WINDERMERE
Observer
IN THIS ISSUE: 2018 PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW
LITTLE GUY, BIG GAME Windermere Prep senior quarterback Kai Patterson hasn’t let being undersized stop him from putting up eye-popping numbers. STORY ON PAGE 15.
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. FREE
VOLUME 3, NO. 44
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018
INSIDE: Welcome to the 2018 season ......... 4 Area team profiles ..................... 5-14 Cover story ......................................15 Must-see games of 2018 .......... 16-17
Observer
Running into the limelight The Windermere Wolverines took their home turf for the first time Aug. 17 to face West Orange. PAGE 8.
Serving the mission Horizon West resident Nima Hodaei, 45, is taking the baton as the new CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central Florida.
Town manager optimistic about 4th Corner negotiations
DANIELLE HENDRIX BLACK TIE EDITOR
W
hen former CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central Florida Bill Oakley announced his retirement earlier this year, the organization knew it had some big shoes to fill. Luckily, Horizon West resident Nima Hodaei was willing and ready to take the reins of leadership and continue Oakley’s legacy. Hodaei, 45, recently moved to the area — along with his fiancee
GABBY BAQUERO NEWS EDITOR
Tavistock Development Company has yet to withdraw its development application with Orange County for the northwest corner of Conroy-WinSEE NEGOTIATIONS PAGE 6
SEE TOWN PAGE 4
YOUR TOWN OBSERVER WINS FNAME AWARDS
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Courtesy photo
Horizon West resident Nima Hodaei moved recently from New Jersey to take on the role of CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central Florida.
First Windermere High game presents stadium challenges
ARTS & CULTURE
The West Orange Times & Observer and Windermere Observer won nine awards in the 2017 FNAME Creative Excellence Award Contest for excellence in advertising. The papers won three Gold awards: n Key Lime Marina: Tony Trotti and Michelle Gentry n Main Street Mowers: Tony Trotti and Cyndi Gustafson n Aldos Fine Jewelry: Tony Trotti and Darlene McMahon In addition, the papers won three Silver and three Bronze awards: n Wine & Dine Program, silver: Tony Trotti n Tom West Blueberries, silver: Tony Trotti and Cyndi Gustafson n Garage Mama Fitness Kickstart, silver: Tony Trotti and Cyndi Gustafson n Willies BBQ, bronze: Tony Trotti and Michelle Gentry n Discover, bronze: Tony Trotti, Cyndi Gustafson, Darlene McMahon and Michelle Gentry n Multimedia Campaign, bronze: Tony Trotti
School and county officials are working to smooth the process of facilitating football games at Windermere High’s off-campus stadium. DANIELLE HENDRIX BLACK TIE EDITOR
Local actress Mei Ashton honed her on-stage chops in London. SEE PAGE 9.
The Windermere Wolverines’ first home game against the West Orange Warriors was certainly one to remember. The rain cleared just in time for fans to pack the stands at — and the roads around — Deputy Scott Pine Community Park Friday, Aug. 17. The Wolverines scored their first
touchdown of the season, putting them on the scoreboard, and fans went wild. Additionally, Windermere fans got to show off their new, eight-acre football stadium. Everyone was excited, but with anything new comes a learning curve. The 200 on-site parking spaces and overflow lot filled up more than an hour before kickoff, SEE TRAFFIC PAGE 4