WINDERMERE
Observer
Achilles Art Cafe celebrates 10 years. 9.
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
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VOLUME 3, NO. 43
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2018
Three vie for O.C. mayor Meet the three candidates who hope to succeed Teresa Jacobs. SEE PAGE 3.
Band boosters
Now in its second year, the Windermere Wolverine Band needs a little boost from the community to keep the beat going. PAGE 4.
Danielle Hendrix
The Windermere Wolverine Band hosts multiple fundraisers throughout the year, such as the recent mattress sale in the gym.
SPORTS
Town manager: Revenue from tax increase would fund needed projects The Windermere Town Council held a second budget workshop Aug. 13 to learn what projects could be funded in the future with a higher millage rate. GABBY BAQUERO NEWS EDITOR
Windermere Preparatory School welcomes Nathan Peck and Micah Kurtz to staff. PRSRT STD ECRWSS US POSTAGE PAID WINTER GARDEN, FL PERMIT NO. 81
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Postal Customer
SEE PAGE 15.
Judging by Windermere’s Aug. 13 budget workshop, the Town Council is currently leaning toward the idea of increasing the town’s millage rate from 3.25 to 3.7425. After hearing presentations from Windermere Town Manager Robert Smith, the council agreed the town could use the increased revenue from a 3.7425 millage rate to fund projects listed in the town’s
Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan. Smith emphasized the .49 increase is desperately needed to fund multiple capital projects, because if the millage rate is kept at 3.25, the town only would have $548 left after all expenses. “The incremental tax increase from 3.25 to 3.7425 will generate about $320,000 more in ad-valorem revenue,” Smith said. “For conSEE TOWN PAGE 4
YOUR TOWN PAPERS WIN STATE AWARDS The West Orange Times and Observer and Windermere Observer won a combined 12 awards in the Florida Press Association’s 2017 Better Weekly Newspaper Contest. The awards were presented at the 2018 Florida Media Conference Aug. 10 at Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. The first-place awards include: n Front-Page Makeup, West Orange Times & Observer n Sports Section, West Orange Times & Observer: Steven Ryzewski n Sports Spot News Story, SEE YOUR TOWN PAGE 6