09.29.22 Southwest Orange Observer

West Orange County braces for Hurricane Ian

MICHAEL ENG EDITOR AND PUBLISHER

After days of wildly varied projec tions that had the entire state uneasy, the path of Hurricane Ian seemed to come into better focus Tuesday, Sept. 27.

At press time Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center predicted Florida landfall just south of Tampa Bay, with the storm traveling northeast and impacting a significant portion of Florida.

In a press conference Monday, Sept. 26, Orange County Mayor Jerry Dem ings said officials expected the most significant county impacts would be north and west of Interstate 4.

“While there is uncertainty in the forecast, the situation for Central Florida has become more serious,” Demings said. “We believe that in Orange County, particularly the area north and west of Interstate 4, will see the most impact. That is most likely to begin on Wednesday afternoon or evening through Thursday.”

On Monday afternoon, Demings also declared a state of emergency in Orange County, which he said allows for more efficient emergency man agement.

West Orange High School’s Homecoming parade, scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 27, in downtown Winter Garden, was canceled, as were all other after-school activities at Orange County Public Schools. OCPS also canceled classes and activities for Wednesday, Sept. 28, through Friday, Sept. 30. This includes all football games that were scheduled for Friday, Sept. 30.

Both Foundation Academy and The First Academy canceled classes for Wednesday, Sept. 28, and Thurs day, Sept. 29. As of press time, both schools had not made an announce ment regarding Friday, Sept. 30.

Windermere Prep canceled class es for Wednesday, Sept. 28, through Friday, Sept. 30.

Valencia College closed its cam puses Wednesday, Sept. 28, and Thursday, Sept. 29. The University of Central Florida closed Wednesday, Sept. 28, through Friday, Sept. 30.

The city of Winter Garden, city of Ocoee and Orange County all opened sandbag sites in their respective jurisdictions for West Orange and Southwest Orange residents.

To help Florida residents who were evacuated from their homes, Rosen Hotels & Resorts activated Mon day, Sept. 26, its Florida Resident Distress Rates. Reduced rates at all Rosen hotels and resorts are avail able to help give Florida evacuees a safe, affordable place to ride out

the storm. Rates are offered when a tropical storm or hurricane warn ing is in effect for impacted areas in Florida and will remain in effect as long as the situation is threaten ing. Rates also are offered as long as

necessary to those who are displaced after a storm.

As of Tuesday, Sept. 27, Duke Energy had nearly 10,000 personnel staged and ready to restore power throughout the state following Ian.

“At Duke Energy, we do all we can to minimize the impact of storms and ensure the safety of our cus tomers, communities and crews,” Duke Energy Florida Storm Director Todd Fountain said Tuesday. “We are actively monitoring Ian’s path, intensity and timing, and we’re bringing in additional resources from our Midwest territory and mutual assistance programs to restore power as conditions allow.”

Duke Energy initially mobilized nearly 10,000 lineworkers, tree pro fessionals, damage assessment and support personnel to safe locations in its Florida service areas. They will respond to outages once it is safe to do so.

Additional line workers and sup port personnel from Duke Energy’s service territories in Indiana, Ken tucky and Ohio were scheduled to arrive, as well, along with help from mutual assistance organizations.

Customers who experience a power outage can report it online at duke-energy.com, through the Duke Energy mobile app, by texting OUT to 57801 or by calling 800-2288485.

There is also an interactive outage map where customers can find upto-date information on power out ages, including the total number of outages systemwide and estimated times of restoration.

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Courtesy of Duke Energy

Duke Energy has nearly 10,000 personnel staged and ready to restore power once Hurricane Ian passes.

In an instant, life changed

Kloe Rodriguez, a SunRidge Elementary student, was paralyzed in a car crash. She is wearing a stabilizing halo and enduring daily physical therapy, and doctors are hoping this will allow for healing without surgery.

AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

SunRidge Elementary fifth-grader Kloe Rodriguez, 10, is fighting to walk again after an Aug. 25 car crash left her paralyzed from the waist down.

She is in a rehabilitation center in Jacksonville, where she is undergoing daily physical therapy and has a halo screwed into her skull to stabilize the torn and stretched ligaments in her neck.

Her mother, Lydia Alvarez, worries if her daughter will ever take steps again, but she has the additional fear of how she is going to pay the increas ing medical bills and her rent and oth er household bills.

“We don’t have a discharge date yet, but we know the insurance only covers 14 days, so we’re playing it by ear to see how long we can stay here,” Alvarez said.

She said her daughter is trying to stay upbeat through this ordeal.

“She’s doing better than I am,” Alvarez said. “She’s a little firecrack er. She’s in great spirits, active. She’s shocking everyone. She just wants to get in her wheelchair and (move) around. She has her moments, down days. She gets grouchy, and she’s just like, ‘Why is this happening to me?’

“Kloe wants to go home, she wants to see her friends, she wants to go back

to school,” Alvarez said. “She was one that couldn’t wait for school to start. So for her to start school and this hap pened in week three — she was devas tated. She’s like, ‘I’ll go to school in my wheelchair.’”

For now, Kloe’s education is on hold until her physical health is stable. Once she is home, a homeschool plan will be made.

LIFE-CHANGING MOMENT

Life changed in an instant the night of Aug. 25, while Alvarez was at her job with UPS. She got a phone call that her son and younger daughter had been in a car crash. According to Alvarez, her 17-year-old son was driving the fam ily’s only car. He veered off the road about two blocks from their house and hit a fire hydrant; the car flipped twice, and then an oncoming car hit theirs.

“It was triple action; it was pretty intense,” she said.

The car landed on its roof, with Kloe hanging upside down from her car seat. Her older brother crawled into the backseat, unbuckled her and held her until someone stopped.

“Thank the Lord someone drove by and stopped and spoke to them and was able to calm them down until the ambulance showed up,” Alvarez said.

“It’s insane the way the world works,” she said. “I didn’t know this person existed until I posted on the Nextdoor app. I had mentioned the accident and was curious if anyone knew or had seen what had happened. … Sure enough, someone contacted me. (He said:) “I was so worried about your kids. I was the first person who came across the accident.”

The man who called 911 for them also has been checking on the family.

Kloe was rushed to Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, and she remained there about twoand-one-half weeks before she was transferred to Brooks Rehabilitation in Jacksonville.

Doctors have said Kloe has two serious injuries. The first is a severe

ASSISTING THE FAMILY

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the family with medical and household bills. To make a donation, visit bit. ly/3UCljYV.

Lydia Alvarez, Kloe’s mother, said she has to move because Kloe’s wheelchair won’t fit in their current home. Anyone with referrals or leads on affordable rental space is asked to contact her at Lydia.a2021@yahoo.com or (347) 445-1392.

Cards, letters and packages would help cheer up Kloe during her stay in the rehabilitation center. Her mailing address is Brooks Rehabilitation, Attn: Kloe Rodriguez – Room 4210, 3599 University Blvd S., Jacksonville, FL 32216

bruise on her spine, called a T-10 Complete Injury Grade A on the ASIA impairment scale, which, due to the impact, affected the nerves to her legs. The second injury is to her neck, where she has torn and stretched liga ments.

“When she arrived at the hospi tal, her skull was separated from her spine,” Alvarez said. “She’s in a halo for the next three months until her ligaments heal.”

The halo placement has been the only surgery so far. Doctors aren’t rec ommending further surgery because of Kloe’s size, Alvarez said.

“They said, ‘Let’s wait it out, see how it heals, see if any of the nerves come back within the next two years,’” she said.

Kloe has physical and occupational therapy daily, and every day the ther apists work on a different part of her body. Improving her arm strength is important so her upper body is strong enough for her to move herself from the bed to the wheelchair. Their goal

Daniels Road Business Park

will include grocery store, retailers

ANNABELLE SIKES

STAFF WRITER

Winter Garden drivers along Dan iels Road likely have noticed quite a bit of dirt being moved just south of State Road 50.

Construction is well underway on the Daniels Road Business Park proj ect, and representatives from Intram Investments Inc. said the company is on schedule to deliver the project to the tenants early in the second quar ter of 2023.

The project, at 1200 Daniels Road and 1211 Winter Garden Vineland Road, is owned by Daniels 4 Partners LLC, an affiliate of Intram, which is supervising the development of the project.

“We are building a first-class retail shopping center at the corner that will be anchored by a national grocer not presently in the Orlando market,” Intram Executive Vice President Ran dy Hodge said. “We expect that the remaining retail spaces in the center will be occupied by a mix of restau rants and specialty retailers.”

PROJECTED PLANS

Winter Garden Community Devel opment Director Steve Pash said the request is to develop the property with a two-phase plan. However, the request approved by the City Com mission in April was for the review of the first phase only.

Phase 1 consists of a 53,344-squarefoot multi-tenant commercial build ing with a 40,344-square-foot gro cery store and 13,000 square feet of other retail space.

Pash said Phase 2 is covered by a large mass of trees originally shown to be removed. However, the applicant agreed to save all the non-invasive trees on the lot.

Pash also addressed access on Dan iels Road and certain restricted areas. He said the city’s traffic engineer reviewed this for the Development Review Committee and noted the proposed development does impact the wetlands, speaking of areas of removal, preservation and addition of trees.

The site currently houses 3.56 acres of wetlands, with 1.67 acres to be removed and preservation of 1.89

acres. The developer also will add in .94 acres of wetland buffers to pre serve, protect and enhance the wet lands.

“We spent several months during the site design working with the city of Winter Garden to preserve as much of the on-site wetlands as possible,” Hodge said. “In fact, a stand of hard wood wetland trees which had pre viously been approved to be demol ished has been set aside and will not be impacted.”

The plans were reviewed and approved by the DRC and staff rec ommended approval, subject to con ditions as stated in the DRC report. Approval of the oversize agreement was also recommended.

DEVELOPMENT BACKGROUND

During the Feb. 18, 2019, commis sion meeting, previous developer and property owner Dan Roberts appealed to commissioners and pre sented information he had hoped would convince them to vote against city staff’s recommendation to reject his site plan. During that meeting, the commission agreed to review the case

also is to keep her leg muscles moving so they don’t atrophy.

“It’s the kind of injury that most patients are paralyzed for the rest of their (lives), but they’re saying with the technology they have and her being so young, she might be able to gain some movement in the next few years,” Alvarez said. “We’re just pray ing for the best. I can’t see my child living the rest of her life like this.”

Life is on hold for the single mother.

“I had to stop my life; I had to stop working,” Alvarez said.

The lack of household income con cerns Alvarez, but her daughter comes first. A cousin created a crowd-fund ing page that will help, she said.

“That’s taking a lot of stress off my shoulders,” Alvarez said. “Rent is due soon, and the bills don’t stop coming. It’s hard to just blank out everything in my life and concentrate on this situa tion. … I’m hoping things work out.”

Another worry is where the family will live once they return to Orlando.

The 1,100-square-foot home they

currently rent has a small hallway to the bedrooms that will not accom modate Kloe’s wheelchair. When Kloe goes home, she will temporarily be set up in the living room.

The wrecked car was the fam ily’s only means of transportation, so Alvarez is trying to figure out how to replace that, as well, so she can get to work and get Kloe to her appoint ments and school.

For now, Alvarez is staying in Jack sonville. She has been staying in Kloe’s room at the rehab center and has not left her daughter’s side since she was admitted.

Periodic messages from friends and classmates have helped cheer up Kloe since she has been away from school. SunRidge Elementary sent a care package last week that included blankets and coloring books. While at the hospital, Kloe received a stack of cards and some restaurant gift cards that have come in handy.

“I need all the help I can get,” Alva rez said matter-of-factly.

and postpone their decision until Feb. 28, which was then denied.

The proposed development would have allowed for the construction of five new office/retail buildings on the 6.25-acre property located at 1200 Daniels Road, situated on the south west corner of Daniels Road and West Colonial Drive behind the Burger King and SunTrust Bank.

According to the agenda, city offi cials recommended denial of Rob erts’ site plan because they believed the project failed to meet the code requirements for developments located in wetlands.

The proposed project would have required the removal of four acres of wetlands on the property. But Rob

erts maintained the wetlands are distressed and in poor condition. As a result, he purchased $175,000 in wetland-mitigation credits outside of the city limits.

Intram obtained the property in December 2020.

“What is presently permitted is just the first phase of our project,” Hodge said. “We expect to be able to announce further development along Daniels Road in the next few months.”

Heather Coons, of BluRock Com mercial Real Estate, is managing the leasing. HGR Construction is the gen eral contractor. The buildings were designed by Cuhaci Peterson, and the civil engineer, Carnahan Proctor & Cross, designed all the site work.

Randy Hodge, executive vice president of Intram Investments Inc. said the company is on schedule to deliver the project to tenants early in the second quarter of 2023.

Courtesy photo Construction on the business park is moving along as scheduled.

Courtesy photos

Lydia Alvarez, left, and her three children: Destiny Sanchez, Jayden Ar royo and Kloe Rodriguez.

The

Marvelous mompreneurs

ANNABELLE SIKES STAFF WRITER

Being a mother isn’t easy. Being a mother and a full-time busi ness owner seems almost impossible.

However, Viviana Pereira never has been one to let the impossible stop her.

The Horizon West resident has tak en what others have told her is imprac tical and used it to fuel her passion for empowering other mother business owners through her Facebook group, Faces of a Mompreneur.

The group brings together mother entrepreneurs in the community to provide support, inspiration, connec tions and empowerment — while also inspiring those thinking about jump ing into the entrepreneurial world.

“One of the most fulfilling moments is when a fellow mompreneur comes up to me and thanks me for helping grow their business,” Pereira said.

“But it wasn’t just me. It was our com munity of women coming together and supporting each other on a pro fessional and personal level, and it was them having the strength to believe in themselves.”

EARLY ENTREPRENEUR Pereira has had an entrepreneurial spirit for as long as she can remember.

“It’s just in my bones,” she said. “I remember even as a young girl in Ven ezuela, my mom would send my sister and I with candies to the school to sell. I loved it.”

Pereira and her husband, Jonathan Delgado, have attempted to start several small businesses, including a small cafe, a marketing company and a photography business.

Although the couple has experi enced failure, the experiences taught Pereira lifelong lessons — and the importance of taking risks.

“I want to have a legacy,” she said. “I want something to have our name on it.”

Pereira became a mom in 2020 to a baby boy named Liam — “the best thing that ever happened to us,” she said.

When Liam was born, Delgado stayed at home while Pereira returned to work. Then, after the pandemic hit, she was sent home to work remotely.

In 2021, while Pereira was working full-time as an enterprise account manager for a cybersecurity compa ny, the couple decided to take another shot at starting their own business. They struck gold unexpectedly with the creation of RealSquare Media, a photography and videography busi ness for professionals such as Real tors, developers and builders.

“I very quickly became over whelmed by being a new mom, a new entrepreneur, keeping up with the house and everything in-between —

to the point where I was going crazy,” Pereira shared. “So basically, one day crying on the floor to a messy house and still cooking dinner, I had a breakdown. That very moment, I told myself I was not the only one, and I was determined to do something to let other mamas in my same situation know that they are not alone.”

As part of that mission, Pereira decided to start her own photography project for 52 weeks. She searched for a different mompreneur to meet every week, conducted a short interview and took her headshot.

“I get to share their story from an angle that usually people don’t see — the juggle between motherhood and business,” Pereira said. “People always see the successful side of the story, and they may even ask them selves, ‘How is she doing it all?’ Well, that is the side of the story I get to share.”

Although she started the project as a hobby, along the way, one of the mompreneurs she interviewed sug gested she start a Facebook group to nurture a growing community in need.

“This project has changed my life,” Pereira said. “I have met incredible women that I know I can count on to lift me up or support me if needed.”

FACES OF A MOMPRENEUR

The exclusive group currently has a little more than 200 members — each one being a mother and a business owner.

So far, Pereira has spotlighted 25 mompreneurs from the local com munity, including Sheena Niecestro, from Inflate 2 Create; Lesline Pitt man, from Leslinedoeswellness LLC; Rachel Harris, from Handcrafted Counseling and Consulting; Janisha Patel, from Hamlin Modern Dentistry; Claudia Rupeiks, from Ellas District; and Kelly Starkey, from FIT4MOM.

Jessica Villegas, owner of Hi-Lite Coaching and Consulting, said she saw Pereira post asking for moms who had their own business for a free pho toshoot last early winter.

As a business owner and mother of three girls, she said the group sup plies a safe space for women to come together and meet other amazing women while highlighting both their individual work and promoting the group.

“These women support me, and I will support them — I know they always have my back,” Villegas said.

“We want to succeed, and we want to see each other succeed, and there isn’t that competition among us — even though some of us have similar lines of work.”

Villegas fantasized about getting out of the corporate world and open ing her own business where she could have flexible hours and more time to spend with her family.

Although the task is easier said than done, Villegas said her decision to become an entrepreneur is something she wouldn’t change for the world.

“I might not be able to be there for my children for every moment like I wanted to, but they get to watch me build something,” she said. “I think if there was going to be any big win that would be the biggest one. I have three daughters, so they can all watch, see and understand that you can be a woman, you can be who you want, you can bring your passion to the table, you can monetize it and you can find people who will support you to do that.”

Manuela Goez, owner of 360Emo tions event business, also is a member.

“(This) is what every mompreneur needs right now — a group, a commu nity where they can feel related to, that they feel like they can talk to,” Goez said. “The group is honestly more like a family. The combination of being a mom and having a business has been life-changing. It hasn’t been easy, but it doesn’t mean that it’s impossible.”

Goez currently is working with Pereira to help plan the Mompreneur Summit 2023 in March to celebrate the culmination of the project.

The summit will be framed like a conference complete with entertain ment, food, keynote speakers and fun activities.

“This event will be about a tribe of moms who own and run their busi nesses,” Pereira said. “The summit will focus on topics that are momentrepreneur-related, bringing moms who do business together to enrich, support, network and grow.”

In addition to the upcoming sum mit, the group hosts a monthly meetup at various locations.

“I am very happy here and grateful, because this is an amazing commu nity,” Pereira said. “We have been able to achieve many things here. If you do things well and you give to people, it will come back to you.”

Pereira said her ultimate goal is to have a platform to reach more moms and host more frequent events.

“So why do Faces of a Mompreneur deserve to be known?” Pereira said.

“Because of every mom entrepreneur out there thinking this is a lonely jour ney, having mom guilt, not having the support they need. Because of every mama local business owner want ing to meet likeminded women living the motherhood and business juggle. I am convinced this is my mission and would love more mamas finding us and providing empowerment and resources to our mompreneur com munity.”

“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

Editor and Publisher / Michael Eng, meng@OrangeObserver.com

Design Editor / Jessica Eng, jeng@OrangeObserver.com

Community Editor / Amy Quesinberry, amyq@OrangeObserver.com

Staff Writer / Andrea Mujica, amujica@OrangeObserver.com

Staff Writer / Annabelle Sikes, asikes@OrangeObserver.com

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Multimedia Advertising Executive / Iggy Collazo, iggy@OrangeObserver.com

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CONTACT US

The West Orange Times West Or ange Times & Observer and South west Orange Observer are published once weekly, on Thursdays. The papers can be found in many com mercial 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, Suite 180, Winter Garden.

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STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP

PUBLIC NOTICES

The West Orange Times meets the legal requirements to pub lish legal and public notices in Orange County per F.S. 50.011

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WEST ORANGE TIMES

The West Orange Times (USPS 687120) is published weekly for $40 per year ($50 outside of Orange County) by the Observer Media Group, 661 Garden Commerce Parkway, Winter Garden, Florida, 34787. Periodical postage paid at Winter Garden, Florida. POSTMAS TER: Send changes of address to the (name of pub; i.e., West Orange Times, West Orange Times & Observ er or Southwest Orange Observer), Observer Media Group, P.O. Box 135, Lincolnshire, Illinois 60069-0135.

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Courtesy photos

The Faces of a Mompreneur group includes more than 200 members who are both full-time mothers and business owners.

Viviana Pereira loves spending time with her husband, Jonathan Delgado, and their son, Liam.

Member Manuela Goez is the owner of 360Emotions.

Member Jessica Villegas is the owner of Hi-Lite Coaching & Consulting.

WGHF exhibition celebrates women

from 1985 to 1993 and 2003 to 2006.

AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

The Winter Garden Heritage Foun dation is paying tribute to the women who made a difference in West Orange County in a new exhibition: West Orange Women: Making History Part I.

It recognizes the contributions of the female residents in this area, who were educators, artists, community activists, socialites, politicians, busi ness owners and blue-collar workers. Coming from all walks of life, each of these women was instrumental in growing and nurturing this region.

Included in the first of several exhi bitions are Carolyn Anderson, Aman da Booker, Linda Chapin, Annie Con nell, Pauline Dees, Mildred Dixon, Ann Harrell, Jean Grafton, Charlene Payne Kammerer, Dorothy Kannon, Laura Scott Kirton, Juanita Coney Maxey, Amanda “Tex” Brown Meachem, Mae Reeves, Grace Mather-Smith, Helen “Dewey” Vick, Mary Vea Tanner and Charlie Mae Wilder.

The exhibition also honors the organizers and earliest members of the Bloom & Grow Garden Society, Woman’s Club of Ocoee, Orgarlan Women’s Club and the Winter Gar den Welfare League, as well as the contingent of female workers in the local packinghouses.

“We have always been aware of the contributions made by women in West Orange County,” WGHF director Jim Crescitelli said. “To sur vive, pioneer families all had to work together. Women were a huge part of that, from working in the orange groves and packinghouses and small businesses to raising families and starting social service organizations that we still benefit from today here in West Orange County.”

Here’s a look at some of the women featured.

AMANDA BOOKER Booker moved to Winter Garden in 1948 and was a crucial member of the black community along Avalon Road in Tildenville. She was the sole director of the Tildenville Childcare Center in its 24 years of existence, and working parents trusted her with their children. In the facility’s early days, there was no funding for food or a washing machine; she spent her own money to buy food for the center and wash all the clothing and linens.

The facility also served as a net work for people needing employment opportunities or donated items such as furniture or clothing.

MILDRED DIXON

Dixon was the first female and the first black resident to serve on the Winter Garden City Commission. She chose to run for a seat on the commission because she felt black residents were underrepresented in city government. She served 11 years,

WEST ORANGE

WOMAN PART I

WHERE: Winter Garden Heritage Museum, 21 E. Plant St.

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tues days through Saturdays through Nov. 30

PHONE: (407) 656-3244

Dixon was born in Winter Garden in 1923, moved to New York City after high school and eventually returned to her hometown and became an advocate for the residents of east Winter Garden. She died in 2006 but her legacy lives on through the Mil dred Dixon Activity Center and Mil dred Dixon Way.

ANN HARRELL Harrell was a key figure in Winter Garden’s business community in the mid-20th century. She and her hus band, John, opened the Winter Gar den Café in 1933, where regulars could get their daily cup of coffee and where meals were cooked for the prisoners housed in the city jail in the basement of the old City Hall.

When John Harrell was drafted during World War II, Ann Harrell had to operate the restaurant in his absence, working 16 to 20 hours each day. Before he returned home, she had sold the restaurant; they then opened and operated Winter Garden Loan Company for several decades.

DOROTHY KANNON Kannon devoted her life to creating outstanding and moving art. Her art career began soon after she gradu ated from Lakeview High School in 1949, and her work was recognized throughout her life. She was passion ate about her art, saying to create was

innate to her being. She worked as a graphic designer and helped design the Knight mascot at the University of Central Florida.

Kannon was spiritual, and many of her paintings included angels and angelic figures. She also grew a port folio of works that included foliage, blossoms and earth tones.

AMANDA “TEX” BROWN MEACHEM

Meachem answered the Army Air Force’s call during World War II for citizens who could fly a plane and became a member of the Women’s Air Service Patrol. She accepted a financial position with the Civil Air Patrol after college on the condition she could fly. She served the WASP — flying planes from factories to air bases and assisting with training and fulfilling cargo missions — until she got married in 1944.

MAE REEVES

Reeves worked for Florida Telephone Corporation for nearly three decades and, after retiring, served as a volun teer at the Winter Garden Heritage Museum and History Center. She started drawing and taking art classes later in life following a massive stroke. She won first place in a juried art exhi bition when she was 80.

ORGARLAN WOMEN’S CLUB

The traditionally black club, named by combining Orlando and Winter Gar den, was organized by Dorothy Brown Mathews in 1974 as a spiritual outlet for local women. After three years, the club officially was incorporated as a nonprofit organization. Early mem bers were Margaret Jefferson, Janice Hogan, Martha Stevenson, Frances Ward King, Joyce Brown, Ferndale Jenkins, Dorothy Brown Matthews and Annie Bell Brown.

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West Orange County’s female residents are recognized at the heritage museum for their contributions to the area.

Dorothy Kannon devoted her life to creating art.

Mildred Dixon was a Winter Garden city commissioner.

Right: Ann Harrell was a downtown Winter Garden businesswoman.

Courtesy of the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation

Windermere bans smoking/vaping in town parks

The ordinance will authorize the police department to issue a citation and trespass individuals who do not comply.

ANNABELLE SIKES STAFF WRITER

The Windermere Town Council unanimously approved an ordi nance prohibiting smoking and the use of vapor-generated electronic devices within the boundaries of town-owned public parks at its meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 13.

The ordinance amends Chapter 22 of the town’s Code of Ordinances entitled “Parks and Recreation” to add the new section titled “22-47.”

SMOKING SYMPOSIUM

Senate Bill 224 and House Bill 105 were filed in the Florida Legislature for the 2022 Legislative Session to allow municipalities to restrict smoking and the use of vapor-gen erating electronic devices within the boundaries of public beaches and public parks within their juris diction, which was then presented to the governor, approved June 24 and signed into law.

According to a staff analysis pub lished for House Bill 105, an esti mated 15.5% of the adults in Florida were tobacco smokers, in 2021. The bill references various studies from United Health Foundation, Amer ica’s Health Rankings, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and others on the impact tobaccosmoking has on the health of citi zens.

In addition, studies concluded tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, including hun dreds that are toxic and up to 69 that are known to cause cancer.

Moreover, more than 480,000 deaths annually in the United States are caused by cigarette smoking and an estimated 41,000 deaths annu ally are caused by exposure to sec ondhand smoke.

Council Member Molly Rose inquired on the penalties if someone were to smoke or vape in the town parks if the ordinance was passed.

The ordinance will authorize the police department to issue a cita tion, trespass individuals and “give us the ability to stop them,” Police Chief David Ogden said.

Mayor Jim O’Brien said the ordi nance is part of a desire to make the

IN OTHER NEWS

n Landra Wormack delivered an update from the Orange County Tax Collector’s Office.

n The Town Council approved unanimously the 90% Paving Old Main Street Roadway and Water Main Plans. The paving project is not part of a grant and most likely will be funded in late 2023 or early 2024, according to Town Manager Robert Smith.

n A WastePro representative was not present to discuss a series of benchmarks and plans promised at the August Town Council meeting. However, Smith said the company has mostly been on schedule and on time since the last discus sion. It also launched an infor mation program for residents. O’Brien said the actions are a big first step, and the town plans on “finessing” the rest of the issues to “make sure that we are continuing to go in the trajectory that gets us to full performance.”

town parks as safe and controlled as possible.

Ogden said the police department will be announcing a vaping and smoking presentation to educate the residents in the coming weeks.

The ordinance was passed unani mously, with the absence of council members Mandy David and Andy Williams.

TRAFFIC UPDATE

Several residents spoke during pub lic comment on the July approved temporary traffic-calming program to alleviate traffic concerns along Oakdale Street.

The items in the program included closing off a portion of East Seventh Avenue just east of The Art Room; closing off East Eighth Avenue; cre ating left-turn-only signage and a possible diversion barrier at East Ninth Avenue and Oakdale Street heading north and south; and clos ing off East 12th Avenue and Chase Road.

The approved measures only included the use of a diverter, with no road closures. It also authorized flexibility for Town Manager Rob ert Smith to implement the pro gram, provided for a re-evaluation period after three and six months, and required an ordinance for per manent traffic-calming measures.

Resident David Sharp thanked the council for the diverter.

“It has solved the issue,” he said.

“I’ve lived in that house since 1989 and the difference today … it hasn’t been this good for at least 20 years. I mean it’s quiet, it’s safe and the people are staying on the main road where I think they need to be.”

He said he hopes the tempo rary measure becomes permanent, although he mentioned room for improvement in terms of signage and golf cart access.

Resident Stephen Lewis spoke on the importance of pedestrian, bike and golf cart access to the other side of Oakdale Street.

“The diverter currently, as it is currently put there, does not allow for golf cart access,” he said. “I would like to see one of the posts removed in the diverter pattern. … Since the traffic engineer never recommend ed the diverter, I don’t think that we need the traffic engineer’s approval to remove one of the posts to access both sides of Oakdale.”

Resident Brandi Haines agreed with Lewis. She has seen many cars drive around or over the diverters by her home.

“If you guys were going to open it, my recommendation based on all the things we’ve witnessed … is that you put the opening very close to the stop sign — whatever the absolute minimum is you can get away with for the golf carts to go through,” she said. “I think the fact that it’s an actual stop sign and a metal pole is going to prevent cars from going through versus an opening on any other location on that diverter.”

Steven J. Sober, DMD General Family Dentistry www.stevensoberdmd.com

Ocoee FD, Red Cross celebrate success of fire alarm program

The Ocoee Fire Department partnered with the American Red Cross to host the Celebration of the Lives event Thurs day, Sept. 15. The event honored the lives of a family saved from a fire by smoke detectors installed a few years earlier — a result of a smoke detector blitz conducted by the Ocoee Fire Department in 2016.

Thomas Smothers, Ocoee Fire Department chief, said the department has conducted several blitzes in the past, and although they were halted by the pandemic, the department plans to bring them back.

Smothers, Red Cross Regional Prepared

ness Manager Jose Bueno, Red Cross of Greater Orlando Executive Director Janice Moran and Red Cross Disaster Program Spe cialist Mentha Antoine were among the guest speakers.

Bueno said nationally, more than 2.3 million free smoke alarms have been installed, making more than 982,000 families safer and more than 1.8 million youth have been trained in emergency preparedness.

“We can’t do this alone,” he said. “We have to work together with our fire department and with our community partners.”

— ANNABELLE SIKES

The Ocoee Fire Department members welcomed the American Red Cross to their station for the special event.

Mentha Antoine, Jose Bueno and Janice Moran represented the American Red Cross at the event.

Keene’s

Ahome in the Keene’s Pointe community in Windermere topped all West Orange-area residen tial real-estate transactions from Sept. 17 to 23.

The home at 8288 Ti bet Butler Drive, Wind ermere, sold Sept. 19, for $3,050,000. Built in 1999, it has five bedrooms, four baths, two half-baths and 6,745 square feet. Days on market: 62. These are the highest-sell ing homes in each commu nity in West Orange.

DR. PHILLIPS

BAY LAKES AT GRANADA

The home at 8605 Granada Blvd., Orlando, sold Sept. 21, for $450,000. Built in 1983, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,012 square feet. Days on market: Seven.

GREENLEAF

The home at 6819 Spring Rain Drive, Orlando, sold Sept. 23, for $575,000. Built in 1987, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,188 square feet. Days on market: 35.

ORANGE TREE COUNTRY CLUB

The home at 7685 Persian Court, Orlando, sold Sept. 21, for $500,000. Built in 1976, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 2,312 square feet. Days on market: Seven.

PARKSIDE

estate sells for $3,050,000

HAMLIN RESERVE

The home at 6525 Orange Crean Alley, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 21, for $520,000. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 2,003 square feet. Days on market: 24.

INDEPENDENCE

The home at 15635 Expedition St., Winter Garden, sold Sept. 19, for $635,000. Built in 2012, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 2,623 square feet. Days on market: One.

LAKESIDE AT HAMLIN

The home at 5334 Lake Virginia St., Winter Garden, sold Sept. 23, for $545,835. Built in 2022, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,300 square feet.

SUMMERLAKE

The home at 8474 Morehouse Drive, Orlando, sold Sept. 23, for $1,550,000. Built in 2015, it has seven bedrooms, seven baths, two half-baths and 5,458 square feet. Days on market: 22.

POINT CYPRESS

The townhouse at 8852 Della Scala Circle, Orlando, sold Sept. 19, for $590,000. Built in 2011, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,950 square feet. Days on market: Three.

RUBY LAKE

The home at 11172 Lemon Lake Blvd., Orlando, sold Sept. 22, for $1,025,000. Built in 2019, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 3,173 square feet. Days on market: 36.

SAND LAKE POINT

The home at 10175 Pointview Court, Orlando, sold Sept. 23, for $665,000. Built in 1994, it has four bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 2,365 square feet. Days on market: Six.

SAND LAKE PRIVATE RESIDENCES

The condo at 7605 Pissarro Drive, No. 13203, Orlando, sold Sept. 20, for $255,000. Built in 1994, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,193 square feet. Days on market: Six.

TOREY PINES

The home at 5141 Pine Top Place, Orlando, sold Sept. 22, for $830,000. Built in 1989, it has four bedrooms, three-and-onehalf baths and 2,933 square feet. Days on market: 89.

TOSCANA

The townhouse at 6959 Sorrento St., Orlando, sold Sept. 23, for $490,000. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 2,104 square feet. Days on market: 15.

HORIZON WEST AVALON COVE

The home at 9145 Morgana Court, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 22, for $1,050,000. Built in 2022, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 2,867 square feet. Days on market: 88.

EDEN ISLE

The home at 13921 Orange Crest Drive, Windermere, sold Sept. 23, for $459,800. Built in 2003, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,580 square feet. Days on market: Five.

ENCLAVE AT BERKSHIRE PARK

The home at 13621 Riggs Way, Windermere, sold Sept. 19, for $480,000. Built in 2008, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,023 square feet. Days on market: 10.

ENCORE AT OVATION

The home at 13972 Lanyard Way, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 22, for $594,900. Built in 2022, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,837 square feet. Days on market: 125.

The home at 8086 Wood Sage Drive, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 21, for $509,900. Built in 2016, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,708 square feet. Days on market: 30.

WATERLEIGH

The home at 9957 Lost Creek Drive, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 23, for $900,000. Built in 2021, it has five bedrooms, three-andone-half baths and 3,910 square feet. Days on market: 86.

The home at 8828 Sonoma Coast Drive, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 21, for $835,000. Built in 2022, it has four bedrooms, three-andone-half baths and 2,920 square feet. Days on market: 73.

The home at 12515 Charmed Drive, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 23, for $790,000. Built in 2022, it has five bedrooms, four-and-one-half baths and 3,225 square feet.

The home at 16692 Point Rock Drive, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 22, for $641,500. Built in 2022, it has four bedrooms, three-andone-half baths and 2,489 square feet.

Bruce

WINDERMERE SOUND

The home at 7461 Ella Lane, Wind ermere, sold Sept. 19, for $600,000.

Built in 2015, it has five bedrooms, four-and-one-half baths and 2,955 square feet. Days on market: Six.

WINDSTONE

The home at 6943 Trellis Vine Loop, Windermere, sold Sept. 20, for $655,000. Built in 2019, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 3,225 square feet. Days on market: 31.

OAKLAND JOHNS COVE

The home at 1405 Johns Cove Lane, Oakland, sold Sept. 20, for $650,000. Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,788 square feet. Days on market: Three.

OCOEE ARDEN PARK NORTH

The home at 1780 Southern Red Oak Court, Ocoee, sold Sept. 19, for $610,000. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,927 square feet. Days on market: Four.

MILL CREEK VILLAGE

The home at 8 Heather Green Court, Ocoee, sold Sept. 19, for $590,000. Built in 1992, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,428 square feet. Days on market: Six.

PLANTATION GROVE WEST

The home at 11018 Groveshire Court, Ocoee, sold Sept. 20, for $570,000. Built in 1992, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 2,480 square feet. Days on market: Four.

PRESERVE AT CROWN POINT

The home at 2936 Stonegate Drive, Ocoee, sold Sept. 21, for $460,000. Built in 2018, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,187 square feet. Days on market: 36.

WEST ORANGE

PROVIDENCE

The home at 13339 Zori Lane, Windermere, sold Sept. 22, for $595,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 2,086 square feet. Days on market: Six.

WINDERMERE

BUTLER BAY

The home at 2829 Marquesas Court, Windermere, sold Sept. 21, for $950,000. Built in 1983, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,712 square feet. Days on market: 12.

KEENE’S PONTE

The home at 6289 Blakeford Drive, Windermere, sold Sept. 21, for $1,550,000. Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, three baths, two halfbaths and 3,816 square feet. Days on market: 44.

MARSH SUBDIVISION

The home at 635 Butler St., Wind ermere, sold Sept. 22, for $950,000. Built in 1924, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,420 square feet. Days on market: 29.

WESTOVER CLUB

The home at 9597 Westover Club Circle sold Sept. 20, for $750,000. Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,744 square feet. Days on market: 34.

WHITNEY ISLES AT BELMERE

The home at 1342 Whitney Isles Drive, Windermere, sold Sept. 21, for $868,500. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, three-and-onehalf baths and 3,815 square feet. Days on market: Six.

WINTER GARDEN

BAY ISLE AT BLACK LAKE

The home at 14531 Tabago Bay Drive, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 23, for $790,000. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, three-and-onehalf baths and 3,210 square feet. Days on market: 18.

CARRIAGE POINTE

The home at 1907 Kodsi Court, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 20, for $660,000. Built in 2007, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,683 square feet. Days on market: 10.

COOPER AND SEWELL ADDITION

The home at 234 N. Lakeview Ave., Winter Garden, sold Sept. 23, for $923,000. Built in 1920, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 3,374 square feet. Days on market: Seven.

FULLERS CROSSING

The home at 1766 Americus Minor Drive, Winter Garden, sold Sept. 23, for $485,000. Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 2,487 square feet. Days on market: Five.

LAKE APOPKA SOUND

The home at 17938 Hither Hills Cir cle, Winter Garden, Lake County, sold Sept. 22, for $594,990. Built in 2022, it has four bedrooms, threeand-one-half baths and 2,795 square feet. Days on market: 75.

LAKE AVALON GROVES

The home at 17458 Sandhill Drive sold Sept. 22, for $1,100,000. Built in 1990, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,614 square feet. Days on market: 25.

OAKLAND HILLS

The home at 703 Large Oak Lane sold Sept. 23, for $1,745,000. To be built in 2023, it has four bedrooms, five baths and 4,450 square feet. Days on market: 147.

VERDE PARK

The home at 15005 Ozzi St. sold Sept. 20, for $820,000. Built in 2015, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 4,240 square feet.

Think Pink

Oct. 8th 2022

All proceeds go directly to help those affected by this horrible disease.

There are three supported rides: 10, 27, & 60 miles.

Lunch, goodie bags and prizes included.

SCAN TO REGISTER TODAY

Presenting Sponsor

Sponsor opportunities still available! OrangeObserver.com

Sponsors

for

annual WGWW breast cancer cycling event. Hosted by Winter Garden Wheelworks

GAME OF THE WEEK (POSTPONED) HORIZON VS LAKE BUENA VISTA VIPERS

HIGH 5

1The Ocoee Tennis Academy recently named four players as its MVPs for 2022. The Play ers of the Year are: Grady Smith, a recent Ocoee High School graduate currently attending Valencia College; Rebecca Liwang, a recent Windermere High School graduate currently attend ing the University of Florida; Victoria Liwang, a recent Windermere High School graduate currently attend ing the University of Florida; and Michelle Waters, a recent Ocoee High School currently attending Valencia College. This year marks the 30th anniversary since the founding of the Ocoee Tennis Academy in 1992.

2Windermere Prep swim team athlete and senior Hunter Mays broke an almost-decade-old record in the 200 medley relay and continues to show senior leadership by ac cumulating the most points per athlete on the team.

3The Lake Buena Vista swim team placed first at a dive competition Wednesday, Sept. 21, at the Rosen Aquatic Center. Sophomore Nathan Frette provided the Vipers with 257.15 points. Freedom High School placed second, with a total of 253.1 points; and Winter Springs High School placed third, with a total of 202.85 points.

THE EQUALIZER

Horizon High kicker Daniel Case Melo Porto is one of the Hawks’ most potent weapons.

ANDREA MUJICA STAFF WRITER

In just its second year, the Hori zon High Hawks are 4-0 — one of only two undefeated teams in the West Orange and Southwest Orange coverage area.

Head coach Dennis Thomas said there’s no magic sauce; it’s all about hard work, physicality and team chemistry.

“It’s a little bit of everything — a little bit of hard work during the offseason, but I do think the kids are special,” Thomas said.

It also doesn’t hurt to have one of the top high school kickers in the country.

Senior Daniel Case Melo Porto, 17, has become a potent weapon for the Hawks. Most recently, Kornblue Kicking ranked Case Melo Porto the No. 3 kicker in the nation.

“I started playing football my freshman year; I played soccer, too,” he said. “What really got me into football (was) walking into the foot ball field and (seeing) the crowd, the cheerleaders and the band playing.

4

Foundation Acad emy running back JT Bronaugh was ranked No. 2 in MaxPreps’ Top 5 Florida’s Big Top touchdown runs Thursday, Sept. 22, for a 77-yard running touch down he scored during the Lions game against Mount Dora Christian Academy Friday, Sept. 16.

5

Windermere High School softball team pitcher Lexi King an nounced recently her verbal commitment to play softball at the University of Arkan sas. King will graduate high school in 2024.

Horizon West figure skater competes in Pennsylvania

A NATURAL

ANDREA MUJICA STAFF WRITER

Horizon West resident Ryan Lip man, 8, fell in love with figure skat ing in January 2021 and since then, he discovered his dream — to be an Olympian.

“I want to be an Olympian, a world champion, a coach — and own my own ice rink,” he said.

Most recently, Ryan skated at the U.S. Figure Skating Associa

tion National Qualifying Series last weekend in Ardmore, Pennsylvania.

Although he was one of the young est competitors in the Juvenile Boys division, it wasn’t the first time Ryan has tested his skating skills. Already in his young career, Ryan has captured first-place medals in competitions in Atlanta; Orlando; Havertown, Pennsylvania; Kanka kee, Illinois; Laurel, Maryland; Bos ton; and Des Moines, Iowa.

Everything started on a rainy after noon, when the Lipmans were living in Maryland. Ryan had fallen in love with the “Frozen” movie scene dur ing which Elsa skates and was asking his parents to take him ice skating.

“Right when I stepped on the ice, I was zooming through the rink,” he said.

Prior to figure skating, from ages 5 to 7, Ryan played hockey. However, something clicked the first time he tried figure skating.

“At first, he wanted to do both, but then he was like, ‘This is more

Olympia junior Maddie Heald recently placed third at the Lake Buena Vista Invitational. Page 2B.

A former hockey player, Ryan Lipman, 8, found his true sport on the ice just last year.

During his first year as figure skater, Ryan Lipman won several first-place awards.

Photos by Andrea Mujica

THE

ATHLETE

Maddie Heald

Tell us about the Lake Buena Vista Invitational.

That’s the (highest) I’ve ever placed in a cross country race, so it was really exciting. I was racing against a lot of great other ath letes, so it just felt good to be able to place that high among other talented athletes.

Tell us about your years as an athlete.

I’ve been running since elemen tary school, when I did Girls on the Run. But I didn’t seriously run until cross country in high school, but I did track in middle school, as well.

Why cross country?

I started running because of my dad, Brian Heald. He did cross country in high school, as well, so he got me into it. He got me into Girls on the Run in elementary school, so that’s when I started. And then he got me to do track in middle school and cross country, as well.

What do you like about being a part of the cross country team at your school?

I like the team itself, and I just like to be able to track my improve ment. It’s really easy with run ning more than any other sports, because you can see it in your times.

What do you love most about competing?

I like being able to see the hard work paying off in the times and then just the feeling after races getting a time or place that you wanted and then seeing improve ment.

What are some things that are unique to your running style?

I usually start out my races trying to go out faster, and then defi nitely the adrenaline and nerves

THE BASICS

AGE: 16

GRADE: 11

SCHOOL: Olympia High School

SPORTS: Cross country;

and

you get the run early when is not quite as hot. Then, you have the rest of your day.

What’s your favorite type of practice?

I like the long runs, because they are usually easy paces, and they are fun to do running with my teammates. We’ll have conversa tions and stuff. But I also like the track workouts, because it’s kind of fun to go faster sometimes.

What’s your favorite movie? “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” I think it’s a really enter taining action movie, and I like the characters.

What TV series are you watch ing right now?

I’m watching “The Office.” I like Jim; I just think he’s funny.

Who is your favorite superhero? Why?

I like Hawkeye, because he doesn’t actually have a super power himself but still manages to do as much as the others do.

If you had a superpower, which one would it be and why?

Probably having super speed, so I can be even better at running.

What’s your favorite hobby?

I like penpal-ing. I write to pen pals all over the world. I have a pen pal in Singapore. I started during quarantine. I saw stuff about it online and thought it was really cool. So I signed up on

Best foot forward

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B

Something about that got me real ly excited — especially when I got moved up to varsity.”

Case Melo Porto arrived to the United States in 2019, from Recife Pernambuco, Brazil. His dad, Bru no Porto, encouraged him to try football; he had played previously when he was an exchange student in Colorado in the 1990s.

“At first, I thought it was going to be easy, because you see on TV all those NFL guys with a lot of years of practice kicking the ball,” Case Melo Porto said. “But then, the first practice the ball didn’t even come off the ground. (But), once you get into it and you get into a routine and training, you get used to it.”

As both the placekicker and punter for the Hawks, Case Melo Porto has become an equalizer for his team.

“He’s big,” Thomas said. “There’s three phases of football — offense, defense and special teams. He is the centerpiece of our special team. … (He equalizes) field position for us.”

One of the hardships Case Melo Porto encountered when he ini tially started playing football was understanding how to properly execute the motion of kicking a football.

“The follow-through is when you kick the ball, and you have to go with the ball,” Case Melo Porto said. “(Because) I played soccer for a long time, I would kick and stop, and that would cause the ball to not go as far. I think I got that down a few months ago, to be honest. That’s what I’ve struggled with the most.”

Currently, Case Melo Porto is working to improve his consis tency.

“I can hit a ball really far,” he said. “But sometimes, when you ask me to do it again, I won’t be able to. So, right now, I’m working on doing the same thing over and over again.”

Case Melo Porto also has imple mented a new footwork drill into his routine. It consists of walking on a straight line with the knee bent with the plant foot — left foot in this case — as he kicks with the right foot.

To improve his kicking skills, Case Melo Porto has been work ing with a few coaches outside of school that have helped him with his technique — Dan Lundy, Ste phen Yaffe, Brandon Kornblue and Adam Tanalski.

Although he doesn’t watch much football, Case Melo Porto admires Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson. He also admires free agent placekicker Taylor Russo lino.

“I like his work ethic — even though he’s not there yet, he’s still trying,” Case Melo Porto said. “He’s always posting videos and stuff, and that’s what I try to do. He’s always working, waiting for the opportunity.”

Every day at practice, Case Melo Porto focuses on practice his kick ing technique — one kick a day for about 45 minutes to an hour.

“For kickoff, you have to put more power into it, because you want the ball to go farther away; you are just smashing it,” he said. “I don’t do that during the week; (only) on Fri day when I really need to.”

Case Melo Porto likened kicking to golf. You can’t kick the football too hard. you have to kick it with good and proper form, so it can fly farther.

“That’s my main thing,” he said. “Sometimes, when I’m too far away, I think, ‘I’m going to smash this.’ … But then, I try too hard, and I hurt the ball.”

In his two years kicking for the Hawks, Case Melo Porto also has noticed growth emotionally.

“Before, I used to get nervous, and when I missed a kick, I would be so mad,” he said. “The next kick would also be a miss because of that. So, I’ve been able to control my emotions more.”

As a senior, Case Melo Porto is currently training a younger kicker — sophomore Kyle O’Rourke. And, in addition to solidifying a replace ment for Horizon, Case Melo Porto also has dreams of playing college ball in Florida and eventually in the National Football League.

The Hawks are excited to con tinue playing this football season. They have seen all the hard work they have put into the off season training pay off.

“We expect to compete every single week with everybody we play,” Thomas said. “The goal here is to get a winning season, but every single football team out there is trying to win a championship (too), so that’s what we are trying. Every week, we are trying to win a game — however that looks. It doesn’t have to look pretty. It doesn’t have to look cute. It’s not about stats. … It’s all about winning, so we are trying to win.”

WEEK FOUR RECAP

GAME OF THE WEEK CFCA (3-0), 78 SEFFNER (2-2), 36

HIGHLIGHTS: It’s not often a football team hangs 78 on its op ponent, but that’s just what the potent Central Florida Christian Academy offense did in its 78-36 thrashing of Seffner Christian Academy Friday, Sept. 23. The Eagles rushed out to a 21-0 in the first quarter and never looked back

UP NEXT: The Eagles were sched uled to host Foundation Academy Sept. 30.

WINDERMERE (2-3), 21

Community.

LAKE BUENA VISTA (0-5), 18 HIGHLIGHTS: It certainly wasn’t the prettiest game, but the 2022 Windermere vs. Lake Buena Vista tilt might have been the most dramatic of the season. On Home coming, the Wolverines found the end zone with just 39 seconds left to pull ahead of the Vipers, 21-18. Then, when it needed to the most, the Windermere defense stood tall in the face of four final downs to secure its first ever victory.

UP NEXT: The Wolverines were scheduled to travel to Olympia Sept. 30.

DR. PHILLIPS (2-3), 34 BOONE (3-2), 24

HIGHLIGHTS: DP was able to dispatch Boone 34-24 thanks in large part to strong play from Justin Stith.

UP NEXT: The Panthers will host Lake Nona Thursday, Oct. 6.

FOUNDATION ACADEMY (3-2), 14 ORLANDO CHRISTIAN PREP (2-3), 57

UP NEXT: The Lions were sched uled to travel to CFCA Friday, Sept. 30.

OCOEE (4-1), 47 FREEDOM (2-3), 12

UP NEXT: The Knights were sched uled to travel to West Orange Friday, Sept. 30.

WEST ORANGE (2-3), 14 JONES (2-2), 17

UP NEXT: The Warriors were scheduled to host Ocoee Friday, Sept. 30.

WINDERMERE PREP (4-1), 20

PINE CREST (4-1), 21

UP NEXT: The Lakers will host Lake Highland Prep Friday, Oct. 7.

Hablamos

Olympia High School junior and cross country athlete Maddie Heald recently placed third at the Lake Buena Vista Invitational. Heald currently holds a personal record for the 5K of 19:52. The Titans competed at the West Orange Invitational Saturday, Sept. 24.

Andrea Mujica

Michael Eng

Local skater glides into spotlight

they just get each other,” his dad, Jeff Lipman, said. “There has to be a personality click, because if there is not, it wouldn’t work.”

In figure skating, skaters must progress through a series of compet itive levels — pre-preliminary, pre liminary, pre-juvenile and juvenile.

Recently, Ryan passed the free skate test for the juvenile category and the free showcase program as well.

The juvenile category allows girls 12 and younger and boys 13 and younger to compete at a higher level and get invited to more diffi cult competitions. Ryan passed the juvenile free skating test with hon ors — meaning he performed every thing better than required.

Since November 2021, Ryan has presented and passed the eight tests required for an ice skater to get to the juvenile category.

“They started virtual testing; some kids love it some kids hate it,” Jeff Lipman said. “The virtual testing has opened the door for the players who have the skill to be able to increase a little faster.”

DON’T STOP HIM NOW

my speed and what I enjoy,’” mom Kelly Lipman said.

When the Lipmans moved in 2019 to Orlando, they were looking for a place to have Ryan enrolled in hock ey. The family found its way to the RDV Sportplex Ice Den in Maitland, where Ryan played hockey with the Junior Solar Bears for two years.

Soon, Ryan met his current ice skating coach — former US Olympic figure skater Calla Urbanski, who skated in the 1992 Olympics.

“He started a lesson with her, and

JEANNE M. BLAIR

DIED SEPT. 21, 2022.

Jeanne M. Blair, age 86 — We are sad dened to announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother, sister, aunt and friend, Jeanne Blair. Jeanne passed away sur rounded by her loving family on Sept. 21, 2022.

She was born on June 11, 1936, in Putnam, Connecticut, to Norman and Catherine Messier. She was mar ried to Donald Blair, who preceded her in death in 2001.

Jeanne is survived by her sister, Norma Enright, and husband, John, of St. Petersburg, Florida; and her sister-in-law, Judy Messier, of Eustis, Florida. She leaves behind her chil dren, David Hicks and partner, Lynne Killam, of Westfield, Massachusetts, Lori Pulley and husband, Darryl, of Winter Garden, Florida, Kenneth Hicks and wife Jane, of Woodstock, Connecticut, her loving caretaker and daughter Lynn Malone, of Winter Garden, Florida, and husband Robert Malone, who preceded her death in 2012.

She was known as Grammie to her 10 grandchildren, Christina Pulley, Darryl Pulley and fiancee, Amber, Kenneth “Gabe” Hicks and wife, Stacey, Matthew Malone, Barbara Hicks, Kelly Malone, Katelynn Pul ley, Jake Hicks and partner, Haley, Jessica Hicks and partner, Ryan, and Travis Hicks and partner, Marin. She

During his 2022 season, Ryan hopes to get all his doubles to be consis tent, especially now that he is work ing on the double lutz, the double loop, the double flip and the double toe loop. The double axel is still yet to be introduced into his training.

Ryan’s favorite moves to perform on the ice are the spins.

“When you spin, you get to have different spins each time and also, you can sometimes make your own spin,” he said.

For his appearance at the U.S. Figure Skating Association Nation al Qualifying Series, Ryan had to lengthen his routine from 1:10 to 2:30, doubling it in length.

For his 2022 season routines, Ryan has been performing the song “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen.

“It’s my favorite song out of every song,” he said.

“We would play it in the car when he had hockey practices to get him hyped up,” Kelly Lipman said. “He connected with the song and really liked it.”

Out of 19 skaters who participated in the qualifying series, Ryan placed 13th.

“He was the youngest competitor and definitely impressed the judg es,” Kelly Lipman said. “He was the only skater from Florida in his event and represented our state so well.”

Because of his dream of becom ing an Olympian, Ryan is homeschooled and currently is learning through FVLS. He wakes up at 5 a.m. to get to the rink and get some early ice time.

Ryan is affiliated with the Figure Skating Club of Osceola, based out of the Ice Factory in Kissimmee.

In addition to his parents’ will ingness to get him to practices and competitions throughout the coun try, Ryan’s older brother, Joshua Lipman, also offers emotional sup port and has been a huge fan of his brother since he began skating.

Ryan practices Monday through Saturdays for a couple of hours on the ice rink and has a few additional hours where he takes ballet and gymnastic classes to complement his performing skills.

had four great-grandchildren, Tay lor, Wyatt, Colton and Charlotte. Her love lives on through all of them.

She will also be missed dearly by her Yorkie, Gracie. Gracie loved Grammie, protected her and never left her side.

Jeanne was a dedicated worker at Digital in Westfield, Massachusetts, for many years. She retired to Florida with husband, Donald, in 2000. She was a mall walker in her retired years and had many friends through the Senior Center of Ocoee, Florida.

She will always be remembered for her kind and gentle ways. We love you, Mom.

A private service for the immediate family will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jeanne’s name can be made to Matthew’s Hope Ministries, 611 Business Park Blvd., Suite 101, Winter Garden, FL 34787.

Jeanne’s funeral arrangements are in the caring guidance of Winter Oak Funeral Home and Cremations, 1132 E. Plant St., Winter Garden, FL 34787.

Courtesy photo by Melanie Heaney Photography

Ryan Lipman loves performing spins on the ice and has a lot of fun while skating.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B

INFLUENCER OF THE WEEK

ESTHER LONDONO-SCOTT, TILDENVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

What brought you to your school?

I started my career as an elementary counselor. After 14 years in middle school, I decided it was time to go back to my elementary roots. I enjoy working with the age group. They are such a joy to interact with.

What do you love most about your school?

There are so many things to love, but the close-knit and nurturing community are at the top of my list. I also really enjoy the amazing job that Tildenville does of fostering accep tance and embracing diversity as a dual-language school.

What is your motivation? My main motivation is knowing that my words and actions have a positive impact on little lives. It’s so crucial to create those foundational build ing blocks for students as early as possible. Having the opportunity to do that every day motivates me tremendously.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

In my spare time, I enjoy volunteer ing for the Make a Wish Foundation (wish granter), Give Kids the World and Garden Theatre. I am also an assistant scoutmaster for Scout Troop 225, so scouting activities are a big part of my family life.

Who was your favorite teacher when you were in school? Why?  I was lucky to have amazing teachers

REPORT CARD

POSITION: School counselor TIME AT SCHOOL: First year at Tildenville; with OCPS since 2011.

throughout my childhood and young adulthood. If I had to choose one, it would have to be my middle school P.E. and track-and-field coach. He helped me push past fear and believe in my athletic abilities.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? My fascination with human behavior and understanding why we do the things we do led me to want to enter the field of psychology as a child. School counseling provides me the opportunity to operate within that field while also having a much broader influence.

What is your favorite children’s book and why?

My favorite children’s book is “Today I Feel Silly and Other Moods that Make My Day,” by Jamie Lee Cur tis. It normalizes and validates the vast range of emotions a child may experience. I also appreciate that it acknowledges all feelings are OK; it’s what you do with them that counts!

What are your hobbies? Not so much a hobby, but my favor ite thing to do is spend time with my

NOMINATE YOUR INFLUENCER 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.

Esther Londono-Scott is a counselor at Tildenville Elementary School. She pro vides individual, small-group and classroom guidance to students. Her accolades include 2020 Teacher of the Year at SunRidge Middle School, 2019 Counselor of the Year for Orange County School Counseling Association, National Board-Certi fied Teacher in 2016 and Rookie Teacher of the Year in 2002.

friends and family. I am also an avid outdoor enthusiast. I enjoy everything from hiking, kayaking and mountain biking to having a picnic or paddle-boarding! Addi tionally, does cleaning and orga nizing count as a hobby?

If you could have any superpow er, what would it be and why?

Time travel! The idea of living through different times in history is mind-blowing.

If you could only listen to three bands or artists for the rest of your life, what would they be and why?

Whoa, that’s a hard one. I’d have to say Janis Joplin, Mary J. Blige, and Maria Dolores Pradera for their authenticity, strength and vulnerability.

What was your go-to lunch as an elementary student?

Hands down, Sloppy Joes and sugar cookies. Yum!

What is your favorite holiday and why?

My favorite holiday is Thanksgiv ing. It’s an opportunity to bond with family while enjoying great food. A really long walk around the neighborhood after dinner is just icing on the cake.

Who was your best friend when you were in school and why? Are you still in touch?

My best friend and I have been best friends since sixth grade. She is my best friend because she is everything I am not. We comple ment each other well.

What were your extracurricular activities as a student?

In middle and high school, I participated in track-and-field, Spanish Honor Society and Black History Club. In college, I was awarded a Fellowship Award and Outstanding Service to Chapter for Chi Sigma Iota Honor Society in 2001.

— AMY

Wolverines celebrate Homecoming

With field parking reinstated and only a few minutes of drizzle before the start of the game, Windermere High School was able to celebrate its 2022 Homecoming in style Friday, Sept. 23, at Deputy Scott Pine Community Park. In addition to the football team’s dramat ic win over Lake Buena Vista, Windermere

also celebrated the crowning of its 2022 Homecoming queen, Savanna Schenk, and king, Donovan Francois.

The stadium was full of school spirit from various organizations and performance groups, including the marching band, cheerleaders and Wolverettes dance team.

— MICHAEL ENG

Windermere’s 2022 Homecoming royalty are queen Savanna Schenk and king Donovan Francois.

The cheer leaders cel ebrated the Wolverines’ first touch down of the night.

Drum major Kaylynn Morgan — also a Homecom ing queen can didate — led the marching band’s performances throughout the game.

The Wolverines celebrated a 21-18 victory over the Lake Buena Vista Vipers on Homecoming.

See more photos at OrangeObserver.com

Windermere Prep leaders offer glimpse into future

Mitchell Salerno,

of school,

ANNABELLE SIKES STAFF WRITER

Windermere Preparatory School hosted its fall 2022 State of the School address Thursday, Sept. 22, at the Cypress Center for the Arts.

Head of School Dr. Mitchell Saler no discussed the school’s origins; areas of opportunity and growth; and upcoming foci, including the addition and revamping of several campus facilities.

“There are just so many good things going on on campus,” Salerno said.

Most recently, the school hosted Lindsay Northern, from the Broad way production of “Wicked,” on campus to run master classes for the Upper School theater students. On the Lower School side, students now have the opportunity to par ticipate in the safety patrol program.

This year, the school also add ed Pigskin Pals & Gals, a program through which the cheerleaders and football players visit the Lower School classrooms.

The school also hosted Middle School Mania, where students teamed up in groups to participate in team-building activities. It also started a new tradition in Senior Parking Paint Day, where seniors painted their designated parking spots with creative designs.

GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES

Salerno said some essential areas of opportunity and growth rest within

the International Baccalaureate program, academic programming, building a full school identity as Orlando’s International School and campus facilities.

Last year, Windermere Prep had 40 full-time IB students. Of those, 39 earned their diploma, with the overall average IB score for diploma candidates of 32.5 — the highest in school history.

“We don’t just do the IB because of a score and a diploma,” Salerno said. “We are trying to develop within our community these 10 IB learner profile skills.”

The profile aims to develop learn ers who are inquirers, knowledge able, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced and reflec tive. Academic programming was also a notable topic of discussion, with one of the key pieces relating to high school pathways and con centrations.

Steve Murphy, the new high school director who started in July, is working on engaging in work with the high school team on a timetable.

“The first bit of work that has to be done that he’s identified for us for the pathways is that we’ve got to look at our timetable to make sure that it can handle what we need to do with concentrations and path ways,” Salerno said.

By Christmas, Salerno said the school should be ready to talk about what the timetable may look like for future academic years.

Salerno said the goal is to have the pathways ready for the Class of 2027, with possibilities of accelera tion in pilot programs.

The school has also hired Kelly Hackett, curriculum and instruc tional specialist, who focuses on

early years and elementary stu dents with English, language arts and reading.

ORLANDO’S INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

To become known as Orlando’s International School, Salerno said, the school is focusing on four key areas: student services and wellbeing, English as an Additional Language program development, Responsive Classroom, and The Social Institute.

The school has also hired Dr. Lee Ann Rawlins-Williams, director of student services and wellness, who will ensure all student services are integrated and cohesive. RawlinsWilliams is currently in the process of hiring a mental-health counselor.

“One of the things that we have seen coming out of COVID is the rise of anxiety and other mental-health issues with our students,” Salerno

said. “That’s with our little ones all the way to our big ones, so we need to add a professional to our team who can help us in that area.”

Salerno said a great number of students in Windermere Prep’s boarding and day program come to the school with a mother tongue other than English. Salerno said Williams is working to add support for students who do not speak Eng lish as their primary language.

Responsive Classroom is one of the newest programs Stephanie Jackson, director of lower school, brought to the younger learners area. The program is an evidencebased approach to teaching and discipline that focuses on engaging academics, positive community, effective management and devel opmental awareness.

Meanwhile, the middle and high school sectors have engaged in The Social Institute program. The pro

gram encourages older students on how to make proper choices in top ics such as digital media and social interactions.

“Middle school students strug gled coming out of the pandemic,” Salerno said. “We noticed that their social skills and their interactive skills were really struggling, and it wasn’t just here. The program that we are working with now provides ways to help you as parents, to help us as educators and help our stu dents make good choices.”

CAMPUS FACILITIES

Windermere Prep also announced several upcoming renovation and development projects.

The strength and conditioning room renovations, which started in the summer, are projected to be completed by the end of the year. The renovations include the expan sion of the area by 1,000 to 1,500 square feet.

Courtyard transformations in the Lower School area also will begin immediately. The courtyards will be removed to build patios and turf play spaces for students. The Lower School playground will be replaced, with construction to start during Winter Break.

The hope is to have the transfor mation completed by December or January 2023, when students return from Winter Break.

In addition, the school will be tak ing time in December to conduct a refinish on the tennis facility and the basketball courts, set to be complet ed by the end of December, located outside of the strength and condi tioning area, will be renovated.

The final project, set to begin in spring, will include the addition of a proper running track with rubber and a turf field on the stadium. The project will begin February 2023 and be completed by the summer.

“From a facility standpoint, you guys spoke and all of us heard you in the survey — very happy with the fine arts facilities but on the athletic side and on the play spaces we need ed to do some upgrades,” Salerno said. “Really excited to say that it’s happening. I just ask for one thing — patience.”

FUNNY BUSINESS by Rebecca Goldstein. Edited by David Steinberg

By Luis Campos

Cipher cryptograms

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Courtesy Upcoming projects include replacement of the Lower School playground and the addition of a running track with rubber and a turf field.

Jazz bassist Ron Carter performs in Oakland

n estimated crowd of 700 enjoyed beautiful weather and even more beautiful music as legendary jazz bassist Ron Carter and his Golden Striker Trio per formed as the headliner for the free HAPCO Jazz Show Saturday, Sept. 24, in Oakland.

In addition to the trio, which featured Carter, pianist Donald Vega and guitarist Russell Malone, the show featured the UCF Flying Horse Big Band, under the direction of Jeff Rupert, and vocalist Lenard Rut ledge. The Orlando Youth Chamber Ensemble, under the direction of Jesus Lopez, also performed.

HAPCO Music Foundation — led by Oakland Town Commissioner Joseph McMullen, offers educational programs that help disadvantaged youth in Florida, Georgia and Texas. Students use their musical, culinary and artistic talents to fund their col lege education or to pursue profes sional careers. Since 2001, HAPCO has provided education and inspi ration to more than 30,000 young people.

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

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

EPISCOPAL

Church of the Messiah 241 N. Main St., Winter Garden Sunday: 8, 9:30, & 11 AM., 4PM (French & Creole), 7 PM www.ChurchoftheMessiah.com

METHODIST

First United Methodist www.fumcwg.org 125 N. Lakeview Ave., Winter Garden (407) 656-1135 Services: 9 AM Traditional 10:45 AM Contemporary Also viewable on YouTube

NON-DENOMINATIONAL 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

West Orange Christian Church 7325 Conroy Windermere Rd, Orlando (407) 299-2092

Sunday Service:10:30AM www.woccorlando.org

— MICHAEL ENG

Bassist Ron Carter was a member of Miles Davis’ second quintet, which also featured drummer Tony Wil liams, pianist Herbie Hancock and saxophonist Wayne Shorter.

Pianist Donald Vega performed as part of the Golden Striker Trio.

Right: Guitarist Russell Malone wowed the crowd with his sensitive and intricate playing.

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West Orange Chamber of Commerce

Celebrates Business

West Orange Chamber of Commerce celebrates the grand opening of Vida Winter Garden

The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the grand opening of Vida Winter Garden. Located at 1223 E Plant St. in Winter Garden, Vida Winter Garden provides the authentic lifestyle you’re after and the perfect place to put down your own roots. Enjoy life in a welcoming and diverse community, with all the shopping and conveniences you expect, plenty of space to roam and explore - including nearby West Orange Trail, Toll 429 and an easy commute to Orlando or business parks in the surrounding area.. To learn more, visit www. vidawintergarden.com

West Orange Chamber of Commerce celebrates the grand opening of new location of State Farm Insurance - Shannon Till

The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the grand opening of the new location of State Farm Insurance - Shannon Till. Located at 1620 Daniels Road Suite 110 in Winter Garden, Shannon Till’s State Farm team strives to provide exceptional service through continued education on finance and risk management to preserve what their clients love and treasure most. Through personalized service, they represent quality insurance for automobiles, life, health and financial products. Their full-service insurance team has 61 years of combined insurance experience. To learn more, visit www.shannontill.com

West Orange Chamber of Commerce celebrates the grand opening of Viewpoint Design & Installation

The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the grand opening of Viewpoint Design & Installation. Located at 1200 E Plant St, Ste 160 in Winter Garden, Viewpoint is a whole-home solutions provider of cabinets, countertops, flooring, and wall tile as well as measure, design, installation, and project management services. They offer products and services to newhome-construction and remodeling markets for the Greater Central Florida area. To learn more, visit www.chooseviewpoint.com.

West Orange Chamber of Commerce celebrates the grand opening of Home State Brewing Co.

The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the grand opening of Home State Brewing Co. Located at 16016 New Independence Pkwy, Ste 100 in the Horizon West part of Winter Garden, Home State Brewing Co. creates a home for connection, inspiration and opportunity. They achieve this by cultivating a thriving community hub that fosters engaging conversation over delightfully crafted beer. Their inspiration is the German notion of gemütlichkeit, which is a type of coziness and the feeling of being among loved ones. To learn more, visit www.homestatebrew.com

The

West Orange Chamber of Commerce Celebrates the grand opening for Sonny’s BBQ

WOCC Ambassadors and celebrated the grand opening of Sonny’s BBQ. Located at 11080 W. Colonial Drive in Ocoee, Sonny’s serves up authentic slow-smoked BBQ and builds relationships with those who live and work in the local community. To learn more, visit www. sonnysbbq.com

West Orange Chamber of Commerce celebrates the grand opening of The Ancient Olive

The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the grand opening of The Ancient Olive. Located at 125 W Plant St in downtown Winter Garden, The Ancient Olive shares your passion for food of incomparable quality and taste. They invite you to explore and experience their gourmet food shop, where you can sample Spanish olives, French mustards, award-winning preserves, dry-cured sausages, nuts, hand-crafted pastas, unique cocktail mixers and so much more. To learn more, visit www. theancientolive.com.

West Orange Chamber of Commerce celebrates the 10-year anniversary of Proforma Albrecht & Co.

The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the 10-year anniversary of Proforma Albrecht & Co. Located in Groveland, Proforma Albrecht & Co. helps businesses utilize their marketing through the use of promotional products, custom screen printing and embroidery. To learn more, visit www. albrechtco.com/Pam-Birdsong.

To learn more and to register

visit wochamber.com/ChamberGroups or call

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Celebrating 50 years of

“Being part of the West Orange Chamber and being involved in their programs allows us to share our expertise, give back, and enhance the community; a strategic business decision. Our interests in the community are integral to our success. No other entity in West Orange offers these types of outlets.”