Garden Variety

Tracing Our Roots: The Heritage Tree Project tells our city’s story through its grand old trees.

Since 1997, the Bloom & Grow Garden Society has created and maintained green spaces throughout Winter Garden. That mission continues into 2021 as Katy Moss Warner, chair of the Bloom & Grow Tree Fund, and America In Bloom chair member Mary Zahl, set out to show how the roots of our city are woven into the roots of its trees. The Heritage Tree Project was born.

There are two types of Heritage Trees: Historic Trees, which have a trunk diameter of at least 30 inches, and Specimen Trees, which are mature representations of any species that doesn’t generally grow to a great size. “We asked our members to nominate our biggest and most beautiful trees in hopes that we could identify 100 that deserve recognition and reverence,” says Katy.

Among the largest and grandest of those trees is the Tucker Ranch Oak (pictured), a southern live oak with a 411/2-inch-wide trunk and a 96-foot canopy spread. The oak has been guarding the ranch since its earliest known history in the 1940s and is likely a century old.

Each official Heritage Tree’s plaque will be installed in time for the inaugural Winter Garden Heritage Tree Walk on October 22 (reservations required). But the two-mile walking tour, developed in partnership with Healthy West Orange, is only the first stretch of the project; there is so much more to come. “We don’t know how many trees qualify as heritage trees—perhaps hundreds,” says Katy. “Next year, we open up tree nominations to the public. We have identified 100 to date and will continue adding to the list.”

VOCAL LOCALS

This month’s question: What’s new?

DEBORAH D. Me! I’m a recent transplant from Sarasota, so I’m what’s new. I’m loving it here so far!

AHMYA L. My 19th birthday is coming up on October 16. We’re going to an Airbnb mansion in Miami to celebrate!

MARIANTHI S. The Hangry Bison moving into the new building. Have you seen pictures of their burgers? They look amazing!

BOB G. My wife and I are excited to see construction on Ford’s Garage. We can’t wait to have a nice new place to go to dinner.

VANESSA Z. We’re back at the market, and I’m so glad! It’s nice to see all the locals out again, supporting local businesses.

Brewed Awakenings

They say the best things in life are free. For Ann Morrow, they’re just 99 cents.

Whether you call it joe, java, or a cuppa high tea, most of us need a little jolt in the morning. And yet, a cup of gourmet coffee will set you back a couple of bucks or more. Whoa! It’s just coffee.

I’ve never put much credence in labels. Whether it is my apparel, accessories, or a daily cup of coffee, it’s more important to find a product that fits me—my size, my character, and my taste. The upscale coffee cups do not feed my ego. I would rather have a cup that tastes great and doesn’t make me feel guilty about the cost.

That’s why I cruise into the Speedway on W. Colonial and Vineland. They have a delicious cup of coffee (up to 20 ounces) for just 99 cents! Speedway has recently installed wonderful new coffee machines that perk coffee for each cup. For me, the Dark Brew with Vanilla Delight and a bit of sweetener is a guilty pleasure!

This coffee is hot, rich, flavorful, and fast. So, I sport a big “S” on my coffee cup!

Connor Krantz, local business owner

Connor Can

A local business owner stays positive through a new diagnosis.

Connor Krantz has been introducing locals to electric bikes since 2018. He and his girlfriend Madi love the outdoors, from hiking to mountain biking, from boating to saltwater fishing.

He knew something was wrong about nine months ago, when he started having acute abdominal pain. “I was too stubborn to ask for help,” he says. “It got to the point where I was in so much pain that Madi basically forced me to go to the urgent care. When they did an ultrasound, they found a malignant tumor.” Two more tumors were found in his abdomen, and the doctors confirmed that they began as testicular cancer.

The Local will be following Connor’s journey to recovery in coming issues. As of now, he had his first tumor removal surgery last month and is scheduled to begin chemotherapy soon. “We have a great team of doctors behind me, and everyone is confident in my ability to beat this,” he says.

In the face of shocking news, Connor still knows how to smile. “I’m lucky to be young and in good health,” he says.”I have an incredible girlfriend by my side. I’m in a lot of physical pain, but I’m happy and mentally healthy. I keep my head up—it takes a lot more than this to get my spirits down.”

Madi has also set up a GoFundMe for Connor (search for title “Help Connor beat cancer!” or use the URL gofund.me/197c5b6f).

A.B. Newton & Co. at their Farmers Market booth

Market Watch: A.B. Newton and Co.

A.B. Newton was the first elected mayor for the City of Winter Garden when it was incorporated in 1908. He was also the postmaster, the publisher of Winter Garden’s first newspaper, and later served in the state legislature. He was a Renaissance man—a fitting namesake for Will Blaine, Matt Peacock, and Andy Crabtree’s local business.

With a focus on the community, the three friends began A.B.Newton and Co. to highlight the best of Winter Garden, where Andy and Will trace their families back several generations. The business began with t-shirts, but over seven years has expanded to include art prints (Will is the artist), cheeky candles (Matt makes those), and wooden signage (crafted by Andy). All that along with soaps, greeting cards, hats, and, yes, still shirts.

They can be seen Saturdays at the Farmer’s Market. But if you can’t wait, they also sell their items in Adjectives, online, and at other retail locations around the country. Will, Matt,and Andy continue to showcase some of the best Winter Garden has to offer and, in doing so, honor their historical namesake.

Habitat for Humanity volunteers re-paint a local home

Charitable Spotlight: West Orange Habitat for Humanity

West Orange Habitat for Humanity is restoring East Winter Garden one home at a time with its Neighborhood Revitalization Project. Once a home is selected and permission is granted by its owner, Habitat sends a group of volunteers to paint the exterior and spruce up the landscaping. (The homeowner selects the paint color and often helps with the work.) So far, they’ve seen it take a ripple effect: The owners of neighboring homes see the improvement and tend to start improving their homes as well. Beauty is contagious!

Another of Habitat’s important projects is the building of a new community, Criswell Court. Located off Center Street, the neighborhood will have four homes and will change the lives of four families for generations. The City of Winter Garden recently approved all needed permits, and the cement foundations for these homes have been poured.

Get involved by calling 407-905-0406 x105 or visiting westorangehabitat.org

Habitat for Humanity volunteers re-paint a local home

Neighborhood Reviews

Letterkenny Poster Art

Watch: Letterkenny

When the kids are all tucked in bed and I can finally turn off Pokémon and LEGO Ninjago, my guilty pleasure is “Letterkenny” (Hulu, 2016-Present, TVMA). It’s a sitcom about the three groups in the titular Canadian town and how they interact with each other.

It’s so quick-witted—I can watch an episode multiple times and catch something new. We have a friend who’s just like Squirrely Dan, and tuning in is almost like visiting with him!

Fair warning: there are a lot of f-bombs and creative cursing, adult situations, and hilarious fart jokes. (I am a boy mom, after all.)

About the recommender: Emily T. is a local business consultant and owner of Pub Napkin Partnerships. She believes that pizza and wings are a must for movie nights, and that an evening with neighbors and wine is an evening well spent.

Book cover for "Nineteen Eighty Four" by George Orwell

Read: Nineteen Eighty Four

In the dystopian world of “Nineteen Eighty Four” (George Orwell, 1949, Secker & Warburg), where the government has complete control over its people through censorship, thought policing, and revisionist history, Winston Smith embarks on a journey to discover what truth and freedom really are.

I love the themes of individuality and truth. The one part I don’t enjoy is when Winston reads a book within a book—it’s written word-for-word, and that drags on. But overall, it’s amazing how detailed the world of 1984 is, despite the book being so short.

About the recommender: Cannon H. is a local high school student. His favorite book is Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged.” When he’s not reading, he enjoys following the stock market and global economic trends.

Listen: Brandi Carlile Essentials

Looking for familiar, genuine music that sounds like your best friend (with an amazing voice) recorded the songs just for you? I recommend listening to the Brandi Carlile Essentials playlist (Apple Music Acoustic, Apple Music). It crosses a few genres, from country to folk to rock and even some pop.

It’s missing just one song, “Touching the Ground,” but is otherwise a perfect encapsulation of Brandi Carlile’s catalog. If you’re a lover of acoustic music like me, you’ll really love this playlist.

About the recommender: Chris Doerger is a lover of a many bands, but we forced her to pick one, so she chose REM. In her free time, she loves scuba diving, swimming, and binge-watching anything except “Bridgerton.”

Charlotte Mark: August 26, 1929–August 20, 2021

“I love you more”

Charlotte was always quick with a smile. She was one of those “never-met-a-stranger” types you hear about. She could find joy in even the smallest things and was known to break into her own little happy dance. Even from her wheelchair.

Everyone loved her. Everyone. It was hard not to. And when you told her “I love you,” “I love you more” was her favorite response.

She was a local, having lived her last years in Winter Garden Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. Her wonderful nurse, Gloria, not only provided great care, but real friendship through these last trying years.

Charlotte passed as we finished up this first issue, just a few days shy of her 92nd birthday. She was a lot of things to so many people. Char to her friends, Bubby to her grandchildren and great grandchildren. To my sisters, Sherrie and Rachel, and me, she was mom. She went peacefully. Surrounded by love. And with a smile.

—Jamie Mark

In loving memory of Charlotte Mark: August 26, 1929–August 20, 2021