01.25.24 West Orange Times & Observer by Orange Observer

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VOLUME 91, NO. 4

Dillard Street Elementary families enjoy a festive Dragon Fest. PAGE 3B.

FREE • THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

Hospital proposes freestanding ER HCA Florida Osceola Hospital seeks to build an 11,570-square-foot emergency room building on Daniels Road. SEE PAGE 2A.

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HERITAGE DAY SET FOR JAN. 27 Celebrate life and culture in Oakland at the annual Oakland Heritage Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, in downtown Oakland and at Speer Park. The event celebrates the town’s history, nature, wellness and the arts with a family-friendly day of live music, food trucks, fine arts and crafts, vendors, interactive children’s activities, and more. Westly’s annual virtual 5K begins at the Healthy West Orange Arts & Heritage Center at the Town of Oakland, with check-in at 8:30 a.m., warmups at 9:15 and race kickoff at 9:30. To register, visit bit. ly/3HsjhFt. At Speer Park, enjoy country music by Sean Holcomb and folk music by Nicole Equreme; food trucks selling meals, sweets and drinks; a Historic Florida area featuring animal ambassadors and a silent auction; a presentation featuring snakes and exotic reptiles; and more than 100 arts and crafts vendors. At the heritage center, listen to the Orlando Youth Chamber Ensemble perform on the porch; participate in a History Harvest by taking historic items relating to Oakland to be donated or loaned to or scanned at the center; and check out the art and history exhibition that celebrates black heritage in Florida and Oakland. The event is presented by Orlando Health in partnership with Healthy West Orange and the Oakland Nature Preserve.

Windermere Branch Library Manager Lelia Higgins also is an avid marathoner. PAGE 3A.

Crooked Can crafts Plant St. expansion The addition will include a walk-up order window, as well as a new fenced patio area covered with a louvered metal shade structure. PAGE 6A.

Being like Mike

Panthers phenom Trinity Turner has a lot in common with Michael Jordan. 1B.

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TESTING HER METAL West Orange County resident Molly Rennick, 24, leads the Canadian heavy metal band Living Dead Girl. STORY ON PAGE 4A.

SNOW PREDICTED THIS WEEKEND The Rosen JCC is bringing snow to Dr. Phillips at Winterfest from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28, at the JCC, 11184 S. Apopka-Vineland Road, Orlando. The family event will feature a snow slide, snow maze, rock-climbing wall, train rides, a petting zoo, photo booth, children’s crafts and games, food trucks, and music. Tickets can be bought at the door or in advance at rosenjcc. org/winterfest.

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OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

Winter Garden to consider freestanding ER ANNABELLE SIKES NEWS EDITOR

An Osceola-based hospital is seeking to build a freestanding emergency room in Winter Garden. The city hosted a community meeting to discuss the project Wednesday, Jan. 17, at City Hall. The property is located at the vacant tract to the south of 1200 Daniels Road, in the recently developed Daniels Road Business Park. The $11.5 million project would include a onestory, 11,570-square-foot freestanding emergency room building. WHAT IS AN FSER?

HCA Florida Osceola Hospital, an affiliate of HCA Florida Healthcare, is seeking to construct the ER. Ross Lucas, from Fulmer Lucas Engineering, led the presentation on the proposed project. A freestanding emergency room is different from a hospital because it does not provide overnight care. However, it would operate 24/7 and be staffed with emergency physicians. The project is estimated to employ about 24 to 28 full-time staff members, he said.

“It ultimately fulfills a community need for enhanced emergency services,” Lucas said. “This is going to provide more access points to the community for emergency care. The idea behind this is we want to bring care closer to our patients, and this facility will certainly do that. This facility, and others like it, have the effect of reducing emergency room wait times, both in hospitals, as well as in other emergency centers. These generate well-paying jobs in roles such as physicians, nurses and technicians. Our physicians are boardcertified in emergency medicine, and ultimately, we’re committed to providing patients with an exceptional level of care.” Most patients are seen in a FSER within five minutes of their arrival. Cameron Howard, COO of the HCA Florida Osceola Hospital, said the project would be a similar model to the HCA Florida Osceola East Emergency development currently being constructed in St. Cloud. The Winter Garden facility would include 11 emergency exam rooms, CT scan, digital X-ray, ultrasound, on-site laboratory services and would be capable of caring for all ages, including pediatrics. PROJECT BREAKDOWN

The existing land use for the 1.56acre property is vacant land, and the existing zoning is Arterial Commercial District. The ER would require a special-exception permit. “The reason for this meeting today is that we’re going

through two processes concurrently,” Lucas said. “One is a site plan, and the other is a special-exception permit. The reason for that is simply that the zoning code does not have a definition for the Free Standing Emergency Room. It’s just not a defined use; it’s a newer use. You’re starting to see more and more of these around the state, and nationally as well, but it’s just not defined in the code. We feel it is definitely congruent with the zoning that is surrounding, but our application will seek to show that.” The front-facing portion of the building would serve as the primary site arrival. Ambulances would have a separate, dedicated entrance. “The main thing with FSER is we need two cover entrances,” Lucas said. “We like to separate ambulance traffic from the standard public that comes in; this main entrance to the north. We feel like most of our traffic is going to come into the site from this northeast corner, and so, because of that, we really wanted the main entrance and the emergency both to kind of say, ‘Hey, you’re coming into the site, which way do you go? Are you a member of the public, do you go in the front? Or are you an ambulance, do you need to go over here?’ It

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becomes kind of a really easy way for the building to be oriented how it is.” There are 44 total parking spaces proposed in the plan —40 standard and four wheelchair-accessible spaces. “We are providing connectivity to the road that’s being constructed by the master developer to the south, as well as to the business park to the north,” Lucas said. “Pedestrian connectivity to Daniels Road; we are working through the possibility of another connection for that. It just hasn’t been resolved at this point.” Utilities are fully screened, and there would be a pet-service area, that also is for service animals, as well as bicycle parking. LOW TRAFFIC TRIP GENERATOR

Lucas said the biggest question residents usually have at community meetings is traffic. However, he said FSERs are a very low trip generator. The Institute of Transportation Engineers classifies the FSER use as generating 1.52 p.m. peak hour trips per 1,000 square feet. For the proposed 11,570-squarefoot facility, that would equate to 18 p.m. peak-hour trips. A trip generation memo provided by Kimley Horn and Associates confirms 18 p.m. peak-hour trips is significantly less than the 343 trips originally assumed for the parcel. In comparison, a traditional medical office measuring 11,570 square feet would

have 45 trips at p.m. peak, a fast-food restaurant with a drive-thru measuring 5,000 square feet would have 165 trips at p.m. peak, and a pharmacy measuring 14,000 square feet would have 149 trips at p.m. peak. When addressing ambulance traffic, Lucas said most ambulances don’t take patients to an FSER. “The ambulance traffic that this facility will have is: Patients will come in either in a vehicle or dropped off into the main entrance,” he said. “They’ll be stabilized and treated, and if they can’t, or if they need continuing care — this facility does not have overnight stays or inpatient beds — they then would be transferred to a hospital. While this would be in an ambulance, there wouldn’t be sirens blaring. It’s more of a private ambulance transportation.” Lucas said the FSER facilities average fewer than one incoming ambulance trip per day. Construction for a FSER is about a 240-day process. The project will next conduct a few resubmittals before heading to the city’s Planning and Zoning department for a meeting regarding the special-exception permit. The site plan will then go before the Winter Garden City Commission.

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OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

using the library, she started a program, including a curriculum, just for them. When she found out some parents were having difficulty getting their homeschoolers to the library because of younger siblings, Higgins created Homeschool Junior. Because there’s a high interest in art, the Windermere library continually adds art classes. “I like variety in what we offer,” she said. “If they ask for it, I’m going to try to fit it in the calendar.” Some of Higgins’ favorite moments are when a former storytime toddler or preschools returns for a visit. She also frequently catches up with a former high school volunteer who now is a doctor and still comes back to say hello. She loves finding books that will spark the imaginations of young readers. “You can’t make a child read, but you can encourage their interests,” she said. “For young boys, anything with body functions, joke books. … If they’re reading it, that’s what matters.” What piques Higgins’ interest? Once historical fiction, it’s now current fiction and true-crime mysteries with a smattering of science fiction. AFTER HOURS

Running and travel are two of Lelia Higgins’ favorite hobbies.

Amy Quesinberry

Lelia Higgins Lelia Higgins is the library manager at Windermere Branch Library by day — and an avid reader and runner at night and on the weekends.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Familiar Faces is an ongoing feature in which we spotlight people you have seen but whose stories you may not know. If you want to nominate someone for a future edition, please email Editor and Publisher Michael Eng, meng@ orangeobserver.com.

voracious reader as a child, Lelia Higgins loved sitting down with an open book so much that when she and her older sister made their weekly visit to the library growing up in Jamaica, she used her sister’s card and took home a double load of books. “My mother said I read everything in the house,” Higgins said. From those childhood visits, Higgins fell in love with the library and all the information it held and all the knowledge she could glean from the pages of those books and periodicals. This love of the library would be with her for her entire life. After she finished high school, she earned a bachelor’s degree in library science and worked with the Jamaica Library Service. After moving to Florida, Higgins took a position with the Orange County Library System in 1990 and worked on obtaining her master’s degree. Her title was library assistant, a role that no longer exists, and she was assigned to the downtown Orlando Public Library. “We were slightly below librarians,” Higgins said of her position. “I went to library school. There are only two accredited places in Florida: University of South Florida and Florida State University. I went to USF because, at that time, there were no online classes, so I had to drive to Tampa two times a week.” She earned her master’s degree in library and information science, and nine months later, she was promoted to assistant manager. After a year, she received the manager’s title. Her favorite department in the four-story building was the firstfloor Library Central, which held,

among other genres, fiction and young adult. Nonfiction is easy to find, she said. If a customer is looking for cookbooks, an employee easily can direct him or her to the section. Fiction is more challenging because readers typically are looking for something specific but don’t have much detail. “‘Can you help me find a book? It’s green,’” Higgins said, laughing. She remained at the Orlando branch for 20 years — until an opportunity arose for her to transfer to the Windermere branch of the library system in 2010. She now is in her 15th year as library manager. And she’s still an avid reader — she reads every night after work — grabbing a book from her to-beread stack or opening one of the 150 downloaded books on her iPad. LIFE AT THE LIBRARY

“I like how libraries have grown — everything is available at your fingertips,” Higgins said. “You don’t have to drive into the library; we can send them to you. You can download them to your device. You can download music to your device. … My husband reads roughly 200 books a year just by downloading. “I read 150 a year,” she said. “I would say more, but I don’t count the small ones, the children’s books. I read a lot of 3- to 5-yearold books because they’re cute.” When Higgins began her OCLS career, there was one computer on the second floor. This was used to access the library system to find books, and it used floppy discs. “And now, everyone has their own computer at their fingertips,” she said. And then she shared a librar-

Courtesy photos

Lelia Higgins ran the six major marathons — Chicago, Boston, New York City, London, Tokyo and Berlin — to earn the Six Star completion medal for Abbott World Marathon Majors. Left: Lelia Higgins frequently participates in races. She and her husband, Cyprian, recently completed a 15K in Clermont.

ian’s tip: “Google is not always the answer. It gives you what comes up first, and it’s not always accurate.” One of the biggest transitions in the library system has been the growth of class offerings and other community outreach programs. Higgins taught computer basics — how to use a mouse, how to access Word — when everyone was learning how to operate a computer. As the community demographics have changed, so too has the staff at the Windermere branch. “We have a huge Portuguesespeaking group that lives between Southwest and Horizon West. … I ended up hiring a Portuguesespeaking staff member,” Higgins said. “I had a Spanish-speaking staff member, but it wasn’t the same. I don’t anyone to be disenfranchised from using the library.” This branch also staffs a French Creole speaker. English as a Second Language remains a popular class at the

library, and five classes are held weekly. “Nothing is more pleasing than a customer who says, ‘I was finally able to go to the Publix deli and order cheese,’” she said. “When they come back and say, ‘I can do this,’ it makes your job worthwhile.” The location of the Windermere branch also makes it popular for residents applying for U.S. citizenship. The four-week classes are designed to prepare folks for the exam. “There are 100 questions, and the examiner will ask you 10; the problem is you don’t know which 10,” Higgins said. “We encourage them to take it over and over again until they feel confident. The exam costs over $700; the class is free. We hold their hands as much as possible.” Helping people is at the core of Higgins’ devotion to her job. When she discovered homeschooled students frequently were

Born in Jamaica, Higgins and her husband now make their home in Independence, where they both remain active. “I run, and every day I do a 5K,” she said. During the cold months, though, she’s indoors as much as possible. “I’ve been doing a walking (program) in my living room,” she said. “I’m not going outside. Once it hits 60, I’m fine; anything below 60 is uncivilized.” At age 64, Higgins has racked up an impressive 52 completed marathons. “The goal is to do one in every state and one in every continent,” she said. “I’ve done 44 states so far; six to go. I have three planned for this year.” Her running shoes have hit the ground in four continents so far: Europe, Asia, Australasia and North America. She will have to psych herself up to go to Antarctica, she said. What’s her best marathon time? “My best time is 4 something,” she said. “It was 32 degrees in Fargo, North Dakota. I was so cold I just wanted to get out of there.” She knows she isn’t going to win the marathons, so she runs with her phone and takes photos — especially in the overseas races — enjoying everything about the experience. Her favorite marathon was in Berlin. “I was relatively new to running, and it was pancake flat; 26 miles wall-to-wall of people,” she said. “It was amazing. Pots, pans, everything they could use to celebrate you as you ran by. The people were amazing.” Her love of running hasn’t waned over the years. She and her husband are running a half marathon at the end of January, and she is signed up for the Disney Princess Half Marathon in February. She will run in Amsterdam in April. When she’s not running, she’s planning a skydiving adventure or hiking Peru’s Machu Picchu. She wants to try parasailing. “People say, ‘You’re a librarian and you do what?’” she said. “My husband says, ‘Here she goes again.’ Life is too short to be limited to work and home.”

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OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

West Orange singer fronts popular metal band

Observer “If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.” Friedrich Hayek

ANNABELLE SIKES

“Road to Serfdom,” 1944

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Editor and Publisher / Michael Eng, meng@OrangeObserver.com

olly Rennick’s earliest memory of music dates all the way back to when she was 3 years old. “(I remember) singing and dancing into a toy microphone in my living room (while) standing on the couch pretending it’s a stage,” she said. “My favorite song to sing was ‘Get The Party Started’ by Pink. I always played ‘concert’ and told my parents I wanted to be a rock star my entire life.” And that is exactly what she has become. Rennick, 24, is the vocalist for Living Dead Girl, an up-and-coming Canadian metal band with a unique and powerful sound that has gained them the attention and admiration of fans worldwide. Living Dead Girl consists of three other members: Jordan Storring, bass; Steve Haining, drums; and Jonni Laww, guitar. The band has amassed quite the fanbase — with more than 31,000 followers on Facebook and nearly 13,000 on Instagram. Rennick, a West Orange County resident, said the journey has been nothing short of incredible. “We have had people travel to come see us — several people have literally flown from other states to come to our shows,” she said. “People bring us gifts and fan art, and there’s even people with our name and pictures of me tattooed on them. It’s all the kinds of things I’ve dreamed about since I was a kid. So, to see the hard work paying off and seeing the music actually reaching people and resonating with them is so incredibly rewarding. I get emotional about it. When I heard my song on SiriusXM Octane for the first time, I actually cried!”

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BANDING TOGETHER

Originally from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Rennick was in choir when she was young but wanted to sing alone, so she switched to one-onone singing lessons. She said none of the lessons over the years helped her, until she met her current vocal coach, Jamie Vendera. She auditioned for a few Canadian children’s TV shows, such as Karaoke Star Junior and The Next Star. “I remember singing on a stage in a big Toronto mall for some Polly Pocket event when I was 6,” she said. “I performed in public many times and was always really comfortable being on a stage and the center of attention. I played my first actual bar show when I was 16 years old. I didn’t have a band yet, so it was just me, a guitar and backing tracks.” At age 15, she decided to start putting a band together, but it didn’t evolve for years, because she couldn’t find people who shared the same aspirations. “People either wanted to jam for fun or they were serious musicians and already in bands,” Rennick said. “It took me a while to find people with the same ideas as me.” That’s when she met Storring. “I met Jordan first when I was 16 years old, so he’s the only other ‘original’ member,’” she said. “Jonni was the guitarist in a band supporting us on our first tour and, after hitting it off with us, he decided to join our group in 2022. Steve was already my fiance, who was tired of me complaining that it’s hard to find drummers. So, he came out of his drumming retirement to help me out.” With a wide variety of influences, such as Marilyn Manson and Avril Lavigne, Living Dead Girl has a unique and distinct sound, blending

‘The metal community really does feel like a big family. We’ve made friends with so many people on tour, and it’s amazing to think of how music brings people together.’ — Molly Rennick

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The West Orange Times meets the legal requirements to publish legal and public notices in Orange County per F.S. 50.011 USPS Periodicals Permit (USPS# 687-120)

FOLLOW LIVING DEAD GIRL WEBSITE: livingdeadgirl.ca FACEBOOK: facebook.com/LIVINGDEADGIRLBAND INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/livingdeadgirlofficial

genres such as modern metal, pop punk, goth rock and nu metal. “I pull inspiration from absolutely everywhere,” Rennick said. “I will be in the middle of doing something and randomly have lyrics pop into my mind. Then, I have to quickly write them down. I get ideas all the time out of nowhere without having to think about it. It’s like subconsciously I’m always thinking about music; I never turn it off. … I love the style of music we create because it emulates all of my favorite elements of music. I love heavy, down-tuned guitar riffs and screaming, but I also love the fun, upbeat energy of pop punk music. With Living Dead Girl, we found a way to really blend the two worlds together, and it’s my favorite thing ever — that I get to have both of them rolled into one and not that I had to choose one or the other.” LIVING THE FAST LIFE

The band’s debut single “Alive” reached No. 17 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Indicator, No. 4 on the Foundations Secondary Market chart and No. 10 on SiriusXM Canada’s Indigenous Music Countdown. Currently, Living Dead Girl has one all-originals LP called “Exorcism,” which came out in June 2021, along with its expanded deluxe edition. The band also has an EP of cover songs called “Not That Innocent.” Living Dead Girl has completed eight tours across the United States and Canada, as well as played at a

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variety of festivals such as Earthday Birthday in 2022. “It’s so inspiring to play a show, get off stage and then have people excitedly come up to us to tell us what their favorite songs were, their favorite part of the show, telling us their story, telling us they’re musicians, too,” Storring said. “Seeing people enjoy our show just makes us strive to keep doing it and keep growing as performers. It inspires us to be the best we can be.” The group’s newest single, “Dysfunctional,” was Living Dead Girl’s SiriusXM Octane Debut. The band has been featured in publications such as Revolver, Outburn, Hustler and MetalSucks. Although the band has enjoyed much success, Storring said the thrill of performing and making music still gives him a huge rush. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” he said. “Everyone (who) comes to our shows is there for different reasons. Maybe they saw the ad at their local venue or our music has helped them through something. It has such a rewarding feeling to play live. If we can make someone’s day, goal accomplished.” Since last month, the band has been back in its Nashville studio working on new music and beginning to book tours for 2024. “We have just booked a big festival this summer, as well as the headlining slot at a horror convention in Canada this fall, and we’re building

a run of shows around both,” Rennick said. “We hope to just keep being able to do what we love and see where it takes us. We have lots of goals to crush like playing overseas, opening for our favorite bands, and watching the crowds get bigger and bigger.” When Rennick isn’t performing, she always is still focused on Living Dead Girl. She fulfills all the band’s online orders, does graphic design for the merchandise and website, and conducts meetings with management. She serves as the group’s agent, producer and publicist. When she’s not doing work, she can be found either at Walt Disney World, at home cooking or planning her upcoming wedding with Haining. The couple also has two cats: Minnie and Boo. “I feel like what we do is so much deeper than just music,” Rennick said. “Music really is a community. When you go on tour and play in tons of cities and states, you meet so many different people from all walks of life. There’s young people and older people, men and women, all different backgrounds, but they’re all at the show for one thing: the love of live music. The metal community really does feel like a big family. We’ve made friends with so many people on tour, and it’s amazing to think of how music brings people together. I feel more a part of that community now, since moving to Florida, than I ever did before.”

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OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

Rosen JCC leaders: Apartment project will cause safety problems A developer is seeking to build 200 luxury apartments in Southwest Orange. ANNABELLE SIKES NEWS EDITOR

CHURCH

CHURCH OF GOD continuously.” Thalmueller said the commercial OCOEE CHURCHChurch OF GOD Victory Baptist UNITED CHURCH OF BAPTIST project across the street asked for Pastor Thomas Odom & Christian Academy CHRIST and received the exact waiverBAPTIST for the 1105 N. Lakewood Avenue, Ocoee BEULAH 1601 A.D. Mims Rd,Ocoee WINDERMERE UNION CHURCH street setback. 407-656-8011 Pastor Casey Butner (407) 656-3097 Whittall said the waivers are to 10710 Park Ridge-Gotha Rd. 671 Beulah make the development better Rd, andWinter re- Garden Sunday: 11 AM & 6 PM Windermere, FL 34786 EPISCOPAL 407-656-3342 | BeulahBaptistWG.org Wednesday: emphasized the waivers are a staff7 PM 407-876-2112 Worship times: CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH requested item. SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY 9:30AM www.VBCOCOEE.com 9:00am Adult Sunday School “Although I SUNDAY support SERVICE traffic- 11:00AM 241 N. Main, Winter Garden 10:00am Worship calming measures, I would say SERVICE we Services: 8, 9:30, & 11am, 7pm WEDNESDAY 6:00PM www.windermereunion.org shouldn’t sacrifice aesthetics and www.churchofthemessiah.com the beauty of what was planned, or FIRST BAPTIST a walkway, or a multi-use path, orCHURCH 125 E Plant St., Winter whatever else could have been in a Garden setback in some 407-656-2352 attempt to avoid what should probably be a road SUNDAYS 8:30diet am Traditional and decrease in speed limit, ” Wilson 9:45 am Bible Study said. “I think it’s important look for 11:00 amto Contemporary opportunities for traffic calming, but - 6pm - Awana I don’t think that’sWEDNESDAYS what he (Whittall MIKE YOAKUM Tim Grosshans is) asking for, andPastor I certainly don’t PASTOR think he’s doing itwww.fbcwg.org for those reasons.” P: 407.656.1520 C: 407.758.3570 MYOAKUM407@AOL.COM

2nd Campus:

COMMUNITY SAFETY FOUNDATION WORSHIP

Richard S. Geller, of Fishback 9:45 DomiSUNDAYS am - All Ages nick representing the Harris Rosen Foundation Academy High School Foundation and the Rosen JCC, said 15304 Tilden Rd., Winter Garden he has concerns about the applicawww.FoundationWorship.com tion. Geller believes the plan violates the 407-730-1867 Kerina Parkside PD, the Buena Vista North Overlay ordinance and the Access Management ordinance. “In 2005, the predecessor to the Rosen JCC, which was the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando, reached a deal with Kerina Inc.,” he said. “Kerina Inc. is the owner of the property, and then Chuck (Whittall) is the developer. … The deal was that the federation, the JCC, would either support or not oppose their request for rezoning in exchange for motor vehicle access from the JCC property through this Kerina property to what is now known as Daryl Carter Parkway. … It was also incorporated into the PD. … We would urge the county to be steadfast in protecting the interest of the community, and this community center serves the entire community in preserving everyone’s safety.” Bondorowsky said until the JCC receives some assurance from Unicorp that it will protect the access, the JCC is not able to support their request for waivers. “I’ve got (more than) 200 kids — babies and kids under the age of 4 — who come in and out of the JCC every day,” she said. “My utmost concern is their safety. … We need vehicular access to the Daryl Carter light in order to ensure everyone’s safety. That is what’s required, and that’s what we’re going to demand.” “We are willing to give access,” Whittall said. “We’re not fine with having our property become a school stacking lane. … I can’t have 200 apartments trying to leave at 8 a.m. and a train of cars stopped on our property. That’s not what we’re agreeable to. We are agreeable to access. I’m all for safety.” The County Commission was scheduled to consider the proposal Tuesday, Jan. 23, after press time.

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The case was scheduled for an Orange County Board of County Commissioners hearing in November, but concerns from the Rosen JCC caused District 1 Commissioner Nicole Wilson to request to postpone the discussion to host the community meeting. Nicolas Thalmueller, Orange County case planner, said the original zoning approval for the property is from 2005, although there have been numerous updates and amendments since then. Chuck Whittall, president of Unicorp, said the upscale apartments will start at about $3,000 per month and feature amenities such as hardwood floors, marble throughout the bathrooms and wine coolers. “(The property is) already zoned for that and already approved for that,” he said. “As we went through staff in our approvals, we had two areas that — one was questionable and the other didn’t meet the setback. As you come in the entrance, we made a nice, big, round circle … and one of our buildings … county staff asked us to put those buildings up against the road. So, when you come in, the corner of one of those buildings is 5 feet over the setback. … We asked for a waiver on that to allow that so the building would remain rectangular instead of a cut-corner on that one building. “The other waiver that we’ve asked for is internally to the project,” he said. “The Buena Vista standards call for a certain amount of landscape from building to sidewalk, which is about 20 feet. Typically, what we’re doing is having wider sidewalks, and the area of landscape between the building and sidewalk internally, we make a little bit smaller. That was also a discussion with county staff and something they wanted us to do. It’s not necessarily true that we have to get this waiver — there was a little bit of ambiguity if we needed it or not — so we’ve been working with staff on that.” One resident inquired how the waivers would benefit anyone in the community except the developer. “I’m all in favor of good development, but I’m also about staying with the Orange County development code whether it’s the one today or Vision 2050, but if it’s not impacted, why ask for more?” he asked. “Build your project with the entitlements that you have. What’s the point of having a development code if every developer

CHURCH OF GOD

First Baptist Church Ocoee Church of God Pastor Tim Grosshans Pastor Thomas Odom 125 E. Plant St, Winter Garden 1105 N. Lakewood Ave.,Ocoee (407) 656-2352 (407) 656-8011 Sundays: 8:30 AM Traditional EPISCOPAL 9:45 AM Bible Study Courtesy photo Church of the Messiah 11 AM Contemporary The Kerina Parkside subject property 241 N. Main St., Winter Garden Wednesdays: 6 PM Awana sits on 25.75 acres located south Services: 8, 9:30, & 11 AM, of Fenton Street and west of South 4 PM (French & Creole), 7 PM Apopka-Vineland Road. 2nd Campus: www.ChurchoftheMessiah.com First Baptist Church @ Horizon West comes in and asks for aesthetic-type METHODIST 15304 Tilden Road, waiver issues. I know he’s entitled to First United Methodist ask, but I don’t understand why the Winter Garden www.fumcwg.org county considers these waivers.” Sundays: 9:45 AM All Ages 125 N. Lakeview Ave., “We understand that there’s design www.FBCWG.org codes, and we bought our property Winter Garden STARKE LAKE BAPTIST in this neighborhood assuming that ANGLICAN METHODIST NON-DEN 656-1135 CHURCH those design codes would be adhered Starke Lake Baptist Church (407) FIRST UNITED METHODIST Services: 9 AM Traditional PURPOSE C ANGLICAN to,” another resident said. “IfCOMMUNITY one PO Box 520,Pritchard 611 W Ave, Ocoee Pastor Jeff CHURCH 13640 W. Colo 10:45 AM Contemporary FELLOWSHIP CHURCH waiver is given, then everybody who Pastor Jeff Pritchard PO Box 520 611 W Ave., 125 N. Lakeview Ave Winter Garden comes in for a development is going Rector The Rev. Canon Tim Trombitas Also viewable on YouTube Winter Garden (407) 656-2351 Ocoee Service Times 9:00 AM and 11:15 AM 407-654-9661 to want that same waiver andPlant a couple 1146 East St, Winter Garden www.starkelakebaptist.org Phone – 407-656-1135 Fellowship 9:4 (407) 656-2351 more. This is justSUNDAY a continuation of 10:00 AM SERVICE Web: fumcwg.org abuse of the code. We see it eroding www.StarkeLakeBaptist.org Find us at: Theacf.net

XNSP21470

WAIVER WORRIES

BAPTIST

LV14252

A proposal to build a 200-unit apartment complex near the Rosen Jewish Community Center has JCC leaders worried for the safety of the students who attend its preschool. Orange County’s Planning Division hosted a community meeting to discuss the Kerina Parkside Planned Development in Southwest Orange Wednesday, Jan. 10, at Sand Lake Elementary School. There, Southwest Orange residents and JCC representatives raised concerns regarding the proposal to build the luxury apartment project on 25.75 acres south of Fenton Street and west of South Apopka-Vineland Road. Applicant Unicorp National Developments is requesting two waivers from Orange County code. The first is to allow a 10-foot setback on a portion of the property. The second is to provide a minimum width of a 10-foot building base green space for two-story, three-story, four-story and five-or-more-story buildings. JCC leaders say the proposal will have negative impacts on its operation. “If the developer succeeds with the proposed plan, it will undermine the safety and wellbeing of motorists and their passengers as they enter and leave our parking lot,” Rosen JCC CEO Ofira Bondorowsky wrote in an email to JCC members. “It is a major concern for us, particularly since we have hundreds of children under 5 years of age enrolled in our preschool. Ensuring the safety of our members — especially children in transit — is our utmost concern.”

OrangeObserver.com

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

FORMER COMMISSIONER DISPUTES MUELLER’S CLAIMS Dear Editor: I am writing to you with a sense of urgency to correct false information about Winter Garden District 2 Commissioner Ron Mueller published in your Jan. 4. 2024, “2024 Forecast” article. As the previous commissioner for District 2 for many years, I have deep knowledge of this topic and believe some inaccuracies were presented in the coverage of Commissioner Mueller’s record. In your coverage of Ron Mueller, the current commissioner who is being challenged by Iliana Jones for District 2, there are several questionable achievements attributed to him that were presented as facts. While your reporter, Sam Albuquerque, undoubtedly had good intentions, I believe it’s important to ensure your readers receive accurate information. Mueller cites three achievements in your article: 1. Mueller saved the residents of Oakland Park $2,551,750 from liens, penalties and interests left behind from developers. This is false. Mueller did no such thing; the HOA brought this issue to city staff, and staff brought it to the commission as a whole. The commission voted on the staffdriven initiative. No single commissioner can do anything without at least two other commissioners also voting for it to have it done.

Ocoee city manager to retire

IN OTHER NEWS n The Ocoee City Commission approved an expansion of the police department’s body-worn camera system.

Robert Frank announced he will be leaving the post he has held for two decades. SAM ALBUQUERQUE SPORTS EDITOR

Robert Frank, who has served as Ocoee’s city manager for 20 years, announced his retirement during the Tuesday, Jan. 16, Ocoee City Commission meeting. And although the city manager’s role is massive — essentially, the position is that of CEO of the city’s operations and employees — it also is one that remains relatively behind the scenes. Even at commission meetings, the city manager’s input is kept to a minimum while elected commissioners debate and consider agenda items. So, it was befitting of Frank’s role that his retirement announcement was done quietly, at the end of the meeting, and after a commissioner asked him a question about requesting the aid of the city’s attorney in drawing up the requisite paperwork for his eventual successor — who is yet to be named. “We talked (last year about) your possible coming retirement and entering the drop,” Commissioner

Courtesy

Ocoee City Manager Robert Frank has served in the position for nearly 20 years.

Scott Kennedy said to Frank. “Have you made a decision on that?” To which Frank responded: “Yes, I have entered the drop (Deferred Retirement Option Program).” This led to a slew of conversations among commissioners about

an unnamed successor candidate and what process needed to be followed. Eventually, Ocoee Mayor Rusty Johnson decided to say a few words about Frank. “My older brother was a city manager for 40-something years, and … when I was going to college, he said, ‘Why don’t you get into public administration and be a city manager?’” Johnson said. “I said, ‘Are you crazy? Ain’t no way in hell I’m doing that.’ So, Rob is a guy that came in here 20 years ago, when we were in the middle of some problems, and whether you’ve liked the way he works things or you don’t, he has done an amazing thing in this city over the last 20 years. … And he’s quietly gone about the way of doing it.” At Johnson’s request, Frank listed out a brief list of his recent accomplishments in the position. “Within just the last five to 10 years, there’s been some wonderful things that happened around here that we owe to the great staff that you all have here, too,” he said. “The

n The commission approved a small-scale comprehensive plan amendment and rezoning proposal from low-density residential to commercial on a property on Palm Drive. This decision allows for possible future commercial development on the property. n The city approved a property variance proposal at 16 Floral St. that allows the addition of an attached garage to a home.

AA rating on the bonds — we have the highest reserves that you’ve ever had, the lowest millage rate that you’ve ever had, the highest O1 rating in the fire department, police and fire are both accredited. It goes on … (but) just to name a few that off the top of my head.” Regarding Frank’s replacement, Johnson said he knows what he wants to do and wants to have the decision in place by a certain time.

2. Mueller approved the repaving of all the streets and repairing or replacing the aging storm drain system at Valencia Shores. Again, Mueller and the whole commission voted on this; it was not a Mueller initiative. The way Mueller insinuates that he gave some sort of final approval is misleading. This was another staff initiative that the whole board agreed to pass. 3. Mueller was part of the effort to stop the construction of the turnpike ramp at Avalon Road. While it is true that Mueller was at these community meetings and ensured that he spoke loudly before many people, he had zero involvement in discussions with the Turnpike Authority. This initiative was stopped through the hard work of our city manager at the time, Mike Bollhoefer, and the residents of the surrounding areas. These claims, likely acquired from Commissioner Mueller’s campaign website, deserve some form of clarification and scrutiny. Perhaps a note could be added acknowledging these are claims, not objective facts. The paper highlighting that Mueller faces an investigation for violation of the City Charter was important information for voters to know; it is also important for them to be told when campaign claims are being cited as opposed to indisputable facts. I thank you and the Orange Observer for your commitment to serving our community. As the most trusted news source in our area, your attention to this matter is deeply appreciated. BOB BUCHANAN FORMER WINTER GARDEN DISTRICT 2 COMMISSIONER

The .92-acre subject property is located on Plant Street in downtown Winter Garden.

Courtesy photo

Brewery concocts Winter Garden expansion ANNABELLE SIKES NEWS EDITOR

Come June, Winter Garden residents will be able to enjoy an expanded Crooked Can Brewing Company. The Winter Garden City Commission approved a 526-squarefoot expansion Thursday, Jan. 11. The project will include a walkup order window for drink service, as well as a new fenced patio area covered with a louvered metal shade structure. Andy Sheeter, founder of Crooked Can, said the brewery decided to add the expansion following summer 2022. “It was very rainy that summer, and we felt we needed an outdoor space for our customers that was covered,” he said. “At the same time, we did not want to cover our existing outdoor areas because we did not want to block the beauti-

LEGACY EVENTS FOR EDUCATION PRESENTS THE 3RD ANNUAL

ful trees that make sitting on our patios so special. So, we decided to add a space in the back to protect our customers from the heat and rain in the summer.” Crooked Can was founded in 2014 and opened in 2015 in Winter Garden. The establishment sits inside Plant Street Market in the historic downtown area. The brewery has an on-site tap and tasting room and a Barrel Room featuring seasonal and specialty batches of Crooked Can’s award-winning craft beer. The theme to the unique concept was to create a social gathering place for family and friends. The brand represents a free spirit, laid-back approach — but with a purpose. At the commission meeting, Kelly Carson, planning director for the city of Winter Garden, said the applicant is proposing to expand the brewery, which includes

enclosing an existing metal cooler structure and building an addition on the south side of the property adjacent to West Smith Street. The project also will include associated site development, including a reconfigured drive aisle. The .92-acre property is designated Traditional Downtown on the city’s Future Land Use Map and is zoned Central Commercial District. The expansion is estimated to start in March and will be completed by June. “This will give the people in our community a nice spot to spend time at Crooked Can and Plant Street Market during our hot and rainy months,” Sheeter said. “It will also provide additional seating in our busy times. We see a lot of people standing at our place because they cannot find a seat, and this should help that.”

Sheeter hopes to see continued growth at the taproom and feels the new addition will help achieve that goal. In addition, he is excited about the brewery’s new planned facility in Minneola. “(We) have been working hard on this project behind the scenes and are moving it along,” he said. Crooked Can is planning to open the new 40,000-square-foot destination brewery and headquarters summer 2025. The new facility will be nearly four times as large as the brewery’s flagship location in downtown Winter Garden. The new headquarters will be located 10 miles from its original location and also will include a stage for live entertainment, an outdoor beer garden and food hall. The Minneola project is expected to break ground this summer.

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OrangeObserver.com

OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

District 1 hosts first Vision Zero community meeting

SHOW US YOUR

STRENGTH

Through Service

The goal is to reduce the number of fatalities and severe injuries on the transportation system to zero by 2040. ANNABELLE SIKES NEWS EDITOR

After years of planning, Orange County hosted its first Vision Zero Action Plan community meeting Thursday, Jan. 18, at the Rosen Jewish Community Center in Dr. Phillips. The Orange County Board of County Commissioners in August 2022 voted to adopt the plan. Vision Zero seeks to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries in the transportation system by providing a proactive and preventive approach. The plan emphasizes loss of life is not an acceptable price to pay for mobility, and the goal is to integrate safety principles during the planning and implementation of transportation programs countywide. Orange County District 1 Commissioner Nicole Wilson said Vision Zero is a long time coming. “I look at the champions for Vision Zero in the room, and I think about my residents who feel passionately about this, I think about the people I’ve met in my tenure that have lost people due to traffic accidents,” she said. “Vision Zero is really an opportunity for us to acknowledge that some of those accidents, most of those accidents, could have been avoided. … We see racing and there’s generally bad behavior, but we then blame it on the behavior. … But the reality of it is we have to actually change our mindset and the way that we’re thinking about this. The way that we’re thinking about growing, the way we think about developing and the way we think about the way we want our community to feel should be human-centric, not carcentric.” WHAT IS VISION ZERO?

The Orange-Kissimmee-Sanford metro area continues to rank as one of the deadliest areas, and the average annual deaths continue to rise. In 2022, there were 209 fatalities and 1,208 severe injuries on Orange County’s roadways. Coordinated action plans will be created for cities and counties throughout the region made possible by a $3.8 million federal Safe Streets for All grant. Vision Zero acknowledges many factors contribute to safe mobility, including roadway design, speed, behaviors, technologies and policies. Strategies include using rectangular rapid-flashing beacons, raised crosswalks, leading pedestrian intervals, pedestrian crossing islands, pedestrian hybrid beacons, road diets, and crosswalk visibility enhancements to protect pedestrians and bicyclists from vehicles. The Vision Zero brand helps to generate visibility and familiarity to achieve campaign participation community wide. The brand showcases the image of the roadside memorial, an all-too-familiar reminder of the personal impact roadway crashes can have on individuals and communities. The completed plan will include a high injury network; equity component; list of priority streets and intersections; educational and enforcement programs; and a sustained effort. Through MetroPlan’s regional dashboard, which relies on the Signal Four Analytics database maintained by the University of Florida’s

GeoPlan Center, residents can view data that provides a comprehensive view of crash statistics, including type, severity, manner of collision, and overall injury and fatality trends for the given period. “Our mindset has always been to blame the pedestrian, to blame the bicyclist, and the car got priority,” Wilson said. “We built our communities with cars as the priority, and, really, it’s not sustainable, it’s not healthy, and it’s not safe. … We’re not talking about a humongous upturn of our existing structure. It’s about going back and making it human-centric everywhere we can, so that we can walk and bike and use our transportation system in any way possible to continue to allow us to be participants in our community.”

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Roberta Fennessy, who leads the consultant team, said Vision Zero needs community input. “You all are our boots on the ground,” she said. “These are your roadways that you live and drive on a daily basis. We need that finer grain of knowledge base from you all.” The District 1 meeting was one of six public workshops, one per district, that will be taking place as part of the public engagement process. There also will be two pop-up events. Orange County staff member Roberto Ng gave a short presentation at the meeting. “There is an epidemic that is happening in our communities,” Ng said. “We must tackle it head-on because there is a severe and astounding number of fatalities for pedestrians and bicyclists. … We’re not here about traffic, we’re here about quality of life and safety.” From 2018 to 2022, Ng said there were more than 327,000 crashes, which equates to one crash every 8.5 minutes. Of those, there were about 1,475 fatalities and 9,500 severe injuries. “Is that acceptable?” Ng asked. “By no means. We must do something, and we must do it now.” Residents who attended the meeting were able to participate in interactive stations throughout the room that focused on identification of safety concerns, countermeasures and hands-on activities. The Orange County Vision Zero Steering Committee has been meeting since October and will continue to meet through March to assist with strategy development for the remaining phases of the plan, as well as provide key input and advice for the plan. The next Vision Zero meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, at the John Bridges Community Center.

“There is an epidemic that is happening in our communities. We must tackle it head-on because there is a severe and astounding number of fatalities for pedestrians and bicyclists. … We’re not here about traffic, we’re here about quality of life and safety.” — Orange County staff member Roberto Ng

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OrangeObserver.com

OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

REAL ESTATE

SNAPSHOT

Total Sales: 41 High Sale Price: $3,200,000 Low Sale Price: $191,000 CRESTWOOD HEIGHTS

The townhouse at 1130 Crestwood Commons Ave., Ocoee, sold Jan. 19, for $364,900. Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 1,951 square feet of living area. Days on market: Six. JORDANA HILLS

The home at 1004 Armada Court, Ocoee, sold Jan. 16, for $305,000. Built in 1982, it has four bedrooms, one bath and 1,300 square feet of living area. Days on market: 41. PRESERVE AT CROWN POINT

redfin.com

The home at 6723 Point Hancock Drive, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 19, for $1,666,000. This home was remodeled in 2020 by a Brazilian architect. The sellers were represented by Flavia Cabral, Florida Scandi Realty LLC.

Signature Lakes estate sells for $1,666,000 A

home in the Signature

Horizon West topped all West Orange-area residenfrom Jan. 14 to 20. The home at 6723 Point Hancock Drive, Winter

OCOEE

ARDEN PARK

Garden, sold Jan. 19, for redfin.com

it has six bedrooms, four

The home at 960 Celadon St., Winter Garden, sold Jan. 17, for $805,000. It was the largest transaction in Winter Garden from Jan. 14 to 20. The sellers were represented by Debbie Wind, New Homes Real Estate Inc.

baths, two half-baths and

TOSCANA

The sellers were represented

The townhouse at 7190 Regina Way, Orlando, sold Jan. 19, for $485,000. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,232 square feet of living area. Days on market: 171.

by Flavia Cabral, Florida

HORIZON WEST

area. Days on market: 526.

Scandi Realty LLC. These are the highestselling homes in each community in West Orange. DR. PHILLIPS VIZCAYA

The home at 8609 Saint Marino Blvd., Orlando, sold Jan. 16, for $1,325,000. Built in 2003, it has five bedrooms, five-and-one-half baths and 4,692 square feet of living area. Days on market: 138. NORTH BAY

The home at 5625 Bay Side Drive, Orlando, sold Jan. 19, for $790,000. Built in 1993, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,249 square feet of living area. Days on market: Four. PHILLIPS BAY CONDOMINIUMS

The townhouse at 7402 Green Tree Drive, No. 1, Orlando, sold Jan. 19, for $500,000. Built in 1999, it has three bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 2,333 square feet of living area. Days on market: 51.

WINDING BAY

The home at 15399 Gilligan Court, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 16, for $575,000. Built in 2021, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,758 square feet of living area. Days on market: 163.

tial real-estate transactions

5,022 square feet of living

The home at 6382 Golden Dewdrop Trail, Windermere, sold Jan. 16, for $520,000. Built in 2012, it has three bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 2,139 square feet of living area. Days on market: 16. The home at 15301 Lebeau Loop, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 16, for $799,000. Built in 2022, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 3,291 square feet of living area. Days on market: Three.

Lakes community in

$1,666,000. Built in 2012,

WINDEREMERE LANDINGS

LAKES OF WINDERMERE — PEACHTREE

The home at 13413 Hopkinton Court, Windermere, sold Jan. 16, for $620,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, three-and-onehalf baths and 2,792 square feet of living area. Days on market: 61.

WATERLEIGH

The home at 1740 Black Maple Place, Ocoee, sold Jan. 18, for $488,000. Built in 2019, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,936 square feet of living area. Days on market: 91.

The townhouse at 16243 Quiet Vista Drive, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 18, for $410,000. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, twoand-one-half baths and 1,567 square feet of living area. Days on market: 20.

ARDEN PARK NORTH

WESTSIDE VILLAGE

BROOKESTONE

The home at 11579 Charnock Drive, Windermere, sold Jan. 16, for $515,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 2,082 square feet of living area. Days on market: 32.

The home at 1523 American Beech Parkway, Ocoee, sold Jan. 19, for $564,000. Built in 2019, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,874 square feet of living area. Days on market: 32. The home at 602 Chester Pines Court, Ocoee, sold Jan. 18, for $730,000. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 3,114 square feet of living area. Days on market: 13.

The home at 3229 Stonegate Drive, Ocoee, sold Jan. 17, for $500,000. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,612 square feet of living area. Days on market: 56. SAWMILL

The home at 7019 Sawmill Circle, Ocoee, sold Jan. 16, for $375,000. Built in 1989, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,698 square feet of living area. Days on market: 30. TWIN LAKE

The home at 2011 Adair St., Ocoee, sold Jan. 17, for $299,000. Built in 1982, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,660 square feet of living area. Days on market: 46. WESMERE

The home at 346 Laurenburg Lane, Ocoee, sold Jan. 17, for $617,500. Built in 1994, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,238 square feet of living area. Days on market: 38. WESTYN BAY

The home at 642 Palio Court, Ocoee, sold Jan. 18, for $450,000. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 3,227 square feet of living area. Days on market: 41.

SOUTHWEST ORANGE CYPRESS POINT

The home at 9146 Great Heron Circle, Orlando, sold Jan. 18, for $1,499,000. Built in 1993, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 4,614 square feet of living area. Days on market: 37.

WINDERMERE WINDSOR HILL

The home at 2672 Windsor Hill Drive, Windermere, sold Jan. 16, for $1,050,000. Built in 2003, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 3,636 square feet of living area. Days on market: Eight. WESTOVER CLUB

The home at 9495 Westover Club Circle, Windermere, sold Jan. 19, for $715,000. Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,773 square feet of living area. Days on market: 40.

OASIS COVE II

The condo at 14343 Oasis Cove Blvd., No. 2002, Windermere, sold Jan. 19, for $370,000. Built in 2013, it has four bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 2,028 square feet of living area. Days on market: 144.

WINTER GARDEN BAY ISLE

The home at 6723 Point Hancock Drive, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 19, for $1,666,000. Built in 2012, it has six bedrooms, four baths, two halfbaths and 5,022 square feet of living area. Days on market: 526.

The home at 14326 Hampshire Bay Circle, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 19, for $765,000. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, three-andone-half baths and 3,599 square feet of living area. Days on market: 115.

SILVERLEAF RESERVE

OAKLAND PARK

SIGNATURE LAKES

The home at 4958 Citrus Leaf Blvd., Winter Garden, sold Jan. 19, for $516,000. Built in 2023, it has three bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 1,788 square feet of living area. Days on market: 90.

realtor.com

The home at 602 Chester Pines Court, Ocoee, sold Jan. 18, for $730,000. It was the largest transaction in Ocoee from Jan. 14 to 20. The sellers were represented by Derek Morgan, Unreal Estate.

The home at 960 Celadon St., Winter Garden, sold Jan. 17, for $805,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,928 square feet of living area. Days on market: 15.

SAND LAKE HILLS

The home at 8242 Sandberry Blvd., Orlando, sold Jan. 18, for $410,000. Built in 1985, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,640 square feet of living area. Days on market: Six. The home at 6948 Sugarbush Drive, Orlando, sold Jan. 19, for $330,000. Built in 1978, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 2,732 square feet of living area. Days on market: 13. SAND LAKE PRIVATE RESIDENCES

The condo at 8903 Latrec Ave., No. 3101, Orlando, sold Jan. 16, for $225,000. Built in 1994, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,003 square feet of living area. Days on market: 14.

bhgre.com

The home at 2672 Windsor Hill Drive, Windermere, sold Jan. 16, for $1,050,000. It was the largest transaction in Windermere from Jan. 14 to 20. The sellers were represented by Nitin Sehgal, EXP Realty LLC.

OrangeObserver.com

OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

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OrangeObserver.com

OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

West Orange Chamber of Commerce

Celebrates Business West Orange Chamber of Commerce celebrates the grand opening of Ultimate Carts - Winter Garden

The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the grand opening of Ultimate Carts - Winter Garden. Located at 12623 W Colonial Dr Ste A in Winter Garden, Ultimate Carts is Central Florida’s premier Electric Vehicle dealer, and they are proud to offer a huge selection of the top EV brands. Ultimate Carts is the BEST place to upgrade or purchase your very first EV. They carry top brands like ICON and EPIC, so you know you’re getting a quality product. Home of the Ultimate Edition Cart Package, they have everything you need to have a great time around town. We have something for everyone! We also offer financing, parts and service, and have a great selection of accessories to make your EV experience the best it can be. To learn more, visit https://ultimatecarts.com/

West Orange Chamber of Commerce celebrates the grand opening of Quality Store

The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the grand opening of Quality Store. Located at 101 W Silver Star Rd Ste 30 in Ocoee, Quality Store is not just a store; it’s a community of fashion enthusiasts who appreciate quality and elegance. Step into a world where purchase tells a story and every visit is a delight. As a modern thrift store, they provide quality and affordability in one. Genuine French perfumes and handpicked fashion. Your happiness is their priority. To learn more, visit http://www.goqualitystore.com.

West Orange Chamber of Commerce celebrates the grand opening of Fresh Start Entrepreneurs

The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the grand opening of Fresh Start Entrepreneurs. Located in Winter Garden, Fresh Start Entrepreneurs, Inc has partnered with the City of Winter Garden to start a business mentoring program that guides prospective entrepreneurs through the business-development process. This program will teach prospective entrepreneurs how to become business owners, as well as how to become self-sufficient while boosting the economy. To learn more, visit http://freshstartentrepreneurs.com.

West Orange Chamber of Commerce celebrates the grand opening of Bodystreet Winter Garden

The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the grand opening of Bodystreet Winter Garden. Located at 1200 E Plant St Ste 150 in Winter Garden, Bodystreet Winter Garden is a fitness concept that operates in the area of “boutique fitness studios”. They are a specialist for training efficiently and use electromuscular stimulation, which you only need to train 20 minutes a week. Bodystreet helps you with your most important fitness goals: Lose weight, strengthen your back, build muscle, boost your immune system, shape up, and generally and visibly increase your fitness! To learn more, visit https://www.bodystreet.us/studio/bodystreet-winter-garden.

West Orange Chamber of Commerce celebrates the grand opening of Goldfish Swim School Winter Garden

The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the grand opening of Goldfish Swim School Winter Garden. Located at 15710 W Colonial on the Winter Garden-Oakland line, Goldfish Swim School provides swim lessons and water safety instruction to infants and children aged 4 months to 12 years in a safe, child-friendly environment. This new school will be the second in the Orlando area for local owners, husband-and-wife team Gina Jacobs Thomas and Jon Thomas. To learn more, visit http://www.goldfishswimschool.com/winter-garden.

The West Orange Chamber recognizes and applauds our long-standing member businesses for their continued commitment to Advancing Community, Collaboration and Leadership. Congratulations on Membership Milestones to 45 YEARS

Orange Technical College - West Campus Suzi Karr Realty

35 YEARS McKinnon Corporation

10 YEARS

Edumatics, Inc. Esporta Fitness - Altamonte Springs Expedia Cruises Orlando Publix - Dr. Phillips Marketplace Shannon Till - State Farm Insurance

5 YEARS

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TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY To learn more and to register for participation visit wochamber.com/ChamberGroups or call 407-656-1304

JANUARY 25, 2024

SPORTS

Foundation’s freshman phenom Avery Michels is the Lions’ leader in points per game, assists and blocks. Page 2B.

HIGH

Taking it personally 5

Olympia High football’s two-way star Tyler Cross — a tight end on offense and defensive lineman on the other side of the ball — has announced via his social media accounts that he has committed to play college football at Wofford College in South Carolina. The 6-foot-4 Cross served predominantly as a blocker on offense, helping establish the Titans’ elite run game that rushed for 2,131 yards on 249 carries with 29 rushing touchdowns and powered Olympia to an 8-3 record and a Class 4M, District 5 championship. Despite his role as a blocker, Cross still was a factor in the passing game, catching five passes for 73 yards with two touchdowns. As a defensive lineman, Cross racked up 29 total tackles, nine tackles for a loss and three sacks for the Titans’ defense.

With a handful of games and a playoff run to go in her high school career, Dr. Phillips’ Trinity Turner has the chance to end the season in the record books.

At the LeDawn Gibson Classic girls basketball tournament at Winter Haven High, basketball fans saw a battle of the two defending state champions from Florida’s two highest classifications: Dr. Phillips High, the back-toback Class 7A champions, and South Florida’s St. Thomas Aquinas High, the winners of three consecutive Class 6A championships. Led by seniors Trinity Turner and Leah Bullard, the Panthers (15-4) topped the Raiders (13-7), 56-42. The Lady Panther hosted Lake Highland Prep (14-4) at home Jan. 24, after press time Tuesday, and will host Lake Mary High (15-4) at home at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26.

In the Battle of Windermere, the Windermere Prep boys basketball team made the 1.3-mile trek down State Road 535 and beat rivals Windermere High in overtime, 85-82, Tuesday, Jan. 16. The Lakers (14-5) were led by sophomores Brandon Bass Jr., who scored 24 points, and Sinan Huan, who added 17 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks. Juniors Samuel Shoptaw, with 15 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, and Malachi Martis, with 16 points and nine rebounds, also played big roles in the win. For the Wolverines (12-7), senior guard Taveon Jones set a school record for most points in a game with 38. T.J. Drain added 17 points, and Nate Earl had 11 for Windermere in the loss.

SAM ALBUQUERQUE SPORTS EDITOR

he 2020 sports documentary series “The Last Dance” detailed Michael Jordan’s final season with the Chicago Bulls, giving viewers a never-beforeseen look into the icon’s NBA career. Among the countless jaw-dropping stories from the docuseries, one prevailing thought encapsulated Jordan as a player, person, businessman and even as a brand: He took things personally. When anyone slighted him, doubted him or even came remotely close to suggesting that he wasn’t the best player on the floor, he took offense. He even went as far as making up fake reasons to be offended. Case in point: the LaBradford Smith story. Simply put, Jordan was a master of taking anything and everything that was said about him or someone in comparison to him and using it as motivation. Ultimately, that underdog mindset was one of the reasons he became a legendary athlete. Dr. Phillips girls basketball’s Trinity Turner, a Georgia signee, has taken that page from Jordan’s playbook since before the documentary series even premiered and used it to help build herself a historic high school basketball career. “She’s the type of player (who) you don’t want to stare down,” said Anthony Jones, Dr. Phillips’ fivetime state championship-winning girls basketball coach. “You don’t wake up the sleeping giant. You don’t want to poke the bear. You need to make sure that you don’t give her anything to use as motivation, because she’s that type of player.” In her four years — all as a starter — for the Lady Panthers, Turner has led DP to back-to-back FHSAA Class 7A state championships — leading the team in points, rebounds, assists and steals each time. Even with a few regular-season games and a probable deep playoff run still left to play, Turner’s career totals over a 102-game span are 1,773 points, 903 rebounds, 625 assists and 318 steals. There’s a good chance she could end her high school career with more than 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 750 assists and 400 steals. She also was named the MaxPreps Florida Player of the Year in 2022-23. Her overall record with Dr. Phillips is a staggering 87-20. BORN FOR THE BIG STAGE

Marquis Jackson

With more than 100 career games played, Turner’s averages of 17.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 3.1 steals per game are proof of the Panther guard’s undeniable talent.

A perfect example of Turner’s Jordan-like ability to find bulletinboard material and use it to drive her to success on the basketball court is one her father, J.T. Turner, tells. And it came years ago, even before she was in high school. SEE TURNER PAGE 2B

According to its socialmedia pages, Lake Buena Vista High has announced two new coaching hires for the school’s third spring sports season. In softball, Travis Crossland has been tapped to take over a Vipers program that went 2-18 last season and 5-18 the year before. Alexandra Dawson will lead the Vipers’ girls lacrosse team. Last season LBV went 2-8; in its first season, the Vipers finished 5-7.

Windermere boys soccer pitch perfect at 13-0-1

SAM ALBUQUERQUE

Both the LBV girls swim team and The First Academy football team earned the FHSAA Academic Team Champion awards for their respective classifications. The award is presented to the team in each sport and classification with the highest combined team GPA. LBV swimming had a combined GPA of 3.743, which made it the top Class 2A girls swimming program, and The First Academy football topped the 1M football classification with a 3.33 GPA.

After a 4-1 win over Lake Brantley High, the Wolverines have posted a perfect 13-0-1 season under new coach Lou Romao. SPORTS EDITOR

The 2022-23 Windermere High boys soccer team was one of the best in West Orange and Southwest Orange. The team finished with a 13-2-2 record, won the Class 7A, District 5 championship and advanced to the Class 7A regional semifinals — the farthest of any area 7A school. It’s safe to say that it was a successful season for the squad with 14 seniors, including Gabriel Farid — the now Eckerd College player — and Gabriel Simoes, who combined to score 19 goals and assist 17 more.

Beyond losing two top playmakers and more than half of the team to graduation, the 2023-24 version of the Wolverines also played under with a new coach. Many may have taken those factors and deduced that it would be a rebuilding year for Windermere. Luckily for the Wolverines faithful, new coach Lou Romao wasn’t among them. Instead, the veteran area coach saw something special in this team and helped lead the 23-24 Windermere team to an undefeated regular season record, 13-0-1. Note that Windermere’s only nonwin of the season was a 3-3 draw on the road to Horizon (9-3-4) in the West Metro Conference tournament. The Hawks ultimately advanced in the tournament after winning 4-2 in penalty kicks, but because it was a tournament game, the official record lists the final as a tie. In this case, the

Courtesy photo

Despite losing their top two point-scorers and 14 seniors from a 2022-23 team that SEE WOLVERINES PAGE 2B finished 13-2-2, the Wolverines reloaded and are ready for a deep playoff run.

OrangeObserver.com

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

Turner seeks school greatness

SPONSORED BY MARK’S FLOORING AND SHANNON TILL/STATE FARM IN FOWLER GROVES

Avery Michels Despite being a freshman this season, Avery Michels has been growing into a cornerstone piece of the Foundation Academy varsity girls basketball for the past four seasons, starting her varsity career as a sixth-grader. In seventh grade, Michels broke into the starting rotation of a Lions team that reached the regional semifinals of the 202122 FHSAA Class 3A state championship tournament. Last year, she made the jump from starter to star for the Lions, leading the team in points, assists and steals per game. Beyond being named the team’s MVP, she also got it done in the classroom, earning the highest GPA on the team. Now, the 6-foot wing continues to increase her production as the Lions’ go-to player, leading the team in points with 15 per game — a career-high — in assists with 2.1 and in blocks, averaging one an outing. According to the freshman baller, the reason she even started playing basketball — instead of continuing down the competitive horse riding path — was because she went to her brother’s training session and thought it looked like fun.

How does it feel to be named Athlete of the Week? It is an honor to receive any recognition, and it makes me want to work harder to reach my potential. What do you like most about playing basketball? Hanging out with my teammates and friends, and growing as a team and player each year. What is your goal this season for yourself and the team? To improve the weak parts of my game, (such as) rebounding and defense. As a team, improve each week and be playing our best basketball when district playoffs start. What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from basketball? Leadership and confidence. Who is your favorite basketball player, and what about their game do you like? Caitlyn Clark. She is just fun to watch.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B

THE BASICS Age: 15 Sport: Girls basketball Grade: Freshman School: Foundation Academy

What is your favorite movie? “Spider-Man: Across the SpiderVerse” If you could have dinner with one person, who would it be? Caitlyn Clark. If you could go back in time to a specific time in history, where would you go and why? Right now. I like where I’m at. Looking back, what piece of advice would you give your younger self? Don’t look for reassurance from other people. If you could ask your future self a question, what would it be? What college should I go to? Who is your favorite superhero? Spider-Man; Miles Morales. Who is your favorite supervillain? Thanos. If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why? Flying; it sounds fun. If you could travel to three places in the world, where would you go? Norway — to see the Northern Lights — Bora Bora and the Maldives for the beaches. If you could be an animal for a day, which one would you be? Dolphin. I love dolphins. What is your most controversial food take? Sushi is gross.

“I’ve coached my kids up until the ninth grade, and one of the coaching philosophies I’ve always pushed is the mindset that we’re always the underdogs, so we can’t let anyone come out here and outwork us,” J.T. Turner said. “Trinity always understood that. For example, one of her best friends growing up was Jada Eads. She’s a superstar at Lake Highland. So when it was time for her to go to high school, everyone thought Trinity was going to go play with Jada. … But she told me, ‘No dad, get me somewhere that has them on the schedule,’ because at that time, a lot of people were saying that Jada was a better player than Trinity.” In two games against the Highlanders, one where Eads — a Seton Hall University signee — played and one she didn’t, Trinity Turner averaged a whopping 29 points, 11.5 rebounds, 7.5 assists and three steals a game. This type of mindset doesn’t surprise Jones; he knows she relishes the big stage. “Whenever we have big games, and we’re getting ready to face a team with a ranked player, or a player that happens to be ranked higher than Trinity, whether it be in the country or the state, that alone motivates her,” Jones said. “If there is somebody on the other team who is supposed to be superb, I don’t have to say much. She motivates herself. … That’s what I respect the most about her, she always going to give 100%, because it doesn’t take much to motivate her.” The senior guard agrees. “I agree, but at the same time, I think with any opponent I show up to play with my best game,” Trinity Turner said. “But yes, I’m a little more focused on the big stage, because even though I don’t really care about the rankings and all that stuff, I still want to show up and show everyone that I’m the one and that y’all can count me out all you want because I’m the underdog. But I’m always going to make sure to show y’all something in those moments.”

Does pineapple belong on Pizza? Yes!

— SAM ALBUQUERQUE

Who do you try to model your game after? Caitlyn Clark.

What’s your go-to pre-game meal? Publix popcorn chicken. What’s your go-to pre-game hype song? “Great Gatsby” by Ron Wave. What’s your favorite nonbasketball hobby? Baking and driving my golf cart all over downtown Winter Garden with friends. Favorite subject in school? Shannon Till, Agent Geography. Fowler’s Grove 3279 Daniels Rd Winter Garden, FL 34787 Three things you would take toTolla Free: 855-742-1591 www.shannontill.com

penalty shootout was used only to dictate which team advanced in the tournament, not the winner of the match. “It’s like a fairytale come true,” Romao said. “I can’t take the credit for myself. The coaching staff that I have helped me tremendously with this. My assistant coaches, Nick and Ruben, both were a huge asset to where we are with this undefeated season. “A lot of the reason for this achievement was just the chemistry we had between the coaches and players, (and) the players wanting to be here and having such a drive to win,” he said. “You can tell that they don’t like to lose, and that’s not something anyone can coach. But it just feels incredible and coming to this program has just felt like a match made in heaven for me.” This Wolverines team was dominant in all stages of play. In attack, Windermere scored 71 goals in its 14 games, an average of over five goals per game. The Wolverines scored fewer than three goals only twice. We’re all in this together. On the front line for WinderState Farm has a long traditionmere’s potent attack was senior of being there. That’s one reason winger Jose Moyetones, who scored why I’m proud to support West18 goals and dished out 19 assists — Orange county.. both the most on the team. Along

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With that kind of player leading the way, along with a superb group of juniors, it’s no wonder the Lady Panthers have won back-to-back state championships. But to complete what the Panthers’ coach calls the hardest thing in sports — winning the third championship of a three-peat — and sending Trinity Turner off to Athens, Georgia, in style, they need to stay locked in. Jone should know: His DP teams did it in 2010-11, 201112 and 2012-13. “You have to understand that a three-peat is the hardest thing to do,” Jones said. “There’s so much going against you. … Like I tell the players, we have to keep the evil spirit out of our program, because we’re going to have haters, and we’re going to have to work twice as hard to get back there. I can remember winning that third title in 2013, and it wasn’t as much of a celebration as it was more of a sigh of relief. “Every opponent we face knows exactly who we are coming into the gym, and they’ve had that game circled,” he said. “They know they have to play at their best to be able to compete with the defending champions, so most of the time we get everybody’s A+ game, and that’s challenging. But I think my girls have understood that and how to deal with the trials and tribulations, the ups and downs that come with having this target on our back … so we’re up for the challenge. That’s what we’ve prepared for, and no matter what, we are going to fight.” Trinity Turner agrees. “We just need to keep focusing in practice and going 100% out there every day,” she said. “(All the players) on the team knows their style of play, they know their role, so we just need to stay locked in. If we do what we’re supposed to do, we’re unstoppable.”

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now — focusing on winning the district tournament. Then, we’ll move on to regional and then the ultimate goal of states.” However, to achieve that, Romao knows it will come down to the team’s mental toughness. “It has nothing to do with skills, because all the players we’re going to play against in districts, regionals or in states, they’re going to be very closely matched in terms of talent,” he said. “It’s all going to come down to mental mistakes. Whoever makes the most mistakes is going to lose, and whoever limits their mistakes is going to win. So, that’s really the only thing I can do to try and prepare them now. We’re obviously a very skilled team, but the focus in the playoffs is on getting them mentally prepared for who we have to play next.” Windermere’s road to states starts at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26, in the second round of the 2023-24 FHSAA Class 7A, District 5 tournament. After earning the No. 1 seed in the district, the Wolverines will have a first-round bye and will meet the winner of the Freedom (5-5-6) at Olympia (9-6-1) match. Windermere beat both teams in the regular season — topping Freedom, 3-2, and Olympia, 4-2.

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“She’s very athletic, very strong and has a very high basketball I.Q. She just plays like a dog — a bigtimer. She’s such a great competitor; it feels like her game belongs back in the mid-90s. Her game reminds me of how it used to be playing in the park … where every possession was such a big shot, and it felt like everybody on the court was a dog.”

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with Moyetones, fellow senior Arthur Cavalcanti has also had a tremendous season so far with 11 goals and six assists, and junior Kaike Maia scored 12 times and had four assists. In defense, the Wolverines only allowed 13 goals in their 14 matches — that’s a combined goal differential of +58 for the season — had five clean sheets and held its opponents to one goal or fewer in 11 games. “What really got us here was that we were all on the same page,” Romao said. “We all had the same vision and the same goal. When you put that all together, that pretty much makes a great team. From the coaches to the players, we were just united in general. It was nice to see everybody working hard for (one another); that really was a huge aspect of our success so far.” Romao and his team will look to keep their shared vision rolling through the playoffs, putting behind the regular season success and focusing on what’s ahead — the district tournament. “Our players celebrated the undefeated season and are happy about it and so are we as coaches, but it’s over,” he said. “Now, it’s time for the real work — the most important part of the season: the playoffs. That is our main goal right

Athlete of the Week sponsored by:

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But how did Trinity Turner develop that underdog mindset? Yes, her father pushed it on her as a coach, but her older sister, Jimaya Turner, helped solidify it. For Trinity, beating her older sister, currently a senior basketball player at Stetson who won a state title at Jones High in 2017, was the ultimate goal. “To be honest, as much as I trained and taught my children the game, without that sibling rivalry, Trinity wouldn’t have become as good as she is,” J.T. Turner said. “Her sister used to beat her down on the court. Then, she’d come in the house crying, and the first thing I’d say to her was, ‘Get back outside and play her again.’ She’d complain about her sister backing her down and that she could beat her if she didn’t do that. But I’d just keep saying, ‘I don’t care what she does to you, you have to keep competing, you have to find a way to beat her.’ She never did as a kid, but she kept trying. … That competitiveness got inside her.” Trinity Turner said: “I always wanted to beat my sister in everything. No matter what it was, I always wanted to be better than her. So when we played one-on-one, we would always go at it. Because of her, as I was growing up, I always played up with older kids, and that helped me a lot. Now, when I play against bigger or stronger players it’s not as hard as it seems because I got used to it.” Beyond the impact that trying to beat her older sister had on Trinity Turner, the biggest lesson that Jimaya Turner taught her was to always give it your all. “My sister, growing up, really taught me how to always go 100% all of the time,” Trinity Turner said. “ She always tried to push me hard and told me what I had to do to get better. I’m really just following in her footsteps but just trying to be better.” These experiences shaped Trinity Turner into the player she is today: a pass-first point guard who can put the team on her back and get a bucket whenever she wants. She is an elite competitor who lives for the big moments and matchups. “Trinity is probably one of the best players — skillset-wise — that I’ve ever coached,” Jones said.

Wolverines roll into postseason play CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B

Favorite basketball memory? My seventh-grade year, we advanced to the state Elite 8 and got to travel as a team and spend a few days in Tallahassee for the playoff game.

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OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

Windermere natives launch Nourish Project

Left: Kavya and Rishi Shah are the masterminds behind The Nourish Project.

The project, created by Windermere natives Kavya and Rishi Shah, is an organization that promotes longevity, healthy aging and social connectedness among the elderly. ANNABELLE SIKES NEWS EDITOR

Windermere natives Kavya and Rishi Shah are promoting longevity, healthy aging and social connectedness among the elderly in local communities through their creation: The Nourish Project. The Shahs, Kavya, 22, and Rishi, 19, were born and raised in Windermere. The two attended local schools, including Sunset Park Elementary, Bridgewater Middle and Windermere High. The pair first got the idea for The Nourish Project during the COVID-19 pandemic. “While we were both sent home from school and spent most of our time indoors, we at least were able to contact friends through video calls,” they said. “However, we noticed that many older adults and senior citizens in our area didn’t have the luxury of having extended networks of friends and family to support them, which could be lonely and isolating during the pandemic. Many seniors didn’t have much experience with digital technologies like Zoom, which became very popular during the pandemic, making communication even more difficult for them.” Through weekly visits to senior living homes, the project teaches interactive lessons encouraging healthy nutrition and improving digital literacy, while fostering sustained intergenerational relationships. The mission: to nourish health, the mind and relationships.

Below: Through weekly visits to senior living homes, The Nourish Project teaches interactive lessons encouraging healthy nutrition and improving digital literacy, while fostering sustained intergenerational relationships.

CREATING COMMUNITY

The organization fulfills its mission through three key areas: encouraging regular exercise and healthy nutrition; improving digital and technological literacy; and fostering sustained intergenerational relationships. The brothers said they have been fortunate to recruit many volunteers to help with senior center visits. They have recruited volunteers for multiple chapters across five states and are hoping to expand even more in the near future. The project’s team consists of students from Yale College, Harvard College and Cornell University. The team designs The Nourish Project curriculum, facilitates new partnerships, and recruits and trains volunteers so they can nourish the elderly in communities. Currently, Rishi Shah is an undergraduate student at Yale, where he studies applied mathematics and biology. Kavya Shah is a graduate student at the University of Cambridge, where he studies computational biology. “During the pandemic, we largely interacted with senior centers that had digital technologies on-site, which limited the amount of social interaction and connection that we were able to foster,” they said. “Since pandemic regulations have eased, we have been able to physically visit senior centers, which has been a very rewarding experience.” So far, the project has helped more than 100 seniors in the community.

Courtesy photos

MORE INFORMATION WEBSITE: nourish-project.org PHONE: (407) 821-0455 or (407) 450-6696 EMAIL: nourishproj@gmail.com

Currently, the Shahs are working toward two main goals. “First, we are focused on expanding our organization by starting chapters at universities across the country,” they said. “We are recruiting fellow college students who are interested in giving back to their communities and serving the elderly. Second, we are continually improving our curriculum program that we have developed for our partner senior center facilities. By administering pre- and post-program surveys to our participants, we can pinpoint strategies we can use to make the project an even more enjoyable experience.” In the future, Kavya and Rishi Shah hope to continue growing the project and establishing the program as a community service organization

everyone can participate in as a volunteer. Their goal is to continue forging intergenerational friendships in the local communities, which they said can be rewarding for both volunteers and participants. Both Kavya and Rishi Shah plan to go to medical school and become doctors in the future. “We are fueled by our shared drive

to improve human health,” the brothers said. “While we are not yet doctors, we always try to look for ways to make people happier and alleviate pain in any way we can. We both love tackling complex issues and working together, so The Nourish Project is the perfect avenue for merging our interests in a fun, collaborative way.”

Dillard Street Elementary School soars at Dragon Fest

Kaiden Rios-Cruz had fun making his way through the inflatable obstacle course.

Clockwise from above: Keilani Rios-Cruz armed herself with balls and beanbags at one of the game stations.

illard Street Elementary School hosted its Dragon Fest Friday, Jan. 19, and families enjoyed a fun evening together. Families could purchase a meal and snacks under the covered pavilion before participating in a variety of games and playing on inflatables.

Peter Welch grinned after landing at the bottom of the inflatable slide. Dillard Street Elementary secretary Jenesis McGee, teacher Andrea Austing and principal Tiffany Smid donned matching Dragon shirts for the Dragon Fest.

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POSITION: Director of instrumental music TIME AT SCHOOL: Five years at HWMS, seven with OCPS. Orchestra director for 17 years in Connecticut.

involved as a volunteer firefighter for (more than) 17 years. I enjoyed being a first responder and working with my department. I retired from my department at the rank of captain; I currently hold multiple certifications and was a state-certified trainer. While with the department I ran the Cadet Program for high school students introducing them to the fire service. Who was your favorite teacher when you were in school? Why? Any music teacher will always tell you that they were influenced by their high school band or orchestra director. My band director, Mr. Novack, had the most influence on the career path and my success as a performer and teacher. He gave me many opportunities to grow as a musician and educator. I still speak with him often, and he is still performing and teaching to this day. What is your favorite children’s book and why? “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” or anything from Mo Willems. These were some of my favorite books we read to my son. The Elephant and Piggy series is also a fan favorite. SEE OPPOSITE PAGE

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Stephen Corneau is the band director and orchestra and guitar teacher at Horizon West Middle School and is responsible for teaching students how to perform on all the musical instruments. He teaches several levels of band, orchestra and guitar, as well as Jazz Studies. “Mr. Corneau … has been with us since the inception of the school, tirelessly building an outstanding program,” Principal Michelle Thomas said. “His leadership in the performing arts department has resulted in remarkable performances and enriched our school community.”

What would you be if you weren’t in this profession? I would be a firefighter or involved in some area of the fire service. While living in Connecticut, I was highly

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What is the most rewarding part of your job? I love seeing my students succeed beyond the level that I attained in middle school. As a middle school teacher, I enjoy starting them on their musical journeys and watching them continue into college still performing. Many of my past students have become performers and music educators.

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OrangeObserver.com

OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

OBSERVER SCHOOL ZONE

OACS principal pens children’s S.T.E.M. book Pamela Dwyer’s book, ‘Stemasaurus Has a Dream,’ features a young dinosaur who wants to bring an exciting lab program to her school. AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

The young students at Oakland Avenue Charter School listened as their principal, Pamela Dwyer, read a book to the class. But this wasn’t just any book in the school library — it was Dwyer’s first published book, “Stemasaurus Has a Dream.” She spent the last two years writing the book and working with an illustrator, and she self-published it in November. One of the challenges was finding an illustrator who could create the images she had in her mind of what the characters and other details were going to look like. After looking at several options, she ultimately chose Denis Alonso and his wife, Claudia Malon, of Brazil, who understood her vision. Dwyer currently is seeking a publishing agent for this and all future books she hopes to write. Her inspiration for the book and its story came from her students. “I have a love for the things that kids love,” she said. “I’m inspired by

FROM OPPOSITE PAGE

What do you like to do in your spare time? I enjoy traveling with my family. We love cruising and camping in our travel trailer. Fort Wilderness is one of our favorite camping spots. Last summer, we towed it all the way to Key West, which was incredible. This summer, we will be traveling to Europe for the first time, and I’m very excited to experience it with my family. What is your favorite holiday and why? Being from Salem, Massachusetts,

Amy Quesinberry

Pamela Dwyer’s first book is about a student who wants to introduce a S.T.E.M. lab to her elementary school.

I would have to say that Halloween is my favorite holiday. I always enjoyed going out with my friends and seeing who could get the most candy. I enjoy it even more here in Florida since we don’t have to deal with frigid temperatures or snow. If you could dine with any famous person, past or present, who would it be and why? John Williams (composer) — his influence on music and film scoring is unmatched in this century. I have seen him conduct many times; I think it would be fun to ask him about his approach to composing and what influences his writing.

cute things (that are) humble, inspiring, so I like to be able to share a message with kids that they are able to do things too. … Your voice matters, even if you’re a kid.” The premise of “Stemasaurus” is this: Stevie is a young dinosaur girl who is on a mission to get a S.T.E.M. lab at Stomp Elementary School, and she is brave enough to talk to the principal about making it happen. Along the way, she discovers it sometimes takes a team to accomplish goals. Dwyer said she enjoyed the writing process and exploring words and knew she would have an automatic captive audience with her students at OACS. “When I read to the kids and I show the page of Stem dreaming — and even kids recognizing that she’s dreaming about science — that’s exciting,” Dwyer said. “The whole thing with S.T.E.M. and science — when I was in school, science was just reading in a book.” The “Stemasaurus” book is coming to the school library, as well. She has read it to all of the VPK through second-grade classes at the school, and she participated in a story time on the porch of the Healthy West Orange Arts & Heritage Center

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why? I think life would be easier if I had the ability to communicate in all languages. For many of our students at HWMS, English is not their primary language. I am always working to find ways to better communicate with my students. What was your go-to lunch and favorite snack as an elementary student? As an elementary student, my favorite meal was Kraft Macaroni and Cheese; favorite snack would have to be Cheez-Its.

BUY THE BOOK “Stemasaurus Has a Dream” is available online at Barnes & Noble, bit.ly/3HpZma8, and Amazon, bit.ly/423Xuxf. The book is about $9, and the Kindle version is $5. For information about the book, visit stemasaurus.com. The book is suitable for children up to 10 years old.

at the Town of Oakland. Several of the children in attendance were OACS students who were thrilled to tell Dwyer they have the book and they love it. One girl was excited about her principal’s fame and excitedly asked everyone if they know the author like she does. “I set out to do something I said I wanted to,” she said. “I used to share with my daughter all these ideas; she said, you should just do it.” This week is Literacy Week, and Dwyer will be talking to students about the book process, and she wants to ask what they would like to see in her next book, which also will have a science theme. Currently in the storyboarding process for Book No. 2, Dwyer revealed it’s another lesson in S.T.E.M. about floating and sinking. “I would definitely like to do a series,” Dwyer said.

If you could only listen to three bands or artists, who would they be and why? Being a musician, this is one of the toughest questions to answer. I enjoy all genres of music from classical to rock. Most of my favorites are due to growing up in the Boston area, as many performed there regularly and even started there. Favorite trumpet performer/educator, Maynard Ferguson; favorite orchestra, The Boston Symphony; favorite rock band, Aerosmith. Who was your best friend when you were in school and why? I had many friends throughout

high school and college; we were all involved in music and stayed together for many years. I am still in contact with many of them who continue to play and teach all over the United States. What were your extracurricular activities as a student? Did you win any accolades or honors? I have always been highly involved in music. In high school I was band vice president, section leader and lead trumpet in the jazz program. — AMY QUESINBERRY

YOUR SMILE,

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OUR PASSION

OrangeObserver.com

OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

Heritage Foundation serves up downtown food tours Take the tour to sample unique and popular menu items and learn about the city’s history.

CONRAD CHARLES SCHATTE III DIED NOV. 8, 2023.

Conrad Charles Schatte III, 48, of Washington, D.C., passed away Nov. 8, 2023. He was born in Orlando, Florida, on Feb. 24, 1975. Conrad graduated from West Orange High School and received a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University in 1997. After school in Nashville, he spent a majority of his career working in politics in Washington, D.C., specializing in energy affairs. Conrad grew up playing soccer and tennis and was active with music and theater through his college years. He was known for his passion of antique cars and motorcycles, specifically his classic Volvo. Conrad is survived by his parents, Conrad (Raddy) and Mary Schatte; and brother, Chad, and his wife, Jennifer, with nephews Riley, Ryder and Reid and niece Rebe. A service to honor Conrad will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Gotha.

HERITAGE FOOD TOURS

AMY QUESINBERRY

WHEN: Four times each month; private tours available for parties of eight WHERE: Downtown Winter Garden DETAILS: Participants on the two-mile, two-and-one-halfhour walking tour will sample popular and unique foods from downtown restaurants while learning facts about Winter Garden’s past COST: $85 per person REGISTER: wghf.org/ heritage-food-tours or in person at the History Research and Education Center during operating hours

The Winter Garden Heritage Foundation has found another way to share the fascinating history of the city and its downtown corridor. Heritage Food Tours will be conducted four times each month, and participants will sample popular and unique menu items from various downtown restaurants while discovering interesting historical facts about Winter Garden and its past. Those taking part in the tour can learn about the architectural history of the Plant Street corridor and hear about the city’s unique culture. WGHF board member Jennifer Talbot has been overseeing the new project and has recruited a few friends to help conduct the walking tours. Three different options are offered — all with four or five stops — on various days of the week: Happy Hour Tour, Saturday Brunch Tour and Family & Fido Friendly Foodie Tour. There are evening and weekend options as well. The tour incorporates about two miles of walking spread out over two-and-one-half hours. There are four twenty-minute seated food stops along the way, in addition to stops of interest downtown. The Happy Hour Tour includes three adult beverage samples paired with several delicious appetizers and bites of local cuisine — think sliders, tacos, burgers, flatbread and martinis. The brunch tour includes champagne and other adult drinks as well as nibbles such as French toast, chicken and waffles, or croque-monsieur. The Family & Fido tour is designed for children of all ages and/or pets and features a fun few hours of scavenger hunts, ice cream floats, pizza, hot dogs, dog treats and a picnic blanket. Folks can eat or drink extra at each stop but must be prepared to pay.

Nelson Guillermo Franjul, 41, of Winter Garden, died Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. Winter Oak Funeral Home and Cremations, Winter Garden. Melissa Kay Hewitt, 37, of Ocoee, died Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. Collison Carey Hand Funeral Home, Winter Garden. Mahendra Jaygobin, 72, died Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. Winter Oak Funeral Home and Cremations, Winter Garden. Marsha Lucille Nieman, 73, died Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. Winter Oak Funeral Home and Cremations, Winter Garden.

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Donald Smith, 69, of Clermont, died Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. Winter Oak Funeral Home and Cremations, Winter Garden.

HOW IT CAME ABOUT

Talbot enjoys traveling, and when she goes to other cities, she likes to take the food tours to discover the

Courtesy photos

Jennifer Talbot is leading the tours with the help of her friends and volunteers Sonya Adams, Laura Morin and Samantha Robinson.

local flavor. She thought that could be a great retirement project for her in Winter Garden, so she began researching the idea last year. A local couple, Jamie and John Baylor, were conducting their own food tours in downtown Winter Garden but had since stopped the business. “I set up a meeting with the Baylors, and I thought at first maybe I could do this as my own business,” Talbot said. “But then I thought, ‘Let’s run this through the heritage foundation and incorporate some of the history.’ They were already doing some of that. They agreed to sell it.” The WGHF receives all monies above the cost of food and gratuity. Talbot said downtown Winter Garden is the perfect area to conduct such a walking food tour.

“I think that Winter Garden has a lot of pride in the downtown area and has a lot of history, a lot of the restaurants are in historical buildings, and I think, more than anything, it’s a great way to take your out-of-town guests to brunch or a meal,” she said. “You don’t have to cook, you get to try … different restaurants, and you get a full meal, and you get a little taste of the history of the town. I think a lot of people are really proud of this town.” Jim Crescitelli, WGHF director, is thrilled to see this addition to downtown. “Our food tour, which takes place in the downtown historic district, will rightly whet diners’ appetites for knowing more about local history,” he said.

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WEST ORANGE OBITUARIES

OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION FROM THE ARCHIVES

70 years ago

55 years ago

A new camping area known as Tucker’s Ranch Campground opened on the east shores of Johns Lake.

50 years ago

From real estate ads in the Times: Two-story Colonial, five bedrooms, three bathrooms, family room, garage, central heat and air, carpets, deluxe kitchen, separate dining room. Great terms, super deluxe! $52,000.

The mission of the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation is to preserve the heritage and architecture of Winter Garden while creating new cultural experiences. The Foundation also preserves the material culture of West Orange County, using it to educate the area’s youth on the community’s rich history.

30 years ago

About 150 people — elected officials, municipal planners, landowners, environmentalists, consultants and interested residents — spent more than six hours exchanging ideas at a growth-management workshop in Windermere. The meeting set the stage for a new land-use study to be undertaken by Horizon West Inc., a newly established organization of landowners and community leaders in West Orange. This public/private land-planning partnership would later become the enormous masterplanned

community of Horizon West in Southwest Orange County. The Tibet-Butler Preserve and Vera Carter Environmental Center were dedicated. The 439-acre property opened on Winter Garden-Vineland Road on Lake Tibet. The West Orange High NinthGrade Center was under construction southeast of the main campus to relieve overcrowding at West Orange High School.

Winter Garden Heritage Foundation staff members spend their busy workweeks gathering, processing, cataloging and presenting every aspect of local history that is shared with them by the people of West Orange County. Employees often are questioned about their personal origins, and this week, on what would have been his mother’s 92nd birthday, WGHF Director Jim Crescitelli shares this photograph of his parents. Taken in 1964, Anthony and Vilma are seen on the front stoop of their Brooklyn home, surveying their turf. Mom and Dad were married Jan. 24, 1954, and honeymooned in Miami Beach. Her parents had lived in Miami but were discouraged by the hurricane of 1926 and moved to Brooklyn. Their son, Jim, moved to Florida in 1978 and became privileged to work in local history in 2012.

He previously was named Florida Youth Soccer Association Boys Coach of the Year. Officials from Orange County Public Schools and the city of Ocoee donned canvas gloves and rubber boots to help pour the concrete for the foundation of a new high school under construction off Ocoee-Apopka Road.

20 years ago

Peter Moore, of WOHS, was named U.S. Youth Soccer Boys Adidas Coach of the Year for Region III.

crossword

celebrity cipher

GO WEST, YOUNG MAN by Justin Werfel, edited by Jeff Chen 133 Utters

67 Trunk, in two senses

DOWN

69 Like falling off a log

1 When repeated three times, “Catch-22” character 2 Wear away 3 Yearned 4 Not this 5 Sloth, e.g. 6 Gorilla, e.g. 7 Dian who studied 6-Downs 8 Periphery 9 Enemy 10 Architect Maya 11 “Sesame Street Fever,” for one 12 “___ noches” 13 Acme’s opposite 14 Halted 15 Trapped, as a cat by a dog 18 Song in “Guys and Dolls” 20 Alternative to cursive 23 Basic logic gate 24 Hit that’s nearly a homer 25 Vanished 30 Where Heracles slew a lion 33 Highest possible grade 34 Hide, as a coin 36 Depart

ACROSS 1 Lamb or chicken 5 Umpire’s call 9 Extra fat

38 Salary

on Earth)

code

37 Discourage

39 Foil alternative

77 Like the center of a Cad-

106 Underground comix

41 Basics

40 Education acronym that

bury Creme 65-Down

magazine featuring Robert

42 Roll call call

sometimes adds an “A”

78 Moonrise direction

Crumb

43 On the briny

110 Not many 82 “___ peanut butter 13 Crypto offering, for short 41 “Eureka!” 44 Laundry detergent brand 112 Was really into sandwiches!” (The Amazing 16 St. Louis landmark 17 Music players of old 19 Prep for a bodybuilding competition 21 “What up, fellow pirate?” 22 Inventor of the printing press 26 The buck stops here? 27 “___ Joy” 28 Soothsayer

32 See 31-Across 35 Like Clark Kent

44 Certain serpent 46 Laundry detergent brand

45 Tardy

Mumford’s incantation on

115 Home of many Goyas

48 Not fooled by

47 Ages

“Sesame Street”)

116 Real hoot

49 Final Four org.

51 Musical film featuring

83 Actress who won an

118 Contend

50 Dispatched

Maggie Gyllenhaal

Oscar for “The Iron Lady”

120 Dawn goddess

52 Author Windling who

56 Subtle distinction

87 Mme., across the Channel 121 Film starring Heath

has won nine World Fantasy

58 Heebie-jeebies

88 Camelot or Gormenghast Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal

Awards

59 Gimli’s weapon

90 Flower arrangements

... and a description of each

53 Literature Nobelist

60 Clears

92 Headliner

set of circled letters

Thomas

62 Beige

95 What you used to be?

126 Fitting

54 Former grunt

127 Battery, e.g.

55 Tack strap

128 Flies high

56 At hand

96 Feng ___ 29 Team up at work, in a way 63 Burn a bit 64Hicks with an eponymous 97 Umpire’s call 31 With 32-Across, metaphor for excessive bureaucracy

JAN. 24, 1974 The latest in stereos was on sale at TG&Y Family Center, as advertised in The Winter Garden Times in 1974. For a low $78.88, music lovers could invest in a Midland International AM/FM/ MPX/8-track stereo receiver with sizable speakers. And what’s a new stereo without some new music? TG&Y, located in the Winter Garden Tri-City Shopping Center at Highway 50 and Dillard Street, offered a large selection of titles and artists. Do you know what would sound great coming out of those speakers? The store shelves included 8-track stereo tape cartridges, and for $1.97, shoppers could own their own Buck Owens, Bobby Sherman, Lawrence Welk, Dionne Warwick, Johnny Cash, Floyd Cramer and George Jones.

57 Computer connector std.

list

98 Three-time role for Keanu 129 Poker buy-in

66 Scientist’s garb

99 Robert Burns, for one

130 “Bonjour, ___ amis!”

61 Dispatch, as a dragon

68 King Charles III, e.g.

103 Edison’s middle name

131 Fill

64 Petri dish gel

132 Patella’s place

65 See 77-Across

74 ___ Trench (deepest place 105 Logan International

70 QB errors 71 Cultural NYC destination 72 Dutch astronomer Jan who postulated an eponymous “cloud” of comets 73 Aerie, e.g. 74 “Two Years Before the

By Luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another. “SPY XVBYC MXO HCY ... MXO CYHVUTY IPHS MXO YZEXM HZB IPHS MXO BXZ’S ZYYB, IPHS IYHCG MXO XOS HZB IPHS’G URLXCSHZS.”

___” (classic sea memoir) 75 Sacred river in “Kubla Khan” 76 Like hens’ teeth 79 Working hard 80 Gin flavorer 81 Take care of 84 The start of something? 85 “___ Frome”

“FOIMOPO MW LDREVOIX YWJ LDRE AYIOWA 100% YWJ WOPOE IOA YWLDWO JMVZDREYKO LDR XEDC XDIIDGMWK LDRE JEOYCV.”

86 Physics Nobelist Wolfgang 88 Make happen 89 One of five in a Shakespearean drama 91 Fabled storyteller?

AYALYWY YIM

“ZM’X MSNF UEIM JFAJRF XIV – MEIM IKMASX ISF MEF KRAXFXM MEZTO MEFSF ZX MA KEZRPSFT. MEFV JRIV.”

93 Artist Diego who painted

TIXMIXXYI BZTXBZ

murals at the 71-Down 94 Something that might be hit or raised

HVHZ EHJAGXZ

Puzzle Three Clue: R equals L

Egg producers in this and 38 other Florida counties were given assurance of a supported price of 38 cents a dozen until further notice for all Grade A large eggs sold to “country buyers” operating under contracts with the Food Distribution Administration. The Sunday morning service at the First Christian Church of Ocoee was the scene of two outstanding events. The mortgage, which had been carried on the educational building for the past several years, was ceremoniously burned; and the recently elected elders and deacons of the congregation were ordained. Winter Garden’s new bookmobile station, located in the basement of City Hall, opened and was ready to serve the people of this area, according to librarian Mrs. George Barley. A group from the Trailer City Shuffleboard Club appeared before the Winter Garden City Commission to stress the importance of having at least 12 good shuffleboard courts. Mr. and Mrs. Warren Hurley, Mr. and Mrs. Hoyle Pounds, and Mr. and Mrs. Bob Kerr were on the Silver Dollar cruise weekend.

100 Check 101 Joan ___ 102 English royal family 104 Nike competitor 105 Gotham City hero 106 Second-choice lineup

THROWBACK THURSDAY

Puzzle Two Clue: P equals V

THESE OLD TIMES

Puzzle One Clue: A equals K

W EST O RANG E HISTO RY

OrangeObserver.com

sudoku

Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.

107 “Fingers crossed” 108 Kids around 109 Finnish telecom giant 111 Triumphed 112 Wonder Woman’s first name 113 Oneness 114 Hereditary units 117 “All right, already!” 119 School grps. 122 First responder (Abbr.) 123 Insect with pollen baskets 124 Catan resource 125 Employ ©2023 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

1-25-24

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OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

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Observer Media Group reserves the right to classify and edit copy, or to reject or cancel an advertisement at any time. Corrections after first insertion only. *All ads are subject to the approval of the Publisher. *It is the responsibility of the party placing any ad for publication in the Observer Media Group to meet all applicable legal requirements in connection with the ad such as compliance with towncodes in first obtaining an occupational license for business, permitted home occupation, or residential rental property. Notice: All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

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OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

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OBSERVER | THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024

THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITIES OF LAKE APOPKA NATURAL GAS DISTRICT,

from CEO/GM Samuel Davis, Jr. When my tenure as Lake Apopka Natural Gas District’s (LANGD) General Manager and CEO began in 2008 –with a customer base of a little more than 14,000 homes and businesses – I could never have imagined the resounding positive growth and impact this great company would have on me, my family and most importantly, our valued natural gas customers. Now, as I approach retirement this March, I want to celebrate with the community all that we’ve accomplished and achieved over these past 16 years.

talent to ensure we are consistently meeting the highest standard of excellence. To our faithful residential and commercial customers – thank you for trusting us for so many years.

In 1957, forward-looking officials from Apopka, Clermont and Winter Garden recognized the need for a local, reliable, and cost-effective energy source: natural gas. Over 60 years since LANGD was founded, we have made it our mission to go above and beyond to provide our customers with the unmatched benefits of natural gas and the exceptional service to go with it.

Preparing for my final months as leader of this great company, I am comforted by the outlook for our future. I am happy to know that the District will continue our mission of providing safe, reliable, and resilient natural gas to our loyal customers for decades to come.

Now serving over 28,500 customers, LANGD continues to grow its residential and commercial customer base, earning important industry distinctions and receiving nationwide recognition for our service and dedication to customers in our member cities. We achieved a great deal to be proud of over the last decade and a half, and I’m happy to say that the best is yet to come. From continuing to see the impacts of our first-ever customer assistance fund, LANGD Helping Hand, in partnership with Heart of Florida United Way, to securing recognition as our team earned national accolades and awards for their outstanding service, to being active partners throughout our local community along the way, I couldn’t be prouder of our District employees and trusted board of directors who have dedicated their time and

As I pass the torch to the capable hands of our incoming CEO/GM, Brent Haywood, I am excited about the future that awaits the District. Brent’s wealth of experience and commitment to excellence align seamlessly with the values that have defined our company for over six decades. Together with our dedicated staff, board leaders and the vibrant communities we serve, I am confident that LANGD’s legacy of reliability, innovation and community engagement will continue to flourish.

Thank you to my Lake Apopka Natural Gas District family and the fantastic customers we have been privileged to serve daily. Together, we can look forward to an even brighter future. Sincerely, Samuel Davis Jr.

If you’re considering joining the LANGD family, please connect with our marketing team at (407) 656-2734 ext. 307 or marketing@langd.org to learn more.

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