Times WEST ORANGE
THURSDAY
SEPTEMBER 4, 2014
5O CENTS
WINTER GARDEN, FLORIDA
IN THIS ISSUE Ocoee rolls out red carpet for Central Florida Film Fest. PAGE 12A
SPORTS
INSIDE
Cody Beesley anchors Ocoee High Boys golf.
Johns Lake home tops Winter Garden, Oakland sales.
PAGE 1B
PAGES 6-7B
OUR TOWN governance by Peter M. Gordon | Contributing Writer + Times launches school fundraiser The West Orange Times has partnered with our area schools with our new Subscribe & Support program The West Orange Times is proud to lend a hand to our local schools through this program. For every subscription started through the form on our website, wotimes.com, the West Orange Times will donate $2.50 of the total subscription cost to the school of your choosing on the list. Once you have completed the form below, a West Orange Times representative will contact you to arrange payment. Annual subscriptions are $21.50 in Orange County and $35 outside of Orange County. To subscribe, visit wotimes.com/ school-fundraiser.
W.G. mayor removes man who refused to stand for the pledge The City Commission also approved spending $6 million of CRA funds to build a new parking garage downtown.
WINTER GARDEN — Mayor John Rees asked police to remove a man from the Aug. 28 City Commission meeting for refusing to stand during the Pledge of Allegiance. More than 50 people attended the meeting, which featured a budget workshop and what was expected to be a vote on the new downtown parking garage. The man, identified as Joseph Rich-
ardson, 51, has asked the city several times to change its invocation policy. Rees, as is customary, asked everyone to stand for the invocation. Richardson sat in the first row, looking at his cell phone. As Commissioner Bobby Olszewski started the prayer, Rees interrupted him and said not everyone was standing. Richardson said, “I don’t
When Richardson did not stand, again stating that he didn’t think it was a requirement, Rees asked Police Chief George Brennan to escort him out of the meeting until the pledge was finished. Brennan approached Richardson, who rose and left. Brennan said Richardson was offered the option to return to the meeting after the pledge, but he left the building instead. He was not arrested.
think I have to.” Rees said he could sit during the invocation but that Richardson would be expected to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. After the invocation, Rees said, “Now, sir, please stand while we do the pledge. You don’t have to say it, but please stand. It’s just not fair to our troops and people overseas, sir.”
SEE MAYOR / PAGE 4
NEW LEADERSHIP by Amy Quesinberry Rhode | Community Editor
Matthew Guernier, of Windermere, recently won first place in the Youth Division of the Orange Audubon Society’s 2014 Kit and Sidney Chertok Nature Photography Contest, with his photograph, titled, “Slither and Scales: Yellow Rat Snake.” He studied photography with instructor Katherine Norton while attending Bridgewater Middle School.
Got any unwanted Halloween costumes? Looking to swap scares with your neighbors? The West Oaks Branch Library is hosting its Halloween Costume Swap. Go green this Halloween and bring your old costumes and accessories for a costume swap. Adult, child and pet costumes and accessories can be dropped through Oct. 4, at the library, 1821 E. Silver Star Road, Ocoee. Costumes should be clean and in good condition. Any leftover items will be donated. For more, call (407) 8357323.
I
WO This week’s winner is
Sophia Fitzgibbon See her photo on PAGE 10B.
by Tony Judnich | Staff Writer
Tony Judnich
The 1887 Historic Windermere Schoolhouse is on the National Register of Historic Places.
New sign will share story of old school Windermere officials hope to secure a grant to help pay for a sign for the 1887 Historic Windermere Schoolhouse.
+ Student wins photo contest
+ Library hosts costume swap
MARKING THE WAY
WINDERMERE — When Town Council Member John Armstrong was growing up in the 1960s, his father’s former home — the oldest one-room schoolhouse in Orange County — was used as a rental house. But, the history of the small wooden building at 113 W. Seventh Ave., goes way back to the late 1800s.
SEE SCHOOL / 4 Amy Quesinberry Rhode
Patrice Phillips will manage West Orange Habitat from an office in Oakland. Behind her, a home is being constructed for the Pamela Fikes family on Bethune Avenue in Winter Garden.
FRESH FACE West Orange Habitat for Humanity recently announced Patrice Phillips as its new executive director. She comes ready to work.
WINTER GARDEN — Patrice Phillips sure can swing a hammer, and there’s a house in Pine Hills as proof of her handiwork. The new executive director of West Orange Habitat for Humanity was first introduced to the international, non-profit Christian housing ministry three years ago, when she served on Habitat’s Women Build Committee in Orlando. Earlier this year, she and a team of women helped construct a house through this annual endeavor. Not only did she tackle the nails with a hammer, but also, she grabbed a nail gun to get business done. “I challenged myself, because I’m terrified of
heights, and I got on the second floor and used a nail gun,” Phillips said. “That’s what Women Build does — it empowers you.” It is with this confidence that Phillips will operate West Orange Habitat for Humanity as the affiliate’s first executive director. The local chapter, one of 67 in the state, started in 1990 and had been run by a board of directors for 24 years. It recently created Phillips’ position, and she is the only paid professional staff member. Alberto Herran, president of West Orange Habitat, said when the board decided to hire an executive director, he knew immediately he wanted Phillips considered for
MEAL DEAL West Orange Habitat for Humanity will hold a fundraising breakfast from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22, at the Bella Room, 12100 W. Colonial Drive, Winter Garden. The keynote speaker is U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster. Guest speakers are Barbara Inman, chief executive officer for Florida’s 67 Habitat affiliates; Nicholas Shannin, the job. “She’s very involved with non-profits, and she was involved with Habitat for Humanity, so she had extensive experience working with Habitat,”
of The Shannin Law Firm; and Lee Goldberg, of GCI Realty. The breakfast is free, but those attending will be asked to make a financial donation. To host a table, call Patrice Phillips at (407) 952-5148.
safety first
by Tony Judnich | Staff Writer
Ocoee to consider fire department merger City commissioners will decide whether to combine the fire service with the county at their Sept. 16 meeting.
Herran said. “From my experience knowing her, she knew how to fundraise.” Prior to coming to West
Ocoee resident Hope Freeman told Ocoee city commissioners Aug. 27, about how city firefighters saved her daughter’s life after her daughter was kicked in the face by a horse. “I like the small-town atmosphere of Ocoee and how Ocoee looks out for Ocoee,” she said. Other residents also spoke highly of the city’s firefighters and their service. They shared their
SEE HABITAT / PAGE 4
SEE STATION / 5
INDEX Calendar.................................2A Crossword............................ 10B
Neighborhood.........................9A Obituaries.............................13A
Real Estate.............................6B Schools................................11A
Sports.....................................1B Vol. 81, No. 35 | Three sections Weather............................... 10B WOTimes.com