09.21.17 West Orange Times & Observer by Orange Observer

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Couple creates unique jewelry company. SEE 9.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2017

Bigger than his body

He’s only 5-foot-7, but Garrett Duffina has emerged as a leader and playmaker for Ocoee. 17.

YOUR TOWN WOHS STUDENT HONORS 9/11

POWER PLAYERS Line workers are getting plenty of attention as they work long hours to restore the state’s power supply following Hurricane Irma.

West Orange High School senior Katie Householder had a plan to remember 9/11 on the school campus, so she raised money to buy 2,997 American flags — one for each of the victims. Even though school and many 9/11 ceremonies were canceled because of Hurricane Irma, Householder still wanted to create her display. On Sunday, Sept. 10, she went to the West Orange campus and spent three hours placing the flags in memory of the 9/11 victims.

New Greek eatery opens in Winter Garden Village

SEE STORY ON PAGE 4

Courtesy of Duke Energy

BLACK TIE

DANIELLE HENDRIX STAFF WRITER

If baklava, gyros, pitas and other Greek classics speak to your inner foodie, Winter Garden Village at Fowler Groves’s newest restaurant is right up your alley. Little Greek Fresh Grill is now open in place of the old Red Mango frozen yogurt shop, and although Hurricane Irma threw some roadblocks in the way of its opening, the restaurant is now ready to serve customers. Andrew Tate, owner and SEE WINTER PAGE 8

Winter Garden gives initial approval to $36.2M budget The city plans to fund the construction of a new fire station, an aquifer replenishment project and a roundabout on Marsh Road in the 2018 budget. GABBY BAQUERO NEWS EDITOR

Give Kids the World organization celebrates its 29th annual Black & White Gala. SEE PAGE 11.

City commissioners passed the first reading of a proposed $36.2 million budget for 2018 during a budget hearing held Thursday, Sept. 14. The proposed budget estimates its projected revenue for 2018 based on a millage rate of 4.25 this year, which remains unchanged

from last year. At a rate of 4.25 and a welcome 10% increase in property values, the city can expect $12.4 million in property tax revenue — about a $1.16 million increase from last year. With the city’s total projected revenue of $36,228,305 — a 9.5% revenue increase from the 2017 budget’s revenue — and projectSEE BUDGET PAGE 6

WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

YOUR CALENDAR

THURSDAY, SEPT. 21

WEST ORANGE HIGH FOOD PANTRY DRIVE 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on school days at West Orange High School, 1625 S. Beulah Road, Winter Garden. Donate non-perishable items to the school’s food pantry during this semi-annual drive. All goes to students and families in need. In addition to food and water, there is a need for new socks and underwear, backpacks and feminine hygiene products. (407) 9052400. WEST ORANGE WOMEN 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 21, at Roy’s Restaurant, 7760 W. Sand Lake Road, Orlando. There will be a set menu consisting of either mahi-mahi or braised short ribs, plus sides and beverages. Cost is $28. Call or email Dottie Ansel at (407) 258-8155 or dotansel@aol.com or call (407) 258-8155.

OUR TOUGHNESS IS YOUR STRENGTH.

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2017

WIDOWS GROUP 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 21, at Collison Carey Hand Funeral Home, 1138 E. Plant St. Every third Thursday, spend time with other widows and share stories about loved ones. Ask questions about cleaning out one’s closet, who to call to hang a ceiling fan or if you have car trouble. Occasionally, a short video on coping is shown. Light snacks are available. Meet-up is free. (407) 877-6700.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 22

ROTARY CHARITY POKER TOURNAMENT 6 p.m. registration and training session, 7 p.m. event Friday, Sept. 22, at Co-op Ballroom in the Garden Building, 146 W. Plant St., Winter Garden. Presented by the Rotary Club of Winter Garden in conjunction with Big Stacks Poker League, the event will benefit the West Orange Scholarship Fund and local charities. Prizes include $1,000, $500 and $250 Visa

gift cards, golf foursomes and gift certificates. Cost is $50 pre-registration and $60 at the door. Register at (407) 8779400 or jkwg1@earthlink.net.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 23

BAD PANTS BASH GALA 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, at Rosen Shingle Creek, 9939 Universal Blvd., Orlando. For this black-tie dinner and event, attendees are asked to wear the loudest, craziest, ugliest and baddest pants they can find. The evening includes cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, a martini bar and wine tasting, plated dinner, live music and dancing and silent and live auctions. Event supports the Sunshine Kids Foundation. Tickets are $150 and can be purchased at sskorlando.com. For information, call (407) 876-2090. GOING GOLD FEST FOR CHILDREN’S CANCER 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, at Waterfront Park, 100 Third St., Clermont. Event benefits CureSearch and will include food trucks, activities, vendors, a chance drawing and live music featuring a concert by Christian group Finding Favour. The family event is free. Curesearch.org.

TIA LOLA’S LIBRARY 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, at the Winter Garden Library, 805 E. Plant St. Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by enjoying fun stories and crafts with a Dominican twist. Ages 6 to 12. (407) 835-7323.

MONDAY, SEPT. 25

CAREERSOURCE CENTRAL FLORIDA 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25, at the Winter Garden Library, 805 E. Plant St. Spend time with the experts from CareerSource Central Florida to explore the services they provide and get connected to employment opportunities using career counseling, skill development, workshops and more. (407) 835-7323.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 29

JAZZ IN THE PARK 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, in the Oakland Town Center, 221 N. Arrington St. Hosted by HapCo Music Foundation. Enjoy a relaxing evening featuring live smooth jazz music. Food for sale from Melts on Main Street, Winter Garden. Free. (407) 656-1117. CUISINE CORNER: HEALTHY COOKING FOR ONE OR TWO 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 29, at the West Oaks Library, 1821 E. Silver Star Road, Ocoee. Cooking for one or two can be a challenge.

Yamira Lee Johnson, head chef and founder of Breaking Bread with Mira and certified holistic life coach, will demonstrate how to cook for one or two and still make tasty food that is also good for you. For information about Breaking Bread with Mira, visit bbwmira.com. Space is limited. Registration required at (407) 835-7323.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 30

MAD SCIENCE LIVE: UP, UP AND AWAY! 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, at the Winter Garden Library, 805 E. Plant St. Mad Science Live: Up, Up and Away. Hot air balloons, vortex generators that will send flying smoke rings over your heads, floating balls, giant wind bags and even a hovercraft will help you understand the power of air. Ages 6 to 12. (407) 835-7323. MINDFULNESS TO HELP KIDS DESTRESS Noon Saturday, Sept. 30, at the Winter Garden Library, 805 E. Plant St. Join mindfulness coach Danielle Hope as she teaches families to practice mindfulness through storytime and exercises that build presence and awareness. Learn mindfulness tools to help you be more present, improve concentration and handle difficult emotions calmly. Ages 5 to 12. (407) 835-7323.

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WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2017

HOME INSURANCE

AFTER IRMA OCPS UPDATE IRMA MAKE-UP DAYS Orange County students lost six days of school because of Hurricane Irma. Superintendent Barbara Jenkins waived two, and the state waived an additional two. Students will need to make up two days. Those will be Friday, Oct. 27, and Monday, Nov. 20.

After six canceled school days due to Hurricane Irma, Orange County Public Schools reopened on Monday, Sept. 18. By early afternoon on Monday, OCPS reported that after a few transportation delays because of debris, schools appeared to be operating smoothly for the first day back. But that was not the case last week. On Wednesday, Sept. 13, the district reported that 66 schools were without power, 75 schools had sustained some water damage, 28 schools had minor roof damage, 69 schools had fallen trees and debris littered around campus and 78 schools had IT systems down. These problems, in addition to traffic concerns, such as traffic light outages and debris blocking roadways, contributed to OCPS remaining closed for the duration of last week. Superintendent Barbara Jenkins waived two of the six make-up days, while the Florida Department of Education waived an additional two. Prior to the start of the 201718 school year, Orange County School Board members approved a list of 10 make-up days. According to OCPS, the two required make-up days for Irma will take place on Friday, Oct. 27; and Monday, Nov. 20. — BRITTANY GAINES

More than a week after Hurricane Irma hit Central Florida, residents are doing their best to return to normalcy.

s Duke Energy continues its power-restoration efforts in West Orange and residents scrape away the debris left in

Hurricane Irma’s wake, the community is steadily returning to its normal routine. By Wednesday, Sept. 13 — just two days after Irma passed through the state — most local businesses had reopened, and many employees returned back to work. But, even though routines had resumed, the storm left plenty of lingering questions regarding preparation, finances and more.

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS Prior to the arrival of Hurricane Irma, there had been complaints from residents in the Horizon West area regarding construction materials left on job sites. However, Orange County District 1 Commissioner Betsy VanderLey said she did not hear of any reports of damage stemming from construction materials left on building sites in West Orange. “We haven’t heard of any damage, but people are still assessing,” VanderLey said. “I haven’t had any calls come into my office that any of those construction piles created an issue.” The commissioner said she spent most of the Saturday prior to the hurricane’s landfall making phone calls to builders, asking them to take extra precautions. “I probably talked to every president of every builder in the state of Florida,” she said. “I probably made 50 phone calls to make sure people did what they

were supposed to do.” One of the issues, she said, is that the landfills closed at 2 p.m. Friday, so after that time the dump-truck drivers had nowhere to empty their trucks and had to return the full dumpsters back to the construction sites. She vowed to talk to the commission about changing landfill closing hours. “Another thing we identified is that, in many cases, many of the builders had already dumped their dumpsters, (but they were) filled by people in the neighborhood who saw it as an opportunity to get rid of their stuff,” she said. “There was no uniform storm response; all builders had their own protocols, and some were strict, others were not,” VanderLey said. “We are going to be working together for best practices so all builders are responding in much the same way.” — AMY QUESINBERRY

DEBRIS REMOVAL Orange County opened 10 citizen drop-off sites. Residents may bring vegetative (trees/yard waste) debris to one of the 10 locations from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Residents will need to provide proof of Orange County address to gain access. Orange County only can remove debris from homes in private gated communities if a representative of the community, the president of the association or the association’s management firm, contacts Orange County to arrange debris pickup by calling 311. Debris will be removed from private property only in the case of severe damage, per the Federal Emergency Management Agency policy. DROP-OFF SITES n Barnett Park, 4801 W. Colonial Drive n Conway Water Treatment Plant, 3590 Manatee St. n Cypress Grove Park, 290 Holden Ave. n Fort Christmas Park, 1300 Fort Christmas Road n Harrell Road, 8503 Trevarthon Road n Meadow Woods Park, 1751 Rhode Island Woods Circle n Northwest Water Reclamation Facility, 701 W. McCormick Road n Rose Place Park, 8200 Old Winter Garden Road n Across from Renaissance Senior Center, 3800 S. Econlockhatchee Tr. n West Beach Park Addition, 9227 Winter Garden Vineland Road n Zellwood Maintenance Unit, 3500 Golden Gem Road

Homeowners whose singlefamily homes or townhomes received significant wind or tree damage from Hurricane Irma may need a reminder about how home insurance policies and home warranties work regarding damage caused by natural disasters. Paula Abney, owner of Abney Insurance Agency, 1155 Winter Garden Vineland Road, offered these suggestions. What happens if leaks are because of poorly built homes? If a new home that is still under warranty is discovered to have a leak by a windowsill or a ceiling that is found to be the result of faulty caulking, Abney suggested homeowners use their home warranties to avoid having to pay a deductible, especially because standard homeowner insurance does not include coverage for inherent defects that are the result of poor building. Homeowner’s insurance, she emphasized, only pays for sudden and accidental loss, such as hurricanes, fires, lightning, etc. However, homeowners should note home warranties typically do not cover damage to homes caused by natural disasters. “I would say the first defense in a hurricane category like Irma would be your hazard policy,” Abney said. “If it’s determined that the damage was not caused by the hurricane and it was a defect, then you should go to your warranty.” How do the hurricane deductibles work? Most standard policies in Florida include hurricane coverage that is subject to a deductible that is determined by the estimated cost of your dwelling. The higher the dwelling limit, the more homeowners can expect to pay for their deductibles. However, because deductibles go by calendar year, if another hurricane hits and causes more damage, the homeowner would not need to pay a second deductible. “Some of those damages and leaks are caused by poor caulking of the window, while some are caused by wind-driven rain, which is also covered under your policy,” Abney said. “So the ensuing damage inside usually is covered subject to your deductible, but you’re looking at 2% of the coverage of the dwelling. If you’re dwelling limit is $200,000, then you’ll have to pay the first $4,000 worth of damage before the carrier does. If your dwelling amount is $400,000, then your deductible is $8,000.” Who bears the financial responsibility for townhome damage? Abney said in Florida, the answer depends on how the home is classified, but normally the homeowner is responsible for the building coverage. She generally recommends those who live in townhomes to check the master policy to see whether the homeowner’s association covers the building itself, which can vary. Abney also advised those who live in townhomes to invest in an HO3 insurance policy, if possible. — GABBY BAQUERO

WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2017

Southern hospitality

WEST ORANGE TIMES &

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

AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

had Stewart has been a lineman for 27 years, and he said he has never seen the kind of support that he and his fellow Linetec Services workers have experienced this week as they work days on end, sun up to well past sundown. They are hot, they are dirty, they are hungry, and they are tired. And they are grateful for the hospitality that Florida residents have exhibited thanks, in part, to a Facebook page called Irma Recovery: Florida Linemen Support. This page has connected power company employees with residents all over the state who are pulling together impromptu dinners and goody bags for the workers and offering to take home their filthy uniforms and return them the next day fresh and clean. Although it is the job of men such as Stewart to restore power following a damaging storm such as Hurricane Irma — which swept into south Florida on Sunday, Sept. 10, and plowed north through the state during the night — it’s also nice to know there are people who care. Stewart, who is from New Braunfels, Texas, hasn’t been home in a month; and that’s about the last time he had a hot, homecooked meal, too. “It was really relaxing and felt like home,” Stewart said. “We’ve been working a lot of long hours, and it just felt like people really cared for what we’re doing.” He and his team helped Texas recover after Hurricane Harvey and then headed straight for Florida. SUPPORTING THE LINEMEN

Genevieve Mckay and her friend, Cheryl Bellhouse, walked around their Fullers Crossing neighborhood following the hurricane to survey the damage. The Winter Garden community was trashed, she said, and they began cleaning up. The idea of helping grew from there, and the pair gathered snacks and water to hand out to any workers they saw performing their recovery jobs. They piled their children in their vehicle and set out. “I couldn’t believe the amount of men we found,” Mckay said. “It took about three hours to deliver everything. … We talked to them, getting to know them and hearing their stories. We asked what they needed, and some needed laundry

Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944 Publisher / Dawn Willis, dwillis@OrangeObserver.com Executive Editor / Michael Eng, meng@OrangeObserver.com Design Editor / Jessica Eng, jeng@OrangeObserver.com Senior Sports Editor / Steven Ryzewski, sryzewski@OrangeObserver.com News Editor Gabby Baquero, gbaquero@Orange Observer.com Community Editor / Amy Quesinberry, amyq@OrangeObserver.com Staff Writers Brittany Gaines, bgaines@Orange Observer.com Danielle Hendrix, dhendrix@OrangeObserver.com Advertising Executives Courtesy photo

A group of West Orange moms — along with their children — thanked power linemen with a homemade meal last week.

done.” Many of them were hungry for something other than fast food or a sandwich and were craving a warm, home-cooked meal. Bellhouse was moved to help because she remembers providing for residents after the February 1998 tornadoes destroyed several areas in Central Florida, including Winter Garden. “My aunt and I brought out drinks and sandwiches, and we found people who had been affected by the tornadoes,” Bellhouse said. “That’s always played out in my mind.” The following day, Mckay and another friend, Danielle Pascucci, bought 50 McDonald’s cheeseburgers and gave them out in Windermere to crews from Texas, Louisiana, Connecticut and New Hampshire. These women are among about 900 mothers who belong to the Winter Garden Mommies Facebook group. From there, they connected with the Irma Recovery: Florida Linemen Support page. In this support group, Mckay said, people started reaching out for assistance: “There are people who are saying, ‘There are 50 men in DeLand who need this; I have 100 guys in Ocala who need that.’” Mckay connected with an Orlando woman, Julia McLaughlin, to put together a potluck for the linemen at a local hotel on Saturday, Sept. 16. McLaughlin found a neighborhood, Winter Garden’s Covington Chase, in which residents seized the opportunity to

HOW DUKE ENERGY RESTORES POWER 1 Generation sources (power plants) 2 Transmission lines supply electricity to large numbers of customers and to large geographic areas. These lines deliver electricity from the power plants to the substations. 3 Substation equipment adjusts the transmission line voltage to lower levels that are appropriate for our main distribution lines. 4 Main distribution lines, also known as primary lines, deliver electricity to large subdivisions and commercial areas. 5 Power pole (showing underground service to hospital).

6 Local distribution lines, installed either overhead or underground, deliver electricity to smaller neighborhoods and businesses. These secondary lines are also known as “tap” lines. 7 Transformer (reduces service voltage to individual households and businesses — may also be padmounted on the ground) 8 Service lines deliver electricity to your individual home or business either overhead or underground. SOURCE: Duke Energy

IF YOUR NEIGHBOR’S POWER IS ON BUT YOURS IS NOT Sometimes, you may see a neighbor’s lights come back on while you are still without power. There can be several explanations. Perhaps not all circuits are restored at the same time — different parts of your neighborhood may be served by different circuits. Or a restored customer’s service comes directly from a primary line, which is restored first, while your service may be served off a secondary line. There may also be a problem with your individual service line or your meter.

cook for a good cause. The Winter Garden Mommies Group was in charge of drinks and desserts. Their final destination was a Rosen hotel on International Drive, where they set up tables and chairs in the parking lot and sought out hungry workers. “They had just gotten off work,” Mckay said. “They were hungry. They just came by the bucket loads. By about 9 o’clock, we had about 75 men come and go.” The linemen were treated to everything from macaroni and cheese and pulled pork to spaghetti and casseroles. Fresh fruit and dinner rolls rounded out the meal. Families in the moms group brought out cupcakes and cookies, as well as posters made by their children. Leftover food was packed in to-go boxes. In addition, the women offered

to take home their laundry and deliver it the next day. Each basket of clean clothes included a goody bag with items such as Gold Bond, gum and beef jerky. “There are a lot of complainers out there, but I think there are more of us,” Mckay said. “I feel like, there’s so many people who are doing such great things, neighbors helping neighbors, strangers helping strangers,” Pascucci said. “But I feel like (the linemen) go unnoticed sometimes. Some people think that it’s their job, but I don’t think people realize they are on the road for weeks at a time. They came here to help us. And they are away from their families, they don’t have a break or days off, they are in the heat all day long. I just felt like they are working so hard to help us. “They were the most appreciative people I’ve met,” she said. “And it meant a lot to us to see how much it meant to them. It was important to me, too. My son is almost 6 — I brought him with us — he doesn’t know what it’s like to do without. It was important to me to show him what it’s like to help other people.” Mckay said the experience was a great teaching tool. “It’s not about me,” Mckay said. “I just want my boys to learn how to help people. They have to be the good in the world. That’s my job. I’m a mom. More love, less hate. I’m a believer that tragedy and suffering bring hope. They make you come out the other side better and stronger. Some people get defeated, but I hope they can find the silver lining. There were a lot of pictures of rainbows being posted (on Facebook) after the hurricane, and I don’t think that’s a coincidence.”

Michelle Gentry, mgentry@Orange Observer.com Cyndi Gustafson, advertising@Orange Observer.com Creative Services Tony Trotti, ttrotti@OrangeObserver.com Customer Service Representatives Allison Brunelle, abrunelle@Orange Observer.com Katie Rehm, krehm@orangeobserver.com

The West Orange Times & Observer is published once weekly, on Thursdays. The West Orange Times & Observer can be found in many commercial locations throughout West Orange County and at our office. If you wish to subscribe, visit our website, OrangeObserver.com, call (407) 656-2121 or visit our office, 720 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden.

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WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2017

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WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2017

GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES

Budget passes first hurdle CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

BUDGET INCREASES n The Community Development Department budget increased by 24% to fund an additional Fire Inspector to the Building Inspections Department and purchase two replacement Code Enforcement vehicles. n The Parks and Recreation budget increased 21% because of ongoing operations and maintenance of existing parks and the new playground and trails that will be part of Tucker Ranch Park, as well as the addition of a new parks supervisor position and a new recreation supervisor position. n The budget for the Solid Waste division, part of the Utility Department, increased by 10% because of Orange County’s increase in tipping fees and the fact it now is charging municipal governments recycling fees.

ed expenditures at $35,654,966, this year’s projected revenue is expected to exceed proposed expenditures by $573,339. According to Winter Garden City Manager Mike Bollhoefer, city leaders plan to use the revenue to pay for the construction of a new fire station and roundabout on Marsh Road, the addition of more police cars, a 3% blanket increase in city employees’ salaries and a 6% increase in how much it pays for city employee health care costs. The new fire station — the biggest single-item hit to the budget at $1.7 million — will be the fourth and final fire station to be added to the city, Bollhoefer said. The station, which will be constructed right off Marsh Road in the southwest quadrant of the

HEALTH INSURANCE

Health insurance coverage isn’t changing for the city’s 280 employees who receive 100% individual coverage and 50% dependent coverage. However, due to rising healthcare costs, the city expects it will need to increase the portion it pays for health insurance premiums by 6% to maintain the same level of coverage. This labor cost increase is in addition to the 3% cost-of-living salary increase all employees will receive.

HAPPINESS

is here

city, has been in plans for years because of expected population growth rates. The second big-ticket item on the budget is a transportation improvement project in the form of a roundabout planned for Marsh Road that will cost another $1 million. “The Hickory Hammock entrance doesn’t work too well now, so we’re going to be putting a roundabout in there, and that’s another million-dollar project,” Bollhoefer said. “We needed either a traffic light or a roundabout, but a roundabout tends to work better since Marsh Road has more roundabouts and those work better when you have a series of them.” A third project expected to take a large slice out of the city’s budget this year is the aquifer recharge project, which is being partially funded by a state grant. With a price tag of $1.1 million, the project is part of a statewide groundwater replenishment initiative intended to help recharge Florida’s aquifers by recycling groundwater, Bollhoefer said. Other noteworthy items listed for funding this year include the 209-acre organic farm and nature park projected to open in spring 2018 at Tucker Ranch ($800,000); the addition of six more police patrol vehicles ($200,000); the replacement of two code enforcement vehicles that are in bad shape ($40,000); a new fire engine ($700,000) and about $500,000 dedicated to road repaving projects that are yet to be determined.

WHAT IS THE FUND BALANCE? The fund balance is the available reserves that are typically used for emergencies and unforeseen costs, the equivalent of a personal savings account. According to the proposed 2018 budget, the city has $14,187,687 held in reserve that is not being allocated to any department at the moment. The $14.2 million in reserve accounts for 28.4% of the projected general fund operating expenditures for 2018. Bollhoefer said he prefers to keep the fund balance between 25% and 30%.

n General Government: $5,348,140 n Public Safety: $20,306,477 n Physical Environment: $1,911,987 n Transportation: $1,507,590 n Economic Environment: $362,135 n Human Services: $150,800 n Parks and Recreation: $4,982,133 n Interfund transfers: $1,085,705 (non-expense) n Total: $35,654,966 n Contingency/Reserves: $14,187,687 n Total expenditures (including reserves): $49,842,653

GENERAL FUND REVENUE n Property Tax: $12,448,539 n Utility and Service Tax: $4,908,894 n Local Business Tax: $214,461 n Permitting and Special Assessments: $4,993,050 n Intergovernmental: $8,726,094 n Service Charges: $4,353,505 n Fines and Forfeitures: $124,453 n Interest: $106,709 n Miscellaneous: $352,600 n Total: $36,228,305 n Carryforward fund balance: $13,614,348 n Total Revenue (including previous balance): $49,842,653

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2017

Winter Garden drafts ordinance to combat ‘ugly’ infrastructure GABBY BAQUERO NEWS EDITOR

Winter Garden has created an ordinance to protect its rightsof-way to the degree permissible under new state legislation that allows wireless communication facilities within a municipal government’s rights-of-way. The new state law, titled the Advanced Wireless Infrastructure Deployment Act, passed in the latest legislative session to the chagrin of local leaders who view the law as a threat to municipal governments’ authority. Local leaders’ primary contention with the new law is how it limits city leaders’ ability to regulate the installation of wireless communication infrastructure on utility poles. Under the statute, governments are prohibited from denying construction permits on the basis of zoning regulations; can only charge telecom providers $150 per facility per year; are subject to a 60-day timeframe when

making decisions regarding an application; and have limited say on the location and size of the equipment, which is intended to provide 5G cellular services in the future. In response, Winter Garden had city attorneys study the new law and draft an ordinance that is “as protective as it could possibly be” given the regulatory restraints established by the statute. “The way the Legislature overreached in this last session really attempted to take away a lot of our authority, and not just us, all the counties and other cities,” said Winter Garden City Attorney Kurt Ardaman. “So this is us doing everything we can by adopting an ordinance to protect our rights-of-way.” Ordinance 17-49, as it is currently known, would make several changes to Chapter 70 of the city code to abide by the new law while simultaneously providing city leaders a modicum of control over the aesthetics and location of the equipment they suspect they will

“They’re allowed to put it on poles, so what we’re doing is making them put covers around the equipment to make it look as aesthetically pleasing as possible and limit the number of them.” — Mike Bollhoefer

inevitably need to approve. “The primary focus of this ordinance is to have some control over the aesthetics and location of the cellular tower equipment, and that’s it in a nutshell,” Winter Garden City Manager Mike Bollhoefer said. “If not, then you’ll end up with the ugliest stuff sitting on all the sides of our streets. And trust me, the communication companies don’t care — all they want is to get their signal out.” Winter Garden would prefer to have the infrastructure installed underground, where it would not present itself as an eyesore, but municipal governments are prohibited from requiring it of telecommunication providers. Instead, the ordinance provides the city the ability to recommend alternative locations and establish specific design standards to hide them. “We’re not allowed to make them put it underground — that’s the problem,” Bollhoefer said. “They’re allowed to put it on poles, so what we’re doing is making them put covers around the equipment to make it look as aesthetically pleasing as possible and limit the number of them. We don’t want it to be too cluttered or have all sorts of equipment on one pole or have them too close to each other.” Despite having attorneys pore over the statute prior to writing the ordinance, Bollhoefer said there is a possibility a company might try to sue, but he doubts that will happen.

“Just because we believe (the ordinance) follows the state code doesn’t mean (telecommunication providers) will believe it, but I think our (ordinance) is safe,” he said, referring to the possibility of a lawsuit. “We pushed it as far as we could push it without getting into that really risky area.”

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The city approved the first reading of an ordinance to protect the aesthetics of its rights-of-way.

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general manager of the Winter Garden location, first got into the business after seeing one of his best friends jump on board with Little Greek. “Since I was young, I always wanted to invest in a franchise, but originally I wanted to invest in Jimmy John’s because I grew up in Illinois,” Tate said. “Kyle was working for Little Greek and telling me about the brand. I went to check out the food and absolutely loved it. I like it because it’s a fullservice kitchen with a fast-casual type concept.” Although Tate did not have much background in the restaurant industry, he saw the concept as fun and different and knew he wanted to be a part of it. “I did some research and started talking to area developers,” he said. “They knew about this plaza, when I was first looking at places and identifying locations in Orlando.” After looking at various locations and then seeing his friends who live locally become active in the community, choosing the Winter Garden location was the next step. It’s been a process of seven to eight months in the making, he said, but watching his dream come to fruition and being able to serve the Winter Garden community is something special. The food at Little Greek is all cooked to order — but with a fastcasual counter service. The restaurant has a full-service kitchen in the back, and everything from potatoes to rice pudding to soup is made from scratch. The bakery items come from Hellas Bakery in Tarpon Springs, a Greek wholesale bakery. Popular menu items range from skewers and chicken breasts to

3131 Daniels Road Suite 104, Winter Garden PHONE: (217) 416-1414 HOURS: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily WEBSITE: littlegreekrestaurant.com MENU: For a full dining and catering menu and more information, visit bit. ly/2jEC1JK.

pitas, gyros, dolmades and potato salad. There is also a range of healthy options, such as Greek salads, as well as the restaurant’s famous Greek dressing. And although Tate and his parents were prepared to open the restaurant last week, Hurricane Irma had other plans. The first couple of truck orders and produce to be delivered went bad, and soft-opening hours also were affected. Additionally, Tate did not expect the volume of excitement from the community he has received. When the restaurant reopened for a few hours post-hurricane, the demand was so high that it ran out of some products. Now, it’s all about playing catch-up and ensuring things go as smoothly as possible. Little Greek opened for its first full day on Monday, Sept. 18, and a grand opening is planned for sometime in mid-October. “We were out of some items that take a long time to make, but everyone was extremely nice and well-received,” Tate said. “Everyone was understanding. I got to go around and meet people who are active and involved in the community, and I’m glad to be out here and be a part of it.”

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ARTS + CULTURE PAINT THIS Pastel Painting with PJ Svejda

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22, at The Art Room, 709 Main St., Windermere. The Art Room invites students to this lunch and learn workshop, where artists can explore the effects of painting with soft pastels. All levels are welcome. The cost is $120, which includes lunch, and an additional $35 for anyone who needs supplies. For more information or to register, call (407) 909-1869 or visit artroomorlando.com.

LISTEN TO THIS Jazz in the Park

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22, at the Oakland Town Center, 221 N. Arrington St., Oakland. On the fourth Friday of every month, the town of Oakland and HapCO Music Foundation will host an evening of jazz in the Town Center. This month’s event will feature jazz musician Otto Gomez. Food from Melts on Main Street will be available for purchase.

TRY THIS The Creative Landscape

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, at SoBo Gallery, 127 S. Boyd St., Winter Garden. Artist Wayne Bennett will teach participants how to look at landscapes creatively. This is a workshop for photographers with advanced knowledge of their equipment. Registration is $150 for members and $175 for non-members. For more information or to register, call (407) 347-7996.

Photos by Brittany Gaines

Jan Stephens’ specialty is working with wire, a skill she uses when transforming forks into bracelets. She created a bracelet from a fork, shaping the fork tines around a turquoise stone. One of Keith Stephens’ specialties is hammer work, which involves creating patterns on metal using nothing but a hammer.

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FLATWARE Winter Garden residents Jan and Keith Stephens use items such as spoons, forks and knives to create unique jewelry.

BRITTANY GAINES STAFF WRITER

WINTER GARDEN

ows of glittering bracelets, necklaces, earrings and rings cover almost every inch of counter space in Jan Stephens’ studio. The art of creating jewelry is one she’s been deeply involved in for years. Her specialty is working with wire, and it’s one she has perfected over the years. Every piece she creates requires no glue or additional materials to hold pieces together. Jan weaves wire so the pieces will

never come apart — a process that can sometimes take hours or even days to complete. Until three years ago, her husband, Keith, never expressed an interest in joining her jewelrymaking venture. Then he discovered the art of forging metal. “He was very good at it to start with,” Jan said. “After that, he just took off.” He’s now mastered the art of folding copper — a process that requires carefully heating and hammering copper sheets to creSEE PARTNERS PAGE 10

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Jan and Keith Stephens invented a press to manipulate silverware into the appropriate shapes for jewelry, like bracelets and rings.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

ate small folds in the metal. “It’s almost like metal origami,” Jan said. For Keith, the process is more about manipulating the metal than creating jewelry. “I enjoy seeing the metal move,” he said. “The jewelry is the benefit.” One of Keith’s copper bracelets can take four to six hours to complete, depending on how many folds he decides to include. When making a new piece, Keith said he waits for inspiration to strike. “You’re just sitting there, and something will come to mind,” he said. Jan’s process is similar as she relies on the gemstones for each piece to guide her inspiration. “I create each design around the stone to determine the way I think it will look best,” Jan said. In addition to making all varieties of jewelry, the couple also teaches classes at their home. “Once you learn how metal will move, you can use the techniques we teach for more complex projects,” Jan said. One of the most popular classes involves transforming silverware into jewelry. The couple delved into silverware jewelry a few years ago and discovered that the process often requires a combination of both of their skill sets. While Keith hammers designs onto flattened spoons that are then turned into rings, Jan transforms forks into bracelets.

WRAPSODY JEWELRY STUDIO PHONE: (706) 540-5834 WEBSITE: wrapsodyjewelry. com CLASSES: Classes are held on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month and include beginner, intermediate and advanced wire classes and silverware jewelry classes.

“It was just a natural thing for me to wrap fork tines around stone,” Jan said. However, getting spoons and forks to bend perfectly into bracelets and rings was no easy task — typically requiring hours of hammering with imperfect results. To solve this, the couple invented a press that allows them to both flatten and bend silverware into the desired shape. Now, a project that would have taken hours only requires a few minutes. Any pieces that are not used are placed in Jan’s treasure box. “There’s nothing that goes to waste,” she said. And she’s almost always on the hunt for more silverware. Flea markets and antique stores are usually the best places to look, she said. But whether its silverware jewelry, Jan’s signature wire work or Keith’s copper bracelets, there’s always one rule by which they abide. “It’s all handmade,” Keith said.

“Fall” Into the City of Ocoee’s Autumn Events! Day ENROLL • -Play Age 18 to 3 NLiOmiteWd ! • PreK 3months • PreK 4 Availability! • Kindergarten

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October 7, 2017, 9AM-12PM Utilities Administration Office 1800 A.D. Mims Road The City of Ocoee Utilities Department will hold a free rain barrel workshop for residents. All materials are included in the workshop. Space is limited; registration will not be available the day of the workshop. Residents must pre-register by calling 407-554-7229.

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Black & White Gala

Swing’n with the Big Band

xtravagant lighting and décor, cocktails, acrobatic and dance performances and hundreds of giving hearts were all part of Give Kids The World Village’s 29th annual Black & White Gala Saturday, Sept. 16. GKTW Village is a 79acre, nonprofit resort in Kissimmee that provides vacations to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. The gala is one of the organization’s biggest annual fundraisers, with a turnout of more than 1,000 guests and community leaders who know and love the cause behind GKTW Village. In the past, the gala has raised more than $650,000 for the village each year.

October 21, 2017 Bob Carr Theater • 7:30 pm For tickets call 844.513.2014 or purchase online at drphillipscenter.org

Becky Prejean and Michelle Merrill were excited to be attending the gala.

See more photos at OrangeObserver.com

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Pamela Landwirth, president and CEO of Give Kids The World Village, thanked guests for their support.

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Alan Ginsburg and Robin Wright were happy to attend the gala together.

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R The team representing Edgewood Children’s Ranch beat the team of Ocoee Police officers during the contest.

No bones about it: Contest benefits Edgewood ranch

Mr. & Mrs. Bo Stalvey are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Molly Ellen Stalvey to Michael Allen Kruse, son of Mr. & Mrs. David Kruse, Stuart, Florida. The bride-to-be is a graduate of West Orange H.S. and the University of Central Florida. Molly is a fourth grade teacher at Bay Lake Elementary School. The groom-to-be is a graduate of South Fork H.S., and is completing a mechanical engineering degree at the University of Central Florida. A June wedding is planned at Bay Hill Country Club.

More at OrangeObserver.com

STALVEY-KRUSE

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dgewood Children’s Ranch received a nice boost to its bottom line thanks to Texas Roadhouse in Ocoee and the Ocoee Police Department following a rib-eating contest fundraiser Saturday, Sept. 16, at the restaurant. The team-based competition pitted Edgewood Children’s Ranch against the Ocoee Police Department, with five participants on each team. In the end, it was the Edgewood Children’s Ranch team that took home the first-place title. In addition to the contest, Texas Roadhouse donated 10% of the lunch sales that afternoon to Edgewood Children’s Ranch.

Ocoee Police officer Travis Clark shoveled meat into his mouth as fellow officers cheered him on.

— BRITTANY GAINES

Left: To prepare for the competition, Neveah Stukes decided not to eat breakfast that morning so her stomach would be empty for the ribs.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2017

Blair M. Johnson

Montessori students secure future by supporting the past

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gram, Crescitelli said it’s a tangible way for students to contribute to their community while learning about it. “With the dollar they donate or whatever it is, it’s like a concrete way of voting for history,” he said. “And because the building is up and running and all of that, they actually get to see what their contribution does, and it’s really generous of them.” Cherico said a recent field trip to the heritage museum, along with a desire to thank their community for hosting their school, might have been what sparked the students’s decision to give back to it. “It aligns with ... the stage of development that our upper-elementary children are in,” Assistant Principal Cathy Tobin said. “One of the features of that stage of development is that children notice inequities in the world and want to try to solve them or make them better.”

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At Innovation Montessori Ocoee, students sat wide-eyed as they learned that many of their homes now stand on the same ground that used to host acres of orange groves. It’s just the reaction that Jim Crescitelli, program director for the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation, loved to see as he continued to share nuggets of history with the middle-schoolers in front of him Wednesday, Sept. 6. As part of the curriculum at the school — formerly known as Montessori of Winter Garden Charter School — students participate in “Worthwhile Wednesdays,” which affords them the opportunity to learn about their community while giving back to it. “We often say in education that we are always caring and thinking about the whole child,” said Patrice Cherico, executive director of Innovation Montessori. “Part of that, and what I appreciate about the school, is that we really take the time out to help educate the child around the community and servicing the community.” Worthwhile Wednesdays take place monthly, and students can donate spare change or a couple of dollars to that month’s charity or organization of choice. In return, they get to wear a school spirit shirt and jeans and have an opportunity to learn about the charity to which they are donating. Students get to be involved in the process of choosing a charity or organization and are given guidance on important things to consider before making their decision. “Personally, it’s my favorite thing that we do here,” said sixthgrader Ava Johnson. “We had a group last year who got to choose the charities that are local, and (the charities) would come in and tell us what they did.” With the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation being this month’s recipient for the school’s Worthwhile Wednesdays pro-

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