11.30.17 Windermere Observer by Orange Observer

WINDERMERE

Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. FREE

VOLUME 3, NO. 8

•

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017

Winter is coming See inside for our exclusive winter sports season preview. SEE PAGE 9.

Dress down, chin up

YOUR TOWN BECOME A BETTER

PUBLIC SPEAKER

Winter Garden native and Windermere Prep graduate Simone Magee is the mastermind behind the garment weight Dress Downs.

SEE STORY PAGE 6

The Windermere Toastmasters is hosting an open house at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5, at 4100 McKinnon Road, Windermere. Join the club and improve your skills and confidence in public speaking. Toastmasters is a professional development organization with a mission to provide a positive, supportive environment for people to grow their communication and leadership skills. The event is free. For more information, visit Windermeretoastmasters.org.

Sixth-grader earns spot in international geography bee Kaylan Patel is preparing for a new season of geography bees, which will culminate in Berlin, Germany, next summer. Danielle Hendrix

Simone Magee, a Winter Garden native and 2009 Windermere Prep graduate, created Dress Downs shortly after moving to Chicago, aka The Windy City.

HOLIDAY HOOPLAH

SEE PAGE 4

Windermere considering addition of town fire station The substation, if built, would be included in the project to upgrade the police department and administration offices. GABBY BAQUERO NEWS EDITOR

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Rosen JCC keeps kids happy at Thanksgiving camp. SEE PAGE 4

The town might soon get its own fire station — if the public wills it. An assessment conducted of the town’s public facilities presented the Windermere Town Council with options regarding where to build a new police department, public works facility and town administration department. SEE TOWN PAGE 6

Brittany Gaines

To prepare for geography bee season, Kaylan Patel studies about 20 hours a week using his collection of atlases and quiz books.

WINDERMERE OBSERVER

FRIDAY, DEC. 1

“A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS” 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, and Saturday, Dec, 2; and 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 4851 S. Apopka-Vineland Road, Orlando. Tickets cost $10 and can be purchased at st.lukes.org/ charliebrown. 30TH ANNUAL LIGHT UP WINTER GARDEN 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, on and around Plant Street in downtown Winter Garden. Join the city of Winter Garden and the West Orange Ministerial Association in welcoming the season with this annual event. Live entertainment from local church choirs and bands, vendors, shopping and children’s activities. Street- and buildinglighting ceremony will be held at 6:15 p.m. (407) 656-4111.

SATURDAY, DEC. 2

THE GROVE’S WINTER WONDERLAND 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at The Grove Orlando, 4744 S. Apopka-Vineland Road, Orlando. The Grove’s plaza will transform into a winter wonderland as Santa and Mrs. Claus stop by for a visit. The event also will include snow, train rides, stilt walkers and more. Free. WINTER GARDEN CHRISTMAS PARADE 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2. Starts on South Dillard Street, heading north, and goes west on Plant Street. Marching bands, decorated floats, festive music and more. The Mayor’s Trophy and Grand Marshal’s Award will be given, as well as trophies in these categories: Best Youth or Children’s Group; Best Commercial or Business Entry Float; Best Band, Vocal or Performance Group; Best Church or Fraternal Group; and Best Antique Vehicle. (407) 656-4155.

SATURDAY, DEC. 9

REINDEER RUN 5K 7 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Winter Garden Village at Fowler Groves. The event, presented

by Observer Media Group and other sponsors, raises funds for the Reading Reindeer literacy program and to benefit Oakland Nature Preserve and Nehrling Gardens post-Hurricane Irma. All finishers will receive a medal. Awards will be presented to the top male and female overall and the top male and female masters. Age-group awards will be presented to the top three male and female finishers. Race-day registration and packet pick-up begins at 6 a.m. Cost is $30. Preregister online at trinrun.com. Allison Brunelle, (407) 656-2121, or abrunelle@ orangeobserver.com. NEHRLING GARDENS HOLIDAY AMARYLLIS FESTIVAL 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at Nehrling Gardens, 2267 Hempel Ave., Gotha. The sixth annual nature-themed community event will feature a variety of amaryllis bulbs for purchase, family photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, live music, naturethemed vendors, food, a gift shop, silent auction and ecoactivities for children. There also will be a focus on “Be the Gift,” and Nehrling will collect toys and food for local charities. Free admission. (407) 4459977, nehrlinggardens.org.

HOLIDAY CRAFTING AND TREE-TRIMMING PARTY Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at 13790 Bridgewater Crossings Blvd., No. 11080, Windermere. Help decorate the community Christmas tree. Children can enjoy a special surprise, cookies and hot cocoa, a holiday scavenger hunt and ornament decorating. Businesses are being asked to donate a small item or gift card to be placed on the tree, which will be donated to The Sheridan of Windermere. Proceeds benefit Matthew’s Hope homeless ministry. info@ horizonwesthappenings.com. SEVENTH ANNUAL METROWEST WINTERFEST 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at the MetroWest Golf Club, 2100 S. Hiawassee Road, Orlando. The MetroWest Master Association is holding its seventh annual event with fun for the whole family. “Shrek the Halls” will be shown on the big screen on the golf green, and children can ride a donkey and slide down a Shrek slide. There is also ice skating, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, dance performances and food trucks. For more information, call (407) 601-5995.

OTHER EVENTS SATURDAY, DEC. 2

FAMILY FUN DAY 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at Horizon West Community Church, 6121 Avalon Road, Winter Garden. Food, games, pony rides, inflatables, face painting and caricatures. All activities and food are free. (407) 8776237. YOGA FOR STRESS RELIEF 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at the Southwest Library, 7255 Della Drive, Orlando. Breathe, stretch and get centered with a stress-relieving yoga practice designed to relax the body and calm the mind. No prior yoga experience needed. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes allowing for freedom of movement. Yoga mat/towel encouraged. For ages 15 and older. Registration required at (407) 835-7323.

MONDAY, DEC. 4

SOUTHWEST HOMESCHOOL CLUB: TISSUE PAPER MONET 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4, at the Southwest Library, 7255 Della Drive, Orlando. Learn about the famous artist Claude Monet and make a tissue-paper painting to take home. Ages 6 to 12. (407) 835-7323.

LETTERS TO SANTA

Hey kids! Write your letter to Santa and drop it off Now thru December 15th at either of these two locations. • Observer Office, 720 S Dillard St., Winter Garden • West Oaks Mall, 9401 W Colonial Dr., Ocoee

Santa is Here!

Ask about the “Selfie with Santa” - an exclusive at West Oaks Mall ONLY!!

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Mall Hours: Mon - Sat 10AM - 9PM, Sun Noon - 6PM • Closed Christmas • Christmas Eve & New Year’s Eve: Noon-6PM • New Year’s Day: 10AM - 6PM

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HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017

Not actual patients.

WINDERMERE OBSERVER

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Friend-fueled fun

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017

Learning Counsel recognizes OCPS for digital initiative The district’s program, LaunchED, combines technology, digital content and instruction. BRITTANY GAINES STAFF WRITER

Windermere residents Mike Szalajko and Alex Macke created a board game during the post-Hurricane Irma cleanup. BRITTANY GAINES STAFF WRITER

f it weren’t for Hurricane Irma, Windermere residents Mike Szalajko and Alex Mackey might never have had the allnight brainstorming session that led to the creation of their new board game. While assisting with cleanup in Fort Myers and nothing to do at night, the two friends had a conversation that quickly spiraled into the realization of a party game, called What the Film. “This game is a direct result of Hurricane Irma,” Mackey said. “I think we were surprised that it came about so quickly. It was a direct blessing of going down and helping those affected by the hurricane.” The game is played with a deck of cards and challenges players to create a film using plot, set and character cards. “What the Film is a party game where you put together a plot, a setting and an actor to make up a movie,” Mackey said. “For example, you could have that the pope finds out he has superhero powers at a doughnut shop. It can be as simple or elaborate as you want,

but you only have 45 seconds to pitch your movie.” Once each player in the group has pitched his or her movie, the group votes on the best pitch, and that player wins the round. And in addition to the regular game play, players also can sabotage one another using industry cards to steal points and cards. “The industry cards have things like who looks most like a serial killer and who has been on their phone the most during the game,” Szalajko said. “You start off playing the game thinking this is so much fun, then you get down to what you really think of someone.” A game can last from 30 minutes to an hour. One of the unique aspects of their game is that each playing card features artwork, Mackey said. “We commissioned more than 200 art pieces to put on cards,” he said. “We’re one of very, very few party games that has artwork with it.” For Szalajko and Mackey, the game is a reflection of their personalities. “It’s two different creative minds coming together to make something creative,” Szalajko said. “And Alex is really a gifted graphic designer, so we have a

WHAT THE FILM?! WEBSITE: Lethalchickengames.com COST: $25 RELEASE DATE: Mid-February 2018

little flair in the game.” So far, the two friends have tested their game with multiple groups of players and the response has been positive. “We’re about light-hearted, fun party games, and people get that,” Szalajko said. “The way it’s written invokes that ‘Hey, we’re here to laugh and have a good time.’” For Mackey, the creation process was interesting due to his lack of experience playing board games. “My extent of playing games has been Monopoly, Candy Land and Uno,” he said. “I never delved into the gaming world, but when I teamed up with Mike, it was a really interesting combination. It’s been a really cool collaboration.” What the Film will be released in mid-February, but Szalajko and Mackey don’t plan on stopping there. “We have another dozen games in the hopper set to come out in pretty rapid succession,” Mackey said. “We want to try and become a full-fledged game titan and give Hasbro a run for their money.”

“THE 4% TEAM”

Orange County Public Schools gained national attention recently for its digital learning initiative, LaunchED. Earlier this month, the district was awarded the 2017 Digital Super Hero Award from the Learning Counsel, a research institute comprised of educators focused on the integration of digital learning in education. “This award is a testament to the hard work of all of our LaunchED schools,” said Rob Bixler, executive director for curriculum, instruction and digital learning at OCPS. “It is the vision of the OCPS School Board and Superintendent Barbara Jenkins to be a leader in digital learning, and this recognition shows how much we are making a difference.” Most recently, OCPS hosted a discussion about the sustainability of digital curriculum at Windermere High, where Learning Counsel members also made classroom visits. The district currently has a goal of converting all schools to a digital learning platform by 2021, where each student would have access to their own laptop. So far, 32 schools have been added to the program this year, with another 44 schools set to be added each year until 2021. “It’s about curriculum, instruction, technology, innovation,” Bixler said. “It’s not just about the device. It’s about all the things that can transform the classroom.” Starting in sixth grade, students are assigned a laptop each

year, allowing them to conduct classwork through the various LaunchED programs. According to program guidelines, elementary schools participate in 70% traditional education methods and 30% digital learning, middle schools are half traditional and half digital learning, and high schools are 70% digital learning and 30% traditional. “We’re going from paper-ful to paper-purposed,” said Mariel Milano, director of digital curriculum at OCPS. In addition to cutting down on paper usage, digital learning means having almost no school-supply lists at the start of the year and giving teachers the ability to monitor students’ swork, Milano said. “I like it a lot better,” said Graig Smith, a science teacher at Windermere High School. “It allows me so much more control in the classroom.” In addition to being able to monitor what students are looking at on their own laptops, Smith said he can view their work history, easily catch plagiarism and see if students share answers with each other. “There’s no lost paper,” he said. “They can do drawings and all kinds of stuff. I’m a full paperless course.” Currently, the district plans to have all middle schools and high schools equipped with its LaunchED program by the start of the 2018-19 school year. “We are truly dedicated to making sure this works, because our community is invested in us,” Bixler said.

“This award is a testament to the hard work of all of our LaunchED schools. It is the vision of the OCPS School Board and Superintendent Barbara Jenkins to be a leader in digital learning, and this recognition shows how much we are making a difference.” — Rob Bixler, executive director for curriculum, instruction and digital learning at OCPS

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WINDERMERE OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017

Patel navigates way to Berlin BRITTANY GAINES STAFF WRITER

With Windermere Preparatory School’s geography bee only weeks away, sixth-grader Kaylan Patel is going into the competition with an ace up his sleeve. He already has qualified for the international geography bee taking place in Berlin, Germany, next summer. But that doesn’t mean he’s taking it easy this year. He’s studying harder than ever, putting in about 20 hours of studying every week. His journey to the international stage started two years ago, when he qualified for his school’s bee in fourth grade. “Out of the blue, our teacher told us to take this test,” Patel said. “I had no idea what it was for. My teacher told me the next day that I had qualified for the school geography bee. Before that, I had never heard of a geography bee.” Patel always had had a knack for memorization, even when he was little. He was once gifted a map of the United States and quickly memorized all the states and their capitals. From there, he began memorizing foreign countries and capitals. “It was natural to me just knowing these things,” he said. But when he won Windermere Prep’s geography bee that first year as a fourth-grader, he sur-

Brittany Gaines

Last year, Kaylan Patel placed fifth and second in the country at the International Geography Bee and the North South Foundation Geography Bee, respectively.

prised himself. “Everyone was shocked,” he said. “I was surprised and shocked, because I didn’t expect to win.” Since then, Patel has immersed himself in learning everything he can about geography. He has a collection of atlases and history, travel and quiz books that he reads daily. He examines maps, looking at everything from cities to topography, because geography bees aren’t just about knowing cities and countries.

“You have to know history and culture,” he said. “If you don’t know where a mountain or island is, knowing the spelling or how a word is said can help you figure it out.” For Patel, the physical geography category is the hardest. Those questions are often scientific, addressing things like climate, ocean currents or even icebergs. That’s why Patel studies every day. “I started studying more, because the questions are getting

harder,” he said. In addition to studying, competing in multiple competitions every year helps him learn more, he said. “I’m getting more and more questions that some other kids (I’m competing against) might not know because they weren’t at that competition,” he said. Last year, in addition to competing in the National Geographic Competition at the state level, Patel also competed in the International Geography Bee and the North South Foundation Geography Bee, where he placed fifth and second in the country, respectively. It was that fifth-place win that qualified him to go to the International Geography Bee in Berlin, Germany, and it’s a challenge he is ready to accept. “I get to go against people from other countries,” Patel said. “And the questions might be harder, so I might get something I’ve never heard of before.” But before he gets to Berlin, Patel has another goal. In addition to winning Windermere Prep’s bee, he wants to win the state bee and advance to the prestigious National Geographic Bee in Washington, D.C. “I want to try to make it to the top 10 for the national bee this year,” he said.

WINDERMERE

Observer “If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.” Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944 Publisher / Dawn Willis, dwillis@OrangeObserver.com Executive Editor / Michael Eng, meng@OrangeObserver.com Design Editor / Jessica Eng, jeng@OrangeObserver.com Senior Sports Editor / Steven Ryzewski, sryzewski@OrangeObserver.com News Editor / Gabby Baquero, gbaquero@OrangeObserver.com Community Editor / Amy Quesinberry, amyq@OrangeObserver.com Black Tie Editor / Danielle Hendrix, dhendrix@OrangeObserver.com Staff Writer / Brittany Gaines, bgaines@OrangeObserver.com Advertising Executives Michelle Gentry, mgentry@OrangeObserver.com Cyndi Gustafson, advertising@Orange Observer.com Creative Services Tony Trotti, ttrotti@OrangeObserver.com Customer Service Representatives Allison Brunelle, abrunelle@OrangeObserver.com Krista Pierce, kpierce@orangeobserver.com Katie Rehm, krehm@orangeobserver.com

The Windermere Observer is published once weekly, on Thursdays. It provides subscription home delivery. The Windermere Observer also can be found in commercial locations and at our office, 720 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden. If you wish to subscribe to, visit our website, OrangeObserver.com, call (407) 6562121 or visit our office, 720 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden.

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Let us know about your events, celebrations and achievements. To contact us, send your information via email to Michael Eng, meng@OrangeObserver.com.

WINDERMERE OBSERVER Gavin Tischler rinsed off his paintbrush.

Ashley Hardoon and Seth Tischler shared colors as they worked on their painting.

Kids celebrate holidays at Rosen Turkey Day camp

Observer Media Group Inc.

AJ Harris and Matias Puentas paused their painting for a photo.

or a couple of days leading up to Thanksgiving, kids attending the Rosen JCC’s Youth Thanksgiving Break Camp got to spend some time off indulging in games, arts and crafts and more. Held Tuesday, Nov. 21, and Wednesday, Nov. 22, the camp was a great way for kids in kindergarten through fifth grade to stay active and entertained while on break from school. Activities included volleyball, superhero self-portraits and making salt-dough creations. — DANIELLE HENDRIX

The Windermere Observer (USPS 687-120) is published weekly for $40 per year ($50 outside of Orange County) by the Observer Media Group, 720 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden, Florida 34787. Periodical postage paid at Winter Garden, Florida. POSTMASTER send address changes to the Windermere Observer, 720 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden, Florida 34787.

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Kenley Owens used her favorite color, pink, the most.

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Cornerstone Hospice breaks ground near Health Central

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017

In love and remembrance this holiday season.

HONOR

your loved ones You and your family are invited to Join us for Woodlawn Memorial Park and Funeral Home’s

18th Annual

HOLIDAY REMEMBRANCE SERVICE Thursday, December 7, 2017

Courtesy

West Orange County will get a much-needed hospice unit by 2019 after a need was identified for critical patients facing lifelimiting illness to receive care in a comfortable, home-like environment. Cornerstone Hospice and Palliative Care will have its own space in the Orlando Health Center for Rehabilitation, which broke ground earlier this month on the campus of Health Central Hospital, in Ocoee. The first floor of the five-story facility will house Cornerstone Hospice Care Unit, with its 10 private rooms and family lounge. Each room will have a pullout bed, refrigerator and showers so family members can spend as much time as possible with loved ones. The 95,000-square-foot Orlando Health Center for Rehabilitation and Cornerstone Hospice Care Center are scheduled for completion in 2019. Providing seed money for this new health care project are the West Orange Healthcare District ($1.25 million) and West Orange Health Alliance ($440,000). “The Cornerstone Hospice Care Center at Orlando Health-Health Central will help fill a gap in health care services available in West Orange County,” said Chuck Lee, president and CEO of Cornerstone Hospice. “Patients and their fami-

Carolers • Candle-Light Service Holiday Remembrance Tree Refreshments

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TOYS FOR TOTS

Please bring an unwrapped toy so a child can have a special holiday season.

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CROSS COUNTRY PRINTMAKING & CERAMICS FAITH & SERVICE

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PHOTOGRAPHY

SPANISH CLUB "Trinity Prep's many activities give me the opportunity to grow academically, athletically and creatively." – David M., 10th Grade

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Please join us at Open House for grades 6-12 on Nov. 15 or Dec. 8 to learn how your children can belong to a community that encourages and guides them to achieve excellence. We look forward to having you on campus! Register to attend at trinityprep.org/joinus – 321-282-2515

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lies will receive inpatient care in a homelike place, not an intensive care unit, when symptoms become too difficult to manage at home. “We are grateful for the partnership of Orlando Health, which designated space for the unit, and for the generosity of the West Orange Healthcare District and West Orange Health Alliance to kickstart the capital campaign,” Lee said. In November 2015, the 22-bed Cornerstone Hospice Unit opened at Orlando Health’s Orlando Regional Medical Center. More than 2,200 patients and their families have received care and end-of-life support at the downtown Orlando unit. “The West Orange Healthcare District is dedicated to ensuring that the residents have access to medical care and wellness services right in our community,” said Norma Sutton, chair of the West Orange Healthcare District. “The district is pleased to make an investment in the Cornerstone Hospice Care Center, which will help fill a gap for families who want to provide comfort and dignity for their loved ones facing end of life.” “Aside from meeting a critical need, having this resource in our community will help raise awareness about hospice care and the peace of mind it provides to patients and families facing lifelimiting illness,” said Lynn Walker Wright, a member of the West Orange Health Alliance. Currently, the only hospice facility in West Orange is the VITAS Inpatient Hospice Unit at Quality Health Care, 12751 W. Colonial Drive, Winter Garden.

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The facility, scheduled to open in 2019, will include 10 private rooms and a family lounge.

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017

Worth the weight DANIELLE HENDRIX BLACK TIE EDITOR

Tying jackets around waists. Physically holding flowing skirts down. Taping or sewing coins and washers into hem lines. They’re all tricks that women wearing skirts or dresses have learned when it comes to avoiding a Marilyn Monroe moment on a windy day. But perhaps one of the most creative solutions on the market now is Dress Downs, the brainchild of 2009 Windermere Preparatory School graduate Simone Magee. CREATIVE CONCEPT

Upon graduating high school, the Winter Garden native first went to Stetson University for four years before finding herself at a crossroads: Stay in Florida longterm or take a chance and move. That’s when she landed on Chicago, aka The Windy City. “Growing up in Florida, dresses are a staple,” Magee said. “That was my closet when I lived here. There were actually multiple incidences where in Chicago I was taking public transport and would be in dresses or skirts, and when the bus pulls up it kind of creates this wind gust. It was so frustrating, and I’d see other women tie jackets around their waist or hold the sides of their dresses. I was like, ‘What would work? What can

I come up with?’ I sketched ideas and researched online.” Magee knew that the product she was envisioning had to be simple. It also would have to be reusable — no one wanted to take the time to sew coins or washers into every skirt or dress they owned. “For me it was like, ‘What’s simple, convenient and reusable?” she said. “I played around with those ideas and landed on the shape and application. I sketched and left it for a year, and played with names.” While working as an account executive, she got an inside look of what it would be like to take an idea from conception to full production. “Having that insight was the final push I needed to take Dress Downs to an actual, physical product,” she said. “It was an inkling always in the back of my head and I played with it for years. I didn’t have that final push, because where do you start?” And with that final push, Magee knew she had something going. She ultimately made the decision to quit her job and focus on her product — what would later become Dress Downs. DRESS DOWNS

From then on her daily focus was on Dress Downs, including the design, logo, packaging, marketing and more. “I had a hand in the tones, colors, adhesives and how much it would weigh,” she said. “Everything from

So local, it feels like your garage!

Danielle Hendrix

Dress Downs are reusable garment weights that help give women peace of mind on a windy day.

the paper on the backing and the color — it was trial and error, but I always had this vision. I had to just put it all together. Even from the size of it — I remember measuring out inches and distance and playing with shapes and molds to see what was the best route. I would look at other products, too.” Her father, a former engineer for NASA, even helped her with deciding the proper weights for Dress Downs after she went outside with a barometer and played with wind and weight. “Playing with the weights it was like, ‘What’s going to be dense and feel the best?’” she said. “It was about distributing the weight properly. I knew I would have an

DRESS DOWNS Each $12 package includes four weights. Currently, Dress Downs come in a nude/beige color, with a black color option coming soon. For more, visit dressdowns. com. Instagram: garmentweight Facebook: facebook.com/ garmentweight Twitter: @garmentweights

adhesive backing and thought, ‘What’s going to be the most simple application for the manufacturer?’” After starting to focus on her product full-time last November, Magee finally was able to have the product in hand by May 2017. She has a patent pending on Dress Downs, which were featured on the TODAY Show and also helped her win the Big Idea Awards in Chicago. “Looking back from where I started a year ago to now, it’s crazy to see from when it was just a prototype to now selling online and things like that,” she said. “I actually just shipped an order to Australia, because it’s summer there. It wasn’t ever just a ‘me’ thing; it was more for women in general. It’s nice to hear from strangers who say, ‘This is awesome, I want to buy these!’” Dress Downs come in a pack of four reusable, adhesive garment weights. The adhesive is designed to last for up to 20 uses. Eventually, Magee said, she would love for them to be available in stores everywhere and part of every woman’s wardrobe. “From notebook to now, every day something happens that makes me more and more fired up (about it),” she said. “My family and friends have no idea how their positive words impact me — hearing those words on days I’m so frustrated is the catalyst that keeps it going. When you know people believe in you, it’s hard to just stop.”

Town ponders fire substation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

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Three of five options presented in an assessment by Winter Parkbased Architects Design Group included adding a 4,500-squarefoot, two-bay fire station, along with the construction of the upgraded town facilities. In those three options — Option A-1, Option B-2 and Option C — adding a fire station is estimated to cost an investment upwards of $1.19 million, which does not include the cost of technology, furniture and other equipment. Windermere Mayor Gary Bruhn noted that if the town chose to pursue the construction of a fire substation, Ocoee would provide the personnel for it. “Ocoee’s fire station is about $2.2 million, but ours would be less than that because it would be a substation,” Bruhn said. “It

wouldn’t have all the amenities and everything, and it would be manned less. But for us to create our own fire department when we have Ocoee one mile from our border would be financially unreasonable, because we pay, what, $600,000 to $700,000 and just the fire trucks would cost twice that much.” Currently, the town has a fiveyear contract with the city of Ocoee, which responds to calls for service in Windermere. Windermere entered into the contract four years ago at a starting cost of $500,000, but that cost increases $50,000 every year. Now as the town enters its fifth year into the contract in 2018, the town’s fire protection payment to Ocoee will total $750,000. Bruhn emphasized he is not championing either proposal, and the option simply is being

presented to residents for consideration when workshops begin regarding the issue of the town’s needed public facility upgrades. “It’s only an option and something that will be presented to residents in case it’s something they want to pursue,” he said. “Reason being that it would bring the fire service closer to us and Ocoee would be willing to work with us on it. …. We have one call for service a day. Fires are minimal. Our calls for service are mostly for accidents, heart attacks, people short of breath. So for us to invest millions on a fire department of our own is crazy, but if we were to build a fire station and have Ocoee man it, it would provide quicker response times. … So if we could create quicker response times without increasing our costs, then that would be something worth investigating.”

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Jackie Nell Garmany Titus was born in Trion, Georgia, to Jack and Flossie Garmany on July 17, 1949. They lived in Georgia and Alabama during her younger years and moved to the Chicago area when Jackie was 10 years old. She left us on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2017. She was married on July 17, 1966, to Terry Lee Titus and subsequently moved to the Titus hometown of Guthrie Center, Iowa, when Terry came home from the Army. Jackie led a very social life while in Iowa. She was past president of the Royal Neighbors of America and past president of the American Legion Auxiliary. During this period, they were blessed with two children, Terri Lynn, born 1972, and Timothy Jack, in 1974. The family relocated to Ocoee in 1978 after a vacation visiting her brother Gerald Creed and falling in love with Florida. During her time here, she has

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sisters, Brenda Blevins, Margaret Foell, Dorothy Nolan, Gerald Creed and Dan Garmany. She leaves three beautiful grown granddaughters, two beautiful great-granddaughters, all of whom live out of state; and a great host of friends. She will surely be missed by her family and a multitude of friends. My Jackie has gone home to be with her Lord and Savior. We all love you. Jackie was preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Patricia, who was a twin to Margaret. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home, Winter Garden. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at the First Baptist Church of Ocoee. Graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4, at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. Arrangements entrusted to Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home, Winter Garden, baldwinfairchild.com.

JACKIE NELL GARMANY TITUS DIED WEDNESDAY, NOV. 22, 2017.

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NOVEMBER 30, 2017

SPORTS

Windermere Prep’s Khadry Jackson had a breakout season on both sides of the ball this fall. Page 10.

DP moves on to December The Panthers will play Wekiva in Friday’s state semifinal. SEE PAGE 13. OBSERVER PREPS 2017-18 WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW

Stars of all sizes Whether it is 7-foot-1 Windermere Prep newcomer Balsa Koprivica or West Orange’s Katelyn Kinney — standing small but mighty at 5-foot-4 — there are plenty of talented local basketball stars who are eager to show what they’ve got on the hardwood this winter.

Girls basketball preview. SEE PAGE 10 Boys basketball preview. SEE PAGE 11 Soccer preview. SEE PAGE 12

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Khadry Jackson

Windermere Prep junior safety and wide receiver Khadry Jackson had a breakout season on both sides of the ball for the Lakers, who finished as SSAC runners-up. Jackson, who was fourth on the team in tackles and all-purpose yards, had a kickoff return for a touchdown in a playoff game against Orlando Christian Prep, and Windermere Prep coaches applauded his play during the Lakers’ defeat in the Florida Bowl against St. Stephen’s Episcopal.

Although the Lakers did not win the SSAC Florida Bowl, what about the way the team played made you proud? I was proud of our resilience — we fought to the very end. One thing I’ve learned about this team is we’re fighters. Overall, what was your impression of this season? It was very fun. You don’t see a lot of teams go 10-1, so that’s a major accomplishment for any team. Period. I think the season was very good — we did a lot, but sadly we couldn’t win the whole thing. Where do you feel you improved this fall? I feel like I got better mentally, knowing the game and breaking down information. I’ve always been a sports junkie, and I love to study. Knowing this position, that position — all the positions on the team — it just helped me get better. What was it like in the playoff game against Orlando Christian Prep, when you

THE BASICS SCHOOL: Windermere Prep HOMETOWN: Atlanta HEIGHT: 6-foot-2 WEIGHT: 195 POSITION: Safety, wide receiver OTHER SPORTS: Track

had a game-winning kickoff return for a touchdown? That was the highlight of the game. … It’s always fun being a part of those games. You just know, “This is a good game; this is a good team we’re going up against.” Which of your teammates at Windermere Prep is the funniest? I would say Ross Fournet. He’s a funny dude, and you can just tell he’s a really good dude. Who is a collegiate or NFL player you admire? Jalen Ramsey. Just watching him from college at Florida State — he plays with a (fearless) attitude. He’s about the same size as me, and he’s really athletic. I just like the way he plays the game, with so much intensity and heart.

Five full-court questions STEVEN RYZEWSKI SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ONE LOADED, YOUTHFUL ROSTER BECOMES TWO?

West Orange coach Shrell Chamberlain kept an unusually deep roster for the 2016-17 season for a reason: Chamberlain knew his talented group of underclassmen would be split when Windermere High opened this fall. After a strong 22-8 season, that happened, and several of the team’s promising players are now Wolverines. Standout guard Morgan Beacham returns to lead a talented group of allunderclassmen starters that includes Christina Kline, Sarah Placide, Katelyn Kinney, Kennedi Rodgers and Jania James. As always, local powerhouse Wekiva will be the team to beat in the Warriors’ district. As for Windermere, veteran coach Misty Cox is tasked with building this brand-new program with a lineup that contains no seniors. Cox calls her roster a “good, young foundation to build upon” and, in particular, is carrying five freshmen on the varsity roster this fall in addition to some of those such as Brianna Szymanski, a junior guard, who was a Warrior a season ago.

Kennedi Rogers, left, Christina Kline, Morgan Beacham, Sarah Placide and Katelyn Kinney are ready to lead the Warriors.

The Titans had a season to remember in 2016-17, making it to the state semifinals in Lakeland for the first time. But if they are going to duplicate that success, it will have to come with some new faces in new roles — particularly with a new head coach. Last year’s coach, Robert Carmody, stepped down over the summer to focus on other career opportunities, bringing in Thomas Passafaro, formerly the coach at Cornerstone Charter. The Titans also graduated some of the key senior leaders from last year’s team, but talented returners — such as Airyannah Moitt, Chenoa Johnson, Jazmyne Gelfand and Kate Fillenwarth — are not going to accept anything less than a fifth consecutive district title and a run in the playoffs. “They’re coming off of a successful year last year, and they all know what it takes to get that far,” Passafaro said. “But what’s nice, too, is that it is a completely different team.”

With a talented senior class and some signature wins to its credit, last year was supposed to have been “The Year” for the Ocoee girls basketball team — until it wasn’t. A bad break in district seeding meant a district semifinal matchup with West Port that kept the Knights from the playoffs. This year’s team will be anchored around Longwood signee Akila Smith — except that Smith will not be back until later in the season, possibly in time for districts. How a young, scrappy lineup will progress in the meantime will be interesting to watch as the Knights look to return to the playoffs.

HOW WILL OLYMPIA FOLLOW-UP ITS BEST SEASON YET WITH A NEW COACH?

Which dish at Thanksgiving dinner were you looking forward to the most? My grandma’s sweet potato pies. She makes the best sweet potato pies, I think, ever. What’s your favorite thing about playing for head coach Jacob Doss? He’s real fun. A lot of coaches, you think they’re hard-nosed, but he wants to relate to you. Sometimes in practice, we have the music on and he tries to see what we’re hip to. What are you thinking you would like to study in college? Marketing or sports management. I like the business side of sports. If not that, then maybe history or something. What’s something you learned about this year that was really interesting? I would say anatomy and physiology. Mr. (Mike) Crocetti, he’s an awesome teacher — the way he breaks it down to us and helping us to study better.

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WHO WILL BE THE LEADERS ON A YOUNG ROSTER FOR THE DR. PHILLIPS PANTHERS?

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bert’s team. With Tolbert now a freshman at the University of North Florida, it remains to be seen which of coach Anthony Jones’ talented young players will emerge as this season’s top playmakers. In the preseason and through one regular-season game, Truly Le, Zoe Alexander and Courtney Afram-Gyening have shown some scoring ability, while Alexander figures to be the Panthers’ top rebounder. HOW WILL NEW-LOOK OCOEE FARE IN THE TIME BEFORE STAR AKILA SMITH RETURNS?

WILL LEGACY CHARTER BUILD UPON LAST SEASON’S SURPRISE SUCCESS?

The Eagles, who are fielding a team for just the third season, had some breakout success in 2016-17. Legacy went 11-9 and made the playoffs behind Tya Freeman’s 21.9 points per game. Freeman will be a junior this season, and if the roster continues to improve under head coach Blessing Freeman, this will continue to be a team to watch.

LOOKING BACK: 2016-17 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS n Olympia made it to the state semifinals for the first time as a program before falling to Boca Raton. n West Orange made the playoffs and upset Colonial in the first round, but was defeated by Wekiva in the regional semifinals. n Ocoee went 21-6 and earned big-time wins over Wekiva and Evans, among others, but did not advance out of the district tournament. n The First Academy won its district and advanced to the regional semifinals. n Legacy Charter made the playoffs for the first time after finishing as district runner-up.

GO ONLINE To learn more about new Olympia coach Thomas Passafaro, visit ObserverPreps. com for a video interview with the Titans’ new head coach.

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WINDERMERE OBSERVER

GIRLS HOOPS PREVIEW

WINDERMERE OBSERVER

OrangeObserver.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017

STEVEN RYZEWSKI SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

CAN CFCA BREAK THROUGH AS A TITLE CONTENDER?

CFCA is emerging as a force in the local hoops scene, and a trip to Lakeland would cement its status as a private-school powerhouse. It is Army signee Dante Treacy’s final season on campus, and Evans transfer Jordan Preaster and Montverde transfer Bryce Street joined the talented guard to try and make a run at the final four.

HOW GOOD CAN THE LAKERS BE — AND WILL BALSA PLAY?

Windermere Prep’s roster is oozing with talent — whether it’s senior guard Rahsaan Lewis, senior forward Shaquan Jules or any of the Lakers’ other standouts. With that said, expectations are once again high for coach Ben Wilson’s team. The big question, though, is whether 7-foot-1 transfer Balsa Koprivica will play this season. Windermere Prep currently is holding Koprivica — whose name was mentioned in reports surrounding the FBI probe into college basketball corruption — out until they are positive he has been cleared.

HOW FAR CAN LOVE BROTHERS AND OTHER PLAYMAKERS TAKE DP IN FIRST YEAR UNDER DAN BATCHELOR?

Dan Batchelor has been on the staff at Dr. Phillips for years, but he’s getting acclimated to the difference from being an assistant to the head coach this season — Batchelor was promoted to replace longtime head coach Anthony Long. Luckily for Batchelor, he has the Love brothers — Mercer signee Daniel and junior guard Dante — to try and maintain the program’s standard of excellence.

WHO WILL EMERGE AS THE NEW PLAYMAKERS FOR THE NEW-LOOK ROYALS?

It’s no small task to replace an outgoing class that included Wake Forest freshman Chaundee Brown and helped The First Academy to a 26-2 record last season, but longtime coach Chris Mayberry is up to the challenge. The Royals will lean on returners such as Cam Williams, Joe Deluzio, Ben Radcliffe and Steve Branch while welcoming transfers Elwood Tomlinson and Greg Gallon to the fold. Although the star power may not be quite the same, the Royals have plenty of depth and potential.

IS WEST ORANGE A DARK-HORSE PLAYOFF THREAT WITH ITS ATHLETICISM AND DEPTH?

Troy signee K.J. Simon leads a West Orange team that made the playoffs last season and has enough athleticism and depth to play with anybody. A preseason game against Windermere Prep showcased what may well become a strategy for West Orange, as the Warriors’ ability to continually sub in fresh athletes and run the floor proved to be a lot to handle.

Steven Ryzewski

Brothers Dante Love, left, and Daniel Love — a Mercer signee — figure to be a big part of whatever success Dr. Phillips may have this winter in Dan Batchelor’s first year as the Panthers’ head coach. “They’re extremely competitive with one another,” Batchelor said. “And then in the games, they’re extremely supportive of one another.”

LOOKING BACK: 2016-17 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS n In longtime coach Anthony Long’s final season, Dr. Phillips upset Riverview in the first round of the playoffs before losing to Oak Ridge in the regional semis. n Windermere Prep had its season end earlier than expected by way of a controversial ending in a 72-70 loss to The Villages in the Class 5A Regional Semifinals. n West Orange made the playoffs and was defeated in the first round by Boone. n Ocoee won its district but was defeated by Hagerty in the first round of the playoffs. n The First Academy had a stellar season but was upset in the Class 4A Regional Final by Seffner Christian. n CFCA won its district and romped Merritt Island Christian in the first round of the playoffs before dropping a 45-40 thriller to Melbourne’s Florida Prep in the regional finals.

WHAT ROLES WILL DEPTH, INEXPERIENCE PLAY FOR A NEW PROGRAM AT WINDERMERE?

To launch a new program, Windermere High turned to a veteran coach. Mark Griseck is the head coach for the Wolverines, aided by his son Trey Griseck and former Olympia coach Matt Wheeler as assistants. Although

SEE HIM LIVE Although Montverde Academy is not covered by Observer Preps, we still recommend hoops fans go check out the nearby private-school dynasty in action. The best reason to do so, in addition to seeing some great basketball, is that Montverde senior R.J. Barrett, a Duke signee, is projected as a possible No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Visit MVAsports. com for Montverde’s schedule this season.

the Wolverines have no seniors, they have a Division I prospect in forward Dakota Rivers and young players — including freshman Trey Moss — who are exciting prospects. The big question will be whether the Wolverines have enough depth and experience to compete night in and night out against a tough schedule.

WHAT SORT OF GROWING PAINS WILL A TALENTED, YOUNG OCOEE ROSTER INCUR THIS WINTER?

John “Sarge” Siers is in his third year as the head coach for the Knights and fresh off winning the program’s first district title last season. While senior forward Jamel Pierre will play a big role in leading this team, Ocoee skews young. Siers is particularly excited about his sophomore class. Whether the Knights’ young up-and-comers will gel in time for the district tournament will be the key to this team returning to the playoffs.

10 CAN’TMISS GAMES

After two years as the head coach at Evans, Rob Gordon has returned to Olympia High, where he got his start as an assistant under Mark Griseck. Gordon’s roster at Olympia will be heavy on talented guards, including Jordan Grant, Mykarri Hodges and Jalen Brinson.

n IMG Academy at Windermere Prep 7 p.m. Dec. 5

WHAT DOES YEAR ONE OF THE ROB GORDON ERA LOOK LIKE AT OLYMPIA?

HOW WILL THE LIONS PROGRESS IN COACH DEJON EVERSON’S SECOND YEAR?

The Lions had their share of learning experiences in head coach Dejon Everson’s first year last season, as they ended up with a 6-21 record. Everson is hopeful this fall that returners such as Greg Henderson, Eddie Loos, Jonathan Richardson and Alex McKee will gel with newcomers Jarrel Franklin, Rashawn Plummer and Earvin Smith to take a big step forward this winter.

WHO WILL STEP UP FOR LEGACY TO REPLACE ADAM PUEBLA’S SCORING ABILITY?

Adam Puebla led Legacy in scoring the past two seasons, meaning his graduation this past spring creates a void that will have to be filled on the offensive end. Now a junior, Nathan Rodriguez was the Eagles’ second-leading scorer last season (11.9 points per game), and Dylan Clinger also was formidable on the offensive end. The Eagles also have a new coach in Caio Santos, who replaces Matthew Post.

n Apopka at Olympia 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8 n CFCA vs. Master’s Academy (at Windermere Prep) 7 p.m. Dec. 9 n Dr. Phillips at Oak Ridge 7 p.m. Dec. 13 n Olympia at Dr. Phillips 7 p.m. Dec. 15 n Windermere at West Orange 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15 n Windermere Prep at First Academy 7:30 p.m. Jan. 19 n West Orange at Ocoee 2:30 p.m. Jan. 27 n CFCA at Windermere Prep 7 p.m. Jan. 30 n Hagerty at Windermere 7 p.m. Jan. 30

BOYS HOOPS PREVIEW

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WINDERMERE OBSERVER

SOCCER PREVIEW

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STEVEN RYZEWSKI SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR

The landscape for boys and girls soccer promises to be as competitive as ever this winter. Here are five storylines to follow as the season heats up while the temperatures cool down.

TITANS WANT MORE

Olympia High’s boys and girls soccer teams each had successful regular seasons last year that ended earlier than planned. After winning 24 matches, the Olympia boys fell in the first round of the playoffs, and after going 10-2-3, the Titans girls did not advance out of a competitive district. Veteran boys coach Lou Romao said his team — led by wing Andrew Lizyness — will take it one match at a time this winter as it looks to bring along a group of younger players with bigger roles. The girls team has several talented returners, but coach Deepak Shivraman’s team also will have to weather some early injury troubles.

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Five soccer storylines to follow

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After going 11-6-2 last winter, returners Carmel de Oliveira and Maddison Lamb — along with talented freshman newcomer Jill Ross — are hoping to take the Panthers into the playoffs this season. Already, Dr. Phillips has raced out to a 4-0 start and, including a preseason victory, the Panthers have outscored opponents 18-0 so far in coach Donald George’s second year.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2017

Dave Jester

Carmel de Oliveira is a leader for the Dr. Phillips girls soccer team.

NEW TEAMS

The Windermere Wolverines will field brand-new soccer teams without seniors this winter — but that doesn’t mean either Wolverines team is counting itself out in their respective district races. Alex Ferreira is the head coach for the boys team, and Trenton Frederick is head coach for Windermere High’s girls team.

NEW LEAGUE

Not only are there some new teams, but also there is a newly formed league, with the Sunshine State Athletic Conference’s addition of boys and girls

soccer. Teams from Windermere Prep, CFCA and Legacy Charter will compete in the league. Windermere Prep and Legacy also will compete in their traditional districts, meaning two postseason tournaments for the Lakers and Eagles.

FOLLOW-UP ACT?

The First Academy’s girls soccer team advanced all the way to the regional championship in Class 1A in 2016-17. Can the Royals mimic their success from a season ago? So far, TFA is off to a rough start, with a 1-3 record against some tough competition.

Celebrating 20 Years!

2017

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Book Donations Supporting children in our community

Now thru December 9th

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2017 BOOK DROP OFF LOCATIONS WINTER GARDEN

Venue Sponsor...

• Axum Coffee 146 W Plant St

Winter Garden Village at Fowlers Grove Winter Garden • Florida

• Garden Theatre 160 W Plant St

Special finisher awards will be given to all 5K finishers and Fun Run participants! 5K Age Group Awards will be presented to the top three male and female overall and to the top masters male and female. Age group awards will be presented to the top three male and female finishers in standard 5 year age groups.

6:00AM - Race Day Registration & Packet Pickup 7:00AM - 5K Run 8:15AM - Kids Fun Run

• Observer Media Group 720 S Dillard St • Purpose Church Orlando 13640 W Colonial Dr, #110

$25.00 - Pre-registered by November 26

• Rotary Club of Winter Garden

$30.00 - Late and Race Day Registration after November 26

• Roper YMCA 100 Windermere Rd

(T-Shirt Guaranteed)

To benefit these local organizations...

• Winter Garden Library 805 E Plant St

(T-Shirts available while supplies last) FREE - Kids Fun Run (Ages 3-7) Register Day of Race Only. (No Shirt Only Finisher award) please bring a “New” book for Reading Reindeer

• Winter Garden Chamber of Commerce 12184 W Colonial Dr

For more information and to register online visit: www.trinrun.com

OAKLAND • Mosaic Church 608 W Oakland Ave