WINTER PARK/MAITLAND
Observer
Real Estate
Get up to speed on what’s selling. PAGE 9.
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. VOLUME 30, NO. 27
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FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2018
Trophy hunting in Italy The XL National Soccer Teams are chasing glory overseas. SEE PAGE 7.
YOUR TOWN
Winter Park Police joins Neighbors app Officers will use the app by Ring to keep residents informed about crime and help catch criminals.
VALERIE TRAPP TAKES HOME SCHOLARSHIP
TIM FREED ASSOCIATE EDITOR
The Winter Park Police Department always tells residents to “see something, say something,” but now officers are using technology to take that idea one step further. Winter Park’s Police Department announced last month that they recently joined the Neighbors app by Ring, which allows residents to post alerts or important updates to neighbors in their community. Police officers are now plugged in to stay up-to-date on any important happenings in local neighborhoods. “Once you opt in to it, you’re basically partnering with the police department and your neighbors to help reduce crime in your neighborhood – like the neighborhood watch,” Lt. John Montgomery of the Winter Park Police Department said.
Happy Fourth!
Winter Parkers showed off their American spirit at the 23rd annual Fourth of July Celebration and the Florida Hospital Watermelon 5K.
SEE APP PAGE 4
On Saturday, June 30, Valerie Trapp of Winter Park, Fla., was selected as the second runner-up in the Distinguished Young Women National Finals competition and was presented with a cash scholarship of $10,000. Trapp earned a preliminary competition award totaling $11,000 in additional cash scholarships. Following a selection process that began in her home state of Florida, Trapp traveled to Mobile along with 49 other state representatives to participate in community activities and prepare for the 61st annual national competition. Trapp is a graduate of Trinity Preparatory School. In the fall, she will attend Stanford University with plans to become a foreign service officer. She is the daughter of Marnie Forestieri and Oliver Trapp.
SEE WINTER PARK PAGE 6
Orange County Commissioner holds town hall meeting in Maitland Emily Bonilla, who represents District 5, listened to concerns of citizens regarding lane reductions to Maitland Avenue. BY TROY HERRING ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Normally the Maitland Public Library is a nice, quiet place, but Monday night was an exception. Packed into the library’s activity room — where tables and walls were lined with people — local residents took an hour-and-ahalf to voice their concerns to Orange County Commissioner Emily Bonilla (District 5) about the possibility of Maitland Avenue being reduced from four to two lanes.
But before the night could even start off with discussion, confusion spilled through the crowd as many thought the meeting was solely about Maitland Avenue — it wasn’t. The meeting was an opportunity for Bonilla to hear from her constituents about general issues. “I’ve been having these town halls all across the district and the purpose of them is to hear the concerns of the citizens and also see how we can work together to solve them,” Bonilla said to the crowd.
Photo by Troy Herring
Orange County Commissioner Emily Bonilla, who represents District 5, left, and Transportation Planning Manager Renzo Nastasi take questions from concerned residents during the town hall held on July 2.
Instead of residents lining up at a microphone, Bonilla posed three questions: “What concerns do you have in your community?;” “What do you believe the Com-
mission can do for you?;” “How can you, help me, take care of your concerns?” SEE CONCERNS PAGE 4