W E ST O RA N G E T I M E S &
Observer Celebrating 110 years in West Orange
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 82, NO. 53
FREE
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YEAR IN PICTURES See pages 6-19
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015
Pavement plans progress As development booms, so, too, will the construction of New Independence Parkway. See page 4
YOUR TOWN LOVE IS IN THE AIR!
SUCH GREAT
HEIGHTS William Duane Ramsey and Lori Elizabeth Leitzinger are happy to announce their engagement. Will, 31, was born to Clayton and Traci Ramsey in Greenville, Ohio, and graduated from Greenville Senior High in 2002. Lori, 29, was born to Jack and Diane Leitzinger in State College, Pennsylvania, and graduated from State College Area High School in 2004. The couple met and fell in love in Winter Garden. Both Will and Lori attend Mosaic Church, volunteer with foster care children’s programs and have a passion for triathlons, surfing, Ultimate Frisbee and flag football. They will be wed before God and their community by Dave Holland in spring 2016 in Winter Garden.
asked the videographer
temperatures in the 80s — often nearing record highs — November and December have had Central Floridians getting antsy for cooler days that feel typical to the season. But local blueberry bushes, which are in season in Florida from April to May, don’t mind the heat. In fact, they’re thriving. “(The plants) had a fall crop because they’re confused about what to do with all the heat,” said Scott West, a coowner of Tom West Blueberries in Ocoee. “They’re putting out new growth, which normally doesn’t happen either.” West said he has never seen this happen in his lifetime. If there is a sudden cold snap, the Tom West team will protect the plants with a special irrigation process. Volumes in the spring might be lower than usual because the fruit started early, but the extra-long season could help make up for it. “We’re going to try to do it all the way through winter,” Scott said. Although there was an El Niño cycle this year, climate scientists do not think it was
if he shot the footage
SEE BLUEBERRIES PAGE 4
JENNIFER NESSLAR STAFF WRITER OCOEE
O
n a trip to upstate Jennifer Nesslar
New York where
Gary Comstock with his DJI Phantom 3.
he grew up, Gary
Ocoee resident Gary Comstock got hooked on flying drones when he realized he could use the devices to get unique views of places he had seen his entire life.
some aerial footage hometown. When he
from a helicopter, he told him no. The video was shot from an unmanned aerial vehicle,
PAGES 21-23
An unusually hot December caused Tom West’s blueberry plants to bear fruit months earlier than normal. STAFF WRITER OCOEE With
of landmarks near his
Year in Sports
Comstock used his drone to get a close look at the Angel Moroni at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 9000 Windy Ridge Road in Windermere.
Tom West harvests odd winter crop
CATHERINE KERR
Comstock watched
SPORTS
Catherine Sinclair
Emerald variety berries are more tart than some other types.
also called a drone.
See page 4
WHAT ABOUT STRAWBERRIES?
The high temperatures have also affected strawberry crops farther west near Plant City, the crop’s Florida hub. The yield typically harvested in late December isn’t expected to be available until mid-January, and some major growers have had supply gaps.