WINDERMERE
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. FREE
VOLUME 3, NO. 12
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2017
HAPPY NEW YEAR! YOUR TOWN
Having a ball at
OWN A HORIZON WEST BUSINESS?
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Are you ready to take your business to the next level in 2018? Join Horizon West Professionals at its next networking meet-up from 7:45 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3, at 13790 Bridgewater Crossings Blvd., No. 1080, Windermere. Attendees can connect with like-minded professionals in the Horizon West area. For more information, visit the group’s Facebook page.
Ethel Siegel has been celebrating her century birthday for a week, including a party at the Rosen JCC.
TREES OF HOPE
SEE PAGE 4
Southwest Middle School teacher earns fellowship Corydon Strawser is one of three teachers in the state to be named a Northrop Grumman Teaching Fellow. DANIELLE HENDRIX BLACK TIE EDITOR
When Corydon Strawser was serving in the U.S. Navy, he flew the Grumman A-6 aircraft for 14 years. Now a sixth-grade science teacher at Southwest Middle School, Strawser recently made another connection with Grumman: He’s one of just three teach-
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ers in the state — and 27 in the country — to be named a Northrop Grumman Teaching Fellow. Northrop Grumman is a global aerospace and defense technology company. And in 2015, the company’s foundation and National Science Teachers Association co-founded the Northrop Grumman Foundation Teachers Academy. The academy provides professional learning experiences to middle-school teachers so they can better foster their students’ interest in engineering. SEE TEACHER PAGE 4
Amy Quesinberry
YEAR IN PICTURES
Ethel Siegel thoroughly enjoyed the attention she received at her birthday party at the Rosen JCC.
See inside for a trip down memory lane as we revisit some of our favorite images of 2017.
In conjunction with the Challenge 22 5K walk for PTSD and veteran suicideawareness that took place in November in downtown Winter Garden, the American Legion Post 63 and Santa’s Old Fashioned Christmas Trees have partnered to share hope with veterans (or anyone) who may be struggling with suicidal thoughts this holiday season. A 10-foot-tall tree is set up on the legion porch and is being decorated by the community through the end of December. Residents are invited to place handwritten messages of encouragement, scripture verses, personal notes or pictures on the tree. “If reading the messages can bring just one more day of hope to a suicidal person, then maybe, it will be just enough to get them the help they need to break through,” said Kurt Gies, vice commander. More than 100 rocks branded with the words, “22 Until Zero,” have been placed under the tree, too, and are to be taken home by anyone needing a reminder of hope on a daily basis. For more information call, (407) 656-6361.