crown
Olympia’s beach volleyball team didn’t allow losing a group of seniors to impact its success. The Titans’ senior leader Madison Wehr has been determined to continue the legacy.
MEGAN BRUINSMA STAFF WRITER
Olympia High beach volleyball team embarked on a new journey this season after losing a core group of seniors who last year had helped the Titans post a 14-2 record en route to a regional semifinal appearance.
The new roster features a mixture of some returning contributors and emerging underclassmen. Some of the younger players have stepped into key roles this season to help maintain the program’s competitive standard. But not all the faces are new, and one returning player has consistently been standing out in her four years as a Titan: Madison Wehr.
As a team, Olympia has posted a 9-1 record this season, earning the Titans the No. 1 slot in their district
and the West Metro Championship crown. Wehr and her partner, sophomore outside hitter Julie Barry, have recorded a 9-1 record themselves. Whether it’s directing the offense, diving for balls on the sand or stepping in to help guide her teammates mid-match, Wehr has continued to be a centerpiece of Olympia’s beach volleyball success. She’s built her court presence in indoor and beach over the years.
Head coach Semei Tello said he doesn’t remember the last time Olympia had a freshman starting setter, but Wehr has done it all four years. Wehr had turned her opportunities into a historic career. This season in indoor, she broke the school’s alltime assists record.
“She’s broken records left and SEE
Windermere High boys volleyball team’s junior pin hitter Elijah Ihnenfeld has provided a valuable arm to the Wolverines’ front line. Page 10A.
Photo by Megan Bruinsma
At only 5 years old, Shawn Crawford has made tremendous progress in his track journey. MileSplit has him ranked No. 4 in the country.
Photo by Megan Bruinsma
Olympia High beach volleyball team’s senior Madison Wehr has adjusted well to the beach style of play and is working hard to be a key figure on the Titans’ roster.
Elijah Ihnenfeld
Windermere High boys volleyball team posted a 15-7 regularseason record and a perfect 3-0 in Class 3A, District 4. One of the players at the forefront of the team’s success has been pin hitter Elijah Ihnenfeld. The junior leads the team with 3.9 kills per set off a 0.232 hitting percentage and 240 kills total. He also had tallied 135 digs with a average of 2.2 per set and 28 total blocks this season.
What do you enjoy most about volleyball?
I enjoy meeting new people the most. From the tournaments to the open gyms, a lot of my friends I’ve met playing volleyball.
When did you start volleyball and why did you join?
I’ve been playing volleyball forever ago. I really started playing when I was 9. I played for Orlando Gold since I was 9, and I’ve been with them ever since.
What is your biggest accomplishment in volleyball?
Being on Team Florida and winning a gold medal. It was a great experience, and I’ll never forget it.
What has volleyball taught you?
Volleyball has taught me leadership and patience. Playing for so many years with so many people, it’s hard not to learn those lessons.
How would you describe yourself as a teammate?
I’m demanding. I know I can be hard to play with, but I expect the best out of my teammates even when they don’t give me their best.
What advice would you give someone who just joined volleyball? Footwork is everything. It doesn’t matter how good you are if you can’t get to a ball. Also watch film, I’ve learned so much from watching game film.
If you were a coach, what speech would you give the team? If I were a coach, I wouldn’t be
the speech-giving kind. I would just remind them of what they know they can do and try to motivate the team.
What is your pre-game ritual?
My pre-game ritual is getting the same meal from Publix (chicken tender meal with double mac ’n’ cheese). Don’t judge! And we do handstands right before the game. Team Culture.
If you could pick a different sport what would it be? Why?
If I weren’t playing volleyball, I would play soccer. I played for most of my life until I stopped playing, and it would be fun to go back to it.
Who do you look up to the most?
I look up to Muhammad Ali, because he inspired people by standing up for his beliefs, showing confidence and proving that success comes from both strength and courage.
What is something new you would like to learn?
It would be fun to learn how to speak Italian. I have family there, and it would be cool to speak to them in their first language.
Where would you want to live if you weren’t in Florida?
I would live in California. I’m not a fan of LA, but north Hollywood is a beautiful place.
If you won the lottery what would you do with the money?
I want to say something smart like putting money aside for college, but really I would get a car, something like a Jeep 392.
What is your favorite holiday?
Why?
The Fourth of July is my favorite holiday because I get to go to the beach.
What future career do you want to have?
I want to be a physical therapist and keep working with athletes, even if I’m not playing sports.
If you became famous, what would it be for?
I would be TikTok famous, mostly because I don’t know how else I would get famous.
If you had to pick a spirit animal, which would you choose?
My spirit animal would be a butterfly, showing growth toward your best self.
What is your perfect day?
My perfect day would be a school day with no work, so I can still see my friends but not have to worry about the work. Then to end it, there would be a game.
— MEGAN BRUINSMA
Five-year-old on track for success
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9A
and all of a sudden, his coach Darnell Lindsey approached Shawn’s parents with wonderful news — he won first place.
Murray questioned it. She continued to ask, “Are you sure?”
Shawn only had practiced it once before, so it was shocking. It was the perfect start to the day.
When Shawn entered the 100M, he went straight to the finals because of his time in practice, but it was nerve-wracking. During practices, he always had the problem of looking back when he was running or looking to the side. Lindsey constantly reminded him to always look forward.
Standing on the sidelines, Murray and Shawn’s dad, Michael Crawford, anxiously waited to see how their son would respond. They thought the young athlete would look everywhere.
He didn’t.
“All of a sudden, Shawn stepped on the track, and we’ve never seen him zone in like this,” Murray said. “This boy didn’t even turn right, left or back. He just kept looking straight, and when he won gold, I cried. Dad came running down from the bleachers saying, ‘Did you cry? Did you see him?’ He was a whole new kid, and he was locked in.”
They still watch the video to this day, and it continues to bring the same level of impressment from its initial moment. Shawn shocks his parents every day. He’s a headstrong individual, and the kindergartner made the Honor Roll last semester while handling two practices per week and track meets on Saturdays.
But the track meets are where he truly shines.
“That day, he walked away with three gold medals. I think he was like, ‘This is it for me; this is my sport.’ Football didn’t work, so now its track, and I think he felt very proud of himself.”
— Donna Murray
After Shawn took gold in the 100M, he ran the 200M and got the same result. He was locked in running and continued to have his eyes fixed on the path in front of him.
“That day, he walked away with three gold medals,” Murray said. “I think he was like, ‘This is it for me; this is my sport.’ Football didn’t work, so now it’s track, and I think he felt very proud of himself.”
MENTAL GAME
At CDR Elite’s two-hour practices Monday and Wednesdays, Shawn’s smile is shining constantly. While warming up, he behaves as any young child, running around with his friends and playing. But once his coaches blow the whistle, Shawn snaps into focus. His eyes reflect a sense of purpose. He looks forward, head down, pushing himself as he sprints on the sidewalk of McCoy Community Park.
In just a few short months of training, Shawn has grown. Rather than coming to practice and crying if he fell short or felt the pains of pushing the body to a new limit, he comes ready to train. The shift was
a product of Lindsey reminding Shawn that athletes can’t come to practice and cry. It isn’t possible to push yourself and cry at the same time.
“He told Shawn that being as he’s only 5, he’s not going to push him as much, but your mind has to be in it,” Murray said. “You have to have a good mentality to come out here and do it yourself.”
What helps Shawn push himself is being able to compete alongside his two older sisters, Aria and Alaya Crawford, who also are a part of the track club and have been finding their own footing on the pavement.
RUNS IN THE FAMILY
Michael Crawford’s family is big on track. The sport always has been intertwined with their lives, and Murray believes that’s where her three kids picked up their talent. Michael Crawford ran track in high school and was featured in his local paper in New York for running the 4x100M relay in 43.18 seconds.
He always wanted his kids to join track but never wanted to force it on them. Shawn used to play football for the West Orlando Jags for three years, but he didn’t excel in it and frequently would be upset. Aria, 9, and Alaya, 8, did cheer for four years, but once they said they no longer wanted to participate in that sport, Michael Crawford said it was time for track.
Murray said when they found CDR, she told her kids to please have fun with it. If it wasn’t their sport, that was OK.
“Alaya actually surprised us,” Murray said. “I cried at her first track meet when she brought in gold for the 400M. … She executed it in the way where it was in a mechanical, mathematical way.”
Just like Shawn, the girls enjoy watching Olympians before track meets to replicate their body movements and mechanics. Each of the kids has picked his or her favorite competitions. Aria has long legs and has fallen in love with the long jump and longer distances. Alaya realized she didn’t like longer distances and would rather sprint in the 100M and 60M. Shawn also enjoys the quicker races, especially the 100M and 200M.
At practice, the three push one another constantly.
“You’ll hear Shawn saying, ‘Come on Alaya, pick it up,’” Murray said. “He’s so fast that he runs the same time as an 8-year-old, and because he has a sister to push him, he’s able to run the same time she’s running.”
The core of CDR is to develop young athletes and shape them into young stars while also building that family environment. They are pushed at practices, and their coaches run alongside the athletes, sending not only words of encouragement but also motivation and working toward the bigger picture outside of training.
Shawn is training for the Junior Olympics.
He is turning 6 Friday, May 1, and the Junior Olympics begin Saturday, June 6, at Olympia High and run until August. Shawn will have to run against 7- and 8-yearolds and must place in the top 16 at the first qualifiers and then in the top nine in the district qualifiers. Every day, he is pushing himself toward that goal. One stride at a time, he’s determined to achieve an incredible feat for someone his age.
“If he doesn’t make the AAU Junior Olympics this year, he will be winning it next year,” Murray said. “Hands-down.”
Courtesy photo
Siblings Aria, Shawn and Alaya Crawford work to push one another in their track-and-field journeys. All three had their first meet in February and already have tallied in first-place finishes.
Photo by Megan Bruinsma
Every time Shawn Crawford steps onto the track field, he becomes a new child. He’s determined to improve and hungry for success.
THE NUMBERS DON’T LIE:
TFA lifters claim district crown
The First Academy boys weightlifting team won its district championship for the first time in three years and now eyes future success in regionals and states.
MEGAN
BRUINSMA STAFF WRITER
The First Academy boys weightlifting team’s first district championship title since 2023 wasn’t luck.
Most of the Royals 23 lifters who competed had to make individual sacrifices for the team’s success. To win districts, guys had to change their weights to score points in every single weight class.
Senior Alex Weaver cut six pounds in about two weeks to meet the 129-pound group. Senior Jackson Jones said they had another teammate who was running in the parking lot before districts to lose enough to make his weight class, and Jones has been cutting down from 183 to 169 since December.
But it was worth it.
Weaver and Jones both won firstplace in olympic and second in traditional. Their success and their teammates’ other three gold, six silver and three bronze medals contributed to the team’s overall win in olympic with 60 points and second in traditional with 43 to claim the Class 1A, Region 6 District 11 Championship Wednesday, April 8.
“Definitely very rewarding because there’s a lot that goes into it that people don’t see, with working out, and with form and technique,” Jones said of the win. “Coach Trey (Tyler) says you gotta walk the walk if you’re going to talk and act like you’re going to win. You need to show that. So it was really cool to see, OK, we were talking about it. We expected this. Now we actually went and executed.”
The team executed off Tyler’s “crazy coaching.”
The entire season, he is crunching numbers and within 20 pounds, he knows what the qualifying weight should be for states through his color-coded spreadsheet. He does this to know — within 5 or 10 pounds — what it will take for his lifters to move on and win.
“I like numbers,” he said. “I like to over prepare. I don’t like to go into something not knowing enough. … I tell my kids, ‘We don’t chase people. We chase numbers.’ Chasing people gets you in trouble, because emotions hype the atmosphere and can push a kid or pull a kid back. But if you find a number and you aim for that, the number doesn’t change.”
Two weeks before districts, Tyler
allowed the lifters to push themselves to get comfortable with their heaviest weight, but the week leading up to it and to regionals or states, they backed off the numbers. The day before, he had athletes lift 80% to prime their muscles to do a similar lift the next day.
Jones said Tyler uses bar velocity trackers, which measure how fast a lifter pushes a bar. It turns red if it’s too slow and the lifter should decrease the weight, or green if the push is fast enough. That tool helped Jones understand it’s not only about lifting the weight but also about pushing himself harder than he wanted.
It’s part of why Jones and Weaver both qualified for states last season.
RETURN TO STATES
Weaver began weightlifting last season. At districts last year, he was warming up and accidentally went up 20 pounds, which set a personal record, and he did it again at regionals. In two weeks, he advanced from 150 pounds to 194, and that’s the sole reason why he made states.
“I had to go tell my coach that all my numbers needed to be changed,” he said. “So instead of hitting 150 for the third rep, I’d hit 170. It’s fun watching my coach, for the second time in a row, kind of freaked out over jumping again on this.”
Jones’ journey slowly built over time. He has been on the weight -
Titans set up for success
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9A
right,” Tello said. “She could have gone even further if we had played full schedules.”
But the statistics are merely the evidence of just how impactful Wehr has become. Unlike indoor volleyball, in which setters focus primarily on organizing the offense, beach players must do everything. They even have to set differently by holding it longer. Tello said typically setters don’t have the best defense, but Wehr actually is one of Olympia’s best defensive players.
Wehr said the most challenging part of beach has been serve receive,
which she doesn’t play at all during indoor volleyball. So she focused on the skill during practices and have came to understand it.
“(In) beach, you just really have to be smart and strategic,” she said.
“It’s not really all about hitting the ball down. … I don’t even set with my hands in beach because you have to carry it, and I’m scared for indoor that I’d carry it. Mostly everyone pass sets.”
She understands how crucial it is to be intentional with her shot choices.
Wehr’s court IQ has improved over the years, and now she uses it to help guide the younger players. At the West Metro Tournament, Tello
saw Wehr help guide her teammates through critical points, reinforce strategies and point out the opponent’s tendencies.
“She’s always going to do what we ask of her,” Tello said. “And she takes initiative.”
The entire team has taken the initiative to maintain consistency throughout the season and make adjustments needed to find success. Middle blockers have learned how to become well-rounded players — passing and setting their opponents, rather than simply standing at the net. Beach volleyball adds a new level of challenges, such as the heat and unknown weather conditions.
lifting team for four years, and as a freshman, Tyler watched Jones try to clean and jerk but actually deadlift at regionals. Then two years later, he went to states.
“We went to states last year, and I asked (Jones), ‘How does it feel to go from someone who just deadlift in their last attempt to someone competing at the state level?’” Tyler said.
“He’s like, ‘I’m not done.’ So this year, our goal is to get him on the podium.”
This year brings the first season with a one-week gap between districts, regionals and states.
TFA will send 17 lifters to compete in the Class 1A, Region 6 Regionals Thursday, April 23, at Frostproof High. Each of those athletes will lift for a shot to make it to states Friday, May 8.
But the additional time between
One of the additions to Olympia’s roster this year who has helped break down exactly what to do in each scenario is assistant coach Ricardo Santos.
Santos has won three Olympic medals in four appearances between 2000 and 2012 for Brazil. He was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2017 and the Brazilian Olympic Committee Hall of Fame.
“His international experience as a player and as a coach, it brings a completely different perspective,” Tello said. “Obviously in my world, the indoor world, there are some (things) that transfer into beach, but (Santos) has a completely different approach. He has been very successful in the beach world as a coach and he has taught that to our athletes from the very beginning.”
each of the meets comes with its positives and negatives. It means Weaver has to maintain his weight of 129 for four weeks, which he said definitely will be a challenge. Tyler said it also presents more opportunities for fatigue and injury to his lifters who also play other sports, such as Jones playing lacrosse.
It also means there’s another week for the athletes to increase their strength and maintain form.
“Everything we do is for God’s glory,” Tyler said. “Your talents come from God. So more important, you should push that talent to the furthest ability it can go. We’re not all going to be state champions. … For these guys (who) come in every day, they know that. They know their talent is a gift and they have to maximize that as much as they can in here.”
Wehr said she instantly noticed a switch when Santos came in.
“He makes us do actual drills, where Tello would just make us do scrimmages against each other,” Wehr said. “We would just scrimmage against each other and get playing experience, but (Santos) makes us do skill-based drills.”
Santos’ expertise especially proved to be helpful during the West Metro Tournament, where the wind patterns constantly were changing. He directed the players to serve more aggressively if the wind was coming at them or pull back if it was behind their backs. He also has worked with Olympia’s roster of players who particularly are indoor players, learn how to pass the ball lower on every touch to limit the effects weather could have on it. As soon as the wind picks a ball up, it will go flying.
Photo by Megan Bruinsma
The First Academy boys weightlifting team’s seniors Jackson Jones and Alex Weaver, are eying states in back-to-back years after the team won the district championship through their head coach Trey Tyler’s guidance.
INFLUENCER OF THE WEEK
CYNTHIA CORNETT
OCOEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Cynthia Cornett is the media specialist at Ocoee Elementary School, and she also is considered an instructional staff member.
She teaches lessons and runs an enrichment group for fourth-graders. She also is charged with checking books in and out, shelving books, organizing the library collection and making displayed in the media center. She looks at data and researches new titles to add to the collection.
Cornett runs the Scholastic Book Fair and helps with other ParentTeacher Association events such as the Holiday Shoppe.
She has a library store where students can spend Cardinal Cash they have earned by reading, runs a Family Book Club and co-sponsors Battle of the Books. Cornett also helps with technical devices and is in charge of all textbooks on campus.
“Mrs. Cornett is an outstanding media specialist who has transformed the media center into a welcoming and engaging space where our students truly enjoy visiting and checking out books,” Principal Kandace Goshe said. “Her passion for reading and dedication to creating fun, inclusive learning experiences for students, staff and parents is evident in all that she does.”
What brought you to your school?
and “Corduroy” by Don Freeman. As an adult, I realize that I like repetition, so Brown Bear makes sense. I also love Found Family stories, so the end of Corduroy makes me happy. My favorite children’s books as a media specialist are “Sulwe” by Lupita Nyong’o because it’s just so beautiful, and “The Littlest Yak” by Lu Fraser because it’s a fun readaloud.
What do you do in your spare time?
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The former media specialist was retiring mid-year, and Ocoee Elementary was highly recommended. I was looking for a change, and my interview with the principal and assistant principal was so delightful, I was determined to join the school.
What do you love most about your school?
Everything. I love my administration. Both the principal and assistant principal are some of the best leaders and people I’ve ever worked for. The students and their families are wonderful. I can’t say enough wonderful things about Ocoee Elementary.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
I love it when I can find the right book for a student and that student becomes a reader. It’s the best part of the job. I have a reluctant third-grade reader this year who recently discovered the Dragon Masters books, and he’s flying through them. It makes my heart happy.
What would you be if you weren’t in this profession? I’d probably still end up in the book world at a public library or in publishing. I love the impact that books and reading can have on people and society.
Who was your favorite teacher when you were in school? Why?
I loved my fourth-grade teachers, Miss Partin and Mrs. Justice. I remember feeling very safe and very seen in their classes.
What is your favorite children’s book and why?
I remember my two favorite books when I was very young were “Brown Bear, Brown Bear” by Bill Martin Jr.
REPORT CARD
Read of course. I usually read (more than) 150 books a year. I also like to journal, and I was learning to crochet. I have four cats and a lot of plants, so I like spending time at home, but when I’m not at home, I attend concerts and go to Disney.
If you could dine with any famous person, past or present, who would it be and why?
I would love to meet Alexander Hamilton. I think he would be a fascinating person to talk to. I’m obsessed with the musical, but I also read Hamilton by Ron Chernow last year, and I think having dinner with him would be one of the most unique experiences.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
I would love to be able to teleport. Visiting new places is one of my favorite things to do. The process of getting to new places is not. How amazing would it be to just snap your fingers and be in Scotland!
What was your go-to lunch and favorite snack as an elementary student?
I am and half always been a pickle person. I would go straight for the jar of pickles as soon as I got home. School lunches in the ’90s were an experience, but I remember always looking forward to Friday because that’s when they would serve the round pizzas.
What is your favorite holiday and why?
I love Thanksgiving. It’s my favorite meal of the year, and I enjoy spending time with my favorite people without any expectations other than their company. Halloween is my favorite season overall, but I don’t celebrate or do anything on the actual holiday.
What is a fun fact about yourself that would surprise people?
I worked at Disney when I was in college. I trained sorcerers to find hidden portals and use magic to defeat Hades to save the Magic Kingdom. If you know, you know. — LIZ
RAMOS
Salsabila Al-Najjar was all smiles seeing how quickly her milk pudding was gobbled up at Horizon West Middle School’s A Taste of Cultures Thursday, April 2.
“I was surprised,” Al-Najjar said. “I didn’t know it would go so fast. Maybe next year, I’ll make more.”
Al-Najjar represented Syria at the multicultural event along with at least six other countries.
Dozens of students and families tried foods from Brazil, Thailand, the U.S., Vietnam, Ukraine, Syria and more while also listening to student performances.
Candice Yang performed “Le Festin,” a signature song from Disney Pixar’s “Ratatouille.”
Left: Salsabila Al-Najjar represented Syria with her milk pudding.
Several people were proud to represent Brazil. They offered different types of brigadeiros.
Seventh-grader Luna Guzman had the crowd cheering for her at the end of her vocal solo.
Genevieve Sangpan and Alan Sangpan represented Thailand with red curry. “It went by so quick,” Genevieve Sangpan said of their food. “Everybody loved it. We should’ve made more.”
THE WAYS WE WERE FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION
1936: 90 years ago
Rotary Anns were well entertained by the Winter Garden Rotary Club at the Edgewater Hotel. Confetti, balloons and hats were furnished.
1976: 50 years ago
Dennis Solomon, 19, was following in the footsteps of his older brother, Robert, by entering into missionary service. His preparation for this work began when he was 12 and was ordained a deacon in the Aaronic priesthood. He was ordained a teacher at age 14, a priest at 16 and an elder at 18. In all of these steps, he was ordained by his father, Henry Solomon, a high priest.
Cox-Hinson Realtors, located at 214 S. Dillard St., advertised homesites in the new Valencia Shores neighborhood on the south shore of Lake Apopka in Winter Garden.
The smallest lot size was 100 feet by 135 feet; sites began at $7,300.
Griffin Realty, at 417 S. Dillard St., was selling a three-bedroom, two-bath carpeted home in Ocoee’s Brentwood for $25,500, another property that was suitable for horses for $25,900, and a five-acre tract with some citrus just south of Winter Garden for $15,000.
1991:
35 years ago
Connie Chisera, a teacher at Clarcona Elementary School, was named Teacher of the Year for Orange County.
At the annual meeting of the Gotha Preservation Association, president Mike Bittman reported the board’s two chief concerns in recent months were the Mormon Temple zoning issue and the increase in rezoning requests in Ocoee’s expanded reserve area.
This 1963 photograph shows the construction of the post office building in downtown Oakland. In 1860, Oakland became the second town in Orange County, after Orlando, to open a post office and appoint a postmaster. The first incarnation was operated out of the home of William C. Roper. In those days, the postal service delivered mail to the office by boat over Lake Apopka.
Over the years, the post office changed location many times between local homes and stores. The building that is today’s Oakland Town Hall hosted the first long-term location between 1929 and 1963.
The purpose-built 1963 office doubled the size of the Oakland Post Office, enabling the use of modern postal equipment and providing more space for post office boxes and storage.
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.
2006: 20 years ago
The town of Oakland agreed to take full charge of the threeyear-old Oakland Avenue Charter School after two management companies failed to meet the town’s expectations.
Ocoee High School student Jake Marbais was the first Ocoee Knight to receive a new class ring. He was the first student in 30 years to don an OHS ring. Faith Family Community Church
of the Nazarene celebrated the opening of the brand-new worship center on Beulah Road at Warrior Road.
Officials from the city of Winter Garden and The Sembler Co. gathered to turn dirt on the Fowler property, the future site of the 1.15-million-square-foot Winter Garden Village at Fowler Groves shopping center.
In an agreement that proved neighboring cities could play on
the same side of the fence without engaging in a tug-of-war over surrounding property, the city of Winter Garden and the town of Oakland were working hand-inhand on a project called Oakland Park, a 258-acre, 750-home neighborhood that eventually would encompass land in both municipalities. Construction on the first home was expected by June.
THROWBACK
THURSDAY
APRIL 21, 1966 Thriftway Chevrolet Co., located at Plant Street and Highland Avenue in Winter Garden, was ready to outfit drivers and families with a custom camper for outdoor living. The special equipment conveniently fit the Chevy Custom Camper pickup, with
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SQUARED UP by Dylan Schiff, edited by Jared Goudsmit
Luis Campos
redpages@orangeobserver.com
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