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‘God never creates tragedy’ See story on 8A Vol. 81 No. 30
Winter Garden, Florida
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Thursday, July 24, 2014
Olympia athlete vaulting toward the top 1B Three Sections, 36 Pages
Oakland follows town trend of setting higher mill as buffer
In brief Church to celebrate new school year
Elevation Christian Church, 120 W. Mckey St., Ocoee, plans to host a community back- to-school event from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, in the adjacent Mckey Crossings Plaza. Organizers will give away school supplies to the first 200 students who attend. The event, which is supported by the city of Ocoee, also will feature free haircuts, live music, face painting and bounce houses. To learn more, visit elevationflorida.org.
By Amy Quesinberry Rhode
The Oakland Town Commission typically raises its proposed millage rate one mill each year to allow for a buffer when planning the next fiscal year’s budget and then drops the rate back down to the previous year’s rate. The 2014-15 budget year should be no different. Commissioners voted unanimously July 8 to set the proposed rate at 7.75, one mill higher than last year’s rate. The officials will hold the first adoption hearing on the town’s tentative budget and millage rate at their Sept. 10 meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m.; the final millage and budget hearing is set for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 23. Finance Director Becky Rotroff said the town does not expect to hold any budget workshops. The Orange County Property Appraiser’s office will mail the notices of proposed property taxes to residents Aug. 24. Last year’s millage rate in Oakland was 6.75, and the total budget was about $7.4 million. This year’s budget has not been determined, but Rotroff said the ad valorem rate is increasing, because the town annexed property and Oakland’s assessed value has increased. The current assessed value is $202 million, she said, and last year’s was $192 million. The town operates with a three-part budget, which includes the General Fund, Utility Fund and School Operations for Oakland Avenue Charter School.
Apply now for meal benefits
Parents of Orange County Public Schools students can now begin submitting a Club Lunch Meal Benefits application for the 2014/15 school year. Completion of this form helps OCPS qualify students to receive school meals at a reduced, free or paid rate. By visiting OCPSMealApp.com, families can fill out one application that will cover all students in the household. Regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture, the OCPS food service program operates under strict nutrition guidelines for all meals served. Fruits and vegetables are provided with each meal every day, and whole grains are used in breads, pizzas, rice, etc. There are no fried foods or any foods high in fat, sugar or salt. To learn more, contact Lora Gilbert, senior director of OCPS Food and Nutrition Services, at (407) 317-3963, or lora.gilbert@ocps.net.
VanderLey top District 1 citizen By Amy Quesinberry Rhode
Gibson and his band — lead guitarist and bandleader JMR, Scott McGill on upright bass, Brian Molnar on the cajon (drum) and Bill Posten on the keys — delivered a set that included the rollicking “Redneck Rock N’ Roll” and “Florida Cracker Country Boy,” as well as the gentle “Daddy’s Little Girl.” In addition, Gibson praised the Sunshine State’s skies and beaches in “Florida” and the glories of farm life in “Moonlight on the Farm.”
Betsy VanderLey, of Oakland, was one of seven individuals recognized for making exceptional contributions to Orange County and its citizens during the municipality’s 2014 Florida Neighborhoods Conference earlier this month. County Mayor Teresa Jacobs presented the plaques and medallions. VanderLey — the business development director for DRMP Inc., a civil engineering firm in Baldwin Park — is the vice chair of the Orange County Planning and Zoning Commission/Local Planning Agency and is the P&Z representative on the county’s Affordable Housing Board. “Ms. VanderLey’s numerous contributions span from fundraising and sponsoring charity events to conscientiously casting critical votes as the District 1 Planning and Zoning representative,” Orange County District 1 Commissioner S. Scott Boyd said. “Despite the many demands of her professional and advisory board commitments, she still finds the time to volunteer her talents in a multitude of other roles, including mentoring her peers through voluntary professional development courses. She has positively impacted the quality of life for countless residents who will benefit for generations to come, and I am thrilled to see her receive this honor.” VanderLey has been a small-business owner, an entrepreneur and a business developer. Her involvement in the community includes managing numerous local political campaigns and assisting local non-profits with public relations, marketing and fundraising. “I have been privileged to live in West
(See Gibson, 6A)
(See Vanderley, 6A)
Extra! Extra! Read all about it!
The new West Orange Times & Observer website officially launched July 3. Visit wotimes.com for local news, features, sports and more.
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Business…3A Opinion…4A Winter Garden…7A Ocoee...8A Oakland...9A Windermere...10A Social…11A Deaths…12A Sports…1-4B Schools…5B.
I WO This week’s winner is Heather Kuhl. See her photo on PAGE 13A
50 Cents
Photo by Tony Judnich
West Orange native Patrick Gibson, right, and his bandmates, including lead guitarist JMR, performed for a packed house July 19 at Blue 42 Sports Grill, in Winter Garden.
WEST ORANGE WELCOME West Orange native Patrick Gibson and friends jam for a good cause. By Tony Judnich
Two days after celebrating his 32nd birthday, country music recording artist Patrick Gibson returned to the West Orange scene where a major part of his fan base took shape. Gibson performed to a full house July 19 at Blue 42 Sports
Grill, 14195 W. Colonial Drive, Winter Garden. Fans gave him a warm welcome, just like they did at his shows when the establishment was known as Benchwarmers. The concert served as a fundraiser for Bethesda, Md.-based CureSearch for Children’s Cancer. “It’s an honor to be back here in West Orange County tonight,” Gibson told the audience, which included his mother, Donna Henley, of Palm Bay, and other family members. “I love hearing him play live,” Henley said.
Ocoee commission sets tentative property tax rate By Tony Judnich
The Ocoee City Commission July 15 set a proposed, tentative property tax rate of 6.5 for the fiscal 2015 budget. Commissioners adamantly stated the rate is not a permanent one and represents a “ceiling” that will come down. The tentative rate, they agreed, will give them leeway to make adjustments when they review the proposed budget at up-
coming workshops and hearings. The new fiscal year begins Oct. 1. The tentative tax rate can be lowered during the budget hearings in September and has historically been done so by the city, City Manager Rob Frank said in a letter to the commission. “There are going to be some residents complaining (about the tentative rate),” Commissioner Joel Keller said. “But, the 6.5 is just a play number (for now).”
“I’d rather get it up higher than go low (initially),” Commissioner Rosemary Wilsen said. “If not, you won’t get one stripe on the street.” Ocoee’s overall assessed value increased by just more than $145 million from the prior year, and Finance Director Wanda Horton and city staff had recommended the commission match the (See Ocoee, 6A)
Betsy VanderLey, left, vice-chair of Orange County Planning and Zoning Commission, was honored for District 1 at the recent Florida Neighborhoods Conference. With her is Diana M. Garcia, aide to District 1 Commissioner S. Scott Boyd.