09.28.17 West Orange Time & Observer by Orange Observer

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VOLUME 84, NO. 39

SEPTEMBER 2017

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In this month’s edition, we focus on issues and questions related to men’s health. INSIDE.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

The man’s perspective

THE MAN ISSUE

Ocoee lowers millage rate for FY 2018

•

West Orange crowns Homecoming royalty. 12.

Ocoee sisters Gail Waxman and Myra Kinnie recently completed a book about their intriguing hometown.

GABBY BAQUERO NEWS EDITOR OCOEE Residents of Ocoee will be receiving a modest tax break this following fiscal year courtesy of a millage rate reduction approved during Ocoee’s final budget hearing. Following an 11% increase in property values that places Ocoee’s estimated values at $2.31 billion, city leaders lowered the millage rate from 5.8291 to 5.6546 — a 3.1% decrease. With the millage rate set at

STORY ON PAGE 4

SEE OCOEE PAGE 8

YOUR TOWN ROTARY CLUB SELECTS RECIPIENTS The Rotary Club of Winter Garden has distributed $34,000 to 23 local and international charities. The funds were accumulated through various activities. Recipients are: Camaraderie Foundation, Camp Boggy Creek, Camp RYLA, Central Florida Dreamplex, Down Syndrome Association, The Finley Project, Garden Theatre, HapCo Music Foundation, Hope Love & Me Foundation, Jimmy Crabtree Cancer Fund, Lift Disability Network, Matthew’s Hope, Oakland Avenue Charter School, Oakland Nature Preserve, Reading Reindeer, Rotary International Foundation, Rotary of Winter Garden Medical Equipment Bank, Shelter Box, Sunshine Kids Foundation, West Orange Boys & Girls Club, West Orange Habitat for Humanity, West Orange Scholarship Fund and Winter Garden Heritage Foundation.

Gail Waxman, left, and her sister, Myra Kinnie, have written a book of historical fiction about their hometown’s past.

Eddy Dominguez replaces Paul Chandler in race

Amy Quesinberry

HEAVY HITTERS

Democrats chose Dominguez to face Robert “Bobby” Olszewski in the Florida House District 44 special election. GABBY BAQUERO NEWS EDITOR

ORANGE COUNTY Eduardo “Eddy”

Dominguez is officially the Orange County Democrat Party’s new nominee of choice for the House District 44 special election. Dominguez, a senior executive at human resources firm Resource Employment Solutions, replaces

Eddy Dominguez

SEE MEET PAGE 4

The West Orange High volleyball team is off to a red-hot 14-0 start to the season. SEE PAGE 17.

WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

FRIDAY, SEPT. 29

YOUR CALENDAR

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

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. LIFT DISABILITY ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT 8 a.m. Friday, Sept. 29, at The Legends at Orange Lake, 8505 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee. Proceeds benefit Operation Christmas Child, which provides shoeboxes filled with goodies for underprivileged children around the world. Costs are $350 for a foursome, $90 for individuals

and $35 for the lunch and live auction. Register at liftdisability. net/2017-giveback-golf-registration/. ROTARY CHARITY POKER TOURNAMENT 6 p.m. registration and training session, 7 p.m. event Friday, Sept. 29, 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 preregistration and $60 at the door. Register at (407) 877-9400 or jkwg1@earthlink.net.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 30

MAD SCIENCE LIVE: UP, UP AND AWAY! 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, at the Winter Garden

OUR TOUGHNESS IS YOUR STRENGTH.

Library, 805 E. Plant St.Mad Science Live: Up, Up and Away. This special event will introduce you to the principles of air and pressure. 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. Recommended for ages 5 to 12. (407) 835-7323. VFW FREEDOM WEEKEND BBQ COOKOFF 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, at West VFW Post 4305, 1170 E. Plant St., Winter Garden. A People’s Choice Best BBQ contest will be held, and there will be horseshoe tournaments and corn hole, children’s water games and other activities. (407) 656-3078.

WINDERMERE HIGH MATTRESS FUNDRAISER 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, at Windermere High School, 5505 Winter Garden Vineland Road, Windermere. Every purchase benefits music and drill design at WHS. All mattress sizes and a variety of styles and name brands will be available. Layaway and delivery is available, and mattresses and accessories can be purchased by cash, check or credit charge. Bit.ly/beds4wolverinesband. YOGA ON THE PATIO 8:45 to 10:15 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, at Tranquiliti Wellness Center, 503 Main St., Windermere. Support Yoga Awareness Month with this free outdoor practice on the pavers behind the center. Session is for all levels of experience. Take a mat, water, towel and pillow for sitting. Register at ramonayogaenergy.com.

SUNDAY, OCT. 1

FREEDOM WEEKEND 5K FUN RUN & WALK 7:30 to 9 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, at West Orange VFW Post 4305, 1170 E. Plant St., Winter Garden. VFW Post 4305 in Winter Garden is hosting its inaugural remembrance 5K for POW/MIA Remembrance Day as part of Freedom Weekend. Cost is $40. vfwpost4305.org/freedomweekend.

OKTOBERFEST Noon Sunday, Oct. 1, at Tin Roof Orlando, 8371 International Drive, Orlando. Free Oktoberfest event at I-Drive 360 includes live performances, German food and drinks. tinroofbars.com/home/ orlando.

TUESDAY, OCT. 3

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT 2017 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3, in the Target parking lot, 3343 Daniels Road, Winter Garden, in the Winter Garden Village at Fowler Groves. The Winter Garden Police Department is hosting the event, which is designed to bring the community together to fight crime. There will be free food and fun for the family. (407) 656-3636.

SATURDAY, OCT. 7

SEVENTH ANNUAL THINK PINK BREAST CANCER RIDE 7 a.m. registration; first ride at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, starting at Winter Garden Wheel Works, 101 W. Plant St., Winter Garden. There are three rides, of 10, 30 and 65 miles, and the start times are 8, 8:30 and 9 a.m. Costs are $10, $30 and $40, and registration includes a T-shirt. For information: active. com/winter-garden-fl/cycling/ wgww-think-pink-breast-cancerride-2017.

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Naegleria Fowleri is found around the world, but the majority of infections in the U.S. have been caused by Naegleria Fowleri from freshwater located in southern states. The amoeba can be found in: n Bodies of warm freshwater, such as lakes and rivers n Geothermal (naturally hot) water, such as hot springs n Warm water discharge from industrial plants n Geothermal drinking water sources n Swimming pools that are poorly maintained, minimally chlorinated and/ or unchlorinated. n Water heaters. Naegleria Fowleri grows best at higher temperatures up to 115 degrees Fahrenheit and can survive for short periods at higher temperatures. n Soil Source: Centers For Disease Control and Prevention

RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS n Wash your hands with soap and water that has been boiled or disinfected before preparing or eating food, after toilet use, after participating in floodcleanup activities and after handling articles contaminated with flood water or sewage. n Avoid eating or drinking anything that might have been contaminated with flood waters. n Avoid contact with flood waters if you have open cuts or sores. n Do not wade through standing water. If you do, bathe and put on clean clothes as soon as possible.

IN CASE OF SEWAGE BACKUP

n Wear rubber boots and waterproof gloves during cleanup. n Remove and discard absorbent household materials, such as wall coverings, cloth, rugs and dry wall. n Clean walls and hardsurfaced floors with soap and water and disinfect with a solution of 1/4 cup of bleach to one gallon of water. n Steam clean all carpeting. n Wash linens and clothing in hot water. Air dry larger items in the sun and spray them with a disinfectant. n Disinfect food contact

State biologists warn of brain-eating amoeba The Florida Department of Health reminds residents to steer clear of flooded waters to avoid being infected by dangerous parasites.

Oakland approves 2017-18 budget AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

The Oakland Town Commission, after postponing its regular meeting because of Hurricane Irma, has approved the proposed millage rate of 6.75 mills for Fiscal Year 201718. This is the ninth consecutive year the town has kept the millage rate the same. The commission approved the proposed fiscal year budget at $13,676,693, as well. The final budget hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 26, after press time, but no changes were expected. The proposed budget for the General Fund is $6,244,554; the two Enterprise Funds are Utilities, $3,065,280, and Facilities, $55,200. The operations funds for Oakland Avenue Charter School stands at $4,311,659.

GABBY BAQUERO NEWS EDITOR ORANGE COUNTY

o prevent more infections of the rare but highly fatal braineating parasite named Naegleria Fowleri, biology experts ask residents to be particularly cautious in post-hurricane Irma conditions. Naegleria Fowleri, an amoeba known to inhabit bodies of warm freshwater remains a constant low-level threat to anyone who chances a swim in Florida’s abundance of warm lakes, rivers and springs. However, more bodies of freshwater in flooded backyards, inundated pet parks and overflowing retention ponds and lakes left behind by Irma creates more environments for the amoeba to thrive. This includes the many bodies of water in West Orange such as the Butler Chain of Lakes. “The ameba is found in all types of untreated freshwater bodies — stagnant or otherwise” said Jack Tracy, the epidemiology surveillance specialist at the Florida Department of Health in Orange County. “Recreational water users should assume that there is always a low level of risk associated with entering all warm freshwater.” Although the amoeba is commonly found worldwide, infection, which causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis, it is fairly rare. Only 143 known cases in the United States were reported from 1962 to 2016, however, of those 143 individuals, only four people survived. “Prior to 2008, primary amebic meningoencephalitis was not a reportable disease in Florida,” Tracy said. “However, 34 cases have been documented with Florida exposures from 1962 through 2013. Of the 34 cases, 21 were exposed in Central Florida. … All cases died from the disease.” Exposure to the parasite, which usually occurs when people go swimming in warm freshwater places or even under-chlorinated residential pools, leads to a painful death. The parasite tends to enter the body through the nose and then travels up the nasal passage to the brain where it destroys the brain tissue and often leads to death within one to 12 days after

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

WHAT IS NAEGLERIA FOWLERI? Naegleria Fowleri is a heat-loving (thermophilic) freshwater parasite causes Primary Amebic Meningoencepalitis, which results in the destruction of brain tissue, causing brain swelling and death in humans. To date, Naegleria fowleri, which eats other organisms like bacteria found in the sediment of lakes and rivers, is the only species of Naegleria found to infect humans and has a 97% fatality rate.

symptoms begin, Tracy said. “The initial symptoms of PAM start one to seven days (average five days) after swimming or other nasal exposure to Naegleria-containing water,” Tracy said. “The initial signs and symptoms of PAM include headaches, fever, nausea, vomiting and stiff neck. As the amoeba causes more extensive destruction of brain tissue this leads to confusion, lack of attention to people and surroundings, loss of balance and

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bodily control, seizures and hallucinations.” Because the symptoms can be confused with other diseases, infection is harder to diagnose, which can be a problem as the disease progresses rapidly. However, for cases that are not diagnosed too late, treatment involving the use of an investigational drug called miltefosine is commercially available. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been three patients who survived PAM since 2013 courtesy of the investigational drug, which has been able to kill Naegleria Fowleri in laboratory experiments. But, regardless of recent successes, Tracy advised that everyone take extra precautions when swimming in Florida’s waters. “If you’re going to swim in untreated freshwater bodies, like rivers, streams, ponds or man-made untreated freshwater bodies, then using nose clips or holding one’s nose closed may help to prevent infection,” Tracy said. “But this is not 100% guaranteed.”

THE CHANGES Several increases and decreases were included in the budget. n The general government expenses decreased $12,000 because of interest reduction for the OACS loan. n The legislative portion of the budget increased $32,450, mostly for health insurance and elections costs. n The town is hiring an assistant town manager to work under Town Manager Dennis Foltz. This addition requires a $51,158 increase in Finance and Administrative. n The addition of a building official in the Planning Department increased that fund $233,667. The $258,385 building official expense is offset by revenue of $322,981, resulting in a net revenue of $64,506 to the town. The town added an office rental of $12,000 to handle increased staff. n In the Public Works Department, $15,000 was added for stormwater maintenance, $8,500 for landscaping and $18,000 for compensation. n An increase of $80,900 for the Oakland Police Departmen is partly because the town is adjusting the pay of its starting officers to stay in competition with Orange County and other municipalities. Other items include auto leases and computer software. n An increase of $532,220 was allocated for special projects, including the Arts & History Museum and the roundabout on West Oakland Avenue near West Colonial Drive, to be offset by grant and impact fee funds.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

Ocoee’s history inspires sisters AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

After decades of collecting information about their hometown’s past, two Ocoee sisters have published a book based on historical fiction. Myra Kinnie, 76, and Gail Waxman, 70, have written “Ocoee! A Novel,” which tells the story of the 1920 election race riot that took place in Ocoee and its subsequent effect on the city’s black population for the next 60 years. “We tried to make it as truthful as we could,” Kinnie said. “We tried to soften it as best we could. It’s not a soft subject — we know that. But it’s one that needs to be told, because it’s always covered up.” “So many people want to hear about it and know the truth,” Waxman added. UNCOVERING THE STORY

Her fascination with the story started close to 30 years ago, when Waxman was working as a real-estate appraiser under Sam Holland and he began telling her stories about the area. “I started getting abstracts of the area, before title insurance, which told the history of the property, but nothing really official,” she said. “An opinion of title, by an attorney. … I love history, and I started looking at these abstracts of property, and I kept seeing these names.” When she asked Holland about the people, he was hesitant to answer, she said. “They were some of the black people who had lived there in the

1920s in Ocoee and had owned the properties,” Waxman said. “I started to dig deeper.” Digging was difficult and factfinding was tedious in the days before computers and the internet. “We would hear stories early on but never any fact, no official story,” Kinnie said. “It was behindthe-barn-door-type stuff. … All we ever knew was there was an altercation basically.” Waxman began researching the subject at the Orange County Regional History Center in Orlando. She spoke with anyone who would talk to her about the 1920 riot, and, slowly, her collection of information was building. During a trip to St. Augustine, the sisters met a bookstore owner whose deceased husband, Stetson Kennedy, had spent several years as an undercover federal agent embedded in the Ku Klux Klan. He kept extensive files on his racial discoveries in his home, and when the wife learned what Kinnie and

BUY IT HERE “Ocoee! A Novel” can be purchased online at ocoeenovel.com or amazon.com, as well as at the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation’s History Research and Education Center, 21 E. Plant St., Winter Garden. The authors, Gail Waxman and Myra Kinnie, will present their book and hold a book signing from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, at the WGHF History Research and Education Center.

Meet the candidate CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

the former HD 44 Democrat candidate, Paul Chandler, who withdrew from the race Sept. 8. Dominguez, a Harvard graduate, now will face Republican Robert “Bobby” Olszewski in the Oct. 10 special election. But Chandler did not withdraw before the deadline to send out military and overseas ballots, so all ballots will have Chandler’s name on it. All votes for Chandler will automatically count for Dominguez, including all the early votes already casted for Chandler via vote-by-mail ballots. To inform voters of the recent development, Orange County Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles will mail postcards to the district’s registered voters with an explanation. Orange County Democrat Chairman Wes Hodge said signs also will be erected at all early voting booths and election-day polling locations notifying voters of the change. “It certainly makes things quite complicated for our voters, but our message is going to be that we have a candidate that represents our democratic values and that’s who they should support,” Hodge said. When asked if he believes introducing a new Democrat candidate this late in the race creates a disadvantage for Dominguez, Hodge said the party just plans to move on and focus on the coming election. “I don’t really want to focus on what happened in the past,” Hodge said. “I mean, there’s nothing we

can do to change it. It is what it is. Chandler had complete control of the situation and this is where he left us, but we will do our best to make sure that our Democrats know the election is happening Oct. 10 and they have a democratic choice to represent them in Tallahassee.”

Waxman were researching, she invited them to look in his archives and to make copies of anything they thought was crucial to their book. Kennedy’s findings are now part of the University of Florida Archives. Closer to home, the writers spent hours and hours at the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation doing even more research. Fact-finding was difficult at times. There are no voting records for 1920, Kinnie said — not in Orange County and not in Tallahassee. “So many things we’d get so close to finding something only to find out it burned,” Waxman said. “We do know that for 17 years, no black person voted in Orange County,” Kinnie said. “So, it was very effective because it kept women from voting, especially black women,” Waxman added. OCOEE! A NOVEL

Once the information was gathered, Waxman and Kinnie began formulating it into a book. Where there was no concrete information, the women had to surmise what likely happened, such as the details of how the black residents actually escaped during the night after their homes were set ablaze. The book is written from the viewpoint of a young woman writing her master’s thesis on information shared in the journal of her great-grandmother, who grew up in Ocoee during the race riot. The pages alternate between the old woman’s journal and the young woman’s thesis paper.

BIO EDUARDO “EDDY” DOMINGUEZ AGE: 37 FAMILY: Wife, Holly, and two sons, Michelangelo and Raphael PROFESSION: Senior executive VP at Resource Employment Solutions, a national staffing company EDUCATION: Government and economics, Harvard University QUALIFICATIONS: Twenty years of business executive leadership and entrepreneurship

What differentiates you from your opponent? Make no mistake: This is a referendum on the policies and priorities of Donald Trump, Rick Scott and Bobby “O” — my opponent in this race. And this is an opportunity to stand up for the values that my family and I share with the people in District 44. … Donald Trump, Rick Scott and my opponent embrace a political culture where it is acceptable to smile and make promises to their constituents, and then betray and ignore their constituents after lobbyists whisper in their ear and hand them a check.

invest in public education, reduce class sizes, provide enrichment activities and raise school resources to pay teachers fairly. I will stand up to the devastation to our lakes, forests and wildlife caused by outof-control urban sprawl. I will fight for you, for your land and for environmental conservation, not for big developers and power companies.

What do you view as the three most pressing issues facing District 44, and what do you propose to do about it? There are three key issues I would initially focus on that directly impact the majority of constituents in our district – issues which I affectionately call the three E’s: economic security, education and environment. I will fight for employee wages and benefits. Paying workers fairly creates loyalty, raises productivity savings and helps businesses thrive. With two children in Orange County Public Schools, I will fight to fully

According to some elected officials, an alarming number of state bills that threaten home rule were proposed this past legislative session. What are your thoughts on home rule? As a candidate and constituent of House District 44, I am staunchly in favor of home rule. Public welfare demands that the state and federal government return to the fundamental principles of free popular government, based on both home rule and individual liberty. It has never been more urgent than now, when the tendency to centralize all power

“This book brings home the harsh reality of the times in the city of Ocoee. After reading this novel,

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.” Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944 Publisher / Dawn Willis,

I am so thankful for the

dwillis@OrangeObserver.com

now-diverse community

Michael Eng, meng@OrangeObserver.com

of Ocoee, the one that I

Jessica Eng, jeng@OrangeObserver.com

am proud to call home.” — Ocoee City Commissioner Rosemary Wilsen

To create the character of greatgrandmother Georgia, Kinnie and Waxman incorporated much of their own mother, Eddie Barker, who was 3 when she moved to Ocoee in 1920. The book, released in May, already has won two gold awards, a silver and an honorable mention in national book contests, which, Waxman said, is giving them the confidence to actively promote this book and start thinking of writing another one. Ocoee City Commissioner Rosemary Wilsen called the impact of the novel both horrifying and enlightening. “This book brings home the harsh reality of the times in the city of Ocoee,” she said. “After reading this novel, I am so thankful for the now-diverse community of Ocoee, the one that I am proud to call home.”

at the federal level has become a menace to the rights of local governments. What are your suggestions on how to best regulate the medical marijuana industry? The regulation of the medical marijuana industry is a hugely contested issue that boils down to two main concerns: patients’ access to their medication and whether cities and counties regulate the location and operation of dispensaries. My suggestion would be to prioritize the three essential goals of medical marijuana regulation: keeping cannabis out of the hands of minors, reducing harm to users and preventing collateral harm to the public. What would you advise to improve Florida’s education system? In the business world, when there is an under-performing division or product line, smart management does not decrease funding and reroute resources. Rather, they increase focus on the problem, create a corrective action plan and then invest in solutions that will make a difference. That means we must focus at a local level on our public school problems by listening to teachers, parents and children. We must invest the money to fully fund public schools. We must reduce our classroom sizes, identify students with the desire and aptitude to pursue vocational arts programs, develop robust internship programs, implement full and varied after-school programs, guarantee nutritious meals during the school day and pay our teachers fairly. For complete Q&A answers, visit OrangeObserver.com.

Executive Editor / Design Editor / 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 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

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

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You are never alone in the struggle in the 1960s with the newest one built in 2016. The rest fall somewhere in between. The older homes have the original owners for the most part, and those of us who have moved in somewhere in between realize we have been brought back to a time where life was truly lived within the community. A natural disaster can either bring out the bad or emphasis the good, but I have determined that typically it incorporates the two. Even people who are generally good can be pushed to their limits when the loss of creature comforts ensue. This is where the strength of a community is so important; you are never alone in the struggle. When Hurricane Irma struck our neighborhood, at first our instincts and adrenaline kicked in. We found the strength to endure the heat while cleaning all the debris from our property. But enduring a natural disaster such as a hurricane deprives you of what you have grown to consider your essentials — sleep, food, TV, air-conditioning, electricity, charged phones, water to clean with and a place to shower; not to mention using the bathroom. (In our neighborhood with wells and septic tanks, when you saw someone with a bucket heading to the lake, you knew it was to fill up the back of the toilet so flushing was possible.) When you get close to the five-day mark, still no A/C and temps close to

KATHY BEE SUBURBAN SHORES

I was born in the late 1950s in New Orleans. We had a very modest home — three bedrooms and one bath for seven family members. No A/C and no heat other than our fireplace. We slept with our windows open and never worried about intruders. Kids were always outside playing together, and moms were on the lookout for everyone’s safety — not just their own kids. TV was new, and we only had it on to watch a family show or if something important was on the news. The neighborhood families gathered together for outdoor picnics in the sweltering heat, and if someone was making a “grocery run,” they picked up enough for the ones not able to leave their homes. If someone was struggling working on something in the yard, you can be sure a neighbor saw it and came to help; somehow, it all worked out. I grew up with a sense of community, and I bet if you were born in the ’50s or before, you did, too. I have ached for something magical to happen to re-create that environment for this generation. Today, I live in Suburban Shores, a neighborhood in Winter Garden that has been referred to by visitors as Mayberry because of our community togetherness. It’s reminiscent of the days I mentioned above from my youth. Some of the homes were built

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WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

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we saw a power truck hoping it meant electricity would resume soon. We slept with our windows open and didn’t fear intruders, because we knew we were all looking out for each other. I had a magical glimpse back in time when this behavior was the norm. Magic can happen if you believe. If you want the magic of a community like mine, don’t wait for a disaster to hit. Reach out to one another. Have community picnics, offer coffee, turn off TV and play outside with the kids. Include everyone! It just takes one person to be the ring leader. How amazing it will be for your community to have already formed that bond if another natural disaster hits. A shared generator and a cup of coffee can make a dramatic difference. Be the difference you want to see in the world and hope it’s contagious. Each one of us has something amazing to contribute to making this world a better place. Don’t waste your opportunity.

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100, bug bites from yard debris, snakes, gators, restless kids and no sleep start to wear on a person. The true strength of one’s soul is how they endure when feeling like they are at the end of their rope. I am so impressed with my neighbors that I want to share the pleasant side of what happened when Hurricane Irma hit our town. We went through the ups and downs you would expect when a disaster hits. What I saw, though, is worth sharing. Because we were already a strong community who knew and cared for each other, neighbors who were well up in age were helping each other drag debris to the road, cutting down tree limbs, offering water, giving out hugs, sharing what food or supplies they had that someone else may be able to use. We were finding humor in things such as sharing the lake as our bath tubs (until the eightfoot gator decided to also join.) We texted each other any time

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WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

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5.65, the city expects to generate $12,335,587 in property tax revenue — its largest source of revenue. The projected $12.3 million in revenue is a 4.5% increase from the property tax revenue collected in 2017, which totaled $11.8 million. The city anticipates it will be able lower the millage rate even more once its downtown revitalization project is completed, because of the large increase in property values it will bring and the businesses expected to make Ocoee their home. “With its completion, we’d have a bigger increase in the property values because all these new assets are going to come online and we’d anticipate the total revenue to increase proportionally,” said Ocoee’s Finance Director Bob Briggs. “So we’d have a smaller increase in our revenue requirement and a bigger increase in our property values and that translates into a lower millage rate.” Despite the lower millage, the city’s finance department was able to balance the general fund budget at $48.2 million, which is used for the city’s annual operating expenses. This is a 16.2% increase from last year’s budget of $40.4 million. The vast majority of this fiscal year’s expenses, Briggs noted, remain as usual: salaries and wages of city employees, which comprises 60 to 65% of the projected operating expenses, followed by

payments to contractors, capital improvement projects and debt service. Some of the larger funding increases in the 2018 budget, however, are for the police and fire departments, which Briggs said are mostly due to equipment purchases, the addition of six police officers (three of which are grant-funded), one police accreditation specialist and 24 new firefighters — all of which are also being funded via grants. The city also plans to fund the addition of a part-time fire inspector and city clerk, a recreation leader and parks service worker for the parks and recreation department and two customer service representatives in the finance department. A funding increase is also listed for the category of general government, which pays for the electric and water bills of the city’s facilities, city employee health insurance, debt service payments for capital projects, software, equipment, lease agreements and the like. While last year’s budget included $11.4 million in funding for general government expenditures, this year’s budget includes $14.2 million — an increase of about 20%. However, a good portion of that increase is attributable to an 18.9% increase in the cost of health insurance premiums for the city’s employees, which jumped from $4.7 million in 2017 to $5.8 million in 2018.

PROJECTED REVENUES General Fund: $48,223,485 Stormwater Utility: $3,444,455 Water/Wastewater: $11,502020 Solid Waste: $3,676,710 Total: $66,846,670

GENERAL FUND REVENUES Beginning Cash Balance: $3,960,740 Property Tax: $12,335,587 Franchise Tax: $2,599,130 Utility Tax: $3,311,590 Licenses and Permits: $1,504,600 Intergovernmental: $12,535,550 Service Charges: $2,563,645 Fines and Forfeitures: $1,260,470 Miscellaneous: $4,090,465 Interfund transfers: $3,695,120 Total: $48,223,485

GENERAL FUND EXPENSES City Commission: $209,145 City Manager: $624,190 City Clerk: $314,615 Finance: $1,157,910 Human Resources: $484,180 Legal: $276,500 Planning: $848,505 General Government: $14,246,410 Public Works: $372,930 Support Services: $1,639,510 Maintenance: $987,830 Police: $11,177,955 Fire: $8,057,255 Building: $1,030,955 Cemetery: $61,200 Street Operations: $2,815,610 Fleet Maintenance: $1,112,755 Recreation: $1,474,795 Parks: $1,331,235 Total: $48,223,485

The Restoration Series: EDUCATION A few words with:

“Orange Technical College Westside Campus is a proud supporter of Matthew’s Hope Ministries. We serve as an educational and career training partner for all of their clients educational needs. Due to the support from Matthew’s Hope Ministry staff and OTC’s certified faculty, their clients have had much success in our GED and career training programs thus leading them to employment stability.” - Crystal Davidson

Kristen Balsis

meless? About 2 ¼ years. How long have you been ho ldren For several months my chifed What did that look like?el and occasionally couch sur

and I lived from hotel to hot my job we ended up living in our remained with friends but after losing ces and with lost hope, we car. Given no other resour ut Matthew’s Hope. abo rd in our car until I hea u have? Two Boys 5 & 6 and

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How many children do yo

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Transitional Matthew’s Hope tth You are living in the ew’s Hope? Ma changed since hole with Housing, what haIswas falling deeper into a dark

a place Before MH I felt like feet. It was hard not having no hope of getting on my are. At MH, my children were able to call home and no childc pe Firm Foundation Montessori to attend the Matthew’s Ho wed me more flexibility to work and based Preschool which allo them a foundation to work from pursue education and gaveools. before entering Public Sch

plishment has the greatest accomw... What do you thinkcom let’s see... so Wo ? MH to ing been for you since get a Nissan to rk wo to e okay, I’ve been abl

Medical many great things... I have been working on my Murano, for the past year while attending school I have gone to Assistance Certificate and last month I am now Debt Free! Long work for OCPS, and as of education. For me to be able to put term, it has to be getting my ds and to provide for them is my s attending a roof over my children’s hea e as a single mom. My kid most important task I hav getting my Education at Orange Firm Foundation, and me e changer for me and my family. Technical School, is a gam

, this isn’t uld tell people? lol...s yes tt and Anything else you wo Sco tor Pas it. rth wo rk but it is

us. You an easy Program to wo also love us and encourage Frankie don’t play but they sses throughout the week and also Cla ll have to attend Life Ski points. The entire Staff and wonderful work around MH to earn h me and supported me and my volunteers have walked witw’s Hope has changed my future family all the way. Matthe I would tell others that if they are ection, and the lives of my children. hard and willing to take dir dedicated, willing to work ter than ever imagined or thought life can become so much bet possible. t portion After I complete the currento do an What’s next for yontu?Cer e hop I , rch Ma in tificate go from of my Medical Assista ctor and see where things internship with a local Do ghter than I can ever remember. I am there. The future looks bri pe, their Staff, their volunteers and all thankful for Matthew’s Ho all these things possible. their supporters who make

“Hope Church is beyond thankful for this locally based ministry. We believe the Team at Matthew’s Hope Ministries is doing an incredible job living out the Gospel while serving the homeless men, women and children of our community. Hope Church is blessed to serve alongside them as they offer dignified opportunities to those in need while sharing love and hope as each discover how to live out the design God has for their lives.” - Wes Beachem Founder & Lead Pastor Hope Church

Grace •Compassion •Understanding Administrative Offices 523 S. Woodland, Winter Garden, FL 34787 407.905.9500 MatthewsHopeMinistries.org Facebook.com/MatthewsHopeMinistries

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

ARTS + CULTURE WATCH THIS ‘Sister Act’

Shining bright

7 p.m Thursday, Sept. 28, Friday, Sept. 29, and Saturday, Sept. 30; 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30; 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, at Dr. Phillips High School, 6500 Turkey Lake Rd., Orlando. The Dr. Phillips High School Theatre Department will be putting on the award-winning musical, “Sister Act” for its fall show. Tickets cost between $10 and $25 depending on seat location and can be purchased at tinyurl.com/dphs4276. For more information, call (407) 355-3200 or email jason. whitehead@ocps.net.

LISTEN TO THIS Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9

Photos by Brittany Gaines

Seniors Matt Guernier, left, and Kassidy Weideman will star in the leading roles in “Bright Star.”

8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, at the Bob Carr Theater, 401 W. Livingston St., Orlando. The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra will kick off its 25th anniversary season with two performances of Beethoven’s iconic Symphony No. 9 led by world-renowned conductor Eric Jacobsen. Tickets start at $23, and can be purchased at orlandophil.org. For more information, call (407) 8966700.

CATCH THIS ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, Friday Sept. 29, and Saturday, Sept. 30; 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, and Sunday., Oct. 1, at the Garden Theatre, 160 W. Plant St., Winter Garden. It’s the final weekend to see this stirring rock opera that follows the perspective of Judas Iscariot during Jesus Christ’s last seven days on Earth. With material borrowed from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, this musical follows the meteoric rise of Jesus’ popularity, the devotion and doubts of his disciples and the radical response by the church priests. Tickets are $34 per person. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit gardentheatre.org.

Despite numerous challenges, West Orange thespians will be the first high school in the country to perform “Bright Star.” BRITTANY GAINES STAFF WRITER

WINTER GARDEN

t the start of the year, the familiar face of longtime Theater Department Director Ken Rush wasn’t there to greet this year’s theater students at West Orange High School. But, the show must go on, and the Warrior thespians are prepping for an unprecedented start to their 2017-18 season. With opening night set for Thursday, Oct. 5, the West Orange thespians will be the first high school in the country to perform the musical “Bright Star.” The show, written by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, follows the story of a woman named Alice Murphy and jumps between her experiences as a pregnant teenager in the 1920s and her adult life in the 1940s as she connects with a World War II veteran. Theater Director Tara Whitman dreamed of performing the musical after seeing it on Broadway more than two years ago.

Senior Cameron Hayes took on the challenge of designing the entire set for “Bright Star” from scratch.

SEE AT LONG PAGE 10

Junior Izzy Sarmento helped work on the set in the days leading up to the opening night of “Bright Star.”

WEST ORANGE TIMES & OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

At long last CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

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“I just really love the music and the story,” Whitman said. “I remember thinking, ‘This is a show we have to do.’” When Rush announced his retirement last year, Whitman began planning for the 2017-18 season and immediately began researching “Bright Star.” However, obtaining the script was anything but easy. The script first had to be rewritten, which Steve Martin did and sent to Whitman. Whitman had to agree not to perform the “Bright Star” while the Broadway version toured in the Orlando area. The producers of “Bright Star” had to give the rewritten script their stamp of approval. At the start of the school year, Whitman still was waiting for official approval and had decided to go with her back-up plan instead. That’s when the call came that West Orange could perform “Bright Star.” But the list of challenges did not end there. Because the show has never been performed by a high school before, there were no set designs. It was a challenge senior Cameron Hayes embraced. “It’s an awesome opportunity to be the first,” he said. “It’s making a design that other schools may be following in the future.” And the set isn’t made up of just a few walls. It also includes a train track for a miniature train used throughout the show. “The biggest challenge was figuring out how to make the train run back and forth,” Hayes said.

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“BRIGHT STAR”

Relief is just a Pellet Away!

SHOWTIMES: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5, Friday, Oct. 6, Saturday, Oct. 7, Monday, Oct. 9, Friday, Oct. 13, and Saturday, Oct. 14; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8, and Sunday, Oct. 15 TICKETS: $12 for general admission, $15 for reserved seating and $10 for students. Tickets can be purchased at bit. ly/2ypfRxR or call (407) 9052462 for more information.

Brittany Gaines

Tara Whitman became the theater director at West Orange High after Ken Rush retired last year.

Another challenge facing the department was the show’s music. For most fall musicals, the department relies on the show’s accompanying soundtrack. “Bright Star” has no soundtrack. But because of the show’s unique music — Whitman calls the show a bluegrass musical — Whitman was determined to have live music. Thanks to a combination of efforts from several students in the orchestra and community members volunteering their time, “Bright Star” will feature an eightpiece bluegrass band. But they won’t be hiding in the pit. They will play on stage with the rest of the performers on a moving platform. Although the department was faced with changes and challenges from the start of the year, Whitman said her students have stepped up to the challenge. “My senior class is one of the strongest we’ve had in many years,” she said. “They’re a good group of kids with a great work ethic.” Many of the student said they have felt the changes, but now, it’s all about the new show. “I’ve definitely noticed the difference, but it’s a great environment here,” said senior Matt Guernier, who will be playing the World War II veteran. “The show itself is beautiful.” Leading lady Kassidy Weideman, playing the role of Alice Murphy, has loved “Bright Star” for a while and is thrilled West Orange is the first to showcase it. “It’s amazing,” she said. “It still shocks me (to think about).”

PET OF THE WEEK If you would like your pet to be considered for the “Pet of the Week”... email your furry friend’s photo to: Contest@OrangeObserver.com

Papi helping pick up leaves after Irma