WINTER PARK/MAITLAND
Observer
July Fourth area celebrations. PAGES 6-7.
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 29, NO. 26
FREE
De Sola’s
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
It’s cold backstage in the Linda Chapin Theater, but that’s fine. Ballet dancer Sasha De Sola has to warm up anyway. Between a towering hallway of dark curtains just feet away from stage right, De Sola practices her craft while wearing a black tutu with elegant gold trim. She hops in place for a moment before stretching her joints. Feet wrapped in silk extend straight out, carrying her entire body weight on her toes. She flexes her feet up and down in a crisscross pattern – her heels kissing the ground for just a second at a time. The routine almost resembles the pregame warmup of a professional athlete, and that’s not far from the reality of being a worldrenowned ballet dancer, De Sola said. It could even be an understatement. “We’re trained to make it look easy,” she said. “I would train six hours a day from the age of 11 on. … It’s difficult on the body.” Later that day she would be performing in front of 2,600 people. But this isn’t just any audience – it’s her hometown crowd. It’s been four years, but she’s finally come home.
De Sola showcased her ballet skills alongside partner Max Cauthorn on Saturday, June 24 at the World Ballet Competition’s Gala Performance, performing “Black Swan pas de deux” from “Swan Lake” at the Orange County Convention Center. The 27-year-old knows the Linda Chapin Theater and its backstage well – she grew up performing numerous ballet dances there. She was born in Winter Park Memorial Hospital and grew up not far away in Winter Springs. But Central Florida isn’t just her home, it’s where she discovered her passion for dance. Flying into Orlando from where she currently lives in San Francisco, the memories came flooding back for De Sola. “It felt sort of surreal,” she said. “Just even getting on 417, it’s very nostalgic. It’s a really good feeling to be back.”
The controversial ordinance will be ultimately decided upon on July 10. Professional ballet dancer Sasha De Sola gave a special performance in front of her hometown crowd on June 24 at the Orange County Convention Center.
BY TROY HERRING ASSOCIATE EDITOR
During Monday night’s City Council meeting in Maitland, the Council motioned and passed an ordinance to amend the Planned Development (PD) zoning district and Development Plan for an apartment complex in the city. After a presentation on the plan’s specifics by Community Development Director Dan Matthys, and Becky Wilson, who was representSEE MAITLAND PAGE 5
YOUR TOWN MAYOR LEARY ELECTED TO FLORIDA LEAGUE OF MAYORS
SEE BALLET PAGE 4
Born in Winter Park, Sasha De Sola is now a world-famous ballet dancer.
Courtesy Erik Tomasson
Winter Park Mayor Steve Leary was elected to the Board of Directors of the Florida League of Mayors for a term ending August 2018. The Florida League of Mayors is an organization for mayors and governed by a Board of Directors of mayors from around the state representing geographical districts.
Winter Park ponders banning medical marijuana dispensaries TIM FREED ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Winter Park City Commissioners are pondering their approach to medical marijuana dispensaries in the wake of Gov. Rick Scott signing the medical marijuana bill into law last week. City Attorney Kurt Ardaman gave the City Commission an idea of what’s next for the city of Winter Park during their meeting on Monday. The state legislation on medical marijuana preempts any local regulations in place, but
FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2017
Maitland City Council moves unpopular apartment ordinance forward
Homecoming Dance TIM FREED
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does give cities the opportunity to ban dispensaries if they choose to do so, he said. Unless the facilities are banned outright though, the city has no control over where the dispensaries go or how many of them
Photo by Tim Freed
Will Winter Park ban medical marijuana dispensaries? Some City Commissioners think it’s for the best for now.
SEE NOW PAGE 4
The general purpose of the League of Mayors is to provide a forum for Florida mayors to: • Jointly study and assist each other in solutions to problems faced by Florida’s municipalities. • Work cooperatively for the general improvement and efficient administration of Florida’s municipalities. • Promote the exchange of ideas and experiences in successful methods of administration of Florida’s municipalities.