06.25.20 West Orange Times & Observer

W E ST O RA N G E T I M E S &

Observer Winter Garden, Ocoee, Oakland

Longtime Winter Garden firefighter retires. SEE 3.

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VOLUME 87, NO. 26

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THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020

Play ball! Baseball is back The Winter Garden Squeeze is ready to return to the field for the 2020 season. SEE PAGE 16.

YOUR TOWN STROLL THE GARDENS AT NEHRLING Nehrling Gardens is holding an Art & Stroll from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 27. Enjoy a mimosa and pastries while strolling the gardens, watch local artists at work and see original artwork available for bidding at the online art auction.

A “buy it now” price will be available, as well. The online art auction is open to everyone; bidding begins that day and closes at 5 p.m. Friday, July 3. Funds raised at the event and auction will directly support historic Nehrling Gardens at 2267 Hempel Ave., Gotha.

Tickets for the stroll are $15 and can be purchased online at NehrlingGardens. org. For information and auction site links, call (407) 445-9977.

Treehouse time out A Winter Garden family has been told to stop construction on their treehouse until the project can go before the Planning & Zoning Board. SEE PAGE 2.

Ocoee drops pursuit of cemetery The commission will continue to maintain the property located at 441 Basking Ridge Court.

TROY HERRING

Amy Quesinberry

Ellie, 5; Cecil, 9; and Abby, 12, are eager to see their treehouse finished. Their parents, Tony and Sara Farese, have had to halt construction until Planning & Zoning can review the project in July.

SPORTS EDITOR

SEE OCOEE PAGE 4 PRSRT STD ECRWSS US POSTAGE PAID WINTER GARDEN, FL PERMIT NO. 81

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Realtor buys Stoneybrook West Golf Club mortgage note

REAL ESTATE

The Ocoee City Commission decided against acquiring a 1-acre cemetery located at 441 Basking Ridge Court during its meeting Tuesday, June 16.

The city currently mows and maintains the property, but after unsuccessful attempts to contact the listed owners, the commission — during its meeting Jan. 7 — asked city staff to work with the city’s eminentdomain attorney about acquiring the property.

The future of the Winter Garden golf course is unclear following the sale of the mortgage note.

DANIELLE HENDRIX ASSOCIATE EDITOR

At $4.95 million, this Isleworth estate topped all residential sales last week. SEE PAGE 10.

Changes could be coming to the Stoneybrook West Golf Club following the sale of the mortgage note held on the property.

The Florida Department of State’s Division of Corporations

records show that Steven Fusilier, an Orlando-based real-estate agent, purchased the note previously held by the Davis family earlier this month. According to the Stoneybrook West homeowners association, Miguel Vidal still SEE FORECLOSURE PAGE 4

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THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020

Variance requirement stalls treehouse COMMUNITY EDITOR

E

ver since Tony and Sara Farese moved into their downtown Winter Garden home five years ago, they have dreamed of building a treehouse for their three children. The giant live oak in the backyard was perfect for housing the structure.

“As soon as we bought the house — probably the first day we walked the property — which was 2015 … that moment we looked at that tree, we knew,” Tony Farese said.

The lot at the northeast intersection of Tilden and Boyd streets has been getting a great deal of attention ever since the city was notified about the treehouse under construction.

Tony Farese said the city asked him to stop building the treehouse until he requests and receives a variance

FINANCING AVAILABLE

from the Winter Garden Planning & Zoning Board. The P&Z meets July 6.

Winter Garden does not have an ordinance that applies to treehouses because they typically are small, City Manager Mike Bollhoefer said. But several people called the city with concerns about its size.

“Because of the size and magnitude of this one … we decided to classify it as an accessory structure,” he said.

The Fareses’ treehouse is about 16 feet by 16 feet. The side closest to Tilden is about 12 feet off the ground, and the top measures about 23 feet from the ground.

“It’s not your typical treehouse; it crossed the line because of its size,” Bollhoefer said. “When people think of treehouses, people think of something kids put together.”

As a builder and the owner of Transparacon Inc., Tony Farese is familiar with the permitting process for construction projects. He said 99% of his work is in Winter Garden, so he fre-

quently pulls permits at City Hall.

Tony Farese said he was talking to building official Skip Nemecek and Steve Pash, community development director, about one of his jobs when he inquired about a permit for his treehouse. He said he initially was told he did not need one. But after the city received the calls, officials told Tony Farese to stop construction.

“Because of its height and location, it needs a variation and has to go before the P&Z,” Bollhoefer said. “At the least, the neighbors adjacent to them will have some say.”

Sara Farese said she has received positive feedback from neighbors.

A petition was started on Change.org and shared on Facebook.

“If our petition for variance is denied, we will be forced to tear down our dream at great expense to our family,” the family wrote.

Sara Farese said it didn’t take long to get more than 365 positive comments and dozens of private messages in support of the project.

“All the neighbors love it; kids want to play in it,” she said. “Golf

carts of people I don’t even know were stopping by.”

The city asked the Fareses to collect signatures of people in favor of the treehouse.

“In two days, I had over 200 signatures,” Sara Farese said.

Last week, the Fareses submitted their signed petition to the city.

Bollhoefer said the city is recommending P&Z approval of the variance. If it is approved, the Fareses can finish the treehouse without a permit, he said.

Tony Farese and a few of his employees started building in May after he returned from a trip to Alabama to pick up cypress and Eastern cedar lumber for his fence and treehouse and one other job.

“It was an all-day affair,” he said.

“It took six men an eight-hour day to hoist those things up in the tree and secure them up in the tree. …

The only thing that’s attached to the tree is the beams; everything else is attached to the beams.”

The structure is about half complete, Tony Farese said. The joist beams are in place, the floor is down, the post rails are up, and the crow’s nest is built.

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The next step is to run marinegrade rope through the posts to make the rails and add the metal roof. Tony Farese said he has enough cedar to add siding.

He said he watches “Treehouse Masters” and incorporates some of the builders’ methods on the TV show.

The three Farese children — Ellie, 5; Cecil, 9; and Abby, 12 — just want to see their treehouse finished so they can hang out with friends up there.

Cecil said he has recruited several children in the neighborhood to be security guards.

“We lived in the house when Hurricane Matthew came through, and we watched that tree and how much it moved,” Tony Farese said. “(We were) fascinated by how much it moved, flexing and bowing and waving in the wind. So I knew if we get a storm like that, those limbs that the beams are attached to — I knew it would move, so I designed it to move with the tree.

“There are three massive branches that come through the treehouse … the tree’s kind of the boss,” he said.

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Last call for Battalion Chief Brian Sanders

B

rian Sanders has had a successful 30-year career with the Winter Garden Fire Rescue Department that started when he was 21 — but the battalion chief said it is time to retire his fire hat and uniform.

His retirement was official at the end of April. His colleagues were unable to celebrate because of COVID-19, but they participated in a farewell video created to commemorate the occasion.

Sanders was a firefighter for 12 years before serving two years as a lieutenant. He has been a battalion chief for more than 16 years.

“The retirement of Battalion Chief Brian Sanders is something to celebrate,” said Winter Garden Fire Chief Matt McGrew. “He is joining just one or two other people who have worked their entire 30-year career with Winter Garden Fire Rescue. That is rare in a small department, and it shows his dedication to the community he loves.”

On an employee’s last official day, it’s tradition for the department to make a last call on the radio to announcement his retirement.

“The chief texted me and said they’re going to do the last call,” Sanders said. “I was working out at the gym. It was bittersweet. It was cool. It was emotional listening to it.”

“I do not think you can find

another person that had such a big heart for service,” McGrew said.

“It didn’t matter what Brian was doing, he would drop everything to help someone in need, to assist a stranger walking down the street or to make sure a child got a present for Christmas.”

After being on call with the WGFRD for three decades, Sanders said it’s in his nature to want to jump into action.

“It’s weird, even to this day, I’ll be sitting at the Country House (Restaurant) and see the trucks rushing by and wonder,” he said.

“I want to check my pager and see where the call is.”

This has been a gratifying career, Sanders said.

“Every day it’s something new, and you don’t know what the shift has for you that day,” he said. “I never really feel like I’ve worked a day in my life working for the fire department. … It’s something I’ve woken up every day wanting to help someone. Whenever something is going on, I just want to be in the middle of it.”

LONGTIME PASSION

Firefighting piqued Sanders’ interest when he watched relatives who were firefighters take calls.

“I have some uncles who worked for Winter Garden,” he said.

“They’d be at these family functions with these pagers, and they’d get a call and have to take off. And I thought that was something I wanted to do.”

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As a student at Ocoee Junior High School, Sanders participated in the Ocoee Fire Department’s Explorer Post 920, where he learned the ins and outs of firefighting. In his senior year at West Orange High School, he volunteered with the Winter Garden Fire Rescue Department.

Sanders said he has never considered working for any other department in Central Florida.

He is a longtime resident of Winter Garden and was willing to wait until a position came available in the city. There was only one station

at the time, and firefighters rarely left, he said.

He was hired as a Winter Garden firefighter in 1990 after college and has worked under four chiefs: Roy LaBossiere, Randy Dollar, John Williamson and McGrew.

He worked with a fifth chief when Jim Briggs stepped down from the position to become a firefighter.

Sanders said he learned a great deal from Briggs when they worked together.

Through the years, Sanders became a state-certified fire and arson investigator and was named Firefighter of the Year.

Most firefighters have made calls they will never forget. One of his first made an impact on this young hire.

“It was a medical call for an infant baby that had died,” he said.

“The parents were outside, and I was like, ‘Where’s the baby?’ … It was inside in the crib in the living room. I went inside, and it was pitch black, and there was this ominous light leading right to the crib. I looked at my partner and said, ‘We did everything we could for this baby,’ that was like 4 or 5 days old.”

He recalls one of the most exciting calls he’s received while on duty — when his pregnant wife called to say her water broke and the birth of their triplets was imminent.

Sanders said he has delivered 21

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babies in 30 years and has assisted with many others.

“I’ve delivered them all over the place — Circle K, rooming houses, the Winter Garden Restaurant parking lot and all over the side of the road,” he said.

He always will remember one birth in particular. He said the mother was so grateful that she took her daughter to the fire station to see Sanders every year on the girl’s birthday.

TIME FOR FUN

Sanders has started his retirement with some excitement — he went skydiving on Father’s Day weekend. It’s one of many activities on his bucket list.

He also is tackling some remodeling work in his home and spending more time with his four sons: 21-year-old Devin and 16-yearold triplets Ashton, Bryce and Calvin. He and his wife, Angel, want to travel once it is safe to do so.

“I want to go back to work; I like to work,” Sanders said. “I don’t know what I’m going to do or what field I’m going to work.”

McGrew said he is certain it will be in an area of service.

“I am certain that Brian is not done helping people, so we are looking forward to seeing where his next chapter in life takes him,” McGrew said.

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COMMUNITY EDITOR

THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020

“It’s weird, even to this day, I’ll be sitting at the Country House (Restaurant) and see the trucks rushing by and wonder. I want to check my pager and see where the call is.”

After 30 years with the Winter Garden Fire Rescue Department, Sanders is looking forward to the retirement phase of his life.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020

Observer

Ocoee

“If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Since then, the numbers that have been given to the city are higher than originally estimated, said city attorney Scott Cookson.

“As part of that process, the city’s attorney acquired an appraisal of the property, which is kind of the first step in doing a taking — or condemnation of this sort — and the appraisal has not been finalized, but the early indications on that appraisal are that the property would be valued in excess of $60,000,” Cookson said. “We were anticipating the appraisal to come in much less than that, because the property has been designated as a cemetery for quite some time.

“The appraiser has indicated that there was insufficient evidence to establish that it’s a cemetery, so it was his opinion that it needed to be appraised for its highest and best use as residential lots, which is why the amount came in as $60,000,” he said.

Initially, the expectation was the cost would have been between $15,000 and $20,000 — including attorney fees — with the direction to go forward with the condemnation of the property.

Now, based on the appraisal, the price could be anywhere between $20,000 to $100,000 if the city went ahead with the process. If an owner were to surface, the cost would be toward the higher end of that spectrum, Cookson said.

Cookson presented two options for the commission: Contin-

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Ocoee’s leadership and elected officials welcomed guests to the city’s annual Juneteenth celebration last week.

ue forward to acquire it or keep maintaining as the city has been doing for the last 15 to 20 years. It all depended on the plans for the property, he said.

“If we’re going to do just kind of passive improvements — put a gazebo or we’re going to put park benches — then it’s probably not worth the money to spend to acquire it,” Cookson said. “We still have the right to maintain it as a cemetery. If we were going to do something more substantial — construct a building — then it probably makes sense to go through to acquire the property.”

The commission met the news with questions about specifics regarding numbers and ultimately agreed to keep maintaining the property.

“Well, I’m for keeping like we’re doing,” Mayor Rusty Johnson said. “I don’t want to spend up to $100,000, you know?”

“Who is the appraiser?” Commissioner and Mayor Pro-Tem Larry Brinson asked. “Five-hundred-percent markup on this? I don’t understand, and I’ve been in finance. … I understand real estate; I understand numbers.”

After fielding questions and working through specifics, Cookson suggested ceasing the eminent-domain action while allowing the city continue to maintain the property and having city staff put together a beautification plan that could be placed into next year’s budget. The motion carried unanimously.

IN OTHER NEWS

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n The commission approved to close on the property located on Ocoee Vista Parkway to Meritage Homes of Florida Inc.

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n The commission approved to direct staff to draft an interlocal agreement between Central Florida Expressway Authority and the city of Ocoee for the construction of a portion of the Franklin Street multipurpose path outlined in the MetroPlan Silver Star Road Complete Streets Study with funds to be allocated in the FY 2020-21 budget.

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Foreclosure could come soon for golf course CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

holds the title to the property.

The Stoneybrook West Golf Club closed abruptly in December 2018. In January 2019, the HOA sent a letter of intent to the golfcourse owners expressing interest in purchasing the club. The owners reportedly declined the letter because of interest in the property from other companies.

Vidal — who also owned Legends Golf and Country Club in Clermont — assumed ownership of the club last spring.

However, Vidal soon racked up code violations because of lack of maintenance for the golf course.

Those violations included scattering of refuse and excessive growth of grass, weeds and brush.

In June 2019, Winter Garden’s Code Enforcement Board voted to

cite Vidal a fine of $2,000 per day regarding these violations. Those fines continue to pile up today, said Winter Garden City Manager Mike Bollhoefer, currently totaling around $750,000. The city also has converted the fines into a lien on the property, he said.

“Their fines are still adding up, because they have not fixed the golf course,” Bollhoefer said.

Bollhoefer added the mortgage note is now delinquent, so Fusilier would have the right to foreclose on it. The city’s legal standpoint if a foreclosure occurs is that the outstanding fines would be passed along to whoever ends up foreclosing, he said.

“If they do foreclose on it — which is highly likely or they wouldn’t have bought it — they could foreclose on it and then they’d take over the golf course,”

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Bollhoefer said. “We’re stepping back now to see and determine if indeed the developer is going to foreclose and then own the golf course. We’re in a wait-and-see position right now.”

Although Vidal’s fines continue to add up and the mortgage note has changed hands, what’s next for the golf club is currently unknown. Fusilier confirmed he now owns the note and said details would come soon. Bollhoefer said no one has yet made an official proposal to the city.

The HOA has received no written communication from anyone regarding future plans for the golf course property. However, Board Vice President Dennis Armstrong said, the board still is interested in purchasing it so the community can have better control over what occurs with the property.

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“There have been lots of ideas proposed, including golf, for the use of the property,” Armstrong said. “The current Board of Directors has taken the position that it is premature to discuss use of the property until we control/own it.

If and when that occurs, the board will survey residents to determine what the majority of them believe is the best use for the property. The board will try and provide accurate costs for various options once those choices become clear.

“The (board) will be happy to meet with the new owners of the mortgage note and will work to facilitate presenting their ideas for use of the golf-course property to all of the residents of the community for their consideration,” Armstrong said.

Vidal did not respond to requests seeking comment for this story.

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New life coming to Tildenville packing house DANIELLE HENDRIX ASSOCIATE EDITOR

This time next year, the 1909 packing plant on Tildenville School Road should be bustling with new life.

Local entrepreneur Gary Hasson has been planning for nearly two years now to revitalize the historic citrus-packing plant at 1061 Tildenville School Road. Built as part of the South Lake Apopka Citrus Growers Association, the plant’s citrusprocessing days ended in the 1990s.

Now, though, Hasson — who has been in the renovation business most of his life — is working to give the packing house a new life centered on embracing the future while honoring the past.

The project is officially dubbed the Old Packing House, and it comprises 52,000 square feet of office space and restaurant/ retail. Hasson said the motto will be “Meet me at the OPH.” Executive and office space will take over the 16,000-square-foot second floor, while the remaining 36,000 square feet on the ground floor is to be transformed into a marketplace complete with various vendors and eateries.

“We’ve got a pizza place, an ice cream place, an Asian restaurant, we’ve got an Italian market and deli, we’ve got a coffee shop and bakery,” Hasson said. “Those people we have leases for now, and we’re looking for about three more restaurants.”

There also will be a natural history museum incorporated, showcasing numerous prehistoric and Ice Age fossils and minerals — such as a complete woolly mammoth leg and foot and one of the few Megalodon jaws in the world.

“We’ve got skeletons and other fossils and minerals that we’ll have in a permanent exhibit there,” Hasson said. “Additionally, one of the vendors is going to be a mineral and fossil company, and another one is going to be an art store that sells autographed memorabilia from the movies and television.”

Those who have driven by the packing house recently might have noticed the exterior renovations underway. Much of the old, damaged exterior metal has been replaced, and the plant has a fresh blueand-white paint job. Up next are the windows and doors.

Part of the charm of the Old Packing House will be its homage to Winter Garden’s citrus-growing roots, Hasson said.

Patrons will feel like they’re stepping back in time to 1909.

“We’re honoring all the old families that used to pack at the packing house and also in our Winter Garden/Ocoee/Apopka and Oakland areas,” he said. “We’re going to blow up the old citrus labels they used to have on the crates, and we’re going to put them all over the building.”

For Hasson, keeping the history that built Winter Garden alive is a responsibility he happily assumes. After all, his own family was in the citrus business.

“I’ve always loved the citrus industry,” he said. “I said, ‘This would be perfect, to have a themed historical restoration that basically restored the historical significance of Winter Garden and the citrus industry that built it.’ Our building was built in 1909, so I want (guests) to feel like they’re going back in time. I want this to be a place for the locals.”

Other plans for the OPH include abundant indoor and outdoor seating, parking for golf carts and bicycles, special events throughout the year, catering opportunities, live music and more.

Hasson said the opening date has been

THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020

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THE OLD PACKING HOUSE

Courtesy photo

pushed back to summer 2021 to better ensure OPH and its vendors can open in a good economy. In the meantime, work continues on restoring the packing house, and Hasson is excited to share the historical significance of the local citrus industry.

“A lot of people know we’re in Orange

County, but you don’t see the significance of the citrus industry and how it developed Winter Garden and the surrounding area,” he said. “A lot of people (also) don’t realize Dr. Phillips basically started in the citrus business, and we have a lot to be thankful for for those early families, because they basically put Orlando on the map.”

1061 Tildenville School Road, Winter Garden DETAILS: Plans for the Old Packing House include space for restaurants, offices and retail, as well as a permanent natural history exhibit. Hasson said his vision is to make it a fun, family-oriented destination while simultaneously allowing patrons to step into a slice of history.

WEBSITE: oldpackinghouse.com

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Plans are still on for the Old Packing House, a multipurpose marketplace concept that honors Winter Garden’s roots in the citrus industry.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020

File photo

Ocoee Founders’ Day gets new name, new spring date The event, which now will be called the Ocoee Fall Music Festival, is being pushed back to March or April of 2021.

TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR

There’s quite a bit of change unfolding around Ocoee’s signature event of the year.

For more than 25 years, the city of Ocoee has hosted its Founders’ Day Festival to celebrate the city, which officially became Ocoee in May 1925. But now, Founders’ Day is getting a rebranding as the Ocoee Fall Music Festival.

“In the efforts to unite everyone and put negative connotations of Ocoee Founders’ Day behind us, we have rebranded the festival,” Ocoee Mayor Rusty Johnson wrote on his Facebook page. “On behalf of the festival committee, we apologize if we offended anyone. When the Ocoee Founders’ Day Festival was started back in the ’90s, it was simply a time to come together and celebrate our city.”

Although the festival includes a variety of carnival rides, games and food vendors, the spotlight of the festival has always been its music. The festival has showcased national touring acts — primarily in the country genre. That’s why the name change focused on the music aspect, Johnson said.

And although the date change and name were announced recently, both ideas had been in the works for a few years, Johnson said.

“We really talked about it for two or three years, so last year we said, ‘OK, we’re going to move it, and we’re going to change it to the Ocoee (Fall) Music Festival,’” he said. “We just kind of got busy with stuff that we forgot it, and then we talked about it last fall at our last meeting. That way, if we want to do it any time, or (do) any other kind of stuff, we can.”

The news of the name change has been met with mostly positive remarks, Johnson said.

Originally, the city decided to

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move the event from October to November. The move to Nov. 6 and 7 upset some in the community, however, as the city’s proposed remembrance event marking the 100th anniversary of the Ocoee massacre is also set to take place in November.

“As a resident of Ocoee for over half a century, never has Founders’ Day been thought about in the context of the tragic events that occurred in Ocoee in 1920,” Johnson wrote. “We have since then acknowledged the divide and created a proclamation of remembrance and honoring those lives lost during the dark time in history for Ocoee.”

Recently the city decided to officially move the festival again, this time from November to either March or April of 2021 in an attempt to avoid the coronavirus pandemic and make things safer for the thousands of people who come out to the festival.

“We’re probably not going to have it, because I’m going to put it off until the spring because of the coronavirus,” Johnson.

“I don’t know how you can put that many people together safely.

We have about 10,000 to 15,000 people together, and when you’re down there, they are all elbowto-elbow.

“I can’t go and put something on like this … and have everyone jammed in there — then we’ll have a problem,” he said. “And we’re the ones who are supposed to be leading the way and showing people what to do with this stuff, so I said, ‘We’ll just wait and hold off.’”

Although the name change and date change has led to some questions from people, sometimes change is needed, Johnson said.

“I’ve got a couple of people who I’ve known all my life saying, ‘Hey, what are you doing?’” he said. “And I said, ‘Listen, you have to make changes and things — it’s going to be the same thing, we’re just going to call it the Ocoee (Fall) Musical Festival.’ There’s about 18 of us that work on it, and we all agreed. It’s right.”

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OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

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THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020

7

West Orange police departments to review policies Oakland, Ocoee, Windermere and Winter Garden’s agencies are among those statewide submitting their policies for assessment, consistency and best practices.

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Following the death of George Floyd at the hands of former police officer Derek Chauvin, as well as other incidences of police brutality, many eyes nationwide have been on law-enforcement officers.

They are calling for lawenforcement agencies across the country to revisit their policies and procedures on de-escalation and use of force — a campaign called “8 Can’t Wait” that includes policies such as requiring warning and exhausting all alternatives before shooting, comprehensive reporting and a duty to intervene.

For West Orange County’s local police departments, reviewing and revising policies is a dynamic process that occurs regularly.

“Policy is something we’re always looking (at) to make sure we stay current with law enforcement, what’s occurring in the community and per the accreditation standards,” said Ocoee Police Assistant Chief Saima Plasencia.

In Central Florida, many lawenforcement leaders are part of the Orange-Osceola Police Chief’s Association, which meets to discuss relevant issues, policies and procedures. Recently, those leaders agreed to have a central clearinghouse examine policies and make recommendations to ensure consistency among agencies.

“I really do think the Central Florida leaders have been discussing some of this before the current situation we found ourselves in,” said Windermere Police Chief Dave Ogden. “In light of everything that’s going on in society right now, certainly each and every law-enforcement agency is getting probably a plethora of emails and phone calls and letters and things of that nature — some of them very similar, others with different kinds of recommendations or suggestions. I think all the chiefs are taking those things to heart and taking a look at them, but I think it’s also really important that we make a collective conscious effort to work together.”

That’s why organizations such as the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Florida Police Chiefs Association have formed subcommittees to help improve relations between law enforcement and the community and to promote policy consistency.

“I do know that the International Association of Chiefs of Police has been working on issues about modification of policies and procedures, and best policies and practices,” Ogden said. “I personally believe that when you look at some of these things people have written to us about, the far majority of the agencies are fulfilling the majority of those requests already.”

Winter Garden Police Chief

“A lot of what people are asking for, we already do.

We train the officers in de-escalation.

They do get all the state-required training in diversity, and we’re mindful of our reporting for traffic stops.”

— Winter Garden Police Chief Steve Graham

to be true to our community and our citizens, and if there are best practices we can do, let’s try and do them,” Peek said.

In Ocoee, Plasencia said the department meets all requirements of the “8 Can’t Wait” campaign.

She added that police departments should always be willing to critically assess their own policies to ensure their own standards are being met.

“Training and policy are just part of the living, breathing, functioning of a police department, because you can’t write rules today and expect them to last forever,” Placencia said. “Sometimes, it might be that you have an internal investigation or you had something happen, and you critically look at your policy and you say, ‘You know what, that’s just not clear enough, let’s make it abundantly clear.’”

Along with having a central committee reviewing the policies of each law-enforcement agency countywide and beyond, Ogden said the chiefs met last fall with the Valencia College criminal-justice program to request additional training in several areas, including bias-based profiling and de-escalation.

“All the chiefs and sheriffs and folks we’ve talked to when we meet are very open and receptive to listening,” Ogden said. “We have been listening, and we have been putting some things in place.

There’s always room for improvement, and that’s where we’re waiting right now to see.”

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Steve Graham said his department’s current use-of-force policy was revised in 2017. Policies aren’t static, though — each needs to be reviewed and sometimes tweaked, he said. Winter Garden, along with the other three area municipal police departments, will be submitting its policy for review.

“A lot of what people are asking for, we already do,” Graham said.

“We train the officers in de-escalation. They do get all the staterequired training in diversity, and we’re mindful of our reporting for traffic stops.

“The events that occurred in Minneapolis were horrible,” Graham said. “Agencies all over this country — and, for sure, here locally — have condemned the actions that occurred there. We were horrified. … It takes a long time to build trust in a community and (not long) to fracture it. … A lot of good efforts by a lot of good officers were erased by his actions that day.”

Oakland Police Chief John Peek said he, too, is taking a look at his department’s policies and will be tightening them.

“A lot of the stuff we already do — we already do a lot of what (people are) referring to,” Peek said. “There’s a couple of things I think some of us are tightening up on. However, it is a process. It’s not going to happen overnight. Our policies have to be submitted, and training has to be consistent with the policies. … We do receive training in de-escalation and our use of force, but I would love to see more training.

“We’re trying to do what we can

8

OBSERVER

|

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020

Familiar faces, new places LISA KARCINSKI OCOEE HIGH PRINCIPAL

TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR

With Orange County Public Schools out for summer break, now is the time teachers and administration — both old and new — find new roles and new schools to call home.

The following are a few of the new hires and promotions announced recently.

CHRISTY GORBERG OLYMPIA HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

Christy Gorberg has been a part of OCPS since 2000 and has served in a variety of roles — most recently spending three years as the principal at SunRidge Elementary.

Gorberg, who has spent most of her time working at the high school level, now will take on the principal role at Olympia High School. The move was about following her heart, she said.

“I have really enjoyed my time at SunRidge Elementary, and it is difficult to leave,” Gorberg said.

“However, I believe my true calling is working with high school students and helping them make the most of their time in high school while preparing for college and careers.”

Lisa Karcinski will be taking over the role of principal at Ocoee High School starting in the fall.

With 13 years of experience in education, Karcinski has served a number of roles in the OCPS system. From her role as the OCPS district instructional coach for multi-tiered system of supports to her most recent role as the senior administrator for the high school office, Karcinski is looking forward to her first year as a principal.

“I am most looking forward to meeting and learning about our students, and making sure that every student feels welcomed, accepted and at home at Ocoee High School,” she said.

Ridge, and now he is readying to step into the same role at West Orange High School.

During his 19 years in education, Turner has served just about every role imaginable — including teacher, athletic coach and dean — and has spent the last 15 years in the OCPS system.

Turner is an avid sports fan and someone who enjoys learning — he currently is pursuing a law degree and is preparing to take the Florida portion of the Florida bar.

“My goal is to see West Orange High School become the most balanced school in the state,” Turner said. “A place of high student academic achievement, a place where all students feel safe to become the best versions of themselves, a place where extracurricular activities are second to none, and a place where our faculty and staff can truly call home.”

LAURA BEUSSE RELIEF SCHOOL (113-H-W-4) PRINCIPAL

MATTHEW TURNER WEST ORANGE HIGH PRINCIPAL

For the last two years, Matthew Turner served as the principal at Westridge Middle School in Oak

For the last four years, Laura Beusse has served as the principal at Ocoee High School, but now she moves into new territory as the first principal of the relief school that will be located at 10393 Seidel Road in Horizon West.

Although she will be a part of

the opening of this new school, it’s not the first time Beusse, a Florida native who started her career in education in 1982, has done such a thing. She actually has been a part of three different school openings within OCPS. “While I am looking forward to working with all stakeholders throughout the process of establishing and opening the new school, I am most looking forward to meeting and working with the students,” she said.

GUY SWENSON RELIEF SCHOOL (80-H-SW-4) PRINCIPAL

OTHER MOVES JENNIFER CUPID-MCCOY WEST LEARNING COMMUNITY AREA SUPERINTENDENT

Jennifer Cupid-McCoy is entering her 30th year in education and doesn’t seem to be slowing down one bit.

After serving as the executive area director in the Southeast Learning Community for six months, Cupid-McCoy now takes on the role of West Learning Community area superintendent.

“I am most excited about seeing students demonstrate resilience so that they excel academically while remaining balanced from a social emotional standpoint,” CupidMcCoy said.

KATHLEEN PHILLIPS SAND LAKE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL

After eight years as Olympia’s principal, Guy Swenson will become the first principal at the new relief school under construction in Southwest Orlando.

Swenson has been in education for 23 years and has served numerous roles, but this new endeavor is one he has wanted for long time, he said.

“The challenge of creating a comprehensive high school from the ground up has always appealed to me,” he said. “I was a teacher at Olympia when it opened in 2001, and I know the work it takes from that perspective to get a school moving in the right direction in a short amount of time.”

Kathleen Phillips began working as Sand Lake Elementary’s new principal in February but only had a short time to get to meet everyone.

Although her first semester as principal was shortened because of the coronavirus pandemic, Phillips is excited to continue her journey through education — which began in 2003.

“Very early into my starting there, it became abundantly clear Sand Lake Elementary is an extremely special place,” Phillips said. “I quickly looked to pursue the principalship permanently in hopes of being able to plant roots and form relationships focused on doing what is best for all students while supporting the staff and partnering with our families and the community.”

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OBSERVER

WEST ORANG E HISTO RY

OrangeObserver.com

THESE OLD TIMES

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION

This city has found a near-painless way to collect taxes from those unable to pay because of time on their hands. Such delinquents are offered the opportunity of paying their taxes with labor.

75 years ago

70 years ago

Miss Patricia Pease and guests spent Monday at Silver Springs.

50 years ago

The Charles R. Drew Training Center in Winter Garden held its first graduation exercises. Commencement speaker was William S. Maxey, retired principal of the former Drew High School.

Laverne Bruce was valedictorian, and Linda Kendrick and Barbara White were salutatorians.

There was a change in command for the West Orange Jaycees when Ernest Crawford, immediate past president, handed the gavel to incoming president John Terrell.

THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020

9

THROWBACK THURSDAY JUNE 27, 1974 If you were a hip guy in the 1970s, then you definitely wore the Levi’s Blue Denim Bells, because they were what to wear “for your good times.” The HIS Stores for Men advertised its selection of men’s duds in The Winter Garden Times’ June 27, 1974, issue. The shop was located in the south building of the West Orange Shopping Center, on Dillard Street in Winter Garden.

85 years ago

P.H. Britt, pioneer Winter Garden vegetable packer and shipper, stated emphatically that, even with irrigation, not enough crops will be salvaged for a satisfactory yield. The situation in Winter Garden was almost tragic. Citrus was in bad shape, but disaster conditions existed in the vegetable business.

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FROM THE ARCHIVES The Thomas Claude and Mary Lucy Hawthorne home stood on Chicago Avenue, just north of Maine Street in Minorville, a community located at the intersection of State Road 50 and Bluford Avenue in Ocoee. A small depot for the Florida Midland Railway Company also was constructed near there. The neighborhood was named for the Minor family, many of whom built homes there and in Crown Point, a few miles to the north. This home was constructed around 1924 to replace the 1919 original that was lost in a fire. The Hawthorne family owned and operated Tomahawk Nurseries, located nearby.

The Winter Garden Heritage Foundation preserves a substantial collection of photographs and objects on Ocoee history. Email jcrescitelli@wghf.org to add to the collection.

The mission of the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation is to preserve the heritage and architecture of Winter Garden while creating new cultural experiences. The Foundation also preserves the material culture of West Orange County, using it to educate the area’s youth on the community’s rich history.

Officers for the Ocoee Elementary School PTO were installed by Elizabeth Maguire at the final meeting of the school year: president, Marty Moore; vice president, Willard Maddox; secretary, Nancy Dabbs; treasurer, Robbie Coleman; and historian, Betty Minor.

30 years ago

Joey Dee and the Starliters were set to perform at the city of Winter Garden’s old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration.

Also scheduled was a performance by 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist Scott Johnson.

Construction continued on

the Dr. Phillips Ninth-Grade Center on the high school campus west of the Panthers’ football stadium.

Jimmy Hendrix, owner of Tibbals Drug Store, sold his business to Ron Chesser, of The Medicine Shoppe.

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REAL ESTATE

OBSERVER

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020

Isleworth estate sells for $4.95 million A home in the Isle-

17, for $535,000. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,957 square feet. The price per square foot is $180.93.

Days on market: 13.

worth community

in Windermere topped all West Orange-area resi-

The home at 14803 Bahama Swallow Blvd., Winter Garden, sold June 17, for $360,000. Built in 2014, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,994 square feet. The price per square foot is $180.54. Days on market: 25.

dential real-estate transactions from June 15 to 19.

The home at 5300 Isleworth Country Club Drive, Windermere, sold June 15, for $4.95 million.

Built in 2017, it has five bedrooms, five baths, two half-baths, a pool and

realtor.com

This Isleworth home, at 5300 Isleworth Country Club Drive, Windermere, sold June 15, for $4.95 million. It features water views of Eagle Pond and golf views of holes 11 and 12.

8,342 square feet of living

HORIZON WEST

area. The price per square

The home at 13996 Darchance Road, Windermere, sold June 15, for $320,000. Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,712 square feet. The price per square foot is $186.92. Days on market: 39.

foot is $593.38. Days on market: 106.

These are the highestselling homes in each community in West Orange.

ORCHARD HILLS

The home at 14413 Brushwood Way, Winter Garden, sold June 19, for $309,000. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,650 square feet. The price per square foot is $187.27. Days on market: 26.

June 18, for $350,000. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,502 square feet. The price per square foot is $139.89. Days on market: 31.

SNAPSHOT

LAKE SAWYER SOUTH

Total Sales: 59 High Sale Price: $4.95M Low Sale Price: $132,000

The home at 4831 Palmetto Park Drive, Winter Garden, sold June 15, for $499,000.

Built in 2016, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 3,577 square feet. The price per square foot is $139.50. Days on market: 37.

The home at 14413 Brushwood Way, Winter Garden, sold June 19, for $309,000. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,650 square feet.

The price per square foot is $187.27. Days on market: 26.

The home at 5753 Mangrove Cove Ave., Winter Garden, sold

FDA ApproveD CoviD-19 TesTing AvAilAble

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The home at 8031 Pond Apple Drive, Winter Garden, sold June

The townhouse at 8105 Red Stopper Lane, Winter Garden, sold June 17, for $305,000. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,725 square feet. The price per square foot is $176.81. Days on market: 36.

SUMMERPORT

The home at 4445 Blue Major Drive, Windermere, sold June 15, for $400,000. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, two-andone-half baths, a pool and 2,620 square feet. The price per square foot is $152.67. Days on market: 31.

WATERLEIGH

The home at 9462 Komika Lane, Winter Garden, sold June 18, for $358,490. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 2,216 square feet. The price per square foot is $161.77. Days on market: 29.

The home at 15507 Colony Cove Alley, Winter Garden, sold June

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STONEYBROOK WEST

The home at 15421 Pebble Ridge St., Winter Garden, sold June 16, for $476,500. Built in 2002, it has four bedrooms, two-andone-half baths, a pool and 3,356 square feet. The price per square foot is $141.98. Days on market: 10.

SUNSET LAKES

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This Sunset Lakes home, at 13614 Sunset Lakes Circle, Winter Garden, sold June 19, for $790,000. It features 135 feet of water frontage on Lake Roper.

WINDERMERE LANDINGS

The home at 6305 Golden Dewdrop Trail, Windermere, sold June 18, for $342,500. Built in 2012, it has three bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 1,984 square feet. The price per square foot is $172.63. Days on market: 51.

WINDING BAY PRESERVE

The townhouse at 10509 Spring Arbor Lane, No. 78, Winter Garden, sold June 19, for $299,990.

Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,881 square feet. The price per square foot is $159.48. Days on market: 46.

WINDSTONE

The home at 6908 Trellis Vine Loop, Windermere, sold June 17, for $575,000. Built in 2015, it has five bedrooms, four-and-onehalf baths, a pool and 3,972 square feet. The price per square foot is $144.76. Days on market: 21.

OCOEE

CROWN POINT

The home at 1850 Merrivale Loop, Ocoee, sold June 19, for $433,843.

Built in 2019, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 3,202 square feet. The price per square foot is $135.49. Days on market: 56.

FOREST LAKE ESTATES

The home at 714 Birch Hollow Drive, Ocoee, sold June 16, for $308,290. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,824 square feet. The price per square foot is $169.02. Days on market: Seven.

WILLOWS ON THE LAKE

The home at 1765 Carolina Wren Drive, Ocoee, sold June 17, for $390,000. Built in 2003, it has six bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 3,495 square feet. The price per square foot is $111.59.

Days on market: 21.

WINDERMERE ISLEWORTH

The home at 6263 Cypress Chase Drive, Windermere, sold June 19, for $1.4 million. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, five-andone-half baths, a pool and 5,610 square feet. The price per square foot is $249.55. Days on market: 211.

KEENE’S POINTE

The home at 8409 Lake Burden Circle, Windermere, sold June 15, for $845,000. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,264 square feet. The price per square foot is $258.88. Days on market: Five.

SILVER WOODS

The home at 9462 Woodbreeze

Blvd., Windermere, sold June 18, for $295,100. Built in 1986, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,819 square feet. The price per square foot is $162.23. Days on market: 42.

WINDERMERE

The home at 620 Ridgewood Drive, Windermere, sold June 15, for $860,000. Built in 1990, it has three bedrooms, two-andone-half baths, a pool and 3,061 square feet. The price per square foot is $280.95. Days on market: Three.

WINDERMERE DOWNS

The home at 1955 Broadleaf Court, Windermere, sold June 18, for $560,000. Built in 1995, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,738 square feet. The price per square foot is $204.53.

Days on market: Zero.

WINTER GARDEN

ALEXANDER RIDGE

DR. PHILLIPS

BELLA NOTTE AT VIZCAYA

The townhouse at 8413 Via Bella Notte, Orlando, sold June 17, for $373,000. Built in 2003, it has three bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 2,060 square feet. The price per square foot is $181.07. Days on market: 95.

DELLAGIO

The home at 812 Via Vittoria Way, Orlando, sold June 19, for $880,300. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, four-and-onehalf baths and 3,856 square feet. The price per square foot is $228.29. Days on market: 10.

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GRANADA VILLAS

The home at 8027 N. Madeira Court, Orlando, sold June 19, for $279,000. Built in 1985, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,195 square feet. The price per square foot is $233.47. Days on market: 10.

@Observerorange

The home at 2228 Romanum Drive, Winter Garden, sold June 16, for $333,000. Built in 2014, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,027 square feet. The price per square foot is $164.28. Days on market: 56.

AMBERLEIGH

The home at 448 Lake Amberleigh Drive, Winter Garden, sold June 15, for $442,000.

Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths, a pool and 3,302 square feet. The price per square foot is $133.86. Days on market: 23.

ELLMAN PARK

The home at 529 S. Lakeview Ave., Winter Garden, sold June 17, for $400,000. Built in 1926, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 2,146 square feet. The price per square foot is $186.39. Days on market: 50.

EMERALD RIDGE

The home at 14766 Tullamore Loop, Winter Garden, sold June 16, for $405,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 3,891 square feet. The price per square foot is $104.09. Days on market: 17.

HERITAGE AT PLANT STREET

The home at 784 Orange Belt Loop, Winter Garden, sold June 19, for $605,000. Built in 2019, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 3,074 square feet. The price per square foot is $196.81.

Days on market: 237.

RESERVE AT CARRIAGE POINTE

The home at 15348 Sandfield Loop, Winter Garden, sold June 16, for $543,000. Built in 2014, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths, a pool and 4,307 square feet.

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15, for $300,000. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,685 square feet. The price per square foot is $178.04. Days on market: 25.

The home at 13614 Sunset Lakes Circle, Winter Garden, sold June 19, for $790,000. Built in 1996, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,777 square feet. The price per square foot is $284.48.

Days on market: 95.

11

THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020

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The price per square foot is $126.07. Days on market: Six.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020

THE MASKED READER

‘The Hypnotists’ by Gordon Korman W

AKA THE MASKED READER

In the book, a boy named Jax Opus has the power to hypnotize people with his eyes, whose color keeps changing. Eventually, his powers get recognized, and he gets accepted to attend an institute full of kids who also have the power to hypnotize.

The head of the institute, Dr. Elias Mako, helps his students, including Jax, to use their abilities properly. Along the way, he finds some enemies, including Wilson, a bully who is envious of Jax’s abilities. (A kid who goes to a special school to learn how to use powers that he was born with? And he finds some enemies?! Guys, I’m getting a Harry Potter vibe here). Soon, however, Jax learns of a huge threat aimed at him, his loved ones and the entire United States of America. Even worse, the person behind it is the strongest hypnotist Jax has had to face yet.

In the end, I absolutely loved this book. It definitely belongs in my list of favorite books of all time. There is so much action, and there are moments where you have absolutely no idea what’s going to happen! It is an electrifying book that I would recommend to all kids that are old enough (at least 10 years old).

Ladies and gentlemen, it has been an absolute pleasure writing this for you. I hope

WORDS by Adam Vincent; CROSSWORD PARTING Edited by David Steinberg

61-Down) 91 Tofu relative 94 Clarified butter 96 Sorority letter in “sisterhood” 97 Ham sandwich bread, often 98 Guiding principles 100 Standby at a sporting event (Abbr.)

102 Place for K-I-S-S-I-N-G 104 Singer Rimes 106 “A good ___ heals a lot of hurts” (L’Engle) 107 Agreement to live apart (or a hint to 64-Down) 110 Land units 111 Like a haunted house 112 U.S. relief org.

113 Sparkling Italian wine 114 Cleaning challenge 115 “19” singer 116 Word before “drive” or “pilot” 117 Certain July babies

©2020 Universal Uclick

1 Bruins’ sch.

5 Musical parts 9 Up in the air 14 Rope tow alternative 18 Gloom go-with 19 Buccaneer’s booty 20 ___-cotta 21 Unclogging product 22 Job sharing? (or a hint to 10-Down) 25 Dethrones 26 First month, in Barcelona 27 Body-sculpting procedure, for short 28 Not many 29 Word said while smiling

30 Jack-o’-lantern woe 31 Certain baby 33 Yemeni, e.g.

35 Like some strict diets 37 Became inattentive (or a hint to 6-Down) 40 Painter Monet 42 Cry of insight 45 “We don’t want to hear about it” 46 Green side (or a hint to 15-Down) 49 Big embrace 51 “___ a good girl?!”

52 Squiggle in Spanish 53 Slender fastener

55 Ryan in “Star Trek: Picard” 56 German for “a” 57 Zany 58 Have a hunch 59 Swiss capital 60 Chicago airport code 61 Villanova Wildcats’ conference 62 Sgts.’ superiors 63 Dog or cat 64 Pop-Tarts and Eggo, e.g., briefly 65 Hosp. staffers 66 Theologian’s subj.

67 Dresses 69 Pull

70 “I guess that works” 72 Greeting Down Under 73 More malicious 74 “It’s freezing!”

75 Endor furball 76 Price 77 Music’s Mars 78 Foil, as plans 79 Affixed with paste 81 Loud and shrill (or a hint to 54-Down) 84 Last-second auction winners, on eBay 87 R.R. stop 88 Dialect coach’s focus 89 Soft cover? (or a hint to

DOWN 1 Milk dispensers 2 Some laundry machines, for short 3 Affectionate bump 4 Jake and ___ (comedy duo) 5 Boxer Laila 6 “Take a chill pill!” (see letters 2, 7 and 11) 7 “Sula” author Morrison 8 Fall short of 9 Largest city in Ga. 10 Lawn-clearing equipment (1, 3, 5, 7, 10) 11 Eat-eaten link 12 Disapprove of 13 Road material 14 More factual 15 Children often trade them (3, 6, 8, 10, 12) 16 Raid targets 17 “Beauty and the Beast” bloom 21 Qatari capital 23 Became less drunk, with “up” 24 Trade preposition 29 Looped in on an email 32 Greek music halls (hidden

you enjoyed it, because this is (unfortunately) the end of this article. Goodbye … for now …

If you enjoyed this review, my YouTube channel, “The Masked Reader,” features videos about this book and more. Check it out at youtube.com/c/themaskedreader.

in “rode away”) 34 Rhineland cry 36 “To a ...” poems 38 Scheming group 39 One may hand out a playbill 41 Ladybug’s prey 43 Made oneself comfortable, say 44 With a practiced hand 46 Fantasy film FX 47 Does’ counterparts 48 Helper on the Hill 50 Decorative vase 53 Superior in 54 Eatery owners (2, 5, 12) 57 Animal with beautiful fur 58 Cooks, like bananas Foster 59 Keg filler 60 Texter’s :-O 61 Failed aspirations (1, 5, 7) 63 Before surgery, informally 64 Skedaddling (1, 3, 5, 9, 11) 68 Travelers’ stops 69 Cliched 70 Pooh’s wise friend 71 Give shelter to 72 Hopeless case 74 Completely mispronounced, as a name 75 Common binder in recipes 76 Filmmaker Sofia 78 Sushi base 80 ___ the dirt (gossip) 82 Joggers may run them 83 Utmost degree 85 Bring up again 86 Turn down 89 Deprived (of) 90 Comics “menace” 92 Rims 93 ___ scale, on which quartz is a 7 95 Interplanetary travelers, for short 98 Cherrystone mollusk 99 Monaco Grand Prix, e.g.

101 Swamp 103 Saber relative 105 Citation shortener 107 Spill the ___ (gossip) 108 Ang or Spike 109 2020 Chinese Zodiac animal

CELEBRITY CIPHER

By Luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present.

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

“AKDAGK XPDOGL AOUXOK IPVM MPKT’UK AVXXJDEVMK VYDOM. MPVM IJGG CVBK MPKC PVAAJKU MPVE AUKMMT COFP VETMPJER KGXK.”

– KGDE COXB

“UPA KRAEUWJM W VEO ZNEAIT IWOA VIZJEU AHABN CVN WE, ‘VZ W CJWMS UPA ZJEU WZDJBUVMU UPWMS W LJRIC FA CJWMS?’”

– ZVBO XRLOABFABS

Puzzle Two Clue: L equals C

GABE GOMES

elcome to the reviewing of one of my favorite books. The funny thing about this, though, is that I had forgotten that this book had even existed — until a quiet Wednesday afternoon.

Let me explain.

I earned the book, called “The Hypnotists” by Gordan Korman, as an award for doing well in a reading competition at school. When I received the book, my first reaction (sadly) was “Wow, nice TITLE!” (Don’t judge me, OK? I know that I am not supposed to judge a book by the cover, but sometimes I can’t help it!) When I got home, I put it in the drawer, where it remained for the next five months. Until, you know, quarantine happened.

Chances are, if you are a book-lover, then you have shelves and shelves full of books. That is the bright side.

The disadvantage of being a book-lover is that you have most likely read all the books in your collection at least 50 times. This fact, combined with quarantine, has made me read the same book at least 500,000 times, almost. On a Wednesday, however, right when I was ready to give in and collapse in total insanity and boredom, I found this book. And let me tell you, the story was so much better than the title.

Puzzle One Clue: F equals C

12

© 2020 NEA, Inc.

SUDOKU

Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.

©2020 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

06-25-20

OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020

13

Schizo(E)ffective NATHANIEL MELENDEZ OCOEE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2020

A disclaimer: To preserve the observation of a schizoaffective mind in its natural condition, I am well aware there may be discrepancies or large shifts of thought in my writing. This is all preserved to open my world to you, the reader.

T

hroughout my schooling experience, I was not much of a talker. I want to reflect my personality here. Twelfth grade, AP Chemistry, fourth period. We were starting to learn about rates of reactions when, what I like to call “bipolar schizophrenia fun time,” started to kick in. All I started hearing were demonic screeching and large shadowy figures bearing down on me. I threw my backpack across the classroom.

Surprisingly, no one paid much mind.

I had to get out of there. I darted out of the room and made my way toward the main entrance. I turned around. All that negative energy was still emulating from that one room but never following me. In my very disorganized schizophrenic brain, I decided to

sneak out of school. So I did.

Straight through the administration building right in front of the principal. It worked.

I thought I was in the clear until I heard a golf cart with the SAFE coordinator shouting my name. I stopped and approached her, telling her what was going on shakedly and in astronomical fear.

This example was one of my very unique experiences in high school dealing with schizoaffective disorder, a combination of schizophrenic symptoms with some sort of mood disorder. For me, it was bipolar disorder, a range of mood swings and ups and downs from manic to depressive. So I excelled academically in school, graduated top five in my class and all. I’m not much of a bragger, but when I do, I want to savor it.

So anyway, let’s take a look at how I dealt with the schizophrenic side of things. Hallucinations, both visual and auditory, made it very hard to concentrate. Sometimes, my brain would paint the most beautiful picture of the Swiss Alps, or it would randomly decide to start chanting suicidal ideations from what I believe are demons.

Delusions concerned both

Courtesy photo

my colleagues, teachers and even myself. Sometimes I would believe I was a prodigy and attempt to answer everything so rigorously and grandiose, which annoyed many of my colleagues, even my dearest friends.

Now on the bipolar side.

Manic episodes launched me into the sun with ideas and racing thoughts — all with maximum energy and irrational motivation. Sometimes, I purposely stopped taking my medication to become manic to get a project done. Hell, I’m doing that for this very story

(don’t tell my psychiatrist or parents). But, oh boy, those manic episodes could become dangerous. Periods of rapid processing in AP Calculus BC in 11th grade proved this, along with serious overanalyzing and irrationality in my Student Government class in both 11th and 12th grade.

Now with depressive episodes — this one’s simple.

I just did not do work or participate in anything, barely coming to school.

Now how was I able to get good grades, you might ask?

Well, the damn manic epi-

sodes. Yes, I was generally a high-functioning person when stable, but that was very rare during my tumultuous tenure in high school.

I had symptoms of bipolar in high school, but I wasn’t formally diagnosed until 12th grade. The same goes for combining this diagnosis into schizoaffective. Twelfth grade was basically the year where everything worsened. However, I stayed resilient. I had to drop several of my dual enrollment and AP classes just to get a grip on life. I was in and out of psychiatric facilities. I had to purposefully drop my former No. 1 ranking in my class to care for my health. I was tired.

Tired of all of it.

Until I met certain people and teachers who could support me along my journey and do everything I need to be successful. They made the largest difference in my life — from me killing myself from my spiraling mental health. Thank you to this one girl in my AP Chemistry class, whose name I will not mention, for rationalizing with me and preventing me from killing myself. Thank you to my counselors and my teachers for being flexible with me and understanding that … it is OK. It will be OK. Everything will be OK. This is how I believe I will become schizoEffective in my late high school and future journeys.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020

BAPTIST

First Baptist Church Pastor Tim Grosshans 125 E. Plant St, Winter Garden (407) 656-2352 Sundays: 8:30 a.m. Traditional 9:45 AM Bible Study 11:00 AM Contemporary Wednesdays: 6 p.m.- Awana 2nd Campus: Foundation Worship Foundation Academy High School 15304 Tilden Rd., Winter Garden (407) 730-1867 Sundays: 9:45 a.m. All Ages FoundationWorship.com Starke Lake Baptist Church Pastor Jeff Pritchard PO Box 520 611 W Ave., Ocoee (407) 656-2351 StarkeLakeBaptist.org

CHURCH OF GOD

WEST ORANGE OBITUARIES

14

EPISCOPAL

Church of the Messiah 241 N. Main St., Winter Garden Services: 8, 9:30, & 11 a.m., 7 p.m.

ChurchoftheMessiah.com

METHODIST

First United Methodist Church 125 N. Lakeview Ave., Winter Garden (407) 656-1135 Services: Livestreaming Sunday @ 9 AM. Viewable on Facebook and Youtube

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Windermere Union Church 10710 Park Ridge-Gotha Rd., Windermere (407) 876-2112 Adult Worship: 9 a.m.

Sunday School: 10 a.m.

WindermereUnion.org

Ocoee Church of God Pastor Thomas Odom NON-DENOMINATIONAL 1105 N. Lakewood Ave.,Ocoee Purpose Church Orlando (407) 656-8011 13640 W Colonial Dr. Ste 110, Winter Garden (407) 654-9661 Sunday Service: 10:05 a.m.

Sunday Brazilian Service: 7 p.m.

Saturday Service: 6 p.m. purposechurchorlando.org

FRANKLIN WHITNER “WHITE” CHASE JR. DIED MAY 17, 2020.

Franklin Whitner “Whit” Chase Jr., died Sunday, May 17, 2020.

He was 84 years old. Born May 11, 1936, in Sanford, Florida, he lived in Windermere, Florida, for many years. He was the son of Franklin Whitner Chase, Central Florida citrus grower, and Helen Verney Chase. He was a descendent of William Pope Duval, Florida’s first territorial governor.

He was an alumnus of the Fessenden School, Phillips Exeter Academy and Rollins College, where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity. At Rollins, he won the Algernon Sydney Sullivan award, the college’s highest recognition for a graduating senior for excellence of character and service to humanity.

Whit was involved in agriculture his entire life. His family had been growers in citrus and vegetables in Central Florida and throughout the state for a hundred years. His first love was citrus, and he spent a great part of his life working in the industry. His first job was in a packing house. Whit managed Chase and Company and Chase Groves Inc.’s grove holdings in Isleworth near Windermere and around the state. He served on the Board of Haines City Citrus Growers Association.

In the early ’80s, Chase groves were hit by winter freezes, hurting business. In 1984, the business closed, the family sold Isleworth to Arnold Palmer, and Whit moved to Sanford. Whit served as an agricultural adviser to Sen. Bob Graham from 1990 to 1999. After leaving his position at the Senate, he worked for the Florida Department of Agriculture. Upon retiring from the state, he joined his cousin Joshua Chase on the family’s Jumpie Run timber plantation in Monticello, Florida. Jumpie Run had been in the family since the 1930s, and it was there that Whit died.

Whit was a founding member of the Windermere Rotary chapter, was named a Paul Harris Fellow and served as Rotary president from 1970-71. He was Boy Scout leader of Windermere Troop 223 from 1975 to 1977. He served with the founding trustees on the Board of Trustees of Lake Highland Preparatory School from 1976 to 1979, and of Rollins College from 1978 to 1987, when he was elected an Honorary Trustee until 1990.

He was also on the Rollins College Alumni Association Board of Directors. He served as Head Coach of Rollins College Crew Team from 1985-1987. Whit was a member of the Orange County Council of 100 and a Life Member of The American Forestry Association Survivors include his wife, Jane Costello Chase; son, Franklin Whitner Chase III, Windermere; daughter, Pamela Chase Coutant, Winter Park; daughter, Elizabeth Chase Scarlett, Tryon, North Carolina; stepdaughter, Allison Sirkin Woolston, Denver, Colorado; eight grandchildren, Franklin Whitner Chase IV, Benjamin Carter Chase, Lucia Elizabeth Coutant, Sophie Chase Coutant, Franco Vincent Aiello, Katherine Joan Scarlett, Chase William Scarlett and Madelyn Sydney Scarlett; and two step-grandsons, Hastings Rice Woolston and Colyer Sibley Woolston.

Whit is predeceased by his grandson, Mario George Aiello, and stepson, Lt. Stephen Stuart Sirkin.

A memorial service will be held in the fall.

Every Tuesday, Matthew’s Hope offers the following services and more to

the Structurally Challenged men, women and children of our community.

Hide in Plain Sight Initiative Statistics 2019 TOTAL PEOPLE HELPED: 2,929 I NEW GUESTS: 243 Haircuts: 1,190 Manicures: 76 FL Drivers Licenses: 23 Birth Certificates: 26 Hygiene Items Distributed: 11,195 Clothing Items Distributed: 18,069 Life Skills Class Attendance: 416 Bible Study Attendance: 422

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JANET “JAN” ELAINE CLEARY ZWEIFEL DIED JUNE 2, 2020.

Ean Edward Andrews, 83, of Ocoee, died Monday, June 15, 2020. Collison Carey Hand Funeral Home, Winter Garden.

Alba Esperanza Fernandez, 77, died Wednesday, June 17, 2020. DeGusipe Funeral Home and Crematory — West Orange Chapel, Ocoee.

won numerous model airplaneflying awards, and he originated and directed The Hush Up Meet in Palm Bay, Florida, a competition reserved for planes without motors. He built and flew his own models well into his 80s, and as an avid tennis player, he managed to play doubles until he was 90.

Ray leaves his loving wife, Bertha Ann (Lutes) Combs, of Orlando, to cherish his memory; along with three daughters, Barbara Ann Combs Alward, of Seattle, Washington, Margaret “Margie” Ray Combs, of Seattle, Washing-

We’ll take the first step with you

Michael K. Smith, 65, of Winter Garden, died Tuesday, June 16, 2020. Winter Oak Funeral Home, Winter Garden.

truly missed by all that had the opportunity to know her amazing spirit, radiant smile and sweet giggle. A private family burial service was held at Dr. Phillips cemetery to celebrate her life and honor her memory.

Direct Cremation $750 plus container

James Ye, 53, of Windermere, died Thursday, June 11, 2020.

Collison Carey Hand Funeral Home, Winter Garden.

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RODERICK RAYMOND COMBS JR. DIED JUNE 14, 2020.

Roderick Raymond Combs Jr., passed away Sunday, June 14, 2020, at Cornerstone Hospice at Health Central, in Ocoee, Florida, from complications of Parkinson’s disease. He was 94 years old.

Ray (as he was always called) was born in Kentucky, the son of the late Ethel (Owens) and Roderick R. Combs Sr., and was employed as an aeronautical engineer at Martin Marietta.

From a young age, Ray was fascinated by the beauty and power of flight. He began as a model airplane flyer in his teens, then went on to obtain a degree in aeronautics from the University of Kentucky and to serve his country in World War II as a member of both the Army Air Corps and the United States Air Force.

A long-standing member of the American Model Association, Ray

15

THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020

ton, Camela “Cami” Cay Wass, of Windermere; two sons, Roderick R. Combs III and James Owens Combs, both of Orlando; two sisters, Audrea Lee Spicer, of Los Angeles; Barbara Faye Combs, of Louisville, Kentucky; a brotherin-law, Charles Spicer, of Los Angeles; two sons-in-law, Bruce Alward, of Seattle, and Mike Wass, of Orlando; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

The family received friends at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 24, 2020, followed by an 11 a.m. funeral service, at Family Church — Windermere Campus (First Baptist Church of Windermere), Florida, with Dr. Charles “Chuck” Carter officiating. Interment followed the service with military honors at Dr. Phillips Cemetery in Orlando.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations go to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

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Janet “Jan” Elaine Cleary Zweifel, of Bay Hill, passed away of natural causes on June 2, 2020, at the age of 83. Jan was from Hinsdale, Illinois, and moved to the Orlando area in 1973. Jan is survived by her husband, John; her six children, Jack, James, Kathryn (VanderMeer), Randy, Janet (Bittick) and Julia (Edmondson); as well as 12 grandchildren, David, Kylee, Lauren, Tiffany, Blaine, Palmer, Payton, Zachary, Ian, Kaitlyn, Blake and Tad. Jan was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She will be

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JUNE 25, 2020

SPORTS COLUMN

Introducing:

A layman learns golf Welcome to my new, ongoing column where this oft-described “redneck” learns to play the gentleman’s game.

TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR

File photos by Troy Herring

The league will start a 27-game regular season on June 29.

Several players, including Winter Garden’s Bobby Head, will return to the field for the Squeeze.

THE BOYS ARE BACK The Winter Garden Squeeze prepares for a new, unique season as the Florida Collegiate Summer League gets back to work following a lengthy delay.

TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR

I

t’s been a while since Ethan Brown last participated in a competitive game of baseball.

Months have passed since his sophomore season at Seminole State College was interrupted by the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, and since then, his days have been filled with training and trying not to go insane.

But now, standing on the mound for the Winter Garden Squeeze in a preseason game, he finally gets his taste of live pitching in what feels like an eternity. In a

few innings of work, things feel a smidge more normal.

“I felt better than I ever have,” said Brown, a Winter Garden resident. “With this whole break I’ve had, I’ve been able to look back at video work, and I’m able to nitpick all the small mechanical changes I have, work on pitches and how I can make my curveball better and my cutter better, and then being able to actually execute it. … That right there was a big accomplishment for me.”

Brown’s sentiment is shared among the players, coaches and administration of the Florida Collegiate Summer League, which

earlier this month announced it would go forward with the season — albeit with changes.

For Adam Bates, the general manager of the Squeeze, it feels right to have baseball back.

“It feels good, because so much hard work has gone into it,” Bates said. “It feels good, because you feel a sense of normalcy and you feel for the players. With this being our seventh year in the league, and then the 17th year of the complete league, we’re a part of the summer.”

CHA-CHA-CHA-CHANGES

In early June, the Florida League Board of Directors announced it had voted to proceed with the new season. The decision was made following months of uncertainty, said league President Stefano Foggi.

“There was a period of time there for two months-plus where it was looking pretty bleak,” Foggi said. “We didn’t know how this virus was going to affect us, and there was new information coming in by the day, so it was kind of day-to-day. All along, our goal was to just be in a position to pull off a season if the virus situation allowed us to — that could have been a whole lot of work for nothing, and it’s exciting to see that we SEE SQUEEZE PAGE 17

For the second year in a row, the Squeeze will play away from Winter Garden — this time due to restrictions in Orange County brought on by COVID-19.

Ah, golf — the ultimate gentleman’s game.

Since its modern development in 15th-century Scotland, people around the world have taken up the sport as a means of fun and leisure. And for those who happen to be good at it, there’s a nice chunk of change to be made.

It’s most notably known as a game played by royalty and the upper-crust of society, which is why it’s a shame that I’m about to come in like a redneck Happy Gilmore — without the long-ball ability — and set golf back 500 years.

That’s right, I’m going to do something I never in a million years thought I would do — I’m going to learn how to play golf.

Since this wildly infuriating pandemic first began canceling sports back in March, I have written about whatever popped into my mind. For some reason, unknown to even myself, I pondered, “Wouldn’t it be funny to write an ongoing column where I explore a game that I have made fun of for most of my life?”

When I say “explore,” I mean throw myself deep into the game — colorful John Daly plaid pants and all — and document my experiences.

Before I do that, however, let me tell you a little about my background in this sport and what I’ve been doing this last week.

MY BACKGROUND IN GOLF …

… is nonexistent.

Actually, it’s more like a series of jabs at the sport. You see, growing up in the most middle of middle-class families back in small-town North Carolina, golf to us was a sport played by rich white guys with an excessive amount of time on their hands — therefore it was treated with a bit of good ol’ fashioned mockery.

My first experience with golf was probably when I was SEE FOREWARNING PAGE 17

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Adyson Liddick Adyson Liddick, who plays for both Dr. Phillips Little League and the West Florida Crush, loves the sport of softball. Liddick has been playing softball since she was child, and for her, it’s the sport that keeps her going.

Since you first started, what has been the biggest change you’ve seen in your own game?

When I first started, I was an outfielder, because I couldn’t really catch that much or anything, and I couldn’t hit at all.

But now, I’m hitting the ball to the far outfield.

What is your favorite part about playing pitcher? The most challenging part?

The best thing about this position is if you do (well), you give your team a great chance that you can win and do (well).

The challenging part is that when you’re doing badly, and you have all this pressure on your shoulders, it’s hard to pitch a strike, sometimes.

How do you mentally get through a game where you’re struggling in the circle?

Usually after every pitch — when I’m doing badly — I walk to the back of the circle, I take a deep breath, and I just hope the next pitch could be a strike. I just block everything out with everyone yelling.

What are the best words of advice that you have been given?

My one coach said I should dominate the batter.

THE BASICS AGE: 12 SPORT: Softball ORGANIZATION(S): Dr. Phillips Little League (rec ball), West Florida Crush (travel) POSITION: Pitcher DOMINANT HAND: Right

— it was the last five minutes of the camp. When people slide and they don’t cover (it) up, they make a hole. I was the last one to go — I slid, my foot got caught under the base and I flipped over it, and then it cracked. (Because) I couldn’t do anything on my leg, I normally just did my pitching motion on my arm to practice sometimes, and then when I could walk a bit better … I would take a couple of walks, and then once I got the boot, I started doing somewhat (of a) pitching motion with my legs, but not putting too much pressure on my foot.

How does it feel to finally be back playing?

It honestly feels really good to get out and practice with all my teammates, and it’s fun to hit the ball and pitch and strike people out now. Softball is the one thing that keeps me going, and it’s just really fun for me.

Is there anything you’re working on this summer?

Normally, I’m trying to work on everything, but right now, I’m mostly focusing on my pitching and my hitting mechanics.

When you get spare time, what do you like to do?

I love playing LEGOS a lot. And … Briana Lorr — she is my best friend on DP Little League — we both love playing LEGOS and online games with each other, and we usually call and do that every single day.

Last year you broke your foot, and it kept you away from the game for a while.

What was that like getting back to the field?

So I was at a softball camp, and we were sliding

— TROY HERRING

Follow us on

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

a kid flipping past it on TV on Sunday afternoons trying to find something else to watch at my mema’s house. But my most vivid early memories were when we rode by the local course back home. Every time, without hesitation, my dad would blare the horn as some poor schmuck went into his back swing, and it made me laugh every single time.

Was it rude? Eh, depends on whom you ask. Was it funny?

Absolutely.

So, as you can see, my early experiences with the sport aren’t exactly gentlemanly, but things changed when I moved to Winter Garden.

I had photographed golf back home, but Florida is a different place for golf — everyone here plays this dang game. Combine

Shannon Till, Agent

Minneola, FL 34715 (352) 394-0303

www.marksfloorsonline.com

that point for me, and for some of my other guys, it basically feels like an intersquad. You’re just there to get your reps in to try and get better instead of trying to perform to the best of your ability. … You’re just going through the motions.”

WORKING ON THEIR GAME

Although this is far from the typical season, things have been good so far through the preseason, said Squeeze head coach Terry Abbott.

Despite baseball seasons being suspended for months, many of the guys who have shown up are raring to go — regardless of how awkward the new changes may be.

“Our kids have been upbeat, the focus has been there, they’ve got high energy, and they come into practice and they get their work done in a pretty businesslike matter,” Abbott said. “I’ve seen some good work habits out of some of the guys.”

Not only are the guys in fullbaseball mode, but also they are enjoying themselves. Sure, they’re there to get better and prepare for their next season of college baseball, but the happiness to just be back to the game they love has been palpable, said Bryce Hubbart — a Windermere High alumnus and current pitcher on the Florida State University baseball team.

“You can definitely see how people feel after these past two days,” Hubbart said. “Thursday and today (Friday) … we actually got to play intersquad — we got to play each other — which is a normal thing, but it was just very enjoyable.

“Most of the time when you’re at school or you’re playing intersquad it’s like, ‘Oh, we’re doing intersquad’ — you’re intersquading every day and it gets tedious,” he said. “But you could just see it was an extremely enjoyable environment to be around. It’s been good.”

Forewarning: I’m new to golf

Shannon Till, Agent Fowler’s Grove 3279 Daniels Rd Winter Garden, FL 34787 Shannon Till, Agent Toll Free: 855-742-1591 www.shannontill.com Fowler’s Grove 3279 Daniels Rd

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Despite a late start to the season, players and staff are ready to get back to the field.

that with being able to cover the Arnold Palmer Invitational and meeting some cool people, and all of a sudden, I found myself watching it on TV and following golf news on the Twitter. Y’all finally had me hooked with your effective brainwashing.

TEARING UP MY BACKYARD

With my curiosity piqued, and my sanity being completely snuffed out due to being stuck at home, I decided it was finally time to buy a set of clubs.

I looked online at some shops, but ultimately ended up finding a set for $80 back in May. Since then, I’ve taken to my backyard to work on things that I’m definitely going to need to improve on before I go out to an actual course — like chipping out of tall grass and trying to find where my ball landed.

So far, I’ve already lost a few

balls, and I’ve hacked at balls so bad that my yard looks like a battlefield scene from Saving Private Ryan. To my landlord, the latter half is only slightly a joke. Please don’t raise my rent.

This is all to say that this is going to be much harder than I could have ever anticipated.

Concentration and hand-eye coordination aren’t things I’m necessarily good at, but hey, this is a learning process.

And this process will continue as I take in some lessons with a friend. Hopefully, we will work on driving, because nothing would make me happier than blowing up a golf ball — which hopefully can be done without me accidentally murdering someone.

So, if you’re out there on the course and hear me shout, “Fore,” I am truly sorry for the possible concussion.

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have this potential to have a season now.”

Along with that news, the league listed a series of steps it would be taking to ensure everyone would be safe as the coronavirus pandemic continues.

Players and staff were tested for COVID-19 before they proceeded into a two-week preseason period — which started June 15.

What follows now is a 27-game regular season that begins Monday, June 29, and a postseason running from Aug. 6 to 14 for the top five teams. All games will be played at one of three locations: Sanford Memorial Stadium in Sanford, Pat Thomas Stadium in Leesburg and Melching Field at Conrad Park in DeLand. Having teams play in only three locations is a means of creating a protective bubble for players and staff, Foggi said.

After initially deciding on having no fans at games, the league decided to allow for 50% capacity — which can be accomplished because of the larger stadiums in which the teams will be playing.

The news of having at least some fans attend games was welcomed by players such as Brown, who said having a crowd helps to get players fired up.

“When it comes to no fans, the game just isn’t as alive as it should be,” Brown said. “Players don’t have as much energy — they don’t hear people cheering or calling their name out — so at

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When did you first get into softball?

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