09.01.16 West Orange Times & Observer

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

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VOLUME 83, NO. 35

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Winter Garden runner returns from Rio. See 15

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

On to November

After no candidate secured more than 50% of the vote in Tuesday’s primary, Robert “Bobby” Olszewski and Betsy VanderLey will continue their campaigns for Orange County commissioner.

SEE ELECTION COVERAGE ON PAGE 5.

YOUR TOWN ARDAMAN-ASMA ENGAGEMENT

Three Purple Hearts, Two Bronze Stars, One Silver Star

Kurt and Karen Ardaman announce the engagement of their daughter, Ansley Katherine Ardaman, to Charles Nicholas Asma, the son of Bill and Mary Beth Asma.

Ansley attended Olympia High School and graduated from the University of Colorado — Boulder with a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and a minor in economics. She is the senior underwriter for the Finance and Acquisition Department of iStorage.

Nick attended Edgewater High School, Davidson College and the University of South Carolina School of Law. He is the owner of the law firm of Asma & Asma, PA. Nick and Ansley are natives of Winter Garden.

Local resident leads Disney On Ice show.

PAGE 9

Developer tweaks Oakland Park plans The developers for Oakland Park have added green space, enlarged lot sizes and eliminated second-floor suites in specific places.

TRIM NOTICES HAVE ARRIVED The Orange County Property Appraiser’s office has mailed Truth-In-Millage (TRIM) notices to every property owner in Orange, and these letters detail approximate valuations for their property, as well as proposed taxes specified by jurisdiction.

Residents have until Sept.

19 to inquire about the proposed tax they will be responsible for in 2017.

OCPA will be hosting a series of strategically placed temporary satellite offices at locations throughout the county at no additional cost to taxpayers.

Residents can meet oneon-one with OCPA staff and real estate experts to meet all their needs. For information, call (407) 836-5044 or visit ocpafl.org.

ARTS & CULTURE

AMY QUESINBERRY RHODE COMMUNITY EDITOR

Most residents seemed pleased when they left last week’s Oakland Town Commission meeting, satisfied that their concerns had been heard and that Oakland Park developers will take them into consideration as they move forward with final plans for the proposed 800home community that straddles both Oakland and Winter Garden.

Many in attendance are residents of Winters Landing and Southern Oaks neighborhoods that border Oakland Park.

Both communities submitOAKLAND

Courtesy photo

In 1951, Herman R. Gebert Jr. was a staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force.

U.S. Army Air Corps veteran Herman R. Gebert Jr. served in World War II and during the Vietnam and Korean wars.

Amy Quesinberry Rhode

Herman R. Gebert Jr. resides in the Community Living Center at the Orlando Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

STORY PAGE 8

SEE OAKLAND PAGE 5

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YOU R CALENDAR

WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

THURSDAY, SEPT. 1

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ARTSY TODDLER 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, at the Winter Garden Library, 805 E. Plant St. Paint, paste, glue, stamp and create. Young children will enjoy stories, songs and exploring age-appropriate art experiences. Ages 1-3. (407) 835-7323.

A KNACK FOR KNITTING 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, at the Winter Garden Library, 805 E. Plant St. Beginners and seasoned knitters can join for an hour of knitting fun. Bring something you are working on, something you are stuck on or needles and yarn to learn the relaxing art of knitting. Ages 18 and up. Registration requested.

(407) 835-7323.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 6

I CAN TOUCAN, CAN YOU? 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6, at the West Oaks Library, 1821 E. Silver Star Road, Ocoee. Who can say it

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

has the most colorful bill in the forest? Toucan can. Who can say it knows all about the rainforest? Toucan can. Learn what toucan knows as you explore the rainforest with stories, crafts and fun activities. Ages 6-12. (407) 835-7323.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 8

CLOTH DIAPERING 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, at the Winter Garden Library, 805 E. Plant St. This is an introduction to cloth diapering. This class will cover different types of cloth to choose from and finding a diaper that’s right for you and your baby. (407) 8357323.

WEST ORANGE REPUBLICAN WOMEN MEETING 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, at the West Orange Country Club, 3300 West Orange Country Club Drive, Winter Garden. The guest speaker is Dr. Jessica Spencer,

who will discuss Amendment 2 and the supposed flaws and loopholes associated with the proposal for medical marijuana. Cost is $20 for the lunch and speaker. RSVP to Carolyn Sparks, csparks248@gmail. com. or (407) 230-3856. For information, worw.federated@ gmail.com.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 9

CAREGIVING MATTERS WORKSHOPS Check-in starts at 9:30 a.m., presentation is 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Sept. 9, at Serenades West Orange, 720 Roper Road, Winter Garden. The three-part series is being held in partnership with the State of Florida Department of Elder Affairs and the Senior Resource Alliance.

This month’s program is “How to Communicate When Logic Doesn’t Work,” and it provides to caregivers and family members an overview of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease with specific emphasis on communication and behavior issues.

Admission is free. Register with Cindi Spurgeon of Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center, (407) 843-1910, Ext. 301.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 10

ARCHAEOLOGY OPEN LAB 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, at the Oakland Nature Preserve, 747 Machete Trail, Oakland. At the Florida Public Archaeology Network volunteer lab, learn how artifacts and other archaeological material get processed in the laboratory so archaeologists can use them to learn about the past. Participants can sort, identify and wash artifacts and other material from real archaeological sites. All ages are welcome to participate or observe, children 12 and under should be accompanied by an adult. RSVP at kgidusko@flagler.edu. For information about ONP, call (407) 905-0054.

BLUE HIKE: KAYAK CLEAN-UP TRIP 8:30 a.m. Saturdays, Sept. 10, on Lake Apopka with Oakland Nature Preserve President Jim Peterson. Meet at the Tubb Street dock in Oakland and paddle to Newton Park in Winter Garden to collect garbage around the lake. Participants must bring their own canoe or kayak and life jacket; no beginners or inflatable kayaks.

Limited space is available. Free for ONP members, $5 for others. Preregistration required at oaklandnaturepreserve.org.

(407) 905-0054.

OUR TOUGHNESS IS YOUR STRENGTH.

CELEBRATE WINNIE THE POOH 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, at the West Oaks Library, 1821 E. Silver Star Road, Ocoee. Pooh is celebrating this year, and the library is, too. Ages 3 to 5. (407) 835-7323.

FALL INTO FUN 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, at the Winter Garden Library, 805 E. Plant St. (407) 835-7323.

FLICK ON THE FIELD: “THE SANDLOT” Gates open at 6 p.m., movie starts at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept.

10, at the Winter Garden Little League fields, 420 S. Park Ave. Concessions will be sold, and there will be raffles. Take a chair or blanket. Admission is a can of non-perishable food for Matthew’s Hope homeless ministry.

(407) 877-7113.

LIBRARY & GENEALOGY CENTER ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept.

10, at the West Oaks Library & Genealogy Center, 1821 E. Silver Star Road, Ocoee. Help celebrate the 15th anniversary of the facility with face-painting, a musical performance by Shannon Rae, drone demonstrations, vendor tables, genealogy events, technology classes and more. (407) 835-7323.

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WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

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The woman behind the West Orange Country Club

The West Orange Country Club archway will one day be restored to its former glory.

Danielle Hendrix

Historic arch’s future includes restoration The old West Orange Country Club archway, off Avalon Road, one day will be restored to its former glory.

DANIELLE HENDRIX STAFF WRITER

T

WINTER GARDEN

he piece of land that once hosted the old West Orange Country Club soon will become a park, but the historic brick-and-concrete archway — the only remnant of a once-thriving place for socialites to gather — still sits untouched.

First the site of the old country club from 1915 to 1924 and then Tucker and Son Ranch from 1941 onward, the 210-acre parcel of land sits on Avalon Road, east of Johns Lake. In 2011, the City of Winter Garden purchased the land and later announced plans to develop it as a legacy park, the first phase of which is set to open in early 2017.

Grace and Charles MatherSmith moved from Chicago to Florida in the early 1900s and built the old West Orange Country Club in 1911. The club was designed and built by Augustus “Gus” Hart and was once the social hub for West Orange’s well-to-do.

However, despite plans for the land itself, the arched gate — a registered historic landmark — looks out over Avalon Road and provides passersby a glimpse into the past.

“Only the arched gateway, the silent sentinel to times past, stands alone by the side of the old Avalon Road,” wrote Winter Garden Heritage Foundation’s previous executive director, Rod Reeves, in a 2002 email to the City of Winter Garden. “This arched gateway stands as a remnant and reminder of the

The West Orange Country Club archway in 1988.

unique part that the first West Orange Country Club played in the historical development of the Winter Garden-West Orange area.

“Therefore, the Winter Garden Heritage Museum and Foundation, Inc. hereby declare this site historically significant to the Winter Garden-West Orange area,” Reeves added.

Although there are no current plans set in stone for the archway, Winter Garden staff assures the community that it will be preserved and will one day be restored to its former glory.

“When we bought the land, there was a stipulation that we restore the arch,” said Andrea Vaughn, community relations

manager for the city. “We had said we would restore it. We’ve been approached by the West Orange Country Club because they were interested in having it on their site. It’s a costly endeavor, and right now, there’s no timeline on restoring it.”

In addition to the eventual restoration, the arch one day could be relocated. However, no decision on any possible relocation has been discussed.

“If it is moved, it’ll be expensive,” Vaughn said. “Preparing it for a move, even just restoring it and giving it a good structure, is expensive. Whether or not it’s relocated — to another spot on the land or another location — is still up in the air.”

Regardless of any possibility of relocation in the arch’s future, eventual restoration is definitely on the city’s radar.

But if the city does one day decide to relocate the arch, current West Orange Country Club General Manager George Holland said the club would welcome the historic landmark.

“It would be the greatest thing I could possibly ever hear, if the city decided to rest it at the club, because it would connect the 1920s to today,” Holland said.

“The country club existing with that name is sitting just a few miles down the road, and it’s looking like we’ll be here for years to come. Several of our members and investors have grown up in the area and have passed by it thousands of times. We’d love to put it on display for the rest of the community.”

Grace Mather-Smith was the young bride of Charles Frederic MatherSmith, a wealthy paper manufacturer. The two moved in the early 1900s to Oakland from Chicago, where she was a Follies Dancer and stage actress.

She brought her flair for the dramatic and became known as a local legend.

Grace’s husband built her a 22-room mansion (later expanded to 28), which they named “Edgegrove,” on a bluff overlooking Lake Apopka.

Edgegrove became the social hub of Central Florida, with boating parties, card parties, dances and buffets.

It was said the women of Oakland, already appalled at Grace’s wild behavior, were further shocked when she demonstrated the latest dance craze, the Turkey Trot, to the sewing circle.

Always ready for a social event, Grace invited every child, regardless of age, to the annual birthday party of her oldest child, Grace Mary.

Grace received a new car for her birthday every year. Once, while preparing for a social event, she realized she needed a last-minute item, so she headed to Orlando at breakneck speed in her fancy vehicle. She was stopped and fined $10.

Grace flung a $20 bill at the constable, yelling, “Keep the change; I’ll be coming back through here flying like hell in a few minutes!”

The Mather-Smiths built the original West Orange Country Club on Johns Lake because Grace wanted a place in West Orange County to hold social events.

The couple built and rented out the cottages around the golf course.

The club’s success came to an end when the clubhouse and course were flooded by the overflow of Johns Lake after excessive hurricane rains in 1924. That property is now part of the Tucker Ranch.

In downtown Oakland, the Mather-Smiths sponsored a beautification program. Located west of Tubb Street, where the West Orange Trail cuts through, Grace Park was laid out and landscaped with the help of many local families who raised funds at events such as a Big Fish Supper. There were two circular pools with fountains, flowering vines on trellises, benches and a 12-column pergola with a latticed roof in the center.

Four concrete pillars are all that remain of Grace Park.

Charles died in 1941, and Grace died on New Year’s Day 1962. The two were buried side-by-side in a carved pink marble mausoleum on their property. It was vandalized in 1968, and the family had the bodies and pink markers moved to the Oakland Cemetery.

— AMY QUESINBERRY RHODE

Contact Danielle Hendrix at dhendrix@orangeobserver.com.

“This arched gateway stands as a remnant and reminder of the unique part that the first West Orange Country Club played in the historical development of the Winter Garden-West Orange area.”

— Rod Reeves, Winter Garden Heritage Foundation’s previous executive director in 2002

Photos courtesy of the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation

Grace Mather-Smith was legendary in Oakland for her extravagant social life and vivacious attitude.

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WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS n Commissioner Olszewski was appointed to represent the City of Winter Garden on the Municipal Advisory Committee in June 2012. n Commissioner Olszewski was elected to be the MAC’s second vice chairman in June 2014. n At the MAC meeting on May 7, 2015, the MAC chairman, Mayor Charles Lacey, appointed a Nominating Committee to recommend people for committee leadership positions starting in July 2015. Members were: Mayor Rebecca Borders (city of St. Cloud), Mayor Dale McDonald (city of Maitland), Commissioner Sid Miller (city of Lake Mary) and Council President John Dowless (city of Edgewood). The slate of officers recommended by the committee were: Mayor Charles Lacey (city of Winter Springs) to serve as chairman; Mayor Gary Bruhn (town of Windermere) to serve as first vice chairman; and Mayor Rebecca Borders (city of St. Cloud) to serve as second vice chairman effective July 1, 2015. n Staff was surprised to learn that Second Vice Chairman Olszewski was not being recommended to move up into the first vice chairman’s position. As a courtesy, staff informed Commissioner Olszewski so he would not be surprised when the agenda package went out for the next committee meeting that included the Nominating Committee’s recommendation. When he was told about this, he was angry (because), in his opinion, the outcome from the Nominating Committee was politically motivated by its members.

Olszewski felt staff should do something about this. It was explained to him that other nominations — even self-nominations — could be made from the floor at the next full committee meeting so these could be considered along with the Nominating Committee’s slate. n At the next meeting in July 2015, Commissioner Olszewski indicated his interest in serving as first vice chairman, but there was no support. n Following the July 2015 meeting, staff spoke with Commissioner Olszewski on several occasions about his absences from MAC meetings. Each time, he indicated he would be attending future meetings. Therefore, Commissioner Olszewski’s absences were recorded for the record but not treated as a vacancy. n Staff spoke with Commissioner Olszewski on June 16, 2016, at which time he informed us that he would not be returning to the MAC, thus creating a vacancy. Again, as a courtesy, staff informed Commissioner Olszewski that a letter needed to be sent to Winter Garden Mayor John Rees notifying him. A letter was sent to Rees dated July 20, 2016, noting the vacancy.

Source: MetroPlan Orlando

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

Tensions rise between Olszewski, VanderLey Betsy VanderLey paid more than $88,000 to Millennium Consulting, founded by John Dowless. Dowless also is chairman of the ECO firm that paid for a negative ad against candidate Robert Olszewski, but that ad was funded using other monies.

WEST ORANGE TIMES &

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 Publisher / Dawn Willis, dwillis@OrangeObserver.com Executive Editor / Michael Eng, meng@OrangeObserver.com

MICHAEL ENG

VANDERLEY PAYMENTS TO MILLENNIUM CONSULTING

EXECUTIVE EDITOR ORANGE COUNTY

A

campaign mailer sent to Orange County District 1 residents criticizing candidate Robert “Bobby” Olszewski’s attendance record at the MetroPlan Municipal Advisory Committee was paid for and distributed by an electioneering and communications organization owned by the same man who acts as candidate Betsy VanderLey’s hired political consultant.

John Dowless is founder and CEO of Millennium Consulting, an Orlando-based political consulting firm to which VanderLey has paid more than $88,000 during her campaign. Dowless also is chairman and treasurer of Progress and Prosperity for Orange County, the ECO that created and sent the piece regarding Olszewski’s MAC attendance record.

Dowless also is vice chairman of the MAC and council president for the city of Edgewood.

In last week’s candidate Q&A for the West Orange Times & Observer and Windermere Observer, VanderLey said she was aware of the ad but that it was not sent by her campaign.

“My campaign has not published any negative advertising pieces,” VanderLey said. “However, I am aware that a third party has published my opponent’s absentee record highlighting his lack of attendance on committees he references as experience for the office.

“I have never believed in, nor will I engage in, personal attacks that have no bearing on holding public office,” she said.

VanderLey said the money she paid to Millennium Consulting was used to fund mailers that championed her campaign. She said she was aware of the negative ad prior to its release.

“I had heard it was going to happen,” she said. “I had a heads up, but I didn’t approve it or have any control over it.”

Dowless confirmed the negative mailer sent from his ECO was independent from the work he performed for VanderLey as Millennium Consulting. He also confirmed the $88,000 he received from VanderLey’s campaign was not used for the negative ad. Those monies — totaling $6,000 — came from ECO funds.

“It’s separate because they (Millennium clients) are not part of the creative process (in creating the ECO mailers),” he said.

Dowless also said he obtained the information regarding Olzsewski’s record through a public-records request and not through his position on the MAC board.

“I believe we did do a publicrecords request, but that information is also available on the website,” he said.

ONLINE

Design Editor / Jessica Eng, jeng@OrangeObserver.com Community Editor / Amy Quesinberry Rhode,

DATE PURPOSE AMOUNT Nov. 17, 2015 Consulting/software $1,150 March 25 Consulting/printing expenses $3,800 May 3 Consulting fees/advertisements $1,675 May 3 Signs/campaign advertising $6,300 June 11 Consulting/retainer fees $1,000 July 1 Consulting/mailing/signs $6,599.54 July 18 Consulting/mailers/postage/printing $17,830 July 25 Printing/postage/voter mail $5,830 July 27 Printing/mail to voters $19,723 Aug. 8 Consulting/mailers/postage/printing $13,000 Aug. 17 Voter mailers/polling $11,400.82 TOTAL: $88,308.36 Source: Orange County Supervisor of Elections

aqrhode@OrangeObserver.com Senior Sports Editor / Steven Ryzewski, sryzewski@OrangeObserver.com Staff Writers Gabby Baquero, gbaquero@Orange Observer.com Danielle Hendrix, dhendrix@OrangeObserver.com Jennifer Nesslar, jnesslar@OrangeObserver.com Advertising Executives Ryan Cater, rcater@OrangeObserver.com Michelle Gentry, mgentry@OrangeObserver. com Cyndi Gustafson, advertising@Orange

CHARGES IN THE AD

The negative ad states Olszewski did not attend a MetroPlan MAC meeting in more than a year.

According to a timeline created

by MetroPlan Orlando (see sidebar), Olszewski was appointed to the MAC in June 2012 and was elected as its second vice chairman in June 2014. It is customary for the second vice chairman to be elected as first vice chairman the following year.

However, in May 2015, thenMAC Chairman Charles Lacey, mayor of Winter Springs, appointed a Nominating Committee to select leadership positions for the following year. That committee included St. Cloud Mayor Rebecca Borders, Maitland Mayor Dale McDonald, Lake Mary Commissioner Sid Miller and Dowless.

At the nominating meeting May 7, 2015, Olszewski was motioned and seconded as first vice chairman, as was Windermere Mayor Gary Bruhn. Ultimately, Bruhn was selected. The committee then discussed the idea of keeping Olszewski in the second vice chairman position, but the committee selected St. Cloud Mayor Rebecca Borders instead.

In his response in last week’s Q&A, Olszewski said he decided he could not attend because he questioned the motivations of one MAC member — Dowless.

“When I learned that an elected official and fellow MAC member was using (his) vote on this committee to benefit (his) personal paycheck and benefit (his) clients, I was appalled,” he said. “I brought this to the attention of MetroPlan employee and MAC staff liaison Virginia Whittington, and next, I had a discussion with MetroPlan Executive Director Harry Barley. … Since the ethical voting concerns I had with the MAC fell on deaf ears, I contacted our Winter Garden Mayor John Rees and City Manager Mike Bollhoefer and informed them that I could no longer attend MAC because of this breaching the public’s trust, and they agreed.”

Bollhoefer confirmed he had spoken with Olszewski.

“It was quite some time back, but he did call me and tell me about his issues,” he said. “He had some

ethical issues that had to do with how they voted or picked somebody.”

However, Dowless said Olszewski’s statement is inaccurate and misleading. “(At the time of that meeting) I was not employed by Betsy VanderLey,” he said. “We did not have a contract until February 2016, I believe.”

The first documented payment from VanderLey’s campaign to Dowless’ Millennium Consulting was in Nov. 17, 2015 — $1,150 for consulting/software, according to the Orange County Supervisor of Elections.

Outgoing Orange County District 1 Commissioner S. Scott Boyd, who has endorsed VanderLey, said Olszewski’s statement is inaccurate.

“As the current board chairman of MetroPlan Orlando, I was surprised to read some of what Mr. Olszewski had to say about the Municipal Advisory Committee,” he said. “This committee comprises elected officials from cities and towns throughout our threecounty area. … In an effort to shed some light on a recent campaign advertisement having to do with Mr. Olszewski’s involvement with the Municipal Advisory Committee and inferences made in his profile piece, I asked MetroPlan Orlando’s staff for background information. As a result, I learned that Mr. Olszewski was disappointed that he was not elected to serve in a leadership position with the Municipal Advisory Committee back in July 2015. Since then, he has not attended any committee meetings.

“MetroPlan Orlando neither gets involved in political campaigns nor controls political advertisements,” he said. “The content of the piece submitted by Mr. Olszewski suggested otherwise, and I felt this needed to be corrected.”

Dowless agreed.

“There’s no cronyism with 17 separately elected officials,” he said.

Staff Writer Jennifer Nesslar contributed to this report.

Contact Michael Eng at meng@orangeobserver.com.

To read County Commissioner S. Scott Boyd’s opinion on this subject, visit bit.ly/2c5en1r.

Observer.com Creative Services Andrés Tam, atam@OrangeObserver.com Tony Trotti, ttrotti@OrangeObserver.com Customer Service Representatives Allison Brunelle, abrunelle@Orange Observer.com Sarah Felt, sfelt@OrangeObserver.com

CONTACT US

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The West Orange Times & Observer can be found in many commercial locations throughout West Orange County and at our office.

If you wish to subscribe, visit our website, OrangeObserver.com, call (407) 656-2121 or visit our office, 720 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

5

Oakland CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Danielle Hendrix

Bobby Olszewski and his wife, Allison, are expecting daughter Reagan any day now.

Gabby Baquero

Betsy VanderLey enjoyed her watch party with parents, Jon and Kay.

Olszewski, VanderLey head to run-off It will take one more election before West Orange has a successor to outgoing Orange County District 1 Commissioner S. Scott Boyd.

GABBY BAQUERO, MICHAEL ENG AND DANIELLE HENDRIX

Editor’s note: The vote totals and percentages are based on unofficial results from the Orange County Supervisor of Elections at press time.

It was a hotly contested election from the getgo, and it’s not over yet.

Because no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in Tuesday’s primary election, voters once again will be asked to cast their ballots for the next Orange County District 1 commissioner.

Oakland resident Betsy VanderLey was the top vote-getter in the primary, receiving 9,878 (45.54%) ORANGE COUNTY

votes. In November’s general election, she will face Winter Garden City Commissioner Robert “Bobby” Olszewski, who received 7,690 (35.45%) votes.

Candidate Nuren Haider received 2,372 (10.94%) votes, and Dr. Usha Jain received 1,751 (8.07%) votes.

VanderLey held her watch party at The VineYard Wine Bar and Healthy Bistro at The Grove Orlando near Windermere.

“A four-way race with 46% is unheard of,” VanderLey said to about 60 supporters in attendance. “Now, we bury him (Olszewski).”

At his own watch party at Graffiti Junktion in Dr. Phillips, Olszewski said he expected the run-off.

“It was a spirited primary, and I look forward to continuing to share my vision for Orange County,” he said.

Olszewski and his wife, Allison, are expecting their daughter to be born any day now. Despite the lack of sleep that comes with a newborn, Olszewski said he is prepared to resume his campaign.

“I’m a man of faith, and I don’t believe we have any obstacles put in our path that we can’t conquer,” he said. “We’re going to work harder than any candidate will in this race to show Orange County District 1 that we will put residents and community first back in local government.”

VanderLey declined requests for an interview for this story.

COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICT 3

Orange County District 3 Commissioner Pete Clarke won his reelection handily, amassing

14,563 (68.70%) votes.

Candidate Bill Moore was the closest challenger, with 4,770 (22.50%) votes.

SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 4

In the race for the Orange County School Board District 4 seat, incumbent Pam Gould earned 10,122 (58.99%) votes, while challenger Michele Wilmot received 7,037 (41.01%) votes.

SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 7

In a four-way race for the Orange County School Board District 7 seat, incumbent Christine Moore failed to secure more than 50% of the vote, thus sending this race to a run-off in November.

Moore received 8,353 (45.25%) votes. She will face Matthew Fitzpatrick, who received 4,589 (24.86%). Candidate Isadora Dean received 4,160 (22.54%), while Laura Rounds received 1,358 (7.36%).

ted petitions to the town following the Aug. 9 Oakland Town Commission meeting listing concerns about issues the next phase of Oakland Park would create.

Residents attended the Aug. 23 meeting to hear what changes the developer made in its concept plan.

Thom Cunningham addressed the elected officials and the standing-room-only crowd, sharing changes that were made after representatives from Crescent Communities, the owner of Oakland Park, met with concerned residents.

Changes include the addition of a linear park with mature foliage along Starr Street, a new entrance/exit with mature trees at Vandermeer Avenue and larger lot sizes with bigger setbacks and a privacy fence for properties that back up to homes along Macchi Avenue. These properties also cannot build second-floor suites along the lot line.

Seventeen residents spoke, asking for changes such as additional stop signs, another traffic study and more greenery buffers.

Some want Oakland Park to connect to streets other than theirs, and others ask that the new community not connect to their subdivision at all.

“We are intent on protecting the identity of the town,” Mayor Kathy Stark assured residents.

The commission said more discussion is needed and voted to continue it to an unspecified date.

Contact Amy Quesinberry Rhode aqrhode@orangeobserver.com.

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

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Photos by Jennifer Nesslar

Seniors at West Orange High School personalize their parking spaces with bright colors, artwork and inspirational messages each year.

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JENNIFER NESSLAR STAFF WRITER WINTER GARDEN When the dismissal bell rings at 2:30 p.m. at West Orange High School, it only takes a few moments for the student parking lot to be filled with activity.

Juniors and seniors converge on the parking lot — some quickly dashing to their cars to be on time for sports practice or work. Others walk a bit more leisurely, joking with their friends on the way to their cars.

But as the rush of students exit the parking lot, you’ll begin to notice splashes of bright color.

This year, more than 300 of the senior’s parking spots were painted by the seniors. You’ll see references to hobbies, sports, movies and pop culture. You can even find some inspiration.

One spot gives wisdom that many adults are still trying to learn: “Every day is what you make it.” Another puts a more humorous spin on a well-known piece of advice: “When life gives you lemons, put them in your sweet tea.”

This year, the parking space tradition at West Orange has received national attention. The blog Scary Mommy found photos of the parking spaces over Twitter and wrote a story “Seniors Paint Their Parking Spots For Coolest High School Tradition, Ever” about West Orange High School. The blog

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At last! Work begins on relief school Officials hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the new West Orange County high school Sept. 24. STORY ON 6 ARTS+CULTURE

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The tradition started at West Orange High School as a way to allow seniors to be creative and allow them to leave their mark on the school all year long.

The school has more than 500 spots, with more than 300 of those spaces being painted by seniors.

Both juniors and seniors are able to park their cars on campus, but only seniors have the opportunity to paint the spaces.

Prior to 2000, seniors, upon graduation, would try leave their mark on the school by tagging the bridge underside of the bridge near the school, said Phyllis Boston, who works in facilities at West Orange High School and has worked there since 1997. The school wanted to provide another way for students to leave their mark without defacing property off campus, so it created the parking-space tradition.

“Implementing the parking lot spaces was a way for kids to express themselves at school,” Boston said. “They could paint anything they wanted as long as it was approved. … They get to look all year and know that that’s theirs.”

Later, the school allowed seniors to leave their handprints at the school as a lasting mark.

“Even though the parking lot spaces get painted over every year, their handprints never get painted over,” Boston said.

West Orange High thespians dish up a spoonful of sugar.

PAGE 13

Welcome to your new hometown newspaper

“Implementing the parking lot spaces was a way for kids to express themselves at school. They could paint anything they wanted as long as it was approved. … They get to look all year and know that that’s theirs.”

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YOUR TOWN SCOTT APPOINTS AREA RESIDENT Gov. Rick Scott announced Sept. 18 two appointments and one reappointment to the Florida Virtual School Board of Trustees. Robert Gidel Sr., of Windermere, is the managing partner at Liberty Capital. He fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term that began Sept.

18 and ends Sept. 10, 2017.

He joins Iris Gonzalez, of Tierra Verde, on the board.

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What you’re holding in your hands is the product of more than a year of planning. It’s the product of our wildest dreams — a bold step for a company that last month celebrated our 110th anniversary.

Welcome, readers, to the first edition of the Windermere Observer, a sister paper of the West Orange Times & Observer, which has roots that date back to the Winter Garden Ricochet in 1905.

For more than a century, our newspaper — through all its previous owners and iterations — covered the entire West Orange region with just one edition.

Today, that changes.

Put simply: West Orange has grown too large for one hyperlocal community newspaper.

For longtime readers: this new Windermere Observer will cover Windermere, Horizon West, Dr. Phillips, Bay Hill, Gotha and MetroWest, while the West Orange Times & Observer will renew its focus on Winter Garden, Ocoee and Oakland.

As the 10th newspaper owned by the Sarasota-based Observer Media Group, the Windermere Observer will strive to deliver on OMG’s slogan: “You. Your Neighbors. Your Neighborhood.”

SEE NEWSPAPER PAGE 6

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Windermere Mayor Gary Bruhn strikes the only suitable pose when holding a glass from “The Godfather.”

JESSICA KERNOHAN Kernohan is the goalie on West Orange’s water polo team, so her spot is waterpolo themed.

“I’ve played water polo for four years, so it’s pretty important to me,” she said.

On the bottom of her space, the letters “G&J” are painted, giving a nod to her friend Gabriella who helped her paint the parking space.

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Contact Jennifer Nesslar at jnesslar@orangeobserver.com.

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Robinson is a fan of the rapper Drake, so he incorporated a “6,” a number Drake often references in his music. The 6 is a part of the area code for Toronto, Drake’s hometown.

“A lot of people tell me that they like the spot,” Robinson said.

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Reason and her mother spent nearly seven hours painting her parking space, which showcases her love of surfing.

“I really enjoy surfing,” she said. “I’ve been doing it since I was 6 years old.”

The space also has two umbrellas, a nod to “How I Met Your Mother” and “Mary Poppins,” two of Reason’s favorite shows. At the bottom of the space, an elevator attaches to the neighboring space, which belongs to Reason’s cousin.

WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

The moratorium is now in effect until Feb. 27, 2017.

JENNIFER NESSLAR STAFF WRITER

Winter Garden commissioners extended a moratorium on the processing of development and building permit applications until Feb. 27, 2017, for the area of East Plant Street between Dillard Street and State Road 429.

This moratorium is in light of the State Road 429 master plan, adopted jointly in February between the cities of Winter Garden and Ocoee. The plan envisions Ocoee and Winter Garden becoming regional destinations as State Road 429 continues to aid connections in the Greater Orlando area.

The master plan addresses three key interchanges in the area — West Road in Ocoee; State Road 50 in Ocoee; and Plant-Franklin, shared by Ocoee and Winter Garden. These three interchanges are some key points of entry into downtown Winter Garden or downtown Ocoee.

The Plant-Franklin interchange will become a center of employment, with the master plan envisioning a pedestrian-friendly design and the opportunity for residential and retail to coexist.

The original moratorium on East Plant Street was set to expire Aug. 31 but allowed city officials to put a halt on development in the area while Real Estate

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Research Consultants Inc. conducts a master plan study for the area. The study needs more time, city staff said; therefore, commissioners voted to extend the moratorium.

GOLF CARTS

Golf carts continue to be a key point of discussion at City Commission meetings, and commissioners plan to hold a workshop on golf carts at an upcoming meeting.

The city also acquired an opinion from the Attorney General’s office, which states the city cannot require the use of child’s seats in golf carts.

Golf carts are vehicles that travel under 20 mph. A vehicle that appears to be a golf cart but travels above 20 mph is actually classified as a low-speed vehicle, not a golf cart. State law requires these vehicles to have a tag to drive on the streets that have a speed limit of 35 mph or less, unless the city determines they cannot be on the street, City Manager Mike Bollhoefer said. The city does not have any liability for low-speed vehicles, because those vehicles are regulated by the state. Lowspeed vehicles without a tag are illegal to operate.

Commissioners will be tasked with voting on which streets are safe for golf carts. Everywhere golf carts are allowed, signage is required, as well.

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IN OTHER NEWS n Commissioners approved an ordinance that would allow the city to issue two salestax revenue bonds. The first bond, at $10.2 million, would be used to finance projects such as the parking garage.

The second bond, at $9.81 million, would be used to refund all outstanding sales tax revenue bonds the city has, securing a better rate and saving the city $1.69 million.

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“That’s going to be the key part of this, this commission has to make a decision — you do not vote to say that golf carts are allowed on the streets, what you do is you actually vote and make a statement that the streets are safe for golf carts, which means it actually puts some liability on the city,” Bollhoefer said.

Contact Jennifer Nesslar at jnesslar@orangeobserver.com.

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n The beginning of the meeting was a workshop on the budget for the fiscal 2016-17 year. Public hearings will be held 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7, and Thursday, Sept.

21. n Two special events were approved — the Winter Garden Health and Harvest Festival on Oct. 29 and OktoberFest Oct. 14 to 16.

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WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

A lifetime of service AMY QUESINBERRY RHODE COMMUNITY EDITOR

Herman R. Gebert Jr. never was comfortable accepting all the medals and awards he received for his participation in the European Theater during World War II. It has always bothered him that he was honored for doing his job — and for taking the enemy’s life.

Gebert, now 92 and a resident of the Orlando Veterans Affairs Community Living Center at Lake Nona, still has difficulty talking about the experiences he endured.

He has taken a bullet to his hand and his backside, eliminated a German foxhole on Omaha Beach and escaped German soldiers by jumping off a bridge into a freezing and fast-moving river.

EIGHTEEN AND DRAFTED

Gebert was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale and spent many teenage summers as a beach lifeguard, a skill that would later save his life.

He was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942 at age 18.

He trained at Camp Blanding in north Florida and then went to Little Falls, Minnesota, for tests, where it was determined he was a candidate for linguist training.

Gebert was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division, 22nd Infantry and boarded the Queen Mary for Europe. After a three-week crash course in the French language at the University of Oxford, he and a few other liaisons were sent to France to make contact with the French underground to coordinate plans for Operation Overlord (the

code name for the Battle of Normandy).

EARNING HIS MEDALS

The first of two Bronze Stars were earned when Gebert and another soldier, dressed as French civilians, were captured in the winter of 1944. A German patrol captured the two “suspicious Frenchmen,” but the snowy, windy conditions made it easy to escape at dusk.

They ran and were shot at by the Germans; the second soldier was struck but able to continue running, and the two hid in a snow bank until the opposition was gone. Gebert carried his comrade on his back for several miles to a farmhouse, unaware that his partner had died.

He also earned a Silver Star and a Purple Heart for his role in D-Day. After completing his reconnaissance with the French underground in preparation for the Allied invasion of the French region of Normandy on June 6, 1944, Gebert and thousands of other soldiers trained and waited for the D-Day invasion.

At dawn on June 6, the 4th Infantry Division rushed the shoreline of Utah Beach. Although Gebert will not talk about the initial landing, he has shared that around this time, in the battle for Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, the first village liberated on D-Day, he was shot in his left hand.

He was triaged at a church and then sent to a hospital ship off the coast. A few days later, he was cleared to return to his battalion.

Their arrival on Omaha Beach

and attempt to scale the hills and cliffs was met with heavy gunfire.

Trapped, Gebert reached for a pile of rifles that had been collected from dead soldiers, charged up the hill and started throwing grenades and firing until no one fired back.

He said he didn’t expect to survive but was concerned about getting the rest of the men to safety.

The medals he received were for risking his own life to save theirs.

Gebert earned his second Bronze Star and second Purple Heart following D-Day, when Germans captured him and five other soldiers in Belgium. Because of their work with the French underground, Gebert and a Maj. Vogel were to be turned over to the Gestapo. They devised a plan, and as the six were being marched to a prisoner-of-war location, assisted by a German squad a few hundred yards back, they waited until they were over the Meuse River and then killed the front and back guards and jumped off the bridge.

As he dived into the frigid water, Gebert was shot in the buttocks.

Vogel swam to shore; Gebert saved three of the men but was unable to locate the other.

He said it has always bothered him to be rewarded for these incidents because he had to take the lives of several men and failed to save another.

Gebert earned his third Purple Heart when his group was being transported on a troop train in England in the middle of the night and the train was struck by a German bomber. The men jumped off the train, and Gebert broke

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Like thousands of residents in our area, you may be discovering that after years of non-stop child traffic in and out of your doors, toys on the floor, music floating throughout, suddenly you can hear a pin drop over the quiet hum of the refrigerator. Your rooms are filled with pictures and memories of this wonderful time of your life, but there are many empty rooms gathering dust now that your children have moved on. The freer years ahead are exciting ones to look forward to, and it’s time for you to move on as well.

If you find yourself in this situation, you’re in vast and good company. And what that means is that there are many wonderful opportunities for you to create this new

Herman R. Gebert Jr. and Charlotte T. Lotz were married Nov. 17, 1946.

They met when Charlotte chaperoned a cousin who was meeting her fiance at a train station and Herman was there with his buddy, the fiance.

Courtesy

several bones in both feet. Medics wrapped them up, and he returned to duty.

MULTIPLE BATTLES

Even today, there are some parts of World War II that Gebert simply cannot talk about with anyone.

He served in the Battle of the Bulge and the Battle of Hurtgen Forest, where two out of every three soldiers were killed. He said he was one of the few who went in and actually came out.

AFTER WORLD WAR II

Gebert spent many months recovering in an English hospital; his pneumonia would be an issue his entire life.

He returned to the U.S. in 1945, bringing with him an issue called chronic post-traumatic stress disorder that wouldn’t be diagnosed for 60 years.

In 1946, Gebert accompanied a buddy to a train station in Fort Lauderdale. The friend was meeting his fiancée, Alice, who brought her cousin Charlotte Lotz as a chaperone. Gebert and Lotz hit it off and went to the beach the next day and every day thereafter for two weeks. Before she returned home to New York, he promised to go up there in six weeks to marry her. And he did.

The couple returned to Florida, where he was stationed.

In 1947, he received an enlistment into the newly formed U.S. Air Force and trained to be an airtraffic controller, which is what he

did for most of his military career.

He was stationed in Galena, Alaska, during the Korean War, monitoring the Aleutian Islands for activity from 1949-51.

During the early days of the Vietnam War, his job was to survey the landscape and determine where to set up radar sites. He was based in Danang, Saigon and Nha Trang. He said he didn’t escape danger there either, taking a bullet to the front of his metal helmet.

He also developed Type 2 diabetes from sitting on cases of Agent Orange, the controversial herbicide used to defoliate jungles, when they were being delivered by air.

Gebert’s final assignment of his military career was as a member of the Inspector General’s team for the western U.S. responsible for aircraft towers and radar approach control facilities.

He retired from active duty in 1969 as a chief master sergeant and remained on reserve duty for another three years, having served for a total of 30 years.

Gebert and his wife were married for 66 years and lived for many years in Ocoee and the Dr. Phillips area; she died in February 2013. They have two daughters, Linda Bethke and Diane MagillDavis; seven grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; two greatgreat-grandchildren; and many step-grandchildren.

Contact Amy Quesinberry Rhode at aqrhode@orangeobserver.com.

PET OF THE WEEK

Dr. Mercado at West Orange Family Medical Care is happy to announce

If you would like your pet to be considered for the “Pet of the Week”... email your furry friend’s photo to: Contest@OrangeObserver.com

Dr. Miguel Burgos to join his medical practice.

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We are happy to welcome him to Winter Garden and to West Orange Family Medical Care!

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

ARTS + CULTURE

LEADING

QUICK HITS THURSDAY, SEPT. 1

“GREAT OUTDOORS” RECEPTION 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, at SoBo Gallery, 127 S. Boyd St., Winter Garden. Join The Winter Garden Art Association for the unveiling of its latest art gallery, “Great Outdoors.” The gallery features pieces created “en plein air” as well as pieces featuring the sea, land and city. Mike Jakubowski, of Ocoee, is the gallery’s featured artist. Meet the artists and enjoy light refreshments. (407) 3477996.

THE COMPANY Matt Santorelli has quickly climbed the ladder in the performance world. He started as a performer at Walt Disney World but is now getting ready to lead a tour of “Disney On Ice Presents Follow Your Heart” across the U.S. as company manager.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 3

JIM SNYDER AND THE RAISIN CAKE BAND 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, at Pilars Martini, 146 W. Plant St., Suite 120, Winter Garden. Grab a drink and enjoy the music of Jim Snyder and the Raisin Cake Band. (407) 369-8900.

JENNIFER NESSLAR STAFF WRITER

G

rowing up in New York, Matt Santorelli dreamed of working for Disney.

Santorelli, who loved sketching and the visual arts, hoped to illustrate animations, drawing inspiration from some of his favorite Disney animations “Aladdin” and “Beauty and the Beast.”

As he grew older, Santorelli’s interest turned to performing.

When his family moved to Florida, he landed a job in performance at Walt Disney World.

More than 15 years later, Santorelli, a Horizon West resident, is still involved in the world of Disney performance, this time with Feld Entertainment. He is the company manager of “Disney On Ice Presents Follow Your Heart,” which opens Sept. 2 at the Amway Center, before traveling around the east coast of the U.S. and into Canada.

ROCKIT FLY 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept.

3, at Dexter’s of Windermere, 4757 The Grove Drive, Suite 100, Windermere. Join Rockit Fly, an Orlando-based cover band as it performs the ’80s and ’90s hits you remember and love. (407) 258-7028.

RAVE OF THE WEEK

STEPHANIE CORSON PETREY Huge rave to AlFresco!

I’ve always been a fan of theirs and am loving their new quaint location on Plant Street (to the left of Urban Flats). And now, their breakfast is to die for. The cafe latte was delicious. Carlos, the waiter, was fantastic and friendly.

We split the avocado toast which had a poached egg, prosciutto and Romesco sauce (menu also said feta, but it didn’t have any and we didn’t remember to ask about it since it was amazing as is), along with the skillet potatoes with red peppers and onions as well as a multi-grain bagel with lox. I’ve grown up on the latter, and this was every bit as tasty as my New York lox and bagel.

SEE DREAM PAGE 11

“The story line is really inspiring, and I think it’s going to hit home for a lot of kids and parents.”

Photos courtesy of Disney on Ice

Rapunzel and Flynn Rider make an appearance in the show.

— Matt Santorelli

WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

Wishes for the season

THE SEASON SEPT. 9 TO OCT. 2

JENNIFER NESSLAR STAFF WRITER

Steven Miller Photography

Preston Ellis plays Clyde Barrow and ​Tay Anderson plays Bonnie Parker in “Bonnie and Clyde.”

THE GARDEN THEATRE 160 West Plant St., Winter Garden TICKETS: Subscriptions went on sale April 15 for new subscribers; they are currently on sale for current subscribers. To purchase tickets, visit gardentheatre.org or call (407) 877-4736.

tional family yearns for happiness, and those wishes lead her to try to find a man for her daughter, a situation that ends up poorly for the family.

During the holiday season, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” portrays the well-loved Charlie Brown, who wishes to find the true meaning of Christmas.

Next is “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” where the students participating in the

OCT. 21 TO NOV. 6

THE GLASS MENAGERIE

By Tennessee Williams Produced by Beth Marshall Presents. Amanda Wingfield lives in poverty with her restless son, Tom, and her shy daughter, Laura, in St. Louis during the late 1930s.

FEB. 3 TO 26, 2017

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE Music and lyrics by William Finn; book by Rachel Sheinkin; conceived by Rebecca Feldman; additional material by Jay Reiss Produced by Beth Marshall Presents. Intended for mature audiences, this story features six young teens in the throes of puberty as they spell their way through a series of challenging and off-the-wall words.

MARCH 4, 2017

GARDEN ENCORE! Anniversary Gala Garden Encore! marks the Garden Theatre’s largest fundraising event of the season, celebrating its ninth anniversary and highlighting its impact on residents and visitors to West Orange County.

MARCH 17 TO APRIL 9, 2017

DEC. 2 TO 18

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS

By Charles M. Schulz; based on the television special by Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson; Stage Adaptation by Eric Schaeffer; by special arrangement with Arthur Whitelaw and Ruby Person Produced by Garden Theatre.

In a stage adaption faithful to the animated television special, Charlie Brown feels overwhelmed by materialism he sees and seeks to find the true meaning of Christmas.

Contact Jennifer Nesslar at jnesslar@orangeobserver.com.

DESTINY OF DESIRE

By Karen Zacarías Produced by Garden Theatre Southeastern United States Premiere. A telenovela-inspired modern comedy tells the story of two girls switched at birth.

APRIL 28 TO MAY 28, 2017 INTO THE WOODS Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim; book by James Lapine Produced by Garden Theatre.

A baker and his wife try to lift a witch’s curse. Along the way they encounter other fairytale characters in a musical that explores the consequences of wishes.

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spelling bee wish to be recognized for who they are.

“The Destiny of Desire” portrays characters wishing to know their destiny. The season concludes with “Into the Woods,” where the characters wish for a happy ending.

“The Destiny of Desire” is not yet published, but Anderson contacted the playwright Karen Zacarías, who allowed the theater to be one of the first to produce it.

Unlike previous seasons, no one play is larger than another.

“I really think they all have their own weight this year,” said Anderson. “Even Charlie Brown, which has such a strong following to it, that I think that it’s as important as the rest of them. I can look back at other seasons and (say), ‘That’s the big show’… but I really feel it’s an evenly weighted season, and there’s something for everyone.”

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It’s a season of wishes at The Garden Theatre.

The theater announced the lineup of performances for the 2016-17 season, which runs from September 2016 through May 2017. The season features six fulllength theatrical presentations, as well as weekend events such as music and dance concerts. The season will also include movies and holiday offerings.

The theme of wishes runs throughout the season.

“I’m calling this a season of wishes because everything that we have selected has somebody, or a group of people, wishing for something,” said Robert Winn Anderson, consulting artistic director at The Garden Theatre. “We say, ‘Wishes can come true,’ but also, ‘Be careful what you wish for.’ We thought it was appropriate that we go that direction, because the last two words of the entire season next year in ‘Into the Woods’ will be, ‘I wish.’”

The season begins with the story of “Bonnie & Clyde,” two lovers whose wishes combined into something dangerous. It leads into “The Glass Menagerie,” where the mother of a dysfunc-

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WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

As a Disney performer, Santorelli performed in nearly every Disney theme park. He was in “Fantasmic!,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” Christmas shows and parades around the park. His acting experience didn’t end after his stint at Walt Disney World.

In 2005, Feld Entertainment hired him as a performer in its Disney Live! shows. He got to travel the world while performing in “Winnie the Pooh,” when he played a hunny helper, a comical character who helped the story line to progress.

One of his favorite memories from that time is when his brother and mother got to see him perform — in Rome.

After performing for three years with Feld, Santorelli began to feel he was aging out of continual performance and wanted to try some backstage work.

“In my mind, I thought, ‘Man I’m getting old; I can’t be putting on clown makeup forever,’” he said with a laugh. “But I was always fascinated with what happens backstage to put on a production.”

ON THE ROAD

As company manager, Santorelli is involved with everything from coordinating hotel stays to managing company members. He directly interacts with the performers every day.

As the company travels around the east coast of the U.S. and into Canada, Santorelli won’t come home until the tour concludes in April 2017.

That’s why Santorelli is excited about two stops — the opening in Orlando and the stop in Brooklyn.

In Orlando, his parents and sibling’s families will be able to come see the performance. His extended family will get to enjoy the show in Brooklyn.

“I grew up in a big Italian family, and (family) was the center,” he said.

Contact Jennifer Nesslar at jnesslar@orangeobserver.com.

n Matt Santorelli is crazy about comic books and hopes to someday open a comic book store. n During his free time on tour, he enjoys going to local restaurants and people watching. n In his travels, he learned to say, “I don’t speak Japanese” — in Japanese. n On the road, he can’t live without his iPad and Apple pencil.

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This show includes characters from several Disney favorite animated movies, with the performers doing the entire show while ice skating.

“The story line is really inspiring, and I think it’s going to hit home for a lot of kids and parents,” Santorelli said.

He worked up the ranks from tour coordinator to company manager in various shows. As a performer, Santorelli didn’t find the transition easy.

“It took some getting used to,” he said. “I had to restrain myself from wanting to hop in front of a camera every now and then. … But it’s a different type of rewarding experience. There’s nothing like being on stage and performing for an audience, but there’s nothing like sitting in the audience and watching from the stands kids enjoying the show.”

As he began to work with the Disney On Ice shows, he was amazed by the performers’ abilities in athletics as well as their ability to portray their roles at the same time.

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State Farm, Pizza Hut and Hard Rock Cafe Orlando provided food, while Winter Park Pony Parties and Merry Minstrel provided entertainment.

Orange County Sheriff candidate Spike Hopkins and his wife, Shelby, attended the picnic with their son, Quintin.

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Tameika Smith and her children Terrel, left, Brianna and Brandon enjoyed the picnic from the backseat of their car.

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recovers have accumulated, and the costs of the special formula he needs to consume is costly, as well.

Consuming eight bags a day, with a price tag of $25 a bag, Vince Byrd’s fight to survive does not come cheap. The Byrds have watched their savings quickly deplete, and insurance does not cover the living expenses or the formula Vince Byrd needs to recover without becoming malnourished again.

Jamie Byrd has appealed her insurance company’s decision to refuse to cover the living and food expenses.

Contact Gabby Baquero at gbaquero@orangeobserver.com.

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guy — the type you definitely want on your side in a game of tug-of-war and the type one can easily envision heroically saving people from burning buildings.

And that’s exactly what Byrd does.

“He’s the 6-foot-2, 250-pound firefighter,” said Michelle Grogan, a detective for the Ocoee Police Department and family friend.

“He’s the epitome of health and strength.”

A firefighter since 1981, Byrd has lived in Central Florida all his life. He graduated from Apopka High School in 1979, earned an associate’s degree from Valencia College and became a firefighter for the Apopka Fire Department shortly after. He eventually landed at the Ocoee Fire Department, where he was promoted to fire engineer in 2005 and climbed the ranks to lieutenant by 2010.

Despite the perils in his career, Byrd remained dedicated to it, and given his history of health, some might argue he is built for it.

Given that history, the day Byrd came home from work complaining of back pain was an alarming anomoly. Stranger still was when he turned to his wife and asked her to take him to the hospital.

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after a week of care, but five days later, the pain returned.

The main treatment for a pancreatic attack is abstaining from eating solid foods and bowel rest.

However, the treatment adversely affected Byrd because he did it too long and did not get enough nutrition. Byrd was transferred to UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville in the middle of the night.

Because Byrd became so malnourished, he had an unattended fall that caused more damage. The result was an emergency surgery.

He had to have his gallbladder, spleen and more than two-thirds of his pancreas removed.

“I was basically told to make arrangements because I would become a widow before I was 50,” said retired Ocoee police officer Jamie Byrd, Vince Byrd’s wife.

There’s been a lot of up and downs since the surgery, but Vince Byrd is a little more stable now. He’s lost 30 pounds and still cannot eat solids, but he was released from the hospital Aug. 2.

He currently has five abdominal drains and needs to have a constant feeding tube.

He must still remain close to the facility to be routinely checked up on by nurses, so the Byrds are currently living 90 minutes from their home in Groveland.

Medical bills are not much of a problem for the Byrds — their insurance covers most of it. But the expenses of renting a place in Gainesville while Vince Byrd

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Clarice Seidner, beloved wife of Windermere Union Church Pastor Emeritus Roger Seidner and mother to Martha, David and Dwight Seidner, passed away Aug. 18, 2016. Clarice and Roger celebrated 64 years of marriage on June 28, 2016.

Clarice was born to parents JOYCE FAYE GRIFFIN, 66, of Winter Garden, died Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016. Robert Bryant Funeral and Cremation Chapel, Orlando.

KENNETH MICHAEL KELLY, 68, of Windermere, died Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Woodlawn Memorial Park & Funeral Home, Gotha.

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who were part of a pioneer family that settled in Orlando and had Native-American heritage.

She grew up active in 4-H Club and graduated from Ocoee Senior High and Florida State with a degree in elementary education and sociology. She was on the faculty of several local schools.

The Seidners will be holding a small, private memorial service.

DELLA MAE POSTELL, 73, of Winter Garden, died Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. Marvin C. Zanders Funeral Home, Apopka.

LORRAINE THERESA PRINGLE, 86, of Winter Garden, died Monday, Aug. 22, 2016. Becker Funeral Home, Clermont.

PETER STARK, 69, of Winter Garden, died Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. Baldwin Brothers, Orlando.

DIANA L. “BIRDYSHAW” WALDROP, 66, of Ocoee, died Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. Winter Oak Funeral Home & Cremations, Winter Garden.

MARJORIE O. YEATON, 88, of Windermere, died Sunday, Aug. 25, 2016. DeGusipe Funeral Home, Maitland.

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The American Legion Post 63 in Winter Garden recognized firefighter/paramedic Arthur Vogler as Firefighter of the Year 2016.

Vogler is a paramedic preceptor for the Winter Garden Fire Rescue Department and has trained many of the personnel there. He has been accepted at the University of Florida’s fire science and EMS degree program. He is noted by his superiors and peers as always performing at his maximum level in the execution of his duties.

Vista Toastmasters held its annual Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contest on Aug. 11.

Trophies were awarded to first and second place. Club President Randall Labranche and contest chief judge Robert Burns presented trophies to first-place winner Susan Williams and second-place winner Edwin Mercado.

First-place winners will compete in the Area 52 regional competition Saturday, Sept. 24, at the Southwest Library at Dr. Phillips in Orlando.

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HIGH

FINISHING THE RACE

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SouthWest Stars swimmer Elizabeth Cottle broke the team record in the 100-meter fly with a time of 1:04.46. Page 16

5

1

Winter Garden Little League will host a “Flick on the Field” movie night Sept. 10. The showing of “The Sandlot” will begin at 7 p.m., with guests invited to come as early as 6 p.m. Admission can be covered by the donation of one nonperishable item of food, all of which will be donated to Matthews Hope.

2

The West Orange softball team that won the 2016 FHSAA Class 9A State Championship was presented with its championship rings ahead of the Warriors’ football game against Foundation Academy Aug. 26.

Novlene Williams-Mills, a Winter Garden resident, just returned from her fourth and final Olympics.

DANIELLE HENDRIX STAFF WRITER

A

fter medaling in her fourth and final

Olympic Games for the Jamaican team, Winter Garden resident Novlene

3

The Foundation Academy volleyball team is off to a 3-1 start. Lauren Miller had nine kills and five digs in a 3-0 victory for the Lions against Orlando Christian Prep Aug. 25.

4

West Orange boys golf defeated Lake Minneola Aug. 25, 156-173. Grant Drogosch shot a 37 to lead the way for the Warriors (2-0).

5

The West Orange girls golf team topped rival Dr. Phillips Aug. 25, 156-176.

Michelle Bagsic shot a 38 to lead the Warriors on the day.

Williams-Mills described the experience in one word: emotional.

Growing up in Jamaica as one of nine children, Williams-Mills originally started off playing netball.

But then a friend of hers told their physical education coach that she was Danielle Hendrix

Novlene Williams-Mills, a seven-year Winter Garden resident, recently helped Team Jamaica bring home silver in the women’s 4x400 meter relay event at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.

also a great runner.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

Olympia alum named Broncos starting QB On Aug. 29, 2010 Olympia High graduateTrevor Siemian was named the starting quarterback for the defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos.

Siemian, in his second year in the NFL after graduating from Northwestern University, beat out veteran quarterback Mark Sanchez for the job after Peyton Manning, the Broncos’ quarterback in 2015-16, retired following Denver’s Super Bowl victory.

For more, visit Observer Preps.com.

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SPORTS SPOTLIGHT

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

SPONSORED BY MARK’S FLOORS

Elizabeth Cottle Elizabeth Cottle, a sophomore swimmer at West Orange High who also competes for the SouthWest Stars, recorded the best times of her career at the USA Swimming Futures Championships in Atlanta. On Aug. 5, Cottle broke the Stars’ record in the 100-meter fly with a time of 1:04.46, in addition to recording 100% best times.

You did well at the USA Swimming Futures Championships in Atlanta last month, even breaking a team record for the SouthWest Stars in the 100-meter fly. What was that like?

It was pretty cool, because the time to beat was really fast, and it was a goal of mine to break the record. I think I broke it by a half-second, and it was my best time.

Leading up to the meet, what had you been working on from a technical standpoint?

It was a goal for me to do more fly sets this year so that I can improve my 100-meter fly. Doing more fly sets during practice and bringing more intensity, it helped me to get the time that I wanted to get.

THE BASICS

AGE: 15 SCHOOL: West Orange YEAR: Sophomore HEIGHT: 5-foot-1 BEST EVENTS: 100-meter fly, 50-meter free and 100-meter free

You jumped right into the varsity swimming season. Is there a difference between competing in high-school swimming and club?

It’s very different. High school is more fast-paced swimming, instead of more yardage like here (for SouthWest). I’m more of a sprinter in high-school season. I do more endurance swimming (for SouthWest).

What elements do you like the most about each?

High-school swimming is really fun and the atmosphere is really good. At SouthWest, everyone is really fast, and it’s really good for me to compete against them during practice to help me get faster.

With the Summer Olympics recently concluded, is there a particular swimmer who you cheered on while watching?

Michael Phelps because this was his last Olympics, we’re all thinking. It was just cool to see him get a bunch of gold medals again.

Does watching the Olympics inspire you?

Yes, very much. I look up to all those swimmers who swim so fast, and it makes me want to swim faster in practice.

Do you have any other hobbies that take up your time?

I like to do acrobatics — backflips and stuff like that in my backyard.

I can do a roundoffback-hand-springback-flip.

If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?

I would probably be a cheetah because they’re so fast. They’re cool.

Knights football upgrades Photos by Steven Ryzewski

The Ocoee High football program has relocated the home stands at its stadium 30 feet closer to the action.

Ocoee has added new black Nike home jerseys to its rotation of uniforms, along with upgrades to its stadium and practice field for this season.

STEVEN RYZEWSKI SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

Last fall, the Ocoee Knights were an improved product on the field — jumping to six wins in 2015 from two wins in 2014.

This fall, the program is hoping to continue that trend, with some new upgrades to complement it. Ocoee has introduced new black jerseys for home games and new decals for its helmets. It also has installed a new playing surface for its practice field and moved the home bleachers about 30 feet closer to the action.

Within the next week, the Knights scoreboard is scheduled to be moved back from directly behind the goalposts of the south end zone.

Of all the upgrades, though, there is one that stands out above the rest to the players.

“By far, the black jerseys; they look really nice,” said senior B.J. Bohler of the Nike tops. “Not

OCOEE

KNIGHTS SHOW MILITARY APPRECIATION The Ocoee Knights homeopener against Lake Nona at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2, will be the program’s Military Appreciation Night. Active duty and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces will be recognized during the game and any current or former servicepersons with valid military I.D. will be admitted for free.

saying that a jersey makes me play better or play different.

But I play with more style, more swagger — like Deion Sanders said.”

New threads for uniforms are a popular theme around Central Florida, and athletic directors such as Ocoee’s Steve McHale recognize that, although it may seem silly to some, there is value in keeping players looking good and excited about new uniforms.

“It just helps drive the pride,” McHale said. “I’m not a big name-brand person, but I remember as kid when you got that varsity uniform, it felt like gold.”

For fans on game days in Ocoee, another of the upgrades may prove to be the most substantive: the moving of the bleachers. Previously, the Knights’ home bleachers at the stadium — also used for soccer, lacrosse and flag football — were far removed from the action with a large buffer between them and the action.

In the offseason, McHale and football coach Ben Bullock elected to move them about 30 feet, with the effect being noticeable during the Knights’ preseason game Aug. 19.

“I’m excited about the bleachers being moved up,” senior David Span said. “That makes the fans closer to the field and helps them get more involved in the game.”

The scoreboard’s new home will be the final upgrade this year. Currently, the Knights’ scoreboard is too close to the south end zone goal posts and often is struck by balls.

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Senior David Span sports the Knights’ new black home jersey.

Away from the game action, the school also resurfaced its practice field for football, soccer and lacrosse to be the same style of playing surface as the game field. In addition to encouraging those programs to practice on it more often, thus reducing wear and tear on the actual game field, McHale said the idea was also to create some continuity and protect the players.

“They’re practicing on the same kind of field they’re going to be playing on, so it transfers over to the game field,” McHale said, noting that the previous playing surface of the practice field was more likely to produce rolled ankles.

Ocoee’s helmets, which are white, were given new decals this fall, also. The word “Ocoee” is now in black lettering along the side of the helmet and a new customized “Knight” decal runs down the center where a stripe would normally be.

In total, the various upgrades are a welcome sign to the players that the school and the community are behind them.

“It’s nice to be invested in,” Span said. “It makes us feel more supported — it really does.”

Contact Steven Ryzewski at sryzewski@orangeobserver.com.

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WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

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REWIND:

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

17

Warriors getting young players up to speed

CHALK TALK

Some notes from the Week One action: n Quarterback Austin Burton didn’t take long to record his first regular-season touchdown as a West Orange Warrior. Burton, who threw for a total of three touchdowns, connected on a 73-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Kyveon Jones on the second play from scrimmage.

WEEK ONE RESULTS

n Foundation Academy’s Evan Thompson had a standout day on the defensive side of the ball for the Lions against the Warriors. Thompson totaled 10 tackles on the day, including seven solo. n Dylan Clinger made what may have been the play of the game for the Legacy Charter Eagles’ 7-6 victory over First Academy-Leesburg when he sprinted across the field to make an interception on a deep pass attempt.

Scores from Week One football games played Aug. 26 (home teams on bottom):

Photos by Michael Eng

The West Orange defense features many young players who are in need of more game experience to improve.

Nate Marrero

The Ocoee Knights struggled against Apopka in Week One.

WEEK TWO PREVIEW

n During the offensive onslaught from the Apopka Blue Darters, Ocoee got on the scoreboard and avoided a shutout thanks to a 10-yard touchdown pass from Jake Novello to Keyshawn Goins in the second quarter.

E

ven though the West Orange Warriors haven’t tempered their expectations for 2016, there is a reality for coach Bob Head’s staff that its young players who did not play much in 2015 — particularly on the defensive side of the ball — are going to need plenty of reps to get up to speed.

During a 36-3 victory over Foundation Academy to open the regular season, Head feels like some of those young players took a step forward.

“We’re growing; we’re a young team,” Head said. “Tyler Jones, (who) got the interception and ran it back, he’s a ninth-grader.

We’ve got babies out there, (and) we never had to deal with this before, because we had a seniorheavy team the past two years.”

With that in mind, Head shrugged off concerns that the Warriors’ victory over the smaller-classification Lions was not always pretty.

“We’re gonna take some growing pains,” Head said. “We’re gonna win games 36-3, instead of 50 to nothing like last year. So, for me, I just want us to continue to grow and get better each week

Ocoee 7, Apopka 62

— and stay healthy, that’s the main thing.”

Legacy Charter 7, FA-Leesburg 6

LIONS LEARN FROM 8A TUSSLE

There was a point during this past Friday’s “Battle of Winter Garden” where the significantly outsized Foundation Academy Lions (0-1) found themselves down just 15-0 and knocking on the door of the end zone, to possibly build some momentum and make a game of their clash with the Class 8A-powerhouse West Orange Warriors.

A turnover effectively ended those hopes, and that lesson is one of several head coach Brad Lord hopes his Class 2A program takes from the Week One defeat.

“You can’t make mistakes when you’re playing against a powerhouse like (West Orange),” Lord said.

Even though the Lions were soundly defeated in the second playing of the inter-city rivalry, Lord said there is plenty of value in his program playing the program that is essentially a Goliath-next-door.

“I think in October, it’s gonna show its value — I think you’ll

Foundation Academy 3, West Orange 36

OBSERVERPREPS.COM Wekiva 7, Dr. Phillips 28 Taravella 20, Evans 34 at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Windermere Prep 55, Boca Raton Christian 7 Austin Burton tossed three touchdowns against Foundation.

West Oaks 0, The First Academy 37

see a different team than you saw tonight, especially mistake and penalty-wise,” Lord said afterward. “I know my kids, their heads aren’t down. They’ll bounce back, they’re going to be ready for (The First Academy).”

Editor’s note: Contributing writer Jean Racine contributed to this story.

Olympia 12, Seminole 42 Freedom 27, Winter Springs 34 (2 OT) CFCA 12, OCP 40

— STEVEN RYZEWSKI

Lions ready for showdown with the Royals THE FIRST ACADEMY (1-0) AT FOUNDATION ACADEMY (0-1), 7 P.M. QUICK HIT: Considering its tradition and history, The First Academy is a program that — in many ways — Foundation Academy would do well to emulate.

On Friday, though, the Lions will try to make the statement that they’re the better team this fall after a 28-14 loss to the Royals in 2015.

After facing a pass-heavy attack from West Orange in Week One, Foundation will instead have to contend with the ground-heavy attack of The First Academy’s Chance Bush and Greg Fields.

“We are going to be ready for TFA,” Lions coach Brad Lord said. “We got something for them next week.”

WINTER PARK (0-1) AT WEST ORANGE (1-0), 7 P.M. QUICK HIT: Although the Warriors soundly defeated the Wildcats in 2015, 42-14, no one on the West Orange sideline will be taking Winter Park lightly this time. The Wildcats are expected to be one of the area’s better teams and narrowly was defeated by an improved Lake Nona team in Week One, 27-26.

This will be an important early-season test for an inexperienced West Orange defense against a quality Class 8Aopponent.

This game was originally supposed to be played at Showalter Field in Winter Park, but the ongoing installation of a turf field forced it to be relocated to Winter Garden.

LAKE NONA (1-0) AT OCOEE (0-1), 7 P.M. QUICK HIT: Here’s hoping the Knights can have short memories after a sound defeat in Week One. Ocoee defeated Lake Nona 20-7 in 2015 — the first of six wins for the Knights in coach Ben Bullock’s debut season — but no one is taking Friday’s game for granted. After a down year in 2015, the Lions are expected to be a much-improved team this fall and hinted at as much in an exciting 27-26 win over Winter Park to open the season.

Coming out of last week’s beating, Ocoee will have to focus on not giving up big plays early against Lake Nona, as the Knights were down big to Apopka before some fans had made it to their seats.

LEGACY CHARTER (1-0) AT LAKE MARY PREP (0-1), 7 P.M. QUICK HIT: Although the Eagles scored a victory in their opener last week, the offensive output for Legacy wasn’t exactly something to write home about. Luckily, the Eagles’ opponent this week had a similar issue — Lake Mary Prep was shutout in a 38-0 loss to Jacksonville’s North Florida Educational Institute.

Look for the Eagles, who have scored just one touchdown apiece in their Kickoff Classic and Week One victory, to try to get going earlier on offense this week.

CFCA — BYE QUICK HIT: The Eagles (0-1) were defeated by rival Orlando Christian Prep in the opener and have an opportunity to improve before they return Sept.

9 at home against The First Academy.

OBSERVERPREPS.COM Lake Mary (0-1) at Dr. Phillips (1-0), 7 p.m.

East River (1-0) at Olympia (01), 7 p.m.

Windermere Prep (1-0) at Village Schools - Houston (1-0), 7 p.m. Central Time Apopka (1-0) at Edgewater (01), 7 p.m.

Wekiva (0-1) at Boone (0-1), 7 p.m.

Evans (1-0) at University (0-1), 7 p.m.

Freedom (0-1) at South Sumter (1-0), 7 p.m.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

“He invited me to the track team, and from then on the next year I joined,” Williams-Mills said. “I was still playing netball but it was too much trying to do both at the school, so I ended up choosing track and that led me here.”

When she was 18, she left Jamaica to study at Essex County College in New Jersey before ending up at the University of Florida, where she trained under the guidance of Tom Jones on the Gators’ track-and-field team. She graduated in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in recreation, parks and tourism.

Now a seven-year Winter Garden resident and full-time athlete, Williams-Mills recently returned from three weeks in Rio de Janeiro, a silver medal in tow.

She and her three teammates placed second behind the United States in the women’s 4x400 meter relay with a time of 3:20.34.

The team was compiled at the June Olympic Trials in Kingston, Jamaica, bringing together four women who normally compete against each other.

“When we have the trials, more than likely most of those girls are competing with you at some point in the season, so we always would run against each other,” Williams-Mills said. “One thing for sure is when we put a relay team together, we come together as a team. It’s not about me, it’s not about that person — it’s about Jamaica’s 4x4 team.”

A seasoned Olympian, Williams-Mills knew the team’s success at the games would come down to execution. But it still was bittersweet knowing it was her final time competing in the Olympics. After representing her home country in Athens, Beijing and London previously, experiencing it all for the last time in Rio de Janeiro was special because of the journey to get there.

In 2012, she had been diagnosed with breast cancer just a month or two before the Olympics. However, she still ran the race and helped Jamaica win a bronze medal.

“To four years later get back to the athlete that I know I am and to be able to close that chapter of my career and be like, ‘This is my last Olympics; this is it,’ for me it means so much,” she said. “I look

“A lot of people don’t even get the chance to say ‘I’m an Olympian’ or even get the chance to be at four Olympics, so for me I am blessed beyond measures that I can even think of.”

— Novlene Williams-Mills

at life, and I’m like, ‘I get a second chance to do what I love to do.’ A lot of people don’t get that second chance. So, for me, that was the second chance — something where four years ago I was thinking about cancer. Now I can think about just focusing on the race and enjoying the moment.”

Going into the 4x400 finals, Williams-Mills knew based on how her team had been running that it would be a close battle between Jamaica and the U.S. Although the U.S. edged out its sixth-consecutive victory in the event, one lesson she has learned throughout her career is that it’s always about being thankful for the experience and humble in the moment.

“So many people enter the games, and not everybody can walk away with a medal,” she said. “At the end of the day, walking away with a medal is always a humbling experience for me.”

Back home in Jamaica and here in Winter Garden, her family and her husband are always cheering her on, even if they couldn’t be in Rio themselves. Williams-Mills said her family is always happy and thankful for her accomplishments.

“A lot of people don’t even get the chance to say, ‘I’m an Olympian,’ or even get the chance to be at four Olympics, so for me I am blessed beyond measures that I can even think of,” she said.

“Most people get one chance; I got four, and for that I’m eternally grateful.”

Contact Danielle Hendrix at dhendrix@orangeobserver.com.

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19

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

SUNRISE / SUNSET

THURSDAY, SEPT. 1 High: 83 Low: 77 Chance of rain: 80%

FRIDAY, SEPT. 2 High: 86 Low: 75 Chance of rain: 80%

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Sept. 1

7:05a

7:48p

Friday, Sept. 2

7:05a

7:47p

Saturday, Sept. 3

7:05a

7:46p

Sunday, Sept. 4

7:06a

7:45p

Monday, Sept. 5

7:06a

7:44p

Tuesday, Sept. 6

7:07a

7:42p

Wednesday, Sept. 7

7:07a

7:41p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, SEPT. 3 Sept. 16 Full

High: 86 Low: 74 Chance of rain: 60%

SUNDAY, SEPT. 4

The West Orange Times & Observer is hosting this weekly contest, and winners will have their photograph featured and receive a $20 prize. To enter, email your photo, along with your name, city and a caption, to aqrhode@orangeobserver.com; put “I Love West Orange” in the subject line. Please include your mailing address to receive your prize.

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Winter Garden resident Rita Barnum submitted this photo of great blue heron in reeds at Newton Park, Lake Apopka.

Sept. 23 Last

QUITE THE UNDERTAKING by Timothy E. Parker 110 Keeps for a rainy day 111 Etc.’s cousin 112 Trade talk 113 Sailing the bounding main 114 Undo, as writing 115 Kind of traffic, informally 116 Minimal complaints 117 Response to “Shall we?”

118 Seasons, as soup 119 “I ___ to recall ...”

DOWN

1 Till contents 2 Ship deck 3 Unfriendly look 4 Boot reinforcements 5 Weightlifting sounds 6 Surgical knife 7 On a single occasion 8 One of TV’s Cartwrights 9 Make striking sentences?

10 Scornful dismissals 11 Fibbers 12 Notions holder 13 Surround with trouble 14 Like a cell window 15 Wanted-poster datum 16 Indonesian resort island ©2016 Universal Uclick 17 Air heroes 32 Dazzles 55 Pungent veggie 86 Restless craving ACROSS 18 Type of terrier 1 Part of a profit calcula- 33 Some jungle creatures 56 Be part of the picture 87 Creative thought 28 Parts of molecules 34 Military base 57 Fancy wrap 88 Look at amorously tion 29 Partial statue 35 Is mistaken 58 Brown alternative 89 Cook’s cover-up 5 Be a bad winner 30 Disburse 36 Got up in years 59 Do a math task 91 Part of an email ad10 USMA newcomer 35 Listening devices 37 Do a landscaping 60 Under-taking quip dress 14 Rum-soaked cakes 36 Site of the 2004 Sum(Part 2) 92 Lost traction 19 Big name in the oil biz chore mer Olympics 40 Writer’s cramp, e.g.

69 Be remorseful about 93 Long-running Broad20 Travis or Quaid 37 Epiphany threesome 43 Stand at the banquet 70 Word in a sale price way musical 21 Locale 38 Butter replacement 44 Leave flabbergasted 71 Dangerous for driving 94 San Antonio hoopster 22 Alas’s partner 39 Like bald tires 45 Overhead circle of 72 “Caught in the act!”

96 Body powder 23 ___ gin fizz 40 Relative of a weasel light 73 Violin bow coating 97 Top rating 24 Remove a tube’s top 41 Deprive of rain 46 Road goop 76 Some spa applications 98 Accountants’ activities 25 Pull forcefully 42 Sharp-crested ridge 101 Under-taking quip 26 One with a life of ease? 47 Certain extinct feline 77 Leisurely stroll 43 Bear’s abode 52 Refinable rock 80 Acquired (Part 3) 27 Under-taking quip 44 Dictation whiz 53 Like a heavy fog 81 They put people to 10 Unhealthy emission (Part 1) 45 Believer in karma 54 Kind of group or sleep 109 “Contendere” 31 Nebraskan’s river 48 Brick dried in the sun pressure 85 Prior to, in old times preceder

49 Steady guy 50 Oil moguls’ org.

51 “Hot” winter drink 57 Main impact of an attack 58 ___ one’s trade (work) 59 Sporty scarf 61 “When ___ Eyes Are Smiling” 62 Lit a fire under, so to speak 63 Home of the Taj Mahal 64 “And another thing ...”

65 Evens a score 66 Like beavers, it’s said 67 Complete (var.)

68 Like some breakfast cereals 73 Catastrophe for a bookie 74 Word after “catch” or “hang” 75 Split-off group 76 Having curative properties 77 Female rhyme masters 78 Distinct periods of history 79 Title for Galahad 82 Joggers’ challenges 83 Plain, in Spain 84 Iraqi neighbor 90 Some hedge shrubs 92 New Orleans squad 93 Wintertime quaffs 94 Least perilous 95 They’re checked for signs of life 96 Scouts’ unit 97 Shoelace end 99 Church’s tenth 100 Type of drum 101 Spider’s web, e.g.

102 Fabled race loser 103 Cutting side of a blade 104 Eyeglasses support 105 “GWTW” plantation 106 Model train layout, often 107 Feeling blue

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SUDOKU

Solve the puzzle by placing the numbers 1 Sept 1 (Easy, difficulty rating 0.30) through 9 in each row, column and box.

2

6 4 3

1

7 7 1

3

5

9

7

8

8

9 1

6

5

5

1

4 5

7

6 1

9

8 7

2

6 3 09-01-16

Sept 1 (Easy, difficulty rating 0.30)

9 2 6 4 3 5

8 7

3 1

2 4 6

7

5

8 9 7

8 4 2 6 1

2 7

1

3 5

3 5

1 9

4 9 6 8

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WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

REAL ESTATE

Keene’s Pointe estate sells for $3.075M one-half baths and 1,974 square feet. The price per square foot is $111.45.

MICHAEL ENG EXECUTIVE EDITOR

A

home in the Keene’s Pointe community topped all West Orange-area residential real-estate transactions from Aug. 12 to 18.

The home at 6101 Grosvenor Shore Drive, Windermere, sold Aug. 15, for $3.075 million.

Built in 2010, it has five bedrooms, fiveand-one-half baths, a pool and 6,947 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $442.64.

SNAPSHOT Total Sales: 71 High Sale Price: $3.075 million Low Sale Price: $50,000 REO/Bank Owned: Five

ORCHARD HILLS

The home at 14549 Sabal Crest Way, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 18, for $376,310. Built in 2016, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,987 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $125.98.

redfin.com

This Keene’s Pointe home, at 6101 Grosvenor Shore Drive, Windermere, sold Aug. 15, for $3.075 million. This estate sits on 1.37 lakefront acres.

HORIZON WEST

INDEPENDENCE/ SIGNATURE LAKES

The home at 14805 Old Thicket Terrace, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 12, for $320,000. Built in 2006, it has five bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths, a pool and 3,160 square feet. The price per square foot is $101.27.

The home at 6723 Pasturelands Place, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 15, for $287,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,700 square feet. The price per square foot is $106.30.

The home at 15624 Expedition St., Winter Garden, sold Aug. 16, for $269,000. Built in 2012, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 2,364 square feet. The price per square foot is $113.79.

The home at 14565 Old Thicket Terrace, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 18, for $251,000. Built in 2008, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,812 square feet.

The price per square foot is $138.52.

The home at 14320 Pleach St., Winter Garden, sold Aug. 12, for $240,000. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,863 square feet. The price per square foot is $128.82.

LAKE REAMS TOWNHOMES

The town house at 12465 Cruxbury Drive, Windermere, sold Aug. 12, for $191,900. Built in 2005, it has two bedrooms, twoand-one-half baths and 1,429 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $134.29.

LAKES OF WINDERMERE

The home at 6939 Northwick Drive, Windermere, sold Aug. 12, for $368,000. Built in 2006, it has five bedrooms, threeand-one-half baths and 3,974 square feet. The price per square foot is $92.60.

MABEL BRIDGE

The home at 11867 Verrazano Drive, Orlando, sold Aug. 18, for $315,000. Built in 2012, it has four bedrooms, three-andone-half baths and 2,625 square feet. The price per square foot is $120.

OASIS COVE I

The town house at 8133 Enchantment Drive, No. 307, Windermere, sold Aug. 15, for $220,000. Built in 2010, it has three bedrooms, two-and-

The home at 14353 Magnolia Ridge Loop, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 16, for $375,000. Built in 2015, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,870 square feet of living area.

The price per square foot is $130.66.

SUMMERPORT

The home at 4155 Blue Major Drive, Windermere, sold Aug. 17, for $345,000. Built in 2014, it has four bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 2,840 square feet. The price per square foot is $121.48.

The home at 4755 Blue Major Drive, Windermere, sold Aug. 17, for $285,000. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,411 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $118.21.

WATERMARK

The home at 9222 Woodcrane Drive, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 12, for $374,677. Built in 2016, it has four bedrooms, three-andone-half baths and 2,924 square feet. The price per square foot is $128.14.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

So local, it feels like your garage!

FULLERS CROSSING

The home at 1008 Woodson Hammock Circle, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 12, for $275,000.

Built in 2002, it has five bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,545 square feet. The price per square foot is $108.06.

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OVERSTREET CRATE

The home at 11906 Perspective Drive, Windermere, sold Aug. 16, for $409,000. Built in 2016, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 3,629 square feet. The price per square foot is $112.70.

The home at 11710 Gray Rock Trail, Windermere, sold Aug. 16, for $374,405. Built in 2016, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,575 square feet. The price per square foot is $145.40.

OCOEE

CRESENTLAKE

The home at 598 Saddell Bay Loop, Ocoee, sold Aug. 18, for $248,000. Built in 1996, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,861 square feet. The price per square foot is $133.26.

FORESTBROOKE

The home at 3158 Farland Drive, Ocoee, sold Aug. 5, for $310,000. Built in 2005, it has five bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,412 square feet. The price per square foot is $90.86.

PRIMA VISTA

The home at 609 Aldama Court, Ocoee, sold Aug. 12, for $205,000. Built in 1974, it has four bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,615 square feet. The price per square foot is $126.93.

REMINGTON OAKS

The home at 2217 Grand Poplar St., Ocoee, sold Aug. 17, for $247,000 (REO/bank owned).

Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,521 square feet. The price per square foot is $97.98.

SAWMILL

The home at 5002 Log Wagon Road, Ocoee, sold Aug. 17, for $160,000. Built in 1990, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,246 square feet. The price per square foot is $128.41.

SLEEPY HARBOUR

VILLAGES OF WESMERE

The town house at 309 White Dogwood Lane, Ocoee, sold Aug. 15, for $259,000. Built in 2008, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,216 square feet. The price per square foot is $116.88.

The town house at 2182 Bent Grass Ave., Ocoee, sold Aug. 13, for $200,109 (REO/bank owned). Built in 2008, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,388 square feet. The price per square foot is $144.17.

WELLINGTON PLACE

The home at 1266 Stonewater Circle, Ocoee, sold Aug. 12, for $200,000 (REO/bank owned).

Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,818 square feet. The price per square foot is $70.97.

WESMERE

The home at 2290 Blackjack Oak St., Ocoee, sold Aug. 12, for $305,000. Built in 1997, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,528 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $120.65.

WESTYN BAY

The home at 312 Westyn Bay Blvd., Ocoee, sold Aug. 12, for $345,000. Built in 2011, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 3,442 square feet. The price per square foot is $100.23.

WINTER GARDEN

BRONSON’S LANDING

The home at 2107 Rickover Place, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 16, for $430,000. Built in 2007, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 3,766 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $114.18.

DANIELS LANDING

The town house at 13428 Daniels Landing Circle, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 15, for $147,500. Built in 2005, it has two bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,234 square feet of living area.

The price per square foot is $119.53.

407-654-3037 www.stoneybrookweststorage.com

STONEYBROOK WEST

The home at 14025 Eylewood Drive, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 15, for $383,000. Built in 2002, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 3,910 square feet. The price per square foot is $97.95.

stoneybrookwestss@cfl.rr.com

IN OCOEE

407-905-7898 www.maguireroadstorage.com

The home at 14838 Masthead Landing Circle, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 15, for $310,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths, a pool and 2,651 square feet. The price per square foot is $116.94.

maguireroadstorage@cfl.rr.com

The home at 1354 Priory Circle, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 18, for $204,000. Built in 2010, it has three bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 1,792 square feet. The price per square foot is $113.84.

SUNSET LAKES

The home at 13446 Sunset Lakes Circle, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 15, for $412,000.

Built in 1995, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,933 square feet. The price per square foot is $140.47.

TUCKER OAKS

The condo at 1343 Broken Oak Drive, No. 492, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 17, for $168,000. Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 1,544 square feet.

VERDE PARK

The home at 17951 Gourd Neck Loop, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 17, for $370,000. Built in 2015, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 3,098 square feet. The price per square foot is $119.43.

WESTFIELD LAKES

The home at 131 Blue Stone Circle, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 12, for $360,000. Built in 1997, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,348 square feet. The price per square foot is $153.32.

WINTER GARDEN

The home at 5534 Tiny Road, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 15, for $337,000. Built in 1975, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 3,600 square feet on 5.32 acres. The price per square foot is $93.61.

215207

The condo at 406 E. Orlando Ave., No. 18-B, Ocoee, sold Aug. 12, for $110,000. Built in 1974, it has two bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 977 square feet. The price per square foot is $112.59.

TEMPLE GROVE ESTATES

The home at 2606 Auld Scot Blvd., Ocoee, sold Aug. 15, for $209,798. Built in 1993, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,666 square feet. The price per square foot is $125.93.

You. Your Neighbors. Your Neighborhood.

TWIN LAKES MANOR

The home at 409 Little Spring Hill Drive, Ocoee, sold Aug. 16, for $89,500. Built in 1982, it has three bedrooms, one bath and 1,225 square feet. The price per

215194

WINDERMERE TRAILS

square foot is $73.06.

IN WINTER GARDEN

See more real estate transactions at OrangeObserver.com

The home at 9361 Tyrella Pine Trail, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 12, for $259,386. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,892 square feet. The price per square foot is $137.10.

The home at 816 Bethune Ave., Winter Garden, sold Aug. 12, for $50,000. Built in 1970, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,248 square feet. The price per square foot is $40.06.

ONLINE

coldwellbankerhomes.com

This Sunset Lakes home, at 13446 Sunset Lakes Circle, Winter Garden, sold Aug. 15, for $412,000. The split floorplan offers a master suite with connecting home office and bath.

21

ADVERTISE OR SUBSCRIBE TODAY! redfin.com

This Lakes home, at 10403 Down Lakeview Circle, Windermere, sold Aug. 17, for $492,000. This home is situated on one acre along the Butler Chain of Lakes.

Call us at 407-656-2121

Email us at AdvertiseNow@OrangeObserver.com or Subscribe@OrangeObserver.com

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8

Health Services

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Schools/Instruction

ASSISTANT SWIM Coach Montverde Academy seeks PT experienced assistant swim coach. This is a 100% on-deck position. Duties include training students aged 8-13 in technical skills with a focus on advanced skills, stroke technique, and preparing student-athletes through vigorous training, athletic development, and individual goal plans for success at the high school, regional, district, state and zone championship levels. Must become a registered coach and member of the USA Swimming Level I organization and have (or obtain) certification in CPR, water safety, and ASCA Level II certification within the first year of employment.

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6 3

This week’s Cryptoquiz answers 1) Colorado, 2) Boxing, 3) Aggressive 4) Mauler, 5) Long Count Jack Dempsey

Sept 1 (Easy, difficulty ratinganswers 0.30) This week’s Sudoku

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2 4 6

5

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3 5

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Help Wanted DRIVER TRAINEES Needed NOW! Become a driver for Werner Enterprises. Earn $800 per week!

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President CCC1325778

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

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2016

WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

|

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

CHURCH DIRECTORY

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 125 E Plant St., Winter Garden 407-656-2352 Sundays 8:30 am Traditional 9:45 am Bible Study 11:00 am Contemporary Awana - Wednesdays - 6pm Pastor Tim Grosshans www.fbcwg.org 2nd Campus: “FOUNDATION WORSHIP” Sundays 9:45 am - All Ages at Foundation Academy High School 15304 Tilden Road - Winter Garden www.FoundationWorship.com 407.730.1867 STARKE LAKE BAPTIST CHURCH 611 West. Ave., Ocoee Pastor Jeff Pritchard (407) 656-2351 Email: starkelakebaptist@gmail. com

CHURCH OF GOD

EPISCOPAL

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH 241 N. Main, Winter Garden Services: 8, 9:30, & 11am, 7pm www.churchofthemessiah.com CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION 4950 S. Apopka-Vineland Rd. Orlando Sun.Serv 8:30am, 10:30am, 6:30pm.

407-876-3480 www.ascension-orlando.org

METHODIST

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 125 N. Lakeview Ave Winter Garden Service Times 9:00 AM and 11:15 AM Phone – 407-656-1135 Web: fumcwg.org

Advertise your Services or Events on this page weekly.

This page appears weekly in the West Orange Times & Observer and online at wotimes.com.

WINDERMERE UNION CHURCH 10710 Park Ridge-Gotha Rd. Windermere, FL 34786 407-876-2112 Worship times: 9:00am Adult Sunday School 10:00am Worship www.windermereunion.org

To advertise in the Church Directory call 407-656-2121 or email sfelt@wotimes.com

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BAPTIST

NON-DENOMINATIONAL NEXT COMMUNITY CHURCH 13640 W. Colonial Dr., Ste 110, Winter Garden 407-654-9661 • Prayer 9:30AM, Fellowship 9:45AM, Service 10:05AM

MIKE YOAKUM PASTOR

P: 407.656.1520 C: 407.758.3570 MYOAKUM407@AOL.COM

OCOEE CHURCH OF GOD Pastor Thomas Odom 1105 N. Lakewood Avenue, Ocoee 407-656-8011

What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you - guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

- 2 Timothy 1:13-14 (NIV)

1333 EAST CROWN POINT RD. OCOEE, FL 34761

New Beginnings Start at Matthew’s Hope

NEW LOCATION • OPENING SOON for our Firm Foundation Preschool and Outreach Center 740 9th Street, Winter Garden 34787

NEW ADMINSTRATIVE OFFICES NOW OPEN • 523 S. Woodland, Winter Garden 34787 • 407.905.9500 • MatthewsHopeMinistries.org

PARAMEDICS • POLICE • FIREFIGHTERS • MILITARY • HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

We invite our local heroes to join us for a

Chicken Wings and Hamburger Cook-Out

Friday, September 9 • 11:00 am - 1:30 pm 402 Lakeview Road, Winter Garden, FL

For more information or directions, please call (407) 654-7217

ASSISTED LIVING AND MEMORY CARE

402 Lakeview Road in Winter Garden • (407) 654-7217 • www.goldenpondcommunities.com

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