09.16.21 Southwest Orange Observer by Orange Observer

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SO U T H W EST O RA N G E

Observer Windermere, Horizon West, Dr. Phillips

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. VOLUME 6, NO. 48

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SEASON THE OBSERVER’S GUIDE TO ARTS AND SOCIETY

MUSIC DANCE ART THEATER BLACK TIE

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

Locals remember 9/11 Ocoee, Windermere and Winter Garden hosted special events. PAGE 3.

In Good Company

YOUR TOWN FROM RICOCHET TO OBSERVER

Observer Media Group is celebrating the 116th anniversary of the West Orange Times & Observer this week. The first edition of Winter Garden’s first newspaper, the Winter Garden Ricochet, was published Sept. 13, 1905. The first editor was A.B. Newton. According to an article in The Winter Garden Journal on Aug. 24, 1933, the Ricochet was started when Newton met a printer with the last name March on the train coming from Sanford. The printer was looking for work, so he and Newton hooked up, March continued on the train to Winter Garden, and they put SEE PAGE 4

Deal close for Horizon West library Jayson Goldner sings “I Am The Very Model of a Modern Major General” from Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Pirates of Penzance.”

‘An Evening of Opera’ will feature Windermere Preparatory School students performing alongside professionals from Opera Orlando. SEE PAGE 4.

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Healthy West Orange hosted its West Orange Walk 5K. SEE PAGE 13.

Ocoee designer Santia McKoy showcased her designs at show. SEE PAGE 10.

Jim Carchidi

OCLS hopes to have an agreement made by the end of 2021. SEE PAGE 2.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

City, county offer land lease for Horizon West library Orange County Library System officials hope to have an agreement made by the end of the year. JIM CARCHIDI ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Orange County and the city of Orlando may have the solution to a major problem for Horizon West residents who have been lobbying for their own library branch. In January, the Orange County Library System’s Board of Trustees approved the purchase of a parcel of land for the Horizon West branch, which will be located next to the upcoming Horizon West Regional Park. The land is jointly owned by the city of Orlando and Orange County. However, residents of Lake Nona also had been lobbying for their own b ra n c h .

The competing demand for new facilities created a funding dilemma for the library system and put the future of both branches on hold. Kristopher Shoemaker, CFO for OCLS, said in March the library system currently has funding for one location to be complete in fall 2025. However, building a second location would not be possible for three to four years after that, depending on economic conditions and construction costs. “These dates are estimates given current procurement processes, economic conditions and construction costs,” Shoemaker wrote in an email. “Any changes to the cost assumptions will alter the timetable.” But a new option, offering leases over purchases, could

result from a proposed partnership between the OCLS Board of Trustees, the city of Orlando and Orange County. If accepted, the plan would make it possible to secure locations and build facilities in both areas without straining the OCLS budget or impacting taxpayers. According to a proposal put forth by the city and county, the library would lease the land on which the Horizon West branch would be built, with OCLS assuming the construction costs. Meanwhile, the city of Orlando would assume the cost of designing and building the Lake Nona branch as part of a new government center, located on Dowden Road. The library would then lease the portion of the facility that would house the Lake Nona branch. “Instead of the library needing to purchase that whole (Horizon West) parcel, which I believe was around 17 acres, (the county and the city) are offering us a ground lease on the acreage that we need

to build the branch, which will be a much smaller footprint... I believe between two and three acres,” said Bethany Stone, one of two chief branch officers for the Orange County Library System. “That also means less long-term maintenance for land we would not be using for our building, so it’s a big positive for the library.” The proposal also would create cost savings by sharing parking and outdoor areas with the nearby Horizon West Regional Park. “Sharing that space would allow for outdoor programming which isn’t possible at every library branch, depending on their location,” Stone said. Outdoor programming generally is geared toward children’s activities. “The library has long had an interest in expanding services in Lake Nona and Horizon West, but it was not in our budget to purchase land and begin construction in two locations at once,” Library Director/CEO Mary Anne Hodel

said in a prepared statement. “This plan would make it possible to do exactly that and to give both communities libraries that we can be proud of. We are grateful to the city and county for coming to the table with this innovative proposal.” “The Lake Nona and Horizon West projects will, through combined resources, save taxpayer money and provide convenient library locations for residents in multiple communities,” Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said. “This partnership is another example of how collaboration helps us build a community that works for everyone by having more local learning and education options for our residents.” The agreement is contingent on approval by the Library Board, Orange County Commission and the Orlando City Council. “The goal is to have an official agreement ready to be voted on by the end of this year,” she said.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

Jimmy Brown, a former firefighter with the New York Fire Department, gave the keynote address at Ocoee’s 9/11 ceremony.

Claire Weisz gazed at the Windermere 9/11 memorial as her father, Scott, pointed out details.

WE REMEMBER

coee, Windermere and Winter Garden all held ceremonies to recognize the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Ocoee’s somber-yet-patriotic ceremony took place on the lawn of the Withers-Maguire House Saturday, Sept. 11. The program included the presentation of the flags and a moment of silence for those whose lives were lost in the terrorist attacks. Ocoee Police Officer Duane Hunt performed the national anthem, Police Chaplain Keith Tower gave the invocation, and Deputy Fire Chief Tom Smothers and Police Chief Saima Plasencia made comments. Jimmy Brown, former firefighter with the New York Fire Department at the time of the attacks on the World Trade Center, was the keynote speaker. The city’s 9/11 memorial — a piece of a steel beam from the WTC buildings — was on display, and American flags were placed on the lawn to honor those who died 20 years ago. The memorial event was hosted by the city’s Citizens Advisory Council for the Ocoee Police Department. Just a few miles away in Windermere, and despite several open chairs, most attendees stood and listened as guest speakers and singers took to the podium to pay tribute to the 3,000 lives lost, the survivors and the first responders. A wreath and flowers were laid at the the town’s

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The collages were arranged in a timeline that spans the attacks, the response efforts and memorials at the Winter Garden exhibit.

Norman Rein wanted the Remembrance 9/11 Tribute Exhibit to honor the history and serve as a reminder to learn from it.

The Windermere Police Department Color Guard awaited its cue.

Sept. 11 memorial, dedicated in February 2010 and created by Jeff Cox for his Eagle Scout project. Guests included the

See more photos at OrangeObserver.com

Lamplighter Academy Advanced Singing Group; Windermere Police Department Chaplain Wes Beacham; Marshall Webb and pastors Mark Goff and Ray Lloyd, of Family Church; and retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. Rick Bohner. Finally, Winter Garden honored the anniversary with the Remembrance 9/11 Tribute Exhibit at Winter Garden City Hall. The exhibit, created by resident Norman Rein, who worked at Ground Zero with the Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team for five weeks after 9/11, featured more than 200 pieces of memorabilia and 50 collages arranged in a timeline spanning the attacks, investigations and memorials. — JIM CARCHIDI AND AMY QUESINBERRY

First responders and a family who lost a loved on in the attacks lay a wreath at the base of the Windermere 9/11 memorial.

Pete Yachmetz’s table featured a bent spoon he found on the sidewalk several blocks from Ground Zero and pieces of the escalator foyer at the Twin Towers. Right: Ocoee City Commissioner Rosemary Wilsen showed her patriotism.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

Opera returns to Windermere JIM CARCHIDI ASSOCIATE EDITOR

“If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.” Friedrich Hayek

indermere Preparatory School is celebrating its third opera season by collaborating with local talent and spotlighting the work of Gilbert and Sullivan. “We have done three fully staged productions over the last two years, and I really wanted to mix things up a little bit,” said Emily Tousek, director of choirs and high school piano. “So I, very early on, reached out to Opera Orlando.” This year’s performance, titled “An Evening of Opera,” will mark Windermere Prep’s second partnership with Opera Orlando. The first took place during the school’s 2019 season and featured guest artists and students performing a series of operatic arias, duets and ensembles. “The kids really enjoyed it, they got a lot out of it, and I got a lot out of it,” Tousek said. Furthermore, sharing the spotlight not only enriches the student experience, it gives exposure to the local arts community. “We have a great local resource in Opera Orlando and, we’d love for people to know what they’re doing,” she said. “An Evening of Opera” will feature Opera Orlando artists John Teixeira, Samantha Barnes Daniel and Sarah Purser performing alongside five high school soloists and the 14-voice Little Laker Voices choir. But the collaboration is only part of what audiences have to look forward to; the cast also will perform three operettas featuring songs from Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado,” “H.M.S. Pinafore” and “Pirates of Penzance.” “They’re some of the early predecessors of what we know as today’s modern musical theatre and just really well loved around the world,” Tousek of said Gilbert and Sullivan. Each operetta will be presented in a concert style that will

“Road to Serfdom,” 1944 President and CEO / Matt Walsh, mwalsh@yourobserver.com Editor and Publisher / Michael Eng, meng@OrangeObserver.com Design Editor / Jessica Eng, jeng@OrangeObserver.com Community Editor / Amy Quesinberry, amyq@OrangeObserver.com Associate Editor / Jim Carchidi, jcarchidi@OrangeObserver.com Sports Editor /Chris Martucci, cmartucci@OrangeObserver.com Staff Writer / Annabelle Sikes, asikes@OrangeObserver.com Multimedia Advertising Executives / Ann Carpenter, acarpenter@OrangeObserver.com Iggy Collazo, iggy@OrangeObserver.com Cyndi Gustafson, advertising@OrangeObserver.com Creative Services / Lindsay Cannizzaro, lcannizzaro@OrangeObserver.com Advertising Operations Manager / Allison Brunelle, abrunelle@OrangeObserver.com

Allie Sholtis, Luisa Luo and Sofia Marrero sing “Three Little Maids from School” from Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado.”

include some choreography and few props while focusing more on the artists’ vocals and stage presence. The style and substance may be new to the program, but the COVID-19 concerns of the previous school year remain an issue. Masks and social distancing are a necessary part of the performance. “It is really hard, you have to be more physically emotive with your body and the part of your face that can be seen,” Tousek said of performing behind masks. “It’s a good exercise in learning to project not only emotion or character but (also) to project their voices.” “It’s something that, unfortunately, we’ve gotten a little more used to because of the situation we’ve been in for over a year,” said Jayson Goldner, one of the stu-

YOUR TOWN

dent performers. “But even with that it’s still extremely difficult.” According to Goldner, a greater need to project means there is a greater emphasis on breath control. But he knowledges that successfully accommodating the masks will improve the ability to perform without them. “With masks off, that breath control stays so we can hold (the note) longer and have better support,” he said. Another COVID-19 precaution that has become an unexpected benefit is live-streaming. “We can bring the performance to families who can’t attend shows,” Windermere Preparatory School Marketing Manager Summer Simmons said. “The show can be seen anywhere in the world.”

purchased the newspaper from The Winter Haven News Chief in 1970. It was a true family business, as the Baileys and their four sons prepared the papers for mailing on their living room floor. Following George Bailey’s death in 2008, his son, Andrew Bailey, took over as publisher. Observer Media Group purchased The West Orange Times in 2014 and continues to operate the newspaper today. A second paper, Southwest Orange Observer, was started.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

out a newspaper. It contained four pages of three columns each and was produced on a hand press with all the type set by hand. A year later, Newton bought The Apopka Citizen and merged the papers, which he sold in 1909. There has continuously been a community newspaper in the area since Newton established the Winter Garden Ricochet 116 years ago. Following the Winter Garden Ricochet, it has been called The Winter Garden Times (around 1913-15), The Orange County Citizen (1918), West Orange Herald (early 1920s), Winter Garden Herald (mid-1920s), The Winter Garden Journal (1925-33), The Town Crier (1933-34), West Orange News (1934-48), The Winter Garden Times (194880), The Times (1980-87), The West Orange Times (1987 through 2014) and West Orange Times & Observer (current) In 1932, the publication

Observer

date was changed from Friday to Thursday to benefit the advertisers, who wanted the paper delivered in time for readers “to see their offerings before they do their weekend shopping.” By 1933, the paper was distributed weekly “in the area between the intersection of the Gotha Road with the Orlando highway and slightly beyond the Lake County line, east and west; and between Fisherman’s Paradise and Windermere, north and south.…” George and Anne Bailey

TICKETS AVAILABLE TO ‘LAND REMEMBERED’

Author Patrick Smith’s son, Rick Smith, will present a show about his father and the experiences that led him to write his beloved novels, with special emphasis on his popular saga of Florida pioneers, “A Land Remembered.” The show — set for 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24, at the Jessie Brock Community Center, 310 N. Dillard St., Winter Garden — combines Rick Smith’s humor and storytelling with videos, photos, music and visual effects

IF YOU GO “AN EVENING OF OPERA” WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. WHERE: Cypress Center for the Arts on Windermere Preparatory School campus, 6189 Winter Garden Vineland Road TICKETS: Tickets are available for inperson seating with a live-stream option available at teachtix. com/WPS.

to bring the writer’s colorful life into focus. Books will be available for sale and signing. Show tickets are $10 for Winter Garden Heritage Foundation members, $20 for others. For tickets, visit bit.ly/3lo99Sz or order by calling (407) 656-3244.

ST. LUKE’S BRINGS ‘GUYS AND DOLLS’ TO THE STAGE

The Theater at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church will present the Broadway musical “Guys and Dolls” at various times Sept. 24 through 26 and Sept. 30 through Oct. 3. Tickets are on sale at st.lukes.org/guysanddolls. Steve MacKinnon directs this musical that tells the story of Nathan Detroit and his need to keep his “oldest established permanent floating crap game” going. It includes popular show tunes “Luck Be a Lady” and “I’ve Never Been in Love Before.” Myles Thoroughgood is the choreographer, and John R. Mason III is music director. The church is at 4851 S. Apopka-Vineland Road, Orlando.

The West Orange Times, West Orange Times & Observer and Southwest Orange Observer are published once weekly, on Thursdays. The papers can be found in many commercial locations throughout West Orange and Southwest Orange. If you wish to subscribe, visit our website, OrangeObserver.com, call (407) 656-2121 or visit our office, 661 Garden Commerce Parkway,

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WEST ORANGE TIMES The West Orange Times (USPS 687120) is published weekly for $40 per year ($50 outside of Orange County) by the Observer Media Group, 661 Garden Commerce Parkway, Winter Garden, Florida, 34787. Periodical postage paid at Winter Garden, Florida. POSTMASTER: Send changes of address to the (name of pub; i.e., West Orange Times, West Orange Times & Observer or Southwest Orange Observer), Observer Media Group, P.O. Box 135, Lincolnshire, Illinois 60069-0135.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

Windermere leaders set tentative 2021-22 budget, millage rate The town’s final budget hearing is set for later this month. JIM CARCHIDI ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Windermere put its new fiscal year into focus during a Sept. 7 budget hearing. Town Council members, in a combination of in-person and virtual attendance, voted to set the tentative budget of $7,777,777 proposed during a July 26 budget workshop. The tentative millage rate of 3.7425 also was set. Documents from the office of Orange County Property Appraiser Amy Mercado list Windermere’s total taxable value at $800,849,916 — an increase of more than $40 million from the previous fiscal year. According to Town Manager Robert Smith, the increase can be attributed partially to the Estancia at Windermere luxuryhome development, which was completed last year. “We’re starting to realize the taxable value for that development in addition to an increase in Windermere home values over the last couple of years,” Smith said. The largest contributors to the estimated General Fund revenue of $7,426,893 include: $490,000 from the 1/2-cent sales tax, $335,274.95 from the solid waste tax, $200,000 from Windermere Wine & Dine and $745,000 from the American Recovery Act. “It’s an anomaly this year,” said Smith of the American Recovery Act funds. “Typically, our budget wouldn’t be this large, but because we’re receiving those funds, it is this large.” The addition of a Stormwater Fund revenue of $350,884 brings total revenues to $7,777,777. However, according to Smith, some of the town’s biggest planned projects will not rely on budget funds. “Our approved funded projects, either through a grant or general operating funds or through American Recovery Act dollars, are the West Second Avenue Road stormwater and potable water improvements, Bessie Basin stormwater and potable water improvements, and Butler Basin stormwater and potable water improvements,” he said. All three projects are covered under an Hazard Mitigation Grant Program of $3.3 million, which is funded through the Federal Emergency Management

Agency and administered through the Department of Emergency Management. “(The grant) doesn’t include the potable water system aspects, which will be covered through the America Rescue Act dollars,” Smith said. The designs for all three projects are nearly complete and are required to be submitted to Department of Emergency Management by December. Windermere also is expecting federal money for the Safe Routes

FINAL HEARING

The final budget vote is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20, at Windermere Town Hall, 520 Main St., Windermere

to School Project. The process of requesting the funding began in March with help from Windermere Mayor James O’Brien and U.S. Rep. Val Demings. “The Safe Routes to School

Program (funding) is $760,000 toward phase 1 of our Windermere Ward Trail,” Smith said. “The trail is a multimodal path system from North Avenue to Windermere Elementary School and includes sidewalk and trail improvements and also a new bridge over the canal.” The Safe Routes to School Project funding is expected in the fall. The final budget vote is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20, at Windermere Town Hall.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

The battle for McKinnon Groves The Lake County project has received plenty of attention in Orange County. JIM CARCHIDI ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Contention over a proposed South Lake County development involves residents in West Orange. McKinnon Groves is planning 660 homes on 357 acres of the 15,000-acre Wellness Way master plan. Land-use descriptions include mixed-use urban and suburban plans, rural reserve areas that will border suburban developments, and the preservation of environmentally sensitive areas. THE OPPOSITION

Opponents see the project as an example of overdevelopment. Residents of Orange County’s Lake Avalon Rural Settlement, which would border McKinnon Groves, feel their property values and way of life would be threatened by a higher-density development. Jacob Malherbe moved to the Lake Avalon Rural Settlement six years ago from Keene’s Pointe in Windermere in search for more open spaces and a natural environment. “We feel a little bit like Central Park, because we have Horizon West on the Orange County side, and now we are fighting Wellness Way on the Lake County side,” said Malherbe, who owns corner properties on both sides of the

intersection of Rex Road and Phil C. Peters Road. Lake Avalon was designated a rural settlement in 2004. The plan limits residential and business development as a means of protecting the natural landscape and the community’s quality of life. The prospect of inconsistent development at its borders raises concerns of increased traffic, sight line interference and other encroachments. “There is a need for consistency in the densities on the Orange County side of that region and the Lake County side,” Orange County Commissioner Nicole Wilson said. “I really have the greatest respect for the jurisdictional boundaries. … That being said, we have to look at things with a regional scope.” Environmental and property concerns have made McKinnon Groves a target for backlash, also aimed at former Orange County Commissioner S. Scott Boyd, whose family owns 159 acres in McKinnon Groves. THE PLAN

Boyd i s i nvo lve d w i t h development and has discussed the plan with several residents. “Not only do I live here, but we own land on the other side of the county,” he said. “I want to make sure that it’s done correctly. Because whatever happens with that land will impact us.

Jim Carchidi

Scott Boyd meets with Dayne Jones, president of Flowering Tree Growers, the agribusinesses that will provide wooded landscaping for the McKinnon Groves’ 150-foot buffer zones.

Sophie Sacagiu currently owns a 6,500-square-foot property on Terra Vista Court. She has lived in that area of Lake County since 1994 and enjoys the undeveloped landscape but has always considered development an inevitability. “You cannot stop growth unless you buy the property,” she said. Despite losing some of the natural landscape, Sacagiu looks forward to the upscale homes, trail systems and rural reserve areas that McKinnon Groves will bring. “I feel like Scott (Boyd) has put something really nice together — especially with the five-mile trail,” she said. In addition to the trail, Boyd said

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Orange County and the future residents of the proposed project.” However, Bollhoefer points out upcoming improvements that will offset the added traffic. “The good news is that there are road projects scheduled in the near future that will alleviate a significant portion of these problems. The future extension of County Road 455 linking to the future Wellness Way Parkway will go a long way to easing the traffic congestion and safety issues on Marsh Road. The CFXS.R. 516 Orange Lake Connector will also help.” WHAT’S NEXT Courtesy photo

Orange County Commissioner Nicole Wilson spoke against the project at a recent Lake County commission meeting.

McKinnon Groves also will add vehicular access on an improved realignment of Hartwood Marsh Road, a half age-restricted/half single-family residential plan, and 48 acres of nonresidential development that will focus on recreational facilities and agribusiness. The need for heavily landscaped transitions to border neighboring communities, such as Lake Avalon, is being addressed by one of those businesses. Flowering Tree Growers, located at 18010 Lookout Hill Road, is a commercial tree farm that will provide wooded landscaping to fill buffer zones that will measure at least 150 feet wide. TRAFFIC CONCERNS

The voices on both sides of the land-use debate seem to share

the concern of additional traffic on roads that cannot accommodate increased volume. One road in particular, Hartwood Marsh Road, will provide northern access to the new community. “It’s very small; there’s huge trucks going by,” Sacagiu said. “I feel (the county) should widen the roads. I hope, with the extra money that they’re going to recoup from everything, that they put it back into our road system.” Additional congestion on Hartwood Marsh Road also would affect the connecting Marsh that leads into Winter Garden. “It is already an F-level service road, with (more than) 11,000 trips at the site of the proposed entrance,” Winter Garden City Manager Michael Bollhoefer said. “This is bad for the residents of Lake County,

If approved, construction on McKinnon Groves will not begin for one year, with a buildout of between four and six years. In that time, Wellness Way and other road improvements would be complete, Boyd said. Lake County commissioners are set to vote on rezoning for McKinnon Groves during their Sept. 28 meeting. Wilson has promised to keep residents’ concerns at the forefront. “I’m going to try to stay as plugged in and as involved as I can moving forward if it does get approved,” she said. Boyd said he has tried to be clear about the considerations built into McKinnon Groves and sees criticism as a product of misinformation on social media. “You can either sell (your property) and let the fate of the land lie with the individuals who buy it, or guide it,” Boyd said. “And that’s what we did here, we guided the development pattern with the community in mind.”

City may restrict pet sales CHRIS MARTUCCI SPORTS EDITOR

The Ocoee City Commission heard the first readings of items pertaining to pet stores and a temporary moratorium on self-storage facilities during its meeting Tuesday, Sept. 7. Regarding the ordinance that would restrict pet stores selling dogs, cats and rabbits, commissioners discussed whether they should amend the ordinance to make it more ambiguous rather than naming specific stores after the Chews A Dog pet store was named. Orange County has a law banning the sales of dogs, cats and rabbits at pet stores. PetSmart, which operates in the area, would not be affected by this proposed ordinance, because it does not directly sell the animals listed. Commissioner George Oliver said it would be better to table the discussion until the Sept. 21 meeting to give the commission more time to understand the specific policies of other pet stores in the area such as PetSmart. “For the sake of clarity … we need to look at the Orange County ordinance and compare it against PetSmart — make sure they’re doing the right thing before we give any final approval for this ordinance,” Oliver said. The commission decided to

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

IN OTHER NEWS n Mayor Rusty Johnson read proclamations for 9/11 remembrance and named the week of Sept. 12 to 18 as National Assisted Living Week. n The proposed traffic light at Clarcona-Ocoee and Ingram roads returned for discussion in closing comments. City Manager Robert Frank permitted the transfer of $200,000 for the proposed maintenance costs. n The commission unanimously voted to renew the city’s 10-year contract with Duke Energy.

table the ordinance to the Sept. 21 meeting. Regarding the temporary moratorium on self-storage facilities, the commission will bring it back for a second reading and decide its fate at the next meeting. Because Ocoee has 11 self-storage facilities, the commission is looking at possible commercial development on land plots that could have been used for these facilities. SIBBITT HONORED

At the start of the meeting, City Clerk Melanie Sibbitt was honored by the commission after being designated a Master Municipal Clerk by the International Institute of Municipal Clerks. Sibbitt has been with the city of Ocoee for 23 years. “(Sibbitt) is one of the best we’ve had here, and I’ve been around a lot of them,” Mayor Rusty Johnson said of Sibbitt. “All of them are nice workers, but this lady is super good at it.”

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

Metcalf Park estate sells for $3.3 million A

home in the Metcalf

in Windermere topped

Sept. 10, for $450,000. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,904 square feet of living area. Days on market: Two.

all West Orange-area

WEST POINT COMMONS

Park community

The home at 13939 Florigold Drive, Windermere, sold Sept. 7, for $675,300. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, threeand-one-half baths and 3,206 square feet of living area. Days on market: Four.

residential real-estate transactions from Sept. 4 to 10. The home at 3324

OAKLAND

S. Lake Butler Blvd.,

JOHNS LANDING

Windermere, sold Sept. 10, for $3.3 million. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, five baths, one half-bath and 5,518 square feet of living area. Days on market: 203. These are the highestselling homes in each community in West Orange. HORIZON WEST

HICKORY HAMMOCK

The home at 15973 Citrus Knoll Drive, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 7, for $813,000. Built in 2015, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 3,880 square feet of living area. Days on market: Three. The home at 15531 Citrus Harvest Road, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 7, for $715,000. Built in 2016, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 3,381 square feet of living area. Days on market: 50. The home at 15944 Citrus Knoll Drive, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 7, for $688,500. Built in 2015, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 3,417 square feet of living area. Days on market: Four. INDEPENDENCE/ SIGNATURE LAKES

The home at 15742 Signature Drive, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 9, for $835,000. Built in 2010, it has six bedrooms, four

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The home at 3324 S. Lake Butler Blvd., Windermere, sold Sept. 10, for $3.3 million. This lakefront estate is located on a tranquil bay off Lake Butler.

baths and 4,511 square feet of living area. Days on market: Five. LAKE BURDEN SOUTH

The home at 7599 Lake Albert Drive, Windermere, sold Sept. 9, for $750,000. Built in 2014, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 3,230 square feet of living area. Days on market: Three. The townhouse at 7346 Brightland St., Windermere, sold Sept. 8, for $285,330. Built in 2011, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,589 square feet of living area. Days on market: 41. LAKE SAWYER SOUTH

The home at 7337 Derexa Drive, Windermere, sold Sept. 7, for $510,000. Built in 2007, it has four bedrooms, threeand-one-half baths and 2,628 square feet of living area. Days on market: Five.

LAKESHORE PRESERVE

The townhouse at 8927 Fountain Palm Alley, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 8, for $525,000. Built in 2018, it has four bedrooms, three-andone-half baths and 2,539 square feet of living area. Days on market: Three. LEGADO

The townhouse at 8973 Matriarca Alley, Lot 55, Windermere, sold Sept. 10, for $367,183. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, twoand-one-half baths and 1,756 square feet of living area. ORCHARD HILLS

The home at 14464 Cedar Hill Drive, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 10, for $625,000. Built in 2015, it has five bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 3,571 square feet of living area. Days on market: Two.

OAKLAND TRAILS

SNAPSHOT

Total Sales: 52 High Sale Price: $3.3 million Low Sale Price: $200,000 SUMMERPORT

The home at 4863 Flint Road, Windermere, sold Sept. 10, for $513,000. Built in 2006, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 3,211 square feet of living area. Days on market: 13. WATERLEIGH

The home at 10259 Merrymeeting Bay Drive, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 8, for $650,000. Built in 2019, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 2,840 square feet of living area. Days on market: 23. WATERMARK

The home at 14513 Golden Harbor Lane, Winter Garden, sold

LAKES OF WINDERMERE

The home at 12954 Freeman St., Windermere, sold Sept. 8, for $430,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, twoand-one-half baths and 2,460 square feet of living area. Days on market: 47.

The home at 1937 Standing Rock Circle, Oakland, sold Sept. 10, for $385,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,069 square feet of living area. Days on market: Two.

OCOEE

FOREST OAKS

The home at 1409 Prairie Lake Blvd., Ocoee, sold Sept. 8, for $281,000. Built in 1986, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,332 square feet of living area. Days on market: 18. OAK TRAIL RESERVE

The home at 3150 Timber Hawk Circle, Ocoee, sold Sept. 10, for $381,500. Built in 2019, it has four bedrooms, twoand-one-half baths and 2,276 square feet of living area. Days on market: Five. The home at 3147 Timber Hawk Circle, Ocoee, sold Sept. 8, for $326,500. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,504 square feet of living area. Days on market: 15. PLANTATION GROVE WEST

The home at 11011 Groveshire Court, Ocoee, sold Sept. 9, for $475,000. Built in 1992, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,138 square feet of living area. Days on market: Two.

LAKES OF WINDERMERE — PEACHTREE

The home at 8608 Abbotsbury Drive, Windermere, sold Sept. 9, for $523,000. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, threeand-one-half baths and 2,599 square feet of living area. Days on market: Four.

The home at 602 Strihal Loop, Oakland, sold Sept. 9, for $575,000. Built in 2001, it has five bedrooms, threeand-one-half baths and 3,293 square feet of living area. Days on market: Two.

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The home at 11011 Groveshire Court, Ocoee, sold Sept. 9, for $475,000. It was the largest transaction in Ocoee from Sept. 4 to 10.

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The home at 806 Windergrove Court, Ocoee, sold Sept. 9, for $467,500. Built in 1994, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,381 square feet of living area. Days on market: 37.

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one-half baths and 2,100 square feet of living area. Days on market: Seven.

PRAIRIE LAKE VILLAGE

The home at 2284 Mountain Spruce St., Ocoee, sold Sept. 7, for $450,000. Built in 1999, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 3,038 square feet of living area. Days on market: Six.

The home at 9008 Woodbreeze Blvd., Windermere, sold Sept. 10, for $457,000. Built in 1988, it has four bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 2,356 square feet of living area. Days on market: Four.

SAWMILL

The home at 6717 Sawmill Blvd., Ocoee, sold Sept. 8, for $342,000. Built in 1990, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,761 square feet of living area. Days on market: 11.

WINDERMERE

SPRING LAKE RESERVE

The home at 1113 Eagle Run Way, Ocoee, sold Sept. 10, for $340,007. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 2,061 square feet of living area. Days on market: Three. WESTYN BAY

The home at 2320 Pesaro Circle, Ocoee, sold Sept. 8, for $420,000. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,670 square feet of living area. Days on market: Seven.

WEST ORANGE CASABELLA

The home at 4077 Isabella Circle, Windermere, sold Sept. 8, for $2.3 million. Built in 2016, it has six bedrooms, six baths, two half-baths and 7,544 square feet of living area. Days on market: 200.

WINDERMERE

KEENE’S POINTE

The home at 6441 Lake Burden View Drive, Windermere, sold Sept. 10, for $1.64 million. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms,

coldwellbankerhomes.com

The home at 15742 Signature Drive, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 9, for $835,000. It was the largest transaction in Horizon West from Sept. 4 to 10.

three baths, two half-baths and 5,241 square feet of living area. Days on market: 19.

and 4,001 square feet of living area. Days on market: Four. RESERVE AT LAKE BUTLER SOUND

LAKE DAVIS RESERVE

The home at 5502 Marleon Drive, Windermere, sold Sept. 10, for $1,299,000. Built in 2011, it has six bedrooms, four-andone-half baths and 6,355 square feet of living area. Days on market: 90.

The home at 11018 Kentmere Court, Windermere, sold Sept. 10, for $965,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 3,913 square feet of living area. Days on market: Two. RESERVE AT WATERFORD POINT

MOHRS COVE

The home at 9829 Mohrs Cove Lane, Windermere, sold Sept. 10, for $935,000. Built in 1992, it has four bedrooms, threeand-one-half baths and 3,883 square feet of living area. Days on market: 23.

The home at 2039 Water Key Drive, Windermere, sold Sept. 7, for $1,372,000. Built in 2000, it has four bedrooms, threeand-one-half baths and 3,284 square feet of living area. Days on market: Two.

RESERVE AT BELMERE

SILVER WOODS

The home at 1813 Glenbay Court, Windermere, sold Sept. 9, for $902,000. Built in 2003, it has six bedrooms, four baths

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The home at 3050 Bird Lane, Windermere, sold Sept. 10, for $1,262,000. Built in 1995, it has five bedrooms, six-and-onehalf baths and 4,903 square feet of living area. Days on market: 71.

WINTER GARDEN

ARROWHEAD LAKES

The home at 16853 Arrowhead Blvd., Winter Garden, sold Sept. 6, for $350,000. Built in 1978, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 1,361 square feet of living area. Days on market: 16. HERITAGE AT PLANT STREET

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

Sept. 12, for $923,195. Built in 2021, it has five bedrooms, fourand-one-half baths and 4,276 square feet of living area. STONEYBROOK WEST

The home at 15432 Pebble Ridge St., Winter Garden, sold Sept. 9, for $570,000. Built in 2000, it has four bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 2,870 square feet of living area. Days on market: Two. The home at 2848 Balforn Tower Way, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 9, for $556,500. Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,617 square feet of living area. Days on market: Two. SUNSET LAKES

The home at 3265 Hidden Lake Drive, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 10, for $1.23 million. Built in 2004, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 3,694 square feet of living area. Days on market: 55.

The home at 772 Orange Belt Loop, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 8, for $615,000. Built in 2018, it has four bedrooms, threeand-one-half baths and 3,134 square feet of living area. Days on market: 43.

VALENCIA SHORES

REGENCY OAKS

WESTFIELD LAKES

The home at 642 Home Grove Drive, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 6, for $385,000. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,972 square feet of living area. Days on market: 12. SANCTUARY AT TWIN WATERS

The home at 16768 Sanctuary Drive, Winter Garden, sold

The home at 704 Tangelo Court, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 10, for $415,000. Built in 1978, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,797 square feet of living area. Days on market: 22. The home at 12681 Westfield Lakes Circle, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 10, for $620,000. Built in 2005, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 3,040 square feet of living area. Days on market: Two.

OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

Ocoee designer hosts first fashion show O coee resident Santia McKoy’s designs hit the runway during her company’s first fashion show, World Tour Fashion Show, held Saturday, Sept. 4, at DoubleTree By Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld Orlando. Models, designs and performances all were provided by McKoy’s company, S&M Custom Design LLC. “With God, everything is possible; never give up on your dreams,” McKoy said. “World Tour Fashion Show was everything for me. Being able to see my dreams unfold brought me to tears. A little girl from Haiti did that! It took lots of tears, hard work, prayer, an amazing support system and team to get here. We managed to overcome all the obstacles, and in the end, history was made.”

A model in a bright yellow suit greeted his bride with flowers at the end of the runway.

— ANNABELLE SIKES

A model posed for the cameras at the end of the runway in a short red gown.

ONLINE

Santia McKoy’s high-end line showcased styles similar in appearance to those at New York Fashion Week, which McKoy has attended multiple times.

See more photos at OrangeObserver.com

Left: Santia McKoy beamed with joy at the completion of her first fashion show.

ACROSS 1 Chew like a rodent 5 NYSE news source 8 Printer tray filler 13 Cut corners 18 Speedy competition 19 ___ butter (moisturizer) 20 Solo 21 French for "the sea" 22 And others (Abbr.) 23 Sonar sound 24 Weather-inspired mahjongg tiles 25 Wizards game setting 26 *USS Nautilus, e.g. (Hint: A chain's name is hidden across each pair of starred

clues' answers, minus one letter that's above a black square. These letters spell something apt.) 29 *Sailor's assent 31 Spring zodiac sign 32 Common piercing sites 34 Alphabetically second mo. 35 Cul-de-___ 36 **Like a dry delivery? 39 **Competes in a lyrical battle 44 Biblical beast of burden 45 Cowboy Rogers 47 Shoes with a kitten variety

104 *****Got away 107 Male cat 108 Protein in an unagi roll 109 People who can't live without video games? 111 Bugs Bunny animator Tex 112 ******Tried to hit the softball 117 ******Most influential people 120 Go in 121 Some succulents 123 "Joey" co-author Biden 124 Cozy lodgings 125 Drawn-out attack 126 Maui neighbor 127 Swedish meatball seller 128 Mother ___ (bonanza) 129 Thompson of "Creed" 130 Rose protector 131 Use thread 132 Go to and fro

43 Russian ruler, once 46 Hearty laugh 49 Fix, as torn pants 50 Go on to say 51 Marshy muck 54 "The Karate Kid" mentor 55 Squish with one's shoe 56 Hair-preserving garment 57 Expresses a view 58 Take care of 60 Doze (off) 61 TiVo, e.g. 62 Temporary castle material 63 Sporty Ford, informally 65 Little nick, perhaps 71 Family room 72 Honeybunch 73 Distinctive atmosphere 74 Snatches 76 About, in dates 77 Word before "game" or "guess" 78 Marvel villain who colDOWN lected the Infinity Stones 1 The Caribbean's Spice Isle 80 Great Lakes natives 2 Dispositions 81 Corn core 3 Trees with symbiotic ants 83 "Jurassic Park" dino 4 ___ up (rose, like tears) 84 Representative Ilhan 5 Fan's sound 85 Chicken (out) 6 Feel 86 ___'s Pie (ice cream bar) 7 Spotted big cat 91 Author Harper 8 Lab hand? 93 She betrayed Samson 9 Jamaican swimmer 94 Co Sign in front of a new Atkinson business 10 Small horse 97 Partially enclosed porch 11 Makes beloved 98 Long voyage 12 Coast Guard's operation 99 Certify to be true 48 Pump purchase 76 Sugar source 13 Hockey shot sound 100 Canadian dollar coin, 49 Large champagne bottle 78 Sigma follower 14 Mario ___ Tour slangily 52 Contents of 21-Across 79 Ten-sided shape 15 "Doesn't matter to me" 101 Hams it up 82 ****Spinning one's 53 Surname of two U.S. 16 Like lowly labor 102 Power tool giant presidents wheels 17 Move like a horse 103 Faces and such in texts 56 ***College URL closer 87 ****Dressing for gradu- 19 Sauna's place 105 One may contain a whole 59 ***Similar people ation 27 Medium's claim, briefly chicken 88 Apologetic 64 Flipped over 28 Dude 106 Is of use 66 Kanga's kid 89 Unaccounted for, briefly 30 Differences some couples 110 Sharp uptick 67 Flower holder 90 Makes up lines will always have 113 They're tapped at parties 68 Thus far 92 Prefix for "system" 33 Small swimsuit 114 Region 69 Zest source 93 Denounces 37 Squabble 115 Toddler's taboo 70 Verified the age of, 95 "___-haw!" 38 Nice refusal? 116 Stuff in a camper's pack informally 96 Ab ___ (Latin for "from 40 Brown, as meat 118 Played the trumpet 72 Stable place? the egg") 41 Chimney passage 119 Pie ___ mode 74 Cabbage type 99 *****"An Essay on Criti- 42 ___ Hawkins dance 122 Sloth, e.g. 75 "Your point is?" cism" writer

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CROSSWORD

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

9-16-21

OBSERVER

WEST ORANG E HISTO RY

OrangeObserver.com

THESE OLD TIMES

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION

FROM THE ARCHIVES La Iglesia Adventista Hispana de Winter Garden — the Winter Garden Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist Church — located at 46 E. Miller St., has served a Hispanic population since 2002. Miguel Yepez is the current pastor. The building, constructed in 1950, has been enlarged since its days as a house of worship for the New Hope Primitive Baptist Church.

The mission of the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation is to preserve the heritage and architecture of Winter Garden while creating new cultural experiences. The Foundation also preserves the material culture of West Orange County, using it to educate the area’s youth on the community’s rich history.

50 years ago

About 250 new Walt Disney World recreation employees descended on Windermere in an orderly and well-organized manner to begin a two-week training program in all the different aspects of recreation to be available at Disney. Sessions took place in Town

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

THROWBACK THURSDAY SEPT. 16, 1971 In 1971, bright, bold patterns were seen everywhere — from clothing to home décor. The Winter Garden Times offered suggestions for prettying up bedrooms and bathrooms and tying them together by decorating in the same sheet patterns. Perhaps you could cut your sheets to fit your walls and ceiling and then attach with two-way tape. A single-size sheet can easily transform into a shower curtain. And for a matching lampshade, you just need a do-it-yourself Lam-Eze kit to handpress the fabric to the shade. Leftover scraps could be used as colorful backing on the bedside bookshelves and to cover the chair pad.

70 years ago

Jimmy Loomis, 7-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Francis E. Loomis, fell out of a tree, broke his right arm and spent a night in Orange Memorial Hospital. Jimmy declared he was “through with women,” as it was on account of a woman he fell out of the pecan tree. Little Vickie Bozeman fell and knocked him out of the tree and then herself received only a scratch. The remains of the sleek “Atlantic” were removed from Lake Apopka by a Florida Power Corp. crew as part of the program involving the remodeling of the old city dock in Winter Garden. Weighing nine tons when built, the boat was carried here on a trailer in 1926. Alternately docked at Winter Garden and Montverde, the boat made trips around the lake carrying fishing parties. After being wrecked and half submerged for about 12 years, the hull had become a famous landmark.

Hall, Windermere Union Church and Windermere Baptist Church and covered everything from first aid to a detailed education in what was to be offered visitors. The group in charge of beaches and pools took additional

training at Bay Hill Country Club. Stockholders and other interested parties participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for the Valencia Shores neighborhood off West Bay Street on the southern shore of Lake

Apopka in Winter Garden. Johnny Johnson reported there were six restaurants open and in operation at Disney.

OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

DESANTIS REVEALS PLAN TO END FSA Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday, Sept. 14, revealed his plan to eliminate the Florida Standards Assessment. DeSantis announced plans for legislation to end the FSA during a news conference held in Doral. The legislation would have to pass the Florida Legislature. “If we’re successful, this 202122 school year would be the final year that the FSA is administered in the state of Florida,” he said. During the conference, DeSantis called the FSA outdated and said it took days to administer, which takes time away from learning. Furthermore, because it is administered at the end of the school year, it doesn’t leave any time to react to the results. The FSA would be replaced with progress monitoring — short, individualized assessments that would be administered three times a year (fall, winter and spring), DeSantis said. “This will take hours — not days — to be able to do these assessments,” DeSantis said. “There will be 75% less time for testing...It also informs teachers in real time during the school year, so that they can better help students.” The Florida Education Association applauded the change. “The FEA looks forward to continuing to work on how Florida assesses K-12 students and teachers, so we can get it right in the long term,” FEA President Andrew Spar said. “This is a great opportunity to address how we can use progress-monitoring assessments to best serve students.”

INFLUENCER OF THE WEEK

MELINDA GERARDI, WATER SPRING ELEMENTARY Melinda Gerardi, the PE paraprofessional at Water Spring Elementary School, has been awarded a $1,320 Melody Burton Scholarship. This award is administered by the Human Resources Department and funded by a grant from the Foundation for Orange County Public Schools. Gerardi will use this scholarship to complete her elementary education degree through the Pathways Program at Rollins College.

What brought you to your school? One of the PE coaches I worked with at my first school told me about Water Spring opening and how (it was) a brand-new school hiring for all positions. I decided to take the opportunity to help open a new elementary school, and I am so glad I did. What do you love most about your school? I love the overall atmosphere of my school. We have a wonderful administration team, and I work with some amazing people. I have received so much support from my coworkers and administration as I’ve started my classes this semester. What is your motivation? My motivation for continuing my education is to become a full teacher myself. I have had a lifelong dream to become a teacher, and with the help of my family, my school and my coworkers, I am finally able to make that dream come true. What is the most rewarding part of your job? The kids are the most rewarding part of my job. Watching these

REPORT CARD POSITION: PE paraprofessional TIME AT SCHOOL: Four years with OCPS, three with Water Spring Elementary

kids learn and grow is an amazing privilege. This is my fourth year as a PE para, so I’ve been able to watch kids grow into these wonderful and bright individuals. What do you like to do in your spare time? I love to spend time with my family. I also enjoy camping with my husband and my son, as well as reading as many books as I can. Who was your favorite teacher when you were in school? Why? I had quite a few favorite teachers over the years, and they all played a part in my wanting to become a teacher myself. One who immediately came to mind is Mrs. Kittrell; she was a teacher of mine when I was a senior in high school, and the love and passion she put into teaching was inspiring. Mrs. Decker, Miss Wilson, Mrs. Hilley, Mr. Nicolas and Mr. Simpson were also very influential teachers while I was in school. What is your favorite children’s book and why? “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” — it was the first book I read on my own. There are a lot of great children’s books today, but it made my heart so happy when my son also ended up

loving “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom,” too. What are your hobbies? I enjoy reading many kinds of books, going to theme parks, cooking and camping. I do some sewing, as well, which is fun and relaxing. If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why? I would love to be able to fly. Being able to avoid major highways and getting places faster would be awesome! If you could only listen to three bands or artists for the rest of your life, what would they be and why? Bon Jovi, Backstreet Boys and New Kids on the Block. All three have had songs of importance throughout my life, and all three bands have music that make my day.

NOMINATE YOUR INFLUENCER

— AMY QUESINBERRY

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

OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

OBSERVER SCHOOL ZONE

Taking it to the streets M

ore than 100 runners, walkers and cyclists joined Healthy West Orange early Saturday, Sept. 11, to celebrate the fifth anniversary of its Healthy Selfie. The West Orange Walk 5K started at Orlando Health Hospital in Horizon West. Brian Wetzel, assistant vice president and COO for Orlando Health Horizon West Hospital, began the race with a moment of silence in remembrance of 9/11, and Andrew Noble of Smart Fitness led the group in a quick warmup. This was an untimed 5K, so no winners were announced, but the first to cross the finish line was Ian Braziller. This year’s 5K was held both in person and virtually. Virtual participants have until Sept. 30 to complete their 3.1 miles at their own pace.

Participants of all ages participated in Healthy West Orange’s West Orange Walk 5K.

— AMY QUESINBERRY

Courtesy photos

Miss Horizon West Lindsey Franxman handed out medals to finishers.

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OBSERVER

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

OrangeObserver.com

SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

SPORTS

HIGH

West Orange’s Ella Klyce is a strong member of the school’s cross country and swimming teams. Page 16.

Olympia quarterback CJ Brooks was named to the High School AllAmerica Classic on Sept. 7. The game, which features the best high school seniors in the country, will take place during Bowl Week Jan. 12 to 15, 2022, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. On Sept. 14, he was named to the Podyum Preps All-American Bowl taking place in Miami this December. Brooks has 540 yards passing and 5 touchdowns on the season so far as the Titans are 1-1. Players must be nominated to receive an invitation.

Foundation Academy’s defensive line coach Bryan Thomas Sr. (fourth from right) encourages his players to put in the extra work after practice.

The Foundation Lions’ defensive line shows dominance early in the 2021 season. It starts on the practice field.

The Ocoee Knights are turning heads with their 3-0 start to the season after their 34-13 dismantling of Olympia. The Knights have scored 79 points and only given up 26. A big key for the Knights is senior defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, who leads the defense with five sacks and eight tackles for loss.

Foundation Academy’s Bryan Thomas Jr. announced Friday, Sept. 10, his commitment to play football at the University of South Carolina. With his announcement, three of Foundation’s four defensive linemen now have committed to Power 5 schools; Donovan Branch and Reggie Jean committed to the University of Connecticut. Thomas is the son of former NFL defensive lineman and current Foundation assistant coach Bryan Thomas Sr.

Chris Martucci

Growth Opportunity CHRIS MARTUCCI SPORTS EDITOR

ny football team would be happy to have one or two good defensive linemen who can get pressure on quarterbacks and stop the run. Foundation Academy has four. Leading the hunting pack for the defense are seniors Donovan Branch, Bryan Thomas Jr. and

Reggie Jean. The fourth member, and only junior, on the line is Edward Byrd. The four of them have been lightning rods for the defense to start the season. The Lions defense has only given up six points through two games as they begin 2-0. The defense has 40 tackles for loss; Branch, Thomas, Jean and Byrd account for 27 of those, with Thomas leading the

Winter Garden Little League began its season last Saturday with T-ball and pitch baseball. Orange County’s suspension on county-run youth sports does not apply to Little Leagues, because they are private organizations and were able to proceed with their seasons.

SEE UNSELFISH PAGE 17

Dr. Phillips High’s swim, water polo coach gets 500th win Leo Ramirez, a Panther alum, celebrated the milestone Sept. 1 in the Panthers’ swim meet against Horizon and Cypress Creek.

Football season moves into its fourth week of action Friday, Sept. 17. Foundation Academy returns after an unexpected week off to take on Lakeland Christian in its first home game of the season. Ocoee puts its 3-0 record on the line against Apopka, and Olympia takes on Osceola (Kissimmee) at home.

way with 10. They also have 12 of Foundation’s 13 sacks; Thomas leads with five. For opposing teams, it is a deadly game of pick your poison. Branch, Thomas and Jean already have committed to NCAA Power 5 conference schools, which consist of the major conferences in the country: the SEC, ACC, Pac-12, Big 12 and Big 10. Branch and Jean have committed

to play for the University of Connecticut; Thomas announced his commitment to the University of South Carolina on Sept. 10. Even though they have committed, that has not stopped the offers coming for Jean and Branch. Head coach Andre Walker said the University of Illinois also has been looking to see if it still has a chance for their services. “We’ll have to see what ends up happening before Signing Day,” Walker said. “But even

CHRIS MARTUCCI SPORTS EDITOR

Chris Martucci

Dr. Phillips swim and water polo coach Leo Ramirez is now the school’s alltime leader in career wins, after his 500th victory Sept. 1.

To say Leo Ramirez is a passionate Dr. Phillips Panther is a bit of an understatement. Ever since he and his family immigrated to Orlando from Sao Paolo, Brazil, when he was 12 — and he later attended Dr. Phillips

High School — he has bled the navy and Carolina blue with every fiber of his being. Ramirez graduated in 1997 from DP, where he was a swimmer and played water polo. He was part of the men’s swim team’s 1995 state championship team, which was SEE RAMIREZ PAGE 16

SPORTS SPOTLIGHT

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Ella Klyce Ella Klyce is a cross country runner at West Orange High School. She started her sophomore season with a bang, after making state and winning a district championship as a freshman. She took second at the Winter Spring Invitational and also has earned two additional top-15 finishes. In addition to cross country, Klyce is on the West Orange swim team.

What is a race that you have competed in outside of school competition that you enjoyed? I used to swim club at SouthWest Aquatics, and there was a Gift of Swimming 5K that we did every year. It raised money to help teach underprivileged kids how to swim and to decrease the rate of drowning in Florida. Before I got into running, my sister and I always did that race. How does swimming help with running? It helps quite a bit. My endurance has (served me) well because of it. It wasn’t a huge adjustment going from swim to running, because I was used to high amounts of training. I was a distance swimmer, but I did everything. To what do you attribute your early success? My teammate, Ava Baldauf. She pushed me the entire race, and we took second and third — less than a second apart. Without her there, I would not have run that well. She pushes me every day in meets and practice. What do you enjoy about doing cross country for West Orange? The positive environment. I love the team, we have a great coach, and everyone is so positive and

THE BASICS AGE: 15 SCHOOL: West Orange GRADE: Sophomore SPORT: Cross country/ swimming

encouraging with (one another). We support (one another) no matter what — whether it’s practice or meets.

Courtesy photo Leo Ramirez was hired to be the water polo coach in 2006. He later took over as swim coach in 2017, after former coach Bruce Follensbee retired.

Ramirez sets record

What are some of your goals for the season? I hope the girls team can qualify for state and the boys, too. Individually, I’d like to go sub-19:00 in the 5K. My previous best time from last year was 19:28, so I hope with the way training has gone so far, when I get to those championship races, that we can see really good times.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

not expected to win. Ramirez also held the school record in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:43.22. After graduating from the University of Florida upon transferring from the University of Massachusetts, he came back to DP to work as an assistant under former head coach Bruce Follensbee. Ramirez became the head water polo coach in 2006. In 2017, he added swimming and diving to his duties. On Sept. 1, Ramirez celebrated his 500th victory as a head coach for both water polo and swimming combined in the Panthers’ swim meet against Horizon and Cypress Creek. That makes him the leader in career victories at DP. “It means I’m still coaching well,” Ramirez said. “I’m passionate for both sports, so it was a pretty cool feeling. It made me feel old, to be honest.” When it comes to training, Ramirez said he likes to train for sprinting, because high school swimming mainly consists of shorter events and also because the majority of his team are water polo players who swim on the side. Currently, he only has two swimmers who swim year-round. “It’s 95% water polo, 5% club swimmers now,” Ramirez said. “That’s a change from when I started where it was 95% club swimmers and 5% water polo.” However, he adjusts to fit the swimmer’s needs. Ramirez also believes in quality of yardage versus quantity of yardage because of the short season,

Favorite movie? “The Martian” Favorite TV/Netflix show? “Vampire Diaries” Disney or Universal and favorite ride? Universal — Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rock It. Favorite food? Tortellini. I have that the night before a race. An Olympian you would like to meet if you had the chance? Allyson Felix. She seems like such a positive role model in how she balances being a mother and running. She’s a great athlete on and off the track. It would be an honor to meet her. — CHRIS MARTUCCI

as well as the fact most of his swimmers don’t train club. Already, that philosophy has paid off. In his first year, DP won districts and sent a relay to the state championship for the first time in at least seven years. On the water polo side, he took the Panthers to the state championship game in 2020. Although they lost, it was the result of many years of trying. “We’d be in the Final Four but could never quite get through to the championship,” Ramirez said. “To finally do that was an amazing feeling. We’re looking to get back and win this season.” Although he is now DP’s alltime leader in career victories, Ramirez never forgets the lessons he learned while under Follensbee’s tutelage. One of those was to never take any dual meets for granted. “Your job is to win dual meets, so every meet matters,” Ramirez said. “He’d always research the teams we’d be going against and put a lineup together accordingly. That’s what I try to do, too, and so far, it has worked.” Despite the records, the trophies and the milestones, Ramirez said the relationships he has formed with athletes and their families are the crowning achievements of his career. “I’ve had former athletes and parents come up to me and tell me that I had an impact on them when they competed under me,” Ramirez said. “At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about. Having an impact on young people. It makes me feel proud to do what I do.”

“(My 500th win) means I’m still coaching well. I’m passionate for both sports, so it was a pretty cool feeling. It made me feel old, to be honest.”

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to have success. I ask them to play on the offensive line … they do it.” Walker also did not hesitate to say this group was perhaps the best he has ever coached in his time at Foundation and as far back as when he coached at Lakeland High School. “This group in particular, not sugarcoating it, they stand alone,” Walker said. “They’re the best I’ve encountered as a unit.” After an unexpected week off, Foundation gets set to play Lakeland Christian in its first home game of the season Sept. 17. All four of them will be set to go, with Jean emerging out of quarantine on Friday. Walker did not mince words when talking about the game ahead. “That’s going to be a good test,” Walker said. “It’s definitely going to tell us where we’re at — whether we can compete with the big boys or not.”

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now, I’m still getting many calls from coaches.” With so much success at the start of the season, what has been the key to this fast start? Hard work and repetition. “They’re creatures of habit and are very big on creating good habits,” Walker said. “Doing things over and over again to the point where you go to sleep and you’re dreaming of this stuff.” It also helps when your defensive line coach is a former NFL defensive lineman. Bryan Thomas Sr. is in his first year as an assistant coach at Foundation, but already, he is making his mark on the team. Thomas played for the New York Jets from 2002 to 2012. He compiled 33.5 sacks and went to back-to-back AFC Championship games with the Jets in 2009 and 2010. His status as a former NFL player commands respect from his players. “I tell them all the time (that) learning how to have proper technique, it’ll take you much further than you need to be in addition to the skillset you are God-gifted with,” Thomas said. “It’s doing things over and over again. “Sometimes I can look at them in practice, and I can see them go, ‘Oh, Coach is doing this again,’” Thomas said. “They pick it up, and once they pick it up … it makes me proud.”

Thomas’ presence has inspired a strong work ethic, which translates into extra work after practice. Thomas calls it “opportunity.” At first, he only got a couple members on the line to do it and had to coax more to join. Now, the whole group comes out for it. “They’re asking, ‘Hey Coach, can I get more technique work? Can I get extra hand work in?’ That’s what makes me proud,” Thomas said. “We don’t even say it. They’re asking ‘Where are we doing our opportunity at?’ And I say, ‘Over in the corner right there.’” A group of players this dominant usually would have a bit of an ego to them — and deservedly so, in many cases. Walker and Thomas, however, see a humble group ready to do anything asked of them for the betterment of the team. “They understand that it’s a team game,” Walker said. “I have no ego trips in the locker room among them. They’re willing to do whatever it takes for the team

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Transitional Housing Mental Healthcare Counseling Montessori Preschool & Daycare Educational Opportunities Resume Building & Employment Opportunities Legal Assistance Credit Counseling & Debt Reduction

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