03.02.23 Southwest Orange Observer

Windermere, Horizon West, Dr. Phillips

YOU YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

FREE • THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2023

One of the good ones

Castleview Elementary School will honor the memory of media specialist

J. Steven Czerniejewski by dedicating its media center in his name. SEE PAGE 4A.

DONE DEAL A

lakefront estate in Isleworth Golf & Country Club now has the distinction of being the most expensive home ever sold in Central Florida — by a wide margin. The home at 9538 Blanche Cove Drive, Windermere, sold Feb. 18, for $35 million. The previous re cord —$15.3 million — was set in 2022 for a Windermere home on Lake Butler. SEE PAGES 8-9A.

Setting the night on fire

Castleview Lady Dragons had plenty of fun — and made a ton of memories — at the school’s Sweetheart Dance. The event was hosted by the school’s PTO.

SEE PAGE 5A.

YOUR TOWN

HORIZON WEST FEST IS SATURDAY

Spend a fun day with your family at the Horizon West Fest from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 4. It takes place at 14111 Shoreside Way, Winter Garden, and is an annual celebration of “All the Things.”

Attendees can enjoy music, stage performances, children’s games and activities, a scavenger hunt, great food, and many micro-local vendors. The Kids Zone will include carnival rides, a rock-climbing wall, obstacle course, human Foosball, a wrecking ball and a eld goal challenge. Food available will include menu items from Playa Pizza, Crisp & Green, Lime Fresh Mexican Grill, Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream, Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, Sweet Ada Dessert, Beng Bread, Chikiz Empanaditas Gourmet, Gertrude’s Kitchen and Toastique. Admission is free; Kids Zone wristbands are $20, and individual attraction tickets are $5. Parking is available on the top oor of the nearby garage.

State assumes control of Disney district

Courtesy of Isleworth Realty Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed CS/ HB 9-B during a press conference Feb. 27 at Reedy Creek Fire Station No. 4. PAGE 6A.

FLAVORS FROM THE FAR EAST

Meet the man behind Mr. J Hand-Pulled Noodle, which opened its first brick-and-mortar shop in Ocoee.

SEE PAGE 5A.

Arnold Palmer Invitational tees o this week. SEE 1B.

Code-enforcement lien sparks discussion

ANNABELLE SIKES

NEWS EDITOR

Commissioners in Winter Garden had differing opinions on city staff’s recommendation to approve the reduction and removal of a code enforcement lien for Lott’s Concrete at the Thursday, Feb. 23, City Commission meeting.

In explaining the case, Assistant City Manager for Public Services

Steve Pash said the property had undergone years of interaction with the Code Enforcement Board.

After being cited for multiple violations with official citations issued in May 2021, the board posted fines on the property in the amount of $2,000 per day in August 2022.

Pash said the business addressed most of the issues.

“Some of those were the most important where we had buildings that had been built without permits and electrical work that had been done, so we’re concerned for safety,” Pash said.

Once the fines were imposed, Pash said Lott’s brought the remaining titles into compliance by Oct. 26, 2022, stopping the fines at a total of $168,000.

Rick Higgins, general manager of Lott’s, requested the fines be reduced to $62,000 in an email.

“We have been a staple in this community since 1968 and helped in the large growth of this area, along with employing several people within the community,” Higgins wrote. “We will continue to operate here and in a much better/cleaner manner than what happened before I took over as the general manager. We hope you consider this offer and we can put this behind us and move forward with a partnership within our community.”

After review, staff deemed the requested amount appropriate; it covers costs incurred by the process.

Commissioner Lisa Bennett, whose first home was in Glynwood in the late 1980s, said she knows the area well and imagines many of the buildings in question are old and built sometime back.

Pash said a lot of the buildings had been rebuilt over the years without permits. He said the Lott’s owner had hired an engineer to review and produce plans for the buildings that had been constructed without permit after the fines had been imposed.

The building plans were submitted and approved for permits starting on Sept. 27, 2022.

Although Bennett said it’s not unusual for the city to roll back fines and fees if the amount required covers the actual cost incurred with

staff, Commissioner Ron Mueller disagreed on the amount requested by Lott’s.

Mueller said he knows the city has dealt with similar issues before with situations that were carried on for longer than they should have been. He suggested splitting the overall fine cost in half and requiring $84,000 to be paid in fees.

“I understand everything that you’re saying, but they’ve been an integral part of our community for a long time …so I’m OK with it,” Mayor John Rees said of the original request presented by Pash.

Commissioner Mark A. Maciel also voiced his opinion, saying he knows staff put a lot of thought into the matter presented.

“I tend to lean and rely on staff’s recommendation of this, just because they deal with this on a day-to-day basis,” he said.

Bennett also mentioned Lott’s, which is in her district, has provided jobs and paid a lot of taxes over the years, which have helped the community grow and prosper.

“I’m not going to get into staff recommendations on things like this,” Mueller said. “The scope and breadth of this to have carried on as long as it did; you know there’s a reason that they were fined. … $62,000 is a little too low for me.”

The commission approved the reduction, with Mueller dissenting.

Winter Garden commissioners approved unanimously the second reading of two ordinances relating to a 1.603-acre property at 996 E. Plant St. The applicant requested to amend the property’s Future Land Use designation to Commercial and to rezone the property to Character Area Planned Unit Development. The redevelopment of the parcel includes demolishing the existing o ce building and constructing three new commercial buildings: a two-story, 4,800-square-foot building; a single-story, 2,400-squarefoot building; and a two-story, 22,800-square-foot building. The project also includes associated site work such as new parking areas, streetscape improvements, a courtyard area and landscaping.

Commissioners approved unanimously a recommendation to a contract to hire T.D. Thomson Construction to build a parking and trash collection area at 19 N. Lakeview Ave. in the amount of $38,529.90.

City commissioners postponed a recommendation to approve a request for quali cations rankings and award continuing service contracts for professional engineering and architectural services.

Winter Garden commissioners approved unanimously a recommendation to acquire the Oakland Common PCD for property

located at 15275 W. Colonial Drive from Panther Land Development LLC. The 16 acres on West Colonial Drive was discussed at the Thursday, Feb. 9, commission meeting to be used for a potential land swap with Orange County Public Schools. Planning Consultant Ed Williams reiterated the process has just started and the city is not in detailed discussion with OCPS.

Commissioners approved unanimously a site plan for 541 Winter Garden-Vineland Road and a trafc signal fair-share agreement for PAM Rehab Hospital.

City commissioners approved unanimously the following special events: Batter Batter Swing for PAL Softball, Celtic Festival, Winter Garden Little League Opening Day, West Orange High Sen’ya Later School Parade and the annual Spring Fever in the Garden.

City Attorney A. Kurt Ardaman said the joint meeting that was scheduled with the Orange County Commission for Monday, Feb. 27, to discuss the continued dispute with PureCycle was canceled. Ardaman said City Manager Jon C. Williams has been having conversations with key folks at the county.

Commissioners all congratulated Charlie Mae Wilder, of east Winter Garden, on a happy 90th birthday, which was celebrated at City Hall before the start of the commission meeting.

Ocoee City Commission OKs property purchase

The property will serve as a strategic procurement of land to serve in the expansion of the Municipal Lakefront Park. All necessary funds will come from the Capital Improvement Bond.

ANDREA MUJICA STAFF WRITER

The Ocoee City Commission approved unanimously the purchase of the property at 182 N. Lakeshore Drive during its Tuesday, Feb. 21, meeting.

The property is adjacent to a parcel owned by the city and the City Hall campus.

The property initially was listed as for sale by owner. The city contacted the property owner, who provided a firm price of $310,000. However, a property appraiser estimated the value at $281,000.

According to the agenda, city staff employed an additional method of evaluation used when “the city needs additional property for a capital improvement project such as a road of lift station, (so) the city, through an eminent-domain action, enacts an ‘order of taking’ of property.”

As part of this action, the city provided the owner an initial offer of the appraised value of the property plus 10%, which brought the value of the property from $281,00 to $309,100.

Currently, there are no definite plans for the property. However, it could potentially give the city more space for parking outside of the old City Hall building, which was located at 150 N. Lakeshore Drive. Any plans would need to be brought back to the City Commission for consideration.

IN OTHER NEWS

The commission approved all items on the consent agenda. These include the approval of members to the 2023 Canvassing Board and the approval of change order No. 2 for the contract of the downtown master stormwater pond and park.

The commission performed the rst reading of an ordinance pertaining to the amendment of the city of Ocoee municipal police o cers’ and re ghters’ Retirement Trust Fund. New terms have been negotiated to be included in the Collective Bargaining Agreement that includes some changes to pension bene ts. The second reading will take place at the Tuesday, March 7, meeting.

The commission postponed the appointment of a new member to the Planning and Zoning Commission to the Tuesday, March 7, meeting.

FAR-EAST FLAVOR

Mr. J Hand-Pulled Noodle has brought ChineseMuslim-style beef noodles to the city of Ocoee.

ANNABELLE SIKES NEWS EDITOR

Anew business is bringing traditional Lanzhou pulled noodles to the Ocoee community.

Mr. J Hand-Pulled Noodle opened three months ago in place of the recently closed Crab & Wings building in the Silver Star Crossing Shopping Center.

Owner James Meng, 43, said the site was perfect for his first brick-andmortar location.

“I had been looking for a place for a few years to open a noodle business,” Meng said. “This place did not need a lot of remodeling and was relatively new. The kitchen is large and has lots of room needed to make the noodles.”

LANZHOU TRADITIONS

Meng is a former professional dancing teacher from China.

As he got older, he realized dancing was not a lifelong business and needed to learn a new skill to prosper and provide for himself.

Meng, originally from Lanzhou, said he always was interested in working with food, because his family had a business crafting the noodles in China.

Meng came in 2005 to the United States alone. He co-owned a Chinese restaurant in the Davenport area.

Meng said he was missing the homestyle Lanzhou noodles in his new home, because he could not find them anywhere in the area. Although he tried several noodle places, the food did not taste like the traditional noodles from China.

He began to craft his own handpulled noodles from scratch, and although he said there was a certain pleasure in keeping the secret to himself, he decided he wanted to share the noodles with friends in the area.

He sold the noodles online for a short period of time before his customers began to recommend he share them with even more people to enjoy at his own business.

HAND-PULLED NOODLES

The Chinese-Muslim style of beef noodle is also known as clear-broth or consommé-stewed beef noodle. It often uses halal meat and contains no soy sauce, resulting in a lighter taste that may be flavored by salt and herbs.

Lanzhou Beef Lamian is usually served with clear soup and one hand-pulled lamian noodle per bowl. Only quality local beef from the southern yellow cattle prepared by the local halal butcher is used for the beef noodle.

Chinese radish and the specially

cooked spicy oil are also indispensable partners to Lanzhou beef noodles. These ingredients are known as “one clear, two white, three red, four green, five yellow,” referring to clear soup, white radish, red chili oil, green leek and yellow noodles, respectively.

Mr. J’s offers a plethora of types of noodles, including flat, thin, small flat, normal, triangle, leek leave, thick and thicker.

The noodles start with the creation of the dough from scratch using only bread dough and sea salt. The dough is made in about 10-15 minutes before it is rolled out for pulling. Each individual noodle is pulled by hand. The dough is made multiple times throughout the day so it stays fresh. Although a quick process, the most time consuming and difficult element of the business is the cooking of the meat and the soup broth.

The soup broth takes about six to seven hours to make using Lanzhounese seasoning before taking time to soak and enhance the flavor.

The restaurant offers several styles of Kung Fu Hand Pulled Noodles, such as Mr. J’s specialty which includes beef, coriander, garlic leaves, daikon and beef bone soup.

Other staple food items include hibachi shrimp fried rice, vegetable yun tun, a thousand-year-old egg, fried tofu, wings and seafood combos.

“My biggest enjoyment is seeing the look on people’s faces after they enjoy the noodles,” Meng said. “I get so much happiness from them trying the food we create.”

Meng said he hopes to open more locations in the future and share the noodles with even more people while teaching about the traditional style.

MR. J HAND-PULLED NOODLE

1688 E. Silver Star Road PHONE: (407) 930-6699 WEBSITE: mrjhandpullednoodle. com

Annabelle Sikes James Meng crafts hand-pulled noodles from scratch.

A lifetime in education

ANNABELLE SIKES

NEWS EDITOR

J. Steven Czerniejewski’s impact as an educator in Orange County is near immeasurable. He taught for nearly 30 years and ultimately landed at Castleview Elementary in Horizon West. There, he was responsible for creating and launching the school’s media center when it opened in 2019.

And Czerniejewski was more than a teacher. He was a passionately loved husband, father, brother and friend, as well.

Czerniejewski died April 10, 2022, after battling pancreatic cancer and its complications.

But family and friends know Czerniejewski was more than just his illness, and his family believes celebrating his life is significantly more important.

The community now will be able to celebrate Czerniejewski’s life together. His school family at Castleview plans to dedicate the media center to memorialize his impact for generations to come.

‘THE SMARTEST MAN

WE’LL EVER KNOW’

Czerniejewski was born May 2, 1965, in Seattle, Washington.

He moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he lived until middle school before making the transition with his family to Orlando, where he attended Milwee Middle School and Lyman High School.

Czerniejewski went on to attend the University of Central Florida, where he pursued his passion for teaching and education. UCF is where Czerniejewski met the love of his life, Kim, who also was studying education.

Kim Czerniejewski said her husband was inspired to pursue teaching because of his knack for both presenting information and performing. When he graduated from high school, he went to Seminole State College and studied theater.

Two years later, the couple was married. Less than two years later, they welcomed their daughter, Carissa.

Steve Czerniejewski taught with Orange County Public Schools for nearly 30 years.

Although he had been a classroom teacher for the majority of time with OCPS, he served as a media specialist for the last few years of his career.

Steve Czerniejewski was the first media specialist at Castleview when it opened in 2019.

“Knowing that there was a new school that was opening where he could help create a literacy program and help the kids foster a love for reading was very enticing for him,”

Kim Czerniejewski said. “When he met with the principal at the time, he was just very taken and loved the school’s message. He was all in.”

Kim Czerniejewski said her husband’s favorite part about Castleview was the children and the strong sense of community the school has.

“They (the staff) all had that shared purpose of really reaching the kids where they were and helping them to become lifelong learners,” she said.

Jonathan Rasmussen, current principal of Castleview, said although he never had the opportunity to meet Steve Czerniejewski, he knows what the students and the staff have said about him.

“The students always mention how nice he was, how helpful he was, how funny he was and how much he cared,” Rasmussen said. “Staff have mentioned many times how much he cared for students and wanted to give students everything he could. He was always here for the kids. I think his biggest impact was his positive attitude.”

Rasmussen explained the student leaders of the school are placed

“He always focused on community-building first to create a safe space for them to learn and grow. … We have a family joke that he’s ‘the smartest man we’ll ever know.’”

— Kim Czerniejewski

into four houses — Chivalry, Loyalty, Wisdom and Valor — and Steve Czerniejewski was the ultimate example of what the Loyalty house encompasses.

“Steve had a natural ability to reach kids where they were and help them see success as learners and feel good about themselves,” Kim Czerniejewski said. “He always focused on community-building first to create a safe space for them to learn and grow. … We have a family joke that he’s ‘the smartest man we’ll ever know.’”

MEMORY MEMORIALIZED Although the media center dedication was an idea that already was underway by the previous principal, Rasmussen said the dedication was more than fitting.

“He started the library program here, and he had such a big impact on everyone,” he said. “Everyone in our community came together to find a way to honor his memory here at the school.”

Kim Czerniejewski said she was overwhelmed when she heard the news from the school.

“When the former principal first mentioned it to me, I just broke down and cried,” she said. “It’s so beautiful. To see that the school realized that he had such an impact and that they want to honor that is just so moving.”

Kim Czerniejewski wants the community to remember the wide impact her husband had on children for 30 years.

“He taught at 10 or 11 different schools in Orange County,” she said. “At his funeral, there were so many former students that are now adults with their own children who still came. To see that impact he had

crossing generations was so touching.”

Kim Czerniejewski said Steve Czerniejewski loved music and played guitar as well as sang. Music was part of what he incorporated into his classroom culture, and he was working on bringing that into the media center.

“As a media specialist he was getting to that point where he was willing to do that and able to bring it to the media center as well,” she said. “But he hadn’t just yet gotten to that point where he had achieved it the same way he had in the classroom.”

Steve Czerniejewski’s younger sister, Jeanna, said her brother was an amazing educator and thanked the school for dedicating the media center to him and his memory.

“He had an impact on students far more than he may have ever realized,” she said. “There are many occasions when I was in a situation where my last name was mentioned, and someone would approach me and tell me they were a previous student of Steve’s. They’d tell me how amazing he was and the impact he made on their lives. I would tell Steve those stories, and he always seemed amazed by them. I was never surprised, because I knew how passionate he was about education and how important it was for him to impact as many children as possible.”

Rasmussen said there will be a dedication ceremony in the future, and Steve Czerniejewski’s family and friends will be invited. His name will be placed above the media center doors.

“So many educators do so much for the students, their parents and the community as a whole, but rarely do they get any true recognition, so

“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

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whenever there is a chance to recognize someone who made such a big impact and honor them in some way, then I think it’s important for us to do that,” he said.

HEART OF GOLD

Steve Czerniejewski was funny, had a great sense of humor, was smart, kind, and most of all, had a heart of gold.

Kim Czerniejewski said her husband had a deep voice and sometimes when he would project he would sound angry or scary, but really he was tender-hearted and very sensitive.

“He wasn’t one of those people who needed to be the center of attention; he just enjoyed it when that opportunity arose,” she said. “He was truly one of the good ones.”

Steve Czerniejewski was loved and will be missed by his wife; daughter Carissa Cooper; sister; brother Eric (Carla) Czerniejewski; his mothers Lucile Hammond, Carol Forsloff and Sherry Czerniejewski; and many nieces and nephews.

He was a member of the Winter Garden Masonic Lodge for several years.

Steve Czerniejewski had many interests and passions including reading, pottery, golf, bicycling, teaching, masonry, sports of any kind and his dog, Bella.

“My dad was such a special person,” Cooper said. “He had a love for learning, laughter and life itself. He never settled for less than his best, and he always inspired and encouraged those around him to do the same. He impacted the lives of so many children and adults alike — the world is a better place because he was here.”

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Courtesy and le photos

J. Steven Czerniejewski’s memory will never be forgotten at Castleview Elementary.

Molding Stars celebrates one-year anniversary

AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

Iyisha Selph was a member of the dance team, band, choir and ROTC in high school because it kept her busy and out of trouble. She wanted to become a mentor for the next generation of girls, so she started Molding Stars dance company in Winter Garden one year ago last month.

She teaches dance to 20 girls, but she also creates a path to higher learning through educational projects and giving the girls opportunities to give back to their community.

The nonprofit Molding Stars is celebrating its one-year anniversary, and Selph wants to spread empow-

erment and confidence to even more girls in the community.

Team members dance plenty, but they also bond on trips to places such as WonderWorks and during activities such as skating and bowling.

Selph has her students participate in an essay contest during Black History Month, and they have to write about a historical black person. The girls are rewarded for their efforts, as well as their good grades in school.

“I let them know if they don’t have good grades, they can’t dance,” Selph said. “It’s about more than just dance.”

Selph’s daughter, Shania Selph, is one of the three coaches; the other two are Lajoya Manuel and Von Logo.

MOLDING STARS

For information on joining the Molding Stars dance group, contact founder Iyisha Selph at iselph76@gmail.com or (407) 219-6315. Members practice at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the downtown Winter Garden pavilion. The team is raising money to fund uniforms and a trip to a dance competition March 18 in Winter Haven. So far, the girls have raised $900 of the $1,500 needed. To make a donation, contact Selph or use Cash App: moldingstarsforlife.

“My daughter went to dance, and through dance, she got a scholarship,” Iyisha Selph said. “You can take this dance and take it as far as getting a scholarship. And that’s what we want the kids to do. Stay out of the streets. Don’t do the bullying, be positive, go to college and start a career. Come back and do something in your neighborhood.”

The Molding Stars dancers, who range in age from 5 to 18, meet Tuesday through Thursday evenings and have been putting in extra practices in preparation for a competition among 17 teams March 18 in Winter Haven.

“Our theme is called ‘Woman King,’” Iyisha Selph said. “It’s a movie starring Viola Davis about the empowerment of women and (we) dance to Beyonce’s ‘Run the World.’ We always want to teach them about strength and empowerment for women. Their strength is important. Their pride is important.”

Dancers are holding fundraisers, including a recent car wash, to purchase uniforms for the competition.

Iyisha Selph is working on other ways to raise the money, too. In-between contests, the dance team performs at local churches and events, including the January Dr. Martin Luther King Parade in Winter Garden, where the girls received a trophy for Most Spirit.

Iyisha Selph is hoping to open up her own studio space soon and is working on getting a passenger van to transport her students.

NEWS BRIEFS

HUDSON TIRE EMPLOYEE STABBED ON WAY TO WORK

The Winter Garden Police Department is investigating the origin of a Hudson Tire & Service employee’s stab wound.

According to WGPD Captain Scott Allen, the “employee showed up to work with a stab wound” the morning of Monday, Feb. 27.

Cameron Highnote, 20, was identied as the victim by his mom, Christy Morgan, who mentioned on a Facebook post the robber just took the $5 Highnote had on him.

“The person took his ($5), turned around, then turned back around said, ‘I’m sorry,’ and stabbed him anyway,” Morgan wrote on a Facebook post.

At Orlando Regional Medical, Highnote’s CT scan showed the weapon barely missed his heart, lungs and main artery.

“He is in a lot of pain but stable,” Morgan wrote on a Facebook direct message.

HEALTH OFFICIALS: USE CAUTION ON BIG SAND LAKE

The Florida Department of Health in Orange County has issued a warning for presence of blue-green algae in Big Sand Lake in Dr. Phillips.

This is in response to a site visit and water sample taken Jan. 3.

Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions:

Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft, waterski or boat in waters where bloom is visible. Avoid getting water in your eyes, nose or mouth.

Keep pets and livestock away from the waters in this location. Eating llets from healthy sh caught in freshwater lakes experiencing blooms is safe. Rinse sh llets with water, throw out the guts and cook sh well. You should not eat shell sh from this location.

The founder of the dance group in Winter Garden teaches empowerment, strength and pride to girls ages 5 to 18.

Girls ages 5 to 18 enjoy a dance team full of camaraderie, teamwork and spirit. Amy Quesinberry

Courtesy

Iyisha Selph is the owner of Molding Stars.

DeSantis signs Disney district bill

MICHAEL ENG EDITOR AND PUBLISHER

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis began his press conference Monday, Feb. 27, by saying: “Today the corporate kingdom finally comes to an end. This is what accountability looks like.”

DeSantis signed CS/HB 9-B, legislation that dissolves the Reedy Creek Improvement District and establishes the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District during the conference, held at Reedy Creek Fire Station No. 4, in Lake Buena Vista.

The legislation places the district into state receivership. It ends Disney’s self-governing status, as well as its exemption from Florida building code and fire-prevention code. It also ends the company’s exemption from state regulatory reviews and approvals.

“Since the 1960s, they (Disney) have enjoyed privileges unlike any company or individual in the state of Florida has ever enjoyed,” DeSantis said. “They, of course, controlled their own government right here in Central Florida. They had exemptions from laws that everybody else had to follow. ... They were able to get huge amounts of benefits without paying their fair share of taxes and even racked up $700 million worth of municipal debt.

“So, we had a little bit of a tussle last year over school legislation, and Disney came out against something that was really just about protecting young kids and making sure that students are able to go to school learning to read, write, add and subtract,

“I was not going to put taxpayers at risk. Right now, there will be no additional tax burden on any Floridian in Central Florida or otherwise. …”

and not having a teacher tell them that they can change their gender,” he said. “I think most parents agree with that. But that was only a mild annoyance. What we came to realize is that after the dust settled on that, was you clearly had a movement within the corporation itself ... that said it’s their job or goal to inject a lot of this sexuality into the programming for young kids.

“If you’re going that way as a corporation, those are not the values that we want to promote in the state of Florida,” DeSantis said. “We want to promote the safety of our students and the rights of our parents.”

Furthermore, he said, the special exemptions Disney enjoyed under Reedy Creek never should have been allowed.

“We had this situation here that was basically indefensible from a policy perspective,” DeSantis said.

“How do you give one theme park its own government and then treat all the other theme parks differently?

And so we believe that that was not good policy. We believe being joined at the hip with this one Californiabased company was not something that was justifiable or sustainable. And so we said we were going to do something about it.”

Under the new legislation, Disney will operate under the same tax laws as any other business. Furthermore, DeSantis reiterated Disney’s municipal debt will be paid by Disney and not Florida taxpayers.

“I was not going to put taxpayers at risk,” DeSantis said. “Right now, there will be no additional tax burden on any Floridian in Central Florida or otherwise. And in fact, for the whole decades this has been in effect, you had infrastructure feeding into the theme parks that were paid for by all the citizens of Central Florida, and Disney really got a free ride on that. Now, they can be taxed for that. So if anything, it’s going to reduce the tax burden of people in Central Florida.”

The new district will be led by a

five-member, governor-appointed board. DeSantis has selected Tampa attorney Martin Garcia, of Tampa; Clearwater attorney Brian Aungst; The Gathering USA CEO Ron Peri; Central Florida attorney Michael Sasso; and Sarasota County School Board Member Bridget Ziegler.

“All these board members very much would like to see the type of entertainment that all families can appreciate,” DeSantis said.

The State Senate will be asked to confirm the appointments. The board is scheduled to meet for the first time Wednesday, March 8. One of the first items on the agenda will be to examine the compensation packages of first responders and find ways to reward them for outstanding performance, DeSantis said.

“I hope we will be able to get that done,” he said.

After DeSantis signed the bill into law, members of the Reedy Creek Fire Department presented him with a custom-mounted ax.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

FLORIDA HOUSE PASSES

BILL TO ELIMINATE DIS-

NEY’S SPECIAL DISTRICT orangeobserver.com/ news/2022/apr/21/ oridahouse-passes-bill-to-eliminate-disneys-special-district

DESANTIS: DISMANTLING

REEDY CREEK WON’T RAISE TAXES ON ORANGE COUNTY RESIDENTS orangeobserver.com/article/ desantis-dismantling-reedycreek-wont-raise-taxes-onorange-county-residents

DISSOLVING REEDY CREEK NOT LEGAL UNTIL DEBT BOND IS PAID orangeobserver.com/ news/2022/apr/29/disneydissolving-reedy-creek-notlegal-until-bond-debt-is-paid

JUDGE DISMISSES REDDY CREEK SUIT AGAINST DESANTIS orangeobserver.com/ news/2022/may/11/judgedismisses-reedy-creek-suitagainst-desantis

HERE’S THE PLAN TO REPLACE REEDY CREEK IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT orangeobserver.com/ news/2023/jan/06/ breaking-heres-the-planto-replace-reedy-creekimprovement-district

REP. CAROLINA AMESTY ISSUES REEDY CREEK RESPONSE orangeobserver.com/ news/2023/jan/17/rep-carolina-amesty-issues-reedycreek-response

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!

— Gov. Ron DeSantis

Courtesy photo

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed CS/HB 9-B during a press conference Monday, Feb. 27, at Reedy Creek Fire Station No. 4.

City of Ocoee rolls with first skate park, pump track

The new park will open in May at Vandergrift Central Park.

ANDREA MUJICA STAFF WRITER

The city of Ocoee is getting ready to welcome its first skate park and pump track this year.

Last year, Ocoee leaders began discussing project details, including budget and possible locations. Vandergrift Central Park was chosen as the perfect place for the skate park and pump track because of its location.

“The park is our most centrally located park,” Ocoee Parks and Recreation Director Mark Johnson said. “(It is) easily accessible by skateboarders and bicyclists from the surrounding neighborhoods.”

According to Johnson, the funds for the park come from the Parks and Recreation Capital Budget, and the total cost of the park will be $528,000.

Both the skate park and pump track will sit on about 18,000 square feet.

“The city wanted to add something new and different to their parks, and the citizens have stated over the past several years this is something they wanted,” Johnson said.

The park will provide opportunities for residents to stay healthy and practice myriad sports, and city leaders hope it will offer a space for families to enjoy an all-wheel friendly envi-

ronment. People will be able to inline skate, bike, rollerskate and scooter within the facilities.

Included in the amenities, the skate park will have a state-of-theart pump track. This track is named from the pumping motion riders make using their upper and lower body while riding around the track. They use the pumping motion to maintain speed without having to pedal. The skate park also will feature a half-pipe and a number of rails and bank ramps.

In addition to the skate park and the pump track, visitors of Vandergrift Central Park can enjoy the amenities located within the park, such as a playground, basketball courts, a pavilion, as well as serving as the home for the Babe Ruth baseball league and the Pop Warner Football team.

The space previously was used by T-ball teams and volleyball groups for practice.

Although there is not a specific date set for the park to be completed, Johnson said it is expected to open in May.

Regulations for the skate park and pump track still are being developed as construction continues.

For more information, contact the Ocoee Parks and Recreation Department at (407) 877-5803.

Isleworth estate smashes Central Florida sales record

Alakefront estate in Isleworth Golf & Country Club has sold for $35 million, setting a record for a single-family home sold in Central Florida.

Wayne Sheffield and Monica Lochmandy, of Isleworth Realty, brokered the deal, which has set a new benchmark for both the private club community and the entire Central Florida region for a single-family home transaction. The sale closed Feb. 18.

“Estates of this magnitude are a rarity in Central Florida,” Lochmandy said. “Our relationships in the market were an essential key not only in initiating the transaction but also in walking it through to fruition.”

Completed in 2020, the 26,000-square-foot estate, at 9538 Blanche Cove Drive, Windermere, was custom-built by Flavio Da Silva, Brazilian businessman, entrepreneur, owner of Wise Up schools and former owner of MLS Orlando City Soccer Club. The three-story, fully concrete estate is set on 3.15 lakefront acres and offers a two-story living room with limestone fireplace, a modern kitchen, dining room, family room, expansive owner’s suite, office, game room with bowling alley, home theater, basketball court, an elevator and cascading exterior grounds featuring a private beach. Designed by Nasrallah Architectural Group and built by Akers Custom Homes, with interiors by Marc-Michaels Interior Design, the property took more than three years to build. These are the highest-selling homes in each community in West Orange.

DR. PHILLIPS BAY PARK

The home at 8027 Rural Retreat Court, Orlando, sold Feb. 21, for $725,000. Built in 1994, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 2,948 square feet of living area. Days on market: 122.

EMERALD FOREST

The home at 10331 Emerald Woods Ave., Orlando, sold Feb. 23, for $750,000. Built in 1997, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,461 square feet of living area. Days on market: 46.

ESTATES AT PHILLIPS LANDING

The home at 8913 Southern Breeze Drive, Orlando, sold Feb. 24, for $1,950,000. Built in 1998, it has three bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 4,301 square feet. Days on market: Five.

PHILLIPS BAY

The townhouse at 7014 Stonehedge Drive, No. 150, Orlando, sold Feb. 24, for $440,000. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,985 square feet. Days on market: 176.

RESERVE AT VISTA CAY

The condo at 4013 Breakview Drive, No. A206, Orlando, sold Feb. 24, for $435,000. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,185 square feet. Days on market: One.

VIZCAYA

The home at 8441 Saint Marino Blvd., Orlando, sold Feb. 21, for $942,000. Built in 2002, it has five bedrooms, four baths, two halfbaths and 4,695 square feet. Days on market: Two.

VIZCAYA HEIGHTS

The condo at 8743 The Esplanade, No. 20, Orlando, sold Feb. 24, for $440,000. Built in 2006, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,824 square feet.

HORIZON WEST

HAWKSMOOR

The home at 8007 Glenlloyd Ave., Winter Garden, sold Feb. 24, for $483,000. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,070 square feet. Days on market: 102.

INDEPENDENCE/

SIGNATURE LAKES

The townhouse at 7030 Broomshedge Trail, Winter Garden, sold Feb. 23, for $400,000. Built in 2012, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,472 square feet. Days on market: Two.

Photo by Ian Roth

The home at 16785 Broadwater Ave., Winter Garden, sold Feb. 22, for $1,900,000. It was the largest transaction in Winter Garden from Feb. 18 to 24. The selling agent was Julie Bettosini, Stockworth Realty Group.

LAKESHORE PRESERVE

The home at 8169 Topsail Place, Winter Garden, sold Feb. 21, for $885,000. Built in 2019, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,768 square feet. Days on market: 122.

NEWBURY PARK

The home at 9007 Leeland Archer Blvd., Orlando, sold Feb. 21, for $445,100. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,899 square feet of living area. Days on market: One.

OASIS COVE 2

The condo at 14336 Desert Haven St., No. 4004, Windermere, sold Feb. 21, for $317,500. Built in 2013, it has three bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 1,512 square feet. Days on market: 48.

SUMMERPORT

The home at 13852 Caywood Pond Drive, Windermere, sold Feb. 22, for $635,000. Built in 2005, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,451 square feet of living area. Days on market: Three.

WATERLEIGH The home at 18085 Adrift Road, Winter Garden, sold Feb. 23, for $628,740. Built in 2022, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,489 square feet of living area. Days on market: 16.

The home at 11087 Bostwick Alley, Winter Garden, sold Feb. 21, for $618,740. Built in 2022, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,489 square feet of living area. Days on market: One.

WATERMARK

The home at 10372 Austrina Oak Loop, Winter Garden, sold Feb. 24, for $510,000. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,880 square feet of living area. Days on market: 99.

WINDERMERE TRAILS

The home at 8255 Bryce Canyon Ave., Windermere, sold Feb. 21, for $469,900. Built in 2016, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,840 square feet of living area. Days on market: 42.

OCOEE

DOWNTOWN OCOEE

The home at 209 S. Lakeshore Drive, Ocoee, sold Feb. 24, for $484,990. Built in 1984, it has three bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 1,995 square feet of living area. Days on market: Four.

FAIRFAX VILLAGE

The home at 291 Wescliff Drive, Ocoee, sold Feb. 24, for $407,500. Built in 1993, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,683 square feet of living area. Days on market: Three.

PRAIRIE LAKE VILLAGE

The home at 2415 Grand Poplar St., Ocoee, sold Feb. 22, for $370,000. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,606 square feet of living area. Days on market: Five.

RESERVE AT MEADOW LAKE

The townhouse at 1276 Glenleigh Drive, Ocoee, sold Feb. 22, for $230,000. Built in 2011, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,296 square feet. Days on market: 51.

MARCH

WINDERMERE KEENE’S POINTE

The home at 6409 Lake Burden View Drive, Windermere, sold Feb. 22, for $3.8 million. Built in 2006, it has six bedrooms, five baths, three half-baths and 8,078 square feet. Days on market: 66.

The home at 8429 Bowden Way, Windermere, sold Feb. 22, for $915,000. Built in 2001, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,564 square feet of living area. Days on market: Five.

LAKE DOWN SHORES

The home at 2730 Midsummer Drive, Windermere, sold Feb. 24, for $2.2 million. Built in 1984, it has four bedrooms, three-andone-half baths and 3,452 square feet of living area. Days on market: Seven.

WINTER GARDEN

CROWN POINT SPRINGS

The home at 1039 Spring Loop Way, Winter Garden, sold Feb. 20, for $630,000. Built in 1993, it has five bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,799 square feet of living area. Days on market: 10.

CYPRESS RESERVE

The home at 13670 Killebrew Way, Winter Garden, sold Feb. 24, for $716,800. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 3,818 square feet. Days on market: 69.

The home at 13857 Jomatt Loop, Winter Garden, sold Feb. 22, for $725,000. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,732 square feet. Days on market: 27.

LAKE APOPKA SOUND

The home at 14425 Shaman Way, Winter Garden, sold Feb. 21, for $612,990. Built in 2022, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,998 square feet of living area. Days on market: 97.

The home at 14412 Topaghan Way, Winter Garden, sold Feb. 21, for $605,000. Built in 2022, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 3,019 square feet. Days on market: 13.

The home at 14407 Topaghan Way, Winter Garden, sold Feb. 21, for $542,990. Built in 2022, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,361 square feet. Days on market: 74.

OAKLAND PARK

The home at 1255 Civitas Way, Winter Garden, sold Feb. 23, for $876,835. Built in 2022, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,653 square feet. Days on market: 62.

The home at 898 McKinnon Square, Winter Garden, sold Feb. 23, for $723,660. Built in 2022, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 2,822 square feet. Days on market: 148.

The home at 930 McKinnon Square, Winter Garden, sold Feb. 22, for $513,861. Built in 2022, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,652 square feet. Days on market: 11.

WATERMARK

The home at 9243 Holliston Creek Place, Winter Garden, sold Feb. 21, for $760,000. Built in 2016, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,940 square feet. Days on market: 113.

WATERSIDE ON JOHNS LAKE

The home at 16785 Broadwater Ave., Winter Garden, sold Feb. 22, for $1,900,000. Built in 2022, it has seven bedrooms, five-and-one-half baths and 6,377 square feet. Days on market: 125.

WESTFIELD LAKES

The home at 305 Blue Stone Circle, Winter Garden, sold Feb. 21, for $470,900. Built in 1999, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 2,166 square feet. Days on market: 44.

WESTLAKE MANOR

The home at 315 Apopka St., Winter Garden, sold Feb. 21, for $405,000. Built in 1956, it has three bedrooms, one bath and 1,116 square feet. Days on market: Six.

WINTERMERE HARBOR

The home at 2112 Harbor Cove Way, Winter Garden, sold Feb. 21, for $580,000. Built in 2002, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,811 square feet of living area. Days on market: 149.

What To Do

Courtesy of Isleworth Realty

The home at 9538 Blanche Cove Drive, Windermere, sold Feb. 18, for $35 million. It was the largest transaction in in Central Florida history.

1

The Dr. Phillips High School girls varsity basketball team repeated as state champs after it defeated Winter Haven 4743 in the Class 7A, District 5 state championship game Saturday, Feb. 25. This is the sixth state championship title for the Dr. Phillips High girls varsity basketball program. 2

The Olympia High School wrestling team snagged the Class 3A, District 4 championship title during the district tournament Friday, Feb. 17, at Dr. Phillips High School. The Titans are one of four teams in the state to qualify all its wrestlers for the Class 3A, Region 1 tournament that took place Friday, Feb. 24, at Paul J. Hagerty High School. 3

Central Florida Christian Academy shooting guard and swingman

Ty Gustafson reached his 1,000th career point in the Class 2A, District 7 regional semi nals Tuesday, Feb. 21. This was the Eagles’ nal game of the season — a 7472 loss to Victory Christian Academy — and Gustafson’s last season in high school. He is set to graduate at the end of this semester. Gustafson averaged 10.8 points per game this season. He hit 44% of his attempts (31% on three-pointers) and was 59% from the free-throw line. 4

After ve years as part of the Ocoee High School football family, Knights’ head football coach Aaron Sheppard announced his resignation from the position in a touching Twitter post Thursday, Feb. 23. Sheppard led the Knights through a history-making season during the 2022-23 football season, where the boys became part of the Final Four teams to battle for the state championship title for the rst time in school history. However, the Knights fell short on their quest after falling to the current state champions — the Columbus Explorers — on a back-to-back game 41-36 Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. “This is a bitter-sweet moment and one of the toughest decisions that I have ever had to make,” Sheppard tweeted. “I will always be grateful and thankful and a part of the Knight Family! To my players, I love you all, and I’m always a phone call away!

Former Florida Gator defensive lineman and Super Bowl champion Sheddrick Gurley will take the reins of the Ocoee football program. 5

The Windermere Prep boys varsity basketball team became Class 3A, District 6 regional champions after defeating King’s Academy 84-68 Friday, Feb. 24, during the Region 2 championship game. The Lakers are now part of the Final Four teams still on the pursuit of a state championship title. They own an overall season record of 23-7 and were set to face Providence School Wednesday, March 1, during the state semi nals, after press time.

Having a ball

Through

ANDREA MUJICA STAFF WRITER

The West Orange Girls Club has been serving the West Orange community since its foundation in 1978.

The club was established as a nonprofit organization to promote the “health, social, cultural, vocational and character development of the young women in our community,” according to its website.

The club also promotes scholastic achievement, sportsmanship, honesty and development of good character while offering girls in the community six baseball fields where they can also learn the sport of softball.

“We provide a place for any girl that wants to play softball to (be able) to

play,” Recreational Director and Vice President Michaal Rossi said. “(Their) level of ability doesn’t matter. I have girls in my team (12U) that have never played before, middle schoolers who decided they wanted to try softball.”

The beauty of the club is the type of bond the girls form between them over the years they get to play together — from when they are 4 years old all the way to when they are 18 years old.

“It becomes a community, which is neat,” Rossi said.

SEASONS OF SOFTBALL

The West Orange Girls Club provides girls in Orange County with nine months of playtime during the year. The girls — of all categories — can enjoy two different leagues: spring and fall.

Currently, there are 113 girls enrolled in the spring season roster. According to Rossi, spring season usually sees a lower number of girls in the roster because of high school play. Last fall, for example, the club had about 140 girls.

“The really cool thing this year in the spring is that our senior division is smaller, because we have so many girls that made their high school teams,” Rossi said.

Because the West Orange Girls Club services all Orange County — girls come all the way from Clermont and other surrounding cities — the club has girls who have been playing there for years that are now part of the softball rosters at Horizon High, Win-

SEE GIRLS PAGE 2B

IT TAKES A VILLAGE: Community key to Arnold Palmer Invitational

How many hands are too many when it comes to making the API a reality every year? The answer: There are never enough.

For

SEASONS

SPRING: January to May

FALL: August to November

SPRING 2023 GAMES

8U AND 10U: 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays

10U AND SENIOR DIVISION: 7:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays

Winter Garden Little League completes field renovations

The league is set to hit a home run with its completed field upgrades just in time for opening day Friday, March 3.

The Winter Garden Little League will host its opening day event Friday, March 3, while also celebrating its latest upgrade: field renovations. At the Thursday, Feb. 9, Winter Garden City Commission meeting, City Manager Jon C. Williams addressed the commission explaining the city was approached by the Little League

West Orange lacrosse goalie Jack Gray has a total of 36 saves so far this season. Page 2B.

The West Orange Girls Club has been around for more than 40 years providing girls in the Orange County area a place to play softball.

the West Orange Girls Club, local girls learn much more than the sport of softball. The spring season takes the field Saturday, March 4.

ANDREA

MUJICA STAFF WRITER

golf enthusiasts, it’s the most wonderful time in Southwest Orange: the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Hosted for the first time in 1979, the first API served as a successor to the Florida Citrus Open Invitational. Today, it holds a name for itself — a professional golf tournament listed as a premier event of the PGA Tour played each March at Bay Hill Club and Lodge.

Andrea Mujica

OF THE WEEK Jack Gray

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

API tees o this week at Bay Hill

West Orange senior and varsity boys lacrosse goalie and captain Jack Gray is leading the Warriors during his last season with the team. Gray currently has a total of 36 saves while the team holds currently a 4-1 season record.

Talk to us about your years as a lacrosse player.

I started lacrosse in sixth grade.

I’ve played other sports: baseball, soccer, football; and lacrosse was a sport I really wanted to pursue.

… I recently just started playing goalie my sophomore year of high school, practiced a lot and worked my way through the ranks within my team so I could become a starting goalie my sophomore year.

Do you like being goalie?

It’s very nice position, (but it’s also) a mentally tough position, because it’s easy to get in your head. So you really have to fight yourself during games and stuff, and have short-term memory loss just to go on to the next play.

What do you love most about lacrosse as a sport?

I love the team aspect of it. … Lacrosse is very team-oriented, where we have different guys that will help you out, and we share a special camaraderie among each other. … It’s the brotherhood that I have and share with everybody on my team.

Do you have a favorite drill to do at practice?

The West Jenny. It’s basically a 3-versus-2; it’s very fast-paced. … It really helps on spacing, shooting precisely and accurately, and just placing the ball.

How do you believe you instill leadership in your team?

I lead by example. … We have new freshmen every year, and so if leaders like me and a few other seniors … don’t do things properly, then the freshmen are going to do the same. … You want to put out what you want to do so the younger guys can learn the correct way.

What would you like to study in college? I want to be a dentist, and I want

THE BASICS

Age: 18

Sport: Lacrosse

Position: Goalie

Grade: 12 School: West Orange

Do you have a favorite professional lacrosse player?

Jack Concannon. … He gets really low in the goal. We get shorter in the goal to try to bait the shooters to shoot high, so we kind of play a mental game with them.

Where are you going to college?

Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale.

What’s your favorite hobby?

I like to woodwork. During COVID, I was so bored, I didn’t know what to do, and I saw a video on YouTube about woodworking. The next year, I joined the woodworking class at WOHS had at the time, and I enjoyed it. … I do make little projects to sell to people.

What are three things you would take with you to a deserted island?

My lacrosse stick, some sort of care kit bag in case something happens and my dog — Roughy.

What’s your favorite type of music?

I’m not really that picky about music. I do listen to a lot of country and rap.

Who is your favorite superhero?

Why?

Spider-Man, … He’s a regular teenager with regular problems, but he also has a big responsibility.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?

Definitely invisibility. … I’m the type of person that doesn’t really like to be put out there a lot and a

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B

However, to make the invitational a reality, there is a lot of behind-thescenes work that takes place spectators and fans seldom see.

More than 1,400 volunteers pour more than 50,000 hours of volunteer work every year to provide the Bay Hill community and other attendees — as well as PGA Tour players — the best experience possible.

“We have certain members that work on (the Arnold Palmer Invitational) year-round in leadership positions,” API Marketing Manager Cav Neutze said. “But, primarily, the volunteers start working the Saturday before the tournament.”

An example of this is St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. Every year, the Southwest Orange church offers shuttle services to help alleviate traffic within the Bay Hill community.

“It’s pivotal,” Neutze said. “We could not do the event without that. I think having that buy-in from local partners and the ability to be able to rely on local partners like that one makes the event possible. (It also) makes the event what it is, because we are a local event, and we call ourselves the Orlando Signature event for a reason. So being able to count on your neighbors is really important to us and I think it’s something that Mr. (Arnold) Palmer would be very proud of.”

The API also features a series of special events, such as a Throwback Thursday, a Wine and Dine on 9, Birdies and BBQ, Patriots Outpost and White Claw Fan Deck.

Not only will fans be able to enjoy unique events this year, but they also will be able to enjoy food from local restaurants that will provide munch bites to those who feel hungry during the tournament. At the small business marketplace, Miapa Latin Cafe and DF Bakery will have a tent set up, and at the White Claw Fan Deck, local food truck Treehouse Truck will feed the bellies of the hungry.

COMMUNITY IMPACT

This year, player commitment is unprecedented, as 27 out of the Top 30 golfers in the world are competing for the coveted API trophy.

“The best players in the world are going to be here,” Neutze said. “They come to Bay Hill, and I think that’s an opportunity for the local community to get to see something really special. These guys are the best of the best in what they do, and they

have been coming to Bay Hill since 1979. I think that legacy and that opportunity should be a badge of honor to the local community, and I think they wear that proudly.”

Neutze said the event offers something for everyone — whether it’s families with kids, a group of adults with friends, first-time visitors or longtime fans.

“Everything we do it top-notch,” he said. “We are a premier event on the PGA Tour, and we try to conduct ourselves accordingly. Everyone dresses really nicely when they come out here, and everyone is very respectful.”

All proceeds benefit the Arnold and Winnie Palmer Foundation.

LOCAL BENEFICIARIES

Several local organizations partake in the event through concession tents and stands to fund money to their respective programs and activities.

Since 2020, the Windermere High School marching band has been offered a spot at the API, an opportunity the Wolverines are excited to see through as it provides funds that go toward the band — either for the purchase of new instruments, uniforms or any band related expenses.

“We receive a percentage of the sales from the lodge, and we receive credit card tips or cash tips, and they’ll send us a check,” Windermere band mom Tracy Rivera said.

“It’s a pretty big fundraiser for the band, all parent-run. … Some of the spectators that come by (the tent) come see the kids work in the event … and are able to get an idea of why they are so excited to being in the band.”

Horizon West Middle School also will be one of the local schools participating in the API — and has been a part of the event for the last three years.

“This year we have a larger booth,” Horizon West Middle PTSO President Beth Siegmann said. “We average about $5,000 (or more), and that money goes to providing necessary resources for our students and teachers. And, this year we want to give back to the community as well, so we have partnered with (All Saints Lutheran Church) to help assist with the food pantry that they do twice a week, and so we are going to give a donation to them for the food pantry to buy supply from Second Harvest (Food Bank) and pick up the necessary needs to provide food to local families.”

SPECIAL EVENTS

THROWBACK THURSDAY:

Fans who purchased all-inclusive tickets for Thursday will get the opportunity to enjoy the event from the landing o the ninth fairway while sipping complimentary Anheuser-Busch beer. They also have a chance to take pictures with trophies from previous years and purchase exclusive gear. Tickets also include ground admission for Thursday, an exclusive throwback merchandise item and a signature bottleopener.

WINE AND DINE ON 9: From 2 to 5 p.m. on Friday, fans will be able to munch on food from local restaurants, such as American Social Bar and Kitchen, Big Fin Seafood Kitchen, Brio, Burntwood, Jimmy Hula’s, Fresh & Co, Melting Pot, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Ocean Prime, Rocco’s Tacos, Slate, Vines, Oceanaire, Eddie V’s, Delfrisco’s, The Palm, Dragon y Sushi, Capital Grille, Maggiiano’s Little Italy and My Lounge. The event is presented by Kendall-Jackson.

BIRDIES AND BBQ: Fans will have a day to enjoy Smokehouse BBQ, Anheuser-Busch beer and will be able to take home a commemorative koozie.

PATRIOTS’ OUTPOST: All guests with a military ticket are welcome to join the Patriots’ Outpost located by the ninth fairway where they can enjoy complimentary food and non-alcoholic drinks.

WHITE CLAW FAN DECK:

This deck has been a part of the event in previous years, but in 2023, fans will be able to enjoy a much improved White Claw Fan Deck. Located at the 15th green and 16th tee, fans will have the opportunity to enjoy an upclose-and-personal view of their favorite PGA Tour golfers while in the shade.

TOP GOLFERS COMMITTED TO API

Patrick Cantlay

Tony Finau

Max Homa

Viktor Hovland

Kevin Kisner

Shane Lowry

Rory McIlroy

Collin Morikawa

Jon Rahm

Justin Rose

Xander Schau ele

Scottie Sche er

Adam Scott

Justin Thomas

Girls club ready for spring season

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B

dermere High, West Orange High, Olympia High and Lake Highland Prep.

The club also provides its girls the option of trying out for its travel baseball team, The Lady Hawks.

“It basically (comprises girls who) play in the recreational league who want to play a little bit more softball and want a little bit more of competition,” Rossi said.

TEACHING VALUES

The West Orange Girls Club is a place where any girl in the Orange County community can find a place to develop into well-rounded softball players. And once they join, they are taught much more than just the sport.

Adrian Nelson, the 10U coach for the spring season, has been coaching at the club for about threeand-one-half years. He believes in teaching the fundamentals of the

VOLUNTEERING?

Are you a high school student who is looking to accumulate community service hours? Are you a member of the community and are looking for a place to spend some time volunteering? Contact Michaal Rossi at michaalrossi@gmail.com.

sport and the meaning behind the word “leadership.”

“At our age group, we are just teaching the fundamentals: how to catch the ball, how to throw the ball, how to hit the ball, how to run, (while) putting the (girls) in the right positions to win the game,” he said. “At the end of the day, (the girls) learn how to be a leader, on and off the field.”

For Rossi, values stretch far beyond just knowing how to lead others and setting the example.

“(They learn) a sense of belong-

ing and community, teamwork, (to have) pride in what they do, and (to have) confidence — that’s huge for girls,” she said.

Furthermore, volunteering and community service go hand-inhand with the West Orange Girls Club. It is run entirely by volunteers.

WELCOMING SPRING 2023

The West Orange Girls Club will celebrate its Opening Day Ceremony Saturday, March 4, at the facility located at 881 Ocoee-Apopka Road, Ocoee.

The opening ceremony will begin at 9 a.m., the first games will take place at 10 a.m., and a second round of games will start at noon.

This is the first year the West Orange Girls Club is part of the Babe Ruth League, so the girls will be playing teams from Tavares, Sorrento, Mount Dora and Leesburg, among other cities around the state.

WGLL to debut new fields

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B

requesting the field enhancements.

Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the city entering into a memorandum of understanding for the refurbishments.

“The city of Winter Garden has been welcoming of this project from the start and (has) fully supported our visions for the future of Winter Garden Little League,” Little League President James Mooney said. “We are grateful to the city of Winter Garden who continue to support the Winter Garden Little League and look forward to building on our great relationship as we work toward future goals.”

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

Mooney said when the Little League’s new board of directors started Oct. 1, 2022, the league began discussing ways to make Little League a better experience for the kids.

“Our first conversation was about the fields and what we can do to improve them,” Mooney said. “After researching other local fields, other leagues and feedback from parents from our Little League, we concluded that artificial turf and artificial mounds are being used in Central Florida more frequently due to the weather — large amounts of rain seasonally and constant heat — and the lower maintenance.”

After communicating with a few turf companies, the Little League contacted the city of Winter Garden and scheduled a meeting to propose a full infield of turf. Staff supported the proposed enhancements but believed the senior field needed to be included.

The overall quote to enhance all three fields would be $264,000, with the Little League to contribute $90,000 and the city to contribute $174,000.

However, the agreement only allows the league to move forward with converting one field of choice. The league opted to select field one.

“The reason that we feel that it’s better to proceed with one field as opposed to all three is in Winter Garden our soils are much different than you would find at any other place, so

OPENING DAY SCHEDULE

WHEN: Friday, March 3

WHERE: Winter Garden Little League, 415 S. Park Ave.

SCHEDULE

5:30 to 6 p.m.: Players arrive and parents move to eld 1

6 to 7 p.m.: Players/teams are introduced

7 p.m.: National anthem

7:05 p.m.: Introductions by city

o cials and board members

7:15 p.m.: Mayor John Rees throws rst pitch

we have a little bit of a concern of how this artificial turf is going to respond from a stormwater perspective,” Williams said. “We do know that artificial turf during the summer time gets significantly hotter.”

If the feedback for the field is positive, then the city will consider the funding of renovations for the other fields when the season is over.

COMMUNITY IMPACT

Williams said the fields have been a part of the whole Little League experience for years, and the fields play a very significant role in providing a shared venue for the folks that come out and play baseball.

“We’ve had a great, mutually beneficial relationship with Little League for years, and we just felt like being part of the project would enhance that relationship even more,” Williams said.

The field construction began Feb. 14 and should be completed this week.

“It will be a benefit to the community, as it will allow for better conditions of play for the Little League participants and will require less resources for upkeep,” Mooney said.

“In 2025, Winter Garden Little League will celebrate its 75th anniversary, and collectively, the board of directors are working towards the goal of continual improvement of the entire Little League experience for every child that plays in our league.”

VESTA LEE “PETE” WAGES JR. DIED FEB. 23, 2023.

Our father, Vesta Lee Wages Jr. “Pete,” left this world on Feb. 23, 2023, at the age of 87. He was born Jan. 11, 1936. He was preceded by his parents, Vesta L. Wages Sr. and Maude Wages; and his siblings, Helen Montgomery, Frances “Dede” Zagar and Charles Wages. Survived by his sister, Betty Sue Gassett; his brother-in-law, D. Drayton Gassett; his wife, Patti Wages; his children Robert Wages, Nancy Wages, Vesta Lee Wages III, Daniel Wages; his daughters-in-law, Deborah Wages, Gabriela Wages; and his grandchildren, Gabriela Hatfield, Peter Wages, Julianna Wages, Emma Wages, Nicky Wages, Mary Wages and Daniel Wages Jr.

Pete lived most of his life in Windermere, Florida, retired to Leesburg, Florida, but spent the end of his life in Winter Garden.

Pete was known for the following:

He served in the U.S. Army, retired after 32 years at Continental Can Company, retired again after 10 years from Manheim Auto Auction.

He also managed and owned Wages Mower Sales and Service on Main Street in Windermere, Florida.

He served as a Windermere Town Council Member from 1989-1992.

He was a member of the Windermere Rotary Club and was a Mason. He will be sadly missed and will always hold a place in our hearts. We would love you to come and honor his life. Funeral is Friday, March 3, 2023, at Clermont Baptist Church, 16115 Old Highway 50 West, Clermont, FL 34711. Visitation is at 10:30 a.m. Service is at 11 a.m. with food to follow. Graveside is at 2 p.m. at Lakeside Memory Gardens, 36601 County Road 19A, Eustis, FL 32726.

Annabelle Sikes

INFLUENCER OF THE WEEK

HOLLY HERNANDEZ, OAKLAND AVENUE CHARTER SCHOOL

Holly Hernandez is the instructional coach at Oakland Avenue Charter School. She has been at the school for a total of 16 years. Her main job is to support school initiatives and provide training and support to teachers as they implement them. She also sets up o -site trainings to ensure teachers have the tools and resources they need to be successful. For the school year 2021-22, she received the Principal Honor Award for supporting safety and well-being protocols as the school navigated through its closure and return to campus during the pandemic.

What brought you to your school?

My children attended Oakland Avenue Charter from the time we relocated to Florida from Los Angeles, California, in 2004. They had such a great experience at this school, and that motivated me to seek opportunities at Oakland. It had a small community feel that was inviting, especially after living in such a big city for so long.

What do you love most about your school?

I love that we truly are a tight-knit community. We work together, problem-solve together and celebrate successes together.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

The most rewarding part of my job is when a teacher walks away from a lesson or activity with their students and feels that the students not only understood the content but also enjoyed the learning, and I was able to support them to get to that point.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I am active in my church and volunteer regularly, as well as attend Bible study weekly. I love to read, spend time with my family and snuggle with my pup.

Who was your favorite teacher when you were in school? Why?

I didn’t really have a favorite teacher until college. Dr. Tolan was the first teacher I remember ever believing in me. She encouraged me, supported me, provided opportunities for me to apply new knowledge and celebrated

REPORT CARD

POSITION: Instructional coach TIME AT SCHOOL: Sixteen years

my accomplishments. She became a mentor, a friend and even part of my family.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Why?

I was never sure what I wanted to be when I grew up, but I knew it would be working with people, because I have always loved building relationships and helping people discover what makes them unique. The only thing I knew for sure is that I wanted to be a mom. That was and is the best thing I have ever done.

What is your favorite children’s book and why?

My favorite children’s book is, “Why is the Sky Blue?” by Sally Grindley. It is a beautiful tale of Rabbit seeking answers from Donkey — but not having the patience to get his answers. One day, Rabbit discovers things on his own and shares his new knowledge with Donkey. That knowledge is new and different from what Donkey thought, and it leads to self-discovery for both of them.

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

Steven Curtis Chapman is an amaz-

ing Christian musician, and his songs speak to the heart and hope of Christ through fun and uplifting songs. My kids grew up listening to him and he is a family favorite. Natalie Merchant is another one of my favorites. Her songs always tell a story and often communicate things that are difficult conversations to have in a beautiful way. I think the last one would be Lisa Marie Presley. Her songs are raw and direct. They tell it like it is and have a great vibe.

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

My go-to lunch was school pizza!

I still love pizza, but I don’t get it from school anymore. Ha!

What is your favorite holiday and why?

My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving, because it is an opportunity for families to get together and make memories. I generally host this holiday at my house, and I thoroughly enjoy the dance of having so many people come together to make it special. It is a perfect day!

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

I have a group of friends from seventh grade that I am still in touch with. They still live in California, so we don’t see each other often, but we make an effort to spend time together when I go home. Some of them have come to Florida to visit me, and that is a huge blessing.

What were your extracurricular activities as a student? Did you win any accolades or honors?

I was in a few community clubs in junior high and high school, and we helped raise money for the school. I was also very active in my Youth Group, and we did some mission trips to Tijuana, as well as helping with Vacation Bible School and Sunday School.

Lady Dragons frolic at Sweetheart Dance

Castleview Elementary School hosted its 2023 Sweetheart Dance Friday, Feb. 17. Lady Dragons had the opportunity to invite one special guest to the Valentine’s Day-themed event. The popular dance sold out, with close to 150 attendees gathering in the school’s cafeteria.

The event, organized by Castleview’s Parent Teacher Organization, included live deejay entertainment, games, a red carpet entrance, photo opportunities, cookie decorating, food, drinks and bags of candy.

— ANNABELLE SIKES

— ANNABELLE SIKES

Lady Dragons donned elaborate dresses, tiaras and corsages for the dance.

Lady Dragons and their guests shared a special dance.

Robyn and Rayne Boone walked down the red carpet at the Sweetheart Dance.

Lady Dragons and their guests were all smiles at the event.

Savvy and Luke Traylor paused for a quick sel e.

HARD WORK deserves to be RECOGNIZED

ONLY $75 PER CARD

LET’S CELEBRATE THE CLASS OF 2023

Earning a high school diploma is an accomplishment worth celebrating. That’s precisely why the Observer is creating an extra special Graduation section. In it, we will celebrate seniors at all of our area’s public, private and charter high schools.

Tell your graduating senior how proud you are of their accomplishments with a personalized congratulatory card in our 2023 Graduation section.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: MONDAY, MAY 1

DATE OF PUBLICATION: THURSDAY, MAY 25

Order your Senior Shoutout: OrangeObserver.com/class-of-2023

First Baptist Church @ Horizon West 15304 Tilden Road, Winter Garden

Sundays: 9:45 AM All Ages www.FBCWG.org

Starke Lake Baptist Church

Pastor Jeff Pritchard PO Box 520 611 W Ave., Ocoee (407) 656-2351 www.StarkeLakeBaptist.org

Victory Baptist Church & Christian Academy 1601 A.D. Mims Rd, Ocoee FL 34761 (407) 656-3097 www.VBCOCOEE.com

Sunday: 11AM & 6 PM

Wednesday: 7 PM

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 Country Club

MONDAY, APRIL 3 |12:00 PM

TEAMSANDSPONSORSNEEDED

www.ma hewshopeministries.org/givingonthegreen www.facebook.com/ma hewshopeministries

Golf T rnament

ORANGE HISTORY

THESE OLD TIMES FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION

90 years ago

Eight small pupils were enrolled in the kindergarten conducted by Mrs. Cohen Bray. They were Junior Wheatley, Betty Ann Bray, Joan Kirkland, Jennie DuBujac, Bert Dieffenwierth, Billy Martin, Donald Tyndall and Harold Kannon. The school was to last six weeks.

55 years ago

At the annual meeting of the West Orange Country Club, Gibbs Ashley was elected president; Bill Arrington, vice president; and Jack Veech, secretary-treasurer. Elected to the board of directors were Ward Britt, Jerry Chicone Jr., Blossom Davis, Dan McKinnon, Harry Smith, Charles Strube, Gerald Thompson and Ned Vick.

50 years ago

A beauty contest to end all beauty contests was held at Ocoee High School to raise funds for the Junior/Senior Prom. Each “girl” walked a runway, showing off their feminine charms, and then entertained the students with their dancing. The candidates were Robert (Bert) Benoit, Tempest (Tommy) Breeze, Bertha (Bobby) Britt, Gigi (Gene) Dyer, Stephanie (Steve) Griffis, Marguerita (Mark) Hammons, Andrea (Andrew) Jenkins, Melba (Melvin) Johnson), Reba (Ricky) Maxey, Zsa Zsa (John) McAdory, Rachel (Robert) Robbe, Rhonda (Ronnie) Rodgers, Squirrelie (Jim) Shirley and Delila (Donald) Wise. The winner, Shirley, was chosen by giving a penny per vote.

40 years ago

Services were held for George W. Bray Jr., a longtime Winter Garden resident who spent nearly 40 years in the family hardware business.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Joe Johnson was a veteran and prominent member of east Winter Garden. Upon his enlistment, the U.S. Army transferred him directly to the battle elds of France. Johnson wrote home, requesting a family photo from his wife, Mary. Upon receiving the desired photograph, Johnson cried. He survived the war and returned home to live a long life dedicated to his extended family and community. He and his wife built several a ordable homes for black citizens on property they owned along West Crown Point Road, several of which survive today. Johnson will be featured in the next exhibit opening March 1 at the Winter Garden Heritage Museum titled “World War II and West Orange County.”

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

30 years ago

Clarke Road, the largest construction project ever undertaken by the city of Ocoee, officially opened following four ribbon cuttings. Ocoee Mayor Scott Vandergrift cut the ribbon at State Road 50; former Mayor Lester Dabbs cut the ribbon at White Road; former Mayor Tom Ison cut the one at Silver Star Road; and former Mayor Bill Breeze cut the final one at A.D. Mims Road.

20 years ago

In connection with the proposed restoration of the Garden Theatre in Winter Garden, Phil Baker and Andy Crabtree created a computer graphics draft of the theater it was operating in 1955. Assistance was sought for local citizens who remember how the theater appeared at that time. The Winter Garden Heritage Foundation was interested in having the recreated theater’s appearance as authentic as possible.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

FEB. 22, 1946

The West Orange News ran an advertisement in 1946 announcing the opening of Marine and Sports Equipment, operated by Bob Kerr in Winter Garden. The enterprise was an authorized Dunphy dealer and included the sale of outboards, sailboats, rowboats and a new air-cooled motor inboard. Also stocked were rearms, ammunition, shing tackle, marine hardware, propellers, boat trailers, power lawn mowers, marine engines, bicycles, power light plants and more. A service repair department was on site, as well. To place an order for preference delivery, folks could call 242 Green.

Some big-name country stars agreed to help Winter Garden observe its 100th anniversary during the city’s Centennial Celebration in the fall. In the concert lineup were Marty Stuart, the Rockin’ Roadhouse Tour (with Tracy Lawrence, Mark Chesnutt and Joe Diffie), John Conlee, Tammy Cochran, Pinmonkey, Jeff Bates and emcee and singer Cledus T. Judd.

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© 2023 NEA, Inc.

sudoku

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

NAME-DROPPING by Emet Ozar and Will Nediger, edited by David Steinberg

By Luis Campos