SO U T H W EST O RA N G E
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Observer Windermere, Horizon West, Dr. Phillips
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. VOLUME 6, NO. 14
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020
Year in Pictures
Hey, 2020: Don’t let the door hit you on the way out!
Believe it or not, 2020 wasn’t all masks and social isolation! We revisit some of our favorite images of the year. 3-14.
YOUR TOWN STUDENTS COLLECT MONEY FOR FOOD BANK
A life well lived
Second Harvest Food Bank has received more than $10,000 thanks to students at two schools: Summerlake Elementary, in Winter Garden, and Hunters Creek Middle. The goal at Summerlake was $1,000, but students and teachers exceeded that amount and then some. Instead of stopping at $1,000, the school collected $8,500 in one week. Some students even emptied their piggy banks for the cause.
Bill Kribs has lived an active and full century, from sailing and flying to performing with Dorsey, selling Fords and developing communities. STORY ON PAGE 4.
YEAR IN SPORTS
Amy Quesinberry
Bill Kribs, center, of Windermere, celebrated his 100th birthday in style with a string quartet, catered dinner and many friends and family, including daughter Anastasia Hursh and son Paul Kribs.
George Walker:
Mayor with a mission Despite all the changes to sports this year, there is still plenty to celebrate. SEE PAGE 15. PRSRT STD ECRWSS US POSTAGE PAID WINTER GARDEN, FL PERMIT NO. 81
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Postal Customer
Walker was Winter Garden mayor from 1933 to 1939. In that time, he brought $250,000 and many jobs to the city. AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR
In the 1930s, the city of Winter Garden was so broke that at one point, the remaining money in the treasury would either cover pay-
roll or keep the streetlights turned on — but not both. One man made it his mission to lead the city out of the financial slump by bringing in much-needed dollars and jobs to the small West Orange County municipality. George Walker, a World War I veteran, hesitated when he was asked to run for mayor of Winter Garden during the Great Depression. He was content being a husband and father, managing SEE FOUNDATION PAGE 2
Courtesy of Winter Garden Heritage Foundation
George Walker, left, opened Walker Electric Company in 1920 in the space now occupied by Attic Door. The west side of the storefront was rented to a stationery business owned by Joe Valdes, right.