01.18.18 Windermere Observer by Orange Observer

WINDERMERE

Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. FREE

VOLUME 3, NO. 15

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018

Panthers peak on the pitch Dr. Phillips’ girls soccer team opened the 2017-18 campaign with 14 consecutive wins. SEE PAGE 11.

Night lights

Town paves way for new parking lot The town plans to demolish two structures on Forest Street. The property will be used to construct a parking lot. GABBY BAQUERO NEWS EDITOR WINDERMERE Town leaders last week took steps toward adding more parking in downtown Windermere. During its Jan. 9 meeting, the Windermere Town Council approved spending $26,850 to demolish and remove a 2,208-square-foot home located at 119 E. Fifth Ave. and

SEE TOWN PAGE 4

YOUR TOWN ST. LUKE’S PRESENTS ‘DRIVING MISS DAISY’

Troy Herring

TIE

Sisters Skylar and Kaitlyn Dickerson were excited to participate in the first Light Up the Night 5K, which took place Jan. 11 and benefited the Windermere High cross-country team. For more photos, see page 4.

BLACK

Windermere businessman tapped to lead Indian American chamber Yog Melwani hopes to lead the IACC to a new vision in 2018. TIM FREED

The 2018 First and Goal Gala will benefit Parramore. PAGE 7. PRSRT STD ECRWSS US POSTAGE PAID WINTER GARDEN, FL PERMIT NO. 81

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ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The Indian American Chamber of Commerce Orlando has a new president. Yog Melwani, of Align Commercial Real Estate in Windermere, recently started his tenure as president of the Indian American

Chamber of Commerce Orlando. As such, he hopes to involve the chamber in new initiatives and events over the coming months. Melwani will serve as president through 2018 and 2019; he has been on the chamber’s board of directors since 2014. “With respect to the role and the time involved, we’re not a compensated board of directors — we’re doing it because of the support of the community and the support of the chamber and SEE MELWANI PAGE 4

St. Luke’s Theater is presenting “Driving Miss Daisy” this weekend. Showtimes will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19; 2:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21, at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 4851 S. Apopka-Vineland Road, Orlando. The setting is the Deep South in 1948, and the main character, the wealthy Daisy Werthan, learns she must rely on a black chauffeur named Hoke. Tickets are $15 and can be obtained by calling St. Luke’s United Methodist Church at (407) 876-4991, Ext. 221.

HELP THE HUNGRY The city of Winter Garden is holding a food drive to benefit Southeastern Food Bank. Canned and non-perishable items can be taken Winter Garden City Hall, 300 W. Plant St. Yog Melwani

WINDERMERE OBSERVER

YOUR CALENDAR

THURSDAY, JAN. 18

CHAMBER BUSINESS AFTER HOURS 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, at Orlando Health — Health Central Hospital, 10000 W. Colonial Drive, Ocoee. Network with other business men and women, enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres, complimentary beer and wine and door prizes. Tickets are $5 for Chamber members in advance, $10 for Chamber members at the door and $25 for non-members. RSVP at wochamber.com.

FRIDAY, JAN. 19

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018

ROTARY DANCE 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, at Tanner Hall, 29 W. Garden Ave., Winter Garden. The first Winter Garden Rotary Club dance will have a disc jockey taking requests, and the $20 ticket includes two drinks and light snacks. Any money raised after

expenses are paid will go to a local charity. For tickets, visit rotaryclubofwintergarden.org.

their produce. Participants will create a dish and receive a chef knife. $100. (321) 677-2991.

SATURDAY, JAN. 20

TISSUE PAPER MONET 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at the Windermere Library, 530 Main St. Learn about famous artist Claude Monet and make a tissue paper painting to take home. Ages 6 to 12. (407) 8357323.

CRUZ N CAR SHOW 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, along Plant Street in downtown Winter Garden. Check out vintage cars and trucks, or enter your own for a chance to win prizes. (407) 656-4111. CULINARY BASICS & MARKET TOUR CLINIC 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at the Winter Garden Masonic Lodge, 230 W. Bay St. The Kids Cooking Connection, in Windermere, is hosting the clinic for children ages 7 and older. Class begins by walking the Winter Garden Farmers Market. Chefs will learn how to select the best produce and learn kitchen safety with a focus on knife and chopping skills on

MONDAY, JAN. 22

SOUTHWEST BOOK CLUB 7 to 8:45 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23, at the Southwest Library, 7255 Della Drive, Orlando. Join the club to discuss this month’s selection, “The Rainbow Comes and Goes: A Mother and Son on Life, Love, and Loss,” by Anderson Cooper and Gloria Vanderbilt. A charming and intimate collection of correspondence between the CNN journalist and his celebrated mother, Gloria

Vanderbilt. Both a son’s love letter to his mother in her final years and an unconventional mother’s life lessons for her grown son. (407) 835-7323.

THURSDAY, JAN. 25

CURBING YOUR DOG’S UNWANTED BEHAVIOR 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, at the Windermere Library, 530 Main St. Does your pet have a problem with jumping, barking, counter surfing, puppy nipping, potty training or leash pulling? Todd Campbell, owner and operator of South Orlando Dog Training, will share practical solutions to common canine issues. Get advice on how physically or verbally punishing these common issues can actually make them worse. These tips and tricks are scientifically based techniques that use no force, pain or fear. Pets are not permitted to attend. (407) 835-7323.

FRIDAY, JAN. 26

BIG ORANGE AWARDS 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26, at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, 4600 World Drive, Lake Buena Vista. The West Orange Chamber of Commerce will celebrate its annual Big Orange Awards. Tickets for members $96 per person or $800 for a table of eight. For non-members, tickets are $116 per person and $1,000 for a table of eight. For more, email cwilson@wochamber.com. LIVES CHANGING FROM THE INSIDE OUT 6:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26, at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 4851 S. ApopkaVineland Road, Orlando. Sheriff Jerry L. Demings is the keynote speaker at this Inside Out Jail Ministries fundraiser and silent auction. Sponsorship tables are available. Tickets are $25 and available at isojm.org.

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Fur & Feathers Pet Resort owner Darren Korito said the facility has two separate playrooms, each reserved for small dogs and large dogs.

Former employees accuse business of fraud, neglect The former employees made the claims against Winter Garden’s Fur & Feathers Pet Resort on Facebook. GABBY BAQUERO NEWS EDITOR WINTER GARDEN A Facebook post written by a Sanford resident formerly employed by a Winter Garden pet-boarding business caused an uproar of shock and anger among West Orange residents. The post — published by Olivia Burris Tuesday, Jan. 9 — alleged the owners of Fur & Feathers Pet Resort, Darren Korito and his wife, Sky, are guilty of fraud and animal neglect. Included among the many accusations, the post alleges the owners coerced employees into deceiving pet owners, instructed employees to administer nonprescribed medication to several dogs who suddenly began suffering from an illness that caused bloody stools and vomiting without the owners’ consent, placed dogs in two-foot-by-two-foot grooming kennels when overbooked without the pet owners’ knowledge, and allowed the continued operation of the business despite a roach infestation and mold issues. Darren Korito declined to comment directly on the allegations per the advice of his attorney, but he emphasized his 12-year business has never been cited with a violation and believes recent inspections conducted by the Winter Garden Police Department and Orange County Animal Services will result in positive inspection reports. The West Orange Times & Observer has requested the reports. In a comment left on the Facebook post, Korito said the online statements are 100% false, add-

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According to former employee Olivia Burris, the owner instructed employees to house dogs in the two-foot-by-two-foot grooming kennels.

ing he and his wife will be suing for defamation. “Unfortunately, we recently had to say goodbye to a number of employees that we felt were not living up (to) our high standards,” Korito wrote. “Sadly, this has created animosity and anger among those no longer employed by us. These former employees have now taken it upon themselves to band together and attack Fur & Feathers using the internet. These former employees are posting false and untruthful statements with the intent of hurting Fur & Feathers.” However, several former employees — some of whom worked at the pet resort years ago — have agreed with the accusations made by Burris. Alexa Burch, a former employee who said she worked there for about two years starting Feb. 29, 2016, corroborated the claims made by the Facebook post.

“The place was super roachinfested,” Burch said. “It was really nasty. We couldn’t eat snacks or anything without being mobbed by roaches. And second off, dealing with the customers and telling them their dogs get three playtimes and five potty breaks per day when really everyone gets two playtimes and two potty breaks. People would sit there and figure it out. They’d ask, ‘Well, if you start playtime at 9 a.m., and there are this many dogs, then how do you have enough time to do so many playtimes?’ We’d pretty much just have to lie and tell them that we make it work, when really that didn’t happen.” Burch said she once confronted Korito about the deceit. “I let him know my issues in the beginning,” Burch said. “I told him I was curious if he really thinks it’s OK that I’m telling people they’re getting this when they’re actually

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getting something else. And he just said, ‘Oh honey, all of the pet resorts do this to make their profit, and it’s not lying.’” When asked about how the employees manage to walk all the dogs under their care the required number of times — which can range from three to five times based on the bronze, silver and gold packages that start at $12.95 and reach up to $24.95 per night — Korito said his employees work on a rotation throughout the day. “There’s a certain number of potty breaks included in each package, so I think it’s about three potty breaks in the basic package and then up to five potty breaks with the gold package,” Korito said. “So we have to look at what package was purchased for each dog and take them out based on that, but the dogs go out a minimum of three times a day, because we all know a dog has to go out at least once in the morning, afternoon and the evening.” According to Korito, the facility can hold up to a maximum of 100 to 107 dogs, and the number of pets in their care and staff employed fluctuates widely based on the season. Summer, he said, is the business’s busiest time. And summer 2017, Burch and Burris said, is when several dogs in the facility contracted an illness that resulted in bloody stools and the vomiting of blood. “The experience I felt the most strongly about was when we had a bunch of dogs who got really sick over the summer and instead of letting us contact the owners, Darren took it upon himself to bring medication from his own house for one of his dogs, whiteout the name on the bottle and then instruct employees to give them to the dogs, which is really illegal,” Burris said. “And it could’ve ended really badly, and that’s what most of us were concerned about, especially because the dogs hadn’t had any medical attention so we didn’t know what was wrong with them. But all he worried about was getting a bad reputation because that’s about the time when the canine influenza was going around.” When asked about the proce-

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Olivia Burris included a photo that displayed a list of dogs being medicated without the owners’ consent.

dure he takes if a dog gets sick, Korito emphasized they immediately contact the pet owner, if possible. “We almost always call the customer right away and let them know what’s going on,” he said. “Sometimes, people are on a cruise ship or are unavailable, but they do sign a boarding agreement with us, which basically just gives us the authority to make decisions in the best interest of the dog. If we feel the dog doesn’t require veterinary care then we will take care of it inhouse, and if we feel that it’s something serious, we take it to the vet.” According to both former employees, Korito threatened to fire any employee who tried to call the owners or refused to give the medication to the dogs, reminding them that they could be easily replaced. The constant threat succeeded on Burris until she reached her breaking point and walked out in the middle of a shift, she said. The grooming kennels, Burris said, are two feet by two feet, while the standard kennels measure six feet by six feet. Although Burris included photos in her post of various dogs in small grooming kennels, as well as the photo of a blue prescription bottle for Imodium and list of dogs who were sick last summer, the owners insist the photos are fake and the employees making claims against them are disgruntled employees. “Their claims of us being disgruntled are pretty ridiculous,” Burch said. “I witnessed it all firsthand. And I mean, I don’t think Darren is a horrible person; I just think at the end of the day money trumped anything else.”

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018

Town Council

WINDERMERE

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

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

a 2,535-square-foot home located at 300 Main St. owned by First Baptist Church Windermere. The demolition, which will be completed by F.W Chase Enterprises, will prepare the area to become a parking lot for the town, which is currently in design, Windermere Mayor Gary Bruhn said. Bruhn said the town hopes to add at least 40 to 50 parking spaces with the new lot, which will be needed for big events. “This worked out really well for us, because we needed additional property, and they wanted to get rid of it,” Bruhn said. “The church will lease the property to us for $1 a year. And the property will allow us to expand parking for food truck events and farmers markets because lack of parking has been an issue.” Residents who attended the meeting said they have no issues with the town’s plan to add a parking lot, as long as it is not lit all the time. Bruhn assured that would not be the case and that the town plans to hire a landscape architect to improve aesthetics and protect the surrounding property. “And before we do anything, (Windermere Town Manager Robert Smith) wants to meet with the surrounding property owners just to show them what’s going to be there to make sure they don’t get aggravated about overnight parking or anything like that,” Bruhn said.

IN OTHER NEWS n The candidate qualifying period for the upcoming March 2018 election ended Jan 12. Windermere residents Chris Sapp and Lauren “Andy” Wlliams are unopposed for the two open council seats vacated by John Armstrong and Allen Pichon, who resigned late last year. n Windermere Police Chief Dave Ogden was recognized for reaching five years of service with the Windermere Police Department. n Town Clerk Dorothy Burkhalter was given a 25-year service award in recognition of her service to the town. n The council authorized the hiring of a part-time administrative and finance assistant at the rate of $15 per hour to aid the town in the workload increase observed in both the Administration and Finance departments.

CORRECTIONS n In the Jan. 11 edition, the story, “Construction stalls on Rosser Reserve,” read, “Sue Prosser, a member of Rosser Reserve LLC, has filed bankruptcy.” Prosser filed bankruptcy on behalf of Rosser Reserve LLC as its managing member. n Also in the Jan. 11 edition, the story, “County begins weekly large trash pickup,” read, “Orange County customers now can place their large items on the curb the same day as their trash.” Customers should place large items on the curb on the same day as their yard waste. We regret the errors.

Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944 Publisher / Dawn Willis, dwillis@OrangeObserver.com Executive Editor / Michael Eng, meng@OrangeObserver.com Design Editor / Jessica Eng, jeng@OrangeObserver.com Senior Sports Editor / Steven Ryzewski, sryzewski@OrangeObserver.com News Editor / Gabby Baquero, gbaquero@OrangeObserver.com

Members of the Windermere High cross-country team and sponsors of the Light Up the Night 5K stopped for a photo after the race finished.

Illuminated evening H undreds laced up for a luminaria-lined run for Windermere High School’s first Light Up the Night 5K Jan. 11 in the Independence community in Horizon West. Hosted by the Wolverine cross-country team, the 5K kicked off at 6 p.m. just outside of the community clubhouse. At the end of the 3.1-mile run, runners finishing the race were met with cheers and faux snow flying about. After the race, runners and visitors alike took in some tasty food at one of the food trucks stationed at the event.

— TROY HERRING

members involved in our chamber,” Melwani said. “It gives me great pleasure in serving in that capacity, basically being able to give back to our community and our organization that has given us so much in life.” According to Orlando Economic Partnership, there are 28,281 Asian Indians living and doing business in the Orlando MSA, which consists of Orange, Seminole, Lake and Osceola counties. The chamber currently has a membership pool of 227 members. “Our median household income is roughly about 23-24% higher than the Orlando metropolitan statistical area,” Melwani said. “From a question of the economic boost we provide, the only thing I can tell you is we provide a significant boost. “If you look at the statistics, many people in many professions such as doctors, such as IT professionals, such as scientists, such as employment at UCF … look at the amount of Indians that are involved there,” he said. “The numbers are very attractive.” The new president said the chamber will play a bigger role in Orlando’s Smart Cities initiative, which pushes for enhanced, cutting-edge technology. The IACC, in partnership with the city of Orlando and Rollins College, will host a Smart Cities Roundtable Event March 14 at the Bush Auditorium at Rol-

amyq@OrangeObserver.com Black Tie Editor / Danielle Hendrix, dhendrix@OrangeObserver.com Contributing Writer / Brittany Gaines, bgaines@OrangeObserver.com Advertising Executives Michelle Gentry, mgentry@OrangeObserver.com Cyndi Gustafson, advertising@Orange Observer.com Creative Services Tony Trotti, ttrotti@OrangeObserver.com Customer Service Representatives Allison Brunelle, abrunelle@OrangeObserver.com Katie Rehm, krehm@orangeobserver.com

CONTACT US The path of the first Light Up the Night 5K led runners through the Independence community and was illuminated with luminarias.

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lins College. The Business After Hours portion of the high-tech discussion among business and government leaders will include Chris Castro, director of sustainability for the city of Orlando; Rasesh Thakkar, senior managing director and director of Tavistock Group; and Nagesh Singh, consul general of India based in Atlanta. “We’re going to invite stakeholders and people in the development, engineering, resource and implementation (fields) to basically talk about how we can bring Orlando to become a Smart City,” Melwani said. “Additionally, (we can) try to cross collaborate with recourses and Smart Cities in India, as it relates to what India is doing with Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi’s initiative of wanting 100 Smart Cities.” The chamber will focus on several events in 2018, including the sixth annual India Day Celebration in partnership with the Orlando Magic. The event will be held from 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, at the Amway Center, when the Magic face the Washington Wizards. Guests can expect pre-game festivities and on-court performances surrounding the game.

The Windermere Observer is published once weekly, on Thursdays. It provides subscription home delivery. The Windermere Observer also can be found in commercial locations and at our office, 720 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden. If you wish to subscribe to, visit our website, OrangeObserver.com, call (407) 6562121 or visit our office, 720 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden.

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The Gandhi Day of Service is another large community service project in the works for this year. The third annual Gandhi Day of Service was held Oct. 14, 2017. Volunteers gathered to pack 35,000 meals with Feeding Children Everywhere, helping hungry children who were affected by hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, according to a statement from the chamber. IACC leaders are planning a Gandhi Day of Service event for October or November. The event will celebrate Mahatma Gandhi’s message of service and Orlando’s diversity, according to a statement from the chamber. Melwani said he understands the chamber serves a critical role in the business community: bringing people together to share ideas. “Small business is roughly 95-plus percent of our economy in terms of job creation,” he said. “When you bring people together, good things typically happen. Ideas are spoken about, business is spoken about and one thing leads to another. … From that perspective, it’s incumbent upon us as a chamber of commerce to provide that platform, to bring people together.”

“When you bring people together, good things typically happen. Ideas are spoken about, business is spoken about and one thing leads to another. … From that perspective, it’s incumbent upon us as a chamber of commerce to provide that platform, to bring people together.” — Yog Melwani

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WINDERMERE OBSERVER The Windermere Observer (USPS 687-120) is published weekly for $40 per year ($50 outside of Orange County) by the Observer Media Group, 720 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden, Florida 34787. Periodical postage paid at Winter Garden, Florida. POSTMASTER send address changes to the Windermere Observer, 720 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden, Florida 34787.

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Lutheran Crown of Glory Evangelical Church submitted a project proposal for a 5,000-square-foot child care facility. GABBY BAQUERO NEWS EDITOR

In tune with the growing trend of religious child care centers, Lutheran Crown of Glory Evangelical Church, located at 2017 S. Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando, has submitted to Orange County site plans proposing the construction of child care facility. Site plans show the proposed building, which would be located on the two-and-one-half acre property where the existing church resides. “What they’re planning on doing is adding a 5,000-squarefoot education building,” Orange County Case Planner David Nearing said. “The maximum right now is 60 children — that’s what they’re asking for. And their hours of operation would be between 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. And that’s pretty much it. What they’re asking for — it’s kind of something that a lot of religious institutions are doing as a source of revenue.” If approved, the church still will need to comply with all the requirements from the state Department of Children and Families, including a play area. But the

project is also subject to feedback from area residents who provided feedback at a community meeting held Wednesday, Jan. 10. “We’ll determine based on the feedback at the community meeting if we need to have additional meetings with the residents and to see if they are OK with (the proposed project),” Nearing said. “If they’re not, we will conduct more meetings to answer any questions they may raise.” If no one has strong objections, the project proposal will head to a public hearing on Feb. 1 before the Board of Zoning Adjustment. It would then be scheduled for a hearing in front of the Board of County Commissioners. Nearing said he does not expect any serious concern about the project. “According to (Timothy Schutz, the project applicant), the pastor of the church is on pretty good ground with some of the neighbors and some of them are actually members of the congregation,” Nearing said. “So, we’re hoping that this will not turn into any significant issue, and it’s sort of a benign use.” For more, contact Nearing at (407) 836-5955 or David.Nearing@ocfl.net.

“We’ll determine based on the feedback at the community meeting if we need to have additional meetings with the residents and to see if they are OK with (the proposed project).”

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For a few days, Windermere Preparatory School had about 1,000 more middle-school students than usual. That’s because students from 11 Nord Anglia schools across the United States made the trip to West Orange for a few days to participate in the annual Global Games. For five days, participating middle-school students from Windermere Prep not only went head-to-head in competition with students from other schools, but also joined them hand-inhand as new friendships formed. “The Lakers enjoyed a funfilled week and had a blast competing at last week’s Global Games,” school officials posted on its athletics webpage. “Windermere Prep earned the overall gold after winning the volleyball and sand-volleyball divisions.” Actual competition took place from Wednesday, Nov. 29, to Friday, Dec. 1, but the Lakers also used the weeklong festivities to participate in other fun activities and meet other Nord Anglia students.

Eighth-grader Janella Laaksone, 14, participated in five of the nine total sports offered. This was her third year participating in the Global Games, and she was involved in track and field, soccer, volleyball, basketball and flag football. “I play soccer, I‘ve done track for two years, and I used to play volleyball,” she said. “I’ve never played basketball, but they encourage students that even if you haven’t played (a sport) you can try to play it during Global Games. We also don’t have a flag football team, but I love flag football.” Two of Laaksone’s teams — her soccer and flag football teams — won the gold division, and Windermere Prep won the Global Games overall. “You get that extra-accomplished feeling when your team wins and you’re able to pull through for your whole school,” she said. It’s an annual event that always creates a buzz of excitement among the students. And although the competition is one of the biggest components, another goal of the Global Games is to encourage students to make

GLOBAL GAMES AT WINDERMERE PREPARATORY SCHOOL Each year the Lakers middleschoolers host students from other Nord Anglia schools around the country to participate in the following sports: archery, basketball, flag football, sand volleyball, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and field and girls volleyball. For more information on the Global Games, visit nordangliaeducation.com/northamerica-global-games.

new friends. “It’s really cool to be able to see so many different students from so many places in one area and be able to talk to them and see how their schools are,” Laaksone said. “Seeing that many people on our campus is crazy and cool, because there’s so many people you’ve never met. … Being the host school especially, we were encouraged to show the other teams around and made sure they knew where they had to go and helped them out. “You’re able to play with people you’ve never particularly been in contact with before, so you learn teamwork and team-bonding skills with people you’ve never worked with before,” she said.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018

STAR-STUDDED

SUPPORT

The First & Goal Gala is adding to the NFL’s Pro Bowl weekend in Central Florida with a premier event that also benefits the Parramore Kidz Zone. DANIELLE HENDRIX BLACK TIE EDITOR ORLANDO

magine this: You’re spending your evening enjoying a drink at the Citrus Club in downtown Orlando, surrounded by former and current NFL players during Pro Bowl weekend. However, that’s not all: While you’re enjoying your evening with the pros, you’re also supporting kids in the Parramore community and helping invest in brighter futures for them. Cue the First & Goal Gala, an event that combines an elegant evening with one of America’s biggest sports and ties the two together to raise funds for the Parramore Kidz Zone. PARRAMORE AND PKZ

Parramore is Orlando’s highestpoverty neighborhood; in fact, at the start of the 21st century, about 73% of children and youth lived below the poverty line, according to a case study from America’s Promise Alliance. The neighborhood’s high school, Jones, had received five consecutive Fs on its performance and held only a 66% graduation rate in the 2007-08 academic year. Additionally, the juvenile arrest rate in Parramore was 250% higher than the rate for Orlando overall, the study said. With so few resources available to the neighborhood’s children and teenagers, it was time to bring resources to them. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer was elected in 2003 and, along with resiSEE FIRST PAGE 10

THE PROS These are some of the current and former NFL pros who will be in attendance at the First & Goal Gala: Nick Anderson Chris Doleman* William Floyd Santana Homes Ricky Jackson* Aaron Jones Bo Outlaw Lee Page John Randall* Rusty Russell Rob Samuelz Ricky Shaw Marquette Smith Darryl Talley Thurman Thomas* Barry Wagner Kellen Winslow* Jack Youngblood* *Denotes Pro Football Hall of Fame

WINDERMERE OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018

DOCUMENTING

THE LAKE A partnership between three local groups has produced an exhibit that depicts the history and art of Lake Apopka. AMY QUESINBERRY

Photo by Cynthia B. Slaughter

Departing from a dock in Montverde, Jim Peterson, Haley Carter and Paul Ek head out to inspect vegetation growing in Lake Apopka.

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IF YOU GO

A yearlong collaborative project is making its artistic debut at an opening reception that kicks off a three-month public display before traveling around the state. “The Lake: A Documentary” premiere event is from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, at the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation’s Heller Hall, 21 E. Plant St., Winter Garden. The project comprises 10 pleinair painters and 14 photographers who, through their media, explore the land and people of Lake Apopka. Peter Schreyer, executive director of Crealdé School of Art in Winter Park and an award-winning photographer, orchestrated the project. He will speak at the reception. The artwork centers on decades of life around Lake Apopka and focuses on all aspects of the lake, from the farm workers and crop dusting to the lake’s pollution and resurrection. The exhibit is the result of a partnership between Crealdé, the WGHF, the city of Winter Garden

“THE LAKE: A DOCUMENTARY” PREMIERE WHEN: 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25 WHERE: Winter Garden Heritage Foundation’s Heller Hall, 21 E. Plant St., Winter Garden

and the Winter Garden Library. “It was a pleasure to meet and talk with photographers and artists for their interpretation of what is around the lake,” Jim Crescitelli, program director for the WGHF, said. “It was a good way to get someone else’s impression through art.” He and former director Kay Cappleman wrote the history for each art piece. It is on display through April 25 at Winter Garden City Hall through its Art in Public Places program, 300 W. Plant St.; Winter Garden Library, 805 E. Plant St.; and the heritage center. In April, the artwork will become part of a statewide traveling exhibit. Schreyer is proud of this project,

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“We have the largest chapel in West Orange County.” Owned and operated by the Romano family.

n PAINTERS: Stephen Bach, Matthew Cornell, Cynthia Edmonds, Sally Evans, Martha Lent, Peter Pettegrew, Morgan Samuel Price, Tom Sadler, Donald Sondag and Barbara Tiffany

‘Pump House Nocturne’ by Tom Sadler. Man’s interference with the natural landscape of Florida is demonstrated in a visually striking manner when one views the pump house on the northeast shoreline of Lake Apopka.

which received grant support. He is presently contacting galleries around the state to inquire about hosting the temporary exhibit. “We’re so really thrilled that it’s coming to Winter Garden because the project is about Winter Garden and the communities around the lake,” Schreyer said. “The reason for this project was to really document those communities and the land and the people around the lake at what I feel is a pivotal time,” he said. “There are so many changes happening in the communities around the lake; so much growth and development. The farms are gone, expressways

are being built, developments are coming in. The communities that have been there for decades are rapidly disappearing. A lot of the old stuff won’t be there for long.” On the other hand, he said, the lake is becoming nationally known for birds and cycling. “It’s a reflection of the old and what is being done now and what is in the future,” Schreyer said. “We were trying to include aspects about the communities that cherish the small-town lifestyle, which I don’t know if that’s going to last: moms waiting for the school bus, a barber shop.” This is Crealdé’s first project that

incorporates painting and oral history. All 10 painters produced one piece of art each reflecting their view of the lake. A total of 45 blackand-white photographs taken by Crealdé students further tell the lake’s story. Digital and film cameras were used. The art school reached out to organizations for input, including the Farmworker Association of Florida, the St. Johns River Water Management District and Friends of Lake Apopka. Schreyer was first drawn to the area through involvement with the farmworker community in the early 1990s as a documentary photographer, capturing the transition of the area from a rural character to a more suburban and industrial landscape. Working with young students from the farmworker community, he documented the last season of muck farming on Lake Apopka in “The Last Harvest: A Tribute to the Life and Work of the Lake Apopka Farmworkers,” a photography and oral history project produced in 1998.

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018

First & Goal Gala CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

dents and other elected officials, convened the Parramore Task Force and outlined key areas for improvement. Lisa Early, then the mayor’s director of children and education, worked on multiple pilot projects to find what would best reach the children and teenagers in the neighborhood. Finally, in 2006, Dyer worked with her to launch an official initiative called Parramore Kidz Zone, also known as PKZ. PKZ invests in projects such as quality early-childhood education; after-school programs; programs that build family economic success; youth-development programs for teenagers; access to health care; mentoring; tutoring; and college-access assistance And it’s working, too. According to the city of Orlando, by 2015, program evaluators had documented a 61% decline in juvenile arrests, a 56% decline in teen pregnancies and a 38% decline in child-abuse cases in the neighborhood since PKZ started. Additionally, more than 70 PKZ youth are in college, and all of them are the first generation in their families to attend.

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Winter Garden Rotary’s 1st Annual

Andrae Bailey, CEO at Lead Homelessness and co-host of the First & Goal Gala, first came up with the idea when the NBA AllStar game came to Orlando. Bailey remembers there were many events surrounding the hype, but none geared toward the local community. “The event was started based on the Pro Bowl coming to Central Florida, and the idea that if it’s going to be here every year we’d love to have a local event for local leaders and folks that benefits a local charity,” Bailey said. “Last year, we did our inaugural event at the Citrus Club the night before the Pro Bowl and had about 500 attendees and 30 current and former NFL players.” Because both Bailey and Dyer share the same vision for alleviating homelessness and poverty, Bailey decided to ask Dyer to cohost last year’s event with him. This year, the two will co-host it once again. They first decided on PKZ as the ongoing event beneficiary because of the impact it has

IF YOU GO

FIRST & GOAL GALA WHEN: 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 WHERE: Citrus Club, 255 Orange Ave. No. 1800, Orlando COST: $95 per ticket Fewer than 300 tickets remain for this event and are selling quickly. WEBSITE: firstandgoalgala.com INFORMATION: cityoforlando.net/ parramorekidzzone

on the lives of local children. “PKZ is one of the organizations doing a lot of work in the inner city, helping those less fortunate with that hand up they need to build their future,” Bailey said. “For us, Orlando has grown into one of the most premier cities in America. We have so many blessings, if you will, and if in the midst of all the great things happening we can’t give back to those in need while celebrating our success, what does it mean? Having PKZ benefit from an event like the Pro Bowl coming to town, it’s a no-brainer.” The football-inspired gala is hosted at the Citrus Club in downtown Orlando and is an upscale party event with music, food, drinks, a silent auction and about 40 current and former NFL players — six of whom are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame — in attendance. “You’ll get to come and have amazing food and hang out with some of the coolest people in Central Florida, but also rub shoulders with and get autographs from some of the greatest NFL players of all time,” Bailey said. Last year, the gala raised about $25,000 for PKZ, and Bailey hopes to raise more this year. “It’s not just about the game — it’s about how the community supports the game with all the other activities before and after,” he said. “The idea that this event is locally based, helps a local charity and adds to our attempt to having the most amazing Pro Bowl weekend the NFL has ever seen, it’s just very cool to be someone who has the opportunity to be a a part of it.”

Family Dance Night

Fundraiser Friday, January 19, 2018 6:00pm until 10:00pm At Tanner Hall

(down by Lake Apopka) 29 W. Garden Avenue,Winter Garden 34787 Tickets are $20.00 Adults, $10.00 Children Includes Light hors d’oeuvres and 2 Drink Tickets (Beer, Wine and Soda) D.J. Playing all Music Types

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JANUARY 18, 2018

New-look Lakers aiming to hit stride

Primed to peak

HIGH

SPORTS

Windermere High freshman Trey Moss has made a strong impression on the court this season. Page 12.

The 2017-18 Windermere Prep basketball team is making its way through a rugged slate. STEVEN RYZEWSKI SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

There’s no way around it. When a program enters the season expecting to have the No. 20 junior basketball player in the nation (as ranked by ESPN) on its roster — and then does not have that player — there figures to be some necessary adjustments. Such is the case with Windermere Prep, which entered the 2017-18 season with Balsa Koprivica as part of its program. The level of competition on the Lakers’ schedule underscores the fact that the team anticipated having the 7-foot-1 center with the skills of a guard. When Koprivica’s name became unofficially linked to the ongoing FBI investigation into college basketball recruiting that rocked the sports world, the Lakers opted to hold the talented student out of competition until they could be sure having him suit up and play would not result in any forfeits or fines from the FHSAA. The delay apparently wore on Koprivica, as he transferred to Montverde Academy over the holiday break and debuted for the nation’s top high-school basketball team — which is an independent and does not compete in the FHSAA State Series — on Jan. 11 in a nationally televised game against Orlando Christian Prep. Now navigating a rugged schedule, the Lakers are 9-9 and angling to hit their stride before district tournaments begin Feb. 12. “We’re playing a really hard schedule, so we told the kids, ‘Don’t get your head down — we’re going to take some lumps early on,’” head coach Ben WilSEE HOOPS PAGE 12

The Olympia boys basketball team strung together a five-game winning streak before its loss to Lake Highland Prep Jan. 15. The Titans had been 5-6 as of Dec. 27, but since then have gone 5-1 to improve to 10-7 — including an exciting 46-43 win over Evans Jan. 12. For more, visit ObserverPreps.com.

The annual Metro vs. Florida Challenge took place last weekend at Apopka High. The four-day boys basketball showcase pitted teams from Orange County’s Metro Conference against foes from around the state. Several local teams participated, and galleries are available at ObserverPreps.com for games involving Windermere, Dr. Phillips, Windermere Prep and Olympia.

Steven Ryzewski

Senior captains Stephanie Oliveira, left, Carmel de Oliveira and Madison Lamb are excited about making a run at a district title and beyond as the season winds to a close.

The Dr. Phillips girls soccer team opened the 2017-18 season with 14 consecutive wins — 10 of which came by shutout. STEVEN RYZEWSKI SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

Steven Ryzewski

Senior guard Rahsaan Lewis is the leading scorer for the Lakers.

The match had ended, Dr. Phillips had won, but the understanding among the Panthers was mutual. Yes, the team from Harmony High that Dr. Phillips had just defeated Jan. 9 is good — the Longhorns are 14-3-2, including that result. But the Panthers had had a long layoff for the holiday and, from the first whistle, head coach Donny George felt his team was off. The silver lining, though, was that in spite of that, DP still earned the 2-1 victory. “Our last game was two-anda-half weeks ago, and ... it shows,” George said. “The positive is we won — we still won, and that’s what champions do.” “Champions” is the key word, and that is what the Panthers are intent on becoming — district

champions, regional champions and, hopefully, even state champions. Dr. Phillips is 14-0-1 as of Jan. 15 (a game Jan. 16 against Lake Nona took place after press time) and eyeing program records this season in wins (16 is the magic number), goals conceded (the Panthers have conceded five goals and the record is nine) and goals scored by a single player (Chloe Washington’s 27 goals is seven off the program record of 34). They also are hoping to make the program’s deepest postseason run yet and George and his team know that effort will start on the defensive side of the ball — where Dr. Phillips has been suffocatingly good all season. “It’s no secret — we work on defense a lot,” George said. “I’m a defensive player, and my SEE SOCCER PAGE 12

The Foundation Academy boys soccer team is 7-1 and 6-0 in its district after a pair of important wins last week. First, the Lions defeated Faith Christian 8-2 on Senior Night Jan. 9, and then Foundation scored a big 2-1 win against rival The First Academy Jan. 12. For photos from the Lions’ win against Faith Christian, visit ObserverPreps.com.

West Orange High baseball coach Jesse Marlo resigned Jan. 12 after 13 seasons leading the program. Under Marlo, the Warriors were ranked nationally on several occasions, and more than 50 alumni have gone on to play collegiate and/or professional baseball. For more, visit ObserverPreps.com.

The grand opening of Deputy Scott Pine Community Park — the location of the offcampus football stadium for Windermere High — is to take place at 10 a.m. Feb. 10 at 17199 Ficquette Road.

SPORTS SPOTLIGHT

WINDERMERE OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018

SPONSORED BY SHANNON TILLSTATE FARM IN FOWLER GROVES

Hoops

THE BASICS School: Windermere High Class: Freshman Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 160 pounds Hometown: Cincinnati Position: Point guard Travel team: 1 Family

Trey Moss One year removed from winning an OCPS Championship as an eighth-grader at SunRidge Middle, Trey Moss is making a name for himself as a freshman for the Windermere Wolverines boys basketball team. Highlights for the dynamic point guard include a game-high 15 points Dec. 28 in a win against Georgia’s Centennial High in The Rock Holiday Classic and a team-high 23 points in an impressive win against Dr. Phillips Dec. 5.

What’s it been like to be part of a brand-new program? It’s crazy — it’s a great experience to come to this team and just play and get as much experience as possible. Are you happy with how your freshman season has gone so far? Yes, I’m happy. I think I can still get better, though — a lot better. What’s the element of your game you need to improve the most? Truthfully, I need to work on going left and playing better defense. How would you describe the transition from middle-school to high-school hoops? The step up was just physical — everybody is stronger and taller than you. It was just different.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

son said. “They keep a good attitude.” The changing dynamic has meant relying on standouts Rahsaan Lewis and Shaquan Jules — Windermere Prep’s top scorer and rebounder, respectively — even more than originally anticipated. “We kind of go as those two (Lewis and Jules) go,” Wilson said. “(Lewis) can make bigtime plays at both ends. ... Shaq slows it down a little bit. He's more methodical in his game, and he can have his way with people.” Beyond Lewis and Jules, the Lakers have had to rely on unexpected players to step up — players such as junior newcomer Michael Gavin and freshman Zavien Williams. “Michael Gavin came in and he’s been pretty solid,” Wilson said. “He’s still trying to

What do you enjoy about playing for head coach Mark Griseck and his staff? They’re great coaches — they’ve taught me so much already. They each push me in different ways, and they teach me a lot. Which win are you most proud of so far? The (Dr. Phillips) win was pretty big. I had a pretty good game that game, and we played against Daniel and Dante Love. What is the most important thing the team can do heading into the district tournament to be successful? To play our brand of basketball every time we step on that court.

background is defense, so it’s very important that my team defends as a team. If you look back at every single game, my goalkeeper probably has one or two shots (on goal) the whole game — and that’s because we defend as a team.” In addition to allowing just five goals, the Panthers and goalkeeper Launa Foreman have 10 shutouts to their credit. This season has the potential to be the best yet in a string of seasons that have been good to the program. Dating back to when current seniors were freshmen in 2014-15, the program has earned double-digit wins each season — winning as many as 15 games in 2014-15 — and even won a district title in 2015-16. But there have been no playoff wins to accompany the regularseason success. Senior captain Stephanie Oliveira is confident this year’s team can break through, though, and that confidence is rooted in the group’s growing unity. “It’s the way we’ve developed as a family,” Oliveira said, reflecting on the team’s success this season. “Together, as one, we become this unit that won’t break apart. … We have to stay as a family.” Dr. Phillips will close the regular season Jan. 18 with a Senior Night game against Lake Brantley to celebrate its seniors

Who is your funniest teammate? Chase (Roberts) or Jeff Watson. If you could play a game in any arena or gym, which would it be? Madison Square Garden. What’s your favorite subject? Science. What do you think you would like to do for a career? I like to build stuff, so engineering. You’re stranded on a deserted island with a television, a Blu-ray player and can bring one movie — what movie is it? “Zombieland.” That is my favorite movie — I saw it when I was really young. Did you have a New Year’s resolution? To get better and push myself harder.

Family. Family. Friends. Friends. Community. Community.

— STEVEN RYZEWSKI

Steven Ryzewski

Chloe Washington, the top goal-scorer for the Dr. Phillips girls soccer team, pushed the ball up the field against Harmony Jan. 9. More photos from the Panthers’ 2-1 victory are available at ObserverPreps.com.

such as Oliveira, fellow captains Carmel de Oliveira and Madison Lamb, and others who have been a part of the program’s turnaround these past few seasons. Then, it’s on to the Class 5A, District 4 Tournament, beginning Jan. 22 at Apopka High.

The pressure is on, and neither the Panthers nor their second-year coach are prepared to let up now. “I am a demanding coach — I always talk about perfection,” George said. “I think that Dr. Phillips has to be competitive.”

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get used to our style and what we expect out of him, but he’s shown a lot of promise and a lot of good glimpses. … Our freshman, Zavien Williams,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

Who is a professional guard that you admire or model your game after? John Wall. He’s fast and he tries to get to the paint and create for others. I just try to incorporate that into my game.

Family. Friends. Community.

Steven Ryzewski

Shaquan Jules — the leading rebounder and second-leading scorer for the Lakers — blocked a shot against Boone Jan. 13.

Soccer

What stands out about this team when it is playing well? Our defense gets really good. We just lock up and stop them.

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has a really good motor and a lot of energy — he’s one of the younger guys that we had to kind of thrust in and play more than I expected to, but it’s been a good experience.” Despite their .500 record as of Jan. 15, the Lakers are 2-0 in Class 5A, District 6, with wins over district rivals Jones and Lake Highland Prep to their credit. The remaining six regularseason games on Windermere Prep’s schedule hold no promise of an easy road. Remaining opponents include The First Academy, Leesburg, Trinity Prep and Central Florida Christian Academy. If the Lakers are to find success — and their stride — in that time, Wilson has a good idea of what his team will need to demonstrate to make a postseason run. “Poise,” Wilson said. “Having the mental side of it. … It’s up and down. I’ve seen times where they have battled and shown that character.”

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State Farm hasThat’s a longone tradition of being there. reason of being one reason why I’m there. proud That’s to support West why I’m county.. proud to support West Orange Orange Get to acounty.. better State®. Get to a better State . ®

Serving Southwest Orange County

INSIDE

Meet Olympia setter Lorissa King PAGE 17

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

VOLUME 1, NO. 1

FREE

•

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2015

At last! Work begins on relief school Officials hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the new West Orange County high school Sept. 24. STORY ON 6 ARTS+CULTURE

The secret life of

MAYOR BRUHN West Orange High thespians dish up a spoonful of sugar.

PAGE 13

Welcome to your new hometown newspaper

License # CMC 056836

MICHAEL ENG EXECUTIVE EDITOR

David Haynes

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Windermere Mayor Gary Bruhn strikes the only suitable pose when holding a glass from “The Godfather.”

SCOTT APPOINTS AREA RESIDENT Gov. Rick Scott announced Sept. 18 two appointments and one reappointment to the Florida Virtual School Board of Trustees. Robert Gidel Sr., of Windermere, is the managing partner at Liberty Capital. He fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term that began Sept. 18 and ends Sept. 10, 2017. He joins Iris Gonzalez, of Tierra Verde, on the board.

We’re all in this together.

Fowler Groves 3279 Daniels Road Fowler’s Grove 3279• Daniels Rd State Farm® has a long tradition Winter Garden, 34787 Winter Garden, FL FL 34787 Toll TollFree: Free: 855-742-1591 855-742-1591 of being there. That’s one reason www.shannontill.com www.shannontill.com Hablamos Español

YOUR TOWN

why I’m proud to support West 1211007 State Farm, Bloomington, IL Orange county.. 1211007 State Farm, Bloomington, IL ® Get to a better State .

PRSRT STD ECRWSS US POSTAGE PAID WINTER GARDEN, FL PERMIT NO. 81

407-654-3777 • www.appleac.com

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Shannon Till, Agent Shannon Till, Agent

Since the 1980s — far longer than he has been mayor of Windermere — Gary Bruhn has collected and sold movie memorabilia. SEE STORY ON PAGE 4

149 Woodland St. • Winter Garden, FL 34787 | License & Insured

THE GROVE ORLANDO BOOGIES AT BIRTHDAY BASH

What you’re holding in your hands is the product of more than a year of planning. It’s the product of our wildest dreams — a bold step for a company that last month celebrated our 110th anniversary. Welcome, readers, to the first edition of the Windermere Observer, a sister paper of the West Orange Times & Observer, which has roots that date back to the Winter Garden Ricochet in 1905. For more than a century, our newspaper — through all its previous owners and iterations — covered the entire West Orange region with just one edition. Today, that changes. Put simply: West Orange has grown too large for one hyperlocal community newspaper. For longtime readers: this new Windermere Observer will cover Windermere, Horizon West, Dr. Phillips, Bay Hill, Gotha and MetroWest, while the West Orange Times & Observer will renew its focus on Winter Garden, Ocoee and Oakland. As the 10th newspaper owned by the Sarasota-based Observer Media Group, the Windermere Observer will strive to deliver on OMG’s slogan: “You. Your Neighbors. Your Neighborhood.”

ADVERTISE OR SUBSCRIBE TODAY! *****************ECRWSSEDDM****

Postal Customer

SEE MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 10

SEE NEWSPAPER PAGE 6

Call us at 407-656-2121 Email us at AdvertiseNow@OrangeObserver.com or Subscribe@OrangeObserver.com

WINDERMERE OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

Photos by Steven Ryzewski

he Windermere High girls soccer team traveled to Apopka High Jan. 11 and was defeated by the host Blue Darters, 4-1. Aida Yasin scored the lone goal for Windermere. The loss was uncharacteristic for the Wolverines, who have raced out to a 10-3-1 record this season despite having no seniors. Freshman forward Victoria Gonzales has led the team with 18 goals, and freshman goalkeeper Jayna Maston has 10 shutouts for head coach Trent Frederick’s squad.

Windermere High’s Bryce Brozovich tried to elude an Apopka defender.

GAME FILM

High-flying Wolverines suffer setback in Apopka

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018

BRAND NEW

KITCHEN AND BATHROOM FIXTURES AND BUILDING MATERIALS!

— STEVEN RYZEWSKI

Maria Tirado took a shot on goal for the Wolverines during a 4-1 loss to Apopka.

Just arriving: a huge selection of BRAND NEW kitchen and bathroom fixtures including – flooring, building materials, vanities, sinks, tubs, toilets, cabinets, kitchen appliances, lighting fixtures.

Gorgeous, state-of-the-art products for YOUR Spring remodel project! West Orange Habitat for Humanity ReStore Hours: Monday – Friday: 9 am to 5 pm Saturday: 8 am to 4 pm, Closed Sunday We gladly accept all major credit cards. ReStore sales are final.

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13369 W. Colonial Drive, Winter Garden, FL 34787 • 407-905-0406 (between 9th and Dillard Street behind Taco Bell)

Autumn Lockhart took possession of the ball at midfield.

Take a Tour! OPEN HOUSE

Monday, January 29, 2018 8:30am-10:00am

Holy Family Catholic School 259070

407-876-9344 • www.hfcschool.com

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PK3 - Grade 8

W EAT HER

WINDERMERE OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018

I LOVE WEST ORANGE

FORECAST THURSDAY, JAN. 18 High: 53 Low: 38 Chance of rain: 0%

FRIDAY, JAN. 19 High: 63 Low: 46 Chance of rain: 10%

SUNRISE / SUNSET

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Jan. 18

7:20a

5:53p

Friday, Jan. 19

7:19a

5:54p

Saturday, Jan. 20

7:19a

5:55p

Sunday, Jan. 21

7:19a

5:56p

Monday, Jan. 22

7:19a

5:57p

Tuesday, Jan. 23

7:18a

5:58p

Wednesday, Jan. 24

7:18a

5:58p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, JAN. 20 High: 72 Low: 55 Chance of rain: 20%

Winter Garden resident Barbie Boudokhane submitted this beautiful shot, which she took at Starke Lake in Ocoee. She calls it, “Whirlwinds of Clouds.” The Windermere Observer is hosting this weekly contest, and winners will have their photograph featured and receive a $20 prize. To enter, email your photo, along with your name, city and a caption, to amyq@orangeobserver.com; put “I Love West Orange” in the subject line. Please include your mailing address to receive your prize.

ONLINE

Jan. 1 Full

Jan. 24 First

Jan. 8 Last

Jan. 16 New

RAINFALL Tuesday, Jan. 9

0.00

SUNDAY, JAN. 21

Wednesday, Jan. 10

0.02

High: 77 Low: 61 Chance of rain: 20%

Thursday, Jan. 11

0.02

Friday, Jan. 12

0.04

Saturday, Jan. 13

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Monday, Jan. 15

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See other winning photos at OrangeObserver.com

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