01.09.20 West Orange Times & Observer by Orange Observer

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YOUR TOWN CHAMBER TO HOST BIG ORANGE AWARDS The West Orange Chamber of Commerce is celebrating its accomplishments and triumphs with this year’s Big Orange Awards, to be held Friday, Jan. 31, at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, in Lake Buena Vista. The reception begins at 6:30 p.m., and the dinner and program start at 7:30. This year’s Big Orange Awards recipients are Dawn Willis, Chairman’s Award; Ken Harker, Sam Hovsepian Award; Pam Birdsong, Ambassador of the Year; Ellen Korbin, Mary Van Deventer “The Spirit of West Orange” Award; Winter Garden Heritage Foundation, George Bailey Award; Christian Service Center, Bert Roper Award; and Jim Karr, Danniel J. Petro “The Bright Future of West Orange” Award. The 2019 Small Business of the Year and Big Business of the Year awards will be announced at the ceremony. For ticket information, call the chamber at (407) 6561304.

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Hayley Marché Howell and Joshua Randall Landingham were married Nov. 10, 2019, on the banks of the Suwanee River. The bride is the daughter of Ben and Tammy Carson, of Branford, and the granddaughter of Marshá and Joseph Coffman, of Winter Garden. The groom is the son of Dennis and Kay Landingham, of Lynn Haven. Joseph Coffman, the bride’s grandfather, officiated the ceremony, and the bride’s brother, Hayden Carson, and the groom’s friend, Jonah Cleveland, were witnesses. PRSRT STD ECRWSS US POSTAGE PAID WINTER GARDEN, FL PERMIT NO. 81

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2019

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From upcoming elections and private school plans to a Dillard Street project and future Ocoee development, here’s a look ahead at what’s happening in West Orange County in 2020.

YOUR CALENDAR

THURSDAY, JAN. 9

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE: LEVEL 1B 4:30 p.m. Thursdays, Jan. 9 through 30, at the West Oaks Branch Library, 1821 E. Silver Star Road, Ocoee. Over this four-week ASL course, instructors will cover a continuation of ASL Level 1. Participants must have taken Level 1 previously. Presented by ASL Services, Inc. Registration required by calling (407) 835-7323. GENEALOGY 101 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, at the West Oaks Branch Library, 1821 E. Silver Star Road, Ocoee. This event will introduce you to genealogical terms, techniques and sources. Learn helpful suggestions on how you can begin to research your family’s story. (407) 835-7323.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020

NEHRLING EXHIBIT AT WGHF 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, at the Winter Garden Heritage Museum, 1 N. Main St. This marks the opening of “Henry Nehrling and His Gotha Legacy,” an exhibit featuring the accomplishments of renowned botanist Dr. Henry Nehrling. The event will include a presentation on the history of Gotha’s German community and Nehrling Gardens. (407) 656-3244.

SATURDAY, JAN. 11

A TASTE OF WEST OAKS: FRESH OR FROZEN? Noon Saturday, Jan. 11, at the West Oaks Branch Library, 1821 E. Silver Star Road, Ocoee. Are smoothies better if made with fresh fruit or frozen fruit? (407) 835-7323. I HAVE A DREAM 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, at the Winter Garden Branch Library, 805 E. Plant St. Celebrate the life and dreams of Martin Luther King Jr. by making crafts inspired by your own dreams, the importance of peace and togetherness. Recommended for lower and upper elementary. (407) 835-7323.

SUNDAY, JAN. 12 THE ANATOMY OF MUSIC 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12, at the West Oaks Branch Library, 1821 E. Silver Star Road, Ocoee. Library staff presents an introduction to music where you can learn about the various genres of music and different musical instruments. For more information, call (407) 835-7323.

MONDAY, JAN. 13

CENTRAL FLORIDA RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETING 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13, at the Central Florida Railroad Museum, 101 S. Boyd St., Winter Garden. Ken Murdock and Mike Forrester present the Florida Midland Railway and the St. Cloud and Sugar Belt Railway. Free. For more information, call (407) 656-0559. CODE WITH JAVASCRIPT 1:15 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13, at the Winter Garden Library, 805 E. Plant St. Write real code. Explore the JavaScript programming language with characters from “Star Wars.” For homeschoolers ages 8 to 12.

JUMBO FAMILY GAME NIGHT 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13, at the Winter Garden Library, 805 E. Plant St. It’s time for fun on a massive scale. Re-create a family board game with you as the game pieces. (407) 835-7323. ‘THE ARTIST’S WAY’ Sessions for 12 weeks starting Monday, Jan. 13, at the SoBo Art Gallery, 127 S. Boyd St., Winter Garden. Julia Cameron presents “Discovering & Recovering Your Creative Self,” a program designed to help participants reject the perils of self-doubt and pursue creative activity as a form of self-expression and discovery. Book study led by Joy Wolff. Cost is $200. (407) 376-1597. RSVP at wgart. org/workshops/.

I HAVE A DREAM 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15, at the Winter Garden Branch Library, 805 E. Plant St. Celebrate the life and dreams of Martin Luther King Jr. by making crafts inspired by your own dreams, the importance of peace and togetherness. Recommended for lower and upper elementary. (407) 835-7323.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 15

THURSDAY, JAN. 16

HEALTHCARE QUESTIONS WEBINAR: WHY AM I SO TIRED? Noon Wednesday, Jan. 15, online at ohlearn.adobeconnect.com/sotired. Participants must log in and click “Meeting” then “Audio Setup Wizard” then “Next.” For information, call (321) 841-7234 or email Jessica.Daly@OrlandoHealth.com.

RESEARCHING IN NYC: THE FIVE BOROUGHS 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15, at the West Oaks Library, 1821 E. Silver Star Road, Ocoee. Explore the rich research resources and collections that are held in a variety of repositories in the five boroughs of New York City. Discover what records are available and how to use them. (407) 835-7323.

DNA AND GENEALOGY: AN INTRODUCTION 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, at the West Oaks Library, 1821 E. Silver Star Road, Ocoee. Learn the basics of genetic genealogy and how DNA testing can supplement your traditional genealogical research. (407) 835-7323.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020

Attention to detail Last year, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings proposed a one-cent sales tax increase to combat traffic and transportation issues. But so far, few details have emerged about how that money will be spent. ERIC GUTIERREZ STAFF WRITER

o combat the traffic, as well as address other transportation and infrastructure needs, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings proposed in May 2019 a one-cent sales tax increase to help fund Lynx, SunRail and other transportation and infrastructure needs in Orange County. “With all of the tremendous growth, I have kind of honed in on a sales tax as a potential solution or revenue source because it is, really, the only source that, I believe, can produce the type of revenues that could be transformative in our community when we talk about transportation,” Demings said during his District 1 Transportation Town Hall Dec. 10. The proposed increase would generate an estimated $600 million per year. Tourists and visitors would contribute 51% of the revenues generated by the proposed one-cent sales tax increase. Additionally, the tax would not be applied to essential food items, retail goods and services, prescription drugs or utilities. Although it’s no secret traffic and transportation woes plague the entire county, most of the residential development is occurring in West Orange. As new homes continue to sprout in the area and new residents continue to fill those homes, more vehicles hit the already-crowded and congested roads. So what do the local municipalities of West Orange want out of the proposed sales tax increase? DEVIL IN THE DETAILS

Following a series of town hall meetings, Demings plans to unveil this spring a plan on how the generated revenue will be used. West Orange leaders say that plan is essential for determining whether they will pledge support. Ocoee Mayor Rusty Johnson said he needs to know how much funding would go to the municipalities in Orange County. “The cities need to be able to have some kind of deal where we’d get money out of that (proposed sales tax) that would go towards — for instance — the roads,” Johnson said. “Ocoee Apopka Road needs to be widened. That’s the county’s (road), so we could take some of that money (from the sales tax) and help them widen Ocoee Apopka Road.” Windermere Mayor Jim O’Brien agreed. “While we understand the issues, the specifics have not been

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addressed with enough details in terms of what this brings to the table for municipalities and where we will see relief in development of infrastructure in a systematic way,” O’Brien said. “That’s our issue: We’re lacking in details. So, it makes it difficult for us to really weigh in heavily.” District 1 County Commissioner Betsy VanderLey said she is unsure whether she supports the proposed sales tax. “I have some concerns in that I haven’t heard a defined scope of exactly what it is we would address,” she said. “What’s the list of projects we would address? I’m uncomfortable addressing it with a penny sales tax for a fixed number of years without knowing what that list is because is that going to fund everything that we need. Until I hear that, I’m not going to be supportive of anything as undefined as this is right now. “We’ve got to have it defined, and we’ve got to have it defensible, and it needs to make sense in terms of what we’re going to address,” VanderLey said. So far, Demings said funding for SunRail and Lynx would come off the top of the revenues generated from the increase. Then, the county would consider funding toward transportation-related items as suggested by residents. “We would have to prioritize the list of projects that the towns and the cities would come up with,” Demings said. “Then we will create a proportionate-share methodology that would leverage the current capital improvement plans within their (municipality’s) respective jurisdiction. And so this would be new money that we want on top of what they’re already programming from.” Although funding for Lynx could potentially be a benefit to the West Orange, SunRail would not help the area at all. “Lynx is really the key for my district,” VanderLey said. “SunRail is not going to reach District 1. It’s not going to serve District 1. Not that it’s not valid where it is, but it’s a static line. Lynx is dynamic. Lynx can respond to changing job centers (and) it can

Eric Gutierrez

Orange County Maypr Jerry Demings proposed the sales tax increase in May 2019.

SHARE YOUR INPUT To share your thoughts by taking part in the Orange County Transportation Survey, visit surveymonkey. com/r/D2BNPFF.

respond to changing populations far more nimbly than any rail system ever will be able to.” NEED FOR REPRIEVE

Ocoee Assistant City Manager Craig Shadrix said West Orange has many needs related to connectivity of major roadways and thoroughfares. “The number of lane miles for a roadway is not proportionate to moving traffic — it’s how you disperse the traffic that moves traffic,” Shadrix said. “The network itself that we have out here needs major work. … There’s not a lot of great east-west roads through this region. There’s several new roads that need to happen, and then there’s several existing roads that need to become the arterial (roads) that they were intended to be.” Oakland Town Manager Steve Koontz said the proposed sales tax is a good opportunity to meet the transit and transportation needs of the county. He added that Oakland only has one county road that runs through it, County

Road 438/Oakland Avenue, which could benefit from some modern improvements. “(Oakland Avenue is) an older road — it’s been around for decades,” Koontz said. “If you were to build that road today, you’d probably build it to a higher standard. It would be more of a road that would connect the community. Right now, it’s just kind of a rural section, two-lane road. There’s sidewalks just on parts of it. There’s no real lighting on it. It really doesn’t (offer) that community kind of connection of a road that you’d really want in this day and age. “Transit-wise and regionalwise, there are some bigger picture things to look at,” he said. “What kind of transit opportunities are there to try and take some of those cars out of the road? … From a transit standpoint, we have no real presence of Lynx out here, so that’s another opportunity.” Winter Garden City Manager Mike Bollhoefer said many of the road systems in West Orange are failing. Despite the rapid growth in the area, there haven’t been many road or infrastructure improvements. “With Horizon West and all the building to the west in Lake County, they’ve had all this building going on for 20 years and significant arterial collector roads

have been built,” Bollhoefer said. “You’ve had 20 years of building without any significant improvements to infrastructure. Transportation, I think, is the area’s biggest problem. If done correctly, the road tax is a good thing — as long as we use it to fix those road systems that need to be fixed.” Bollhoefer added that more on and off ramps are needed at the major highways that run through West Orange. He also said the county should utilize other methods aside from traffic lights at intersections. “You have to be more innovative with your intersections,” Bollhoefer said. “It’s not always (just about) using traffic lights — use roundabouts.” Windermere Town Manager Robert Smith said the town is in need of relief from the traffic that runs through it. Much of the traffic and transportation issues the town experiences can be attributed to county development projects outside of Windermere’s jurisdiction. He added much of the traffic that runs through the town of Windermere is from individuals trying to get to the Horizon West area. “Horizon West is 4% of the entire county, and it represents 66% of the growth of the entire county,” Smith said. “We did a (traffic) study in 2017 … and what it showed and demonstrated was that 70% of the traffic that’s coming through town is coming from the Horizon West area. … We’re having to deal with other jurisdictional approvals, and that’s not fair to us because it’s our residents that are feeling the pain of (county) decisions. “The floodgates are not closing anytime soon,” he later added. “They’ve been opened, but it can be stopped.” O’Brien agreed. “For us, it’s pretty personal because what you see out here is life-changing to our community — it impacts the quality of life,” O’Brien said. “(The traffic) causes people to leave the appropriate arterial roadways and go off into the dirt roads to cut through. It decreases the quality of life we have here … that we try to protect.”

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020

Playing catch-up Although the plan for Horizon West has not changed since it was conceived in the 1990s, no one could have anticipated the rapidity of the community’s growth. DANIELLE HENDRIX ASSOCIATE EDITOR

ooking at Horizon West today, it can be hard to believe that just a few decades ago, there was nothing but abandoned orange groves. Horizon West’s framework policies were adopted into Orange County’s comprehensive plan in 1995, and each village within it was adopted between 1997 and 2008. Buildout has progressed from village to village, despite the downturn of the economy a decade ago. Some may see a rapidly growing community today and assume the vision for Horizon West has changed. However, Orange County District 1 Commissioner Betsy VanderLey said the plan has hardly changed. Rather, the growth is much faster than anticipated. “The plan was always there — it’s the velocity with which the plan is executing that I think is a bit of a surprise to everyone,” VanderLey said. WELCOME TO HORIZON WEST

In 1995, the original concept for Horizon West entailed nine villages and a town center on 38,000 acres. However, thousands of acres were removed from the Horizon West area by way of annexations and creation of the Lake Avalon Rural Settlement. The final concept consists of 28,000 acres containing six villages — Lakeside, Bridgewater, Town Center, Village F, Village H (aka Hickory Nut) and Village I. In total, they were approved for 40,282 units, making the projected population on buildout 100,705. Horizon West comprises 4% of Orange County, and it’s also one of the most unique areas of the county. Because there is a master plan, there are tools available for Horizon West that are not available elsewhere, VanderLey said. “When you think about the areas that are the most likely to grow and have the most kind of cohesive comprehensive plan, it’s always in the case of a large development with a master planner or a master developer in charge making one decision instead of a bunch of people trying to come to an agreement,” VanderLey said. “In terms of where you’re going to buy a house and what you want in place by the time it’s all said and done, a lot of thought has been given to the entire region for the Horizon West area that was just not available in other parts of the county that are being developed in a more piecemeal fashion.” Currently, Orange County planners estimate Horizon West is at about 52% buildout. Olan Hill, assistant manager in the Orange County Planning Division, said between single- and multi-family lots and units platted and built, there currently is a total of 21,292 — just more than half of the 40,282 units allowed by the original Horizon West Specific Area Plans. “That said, the 40,282 units anticipated by the SAPs is a maximum number, and some of those areas may be underdeveloped compared to the original entitlement maximums,” Hill said. “In looking at recent aerials, it appears Bridgewater and Lakeside are

This map, courtesy of Orange County, shows the conceptual location of each original village in 1996 and includes areas that were removed from Horizon West.

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nearly built out. Village F is nearly completely platted. The remaining entitlements are generally in the Town Center, Village H and Village I. In summary, we may be further along (than) the 52% would indicate.” THEN VERSUS NOW

Aside from the original concept downsizing from nine villages and a town center to six villages — including the town center — the plans and village frameworks have played out closely to what was envisioned, Hill said. There have been changes

because of the evolving market. Because Horizon West’s plan provided flexibility, developers could use Transferable Development Rights credits to decrease their maximum buildout. TDR credits are acquired by protecting wetlands and designated upland greenbelts, Hill said. “The biggest challenge has been recognizing important market changes and implementing necessary regulatory changes while continuing to adhere to the original Horizon West guiding policies,” he said. “Other than the slightly reduced buildout, the other notable change to the original plan is to the type of non-residential activity in the Town Center. (It) is still considered as the regional employment center for Horizon West and much of Southwest Orange County. However, with the approval and development of the Winter Garden Village at Fowler Groves, much of the retail or commercial activity planned for the Town Center was delayed or converted into other types of land use.” Other than that, each of the villages has been planned and approved according to the character provided by the original study. VanderLey added the plan for

BY THE VILLAGE LAKESIDE Acres: 5,202 Approved Units: 8,915 BRIDGEWATER Acres: 4,223 Approved Units: 10,450 TOWN CENTER Acres: 3,624 Approved Units: 4,870 VILLAGE F Acres: 2,551 Approved Units: 3,891 VILLAGE H (HICKORY NUT) Acres: 2,975 Approved Units: 6,548 VILLAGE I Acres: 2,129 Approved Units: 5,608 HORIZON WEST VILLAGES TOTAL Acres: 20,704 Total Approved Units: 40,282 Projected Buildout Population: 100,705

WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

BY THE NUMBERS

Percentage of Orange County that Horizon West comprises

Horizon West Villages

Current percent buildout of Horizon West

3,335

Multi-family units constructed in Horizon West as of 2019

17,958

Single-family lots platted as of July 2019

21,292

Total units platted/constructed in Horizon West as of 2019

28,000

Acres in Horizon West boundaries

40,282

Total units allowed by original Horizon West Specific Area Plans

100,705

Estimated population upon buildout

Horizon West is the same as it has been, but the differentiator is the growth of the economy in the area. “The original Horizon West plan anticipated that the growth would take place over decades,” she said. “Some of that growth took place in Horizon West before the downturn of the economy, and it was on pace to be good, healthy growth, but not quite the pace that we’re at right now. Then, it just stopped altogether during the downturn. But when it came back, it came back with such velocity that I really think it surprised everyone.” GROWING PAINS

Such velocity comes with challenges, many stemming from the disparity in timelines between building new homes and creating the infrastructure required to support a community. “Everybody that’s driven in that area will tell you that road construction and road improvements have not kept pace with building the homes, and part of that is just a natural disparity in timeline,” VanderLey said. “We fund our roads with impact fees, with ad valorem taxes, with gas tax, those kinds of things. Two of those — the gas tax and ad valorem — are lagging by a certain period of time, so we’re reacting to the cars that are already on the road to build the capacity for the future.” However, the necessary infrastructure must be funded before the county can build it. Revenue from the development has to be in place to implement the infrastructure and services. People deciding to move to the area isn’t a variable the county can control. “While I think people get frustrated that the roads are not completed and those improvements are not done, I think what they miss — because they don’t see anything visible — is that there are so many roads in design and getting ready to go out to bid and coming forward,” VanderLey said. The ballooning population also

Courtesy

An aerial of Horizon West in 1999, left, shows the beginnings of development in Horizon West. An 2019 aerial of Horizon West shows the community at 52% buildout.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020

has posed challenges for Orange County Public Schools. “In the master plan, we have school sites that were provided, but we have definitely seen not only a change from townhouses going to multi-family and single-family going to townhouses — which cause density change — but we’ve seen a lot of multi-family compositions because of so many of the crises that have happened and the popularity of wanting to move to Central Florida,” District 4 School Board Member Pam Gould said. “Nobody could predict the popularity, but it’s the perfect storm,” Gould said. “We have jobs, tremendous potential for entrepreneurs who want to come here and start businesses … there’s plenty of work. … We’re very blessed, but it brings challenges.”

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Increasing traffic and the disparity between home and infrastructure buildout have been putting pressure on east-west connector roads, as well as rural roads. It’s not just plaguing West Orange County, either: South Lake County also is experiencing a development boom, and County Orange County Commissioner Betsy VanderLey said many people in both areas work in downtown Orlando. That poses a problem, because the only two viable east-west roads at the moment are State Road 50 and U.S. 192. It creates heavy traffic on these roads, as well as some back roads in Horizon West. That won’t be the case for much longer. In October, the Central Florida Expressway Authority Governing Board approved the Lake/Orange County Connector Project Development and Environment Study, advancing the project to production phases that include design and construction. The five-mile tolled expressway will provide a nonstop access route linking U.S. 27 in South Lake County to State Road 429 in West Orange. Design is expected to begin in this spring, with construction potentially beginning by the end of 2022.

BAPTIST

First Baptist Church Pastor Tim Grosshans 125 E. Plant St, Winter Garden (407) 656-2352 Sundays: 8:30 a.m. Traditional 9:45 AM Bible Study 11:00 AM Contemporary Wednesdays: 6 p.m.- Awana 2nd Campus: Foundation Worship Foundation Academy High School 15304 Tilden Rd., Winter Garden (407) 730-1867 Sundays: 9:45 a.m. All Ages FoundationWorship.com Starke Lake Baptist Church Pastor Jeff Pritchard PO Box 520 611 W Ave., Ocoee (407) 656-2351 StarkeLakeBaptist.org

CHURCH OF GOD

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020

Ocoee Church of God Pastor Thomas Odom 1105 N. Lakewood Ave.,Ocoee (407) 656-8011

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This rendering represents the vision for a mixed-use building at the parcel located at 2 N. Bluford Ave, situated across the street from the site slated for the new Ocoee City Hall.

On the rise

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First United Methodist Church 125 N. Lakeview Ave., Winter Garden (407) 656-1135 Services: 9 and 11:15 a.m. fumcwg.org

With City Center West Orange, a redevelopment of downtown and more than 1,000 homes coming, Ocoee leaders are ready for a big 2020.

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Windermere Union Church 10710 Park Ridge-Gotha Rd., Windermere (407) 876-2112 Adult Worship: 9 a.m. Sunday School: 10 a.m. WindermereUnion.org

ERIC GUTIERREZ STAFF WRITER

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we also put together incentive options,” Development Services Director Mike Rumer said. “The state of Florida’s tax-abatement program — we’re one of the only few cities in Orange County that adopted that. We (also) looked at places outside of the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) that we could incentivize. … A special economic enhancement district — we have that in place over a large part of our downtown and going over to (State Road) 429.” Additionally, hundreds of new homes have been popping up — with more on the way — in Ocoee in recent years. The city also has undertaken the task of redeveloping its downtown. FIFTY WEST

Ocoee’s CRA — also known by its branded name, Fifty West — was established in 2006 to revitalize the city and improve residents’ quality of life with the creation of jobs, new infrastructure, beautification projects, new and redeveloped commercial, retail and housing options. The CRA encompasses 1,070 acres of property along the State Road 50 corridor. The CRA begins at Clarke Road to the east and is bordered on the west by S.R. 429.

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here’s an old saying many use to describe economic development in West Orange County: A rising tide lifts all boats. As the growth in the area continues, local municipalities are following that trend — particularly the city of Ocoee. In recent years, the city has experienced the largest growth period in its history. Much of that can be attributed to changes in the city’s development review process. “You have to set yourself up for the good (economic) times, so when the economy was down a bit eight to 10 years ago, we took a lot of time and put a lot of good plans in place,” Assistant City Manager Craig Shadrix said. “I had been tasked with trying to change our development practices. We were rated very poorly 10 to 12 years ago in terms of being difficult to work with, somewhat onerous as far as the (development) process goes and those kinds of things. “We changed a lot of policies to make ourselves more efficient, and we ended up saving (time),” he said. “We cut about 75% of the time we were taking (in the past) out of the process. (Before), site plans were taking a couple years to get approved, and we’re usually in a six-month timeframe now. We’ve drastically improved the way we do business.” Shadrix added the city also improved the way it does business by hiring staff that is responsive to the needs of customers. The city also implemented an onlinebased building permit system. In addition to the quick turnaround for getting development projects through the review process, the city’s incentives program has helped, as well. “Once the economy was right and we had the plans in place,

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City Center West Orange will be a large, mixed-use development with restaurants, office space, retailers and even a movie theater.

Another key component for the overall development in Ocoee is the redevelopment of downtown. The city has invested about $44 million through bonds to improve its downtown area. Two components of improving the downtown have been well underway: improvements to the city’s lake-

front park and the expansion of the Lakeshore Center. “Our downtown projects are on track and on schedule,” Shadrix said. “We’ve completed many of them now. … We’ve completed the expansion of our Lakeshore event center. It’s going well, and it’s a premier facility, and there’s nothing like it out here on the west side. … We’ve also completed the Bluford Avenue streetscape project.” Another key component to the downtown redevelopment project has been the relocation of City Hall to a site at the northeast corner of the intersection of Bluford Avenue and East McKey Street. In October 2019, the City Commission selected a brick and precast concrete design concept for the exterior of the new building. A groundbreaking for the new City Hall is expected to be held in the spring. “The next two to three years are going to be very exciting around here,” Shadrix said. “We’ve already seen some growth (downtown) as a result of our efforts. We

RESIDENTIAL GROWTH

With all the economic development occurring in the city, residential developments have been coming along with it. Many currently are under construction, while others still are under the development review process. Most of the residential development projects are in the northern end of the city within districts 1 and 4. “We had a development called Oak Trail Reserve, which is on the north side of Clarcona Ocoee … (with) 140 lots, and they built out in a year,” Rumer said. “We have a 198-townhome community called Greens at Forest Lake that’s coming out of the ground right now getting models issued to them. We have Inspiration Townhomes (with) 90 lots adjacent to (Florida’s) Turnpike, west of Maguire (Road).”

CHALLENGES

As more families move to Ocoee, the local schools gain more students. Many of the schools in West Orange — including in Ocoee — already are overcrowded, but Orange County Public Schools does not have any new schools planned for the Ocoee area within its 10-year capital outlay plan. Because many of the schools in Ocoee already face capacity issues, developers of residential projects have to pay school mitigation fees. “We have one middle school and it’s overcrowded, and OCPS is putting all of their resources in Horizon West,” Rumer said. “The amount of projects — residential projects — that have had to pay mitigation and the amount of impact fees in the last less than 10 years would fund all the schools we need, but it’s all going to Lake Nona and Horizon West. ... Every residential development fails school concurrency under the Martinez Doctrine for middle schools.”

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have a two-story office building … that’s going in at the corner of Bluford and McKey Street, across the street from where our new City Hall is going to be.”

Rumer added that Arden Park phases 4A, 4B and 5 also will be coming out of the ground soon. Other residential developments include Ocoee Landings and Ocoee Reserve. Residential projects that still are under review are Eagle Creek, Ciara Place townhomes, Prairie Lake Reserve townhomes, CLRM and Ocoee Village Center. Additionally, an age-restricted apartment community for senior citizens called Arya Independent Living will be constructed along Roberson Road. In total, the city has more than 1,100 units of single-family homes and about 600 apartments that will be coming out of the ground toward the beginning of the next fiscal year or later in the calendar year, Rumer said.

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“Considering the amount of impact fee dollars generated in this city over the last 10 years, there’s more than enough money to pay for those relief schools — especially given the fact that we already have land set aside,” Shadrix said. Furthermore, people moving to the area also means more cars on the road. It’s no secret Orange County is suffering from ongoing traffic-related issues, and Ocoee is no exception. Many residents have complained to the county and municipalities about the traffic and question why the county and local municipalities continue to approve development projects despite the impacts to traffic and infrastructure. Under state law, local governments cannot deny a development based on traffic issues alone. Instead, developers are required to pay to mitigate traffic impacts. Another challenge to the growth deals with costs related to construction. Because of the booming economy, growth is occurring throughout Florida, which means there’s plenty of work to go around for construction companies. Because there’s so much work, construction companies are spread thin, which impacts construction costs. “None of us anticipated that construction costs were going to be so much higher,” Shadrix said. “This is something that everybody across Central Florida is experiencing. None of us really thought it was going to get like this. By frame of reference, some of these jobs that we’ve put out for RFP (request for proposal), the market is so flooded with jobs that some of the (RFPs) may only have one or two respondents come in because there’s so much work to go around.”

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Although there are multiple target areas for development within the CRA, one of the key areas is the site of City Center West Orange — a massive 300,000-square-foot, mixed-use facility that includes retail, office and residential spaces. The site is located north of State Road 50 and east of South Bluford Avenue with Maine Street running through it. Currently, only Phase 1 of City Center West Orange is approved for development. “Phase 1 includes … about 172,000 square feet of shopping, restaurant (and) entertainment retail components,” said Ginger Corless, CRA administrator and deputy director of development services. “It has about 480 condo units. It’s going to have a hotel. It’s also going to have an office building that’s going to be on the north side of Maine Street, which has a planned opening in 2021.” The developers of City Center West Orange will be resuming construction this month. Within the next three years, the developers hope to complete construction related to some of the retail, hotel and entertainment components. “This time next year, you’re going to be seeing a lot of change down there from the standpoint of things going vertical,” Corless said. “That’s going to be important for the CRA for a lot of different reasons.”

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Roundabouts will be built at Plant Street, left, and Smith Street. A third one will be located at Story Road.

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Reconstruction & realignments Winter Garden is starting an ambitious redevelopment project along South Dillard Street and has plans to realign the West Orange Trail in two places and create a downtown Central Park. AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

illard Street is an important north-south gateway to downtown Winter Garden, but this main thoroughfare — which brings residents and guests to the bustling Plant Street corridor — is an unattractive onemile, five-lane stretch of road as far as the eye can see. City leaders have been working on a plan that will change the aesthetics and the driving experience along Dillard, creating a respectable entry to downtown that is safer for the community. The city has held workshops to gather input from residents and businesses. Their suggestions included a more attractive, pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly roadway with slower speeds and the ability to draw quality commerce to the city. Once the Dillard Street Reconstruction Project is completed —

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officials estimate around one year — the road will have three lanes, three roundabouts, a bike trail, landscaping and about a dozen pedestrian crosswalks. City officials have been working with a consulting engineering firm, Cribb Philbeck Weaver Group, and a design contractor, Toole Design Group, to create a concept and carry out the vision. City Manager Mike Bollhoefer said the total cost is $19 million and includes stormwater and utility work, as well as power line burial. The largest portion of the cost is replacing all of the old underground pipes, he said. About 80% of the power lines will be buried, eliminating most of the unsightly cables above. The remaining 20% are high-energy transmission lines and cannot go underground, Bollhoefer said. Dillard originally was a twolane road until the Florida Department of Transportation made it four lanes with a continuous center turn lane. The state transferred the street to the city of Winter Garden in 2010 and provided $608,000 from its paving account. The width of Dillard will remain the same — but it will have single northbound and southbound lanes with a center flex lane, a two-way divided bike path on the east side of the street, major landscaping and widened sidewalks. With the narrower street, people will drive slower, making it more of an urban roadway, he said. “It turns it into a nice, little, local road yet will still move the same number of cars from Plant

the architecture and kinds of business you have.” The idea is to extend the positive impact of the Plant Street streetscape project along Dillard Street. “Once you do that, the private investment will follow,” he said. “It will be a 20-year process, but you will see Dillard Street change.” The city expects the northsouth corridor to take on an urban, neotraditional design over time. A good example of the changing trend is the new office building at the northwest corner of Dillard and Vining streets. “They moved this building up to the front, and the parking is in the back,” Bollhoefer said. “It brings better-quality buildings, you start to get nice restaurants. … It will change like Plant Street has.” There definitely will be a return on investment of the $19 million, he said, and the transportation system will be much improved. “If you look at Dillard Street right now, it looks like an industrial road,” Bollhoefer said. “And that’s what Plant Street looked like.” DOWNTOWN ‘CENTRAL PARK’

Winter Garden is planning its first downtown park and is changing the flow of the West Orange Trail to make it safer.

Street to (West Colonial Drive),” Bollhoefer said. A study conducted in 2017 revealed the average annual daily traffic on Dillard Street was 23,730 vehicles. In a presentation Ian Lockwood, of Toole Design, gave to the Winter Garden City Commission last year, he said Dillard receives a low volume of daily traffic and his firm does not see a need for more lanes. To maintain traffic flow — and to avoid the sudden stops and starts at traffic lights that can lead to crashes — three roundabouts will be constructed along Dillard where it intersects with Plant and Smith streets and Story Road. Each will be single lane. “Intersections will determine the capacity of the road, not the lanes,” Bollhoefer said. “Like a water bottle, it doesn’t matter how much water you put into it; it all depends on the size of the opening.” There are people who oppose the roundabouts and fear they

will create bottlenecks and congestion. But Bollhoefer disagrees. “I feel 100% confidence it will work,” he said. “Ian Lockwood from Toole Design (is) the best in the country at this.” The center median actually will be designed as a flex lane, which can be used when making a lefthand turn or if delivery drivers need a temporary place to park. The speed limit also will decrease from 35 mph to 25 or 30, Bollhoefer said. Just north of West Colonial, South Dillard will have a stamped brick section of roadway that will indicate that folks are heading into the corridor to downtown. The two lanes will merge into one around Morgan Street. Heading south on Dillard, the single lane will widen out to the current four lanes. “To get the redevelopment, you really have to redesign the way the road works,” Bollhoefer said. “When you’re looking at planning, road design will determine

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Imagine lying on a blanket on the grass, enjoying a live concert, just steps from the Plant Street Market and the West Orange Trail. The city of Winter Garden is working on a plan that will bring what Bollhoefer is calling a miniature Central Park to downtown Plant Street. This is part of a larger $1.35 million project that includes creating the first real park downtown and realigning the West Orange Trail so it crosses West Plant Street at a safer location than the current one. The roughly one-acre park will incorporate two empty parcels of city land near the northeast intersection of Park Avenue and Plant, and it actually will separate West Plant Street into two roads to the north and south. “When you have events, you can shut down one street and keep traffic flowing,” Bollhoefer said. The realigned trail will meander through the park. This new park space will give the city even more opportunities to hold events. “If you wanted to do a big concert, you could literally set up a stage and have (thousands of) people in the park,” Bollhoefer said. He anticipates hearing from residents who don’t want to draw more people downtown, but, he said, “You can’t make it attractive and keep the people away. To be a successful downtown, you have to have lots of people walking by.”

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BALLOT

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Find out what elections are coming up and whose names are on the ballots for local municipalities and the county. AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

n municipal elections, it appears most residents are happy with their representatives on their respective commissions and council. Of the four local municipalities, only one will have residents voting for elected officials Tuesday, March 17 — the Presidential Preference Primary. In Oakland, three seats on the Town Commission were scheduled for inclusion on the ballot: those of Mayor Kathy Stark and commissioners Mike Satterfield and Sal Ramos. None of the three had opposition. In Windermere, there also was no opposition for the three seats to be placed on the ballot, and all three incumbents — Mayor Jim O’Brien and Town Council members Chris Sapp and Loren “Andy” Williams — will serve another two-year term. In Winter Garden, City Commissioner Lisa Bennett is being opposed by Joseph Richardson. Mayor John Rees was unopposed and will return to another threeyear term. Ocoee will not have an election in 2020.

WINTER GARDEN CITY COMMISSION DISTRICT 1 n LISA BENNETT Bennett, a third-generation Winter Garden resident, is co-broker/ owner of Windsor Realty Group Inc. She has served one term on the commission. Bennett has several priorities: m a i n ta i n i n g safe streets, schools and neighborhoods; being f i s c a l l y responsible with budgeting and taxes; listening and prioritizing citizen input; and protecting Winter Garden’s charm and quality of life and preserving city traditions. “Winter Garden is a special

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place,” she said. “We’ve won all kinds of awards, from our farmer’s market to our restaurants to being one of the ‘best places to live in 2019,’ according to Money Magazine. We need to protect what makes us special.” n JOSEPH RICHARDSON Richardson, a 14-year resident of Winter Garden, has been a software engineer for 30 years. He has served on the board of Central Florida Freethought Community for about six years. Richardson’s priorities are ensuring the continued good management of Winter Garden, making sure the city is responsive and transparent, m a i n ta i n i n g the city’s “traditional feel” and guiding the city into a future that benefits everyone. “Whether someone has lived here for 50 years or whether they moved in last week, they are part of this community,” he said. “They should be treated as such, and they should be a part of Winter Garden’s future planning.”

WINTER GARDEN CHARTER AMENDMENTS

n Amendment 1 would change the terms of city commissioners and the mayor to four-year terms. n Amendment 2 would provide

IMPORTANT VOTING DATES n Deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot: 5 p.m. Saturday, March 7. Visit ocfelections.com for more information. n Early Voting: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, March 2, through Sunday, March 15. Visit ocfelections.com for more information. n Election Day: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 17

more detailed provisions related to the hearing process for forfeiture of office against an elected official and removal of a city manager. n Amendment 3 deals with commission vacancies: extending the time for filling terms, the number of days for making an appointment and the number of days for conducting an election. n Amendment 4 is in regard to vote-by-mail ballots. n Amendment 5 relates to a commissioner being able to vote on emergency measures by telephonic or other audio/visual methods. n Amendment 6 simplifies language in the charter. n Amendment 7 would extend the time allowed for a city manager to establish residency within the city and allow the commission to waive the residency requirement. n Amendment 8 would allow the election canvassing board to be established by July 1, would amend the time for filing citizen referendum petitions and clarify that five or fewer days in various processes means business days. n Amendment 9 would specify the city manager must report any appropriation transfers to the commission within 30 days.

ORANGE COUNTY ELECTIONS

Orange County has a number of upcoming elections, including the race for sheriff and District 4 School Board member.

ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF

Sheriff John Mina, of Ocoee, is hoping voters will return him to his position to continue his work with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. He has three challengers vying for the sheriff’s position: Andrew John Darling, of Winter Garden; and Joe Lopez and Eric L. McIntyre, both of Orlando.

n ANDREW JOHN DARLING Darling was born in Titusville and raised in Orange County. He served in the U.S. Army for s e ve n - a n d a-half years, including two deployments to Iraq. He and his wife, Jennifer, have two children. Darling is an assistant public defender in Orange County. “I want to drastically reform the criminal justice system from its very foundation by focusing on equal justice and safer communities,” he said. “I believe we can accomplish this through an improved relationship between the sheriff’s office and Orange County’s diverse communities.” n JOE LOPEZ Lopez has served his community as a U.S. Marine and a Florida Highway Patrol trooper, commander and chief. “I served my nation, I served my state, and now I want to serve my local community to make Orange County a safer place to raise f a m i l i e s ,” Lopez said. He is running his campaign on integrity, which stems from his decades of work with FHP; loyalty, based on his five years of service as a Marine, 32 years as a state trooper and 28 years of marriage; and leadership, based on his ability to build teams and mentor future leaders. n ERIC L. MCINTYRE McIntyre is a native of Central Florida. He has more than 25 years of legal and law enforcement experience. “I want to bring back community policing, because officers must be engaged with the community in order to rebuild the broken relat i o n s h i p s ,” McIntyre said. “Having officers patrolling the community lets the citizens know that we are in place to prevent and respond to emergent and non-emergent situations. It lets our children and residents know that we are human, we are approachable, and we understand their concerns for safety and relationships that include trust.”

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020

n JOHN MINA Mina has spent three decades in law enforcement. He was a military police officer in the U.S. Army before being recruited by the Orlando Police Department. He was a patrol officer and SWAT team commander, conducted criminal and sex-crime investigations and worked with OPD’s drug-enforcement unit prior to his appointment as police chief of Orlando in 2014. “Orange County is a pretty safe place to live and work already, but obviously my priority will be to reduce crime even further, specifically violent crime,” he said. “Another priority of mine is school safety.”

ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 4 Two candidates have qualified for the District 4 seat held by Pam Gould: Prince Brown, of Winter Garden, and Dayna Lynn Gaut, of Southwest Orange. Gould has not qualified to run for re-election as of this week but has said she intends to seek another term.

n PRINCE BROWN Brown is a third-generation Orange County resident and former educator. He lists his priorities as ensuring fiscal responsibility; rewarding, attracting and attaining highperforming teachers; providing a safe educational environment; and sustaining community engagement with, among other things, local business ties and apprenticeship positions. n DAYNA LYNN GAUT Gaut, a resident of Mabel Bridge, has 10 years of experience as a n O ra n ge County Public Schools teacher at Citrus and West Oaks elementary schools. Prior to that, she served as a paramedic, including work in public affairs management, for Rural/Metro Ambulance and was briefly a Maitland firefighter. Gaut said her priorities are changing the district’s testing methods and overcrowding at schools.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020

The house at 16166 Johns Lake Overlook Drive is now on the market in Winter Garden.

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Demand > supply With its myriad lifestyle options and price points, the West Orange real-estate market should remain strong in 2020. TIM FREED MANAGING EDITOR

ocal Realtors and experts agree West Orange County will continue to be a hot real estate market through 2020. With lower interest rates and the desirability of the West Orange area remaining high, Reese Stewart, 2020 president of the Orlando Regional Realtor Association, said the market still will be abuzz. “West Orange County is probably one of the hottest areas in Central Florida,” Stewart said. “The reason for that is the features in proximity, like the major appointment hubs, the shopping and dining areas. There’s also a mix of homes — anywhere from luxury homes to affordable homes, and all the construction going on is adding to the overall inventory. That’s what we see is going on there in West Orange County.” There’s still activity all throughout the area — from Winter Garden and Ocoee to Windermere and Dr. Phillips. West Orange is facing lower inventory, but that’s because of the extreme desirability of the area, Stewart said. “What we’re going to anticipate out there is the high demand for homes in the West Orange area,” he said. “It’s going to drive lowerprice homes up in value ....” Many ZIP codes also did see a drop in sales from 2018 to 2019, according to statistics from the Orlando Regional Realtor Association. Between the months of January and October, Winter Garden saw sales drop from 1,298 in 2018

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to 1,124 in 2019. Windermere saw a similar drop during the same timeframes — from 849 to 786. WINTER GARDEN

One of Central Florida’s bestkept secrets doesn’t seem to be a secret anymore. Realtors agree Winter Garden is one of the top places to work, live and play. “It’s going to continue to stay very hot — the two big areas obviously in the Central Florida area are Lake Nona and the Winter Garden area,” said Mark Hide, of Winter Garden-based Clock Tower Realty. “It’s still a hot market.” Hide said the numbers tell the story — as of Thursday, Jan. 2, 372 homes were for sale in Winter Garden and the previous 30 days saw 162 homes sold. That equates to Winter Garden having a 2.3-month supply of homes, meaning the homes are selling faster than a typical market, Hide said. “A normal market is about a six-month supply of homes — obviously we’re in a hot market,”

he said. “I think things will continue. We’ve got a lot of construction here, and the downtown area is very vibrant. You’re starting to see people not only buy existing older properties that are selling high but people actually buying those, knocking them down and starting to put newer homes on those just to be close to downtown.” Inventory remains stable year to year, but homes are selling quickly, Hide said. The average time for a home on the market is about 50 days. “That sort of averages people maybe not being so realistic (with price) to people who are realistic and will sell homes in one to two days,” Hide said. “What’s happening is Winter Garden is getting very desirable — it’s no longer a clear second choice to Windermere. It’s definitely holding its own now. People like the vibrancy of the downtown and everything that’s going on. There will be people that say, ‘I’d rather live in Winter Garden now,’ whereas 10 years ago that wouldn’t be the case. It would be, ‘Oh yeah, we want to be in Windermere.’” But what has caused Winter Garden to become so popular? “The city’s done a great job as far as how they’ve planned and how they’ve developed downtown,” Hide said. “Most of the shops and restaurants are sort of boutique-y — they haven’t gone very commercial. It’s got that old-town feel. … I’ve worked with people all over the (United) States (who) have heard of Winter Garden. I live in Winter Garden, and I just think it’s a great investment, a great place to be — you’ve got the best of all worlds, really. The downtown area is fantastic. It’s got a great local feel. You’ve got Fowler Groves if you want the mall, and you’ve got Horizon West, which is just exploding.

SALES BY ZIP CODE 34787 Month 2019 2018 January 51 112 February 79 126 March 116 172 April 112 183 May 132 188 June 142 126 July 144 123 August 139 94 September 114 88 October 95 86 Total 1,124 1,298 34761 Month 2019 2018 January 42 54 February 42 40 March 56 78 April 56 70 May 75 68 June 62 65 July 59 76 August 56 77 September 53 51 October 54 56 Total: 555 635 34786 Month 2019 2018 January 47 55 February 66 74 March 90 95 April 94 100 May 95 113 June 86 94 July 105 89 August 76 92 September 62 54 October 65 83 Total 786 849 34734 Month 2019 2018 January 3 4 February 4 4 March 4 8 April 6 9 May 9 7 June 5 5 July 6 3 August 7 8 September 6 5 October 6 1 Total 56 54 Source: Orlando Regional Realtor Association

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020

You’re close to Disney. You’ve got a lot of major highways around, so the traffic really isn’t an issue at the moment. … It’s by far the best location here in Central Florida.” HORIZON WEST

Courtesy photo

The home at 6019 Greatwater Drive is up for sale in Windermere.

because of the growth. People just want to be in the area.” Access to the nearby highways also is a nice perk, Forrester said. Another toll road is in the works between U.S. 27 and State Road 429 between Clermont and Southwest Orange County. “Not having to get onto I-4 and still get to where you’re going is definitely an appeal that people are loving about the area as well,” she said. Inventory is tight at the moment — the lowest it has been in some time. “In 2020, we’re going to continue to struggle with inventory,” she said. “The builders are building — it just doesn’t seem fast enough for the amount of people

that are wanting to move into the area. … The timeframe to build a home just seems to be increasing from a four-month timeframe to a six- to eight-month timeframe.” Prices should increase slightly in 2020 but remain realistic for potential buyers, Forrester said. “Home values aren’t going to go up super high — even though we’re in a low inventory, because we don’t want to have another bubble — appraisers are keeping them at value,” she said. WINDERMERE

The town of Windermere should still boast a hot market in 2020 as well, Hide said. “There’s really not so much new construction in Windermere

— a few pocket new communities — but a lot of the homes in Windermere are predominantly higher price,” he said. Statistically, Hide said there were 284 homes on the Windermere market as of Monday, Jan. 6, and 66 sold in the month of December, translating to a 4.3-month supply, Hide said. “It’s not selling as quick, but I think that’s really because of the price point,” Hide said. “If you look at homes that are over $500,000 out of those 284, 207 are over $500,000. The higher you get in the price point on a home, the longer it’s taking to go on the market, hence they are taking a little bit longer to sell. If you’ve got a four-month supply

of homes, that’s less than the sixmonth (supply) — or what would be deemed to be a normal market. It’s still a good market. “Back when we had the (Great Recession), we were having a year-plus (supply) of homes,” he said. “They were selling at such a slow rate — it would take you a year to sell everything.” Hide said the feel of Windermere — with its cozy, gated communities and nature — still has a strong appeal to many buyers looking in a higher price point. “Windermere has always had that prestigious (feel) with the downtown and the older homes there and the lakes,” Hide said.

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Tracey Forrester, of Xcellence Realty, said there’s something for everyone in Horizon West — an area that will continue to see a hot market in 2020. “Horizon West is going to continue to be a hotbed for people wanting to move into the area, whether they’re coming in from out of town or even local surrounding areas,” Forrester said. “It just offers so much. The rental market is hot, with all the apartment complexes going (in) because they have amenities that are incredible.” There’s a broad range of homes in the area for buyers — from townhomes in the mid- to high$200,000 to $300,000 range all the way to single-family homes between $300,000 and $1 million. “Townhouses are definitely on the rise — a lot of builders are building townhomes, which might actually help with the affordability factor in this area because a single-family home for a first-time homebuyer might not be in a lot of people’s budget,” Forrester said. “But they can still be in the area and own a home by capitalizing on the townhomes.” Of course, Disney is a huge draw to the area, but so are the schools, Forrester said. “Even though we’re overcrowded right now, people still want to be in the area because the school system is so highly rated,” she said. “That’s why they’re pushing up the (relief) high school to 2021,

WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020

Relief effort Another relief school is on the way for West Orange County this year, while others find creative ways to manage overcrowding until relief schools can be built.

FORESIGHT FOR

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SUMMERLAKE

Students in the Summerlake neighborhood and surrounding area will attend their new school once the 2020-21 school year begins in August. Site 85-E-W-4 is located at 15450 Porter Road, Winter Garden, and will relieve Independence, Keene’s Crossing and Water Spring elementary schools. The $24.3 million school is situated on 14.8 acres just east of Summerlake Park Boulevard, with Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge to the west. According to site plans, the twostory building totals 92,142 square feet. There is room for 116 parking spaces and a car queuing area that can hold 176 cars. Parents, staff and visitors will enter off Porter Road, while the buses have a separate entrance off Wood Sage Drive.

SCHOOLS AT A GLANCE 85-E-W-4 15450 Porter Road, Winter Garden Relieves: Independence, Keene’s Crossing and Water Spring elementary schools 92,142 — Gross square footage 14.8 — Site size, in acres 837 — Program capacity 1,087 — Projected fall 2020 enrollment 20-E-SW-4 13225 International Drive, Orlando Affected schools: Sadler, Sand Lake, Shingle Creek, Tangelo Park, Waterbridge, West Creek and Winegard elementary schools 91,602 — Gross square footage 19.8 — Site size, in acres 837 — Program capacity 935 — Projected fall 2020 enrollment

Courtesy Craig Jackson with OCPS

This aerial of site 85-E-W-4, taken in December, shows the roofs all in place on the school. It is expected to be complete by June.

The school includes an administration office, a multipurpose/ cafeteria room, a media center, art and music labs, multipurpose labs, classrooms, a covered play area, an expanded parking lot and student drop-off loop, and more. There is a capacity of 837 students, and OCPS projects an enrollment of 1,087 upon opening in fall 2020. In December, all of the school’s walls were up and structural steel installation was underway. Additionally, all the roofs are on. The school is slated to be completed in June. As of mid-December, according to OCPS enrollment documents, the three schools surrounding site 85-E-W-4 all are overcrowded. As the fourth elementary school in the area, the new site will help accommodate the rapid growth that is causing overcrowding challenges in Horizon West.

Independence Elementary has a capacity of 786 students, Water Spring Elementary can serve 791 and Keene’s Crossing is capped at 812. Mid-December enrollment numbers have Independence at 1,131 students, Water Spring at 979 and Keene’s Crossing at 1,211. REZONING NEAR SAND LAKE

While another new elementary school — site 20-E-SW-4 — off International Drive is just outside of West Orange’s borders, Dr. Phillips’ Sand Lake Elementary will be affected by its opening in the form of students being rezoned from nearby Tangelo Park Elementary. Located at 13225 International Drive, Orlando, this school will impact zoning for seven nearby elementary schools — Sadler, Sand Lake, Shingle Creek, Tangelo Park, Waterbridge, West Creek and Winegard. Orange County

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n 2019, West Orange — and specifically Horizon West — welcomed three new schools. Horizon West Middle relieved Bridgewater Middle, while Castleview and Water Spring elementary schools did the same for Bay Lake, Sand Lake, Keene’s Crossing and Independence elementary schools. Having nearly 214,000 students enrolled, Orange County Public Schools is the eighth largest school district in the nation and the fourth largest in Florida — behind Miami, Broward and Hillsborough counties. That figure includes the district’s projected increase of 4,000 students for the

2019-20 school year. For the 2020-21 school year, one new elementary school will open to help accommodate the West Orange area’s growing student population. Another coming to the International Drive area will affect zoning for Sand Lake Elementary in Dr. Phillips. Other schools, such as Dr. Phillips and Windermere high schools, still have a bit longer to wait for relief and are being creative with temporary solutions to ease the impacts of overcrowding.

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ASSOCIATE EDITOR

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DANIELLE HENDRIX

WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

GROWING PAINS

Although Windermere High opened just two years ago, it already has been facing the issue of overcrowding exacerbated by Horizon West’s rapid rate of growth. The school was built with a capacity for 2,776 students, but as of mid-December had an enrollment of 3,943. Dr. Phillips High, with a capacity of 2,798, currently serves 3,785 students. Both have relief high schools on the way — and both relief schools already have been pushed up to 2021. However, it means another one-and-a-half school years of managing overcrowding. At Dr. Phillips, there is the benefit of the old ninth-grade center to help offset overcrowded lunches. The center provides another cafeteria space, alleviating the issue of students not having adequate space to eat. Additionally, the campus also had room for more core structure. “Because of the way that school was originally laid out — how old it is and how it expanded its footprint over time — it’s just been more manageable,” Gould said. “We added an administration building there when we did the renovations, so they ended up with more core structure there. Of course it’s (also) more of a spread-out school — it doesn’t go vertical like Windermere High

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020

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If you live in the Horizon West area and have — or may have — a student enrolled at Independence, Keene’s Crossing or Water Spring elementary schools for the 2020-21 school year, take a look at the zoning map to find your child’s school. With site 85-E-W-4 opening this fall, the school your child is zoned for this school year may change. Those in the Dr. Phillips/ International Drive area can visit an interactive zoning map at bit. ly/2QMyC8W and type in their address to see if the opening of site 20-E-SW4 will impact their children.

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does — so you have a larger footprint for the school there.” But for Windermere High, staff and administration have to get a little creative to find temporary solutions. Even with adjusting the schedules, students at the school still experience the effects of overcrowding at lunchtime. Gould said the same issue occurred at West Orange High before Windermere opened. Solutions included adding more tables and places where students could eat lunch, as well as expanding lunch hours and even bringing in food trucks. In general, Gould said, managing the student population until relief arrives includes adding staff, portable space and more choices in extracurricular activities. “You just keep on delivering programs wherever you can and you have a really good team, as we do at Windermere High, to manage the crowds,” she said. “Then everybody feels like they’re getting what they need. … The other thing that Windermere had, which will be nice to get back to, is that collaborative space.” OCPS can only build schools when enrollment is sufficient to support an additional school and when fiscal resources are in place. There is no specific rate or formula that determines when a school will be relieved. “OCPS does not have adequate funding to build schools before they are needed, but aims to make the best use of available dollars by opening new schools when there are enough students to fill them,” Roth said. Since Gould was elected, the growth in Horizon West has spurred the need to push up multiple relief schools in District 4. The half-penny sales tax has made much of this possible. Things are moving fast, Gould said, but it’s still not fast enough. “We are moving as fast as we can with the money we have,” Gould said. “People don’t recognize the really incredible amount of schools we’ve built compared to any other county in the state.”

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District 4 School Board Member Pam Gould said although the Dr. Phillips and International Drive areas are not growing at as quickly a pace as the Lake Nona and Horizon West areas, the growth is still there. “If you go back to county planning and look at residences, all of that originally was going to be timeshare and hotels — (almost) all of it is converting to residences,” Gould said. “There are large chunks … that (were) converted into residential, so we were already getting crowded with a lot of the new development and generational changes happening along the Central Florida Parkway area.” Sand Lake Elementary has a capacity of 768 students. And although it currently only has 517 as of mid-December, part of that is because Castleview Elementary contributed to some of the relief for the 2019-20 year. Lauren Roth, senior manager of of facilities communications at OCPS, said that some Tangelo Park students will be rezoned to Sand Lake to redistribute enrollment and prevent site 20-E-SW-4 from opening overcrowded. OCPS projects an enrollment of 625 at Sand Lake and 935 at site 20-E-SW-4 for 2020-21.

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WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

n Central Florida Christian Academy n Central Florida Preparatory School n The Crenshaw School n Family Christian School n The First Academy n Foundation Academy n Holy Family Catholic School n Light Christian Academy n Montverde Academy n Victory Christian Academy n Windermere Preparatory School

HOW THEY DIFFER THE FIRST ACADEMY “A lot of schools do academics to a high level of excellence, whether they’re public or private, and then some other schools do the spiritual formation side — which is really the social, emotional intelligence side — to a high level. What really sets us apart is there’s really not anyone that’s doing both to the highest level of excellence as us. The First Academy is committed to the best in academics with the best in spiritual formation.” — Sarah Donovan, senior director of advancement and parent relations FOUNDATION ACADEMY “We’re not just educating you for the sake of saying you’re educated. We’re educating you from the inside out. I would say genuinely we have good kids. They’re being trained not only how to use knowledge but they’re also trained in wisdom. … I think as a parent we’re always thinking about ‘What’s my son or daughter receiving at school?’ To be quite honest with you, they’re getting everything, because we’re building them from the inside out.” — Joe Cioffi, director of marketing and communications

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020

The private school experience TIM FREED MANAGING EDITOR

new year means plenty of change on the horizon for West Orange C o u n ty ’s p r iva te schools. Many residents move to the area to give their children an education within Orange County Public Schools, but there also are many families that prefer something different — whether it’s a faith-based education or being part of a global campus. From constructions plans to exciting new programs, local private schools have plenty of plans for 2020.

Private schools in the West Orange area have turned their attention to the new year with plans to expand campuses and programs.

THE FIRST ACADEMY

One of the most significant changes on the horizon for the faith-based The First Academy will be the opening of a new dining space called Gather. “It’s basically going to be a brand-new cafeteria setting for the students that will also be a hub of the campus for parent meetings, student meetings, fellowship with one another — a great central spot for people to gather and have community on campus,” said Sarah Donovan, senior director of advancement and parent relations at The First Academy. Gather, which will have an indoor and outdoor space, has been almost completely funded after six weeks and tentatively will open in August. The building will be located in the center of campus between the upper school and Natalie Thomas Gym. “We’re a development school, which means that we build our campus through givings and we had a goal of $600,000 and we’re almost to that goal,” Donovan said. “We’ve got really stronghearted families that want to give and want to see the campus continue to grow.” Historically, students have dined at First Baptist Orlando on campus, but recently the school transitioned to having students eat in the gymnasium. “Now, the gym will go back to

The First Academy soon will unveil a new strategic plan.

being a true athletic facility again, and this will be able to phase into a dining space for the students,” Donovan said. A new strategic plan also is set to be unveiled in summer 2020. “(There are) some really big, not only campus additions, but program additions for The First Academy,” Donovan said. “Look for things to come with the strategic plan, because it will unveil a lot of what we’ll be doing, how we’ll be growing the campus and our program offerings of the next five to 10 years. “Our head of school has met with over 200 representatives and he continues to meet with them, so students, parents, alumni, teachers, staff — that strategic plan is a compilation of all of their feedback,” she said. “There’s a strong vision for 2020 and beyond as we begin this new decade.”

WINDERMERE PREP “Our big tagline is ‘Preparing the next generation of global leaders.’ We take the global aspect of that quite seriously. … It’s quite enriching for the kids. … We live by a three-part creed — three Latin terms — which is unitas, veritas and virtus. Unitas stands for unity; veritas stands for truth through knowledge, which is learning, and virtus is about character or the type of person you are.” — Steven Lyng, head of school Windermere Prep plans to expand several of its programs.

FOUNDATION ACADEMY

Families at Foundation Academy can expect construction in the near future — specifically at the Upper School campus for seventh through 12th grades. The school is heading toward expansion with a 17,000-squarefoot classroom addition that will have two science rooms, a band/ drama room and eight classrooms. There also will be a weight room added to the gymnasium. It’s an expansion meant to meet the needs of the growing number of students on the campus. The school has seen increases of at least 5% over the past four years, including an increase of 9% this year, said Michelle Campbell, director of enrollment at Foundation Academy. The design phase of the new classroom building and weight room has been taking place over the last 18 months, with construction likely starting in the

FORESIGHT FOR

2 2

summer, Dave Buckles, school president, said. “We’ve entered into a time where we are in for permitting for building expansion and master plan work — we’re just trying to prepare for what the future brings,” Buckles said. Foundation Academy also has future plans to construct a new cafeteria that will seat up to 400 students. Preliminary drawings are done, but the school hasn’t submitted for permits. “It’s something we’d like to get started — leadership is just determining the best time to get started with that project,” Buckles said. Carol Grosshans, vice president of education at Foundation Academy, said the school is looking to provide some new entrepreneurship and career-readiness courses. There’s more planned for Foundation Academy’s Lower School campus on Plant Street, as well. Grosshans said leadership is considering expanding after school programs, including a cooking class that doesn’t require stoves. At Foundation’s Lakeside campus, which started kindergarten this school year, first grade will be added later in 2020. “That’s been kind of exciting to see the progression of that — very excited families and interest out

WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020

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WINDERMERE PREP

The year 2020 marks the 20th year of Windermere Preparatory School — a school that is continuing to grow its programs to meet the needs of its students. “Windermere Prep is at a pretty exciting phase of its growth,” said Steven Lyng, head of school at Windermere Prep. “We’re planning through 2020 to have a variety of 20-year celebrations and recognitions.” Lyng said the student enrollment today sits at about 1,535 students, but the ultimate goal is to soon reach the 1,600 student mark. “At that point, we will be done enrolling students beyond that number, so as a school we’re coming into our final configuration,” Lyng said. One of Windermere Prep’s priorities moving forward is to continue to expand the collaborations currently in place with Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Juilliard School and UNICEF. Students have the chance to learn from and communicate with experts, professionals and global change makers through Skype sessions, projects and more. “From a program perspective, I think our school has reached a certain level of maturity,” Lyng said. “Where we’re actually seeing the most growth and expansion is with these collaborations.” Lyng added that Windermere Prep also hopes to expand new additions to the school, including the makers classes offered to middle school students and the computer science and robotics program for the high school students. “We remain committed to the International Baccalaureate diploma program as the centerpiece for our high school curriculum, but by the same token we have built a lab program in our Lower School, which is new this

OVERCROWDING Many families in the West Orange area eagerly await the opening of new relief schools as public schools continue to face overcrowding. Is the overcrowding in public schools in West Orange making private schools a better option? THE FIRST ACADEMY “There’s a definitely demand for it for those families that realize the value in a customized private education for their child. I think that families that see the value of us knowing their child, of helping their child pursue their talents and passions and leadership … there’s definitely a demand for that.” — Sarah Donovan, senior director of advancement and parent relations FOUNDATION ACADEMY “We do get a lot of parents that are a little frustrated with the numbers (in public schools). It might not necessarily be in the classroom, but there’s just so many students at the school in general they feel like their child gets overlooked. … I’m hearing that fairly consistently from parents who are coming.” — Michelle Campbell, director of enrollment WINDERMERE PREP “Interest in our school is as strong as it’s ever been. We feel really good about where we are. … I think demand is certainly strong, and we feel very good about that. “ — Steven Lyng, head of school

year,” he said. “That encompasses a maker space and robotics lab.” “I think the exciting thing that is really happening is — as these programs take root within our school, including the STEAM and robotics at multiple levels — we’re empowering student agency and we are empowering our curriculum to be more studentled and student-driven,” Tiffany Alrefae, assistant head of school at Windermere Prep. “In a world that’s very test-driven, we know the value of these programs and how it will be the advantage for our students both in college and beyond.”

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there to continue that program,” Grosshans said. “Down the road we’re hoping to have more of those satellite schools that will feed in to our campus here for seventh through 12th grade.”

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ComisióndedeServicios ServiciosPúblicos PúblicosdedeFlorida Floridadesignó designóaaCenturyLink CenturyLink LaLaComisión como una una operadora operadora dede telecomunicaciones telecomunicaciones que que está está calificada calificada como dentrodedesusuárea áreadedeservicio serviciopara paraproporcionar proporcionarservicios serviciosuniversales. universales. dentro Lastarifas tarifasdedeservicio serviciobásico básicolocal localdedeCenturyLink CenturyLinkpara paralíneas líneasdede Las vozresidenciales residencialesson sondede$25.50 $25.50alalmes mesy ylos losservicios serviciosdedenegocios negocios voz sondede$35.00 $35.00alalmes. mes.Las Lastarifas tarifasespecíficas específicasseseproporcionarán proporcionarán son bajosolicitud. solicitud. bajo CenturyLinkparticipa participaenenununprograma programadedebeneficios beneficiosgubernamentales gubernamentales CenturyLink (Lifeline) para para hacer hacer que que elel servicio servicio telefónico telefónico residencial residencial oo elel (Lifeline) serviciodedebanda bandaancha anchasea seamás máseconómico económicopara paralos losindividuos individuos servicio familiasdedebajos bajosrecursos recursosque quecumplan cumplancon conlos losrequisitos. requisitos. Los Los y yfamilias clientesaptos aptospara paraeste esteprograma programason sonaquellos aquellosque quecumplen cumplencon con clientes losestándares estándaresdedeelegibilidad elegibilidadconforme conformelolodefinido definidopor porlalaFCC FCCy ylas las los comisionesestatales. estatales.Los Losresidentes residentesque queviven vivenenentierras tierrastribales tribales comisiones reconocidasfederalmente federalmentepueden puedencalificar calificarpara paraobtener obtenerbeneficios beneficios reconocidas adicionalessisiparticipan participanenenciertos ciertosprogramas programasfederales federalesadicionales adicionales adicionales elegibilidad. ElEldescuento descuentoLifeline Lifelineestá estádisponible disponibleúnicamente únicamente dedeelegibilidad. paraununteléfono teléfonoooservicio serviciodedebanda bandaancha anchapor porhogar hogarque quecalifique, califique, para dichoservicio serviciopuede puedeser seralámbrico alámbricoooinalámbrico. inalámbrico. Las Lasvelocidades velocidades y ydicho bandaancha anchadeben debenser serdede2020Mbps Mbpsdededescarga descargay ydede33Mbps Mbpsdede dedebanda subidaoomás másrápidas rápidaspara paracalificar. calificar. subida Un hogar hogar está está definido, definido, para para los los fines fines del del programa programa Lifeline, Lifeline, Un comoununindividuo individuooogrupo grupodedeindividuos individuosque queviven vivenjuntos juntosenenlala como mismadirección direccióny yque quecomparten comparteningresos ingresosy ygastos. gastos. ElElservicio servicio misma Lifelinenonoesestransferible transferibley ysólo sólolos losclientes clientesque quecumplen cumplencon conlos los Lifeline requisitos pueden pueden inscribirse inscribirse enen elel programa. programa. Los Los clientes clientes que que requisitos hagandeclaraciones declaracioneserróneas erróneasdeliberadamente deliberadamentepara parapoder poderobtener obtener hagan serviciotelefónico telefónicoooelelservicio serviciodedebanda bandaancha anchaLifeline Lifelinepueden pueden elelservicio sercastigados castigadoscon conuna unamulta multaoocon conencarcelamiento encarcelamientoy ypueden puedenser ser ser bloqueadosdel delprograma. programa. bloqueados ustedvive viveenenununárea áreadedeservicio servicioCenturyLink, CenturyLink,por porfavor favorllame llame SiSiusted 1-855-954-6546oovisite visitecenturylink.com/lifeline centurylink.com/lifelinesisitiene tienealguna alguna alal1-855-954-6546 preguntaoopara parapedir pediruna unasolicitud solicitudpara paraelelprograma programaLifeline. Lifeline. pregunta 326527-1

Courtesy photos

Foundation Academy has plans to construct a new classroom building, a weight room and more.

The Florida Public Service Commission designated CenturyLink The Florida Public Service Commission designated as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier within CenturyLink its service as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier within service area for universal service purposes. CenturyLink’s its basic local area for universal service purposes. CenturyLink’s basic local service rates for residential voice lines are $25.50 per month service rates services for residential voiceper lines are $25.50 month and business are $35.00 month. Specificper rates will and business services are $35.00 per month. Specific rates will be provided upon request. be provided upon request. CenturyLink participates in a government benefit program CenturyLink participates in atelephone government benefit program (Lifeline) to make residential or broadband service (Lifeline) to make residential telephone or broadband service more affordable to eligible low-income individuals and families. more affordable to eligible low-income and families. Eligible customers are those that meetindividuals eligibility standards as Eligible meet eligibility standards as defined customers by the FCC are andthose state that commissions. Residents who live defined by the FCC and state Residents who live on federally recognized Tribal commissions. Lands may qualify for additional on federally recognized Tribal Lands qualify for additional Tribal benefits if they participate in may certain additional federal Tribal benefits if theyThe participate in certainis additional federal eligibility programs. Lifeline discount available for only eligibility programs. The Lifeline discount is available for only one telephone or qualifying broadband service per household, one telephone or qualifying broadband service per household, which can be either a wireline or wireless service. Broadband which bebe either a wireline or wireless service. Broadband speedscan must 20 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload or faster speeds must be 20 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload or faster to qualify. to qualify. A household is defined for the purposes of the Lifeline program A is defined for the purposes ofwho the Lifeline program ashousehold any individual or group of individuals live together at as any individual or group of individuals who live together at the same address and share income and expenses. Lifeline the sameis address and shareand income expenses. Lifeline service not transferable, only and eligible consumers may service is not transferable, and only eligible consumers may enroll in the program. Consumers who willfully make false enroll in theinprogram. Consumers willfullyormake false statements order to obtain Lifelinewho telephone broadband statements in order to obtain Lifeline telephone or broadband service can be punished by fine or imprisonment and can be service can the be punished barred from program. by fine or imprisonment and can be barred from the program. If you live in a CenturyLink service area, please call If you live in ora visit CenturyLink service area,with please call 1-855-954-6546 centurylink.com/lifeline questions 1-855-954-6546 visit centurylink.com/lifeline with questions or to request an or application for the Lifeline program. or to request an application for the Lifeline program.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020

COMING HOME

Improving the experience Courtesy

One of the most notable improvements to the SoBo Art Gallery is the construction of the porch in front of the building.

SoBo Art Gallery Executive Director Phil Self has only been onboard for a little more than a year, but already, he has had his hand in many of the recent and planned improvements at the SoBo gallery. ERIC GUTIERREZ STAFF WRITER

he SoBo Art Gallery in Winter Garden has undergone many changes in 2019 to help further its mission of supporting local artists. And there’s more to come. The gallery space has come a long way from its origins as Winter Garden’s old fire station. The gallery took over the building in November 2013 and since then, has attracted artists both within and outside of the city and West Orange County. For each exhibition, the Winter Garden Art Association receives hundreds of submissions, but the gallery only has enough space to accommodate about 60 pieces of art — depending on the size of the piece. “We recently redid the back room, which we call the studio space, but it’s pretty much a multipurpose room,” said Mary Keating, chairperson of the WGAA Board of Directors. “We elevated the ceiling — took down the dropped ceiling — and put in beautiful lighting, which opened up the room so much. … We also redid the floors and made it just really elegant.” “We’ve just added on to the front area porch as part of the deal when we did the apartment complex next door,” Winter Garden City Manager Mike Bollhoefer said. “(The deal) was to do an expansion there (at the gallery), which gave them a lot more outdoor space.” Changes were made to improve guests’ experiences and to further support the artists who consider the gallery a home for their work. Additionally, the alleyway between the gallery and the Tremaine Boyd apartment building will act as a gathering space. “We’re going to put outdoor furniture so that people can come visit and sit around and enjoy (the gallery),” Keating said. “We’re hoping that that will bring in some more (foot) traffic so people can see our beautiful art by all the local artists.” The WGAA will be starting an outdoor murals program in the coming months, and it also has an outdoor sculpture exhibition program coming this year. The murals

Photos by Eric Gutierrez

Improvements to the back room of the gallery include raising the ceiling, and installing new flooring and lighting.

FORESIGHT FOR

2 2

and sculptures will be on display on a rotating basis at different designated locations throughout Winter Garden. The gallery will be displaying art at other sites in cooperation with organizations such as Orlando Health, AdventHealth, June Engineering and the upcoming packinghouse on Tildenville Road. The WGAA also will be working on fundraising toward a new gallery space to be constructed on the parking lot adjacent to the SoBo Art Gallery. “SoBo is a great organization (with) lots of members,” Bollhoefer said. “They’ve done great things. If you ever go to their art exhibits, they’re packed. (What) we’re getting ready to start soon is

to work with them to raise money in a project to build another building, (which will be) a gallery adjacent to them next door on the empty parking spot because they need a lot more space.” SELF IMPROVEMENT

Much of the recent and planned improvements at SoBo have been guided by and in support of three primary areas of mission and purpose: increase the display of art in the SoBo Art Gallery and throughout the West Orange area; support the community of local artists; and use art as a means of community outreach. Many of the changes started after the WGAA brought in Phil Self as the executive director of both the gallery and the association. “We really are excited about having him be our leader,” Keating said. “There’s been a handful of us (who) spend a lot of time up there for six years to get it going, and we are very excited that he is taking on most of those responsibilities. Even though we still have a whole bunch of volunteers that make it work, he is taking the lead on directing where we’re going and being the liaison with the city and leading us in our exhibitions.” Originally from Atlanta, Self moved to Winter Garden in 2008, but even prior to moving to the city, he was a frequent visitor. He

used to attend his niece’s recitals at the Garden Theatre, as well as his nephew’s football games at the fields near Plant Street Market. He even has previous ties to the SoBo Art Gallery. “My mother is an artist and has been here in this area for a long time,” Self said. “I’d actually come with her to a SoBo exhibition before when she’d shown some of her work here, so I’ve seen the place over the years. … It felt like a close connection even from the beginning.” When the executive director job at SoBo and the WGAA opened up, Self’s mother encouraged him to apply. He waited a little while before applying, but he eventually threw his hat in the ring. He has been the executive director of SoBo and the WGAA for a little more than a year. One of his earliest accomplishments was coming up with the three primary areas of mission and purpose. “All of it goes back to impacting those three key areas,” Self said. “They keep everybody on track. Focus is key at an organization, especially when it is run by a lot of volunteers. You’ve got a lot of different ideas involved and a lot of people involved and a lot of different ways of communicating involved.”

When Self moved to Winter Garden and got the job with SoBo and the WGAA, he came home — both professionally and personally. Much of Self’s professional career has been in the creative industry. He is a former digital media publisher and leader at a publicly traded media company. He also has a background as a TV studio executive who produced seven top-rated, nationally broadcasted animated TV series. “My job in particular was working with the networks,” Self said. “I got to pitch television show ideas to networks like … Viacom, Sony Pictures and Comedy Central.” He worked among artists almost every day during his stint in the television industry. Many of those artists were the animators of the shows he was involved in. “The thing about (working in television) that relates to what I do here at the gallery is, depending on when shows were in production, we had over 100 artists at different points,” Self said. “A lot of those artists — even though they were animating shows — were artists in their own right. They were doing exhibitions on the weekends — everything from fine art to sculptures and 3D art or street art.” During his years working as a publisher, he worked with multiple different brands, magazines and websites, all of which involved some form of art. “It became more and more apparent the more that I learned about the role how much I’d been prepared in other ways,” Self said. Although he’s held some high positions in his work in the television industry and in his career as a publisher, there were some key aspects that were missing from both jobs. “Even though I had these high level jobs, they didn’t have the community (aspect) in it,” Self said. “It was missing what Winter Garden’s got in spades, which is that feeling of having a home.”

Phil Self is leading the way as the executive director of the SoBo Art Gallery and the Winter Garden Art Association.

WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

Photos by Troy Herring

University of Alabama running back Najee Harris ran by University of Michigan defenders during the Citrus Bowl.

Show them the money? With the recent uptick in discussion and legal action regarding the paying of collegiate athletes, questions have been raised about its possible effects on high school athletics. TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR

o pay or not to pay — that is the question. It’s a question that has been asked since college athletics became big-time business. The argument: “Why is the NCAA — which brings in $1 billion a year — allowed to profit off the backs of athletes, who are not given a dime for the use of their likeness in advertising sales?” The question has gained the attention of legislators in multiple states. High school coaches and administrators also seek answers about how the possible changes could affect them. Recently, California passed Senate Bill 206, informally titled the “Fair Pay to Play Act,” which allows college athletes in California to hire agents and be paid for endorsements. “High school athletic directors and coaches, who presumably will act in a manner consistent with the mission of education-based athletics and in the best interests of young student-athletes, will be able to serve as a partial barrier against such exploitation of high school athletes,” said Lee Green, an attorney who specializes in sports law, in an article written for the National Federation of State High School Associations. “However, as has repeatedly been demonstrated

With discussions of paying collegiate athletes comes conversations of the possible trickle-down effects it will have on high school athletes.

over the years, scholastic athletic personnel are limited in their ability to hold back the tsunami of economic forces at work in the marketplace and will need extensive assistance from legislatures and state associations to enact safeguards to protect high school and middle school student-athletes.” THE CONCERNS

High school athletes and coaches are watching, because the inevitable trickle-down effect certainly will have ramifications at the local level. Brad Lord, head football coach at Foundation Academy and a former collegiate athlete, has built a foot-

ball powerhouse at the school and has sent numerous players to the collegiate level. “I believe scholarship is payment … when I played and went on a scholarship, we were treated like kings,” Lord said. “(But) these kids nowadays, older people still think they get everything, but they don’t — they live on the skinny. If you’re a football player, your money might run out halfway through the month.” Although Lord acknowledges the perks for college athletes, he knows it could have significant effects on himself and other high school coaches around the country — especially as it relates to recruit-

ing and coaching in general. “The recruiting world right now is crazy enough for these kids; that’s just going to add on another stage of craziness,” Lord said. “Now, how do you like being a high school coach, when you have a sophomore who gets an offer and who is going to get paid, and you’re trying to preach team and unity as a high school coach? “It’s going be very hard for high school coaches, because again, even though it is a ‘me world’ now, times it by five when they get paid,” he said. Of all issues that arise for coaches, recruiting — and sometimes questionable recruiting practices — is at the forefront. Although the California bill is specifically for endorsements and signing with agents, the fear is that it could lead to collegiate players being paid by universities or conferences — and that includes standout freshmen. Although Ocoee basketball coach John “Sarge” Siers doesn’t have a problem with players being paid, he also believes athletes aren’t being taken advantage of given the amount of scholarships and Pell Grants that are given out. His biggest concern is that with the lack of regulations and possible money differential between Power 5 schools and smaller conferences, the payment of players could affect how players choose their respective schools. “It might change recruiting,” Siers said. “‘I might want to hold out and wait to go to a school that will pay me.’ But what is the pay going to be? Is $200 a week enough to change where you want to go to school? Is David Green not going to go to Hofstra if Hofstra and the CAA is not a league that is going to pay its players, and hold out for Wake Forest that pays $800 a month?” Furthermore, who exactly would pay the money? The schools? The conferences? The state education boards? The NCAA? There also is the issue of regulation and creating a balanced recruiting playing field, something Central Florida Christian Academy Athletic Director Kyle Wills believes the NCAA won’t be able to handle. “If you’ve got bad intentions, you’re still going to find a way to act out those bad intentions,” Wills said. “I’m not so sure that the NCAA, or whoever is providing this money, are going to be able to regulate it in a way to make it fair. They struggle — because of lack of personnel — being able to regulate things now.” THE POTENTIAL

Some coaches, including West Orange baseball coach Jay Welsh, endorse the idea of paying college athletes. “The time is long overdue that college athletes receive some type of stipend,” Welsh said. “Being a

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020

FORESIGHT FOR

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former college athlete and coach myself, I understand the commitment that they put into athletics, which I feel goes far beyond the scholarship that they are given.” Welsh said there must be oversight, but the additional money actually could help inspire younger athletes in middle and high school to work harder. “It does have some trickle down, but I think it also gives them a greater incentive to succeed and find a spot at the next level,” Welsh said. “It will help them in terms of appreciating what they have once they reach that level. “They understand that whatever it took for them to get to that university, they’re going to appreciate it so much more that they can have certain things that they don’t need to do anymore, because the college is going to take good care of them,” he said. In high school, athletes do spend a lot of time bettering themselves in their respective sports, but they also have time to work part-time jobs — something that’s important to their growth as people, because it helps round them out and develop lifelong skills, Welsh said. But once an athlete gets to college, it can be difficult to find that kind of school/workplace balance and learn the kinds of skills that help beyond college. “They get a better chance at understanding what it takes — from a time-management standpoint — to succeed at the next level,” Welsh said. “I can guarantee you it’s going to be hard for them to do that at a major university, because you’re just not going to have the time to go out and maybe work at a restaurant or wait tables or work at Publix — and still be able to be competitive in your sport. It takes a rare breed to do that.” Although the questions will remain for the foreseeable future, don’t expect there to be any answers soon, Welsh said. As high schools and universities in Florida — and around the country — keep a watchful eye on how amateurism will be redefined, there is one thing that is for sure: Over time, sports will change. “I guess my opinion on the whole thing is it’s going to change how the sport we love operates now,” Wills said. “And I guess we’ll just see when it starts turning over.”

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020

REAL ESTATE

Trust services. Fixed income. Retirement planning. Estate newset to of thewealth Trading. Mutual funds & etfs. 4401ks. We’re A diverse Let usto Investment management. Asset nt. Neighborhood. management options meet you around. services. Fixed income. 401L ing. Show your diverse set of Trust needs. Retirement planning. Estate planning. Trading. Asset management. IRAs. 401(k)s. Tax planning. Robo-advice. Wealth management. Fixed income. Research. Investment management. Trust service. Mutual funds & ETFs. Retirement accounts. Specialists. Trust services. Fixed The home at 15728 Marina Bay Drive, Winter Garden, 34787, sold Dec. 30, for income. Retirement planning. Estate planning. Trading. $785,000. Features include a refrigerated wine room, a home office, a fenced-in back yard on the lake and a beautiful infinity pool, complete with hot tub. Asset management. IRAs. 401(k)s. Tax planning. Roboadvice. Wealth management. Fixed income. Research. Investment management. Trust service. Mutual funds & ETFs. Retirement accounts. Specialists. Trust services. Fixed income. Retirement planning. Estate planning. From retirement planning to saving for college and more, Trading. Asset management. Schwab has a breadth of investment productsIRAs. to help you 401(k)s. Tax planning. and everyone under your roof reach their financial goals. Robo-advice. Wealth management. Fixed income. home in the WaterSUMMERLAKE The home at 7720 Summerlake Michael Investment Wytiaz, CFP Research. management. Trust service. Mutualleigh community Pointe Blvd., Winter Garden, 34787, sold Dec. 30, for funds & ETFs. Retirement accounts. Specialists. Clermont Independent Branch topped all Winter Garden $480,000. Built in 2013, it has

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HORIZON WEST INDEPENDENCE

The townhouse at 15357 Avenue of the Arbors, Winter Garden, 34787, sold Dec. 31, for $255,000. Built in 2012, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,775 square feet. The price per square foot is $143.66. Days on market: six.

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The home at 4319 Old Sycamore Loop, Winter Garden, 34787, sold Jan. 2, for $555,000. Built in 2014, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 3,436 square feet. The price per square foot is $161.53. Days on market: three.

Ho riz o

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The home at 4919 Wildwood Pointe Road, Winter Garden, 34787, sold Dec. 30, for $421,000. Built in 2016, it has five bedrooms, three-and-onehalf baths and 2,846 square feet. The price per square foot is $147.93. Days on market: 79.

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SIGNATURE LAKES

The home at 15031 Evergreen Oak Loop, Winter Garden, 34787, sold Dec. 30, for $315,000. Built in 2016, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,506 square feet. The price per square foot is $125.70. Days on market: 28.

The home at 16142 Hampton Crossing Drive, Winter Garden, 34787, sold Dec. 31, for $575,000. Built in 2017, it has five bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 3,222 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $178.46. Days on market: 31. The home at 10195 Atwater Bay Drive, Winter Garden, 34787, sold Dec. 30, for $561,186. Built in 2019, it has four bedrooms, four-and-one-half baths and 3,408 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $164.67. Days on market: 27. The home at 9546 Nautique Lane, Winter Garden, 34787, sold Dec. 31, for $351,740. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,027 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $173.53. Days on market: seven.

OAKLAND

JOHNS LANDING

The home at 847 Cura Court, Oakland, 34787, sold Dec. 30, for $335,000. Built in 2002, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 3,000 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $111.67. Days on market: 69.

OCOEE

BORDEAUX

The condo at 1975 Erving Circle, No. 106, Ocoee, 34761, sold Jan. 3, for $107,000. Built in 2001, it has one bedroom, one bath and 702 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $152.42. Days on market: 37. BRENTWOOD HEIGHTS

The home at 610 Sullivan Ave., Ocoee, 34761, sold Jan. 2, for $205,000. Built in 1963, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,300 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $157.69. Days on market: 13.

Pat Sharr Realty WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

PRAIRIE LAKE RESERVE

The townhouse at 2064 Switch Grass Circle, Ocoee, 34761, sold Dec. 30, for $228,500. Built in 2015, it has four bedrooms, twoand-one-half baths and 1,780 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $128.37. Days on market: 48. RESERVE AT MEADOW LAKE

The townhouse at 1289 Glenleigh Drive, Ocoee, 34761, sold Dec. 31, for $210,000. Built in 2012, it has three bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 1,751 square feet. The price per square foot is $119.92. Days on market: 32. SAWMILL

The home at 5061 Sawdust Circle, Ocoee, 34761, sold Dec. 30, for $249,000. Built in 1989, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,548 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $160.85. Days on market: 92.

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The home at 243 Braelock Drive, Ocoee, 34761, sold Dec. 31, for $425,000. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 3,245 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $130.97. Days on market: 176.

LOCATION, LOCATION...ONLY MINUTES TO DOWNTOWN JUST LISTED!!! LOCATED IN A MUCH ORTAKE WINTER HONEYORLANDO STOP THE CAR!!! A LOOK AT PARK!!! THIS POOL/SPA HOME!!! Just freshly DESIRED NOhome HOA!!! STEP AND BE painted, nothing to doLOCATION!!! here but move in. This is located in oneINSIDE of the sought AMAZED in OF CONDITION OF and THIS OWNER after neighborhoods Ocoee!THE Brookestone is a gated community close ONE to all major BRING YOUR OFFER!!! highways, shopping and schools. Open the frontFEATURES door step inside to the foyer, to the rightLIVING PAMPERED HOME!!! INCLUDE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS 3 BDRM. 2 BA., NO HOA!!! LARGE FENCED is the formal dining room, straight ahead is the view through sliding glass doors of your ROOM, DINING ROOM, EAT-IN KITCHEN, FAMILY ROOM, BACK YARD, PARK YOUR MOTOR HOME OR BOAT. THIS HOME sparkling pool/spa. Covered lanai with brick pavers and privacy fenced back yard. The FEATURES A LIVING/GREAT ROOM WITH WOOD BURNING TWO BEDROOMS AND 2 BATHS!!! THIS HOME COMES kitchen features all the appliances, breakfast nook and breakfast bar, built in desk, large FIREPLACE, FRENCH DOORS LEADING TO THE SCREENED FURNITURE, ALL pantry COMPLETE and 42” cabinets.InsideWITH Laundry room with washer and dryer which isAPPLIANCES staying, COVERED BACK PORCH, KITCHEN COMPLETE WITH ALL INCLUDING & DRYER!!! ALSO IS THE AIR CONDITIONED ROOM OVER plus aSTAY 2 car garage with a laundryWASHER sink. Large family room with sliding glass FEATURED doors APPLIANCES STAYING, BREAKFASTFLORIDA NOOK OVERLOOKING THE leadingLOOKING to the large brick paverLARGE lanai. Master an adjoining sitting(27X19) area, masterFENCED THE INfeatures GROUND POOL LANDSCAPED YARD!!! STATELY THIS ISTREES, A GREAT BUY FOR HUGE BACK YARD, BEAUTIFUL STORAGE SHED.. bath has jetted garden tub, separate shower and double vanities. 3 Way split bedroom FEATURES 2 CAR GARAGE W/OPENER. NO NEIGHBORS FIRST TIME HOME BUYER’S OR IF YOU WANT TO DOWNALSO SIZE... RELAX AND ENJOY YOUR OWN POOL!!! MAKE plan with 2 of theAPPOINTMENT guest bedrooms centered around theASKING guest bath. ONLY The 4th bedroom YOUR TODAY!!! $335,000 ACROSS THE STREET, MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN WINTER is by itself with pool bath. Take a look at this beauty today!!! Asking Only $365,000.

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The home at 2010 Curia Road, Winter Garden, 34787, sold Jan. 2, for $448,000. Built in 2014, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 3,410 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $131.38. Days on market: 51.

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The home at 713 Monte Vista Way, Winter Garden, 34787, sold Jan. 2, for $395,000. Built in 2006, it has six bedrooms, fourand-one-half baths and 3,920 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $100.77. Days on market: 157. GLENVIEW ESTATES

The home at 1036 Glensprings Ave., Winter Garden, 34787, sold Jan. 3, for $270,000. Built in 1985, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,222 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $220.95. Days on market: three.

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HORIZON OAKS

The home at 1007 Carol Anderson Drive, Winter Garden, 34787, sold Jan. 2, for $125,000. Built in 1991, it has three bedrooms, one bath and 1,300 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $96.15. Days on market: 115.

323769-1

The home at 1600 Jemima Ave., Ocoee, 34761, sold Dec. 31, for $146,000. Built in 1961, it has three bedrooms, one bath and 1,021 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $143. Days on market: 109.

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The home at 2839 Timber Hawk Circle, Ocoee, 34761, sold Dec. 30, for $317,310. Built in 2019, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 2,447 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $129.67. Days on market: two.

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The home at 209 12th Ave., Ocoee, 34761, sold Dec. 31, for $215,000. Built in 2007, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,676 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $128.28. Days on market: 104.

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The home at 535 Belle Fern Court, Ocoee, 34761, sold Dec. 31, for $325,000. Built in 2013, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,898 square feet. The price per square foot is $112.15. Days on market: 172.

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The home at 540 Whittier Ave., Ocoee, 34761, sold Dec. 30, for $169,980. Built in 1995, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,156 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $147.04. Days on market: 112.

The home at 3038 Costa Club Drive, Ocoee, 34761, sold Jan. 3, for $391,400. Built in 2007, it has four bedrooms, three-andone-half baths and 3,207 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $122.05. Days on market: 10.

HILLCREST HEIGHTS

MultiMillion Dollar Producer

Total Sales: 30 High Sale Price: $785,000 Low Sale Price: $107,000

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020

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WESTYN BAY

JUS

SNAPSHOT

STONEYBROOK WEST

The home at 15175 Spinnaker Cove Lane, Winter Garden, 34787, sold Dec. 30, for $450,000. Built in 2005, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 3,906 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $115.21. Days on market: 117.

CITY OF OCOEE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ELEMENT (CIE) UPDATE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT CPA-2019-005

SUNSET LAKES

The home at 13674 Sunset Lakes Circle, Winter Garden, 34787, sold Jan. 3, for $495,000. Built in 1993, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,421 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $204.46. Days on market: 64.

NOTICE IS HEREBY given that the OCOEE CITY COMMISSION will consider a proposed amendment to the City of Ocoee Comprehensive Plan for the purpose of updating the Capital Improvements Element. The OCOEE CITY COMMISSION will hold a public hearing on the proposed amendment on TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2020, AT 6:15 PM or as soon thereafter as practical. The public hearing will be held in the City Hall Commission Chambers located at 150 North Lakeshore Drive, Ocoee.

www.edwardjones.com

Bruce Young, CFP®, CRPC®

Member SIPC

CFP®, CRPC®

MKT-9811-A MKT-9811-A

oad Ste 100 711

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17301 Pagonia Road Ste 100 Clermont, FL 34711 407-654-4915

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Interested parties may appear at the public hearing and be heard with respect to the proposed actions above. The complete case file may be inspected at the Ocoee Development Services Department/Planning Division located at 150 North Lakeshore Drive, Ocoee, Florida between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except legal holidays. The City Commission may continue this public hearing to other dates and times, as it deems necessary. Any interested party shall be advised of the dates, times, and places of any continuation of these or continued public hearings www.edwardjones.com shall be announced during the hearing and no further notices regarding these matters www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC will be published. You Member are advised SIPC that any person who desires to appeal any decision made at the public hearings will need a record of the proceedings and for this purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made which includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is based. Persons with disabilities needing assistance to participate in any of these proceedings should contact the City Clerk’s Office 48 hours in advance of the meeting at 407-905-3105.

325709-1

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OCOEE, FLORIDA AMENDING THE OCOEE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AS ADOPTED IN 1991, AS AMENDED, IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH SECTION 163.3177, FLORIDA STATUTES; AMENDING THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ELEMENT OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

She was warm, generous and funny — curious beyond measure, smart as a whip and never met a stranger. Her unique perspective and intelligence were a gift. She had few boundaries, holding little back in the way she loved or what she thought. She was an exceptional dinner party host and guest, able to create beautiful settings from whatever was present and ask unique questions that generated revealing stories and entertaining conversations. She believed in beauty, equity

and truth, and in tradition and history. Marcia led an extraordinary life, lucky enough to engage with organizations where her compassion, curiosity and kindness could be a light for others. From the Sydney Olympics to the World Cup, from Church Street Station to the Orlando Opera Company, from the American Red Cross to the Orlando Art Museum, she always found ways to bring joy and help others as she chartered her exceptional journey. Marcia treasured her family and was a devoted daughter and loyal friend. She saw the best in those she loved and may have loved her furry friends and dogsitting clients the most. Hers was a bright light that surely blazes on, but our lives are all the more dim without her amazing laugh and special presence on this earth.

where they remained married for 61 years, until Bob’s death in 2017. Theirs is a love story to which no fairy tale can compare. Chie had a long career as a seamstress in Winter Park for Ralph Lauren Polo before retiring from Burdines in Altamonte, continuing to knit and sew long after her retirement. She was a passionate Atlanta Braves baseball fan, active in her church, and

loved being surrounded by her grandkids and great-grandkids. Chie is survived by her daughter, Lynn, and her partner, Steve; her son, Dale, and his wife, Susan; her grandson, Josh, and his wife, Morgan; her granddaughter, Jessica, and her husband, Nathan; her great-granddaughters Haven, Jadyn and Lyla; and too many dear friends to list. Her legacy lives on through these people. A celebration of life was held at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 6, 2020, at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Funeral Home, 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road, Gotha. A reception followed at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, main.acsevents. org/goto/chie.

MARCIA LYNN HARRIS

WEST ORANGE OBITUARIES

DIED WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18, 2019.

Marcia Lynn Harris passed away Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. A proud graduate of Stetson University, Marcia was a lifelong resident of Central Florida, born in Orlando on July 14, 1954. Preceded in death by her mother, Ann Harris, Marcia is survived by her father, Phil Harris and her sisters, Nila Harris and Raenelle Bailey. Marcia was an exceptional and vibrant woman with an artistic mind and curious soul, always up for the next adventure or road trip. She loved beautiful things and thrift store shopping; the sight and sound of the beach; the glow of a full moon; the gorgeous views of Maine; the soul of Italy; the rugged, wide-open spaces of Jackson, Wyoming; and all things British. CHIE NUMAJIRI LANGLEY DIED DEC. 21, 2019

Chie Numajiri Langley, 91, of Minneola, Florida, passed away Dec. 21, 2019, peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family. Chie was born June 15, 1928, in Yubari, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan. She and her family migrated to Otaru during World War II, where they lived until the end of the war. Post-war, they moved to Tokyo to find prosperity and help with the post-war efforts. Chie was married to Robert “Bob” Langley June 8, 1955, in Tokyo, Japan. Bob was stationed in Tokyo as part of his 21-year service to the United States Marine Corps. After marriage, they set sail together for the United States,

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020

NOTE OF THANKS

DR. DAVID A. CLARK (MAJ.) USA The family of Dr. David A. Clark wants to thank all his family and friends for their support of David since he has been battling this cancer. Thank you to all, especially for this past year, through your visits, phone calls, cards, picking him up for visits to downtown Winter Garden, and for all of your prayers. You all were there for him, and now you all are here for us, his family. You were there to give us support on his passing into Glory. Thanks to the pastors, Jeff Shaver, Kendric Barrett, Michael Butler and Greg Aman and to family and friends who made David’s interment at the National Cemetery in Bushnell a day we will never ever forget. Celebration of Life was on Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Elks Lodge, Winter Garden. So many of you to thank for making this the party David wanted. Love and thanks to Staci and Ronnie Bradshaw for being in charge for us. They got the place at the Elks Lodge, got a committee of other friends and family together. They did all the set-up, decorating and clean-up. They did a great job.

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Thanks to Pastor Barrett (WOBC) for opening the celebration with a prayer and an acrostic of David’s name, ending in prayer and inviting everyone to eat and enjoy David’s celebration with their memories of him. Thanks to all at WOBC and to Don Price for providing food and plastic items. Delicious! So many friends came from near and far to celebrate David’s life. Thanks to Kimberly Yawn (WOBC) and our grandson, Steve Lightcap, for the DVDs of David’s life that they made and set to Elvis Presley music. David wanted his family and friends not to be sad but come to a party and celebrate his passing into the presence of our Lord in Heaven and do it while listening to Elvis music. Thanks to everyone for their prayers, cards, flowers and being here to help us cope with the loss of our baby, brother, uncle, dad, nephew, cousin and good friend. He was all these. Thank you and have a blessed 2020, with our love, Johnny, Robert and Grace.

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WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

THESE OLD TIMES

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION

THROWBACK THURSDAY The Winter Garden Times Jan. 10, 1974 It’s a new year, so how about some up-to-date sounds in your car? The West Orange Music Center, in the West Orange Shopping Center in Winter Garden, was selling the best in musical equipment in a Jan. 10, 1974, advertisement in The Winter Garden Times. For $39.95, drivers could have an Electrophonic 8-track car stereo and tape player with convenient slide controls for volume, balance and tone; a slide speaker switch for two- and four-speaker operation; an illuminated program indicator; and an automatic and manual program selection. It’s possible there was no better way to cruise downtown Winter Garden on a Saturday night than with this modern technology.

70 years ago

Maybe you folks with an automobile with a 1949 license tag on it had better hustle down to the tax collector’s office at the courthouse and get a ’50 tag by the 15th of the month.

50 years ago

45 years ago

Lakeview High School was the site of a promotional effort by Arnold Palmer Enterprises. A number of Lakeview students and a couple of teachers found themselves participating in the making of a film to be shown on commercial television in Japan promoting Arnold Palmer Sportswear. Palmer appeared greeting an old schoolmate

FROM THE ARCHIVES Dated Jan. 12, 1963, this photograph was in an envelope inscribed “Versie Birdsong.” Can anyone supply more information? The photograph is one of hundreds from the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation’s B.P. Hannon Collection. Hannon (1909-1977), a Winter Garden photographer and camera store owner, documented West Orange County life for decades. A photograph of you or someone you know could be found in the archive. Call (407) 656-3244 to make a research appointment.

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.

who is now a teacher, played by William Fenner, Lakeview science instructor. Ernie Hawk, German instructor, appeared as Palmer’s old high school teacher. Students were seen throughout modeling the sportswear.

25 years ago

The 1994 Debutantes sponsored by the West Orange County Junior Service League were presented at the Orlando Marriott Downtown: Jennifer Austin, Leslie Ann Boers, Jessica French, Jennifer Gurney,

TO FRENCH by Paul Coulter; CROSSWORD INTRODUCTION Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS

1 MLB player whose logo contains a star 6 Papier-___ 11 You may make it or break it 14 Butter holder 17 Some noblemen 19 Clingy coastal creature 20 “What ___ you saying?” 21 OR’s place 22 Confused juror’s question? 24 Undoes 26 One cheering on the Heat

27 Nothing more than character? 29 “Be quiet!” 32 Canyon edges 33 3.0, e.g. 35 Buoy the spirits of 36 Flagged down, as a cab 38 Sega hedgehog 40 Accounts 44 “Lovely” Beatles girl 45 Relative who’s a track tipster? 50 ___-bitty 51 Mouth, in slang 52 Welcome sight in a desert

53 North Pole assistant 54 Struggle here? 57 Kind of code with dots 58 “Come to think of it ...” 59 Bread maker? 60 A Chaplin 62 Richard of “Chicago” 64 E.R. employees 65 Certain Buffalo chicken sandwich 68 Name fit for a king? 69 Abbr. on a business letter 70 N.C. State is in it 73 Word after white or garage 74 Dark film genre

76 Political exile 78 Cartoon chihuahua 81 They’re often dipped in hummus 83 Massage therapist’s go-to liquid? 86 Laundry detergent brand 87 Stock market peaks 88 Eye color that may look blue 89 Uber drivers’ guesses (Abbr.) 90 Movie buffs who appreciate a Diesel flick? 95 Certain shark

96 Skedaddle 97 Movie shots 98 Wheel on a chair 100 Go after 103 Business magazine 104 Artist Chagall 106 Masthead VIPs 107 Ma and Pa? 111 In the mood 114 Beer that goes well with fish? 115 Regret casting decisions? 120 Little bit of whiskey 121 Patriotic women’s org. 122 Least green, maybe 123 Nothing 124 Meddle 125 ID on a tax form 126 Hidden supply 127 Bend (over)

Lindsey Harrison, Hilarie Jowers, Dania Manor, Jennifer McGill, Angela McKee, Candon Sadler, Marcia Whittington and Beth Wincey.

41 “That’s all false!” 42 Jazz great Fitzgerald 43 “The Magicians” network 45 “La-la” lead-in 46 Boathouse implement 47 As far as 48 German industrial city 49 With ferocious determination 51 Diamondback turtle 55 Journalist’s focus 56 They’re similar to antlers 57 Saying 61 “The Matrix” hero 63 “Blondie” boy 66 Do a wheel job 67 Fancy alternative to a kennel 70 Stir up 71 Sounded froggy? 72 Bleeps out DOWN 75 Classico competitor 1 Attorneys’ org. 2 “How Do You Sleep?” singer 77 Agenda entries 78 Guns, as an engine Smith 79 “From Head to Toe” author 3 The first “T” of TNT Carle 4 Study, for one 80 Prefix for bot 5 Ablaze 82 Where approximately 6 Flaky mineral 60% of people live 7 In the thick of 84 Discount rack abbr. 8 PC “brain” 9 “Siddhartha” author Hesse 85 Lil ___ X (“7” rapper) 87 People with short fuses 10 Suffix for towel 91 Tilts to one side 11 Discussion group 92 Aspen attire 12 Little Caesars ___ (Red 93 Elizabeth Warren or Wings’ venue) Kamala Harris, briefly 13 Crew races 94 Gets away 14 Ballet garment 98 Sing softly 15 Computer operator 99 TLX and NSX cars 16 Statue’s bottom 101 Book of maps 18 Prim and proper 102 Prow’s counterpart 19 Island rings? 104 “Beetle Bailey” creator 23 “Let’s see ...” Walker 25 Elite military unit 105 Pound sound 28 Plug in, as a phone 107 Half a fl. oz. 29 Maria in the Kennedy 108 It grows on you family 109 Catch a glimpse of 30 Person from Port-au110 Blows it Prince 112 Fit together nicely 31 Baseball lineup 113 Blue books? 34 Hawaiian dish 37 Apply, like a coat of paint 116 Antipollution org. 39 Classic Langston Hughes 117 Sense of self 118 P, in sorority names poem 119 Motor oil additive

CELEBRITY CIPHER

By Luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

“C IAAXUTXT OIPOIPI VISAXPJ HUCLXPJCAN. C RBHST UBA YXXS WBPX FPXFIPXT AB CUAXPLCXV IUNBUX.” – XSCJIOXAK KIJJXSOXRM

“U KUNL J KUYYKL ECJBT. U YCUXN YCJY’T HLJKKV YHFL RBH PV UXXLH GFIICJ. ... PJVGL U EJX’Y YJNL YBYJK

– PLHLIUYC MULUHJ

ALJEL.”

Puzzle Two Clue: R equals F

The first of the Walt Disney World buildings — this one a preview center — was opening for tourists. The center will show a panorama of Walt Disney World and will give visitors an insight into the magnitude of the attraction. The building will be part of a $10 million complex of hotels, restaurants, service stations and recreational facilities. If Orange County School Board Member Lowell Clements has his way, all senior high school students in West Orange County will go to Drew High School next year. He suggested that Drew be designated as the single high school for this area and Lakeview and Ocoee be junior high schools.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020

Puzzle One Clue: U equals N

WEST ORANG 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.

01-09-20

interview anyone.” – Elisabeth Hasselbeck

CLASSIFIEDS

Puzzle Two Solution: “I like a little chaos. I think that’s really true for my inner Buddha. ... Maybe I can’t take total peace.” – Meredith Vieira

This week’s Sudoku answers

Thursday, January 9, 2020

West Orange Times & Observer 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 West Orange Times & Observer to meet all applicable legal requirements in connection with the ad such as compliance with town codes in first obtaining an occupational license for business, permitted home occupation, or residential rental property.

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers

Garage/Moving/Estate Sales

Puzzle Two Solution:

Puzzle One Solution:

Merchandise Wanted

Puzzle Two Solution: “I like a little chaos. I think that’s really “I attended Barbara Walters University. “I Ilike a chaos. I think that’s true for my inner Buddha. ... Maybe I couldlittle not feel more prepared to really true for myanyone.” inner Buddha. ... Maybe I can’t take total peace.” interview can’t take total peace.” – Meredith Vieira – Elisabeth Hasselbeck – Meredith Vieira ©2019 NEA, Inc. Puzzle Two Solution: This week’s Sudoku answers This week’s Sudoku answers “I like a little chaos. I think that’s really This week’s Crossword answers

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true for my inner Buddha. ... Maybe I can’t take total peace.” – Meredith Vieira

Fast Easy Certification

Announcements

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INFO & RATES: 407-656-2121 • EMAIL: classifieds@orangeobserver.com • ONLINE: www.orangeobserver.com Puzzle One Solution: Puzzle One Solution: HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 8:30am-4:30pm • DEADLINES: Classifieds - Monday at 10:OOAM • Service Directory - Friday at 10AM • PAYMENT: Cash, Check or Credit Card “I attended Barbara Walters University. “I attended Barbara Walters University.

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2019

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