There will be three chances to catch Encore! Performing Arts and St. Luke’s United Methodist Church’s HymnSong concert.
Performances will take place at 2:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16, at the church, 4851 S. Apopka-Vineland Road, Orlando.
In this celebration of the art of sacred music, Encore’s choir and orchestra, St. Luke’s Sanctuary Choir and featured soloists will come together to honor the beauty and history of the hymn.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit Go Full STEAM, which fill the opportunity gaps experienced by low-income youth who do not have access to critical enrichment activities. For tickets, visit bit.ly/42UWnTj.
OCOEE HOSTS
BLACK HISTORY MONTH CONTEST
In recognition of Black History Month, the city of Ocoee is holding its 20th annual Black History Month Essay Contest. The competition is open to fifth-grade students who attend Ocoee schools.
The theme for the essay contest is “100 Years of Unity.” Writers should be able to answer the following: As the city reflects on the past century, what is your vision for Ocoee and America for the next 100 years? How can you promote and encourage diversity and unity in your community?
The essay winners will be recognized at the Ocoee City Commission meeting March 4 at 6:15 p.m. The meeting will be broadcast on Ocoee TV Spectrum Channel 493 and a livestream at ocoee.org/
Area basketball teams prepare for playoffs.
Red carpet royalty
Recipe for success
Horizon High School students placed in the top three in various categories at the 2025 OCPS Culinary Competition. STORY ON PAGE 4A.
Lake Apopka fish kill likely attributed to weather
Florida Fish and Wildlife is awaiting test results to find out what caused thousands of fish to die in Lake Apopka last week. SEE PAGE 6A.
BEAR IN MIND: Wild visitor worries Oakland residents
Oakland residents reported damages to their property — and farm animals — after the black bear was seen roaming in different parts of the town last week. SEE PAGE 2A.
Courtesy photos
Right: Manuela Ferrer de Oliveira and Natalia Capucho took home first place for their tiramisu in the gourmet dessert category.
1B.
Left: The ProStart team made chicken teriyaki with bruleed pineapple; Thai chicken and vegetable noodles; and chocolate mousse with raspberry coulis and peanut butter dust.
Family Church hosted Tim Tebow’s Night to Shine. SEE PHOTOS ON 3A.
Windermere, Horizon West, Dr. Phillips
Have you seen Oakland’s black bear?
AMY QUESINBERRY PRICE
COMMUNITY EDITOR
Jeff and Maureen Jacobson returned home from an outing Saturday, Feb. 1, and found an unwelcome visitor in their backyard: a big black bear. It had yanked open their locked gate and killed one hen, Ellie Mae Clampet, and injured another. Escaping unharmed were Nixon, a blind peacock; Sonny the rooster; and the baby chicks.
Maureen Jacobson is an animal advocate who cares for injured creatures in the area. She said this isn’t the first time a black bear has been spotted in her neighborhood.
“We’ve seen them in the past but didn’t fear them,” she said. “This one is much more dangerous. It pulled open my padlocked gate (didn’t even read my no trespassing sign!) and let itself into my backyard.”
A black bear reported around the town of Oakland last week likely was foraging for a snack, but it left a path of destruction, knocking over garbage cans and fences along the way.
On social media, residents were sharing their bear stories, from Southern Oaks to Hull Island. It was captured on security cameras on Vandermeer Street, on Oakland
scared off the bear, sending it clambering over the fence, knocking out a few panels and breaking a fence light. Their chickens escaped harm because they were in a secure coop.
Maureen Jacobson attended last
week’s Meet with the Mayor event, held in conjunction with town staff and Police Chief Darron Esan, and she asked if someone could hold an educational class to learn to live with displaced animals. The town and police department liked the idea and will try to set something up.
ONP asked residents to be Bear Aware: “Remember, a fed bear is a dead bear!”
“It is really important to not let bears have access and be conditioned to easy food sources such as pet foods, garbage, barbecue grills and bird seed,” ONP shared in a Facebook post. “As bears become ‘food-conditioned,’ they are more likely to frequent residential areas and cause property damage to get these unnatural food sources.
“Thank you for helping keep this bear and other critters safe!”
FWC offered several bear-related suggestions for cohabitating with the animals and keeping people and pets safe.
Store pet and wildlife food sources in a garage or shed.
“Bears that obtain humansourced food can lose their natural fear of people and potentially become a public safety threat that may require trapping and killing,” according to FWC. “Relocating the bear is not a permanent solution, as another bear will find unsecured attractants.”
Bears typically are not interested in pets as prey, FWC said. Most petbear encounters occur when pets defend their owners, they are left unattended in a fenced yard or they are free roaming. If pets give chase to bears, bears will defend themselves and their young.
Bears generally avoid people and can be scared off by using sudden loud noises.
“It is typical for them to roam in search of food, and if they find easy sources — trash, bird feeders, etc. — they will stick around an area for a while but will move on if they have to keep searching,” O’Brien said.
She is working on a bear information program for town residents,
“The best thing we can do is become better educated on how to cohabitate with them and other wildlife in our area,” Maureen Jacobson said. “It is destroying property bear had not been observed on any of the trail cameras.
“Please secure all trash in your garage or shed, and remember, put out trash the morning of pickup rather than the night before.
“While there has never been a black bear attack resulting in a fatality on a human in Florida, we would like to take this opportunity to remind people to be Bear Aware while continuing to enjoy the trails in and around the area, keep pets leashed and under direct
Livestock is attractive to Florida’s wild predators, including bears. Appropriate enclosures, safety precautions and proper feed security will keep your investment safe from loss due to wildlife.
Instead of installing feeders, consider creating food plots for wildlife.
“Florida has an established bear population,” FWC officials said. “Our goal is to help alleviate human-bear conflicts and help residents live in unison with the growing human and Florida
tiative in working toward an
Courtesy image
Images of the bear wandering through the Williams property on Oakland Avenue were shared on social media.
Kings, queens crowned at Tebow’s Night to Shine
Kereece Dare and Renne Ennis walked into Tim Tebow’s Night to Shine rocking matching dresses.
The two have been attending Night to Shine together for eight years. Last year, they both wore hot pink, but for this year’s dance, Ennis said they wanted to step it up.
Ennis started dress shopping and found two pink dresses from Jamaica for them to wear to the dance on Friday, Feb. 7, at Family Church of Windermere.
“(Dare) loves dancing, and I love dancing,” Ennis said. “We love Jesus. Having dinner is a plus. I love that she’s announced a queen and has a limo ride and walks down the red carpet. She’s one of a kind, and I love that they celebrate that.”
Tim Tebow Foundation’s Night to Shine is a worldwide event dedicated honoring individuals with special needs, ages 14 and older.
— LIZ RAMOS
Leanne Cimato, Krista Rogers, Kaleb Moore, Lauren Worley, Lisa Jimenez and Kathy Tortorici had a blast and took selfies to commemorate the night.
Above: John Foster and Lauren Clark were met with applause as they entered the dance.
Right: Sara Core and Jessica DeJesus struck a pose as they entered Night to Shine.
Anne Fulton and Jeffrey Migliori had smiles on their faces all night.
Kereece Dare and Renee Ennis rocked matching dresses at their eighth Night to Shine.
Above: Annette Moore and Christopher Montgomery made their way onto the red carpet. Moore said Night to Shine “is a beautiful thing” for everyone involved.
Left: Brittany Swan received a big hug from Keaton Royal.
Horizon students impress at district culinary competition
Editor and
ON THE COMPETITION
MENU
PROSTART
n Chicken teriyaki with bruleed pineapple
n Thai chicken and vegetable noodles
n Chocolate mousse with raspberry coulis and peanut butter dust
Students: Ron Butkus, Jaden Blanco, Brooks Kelley, Autumn Cannon and Summer Hudson
GOURMET DESSERT
n Bananas foster crepes
Students: Amity Warren, Alex Mihaylov
GOURMET DESSERT: FIRST PLACE
n Tiramisu
Students: Manuela Ferro De Oliveira and Natalia Capucho
GOURMET MEAL
n Tuna tartar with wonton chips
n Lamb chops with Pomme puree
Students: Brooklyn Travis, Liam Hammer and Marcos Binns De Campos
GOURMET MEAL: THIRD PLACE
n Ham and cheese pastel with Molho a brasileira
n Steak tips over creamy polenta, buttered carrots and an herb sauce
Students: Manuela Passini, Julia Costa and Isadora Dias
EDIBLE CENTERPIECE:
FIRST PLACE
n Floral display out of fruit and vegetables consisting of oranges, strawberries, leeks, blueberries and kale
Student: Mei Werner
WAITERS RELAY: FIRST PLACE
n Students: Ana Herrera Arellano, Sofia Betulu and Laura Gonzalez
KNIFE SKILLS Student: Ayden Vivas
LIZ RAMOS SENIOR
EDITOR
Creating the perfect gourmet meal takes trial and error.
That’s a lesson Horizon High School juniors Isadora Dias and Julia Costa and sophomore Manuela Passini-Menes learned while preparing for the 15th annual Orange County Public Schools Culinary Competition.
There were dozens of decisions that had to be made — from what they wanted to make to what ingredients would taste best in the dish to how to prepare the food in a timely manner.
One of the meal ideas was a vinaigrette with filet mignon, but they determined making the vinaigrette would take too long. Then they decided the meat wasn’t the right option.
In the end, the meal that made them say, ‘This is what we’re serving the judges,’ was a ham-and-cheese pastel with Molho a brasileira along with steak tips over creamy polenta, buttered carrots and herb sauce.
After the meal was decided, the next step was perfecting the dish.
One day, the pastel they made didn’t go as planned — they burned it. Another time, they forgot to put salt in the dough.
But in the end, the girls’ determination to push past every recipe change helped them to find the perfect ingredients to make a gourmet meal to their satisfaction at the competition.
Dias, Costa and Passini-Menes were among several Horizon High School culinary students who saw success at the Thursday, Jan. 30, competition, at which the Hawks battled both high school and postsecondary students.
Mei Werner placed first in edible centerpiece, and Manuela Ferro and Natalia Fontana placed first in gourmet dessert.
Tiffany Rogers, a culinary teacher at Horizon High, said she was impressed with her students. Many of them are in Culinary Level I, a beginner class focused on the fundamentals.
“For them to take it to the next level, they really had to commit the time themselves and really be interested in taking those challenges and failing and then trying it again,” she said.
As first-time competitors, Costa said her team wasn’t expecting to place. Their goal was to have fun and
learn from the chefs at the competition. To their surprise, they placed third for gourmet meal.
Costa said being in the competition felt like she was on “MasterChef” or any cooking competition show. Although the team was nervous, the excitement and adrenaline of the competition kicked in, as well. They looked at the teams around them to see their progress and compare other teams’ meals to their own.
Passini-Menes said the team’s strategy for staying calm was to pretend they were back in the kitchen at Horizon High School and it was any other day of practicing their meal.
When the results of the competition were announced, Passini-Menes said the girls cried.
“We were so happy, because we really thought we were going to lose; we thought the judges wouldn’t like the food,” Passini-Menes said.
Being able to interact with culinary judges from around the area gave the students an opportunity to potentially find future employment, Rogers said.
TABLE SERVICE
The culinary competition was not only about food.
Seniors Ana Herrera Arellano, Sofia Betulu and sophomore Laura Gonzalez trained for two months to prepare for the Waiters Relay at the competition.
As a freshman, Herrera Arellano competed in dessert followed by gourmet meal her sophomore year, but this year, she wanted to try something new, which was Waiter Relay.
As a senior who has competed in two other OCPS Culinary Competitions, Herrera Arellano said this year’s competition was bittersweet. She realized on competition day that it was the last time she would be able to compete and represent Horizon High.
“Every little thing I did was like, ‘Oh my God, it’s my last time doing this,’” she said.
The relay consisted of the girls professionally setting up a table for an upscale restaurant.
The competition was a team effort. Betulu said each of them practiced to ensure they wouldn’t let their teammates down.
Preparing for a competition like this came down to determining their respective strengths and repetitive
practice to be able to set the table as quickly as possible. They changed the order of operations just to shave precious seconds off their total time. They initially had a goal of setting up their table in three minutes, but they realized their goal wasn’t realistic and adjusted it to under four minutes.
Betulu was responsible for setting up the tablecloth and plates, while Gonzalez was responsible for the cups and silverware.
Herrera Arellano was responsible for the napkin-folding. She practiced enough to master the pyramid napkin fold, lily napkin fold and envelope napkin fold.
“For me, that meant practicing quite a lot and trying to make sure I was able to, one, master the folding and, two, to do it in a time that wouldn’t bring my whole team down because they also depended on me,”
Herrera Arellano said. “It wouldn’t be fair for them to do everything quick and good, and then for me to take forever doing the napkin fold. I really took my role seriously.”
Not only were the shapes of the napkins difficult to learn, but also she had to take into consideration the napkins weren’t symmetrical squares. As a result, there would always be spots in the fold that “wouldn’t look good to the eye,” she said.
“You have to make it look nice, even though the napkin is not the best quality for it,” Herrera Arellano said.
“But that ended up working in our favor, because at the competition, the napkins we got were very similar, so I already knew how to handle a napkin that’s not ideal for folding.”
Although they were nervous at first at the competition, the adrenaline kicked in once they started.
Herrera Arellano, Betulu and Gonzalez finished setting up their table at the OCPS Culinary Competition in three minutes, 30 seconds.
“We were very proud of ourselves when they told us our time,” Herrera Arellano said. “When we saw the end result of our table, in our opinion, it looked very good.”
The team placed first overall, which inspired them to put in the effort to progress even more before their next competition in March. They plan to aim for a lower time and improve on the details of their table set-up.
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Steak tips over creamy polenta with buttered carrots and an herb sauce were served along with a ham and cheese pastel with Molho a brasileira.
Mei Werner took home first place for her edible centerpiece, which was a floral display made out of oranges, strawberries, leeks, blueberries and kale.
Courtesy photos
The Waiter Relay team of Ana Herrera Arellano, Sofia Betulu, Laura Gonzalez practiced for two months to prepare for the OCPS Culinary Competition.
Windermere candidates tackle town issues at forum
The town hosted a Candidates Night Forum to give residents an opportunity to hear directly from the five Town Council candidates.
SENIOR EDITOR
Windermere residents last week had the opportunity to hear from five candidates vying for spots on the Windermere Town Council.
The town of Windermere hosted a Candidates Night Forum Thursday, Feb. 6, at Town Hall to give candidates an opportunity to share their views of the town and what they would do if elected.
Candidates Mandy David, Tony Davit, Frank Krens, Jessica Lee and Tom Stroup all were present at the forum, which the West Orange
Topics covered in the forum included the candidates’ skills and capabilities they would consider to be an asset to the town; what they considered the top challenge facing the town and how they would address it; what they believe the town has done right in recent years; what the town could have done better in recent years; their main priorities; and how they would ensure residents stay informed and engaged.
After questions from the moderator, residents also had an opportu-
nity to ask questions.
Residents wanted to know where the candidates stood on the boathouse issue. In September 2024, the town of Windermere approved a resolution to authorize the town attorney to proceed with a lawsuit filed against occupants of the boathouses. The issue stems back to 1986.
Davit, Krens and David all said they simply want the issue to be resolved, but it’s up to the courts to decide the result of the issue.
“I don’t care what happens as far as determination of ownership — whether it’s the residents of the boathouses or the town,” Davit said.
“What I don’t want to happen is for my kids to be sitting on Town Council in 20 years trying to resolve the same issue. I want it to be resolved.”
Lee questioned the legality of the original lease of the boathouses.
“We all know that if you can’t prove ownership of something, you can’t then go and write a lease for that property, and so we need to figure out if that original lease was actually valid in the first place, because if it wasn’t valid in the first place, this entire thing goes away,” she said.
Stroup said he wished the matter would have been resolved before going to trial, but now that it is, he hopes everyone can be amiable regardless of the result.
Another resident posed a question regarding the restrooms planned close to Town Hall and adjacent to the town’s ADA parking spots near Town Hall. Residents wanted to know if candidates would consider a different location.
The council approved the Town Hall renovations and restroom construction at its Dec. 19 meeting.
Lee said she would be open to changing the location of the bathrooms “as long as it is in a centralized location” so people going to shops or restaurants or going for a walk can access them easily.
Stroup, David and Davit said they all like the location of the restrooms, because they are easily accessible from the parking lot, close to the handicap parking spaces and can’t be seen from the front of Town Hall.
Davit said “a lot of design dollars” already have been spent on the project and “taking a step back would just be a waste of that.”
Residents also asked whether can-
GO
WINDERMERE TOWN COUNCIL ELECTION
WHEN: Tuesday, March 11
WHERE: Windermere Town Hall, 520 Main St., Windermere
CANDIDATES: Frank Krens and Jessica Lee and incumbents
Mandy David, Tony Davit and Tom Stroup SEATS AVAILABLE: Three
didates support making the traffic flow through town easier or if there should be deterrents to discourage more traffic.
Stroup said the solution to noise and traffic is dependent on every driver as well as education and awareness.
David said although she selfishly wants to make it harder for drivers to come through Windermere, it’s not realistic.
“We’re going to have to figure out a way to make it an ease of flow, because I just don’t think realistically we’re going to be able to say, ‘Go the other way,’” she said. “I would love to be able to do that, but I think we need to have some more discussions and figure out the ease of going through town versus making it more complicated for all of us.”
Davit suggested rather than making it easier or more difficult to drive through town, the solution is getting traffic out of town. He said the town should work with its municipal partners, MetroPlan Orlando, Orange County and surrounding areas to get traffic out of Windermere.
“We can sit here and contemplate solutions all day long, but until we get traffic counts down entering town and leaving town, it won’t matter,” he said.
Krens said the town should find ways to discourage people from traveling through Windermere to limit the traffic in town, such as educating people on other paths to travel.
“We don’t want to stop traffic, but we also don’t want to encourage more,” he said.
Lee said the town should find ways to deter more traffic, such as using blue lights around town, but the town also should make the flow of traffic easier.
LIZ RAMOS
Chamber of Commerce moderated.
David, Davit and Stroup currently serve on Town Council.
Liz Ramos
Windermere Town Council candidates Mandy David, Jessica Lee, Tom Stroup, Tony Davit and Frank Krens voiced their thoughts and hopes for Windermere during a Candidates Night Forum.
METHODIST
First United Methodist www.fumcwg.org 125 N. Lakeview Ave., Winter Garden (407) 656-1135
Services: 9 AM Traditional 10:45 AM Contemporary Also viewable on YouTube
First Baptist Church @ Horizon West 15304 Tilden Road, Winter Garden
Sundays: 9:45 AM All Ages www.FBCWG.org
Starke Lake Baptist Church
Pastor Jeff Pritchard PO Box 520 611 W Ave., Ocoee (407) 656-2351 www.StarkeLakeBaptist.org
Victory Baptist Church & Christian Academy 1601 A.D. Mims Rd, Ocoee FL 34761 (407) 656-3097 www.VBCOCOEE.com
Sunday: 11AM & 6 PM Wednesday: 7 PM
Is weather to blame for lake fish kill?
AMY
QUESINBERRY PRICE COMMUNITY EDITOR
Thousands of dead fish were found floating on the surface of Lake Apopka starting Jan. 31, prompting several state agencies to conduct tests to try to find the cause.
Officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission pulled dead fish out of the lake for testing Monday, Feb. 3, and still are waiting for the results. The Department of Environmental Protection and the St. Johns River Water Management District were conducting tests on water samples from the lake. The three agencies are collaborating on the investigation.
Friends of Lake Apopka reported the fish kill on its Facebook page Feb. 4 and said it would pass along new information as it is received.
Joe Dunn, FOLA board member, would not speculate on the cause “of this very heartbreaking fish kill, but we should let the knowledgeable scientists at SJRWMD, FWC and DEP thoroughly investigate before we rush to judgment,” he said. “This is not a simple thing to explain.”
Residents have been complaining about the stench emanating from the lake, and several said the smell was so bad their children couldn’t play outside. Folks have been speculating on what happened, blaming algae blooms, cold weather and herbicides.
Piles of dead fish were reported on the lake’s shores at the Oakland Nature Preserve, as well.
“This fish kill is very unfortunate,” ONP Director Nicole O’Brien said. “A couple of theories are being explored. First is a harmful algal bloom of bluegreen algae called microcystis. An algal bloom was reported near Newton Park in Winter Garden in December. We have not observed visual evidence of a bloom near our dock. A (harmful algal bloom) produces toxins that harm the fish and also can cause low dissolved oxygen by blocking sunlight.
“Another theory is that there was a dramatic change in water temperature, which was recorded at data recorders in different parts of the lake,” O’Brien said. “Florida had an extended period of cold weather in January — the coldest January since 2010. Water temperature usually lags air temperature a little, so the water would have remained cold through the end of January. We then seemed to have a significant temperature increase. A dramatic fluctuation in the temperature can cause a shock to the fish, resulting in a die-off.”
Andrew Marbury, a fisheries resource biologist for the Harris Chain of Lakes for FWC, said his agency has been busy trying to get answers.
FWC also looked for physical abnormalities in the fish.
He said officials were waiting on the results of the toxin testing. SJRWMD is running the water analyses.
“We do have water-monitoring stations on Lake Apopka, and we were able to pull information from that,” Marbury said. “We saw, for the most part, sufficient water quality … so dissolved oxygen not being the driving factor behind this is likely.”
FWC collected data regarding water temperature, as well.
“We were able to see drastic changes in water temperatures over the last two weeks,” Marbury said. “With those two cold fronts we had … Jan. 21 through 24 sometime, we had water get down to about 47 degrees or so, and that’s really cold for Florida. It can kill off species that are exotic, like tilapia, but it also can cause stress to other species that are here in the lake. So that’s something we’re looking at as well.”
The fish kill wasn’t limited to any one species. Marbury reported the affected fish as bass, gizzard shad, blue gill, crappie, tilapia, gar and catfish. The dead fish will not be removed from the lake, he said.
“Generally, nature will run its course and they’ll start to decompose,” he said. “Birds and other fish species and other aquatic animals may end up getting rid of those.”
“We started to get the reports in small amounts probably Friday, Jan. 31, and into that weekend, and that’s really when we saw the bulk of this fish kill happen — from Jan. 31 to about Feb. 2,” Marbury said. “Most of those reports were centered on the southern shoreline of the lake … Winter Garden all the way up to Montverde area. … It was a pretty extensive size event.”
St. Johns and DEP took water samples to look at algae concentrations and toxins in the water, Marbury said.
Some residents were concerned other animals would die if the cause of the dead fish was herbicides, but Marbury responded to that theory:
“During this entire two-week period, we do not have any birds, amphibians or other animals (affected), and no other fatalities have occurred.”
The agencies are hoping to receive the testing results this week.
“We don’t see this extent of a kill very often,” Marbury said. “The seasonality of it is also different because it happened in the winter. Most freshwater kills happen in the warmer months, in the summer. It’s definitely odd in that aspect, and the extent to which we’ve seen this fish kill is definitely not something we’ve seen in recent years at all.”
Courtesy image Oakland Nature Preserve director
Nicole O’Brien took photos at the ONP pavilion on Lake Apopka after reports of floating dead fish.
Olivia Marchitelli watched her father, Dante Marchitelli, get his nails done at the Hammer & Nails station at the second annual Daddy-Daughter dance.
The nail station was one of several activities Olivia Marchitelli, who is 11, enjoyed with her dad and 9-year-old sister, Allison Marchitelli, during the dance on Friday, Feb. 7 at Windermere Town Hall.
Olivia Marchitelli said she loved the event and had so much fun with her dad.
The Daddy-Daughter dance included a deejay, sweet treats, photo opportunities, raffle, nail painting, face painting and temporary tattoos.
— LIZ RAMOS
Isla Humpsch, 3, took a photo to commemorate the Daddy-Daughter dance with Dieter Humpsch and 5-year-old Everleigh Humpsch. “It’s nice watching them let loose and explore,” Dieter Humpsch said.
Above: Rick Chandoke attended his first Daddy-Daughter dance with his daughter, 4-year-old Frankie Chandoke. “It’s a lot of fun,” he said.
Left: Amia Kelly showed off her dance moves.
Left: Stella Pantozzi, 2, was hard to keep up with during the dance, but Paul Pantozzi had fun following her as she explored.
Matt Hauschalter took a photo with his 3-year-old daughter Olivia Haushalter and 4-year-old Layne Siviglia and her father, Josh Siviglia.
Meet Oakland’s newest commissioner
Kris Keller is a world traveler. But she knows there’s no place like home, and she is ready to represent the residents.
AMY QUESINBERRY PRICE
COMMUNITY EDITOR
Kris Keller is a world traveler and has taken vacations to some amazing destinations, but she is just as content spending her time in her favorite place — the town of Oakland. Keller was sworn in as the newest member of the Oakland Town Commission at the Jan. 28 meeting, the same night she was selected from a candidate pool of seven following former Commissioner Rick Polland’s resignation.
The five-year Oakland resident grew up in Nebraska and lived for many years in the Orlando area before she discovered West Orange County when a friend invited her to dinner on this side of town. She bought a bicycle so she could ride the West Orange Trail and eventually moved to the Longleaf at Oakland neighborhood because of its proximity to the trail and to the Florida’s Turnpike, which was handy when she had a job that required frequent travel.
“It’s this perfect little (area),” Keller said. “Even though you’re close to anything you need to get to, you’re still insulated by this little town of Oakland. … It feels like this perfect little niche carved out of the chaos around us.”
GETTING INVOLVED
Keller’s initial experience with town politics was at the 2024 Oakland Heritage Day event, when she noticed attendees wearing T-shirts supporting the two candidates running for the mayor’s seat in the municipal election. She met and spoke to one of the candidates at the festival and later
met the second candidate over coffee.
That’s all it took to get her involved, she said. She attempted her first foray into town service by applying for another seat vacated when that commissioner ran for mayor. She was not selected to fill the seat, but she was not deterred and applied to serve on the Planning & Zoning; she was named an alternate.
She began attending all of the P&Z meetings, as well as Town Commission meetings, to learn as much as she could about the town’s processes. She respectfully questioned the commission on issues and tried to make fair, common-sense comments, she said. It was the perfect time to get more involved after she had stepped away from her longtime national sales career in commercial flooring.
“I needed to change my life and make my life more about my life,” Keller said. “Knowing that I didn’t have my big career holding me back … I felt freed up to apply again (and) submitted an application again.”
Keller said she became interested in serving on the commission after attending several meetings and listening to the topics discussed.
“I wanted to see some representation of some newer residents,” she said. “It’s wonderful the history and the people who have made this town their home for a long time — but we’ve got new neighborhoods. … I just thought it would be nice to have a perspective of the newer residents in town. But I also think it’s important to respect why we all moved here and the loveliness of this town. … This is
my home, and I saw an opportunity to serve the town and felt strongly about doing it.”
Keller was appointed to serve the remainder of the term vacated by Polland at the end of 2024. Her seat will be up for reelection in March 2026, meaning she has about a year at the commission table this term.
Her goal is to find the right balance of commercial for the town “in keeping with what we want our town to be, what supports our town financially,” she said.
“It’s really important to all of us that we maintain why we all moved here and what we love about the area, and I think it’s critical for the town to have a tax base to contribute to supporting that,” she said. “We have gone to a very small town to a bigger small
town with the population, and we do need things to serve the town, but we need the funds to continue to provide the services we need, and that will come from the commercial development and the residential projects that are underway currently without losing our identity.”
ACTIVE PASSPORT
When Keller isn’t playing paddleball, biking or spending time with her 11-year-old lab-pit mix, Finn, she is an experienced traveler who has seen spots all around the globe, frequently by taking Viking cruises. She has been to more than 20 countries and has a cruise planned from Venice, Italy, to Athens, Greece, in December.
“I also think that going to other places — like I went to Egypt right after the Arab Spring (uprising and rebellion) — going to a country that’s fighting for their own democracy and seeing how people in other cultures live and experiencing other cultures, it’s really easy to take for granted that we do live in such an amazing place,” she said. “I think it makes me a wellrounded person.”
Just as she is open to experiencing other cultures, lifestyles and opinions when traveling, she’s ready to hear from residents and find out what they want in the town.
“It’s finding that balance of what works for the town, what works for the residents, what works as best as it can for the most people,” Keller said. “I will continue to be thoughtful in my comments and remarks. We did it on the P&Z — when people show up, what can we take what they’re asking for and marry it with what is best for the town?
“I want us to be thoughtful in everything we do, in decisions we make,” Keller said. “I try to be respectful of people, I try to be an honest person, and I try to conduct myself that I don’t have any regret. … I just hope I will contribute to continuing to make this little town the amazing town that it is.”
Amy Quesinberry Price
Kris Keller served as an alternate on Oakland’s Planning & Zoning Board before representing the town as a commissioner.
Jason Cannon, center, of Cannonfire Photography, brought his kids, Dylan and Ashlyn, to sell cookies and Valentine’s Day creations they made by hand.
Left: Earl Massey, of Earl’s No Mumbo Jumbo Chili, is a familiar face — and a favorite — at the Central Florida Chili Cookoff.
Above: Legacy Events for Education served up organization President David Terry’s pulled pork chili.
Left: French Family Foundation founders Jason and Kelly French were excited to participate
Florida Chili Cookoff.
Cannon | Cannonfire Photography Chili Cats won first place in the Show category.
Ahome in the Golden Oak community in Southwest Orange topped all West Orange-area residential real-estate transactions from Jan. 27 to Feb. 2.
The home at 10242 Summer Meadow Way, Golden Oak, sold Jan. 27, for $14,500,000. Built in 2017, it has seven bedrooms, seven baths, three half-baths and 9,254 square feet of living area. Days on market: 58. The sellers were represented by Ken Pozek, The Pozek Group.
These are the highestselling homes in each community in West Orange.
DR. PHILLIPS
BENTLEY PARK
The home at 9350 Bentley Park Circle, Orlando, sold Jan. 29, for $1,637,000. Built in 1995, it has four bedrooms, four-and-one-half baths and 6,003 square feet of living area. Days on market: 261.
EMERALD FOREST
The home at 10319 Emerald Woods Ave., Orlando, sold Jan. 31, for $1,050,000. Built in 1998, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 3,117 square feet of living area. Days on market: 17.
NORTH BAY
The home at 5707 Argosy Court, Orlando, sold Jan. 30, for $645,000. Built in 1985, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 2,089 square feet of living area. Days on market: 61.
ORANGE TREE COUNTRY CLUB
The home at 6648 Parson Brown Drive, Orlando, sold Jan. 31, for $675,000. Built in 1979, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,918 square feet of living area. Days on market: Six.
The home at 6517 Parson Brown Drive, Orlando, sold Jan. 29, for $650,000. Built in 1980, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,964 square feet of living area. Days on market: 126.
RESERVE AT VISTA CAY RESORT
The condo at 4012 Breakview Drive, No. 405, Orlando, sold Jan. 31, for $585,000. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,256 square feet of living area.
ST. IVES
The home at 7712 Hidden Ivy Court, Orlando, sold Jan. 30, for $875,000. Built in 1990, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 3,109 square feet of living area. Days on market: Three.
The home at 5106 Wood Ridge Court, Ocoee, sold Jan. 30, for $304,000. Built in 1989, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,601 square feet of living area. Days on market: Eight.
VINEYARDS
The home at 517 Zinfandel Court, Ocoee, sold Jan. 31, for $690,000. Built in 2006, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 3,375 square feet of living area. Days on market: 46.
WYNWOOD
The home at 2438 Coachwood Drive, Ocoee, sold Jan. 29, for $449,990. Built in 2024, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,828 square feet of living area. Days on market: 72.
SOUTHWEST ORANGE GOLDEN OAK
The home at 10242 Summer Meadow Way, Golden Oak, sold Jan. 27, for $14,500,000. Built in 2017, it has seven bedrooms, seven baths, three half-baths and 9,254 square feet of living area. Days on market: 58.
LAKE SHEEN SOUND
HORIZON ISLE
The home at 13184 Dendy Way, No. 7, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 29, for $620,292. Built in 2024, it has three bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 2,207 square feet of living area. Days on market: 32.
SAND LAKE HILLS
The home at 6700 Tamarind Circle, Orlando, sold Jan. 29, for $392,000. Built in 1977, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,914 square feet of living area. Days on market: 12.
TANGELO PARK
The home at 7715 Perugia Ave., Orlando, sold Jan. 29, for $290,000. Built in 1958, it has three bedrooms, one bath and 840 square feet of living area. Days on market: Nine.
TURNBURY WOODS
The home at 5341 Greenside Court, Orlando, sold Jan. 27, for $839,000. Built in 1986, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,411 square feet of living area. Days on market: 102.
VISTA CAY AT HARBOR SQUARE
The condo at 4804 Cayview Ave., No. 106, Orlando, sold Jan. 31, for $540,000. Built in 2007, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,823 square feet of living area. Days on market: Four.
VIZCAYA
The condo at 8743 The Esplanade, No. 31, Orlando, sold Jan. 30, for $650,000. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,549 square feet of living area. Days on market: Six.
GOTHA
TOWN OF GOTHA
The home at 1206 Sutter Ave., Gotha, sold Jan. 27, for $3.6 million. Built in 2024, it has five bedrooms, four baths, two half-baths and 5,733 square feet of living area. Days on market: 13.
HORIZON WEST ENCLAVE AT WINDERMERE LANDING
The home at 11640 Hampstead St., Windermere, sold Jan. 28, for $880,000. Built in 2016, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,951 square feet of living area. Days on market: Three.
INDEPENDENCE/
SIGNATURE LAKES
The townhouse at 14453 Pleach St., Winter Garden, sold Jan. 28, for $362,500. Built in 2006, it has two bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,448 square feet of living area. Days on market: 19.
LAKE SAWYER SOUTH
The home at 13303 Roskin Lane, Windermere, sold Jan. 27, for $850,000. Built in 2011, it has five bedrooms, five-and-one-half baths and 3,609 square feet of living area. Days on market: 70.
LAKESIDE AT LAKES OF WINDERMERE
The condo at 11565 Mizzon Drive, No. 804, Windermere, sold Jan. 30, for $300,000. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,455 square feet of living area. Days on market: 64.
LATHAM PARK NORTH
The home at 13964 Aldford Drive, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 29, for $750,000. Built in 2016, it has six bedrooms, five baths and 3,679 square feet of living area. Days on market: 81.
NORTHLAKE AT OVATION
The home at 17404 Lake Star Road, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 31, for $675,000. Built in 2023, it has three bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 2,122 square feet of living area. Days on market: 136.
ORCHARD PARK AT STILLWATER CROSSING
The home at 3084 Cherry Orchard Lane, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 30, for $640,000. Built in 2019, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,484 square feet of living area. Days on market: 37.
OSPREY RANCH
The home at 15579 Gentle Rain Drive, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 28, for $526,817. Built in 2025, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,533 square feet of living area.
ORCHARD HILLS
The townhouse at 5827 Cypress Hill Road, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 27, for $390,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,716 square feet of living area. Days on market: 82.
OVERLOOK 2 AT HAMLIN
The home at 15542 Gwinnett Drive, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 31, for $640,000. Built in 2015, it has five bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 3,157 square feet of living area. Days on market: 34.
PARKVIEW AT HAMLIN
The townhouse at 15131 Grove Lake Drive, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 30, for $515,000. Built in 2024, it has three bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 1,846 square feet of living area. Days on market: 119.
The townhouse at 15167 Grove Lake Drive, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 31, for $509,000. Built in 2024, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,881 square feet of living area. Days on market: 66.
SANCTUARY AT LAKES OF WINDERMERE
The home at 13212 Orange Isle Drive, Windermere, sold Jan. 31, for $730,000. Built in 2022, it has five bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 3,152 square feet of living area. Days on market: 129.
SUMMERLAKE
The home at 8121 Atlantic Puffin St., Winter Garden, sold Jan. 30, for $635,000. Built in 2013, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,701 square feet of living area. Days on market: Four.
WATERLEIGH
The home at 10189 Atwater Bay Drive, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 30, for $1,188,295. Built in 2024, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,929 square feet of living area. Days on market: 175.
WESTHAVEN AT OVATION
The home at 12494 Westhaven Oak Drive, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 27, for $523,905. Built in 2024, it has three bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 1,908 square feet of living area.
WINCEY GROVES
The home at 5493 Orange Orchard Drive, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 28, for $650,000. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,683 square feet of living area. Days on market: 34.
OCOEE BRYNMAR
The home at 3572 Cheswick Drive, Ocoee, sold Jan. 31, for $475,000. Built in 2014, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,407 square feet of living area. Days on market: 28.
PRESERVE AT CROWN POINT
The home at 2042 Donahue Drive, Ocoee, sold Jan. 30, for $480,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,874 square feet of living area. Days on market: 31.
SAWMILL
The home at 5022 Log Wagon Road, Ocoee, sold Jan. 28, for $359,000. Built in 1990, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,701 square feet of living area. Days on market: One.
The home at 9130 Sheen Sound St., Orlando, sold Jan. 28, for $2,583,475. Built in 2024, it has six bedrooms, five-and-one-half baths and 5,232 square feet of living area.
WEST ORANGE
LAKE CAWOOD ESTATES
The home at 13702 Lake Cawood Drive, Windermere, sold Jan. 28, for $1,125,000. Built in 2004, it has five bedrooms, three-and-onehalf baths and 3,943 square feet of living area. Days on market: 86.
TILDENS GROVE
The home at 12824 Jacob Grace Court, Windermere, sold Jan. 28, for $7,150,000. Built in 2005, it has six bedrooms, seven baths, two half-baths and 8,289 square feet of living area. Days on market: 79.
WINDERMERE
KEENE’S POINTE
The home at 11321 Camden Park Drive, Windermere, sold Jan. 31, for $1,475,000. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, four-andone-half baths and 3,468 square feet of living area. Days on market: 25.
RESERVE AT LAKE BUTLER SOUND
The home at 11048 Bridge House Road, Windermere, sold Jan. 30, for $2,475,000. Built in 2002, it has five bedrooms, five baths, two half-baths and 6,972 square feet of living area. Days on market: 142.
WINTER GARDEN
DANIELS LANDING
The townhouse at 13962 Daniels Landing Circle, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 30, for $318,000. Built in 2005, it has two bedrooms, twoand-one-half baths and 1,236 square feet of living area. Days on market: 77.
LAKE APOPKA SOUND
The home at 17975 Hither Hills Circle, Winter Garden, Lake County, sold Jan. 27, for $660,000. Built in 2024, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,787 square feet of living area.
OAKGLEN ESTATES
The home at 548 Hearthglen Blvd., Winter Garden, sold Jan. 31, for $584,900. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 2,337 square feet of living area. Days on market: 10.
OAKLAND PARK
The home at 1411 Eastover Loop, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 31, for $650,000. Built in 2008, it has three bedrooms, three-and-onehalf baths and 1,937 square feet of living area. Days on market: 15. The home at 925 McKinnon Square, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 28, for $615,000. Built in 2022, it has three bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 1,654 square feet of living area. Days on market: 100.
WINDTREE GARDENS
The condo at 164 Windtree Lane, No. 201, Winter Garden, sold Jan. 28, for $220,000. Built in 1985, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 918 square feet of living area. Days on market: 50.
Courtesy photo
The home at 10242 Summer Meadow Way, Golden Oak, sold Jan. 27,
“Bonavento”
feet of luxury. The sellers were represented by Ken Pozek, The Pozek Group.
Courtesy photo
The home at 1206 Sutter Ave., Gotha, sold Jan. 27, for $3.6 million. The sellers were represented by Ahmad Hassan, Compass Florida LLC.
SPORTS
HIGH 5
1
The Windermere Prep girls basketball team claimed its second consecutive Class 3A, District 6 championship after topping Lake Highland Prep, 61-52 Feb. 8. The Lakers were led by junior Jazlyn Bowman, who scored 17 points in the win, while sophomores Eni Oyedeji added 11 points and Mikayla Evans scored 10. Along with the back-to-back district title win, Windermere Prep also won its first Citrus League title and will head into the FHSAA Class 3A regional playoffs with a 19-7 record. The Lakers will host Calvary Christian in the first round of the regional playoffs Thursday, Feb. 13. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
2
Windermere High swim-
mer Roberto Zarate, a member of the Wolverines state championshipwinning 200-meter freestyle relay team, has announced his commitment to the University of Tampa.
“After a very thoughtful and difficult time, I am blessed to announce my verbal commitment to pursue my academic and athletic goals at the University of Tampa,” he wrote in a social media post. “I would truly love to thank God, who always guided me, and my family, friends, and teammates who were there to support me in every step of my journey while also pushing me to be the best version of myself. I would also like to thank the UT coaching staff for providing me this amazing opportunity.” Zarate also was part of Windermere’s second-place 400-meter freestyle relay team and finished third in the 100-meter butterfly and 200-meter freestyle at the Class 4A state championship meet.
3
After claiming its fourth consecutive state championship, the Foundation Academy cheer team continued its dominant run by defending its WSCC world title. This world championship win — in the medium-sized, non-tumbling division — marks the seventh state, national or world championship the Lions have won in the past four seasons.
4
The West Orange Dream Center has announced details for its second annual fundraising golf tournament scheduled for April 14 at West Orange Country Club. With a cost of $175 per golfer and $600 for a foursome, the proceeds of the tournament will directly support sustaining and expanding the Dream Center and its mission.
To register for the event visit wodreamcenter.org/ golf or send an email to info@ wodreamcenter.org.
5West Orange football’s Nico Marti officially signed his national letter of intent to play college ball at Mars Hill University.
“I want to thank everybody that helped me through this process,” Marti wrote in a social media post. “I (want to) give a special thanks to Coach Danny, Coach Ike, Coach Thompson, Coach Furrey, Coach Aron and all my high school coaches for making my dream a reality! I (want to) give a huge thanks to all my family, especially my parents, for all they sacrificed for me. … With all that being said, (I) would like to announce my commitment to Mars Hill University!”
HOOP DREAMS
A total of 14 area high school basketball teams — seven boys and seven girls — have earned playoff spots and are ready to fight for a state title.
FIGHT THE
SAM ALBUQUERQUE
SPORTS EDITOR
The West Orange and Southwest Orange communities are hotbeds for high school basketball, and the 2024-25 season has yet again shown that to be the case, with multiple boys and girls teams positioning themselves to compete for regional and even state titles.
Now that the regular season has concluded and teams begin to play in their respective regional tournaments, here’s a preview of the playoff picture for the area’s teams.
GOOD FIGHT: Family Church to host conference featuring athletes, coaches
For its third annual men’s conference, Family Church will host 10 guest speakers from the sports world for TED Talk-like conversations on this year’s theme — Fight the Good Fight.
SAM ALBUQUERQUE SPORTS EDITOR
Sports, both individual and team, have time and again been proven to be beneficial in a variety of ways to those who participate. One 2013 study in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity stated that beyond the physical benefits of playing sports, there also were many psychological and social health benefits, such as improved self-esteem, improved social interac-
tion and fewer depressive symptoms.
What is it about sports that causes these positive outcomes? If you’ve played sports, the answer might seem pretty obvious.
“People who don’t play sports may think it’s just physical,” said Troy Schmidt, Emmy-nominated producer, author, television writer, pastor and director of communications at Family Church. “But if you’re an athlete or talk to an athlete, you’ll know that, yes, it’s physical, and athletes need to be in great shape. But
it’s a lot more mental than you’d see at the surface. Athletes need to make sure that they’re focused. They need to understand how to set goals and be disciplined about the things they have to do to achieve those goals. They have to have the self-awareness to know their limit, know their strengths and weaknesses. They have to have the willpower to persevere through adversity and to keep fighting when things aren’t going their way — like when they’re feeling their worst but still manage to push themselves to compete at their best.”
Simply put, sports are one of the most effective avenues in which discipline, self-esteem, teamwork, perseverance and many more character traits are developed. Schmidt not only recognizes how impactful sports can be, but also he sees how the character-
istics that are developed from sports align with the teachings of Christianity. That connection is why he decided Family Church’s third annual “Ten ComMANdments” men’s conference would be focused on teaching life lessons through the lens of sports. “We started this event around the time COVID-19 was happening,” Schmidt said. “For some reason, when I looked at the words the Ten Commandments, I kept seeing the word ‘man’ and I just thought, ‘Hey, this is an opportunity to speak to men about these life rules or life lessons that anyone can benefit from.’ Because everything was so upside down during COVID, I felt like the men in our community could really use this sort of event. It was really
Committed to play baseball at Saint Vincent College, West Orange High senior catcher Brooklyn Hicks will be a key contributor to the Warriors success on the diamond this season.
David Jester
Windermere Wolverines big man T.J. Drain will be a major factor this postseason.
File photos
Above: In her first season as a Lady Knight, Dakara Merthie has been vital to Ocoee’s regular season success.
Right: TFA’s Max Simmons has led the Royals in points so far in the 2024-25 boys basketball season.
Windermere Prep’s Brandon Bass Jr. is one of the highest-rated college basketball recruits in the state.
Dr. Phillips’ Kendell Perry has helped the Lady Panthers win two state championships; this season, she’s the leader of their title hunt.
David Jester
Brooklyn Hicks
The West Orange High baseball team comes into the 2025 season with a slew of college baseball-bound pitchers in its bullpen, but as anyone who knows the game will tell you, without a catcher, it doesn’t matter how good a team’s pitching staff is. Luckily for the Warriors, Brooklyn Hicks is back behind the plate for his senior season.
In 2024, Hicks, a Saint Vincent College commit and the Warriors’ defensive player of the year, caught 154 innings and only allowed six passed balls — while also throwing out 11 runners attempting to steal.
With Hicks behind the bag and a majority of its starters from 2024 returning, West Orange has a chance to make a real run.
How does it feel to be named Athlete of the Week?
It is definitely an honor and a testament to the work I’ve put in.
What do you like the most about baseball?
What I like most about baseball is the brotherhood. Every person on the team is competing toward the same goal and putting their best effort in for the guy next to them. In order to win, the team has to treat each other like family. That brings everyone together and that is my favorite part.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from playing sports?
How to fail and be humble. Baseball is a game of failure, but it just takes one swing to turn around a slump.
Who is your favorite athlete? Why?
My favorite athlete currently is Mookie Betts. He is top-tier at every part of the game.
Is there someone after whom you try to model your game?
I’ve always looked at Dustin Pedroia. He’s a smaller guy who plays gritty and puts his heart on the field.
What is your favorite memory from playing sports?
Turning a double play to beat Winter Garden Little League in the 10U District Championship after losing to them that week.
What is your go-to pre-game meal?
I don’t have a consistent pregame meal, but out of the rotation of meals we get, I would take some Huey Magoo’s chicken.
What is your go-to pre-game hype song?
“Crazy Clientele” by Future and Metro Boomin.
What is your favorite nonsports hobby? Going to the gym and getting a workout in.
What is your favorite subject in school? Why?
My favorite subject in school is probably history because we get to learn valuable lessons from our past.
What are three things you would take with you to a deserted island? Why?
I would take a knife, food and a tent, because I can protect myself and stay sheltered with necessities.
What is your favorite movie? Why?
“Interstellar” because it’s a movie (in which) every detail matters and really makes you think.
If you could have dinner with one person — dead or alive — who would it be? Why?
I would say Shane Gillis, so I could get a good laugh.
If you could go back in time to a specific period in history, when and where would you go? Why?
I would go back to the 1700s to see baseball be created.
Looking back, what piece of advice would you give your younger self? Be consistent in what you’re doing, keep asking questions and trust the process.
If you could ask your future self a question, what would it be? Did I work hard enough?
Who is your favorite superhero?
Iron Man — he’s an American
Who is your favorite supervil-
Loki because he’s a smooth guy who doesn’t accept defeat and
If you could travel to three places in the world, where would you go and why? Japan, England and Germany — to see the top sporting events and observe the
If you could be an animal for a day, which one would you be and why? I would choose to be a gorilla. They are very intelligent, and I think it would be cool to swing
What is your most controversial Salad is not good whatsoever. Does pineapple belong on pizza?
— SAM ALBUQUERQUE
Baseball teams enter the spotlight
As the high school baseball regular season begins, teams from around Central Florida — including Olympia High and Foundation Academy — descended onto Rollins College’s Alfond Stadium for Varsity Sports Nation’s 2025 High School Baseball Media Day.
The media day event saw teams participate in a variety of media activities, such as participating in live-streamed interviews, opening baseball card packs on the Legends on Deck podcast, taking professional photographs and even being interviewed by a local TV station.
— SAM ALBUQUERQUE
Athletes, coaches to speak at annual men’s conference
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
successful the first time we did it, so since then, we’ve been trying to find different angles to approach that conversation, and this one focusing on athletes and sports in general just came to mind.
“We know that sports require certain skills and constantly push athletes to be their best in competition and there are so many metaphors there for men who are facing the struggles of life today,” he said. “So I felt that if I could find Christian athletes or coaches who’ve learned life lessons from sports and who have applied them to living a Christian life, this would be a great way to help men — believers or not — learn and grow as people.”
WHAT TO EXPECT
Although this conference is based in the Christian faith, Schmidt believes the lessons those in attendance will learn are universal to any man living in today’s society.
“What people will be taking away from this conference are 10 principles to help them live life to its best,” Schmidt said. “The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Fight the Good Fight,’ which is obviously a scriptural reference, but I think that it’s pretty universal because we all are fighting our own sort of fight, whether it’s at work, it’s at school, families, there’s always a struggle we deal with. What we want men to get out of this conference is that they have the tools to fight those fights. … And what’s really cool about this conference is that we have 10 speakers. In the past, we’ve gotten feedback that there’s usually one or two that have connected with a specific individual. And so with this year’s lineup, we tried to be as diverse as we can to make sure that everyone from middle-schoolers to older folks like me can find a cou-
ple of speakers (who) connect with them and speak their language.
“That’s another reason why we have a wide variety of speakers from different sports,” he said. “I have a professional waterskier, a golfer, there are four football people — players and coaches — two people with basketball backgrounds, there’s a baseball player. All of these sports require different temperaments and skills that … will help us connect on some level with a wider audience.
“Peter Fleck, for example, is a world champion barefoot waterskier who has won at an age when he should not have won,” he said.
“People like me, who are 60 years old and may feel like we’ve aged out, are going to be able to connect with him in a much deeper way when he talks about his mentality. ... Younger men, who maybe don’t have a mentor or somebody who’s teaching them these kinds of life skills, will have a few youth coaches and current athletes they can connect to. We’re hoping that there is at least one person every man who comes will be able to learn and connect from.”
Among the diverse sea of 10 guest speakers delivering 18-minute TED Talk-like messages Schmidt has compiled for this conference is local high school boys basketball coach Tarrik Mabon, who’s in the middle of his first season at The First Academy.
Mabon, one of two local high school coaches speaking at the event, plans to share his testimony and the lessons after stepping away from the corporate world and dedicating his life to coaching full-time.
“I want to express to the audience how much my life changed over the last five years, after working every day to completely depend on God,” he said. “That very small but difficult decision changed every-
IF YOU GO
WHEN: 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Saturday, March 1 WHERE: Family Church, Windermere Campus, 300 Main St., Windermere
COST: $25, includes lunch, snacks and beverages
REGISTRATION: Register online at bit.ly/4hSLnKk.
SPEAKERS n Andy Searles, Orlando City Soccer chaplain n Jim Subers, Florida Gators football n Rodney Green, Penn State basketball n Ralph Howe, PGA golfer n Andrew Karp, FSU pitcher
n Peter Fleck, World champion waterskier
n Tarrik Mabon, The First Academy boys basketball coach n Albert Latimer, Detroit Lions n Riki Smith, Windermere High School football coach n Jeff Driskel, Washington Commanders QB
thing for me, my wife, our family and those close to me. … When I decided to step away from the corporate world and coach full time, it changed everything for me. My life now consists of pouring into our youth daily, on and off the court. However, I couldn’t have predicted the impact they would have on my life.”
Since Mabon made this life change, the biggest lesson he learned and hopes to convey to those in attendance at the March 1 conference is one he preaches to his players constantly.
“Experience is the greatest teacher,” he said. “There are no shortcuts and you can’t have peak performance without proper preparation and proper faith.”
Athlete of the Week sponsored by:
Members of the Olympia High baseball team showed off some of the various uniform combinations at media day.
Foundation Academy baseball coach Dakoda Grove, left, looked at senior pitcher Rylee Gibson as he answered a question.
Thomas Lightbody | TK Photography
Local squads prep for playoffs
TOP AREA TEAMS
BOYS
n WINDERMERE HIGH (22-5)
MaxPreps Class 7A Ranking: No. 2
District finish: Champions
Best results: 79-52 win vs. Viera (21-4), 74-41 vs. Gateway Charter (19-8), 74-56 win at Evans (21-6), 70-55 win vs. Santa Fe Catholic (19-8), 86-61 win vs. Tampa Catholic (19-9) and 65-47 win vs. Sagemont Prep (17-8).
Player to watch: T.J. Drain, forward, senior. The senior big man will be key to any run the Wolverines can make this postseason after leading Windermere to both a West Metro Conference and District 5 championship this season as its primary scorer and defensive anchor. Drain has averaged 19.8 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2 blocks per game.
POSTSEASON OUTLOOK
The Wolverines face a tough path in Region 2 of the 7A playoffs, with district rivals Olympia High and Oak Ridge High likely in their way to reaching the final four. Given Windermere has topped the Titans twice this season and Olympia managed to knock off Oak Ridge on the road, coach Mark Griseck’s team looks primed for a run to the state semifinals — where it could meet up with defending champions Columbus High, that are favored to repeat.
n WINDERMERE PREP (13-13)
MaxPreps Class 3A Ranking: No. 15
District finish: Lost in semifinals
Best results: 74-64 win vs. Bartow (19-8), 50-45 win vs. Oviedo (16-11), 76-67 win vs. Centennial (19-7) and 50-47 win at Lake Highland Prep (22-4).
Player to watch: Brandon Bass Jr., wing, junior. Once again, Bass is the driving force behind a Lakers team heading into the postseason. He leads the team in points and rebounds — averaging 20.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. With the capability to take over any game, Bass is going to be key in Windermere Prep’s run to a third consecutive state title game appearance.
POSTSEASON OUTLOOK
Despite a .500 record, the Lakers are still one of the top teams in the area thanks to its stellar guard play — led by Bass, Samuel Shoptaw and Isaiah Gillard. Although WPS will be on the road as the No. 6 seed, its playoff experience makes it a real threat to fight its way through Region 2 and get back to the state title game for a third consecutive season.
n THE FIRST ACADEMY (17-8)
MaxPreps Class 2A Ranking: No. 12
District finish: Runners-up
Best results: 64-60 win vs. Windermere Prep (13-13), 53-49 win at Oviedo (1611), 73-68 win vs. Osceola (23-3) and 59-56 win at Melbourne (18-8). Player to watch: Max Simmons, guard, junior. A sharpshooting veteran guard averaging 12.8 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2.2 steals per game, Simmons is a key leader for a fast-paced TFA team that relies on shooting and effort.
POSTSEASON OUTLOOK
Led by Simmons, the Royals are a wellrounded club that can win games with a variety of players leading the way. This versatility, along with a playing style that can flip a game on its head, there’s a good chance first-year coach Tarrik Mabon might be able to lead TFA on a deep run.
GIRLS
n DR. PHILLIPS HIGH (16-9)
MaxPreps Class 7A Ranking: No. 3
District finish: Champions
Best results: 53-35 win vs. Ocoee (22-3), 74-73 win vs. Cardinal Mooney (19-9), 75-50 win vs. West Port (16-8), 79-57 win vs. Windermere Prep (19-7), 64-37 win at Central Florida Christian (18-8), 73-31 win vs. Leesburg (12-9) and 80-38 win vs. Oak Ridge (17-9).
Player to watch: Jamila Ray, guard, junior. After seeing limited time as a sophomore,
Ray has stepped up and helped lead the Lady Panthers to both a West Metro and district title as a junior. Through 23 games, Ray is averaging 12.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game.
POSTSEASON OUTLOOK:
After a gauntlet of a schedule and a roster full of players with championship experience, Dr. Phillips is ready to run through Region 2 and claim a state title for a fourth consecutive time.
n OCOEE HIGH (22-3)
MaxPreps Class 7A Ranking: No. 4
District finish: Champions
Best results: 64-30 win vs. Lake Mary (179), 52-44 win vs. Leesburg (12-9), 65-36 win vs. Edgewater (16-8), Oak Ridge (179), 54-47 win at Horizon (17-8), 68-52 win at Central Florida Christian (18-8) and 58-49 win vs. West Port (16-8).
Player to watch: Dakara Merthie, guard, junior. In her first season as a member of the Lady Knights, Merthie has been the motor driving Ocoee to one of its bestever seasons. The junior is averaging 24.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.2 steals and 3.2 assists per game.
POSTSEASON OUTLOOK
As the No. 1 seed in Region 1, the Lady Knights have a favorable path to make a run to the final four and compete for a state championship.
n THE FIRST ACADEMY (22-4)
MaxPreps Class 2A Ranking: No. 5
District finish: Champions
Best results: 46-32 win vs. Central Florida Christian (18-8), 29-26 win at Lake Mary (17-9), 53-41 win vs. Oak Ridge (17-9), 52-44 win vs. Beachside (13-9), 57-49 win vs. Miami Christian (15-11) and 3929 win vs. Trinity Catholic (17-9).
Player to watch: Bianca Hall, guard, sophomore. The sophomore guard has continued to develop — as both a player and leader — in her third season as a member of the Royals and is averaging 19.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.4 steals per game.
POSTSEASON OUTLOOK
With a balanced roster and an eight-game winning streak entering the playoffs, the Royals are one of the favorites to come out of Region 1. With Hall leading the backcourt and running mates Sofi Miller in the paint and Avery Michels on the wing, TFA have more than enough talent to make a deep run this postseason.
GIRLS REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS
SCHEDULE
Thursday, Feb. 13; tipoff at 7 p.m.
CLASS 7A Region 1, No. 1 Ocoee (22-3) vs. No. 8 Lake Mary (17-9) Region 2, No. 1 Dr. Phillips (16-9) vs. No. 8 Central (11-5)
CLASS 6A Region 2, No. 2 Horizon (17-8) vs. No. 7 Armwood (17-6)
CLASS 3A Region 2, No. 2 Windermere Prep (19-7) vs. No. 7 Calvary Christian, Clearwater (19-2)
CLASS 2A
Region 1, No. 2 The First Academy (22-4) vs. No. 7 The Master’s Academy (16-10) Region 2, No. 5 Foundation Academy (12-10) vs. No. 4 Edgewood (12-11)
CLASS 1A Region 2, No. 1 Central Florida Christian (18-8) vs. No. 8 Calvary Christian, Ormond Beach (11-10)
Note: Boys regional quarterfinal games played Feb. 12, after press time. Boys semifinals are scheduled for Monday, Feb. 17; girls semifinals set for Tuesday, Feb. 18.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to Article I, Sections 1-8 and 1-10, and Article V, Section 5-9, of the City of Ocoee Land Development Code that on TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2025, AT 6:15 P.M. or as soon thereafter as practical, the OCOEE CITY COMMISSION will hold a PUBLIC HEARING at the City of Ocoee Commission Chambers located at 1 North Bluford Avenue, Ocoee, Florida, to consider a Large-Scale Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map Amendment to convert approximately 117.7 acres of Low Density Residential (LDR) and approximately 32.3 acres of Conservation (CON) to approximately 150 acres of Commercial (COMM) and corresponding text amendment to the Future Land Use Element for the Ocoee Regional Sports Complex Project. The subject property is comprised of 9 parcels, assigned parcel ID numbers 07-22-28-000000-001, 07-22-28-0000-00-023, 07-22-28-0000-00-057, 07-22-28-0000-00-041, 07-22-28-0000-00-039, 07-22-28-0000-00-043, 07-22-28-0000-00-105, 07-2228-0000-00-060, and 07-22-28-0000-00-074. The subject property is generally locatedwithin the southeast corner of the intersection of Fullers Cross Road and Ocoee Apopka Road.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OCOEE, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE CITY OF OCOEE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AS ADOPTED IN 1991, AS AMENDED; AMENDING THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP OF THE OCOEE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO CHANGE THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP DESIGNATION FROM LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AND CONSERVATION TO COMMERCIAL FOR CERTAIN REAL PROPERTIES CONSISTING OF APPROXIMATELY 150 ACRES GENERALLY LOCATED IN THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE FULLERS CROSS ROAD AND OCOEE APOPKA ROAD INTERSECTION AND AMENDING PROVISIONS AND POLICIES WITHIN THE FUTURE LAND USE ELEMENT; PROVIDING FOR AND AUTHORIZING THE REVISION OF THE OFFICIAL CITY FUTURE LAND USE MAP; PREVAILING IN THE EVENT OF ANY INCONSISTENCY; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Interested parties may appear at the public hearing and be heard with respect to the proposed action. The complete case file may be inspected at the Ocoee Development Services Department, located at 1 North Bluford Avenue, Ocoee, Florida, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for legal holidays. The City Commission may continue the public hearing to other dates and times as it deems necessary. Any interested party shall be advised that the dates, times, and places of any continuation of these or continued public hearings shall be announced during the hearings and that no further notices regarding these matters will be published. You are advised that any person who desires to appeal any decision made during the public hearings will need a record of the proceedings and, for this purpose, may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is based. Persons with disabilities needing assistance to participate in any of the proceedings should contact the City Clerk’s Office 48 hours in advance of the meeting at (407) 905-3105.
Melanie Sibbitt, City Clerk Publish Date: February 6, 2025
File photo
As only a sophomore, The First Academy’s Bianca Hall has developed into a coach on the floor for the Royals.
KIMBERLY ALSHAKUR CITRUS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Kimberly Alshakur, the food and nutrition services manager at Citrus Elementary School, is Influencer of the Week. Alshakur manages budgets and payroll records, monitors financial transactions, addresses customer complaints, and strives to provide excellent customer service. She is detail-oriented, and she has strong interpersonal communication skills, excellent conflict resolution skills, and knowledge of food health and safety regulation.
“Ms. Alshakur goes far beyond her job title, ensuring that the needs of our students are met across all areas of the campus,” Principal Mary Clark said. “When she sees a need, she fills it without being asked or telling anyone. She works closely with our special education classes to ensure they have an enjoyable and safe experience in the cafeteria, practicing full inclusion with the experience.
“Ms. Alshakur cares about the staff and students at Citrus, and it shows in all of her actions daily,” Clark said.
What brought you to Citrus?
Being close to home and having access to local amenities was a major factor in my decision.
What do you love most about your school? Citrus is family oriented, and it has a strong sense of community engagement. I feel comfortable and accepted by my peers, and there is a strong sense of belonging.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
It is rewarding seeing results, building relationships and seeing student relationships.
What would you be if you weren’t in this profession? I would be a lawyer, a person who advocates for the little people, being their voices.
Who influences you?
The students here at Citrus Elementary influence me. Who was your favorite teacher when you were in school? Why? It would have been my science teacher when I was in elementary school. She was a caring and compassionate teacher. Those are the ones who are rare to come by.
What is your favorite children’s book and why?
“The Little Engine That Could.” It reminds me every day: Do not give up and settle. If you have a goal in mind or even a dream, don’t give up on it.
REPORT CARD
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like reading, walking, spending time with my family and traveling.
If you could dine with any famous person, past or present, who would it be and why?
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I would like to know how he came about his famous speech, “I Have a Dream.”
If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
I would have the supernatural power of healing. There are so many hurting in the world. I would like to help and assist with the healing of families, counties and homes.
If you could only listen to three bands or artists, who would they be and why?
I like listening to Maverick City, smooth jazz and anything that brings encouragement.
What was your go-to lunch and favorite snack as an elementary student?
My favorite lunch was Pizza Friday!
What is your favorite holiday and why?
Thanksgiving and Christmas because both holidays represent love, caring, giving and sharing. They both mean a lot to my heart.
Who was your best friend when you were in school and why? Are you still in touch?
My best friend was Stacy; we’ve grown apart from each other.
What were your extracurricular activities as a student? Did you win any accolades or honors?
I loved running when I was in school.
— AMY QUESINBERRY PRICE
POSITION: Food and nutrition services manager TIME AT SCHOOL: Five years at Citrus Elementary, 12 years with Orange County Public Schools
OBSERVER SCHOOL ZONE
Edgewood ranch celebrates students
dgewood Children’s Ranch hosted friends, families and donors Jan. 30 for its Night of Celebration event, which honored students for their academic and behavioral accomplishments from the second quarter and served as a fundraiser for its cause of providing children and their families a safe environment to change their behaviors and the course of their lives by emphasizing the development of responsibility, accountability, self-control and faithfulness.
The free event featured various elements to celebrate its students and provide a night of entertainment for its guests, such as a video montage of the previous quarter’s events, various award ceremonies, a performance by the student choir and a raffle.
For more information about the ranch, its services and its mission, visit its website, edgewoodranch.com.
— SAM ALBUQUERQUE
Edgewood
Edgewood Children’s Ranch Night of Celebration event honored students for their growth and achievements, such as A/B Honor Roll.
Edgewood Ranch Academy principal Karen Luff presented a student of the month certificate to Sean Decime.
Edgewood Ranch Academy teacher Rebekah Dimond, left, and case manager Scott Dimond picked raffle winners and gave out their prizes.
Sherman Harding shared love of history for 39 years
The history buff also served as a Civil War consultant for National Geographic and Time Life.
Theodore “Sherman” Harding II
to the Civil War and the first and second world wars.
He was so knowledgeable on the Civil War that international publications sought his expertise when writing their books and magazines. And he was such a fan of history that his honeymoon included a trip to Gettysburg.
He also had a fantastic sense of humor and an affinity for one-liners that kept his family and friends laughing.
Harding, a 39-year educator, died Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, at the age of 92. He taught several generations of students at Lakeview, in Winter Garden, as it changed from a high school to a junior high to a middle school.
A LOVE OF LEARNING
Harding’s love of history and travel was formed at an early age as the son of a United States Air Force flight surgeon and senior medical director. Harding, who was born Aug. 24, 1932, in the Panama Canal
JOSEPH D. COFFMAN
DIED SUNDAY, FEB. 2, 2025
A man unlike any other, Joseph D. Coffman was deeply loved, respected, and will be missed by his loved ones. He went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, at the age of 84. In 1986, Joe designed and built a home on Lake Apopka in Winter Garden where he enjoyed a long retirement from his career as an aerospace engineer and watched the sunsets from his backyard.
Zone, and his family lived in several countries and U.S. territories.
Harding attended Peacock Military Academy in San Antonio, Texas, before his family settled in Arcadia, which had been pioneered by his mother’s ancestors. He also attended Florida Military Academy in St. Petersburg and graduated in 1950 from DeSoto County High School, where his senior classmates voted him Most Witty.
Harding was attending Florida Southern College when his National Guard unit was activated, thus beginning his service in the United States Army. In 1952, he was honorably discharged and returned to college. At FSC, he was a member of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. He graduated with bachelor’s degrees in biology and history.
Always yearning to learn more, he earned a master’s degree in history at Georgia Southern College (now Georgia Southern University). He could remember exact dates with precise accuracy at the drop of a hat, and this was an enormous benefit to him as a history teacher.
WALKING THROUGH HISTORY
Harding began his teaching career in DeSoto County. Looking for a change of scenery, he moved to Orlando after four years to teach history with Orange County Public Schools, starting at Colonial High School before moving to Lakeview. In all, he taught for 39 years before retiring. Throughout his years in academia, Harding was known as a “history guru.” He had 22 articles published pertaining to the Civil
Even though we have to say goodbye for now, the light Joe brought into our lives never dimmed and never will.
War and served as a consultant for Time Life books and National Geographic magazines on the topic.
It was at Lakeview Junior High that Harding met the woman who would become his wife of 40 years. Harding met the new teacher, Marie Orizondo, who taught social studies and English, on the first day of classes in the fall of 1980 when she asked to sit in an empty seat at his table during lunch. Five years later, they were married. They remained at Lakeview together until his retirement in 1993.
“Sherman and I really hit it off, and it was wonderful,” OrizondoHarding said. “He was extremely generous; he was hilarious. He was always teaching us. Even though my background is history … he taught us so much. Everybody who came in contact with him loved him.”
Harding loved searching for antiques and war artifacts, and his wife was by his side during his searches. On vacations, it was common for Harding to have to “stop at the courthouse to get records or go to a cemetery to verify dates of someone who passed away,” she said.
The family loved traveling, and Harding’s extensive knowledge of history added to the excitement and joy of the experience. They attended military shows and fed his love of collecting coins, stamps and war artifacts.
DADDY’S GIRL Harding and Orizondo-Harding had one child, Ashley Harding Trolle, two years into their
SHARON ANNE WILCOX
DIED SUNDAY, JAN. 19, 2025.
Sharon Anne Wilcox, 83, of Apopka, Florida passed away on Jan. 19, 2025. She was born on Sept. 28, 1941, in Caribou, Maine. Mrs. Wilcox is preceded in death by her daughter, Donna M. White; granddaughter, Heather Bauman; as well as her siblings, Sally Marlene Wood and John Monroe Wood. She is survived by her children, David (Marcia) White, Paula (Joe) Haddan, Anne (Phillip) Blodgett and Wanda (Jerry) Jernigan; brothers, Michael (Linda) Wood and
marriage, and she and her father shared a close relationship.
“He was an incredible father,” Trolle said. “He took me to school, picked me up from school, took me to lessons. … He was just so loving and never shy about sharing his love with me. … I was the ultimate daddy’s girl.”
The family took beach trips and sought destinations that held historical significance, including Colonial Williamsburg and Washington, D.C.
Trolle has so many fond memories of her father and what she learned from him. She said history always has been her favorite subject.
“We hear the term history buff; he was more than that,” she said. “I would say he was a history genius. He talked to me about how history does repeat itself and why it’s so important to respect history and to know it and care about it.”
Never one to miss out on time with his daughter — especially if history was tied to it — Harding took her to see the movie “Titanic” five times when she was 10.
“He actually taught me about the Holocaust when I was very young,” she said. “He did that on
Scott (Trudy) Wood; grandchildren, Rebecca (John) Basmadjian, Patrick (Mari) Stephenson, James Dill, Anna Pagliarulo and Elizabeth Jernigan; as well as her greatgrandchildren, Aiden Bauman and
purpose, because he wanted me to understand what can happen when people hate each other. He wanted me to know and to understand. There’s such great life lessons that I take with me every day.”
Within the last year, Harding had multiple visits to doctors, who deemed him pretty healthy for a man his age.
“Within the last six months … his doctor said that at this rate if he remains healthy, he could live to be 100,” Trolle said. “He pursed his lips and said, ‘I don’t think I want to do that. … I think I’m ready for my next great adventure.’ I’m so glad he said that, because it let me know he had a great life and was happy. … It helped me a lot.”
In addition to his wife and daughter, Harding is survived by his son-in-law, Maximillian Trolle; and one grandson, Caladan Reid Trolle.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Susie Stonebraker Harding and Read Benedict Harding Sr.; his brother, Read Harding Jr.; and his cousin, Lorna Mapes Blackwell. Services and burial were held Feb. 2 at Woodlawn Memorial Park & Funeral Home in Gotha.
Seeley Basmadjian.
Ms. Wilcox was a natural caregiver. She sacrificed her wants for her family’s needs. She demonstrated a strong work ethic and valued education. She led by example. She loved being a Mom and a Grandma, Mema, Nana and Gigi. Ms. Wilcox was a resident of Trailer City in Winter Garden and a devoted member of the choir at First Baptist Church of Winter Garden. She will be missed by her many loved ones and friends. A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, at Ocoee Cemetery.
Courtesy photo
Sherman Harding and Marie Orizondo-Harding traveled to New York City with their daughter, Ashley Harding Trolle, in 2007.
THE WAYS WE WERE FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION
85 years ago
A throng of Winter Garden citizens traveled to the little cemetery in Beulah to pay their last respects at the interment of A.B. Newton, known affectionately as the Godfather of Winter Garden.
80 years ago
Constructive steps were being taken by leading citizens of the city to perfect a working organization to promote the establishment of a hospital in Winter Garden, where the sick could be cared for with a humanitarian and scientific spirit. Stamp No. 34 in Ration Book 4 was good for five pounds of sugar indefinitely.
A committee of eight ladies representing the schools, churches and welfare league of the city appeared before the City Commission seeking a curfew law with a view of keeping teenage children off the streets after 10 o’clock at night.
45 years ago
Don Rider, former publisher of the Pine Hills Sun, was appointed city clerk of Oakland. He replaced Barbara McCaffety, who resigned to accept another job.
The Winter Garden Police Department held its awards banquet at the Admiral Benbow Inn. Among those receiving Civilian Recognition Awards were Harold Cooper for information leading to the arrest of suspects in the Kentucky Fried Chicken robbery, Robert Freeman for removing Charles Root from a burning building, and George Spigener for rescuing a drowning boy from the swimming pool at Stage Stop Campground and saving his life by administering first aid.
This closeup of the Tildenville School Road neighborhood where the West Orange Trail turns from south to east shows many details that do not exist today. In the background looms vast Lake Apopka, Florida’s fourth-largest body of water. Fronting it are Tilden and Hurley family citrus groves and vegetable fields; the sprawling Oakland Park neighborhood has been constructed on those former fields. Just to the right of the center is the Hurley mule barn with its conical roof line; the structure, although badly deteriorated, was still visible at that corner when the West Orange Trail opened in 1993.
The little white building in the center is the Tildenville depot for the Atlantic Coast Line railroad, and the two structures to its left belong to the Tavares & Gulf railroad, whose tracks paralleled the ACL for almost four miles from Oakland to Winter Garden. At bottom left is the roof of the South Lake Apopka Citrus Growers Association, a structure that stands today, although repurposed.
The mission of the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation is to preserve the heritage and architecture of Winter Garden while creating new cultural experiences. The Foundation also preserves the material culture of West Orange County, using it to educate the area’s youth on the community’s rich history.
35 years ago
The Lakeview Middle School advanced handbell choir, Vibration, was asked to perform two concert demonstrations at the Florida Music Educators Conference in Tampa. Students were Merideth Bradford, Greg Crumpton, Kim Fox, Jennifer Gurney, Maree Fuller, Shelly Hall, Wendy Laug, Kelly Lesh, Kristi Loomis, Erin O’Connor, Kristin Ogren, Jana Raver, Alisha Rushell, Candon Sadler, Jossie Simon and Kevin Stanley.
20 years ago
Progress toward the renovations of the Garden Theatre in historic downtown Winter Garden took an enormous leap with the announcement of two pledges of support totaling $1 million toward the construction costs of the theater. The Dr. P. Phillips Foundation and the Winter Garden Community Redevelopment Agency each pledged $500,000.
From deli to dust: After sitting vacant for many years, the old
Rainbow Market (and before that Jimmy’s Thriftway) in downtown Winter Garden was torn down.
The city bought the building and land with the idea that a developer would put an attractive building on Plant Street.
Construction was underway on the Children’s Lighthouse project at People of Faith Lutheran Church in Winter Garden. The new childcare option fulfilled a sevenyear dream for Pastor Johan Bergh and his congregation.
