WINDERMERE
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. FREE
VOLUME 3, NO. 2
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2017
Dressed for sweet success The Sugar Art Fashion Show benefits Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. PAGE 11.
FLASHBACK Olszewski wins Florida House District 44 seat
Ford’s Garage parks newest restaurant in Hamlin
The former Winter Garden commissioner replaces Eric Eisnaugle in Tallahassee.
Burger-and-beer joint Ford’s Garage is the next named tenant coming to the Hamlin community.
GABBY BAQUERO AND BRITTANY GAINES
Nearly a year after he finished his term as a Winter Garden city commissioner, Robert “Bobby” Olszewski has a new seat in government — Florida House District 44 representative. Olszewski, a Republican, defeated Democrat Eduardo Dominguez in a special general election Tuesday, Oct. 10. Olszewski garnered 55.66% (6,936) of the vote, compared to Dominguez’s 44.34% (5,525).
DANIELLE HENDRIX
ORANGE COUNTY
STAFF WRITER HORIZON WEST When you think of Ford’s Garage — the newest restaurant slated to join the Hamlin community — imagine a burger-and-beer joint combined with a 1920s service-station ambiance. Think of vintage Ford Model A’s and Model T’s in and around the restaurant, a penny wall by the bar and an overall atmosphere catered to the ultimate Ford fan.
SEE BOBBY PAGE 4
YOUR TOWN CONGRATS, SEMIFINALISTS! Orange County Public Schools is celebrating 35 seniors chosen as semifinalists for the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program. Eight of these students attend West Orange County schools: Graham Jordan, Alexander Koller and Cassidy Nordmann, of Dr. Phillips High; Fernando Alvarez, Garrett Fullerton, Megan Galeski and Soo Min Kim, of Olympia High; and Sarah Tatum, of West Orange High.
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Postal Customer
Danielle Hendrix
State Farm insurance agent Shannon Till, one of the Windermere High School Legacy Fund’s top sponsors, dressed as Richard Simmons and posed with Jane Dunkelberger for a photo at the school’s Totally Awesome ’80s Night last weekend. For more photos, see page 12.
SEE FORD’S PAGE 4
ARTS & CULTURE
Orange County: 3.1-mile stretch of Reams Road needs widening Reams Road Study 2: A 3.1-mile section of Reams Road is in the process of being widened to four lanes; however, construction likely would not begin until 2020 or 2021. BRITTANY GAINES STAFF WRITER ORANGE COUNTY Following a months-long study of Reams Road, Orange County Transportation Planning Division officials have determined the road, which
is already failing to accommodate daily traffic volumes in certain areas, is in need of additional lanes. During a community meeting Thursday, Oct. 5, officials presented their findings and proposed ideas, having recently
completed their study of the 3.1mile stretch of Reams Road from Summerlake Park Boulevard to Taborfield Avenue. “We have a lot of gaps in our complete street requirements,” said Blanche Hardy, project manager with the Orange County Transportation Planning Division. According to study documents, SEE COUNTY PAGE 8
Theater stages male, female versions of “The Odd Couple.”
PAGE 14.