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will represent Ocoee and his Christian faith while performing at Rolling Loud Orlando Sunday, May 10, at Camping World Stadium.

ROAD WORK CONTINUES IN WINDERMERE

The town of Windermere is asking people to allow for extra drive time and to be patient as road work continues on several roads in downtown Windermere through Friday, May 8.

On West Second Avenue, crews will continue repairing concrete and paver driveways and grading dirt behind the curb where needed. Crews also will be sodding, mulching or installing gravel.

Cleanup at Palmer Park also will continue this week, and a crew might be doing limited work in Fernwood Park, such as grading a swale and planting the rain garden/pond.

On Third Avenue, crews might be digging swales this week and grading the road.

WINTER GARDEN OPENS POOLS FOR

5FAST

Ocoee’s Hungry Howie’s closes Hungry Howie’s pizzeria closed its doors Wednesday, April 29.

The pizzeria has been at 207 N. Clarke Road Ocoee, since 2014, serving the community for 12 years. Now, another pizzeria is set to move in. Stoner’s Pizza Joint has acquired eight units in Orlando to expand its businesses.

Founded in 2013, it focuses on fresh ingredients, unique flavors and customer service.

The menu includes differentsized pizzas, calzones, stromboli, wings, bowls and salads. date has not yet been released, this pizzeria is estimated to open dur ing the summer, alongside another acquired location at 4781 S. Orange Ave., Orlando.

James Hitchcock executed for murder

James Ernest Hitchcock, 70, was executed by lethal injection Thursday, April 30, for the 1976 murder of his 13-year-old stepniece, Cynthia Driggers, in Winter Garden.

Hitchcock moved to Winter Garden in July 1976 to live with his brother as a 20-year-old recently released from an Arkansas prison.

Two weeks later, he went out for drinks, smoked cannabis and then went back to his brother’s house.

Hitchcock sneaked inside his 13-year-old stepniece’s room and raped her.

According to prosecutors, Cynthia began yelling and threatening to tell her mother, which prompted Hitchcock to grab her by the neck and take her outside, where he beat her and strangled her to death.

After the murder, he left her body outside in some bushes and went back inside to go to bed.

He was arrested soon after as a suspect and was convicted in 1977.

Courtesy photos

Florida’s longest-serving elected official, U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster, announced he will not be running for reelection.

willingly. In an act of rage, her father killed her.

Hitchcock was found guilty and put on death row. However, that was overturned three times before Gov. Ron DeSantis signed his execution for Thursday, April 30.

3

U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster announces retirement

Florida U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster said he will not be seeking reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives.

He has served for 15 years and will complete his eighth term before retiring.

“It has been an honor and privilege to represent my beloved state in the

to Florida’s hardworking taxpayers and families to advance commonsense reforms and principled policy.

The time has come to pass the torch to the next conservative leader and spend more precious time with my wife, children and 24 grandchildren.”

Webster’s term will end in January 2027.

“There is much work left to do before this congress closes, and I am fully focused on finishing strong,” he said. “This year, the transportation and infrastructure (committee) is working on a once-in-a decade critical transportation reauthorization bill that will fund America’s roads and highways, bridges, transit and our rail system. I will keep working to get bills over the finish

ture projects; ensure America — not China or any other adversary — remains the leader in space exploration; and that the United States will set the standards that protect our technological advantages.”

He said he will forever cherish his time as congressman, making changes to public policy, fighting to protect Americans’ freedoms, values, life and liberty.

CAVA to open soon in Windermere Windermere’s food scene continues to expand. Soon, CAVA will open at The Grove.

To be located at 4757 The Grove Drive, Suite 100, Windermere, CAVA offers Mediterranean flavors through customizable bowls, pitas and hummus.

While an opening day has not been announced, signs on the door suggest the restaurant already is hiring employees.

Armbruster ends campaign for Orange School Board Chair

Six weeks after throwing his hat in the ring for the Orange County School Board chair, Mike Armbruster has decided to drop out of the race.

Armbruster has more than 35 years with the district, serving as a teacher, coach, principal and deputy superintendent.

“After heading down this road for

When the unexpected happens, you can count on HCA Florida West Orange Emergency to be here for you.

We are part of the HCA Florida Healthcare family, Florida’s largest ER network. Our board-certified physicians and highly trained nurses specialize in emergency medicine, diagnosing and treating all emergency conditions for adults and pediatric patients including:

• Injuries, such as fractures and lacerations

• Stomach or abdominal pain

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• Stroke

New pizzeria to open in Winter Garden

A Brazilian couple is bringing a Neopolitanstyle pizzeria from Brazil to Winter Garden.

LETICIA SILVA STAFF WRITER

A top-50 pizzeria in Latin America is making its way to Winter Garden.

SEO Basilico based in São Paulo, Brazil, is expanding internationally, bringing Neapolitan-style pizzas and an intimate dining experience to local residents.

Owners Juliana and Leandro Marcondes have lived in Winter Garden for five years and wanted to bring their passion — pizza — to the place that welcomed them with open arms.

The Marcondeses previously owned two franchises in Brazil for more than 17 years. Although those businesses weren’t pizzerias, their love for the craft remained.

“We have always been passionate about pizza,” Juliana Marcondes said. “We started learning how to make it at home for friends and family, and over time, it became more serious.”

The couple said positive feedback from friends and family encouraged them to keep refining their skills.

“It’s pure passion,” Juliana Marcondes said. “I grew up in a family that made pizza every week. My mom made dough; my uncle came over on Saturdays and made pizza, too. It became something emotional for me. Over time, we kept learning — reading, watching videos, traveling, tasting different pizzas, comparing flavors. Every trip included visits to pizzerias.”

After moving to Winter Garden, they knew they wanted to open a pizzeria but faced challenges finding a location and navigating the process of starting a business in a new country.

In the meantime, they reached out to pizzerias in Brazil, hoping to create a partnership to bring a brand to the United States.

Once they connected with SEO Basilico, they instantly knew it was the right fit.

“We hadn’t visited in person yet, but what drew us in was how artisanal everything is,” they said. “They work only with small producers and very high-quality ingredients. You can see the care they put into every pizza, and that’s exactly what we always dreamed of doing. Everything just aligned.”

With Italy-sourced ingredients, SEO Basilico aims to bring a new flavor profile and atmosphere to the community.

“We don’t want to be just another pizza place — you can find pizza,” Leandro Marcondes said. “We want to offer an experience. We want people to feel welcomed, to feel something emotional when they eat the pizza—the care, the flavor, the Italian sauce and flour.”

The pizzeria will offer 12-inch

IF YOU GO

SEO BASILICO PIZZERIA

12107 Stoneybrook West Parkway, Suite 105, Winter Garden

OPENING: Late May or early June

WEBSITE: seobasilico.us

pizzas made completely in-house — from dough and sauce to preparation and baking.

Beyond pizza, SEO Basilico also will offer sandwiches made on pizza dough, salads, appetizers and potentially pastas dishes. Desserts will feature tiramisu, sweet pizzas and more.

“What makes us different is the combination of quality ingredients, careful preparation and attention to detail,” Leandro Marcondes said. “Everything is made fresh — nothing is rushed or pre-prepared in a generic way. We respect all styles of pizza, but we want to offer something truly special — something that people won’t compare to fast-food chains, but instead see as a unique, high-quality experience.”

The Marcondeses want guests to linger — enjoy the relaxed and comfortable atmosphere in no rush.

Guests will be able to watch their pizzas being made right in front of them, adding to the intimate atmosphere.

“We want the presentation to feel unique—not just the same as everywhere else,” Juliana Marcondes said. “We respect all styles of pizza — New York style, big chains — but what we want is to offer something different. You can’t compare it to something like Pizza Hut or Domino’s. It’s a completely different product. We work with lighter cheeses, higher-quality ingredients — it’s just another level.”

The restaurant now is in its final stages of construction, with owners purchasing furniture, designing uniforms and sourcing ingredients. They hope to open to the public in late May or early June.

“This means a lot to us,” Juliana Marcondes said. “We’re already getting great feedback, especially from people connected to the Mooca neighborhood in São Paulo, where the original pizzeria is located. There’s a strong sense of community there, and people are excited to see those flavors brought here. We’re putting a lot of care into every detail — uniforms, plates, décor — everything. We hope this will be the first of many locations.”

In the coming years, the couple hopes to open new locations, focusing on customer experience and relationships rather than profit.

“We want to focus on community-based locations, not just tourist areas,” Juliana Marcondes said. “Building relationships with customers is very important to us.”

The Marcondeses said they’re putting their hearts into this project to create a welcoming environment and serve high-quality food to the community they now call home, excited for what the future awaits.

Once a Cardinal, always a Cardinal

Betty Hopper says goodbye to Ocoee Elementary School, the school she attended as a child, after serving as the registrar for 27 years.

LIZ RAMOS MANAGING EDITOR

Ocoee Elementary School staff

like to tell their fifth-graders before moving onto middle school, “Once a Cardinal, always a Cardinal.” That couldn’t be more true for longtime registrar Betty Hopper. She attended the school herself in first grade before returning to her elementary school years later volunteering as a parent before accepting a full-time position with the school.

For 27 years, Hopper has sat at the front desk and was the person to greet anyone who walked through the door. She answered countless questions, enrolled thousands of children and helped any way she could.

She has seen generations of families start their educational journeys at Ocoee Elementary, just like herself, her three children and seven grandchildren.

She has been there to celebrate dozens of fifth-grade classes as the school conducted a clap-out for them on the last day of school.

This year’s clap-out will be more emotional as Hopper will say goodbye to her final fifth-grade class at the end of the school year as she retires.

But once a Cardinal, always a Cardinal.

ALWAYS A COMMUNITY

Although she doesn’t remember many of her days as a Cardinal herself, Hopper recalled being an Ocoee Elementary student while it was a junior/high school as well. She didn’t attend kindergarten because it wasn’t a requirement as it is today.

She remembered the wooden floors creaking and the glass doorknobs in the old building dating back decades earlier. The bus rides weren’t solely for the elementary students but also for the junior and seniors of the high school, leading to a sense of community as the older students looked out for the younger ones.

She remembered her bus driver, Mr. Powell, always wore a fedora and would stop at the donut shop on East Silver Star Road to buy donuts for all the students every day.

“That wouldn’t fly now, because we would all sit on the bus and he would run in and get donuts,” Hopper said. “It was a very different time.”

She recalled watching her brother, who was a student in the high school, participate in the annual bike races around the football field of the school, a tradition at the school.

Hopper, 62, has lived almost her entire life in Ocoee.

After graduating college, Hopper’s ties to Ocoee Elementary deepened when she enrolled her own children at the school and began serving as a room mother in 1988. Her children went to the new Ocoee

Elementary School before it was rebuilt and reopened in 2014, and she served as a registrar in the new building, seeing Ocoee Elementary in all of its iterations.

Along with being at the school in some shape and form during its different eras, Hopper has spent that past nearly three decades seeing generations of Ocoee families walk through the door and register their children for school with her help.

A HELPING HAND

Hopper’s plan for her career wasn’t always to be involved in education. She graduated from college with a degree to become a certified nursing assistant with dreams of helping the elderly population.

But she realized her dream was different: She just wanted to work with children.

The dream became more evident when she served as a room mother, helping the children learn to read, decorating bulletin boards, planning parties and doing anything the teachers asked of her.

Her dedication and support of the school turned into an offer for a fulltime job as a paraprofessional in January 1999 followed by a position as the school registrar in July 1999. She jumped at the opportunity, despite not knowing anything about computers. She admitted she didn’t even know how to turn one on.

But her determination not only to do the job but also do it well drove her to teach herself how to use the computer and the systems involved.

As the registrar, Hopper always strives to give an excellent first impression, being the person with a smile on her face and a kind heart ready to answer questions and help families prepare for the school year ahead.

“I know all the families,” Hopper said with pride. “Personally. I have a lot of children (who) come in pretty much every day to hug me and check on me. My own granddaughter does. I will miss that. I kind of look out for people’s children.”

In addition to her own kin, Hopper has seen children she once registered years ago return to register their own children as generations continue to call Ocoee home.

As news of her retirement has spread, Hopper said she’s received numerous messages from parents saying they wish she would wait to retire as they have a few more children to enroll and they wanted her to be there when they did.

“That makes me feel good that people feel that way about me; that does my heart good,” Hopper said.

Parents have shared how they have appreciated her kindness and being that person they can count on for support. Her motto is simple: Treat people the way you want to be treated.

It’s a lesson she hopes Ocoee students and staff will take with them after she’s retired.

Hopper received a phone call at the school from a former student who thanked Hopper for the countless days she spent talking to the student as they sat together in her office.

The student, now an adult with her own children, expressed to Hopper that she wasn’t sure she would “be here today” if it weren’t for Hopper. She said nobody talked to her the way Hopper did. They both reminisced on what Hopper would say every time the student left her office.

Hopper said she always told the student “capiche” and she would respond, “capiche.” The student told her she does the same with her children now, bringing tears to Hopper’s eyes.

Hearing the story made her “heart smile,” Hopper said. It was the best phone call she had ever received sitting at the front desk of Ocoee Elementary. Although Hopper won’t be the first person everyone sees as they walk through the doors of Ocoee Elementary, she said she’ll still be visible at the school, coming back to volunteer as her grandchildren continue to attend the school.

BITTERSWEET GOODBYE

Hopper will cherish the moments of laughter and joy throughout her tenure at the school. She’ll remember the students and staff going all out to celebrate holidays and dress up for spirit days.

As many know, “Kids say the darndest things,” and it was no different for Hopper. One time a few years ago, she had dressed in black from head to toe because it was the color office staff was assigned for a kindergarten spirit day.

“One of our little kindergartners said, ‘Oh my God, I did not know you were the black ninja,’” Hopper said laughing at the memory. “That was the best. I laughed and said, ‘Well, I didn’t know I was either.’ … That truly is my favorite.”

Hopper said she will miss the people the most — the community of love and support that has been by her side through some of her tougher moments as she has dealt with medical issues. She has loved seeing graduating seniors return to their elementary alma mater to participate in the Senior Walk. Some of the students remember Hopper and thank her for all she’s done for them. One senior brought her flowers last year.

Despite her 27 years sitting dedicated to the same school and helping thousands of families, Hopper doesn’t see it as leaving a legacy but rather simply doing her job.

She hopes if she has any legacy to leave, it’s one of kindness and treating others the way she wanted to be treated.

Liz Ramos

Betty Hopper has helped thousands of Ocoee Elementary School students enroll in school after serving as the school registrar for 27 years.

Leticia Silva

Juliana and Leandro Marcondes are excited to bring the Brazilian pizzeria to Winter Garden.

ALMA MATTERS

Design

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

Ocoee High School alum to perform at Rolling Loud Observer

LIZ RAMOS MANAGING EDITOR

Editor’s note: Alma Matters is an ongoing series featuring alumni from West Orange and Southwest Orange high schools who have chosen to stay and become integral leaders and contributors to the community.

“Ayy 2000 est. O-C-O-E-E”

If you hear that in a Christian rap song, you know it’s Ocoee’s own Caleb Gordon.

Gordon decided to include the year in his artist tag to signify not only because it’s the year in which he was born but also to show God can use you at any age.

Ocoee in the tag was meant to show success can be for people no matter where they live.

As Gordon’s music career has progressed, he never has forgotten his hometown.

It was at Ocoee High School where he was given the freedom, encouragement and support to try new activities and discover new passions. He went from playing baseball for the school to basketball. Later, he dropped basketball to focus on music and launched his music career in 2018.

“We fear trying things because people try to say, ‘Hey, you can’t do this,’” he said. “And it’s like, nah, I actually can do that. I can try to be more than I am. I can try new things and see if it works out. If it doesn’t work out, then, at least I can say I tried. I think that was a pivotal thing in my experience, and I think that is just the community we’re able to build here (in Ocoee).” With his success, Gordon has given back to Ocoee High School, providing new equipment for both the baseball and football teams over the past few years.

The 2018 Ocoee High School grad went from rapping in the hallways to hitting the stage at Rolling Loud Sunday, May 10, at Camping World Stadium, showcasing his Christian rap with hopes of bringing people closer to God.

‘I’M GONNA TRY GOD’

As a junior at Ocoee High, Gordon was rapping any time he could, singing about whatever came to mind and spending his spare time in the recording studio at school. He had decided to take a break from playing basketball. He only had one scholarship offer to play at a college in Naples, Florida, but when he arrived on campus for a tour, he said God was telling him it wasn’t the right fit. He returned to Ocoee uncertain of what the future would hold. Upon graduation, he had some decisions to make.

He wasn’t going to college. His dad wanted him to join the Army. His mom was trying to help him figure out his next steps.

“I just had a breaking point,” Gordon said. “I was sitting there at my lowest, depressed. From there, in that moment, I was like, you know what?

I’m gonna try God. I’m gonna step away from everything I’m doing just so I can reset my mind. As I was able to do that, it’s like He led me right back to music, because I didn’t want to do anything until I knew where He wanted to send me. He sent me right back to church, and then he sent me right back to music.”

Gordon never had a musical background other than he spent his days in middle school freestyling in the hallways when he could. His dad also played rap music a lot.

It was his love for poetry and language arts, the ability to string words together to a rhythm and beat that pushed him toward the style.

He had a pivotal moment in sixth grade when his father took his phone during church services and told him to go to the front of the church during service and rap.

“Everybody was lit,” Gordon said.

“They were excited. They were like, ‘Yo, this is fire.’ That moment showed me I can actually do something about it.”

Gordon took his seat and didn’t perform in front of an audience again for years, but it gave him the confidence to know he could.

It was in church Gordon found his passion for music, and after doing research on the music industry, he noticed most rappers avoided religion in their music.

Gordon felt God compelling him to bring faith to rap.

“This is extreme, but I really have to tell myself, what are you willing to die for because you can live for a lot of things, but until you know what you’re willing to die for, you don’t really know what you want to do,” he said. “It’ll be the last thing you do. So I was like, you know what, I’m gonna bring faith into my music in a way where people’s lives can be transformed. I want to do that for the rest of my life.”

PASSIONS COMBINE

Gordon decided to take his education a step further by majoring in sound music technology at Valencia College, where one of his teachers helped him set up his LLC.

It was there he started diving deeper into music and connecting his faith to it.

Then, he discovered an artist who was dropping songs every week, and he decided to do the same — just like a pastor does a sermon each week. With every new song, he learned new beats, new mixes and more.

Today, Gordon said he’s still finding his voice.

“When I started, it was just being authentic, not trying to put on for nothing but just being like, I’m from Ocoee, Florida,” he said. “I don’t have to go fake it like I’m from Atlanta, New York or LA. I’m from here.”

“West Orlando Flow” became one of Gordon’s most popular hits and has gone viral on multiple platforms. The music video features scenes of Ocoee

and Winter Garden. He wrote the song based on his lived experiences in 2020. He said “West Orlando Flow” was his most authentic song where he was able to be himself, share his story and his city. The message of the song: It doesn’t matter how much you have or where you live, God can meet you where you’re at and that’s OK.

“People care more about real than they care about people flexing all that other stuff because that’s not real,” he said. “You have to live life to create so I always challenge myself to go outside and live life so I can get the things I need to create the next song. If I don’t feel it, I don’t go in the studio. There’s no point.”

Last year, Gordon’s song “War” peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs, becoming his first song on the Billboard charts. He said “War” is a nod to his mother playing reggae music all day, which he has grown to appreciate.

Gordon said it hasn’t always been easy being Christian, but as he’s seen more friends and others come to Christ while listening to his music, he has an immense sense of pride.

“It feels good to my spirit,” he said. “It allows people to realize on this walk, they’re not alone. It makes them feel like there’s somebody out there who I can relate to. I think it’s encouraging. That’s what I’m here to do, just encourage people.”

Throughout his music career, Gordon has been on two other tours, with his third tour, The Eden Experience, kicking off Wednesday, July 15, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The tour will end with its last stop in Orlando Saturday, Sept. 26.

But before he goes on tour, Gordon will perform at the sold-out Rolling Loud.

“I believe everybody doesn’t have to be a pastor, (but) I feel like this is where I minister,” he said.

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.

Caleb Gordon graduated in 2018 from Ocoee High School. He was in high school when he discovered his passion for music and jump-started his career as a rapper and hip-hop artist.

Liz Ramos

Courtesy photo

Since kicking off his music career while attending Ocoee High School, Caleb Gordon has aspired to be authentic in every song he writes.

Left: Caleb Gordon has given back to Ocoee High School by donating equipment to the football and baseball teams.

Megan Bruinsma

Double the joy

Windermere resident and Dr. P. Phillips Hospital physician Dr. Xiomara Ruiz-Baez is celebrating her first Mother’s Day with twins.

LIZ RAMOS MANAGING EDITOR

Going into her fetal ultrasound, Dr. Xiomara Ruiz-Baez was ready to prank her husband, Mark Chacon, by telling him they were having twins.

Twins don’t run in either of their families and would have been a surprise to the soon-to-be-first-time parents.

She laughed as the ultrasound showed twins.

She thought the tables had turned and the office staff were pranking her.

“I’m like, Oh my God, these people are so cool, they’re pranking us! That’s so cool,” Ruiz-Baez said.

“My husband is doing this nervous laugh, like he couldn’t believe it. He was between happy and nervous and excited and anxious. I just stepped out like a zombie from the ultrasound, and I kept looking at everybody else’s ultrasound because obviously it’s the plan that they’re pranking everybody.”

As the doctor wrote twins on her medical files, it finally hit her. They can’t lie on medical files. It must be true.

She actually was having twins.

Ruiz-Baez and Chacon will celebrate their first Mother’s Day with their 10-month-old twins, Alex Gustavo Chacon and Gustavo Rafael Chacon.

Growing up in the Dominican Republic, Ruiz-Baez said Mother’s Day always has been a big occasion.

“It’s almost like Christmas for women back in the Dominican Republic,” she said.

She’s thrilled to finally have the day to celebrate her and her boys, and she already has given her husband a todo list of celebratory activities so she can treasure her time with her sons. She’s expecting breakfast to be ready and for songs to be sung.

“I know the infant time is the shortest, so I am very conscious of enjoying every moment of it,” she said.

As an internal medicine physician, Ruiz-Baez said she knew from the moment the pregnancy test was positive how vital it was to take care of herself physically, mentally and

emotionally. She was prepared for the worst and hoping for the best.

She had a support system at home and at work at Dr. P. Phillips Hospital.

When she told her colleagues at the hospital, which she said is a community of friends, “it was a party.”

“Being a first-time mom, you don’t really know what you’re doing, and whatever it is, right or wrong, you’re doing it twice,” she said. “So having that support from my work family has been a true blessing.”

Ruiz-Baez said she likes to joke that she’s God’s favorite. She said He’s always brought her to the best places in life.

“Having the colleagues I have and working in the community I work, it’s a testament that I’m truly God’s favorite,” she said with a laugh.

The timing of finding out she was pregnant was further proof to her joke that she indeed is God’s favorite.

Ruiz-Baez and Mark Chacon were celebrating their first wedding anniversary in 2024.

She thought, why not take a pregnancy test? It’ll be fun.

The couple hadn’t been trying for long and had their doubts.

But the test was positive.

They were having a baby.

“I just couldn’t believe it, because it was so early on,” she said. “We were like, OK, I guess I’m not drinking wine tonight. It was a joy and celebration and honestly of disbelief a little bit. I was like, yes, we’re pregnant, but are we really? Could it happen this fast? Are we really having this amazing anniversary gift? We were so excited so much that we couldn’t believe our luck. This is too good to be true.”

During delivery, Ruiz-Baez recalled lying on the table for a C-section talking to the doctor and anesthesiologist and waiting in anticipation to meet her sons. Her only hope was her boys were healthy and safe once they were born. Hearing their cries gave her assurance.

“This is a perfect baby, and they are completely healthy and they’re OK,” she said of hearing their cries. “It was super special when they put both of them next to me, and (I saw) both of them so healthy, so strong.”

Since the birth of her boys, who are fraternal twins, Ruiz-Baez has been

overjoyed watching them grow and develop their personalities.

Despite being twins, she said they’re vastly different from each other, reacting differently, having different tastes and preferences. They’re almost the same size, and the similarities end there.

Axel has Ruiz-Baez’s personality: talkative and outgoing. Gustavo has Chacon’s: chill and joyful. Yet, the boys look like the other parent,

giving the parents a fun combination that keeps them on their toes.

Now the bundles of joy are interacting with each other, and Ruiz-Baez is watching with amusement as they yell and babble at each other.

Having children has made RuizBaez a better doctor and mother, she said. She’s more patient with and has more empathy for her patients and values the little time she has with both her patients and her sons.

Ruiz-Baez said being a working mom has its challenges. She encourages mothers to trust their instincts and although that feeling of “wanting it all” and being perfect won’t dissipate, it’s OK to accept there are days mothers can’t spend as much time with their kids as they’d like.

“That time you don’t have with them makes the time you do even more meaningful, and you’re more mindful of the time,” she said.

Derby looks: WOJSL saddles

aren Adams found the KentuckyDerby-themed hat she made years ago in her closet just in time for this year’s West Orange Junior Service League’s Run for the Roses. She used hot glue to reattach some of the toy horses to the hat, and she was ready to go for the Kentucky-Derby themed event Saturday, May 2, at the Clermont Arts and Recreation Center.

League members and guests wore their largest hats and most colorful attire to enjoy derby-inspired drinks and Kentucky-inspired

Courtesy photos

Gustavo Chacon and his wife, Xiomara Ruiz-Baez, were thrilled to find out they were having twins.

Left: Twins Gustavo Rafael Chacon and Axel Gustavo Chacon both were named in honor of family members.

Karen Adams made her own hat for the West Orange Junior Service League’s annual Kentucky Derby-themed event.

Below: Donna Evans and Susan Allmen handed out the prizes in the

Ben and Alisha Fauser were super excited

be at Run for the Roses. “It seemed like

neat event

a good excuse to dress up

have fun,” Alisha Fauser said.

John Sirounis, Danielle Sirounis, Darby Tully and Jason Sirounis were all smiles at a photo station.

Left: Rebekah Dimond had a good time with Angela Philbrick at Run for the Roses. “It’s a fun time with delicious food and good fellowship,” Philbrick said.

St. Luke’s UMC to offer disasterrelief training class

The church will offer eight hours of disaster-relief training that will teach attendees how to provide emotional, physical and mental support to disaster survivors.

Hurricane season is less than one month away, and because of that, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church will be offering disaster-relief training Saturday, May 9, to prepare for the season.

According to the Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department at North Carolina State University, researchers predict 12 to 15 named storms, six to nine hurricanes and two to three major hurricanes forming in the Atlantic basin this year.

The training session aims to introduce people to what early response looks like, best practices, safety procedures, and emotional and spiritual support.

Tom Vencuss, coordinator for the Florida United Methodist Early Response Teams, said the goal is to provide a caring Christian presence to communities in need.

Vencuss has been involved with disaster response work since 1993, helping local, national and international communities.

“It’s the best feeling in the world,” he said. “We embody a sense of hope for people. We let people know that as tragic as what might have happened, this need not be the defining moment of the rest of their lives.”

Attendees will start the training at 9 a.m., where they will go through the basic understanding of what being a part of a disaster relief team is like.

“We’re not just coming in and saying, ‘You’re going to do this; you’re going to do that,’” Vencuss said. “We want people to have a basic understanding of phases of a disaster, what happens in a disaster, the kinds of ways that people are impacted by what’s happened, whether it be a tornado, flood, fire, ice storm, trees down.”

After the basics, attendees will learn about the important protocols and procedures needed to follow when responding to a disaster.

They then will learn about roof tarping, cleaning out homes, working around debris and mold, cleaning out trees, and more.

“There will be some group-building skills and some hands-on activities,” Vencuss said. “They don’t really equate with actually being on a roof or being in a mold-filled home, but it allows people to begin to understand what the work is like. We talk about safety, keeping yourself healthy, looking out for each other, working with survivors and things to say and not to say.”

There are other roles available for attendees who may not be able to physically help during deployments.

Dedicated listeners can be deployed with early-response teams with the sole duty of listening and offering a lending ear not only to survivors but also team members.

Others can work with base-camp operations, such as ensuring meals are taken care of, water is available,

NEWS BRIEFS

OCOEE PD ASSISTS IN DRUG TAKEDOWN

The Ocoee Police Department assisted in a multi-agency takedown of a major drug-trafficking group in Central Florida.

On Monday, April 27, Ocoee officers stood alongside partners at the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office to announce the takedown.

“Operation It’s A Trap” consisted of months of investigations. Together, the Ocoee Police Department, the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office seized more than 6 kilograms

ST. LUKE’S UMC DISASTER RELIEF TRAINING

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 9

WHERE: 4851 S. Apopka-Vineland Road, Orlando. Building C —Treehouse

COST: $15. Covers background check, T-shirt and lunch.

REGISTRATION: bit.ly/4cPWG6j

adequate showers are provided, while ensuring everybody is working safely.

When Vencuss was in Puerto Rico during Hurricane Maria with a disaster-relief team, one volunteer’s job was to simply dispense water every 30 minutes, which was not laborintensive, providing opportunities for people who cannot do physical work to volunteer.

Buckets of hope also are assembled each year with cleaning supplies and immediate necessities, with the purpose of being able to help as many survivors as possible.

Beyond that, a remote call center also is established during storms, where volunteers assist those in need with necessary information and help.

Attendees will learn the four “Cs” — critical thinking, collaboration, communication and creativity — and how volunteers can best use those to accomplish their mission.

To these disaster teams, any and all help is welcome and appreciated. From climbing on roofs to cutting trees to providing a listening ear or dispensing water, the work these teams are putting into serving and supporting others is touching — not only to impacted communities and survivors but to volunteers as well, Vencuss said.

“From a faith perspective, putting your faith into action and being there with people to just listen and serve, is what it’s all about,” said Amy Simon, director of missions engagement at St. Luke’s UMC. “I hope that folks know that they can make a difference. To be present, caring, listening, doesn’t take a lot of skill. … Sometimes, we feel helpless after something happens, and this is a way for folks to find an avenue to be able to do something.”

For many volunteers, disaster response offers an opportunity to serve without a long-term commitment, she said.

Vencuss said he hopes people walk away from training with a sense of humility.

“I prefer that we come in with a sense of humility and know that it’s not about us,” he said. “We’re just answering what we believe to be God’s call on our life.”

To participate in the training, you must be at least 18 years old. A $15 fee will cover a background check, lunch for the day and a T-shirt.

of cocaine, $1.1 million in cash and nearly 30 firearms.

The operation also resulted in multiple arrests.

“We are proud of the work our officer assigned to MBI contributed to this multi-agency effort,” Ocoee officials said. “Partnerships like these are critical in keeping dangerous drugs and illegal firearms out of our communities.”

ROAD CLOSURE TO LAST FOUR WEEKS

Winter Garden residents: The city has announced a partial road closure of East Crest Avenue between Hearthglen Boulevard and Palm Drive to last about four weeks.

Starting Monday, May 4, detours signs began directing traffic in the area, while crews work on construction. Only residents are allowed to access the road. City officials said drivers should allow for extra travel time.

LETICIA SILVA STAFF WRITER

Commercial plaza design approved

SILVA STAFF WRITER

The Oakland Town Commission unanimously approved Tuesday, April 28, a project design for a mixed industrial flex space at 16360 W. Colonial Drive. Turnpike Commerce Park will be located on 13.8 acres of land, with four 40,040-square-foot buildings, facing State Road 50 to the north and Florida’s Turnpike to the south. Tenants can vary, meaning there will be office spaces for administration, retail, e-commerce, as well as for building materials, packaging, home improvement, etc.

Town Planner Taylor Hague said the property owner brought a project, which was approved to become a

IN OTHER NEWS

n Mayor Shane Taylor proclaimed Saturday, May 9, as World Migratory Bird Day.

n Taylor proclaimed Tuesday, May 5, as Teacher Appreciation Day.

n The Oakland Town Commission unanimously voted to adopt a cybersecurity policy required by Florida law, which will protect governmental data and computer systems.

n “Color Speaks” currently is exhibited at the Healthy West Orange Arts and Heritage Center. It runs through July 24.

n Spring cleanup will take place Saturday, May 9, and Saturday, May 16.

n Household hazardous waste collection will take place Saturday, May 16.

n Resident Jennifer Tyre was sworn in to the town’s Planning and Zoning board.

storage facility, to the commission in 2021.

This new proposal would override the already-approved plan from 2021.

Developer Drew Thigpen said project highlights include the investment of $34 million to deliver this project, which will provide the town with an estimated $800,000 annually in tax revenue.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to be here in Oakland,” Thigpen said. “I think that this type of product is something that would really fit well here and serve to fill a bit of a void here, currently.”

He said the project also will be constructed in one phase rather than multiple.

“We have analyzed the inherit demand at this location and are very confident in the ability for these 160,000 square feet to be absorbed in a single phase,” Thigpen said.

He said the development also is set in terms of finances — securing all the equity and debt necessary for this project’s entire budget.

Thigpen said they are entirely committed to creating and keeping jobs in Oakland.

Commissioners also approved variances for the project, including an extra 8,000 square feet per building; lowering parking spaces provided; replacing the brick screening wall required due to adjacency to residential with a 15-inch landscape buffer; approving a perpendicular building orientation to the primary frontage line rather than parallel; and allowing upper-level clerestory windows.

Commissioner Kris Keller said this proposal is a better alternative to what was approved in 2021.

A shared concern among commissioners was about the entryway being too tight.

Mayor Shane Taylor said the entryway should be wider and larger because of trucks and semis entering the premises.

The design was approved, though it is subject to all necessary approvals from Orange County, Hague said.

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

Commissioners also approved the first reading of a telecommunication tower ordinance.

Town Manager Elise Hui gave a presentation on the matter, stating there’s a lack of signal in the downtown area, which can be addressed through this ordinance by amending the current Land Development Code.

The hope is to amend the code, which currently limits cell towers to industrial zones, and allow telecommunication towers to be placed on town-owned property zoned R-1A as a special exception.

The new tower would be located behind the current public safety building.

Another amendment includes increasing the height limit of towers from 100 feet to 150 feet, which would enhance coverage and reduce the number of necessary facilities.

Hui said this ordinance also would create a minimum required distance between towers of 1.5 miles, rather than the current 2 miles. She said the proposed location and the current tower’s location are 1.8 miles apart.

Finally, the ordinance would require monopole towers, designed to promote lower-profile, streamlined structures, reducing the visual impact in neighborhoods.

“We wouldn’t be looking at tow-

ers that are disguised as trees,” Hui said. “We wouldn’t be looking at the aerial structures that have all the guy wires.”

She said the telecommunication tower is a need for public safety, emergency communications and municipal operations.

Police Chief Darron Esan agreed.

“The school is a really tough spot for our police radios to work, and that cell tower will really, really help us,” he said. “For the safety of officers and responding to any emergencies, that would help us.”

The second and final reading is scheduled for Tuesday, May 12.

TOWN RECEIVES $2M

Town commissioners unanimously authorized Mayor Shane Taylor to sign a grant agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection providing an additional $2 million to the Briley Avenue Septic to Sewer project.

According to meeting documents, Oakland received $1.5 million from FDEP for this project in November 2025.

“While this funding was instrumental in getting started, it fell short of providing enough for the entire project,” the document read.

Staff then applied for another grant and received it.

“This was certainly unexpected,

but nonetheless we were delighted to receive it,” the document said. “Staff worked with the FDEP for several months to develop a suitable, construction-oriented work plan.”

Now signed, the grant will provide funding for the next phase of continued elimination of septic systems within the community.

TEACHERS RECOGNIZED

Taylor proclaimed Monday, May 4, to Friday, May 8, as Teacher Appreciation week in the town of Oakland.

Taylor recognized the teachers at Oakland Avenue Charter School, thanking them for their hard work in shaping the future citizens of Oakland.

Vice Mayor Michael Satterfiled, who also is the chairperson of the School Advisory Committee for OACS, said teachers have made the town proud for more than 20 years.

“Over and over again you have shown the dedication to our children, ensuring they get the best possible education you could,” he said to teachers. “Every day, in and out, you go above and beyond to make sure of this. I know we probably don’t say it often enough but trust me, we appreciate you so much. You are truly heroes of our town and the West Orange community as a whole.”

Town commissioners recognized teachers from Oakland Avenue Charter School.

¡Bienvenidos a Ocoee!

Seven-year-old Michael Pyles held on for dear life as the mechanical bull bucked and spun at Ocoee’s Cinco de Mayo Block Party, held Friday, May 1, on McKey Street. The bull was just one of

many activities attendees enjoyed this year. Food trucks lined McKey Street to serve up special Cinco de Mayo food and beverages, while guests enjoyed a variety of games, a live DJ, an art project and more.

— MICHAEL ENG

LBV Rotary tees up for 10ths annual golf tourney

Lake Buena Vista Rotary Club Foundation to host its 10th annual golf tournament to support community organizations.

Gregory Gorski remembers watching intensely as a golfer missed the hole of a 60-foot putt by just a few inches during the Lake Buena Vista Rotary Club Foundation’s golf tournament last year.

Those watching the contest couldn’t believe it.

Gorski missed out on a $5,000 prize.

The stakes are higher at this year’s Lake Buena Vista Rotary Club Foundation’s golf tournament as the putting contest has a $10,000 prize.

Whoever sinks the putt will win, and if no one does, the prize money will go toward the foundation’s efforts of supporting various community organizations.

Gorski, the chair of the golf event, said he has a hunch that this will be the year someone sinks the putt.

The Lake Buena Vista Rotary Club Foundation golf tournament, which will take place Friday, May 15, is cel-

ebrating its 10th anniversary at Celebration Golf Club.

Over the past decade, the tournament only has become bigger and better, raising more funds and providing more opportunities for fun at the tournament.

Gorski said with this tournament, the club is expecting to exceed $250,000 raised since the tournament’s inception.

“I enjoy being able to raise funds to help our community,” he said.

“I enjoy being a part of something

with our members that is important and meaningful. I appreciate all the support we get from the community that shows up at the event to donate either time or funds to help benefit our foundation and the community.”

He said he is grateful and it is gratifying to see the Rotary Club’s 60-plus members participating in the tournament in some way — whether playing, volunteering or participating in the auction.

“It’s meaningful because it’s 100% involvement with our members,”

Gorski said of the club. “To have that many people engage in an event like this is why it’s so successful. It also becomes kind of a galvanizing event for our members. We all have one cause. We’re all together in that cause, and it’s meaningful for all those reasons.”

All money raised is used to support various community organizations, including the New Image Youth Center in Parramore, National Alliance of Mental Illness, Rotary Youth Scholarships, Orlando Union Rescue Mission, United Abolitionists and more.

The Lake Buena Vista Rotary Club invites these organizations to its meetings to present a check, which gives the organization a chance to share its mission and the impact the money will have on the organization.

Gorski said the members have been able to see how they’re providing shelter through the Orlando Union Rescue Mission or after-school programs through the New Image Youth Center.

“They share stories about the children that are benefitting by that,” he said. “We get thank-you letters from the kids. It’s definitely a tangible thing to see and to look at, and you recognize the impact you’re having when you see that. … It shows that our work matters. It shows that volunteer efforts mat -

Although the Lake Buena Vista Rotary Club Foundation golf tournament is sold out, there still is an opportunity to get involved.

Visit birdease.com/RCLBVCharityGolfChallenge to participate in the online auction or make a donation.

ter. We’re making a difference each time we do this in our community. It’s important and meaningful for us to be part of that.”

At the tournament, one of the moments that speaks to the impact it has on the community most is when Gorski sees the golfers head off to their first tee. He sees golfers in dozens of golf carts, all of whom are there to support the club’s cause and believe in what they’re doing for the community, he said.

The tournament already has sold out with a maximum of 140 golfers of all experiences participating. Gorski said of those 140, about 70% of them are returning golfers.

Following the tournament, the fun will continue at a post-round buffet luncheon.

Although the tournament already is sold out, people still can support the organization by donating online or participating in the auction online. The auction will go live Monday, May 11, and close at 2 p.m. Friday, May 15.

Courtesy photo Jared Wolovnick received trophy at last year’s tournament from Greg Gorski.

Above: Michael Pyles, 7, lasted quite a while on the mechanical bull.

Left: Quinn Bryant steadied her aim in the ax-throwing trailer.

Jonathan Griffin, 16, tried his hand at ax-throwing.

Serena Matadin worked hard on her maraca art project.

SPORTS

HIGH 5

1

The Ocoee High girls flag football team claimed the Class 3A, District 4 Championship by topping Seminole High 25-6 Thursday, April 23. The Lady Knights then won the regional quarterfinal game over Mandarin, 21-12, and advanced to the regional semifinals against Forest Monday, May 4. Ocoee holds an 11-8 record on the season and No. 104 ranking in Florida. Junior quarterback and wide receiver Tatiara Donadelle has played an important role in the team’s success. She leads the Knights in rushing yards per game with 20, passing touchdowns and completion percentage.

The Windermere High boys weightlifting team celebrated a successful regional meet, and three of its lifters will advance to the Class 3A State Championship scheduled for Wednesday, May 6, through Friday, May 8.

Charlie Anthony won the regional championship in olympic’s 169-pound weight class by lifting 455. Duece Forrester also won the regional championship in the UNL of traditional with 590, and Chasen Olson-Rivera was the runner-up in Olympic and Traditional. All three Wolverines advanced to the Class 3A State Championship Wednesday, May 6, to Friday, May 8, at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.

Other local state qualifiers include Lake Buena Vista’s Romeo Castillo, Juan Vasquez and James Yauger; and Horizon’s Tristen Snitko, Abashi Smith, Ryan Dugan, Kaio Oliveira and Braden Berthiaume.

Following a first-round bye game in the Class 2A, District 7 tournament and a 5-0 district semifinal win over Cornerstone Charter Academy, The First Academy softball team set its eyes on the championship. TFA was pitted against the No. 1 seed, Montverde Academy, but persevered to a 4-1 win Thursday, April 30. The Royals won the district championship for the first time since 2022. Senior Luna Taboas has led the team with her .700 batting average, which has led to her 28 runs batted in and .722 on-base percentage. The regional tournament began Wednesday, May 6.

In 2021, Dr. Phillips High boys basketball junior guard Riley Kugel scored 13 points during the team’s first state championship title. Five years later, the Panthers alumnus declared for the NBA Draft Monday, April 27. Kugel played two seasons for the Panthers, averaging 14.5 points, five rebounds and three assists per game his junior year. His senior year, he averaged 16.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists. Aside from winning states in 2021, Kugel also scored 27 points in Dr. Phillips’ state runners-up finish in 2022.

Dr. Phillips High multisport athlete Jaiden Smith celebrated breaking two of his personal records during the track-and-field season. Smith, who also is a junior wide receiver on the football team, broke his 100M dash time by running it in 10.58 seconds and his 200M time in 21.41. His accomplishments came during the 2026 Metro West Championship Friday, April 10. Since then, he has competed in the FHSAA Class 4A, District 5 meet, where he placed first in the 100M and 200M.

The eight records broken on the Ocoee High trackand-field team has come to fruition through a squad that bought into a new head coach’s emphasis on grit.

MEGAN BRUINSMA STAFF

WRITER

Ocoee High track-and-field

senior Daniel Brown leaned back. He took a breath. Then he ran toward the pit of sand in front of him. He pushed off the ground with all his might and flew 7.2 meters.

With his reach, Brown became the FHSAA Class 4A, District 4 long jump champion. But more than that, he surpassed Ocoee’s school record in the field event by .31 meters, which

was set earlier in the season by Hervins Chervil.

“I felt like I was on top of the world,” Brown said. “It was just such a surreal moment. I’ve trained so long for this and all the hard days and practices that we’ve endured — we deserved it.”

In that moment, Brown became one of the eight Ocoee athletes to break a school record this season.

He also was one of the many ath letes who helped the Knights clinch the district championship and the Lady Knights earn district runners-up. The team channeled the accomplishments and took it to the FHSAA 4A Region 1 meet Saturday, May 2, where 14 ath letes qualified to compete in states.

“We were really disciplined dur ing districts,” Brown said. “We really endured through the pain. We know it hurts. We knew we were suffering and everyone else too, and we just made sure that we were prepared the best (we could be) and made sure we executed the best.”

The drive to push through pain has been built up over the season. When head coach Kenneth Bush stepped

SEE GRIT PAGE 10A

MANAGEMENT MATERIAL: Warrior readies for University of Florida

West Orange High football team’s student manager

Tim Mazek found his pathway into the sport two years ago and has become a pivotal hand on the sidelines.

Tim Mazek, a West Orange High senior and a student equipment manager for the football team, still remembers exactly when he first stepped on the sidelines. It was April 29, 2024 — just two days before his birthday. Mazek spent most of the first practice cleaning up after his mistakes. When he first went to fit players for chin straps, he accidentally dumped out all of the spare parts, then had to pick up all of them one-by-one.

“I just tried to show them how much I wanted it,” he said. “I didn’t want to look like I just came in expecting things.” Throughout the first week of prac-

tices, Mazek didn’t talk to anyone. Rather, he shadowed head coach Geno Thompson to figure out what was going on. Once Mazek got a feel for the inner workings of practices, he stepped out of his shell.

Now two years later, Mazek will be graduating from West Orange Wednesday, May 27. He will use the hours of management under his belt to apply to be a manager for the University of Florida’s football team.

LOVE FOR THE GAME Mazek and his family always have loved football, so much so his parents named him after the University of Florida’s legendary quarterback Tim Tebow, who won two NCAA ChampiSEE

407 Basketball’s Brody McCullough has shown growth in his junior club season. Page 10A.

MEGAN BRUINSMA STAFF WRITER

Aubrey Wynn and Daniel Brown both broke school records this season and added to the list of accomplishments Ocoee High track-and-field team has posted.

Right: Kenneth Bush came to Ocoee with years of coaching experience under his belt and college track experience, which has shaped how he builds the team’s work ethic.

Photo by Megan Bruinsma

Tim Mazek discovered his passion for working as a student manager two years ago and will take the lessons with him as he prepares to leave the Warriors for his next chapter in college.

Brody McCullough

Brody McCullough is a guard on 407 Basketball’s Select Varsity team. The junior has played an important role this AAU season through his lefty shots and ability to carry the ball with easy. His team competed in the Spring Bling tournament Friday, April 10, to Sunday, April 12, and placed in second with a 2-1 record. In his high school season, he played six games for Lake Minneola High’s varsity team and averaged 1.8 points per game.

What do you enjoy most about basketball?

I enjoy being able to work on something outside of my home and the classroom. It’s a way to kind of escape from reality for a bit in my opinion.

When did you start playing basketball and why did you join?

I started playing basketball in fifth grade around 2018. I joined because my brother loved basketball, which influenced me to play more seriously so I could have something to get better at to prove something to myself.

What is your biggest accomplishment in basketball?

Playing varsity basketball.

What has basketball taught you?

Basketball has taught me discipline, working hard with a plan and regulating emotions is the key to success.

How would you describe yourself as a teammate?

I describe myself as someone that cheers on my teammates through the hardships. I also play unselfishly to help them succeed on the court by not just thinking about myself but (also) my team.

What advice would you give someone who just started basketball?

Start with the fundamentals and start working on your strength and athleticism.

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

I would tell my team to have fun, and no matter what they feel or how scared they are to play, I would tell them, “You and the other teams bleed the same, and I don’t care how you feel, you still got to play.”

because I like being able to use my speed, and I’ve always grown up loving football. Football was the sport I chose before basketball until I learned the potential and love I had for basketball.

Who do you look up to the most?

I would say I look up to my dad the most because he is a great leader and example for me.

What is something new you’d like to learn?

I would like to learn how to market trade or even start a business.

Where would you want to live if you weren’t in Florida?

I would say North Carolina because of the mountains and the pretty, relaxing views.

If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?

I would buy a huge home and build a basketball court, weight room and training facility at my house.

What is your favorite holiday and why?

Christmas because I’m able to give others gifts and get together with the family. Also, I’m on break from school for Christmas, too!

What future career do you want to have?

I would like to be an engineer or even start my own business.

If you became famous, what would it be for?

I would become famous for basketball.

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

My spirit animal would be a monkey because they are honestly pretty chill animals in my opinion.

What is your perfect day?

A perfect day for me would be training like lifting weights and hooping. Also resting and

Grit fuels Knights’ record-setters

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9A

onto Ocoee’s track for his first year with the team, he saw two traits: a talented team but a lack of grit.

He and the other coaches were determined to change that.

Bush taught his athletes the physical aspect of the sport only can take them so far. It’s their mental space that makes the biggest difference.

Early in the season, that message didn’t hit home. After doing one round of workouts, Bush watched his team go to the bleachers and lie down. One day, Bush and the coaches picked up the bleachers during practice and moved them to the other side of the fence so the athletes didn’t have the option to quit.

“As soon as something gets difficult, we can’t shut down workouts,” Bush said. “Every workout isn’t going to be tough, but every workout isn’t going to be easy, and just building that willingness to compete, not letting somebody just pass you.”

He calls it grit, and since the bleachers were moved, he said the team embraced it.

Everything came together at the Metro West Championship Friday, April 10. He watched Dominic Simpson, who battled back and hamstring injuries during the season, go out and run a personal record of 10.63 in the 100M. Amari Smith was dealing with personal matters outside of track all season and not running how Bush knew she could, but she went out and ran the 100M in 12.22.

“Watching them trust what I was saying, trusting the process and sticking with the work, especially when I’m the new guy, so it’s easy to say, ‘This coach doesn’t know what he’s talking about,’ and watching it (happen) felt full circle,” Bush said. “Metros was that moment I knew we could do well in districts.”

When districts came, Brown’s record-breaking performance came, as well as two others. Freshman Aubrey Wynn broke the school record in the women’s 400-meter 30-inch hurdles with her time of 1:09.50.

Wynn’s work ethic is the epitome of what Bush was looking for at the beginning, he calls her “a tough cookie.”

“She will not give in at practice,” he said. “She is one of the few (who is) not going to let you see her get tired, even though I know she’s tired. She’s just a soldier, and those things you can’t coach.”

Wynn said the hurdle event runs in her genes. Her mom still holds records at her middle school and high school, and knowing that has pushed her to try and recreate the experience in her life.

But as a unit, the Knights have all stepped up to channel their inner soldiers and now take on a new level of accountability.

They challenge their teammates every day at practice, whether it’s through cheers or telling Bush they understood the coaching and he can step back and relax, or beating one another’s records to encourage them to push harder.

When Brown beat Chervil’s record in the long jump, Chervil told Bush he was going to push himself to reclaim the record-holder title. The in-team competition is what has helped establish a culture full of grit and family, and the ability to receive corrections.

Bush taught the Knights: There’s no losses. There’s only lessons.

MOVING FORWARD

The 12 Knights who qualified for the state competition Saturday, May 9, will be looking to earn individual titles, but the vision extends past Jacksonville. Bush said 28 seniors, who set the standard at Ocoee, have begun to look at the next chapter.

Devin Matthews toured Louisiana Tech, and Jaiden Manning saw Alabama State. Smith is committed to Barry University. Brown already has toured the University of Mississippi, South Carolina State and the University of Charlotte. Brown transferred to Ocoee this season from Apopka, and he credited his growth and preparation to the Knights’ coaching staff. They have allowed him to specialize in his positions rather than running the

STATE QUALIFIERS

University of North Florida, Saturday, May 9

BOYS

n Daniel Brown: 4x400M

n Cameron Harrington: 4x800M

n Casmen Jean: 4x800M, 4x400M

n Jaiden Manning: 100MH, 4x400M

n Devin Matthews: 400M, 4x800M, 4x400M

n Justin Pierre: Discus

n Rodgy Prosper: 400MH, 4x400M, 4x800M

GIRLS

n Ja’Kyla Dean: 4x100M, 4x400M n Clentseanna Gordon: 4x100M, 4x400M

n Jermia Huyler: 400M, 4x100M, 4x400M

n Amari Smith: 4x100M, 4x400M

n Yaliyah Ramirez: 4x400M

ALTERNATES n Aubrey Wynn: 4x400M; Gezavier Datilma: 4x800M

RECORDS BROKEN

BOYS

n Devin Matthews: 400M, 47.27

n Jaiden Manning: 100M hurdles, 13.83

n Rodgey Prosper: 400M 36-inch hurdles, 54.73

n Rodgey Prosper: 400M 30-inch hurdles, 58.31

n Daniel Brown : Long jump, 7.19M

GIRLS

n Aubrey Wynn: 400M 3-inch hurdles, 1:09.50

n Jermia Huyler, Ja’Kyle Dean, Clentseanna Go, Amari Smith: 4x200 relay, 1:41.50 n Jayla Newton : Javelin, 32.82M

same events at every meet, and gave the team time to recover from their workouts. The coaching staff has given him the outreach for college coaches, for which is exactly what Bush is striving.

Bush graduated from Evans High before he went to Florida A&M for track and field, but in his senior year at Evans, he had Max Purcell, a well-known coach in the Orlando area football and track scene, as his head coach.

“He opened my eyes,” Bush said. “He was the first one (who) told me I could do something with this. ... When I came back to high school, I’ve always been about getting them to see life beyond just right now.”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9A

onships and became the first sophomore to win the Heisman in 2007.

Since he was born, Mazek has been to almost every home Gators game. He essentially grew up at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, and his baby pictures are scattered with photos of him there in Gators gear.

But he never was able to pick up the sport himself because his mom was worried about concussions. He had to find a different way into the beloved game.

The pathway was opened during Mazek’s sophomore year, when he was talking with one of his friends about the draft season. His friend was a huge fan of the Chicago Bears, who had the No. 1 pick that year, and Mazek was expressing his uncertainty about picking Caleb Williams over Jayden Daniels. Thompson overheard Mazek tracking back stats and numbers and asked if he would be interested in doing it for the team.

“He offered that, and I didn’t understand that was a path I could take toward (football), and I just jumped on it,” Mazek said.

The offer led to Mazek’s first week of practice, and once he overcame his newbie nerves, he excelled with helping the team with everything behind the scenes.

Now that the Warriors are in season for spring training, he picks up food for them, makes sure the laun-

dry is out for the players, jerseys are fitted properly and helps the coaches with setting up and filming drills.

“I help them with whatever equipment issues that they have — if (the) chin strap moved or if they got a buzz cut and now your helmet is not going to fit right,” he said.

In season, he ensured West Orange’s in-game replay system and end zone feed were set up. He also assumed ongoing tasks such as illfitting jerseys or other hiccups that arise during a game. Tape can work wonders in those situations.

But most important, his role is “protecting the players from the players.”

“All these kids want to have the coolest outfits on and want to wear the smallest pads and have the helmets that make them look the coolest,” Mazek said. “You have to put them in stuff that’s going to keep them safe.”

Every helmet needs to be filled with air and their chin straps must be tightened to ensure their heads don’t wiggle around.

“I know what I’m doing so I know that all of these kids after I put them in helmets are going to be OK,” Mazek said. “Once I can send you out, you’re good. It’s like a baby bird. You throw them out there and (they) have to figure it out.”

Seeing everything unlocked not only a deeper understanding of everything it takes for a football team to run but also an understanding of character values to have while being a manager and a student.

NOT DOING THE ROBOT

When Mazek first began as a manager, he had to learn how it was socially acceptable to talk to people in the football environment, compared to school, where you have to be on point about topics and act more “robotic,” he said.

“I don’t want kids asking me for equipment all the time, like, ‘Hey can you just do this?’” he said. “It’s like, no, that’s not my job. So it was learning how to hold respect while

also being friendly with the kids and building relationships.”

Through football, he has made some of his closest friends. Everyone has bad times, and he said when he was really struggling with school and personal life, the football players always were there for him by making him feel part of the community.

“That meant the most to me because I went through some pretty bad things and they helped me out of it,” he said. “The regimen also helps me keep on top of my grades and make sure that I’m doing everything that I need to do to be successful in life.”

The coaches especially helped Mazek learn how to be organized and taught him that if he holds himself to a higher standard, then people will follow him. He now has a detailed planner with everything he needs to accomplish during the day.

The responsibilities also helped Mazek get over the people-pleaser hurdle and learn how to have strong boundaries. If he allows himself to be a push-over, then people are going to do just that.

As Mazek graduates from West Orange and begins college at Florida to study mechanical engineering in the summer, he will carry over those lessons with him. He plans to apply at UF to work inside of their equipment staff. He said Warriors’ coach Larry Hoyt and his son managed the team when they went to UF, and their connections will help him with the application.

Mazek can’t help but smile when he thinks about stepping inside of the Gators’ stadium as a member of the team. It will be a full-circle moment for him, but he cannot be more thankful for the West Orange staff for introducing him to this pathway in the first place.

“I’m incredibly thankful for both the team and the coaches,” Mazek said. “It’s brought me closer to God. They’ve helped me grow into a more mature person, emotionally and I feel like they’ve helped me to the deepest part of my soul.”

BRAINFOOD

Animal Instincts I Michael Eng // Editor and Publisher

In recognition of Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we’re taking a look at the super cool Chinese Zodiac, or shengxiao.

The Chinese Zodiac consists of a 12-year cycle. Each year is associated with a different animal that exhibit distinct characteristics.

Many Chinese people believe the year of a person’s birth is the primary factor in determining that person’s personality traits, physical and mental attributes, and degree of success and happiness throughout his or her lifetime.

To learn about your Animal Sign, find the year of your birth among the 12 signs.

1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 You are ambitious yet honest. Prone to spend freely. Seldom make lasting friendships. Most compatible with Dragons and Monkeys. Least compatible with Horses. Lucky numbers 3. Lucky colors are blue, gold

OX 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 Bright, patient and inspiring to others. You can be happy by yourself yet make an outstanding parent. Marry a Snake or Cock. The Sheep will bring trouble. Lucky numbers are 1 and 4. Lucky colors are white, yellow and green.

TIGER 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022 Tiger people are aggressive, courageous, candid and sensitive. Look to the Horse and Dog for happiness. Beware of the Monkey. Lucky numbers are 1, 3 and 4. Lucky colors are blue, gray

RABBIT

1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023

Luckiest of all signs, you also are talented and articulate. Affectionate yet shy, you seek peace throughout your life. Marry a Sheep or Boar. Your opposite is the Cock. Lucky numbers are 3, 4 and 6. Lucky colors are red, pink, purple and blue.

DRAGON 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024 You are eccentric, and your life is complex. You have a very passionate nature and abundant health. Marry a Monkey or Rat late in life. Avoid the Dog. Lucky numbers are 1, 6 and 7. Lucky colors are gold, silver and grayish white.

SNAKE

1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025 Wise and intense with a tendency toward physical beauty. Vain and high tempered. The Boar is your enemy. The Cock or Ox are your best signs. Lucky numbers are 2, 8 and 9. Lucky colors are black, red and yellow.

HORSE 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026

Popular and attractive to the opposite sex. You are often ostentatious and impatient. You need people. Marry a Tiger or a Dog early, but never a Rat. Lucky numbers are 2, 3 and 7. Lucky colors are yellow and green.

SHEEP 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015

Elegant and creative, you are timid and prefer anonymity. You are most compatible with Boars and Rabbits, but never the Ox. Lucky numbers are 2 and 7. Lucky colors are brown, red and purple.

MONKEY 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016

You are very intelligent and are able to influence people. An enthusiastic achiever, you are easily discouraged and confused. Avoid Tigers. Seek a Dragon or a Rat. Lucky numbers are 4 and 9. Lucky col ors are white, blue and gold.

COCK 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017

UPCOMING EVENTS

HOMESCHOOL JUNIOR: TOURING ASIA

11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 7, at the Eatonville Branch. Learning comes alive! Explore the world through crafts, experiments, and hands-on activities. Recommended for ages 6-12.

TEA TIME

5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 7, at the South Trail Branch. Celebrate the history and impact of tea in Asian culture. Ages of 18 and up. Registration required.

BEGINNER’S CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY

A pioneer in spirit, you are devoted to work and quest after knowledge. You are selfish and eccentric. Rabbits are trouble. Snakes and Oxen are fine. Lucky numbers are 5, 7 and 8. Lucky colors are gold, brown and yellow.

BOAR 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019 Noble and chivalrous. Your friends will be life-long, yet you are prone to marital strife. Avoid other Boars. Marry a Rabbit or a Sheep. Lucky numbers are 2, 5 and 8. Lucky colors are yellow, gray, brown and gold.

DOG 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 Loyal and honest, you work well with others. Generous yet stubborn and often selfish. Look to the Horse or Tiger. Watch out for Dragons. Lucky numbers are 3, 4 and 9. Lucky colors are

6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, virtually. Join artist Jojo Liu as she teaches the art of traditional Chinese calligraphy, in honor of Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Registration required.

CUISINE CORNER JUNIOR:

KOREAN SOY SAUCE NOODLES

3 p.m. Wednesday, May 13, at the Hiawassee Branch. Junior chefs will follow a recipe and demonstration to whip up something delicious. Registration required.

KUNG FU SHOW: PRESENTED BY WAH LUM KUNG FU TEMPLE

1 p.m. Saturday, May 16, at the Orlando Public Library. A diverse team of professional performers from the Wah Lum Kung Fu Temple will present a Lion dance, kung fu and tai chi performance demonstration. Explore Chinese culture through this demonstration.

TEEN ADVENTURES:

KOREAN POTTERY

3 p.m. Saturday, May 16, at the South Trail Branch. Explore the world of art, experiment with new techniques, and create a masterpiece of your own! Recommended for ages 13-18. Registration required.

TODDLER STORYTIME: ALOHA!

3 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, at the South Trail Branch. Toddlers will explore a playful mix of songs, rhymes and stories while building early literacy skills and having fun. Recommended for ages 18-36 months.

RENATA BASILE INDEPENDENCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Renata Basile is the school registrar at Independence Elementary School.

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Basile is responsible for enrolling, withdrawing and transferring students — as well as keeping all the records up to date and in order, helping teachers and staff with any student information, and translating meetings when necessary. She also is responsible for the school’s social media and marquee.

“She is often the first person new families communicate with here at the school,” Principal Jeff Peters said. “She welcomes them to the school and provides information and guidance on what we offer here at Independence Elementary. She also provides prospective parents with a tour of our school where she highlights the wonderful things that happen here. Renata is also bilingual and speaks Portuguese. Her warm and welcoming attitude builds trust with our families. New families feel more comfortable, and existing families know they can rely on her if they need anything at all. Not only does Renata perform the role of registrar, but she oversees our social media presence via Facebook and our digital marquee. In so many ways, Ms. Basile, is our link to our families and community.”

What brought you to your school?

It was actually Mr. Peters, our principal. He was my AP when I worked at Keene’s (Crossing Elementary School), and when he became the principal at Independence, he asked me to join his team. Since I had enjoyed working with him at Keene’s, I said, why not?

What do you love most about your school?

I love our teachers and staff, and the love they put into their work. And I love our families and how involved they are with the school.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

It’s welcoming a new family for the first time, answering all their questions and making them feel confident about sending their child to our school — especially when it’s a family coming from another country. I like to explain how the school system works in Florida, how ESOL works, what to expect in the first days, etc. I am always available to help with any issues or questions they might have. And it’s always rewarding when I run into one of these families and they say I was a blessing in their lives.

What would you be if you weren’t in this profession?

Before I moved to the United States, I worked in advertising/PR. When we moved, since we had no family around, I needed a job where I could work while my kids were in school, and that’s when I started working for OCPS. I enjoyed this change of scenery and being around the kids and seeing them grow. If I were to start over, I would be a vet.

REPORT CARD

Who influences you?

My parents and my grandpa. They always taught me that honesty and hard work go a long way.

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

Mr. Diogo. He was my geography teacher in seventh grade. He instilled in me a love of traveling and learning about different countries, cultures, etc. Geography is still my favorite subject.

What is your favorite children’s book and why?

“The Rainbow Fish.” It has such a powerful message.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Spend time with my family and friends, go to the beach, read a good novel and watch a series.

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

Betty White. I want a fun dinner, filled with laughter and fascinating stories.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

Not sure if that’s a superpower, but I would love to visit our loved ones who are no longer here. Just spend a day with them, talk, laugh, have fun and come back knowing they are still here.

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

That’s hard. I am a very eclectic person. I’d say Garth Brooks, U2 (or Coldplay) and Marisa Monte (a Brazilian singer).

What was your go-to lunch and favorite snack as an elementary student? Tuna sandwich, Toddynho and pao de queijo (cheese bread).

What is your favorite holiday and why?

Christmas. I love all the magic behind it, all the traditions. And the best part is to join Brazilian and American traditions.

What is a fun fact about yourself that would surprise people? I did bungee-jumping once.

What were your extracurricular activities as a student? Did you earn any accolades? I was a theater kid. I loved it. I did several plays. I did get nominated for best actress in a festival.

— LIZ RAMOS

Carnival craze hits Bridgewater Middle

Scattered around Bridgewater Middle School’s courtyard were a variety of stations, each offering its own unique game including wall darts, giant tic-tac-toe, basketball, bump n’ bounce body bumpers and more.

The festivities were a part of the middle school’s first Spring Carnival, held Friday, April 17. Bridgewater Middle’s Student Government Association’s members organized and ran the event themselves, and members all signed up for a different station to work. Amy Klaber, the school’s principal, said the carnival is going to become an annual event and it was the SGA’s eighth-graders’ way of leaving their legacy. — MEGAN BRUINSMA

Above: Students had a blast racing each other through the lawn in their potato sacks.

Left: Ryan Popick, Tony Minutelli, Erick Depontes and Joshua Elliott became human basketball hoops for the headshot basketball activity.

Serigo Montezuma was excited to shoot the bow and arrow.

Left: Taylor Belvedere and Jayesha Patel showcased their artistic skills at the face-painting station.

Friends stayed cool at the festival with treats from Jeremiah’s Italian Ice. There were three other food trucks to choose from, too.

Castleview throws first Sapphire’s Knights Ball

For the first time in Castleview Elementary School history, the boys got an event just for them.

The first annual Sapphire’s Knight Ball, held Friday, April 17, allowed boys to be boys in a fun and safe environment. Activities such as dancing, limbo, hoop-chain, dodgeball and more took place during the event. With music, games and food, the night couldn’t get better for the boys.

There were more than 130 attendees, all having fun, dancing, smiling and laughing.

— LETICIA SILVA