09.17.20 Southwest Orange Observer by Orange Observer

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

WINDERMERE REMEMBERS

Residents gathered to commemorate lives lost on 9/11. PAGE 8.

Brews news

SUPPORTING ROLES After being furloughed from Disney, many cast members are rekindling old interests and exploring new talents to bring in extra cash.

The town council approved a taproom and microbrewery in downtown Windermere. DANIELLE HENDRIX ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Plans for a new taproom and microbrewery in downtown Windermere are on track following a conditional-use approval from the Town Council.

SEE BREWING PAGE 6

YOUR TOWN RUN AMONG THE LAKES — VIRTUALLY The 19th annual Windermere Run Among the Lakes has been converted to a virtual format. Participants can complete the 5K or 10K any time between Oct. 1 and 15. The Windermere Virtual Race will be on the regular Windermere course. Runners can download the RaceJoy app, which will provide course information, track distance and post times. There also will be an option to run the race at any location. For more, visit windermereparksandrecreation.com. PRSRT STD ECRWSS US POSTAGE PAID WINTER GARDEN, FL PERMIT NO. 81

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

Woman killed crossing highway Joan Rice Horne was known in the community as someone who always rescued kittens and cats. said. The most recent was last year, when a school crossing guard was pinned under a vehicle and severeJoan Rice Horne had her share of ly injured. She still is recovering. problems, but she didn’t deserve to Robin Clark, who has lived for 16 die the way she did, said her friend, years in Westside Townhomes on Lisa Slone. the south side of Colonial near the Horne, 62, was struck by a vehi- crash site where Horne was killed, cle and killed just before 6 a.m. said she has seen multiple crashes. Tuesday, Sept. 8, when she and “The traffic is horrific in that another friend tried to cross West stretch between Park and Avalon, Colonial Drive near the entrance to and there have been multiple accithe Hyde Park senior community. dents and deaths there in recent They both were pushing bicycles years,” Clark said. “I have contactwith an attached trailer. ed the police department multiple Capt. Scott Allen, of the Winter times about traffic.” Garden Police Department, said She worries about the increased the friend was not injured. The traffic generated by the new Gooddriver was taken to the hospital will store across from Hyde Park with minor injuries. He has not and is concerned there will be even been charged. more when a new car wash opens Allen said the two were not in the shuttered gas station in front crossing in an area with a pedes- of her neighborhood. trian crosswalk. There are crossClark has called the mayor and walks at Colonial and Park Avenue, her city commissioner, and she as well as at Colonial and Avalon spoke with the city manager. Road/County Road 545; Allen said “I even met with the new police the women were within a quarter- chief and asked him to please help mile to the east or the west of hav- over in this area and especially ing access to a safe crossing area. with Westside Townhomes,” she The traffic homicide investiga- said. “We have people who pass tion continues, he said. our school buses when they’re in A majority of the crashes that here to pick up our children. We happen along that stretch of road have the bike lane out there, too, are at the intersections of Park and there is a lot of foot traffic out Avenue and West Colonial Drive here. and Avalon Road and Colonial, “It’s a working man’s neighborAllen said. hood, and I am so scared for the In the last four years, three or people around here,” she said. “I four incidents involved a driver think we need more officers. … and a person walking or biking, he There needs to be more enforce5932-260080 Horizon West ER Expert Care + Safety Message_Observer Media AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

ment. There needs to be a crosswalk. … I have tried all sorts of avenues to try to get some change.” Slone was working at a nearby florist when she met Horne, who frequently could be seen outside. They connected over their love of cats. “I cared about her very much,” Slone said. “She had a hard time. … She was just a gentle soul. I felt sorry for her.” Horne shared stories of her cat, Squeakers, and Slone offered to have the cat spayed. “For the circumstances, she was still a happy person,” she said of Horne. “That was what struck me about her — what a loving person.” Before she died, she had taken in two more cats. Scott Billue, founder of the 10-year-old Matthew’s Hope homeless ministry, said the organization tried to help Horne repeatedly. “One of her challenges of why she stayed homeless was she loved kittens,” he said. “And every time she was able to get into housing, it was required that she couldn’t bring her kittens with her. She chose to stay in the woods. … She got known for taking people’s kittens if they didn’t want them or they found them and couldn’t take care of them.” Billue described Horne as a gifted photographer. “She actually had an Etsy account, and people bought her photography,” he said. “Her photography was beautiful; she really had a good eye. “ She struggled after the death of her husband, Jack, two years ago, (regular)- 1-2P4C 10.375" w x 8" t .pdf

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Joan Rice Horne recently celebrated her 62nd birthday.

Billue said. They had been married just two years. She lived in an area behind the Circle K convenience store at Colonial and Avalon, not too far from where she was killed. “She kept the camp very clean, very homey,” he said. “It has a living area, it has a kitchen, it has an area for her kitties. It was sectioned off, so it was more sanitary and clean. They have a shower setup out there, with rain barrels — it was genius. “When you walked into her area, she would say, ‘Welcome to my home,’ he said. “She would sweep and rake her area — it’s as if someone had freshly vacuumed their 7/28/20 12:27 PM

carpet, you know how it leave the lines.” Horne celebrated her 62nd birthday a few months ago and was thrilled when Matthew’s Hope volunteers took her a small gift, card, balloon and flowers. “She was really taken aback,” Billue said. “That’s probably the biggest smile I’ve seen in 10 years.” Contact Matthew’s Hope to donate toward the care of the cats. You can text MHM to 41444; visit matthewshopeministries.org; or stop by the office at 611 Business Park Blvd., Suite 101, in Winter Garden. People also can order cat food on Amazon and have it sent to Matthew’s Hope.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

Ocoee commission approves tentative budget, millage rate The city will hold its second — and final — budget meeting Wednesday, Sept. 23. TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR

Danielle Hendrix

Horizon West residents Elsa and Hector De Jesus hold up newspapers from the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Nineteen years after the Sept. 11 attacks, survivor and Horizon West resident Hector De Jesus continues to share his story with others. DANIELLE HENDRIX ASSOCIATE EDITOR

ector De Jesus still has the shirt he wore on Sept. 11, 2001. And every year, the 9/11 survivor and Horizon West resident wears that same shirt when he and his wife, Elsa, share his story with the fifth-graders at Keene’s Crossing Elementary. “They all ask good, interesting questions,” Hector De Jesus said of the students’ interest in his story. “The kids are curious. They want to know what happened. We enjoy talking with the kids. It’s a good therapy for me.” Hector De Jesus was working as a consultant on the 55th floor of the World Trade Center’s South Tower when the first plane hit. It was about a quarter to 9 a.m. Sept. 11, 2001. Hector De Jesus was about to sit down at his desk when he and colleagues saw a bunch of debris floating around outside. They had no clue in that moment what had just happened. They didn’t know a plane had hit the North Tower just moments before — or that another would hit the South Tower soon after. But they knew something had happened. “We didn’t hear a crash or any announcements,” he said. “At that point, we decided to evacuate the building, and if nothing was wrong, we’d take the elevator back up. Nobody panicked.” Hector De Jesus remembered from past fire drills that in an emergency, people should use the stairs and not the elevators. So, he

and his colleagues began making their way down dozens of flights of stairs. There was no mention of what had just happened at the North Tower, but Hector De Jesus and others continued heading downstairs. They made it to the concourse when they heard a crash. “We didn’t know it was an airplane — we just hit the ground,” he said. “We got up and started running out. The lobby was full of smoke. We realized something had happened, but we still didn’t know exactly what. We started running out of the building to get away from the smoke. As we ran across Liberty Street, I saw parts from the first airplane in the street. That’s when I realized what had happened.” He was among hundreds of others running away from the building toward Bowling Green. He ran into a restaurant and called his wife to let her know he was OK and out of the building. “We were siting there for maybe half an hour thinking the worst was over, and then we heard another loud crash,” he said. “We all ran outside the restaurant and we looked up, and the (south) building came down. That was the building that I was in. … It’s something that you don’t believe at first — it’s like a nightmare. That building came straight down. Then the smoke from the ground after the building went down was coming from all angles.” Hector De Jesus ran to 26 Broadway to escape the smoke. There, he and dozens of others were given

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A survivor’s story

masks and water and allowed to take refuge in the building. They stayed in there for hours waiting for the smoke to go away. It lingered for days after. Communication and phone service was down, and there was no traffic coming into Manhattan. To get home to his family in the Bronx, he decided to walk to the train station. “As we walked out of the building, everything was white from the fire,” he said. “It was like a war zone, actually. … We walked across the Brooklyn Bridge along with thousands of other people … We got to Brooklyn, and at that point the trains were starting to run again.” Hector De Jesus boarded the train to Long Island, hopped off at the Jamaica Street station and then found a Q44 bus to take him back to the Bronx. “I looked out the window, and we saw the towers smoking, both of them,” he said. “All you saw was the smoke coming from the towers. Finally, I got home to the Bronx. I was able to take a cab home, and I got home about 8 that night. I was completely covered with that white smoke and soot.” It was a long day for Elsa De Jesus, too. She was at home doing housework, when her sister stopped by for coffee and asked if she had seen the news. The moment she turned on the TV, the second plane hit the South Tower. She would later learn that her husband was safe. It’s something they don’t take for granted, even 19 years later. “I feel that we’ve been blessed,” Elsa De Jesus said. “His life was spared, and we got to see our children finish college, get married and have our grandkids.” Hector De Jesus said 9/11 is an important piece of history that he feels is his duty to share. “It changed my life,” he said. “It really did. I lost a couple of acquaintances there. I may forget a lot of things, but I’ll never forget that day.”

Once more, Ocoee residents may have their property taxes decrease. In fewer than 15 minutes, the Ocoee Commission unanimously approved the city’s tentative budget and millage rate during its first budget meeting Wednesday, Sept. 9. The first item discussed was the tentative millage rate for 2020-21, tentatively set at 5.15 mills. The rate is 0.1 mills — or $317,264 — lower than the tentative millage rate approved by the commission previously. Last fiscal year — 2019-20 — the millage rate was set at 5.25 mills, and this fiscal year’s proposed decrease to 5.15 marks the possible second consecutive decrease for the city. The news was met with appreciation from Mayor Rusty Johnson and the commissioners. “I think I had all of my questions answered at our workshop, and personally I’d like to thank the city staff because bringing it in at 5.15 — especially in this trying time and knowing we have to adhere to this budget very stringently — I’m pleased that it is at that point,” Commissioner Rosemary Wilsen said. “So thank you to all of the staff that worked at this and for all of our employees … and to our residents, because we know there is high unemployment and we do want to provide the services that we have been providing all along without any break.” “Kudos to the staff for bringing such a low millage rate — especially during the times that

we are in dealing with a global pandemic and we’re able to come in with a millage rate this low,” Commissioner George Oliver said. Meanwhile, the tentative total Fiscal Year 2020-21 budget was set at $85,175,249 — almost $2 million more than 2019-20 — while the General Fund budget was tentatively set at $52,907,051. In the tentative General Fund, the city will have increases and decreases in a number of categories, including more money for items such as parks, recreation and maintenance operations. Spending on general government services and street operations is slightly less than last year’s budget. Although there is still one final budget meeting left, overall, those in the city’s government feel confident that despite all the issues brought on by the pandemic, the city is in a good place financially. “Once again, great job — staff, city manager and all the employees, we appreciate it and we thank you,” Johnson said. “Finance department: Thank you very much, and commissioners, we thank you for being attentive to this and working on the budget and looking at it and seeing what we have to do. I think the citizens should be happy with this. “With what’s going on with COVID-19 and what’s happening in our country, this just shows that our city is doing a fine job and staying on top of everything,” he said. The second and final budget meeting for the city will be held Wednesday, Sept. 23. Because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, City Hall will be closed, but those interested can watch the meeting live at ocoee.org/OcoeeTV or tune into Ocoee TV on Spectrum Channel 493.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

Success on the side TROY HERRING | SPORTS EDITOR

lthough Disney has reopened with limited capacity, many of its longtime cast members still are watching from afar. Since April, many employees — who call the “Happiest Place on Earth” their home away from home — have remained furloughed. And while they hold out hope for the phone call that will bring them back to Disney, some are finding new ways to bring in a money through a variety of side hustles. This effort has found a home on a Facebook page called “Ear for Each Other,” which is dedicated to helping furloughed workers can get ideas of how to turn their talents into a marketable commodity.

JAIMIE ROBERTS

In 1979, Jaimie Roberts — then a high-school student with a love for chorus — witnessed something that would change her life forever: a performance by the Voices of Liberty. What followed that was a passion that led the current Winter Garden resident to Disney in 1987. She has performed in numerous roles — from the Voices of Liberty to Esméralda in the Hunchback of Notre Dame to the original Rose Petal at the My Perfectly Princess Tea Party at the Grand Floridian. She also has been a clinician with Disney Performing Arts. But since she was furloughed, Roberts has found a new path through an old love — baking cakes. The simple act of baking gave her something to do, and although there is trial and error with it, Roberts enjoys the

Just two weeks after graduating high school, Melissa VargasRamirez took a hostess job at Hollywood Studios. From there, her love for Disney gradually led her to a few different roles before she graduated college in 2018. After college, she joined the Disney Institute and became a client services coordinator overseeing the Latin market. But since being furloughed, VargasRamirez — who also is working on her master’s degree at the University of Central Florida — is doing something a bit different. She dabbled in arts and crafts to start but then bought a cookbook by celebrity Chrissy Teigen. It was an awesome book, Vargas-Ramirez said, but it lacked desserts. That’s when she decided she was going to start making macarons, which led to

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the creation of Sweet Creations by Melissa. “I started posting my attempts on my personal Snapchat just for fun, and I thought, ‘OK, something to keep me busy and something new to learn,’” she said. “I never really thought, ‘OK, I need to do this and this is the next step that I’m going to and then I’m going to start a business. It’s going well — I’m getting a consistent flow of orders.”

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process of learning. And ever the performer, with each cake delivered, Roberts serenades her recipient with a singing of “Happy Birthday.” “I started realizing, ‘Hey, this is helping me not be depressed — I have to get up, and I have to do something today, and this person is counting on me to bring a little joy to their life with this cake,’” Roberts said. “It’s just turned into this little tiny thing that makes me happy, and it makes them happy.”

JESSICA YAZZOLINO-KONECNY

She’s served in numerous roles at Disney since 2005, but Jessica Yazzolino-Konecny really found her niche in event business — doing event work with the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, as well as event work around production in the parks. She also was brought on as a media and productions specialist for Toy Story Land and Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. But when Disney shut down and she was furloughed, all events stopped. Yazzolino-Konecny found herself dealing with going from 10- to 12-hour work days to nothing. That was when she discovered how much of herself was tied to her work. Luckily for Yazzolino-Konecny, a friend who also worked in the hospitality industry told her about World Financial Group and her time learning financing. Yazzolino-Konecny dived straight into it and, after a mini-

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MELISSA VARGAS-RAMIREZ

For 15 years, Sarah Matthews has been involved with some form of creative media at Disney. Since 2009, the Winter Garden resident has been with the famous Imagineering department and most recently served as a senior graphic designer before being among those furloughed by the company in April. To add to the difficult year, Matthews’ husband also was furloughed from his job at Disney. Although she could have gone into doing graphic design on her own, Matthews decided she would return to that whenever she went back to her old job — meaning she had to figure out what she wanted to do. That’s when, a month or two ago, a friend asked her about doing virtual art classes. Mat-

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thews reached out to her friend, who owns Kids Create Art. “I became sort of the homeschool curriculum person for her and have been doing that and just brainstorming — like, ‘How can we do stuff so Girl Scouts can get their badges for creativity?’ and ‘How can we do little virtual birthday party groups?,’” Matthews said. “I just taught my first class this week, and it was amazing. … I feel excited again.”

AMBER CLARK

mal investment on her part — including getting her health- and life-insurance license through the state — started working for the company. “It’s not only how can I help other people, which is what I like to do in general, (but also) this kind of fed this itch that I was missing from work,” she said. “I was also able to apply the information that I learned to our own finances — my husband and I now have a clearer path on what we want to do both now, 10 years in the future and when we retire.”

On the second floor of her Winter Garden home, Amber Clark has all the fabrics and tools she needs to make face masks. Since 2002, Clark has worked at the Disney Vacation Club. She started her most recent position at the beginning of the year — right before COVID-19. She has been furloughed longer than she had been at her new position, she said. After being furloughed, Clark put in work painting around the house — she even painted a huge mural in her child’s play room. Then, in early July, Clark — a self-described craft-supply hoarder — began making masks for herself and her family. It took root, and since then, she has crafted masks with a variety of designs — including pump-

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kins and spooky things for the upcoming Halloween season. “The first one took forever, the second one took half a day, and then by the third and fourth one, I figured out: ‘OK, this is kind of easy — I can make a whole bunch of these,’” Clark said. “I had always played around on Etsy and I figured, ‘You know what, why not?’ I’m not saying it has exploded, but I sold about 500, so it’s doing all right.”

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Oakland passes first hearing of tentative $21.5M budget Commissioners also approved a 6.5 millage rate. The second public hearings are Tuesday, Sept. 22. AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

The Oakland Town Commission held the first of two budget hearings Wednesday, Sept. 9, to approve the Fiscal Year 2020-21 budget. The town is proposing a total budget of $21,460,631 and a millage rate of 6.5. In his memo to the commission, Town Manager Steve Koontz wrote: “There is much uncertainty with the health of the U.S. economy, and this budget includes a decline in sales tax revenues from the previous year. After two years of reducing the property tax millage, the recommendation is to keep the property tax millage at 6.50 mills because of the economic uncertainty. “It is a staff priority to continue to reduce the millage, and there should be opportunities in coming years to do so as the economy stabilizes and commercial development moves forward in the town,” he wrote. “We are committed to lowering it,” Mayor Kathy Stark said. “This year is just not the year to do so.” The previous fiscal year budget was $17,317,840. Oakland’s budget is divided into three funds: General, Utility and Oakland Avenue Charter School. The final public hearing for the FY 2020-21 budget is at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the Town Meeting Hall, 221 N. Arrington St.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

COMMISSION APPROVES MIXED-USE ACTIVITY CENTER The commission approved annexation and rezoning requests that will pave the way for a 16-acre project with commercial and retail, single-family residential and a senior-living facility on West Colonial Drive across from the West Orange Trail Killarney Station. The commission was hesitant to approve this project based on another developer’s proposal of an upscale, 242-unit apartment complex on the property last year. The property was owned previously by Gary and Dana English, who were selling part of their land to a development company proposing to build apartments. They had hoped to get their 1928 home — in the center of the property —

placed on the National Register of Historic Places and were selling the land to have funds to renovate their house. The commission rejected the development plan last year. Oakland Capital Group, the new applicant, represented by Tim Lucks, had hoped to refurbish the home and create a community center but said it is impossible because of its poor condition. Commissioners also still were frustrated by the Longleaf at Oakland project on Oakland Avenue, which was supposed to include assisted or independent living but instead has apartments. The new proposal includes a 6,000-square-foot sit-down restaurant, 3,500-square-foot

fast-food restaurant with no drivethru, a 5,000-square-foot walk-in bank, 20,000 square feet of retail space, a 195-bed assisted- or independent-living facility and eight single-family homes. “What happened at Longleaf, we were looking for ALF, felt like we had that locked in, and, clearly we didn’t, but if we’re going to go down this road of ALF, I want it locked in and you can’t say, ‘Oh, I’m going to come in and build apartments,’” Stark told Lucks. Lucks said the developer hopes to build a small grocery store in the retail portion. The commission suggested Lucks produce renderings or visuals so residents could see the plan.

GENERAL FUND

The General Fund is budgeted at $6,303,364. Koontz said property values increased by 17%, while the reserves balance increased $650,000. Other increases are Orange County Fire Rescue (by $120,000), employee salaries, health insurance rates, staffing support for the Oakland Nature Preserve and an operating budget for the Health West Orange Arts and Heritage Center. Changes include an additional 1% in retirement for matching purposes and an increase to the Oakland Police Department retirement contribution. The Impact Fees portion of the budget is $5,334,728. Expenditures include the Oakland Avenue roundabout, the development of Starr Street to West Colonial Drive, an expansion of the wastewater system at Longleaf at Oakland, improvements to Speer Park and Jake Voss Pier, and body cameras for police officers. UTILITY FUND

The Utility Fund is budgeted at $4,024,156. Koontz said this includes funding for three grant projects: conversion of septic to sewer, Lift Station 5 and extension of the force main; a 3% salary increase; an increase to health insurance rates; and funding for a water and wastewater rate study. Oakland Avenue Charter School has a budget of $5,798,383. This includes a VPK program; the CARES Act funding; and COVID-19 expenses including staffing, nurse, janitorial and personal protective equipment supplies.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

Brewing company coming to Windermere CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Town leaders approved a conditional-use request for Windermere Brewing Company during their Sept. 8 meeting, with Council Member Loren “Andy” Williams abstaining from the vote. The proposed taproom and microbrewery will be located at 111 W. Fifth Ave. A microbrewery is a “small-scale malt beverage production facility that is self-contained and does not create external noise pollution or foul odors,” according to documents submitted by applicant and Windermere Brewing Company founder Andy McGhee. The conditional-use approval was required for two reasons, Town Planner Brad Cornelius said. The first was because the proposed use of a microbrewery and taproom is not specifically identified as a permitted or prohibited use in the town’s Land Development Code. “The code does allow — for those types of uses that aren’t specifically identified — for the town to consider them and allow them as a permitted use after going through a review of that use to make sure that it is consistent with the character of the town and the town’s comprehensive plan,” Cornelius said. “The second part of this approval … is to approve the conditional use to allow the serving for the consumption on premises of alcohol less than 1,000 feet from the First Baptist Church, as well as Tim’s Wine. “The town’s code related to alcohol businesses or businesses that allow for consumption on premises requires a 1,000-foot separation between churches, schools and other places where alcohol is served for consumption or has approval for that,” Cornelius said. Cornelius added that Tim’s Wine Market also went through the conditional-use process in 2014 because of its proximity to the church. Under the terms of conditional use, Windermere Brewing Company must adhere to certain standards. The business cannot violate conditions of approval, receive more than two code-enforcement violations or receive more than two registered police incident reports in a calendar year. If any of the standards are violated, the conditional use can be revoked. Cornelius added that town staff wanted to ensure during the review process that the proposed project wouldn’t be a major manufacturing facility.

“We didn’t want to have a fullscale, big old brewery in downtown Windermere, so we did look to Orange County to see how they regulated it,” he said. “How Orange County regulates it is as long as they produce less than 15,000 barrels in a calendar year, they’re considered a microbrewery. As the operation plan of Mr. McGhee does show, they’re well under that capacity (at a maximum of 3,570 barrels).” Town center design guideline standards call for four parking spaces per 1,000 commercial square feet, Cornelius said, so Windermere Brewing Company will require 10 spaces. The microbrewery plans to share nine parking spaces, as well as a sanitation area, with the adjacent marketplace. “We really want to first and foremost come out and basically show that Windermere Brewing — as a project and as a whole — really comes from two town residents ... basically wanting to do something in the downtown area that is both a point of pride for our town, it’s a community meeting place and it’s a laid-back place for us to all enjoy,” McGhee said. Council Member Bob McKinley asked if the church was notified of the project. McGhee said they were, and no response was received. Mayor Jim O’Brien added he spoke with a pastor from the church, who said the church had no opposition. Council Member Bill Martini asked about any brewing odors on behalf of a resident who was concerned about it. McGhee said the main odors that breweries typically get complaints about are the wastewater treatment and production process. He said the wastewater-treatment odor usually only happens with large-scale breweries, and Windermere Brewing Company will have a holding tank for processed water. Windermere Brewing Company also will be using steam condensers to capture steam from the equipment’s vapor column and re-condense it into water. Additionally, no smoking or vaping will be allowed on premises. The proposal has garnered mixed responses from residents, but based on public comments the town has recorded thus far, more have been in favor of the microbrewery than not. Town leaders will hold a public hearing for the proposed new, 2,519-square-foot commercial building during their Oct. 13 meeting.

“We really want to first and foremost come out and basically show that Windermere Brewing — as a project and as a whole — really comes from two town residents ... basically wanting to do something in the downtown area that is both a point of pride for our town, it’s a community meeting place and it’s a laid-back place for us to all enjoy.” — Andy McGhee

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

Ruby and Rust takes a shine to downtown Winter Garden AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

RUBY AND RUST 31 S. Main St. Unit B, Winter Garden PHONE: (407) 395-3221 EMAIL: contact@rubyandrust.com WEBSITE: rubyandrust.com HOURS: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays

The concept of Ruby and Rust, the newest retail shop in downtown Winter Garden, is as eclectic as the store name. “My style and our vision is to have shiny, brand-new things for people — the ruby — and rusty old junk, because everyone has some family heirlooms,” owner Kim Orme said. Since opening in early August, Orme has been busy keeping shelves stocked with a combination of new and old-looking merchandise. She and Delaney Lowery, a partial owner, said they look for timeless and trendy items in a mix of new styles, specially made pieces and “found treasures.” Their shop also features a section of succulents, cacti and other live plants supplied by one of their vendors, Breanne D’Amato of Earthworks Market. Elsewhere in the shop, customers can browse among faux flowers and plants, unique vases, selenite and smudge sticks, lighting, candles, art and some furniture. “The consumer nowadays is very educated and very smart with how they go about things,” Orme said. “We want to supply trendy, unique items … that are affordable; not unreasonable. Everyone knows how to go shopping online … stuff you see everywhere — so we want to offer something different with great prices.” Orme started as a vintage and antique dealer, so she was familiar with the buying and selling pro-

Photos by Amy Quesinberry

Delaney Lowery, left, and Kim Orme, center, are the owners of Ruby and Rust in downtown Winter Garden. Breanne D’Amato, of Earthworks Market, is one of the vendors.

cess. She also has done business with booths at various shops. Lowery and Orme opened Ruby and Rust after both were furloughed from their previous jobs. “We love this town, and we said, ‘Why not now?’” Orme said. “I moved down about seven years ago. I fell in love with it. I’m from a small town in New York, and it reminds me of it. The community is super welcoming. The city does a lot of cool events. During the holidays, it’s like a Hallmark movie.”

Lowery grew up in Winter Garden and loves live plants and vintage and antique items. Orme, who recently moved to Ocoee from Winter Garden, has a background in fashion and interior design. Orme is excited to complete The Design Center, a small room at the back of the shop for public use. “When it’s finished, people will be able to rent the space,” she said. “We have a lot of designers, photographers, artists who just need a space to set up to meet clients. … I

have a lot of friends who are interior decorators, and they say they either have to meet at Panera or at a client’s home.” Orme and Lowery want to offer events and classes in the future. “We also have a tea bar we’re going to put in,” Orme said. “Make your teas to go, drink them here, make packages to give as gifts. It will be a nice hangout place. You have to create your own happiness, and you have to create it in a place that makes you happy.”

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

INDEPENDENT LIVING, ASSISTED LIVING AND MEMORY SUPPORT

Elsie Cintron-Rosado and Lenny Crisci headed over to the memorial as the ceremony closed.

Never forget

Caring for Your Family Like Our Family

lthough Windermere officials canceled all town events through the end of the year, some residents decided to hold their own remembrance ceremony for the 19th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attack. The observance was held behind Town Hall through the Windermere Never Forgets 9/11 Preservation Committee. Lenny Crisci and Elsie Cintron Rosado — who lost a brother and a daughter on Sept. 11, respectively — were the guest speakers. Attendees were given masks, and social distancing was encouraged.

o t d e e N u o Y n e h W . t r a p A y l e f a S Stay During these times, we’re thankful that we can care for our residents while providing them comfort and peace of mind in the community they love. Their friends and families are thankful, too, and have been expressing appreciation to our team. Here is just a bit of what they have to share:

— DANIELLE HENDRIX

Jeff Cox carefully removed the American flag from the 9/11 memorial.

“Great efforts are given to give the residents the best care. This is an outstanding place to live.” “They take very good care of my mother.”

Steve Fasen, of the Shadow Warrior Riders Motorcycle Club, thanked attendees for coming to the ceremony.

Live Well. Age Well. Be Well.

Dale Cox, right, rang a bell alongside his son, Jeff, to open the ceremony.

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

Orange County Public Schools adopts $4.9 billion budget EDITOR AND PUBLISHER

The Orange County School Board on Tuesday, Sept. 8, adopted its budget for 2020-21. The b u d ge t , to ta l i n g $4,927,583,379, is about $35 million less than the district’s 2019-20 budget, which totaled $4,962,614,845. However, that decrease is about $25.5 million less than the $60.5 million in CARES Act funding the district received. That includes $55.4 million from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund and $5.1 million from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund. The School Board also adopted a 6.857 millage rate, which is lower than the district’s 2019-20 rate, 7.109. The district’s budget is divided into five different funds: General, Debt Service, Capital Projects, Special Revenue and Internal Service. Of those, only the Debt Service (a $5,917,063 change) and Internal Service (a $13,647,607 change) increased from the prior year.

The $2,218,328,757 General Fund is the operating budget of the school district. The board’s priorities for these funds include: reopening with three instructional models; implementing COVID-19 safety measures; social emotional learning; preserving academic programs; retaining highly qualified teachers; and protecting arts, athletics and student activities. Impacts on this fund include: FTE/enrollment decline; Florida retirement system rate increase of 18% ($15.5M); the previous year’s 1.5% salary impact on FY21 budget ($17M); an additional preplanning day for instructional staff ($4.7M); Family Empowerment Scholarship ($15.8M); and looming state revenue shortfalls. CAPITAL PROJECTS

The $1,953,201,696 Capital Projects Fund is used for renovations, new schools, capital renewal, and debt service and operations. The district has opened or will open 16 new schools in the next five years: Sunshine Elementary (2020), Summerlake Elementary (2020), Vista Pointe Elementary (2020), 113-H-W-4 (2021), 43-E-SE-2 (2021), 80-H-SW-4 (2021), 89-E-W-4 (2022), 114-EW-4 (2022), 30-E-SE-3 (2022),

INTERNAL SERVICE

The $362,449,466 Internal Service Fund is used to account for the district’s Employee Benefit Trust Fund, Property Casualty Loss Fund and Printing Services Fund. SPECIAL REVENUE

The $159,852,546 Special Revenue budget includes only the Food Service Program, a selfsupporting operation. Funding is through federal reimbursement and USDA commodities, as well as local sales. Meal prices will remain the same for 2020-21. DEBT SERVICE

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OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

Isleworth estate tops sales at $1.45 million A

home in the Isleworth

LAKES OF WINDERMERE

The home at 12936 Freeman St., Windermere, sold Sept. 4, for $350,000. Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,151 square feet. The price per square foot is $162.72. Days on market: Six.

community in Win-

dermere topped all West Orange-area residential real-estate transactions

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from Sept. 4 to 10.

dermere, sold Sept. 9,

The home at 15763 Shorebird Lane sold Sept. 10, for $735,000. It has five bedrooms, four-andone-half baths, a pool and 3,816 square feet. The price per square foot is $192.61. Days on market: Four.

for $1.45 million. Built

OVERLOOK 2 AT HAMLIN

The home at 9649 McCormick Place, Win-

in 1992, it has five bedrooms, five-and-onehalf baths, a pool and 7,270 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $199.45. Days on market: 1,181. These are the highestselling homes in each community in West Orange.

zillow,.com

The home at 9649 McCormick Place, Windermere, sold Sept. 9, for $1.45 million. This Southern-style home overlooks the third fairway of Isleworth’s championship golf course.

HORIZON WEST CARRINGTON

The townhouse at 8619 Via Trieste Drive, Windermere, sold Sept. 9, for $325,000. Built in 2014, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,464 square feet. The price per square foot is $131.90. Days on market: Two. EDEN ISLE

The home at 6413 Earthgold Drive, Windermere, sold Sept. 10, for $422,000. Built in 2003, it has three bedrooms, twoand-one-half baths, a pool and 2,678 square feet. The price per square foot is $157.58. Days on market: 23.

HICKORY HAMMOCK

The home at 15973 Black Hickory Drive, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 4, for $680,000. Built in 2014, it has four bedrooms, five-and-one-half baths, a pool and 3,698 square feet. The price per square foot is $183.88. Days on market: Nine. The home at 16065 Hickory Marsh Lane, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 8, for $515,000. Built in 2016, it has four bedrooms, four-and-one-half baths and 3,535 square feet. The price per square foot is $145.69. Days on market: 172.

INDEPENDENCE/ SIGNATURE LAKES

The home at 14748 Speer Lake Drive, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 7, for $900,000. Built in 2014, it has five bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths, a pool and 3,765 square feet. The price per square foot is $239.04. Days on market: 36. The home at 15073 Driftwater Drive, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 5, for $405,000. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,849 square feet. The price per square foot is $142.16. Days on market: 11.

The home at 15518 Aviation Alley, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 8, for $405,000. Built in 2015, it has four bedrooms, three-andone-half baths and 2,458 square feet. The price per square foot is $164.77. Days on market: 121. SUMMERLAKE

The townhouse at 15444 Blackbead St., Winter Garden, sold Sept. 10, for $337,500. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,853 square feet. The price per square foot is $182.14. Days on market: One. SUMMERPORT

The home at 4113 Blue Major Drive, Windermere, sold Sept. 8, for $397,500. Built in 2016, it has five bedrooms, three-andone-half baths and 2,868 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $138.60. Days on market: 81.

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

zillow.com

The home at 7025 Billie Court, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 7, for $1,172,500. It was the largest transaction in Horizon West from Sept. 4 to 10.

Total Sales: 80 High Sale Price: $1.45 million Low Sale Price: $122,000 VINEYARDS AT HORIZON WEST

The home at 6752 Bridgewater Village Road, Windermere, sold Sept. 4, for $435,000. Built in 2014, it has five bedrooms, fourand-one-half baths and 3,832 square feet. The price per square foot is $113.52. Days on market: 187. WATERLEIGH

The home at 16527 Sea Glass St., Winter Garden, sold Sept. 4, for $403,510. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,113 square feet. The price per square foot is $190.97. Days on market: Zero. WATERMARK

The home at 14675 Scott Key

Drive, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 8, for $410,000. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, three-andone-half baths and 2,444 square feet. The price per square foot is $167.76. Days on market: 41. WEST LAKE HANCOCK ESTATES

The home at 7025 Billie Court, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 7, for $1,172,500. Built in 2020, it has five bedrooms, six-andone-half baths and 5,750 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $203.91. Days on market: Zero. WINDERMERE TRAILS

The home at 12043 Observation Trail, Windermere, sold Sept. 10, for $385,000. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,224 square feet. The price per square foot is $173.11. Days on market: 11. SEE REAL ESTATE PAGE 12

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OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

First Baptist Church Pastor Tim Grosshans 125 E. Plant St, Winter Garden (407) 656-2352 Sundays: 8:30 a.m. Traditional 9:45 AM Bible Study 11:00 AM Contemporary Wednesdays: 6 p.m.- Awana 2nd Campus: First Baptist Church @Horizon West Sundays: 9:45 a.m. All Ages FBCWG.org Starke Lake Baptist Church Pastor Jeff Pritchard PO Box 520 611 W Ave., Ocoee (407) 656-2351 StarkeLakeBaptist.org

METHODIST

First United Methodist Church 125 N. Lakeview Ave., Winter Garden (407) 656-1135 Services: Livestreaming Sunday @ 9 AM. Viewable on Facebook and Youtube

The home at 1897 Merrivale Loop, Ocoee, sold Sept. 4, for $445,000. Built in 2020, it has five bedrooms, four-and-onehalf baths and 3,410 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $130.50. Days on market: Zero.

CROSS CREEK

VILLAGES OF WESMERE

FORESTBROOKE

WESMERE

The home at 579 Darkwood Ave., Ocoee, sold Sept. 4, for $355,000. Built in 1997, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths, a pool and 2,239 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $158.55. Days on market: Eight. The home at 357 Beacon Pointe Drive, Ocoee, sold Sept. 10, for $380,000. Built in 2005, it has five bedrooms, three-andone-half baths, a pool and 3,241 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $117.25. Days on market: One.

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

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HAMMOCKS

The home at 857 Hammocks Drive, Ocoee, sold Sept. 4, for $355,000. Built in 1992, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,246 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $158.06. Days on market: Two.

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The home at 2911 Cardassi Drive, Ocoee, sold Sept. 9, for $395,000. Built in 2007, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 3,407 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $115.94. Days on market: 47.

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The home at 2268 Holly Ridge Drive, Ocoee, sold Sept. 4, for $333,000. Built in 1994, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,493 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $223.04. Days on market: Two.

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The home at 1973 Fishtail Fern Way, Ocoee, sold Sept. 3, for $375,000. Built in 2011, it has four bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths, a pool and 2,426 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $154.58. Days on market: Four.

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PRESERVE AT CROWN POINT

The home at 2913 Red Alder Blvd., Ocoee, sold Sept. 9, for $386,500. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,883 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $134.06. Days on market: 16.

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WEST ORANGE PROVIDENCE

The home at 13466 Zori Lane, Windermere, sold Sept. 4, for $490,500. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,813 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $174.37. Days on market: Two. The home at 6136 Little Lake Sawyer Drive, Windermere, sold Sept. 8, for $445,000. Built in 2002, it has four bedrooms, four-and-one-half baths and 3,044 square feet. The price per square foot is $146.19. Days on market: 166.

WINDERMERE The home at 2321 Butler Bay Drive N., Windermere, sold Sept. 4, for $1,115,000. Built in 1989, it has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 5,618 square feet. The price per square foot is $198.47. Days on market: 669. ISLEWORTH

The home at 9649 McCormick Place, Windermere, sold Sept. 9, for $1.45 million. Built in 1992, it has five bedrooms, five-andone-half baths, a pool and 7,270 square feet. The price per square foot is $199.45. Days on market: 1,181. LAKE BURDEN SOUTH

The home at 11601 Brickyard Pond Lane, Windermere, sold Sept. 5, for $900,500. Built in 2014, it has six bedrooms, sixand-one-half baths, a pool and 5,110 square feet. The price per square foot is $176.22. Days on market: 67. KEENE’S POINTE

The home at 11408 Buckley Wood Lane, Windermere, sold Sept. 4, for $1.3 million. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, four-and-one-half baths, a pool and 4,557 square feet. The price per square foot is $285.28. Days on market: 42. The home at 9921 Brentford Court, Windermere, sold Sept. 8, for $979,000. Built in 2002, it has five bedrooms, five-andone-half baths, a pool and 4,565

square feet. The price per square foot is $214.46. Days on market: Four. The home at 8441 Lake Burden Circle, Windermere, sold Sept. 9, for $910,000. Built in 2001, it has six bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 4,222 square feet. The price per square foot is $215.54. Days on market: 291. The home at 11813 Camden Park Drive, Windermere, sold Sept. 4, for $585,000. Built in 2005, it has six bedrooms, five-andone-half baths and 3,771 square feet. The price per square foot is $155.13. Days on market: 152. LES TERRACES

BUTLER BAY

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

The home at 7233 Ingeborg Court, Windermere, sold Sept. 4, for $666,000. Built in 1984, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,659 square feet. The price per square foot is $182.02. Days on market: Three. RESERVE AT LAKE BUTLER SOUND

The home at 6149 Cartmel Lane, Windermere, sold Sept. 4, for $1,335,000. Built in 2003, it has five bedrooms, four-and-onehalf baths, a pool and 5,697 square feet. The price per square foot is $234.33. Days on market: 146. TILDENS GROVE

The home at 5438 Tildens Grove Blvd., Windermere, sold Sept. 8, for $698,000. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, four-andone-half baths, a pool and 3,640 square feet. The price per square foot is $191.76. Days on market: 34. TOWN OF WINDERMERE

The home at 65 Pine St., Windermere, sold Sept. 9, for $930,000. Built in 2003, it has five bedrooms, five baths, two half-baths, a pool and 5,073 square feet. The price per square foot is $183.32. Days on market: 21. SILVER WOODS

The home at 9368 Woodbreeze Blvd., Windermere, sold Sept. 4, for $381,000. Built in 1986, it has four bedrooms, two-and-

realtor.com

The home at 10131 Fox Meadow Trail, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 8, for $1,050,000. It was the largest transaction in Winter Garden from Sept. 4 to 10.

one-half baths and 2,026 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $188.06. Days on market: Six.

WINTER GARDEN AVALON ESTATES

The home at 17253 Heartwood Loop, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 8, for $625,000. Built in 2000, it has four bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,983 square feet. The price per square foot is $209.52. Days on market: 43. BLACK LAKE PARK

The home at 659 First Cape Coral Drive, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 10, for $495,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, twoand-one-half baths, a pool and 3,850 square feet. The price per square foot is $128.57. Days on market: One. DEER ISLAND

The home at 17732 Deer Isle Circle, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 5, for $719,900. Built in 1995, it has five bedrooms, three-andone-half baths and 4,907 square feet. The price per square foot is $146.71. Days on market: 230. FOX MEADOW

The home at 10131 Fox Meadow Trail, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 8, for $1,050,000. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 3,303 square feet on 5.15 acres. The price per square foot is $317,89. Days on market: Two.

JOHNS LAKE POINTE

STONEYBROOK WEST

The home at 15134 Heron Hideaway Circle, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 4, for $498,800. Built in 2013, it has five bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,823 square feet. The price per square foot is $176.69. Days on market: Seven.

The home at 2101 Black Lake Blvd., No. 7, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 4, for $730,000. Built in 2007, it has five bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,779 square feet. The price per square foot is $193.17. Days on market: 60.

LAKE COVE POINTE

The home at 1815 Black Lake Blvd., Winter Garden, sold Sept. 9, for $678,500. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,623 square feet. The price per square foot is $258.67. Days on market: Three.

The home at 319 Morning View Drive, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 8, for $575,000. Built in 2011, it has seven bedrooms, five baths, a pool and 4,900 square feet. The price per square foot is $117.35. Days on market: Six.

The home at 438 Whipperwill Way, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 8, for $387,000. Built in 2014, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 2,194 square feet. The price per square foot is $176.39. Days on market: 33. MCALLISTER LANDING

The home at 677 Brooks Field Drive, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 4, for $493,000. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,763 square feet. The price per square foot is $178.43. Days on market: 95. OXFORD CHASE

The home at 602 Oxford Chase Drive, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 4, for $700,000. Built in 2017, it has five bedrooms, four-andone-half baths and 4,739 square feet. The price per square foot is $147.71. Days on market: 241.

GO SOLAR

The home at 2033 Black Lake Blvd., Winter Garden, sold Sept. 4, for $769,900. Built in 2007, it has four bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 3,836 square feet. The price per square foot is $200.70. Days on market: 147.

TWIN WATERS

The home at 16835 Sanctuary Drive, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 9, for $446,510. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,514 square feet. The price per square foot is $177.61. Days on market: Zero. WESTLAKE MANOR

The home at 322 Apopka St., Winter Garden, sold Sept. 10, for $365,000. Built in 1956, it has four bedrooms, two-andone-half baths, a pool and 1,577 square feet. The price per square foot is $231.45. Days on market: 17.

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

Danielle Hendrix

The Dunn family — Judah, Missy, Jeremy and Jadon — turned sand with their shovels to signify the groundbreaking for C/Life Orlando’s new campus.

Church finds new home in Winter Garden C/Life Orlando broke ground recently on its new location at the former Camping World RV dealership site along West Colonial Drive. DANIELLE HENDRIX ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Seven years ago, C/Life Church started in a home in Windermere. Now, the church has a new place to call home in Winter Garden. On Sept. 13, C/Life staff and members gathered at their new home base at 12201 W. Colonial Drive — previously the site of a Camping World RV dealership — to break ground on a milestone.

Pastor Jeremy Dunn and his wife, Missy, launched C/Life with about 10 people gathered in their living room. In January 2013, they began meeting at Chain of Lakes Middle School in Southwest Orange County, and most recently, they have been meeting at West Orange Cinema in Ocoee. For seven years, church staff has been used to setting up before services on Sundays and tearing down afterward. With a space to

call home now, that will be a thing of the past. Dunn describes C/Life as a passionate, spirit-filled, multicultural church that loves to see God move and aims to bring people from different backgrounds together. He said church staff has been scouting for a building to call its own for a while. In fact, Dunn said, they’ve been told ‘no’ on at least 20 buildings in the past. “It’s been a journey and a pro-

cess,” he said. “It’s always been a desire of ours to have a home. The building is not something that we idolize — it’s just an opportunity for us to be able to reach more people, to help more people. We’ve been looking all over, got told ‘no’ a whole bunch, but every ‘no’ led us closer to God’s ‘yes.’” Dunn said the church first learned of the 5.44-acre property last summer, but the seller declined its first offer, and the property was sold to someone else. However, that deal fell through, and offers were considered once again. The church put together another bid package. “I went to our team, and I said, ‘Hey, I want to do the biggest offer we can,’” he said. “My exact words were, ‘I want our offer to be in a place where God has to protect us or meet us in faith.’” Eighteen hours later, Dunn received a phone call from Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis, who owned the property. Dunn said Lemonis told him that although C/Life had the lowest offer, he believed in their vision — and if they could close in 30 days, they could have the property. “We got fully funded and closed in two weeks,” Dunn said. “It was an absolute miracle. God has been good to us, and that’s how we got here. It’s been a year of working through with architects and labs and interior designers and civil engineers, going through that whole process. We just got our site plan approval, just got our demo permit this week, so the back building’s coming down and the front building is being renovated.” The existing front building and covered entrance are being renovated and brought up to the city’s code overlay district with an industrial chic style. The front

C/LIFE ORLANDO

PHONE: (407) 490-3958 WEBSITE: clifeorlando.com FACEBOOK: facebook.com/clifeorlando DETAILS: The church currently meets at 9 and 11 a.m. Sundays at West Orange Cinema, 1575 Maguire Road, Ocoee. For more information and updates on the new campus, visit the church’s website or social media.

building will serve as the kids’ and youth building. In the middle is a breezeway or canopy area, which the church will be modeling to match the aesthetic of downtown Winter Garden. The existing back building is being torn down, and a new one will be built in its place. That will house the sanctuary, audio/visual/lighting, a prayer room, offices and a foyer. Church staff hopes to have the new church campus completed and ready by Easter. “(We want) to have a place that people can come to, find community and relationships,” Dunn said. “One of our statements is, ‘This is home,’ so our vision is to build a property that feels like home to everyone from all walks of life, from all backgrounds, all cultures. … We’ve been intentional from Day One that our church would be filled the presence of God and be filled with the people of God.” Dunn describes his reaction to the new journey God is leading the church on in just two words: extreme gratitude. “We feel very honored to come into this city and to be able to partner with the great things that are already happening in this city,” he said.

“It’s not too late to be counted!” IT’S ABOUT EVERYBODY It’s crucial that every person in your household is counted.

IT’S IMPORTANT Your healthcare and hospitals, nutrition programs, housing, schools, childcare, law enforcement, roads, businesses, support for families, parks, and other local programs depend on an accurate count in order to get our fair share of federal funding.

IT’S SAFE, SECURE AND SHORT The federal law, through the U.S. Constitution and the Supreme Court, protects personal data for the Census. While staying safe at home, fill out your 2020 Census questionnaire. It only takes a few minutes to complete. Orange County

For more information, visit: www.my2020census.gov | OCCompleteCount@ocfl.net

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“ ¡No es demasiado tarde para ser contado!” SE TRATA DE TODOS Es esencial que cada persona en su hogar sea contada.

ES IMPORTANTE Su atención médica y hospitales, programas de nutrición, vivienda, escuelas, guarderías, servicios de seguridad pública, carreteras, negocios, apoyo para familias, parques y otros programas locales dependen de un recuento acertado a fin de asegurar que recibamos nuestra porción justa de los fondos federales.

ES SEGURO, CONFIABLE Y CORTO La ley federal, a través de la Constitución de los Estados Unidos y la Corte Suprema, protege la información personal para el Censo. Mientras permanece seguro en su hogar, complete su cuestionario del Censo 2020. Solo toma unos minutos completarlo.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

Parents of students in Orange County Public Schools have until Friday, Sept. 18, to make a change to students’ instructional model of choice. OCPS previously promised parents and guardians a chance to change their child’s educational model for the next quarter of the 2020-21 school year if desired. For the second quarter, a child currently attending school through LaunchED@Home can change to face-to-face. Similarly, children attending face-to-face can switch to LaunchED@Home. Parents who wish to switch their child’s instructional model must contact their school by Sept. 18, so the school can prepare for the changes. The second quarter begins Oct. 13. Currently, OCPS does not have information to share regarding instruction models beyond the first semester.

WPS to kick off second opera season The Windermere Preparatory School Fine Arts program will begin its second Opera Theatre season with performances Sept. 23 and 24 at the Cypress Center for the Arts. This evening of opera includes two one-act performances, each designed for young audiences. The first is Seymour Barab’s “Little Red Riding Hood,” and the second will be “Lucinda y Las Flores de La Nochebuena.” For more information or tickets, visit wpsarts.teampages.com. To maintain social-distance protocols, performances also will be live-streamed on Windermere Prep’s YouTube channel.

NANCY GERENA

WINDERMERE PREPARATORY SCHOOL Nancy Gerena is part of Windermere Preparatory School’s college planning and counseling team. Gerena works with the high-school students on their schedules, college applications and more. In addition to her role as a college counselor, she serves as a dorm parent in the school’s residential program and loves being able to make a difference in her students’ lives.

What brought you to your school? My passion has always been working with students and especially helping high-school students discover themselves and the areas of interest they want to pursue in college. At Windermere Prep, our counseling program focuses on relationships over the course of four years. We partner with our students and their families as freshmen and continue through their senior year in high school until they graduate and go to college. We believe in developing the whole person, so that by the time they apply to a university, they are selecting schools that are the best fit for them. What do you love most about your school? Windermere Prep is my family. From PreK-3 all the way through the high school, Windermere Prep cares greatly about their students, faculty and community. One could say that I am “all in.” I have a child who attends here, and I am a dorm parent in our residential program and a college counselor. What is your motivation? The students. They inspire me every

REPORT CARD

day. I love my job! I love that I get to work with students who are from all over the world. We are truly a global campus. I appreciate that our school is an IB (International Baccalaureate) school, and whether or not a student takes an IB course, all of the classes are taught with the IB learner profile in mind. I learn every day from them. Who was your favorite teacher when you were in school? Why? This is a tough question, because I had four teachers who taught our humanities course in my senior year (which I loved, and changed my life). But if I had to pick one, I would say that my favorite teacher in high school was Mr. Schafer, my highschool physics teacher. He made science exciting and cared greatly about his students. He attended student events and made himself available before and after school if you needed help. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Why? I always thought I wanted to be a doctor like my father. He was a dermatologist, and the character-

istics of his job fascinated me. He was known for diagnosing difficult cases. He loved that it was like a puzzle, and he had to spend time with his patients and ask questions. When I changed my major from a pre-med focus to education, it never occurred to me that I might find the same characteristic traits in a different career. I will never forget calling my dad about three months into my first job as a high-school college counselor. I told him that while I am not in medicine, I found that same passion that he did as a counselor. On any given day, I do not know what is going to walk through my door. If you could have any super power, what would it be and why? Teleporting. I have family and friends all over the world and would love to be able to see them at a moment’s notice. — DANIELLE HENDRIX

NOMINATE YOUR INFLUENCER

ROLE: High school college counselor TIME AT SCHOOL: Eight years

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.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

OBSERVER SCHOOL ZONE

On the path to kindness Westbrooke Elementary families and teachers are filling a school walkway with rocks depicting colorful designs and positive affirmations. AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

Westbrooke Elementary students now have a beautiful path to greet them when they walk on the campus and toward the front doors. The Pathway to Kindness is a PTO project spearheaded by co-president Christen Kuhlman, who thought of the idea and shared it with board members Brooke Axtell and Leslie Hacha-Rodriguez. Kuhlman said Principal Alex Reyes gave them overwhelming support to move forward with the project. “The vision is to have a multifaceted project that would demonstrate individuality, creativity and kindness from our very own Westbrooke Elementary students, teachers and staff,” Kuhlman said. “The Pathway of Kindness gives the opportunity for our Wildcats to shine, exude school pride and arrive at a fun, inviting school.” Rocks are available for purchase in a range of sizes and prices. The largest is a Family Legacy Stone for $25 for families who have more than one child attending the school or who

want to leave their child’s lasting mark at the school. It has been a group effort to see this project through. HachaRodriguez drafted documents and obtained an aerial image of the school for designing purposes. Kuhlman said another parent volunteer assisted with the drawings and engineering scope. “Brooke Axtell fast-tracked the project by using her savvy networking skills by reaching out to friends and family to make the project come in under budget and on time for the start of the 2020-21 school year,” Kuhlman said. “Brooke made several connections with local area companies who were willing to go above and beyond in a pandemic and donate materials as well as countless hours of their time.” Kennedy Concrete donated more than 50 tons of limestone and 40 tons of Mexican Pebble; Precision Concrete and Masonry employees spent hours clearing out the flower beds, laying weed barrier, leveling rock and installing the edging to outline the path; Smokey Valley Stone offered a discount on rocks; and the Ocoee Lowe’s store provided essential materials at cost and

Kennedy Concrete donated limestone and Mexican Pebble to the project.

helped make the vision come to life, Kuhlman said. “We are extremely grateful to Kennedy Concrete, Precision Concrete and Masonry, Smokey Valley Stone, and Lowe’s of Ocoee for sponsoring our project and making the vision 2020 for our Pathway of Kindness,” she said. Several families volunteered their time, too, to tie the project together by unloading pottery, planting hibiscus, unloading rocks from a rented trailer, watering plants, sealing rocks and creating fundraiser collateral. Westbrooke families and teachers are excited to participate in the project, and the school is hoping to get everyone involved. “The goal is to have all stu-

dents, teachers and staff participate by placing a rock in our Pathway of Kindness (approximately 600 painted rocks),” Kuhlman said. There is no deadline to purchase and paint a rock, but the school already is starting to receive completed rocks and is sealing them to preserve the integrity of the design. Proceeds raised from the Pathway of Kindness will be used to start another beautification project on the Westbrooke campus. Currently, the purchase, painting and placement of the rocks is limited to Westbrooke Elementary families and staff, but Kuhlman said the school might consider opening the project to the community for participation.

Courtesy photos

“This is an important addition to Westbrooke Elementary’s campus because it demonstrates the amount of school pride each student has for their school,” Kuhlman said. “Seeing all of the creative designs is a small representation of our wonderful Wildcat families.”

WE’RE IN THE

ZONE

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As students head back to classes - online or face-to-face - families are walking a tightrope, trying to balance safety with continued academic growth. The Observer School Zone will be your source in West Orange with the latest school news, photo galleries and what’s happening during these crazy times.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

THESE OLD TIMES

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION

THROWBACK THURSDAY SEPT. 17, 1970 Tucked among the advertisements in the Sept. 17, 1970, issue of The Winter Garden Times was this small glimpse at what could be our future. Looking like something out of Tomorrowland in Disney’s Magic Kingdom, the “machines of the future” were predicted by experts at Ford Motor Company.

85 years ago

For a few cents a week, Lakeview High students may ride from town to the school building. If there is sufficient demand, a private bus will be operated between Winter Garden and Lakeview at a cost of about 25 or 30 cents a week and depart from the shuffleboard courts.

80 years ago

Good Samaritans got a thrill aiding hurricane victims when they took a truckload of food, clothing, furniture and other necessities from Winter Garden to Cedar Key.

50 years ago

Nettie Woods received the medals and ribbons for heroism in action that were earned by her son. Sgt. Charles W. Love Jr. Love gave his life in the Vietnam War. Valencia Junior College held a groundbreaking for its new $1.94 million initial classroom building. A half-million square feet of academic buildings were being planned.

45 years ago

Exit 80: A sign and radio advertising campaign, starting at the Georgia border, is promoting hotels and services offered at the Ocoee-Winter Garden exit of Florida’s Turnpike.

FROM THE ARCHIVES Thursday, Sept. 17, is International Patient Safety Day, marked around the world as a day to remember that the health and well-being of those in medical need is of prime importance. Winter Garden’s Dr. Albert Gleason (1911-2015) was noted for his compassion and dedication to all his patients, ensuring that those placed under his care received the best medical services he and his staff could provide. In the photograph, Gleason is shown while serving as flight surgeon for the Army Air Corps’ 92nd Bomb Group during World War II. The Winter Garden Heritage Foundation will soon open an exhibit titled “Dr. Albert Gleason: Winter Garden’s Eminent Physician,” which will highlight the life and service of this unforgettable man.

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.

40 years ago

The West Orange Chamber of Commerce sponsored McChamber Day at McDonald’s in Winter Garden with a bluegrass band and activities for everyone.

20 years ago

Both West Orange and Dr. Phillips high schools were eager to bring home the Ole Orange Crate, and a photo depicted athletic directors John Boston of WOHS and Bill Thompson of DPHS, each with his hands on the crate up for grabs.

A FALLING STAR by David Alfred Bywaters; CROSSWORD CATCH Edited by David Steinberg

1 Willing to do 6 Is indebted to 10 One may have soft arms 14 Minor altercation 18 “SNL” producer Michaels 19 See 115-Down 20 Came up 22 Continental currency 23 Money doesn’t grow on them 24 Half a sextet 25 French word of gratitude 26 Advanced degs. for some painters 27 Sandwich with corned beef and sauerkraut

29 “My treat!” 31 Pranksters’ presents 33 Putting two and two together? 35 Demeter’s daughter 38 “We’re through!” 40 Apt rhyme of “crude” 41 Exchanged 44 Style for a research paper, often (Abbr.) 46 Naked 47 Half a Hawaiian fish 49 Lion group 50 “Summertime Sadness” singer 54 Like an upright crate

56 Digitize 57 Oklahoma city 58 You may clap after one at a jazz club 59 Word with “shish” 61 First-aid expert, briefly 62 Given the current situation 64 Strict precision 67 Wheat type 69 Had a rest 71 Forty-___ (Gold Rush figure) 73 Shows the way 77 Married again 79 Gossip mag topic 81 Kind of acid in lemonade

82 Elected representative, slangily 85 Some Muslim mystics 87 Notion 89 Island in the Dutch Caribbean 90 Marital vows 92 Theorize 94 Parka place 96 Namely 98 Kitchen gadget brand 99 Prefix with “morph” or “plasm” 100 There are typically 40 in a working wk. 101 “Am so!” comeback

103 Have an inclination 105 Roof tile 108 Aristocrat’s social asset 111 Certify, as a college 114 Like arteries and veins 116 Doorway curve 118 Raspy 119 Rights org. 120 Soiled 123 Bass and Chimay brews 125 Share a view 126 Fuss 127 Call to mind 128 Disappointing stocking find 129 ___ “Milkman” Dead III (“Song of Solomon” protagonist) 130 Wrapper’s need 131 God whose name anagrams to that of a romantic flower 132 Countercurrent 133 Reconsiders, editorially w DOWN 1 Extremely, informally 2 Scrutinized, with “over” 3 “Oh, yeah? You’re just in denial!” and such? 4 In any way, shape or form 5 Puts back to the defaults 6 Choose 7 Fact-checker’s cause? 8 Activist Brockovich 9 Walk heavily 10 “Dancing With a Stranger” singer Smith 11 Mined resource 12 Bronze bust? 13 BMI rival 14 Many graduate courses 15 Breakfast in a clear liquid diet? 16 “I smell ___!” 17 Discard 21 Number that shares a key with * 28 Weeping mother of mythology 30 Slithery fish 32 Trail mix 34 Shapes with no corners

Orel Hersheiser, a former Major League pitching ace for the Cleveland Indians and a Cy Young Award winner, congratulated Jonathan Folmar during the Windermere Little League opening ceremony. He received the Good Sport Award.

36 San ___, Italy 37 Posh 39 Catch with a rod 42 Dutch cheese 43 Bad impression? 44 Vow locale 45 Stop temporarily 48 Ready to bloom 51 John Jacob ___ 52 Speakers’ platforms 53 Like some poses 55 Greek column style 60 Interment 63 Make certain, as a victory 65 Number that shares a key with ! 66 Object at a shrine, perhaps 68 Parisian transit option 70 Crusoe creator 72 Makes over 74 Routed a Houston college? 75 Rome’s river 76 Improvises vocally 78 Panicky feeling that all your data is gone? 80 “This Hawaiian road is coming to an end!”? 82 Gyro holder 83 Reason to take out the trash 84 Berth that isn’t as high up? 86 Command to an attack dog 88 Upper house? 91 Undemanding job 93 Vocal quality 95 Shell that can function as a horn 97 Vegan protein 102 Squiggly diacritic 104 Genetic material 106 Brides’ partners, often 107 Accept with enthusiasm 109 Unsophisticated 110 Go over in art class 112 “This ___ a test” 113 Future twentysomethings 114 Great in extent 115 With 19-Across, role-play 117 Chunk of turf 121 Possible boxing outcome, briefly 122 Word that may make you a fiancee 124 Foxlike

CELEBRITY CIPHER

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WEST ORANG E HISTO RY

OBSERVER

Puzzle One Clue: A equals I

SUDOKU

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

09-17-20

SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

SPORTS

Windermere Prep’s Cayman Scaletta was named a team co-captain just before the start of the new season. Page 20.

2020 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

KICKING OFF DR. PHILLIPS

Head coach: Rodney Wells 2019 record: 9-3 Key returners: Ledger Hatch, Joe Joe Patti, Jaydan Taylor n Key losses: Nivon Holland, Shi Gaskin, Stephen Dix Jr. n Quick hit: Dr. Phillips battled its way through a tough 2019 season that resulted in the Panthers’ 12th consecutive district title. This season, the Panthers will have most of their key players on offense return in Ledger Hatch and Joe Joe Patti, while the defense will be missing pieces such as Shi Gaskin and Stephen Dix Jr., who both are playing college ball. Expect the Panthers to have another strong year during this shortened season. SCHEDULE Sept. 17 (Thursday) — @ Boone Sept. 25 — @ Apopka Oct. 2 — @ Windermere Oct. 9 — Wekiva Oct. 16 — @ Olympia Oct. 29 — Oak Ridge Nov. 6 — Bishop Moore

LEGACY CHARTER

Head coach: Trent Hopper 2019 record: 7-3 Key returners: Noah Velazquez, Jaden Oyola, Jayden Colon Key losses: Eli Post, Drew Birko, Jacob Worley n Quick hit: This season, the Eagles will be without a couple of key pieces from last year — including starting quarterback Jacob Worley. But the good news is head coach Trent Hopper has some serious talent coming back. Throw in a core group of juniors and players such as Jaden Oyola — who last year ran for a whopping 1,001 yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore — and the Eagles are primed for a strong season this year. n Coach’s corner: “I hope we get all (games) in and hopefully a playoff, but it’s just cautious optimism. It’s got to be expected that at some point, something’s going to happen, and it’s all going to end. … But right now, we’re playing, and we’re going up to Jacksonville to play Eagle’s View on Friday — that’s the challenge in front of me right now.”

COVID-19 already forcing changes to football season Both Central Florida Christian Academy and Olympia High School have had games canceled this year. TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR

The area’s public schools finally are returning to the field as the football season begins this week.

On Friday night — Sept. 11 — Central Florida Christian Academy was supposed to host its first home game of the season against Seven Rivers. A week before, the Eagles lost their season-opener against Zephyrhills Christian Academy, so this week was the chance to get into the win column. Then, just as it has all year, COVID-19 ruined things. On the Monday leading up to CFCA’s game, head coach Jeremy Campbell got a call in the middle of practice from Seven Rivers head coach Monty Vann. Seven Rivers had an outbreak of coronavirus and was forced to close down, which in turn meant that football wasn’t happening. CFCA had just become one of the first schools to have a game canceled because of COVID-19. “What I did at that point was try to find a filler through the SSAC and just through all of the contacts that I had — just find someone who was in a similar boat,” Campbell said. “I was hoping that we wouldn’t be one of the first teams it happened to, but it was, and we kind of viewed it as a bye week, so we just practiced Monday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week and kind of just kept it light. (We) finetuned and tweaked some things just to get ready for this week.” Through Monday and most of Tuesday, Campbell said he continually tried to find another team to play, but nothing surfaced. That Tuesday night, he told his players there would be no game on Friday. And there was a reason to the wait, Campbell said. “Once you tell them they’re not playing, it’s hard to get them back if I were able to find SEE SCHEDULE PAGE 20

TROY HERRING SPORTS EDITOR

SCHEDULE Sept. 11 — @ Ocala Christian (won 26-18) Sept. 18 — @ Eagle’s View Sept. 25 — Cornerstone Charter Academy Oct. 2 — @ Saint Francis Catholic Oct. 9 — Central Florida Christian Academy Oct. 16 — @ First Academy-Leesburg Oct. 23 — Oasis Oct. 30 — St. Edward’s SEE FOOTBALL PAGE 20

he football season for the area’s public schools is finally here. After waiting for approval from the FHSAA and Orange County Public Schools, public schools in the county are kicking off their seasons this week to the excitements of coaches, players and fans alike. Because the starting dates for football vary, this year, the Observer will offer its 2020 Football Preview in two parts. We presented our area’s private-school programs in the Sept. 3 edition. This week, we present our preview of the new season for the area’s public and charter schools.

File photo

Head coach Jeremy Campbell’s CFCA team was among the first to lose a game due to COVID-19.

OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

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

Cayman Scaletta Although her senior season isn’t off to the start she had imagined it would be, Windermere Prep’s Cayman Scaletta still is excited for her final year with the Lakers volleyball team. Scaletta, who plays at setter, was named a team co-captain just before the start of the new season.

When did you first get into volleyball? I started playing volleyball when I was in seventh grade. I really liked playing for my school, and I knew I wanted to play a lot more volleyball, so then I got into club in seventh grade. I’ve been playing club and school volleyball ever since.

THE BASICS SCHOOL: Windermere Prep GRADE: Senior AGE: 17 SPORT(S): Volleyball, sand volleyball POSITION: Setter CLUB TEAM: Top Select

What’s been the biggest that you’ve seen in yourself over the years? The biggest change I’ve seen is probably learning how to adjust to other people’s needs and learning how everyone else plays and becoming more court aware — adaptability is (also) a big one, thanks to volleyball.

What’s your favorite part about playing setter? The most challenging part? My favorite part about being the setter is you kind of get to lead the team offensively, and your job is to better the passing and make the best pass you can for the hitters. It’s exciting to get to watch them score and know that you assisted that. But that would also go into the most challenging part — you do have to call all of the plays, and the pressure is on you for the hitters to do well. There is major responsibility, which can be a lot of fun, or it can be very challenging.

You play both indoor and sand volleyball. Is it tough going from one to the other? I would say they’re more different than they are the same thing. Setter is not the most useful position for beach volleyball, but it’s very challenging picking up the rest of the court and also learning how — as a setter —to serve/ receive, how to attack and tip and all the more offensive things that setting indoors isn’t really focused on. It’s a challenge moving from one to another, but it’s like playing another sport — it’s really fun to get to do both.

Is there a highlight for you during your time in volleyball? The highlight moment for me definitely was when my team won silver bracket at AAUs — that was for club — and that was one of my favorite volleyball moments. We went to a third set, and we had our work cut out for us, but we beat that team and we won silver bracket. … That was AAU Nationals last year. You were named a co-captain before the season. How does that feel to have that extra title? Adding on another title is very exciting, and what it means for me this season is me and Natalie (Work) — she is the other co-captain — will lead them on the court and off the court. We do some team bonding, and we try and make sure the team is as close as possible so we have that chemistry not only just on the court but off the court, too. — TROY HERRING

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Football preview Schedule CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

OCOEE

Head coach: Aaron Sheppard 2019 record: 5-5 Key returners: Charles Pierre Jr., Zoren Tobe, Malik Harp Key losses: Lovie Jenkins, Nick Wright, Dexter Rentz Jr. n Quick hit: It was an up-anddown 2019 season for Ocoee during which the Knights won and loss some hard-fought games. This season, the Knights start off with two back-to-back tough games against Apopka and Wekiva, and they’ll be doing it without some key pieces from last year — including the late Dexter Rentz Jr. SCHEDULE Sept. 17 (Thursday) — @ Apopka Sept. 25 — Wekiva Oct. 2 — Evans Oct. 9 — @ Celebration Oct. 16 — Lake Brantley Oct. 23 — Lake Mary Oct. 29 (Thursday) — @ West Orange Nov. 6 — @ Freedom

OLYMPIA

Head coach: Travis Gabriel 2019 record: 4-6 Key returners: De’andre Robinson, Jordan Thomas, Victor Jones Jr. Key losses: Bryant Casteel n Quick hit: This season’s edition of the Titans will have a couple of solid players returning, but after losing a ton of players to graduation and transfer, head coach Travis Gabriel only has two returning offensive starters and five returners on defense. n Coach’s corner: “I lost a lot of kids, but I just think these kids I have now, they have kind of formed a tight-knit bond. They work out together, they enjoy being around together, so I think that is going to build for this year and years to come.” SCHEDULE Sept. 25 — Gateway Oct. 2 — @ Oak Ridge Oct. 9 — @ University Oct. 16 — Dr. Phillips Oct. 23 — Boone Oct. 30 — East Ridge Nov. 6 — @ Winter Park Note: Olympia’s opening game against Windermere was postponed because of a COVID-19 outbreak at the school. It will be rescheduled for a later time.

WEST ORANGE HIGH

Head coach: Mike Granato 2019 record: 4-6 Key returners: Tyler Huff, Matthew McDoom, Jaden Floyd Key losses: Jaylon Carlies, Julian Calvez, Tyler Jones n Quick hit: West Orange is under new leadership as first-year head coach Mike Granato takes

over a program looking for some stability. Luckily for Granato, he has plenty of talent to work with on both sides of the ball, including players such as Matthew McDoom and Jaden Floyd. Although the running back position will be by committee at this point, Granato said, the quarterback spot will be given to Tyler Huff — who so far has impressed during practices. n Coach’s corner: “We feel good about where we are. I don’t think anyone is going to be where they want to be given the circumstances, but we have had a lot of good practices and great, great participation from our entire team. We’ve got a lot seniors who are going to be playing — and we have some guys playing both ways — so we like where we are on offense and we like where we are on defense.” SCHEDULE Sept. 17 (Thursday) — @ Evans Sept. 25 — Boone Oct. 2 — @ Lake Mary Oct. 9 — Windermere Oct. 16 — Apopka Oct. 23 — @ Lake Brantley Oct. 29 (Thursday) — Ocoee Nov. 6 — Jones

WINDERMERE HIGH

Head coach: Robert Couch 2019 record: 1-9 Key returners: Matthew Richardson, Amer Amer, Stone Rivers Key losses: Kevin Sullivan n Quick hit: Times at Windermere have been tough since the football team’s introduction in 2017; it picked up only three wins through its first three seasons. But now, former Cincinnati Bengals offensive line coach Robert Couch has taken the reins of the program and looks to steer it into a new era. n Coach’s corner: “We’ll go as far as our seniors take us, and hopefully, the young guys can step up and play. It’ll be a fun season — I just hope that we get to play it, and I hope these things don’t keep getting canceled on us.” SCHEDULE Sept. 25 — @ Timber Creek Oct. 2 — Dr. Phillips Oct. 9 — @ West Orange Oct. 16 — @ East Ridge Oct. 23 — Oak Ridge Oct. 29 (Thursday) — @ Boone Nov. 6 — Colonial Note: Windermere’s opening game against Olympia was postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak at Olympia. It will be rescheduled for a later time.

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a game,” Campbell said. “I wanted to keep that and do everything I could to find an opponent. Believe it or not, we had an opponent, but they were coming from Miami, and we know that Dade County hadn’t even started playing yet. They were disappointed, to say the least. … But again I have a senior-led team, so they understood that this is more than just football — this is about life and health.” Meanwhile, at Olympia, head football coach Travis Gabriel has been dealt a season that was halted before it ever started. On Sunday, Sept, 6, Orange County Public Schools officials — along with the Florida Department of Health in Orange County — announced Olympia’s campus would be shut down for two weeks following several positive cases of COVID-19. For Gabriel, that meant losing a week of practice — which just started Aug. 31 — and the cancellation of the Titans’ opening game against Windermere, schedule for Thursday, Sept. 17. “All I can say on that is we just do what we’re told — I’m just always going to be compliant and do what I’m told, and be fluid with the whole situation,” Gabriel said. “Can’t get mad, can’t question why — it is what it is. Whatever we have to do to get these boys a season, that’s what we have to do.” Although many are frustrated by the havoc that’s been wreaked on the football season — and fall season as a whole — Gabriel said he and others have moved past that. Everyone is in a tough situation, and there’s not much that can be done about it, he said. So now, Gabriel and his players have to wait before they can get back to practice for the Titans’ next game against Gateway Friday, Sept. 25. The hope is to be able to schedule the Windermere game sometime in November. In the meantime, it’s about teaching his players to enjoy every second of whatever season is had. “For me — and I guess I can probably speak for other head coaches — we all have to be flexible,” Gabriel said. “We always tell the kids to play this game like it’s your last — well, we all have to do that this year, because the first game could be the last game.”

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SPORTS SPOTLIGHT

OBSERVER

Benjamin “Benny” Stolz Gonzales, of Ocoee, Florida, went peacefully in his sleep to be with the Lord on Aug. 18, 2020, at the age of 84, supported by his beloved wife, Linda Pena Gonzalez, at his side in their home in Ocoee, Florida. Benjamin Stolz Gonzales was born on Jan. 13, 1936, in Saganaw, Michigan. Ben is survived by his wife, five brothers, three sisters, six daughters and two sons. He

leaves behind numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, with special mention to his beloved grandsons: Justin Hawvor and Jesse Benson. Family, friends and others whose lives Ben touched are Grace E. Braithwarte, 102, of Winter Garden, died Friday Sept. 4, 2020, at Winter Garden Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. Winter Oak Funeral Home & Cremations, Winter Garden. Egbert Anthony Clarke, known as Bert or Eggie, 79, of Winter Garden, died Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020. Collison Carey Hand Funeral Home, Winter Garden.

MARY HOOVLER DIED SEPT. 11, 2020.

Mary Hoovler, 100 years old, died Friday, September 11, 2020 at 3:50 a.m. in her sleep. She is survived by her three children; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Pamela Freeman Davis, 64, of Winter Garden, died Wednesday Sept. 9, 2020. Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Home, Winter Garden. Elizabeth Gibb 57, died Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020. BaldwinFairchild Funeral Home, Winter Garden. Earl L. Gilliland, 90, of Winter Garden, died Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. Winter Oak Funeral Home & Cremations, Winter Garden.

invited to a memorial service at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020, at Cornerstone Community Church, 1333 East Crown Point, Ocoee, FL 34761, immediately followed by a reception and internment at Glen Haven Memorial Park. MEMORIALS: In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to Cornerstone Community Church. Please share your thoughts and memories with the family at the service or through DeislerFuneralHome.com.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

HERE’S MY CARD - BUSINESS DIRECTORY AUTO SERVICE

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LV11098

OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

ROOFING 340600

FIRE TECH

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Danny Motes Cell 407-466-4738 Tel 407-654-2395 Fax 407-654-2986

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TFN

www.Firetechextinguisher.com

340607

Richard Hudson • Reggie Hudson

340604

REG# MV-01095

TFN

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REALTORS

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407-656-2121

OrangeObserver.com

TRAYWICEK'S AUTO SERVICE

GARA•WinGter Garden

TFN

$...

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ET RP From CA talled

301021

AIR CONDITIONING

y Full

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OPERATED –

268 407.296.9622 407.877.6

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on Call for a FREE estimate t. Equipment Replacemen ed credit

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301016

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www.r-dauto.com

Computerized Diagnostics

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298995

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iumShutters.com 407-415-7185 • OrlandoPrem

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302117 301027

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ORLANDO PREMIUM SHUTTER ers!

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Financing

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PEST CONTROL

Center” “Your Complete Service ter Garden, FL 34787 10 West Story Rd. Win 1095 MV-0 ie Hud

Richard Hudson • Regg

• Bridgestone • Michelin • Toyo • BFG

Willie’s Bar-B-Que Beef

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703 S. Vineland Rd. 7 Winter Garden, FL 3478

301030

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301015

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301025

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LV11098

ESS DIRECTORY IN S U B D R A C Y HERE’S M FLOORING

301035

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301014

WEST ORANGE TIMES &

301017

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2019

com

Color included on all ads! Publishes every Thursday, and deadlines Friday the week prior.

OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

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