W E ST O RA N G E T I M E S &
Observer Celebrating more than 110 years in West Orange
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. FREE
VOLUME 85, NO. 19
•
THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2018
IN FOCUS
DALI DEBUT
BLACK REAL
West Orange student featured in Dali exhibit. 13.
Ocoee fire chief proposes fire-based EMS transport John Miller presented a fire-based EMS transport plan for consideration by Ocoee city commissioners. DANIELLE HENDRIX BLACK TIE EDITOR
By January 2019, the city of Ocoee could be fully equipped and prepared to launch its own fire-based EMS transport. Ocoee Fire Chief John Miller
SPORTS
SEE OCOEE PAGE 4
TIE
HORSING AROUND
Kentucky Derby inspires Junior Service League, Ivy Tea Rose events. 10 & 12.
YOUR TOWN
To moms, with love Oakland Presbyterian Church is delivering more than 200 Mother’s Day baskets this week to two local hospitals.
SEE STORY PAGE 4
SPEND A NIGHT AT THE PRESERVE Enjoy an evening surrounded by nature at the Oakland Nature Preserve’s third annual Night at the Preserve from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 12, at the preserve, 747 Machete Trail, Oakland. The elegant evening includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and desserts, wine and beer selections, music, chance raffles and a lakeside champagne toast at sunset — and if Mother Nature cooperates, guests will see fireflies. Tickets are $50 and are available at Oaklandnaturepreserve.org/natp. All proceeds of this event will support the continued work of the Oakland Nature Preserve.
Ocoee native enters race for County Commission District 2 Mark Byrd said his knowledge of the area will help him represent the community he calls home. ERIC GUTIERREZ STAFF WRITER
DIAMOND DAYS
West Orange-area teams fall in district tournaments. PAGE 17.
Apopka nursery owner Mark Byrd will be on the primary election this August in the race for the Orange County Commission, District 2. Byrd, 62, qualified by petition to be on the ballot. He said he is running for County Commission so he could give back to the community. “I want to serve the community that’s been good to me,” Byrd said.
“You hear it a lot, but it’s true — I want to give back to the community that’s been a big part of my life. … My faith and my community (are) everything to me. This community was good to me, and I feel like I have a responsibility to give back. It’s that simple. I don’t have to have the job. I want to do the job.” A resident of Clarcona, Byrd said he has lived in District 2 his
Mark Byrd has joined the race for Orange County Commission District 2.
SEE MEET PAGE 6
Eric Gutierrez