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VOLUME 88, NO. 27
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Little League All-Star season is in full swing. 11. •
THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021
Star-spangled Sunday West Orange residents celebrated July 4 in red, white and blue style. PAGE 3.
Wilsen retires from Christian Service Center After 28 years with the CSC’s Family Emergency Services program in West Orange, Rosemary Wilsen has decided it’s time for a change. AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR
When Rosemary Wilsen was hired as coordinator of a service program at the West Orange Christian Service Center, the organization was operating in a small space on North Boyd Street in Winter Garden. That was in 1993. Wilsen retired last month from her 28-year position as the coordinator of the Family & Emergency Services program with the CSC, which now operates in a larger facility in Ocoee. With a degree in social work from the University of Central Florida, Wilsen assisted thousands of families and individuals with emergency relief in the form of food, clothing and financial assistance.
FIVE-CARD CAUSE A year after being canceled due to COVID-19, the Butler Chain Poker Run came back bigger than ever to raise money for One Heart for Women and Children. SEE PAGE 4.
SEE CARING PAGE 2
YOUR TOWN MAKE CONNECTION AT CHAMBER LEAD AND FEED
The West Orange Chamber of Commerce is holding its next installment of the Lead and Feed Networking Lunch Series from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, July 15, at Vines Grille & Wine Bar in Dr. Phillips. Enjoy a meal while expanding your network with fellow chamber members. The cost is $25 in advance and $35 at the door for chamber members, $45 for others. To register, visit bit.ly/3qXhRda.
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Troy Herring
Apricot Lane opens in new downtown building The women’s clothing boutique is the first tenant of the new Plant Street Exchange between the splash pad and City Hall.
SEE PAGE 6.
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THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021
Caring for the community CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
She is quick to give credit to the CSC employees and volunteers, as well as the community. “With the support I was able to receive from the community, we were able to help so many folks,” she said. “In my early days, rent was paid by the week, so if you could pay for a week’s rent, you could catch them up until the next paycheck,” she said. “Sometimes it was just that one month’s rent or electric or water. Sometimes it was helping someone who was able to pay the bills but wasn’t able to buy food. … It’s a domino effect. If we could help in one area of that, it gave them some breathing room to catch up.” Volunteers have been an
important piece of the CSC puzzle, which includes Family & Emergency Services, Mothers Helping Mothers, Daily Bread and the thrift shop. Wilsen is grateful for her dedicated volunteers, people such as Ginny Porinsky, who helped at the center for at least 25 years; Mary Lyn Van Dyke, who tutored with the Mothers Helping Mothers program and later worked in the pantry; Gay Annis, who worked the front desk; and Sue Norton, who put in many hours over the course of several years. FOUR DECADES OF ASSISTANCE
The Christian Service Center has been operating in West Orange County for 40 years. The parent organization had been helping people in Orlando for 10 years when local church leaders got together to see about bringing the program to the west side of the county. I n the early years TO
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of the program, the four services were scattered around Winter Garden and Ocoee. Wilsen came aboard following interviews with three pastors, and the team met monthly to discuss the current needs. These included a larger space to combine the programs and, on an ongoing basis, food for the pantry. “I tell you, God answers prayers,” she said. “We would be down to our last can of tuna fish, and the next day we’d have tuna fish. I was always blessed with the community providing to us.” The bigger facility opened at 300 W. Franklin St. in 1997, bringing together the four programs. “I’ve had great years,” Wilsen said. “I can’t believe it had been 28 years. Every day was something different. “I would like to … thank the community for their never-ending support to the Christian Service Center,” she said. “You have enriched my life by your caring spirit for your neighbors.”
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Said Rosemary Wilsen: “With the support I was able to receive from the community, we were able to help so many folks.”
CONTINUING TO SERVE
Although she has decided it might be time to slow down, Wilsen still has a responsibility to Ocoee citizens as a city commissioner. Her husband, Fred, is retired, and the two had planned several cruises that were canceled due to the pandemic. They are hoping to STUM
book others soon. She also plans to volunteer her time at Give Kids The World Village, something she was doing before COVID-19. She and her daughter, Anne, have made wish pillowcases for the children at GKTW, and they have spent several weekends helping out at the nonprofit resort in Kissimmee. Wilsen will continue to give to others, sharing her servant’s heart, just as she has for 28 years at CSC. “There are a lot of folks along the way, and I’ve had the enjoyment of talking to them and them being so supportive of the CSC — and I just want to say thank you,” she said. “(Leaving) was bittersweet when I left because there are people I left behind. “It’s the folks I met along the way — they have made the CSC what it is today,” she said. “There are a lot of wonderful people in West Orange County. … I think West Orange County is unique; (people) really care for the neighbors. I think that’s what keeps us here. It’s a community, and what’s what we’re built on.”
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THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021
Children and families made the morning of the Fourth of July a memorable one as they waved flags and marched through downtown Winter Garden.
Kids on parade C
Small American flags were handed out to children and adults to celebrate the holiday.
hildren and families celebrated Independence Day in red, white and blue style as they participated in the 17th Annual All American Kids Parade in downtown Winter Garden Sunday, July 4. The parade featured hundreds of locals decked out in patriotic colors, while children rode bikes and scooters decorated to the nines with American flags, colorful balloons and sparkly garland. Children riding decked-out bicycles and scooters made their way down Plant Street.
Pancake party Council Member Loren “Andy” Williams and Mayor Jim O’Brien were hard at work behind the griddles.
T
he town of Windermere made July 4 a little sweeter for its residents with the return of its signature pancake breakfast. Held at Town Hall each year on the fourth of July, the breakfast has become a community staple. This year, residents were invited to enjoy free pancakes, sausage and coffee in the town square to kick off the holiday with the most important meal of the day. — DANIELLE HENDRIX
Ricky Nunez had smooches ready for Angel Loza.
Bob McKinley, Mark Huffman, Kathy McKinley, and Robin and Paul Bedford enjoyed each other’s company.
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THURSDAY, JULY 8, 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
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Stephanie Bowman addressed the crowd to talk a little about One Heart’s cause.
Troy Herring
One Heart raises $9,000 TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR
It’s been well over a year since COVID-19 swept in and put the lives of everyone in a standstill, but at the 15th Annual Butler Chain Poker Run, things feel a lot more normal. Over at that red DJ tent, Rick Taylor — the man who has put the event on year after year — plays tunes while folks gather in Windermere for a time of celebration on this rainy Saturday afternoon. There’s food, a silent auction and conversation that was missing last year after the event was canceled due to the pandemic. And in the middle of everyone stands Stephanie Bowman, whose gift of gab draws people in for good conversation. For Bowman — the founder of One Heart for Women and Children — this poker run is helping raise money and awareness for her nonprofit that serves individuals who are homeless or in times of transition by helping them meet their most essential needs. “I am so grateful that we are having (this) and that we’re in a space where we can have it, and that the community is ready to come back to give freely for this cause,” Bowman said. “I believe that we will raise more money this year, more awareness will be raised, and we have more volunteers than ever.”
ONE HEART FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN To learn more about about One Heart for Women and Children, or to donate to the cause, go to oneheartorlando.org/ or call at (321) 299-4594.
THE GAME
The premise Taylor had was based on the motorcycle poker runs where bikers would travel to bars or restaurants and get a playing card and piece of paper stamped. Instead of motorcycles, participants would jump in their boats — after purchasing a $20 wristband — in the morning and hit up five different stops, which included four docks and Bird Island. At each stop, folks would grab a drink and an envelope with a card for each wristband bought — which Taylor saw as more practical than using paper on the water. It also added a bit of mystery Stephanie Bowman and volunteers went through hundreds of game envelopes. to the game. For an extra $5, they can get a sixth idea,’” he said. “Then it got to be money is going to a specific cause envelope. “We have people who open up where I realized I couldn’t rely on this year: getting healthy food to the envelopes and make the hand, my drinking friends to help me put people in need. so they don’t know what they this thing on.” Before COVID, the biggest Bowman and One Heart entered agenda item focused on education, have,” Taylor said. “The payout is for first, second and third hand, the picture six years ago. Taylor but the pandemic changed things. best hand and worst hand. The was looking for a charity to help Since March of last year, getting prize the last four to five years raise money for and happened to healthy food to more than 20,000 has been $2,000, and then it goes have a friend who knew Bowman. people a month has been an inte“We had no idea what to expect gral part of the charity’s work. down from there.” our first year — absolutely no idea; “So every $1 we can turn into 12 BIGGER THAN EVER we went in totally blindfolded and meals, and that is because of our When Taylor first started the pok- not a lot of expectation other than partnerships,” Bowman said. “So er run, things were much different to raise a little bit of awareness the money that is being raised for than what they are now. and a little bit of money,” Bowman this will not be going into admin“I think I sold $20 a hand and said. “And what we found was istration — it will be going into our then I said, ‘$10 a hand’ to just this incredible group of people — community program. If we raise get the pot up, and I sold, like, 32 a couple of hundred of people — $10,000, 10,000 people will be total,” Taylor said. “And you know who wanted to rally around this impacted with 12 meals.” I’m sitting there on my dock hav- cause.” Based on the number of hands ing a cigar and drinking a beer That first year as a part of the sold — Taylor said 416 had been and gonna cook burgers when event saw One Heart bring in some sold, the largest ever — and the everybody gets back. They come volunteers to help, and they raised excitement surrounding the event, back about four or five hours later around $1,250. From there, things it’s easy to say that this is the big— of course they had been drink- exploded as the most recent poker gest poker run yet, Taylor said. It ing — and they’re all partying and run — back in 2019 — helped the will also help raise awareness for they’re like, ‘This is the best thing organization raise a whopping good cause, as well. ever.’ $10,000. “I think if nothing else, One “The idea to me was, ‘Well, if This year, One Heart has brought Heart’s job is to help share those they’re having that much fun, in between 25 and 30 raffle items stories so we can break the stigma then it must be a pretty good for a silent auction, and all of the (of homelessness),” Bowman said.
The West Orange Times, West Orange Times & Observer and Southwest Orange Observer are published once weekly, on Thursdays. The papers can be found in many commercial locations throughout West Orange and Southwest Orange. If you wish to subscribe, visit our website, OrangeObserver.com, call (407) 656-2121 or visit our office, 661 Garden Commerce Parkway, Suite 180, Winter Garden.
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THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021
Oakland art exhibit features historic homes, buildings Three artists, Craig K. Brown, Rod Reeves and Scott Lineberger, have pieces on display at the town’s new arts and heritage center.
ble buildings and printed it on wood. He’s a Florida native, and eight years ago, he returned home to assist his grandmother, longtime Oakland resident Mildred Arrington. “We’re excited to display some of the phenomenal works by Craig K. Brown, Rod Reeves (and Scott Lineberger) at Healthy West Orange Arts and Heritage Center at the Town of Oakland,” said Ashlynn Webb, Oakland’s public arts and heritage coordinator. The art and heritage center currently is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays. The exhibition is on display until the end of August.
AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR
Three local artists are participating in the newest exhibit — “Oakland Historical Homes & Buildings” — at the Healthy West Orange Arts and Heritage Center at the Town of Oakland. The art of Craig K. Brown, Rod Reeves and Scott Lineberger depicts homes and landmarks that are all part of the town’s history. Among the images are a home built around 1910 by Charles Herbert Tilden, and a school house built in 1860 and considered the oldest surviving building in West Orange County. The pieces are unique to the artist — from Brown’s digital paintings to Reeves’ pencil drawings to Lineberger’s photographs on wood panels. In the early 2000s, Brown, a West Orange County resident, photographed popular area landmarks and landscapes and then digitally manipulated them until they resembled watercolor paintings. “They all start with photographs — I think the term I gave to it was camera-based computer art,” Brown said. “I was concerned about all the historic places around West Orange County vanishing because of the building. … I thought, ‘Maybe I should start going out and getting photos of these places in Winter Garden, Oakland, Ocoee.’ “These digital prints, back when I was starting, that was all kind of a new thing; the software was just coming out,” Brown said. He created dozens of images of homes, landmarks and churches in West Orange County. Reeves, an accomplished artist and draftsman, documented much of the West Orange County region and collected an assortment of books, clippings, interviews and his drawings throughout his life. During his tenure as the inaugural director of the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation, the collection grew into an important resource. Reeves is a retired Orange County Public Schools art instructor who spent 32 years teaching watercolor, humanities, drawing and lettering at Lakeview and West Orange high schools. Reeves has sketched thousands of local residents, students, diners and shoppers, as well as hundreds of historic buildings, homes and landmarks. Lineberger’s artwork is unique — his photographs are printed onto wood. He got his start in 2014, when he photographed and created a montage of Oakland sites, trees and nota-
Amy Quesinberry
Craig Brown’s digital paintings include one of the first schoolhouses, which remains standing today.
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THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021
Boutique opens in W.G. AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR
BAPTIST
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 15304 Tilden Road, Winter Garden Sundays: 9:45 AM All Ages www.FBCWG.org Starke Lake Baptist Church Pastor Jeff Pritchard PO Box 520 611 W Ave., Ocoee (407) 656-2351 www.StarkeLakeBaptist.org Victory Baptist Church & Christian Academy 1601 A.D. Mims Rd, Ocoee FL 34761 (407) 656-3097 www.VBCOCOEE.com Sunday: 11AM & 6 PM Wednesday: 7 PM
CHURCH OF GOD
Ocoee Church of God Pastor Thomas Odom 1105 N. Lakewood Ave.,Ocoee (407) 656-8011
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
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
Signs of summer are all around in the newest clothing shop to open in downtown Winter Garden. Stephanie and Shannon Robinson have opened Apricot Lane Boutique, which caters to women of all ages with a selection of casual and dressy clothing, jewelry and gifts. “The main thing is that we are a boutique that really caters to the mother-daughter kind of crowd,” Stephanie Robinson said. “We don’t want to be one thing. My daughter is 17 — we work in the store together — and she’s able to find things, and I’m able to find things, and even her grandma is able to find things. “If you want a cute dress to go to a wedding or some cute shorts to go to the beach, we want to cover all those life events,” she said. Stephanie Robinson is the buyer for this franchise and selects all the clothing and items for the shop, but she does get input from daughter Sarah. “The main thing — even though it was a franchise, we are all locally owned and we can buy exactly what we want for our customers,” Stephanie Robinson said. “We can ask our customers, ‘What do you want?’ So far, they’re loving the dresses.” The shop offers a price range that allows more customers to find something within their budget, she said. “Everybody in this community has been so supportive, so encouraging,” Stephanie Robinson said. “I just couldn’t ask for more. I hear a lot of, ‘This is what we needed; we’re so glad you’re here.’ It’s been a real blessing.” The Robinsons fell in love with the Winter Garden community when they spent annual vacations at Walt Disney World, and they moved to the Horizon West area a few years ago. They were familiar with the
Apricot Lane Boutique franchise and were energized after speaking to the founder, and they knew they wanted to open up their own when the time was right. “Not only did they have a great product and (they) are a great organization, but they had real integrity and (are) real stand-up people,” Stephanie Robinson said. “We just knew this was the one we wanted.” All the Robinsons had to do was find a storefront. “We were a little patient and waited around and stumbled upon this new building going up,” Stephanie Robinson said. “We felt fortunate to be in at the beginning. It’s a great spot next to the farmers market. “We are so pleased to be a part of the Winter Garden community and excited to build strong relationships with the downtown merchants, boutiques and neighborhoods,” she said. More retail and restaurants are coming soon to the three-story Plant Street Exchange. The first floor will feature a mix of restaurants and small shops opening throughout the summer, and the upper two floors contain the largest contiguous office space available downtown. Coming soon, several restaurants will be opening at the Exchange, including The Hangry Bison, Foxtail Coffee Co., Mangoni’s Italian Market (by the same owner of Rosallie Le French Café) and Sweetland Bakery. LiveTrends, which specializes in unique plant décor, is coming, as well.
APRICOT LANE BOUTIQUE ADDRESS: 264 W. Plant St., Winter Garden PHONE: (407) 554-2216 WEBSITE: apricotlaneboutique.com/ store/wintergarden HOURS: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays
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THURSDAY, JULY 8
TUESDAY, JULY 13
FRIDAY, JULY 9
OAKLAND TOWN COMMISSION MEETING 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at the Oakland Town Meeting Hall, 221 N. Arrington St. For more, visit oaklandfl.gov.
WINTER GARDEN CITY COMMISSION MEETING 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at Winter Garden City Hall, 300 W. Plant St. For more, visit cwgdn.com. LIVE MUSIC ON THE PATIO 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 9, at Crooked Can Brewing Company, 426 W. Plant St., Winter Garden. Enjoy familyfriendly live music on the patio, including this set by Martin Martini. For more, visit crookedcan.com.
SATURDAY, JULY 10
SATURDAY, JULY 17
Alcohol Delivered.
SATURDAY NIGHT JAZZ 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, July 17, at The Vineyard in The Grove, 4848 S. Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando. Free event sponsored by HAPCO Music Foundation. Enjoy an evening of Erik Abernathy, an accomplished guitarist and upright bassist with a unique style inspired by many genres, including bebop, Brazilian music, hot club jazz, classic guitar, funk and blues. For more, visit thevineyardorlando.com.
Get wine, liquor, and beer delivered in under an hour.
TUESDAY, JULY 20
OCOEE CITY COMMISSION MEETING 6:15 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at Ocoee City Hall, 150 N. Lakeshore Drive. For more, visit ocoee.org.
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FRIDAY, JULY 16
FRIDAYS ON THE PLAZA 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 16, at the Centennial Plaza gazebo on West Plant St., Winter Garden. Enjoy live music near the fountain every weekend, including The Company of the Steel Hound, who plays classic country music of the 1950s and ’60s. For more, visit cwgdn.com.
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THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021
WINDERMERE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at Windermere Town Hall, 520 Main St. For more, visit town.windermere.fl.us.
FRIDAYS ON THE PLAZA 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 9, at the Centennial Plaza gazebo on West Plant St., Winter Garden. Enjoy live music near the fountain every weekend, including the acoustic music of the 1970s and ’80s by Watkins Duo. For more, visit cwgdn.com. LIVE MUSIC ON THE PATIO 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 10, at Crooked Can Brewing Company, 426 W. Plant St., Winter Garden. Enjoy family-friendly live music on the pet-friendly patio every weekend, including this three-hour set by Brian & Hannah. For more, visit crookedcan.com.
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OrangeObserver.com
THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021
JENKINS TO LEAD COUNCIL OF THE GREAT CITY SCHOOLS BOARD Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Barbara Jenkins has been named chair of the Council of the Great City Schools’ board of directors. For the next year, Jenkins will lead the 150-member board, which is comprised of the superintendent and a school board member from each of the 75 big-city school districts represented by the council. Jenkins has served as OCPS superintendent since 2012. “The Council of the Great City Schools is extremely fortunate to have Jenkins, a recognized education leader, as its next chair,” said Council Executive Director Ray Hart. “The wealth of knowledge and expertise Jenkins and her leadership team brings will provide important direction and guidance to urban schools as they prepare to resume in-person learning this fall, as well as develop plans to effectively spend federal COVID-19 relief funds to address student needs.”
ANDREW LEFTAKIS NAMED NEW WINDERMERE HIGH PRINCIPAL Windermere High School has a new principal in OCPS veteran Andrew Leftakis. Leftakis has worked in the OCPS school system for the past 15 years — serving in a variety of roles like teacher, SAFE Coordinator, dean and assistant principal — and most recently spent the last five years serving as the principal at Maitland Middle School.
THE MASKED READER
‘How to Turn $100 into $1,000,000’ Stats, stories and ideas are combined to help you get rich.
GABE GOMES AKA THE MASKED READER
Have you ever wanted to become a millionaire? OK, let’s not lie — the answer is probably yes. Or, if you did not want to become a millionaire, it is because you wanted to be something more, like a billionaire. One interesting thing about becoming a millionaire is that people think it is a very complicated, impossible thing to do. However, in reality, becoming a millionaire (or possibly more) is doable and simple, if you know what you are doing. Keep in mind, though, simple and easy are two different things. Some people managed to get some stats, stories and ideas and combine them all into this incredible book for teens, so many others, including you, can learn how to be a millionaire! The title of this book is “How To Turn $100 Into $1,000,000,” and it was written by James McKenna, Jeannine Glista and Matt Fontaine, who are known for their work on other shows like “Biz Kid$” and “Bill Nye the Science Guy.” “How To Turn $100 Into $1,000,000” is full of advice on money, including how to think like a millionaire, how to use things like compound interest to your advantage, how to set up a budget, and how NOT to
become a millionaire! (Trust me, you have no idea how important that section is). This book also contains inspirational stories like how people such as Jeff Bezos and Oprah Winfrey became extremely rich after starting small. Overall, “How To Turn $100 Into $1,000,000” is a very useful book. These pages give you so many stories, ideas and information on, well, how to turn $100 into $1,000,000. Also, besides the clickbait-style title, this book teaches everyone, not only kids, how to responsibly manage their money from an early age. Now, what to do after you become a millionaire? That’s a story for another day.
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THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021
SUMMER SCHOOL ZONE
Star power A budding rock star herself, Windermere Prep fifth-grader Isabella Bakker introduces readers to her favorite celebrity, Pink.
ISABELLA BAKKER WINDERMERE PREP
When I am asked which celebrity inspires me, I think of Pink! Pink was born on September 8, 1979, which makes her currently 41 years old. She was born in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. She was born with the name Alecia Beth Moore; Pink is just her stage name. She gets her name from the movie “Reservoir Dogs,” as her friends thought she looked like the character Mr. Pink. She is the second child born to Jim
and Judy Moore. She has an older brother named Jamison Moore. Her parents had a tense relationship, which caused the couple to divorce when Pink was 3 years old. She started her young career working at McDonald’s. However, her father is a musician, so music runs in the family. Her father has a talent for singing and songwriting. Pink began writing songs herself at the age of 12. She formed a rap group when she was 13 and learned how to play the guitar as well. However, at the age of 14, she ran away from home and became involved in the drug scene. She overdosed on drugs as a teenager and then dropped out of high school to start singing in nightclubs. She has fought sobriety ever since, and although she struggles, she continues to fight for her sobriety for her children’s sake.
Courtesy Kurt Iswarienko
Windermere Prep fifth-grader Isabella Bakker finds inspiration in rock star Pink.
Despite her tough childhood, she has performed at 263 concerts worldwide. She has sold 16 million albums in the U.S., and 40 million albums worldwide including 50 million singles. This makes her one of the bestselling artists in the world. She has also been in multiple moves including “Happy Feet.” In 2001, while at the Summer X Games, she met Carey Hart, who is a professional freestyle motocross competitor. She and Carey dated for four years, then Pink took matters into her own hands and proposed to Carey. Six months later, they were married in Costa Rica. They have
two children — one girl named Willow Sage Hart and one boy named Jamison Moon Hart. Some fun facts about Pink: Since the age of 15, she has been a vegetarian, until she started craving chicken during her first pregnancy. She is into motocross like her husband, and now this is a fun activity for her whole family to enjoy. She has more than 20 tattoos throughout her body. She has always been a proud tomboy. During her free time, she plants vegetables in her garden. Her favorite song to listen to and perform is “Get This Party Started,” and her favorite artist is Michael Jackson.
As a hopeful artist myself, with dreams to be in the music industry, I am inspired by Pink. Despite her early difficult life, she has become a successful singer and songwriter living with a beautiful family, including her husband and two children. She turned her difficult times into inspirational songs loved by the world. I think she has become a wonderful role model. I will be performing on a cover band rock album soon, and the song I’ve chosen is “Raise Your Glass,” as I would love to be a rock star just like her.
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1 Sore 5 Duke Ellington’s “Take ___ Train” 9 Similar 13 Cathedral recess 17 Next to bat 19 Beat keepers 20 Detective Wolfe 21 First Pixar film with a Black lead 22 “The Crucible” judge? (Note letters 2 to 5 in this answer and the 4 letters right below them) 24 Strength of character 25 Bro and sis
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.
“WOHWCO HGFOI DBE T XBPO DH SKNX OIOVJE, FXBF T IOPOV DFHW; LKF FXBF’D RXBF TF FBZOD FH BNNHSWCTDX EHKV JHBCD.” 50 NOIF
“GC GFVV JFZZ WCSEWC PSE YFZ ZCTZC SP VSBC, YFZ ZCTZC SP JAZFH ITK YFZ ZCTZC SP VIAWYXCE.”
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Puzzle Two Clue: P equals F
©2021 Universal Uclick
37 “I’m not looking for responses,” on Twitter 39 First appearance 40 Pita dip, perhaps 41 Fin de ___ (late 19th century) 43 Stop holding on 46 Wanted poster letters 47 Bread that may be dark 51 Almost empty 52 Meditation sounds 53 This moment, more or less 54 Rom-com’s first encounter 55 ___-century modern 57 Lacking a time stamp 58 Guy on a ship 59 Hospital workers 60 Tailless primate 63 Hiking path 64 Feathery neckwear item 65 Chicago airport code 67 Gold measure DOWN 68 Pranks with rolls, briefly 1 TikTok request 69 Xavier Becerra’s dept. 2 Knickknack 70 Entourages 3 Gets wind of 71 Actress Christine 4 City west of Tucson 73 Creator of a diamond5 Quartet minus one topped scale? 6 Jabba the ___ 74 Green toppers for toast 7 Sends out, as light 75 Hereditary collection 8 Fancy neckwear items 80 Has as a tenant 9 Poet Maya 81 “Drivers License” singer 10 Sound of a frog hitting Olivia water 82 Self-centered “journey” 11 Eye part or flower 83 Prince, to a queen 26 “Annabelle: Creation” 46 “Elf” actor Ed tion (... 4 to 7 and the 12 “I’m kidding!” 85 Early round, informally actress 48 Naughty letters right below) 13 Attacks 87 Complete 10 reps, say 27 Short albums, briefly 49 No longer active (Abbr.) 70 2D surface 14 More tapered 89 Civil rights activist 28 The Sharks or the Jets 50 Feline toon with a bow 72 Robin Williams film 15 Narrow music category Chavez 29 Canon camera (... 4 to 7 and the letters about an aspiring doctor 16 Great Wall of China’s 90 Yankees legend who 30 Tiny bit of work right below) 73 Woman’s Day, e.g., middle? dated J.Lo 31 To this day 53 Make crack up briefly 18 Indian cheese 93 Come up again 33 Hang around 55 Oversee excessively 76 Crew propeller 19 Seems endless, with “on” 95 Internet issue? 35 Screwed (up) 56 Add to the poker pot 77 One may be congested 23 Burnable storage media 96 Busybody 38 Waited at a theme park 57 Future ensign’s sch. 78 ___ Bo (Abbr.) 97 “Hot Fuzz” director Wright (... 4 to 7 and the letters 61 Wedding acquisitions? 79 Gives too many personal 28 Barely show up? 99 Secure, as a skiff right below) 62 Classic Pontiac details (... 7 to 10 and the 32 “___ my treat!” 101 Preside over 40 Bygone Russian leader 63 Digit to dip in a pool letters right below) 33 Turkish coins 102 Heed 42 Part of Verizon Media 64 Study intensely 84 Tract of land 34 Take a breather 103 John, in Russian 44 System administrators, 66 South Beach, for one 85 Authors 35 Food court regular 104 Texter’s qualifier often 67 Rapper Lil’ ___ 86 “I swear!” 36 Entering gradually 105 JFK’s location 45 Not feel 100% 68 Sleepover game ques- 88 Liquor store sign 91 First part of an act 92 Charitable sort 94 Before, to a bard 95 Watch warily 98 Rent.com listings, for short 99 B.A. Baracus portrayer 100 Converted into droplets (... 2 to 5 and the letters right below) 104 Wedding vows 105 Pinot ___ 106 Aquatic activity involving masks 107 Not worth discussing 108 One unlikely to question a pose? 109 Mathematician Leonhard 110 Large ray in the ocean 111 Norway’s capital 112 Trim, as a photo 113 Deuce topper 114 Close to
Puzzle One Clue R equals W
NATION UNDER GOD by Joe Deeney; CROSSWORD ONE Edited by David Steinberg
© 2021 NEA, Inc.
SUDOKU
Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.
©2021 Andrews McMeel Syndicate
07-08-21
JULY 8, 2021
HIGH
SPORTS
Brendan Furey showed out as a pitcher and third baseman for the Windermere Little League All-Stars Majors team . Page 12.
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Angel Lamon, a sophomore at Windermere High, had a big showing at the U.S. Open World Martial Arts Championships at Disney Saturday, July 3, as he took home second place in the 14- to 15-year-old fighting division.
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CrossFit Winter Garden had a solid showing at the USA Powerlifting Europa Fitness Expo Powerlifting Championships Friday, July 2. The gym walked away with four gold medals and a silver medal, and saw Special Olympian Michelle Feiner claim the Women’s Deadlift Champion of Champions title.
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The Winter Garden Squeeze edged by the Seminole County Snappers in a 6-4 win Friday, July 2. In the win, Douglas Bell and Jacob Nemith led the team with two RBIs and a run apiece, and Tyler McKenna went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate while accounting for a run. With the victory, the Squeeze moved to 8-10 on the season.
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Olympia High alumnus and current Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jesse Winker was named a starting outfielder for the National League in the 2021 MLB All-Star Game Thursday, July 1. This is Winker’s first AllStar game selection, and it comes after an incredible start this season, which has seen Winker record a .314 batting average while racking up 19 home runs and 48 RBIs. The All-Star Game is slated for Tuesday, July 13.
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A duo of Winter Garden Squeeze players were named when the Florida Collegiate Summer League announced its 2021 AllStar team Thursday, July 1. On the FCSL West team, Squeeze first baseman Bryce Jackson (Frostburg State) was named a starter at his position, and Dale Thomas (Coastal Carolina) was named starter at the shortstop position.
BIG TIME LITTLE LEAGUES All good things …
After four years at Observer Media Group, my time has come to an end, so enjoy this sappy column. TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR
As I stare at this blank Pages document on my laptop, the memories of the last four years pour out — making it impossible for me to figure out where to start with this column. For those who don’t follow me on Twitter or aren’t my friends on Facebook — shame on y’all, by the way — I announced some personal
Troy Herring
It’s deep into the Little League All-Star season, and as some teams falter, others continue to make the run to glory. TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR
I
n this moment, the only thing Andre Williams feels is relief. Standing amongst his Dr. Phillips Little League All-Star team (10-12s), they pose for a quick photo with their District 14 championship banner following a 6-1 win over Winter Garden at George Bailey Park Friday, July 2. The championship game was the fifth in 14 days for DPLL, thanks in large part to afternoon storms and showers that led to a whopping 10 rainouts throughout district play. In fact, Friday night’s game originally was supposed to
news that I hadn’t exactly planned for: I was leaving the Observer for the proverbial greener pastures. After 16 incredible years in journalism, I’m hanging up my press pass — my last official day was Tuesday, July 6 — and trading it in for something similar, but different. A couple of weeks ago, I accepted an offer to become the chief photographer/photo editor/photo archivist for the city of Greensboro back home in North Carolina, and I couldn’t be more excited. I’ll be shooting a variety of things, including sports — so if you see a white guy passed out on the floor during the ACC basketball tourney, that’s most definitely me. Despite the excitement, however, I’ve also had time between
SEE ALL-STAR PAGE 12
writing and packing to reflect on everything that’s happened since I arrived in Central Florida back in June 2017. When I popped up at our sister paper in Winter Park — #RIP — I knew no one. I had just finished an 11-month job search following the completion of my master’s and was just excited someone took a chance on me. I remember how fast the friendships grew for me, and the newsroom of former Associate Editor Tim Freed and current Sarasota Black Tie Editor Harry Sayer and I was magic. On edit days, we would do our work, but during downtime, we would constantly crack jokes and fill out incredibly SEE GODSPEED PAGE 13
SPORTS SPOTLIGHT
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Brendan Furey
Left: DP’s Camillo Diaz threw a gem against WGLL in the title game. Right: WGLL’s Nick Tanko snags a ball hit his way.
Brendan Furey has been part of the Windermere Little League organization for nearly six years and currently enjoys a dual role for the Majors All-Star team at both pitcher and third base.
When did you start playing baseball? When I first started playing baseball, I was 5, and why I started playing was because my dad was saying, “Maybe you should try out baseball; it might be really fun” — because at that time I was playing soccer. He convinced me to play baseball.
THE BASICS AGE: 12 ORGANIZATION: Windermere Little League TEAM: WLL All-Stars, 12U (Majors) POSITION: Pitcher, third base BATS/THROWS: Right/ right
What has kept you motivated to keep playing baseball? I love how fun it can be playing against your friends, (the) learning experience, and getting better and better over time.
at the time, and there was this kid who could hit home runs. He hit a huge hit — it wasn’t going to go over, but it was on the smaller field — and it was right next to the fence. It was really far away from me, and I had to run to get it, and I wouldn’t have made it, but then I just dove for it and I caught it.
What has been your favorite part about being part of Windermere Little League? I’d say being on teams with my friends and being able to hang out with them and having fun. And making new friends and getting to know them better.
Did you have any goals in mind for this All-Star season? I have two goals: I want to try and make it as far as we can and hopefully get to the Little League World Series, and my second goal was to hit a home run by the end of the season, and I accomplished that. It wasn’t in a game, but it was still really fun to hit a home run for the first time ever.
What is your favorite part about pitching? I’d say striking out my friends, especially when I get to play against them, and then just being able to control the game. What is the hardest part about pitching? If you walk a batter, you have to keep your head in it and not get mad at yourself and stay focused.
Do you have a favorite team you like to watch? A favorite player? I like a couple of teams, but my favorite is the Braves and then my favorite player, Ronald Acuña Jr. He’s like the star outfielder, and he always makes those sweet diving plays.
Coming into the season, was there anything you were hoping to get better at? I would like to get better at fielding and hitting mainly, and also getting better at pitching.
When you’re not playing baseball, what do you like to do in your spare time? I like to bike ride, I like to fish, hang out with my friends and go to the lake in my neighborhood and play basketball, as well.
Is there a highlight moment that stands out during your time playing baseball? This was like, when I was 7. I was playing center field
— TROY HERRING
Family. Family. Athlete of the Week Sponsored by...
All-Star showcase CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11
take place the night before, but due to weather had to be pushed back. There’s nothing you can do about the weather, Williams said, so you have to do what you can to keep the kids loose. “When you get a chance to practice, you get it in — you make sure you get to the cages a little earlier, and you make sure you get the hitting,” Williams said. “You just try to do what you can. But, you know, the resilience of coming back every day and having the same attitude is what it’s all about.” After beating Windermere in the lead-up game, DPLL knew it had to come out swinging against a strong Winter Garden side. However, DPLL found itself down 1-0 early before a five-run third inning helped catapult DP to the district title and a berth into sectional play. Along with the Majors team, DPLL also has seen success from other teams in the league with the Juniors All-Stars and 9-11s (Minors) both laying claim to District 14 titles. The Juniors team snuck past Windermere’s Juniors 8-6 in a big win, while the Minors team had an absolute barn burner against Winter Garden. After being up 8-2 in the fifth, Winter Garden rallied to even it up at 8-8 before DP exploded for four runs in the top of the seventh to snag the 12-8 win in extras back on June 18 — thanks in part to a big 5-for-5 outing at the plate for leadoff man Cam Johansson. Two weeks later, the Minors team would absolutely thrash South Orange and Lake Wales by 19-0 and 18-0, respectively, to win the Section 5 title. “Max Kunz threw a no-hitter in the first game, and I think Kobi Nethercutt gave up two hits in the second game,” Minors head coach Bryan Granatstein said. “The kids really stepped up and played good defense, and
obviously we hit the ball to score that many runs.” With the win, Granatstein’s team will head to DeFuniak Springs to take on Florida’s best in the state championships. WLL SOFTBALL DOMINATES
Three teams out of the league are moving on to the next rounds of play after claiming district and sectional titles. On the boys side, the Seniors baseball team — also referred to as “Wintermere,” as the team is made up of players from Windermere, Winter Garden and DP — took home a thrilling 12-11 win in the district championship to advance to sectionals. Meanwhile, on the softball side of things, both the 8- to 10-year old team and Majors (10-12) found success out on the field. The younger team blanked Apopka 11-0 to win the District 14 title before going on to win sectionals to advance to states. In the Majors division, there was no district tournament held, as other leagues in the district didn’t have enough players to place into the age group, said WLL Majors coach Steve Margelos. Instead, the team went straight to sectionals where they just lit up St. Cloud. “The first game … we won 22-1, and it was just like, I think we were almost as shocked as they were — everything that could go wrong for them went wrong,” Margelos said. “And the girl pitching for us — Lauren Harper — she threw a no-hitter, and it was great. Then, the second game, St. Cloud played the way they should play, and we won 5-0.” Now, the Majors team is readying for the state championships this weekend against Florida’s best. But for Margelos — especially after having no season last year — everything
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The Winter Garden Little League All-Star season came to a close with the Majors team’s 6-1 loss to Dr. Phillips last Friday, but it wasn’t without impressive outings. The league saw all four of its All-Star teams make it to their respective district championship games, with the 9s winning big in a 16-4 victory over Dr. Phillips Little League to claim the TOC Championships Thursday, June 10, and the 10s defeating Windermere 11-3 to claim the District 14 title. That 10s team went 5-0 through district play and reeled off wins against Oviedo and Plant City in sectionals to move to 7-0 before having their season end in a tough 5-4 loss in extra innings to St. Cloud to fall a game short of making it to states. Despite the season being over, the successes of the season — especially with the cancelaltion of last year due to COVID-19 — made this year that much more special, said league president and 11s coach Josh Steele. “Numerous people came up during conversation talking about just about how excited they were to be playing and how great it was for their kids to be out there, because basically they lost a year of Little League,” Steele said. “I think it definitely made it more special to come back from it and field some really good teams from top to bottom.”
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from here on out is just a cherry on top of a fun season. “I think — at the end of the day — ‘Whatever happens at states is just bonus,’ (that) is what I kind of tell the girls,” Margelos said. “You don’t get to go to states every year.”
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media, is something that money can’t buy. It’s part of what makes the sports community here in West Orange County so special. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to experience those moments firsthand anymore as your sports editor, but I’ll be following from afar — trust me. And as the new guy comes in to replace me, I know you’ll appreciate him the way you did me. With that said, adieu, my friends, and may the force be with you.
BERNADINE LATTNER DIED JUNE 24, 2021.
Bernadine Lattner 1939-2021 — Mrs. Bernadine Rae Lattner passed away on June 24, 2021. In addition to her parents, Bernard and Ann Riley, she was preceded in death by her husband, Peter Lee Lattner, in 2002 after 37 years of marriage; two brothers, Mickey and Michael Riley; and three sisters, Patricia Hickey, Robin Patterson and Roberta Weaver; and two grandchildren, Renee Thomas and Joshua Lattner. Survivors include two sons, Roy Thomas and Peter Lattner; and two daughters, Ann Wilson and Kelly Legros; her grandchildren, Keith and Matthew Thomas, Jessica Pelfort, Danielle and Ryan Lattner, Daniel and Erin LeGros; great-grandchildren, Zack, Leo, Drake, Ethan,
Kyleigh, Kayla, Brittany, Chelsea and Aubrey; sister, Jacqueline Howard; and brothers, Dan and Dennis Riley; along with many beloved nieces and nephews. Bernadine was a resident of Ocoee, Florida, after raising her family in Fort Pierce, Florida. She was a longtime homemaker, devout Catholic, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. Memorial services were held Wednesday July 7, 2021, at Resurrection Catholic Church in Winter Garden, Florida.
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important brackets — like best Pop Tart flavor or best animal. On a related note — and this is aimed solely at Tim and Harry — no way should that giraffe have beaten the sloth in the final … I want a recount. Of course, Tim and Harry weren’t the only good folks I’ve met during my time here. Before I made the move to Winter Garden, I had already befriended the entire staff at the paper here, and they’ve been a big reason why this place has been so good to me. The constant back-and-forth with Associate Editor Danielle Hendrix over who the true 2017 football national champions were — it was Alabama by the way, Roll Tide — and quoting music lyrics with Community Editor Amy Quesinberry until we broke out into a jam session in the middle of production day was the best. Former Sports Editor Steven Ryzewski would talk sports with me all day, and former staff writer Eric Gutierrez and I would geek out over Star Wars like it was our religion. Then there’s Editor/Publisher Mike Eng, Design Editor Jess Eng, Designer Lindsay Cannizzaro and the best ad team on the planet that’s made up of Cyndi Gustafson, Iggy Collazo, Allison Brunelle and
Ann Carpenter. Throw them into the batch, and it’s easily the best media outlet I’ve ever had to the privilege of working for. And then, of course, there is you — our loyal audience and community. Without y’all, I wouldn’t be able to do the things that I’ve enjoyed doing these past few years. Seriously, without y’all, I wouldn’t be getting paid, so props to y’all on helping me avoid living in a cardboard box. Now, there’s way too many folks to thank in the community — though Thomas Lightbody gets a special shoutout for saving my butt on a ghastly number of occasions to the point that I owe him enough drinks to drown a small village in Europe — but I can’t tell you enough how much I appreciate the time you spent letting me bother you with phone calls and photos. You let me into your homes to sit down and talk, and you let me onto the sidelines of your schools to wildly run around as I took photos and notes for stories. And though I’ve experienced some truly remarkable moments — from state title runs to stories of obstacles overcome — it was always the small things that I loved the most. Seeing my photos and stories hang in your homes, or used as your profile photo on social
THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021
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WEST ORANGE OBITUARIES
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We are one with Winter Garden. Primary Care+ is celebrating one year of 5-star reviews. One year after introducing a whole new concept in primary health care located in Winter Garden Village at Fowler Groves, our team is delivering on our promise to you with: • 5-star providers
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