Times WEST ORANGE
WEST ORANGE COUNTY’S NEWSPAPER FOR 109 YEARS
THURSDAY
SEPTEMBER 18, 2014
5O CENTS
WINTER GARDEN, FLORIDA
INSIDE
SPORTS
EXCLUSIVE
Windermere Rotary relaxes at Hawaiian Lobster Luau.
Cross-country squads compete in toughest region in the state.
Gallery enters the third dimension for new art exhibit.
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OUR TOWN governance by Peter M. Gordon | Contributing Writer
SWEET SOUNDS
W.G. City Commission may reconsider moment of silence
+ O.C. clerk to speak in W.G. Orange County Clerk of Courts Eddie Fernández will host a Town Hall from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22, at Winter Garden City Hall, 300 W. Plant St. He will speak about the pending expansion of electronic access to public records, ways to do business with his office without driving downtown to the courthouse, passport and marriage license services, and other ways to interact efficiently with his office. “I am excited about visiting west Orange County and having an opportunity to speak with the residents about the services my office has to offer the community,” Fernández says. “I look forward to a lively discussion, an opportunity to answer questions, and to hearing feedback on what we’re doing well and how we might improve.’’
Commissioners asked City Attorney Kurt Ardaman to research other options to open city meetings. WINTER GARDEN — Less than one week after the Winter Garden City Commission replaced its invocation with a moment of silence, commissioners say they aren’t comfortable with that decision. The Winter Garden city commission convened on
September 11, 2014 for their first regularly scheduled meeting since voting to start each assemblage with a moment of silence. Nearly everyone in the crowd of about 40 people stood during the moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance. One attendee, T.J.
Travis, did not stand or take his hat off and left after the pledge. Joseph Richardson, whose refusal to stand during the Aug. 28 meeting led Mayor John Rees to ask Police Chief George Brennan to remove him, did not attend this meeting. Richardson’s
removal became national news and launched a storm of protests that ultimately led to commissioners officially changing their method of starting each meeting and officially recognizing spectators’ rights not to stand. Later in the meeting, Rees addressed the change. “We just went through a moment of silence for the
SEE SILENCE / PAGE 4A
SWEET VICTORY
+ FOHP to offer free tours The Friends of Ocoee History Preservation will offer free tours of the historic Withers-Maguire house from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, at 16 E. Oakland Ave., Ocoee. The tours will be held in conjunction with the Movie in the Park and Food Truck events, which will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 19, at Bill Breeze Park, 125 N. Lakeshore Drive.
I
WO This week’s winner is
Lorna Donaldson See her photo on PAGE 10B.
Angela Withers
Erik Sampson learned more about Nehrling Gardens during a visit in August.
Artist creates music from local bamboo Erik Sampson recently completed an album of music made from bamboo he collected from Nehrling Gardens.
+ Ocoee band to host fundraiser The Ocoee High School marching band will host its eighth annual Band Drive Wednesday, Sept. 24, through Friday, Sept. 25. During this year’s drive, marching band students will be going door-to-door to ask for donations to the program to help fund the band’s operating expenses. Donations are tax-deductible.
by Tony Judnich | Staff Writer
Steven Ryzewski
West Orange High School football fans were on their feet early and often during the Warriors’ incredible 42-20 victory Sept. 12 over powerhouse Oak Ridge. The Warriors are 3-0 this season. For more coverage, see Sports, 1B.
MONEY TALKS by Amy Q. Rhode | Community Editor
GOTHA — Dr. Henry Nehrling, the “patron saint of Florida gardens,” perhaps never imagined that some of the bamboo he planted long ago would one day produce beautiful music. But Erik Sampson, aka “Erik the Flutemaker,” is busy doing just that — while also paying homage to Nehrling and other pioneering horticulturists. And soon, he plans to release a new CD of bamboo-instrument music to honor Nehrling and benefit the non-profit Nehrling Gardens. The South Florida musician visited the gardens, 2267 Hempel Ave., Gotha, in August. Sampson fell in love with its stands of bamboo, including those that Neh-
SAMPSON / PAGE 6A
education by Amy Quesinberry Rhode | Community Editor
Oakland passes first West Orange Times, Just 1 Book round of $8.4M budget ready to run with Reading Reindeer Elected officials will host the final hearing for the Fiscal Year 2014-15 budget Sept. 23. OAKLAND — Elected officials passed the first reading of Oakland’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2014-15 at the Sept. 10 Town Commission meeting. The final hearing is Sept. 23, and, if nothing changes between now and then, the town will operate with a budget of $8,412,765 and maintain its millage rate of 6.75 mills for a fifth year in a row. Town Manager Dennis Foltz and Finance Director Becky Rotroff shared some of the new features in this budget: • a major emphasis on
upgrading its information technology “so staff may work smarter, more efficiently with less dependence on physical location and keeping the town’s databases secure.” • continued implementation of improved contact with citizens through coordinated and user-friendly websites of the town, Oakland Avenue Charter School and Oakland Nature Preserve. • a switch to Blue Cross Blue Shield with an HMO option as the base plan,
For $20, guests at the Sept. 29 kickoff can enjoy appetizers and wine and help the children’s literacy program, now in its 17th year. suitable for children from infancy through middle school, as well. There will be a silent auction, and the Times still is looking for donations of items or services from local business or individuals. To donate, call Sarah Zhou, (407) 496-4670. Orlando author Ethan Long will read from his children’s books and demonstrate his illustrating techniques. He is an award-winning book author and illustrator with more
SEE OAKLAND / PAGE 6A
The West Orange Times and Just 1 Book are hosting the Focus on Literacy event to kick off the community newspaper’s Reading Reindeer program. The event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29, at alFresco, 146 W. Plant St., Winter Garden, and the $20 tickets include wine and appetizers. Tickets are available at the Times office, 720 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden, and $10 of each ticket sold goes directly to the Reading Reindeer program. Attendees are invited to bring a new book
Neighborhood.........................7A Obituaries.............................15A
Real Estate.............................6B Schools................................12A
Sports.....................................1B Vol. 81, No. 37 | Three sections Weather............................... 10B WOTimes.com
SEE REINDEER / PAGE 6A
INDEX Calendar.................................2A Crossword............................ 10B