06.22.17 Windermere Observer by Orange Observer

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DP resident earns Ellis Island Medal of Honor. 3.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017

ARTS & CULTURE

Retired architect finds new passion.

PAGE 7.

YOUR TOWN DPHS BILITERACY PROGRAM EARNS AWARD

Danielle Hendrix

Tori and Jayden Steele have defied odds all their lives. Most recently, that includes graduating from Olympia High School. SEE STORY ON PAGE 4.

Dr. Phillips High School students earned the secondmost biliteracy awards in the school district. This year, Orange County Public Schools awarded both the Gold and Silver Biliteracy Seals to 883 graduates. The Silver Biliteracy Seal will be awarded to an additional 350 graduates for a total of 1,233 Biliteracy Seals. Of those, DPHS accounted for 109 Gold Seals and 57 Silver Seals.

ST. LUKE’S STARTS SUPPORT GROUP St. Luke’s United Methodist Church located at 4851 S. Apopka-Vineland Road has a new cancer support group for cancer fighters, survivors, caregivers and spouses/partners. All faiths are welcome. The next meeting is from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 13, in Building A, Room 201. For more information, email care@st.lukes.org or call 407-876-4991, Ext. 262.

Bridgewater names new principal Andrew Jackson is a Winter Garden native who has taught or served as an academic dean at West Orange and Osceola high schools since 1997. PRSRT STD ECRWSS US POSTAGE PAID WINTER GARDEN, FL PERMIT NO. 81

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DANIELLE HENDRIX STAFF WRITER WINTER GARDEN With the depar-

ture of former Bridgewater Middle School Principal Lisa James to Lockhart Middle, the Orange County School Board announced the Bobcats’ new principal at its June 13 meeting. Andrew Jackson is leaving his position as assistant principal at Kissimmee’s Osceola High to take on the role.

Jackson was born and raised in Winter Garden and graduated from West Orange High. He graduated from Florida State University in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in social science and, in 1997, returned to teach at WOHS. Four years into teaching social studies and ESE and coaching football at WOHS, Jackson obtained his master’s degree in education leadership from Nova SEE MEET PAGE 4

Courtesy photo

Andrew Jackson is leaving his position as assistant principal at Kissimmee’s Osceola High to become Bridgewater Middle’s new principal. Jackson lives in downtown Winter Garden with his wife and their two daughters.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 22

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THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017

Chamber members, $51 for others. $1 from each ticket will benefit the West Orange Foundation. For tickets, visit wochamber.com or call (407) 656-1304.

SAILING INTO YOUR SENIOR YEARS 6 p.m. Thursday, June 22, at the Windermere Library, 530 Main St. Elder law attorney Geoff Hoatson will teach seniors how to protect themselves and everything they hold dear from guardianship, probate and long-term care facilities. Visit familyfirstfirm.com.

FAMILY FOOD TRUCK NIGHT 5 p.m. Friday, June 23, at Windermere Town Hall, 520 Main St., Windermere. For more, visit town.windermere.fl.us.

FRIDAY, JUNE 23

RIBBON CUTTING: SPOLETO WINDERMERE 8:30 a.m. Friday, June 23, at Spoleto Windermere, 4750 The Grove Drive, Windermere. Laura Henderson, (407) 217-2756.

2017 DEBATE LUNCHEON 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, June 23, at the Ocoee Lakeshore Center, 150 N. Lakeshore Drive. Presented by the West Orange Chamber of Commerce Economic & Governmental Advocacy Committee. Invited candidates are Paul Chandler, Dr. Usha Jain, John Newstreet, Bobby Olszewski and Bruno Portigliatti. Cost is $41 for

WOHS GOLF SCRAMBLE 9 a.m. shotgun start Friday, June 23, at West Orange Country Club, 3300 West Orange Country Club Drive, Winter Garden. Registration starts at

8 a.m. Benefits the Wet Orange High School boys golf and tennis teams. A day of golf, lunch, networking and contests and an afternoon of awards, celebration, silent auction, raffles and more. Cost is $65 per player or $240 for a foursome. Visit schoolpay.com/for/boys-golf— tennis-golf-fundraiser-McqO.

SATURDAY, JUNE 24

COMMUNITY FESTIVAL AND HEALTH FAIR Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 24, at Zanders Park, at the corner of Bay and 11th streets in Winter Garden. The Church of Christ at Ninth Street in collaboration with the East Winter Garden Community Development, the city of Winter Garden, and Orange County is hosting the event. Health screenings and information on social services will be available. There will

be food, games, prizes and giveaways. Free. (407) 832-1986 or (407) 656-1215. FLORIDA’S FAVORITE CHARACTERS 11 a.m. Saturday, June 24, at the Tibet-Butler Preserve, 8777 County Road 535, Orlando. Go on a magical journey through Florida’s animal kingdom and learn surprising facts about animals. Ages 3 to 6 with adult chaperone; limited to 20 children. (407) 254-1940. MEET LOCAL AUTHORS 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, June 24, at the Windermere Library, 530 Main St. Have a great story but don’t know how to get it published? Want to hear about local success stories and discover new books? Talk to local authors about their books and find out how they

did it. Featured authors include Sarah-Jane McDonald, Jeremy Gritton and Marsha Ygnace. Registration required. (407) 835-7323. SOLARIS HEALTHCARE WINDERMERE HEALTH AND WELLNESS FAIR 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 24, at Solaris HealthCare Windermere, 4875 Cason Cove Drive, Orlando. Event will feature onsite health screenings, a blood drive, door prizes, gift baskets and more. (407) 420-2090.

MONDAY, JUNE 26

CUISINE CORNER JUNIOR: LEMONADE CRAVE 3 p.m. Monday, June 26, at the Southwest Library, 7255 Della Drive, Orlando. Ages 8 to 12. Seating is limited. Registration recommended at (407) 8357323.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017

Humanitarian effort Lucine Harvey has made 22 missions trips to Armenia in 25 years and is planning another for this fall to provide relief for the country’s poorest children. AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

hen Lucine Mardirosian Harvey came to America with her mother just before her 18th birthday in 1958, she could not have imagined that she would return to her home country dozens of times on humanitarian missions. The Dr. Phillips resident, now 77, has helped thousands of orphans — perhaps because she is sensitive to their plight. Her parents were married only six months and her mother was pregnant with her when her father was killed, so she never met the man who gave her life. Harvey has been back to Armenia 22 times in 25 years, each time taking clothing or food or handmade bedding or school supplies— and sometimes hundreds of pounds of candy. Last month, Harvey took another trip, this time to New York City to accept one of 96 2017 Ellis Island Medals of Honor, given annually to citizens who exemplify a life dedicated to community service. Astronaut Dr. Buzz Aldrin was among the recipients. Five international medals were also awarded, and Malala Yousafzai, the teenage Pakistani activist for female education, was one of the recipients.

Amy Quesinberry

The Ellis Island Medals of Honor are awarded annually to a group of distinguished American citizens who exemplify a life dedicated to community service. These are individuals who preserve and celebrate the history, traditions and values of their ancestry while exemplifying the values of the American way of life and who are dedicated to creating a better world for all. Past medalists include seven U.S. presidents, several world leaders, two Nobel Prize winners and leaders of industry, education, the arts, sports and government, along with many everyday Americans. The National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations sponsors the medals.

Lucine Harvey has received the 2017 Ellis Island Medal of Honor for her decades of work with people in need in Armenia.

ELLIS ISLAND MEDAL OF HONOR

One must be nominated to receive this honor, and Harvey said a friend’s sister submitted her name and portfolio. The two-day trip to New York on May 12 and 13 was a whirlwind of red carpets, military escorts, individual recognition and $2,500-a-plate reception dinners. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime ordeal,” Harvey said of the experience. Each recipient received a bronze medallion with the Statue of Liberty etched on the front and suspended from a red, white and blue ribbon; a lapel pin; and a small angel pin made of silver from the fallen World Trade Center.

ELLIS ISLAND MEDALS OF HONOR

Lucine Harvey typically returns to the same orphanages on each trip to Armenia.

RETURNING TO ARMENIA

After arriving in America, Harvey and her mother lived in Chicago. The elder, a dressmaker in Europe, worked for a men’s clothing company, as did Harvey while she practiced her English. By 1985, Harvey was living in Orlando. Within three years, her mother and her husband died. With no Armenian church in the vicinity, Harvey helped start one after attending a party hosted by local Armenians. Today, the Soorp Haroutiun Armenian Church, on

“The most important thing was shoes and clothes for the kids. We bought chickens for them one year, we bought cows, be built a barn. They built a small dam, and we provided a generator.” — Lucine Harvey

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Winter Garden-Vineland Road in Orlando, has about 40 members. Her first return to Armenia was in 1992 when her church diocese asked if she could chaperone eight youth on a mission trip. “I was there five weeks, and I saw all the devastation,” Harvey said. “It was after the earthquake and after the independence, and there was nothing in the stores. And that’s how I got started.” The second year, she visited an orphanage, and that trip would determine her mission for the next several decades. In 1995, she took her first solo trip to aid about 65 children, without the financial assistance of the church. She relied instead on the community’s generosity, and each

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year she took clothing and whatever was deemed important. “In early years, I took rice, laundry soap; anything we needed here, they needed there,” Harvey said. “The most important thing was shoes and clothes for the kids. We bought chickens for them one year, we bought cows, we built a barn. They built a small dam, and we provided a generator. The last time, about three years ago, they needed water purification.” Harvey’s 23rd trip to her homeland is happening this fall. Normally, she sends a huge shipping container and then schedules her arrival after it is there. This time, though, she is going sans the container and staying two weeks instead of her usual five. She plans to visit a boarding school for children who are “the poorest of the poor,” she said, in addition to an infant orphanage and a kindergarten day school for the mentally challenged. She is taking with her school supplies and clothes, plus several thousand dollars that help fill the unrealized needs once she is in Armenia. Tax-deductible donations can be made in the name of the church and sent to Soorp Haroutiun Armenian Church, P.O. Box 1242, Windermere, FL 34786. Because of Harvey’s dedication, three families have adopted five Armenian orphans and brought them to the United States to live. Contact Amy Quesinberry at amyq@orangeobserver.com.

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Against all odds DANIELLE HENDRIX STAFF WRITER

hen Jayden and Tori Steele walked across the stage at Olympia High’s graduation last month, their mom couldn’t stop the tears of joy from flowing. It’s not uncommon for tears to be shed as parents watch their children graduate. But for the Steeles, the tears also represented what had been a lifetime of battles just to get to that moment.

sryzewski@OrangeObserver.com Amy Quesinberry,

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DESTINED TO BE VICTORIOUS

Twenty years ago, Melody Steele and her husband, Kevin, lived in Joplin, Missouri, with their two older children, Tristan and Sasha. They were also emergency/temporary placement foster parents. Their lives first changed when they took in Jayden. Their county had just completed a drug bust on a Friday evening, in which 15 children were removed from the home. All the children were able to be placed with other family members, except for 4-monthold Jayden. Officers called Melody, trying to find a place for him to stay, and the Steeles took him in. He was in rough condition, Melody said — he had cradle cap and was so covered in filth that it took three baths to clean him up. That Sunday, the Steeles noticed something was wrong. Jayden was crying and shaking, he had trouble breathing, and he wouldn’t eat. They whisked him to the emergency room, where doctors discovered he was suf-

fering through drug withdrawals. He tested positive for secondhand methamphetamine exposure and had valium and alcohol in his bloodstream. He spent the next 10 days in the hospital going through withdrawals. Just four months later, the Steeles got a call about a baby girl — Tori — at Kansas City Children’s Hospital, who had been born at just 24 weeks gestation, weighing 1.7 pounds. At the time, Joplin didn’t have a neonatal intensive care unit, and Tori was given a less than 1% chance of survival. Melody remembers seeing her in an incubator with a blanket draped over it. “The nurse pushed a rocking chair up behind me, and then she pulled the blanket off, and when she did, my legs just kind of went out underneath me,” she said. “They went to lift her up and she was not quite four pounds. I felt like I was in a slow-motion shock mode as they lifted her up with all the equipment still attached to her. They put her in my arms, and I just kind of sat and looked at her. Next thing I know, I’m bawling.” The Steeles didn’t know it then, but from that day forward, Jayden and Tori both would become part of their family forever. “With kids, when you sit with one in the hospital at such a young age like I did with both of them, there’s a bonding that occurs that’s unlike that of with any other child,” Melody said. And when the time came to name their new daughter, they

Meet Mr. Jackson CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Southeastern University. “My mentor, who is also a Winter Garden resident, is Mike Armbruster,” Jackson said. “He pulled me out of the classroom and made me an academic dean, and that’s what really transformed my career. If he hadn’t done that I’d probably still be teaching and coaching football.” After that, Jackson became an assistant principal at WOHS in 2007, where he served until 2014, when he took an assistant principal position at Osceola High. His interest in becoming Bridgewater’s new principal stemmed from his desire to return to an Orange County school so he could be closer to home. He lives in downtown Winter Garden, along with his wife and two young daughters, the oldest of whom will soon be a kindergartner at Dillard Street Elementary. “Because I knew my daughter was going to be in kindergarten, I started putting out feelers in Orange County just so I could be closer,” he said. “Nothing really interested me until I saw the Bridgewater job open up, and I decided to go full gusto. There’s just something about Winter Garden that is family oriented. ... I have a 5-year-old daughter and a 2-year-old daughter, and I couldn’t think of raising them anywhere else.” Now that he’s taken on the role of principal at Bridgewater, one of his first priorities is getting to know the students and parents and ensuring effective, transparent communication. “My whole career has been built on relationships, so my first priority is understanding both

what’s successful at Bridgewater and what’s not working so we can grow what’s successful and make good decisions to fix what’s not working,” he said. “We’re a good school, but there’s always opportunities to grow academically. I do know that the foundation is here, the community is supportive here for us to be successful and it’ll be my job to communicate and build a collaborative culture where we’re focused on academics and have fun doing it.” And although Bridgewater is expected to grow to around 2,000 students this school year, it’s the smallest school at which Jackson has worked. “Every year I was at West Orange, we grew, so I’ve never not been at a big, growing school,” he said. “It’s kind of a natural thing for me to be at a big school. Bridgewater is 1,000 students less than I’m used to. I’m going to continue to do exactly what I was taught at West Orange when we grew to (more than) 4,000 kids, and at Osceola — I’m going to ensure an environment of acceptability and of safety.” With safety as another priority, Jackson plans to ensure that every staff member possible is outside and around the students whenever they are outside the classroom. A key component of ensuring safety and mutual respect, he said, is getting to know the students and earning their trust. “I’m going to do the best I can to create a culture there of mutual respect, building relationships with the kids, and that will foster an environment that feels smaller than we are,” he said. Contact Danielle Hendrix at dhendrix@orangeobserver.com.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017

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Tori Steele was born at 24 weeks gestation, weighing 1.7 pounds.

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Left: Jayden and Tori grew up with a tight brother-sister bond.

SHATTERING THE CEILING

The challenges Jayden and Tori — both 20 now — faced wouldn’t end there. Jayden is on the autism spectrum and has dealt with intellectual and developmental delays, while Tori is legally blind and has cerebral palsy. Getting them through school — with all of its academic and physical challenges — hasn’t been easy. In fact, sometimes Melody has had to be their voice in fighting for resources to ensure that they succeed. Not all schools were supportive in providing the same resources and level of support for Tori’s and Jayden’s individualized education plans. “I became a parent, a teacher and an advocate all rolled into one,” she said. “Things aren’t always black and white as you see them. There’s always a story underneath.” And when the Steeles moved from Joplin to Windermere two years ago, they had to learn their way around a new state education system and policies. “We are probably the biggest cheerleaders and fans they could ever have, and it’s not just for them, it’s for every person who’s shattered the ceiling,” Melody said. “We don’t do ‘don’ts,’ and we don’t do ‘no.’” A week before graduation, Tori was suffering from serious eye issues involving cysts under her eyelids, which forced her to wear special caps to protect them. She was prescribed steroid eye drops for the pain and swelling, but the drops had an adverse effect. She spent a couple of days in

excruciating pain, and her vital signs were dropping, but the doctors couldn’t figure out why. Then, a neurologist identified the problem: The steroids had leaked into the fluid around her brain, causing swelling and pain. Tori spent the rest of the week in the hospital, being flushed out with fluids. At 3 p.m. on graduation day, she still wasn’t able to get out of bed. But a year prior, Melody and Kevin had had Tori write out a list of things she wanted to accomplish. Walking the stage at graduation was one of them. “I was back and forth with the school, unsure if she was going to make it to graduation,” Melody said. “I ironed her gown in front of her. I sat on the side of the bed with her and said, ‘If I have to carry you across the stage, we’re doing this.’ So we got her cleaned up and showered, got her gown on her in the parking lot, and her sister put makeup on her in the car.” Upon arriving at the CFE Arena, Olympia staff met the family at the door. They had Tori and Jayden’s photos taken and hugs to go around. Melody told Jayden to hold onto his sister because he was her support — when the time came to cross the stage, he would let her go. Both earned standard highschool diplomas. Tori crossed the stage as a National Honor Society student with a 3.8 GPA, and Jayden with a 3.0. The tears began flowing when Assistant Principal Nick Zambri gave Melody a thumbs-up, as if to say, “We did it!” And, just as promised, Jayden walked down the hall and into the ceremony hand-in-hand with his sister. He would never let her fall.

Come and learn about the unique history of Winter Garden and West Orange County.

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Thursday, July 6th 1:30 PM

Winter Garden Heritage Foundation, Heller Hall, 21 E. Plant Street, Winter Garden, FL Please RSVP by July 1st to 407.287.5046

Admission is FREE and refreshments will be served. 420 Roper Road | Winter Garden, FL 34787 | (407) 287-5046

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Relief is just a Pellet Away! The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Economic & Governmental Advocacy Committee presents

The 2017 Debate Luncheon

Featuring State Representative District 44 Candidates

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Your Body in Balance Shelley C. Glover, MD

Governor Rick Scott has called for a Special Election to fill the Florida House of Representatives District 44 seat. This district covers a large portion of the West Orange Chamber footprint. Join us for a fact finding, platform defining debate and make sure you know the candidates and issues prior to the primary election.

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chose the name Destiny Victoria. That’s because, as Melody said, she was always destined to be victorious.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017

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ARTS + CULTURE

OPENED CONCEPT

WATCH THIS A Tribute to Audrey Hepburn Series Starting at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, June 24, at the Garden Theatre, 160 W. Plant St., Winter Garden. This binge-athon is part of the theater’s Big Screen Binge series and will feature a showing of “Roman Holiday,” “Sabrina,” “Funny Face” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” A binge pass for all four movies is $24. Tickets for individual movies are $8. For more information, visit gardentheatre.org or call (407) 877-4736.

LISTEN TO THIS

Steven Withers, a former architect, often creates paintings inspired by geometrical shapes and mathematical concepts.

Since retiring, Windermere architect Stephen Withers has devoted his attention to creating conceptual art reminiscent of his architectural background.

GABBY BAQUERO STAFF WRITER

ou may have seen his artwork at a Winder-

mere Art Affair or noticed him sitting with his head down, pen and paper in hand, as he drew detailed scenes during a town hall

Friday Night Jazz at Town Center 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 23, in front of the Oakland Meeting Hall, 221 N. Arrington St., Oakland. HapCo Music Foundation presents an evening of jazz on the fourth Friday of every month in downtown Oakland. On Friday evening, the featured jazz musician will be Ryan Devlin. Food may be purchased from Melts on Main Street. For more information, call (407) 656-1117.

TASTE THIS

meeting. Stephen Withers, an artist residing in Windermere, attends the Town Council meetings to remain in the know about what is going on in his Gabby Baquero

“I tend to incorporate certain things from my architectural background. I’m really interested in proportion and scale based on the Golden Mean and pi. … I incorporate a lot of history in my paintings.”

town but draws because he sometimes finds them tedious, he said. Sometimes, he draws scenes of individuals receiving an award and gifts it to them as a keepsake.

SEE PAGE 8

Bite Night Orlando 7 p.m. Monday, June 26, at Orchid Garden Ballroom, 122 W. Church St., Orlando. This event is an all-inclusive tasting experience featuring Orlando’s top local chefs and restaurants, complimentary beer, wine and cocktails, live entertainment, a silent auction and a chef live auction. All proceeds benefit the Edible Education Experience. Tickets cost $50. For more information, visit bitenightorlando.com.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017

BROADENING HORIZONS

Withers’ favorite painting is “The Three Leonardos.” It depicts Leonardo Davinci, Leonardo Fibonacci and “Titanic” star Leonardo Dicaprio, who is under the sea in the background.

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The drawings from the meetings, he said, come easily to him, but other art forms do not. That is why Withers now spends much of his time learning a new set of artistic skills by taking classes. As a former architect, Withers spent 20 years traveling the world while designing luxury travel resorts for Marriott Vacation Club International. He currently is helping design the new town administration offices that town officials hope to build in the future, as well as the veterans memorial that will be located in front of town hall. “When I was in architecture most of my artistic expression came out through the architecture,” Withers said. “I’ve always drawn, but now that I’m retired, I have a lot more time to paint and draw.” Withers, whose mother was an art major, said he’s been drawing since he can remember. But now, he is dedicated to learning how to paint in a variety of different styles and with different materials he’s never had to use before — a transition which has presented unique challenges for someone with a formal architectural background. Currently, he is learning how to paint with a palette knife under the tutelage of Winter Garden artist Noreen Coop. “She’s a palette-knife painter, and architects don’t do paletteknife painting,” Withers said with a hearty laugh. “They do fine, thin lines. So it’s been fun to loosen up and get away from such formal training and everything else. It’s been a lot of fun, but it’s totally outside my realm of comfort.” Although outside his comfort zone, Withers has successfully painted many pieces, including nature, landscapes and conceptual art. Conceptual art has remained his favorite, because it

allows him to use his imagination to embed certain mathematical ideas and history into his masterpieces. His favorite is called “The Three Leonardos,” which hangs above the stairs in his home. “I tend to incorporate certain things from my architectural background,” Withers said. “I’m really interested in proportion and scale based on the Golden Mean and pi. … I incorporate a lot of history in my paintings.” Angela Withers, his wife and the president of the Henry Nehrling Society that overlooks the Nehrling Gardens in Gotha, said her favorite pieces of his are also those that are genuine products of his imagination. “My favorites are the ones that he puts all these ideas into where he follows his imagination,” Angela Withers said. “He has this remarkable imagination that he loves to use and share, and it’s one of the things that draws people to him and his paintings. … And he’s always been that way as long as I’ve known him. This is all fun for him. This is where he gets his energy from.” Contact Gabby Baquero at gbaquero@orangeobserver.com.

Withers also creates conceptual art.

WINDERMERE OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017

A princess from Medieval Times watched as Lucas Peña, 8, learned how to hold a jousting stick.

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hildren love to celebrate summer, and MIX 105.1 radio station has joined the Orange County Library System for its Celebrate Summer events, also a kickoff for the summer reading program. The Red Knight and The Princess from Medieval Times appeared Friday, June 9, at the Southwest Library for fun and games and a chance for participants to win. Children and their families were encouraged to sign up for the reading program before heading to crafting stations.

ONLINE

Lizanne Van der Merwe and her children, Amelia and Jason, attended the summer reading kickoff at the Southwest Library.

See more photos at OrangeObserver.com

Southwest Library hosts summer soiree

— AMY QUESINBERRY

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WINDERMERE OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017

DALE “SQUEEZE” JONES SR. DIED JUNE 14, 2017.

Dale “Squeeze” Jones Sr., 51, of Winter Garden, Florida, departed this life on Wednesday, June 14, 2017. Dale was a manager at American Sanitation for several years. JOAN SCHAFFER, 69, of Windermere, died Sunday, April 30, 2017. Collison Carey Hand Funeral Home, Winter Garden.

Dale is survived by his loving children, Iya Jones, Malcolm Jones, Dale Jones Jr., Deondre King and Elijah Jones; mother, Elizabeth (Jimmy) Turner; father, Bobby Jones; four siblings; three grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 23, at Bethlehem Baptist Church, 915 E. Plant St., Winter Garden. A service of celebration will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 24, at the church. Interment at Orlando Memorial Gardens, Apopka. Postell’s Mortuary is providing service for the Jones family. 20, 2017. Woodlawn Memorial Park and Funeral Home, Gotha.

KENDRICK LOREN WARD, 71, of Windermere, died Saturday, May

Art and Karen Brown took their weekly newspaper with them when they traveled for their daughter’s wedding in New Zealand. The couple stopped at the Sydney Opera House, in Sydney, Australia.

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JUNE 22, 2017

DP Little League 9-year-olds claim District championship

Rowing strong

STEVEN RYZEWSKI SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

SEE SCORING PAGE 12

BY THE NUMBERS Wins: 6 Losses: 0 Runs for: 92 Runs against: 19 Average runs per game: 15.3 Average runs against per game: 3.2 RESULTS June 8 — Dr. Phillips 13, Winter Garden 3 June 9 — Dr. Phillips 14, Windermere -American 2 June 10 — Dr. Phillips 14, Ocoee 3 June 11 — Dr. Phillips 23, Windermere - National 3 June 12 — Dr. Philips 18, South Lake 8 June 13 — Championship game: Dr. Phillips 10, Ocoee 0

Olympia High alum Jesse Winker was called up to The Show for a second time this season by the Cincinnati Reds June 19. Winker, a left fielder, was called up briefly earlier in April for two games — during which time he went 1-for-2 with a double and two RBIs. Against Tampa Bay June 19, Winker started for the first time and registered a tworun single in a 7-3 victory.

The team outscored the competition 92-19 during the Florida District 14 Tournament of Champions last week.

The boys from Dr. Phillips Little League left no doubt in the Florida District 14 Tournament of Champions last week at South Lake Little League. The Dr. Phillips 9-YearOlds All-Star team swept the competition to the tune of a perfect 6-0 record, outscoring opponents by a margin of 92-19. Manager Derek Ebanks admits to being somewhat surprised at just how well his boys clicked during the weeklong tournament but credits the team’s success to its approach during practice sessions beforehand. “The secret was the mindset — I think we had a good coaching staff who, from the first practice, talked about setting a tempo and a mindset,” Ebanks said. “(The kids) were able to just go out and play their game.” In addition putting the ball in play and playing suffocating defense — Dr. Phillips allowed more than three runs just once — the team also was successful in running the bases and putting pressure on opponents. “We were aggressive on the base paths,” Ebanks said. In the tournament’s final

HIGH

SPORTS

Carson Lewis swung a big bat for the Windermere Nationals this spring. Page 12.

2 Photos by Steven Ryzewski

Savannah Sellers, left, Jessie Way, Samantha Sizelove and Alison Haas — along with Jaime Armitage, who is not pictured — made up the Women’s V4+ boat for OARS that placed eighth in the nation at Nationals earlier this month.

Women’s V4+ leads OARS boats with top-10 finish at Nationals

Speaking the Vols, Tennessee just landed a commitment from a teammate of Dix’s: Dr. Phillips rising senior Tanner Ingle. Ingle, a defensive back, announced his commitment via his Twitter account (@TannerIngle) June 19.

Four boats from OARS went to Sarasota to compete in the US Rowing Youth National Championships STEVEN RYZEWSKI SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

our boats representing the Windermere-based Orlando Area Rowing Society boathouse qualified for the US Rowing Youth National Championships in Sarasota earlier this month. Although all four boats successfully advanced past time trials June 9 to the finals on June 10 and 11, it was the Women’s V4+ boat of Savannah Sellers, Jaime Armitage, Alison Haas, Jessie Way and Samantha Sizelove that broke through to finish within the top10, nationally, by placing eighth overall. “We’ve always known this boat could do very well,” Sizelove said. “Everyone in this boat was very, very motivated, and we all had the dedication and the common goal of being in the top 10.” The top-10 finish is one of the strongest for an OARS varsity girls boat in several years, but the Women’s V4+ boat was not alone in feeling good about its showing at Nationals. The Women’s Lightweight V8+

LEARN MORE To learn more about the Windermere-based Orlando Area Rowing Society (OARS) and the programs it has to offer for youths, visit oarsrowing.com.

boat placed 20th in the nation. The boat included Jenny Finch, Megan Ford, Nicole Abruzzo, Kaitlyn Bennett, Payton Graziotti, Morgan Cunningham, Hailey Waller, Jaelin Figueroa and Ashlie Infante. The boys from OARS got in on the action, too. The Men’s V8+ boat improved from 20th place in the nation in 2016 to 14th place in the nation this summer. The boat includes John Kiely, Ryan McKinney, Sean McKinney, Valentine Lindsay, John Stephan, Owen Villaneuva, Timothy Miller, Nathan Kohl and Clarissa Barquist. Finally, the Men’s V4+ boat placed 17th in the nation. That boat included Aaron Russo, CamSEE SARASOTA PAGE 12

Scholarship offers are rolling in for Dr. Phillips football’s Stephen Dix. Dix, a rising sophomore defender who can play linebacker and defensive end, has recently earned offers from Indiana, Tennessee, Florida Atlantic, Bowling Green and Mercer.

Kirstin Anderson has been coaching with the Orlando Area Rowing Society since the 1996-1997 school year.

Director proud to be an OARS ‘old timer’

The varsity cheerleading team for Windermere High already is making a good impression in the community, recently volunteering for Second Harvest Food Bank. Cheerleaders for the Wolverines sorted 3,693 pounds of food that will be used to provide 3,077 meals to those in need.

STEVEN RYZEWSKI SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

That Kirsten Anderson has been coaching with the Orlando Area Rowing Society for 20 years — having started with the 19961997 school year season — is impressive enough. But that does not tell the whole story. Anderson is a true OARS lifer, SEE 20 PAGE 12

Florida Little League District 14 All-Stars continues this week with the tournaments for the Minors (10-and-under) and 11-and-under divisions. The Minors tournament will take place at Ocoee Little League and the 11-andunder Tournament will take place at Winter Garden Little League.

WINDERMERE OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017

Sarasota success Scoring in bunches

SPORTS SPOTLIGHT

SPONSORED BY SHANNON TILL STATE FARM IN FOWLER GROVES

Carson Lewis Helping to lead the Windermere Little League Nationals to a District 14 Juniors (ages 13-14) Top Team Championship earlier this month was Carson Lewis, a slugging infielder who hit five home runs over the course of the spring season while maintaining a .614 batting average. Lewis is now gearing up for All-Stars.

To win Top Team, you had to beat the other team from Windermere Little League — which had defeated you earlier in the season — in the championship game. What was that like? It was just cool, because we (finally) beat them. But we know all of them, so we get along. Were you surprised by the team’s success in the tournament? I wasn’t surprised. We have really good players on our team. What was something you worked to improve at this spring? Hitting to the opposite field. I got more reps in to practice.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

eron McElwee, Matthew DiRico, Zachary Lung and James Sabis. In addition to months of hard work, OARS rowers had a builtin advantage at the National meet, because it was in Sarasota this summer — on a body of water in which they have competed many times before. “We knew the course really well,” Sellers said. “We knew where the wind would hit us hard, if there was wind.” What is also exciting for the boats that made it to Nationals is that each girls boat only had one senior and each boys boat

THE BASICS

AGE: 14 HEIGHT: 5-foot-10 BIRTHPLACE: Orlando SCHOOL: Windermere High (incoming freshman) POSITION(S): 3B, 1B, P TRAVEL TEAM: Venezuela Vipers

third base, too. Which game this spring was the most memorable? The championship game of Top Team, because I pitched the whole game. I pitched all seven innings and I don’t usually pitch that long. I had to focus on throwing strikes and not try to throw so hard.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

there since the program’s inception as a sport for then-newly opened Dr. Phillips High in the late 1980s. After Anderson graduated and went to row on scholarship at Florida Tech in Melbourne, the program grew to encompass students who went to schools beyond Dr. Phillips. When considering that the program has been part of her life for 30 years — and considering how it has evolved — Anderson cannot help but be amazed. “It’s crazy,” Anderson said. “I feel like an old timer because I want to tell the story to everyone, ‘If you only knew the boats that we rowed in.’” Over her two decades as a coach with OARS, Anderson — now the program’s director of rowing and girls head coach — has seen her athletes do remarkable things on a local, regional and national scale. One theme over the years,

What’s your favorite show to watch on television? “The Flash.” I like it because it has science in it. — STEVEN RYZEWSKI

Who is your favorite pro baseball player and why? Probably David Wright (New York Mets), because he plays

MEET THE TEAM No. 1 — Miles Fatkin No. 2 — Gavin Torres No. 3 — Mateo Mendoza No. 5 — Jaden Anthony No. 7 — Alex Ballard No. 8 — Joey Waddingham No. 11 — Jaxon Safford No. 16 — Kingston Ebanks No. 18 — Camillo Diaz No. 23 — Chase Johnson No. 24 — Moisses Laurentin No. 27 — Diego Rodriguez No. 42 — Benjamin Granatstein

Contact Steven Ryzewski at sryzewski@orangeobserver.com.

20 years of coaching

Is it fun pitching against your friends on the other Windermere Little League Juniors team? Yeah, because you just want to get them out.

Which position do you like to play the most? I like playing third base, because the balls get hit really hard over there.

had just two seniors, meaning most of the athletes will return for another shot at an even better finish in 2018. For OARS Director of Rowing Kirsten Anderson, it was also encouraging to see two teams each for the boys and girls compete well on the sport’s biggest stage for youths. “I think what was great this year was that we had so many boats from both sides of our boathouse — from our men’s team and our women’s team,” Anderson said.

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

though, has been the ability of Anderson and her staff to take athletes who show up with little to no experience and turn them in to scholarship-level rowers. “I could go on with story after story of kids who step in the boathouse because they haven’t found their sport yet — they get out on the water and they love it,” Anderson said. “The transformation is pretty awesome to watch.” Not only do Anderson and her colleagues at OARS take pleasure in helping the athletes succeed on the water but Anderson — a science teacher at Windermere Prep — said it is equally rewarding to impart life lessons on the kids who come through the program. “The coolest thing is being able to teach them how to work hard — and that the hard work pays off,” Anderson said.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

game, Dr. Phillips registered its only shutout of the event with a 10-0 victory over Ocoee. The Tournament of Champions is the first tastes of “International” All-Stars play, meaning it is usually the first time the youngsters take on teams from a different league. For the team from Dr. Phillips to have done as well as it did is an encouraging thing for the future, Ebanks said. “We are very excited and happy for them,” he said. “One of the things we talked about is that for kids who are 9-years-old to receive a banner with their name on it — that banner is always gonna be there. They earned it.” Contact Steven Ryzewski at sryzewski@orangeobserver. com.

Contact Steven Ryzewski at sryzewski@orangeobserver.com.

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WINDERMERE OBSERVER

TFA coach to assist USA Baseball 14U Program

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Royals head coach Scott Grove will serve as an assistant for the weeklong developmental program in Cary, North Carolina, in late July.

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Scott Grove celebrated a milestone earlier this year when he won his 400th career victory as a varsity head coach.

beginning July 30. The appointment is another accomplishment for Grove, who earlier this season hit a milestone in his varsity coaching career. Grove, who coached at Colonial High and Timber Creek before being the head coach at TFA the past four seasons, won his 400th career varsity victory in March. “I was thinking when we won that 400th game … that these kids weren’t even born (when he started coaching),” Grove said. “I don’t feel old, but I am old.” In addition to lending his own insights to the players in North

Carolina, Grove — who recently moved to Winter Garden — said the opportunity to participate in an USA Baseball program doubles as an opportunity for him to get better as a coach. “It’s just a whole week of learning and finding out what works for (the other coaches present) and trying to implement that into our own high school program,” Grove said. “It’s just so much fun and USA Baseball is so first class. It’s a baseball coach’s dream.” Contact Steven Ryzewski at sryzewski@orangeobserver.com.

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It’s going to be a busy summer for Scott Grove, head baseball coach at The First Academy. In addition to his role with the Power Baseball travel organization, Grove will be serving as an assistant coach for the USA Baseball 14U National Team Development Program in late July. “(I’m) looking forward to it; I’m really excited,” Grove said. “(USA Baseball is) a great organization, and the kids are just unbelievable.” Grove, who served as a pitching coach for the 14U program last summer, will be working alongside college coaches, including East Carolina head coach Cliff Godwin and Air Force Academy head coach Mike Kazlausky. The USA Baseball 14U National Team Development program offers athletes an opportunity to connect with USA Baseball staff and prepare to future national team experience. The program includes several seminars and skill development sessions, as well as scrimmages between the “Stars” and “Stripes” squads in Cary, North Carolina. The program will take place from July 24 to 29 and will be followed by tryouts for the USA Baseball 15U National Team,

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017

I LOVE WEST ORANGE

W EAT HER

FORECAST

Windermere resident Marilyn Roofner submitted this amazing photograph, which she calls “Night Blooming Cereus.” “We must have had 100 come into bloom the same night this week,” she said. “Each bloom opens for one night only.”

THURSDAY, JUNE 22 High: 87 Low: 75 Chance of rain: 60%

FRIDAY, JUNE 23

The Windermere Observer is hosting this weekly contest, and winners will have their photograph featured and receive a $20 prize. To enter, email your photo, along with your name, city and a caption, to amyq@ orangeobserver. com; put “I Love West Orange” in the subject line. Please include your mailing address to receive your prize.

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0.07

Saturday, June 17

0.00

Sunday, June 18

0.02

Monday, June 19

0.46

See other winning photos at OrangeObserver.com

YEAR TO DATE:

JUNE TO DATE:

2017 15.13 in.

2017 8.57 in.

2016 20.24 in.

2016 4.43 in.

241971

ONLINE

High: 87 Low: 75 Chance of rain: 20%

SUNRISE / SUNSET

88 Far from plentiful 89 Be a great sweet-talker 90 The you of art? 91 Title words with “Grecian Urn” 94 Common snack items 95 Supervisor or taskmaster 99 Pastor on Sunday morning 101 Kid ‘n Play threw one 103 Everyone-story link 104 Diner sandwich option 105 Close-up map, often 106 Part of a script 107 Common drinks for Brits 108 Portable Mongol tents 109 True-blue or hot-shot people? 110 “Open” waters?

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.

“VOBYT AYK MWZ HNJZKM, B AYK BT MWZ EBJJNZ YTJ PYON AYK MWZ VYVX. B AYK MWZ MOHRVNZEYCZO.” – JZTTBK ABNKHT “TIAARM ARWVT KWHHO XEART ... EX ARWVT UBEVU XB XKR ZRWPK ... XB NETVRODWVN, KWFEVU SIV.” – ZMEWV LEDTBV Puzzle Two Clue: F equals V

38 Floating Arctic ice formations 39 Headquarters of a major operation 40 Part of a case? 42 Halloween broom-rider 44 Where figurative knots are tied 46 Insects traveling in columns 48 Ralph of “The Waltons” 50 Bowl-shaped vessel 52 Knocks out in the ring, slangily 53 Gate squeaker 54 Walk inside 55 Harsh in taste 56 Fund contributor 58 Deals with great stress 60 Turns whitish DOWN 62 Emcee’s prologue 1 Not too many 63 Every one features many 2 Hyperbolic sine birthdays 3 Trim fruit skin 64 Hightailed it 4 Warehouses, bins and other 65 Accumulated, as a bar bill depositories 66 Blazing 5 Applied a soothing oint67 Small container for liquids ment to 68 Sierra ___ (African country) 6 Abalone found near the 69 Some fall months, briefly Channel Islands 71 Eagle home 7 “... and ___ the twain shall 72 Deprive of weaponry meet” 75 Manufacturer’s assurance 8 Rural version of a hotel 77 Morning alarm clock results 9 Colorful marble 79 It has many keys 10 Some puzzles based on 80 Some casualwear pictures 81 Aircraft carrier, for one 11 Use up, as energy 82 Village of yore 12 1/12 of the AA recovery 84 Pleasant cooking smells program 86 It provides shade in the 13 Commit a blunder ©2017 Universal Uclick outfield 14 Dinner surface manner 49 Part of many roller officers 87 Some bedding ACROSS 15 Far from chubby 31 Declare to be true coasters 70 What bowlers are as89 Place to place a stetho1 Some snakes you 16 Wheel-ratchet engager 32 Magnificent meal fit for 50 High-fiber cereal signed to scope shouldn’t handle 17 Seaman’s direction a king 51 Scratch, as a counter 71 Provider of surplus 90 Shower of shows 5 Type of boom from a jet 18 Overly bookish type 33 Overnighted 52 Supplier of hot showers thrust 91 U.S. workplace safety10 Button for three zeros? 24 Like a properly maintained 34 Couldn’t resist gravity 56 Lifeboat hoister 73 Born, in Paris regulating org. 15 Wingtip-to-wingtip stat infield 37 Word from a waffler 57 Reporters of tomorrow’s 74 Some linemen 92 Something to shake hands 19 Italian carmaker, that’s 38 Readies for market, as news? 75 Low dam across a stream 26 Litters’ littlest about an order 29 Experimental place a calf 59 Cuzco founders 76 Brownie ingredients, 93 Gaelic language 20 Place for hoop making 32 Volume control, in broad41 Fisherman’s catch basket 60 Riddles that cause sometimes 94 Russian ruler of old 21 ESP word 42 Walk, as across a creek head-scratching 77 On the highest point of casting 95 Another English river 22 Small glen 33 Enjoy to the last drop 43 Sudden outbursts of 61 Good thing to eat with 78 Expected in 96 Great Lake name 23 What registration leads to cheers 62 Prefix with state or act 79 Repeat without thinking 34 Mischievous rascal 97 Mountain of Italy 25 Anheuser-Busch or 35 Some vocal numbers, in 45 It’s midway between 63 Like a wild-eyed, ener81 Launder 98 Some bread loaves Coors, famously operas epsilon and iota 82 English river getic person 100 Gambler’s last resort 27 Anyplace at all 36 Divide voters to one’s 47 Hangs out to dry 83 Type of dog for a pioneer? 64 Iced coffee drink 102 Love of Lennon 28 Drink rudely 48 Red for beef, white for 85 Stop hearts with fright advantage 66 Infuriate 30 Calmed in a deceptive 37 Trusses for horses or lions fish 67 High-ranking military 87 Ocean liners?

ER TRIPPING by Timothy B. Parker

Puzzle One Clue: C equals K

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

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

6-22-17

WINDERMERE OBSERVER

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Tires and Alignments

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MORE THAN JUST

UPGRADES & REPAIRS VIRUS & SPYWARE ?QV\MZ /IZLMV¼[ 8ZMUQMZ :WWÅVO +WUXIVa ;QVKM ! REMOVAL ;MZ^QVO )TT WN ?M[\ 7ZIVOM +W]V\a DATA & PASSWORD .]TTa 4QKMV[ML IVL 1V[]ZML :WWN :MXIQZ[ IVL :MXTIKMUMV\ RECOVERY ̆ ̆ WIRELESS &! ?M[\7ZIVOM:WWÅVO KWU WIRED NETWORKING .:-- -;<15)<-;

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers

TIRE VALUES

Puzzle One Solution: “Brian was the oldest, I was in the middle and Carl was the baby. I was the troublemaker.” – Dennis Wilson

• Bridgetone • Michelin • Toyo • BFG Tires

• •

• ALIGNMENT • BRAKES • SHOCKS • OIL & LUBE SERVICE • NEW & USED TIRES • REPAIR & BALANCING • ROAD SERVICE • WE INSTALL LIFTS!

Puzzle Two Solution: “Summer means happy times ... it means going to the beach ... to Disneyland, having fun.” – Brian Wilson

This week’s Sudoku answers

MV03215

Mobil 1 Oil

Merchandise Wanted 13178 W. Colonial Dr. Winter Garden

NOW PURCHASING

407-656-3495

242491

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241227

TFN

242473

Thursday, June 22, 2017

Amsoil Synthetic

Auctions

Schools/Instruction

CALL-IN PHONE AUCTION Garcia-Mathies Interiors, Inc. Mon, June 26th at 10:00 AM. Sale will consist of 1-bulk lot: Furniture, Fixtures, Inventory, Account Receivables, Equipment, Leasehold Interest, Work In Process, Trade Name or Marks, Websites, Domains, Phone Numbers Catalog and photos available at www.moeckerauctions.com One Day Preview: 06/23 at 4040 NE 2nd Ave, Suite 309, Miami, FL 33137 from 10 AM-4 PM 15% BP, $100 refundable certified funds deposit to register - registration form available on our website (must pre-register by 06/23) (800) 840-BIDS info@moeckerauctions.com AB1098 AU-3219, Eric Rubin fcan6/22

FULL TIME School Nurse Montverde Academy is seeking a certified RN with at least three years’ experience, preferably in a child health or school setting. Duties include management and care of student health needs, CPR and first aid training to employees, coordinate student billing and initiate program changes and improvements as needed. Must be proficient in Microsoft Office and have current CPR, CPR Instruction, AED and Blood-borne Pathogen certifications. Must be able to work collaboratively and relate well to children, parents and faculty, and be friendly and approachable. We are a private college preparatory school for grades PreK3-12 and post graduate studies, with and enrollment of 1,249 students (including boarding for grades 7-12). We offer major medical plan, eye and dental plan, paid holidays, vacation, sick time, and retirement for full time employees. Completive salary. Apply at montverde.org/employment or email resume to david.rath@montverde.org. No phone calls please.

LIVE & Online Public Auction Recovery Associates of The Palm Beaches, Inc. Tues, June 27th at 10 AM. 2801 N Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach, FL 33407. Sale will consist of vehicles, medical equipment, office furniture and fixtures including (4) Passenger Vans and laboratory equipment. Catalog and photos available at www.moeckerauctions.com. Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors Case #50-2017-CA004979XXXX-MB. Preview: 1 hour prior to sale, 15%-18% BP, $100 refundable cash deposit to register (800) 840-BIDS info@moeckerauctions.com AB1098 AU-3219, Eric Rubin fcan6/22

This week’s Crossword answers

Help Wanted

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HOUSE FOR Sale - Must see! 4 bedroom, 2 1/2 baths, new roof, new 19 Seer Carrier A/C. $230,000. 283 Daniels Point Dr., Daniels Crossing, Winter Garden 6/22sl

Health & Medical

TFN 242469

881 S. 9th Street • Winter Garden, FL 34787

Homes For Sale 2017

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242012