02.11.16 West Orange Times & Observer by Orange Observer

W E ST O RA N G E T I M E S &

Observer Celebrating 110 years in West Orange

Victoria Jefferson earns Ocoee’s first state title.

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YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

VOLUME 83, NO. 6

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2016

Observer partners to host Ocoee debate Observer Media Group and the GFWC Woman’s Club of Ocoee will present candidates for mayor and District 3 commissioner Feb. 24. MICHAEL ENG EXECUTIVE EDITOR OCOEE The West Orange Times

Courtesy photo

Horizon West residents John and Dodi Geisler have eight children as a result of a blended family.

Love Stories From one wife’s decision to put her life in danger to save that of her husband to a marriage that took nearly two decades to complete, here are just two of West Orange’s love stories fit for the silver screen. The Nemeths, from Winter Garden, celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary this year.

ARTS+CULTURE

See stories on pages 6-7

RUNNING DOWN A DREAM

& Observer has partnered with the GFWC Woman’s Club of Ocoee to present candidates for Ocoee’s mayor and District 3 commission seat. The Ocoee Political Forum will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24, at Ocoee City Hall, 150 N. Lakeshore Drive. The forum is free and open to the public. It also will be broadcast on OGTV channel 493, the publicSEE DEBATE PAGE 4

YOUR TOWN

Southern hospitality The line snaked the top floor of Baer’s Furniture, 12105 W Colonial Drive, Winter Garden, as Paula Deen fans awaited the arrival of the American celebrity chef. Deen came to the Winter Garden store as part of her “Paula Deen Cuts the Fat” book tour. Some guests showed up more than two hours early to secure a spot at the front of line.

Sydney’s center needs volunteers

Florida’s best blues artists set to take stage at W.G. fest.

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Nearly 300 runners laced up for the Winter Garden 10K, held Saturday, Feb. 6, in downtown Winter Garden. See photos on page 12

Sydney’s Reading and Learning Center in West Oaks Mall needs a few volunteers for Feb. 13 and 14. Any high-school students in need of community-service hours should call Thom Battisto, founder of Read to Sydney, at (407) 247-8595 or email him at readtosydney@ aol.com.

WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

YOU R CALENDAR

THURSDAY, FEB. 11

ALTERED BOOKS 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, at the Winter Garden Library, 805 E. Plant St. Join us for an evening of altering books. Whether you are a beginner or already have an altered book started, join in the fun. Supplies will be provided. Ages 18 and older. Registration recommended. (407) 835-7323. ARTSY TODDLER 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, at the Winter Garden Library, 805 E. Plant St. Young children will enjoy stories, songs and exploring age-appropriate art experiences. Ages 1 to 3. (407) 835-7323. BASICS OF SQUAREFOOT GARDENING 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, at Jessie Brock Community Center, 310 N. Dillard St., Winter Garden. Square Foot Gardening is a system of gardening developed by Mel Bartholomew that uses 4-foot-by-4-foot plots divided into 1-foot squares for growing a

OUR TOUGHNESS IS YOUR STRENGTH.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2016 specific number of a particular type of vegetable to maximize space. Cost is $5 per household. Register at gardenflorida. eventbrite.com. GETTING IN GEAR 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, at Jessie Brock Community Center, 310 N. Dillard St., Winter Garden. This is the third of a sixclass series presented by Food for Life instructor Claire Brown. Cost for series is $72 for Winter Garden residents and $84 for non-residents. For more, call Claire Brown, (407) 694-5972 or register at cwgdn.com/resident/recreation. RIBBON CUTTING: PAWS & PLAY PET RESORT 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, at 11800 W. Colonial Drive, Ocoee. Michael Cavinder, (407) 6567529.

FRIDAY, FEB. 12

ANIMAL STORYTIME 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 12, at the Winter Garden Library, 805 E. Plant St.

Join us for a furry tale followed by an animal meet and greet. Ages 3 to 5. (407) 835-7323. AMERICAN LEGION, HUGH T. GREGORY POST 63 STEAK NIGHT 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, at the post, 271 W. Plant St., Winter Garden Menu includes steak, baked potato, salad, tea or water. Children younger than 10 will receive a free hot dog and fries. Cost is $15. Rob McLenagan, (321) 662-5883.

SATURDAY, FEB. 13

Yoga instructor Colleen Puglisi will lead this relaxing nature yoga class. Register online at oaklandnaturepreserve.org. WINTER GARDEN BLUES & BBQ 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, in Historic Downtown Winter Garden. Enjoy award-winning barbecue while taking in the sounds of some of the area’s hottest blues bands. Free. For more information, call (407) 656-4155 or visit wintergardenfl.gov.

FALL IN LOVE WITH GENEALOGY: FAMILY HISTORY FAIR 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at the West Oaks Library, 1821 E. Silver Star Road, Ocoee. If you are a beginner in genealogy research, this free event can help you get started researching your family history. (407) 835-7323.

SUNDAY, FEB. 14

GENEALOGY ROCKS 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at the West Oaks Library, 1821 E. Silver Star Road, Ocoee. Family history comes alive! Learn about genealogy with games and a craft. Ages 6 to 12. (407) 835-7323.

EDUMATICS EDUCATIONAL FAIR 3 to 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 15, at EduMatics, 2731 Old Winter Garden Road, Ocoee. Meet staff and tutors, receive free educational resources and assessments. (407) 656-0661.

SERENITY PORCH YOGA 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at Oakland Nature Preserve, 747 Machete Trail, Oakland.

SYDNEY’S VALENTINE’S DAY PARTY Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, at West Oaks Mall, 9401 W. Colonial Drive, Ocoee. Event will feature crafts and goodies for the kids. For more, visit readtosydney.org.

MONDAY, FEB. 15

HONEST ABE AND OTHER FAMOUS DUDES 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 15, at the Winter Garden Library, 805 E. Plant St. Learn about Abraham

Lincoln and other famous dudes from history. Ages 6 to 12. (407) 835-7323.

TUESDAY, FEB. 16

SENIOR MOMENTS: UNDERSTANDING WHAT’S NORMAL AND WHAT’S NOT 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16, at the West Oaks Library, 1821 E. Silver Star Road, Ocoee. Join Dr. Marieke Cajal, neurosciences assessment specialist from Compass Research LLC, for information on memory loss. (407) 835-7323. SUNSHINE STATE BOOK CLUB 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16, at the West Oaks Library, 1821 E. Silver Star Road, Ocoee. This month’s pick from the Sunshine State Readers List for third through fifth grade is “Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen” by Donna Gephart. Join the book club for crafts, prizes and fun. For more, call (407) 835-7323.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 17

UNITED STATES GENEALOGY: KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, at the West Oaks Library, 1821 E. Silver Star Road, Ocoee. Explore the research resources and collections that are held in a variety of archives and repositories in the Bluegrass state and the Volunteer state. (407) 835-7323.

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Healthy Living with Heart Failure Lecture Series February 18, 2016 Kick-off and Introduction to Heart Failure with Suraj Kurup, MD, Orlando Heart Institute February 25, 2016 | Fitness and Heart Failure: You Really Can! Joyce McIlroy, RN and Sue Funderburk, RN March 3, 2016 | Healthy Eating with Heart Failure with a Cooking Demonstration | Gary Applesies, Roper YMCA Director of Healthy Eating March 10, 2016 | Tying it all Together | Rita Lewis, RN, Clinical Program Coordinator and Anthony Morales, MSN, RN, CEN, NRP • All sessions are 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm. • The Orlando Health – Health Performance Center at the Roper YMCA • 100 Windermere Road | Winter Garden, FL 34787 • Limited Seating! • RSVP to Brandis.Burney@HealthCentral.org • FREE Biometric Screening • FREE giveaways • Drawing for a $100 gift basket if you attend all 4 sessions.

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2016

Board endorses relief school map The rezoning map would have nearly all Horizon West students redistricted to the relief high school. School Board members will cast their final votes in March. ZAK KERR STAFF WRITER ORANGE COUNTY

Courtesy photos

Germán and more than 50 volunteers spent more than 545 man-hours clearing weeds and then planting 875 seedlings.

A path to follow

For his Eagle Project, Germán Escobar Jr. oversaw planting hundreds of trees at Oakland Nature Preserve for Red Trail Longleaf Pine Forest. ZAK KERR STAFF WRITER OAKLAND Although

Oakland Nature Preserve is no stranger to Eagle Projects, each is unique, including the massive project Germán Escobar Jr., of Troop 210 in Winter Garden, finished in the last several months. Red Trail Longleaf Pine Forest, Germán’s project, bears the name of a preserve project with which he helped organizer Jim Helmers. The ultimate goal is to transform 2.25 acres into a 19thcentury pine forest. For his part, Germán led a group of 53 volunteers in removing weeds and branches from that area before planting 875 longleaf pine seedlings in rows, all while protecting bird and tortoise nests. For a cherry on top, he and his mother crafted the wooden sign marking the forest. This mammoth task completes a journey to Eagle Scout status that spanned at least two-thirds of his childhood. As a Cub Scout beginning at about 6 years old, Germán wanted to become a Boy Scout, and then as a Boy Scout, he strived always to become an Eagle Scout, he said. “When I first started, I wanted to do it for the experience,” Germán said. “They always presented it as a really cool thing. In Boy Scouts, there’s a lot of interesting things you can do. I was never centered in something specific, so when I went to Boy Scouts, there was many things I could do all at the same time — especially outdoor activities. I like the outdoors.” That love for nature, the environment and his community helped inspire Germán to undertake such a massive project, he said. He had wanted to try something a bit different, but his fondness for the preserve called him back. When he learned Helmers was working on the new Red Trail and pine forest, he seized the opportunity.

Germán and his mother crafted the sign for Red Trail Longleaf Pine Forest, one small part of an enormous Eagle Project.

I was never centered in something specific, so when I went to Boy Scouts, there was many things I could do all at the same time — especially outdoor activities. I like the outdoors.” Germán Escobar Jr.

“It used to be orange groves, and then they burned that,” Germán said. “There was nothing there. It’s just weeds, grass. Most of the preserve is low woodlands, swampy, but this area is kind of higher up. It goes right next to a neighborhood.” Logging for longleaf pines left the species endangered, hence the idea to restore this area with them, Germán said. Another endangered species, the gopher tortoise, was in this vicinity in numbers as great as 60, he said. “One of the days, I had to go in and mark every single (tortoise)

Once the relief school for West Orange High opens next summer on Winter Garden-Vineland Road, Warrior Nation’s territory likely will shrink to include Oakland, virtually all of Winter Garden and snippets of Ocoee and unincorporated Orange County on the edges. That includes McKinnon Road as part of the border, with a school split among various side roads shooting off it, such as Alysia Dickerson’s street. “I’m not really in favor of one drawing or another, but I think it would be unfortunate to take homes that are in the Windermere community and carve them out and send them to a school that’s not their community,” Dickerson told Orange County School Board members at their Jan. 28 rule development workshop. “I’m not against West Orange. We’ve been happy there. … But right now, it’s a school that includes Winter Garden and Windermere. In the future, with the new lines, it will actually be a Winter Garden school — versus a Windermere school as far as community goes. … That, to me, is taking my children away from everyone they know.” Board members met for the workshop to discuss the various options for rezoning Orange County Public Schools staff had presented earlier in January. They decided to advertise Option 2, which further shrinks West Orange High’s zone by marking all homes south of Stoneybrook West Parkway and west of County Road 535 for the relief school. That includes District 4 Board Member Pam Gould, who rep-

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resents most of West Orange County. “Option 2 gives us some flexibility for growth there without hitting the ceiling too fast,” Gould said. She recommended staff look at a targeted rezoning of Dickerson’s neighborhood and see possible effects. Option 2 would divide West Orange High from its relief school via a zigzag moving west from Lake Rhea to McKinnon Road but north of Lake Roberts Court, after which the boundary would follow McKinnon Road to Lake Butler Boulevard. The divider goes west on that road until C.R. 535, which it moves north along until it follows Stoneybrook West Parkway to its end at Avalon Road. West of that intersection, virtually all houses south of Lake Avalon’s northern shore would be zoned for the relief school. “We hope we don’t have to touch them again for a long time,” Director of Student Enrollment Carol McGowin said. “For Option 1, 312 families support (it) while 151 do not. For Option 2, 299 families support (it) while 165 do not. For Option 3, 256 families support (it) and 206 do not. For Option 4, 93 families support (it) while 370 oppose it.” OCPS officials said all proposed options included considerations of balanced school populations, enrollment projections, demographics, free and reduced meals, English-Language Learners and Exceptional Student Education. The board will make its final decision at 4:30 p.m. March 8 at the Ronald Blocker Educational Leadership Center, 445 W. Amelia St., Orlando. Contact Zak Kerr at zkerr@orangeobserver.com.

Read about the MetroWest Elementary rezone at OrangeObserver.com

hole,” Germán said. “One of the other days, I marked every single native plant we wanted to keep. Most plants there were native, but we wanted to keep most of the rare ones.” Another rare species Germán observed was a tiny pigeon bearing even tinier chicks on the ground, he said. Most of the work was by hand, from the weeding to clearing logs and trash, which was mostly in September. The second phase, which was all about digging holes and planting seedlings, transpired in November to take advantage of cooler weather and avoid shock for the seedlings, Germán said. By the time those seedlings are a full-fledged forest, Germán might be twice his current age. But through the long project, he gained immediate benefits of friends and memories, he said. “It’d beautify the area — I think it’d look spectacular,” he said. “There was a lot of work and organizing, and I think that influenced many younger scouts in my group. … If I were ever to see my project 30 years from now … it would just grow.” Contact Zak Kerr at zkerr@orangeobserver.com.

The second option has a difference of children within State Road 429, Tilden Road and County Road 535 attending the relief school.

WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

Ocoee split on charter school Charter Schools USA reintroduced its plans at a community meeting after its contract to buy city land expired in October. ZAK KERR STAFF WRITER OCOEE District

1 Ocoee Commissioner John Grogan hosted a community meeting Feb. 8 at Ocoee City Hall to allow representatives of Charter Schools USA and its development team to present their case for a charter school on West Road, just east of Fountains West Shopping Center. CSUSA previously had received approval for a school at the northeast corner of the intersection of North Clarke and A.D. Mims roads, but its contract expired in October. Representatives presented a series of points about overcrowded public schools, students within the vicinity making up most of some charter schools’ enrollment, CSUSA design, traffic flow at CSUSA schools, security and surveillance measures, short construction time, CSUSA school ratings, test scores, property values near A-rated charter schools and a New York City study indicating more people want to live where they have more education options. CSUSA authorities said parents gave CSUSA a 95% satisfaction rating, with a recommendation of charter schools to their friends. But opinions from Ocoee residents at the meeting varied from glowing to scathing, with some uncertain, leading to many heated moments. One major concern resident Aly Verdasco raised was a series of sexual charges against CSUSA teachers regarding interactions with students. Representatives insisted the frequency of such incidences was blown out of proportion relative to what often happens in public schools. Resident Michelle Greco asked why CSUSA kept coming back to propose a school in Ocoee. CSUSA officials said they continued to see a need in Ocoee based on public schools being over capacity.

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2016

CSUSA PRESENTATION

The next meetings about this proposal were a Feb. 9 Planning & Zoning Commission meeting and a Feb. 11 presentation by CSUSA at Lakeshore Center. For more information, visit ocoee.org or call (407) 905-3100.

Multiple residents had misgivings about adding traffic to the area around West Road, especially given stacking and parking issues at CSUSA’s charter school in Hunters Creek. Developers said that would not be an issue for an Ocoee location, adding no school has lost its charter while under CSUSA management. On the subject of overcrowded public schools, an Orange County Public Schools official said charter schools’ average impact on lowering nearby public schools’ capacity has been 25 to 30 students, “not even a dent.” A resident disagreed, saying any mitigation helps in that regard. Another resident asked how CSUSA construction could take just 23 weeks when OCPS construction takes much longer. Officials said size and scale were a large part of the difference, and the same construction company tends to build CSUSA schools, making the work increasingly familiar to crews. A vote by show of hands near the end of the meeting, after many had cleared out, produced mixed results with a slight favor for the charter school. The school would have an ultimate capacity of 1,145 students. It would start with grades kindergarten through sixth, with seventh and eighth grades added as the original sixth-graders would progress. Contact Zak Kerr at zkerr@orangeobserver.com.

NEWS BRIEFS Local teen dies in shooting ORLANDO An accidental shoot-

ing has taken the life of a West Orange-area youth. Lavardo “Eljay” Fisher II, 13, was shot around 1 p.m. Feb. 7 while visiting relatives at the 4700 block of Spottswood Drive near Orlando International Airport in southeast Orlando. The local youth passed away Feb. 8. Orange County Sheriff’s Office is investigating, with initial reports suggesting the incident is being investigated as an accidental shooting. Fisher was a member of the Ocoee Bulldogs Junior Midgets football team.

Officers on leave after shots fired

OCOEE Ocoee Police Chief Charlie

Brown announced the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has been investigating an incident from Feb. 6 involving two Ocoee officers. Officers Carlos Anglero and Stephanie Roberts responded at about 12:55 a.m. to a 911 call from the 400 block of Belhaven Falls Drive, where someone was confronted and officers fired shots, Brown said. “Upon arrival, Officer Carlos Anglero and Officer Stephanie Roberts encountered an individual armed with a firearm and fired,” Brown said. “No one was injured.

service channel of Bright House Networks. Candidates for mayor include Rusty Johnson, was elected mayor in November 2015, and Jim Sills. Candidates for District 3 commissioner include Richard Firstner, Ronney Oliveira and Marc A. Price. Following introductions, the candidates will answer questions crafted by the West Orange Times & Observer’s editorial staff, as well as those from Ocoee residents and readers of the West Orange Times & Observer. The goal is to give Ocoee residents an unbiased, honest introduction to each candidate, their backgrounds and platforms, said West Orange Times & Observer Publisher Dawn Willis. “We are excited to partner with

the Woman’s Club to present this forum,” she said. “It will be a great way for all Ocoee residents to meet their candidates, learn about the issues and give them the knowledge they need to make an informed decision at the polls.” University of Central Florida and Valencia College political science professor Mark Logas will serve as moderator. Logas earned an associate’s degree in 1983 from Lake-Sumter State College, a bachelor’s degree in 1985 from the University of Central Florida and a master’s degree in 1990 from UCF. Only 17 votes separated Johnson and Sills in the November special election held to replace longtime Mayor S. Scott Vandergrift, who retired in July 2015. Johnson, a longtime city commissioner, has been an Ocoee resident since 1955. He retired from

It was later determined that the individual in the home was the actual homeowner. I contacted the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and requested they perform an independent investigation into the entire incident.” Agents will determine what events led to the dispatch of Anglero and Roberts to that street and why the encounter led to them firing into the home, Brown said. “Officer Carlos Anglero and Officer Stephanie Roberts, both eight-year veterans, will remain on administrative leave until the conclusion of the investigation,” he said. “Once the investigation is concluded and I have been provided with all the facts, I will take appropriate action.” No further information is available at this time.

Ocoee teen dies in one-car crash OCOEE Florida Highway Patrol

personnel continue to investigate a one-car crash Feb. 8 that killed a driver on Roberson Road. Jonathan Riley, 18, of Ocoee, was driving east around 3:08 a.m. on Roberson Road near Wesmere Parkway. Reports indicate his car left the road for an unknown reason, striking a power pole and then a tree before flipping over. Investigators do not believe alcohol played a role in the crash. No other person was involved.

CR I T T E R CO R NER Orange County Animal Services believes “Furever Love Is Priceless,” and is waiving all pet adoption fees during the month of February. When adopting a pet, you choose how much you would like to pay, and the payment will be accepted as a donation.

If you’re looking for a friendly pup, Kaluha might just be the dog for you. Kaluha (ID# A340445) is a 1-year-old dog who loves treats and belly rubs.He loves to run around and play but also enjoys relaxing. He has heartworm disease, but that condition is treatable.

Ocoee forum set for Feb. 24 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

WEST ORANGE TIMES &

the U.S. Postal Service and currently works at Gosselin Realty. Sills has lived in Ocoee since 1976. He is a current member of Planning & Zoning Commission and chairman of the Community Grant Review Board. Firstner, a resident of Wesmere, served as Ocoee’s fire chief for 14 years before retiring in 2009. Price, an author, speaker and entrepreneur, has been an Ocoee resident for more than 13 years. Oliveira, who also ran for the mayoral seat in November, will not be attending the forum, citing a pre-planned vacation. He works in the construction field and also serves as an assistant pastor at Fountain of Life Church. Both seats will be decided at the election Tuesday, March 16. Contact Michael Eng at meng@orangeobserver.com.

For more information, call (407) 836-3111 or visit ocnetpets. com.

IF YOU GO OCOEE POLITICAL FORUM WHEN: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24 WHERE: Ocoee City Hall, 150 N. Lakeshore Drive, Ocoee

HAVE QUESTIONS? The debate will feature questions from both the West Orange Times & Observer editorial staff and its readers. To submit a question for consideration, please email Executive Editor Michael Eng, meng@orangeobserver.com. Please include your name and address, as well as the name of the candidate to whom the question is directed.

Observer “If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.” Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944 Publisher / Dawn Willis, dwillis@OrangeObserver.com Executive Editor / Michael Eng, meng@OrangeObserver.com Design Editor / Jessica Eng, jeng@OrangeObserver.com Community Editor / Amy Quesinberry Rhode, aqrhode@OrangeObserver.com Senior Sports Editor / Steven Ryzewski, sryzewski@OrangeObserver.com Staff Writers Danielle Hendrix, dhendrix@OrangeObserver.com Zak Kerr, zkerr@OrangeObserver.com Jennifer Nesslar, jnesslar@OrangeObserver.com Advertising Executives Bill Carter, bcarter@OrangeObserver.com Kim Edwards, kedwards@OrangeObserver. com Cyndi Gustafson, advertising@OrangeObserver.com Creative Services Tony Trotti, ttrotti@OrangeObserver.com Andrés Tam, atam@OrangeObserver.com Customer Service Representatives Sarah Felt, sfelt@OrangeObserver.com Allison Brunelle, abrunelle@OrangeObserver.com

CONTACT US The West Orange Times & Observer is published once weekly, on Thursdays. It provides subscription home delivery. The West Orange Times & Observer also can be found in many commercial locations throughout West Orange County and at our office, 720 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden. If you wish to subscribe to the West Orange Times & Observer, visit our website, OrangeObserver.com, call (407) 656-2121 or visit our office, 720 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden.

TO ADVERTISE For display or digital advertising, call Cyndi Gustafson, (321) 239-3252, Kim Edwards, (407) 656-2121 or Bill Carter at (407) 656-2121. For Classifieds, call (407) 656-2121.

SEND US YOUR NEWS We want to hear from you. Let us know about your events, celebrations and achievements. To contact us, send your information via email to Michael Eng, meng@ OrangeObserver.com.

WEST ORANGE TIMES The West Orange Times & Observer (USPS 687-120) is published weekly for $29 per year ($40 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 West Orange Times & Observer, 720 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden, Florida 34787. Opinions in the West Orange Times & Observer are those of the individual writer and are not necessarily those of the West Orange Times & Observer, its publisher or editors. Mailed letters must by typed and include the author’s signature and phone number. Letters to the editor are subject to editing for space and grammar and become the property of the newspaper.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2016

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2016

A perfect match

“When I had gone through the testing to be his donor, I had to get to the mindset of, ‘I’m OK if he dies. I’m OK if I die. I’m OK if we both die’ — which would leave our 5-year-old daughter without parents. Which is an enormous depth of faith that it took to do this.

Debbie Nemeth’s husband, Michael, was going to die without a liver transplant. She was a compatible donor.

inter Garden resident Debbie Nemeth places her hand on husband Michael’s arm as she remembers the uncertainty of the day of surgery. The Nemeths will celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary this April, but there was a time when neither of them was certain they would live to see that day. On March 1, 2013, Debbie became a living liver donor for Michael, whose liver was failing and was certain to die without a transplant. Before the surgery began, she didn’t know if she would wake up. Doctors weren’t sure if Michael would wake up either. It was the ultimate act of love: Laying down her life in hopes that her husband would live. “It’s not really something you can ask people to do,” Debbie said. “It’s an enormous surgery that could kill you even though you’re otherwise healthy. It’s an enormous sacrifice of time, sacrifice of well-being, sacrifice of money.” LOVE FROM THE START

Discovering her boyfriend had Hepatitis C didn’t stop Debbie Pettitt from marrying him on April 8, 2006. Around 2011, Michael

Nemeth entered a drug trial to try to eliminate the Hepatitis C, a disease that affects the liver. The drug had an adverse effect on Michael, causing the Hepatitis C to attack his liver faster. His liver began to fail. The Nemeths went to the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona, where they lived at the time. Michael was told he needed a liver transplant. But he was going to die before he could get a liver from a deceased donor. He was given to four to six months to live if he didn’t receive a transplant. The clinic told him he was eligible for a living liver donor. The liver is an organ that regenerates, so the Mayo Clinic would take two-thirds of someone else’s liver and take his liver out and put those two-thirds in. Although Debbie wanted to be tested for eligibility from the beginning, doctors told Debbie that as Michael’s spouse, she was the last resort. She needed to be her husband’s caregiver, and she needed to be healthy for their daughter, Olivia, who was 5 at the time. They reached out to family and friends, asking if someone would be willing. Those who were willing called the clinic and were tested. The donor needs to have a compatible blood type,

— Debbie Nemeth

Michael, Debbie and Olivia Nemeth enjoy living in Horizon West, close to Disney World. Michael and Debbie Nemeth tied the knot on April 8, 2006.

be healthy and be between the ages of 18 and 55. Many of the people who volunteered were too old. The clinic realized there was no other alternative and tested Debbie. They also tested Michael to make sure it was even possible for him to survive a surgery, since he was in such a fragile state. The surgery was scheduled for March 1, 2013. Neither of the Nemeths knew if they would survive. “(There was) a lot of love,” Michael said. “When I had gone through the testing to be his donor, I had to

get to the mindset of, ‘I’m OK if he dies,’” Debbie said. “‘I’m OK if I die. I’m OK if we both die’ — which would leave our 5-yearold daughter without parents. Which is an enormous depth of faith that it took to do this. A big part of my head was telling me, ‘Don’t be stupid, Debbie, you’re the healthy one. Your daughter needs at least one parent. Stay healthy for her.’ But then the other part of me was saying, ‘How can you watch your daughter grow up and look into her eyes and tell her you didn’t do everything you could to try to save her dad?’ It came down to our faith in God.”

The Nemeths both woke from the surgery and decided they wanted to savor every moment of life. They took a celebratory trip to Disneyland. That trip led them to follow a dream to live close to Disney World, so they relocated to Winter Garden at the end of 2013. The experience of risking her life to give her liver has grown Debbie’s faith. “I think that’s just the biggest gift that I have received from this,’’ Debbie said. “Wait. No, no,” Michael interjected. “I received the biggest gift.” — JENNIFER NESSLAR

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WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2016

After all this time Dodi and John Geisler met through a series of letters when John was aboard the USS Raleigh, but they never admitted that they loved each other. JENNIFER NESSLAR STAFF WRITER HORIZON WEST

Dodi’s first contact with John Geisler was in the early 1990s, when she and her roommates were asked to write letters to Marines aboard the USS Raleigh on the Persian Gulf. When she got a letter back from John, she felt the connection instantly. “He was just really funny,” Dodi said. “We just started writing to each other, and it was really like a journal for both of us.” Dodi came to see John as one of her best friends, though they had never met in person. They had each other’s photos, and sent each other lifesavers, because they considered each other a “life-saver.” Once John told Dodi he hadn’t hugged anyone in two years, so she sent him a hug card. He told her he wanted six kids. When John returned to the United States, they began to speak over the phone. But soon after, his parents and family friends arranged a welcome-home party for him, where he was connected with a daughter of the family friends, an arrangement that made his parents proud. One day, Dodi received a call from John: He was getting married. “I remember hanging up the phone and crying,” Dodi said. “I was just so shocked and secretly kind of in love with him, and I remember my mom saying,

‘Doesn’t he know he’s supposed to marry you?’” As the years passed, Dodi entered into a marriage of her own, which was abusive. But she felt she committed and decided to stay with her husband. One day early on in the marriage, John called Dodi, telling her he was struggling in his marriage. She gave him the advice she had been telling herself: Stick with it. John realized as a married man, it wasn’t wise to continue to call Dodi. So for the next 13 years, they didn’t contact each other. After being with Dodi for 16 years, Dodi’s husband left her. Dodi began to clean out her closets to prepare for the divorce and discovered a stash of old letters from John. She decided to write him another letter, which ended up being 17 pages long. Single-spaced. John sent an email back, which opened with “Thank God He sent you back to me.” Dodi called him, learning his wife had left him. They began to get to know each other again over the phone. One day, John had a short layover in Dallas, where Dodi was living at the time. She drove to the airport and met him for the first time. “He was far more handsome than his pictures,” she said. “And we sat there and held hands. He showed me pictures of the kids, and we just ... kind of giggled.”

Keep your

SYSTEM

running great with a

Dodi and John Geisler with three of their children, Sophie Geisler, 4, Hanna Geisler, 3, and Zachary Geisler, 5. Jennifer Nesslar

“My advice to anyone is that, as a husband, what you put into your marriage, and what I put into (Dodi) is multiplied back to me. If I feel like I’m not getting anything, it’s because my attitude and the fact that I’m not giving anything. The more you give, the more get back.” — John Geisler

John had to go catch his flight and sent Dodi a text. You had promised me that hug 18 years ago on the Persian Gulf. They wanted to date one another long distance, but Dodi hesitated and relied on her faith in God to show her if it was even a wise decision. She prayed God would give her a sign, like their divorce decrees being signed on

the same day. On Feb. 20, 2009, they both unintentionally signed the papers on the same day. Their relationship moved quickly, and soon, they introduced their kids — John had three and Dodi had two. They married Aug. 11, 2009, at a courthouse, with a celebration for family friends following on Oct. 24. Blending the family together was a difficult time for the Geislers. “We both were in marriages that were just not healthy,” John said. “The kids suffered; each of us suffered. And then when we got together, it appeared almost as if we were starting to go down that same path again. And we woke up, and we handed it to God, and we realized that this was the way it was supposed to be.”

ONLINE

Dodi and John, now Horizon West residents, found peace for the first time in a marriage and began to follow God together. The peace stayed with them through more hard times, through sickness and the loss of a child. Dodi became pregnant four times in four years but miscarried one of the children. Together, the Geislers have eight children, the oldest, 21 and the youngest, 3. “My advice to anyone is that, as a husband, what you put into your marriage, and what I put into (Dodi) is multiplied back to me,” John said. “If I feel like I’m not getting anything, it’s because my attitude and the fact that I’m not giving anything. The more you give, the more get back.” — JENNIFER NESSLAR

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WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2016

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Police report auto burglaries — especially door-jiggling — have climbed above normal levels in a sharp January increase. ZAK KERR STAFF WRITER WEST ORANGE One

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•

Unlocked car thefts spike in West Orange

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of the most frequent pieces of advice police give is to lock doors, and although the reference is usually to homes, local residents should take note that it applies to cars, too. In fact, the only area municipality that has not seen a recent uptick in thefts from unlocked cars is Oakland, but Oakland Police Support Services Manager Stacie Quinn said that town still gets its share. “A number of them have been to vehicles that have been left unlocked,” Quinn said. “Any unlocked car in any municipality is certainly at risk.” This holds especially true for Winter Garden and Ocoee lately, where this crime called door-jiggling has risen noticeably. “They’re not breaking in as much, just opening doors left unlocked,” Ocoee Police Lt. Steve McCosker said. Although a spike in this crime is typical while children are out of school for their winter break — as Windermere Police Chief Dave Ogden attested to with a Decem-

“We can’t control people trying to do this. But people can control whether they lock their car doors.” — Ocoee Police Lt. Steve McCosker

ber spree there — McCosker said an unusual peak had lasted through January, when students had returned to their schools. Lt. Scott Allen, Winter Garden Police support services commander, said 59 cases of vehicle burglaries opened in the first month or so of 2016 in Winter Garden. Data suggest sprees of this sort are tied to more total auto burglaries than one-offs. “Of those 59, 11 ... were forced entry, with the rest involving unlocked vehicles,” he said. “Our agency made three arrests, two adult and one juvenile, on January 26, where the subjects were pulling on doors in the Promenade Apartments. When we responded to the call, three vehicles left the area, with two crashing into each other while leaving. We recovered a significant amount of property in this case.” Through the first week of February, suspects from 25 of those 59 cases had been identified. By comparison, Winter Garden police reported 11 vehicle burglaries from Nov. 26 to Dec. 30. Ocoee experienced a similar spike. From New Year’s Eve through Feb. 3, Ocoee police have had 51 cases of vehicle burglaries, compared with 18 in the fiveweek period beginning Nov. 26. Contact Zak Kerr at zkerr@orangeobserver.com.

Tickets are available at: City of Winter Garden 300 West Plant Street West Orange Times & Observer 720 S Dillard Street Winter Garden Heritage Museum at Plant Street

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Rain date is Sunday, March 20th

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2016

ARTS + CULTURE QUICK HITS THURSDAY, FEB. 11 NOISES OFF

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb.11 through Saturday, Feb. 13 and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14 at West Orange High School, 1625 Beulah Road, Winter Garden. The West Orange High School Theatre Department presents “Noises Off,” a Michael Frayn comedy that showcases a cast of itinerant actors rehearsing a show called “Nothing’s On.” As an adult comedy, the production is suggested for mature teenagers and adults; however, the show does not feature anything that wouldn’t be shown on television during prime time viewing. Tickets are $15 reserved, $12 general admission and $10 students. (407) 905-2400, Ext. 6162462.

Pride & Joy

Betty Fox’s first album “Too Far Gone” earned her recognition in the blues world.

FRIDAY, FEB. 12

RENDERGLOW 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12 at Todd English’s Bluezoo, 1500 Epcot Resorts Blvd, Orlando. Renderglow, an interactive music group based in Orlando, presents a performance that combines elements of funk, pop, reggae, Latin, jazz and dance. Free. (407) 934-1111.

SUNDAY, FEB. 14

JAZZ JAM 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14 at Pilars Martini, 146 W. Plant St., Winter Garden. Enjoy some jazz, hosted by master pianists Chris Rottmayer and Per Danielsson. Sign up before 5:30 p.m. for a chance to jam in the session yourself.

WINTER GARDEN BLUES AND BBQ WHEN: 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13. Betty Fox Band (4 p.m.), Damon Fowler Group (6 p.m.) and Selwyn Birchwood (8 p.m.) WHERE: Downtown Pavilion, 104 S. Lakeview Ave., Winter Garden

Damon Fowler’s interest in music started at family backyard barbecues he attended as a child.

Three Florida blues artists will take the stage at the Winter Garden Blues and BBQ Festival, which will feature barbecue, beer, wine and, of course, plenty of soulful sounds. JENNIFER NESSLAR STAFF WRITER WINTER GARDEN

RAVE OF THE WEEK

ring your lawn chairs to the Downtown Pavilion in Winter Garden for the

fifth annual Blues and BBQ Festival in the style of a backyard barbecue.

KIMBERLY RENEE HOLLAND “Rave and a huge thank you to Kim Varner Frey with Say Yes To The Cake! She did the smash cake and cupcakes for my grand daughter’s first birthday party today. Not only was it exactly what my daughter and I wanted, it looked perfect and tasted even better! Her customer service is second to none and I would not order from anyone but her!”

Local barbecue vendors will be selling their fare, and three Florida blues artists will take the stage. Beer and wine will be on sale as well. Admission is free, but bring some cash for Selwyn Birchwood returns this year to the Winter Garden Blues and BBQ Festival after a positive experience in years past.

barbecue, beer and wine.

SEE PAGE 11

WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2016

presented by

What a wonderful world

produced by

he Ocoee High auditorium was in full swing Feb. 6 during HAPCO Music Foundation’s Jazz Festival Performance. The performance, a tribute to legend Louis Armstrong, featured the Ocoee High Jazz Knights jazz band, directed by Bernie Hendricks, followed by the University of Florida Jazz Band, directed by UF Director of Jazz Studies Scott Wilson. Jazz vocalist LeNard Rutledge also made an appearance during a vocal piece with the Jazz Knights. Renowned jazz trombone artist and Yamaha artist Wycliffe Gordon performed alongside both bands, switching between the trombone and vocals.

Central Florida Regional Premiere

— DANIELLE HENDRIX

jan 29 - Feb 21, 2016

Renowned jazz trombone artist Wycliffe Gordon accompanied the Jazz Knights band for a piece.

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Ocoee High Director of Bands Bernie Hendricks conducted the Jazz Knights band.

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See more photos from the performance at OrangeObserver.com

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Valentine’s Day Party with Sydney. Sunday from 1P-4P • Crafts and goodies Decorate your favorite Great American Cookie starting at 2P It’s all at Sydney’s Reading and Learning Center located at Center Court

WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2016

Rhythm makers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

DAMON FOWLER GROUP

Sunday, Feb. 21st 190998

Selwyn Birchwood describes his music in four words: “electric funk swamp blues.” The 30-year-old artist returns with his band to play at the Winter Garden Blues and BBQ festival. Birchwood, who plays both the guitar and lap steel, is known for his signature afro and performing barefoot, which he said is just a comfortable way to be on stage. He plays in a four-piece band with a bass player, drummer and baritone saxophone player. He has also been told that he performs with a “revival tent preacher’s fervor.” “We try to have everyone included,” he said. “I hate going to shows, and you get so excited to go and you show up and the band is just standing there, staring at their feet, playing. We like to be more interactive than that.” Birchwood began to play guitar in his early teenage years, but quickly grew tired of playing what he heard on the radio. It wasn’t until he got a Jimi Hendrix record that he realized his passion was in blues. “The blues have such a breadth of sounds and styles,” Birchwood said. “I think a lot of people try to pigeon-hole a particular sound and say that anything outside of that isn’t blues, but I think that what people get drawn to about this music is just the realness of it, the storytelling, the raw emotion of it, and we try to incorporate that into our music, and incorporate a lot of energy into our live shows, and I think that’s what people seem to gravitate to.” Birchwood moved around as a child throughout the Orlando area. He started performing around the area when he was 17. During that time, he discovered a friend was a neighbor of Sonny Rhodes, and as soon as Birchwood heard his music, he asked if he could be introduced to Rhodes. It took about six months until he could meet up and play music with him, but the meeting was greater than Birchwood expected. “(Rhodes) looked over to his bass player who was listening too and smiled and just kind of stopped me halfway through and asked if I had a passport,” Birchwood said. “And I said, ‘Yeah,’ and he said, ‘Well, I’m going to take you on the road with me.’” He started touring all over the United States and Canada with Rhodes and his band and also began playing his signature instrument, the lap steel guitar. Birchwood now travels extensively with his own band, the Selwyn Birchwood Band. For the past two years, Birchwood has been under the Alligator Records label. The band won the 2015 Blues Music Award for Best New Artist from the Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tennessee.

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PRESENTS

BETTY FOX BAND

Every Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, Betty Fox’s family gathered around the piano to sing southern gospel music and tight harmonies. It was the place where Fox’s love of music was born. Her uncle would play the piano as the large family sang four and fivepart harmonies to “It is Well with my Soul” and “The Old Rugged Cross.” Fox became recognized in the blues world with her debut album “Too Far Gone.” In June 2015, she released a second album “Slow Burn.” In 2015, she was a representative of the Suncoast Blues Society. She was also a two-time winner of Creative Loafing’s Best of the Bay awards, an award given to talent in the Tampa Bay area, and a finalist in the International Blues Challenge.

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SELWYN BIRCHWOOD BAND

Damon Fowler grew up at his grandparents’ house, where they ran the family business, Fowler Septic Tank. His aunts and uncles worked for the business, and every Sunday they threw a barbecue. It was at those barbecues where Fowler listened to his uncles play guitar. “Some people throw ball,” Fowler said. “We played guitar.” An only child who suffered from asthma, Fowler took a liking to music. When the family business had a good year, his grandparents bought Fowler’s uncles new guitars. Fowler got one, too. “To get me out of their hair, here’s a cheap acoustic guitar,” Fowler said. “Which was cool. I wanted one.” At 14, Fowler picked up lap steel guitar. As he entered his years at Brandon High School, he began to play at bars. He never had a day job, but his gigs paved the way. When he was 17, he met Rick Derringer at a show at Mr. Pub in Bellview, Florida. Derringer was a member of The McCoys and later went on to produce Weird Al Yankovic and Cyndi Lauper albums, among others. Fowler was added to that list when he was 18. Derringer produced Fowler’s first album, “Riverview Drive,” in 1999. “Working with Rick was awesome,” Fowler said. Since then, Fowler self released “Roots and Branches,” in 2000, and “Live at Skipper’s Smokehouse,” in 2003. Fowler was signed to Blind Pig Records, an American blues independent label, in 2007. From there, he released three more records. The most recent is the 2014 “Sounds of Home.” Damon chose swamp blues master Tab Benoit to produce and record him at Benoit’s Louisiana home.

WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2016

Terry Howe completed the race in 54:05.

Diana Wenrich, left, Lynn Dorval, Cori Goldstein, Heather Ruhle, Blaire Harter and Katie Riley-Schwarz, all of the group West Orange Moms Run This Town, were ready to race.

BY THE NUMBERS 288

Winter Garden 10K

early 300 runners took to the streets downtown for the 2016 Winter Garden 10K. Hosted by Tri & Run of West Orange, the course began in historic downtown on Plant Street and took runners through the surrounding neighborhoods. Blaine Goodwin, 17, of Winter Garden, was the overall winner with a time of 38:07. He was followed by Patrick Sirois (38:16) and Trent Smith (41:24). The top female was Jessica Kennedy, who finished in 41:29. Second- and third-place females included Tiffany Roby (43:42) and Erin Lumpkins (44:11).

Participants

244

Finishers

38:07

Fastest overall time (Blaine Goodwin)

1:03:21

Average time of all participants

ONLINE

Carl Ollivierre finished seventh among all males.

See more photos at

OrangeObserver.com

Jessica Kennedy was the top female finisher. She posted a time of 41:29. Blaine Goodwin, 17, led the way with a time of 38:07.

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The family of Louie and Estelle would like to congratulate them on 70 years of marriage. They have two children, Billy Adams and Ann Adams Beeman. Three grandchildren: Kimberly Bulger (Brian), Angela Grey (Chris) and Anthony Adams. Seven great grandchildren: Jacob, Samuel and Sarah Bulger, Christine, Michael and Susie Grey and Rebecca Adams. We wish them many more years with their families.

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BR Dental is an In-Network provider with the following PPO Dental Insurance plans: Aetna, Cigna, Ameritas, BC/BS, Florida Combined Life, MetLife, Principal, United Concordia, Guardian, Humana, United Healthcare and Dentemax.

WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2016

Cupid’s Choice

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Visit: FoundationAcademy.net for details and to register. Those who register and attend an event will receive 50% off the application fee.

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OrangeObserver.com

WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2016

NO MORE FOOT OR ANKLE PAIN! Lake Bennet Medical Center 1151 Blackwood Ave. Ste. 120 Ocoee, FL 34761

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“I’M TOO YOUNG FOR THIS!”

John C. Carrozzella, M.D., ABAARM, FAARM

Keene’s Crossing teachers celebrated a win over Independence.

Just for kicks

eachers from Keene’s Crossing Elementary and Independence Elementary met Feb. 5 on the diamond at Braddock Park for the first Cougar/Eagle rivalry kickball game. Students and parents cheered from the sidelines as the teachers took to the field. At the end of the evening, Keene’s Crossing defeated Independence 8-4.

Chase Kozak, 7, Cannon Kozak, 5, Bella Taliaferro, 6, Sophia Taliaferro, 4, and Chloe Walker, 13, cheered for Independence.

— JENNIFER NESSLAR

More than 25 years of experience

407-545-5477 • www.hormonesandwellness.com 7575 Dr. Phillips Blvd. • Suite #370 • Orlando, FL 32819

Left: Hallie Robertson is a fourth-grade teacher at Independence Elementary.

Drew K. Butler 08/15/62 ~ 02/13/15

ONLINE

I was supposed to spend the rest of my life with you. And then I realized you spent the rest of your life with me. I smile because I know you loved me until your last breath here on Earth, And you will keep loving me until the day we’re together again.

See more at photos

OrangeObserver.com

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Come Join Our Support Groups for Alzheimer’s Dementia

Comever... o c s i D

Family support groups can be an inviting opportunity to gain strength and understanding through the difficulties of the aging process. Come join our following events:

Wednesday, February 24 at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 10 at 1:30 p.m. Assisted Living & Memory Care

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Always, Julie

Ella Swanson, 6, and Abby Mier, 11, cheered for Keene’s Crossing.

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WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

Clarcona Elementary School gets new name

AT A GLANCE Prairie Lake Elementary School Location: 8723 Hackney Prairie Road, Orlando Mascot: Panthers Colors: Purple, black and gold

The king cobra that spent part of last fall loose in West Orange County was suggested as a mascot for the school. Activities at the school were affected for almost two weeks while the cobra was missing. As a precaution, all of the portable classrooms were moved indoors. All outdoor activities were suspended, and PE and recess sessions were held indoors for nearly two weeks while the school worked with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to ensure the campus was safe. The snake was found underneath a clothes dryer in a home on Sawdust Circle, a street near the school. So why isn’t the school the Prairie Lake King Cobras? “There was a push for that, but I hate snakes,” Strenth said. “I’m not going to wear anything that has a snake on it.”

• Advanced K-5 curriculum measured one full grade year ahead of highest Common Core standards • Custom learning paths and low student/teacher ratios • State-of-the-art technology (Touchboards, Laptops, iPads) combined with hands-on exploration

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Inspiring creativity, critical thinking, character and leadership in every student. A+ PRESCHOOL + ELEMENTARY + PARTIES + AFTER SCHOOL + CAMPS

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The parents selected Prairie Lake, which is the name of a nearby park. “It’s something our students are familiar with, not only at school but also in the neighborhood,” Strenth said. The name change became official when the Orange County School Board approved it in January. Students also voted on a new mascot. Out of the Panthers, Pioneers and Owls, they overwhelmingly selected the Panthers. The school’s colors are now purple, black and gold. The new location offers some advantages, Strenth said. More students are able to walk to school, and the school has been able to offer more after-school activities for students and their families. The school now has nearly 15 different clubs, including a new chess club. “It’s important to me and to my teachers and my staff to have that identification with the school, that there’s more here than just, ‘Come into the classroom, do my classwork and leave,’” Strenth said.

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Attorney At Law • 407-656-5521 425 South Dillard St. • Winter Garden, FL 34787

• Wills/Advance Directives • Estates • Corporation/LLC • Commercial transactions • Divorce

• Landlord/Tenant • Real estate: Contracts, Closings, Short Sales, Deed in Lieu • And other matters

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time you drive by Clarcona Elementary School, you’ll notice the words “Prairie Lake Elementary School” on the side of the building. In the summer of 2013, Clarcona Elementary School moved from its former location on Damon Road to its current location at 8723 Hackney Prairie Road. At first, the school site was to be a temporary home for Clarcona Elementary, but after two years passed, Principal Robert Strenth discussed with the Parent-Teacher Association and School Advisory Council the desire to stay at the site and how to make the school better reflect the neighborhood. “When it started to look like we’d be able to stay rather than going back, that’s where the push came to, ‘Let’s make this school our school,’” Strenth said. The SAC and the PTA began to solicit ideas for a new name to better reflect the neighborhood. Most parents said that they supported a name change, and Prairie Lake, Hackney Prairie and Northwest all were proposed names.

• Preschool curriculum soars beyond ABC’s & 123’s into critical thinking, science, foreign language, music, art, character development, and more

Proudly serving West Orange County for over 35 years.

Contact Jennifer Nesslar at jnesslar@orangeobserver.com.

www.blairjohnsonlaw.com

You’re Invited!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2016 PRO-FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP CONTEST WINNER

2016 OCOEE CITY COMMISSIONER / MAYOR CANDIDATE FORUM

Fred Green of Winter Garden (not pictured) won the 2016 Football Championship contest sponsored by Mark’s Floors and the West Orange Times & Observer.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016 • 6:30-8:30PM at Ocoee City Hall in the Commission Chambers

Accepting on Fred’s behalf is is mother, Rose Green. Pictured center, she proudly displays the check and a copy of the newspaper. On the right is Mark Compston, owner of Mark’s Floors and on the left, Bill Carter, Sales Executive for the Observer Media Group.

150 N. Lakeshore Drive, Ocoee, FL 34761

Come meet the candidates and hear their views.

Mark’s Floors and West Orange Times & Observer would like to thank all the entrants who participated in the contest.

Candidates for Mayor: • Rusty Johnson • Jim Sills

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Candidates for District 3: • Richard Firstner • Ronney Oliveira • Marc Price

Arive Early. Seating Limited. Presented By...

Women’s Club of Ocoee

Questions will be formulated by the West Orange Times & Observer editorial staff and submitted by audience members, by phone or by email. Email questions to: meng@orangeobserver.com

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STAFF WRITER OCOEE The next

KING COBRA

Dillard St.

JENNIFER NESSLAR

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2016

Prestigious Private School for Preschool through Fifth Grade

Daniels Rd.

Now that the school will stay at its location on Hackney Prairie Road, its name is changing to Prairie Lake Elementary School.

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ROTARY CLUB OF LAKE BUENA VISTA The Rotary Club of Lake Buena Vista hosted newly elected Rotary International district governors from around the world at a recent meeting. The governors were en route to San Diego for training for 2016-17.

Serving Orange, Seminole & Osceola Counties. HHA# 299993681

WOODLAWN MEMORIAL PARK AND FUNERAL HOME

WEST ORANGE DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB

400 Woodlawn Cemetery Rd. • Gotha, Florida 34734

RESULTS FROM FEB. 4. N-S: 1. N. Fortin – S. Landis 2. B. Ballenger – B. Cox 3. S. Kmiec – M. Ryan 4. Y. Peabody – M. Voorhees 5. S. Horovitz – R. Austen; E-W: 1. P. Curatola – L. Madison 2. B. Shelton – M. Guthrie 3. H. Parker – M. Lesnik 4. B. and R. Blair 5. V. Oberaitis – J. Muzeni

407-293-1361

You. Your Neighbors. Your Neighborhood.

Todd DeGusipe

W E ST O RA N G E T I M E S &

“Because you care”

Observer

JOHN T. STEWART II

WEST ORANGE DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB Lois Dennis, director of the West Orange Duplicate Bridge Club, recently was surprised on her 91st birthday by her bridge players. Bob Binkley presented Dennis with a delicious red velvet cake with strawberries. Dennis has been directing the bridge game for more than 50 years. WINDERMERE GARDEN CLUB Windermere Garden Club meets at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, at Windermere Town Hall, 520 Main St., Windermere. This month’s meeting featured a presentation by a Disney horticulture expert on pests in the garden and how to control unwanted visitors. The club welcomes guests who are interested in gardening, flowers and plants. For more information, call Peggy, (407) 876-4239.

John T. Stewart II, 45, of Homosassa, Florida, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016 at his home. A native of Winter Garden, Florida, he was born Jan. 19, 1970, to John and Mary Ann (Stayler) Stewart. He was one of two children. John “Cowboy” Stewart, as he was known to many, moved to Homosassa in 1999 from his native Winter Garden and was a truck driver by profession, most recently with Lowe’s Corp. He loved to play golf, shoot pool and also loved the Chassahowitzka River and was of the Christian faith. He is survived by his parents, John and Mary Ann Stewart, of Homosassa; daughters, Amanda Brooke Stewart, of Mascotte, Florida, and Morgan Taylor Stewart, of Lakeland, Florida; sister, Charlotte Sims (husband Wesley), of Inverness, Florida; and granddaughters, Gracey Grimes, of Mascotte, Florida; and Skylar Howard, of Lakeland, Florida. A memorial service will be held in late spring. Arrangements by Wilder Funeral Home, Homosassa, wilderfuneral.com. ZENAIDA DEL ROSARIO ACIERTO, 83, of Ocoee, died Jan. 31, 2016. Woodlawn Funeral Home, Gotha. BILLY JOE BROGGLIN, 44, of Winter Garden, died Jan. 17, 2016. Waldon Professional Funeral & Cremation Services.

Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home Winter Garden

Celebrating 110 years in West Orange

INSPIRED DESIGN Read about our new look. Page 8

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

VOLUME 82, NO. 40

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ALL FIRED UP Winter Garden single mom Erin Akers has found her passion — firefighting.

West Orange High thespians dish up a spoonful of sugar.

AMY QUESINBERRY RHODE COMMUNITY EDITOR

PAGE 15

appelling down the side of a sevenstory building was easy for Erin Akers because she’s not afraid of heights, but confined-spaces training was a bit of a challenge for the Winter Garden resident, who is working toward becoming a firefighter.

YOUR TOWN ALUMNI MEET ON GRIDIRON

STORY ON PAGE 4

Two former West Orange Wildcats and West Orange Warrior football players competed in a recent SEC game. Garrett “Juice” Johnson is a wide receiver for the Kentucky Wildcats, and Sean Kelly is a punter for the South Carolina Gamecocks. With them is Eric Poole, who was one of their coaches during their Wildcats years.

www.DeGusipeFuneralhome.com

HISPANIC HERITAGE Ocoee is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month through Oct. 15. The month recognizes the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the United States. Motorists traveling on Clarke Road will see festive “Ocoee Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month” pole banners dotting the street. Viewers can tune in to Ocoee TV to watch a fourpart series titled “Latino Americans: The 500-Year Legacy that Shaped a Nation.” The show will air at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays on Channel 493, Bright House Networks.

Family owned & operated 1400 Matthew Paris Blvd. Ocoee, FL 34761

David Haynes

Erin Akers is nearly finished with her firefighting training, and then she’s hoping to get a position with a local fire department. She and her 6-year-old son, Liam, live in Winter Garden.

Parker Boudreaux chooses Notre Dame — much to the delight of longtime supporters of his school. SEE STORY ON 25

Car-show organizers search for new sponsor The Sept. 19 Cruz-N-Car Show in downtown Winter Garden might have been the last. ZAK KERR STAFF WRITER WINTER GARDEN Droves drove to the large parking lot on West Plant Street for what might have been the last Cruz-N-Car Show, a tradition each third Saturday of the month for about seven years. The longstanding sponsorship of the show from the Winter Garden Merchants Association ended recently, based on cost increases that caused the association to lose money with the show each

Courtesy photo

A lack of sponsorship has led to the possible finale of a monthly downtown Winter Garden car show fervently supported among community members.

ADVERTISE OR SUBSCRIBE TODAY! SEE CAR SHOW PAGE 4

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

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Sean O’Neill launched the Facebook group, Winter Garden — Rants, Raves and Reviews, 18 months ago. Story on 13.

(407)695-CARE (2273)

Maitland Sanford West Orange

RESULTS FROM JAN. 28 N-S: 1. B. Ballenger – B. Cox 2. J. DeLoach – N. Velden 3. M. and J. Chilton 4. Y. Peabody – M. Voorhees 5. M. and F. Schwartz; E-W: 1. S. and B. Binkley 2. B. Shelton – M. Guthrie 3. H. Parker – M. Lesnik 4. P. Curatola – L. Madison 5. L. and J. Pylman

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Serving the Orlando area since 1926.

WEST ORANGE OBITUARIES

WEST ORANGE WOMEN The West Orange Women will host its luncheon and meeting at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, at Bonefish Grill, 7830 Sand Lake Road, Orlando. The program for the luncheon is about American history and civics literacy by Randolph Russell, author of “American History in No Time.” Cost is $28. For reservations, contact Dottie Ansel, dotansel@ aol.com or (407) 258-8155 between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.

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Request our free, no obligation DVD: “Supporting Family Members with Dementia.”

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2016

407-656-2233 • www.baldwinfairchild.com 428 E. Plant Street • Winter Garden, FL 34787

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WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

CLUB HUBBUB

FEBRUARY 11, 2016

SIDELINES

SPORTS

West Orange junior Tyler Montes won his bracket at the Poinciana Invitational Jan. 30. Page 18

Warrior coach recognized After guiding the West Orange competitive cheerleading team to a fourth place finish in the Class 2A Large Coed division at the FHSAA State Championships Jan. 30 in her first year, head coach Alicia Light has been named the Metro Conference — West Coach of the Year.

WO softball off to fast start

Just like that, the West Orange softball team has raced out to a 4-0 start this spring. Following a 16-0 road victory over Edgewater Feb. 8, the Warriors have outscored their first four opponents by a total of 302. Other victories include 4-0 over Lake Brantley Feb. 5, 5-2 over East Ridge Feb. 3 and 5-0 over Eustis Feb. 2 in the regular season opener. West Orange will host Wekiva at 6 p.m. Feb. 11.

Windermere native wins Super Bowl

When the Denver Broncos hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy after winning Super Bowl 50, a Windermere native was among them. Olympia alum Trevor Siemian is the third-string quarterback for the Broncos, behind legend Peyton Manning and backup Brock Osweiler, and was on the active roster for Denver during the big game. The Broncos selected Siemian in the seventh round of last summer’s NFL Draft.

Squeeze looking for host families The Winter Garden Squeeze is seeking host families for the upcoming summer season. The Squeeze is entering its third year as a team in the Florida Collegiate Summer League. Host families take a player(s) into their home for the course of ten weeks during the season. Players arrive during the first week of June and generally stay through the second week of August (at the latest, depending on playoffs). For more, visit floridaleague.com/AboutUs/HostFamilies.aspx.

MEET THE EAGLES Steven Ryzewski

The Legacy High baseball team played its first preseason games Feb. 5 at Mount Dora Christian Academy.

For the first time, Legacy High gets to

PLAY BALL! The varsity baseball program is playing its first games this spring, with a group of athletes who are ready to lay the foundation for a first-class program.

STEVEN RYZEWSKI SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR OCOEE

he coach was so excited he woke up at 4 a.m. Arriving at Mount Dora Christian Academy Feb. 5 for a preseason doubleheader, the Legacy Eagles baseball team was the first of the four teams to arrive — by an hour. The Eagles are excited, you see, because those two preseason contests were the first two games for the program. Not

the first two games of the season, mind you — but the first two games in its existence. What that means is, for someone such as senior Daniel Matthews — a student at Hope Charter/Legacy High for eight years — playing real varsity baseball is no longer just a pipe dream. “It’s been pretty crazy — I was always one of those annoying little kids coming up to Coach (Jarrett) Wiggers, bugging him

The first varsity baseball roster for Legacy High School includes: Caleb Enright, Anthony Daniels, Miles Moyer, Simon Williams, Gabriel Chambless, Seth Hughes, Hilton Lamprecht, Gehrig Chambless, Christian Stiles, Daniel Matthews, Dylan Clinger, Brett Strayer and Jason Dennison. The head coach is Jack Chambless, with Athletic Director Jarrett Wiggers and Trent Hoppers serving as assistant coaches.

SEE LEGACY PAGE 19

Knights celebrate first state champion Victoria Jefferson’s state record-setting performance at the FHSAA Girls Weightlifting State Championships Feb. 6 etched her name in Ocoee High’s records as its first state champion. STEVEN RYZEWSKI SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

Steven Ryzewski

Victoria Jefferson shows off her state championship medal she earned Feb. 6 in Kissimmee.

When Ocoee High junior Victoria Jefferson stood atop the podium at the FHSAA Girls Weightlifting State Championships Feb.6 in Kissimmee, it was significant in several ways. The state champion in the 199-pound weight class for Class 2A, Jefferson topped the runner-up by 30 pounds with her combined lift of 435 pounds for her bench press and cleanand-jerk — a state record for her weight class. Her 250-pound bench press was also a state record. But, if you ask Jefferson, the best part of the experience was

OTHER COMPETITORS Laniya White, Ocoee: Fourth, 300-pound total (129-pound class) Anastasia Stults, West Orange: 200-pound total (101-pound class)

that the individual state championship she won this past Saturday was more than just a first for her — it was a first for Ocoee High School. Jefferson will forever be in the SEE OCOEE PAGE 18

WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK