Times& WEST ORANGE
Observer WEST ORANGE COUNTY’S NEWSPAPER FOR 109 YEARS
THURSDAY MAY 7, 2015
FREE
WINTER GARDEN, FLORIDA
OUR TOWN + Police lace up for Torch Run Ocoee Police Department employees laced up for the 2015 Law Enforcement Torch Run April 21 to help raise money and awareness for Special Olympics at Orlando’s FOP Lodge. They joined hundreds of law-enforcement personnel from the Orange County area who helped sponsor, set up and participate in the event.
ARTS
SPORTS
SCHOOLS
MetroWest community swings at 2015 JazzFest. PAGE 13A
Dr. Phillips High boys track brings home state title. PAGE 1B
Primrose School of Ocoee throws Spring Fling. PAGE 10A
IT’S HERE! by Amy Quesinberry Rhode | Community Editor
MARKET READY
development by Zak Kerr | Staff Writer
Wawa planned for intersection in Winter Garden Intram Investments is working to revitalize several parcels at the northwest corner of South Dillard Street and West Colonial Drive. WINTER GARDEN — After a relatively swift demolition of the property at the northwest corner of South Dillard Street and West Colonial Drive in Winter Garden, the lot has been vacant long enough for passersby to wonder what will arise. Rashid Khatib, president and CEO of Intram Investments, the entity managing
Front row, from left: Administrative Assistant Madeleine Garza, Administrative Assistant Wendi Cady, Officer Patera Scott-Marsh and Sgt. Mireya Iannuzzi. Back row, from left: Sgt. Scott Nylander, Officer Scott Jacoby, Reserve Officer Steve Goclon and Officer Travis Clark.
the property, said the goal is to build a shopping center on not only that lot but also some adjacent lots. “We are still early on that,” Khatib said. “For the leasing, we are ready. We purchased the gas station and have been demolishing it. We will demolish the hotel. The piec-
WAWA / PAGE 6A
+ Calling all 2015 Mustangs Windermere Elementary invites all 2015 Mustangs to a senior reception at 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 13, in the WES media center, 11125 Park Ave., Windermere. Catch up with elementary classmates, visit with former teachers, view old photos and enjoy refreshments. RSVP by calling (407) 876-7520, Ext. 2221.
Zak Kerr
The property at the northwest corner of Dillard Street and State Road 50 will include a Wawa, according to developers.
governance by Amy Quesinberry Rhode | Community Editor
Oakland Town Commission approves speed-limit signs
+ Shorten finishes training U.S. Army Pvt. Andre L. Shorten has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, South Carolina. During the nine weeks of training, Shorten studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches and field-training exercises. Shorten is the son of Mercedes Andrews, of Winter Garden. He is a 2014 graduate of West Orange High School.
I
WO This week’s winner is
Jennifer Walker.
See the photo on PAGE 11B.
Amy Quesinberry Rhode
Twenty-one vendors at Plant Street Market are celebrating their grand opening this Saturday.
Unique artisans expect to open to a large crowd Saturday, May 9, at the new Plant Street Market in Winter Garden. WINTER GARDEN — A new concept in downtown Winter Garden will make its official debut Saturday, May 9, when the Plant Street Market hosts its grand opening, featuring free tastings, giveaways, demonstrations and brewery tours, all set to a full day of live music.
Each of the 21 vendors is participating in the grand opening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will remain open the rest of the day. The street parallel to the market will be closed during the event, which starts at 10 a.m. and continues until 9:30 p.m. Folks who want to see in-
side the brewery can sign up that day for tours at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. Outside, children activities will include games such as corn hole, giant Jenga and giant Connect 4.
PLANT STREET / PAGE 6A
Police Chief Steve Thomas has stepped up patrol on residential streets following complaints of speeding near homes. OAKLAND — Cherie LaFaver has lost so many pets because of neighborhood speeders in the last 10 years that part of her Oakland backyard has become a pet cemetery. She has watched vehicles speed up behind children — and even a neighbor in a motorized wheelchair — and then honk their horns. A neighbor recently put up
a “slow, children at play” sign, and one night around 11, she was standing on her front porch and saw a driver run over it. LaFaver appeared before the Oakland Town Commission last week to request that some type of traffic-calming device be installed on Hull Avenue and Nixon Street.
OAKLAND / PAGE 5A
TRAFFIC by Zak Kerr | Staff Writer
Windermere intersection draws residents’ concern Changes to the light at County Road 535 and Chase Road have caused traffic issues for Lakes of Windermere residents. WINDERMERE — Based on changes within the last few weeks, such as traffic-light patterns, residents at the Lakes of Windermere have struggled to drive out of their community at the intersection of Chase Road and County Road 535 (Winter Garden-Vineland Road). “The lights are not synchronized at all,” Lakes of Windermere Homeowners Association President Jon Johnson
said. “There are people turning in front of people to get out of the neighborhood in every direction and end up blocking the intersection so you can’t get out of the neighborhood.” Currently, the traffic light for drivers leaving Lakes of Windermere on Chase Road stays green for about five seconds, allowing as few as three cars to go through the intersection. Some drivers have resorted to
pushing the pedestrian crossing button to force the light to remain green longer. In addition to the signal, Johnson said he also has seen people cutting through his neighborhood and other nearby streets at high speeds, endangering even the most alert and responsible children in their trek to school, he said.
Community Calendar..............2A Cops Corner............................5A
Crossword............................ 11B Obituaries.............................15A
TRAFFIC / PAGE 5A
Michael Eng
The changes to the traffic-signal timing at County Road 535 and Chase Road have caused morning traffic back-ups for residents trying to leave Lakes of Windermere.
INDEX Arts & Culture.......................11A Classifieds........................... 12B
Sports.....................................1B Weather............................... 11B
Vol. 82, No. 19 , Two sections
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