10.14.21 West Orange Times & Observer by Orange Observer

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Pickleball enthusiasts rejoice! City earmarks funds for growing sport. PAGE 12.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

Winter Garden, Ocoee, Oakland

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VOLUME 88, NO. 41

INSIDE H E A LTH MATTE RS THE OB S E RV E R ’S GU ID E TO YOU R B EST YOU

It’s all in the numbers This week, we take a look inside the city of Winter Garden’s $87 million 2021-22 budget. SEE PAGE 3.

O CTO B E R 2 0 2 1

INNER STRENGTH October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. Winter Garden resident Calvin Sanders continues to be a source of inspiration for his parents, Angel and Brian. Calvin is a senior at West Orange High School, and he also is a multisport athlete for the Special Olympics. Pages 6-8.

Traffic concerns growing

MAGIC TO DO

Discussion about roads and safety dominate Oct. 5 Ocoee meeting. SEE PAGE 2.

YOUR TOWN ALL FIRED UP ABOUT SAFETY State Farm agent Blake Price, in Winter Garden, teamed up with Foundation Academy to promote the Fire Prevention Week campaign. This year’s campaign, “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety,” aims to educate people about the different sounds the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms make. As part of Fire Prevention Week, State Farm agents delivered toolkits to thousands of fire departments and elementary schools. Each toolkit includes one large banner; 15 posters; and 100 adult fire safety brochures, kids’ activity booklets, newsletters, stickers, magnets and bags.

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Above: Story Korkis will portray Pippin. Right: The cast of West Orange High’s production of “Pippin” stays true to Bob Fosse’s original choreography.

West Orange High School’s theater program returns to the stage this week with ‘Pippin.’ SEE PAGE 4.

VOICING THEIR OPINIONS An unlikely local duo launches a new podcast SEE PAGE 10.

TURNPIKE TURMOIL

West Orange residents rally against a proposed Florida’s Turnpike expansion. 8.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

Traffic concerns dominate Ocoee discussion Road closures and reckless driving have caused issues on Ocoee city streets. CHRIS MARTUCCI SPORTS EDITOR

Recent traffic concerns within the city of Ocoee took center stage during the Ocoee City Commission’s Oct. 5 meeting. Ultimately, both citizens and commissioners agreed measures should be taken to encourage people to be more careful on the roads.

According to data from Orange County, there were about 288 traffic citations issued in Ocoee during September. On Sept. 27, the city of Ocoee announced road closures at Fuller Cross Road that will last from Oct. 4 to 29 and that there would be delays traveling along Ocoee-Apopka Road. During public comments, resident Melissa Myers said she was concerned by the “blatant disrespect” of traffic laws she has seen, specifically near Prairie Lake Elementary School and Prairie Lake Park. “In the last commission meeting, as Mayor (Rusty) Johnson so eloquently put it, we have home rule,” Myers said. “This rule should be used as the safety of our citizens are put in jeopardy.” Commissioner Rosemary Wilsen voiced similar concerns. She said it is up to citizens whether they will choose to be

safer on the road. Whether they ultimately get a ticket is up to them, but the public needs to be thoughtful of what they do, she said. “I don’t want your money; I want you to slow down,” Wilsen said. During his comments, Commissioner George Oliver showed a video of a recent incident involving an ATV and a dirt bike drag racing on Hackney-Prairie Road. He proposed adding more speed tables to roads such as HackneyPrairie Road to encourage people to slow down. “What I would like to know is what we can do to put a speed table on that road; what will it take?” Oliver said. “Do we have to wait on a kid to get hit? Do we have to wait on someone to be hurt … or die on the road? Do we have to wait on a car to flip? “What do we have to wait on in order to address the problem?”

he said. “We have the money to do it.” OCOEE VILLAGE

The commission unanimously approved a revision to the site plan for the proposed Ocoee Village project on Franklin Street. The commercial space would be two stories high and feature several businesses. During discussion, Commissioner Larry Brinson expressed concern about the distance to a subdivision that would be close to the space. The initial proposal placed the site only 61 feet away from the subdivision. After revising the layout of the space, it would be placed 157 feet away, the developer said. Instead of using that space for parking lots, the applicant will use it for greenery and other landscaping to serve as a natural buffer.

IN OTHER NEWS n Mayor Rusty Johnson read a proclamation declaring October Community Planning Month. n The commission passed unanimously the consent agenda, which included passing measures to permit the installation of a traffic light at the intersection of Clarcona-Ocoee Road and Ingram Road. n Commissioners passed a resolution establishing a new fingerprinting fee. Currently, it costs $3 for Ocoee residents and $5 for non-residents to have fingerprinting work done at the Ocoee Police Department. The proposal is looking to up the cost to $10 for residents and $25 for nonresidents.

OBSERVER

BUDGET BREAKDOWN

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14 2021

City of Winter Garden Fiscal Year ’21-’22

4.5

he Winter Garden City Commission approved the final Fiscal Year 2021-22 budget during its Sept. 29 meeting. Total revenues of $87,381,191 include $45,788,272 from the General

Fund, which marked a $4.8 million increase from the previous fiscal year. million from last year. Tax revenue stands at $25,469,386 and accounts for 56% of the total

TOTAL REVENUES & OTHER FINANCING SOURCES General Fund: $45,788,272 Special Revenue Fund: $6,942,698 Debt Service Fund: $2,565,403 Enterprise Funds: $22,830,186 Fiduciary Funds: $9,254,632 Total: $87,381,191

TOTAL EXPENDITURES & DISBURSEMENTS

General Fund: $46,556,560 Special Revenue Fund: $11,914,120 Debt Service Fund: $2,565,403 Enterprise Funds: $21,916,331 Fiduciary Funds: $4,581,389 Total: $87,533,803 Note: The variance in the revenue to expenditures is balanced with the use of/ transfer to fund balance.

The set millage rate for Fiscal Year 2021-22 is 4.5, which has now remained static for four years. The budget is currently balanced at a 4.5 millage rate.

This year’s Winter Garden budget includes a 3% cost-of-living increase for all employees.

The budgeted property tax revenue of about $19.06 million represents an increase of $1.3 General Fund revenue.

— JIM CARCHIDI

POLICE AND FIRE

Total expenditures and disbursements for Fiscal Year 2021-22 total $87,533,803. The combined police and fire budget for FY 2021-22 totals $22.8 million, an 8.2% increase of $1.7 million from the FY 2021 budget. The increase is attributed to the addition of three new sworn police officers and two new community service officers. The increase will fully fund the five new positions. The FY2022 capital budget includes replacing 12 marked police vehicles, police building improvements and replacing 10 tasers and 12 laptops for patrol cars. The Fire Rescue Department budget includes fire station improvements and the purchase of a new Fire Rescue vehicle for Station 23.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT Capital improvement projects include $249,000 for the West Plant Street road repair project and $263,000 for Marsh Road Improvements. A total of $707,000 is set aside for police vehicle replacements and $59,000 for A/C unit replacement in the police dispatch server room. And $402,000 is budgeted for a new Fire Rescue unit along with $60,000 for backup power generators for stations 23 and 24. Parks and Recreation major maintenance projects include $120,000 to resurface Bouler Pool, $300K to resurface the pickleball courts, and $480k for the Tanner Hall building repairs and improvements. During the budget hearing, City Manager Mike Bollhoefer mentioned plans for the Parks and Recreation Committee to conduct a survey for community input on future projects and needs. “We base our city on quality of life, and parks and recreations are what differentiate communities,” he said. “We have a lot of people with a lot of ideas chasing limited dollars, so this would be the best way to move forward.”

GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES BY DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT Legislative Legal Executive Economic Development City Clerk Fiscal Management Information Technology Administrative Services Police Department Fire Department Community Development Public Services Parks and Recreation Debt Transfers Out

GENERAL FUND REVENUE TOTAL: $45,788,272

Total Other Revenue $819,754 2%

Charges for Services $5,256,155 11% Fines and Forfeitures $44,122 1% Intergovernmental $9,215,370 20%

Taxes $25,469,386 56%

Permits, Fees and Special Assessments $4,983,485 11%

GENERAL FUND CIP PROJECTS TOTAL: $3,874,768

IN OTHER NEWS n City commissioners also voted to amend future land use designation on the property at 35 and 41 W. Morgan St. from low density residential to commercial for a planned, single-story office and retail building measuring about 9,000 square feet. The building will be designed with a residential feel to fit in with the surrounding neighborhood. n The collective bargaining agreement between the city of Winter Garden and the Winter Garden Professional Firefighters, International Association of Firefighters, Local 4947, for Oct. 1, 2021, through Sept. 30, 2024, was approved.

FY 2020 FY2021 FY2022 $151,088 $205,816 $205,407 $418,830 $408,526 $413,678 $853,454 $1,385,586 $1,336,552 $341,743 $439,362 $632,481 $279,064 $285,621 $311,575 $1,321,979 $1,272,443 $1,306,522 $1,243,618 $1,227,329 $1,478,688 $2,631,109 $2,573,672 $3,381,978 $11,467,099 $12,566,430 $13,692,318 $7,808,617 $8,480,896 $9,072,014 $2,349,782 $2,484,547 $2,771,681 $3,559,652 $3,677,775 $3,259,234 $4,906,564 $4,582,450 $5,920,591 $1,253,567 $1,437,448 $2,773,751

Recreation $678,590 17.51%

Parks $564,739 14.57%

Facilities $145,000 3.74%

Cemetery $28,500 .74%

Economic Development $250,000 6.5%

Information Technology $90,187 2.3%

Engineering $66,123 1.7%

Streets $662,104 17.08%

Police $766,194 19.77%

Fire $461,735 11.92%

Building Inspection $161,596 4.17%

OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

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

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Aakash Dookhie, who portrays Leading Player, also helped the production as assistant choreographer.

‘Pippin’ challenges West Orange thespians JIM CARCHIDI

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

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f COVID precautions weren’t challenging enough for West Orange High theater students, their latest project is putting them through their paces in a way only Bob Fosse could. “I wanted to do something (that) maybe wasn’t on their radar,” West Orange High Theater Program Director Tara Whitman said of “Pippin.” “When I told the students we were doing it, they went silent. I assumed they had no idea what the show was, but they were actually shocked.” The story of Pippin’s quest for a meaningful life was originally directed and choreographed by Fosse in 1972. The production retained his flair for the 2013 revival, upon which the WOHS version is based. “We’ve set ours outside an early 1900s circus train,” Whitman said. “The whole story will evolve from the unpacking of the train and having the performers tell the story.” But set design was probably the least formidable challenge. Whitman, who began her career as a choreographer, understood the difficulty of the production, but the responsibilities of directing a high school ensemble meant she did not have time to fill two roles. Assistance came from professional dancer, WOHS alum and friend Madison McGrew. “I guess I was nervous; I do not claim to be an expert in Fosse,” McGrew said. But she did have experience working with Tampa’s Broadway Theatre Project — a three-week musical theater training program founded by dancer, choreographer, director and Fosse protégée Ann Reinking. However, training a younger age group was not part of the curriculum. “The choreography can look and feel a little more adult with all of

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those hip isolations, but I wanted to be true to it while also giving the high-schoolers a safe space to dance,” she said. “It’s a lot to take on in a very short amount of time. I’m very proud of them.” McGrew’s schedule limited her time with the cast, but additional assistance came from Aakash Dookhie, who portrays Leading Player and has assisted his fellow cast members in learning the choreography. “What I did grow up with was a lot of Bollywood-style dancing, which involves a lot of hips and isolations and all that Fosse was about,” he said. “The biggest thing is feeling comfortable in yourself so the movements (that) are particularly awkward feel good and look good.” As challenging as the dance steps are, there is also the subject matter. “We do want to make sure everyone is aware, as Pippin sets out to discover himself, some of the content is suggested for a mature audience,” Whitman said. Discussions with Principal Matthew Turner and students prior to auditioning helped with the decision to keep the original

scenes intact. “The students carry themselves with such professionalism (that) it’s nice to challenge them,” Whitman said. “Of course, there are some giggles when we get to content that is a little more uncomfortable, but they handle it with such grace,” McGrew said. “They know where the line is, they don’t cross it, but they do know how to portray a concept that’s very smart.” Updated OCPS guidelines allow students to perform unmasked, but clear masks are being used during rehearsals. Whitman believes the transition from a year of masked performances to being unmasked on opening night will be seamless. And the added emphasis on body language while masks were necessary has been a benefit. “I feel that students’ physicalization really improved,” she said. “This is one of those shows where the choreography lives in and out of the musical numbers,” Dookhie said. “It flows through every character from beginning to end, it’s non-stop until the curtain closes.”

Photos by Jim Carchidi

The cast of West Orange High’s production of “Pippin” used the script from the production’s 2013 revival.

IF YOU GO “PIPPIN” WHEN: Oct. 14 through 17 WHERE: West Orange High School, 1625 Beulah Road, Winter Garden SAFETY PROTOCOL: Audience members are required to wear masks. TICKETS: Tickets are available online at teachtix.com/wohs.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14 2021

NEWSBRIEFS Disney grants $3M to local nonprofits Walt Disney World is celebrating its 50th anniversary by giving back to the community. Disney recently awarded a total of $3 million in grants to six Central Florida nonprofits. The six nonprofits that received donations are Give Kids The World Village, Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Florida, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, Heart of Florida United Way, Hope Partnership and ELEVATE Orlando. “Our Central Florida family has played such an important role for us since Walt Disney World Resort opened in 1971,” Walt Disney World Communications and Public Affairs Senior Vice President Rena Langley said. “It’s where our cast members live, go to school, raise their families and thrive. For decades, we have remained inspired by the local nonprofits and magic makers in our community who make a difference for so many — giving back to these organizations is a proud tradition we are committed to continuing into the future.” Greg Higgerson, chief development officer for Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, said the food bank and Walt Disney World have worked together for more than 30 years to help provide food for people in need across Central Florida. Disney provides help to Second Harvest’s mission in all of the three main areas including food donations, financial donations and volunteers. “The grant of $500,000 provided to Second Harvest Food Bank as part of the 50th anniversary celebration will literally change lives,” Higgerson said. “By helping to provide more than two million meals, $9 million worth of food, Walt Disney World is helping to solve the daily crisis of hunger that threatens tens of thousands of our neighbors.” As part of the two organizations’ partnership, the volunteer experience and work areas at Second Harvest Food Bank’s main distribution center in Orlando is branded with Walt Disney World characters and other décor. The facility is one of few off-site locations that has Disney’s permission to display these images. Second Harvest also works with Disney on the “Disney Harvest” prepared and perishable food recovery program from Disney theme parks and hotels. Disney’s 50th anniversary celebration will run for a total of 18 months.

states that the Department of Health may adopt rules governing ‘the control of preventable communicable disease,’ she said. “Prohibiting districts from enforcing face-mask usage would not control a preventable communicable disease. Allowing parents to send their student who has been exposed to close contact with a COVID-19-positive individual would not control preventable communicable disease. … Yesterday, the School Board filed a rule challenge to the Emergency Rule with the Division of Administrative Hearings. “There are not less restrictive means for the School Board to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” Jenkins said. “The state did not approve an innovative learning option allowing full funding

for students taking classes at home. Since all students are back in school, the mitigation strategy of social distancing is unavailable. Vaccination is an available mitigation for certain ages, but Florida statute prohibits requiring COVID-19 vaccination for enrollment and attendance. “Our action is narrowly tailored, because the face mask requirement is in place through Oct. 30,” she said. “We are optimistic that the numbers will continue to improve over the next three weeks so that we can return to our previous strategy, allowing parents to opt out.” Corcoran and the Board of Education agreed OCPS is out of compliance with the Emergency Rule and thus could face financial penalties. “Today, the state Board of Education

voted to approve the commissioner’s finding that OCPS is out of compliance with the FDOH Emergency Rule,” OCPS officials said through a Facebook post. “We are disappointed in the outcome, but not surprised. ... Based upon the data and with the advice of local health experts, we maintain that the best course of action was to require face masks with medical exemptions. ... At this time, nothing has changed in the school district regarding face masks.” Other Florida districts not in compliance include Alachua, Broward, Duval, Indian River, Leon, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach.

Two days after both the Hillsborough County School Board and Sarasota County School Board voted to let their mask mandates expire, the Orange County School Board reiterated its plan to keep its students’ faces covered through Oct. 30. Orange County Superintendent Dr. Barbara Jenkins addressed the topic Thursday, Oct. 7, during a conference with Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran and members of the Florida Board of Education. The conference was held to discuss Department of Health Emergency Rule 64DER21-15, Protocols for Controlling COVID-19 in School Settings, which states, among other items, that schools must allow a parent or legal guardian to opt their student out of wearing a face covering or mask. “We believe (the emergency rule) conflicts with Florida Statute 1014.03, which is part of the Parent’s Bill of Rights,” Jenkins said in a prepared statement at the conference. “That legislation does not give the Department of Health the ability to engage in rulemaking to implement the statute. “The School Board also believes the Department of Health exceeded its grant of rule-making authority in Florida Statute 1003.22(3), which

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School Board stands behind mask mandate

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

Garden club celebrates Winter Garden’s heritage trees The city is full of trees that are more than 100 years old, and many of them are located near historic downtown. AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

Winter Garden is home to hundreds of heritage trees — from oaks and sycamores to maples and crape myrtles — many of them more than a century old. The Bloom & Grow Garden Society and city of Winter Garden will pay tribute to 100 of these trees with the Winter Garden Heritage Tree Project, a tour of trees in the city nominated by members of the community. Along the tour, folks can see such beauties as the yellow poinciana and pink trumpet tree on North

IF YOU GO TREE TOUR WHAT: A two-mile walking tour to celebrate the Winter Garden Heritage Tree Project. Fifty-six of the 100 trees in the project are included in this tour of the historic district. WHEN: 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, as part of the city’s Heritage and Music Festival. WHERE: It will start at the Winter Garden Heritage Museum, head north to Newton Park and then back to Winter Garden City Hall. INFORMATION: bloomandgrow.club/ treeproject or call the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation at (407) 656-3244.

Boyd Street, the sausage tree on East Story Road, the Laura Coar oak on Avalon Road and the Southern red cedar on East Plant Street. To qualify, these trees either have trunks greater than 30 inches in diameter or are mature specimen trees that are uniquely characteristic of a particular species. Garden club member Vickie Parrish and her husband, Wes Parrish, a professional horticulturist, visited each tree and its owner to take photos and document the name of the tree, its measurements and any additional interesting information. The trees selected for the project are located throughout Winter Garden, but 56 are part of a walking tour created in the historic district. Along the two-mile walk, participants can activate a QR code on a label to access more information about the tree as well as historic information and stories about its location. Mary Zahl and Katy Moss Warner are the co-leaders on the project. “It was our goal to have members nominate at least 100 trees,” Warner said. “It was our intent that this project would continue as long as people wanted to nominate heritage trees. We now have 102 trees in the PlantsMap.com database.” Zahl grew up in Winter Garden and is familiar with many of the heritage trees’ locations.

BUTTERFLIES TAKE FLIGHT

Amy Quesinberry

The Bloom & Grow Garden Society officially dedicated its copper butterfly sculpture Oct. 5 in the newest park in downtown Winter Garden. The ceremony included the release of 60 monarch butterflies.

“My favorite trees are the trees associated with a special part of Winter Garden’s history and are named accordingly,” she said. “I love trees and have a passion for both preserving the great ones we have and for encouraging the planting of more of the best species of trees for our area.” The tour travels north along Highland Avenue, where Zahl grew up in the 1950s and ’60s, and where many of the families who served in World War II or as city commissioners and mayors lived, she said. “We couldn’t be prouder of all the participants, sponsors and trees,” Warner said. “When we started, Winter Garden Director of Parks and Recreation Laura Coar shared with us that she would

like to see this tree inventory be unique to Winter Garden. The city has been a great partner in this project.” One of the trees in the tour, located in Tucker Ranch, is named the Laura Coar oak. Another tree in the park, the Tucker Ranch oak, is Warner’s favorite. “We (asked) the artist and sculptor Don Reynolds to draw this oak so that we might offer it as a signed and numbered print to all those who love Winter Garden and its trees,” she said. “These prints are for sale as a fundraiser for future elements of this project. We are hopeful that one day we can have a digital version of the map available.” Each tree was identified, measured, mapped and photographed.

The data then was input into a national data base, PlantsMap. com, that the public can access. “This Winter Garden Heritage Tree Project is important because it can encourage residents and visitors alike to appreciate the trees in our community,” Warner said. “It can make them more knowledgeable and hopefully cause them to advocate for the trees and protect them — especially the big, old trees.” The club has produced a recommended tree list to encourage residents to plant trees that will thrive in the Central Florida climate. Because of the trees identified on the tour, people can see what a mature tree will look like before they choose a plant. Warner and Zahl said they worked on the project for more than a year as a follow-up to the club’s “1,000 Trees for 1,000 Years” project in February 2020, when club members and volunteers participated in a mass planting of bald cypress trees at Tucker Ranch. Bloom & Grow members hope the third phase of their tree series will be a post-pandemic planting of trees in the area. “The project is important because it is a way of appreciating the trees we have, not only for their beauty and shade and variety, but because they reflect some of our heritage that we do not want to lose,” Zahl said. “We have an interesting town, far more interesting than one might assume, and our trees are one way of telling our story.”

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14 2021

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OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

Avalon residents learn details of proposed turnpike project Residents attended a public meeting to express their opinions of an interchange being proposed that would affect Tucker Ranch and the historic Tildenville community. COMMUNITY EDITOR

Tanner Hall last week was packed with about 150 residents wanting to learn more about an interchange Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise is proposing at County Road 545/Avalon Road in Winter Garden. The city of Winter Garden requested the Florida Department of Transportation make a presentation at a public meeting Thursday, Oct. 7. Na t h a n S i lva , senior transportation engineer with infrastructure consulting firm RS&H, said an interchange is needed to improve travel service in West Orange County and to relieve traffic demand on West Colonial Drive and at the Oakland/Clermont interchange. The project includes a widening of the turnpike, as well. Five miles separate the Oakland/ Clermont interchange and the one in Ocoee. Currently, there are 11 travel options and 11 traffic lights between the two along Colonial, and an additional interchange is being proposed to reroute traffic off Colonial between the two existing locations. Silva said FDOT studied two other possible locations — Daniels Road and County Road 535 — but those have been ruled out because of costs, impacts to residential and community facilities, adjacent interchange

spacing, and the amount of land required for the project. Three interchange options are proposed at Avalon — and they would require varying degrees of land acquisition, Silva said. According to the maps provided by FDOT, all three options would need land to the north and south of the turnpike — in the historic Tildenville community and Tucker Ranch. Silva said constructing the turnpike ramps would require a total of 1.6 acres. Orange County currently has plans to widen Avalon Road from two lanes to four. According to a county study, this segment of Avalon Road generates 15,000 to 15,400 vehicles a day and is expected to generate 32,320 to 33,050 vehicles per day by 2045. TUCKER RANCH IMPACTS

Winter Garden City Manager Mike Bollhoefer addressed FDOT and the crowd and expressed disappointment in the turnpike interchange proposal. The city has invested millions of dollars into Tucker Ranch, a tract of land of more than 200 acres south of the turnpike that is being transformed into a health and wellness park. It will be the first such park of this magnitude in the United States, according to the city. Several national organizations have signed on as partners with the city. Widening the turnpike and

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sioner Ron Mueller wrote on his Facebook page: “This interchange will increase traffic flow, create greater noise and air pollution, and decrease the value of homes adjacent to the interchange.” More than a dozen concerned citizens took their turn at the microphone during the meeting. “We are appalled that this (park) and the land in Tildenville will be reduced,” said Jeanne Yazinski, president of the Bloom & Grow Garden Society. “(The turnpike project) will demolish a part of history.” The garden club planted 1,000 bald cypress trees at Tucker Ranch in 2020, and many of the volunteers attended the meeting in support of the green space and conservation area. Two Gotha residents shared stories of their property being flooded after a previous turnpike project. Tracy Swanson, West Orange Healthcare District CEO, said the organization is against the proposed plan because it is investing a large sum of money in the park. Several Tildenville residents spoke, as well, including Deloris Riggins, who has lived there since before the turnpike originally was built.

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“The noise level was very profound,” she said. “It’s not going to benefit Tildenville or Winter Garden. It’s going to benefit the turnpike. I don’t want my community to be further destroyed.” Another Tildenville resident said she wanted to build her dream home on Avalon on land that had been given to her mother by her employer. “I beg of y’all not to take my land,” she said. Deborah Rutland, who was born and raised in Tildenville and lives two houses away from the turnpike, said her backyard flooded when the turnpike was widened. She fears there will be more issues if the interchange is built. A few Winter Garden residents who spoke were in favor of the turnpike project, including one who said it would decrease his travel time to work. The FDOT is in the second phase of the project development process. This proposed project is part of a larger turnpike widening project that extends from south of State Road 408 to the Oakland/ Clermont interchange on Colonial.

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The Florida Department of Transportation is proposing an interchange at Avalon Road in Winter Garden.

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adding the on and off ramps will bring traffic closer to the park, which originally housed the community’s first country club. “That noise will destroy the quiet and serenity of Tucker Ranch,” Bollhoefer said. “That’s our biggest concern. … It’s our pride and joy for Winter Garden and West Orange County.” Also concerning is what this proposal could do to the historic black community of Tildenville, he said. When the turnpike originally was built in the 1960s, it split the community in half; building an interchange would widen that divide, critics said. Ed Williams, the city’s planning consultant, said he will work to protect the historic area and protect the homes in it. He said he disagrees with FDOT’s statement that the interchange is necessary between Ocoee and Oakland because the turnpike was built as a long-distance commuter road and wasn’t meant to provide convenient access every few miles. City Attorney Kurt Ardaman said the project would damage the entire life source at Tucker Ranch and “should go away.” He told attendees: “Now’s the time to make your voices be heard. The more that you explain … how this impacts you … and the city and the park … the more impact you will have.” Winter Garden City Commis-

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AMY QUESINBERRY

OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14 2021

Sisters pour hearts into new coffee shop Jade Dinsdale and Alexa Maisonet are the women behind Prairie House Coffee in Oakland. COMMUNITY EDITOR

Two sisters with a passion for sustainable practices and holistic eating have opened a specialty coffee shop near downtown Oakland. The Prairie House Coffee Co opened Sept. 17, and Jade Dinsdale and Alexa Maisonet already are seeing regulars visit daily and weekly. The menu at the new shop, located on South Tubb Street, includes an assortment of light bites, gluten-free baked goods and single-origin coffee. Canadians Maisonet and Dinsdale explained their concept on the Prairie House Coffee Co Facebook page: “There is a region in CentralWestern Canada called the Prairies, where the people are warm and the

IF YOU GO PRAIRIE HOUSE COFFEE CO 4 S. Tubb St., Oakland PHONE: (407) 906-0330 EMAIL: prairiehouse coffeeco@gmail.com HOURS: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays GRAND OPENING: Saturday, Oct. 23

baked goods that sit on tables in old farmhouses from the turn of the century are passed down from generation to generation. This is the heart of Prairie House Coffee Co, and we will be including these century old recipes in a space that embodies that same sentiment.” Both are West Orange County residents — Dinsdale in Gotha, Alexa in Ocoee — who fell in love with the charm of Oakland and wanted to collaborate on a brickand-mortar business venture in the heart of the town. They jumped on the chance when space in the historic building became available. “We loved this building,” Dinsdale said. “It’s got so much charm and history and, since we’ve been here, there’s so many people who have taught us more than we knew, and it’s been really cool. “We were born and raised in Canada in the prairies — so that small-town feel just has always resonated with us,” she said. “Everybody here in Oakland knows everybody else. We wanted to bring that to life and offer a friendly and quaint and warm energy.” Seating is available inside and on the back porch for enjoying a cup solo or with a small group of friends. The Prairie House menu offers an assortment of coffees, espressos, cappuccinos and lattes; drinks

Amy Quesinberry

Alexa Maisonet, left, and Jade Dinsdale serve coffee and light bites from the oldest building in Oakland. It was built in 1860 and was the home of Dewey Vick, the town’s first female mayor.

with medicinal properties, such as Midsummer’s Night (with Reishi, cacao, brown sugar, vanilla and milk) and Invincible (drip coffee, grass-fed butter, coconut oil, cinnamon and local honey); teas, including matcha and chai lattes; two homemade toast choices; and baked goods made from scratch. Taste of Autumn has become a shop favorite, with its espresso, organic spices and a choice of organic whole, oat or macadamia milk. Chaga, an adaptogenic mushroom, can be added to lower stress in the body, Dinsdale said. All menu items are gluten free, and most are organic. The coffee comes from two sources: Methodical Coffee, out of Greenville, South Carolina, which sources sustainably, Dinsdale said, and the local Downtown Credo, which works directly with farmers.

“We wanted to be more of a farmto-table concept, so we wanted to know … exactly where it was coming from,” Dinsdale said. “We were considerate when we picked the roasters.” The owners are conscious of their diet and look carefully at all ingredients, the said. “It has made a big difference to us, so we wanted to offer that to the public as well,” Dinsdale said. “We just wanted to be considerate of the things we are serving.” They acknowledged there are multiple coffee shops around West Orange County but said they wanted to take a different angle with their product. “For us, coffee is a beautifully connective ritual,” Dinsdale said. “We want you to feel good emotionally, physically and mentally when you’re here because we have

been conscious of the ingredients ourselves.” The sisters both have a background in healthy living. Dinsdale has several certifications in holistic health coaching, and Maisonet is a doula who strives for holistic living. As they become established in Oakland, Maisonet and Dinsdale are hoping to extend their coffee shop hours. They also are working on expanding their menu to include breakfast sandwiches. “We’ve been so grateful to meet so many people in the community already,” they said. “We enjoy making connections and cultivating a warm sense of community,”

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AMY QUESINBERRY

OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

Unlikely duo ponders issues in new podcast Dr. Jeffery Redding and Kristie Greenberg are the sometimes funny, sometimes serious hosts of ‘Redd & Green — Colorblind.’ COMMUNITY EDITOR

She’s a Southerner working in the auto body business. He’s a Grammy Award-winning choral director. They are an unlikely pair from different cultural backgrounds who have become best friends and are equal parts humorous and somber — and 100% authentic — as they share personal stories and commentary on current events from their perspectives as a white woman and a black man. Winter Garden resident Kristie Greenberg and former West Orange High School choral director Dr. Jeffery Redding are the hosts of “Redd & Green — Colorblind,” a podcast that seeks

“How do we inspire others and still inspire ourselves. People think growth is an upward. … It’s up, down, sideways.” — Dr. Jeffery Redding

to help listeners find their best selves and discover a deeper connection to the world around them — and, at the same time, gives the friends a chance to have fun and engaging conversation. They chat about such innocuous topics as her silver Yoda Crocs, her affinity for glitter and crafts, and her TikTok addiction, and about his dislike of leisure suits, admiration for Superman and fear of spiders. The two met when Greenberg’s son was in Redding’s choir class. She chaperoned a few choral events, including a trip to New York, and Redding realized what her son had been saying about her was true — she was funny. Their friendship continued after Greenberg’s children were no longer in the choral program, and they continued talking frequently. They recommended books and audiobooks to each other and had both deep conversations and silly discussions. LET’S MAKE A PODCAST

Greenberg enjoyed their talks, thought other people might like them too and suggested they create a podcast — basically con-

Courtesy photo

Dr. Jeffery Redding and Kristie Greenberg are the hosts and creators of “Redd & Green.”

versations “around the kitchen table” that touch on any and every topic. “It wouldn’t go out of my head,” she said. “One day I was sitting on the couch, and I called him and said, ‘I have a name: Redd & Green — Colorblind.’ And those are the two most common colors in colorblindness, and he’s black, and I’m white. But he’s just my friend; I don’t see him as black.” The podcast launch day was June 23, the 10th anniversary of Greenberg’s husband’s death, the day she became a widowed mother of three at age 33. She has had a decade of healing, but she found this podcast would be a way to further heal. She presented Redding with a script, but they ended up

scrapping that idea and decided to wing it when recording. “It was so controlled that it stifled the personality and the creativity, and at the end of the day, what clicked was, ‘Let’s be who we are,’” he said. “It’s one thing to do an outline but another to write a script. “We figured out a flow; it was more so being comfortable,” Redding said. “She said it perfectly: ‘When you are sitting at the kitchen table and having a conversation.’ That’s what made it click. … The authenticity, the creativity, took a life of its own.” They have recorded more than a dozen episodes since June, and their chatty banter has paved the way to 30,000 social media followers, 5,000 downloads and

continued growth. They see the podcast as a way to connect with others who might have similar issues. “The biggest thing we talk about is — personally, I’ve been through crap, he’s been through crap, (and) we’ve had good things happen in our life,” Greenberg said. “We’re very open and honest. … You get to a point in life — I know that I’m a good person, and I love people, and I want to help people.” Growth is a big part of their discussions. “How do we inspire others and still inspire ourselves,” Redding said. “People think growth is an upward. … It’s up, down, sideways.” AppleandPodchaserhaveplaced “Redd & Green — Colorblind”

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AMY QUESINBERRY

OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

in three categories: self-help, motivation and spirituality, but Greenberg likens the podcast to episodes of the sitcom “Seinfeld” and its tendency to focus on the minutiae of life and who she and Redding really are. Redding said the podcast has made him more relatable and has grounded him. Many people know him as Dr. Redding in a tuxedo; now they can discover him as Jeff in a T-shirt. “We have real highs and real lows in life, and it’s about more than just standing behind the podium and teaching,” he said. For Greenberg, it exists as an outlet for her mental health. “I don’t cater to anyone at all anymore,” she said. “I’m first. My kids are going to grow up and leave. My parents are going to die. I’m going to be with me every day for the rest of my life. I’m a big proponent of grace and giving grace to people.” Perhaps the most intriguing topic has been Greenberg’s “If I Go Missing” kit. She described her kit, which contains all her banking information, photos of her with different hair colors, a description of every one of her tattoos and more. She told listeners to reach out if they wanted a copy of her list, and she received a surprising 89 requests from the United Kingdom, two from China and many from the U.S. The podcast of current social, cultural and spiritual issues can be found at reddandgreen.com. “We think differently, look differently, speak differently and really couldn’t be any more opposite,” they wrote on their website. “Nonetheless, we couldn’t be any more the same.”

TOPICS OF CONVERSATION n Disney, Bandwagons and Intros n Launching, Daddy Issues and Butter Pecan n School Spirit, Vacuum Cleaners and Secretary n Two Quarters and a Nickel, Summer School, and the Little Engine that Could (parts 1 and 2) n Driving Coach, Meditation and Reese Cups n The Flood, Friends and Ironing n Goodwill, Leisure Suits and Complaining n Back to School, Bullies and Brawn n Blocked, Blinded and Mental Health n Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow n Saunas, Success and the Ego (parts 1 and 2) n Birthdays, Best Friends and Guano n Playing, Parks and Pressed n Missing, Murder and Minorities n Jealousy, Social Distancing and Jeff Had to Go!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14 2021

OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

Pickleball scores points in Winter Garden budget JIM CARCHIDI ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Mix tennis with badminton, toss in a wiffle ball and stir it up with strong community support, and you’ve got a juggernaut with an earmark for expansion in the current fiscal year. Pickleball began in 1965 as a niche sport. But when Dave Vander Weide was introduced to it, the game changed for Winter Garden. “About 11 years ago, a friend of mine invited me up to The Villages to play,” he said. “I got beat up, but I liked it.”

Photos by Jim Carchidi

Enrique Rodriguez returns a serve during a morning pickleball game at Veterans Memorial Park.

A lack of pickleball players, and courts, in his Stoneybrook West neighborhood prompted Vander Weide to speak with the homeowners association. Interested parties were permitted to play on an outdoor hockey rink, using foldable nets. “That’s where we originated, and then it just kept growing,” he said. Within three years, Vander Weide and his friends were playing at Veterans Memorial Park after he discovered pickleball court lines already had been drawn on two of the four tennis courts. “It got to a point where we were playing on all four tennis courts,” he said. “We never had any interference with tennis players, because they just weren’t coming out.” Vander Weide then spearheaded the Greater Orlando Pickleball Club, which backed a 2016 tournament with 126 competitors. City officials then replaced two tennis courts with six dedicated pickleball courts, where daily play and yearly tournaments have inspired even more interest. “We tracked it last year during the summer, and we were averaging 41 people a day between the mornings and the evenings,” said Vander Weide of attendance. “But then, in the fall, we were averaging about 100 people a day.” Players begin arriving at about 7 a.m. every day; mornings and evenings are the busiest. A paddle queue system was adopted through which players place their paddles on a rack in the order they arrived at the courts. At the end of a match, the next players on queue claim

Dave Vander Weide watches a match play out on the pickleball courts at Veterans Memorial Park.

their paddles and proceed to the next available court. Requests for an expansion recently were answered by the Winter Garden City Commission during the 2021-22 budget hearings. “We had allowed for $300,000 in the budget,” Winter Garden Mayor John Rees said of the pickleball court expansion at Veterans Memorial Park. The plan will involve either building a new pickleball area with additional courts or converting the existing tennis courts to pickleball

and building new tennis courts in another area of the park. Aside from playing, the passion of the pickleball community is growing the sport. Vander Weide currently instructs Orange County Public Schools teachers interested in offering it at their school. And the city has worked with the pickleball community to offer instructional events and games during the Winter Garden Fall Heritage & Music Festival Saturday, Nov. 6. Jim Steck began his pickleball obsession on the hockey rink in

Stoneybrook West and estimates he’s made 30 to 40 new friends. “For a lot of people, it’s a social activity,” he said. “It’s a smaller court than tennis, so you’re closer together, there’s more communication, and it’s just fun.” As a designer and illustrator, Steck contributes to the local pickleball community by creating the colorful T-shirts worn by nearly every Winter Garden player. “I take a lot of pride in having my work represent us,” he said. “We all contribute in our own ways. It’s like a big family here.”

A Survivor on Her Journey Sharing

ay C heer iday olid are Hol Shar

H elping O ther People E ndure

Bev Daniels, who has been given the gift of life as a 18-year Breast Cancer Survivor, has committed throughout the years to use this theme to be there when needed. She is an advocate for HOPE through prayer, being a listener, encourager and a co-leader of a Breast Cancer support group at First Baptist Orlando. She gives the assurance that there is a way through by instilling the spirit of hope.

99 .1 t s E

Book Drop-off Locations Need ed

Every holiday season for the past 24 years, Reading Reindeer has gifted new books to underserved families in West Orange County. This is only possible thanks to the continued support of our community.

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If your business, school or group is interested in hosting a collection site for our 2021 book drive, please contact us at (407) 656-2121 or abrunelle@orangeobserver.com for more information.

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City commissioners plan an expansion for the popular sport.

OBSERVER

REAL ESTATE

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14 2021

Valley View home tops weekly sales A

home in the Valley

SNAPSHOT

View community in

Total Sales: 68 High Sale Price: $1.1 million Low Sale Price: $165,000

Winter Garden topped all West Orange-area residential real-estate transactions from Oct. 2 to 8. The home at 9401 Quiet Lane, Winter Garden, sold Oct. 7, for $1.1 million. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, two baths, two half-baths and 4,355 square feet of living area. Days on market: 43. These are the highestselling homes in each community in West Orange. HORIZON WEST

ENCLAVE AT WINDERMERE LANDING

The home at 11665 Hampstead St., Windermere, sold Oct. 4, for $855,000. Built in 2016, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 3,934 square feet of living area. Days on market: Two.

HIGHLANDS AT SUMMERLAKE GROVES

The townhouse at 15534 Murcott Blossom Blvd., Winter Garden, sold Oct. 5, for $370,000. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, twoand-one-half baths and 1,920 square feet of living area. Days on market: One. INDEPENDENCE/ SIGNATURE LAKES

The home at 15523 Camp Dubois Crescent, Winter Garden, sold Oct. 8, for $400,000. Built in 2014, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,720 square feet of living area. Days on market: Five. The townhouse at 14897 Evergreen Oak Loop, Winter Garden, sold Oct. 8, for $351,000. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 1,745 square feet of living area. Days on market: Five. LAKE SAWYER SOUTH

The home at 12832 Woodmere Close Drive, Windermere, sold Oct. 7, for $441,000. Built in 2012, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,189 square feet of living area. Days on market: 12.

OVERLOOK 2 AT HAMLIN

The home at 5644 Thomas Square Drive, Winter Garden, sold Oct. 4, for $535,000. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, four-and-one-half baths and 2,457 square feet of living area. Days on market: Two. SANCTUARY AT LAKES OF WINDERMERE

The home at 7064 Kiwano Way, Windermere, sold Oct. 6, for $700,000. Built in 2021, it has five bedrooms, four-and-onehalf baths and 3,136 square feet. Days on market: 77. SOUTHBRIDGE VILLAGE

The townhouse at 13750 Lensdale Lane, Windermere, sold Oct. 4, for $335,000. Built in 2007, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and

1,632 square feet. Days on market: Nine. SUMMERLAKE

The home at 15042 Southern Martin St., Winter Garden, sold Oct. 6, for $825,000. Built in 2016, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 4,412 square feet. Days on market: Two. The townhouse at 15555 Blackbead St., Winter Garden, sold Oct. 7, for $368,000. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,784 square feet of living area. Days on market: Three. TENNYSON PARK AT SUMMERPORT

The townhouse at 5597 Somersby Road, Windermere, sold Oct. 8, for $345,000. Built

LAKESHORE PRESERVE

The home at 11684 Hampstead St., Windermere, sold Oct. 4, for $724,900. Built in 2015, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 3,897 square feet of living area. Days on market: Nine.

The townhouse at 8712 European Fan Palm Alley, Winter Garden, sold Oct. 6, for $485,000. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, twoand-one-half baths and 2,052 square feet of living area. Days on market: Eight.

HAWKSMOOR

OASIS COVE I

The townhouse at 15970 Marina Bay Drive, Winter Garden, sold Oct. 8, for $383,500. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 1,626 square feet of living area. Days on market: Nine.

realtor.com

The home at 9401 Quiet Lane, Winter Garden, sold Oct. 7, for $1.1 million. This custom-built pool home includes a unique surprise — a 1,300-square-foot, air-conditioned basement.

The townhouse at 14007 Luminous Lane, No. 705, Windermere, sold Oct. 6, for $338,000. Built in 2007, it has four bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 1,826 square feet of living area. Days on market: Six.

in 2006, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,535 square feet of living area. Days on market: 11. VINEYARDS OF HORIZON WEST

The townhouse at 13719 Beckman Drive sold Oct. 4, for $400,000. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 2,091 square feet. Days on market: 24. WATERLEIGH

The home at 8239 Bayview Crossing Drive, Winter Garden, sold Oct. 11, for $560,000. Built in 2017, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 3,470 square feet of living area. Days on market: 70. The home at 10255 Meadow Brook Drive, Winter Garden, sold Oct. 8, for $490,000. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,477 square feet of living area. Days on market: 50. The townhouse at 11032 Great Rock, Winter Garden, sold Oct. 4, for $377,800. Built in 2021, it has three bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 1,567 square feet. Days on market: One.

bhhsfloridarealty.com

The home at 15042 Southern Martin St., Winter Garden, sold Oct. 6, for $825,000. It was the largest transaction in Horizon West from Oct. 2 to 8.

The townhouse at 16156 Egret Pointe Way, Winter Garden, sold Oct. 7, for $368,883. Built in 2021, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,567 square feet of living area. SEE REAL ESTATE PAGE 14

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OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

REAL ESTATE

First Baptist Church Pastor Tim Grosshans 125 E. Plant St, Winter Garden (407) 656-2352 Sundays: 8:30 AM Traditional 9:45 AM Bible Study 11 AM Contemporary Wednesdays: 6 PM Awana 2nd Campus: First Baptist Church @ Horizon West 15304 Tilden Road, Winter Garden Sundays: 9:45 AM All Ages www.FBCWG.org Starke Lake Baptist Church Pastor Jeff Pritchard PO Box 520 611 W Ave., Ocoee (407) 656-2351 www.StarkeLakeBaptist.org Victory Baptist Church & Christian Academy 1601 A.D. Mims Rd, Ocoee FL 34761 (407) 656-3097 www.VBCOCOEE.com Sunday: 11AM & 6 PM Wednesday: 7 PM

125 N. Lakeview Ave. Winter Garden (407) 656-1135

WATERMARK

AMBER RIDGE

The home at 14608 Winter Stay Drive, Winter Garden, sold Oct. 8, for $595,000. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, three-andone-half baths and 2,921 square feet of living area. Days on market: Six.

Ocoee Church of God Pastor Thomas Odom 1105 N. Lakewood Ave.,Ocoee (407) 656-8011

The home at 14779 Crimson Bluff Alley, Winter Garden, sold Oct. 8, for $440,000. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,077 square feet of living area.

EPISCOPAL

WINDERMERE TRAILS

The home at 11905 Otterbrooke Trail, Windermere, sold Oct. 8, for $630,000. Built in 2013, it has four bedrooms, three-andone-half baths and 2,652 square feet of living area. Days on market: One.

Church of the Messiah 241 N. Main St., Winter Garden Services: 8, 9:30, & 11 AM., 7 PM www.ChurchoftheMessiah.com

METHODIST

First United Methodist Church 125 N. Lakeview Ave., Winter Garden (407) 656-1135 Services: 9 AM Contemporary 11:15 AM Traditional Viewable on YouTube Purpose Church Orlando 13640 W Colonial Dr. Ste 110, Winter Garden (407) 654-9661 Sunday Service: 10:05 AM Sunday Brazilian Service: 7 PM Saturday Service: 6 PM www.purposechurchorlando.org

FOOD PANTRY

2nd & 4th Tuesday of the month 1-3pm in Education Bldg

CARING TABLE

4th Monday of the month at Elks Lodge from 5-7pm

FAMILY 1st Wednesday of the month from 6-8pm MOVIE Family Movie in Fellowship Hall NIGHT Kids Movie - Education Bldg

For those ready to take advantage of our Moving Forward Program, the following is a partial list of assistance available through our Program.

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Moving Forward Program Offerings

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The home at 4 Winters Landing Drive, Oakland, sold Oct. 5, for $565,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 3,109 square feet of living area.

OCOEE

The home at 2070 Key Lime St., Ocoee, sold Oct. 4, for $278,000. Built in 1997, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,264 square feet of living area. FENWICK COVE

The home at 2622 Elwick St., Ocoee, sold Oct. 2, for $385,000. Built in 1998, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,838 square feet of living area. Days on market: 27. PRESERVE AT CROWN POINT

The home at 3400 Stonegate Drive, Ocoee, sold Oct. 8, for $600,000. Built in 2019, it has five bedrooms, four-and-onehalf baths and 3,410 square feet of living area. Days on market: Seven.

The townhouse at 8392 Iron Mountain Trail, Windermere, sold Oct. 7, for $365,000. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,676 square feet of living area.

The home at 2243 Farnham Drive, Ocoee, sold Oct. 8, for $420,000. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 2,187 square feet of living area. Days on market: Three.

OAKLAND

VILLAGES OF WESMERE

LONGLEAF AT OAKLAND

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

WINTERS LANDING

CHURCH OF GOD

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BAPTIST

The townhouse at 162176 Admirals Cove Lane, Winter Garden, sold Oct. 8, for $345,000. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,567 square feet of living area. Days on market: Four.

The home at 2624 Bobcat Chase Blvd., Oakland, sold Oct. 5, for $415,000. Built in 2021, it has three bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 1,853 square feet of living area. Days on market: Four.

The home at 339 White Dogwood Lane, Ocoee, sold Oct. 7, for $333,000. Built in 2009, it has three bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 1,944 square feet of living area. Days on market: Three.

OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

WESTYN BAY

JOHNS LAKE POINTE

The home at 2464 Orsota Circle, Ocoee, sold Oct. 6, for $489,400. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 3,082 square feet of living area. Days on market: 14.

The home at 861 Marsh Reed Drive, Winter Garden, sold Oct. 7, for $475,000. Built in 2011, it has four bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 2,790 square feet of living area. Days on market: 14.

WEST ORANGE TUSCANY RIDGE

LAKE AVALON GROVES

WINDERMERE

LAKEVIEW PRESERVE

The home at 9020 Tavolini Terrace, Windermere, sold Oct. 7, for $850,000. Built in 2005, it has five bedrooms, four-andone-half baths and 4,202 square feet. Days on market: Five.

The home at 17224 Old Country Lane, Winter Garden, sold Oct. 5, for $599,000. Built in 1980, it has five bedrooms, two baths and 2,216 square feet of living area. Days on market: 36.

KEENE’S POINTE

The home at 11319 N. Camden Commons Drive, Windermere, sold Oct. 8, for $870,000. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 3,322 square feet of living area. Days on market: 83. SILVER WOODS

The home at 9320 Woodbreeze Blvd., Windermere, sold Oct. 6, for $445,000. Built in 1986, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 2,106 square feet of living area. Days on market: 28.

coldwellbankerhomes.com

The home at 3400 Stonegate Drive, Ocoee, sold Oct. 8, for $600,000. It was the largest transaction in Ocoee from Oct. 2 to 8.

WINTER GARDEN The home at 15435 Firelight Drive, Winter Garden, sold Oct. 6, for $590,000. Built in 2006, it has six bedrooms, five baths and 4,055 square feet of living area. Days on market: 26. BLACK LAKE PARK

GLYNWOOD

The home at 827 Main St., Windermere, sold Oct. 4, for $300,000. Built in 1947, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 780 square feet of living area. Days on market: 133.

The home at 483 Cascading Creek Lane, Winter Garden, sold Oct. 8, for $530,000. Built in 2007, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 3,306 square feet of living area. Days on market: Two.

WHITNEY ISLES AT BELMERE

CYPRESS RESERVE

TOWN OF WINDERMERE

The home at 1451 Whitney Isles Drive, Windermere, sold Oct. 7, for $651,000. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, three-andone-half baths and 3,938 square feet of living area. Days on market: Three.

EMERALD RIDGE

The home at 14954 Tullamore Loop, Winter Garden, sold Oct. 6, for $495,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 3,261 square feet of living area. Days on market: 16.

BELLE MEADE

The home at 14229 SunRidge Blvd., Winter Garden, sold Oct. 4, for $534,000. Built in 2019, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,952 square feet of living area. Days on market: 24.

The home at 13651 Glynshel Drive, Winter Garden, sold Oct. 8, for $600,000. Built in 2002, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 3,470 square feet of living area. Days on market: Three. GREYSTONE

The home at 319 Courtlea Park Drive, Winter Garden, sold Oct. 7, for $550,000. Built in 2007, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,944 square feet of living area. Days on market: Seven.

The home at 3324 Buoy Circle, Winter Garden, sold Oct. 5, for $830,593. Built in 2021, it has five bedrooms, four-and-onehalf baths and 3,835 square feet of living area. Days on market: 25. PARK PLACE AT WINTER GARDEN

The townhouse at 131 Oak Laurel Drive, Winter Garden, sold Oct. 7, for $670,000. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, three-andone-half baths and 2,085 square feet of living area. Days on market: Three. RESERVE AT CARRIAGE POINT

The home at 2036 Sandy Garden Lane, Winter Garden, sold Oct. 7, for $700,000. Built in 2013, it has four bedrooms, three-andone-half baths and 3,985 square feet of living area. Days on market: Six. SANCTUARY AT TWIN WATERS

The home at 16780 Sanctuary Drive, Winter Garden, sold Oct. 6, for $816,965. Built in 2021, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 3,442 square feet.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14 2021

STONEYBROOK WEST

The home at 13218 Fox Glove St., Winter Garden, sold Oct. 7, for $410,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 2,145 square feet of living area. Days on market: Two. VALLEY VIEW

The home at 9401 Quiet Lane, Winter Garden, sold Oct. 7, for $1.1 million. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, two baths, two half-baths and 4,355 square feet of living area. Days on market: 43. The home at 9225 Quiet Lane, Winter Garden, sold Oct. 7, for $815,000. Built in 1998, it has four bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 3,087 square feet of living area. Days on market: 75. WESTLAKE MANOR

The home at 198 Roper Drive, Winter Garden, sold Oct. 4, for $650,000. Built in 1972, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 2,149 square feet of living area. Days on market: Nine. WINTERMERE POINTE

The home at 2400 Prairie View Drive, Winter Garden, sold Oct. 8, for $685,000. Built in 2002, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 3,506 square feet of living area. Days on market: Five. The home at 14115 Pipevine Court, Winter Garden, sold Oct. 4, for $580,000. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,988 square feet of living area. Days on market: Four.

OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

FOUNDATION EXPANDS GYM Foundation Academy on Friday, Oct. 8, celebrated the opening of its new Kelly Family Athletic Annex and the Lumpkins Family Strength and Conditioning Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Community leaders, school staff and donors came together for the celebration. The Foundation Academy Steel Drum Band and cheerleaders were also in attendance and performed for guests as they arrived. President Dave Buckles welcomed guests and shared the important role the athletic annex will play in the school’s athletic program. The new space will be used as a strength and conditioning center. Pastor Tim Grosshans, of Winter Garden’s First Baptist Church, then prayed a special blessing on the school, the students and their families. The building of the athletic annex was possible thanks to the Kelly family and the Lumpkins family, who cut the ribbon together. Chip, the patriarch of the family, spoke of his family’s passion for the Foundation Academy and Christian education. Chip said he and his wife, Luanne, said they realized early on in their parenting that education was key. “You only get one chance to educate your child,” he said. Some of the Kelly and Lumpkins family grandchildren read scriptures chosen by the families to dedicate the space.

INFLUENCER OF THE WEEK

BART COLEMAN, THORNEBROOKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Bart Coleman has been a member of the Thornebrooke Elementary School custodial staff for three years. He was named Barracuda of the Month in recognition of his dedication and contributions. “During the summer he worked alongside our custodial staff to ensure the school was cleaned and ready for our students,” Principal Korey Bawden said. “He always has a positive attitude and is willing to help wherever he can.”

What are your responsibilities at your school? My responsibilities are to keep the school clean and safe for everybody. What do you love most about your job? What I love about my job the most is being around the kids, because they are the future. If I could put a smile on the future’s faces, it makes my day. What is the most rewarding part of your work? The most rewarding part is the appreciation from my peers around the school. They are always around me and remind of what a good job I am doing, and they are very supportive. What is your hobby? My hobby is creating music. I usually make hip hop and R&B music, and I play guitar. I have been making music since I was 15 years old. What motivates you? What motivates me is my family and friends.

REPORT CARD

Who is your hero, and why? My hero is God, because He’s always blessing me in a lot of ways. If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why? My superpower would be to control people’s mind, because if everybody was positive-minded, the world would be a much better place. What’s your favorite movie and why? My favorite movie is “Rush Hour,” because it’s very funny and has a strong message behind it. The movie appeals to me because it shows, when you put differences aside, you can get things done. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? I would move to California, because the weather there is perfect, and I like how fastpaced it is, and the people are open and friendly.

If you could only listen to one band for the rest of your life, who would it be and why? The Jonas Brothers, because their music is inspirational. — JIM CARCHIDI

NOMINATE YOUR INFLUENCER

POSITION: Custodian TIME AT SCHOOL: Three years

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

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OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14 2021

OBSERVER SCHOOL ZONE

The Hessian rides again

Windermere Prep Theater students form a conceptual vision of The Headless Horseman with sticks and an LED ball.

Windermere Prep Theater conjures eerie imagery with ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.’ JIM CARCHIDI ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The ghostly tales of Washington Irving’s classic short story were celebrated as Windermere Prep presented “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” Oct. 7 to 9. The beloved drama centers on the fate of the awkward, yet endearing, schoolmaster, Ichabod Crane, but other mysteries are part of the telling. Theater Director BambiEllen Fadoul came across the script, which sticks close to the original story, while planning the new performance season. “The monologues are so very long,” she said. “A really long time for a student to speak but also for the audience to listen. I wanted to support the students, but in a manner (that) the audience is also going to be entertained.” A lifelong performer specializing in musical theater, Fadoul previously directed at Windermere High School, where she led productions including “The Pajama Game,” “Chicago” and “Footloose.” She admitted to being a little out of her comfort

zone with this play, but enhancing the production value became a group effort, which transformed the short story into a pageant of gothic enchantments. A conceptualized horseman, created by performers moving wooden sticks and a glowing LED orb, makes an appearance during the opening sequence. The tale of a woman who perished while seeking shelter from a snowstorm is accompanied by a dancer in white, gliding through a shadowy forest scene. The story of a Hessian trooper whose head was removed by a cannonball is re-enacted with a Revolutionary War battle scene. And the cautionary tale of a hapless traveler’s encounter with The Headless Horseman is portrayed with shadow puppets. “That was totally inspired by ‘Dealthly Hallows,’” said Fadoul of the puppet sequence, loosely based on visual effects seen in the seventh “Harry Potter” film. Fadoul eagerly extends credit behind the scenes to Technical Theater Supervisor Nick Drowse, who built the menacing set

Photos by Jim Carchidi

Left: Brom Bones, played by Michael Crocetti, and Katrina Van Tassel, played by Andrea Matos Devesa, meet Ichabod Crane, played by Anderson Davies.

designs, and Lighting Designer Jorn Neilson, who arranged LED sequences for ghost stories. Cast members had the option of performing without masks but were able to don their face cov-

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erings when not at center stage. According to Fadoul, the option was a bonus for this production. “It’s melodrama; considering we just spent an entire year in masks, the students needed to start exploring facial expressions

again,” she said. But expression was not limited to drama. Modern dance moves — including Ichabod Crane actor Anderson Davies’ performance of The Worm, during a party scene — and more than a few snarky comments and side-eye glances, injected personality and comedic moments. “I give (the students) the basics and the framework, and they really know how to take that and run and create something magical,” Fadoul said.

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

THESE OLD TIMES

FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION

THROWBACK THURSDAY OCT. 15, 1970 The KOA’s Winter Garden Kampground offered a plethora of accommodations for campers, including a swimming pool, hot showers, laundry facilities, a playground, grocery store and even campers for rent. The campground — now Winter Garden RV Resort — was located at 279 W. State Road 50. Across the street and to the east was the popular eatery Dizzy Whirl, home of the Whirlaburger and “healthy food.” The “delicious and inexpensive” food could be enjoyed in the dining room or from a take-out bag.

85 years ago

For sale: 120 acres, including 80 acres of excellent citrus land and a nice lake on a paved road, $1,400.

75 years ago

V.E. Bourland, county commissioner, attended the Winter Garden City Commission meeting and advised members that the city’s allotment of bricks to be removed from the old State Road 22 is 35,000. The municipalities were to receive portions of the bricks on a population basis.

70 years ago

A new eatery, Cross-State Restaurant, was announced at Cross State Highway and Ninth Street under the management of Mrs. Carl Hollaway.

55 years ago

Sperry Jones Rademaker, of Windermere, was in training for the Olympics kayak competition after returning from the world championships in East Berlin. Her sister, Marcia, won a bronze medal in 1964 — the first medal for the U.S. in women’s kayak competition.

50 years ago

From Editor’s Notebook: A lot of work goes into the making of a parade float, as we have been discovering during the past few days. In garages and barns

CROSSWORD

FROM THE ARCHIVES This postcard image was shared by Mark Carpenter, the man who drove the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation’s orange and yellow tractor through orange groves. It was sent to his mother from his father in 1950. West Plant Street is seen looking east from its intersection with Boyd Street. Businesses include Davis Pharmacy, Maust’s Grocery, the Tim Ellis store, George Walker Electric, Cappleman’s Grocery, Joiner Auto Parts, Tibbal’s Rexall Drugs and Ellis Pharmacy across Main Street. At Woodland Street is a Gulf Oil station, and the Atlantic Coast Line depot is seen at far left. Note that today’s downtown historic district remains virtually unchanged from the setting shown on this postcard.

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

and backyards around Winter Garden and Ocoee, the floats are being put together for the two big Homecoming parades on Friday. We have enjoyed watching the activity going on close to our office as a group of Lakeview High sophomores create their float in McMillan’s garage.

SLIDERS by Freddie Cheng; Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Swing states? 6 Potato bud 9 "Babe" 12 Business with treatments 15 Continuous ranges 17 Epic Cali Bacon Burrito seller 19 Fancy 21 Presenting a fast-food side? 23 Basil-based sauce 24 Mount St. Helens' output 25 Just all right 26 SFO guess 27 Individual 28 The thing over there

30 Yearning felt before Halloween? 35 Easy gait 38 Matches, as a poker bet 39 Like some wine barrels 40 Combed (through) 42 "Pretty Woman" co-star Richard 43 Peer group? 45 M.A. seeker's test 48 One who walks right off the catwalk? 50 "... ___ lack thereof" 51 Lite 53 And others (Abbr.) 54 Weep loudly 55 Signal for male sheep?

57 Base for a Chinese sauce 58 Support 60 ID theft datum 61 Sometime in the future 62 Non-mainstream watercolors, e.g.? 68 Sounded like a lion 71 Crew team's leader, informally 72 Stereotypical Canadian sentence enders 73 Make darker 76 Where to stick a corncob holder? 79 Archery skill 81 Combo meal drink 82 Socket inserts

30 years ago

West Orange High Principal Sarah Jane Turner and Dr. Phillips High Principal Bill Spoone were photographed arm-wrestling over the Ol’ Orange Crate as the two schools prepared for the annual football matchup.

107 Mostly closed 111 Soccer medalist Hamm 112 Version of someone else's song 113 Business of looking after grazing land? 118 Kevin of "Dave" 119 Lofty level to surpass 120 Takes a bite out of? 121 Word bookending "lease out" 122 Flamenco yell 123 Automaton, for short 124 Goodbye, in Grenoble

20 years ago

Realtor E.M. “Ed” Henderson retired after 45 years in real estate. He was known for his signs with the red hen.

55 Forensic show with a Vegas revival 56 Heavy weight 59 Pour, as pinot noir 60 See 95-Across 62 Enchanted prince, maybe 63 Officials in striped shirts 64 NAACP co-founder ___ B. Wells 65 "___ favor" 66 Defrosts 67 "Really?" 68 Taken-back auto 69 Word after "Employees" or "Exit" DOWN 70 Feature blocked by paren1 Compromised equitably tal controls 2 Birth mo. for many Libras 73 Budget list? 3 Big name in elevators 74 Original thought 4 1962 Bond movie 75 Perseverance rover's place 5 Succumbs to gravity 77 Like September or the 6 www.stanford.___ letter "I" 7 Thus far 78 Roxy Music's Brian 8 Small toymaker 80 TV host's device 9 Port-au-Prince's country 81 Rollerblade, for one 10 Jellyfish's habitat, usually 84 Spiderweb fiber 11 Phone book listings (Abbr.) 85 Medieval music maker 12 Turn abruptly 86 Funny smell 13 It doesn't stay hot 87 Camp bed 14 Playwright Chekhov 89 Sets of parts 15 Lovers' disagreement 93 Hamster or beaver 16 Door directive 94 Conductor Previn 18 Tough journeys 95 "So frustrating!" 19 Give a TED Talk, say 97 One can lift a car 20 Godzilla's foe in a 2021 film 98 Reef around a lagoon 22 Alley-___ 99 Microsoft Outlook service 27 Hope's partner 100 Overindulge in Netflix, 29 All-out maybe 83 Traveler's stopover 31 Pre-owned 101 The "S" of UCSF 84 Expert at patiently elicit- 32 Trifling 103 Key holder ing giggles? 33 Orange coat? 104 Exams scored from 400 88 Olive of classic comics 34 Aquarium decoration to 1600 89 What a Scout learns to tie 36 Limit one ___ customer 108 Pinkett Smith of "Girls 90 Birth control options, 37 "Slow Churned" brand Trip" briefly 40 Takes to court 109 Improved over time, 91 Cuddly marsupials 41 Excited about perhaps 92 Feature 42 Hold nothing back 95 With 60-Down, common 110 Mortgage update, for short 43 Actress Woodward jazz instrument 113 P, to Pythagoras 44 One may start with https:// 96 Jazzy James 114 Flow out 46 Avatar of Vishnu 97 Evidence as to who tasted 115 Asada known for her triple 47 Crafty website too many filled scones? axels 49 Complainer's sound 102 Goofs 116 Getty Museum contents 51 Like a two-hour lecture 105 In conflict 117 0"Sallie" or "Ginnie" 52 Unrefined deposits 106 Space station until 2001 follower

CELEBRITY CIPHER

By Luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

"ZN HKA CXDM RKEY NLKG X NJXL, WPJ UPKBW KN WPXW NJXL YJSJL UKJB XEXH. ZW RZGZYZBPJB FJKFOJ."

PAUP IXDMGXY

"NCS EXGU UC IK X EJPUKJ, VCG'U MGCE TCE CJ ETKG? DPGV X HSPKU LFXBK, SAK X TSYIFK LKG." LXSF APYCG Puzzle Two Clue H equals Q

WEST ORANG E HISTO RY

OBSERVER

Puzzle One Clues M equals K

SUDOKU

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

10-14-21

OCTOBER 14, 2021

HIGH

SPORTS

Senior Ana Bleeker is a leader on Windermere High’s dominant volleyball squad. Page 20.

COMPLETE

5 TEAM

Horizon High School’s cross country team made history Oct. 7 by winning the first team titles in school history. Both the boys and girls teams took first place in the Thunder Twilight Invitational, hosted by Lake Region High School. Raissa Franca and Addison Lamb finished in the top five in the girls division to lead the way. On the boys side, Dylan Royal and Connor Parrish landed top-10 finishes.

Dr. Phillips volleyball took home the crown in the Swing for the Cure tournament Friday, Oct. 8, and Saturday, Oct. 9. The team won all five of its games en route to taking first place in the Elite Division. The First Academy finished right behind in second place.

West Orange’s swim teams took home first place in the Junior Varsity Championship swim meet Oct. 8. On the boys side, the Warriors edged out Olympia by 14 points to secure the victory. For the girls, it was not even close: They won by a 30-point margin over Dr. Phillips.

Lake Buena Vista High School will be hosting competition cheer tryouts Oct. 18 to 19. The tryouts will be from 2:30 to 5 p.m. in the school cafeteria. Applications for tryouts are due Oct. 14 by 3:30 pm.

Friday, Oct. 15, promises to yield some interesting matchups on the football field. The night will feature the rivalry game between Olympia and Windermere; Dr. Phillips traveling to Kissimmee to play Osceola; and Lake Buena Vista and Horizon playing one another for the first time at LBV High School. Fans can purchase tickets on the GoFan app.

Photo by Chris Martucci

CFCA linebacker Anthony Middleton celebrates a big tackle against Cedar Creek Christian. The Eagles have won four consecutive games after an opening-week loss.

CFCA not only has won every game since an openingweek loss to Mount Dora Christian, but has done so in convincing fashion.

CHRIS MARTUCCI SPORTS EDITOR

rior to the 2021 season, Central Florida Christian Academy head football coach Jeremy Campbell made a declaration that put all of the Eagles’ opponents on notice. “We’re ready to show that the old CFCA is gone,” Campbell said. “Whether we are outnumbered or

playing a better team, we’re going to compete.” So far, his team has lived up to that promise — and more. After an opening-week 41-27 loss to Mount Dora Christian — the same team that knocked them out of the playoffs in 2020 — the Eagles have been on a tear on all sides of the ball. SEE CULTURE PAGE 20

WPS volleyball raises funds for breast cancer awareness The Lakers honored breast cancer survivors Oct. 6 during the school’s annual Dig Pink game. CHRIS MARTUCCI SPORTS EDITOR

Photo by Chris Martucci

Windermere Prep volleyball hosted its 11th Dig Pink game to honor breast cancer survivors.

During the month of October, athletic teams of all levels across the country don pink to honor those currently battling or who have battled breast cancer. Windermere Prep hosted its 11th annual “Dig Pink” night Oct. 6 during its game against Cornerstone Charter. After having to scale down last year’s game

because of the pandemic, things returned to a relative normal this year, with fans packing the stands and a pregame ceremony to honor breast cancer survivors. Junior Danielle Work played in honor of her mother, Shannon, who has been cancer free for the last eight years after battling breast cancer twice. Shannon was first diagnosed in 2010, when SEE WPS PAGE 20

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

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

Ana Bleeker Ana Bleeker is a senior at Windermere High and plays for the Wolverine volleyball team. Bleeker recently helped lead her team to the Metro West Conference tournament championship and currently leads the team in kills. She has committed to play volleyball for the University of Georgia next year.

How did it feel to win the Metro West Conference tournament? It felt great. It was a whole team effort, so to know that we can come out on top and beat some of the best teams in the area is pretty amazing and that we are the top team as of now. What separates this team from your last three years? This team has a much better chemistry. We’re all close on and off the court, and I think that has been what helped us in games and in pressure situations when we are down and need to come together as a team and come back. What made you want to choose Georgia to play volleyball? I love the program there. The coaches are amazing, the players are so fun to be around, (and) it’s a great school and campus in general. It felt good that they wanted me to be there and knowing that I was wanted. I was excited for that. What’s the ultimate goal before you graduate? The ultimate goal is to win states. We have a team that is a highenough caliber to accomplish that. Right now, it’s to make it to the

THE BASICS AGE: 17 SCHOOL: Windermere GRADE: Senior SPORT: Volleyball POSITION: Outside hitter

regional finals and get past that one spot we haven’t been able to pass (previously). What are some of your hobbies outside of volleyball? I like to bake; it’s fun. I made s’mores cookies before (the last game against Timber Creek). I also like hanging out with friends and going to the beach. What’s your favorite recipe to bake? Cookie brownies. What’s your favorite part about the fall? It’s not as hot anymore, so the weather is a lot nicer. There’s a lot of activities to do; we live in a great area that has so many things we can go out and do, such as Halloween Horror Nights, football games and fairs. Favorite TV/Netflix show? “The Carrie Diaries” Favorite movie? “Ten Things I Hate About You” What is one thing about you that no one would expect to know? I’m half-Brazilian. I understand Portuguese, so my mom would always speak to me in Portuguese. I am not fluent in speaking the language, but I can pick up on a lot. What part of Brazil is your family from? The northern coastal region. Just an hour flight north from Rio de Janiero. — CHRIS MARTUCCI

Culture key for CFCA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

The Eagles are 4-1 after a 49-0 blowout of Cedar Creek Christian during their Homecoming game Friday, Oct. 8. Ever since the loss to the Bulldogs, CFCA has allowed only 10 points during its winning streak heading toward the end of the regular season and scored no fewer than 40 points during each win. Campbell could not be happier with the way things have gone. Part of the success comes down to the culture CFCA has established, he said. “Prior to Mount Dora, it was 20 guys coming together and playing ball,” he said. “Since that game, we have bonded, and that’s the biggest difference. Our kids genuinely like each other. They’re playing for their brothers now and not themselves. When you play unselfishly, good things will happen.” Quarterback Jacob Kania and running back Marcus McCrummin anchor CFCA’s potent offensive attack. Kania, a sophomore transfer from South Lake, has passed for 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns so far this season. He transferred to CFCA, because he felt that the program at South Lake was not a good fit for him. So far, he believes it has been the best decision for him. “Everyone is here to work, and everyone is here to get better and go for state,” Kania said. “Every day, we’re working — players, coaches, everyone.” Kania believes the loss to Mount Dora Christian was what lit the fuse for the offense. “We knew we could have beaten them,” Kania said. “We took it personally, because we lost to them in the playoffs last year. We’re looking to get better

Photo by Chris Martucci

Jacob Kania transferred to CFCA because of the quality of the team.

and beat them this year.” During the game against Cedar Creek Christian, McCrummin, a junior, went wild — rushing for 221 yards and four touchdowns. This season, he has 913 yards rushing, 13 rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown. He said the reason for his success can be boiled down to one part of the team. “The line and the receivers,” McCrummin said. “That’s it.” As a junior, he knew he had to step up and contribute to help keep the team going. Although some may find that pressure to be daunting, McCrummin shrugged it off. “It was 50-50,” he said. “I didn’t know many of the new plays, but I’m doing pretty good so far. We just take it from here. I remember everything now.” While CFCA’s offense has been piling on high point totals, its defense has been keeping teams locked down. The Eagles have shut out two opponents so far this season. Despite being an eighth-grader, Noah Maddox is the leading tackler on the team. With

WPS volleyball digs pink CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

Danielle was in kindergarten. “(Because) I was in kindergarten, I don’t have too many strong memories of it, which is probably for the best,” Danielle Work said. Shannon Work, a NICU doctor at Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies, said she was devastated when she was diagnosed in August 2010. It’s something she never expected to hear, but there was a blessing that came out of it. “I’m lucky that we caught it early when we did,” Shannon said. “It took four days to go from my mammogram to receiving my

diagnosis. I was confident in the team I was working with and that I was in good hands.” She had a double mastectomy that September before beginning chemotherapy in October. She endured six months of that before going through radiation for five weeks. Shannon Work later had a recurrence in 2013, which she said was even more devastating. Even so, she was confident using the same team of doctors with whom she worked during her first bout. The experience of two cancer battles has given Shannon Work a renewed love of life and a new perspective. “Live every day to the fullest

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the loss of several seniors last year, Maddox knew this was his chance to step up and make plays for the team. “It feels good being able to step up after we lost a whole bunch of seniors last year,” he said. “I’ve got to shout out to my (defensive) line and my big men up front for enabling me to make plays and do what I do best — tackle.” Maddox attributes the Eagles’ turnaround on defense to the competition they have every day in practice against the CFCA offense, as well as the completeteam mentality the players have adopted. “Iron sharpens iron,” he said. “No one (is) trying to be a superhero and trying to make plays on their own.” Heading into his team’s last home game of the regular season before the playoffs against Bell Creek Academy, Campbell hopes his crew continues to stay focused and taking things one day at a time.

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and take nothing for granted,” Shannon Work said. “We don’t think much past every day. When something like this happens, it teaches you to appreciate everything that comes your way.” For the Lakers who played in the Dig Pink game — which Windermere Prep won in three consecutive sets — taking the court meant they were playing for something bigger than themselves. “It brings awareness to breast cancer not just here, but in the community, as well,” Danielle Work said. “Seeing our posters and those of former players is also such an awesome thing to see and be a part of.” Danielle Work ended up with 11 kills on the night to lead the Lakers to victory over the Ducks. All the proceeds from the game will benefit local breast cancer awareness charities. The idea for the Dig Pink game was conceived by former high school Volleyball Coach Rick Dunetz, after his mother was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer. He chose to utilize dedicated volleyball matches across the U.S. to tell her story and garner support for specialized research. This concept has grown into a hugely popular event in the U.S.

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Hey, Danielle Freeburn (Keith), Stephanie Radar; and eight greatgrandchildren. Services in care of Warren Holloway Ward FH, Geneva, Alabama.

NADINE HEY DIED AUG. 29, 2021.

Saskia Harker Emery, 75, of Gotha, died Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, at Solaris Healthcare with her family by her side. Winter Oak Funeral Home & Cremations, Winter Garden.

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models, do science experiments and play games together as they enjoyed special bonds with him. He loved holidays, boating, fishing, backyard pool parties and cooking on the grill. Chuck attended Penn State University and went on to receive his bachelor’s degree in business management and his MBA from the University of Miami in 1968. He was hired by Martin Marietta in Orlando, which later became Lockheed Martin. He held the position of Finance Director when he retired in 2005. Chuck was also an engineer and

“A tear at my death is like raindrops for the stars, as I believe in life, not death. “I believe in the Kingdom of God, And the promises made in the Bible. I believe that with God’s will, life shall go on. “Someday, you may catch a glimpse of a butterfly landing on a flower. Or of a bird softly settling on a branch. “It may be me, stopping by to say His word is true. As I am part of God’s Kingdom, I did not die and neither shall you.”

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readily took on projects around the house no one else could ever do. Chuck had a passion for his boat, The Lionspaw, on which he and the family cruised to the Abaco Islands several times. He loved his neighborhood and enjoyed all water-related activities on the lake. Just a few weeks before he died, he was out riding his bike with his daughter, Susan, and he commented to her, “I’ve really lived a charmed life!” Chuck will be deeply missed by his family, friends and all who knew him. A Celebration of Life will be held at 1 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, at Woodlawn Memorial Funeral Home.

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tist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Teddie Robert Hey; son, Bo Hey and wife, Tammy; and grandson-in-law, Clayton Royal. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Brian and Kim Hey; siblings, Geraldine Martin, Linda Adams, Junior Wise (Sherry), Glenn Wise (Charlotte), Donald Wise (Candy), Tammy Watson, Jimmy Wise (Cindy) and Jeff Wise; six grandchildren, Kelsey Hey Royal, Faith Owens (Christopher), Lacie Hey, Mason

CHUCK KRUTZLER DIED OCT. 1, 2021.

Chuck Krutzler, a longtime resident of Windermere Downs, died unexpectedly on Oct. 1, 2021, at the age of 79. Chuck was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, on Feb. 19, 1942. He married his college sweetheart, Susan Grace, on July 31, 1965. They moved to Florida, where they made their home together for 56 years and raised their family. He is survived by his three children, Susan Jr., and her partner, Scott; Mike and his wife, Stephanie; and Steve and his wife, Brittani. He had four grandchildren, Cole, Kinsey, Hugh and Gavin. He is also survived by his brother, Gene, and his wife, Ami, who reside in Pennsylvania. Family was everything to Chuck! His grandchildren loved to do projects with him, build

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