Times& WEST ORANGE
Observer WEST ORANGE COUNTY’S NEWSPAPER FOR 109 YEARS
WINTER GARDEN, FLORIDA
OF 2015 • HIGH SCHOOL CLASS TIMES & OBSERVER 2015 • WEST ORANGE THURSDAY, MAY 28,
HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF
ACTIVE
of A special supplement
WOTimes.com
IN THIS ISSUE We celebrate all the area graduates in our 2015 section. SPECIAL SECTION
• Winter Garden, FL 34787
172175
to the West Orang
by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer OUR TOWN championship form
FREE
lations Congraetu Classes of 2015 13640 W. Colonial Drive
MAY 28, 2015
1
2015
Winter Garden boy hits open road as boxcar racer. PAGE 3B
THURSDAY
tcommunitychurch.com • 407.654.9661 www.nex
W.G. teen named a champion by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals
The West Orange Times & Observer is holding a FatherSon Look-Alike Contest to recognize Father’s Day. Photographs of fathers and sons can be submitted to news@wotimes.com. The contest ends June 15. Winners will be honored at the June 19 Winter Garden Squeeze baseball game and receive a $100 gift card and a $50 dining certificate. For more, call (407) 6562121.
WINTER GARDEN — Like many teenagers, Katie Karp participates in a number of active hobbies. She rides and cares for her horse, and she particularly thrives on the lacrosse field.
The difference between Karp and most other high-school students who enjoy these activities is that she has survived a battle with cancer that left her with a titanium rod in place of her thigh bone.
“Having been through what I’d been through with my surgery and illness … most doctors would probably tell you it’s not in your best interest to go out and play such a rough sport,” Karp said. “I worked
over the summer, throughout the fall. I don’t think I’ve ever worked so hard at something in my entire life, physically. “There was definitely some pain and a lot of struggle getting in shape for the season,” she said. “But I ended up making my varsity lacrosse team at
Katie Karp has worked her way back to playing lacrosse after a titanium rod replaced much of her thigh bone.
KARP / PAGE 4A
development
TASSELS TURNED CLASS OF 2015 by the Times & Observer staff
+ Filmmakers come to W.G.
by Zak Kerr | Staff Writer
County OKs plan for bigbox store in Horizon West
Andrew Campbell, left, helped his son, West Orange High’s Elijah Campbell, get ready for his big day.
Residents say the store would hurt property values and cause traffic issues in the community.
Fan Ping and Hao Chen, documentarians from Seattle, are working on a film about the Flying Tigers, the ace airmen who helped the Chinese armed forces fight against the Japanese in World War II. Winter Garden’s George McMillan flew missions as a Tiger and died in action in the southeast Asian skies. Ping and Chen have been researching material at the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation History Research and Education Center.
HORIZON WEST — Orange County commissioners approved a preliminary subdivision plan in Horizon West that some residents believe will lead to a Walmart in the area. At the Board of County Commissioners’ May 5 meeting, two development plans
WALMART / PAGE 4A
+ We welcome new staff writer The West Orange Times & Observer has added a new staff writer to its editorial staff. Catherine Sinclair has joined the West Orange team from our sister paper, the Plant City Times & Observer. She holds a double major in journalism and music, along with a minor in biology, from the University of Richmond.
I
WO
GROWTH
by Michael Eng | Executive Editor
The Windermere Prep graduates celebrated commencement at the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center.
CFCA graduate Veda Singh will attend the University of South Florida.
FOR PHOTOS FROM EVERY GRADUATION, SEE PAGES 6A TO 9A AND VISIT WOTIMES.COM.
This week’s winner is
Lisa Lehmann.
See the photo on PAGE 5B.
Developer introduces phase two of DP apartments
Thousands of West Orange-area seniors celebrated the end of their high-school careers last week at their respective commencement ceremonies. West Orange High School kicked off graduation season May 19, at the Amway Center. The week continued with Dr. Phillips High School May 21, at Amway Center; Central Florida Christian Academy May 21, at CFCA; Foundation Academy May 21, at Foundation’s South Campus; Windermere Preparatory School May 23, at Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center; and Montverde Academy May 23, at Montverde.
Residents say the new project will have severe traffic impacts on their community. DR. PHILLIPS — Residents in Dr. Phillips got their first look at a project that could add more than 300 residences to their community during a community meeting April 30 hosted by Orange County Commissioner Scott Boyd. The meeting was the public’s first look at a proposal for
Foundation Academy’s Lauren Piotraczk and Stevanna Ames took some selfies.
RIALTO / PAGE 4A
INDEX Arts & Culture.......................11A Classifieds..............................7B
Community Calendar..............2A Crossword...............................5B
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History..................................15A Obituaries.............................15A
Vol. 83, No. 22 , Three sections
Sports.....................................1B Weather..................................5B
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+ Dads, do you look like your sons?
Katie Karp, this year’s only champion from Florida, will spend the next year as an advocate for children who are fighting cancer.
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The drive for payment is a 36 month lease with 10500 miles per year. All payments are plus tax tag title acquisition fee dealer fee and wear care plus $3000 cap cost reduction. Excludes AXZD plan purchases. Advertised price is only good for date of publication. Dealer and newspaper are not responsible for typographical errors. Photos are for illustrative purposes only.