WINDERMERE
Observer Serving Windermere, Horizon West and Dr. Phillips
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. FREE
VOLUME 2, NO. 28
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THURSDAY, MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU, 2017
Lady Titans right on track
Olympia High’s girls track team is sending eight athletes to the state championship. SEE PAGE 13.
YOUR TOWN CELEBRATE CINCO DE MAYO The Rotary Club of Windermere will add some spice to the town with its Cinco De Mayo celebration, scheduled from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 5, at Windermere Town Hall, 520 Main St., Windermere. The event will feature plenty of Mexican food, including tacos, salsa, queso and more. Attendees also will enjoy sipping on margaritas and sampling a variety of tequila. The Down Brothers will perform, and younger attendees will be able to enjoy games, bounce houses and face painting. Funds raised will benefit the club’s chosen charities, including Rotary Youth and the Windermere Police Foundation. For more information, visit WindermereRotary.org.
Star-spudded debut When Guy Fieri chose Mrs. Potato as a featured restaurant on his show “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” owner Rafaela Lopes felt as if she’d won the Oscars of the restaurant industry. DANIELLE HENDRIX STAFF WRITER
W
hen MetroWest resident Rafaela Lopes tells Americans she
runs a potato house, most of
CALLING ALL GOLFERS The Rosen JCC will host its second annual Golf Tournament at 7 a.m. Wednesday, May 17, at Rosen Shingle Creek Golf Club, 9939 Universal Blvd., Orlando. Registration and breakfast begin at 7 a.m., followed by an 8 a.m. shotgun start. Golfers will reconvene for a luncheon, awards and raffle at 1 p.m. Events include a longestdrive competition, closestto-the-pin competition and long-drive opportunity.
them scratch their heads in confusion. To Brazilians like herself, potato houses are common. But to Americans, picturing sides of baked and mashed potatoes with their dinner, it’s a foreign concept. Danielle Hendrix
Guy Fieri left a signed poster and baking sheet as a memento for the Mrs. Potato staff.
POWER PIONEERS
School district, county, adopt updated school-siting regulations
SEE PAGE 4 ARTS & CULTURE
The Orange County Board of Commissioners and Orange County Public Schools approved multiple changes to the comprehensive plan detailing regulations and guidelines for school siting. GABBY BAQUERO STAFF WRITER ORANGE COUNTY Following con-
PRSRT STD ECRWSS US POSTAGE PAID WINTER GARDEN, FL PERMIT NO. 81
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Postal Customer
Solar system a first in Windermere. PAGE 19.
flicts regarding school siting, Orange County Public Schools and the Orange County Board of Commissioners collaborated on a project to modify a 26-page document outlining standards and guidelines for construction and chosen locations of new schools. The resulting updated ordi-
nance, which earned County Commission approval April 25, is meant to eliminate possible misinterpretations and avoid future disagreements regarding school siting. “In the last several years, there were disagreements between Orange County Public Schools and the Orange County government on the appropriate siting of SEE FUTURE PAGE 6
Holy Family school honors teacher with spring production.
SEE PAGE 7.