04.15.21 Southwest Orange Observer by Orange Observer

SO U T H W EST O RA N G E

Observer Windermere, Horizon West, Dr. Phillips

Matthew’s Hope tees up golfing fundraiser. PAGE 3.

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VOLUME 6, NO. 27

Leaders call for task force Orange County leaders say solving the ‘homeless crisis’ in West Orange will require a partnership among municipalities. SEE PAGE 6.

JOURNEY TO

JUILLIARD

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THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021

SPORTS

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

YOUR TOWN ART & A STROLL AT NEHRLING

Titans of tennis

Nehrling Gardens is holding a special morning of “Caladiums, Canvases and Coffee’ during the Art & Stroll from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 24. Art & Stroll will feature coffee, mimosas, pastries, live music, plein air artists at work. A variety of caladium bulbs will be for sale. Original art is available for bidding in an online auction until 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 21. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 the day of the event and can be purchased for a specific time slot at bit.ly/3tgMWJ8.

BUBBLY ON THE BOARDWALK The Oakland Nature Preserve is hosting Bubbly on the Boardwalk to celebrate Earth Day 2021. It takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, April 24. Guests can stroll the Healthy West Orange Boardwalk to the pavilion at Lake Apopka, where they will find drinks and sweet treats — and possibly see a few fireflies. Pre-registration is required at OaklandNaturePreserve.org.bubbly. ONP is at 747 Machete Trail, Oakland.

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Olympia girls tennis goes undefeated in regular-season play.

PAGE 15.

PAR-TEE

TIME! Foundation Academy supporters enjoyed the Par-Tee Gala Sunday, April 11. PAGE 13.

Gillian Alexander has been dancing she was 2 years old, and all the time and effort put into her craft is paying off. The Dr. Phillips senior will be attending Juilliard in the fall. SEE PAGE 4. Troy Herring

Marsh Road truck ban rolls forward The Winter Garden City Commission approved its truck-ban ordinance last week. SEE PAGE 2.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021

Winter Garden moves forward with truck ban DANIELLE HENDRIX ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Winter Garden commissioners are moving forward with an ordinance that will ban certain classifications of trucks from traveling on a portion of Marsh Road, but enforcement of the ban is on hold. The ordinance earned approval during the April 8 City Commission meeting. Winter Garden has been in negotiations with officials from Lake County, Orange County, Clermont, Titan America and Center Sand Mine for more than a month after it initially passed a resolution banning the trucks in February. Ordinance 21-11 was drafted to correct a few errors in the details of the resolution. However, the sec-

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ond reading and final vote has been delayed twice. “I will say this from the start: There’s been a lot of cooperation from everybody ... to try to improve these conditions there,” City Manager Mike Bollhoefer said. “However, when all is said and done, what we’ve come to the conclusion is there’s so many variables and so many different companies bringing in trucks and such that it’s probably beyond control of anyone to be able to get these truck numbers down to a speed that we feel is safe for the community and … will also reduce the impact on the conditions of the roads. “It’s going to be impossible to keep all eyes on the road all the time, so when we no longer have people out there with decibel meters and speed guns ... what we seem to notice is once the eyes are off the road, behavior returns to the way it used to be,” he said.

IN OTHER NEWS n Commissioners approved an ordinance rezoning a .28acre property at 38 and 42 N. Boyd St. from Central Commercial District to Planned Unit Development. This would allow for future development of a new, two-story building spanning 15,800 square feet. n Commissioners also approved the purchase of a 960-square-foot modular building to serve as a city annex location in east Winter Garden. The $163,080.50 purchase price includes installation.

Bollhoefer initially recommended the commission move forward with the ordinance based on the data and studies at hand. “They’ve made efforts … but we see a dip, and then as soon as eyes go away, we see the change back to more of what it typically is,” Commissioner Colin Sharman said. “There’s just not one single entity that has enough influence.” Clermont officials and sand mine managers pleaded for more time to come up with a compromise and work on the conditions at hand.

“We can all agree that the core issue at hand here is quality of life,” Clermont Mayor Tim Murry said. “It has been made very loud and clear that the truck traffic along Marsh Road has had negative impacts on the Winter Garden citizens’ quality of life when it comes to the amount of trucks, the noise and the safety concerns. … These trucks would be forced to reroute through our city. Our citizens have shared their concerns with us … and I do not want to see their qualify of life negatively affected, either.” Commissioner Mark Maciel said he was open to the idea of allowing more time for negotiations if possible but wondered if all parties involved were at a stalemate. “Nobody wants to see a lawsuit, and nobody wants to interfere with anybody’s livelihood,” Maciel said. “You’re asking for more time … but if we’re at an impasse, we’re at an impasse.” Jennifer Rafferty, general counsel for Titan America Florida, said there is still a need to explore options and alternatives, and she did not believe they were at an impasse. “Some very creative resolutions have been suggested, and trials

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have begun on those, and we did see positive movement on each of those items,” Rafferty said. “If an ordinance such as this is necessary in order to achieve that desired out come … without so drastically negatively impacting your industrial neighbors, we would support a ban on through traffic — that is traffic that is not making local business stops, pickups or deliveries along Hartwood Marsh Road,” she said. Gabriella Pierami, a resident of Sanctuary at Twin Waters, called in to express her frustration. “This has been going on for too long,” Pierami said. “I don’t understand: ‘Oh, the residents of Clermont, they’re going to be hurt by this.’ How about us? What about the residents of Winter Garden? We have been suffering with this for months and months.” Winter Garden Mayor John Rees said in the end, the commission is responsible for its residents. “We just keep kicking this can down the road, and somewhere it’s got to stop,” Rees said. Commissioners unanimously approved Sharman’s suggestion of moving forward with the ordinance but not immediately enforcing it, giving Bollhoefer the authority to decide when to implement it.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021

‘Jim Thomas’ fish caught in Lake Apopka The most coveted fish in the 31,000-acre lake has been caught by an angler, who also has snagged a $5,000 cash prize. AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

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Sharlene Dewitz and Scott Billue presented Rafael Montanez, center, with his winnings from the 50/50 raffle.

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Christian Greico proudly showed off the Jim Thomas bass he caught in Lake Apopka.

He also walked away $5,000 richer for being in the right place at the right time. Greico, 22, fished the southwest side of the lake that day. GO FISH

The contest runs now through May 31 and offers anglers the chance to catch a tagged fish and return the tag to the FWC for a prize of up to $1,000. Additional prizes are available for those who submit their catch to the TrophyCatch program. The return of tags from fish caught in Lake Apopka will inform biologists about how fish populations are recovering, how different species are moving about the lake and how often anglers are returning to fish in Lake Apopka, which was regarded as Florida’s bass fishing capital before World War II. The total purse of prizes in the Lake Apopka Fish Tag Challenge is more than $10,000. The Jim Thomas fish is the only one with a specific prize amount attached to it, said tournament director Daniel Whitehouse. All others who catch a tagged fish will be part of a random drawing June 19 at Newton Park in Winter Garden. “We have more than $5,000 in cash to distribute that day, along with some in-kind prizes,” Whitehouse said. “We should have more than 20 different prizes to draw that day, with amounts as high as $1,000.” There is one $1,000 prize, six $500, 11 $100 and two Yeti prizes. For rules, visit fola.org.

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fter a long day of golf, Matthew’s Hope supporters enjoyed relaxing and socializing with a glass of wine during the nonprofit’s Sip & Stroll fundraiser. Held Monday, April 5, at West Orange Country Club, the event followed the Giving on the Green Best Ball Golf Tournament. Attendees enjoyed drinks, live music and camaraderie as they perused the silent auction and entered the 50/50 raffle. Proceeds benefitted Matthew’s Hope, a ministry that helps the homeless population in West Orange County.

Christian Greico was fishing in the Major League Fishing Toyota Series tournament March 16 when he reeled in a tagged fish. He would end up in 10th place in that event but walked away with an even bigger prize — $5,000 for catching the “Jim Thomas” fish. The top-prize bass is named for the founder of Friends of Lake Apopka. It actually is a female and was spawning when it was tagged, weighed and released in the water. It received tag No. 91 to represent 1991, the year Thomas founded FOLA. The Lake Apopka Fish Tag Challenge is a first-year event launched by FOLA and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission. FOLA advocates for the continued efforts to restore Lake Apopka — the fourth-largest lake in Florida — to its once-pristine condition, and this challenge is to promote the fact that big game fish are again swimming throughout the lake. A total of 500 largemouth bass, bluegill and black crappie have been tagged and released into the lake; they are now swimming around, waiting to be caught. “I went there figuring that’s where I would get the biggest fish in the tournament, and it just so happened that it was the $5,000 one,” said Greico, a Tampa resident who has been entering tournaments since he was in the seventh grade and has made a career out of fishing. “It was a fairly nice day, partly cloudy, 15 mph winds.” Per tournament rules, contestants return to land with their five biggest bass. “This particular fish, the Jim Thomas fish, was my fourth of the day,” Greico said. “I caught 10 to 12 fish that day and brought back five fish for 20 pounds.” The Jim Thomas bass was full of eggs when it was tagged, weighing in at 12 pounds; however, by the time Greico caught the fish, the eggs had been released, taking its weight down to 9 pounds, 12 ounces. “I got 10th place, but I did have the biggest fish of the tournament,” he said.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021

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 President and CEO / Matt Walsh, mwalsh@yourobserver.com Editor and Publisher / Michael Eng, meng@OrangeObserver.com Design Editor / Jessica Eng, jeng@OrangeObserver.com Community Editor / Amy Quesinberry, amyq@OrangeObserver.com Sports Editor /Troy Herring, therring@OrangeObserver.com Associate Editor / Danielle Hendrix, dhendrix@OrangeObserver.com Multimedia Advertising Executives / Ann Carpenter, acarpenter@OrangeObserver.com Iggy Collazo, iggy@OrangeObserver.com Cyndi Gustafson, advertising@OrangeObserver.com Creative Services / Lindsay Cannizzaro, lcannizzaro@OrangeObserver.com Advertising Operations Manager / Allison Brunelle, abrunelle@OrangeObserver.com

Troy Herring

Rhythm & moves TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR

O “I couldn’t have made it this far without a lot of people behind me and pushing me through it all. I definitely have a lot of support, and I’m very, very thankful for that.” — Gillian Alexander

n a regular Wednesday in March, Gillian Alexander sat with her mom at home, searching for a song on her phone — which was connected to the television. But before a song could be found, the TV sound system began blaring with a ringtone — she was getting a call from a New York number. Alexander looked over at her mom and uttered, “No way,” as she picked up the phone. Her mom frantically tried to turn off the TV. The phone call was one for which Alexander had been waiting for since she finished her dance audition and interview at The Juilliard School in February. “It was the admissions counselor, and he was like, ‘Hi, is this Gillian?’” said Alexander, a senior at Dr. Phillips High School. “And I am so serious, I could not speak, so I sounded like I was crying and laughing at the same time, but I couldn’t compose myself. “He was all bubbly and he was like, ‘Hi, this is Juilliard admissions just calling to congratulate you on getting into The Juilliard School,’” she said. “There was a two-minute pause … and I was like, ‘Thank you so much.’ It was crazy. … I was shaking, and I didn’t really process it in my head before I got off the call. ”

LET’S DANCE

Everything in Alexander’s life had been building up to that phone call on Wednesday, March 17. Growing up in Missouri with a mom who was also a dancer — and still is a dance teacher — Alexander spent most of her childhood in the studio watching and learning the craft. And she started dancing young, at age 2. “I was always there all the time, so I would either be in class when I wasn’t supposed to be or annoying the faculty, so the teachers just let me take class,” Alexander said. “My mom actually enrolled me into classes, even though she didn’t want to because I was really young.” Four years later, at age 6, Alexander already was competing. At the time, she just loved dance because it was fun. Two years later, she decided dance was what she wanted to do with her life — she recalled even telling her mother. She was told about the difficulties of dance and the challenges that come with going into any type of art, but Alexander never wavered and, more impressively, never got burned out from dancing. Through the years, she learned a number of dance forms — from tap to ballet to modern and contemporary — and each year, her love for the art grew. That love continued after Alexander and her family moved in 2012 to Florida. She eventually found a studio at which she was comfortable. Then, going into her freshman year of high school, she knew she wanted to join Dr. Phillips’ dance magnet program. “I didn’t know what I was going to be expecting coming from a normal middle school and only dancing at a studio during the nighttime,” Alexander said. “When I first auditioned, I didn’t know we re-auditioned each year for placement. I saw all of these kids and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, some of these kids are really, really good, and I’m definitely not going to get into here.’” She did dance her way into the school and even into the company — an after-school program that represents the dance magnet program — her freshman year.

THE DREAM SCHOOL

In the years since Alexander started at Dr. Phillips, the senior has gotten to experience performing on big stages all over the place. She danced her first paid gig doing a pointe solo for the Orlando Philharmonic in 2016 and has competed at the National High School Dance Festival in Pittsburgh. But all of this — the lifetime of dancing — was building up to the next phase of her life. Alexander began researching Juilliard after hearing about it from her friend — Dr. Phillips alumna and current Juilliard student Ellexis Hatch — who told her about her experiences at the school. From there, the difficult process began. In late November, Alexander went through the pre-screening portion of the application, where she videoed herself performing a two-minute solo she choreographed and participated in an interview. In late December, she was informed she had made it through to the next round. “People got cut right there,” Alexander said. “I was just excited that I got past pre-screening. I was like, ‘This is like getting past the ballet audition at the actual live audition,’ because they do ballet and modern, and you get cut right after ballet, so I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I didn’t get cut.’” Alexander had to wait two months before she could participate in her Feb. 28 audition, which took place over Zoom. The school had four days of auditions — Alexander’s came on the last day. During her audition, she had to participate in a ballet and modernrepertoire class, as well as an interview. Overall, it took four hours to complete. Of the thousands of applications, Alexander was one of just 12 girls selected for the program. “Right now, it’s still very surreal — I just accepted the offer two days ago (Wednesday, April 7), which is crazy to think about that I will be going to The Juilliard School in the fall,” Alexander said. “I couldn’t have made it this far without a lot of people behind me and pushing me through it all. I definitely have a lot of support, and I’m very, very thankful for that.”

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THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021

Max Schaked wins oration competition EXCERPTS n “As a united people, our duty and obligation to the U.S. government is to understand the extent of power the Constitution grants the public so we can properly exercise that power for the betterment and development of our great nation.” n “First, we must dive deep into the constitutional provisions that give us power; second, explore our unique opportunities to express that power, ranging from voting to being voted for — before finally, understanding the negative repercussions that come with an ignorance of citizen capability.” n “Let’s face it — we’re special. We’re powerful. And we’ve got to embrace that specifically in our interactions with government.” n “When the government, and those it governs, interact without one having the ‘leg up,’ that is where true democracy happens.”

AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

Public speaking is close to the top of the list of Max Schaked’s favorite activities. And this time, it has earned him thousands of dollars in scholarship money. The 17-year-old Lake Highland Preparatory School senior won $9,000 in prize money in the American Legion Oratorical Contest by writing a thought-provoking speech that bested competitors representing more than 300 American Legion posts statewide. “I absolutely love speaking,” Schaked said. “I love inspiring people through what I’m about to say. (It lets) people learn something and can potentially influence other people’s life. People came up to me afterward and said not only do they appreciate what I said but they are going to utilize it.” His speech focused on the importance of citizens recognizing “the power of the people.” “I don’t think people understand the power of our rights,” he said. “I think we can use that power … (to) bring a balance, a greater balance to these interactions. Whereas, a lot of people think today that government is this scary figure that has this power over the people. I think once we understand the power, it’s not so scary anymore, and we can have these positive mental interactions that will help our nation — and help the individuals, as well.” Schaked represented Post 63 and Winter Garden at all levels of the national competition and excelled at each. After being declared the top speaker at the post level, he continued winning at the district and eastern area levels before taking first place at the state competition. There he earned $2,500. The national contest was canceled because of COVID-19; otherwise, Schaked would have been in the running for $28,000 in scholarships. Instead, he received another $5,000 from American Legion National. “We are all very confident — had (American Legion) National been able to hold the competition this year — that he would’ve clearly been a strong contender to win the national title,” American Legion Post 63 Commander Kurt Gies said. “This was evidenced from the comments made by the judges at all levels that he competed in. Post 63 is proud of his efforts.” Schaked is a member of the Speech and Debate Team at Lake Highland Prep and has been engaging in public speaking since the eighth grade. This year, all speech and debate events were held virtually. “When I spoke over Zoom, it didn’t have the same effect,” he said. “Even the presence of it, the fun of it, the adventure. So, I kept looking for opportunities to speak in public.” He said the American Legion contest interested him because the competitions were held in person, and he has become friends with many of the members of Post 63. “It’s a relationship with the American Legion that I’m very proud of and I’ll continue to hold on to,” Schaked said. “The people I’ve met through the American Legion have been incredible on

my journey. Right after I left the state competition, the first thing I did was call (Gies) up. He’s been a great mentor and a great friend throughout the process.” The money earned will go toward Schaked’s college education. He hasn’t decided on a school, but he has his eyes on the West Coast. “I applied for Stanford University; that’s where I would absolutely love to go,” he said. “I would love to major in international diplomacy, global studies, definitely international focused. I definitely want to be a diplomat. I want to work for the state department or the NSA. That would be an incredible path to travel down. “I set the bar very high for

Courtesy

Max Schaked took first place in the American Legion’s state oratorical competition.

myself, and it will push me every day to get there,” he said. “I’ll never be comfortable.” The American Legion Oratorical Contest is designed to allow high school students the chance to develop deeper knowledge and appreciation for the U.S. Constitution. Student orators earn college scholarships, and the overall national contest winner typically gets a $25,000 scholarship. “The message itself was a great message, a very inspiring message,” Schaked said. “I think a lot of people enjoyed my speaking presence in the room. I’ve been working on this for years.” He is the son of Aileen and Edgar Schaked, of Windermere.

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The 17-year-old Windermere resident sets a high bar for himself, whether it’s winning multiple levels of a speech contest or mapping out plans to become a diplomat.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021

Billue: Homeless tsunami is ‘now upon us’ Matthew Hope’s founder Scott Billue — and others — discussed their worries about the homeless situation around the area, which has been made worse by COVID-19. TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR

There is a homeless crisis, and the only way to combat it is through the community coming together with leadership from local government. That was the message from Matthew Hope’s founder Scott Billue during the Ocoee City Commission meeting Tuesday, April 6. During a lengthy commentsfrom-the-public portion of the night, Billue — as well as a halfdozen others — spoke out about the current homeless situation and asked the city for whatever help Matthew’s Hope could get. “As recently as May 2019, I warned the local media that we should be preparing for homeless tsunami, and that tsunami is now upon us — the pandemic has simply accelerated this to fruition, sooner than expected,” Billue said. “Soon, the rental moratorium will be lifted, and more average families and individuals will be forced into their cars and onto our streets. “I’m hoping our elected public servants and those hired to serve our community will come together to develop a triage plan for what is currently unfolding in our community,” he said. “And from there, develop long-term plans while engaging other local municipalities.” Billue also condemned the arrest of homeless people and the trespass of homeless camps

IN OTHER NEWS

n This year’s title of mayor pro tem went from Commissioner Larry Brinson to Commissioner Rosemary Wilsen. n Commissioners appointed themselves as commission liaisons to a number of boards. The only changes made were Commissioner George Oliver making the move from the board for the police to the Human Resources Diversity Board; Brinson switching from the Personnel Board to the board for police; and Mayor Rusty Johnson switching from the HRDB to the Personnel Board.

— claiming those actions will not help. He finished by zeroing in on Mayor Rusty Johnson regarding an incident that took place before Tuesday’s meeting. In a Facebook video posted Friday, April 2, Billue said he had met with Johnson and other local representatives from other municipalities via a Zoom conference. Billue said Johnson spoke about Sunshine Law and other things. At the time, Commissioner George Oliver was also on the call — Oliver said he did not realize Johnson had joined on — before quickly yielding his time and leaving the meeting. Because of the state’s Sunshine Law, commissioners from

the same government body cannot discuss matters of public business in such a setting. The triage suggestion by Billue is to approach property owners where homeless camps are known to be set up and offer to put portable toilets and dumpsters on the property. This would be a temporary solution while a long-term plan is developed, Billue said. “We go out there, and we say, ‘You know you have a homeless people on your property?’ And 99.9% of the time they say, ‘Yes, we do,’” Billue said. “‘Well, do you have a problem with them?’ (And they say), ‘Not really.’ Most of them don’t — not until all of a sudden, they feel … harassed by code enforcement about the trash and then they get fined, and then they start getting fined, and all of a sudden they don’t want anything to do with it.” Johnson repeated what he said he had told Billue during their conference — that if he could get three votes from the commission, as well as the approval from the folks who owned property, he would be in full support of the initiative. “I called Winter Garden Mayor John Rees, I talked with one of the other commissioners, and I talked with (Winter Garden City Manager) Mike Bollhoefer — we’re getting a group together to do some stuff to work on homelessness,” Johnson said. “They’re all in favor of doing that.”

ORANGE COUNTY, CITIES DISCUSS HOMELESS ISSUE After learning that folks have been issued trespass notices at more than a dozen homeless camps in Ocoee and Winter Garden, Orange County District 1 Commissioner Nicole Wilson has stepped in to see what can be done. Wilson was among participants in a March 31 WebEx meeting that also included her senior aide, Lee-Alyse Perry; Ocoee Mayor Rusty Johnson; Winter Garden City Manager Mike Bollhoefer; and Scott Billue and Shelley Bradford from the Matthew’s Hope homeless ministry. The invitation indicated the meeting was “to discuss transition support for ... Ocoee and see if we can have a discussion on how to get ahead of evacuations of homeless camps.” “I felt there was some acknowledgement of where the trespasses were happening, and I felt there was some really good planning going on,” Wilson said. “It was sort of a nuts-and-bolts problem-solving conversation.” The homeless have been trespassed from the properties on which they have set up temporary housing primarily because the city of Ocoee is fining the landowners for code violations stemming from the trash on their property, she said. Wilson said she spoke with the owner. “He’s been put in a horrible situation, and he cares, but he just doesn’t have a lot of options

at this point,” she said. Billue’s solution is for the municipalities to give property owners permission to put portable toilets and garbage receptacles in the areas. He said Matthew’s Hope would take on the responsibility of emptying the trash bins. “It was a very productive meeting — trying to find ways to protect property owners and the residents who live in the area and be as kind and decent as possible for those who are housing challenged,” Wilson said. She has offered the county’s wraparound services whenever there is a need. “There needs to be a collaborative effort between the municipalities,” Wilson said. “We’ve got to do something. I think it’s going to be even worse when the eviction moratorium runs out.” She said there is a need for an advisory group that would include municipal leaders, nonprofits and churches. “The closest (shelter) is 11 miles away,” she said. “We really need a place in West Orange County. … We are human beings, and that transcends county lines and city lines, and we have to help each other and will get more done if we all group together. We are dealing with limited resources and unlimited needs, but we’ll get more done working together.” — Amy Quesinberry

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ORANGE COUNTY COMMISSION WILSON FACEBOOK LIVE 4 to 5 p.m. Fridays on Facebook, facebook.com/NicoleWilsonD1. The purpose of these live office hours is to pull back the curtain of local government and help residents learn about what goes on behind the scenes once an elected official is sworn into office. WINDERMERE FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays at Town Hall, 520 Main St., Windermere. Use the entrance along West Sixth Avenue. Masks and social distancing are required; leashed pets are always welcome. For more, visit town.windermere.fl.us.

SATURDAY, APRIL 17

DOWNTOWN WINTER GARDEN ARTS IN APRIL 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. in Downtown Winter Garden. This will be a daylong event throughout historic downtown featuring children’s art, sidewalk chalk art, Plein-Air artists and more. The festivities start in the morning with the Winter Garden Farmers Market and continue into the evening, with the downtown streets artistically lit up. In addition, Winter Garden will offer a ticketed VIP Night, which will include access to specially curated venues downtown, annual membership in the WGAA and a voucher for drinks at featured locations. Visit downtownwg.com/arts-in-april. WINE TOUR 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 17, at The Grove Orlando, 4750-4757 The Grove Drive, Windermere. For more, visit thegroveorlando.com. WINTER GARDEN FARMERS MARKET 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays at the downtown pavilion, 104 S. Lakeview Ave., Winter Garden. For more, visit downtownwg.com.

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021

MONDAY, APRIL 20

ROTARY CLUB OF WINDERMERE Meets at 6:54 a.m. Tuesdays at Windermere Town Hall, 520 Main St., Windermere. For more, visit windermererotary.org.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21

WINDERMERE ACTIVE YOUTH “W.A.Y.” COMMITTEE MEETING Meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 21, at Windermere Town Hall, 520 Main St., Windermere. For more, visit town.windermere.fl.us.

SATURDAY, APRIL 24

BUBBLY ON THE BOARDWALK 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, April 24, at Oakland Nature Preserve, 747 Machete Trail, Oakland. Celebrate Earth Day with this unique stroll on the 2/3mile Healthy West Orange Boardwalk to Lake Apopka. Enjoy the flora and fauna of the wetlands as you make your way to the Lake Pavilion, where you will find bubbly and desserts along with other wine choices. Relax as you enjoy the colors of the lake and watch the birds over the water. Limited to 100 guests. In order to heed social distancing concerns, indicate the time you would like to attend. Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather. If you choose a later time, don’t forget your flashlight. Open to ages 21 and older. Cost is $25. For more, visit oaklandnaturepreserve.org. CALADIUMS, CANVASES & COFFEE 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 24, at Nehrling Gardens, 2267 Hempel Ave., Gotha. This morning will feature a stroll, coffee, mimosas, pastries and live music. Plein-air artists will demonstrate their techniques, and a selection of original art will be available for bidding in an online auction. Cost is $20 in advance and $25 day of the event. Visit nehrlinggardens.org.

Protect Yourself and the Environment with Lake Apopka Natural Gas District Every April, Lake Apopka Natural Gas District (LANGD) joins thousands of public natural gas utilities across the country to celebrate National Safe Digging Month – educating and reminding people to call 811 before starting any digging or excavation project. In case you’re unfamiliar, 811 is the national call-before-you-dig phone number and plays an essential role in keeping communities safe. According to Common Ground Alliance, nearly two in five U.S. homeowners will put themselves and their communities at risk in 2021 by digging without calling 811 first. In fact, underground utilities are damaged every six minutes. If you have plans to dig in Florida, whether it be a major home renovation or simply planting your favorite spring flower, it’s important to call 811, or submit an online ticket at Sunshine811. com at least two business days before you plan to put a shovel in the ground. Doing so will ensure that the locations of underground utilities will be marked off with paint or flags, so no one unintentionally disrupts an underground utility line. For LANGD, safety is always topof-mind for its customers, community and indispensable field workers. 2020 marked the 10th consecutive year the utility was named a winner of the APGA’s Safety Management Excellence Award for consistently operating safely at the highest levels. By calling 811 before you dig, you can do your part to keep the Apopka, Clermont and Winter Garden areas safe for residents and visitors alike. In addition to National Safe Digging Month, LANGD will also celebrate Earth Day April 22 to educate local communities about

To learn more about making the switch to natural gas, visit www. langd.org, call the LANGD marketing team at (407) 656-2734, ext. 307, or email marketing@langd.org.

the environmental benefits natural gas has to offer. Over the last two years, natural gas has been a hot topic in the United States and many common misconceptions have spread about its key characteristics. Natural gas is an important component in our world’s energy supply, and over 6 million homes and businesses nationwide use natural gas through a public utility. Natural gas is also the cleanest-burning fossil fuel and research shows that natural gas releases 45% less carbon emissions than coal and 30% less carbon emissions than oil. Alex Epstein, author of The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels, argues that, when it comes to natural gas, we usually only hear one side of the story. He says we are taught to think of the negatives of fossil fuels, their risks and side effects, but not their positives, which include the ability to provide affordable and reliable energy. On Earth Day, and every day, LANGD is committed to providing factual information about natural gas for all the communities it serves. If you’re looking for an energy mix that is abundant and cost-friendly, natural gas might be the right fit for you. Want to learn more about National Safe Digging Month and the eco-friendly benefits of natural gas? Visit Sunshine811.com or contact a member of the Lake Apopka Natural Gas District team today.

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR

FRIDAY, APRIL 16

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021

REAL ESTATE

OBSERVER

First Baptist Church Pastor Tim Grosshans 125 E. Plant St, Winter Garden (407) 656-2352 Sundays: 8:30 AM Traditional 9:45 AM Bible Study 11 AM Contemporary Wednesdays: 6 PM Awana 2nd Campus: First Baptist Church @Horizon West 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

CHURCH OF GOD

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

The home at 7724 Minutemen Loop, Winter Garden, sold April 7, for $1.88 million. This lakefront home sits on 1.55 acres on Lake Hancock.

Overlook at Hamlin sells for $1.88 million A

EPISCOPAL

Church of the Messiah 241 N. Main St., Winter Garden Services: 8, 9:30, & 11 AM., 7 PM www.ChurchoftheMessiah.com

METHODIST

First United Methodist Church 125 N. Lakeview Ave., Winter Garden (407) 656-1135 Services: 9 AM Contemporary 11:15 AM Traditional Viewable on YouTube

home in the Overlook

HORIZON WEST

at Hamlin community

The home at 11707 Sprawling Oak Drive, Windermere, sold April 9, for $570,000. Built in 2016, it has four bedrooms, three-andone-half baths and 3,074 square feet. The price per square foot is $185.43. Days on market: 60.

in Horizon West topped all West Orange-area residential real-estate transactions from April 3 to

utemen Loop, Winter

The home at 11620 Ashlin Park Blvd., Windermere, sold April 9, for $420,000. Built in 2016, it has five bedrooms, three-andone-half baths and 2,396 square feet. The price per square foot is $175.29. Days on market: 22.

Garden, sold April 7, for

ENCLAVE AT BERKSHIRE PARK

April 9. The home at 7724 Min-

NON-DENOMINATIONAL Purpose Church Orlando 13640 W Colonial Dr. Ste 110, Winter Garden (407) 654-9661 Sunday Service: 10:05 AM Sunday Brazilian Service: 7 PM Saturday Service: 6 PM www.purposechurchorlando.org

$1.88 million. Built in 2015, it has five bedrooms, six-and-one-half baths, a pool and 5,916 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $317.78. Days on market: 61. These are the highestselling homes in each community in West Or-

For those ready to take advantage of our Moving Forward Program, the following is a partial list of assistance available through our Program.

ange.

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INDEPENDENCE/ SIGNATURE LAKES

The home at 15011 Gaulberry Run, Winter Garden, sold April 5, for $1.2 million. Built in 2013, it has six bedrooms, six baths, a pool and 4,937 square feet. The price per square foot is $243.06. Days on market: 172. LAKE BURDEN SOUTH

The home at 11642 Brickyard Pond Lane, Windermere, sold April 5, for $570,000. Built in 2014, it has five bedrooms, fourand-one-half baths and 3,489 square feet. The price per square foot is $163.37. Days on market: 15.

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The home at 7332 Colbury Ave., Windermere, sold April 8, for $470,000. Built in 2009, it has four bedrooms, three-and-onehalf baths and 2,699 square feet. The price per square foot is $174.14. Days on market: Four.

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OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021

three baths and 2,127 square feet. The price per square foot is $188.06. Days on market: One.

LAKESHORE PRESERVE

The home at 8824 Lakeshore Pointe Drive E., Winter Garden, sold April 7, for $1,274,995. Built in 2016, it has five bedrooms, four-and-one-half baths and 3,811 square feet. The price per square foot is $334.56. Days on market: 224.

OVERLOOK 2 AT HAMLIN

The home at 5329 Bowman Drive, Winter Garden, sold April 9, for $600,000. Built in 2015, it has four bedrooms, two-andone-half baths, a pool and 2,917 square feet. The price per square foot is $205.69. Days on market: Three.

The condo at 11564 Mizzon Drive, No. 107, Windermere, sold April 8, for $225,000. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,455 square feet. The price per square foot is $154.64. Days on market: Four.

PEACHTREE PARK

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The home at 8725 Peachtree Park Court, Windermere, sold April 9, for $616,200. Built in 2016, it has six bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 3,146 square feet. The price per square foot is $195.87. Days on market: Three.

LATHAM PARK SOUTH

The home at 9112 Merlon Drive, Winter Garden, sold April 5, for $550,000. Built in 2019, it has four bedrooms, three-and-onehalf baths and 3,090 square feet. The price per square foot is $177.99. Days on market: Two.

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The home at 7519 Bluejack Oak Drive sold April 6, for $540,000. Built in 2016, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths, a pool and 2,385 square feet. The price per square foot is $226.42. Days on market: Two.

ORCHARD HILLS

The home at 14669 Magnolia Ridge Loop, Winter Garden, sold April 6, for $477,500. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,218 square feet. The price per square foot is $215.28. Days on market: Three.

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The home at 10157 Shallow Water Drive sold April 8, for $448,000. Built in 2018, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,117 square feet. The price per square foot is $211.62. Days on market: Five.

The home at 13989 Magnolia Ridge Loop, Winter Garden, sold April 7, for $388,000. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,040 square feet. The price per square foot is $190.20. Days on market: Four.

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WESTSIDE VILLAGE

The home at 12814 Westside Village Loop sold April 5, for $474,000. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, three-andone-half baths and 3,085 square feet. The price per square foot is $153.65. Days on market: 53.

ORCHARD PARK

The home at 3067 Cherry Orchard Lane, Winter Garden, sold April 8, for $400,000. Built in 2018, it has four bedrooms,

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LAKESIDE AT LAKES OF WINDERMERE

We welcome you to share in the fun of our online event as we showcase what West Orange Habitat for Humanity has been working on this past year, and what exciting things are to come! Join us for our very exciting online silent and live auctions to support building homes for families! You won’t want to miss it!

www.westorangehabitat.org www.facebook.com/WestOrangeHabitatForHumanity

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OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

REAL ESTATE

The greatest compliment you can give is a referral!

The home at 11168 Ledgement Lane, Windermere, sold April 8, for $560,000. Built in 2003, it has five bedrooms, three-andone-half baths and 2,788 square feet. The price per square foot is $200.86. Days on market: 13.

WINDSTONE

The home at 6801 Trellis Vine Loop, Windermere, sold April 5, for $530,000. Built in 2017, it has five bedrooms, three-andone-half baths and 3,110 square feet. The price per square foot is $170.42. Days on market: 70.

WINDERMERE

CHAINE DU LAC

OCOEE

The home at 3437 Cocard Court, Windermere, sold April 9, for $1,157,500. Built in 1996, it has six bedrooms, four-and-one-half baths, a pool and 4,878 square feet. The price per square foot is $237.29. Days on market: 286.

CRESTWOOD HEIGHTS

The townhouse at 1034 Crestwood Commons Ave., Ocoee, sold April 7, for $300,000. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,212 square feet. The price per square foot is $135.62. Days on market: Three.

KEENE’S POINTE

The home at 5957 Caymus Loop, No. 1, Windermere, sold April 9, for $669,000. Built in 2003, it has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 2,863 square feet. The price per square foot is $233.67. Days on market: 103.

REFLECTIONS

The home at 871 Cool Springs Circle, Ocoee, sold April 5, for $315,000. Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,884 square feet. The price per square foot is $167.20. Days on market: 18.

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The home at 2012 Bellamere Court, Windermere, sold April 7, for $1.799 million. Built in 2020, it has five bedrooms, five-andone-half baths, a pool and 4,688 square feet. The price per square foot is $383.75. Days on market: 338. CASBELLA

The home at 4095 Isabella Circle, Windermere, sold April 7, for $1.83 million. Built in 2017, it has five bedrooms, five baths, two half-baths, a pool and 5,423 square feet. The price per square foot is $337.45. Days on market: 10.

The home at 11057 Coniston Way, Windermere, sold April 8, for $1.25 million. Built in 2005, it has five bedrooms, four-andone-half baths, a pool and 5,485 square feet. The price per square foot is $227.89. Days on market: 114. WILLOWS AT LAKE RHEA

The home at 11469 Willow Gardens Drive, Windermere, sold April 5, for $1.225 million. Built in 1994, it has six bedrooms, four-and-one-half baths, a pool and 7,000 square feet. The price per square foot is $175. Days on market: Seven. WINDERMERE

The home at 3000 Bird Lane,

Windermere, sold April 7, for $1 million. Built in 1995, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths, a pool and 3,848 square feet. The price per square foot is $259.88. Days on market: Three. WINDSOR HILL

The home at 9560 Crown Prince Lane, Windermere, sold April 9, for $664,000. Built in 2002, it has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,337 square feet. The price per square foot is $198.98. Days on market: Zero.

WINTER GARDEN CANOPY OAKS

The home at 749 Canopy Estates Drive, Winter Garden, sold April 5, for $960,000. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, four-andone-half baths, a pool and 3,624 square feet. The price per square foot is $264.90. Days on market: 175. JOHNS LAKE POINTE

The home at 646 Marsh Reed Drive, Winter Garden, sold April 8, for $500,000. Built in 2014, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 3,096 square feet. The price per square foot is $161.50. Days on market: 20. The home at 549 Marsh Reed Drive, Winter Garden, sold April 7, for $405,000. Built in 2014, it has four bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 2,331 square feet. The price per square foot is $173.75. Days on market: Three. LAKE AVALON HEIGHTS

The home at 3421 Rex Drive sold April 7, for $499,817. Built in 1985, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,904 square feet. The price per square foot is $262.51. Days on market: Five.

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OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021

CGI WINDOWS & DOORS LAUNCHES STATEWIDE CONTEST to

Celebrate

Meet Our 2020 Winners JOAN SAINT-HILAIRE a Cutler Bay, Florida, kindergarten teacher is passionate about being a teacher, but it’s what she does above and beyond her everyday teaching responsibilities that really sets her apart. For 26 years, she’s been advocating for her students, feeding those who are short on food, and making house visits to deliver school supplies.

KATIE LIZANA is a fourth-generation watchmaker who has been sewing to save health care professionals’ ears after hearing that many nurses and doctors were experiencing discomfort due to the loops and restrictions of their surgical masks. The Hollywood, Florida resident developed an ear-saving product prototype and has crafted and customized thousands of complimentary medical mask attachments for health care workers across the country.

DEMI GENAO is a registered nurse at Broward Health Medical Center, works 12hour shifts three days a week. She

typically arrives home exhausted but that doesn’t stop her from buying and hand-delivering groceries to the elderly in her community during her time off.

into a statewide contest to recognize heroes across Florida who go above and beyond to help others.

JARREL STRONG

“Our first CGI Heroes campaign in 2020 resulted in hundreds of stories of individuals demonstrating strength and compassion in South Florida. When we saw how the winning stories brought hope to the communities and encouraged others to also take steps to serve those in need around them, we were inspired to expand our contest to the entire state,” said Bob Keller, President of the Southeast Business Unit for PGT Innovations. “It will be our honor to acknowledge the efforts being performed by everyday heroes all over Florida and to highlight their contributions to their communities.”

a Miami-native, is compelled to help the homeless. He saw the need for daily resources and food for those living on the streets. He personally hand delivers meals in to-go containers, complete with utensils, that feed about 300 men and women in Overtown, Florida.

These compassionate everyday heroes were the first four winners in the 2020 CGI Heroes: Celebrating Strength contest, which recognized Miami-area residents who demonstrated selflessness within their community. Each of the chosen heroes were awarded a $2,000 cash prize for their efforts. This year, Hialeah-based CGI Windows & Doors, part of the PGT Innovations family of brands, is expanding its successful “CGI Heroes: Celebrating Strength” initiative

Now through April 22, individuals can nominate a full-time Florida resident as a “community hero” at www.cgiwindows.com/heroes. Four new CGI Heroes will be recognized and each awarded a $1,000 cash prize. After that, a statewide public online voting period will determine the grand prize winner who will be presented with a $5,000 cash prize.

Do you know someone who’s gone above and beyond to help others in your community? Nominate them today at www.cgiwindows.com/heroes for CGI Windows and Doors’ Celebrating Strength contest.

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021

Florida DOE waives testing rules for graduation, grades Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran signed into action Friday, April 9, an emergency ordinance that will have significant effects for students. The seven-page document addresses, among other items, promotion and retention decisions; third-grade promotion; and the waiving of school-testing rules. “School districts and charter school governing boards are authorized to determine promotion and final course grades in classes with state end-ofcourse (EOC) exams, based solely on the student’s performance in the course, including in instances where the student does not have a score from the EOC exam,” the ordinance states. In cases regarding retention, the decision on whether to require a child to repeat a grade solely for academic reasons must be determined by the school’s principal — following a review of the student’s academic record, with input from parents and teachers, the document states. Meanwhile, for third-grade promotion, the document states that a student may be “promoted to grade four, regardless of the absence of an English Language Arts (ELA) assessment score or the absence of a Level 2 or higher ELA score, if the district is able to determine that a student is performing at least at Level 2 on the ELA assessment through the good cause exemption process provided in s. 1008.25, Fla. Stat.” The third and final key point in the document relates to graduation waivers for currently enrolled students who are expected to graduate this spring. Normally, students are expected to pass testing to graduate, but for those graduating this spring, testing requirements now can be waived.

DONNA LYLE

WATER SPRING ELEMENTARY At Water Spring Elementary, Donna Lyle wears many hats and has a passion for serving others. It’s why she recently was recognized by the district as an Outstanding Community Involvement Coordinator for the ADDitions and Partners in Education programs, for which she received a crystal award. School staff said Lyle influences students’ lives and the community in a positive way on a daily basis, and she donates hundreds of volunteer hours.

What brought you to your school? In 2019, I heard Orange County was opening a new elementary school in Horizon West but did not know at the time the administration team would be posted at the school I was currently working in. As I saw them do their work and became acquainted with them, I knew I wanted to be a part of this amazing group of people. What do you love most about your school? I love so much about Water Spring Elementary, but my most favorite part is definitely the people I work with. Working the front desk provides me unique opportunity to work hand-in-hand not only with the staff but also with the families of our students and the students themselves. Whether it be as simple as getting a student from class so they can leave early or as big as easing a nervous mom’s mind who is new to the area, helping others is one of the most gratifying things about this job.

REPORT CARD ROLE: Front office clerk, ADDitions coordinator and Partners in Education coordinator TIME AT SCHOOL: Two years at Water Spring; 10 with OCPS

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OBSERVER

INFLUENCER OF THE WEEK

What is your motivation? I have been volunteering since before I became an employee with OCPS. When my children were in school, I was a room mom, and I always volunteered in any other way I could, including PTO events. I still enjoy volunteering even though I am an employee. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, my volunteering has taken on a different shape that I have really enjoyed. I have been able to honor our LaunchEd students with their Student of the Month and Honor Roll certificates and prizes by delivering them to their door! What do you like to do in your spare time? I love the sunshine! So, in my spare time, I love to go to the beach and hang out in my pool. Anything that provides me special time to love on my family and serve them is my favorite thing. Who was your favorite teacher when you were in school? Why? My favorite teacher was my fifthgrade teacher, Mr. Davis. He was very easy to talk to, and I could tell he had a love for children, and he

loved me. I learned so much from him. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Why? When I was young, I only had a few chances to travel outside my city. I always wanted to be a flight attendant, so I could see the world and mingle with people. Who would you say is your biggest inspiration and why? My biggest inspiration was my mother. She was a single parent who had polio and did not drive, yet she raised three children all on her own. We moved to Florida when my parents divorced, and we had a tough life, but my mother sacrificed to give us what we needed. She always put others first and would do anything for anyone. My dream in life was to be the best mom to my children like she was for me and my sisters. She set a wonderful example for me.

NOMINATE YOUR INFLUENCER

— DANIELLE HENDRIX

Do you have an “unsung hero” at your school? If so, please nominate him or her for our Influencer of the Week feature. Nominations can be sent via email to contact@orangeobserver.com.

OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021

OBSERVER SCHOOL ZONE

Foundation par-tees on

Eileen and David Buckles Left: Chad and Sara Sundermeyer, and Rebecca and John Weiss Angel Whitehead and Luanne Lumpkins

ozens of Foundation Academy staff and supporters gathered to support the school’s athletics department Sunday, April 11, at the Golden Bear Club at Keene’s Pointe. Par-Tee Gala attendees enjoyed a two-hour event packed with entertainment, dinner and a silent auction. Toward the end of the night, guests were treated to a brief ballroomdancing performance from Foundation Academy President David Buckles and his wife, Eileen — an incentive for reaching a fundraising goal that evening.

Val and Scott Michael

ONLINE

— DANIELLE HENDRIX

See more photos at OrangeObserver.com

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021

THESE OLD TIMES

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION

THROWBACK THURSDAY APRIL 15, 1971 When Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom theme park was coming to town, The Winter Garden Times chronicled the development and construction every step of the way. The front page of the April 15, 1971, issue featured one of the first peeks at the Monorail train when the first section was lowered onto one of 337 concrete beams by handlers and technicians of the Martin-Marietta Company, which built the five-section trains. The six trains were reported to be noiseless and run 45 mph on the 20-foot-high beams when taking guests to and from the 2,500-acre theme park, the Contemporary ResortHotel, the Polynesian Village and the Magnolia 18-hole golf courses.

85 years ago

Used vehicles: 1931 Hudson sedan, $175; 1928 Essex sedan, $100; 1935 Austin panel truck, $250; Fordson tractor, $125; and 1931 Chrysler sedan, $175. Miss Bessie Campbell and her brother, “Humpy,” returned from New Port Richey, where, with their mother, Mrs. A.L. Campbell, they had been the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Britt. Winter Garden was definitely pledged into the Lake-Orange Baseball League with games slated against Leesburg, Kissimmee, Mount Dora, Clermont, Apopka, Umatilla and Eustis. Merchants and businessmen pledged suits for the players.

80 years ago

The Winter Garden Flower Show attracted many visitors. The sweepstakes winner, Mrs. Harold Tilden, received a plant. “Footloose,” the annual senior play, was presented. The roles were played by George Eby, Evelyn Stevens, Margaret Cappleman, Elmer Youngblood, Lydia Tilden, Lela Henderson, Wilson Griffith, Grace Brown and Aaron Moore. Proceeds from the play were designated for the gym fund.

70 years ago

E.M. Henderson was to take the office of postmaster in Winter Garden. Mrs. J.S. Kirton was the retiring postmistress.

CROSSWORD

FROM THE ARCHIVES This photograph, taken on April 15, 1979, shows the construction of Winter Garden’s Municipal Complex, which included City Hall and the police department. In 2008, rapid growth necessitated the need for the larger structure that stands at 300 W. Plant St., although the police department still stands at the site. The Winter Garden Heritage Foundation archive preserves thousands of photographs covering West Orange County’s history beginning in the 19th century. Call (407) 656-3244 to schedule a research appointment or to add to the collection.

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.

55 years ago

The new Winter Garden Inn sign signals the impending opening of Winter Garden’s finest motel and can be seen from either direction of State Road 50. It will advertise the city, as well as the motel and restaurant.

50 years ago

Windermere funnyman Winston K. Pendleton advertised his latest book, “2,121 Funny Stories and How to Tell Them,” for $5.95. Helen Watson was slated to be the new principal of Tildenville Elementary School. She

WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON? by Jacob Stulberg; Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Home of the NCAA’s Hurricanes 6 Network based in London 9 Go up and down 12 Shows respect, in a way 16 Gaming destination 18 Rest ___ (road trip stop) 20 Tuna type 21 Lag behind 22 *Golfer Bubba 23 *Antagonistic pair from detective fiction 26 “Dear” guys 28 Shaggy grazer 29 Billboard, e.g. 30 Former Texas governor

Richards 33 Bespectacled dwarf 34 Berets and bowlers 36 Low organ part 39 *Antagonistic pair from DC comics 45 *Bird symbolizing spring 47 Inscribe 48 Unlock 49 Affordable furniture chain 51 Desirable bond rating 52 London neighborhood 53 Heap 55 Like chewy apricots 56 Far from flabby 57 With 75-Across, interpersonal advice depicted four

times in this puzzle? 62 Reunion attendee, for short 63 Forecast extremes 64 Magical marks 65 Dog with long white hair 68 All alternative 69 Supplied with steam, say 72 Hawaiian veranda 73 Rink leap 74 Parched 75 See 57-Across 83 Keeps out 84 Shapes, as clay 85 Hurdle for a future J.D. 86 Beehive State natives 88 Self-study concept?

89 It’s sometimes played with elephants 90 Group such as Cream 92 Plant with trendy seeds 93 *Playwright Pirandello 96 *Antagonistic pair from Nintendo games 101 John Quincy ___ 103 Lovers’ squabble 104 Palindromic night 105 Org. that issues important cards 106 Blacken, perhaps 108 “Lovecraft Country” network 109 Word after “field” or “stretch”

111 *Antagonistic pair from a sitcom 118 *Name before or after “vs.,” in a 1979 film title 122 Like kites that can fly without wind 123 Nickname hidden in “lava lamp” 124 ___ market (swap meet’s kin) 12 “Play one last song!” 126 Ibuprofen target 127 Noob’s opposite 128 Swarm 129 Repaired, like a rip DOWN 1 It might be gaping 2 Long-term investment letters 3 Stop dilly-dallying 4 Body ___ index 5 Excited response to “Who wants candy?” 6 Cry before “Humbug!” 7 Frat guy 8 Picture of Pluto, say? 9 Lounge in the sun 10 Volt/ampere 11 Dating site data 12 Marlon of “The Godfather” 13 Galley propeller 14 Wisecracking sort 15 Crafty 17 Energy company in 2001 headlines 19 “The Valley of Amazement” author 21 Hobbes, in “Calvin and Hobbes” 24 Right on the map? 25 Tear 27 Chem., for one 30 Mimics 31 Verboten 32 Specialized market 34 Bouncing off the walls 35 “The Simpsons” grandpa 37 Otter’s food 38 Made a connection (with) 40 Loafer or sneaker 41 What’s raised during some arguments? 42 Bogs down 43 Similar (to)

previously was the head of the Home Economics Department at Lakeview High and had been a teacher at Windermere Elementary. Windermere resident Don Shaw was named principal at Hiawassee Elementary.

44 More than want 46 Holly and Jasmine 50 Free app woes 53 Gomer of ‘60s TV 54 Poker pot promises 55 South Asian festival of lights 56 Talk while intoxicated 58 Cookout spot 59 Moves a muscle? 60 Composer Ned 61 Words to live by 65 Nicaragua’s capital 66 Humanoid robot 67 Presents in detail, with “out” 69 Reject 70 Marine predator 71 Go limp 72 Categorize 73 Slashed conjunction 76 MLB figure in a mask 77 Dormitory division 78 Eponymous 1969 Fitzgerald album 79 Playwright T.S. 80 Use a straw 81 Cultural spirit 82 Leader’s “handful” 87 It’s a long story 90 Fill to capacity 91 Nutritional abbr. 94 Certain meter reader 95 “That is ...” 97 Book ID 98 Makeshift pub stool 99 Bring to mind 100 Desires, with “for” 102 ___ Salvador 107 Request to a guest, briefly 108 Biggest city on Hawaii’s Big Island 110 Frilly material 111 Siesta 112 Green of “Casino Royale” 113 2006 Nintendo release 114 Organ with tiny bones 115 Boston’s Liberty Tree was one 116 Lion constellation 117 Bit of goop 119 Cut, as grass 120 Before, in poetry 121 Like some bell peppers

CELEBRITY CIPHER

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

“HYK GCDM KEW HWM OCFWCMW WROW TUZW VCY. MC CMW WZWA GAUSKWG U RPSW DCAKE RPZPMT CM NCAACDWG PMX.” – IUJX XWACYUJ

“YMJF K SKF TCJN FCP KTSXP PMKP MJ XN KF KFXSKU, MJ XN UJNN PMKF KF KFXSKU. FCP SCWJ GIP

– SXBMKJU SBBUIWJ

UJNN.”

Puzzle Two Clue: M equals H

WEST ORANG E HISTO RY

OBSERVER

Puzzle One Clue N equals B

SUDOKU

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

04-15-21

APRIL 15, 2021

SPORTS

Senior Kyle Marquart is enjoying his first full season as a Lion. Page 16.

HIGH

MIGHTY 5 DUCKS

In West Orange softball’s dominating 14-0 win over Edgewater Friday, April 9, freshman outfielder Katie Eversen had a big outing at the plate. She went 3-for-3 with a single, two doubles and four RBIs for the Warriors. In the circle, freshmen Lily Barone and Hailey Seymour threw for a combined one-hitter, with Seymour getting the win.

The First Academy’s Bella Brown was dominant at both the plate and in the circle for the Royals during a 15-0 win over Jones Friday, April 9. At the plate, Brown went 2-for-2 and record five RBIs, while pitching two innings and racking up six strikeouts. Teammates Rachel Sheridan and Bella Reed each had a hit for the Royals. The win moved the Royals to 11-5 on the season.

It was a good day for the West Orange boys volleyball team Thursday, April 8, as the Warriors dispatched rival Dr. Phillips (8-4) in a 3-1 (18-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-14) win. In the win, Michael Housman led the team with 36 assists, while Mile Manwaring recorded 22 kills. Mike McCalister also notched 15 kills for the Warriors (10-2).

The West Orange High junior varsity football team won its first game of the season Wednesday, April 7, in a 9-7 victory over Apopka. In the win, Logan Turner recorded the Warriors’ lone touchdown, which was capped by an extra point by Dylan Rapport. On the defensive side, Jamareus Willis recorded a safety to help lead the Warriors to victory.

Despite Windermere Prep’s 15-9 loss at the hands of Olympia in boys lacrosse Wednesday, April 7, eighth-grader Broden Dold had a big showing for the Lakers. He picked up a team-high six goals while recording two assists. Meanwhile, sophomore Jackson Bennett led the team in assists with five on the night.

Kendrey Maduro takes a few swings during the batting practice portion of his day.

Photos by Troy Herring

Brian Martinez and his staff at TNXL Academy in Ocoee are helping to grow baseball’s next great generation. TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR

n the large, cavernous facility the TNXL Academy calls home — next to Bob Sorenson Fields in Ocoee — Brian Martinez keeps a close eye on everything. As pitchers wind down their morning program inside the facility lovingly known as “The Duck Pond,” the position players in the organization start working their way through weights before getting into the meat of their day. One of those pitchers finishing is Kyle Larsen — a Sanford native committed to play at the University of Florida in the fall. He has been with the program for a while, but there is no burnout — he loves

the game and this place too much for that. “It’s a lot, but it’s fun — obviously — every day,” Larsen said. “I mean, I love it — I’ve been doing it for four years. … I love going there every day and having fun.” In the years since Martinez founded TNXL in 2014, a lot has changed, including how he approaches his business. He loves seeing players in the organization learn, but he also enjoys knowing they are having fun with it. “We’ve learned that it’s just not about baseball with these kids — it’s about being there for them,” said Martinez, a native of Dr. Phillips. “At the beginning, we were like, ‘Man, we have to get them better at SEE TNXL PAGE 16

Owen Flynn works through some pitching exercises during a workout Monday morning.

Olympia girls tennis remains undefeated The Titans came into this season hungry, and it has paid off with a perfect 17-0 regular season.

The Titans have stormed their way to success this season.

TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR

Photo courtesy David Jester Photography

When it comes to unsung teams in the community, one of the biggest this year may be the girls tennis program at Olympia High School. The Titans just finished up the district tournament earlier this week, after press time, but went a perfect 17-0 — 19-0 if you include their two preseason games — during the regular season behind consistent, excellent play from top to bottom.

“I would just say overall we felt really confident throughout the season — like a feeling we didn’t have before — and we all came together to make it happen,” said Lizzie Connor, a senior co-captain who is undefeated on Line 2. “And I’m very confident that the girls coming next year will do the same thing. We have good depth to our team, and we just have a big, great group of girls.” This year’s Titan team is being SEE TITANS PAGE 16

SPORTS SPOTLIGHT

OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021

TNXL prepares its athletes

SPONSORED BY MARK’S FLOORING AND SHANNON TILL/STATE FARM IN FOWLER GROVES

Kyle Marquart

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

A senior on the Foundation Academy baseball team, pitcher Kyle Marquart is in his first full season as a Lion after the 2020 season was cut short. So far this year, Marquart has picked up two wins and has struck out a team second-best 30 batters. He also has given up only one earned run.

When did you first get into baseball? I started in T-ball — which is not really where I fell in love with the game, but got me introduced to it. But as I got older and I started watching the players in the MLB — seeing what they’re doing — and you’re like, “I want to do that.” And then that’s when you kind of fall in love with the game and you work hard to try to get to that level.

baseball,’ and a lot of these kids just want to be with you and be a part of something cool. … I’ve reaped the rewards off that more than I’ve ever made any money or been in any big tournament or won any championships.” STARTING SOMETHING NEW

THE BASICS

Martinez has long been a part of the world of baseball, but the story of TNXL started in 2014

SCHOOL: Foundation Academy GRADE: Senior AGE: 17 SPORT: Baseball POSITION: Pitcher

when he noticed something peculiar. At the time, Martinez was with the Orlando Scorpions travel ball organization — which he helped create — and noticed players in the program dropped by at unusually early hours in the day. “I had a group of about 15 kids (who) were getting out of school early — around 10 a.m. — and they’d come to our facility and I was like, ‘Man, why are you guys

way that we interact is kind of fun. It’s never fun when you show up to a baseball team and there’s just no chemistry and no one gets along. But you don’t see that at Foundation — it’s like a family.

What was it about baseball that you loved so much? My dad played in college, so he was always a big baseball guy. So when I grew up, we always had that in common. It was a good way for us to bond, and I also got to play the game, which I loved to pitch and loved to play baseball, so it was a win-win in that situation.

What’s your favorite part about pitching? The most challenging part? My favorite part about pitching is being able to control the game, because it’s all in your hands — which I like that feeling. I kind of like that feeling of being under pressure, because I feel like it kind of makes me want it more. The biggest challenge about pitching is the mental aspect — not letting things get to you. You walk a guy, so what? Move on.

When did you first start taking pitching seriously? About a year-and-one-half ago, I decided that’s where my heart was, so I took out six months and I trained. I worked on my mechanics, and I really just transformed myself into a pitcher, because that’s what I really love to do.

When you have a tough game, how do you mentally get past that? You have to forget about it, but you also have to learn from your mistakes. You have to learn what you’re doing wrong, but then you have to realize, “That’s over; you have to move on.”

What has been your favorite thing about playing at Foundation the last two years? Honestly, the team — we have so much fun. The

Do you have a favorite pitch that you like to throw? I really like my curveball. When I was learning from my coach back in New Jersey, he was showing me a curveball grip, and I thought — for whatever reason — he said grip it on the two-seam, so that’s what I started throwing. So now I have a two-seam curveball that’s a 12-6, and I love it. — TROY HERRING

Family. Family. Athlete of the Week Sponsored by...

Photo courtesy David Jester Photography

Titans of tennis CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

fueled — in large part — by what happened during its 2020 campaign. When the season ended prematurely, it was especially frustrating for head coach Bubba James, because he knew there was something special with the program in this moment. Luckily for James, his team was hungry and ready to go this year. “After last year, our girls had a heckuva drive in them, (because) their season was cut short,” James said. “We beat West Orange 6-1 on March 13 right before COVID … and it was just shut down and it just killed our hopes, because we had all our pieces of the puzzle in place to make that drive. “We were hoping to continue this drive, and we picked up from where we left off in March last year,” he said. “As a group — we have 19 girls on our varsity and JV teams — it was a team effort. When one girl might be down, the other ones picked each other up.” For another undefeated senior co-captain — Josie Pham, who

plays Line 3 — the 2021 season was about coming in and just going to work. “We came in, and we wanted to win,” Pham said. “I mean, our top three girls are seniors — we wanted to go out with a bang.” Over the summer, the girls spent a lot of time practicing on their own, and some athletes took to doing their own thing during the offseason to stay in shape. Pham took up running cross country with her sister to prepare herself physically for the season. It seems like a proverbial eternity had passed by the time the team had gotten back together for preseason. For Connor, there was excitement in getting back together with her friends, but it also meant readjusting to team life and come together as fast as possible, she said. Although things shaped up quickly and the Titans dominated in preseason play, none of them could have guessed that they would rampage through the year without losing a single match as a team. A big reason for such success after a weird year is because the team has been able to adapt to the circumstances and find new ways of supporting one another, Pham said. “Finding a new form of communication this season was definitely important,” Pham said. “We had to search for a new

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way to show love and support for each other, because I feel like our team bond this year has been stronger than ever despite social-distancing requirements (and) mask requirements. Despite all of that, we were able to grow closer as a team, and I’m proud of that.” During their undefeated run through the regular season, the Titans also were able to accomplish one of their first goals of winning the Metro. “We just chipped down one match at a time — we didn’t look ahead,” James said. “But our first goal as a team is to win the Metro conference and be a champion, and we went 9-0 for that — that was everybody pitching in and helping out.” With the regular season done and the district tournament finished, the concept of this season being their last high school season still feels surreal for Connor and Pham. And when it ends — whether that be in districts or states — they said they will always will look back on their time at Olympia fondly. “I’ve been playing tennis since I was a little girl, and everyone always told me it would go by fast, but when it actually happens, you have to just sit back and be like, ‘Wow, it’s over,’ and you have to take it for what it was,” Connor said. “I’ll never forget high school tennis.”

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showing up so early?’ he said. “And they’re like, ‘We only have two classes.’ That kind of started spurring an idea, and I’m like, ‘Well how are these kids getting out early?’ “Come to find out, they kind of modified their schedules, and they would do one or two classes at school and then they would do Florida Virtual School on the side,” Martinez said. “I was like, ‘Man, this seems like a really good idea to kind of implement

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FEEDING THE CULTURE

Larsen said he and about 10 of those on the Prospect team — the highest-level team, which features older players who are college commits — had been together since that freshman year, so growing in the game together had been one of the biggest highlights of his time at TNXL. That bond over the game and ability to grow is a big selling point for Martinez, who speaks often

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JAMES ROBERTS “JIM” MOSS DIED APRIL 7, 2021

Jim Moss, 50, of Wellington, Florida, died April 7, 2021. Jim was born Oct. 19, 1970, in Orlando, Florida, to William James “Bill” Moss III and Judy Roberts Moss. He attended West Orange High School in Winter Garden, Florida. He continued his education at the University of Florida, graduating with a B.A. in Liberal Arts and Economics. He was a loyal employee for Serta Simmons Company for 25 years. Jim valued and enjoyed spending time with his girls, his family and lifelong friends. He inherited a love and passion for the Gators from his family and was ever so willing to pass that love on to his beautiful girls. He is survived by his wife, Adreana; daughters, Jillian and Isabella; parents, Bill and Judy Moss; sister, Kelly Brown (Mark); and many loving aunts, uncles and cousins. A celebration of life was held Sunday, April 11, 2021, at Christ Fellowship – South Campus, 5312 Northlake Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418. In lieu of flowers, please consider sending a donation to American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in memory of Jim Moss at afsp.org.

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having these kids do a modified school and then train more.” A year later, Martinez was still with the Scorpions, but it was then that TNXL fielded its first team. From there, things started coming together. Martinez — along with pitching coach and business partner Mike Mercadante and catching coach Eddy Rodriguez — put forth a regimen that would reflect the experience players would undertake at the collegiate level. Many days, the schedule starts with schooling before weaving through four or so hours of strength training, defensive work and hitting work. For Larsen — who had been working with Martinez since he was about 9 years old — it took some adjusting to, because this wasn’t a normal school setting. “It was definitely different,” Larsen said. “Obviously coming in as a freshman — I don’t want to say I was nervous — I really didn’t know what to expect. Everybody was great, and … I had known Brian before, so I knew there really wasn’t anything to worry about with him.”

about the importance of building players from top to bottom. “One of the biggest things that we mold our program off is culture,” Martinez said. “If our culture is intact and we’re going after high-character individuals that believe in work ethic, believe in being good young men and understand that it takes a lot to get a college scholarship … if we can start that at a young age so they can understand what our culture is — what being a TNXL Duck is — it just makes the process easier.” In the organization, Martinez offers three different programs: the Prospect team, the Varsity team — which acts as a junior varsity program — and the middle school team. Each group plays a schedule against its own level of competition, although the Prospect team readies its college commits by facing junior college and Division II teams. Martinez said he hopes to install a softball program starting in the fall. As TNXL continues to grow, players such as Larsen will grow right alongside it. That’s why Larsen said he owes a lot to the organization for helping him get to where he is now. “Brian and Mike have helped me in every way possible,” Larsen said. “I know … Brian has those connections to Florida — he has sent a lot of guys there — so I felt like it was definitely a good fit for me, and Brian felt the same way. For the past four or five years, I credit all the success I’ve had to Brian and Mike, with everything.”

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