and Smoking Soul BBQ. Tim’s Wine Market and Windermere Brewing Company also will participate. The event sponsor is the Windermere Branch Library.
Three and a Half Men – Joseph De Rosa, Josh Szolomayer, Chris Keough and Tony De Rosa — were excited to receive their rst-place trophies.
Photos by Annabelle Sikes
The Windermere self-defense course yielded more than 30 participants from the area.
Right: Professors Thaddeus Baumann, left, and James Pagan, from Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Martial Arts in Clermont, helped instruct the course.
Winter Garden singers shine at competition
The barbershop quartet Three and a Half Men started four years ago as something fun to do for baritone Tony De Rosa; his son, Joseph, tenor; lead singer Josh Szolomayer and Chris Keough, bass.
The men even gave their group a fun name — Joseph De Rosa was underage at the time.
The four — Keough lives in Kissimmee, and the others are Winter Garden residents — have been meeting frequently to perfect their harmonies, and this hard work has paid off.
Three and a Half Men took first place in the Barbershop Harmony Society International Contest in Cleveland, Ohio, besting hundreds of quartets around the world in the competition held June 30 through July 7. This was only the group’s second appearance in the international contest, taking home fourth place in 2023. For Tony De Rosa, the 2024 contest was his fifth championship finish
a record among all members of the Barbershop Harmony Society. His first quartet win was in 1992, and he said he has consistently either won or placed in the top five for the last 32 years.
It also was a record for Three and a Half Men to win all three rounds of the 2024 competition, he said.
In the semifinals, the group competed against 19 other quartets, singing a set of songs from “The Wizard of Oz” and “The Wiz”: “Over the Rainbow” and a medley of “Ease on Down the Road”/“Bran’ New Day.”
In the finals round — the top 10 — which was the highest-scoring set, the four sang a medley of “What Kind of Fool am I” and “Where is Love” plus a song from the movie “Ted”:
“Everybody Needs a Best Friend.”
“Our finals round was our strongest scoring set, but we were first after every round,” Tony De Rosa said.
“To win first is … convincing. The competition is so very stiff, and it was this year as well. A quartet might win a round of the three or two rounds of the three, but we were first in all three of the rounds.”
Each member returned to Florida with his own trophy.
All four members of the quartet are members of the Central
Florida arts and entertainment community.
Joseph De Rosa, 20, works for Hawkmoon Productions and Entertainment Central. He performs with Ragtime Gals at Universal Studios Florida and is a worship leader at a church plant in Hamlin.
Szolomayer, 37, originally is from California and moved to the Orlando area when he began singing with Voices of Liberty at Disney’s Epcot. He also serves as a session singer in Central Florida.
Keough, 28, also got his start in Voices of Liberty, as well as the Dapper Dans. He was in “Festival of the Lion King,” and he does session work and plays in a jazz ensemble. He also works for Hawkmoon Productions and Entertainment Central.
Liberty and currently serves as music director for Walt Disney World’s shows, including Voices of Liberty, Dapper Dans and Finding Nemo the Musical.
“We’re thrilled to be able to have so many of our friends in professional settings become involved in our barbershop quartet,” Tony De Rosa said.
The quartet began receiving invitations to national performance gigs after its fourth-place finish last year, and those calls are even more frequent now.
WHAT IS BARBERSHOP HARMONY?
Barbershop harmony is a style of unaccompanied vocal music characterized by consonant four-part chords for every melody note in a primarily homorhythmic texture — the same word sounds at the same time. The melody is consistently sung by the lead (second tenor). The rst tenor harmonizes above the melody, the bass sings the lowest harmonizing notes, and the baritone completes the chord.
Barbershop harmony is rooted in black traditions of the late 1800s in the South.
Tony De Rosa, 51, has been a member of the BHS for 44 years and with the Disney organization for more than 25. He started with Epcot’s Voices of
“The whole barbershop thing is its own unique underworld of music,” Tony De Rosa said. “The competition scene is pretty popular because people want to focus on their craft.”
Three and a Half Men performs mostly at private parties and offers everything from a Christmas show to a catalog of songs from “The Great American Songbook.”
The Barbershop Harmony Society aims to bring people together in harmony and fellowship to enrich lives through singing. Among its purposes is to perpetuate the old American institution: the barbershop quartet and barbershop harmony, as well as promote and participate in charitable projects that support the group’s vision.
For information, visit Barbershop.org.
Golf Carts
- Drivers under 18 must have FL learner’s license or driver’s license
Courtesy of Read Photography
MEET THE CANDIDATES
State Attorney Republican Primary
Two Republican candidates — Thomas Feiter and Seth Hyman— are running for the Florida State Attorney seat in the Aug. 20 primary. The winner will face o against Democratic candidate Monique Worrell and Independent candidate Andrew Bain in the November general election. Some answers have been edited for space. The candidates’ entire, unedited responses are available at OrangeObserver.com.
THOMAS FEITER
Age: 46
Residence: Orlando Family: Married with three children
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Miami; law degree from the University of San Diego
Profession: Lawyer and U.S. Army reserve soldier
Quali cations: Board-certi ed criminal trial lawyer; successful law rm owner and manager of 13 years with 18 employees; Army o cer and leader with experience managing judge advocate soldiers; formal Army education in leading organizations
Why are you running for State Attorney, Ninth Judicial Circuit?
I am running for state attorney to genuinely serve our community and lead by example.
Discuss your previous experience and how it has prepared you to serve in this role.
I began as a prosecutor. Since then, I have been a private defense attorney. I started my own firm in 2011, and it has been a successful law firm now for more than 13 years.
What are the values and morals that have guided your life, and how will you use them as state attorney?
Respect and merit are my big ones. I deplore people who take what they did not earn — particularly when it is over others who worked harder and longer.
What are the key differences between you and the other candidates?
I am the only candidate who will be making less money, and I am the only candidate who is boardcertified in criminal trial law. I am the only candidate who has started a private law firm from the ground up and the only one who served in the military.
Evaluate Gov. Ron DeSantis’ decision to suspend Monique Worrell. Gov. Ron DeSantis’ decision to suspend Monique Worrell would only be justified if she was genuinely being derelict of duty or negligent (e.g., engaging in inappropriate prosecutorial activism). If that (were) the case, I would support his decision. If he did it for some political reason, that would be wrong, and I would not support that.
Evaluate Andrew Bain’s performance as state attorney after his appointment.
Andrew Bain is weak in many ways. First, he’s never had a legal job that was not handed to him by the governor or funded by the state of
Florida. Second, he has zero experience in leading a law firm. Third, he is morally compromised by accepting a job that he was not qualified to do. In my opinion, he’s serving himself, his wallet and his career at the expense of the people.
If elected, what changes would you make to the state attorney position and office?
First, I would look for the wisdom and experience of the judiciary, former state attorneys, chief assistants and senior management. Applying that knowledge, I would disseminate a new intent and mission for the office.
Second, I would emphasize putting our people first and setting the proper example.
Third, we would need to organize based on merit and respect.
Fourth, develop a guiding coalition.
Fifth, implement policies and procedures to keep our community safe.
Discuss your opinion on the death penalty.
I believe in the rule of law. If the law is to seek the death penalty in a case, I would not hesitate to do so.
How would your election to the state attorney position improve the lives of the citizens in Orange and Osceola counties?
The people would be better served with prosecutors who are experts in criminal law and leaders who have a proven track record of success. The office would have a more positive tone, and everyone who works here would know that their positions are safe because of their efforts — not because of their political affiliations.
Describe the relationship you hope to have with law enforcement agencies.
Very positive, because, like police officers, I believe in earning my rank, not having it given to me.
Police officers would never work alongside someone who was not qualified, because their lives would be in danger. I would never put in for this job if I were not properly qualified and vetted. Also, I was an adjunct teacher at the police academy for many years.
SETH HYMAN
Age: 48
Residence: Orlando Education: Edgewater High School, 1994; Boston University, 1998; Golden Gate University School of Law, 2007
Profession: Attorney Quali cations: Former assistant state attorney, Orange County, from 2014 to 2017; owner of Seth Hyman Law, from 2018 to present; Florida AntiDefamation League board member; Rotary Club Orlando member; Edgewater High School Foundation board member
Why are you running for State Attorney, Ninth Judicial Circuit? I love my community, and I want to keep it safe. Victims of crime deserve justice, and under Aramis Ayala and Monique Worrell, it seemed to me that helping the people committing crimes was the focus of the elected prosecutor, and victims were forgotten. This is the opposite of what should have happened. I put my name in for state attorney in January 2023, because it is imperative that Monique Worrell is not reelected.
Discuss your previous experience and how it has prepared you to serve in this role.
When I was an assistant state attorney, I worked under both Jeffrey Ashton and Aramis Ayala. In 2014, the majority of my colleagues had worked for Lawson Lamar. I saw firsthand a state attorney’s office running well, and then in 2016, due to terrible management, I saw it run poorly.
The state attorney is the leader of a very large office of attorneys and support staff, because we live in a growing metropolitan area, and when you add in the high number of tourists every year, the caseload of this office is gigantic. Efficiency needs to be an emphasis.
What are the values and morals that have guided your life, and how will you use them as state attorney? Honesty, integrity, empathy and connection to the community are values that are important to me and are also important characteristics of an elected official. We are elected to represent the public, so it is essential that we have an open dialog and, most importantly, to listen.
What are the key differences between you and the other candidates?
I have been endorsed by the Republican Party in both Orange and Osceola counties by a unanimous vote. A main difference between us is that I have put an extensive amount of work into this race since January 2023.
Mr. Feiter jumped into this race only a few months ago, has made almost no effort to actively campaign and has put videos online praising Monique Worrell and criticizing Gov.
Ron DeSantis, calling him an authoritarian and un-American in a recent Orlando Sentinel video debate.
Evaluate Gov. Ron DeSantis’ decision to suspend Monique Worrell. Gov. Ron DeSantis was 100% correct in his suspension of Monique Worrell, as she was not doing the job she was elected to do. ... The people elect the legislators, they make the criminal laws, and the state attorney must enforce the law as it is written. Monique Worrell was running that office to personally determine which laws she believed should exist and, therefore, she undermined the will of the citizens.
Evaluate Andrew Bain’s performance as state attorney after his appointment.
Andrew Bain is a far better state attorney than Monique Worrell or Aramis Ayala, and the community is safer as a result of his appointment. I believe I would be an even better state attorney, otherwise I would not still be in this race.
If elected, what changes would you make to the state attorney position and office?
I will prioritize rebuilding a strong relationship with law enforcement like we had under Lawson Lamar. I will have a visiting law-enforcement office in both Orange and Osceola, where law-enforcement officers can come into the state attorney’s office, do their work, talk to prosecutors about their cases and learn more about the intricacies of criminal law.
Discuss your opinion on the death penalty. I support the death penalty for the most egregious and heinous murderers.
How would your election to the state attorney position improve the lives of the citizens in Orange and Osceola counties?
When I am state attorney, criminals will be held accountable for their actions, victims will receive justice and the community will be safer.
Describe the relationship you hope to have with law-enforcement agencies.
I am the most supportive candidate of law enforcement in this race. The state attorney’s office and lawenforcement agencies are two sides of the same coin. … To help keep this community as safe as possible, we have to be working together.
Course teaches situational awareness, confidence
ANNABELLE SIKES
NEWS EDITOR
The Windermere Police Department and the Rotary Club of Windermere partnered to sponsor a free selfdefense course Thursday, Aug. 1, at Town Hall.
Through the class, more than 30 participants learned various techniques to build situational awareness and confidence through course instruction provided by WPD Chief Dave Ogden and professors from Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Martial Arts in Clermont.
Ogden said the goal of the course is to educate participants and enhance their safety awareness through discussions on mental, physical and physiological responses that occur during crisis events and how to overcome these challenges.
“Participants learned how to enhance their situational awareness using various tools and techniques to manage stressful situations,” he said. “This includes, but is not limited to, combat breathing techniques and the concept that we look with our eyes, but we see with our brains. We also emphasized the importance of planning for crisis events. In addition, we explored natural human instincts, such as the gift of fear, and how to use gut feelings, intuition and your visual observations to protect oneself in advance. All of this knowledge was integrated with hands-on self-defense techniques and skills designed to improve performance during challenging times.”
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP
Although the WPD has offered similar classes in the past, it has been several years since the last session was held. Ogden has been conducting this class for more than 30 years, integrating his law-enforcement background with his martial arts experience.
Cyndi Hulin, leader of club service with Rotary who helped organize the event, was one of Ogden’s first black belts in karate about 20 years ago.
“The idea for this event came from speaking with a friend whose daughter was going to college in the fall as a freshman,” she said. “She expressed concern for her safety awareness. Having attended previous courses taught by Dave (Ogden), we connected to collaborate on the event. We opened the course to anyone over 18 years of age, male or female, as selfdefense and situational awareness is a skill everyone should have. The partnership isn’t as much between Windermere Rotary and WPD, as it is a community partnership as a whole. We have several organizations in Windermere all working for the same goals: to improve the lives
of our neighbors and create a healthy and vibrant community. We can do more together when we collaborate on our efforts.”
Following the course, Hulin said she received a mass amount of texts and emails from attendees sharing their appreciation for the event, as well as commenting on how much they learned.
Windermere resident Jocklyn Mundy found out about the course through a flyer and said she decided to participate because recently there have been situations in which she has felt uneasy.
“The biggest lesson I learned from the self-defense course is the importance of trusting my instincts and staying aware of my surroundings,” she said. “I am grateful that the Windermere Rotary, Chief Ogden and Gracie Barra Clermont put on an excellent program for the community.”
Local Venezuelans protest in Winter Garden
About 100 local Venezuelans stood in solidarity with those in their native country as they staged a liberation rally Saturday, Aug. 3, in downtown Winter Garden.
The rally took place during the city’s Downtown Summer Sidewalk Sale. City officials said they were not aware of the rally beforehand, and it took the Winter Garden Police Department about 10 minutes to set up a perimeter to ensure safety.
The local rally, which remained peaceful, was one of many through-
out Florida and the world to condemn President Nicolás Maduro’s actions following the country’s July 28 election. After the election, Maduro, Venezuela’s president for the last 11 years, claimed victory. However, independent reviews of the tally sheets indicate his challenger, Edmundo González, won the election by a considerable margin.
The United States has recognized González as the winner and Venezuela’s president-elect.
Marketing and Sales Associate / Zari Gotay, zari@OrangeObserver.com
WEST ORANGE TIMES
The West Orange Times (USPS 687120) is published weekly for $60 per year and $110 per two years by the Observer Media Group, 661 Garden Commerce Parkway, Winter Garden, Florida, 34787. Periodical postage paid at Winter Garden, Florida. POSTMASTER: Send changes of address to the (name of pub; i.e., West Orange Times, West Orange Times & Observer or Southwest Orange Observer
Participants utilized large pads to practice the movements with their partners.
Jacqueline Luberto, left, and Colleen Boyle encouraged each other throughout the course.
Rachel Gomez, left, and Jocklyn Mundy partnered up to complete the exercises.
Photos by Annabelle Sikes
Windermere Police Chief Dave Ogden, left, and Cyndi Hulin, leader of club service with the Rotary Club of Windermere, helped organize the event.
Rural boundary ballot measure approval tops July county action
The charter amendment on the November ballot would establish a rural area and rural boundary, giving voters in Orange County a chance to restrict development in rural areas.
Editor’s note: County Level is a monthly feature that highlights the most impactful actions taken by the Orange County Commission.
The approval of a charter amendment to the November ballot establishing a rural area and rural boundary led Orange County Board of County Commissioners actions at their July meetings. Several other decisions also were made that impacted the West Orange and Southwest Orange County areas.
RURAL BOUNDARY AMENDMENT
The County Commission approved unanimously adding a charter amendment to the November ballot establishing a rural area and rural boundary at its Tuesday, July 30, meeting. The proposed amendment will give voters in Orange County a chance to restrict development in rural areas.
The ordinance, known as the Rural Boundary Proposal, would require a majority-plus-one vote of the commission to either approve more urban development on property located in the rural boundary or to remove property from it altogether.
“The idea, really, is to make sure that our current residents are represented,” District 1 Commissioner Nicole Wilson said. “We want to make sure that we’re doing everything that we can to grow up and not out — and that we’re protecting what natural resources we have left.”
The Orange County Charter Review Commission worked on the amendment for months before they were preempted by state legislators from moving it forward. The BCC has taken matters into its own hands.
However, city officials from areas including Oakland, Winter Garden, Ocoee and Windermere signed a letter to Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings opposing the measures.
“Drafts of and discussions surrounding both proposals leaves us with great concern about their potential impact on the home rule rights of our constituents — a foundational principle of Florida’s local democracy since being enshrined in the state constitutions,” the letter reads. “Also, the proposals have other constitutional infirmities and inconsistencies with statutory requirements and prohibitions. We are additionally concerned that the proposals … are ill-suited to their intended purposes. … An imprudently located or unwisely rigid rural boundary set without the appropriate consideration of the greater regional and statewide growth trajectory
and without considering the needs, opportunities, and controls within our towns and cities will exacerbate rather than mitigate exurban and suburban sprawl; and adversely impact intracity efforts. Driving growth away from the Central Florida urban core and impacting the efforts of each of our municipalities would ultimately undermine statewide conservation goals and further aggravates the serious undersupply of housing and other needs in our region.”
In addition, a multitude of residents signed up to speak on the issue before the final vote.
Senator-elect Carlos Guillermo Smith spoke in support of the rural boundary.
“Voters deserve a say on this issue,” he said. “They deserve a right to weigh in on future growth, they deserve a right to change the county charter and
they deserve a vote on this underlying issue. … The reason I support the underlying charter amendments is because we know that a vote for the rural boundary is a vote for smart growth. It’s a vote for fiscal responsibility, for our environment, for quality of life.”
Similar to the first ordinance, an additional ordinance, known as the Voluntary Annexation Proposal, also was discussed. It would require a majority-plus-one vote of the commission to approve voluntary annexations within the rural area.
The municipality also has to provide notice to Orange County 10 days before the first public hearing. However, even if annexed, the county still would be in charge of development regulations of property in the rural area. This amendment would not apply to municipalities that have a joint planning agreement with the county, such as the city of Winter Garden. A final vote to determine whether the amendment will make it on the November ballot will take place Aug. 13.
SOMITA
The Somita Planned Development/ Land Use Plan was approved at the Tuesday, July 9, County Commission meeting.
Applicant Momtaz Barq, of TerraMax Engineering, representing the owner, Apopka Vineland Holdings, requested to rezone .64 acres from Country Estate District to Planned Development to construct medical office, commercial uses. Additionally, the applicant was requesting three waivers to allow for reduced requirements regarding landscaped parkway, lot size and landscape building base.
The Somita PD Land Use Plan Rezoning would allow for up to 5,800 square feet of medical office uses and 6,900 square feet of commercial uses.
The development is located on the east side of south Apopka-Vineland Road, south of Fifth Street. Residents at an October 2023 community meeting said the project will cause traffic issues and raised safety concerns, including existing conditions on the nearby Ruby Lake Road.
However, since then, Wilson said she and her team met with the applicant’s team, who have since reduced
the amount of waivers from 12 to three, as well as removed plans to open Sixth Street. Wilson also brought Public Works Department staff out to Ruby Lake Road to discuss potential safety improvements.
HAMLIN 30
Also at the Tuesday, July 30, meeting, the Hamlin 30 Planned Development/Land Use Plan and the Hamlin 30 adequate public facilities and road network agreement were approved.
Applicant Scott M. Gentry — of Kelly, Collins & Gentry Inc. — requested to rezone three parcels containing 29.58 gross acres from Citrus Rural District to Planned Development to construct 100 multi-family residential dwelling units, 169,705 square feet of non-residential uses and 26 hotel rooms.
The project is located north of Schofield Road and west of Avalon Road, with its Future Land Use Designation being Village.
OAKLAND GREEN PLACE 236
The County Commission also approved an agreement for the sale and purchase of Green PLACE 236, located in the town of Oakland, in the amount of $3,914,157.50 at its Tuesday, July 30, meeting.
The 32.82-acre parcel is located along the south side of West Colonial Drive and north of the Florida Turnpike and Johns Lake.
Orange County created the Green PLACE — Park Land Acquisition for Conservation and Environmental Protection — program to acquire and protect environmentally sensitive lands in the 1990s.
WINTER GARDEN
ENCLAVE ANNEXATION
Also at the Tuesday, July 9, meeting, the commission approved an interlocal agreement for annexation of an enclave between the city of Winter Garden and Orange County. Winter Garden requested the county to transfer the deed and assign the easements for the portions of 15 road segments from the county to the city. The two areas in discussion are in unincorporated Orange County but are surrounded by land within the city of Winter Garden.
Courtesy photo
Orange County District 1 Commissioner Nicole Wilson spoke about the rural boundary amendment at a press conference held before the Board of County Commissioners meeting Tuesday, July 30.
Observer hosts 2024 District 1 debate
At the conclusion of
undreds of West Orange and Southwest Orange residents attended the Observer’s 2024 Orange County Commission District 1 Debate, held July 31, at the Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine. The debate featured incumbent Nicole Wilson and challenger Austin Arthur two candidates vying for the seat.
Moderator Sam Albuquerque challenged both candidates with questions about their stances on myriad issues in West Orange, including development and infrastructure. Sponsors for the event were Orlando Health, Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine and Chris Chan Media.
SIKES
Austin Arthur: 152 ✓ Nicole Wilson: 66
Incumbent Nicole Wilson had plenty of family members and supporters in the audience.
Challenger Austin Arthur spoke on why he believes he would make the best choice for voters as Orange County District 1 commissioner.
Heather Parker, left, Lindsay Turner and Kyleigh Edsall represented Horizon West Happenings at the event.
Photo courtesy of Michelle Meachem | We Are Winter Garden
From left: Orange Observer Sports Editor Sam Albuquerque, moderator for the debate, left, challenger Austin Arthur, incumbent Nicole Wilson and Orange Observer Editor and Publisher Michael Eng. To watch the debate, visit bit.ly/4d8s51n.
Above: Rachel Freeman, left, Robert Hasty and Marlin Hernandez represented the Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine at the debate.
Left: Nicole Wilson supporters introduced attendees to their favored candidate.
Right: Austin Arthur supporters waved signs outside of the debate venue to support the candidate.
SEASON LAUNCH
AUGUST 16TH, 2024 @ 7PM
Tanner Hall 29 W Garden Ave, Winter Garden, FL
First Rehearsal is Monday, August 19th. 6:30 pm West Orange High School band room.
Here’s a sneak peek at what awaits you:
-A thrilling fall concert to kick things off! A magical holiday concert to fill your season with joy. -The opportunity to sing in the prestigious Steinmetz Hall for the MLK Concert.
-For the truly adventurous, a chance to perform in the iconic Carnegie Hall in New York City! -A beautiful closing concert that showcases the year’s musical journey. Building Community Through Song www.orlandochoralsociety.org
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
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
Atwater Bay features new OCPS prototype
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
Orange County Public Schools hosted a sneak peek event for the community to view the new Atwater Bay Elementary School Wednesday, July 31, in Horizon West.
The $45 million project, completed in July, is the first elementary school built from the new district prototype.
The new campus sits on 15 acres of land, and the school is a two-story structure measuring 106,191 square feet.
SchenkelShultz was the project architect, while Welbro served as the contractor and Tamara Cox as the project manager.
The new school is located in the Village H North area of Horizon West at 11000 Atwater Bay Drive, Winter Garden.
Differing from previously constructed elementary schools, the new district prototype improves upon OCPS’ previous designs, with greater efficiencies and sustainability, and provides a larger number of multipurpose educational opportunities for students. Under the new prototype, all new elementary schools will have increased outdoor instruction in their courtyards, with covered art patios, school gardens, flexible learning spaces, strategic shade and canopies, better landscaping, and flexible gathering spaces. Safety enhancements include intermediate classrooms, internal shared vestibules, classroom only restroom access and safe zones in each classroom.
Parent drop-off will be in the front off Atwater Bay Drive. The school has parking for 140 vehicles, as well as a stacking capability of 168 vehicles and 38 buses.
The elementary school includes a large interior courtyard, outdoor art labs and two playgrounds. The front of the school houses the office, media center, art and music rooms, multipurpose cafeteria, and kitchen, with classrooms and labs to the rear. The second floor contains classrooms and a skills lab. A Discovery STEM lab also is set up.
Atwater Bay will help relieve Water Spring and Panther Lake elementary schools, with a capacity of 841 students. The first-year projection is about 725 students.
Matthew Hendricks, former Water Spring principal, is Atwater Bay’s founding principal.
JyeCeon, left, Jour’Dyn and Justyce Williams explored their new school library with their mother, Jasmine Williams.
Siblings Benjamin, left, and Rebecca Ogura practiced with instruments in the music room. Cary Hunter, third-grade teacher, was all smiles in her new classroom.
The new Atwater Bay Elementary School is named after its location at 11000 Atwater Bay Drive, Winter Garden.
Orange County Public Schools representatives and Atwater Bay Elementary School sta members stopped for a quick picture in the front o ce area.
Might as well STUMP
The West Orange Chamber of Commerce held its annual Hob Nob and Straw Poll Thursday, Aug. 1, at the Ocoee Lakeshore Center. Dozens of candidates set up booths to meet with voters and share their campaign platforms with the more than 400 attendees. Candidates and their representatives stood before hobnob attendees during a parade across the stage.
The Orange County Supervisor of Elections facilitated a straw poll for participants to cast their votes on the races and issues that voters will see on their ballots in the 2024 election cycle.
— AMY QUESINBERRY
THE RESULTS
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
Donald Trump, 47.91%
Kamala Harris, 48.67% ✓
UNITED STATES SENATE
John S. Columbus, 1.14%
Keith Gross, 3.04%
Rick Scott, 40.30% ✓ Stanley Campbell, 12.55%
Rod Joseph, 1.14%
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, 22.81%
Brian Rush, .38%
Feena Bonoan, 2.28%
Ben Everidge, 0%
Tuan Tq Nguyen, 7.22%
U.S. REPRESENTATIVES
DISTRICT 10
Tuan A. Le, 23.95%
Willie J. Montague, 16.73%
Wade Darius, 4.18%
Maxwell Alejandro Frost, 41.06% ✓ V. “Issa” White, 2.66%
U.S. REPRESENTATIVES
DISTRICT 11
John McCloy, 6.84%
Daniel Webster, 46.77% ✓
Barbie Harden Hall, 39.92%
STATE SENATOR DISTRICT 13
“CJ” Cheryl Blancett, 4.56%
Bowen Kou, 17.87%
Keith Truenow, 32.32%
Stephanie L. Dukes, 33.84% ✓
STATE SENATOR DISTRICT 15
Randolph Bracy, 30.80%
Geraldine F. Thompson, 53.99% ✓
STATE REPRESENTATIVE DIS-
TRICT 39
Doug Bankson, 47.91% ✓
Marsha Summersill, 38.78%
STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 40
Belinda Ford, 35.74%
Lavon Bracy Davis, 52.47% ✓
STATE REPRESENTATIVE
DISTRICT 41
Bruce Antone, 44.87% ✓ Janet Buford Johnson, 24.71%
STATE REPRESENTATIVE
DISTRICT 44
Jennifer “Rita” Harris, 51.33% ✓ Daisy Morales, 19.77%
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DISTRICT 1 Austin Arthur, 58.94% ✓ Nicole H. Wilson, 33.46%
Lilly McGinnis concentrated on her bead work while campaigning for her father’s reelection. Adam McGinnis hopes to be returned to his judge’s seat.
Above: Jake Petroski, candidate for Orange County School Board, brought a team of supporters to share his campaign.
Right: Judge Craig McCarthy brought a contingent of volunteers to the hobnob to promote his campaign for reelection.
CALL DIG BEFORE YOU ALWAYS
One free, easy call gets your utility lines marked AND helps protect you from injury and expense.
Safe Digging Is No Accident: Always Call 811 Before You Dig
Know what’s below. Always call 811 before you dig. Visit call811.com for more information.
ral gaslines. Lake Apopka Natural Gas District (LANGD) is here to share important tips for how you can digsafely and remain proactive when it comes to natural gas safety.
Every year on National 811 Day (August 11), our partners at Sunshine 811 remind us to be mindful of underground utilities before digging. Sunshine 811 is a free service that noti es utility companies when and where someone is digging so they can mark the necessary utility lines, helping to avoid potentially dangerous interruptions to service.
Contacting Sunshine 811 is free and legally required before starting any digging project in Florida. Upon calling, they work with you to ensure nearby utility lines are located and marked accordingly so you can begin your project safely. In addition to calling 8-1-1, here are ve tips to help you dig safely:
5 TIPS TO HELP YOU DIG SAFELY:
1. Call Early: Florida residents should call 811 at least two (2) full business days before any digging project. For example, if you plan to begin work over the weekend, reach out by Tuesday or Wednesday to ensure you’re able to hit the ground running come Saturday.
again if the marks fade.
4. Manual Digging: Do not use mechanized equipment near the utility lines. e safest thing to do is manually dig to expose the utility line and avoid damaging it.
5. Know the Colors: Here’s a quick breakdown (right) of what the di erent color locator ags mean:
natural gas pipeline safety rules.Natural gas is extremely resilient as it is delivered through underground pipelines. By following these guidelines and beingproactive about natural gas safety, we can ensure the safe and reliable enjoyment of natural gas for everyone.
Together, let’s make this National 811 Day a reminder to always call before you dig! For more information about switching to natural gas, contact our marketing team at (407) 6562734 x307, email marketing@langd.org, or visit www.langd.org.
Learn about switching to resilient and reliable natural gas with the District’s marketing team at (407) 656-2737 x307, marketing@langd.org or visit www.langd.org for more information.
SPORTS
HIGH 5
1The Arnold Palmer Invitational Junior tournament was held July 29 to Aug. 1 at Bay Hill Club and Lodge for boys and girls golfers ages 12-19.
Pavel Tsar, a senior from Palm Beach Gardens, won the boys division crown by four strokes, with a nal score of 211 (-5) over 54 holes. Isabella Wu, a sophomore from California, won the girls division title by two strokes. She nished with a total score of 210 (-6).
A handful of golfers from West Orange and Southwest Orange high schools had good showings at the API Jr. event, including TFA’s individual girls back-toback state champion, Mi Li — who nished tied for seventh with a score of 221 (+5) — and her teammate Youyang Li — who nished 23rd, 239 (+23).
On the boys side, the area was also well-represented. Windermere High graduate Carson Baez nished tied for third with a score of 216 (E). While his younger brother and current Windermere senior, Cameron Baez, nished tied for 13th with a score of 222 (+6).
TFA had a pair of players show out on the boys, as well. Junior Mingbo Jiang nished tied for fth with a score of 217 (+1), while recent graduate Palmer Haynes nished tied for eighth with a three-over, 219.
2
Foundation Academy recent graduate and cheerleader Rylan Marion has signed her National Letter of Intent to continue her cheer career at Southeastern University. The ve-year team member and outgoing captain was vital to the Lions’ incredible success this past season and over the course of their dynastic run.
3
Windermere Prep has hired Michael Brunson as its new girls golf coach.
“We are con dent that Michael’s extensive experience and innovative coaching methods will lead our girls’ golf team to new heights ” Windermere Prep Director of Athletics Patrick Hollern said.
Brunson, a native of Missouri, brings 10 years of teaching and more than 30 years of playing experience to the Lakers program. Over his golf career, Brunson has developed a unique philosophy in teaching the game of golf.
4West Orange High baseball player Charlie Eidelman has announced his commitment to play college ball in Georgia at Thomas University — where he should join former Warriors teammate and recent graduate Lucas Dufresne. For the Warriors last season, Eidelman played predominantly as a right elder. From the batter’s box he hit for an average of .338 (22/65), drove in 10 runs, scored 16 runs and stole ve bases.
5
A pair of top college football prospects, The First Academy’s Devin Jackson and Aden Hall, have announced their college commitments. Jackson, a junior who recently transferred from West Orange High, has committed to Florida. The three-star defensive back selected the Gators over the six other schools he was considering: Georgia, LSU, Maryland, Missouri, Texas A&M and UCF. While Hall — a 6-foot, 195-pound senior linebacker — revealed he will be continuing his football career at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
At
She’s a natural
From learning cricket during the COVID-19 pandemic in her backyard to establishing herself as a contender for the 2028 US Olympic team, Windermere Prep senior Sasha Vallabhaneni has had a crazy journey in the sport.
SAM ALBUQUERQUE
SPORTS EDITOR
With two batters still to go and 12 overs left to play out in the second of its five-match T20i series against the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago, to say the United States U19 women’s cricket team was in a difficult situation would be an understatement.
But as Suresh Vallabhaneni cheered on his adopted country, a sinking feeling weighed down his chest when he saw who was coming up to bat for the U.S. His 17-year-old
daughter, Sasha, was about to make her national team debut in a lessthan-favorable state.
“With the whole national organization watching and the team in a very, very bad state in the match, that’s when she walked into the match,” he said. “I’m like, ‘This can’t be how she makes her debut.’
As a parent, I’m just thinking to myself, ‘This is such bad timing.’ It felt like she was getting thrown to the wolves.”
He wasn’t the only one who was nervous, Sasha, a Windermere Prep senior, felt as if her heart was going to end up outside her chest.
Former PGA player hosts Warriors for preseason camp
Stoneybrook West is the new home of West Orange High School golf.
SAM ALBUQUERQUE SPORTS EDITOR
“Trailblazer” is a word used to describe a person who makes a trail through previously uncharted lands, which results in an easier path for those who come after. Although playing professional sports isn’t an uncharted land in need of a trail, it is such a rare occurrence that navigating a journey toward the top tier of athletics can feel like blazing a new trail. Coming across a professional athlete willing to take time out of his or her day to provide guidance is rare.
This was certainly the case for former PGA Tour player Brian Davis when he was getting his start in golf.
“As a kid growing up, because I was pretty good at a young age, I was very fortunate to have had the help of older kids to lean on,” Davis said. “These were kids that were a step ahead of me in their progression. … When I was a middle-schooler, they were on the high school team. When I was in high school, they were top amateurs, when I was the top amateur they were
“The score was around 20 for five, and it was the eighth over … so it was a very high-pressure situation,” she said. “When I first walked onto that field, I thought I could hear my own heartbeat. It was so scary. I don’t think I’ll ever be put in a worse situation than that. At first, I was pretty nervous. I could feel my hands tighten up.”
At that moment, though, she just kept telling herself it didn’t matter that she never had played on this stage. It didn’t matter that she was nervous. It didn’t matter that she was in a difficult spot. All that mattered was that her team needed her.
“Someone had to step up,” Sasha said. “And at that moment, I had to. We didn’t have a choice, it had to be me. So that was like the biggest thing going through my head. After I played around five, six balls, I saw that I was middling the ball
pros, right? So I got to learn from their experiences, but I never had the help of any tour pros who I could learn that little bit extra from a young age. At the highest level, it’s not just about knowing how to play golf, it’s about all the little things like learning to be a good teammate, knowing how to travel correctly. It’s about learning to watch what you eat, working out and all this stuff that almost has nothing to do with how well you hit the ball. I didn’t have someone that could teach me those things growing up.” Despite that, Davis did well for himself. Since turning pro in 1994, he played in 386 total events — making the cut in 219 of them — and earning his spot in the PGA in 2005. According to the PGA website, Davis earned more than $13 million in prize money and recorded two international wins, SEE
6-foot-4 and nearly 300 pounds, TFA’s Chancellor Barclay has garnered the attention of the nation’s top collegiate football teams Page 2B.
Sam Albuquerque
Windermere Prep senior Sasha Vallabhaneni made her rst appearance for the women’s U19 USA national cricket team.
Sam Albuquerque
The entire Brian Davis Golf Academy team hosted the West Orange High golf teams for the camp.
Chancellor Barclay
At 6-foot-4 and nearly 300 pounds, The First Academy football’s Chancellor Barclay has garnered the attention of the nation’s top collegiate football teams — receiving scholarship o ers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma and plenty of others. Before transferring to TFA for his junior season, the four-star o ensive lineman was dominant playing at tackle for Lake Minneola High. In 2024 for the Royals, expect Barclay to continue that type of performance on the interior, leading a stacked TFA line from the guard position.
How does it feel to be named Athlete of the Week?
It’s a blessing; all the glory to God. If it wasn’t for Him and the people He has put in my life, I would be nowhere close to where I am now.
What are you looking forward to the most this football season?
Being able to play with this team that the Lord has given me. I’m excited to be able to play alongside these guys and also be able to be a little versatile and play offensive guard this season. I was a tackle the last two years, but because guard’s probably going to be my collegiate position, I’m making that shift this season.
What has been your favorite part of your college recruiting journey this summer?
Going on these visits, competing at camps, training and working out with my team, and improving myself physically, mentally, socially and spiritually.
What is your favorite part of playing football?
Being a part of a team and winning games. It’s also fun to be able to play offensive line, because it creates a standard to not just help you become a disciplined football player but also a disciplined man.
What is your goal for this season
BASICS Age: 16
goal, and we’re going to keep taking the necessary steps and do the work to be able to achieve that. Whatever the team needs me to do to achieve that goal, I’m going to do it.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from the game of football?
Take it one play at a time. Don’t focus on the bad plays you had in the past, don’t focus on the future of the game or what you believe could happen. Focus on your assignment and complete it to the best of your ability.
Favorite football memory?
My freshman year, when we won districts at Lake Minneola High. It was just a special moment for me at the time, because it was my first high school year, and we made the playoffs.
What is your go-to pre-game hype song?
Any Rod Wave song. I pretty much listen to a Rod Wave playlist for pregame.
What is your favorite subject in school? Why?
Math; only because of how enjoyable it gets when you understand how to solve the problem.
What is your favorite movie?
“Boo! A Madea Halloween.” It’s funny, and I always enjoy Tyler Perry’s movies.
If you could go back in time to a specific period in history, when and where would you go?
I would probably go to the beginning of my freshman year, because I would want to tell myself to put faith in the Lord more and accept Him, and if you trust the path He is setting you on, you won’t have to overthink or lose confidence.
Looking back, what piece of advice would you give your Trust in the Lord with all your
If you could ask your future self a question, what would it be?
Am I continuing to be obedient and faithful to the Lord?
Who is your favorite superhero?
The Hulk, because he has the mindset of an offensive lineman, literally.
Who is your favorite supervillain?
The Joker, because he is a clown, and clowns are funny.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
To be able to spawn any food from any place into my hand, because I love food.
Brian Davis Golf Academy hosts camp
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
five runners-up, 11 top-five finishes and 28 top-10 finishes.
Now 50, Davis wants to take all the experience he’s gained and be the resource he would have loved to lean on as a young golfer. That’s where the Brian Davis Golf Academy comes into play.
GIVING BACK
Under the leadership of Rocky Hodge, the driving force behind the reopening of Stoneybrook West Golf Club, Davis joined the team and became the face of the course’s new golf school — the Brian Davis Golf Academy. In the build-up to the reopening of the legendary West Orange course, both men believed helping young golfers needed to be a core value of the club and academy.
“One thing (Rocky) was very adamant about was getting the West Orange High team here to Stoneybrook,” Davis said. “A lot of those kids work here, and he was like, ‘I want to bring the West Orange High golf team in and make this their home course.’ I was all in … and we made it happen.”
The result: a three-day camp for both the team and prospective West Orange High players.
“Obviously, I don’t want to step on the coaches’ toes, regarding the team, but I also see a massive opportunity for these kids to learn from us,” Davis said. “We’re still getting to know the coaches, but we just thought hosting the teams for a camp was a great opportunity for the kids to come out and see what we have to offer.”
From the West Orange High perspective, having Davis and his team
available to the coaches and golfers is priceless.
“We’re so excited to be partnered up with them and have this opportunity to have our players learn from these guys,” Michelle Head, West Orange High girls golf coach said. “This partnership is going to be a big help for our players. Just having Brian and his team be here to help them improve is amazing. They’ll be able to see things that maybe I might miss or even some specialty things that I might not be equipped to give our team the correct information on.”
WIN-WIN
The partnership between the groups is mutually beneficial. For Davis and the golf club, they get to make good on their desire to give back to the next generation of golfers while stitching themselves further into the fabric of the West Orange community. In turn, the hope is Stoneybrook West and the Brian Davis Golf Academy become the go-to resource for young golfers interested in taking up or improving their game.
“Our overall goal is to not just help this group of golfers but eventually reach the next generation, too,” Davis said. “We want to help the golfers on the team now — but also help those who want to maybe be on the team next year. … We think that’s a great way to help grow the next generation of winning golfers for West Orange High School and hopefully grow the program more. We see that as a massive opportunity for them but also a massive opportunity for us as an academy.”
That opportunity isn’t being overlooked by the Warriors coaches. In fact, having this type of resource
at their disposal could be the leg up West Orange needs to start bringing home the hardware.
“The idea behind this was just to continue to partner up with Rocky and the team at Stonybrook West,” Head said. “They’ve been great to us, allowing us to use these resources and opening up the course to welcome us from West Orange. (Boys coach Jason Thorndill and I)were able to meet with the team from Stoneybrook this summer, and their desire to do more for us and our school was kind of what started it all. … The hope for us is that this partnership can help take our programs to the next level and help increase the numbers of players coming out, increase the skills of our players and ultimately bring some championships home.”
Davis is enjoying the opportunity he’s having to help these golfers grow. The longtime pro’s favorite part of hosting the teams for the three-day camp has been the chance he has had to build genuine relationships with the young Warriors and begin to make an impact on their paths.
“When they first came in, obviously, they were very shy — they didn’t want to ask any questions, they didn’t want to step out of their shell,” Davis said. “That’s part of our job, though, getting these kids to open up, right? If they don’t open up to you, you’re not going to find out what they need. Whether it’s off-the-course help, something specific on the course, prep work, dealing with the pressure or a number of things that go along with playing competitive golf. … Seeing these kids open up to us and building their trust over this camp was probably the best part of what we got to do.”
Football fall camps kick o in West, Southwest Orange
High school football practices o cially kicked o Monday, July 29, in Florida — with full-contact sessions starting Saturday, Aug. 3 — marking the start of the fall sport’s preseason. To celebrate football’s return to West Orange and Southwest Orange County, the Observer visited three teams — The First Academy, Olympia High and Windermere High — this week to begin capturing the images of the 2024 season.
— SAM ALBUQUERQUE
The First Academy quarterback Salomon Georges Jr. threw around o ensive coordinator Steven Mo ett during a drill in practice.
On the rst day of full-contact practice, Windermere football held a full program simulated scrimmage.
Despite the turnover on both sides of the ball, led by senior Xavier Wall, right, Olympia should have a quality defensive line.
well, and it just started to feel like any other game. I just kept telling myself to see the ball, just see the ball. I started to feel good and kept telling myself that I could do this … that this is just like any other game. I kept reminding myself that I’m here for a reason. I put in all this work, so I needed to keep backing myself.”
Sasha not only finished the match as the top scorer for the U.S., but also made an impression on those watching.
“She proved herself that day to the entire team,” Suresh Vallabhaneni said. “She stood there and battled with that immense pressure on her shoulders. Looking back to that moment, I think it’s going to be a defining moment in her cricketing career. … People saw what she was capable of under pressure. Being a newbie and going into a nationallevel game for the first time ever … and delivering for her team was incredible. Even though they ended up losing, she got the team to the point where at least they had a chance to fight it out.”
Sasha also proved to herself she belonged.
“I came out of that game really confident in myself, in what I had shown to everybody at USA Cricket,” she said. “I feel like in a way nobody really expected anything out of me. … So to just prove myself and show that I can step up when the team needs — it was such a big thing for me.”
This moment was one the Vallabhanenis will remember for a long time, but the part of Sasha’s journey that truly stands out is that she picked up the sport because her dad said it would look good on her college applications.
BACKYARD BEGINNINGS
“We never thought cricket would become a game that we would introduce her to,” Suresh Vallabhaneni said. “It’s always been tennis, swimming and all the regular American sports for her. But during COVID, we were in the backyard playing with a tennis ball, and we asked Sasha if she wanted to try cricket. I told her that I would teach her and she should give it a shot, to see where it goes.”
Initially, Sasha didn’t enjoy the fact that there weren’t enough resources in the area when she started playing and there were even fewer girls playing the sport.
“I had to start learning how to play in a softball cage, because there was not a proper field,” she said. “When
I started … my dad put something up in our backyard, and he coached me. Like, I didn’t have an actual coach, he taught me my first skills — how to throw a ball, things like that.”
Still, she stuck with the sport and continued to develop her craft until she had an aha moment six months in.
“There was a selection tournament in North Carolina that my dad found out about, so we flew up there for a weekend, and I played in it against some of the national players and felt like I could hang with those girls,” she said. “The other thing that was amazing that weekend was that for the first time, I saw how many girls are playing, so it was like, a big eye-opener for me to see that there’s so many girls my age playing.”
From that weekend on, Sasha was locked in.
“That was where it all kind of started,” she said. “I joined an academy in North Carolina, and I would go, maybe like once or twice a month on the weekends to compete. To this day, I still go to North Carolina to train with my coach two out of every three weekends.”
INTERNATIONAL STAGE
As Sasha grew in the sport, the potential she saw in herself at that initial camp started to come to fruition, and her dream of making the national team quickly became a reality.
“When I got the call and my official email came in, it was the most amazing feeling ever,” Sasha said about receiving her first call-up to the U19 national team. “When I was reading the email, I was literally laughing and thinking to myself, ‘Is this actually happening?’ There was so much build-up to that moment, so it was like all the hard work finally paid off.”
Still, despite breaking through to the national team and making her mark during her time in Trinidad and Tobago, she knows the hard work isn’t over. She’s got plenty left to accomplish in the sport.
“The short-term goal was always to make the U19 national team for the World Cup in January 2025,” Sasha said. “Playing in the Olympics for the U.S. in 2028 is the longterm goal. … I feel like I’m on the right track, especially now that I’ve played on the U19 team. I feel like I’m definitely headed in the right direction, but obviously, I still have to keep working and keep getting better, but it feels within reach, so it’s exciting.”
The right-handed bowler is quickly establishing herself as
Just because summer is ending doesn’t mean the fun has to!
With summer ending and school starting soon, you might be bored on the weekends. There are many things to do this upcoming fall, though! You can find a farmers market, go apple picking or carve a pumpkin. The possibilities are endless, allowing you to find fun activities for those days with nothing planned. Between summer and winter, fall is going to soon become your favorite season!
For many people, school starts again in August, and students won’t go on a weeklong break until Thanksgiving. There are plenty of activities to fill your weeks other than sitting around the house. Because the weather will start to cool down, you could go to a pumpkin patch to look for the best gourd to carve. Then, let your creativity fly as you sculpt the perfect pumpkin to sit on your mantel or front porch. There are plenty of festivals going on at your local theme parks, as well. In Orlando, there is Universal Studios Florida’s Halloween Horror Nights, which is an experience full of houses designed to give you the thrill of your life. At Walt Disney World, there is Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party for those more into the candy and rides versus the horror aspect. SeaWorld Orlando also has a fall event revolving around Halloween called Howl-O-Scream. This event features scare zones, haunted
houses and a plethora of fun!
If you aren’t into going to a party at a theme park and are just looking for good food, you should make your way over to Disney’s Epcot Food & Wine Festival. They have lots of food from around the world allowing you to get a taste of everyone’s fall food traditions. Your local farmers market also is a great spot for you to explore the different food around your neighborhood. I guarantee you will find something to complete your fall food list. My favorites include pumpkin pie, fondue and a delicious apple cider.
You don’t even have to leave your house to have fun! You could stay home and watch horror movies, such as “Scream,” “A Nightmare on Elm Street” or any of the films in the “Halloween” franchise! There are plenty more to choose from, but these are my favorites.
Fall can be fun for everyone as you’re preparing for Halloween to come. Whether you go to a theme park or farmers market or you stay home, you are certain to have a fun time. Whatever your fall plans are, make sure you add in one of these activities to make the most out of fall.
Courtesy photo
A young Lily Parker found a big pumpkin.
SUMMER SCHOOL ZONE
West Orange, Windermere teams volunteer at local food bank
As part of their o season programs, the two area football teams spent time giving back to the local community by packing boxes of food for families in need at the Southeastern Food Bank.
AVERY BANGSUND FOUNDATION ACADEMY
High school football coaches often preach their jobs aren’t to win games but rather to help build their players into quality young people off the field — and those coaches accomplish that in unique ways.
Coaches Geno Thompson, of West Orange High, and Riki Smith, of Windermere High, had a similar approach to the concept of developing their players into quality people — they gave their teams a chance to give back to the local community by volunteering at the Southeastern Food Bank.
For Thompson, giving back to the community is at the core of his philosophy.
“Our whole football program is about building young men up and trying to teach them to be leaders in the community,” he said. “Our team’s mission is: Be the best version of yourself. We do that by helping the community … and we use football as a vehicle to guide and try to help them understand what is needed in this community and how they can make an impact.”
Smith sees community service and service to others, in general, as an obligation given to him as a Christian.
“We were put on this earth to be servants, servants of the Lord,” Smith
said. “Our job is to serve others… to give back — it’s only right. I’ve been blessed in this situation, to be able to be the head coach of Windermere but also a mentor to pour into 100 kids. For me, it’s my duty to essentially show them how to serve or how to give. Everyone likes to receive, but again, the best feeling in the world is when you give someone something.”
Each team had the opportunity to pack boxes full of food that would be given to families in need. The experience not only helped families in the area but also resonated with the players.
“It has an extremely large impact,”
Smith said. “What I’ve found in the past — and even this year — is that community service work like this brings them closer together, as brothers, as a team. ... I’ve heard the kids talk about it in conversation in the locker room, about how much fun they had doing it.”
According to both coaches, many of the players are fortunate enough to go through life not knowing the feeling of struggling for food, so when given the opportunity to help those less fortunate than themselves, it made them realize how fortunate they are.
“At Windermere High School … the majority of our players are in aboveaverage situations,” Smith said. “So, when they had the opportunity to give back to the needy or families that rely on the food bank to get food, I think it hit home ... because they understand they are privileged enough to eat three meals a day and some, and there are people out there that don’t have any food at all and are reliant on the food bank.”
For Thompson, although he has seen similar outcomes from this opportunity to serve, he wants to
take the experience one step further and give his team the chance to see its impact.
“Anything we can do together is going to help build our team chemistry even more — which it’s in a great place thanks to our senior leadership,”
Thompson said. “So, volunteering like this is a great opportunity for them to grow as young men and bring us together. But, I think, to truly get the kids to capture what it means to help someone, I would love to have them experience handing over that
box to a family in need. I think that would show them firsthand how big of an impact they’re making.” Thompson said his team plans to volunteer once each quarter and is always looking for different organizations to serve.
The Windermere High football team spent time volunteering at the Southeastern Food Bank.
Courtesy photos
The West Orange High football team spent time packing boxes of food at the Southeastern Food Bank.
IN A NEW LIGHT
Act 2: Preparation
The Garden Theatre’s ‘Pippin’ is focusing on accessibility and the contributions of deaf actors and creatives for audiences to experience the duality of the hearing and non-hearing world.
VISIT THE GARDEN THEATRE
Location: 160 W. Plant St., Winter Garden Website: gardentheatre.org
Editor’s note: This is the second story in a behind-the-scenes series of the Garden Theatre’s production of “Pippin” — the theater’s most ambitious project yet — and its commitment to education and raising awareness for the deaf community.
Michelle Mary Schaefer was born a beautiful and perfectly healthy baby, until a nurse made a mistake and gave her spoiled breast milk. The milk nearly blew up her intestines. She became jaundiced and almost died several times.
Schaefer was taken to The Johns Hopkins Hospital, where Dr. Alex Haller took a risk and saved her life, not knowing how she would live but knowing she was a fighter and had the strong will to do so.
Unfortunately, the Gentamicin medicine she was given damaged her hair cells in her cochlea, which is how she became deaf.
As the only deaf individual in her family, she encountered many challenges growing up. She dealt with many traumatic experiences from society, in her schooling and even from the deaf community.
“I struggled with my identity and the sense of what it was like to be respected, accepted and belong,” she said. “I was bullied by both the hearing and the deaf, which devastated me
and made me truly feel ashamed of being deaf. I was bullied by many deaf individuals … saying I should be dead because I have a hearing family. I was told by the deaf community that I was not considered ‘deaf enough’ and was often mocked. I have tried to audition for Deaf West Theatre for years and had several rude encounters, but I still hoped that one day I would truly be accepted and perform on stage with other talented artists as a whole community and as a human with passions and talent.
“The hearing community has either said that I’m ‘too deaf,’ that they don’t incorporate (American Sign Language) on stage or have used me as a tokenism to make themselves look better without truly analyzing their soul, the purpose and truly including us,” she said. “I feel like a pinball being hit all over everywhere, and sometimes tossed to the side once someone gets what they need or want from me. Then, I don’t matter anymore.”
Despite the emotional and mental damage Schaefer has suffered throughout her years, she has chosen to push forward and continue doing what she loves.
She has chosen love, life, passion and authenticity.
“It took me forever to finally embrace my deaf identity, in spite of society and people,” she said. “My journey has brought me to many places, I have met many people, and I have shared my love and kindness, which I finally can say I’m proud of. I
also learned to love myself.”
Now, Schaefer is continuing to advocate for others in the deaf community through her work on the Garden Theatre’s production of “Pippin,” the establishment’s second show in the 2024-25 Broadway on Plant Series.
While the musically mesmerizing show will portray the same beloved story that has been shared many times over its more than 50 years, the theater is focusing on accessibility and the talented contributions of deaf actors and creatives for audiences to experience the duality of the hearing and non-hearing world.
“Pippin” will be a multilingual production integrating ASL, English and a rich visual language.
The production will highlight the energy and retrospective fantasy of “Pippin,” while also introducing the unique artistry of deaf performers and sign language.
Through carefully crafted portrayals, it is the theater’s intention to challenge stereotypes and illuminate the lived experiences of deaf individuals — a community often overlooked and misunderstood.
BLENDING THE LANGUAGES
Schaefer, the director of artistic sign language also known as the DASL for the show, has been working closely with Robb Winn Anderson, the mastermind behind the project and the theater’s producing artistic director, and Cindy Wilson, the show’s choreographer, to begin the immense project.
One of the first steps in the process was for Schaefer to convert the script into ASL translation and then work the translation into the show’s choreography.
Schaefer believes the biggest challenge is working with the actors who are not fluent in sign language and only have a few short weeks to learn.
“It takes an average person more than eight years to truly be fluent in ASL,” she said. “However, it can take three to six months to learn the basic concept of ASL. Now, you have ASL, songs and dance, which is a lot of movement all at once. So, this will end up being a part of the choreography the actors must learn, which is basically muscle memory. Not everyone has the skills and ability to do so. It will take a lot of patience, compassion and encouragement during rehearsals.”
Anderson and Wilson have been working hard to learn the signs to help teach the actors, who have been rehearsing throughout July and into August.
The group of leaders started with the songs that required the entire cast to participate in signing, which include “Magic to Do,” “Morning Glow,” the opening to Act Two and “The Finals.”
The team will next move on to the moments when the hearing actors are signing as individuals. The four hearing actors who will carry the bulk of the responsibility for this are the ones who play the characters of Catherine, Theo, Berthe and Charles in the show.
Although Anderson took some ASL classes in college, he said he has lost a lot of it over the years.
“Just like any new language, it requires an adaptation of the way you process words, and, with ASL, the connection to the physical implementation of it,” he said. “I am daunted by it but excited to continue to learn. We want this to be a marriage of all the languages — English, ASL, and the visual language of blocking and choreography. The goal is that this is seamless and that we approach it as creatively as possible while still ensuring that the audience, whether hearing or deaf, can understand the story we are telling.”
Wilson, who has no background in sign language, said earning ASL has been both exciting and challenging.
“Learning movement I’m used to, since I was a dancer growing up, but the dexterity you need with your hands and the speed for conversation is very challenging,” she said. “In dance, yes you use your hands, but not in the detailed way you do for signing.
I definitely want my journey to continue with ASL even after ‘Pippin.’”
ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL
Schaefer wishes everyone would learn ASL, because she said it would help break down the communication and accessibility barriers and offer more opportunities for inclusivity.
To help educate the community, the Garden Theatre is taking the learning of ASL one step further by offering classes to more than just the creative team and cast of the show.
In fact, the staff at the Garden Theatre also has committed to learning sign language through free in-person weekly classes with community partner Ryan Vander Weide, of Winter Garden Deaf Chat.
In addition, Vander Weide has offered individuals the opportunity to attend his monthly Winter Garden Deaf Chat meeting so participants can learn in a totally “voices off” environment.
Annabelle Sikes
Brian Truitt, left, Rob Winn Anderson, Cindy Wilson and Michelle Mary Schaefer worked on integrating American Sign Language with choreography.
Annabelle Sikes
Amanda Allen, left, and Jean Boone are two of the Garden Theatre sta members who have been learning sign language.
Participants started by learning the alphabet before moving onto numbers and greetings. Directions, days of the week, asking questions and theaterspecific vocabulary also were taught.
Jean Boone, group sales manager and accessibility coordinator at the Garden Theatre, said she picked up a little bit of sign language from her sister who took classes in high school. Years later, she used sign language in her role as a foster parent working with children in her care that had language developmental delays.
Boone said learning a new language is always challenging, and she struggles with learning the numbers. However, she said Vander Weide has been a wonderful teacher, as he makes the learning fun, and she would love to continue learning ASL.
“When I heard about the wonderful vision that Anderson had for ‘Pippin,’ I thought it was a great opportunity to learn some basic sign language,” she said. “Language connects us, and I believe in inclusivity. If I can make a patron feel welcome by communicating with ASL, it’s a wonderful experience for both of us. I am very proud of the inclusivity programs we offer at the theater. From Treetop Players, which makes theater accessible for people of all abilities, to offering ASL interpreted performances and assisted listening devices for our patrons who need these services, and audio description and touch tour services for blind and low vision patrons, it’s an honor to be part of leading the way to make theater accessible for all.”
Amanda Payne, director of education and community at the Garden Theatre, also has been taking the ASL classes, although she is new to signing.
She said many signs are similar, so remembering the subtle differences between signs has been challenging.
“I’ve always had an interest in learning ASL,” she said. “My grandfather was deaf, but I never had the opportunity to learn to sign. So, learning feels like a great tribute to him. I also want to be able to welcome our deaf and hard of hearing patrons into our theater. Not just for ‘Pippin’ — but all the time.
“Theater is about storytelling and people,” she said. “Sometimes, we see stories that we relate to, and other times we see stories that help us grow our perspectives and learn about new cultures, communities and lives very different from our own. The work being done here — whether on stage, with patron groups or with our education department — is truly a reflection of the people in our community that we serve.”
Works of HeART
Mary Beth Lesko
The mission of the Winter Garden Art Association is to showcase, encourage and celebrate individual creativity and artistic expression among local artists. West Orange County is teeming with artists whose talents range from visual to performing to literary arts. Whether they are expressing themselves with a microphone, paint brush and canvas, or the written word, artists and their creations give us avenues in which to imagine, dream and wonder. In this feature, the Observer and the WGAA will highlight local artists. This month, meet Clermont resident and artist Mary Beth Lesko.
What are some of your favorite themes in your
At the moment, I am working on an animal series. I also have been painting Florida landscape and plant life.
Why is expressing yourself through art important to you? Expressing myself in art is very important to me. Using colored pencils to create fine art is amazing and gives me great joy. The medium allows me to create fine details for the animal’s fur and feathers, and I can manipulate it to look painterly or sketchy or pastel-like. The colored pencil medium is very versatile. It is clean, easy to use and easy to carry to do plein air work or studio work.
The Colored Pencil Society of America is an art association that promotes the colored pencil medium as a fine-art medium. They have worked with pencil manufacturers to have the golden standard of light-fast pigments used in the making of colored pencils, which allows artists using light-fast pencils to give extra value to their art. I teach colored pencil classes in my home and workshops at the SOBO Gallery in Winter Garden. I
love teaching and have been using the colored pencil medium for more than 25 years. I have been teaching colored pencil techniques for 22 years and have been a member of CPSA since 1995.
Did you have a formal art education? If so, where and when?
I have an associate’s degree in art from Luzerne County Community College and have studied with many professional colored pencil artists around the country. I am founder and past president of the Pennsylvania District Chapter 115 of the Colored Pencil Society of America. I am now a member of the Gainesville district chapter.
Who is your favorite famous artist and why?
My most favorite female artist is Mary Cassatt. She is a famous painter, pastel artist and printer from Allegheny, Pennsylvania. She studied during the Impressionist painters era. Her painting style and subject matter inspires me.
My most favorite male artist is Claude Monet. He was a French painter and the founder of the Impressionist movement. He painted nature as he perceived it. He painted with Impressionist style, loose and using vibrant colors.
In which museum worldwide would you most like to see your artwork displayed and why?
I would love to have one of my art pieces exhibited in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
The National Gallery of Art is very prestigious, and one of my instructors in college had his work exhibited there, and I always wished to someday have one of my paintings there, too.
AMY QUESINBERRY
MARY BETH LESKO
“CANINE ADORATION”
“SHELF LINER”
THE WAYS WE WERE FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION
80 years ago
The large two-story business block at the corner of Plant and Main streets known as the Dillard Building, occupied by Leader Department Store, Winter Garden Pharmacy, Mims Barber Shop and a beer parlor, as well as 18 rooms on the upper oor, was purchased for $25,000 by J.F. Holly, Orlando investment broker, and his brotherin-law, W.B. Burch, Winter Garden city commissioner.
70 years ago
Billie Mae Bufkin invited a group of classmates into her parents’ home for a TV party.
J.C. Chiles Department Store was featuring the following: children’s back-to-school dresses, $1.95 and up; school shoes, $2.98 and $3.49; dungarees, size 1 to 12, $1.87; and sports shirts, sizes 2 to 16, $1.49 to $1.98.
All boys who played in Little League were urged to turn in their uniforms to the Western Auto Store or Judson Moore at Pounds Motor Company.
55 years ago
A new car wash on Dillard Street in Winter Garden held its grand opening and o ered free car washes all day. Planned and built by C.J. Johnson, it was under the management of Roper Bros. Inc.
35 years ago
Marjorie Fain, manager of Pioneer Bank, was presented the Member of the Month award by Walter Toole, president of the West Orange Chamber of Commerce.
30 years ago
James Lawson, senior assistant principal at West Orange High School, was awaiting the rst day of school as administrator of the new WOHS Ninth-Grade Center. The facility was built to accommodate 1,100 students with four perma-
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.
August 1963: England’s Great Train Robbery grabbed worldwide headlines; the USA, the UK and the
USSR signed a Nuclear Test Ban treaty; American astronauts began a ve-day survival course in the Nevada desert to prepare for project missions; and the Crystals and Ronettes entered the Top 10 with “Then He Kissed Me” and “Be My Baby.” Close to home, this two-bedroom, one-bath, air-conditioned house in Windermere was o ered for $9,000. Can any of our readers identify it?
Photographs and documentation of West Orange homes form a large part of the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation Archive. Research your home’s history or share your story to enhance the extensive collection. Call (407) 656-3244 to set up an appointment.
AUG. 11, 1994
Many local businesses have been operating in West Orange County for decades. In 1994 — 30 years ago — The West Orange Times ran a historical directory of some of them. Quite a few still are in business today.
Among the oldest: The West Orange Times, 1905; Bray Hardware/Ace Hardware, established in 1906; Pounds Motor Company, 1923; Woodlawn Memorium, 1926; Florida Metal Craft, 1931; Fulmer Cleaners, 1936; Glenn Joiner and Son, Modern Stationery and Valbro Business Forms, 1937;
20 years ago
nent buildings (administrative hall; cafetorium; music, band, choral and physical education facility; and media center, television production, art and science labs) and 40 relocatable classrooms. Ocoee o cials and several residents took a fact- nding tour of two Homart malls in south Florida and Georgia. Homart Development Inc. was hired to build a new mall in Ocoee at the northeast corner of West Colonial Drive and Clarke Road.
Bob and Connie Dean relocated their used bookstore, Book Rack, to downtown McKey Street in Ocoee. They previously were located in the Publix shopping center at Silver Star and Clarke roads.
A group of happy Ocoee Little Leaguers were on hand at the Jim
Beech Recreation Center to help accept the nearly $60,000 check from the Orange County Parks and Recreation Field of Dreams program. The league planned to use the money to add lights to the Junior League eld. The city also chipped in more than $44,000 for this upgrade.
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Traywick’s Garage and Ellis Inc., 1946; Auto Electric Co. and Winter Garden Animal Hospital, 1947; and Cappleman & Associates and West Orange Lumber, 1949.
WAITING IN THE WINGS by Adam Simpson, edited by Jeff Chen
