Times& WEST ORANGE
Observer WEST ORANGE COUNTY’S NEWSPAPER FOR 109 YEARS
THURSDAY
OCTOBER 30, 2014
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WINTER GARDEN, FLORIDA
SPOTLIGHT
INSIDE
Annual Oakland Heritage Festival honors town’s past. PAGE 9A
The West Orange Times presents our fall real estate guide. SPECIAL SECTION
OUR TOWN
+ Montverde senior wins chamber award Montverde Academy senior Ciara “Pepper” Hopkins, also the school’s head prefect, received the South Lake Chamber of Commerce’s Outstanding October Student of the Month Award. Hopkins received her award at a South Lake Chamber of Commerce breakfast, held Oct. 17, at the Clermont City Center. Wesley Reed, of Ameriprise Financial Services Inc. presented the award. The distinction recognizes the most outstanding student nominated from each high school in South Lake County.
SPORTS Legacy seniors reflect on beginnings of football program. PAGE 1B
public safety by Michael Eng | Executive Editor
Winter Garden, Ocoee enter 911-call partnership Beginning in July 2015, emergency calls in Ocoee will be handled by the call center in Winter Garden. WINTER GARDEN — City commissioners approved the authorization of an five-year inter-local agreement that will change the way Ocoee handles its police-dispatching services. Beginning in July 2015, Ocoee calls will be handled
by Winter Garden’s dispatching facilities. Currently, Ocoee calls are managed by Apopka. Winter Garden Police Chief George Brennan said the change would provide for better service for both municipalities. Brennan said the existing dispatching center
would be reconfigured to accommodate the larger staff. The additional employees also will allow the center to operate in three shifts. Winter Garden already handles dispatching calls for Oakland. Under this agreement, calls from three West Orange
municipalities will be routed to the same location and, more importantly, use the same software. “Oakland, Winter Garden and Ocoee will all be on the same software system and (be able to) exchange information easily,” Brennan said. “Right now, if we start something, and we’re heading into
SEE 911 / PAGE 6A
GIDDY UP!
Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, so be sure to move your clocks back one hour before going to bed Saturday night. This means the evenings will start getting darker earlier — until the second Sunday in March, when daylight saving time resumes.
+ Volunteers needed for Relay for Life
I
WO This week’s winner is
Mary Beth Asma. See the photo on PAGE 7B.
by Zak Kerr | Staff Writer
George Lopez
Robert Smith, Windermere’s town manager, was elected treasurer of the chapter.
NFL alumni form chapter The Central Floridabased chapter will include hundreds of former players between the Tampa and Orlando areas.
+ Turn your clocks back
The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Winter Garden is seeking volunteers in the West Orange area for a variety of volunteer needs. Help is needed to organize and recruit fundraising teams; garner community support; coordinate logistics; seek refreshments and prizes; plan entertainment; and lend a hand to ensure the success of the 2015 event. If you would like to join the Relay For Life of Winter Garden as a volunteer or team participant, call the American Cancer Society, (407) 581-2520, or visit RelayForLife.org/ WinterGardenFL.
BROTHERHOOD
Michael Eng
Violette Zengotita, 5, saddled up for the bouncy horse race Oct. 17, at Westbrooke Elementary School’s annual Fall Carnival. The carnival is the school’s largest fundraiser of the year. For more photos, see page 10A.
WINDERMERE — About 20 former NFL players from as far as St. Petersburg, with retirement dates ranging from before the first Super Bowl to this July, met to establish the Central Florida Chapter of the NFL Alumni Association Oct. 23, at Windermere Town Hall. After a catered meal with fine wine, Mike Attardi, the meeting host and a developmental-squad kicker for the Los Angeles Raiders in 1991 and 1992, explained the ideas behind the formation of this chapter. “We’re going to connect and join with the alumni in Tam-
SEE NFL / PAGE 8A
INVESTIGATION by Steven Ryzewski | Sports Editor
see the world by Amy Quesinberry Rhode | Community Editor
Foundation Academy coach suspended after post-game fight
The event will feature films, entertainment, art, food and more.
An altercation ensued following the Oct. 24 game between Foundation and Trinity Prep. WINTER GARDEN — The Foundation Academy Lions rallied to a 24-20 win over the Trinity Prep Saints Oct. 24 in a come-from-behind victory capped by a defensive stand in the game’s waning moments. But, as thrilling as the onfield actions were, it was what happened after the game clock read triple zeroes that has everyone talking.
City of Winter Garden introduces Culture Fest WINTER GARDEN — West Orange residents will have a chance to celebrate cultures from around the world at the inaugural two-day Winter Garden Culture Fest, held jointly by the city of Winter Garden and Florida Film Academy. This family-friendly festival — set for 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2 — will provide opportunities to learn about other cultures
A physical altercation between players from both schools followed the end of the game. The fight was broken up by coaches, administrators and off-duty law enforcement officers from both the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Despite conflicting reports
SEE FOUNDATION / 6A
Courtesy photo
The festival includes artwork that celebrates different cultures.
SEE FEST / PAGE 6A
INDEX Business.................................6B Calendar.................................2A
Crossword...............................7B History....................................5A
Obituaries.............................17A Schools................................14A
Sports.....................................1B Weather..................................7B
Vol. 81, No. 43 | Three sections
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