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VOLUME 85, NO. 52
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DECEMBER 27, 2018
THE YEAR IN PICTURES Relive 2018 through some of our favorite images. SEE 3-14.
Barrier broken Charles King was the first black man to be hired as a police officer by the Winter Garden Police Department.
Assistedliving facility passes County commissioners approved a change request to allow for the construction of the facility in Horizon West’s Village F.
GABBY BAQUERO NEWS EDITOR
For Charles King, becoming a police officer wasn’t exactly
ERIC GUTIERREZ
one of his goals in life, but he
STAFF WRITER
ended up loving every day of
A new assisted-living facility is coming to Horizon West. County leaders unanimously approved a substantial change request to allow for the development of a 75-bed assisted living facility along Seidel Road in Horizon West Village F. The facility will be built on about a 2-acre portion of a parcel that has an overall size of 20.26 acres. Only about 2.8 acres of the overall subject parcel is developable because of surrounding wetlands. The overall is parcel located west of
his three-year employment with the Winter Garden Police Department.
SEE STORY PAGE 4.
SEE COUNTY PAGE 4
Charles King worked as a part-time police officer with the Winter Garden Police Department from 1967 to 1970.
Gabby Baquero
YOUR TOWN
Prime Mediterranean Grill opens in Ocoee The restaurant held its grand opening Dec. 10.
THREE TO TRY n Chicken Shawarma Sandwich: Marinated grilled chicken served with pickles and garlic sauce wrapped in pita bread.
ERIC GUTIERREZ STAFF WRITER
n Beef Doner Kebab Sandwich: Shaved pieces of marinated steak grilled on a vertical, rotating spit. Served with lettuce, tomato, onion, tzatziki sauce and wrapped in pita bread. n Turkish Cheese Burak: Crispy phyllo dough stuffed with mozzarella, feta cheese and fresh parsley and served with garlic yogurt dip.
Courtesy photo
Ocoee has a new spot for those who have a hankering for hummus or a craving for kebabs. Prime Mediterranean Grill, located at 2787 Old Winter Garden Road, held its grand opening Dec. 10. Like its name implies, the restaurant serves familiar Mediterranean fare but with a Turkish twist. Burhan Karagulle co-owns the Prime Mediterranean Grill with his wife, Ayla. Originally from Turkey and having opened a couple of successful restaurants — which are still operational — in his home
country, he decided to set up shop in Ocoee after he saw a need for authentic, Turkish-style cuisine. “This is Turkish food, but this is fast-casual Turkish food,” Kargulle said. “We are making all (our food) from scratch. We don’t use any kinds of preservatives. I don’t prefer to buy (premade) falafel mixes and stuff like that. We make everything, as much as we can, here (in-house).” Prime Mediterranean Grill puts an emphasis on freshness and uses quality ingredients in all its menu items. That dedication to quality is SEE PRIME PAGE 4
OBSERVER OFFICES CLOSED UNTIL 2019 The Observer Media Group’s Central Florida office, located at 661 Commerce Parkway, Suite 180, in Winter Garden, will be closed from Monday, Dec. 24, through Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, for the holidays. We will reopen Jan. 2.