07.27.23 Southwest Orange Observer

HUTCHINSON NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Marc Hutchinson has been tapped to take over Tanja Gerhartz’s role as economic development director once her retirement is official Aug. 4.

He is ready to continue Gerhartz’s legacy of leadership.

“I am a steward and guardian of the vision, and the goal is to complement and build on the trajectory of what’s already been forged,” he said.

Hutchinson isn’t new to the city of Winter Garden. He has been employed by the city for more than 14 years and has worked behind the scenes — helping to lead and direct the city’s Strategic Planning and Performance Management program.

Hutchinson already is familiar with his new role, having worked alongside Gerhartz to articulate her vision.

“This city is special, and we want to keep it that way,” Hutchinson said. “It’s unique.”

Hutchinson has lived in Central Florida for about 26 years and in Lake Nona since 2014.

Gerhartz steps down from city role

AMY QUESINBERRY COMMUNITY EDITOR

Tanja Gerhartz is saying goodbye to her position with the city of Winter Garden after 13 years. Her last day as economic development director is Aug. 4.

Gerhartz was hired in the summer of 2010 to grow and expand the city’s economy through job and business creation that benefited Winter Garden residents.

“When I was hired, the country was still in a recession, but as we came out of it and development picked up, the city of Winter Garden grew by leaps and bounds,” Gerhartz said. “Downtown really took off. This created all kinds of wonderful opportunities to work on projects that benefited the citizens of Winter Garden. I have enjoyed the work and all the wonderful relationships I have made over the years.”

Gerhartz was instrumental in bringing positive change to the community through business and downtown development, marketing and branding, arts and culture, and health and wellness initiatives.

As manager of the downtown area, Gerhartz worked closely with downtown stakeholders to revitalize the historic downtown district by initiating the Shop Local marketing campaign, the annual Small Business Saturday event and numerous downtown micro

events to encourage support of local businesses.

She improved marketing strategies with a designated Downtown Winter Garden website and social media platforms and created a downtown Winter Garden logo to brand the area as a destination. She also helped to build the award-winning weekly Winter Garden Farmers Market for the city and oversaw its operations.

In addition, Gerhartz spearheaded planning efforts to prepare areas such as the East Plant Street corridor and the east Winter Garden neighborhood for redevelopment, and she was instrumental in helping to secure Orange County Community Redevelopment Agency funds to make the revitalization possible.

The Winter Garden Art Association and SOBO Art Gallery in the city’s old fire station building became a reality due to her passion to make arts and culture accessible to the community. She also assisted in the planning and development of the Tucker Ranch Park Nature Preserve and its future Wellness Park expansion to provide this state-ofthe-art facility to citizens.

“Tanja’s contributions to the

city are beyond extraordinary,” said Winter Garden City Manager Jon C. Williams. “She has played a vital role in every aspect of planning/development, economic development, revitalization and construction of what Winter Garden has become today. I’ve had the opportunity to learn from her 40 years of experience and come to know her on a personal basis, and all I can say is she is amazing and an extraordinary woman. I wish her all the joy and happiness that retirement has to offer.”

Gerhartz said it will be hard to leave her City Hall family.

“I have had the privilege of working with the best group of people,” she said. “It is rare to find what you have here at the city of Winter Garden.  They are dedicated, resilient and competent at all levels of city government.

“I would like to thank the city of Winter Garden for giving me the opportunity to work for the best city in Florida,” she said. “I am deeply grateful for the relationships built and for all that I have learned and accomplished.”

Her work in economic and community development isn’t done, however. She plans to work as a traveling consultant and take on projects through Gerhartz and Associates, the company she and her husband, Keith, own.

Tanja and Keith Gerhartz

purchased recently a camper and are making plans to travel around the country — especially out West, where they have not spent a lot of time. They want to visit national parks, and they hope to get to Alaska and Canada.

“My parents always thought taking your kids to see other places was educational because you see how others live and see other landscapes and everything’s different, but it always works together as an ecosystem,” Tanja Gerhartz said. “For whatever reason, we have not seen that part of the country, so we’re really looking forward to it.” They hope their daughter, Amanda, a college student, occasionally will fly out to meet them on their excursions.

“I would like to thank the city of Winter Garden for giving me the opportunity to work for the best city in Florida. I am deeply grateful for the relationships built and for all that I have learned and accomplished.”

— Tanja Gerhartz

STICK SKILLS

The

Controversy over trees takes root in Ocoee

The Villages of Wesmere HOA has been removing trees in the community — much to the dismay of some residents.

ANDREA MUJICA STAFF WRITER

ANNABELLE SIKES

NEWS EDITOR

The Roper YMCA is bringing a new esports program to the community.

Come this fall, children will have the opportunity to engage in the virtual and in-person competitive program led by Jessica Fernadez, youth development director at the Roper YMCA.

The program will allow children the opportunity to come together and enjoy playing video games as a team or individually in a positive, safe and inclusive environment.

The YMCA esports program will help participants develop their communication, collaboration and critical-thinking skills — all while having a blast.

In addition, children will learn about teamwork, online safety, leadership, equity focus and individual growth.

Chris Demetriou, who runs the centralized sports programs for the association, believes the esports program is a beneficial addition to the YMCA community because socialization, teamwork and character building are critical components for the development of the youth in the community.

“Esports provides an additional avenue for youth to learn, grow and thrive outside of traditional sports,” Demetriou said. “The Y is here for all, and we are excited to continue to provide a safe space for our youth during out-of-school time. … We cannot wait to see the friendships that are built through common interests. The chance to connect on several different platforms with YMCA youth across the country is an incredible opportunity.”

GROWING TREND

Fernandez said she was shocked at the immense community esports houses.

As of 2023, there are 532.1 million esports audiences worldwide, according to Demand Sage.

The esports market is valued currently at about $1.44 billion and is set to reach about $5.48 billion by the year 2029.

Fernandez said many of her teens expressed interest in esports and approached her asking about a possible program.

Demand Sage reports more than

Children and teens will now have the opportunity to participate in the Roper YMCA’s new esports program.

60% of esports fans are between ages 16 and 35.

Fernandez has been in contact with a few other YMCAs in different associations who offer esports, such as in Texas and Atlanta, to figure out what works and doesn’t work, although the programs are also new and only started about a year ago.

Fernandez also connected with the Orlando Magic, which has an esports league, to learn more about the adult opportunities for children as they get older.

“I wanted to have this here at the Y, because it’s important to build those relationships with the kids that are socially awkward or always the last one to be picked when playing a group sport,” Fernandez said. “This doesn’t require any physical skills. This is where you can build on your skills and learn lessons that you can take with you in the future.”

The new offering has now been in the works since February, and Fernandez has been working hard to get the pilot program up and running with the help of esports coach Kamron Crawford.

Crawford grew up attending the Roper YMCA and has been involved with esports since he was 10 years old. He played for the University of Central Florida’s League of Legends esports team up until last year.

“I was immediately all in,” Crawford said. “I guess the thought of bringing my personal passion to kids and showing them all the opportunities esports could have for them socially, academically and also career wise really sparked my interest and I haven’t looked back since.”

Crawford shares his knowledge with Fernandez while also teaching the children skills. He leads the group in hand stretches, exercises and team-building activities.

“I feel like what makes this program special is the fact that we’re teaching young kids and teenagers the healthy way to play video games and compete, but also (we are) incorporating that into a program that can teach them how to play their favorite games at a very high level and main-

WHAT IS ESPORTS?

Electronic sports, also known as esports, is an activity that keeps youth engaged and connected, and is quickly becoming one of the most popular experiences for boys and girls of all ages. Within the last few years, more than 125 higher education institutions have created collegiate esports programs, and more than 30 colleges and universities around the United States offer scholarships for gamers. Through the YMCA’s esports program, children and teens are welcome to be who they are, excel at what they love and develop skills that help them grow into thriving adults.

Source: YMCA

JOIN THE TOURNAMENT

WHEN: 5 p.m. Sunday, July 30

WHERE: Roper YMCA, 100 Windermere Road CONTACT: Email Jessica Fernandez at jfernandez@cfymca.org

MORE INFORMATION: bit.ly/3O61Qxl

tain the fun and enjoyment that kids should have while playing video games,” he said. “I also believe that one of the most important things this program will do is teach not only the kids but the parents about the potential of esports and video games as a pathway to success for their children instead of just a ‘waste of time’ hobby.”

PILOT PROGRAM

Children ages 8 to 17 will be able to participate in the program.

The 8- to 12-year-olds will start off playing Rocket League, a vehicular soccer video game, while the 13to 17-year-olds will play NBA 2K, a series of basketball sports simulation video games.

The older age group will have the opportunity to also play Rocket League, but in a different bracket.

Fernandez said she hopes to add more games in the future, although only non-violent video games will be available.

The program can hold up to 32 players for the season, which is six weeks. There will be one practice and one game per week.

Per-season, the rate for members is $35, while the rate for non-members is $70.

Fernandez and Crawford currently are working to design uniforms for the teams.

To promote the new program, the Roper YMCA is hosting an upcoming esports tournament at the end of July.

The featured game will be NBA 2K23. Players ages 12 to 17 can participate, and sign-ups are available for individuals or teams. The event is free and open to the community, and winners will receive prizes.

Although the esports program is currently only available to select YMCA locations, Fernandez said she hopes to grow the program and spread it so the locations can play against one another.

“I never want anyone to feel left out,” she said. “My hope is that every kid knows they have a place here.”

The Ocoee City Commission on Tuesday, July 18, directed staff to allow the residents of Village of Wesmere and its homeowners association time to come up with an understanding pertaining the cutting of trees in the community.

“The HOA’s legal council recently sent a letter demanding that these tree permits be reinstated,” a resident of Wesmere said. “For the record, many residents are outraged and embarrassed by the tone of this letter and the vile actions of our board. For the last five months, I have vocally challenged my HOA in their tree project. I don’t believe my board ever had authority to initiate without a community vote, and I strongly believe their actions are in violation of Wesmere’s bylaws.”

The HOA has been working on the removal of any oak trees that may, in the future, become a threat to the road. However, non-permitted trees have been removed from the development in recent months. Furthermore, the HOA communicated recently to all residents of Wesmere they needed to remove any oak trees located within their property prior to June 1.

According to Development Services Director Michael Rumer, the trees allowed for removal only included those located at the entrance of the neighborhood and those located between a sidewalk and the main street.

The commission will provide residents and the HOA time to resolve this issue internally between now and November.

“I’m not in favor of cutting any trees that don’t need to be cut,” Mayor Rusty Johnson said.

IN OTHER NEWS

n The City of Ocoee Commission approved unanimously a resolution to create the Ocoee Northwest Brownfield Area, which will provide remediation, rehabilitation and economic redevelopment to the area which could potentially raise property values.

n The commissioners tabled the review of the two law firms that responded to the request for city attorney services for the upcoming Tuesday, Aug. 1, meeting.

Roper YMCA’s esports is a virtual and in-person program for kids and teens to stay connected, make friends and learn new skills.

Annabelle Sikes

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WHS student selected for EA’s STEAM camp

ANNABELLE SIKES NEWS EDITOR

Leaders at video game publisher Electronic Arts believe young people of all backgrounds should be inspired to explore the possibilities they could pursue in the world of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.

“I’ve been able to see how many different sides there are to video games. You don’t have to just be a programmer. You can design video games or you can work on the art, and I think I’ve found myself more interested in those types of careers.”

— Sarah Kirk

EA’S ‘GET IN THE GAME’ STEAM CAMP

WEBSITE: bit.

ly/44BG37Z

CONTACT: electronicartsorlando@ gmail.com

As part of that goal, EA selected 57 students representing 22 different Central Florida high schools for this year’s “Get in the Game” STEAM Camp. This year, Windermere High School rising junior Sarah Kirk was the only student from West Orange selected to participate in the program.

Kirk, 16, has been playing video games her whole life.

“It’s always something I’ve been interested in,” she said. “They’re just so much fun. … Since I’ve always been interested in video games and a lot of other technology-related subjects, I thought it would be a really great opportunity to expand on that knowledge and see if this is something I would have interest in doing as a career in the future.”

PERSONAL PASSION

Kirk was born in southern California and moved to the Windermere area when she was 6 years old.

As a child, she loved to play Mario Kart. Her passion has since grown to include favorites such as Minecraft and Valorant.

When she heard about the program from school, she said she knew she had to apply.

Kirk submitted her application in April.

“I was so excited and felt really honored that I was selected,” she said. “I know a lot of people probably had a lot more experience than I did, so I’m really grateful to have had a chance to go to this program.”

GET IN THE GAME

EA officials are passionate about helping the next generation develop the necessary skills and knowledge to pursue and succeed in a future career in STEAM. They believes the STEAM skills gap is a key issue the EA social-impact team continues to address, with a focus on underrepresented groups, given the gap is even wider for these populations.

In Florida, EA Orlando’s Get in the Game STEAM annual summer camp is held at the new EA studio in downtown Orlando’s Creative Village. The program is designed for

young women and non-binary students and equips participants with coding skills and real-world applications of STEAM.

The free, week-long program launched in 2018.

Since then, five past participants have secured internships with EA Orlando, and one recently started a full-time job with the company.

Although the camp had to rework its offerings because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it successfully returned to in-person programming last summer.

This year, 16 students from Citrus, Orange and Seminole County public schools, as well as a private school in Apopka, were selected to participate in the camp.

Students were selected through an application process that considers coding experience, passion for video games, desire to pursue a career in technology and teacher recommendation.

Jocel Thornhill, director of operations and program management at EA Tiburon, said the program received a substantial increase in applications this year.

“(This) is a very promising sign that we’re making a difference,” Thornhill said. “We hope to continue building a more diverse talent pipeline through this program and our other community outreach initiatives that support careers in STEAM.”

LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE

This year, the program took place July 12 to 21.

The camp was led for the second year by Ron Weaver, technical design director at the University of Central Florida’s Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy.

Get in the Game hosted five days packed with computer-science lessons, hands-on problem solving and inspirational presentations.

Participants also enjoyed a behind-the-scenes look at EA’s world-class technology and tools, and received mentorship from the software engineers and artists credited on iconic game franchises

such as EA Sports Madden NFL and EA Sports PGA Tour. As part of the program, students split into groups to work together to create their own video game to present to an audience that includes EA employees, family members, teachers and community leaders on the final day of the camp.

Kirk said although she enjoyed the entirety of the program, her favorite part of the week was working on the game.

Kirk’s team created a platformer game similar to the game she grew up playing: Mario.

“It was really cool getting to work with a group of different people and learning how to create a game and then applying that knowledge into our own game,” she said.

However, working as a team was also one of the hardest parts. Kirk said she is used to typically working individually, and collaborating was a new undertaking for her.

Graduates of the program also returned on July 20 for “Get in the Game Alumnae Day,” which included programming on professional development topics, such as building a résumé, finding a mentor, job shadowing and securing an internship.

After attending the camp, Kirk now is thinking about pursuing a professional career in the video game industry even more.

“I’ve been able to see how many different sides there are to video games,” she said. “You don’t have to just be a programmer. You can design video games or you can work on the art, and I think I’ve found myself more interested in those types of careers.”

The program is offered every summer, and applications typically open in the spring.

When she is not playing video games, Kirk can be found at drama club at her school working on the production and technology side, participating in book club, listening to music, or hanging out with her friends.

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This year’s cohort included 16 students from Citrus, Orange and Seminole County public schools, as well as a private school in Apopka.

Sarah Kirk graduated from the program at the end of camp.

Town considers fence to curb illegal activity in parks

Windermere leaders asked for resident input regarding ongoing issues at the Lake Street and Lake Down parks.

ANNABELLE SIKES

NEWS EDITOR

The town of Windermere hosted a virtual public workshop to discuss Lake Street parks Wednesday, July 12.

The town heard the concerns of residents and discussed possible solutions regarding the parks.

Town Manager Robert Smith introduced the presentation and said residents have experienced unacceptable behavior from those using the parks, such as loud noise and drug use.

In March, the Town Council provided staff with a list of six items for further exploration.

The items included obtaining pricing on a fencing and access system for Lake Street and Lake Down parks, determining the process

and restrictions for installing the fence, and continuing to work with the Orange County Environmental Protection Division on establishing a swim area, if possible.

Additional items, such as exploring a non-resident fee option and processes, as well as looking at options for the roof at the boat dock, and exploring patrol officers for the park, also were on the list.

Smith noted the positive impact of the recent gate and access system installation at Fernwood Park.

Smith said Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program grants, funded by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, were used to make improvements to the Lake Street parks.

Because of this, he said, the town is not able to return the $127,000

grant, and the park must be accessible to the public because the town utilized public funds.

However, the town still can restrict access, charge a fee for use, and restrict the days and hours passholders can use the park. It also can require a hold-harmless agreement, through which access could be terminated if the parameters are violated.

Smith said adding fencing and access systems would cost $33,240 for Lake Street Park and $15,160 for Lake Down Park.

“I don’t want to give false hope to anybody that just by putting up a fence with an access code is not going to relieve the issues that are happening...” Smith said. “Hopefully, it will reduce it, but it’s not going to stop any of the issues...”

Smith said the town’s jurisdiction ends at the normal-high water elevation.

“We’re kind of handcuffed in what we can actually do, but we’re

trying to do as much as we can to make sure that everybody is enjoying the parks and the residents that are adjacent to the parks are still enjoying their peace and quiet,”

Smith said.

Residents believe the fence would have a positive impact but noted they still have concerns.

Gian Bonfanti said the disturbances have been less impactful this year, but the park is still closed; his desire is to see it open.

“It’s great if we can get people there, because it should be enjoyed by folks,” he said. “It’s just when you get 40 teenage kids down there blaring music. … You’ve got the Jet Skis and all that — that’s when it’s not fun. … I say take the roof off the dock so people don’t go on it.”

Smith said the town is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, following Hurricane Ian, to fix the dock and re-establish the shoreline and sidewalks. However, there is no re-reimbursement.

Paul Eastwood believes the fence is a step in the right direction.

“It’s a deterrent; we’re never going to stop the problems we’re seeing,” he said. “My observation from what we’re seeing here at the end of our pier is that we see a lot of Jet Ski activity. …We see the doughnuts, we see the figure eights meters away from the end of your dock.”

Smith said although the fence likely will discourage some behaviors, it also would introduce some new problems.

“It’s a double-edged sword,” he said. “If there’s something illegal happening, of course, they’re going to take care of it. If somebody is acting inappropriately, they’re going to take care of it. But having an officer come in and just saying, ‘Let me see your IDs’ — it just creates a negative interaction that you just don’t want to have with not only your residents, but it creates an issue with law enforcement versus a teenager or somebody else.”

BAPTIST

First Baptist Church

Pastor Tim Grosshans

125 E. Plant St, Winter Garden (407) 656-2352

Sundays: 8:30 AM Traditional

9:45 AM Bible Study

11 AM Contemporary

Wednesdays: 6 PM Awana

Crenshaw School plans move to new campus

ANNABELLE SIKES NEWS EDITOR

Southwest Orange residents learned more details about The Crenshaw School’s plans to build a campus in their community during an Orange County-hosted meeting Wednesday, July 19, at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church.

EPISCOPAL Church of the Messiah

241 N. Main St., Winter Garden Services: 8, 9:30, & 11 AM,

4 PM (French & Creole), 7 PM www.ChurchoftheMessiah.com

METHODIST

First United Methodist www.fumcwg.org

The school is seeking to relocate its campus from Gotha to a 5.47-acre lot north of County Road 545 and west of Interstate 4.

Adriana Trujillo-Villa, assistant project manager, introduced the proposal before handing it over to Joseph Kovecses representing the applicant.

“In Gotha Rural Settlement, no complaints, same size,” Kovecses said of the school’s current location. “It’s moving to a better location, a better facility.”

Kovecses explained the request seeks to add a new use to one existing building in the already-approved Buena Vista Commons PD that exists on the site.

$11,000 to $16,000 per student, per school year.

“According to our plan, there will be no traffic waiting to drop off outside of the commercial planned development footprint,” Kovecses said. “The plan is to have internal capture of all of those kids getting dropped off. There’s a plan in place, so it will not affect anybody outside the bounds of that planned development.”

Some residents were concerned about parking and traffic.

Momtaz Barq, engineer for the project, said there are 75 spaces designated for the school.

Because the proposed school is a private school, the applicant team said most students likely will be dropped off and picked up by parents, also reducing parking.

There is a total of 279 parking spaces required for the entire PD, based on the net office space, which is 80% of the gross space.

CHURCH DIRECTORY

STARKE LAKE BAPTIST CHURCH PO Box 520, 611 W Ave, Ocoee

Pastor Jeff Pritchard (407) 656-2351 www.starkelakebaptist.org

CHURCH OF GOD

OCOEE CHURCH OF GOD

Pastor Thomas Odom 1105 N. Lakewood Avenue, Ocoee 407-656-8011

EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH

241 N. Main, Winter Garden Services: 8, 9:30, & 11am, 7pm www.churchofthemessiah.com

METHODIST FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 125 N. Lakeview Ave Winter Garden Service Times 9:00 AM and 11:15 AM Phone – 407-656-1135 Web: fumcwg.org

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST WINDERMERE UNION CHURCH 10710 Park Ridge-Gotha Rd. Windermere, FL 34786 407-876-2112 Worship times:

9:00am Adult Sunday School

10:00am Worship www.windermereunion.org

“We’re not proposing any changes to the site itself, so no new construction,” he said. “There’s an existing building that the school is going into. There will be interior renovations to the building, but it’s a brand-new building.”

There are 300 parking spaces total available in the parking provided.

The lease for the school would be 20 years if approved.

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Kovecses said the existing day care on the site will continue operation.

He said the school will serve about 150 students in grades K through 12. The split is about 100 students in elementary and middle school, and about 50 in high school.

The goal is to have 10 classrooms with 10 children in each class for a total of 100 students. However, the request plans for the max possibility of 150.

Kovecses said the start and end times will be staggered between elementary, middle and high school, as well as the day care.

There will only be 10 staff members working for the school.

In addition to the classrooms, an inside gymnasium and cafeteria are part of the plans. Tuition for the school will range from

Because the school is moving, the applicant team shared the school has currently only four students confirmed, as opposed to the previous count of more than 100 children.

“We still don’t know if we will have this location or not,” one employee of the school said. “I think that we just don’t have them yet because we don’t know if we will have a school, so parents are concerned. … We have high expectations that we will make this happen.”

The applicant is hoping to have the school approved and completed by the start of fall 2023.

The project will next be heard Wednesday, July 26, by the Development Review Committee.

The board will provide a recommendation for the project before it goes in front of the Board of County Commissioners.

A date for the BCC meeting has not yet been set.

Peachy keen

said. “They were the first couple to have a franchise in Florida. … They brought it to our attention and shared it with us. We immediately latched on to it.”

Originally from Jacksonville, White moved in 1999 to Orlando.

ANNABELLE SIKES

NEWS EDITOR

Since 2013, The Peach Cobbler Factory has been devoted to crafting delightful desserts that evoke the feeling of Grandma’s kitchen. Now, Winter Garden residents will be able to enjoy cobbler closer to home with the opening of its first West Orange location off Tilden Road.

SWEET SURPRISE

The Peach Cobbler Factory was founded in Nashville, Tennessee, by Juan and Tami Edgerton.

The first location opened in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the business has now expanded to offerings in nearly 20 states. The first Florida location opened in Jacksonville.

TaRay White, franchise owner of the store, said he has close friends who live in Jacksonville and became franchise owners of the factory.

“We were so excited for them, and we were interested in what they were doing, because this concept was so new to the state of Florida,” White

White now lives in Groveland. He previously lived in the Winter Garden area and said the city is a place he and his family hold close to their hearts.

White loved the small-town feel of Winter Garden and knew he wanted his first store to open in the city.

Although White originally had his sights set on downtown Winter Garden, when he saw the space become available in the plaza off Tilden Road, he jumped at the opportunity. He believes the location is better because of the centralized area surrounded by highways, schools and businesses.

White signed the agreement to become a franchise owner in February 2022. He signed the lease for the space and began developing in October. A Mathnasium previously occupied the building.

White said the product and concept being so new is what attracted his interest to the franchise.

He said the most exciting part about The Peach Cobbler Factory is the indulgent selection of treats offered that will satisfy any sweet tooth.

The menu includes 12 types of cobbler, 12 types of banana puddings, six types of cinnamon rolls, 12 types of shakes, 12 cobbler cookies, as well as regular cookies.

Flavors range from classic peach to caramel apple, sweet potato pecan, cherry, blackberry peach and apple walnut raisin.

The Winter Garden store has a tentative opening date of mid-August.

A HEART TO HELP

In his side business, White said he has worked with residential developments and contractors.

However, his full-time job was with The Assistance Fund, where he served as the senior manager of operations and worked for 10 years.

Although White said TAF was a rewarding career, he has now transitioned from the role to focus on his entrepreneurial adventure.

However, White plans to bring his heart for helping others in his previous job to his new business journey.

He said his goal is to make the business a place where it can employ the local community — especially the youth — and to serve as a gathering space.

“For me, giving back to the community in the form of jobs is a plus all within itself,” he said. “It gives people in the community the opportunity to find work close to home. I also want it to be a place where families or friends can come and relax. We have desserts that anyone can enjoy.”

In terms of the future, White said

he is exploring how he can give back to others.

“It’s great to be an entrepreneur, and I applaud anyone who does that, but the focus for me is what kind of ways can I give back to my community,” he said. “That’s going to be our legacy. We want to partner with local schools for their events or to donate proceeds for spirit nights, and then we also want to help support local charities and other businesses in the community.”

White plans on opening other locations of the franchise in the Orlando area in the future.

When not working on his new business endeavor, White can be found spending time with his wife, LaToya, and their four children: Christian, 19; Caiden, 15; Kierstin, 15; and Kennedi, 9.

THE PEACH COBBLER FACTORY

13848 Tilden Road, Winter Garden WEBSITE: peachcobblerfactory. com

FACEBOOK: facebook.com/ StayPeachyOrlando

The Peach Cobbler Factory will open its first Central Florida location in Winter Garden next month.

The Peach Cobbler Factory will serve cobbler, banana puddings, cinnamon rolls, shakes and cookies.

Courtesy photos

TaRay White with his wife, LaToya, have four children.

West Orange Chamber of Commerce Celebrates Business

West Orange Chamber of Commerce celebrates the grand opening of Chick’nCone

The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the grand opening of Chick’nCone. Located at 16016 New Independence Pkwy Ste 110 in the Horizon West part of Winter Garden, Chick’nCone is a fast-food chain specializing in a portable version of chicken and waffles. They serve premium chicken sandwiches, tenders, and their signature Chick’nCone (hand-held chicken and waffles). Chick’nCone strives to provide customers with an instaworthy experience with their fresh food, fast service, and friendly staff. It is truly #socluckingood. To learn more, visit https://chickncone.com/.

West Orange Chamber of Commerce celebrates the grand opening of Mecatos Bakery & Café West Colonial

The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the grand opening of Mecatos Bakery & Café West Colonial. Located at 10151 W Colonial Dr in Ocoee, Mecatos Bakery & Cafe creates an inviting environment where a great cup of coffee can be accompanied by delicious Colombian-based baked foods, hot bites and desserts.

To learn more, visit https://mecatoscafe.com/.

West Orange Chamber of Commerce celebrates the grand opening of Ocoee Action Sports Park

The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the grand opening of Ocoee Action Sports Park. Located in Vandergrift Central Park at 560 Flewelling Ave in Ocoee, the 10,000 square foot park, designed and built by American Ramp Company, features street-style elements including ramps, stairs, rails, grind box, competition level pump track and wall ride. With 5,000 square feet of additional space, the park has room for future growth. Open daily from dawn to dusk, the new facility is designed to attract all ages and skill levels.

To learn more, visit https://www.ocoee.org/771/Vandergrift-Central-Park.

West Orange Chamber of Commerce celebrates the grand opening of Sapphira Prive MedSpa

The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the grand opening of Sapphira Prive MedSpa. Located at 1620 Daniels Rd Ste 120 in Winter Garden, Sapphira Prive offers the client the most advanced Facial and Body treatments with State-of-the art Apparatology exclusive to Sapphira Prive. Their center also carries innovative Medical-Aesthetic treatments carried out by professionals in the aesthetic sector and registered doctors. To learn more, visit http://sapphiraprivemedspa.com.

West Orange Chamber of Commerce celebrates the grand opening of Slim Body and Weight Loss

The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the grand opening of Slim Body and Weight Loss. Located at 1701 Park Center Dr Ste 240K in Orlando, Slim Body and Weight Loss gives you personal care, not high-pressure sales. They help you reach your weight-loss goals with nonnarcotic medications and peptides, coaching to help you reach your weight goals and body sculpting for non-surgical reduction of resistant areas. To learn more, visit https://www.slimbodyandweightloss.com/.

applauds our long-standing member businesses for their continued commitment to Advancing Community, Collaboration and Leadership.

The

Congratulations on Membership Milestones to:

To learn more and to register for participation visit wochamber.com/ChamberGroups or call 407-656-1304

West Orange Chamber recognizes and

10 YEARS Rocco’s Tacos Walmart Neighborhood Market #4211

West Orange Chamber of Commerce Celebrates Business

West Orange Chamber of Commerce celebrates the grand opening of Ellie Lou’s Brews & BBQ at Flamingo Crossings

The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the grand opening of Ellie Lou’s Brews & BBQ at Flamingo Crossings. Located at 153 Sugar Belle Dr Ste M in Winter Garden, Ellie Lou’s Brews & BBQ and Chef Dennis Cheplick continue the quest to perfect barbecue. His sauces and dry rubs pay homage to barbecue regions around the country. Now Ellie Lou’s invites you to celebrate the love of barbecue in their Flamingo Crossings location through in-house dining, catering and online.

To learn more, visit https://www.ellielous.com/.

West Orange Chamber of Commerce celebrates the grand opening of Pin HQ by GoPinPro

The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the grand opening of Pin HQ by GoPinPro. Located at 11920 W Colonial Dr Ste 30 in Ocoee, Pin HQ by GoPinPro serves as a destination for pin enthusiasts to explore and purchase Disney-themed pins and PinFolios to add to their collections. They feature a wide range of pins, including limited editions, special releases, and pins representing various Disney characters, movies, and themes, and all different sizes and styles for PinFolio products.

To learn more, visit https://gopinpro.com/.

West Orange Chamber of Commerce celebrates the grand opening of Mecatos Bakery & Café - Metrowest

The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the grand opening of Mecatos Bakery & Café -Metrowest. Located at 2900 S. Kirkman Road in Orlando, Mecatos Bakery & Cafe creates an inviting environment where a great cup of coffee can be accompanied by delicious Colombianbased baked foods, hot bites and desserts.

To learn more, visit https://mecatoscafe.com/.

West Orange Chamber of Commerce celebrates the grand opening of Urban Air Adventure Park Hamlin

The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the ribbon-cutting of Urban Air Adventure Park Hamlin. Located at 5758 Hamlin Groves Trail in the Horizon West part of Winter Garden, Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park has the best year-round indoor amusements in the Hamlin area. With new adventures behind every corner, they are the ultimate indoor playground for your entire family. Take your kids’birthday party to the next level or spend a day of fun with the family and you’ll see why they’re more than just a trampoline park.

To learn more, visit https://www.urbanair.com/florida-orlando-hamlin/.

West Orange Chamber of Commerce celebrates the grand opening of Wound Care at Home

The West Orange Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the grand opening of Wound Care at Home. Located in Orlando, Wound Care at Home provides wound evaluation and treatment in your home. They provide expert care with the newest advances in healing, including stem-cell-derived grafts and peptides to promote faster healing.

To learn more, call 407-739-8400.

Congratulations on Membership Milestones to:

5 YEARS

The West Orange Chamber recognizes and applauds our long-standing member businesses for their continued commitment to Advancing Community, Collaboration and Leadership.

Corwin’s Personal Chef & Catering Services

Dragonfly Robata Grill and Sushi Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

SPORTS

HIGH 5

Windermere Prep announced recently its female and male strength athletes of the 2022-23 school year. Mia Williams, Alexis Beaulieu and Danielle Work were the three female strength athletes, while Dean Shuffield and Jackson Bennett were the male strength athletes.

Southwest Aquatics swimmer George Kudmani competed in three events at the senior championships. Page 2B.

2

Windermere High School announced recently the athletic department is looking to hire coaches to help with the girls wrestling, boys and girls tennis, girls flag football and girls lacrosse teams for the 2023-24 school year. If interested, send a résumé to Athletic Director Jillian Sutton at jillian.sutton@ocps.net.

The Winter Garden Squeeze completed its last three-game series of the season Saturday, July 22, against the Sanford River Rats. The Squeeze won the first two games of the series 10-2 and 13-2; the River Rats won the third game 4-2 in the third game. The Squeeze finished the regular season in third place with a 17-17 overall season record. The Leesburg Lightning claimed first place with a 21-12 record, and the Sanford River Rats ended in second place with a 19-13 record.

4

Legacy High School varsity head football coach Ryan Locuson has stepped down. Former assistant football coach for the Eagles, Zachary Fox, has taken the helm and will lead the team during the upcoming 2023-24 football season. Castillo Mitchell will help the football team as the offensive and defensive line coordinator, as well as the game coordinator, and Tyrek Tisdale will step in as the new running backs coach and codefensive coordinator.

5The Stoneybrook West Golf Club is offering its summer junior golf camps for one more week. The camp will welcome athletes between the ages of 7 and 13 years old from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. the week of Monday, July 31. Athletes will enjoy fun games and activities at the camp and are required to bring golf clubs, lunch, snacks and drinks. The camp costs $275 for Stoneybrook West residents and $300 for non-residents. For more information, visit stoneybrookwestgolfclub.com.

DRAFT DAY DREAM

The San Diego Padres selected Carson Montgomery in the 11th round of the 2023 MLB Draft. He is a former pitcher for Windermere High School.

ANDREA MUJICA STAFF WRITER B

aseball is a lifelong passion for West Orange native Carson Montgomery. And most recently, that passion became a career.

The San Diego Padres drafted the Windermere High School alum in the 11th round of the 2023 MLB draft as the 341st overall selection of the draft.

“I’ve been dreaming of being a professional (baseball player) ever since I started playing,” Montgomery said. “When I found out it was

possible to play the game as a job, I fell in love with the idea.” Montgomery, a pitcher, graduated from Windermere in 2020 and then continued playing at Florida State University. Montgomery was the No. 211 prospect on the Top 250 Draft Prospects list. He became the third FSU player to be selected in the 2023 MLB draft, along with teammates Jackson Baumeister and Wyatt Crowell.

“It means the world to me,” Montgomery said. “It has always been my dream job, and to be able to finally

Don’t call her a ‘girl playing baseball’

Winter Garden Little League’s Blakely Olszewski was the first girl selected for an All-Star team to represent the league in years. She’s only been playing for a year.

ANDREA MUJICA STAFF WRITER

Nine-year-old Blakely Olszewski only has been playing baseball for about a year.

But already, she’s one of the best players in Winter Garden.

Most recently, she was selected to be a member of Winter Garden Little League’s 9U All-Star team.

And although she’s the only girl on the team. But don’t make the mistake of thinking she was a novelty pick. She earned her spot — fair and square. “Our ultimate goal was to find the best 12 baseball players to represent (the league),” said head 9U AllStar division coach Chad Feaster. “We were kind of in that process of checking out what some of the play-

ers were and we went and watched one of Blakely’s games.”

What amazed Feaster during the game he saw her play was her determination and how she recovered right away from being taken down by a sliding runner who was trying to steal second base. She was playing shortstop.

“She just popped right back up,” he said. “She went right back into her position, and the very next inning she was one of the first players to hit, and she just ripped a single into the outfield.”

Courtesy photos

Top: Carson Montgomery played for the Florida State University baseball team for the 2021, 2022 and 2023 seasons.

Above: Carson Montgomery signed with the San Diego Padres after his arrival at the Peoria Sports Complex in Phoenix, Arizona.

Andrea Mujica

Blakely Olszewski’s love for the game of baseball runs in her family.

George Kudmani

Southwest Aquatics swimmer George Kudmani competed recently at the senior championships in the 50- and 100-meter butterfly events, as well as the 50-meter breaststroke. Kudmani qualified for the championships for the 50- and 100-meter butterfly events with a time of 31.5 and 1:09, respectively, and the 50-meter breaststroke with a time of 37.0.

How do you feel about qualifying for the senior championships?

When I first did it, I was ecstatic. I remember screaming, “Let’s go!” at the end of it.

What are you most excited about competing at the senior championships?

I am most excited about the environment. By swimming with all these fast swimmers, you get to see fast swimming and also do it too.

Tell us about your years as a swimmer.

I started at about age 3 with survival training and all that. Then, I first started on the swim team at age 6 in Louisville, Kentucky. I swam until age 11 until I finally moved down here.

Have there been any challenges you’ve had to overcome?

Back in 2020, I was at the top of my game, and then COVID-19 came and shut everything down. So it was about six months without swimming, and it was awful. And finally I got back after COVID-19. … Once I got back, I started getting back into the habit of swimming and stuff, and I was getting faster than my old times, faster than I ever was. And then another roadblock hit me. In October, 2020, I was diagnosed with COVID-19. It was a twoweek quarantine, and then, when I got out and went back to swim again, I got really sick. It was the end of the two-week break, and I got back to swimming. … I never really got back into the shape I wanted to. Instead of getting better, I kept getting slower. I just kept getting sicker and eventually, I stepped on the scale and I had dropped like 10 pounds … and I kept dropping weight. By

THE BASICS

Age: 15

Sport: Swimming

Favorite stroke: Butterfly

Grade: Rising sophomore School: Windermere High

thought about. And looking back now, up until I got sick, I was eating so badly. … But then I was like, ‘If I’m going to get better, I am sticking to the diet and doing what I need to do to feel good again.’ So, what I didn’t expect at the time … is that it took me about six months to even stop feeling pain, just because I was so in deep from eating poorly. … When I stepped on the scale, (months after being diagnosed) and I saw I was 10 pounds up from where I was, I was so happy.

What is your earliest memory of swimming? When I was about 4 or 5 years old, my swim instructor would throw the toys in the bottom of the pool, and I would swim down and retrieve them.

What is your favorite hobby?

I am really big into playing guitar. What are three things you would take with you to a deserted island?

Probably matches, an axe and a book — the complete series of “Harry Potter.”

If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why? The ability to stop time, never be late. But not reverse it. I feel like that’s too much power.

What are three places you’d like to visit? Why?

Italy, because of the food — (Italians) are known for their gluten-

San Diego Padres select former Wolverine in 2023 MLB Draft

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B

start my career with such a great program (the San Diego Padres) — it’s incredible.”

THE ROAD TO THE MLB

Carson Montgomery began playing baseball when he was only 4 years old at Windermere Little League. He stayed there for five years before joining the Warrior and Stingers travel ball teams, which he played for three years. Over the years, he played for the USA baseball team, Power Baseball travel team, West Orange High School and Windermere High School.

“Carson has been blessed with a gift and always has been a skilled athlete,” his mother, Connie Passilla Montgomery, said. “His hard work, focus and dedication to baseball is inspiring, always striving to compete at the highest level. Being a good leader and teammate have always been important to him. He was named as one of the captains this past season by his Seminole teammates.”

When he was 17 years old, he was part of the MLB Prospect Development Program, was invited to play at the Perfect Game AllAmerican game at the San Diego Padres stadium, and participated in the Under Armour All-American Game in Chicago and in the East Coast Pro series.

“I couldn’t be more proud of — or happy for — him,” his father, Corey Montgomery, said. “Carson was always a gifted athlete. He had tremendous unbridled ‘tools,’ as they say in the baseball world. The key for his success thus far, and for his future success, is to continue to work on harnessing those tools and become the polished big leaguer that we all know and believe he can be.”

For Carson Montgomery, being on the baseball field — even to this day — brings back the early memories of when he used to be at the baseball fields of Windermere Little League with both his brother, Cameron, and sister, Callie.

“The first memory I have of being on the diamond is being at

one of my older brother’s practices shagging balls in the outfield,” he said. “My favorite memory is being on the field with my brother and dad just practicing. And, (that) I was blessed to represent my country and play for Team USA last summer in Haarlem, Netherlands.”

Being drafted by the San Diego Padres will now provide Carson Montgomery with the opportunity of a lifetime, where he will be able to learn more of the game from the best coaches and players.

“I am looking forward to picking the brains of the great baseball players I’ll be around and finding out what made them successful,” he said.

Shortly after he was drafted, Carson Montgomery was called to the Peoria Sports Complex in Phoenix, Arizona, where he currently is training.

“The days have been awesome outside of the 115-degree heat,” he said. “I’m starting to get used to it. I’ve had meetings, training (and) workouts. I’ve learned a lot from the staff here in a short period of time. I’m looking forward to the weeks ahead and what I will learn.”

All-Star spotlight

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B

Blakely’s innate determination, discipline and hard work are perfectly suited for competitive ball.

“She is probably one of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen,” her dad, Matt Olszewski, said. “We started her off showing her how to hit, how to throw and stuff like that. She’d get home from school, and without me even asking, she’d be in the front yard hitting off a T — practicing hitting, practicing throwing, for hours by herself and with her sisters (Ella and Everly, who also play baseball).”

Blakely said the excitement of the game — and its many challenges — have captivated her.

“You start off not very good, and then you become good,” she said. “I love hitting. The ball is smaller — so it’s harder to hit. I love to see how far you can hit the ball.”

During the 2023 season, Blakely played for the 9-10 Division during the regular season, and in the 9U All-Star division, where she showcased her skills as shortstop and pitcher. In fact, her favorite memory ever, up until today, was when she was able to strike out four hitters in one game.

“It’s fun to strike people out,” she

When selecting the 12 best players in the 9U All-Star Division, the coaches weren’t looking for play-

ers who had been playing since they were 3 or 4 years old. Instead, they wanted a roster of players who displayed the will to learn and to become a better player every single day.

“It’s one of those things with kids this age,” Feaster said. “It’s a bit of you have it or you don’t. It’s determination. It’s not so much the skill set at this young age. It’s just that she has that desire to constantly get better. And then, on top of that desire to constantly get better, she’s willing to listen to critique and willing to listen to the coaches. She doesn’t think she has all the answers. She’s open to hearing what we have to say and wants to try it … to be the best baseball player she can be.”

Through the season, Blakely went from being a surprise asset for the team to becoming a leader on the field.

“I’m sure some of the parents were saying, ‘What’s she doing out here?’” Matt Olszewski said. “And by the end of the season, all the parents fell in love with her. Everyone wanted her on their team, and it’s been awesome to see how the parents and her teammates just embraced her. And now, she’s not a girl playing baseball. She’s a baseball player, and they all love her.”

Blakely said she will continue to play baseball and has no desire of

This was the second time Carson Montgomery received an offer to go pro. The first was back in 2020, but having just graduated high school and amid the COVID-19 pandemic, he decided to turn down the offer to pursue his college career at FSU, where he pursued a degree in business management and finance and became a pitcher for the Seminoles.

“It has been endless hours of studying the game, practicing, working with pitching coaches, working on sport specifics with trainer, working with therapists on massage (and) mobility, nutrition and plenty of rest,” Connie Passilla Montgomery said. “He has matured so much as a pitcher and is ready to continue to learn and compete as a pro.”

A considerate, kind-hearted, thoughtful, caring and hardworking individual, Carson Montgomery is ready to continue honing his skills on the diamond. “I’m investing everything I’ve got into this career in baseball; I only get one shot at it,” he said. “I definitely plan to finish my business degree from FSU online.”

trying out softball. She believes that if boys can play baseball and play it well, she can do it, too. However, despite being signed up for fall ball, she also is considering other sports as well, such as basketball or tennis.

“That determination of wanting to be the best sometimes is good and sometimes is bad,” Matt Olszewski said. “She’s probably harder on herself than I am. She makes an error or strikes out, and that makes her try that much harder. I try to tell her that’s part of the game, but it’s hard for her to grasp that, because she strives for perfection.”

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

Courtesy photo

Carson Montgomery is training at the Peoria Sports Complex in Arizona.

Courtesy photo

Blakely Olszewski learned much of what she knows of baseball from her father, Matt.

Foundation revs up school spirit at 2023 Sports Kickoff

Foundation Academy hosted its 2023 Sports Kickoff event Thursday, July 20, at the Leiferman Gymnasium. During the event, returning and new student-athletes and their families had the opportunity to meet coaches and get information about sports they may be interested in trying out for.

The event also gave Lion Nation families the opportunity to meet their new athletic staff, learn more about the school’s booster club and shop at the new Fan Shop — which just reopened after undergoing renovation.

ANDREA MUJICA

Austin Crouch, Reid Pawless, DJ Simmons and Alex Hewitt were excited to hang out with one another at the event.

The Foundation Academy varsity cheer team delighted fellow Lions and parents with its routine.

Left: Denzel Irvin, Foundation Academy’s director of collegiate recruitment and assistant athletic director, addressed athletes about how he can help during the college recruitment process.

Kate Huntley, Lyla Munson and Haley Lambert are looking forward to a new school year.

Cousins Elle Gardner and Bella Pouerie were excited for the cheer team performance.

Embark on a culinary adventure at these restaurants

areas like Ocoee, Winter Garden and Windermere, the amount of appetizing food truly makes this area stand out. From my experience of traveling across Florida, I have had my fair share of restaurants that I love.

cost you upward of around $25 per person. If you’re looking for a meal to fill you up, Naan Stopp, 5845 Winter Garden-Vineland Road, Suite 130, Windermere, is perfect for that.

BUTTERCRUST PIZZA

GABRIEL GONZALEZ

OCOEE HIGH SCHOOL

When you think of the Central Florida area, the first thing that comes to mind is theme parks and tourist attractions. However, little do people know that the restaurants are top tier. From fancy, homemade bakeries to inexpensive hand-tossed pizza, there are many mouth-watering options to choose from.

With Central Florida having such a diverse community in

NAAN STOPP With the closing of the restaurant HUMBL, which shuttered its doors in November 2021, the modern Indian restaurant, Naan Stopp, is an excellent replacement.

Naan Stopp serves delicious and value-based meals from scratch and customizes the spice levels of the dishes based on the palate of the customer.

Some of its dishes include chicken saag, lamb madras and the infamous cheese naan.

My personal favorite meal from the restaurant is the butter chicken with cheese naan, but it could

From barbecue chicken pizza to meatball parmesan hot subs, Buttercrust Pizza, at 4781 Orange Ave., Orlando, serves it all. Most pizzas are around $15 and up, with some exclusions, but I highly recommend the buffalo chicken pizza.

It isn’t just a regular pizza joint, though. It also serve wings, caramel brookie bites, cannoli cookie sandwiches and pinwheels.

If you’re in the mood for affordable pizza that will have you coming back for seconds, Buttercrust is just the right place.

File photo

Naan Stopp offers authentic Indian cuisine in Horizon West. Try the butter chicken.

TOKYO RAMEN

Hiding in Orlando Chinatown at 5076 W. Colonial Drive, Tokyo

Ramen is a small restaurant that serves ramen as well as other delectable meals like poke bowls, soups and gyoza. The convenient and affordable prices make the restaurant a natural choice for dine-ins or take-outs.

With the ramen coming fresh straight to the customer and in a timely manner, this place makes the perfect spot for an affordable and fast meal. If you’re stopping by for a bite, I recommend the tonkatsu ramen with a side of gyoza.

EGGS UP GRILL

With such classic breakfast dishes available, Eggs Up Grill on 13750 W. Colonial Drive, Winter Garden, is a must when craving a meal to start your day off right. Not only does the restaurant serve breakfast, but also it offers lunch with tasty dishes such as the triple stack burger, until 2:30 p.m.

With a hefty platter of food served, the prices fit the plates perfectly, which is why it starts your day off right.

Some of my favorite dishes include the carne asada breakfast burrito, caramel apple crisp pancakes and the eggs Benedict.

JAZTRO BY CHEF D.O.C.

Looking for flavorful multiculturalfusion cuisine that will have you back every day? Look no further than JazTro By Chef D.O.C. at 829 Good Homes Road, Orlando. JazTro recently opened in the Ocoee area, but the owner and chef have been in the culinary world for quite some time. With more than 24 years of experience, chef Juan “Danny” Otero serves a variety of amazing dishes like pasta and picadillo, grilled chicken skewers, and Puerto Rican stir fry.

With so much to choose from, you can’t go wrong with anything. Chef Danny has brought talent to the Central Florida area, so if you’re ready to benefit from his years of experience, expect to spend around $15 on quality food.

Cultural clubs provide insight, opportunities at Windermere

IBRAHIM MAREI WINDERMERE HIGH SCHOOL

Ihad the pleasure of having been a part of a community with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences at Windermere High School as a board member of the Muslim Student Association club and a member of the Middle Eastern North African Club. These clubs are crucial to our school as they offer a welcoming environment where people from different cultures can come together and share their knowledge and experiences.

MSA

The Muslim Student Association has dedicated itself to providing an inviting environment for Muslim students and anyone else who is interested in learning more about the vibrant culture and religion of Islam. The club’s focus is on dispelling misunderstandings about Islam and carrying out educational activities such as the halaqahs we hold, in which we provide lessons on deepening your ties to Islam, discussions and workshops that we engage in that cover a range of topics regarding Islam. These include its history, beliefs and traditions, as well as lessons on how to improve your relationship with Islam.

As the club historian, my job involves assembling the calendars and capturing these events. The

structure and accessibility of our community may be demonstrated by documenting the club’s activities, which will encourage other students to get involved and interact with us.

The pictures I take serve as a reminder to us of all the special moments we have spent.

MENA

The Middle Eastern North African Club, on the other hand, is dedicated to promoting the customs and civilizations of the Middle East and North Africa region. Our goal is to dispel prejudices and produce an atmosphere of acceptance.

Through events such as cultural festivals, music and traditional food tastings, we aim to create an enriching experience for all students, regardless of their background.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the Muslim Student Association Club and the Middle Eastern North African Club are essential pillars of diversity and inclusion in our school. Their missions, supported by the efforts of dedicated board members and active participants, promote cultural understanding, friendships and memories. By documenting our events, we preserve the memories and inspire others to join us in our journey toward a more inclusive school community.

Courtesy photos

Windermere High’s MENA and MSA clubs promote inclusion.

Cypress Shores estate sells for $3.7 million

Ahome in the Cypress Shores community near Windermere topped all West Orange-area residential real-estate transactions from July 8 to 15.

Compare our CD Rates

The home at 9908 Lone Tree Lane, Orlando, sold July 14, for $3.7 million. Built in 2011, it has five bedrooms, five-and-one-half baths and 5,885 square feet. Days on market: 76. These are the highest-selling homes in each community in West Orange.

HORIZON WEST LAKESHORE PRESERVE

The home at 15609 Panther Lake Drive, Winter Garden, sold July 10, for $1,345,000. Built in 2019, it has four bedrooms, three-and-onehalf baths and 3,069 square feet. Days on market: 159.

PANTHER LAKE

The home at 15537 Panther Lake Drive, Winter Garden, sold July 14, for $1,595,000. Built in 2018, it has six bedrooms, five-and-one-half baths and 5,249 square feet. Days on market: 75.

NEWBURY PARK

The home at 11701 Fitzgerald Butler Road, Orlando, sold July 13, for $725,000. Built in 2006, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 3,217 square feet. Days on market: 17.

SANCTUARY AT LAKES OF WINDERMERE

The home at 7016 Kiwano Way, Windermere, sold July 11, for $815,000. Built in 2021, it has five bedrooms, four-and-one-half baths and 3,680 square feet. Days on market: Four.

The home at 13112 Orange Isle Drive, Windermere, sold July 13, for $810,000. Built in 2020, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 3,260 square feet. Days on market: 56.

WATERLEIGH

The home at 10219 Atwater Bay Drive, Winter Garden, sold July 10, for $1,300,000. Built in 2019, it has five bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 3,911 square feet. Days on market: 61.

WEST LAKE HANCOCK ESTATES

The home at 7573 Green Mountain Way, Winter Garden, sold July 11, for $1,500,000. Built in 2015, it has four bedrooms, three-and-onehalf baths and 3,388 square feet. Days on market: 267.

WINDERMERE TRAILS

The home at 8775 Crescendo Ave., Windermere, sold July 10, for $700,000. Built in 2015, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,911 square feet. Days on market: 42.

WINDING BAY

The home at 15271 Lebeau Loop, Winter Garden, sold July 12, for $822,000. Built in 2022, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 3,088 square feet. Days on market: 16.

OAKLAND LONGLEAF AT OAKLAND

The home at 1502 Sweet Apple St., Oakland, sold July 14, for $390,000. Built in 2019, it has two bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 1,472 square feet. Days on market: Four.

realtor.com

The home at 9908 Lone Tree Lane, Orlando, sold July 14, for $3.7 million. “Seaglass” is a custom-built lakefront estate with double water views on the Butler Chain of Lakes.

DeVore Design

The home at 15537 Panther Lake Drive, Winter Garden, sold July 14, for $1,595,000. It was the largest transaction in Horizon West from July 8 to 15, 2023. The selling agents were Gisele and Philip Kolbrich, owners, Top Florida Homes.

OCOEE DOWNTOWN OCOEE

The home at 10 W. Oakland St., Ocoee, sold July 14, for $745,000. Built in 1919, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 1,720 square feet. Days on market: 590.

MCCORMICK WOODS

The home at 3305 McCormick Woods Drive, Ocoee, sold July 10, for $535,000. Built in 2009, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,419 square feet. Days on market: 11.

PRAIRIE LAKE VILLAGE

The home at 1976 Aspenridge Court, Ocoee, sold July 12, for $549,900. Built in 1999, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 3,270 square feet. Days on market: 11.

WINDERMERE CYPRESS SHORES

The home at 9908 Lone Tree Lane, Orlando, sold July 14, for $3.7 million. Built in 2011, it has five bedrooms, five-and-one-half baths and 5,885 square feet. Days on market: 76.

ISLEWORTH

The home at 9630 McCormick Place, Windermere, sold July 14, for $3 million. Built in 1988, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 3,984 square feet.

KEENE’S POINTE

The home at 6731 Valhalla Way, Windermere, sold July 13, for $2,200,000. Built in 2005, it has six bedrooms, eight baths and 6,435 square feet.

The home at 6760 Valhalla Way, Windermere, sold July 13, for $2,160,000. Built in 2005, it has five bedrooms, six-and-one-half baths and 6,055 square feet.

The home at 6203 Foxfield Court, Windermere, sold July 10, for $1,299,000. Built in 2000, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,707 square feet. Days on market: Eight.

RESERVE AT BELMERE

The home at 1650 Lake Rhea Drive, Windermere, sold July 14, for $1,350,000. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 3,839 square feet. Days on market: 14.

SNAPSHOT Total Sales: 66

High Sale Price: $3.7 million

Low Sale Price: $196,000

TOWN OF WINDERMERE

The home at 323 Main St., Windermere, sold July 10, for $1,150,000. Built in 2015, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,106 square feet. Days on market: Six.

WINTER GARDEN COURTLEA OAKS

The home at 421 Courtlea Oaks Blvd., Winter Garden, sold July 12, for $970,000. Built in 1998, it has five bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 3,621 square feet. Days on market: Three.

DILLARD POINTE

The home at 238 Surprise Drive, Winter Garden, sold July 10, for $750,000. Built in 2022, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,577 square feet. Days on market: 59.

FOXCREST

The home at 905 Home Grove Drive, Winter Garden, sold July 14, for $752,500. Built in 2007, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 3,167 square feet. Days on market: Two.

LAKEVIEW PRESERVE

The home at 3280 Buoy Circle, Winter Garden, sold July 13, for $807,010. Built in 2023, it has five bedrooms, four-and-one-half baths and 3,617 square feet.

STONEYBROOK WEST

The home at 15531 Pebble Ridge St., Winter Garden, sold July 13, for $750,000. Built in 2001, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 3,880 square feet. Days on market: Five.

TWINWATERS

The home at 15650 Raven Rock Place, Winter Garden, sold July 13, for $1,100,000. Built in 2017, it has seven bedrooms, five baths and 5,174 square feet. Days on market: 39.

WINTERS LANDING

The home at 415 Macchi Ave., Winter Garden, sold July 11, for $750,000. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 3,423 square feet. Days on market: Four.

EFFECT

By Luis Campos

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

“ZGENS SNNV WG FN XFAN WG TYNXH

GJW LB ... TGENWCLSI CXYYNSNV LS

WCN YXTW WCXW WCNP ZNMN SGW DGEBGMWXFAN ZLWC.”

NALTXFNWC EGTT

“HD HS HBFEL, FIJ GPWWJDF

in ___”

98 Cereal named after a cookie 99 Noble business partner? 101 Kitten’s cry 102 Awaken 103 Port-au-Prince summer

BEXAKPXJSF VEM BHS WJF, PS XV GEEZ, PD CEL DEXJESJ FE GJKPJRJ FIHF VEM’LJ FIJ BIHLHBFJL.” XHFF KJGKHSB

“ZNZPJ TFZR FEKF A’NZ FKUZV OKT K

BZKPVAVX BZTTMV. ZNZV FM VMF FEAVU JMD’PZ TM CAX KVH TM CKH JMD SKV’F LKBB.” HKPBZVZ BMNZ

© 2023 NEA, Inc.

Puzzle One Clue: D equals C Puzzle Two Clue: C equals F Puzzle Three Clue: R equals P

contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.

PAUSE FOR

by Chandi Deitmer, edited by Jeff Chen

But Wait ... THERE’S MORE!

LOOKS GOOD ON US

Live & Love Local Winter Garden

The rich history of Winter Garden has flourished with the most memorable restaurants, shops, museums, parks, and activities.

IT’S TIME TO MAKE MEMORIES THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME.