02.06.20 Southwest Orange Observer by Orange Observer

SO U T H W EST O RA N G E

Observer Windermere, Horizon West, Dr. Phillips

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

VOLUME 5, NO. 19

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

Campaign complete Windermere Prep raised $60,039.51 at its 2020 Lakerthon. SEE PAGE 10.

A CONVERSATION WITH LT. GEN. JAY GARNER St. Luke’s United Methodist Church is inviting the community to attend a conversation with retired Lt. Gen. Jay Garner from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16. He will discuss topics such as understanding the complexities of the people of Iraq, including religious and ethnic influences; our involvement within Iraq; and Iranian and Saudi influences in the region through “proxy wars” and support of terrorist organizations. RSVP is not required, but attendees are asked to take an appetizer to share. The church is at 4851 S. ApopkaVineland Road, Orlando.

‘The father they never had’ Stuart Eldridge, the beloved leader of the Edgewood Children’s Ranch, devoted his life to guiding youth toward their best potential in life. SEE PAGE 4.

Avalon Road apartments up for public hearing County commissioners will vote on a land-use request for 350 multi-family units. TIM FREED MANAGING EDITOR

A proposed project for 350 new apartments in Horizon West will soon go before Orange County leaders for a vote. The Orange County Board of County Commissioners will conduct a public hearing at its Tuesday, Feb. 11, meeting on a planned development substantial change — converting 100,000 square feet of nonresidential uses and a 645-bed dormitory use to 350 multifamily residential units.

Horizon West Alliance hosts safety meeting

SEE PROJECT PAGE 6

INTO THE ROARING ’20S

Stranger danger, mental-health resources and an update on crime in the area were the topics of discussion. ERIC GUTIERREZ STAFF WRITER

In the wake of recent tragic events in the area, members of the Horizon West Alliance and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office came together to host a safety workshop. The safety workshop was held Wednesday, Jan. 29, at the Summerport Clubhouse in response to an alleged SEE CRIME PAGE 4 PRSRT STD ECRWSS US POSTAGE PAID WINTER GARDEN, FL PERMIT NO. 81

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tuart Eldridge’s resume isn’t very long, but it tells of his deep devotion to youth. He and his wife, Lisa, first visited the campus of the Edgewood Children’s Ranch 37 years ago, ready to serve one year at the ranch

before seeing where else their life would take them. They never left. Eldridge — who began as a cottage parent in 1983, became an operations manager and, ultimately, served the last eight years as the executive director SEE GUIDING PAGE 4

The Big Orange Awards honored community champions. SEE PAGE 7.

YOUR CALENDAR

FRIDAY, FEB. 7

GROCERY STORE TOUR 9 to 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 7, at a local grocery store to be announced. Do you know which foods are the healthiest choices? Do you know what to look for on a food label? Join an Orlando Health dietitian for a grocery store tour to learn how to navigate the aisles and make the healthiest choices for the family. Space is limited; RSVP required at (407) 407-3046.

SATURDAY, FEB. 8

ANGEL PAWS TO READ 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Windermere Library, 530 Main St. Practice your reading skills by reading aloud to a lovable, furry listener. Be An Angel Therapy Dogs Ministry presents this reading program for children featuring certified therapy dogs. (407) 538-3124. FOR THE LOVE OF CHOCOLATE 5K 7 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at Hamlin, 14422 Shoreside Way, Suite 130, Winter Garden. The Valentine’s Day-themed run features chocolate stops along the course plus chocolate treats at the finish. Cost is $45. For tickets, go to runsignup. com.

SUNDAY, FEB. 9

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OLYMPIA HIGH SCHOOL ART SHOW 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9, at the East End Market boardroom, 3201 Corrine Drive, Orlando. Olympia High’s photography club, Shutter Society, is putting on an art display that showcases students’ work. Art pieces are for sale, cash only. There will be photography, ceramics, painting,

drawing, jewelry, mixed media, sculpture, graphic design and more. 4804357493@students. ocps.net.

TUESDAY, FEB. 11

CLASSICAL MUSIC & PAINTING 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11, at the Southwest Library, 7255 Della Drive, Orlando. Create guided abstract art while listening to classical music and letting it influence your art. Presented by Central Florida Community Arts. (407) 835-7323.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 12

CUSTOM CANDLE FOR VALENTINE’S DAY 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12, at the Windermere Library, 530 Main St. Create a customized hand-made gift for a loved one or yourself with this carved-initials candle craft. All supplies will be provided, but you may bring additional candles to make more than one craft. (407) 835-7323. HOMESCHOOL: SCIENCE OF LOVE 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12, at the Windermere Library, 530 Main St. Participants may not be making love potions, but this event is sure to get their heart beating with fun science experiments and STEAM challenges. Recommended for elementaryage children. (407) 538-3124. PARENTING SOLO SUPPORT GROUP 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays beginning Feb. 12 at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 4851 S. Apopka-Vineland Road, Orlando. Six-week study based on “The Anatomy of Peace: Resolv-

ing the Heart of Conflict.” Childcare and youth programming available with prior reservation. Register online at st.lukes. org/care. Email care@st.lukes. org or call (407) 876-4991, ext. 262, for more information.

THURSDAY, FEB. 13

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER SUPPORT GROUP 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 4851 S. ApopkaVineland Road. This support group is designed for parents of children and teens on the Autism Spectrum Disorder. Share challenges, ideas, concerns, success stories and fellowship. Email care@st.lukes.org or call (407) 876-4991, ext. 262, to register to attend. GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP 10:30 a.m. to noon Thursdays beginning Feb. 13 at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 4851 S. Apopka-Vineland Road, Orlando. All faiths welcome. Journey through your grief toward healing and hope for the future. Register online at st.lukes.org/care/#grief. Email care@st.lukes.org or call (407) 876-4991, ext. 262, for more information.

FRIDAY, FEB. 14

LOBSTER LAUGHTER 6:30 to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, at Windermere Town Hall, 520 Main St. The Rotary Club of Windermere is hosting this romantic and fun evening of cocktails, dinner, dessert, a silent auction and entertainment. Enjoy a dinner show presented by Mad Cow Theater. Tickets are $125 and available on Eventbrite.com.

SATURDAY, FEB. 15

ORISIRISI AFRICAN FOLKLORE 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, at the Southwest Library, 7255 Della Drive, Orlando. Share the beauty of African life and culture through a unique folkloric performance filled with drumming, dance and storytelling.

MONDAY, FEB. 17

GROCERY STORE TOUR 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 17, at a local grocery store to be announced. Join an Orlando Health dietitian for a grocery store tour to learn how to navigate the aisles and make the healthiest choices for the family. Space is limited; RSVP required at (407) 407-3046.

area. Writers of all types and levels are invited to attend. (407) 835-7323.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 26

LET’S MACRAMÉ FEATHER EARRINGS 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, at the Southwest Library, 7255 Della Drive, Orlando. Update your spring look with stylish macramé feather earrings. Learn how to use the lark’s head knot individually and in pairs in this beginner’s macramé project. (407) 835-7323.

TUESDAY, FEB. 18

QIGONG MOVEMENT AND BREATHING 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, at the Southwest Branch Library, 7255 Della Drive, Orlando. Learn the techniques. (407) 8357323.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 19

WRITING WEDNESDAY 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, at the Sea Foam Southwest Library, Motor Treatment 7255 Della Drive, 16 oz Orlando. Structured writing time and light refreshments in the SERVING OUR COMMUNTY FOR reading OVER 80 YEARS!

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Feather and Quill floats into The Grove Orlando The modern American fusion restaurant and bar will be moving into the old Dexter’s location at The Grove. ERIC GUTIERREZ STAFF WRITER

Danielle Hendrix

Cela Royal and her son, Keaton, are excited to be part of Night to Shine for the fifth year at First Baptist Church Windermere.

The royal treatment Ocoee resident Keaton Royal is among dozens of individuals with special needs who love attending the annual Night to Shine prom at First Baptist Church Windermere. DANIELLE HENDRIX ASSOCIATE EDITOR

any people have ongoing countdowns for holidays, birthdays and other special occasions. For 29-year-old Keaton Royal, that special countdown is for Night to Shine at First Baptist Church Windermere — and it starts almost immediately after the prom event ends each year. Night to Shine, a worldwide event hosted by the Tim Tebow Foundation, is described by the foundation as “an unforgettable prom night experience, centered on God’s love, for people with special needs ages 14 and older.” The event now is in its sixth year, and Friday, Feb. 7, will mark the fifth one that First Baptist Church Windermere has hosted. Last year, 655 churches around the world hosted Night to Shine for nearly 100,000 guests with the help of 200,000 volunteers. Each guest is crowned king or queen for the evening and gets to walk the red carpet with cheering paparazzi, eat a catered meal and dance the night away with a buddy. Keaton Royal, an Ocoee resident, is among more than 100 people with special needs who attend Night to Shine each year at the Windermere church. He is diagnosed with Williams syndrome and has developmental delays, and his mother, Cela Royal, said he looks forward to this special night all year. “He is all excited about everything,” Cela Royal said. “Almost every year after it finishes, he is asking me if it is coming. He’s

looking forward to it and we just finished (that year’s event). To be honest with you, at Night to Shine, it really is a joy for him. It’s hope, it’s excitement, it’s entertainment, it’s everything into one package … the perfect thing for him.” Keaton and Cela Royal have been part of Night to Shine at the Windermere church since it began hosting the event five years ago. Denise Burch, director of First Baptist Church Windermere’s special-needs ministry, said the decision to host the prom stemmed from Lead Pastor Chuck Carter and his wife, Gina. Burch said their son has autism and attended a school for students with autism growing up. “During his senior year that school had a prom, and that was like his favorite thing,” she said. “So when he exited the school system his mom was like, ‘What am I going to do? He doesn’t have a prom to go to anymore and he looked forward to it.’ She discovered the Tim Tebow Foundation’s Night to Shine prom.” Chuck Carter decided to surprise Gina Carter by applying to become a Night to Shine host church, Burch said. Once First Baptist Church Windermere was approved, Burch went into planning mode. A team meets to plan Night to Shine right before the school year begins. Together, they discuss what was learned from the last event, along with what worked and what didn’t. Each team member has a responsibility for a part of the prom experience. Registration for guests and volunteers typically begins by

“I love it and wish that it continues because it brings joy to these kids, and it brings joy to me as a parent to see such joy on my son’s face. … It brings tears to my eyes to see that people do care about these special-needs kids.” — Cela Royal

November. Guest registration stays open until the church reaches its event capacity. Burch said the typical guest capacity is 112, and each guest has his or her own escort. “Our goal is to provide the most excellent experience we can, because that’s what God calls us to do as missionaries out here,” Burch said. “(Special-needs guests) don’t normally see that from the world. They’re kind of left out.” And for Keaton and Cela Royal, First Baptist Church Windermere’s decision to host Night to Shine means the world. Cela Royal loves watching her son get out of the limousine and walk the red carpet. The wide, joyful smile on his face says it all. “He’s hilarious about it — it’s everything to him, to be honest with you,” Cela Royal said. “He looks forward to meeting people, the excitement, being around people, dancing, hugs, the limo, the special attention. It’s amazing. I’m there taking the pictures. They’re doing this for all of these kids and to see the glow on their faces, the happiness, the joy, the excitement — they all just glow. It’s a beautiful thing.” Weeks before Night to Shine, Keaton Royal’s suit already was hanging on his bedroom door. He loves wearing his crown from last year around the house, and he lights up at any chance to talk about his favorite event of the year. “This is so awesome, and to see that Tim Tebow is doing such great things for these specialneeds kids, I have high respect for him for starting this,” Cela Royal said. “It is so awesome there, and I haven’t come across one person with any negativity toward these kids. Everybody is helpful, happy, smiling, laughing. “They’re doing such an awesome job (and) words cannot express how thankful (we are) and how awesome it is,” she said. “I love it and wish that it continues because it brings joy to these kids, and it brings joy to me as a parent to see such joy on my son’s face. …It brings tears to my eyes to see that people do care about these special-needs kids. I felt real good knowing that he’s accepted.”

The owners of RusTeak in Ocoee are expanding their restaurant reach with a new dining concept. Feather and Quill is the latest culinary institution under the restaurant repertoire of Brian Buttner and Jonathan Canonaco. The eatery will be located at The Grove in the Windermere area off of Conroy Windermere Road. The space, 4757 The Grove Drive, No. 100, once housed Dexter’s. Feather and Quill will begin a soft opening within the next month and will have a grand opening some time during the spring. In addition to owning RusTeak Restaurant and Wine Bar in Ocoee, the two restaurateurs own RusTeak in College Park, as well as The Stubborn Mule and the Menagerie Eatery & Bar in downtown Orlando. “Feather and Quill is the latest in our empire,” Buttner said. “The direction of this restaurant is just to keep propelling Orlando’s culinary scene and to keep pushing it to be more hyperlocal.” The cuisine of Feather and Quill can be described as modern American fusion with Asian and Italian influences. The restaurant will offer a full dining menu in addition to a wide selection of small plates and will even offer pizza made with dough made in-house. Happy hour and brunch also will be offered at the restaurant, Buttner said. “Bar presence is massive in this restaurant,” he said. “The menu is going to be a little more indicative of a bar, so you’re going to have a lot more small bites — you’ll have a lot more shareables and things of that nature. It’ll still have a full menu too, of course, because we’re a

restaurant, but it’ll be definitely more geared toward that bar scene.” One of the key aspects that will set Feather and Quill apart from Buttner and Canonaco’s other restaurants will be its extensive charcuterie offerings. Because of the ample space of Feather and Quill, the chefs will be able to create much of the charcuterie dishes in-house. From house-cured bacon, sausage and other meats to housemade sauces, the process of creating the charcuterie plates will be handled onsite. “This (restaurant) is kind of combining a little bit of the unknown between Jon and I … with what we know and what we enjoy making, which is fresh (food) as hyperlocal as possible,” Buttner said. “We’re taking that, and then we’re going to combine it with something that’s a little bit different (than) the stuff that we haven’t done under the RusTeak brand — i.e. charcuterie.” Feather and Quill will have a private dining room, as well as the indoor bar and outdoor patio seating common at many other restaurants, but it will also offer a dining and drinking experience that will be a little more exclusive. Tucked away in the back of the restaurant and accessible through a password-protected door outside will be a speakeasy, which will offer a separate menu for food and drinks. Although they’re still working out the details for the speakeasy, the method of getting the password to access it could involve a phone number that diners would need to text before coming in. The speakeasy will open about a month or so after the restaurant opens, Buttner said. “That’s going to be something that we’re very proud of and we’re going to hold true to the speakeasy form,” Buttner said. “I want to make it exclusive,” he said. “I want to make it desirable to go to for just that purpose. … If you really want to try something super unique and cool, you’ll have to wait to get into the speakeasy. It’s only going to seat about 30 people.”

Courtesy

While the bar will be a key aspect of Feather and Quill, the restaurant includes a variety of seating options.

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Guiding youth “He was a man of faith. That man that you always knew was going to do what was right. … He was a man of character. He was a good leader. … He worked 24/7 for the ranch. … He had an MBA and was not too proud to clean out a sewer pipe.” — Gaby Acks, director of development, Edgewood Children’s Ranch

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.”

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— died of a sudden heart attack Tuesday, Jan. 28, at the age of 59. The longtime Winter Garden resident spent nearly four decades with the children who went through the program at the ranch, and he had a reputation for being anywhere other than behind his desk. Even after taking the leadership role, Eldridge still picked up donations for the Edgewood Ranch Thrift Shop, dug the ditches when the toilets were clogged and served as the ranch’s jack-of-all-trades. Gaby Acks, director of development at Edgewood, met Eldridge when she began volunteering at the ranch nearly 30 years ago. “Our staff is just heartbroken,” Acks said. “He was a man of faith. That man that you always knew was going to do what was right. … He was a man of character. He was a good leader. … He worked 24/7 for the ranch. “He had an MBA and was not too proud to clean out a sewer pipe,” Acks said. Other colleagues shared the same respect for him. “He was a man who loved the kids and was a great role model,” Joan Consolver said. “I just felt the Lord had led me to have Stuart become my successor.” Eldridge became director when Consolver retired eight years ago. She remembers hiring the Eldridges right out of college and newly married. She said they were a Godly couple and they both earned the respect of everyone at the ranch. “(Stuart) was loved by the kids; he was the father many of those boys never had,” Consolver said. “And he also was well respected as a leader of his staff. He’s just a fine Christian man who devoted his life to serving the Lord and making the lives better for children.” The day after Eldridge’s death, Kenneth D. Robinson, president

Friedrich Hayek

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Courtesy of Renee Funk

This 2016 photo shows Sam and Gavin Funk looking spiffy with Eldridge.

and CEO of Dr. Phillips Charities wrote: “Stuart may have been one of my favorite people in philanthropy. He found his calling early and stayed committed, his dedication to the ranch never wavered, and it can be seen in their work and success.” Edgewood opened in 1966 when a juvenile court judge saw a need for a residential facility for young boys who exhibited negative social behavior due to family circumstances. It now serves up to 70 boys and girls ages 6 to 17. Eldridge was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Aug. 29, 1960. He graduated from Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa, Georgia, in 1982. He was a past president of the Florida Association of Christian Child Caring Agencies.

Eldridge was preceded in death by his mother, Johnnie Eldridge, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and infant daughter, Alyson Joy. Besides his wife, who remains a counselor at the ranch, Eldridge is survived by sons, Ryan, of Denver, Colorado, and Terry, of Buffalo, New York; sisters, Susan (Frank) Landis, of North Carolina, and Donnie Castillo, of California, and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service was held Monday, Feb. 3, at Westwood Church in Orlando. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be directed to the Edgewood Children’s Ranch, 1415 Edgewood Ranch Road, Orlando, FL 32835; or edgewoodranch. com.

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Crime prevention, safety discussed CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

armed robbery that was deemed unfounded by detectives and after the recent tragic death of a Windermere High student. Topics of discussion were crime prevention tips, mental health resources and a sector update on overall crime in the Horizon West area. “We thought it would be a good idea to come out here to go over some crime prevention, how our children should be interacting with strangers if they encounter them and some other things,” Orange County Sector 3 Capt. Tony Marlow said. “From the Sheriff’s Office perspective, it’s always our goal to make sure that we’re putting out accurate information — timely information — so that residents in the community are well informed of issues of importance.” Deputy Victoria Santos, of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Crime Prevention Unit, shared several tips related to crime prevention. She said there are three elements to a crime: desire, ability and opportunity. She added that although residents can do little to impact a would-be criminal’s desire or ability to commit a

crime, one of the simplest ways to prevent crime is to minimize the opportunity for crimes to occur. “With one element missing, a crime cannot occur,” Santos said in relation to the three elements of a crime. “In regards to personal safety, always be aware of your surroundings. I know in the digital age, our heads are always on our phone — we’re looking down, we’re not paying attention to what’s going on around you. Please have your head on a swivel, maintain that situational awareness and trust your instincts. If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.” Another tip Santos shared was to change one’s daily patterns and/or routines to help prevent burglaries. She also suggested that if an individual — particularly if the individual is a juvenile — is going somewhere, they should let someone else know where they’re going and what time they plan on returning. Other crime prevention tips she shared are to keep a cell phone accessible and charged, make sure the doors to houses and vehicles are locked, avoid poorly lit areas and keep a well-lit house. “House numbers … are of particular importance, particularly

to first responders, because if you guys don’t have a house number either on the mailbox or driveway of your home, it’s going to be difficult for first responders to get to you,” Santos said. “Lighting is the bad guy’s enemy. If you have good lighting on the exterior of your house, it’s kind of going to deter anybody from wanting to break in.” Sandara E. Williams is a victim advocate with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. She discussed the different resources related to mental health during the workshop. She said although the Orange County Sheriff’s Office does not endorse any particular mental health care provider, it does provide a list of different providers organized by ZIP code. “My role is to go and give moral support to wherever the scene is — be it at someone’s residence, be it at a school, be it at a bank,” Williams said. “We also leave resource booklets for when we leave (a scene). … In this resource booklet, it has step-by-step (instructions) to do if you run into the situation of different types of crime scenes or callouts. It also has a list of counselors.” Williams added that the

resource booklet includes free counseling services, as well as services that accept insurance. The booklet also includes information related to crimes that go to trial and the steps that take place during the trial process. “We just believe that once we leave (a crime scene), we know that there’s a lot of questions,” Williams said. “(The booklet) just kind of gives you a step-by-step (guide) so that you’re not completely lost, because when you’re under stress — especially if you’re under the stress of losing a loved one — there are a lot of times where you don’t know what steps to take and sometimes you don’t even know what questions to ask.” Marlow and Deputy Frank Del Guercio both went over the sector update for overall crime in Horizon West. They said crime in Zone 31, which includes Horizon West, is still low and that the most common crime that occurs in the area is vehicle burglaries. “Everything is down right now,” Del Guercio said. “Hopefully, that’s the way we can keep it, but that goes along with people reporting things, seeing something (and) saying something.”

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Full STEAM ahead: Amazing Explorers Academy to open One location is planned for Hamlin, and another is planned for the Ocoee area. ERIC GUTIERREZ STAFF WRITER

A new preschool coming to the West Orange area has a STEAM-centric emphasis. The Amazing Explorers Academy will be opening up a location in Hamlin and in Ocoee. The Hamlin location will be at 5796 Hamlin Groves Trail, Winter Garden, and the Ocoee location will be at 1651 Amazing Way. Both locations will be opening in August — just in time for the beginning of the new school year. The school also has locations in Lake Nona, Waterford Lakes, Winter Springs and Ponte Vedra, and out-ofstate locations will be opening up in the near future. The academy focuses on stimulating student minds through STEAM — science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. The programs offered at the Amazing Explorers Academy are tailored to infants through 4-yearolds. “Brain development is a lifelong process, and the first (few) years pretty much lay the foundation,” said Fabrizio Spinelli, who is the founder and principal of the Amazing Explorers Academy. “An important part of that brain development that occurs is experience dependent and defined by environment interactions. Our concept is: How do we create something that makes these kids successful in the future?” In addition to being a preschool, the Amazing Explorers Academy also offers an after-school program and summer programs for children ages 5 to 12. Like the preschool, after-school programs also put an emphasis on STEAM and are implemented in a way that engages children beyond learning through memorization, Spinelli said. “We created a STEAM curriculum that places an emphasis on fostering self-identity, forming relationships, collaborating intellectually — we want these kids to collaborate with each other — learning socially and promoting creativity all the time,” Spinelli said. “(We) do everything within the concepts of STEAM. We want them to get prepared for the careers of the future (and) the ideas of the future. In essence, we want these kids to grow, but learning through activities — something extremely engaging — so it’s not just a teacher standing in front of the room explaining (subjects) to them (and) just working with memory.” Spinelli, who has lived in Windermere since 2005, said he’s excited to open up the Amazing Explorers Academy in the West Orange area. He said the academy will be more than just a preschool and after-school spot for children; it also will offer occasional events for the community. “We know the potential of this area,

and we understand the people of this area want the best education for their kids,” Spinelli said. “The public schools are very good, and the environment is very good for the kids growing up (here). … We feel like there’s a strong community here. That’s part of what we do: We partner with companies, we partner with the community, we partner with local schools. … We have a lot of relationships here, so we feel like this is a great place to do our best work. As soon as we open, we have a series of events that we’re going to hold during the year. We have farmers markets and other festivals, and all of them (will involve) partnerships with the community.”

Courtesy

Each campus of the Amazing Explorers Academy includes structures — such as spaceships — that foster each child’s interest in STEAM.

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Courtesy

The Amazing Explorers Academy focuses on fostering creativity through different activities.

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The property is generally located north of Old YMCA Road and west of Avalon Road, near the Waterleigh community. It’s a request that’s part of the Core Academy Planned Development, originally planned to be the dormitory for a sports academy, said Planner II Nate Wicke of the county’s Planning Division. The original plan was received back in June 2015, but the project never came to fruition, Wicke said. District 1 County Commissioner Betsy VanderLey said the property has since been sold to another party in the hope of developing apartments. She explained that the proposed use is smaller than what was originally approved. “Because this is a downgrading of the use to 350 multi-family residential, it did not trigger a community meeting,” VanderLey said. “If it was an increase it would have triggered, but it wasn’t an increase.” VanderLey said it isn’t the county’s job to determine where apartments are needed within Horizon West — it’s to decide whether projects are consistent with the future land-use map. The applicant has made the investment, though, and deemed the property an appropriate site for an apartment project, she said. “Apartments are a part of the housing conversation, because not everybody is going to live in a single-family home,” VanderLey said. “It certainly supports a diversity in housing types. This particular piece of property … the only development it’s near is on the other side of the 429, and

that particular piece of property is townhomes, and then further west from there and south from there are single-family homes, so this would certainly fit within the goals of Horizon West’s goal of a diversity of housing.” Like any other proposed project, VanderLey said she intends to see all of the information presented in front of her before making any kind of judgment. “We sit kind of as judges, and so I don’t ever take a position for or against until the public hearing and all of the evidence is heard, because I think it would just be inappropriate to do that without hearing from everybody,” VanderLey said. “I just always like to underscore that, because so often I hear people say, ‘Well, your mind’s already made up,’ and really that’s not the case ever, because I really do try to keep a very open mind until everybody’s had a chance to talk and all of the evidence has been heard.” VanderLey said it’s her understanding that the proposed project is three stories high. Only some of the specifics about the project will be shared at the public hearing, but whatever level of detail the applicant shares Feb. 11 will be binding, she said.

“Because this is a downgrading of the use to 350 multi-family residential, it did not trigger a community meeting. If it was an increase it would have triggered, but it wasn’t an increase.” — Betsy VanderLey, Orange County District 1 Commissioner

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

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lapper dresses, pearls and feathers filled the ballroom as the West Orange Chamber of Commerce kicked off the roaring 2020s with the annual Big Orange Awards. Held Friday, Jan. 31, at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, the Big Orange Awards celebrated members of the West Orange community and honored those who have made a difference. This year’s award winners were Pam Birdsong, Pat Gleason, Ken Harker, Ellen Korbin, the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation, the West Orange Christian Service Center, Jim Karr, Dawn Willis, Cannonfire Photography and SeaWorld. — DANIELLE HENDRIX The Big Orange Awards winners were happy to celebrate the evening.

Lesa Boettcher, Oakland Mayor Kathy Stark and Tracy Swanson

Orange County School Board Member Pam Gould, West Orange Chamber President Stina D’Uva, and Jay and Carrie Galbraith

ONLINE

Orange County Tax Collector Scott Randolph, Orange County Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles, Dawn Burns and Scott Boyd

See more photos at OrangeObserver.com

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

Annual OCPS survey available

Parents are one of OCPS’ greatest resources and are vital to the success of schools. In an ongoing effort to improve, all OCPS schools are conducting a parent survey. Parents can take the survey by visiting ow.ly/dUts50xYzqu.

Foundation Academy’s Color Run 5K and Fun Run

All are invited to the “I Love FA” Color Run 5K starting at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, at the Tilden Road campus. The Color Run is open to seventh through 12th grade students, FA parents, faculty and friends. Cost is $20. The school’s goal for the Color Run this year is to raise $10,000, which will go to provide new picnic tables for the Tilden Road campus. A Fun Run also will take place on the Plant Street campus starting at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 2:25 p.m. That race is open to prekindergartners through sixth-graders. For more information and to register, visit bit. ly/2OrnRbV by Monday, Feb. 10.

Windermere Elementary spreads kindness

The Windermere Elementary School Student Council recently helped organize the annual Great Kindness Challenge. Students devoted their time to perform as many acts of kindness as possible. They also participated in a spirit day, “Team Kindness.” Mustangs showed how bullying is weak and kindness is strength. The student council hopes this powerful initiative encourages unity and respect. Also, starting Feb. 10, the school will be kicking off its annual Pennies for Patients fundraiser. All money raised will go to help the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Windermere Elementary hopes to surpass its goal of $2,500. The top grade level will receive a pizza party.

INFLUENCER OF THE WEEK

MABEL REYES SUNSET PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Mabel Reyes has only been at Sunset Park Elementary for half the school year, but she’s already been recognized for her incredible work in supporting the school’s ESOL community. Before coming to Sunset Park, she worked three years as the ESOL compliance specialist at Spring Lake Elementary in Ocoee.

What do you love most about your school? There is so much I love about Sunset Park Elementary School, but let me state that the professionalism of the staff, the caring and the eagerness of all employees to do their very best is remarkable. This is what I love about the school. What’s your favorite part of your job? I love my position. I look forward to going to work and finding what new challenges await the day. I enjoy meeting the new families that arrive and encouraging the student and the family. I establish relationships to smooth the transition of adaptation. What made you want to take on this job? I had been a classroom teacher for more than 20 years. I wanted to try a different facet of education. This position allows me to be with students, orient teachers and make sure I keep the school in compliance. It is a very diverse position.

What motivates you and pushes you to do your best? What motivates me is that I love what I do. I want to make sure that my ESOL students are well received to start their new experiences at school. I challenge myself and staff so we can give our very best. What’s the nicest thing a student or faculty member has done for you? There have been many beautiful moments in my career, but the one that stands out is having a student contact me to thank me because I had reinforced in him the love of writing and as a result he entered a writing contest at the university and won. He said that I nourished the love of writing and he owed his success to me. Faculty members have always been kind to me telling me how happy they are that I am working with them or thanking me with a surprise lunch. What’s your favorite place to eat? My favorite places to eat are Jaleo, Seasons 52, Melting Pot and Fogo De Chao.

If you could take a vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why? I would love to go to visit Egypt. I am intrigued with their culture. Visiting the pyramids and historical sites has always fascinated me. If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why? I would love to be able to teleport. This would allow me to easily be in another place or country in seconds. I could sleep in late — no worries about getting to places late because of traffic. Cats, dogs or some other pet? I have a dog. His name is Draco, and he is a white western highlander. He is 13 years old. He loves to sleep and eat at this stage of his life. — ERIC GUTIERREZ

REPORT CARD POSITION: ESOL compliance specialist TIME AT SCHOOL: Six months at Sunset Park, 13 years working for OCPS

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

OBSERVER SCHOOL ZONE

World tour

Frances Barra and Haytham and Karam Ghanayem greeted students with smiles as they served the food in the Jordan classroom.

t was an evening of food, fun and learning about new cultures at Central Florida Preparatory School’s annual International Night Friday, Jan. 31. Students took a tour of classrooms representing 12 different nations from around the world. Different dishes from each nation were served, and each classroom was adorned with student artwork representing the country. Some students even came to the event wearing traditional clothing from one of the 12 countries.

Third-grader Mariah Francois couldn’t wait to try the Mexican food.

Third-grader Adrian Rodriguez posed as a Russian nesting doll in the Russia room.

— ERIC GUTIERREZ

Fourth-graders Makena Lorden and Krisztian Goodwin looked festive in their traditional Mexican attire.

Fifth-grader Natali Jawad, right, and her mom, Suzan, enjoyed the artwork and food at the India classroom.

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SGA sponsor Anna Hilaman and Carissa Niccoli were thrilled with the amount of money raised by the students. Anna Pereira, Jack Hudgins, Jouldan Velez and Julia Pereira were a few of the hundreds of Windermere Prep students at the event.

Amanda Healy and Liza Russell were happy to support a good cause at the Lakerthon event.

indermere Preparatory School students danced the night away and raised money for a good cause at the school’s second annual Lakerthon event Saturday, Feb. 1, at the campus gymnasium. The event included games, a bounce house, food and dancing. All proceeds from the event, along with money raised throughout the school year, went to Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies. Students met their overall goal of $60,000 — raising a total of $60,039.51. — TIM FREED

Ashley Turpin and Jack Durst had a great time raising money.

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After the West Orange boys basketball team stormed its way to the finals of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Honoring Legends Invitational — held at Boone High School — the Warriors (14-9) brought home the championship trophy in their 63-55 win over Boone Saturday, Feb. 1. The Warriors (14-9) were led by Mike McCalister’s 14 points.

For the third year in a row, the Dr. Phillips girls weightlifting team claimed the regional championship Saturday, Feb. 1. The Panthers finished with 69 points and won eight of the 10 weight classes while finishing in second in the other two weight classes. Winners included: Jessica Corredor (101-pound class), Gabby Serpa (110-pound class), Grace Fay (119-pound class), Zamora St. Cyr (129-pound class), Jordan Reed (169-pound class), Jada St. Cyr (183-pound class), Destinee Alford (199-pound class) and Ty Smith (unlimited class).

Small forward and captain Grace Anderson is leading the Windermere Prep girls basketball team as a sophomore. Page 12.

Ocoee, Dr. Phillips win state cheer titles The Panthers and Knights pulled off resounding wins, while Windermere Prep and Foundation Academy finished with state runner-up titles. TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR

Drama, intrigue, underdog stories and overcoming the odds — that is just a sampling of the busy weekend in the world of local competitive cheer teams who participated in the state championships in Gainesville. From Friday, Jan. 31, to Saturday, Feb. 1, a handful of schools from the area showcased their talents for the last time this season and four went out with style.

Dr. Phillips brought home a state title in the small all-girl division, and Ocoee High grabbed a state title in the small division (nontumbling). Meanwhile, Windermere Prep and Foundation Academy each finished state runners-up in the small tumbling division, and large non-tumbling division respectively. DR. PHILLIPS RETURNS TO GLORY

To say that the last few years for the Panthers have been frustrating

Courtesy photo

may be an understatement. From 2009 to 2013, the Panthers became a cheer dynasty as they dominated their way to five straight state titles. Then, something happened — they became the proverbial bridesmaid instead of the bride, as the Panthers have landed runner-up finishes the last

four years. It’s why winning the state title has the Panthers feeling good, head coach Samantha Hoffman said. “It’s a long time coming, because we’ve had a run of runner-ups for the past four years, SEE CHEER PAGE 12

The Warrior way

The Windermere wrestling team had a productive outing during the Wolfpack IBT held at Timber Creek High School Saturday, Feb. 1. Hendrix Paterson grabbed first place in a dramatic victory in the 170-pound championship match, while freshman Kollin Kuenhold finished third in the 106-pound weight class. Jerry Lewis added to the Wolverines’ successes as he finished fourth at 145.

In Windermere Prep girls basketball’s 5039 victory over Lake Mary Prep Friday, Jan. 31, junior guard Madison Workman racked up a team-high 22 points while also snagging eight steals for the Lakers (7-8).

In the Foundation Academy girls basketball team’s 40-33 win over Trinity Prep Friday, Jan. 31, Aliyah Perry led the way for the Lions (12-4) as she picked up 14 points, four assists and three rebounds. Teammate Chelsey Bryant added on 10 points, five rebounds and three assists.

Troy Herring

Mike Granato’s dream job was to coach football at West Orange High School. Now, after years in the sport, his dream has come true.

TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR

he football field at West Orange High is a place of familiarity for Winter Garden resident Mike Granato. He’s sat in the bleachers and he’s watched battles unfold on the field. Now he’ll watch the games from a slightly different perspective — that of the program’s new head coach. Even though the news is fresh, Granato can’t help but think about how West Orange High football

and his life are intertwined. “Funny little thing about it is the first high school football game I went to was a West Orange football game back in 1997,” Granato said. “I think it’s just surreal that my first head coaching opportunity — and what I ultimately want to be my last head coaching opportunity — (is West Orange).” The news broke that Granato — who previously served as an assistant football coach at Edgewater High School — had SEE GRANATO PAGE 12

SPORTS SPOTLIGHT

WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

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Grace Anderson A sophomore small forward on the Windermere Prep girls basketball team, Grace Anderson has played basketball at both the middle and high school levels at her school. During the last few years Anderson has become a leader on head coach Emmalee Schill’s varsity team.

How did you first get into basketball? I got into basketball around sixth grade — I’ve played ever since middle school — but it’s been a big part of my family for a really long time. We watch the Florida Gators, and we play basketball as a family every winter when they come down for Christmas. A lot of my skills in basketball, and the root of where it came from, came from my family.

THE BASICS

SCHOOL: Windermere Prep GRADE: Sophomore AGE: 16 SPORT: Basketball POSITION: Small forward

What are the best words of advice you’ve been given about basketball? Coach says a lot, ‘Defense wins games.’ I’ve seen with my team this year that it does win games. In a game we played last week our defense was lacking and we ended up losing and it just really showed me if you don’t play defense, you really can’t win.

What has kept you in the sport for so long? I really, really like the team sports aspect of it — I love the community and working with my teammates and my coaches. I also think it’s a really good outlet — especially with stress with school work and life in general — to get (stress out), so when I’m in season I kind of just do better overall as a person, because I can release my energy.

As far as the game of basketball itself goes, what is the hardest aspect of playing? Your favorite part? I’d probably say the time. I love the outlet, but it takes a lot of time practicing five days a week with games — it takes a lot. My favorite part is when the crowd is crazy in the last couple of minutes.

What is your favorite thing about playing at Windermere Prep? I would definitely say my teammates and coaches, because I meet people I wouldn’t previously talk to. As a leader at my school, it has opened my world in a way.

Coming into the season did you have any goals in mind? Individually something I had in mind was average a doubledouble per game, because if you have something like that in mind every game it pushes myself and my expectations for myself every game. Another goal I had — because I’m a captain on the team and I wanted to figure out a way to be a better leader on the basketball court — was to bring my team closer together and work harder as a team.

What’s the most challenging part about playing at small forward? Your favorite part? Most challenging part is probably communicating on the court. I’m a small forward, so on defense I’m on the blocks so I can see everything that’s going on — so the hardest part is communicating and telling my entire team what is going on. My favorite part is probably rebounding — that’s fun — and going through the plays.

— TROY HERRING

Athlete of the Week sponsored by:

Granato joins the Warriors CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

been hired as the program’s coach Monday, Jan. 27. FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME

Granato always has loved football, but it wasn’t until 2007 before he decided to give coaching a chance. That year, he walked into the office of Winter Park High School football coach Tim Shifflet looking for something — anything — to do. “The only reason I was given a job was because they had an intensive reading position open,” Granato said. “I told coach Shifflet — who was one of my coaches when I was at Bishop Moore — and I said, ‘I want to be a football coach and I’ll take any job that you have.’” Granato was offered a role coaching on the ninth-grade team, and there he helped turn a 4-6 program into a regional championship team from 2017 to 2019. He also helped establish one of the first spread offenses in Central Florida, Granato said. From there Granato’s stock rose and rose as he found work coaching at schools like Madison County, Seminole, Wekiva, Apopka and most recently at Edgewater — a school that has seen a resurgence under head

coach Cameron Duke, who Granato sees as an inspiration for his own coaching. But it was at Madison County — where he helped lead the Cowboys to backto-back state title appearances in 2011 and 2012 — that Granato developed his coaching mindset the most. “It’s a truly, truly special place and I tell everybody that I may have been 27 years old at the time, but Madison County taught me how to be a man, how to be a better teacher and ultimately taught me how to coach football the right way,” Granato said. “What I learned up there from Mike Coe — who is a very dear brother to me — was that Xs and Os are the last part about being a high school football coach. And I learned there that relationships are ultimately what define who we are in this life.” CHANGING THE CULTURE

Granato’s selection as the new head coach came after an interview process by the school, which was looking for someone who could provide stability to a program that has seen two coaches come and go in the last two years. “I knew that the principal needed to make the right hire, and Ms. Gordon was more than upfront and transparent about

Cheer teams win state titles CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

so we just missed winning it,” Hoffman said. “We just fell short every year — like by one-two hundredths of a point and it was always so, so close — so this year coming in first was a good thing.” Unlike that first dynastic run at Dr. Phillips — which saw everyone come in with experience — many of the girls on the team arrived to the school with little to no experience in cheer. Despite that fact, the girls worked hard and did what they had to do to finally grab that elusive state trophy by scoring an impressive 87.2. “This is probably my most consistent group of cheerleaders that I’ve coached for 15 years in this program,” Hoffman said. “This is the first year that, to this competition, we have never had a fall in any of the competitions that we have been to.” KNIGHTS CHARGE TO TITLE

If you’ve followed the Ocoee cheer team, you’ll know that the Knights have dealt with a lot — injuries, athletes leaving out of the blue and so on. Even though there were a few

breakdowns here and there, the Knights never faltered, and it’s what makes this year’s state title — the first for the program since 2018 — so much sweeter, head coach Kristin Johnson said. “It was a pretty incredible feeling,” Johnson said. “This team went through many, many challenges this season, but not once did they let it deter them from their goal, which was not even so much winning as much as they wanted to execute a perfect routine with no deductions.” And that’s exactly what the Knights did on the mat, as they were flawless, with no deductions. They finished with a score of 84.8 — a full 4.7 points ahead of second-place Miramar. Winning the state title was obviously huge for Johnson and her squad, but the thing Johnson will remember most from the weekend was the emotion and elation of the girls as they walked off the mat. “When they were done and they knew that they had executed everything perfectly, they grabbed each other and there were a lot of tears,” Johnson said. “Everyone just kind of embraced each other crying out

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When it comes to fledgling programs, it’s understandable that there will be struggles. But in the case of Windermere Prep’s competitive cheer team, that’s not the case. The program — under the leadership of head coach Kari Land and assistants Brittani Fulmer and Nikki Sullins — exploded in its third year of existence by bringing home the runners-up trophy in the small-tumbling division by scoring a 77. Last year the team finished in fourth place, which at the time was great, but this year they wanted a bit more, Land said. “We told the girls, ‘Our goal is to do better than the year before,’ so we hoped to get fourth or better,” Land said. “We’re all on the mat all huddled together … they call state runner-up and that was us, and the girls went crazy and us coaches went crazy. It exceeded our expectations.”

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being able to hire the right person given what the program had been through,” Granato said. “I’ve been through some coaching transitions before as an assistant and I’ve seen the good, the bad and the ugly.” Between Granato being a local who understood where the program should be and having dealt with these types of situations in the past, it was logical that he would be the guy who could change the culture of the program. While Granato will oversee the team as a whole, he’ll also work with the defensive backs — a position he holds near and dear. And though he can’t name names yet as it relates to assistants, he said that he’d be working with a staff that puts players’ wellbeing first, because in the long run that’s what leads to greater things — for both a program and its people, Granato said. It’s something he saw work firsthand at Edgewater. “Championships are decided by great men and great players that have great character,” Granato said. “Getting them to a level of excellence and achieving the best version of themselves personally, spiritually and in the community is what will ultimately drive a championship program.”

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TFA celebrates alumni during Hall of Fame night Katherine Clevenger, Foster Griffin, Adam Haseley and the late Tim DeBoom were recognized for their athletic contributions to the school. TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR

Three former students and one longtime supporter were honored Jan. 24 by The First Academy as they were inducted into the school’s athletic Hall of Fame. At halftime of the boys var-

sity basketball game against Lake Highland Prep, Katherine Clevenger, Foster Griffin, Adam Haseley and the late Tim DeBoom were recognized for their contributions to the school and its athletic department in front of a sold-out crowd in the Cramer Family Field House.

“Obviously it’s a really great honor,” said Haseley, a 2014 graduate who now plays for the Philadelphia Phillies. “This is kind of where it all started, so to come back here to have my now wife and my family that was here — kind of bring it all full circle — is pretty special.” Haseley’s accomplishments on the baseball diamond at TFA — as well as his play at the University of Virginia and for the Phillies — made him a first-ballot Hall of Famer, said school athletic director Will Cohen. One requirement at TFA is an athlete must be five years removed from his or her time at the school. They also need to be voted on by a committee of faculty at the school. During his three-year stint at Virginia, Haseley racked up honor after honor and helped lead the Cavaliers to the 2015 NCAA

by Paul Coulter; CROSSWORD CONTRADICTIONS Edited by David Steinberg

28 Yearly 29 “Talk” at a concert 1 White house? 30 One may have a flat head 6 Pets that may hiss 32 Wedding, say, for a DJ 10 New moon, e.g. 33 Female bays 15 Covered in sauce, as a 34 Saying about taking burrito action 18 Attack ad, maybe 42 World traveler? 19 Letter before beta 43 Mai ___ 20 Angling boxful 44 Caspian feeder 21 Battery in many remotes 45 Search-and-find book 22 Saying about taking series action ... or the opposite of 46 With 80-Across, saying 34-Across? about someone who’s far 25 ___ Friday’s away ... or the opposite of 26 Balaam’s mount 63-Across? 27 “Really?”

ACROSS

54 Literary Harper 55 Pepsi, e.g. 57 Be a good sinner? 58 Warner Bros. creation 59 Sandbar 60 Took one’s turn 62 Propelled a shell 63 Saying about someone who’s far away 69 Scatter 70 Word after sack or senate 71 “Waves of grain” color, in song 72 Cheat, slangily 73 Do-nothing 76 Real nuisance

cloudy day” tune 104 PC shortcut key 105 PC shortcut key 108 Chinese steamed bun 109 Saying about similarity 113 Channel that Madonna performed on 114 Bicker 115 Linen fabric 116 Care for 117 Anonymous John 118 Chiefs and Royals 119 Old-timey “Good grief!” 120 “Ick!”

77 Special attention, for short 80 See 46-Across 85 Like an unconvincing excuse 86 Speckled horse 87 H.S. science class 88 Show off some moves 89 Saying about similarity ... or the opposite of 109-Across? 97 Prone to crying 98 Ab ___ (from day one) 99 La Saint-Valentin focus 100 Classic street liners 101 “I’ve got sunshine on a

DOWN 1 Cuba, por ejemplo 2 Controversial crops, briefly 3 Some summer births 4 Wood that can flavor chardonnay 5 “Pretty Woman” singer Roy 6 Shuts 7 0% ___ financing 8 Not just “a” 9 “Huh?” 10 Drop quickly 11 Netflix competitor 12 Square footage 13 Shut, as an envelope 14 Telepathic skill, for short 15 Does a flower bed chore 16 Young raptor 17 Heads’ counterpart 19 Burning 23 Carve in stone 24 Taking care of business 29 Ming of Rockets fame 31 Mental keenness 33 Srta., across the Pyrenees 34 It may be pea-sized 35 Something ___ entirely 36 Diaper bag item 37 “Listen up!” 38 ___ Bo 39 Major sport in Japan 40 Ayatollah’s land 41 Sushi bar drink 46 “Woe is me!” 47 Island east of Java 48 Boat in an Olympic slalom event 49 “___, Brute?” 50 Flight segment

national championship before being taken eighth overall by the Phillies. Joining Haseley as a firstballot athlete was Foster Griffin, who was both a baseball and golf standout at the school. Griffin — who couldn’t attend due to work obligations — was a First Team All-American (like Haseley) before getting drafted by the Kansas City Royals with the 28th pick. He was represented by his family during the event. Rounding out the athletes was the track program’s first state champion: Katherine Clevenger. “I was surprised and incredibly honored — obviously — to be included in a very awarded cohort,” said Clevenger, who won the 300m hurdles state title at the school. “It’s been over 20 years since I first started running with The First Academy. (It’s great) coming back and seeing how everything has grown up and so many more champions have come through the program since I’ve been gone.” Clevenger, who now lives in Atlanta, hadn’t been back to the school in years but recalled her time on both the cross-country and track teams and how everything was a bit simpler during those early days — especially as it related to facilities. “It’s funny looking at the complex now — the Payne Stewart Complex,” Clevenger said. “That whole complex was developed in 2001-02, which was when I was running track — those were big days for our programs. “But you know the way out there was mud,” she said. “Cross country would run around John Young (Parkway), and we were just all trying to figure it out — it was fun. At the track, it wasn’t 51 Conflicted 52 Worked the soil 53 The 29th, for February 2020 55 Fluffy dog from China, informally 56 Gut-punch reaction 59 Animal in a roundup 60 Place to moor a ship 61 “Yada, yada, yada” (Abbr.) 62 Black cat, maybe 63 Missouri River tribe 64 Bear up? 65 Got bigger 66 Glue alternative, perhaps 67 “Rubaiyat” poet Khayyam 68 “Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity” org. 69 “I’m trying to study!” 73 Gershwin’s “___ Rhythm” 74 Apothecary’s weight 75 Actress Anderson 77 “Beloved” author Morrison 78 Wrestling hold 79 Manitoba native 81 Cafeteria carrier 82 Antiquated 83 Thing to pick 84 Qatar’s capital 85 Buddy 88 Dear 89 Silky-textured Italian dessert 90 Eliminate 91 Albums such as Lil Nas X’s “7” (Abbr.) 92 Sounds 93 TiVo products 94 “Brr” 95 “I didn’t do it!” 96 Certain northern Iraqi 97 Site with a “Health A-Z” section 101 “Encore!” 102 Pilates relative 103 Dour 105 Lauryn Hill ‘do 106 Amount to make do with 107 “___ bien!” 109 Like a big paycheck 110 One might cross a stream 111 Day, in Tijuana 112 Mink’s coat

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

even surfaced yet, and we didn’t have hurdles so we literally jumped (over) orange cones.” While each new member walked to center court to a raucous round of applause, no ovation was bigger than the one Lisa DeBoom and her children received when they accepted the honor on behalf of the late Tim DeBoom. The DeBoom family has been a part of TFA for years, with Lisa DeBoom serving as a librarian at the school, while her two daughters attend as students. Then there was Tim DeBoom — the embodiment of TFA spirit. Tim DeBoom served at the school as a coach, colleague and supporter of TFA athletics for 14 years until he died in February 2018 after a battle with cancer. “It really means a lot to my girls and me,” Lisa DeBoom said. “Losing him, one of the things that you worry about is that time will pass and life will go on and people will forget, and so for the school to reach out and honor him in this way, and honor his memory, it really means a lot to the three of us.” No one ever was going to let the memory of Tim DeBoom slip away, Cohen said. That’s why — despite the fact that Tim DeBoom hadn’t hit the required five-year mark — he was elected into the Hall of Fame anyway as a friend of the program. “He was a huge fan when he wasn’t coaching and just did so much for the athletic program,” Cohen said. “It’s fitting that he goes in with this group. It’s one of the best classes that we have ever had — they represent who TFA is.”

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.

“WUVHJWA (JVIUI) HW... JAUSSZ ELA RV-RJAUEVJ VM ELHW GHEL PA. ELAJA HW IV PZ ‘SHEESA GVPAI’ GHELVCE WUVHJWA.” – XJAEU XAJGHX “J’PY VXCNB ST NJWD KA TOXYBWM’ KSMJE WOMWYM, RJMWYBJBV WC IRYYWNCCG KOE OBG WDY XCRRJBV MWCBYM.”

– MOCJXMY XCBOB Puzzle Two Clue: A equals Y

Troy Herring

Hall of Fame inductees, alongside their families, were honored during halftime of the Royals’ basketball game.

Puzzle One Clue: C equals U

OrangeObserver.com

SUDOKU

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

02-06-20

SOUTHWEST ORANGE OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

WEST ORANGE OBITUARY STEPHEN DENNIS CRAFT DIED FRIDAY, JAN. 24, 2020.

Stephen Dennis Craft, age 78, of Farragut, Tennessee, formerly of Winter Garden, Florida, and Detroit, Michigan, went to be with the Lord Friday afternoon, Jan. 24, at his home surrounded by his family. Dennis loved the Lord with all his heart and had a strong desire to serve Him. He was a member of Farragut Church of Christ and was very active in Vacation Bible School and Heaven’s Pantry. Dennis graduated from Pershing High School, Detroit, Michigan, in 1959. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and remained extremely patriotic his entire life. Dennis was a retired estimator and operator from Hatley Pest Control in Winter Garden, Florida. After retirement, he worked at Orlando Auto Auction in Ocoee, Florida, and drove many exotic cars. He was a former member and deacon of Highland Church of Christ in Detroit. Dennis was an avid golfer, bowler, pool player,

grill master and gardener who raised orchids and was a huge baseball fan. He loved people and loved music, having a song to play for every situation. He was an avid reader and was self-taught in many fields of expertise. Dennis earned many awards along the way. He was patient, kind, hardworking and extremely devoted to his family. Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, Donald Craft and Jewell Thomas Craft Blonde; and sister, Sheila Craft. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Maida Craft; daughters, Jean Floyce Long, 87, of Winter Garden, died Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. Woodlawn Funeral Home, Gotha.

Bonnie Sue Cobb, 73, of Winter Garden, died Friday, Jan. 31, 2020. Winter Oak Funeral Home. Martha Helleen Connolly-Bridges, 94, a native of Winter Garden, died Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. Dobbs Funeral Home, Orlando.

Mary Eta Kerce Humphrey, 90, of Ocoee, died Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. Collison Carey Hand Funeral Home, Winter Garden.

THIS WEEK’S PUZZLES SOLVED

Sheila Parham, and husband, Johnny, and Lisa Craft; beloved grandson, Jacob Parham and beloved wife, Maxey, all of Farragut. Special thanks to Tom and Lorraine Galloway, Kevin and Heather Hines, Lindsay and Rony Pizzaro and several nieces and nephews, lifetime friend John Tomaszewski and his wife, Helen, friends, family, Farragut Church of Christ friends, as well as his medical team, care givers, hospice team and friends at Brigs Center for Cancer Care. The family received friends Thursday, Jan. 30, at Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel with a service following. Family and friends gathered Friday at East Tennessee Veterans Cemetery, Knoxville, with full military honors conferred by the U.S. Navy and the East Tennessee Veterans Honor Guard. Memorials may be made to Farragut Church of Christ, 136 Smith Road, Knoxville, TN 37934. “WINGS UP!”

2020

Celeste Mary Palladino, 46, of Ocoee, died Friday, Jan. 10, 2020. Dobbs Funeral Home, Orlando. Margarete Wolf Smith, 89, of Winter Garden, died Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020. Woodlawn Funeral Home, Gotha.

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