Windermere’s Alfredo Adrian and Francesco Sanchez pack a punch. SEE PAGE 1B.
YOUR TOWN
LONE SAILOR PINS FIFTH CHIEF
The Lone Sailor Division of the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps held a chief pinning ceremony Nov. 3 at Windermere Town Hall. Honored was the division’s fifth chief, Katherine Hone. Hone, 17, was promoted to chief petty officer. She was presented with her promotion by Lone Sailor Division Commanding Officer Jeff Hawk, with Hone’s mother, Meghan Hone, and Lone Sailor Officer Andy Stetzinger pinning her rank. Chief Petty Officer Zoie Quevedo of the Boca Delray Division presented Hone with her cover to mark the occasion.
The ceremony was attended by Hone’s family and friends, Windermere Police Chief David Ogden, Orlando Police Department Sgt. James West, and Yomarel and Jared Justiniano, her employers at Nautical Bowls.
Hone is a home-schooled high school junior and dual-enrolled at Southeastern University, where she is pursuing a degree in criminal justice. She plans to attend the police academy after graduation.
The U.S. Sea Cadets program is the Navy’s youth development program that gives young Americans skills, knowledge and confidence through a variety of training opportunities.
... In the frosty air!
SWEET DREAMS
Pastry chef Briea Lowe is focused on educating others while serving sweet treats after years of working in the corporate world and competing on TV. STORY ON PAGE 4A.
City votes to dump recycling services
The city is discontinuing recycling collection, conveyance and disposal services.
LIZ RAMOS SENIOR EDITOR
The Winter Garden City Commission voted unanimously to approve the second reading of an ordinance that discontinues recycling services during its Dec. 12 meeting.
Andrew Mudd, Trails of Winter Garden Homeowners Association president, expressed his concern for the elimination of the recycling program during the public hearing at the meeting. He said eliminating the program “gives a perception of not moving forward but moving backward.”
“I do appreciate the city’s concern in not pushing the costs along to residents about the increases,” he said. “My main question is, is the city looking at modifying its recycling program, not just eliminating it, mainly for cardboard, bottles, cans?”
The city was spending more than $1 million to recycle materials. Despite an increased population, the city’s volume of recycled materials was decreasing. About 7% of all waste the city collected is recycled
accept cardboard, paper and aluminum, as well as other facilities throughout central Florida.
Steve Pash, assistant city manager for public services said the city now will focus on a reduce and reuse campaign.
“We’ve actually met with some environmental groups who are kind of excited to work with us on establishing new goals, helping businesses and working with the public on ways to reduce and reuse,” Pash said.
CITY CONSIDERS
SPEED-DETECTION SYSTEM
The Winter Garden City Commission approved unanimously the first reading of a proposed ordinance that would establish a school zone speed-enforcement program and the use of speed-detection systems.
The ordinance will go before the commission for a second reading and public hearing at the commission’s Jan. 9, 2025, meeting.
“The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize the use of speeddetection systems within the designated school zones to mini -
Chief Steve Graham said.
The speed-detection systems will be installed in the school zones for West Orange High; SunRidge and Lakeview middle schools; Tildenville, Whispering Oak, SunRidge, Dillard Street and Maxey elementary schools; and Esteem Academy.
The systems will be active in the 30 minutes before and after school, using photographs and video to capture violations. People caught driving more than 10 mph over the speed limit during that time will be issued a $100 fine.
A notice of the violation will be sent to the registered owner of the vehicle. Hearings to contest the notices can be held.
The funds collected from the fines will be distributed as follows: 20% to the Florida general fund; 3% to Florida Department of Law Enforcement Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission; 12% to the School Board of Orange County for security, safety and school walking route improvements; 5% to the City School Crossing Guard program for training, recruitment and retention; and 60% to the city for
RED-LIGHT PROGRAM MOVES TO SECOND READING
The commission approved unanimously the first reading of an ordinance for the proposed new section of the City of Winter Garden Traffic Light Safety Act.
The new section would establish a red-light enforcement program within the city, which would allow the use of traffic infraction detectors for red-light violations.
“The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize the use of traffic infraction protectors to promote, protect and improve the health, safety and welfare of our citizens by reducing the number of traffic incidents related to the failure of motorists to obey the traffic control devices,”
Graham said. “Studies show these intersections that are controlled in this manner reduce crashes by 21% once they’ve been installed.”
The ordinance will go before the commission for a second reading and public hearing at the commission’s Jan. 9, 2025, meeting.
Violators must pay the penalty of $158 to the city, furnish an affidavit or request a hearing within 60 days following the notification to avoid the issuance of a traf-
IN OTHER NEWS
n The city approved the second reading of an ordinance regarding cash escrow requirements for right-of-way permit applicants performing communications services facilities installations.
n Commissioners approved the site plan for 996 E. Plant St. The applicant is proposed to demolish or relocate the existing building on the site to develop the property with a new 18,500-square-foot commercial building with business, restaurant and office uses.
n A pre-approval request for a contractual agreement with Pierce Manufacturing to purchase a new replacement engine for the city of Winter Garden Fire Rescue Department was approved. It costs $1.35 million.
n City commissioners approved spending $312,000 to purchase four replacement police inceptors and other required equipment.
n The Bloom & Grow Garden Society’s annual Spring Fever in the Garden was approved for April 5, and April 6, 2025, in
WAY BACK WHEN
Charlie Joiner
Tubb Street and Oakland’s town square fountain were named for the longtime resident’s grandfather, Grover Cleveland Tubb.
QUESINBERRY PRICE
AMY
Editor’s note: Way Back When is an ongoing feature that records and preserves the stories and memories of lifelong West Orange and Southwest Orange residents.
There is plenty of evidence to suggest Charlie Joiner’s family — the Tubbs — played a significant role in the history of the town of Oakland. Town Hall is located on Tubb Street, and the fountain in the town square is dedicated to Grover Cleveland Tubb, an Oakland pioneer.
Joiner can remember his grandfather being an important part of Oakland’s history. He served as sheriff — some historic records list him as a marshal — and he drove an official car resembling the squad car driven by Sheriff Taylor in “The Andy Griffith Show.” Later in his life, Grover Tubb served as the trash collector, the town’s caretaker and the keeper of the Oakland Post Office keys.
Grover and Ruby Tubb came to Oakland from Mississippi. He was born in 1890, and she was born five years later. They lived in a tiny wooden home near what’s now the Oakland Meeting Hall. At that time, there was no water tank looming over Town Hall; instead, his grandparents’ yard held two small tanks providing water to the town.
“He was like the caretaker,” he said. “I think the town let him live there.”
Charlie Joiner said he grew up hearing many stories about Oakland’s earliest years from his grandparents and his parents. His
mother was born in the old Oakland Hotel. Just north of Town Hall and the West Orange Trail is a two-story wooden home built for the railroad workers. His grandparents lived on the second floor of the house, and his mother grew up there with her six brothers and sisters.
Charlie Joiner’s parents, Connie Tubb and Gene Joiner, met when she was working for Florida Power in the Edgewater Hotel in downtown Winter Garden. He worked for his uncle fixing radiators behind the Glenn Joiner & Sons shop one block to the west. They set up their home in Ocoee, but she was eager to get back to Oakland because her aging parents still lived there and were in need of assistance.
Charlie Joiner, now 65, was about 5 when his family relocated to Oakland, lived briefly in a home on Oakland Avenue and then built their own home near the old railroad tracks at Starr Street. Charlie Joiner married his wife, Theresa, in 1981, and, four years later, they built a home next to his parents. They live there still today.
AN OAKLAND CHILDHOOD
Charlie Joiner recalls attending preschool at Oakland Presbyterian Church — and in a full-circle moment, he now works as the church’s part-time property manager.
Oakland had a few stores, including Dees Grocery and, across the street, Gulley Hardware — both on Oakland Avenue. West of downtown was another store, and east of the town limits was Mr. Reddick’s store at Tildenville School Road. It doubled as a gas station, Charlie Joiner said.
“I remember going into the store to buy, like, a Coke or candy,” he said.
RECALLING MEMORIES
“I used to ride my bike, and Oakland was just dirt roads and orange groves,” Charlie Joiner recalled.
“When my grandfather did the trash, when I was a kid … he had a tractor and a big wagon … I would sit on the back of the wagon, and he would go around town, and people would drag their debris to the road, and we would load it.
He recalls a time when Oakland basically was orange groves.
STREETS HONOR PIONEERS
In 1972, the Oakland Town Commission decided to recognize its former residents by renaming all the streets, which, at the time, were numbered. Fourth Street was renamed Tubb Street in honor of Grover Tubb.
“In one of the town meetings, they had told everybody what the names of the roads were going to be, and my grandfather — I remember my mother telling me this story — Grandpa was so proud,” Charlie Joiner said. “
In 1977, after high school, Charlie Joiner and some buddies went for an interview at Walt Disney World. He was hired, first cooking hamburgers and then moving to merchandise, where he managed retail for about 20 years. His next move was to Epcot, where he discovered he loved the cleaning business. For the rest of his career, he worked in the custodial department — spending five years at Epcot and the remaining 20 at the Magic Kingdom.
He retired this year and took on the part-time position at Oakland Presbyterian. He grew up in the Baptist church in Winter Garden; he became Presbyterian when he and his wife were looking for a church in which to get married.
“We came here and asked the pastor, ‘Can we get married here?’ That was in 1980-81. He said, ‘Well, can you join?’” Charlie and Theresa Joiner have been members ever since, and it’s now like home to them.
Town of Oakland approves plan for commercial center
Oakland Exchange Office Park is part of the Oakland Commercial Center that includes the RaceTrac gas station and convenience store.
AMY QUESINBERRY PRICE
COMMUNITY EDITOR
More commercial properties are planned for Oakland.
The Oakland Town Commission approved the second hearing and second amendment to the development agreement for Oakland Commercial Center, which includes Oakland Exchange Office Park. The property is owned by RaceTrac Inc.
The amendment pertains to lots 5 and 6 of the planned development, located on the southwest corner of Remington Road and Southern Railway, and more specifically the location of the dumpsters and the impacts from traffic.
The developer has agreed to increase landscaping with an enhanced plan around the dumpsters. Jimmy Crawford, representing the applicant, JW2 Development LLC, also presented a traffic study that “confirms insignificant impact of proposed traffic,” according to Sarah Mastison, contracted town planner.
Oakland resident Anne Fulton said she doesn’t think the traffic study is a fair representation of the traffic in the area, because one study was done during the summer when children aren’t in school and traffic typically is lessened and the other study was conducted in 2020 when folks were on lockdown during the pandemic.
The proposed second amendment also increased the maximum office space from 30,000 to 37,184 square feet; revised the plan and design to accommodate 12 smaller, single-story buildings instead of fewer three-story structures; eliminated the internal landscape buffer between the two lots; and denied the increased size of the monument sign from 32 to 42 square feet.
Oakland’s Appearance Review Board and Planning & Zoning Board both previously unanimously approved the proposed office building designs, and the Town Commission followed with a unanimous approval.
HARVEST DISTRICT BUILDING PROPOSED
The commission approved the design for the proposed mixed-use building submitted for the Harvest District, a 5.2-acre tract in the town’s Urban Corridor owned by New Horizons Investments LLC at 15551 State Road 50. The applicant redesigned the original building façade and added brick to keep with the character of Oakland.
Commissioners in March approved a planned development and development agreement for the project, which called for a maximum of 72 multi-family dwelling units, a maximum of 48,000 square feet of commercial and retail, and a maximum of three stories.
IN OTHER BUSINESS
n The Oakland Town Commission heard a presentation from the Lake Apopka Natural Gas District regarding its Energy Choice Initiative. The program seeks to guarantee an energy future that includes a mix of energy, besides electric, that best serves the local communities: natural gas, renewable natural gas and hydrogen. LANGD delivers natural gas to more than 29,000 customers in a 21-square-mile area of West Orange and South Lake. The town of Oakland already has natural gas lines in place along West Colonial Drive.
In the presentation, the LANGD representative said families in new communities are not being given the choice of natural gas so the idea is to approach developers and offer incentives. LANGD hopes municipalities will adopt an ordinance that requires developers to pay for and install natural gas mains as part of their development agreements so residents have a choice. The cities of Apopka and Winter Garden passed their ordinances this year, and Clermont was expected to pass it this month.
n Elected officials approved the contract with Altumint for the operation of a school zone speed enforcement program. The enforcement will take place only during school hours. “These cameras will not replace the police officers,” Police Chief Darron Esan said. “If there’s a crash on (State Road) 50 and both officers respond, we still have the ability to monitor the speed limits at the school.”
CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE
At least every 10 years, the town must appoint a Charter Review Committee of five residents to review and, if necessary, amend or revise, the town charter, the town’s foundational document. The committee will meet for eight months and submit any suggested changes to the commission no later than Oct. 1, 2025.
The town is seeking residents interested in serving on the committee.
Applications and guidelines are available at bit.ly/3BuxZMU. Applications must be submitted by email to ehui@oaklandfl.gov or in person at Town Hall, 220 N. Tubb St., by 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10. The official appointments will be made Jan. 28.
Amy Quesinberry Price
Charlie Joiner keeps a notebook with photos of old Oakland. His mother was born in the old Oakland Hotel.
From scratch
LIZ RAMOS SENIOR EDITOR
When Briea Lowe toured Notter School of Pastry Arts, she thought the school wasn’t for her.
She had a bit of an ego coming off her third-place finish in Le Cordon Bleu’s rising star competition, which earned her a $15,000 scholarship to the culinary school.
But her mother had encouraged her to look at the local pastry school.
“I was like, ‘Well, if (the owner) won’t even talk to me, I don’t want to go to this school,’” Lowe said.
When Ewald Notter, the owner of Notter School of Pastry Arts, saw Lowe, he immediately grabbed her and told her in 10 minutes she would walk out of the school knowing how to make a chocolate flower.
In 10 minutes, she learned how to temper dark chocolate, dip a paring knife into tempered chocolate on acetate and set the chocolate in a refrigerator so it crystallizes, use melted chocolate to assemble the flower and spray it with edible cocoa butter color and gold dust.
“I literally thought I had just been shown Neverland by Peter Pan and somehow I was a pixie,” Lowe said. “I fell in love. It was almost magical.”
Lowe decided despite her scholarship, she would enroll at Notter School of the Pastry Arts to learn from Notter himself.
Since then, Lowe, now 33, has been doing all she can to excel in the pastry arts, give back to her mentor and parents and educate anyone with a passion for the pastry arts.
Lowe has been focusing on her YouTube channel, Pastry Fundamentals, in which she teaches classic pastry techniques, styles and concepts.
“It’s about enabling people to have the skills to do it themselves,” she said. “I truly believe if I educate the public on what pastry is, they will spend their money where it belongs, toward businesses who are doing a pastry properly and providing a highquality product at a reasonable price.”
Lowe started her own pastry business, Glaze Confections, in October 2020. It was time for her to go out on her own and do business in the way she thought was right.
“What I’m seeing from people who are trying to do baking and who are not pastry chefs at farmers markets is they’ll make a small quantity and charge like $9,” Lowe said. “I don’t agree with that. That’s not OK in my book.
“For Glaze, I’ll produce 500 pieces for a farmers market, and I’ll only charge $3. I’m not going to charge you more than that, because I don’t agree with that, and if I can’t give you that service, I just choose not to do farmers markets until I can.”
Lowe said she wants each person to feel special when eating one of her pastries.
“You should feel like the only person in the world at that moment and get that spark of pixie dust like I felt when my mentor showed me how to make a chocolate flower,” she said. Lowe said she’s been playing the numbers game since the pandemic. As much as she wants to share her creations with the community, she refuses to do so if she can’t make them affordable. With ingredients such as eggs costing her 25 cents per egg compared to 9 cents per egg four years ago, Glaze Confections has taken a backseat. Instead, she’s focusing on making more long-form episodes for Pastry Fundamentals, helping people with a passion for baking like she has had since childhood.
THE EARLY YEARS
Lowe’s passion for pastries and baking started as a child, learning from her mother and grandmother.
Rather than turning in dioramas or diagrams like her classmates at Osceola County School for the Arts, Lowe had other ideas.
She was attending the school to focus on theater, but she also had a knack for baking.
For one assignment, she decided to make a box cake look like the layers of a skin cell. It was a common
AS SEEN ON TV
MEET BRIEA LOWE
AGE: 33
TITLE: Pastry chef and owner of Glaze Confections
EXPERIENCE:
■ Assistant corporate pastry chef for Albert Uster Imports
■ Professional assistant to Ewald Notter at Notter School of Pastry Arts
■ Instructor at Notter School of Pastry Arts
■ Consultant for Sweet Escape Celebration
■ Assistant pastry chef at Everglades Club
■ Pastry cook 1 lead at Rosen Shingle Creek
■ Pastry supervisor and PM production at Waldorf Astoria & Hilton at Bonnet Creek
■ Pastry supervisor for Lowes Royal Pacific
■ Production manager and lead chocolatier for Chocolate Compass
■ Culinary program manager and assistant resident chef for Sur La Table
■ Pastry chef for Fiola Marę
■ Consultant and culinary director for Java Nation
■ Owner and pastry chef for Glaze Confections
occurrence for Lowe to turn in baked items rather than projects out of paper and cardboard.
Lowe said her friends joked that she would never be a “starving artist.” They encouraged her to be a chef.
“I never really thought about it,”
Lowe said. “It was more like I just wanted an excuse to eat with my friends and get an A.”
But because of her learning disabilities and lack of confidence, Lowe was afraid to apply for college. Instead, she pursued culinary school. Upon graduation, she started working at Albert Uster Imports, one of the largest distributors of pastry imports in the United States.
At only 18 years old, she was put to the test. The CEO saw her dedication and passion as an intern and was considering promoting her to become assistant corporate pastry chef. If she did well, she would be the youngest in that position in the company’s history.
In eight hours, Lowe had to create an entree, a 3-foot-tall show piece, three different molded bonbons, a plated dessert, entremet and a
Briea Lowe has competed on several shows including Food Network’s “Halloween Wars,” “Sugar Dome,” “Holiday Wars” and “The Elf on the Shelf: Sweet Showdown.” She currently can be seen on re-runs of season one, episode one of “The Elf on the Shelf: Sweet Showdown” and season seven, episode one of “Holiday Wars.”
wedding cake. She was hired.
Lowe went on to compete in the Junior World Pastry Cup in 2011 in Italy. Her showpiece collapsed with 18 minutes left in the competition. She kept calm and composed under the pressure to ensure she still had something to present. Lowe said she had five out of the 15 international judges in front of her booth representing the U.S. watching her recovery because she was “so laser focused on a goal.”
She placed fifth out of 15 countries, which she said she considered herself a failure for not making the podium, but judges thought differently.
“They said, ‘We’re going to see you go places because of your goal mentality. … You might have placed fifth, but we saw something in you that means volumes more than what we even think you understand right now,’” she said. “I thought I was a loser.”
Competitors signed her chef’s jacket, and she still has it to this day as a reminder of the lessons of perseverance and her goals of continuing to become a better chef.
‘ONLY PRESSURE
MAKES DIAMONDS’
Lowe has participated in 32 competitions, placing in the top three in at least half of them.
She’ll never forget her first experience on TV. She competed in Food Network’s “Sugar Dome” in 2012. Her showpiece came crashing down on her head. The show’s medical team had to come on stage and wake her up as the piece caused her to lose consciousness.
She said her team looked at her with defeat, to which she didn’t disagree, but she refused to give up.
Lowe said she and her team still were able to put together a beautiful piece for the “Wizard of Oz” theme.
Lowe went on to compete in other Food Network shows, including “Halloween Wars,” “The Elf on the Shelf: Sweet Showdown” and “Holiday Wars,” often returning for more than one season.
Each episode came with surmounting pressure. Could her team come through with a victory in the end?
Being on TV allowed Lowe to use that high school theater background to unmask her silly self, although she said being autistic, she tends to be hyper vigilant and guarded while also showing her more serious professional pastry chef side that could show off the skills she’s gained over her career.
“When I choose to do competitions, I have to separate into that theater
“If
performer that wants to be funny and be your court jester, if you will,” Lowe said. “But then there’s that pastry chef discipline training side that goes, ‘We have a goal and we need to win, and what are we going to do to win?’”
At the end of the day, she always has competed to become a better chef, despite what people might say about her online.
Every TV appearance came with criticism as people judged her for how she carried herself in these sometimes pressure-cooker situations, but Lowe said she always used the pressure to fuel her and drive her toward the finish line.
She recalled being bullied after her team won season four of “Halloween Wars.” She only was 21 years old.
“I was the youngest competitor to ever win the show, and people were like, ‘Oh, you didn’t look very happy,’ or ‘Why didn’t you hug your teammates?’ People came up with all sorts of complaints,” she said. “What’s funny is, when we filmed the finale, I had strep throat. I was in a lot of pain. Nobody knows those things. They just immediately try to judge you.”
No matter what people say, Lowe encourages those she teaches to use the stress and pressure they are experiencing to fuel themselves.
“Use it to motivate you because at the end of the day, no one else is going to motivate you but yourself,” she said. “Only pressure makes diamonds.”
a
amyq@OrangeObserver.com Sports Editor / Sam Albuquerque, sama@OrangeObserver.com
people classic pastry techniques, styles and concepts. You can find her on YouTube at @ PastryFundamentals.
and Southwest Orange. If you wish to subscribe, visit our website, OrangeObserver.com, call (407) 656-2121 or visit our office, 661 Garden Commerce Parkway, Suite 180, Winter Garden.
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Courtesy images
Briea Lowe said she wants everyone to feel special each time someone eats one of her pastries.
LEARN FROM THE CHEF
Briea Lowe has started
YouTube channel, Pastry Fundamentals,
teach
Double your donation to Matthew’s Hope
Thanks to an anonymous angel, every dollar — up to $1 million — donated to Matthew’s Hope Ministries before the end of the year will be matched.
And furthermore, the donor also has pledged to match any recurring donations.
Translation: Your generosity this holiday season will make twice the impact to Winter Garden’s local homeless ministry, which celebrates its 15th anniversary next year.
Even better, Matthew’s Hope founder Scott Billue invites everyone who donates to come see their dollars in action. In fact, he considers them not donors but rather investors.
“Matthew’s Hope is designed to move people forward to to a life of independence and self-sustainability ,” Billue says. “We are looking to get people on the right side of life — so they’re not dependent on places like Matthew’s Hope and your tax dollars for the rest of their lives.”
Billue launched Matthew’s Hope as a response to a cold snap in 2010. The weather dipped below 39 degrees,
prompting Billue and his friends to ask local churches to open up to shelter the homeless. West Orange Church of Christ agreed, and over several weeks, allowed people in this community to sleep, eat and stay warm inside its building.
Today, Matthew’s Hope is a $15 million operation with 26 different verticals — all with the goal of providing hope to the homeless. The organization runs a food pantry, shelter, medical facility, preschool, retail shop and more.
And perhaps most important, it offers counseling and mental-health services, which Billue considers crucial to Matthew’s Hope’s mission, because of the crushing weight of anxiety the homeless face.
“Anxiety is off the charts,” he says. “I’ve seen grown men sob because they’re just so tired. And they’re being told, ‘You can’t be here.’”
All of Matthew’s Hope’s work is inspired by Billue’s Christian faith. At the Orange County location, a feature wall displays Matthew 25:3540, the inspiration behind the name: “For I was hungry and you gave Me
something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in, I needed clothes and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you came to visit Me.
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and invite You in, or needing clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and go to visit You?’
The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me.’”
FOR MATTHEW’S HOPE SUCCESS STORIES, READ THE FULL STORY HERE
MATTHEW’S HOPE YEAR END FUNDRAISER
Thanks to an anonymous donor, every Matthew’s Hope donation through the end of the year will be matched — up to $1 million. To donate, scan the QR code above.
First Baptist Church @ Horizon West 15304 Tilden Road, Winter Garden
Sundays: 9:45 AM All Ages www.FBCWG.org
Starke Lake Baptist Church
Pastor Jeff Pritchard PO Box 520 611 W Ave., Ocoee (407) 656-2351 www.StarkeLakeBaptist.org
Victory Baptist Church & Christian Academy
1601 A.D. Mims Rd, Ocoee FL 34761 (407) 656-3097 www.VBCOCOEE.com
First United Methodist www.fumcwg.org 125 N. Lakeview Ave., Winter Garden (407) 656-1135
Services: 9 AM Traditional 10:45 AM Contemporary Also viewable on YouTube
Community remains split on Sand Lake Hills synagogue
Orange County officials held a second meeting with residents to gauge response to an applicant’s request to expand the Orlando Torah Center from one to three stories in a southwest neighborhood.
AMY QUESINBERRY PRICE COMMUNITY EDITOR
Orange County zoning officials held a second community meeting Tuesday, Dec. 10, to continue the dialogue on a special-exemption request by the Orlando Torah Center. The meeting, held at Olympia High School, again entertained a full house, and many residents present at the first meeting, held Wednesday, Nov. 20, returned for their chance to speak.
The Jewish synagogue bought the home at 8613 Banyan Blvd., Orlando, in 2014, acquired a special exception to operate out of the former one-story residence in the Sand Lake Hills subdivision in 2020 and now wants to remodel the houseturned-religious-institution to accommodate a three-story building. The roughly .75-acre property is zoned R-1A single-family residential.
The expansion would add 9,376 square feet to the existing building; however, both presented elevations propose a new building — one with a more contemporary look and the other that would match the surrounding Sand Lake Hills homes.
The applicant, Derek Bruce, was present at the meeting and answered a few questions but did not give a presentation.
Orange County District 1 Commissioner Nicole Wilson asked speakers to limit their comments to three minutes to allow everyone time at the microphone. People spoke both for and against the special-exception request.
“I appreciate your attention, your attention and … your kindness,” she told folks at the meeting.
At the previous meeting, one man was escorted out after becoming belligerent.
Voices were raised at times, and one man accused residents of being anti-Semitic because they didn’t want a Jewish religious institution in their neighborhood.
A Sand Lake Hills resident was worried the structure would eventually house a religious school, but Bruce said the Orlando Torah Center would have to initiate a second request to use the building for educational purposes.
Another speaker said she moved to the subdivision in 2021 with her husband and children.
“Orlando Torah Center is simply not big enough,” she said. “It’s not a request out of luxury but out of necessity. … It does help that the (center) is very much out of the way; it’s in the far west side of the neighborhood. … So much of what we do revolves around walking; our congregants walk and do not drive on (the Sabbath). It’s a place to gather and pray. … It, too, will feel like it’s always been there. We really need this as it serves an important role in our community.”
Others in the Jewish community agreed the expansion is a muchneeded addition.
A resident asked why the building needed to be three stories.
“One of the aspects of religious services for members of Orlando Torah Center is fellowship beyond the specific religious services, (and it gives members) places to retire to outside of the services,” Bruce said.
Another resident asked if the bedrooms would be used as sleeping accommodations for OTC guests visiting Orlando.
“The intention is not to have those as sleeping quarters or bedrooms for guests,” Bruce said. “This is a residential neighborhood, and it has an R-1 zoning, so there’s nothing that prevents them from using it in a residential way, but that’s not the intention.”
One speaker said Orange County is full of synagogues and all of them are on major roads and not in a neighborhood.
“My experience with the Jewish community is that they’re inclusive, generous and not harmful at all,” one man said. “I can’t help believe that whether it’s conscious or subconscious, a lot of this conversation is rooted in anti-Semitism.”
Wilson responded immediately:
“Remember, we’re all neighbors. … I know my neighbors and my community, and I wholeheartedly disagree with that.”
A member of OTC who moved to Sand Lake Hills with her husband and three children said it wasn’t about finding a synagogue but finding a community.
“Since moving here, I’ve come to realize just how much Orlando Torah Center enriches my life and the neighborhood,” she said. “It is housed in a makeshift space. I believe this project will enhance the community in multiple ways.”
One man responded: “This is a deed-restricted community. The deeds on these houses state they cannot be used as a commercial property. This would be the biggest house in the community. Aesthetics don’t keep it like the rest of the neighborhood. … They’re putting in what looks like an office building in the neighborhood.”
A Sand Lake Hills resident offered a challenge: “In this polarized part of our nation now, we spend a great deal of time getting angry with people who don’t agree or get us where we want to to go. I want to challenge us all in this room, as we have this place that we want to stand, that we, first and foremost, lead in love. We don’t have to agree, but we have to lead in love.
“I don’t think it’s opportunist for us to have a commercial building in Sand Lake Hills, but it doesn’t have to do with the people ... it has to do with the operations in the community.
If you don’t hear anything else from here, always lead with love.”
Another man responded: “What we’re talking about is a residential lot in a residential subdivision that’s being used for commercial.”
The Orange County Board of Zoning Adjustment BZA will hear the special request at its Feb. 6, 2025, meeting, followed by an appearance at the Orange County Board of County Commissioners at its Feb. 25 meeting.
Major decisions highlight Windermere council meeting
Although all Windermere Town Council members agree renovations need to be done on Town Hall, there remained a point of contention for one member.
Council Member Brandi Haines was the sole vote against approving the Town Hall restroom and renovation project at council’s Dec. 10 meeting.
Her reservation for approving the project was the location of the restrooms. Haines said council should have moved forward with the renovations to Town Hall but wait on approving the restrooms until council received more community feedback.
“One consensus I’ve heard from the majority of residents, take maybe three or four, is they all agree Town Hall needs to be fixed, so I think we should work on fixing up Town Hall,” Haines said. “This is our star. This should be a shining star throughout the centennial. Bathrooms are an afterthought.”
Haines said people have not had problems with the temporary bathrooms put in place during events and not having permanent public bathrooms near Town Hall. She wanted to wait to approve funding for the restrooms until the council received community survey results on the restrooms from Town Planner Brad Cornelius in January.
She said after attending a community input meeting, which had approximately 50 people in atten-
dance, she saw designs residents created of where the bathrooms should be located either closer to Windermere Branch Library or Windermere Brewing Company.
The restrooms are planned to be constructed close to Town Hall adjacent to the town’s ADA parking spots near Town Hall. Constructing the restrooms in this location will minimize the impact on usable green space and maintain unobstructed views for Forest Street residents while reducing activity and noise near Forest Street. It also takes advantage of existing septic system infrastructure.
“We’re not listening to the residents,” Haines said. “Even on the last charette we had that was on Zoom, 95% of the people (who) spoke said don’t put it next to Town Hall. Everyone likes to say we’re listening to the residents, but that doesn’t feel that way right now.”
Council Member Andy Williams said work needs to begin somewhere, and the restrooms are the first phase of the project, which will likely occur at the same time as phase two because of the project’s timeline and the town’s centennial celebrations in 2025.
“I’m not saying don’t do the bathrooms. They need to happen, but I see this project moving forward,” Williams said. “It’s not, ‘Oh, OK, let’s start on Town Hall and not do anything and waste, what, two years to get started now when we need to get started on something.”
The new restroom building, which will include a family restroom, is phase one; exterior renovations of
Town Hall is phase two; and the north porch addition, existing restroom renovations, stage access and interior renovations are phase three.
Council member Tony Davit said during a meeting on the project, residents were asked to share what their favorite and least favorite pieces of Windermere were, and on the favorite list was green space and the historic trees, while on the least favorites list was the lack of real restrooms.
“To solve both of those problems, we need to move forward and do something,” Davit said. “We have been talking to ourselves for two years on this. How much discussion do we have to have before we move and give the residents what they want?”
CHAINE DU LAC ANNEXATION
Chaine du Lac registered voters will have the chance to say whether they want to be a part of Windermere.
Windermere Town Council approved 4-1 an ordinance regarding
the annexation of Chaine du Lac into the town’s corporate limits. Haines dissented.
The ordinance calls for a special election to hold a referendum, by mail-in ballot, of registered voters in Chaine du Lac on whether the area should be annexed. The referendum for the annexation will be held Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. To pass, the referendum will require a 50% plus one vote.
Chaine du Lac is located on about 102 acres south of Lake Butler Boulevard and abuts the town limits to the west. The annexation would include the community’s entire area, including the community’s homeowners association.
Chaine du Lac would add about one-third of a square mile to the Windermere proper town limit of 2.2 square miles.
Windermere currently has about 3,038 residents, with a total of about 3,250 residents estimated after buildout. If annexed, Chaine du Lac would add about 212 residents.
Although Town Council Member Tom Stroup said he’s not opposed to the annexation of Chaine du Lac, he said all residents should have a say regarding annexations, regardless of cost.
According to cost estimates from Town Clerk Dorothy Burkhalter, advertising the referendum to only Chaine du Lac residents would cost about $1,500 to $2,000, compared to the $4,000 to $5,000 cost to advertising the referendum to all town residents.
Having only the Chaine du Lac community voting on the referendum could set a precedent for future annexations, Stroup cautioned.
Stroup said Chaine du Lac is “probably an asset to the community,” but what happens when the next area to be annexed is not something people in the community want?
Mayor Jim O’Brien said an annexation only would be considered if it was mutually beneficial to the community and the town. Regarding Chaine du Lac, he said there are plenty of benefits.
“It’s in the targeted area council identified several years back in terms of types of locations and developments we would be interested in annexing into our community,” he said. “It’s a well-maintained community. It’s on the lake. It brings in a significant amount of revenue that
LEADERS MULL GOLF CART SAFETY
Windermere Town Council also discussed the usage of golf carts and pedestrian crossings within the town.
Council Member Brandi Haines requested Mike Woodward, a traffic engineer with Kimley-Horn, look into potential new intersections in downtown for residents to cross in their golf carts safely. Current intersections are cumbersome for some residents to be able to get downtown, she said. Haines also wanted Woodward to look into a way for residents to be able to cross the bridge and get to Windermere Elementary School.
Other council members decided Woodward should wait to look into a path to the elementary school until after the bridge is constructed as its construction could alter the way people trans-
can help us to do some of the work we would like to do in town, keep our taxes low for our taxpayers. You have to look at the big picture, and you have to make each of these decisions based upon the information that pertains to what we’re trying to accomplish here. We’re not in this just to get bigger.”
Stroup said referendums always should be put in place regarding annexation, and the council should look into having referendums that don’t require majority turnout.
“We take input from citizens of Windermere on bathrooms, Town Hall renovations, on everything,” he said. “I don’t see why we shouldn’t take input from citizens on things like that too. Maybe it’s not a referendum? Maybe we should have something in place to get even more opinion of the residents before we annex.”
Davit questioned at what point does Town Council legislate referendums then? Stroup said annexation is where council draws the line for holding referendums.
Haines advocated for having all town residents vote in the referendum, especially after Windermere only hosted one public workshop for all residents. She said the other meetings hosted were for Chaine du Lac residents.
Chaine du Lac residents will vote whether they want the community to be annexed into Windermere.
Roper YMCA celebrates seniors
The Roper YMCA
Cen-
assisted residents of the older population on their wellness journey during the Nov. 20 Healthy Seniors Day. Senior citizens were encouraged to join a few friends and explore the array of YMCA programs and activities tailored for their age group. Community health partners, sample classes and workshops, and more were offered throughout the day.
Cub Scout Pack launches in Waterleigh Village
The aptly numbered Pack 429 meets most Wednesday evenings in the Atwater Bay Elementary School cafeteria.
SAM ALBUQUERQUE
SPORTS EDITOR
After holding its first official pack meeting Dec. 4, Cub Scout Pack 429 has officially joined the ranks of West Orange and Southwest Orange scouts.
“After about a month and a half of recruiting at our three primary schools — Atwater Bay, Panther Lake and Water Spring elementary schools — we finally had our charter recognized at the end of November,” Pack 429 Cubmaster Dave Puig said. “From there, we had a welcome-tothe-pack meeting on Nov. 20, and that was more of an orientation-type meeting. It was our Dec. 4 meeting that was our big blowout event where we brought all the kids in, played games and just had a great time.”
Aptly numbered, Pack 429 will serve the Waterleigh community of Horizon West — recruiting K-5 students from elementary schools west of State Road 429. The new pack, led by Puig, meets at 6 p.m. on the first, third and fourth Wednesday of each month in Atwater Bay Elementary School’s cafeteria.
“As most locals know, Horizon West is one of the fastest-growing regions in Florida,” Puig said. “But prior to starting Pack 429, only one Cub Scout Pack was serving this entire area — Pack 5, which pulled students from Summerlake Elementary, Independence Elementary, Hamlin Elementary, Water Spring Elementary and Panther Lake, as well. We ended up with (more than) 100 kids in that pack, which isn’t ideal. A pack is only designed to have 50 or fewer kids in it and when you get that large, you really lose the ability to focus on the intent of cub scouting, which is to help every scout
PACK 429 WHEN: 6 p.m. on the first, third and fourth Wednesdays of the month WHERE: Atwater Bay Elementary School, 11000 Atwater Bay Drive, Winter Garden
INFORMATION: Parents interested in signing up their elementary-aged children can find more information on the pack’s website, pack429.com.
and their families to be engaged with the values that scouting is about: character, leadership, personal fitness and citizenship.”
Puig is excited about the new pack and its ability to fill various needs within the Waterleigh community, which he felt was being underserved.
“We’re an inclusive pack that’ll take any kid interested in meeting at the time and place we meet, but when it comes to our recruiting efforts, those three schools — Atwater Bay, Panther Lake and Water Spring — are where we felt we need to put our focus,” Puig said. “We really felt that those three schools were being underserved, especially when you consider the fact that we have a large Brazilian community here. Having our own pack here that focuses solely on this area allows us to tailor how we serve our scouts and families in the way they need us to, like having quite a few Portuguesespeaking leaders in the unit.” So far, everything is going to plan with the young pack, and Puig can
already see the mission of the Cub Scouts taking effect in the Waterleigh community.
“Cub scouting is focused on living the ideals and values embedded in the Scout Oath, Scout Law and motto,” he said. “So for us, as a brand-new pack of 32 energetic kids and families who have joined us, everything that we do is about instilling those values of the oath and the law back into not only the school but also the community. The idea is that we want kids to have a sense of belonging to their small den organization that involves both the scouts and their families, which, in turn, serves to impact the home and really the whole neighborhood with different service projects. … We’ve already been involved with various service projects (such as) Scouting for Food, Toys for Tots, and we even had some Cub Scouts go out at Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery to participate in a Wreaths Across America event, where they lay wreaths on the gravesites of veterans to honor their service and sacrifice.”
Raquel Mendez, left, and Junior Melendez shared information with seniors about Integrated Chiropractic in Winter Garden.
Aixa Vargas, left, and Jo Barsh provided information about State Farm insurance.
Right: Ashleigh Kleinschmidt, left, and Catherine Cruz represented Bayada, a one-on-one home health care agency.
Courtesy photo
Cubmaster Dave Puig guided new members through reciting the Scout Oath at their first official pack meeting.
LAKES OF WINDERMERE
The home at 6625 Doncaster St., Windermere, sold Dec. 9, for $600,000. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 3,016 square feet. Days on market: Four.
LAKESHORE PRESERVE
The townhouse at 8830 Bismarck Palm Drive, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 12, for $640,000. Built in 2017, it has three bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 2,207 square feet. Days on market: 15.
LAKEVIEW POINTE
The home at 7251 Spring Park Drive, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 13, for $742,000. Built in 2018, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 3,295 square feet. Days on market: 113.
MAGNOLIA PARK
The home at 4418 Begonia Court, Windermere, sold Dec. 12, for $939,000. Built in 1997, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 3,119 square feet. Days on market: 14.
ORCHARD HILLS
The home at 5585 Cypress Hill Road, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 9, for $570,000. Built in 2016, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,747 square feet. Days on market: 53.
OVERLOOK 2 AT HAMLIN
Ahome in Bay Point in Dr. Phillips topped all West Orange-area residential real-estate transactions from Dec. 9 to 15.
The home at 9210 Bay Point Drive, Orlando, sold Dec. 12, for $5,582,500.
Built in 2020, it has five bedrooms, five baths, three half-baths and 5,912 square feet. Days on market: 81. The sellers were represented by George Stringer, Coldwell Banker Realty.
These are the highestselling homes in each community in West Orange.
DR. PHILLIPS
BAY POINT
The home at 9210 Bay Point Drive sold Dec. 12, for $5,582,500. Built in 2020, it has five bedrooms, five baths, three half-baths and 5,912 square feet. Days on market: 81.
BAY HILL VILLAGE
The home at 8983 Savannah Park, No. 33, Orlando, sold Dec. 10, for $1,450,000. Built in 1980, it has three bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 2,107 square feet. Days on market: 58.
BAY LAKES AT GRANADA
The home at 8511 Granada Blvd., Orlando, sold Dec. 9, for $563,325. Built in 1983, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,881 square feet. Days on market: 28.
EMERALD FOREST
The home at 10015 Canopy Tree Court sold Dec. 13, for $850,000. Built in 1999, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 3,149 square feet. Days on market: 49.
ORANGE TREE COUNTRY CLUB
The home at 7306 Sparkling Lake Road, Orlando, sold Dec. 13, for $730,000. Built in 1987, it has five bedrooms, four-and-one-half baths and 3,093 square feet. Days on market: 65.
RESERVE AT PHILLIPS COVE
The home at 6908 Phillips Reserve Court, Orlando, sold Dec. 12, for $875,000. Built in 2017, it has five bedrooms, four-and-one-half baths and 3,738 square feet. Days on market: Seven.
OCOEE FORESTBROOKE
The home at 3211 Jamber Drive, Ocoee, sold Dec. 12, for $629,900. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 3,334 square feet. Days on market: 43.
OCOEE COMMONS
The home at 840 Kazaros Circle, Ocoee, sold Dec. 12, for $500,000. Built in 2006, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 3,076 square feet. Days on market: 46.
VILLAGES OF WESMERE
The home at 1985 Fishtail Fern Way, Ocoee, sold Dec. 11, for $535,000. Built in 2011, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,426 square feet. Days on market: 16.
VINEYARDS
The home at 509 Zinfandel Court, Ocoee, sold Dec. 13, for $565,000. Built in 2006, it has six bedrooms, three baths and 3,753 square feet. Days on market: 16.
WESTYN BAY
The home at 2425 Orsota Circle, Ocoee, sold Dec. 11, for $595,000. Built in 2005, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 3,586 square feet. Days on market: 71.
WYNWOOD
The home at 2531 Coachwood Drive, Ocoee, sold Dec. 9, for $459,990. Built in 2024, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,828 square feet. Days on market: 107.
SOUTHWEST ORANGE
SAND LAKE COVE
The home at 10332 Newington Drive, Orlando, sold Dec. 11, for $805,000. Built in 1997, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 3,590 square feet. Days on market: 117.
SAND LAKE SOUND
The townhouse at 7409 Alpine Butterfly Lane, Orlando, sold Dec. 13, for $550,550. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 1,647 square feet. Days on market: Five.
TOSCANA
The townhouse at 6881 Piazza St., Orlando, sold Dec. 12, for $500,000. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 2,514 square feet. Days on market: 21.
VIZCAYA HEIGHTS
The condo at 8749 The Esplanade, No. 13, sold Dec. 10, for $680,000. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,549 square feet. Days on market: 58.
GOTHA
SIENA GARDENS
The home at 208 Siena Gardens Circle, Gotha, sold Dec. 11, for $780,000. Built in 2012, it has five bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,886 square feet. Days on market: 87.
HORIZON WEST
DEL WEBB OASIS
The home at 15404 Orchard Garden St., Winter Garden, sold Dec. 9, for $730,000. Built in 2024, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,870 square feet. Days on market: 34.
ENCLAVE
The home at 17550 Black Rail St., Windermere, sold Dec. 9, for $1,335,000. Built in 2015, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 4,908 square feet. Days on market: 44.
HAMILTON GARDENS
The home at 6187 Glory Bower Drive sold Dec. 10, for $535,000. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,042 square feet. Days on market: 12.
HAMLIN POINTE
The home at 16733 Hamlin Vista Alley, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 13, for $539,990. Built in 2024, it has three bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 2,078 square feet. Days on market: 119.
HARVEST AT OVATION
The home at 15014 Summer Harvest St., Winter Garden, sold Dec. 9, for $619,040. Built in 2024, it has five bedrooms, four-and-one-half baths and 2,861 square feet of living area.
HICKORY HAMMOCK
The home at 15948 Citrus Knoll Drive, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 11, for $1,175,000. Built in 2016, it has four bedrooms, three-and-onehalf baths and 2,883 square feet. Days on market: 11.
HIGHLAND RIDGE
The home at 14099 Frasier St., Winter Garden, sold Dec. 12, for $545,000. Built in 2024, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,088 square feet. Days on market: 132.
INDEPENDENCE
The home at 14603 Whittridge Drive, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 13, for $630,000. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,224 square feet. Days on market: 13.
The home at 5533 Bowman Drive, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 9, for $600,000. Built in 2017, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 2,994 square feet of living area. Days on market: Four.
The home at 5548 Thomas Square Drive, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 11, for $580,000. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, three-and-onehalf baths and 2,342 square feet. Days on market: Nine.
SERENADE AT OVATION
The home at 13212 Peaceful Melody Drive, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 10, for $760,000. Built in 2024, it has four bedrooms, three-and-onehalf baths and 2,689 square feet. Days on market: 336.
SUMMERLAKE
The home at 14830 Porter Road, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 9, for $607,000. Built in 2016, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,619 square feet. Days on market: 29.
SUMMERPORT
The home at 13832 Bluebird Park Road, Windermere, sold Dec. 12, for $740,000. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 3,551 square feet.
WATERMARK
The home at 9399 Trinana Circle, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 13, for $1,225,000. Built in 2015, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 3,831 square feet. Days on market: 164.
The home at 14729 Scott Key Drive, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 10, for $772,000. Built in 2019, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 2,935 square feet. Days on market: 52.
WEST POINT COMMONS
The home at 13908 Orange Crest Drive, Windermere, sold Dec. 9, for $750,000. Built in 2003, it has six bedrooms, four baths and 3,243 square feet. Days on market: 119.
WINCEY GROVES
The home at 5308 Golden Apple Drive, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 13, for $755,000. Built in 2021, it has four bedrooms, three-and-onehalf baths and 2,724 square feet of living area. Days on market: Nine.
LAKE SHEEN SOUND
The home at 9149 Sheen Sound St., Orlando, sold Dec. 11, for $2,379,012. Built in 2024, it has six bedrooms, five-and-one-half baths and 5,232 square feet. Days on market: 139.
ROYAL CYPRESS PRESERVE
The home at 10648 Royal Cypress Way, Orlando, sold Dec. 9, for $815,000. Built in 2019, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,353 square feet. Days on market: 157.
WINDERMERE
BUTLER RIDGE
The home at 5003 Autumn Ridge Court, Windermere, sold Dec. 10, for $1,240,000. Built in 2003, it has six bedrooms, five baths and 6,126 square feet of living area. Days on market: 194.
LAKE DOWN COVE
The home at 9541 Hempel Cove Blvd., Windermere, sold Dec. 13, for $945,000. Built in 1997, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 3,191 square feet. Days on market: 89.
WINTER GARDEN
MCALLISTER LANDING
The home at 729 Caterpillar Run, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 12, for $730,000. Built in 2019, it has six bedrooms, four baths and 4,194 square feet of living area. Days on market: 25.
OAKLAND PARK
The home at 1210 Oak Fort Lane, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 13, for $835,000. Built in 2024, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,247 square feet. Days on market: 122.
WATERSIDE AT JOHNS LAKE
The home at 16711 Otterchase Lane, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 13, for $1,210,000. Built in 2020, it has six bedrooms, four-and-one-half baths and 4,474 square feet. Days on market: 38.
WINTERMERE POINTE
The home at 2236 Wintermere Pointe Drive, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 12, for $810,000. Built in 1999, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 3,080 square feet. Days on market: Eight.
SPORTS
HIGH 5
1
Windermere High boys basketball player T.J. Drain scored 39 points in the Wolverines’ 77-67 road win over rivals Olympia High. The total was a new program record for most points scored in a game and a personal career-high.
The 6-foot-8 forward, signed to play college hoops at Liberty University next season, is starting his senior season in similar form to where he left off in 2023-24 as the Wolverines (7-1) leader in points per game (19.8), rebounds (8.6) and blocks (3.2).
2Foundation Academy alum and star football player Danny Stutsman, a standout linebacker for the Oklahoma Sooners, has been named to both the AFCA FBS Coaches’ and Walter Camp AllAmerican first teams.
The senior racked up 110 total tackles — his third season recording more than 100 tackles — and one sack in 12 games for the Sooners, who finished with a 6-6 record in their first season in the SEC.
Along with the announcement of Stutsman’s All-American honors, the former Lion also penned a goodbye letter to Sooner Nation, announcing he will declare for the 2025 NFL Draft.
3
The Windermere High esports team has claimed the 2024 Florida FASA Mario Kart State Championship after beating Dr. Phillips esports in the title round, 2-0.
The Wolverines were able to hold off a Panthers team — which won the Mario Kart state championship during the spring esports season — that pushed Windermere throughout the match, fighting to the last lap. Beyond winning the title and bringing home the hardware, the win for the Wolverines marked the completion of an undefeated season.
This state title and undefeated run aren’t the only examples of Windermere establishing itself as the area’s dominant esports program. Last season, the Wolverines also won the FASA Rocket League State Championship during the 2024 FASA PlayVS esports state championships, Florida’s first-ever in-person esports competition, hosted April 27 at Windermere High.
4
Dr. Phillips High football player Julien Michel announced on his X account that he will be de-committing from Alabama State University and his recruitment has reopened.
The Panthers’ 6-foot-3 cornerback initially selected the Hornets in September, but after a stellar senior season — during which Michel helped lead Dr. Phillips to the state semifinals — he’s received more attention on the recruiting trail, recently picking up offers from FCS programs Morehouse and Bethune-Cookman.
5
The annual West Orange Chamber of Commerce Golf Classic is set to make its return Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, at the West Orange Country Club. From 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the scramble-style tournament, local business leaders will have the perfect opportunity to bring their top clients, key prospects or office staff for a lively afternoon of relationship building on the fairway. Registrations must be made by Jan. 3, 2025.
ONE-TWO PUNCH
Alfredo Adrian and Francesco Sanchez have combined to score 35 goals, leading the Wolverines’ to a 9-1-1 record and their hopes of bringing home a state championship.
SAM ALBUQUERQUE SPORTS EDITOR
Innovative strategies, transformative individual talents and an increased understanding of advanced statistics all have played a major role in evolving how sports are played across every level. Think of the increased importance basketball teams put on the three-point shot or how the advent and mass-adoption of the spread offense in football has teams throwing the ball at record-high rates. In modern soccer, one of its monumental evolutions has been the formational shift to a three-forward attacking line — deploying a central forward and two wide forwards, also known as wingers, flanking either side of the player in the middle.
However, with every new change in how a game is played, there is a
As the three-point shot’s importance increased in basketball, the need and value for mid-range specialists and post-up big men decreased and drastically eroded the number of players who fit those archetypes over time. The same can be said for running backs in football. For the beautiful game, the sacrifice made at the altar of evolution and innovation has been the twoman striker partnership. In today’s game, duos such as Thierry Henry and Dennis Berkamp for Arsenal FC, Ronaldo and Raul at Real Madrid, Manchester United’s Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke or Brazil’s World Cupwinning pair of Romario and Bebeto have all but gone extinct.
Every so often, though, there’s an exception to the norm. A team that chooses, for whatever reason, to zig when everyone else is
In the case of the 2024-25 Windermere High boys soccer team, coach Lou Romao’s reason for changing his tactical approach and bucking the
API’s Ken Hoffman named PGA Volunteer of the Year
The former volunteer general chairman of the Arnold Palmer Invitational dedicated more than four decades to volunteering at Orlando’s PGA Tour stop.
SAM ALBUQUERQUE
SPORTS EDITOR
The legacy left behind by Arnold Palmer is more than a historic golf career. It’s more than a PGA Tour tournament named after him at a course with a massive bronze statue of him. Palmer’s legacy is even bigger than his philanthropic efforts that led to the creation of the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation.
“Arnie,” as he was affectionately called, left behind such a massive legacy that instead of measuring it by his accomplishments, it can be best captured by looking at the people he inspired and how they’ve carried on
his work following his passing. A perfect example is Ken Hoffman, a volunteer at the Arnold Palmer Invitational for more than 45 years, getting his start at the tournament in 1979 as a member of the Status Board Committee. Working his way through various other API volunteer committees, Hoffman served as a member of the Volunteer Executive Board for eight years before becoming its general chairman from 201718.
“I think in being around Arnold Palmer, I’ve tried to emulate him and all the good things he did for everybody,” Hoffman said. Living up to that goal, follow-
with
ing his tenure as chairman, Hoffman bucked the trend of retiring from service at the API and instead continued to give his time and support to the tournament, serving as a member of the Volunteer Executive Leadership Team, which oversees the scoring committees.
Because of Hoffman’s devotion to his work as a volunteer for nearly a half-century and his role as a standard-bearer for Palmer’s legacy, he was recognized recently as the 2024 PGA Tour Volunteer of the Year.
West Orange football’s do-it-all lineman Nicolas Marti was a key part of the Warriors’ special 2024 season. Page 2B.
Courtesy photo
The 2024 PGA Tour Volunteer of the Year, Ken Hoffman, left, shared a moment
legendary golfer Arnold Palmer.
Sam Albuquerque
Windermere’s Francesco Sanchez (No. 10) and Alfredo Adrian (No. 21) started their runs during a free kick.
THE WEEK Nicolas Marti
West Orange football’s do-it-all lineman, Nicolas Marti was a key part of the Warriors’ special 2024 season.
As one of the members of the West Orange High football team’s senior class, Marti’s leadership was crucial to the Warriors 10-3 record and regional championship game appearance.
The versatile lineman — who was predominantly deployed at the center position — showed his value to the program throughout the season by filling in where needed, playing on the outside and inside of the offensive line and even flipping over to the defensive front at times.
However, Marti didn’t only play in these various spots, he thrived at each position — finishing the season with more than 45 pancake blocks while not allowing a sack or QB pressure and on defense in less than 50 snaps of play, he managed to pick up four tackles for loss and three QB hurries.
I
and
appreciative to have been selected as Athlete of the Week.
What do you enjoy the most about football?
The thing I enjoy the most is being able to compete and play the sport I love with my brothers.
What is your goal when it comes to the sport of football?
My goal is for football to take me as far as it can. I believe it will open so many doors for me in the future.
What would it mean to you to play at the next level?
Playing football at the next level would be a dream come true.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from football?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is how to persevere when adversity hits.
What is your favorite football memory?
I would say my favorite memory is winning the national championship with my 12U team.
Who is your favorite athlete?
My favorite athlete is Michael Jordan, because of his mentality and how he attacks things.
Is there someone after whom you try to model your game?
I try modeling my game after Jason Kelce, because he is one of the best ever to have played the center position. I watch his film to see how he uses technique and knowledge to his advantage.
What are three things you would take with you to a deserted island?
I would take my phone for entertainment, a fishing kit to get food and an ATV to be able to explore the island.
What is your favorite movie?
My favorite movie is “Kung Fu Panda,” because of the meaning behind the story.
If you could have dinner with one person — dead or alive — who would it be?
I would have dinner with my grandma. She passed away, so I would want to talk to her one more time.
If you could go back in time, when and where would you go?
I would go back to 2018, when the Philadelphia Eagles beat the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, because Tom Brady lost.
Looking back, what piece of advice would you give your younger self?
I would tell myself to take every opportunity and embrace it because life goes by a lot faster than you think.
If you could ask your future self a question, what would it be?
I would ask if I enjoyed the journey that led me to where I am.
Who is your favorite superhero?
My favorite superhero is Rocket the Raccoon from “Guardians of the Galaxy,” because he will face
Who is your favorite supervilThanos, because he was willing to do anything to accomplish his
If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
I would want to have the power to control time, because I could go anywhere during any time
If you could be an animal for a day, which one would you be and I would want to be an eagle, so I could fly as high as I want and see the world from up there.
What is your most controver-
My most controversial food take is that pickles belong in
Does pineapple belong on No. Why would you put fruit
— SAM ALBUQUERQUE
Windermere boys basketball tops Olympia
The Windermere Wolverines boys basketball team continued its stellar start to the 2024-25 season by going on the road to Olympia High Dec. 13 and getting its seventh consecutive victory, 77-67.
Led by senior big man T.J. Drain, a Liberty University signee, and his 39 points — a career-high and program record for points scored in a single game — the Wolverines moved to 7-1 on the season.
The new-look Titans, who return no starters from last season’s team and are in their first year under new coach Justin Shipp, moved to 4-5 with the loss.
Windermere returns to action Thursday, Dec. 26, against Cypress Bay High in the first game of a three-day tournament — having played Wekiva High and Evans High after press time.
Olympia will be back on the court as part of the Mainland High Holiday Tournament in Daytona, starting the three-day event by taking on Discovery High Thursday, Dec. 26 — having played Lake Brantley High and West Orange High after press time.
Hoffman receives PGA honor
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
“Ken’s impact on the Arnold Palmer Invitational … has been undeniable,” API Executive Director Drew Donovan said.
“Ken inspires us every day to keep pressing and doing the best we can for this event. We’re excited the rest of the PGA Tour is inspired by Ken and chose him as the 2024 Volunteer of the Year.”
Hoffman was grateful for the honor but made sure his fellow volunteers received recognition for their efforts, too.
“I am honored to be selected as the 2024 PGA Tour Volunteer of the Year,” Hoffman said. “Thank you to the PGA Tour selection committee, including Arnold Palmer Invitational … staff and board members, and to the thousands of tournament volunteers who have walked beside me throughout my upcoming 46th year as a volunteer.”
Along with the prestigious award, the PGA also will donate $10,000 on Hoffman’s behalf to a charity of his choice. Knowing his passion for this tournament and the good its namesake and
subsequent charity work done by Palmer and in his name, Hoffman selected the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation — the primary beneficiary of the Arnold Palmer Invitational — as the recipient of the gift.
“Thank you to the volunteers throughout the years who have continued to support Arnie’s Army and associated charities, which have benefitted thousands of women and babies in the Orlando area,” Hoffman said. “My first tour of the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies in Orlando stole my heart. … Observing a preemie baby in an incubator is eye-awakening, no less astonishing and life-saving.”
Created to honor the legacies of Palmer and his wife, Winnie Palmer, the foundation focuses on impacting people in the game of golf and beyond. In Central Florida, the foundation’s philanthropic work in children’s health, youth character development and nature-focused wellness has been incredible. The foundation and tournament also support other important efforts, including the Arnold Palmer Hos-
pital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies, the redevelopment of Lake Lorna Doone Park and the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve in Arnold Palmer’s hometown of Latrobe, Pennsylvania.
Volunteers, such as Hoffman, are crucial to the success of the PGA Tour’s tournaments. With more than 100,000 volunteers serving throughout the tour’s events each year, operating with the same unsurpassed guest service would not be possible without their time and effort.
Beyond their necessity to the tour, the countless hours put in by these volunteers assist about 3,000 charities each year, with virtually all PGA Tour tournaments being organized as nonprofit organizations to maximize charitable giving. To date, the tournaments across all tours have generated more than $4 billion in charitable gifts.
Orlando’s PGA Tour stop, which benefits a number of local causes, the Arnold Palmer Invitational, returns to Bay Hill Club & Lodge March 6-9, 2025.
SAM ALBUQUERQUE
Photos by David Jester
Wolverines forward T.J. Drain (No. 23) showed how rangy he is during the game’s opening tip.
Olympia’s Jonathan Watts (No. 11) slammed the ball after a fast break.
Olympia senior guard Nick Blake (No. 3) faced two Windermere defenders while working around the screen set by teammate Carson Punt (No. 30).
Thomas Lightbody | TK Photography
Dynamic duo leads Wolverines
front three in favor of an old-school striker partnership came in the form of junior forwards Alfredo Adrian and Francesco “Checo” Sanchez.
“Their partnership is one of a kind,” Romao said. “You don’t see this sort of connection between players this talented very often. It’s almost like Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippin — but with the caveat that either can be Jordan on any given night. … In all honesty, either of them could have been our starting striker, but when we saw we had two great strikers, we knew right away that we wanted to put them up front together. We knew they’d be a good fit because they play their hearts out for each other.”
Romao and his coaching staff were spot-on in their analysis. Through 11 games, the duo has combined to score 35 goals and have been the driving force behind Windermere’s 9-1-1 start.
THEY JUST GO TOGETHER
Like peanut butter and jelly, cookies and milk, or any other great onetwo punch, Sanchez and Adrian bring different qualities to the table that, for whatever reason, seamlessly blend together in a way that produces a delicious result.
“They’re both phenomenal players in their own rights,” Romao said. “Checo is a very skillful player who likes to hold on to the ball but knows when and how to release it. He has good vision, knows when to take a shot, and is extremely quick with the ball at his foot. Alfredo is just a ball of speed, ability and agility who always finds himself behind the defense, on the receiving end of a through ball. He loves taking on
defenders one-on-one and can have a field day against pretty much any defender he’ll see this season.
“They both have their two distinct styles, but their styles work well together,” he said. “Alfredo often uses his athleticism to win balls in the air and get Checo the ball in an attacking position. And now, because of Checo’s production so far, defenses have been keying in on him and making sure he’s having to contest with multiple defenders. Lucky for us, not only because he’s skilled enough to deal with that attention but also because that usually opens up Alfredo to be on the receiving end of a ball — which is why he’s been on a tear in the last few games. Of course, if defenses don’t concentrate on sending extra defenders at Checo, he’s shown that he’ll blow past guys all day.”
Their connection goes beyond how they complement each other on the field.
“They just have a special relationship,” Romao said. “Yes, they are both great players who have put up incredible statistics this season, and they have this chemistry on the field together that oftentimes makes them feel unstoppable. But I think that comes from their relationship; they’re like brothers, they’re always hanging out together. Their connection goes beyond just what they do on the field; it’s much more about what they do off the field. Although they’re not blood-related, they are definitely brothers off the field.”
BIG PRODUCTION, BIG EXPECTATIONS
After last season’s historic run during which Romao led Windermere to its first regional championship in his first year in charge of the Wolverines, it is no secret that there are increased expectations for Year Two. With a bit more than half the season under its belt, Windermere has shown to be one of the best teams in West Orange and Southwest Orange, but the question still remains if it is ready to push the program even further and bring home a state title.
“We have the talent to go further than last season, but we still have a little bit of work to do when it comes to our mentality,” Romao said. “If we’re able to develop our mentality when we get back from the Christmas break, we have a real chance to make a run at a championship. … Right now, we’re 9-1-1 and that for us, believe it or not, is below our expectations, so there’s a lot we know we need to improve on if we, both players and coaches, are going to reach the very high goals we have set for this season. But do I think we can get there and win it? Absolutely, but it’ll come down things like being able to execute tactical changes midgame, fighting through mental and physical exhaustion and outworking the other team and generally being mentally locked in for the entire 80 minutes. I think we can get there because I know the coaching staff, myself and these players will push one another every day.”
Photos by Sam Albuquerque
Alfredo Adrian (No. 21) dribbled against a Horizon High defender. CONTINUED
The bond Francesco Sanchez (No. 10) and Alfredo Adrian (No. 21) friendship off the field has translated to on-field success.
DOUG ROSE
GOTHA MIDDLE SCHOOL
Doug Rose is the sixth-grade life science teacher and sixth-grade gifted endorsed teacher at Gotha Middle School, where he has been employed for 21 years.
“He goes above and beyond to plan and facilitate engaging, hands-on scientific lessons,” Gotha Middle Principal Monica L. Emory said. “His kids are not just learning about science; they are experiencing and living it!” Rose was named the school’s Teacher of the Year in 2010.
What brought you to your school?
Being new to Orlando in 2004, I was told Gotha was a great school to work at. It has proven to be true! I am now in my 21st year teaching at Gotha Middle.
What is your favorite children’s book and why?
What do you love most about your school?
I definitely love and am grateful for the administration at Gotha, the staff/teachers I work with, and the community that supports our school. Our goal is to put students’ learning first and, along the way, have fun doing it in an engaging environment. “It’s a Great Day to be a Grizzly,” as they say!
H.G. Wells’ “The Time Machine” was my favorite fiction book. The ability to travel through time captured my imagination as a kid.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love to travel, hike, camp, visit theme parks, and spend time with family and friends.
If you could dine with any famous person, past or present, who would it be and why?
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What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Most rewarding part is seeing my students succeed in middle school and beyond. This is my 29th year teaching. I have been around long enough to have kids, now adults, come back and share how they remember and enjoyed my class.
What would you be if you weren’t in this profession?
I would be a national park ranger. I’ve backpacked, hiked and camped in 23 national parks throughout the United States. To do that in some form or fashion — and get paid — would be amazing.
Who influences you?
My faith in Christ influences me daily. This world, circumstances and influences around may change, but what a comfort to know that He is the same yesterday, today and forever!
Thomas Edison would be my famous person I would choose to dine with. He was brilliant and ahead of his time! I’ve been to his laboratory in West Orange, New Jersey; Glenmont, his estate; and his winter home in Fort Myers. Incredible influencer and scientist!
If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
Teleportation — so I could avoid Orlando traffic!
If you could only listen to three bands or artists, who would they be and why?
Chris Tomlin, Cody Carnes and Rascal Flatts. I love their music and message.
What was your go-to lunch and favorite snack as an elementary student?
Who was your favorite teacher when you were in school? Why? Everyone can remember that one teacher who was their favorite. Most likely those teachers were the ones who built that positive teacher/student relationship with you. For me it was my college professor, who recently passed away, Dr. Tim Heaton. An incredible teacher, mentor and friend.
REPORT CARD
POSITION: Sixth-grade life science teacher TIME AT SCHOOL: 21 years
In elementary school, my mom would feed me a tuna fish sandwich before any big assessment. She said it was “brain food.” I’m not sure if it helped, but they were good!
What is your favorite holiday and why?
My favorite holiday is definitely Christmas. I love the season, what it means and the food!
Who was your best friend when you were in school and why? Are you still in touch?
The guys in my wedding were my best friends throughout my school years. I’m fortunate to still be in touch with each.
What were your extracurricular activities as a student? Did you win any accolades or honors?
I played varsity tennis in high school, was Homecoming king my high school senior year and earned a 4.0 in my master’s degree at USF.
— AMY QUESINBERRY PRICE
New York groove
Two members of West Orange High’s band and one from Windermere High spent the Thanksgiving holiday in New York City marching in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
AMY QUESINBERRY PRICE COMMUNITY EDITOR
Three local high school band students were invited to experience the thrill of marching through the streets of New York City in this year’s 98th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Brady Anderson, a senior at Windermere High School, and West Orange High School senior Adam McKenna and junior Asher Whitman were among the musicians selected to participate in Macy’s Great American Marching Band.
About 800 band members auditioned for a spot in the band by submitting a video of themselves performing a solo on their instruments plus various marching techniques.
“It was an amazing experience to be in something I’d been watching my whole life and surreal to be marching down the streets of New York,” Anderson said. He said his favorite part of being in the parade was the performance at Herald Square.
“That’s where I got to be on television,” Anderson said. “It’s like the big moment that everything leads up to.”
The marching band stepped off from Central Park Thursday, Nov. 28, and performed at Macy’s Herald Square in front of celebrity hosts, a grandstand audience and more than 50 million TV viewers watching on NBC.
Prior to the parade’s kickoff, there was a lot happening. The students, who were staying at a hotel in New Jersey, donned their red uniforms and hopped on a bus around 1 a.m. Thanksgiving Day. They went to Herald Square for a sound check
and to rehearse marching the parade route down the empty dark streets. They all then went to the Hard Rock Cafe for breakfast before returning to their spot in the parade.
“This year was special because we also got to open the parade with a guy named Billy Porter,” Whitman said.
“We were there about two-anda-half hours before he got there.
… While we were waiting, Jimmy Fallon was doing an interview across from us, and we yelled his name, and he came over and talked to us.”
“At the beginning, before the parade started, we recorded the opening of the broadcast with Billy Porter,” Anderson said. “For that, they had a recording and we just pretended to play ‘Ease on Down the Road.’”
While marching, the band played Pharrell Williams’ “Happy,” and during the performance at Herald Square, they played “Espresso,” by Sabrina Carpenter.
It was a fun day for the three teenagers, who didn’t let rain and cold temperatures ruin their experience – even if it was difficult to play the instruments with freezingcold fingers.
“It was a little bit of a challenge with the rain … but once we got marching, it got warmed up and you kind of forgot about it. … (I liked) just looking around and seeing all the people cheering us on,” McKenna said.
Whitman had a hard time choosing his top parade experience.
“I think it’s between the actual performance we did and just walking down and looking at all the people,” he said. “The actual performance, it gets your adrenaline pumping. … When you’re performing, there’s like seven different screens that you’re
OBSERVER SCHOOL ZONE
looking at with the TV crew. … I’m in the middle of New York with a lot of people looking at me.”
After the parade, everyone met for a dinner dance. The members of the Great American Marching Band enjoyed meeting one another and making friends with other musicians from around the country. They made time for sightseeing, which included a tour of Radio City Music Hall,
tickets to the Rockettes Christmas show and the chance to meet one of the dancers.
“The show was so amazing, because when you’re watching it, it’s not just the stage you’re watching,” Whitman said. “It’s the roof, … and it moved. As a musician, I was mainly paying attention to the pit; they were on a moving stage. It would just drop under the stage and then appear and reappear at the back of the stage.”
The three local students were accompanied on the trip by their parents and siblings, so they were able to spend time together exploring the city as a family. Whitman said many of the band members have stayed connected through a group text chat. There has been talk of a reunion band performing at the 100th annual parade, and the new friends have vowed to return to perform together.
The Macy’s Great American Marching Band performed at Herald Square in New York City.
Courtesy photos
Brady Anderson of Windermere High School marched through New York City on Thanksgiving Day.
Adam McKenna, left, and Asher Whitman traveled to New York City to march in the Macy’s parade.
The weary world rejoices
Horizon West residents packed the Hamlin Green Space to welcome the Christmas season at Horizon West’s newest event.
Christmas at Hamlin: A Festival of Holiday Traditions took place from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7.
The magical evening, presented by Hamlin and Horizon West Happenings, featured a tree-lighting ceremony, music by the Horizon High School marching band, and performances by members of Horizon West Theater Company and the Orlando Dance Conservatory. Attendees were able to make stockings, decorate cookies, write letters to Santa, play festive games, and enjoy holiday food and drinks.
— MICHAEL ENG
ABOUT THE HAMLIN CHRISTMAS TREE
It had been a longtime dream of Boyd Development Events and PR Coordinator Heather Easterling to have a community Christmas tree to light in Hamlin.
And now, that dream is a reality.
Even better: The tree is a true original.
The custom piece, designed by Boyd Development’s Paul Schumacher and Mike Keyse, was built primarily from steel pipe. It measures 24 feet, and the bottom is composed of 12 branches with a diameter span of 16 feet. There is 288 linear feet of 3/32 branded cable running from the top down connecting to the branches, and the tree features about 4,000 lights.
The base is constructed of 16 4-feet-by6-feet-by-12-feet treated beams. Forty-eight sand bags hold it down.
Along with Keyse, Esvin Sosa and Anna Sosa worked together to make all the pieces.
Keyse, Esvin Sosa, Jose Ganzales and Rubin Munoz assembled it on top of the parking deck. Esvin Sosa and Keyse strung all the lights on the tree, and Anna Sosa and Nehemiah Sosa filled and placed all the sand bags.
Siblings Aubrey, 7, and Jaxson Hall, 4, loved meeting Santa and Mrs. Claus. William Eastlake, 6, got his photo taken with a Christmas fairy.
The Orlando Dance Conservatory dancers captivated the audience with their performances.
Right: The Horizon West Theater Company had various groups perform at Christmas at Hamlin.
Above: The Orlando Dance Conservatory dancers captivated the audience with their performances.
Right: Katrina Khaa, 6, was excited to mail her letter directly to Santa.
Rachel Howard sang her heart out.
Brandon Sangster gave it his all in his performance.
The Three Kings visited Mary, Joseph and Jesus in St. Luke’s United Methodist Church’s “Sounds of the Season” concert.
Sophia Vasquez sang a solo as part of the Community Youth Choir.
John R. Mason III directed a choir during “Sounds of the Season,” which featured performances of holiday classics.
Aaron Wiggins performed in the full orchestra, bringing songs of the holidays to life in concert with the Community Choir and Community Youth Choir.
Reagan Arnold performed in the “Sounds of the Season” concert, helping to tell the story of Jesus’ birth.
Right: Madi Smith and Alex Drews brought holiday spirit to the stage.
Photos courtesy of Howard Clifton
THE WAYS WE WERE FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION
80 years ago
A new historical book about West Orange was released titled “Oakland — the Early Years.” It told the story of the pioneer families who established the town and was written by Eve Bacon, of Winter Park.
The acute shortage of favorite brands of cigarettes in Winter Garden was causing much talk by those addicted to the habit of enjoying their smokes.
Judging from the thousands of baskets and boxes of tangerines, grapefruit and oranges being shipped out of Winter Garden by express to friends and relatives throughout the country as Christmas gifts, it was to be a joyous Christmas holiday season for the recipients.
Members of the junior class at Lakeview High School entertained the senior class with a Christmas party and chicken pilau supper at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ross in Oakland.
55 years ago
Bill Scarbrough was the Bowler of the Month in the Bucks and Does League.
50 years ago
Maxey Elementary School students presented an opera — GianCarlo Menotti’s “Amahl and the Night Visitors” — in the school cafetorium on East Maple Street. The story told of the three kings on their journey to Bethlehem. The role of Amahl was sung by Anthony Waters, and Marvelous Bing sang the part of the mother. The three kings were Patrick Mobley, Jimmy Deeb and Morris Ellison. The Shepherd’s Dance was performed by Doris Brown, Junita James, Aurelious James, Eva Haynes, Gladys Rogers and
FROM THE ARCHIVES
This home, pictured in 2012, is located on South Boyd Street and was for a time the residence of George Walker, Winter Garden’s mayor during the Great Depression. Walker’s ingenuity in securing Works Progress Administration funds from President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal program provided Winter Garden with many civic buildings — most all of which are still in use today: Tanner Hall; Little Hall; an improved lakefront, now Newton Park; boat basins; the municipal swimming pool; Trailer City; a firehouse, now the site of SOBO Art Gallery; Walker Field, the sports facility on Park Avenue; and a city hall that stood at the site of the Winter Garden Post Office. All of these projects provided work for many locals, and you won’t believe how much this all cost: only $250,000! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all from the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation.
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.
Diane Morris. Rick Owens, a local little theater performer, choreographed the production; Kathleen Haight was accompanist; and the entire production was under the direction of Alice Roberts, school music director. Louis Heck and Hank Sines established a new certified public accounting firm, Heck and Sines, on South Dillard Street.
35 years ago
The musical group known as Musicians Three was increased to four when Adele Moody, local musician and pianist, was added for a program at West Orange Manor. The group, which also included Jimmy McKey, pianist; Bill Malchik on cello; and Ernie Hawk, announcer, presented a program of Christmas music. The Rev. Jim Baugher of First United Methodist Church added his singing voice to the program.
30 years ago
Woodlawn Memorial Park and Funeral Home announced it would provide a free burial for drunk drivers who were killed and would furnish a free grave and funeral for any person killed by a drunken driver. This included those in the drunken driver’s car, drivers and passengers in the other vehicle involved, and pedestrians.
THROWBACK
THURSDAY
DEC. 19, 1974
Many local stores advertised their gifts for men in a December issue of The Winter Garden Times.
“The finest names in the world are sold in our hardware store,” read the ad for Howard’s Winter Garden Hardware. The Store on South Dillard Street sold brand
BRANCH MANAGERS by Kruno Matic and Jeff Chen, edited by Jeff Chen
Observer
Flip
But
Featuring World-Class Soprano
Samar SalamÉ Hawat
Accompanied on the piano by Liana GheorghitA
DECEMBER 14 & 21, 2024
7:00 – 8:00 pm PRESENTS
GARDEN THEATRE
160 W. PLANT ST., WINTER GARDEN
A Magical Holiday Opera Evening Concert to Celebrate the Season
This festive performance will beautifully blend classical repertoire with beloved Christmas carols. Reserve your tickets today for this festive evening in the Holiday Wonderland of Historic Downtown Winter Garden!
