WINTER PARK/MAITLAND
Observer Serving Winter Park, Maitland and Baldwin Park
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. VOLUME 29, NO. 20
See inside for our monthly Health and Wellness issue.
50 CENTS
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FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017
Happy 10th, Hannibal Square The Hannibal Square Heritage Center has preserved local African-American history for 10 years. SEE 3.
YOUR TOWN SWEET SOCIAL RAISES $24,000 The numbers are in for the Ronald McDonald House Ice Cream Social 2017. The event raised more than $24,000 with sponsorships, ticket sales, silent auctions and donations. This is up from $20,716 raised in 2016. The event’s organizers thank everyone who worked to make the event special and enjoyable for family and friends — all for a great cause.
A salute to Seymour Habitat for Humanity of Winter Park-Maitland dedicated its 53rd home to Thaddeus Seymour, Rollins College’s 12th president. TIM FREED
Outdoor retailer REI opens in Winter Park The retailer welcomed customers to its Winter Park location to celebrate its grand opening. TIM FREED
STAFF WRITER
A
wave of emotions hit the Thompson family Saturday, May 13. LaWanda
Thompson opened the front door and immediately lost her composure, crying tears of joy. Her family of five, with her husband and three children, were finally homeowners. La-
STAFF WRITER
Wanda took a step forward on
Ready for a new adventure? REI celebrated the grand opening of its Winter Park store last weekend — giving Central Florida residents a place where they can get everything they
the dark brown hardwood floor
SEE REI PAGE 2
into the fully decorated living room complete with a couch/ bed, chairs, lamps and rug.
SEE PAGE 2
“We’re standing on the porch of our 53rd house. What a wonderful statement that is about Winter Park and its sense of neighbors and neighborhood.”
NO CAUSE, NO CURE
— Thaddeus Seymour
Maitland firm suits up for Women Build project Nine female employees from the Maitland-based CBA Architects participated in Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program on Monday, May 8. GABBY BAQUERO STAFF WRITER
Donning pink constructions hats, nine women employed by Charlan Brock Associates Architects arrived at a construction site ready to offer a helping hand toward the construction of four town homes. MAITLAND
USPS 00-6186 Publisher statement on page 4.
One local family is leading the charge to raise awareness for myalgic encephalomyelitis. SEE STORY ON 4.
CBA employees lent their time and fundraising efforts toward the project as part of the Habitat for Humanity Seminole Apopka division’s weeklong Women Build program. CBA Architects, a firm based in Maitland, raised $5,000 toward the effort via bake sales SEE WOMEN PAGE 2