08.27.26 West Orange Times & Observer

W EST O RA N G E T I M E S &

Observer Winter Garden, Ocoee, Oakland

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

VOLUME 93, NO. 35

FREE • THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2026

City of Ocoee raises fire fee The Ocoee City Commission set its fire assessment fee to 45% for Fiscal Year 2027. SEE PAGE 6A.

GAME OF THE WEEK West Orange welcomes Horizon in an earlyseason battle between local programs. SEE 1B.

YOUR TOWN BRAVO TO HOST GRAND OPENING THIS FRIDAY

BEAUTIFUL IN ITS TIME

Ocoee’s Casie and Joseph Constantine have taken their decades-long experiences in entertainment to create 4Him Transformations, a faith-based entertainment company. STORY ON PAGE 4A.

Solid waste rates could increase The Winter Garden City Commission was presented with the recommendation to increase solid waste rates to meet projected funding requirements over the next five years. PAGE 5A.

Bravo Supermarkets will celebrate the opening of its Winter Garden location in grand fashion this week.

The celebration takes place from 2 to 6 p.m Friday, Aug. 28, at its new location in Winter Garden Plaza, 13375 W. Colonial Drive, Suite 9.

Attendees will enjoy a face painter, balloon artists, giveaways and prizes. Plus, the first 50 families will receive a special gift certificate.

Rumba 100.3, Magic 107.7 and DJ Anthony will be broadcasting live.

For more information, visit bravo supermarkets.com.

Courtesy photo

OCSO OPENS ESSAY CONTEST FOR STUDENTS File photo

Joseph and Casie Constantine were over-the-moon about 4Him Transformations’ first WavePraise Silent Disco event.

Top image: Joseph and Casie Constantine created an illusion routine with Saber, a white tiger.

Company goes the extra tile Three Winter Garden residents are making friends and building community through their love of mah jongg.

SEE PAGE 7B.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is hosting an essay contest for ninth- through 12thgraders.

The Day with the Sheriff essay contest is open for submissions until Wednesday, Sept.

30. One winner will shadow Orange County Sheriff John Mina for an entire workday.

To be considered, students must submit an 800- to 1,000word essay on one of the following prompts: n How can social media be used positively to connect youth with law enforcement and promote crime prevention? n What can law enforcement do to connect better with young people? n What does a safe community look like to you, and how can youth and law enforcement work together to achieve it?

The winner will be announced in early October.

Contact crimeprevention@ ocsofl.com for questions.

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OrangeObserver.com

OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2026

FAST

townscontest.hallmarkchannel. com/vote/25.

A Hallmark pop-up shop also will open in October at Disney Springs to celebrate Hallmark’s upcoming movie, “Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True.”

Courtesy photos

West Orange residents can vote for Winter Garden as the Merriest Christmas Town until 11:59 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4.

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Dr. Phillips High community mourns loss of student The Dr. Phillips High School community is mourning the loss of one of its students.

The school announced Tuesday, Aug. 18, Vaihola Amone, aka Vai, died of medical complications.

“Vai was a cherished member of the senior class, known for his warm spirit and love of baseball,” school officials posted. “His presence brought light to our hallways and classrooms, and he will be deeply missed by students, faculty and staff alike.

“Our heartfelt thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies go out to Vai’s family, loved ones and friends during this extraordinarily painful time,” officials wrote.

Students and families can reach out to the school’s counselors and social workers.

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Man dies in Winter Garden shooting A fatal shooting took place in Winter Garden in the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 19.

According to the Winter Garden Police Department, officers

responded to a shooting investigation at about 11:25 p.m. at 778 Bethune Ave., Winter Garden.

Upon arrival, officers located Shariff Simmons, 49, deceased on the ground outside the residence.

WGPD officials said it appears Simmons was targeted and believe there is no danger to the rest of the community.

According to a news release, the victim and other occupants of the residence were playing cards before the shooting.

WGPD asks anyone with information on this incident to contact Detective Kevin Burget at (407) 656-3636, Ext. 6320; Sgt. Dave Clarke at (407) 656-3636, Ext. 4092; or CRIMELINE at (800) 4238477.

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AdventHealth Winter Garden to offer new labor and delivery services AdventHealth Winter Garden is expanding its care for mothers, babies and growing families alike.

Starting Monday, Aug. 24, The Baby Place, a new labor and delivery service at AdventHealth Winter Garden, began welcoming patients.

The Baby Place includes nine labor, delivery and recovery rooms, two C-section operating rooms and 10 postpartum beds. Future plans include a Level II neonatal intensive care unit, as well.

“Welcoming a baby is one of life’s most meaningful moments, and families deserve to feel supported, confident and cared for throughout the experience,” AdventHealth Winter Garden CEO Aimee Keller-Pickford said. “Bringing labor and delivery to our Winter Garden campus means families can receive compassionate, coordinated care with experienced teams by their side, while staying connected to the people and support systems that matter most.”

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Winter Garden competes for Hallmark’s ‘Merriest Christmas Town’ title The city of Winter Garden is participating in Hallmark Channel’s “Merriest Christmas Towns” contest.

Currently, the city is competing against 24 other municipalities.

Once voting ends at 11:59 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 4, judges will evaluate each finalist based on community spirit, holiday traditions, neighborhood charm and goodwill.

The winner of Hallmark Channel’s “Merriest Christmas Towns” contest will receive the opportunity to serve as a filming location for a Hallmark movie.

To vote, visit merriestchristmas-

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Man, 65, arrested in Ocoee for indecent exposure A registered sex offender is again in jail after exposing himself to commuters in the morning of Tuesday, Aug. 18, outside the Ocoee Popeyes at 10923 W. Colonial Drive.

Michael Scott Knight, 65, has been in and out of prison for the exposure of his sexual organ since 1986, according to public records.

Knight now is facing third-degree felony charges.

AdventHealth Winter Garden staff commemorated The Baby Place’s opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday, Aug. 20.

Emergency care that’s in the neighborhood, and on your side.

Have a plan and find a location.

Fast emergency care starts with a plan.

Scan the QR code to find an Orlando Health ER location near you, with a dedicated team when you need them the most.

457886-1

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OrangeObserver.com

OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2026

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For longtime fans, MoonCricket was more than just a restaurant After 23 years, owner Bert Valdes closed MoonCricket Grille Sunday, Aug. 16, to retire.

LETICIA SILVA

ABOUT MOONCRICKET n Opened in 2003, located 14 W. Plant St., Winter Garden n Served the Winter Garden community for 23 years

STAFF WRITER

Sunday, Aug. 16, at MoonCricket Grille was bittersweet as customers and residents enjoyed their last meals and beers before the restaurant closed permanently.

After 23 years of serving the Winter Garden community, owner Bert Valdes made the decision to retire.

While many customers are happy for Valdes as he retires, they also are upset the Winter Garden staple is no longer around.

To Susan Wilhelm-Nastasi, MoonCricket Grille was more than just a restaurant. It was where she found comfort, friendliness and hospitality when she first moved to the city in 2008.

“The first time I went in there, I remember thinking, ‘This reminds me of a place that I grew up in West Virginia,’” she said. “‘It feels like home.’”

The first time she walked in, she knew she would become a regular at MoonCricket Grille.

“I thought, ‘Wow, this is going to be a great place the kids and I can come have dinner,’” she said.

Back then, as downtown Winter Garden’s restaurant scene still was developing, Wilhelm-Nastasi said it was the quaint hometown place to go.

“You walked in there, and they made you feel like family,” she said.

“They remembered your name, they would remember your order, and it was just a place that felt like you were sitting down at the kitchen table having dinner with your family.”

Other customers echoed the sentiment.

Will Hawthorne and his family, all longtime Winter Garden residents, have been friends with the Valdes family years before they decided to open the establishment.

Hawthorne and his family were able to visit before it opened, and they were amazed right off the bat.

“Just walking in, seeing the decorations and how the place looked — it just gave us a really good feeling, like ‘Man, I really want to be here, and I want to come back,’” he said.

After the citrus industry died, Hawthorne said Winter Garden was left with nothing, and when Valdes said he was going to open a restaurant, he thought it was risky. Nonetheless, he was excited for what it would turn out to be.

“MoonCricket was part of the fabric of Winter Garden,” Hawthorne said. “They were there before Winter Garden was popular again, and that took some foresight on the Valdes family’s part. I applaud him for it.”

When MoonCricket Grille first opened, Hawthorne and his family visited weekly to watch his cousin play at the live shows the restaurant once offered.

After Hawthorne and his wife had children, the family still visited the establishment after church.

“The hometown feel never failed to amaze me,” he said. “You walked in, and it was almost like an episode of ‘Cheers.’ You knew what to expect, you knew who you’d see there, you knew it’d be friendly, and you knew the food was going to be good. It was just very homey.”

That homey feel was consistent, Winter Garden Commissioner Chloe Johnson-Brunson said.

“It just brought a sense of con-

“It just brought a sense of connection. It had a homey feel. Every time I went in, everyone was there, smiling and just always willing to serve. That’s what Winter Garden is: We serve.”

— Winter Garden Commissioner Chloe Johnson-Brunson

n Offers included 99 beers, starters, salads, wings, sandwiches, wraps, burgers, tacos and more n Permanently closed Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026

nection,” she said. “It had a homey feel. Every time I went in, everyone was there, smiling and just always willing to serve. That’s what Winter Garden is: We serve.”

She first visited MoonCricket Grille with a friend in 2018.

Wanting to sit outside and enjoy the weather, Johnson-Brunson and her friend decided to stop by and try the restaurant’s wings.

After that, she began ordering takeout from the restaurant to bring it home to her family.

It became a staple in her house.

“We love their wings,” she said.

She often met with her friends and family at MoonCricket Grille and said it was the perfect place to connect with others.

“I love to worship in my community, eat, work and play, and that just was that place where we could that with friends and family,” she said.

After Light Up Winter Garden, Johnson-Brunson visited MoonCricket, where she met a group of women from Windermere.

They sparked a conversation.

“That connection was created by us being at MoonCricket at the same time,” Johnson-Brunson said. “We didn’t know each other, but by us coming to get good food, we were able to create a relationship with someone we didn’t know.

MoonCricket got us to having a good conversation because we were there getting good food.”

She sat outside with her family, enjoying the wintertime, the fire burners and wings.

“It just felt like a welcoming place ever since I can remember,” she said.

“It felt like a warmth of going to your grandma’s house to pick up lunch and head back to work.”

Wilhelm-Nastasi said MoonCricket’s closing “feels like an end of an ear.”

“Downtown is changing so much; there’s a lot of new development, new ideas and new places coming in, and MoonCricket always felt like an anchor for me,” she said. “I was quite surprised and I was actually sad.”

From visiting with her daughter for the fish Reuben and fries to stopping by after a pickleball session, Wilhelm-Nastasi said she will hold the restaurant close to her heart, along with all the memories she created and the laughter she shared with others while there. “(Valdes) gave a wonderful place for everybody to gather up and share a meal and a brew,” she said. “Now it’s his time to do whatever he wants to do, and I’m very happy for him.”

Hawthorne said he also will cherish the memories he created there — and even brought home his 99 beer plaques from trying the 99 beer offerings at MoonCricket.

Now, he will hang them up in his garage somewhere visible and noticeable.

“I’m going to miss going there,” he said. “It was always consistent.

Thank you (to Valdes) for what he’s done and what he brought to us. (He) was a big advocate for the downtown merchants and making sure that he was instrumental in crafting the Winter Garden we know today that everyone loves. Hats off to him.”

Now, Valdes is off to enjoy his retirement.

“I think it’s going to be incredibly hard, if not impossible, to duplicate that specific place,” Wilhelm-Nastasi said. “But I wish him a happy retirement and to encourage him to know he did everything he could while he could, and just give him his flowers for creating a space where people could go, laugh, make memories with their families and friends, and stand strong for the years he was there.”

Photo by Leticia Silva

West Orange Dream Center Executive Director Julia Martinez and Central Florida Hope Center Executive Director Brian Tipps are excited for the new possibilities that will arise from this merger.

‘The living room of the community’ West Orange Dream Center and the Central Florida Hope Center are consolidating to better serve the community in a centralized location.

LETICIA SILVA STAFF WRITER

T

wo local faith-based nonprofits are coming together as one organization to create easier access and provide more services to those in need in Winter Garden.

The West Orange Dream Center and the Central Florida Hope Center announced Thursday, Aug. 5, the two organizations now will work as one.

The West Orange Dream Center offers senior programming and GED/high school diplomas. The center also opens its doors often to other nonprofits and groups to provide programs and services such as Narcotics Anonymous; English for speakers of other languages; arts and theater; Girl Scouts; support groups for caregivers; grief recovery groups; life skills; and more.

At the Central Florida Hope Center, a food pantry is open for those in need with necessities such as dairy products, canned goods, various proteins and fruits. It also offers other programs and services, such as counseling, immigration services, job placement aid and even a thrift store.

“Ninety-six percent of who we are helping have housing, so through the pantry, through the jobs, we’re preventing homelessness,” Central Florida Hope Center Executive Director Brian Tipps said.

Through this merger, Winter Garden residents will be able to receive multiple services in one place, as the transition moves forward and Hope Center services shift to the Dream Center’s location at 1136 E. Plant St., Winter Garden.

The partnership also will pave the way for new programs. A mentalhealth and drug-abuse counselor

THE MERGER n DETAILS: The West Orange Dream Center and the Central Florida Hope Center have consolidated under the Hope Center’s name to better serve the Winter Garden community through its one-stop shop. n TIMELINE: Consolidation has begun. Full consolidation will take place in January of 2027. n ADDRESS: All Central Florida Hope Center services, including the food pantry, will move to 1136 E. Plant St., Winter Garden. The Hope Center’s thrift store will stay at 1010 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden. n FUNDRAISER: The Hopes and Dreams Big Event fundraiser takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at Family Church Windermere, 300 Main St., Windermere. Tickets are $200. n GET INVOLVED: Email info@ wodreamcenter.org or admin@ cfl-hope.org

now will be available at the West Orange Dream Center’s location.

“When the Dream Center was started, their dream was to be all inclusive,” West Orange Dream Center Executive Director Julia Martinez said. “It was to have a place for food, it was to have a place for counseling. … I think the original people on the board saw the opportunity for the Dream Center to have so much more.”

And that’s exactly what this partnership will do.

“With the Christian Service Center closing down just up the road, we’re going to be able to bring resources (from the Central Florida

Hope Center) to a lot of the people who were serviced over there,” she said.

With a rise in grocery, rent, mortgage and gas, Tipps said the Hope Center has seen 320 new people at the food pantry just in the past two months.

“Kudos to the Dream Center board and the Hope Center board for seeing that we’re stronger together, better together,” Tipps said. “The synergy of the two becoming one, to me, (is perfect) at a time where there (are) so many nonprofits that are not even sustainable. … And then here we are in this healthy, growing, dynamic ministry.”

Beyond services, Tipps said residents are able to connect with others in meaningful ways through prayer, worship and community.

“That’s why that one stop-shop is critical, because that might be one entry point that gets them here,” Tipps said. “It’s basically the living room of the community.”

The Hope Center’s thrift store, however, will stay at its current location at 1010 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden.

The goal is to have programs transitioned from the Hope Center to the Dream Center before October, Martinez said.

While the full transition won’t be complete until January 2027, both West Orange Dream Center and the Central Florida Dream Center already are working together to ensure a smooth transition.

“When I came in (as executive director) I was trying to figure out what the Dream Center could do, and the fact is that coming together with the Hope Center means it’s going to do way more than I could have even imagined,” Martinez said. “The dream of the Dream Center was to be this, so being part of it is everything I wanted to do.”

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OrangeObserver.com

OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2026

Freak injury inspires 4Him Transformations

Observer “If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.”

Friedrich Hayek

“Road to Serfdom,” 1944 Editor and Publisher / Michael Eng, meng@OrangeObserver.com Design Editor / Jessica Eng, jeng@OrangeObserver.com Managing Editor / Liz Ramos, lramos@OrangeObserver.com Historian / Amy Quesinberry Price, amyqhistory@OrangeObserver.com Staff Writer / Megan Bruinsma, mbruinsma@OrangeObserver.com Staff Writer / Leticia Silva, lsilva@OrangeObserver.com Multimedia Sales Manager / Cyndi Gustafson, advertising@OrangeObserver.com Multimedia Advertising Executive / Iggy Collazo, iggy@OrangeObserver.com Graphic Designer / Sarah Santiago, ssantiago@OrangeObserver.com Advertising Operations Manager / Allison Brunelle, abrunelle@OrangeObserver.com

Courtesy and file photos

Clockwise from above: Joseph and Casie Constantine are determined to provide a good time for all attendees.

As a former Pilates and yoga instructor, Casie Constantine led a women’s wellness class at Ocoee’s Lakeshore Center.

Casie and Joseph Constantine’s smiled as they finished performing on “America’s Got Talent.”

LETICIA SILVA STAFF WRITER

L

ess than a year ago, Casie Constantine suffered a broken neck and back at the hooves of, unbelievably, a Highland cow.

Along with her husband, Joseph, Casie had dedicated her life to the world of entertainment. They were about to begin a contract with Carnival Cruise, but the injury derailed everything.

Or so it seemed.

Now, just 10 months later, the Constantines are realizing the plan God had for them all along.

For more than 20 years, the Constantines’ performance opportunities have included cruise lines, “America’s Got Talent” and even with Saber, a white tiger. And now, they’re using all those experiences in their new business, 4Him Transformations.

Through this faith-based project, the Constantines provide inspirational, comedic magic and illusion shows, women’s worship and wellness gatherings, WavePraise silent disco parties, Bible studies and more.

“He spared my life — not just once but we’re talking multiple times,” Casie Constantine said of God. “We’ve walked through all these things, and God always found a way; He’s always seen us through. So I was like, ‘Everything that we do, I really want it to be for Jesus.’”

THE WAY IT WAS

Joseph Constantine and Casie Constantine met in 2000 at a Halloween Horror Nights after-party at the House of Blues.

Casie Constantine was working at a medical firm as its marketing/sales agent, and fell in love with the process of meeting new people and helping them.

Using her marketing abilities and strategies, she began marketing Joseph Constantine as a magician, as well.

She landed him gigs at Westgate Resorts, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian, Skull Kingdom, Fiascos, Marriott Grand Vista and many other places.

Eventually, Casie Constantine made the decision to quit her job and work with Joseph Constantine fulltime.

“I wanted it to be family-oriented,” she said. “One of the things we committed to when we got together was that if we’re doing this, we’re doing it together. We had a contract at a zoo, and even the kids were a part of it.”

In addition to marketing the shows, Casie Constantine also became a part of them as Joseph Constantine’s lovely assistant.

Soon, the couple expanded their business into a full-fledged party event company — complete with bounce houses and more.

“They weren’t just bounce houses, though,” Joseph Constantine said.

“Mine were entertainment complexes.”

But the Great Recession hit, and the couple no longer could sustain their business or home.

“At that point, everything went bye-bye,” Joseph Constantine said.

They moved into his mother’s house. He went back to working at Universal Studios, while Casie Constantine began advertising her friend’s window plant company.

While at work, Joseph Constantine was told by various friends he should audition for “America’s Got Talent.”

He was hesitant.

They don’t really like magicians, he told them.

However, he applied anyway.

One month later, Casie Constantine received a call. “‘America’s Got Talent’ is on the phone; Simon Cowell saw our video,” she told Joseph Constantine. “They said they want to invite us straight to the televised audition.”

While excited for the opportunity, the Constantines were worried about their financial situation and its implications on their participation.

Nonetheless, they knew they had to go.

As Joseph Constantine drove, a rotten egg smell arose. Soon, smoke was coming out of the car’s hood. It was the car’s transmission.

“This is a sign we shouldn’t do this,” Casie Constantine said.

After speaking with AGT producers, they were assured they would be reimbursed for their troubles.

The next day, the Constantines made travel arrangements to Miami.

Their audition soon came and their illusion act made it through the first round.

Thinking big, the couple decided their next audition would involve a sea lion.

Unfortunately, however, round two auditions were canceled, and they were voted off.

Determined, the couple decided they would go back to AGT the following year with a white tiger instead.

Practicing with Saber, the tiger, was fun. He was sweet and had been around humans his entire life.

From kissing to cuddling, squeezing and playing with Saber, there was not a mean bone in his body.

After practicing illusions with him, he would not come out of the performance cage.

The only way to get him out of the cage was by bribing him with Arby’s roast beef sandwiches.

“He thought he was a superstar,” Casie Constantine said.

Because of laws and regulations, the couple was unable to bring Saber to AGT’s shooting location and participate in the new season.

But that didn’t matter. The support,

love and care they received from community members after their episode aired was enough.

Two more years of entertainment came along after AGT, but a sudden illness fell on their young daughter, and the couple decided to take a break from performing once again.

For years, the Constantines did not perform, but it didn’t mean an end of an era.

It meant putting their family first.

A SHIFT IN PERSPECTIVE

While working as a timeshare speaker and travel agent in 2025, Joseph Constantine and his wife were inspired to start an entertainment company again.

The couple began reaching out to venues and cruise lines and decided to sign a contract with Carnival Cruise as performers.

They were excited to venture back into the entertainment world, but that would change once Casie Constantine was crushed by a Highland cow during her daughter’s wedding in Minnesota.

“Everybody heard it when the cow jumped on me and landed,” she said.

She tried brushing it off because it was her daughter’s wedding. But after waiting around for nearly an hour to see if she felt better, she knew she had to be seen by a doctor.

Her back and neck were broken, and she underwent various surgeries, was in an upper-body brace for a prolonged period of time and even had after-surgery complications.

With that, they had to terminate their Carnival Cruise contract before it began.

But the longing feeling of wanting to provide entertainment never left.

Now, however, she had a new perspective on life.

“I definitely became all in for Jesus,” she said.

With a new mindset, she wanted to continue to entertain but with God as the spotlight.

Joseph Constantine wasn’t sure at first, but that quickly changed.

“All of the sudden one day, I woke up, and it was like I had put on nightvision goggles,” he said. “I truly saw the world differently. … After all these years wanting to sell shows on a cruise and go live on a cruise, for the

4HIM TRANSFORMATIONS DETAILS: Longtime entertainers Joseph and Casie Constantine created an entertainment and event company catered to Christ.

Through meaningful and fun events, they hope to bring God into people’s lives.

OFFERINGS: Silent discos, glow parties, magic and illusion shows, wellness programs, bible studies, watch parties, dirty sodas and energy drinks SOCIAL MEDIA: @4HimTransformations on all platforms CONTACT: joseph@orlandosgotmagic.com or (407) 704-3644

first time, I didn’t want that anymore.

I wanted to be a warrior for Christ.”

Soon, the Constantines began brainstorming ideas on how to serve the Lord through entertainment.

Ideas began flowing in one by one, and they didn’t stop.

The goal, they said, was to have audience members walk away from their shows knowing the gospel and Jesus better than before.

“I want them to see the light of the Lord in us,” she said.

4HIM TRANSFORMATIONS

The Constantines felt God pulled them into entertainment for a purpose, and now, all they had to do was serve Him through it.

“We’ve produced events for pretty much 25 years, and so we wanted to take what we were doing and refocus it and rebrand it all for Jesus,” Casie Constantine said.

They want to be able to better equip others with Christian resources so together, they can serve the kingdom better.

To do that, they now are offering programs, services and events to the community to continue on with their legacy.

They host silent discos with three stations, including a Christian worship station.

They also have transformed team bonding and magic routines to tailor to the Lord.

For example, Joseph Constantine asks audience members to pull out their phones and open the calculator app. From there, he asks random audience members for birthdates, significant numbers or random digits to input into the calculator.

As audience members hit the equal sign, they notice the numbers add up to the current date.

What once was just a magic trick became an outlet for Joseph Constantine to encourage the audience and ensure them they were there for a purpose.

“God puts you where you want to be when you want to build community,” he tells them.

Other examples of entertainment include wellness programs such as yoga and Pilates, filled with encouragement, laughter and community, and glow parties.

The couple also offers Faith Fuels, which are dirty sodas and energy drinks with Bible-verse-inspired names, such as Fishing for Men, The Burning Bush, Clouds of Glory, The Ascension and The Eden Sunrise.

Coffee meet-ups, Bible studies and watch parties also are a part of 4Him Transformations.

Casie Constantine hopes to launch a podcast to share others’ testimonies.

They find joy and comfort in creating a bridge for community members to come closer to God. “We want to love on people and give them a good Christian experience,” Casie Constantine said. “The stronger the community is and the more people feel the love and peace of Christ, the stronger we’ll all be.”

CONTACT US

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Winter Garden submits City leaders consider 2050 Comp Plan to state higher waste rates The Winter Garden City Commission approved the first reading of its newest Comprehensive Plan, which will be in place until 2050.

LIZ RAMOS MANAGING EDITOR

The Winter Garden City Commission unanimously approved Thursday, Aug. 13, the first reading of an ordinance to address changes to state statutes in its Comprehensive Plan, extending the plan to 2050.

The approval of the first ordinance allowed for the plan to be transmitted to the Florida Department of Commerce for review.

Commissioners Iliana Ramos and Lisa Bennett were absent.

The Comprehensive Plan was drafted in 1991 with a major update in 2010. The current plan horizon year was 2020.

“This isn’t my plan, this isn’t staff’s plan; this is the community’s plan,” said Eric Roesch, of Inspire Placemaking Collective, which worked with city staff on the plan. “We really reached out to the public and got their thoughts and feedback on the growth within the city to kind of roll that into the plan.”

The city has experienced steady population growth, with just under 47,000 residents when the census was conducted in 2020. Roesch said there is 26% expected growth between 2023 and 2050, with the city projected to have as many as 66,306 residents in 2050.

After receiving feedback from the community, Roesch said the community priorities include ease of traffic congestion; housing affordability and variety; redevelopment and revitalization; walkable community; retain small-town charm; historic preservation; recycling program; sidewalk gaps; tree protection; and ensuring compatibility with new growth.

The overall proposed changes include streamlined policies and the removal of duplications between elements and duplicative policies;

creation of separate map series; added titles to each goal, objective and policy; created tables for easier readability; and removed amended by ordinance details.

In terms of future land use, the plan includes new land use categories for the east Winter Garden area, as well as increased residential densities and the addition of two new activity centers. It also addresses compatibility and buffering; adds new policies on historic preservation; and provides some incentives to allow people to preserve their property.

For transportation, the plan incorporates the Vision Zero Plan; enhances complete street policies; develops an interim mobility plan; and adjusts traffic impact study requirements.

For housing, the Comprehensive Plan now includes expanded references to accessory dwelling units to the land development code; develops an incentive program for affordable housing; adds policies regarding the Historic East Winter Garden Neighborhood; revises language regarding substandard housing and remedies; and adds policies to increase resiliency.

The new plan incorporates the 2024 Wastewater Facility Plan; adds policies to monitor and take steps to remove or minimize the risks associated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances; and adds a policy to evaluate re-establishing a recycling program in the future.

In terms of conservation, the plan provides incentives to protect existing live oaks; updates provisions regarding Lulu Creek; incentivizes water-efficient development; and prioritizes wetland banking/mitigation near or within city limits.

Under recreation and open space, the plan emphasizes waterfront access; ensures ADA access and accessibility; incorporates 2021

Healthy West Orange Trails Initiative Report; expands tree canopy protection; and incorporates best management practices, including Florida native landscaping, integrated pest management and green infrastructure.

The Comprehensive Plan also addresses other areas such as schools.

It emphasizes the interlocal agreement with Orange County Public Schools and removes the financial feasibility requirement covered by the agreement. Another area is intergovernmental coordination, which includes a continued effort to remove enclaves and continued coordination with Orange County and West Orange municipalities.

Under capital improvements, there are revised mobility standards and a proposed new trail level of service standard.

A new element to the plan, which is required by state statute, is property rights. It establishes property rights policies the city already administered and is an element being retransmitted through the Evaluation and Appraisal Review process.

Since the plan was put before Planning and Zoning, the only change was the revision of South Beltway Center Future Land Use classification. There was a maximum height for commercial within the classification at seven stories, but it was changed to five stories. Roesch said if there is an activity center, seven stories are allowed.

The next step for the Comprehensive Plan is for the Florida Department of Commerce to distribute the plan to various state agencies and compile a letter identifying any objections, recommendations or comments that will be sent back to the city.

After reviewing the letter and making any changes, the plan will go back before the Winter Garden City Commission for adoption.

LIZ RAMOS MANAGING EDITOR

The Winter Garden City Commission on Thursday, Aug. 13, heard recommendations regarding its solid waste rates that included increasing rates and creating a reserve fund.

The presentation was for information only, and commissioners will make a decision at a later date.

Trevor McCarthy, of Rafelis Financial Consultants, said the city of Winter Garden’s solid waste rates are not sufficient to meet the projected funding requirements over the next five years.

He said the projected revenues for 2027 is $7.9 million with about a .25% increase per year based on a conservative growth assumption of about 30 accounts per year.

Based on the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, there is expected to be $7.4 million in total operating expenses, increasing to about $8.4 million by 2031.

“We’re seeing the effects of inflation and projecting about a 3.3% annual increase in operating expenses over the next five years, and … you can see inflation in the cost is outpacing the revenue increases from our customer growth on the Capital Improvement Plan,” McCarthy said.

He said the city historically has applied a price index, about 2.8%, annually to the rates based on the Florida Public Service Commission, but the increases have not kept pace with inflation in actual operating expenses.

Based on the current rates, the solid waste fund already will have a $500,000 deficit in 2027.

Rafelis is recommending the City Commission implements proposed cost-of-service and market-based rate adjustments for Fiscal Year 2027 and continue to increase the rates evenly over the next three years to return the system to annual indexing by Fiscal Year 2031.

While the proposed rate adjust-

ments vary by customer class for Fiscal Year 2027, the total projected revenue increase is equal to 6.5%.

Each year afterward, the rates would increase by about 3.5% until 2031, when it will increase by 2%.

The recommended rate increases for Fiscal Year 2027 are 7% for residential service, 5.58% for commercial dumpster service and multifamily dumpster service, and 18.9% for commercial cart service.

At the current rate, residential cart service is $24.87 monthly for residential cart service, and the proposed rate would increase the monthly cost to $26.61 for 95-gallon carts for single-family and multifamily residential service.

McCarthy said another recommendation is to encourage people to trade in their 95-gallon carts for 65-gallon carts. To entice the change, McCarthy said the city could maintain the existing rate through Fiscal Year 2028 for customers who elect to reduce the service level to a 65-gallon cart.

At the current rate, commercial dumpster service ranges at a monthly cost of $117.57 to $335.83, and the monthly cost will increase to between $124.13 and $354.57 for Fiscal Year 2027 if the rate increases.

The monthly cost will increase from the existing cost of $31.70 to $37.69 for commercial cart service if the 18.9% rate increase occurs in Fiscal Year 2027.

The existing monthly cost for multi-family dumpster service ranges from $17.01 to $20.93 and will increase to $17.96 to $22.10 if the 5.58% rate increase is approved.

Another recommendation from Rafelis was to create reserves for post-storm debris removal. McCarthy said it would reduce the likelihood of an untimely rate increase while the city waits for reimbursement from Federal Emergency Management Agency. He recommended a starting reserve balance of $250,000 in 2027 and transferring $100,000 per year afterward.

West Orange County, We’ve Got You Covered

Working with Public and Private Partners, for you!

Orange County residents in the Four Corners area can now visit our shared office with the Lake County Tax Collector and OATA for driver’s license, tag and title services.

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1714 US Highway 27, Suite 23 Clermont, FL 34714

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OrangeObserver.com

OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2026

How to help Colombia after earthquake Horizon West resident connects with friends, family in Colombia to aid in emergency response, recovery and reconstruction.

LETICIA SILVA STAFF WRITER

Like many other parents, Horizon West resident Carolina Flannery on Monday, Aug. 10, was filling out paperwork for her kids’ first day of school the following day.

It was early in the morning when her phone rang. It was her aunt in Colombia.

“We are constantly in communication with my family, so I received the call, but because I was filling those papers, I said I’d call her in a little bit,” Flannery said. “I had a weird feeling though, thinking, ‘It’s very strange that my aunt is calling me this early in the morning.’ It was 8:30 a.m.”

She decided to call back.

Her aunt barely could get any words out.

There had been an earthquake. A strong one.

“It was a very strange feeling, like, ‘Is this for real?’” she said. “I was in disbelief.”

Flannery was born in Pereira, Colombia, and lived there for 25 years.

She still has many family members

there, and for nearly eight hours, she had no way of knowing whether any of them were alive.

“The worst was going through my mind,” she said. “Unfortunately, as humans, we just go to the darkest place when you’re in doubt. When we couldn’t talk to everybody in my family. I wondered if they were under the buildings or houses they were at. … We were wondering if we were going to be able to see them again, if they were OK.” Eventually, she made contact and learned all aunts, uncles, cousins and her parents were OK. But the tragedy struck more than physical bodies — it also affected people mentally and emotionally.

“For those first two days, I couldn’t function,” Flannery said. “It was hard. It was very hard. It was like I was not here; I was not present.”

Now, Flannery is collecting donations to assist those affected by the 7.4 magnitude earthquake that killed hundreds and devastated the country.

“Pereira is who I am,” Flannery said of her hometown. “Watching what happened from here made me sad, helpless. I wanted to be there to help.

At the same time, being here maybe helped me in a way, with my friends and family coming together to help my people.”

Currently, some of her family members — including her parents — are displaced and unable to recover

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake killed hundreds and devastated Colombia.

clothing or personal items from their homes.

The structure of her parents’ house was compromised, and they must wait for examinations to determine whether their house is salvageable.

“It’s the house where I grew up,” Flannery said. “It’s hitting home.

Seeing all these people lose everything — it hit hard.”

What hit harder, however, was hearing the stories of those who lost their lives in the disaster, and those who still await answers.

Flannery’s aunt’s friend was found dead under rumble one week after the earthquake.

“There’s still (more than) 100 people missing in my city,” she said.

“They also rescued almost 300 people there. It’s just insane.”

According to the United Nations, there are more than 300 deaths, and more than 1.2 million Colombian residents still are in need of humanitarian assistance, with some communities having received no aid at all.

“Now, more challenging times are

HELP COLOMBIA n Monetary donations can be sent directly to Carolina Flannery’s Zelle at (860) 548-6908 n Donate to health care institutions. Visit checkout.wompi.co/ method to donate to Pereira’s La Liga AmaSalvarVidas hospital. n Colombia’s Red Cross, ayuda. cruzrojacolombiana.org/emergencia-colombia-terremoto n World Central Kitchen, bit. ly/4wHksIb

coming,” she said.

While donations are being sent for rescue efforts and necessities, Flannery is worried about the future housing crisis.

“People can’t stay in a shelter forever,” she said.

Kids need to go back to school, adults need to go back to work and health care facilities now must find new ways to care for patients.

Courtesy photo

The needs only are increasing, but so are all the related costs.

Flannery said the best option is for Colombia to continue accepting tourists in the country. That will provide an economic boost as the country navigates this fragile stage.

“The economy needs to recover,” she said. “But I know my city is going to be rebuilt. We did it once, we can do it again. If we come together, we’re going to be OK. It’s going to take time and a lot of help, but we can do it.”

While fear and uncertainty linger, Flannery remains positive.

“It’s been a roller coaster, and the first two days were rough — I don’t wish that on anybody,” she said. “But I have seen people doing good things for other people and I realized I can do so much, too.”

Currently, Flannery is working with friends in Colombia to provide monetary donations and essential items.

“There’s so much resilience,” she said. “It’s special to see how people come together —even when they don’t know each other — to help.”

Ocoee residents will pay higher fire assessment STAFF WRITER

BY THE NUMBERS

The Ocoee City Commission on Tuesday, Aug. 18, unanimously approved setting the fire assessment fee at 45% for Fiscal Year 2027 and requiring city staff to come back midyear with updated numbers to assess the fee.

District 4 Commissioner George Oliver III was absent.

The decision came after Ocoee residents voiced their concerns for more than two hours. The residents filled the City Commission chambers and overflowed into the halls and nearby conference rooms in City Hall.

“This is actually great,” District 1 Commissioner Scott Kennedy said of the participation. “This is how it’s supposed to work. … A lot of this has happened, not since 2013 but in 2023, in 2024, in 2025, when we went to 36%. We’ve had meetings in May. We had meetings in June. We had budget workshops, and there were one or two people here. … Unfortunately, I think some of you made some really good comments and some really good concerns, and maybe that would’ve made a difference. But at this point, the fly is cast.”

The commission already made the decision to increase the fire assess-

FISCAL YEAR 2027 COST n Single-family home: $383.90 n Non-residential: $31.99 per square foot n Future maximum rate: $597.16 THE INCREASE n 2013: $0 n 2014: $69.50 n 2025: $139.23

ment fee at the meeting Tuesday, June 16, which is when the notices were sent out to Ocoee residents with the maximum possible cost of $587.16 or 70%. The meeting Tuesday, Aug. 18, simply was to set the percentage.

“The (fire) costs are exceeding the revenues, and they were doing that in 2013 when we first put our fee on the books at zero,” City Manager Craig Shadrix said. “That’s when we started to realize at some point we’re not going to be bringing in enough revenue to cover the cost and level of service people are accustomed to. … Costs are going up so much on fire that we have to increase our fire assessment.”

Residents asked why the city didn’t

Celebrating

raise the millage rate.

“The last time anybody checked in with the commission, it was (to say) lower the millage,” Kennedy said.

“Find a way to keep it low. We need to hear from you.”

Shadrix added if the property tax amendment passes Nov. 3, the definition of a millage rate will change, and the city won’t collect all of its fees. He didn’t recommend the commission increase the millage rate because staff does not know if it will be valid.

For every tax dollar Ocoee residents pay in property taxes, Orange County Public Schools receives 39 cents, Orange County receives 27 cents, and Ocoee receives 30 cents. In return for Orange County’s share of the taxes, the county provides Ocoee with mosquito control and animal control, Shadrix said.

“If we all, as mad as you guys are at these people for wanting to increase your fees, also had that same energy for the people in the county, we would have a lot more services, and these types of things would happen a lot less for us,” Ocoee resident Imarmil Sollet said. “We’re mad at the city.

Yes, I get it. We don’t want (the fee).

I’m in nursing school. I’m not working. I live on one income in my household. I have three mouths to feed. It’s

25

hard, and I do have to tighten my bootstraps and budget in my household. But at the same time, I expect that of not only just my city, I expect that of my county, and I expect that from my state and federally, as well.

We have to hold everybody accountable.”

Ocoee citizens participated in a municipal survey indicating that public safety is the top priority, with police and fire protection ranking as the most vital city-provided services. To maintain the high level of emergency response residents expect, Shadrix said the fire assessment increase was essential. The city currently is facing a dual challenge: the rising costs of essential equipment such as radios and fire engines, and a competitive labor market that requires higher salaries to retain personnel.

“Our police budget alone is almost what we collect in property tax revenues,” Shadrix said. “We’re down a few police officers. We actually aren’t full. We’re recruiting like crazy. We’re down a few firefighters.”

UNFAIR EDU RATE

Although the increase is set, residents were concerned with the inequality in the fee.

Multiple residents expressed their

frustrations with the commission setting the same fee for all residents rather than looking at the square footage of dwellings. The city uses 2,423 square feet as the median for one equivalent dwelling unit, meaning a 1,500-square-foot home and a 3,000-square-foot home are both paying the same amount.

Some compared it to paying the same costs for regular and premium gas.

Residents who are on fixed incomes or Social Security especially are displeased and concerned about the possibility of having to move because of their inability to pay the fee.

“I don’t want to do that,” said Vicenza Curry, a 30-year Ocoee resident. “I’d like to stay here.”

Resident Glenda Jackson, who lives with her husband, is battling her incurable cancer on a limited income.

“I have to apply for a grant to pay for my medicine so I can’t afford this,” she said. “I just want to know what you’re going to do to try to help the little people. I’m beyond myself.”

Although the city wasn’t able to provide solutions for the residents’ grievances, staff said if the Nov. 3 amendment doesn’t pass, then they will look into providing returns for residents’ fire assessment fee cost.

RUN AMONG THE LAKES

Year

Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026

Starting Line: 520 Main Street, in front of Windermere Town Hall w w w. w i n d e r m e re r u n . c o m

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MEGAN BRUINSMA

OrangeObserver.com

OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2026

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West Orange Chamber of Commerce

Celebrates Business

West Orange Chamber of Commerce celebrates the grand opening of Registry on Grass Lake The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the grand opening of Registry on Grass Lake. Located at 14520 Avalon Rd in southwest Orange County, Registry on Grass Lake is a luxury apartment community offering modern living in a beautiful lakeside setting. Residents enjoy upscale amenities, thoughtfully designed homes and a vibrant community atmosphere. Conveniently located near shopping, dining and entertainment, Registry on Grass Lake combines comfort, style and convenience to create an exceptional living experience.

To learn more, visit https://www.registryongrasslake.com.

West Orange Chamber of Commerce celebrates the 5-year anniversary of Piesanos Windermere The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the 5-year anniversary of Piesanos Windermere. Located 7782 Winter Garden Vineland Rd in unincorporated Windermere. Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza has grown from its 2009 founding to 15 locations across Florida, built on authentic recipes, high-quality ingredients, and genuine hospitality.

Piesanos is the only Italian restaurant in Florida with nearly 20 years perfecting granite stonefired pizza. They now have several Brazilian-inspired pizza flavors, expanding on an alreadyextensive menu of traditional Italian-American favorites.

To learn more, visit https://piesanos.com/.

West Orange Chamber of Commerce celebrates the grand opening of Anderson Longevity Clinic The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the grand opening of Anderson Longevity Clinic. Located at 7208 W Sand Lake Rd Ste 303 in the Dr. Phillips portion of Orlando, Anderson Longevity Clinic treats the root cause of fatigue, weight gain, low libido, brain fog, and hormonal decline - not just the symptoms. Their services include Hormone Replacement Therapy, Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT), Peptide Therapy, PRP for joint injury and advanced lab testing. Using in-depth personalized treatment plans, they help men and women in Orlando restore and optimize long-term health.

To learn more, visit https://andersonlongevityclinic.com/orlando-fl-dr-phillips.

West Orange Chamber of Commerce celebrates the grand opening of Supervisor of Elections West Orange Satellite Office The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the grand opening of the Supervisor of Elections West Orange Satellite Office. Located in the West Oaks Mall at 9401 W Colonial Dr in Ocoee, the new West Orange Satellite Office expands access to voter services and strengthens the partnership between local government and community leaders to better serve the growing West Orange County community.

To learn more, visit https://voteorangefl.gov/.

West Orange Chamber of Commerce celebrates the grand opening of The Aesthetic Rx The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the grand opening of The Aesthetic Rx. Located at 11043 W Colonial Drive # 103 in Ocoee, The Aesthetic Rx is a boutique medical spa specializing in personalized, evidence-based aesthetic and regenerative treatments. Led by Jessica Wilderman, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, they offer botox, dermal fillers, biostimulators, laser treatments, microneedling, medical-grade skin care and wellness services with a focus on effortless and refreshed results, patient education and exceptional care.

To learn more, visit https://theaestheticscript.com/.

15 YEARS RentCare Property Management River of Life Osteopathic 10 YEARS Distinctive Living Sunbelt Rentals 5 YEARS Jeff’s Bagel Run - Ocoee McCoy Federal Credit Union - Hamlin

THE WEST ORANGE CHAMBER OFFERS 4 NETWORKING GROUPS TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY - DR. PHILLIPS AND THURSDAY - HORIZON WEST To learn more and to register for participation visit wochamber.com/ChamberGroups or call 407-656-1304

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The West Orange Chamber recognizes and applauds our long-standing member businesses for their continued commitment to Advancing Community, Collaboration and Leadership. Congratulations on Membership Milestones to

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OrangeObserver.com

OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2026

SNAPSHOT

REAL ESTATE

Total Sales: 84 High Sale Price: $3,450,000 Low Sale Price: $115,000 WINCEY GROVES

The home at 5040 Breezy Acres St., Winter Garden, sold Aug. 12, for $652,000. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,724 square feet. Days on market: 50.

WINDERMERE TRAILS

The home at 10624 Reams Road, Windermere, sold Aug. 13, for $465,000. Built in 2014, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,092 square feet. Days on market: 212.

WINDING BAY

realtor.com

The home at 7958 S. Park Place, Orlando, sold Aug. 13, for $3,450,000. This home won Best Custom Home Design in its price category at the 2026 Parade of Homes. The sellers were represented by Carol Medeiros, Premier Sothebys International Realty.

South Bay estate sells for $3,450,000 A

home in the South Bay community in Dr.

Phillips topped all West real-estate transactions from Aug. 10 to 16.

The home at 7958 S. Park

The home at 6207 Sunny Time Ave., Winter Garden, sold Aug. 10, for $525,000. Built in 2026, it has three bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 1,628 square feet.

Days on market: Seven.

13, for $3,450,000. Built in 2026, it has five bedrooms,

on market: 177. The sellers were represented by Carol Medeiros, Premier Sothebys International Realty.

These are the highestselling homes in each community in West Orange.

DR. PHILLIPS BAY HILL

The home at 6127 Tarawood Drive, Orlando, sold Aug. 10, for $2,750,000. Built in 1974, it has four bedrooms, five baths and 5,405 square feet. Days on market: Four.

BAY VISTA ESTATES

The home at 9302 Bay Vista Estates Blvd., Orlando, sold Aug. 14, for $660,000. Built in 1989, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,059 square feet. Days on market: 52.

BRISTOL PARK

The home at 8740 Ingleton Court, Orlando, sold Aug. 13, for $869,000. Built in 1994, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 4,060 square feet. Days on market: Eight.

ORANGE TREE COUNTRY CLUB

The home at 6103 Crystal View Drive, Orlando, sold Aug. 10, for $550,000. Built in 1989, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 2,217 square feet. Days on market: 80.

SAND LAKE POINT

The home at 10212 Pointview Court, Orlando, sold Aug. 11, for $665,000. Built in 1994, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,384 square feet. Days on market: 52.

SANDPOINTE TOWNHOMES

The townhouse at 7517 Fenwick Cove Lane, Orlando, sold Aug. 14, for $520,000. Built in 1989, it has three bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 1,670 square feet.

Days on market: 15.

SHADOW BAY SPRINGS

The home at 7524 Quail Run Court, Orlando, sold Aug. 14, for $490,000. Built in 1985, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,408 square feet.

The townhouse at 13299 Peaceful Melody Drive, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 14, for $439,990. Built in 2026, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,729 square feet. Days on market: 40.

SILVERLEAF OAKS

Place, Orlando, sold Aug.

and 4,839 square feet. Days

The home at 14014 Lanyard Way, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 13, for $804,363. Built in 2026, it has five bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 3,076 square feet.

The townhouse at 13307 Peaceful Melody Drive, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 14, for $417,990. Built in 2026, it has three bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 1,644 square feet of living area. Days on market: 33.

Orange-area residential

five-and-one-half baths

SERENADE AT OVATION

realtor.com

The home at 475 Douglas Edward Drive, Ocoee, sold Aug. 12, for $757,500.

It was the largest transaction in Ocoee from Aug. 10 to 16. The sellers were represented by Elisa Santos, WRA Business & Real Estate.

WATERS EDGE BOCA POINTE AT TURTLE CREEK

The home at 10713 Boca Pointe Drive, Orlando, sold Aug. 13, for $1,248,000. Built in 1997, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 3,612 square feet. Days on market: Eight.

GOTHA

OAKS OF WINDERMERE

The home at 1019 Parkwood Cove Court, Gotha, sold Aug. 10, for $895,000. Built in 2001, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 3,041 square feet.

WINDERMERE CHASE

The home at 936 Kingsridge Circle, Gotha, sold Aug. 14, for $635,000. Built in 2000, it has five bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 3,228 square feet. Days on market: 37.

HORIZON WEST AVALON COVE

The home at 9014 Morgana Court, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 12, for $1,990,000. Built in 2022, it has five bedrooms, four-and-onehalf baths and 4,436 square feet.

Days on market: 163.

AVALON WOODS

The home at 15267 Maritime Pine Drive, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 12, for $1,283,550. Built in 2026, it has six bedrooms, four baths and 3,907 square feet.

The home at 6013 Flowering Cherry Bend, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 13, for $771,267. Built in 2026, it has five bedrooms, fourand-one-half baths and 3,076 square feet.

HARVEST AT OVATION

The home at 6587 Old Carriage Road, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 12, for $635,000. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,224 square feet. Days on market: Six. LAKESHORE PRESERVE

The home at 15648 Shorebird Lane, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 14, for $690,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,170 square feet. Days on market: 17.

LAKEVIEW POINTE

The townhouse at 7405 Duxbury Lane, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 12, for $416,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 1,810 square feet. Days on market: Seven.

NORTHLAKE AT OVATION

The home at 17400 Honeybell Tangelo Court, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 14, for $839,220. Built in 2026, it has four bedrooms, threeand-one-half baths and 3,037 square feet.

OSPREY RANCH

The home at 12541 Gold Honeysuckle St., Winter Garden, sold Aug. 10, for $710,000. Built in 2026, it has three bedrooms, twoand-one-half baths and 2,636 square feet of living area of living area. Days on market: 52.

OVERLOOK 2 AT HAMLIN

The home at 7389 John Hancock Drive, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 13, for $1,250,000. Built in 2019, it has five bedrooms, three-andone-half baths and 4,006 square feet of living area. Days on market: One.

STOREY GROVE

The home at 9503 Beautiful Way, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 14, for $760,000. Built in 2021, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,650 square feet. Days on market: 22.

The home at 8180 Sayings Drive, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 13, for $599,990. Built in 2023, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 2,718 square feet of living area. Days on market: Six. SUMMERLAKE

The home at 7841 Iceland Gull St., Winter Garden, sold Aug. 12, for $705,000. Built in 2013, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,765 square feet. Days on market: 19.

SUMMERPORT

The home at 13836 Bluebird Pond Road, Windermere, sold Aug. 10, for $665,000. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,108 square feet. Days on market: 63.

The home at 5032 Beach River Road, Windermere, sold Aug. 14, for $569,000. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,306 square feet. Days on market: 18.

WATERLEIGH

The townhouse at 16582 Barbours Creek Way, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 14, for $419,990. Built in 2026, it has two bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 1,567 square feet.

WEST LAKE HANCOCK ESTATES

The home at 7467 John Hancock Drive, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 13, for $1,300,000. Built in 2019, it has four bedrooms, three-and-onehalf baths and 3,964 square feet.

Days on market: 12.

The home at 15456 Gilligan Court, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 12, for $520,000. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,571 square feet. Days on market: 336.

OAKLAND

HULL ISLAND

The home at 1143 Hull Island Drive, Oakland, sold Aug. 10, for $742,500. Built in 2021, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 2,788 square feet. Days on market: 30.

OAKLAND TRAILS

The home at 1937 Standing Rock Circle, Oakland, sold Aug. 12, for $495,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,069 square feet. Days on market: 52.

OCOEE

ARDEN PARK NORTH

The home at 1861 Black Maple Place, Ocoee, sold Aug. 10, for $525,000. Built in 2020, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 2,607 square feet. Days on market: 22.

BORDEAUX CONDOMINIUMS

The condo at 1985 Erving Circle, No. 205, Ocoee, sold Aug. 12, for $200,000. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,292 square feet. Days on market: 30.

CAMBRIDGE VILLAGE

The home at 573 Neumann Village Court, Ocoee, sold Aug. 14, for $394,000. Built in 2002, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,594 square feet. Days on market: 270.

EAGLES LANDING

The home at 228 Westyn Bay Blvd., Ocoee, sold Aug. 11, for $524,900.

Built in 2011, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,765 square feet. Days on market: 75.

FOREST OAKS

The home at 611 Rich Drive, Ocoee, sold Aug. 10, for $328,000. Built in 1986, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,371 square feet. Days on market: Seven.

HARBOUR HIGHLANDS

The home at 811 W. Harbour Court, Ocoee, sold Aug. 12, for $400,000.

Built in 1984, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,860 square feet. Days on market: 18.

LAKE OLYMPIA NORTH VILLAGE

The home at 1348 Olympia Park Circle, Ocoee, sold Aug. 11, for $540,000. Built in 1992, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,794 square feet. Days on market: 44.

MCCORMICK WOODS

The home at 551 Sky Top Drive, Ocoee, sold Aug. 12, for $700,000.

Built in 2014, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 3,682 square feet.

The home at 3402 McCormick Woods Drive, Ocoee, sold Aug. 14, for $481,000. Built in 2008, it has four bedrooms, three-and-onehalf baths and 2,895 square feet.

Days on market: 78.

The home at 12965 Harvest Rain Ave., Winter Garden, sold Aug. 14, for $790,000. Built in 2026, it has five bedrooms, four-and-onehalf baths and 3,101 square feet.

Days on market: 33.

INDEPENDENCE/ SIGNATURE LAKES

The home at 15592 Avenue of the Arbors, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 11, for $2,250,000. Built in 2015, it has six bedrooms, four baths and 4,978 square feet. Days on market: Seven.

Click Prime Homes

The home at 6550 Cartmel Lane, Windermere, sold Aug. 14, for $2,300,000. It was the largest transaction in Windermere from Aug. 10 to 16. The sellers were represented by Jennifer Olmeda, WRA Business & Real Estate.

OrangeObserver.com

9A

OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2026

West Orange County’s

Church DIRECTORY realtor.com

MEADOW RIDGE

BLACK LAKE PARK

MILL CREEK VILLAGE

CANOPY OAKS

PRAIRIE LAKE VILLAGE

The home at 1918 Aspenridge Court, Ocoee, sold Aug. 12, for $400,000.

Built in 2000, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,449 square feet.

Days on market: 86.

The home at 688 Canopy Estates Drive, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 10, for $1,395,000. Built in 2020, it has five bedrooms, five baths, two halfbaths and 4,388 square feet. Days on market: Seven.

CHAPIN STATION

The home at 1142 Dunbrooke St., Winter Garden, sold Aug. 13, for $515,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,068 square feet. Days on market: Seven.

RESERVE AT LAKE MEADOWS

CROWN POINT SPRINGS

The home at 2113 Great Egret Circle, Ocoee, sold Aug. 10, for $416,335.

Built in 2026, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,501 square feet. Days on market: 114.

FULLERS OAK

The home at 2178 Great Egret Circle, Ocoee, sold Aug. 10, for $567,025.

Built in 2026, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 2,797 square feet.

Days on market: 78.

SOUTHWEST ORANGE

ROYAL CYPRESS PRESERVE

The home at 1645 E. Spring Ridge Circle, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 14, for $424,500. Built in 1997, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,219 square feet. Days on market: 30.

The home at 1743 Fullers Oak Loop, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 14, for $710,000. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,536 square feet. Days on market: Six.

The home at 10829 Royal Cypress Way, Orlando, sold Aug. 14, for $1,500,000. Built in 2021, it has six bedrooms, five-and-one-half baths and 4,206 square feet. Days on market: 76.

GROVEHURST

WEST ORANGE

LAKE COVE POINTE

The home at 2125 Kane Park Way, Windermere, sold Aug. 13, for $960,000. Built in 1992, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,743 square feet of living area. Days on market: 213.

LAKEVIEW RESERVE

WILLOWS AT LAKE RHEA

WINDERMERE

KEENE’S POINTE

The home at 11536 Claymont Circle, Windermere, sold Aug. 11, for $1,100,000. Built in 2002, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,882 square feet of living area. Days on market: 107.

LES TERRACES

The home at 2722 Ingeborg Court, Windermere, sold Aug. 10, for $850,000. Built in 1980, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,619 square feet. Days on market: Seven.

RESERVE AT LAKE BUTLER SOUND

The home at 6550 Cartmel Lane, Windermere, sold Aug. 14, for $2,300,000. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, four-and-one-half baths and 4,257 square feet. Days on market: 93.

SAWYER SOUND

The home at 5067 Sawyer Cove Way, Windermere, sold Aug. 14, for $2,100,000. Built in 2018, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 3,567 square feet. Days on market: 47.

TOWN OF WINDERMERE

The home at 1002 Oakdale St., Windermere, sold Aug. 11, for $890,000.

Built in 1973, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 3,516 square feet.

Days on market: 45.

WINTER GARDEN BAY STREET PARK

The home at 1105 Lincoln Terrace, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 12, for $245,000. Built in 1961, it has three bedrooms, one bath and 814 square feet. Days on market: 32.

First Baptist Church

First United Methodist

Pastor Jeremy Woods 125 E. Plant St, Winter Garden (407) 656-2352 Sundays: 8:00 AM Traditional 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM Contemporary

www.fumcwg.org 125 N. Lakeview Ave., Winter Garden (407) 656-1135 Services: 9 AM Traditional 10:45 AM Contemporary Also viewable on YouTube

Starke Lake Baptist Church

Pastor Jeff Pritchard PO Box 520 611 W Ave., Ocoee (407) 656-2351 www.StarkeLakeBaptist.org Victory Baptist Church & Christian Academy

1601 A.D. Mims Rd, Ocoee FL 34761 (407) 656-3097 www.VBCOCOEE.com Sunday: 11AM & 6 PM Wednesday: 7 PM

The home at 12731 Grovehurst Ave., Winter Garden, sold Aug. 10, for $580,000. Built in 2006, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 3,474 square feet. Days on market: 147.

The home at 440 Tierra Verde Lane, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 14, for $925,000. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 3,512 square feet. Days on market: 43.

The home at 57 Lakeview Reserve Blvd., Winter Garden, sold Aug. 11, for $535,000. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,618 square feet. Days on market: 15.

RESERVE AT CARRIAGE POINTE

The home at 15558 Sandfield Loop, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 11, for $695,000. Built in 2014, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 4,307 square feet. Days on market: 109.

Matthew’s Hope is in need of single server food items.

Items can be dropped off Monday - Friday, 10 AM - 4 PM or by appointment.

STONEYBROOK WEST

The home at 2609 Slagrove Court, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 13, for $444,000. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 2,383 square feet. Days on market: 172.

TWINWATERS

The home at 1706 Holcomb Creek St., Winter Garden, sold Aug. 12, for $985,000. Built in 2018, it has five bedrooms, three baths, two halfbaths and 4,305 square feet. Days on market: 30.

423285-1

The home at 20 Heather Green Court, Ocoee, sold Aug. 12, for $420,000. Built in 1992, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,629 square feet of living area. Days on market: 77.

The home at 547 Seaside Cove St., Winter Garden, sold Aug. 14, for $715,000. Built in 2007, it has five bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 3,290 square feet. Days on market: Seven.

METHODIST

611 Business Park Blvd. #101, Winter Garden, FL 34787 (407) 905-9500 | MatthewsHopeMinistries.org

VALLEY VIEW

The home at 9718 Quiet Lane, Winter Garden, Lake County, sold Aug. 14, for $1,300,000. Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,738 square feet. Days on market: Two. WATERSIDE

The home at 16893 Broadwater Ave., Winter Garden, sold Aug. 10, for $2,500,000. Built in 2015, it has seven bedrooms, five-and-one-half baths and 6,289 square feet. Days on market: 16.

WESTFIELD LAKES

The home at 330 English Lake Drive, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 13, for $1,000,000. Built in 1997, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 3,047 square feet. Days on market: 25.

Want to see your listing here?

Call (407) 656-2121 or email AdvertiseNow@orangeobserver.com 465963-1

The home at 475 Douglas Edward Drive, Ocoee, sold Aug. 12, for $757,500. Built in 2011, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 3,611 square feet. Days on market: 168.

The home at 15592 Avenue of the Arbors, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 11, for $2,250,000.

It was the largest transaction in Horizon West from Aug. 10 to 16. The sellers were represented

by Jacob Kuiper, EXP Realty LLC.

BAPTIST

OrangeObserver.com

OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2026

West Orange Chamber of Commerce

Celebrates Business

West Orange Chamber of Commerce celebrates the ribbon-cutting of Orlando Dance Conservatory’s new location The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the ribbon-cutting of Orlando Dance Conservatory’s new location. Now located at 751 Business Park Blvd Ste 102 in Winter Garden, Orlando Dance Conservatory is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to inspiring the next generation of dancers through exceptional ballet and contemporary dance education. Led by world-renowned instructors, ODC nurtures artistic excellence, confidence, discipline, and creativity in every student.

Through scholarships, community outreach, and performance opportunities, they make high-quality dance training accessible to talented young artists regardless of financial circumstances. With the support of generous donors and sponsors, ODC is transforming lives through the power of dance and enriching the Central Florida community.

To learn more, visit https://www.orlandodanceconservatory.com/.

West Orange Chamber of Commerce celebrates the 5-year anniversary of McCoy Federal Credit Union Hamlin The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the 5-year anniversary of McCoy Federal Credit Union Hamlin. Located at 15402 Waterbird Rd in Horizon West, McCoy Federal Credit Union has been a source of financial strength for members since 1954, and since 2021 in Hamlin.

Through a portfolio of innovative financial products and services, along with a culture of exceptional service, McCoy always puts the well-being of members, their families and the community first. At the heart of everything McCoy does is the belief that giving back is an essential part of doing business.

Annually, the McCoy Cares program supports local schools, churches and charities through hundreds of events and sponsorships. Experience a better kind of banking with McCoy. To learn more, visit https://www.mccoyfcu.org.

West Orange Chamber of Commerce celebrates the grand opening of Ocoee Express Mail Center The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the grand opening of Ocoee Express Mail Center. Located at 10576 W Colonial Dr in Ocoee, Ocoee Express Mail Center is Ocoee’s trusted neighborhood business center, offering shipping with FedEx, UPS, DHL, and USPS, along with expert packing, private mailboxes, notary services, passport photos, shredding, and document services. They also provide professional printing solutions, including business cards, postcards, flyers, banners, signs, and direct mail marketing services for businesses of every size. Their mission is to deliver exceptional customer service, competitive pricing, and convenient, reliable solutions for both personal and business needs. To learn more, visit https://www.ocoeeexpressmailcenter.com.

West Orange Chamber of Commerce celebrates the 5-year anniversary of Florida Foam Factory The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the 5-year anniversary of Florida Foam Factory. Based in Horizon West, Florida Foam Factory creates unforgettable experiences through foam parties, snow events, bubble parties, glow foam, DJs, photo booths, and interactive entertainment. They proudly serve schools, HOAs, churches, businesses, municipalities, resorts, and families throughout Central Florida, delivering premium service, professional presentation, and memories that last long after the event ends.

To learn more, visit https://www.floridafoamfactory.com/.

West Orange Chamber of Commerce celebrates the grand opening of Vitality Living Windermere The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the grand opening of Vitality Living Windermere. Located at 13798 Speer Island Dr in Windermere, Vitality Living Windermere is a welcoming senior living community offering personalized assisted living and memory care.

Residents enjoy comfortable apartments, 24-hour nursing support, restaurant-style dining, engaging daily activities, wellness programs, transportation, and beautiful amenities-all designed to promote independence, connection, comfort, and an exceptional quality of life. To learn more, visit https:// www.vitalityseniorliving.com/senior-living-locations/florida/windermere.

The West Orange Chamber recognizes and applauds our long-standing member businesses for their continued commitment to Advancing Community, Collaboration and Leadership. Congratulations on Membership Milestones to

THE WEST ORANGE CHAMBER OFFERS 4 NETWORKING GROUPS TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY - DR. PHILLIPS AND THURSDAY - HORIZON WEST To learn more and to register for participation visit

15 YEARS RentCare Property Management River of Life Osteopathic 10 YEARS Distinctive Living Sunbelt Rentals 5 YEARS Jeff’s Bagel Run - Ocoee McCoy Federal Credit Union - Hamlin

wochamber.com/ChamberGroups or call 407-656-1304

447067-1 500516-1

10A

AUGUST 27, 2026

SPORTS

GAME OF THE WEEK

HIGH

1

Olympia High senior Maija Andert returned from her trip abroad as a rower for the U.S. Junior National team. She now prepares to conquer her last year at OARS. Page 2B.

5

WEST ORANGE VS. HORIZON

In their first tournament of the season, The First Academy boys golf team finished in first place at the Boone Invitational Wednesday, Aug. 19.

The Royals’ recorded 266 points in the first-place finish, with four players placing in the top seven. Those include Tyler Creavy, second place; Joshua Castellanos, fourth place; Nathan Erickson, fifth place; and Brennan Leister, seventhplace.

West Orange and Windermere high schools also competed in the Boone Invitational and finished tied for sixth.

2

Former Winter Garden Little League player Nick Tanko has committed to Valdosta State University.

Tanko, a Class of 2027 Trinity Catholic student, recorded a .341 batting average, 21 RBIs and 26 runs, which all surpass national average statistics.

In his early days, Tanko played in Winter Garden Little League, which helped him become the productive playmaker he is today.

Valdosta State ended the last season 18-32, going 12-21 in conference play.

3

High school volleyball teams in West Orange and Southwest Orange were hard at work on the court Thursday, Aug. 20.

The teams all will play in regular-season contests through October before playoffs begin.

Last week’s scores: Olympia High (2-1) 3, Dr. Phillips High (0-3) 0; Central Florida Christian Academy (1-0) 3, Mater Brighton Lakes Academy (1-1) 0; Foundation Academy (1-1) 0, The Villages Charter (3-0) 3; Legacy Charter (1-0) 3, Orlando Christian Prep (0-1) 0; Lake Buena Vista High (1-1) 0, Lake Highland Prep (2-0) 3; West Orange High (1-0) 3, Horizon High (1-1) 0; Windermere High (2-0) 3, Edgewater (2-1) 0; and Windermere Preparatory School (2-0) 3, The Master’s Academy (0-1) 1.

4

West Orange High boys and girls water polo teams had athletes selected as National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association Water Polo All-American athletes.

Chosen athletes include Austin Alicea, Braden Carrel, Bailey Patrol, Kate Beracoechea, Lindsay Gato, Audrey Laplant and Bree Patrolia.

The NISCA is a professional U.S. organization that supports high school coaches and athletes. The All-American recognition is given to the top national water polo players.

5

Boys and girls crosscountry teams competed in the Ocoee Kickstart Classic Saturday, Aug. 22.

On the boys’ side, Horizon High finished in second, West Orange High third, Ocoee High sixth, Legacy Charter High seventh and Lake Buena Vista High eleventh.

Horizon’s Maleik Lewis came in second overall with a time of 17:01.40, West Orange’s Venkata Anantha in fourth in 17:18.97, and Foundation Academy’s James Salas in fifth with 17:24.30.

On the girls’ side, Foundation Academy came in third and Lake Buena Vista in seventh.

Thomas Lightbody | TK Photography

Deandre Merideith blew the Warriors’ battle horn to honor the start of the season opening game. He caught the interception to seal the deal over Archbishop Hoban.

Bad intentions After an impressive victory against Ohio’s best, West Orange continues its quest for state glory against Horizon coming off a record-setting win.

MEGAN BRUINSMA STAFF WRITER

E

dge rusher Matheus Kaminski Cordeiro still remembers his first sack as a Warrior.

It was his second game freshman year against Wekiva and his first forced fumble. Although it wasn’t in one of the team’s toughest games, the play always has stuck with him. It changed the momentum of the game and served as an early glimpse of what was to come in his career.

He has since grown into the Warriors’ most productive player on

the defensive front, recording 43 solo tackles and 10 assisted ones as a sophomore. In just one game as a junior, he totaled 15 tackles and is striving to break the school’s sacking record of 16 in a game. It earned him multiple college offers.

But a Warrior never puts its armor on alone for a battle. It’s him, his brothers on defense and the offensive weapons who make West Orange High the dominating force it is every year.

“Warrior is not an individual thing, because you never see a Warrior go alone to a battle,” Kaminski said.

“It’s with your brother by your side,

and we live by that day and night, on and off the field. That’s just how we live.”

West Orange’s group is one big unit. Every player on the field can go to one another — even if they’ve never played the same position — and correct mistakes. Kaminski said the time spent sweating together and being put through pain together has made them that much stronger. He trusts his defensive backs, and the DBs trust the linemen.

“This group has that X factor of anytime we come into a game,”

SCHEDULE

Kickoffs are at 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, AUG. 28 n Dr. Phillips vs.

Ocoee n Foundation Academy vs. Lake Highland Prep n Horizon at West Orange n Lake Buena Vista vs. Wekiva n Legacy Charter vs.

Satellite n The First Academy at Edgewater n Olympia at Timber Creek n West Orange vs.

Horizon n Windermere at Innovation

SEE WARRIORS PAGE 2B

Lakers fly to second win of the season The girls volleyball team started its 2026 campaign with two victories after a disappointing 4-11 season last year.

MEGAN BRUINSMA STAFF WRITER

Windermere Preparatory School (2-0) girls volleyball team tallied a 3-1 win over The Master’s Academy (0-1) Thursday, Aug. 20, to earn its second consecutive victory.

The win against The Master’s Academy serves as sweet revenge for the Lakers following two losses against the Eagles in a disappointing 4-11 campaign last year.

The Lakers fell in the first set 25-22 but quickly rallied back to draw three wins in a row, 25-22, 27-25 and 25-22.

Their confidence never wavered; junior right side Sasha Keller assisted with her eight kills on the night.

The Lakers’ early showcase of resilience should bolster confidence for Windermere Prep this season.

Rather than succumbing to the pressure, the Lakers kept their heads held SEE LAKERS PAGE 2B

Photo by Megan Bruinsma

Right side Sasha Keller swung outside of The Master’s Academy tall block.

2B

OrangeObserver.com

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2026

SPONSORED BY MARK’S FLOORING AND SHANNON TILL/STATE FARM IN FOWLER GROVES

lined up correctly,” Katz said. “He calls the secondary, he calls the coverages based on the game plan that’s installed and he understands certain situations, when to change things up, how to have the feel of the game and when to vary in those different coverages.”

Merideth said he’s trying to follow the words of head coach Geno Thompson, “Be the best version of yourself.”

Maija Andert Olympia High’s senior Maija Andert has been rowing at Orlando Area Rowing Society since the eighth grade. Four years later, she was selected for the USRowing U19 Junior National Team and trained at the Olympic training center in Chula Vista, California.

“It’s such a privilege to coach people like Maija and to have as many girls as we do working towards similar goals and, specially in Maija’s journey, what has been awesome is watching her from A to Y, the long-term growth over the past four years has been incredible to see,” OARS women’s coach Emily Goldsmith said.

Andert now readies for her last year at OARS before she departs to the University of Texas, the 2026 NCAA rowing champions, after graduation.

What did it mean to you to be selected for the Junior National Team?

It was my dream come true.

Ever since I saw Tyler (former OARS athlete) do it, I really wanted to achieve that level of elite rowing. My first goal was I wanted to row in college and then I wanted to represent the United States. I want to go as far as I possibly can with rowing.

I don’t want to just come three days a week. I want to be here every day getting extra work in, and I just want to be the best I can be. For me that meant being on the national team, because that was a super selective process, so it’s just cool to see that I did it.

What was the selection process like?

First, they did this thing called pair matrixes, which you row with the pair. It’s two people in a boat, and you can really tell who’s moving the boat or if they’re not. … We first did two rounds of that, and then they selected people in groups so they had a prioritized boat, which was the straight four, and then they wanted to fill the

THE BASICS

Age: 17 Grade: Senior School: Olympia High Sport: Rowing

BALANCED SIDES

eight after that.

How did it feel when you were selected?

I couldn’t believe it honestly. …

The coaches had meetings and they brought you in and they were like, ‘Hey, Maija you’ve made the team. We have you in the eight, because you still have technique focuses to fix, but you’re moving the boat. You have a lot of energy, and you made it run.’ I called my mom and I was like ‘Mom, I made it.’

They were all crying. … They were in the airport and were screaming, ‘Woo! My daughter just made the national team.’

How will this experience help you in your next chapter at the University of Texas?

Honestly that was the hardest I think I’ve ever trained in my entire life. … Some days I would think, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m so tired,’ and other days I’d say, ‘Wow this is so awesome. I’m here and I’m having fun. I love training.’

It really got me to love putting my head down and getting to work. When I get to Texas and I’m working there, I’m going to think back to how I’ve made it through the section process at U.S. rowing, so I can do just about anything.

What did it mean to you to represent your country and OARS? We have this one day where you wear your hometown uniform so you got to see all their teams. … I’m glad I got to show off for OARS and got to be there.

OARS: We’re in Florida and we’re on the up and coming.

Being from Florida, you’re not a Northeast team, so you’re a little humble. We’re making our way in the small boats and into the big boats.

What was the environment like at Worlds?

It was really scary, because all of these girls who are there are 6 feet tall; they are massive.

(Rowers from) other countries walk around with so much power, and they’re so strong, so it was scary at first. But I was like, ‘You know what? I’m an American, and I’m here, and I did the same amount of work that you guys did.’ It was fun to see other teams and other girls who are at the same spot; they want the same things I do.

How does this help you achieve your dream of becoming an Olympian?

I’ve made it to the national team. Now when I get to Texas, they’ll know that I can move on the national level and international, too.

That’ll get me placement early on. I’ll still have to work for it, but they’ll see me a little differently now that I’ve proven myself a bit. That gives me a good spot to be in a Texas boat so that gets me more looks.

That would help me get on the U23 team. It’s starting a cycle.

Photo by Megan Bruinsma

West Orange High’s safety Deandre Merideth and edge rusher Matheus Kaminski Cordeiro are ready to make stops on the field.

Warriors suit up to face Hawks CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B

defensive coordinator Joshua Katz said. “Regardless of who we’re going to play against, I know that they’re going to be violent. They’re going to be physical. … We can fix the X’s and O’s. We can teach the technique, but that violence and that mentality of, ‘I’m going to come in with bad intentions,’ is hard to teach.”

Katz, a West Orange alumnus, is in his second year as DC and third overall with West Orange. He has seen his athletes go from players who were hungry to chase the ball into ones who knew how to achieve it. He said Kaminski’s “impressive feature” is his versatility.

One of the starting linebackers quit Monday, Aug. 17, three days before the season opener against Archbishop Hoban Thursday, Aug. 20. Rather than a cloud of panic settling over the team, Kaminski stepped out of his usual slot and filled the linebacker position.

“To be able to have an athlete where I can take him and play him out of position in a game of that stature, where it’s not your every-

day opponent, it’s a legitimately very strong opponent, is absolutely crucial,” Katz said.

They already showcased their progression in their first game against five-time state champions Archbishop Hoban. Despite trailing by 10 going into the fourth, the defense and offense locked into their jobs.

“We just came as a unit because we know that we were a better team, and it really took us sticking together, and I could tell you now that nobody on the defense thought that we were going to lose that game,” Kaminski said.

“We don’t look at the scoreboards in the game. We just look at ourselves. How can we improve in that moment?”

Deandre Merideth, whose lategame interception sealed the Warriors’ win, has worked on strengthening his football IQ. Following a sophomore campaign, which had Merideth on the bench more than he would have preferred, he came into Katz’s room two or three days per week to study the game.

“He’s the one person out there that I can rely on to get everybody

Of course any good team can’t win from defense alone or offense alone. That’s like saying the New England Patriots still would have won Super Bowl 49 without cornerback Malcolm Butler’s lastsecond interception. They needed Butler to make the play, and Tom Brady to have the dimes he was known for producing.

West Orange is a team that also has both.

Most have heard of QB AJ Chung’s rise from a starting sophomore into the record-setting player he became last year.

Now, he has a year under his belt as the Warriors’ starting cannon.

Same with senior running back Jayden Ammons, who is ready for another breakout year. The core pieces of West Orange’s offense have played together for one year, in which they averaged 4.4 touchdowns per game on 335.8 yards per game. They understand each other but also have become older, stronger and faster.

The Warriors’ defensive front compared to last is entirely different. Last year they were senior heavy and had more weight on their shoulders to be the side of the team carrying when the others were struggling to find their groove, but after graduating nine seniors, the group now only has three.

“The complementary football aspect is definitely present, where the seniority really comes down to it,” Katz said. “We had an older group last year, younger group on offense. Now we have a young group on defense, an older group on offense, more experienced quarterback. So that definitely helps a lot in releasing some of the tension for us because it’s going to happen.

You’re going to give up points as a young defense.”

Lakers serve up revenge CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B

high and battled for the win.

Junior right side Sasha Keller led Windermere Prep with eight kills on 29 attempts, while eighth-grade outside hitter Laina Peralta added five kills in 12 attempts. The Lakers finished with 39 kills as a team.

None of it would have been possible without junior setter Aarna Verma’s ability to connect with her offensive weapons during the match. She had 29 assists and 19 digs on the night.

On the defensive side of the ball, Sophia Wadsworth wore her libero jersey with pride, leading the

team with 20 digs, outshining her performance from the team’s first game of the year. She also led with averaging 1.5 aces per set, a crucial skill to have that can finalize close contests.

Windermere Prep now hopes to continue its production levels as the team searches for its first district championship appearance since 2024. In that appearance, the Lakers fell to McKeel Academy 3-0.

The Lakers traveled to Lyman Wednesday, Aug. 26, and return to its home court Thursday, Aug. 27, to host Edgewater. Results for Lyman’s game weren’t available as of press time Tuesday.

Family.

Friends.

Community.

Photos by Megan Bruinsma

— MEGAN BRUINSMA

Shannon Till, Agent Fowler’s Grove 3279 Daniels Rd Winter Garden, FL 34787 Toll Free: 855-742-1591 www.shannontill.com

We’re all in this together.

State Farm® has a long tradition of being there. That’s one reason why I’m proud to support West Orange county..

Get to a better State®.

Family.

Family .

Friends.

Friends.

Community.

Community .

Setter Aarna Verma moved the ball to her attackers with ease.

Left: Libero Sophia Wadsworth prepared for the serve from The Master’s Academy. She played all four sets for the Lakers.

Athlete of the Week Sponsored by Shannon Till,

We’re all in this together.

Shannon Till, Agent We’re all all in this together.

We’ re in this together.

TM Fowler’s Grove 3279 Daniels Rd ® State Farm® has a long tradition State Farm has a long tradition Winter Garden, FL 34787 Toll Free: 855-742-1591 of being there.there.

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OrangeObserver.com

OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2026

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS campaign. Chung completed 63% of his attempts while throwing for 334 yards and three touchdowns, recording a longest of 43 yards. The Warriors’ hammer, running back Jayden Ammons, also continued where he left off, rushing for 75 yards on 15 carries and leading the receiving line with 107 yards on six receptions, recording two total touchdowns.

Together, along with receivers Yuto Kawamura-Johnson and Mikel Victor, who both collected a TD, and a powerful defense, West Orange outscored Archbishop 14-0 in the fourth quarter. Deandre Merideth’s interception with 23 seconds left, sealed the game on Archbishop’s final push.

Thomas Lightbody | TK Photography

The Warriors were an impenetrable force in the fourth quarter.

THURSDAY, AUG. 20 WEST ORANGE WARRIORS (1-0), 28 ARCHBISHOP HOBAN (0-1), 24 If beating five-time Ohio state champions Archbishop Hoban was any indication, the West Orange Warriors are going to be a force this year.

Junior quarterback AJ Chung, the program’s record-holder for most TDs in a season, picked up right where he left off his sophomore

UP NEXT: The Warriors will host Horizon High, which is coming off an impressive shutout victory over Lake Buena Vista.

FRIDAY, AUG. 21 CFCA EAGLES (1-0), 40 TRINITY PREP SAINTS (0-1), 17 With one season under his belt, ninth-grade quarterback Gavin Pritzkau has returned healthy and ready to soar as an Eagle. In CFCA’s domination over the Saints, Pritzkau found his receivers early and often.

He threw for 359 yards and four touchdown passes with only one

interception. It was a fast showcase of how well the new pieces already have integrated themselves into CFCA’s core. Senior Josiah Arrington, who played for the Eagles as a freshman but took two years off, led the team on the rushing front with 69 yards on 12 carries.

UP NEXT: CFCA will take an early bye week and prepare to strengthen its core as it continues its quest for a productive year.

HORIZON HAWKS (1-0), 71 LAKE BUENA VISTA VIPERS (0-1), 0 The Hawks kicked off their 2026 campaign by setting a school record in points scored — 71. The astounding victory came at the downfall of Lake Buena Vista, which is working out the kinks under a new head coach and new pieces of the puzzle after many left following last year.

Horizon’s new senior quarterback, Azariel Woods, had a standout game, with 112 yards and two TD passes on just seven attempts. Freshman QB Jackson O’Rourke earned his time on the field and tallied a touchdown pass of his own on his one throw of the game. The Hawks also were able to test the waters with the abundance of running backs, six different players got their hands on the ball for a total of 93 yards between them.

UP NEXT: The Hawks head on the road to West Orange. Lake Buena Vista hopes to tally in its first win of the season against Wekiva.

OCOEE KNIGHTS (0-1), 6 EDGEWATER EAGLES (1-0), 34 In the Knights’ first outing in the 2026 season, they struggled against an Edgewater team that had many returning players and currently is ranked No. 49 in Florida. The nondistrict game was an early opportunity for Ocoee to test a new offense.

While its defense allowed 34 points to slip through, Reginald Taylor was the defensive impact player of the game, and Cornelius Laney was the defensive player of the game.

Photo by Megan Bruinsma

Dr. Phillips’ Justin Felton II fought hard against a tough TFA defense.

UP NEXT: The Knights look to gather their first win on the road against Dr. Phillips.

OLYMPIA TITANS (1-0), 59 COLONIAL GRENADIERS (0-1), 0 The Titans displayed a remarkable outing against Colonial. Olympia is coming off a sub-.500 season, but with its core seniors returning, the Titans have proven it is prepared to march into battle.

Senior QB Nobel Davis threw for 170 yards on 18 attempts with three touchdowns. The Titans’ rushing front was split across the board with four players receiving playing time and three of them clinching a spot in the end zone.

UP NEXT: Olympia hits the road in search of its second win against Timber Creek.

THE FIRST ACADEMY ROYALS (1-0), 58 DR. PHILLIPS PANTHERS (0-1), 7 Dr. Phillips began its road game hot against the Royals, intercepting TFA QB Deuce Woods Jr.’s first pass.

Panther senior running back Justin Felton II then found the end zone for DP’s first and only score. TFA controlled both sides of the ball for the rest of the tilt. The Royals took away any possible looks DP’s QB Tien Williams had at his receivers. After the pick, Woods had a solid night to kick off his QB1 campaign. He recorded 131 yards with three touchdowns, rushing in one of his own to tie the game 7-7. Backup QB Josh Matej also had his share of snaps with five attempts for 63 yards and one touchdown. The pair threw for 194 yards against DP, while the rushing front accompanied with 187 yards across four players.

UP NEXT: Legacy will continue its search for a win in its home contest against Satellite, who averages 34.5 points per game.

WINDERMERE WOLVERINES (1-0), 29 WINTER PARK WILDCATS (0-1), 26 The Wolverines showcased they can compete against the big boys. After only scoring seven points through three quarters, while Winter Park tallied 20 of its own, Windermere rallied back and outscored the Wildcats 22-6 in the fourth to secure a dramatic win.

Windermere senior QB Dean Monroe, selected as the player of the game, tallied 258 yards on 33 attempts with three touchdowns.

He also had one rushing TD and led the ground attack with 51 yards. Another player of the game was Onix Vazquez, who continued his success finding the ball from last year. He led the group of receivers with 12 receptions, 87 yards and two touchdowns.

UP NEXT: Windermere looks to continue its streak against Innovation.

UP NEXT: The First Academy will take its production to a road game against Edgewater. The Panthers will return to their home field to host 0-1 Ocoee.

LEGACY CHARTER EAGLES (0-2), 0 SEFFNER CHRISTIAN CRUSADERS (2-0), 62 The Eagles struggled in their second game back in the 11-man landscape of football. The team has a smallbut-determined squad with many returning players who are searching to break their winless streak that extends back to last season.

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Tammy Forrester

Windermere punter Gabriel Scatena showed off his big leg against Winter Park.

OrangeObserver.com

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GLORIA MEJIA OAKLAND AVENUE CHARTER SCHOOL Gloria Mejia is the food service manager at Oakland Avenue Charter School. She oversees the daily operations of the school’s food service program, ensuring meals are prepared and served efficiently while maintaining compliance with all health, safety and nutrition requirements.

“One of my greatest accomplishments is helping maintain a successful food service program that provides nutritious meals to students every day while meeting operational and compliance standards,” Mejia said.

What brought you to your school?

My younger son was a student at the school, and it gave me the opportunity to become part of the school community. I was drawn to the chance to work with children and make a positive impact on their daily lives.

What do you love most about your school?

The people. Everyone is kind, supportive and always willing to help one another. It creates a positive and welcoming environment for both staff and students.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Cooking for our students and maintaining a well-organized kitchen. It brings me great joy to know that I am providing nutritious meals that help students have a successful day.

Seeing the students enjoy the meals we prepare and knowing that I play a role in supporting them makes my work very fulfilling.

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What would you be if you weren’t in this profession?

I would be a chef. I have a passion for cooking and enjoy creating meals that bring people together.

Being a chef would allow me to continue doing something I love while using my creativity and skills to make others happy through food.

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Who influences you?

My children are my biggest influence. I am incredibly proud of them and all they have accomplished.

They inspire me to work hard, stay positive and always do my best.

What is your favorite book and why?

The biography of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz. I find her life story incredibly inspiring, because she faced many challenges and hardships but never gave up on her passion for learning and education.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I enjoy playing tennis and staying active outdoors. I also love riding my bike and spending time outside enjoying nature.

If you could dine with any famous person, past or present, who would it be and why?

Frida Kahlo. I admire her strength,

REPORT CARD YEARS AT SCHOOL: 13 POSITION: Food services manager

resilience and determination. She faced many struggles and challenges throughout her life, but she remained true to herself and lived life on her own terms. Despite the obstacles she encountered, she continued to pursue her passions and express her creativity.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

I would choose to be like Superwoman. I admire her ability to fly, solve problems and help people in need. She is strong, confident and compassionate, and she uses her abilities to make a positive difference in the world.

If you could only listen to three bands or artists, who would they be and why?

Maná, Ana Gabriel, and Jesse & Joy. Their music reminds me of my youth and the memories of growing up in Mexico. Their songs bring me comfort, happiness and a sense of connection to my roots and culture.

What is your favorite holiday and why?

Christmas, because it gives me the opportunity to spend quality time with my family. I enjoy coming together with loved ones, sharing meals, creating memories and celebrating the joy of the season.

Who was your best friend when you were in school and why? Are you still in touch?

My best friend in school was Norma Chavez. She was a wonderful friend who was always supportive, kind and fun to be around. We shared many great memories together and developed a friendship that has lasted through the years. Although she no longer lives in the United States, we still keep in touch and stay connected.

What were your extracurricular activities as a student?

I played volleyball and enjoyed being part of a team. Volleyball taught me the importance of teamwork, discipline and perseverance.

Being involved in sports helped me build friendships, stay active and develop skills that I continue to use today.

What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?

I love painting. It is a relaxing hobby that allows me to express my creativity and unwind. I enjoy seeing a project come to life and transforming a blank canvas into something beautiful. The process is very rewarding.

— LIZ RAMOS

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OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2026

OBSERVER SCHOOL ZONE

Isabelle Grau had fun while participating in the tradition.

Cody Shoultz focused on painting perfect circles before moving onto the rest of his design.

Bailey Prutsman covered every inch of her parking space.

Senior Wolverines mark their territories W 465509-1

indermere High School seniors gathered for one of the first traditions of their final year of high school: parking spot painting.

With paint brushes and paint in hand, they turned blank black parking spaces into wonderful creations.

Seniors put their personal touches on their parking spots with beloved characters, flowers and more.

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OrangeObserver.com

OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2026

WEST ORANGE OBITUARIES Horizon West Theater Company board members were excited to showcase the new, permanent space.

Keepin’ it teal Raja Jalernpan said. “Seeing the space filled with friends, supporters and people who believe in what we’re building is truly special.”

The grand opening included a ribbon-cutting ceremony, performances, desserts and refreshments.

“This studio exists because all of you believed in it,”Jalernpan said.

— LETICIA SILVA

Maria Blanchard and Patrick James relaxed and listened to performances during the grand opening ceremony.

Nathaniel Wade Kennington, lovingly known as Nate, passed away on Aug. 14, 2026, at the age of 37.

Born and raised in Winter Garden, Florida, Nate was the son of Michael Kennington and Laurie (Rhoads) Prohaska. He was raised with love by his father and grandmother, Marguerite C. Kennington. His father, mother and grandmother preceded him in death.

Nate attended West Orange High School, where he was a talented football player. While many still will remember him on the field, after high school his talents became focused on music.

Calling him simply a music lover would not quite cover it.

He was a true music guru who could pick up just about any instrument and figure out how to play it, from guitar and drums to piano. Music followed him throughout his life and became part of countless memories shared with those who loved him.

More than anything, Nate loved people, and people loved Nate. Intelligent, quick-witted, humorous and full of random interesting facts, he never met a stranger and made friends everywhere he went. With his big feet, infectious laugh and gift for a good time, Nate was hard to forget.

Jerry McElroy, 86, of Clermont, died Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026 at South Lake Hospital. Winter Oak Funeral Home and Cremations, Winter Garden.

Betty Jean Carmean, 90, of Winter Garden, died Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. Woodlawn Funeral Home & Memorial Park, Gotha.

Brittany Diane Gervin, 40, died Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026. Winter Oak Funeral Home and Cremations, Winter Garden.

Jane Gibbons, 95, of Clermont, died Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026.

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Erissa McKaron, Sean Curry and Cassandra Rodgers were excited about the theater’s newest location.

Kaiden Sloan and Evette Canino appreciated the hallway’s art pieces.

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Dolan Manning Spivey, 91, of Gotha, died Saturday, Aug. 22.

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Marie Spivy, 60, died Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. Winter Oak Funeral Home and Cremation, Winter Garden.

Jodie Suggs, of Winter Garden, died Monday, Aug. 10, 2026.

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Zilma Viggiano, 82, died Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. Winter Oak Funeral Home and Cremations, Winter Garden.

Timothy Reed Whigham, 67, died Tuesday, July 7, 2026. Collison Carey Hand Funeral Home, Winter Garden.

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Of all the roles Nate had in his life, none was more important than being a father. He leaves behind his beloved son, Harrison, who was an enormous part of his heart and his story.

Nate also is survived by his brother and close friend, Jason; sister-in-law, Erin Inklebarger; aunt, Tammy Kennington; cousin, Matt Carter; and many extended family members and friends whose lives he touched.

Nate was a father, brother, son, nephew, uncle, friend, musician, storyteller, animal lover, troublemaker … and that man could smoke some meat!

He was deeply loved. He will be forever missed by his family, friends and the many people he so easily connected with.

Rest easy, Nate. We’ll find you in the music, hear you in the laughter and keep the best of you in the memories we hold.

“thE stonE thE buiLdErs rEjECtEd is now thE CornErstonE.” –Psalms 118:22

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“From the very beginning, this studio has been a dream powered by so many amazing people,” President

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OBSERVER | THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2026

Mahj better together West Orange residents created Mahj and Away, a communitydriven initiative to help women reconnect, sharpen their minds and build lasting friendships through mah jongg.

MAHJ AND AWAY

LETICIA SILVA STAFF WRITER

WHAT: A hospitality and retreat company offering curated American mah jongg experiences following the National Mah Jongg League’s standards to those who enjoy the game or want to learn WHO: Experiences are open to all but centers around Winter Garden, Windermere, Winter Park and Destination.

WHERE: Mahj and Away events have taken place at Matthew’s Steakhouse, Tim’s Wine Market, Shoo Shoo Baby Boutique and other local businesses FEES: Open play sessions vary from $35 to $75. Lessons vary from $75 to $100 RETREAT: Mahj and Away’s first retreat will take place from Thursday, Oct. 1, through Saturday, Oct. 3, at Conrad Orlando. Fees vary according to nights at the hotel.

INFORMATION: Visit mahjandaway.com to register for open play sessions, learning sessions and retreats.

Three Winter Garden residents have launched a business to aid community members in creating new connections away from their phones through the game of mah jongg.

Mahj and Away, a hospitality and retreat company offering mah jongg experiences, was curated with connection in mind.

Tara Sobek, Devonna Condon and Jeanine Louis-Alcime completely immersed themselves in mah jongg, learning its rules, benefits, history and impact.

Mah jongg is a four-player tile game that originated in China in the mid-19th century. It was introduced to the West after World War I. Today, it is a way for people to disconnect from all technology for a few hours and rediscover fellowship together in person. The connection, the fun and the laughter Sobek, Condon and Louis-Alcime shared was far beyond anything on their screens.

The game involves thinking, people-reading and tactics.

They felt it was imperative to bring that same sense of community to others in Central Florida while also helping them with cognitive skills and problem-solving.

After moving from Chicago five years ago, Condon said she found it challenging to create connections.

Through Mahj and Away, Condon said that has completely changed.

“It’s really been such a blessing for

Photo by Leticia Silva

Devonna Condon, Jeanine Louis-Alcime and Tara Sobek are extremely proud of the mah jongg community they’ve already been able to create.

me, and I love that we’re able to do that for other people,” she said. “I even taught my 80-something-yearold mother … and my 15-year-old daughter (how to play). It’s just been really, really fun.”

The trio hosts weekly events for community members to attend, connect and sharpen their minds.

Events include open play, where guests have enough knowledge of the rules to play freely; lessons, which includes any and all information a beginner must know such as the tiles

and terminology; and retreats, which include overnight stays at resorts in Central Florida for weekends full of community, fun, relaxation and, of course, mah jongg.

“The retreats will be much like a girls’ getaway,” Louis-Alcime said.

“It includes everything you’d do with your girlfriends and you also make new friends.”

It includes spa visits, dinners, shopping and dedicated time for mah jongg.

“It’s a time to bring people together

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and have them decompress from real life for two days, enjoy the game and build community with others,” LouisAlcime said.

Sobek said the need for community has never been stronger and believes mah jongg can bring that sense of community to many.

At open play and learning sessions, many attendees meet others.

They leave not only feeling recharged and reconnected but also with new friends with common interests.

Louis-Alcime said mah jongg is the one activity that truly made her feel relaxed and joyful.

Mah jongg allowed her to be away from her phone and simply enjoy what was right in front of her.

“Yoga didn’t do it for me; Pilates didn’t do it; everything I tried didn’t work,” she said. “It was mah jongg that did it for me.”

It’s not just a game where players are drawing and discarding tiles to build a winning hand, they said. It’s a place where people can take time for themselves in a healthy way.

As the game continues to grow in popularity, the trio hopes they can continue to positively impact more residents.

“If you’re looking to do something for yourself that’s yours personally, you need to check this out,” LouisAlcime said. “Mah jongg was built for us to celebrate other people and that’s what I feel like we’ve been doing for everybody.”

So much so, attendees often ask them to host more sessions for a longer period of time.

They have enjoyed the time spent playing and getting to know other players and hope Sobek, Condon and Louis-Alcime can continue on with these events.

“It’s a place for people like us who didn’t fit in a lot of places in society,” Louis-Alcime said. “If you want to start a conversation, put out a mah jongg mat.”

WISH YOU WERE HERE:

Pink Floyd tribute performs in Ocoee

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Pam and Jim Stack showed off their smiles as the band played classic hits.

Right: Kelly Randall and Rocky Williams loved their time at the show.

— LETICIA SILVA

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Ultimate Floyd Tribute members were grateful for the crowd who showed up to rock out.

ink Floyd fans and followers rocked out as the Ultimate Floyd Tribute Band put on a lively show Saturday, Aug. 22, at Rock ’N Rev. The restaurant was packed with more than 100 attendees — all enjoying their time through food, drinks, great music and great company.

The band performed note-for-note renditions of classics such as “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2,” “Hey You,” “Nobody Home,” “Have a Cigar” and more.

Some attendees even dressed the part — either with the band’s merch or as rock stars.

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OrangeObserver.com

THE WAYS

THROWBACK THURSDAY

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION

WE WERE

AUG. 9, 1946 It was once commonplace for couples planning to marry to buy a hope chest when creating the home of their dreams. In The West Orange News ran an advertisement from W.T. Zeigler New and Used Furniture offering an aroma-tight Lane-brand red cedar chest with an automatic tray.

The furniture store was located at 40 S. Main St. in Winter Garden. Anyone with questions could call the shop by dialing 87-BLUE.

1931: 95 years ago

Commentary: Remember when all Orange County school children had to be within the boundaries of the county two weeks before the opening of school? This was due to polio and other diseases.

1946: 80 years ago

The large business block at the corner of Plant and Main streets, owned by W.B. Burch and J.F. Holley, was undergoing a general overhauling. The building was constructed by Dillard and Boyd in 1912, and the entire second floor, which was used for apartments for years, was being renovated and redecorated for office rooms.

Comer Nelson, who sold his grocery business on Plant Street, was erecting a concrete block building in which to operate a dry-cleaning and pressing plant. Roy Burgess completed the building on the lot adjoining his home on Main Street to operate a printing plant.

FROM THE ARCHIVES This 1983 photograph shows students on their way home from school crossing the street at the intersection of Dillard and Plant streets. The building visible in the background now houses China Panda and the Winter Garden Restaurant. At the time of the photo, Crusty’s Pizza occupied the suite closer to Plant Street while the Lin-J Restaurant occupied the other. The Winter Garden Heritage Foundation archives have very little information about either of these businesses. Anyone with any memories or information about these eateries is asked to share them with WGHF at (407) 656-3244 to keep the memory alive!

1966: 60 years ago

The mission of the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation is to preserve the heritage and architecture of Winter Garden while creating new cultural experiences. The Foundation also preserves the material culture of West Orange County, using it to educate the area’s youth on the community’s rich history.

1971: 55 years ago

The first scheduled air service was to be established to and from the West Orange area, according to Harold Maguire, owner of Maguire Airport in Windermere. Initially, there would be four flights per day, two westbound to Tampa and two eastbound to Daytona Beach.

1986: 40 years ago

The First Presbyterian Church of Oakland selected Dr. J. Decherd Guess to lead the congregation as pastor. He, his wife, Jean, and their 2-year-old daughter, Chandler, were set to arrive in September.

Denny Gillard, of Ocoee, was named vice president/comptroller of Correct Craft, the Orlandobased company that made the renowned Ski Nautique boat Brothers and local soccer stars Peter and Paul Moore competed in

the National AAU Junior Olympics as members of the Downtown Orlando soccer team.

West Orange High School graduate Jack Jackson competed against some of the nation’s best swimmers at the U.S. Olympic Festival in Houston and brought home a second-place medal in the 200-meter butterfly, a third-place medal in the medley relay and fourth-place medal in the 100-meter butterfly.

celebrity cipher

crossword

By Luis Campos 130 Get-together with spirits?

©2026 Universal Uclick

ACROSS 1 Char 7 Steamy books such as “Beauty’s Kingdom” 14 Terrible twos, e.g.

19 “Very funny” 20 Certain ski lift 21 Ant’s antenna, e.g.

22 “... but are we sure about that?”

23 “Nobody followed me” 24 Library visitor 25 Result of a weak cell signal ... or a hint to understanding 27-Across 27 Soaks (up) 29 Dedicated poem 30 Someone who rats 33 Petty argument 36 Conflict in the film

“Dunkirk,” for short 40 “Grr!” 41 “___girl!”

45 Horse house 47 Big fuss 48 Olympic hero Jesse 49 “As a result ...”

50 Nullified ... or a hint to understanding 53-Across 53 “Jeepers!”

55 French friends 56 Gives the boot to 57 Simplifies 61 Excessive 62 Chess pieces 63 Four Corners tribe 64 In the slightest 65 “Dude!”

66 Pruned, like a tree branch ... or a hint to understanding 70-Across

70 Hockey team’s advantage 75 Photo ___ (PR events where you might say “Cheese!”)

76 Vicinities 78 Core muscles 79 Apprehend 80 “Fingers crossed!”

83 Puts in the overhead bin 84 Cutting remark 86 Viral cat video, e.g.

87 Golf target 89 Jumped past ... or a hint to understanding 87-Across 92 Skin care brand 93 Care for 97 ___ out a living 98 Distract, or entertain 99 “Blue” or “White” river in Africa

100 Coach, or a vehicle with coaches 101 Barbershop cry 103 “Juno” costar Michael 104 “You can’t make me leave!”

106 TikTok star Addison 108 Sweet cherry 112 Elusive evolutionary connection ... or a hint to understanding 108-Across 120 Eagles’ nests 121 “Seriously, you can’t!”

124 Ang Lee’s birthplace 125 Tracked winter vehicle brand with a feline name 126 Blues or Blue Jackets (Abbr.)

127 Sovereign’s large realm 128 Sounds the horn 129 Loses it

64 Not many 65 Dove for apples 67 Fictional sailor who is Bluto’s enemy DOWN 1 Like show horses’ hooves 68 Bit in a horse’s mouth?

69 To’s counterpart 2 “The Alienist” author 71 Tombstone lawman Wyatt Caleb 72 “Well! How rude!”

3 “Birthplace of Aviation” 73 Smartphone feature state 74 Film critic Roger 4 Coarse file, or a hoarse 77 Braying beast voice 80 Tappable image 5 Smoked jalapeno 81 Hindu festival celebrating 6 Extremely unpopular Radha and Krishna 7 Comedian Andre 82 Racecourse shape 8 Capital of Italia 9 Birthstone after sapphire 83 Encourage 84 Two-wheeled ride 10 Blabs 85 Summit 11 Figure skater Midori 86 “Out of my way!”

12 Pro’s opposite 88 Loosen, like a soda cap 13 “Rad!” 90 “Community” actor 14 Key’s comedy partner Jeong 15 Get better 16 Fashion designer Gucci 91 Yahtzee or Boggle 94 Traveling far and wide 17 Leak slowly 95 Canine command 18 Blows it 96 Guyana’s official lang.

21 “Yep, sorry to say” 102 Octo- minus five 26 Drops on grass 104 Swedish furniture 28 Church bell sounds stores 31 Uncle, in Castile 32 Texter’s “Be there soon!” 105 Fails to include 33 Pollen-producing petu- 107 Offers up chips 108 Big blowout nia part 34 Grilled Italian sandwich 109 Late-night host before Fallon 35 Basics 110 Press, like pants 37 Walk in a shallow pool 111 Small cut 38 Wedding promises 113 Brainchild 39 Debt note 114 Lose it 41 Lotsa 115 Not all, but not none 42 Dull fall sound 116 “Break My Heart” singer 43 Ballerina’s skirt Dua 44 Tennis champ Arthur 117 Victor’s cry 45 Con jobs 118 DEA agent 46 Gladdens 119 Leg part with a cap 51 Crossed (out) 122 “Billions” network, for 52 Vietnamese holiday short 54 Browses, like the web 123 Pub pint 58 Contented sighs 59 ___-mo replay 60 “Slippery” tree 63 Shoe section above the sole

Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present.

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

“MQYLY ZG SXMQZSB Z KXNCE SXM EX JXL MQXGY KQX WLY LYWCCR AR JLZYSEG. Z QWTY SX SXMZXS XJ CXTZSB IYXICY UR QWCTYG.”

HWSY WNGMYS

“S UXMV IFV SUUNKSXB XH WSBVDL LBZ S USQV IFV KTVWILWUV XH WSBVDL, OFSWF S IFSBQ SK OFLI DXMSVK LEV KNTTXKVZ IX ZX.”

EXCVEI PVDVWQSK

“LMK EWKFFTWK AD FMAZ VTFGXKFF GF AX HCC LMK LGPK ... ZMHLKIKW GF EAETCHW XAZ – LMHL’F HCC LMHL OATXLF.” XGXH FGPAXK Puzzle Three Clue: H equals A

FORGET IT! by Paul Coulter, edited by Jared Goudsmit

Puzzle Two Clue: W equals C

The sustaining and past active members of the West Orange Junior Service League dedicated a memorial fountain in Winter Garden in honor of Madge Peters, the founder of the league.

The Oakland Cub Scout Pack held its Olympic Games Day. Among the winners were Timmy Dorman, Robert Lummus, Stan Lummus, Paul Teal, Scott Burch, Jeff Burch, Nathan Pellam, Tommy Elllis, James Barron and Brett Engstrom.

Calvary Baptist Church in Winter Garden was dedicated with the Rev. Reynold Lemp officiating. The new building seated 605 people in individual opera chairs in varying sizes. There also were eight Sunday school classrooms, a spacious nursery and a bride’s room.

Puzzle Two Clue: W equals A

W EST O RANG E HISTO RY

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sudoku Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.

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YourObserver.com/RedPages

Accounting

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This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers Puzzle Two Solution: “I love the illusion of cinema and I like the spectacle of cinema, which I think is what movies are supposed to do.”

Robert Zemeckis

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Puzzle One Solution: “There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves.”

Jane Austen

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This week’s Crossword answers

You’re only cheating yourself.

peekers’ place

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Nina Simone

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