WINTER PARK/MAITLAND
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 29, NO. 27
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FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2017
Smells like team spirit
The 24th annual Mascot Games benefited Maitland-based nonprofit New Hope for Kids. SEE PAGE 8.
Winter Park Benefit Shop celebrates 100 years
O beautiful
TIM FREED ASSOCIATE EDITOR
You can find just about anything in the little shop connected to Winter Park City Hall. For Winter Park residents and visitors, stepping inside the Winter Park Benefit Shop — which somehow sits off Park Avenue in both plain sight and SEE BENEFIT PAGE 4
With a big grin on her face, Kendall Matthews, 4, pedaled down Park Avenue in this year’s July 4 parade. Right: Stilt walker Brandon Smith handed out fireworks glasses at the Baldwin Park Independence Day Bash. Tim Freed
WINTER PARK DAR INSTALLS NEW OFFICERS The William P. Duval chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution celebrated its 60th anniversary with the theme, “That’ll Be The Day,” taken from Buddy Holly’s 1957 No. 1 song. Costumes with hats and music of the 1950 era were enjoyed. Past Regent Judy Dowden also installed the chapter’s new officers. The new officers are: Regent Bettie Jenkins; First Vice Regent Ann Maner; Second Vice Regent Leslie Beltz; Chaplain Madelda Thompson; Registrar Frances Purser; Recording Secretary Carolyn Gilleece; Treasurer Barbara Creighton; Corresponding Secretary Becky Gilbert; Historian Melissa Mishoe; Librarian Linda Scheuplein; and Parliamentarian Pat Schnurr.
The shop began in 1917 as a movement of women delivering groceries and clothes to those in need.
The Winter Park Benefit Shop stocks a wide variety of items, such as antiques and décor.
YOUR TOWN
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inter Park and the surrounding communities celebrated the Fourth of July with several fun-filled, family friendly
events. Baldwin Park kicked off the holiday with its annual Independence Day Bash July 3. The event featured dozens of vendors, carnival games, food trucks, the Room 2 band and a fireworks display. Then on July 4, Winter Parkers started the morning at the Watermelon 5K, a run through downtown Winter Park complete with ice-cold watermelon and American pride. The weekend culminated with the city’s 22nd annual Fourth of July Celebration, which began with an “Oath of Allegiance” naturalization ceremony for 17 citizenship applicants. — TIM FREED AND TROY HERRING
SEE PHOTOS PAGE 5
Oakhurst tree canopy suffering The current drought and Hurricane Matthew have pushed a declining tree canopy to the brink along Oakhurst Avenue. TIM FREED ASSOCIATE EDITOR
For the first time in 30 years, Winter Park resident Jim Curasi, 68, had to buy a sprinkler for his front lawn at his home on Oakhurst Avenue. There wasn’t any shade to protect the grass. He also can see Lakemont Elementary School for the first time from his front window — visible in the distance just above the homes across the street. The reason for the change in SEE CANOPY PAGE 4