07.10.14 The West Orange Times by Orange Observer

Rowers place at Nationals

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Local synchronized swim team returns from national competition in Seattle

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Vol. 81 No. 28

In brief See our changes

The West Orange Times has implemented a few changes in this week’s edition. You will find our new Community Calendar on 2A. Obituaries are now on 12A. And we have added a Weather feature, which can be found on 13A with our “I Love West Orange” photo of the week.

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Winter Garden, Florida

By Tony Judnich

Voters at the Aug. 26 primary election, as well as early and absentee-ballot voters, will determine whether to renew the local-option, half penny sales tax that pays the bulk of the cost of Orange County Public Schools’ construction, renovation and technology upgrade projects. The original, voter-approved half penny tax began in 2003 and is set to expire in 2015 unless voters approve its renewal. If the ballot measure passes, the tax would remain in place for 10 more years

to 2025. Orange County’s sales tax rate is 6.5%. It consists of the Florida general sales tax rate of 6%, plus the .5% from the half penny sales tax. Since 2003, revenue from the half penny tax has paid for the renovation or rebuilding of 94 schools. And by the end of 2015, it will have created more than 81,000 jobs and contributed more than $3 billion to the local economy. That’s according to data from Lynetta Tipton Steed, chairman of the West Orange Chamber of Commerce, which strongly supports renewing the tax.

Gibson sharing country music for cancer cause

Patrick Gibson, a country music recording artist who hails from West Orange County, is returning to the area July 19 for several reasons: to celebrate his 32nd birthday and to raise money for CureSearch.org, which promotes children’s cancer research. He is bringing with him ’90s country music star Wade Hayes. The two are performing at Blue 42 Sports Bar & Grill, in Winter Garden. The price of admission is a donation at the door. VIP passes are available for purchase for guaranteed seating. For more information, go to pgcountry. com.

Inside

Deaths…2A Opinion…4A Business…3A Winter Garden…7A Oakland...8A Ocoee...9A Windermere...10A Social…11A Sports…1-4B Schools…4B.

(See Tax, 12A)

By Tony Judnich

County meetings set in July

The UF/IFAS Extension Service is offering a class on vegetable gardening from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 17. It takes place at the Jessie Brock Community Center, 310 N. Dillard St., Winter Garden. Learn the basics of Florida vegetable gardening, including soil preparation, adjusting soil pH, fertilizing, irrigation, pests and diseases. The class is free, but participants must register online at ocmgs.eventbrite.com. For information, call (407) 2549200.

Many of the schools that have benefited from the tax are West Orange schools, such as Dr. Phillips and Evans high schools; Ocoee, MetroWest, Palm Lake and Windermere elementary schools; and Gotha Middle School, Steed said. Extending the life of the tax by 10 years would provide $2 billion dollars to pay for renovating 59 schools and building four new relief schools, as well as for technology upgrades, according to Steed. She said West Orange schools that would

Ocoee City Hall building receives new support

The Garden Theatre is showing a family-friendly flick, “The Croods,” sponsored by the city of Winter Garden, at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 15. Tickets are $2 general admission, which includes a Snack Pack of popcorn and juice.

Learn basics of veggie gardening

50 Cents

Voters to decide on sales-tax extension

See a $2 children’s film

The Orange County Commission has planned several meetings for this month regarding property in District 1, which includes West Orange County. The first one pertains to the Buena Vista Cay Planned Development in the Dr. Phillips area. The meeting was set for 6 p.m. this Wednesday, July 9, in the Chain of Lakes Middle School cafeteria, 8700 Conroy Windermere Road, Orlando. The dates for two more meetings are set, but a location has to be determined for both. Up for discussion are the Lake Avalon Planned Development in the Avalon Rural Settlement at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 23 and the Isleworth Four Corner Planned Development in the Windermere/Dr. Phillips area at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 24.

Three Sections, 42 Pages

Photo by Shari Roach

The spirit of America

Tanner Moore, Kane Cook and Tyler Moore hung out with Uncle Sam, of the Winter Garden Masonic Lodge, at the All American Kids Parade on July 4. The event was sponsored by the Downtown Winter Garden Merchants Association, the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation and the Masonic Lodge and included a breakfast, parade and other activities. For more Fourth of July photos, see 6A.

Since 1994, when it was constructed, certain sections of Ocoee City Hall have sunk four inches into the ground. And its back porch has descended even more — maybe by up to six inches, Ocoee officials said. City officials “knew they had some major problems in 2000, and it still continues to sink to this day,” Ocoee Public Works Director Steve Krug said July 3 about City Hall. The building, however, is structurally sound, he said. Providing new support for the city headquarters is a recently completed, $35,000 project performed by the Senatore Firm, of Leesburg, to replace porch columns on the back of the building. “Basically, some of the structural supports made out of cinder blocks were starting to deteriorate, and with the building settling, it started cracking and going off on an angle,” City Manager

Rob Frank said. The Senatore Firm “brought it back to where it should be, replaced the columns and repaired damage caused by the sinking of the building.” Frank’s second-floor office faces City Hall’s back lawn that stretches down to Lakeshore Drive and Starke Lake. Many decades ago, the water in the lake extended over much of the lawn and up to the gazebo that stands outside of the Lakeshore Center, adjacent to City Hall. Muck left over in the area the lake receded from is the culprit causing the City Hall sinking problem, city officials said. Frank and Krug said the contractor that performed the “de-mucking” of the construction site before City Hall was built did not do an adequate job. “They de-mucked down to a certain level, but the dewatering wasn’t accurate,” Krug said. “About 15 feet down, there is a three-foot (See Ocoee, 12A)

Bluegrass coming to Garden Theatre

— The Gatorbone Band, featuring Winter Garden’s Jason Thomas, will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday. By Amy Quesinberry Rhode When Jason Thomas picks up his fiddle at home, his 10-year-old son likes to grab his violin and join his father in playing some tunes. Thomas, now 52 and a professional musician, was just about Jacob’s age when he learned to play the mandolin. At age 12, he picked up a fiddle and mastered that, too, mostly through self-instruction; and by high school, the Ontario, Canada(See Bluegrass, 12A)

Photo courtesy of Gatorbone

Jason Thomas, Lis Williamson, Lon Williamson and Gabe Valla are Gatorbone. The Florida-based band is bringing its bluegrass style to downtown Winter Garden this Saturday.

Death leaves empty space in Marrero family By Amy Quesinberry Rhode

Victoria Marrero seemed to be getting better, overcoming the lung cancer that was slowly taking her life. It was on her birthday last year, May 16, that the Ocoee resident learned that the persistent cough she was being treated for was actually Non Small Cell Adenocarcinoma. The 36-year-old wife and mother lost her fight with cancer — a long battle everyone thought she was winning — on June 25, leaving a young family to mourn her death. Bernie Marrero, 38, knew his wife, Vicky (as she is known to her friends),

was something special the first time he saw her converse in American Sign Language. ASL was important to both of them because his mother and her parents are deaf. It was actually Bernie’s mother who introduced the two; she knew Vicky’s parents from the small deaf community in New York, where they all once lived, and the parents had reconnected in Central Florida. Bernie and Vicky dated and were together for 18 years — 11 of them as a married couple — before her death. “We had a lot of fun,” Bernie Marrero told The West Orange Times on Monday. “We had a very, very playful

relationship. The best part of it was that she was my best friend. We were very cool together. I was very lucky.” He said one of their favorite activities was playing cards and board games with their children: 15-yearold Nathaniel, 12-year-old Alyssia, 9-year-old Natasha and 7-year-old twins Lorenzo and Julius, both of whom have autism and are confused about their mother’s death. On the morning his wife died, Marrero called his good friend, Carl Satterwhite, to share the tragic news. The two men have known one another for (See Marrero, 12A)

VICTORIA MARRERO

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Briefs

Summer wins matter for DP boys hoops

Panthers finish summer basketball season with 25-1 record By Steven Ryzewski

Squeeze look to rally coming out of break

The Winter Garden Squeeze’s Chris Fee donned quite a “rally hat” with the help of his teammates during Friday’s game but the Squeeze still fell to Sanford in extra innings and are in fourth place coming out of the All-Star break. Full coverage — B3

Summer league basketball wins don’t count for much for high school basketball teams, at least not officially. The way head coach Anthony Long and the Dr. Phillips Panthers see it, though, winning is winning no matter the season — a mantra the Panthers rode to a 25-1 record this summer. “It’s important to us because it’s part of the culture that we try to create,” Long said of his team’s success in June. “We want to create a culture where winning is the standard and losing is just not acceptable.” The summer months of June and July are unofficially split into two separate periods — June being a time for high school teams to play together in leagues and tournaments and July being a time for players to focus on AAU and travel ball obligations to increase exposure in front of college scouts. This June was good to Dr. Phillips, which played most of its game in the summer league organized by West Orange coach Eric Jones. In addition to the two games per week that the Panthers played as a part of the league, Long’s team also participated in several weekend showcases and tournaments, most recently wrapping the summer season at a showcase in The Villages. Dr. Phillips’ sole loss came against Gainesville and, along the way, they picked up a number of notable wins. The Panthers defeated Bartow and Lake Minneola — the

2013 runner-ups in Class 7A and Class 6A, respectively. Dr. Phillips, which started all underclassmen a season ago, thrived on continuity from its strong 2013-2014 campaign. “I knew we would have a pretty good summer because we’re returning all five of our starters,” Long said. “We’re a little bit ahead of most people — most people in the summer are just incorporating new starters into their lineup because of graduating seniors. “We didn’t have to do that.” The summer season also provided a chance for the Panthers’ young core to grow. Dr. Phillips will again be led by risingsenior forward Jonathan Laurent, a dynamic player who has fielded interest from Division I programs including UCF, Florida and Miami, but the growth of younger players will be key to whether the Panthers make a run at the state title. “We started two freshman last year (Chaundee Brown and Elijah Jordan) and they’re just getting better and better,” Long said. “The sky is the limit with how far they can go.” The next time Dr. Phillips takes the floor will be in the preseason, which they will open against Bartow at home on Nov. 11. And if Long has his way, the winning ways of the summer will serve to carry over into the upcoming season. “We don’t like to lose in the summer, the fall, the winter — any time,” Long said.

West Orange Times Archive Photo

The Dr. Phillips Panthers boys basketball team had a strong summer and finished with just one loss.

Eight Squeeze players named to All-Star Game roster

Six Levels MMA celebrates new facility, ten years in business

The Six Levels Premier MMA and Fitness Center celebrated its 10th anniversary in June and also the grand opening of its new location in Winter Garden. The gym offers Gracie JiuJitsu and MMA training for both adults and youth, personal training and fitness options as well as self defense classes for women. Six Levels offers group and private instruction. NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, a client of the gym’s, was on hand to celebrate the opening of the new facility at 16112 Marsh Road in Winter Garden. More information on the gym and its offerings can be found online at 6levelsorlando.com, by emailing info@6LevelsOrlando.com or by calling 407-905-9982.

By Steven Ryzewski

Rosters for the 11th Florida Collegiate Summer League All-Star Game were announced last week and the Winter Garden Squeeze were well-represented in their first season as a franchise. Eight players from the Squeeze (14-12) participated in the game, which took place after the time of publication on July 8 at Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium. “Our players that are represented, we’re really proud of [them],” Winter Garden General Manager Adam Bates said. “We’re really proud of our kids — they’ve really worked hard.” The annual game pits players from the North (consisting of players from Sanford, De (See Squeeze, 2B) Photo courtesy of YCF Loreleis

The YCF Loreleis competed in the USA Synchro Age Group Finals in Federal Way, Wash., just south of Seattle. It was the first time in more than two decades that the program had a team advance to the national competition.

Windermere golfer wins tournament in Indiana

Greg Owen, 43, a golfer at the Golden Bear Golf Club in Windermere, won the United Leasing Championship tournament last week at Victoria National Golf Club in Newburgh, Ind. Owen at one point trailed by seven strokes but finished the tournament with a 9-under 279 to score the win. It is Owen’s first win on the Web.com Tour and netted him $108,000.

Synchronized in Seattle By Steven Ryzewski

The YCF Loreleis are inspired. In the days since the synchronized swimming program’s team of 13- to 15-year-olds returned from its trip to the Pacific Northwest, where the girls competed in the USA Synchro Age Group Finals, there has been a common question asked of coach Teresa Szakos. “Where’s Nationals next year?” The West Orange County-based team qualified for the national competition for the first time in more than two decades at the beginning of the summer and, from June 27 through July 1, the

eight girls and Szakos were in Federal Way, Wash. — just south of Seattle — competing against some of the best teams in the country. It was an enlightening experience for the team. The Loreleis placed 30th in the 13 to 15 age group, but team members like Gunjan “Gigi” Devnani, a rising sophomore at Dr. Phillips High School, say they are motivated to build upon their breakthrough season. “We had so much fun … it was amazing in getting to watch some of the best teams in the country and being at the same competition as them,” Devnani

said. “We were extremely inspired by some of the routines we saw. “We thought about how we can use what we saw and make our next season better to qualify again for the national competition.” While Devnani and her teammates — Michelle Tommasi, Erin Lowe, Saskia Steenstra, Sarah Demsky, Sydnie Steenstra, Phoebe Espinel and Julie Marcus — may be ready to hop back in the pool and get working for next season, Szakos said the girls should be proud of their achievements in simply making it to the (See Loreleis, 2B)

Winter Garden’s Danny Portales was among the eight players from the Squeeze who made the roster for the Florida League’s All-Star Game.

Commentary: FHSAA should keep basketball finals at Lakeland Center JUNIOR GOLF CLINIC Forest Lake Golf Club is conducting weekly golf instruction for Junior Golfers each Tuesday afternoon throughout the summer until September 23, 2014. This clinic is conducted by Tommy Griffey, PGA Apprentice. Ages: 6 to 10 @ 5-6PM Ages 11 to 16 @ 6-7PM Cost $12 per junior each week For more info, please call Forest Lake Golf Club @ (407) 654-4653.

First thing’s first — I’ll admit I’m a little biased on this. I’ve covered the FHSAA Boys Basketball Finals in Lakeland each of the past three seasons and, in addition to being a basketball junkie who loves watching the state’s best teams duke it out, my favorite part has always been the drive — or rather, the lack thereof. It’s hard to beat a onehour commute to cover a state championship, just ask a preps reporter from south Florida or the Panhandle. So, as the FHSAA weighs its options in where it will hold the state tournaments for boys and girls basketball in the spring, I have to admit I’m a little partial to keeping it in Lakeland at The Lakeland Center — where it has been for 33 of 38 seasons

since 1977. Selfish? Sure. It’s also a good idea. According to the Orlando Sentinel’s Buddy Collings, the FHSAA is considering Jacksonville and Tallahassee along with Lakeland in addition to the possibility of bids materializing from West Palm Beach and Fort Myers. The thing Lakeland has above all of them is something I believe is underrated — it’s a central location in our massive state. If you’re a team from Tallahassee, the drive to Lakeland is right around four hours, as is the drive for a team from Miami. Neither is particularly enticing (you really can’t beat the hour commute from Orlando), but they both trump the seven-hour trip from Miami to Tallahas-

see. Heck, I’d love for Orlando

STEVEN RYZEWSKI or one of the other towns here in the immediate Central Florida area to bid for the tournaments, but no such interest has been expressed and

there’s another thing to consider when thinking about keeping the championships in Lakeland — tradition. I’m a millennial, and we’re not known for being overly nostalgic, but there have been some special moments in The Lakeland Center over the years — something Dr. Phillips boys basketball coach Anthony Long believes should be taken into account. “I’ve got a lot of great memories from taking teams to that building,” Long said. “So selfishly I’d like to see it stay in Lakeland. “I think they do a good job in Lakeland and I think the city kind of takes the whole event in, feels like it’s part of it.” Lakeland has become synonymous for basketball play-

ers across the state with the final stop en route to a championship. That means something. I’m sure some of the facilities bidding for the games are newer and nicer, but I think the 33 years worth of champions crowned on the hardwood at Lakeland is a tradition worth fighting for — and, along with Long, the Florida Association of Basketball Coaches agrees. The FABC recently distributed a written statement expressing its position that its members would generally like to see the championships remain at The Lakeland Center. Of course, there’s always more to these things, with the Lakeland Ledger having (See Lakeland, 2B)

The West Orange Times Thursday, July 10, 2014 To publicize your event in our Community Calendar, please send by email: news@wotimes.com; or by mail: 720 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden, FL 34787. Photos are welcome. Deadline is noon Thursday.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 9

Create Comic Books – 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 9, at the West Oaks Branch Library, 1821 E. Silver Star Road, Ocoee. Ages 9-12. Children will create comic drawings using Comic Life, change layouts and write a story. Registration required. (407) 835-7323. Improve Job Interview Skills – 2:15 p.m. Wednesday, July 9, at the Windermere Library, 530 Main St. The workshop is recommended for adults. Registration required. (407) 835-7323.

WOCC Golf Networking Group – 5-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 9, with the West Orange Chamber of Commerce. Location TBA. The cost is $20 and includes cart and greens fee. For more information, contact dan@ bluedreampools.com.

THURSDAY, JULY 10

Coffee and Connections – 8-9:30 a.m. Thursday, July 10, at the Holiday Inn Express, 7474 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando. Participants can promote their industry products and services to 19 West Orange Chamber members, spending one minute with each. For more information, contact kcarney@ wochamber.com. Intro to Digital Photography – 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 10, at the Winter Garden Library, 805 E. Plant St. Recommended for adults. Learn about composition, shutter speed, ISO, aperture settings and more. Registration required. (407) 8357323.

The Virtual Painter for Kids – 1:30 p.m. Thursday, July 10, at the Southwest Library, 7255 Della Drive, Orlando. Recommended for ages 6-8. Participants will create and modify their own digital work of art. Registration required. (407) 8357323.

Special Effects Makeup in the Movies – 3 p.m. Thursday, July 10, at the Southwest Library, 7255 Della Drive, Orlando. Ages 13 and up. Ghoul School Professor Barry Anderson will showcase castings, prosthetics and molds that transform people into fantasy creatures.To register, call (407) 835-7323. Seating is limited.

MONDAY, JULY 14

Self-Defense Class — 6 p.m. Thursday, July 10. Ocoee Police Department officers will present a free self-defense awareness and familiarization exchange class for women. The duration is three hours and is limited to the first 15 eligible participants. Attendees must be at least 13 years old. Preference will be given to Ocoee residents. (407) 9053160, Ext. 3024.

Garden of Weedin’ – begins at 8 a.m. Monday, July 14, at the Oakland Nature Preserve, 747 Machette Trail. Volunteers will work on restoration projects and learn about Florida’s natural systems. (407) 905-0054.

“Vintage Favorite” Film — showing of “Cool Hand Luke” is at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 10, at the Garden Theatre in Winter Garden, 160 W. Plant St. The film is part of the theater’s Summer Movie Series. Tickets are $5 general admission. To purchase, go to gardentheatre.org.

FRIDAY, JULY 11

Friday Networking Event – 7:30-9 a.m. Friday, July 11, at Pammie’s Sammies, 5907 Turkey Lake Road, #100, Orlando. Hosted by the West Orange Chamber of Commerce. Exclusive to one person per industry. Free for current Chamber members. For more information, contact sduva@wochamber.com.

“Cult Classic” Film — showing of “Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life” is at 7 p.m. Friday, July 11, at the Garden Theatre in Winter Garden, 160 W. Plant St. The film is part of the theater’s Summer Movie Series. Tickets are $5 general admission. To purchase, go to gardentheatre.org.

SATURDAY, JULY 12

Summer Sports with i9 — begins Saturday, July 12. Boys and girls ages 4-14 can register for indoor basketball at Bridgewater Middle School and flag football and soccer at Foundation Academy with i9 Sports. All skill levels welcome. Practices are held once a week. To register, go to i9sports.com or call (407) 288-8422. The Gatorbone Band Concert – 8 p.m. Saturday, July 12, at the Garden Theatre, 160 W. Plant St., Winter Garden. The show is part of the theater’s bluegrass concert series. Tickets range from $15 to $25 and can be purchased at gardentheatre. org/concerts. Group rates are available at up to 25%. (407) 8774736.

Dance Camp – takes place Monday, July 14, through Friday, July 18, at the Dr. P. Phillips YMCA, 7000 Dr. Phillips Blvd, Orlando. Available for grades K-5. Campers will learn dancing skills in ballet, jazz and hip hop. Participants will perform for family and friends at the end of the week. (407) 351-9417. Elementary Theme Camp: Mad Science – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, July 14, through Friday, July 18, at the Roper YMCA, 100 Windermere Rd, Winter Garden. Children in grades k-5 are welcome. Campers will experience the world of science and technology through hands-on experiences like making volcanoes erupt. (407) 656-6430.

Teen Police Academy – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, July 14, through Friday, July 18, at High Point Church, 476 Ocoee Commerce Pkwy, Ocoee. Hosted by the Ocoee Police Department, attendees will enjoy fun events while learning and interacting with the police community. Register online at ocoee.org/Departments/ Police/HelpfulForms.

TUESDAY, JULY 15

ONP Summer Camp – begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 15, through Thursday, July 17, at the Oakland Nature Preserve. Children in pre-K through kindergarten are welcome. (407) 905-0054.

Family-Friendly Flick – showing of “The Croods” takes place at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 15, at the Garden Theatre, 160 W. Plant St., Winter Garden. Tickets are $2 general admission, which includes a Snack Pack. (407) 877-4736.

Logan’s Roadhouse “Raise The Steaks” Fundraiser Night —begins at 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, at Logan’s Roadhouse, 3060 W. Sand Lake Road, Orlando. Logan’s Roadhouse will donate 15% of your pre-tax dining check back to the American Cancer Society. (407) 351-4599. Central Florida Turtle & Tortoise

Club – begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, at the Oakland Nature Preserve Education Building, 747 Machette Trail, Oakland. Join the local club members for lectures on turtle care and biology. Turtles welcome. Visit TurtleAndTortoiseClubOfFlorida.com for more information.

ONGOING

Ocoee Food Truck Fridays and Movie in the Park — 6 p.m. the third Friday of each month at Bill Breeze Park, 125 N. Lakeshore Drive. Call (407) 905-3180 or visit ocoee.org. Ocoee Lions Club — meets at 7 p.m. the first and third Monday of each month at the Ocoee Lions Club building, 108 Taylor St., Ocoee. For more, visit ocoeelionsclub.org.

American Legion Bingo Night — 6:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, at the post building, 271 W. Plant St., Winter Garden. (407) 656-6361.

Rotary Club of Ocoee — meets at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays at The Withers-Maguire House, 16 W. Oakland Ave., Ocoee. For more, visit ocoeerotary.org.

Take a Hike — free hiking program takes place the second Saturday of every month, at the Oakland Nature Preserve, 747 Machete Trail, Oakland. (407) 905-0054.

Senior Time — 10 a.m. to noon every Tuesday at the West Orange Neighborhood Center for Families, 303 S. West Crown Point Road, Winter Garden. The program is geared toward seniors. Participants can enjoy activities, exercises, games, reading and snacks. (407) 905-5100.

American Legion Meeting — 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month, at the post building, 271 W. Plant St., Winter Garden. Members who are unable to drive to the post meetings can schedule a ride by calling (407) 399-9649 before 6 p.m. on the Wednesday before. (407) 6566361.

Rotary Club of Winter Garden — meets at 12:50 p.m. Tuesdays at Tanner Hall, 29 W. Garden Ave., Winter Garden. For more, visit rotaryclubofwintergarden.org.

Elks Lodge Bingo Night — games take place at 6 p.m. Thursdays, at the Winter Garden Elks Lodge, 700 Ninth St. The public is invited to participate.

West Orange Kiwanis Club — 6 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of the month, at The Attic Door, 28 W. Plant St., Winter Garden. For more information, visit floridakiwanis.com/clubview.

Family Swim Night — 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesdays at the Farnsworth Pool in Winter Garden, 1 Surprise Drive. The event will end Aug. 6. Call (407) 656-4111 for more information.

Cruz N-Car Show – 6-9 p.m. the 3rd Saturday of each month, at W. Plant St., downtown Winter Garden. A variety of cars will be on display, including some vintage vehicles. Free vehicle registration. Cash giveaways and food available. (407) 656-4111. Fridays on the Plaza — 7-9 p.m. Fridays, at 56 W. Plant St., Winter Garden. For more information, visit cwgdn.com.

Macaroni Mania Mondays — 3:30 p.m. the fourth Monday of each month at the Windermere Branch Library, 530 Main St., Windermere. (407) 835-7323.

English Conversation Class – 6-8 p.m. Mondays at the Winter Garden Library, 805 E. Plant St. The Adult Literacy League will lead the event. To register, call (407) 422-1540.

Windermere Farmers Market — 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays at Town Hall, 520 Main St., Windermere. The event is presented by the Windermere Downtown Business Committee and features fresh produce, arts and crafts, breads, cheeses and more. Ocoee Farmer’s Market – 3-8 p.m. Fridays in downtown Ocoee, on McKey St. and Bluford Ave. For more information, visit ocoeelionsclub.com. Winter Garden Art Association Artist Open Studio Wednesdays — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays at the studio, 127 S. Boyd St., Winter Garden. Members free; guests $10. (407) 347-7996 or info@wgart.org. Winter Garden Farmers Market — 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays at the Downtown Pavilion, 104 S. Lakeview Ave. Choose from a large selection of vendors with fresh fruits and vegetables, homemade items, flowers and more. Live music takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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The West Orange Times Thursday, July 10, 2014

Countdown to kickoff

2014 schedule breakdown: Olympia By Steven Ryzewski

With just six weeks remaining until 2014 high school football regular season begins, we couldn’t stand the wait any longer and felt the need to get the ball rolling on our gridiron coverage for the fall. Starting with our June 26 edition, we have been taking a team-by-team look at the respective schedules for each team within our coverage area. We have already taken a look at the schedules for Dr. Phillips (June 26 edition) and Ocoee (July 3 edition) and for this week’s breakdown we will take a closer look at the 2014 schedule for the Olympia Titans.

Just fine with nine

You counted right — the Titans have just nine games on the slate for 2014. Olympia will play nine games this season, as opposed to the 10-game schedule that most higher classification programs play. Though the Titans will play one less game, they still will play five home games and will get the benefit of two bye weeks. The setup of the schedule figures nicely for Olympia, especially with regards to road games. The Titans will not have any back-to-back road games and one of the bye weeks comes ahead

of a road game at Apopka — giving coach Tom Paolucci and his staff extra time before one of their toughest tasks of the year.

A month to remember

It’s all about October for Olympia this fall. The Titans will play all three of their Class 8A, District 4 contests in October — as well as a tough out-of-district game against Lake Mary, which went 11-1 in 2013. In fact, the combined records of Olympia’s four opponents in October from 2013 was 3414 — and nine of those losses came by way of a rebuilding year for Evans. If you subtract the Trojans’ 1-9 record from 2013, then the combined record for Lake Mary, West Orange and Apopka is 33-5. The Titans went 3-7 in 2013.

Home sweet home

Olympia has the advantage of playing more games at home than on the road, with three of those games coming in-a-row. Starting on Sept. 19, the Titans will host Edgewater, Timber Creek and Evans in a pivotal home stretch to help build some momentum as they enter district play. Olympia also ends the season on the road, hosting Jones on Nov. 7 for its senior night.

Olympia Football — 2014 Varsity Schedule 8/22 — @ Boone (preseason), 7:30 p.m. 8/29 — Bye 9/5 — vs. Dr. Phillips, 7:30 p.m. 9/12 — @ Freedom, 7:30 p.m. 9/19 — vs. Edgewater, 7:30 p.m. 9/26 — vs. Timber Creek, 7:30 p.m.

Loreleis

national competition. The Loreleis advanced to Nationals out of a difﬁcult regional competition and Szakos, who herself was a member of the Puerto Rican National Team in synchronized swimming (2000) and speed swimming (1998-99), said it is a testament to the work they put in and something they will be able to build off of. “For us it was a huge accomplishment,” Szakos said. “This was a very good experience for

10/3 — vs. Evans (district), 7:30 p.m. 10/10 — @ Lake Mary, 7:30 p.m. 10/17 — vs. West Orange (district), 7:30 p.m. 10/24 — Bye 10/31 — @ Apopka (district), 7:30 p.m. 11/7 — vs. Jones, 7:30 p.m.

Photo by Charlie Fee

The Olympia Titans will play nine games this season, as opposed to the usual 10game schedule, and all three of their district contests will take place in October. (Continued from 1B)

all of us. It was mostly a learning experience of what to expect, what the caliber of competition [is] and how to prepare for it. The Loreleis, who practice out of the YMCA Aquatic Center on International Drive, broke the two-decade drought after coming up just short of advancing out of their region a year ago. “I think this year we really realized what it took and how we had to come together as

a team,” Devnani said. “I remember last year we were all conﬁdent that we were going to qualify and we didn’t, so I think we all just kind of took a step back to focus on what exactly we needed to improve on.” In addition to competing and observing some of the other teams, the Loreleis took advantage of their trip and did some sightseeing in Seattle, roughly half an hour away from Federal Way. The girls visited the Space

Needle and Seattle’s famous Pike Place Market, but seem to agree the best part of the trip was the Ducks of Seattle boat tour. Szakos has been coaching the Loreleis for four years and, with the national competition in the rearview now, took an opportunity to reﬂect on how far the team has come over those years. “When you put it in perspective … we’ve actually come pretty far along,” Szakos said. The YCF Loreleis strike a post to begin their routine.

Lakeland

reported that FHSAA executive director Roger Dearing doesn’t believe the organization feels welcome there because of certain bills passed by Lakeland legislators. I’d like to hope that such differences could be overcome and that the tradition of hoops at The Lakeland Center will live on. There’s something cool about the stars from one generation sharing the same ﬂoor as stars from

Squeeze Photos by Steven Ryzewski

Squeeze honor local hero at July 4 game The Winter Garden Squeeze made sure their game on July 4 against Sanford kept in line with the spirit of the holiday by having one of our local heroes throw out the game’s first pitch.

Army veteran Marcus Griffin, an Oakland resident through the Home at Last program, tossed out the first pitch with Winter Garden City Commissioner Bobby Olszewski serving as

the catcher. Griffin was severely injured in Iraq while serving our country as a K-9 Specialist and lives in Oakland with his wife and three sons.

Land and Leesburg) against the South (consisting of players from Winter Garden, Winter Park and College Park). The North team’s roster featured 24 players while the South’s team roster had 22. Sanford (16-9), in ﬁrst place in the Florida League standings, led all teams with 13 selections. On the South team, Winter Garden and Winter Park tied one another with eight players apiece while College Park had six selections. The All-Star Game festivities included a home run derby just before the contest and an opportunity for the selected players to get some extra eyes on them in their pursuit of playing baseball at the next level.

(Continued from 1B) years past (well, not literally, they change those out every few years I’d imagine). Despite his preference on location, Long said that no matter where the championships are held this spring, the tournament itself is always a thing of beauty. “It’s always going to be special no matter where it is,” Long said. Now that’s something we can all agree on.

(Continued from 1B) “It’s just a good opportunity,” Bates said. “We’re going to have a scout day there.” The Winter Garden Squeeze All-Star selections were as follows: Zak Felix (New Mexico Junior College), infielder; Damon Haecker (Auburn), infielder; Matt McLean (Texas-Arlington), outfielder; Daniel Portales (USF), outfielder; Matt Reyes (New Mexico), outfielder; Chris Fee (St. Andrews), pitcher; Cole Lipscomb (Auburn), pitcher; Corey Tufts (Embry-Riddle), pitcher. Editor’s note: A recap of the Florida Collegiate Summer League’s All-Star Game, which took place after the time of publication on Tuesday, is available online at wotimes. com.

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Thursday, July 10, 2014 The West Orange Times

West Orange Business in Brief • ADALBERTO RIVERA-GUEITS has joined Winter Garden-based R.C. Stevens Construction Co. team as safety manager. RiveraGueits brings with him more than 15 years of experience within the construction industry. His duties will include safety management and safety compliance. • MARGARET A. “PEGGY” MCGARRITY has been appointed chief deputy to Orange County Comptroller Martha O. Haynie. McGarrity is a CPA and a lawyer with a master’s degree in business Aadministration. She has a 30-year background in government finance, which includes 20 years as a municipal finance officer and seven years as finance officer at Osceola

County and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, as well as two years as the CFO for Lynx. She is a past president of the Florida Government Finance Officers’ Association and remains an active member of the FGFOA. She is an adjunct instructor of accounting and law at Valencia College and FAMU Law School. • KEITH BOUDREAUX has joined Century 21 Professional Group Inc.’s Ocoee office. He has many years of experience in the field and most recently worked for Villa Direct Realty. Boudreaux specializes in residential and second/ vacation homes. • HOLD-THYSSEN INC., a commercial real estate services firm based in Winter Park,

• CHRIS BARLEY has become an Ameriprise Financial Private Wealth Advisor. Barley, with an office in Orlando, is one of approximately 9% of the nearly 10,000 Ameriprise financial advisors to achieve this status. To become eligible, advisors must be experienced in serving affluent clients, maintain high client satisfaction scores, complete specialized training and achieve superior business results.

• JESSIE LADSON has joined Andrew General Contractors Inc., a full-service commercial construction firm, as project managers. Ladson is a Winter Garden resident and has 5 years of experience in the construction field. He was previously project engineer and field engineer for Turner Construction.

Ofﬁcials meet, discuss legislative road to local prosperity Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs recently participated in a panel discussion and luncheon titled “The Legislative Road to West Orange Prosperity,” coordinated by the West Orange Chamber of Commerce. The West Orange Chamber builds partnerships by serving and facilitating opportunities for nearly 1,000 member businesses in the region. Held at Valencia College, the discussion covered a wide range of topics from economic initiatives to health issues. Panelists

negotiated three new leases in the TD Bank Building at 12200 W. Colonial Drive in Winter Garden: Scholastic Insurance of Florida LLC leased 2,050 square feet, and Lotus Financial Services Group and Statewide Permit Service Inc. both signed lease agreements for executive suites. Earlier this year Taylor completed 10 other lease agreements in the TD Bank Building, which is currently 85 percent leased, up from 70 percent under Hold-Thyssen’s watch. • TOLL BROTHERS announced plans to develop two new Orlando-area communities, including the 116-acre Royal Cypress Preserve, an exclusive, gated-community of 206 singlefamily homes on State Road 535 just north of

included District 12 Florida State Sen. Geraldine Thompson, District 15 Florida State Sen. Kelli Stargel, District 44 Florida Rep. Eric Eisnaugle Ocoee Mayor Scott Vandergrift, Windermere Mayor Gary Bruhn, Oakland Commissioner Joseph McMullen, Orlando Commissioner Sam Ings and Winter Garden Commissioner Bobby Olszewski. The West Orange Chamber of Commerce received the prestigious state of Florida’s Chamber of the Year award in 2009 and 2012.

Interstate 4. The company recently acquired 189 acres for a new luxury home community off Seidel Road in Horizon’s West, a master-planned community in West Orange County. It will include 365 single-family homes and townhomes with a selection of oversized lots. • TD BANK has provided $2.4 million to Winter Garden Vineland LLC for the acquisition of a Winter Garden building on Winter Garden Vineland Road with 32,000 square feet of Class A office space and excess land. The transaction includes a seven-year fixed-rate loan with a 20-year amortization. The building currently is occupied by various tenants, including United Cerebral Palsy of Central Florida.

• HEATH SHORT was appointed project superintendent at Westyn Bay in Ocoee for Avex Homes. He has more than 25 years of experience as a homebuilder, including 10 years in concrete and masonry and 15 years building single-family residences and townhomes. The Avex Homes Westyn Bay sales center is at 634 Fortanini Drive, Ocoee.w

City sells commercial property for $121k By Suzan E. Kurdak The city of Ocoee accepted Satish Somwaru’s offer of $121,000 to purchase the property located at South Bluford Avenue just south of Oakwood Plaza. Support Services Director Al Butler spoke at last week’s commission meeting and recapped how Ocoee had received two bids in April on this property that was “a little over an acre in size.” Somwaru of Help My Auto facility initially offered to purchase the city-owned land for $70,000, pending an assessment. A recent appraisal showed the market value at $121,000. Somwaru modified his purchase price to match it. A public hearing was held, and elected officials voted unanimously, with Mayor Scott Vandergrift absent from the meeting. Butler said he and staff “will work on coming up with the best plan on the site.” Mayor Pro Tem Rusty Johnson said: “It’s a win-win for the city. We have a business there, and I’m glad to see it. It’s been a long time coming.” In a separate matter, commissioners granted a special exception to amend the

Iglesia Cristiana Sendero De Luz Church master plan. Church representative Ken Leeming said the church had obtained three portables to allow for additional classroom space and storage needs. City staff supported the special-exception request for a term of seven years, with the possible extension of three years. In other business, the commission: • approved the final subdivision plan for Spring Lake Reserve, which will include 79 single-family detached homes in the proposed gated community. • heard from two residents who expressed concern over several worn-out roads that need restriping, as well as concern about the water level and quality of Starke Lake. • listened to Lisa Murphy, executive director of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Central Florida, promote an event at Lake Meadow Natural Farm on Oct. 25. • cancelled city commission meetings on Sept. 2, Nov. 18 and Dec. 16. • proclaimed July Parks and Recreation Month. The commission voted by consensus

to approve the following: • transferred $2,800 from the Parks and Recreation budget to cover costs for the remaining two months of a contract with BeatCreative Marketing LLC for the promotion of the Ocoee Lakeshore Center. • agreed to a two-year warranty surety and maintenance, materials and workmanship escrow agreement with October Holdings LLC for the Fountains at Tivoli Place. • granted approval of the third amendment to the interlocal agreement regarding the Coca-Cola property and the third amendment to declaration of conditions of approval. • allowed the city to seek separate surplus auction for its PBX telephone equipment. • approved sponsoring a West Orange Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event at the Lakeshore Center on Oct. 16. • appointed Sujeily Ruiz to the Human Relations Diversity Board to serve a three-year term ending May 2017 and Robert Carbone to the Citizen Advisory Council for Ocoee Fire Department for a three-year term ending November 2017.

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Winter Garden 2.5 games back coming out of All-Star break By Steven Ryzewski

When the Winter Garden Squeeze take the field on Wednesday and resume play from Sunday’s suspended game against the Sanford River Rats, it will be the beginning of a 17game race to the finish for the first-year franchise. The Squeeze (14-12) got a chance to rest up on Monday and Tuesday thanks to the Florida Collegiate Summer League’s annual All-Star Game in Sanford — minus the eight Winter Garden players who took part in the game — and coach Ruben Felix’s ballclub should be ready for its first playoff push. Winter Garden enters the final stretch of the season 2.5 games behind the River Rats (16-9) in the standings, tied with Leesburg for third place. It will be a roadheavy finish for the Squeeze, with just seven of those final 17 games taking place at West Orange High School in Winter Garden. Every remaining game will loom large for Winter Garden as the Squeeze simultaneously chase the league’s top spot while also trying to avoid slipping beneath third place — the league’s sixth place club does not qualify for the playoffs, which begin on July 30, and its fourth and fifth place clubs are to meet in a PlayIn Game on July 29.

In the hunt

Thanks to their winning record through more than half of the season, the Squeeze have asserted themselves in the Florida League’s unofficial upper tier. Winter Garden, Winter Park, (15-11) Sanford and Leesburg (12-10) all have winning records and are separated by just 2.5 games in the standings. DeLand (9-15) and College Park (7-16) sit at the bottom of the summer standings and will be

battling one another to avoid the automatic elimination from postseason contention that comes from finishing in last place.

Home sweet home?

It’s a trend that hasn’t gone away as the Squeeze continue to have poor luck at home. Winter Garden is 6-9 at home this season as the ball just doesn’t seem to bounce its way in key situations in home games. The Squeeze seemed poised for a breakthrough win on July 4, coming up with a ninth-inning rally to force extra-innings against the River Rats, but were eventually defeated 8-4 in 10 innings. As mentioned earlier, Winter Garden has just five games left on its home field to improve upon its home record.

Struggles with Sanford

The Squeeze have only been in existence for 26 games but, through those games, they have already developed a nemesis — the River Rats. Winter Garden is 0-4 against Sanford this season, making the Rats the only team the Squeeze have not defeated. In fact, Winter Garden has a winning record against DeLand (4-1), Leesburg (4-2) and College Park (3-2) and has battled Winter Park to a 3-3 draw so far. The Squeeze came close against Sanford with the extrainning affair on July 4 and, when the two teams resume play on Wednesday from their suspended game on Sunday, Winter Garden will be leading 2-1 in the second inning.

Who’s “Crush-ing” it?

In honor of Crush, the mascot for the Winter Garden Squeeze, each week we will highlight a

Photo by Steven Ryzewski

Austin Glorius (Indian River State College), a Winter Garden native, lets a pitch fly during the Winter Garden Squeeze’s game on July 4 against Sanford. pitcher and a batter who “Crushed” it for the team during the previous week of play. Leading Winter Garden at the plate this week was Taylor Becerra (Grayson County College). The Texas native hit .455 for the Squeeze over their four games and had 5 RBIs to pair with the two runs he scored. Becerra is hitting .269 on the season. On the mound, Winter Garden got a strong performance out of Cole Lipscomb (Auburn) as the starting pitcher for the Squeeze in a 6-4 win over Winter Park on Thursday. Lipscomb tossed 6.1 innings and allowed just one run and two hits on his way to his second win of the season. The rising sophomore for Auburn has a 1.74 ERA this season and has allowed just five runs over 20.2 innings of work.

What’s ahead — Next three home games

vs. College Park; 7 p.m., Thursday • vs. Leesburg; 11 a.m., Monday • vs. DeLand; 7 p.m., July 17

Game film: Dr. Phillips, Winter Garden All-Stars duke it out in 11-and-under district championship The Dr. Phillips Little League 11-and-Under All-Star team defeated host Winter Garden in the District 14 Championship, 5-1. Noah Sullivan pitched well for Dr. Phillips in the win and Nick Ierubino homered. The Dr. Phillips team will play in Sectionals this weekend at East Orange Little League in Bithlo.

Winter Garden starting pitcher A.J. Cullen takes the signal from his catcher before delivering a pitch.

Photos by Steven Ryzewski

Winter Garden’s Connor Kristofik is ready in centerfield as a ball is delivered toward the plate.

Pitcher Noah Sullivan is pumped up after picking up a big strikeout for Dr. Phillips.

A close play in the District 14 Championship as a baserun- Fans in the stands join A.J. Cullen in admiring a ball he hit Dr. Phillips’ Nick Ierubino makes his way around the bases after belting a home run in the district championship. that would clear the fence for a home run. ner for Winter Garden slides into second base.

The West Orange Times Thursday, July 10, 2014

Reader opinions

From our archives

Old Times

Letters to the editor Chamber says vote ‘yes’ for ½-penny tax renewal Editor, Those of us who have had the pleasure of living in Orange County since 2002 remember how our local sales tax went from 6 percent to 6.5 percent. That additional half penny was overwhelmingly approved by Orange County voters to provide funding for construction and renovation of schools through 2015. Our community has experienced the positive results of these dollars, of which tourists pay 55% of all sales tax collected. Schools in West Orange included Dr. Phillips and Evans high; MetroWest, Palm Lake and Windermere elementary; and Gotha Middle, just to name a few from the total list of 94 schools. In addition to our community being recipients of school rebuilds and renovations, our community experienced and will continue to experience the positive economic impact from the 81,000 jobs created and $3 billion dollars to the local economy. Even with all this great

work, there is more to be done. In order for Orange County Public Schools to fulfill its 10-year capital needs, an extension to the half penny is needed. That extension for another 10 years will provide $2 billion and would allow for four new relief schools, technology upgrades and 59 school renovations. Many of the renovations are once again right here in West Orange and will include Olympia High; Westside Tech; Frangus, Maxey and Oak Hill elementary; Lakeview and Southwest middle, and even more. This 10-year program will create thousands of additional jobs and billions of dollars for our local economy. We understand that great schools are an economic driver, and for this reason and for the sake of our youth and their future, we urge you to vote early, by absentee ballot or at the polls at the Primary Election on Aug. 26. Vote “yes” for the half-penny renewal. Stina D’Uva, President/CEO West Orange Chamber of Commerce

The Travelin’ Times

45 years ago

Local reactions to man’s first visit to the moon were no different than in other communities all over the world. Words just seemed to fail to express the awesome event, and “utterly fantastic” seemed to be the only description available. From “Barbs & Bouquets by Don:” They’ve got a live-wire bunch in Gotha. Recently it was reported that some 51 members have signed up for its Chamber of Commerce. Didn’t know there were so many good citizens in the village.

40 years ago

Robert Struthers of Winter Garden and Stan Lummus of Oakland, students at Lakeview High School, can honestly tell their friends they have spent the summer studying the birds and the bees. They are among 36 students from across the nation spending six weeks at Nebraska Wesleyan University in a training project in environmental science sponsored by the National Science Foundation. Delta Burke, recently selected “Miss Florida,” made a big hit with the Winter Garden Lions Club. She was introduced to the guests by Lion Foy Maloy and was presented a key to the city by Lion C.H. Johnson, mayor of

Winter Garden.

35 years ago

Jesse Green and Jerry Van Dyke have constructed new shelves for the Windermere Library with lumber purchased by the Library Boosters. The new shelves, already filled with books, may be viewed during the new summer hours of the library. Mr. and Mrs. Hoyle Pounds were honored with a reception at the West Orange Country Club hosted by their children. About 400 friends attended the celebration of their 65th wedding anniversary. With their parents in the receiving line were Mr. and Mrs. Donald Pounds of Winter Haven, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Pounds of Winter Garden and Mr. and Mrs. Russell Pounds of Windermere.

30 years ago

Almost a century of railroading in West Orange and South Lake counties came to a close as the last revenue run of the Seaboard System Railroad’s Extra #362 rolled over the tracks between Lakeview Road (just west of Winter Garden) and Groveland. Operations began in 1886 when the Orange Belt Railroad completed the line from Longwood to Oakland. Dawn Willis, Publisher dawnwillis@wotimes.com

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The West Orange Times (USPS 687-120) is published weekly for $21.50 per year ($35.00 outside of Orange County) by The Winter Garden Times, Inc., 720 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden, Florida 34787. Periodical postage paid at Winter Garden, Florida. POSTMASTER send address changes to THE WEST ORANGE TIMES, 720 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden, Florida 34787. Opinions in The West Orange Times are those of the individual writer and are not necessarily those of The West Orange Times, its publisher or editors. Mailed letters must be typed and include the author’s signature and phone number. Letters to the editor are subject to editing for space and grammar and become property of the newspaper.

The West Orange Times traveled to the West Coast with its managing editor, Amy Quesinberry Rhode, and her family: husband Mark, daughter Allison Couch and son Adam Couch. Are you planning a vacation this summer? Take The West Orange Times with you, feature it in a high-quality photo and email the picture to news@wotimes. com. You can also mail or drop off the photo: The West Orange Times, 720 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden, FL 34787. Emailed photos should be at least 200 dpi. Include the names of everyone in the photo, where it was taken and a phone number where we can reach you. The Times reserves the right to withhold publication of any photo. Call the newspaper office at (407) 656-2121 with questions.

Our policy on letters to the editor

The West Orange Times encourages letters to the editor on a variety of local issues. We feel it is an important part of our mission as a community newspaper. Letters to the editor do not have to represent our opinion, and many do not. To make things clearer for our readers, the following is our policy on letters to the editor: • Letters must be signed and include the writer’s address and phone number or email address. Only the city or town of the writer will be printed, not the addresses or phone number.

• Letters should not be overly long; 400 words or less is a good average. • All letters are subject to editing for length, clarity, appropriateness, accuracy and libel. We also reserve the right not to print letters. • Letters should be submitted by Monday afternoon for possible inclusion in that week’s issue. Mail letters to The West Orange Times, 720 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden, FL 34787; or email them to news@wotimes.com.

The West Orange Times Thursday, July 10, 2014

Futures Wood-bat League’s Monarchs in fourth place through four weeks The Orlando Monarchs ended their fourth week of play in the Florida Collegiate Summer League’s Futures Wood-bat League in fourth place with a 7-5-2 record. The Monarchs, which play their home games at West Orange High School in Winter Garden, one once, lost once and tied once over the course of the week. The team defeated the DeLand Cudas, 3-0, on June 30, tied the Jacksonville Redcaps on July 2, 1-1, and fell to

the Lake Mary Shockers, 8-7, on July 3. The Winter Garden-based team consists of incoming college freshman baseball players who have either signed a National Letter of Intent with a program or verbally committed with one — although it also accepts players who are on a current collegiate roster. The FWL has eight teams currently and is geared towards local players in the Central Florida area.

Winter Garden native Alan Archer (St. Petersburg State College) leads the team with two home runs so far this season and Winter Garden native Cody Burgess (Undecided) is tied with Texas native Clint Harris (Vernon College) with 9 RBIs apiece to lead the Monarchs. Upcoming home games for the Monarchs include Saturday against the Winter Park Angels at 11 a.m. and July 16 against the Leesburg Thunder at 11 a.m.

Olympia track & field athlete qualifies for AAU Junior Olympics

Olympia High School sophomore Summer Schafers has qualified for the AAU Junior Olympics at the end of the month at Drake University in Iowa.

Windermere Little League 9-year-old team wins Tournament of Champions The Windermere Little League 9-year-old National All-Star team won the District 14 Tournament of Champions on June 19 at South Lake Little League. The tournament included several teams representing Ocoee, Winter Garden, Windermere, South Lake and Dr. Phillips. The team members are, as pictured — First row: Kyle Behrle, left, Brayden Badua, Andrew Hannah, Anthony Ungaro, Bryce Gluckman, Carter Huddleston, Reese ClineCuadra and Will Dizney. Second row: Jason Shebovsky, left, Alexander De La Portilla, Sami Boufakir and Trey Smith. Back row: coach Nick Gluckman, left, coach Todd Hannah. Not pictured: Caden Simpson, manager Greg Simpson and coach Roger.

At a regional meet in Jacksonville, Schafers took first place in the pole vault competition with an 11-foot jump, qualifying her for the trip to the national competition.

AAU Junior Olympics are set to begin on July 26 and run through August 2. More information can be found online at www.aaujrogames. org.

Get in the game! Follow us on Twitter @WOT_Sports and ‘Like’ our Facebook page: West Orange Times Sports!

Thursday, July 10, 2014 The West Orange Times 5A

Residents complete academy

Nineteen people recently graduated from the inaugural Ocoee Citizens Public Safety Academy. During the 10-week program that lasted 30 total hours, the participants learned about a variety of topics from Ocoee Police Department officers and Ocoee Fire Department firefighters. These included crime-scene investigations, emergency medical services, traffic enforcement and handgun safety. Academy members also participated in a range of activities, such as touring the police and fire stations, seeing taser and fire drill demonstrations and accompanying police officers on patrols. The Police Department thanks the program’s sponsors, including the Woman’s Club of Ocoee and Franco’s Pizzeria. The next Public Safety Academy class will be announced on ocoee.org and facebook.com/ocoeepd. To learn more, call Ocoee Police Community Affairs Officer Patera Scott at (407) 905-3160, ext 3024.

Graduates of the inaugural Ocoee Citizens Public Safety Academy are Hans Gatson, front left, Jareem Smith, Michael Jolivain, Edwardo Hernandez, Bernardo Lemos, James Powell and David Conrad; Craig Sederland, back left, Tatiana Volcan, Jennifer Cotterill, Tammy Brown, Nikki Reis, Terry Titus, Jackie Titus, Scotty Anderson and Richard Sederland. Missing from the photo are graduates Dennis Murray, Roxanne Kimraj and Sue Gailit.

Local police and fire reports

Winter Garden police

The Winter Garden Police Department reported 634 calls for service from June 26-July 2: Arrests — Adult, 21; juvenile, 4 Assault/battery — 6 Burglary (residential and business) — 2 Burglary (vehicle) — 5 Child abuse — 1 Criminal mischief — 1 Drug violations — 5 DUI — 1 Robbery — 2 Sexual assault/battery —1 Thefts — 10 Vehicle accidents — 12 Vehicle thefts — 0 Missing/runaway adult —0

Missing/runaway juve- ment stations 25, 26, 38 nile — 0. and 39 responded to 115 calls for assistance from June 26-July 2: Winter Garden Fire—0 fire EMS—78 The Winter Garden Vehicle accidents—5 Fire Rescue Department Hazardous materials/ (stations 22, 23 and 24) responded to 82 calls for conditions—1 Public service—25 assistance from June 29False alarms—6. July 5: Fires—8 Emergency medical Oakland police The Oakland Police Decalls—55 partment responded to 175 Vehicle accidents—1 Automatic f i r e calls for service in June: Felony arrests — 1 alarms—3 Misdemeanor arrests Public assistance—5 Hazardous condi- — 5 Traffic stops — 172 tions—3 Traffic crashes — 7 Calls for service—7. Business checks — 527 Vacation house checks Ocoee fire The Ocoee Fire Depart- — 103.

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Thursday, July 10, 2014 The West Orange Times 5B

Children’s Lighthouse

Windermere Prep

Jaclyn Ryan (2014 graduate),left, Chris Bergin (rising senior), Nick LaFalce (Rising junior) and Alex Schwartz (rising junior) of Windermere Preparatory School attended a weeklong Summer Journalism Institute camp at the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications. Students were immersed into the Innovation News Center and worked with professors and students on news stories and broadcasting on multiple television and radio stations and WUFT.org. Jaclyn will be attending the UniverKaylani Torres, left, Giulia Santos, Grayson DeMartino and Estela Gonzales of Room 10 sity of Florida as a journalism major. She was a resident assistant at the Summer Jourenjoy creating art with shaving cream at Children’s Lighthouse. nalism Institute. Chris, Nick and Alex were participants in the SJI summer camp.

Whispering Oak

FUMC Learning Center

Morgan Jacob from Mrs. Kirwan’s 4th grade at Whispering Oak Elementary won the city of Winter Garden’s Annual Drop Savers Water Conservation Contest, in celebration of National Drinking Water Week. Morgan (above, with her teacher) was selected as a school winner and city winner for her grade division. For winning, she received a T-shirt with her design imprinted on the front of it and other prizes. Children enjoyed outdoor games and salute to the USA during preschool summer camp at the FUMC Learning Center.

6A The West Orange Times Thursday, July 10, 2014

Spirit of America On the morning of July 4th, families, friends and even pets joined in the All American Kids Parade & Breakfast in downtown Winter Garden. They brought their bikes and wagons to decorate with red, white and blue tassels, signs and balloons â&#x20AC;&#x201C; displaying their patriotism for all to see. Photo by Shari Roach.

Melanie Rousseau pulls her U.S.A. wagon through the streets of Winter Garden in the All American Kids Parade with her favorite baby dolls riding in the front seat. Photo by Shari Roach.

Robert, back, left, and Lisa Midden enjoy the All American Kids Parade with their children, Liam and Charlie. They showed their patriotism by sporting stars and stripes and red, white and blue from head to toe. Photo by Shari Roach.

Red, white and blue fireworks fill the nighttime sky in Winter Garden on July 4. Photo by Bill Ellis.

Sparklers always add fun to Fourth of July parties. Photo by Rasheda Isaac.

Maurice Allen enjoys riding solo on his bicycle, complete with hand-made patriotic decorations, at the Kids Parade in Winter Garden. Photo by Shari Roach.

Fireworks explode over Lake Apopka, and admirers at Winter Gardenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Newton Park, on the Fourth of July. Photo by Tony Judnich

6B The West Orange Times Thursday, July 10, 2014

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Thursday, July 10, 2014 The West Orange Times

Bluegrass concert series at Garden Theatre

The Garden Theatre is offering a bluegrass concert series featuring local acts and nationally touring groups. Scheduled to perform are The Gatorbone Band (8 p.m., July 12) and the Sweeney Family Band (8 p.m., Aug. 2 and 2 p.m., Aug. 3). Tickets are $15 to $25 and can be purchased at gardentheatre. org/concerts or at the box office at (407) 877-4736. The theater is at 160 W. Plant St., Winter Garden.

Students receive scholastic awards

Members of the American Legion Hugh T. Gregory Post 63 presented the American Legion School Award to Dillard Street Elementary students Payton Winslow and Ethan Lugo on June 2. This medal represents the highest honor awarded to American youth by the America Legion. It is given to students who demonstrated the exemplary standards of courage, honor, leadership, patriotism and scholarship among their peers.

Girl reaches out to Matthew’s Hope

Peyton Recer, joined by Pastor Scott Billue, founder of Matthew’s Hope, displays a few of the gifts she recently brought to help feed the homeless at Matthew’s Hope. Instead of asking for presents for her 13th birthday party, Peyton asked everyone to bring donations for Matthew’s Hope. Her friends and family were happy to help, and she ended up with a car full of groceries for the Garden of Eatin’ Pantry.

From the WGHF archives

Headed to the shore this weekend? One hundred years ago you might have stopped at the Waterman and Ewing grocery store once located at 42 W. Plant St., next door to Davis Pharmacy. You could have put together quite a picnic, judging by the shelves’ plentiful goods. Yesteryear’s grocery stores also delivered to people’s homes, and you can bet that they carried purchases out to your waiting automobile. Only 1 of the 4 gentlemen pictured has been identified: Earl Wayne Ewing (2nd from right) was part or full owner before selling the business to South Apopka Supply Co. and going into real estate. To identify the other men, call the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation at (407) 656-3244.

Christmas in July at Faith Family

Summertime at SoBo

The Winter Garden Art Association, 127 S. Boyd St., offers “Sizzlin Summer at SoBo 2014” — themed art experiences and exploration for children in kindergarten through fifth grades. Mediums include watercolor, acrylic, sketching and threedimensional art. For more information, visit wgart.org.

More than 20 vendors and crafters will set up at Faith Family Community Church’s Christmas in July festival. It will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 19, at the church, 305 Beulah Road, Winter Garden. Vendors will be selling home décor, jewelry, handmade crafts, skincare items and custom gifts.

New Rotary Club President Sheri Loiacono, left, welcomes Julius Franklin as the guest speaker at the recent Rotary Club of Winter Garden weekly lunch meeting. Franklin, who represents the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, thanked Rotary members for their recent donation of $10,000 to the West Orange branch. It’s located at the West Orange Recreation Center, 309 W. Crown Point Road, Winter Garden. To learn more, visit bgccf.org.

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Previous Rotary Club President Lisa Bennett, left, preshirOpraCtOr Gentle ChiropraCtiC haS Been eFFeCtiVe treatinG: ents a $7,500 check to John Terrell as a donation from the Back Pain • Headaches • Shoulder Pain • Neck Pain Rotary Club of Winter Garden to the West Orange Scholarship Foundation. The foundation, which has existed for • Arthritis • Painful Joints • Stiffness • Numbness 1080 S. DillarD St.higher Winter GeduarDen, Fl more than 50 years, fosters and encourages • Arm/Leg Pain • Bursitis • Hip Pain • Cold Hands/Feet Most insurance accepted • Lic. MM1720, MA32524 cation of West Orange High School graduates by#providing scholarships to deserving students. Terrell is the president of the foundation and one of its original scholarship recipients.

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Florida Film Academy is presenting “Winter Garden at Work,” the next Art in Public Places at Winter Garden City Hall, now through Aug. 15. This new photographic exploration celebrates the men and woman who keep Winter Garden running as they go behind the scenes and reveal fun facts and information on what it takes to keep the city in top condition.

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Thursday, July 10, 2014 The West Orange Times 7B

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620 APARTMENT & DUPLEXES WINTER GARDEN - 1BR $695, 2BR $745, 3BR $935 on Lake Apopka. Water/Sewer included. 407-656-7162. 5/29tfn59900

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TRAIN FROM HOME - MEDICAL BILLING ACCOUNTING ASS'T CUSTOMER SERVICE NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED. HS/GED NEEDED TO APPLY. Sullivan and Cogliano Training Centers. 1-800-451-0709. fcan7/3 AIRLINE Careers begin here - Get FAA Aviation Maintenance Technician training. Housing and Financail aid available for qualified students. Job placement assistance. Call AIM 866-314-3469. fcan7/10

040 BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Own Your own Medical Alert Company. Be the 1st and Only Distributor in your area! Unlimited $ return. Small investment required. Call toll free 1-844-225-1200. fcan7/10

160 GENERAL EMPLOYMENT Seeking Certified Home Health Aide 24/7 with experience for invalid mother in Oakland. Call 321-890-9252. 7/17bo Help needed for 2 Positions: office Clerk (Part Time) & Outside Maintenance Person. We will train for positions, no experience necessary. Send resume, fax or come by for an application. Email resume to: stagestop@centurylink.net. Fax: 407-656-3840, Phone: 407-656-8000. Address: Stage Campground, Inc. 14400 W. Colonial Dr. Winter Garden, FL 34787. 7/10gc *****MOLLY MAID HOME CLEANING SERVICE, no nights or holidays, company car provided, call 407-877-0184.7/10*****

Want a Career Operating Heavy Equipment? Bulldozers, Backhoes, Excavators. "Hands On Training" & Certifications Offered. National Average 18-22 Hourly! Lifetime Job Placement Assistance. VA Benefits Eligible! 1-866-3626497. fcan7/10 Career opportunity in a professional company for a smart, self-motivated and resourceful individual to join an independent title agency as an Account Executive. A complete position description is availble at www.stitle.com. Please email resume and cover letter to lblythe@stitle. com. 7/24tl Help Wanted...Fitness Professional. Educated and experienced fitness professional needed to direct wellness programs at wellness facility in Winter Garden. Job duties include teaching senior's aerobics and other fitness classes, personal training and conducting fitness evaluations. Requires Group Exercise and/or Personal Training Certification and current CPR certification. 4 YearmDegree in Exercise Science a plus. Send resume to Wellness Center, PO Box 770400, Winter Garden, FL 347770400. 7/31kb

170 EMPLOYMENT WANTED Multi-task carpenter, water heaters, plumbing repairs, construction, and screening. FREE ESTIMATES. Call George 407-493-6858. 7/10rc

Veterinary Assistant. Must be able to lift 50 pounds. Available to work weekdays and Saturdays. Team player, responsible, caring and punctual. Experience preferred but not required.Send resumes to ocoeevets@gmail. com or fax to 407-656-0685. 7/10sl

BAPTIST FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 125 E Plant St., Winter Garden 407-656-2352 Sundays 8:30 am Traditional 9:45 am Bible Study 11:00 am Contemporary Awana - Wednesdays - 6pm Pastor Tim Grosshans www.fbcwg.org 2nd Campus:

“FoUndATIon WoRSHIP”

Sundays 9:45 am - All Ages at Foundation Academy High School 15304 Tilden Road - Winter Garden www.FoundationWorship.com 407.730.1867

BEULAH BAPTIST CHURCH 671 Beulah Road, Winter Garden (407) 656-3342 Pastor Jathan Murphy

STARKE LAKE BAPTIST CHURCH

611 West. Ave., Ocoee Pastor Jeff Pritchard (407) 656-2351 Email: starkelakebaptist@gmail.com

WEST oRAnGE BAPTIST P.O. Box 278 • 200 Tubb St. Oakland, FL 34760 (407) 656-9749 Pastor David Pruett

WEST oRLAndo BAPTIST & CHILd dISCoVERY CEnTER 1006 E. Crown Pt. Rd. Ocoee, FL. www.westorlandobaptistchurch.com 407-905-9508

240 GARAGE SALE Carseats, swings, strollers, bouncers, playpens, riding toys & potties. 3Star Flea Market, Apopka. Babylady 407-731-4248. 7/10rk ***** Garage Sale, Friday & Saturday, 7/11 & 7/12. Refridgerator, dresses, purses, and lots of good miscellaneous stuff. 1579 Caluso Dr. Winter Garden. 7/10mw *****

700 HOMES AND OPEN HOUSES Former Model in Winter Oaks. 2320 sf. 4BR, 2.5 BA. Connvenient to downtown Winter Garden. $269,900. 407-347-1031. 7/17ch

Playpen/Bassinet $19.95, Toddler Bed/Mattress $24.95, Toddler carseat $14.95, Double Stroller $34.95. Babylady 407-731-4248. 7/10rk Garage Sale Friday & Saturday, July 11th & 12th starting at 8am. 2 households combined. 17077 Old Country Lane, Winter Garden. 7/10sh Double jogging stroller $34.95, 2 Step slide $14.95, Clid's computer desk $9.95, Fans $5.00. Babylady 407-731-4248. 7/10rk

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CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS

Job descriptions and applications are available online.

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The City of Winter Garden is currently seeking applicants for available positions

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On the corner of Main St. and Tilden. (407) 656-3218 Sunday services at 8AM, 9:30AM 11AM & 7:00PM with Sunday School for all ages at 9:30. Child Care &Youth Ministry. www.churchofthemessiah.com

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EPISCoPAL CHURCH oF THE ASCEnSIon

4950 S. Apopka-Vineland Rd. Orlando, FL 32819. 1 block south of Conroy-Windermere Rd. on right. 407-876-3480 Sunday Services 8:30am,10:30am. and 6:30pm. Sunday School for all ages 9:30am and Children’s Chapel at 10:30am. Childcare provided. www.ascension-orlando.org

LUTHERAn PEoPLE oF FAITH CHURCH 220 Windermere Rd, Winter Garden Serv. 8:30am & 10:45am 407-877-3937 www.PeopleOfFaith.ORG

METHodIST oCoEE oAKS UMC

201 S. Clarke Road, Ocoee, FL. 8:30am Traditional 10:00am SS Sunday: 9:45am Interactive 11:00am Contemporary. Monday night services at 7:00pm. Pastor Eric McCrea 407-293-0700

FIRST UnITEd METHodIST CHURCH

125 N. Lakeview Ave Winter Garden Service Times: 9:00 AM & 11:15 AM www.fumcwg.org 407-656-1135

PEnTECoSTAL GRACE WoRSHIP CEnTER

Temporarily meeting at Baldwin Fairchild of Winter Garden 428 East Plant Street Winter Garden, FL 34787 Pastor Ricky L. Faircloth

PRESBYTERIAn oAKLAnd PRESBYTERIAn CHURCH

218 E. Oakland Ave. Oakland, FL 407-656-4452 www.oaklandpres.org Near exit 272 off the FL Turnpike Worship at 8:45 am and 11 am Sunday School for all ages at 9:45am. Nursery provided during worship. Dr. Robert P. Hines, Jr., Pastor. Call about our preschool.

PRESBYTERIAn CHURCH oF THE LAKES, USA

Conroy-Windermere Rd. @ Lincoln Ave. Sunday School 9:00AM, Worship 10:30 407-291-2886 Worship on Wed. 7:00 - 7:30 PM “Come hear the Gospel” Rev. Ferdinand Brits www.pcol.org

UnITEd CHURCH oF CHRIST WIndERMERE UnIon CHURCH 10710 Park Ridge-Gotha Rd. Windermere, FL 34786 407-876-2112 Worship times: 9:00am Adult Sunday School 10:00am Worship www.windermereunion.org

The West Orange Times Thursday, July 10, 2014

Heritage Fest needs volunteers

Individuals and groups are needed to help with entertainment, a silent auction, educational activities and sponsorships for the 17th Annual Oakland Heritage Festival on Oct. 25 at Speer Park in Oakland. The festival will include live entertainment, food, cultural and educational presentations, kids’ activities, a hayride, boat rides on Lake Apopka and more. All proceeds will support the Oakland Nature Preserve. Those who are interested in volunteering at the event can contact ONP Managing Director Barb Gugliotti at director@oaklandnaturepreserve.org or (407) 905-0054.

Put your name on park brick

Let the music play

Children who have completed 2nd through 6th grades are invited to participate in a 5-day music camp July 28 through Aug. 1 at Oakland Presbyterian Church. The camp is $100 and is directed by Jennifer Hunt (left) of the music department and Bonnie Litteral of the children’s choir. Campers meet daily to prepare a Christian musical, which this year is ‘Malice In The Palace,’ the story from the Old Testament about Queen Esther. Campers will have classes in piano, recorder, hand bells and Orff mallets, as well as daily Bible study. In addition, participants enjoy recess, game and recreation time. Children might also receive individual coaching in voice and drama. A free musical is performed on the final night with a potluck dinner at 5:30 p.m. to precede the show. Campers must bring lunch and a drink daily; morning and afternoon snacks are provided. For more information, call Litteral at 407-466-7554 or email her at Bblitteral@aol.com.

Give the lakes some love

July is National Lakes Appreciation Month, and officials at Oakland Nature Preserve encourage everyone to visit the preserve and hike its boardwalk while appreciating Lake Apopka. “Most of us take our water resources for granted, thinking that they will always be there and usable,” ONP officials said. “Lake Apopka, however, is a good example of why we should not take our lakes and other water resources for granted. It is the third-largest lake in Florida and was, through the 1930’s, touted as having ‘the best bass fishing in the country.’ By the mid-1940’s, it began showing signs of distress. In 1981 it was declared a Superfund Site.” Fortunately, due to the efforts of a small but very hardworking group of people, Lake Apopka is turning around, officials said. “Those citizens helped to build Oakland Nature Preserve for the purpose of making sure we never Resting beauty take Lake Apopka for granted The sun sets over Lake Apopka, as seen from the Oakland Nature Preserve. Photo again,” officials said. courtesy of the ONP.

Celebrate parks and recreation at ONP

The folks at Oakland Nature Preserve encourage everyone to visit the preserve and other local parks and recreation sites while celebrating July as National Park and Recreation Month. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Out is In.” “National Park and Recreation Month is not just about getting outdoors and enjoying

our nation’s vast and diverse outdoor recreation sites, but also about celebrating the remarkable men and women who work and volunteer at parks and recreation facilities, maintaining them for our enjoyment,” ONP officials said. “They enhance our experience with creative and informative programs, or organized activities.”

The town of Oakland is offering a free A.C. Summer Youth Basketball Camp from 8 a.m. to noon July 26. It takes place at the park at 523 Hull Ave. and is for children 7-17 years of age. Among the coaches will be former NBA Basketball players Pat Burke and Greg Kite, who will teach position basketball skills and life skills. The camp includes free food, music and activities. The deadline to register is July 18. For more information or to RSVP, email Vgibbons@oaktownusa.com or call 407-656-1117, Ext. 14.

Rent Oakland meeting hall

Residents and organizations can rent the Oakland meeting hall on North Tubb Street. Rental includes use of the kitchen facilities and a seating capacity of 108. To download a rental contract and price list, go to oaktownusa. com and click on “meeting hall facility.” For information, call Oakland Town Hall at (407) 656-1117.

Commemorative bricks are being sold and will be placed in a walkway at West Side Park in Oakland. Bricks vary in size, color and cost and can be engraved with three to eight lines of writing, as well as clip art. The town is taking orders until September, at which time it will have the commemorative bricks etched and laid along Concert band the path. The overall sidewalk program will require about 400 bricks. The Youth Christian MusiFor more information, call cians (YCM) Concert Band ProTown Hall at (407) 656-1117. gram is available to students in fifth through 12th grades (particularly homeschooled and Take a hike at ONP Join Oakland Nature Preserve those in private school). BePresident Jim Peterson for a free, ginning band and concert band guided hike down the boardwalk classes are offered and meet at to Lake Apopka at 2 p.m. Satur- Oakland Presbyterian Church. The program offers free lesday, July 12. Peterson is the Lake Apopka sons in a Christian atmosphere Field Station program supervi- on Mondays and Thursdays. For sor for St. Johns River Water more details or to register for Management District. The hike classes, contact Amy Duncan starts from the ONP classroom, at ycmband@hotmail.com. and visitors will see the wetlands and lake from a water manager’s Mt. Zion offers perspective. The preserve is at 747 Machete Trail, Oakland. To computer access learn more, call (407) 509-0054 for state programs Mount Zion AME Church in or send an e-mail to director@ Oakland is serving as a computer oaklandnaturepreserve.org. access center for people seeking to qualify for the following state File of Life holds programs: temporary cash assistance, food stamps, Medicaid and medical history The File of Life program is refugee assistance. Applications available in Oakland. The pack- can be submitted online at the ets include an information card church from 5-9 p.m. Mondays that gives emergency personnel and Wednesdays and 9 a.m. to an immediate medical history on 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Mount Zion is at 420 W. Oakthe patient. Residents can pick up a packet at the Oakland Police land Ave. For more information, Department, 540 E. Oakland Ave. call (407) 877-0700.

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The West Orange Times welcomes news from the town of Oakland. Residents with a story or picture to share or an event to promote can e-mail the information to news@wotimes.com.

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8B The West Orange Times Thursday, July 10, 2014

West Orange Real Estate

To advertise in Real Estate please call 407.656.2121 or email: jcrouch@wotimes.com or advertising@wotimes.com

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Thursday, July 10, 2014 The West Orange Times 9A

Senior of the Month: Eloise Duquette

On Friday, March 2, 1928 along with the move. She went in Rockland, Mass., a town to work in the bakery at Epcot 17 miles southeast of Boston, for eight years and continued Nora Sullivan and Cleveland McGee had their fourth child. Two brothers and three sisters made up this family. Her mother was a devoted Irish catholic and went to mass every day of the week no matter what. Eloise kept busy in school by being involved in plays, dances and gymnastics until that fateful day in the eighth grade. It was then that Eloise joined the choir. Even to this day, she loves to sing. After graduating from school, Eloise went to work in Woolworths five and dime store. From a song introduced in May 1931, Fanny Brice sang, “I found a million dollar baby in a five and ten cent store.” Bob Duquette said this was ELOISE DUQUETTE Emeritus hosts antique car show his line as on July 26, 1950 Emeritus at Ocoee, 80 N. Clarke Road, hosted its annual Father’s Day event June 14 with more than 16 classic cars he and Eloise were married. Bob came from a family of 20 working for Walt Disney World on display. Enjoying the event were Emeritus residents and the car owners. children. Eloise was a stay-at- for a total of 15 years. home housewife having six Eloise‘s children now live Students receive children to look after. Bob ran in Jacksonville, Ocala and Or- Ocoee High to sell Rotary scholarships a restaurant and lounge. When lando. She has 10 grandchildren parking hangars Parking hangers for the Pam Bozkurt, past president their youngest finally gradu- — consisting of seven boys and ated, Eloise went to work in three girls — and three great 2014-15 school year will be of the Rotary Club of Ocoee, the lounge as a barmaid. grandsons and one great grand sold in Ocoee High School’s recently presented Samario MatIn 1982, Bob wanted to move daughter. Her time is now spent attendance office from 8 a.m. tachione and Jessica Mojica with to Florida. Eloise loved the four singing in the choir, playing to noon July 28-30 and 1-3 p.m. $1,000 scholarships. Mattachione will attend UCF and major in enseasons and wanted to stay in dominoes, dancing and spend- July 31. They will be sold to seniors gineering. Mojica will initially Massachusetts but finally went ing time with her family. only on July 28, to juniors only attend Valencia College and then on July 29, to sophomores only transfer to UCF. She will study on July 30 and to seniors, ju- biology. niors and sophomores on July 31. Woman’s Club to Students must bring in their Dianne Ketts, a community Florida driver’s license, current host benefit leader in vision services, is one At 7 p.m. Thursday, July 24, registration and proof of insurof the new members inducted The GFWC Woman’s Club of ance for the vehicle they will in the past year into the Ocoee Ocoee will host a Bunco Fundbe driving. The address on the Lions Club. license must match the address raiser for the Valencia FoundaKetts is a native Floridian tion Criminal Justice Program that the school has on file. and a graduate of the Florida All financial obligations in memory of Deputy Jonathan State University visual disabilimust be paid before a hanger Scott Pine. ties program. For 21 years, she The event will take place at can be purchased. The parking has enjoyed a fulfilling career the Woman’s Club of Ocoee, 4 hangers cost $60, payable by providing vision services to inN. Lakewood Drive. Tickets are cash or check. fants, children and adults with $10 per person. The fundraiser sight impairments in various is open to the public and will rehabilitation and educational include refreshments, a 50/50 Rotary awards scholarship settings, club officials said. W.O. Seniors are raffle and a basket raffle. To Vania Colina, president of the Rotary Club of Ocoee, presShe is currently employed by buy tickets, call Teresa Lemons ents Justin Butler with his $1,000 scholarship. Butler will busy having fun Orange County Public Schools attend Florida State University and major in theatre. The West Orange Seniors at (407) 579-7977. as a teacher of the visually imenjoy many events at the Tom paired and is a certified orienIson Center, 1701 Adair St., tation and mobility specialist, Ocoee. Here is their updated officials said. They said Ketts’ schedule: DIANNE KETTS interest in and support of LionThe center will host a potluck ism began in early childhood as luncheon at 12:30 p.m. Thursher family has a deep history of forward to serving along with day, July 17. her father, Lion Hershel Luce, active membership. The seniors will visit the “She is very happy at this and sharing her experiences Hard Rock Café in Tampa on time to be joining the Ocoee with her 10 year-old son, Ben- Saturday, July 19. The cost is Lions Club, where she looks jamin,” club officials said. $15 per person. A trip to the Golden Flake & Appleton Museum, with Krueger, Wilson named to dean’s lists lunch, is scheduled for 8:15 Cody Krueger, of Ocoee, was named to the dean’s list for the a.m. Wednesday, July 23. The spring 2014 semester at the Florida Institute of Technology in cost is $65 per person. Melbourne. To learn more, visit westorAlexa Wilson, of Ocoee, was named to the spring 2014 dean’s angeseniors.yolasite.com or list at the Pratt Institute, in Brooklyn, N.Y. call (407) 592-4498.

Ketts joins Lions Club

Chris Young to headline Ocoee Founders’ Day

Grammy-nominated recording artist Chris Young, as well as Kellie Pickler and the Bellamy Brothers, will perform at Ocoee’s 21st Annual Founders’ Day Festival. The free, two-day event is scheduled for Nov. 7-8 at Bill Breeze Park, 125 N. Lakeshore Drive. Young, who has five No. 1 songs on his resume, will headline the concerts on Nov. 8. The Bellamy Brothers, from Pasco County, and the Swon Brothers also will perform that day. On Nov. 7, country artist Pickler will headline the concerts. She gained fame on American Idol and, in 2013, enjoyed a win on ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars.” Local band Spayed Koolie and several other local artists also will perform on Nov. 7. The Founders’ Day Festival also will include carnival rides, a fireworks show, games, food vendors, arts ‘n crafts at the Marketplace, a family fishing tournament, a classic car show and the Chick-fil-A 5k and Kids Fun Run benefitting Smile for a LifetimeWest Orange Chapter. To learn more, visit ocoeefoundersfestival.org.

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10A The West Orange Times Thursday, July 10, 2014

OARS boat places 13th at Nationals

The team included coach Justin Knust, Nick Randazzo, Chris Caravello, Tyler Baron, Thomas Harris, Kevin Rodgers, Bruen George, Nick Olgee, Michael Romero and Josh Eberhart.

The OARS men’s varsity lightweight 8+ boat placed 13th OARS sent one boat to the U.S. Rowing Youth National Championship in Rancho Cordova, Calif., on June 13-15. in the nation.

Advisory Board meets July 14

The Butler Chain of Lakes Advisory Board meeting has been rescheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, July 14, at the Windermere Library, 530 Main St. The board advises Orange County officials on boating activity and other issues relating to the Windermere Water and Navigation Control Taxing District.

Dominguez, Hughes make dean’s list

Library to enjoy aromatherapy

Jorge Dominguez and Marshall Hughes, both of Windermere, were named to the dean’s list for the spring 2014 semester at the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne.

Learn about the power of smell — which can recall a memory, influence mood and even affect academic performance — and make scented bath and beauty products at 11 a.m. Friday, July 18, at the Windermere Library, 530 Main St. This event is for ages 13-18. Call (407) 835-7323 to register in advance.

Crafters wanted

St. Luke’s United Methodist Church is in need of crafters starting at 10:30 a.m. every Tuesday and at 6:30 p.m. on the first and fourth Tuesdays. Participants should bring a bag lunch. All groups will meet in the St. Luke’s Fellowship Hall.

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Upcoming events at the Tibet-Butler Preserve

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Free “Eco Saturdays” are scheduled through September at the Tibet-Butler Preserve and Vera Carter Environmental Center, 8777 County Road 535, Orlando. All programs start at 10 a.m. Here is the schedule: • July 19 — The Everglades “River of Grass”: This class will look at what makes this ecosystem unique, its plants and animals and the latest restoration efforts and issues it faces today. Appropriate for ages 7 and up; limited to 30 participants. • July 26 — When Butter Flies: Learn about the biology of butterflies, meet some of Central Florida’s common butterflies and leave with a butterfly craft. Appropriate for ages 7 and up; limited to 35 participants. • Aug. 23 — Totally Turtles: Find out how people are similar and different from turtles, make shells to match those of turtles and meet the preserve’s resident turtles. Appropriate for Pre-K children; limited to 25 participants. Officials at the preserve ask participants to call ahead so they can better gauge the interest level of each class. The phone number is (407) 876-6696.

407-600-0013 321-806-2074

11A

Thursday, July 10, 2014 The West Orange Times

Dean’s list

Ranbir Ahluwalia, Zayne Lakhani and Renuka Reddy, all of the Dr. Phillips area, were named to the dean’s list of Emory College of Arts and Sciences for the spring semester. This is the undergraduate, liberal arts college of Emory University, Atlanta.

Graduating from Emory

Rotarians from the Lake Buena Vista Club join for fellowship on their First Tuesday Social held at Bravo Italian restaurant in Dr Phillips. Enjoying the buffet of Italian specialties are: at left, front to back, club member Debra Flippo, Tim Trieschmann (president of International Drive Rotary Club) and his guest, Gus Campana, newly elected club President Marti Trieschmann and club member Jeff Calvert; and, at right, back to front, guest Leslie Heimer, club member Luis Figueroa, most senior club member Garth Walker and Pat Calvert.

Fight hunger with Taste of Nation

Returning for its 25th year, Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation Orlando, locally presented by Quality One Wireless, is from 6:4511 p.m. Aug. 9 at the Orlando World Center Marriott. It will celebrate Orlando’s culinary excellence and Taste of the Nation’s legacy of combating childhood hunger. Showing the culinary delights of 35 of Central Florida’s leading chefs and restaurants, this year’s event will feature three James Beard Foundation Award semifinalists: Hari Pulapaka of Cress Restaurant, Kevin Fonzo of K Restaurant and Wine Bar and Henry Salgado of Txokos Basque Kitchen. Along with appetizers, entrees and desserts from the area’s finest chefs and restaurants, guests can sample wines, beers and spirits while enjoying the silent auction, raffle

prizes and entertainment by the Mud Rooster Band. This year’s event will also be home to a European-style bier garden sponsored by World of Beer. Food Network celebrity chef Melissa d’Arabian, best known for her TV series “Ten Dollar Dinners,” is the featured guest. Tickets are $150, and all proceeds benefit Share Our Strength’s efforts to eradicate childhood hunger. Local beneficiaries include Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida and Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. Participating restaurants are: BB Kings Blues Club, Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine, Cafe Tu Tu Tango, Capa at Four Seasons Resort Orlando, The Capital Grille, Captain's Grille at Disney's Yacht Club Resort, Christner’s Prime Steak & Lobster, Cress Restaurant, Crimson Tavern at Orlando Airport Marriott,

Cuisiniers Catering, Eddie V's Prime Seafood, Emeril's Orlando, Emeril's Tchoup Chop, Empress Sissi Cake & Pastry Specialties, Journeys Catering, JW Marriott Orlando - Grande Lakes, K Restaurant and Wine Bar and Kobe Japanese Steakhouse; And LongHorn Steakhouse, Marlow's Tavern, Pirate Chefs of Central Florida sponsored by Nestlé Professional, Orlando World Center Marriott, RA Sushi, Red Wing Restaurant, Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld, SeaWorld Orlando, Second Harvest Food Bank Culinary Training Program, Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, A Land Remembered Restaurant, Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, Cala Bella Restaurant, Sushi Pop Restaurant, Taverna Opa, Thornton Park Restaurant Group, T-Rex Orlando at Downtown Disney and Txokos Basque Kitchen.

Volunteer opportunities in West Orange county

Garden Theatre

Oakland Nature Preserve

The Garden Theatre is holding a one-hour orientation on Tuesday, Aug. 12, from 7-9 p.m. for those interested in volunteering as ticket-takers, ushers, greeters and concessions. Those in attendance will also take a tour of the theatre. High school community service hours can be earned by volunteering. Those 16 and older can attend. For more information, contact the Garden Theatre at (407) 877-4736.

Students can earn community service hours while helping the preserve with various projects. Families and groups are welcome to help, too. The Garden of Weedin’ volunteers meet every Monday at 8 a.m. Join this devoted group of volunteers to work on restoration projects. To get involved at ONP, call (407) 905-0054 or visit www. OaklandNaturePreserve.org.

Health Central Park

Nehrling Gardens

Volunteers are needed at Health Central Park, 411 N. Dillard St., Winter Garden, to assist with the spiritual and religious needs of the elderly residents and to assist with community trips, one-on-one visits and other recreational classes. Contact Judy Skilton at 407-296-1656 for more information.

Open garden and volunteer days are on the first and sec-

ond Saturdays of the month from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. To schedule a tour on another day, contact info@nehrlinggardens.org.

American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery program needs volunteers to drive local cancer patients to and from their chemotherapy and/or radiation treatments. Drivers use their own vehicle. The schedule for volunteers is flexible, and treatment appointments are weekdays. Call ACS at (407) 581-2512.

60 years of marriage

Ray and Ouida Meeks of Windermere celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on July 4. He retired from Continental Can Co. after 31 years; she previously owned Orange World Realty for 20 years and is currently employed at Windsor Realty. The Meekses have 4 sons, Monte, Alan, Eddie and Mark; 12 grandchildren, Karley, Margaux, Summer, Ben, Troy, Adam, Delayne, Hannah, Joshua, Caley, Tabitha and Angel; and 7 great-grandchildren.

Garden Theatre movies

The Garden Theatre’s 2014 Summer Movie Series continues through Aug. 22. All movies begin at 7 p.m., and tickets are $5 general admission. The theater is also offering audience talkbacks on three nights: July 17 and Aug. 14. Along with the lineup of vintage movies, the Garden Theatre is allowing audience participation on several nights. Monty Python Trivia Night begins 30 minutes prior to the showing of “Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life,” and fans can test their knowledge against others and compete for prizes. • Thursday Vintage Favorites — “Cool Hand Luke” on July 10, “Paradise, Hawaiian Style” on July 17, “Roman Holiday” on July 24, “Strangers on a Train” on July 31, “Bride of Frankenstein” on Aug. 7, “The Great Escape” on Aug. 14 and “High Noon” on Aug. 21. • Friday Cult Classics — “Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life” on July 11, “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” on July 25, “Jaws” on Aug. 1, “Wayne’s World” on Aug. 8, “Clue” on Aug. 15 and “Batman” on Aug. 22.

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The following West Orange County residents received a degree from Emory University in Atlanta at its 169th commencement ceremony. Donae Fourth, of Orlando, received a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Goizueta Business School. Meghan Harris, of Winter Garden, earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy from the School of Medicine. John Ladd, of Gotha, received a Master of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology. Sehar Ali, Zayne Lakhani and Andrea Levreault, all of Orlando, received a Bachelor of Arts from Emory College of Arts and Sciences. Kudrit Riana Kahlon and Renuka Reddy, both of Orlando, each earned a Bachelor of Science from Emory College of Arts and Sciences.

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The West Orange Times Thursday, July 10, 2014

Obituaries

Ocoee

layer of muck that continues to compress,” and the building EARL BLAIR, 79, Winter Garden, passed away on July 2nd, keeps sinking. 2014. He was born September 15th, 1934, in Andalusia, AlaThe work performed by bama. He was preceded in death by wife the Senatore Firm “has made Mozelle Blair and survived by his daughter, everything structurally sound April Blair; stepchildren, Michelle Hernanand will allow some additional dez, Mark Pedrick, Lorie Metts and Mitchmovement of the porch withell Cook; grandchildren, Anna Blair, Andrea out damaging the building,” he Blair, Margarita De la cruz; and 9 other said. “But it’s not a permanent grandchildren and a great-grandchild soon repair of the settlement.” to be born, April Annie Mozelle Blair Nitsch. That type of solution would He will be greatly missed by many and lover cost at least half a million dolby all who knew him. Funeral service was lars, Frank and Krug said. held July 9th at D.J. Enea Funeral, and in“We would have to take off terment followed at Winter Garden Cemethe porch, put in new pin piles tery. To leave condolences, please visit Book of Memories Online Tribute at www.eneacares.com.

TROY FOWLER JR., 81, of Winter Garden, FL, passed away on July 5, 2014. He was born on August 15, 1932, in Selma, North Carolina. Troy had several occupations during his life, with many years working in the Heating and Air Conditioning field. He also owned Country Boys Motorcycle Shop in Winter Garden until 1989 when he closed the store and reopened it as the Beacon For Christ Mission and Thrift Store. Troy was an Ordained Minister, and he preached through the Beacon For Christ Mission, and as well as preaching for over 20 years at Health Central Park. He was a former member of the Orange County Cruisers Motorcycle Club as well. Troy loved spending time preaching, but also loved being with his family. A devoted Daddy and Papa, he is survived by his daughters, Joanne Fowler Stella, Helen Jean “Jeanie” (Ricky) Garner and Mary Jo “Jodi” (Scott) Ledford; his sisters, Rose Pridgen, Hersey Parrish, Gracie Eason and Linda Cody; his grandchildren, Jeff (Mary) Mullins, Kelly Mullins, Jamie (Brent) Branhan, Ryan (Jessica) Ledford, Jessica (Clendon) West, Ricky Garner II and Samantha Ledford; and his 6 greatgrandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Cecil Fowler, Julius Fowler and Joe Fowler; and by his sister, Algie Davis. Services will be held at Collison Carey Hand Funeral Home, Winter Garden. The family received friends on Tuesday, July 8, from 5:30-6:30 PM with a Celebration of Troy’s Life following at 6:30 PM in the chapel of Collison Carey Hand Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Hearing Loss Association of America in Troy’s name. Arrangements entrusted to Collison Carey Hand Funeral Home, Winter Garden. www.collisoncareyhand.com. STEPHEN DANIEL SZORCSIK, age 30, of Winter Garden, FL, passed away on Sunday, June 22, 2014. Steve was born May 5, 1984. He enjoyed working on motorcycles, cutting hair and spending time with his son. He was always telling jokes and had a way of always being able to make everyone laugh. Stephen knew the meaning of friendship, his caring personality warmed everyone around him. His smile and laughter has touched a community forever. He will be greatly missed by many. Stephen is survived by his son, Colton Szorcsik; his Mother, Barbara Szorcsik; his two sisters, Darlene Szorcsik Blevins and Charlene Bentley; his brother, Chris Szorcsik; and two nephews, Ricky Jackson and Wesley Blevins. His smile and laughter has touched a community forever. RUTH CROFT BROWN, 92, Winter Garden, died Thursday, July 3. Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Home, Winter Garden. TROY FOWLER JR., 81, Winter Garden, died Saturday, July 5. Collison Carey Hand Funeral Home, Winter Garden. PHILIPPA GERTENBLITT, 92, Winter Garden, died Wednesday, July 2. D.J. Enea Family Funeral and Cremation Care. WULFAUT MARIUS HAAKMAT, 86, MetroWest/Orlando, died Wednesday, July 2. D.J. Enea Family Funeral and Cremation Care. RAYMOND DONALD JONES, 80, Orlando, died July 1. D.J. Enea Family Funeral and Cremation Care. DOROTHY C. STEVENS, 91, Winter Garden, died June 29. DeGusipe Funeral Home and Crematory, Maitland. FLORENCE ANN SYKES, 80, Ocoee, died June 29. Hamlin & Hilbish Funeral Directors, Eustis. ANNA L. VALQUEZ, 73, Ocoee, died Thursday, July 3. Woodlawn Funeral Home, Gotha.

Marrero

nearly five years, first meeting at the Ocoee Little League fields when their sons played baseball together. The Marreros moved to Ocoee in 2003. “He’s probably one of the nicest, genuinely honest human beings you’ll ever meet,” Satterwhite said of Marrero. “He’s been one of my greatest friends, ready to help and do whatever, whenever needed.…Bernie and I have coached young men at the Little League level and on the travel baseball circuit. Bernie has gone above and beyond, out of his way, without question, to help these young men (and sometimes women) on the baseball field.” This spring, Marrero had been assisting Ocoee High School baseball coach Bob Brewer with the Junior Varsity team but had

Tax

benefit include Westside Tech, Maxey and Oak Hill elementary schools and Lakeview and Southwest middle schools. Schools that have benefited from the tax and those that still need help are listed at change4kids.net/schools/. The Change 4 Kids organization, in Orlando, is one of the tax’s biggest supporters. This bipartisan group was formed in 2002 after six referendum efforts had failed to generate some level of taxation to support public schools, according to the group’s website. Orlando businessman and former state Rep. Dick Batchelor volunteered to create and lead Change 4 Kids, which ultimately garnered the support to pass the referendum with nearly 60 percent of the vote, the site stated. During the last year or so, OCPS officials have made an extensive look to identify $2.3 billion in school construction, renovation and technology upgrade needs, Change 4 Kids spokeswoman Dana Loncar said. “We’ve been out speaking in the community, and we have lots of people supporting it,” Loncar said of the tax renewal. “People have seen the new schools being built and the positive impact [the tax revenue] has had on kids and cities.” She said the local-option sales tax can only be used on the school district’s capital needs. Property tax funds can be used for construction and op-

Bluegrass

born musician was playing classical tunes in the string ensemble and started his own band that performed locally around Southern Ontario. When he was in his early 20s, he moved with his family to Central Florida, and within a year, he was sharing his musical talents (bluegrass, cowboy and folk) in Frontierland at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, playing at Tom Sawyer Island, Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café and the Frontier Trading Post. Thomas has made a living with his music, providing accompaniment as a studio player on 150 CDs, he said, and joining a variety of groups like the Kane’s River Bluegrass Band, the Claire Lynch Band and Gatorbone. In his latest venture, he performs alongside three other Gatorbone members, all Florida natives: Gabe Valla and founders Lon and Lis Williamson, who live on Gatorbone Lake, hence the band’s name. The group will perform this Saturday, July 12, as part of the Garden Theatre’s bluegrass concert series. The band’s original sound is influenced by a mixture of swing, old-time, bluegrass and gypsy jazz, and performances include original, traditional and contemporary tunes. Lon Williamson is the upright bassist, as well as a singer and songwriter, and his wife, Lis, is a rhythm guitarist, banjo player, singer and songwriter. Valla is an award-winning guitarist, mandolinist, singer, songwriter and composer. Thomas is an award-winning instrumentalist and state champion on fiddle and mandolin. Thomas, of Winter Garden, has performed all over the world throughout his career, including a stint in Tokyo Disneyland’s bluegrass and country shows; at the Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay; in tours through Austria, England and Barbados; on Royal Caribbean cruises; and, of course, as a teenager in Canada. So, it’s fitting that Thomas’ current full-time gig is playing with the Celtic rock band Off-Kilter — at the Canada Pavilion at Disney’s Epcot. His music, in a way, has come full circle, he said. Working with Off-Kilter has allowed Thomas to spend more time with his wife, Beth, and son, Jacob. Their home in Winter Garden also has a recording studio, where Thomas can create tracks as a studio player for musicians instead of having to travel so much. The younger Thomas is in the string group at his elementary school, and father and son have even played a little music together.

(Continued from 1A) and then rebuild the porch,” Krug said. “That would stop the settling, but it would not put the building back to where it was.” And Frank doesn’t think that type of project would be a good investment. “Most of the sinking has occurred,” he said. Krug agreed. “It’s safe,” he said about City Hall. “We’d have to condemn our own building if it wasn’t. I can’t imagine it settling to the point where it would be unsafe.”

In addiation to the support work, about $40,000 worth of wood repair and repainting recently was completed on the exteriors of City Hall and its adjacent, one-story annex. C&D Construction, of Cocoa, provided these improvements. A few miles south of City Hall stands the 18-acre site of the planned, mixed-use development known as City Center West Orange, between Bluford Avenue and Lake Bennet. The site’s developer — Park Development Corp., of Orlando

— hopes to break ground on this massive project by late summer. Plans call for the development to include hundreds of thousands of square feet worth of commercial and office space, as well as condominiums, apartments and a civic building that could serve as a new Ocoee City Hall. But, while the City Commission occasionally has discussed the possibility, Frank said there currently are no inherent plans to build a new city hall. (Continued from 1A)

to step away as his wife’s health worsened. Satterwhite said Marrero was once an amateur boxer in New York. “From those experiences, I think, he’s tough, he’s grounded, but he’s also remarkably humbled in every sense of the word,” he said. “I knew I had to do whatever I could to help him put Vicky to rest,” Satterwhite said. “He had no savings, no way of doing anything.” When Marrero changed jobs, from FedEX Express to FedEX Ground, he lost his insurance benefits. Vicky Marrero’s health care was partially covered through emergency Medicaid. To help his buddy, Satterwhite created an account on the fundraising site GiveForward

and then sent out this plea to Ocoee residents and the Little League community: “My hope is to raise as much money for this family as we can, remembering that everyone’s time eventually comes and, in times like these, we can rally together and help change a family’s life for the better, albeit briefly, during the inevitable aftermath of such a tragedy.” Friends and folks in the Ocoee community gave close to $5,000, enough money to cover the funeral expenses and to help Marrero pay some bills. “Everybody’s been so great. It’s been truly amazing,” Marrero said, thankful for the generosity. He was especially grateful to Bob Loomis, owner of Loomis Family Funeral Homes, for providing “the kind of service

Vicky deserved,” and to UCP of Central Florida in Winter Garden, where the twins attend school. The school provided a babysitter for the two youngest children while the rest of the family attended the funeral. Marrero said the family’s immediate needs are being taken care of, but he said he would appreciate financial help “when school comes around” next month. His children will need school supplies and clothing, and gift cards to stores like Target and Wal-Mart would be a blessing, he said. Anyone wishing to help can either send gift cards to the Marrero family at 1105 Flewelling Ave., Ocoee 34761; or donate online at giveforward.com/ fundraiser/vty4/Victoria-marrero-memorial-fund. (Continued from 1A)

eration costs, but they “don’t come near to meeting the needs of the schools,” Loncar said. “If [the tax extension] doesn’t pass, we’re looking at 59 schools that will not have a funding source for their construction, renovation and technology upgrades.” Florida’s counties are permitted by state law to levy up to 1.5% worth of local taxes on top of the 6% state amount, said Morgan McCord, communications coordinator for the Tallahassee-based Florida TaxWatch. TaxWatch bills itself as an independent, nonpartisan and nonprofit taxpayer research institute and government watchdog. Dominic M. Calabro, TaxWatch’s president and CEO, said the organization has not studied Orange County’s half penny tax issue and does not have a position for or against it. However, “The first thing the [Orange County] community has to ask is what has been accomplished” with the money the tax has provided since 2003, Calabro said. “What were voters promised, what was accomplished and how well was it accomplished? No one expects government to bat 1,000, but you certainly want to bat pretty high. Orange County Public Schools has the fiduciary responsibility to spend the money as if it was their own.” He added that Florida’s 2002 constitutional amendment that reduced public schools’ class sizes put more pressure on voters to approve the half penny tax

in order to pay for school expansions and relief schools. According to a March 2014 TaxWatch report, “To implement the constitutional amendment, the Florida Legislature has appropriated more than $27 billion to build the additional

classrooms and hire additional teachers” statewide. “Despite this substantial commitment of funds, and the concerted efforts of state and local educators, Florida school districts have struggled to comply with the class size limits.”

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(Continued from 1A)

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Gatorbone on stage

Thomas, Valla and the Williamsons will hit the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Garden Theatre, 160 W. Plant St., Winter Garden. The final performance in the theater’s bluegrass concert series is the Sweeney Family Band at 8 p.m. Aug. 2 and 2 p.m. Aug. 3. Tickets are $15 to $25 and can be purchased at gardentheatre. org/concerts or at the box office at (407) 877-4736.

Thursday, July 10, 2014 The West Orange Times 13A

RAIN (INCHES)

WEST ORANGE

WEATHER

WED. July 9

0.18

TEMPERATURES

THURS. July 10

0.18 FRI.

July 11

0.18

SAT.

July 12

0.17

SUN.

July 13

0.17

MON.

July 14

0.17

HIGH 84 88 90 91 91 91 93

Thurs., July 10 Fri., July 11 Sat., July 12 Sun., July 13 Mon., July 14 Tues., July 15 Wed., July 16

SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES Thurs., July 10 Fri., July 11 Sat., July 12 Sun., July 13 Mon., July 14 Tues.,July 15 Wed., July 16

SUNRISE 6:36 a.m. 6:36 a.m. 6:37 a.m. 6:37 a.m. 6:38 a.m. 6:38 a.m. 6:39 a.m.

SUNSET 8:27 p.m. 8:27 p.m. 8:27 p.m. 8:27 p.m. 8:26 p.m. 8:26 p.m. 8:26 p.m.

WEEKEND WEATHER

LOW 77 75 75 72 73 73 75

MOON PHASES

July 18

July 12

TUES.

July 15

0.17

JULY TO DATE 0.96

August 3

HIGH 90 LOW 73

HIGH 90 LOW 74

HIGH 90 LOW 75

July 26

I WO

The West Orange Times is hosting a weekly I Love West Orange Photo Contest, and winners will have their photograph featured and receive a $20 gift card. To enter, email your photo, along with your name and city and a caption, to news@wotimes.com; put I Love West Orange in the subject line. Winners can pick up their prize at the Times office. This week’s winner is Tom Mills of Ocoee, who submitted this photo of rocking chairs waiting for weary hikers on the Serenity Porch at the Oakland Nature Preserve.

J o i n W i n t e r G a r d e n S q u e e z e f o r t h i s w e e k ’ s g a m e s :

Join us July 14 at Blue 42, 7pm

Thursday, July 10

Winter Garden Squeeze vs. College Park Freedom 7:00 pm Scout Night!*

Monday, July 14

Winter Garden Squeeze vs. Leesburg Lightining 11:00 am

Thursday, July 17

Winter Garden Squeeze vs. Deland Suns 7:00 pm

1 4 1 9 5 W . C o l o n i a l D r . W i n t e r G a r d e n J o i n t h e W i n t e r G a r d e n S q u e e z e p l a y e r s t o w a t c h t h e M a j o r L e a g u e B a s e b a l l H o m e r u n d e r b y . • Dinner Specials • Silent Auction • Crush the Mascot • Raﬄe Prizes

Special event at Blue 42 @ 7pm

* J u l y 1 0 i s S C O U T N I T E ! W e a r y o u r S c o u t u n i f o r m a n d G E T I N F R E E w i t h y o u r S c o u t L e a d e r All games played at West Orange High School • 1625 Beulah Rd. Winter Garden, FL 34787

For more information call (321) 206-9174 or visit www.floridaleague.com