01.15.26 Southwest Orange Observer

SOUTHWEST

‘Never about one person’

After serving as mayor of Windermere

5FAST

1Ocoee caregiver arrested for attempted murder

A 22-year-old man was arrested Saturday, Jan. 3, in Ocoee for attempted first-degree murder.

At about 9:07 p.m., officers from the Ocoee Police Department responded to 2291 Laurel Blossom Circle, Ocoee, in reference to a shooting.

According to the arrest affidavit, Journey Mikah Powell, a caregiver at a group home for patients with autism was visited by Ki’merse Abiyana Akins, his ex-girlfriend.

Akins told police she went to the group home to talk over a breakup, but when she got there, Powell grabbed her and choked her. Once he let her go, she spray-painted his car and went back to her vehicle, in which her friend, La’teria Fitzgerald, accompanied her in the passenger seat.

The affidavit stated Akins locked her doors and attempted to pull away. However, her friend unlocked the doors thinking Powell just wanted to have a conversation as he knocked on the car window. into the vehicle and repeatedly hit Akins in the face. Fitzgerald was able to get him off Akins, which is when he exited the vehicle and grabbed a gun from his car.

off, and Fitzgerald’s back was hit.

When officers arrived at the scene, Powell was locked inside the group home with six patients.

Powell currently is facing four charges: shooting into an occupied vehicle, criminal mischief, resisting officers without violence and attempted first-degree murder with a deadly weapon.

2

Disney Springs restaurant files motion to dismiss case

Boathouse Restaurant

LLC is facing a lawsuit after a man died from choking on a piece of steak on June 8, 2025, at the Disney Springs restaurant.

The plaintiff, Reah Duncan, filed the lawsuit in October and is seeking more than $50,000 in damages, alleging negligent training and supervision.

Duncan said the restaurant failed to promptly call 911 and instead called security. He suffered severe hypoxia and cardiopulmonary

was filed, Boathouse Restaurant LLC filed a motion to dismiss the case.

3

Italian Garden

Pizzeria closes The Italian Garden

Pizzeria & Restaurant in Winter Garden has closed.

The pizzeria has been a staple around the community for more than 20 years. It offered New Yorkstyle pizza and authentic Italian food.

“After many wonderful years serving this community, today marks the final day of Italian Garden,” pizzeria officials posted to Facebook Wednesday, Dec. 31. “As we close this chapter, we’re happy to share that a new restaurant, Giovanny’s, will be taking over this

multiple locations already in place around Central Florida.

4

Dr. Phillips student dies in December shooting

A 16-year old boy from Dr. Phillips High School died in a shooting Sunday, Dec. 28.

Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call regarding a shooting around 9 p.m. in the 1500 block of 26th Street.

When deputies arrived, they discovered Raylin Harrison had been shot. He was transported to a hospital where he died.

Harrison was in his junior year at Dr. Phillips High. He played for the school’s football team and also for the Florida Bombers.

football,” Florida Bombers officials posted on Facebook. “Please keep his family in your prayers during this devastating time.”

A vigil was held in his honor Wednesday, Dec. 31. Family, friends, coaches and teammates gathered to send him love, peace and prayers. The Sheriff’s Office has not yet charged anyone with the death of Raylin.

Deputies ask anyone with information regarding the shooting to call Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477.

5

Apopka mayor sues opposing mayoral candidate

Apopka Mayor Bryan Nelson currently is suing District 2 Orange County Commissioner Christine Moore to get her removed from the March ballot.

In the suit, Nelson claims Moore has not met the residency requirements to run for mayor.

When applying for the race, Moore listed her address as 75 W. Magnolia St., Apopka. However, according to the lawsuit, Moore’s vehicle regularly was parked in front of a homestead property, which is not located in Apopka, between April and July 2025.

The filing shows Nelson stopped by the property 70 times to photograph her car in the driveway.

To run for mayor, the city requires candidates to reside within to taking office, which would’ve

Education with purpose

Winter Garden educator creates microschool to provide individualized education to students after experiencing a childhood of not being academically challenged.

LIZ RAMOS MANAGING EDITOR

Winter Garden’s Lea Thompson recalled sitting in class during a math lesson in seventh grade at a new school.

She remembered seeing the problems the teacher was going over and thinking, “Is this a practice session? What is happening here?”

She already learned the material when she was in third grade.

The teacher questioned her on how she already knew the lesson as she thought it was impossible for Thompson to have learned it in third grade.

She said the teacher told her math builds on previous years’ lessons and skills and what she was teaching was more advanced.

But Thompson was certain she already knew it.

“She said to me, ‘Well, since you think you’re so smart, why don’t you just come into the front of the classroom so you can do the problem, and you can see that you had not done this before,’” Thompson said. “I went to the front of the class, and I indeed did the problems.”

In disbelief, the teacher gave Thompson a more difficult problem to solve.

Thompson solved it.

The teacher went across the hall to an eighth-grade class and grabbed a problem from a textbook in that class thinking Thompson couldn’t know the answer, because the current eighth-graders hadn’t covered the material.

Thompson solved it.

The teacher sent Thompson to the principal’s office for being disrespectful. Thompson felt she was being punished for being smart because the school didn’t have the programs or resources to handle a gifted student.

She never wanted a student to feel as she did as a gifted student in a school that wasn’t equipped to handle accelerated students, and she wanted to provide every student an individualized path to education so she created Purpose Prep Academy.

Purpose Prep Academy is a K-8

PURPOSE PREP

ACADEMY

To learn more about Purpose Prep Academy and to enroll, visit purposeprepacademy.org. Enrollment is open.

student-centered STEAM- and project-based learning center that offers personalized curriculum.

The academy, which meets at Waterleigh Phase I’s clubhouse three times per week, has 10 students with hopes of expanding to at least 25 students for the 2026-27 school year. Enrollment is open for the 2026 spring semester.

PUNISHED FOR BEING SMART

Throughout her primary education, Thompson attended magnet schools in Chicago and had to be bused to other facilities to participate in programs that would challenge her academically.

She was tested in kindergarten, and her parents were told she was gifted.

She was given first-grade material. It was easy.

She was given second-grade material. Again, it was easy.

She was given third-grade material. Again, it was easy.

But her mother did not want her skipping any other grades and missing out on the socialization of being with children her own age.

So she stayed in a third-grade classroom, but she would be sent to a different school for reading and math through fourth grade. She remained at a school for fifth and sixth grades but once again had to change schools when her family moved in seventh grade.

“That is when my life took a deep turn,” Thompson said.

The incident with her seventhgrade math teacher frustrated and confused her. She couldn’t understand why her teacher didn’t believe she knew the material already.

“I just remember crying, and I was telling my mom I hate that school, and I didn’t want to go back there,” Thompson said.

She was 11 years old in seventh grade, but her school wanted to put her in high school. Her mother objected.

Thompson had to continue to leave school every day to go to Chicago Urban League or Chicago State University to take classes as a middleschooler. She spent her summers as a middle school student attending college classes.

“I don’t think I ever found a fit for me, and I more or less felt punished for being smart, because the schools weren’t prepared to handle my education,” Thompson said. “I loved learning; I just hated school, which turned into the premise of what I built for the kids that I have now (at Purpose Prep

Academy). I don’t want them ever coming to where we are and saying, ‘Oh my God, I hate it here. Oh my God, what time is it? Oh my God, when can we go home?’”

A NEW PATH Thompson didn’t always have her eyes set on being a teacher.

In fact, she dreamed of attending Michigan State or Iowa State and becoming an electrical engineer, but her high school counselor dashed her dreams. The counselor told her because she was a girl and Black, she never would be able to become an electrical engineer.

“I don’t think (the counselor) knew how much that shattered me,” Thompson said. “At that moment, I didn’t know what else to do in my life, because that was the only thing I had ever wanted to do.”

Thompson was determined to be the first in her family to attend and graduate college. Despite people in her life telling her to graduate high school, learn a trade and get a job, she knew there was more life could offer.

Thompson whipped out a phone book and looked up the closest college to her home. She marched into the counselor’s office at Chicago State University and asked for guidance on how to enroll.

“I remember the day I walked out of there, and I was walking across back to the bus stop dancing and flipping in the park,” she said.

She went on to earn a degree in communications and work for CDW.

While working for CDW and volunteering with Girl Scouts in 2005, Thompson was reminded of the challenges she faced as a student. She wanted the Girl Scouts to be exposed to various career paths that she wasn’t shown in her youth.

That sparked an idea. She wanted to start a STEM school, but it wasn’t the time.

LEADING WITH PURPOSE

In March 2024, Thompson registered Purpose Prep Academy as a business and started looking for a location for the school in Winter Garden.

The name of the school stems from Thompson’s belief that everyone’s life has purpose, and children should be able to think about what they like or don’t like, discover passions and think about what career they want to pursue at an early age.

She wanted to help students avoid getting to college where they are spending thousands of dollars without knowing what they want to do in life.

The idea of being purposeful is tied weekly into her students’ curriculum at Purpose Prep Academy. They spend

Here’s how to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. in West Orange County

Winter Garden and Ocoee are set to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with parades Monday, Jan. 19.

LIZ RAMOS

MANAGING EDITOR

West Plant Street in Winter Garden and Clarke Road in Ocoee will be filled with hope and pride.

Parade entrants will walk down the streets to honor the life, legacy and dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Monday, Jan. 19, during the cities’ respective parades and community celebrations.

Bring a lawn chair or blanket to be comfortable on the sidewalk to enjoy the parades. Personal coolers and alcoholic beverages are not permitted, and both celebrations are rainor-shine events.

Ocoee’s 18th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Parade and Celebration is scheduled for 10 a.m. with the parade beginning at Citrus Elementary School and ending at West Oaks Mall.

Local officials, school children, musicians, local organizations and more will walk the nearly two miles from the school to the mall as hundreds pack the sidewalks.

A post-parade celebration will be held at 11 a.m. in the food court area in front of the carousel inside the West Oaks Mall. The master of ceremony will be Allie Braswell with Braswell Management, LLC, and the keynote speaker will be Ages Hart, an ordained bishop and associate pastor with Livingston Street Church of God. Gospel singer Sherrí Gladney will make a special guest appearance. Over in Winter Garden, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration will kick off at 11 a.m. with a parade through historic downtown. The parade will travel along West Plant Street from Wood-

land Street to Central Avenue.

As of Thursday, Jan. 8, City Manager Jon Williams said there were 13 parade entrants.

Immediately following the parade, community members are invited to the downtown pavilion at 104 S. Lakeview Ave. to continue the celebration. There will be a live music concert, children’s activities and more from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The concert will feature Kat Riggins, a singer who pays homage to R&B, soul, gospel, rock and blues. Go Time, a high-energy band performing mash-ups from artists such as Bruno Mars, Lizzo, Prince and NSync, also will perform. There also will be vendor and community booths, some of which will be selling food and refreshments.

Select roads will be closed for the event, including Plant Street from Dillard Street to Central Avenue and adjoining side streets from 2 a.m. to approximately 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19. Highland Avenue to Lakeview Avenue along Tremaine Street and part of South Lakeview Avenue between Plant and Tremaine streets will be blocked from 2 a.m. to about 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19.

an elective hour each week doing separate electives that are meaningful to them rather than in traditional schools where students typically go to art, gym and music.

“They’re all doing separate electives based on what lights them up, what fills their soul,” she said. “The vision and the mission of the school is to nurture themselves, helping them be independent and bring out whatever qualities they have to be leaders and change makers in this world.”

Purpose Prep Academy is a hybrid program until Thompson can find a more permanent location for the school. It also offers an online program and tutoring.

The school provides a STEAM-rich curriculum, using Imagine Learning for reading and math to provide personalized curriculum. The assessments will determine where a student is academically and help students either progress to where they should be to fill educational gaps or provide curriculum if they are accelerated.

The science curriculum is a mixture of what Thompson has created as well as Mystery Science or Generation Genius.

The school also has project-based learning culminating all of the subjects students have learned.

Students also learn whatever language they desire, whether it’s Dutch, French, Creole or another language.

To ensure students are supported, Thompson will do mini lessons where she pulls students into small groups for lessons. She and her co-teacher, Nadine Paul, also will provide oneon-one assistance.

“I took the best parts of school and I mixed them with the best parts of independent learning,” Thompson said.

IF YOU GO

OCOEE’S 18TH ANNUAL DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. UNITY PARADE AND CELEBRATION

WHEN: Parade at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 19; Post-parade celebration at 11 a.m.

WHERE: Citrus Elementary School, 87 N. Clarke Road, Ocoee and West Oaks Mall, 9401 W. Colonial Drive, Ocoee

DETAILS: The celebration will begin with a parade starting at the elementary school and ending at the mall.

‘This place will leave a mark on you’

In the beginning of 2019, Windermere’s Jim O’Brien called thenmayor Gary Bruhn. He was surprised to learn Bruhn, who had been serving as mayor for 15 years, was stepping down in the middle of his term.

“At first, I thought he was joking,” O’Brien said of Bruhn’s decision. “Gary was a quintessential smalltown mayor. He had done it forever. … He was always my kids’ mayor. He and I agreed on a lot of things. We disagreed on a lot of things, but we always had a really healthy respect for each other.”

O’Brien had a question for Bruhn: Who is going to be mayor?

The response: You.

O’Brien was taken aback. He struggled with the idea of sacrificing more time than he already had as a Windermere Town Council member while juggling being a father and working full-time.

After some thought and a walk with former Mayor Gene Spears, who helped shift O’Brien’s mindset and realize the job of mayor didn’t have to be a full-time one, O’Brien felt ready. He was elected mayor in March 2019.  Now, after serving as mayor for six years, O’Brien was the one making the phone call.

On the other end was fifth-generation Windermere resident and Windermere Town Council member Andy Williams, who will be the town’s next mayor.

O’Brien decided not to run for reelection, ending his 15-year stint of serving the town of Windermere.

PATH TO MAYOR

O’Brien always had been interested in government. His grandfather on his mother’s side served as a town council member in Lake Park in the early 1960s, so he knew serving in local government was possible.  He already was familiar with local government institutions when he worked for Goodwill Industries and worked with the Orange County Board of County Commissioners, Orange County School Board and Windermere Town Council.

He used to watch government meetings on cable, even sometimes at nights when he couldn’t sleep.

O’Brien first dipped his toes in Windermere government by joining the Windermere Tree Board. He learned more about the town and how the Town Council worked. He also met more people in town.

In 2011, he decided to take his involvement a step further.

When O’Brien was deciding to run for Windermere Town Council, he had one goal in mind: He wanted the town to own the Ward Trail and create Windermere’s version of the West Orange Trail.

But after being elected to Windermere Town Council, the Ward Trail immediately was put on the back burner. He along with the rest of Town Council were thrown into turmoil.

The police chief at the time, Daniel

He will never forget being able to provide words of healing to the family of U.S. Army 1st Lt. Evan Fitzgibbon, who died during a Ranger School training incident, when a group of residents brought back Old Glory, a patriotic horse statue, to Windermere in honor of Fitzgibbon.

“Being able to speak to his memory and see everyone there so supportive of that family, that was just tremendous,” O’Brien said. “That’s an amazing opportunity to do some small amount of healing for a family that carries a burden that’s much larger than their share.”

With a town filled with engaged residents, community members with influence and a police department that makes everyone feel safe, O’Brien said it’s hard not to be successful.

“This is never about one person,” he said. “It’s never about an elected body. It’s never about one staff person. It’s always about the people. It’s always about what we all bring to the table together.”

There’s a sense of pride in being able to turn to a town committee that can provide suggestions and ideas O’Brien said he “would never have thought of in a million years,” giving good people the opportunity to shine and giving them the resources needed to be successful.

But it hasn’t always been easy.

Holding back tears, O’Brien took a moment to gather his thoughts remembering Windermere police officer Robert German, who was shot and killed in the line of duty in March 2014 while investigating two suspicious teen runaways who later were found dead from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds. German was the first Windermere Police Department officer to die in the line of duty.

Saylor, was fired after being arrested on charges of unlawful compensation for official behavior and official misconduct for shutting down a child-sex investigation of his friend, Scott Bush, who was arrested the same day.

The scandal rocked the 2-squaremile town.

And suddenly, the Town Council was responsible for rebuilding the foundation of the Windermere Police Department, reestablishing trust with the community and rewriting policies and procedures for the town.

The budget was tight. There was constant turnover on town staff and in the police department. Interviews were nonstop. Ultimately, the Town Council hired current Town Manager Robert Smith and Police Chief Dave Ogden.

They were building the foundation of the town.

“Focusing on those back-of-house items is what has allowed us to be successful,” O’Brien said.

Since then, town matters have calmed.

The biggest recent debates have been about boathouse ownership and Town Hall bathrooms.

“Part of being Windermere is we’re not looking to be in the news every day,” O’Brien said. “We want to be a place where you can raise your family, that is safe and secure, and you know your neighbors.”

O’Brien said since 2011, the town has worked to ensure transparency, accountability and professionalism, which were crucial to building faith in the community.

“It’s one of the things I’m most proud of, especially as a council person,” he said.

O’Brien first sat at the chair farthest to the left facing the stage in Town Hall. He felt it was the perfect vantage point to see his fellow council members while also being able to see everyone in the audience and their reactions to what was said.

Despite tradition being that as a council member’s seniority increases, the closer the council member sits toward the center, O’Brien refused to give up his post. The position helped him to know how to speak with his fellow council members and also gave

him the first or last vote.

“I do think that is part of the success, being able to see people’s eyes and talk to them person-to-person,” O’Brien said.

He didn’t give up the seat until he became mayor in 2019.

STAYING SMALL BUT SMART

Any time in a political office comes with the good times and the bad, and for O’Brien, it was no different.

“My whole thing is always the best and most difficult type of governing is the kind of governing where you walk out with the folks that you just walked in with,” O’Brien said. “There’s no separate exit. There’s no office to go disappear to. We live and play and work with all of the same people as our neighbors in town. That is one of the best parts and sometimes one of the worst parts of being in local government.”

He’s proud of several projects he completed while working as a council member and mayor. He attributes the dedication and determination of staff and Town Council members for the town’s progress over the past decade.

He focused on maintaining the town’s traditions while adding a twist of his own here and there, especially as the town grew over the years.

Light Up Windermere has grown in popularity and residents have been attending for years, but now, it’s more volunteer driven. A deejay and rockclimbing wall have been added over the years, but the town’s cake at the event and the town ornament always have been a tradition.

“We want that tie back to the past, we want to respect all of that as best we can but always be thinking forward, always be moving forward, never selling ourselves short,” he said. “It’s all about being small but smart. … It’s not about trying to be someone else that’s bigger or better or what have you. It’s about being what’s important for our town.”

He will treasure the memories of town staff and residents opening the time capsule from 1975 and watching the kids and adults alike go through everything in the capsule and listening to the words of Dean Kinzey, who was mayor at the time.

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“We’ve done our best to make sure we honor his memory and we use that terrible event as a positive piece of who we are, our DNA as a police department, our DNA as a community,” he said. “But that will always hurt.”

O’Brien said he always will lament the missed opportunity of the Healthy West Orange project in partnership with the Rotary Club of Windermere to build a pavilion in the green space behind Town Hall.

“We weren’t able to get that across the finish line,” he said. “I tried so hard to work out a compromise that would get us a project that would be worthy of those dollars and with the blessing of the town, and I wasn’t able to get it done. I think that’ll always be a disappointment.”

The ongoing challenge of serving as mayor is the role always is evolving, and there is no job description for mayor, O’Brien said.

“You never know what’s going to come around the corner, you really don’t,” he said.

THE RIGHT TIME

O’Brien had been thinking of stepping down as mayor since the last election cycle, but he said he promised folks on the Centennial Committee he would wait until the town’s year of celebration was complete.

He said now is the right time to pass the torch. There are “strong people on council” and the town has a “very diverse council,” as well as talented leaders.

“There are folks who I can clearly see taking the gavel and running with it and doing a fantastic job of leadership and have the support of the community, as well,” he said.

O’Brien’s involvement in town matters will remain to be seen. He plans to spend more time with his wife, Kristin, as they now are empty-nesters, as well as with his father who has health issues. He also plans to get on the lakes Windermere is known for more.

And of course, he’ll be around if needed.

“This place will leave a mark on you,” he said. “It doesn’t turn off. … There’s always opportunities. My interest doesn’t go away. But I think I accomplished what I came to do. I hope I was a good steward of the town, not only of its resources but of its people and that we’re a little better off today than we were in 2019.”

Although O’Brien’s initial goal when running for Town Council was the Ward Trail, the project has yet to be finished. It has progressed, with the town owning the right of way and property from Sixth Avenue all the way to Windermere Elementary School and the town having $1 million in funding from Florida’s Safe Routes to Schools program and other funding sources. The trestle bridge has been picked out and ordered.

“It’s going to be everything that I always hoped it would be; it just took a little longer,” O’Brien said. “I kept staying (on council) to get that done. We were darn close, but I realized that if I stayed to get the whole thing done, I might be 80. … We’ll let our kids finish it up and bring it to fruition.”

For

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WEST ORANGE TIMES

The

Winter Garden expands Golf Cart District

LIZ RAMOS MANAGING EDITOR

The Winter Garden City Commission unanimously approved a resolution to increase the Golf Cart District to include multiple areas north of West Colonial Drive.

The new map was approved during the commission’s meeting Thursday, Jan. 8. Commissioner Colin Sharman was absent.

Assistant City Manager Steve Pash said the city analyzed its maps of the Golf Cart District and looked at lowering speed limits. A survey was conducted from July 23 through Aug. 31, with a majority of people who responded supporting lowering the speed limits on roads.

The city lowered the speed limits on the roads in November, and staff came forward with the resolution at the meeting with a revised map.

“I’ve been in charge of the Golf Cart District for 14 years now, and we pretty much are always receiving requests to expand, expand, expand, get my neighborhood,”

Pash said. “This (map) pretty much gets the majority of the streets north of (State Road) 50.”

Pash said making the Golf Cart District encompass more streets will make it easier for local residents to access downtown Winter Garden and make their way around the areas north of West Colonial Drive.

The newly approved map can be found on the city’s website, cwgdn. com/480/golf-cart-information.

E-BIKE ORDINANCE APPROVED

The City Commission unanimously approved an ordinance regulating the operation of electric bicycles, motorized scooters and wheeled devices on the city’s streets and sidewalks.

The ordinance is to improve safety, reduce conflicts and help prevent serious or potentially fatal injuries.

Class one and class two e-bikes are allowed on roadways and sidewalks more than 8 feet wide in commercial areas and other city-owned

WINTER GARDEN GOLF CART DISTRICT

property but can’t exceed 10 mph on a sidewalk. Class one e-bikes have pedal-assist with a max assistance of up to 20 mph. Class two e-bikes have a max assistance of up to 20 mph but a pedal isn’t needed to reach that speed; it’ll throttle to the speed.

Class three e-bikes, which are pedal-assist bikes with a max assistance of up to 28 mph, are allowed in the same areas as class one and two.

Motorized scooters are not allowed on the West Orange Trail, on roadways with speed limits 35 mph or higher, sidewalks less than 8 feet wide and in parks unless signage permits.

If approved, the ordinance would require the minimum operator age of e-bikes be 15 years old. Helmets also would be required for any riders or passengers under 16 years old. E-bike lights will be required at night. Riders can go a maximum of

10 mph on sidewalks and off-road bike paths. Riders also must carry a government issued ID.

The new ordinance also would allow the city to fine anyone who does not adhere to the regulations. Infractions would be considered a class two violation, which would result in a $100 fine, and that fine would potentially grow if there are repeat offenders. Parents of any minors who are given the fine would be responsible for the payment.

The Winter Garden Police Department will enforce the ordinance.

Planning Director Kelly Carson provided clarification on the ordinance before it was approved Thursday, Jan. 8. A change to the ordinance since its first reading at the Dec. 11 commission meeting was to clarify that motorized scooters also are limited to a speed of 10 mph when traveling

on any permitted sidewalk or offroad pathway, which is the same as the e-bike regulations. Motorized scooters also must yield the right of way to any pedestrian and give an audible warning before passing that pedestrian.

Another change to the ordinance is e-bikes, motorized scooters and wheeled devices are not allowed on the West Orange Trail.

The last clarification was to ensure children under 16 years old may operate a motorized scooter if wearing proper safety gear and if they can provide a legal ID.

Carson said the ordinance addresses an immediate concern regarding the use of e-bikes, but the city might have to change the ordinance in the future to address any policies made at the county or state level.

HIS DREAM IS IN OUR HANDS.

As we celebrate the birthday of a civil rights leader, we also celebrate the strides we’ve made toward achieving his dream of freedom and equality for all Americans, regardless of color or creed. On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, join Lake Apopka Natural Gas District as we take a moment to honor his memory and make a pledge to uphold his message of nonviolence, love, tolerance, reconciliation and service to humanity.

IN OTHER NEWS

n The Bloom and Grow Garden Society presented the city with a $3,000 check to be used for pollinator plants in the Butterfly Sculpture Garden.

n The Winter Garden City Commission unanimously approved the interlocal agreement with Orange County for the transfer of jurisdiction of portions of Winter Garden Vineland Road from about 230 feet north of Magnolia Park Court to the southern right-of-way of State Road 429.

n An addendum for Orange County Public Schools School Resource Officer agreement was unanimously approved. The addendum is the school board requesting that SROs sign into the “Daily SRO attendance log” to assist with verification, which will assist with proof of coverage with state audits.

n The City Commission unanimously approved the purchase of weapons and ammunition from a law enforcement trust fund in an amount not to exceed $65,000.

n The commission unanimously declared vehicles and equipment as surplus and authorized the sale or disposal of the equipment and vehicles. This includes two freightliner ambulances, an international rescue, a 2006 Ford Expedition, a 2007 Ford Explorer XLT, 2008 Sterling Vactor, 2006 Chevrolet Silverado, 2018 Ford Taurus, 2017 Ford Explorer, 2007 Ford F-150, 2013 Ford Taurus, 2015 Ford Taurus, 2016 Ford Explorer, 2018 Ford Taurus and 2003 crane carrier rear loader.

n The procurement of two front-load garbage trucks in the amount of $764,000 was unanimously approved.

n The procurement of one 55-yard grapple/claw truck in the amount of $359,323 was unanimously approved.

n The procurement of two 28-yard grapple/claw trucks in the amount of $409,800 was unanimously approved.

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

2nd Campus:

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

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

Starke Lake Baptist Church

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

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

www.VBCOCOEE.com

Sunday: 11AM & 6 PM Wednesday: 7 PM

METHODIST

First United Methodist www.fumcwg.org 125 N. Lakeview Ave., Winter Garden (407) 656-1135

Services: 9 AM Traditional 10:45 AM Contemporary Also viewable

PRESBYTERIAN

City of Ocoee reflects on 2025, looks to the future

During its State of the City, Ocoee highlighted upcoming projects that will shape the future for its next 100 years and improvements for residents’ quality of life.

MEGAN BRUINSMA STAFF WRITER

Ocoee took a moment to reflect on all of the growth that occurred in its centennial year during the 2026 State of the City video presentation Tuesday, Jan. 6.

“As we wrap up our centennial year, I want to take a moment to honor the generations who came before us, the folks who built the foundation we stand on,” Ocoee Mayor Rusty Johnson said. “Their hard work and determination shape the Ocoee we love, and we carry their legacy forward with every step we take.”

In 2025, Ocoee maintained a balanced budget without raising the millage rate for the 10th consecutive year and brought in more than $4.2 million in grants to help alleviate the reliance on taxpayers.

The city celebrated breaking ground on the $10 million Ocoee Regional Law Enforcement Training Facility, a 15,000-square-foot complex situated at the corner of Fullers Cross Road and State Road 429. It is supported with $7 million of state and federal dollars.

Ocoee approved Vision 2045, a new plan for a 20-year vision for a more vibrant and economically sustainable community.

Since the 50 West Redevelopment District was established in 2006, property values in Ocoee have increased by 258% and generated revenue that has helped fund infrastructure improvements, parks and other projects.

The Public Works Department resurfaced seven miles of improved roadways in major corridors and neighborhoods and repaired almost a mile of sidewalk.

Ocoee’s Youth Council members contributed more than 420 volunteer hours in 2025, and the cemetery clean-up project earned the council the Florida League of Cities Youth Council Excellence Award.

The Ocoee Fire Department celebrated the city’s 100th anniversary with an open house, and it continued the partnership with the

IN OTHER NEWS

n The City Commission meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 20, was canceled.

n The commission conducted the first reading of an ordinance to build 5.09 acres of retail property at 2277 Fullers Cross Road. The second reading and public hearing is scheduled for the next meeting.

n The commission unanimously approved reappointments to the Citizen Advisory Council for Ocoee Police.

“As for the road ahead, I’ve never been more hopeful. Our future is bright, full of opportunity and promise.”

— Ocoee Mayor Rusty Johnson

police department to offer residents hands-on training in CPR and first aid. A retired Lynx bus was converted into a mass casualty transport unit, which will transport an abundance of patients. For the new year, the department will place Tower 25 into service, break ground on the new Station 38 and take delivery of a new fire engine and rescue ambulance.

“As for the road ahead, I’ve never been more hopeful,” Johnson said. “Our future is bright, full of opportunity and promise.”

A LOOK AHEAD

During the City Commission meeting Tuesday, Jan. 6, Ocoee Public Works Director Steve Krug shared updates on the city’s sidewalk and street resurfacing projects for the year.

The first phase of the sidewalk replacement project is scheduled to begin in February and will involve replacing 3,200 linear feet of sidewalk. Krug said digitizing the sidewalk system has allowed the city to better prioritize repairs and stretch its $500,000 budget. His team walked the entire city sidewalk and reported every location that needs improvements and found about 46,000 linear feet of sidewalk that needs to be replaced.

Construction will begin in January on a project along Hackney Prairie Road, which will remove a center median and replace it with grass to reduce speeding. The project is expected to be completed in April, and the road will remain open during construction.

Road resurfacing projects also are underway, with about 7.5 miles of streets scheduled for milling and resurfacing. Speed tables will be repainted in several neighborhoods.  Krug added the department now is ready to start pricing for the following phase.

West Orange Venezuelans say Maduro’s capture is a ‘step in the right direction’

TIMELINE

2013

Nicolás Maduro becomes interim president following Hugo Chavez’s death.

2018

Maduro was reelected as president.

2024

He was reelected as president once again. Many Venezuelans claim he committed voting fraud to remain in power.

Jan. 3, 2026

Maduro was captured by U.S. forces.

Jan. 5, 2026

Maduro pleaded not guilty to federal drug trafficking and narco-terrorism in Manhattan Federal Court.

LETICIA SILVA STAFF WRITER

Horizon West resident Ana Kimelton received a text from a family member living in Venezuela at 1:01 a.m. Jan. 3.

They just bombed us. What’s going on?

At the urging of her father, Kimelton had fled Venezuela years ago. However, her family still lives in Venezuela, near one of the sites that was bombed during Nicolás Maduro’s capture.

And while the news of Maduro’s capture shocked the world, Kimelton and many Venezuelans who have found refuge in West Orange say they finally have a reason to celebrate.

“This is the first time that we feel heard,” Kimelton said. “It’s the first time that something like this (has happened). We’ve been screaming for help, and we’ve been doing everything we can for over 25 years, and this is the first time that we can celebrate something.”

To her, this means hope of introducing her children to her family in Venezuela.

This means a step in the right direction.

Maduro had been in power for 13 years. He succeeded Hugo Chavez, who made the country increasingly resemble an authoritarian state.

Once Maduro took over, the oil industry collapsed due to government corruption and mismanagement, and millions of Venezuelans suffered in poverty under his regime.

That all changed when President Donald Trump gave the order to capture Maduro.

Maduro has pleaded not guilty to four charges — narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine-importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and conspiracy to possess machine guns — brought against him by the United States.

Winter Garden’s Maritza Noely Vivas Franco said she is grateful for what has been done.

“He’s a criminal,” she said of Maduro. “He stole all of our money, and he stole our country’s future.”

She hopes the U.S. is able to manage Venezuela’s oil and lead the country’s economic recovery.

“We trust that this (U.S. administration) is honest, and it’ll do what’s best for our country, for our hospitals, for the electrical industry, for the health department and everything else,” she said. “We trust in these actions coming from the government of President Trump.”

And although this is the first step in the right direction, some Venezuelans worry about their status in the U.S. If the U.S. deems Venezuela safe

for return, Venezuelans may not be able to apply for asylum.

“It’s impossible on a very honest way to have a job and be able to buy food and basic needs for your family right now in Venezuela,” Winter Garden resident Vanessa Vollmer said.

She said her father-in-law died because of a lack of health care in Venezuela under Maduro’s regime.

She has had to send groceries and hidden money to her family in Venezuela, because food was impossible to find and no one could afford anything.

And although she acknowledged U.S.’s intervention as crucial, she

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warns Venezuelans to stay cautious and safe as conditions remain the same.

“Nothing has changed,” she said. “But there is hope. Just the fact that it was so easy to bring him here gives hope to everyone.”

Although she doesn’t support all of Trump’s decisions, she applauds this action.

“Not everything is black and white,” she said. “This is something good for Venezuelans, for the region and for Americans.”

DEMINGS PROFILE IS A DISAPPOINTMENT

Dear Editor:

I am writing to express my disappointment regarding the recent Forecast 2026 profile of Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings. While the piece frames the mayor’s career and gubernatorial launch through a lens of “service and purpose,” it seems to ignore the serious fiscal and legal questions currently facing Orange County.

At a time when the Florida Department of Government Efficiency and CFO Blaise Ingoglia have identified nearly $190 million in what they deem excessive and wasteful spending in our county, a glowing profile feels less like journalism and more like a campaign press release. I assumed it was a pay-to-play piece. The state’s audit highlighted specific concerns that warrant aggressive local coverage, including:

1. Taxpayer overburden: Findings suggesting the General Fund increased by 53% since 2020, allegedly overtaxing residents by approximately $148 per person.

2. Questionable expenditures:

Spending such as $223,000 for services promoting specific gender ideologies and $240,000 for equity-focused urban planning.

3. Integrity issues: Serious allegations and subpoenas related to the potential tampering of records and renaming of files to conceal DEI-focused grants from state auditors. As a local news outlet, the Orange Observer should be the community’s primary watchdog.

Publishing a “soft” profile in the midst of a state investigation into fraud and waste suggests a preference for maintaining political access over providing taxpayer accountability.

I hope to see the Observer return to the solid, critical reporting our community deserves by addressing these audit findings with the same prominence given to the mayor’s political aspirations.

ERIC HARRINGTON WINTER GARDEN

Green PLACE acquires Winter Garden property

LETICIA SILVA STAFF WRITER

The Green PLACE Program recently acquired a 28-acre property in Winter Garden for conservation purposes.

The Wintersweet property is located at Fourth Street, Winter Garden, is accessed by Lake Johns Circle.

Green PLACE is a land acquisition and conservation program created 36 years ago. It is focused on preserving, enhancing and restoring environmentally sensitive lands within Orange County.

According to Andrew Bray, environmental program supervisor, the Green PLACE evaluated the Wintersweet property in 2023, assessing it for water quality, habitat conservation, rarity of habitat and ability for the public to recreate on it.

The property consists mostly of wetlands, Bray said, with nearly 20 acres of marshes.

“There’s also a little bit of hard-

wood forest in there as well,” Bray said. “That property ties in closely with water-quality protection. These properties help with water conservation and wetland protection.”

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, wetlands are considered rare and globally threatened, meaning it met criteria to acquire the land for the Green PLACE Program.

Beyond that, the program found the acquisition would provide water resource protection, aquifer recharge and floodplain storage, while also closing gaps between other publicly owned lands.

The Wintersweet property was acquired for $1.9 million as part of a bigger initiative dating back to 2021, when Orange County awarded the program $100 million to double the amount of conservation lands in its care, about 23,000 acres at the time.

Once the Wintersweet property was assessed, Bray said the Green PLACE’s real-estate department

reached out to the landowner with an interest letter.

“If they’re a willing resident, then we move through the appraisal process,” he said. “It’s a very drawn-out process; it’s a lot of communication with the landowner, but the program is all willing-seller based. We don’t do any forced acquisitions.”

At the moment, Bray is unsure if the property will open up to the public.

“We’re going to assess the property for its feasibility to open up to the public, but we have not started that assessment yet,” he said.

Even if the property does not open to the public for recreational purposes, Bray said Winter Garden residents still will benefit from having the city’s land conserved and wildlife protected.

“Our ultimate goal is to keep conservation lands in conservation and if possible, open it for the public to recreate on,” he said. “But at the core of our program is land conservation, water quality protection and wildlife corridor protection.”

Once the acquisition was made public in December, residents flooded the comments thanking the program for its efforts to preserve land, some claiming it “a breath of fresh air,” encouraging more of the same.

‘We’re all mad here’

Theatre South Playhouse brings “Alice By Heart” to the stage this weekend.

LETICIA SILVA STAFF WRITER

After three months of preparation, Theatre South Playhouse is ready to debut its newest musical this weekend.

“Alice by Heart” takes place in 1941. Alice Spencer and her best friend, Alfred, take refuge in a London Underground tube station following the London Blitz, when Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy bombed London for 56 consecutive days during World War II.

Alice and Alfred escape the war by journeying through the “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” book.

Performances will take place Thursday, Jan. 15, through Sunday, Jan. 18, at the theater located in The Marketplace at Dr. Phillips.

After three months of rehearsals, Director Monica Quinn said she couldn’t be prouder of the work cast members put in to make this a success.

With a cast ranging from 14 to 21 years old, Quinn said they identify with the story.

“We just came out of a pandemic not too long ago,” she said. “They had to grieve the loss of their childhood but move forward. … They had to find joy, find their purpose and be able to move on.”

Despite minimalistic sets and basic costumes, audience members still can expect to travel through real world and fiction as the ensemble brings bigger-than-life characters to the stage.

From professional actors to conservatory students, this play offers a challenge because of all the textures — from sound to language to theme and atmosphere, Quinn said.

“The people who were cast were coming into the room with the expectation that we are working together as an ensemble,” she said. “There are no small roles in this

IF YOU GO

‘ALICE BY HEART’

WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15; 7p.m. Friday, Jan. 16; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17; 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18

WHERE: Theatre South Playhouse, 7601 Della Drive, Suite 15, Orlando TICKETS: $18.42 to $32.11, available at teachtix.com/ tsplayhouse/alice-by-heart

show. Everybody has a standout moment.”

As a nonprofit with a limited budget, Quinn said actors can take their performances to the next level without the need of props and sets.

“What stood out to us is the ensemble work collaboration,” Quinn said. “This show only works when the group works. We wanted a black canvas so the ensemble could bring the world to life — Wonderland, the bunker, the in-between spaces where memory lives. The most important element here isn’t scenery — it’s people.”

Some of the cast members also will have the opportunity to surprise the audience with “special skills” that

Quinn said normal singers, dancers and actors wouldn’t have.

She said through this musical, she hopes people leave feeling less alone in what they carry.

“I hope it opens up real conversation — about grief, about mental health and about how we keep going,” she said. “This show says you can be heartbroken and still be brave. Both can be true.”

And Quinn said it was the perfect time to showcase this musical.

“We are in a very heavy world right now, and our political climate is entrenched,” she said. “The economy is not great, people spend most of their lives working, which is not necessarily a good work-life balance. And we never know, honestly, what’s happening with our neighbor. We never know what’s happening with the people around us, and to anyone facing grief at this time or a loss, I hope they can come to this show and I hope they can find an outlet. I hope they can find some peace and find some ways to cope. I hope that they’re taken out of their reality for a little while and are able to be cathartic through these characters. … And if that translates to someone having healing, then that is everything.”

Community rallies after fire at Hamlin BJJ academy

Owners say about 20 members offered to come and clean within a day of the fire, which closed the academy’s doors for about a week.

JUSTICE COVERT

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

One of the first rules Marcos Vinicius teaches his students at the MVBJJ Academy in Hamlin is to never step on the mats with shoes on.

However, that rule was broken Dec. 22, when firefighters had to rush in and extinguish flames that forced the jiu-jitsu to close temporarily.

The owners say the fire was caused by a short circuit in a mini-Pepsi cooler near the front door. It started at about 8 a.m. — hours before the first scheduled class that morning — and soon spread to a small plastic Christmas tree that sat on top of it.

Vinicius said he learned about the fire from a friend who called him during his morning walk. He didn’t believe it at first until a FaceTime call showed the proof — firefighters in the gym dousing the flames.

“Sometimes, I don’t believe this happened, you know?” Vinicius said. “It’s crazy, man.”

In all, the fire closed the gym for about a week and destroyed the front desk, about 25 gis, 45 white belts and a laptop, Vinicius said. A local company, BELFOR Property Restoration, helped with the repairs and cleaning for about $70,000, said Doug Leech, Vinicius’ business partner.

The most sentimental of damaged items, though, was Vinicius’ black belt, which burned in the fire.

“I know if I buy (a black belt on) Amazon, it’s like $30, but for me, part of me, that’s my life, you know?” said Vinicius, a second-degree black belt instructor. “That’s part of my body, because I’ve been working with jiujitsu for 27 years, my whole life.”

Vinicius has trained in jiu-jitsu since he was 8 years old. He and

Leech opened the gym in August 2024 with the goal of teaching its students not only jiu-jitsu but also implementing lessons on respect, confidence and community to help members succeed beyond the mat. The lessons learned from jiu-jitsu and the impact it has on one’s life ring especially true for Leech, who said the martial art was an outlet in his recovery from addiction and alcoholism.

Leech said he has been in contact with the gym’s members throughout the restoration process.

Although some members canceled their memberships following the fire, Leech said the gym still is maintaining about 200 members, including children ages 5 to 17. Leech said by the end of this week, discounts will be sorted out, potentially offering members a partial month’s deduction as a result of the closure.

Leech was thankful for the level of support he received from his longtime members, having found a community since opening. After the fire, that night and the next day, Leech said about 20 different people offered to come over and clean.

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

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“’IMWUMW’ MW KZY BNMW’ (1952) NWH VZMCHSMBKZ PYBY KZY KPX ZNBHYIK KZMWUI M YRYB ZNH KX HX MW JO CMDY.” HYSSMY BYOWXCHI

“X JMZ ABLG MGF LMXZTF YB TGYTLYMXG BYKTL RTBRHT. X’IT KTMLF HMPEKYTL MGF MRRHMPZT MGF WGBJG M HBY BN ZBLLBJ.”

J.C. Lewis

West Orange boys soccer forward/midfielder John Christian

“J.C.” Lewis is playing a pivotal role on the Warriors’ team this season.

The junior leads the team in goals per match by averaging 1.8 and total points scored with 15.

Lewis isn’t only an important scorer for the team, but also, he is No. 3 for the Warriors in assists (.3 per match). His soccer accomplishments came long before high school, when he was selected to play in London for a friendly tournament with U.S. Club Soccer.

He has helped West Orange on its return to greatness following a regional final appearance last season. The team holds an 11-2-1 record and No. 2 in its district with two games remaining at time of publication. The Warriors are ranked No. 25 in the nation and No. 9 in Florida.

What do you enjoy most about soccer?

I enjoy the feeling of winning and the joyful nature of playing.

When did you start playing soccer and why did you join?

I started playing soccer around 5 to 6 years old.

What is your biggest accomplishment in soccer?

My biggest accomplishment is reaching the round of 16 in the Generation Adidas Cup and playing Arsenal.

What has soccer taught you?

THE BASICS Age: 16 Grade: Junior Sport: Soccer School: West Orange

What’s your pre-game ritual?

My pre-game ritual is a light meal two hours before the game, meditation and use of a massage gun.

If you could pick a different sport what would it be? Why?

I would pick football because of my speed and athletic ability.

Who do you look up to the most?

I look up to Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior the most out of any athlete due to his fame and how he carries himself.

What is something new you’d like to learn?

I would like to learn at least two new languages.

Where would you want to live if you weren’t in Florida?

I would want to live in the United Kingdom, where soccer is the most competitive.

If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?

I would invest it for my future self and kids.

What is your favorite holiday? Why?

My favorite holiday is Christmas

‘We’re

still the hunters’

The Ocoee girls basketball made a historic Cinderella run in the postseason last year. The Knights return this season with a renewed hunger and nine new players.

MEGAN BRUINSMA STAFF WRITER

Time and time again in the revolving world of athletics we hear about Cinderella stories, the moment when a team — despite having low expectations — rises above those preconceived notions and breaks through.

Through March Madness’s recent years, we’ve seen Saint Peters become the first No. 15 seed to advance to the Elite Eight by defeating No. 2 Kentucky in the first round in 2022. In 2023, Florida Atlantic made it to the dance for the first time in 20 years and ran its way to the Final Four.

In West Orange, the underdog story last season was the Ocoee High girls basketball team.

The team recorded its most wins in a single season, first regional championship and, to cap it off, its first Final Four appearance. But the historic season fell to a close against the future state champions, Winter Haven, 65-41.

Now, buoyed by the success they tasted last year, the Knights are ready to make history once again. But this time, the team knows the consistency it will take. They are prepared, and they’re hungry.

“We’re still the hunters,” head coach Marcus Spencer said. “We’re not the hunted, because we haven’t won anything yet.”

HUNGRY, NOT SATISFIED

Success at any level can be a tricky road. Records improve, rankings climb higher, and satisfaction can begin to creep in. It’s a pathway Spencer won’t allow to happen.

“I keep them hungry every day,” he said. “Your record can tell you you’ve made it, but I don’t want them thinking that.”

Ocoee’s record reflects they are well on their way. The Lady Knights have clinched three straight district championship titles, currently have a 12-4 record and are ranked No. 16

in Florida and No. 12 in Class 7A.

Spencer and his staff acknowledge the rankings, but they consider them subjective and not something on which they dwell. Instead, their message to the team is the chase of a title they’ve never had.

“Ring-chasing,” he said. “That’s our motto… Some schools know what it feels like. We don’t. That’s why we want it.”

Last year’s team didn’t embark on its season with the same amount of hype. The expectations were low for the thinned-out roster of nine players, and few saw the program making a deep postseason run. Spencer said if anyone saw them at the beginning they would say, “There’s no way they’re making it to Lakeland.”

But inside the locker room, something was forming. The team embraced a single identity and became unified as one team with one goal and one culture. They understood the importance of not chasing blowouts but rather another win in any way possible.

“We only have to win by one,” Spencer said. “Sometimes, it’s not your night. Sometimes, you aren’t clicking, but you have to grind it out.”

All of Ocoee’s players have bought into the message. Senior center Senaia Asanya said it’s consistency and trust every player has in one another that allows them to know they will do the same each game.

A PHENOMENAL LEADER

At the center of Ocoee’s push is senior star Dakara Merthie. In the first week of January, she was 49 points away from reaching 2,000 career points, a monumental milestone to achieve in four varsity seasons.

“I’ve seen great players,” Spencer said. “I’ve never seen someone score 2,000 in four years.”

Last season alone, Merthie scored 694 points. She reached the 1,000-point mark a year ago, and she’s on her way to not only reach 2,000 points but far surpass it with seven games left in the regular season.

Spencer said her talent is a gift many don’t have, and it’s what has led her to sign with the College of Charleston. Merthie said her secret isn’t anything fancy: It’s sticking to the fundamentals she already understands and growing her consistency.

What separates Merthie further than being an offensive weapon is her understanding of the moment and what it takes.

“She understands what’s at stake,” Spencer said. “She doesn’t want to get denied.”

He’s seen Merthie step up into a leadership role earlier this season, when the team was struggling during a game. She called out mistakes and demanded focus. She’s also tasted what it felt like to make it to the Final Four and wants all of the newcomers to understand what it feels like.

“Focus and practice,” she said.

“It all starts at practice and then reflects at game time so we practice how we play.”

The Lady Knights unanimously agreed Merthie is their team leader.

What they appreciate about her leadership style is how she helps them feel confident in one another. And although she is the team’s leading scorer, she also wants everyone else to get involved just as much. Change is the only aspect of life that is truly consistent. Ocoee is at the forefront of that realization, with only having three players from last year’s squad on the roster this season. With nine new players coming together for the first time, there’s bound to be an added learning curve. Spencer said the team is working on determining all of their strengths and weaknesses, but the chemistry almost is fully built.

The Knights are fusing together at the perfect time, and when February’s playoff games roll around, they have confidence they will be ready to charge.

“From somebody on the outside watching last year’s team, it was the culture, the fun and the staff that inspired me,” senior guard Aniya Hester said. “Then also seeing (how) not many people predicted them to go to the states and then to see them accomplish that…and as family together, (it impacted) other people.”

A LASTING LEGACY

The Lady Knights’ impact last season expanded far beyond aspiring players who hoped to reach the same outcome — the season altered how the program was seen.

“They became the topic of Ocoee,” Spencer said.

Pep rallies followed the players; their team bus returned to campus with fans waiting. The recognition felt surreal to players who never have imagined that level of recognition.

Spencer posted a 3-17 record his first season as head coach. The program was rebuilding and progress slowly came through player development and consistency. Three consecutive district titles — with a potential fourth this year — followed. Now in his sixth year, Spencer sees the results of the team’s growth everywhere and celebrated being named the West Metro Girls Basketball Coach of the Year.

“Who knows?” he said. “I may win it again, but if we don’t do what we are supposed to with the talent we have, I’ll be disappointed deep down, because I know what these girls can accomplish. They just have to go home and visualize and believe this. They have to speak it into existence.”

For his young players, Spencer emphasizes the ultimate goal is not a one-night celebration. If they meet their goal, the Knights will be able to say they were the first team to ever win the championship in Jacksonville, the new home for states. The players will be able to look back 10 or 15 years from now and say, “Wow, I was a part of that.” If they come back to visit Ocoee, they can look into the trophy case and remember their journey. It’s an accomplishment hardly anyone will be able to say they did and add a storybook ending to the eight seniors’ high school accomplishments.

“I told them, ‘You never forget the first,’” Spencer said. “Even if somebody wins it after us, they’ll always say, ‘Well who won the first?’ And that’s what we’re trying to do. Make sure these girls have a lasting legacy. So that’s what we’ve been talking about since day one.”

Windermere finishes as Metro West runners-up

The Metro West Tournament boys basketball championship game between Windermere High and Evans High was an overtime thriller.

The 40-40 score at the end of the fourth quarter extended the game play by five minutes, and a missed 3-point shot by the Wolverines set the team at second in the Metro West Tournament. Evans scraped by in the 47-44 win Friday, Jan. 9.  Windermere kicked off the tournament by defeating Dr. Phillips 64-61, followed by

METRO WEST CONFERENCE RESULTS

n Windermere High, second n Olympia High, third n Dr. Phillips High, sixth n Lake Buena Vista, eighth

Olympia 58-47. It finished first last year by defeating Evans in the final, but this season the team had a different road-game fate and ended second overall.  — MEGAN BRUINSMA

Observer Media Group chairman dies at 95

Aimless and apathetic, David Beliles made a big life decision one day in September 1948 while riding a streetcar through his native Louisville, Kentucky, alongside two fellow bored high school buddies: They were going to join the U.S. Marines.

A short time later, Beliles found himself in a Marine barracks at Parris Island, South Carolina. His spontaneous decision to join the Marines was underway.

And it worked. The Marines turned Beliles from an emptyinside teen to an eager-for-life young man. “David would tell me over and over, ‘The Marines turned my life around,’” Beliles’ son-inlaw Matt Walsh said.

Beliles also turned what the Marines made him into a long career in media and newspapers. That career had two acts, first in the Midwest, and later in Sarasota, where he was chairman of the Observer Media Group. Beliles and his wife, Ruth, along with Walsh and his wife, Lisa, bought the Longboat Observer in 1995. That purchase launched what’s now one of the largest independent familyowned news media companies in Florida, with more than a dozen publications and websites stretching from Naples to Jacksonville.

Beliles died Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, surrounded by his family. He was 95.

Longboat Key Town Commissioner B.J. Bishop, who sat behind Beliles and his wife for more than 20 years at All Angels Episcopal Church on Longboat Key, said her friend was the “epitome of a gentleman. He was just gracious and kind.”

Beliles eventually earned a high school diploma, in 2003, from the Florida Department of Education, due to his service in the Marines during the Korean War. After being discharged from the Marines, he took a few college classes, at Columbia College in Chicago. But he also wanted to get going on his career.

The bulk of his newspaper career was with Topeka, Kansas-based Stauffer Publications. In 1961, he was given his first assignment as the boss of his own newspaper, when he was named editor and

general manager of the York NewsTimes in Nebraska. That led to a string of other management roles in the company, with stops over 30 years in Arkansas City, Kansas; Hannibal, Missouri; and Grand Island, Nebraska.

Newspapers are also where Beliles met Ruth Dearing, at the Champaign-Urbana Courier in Illinois in 1952. The pair — she was the Courier’s social editor — began dating and, after a short courtship, were married on Valentine’s Day in 1953. (An old family joke has it Ruth took David “out of circulation.”) The couple were married for 67 years, until Ruth died Nov. 24, 2020. Those newspaper days also inspired Matt Walsh — decades before he and his father-in-law teamed up with their spouses and some partners to buy the Longboat Observer

Walsh recalls he’d been dating Lisa for a little bit — they were students at the University of Missouri — when she invited him to come meet her parents back in her hometown, Hannibal, Missouri. Walsh recalls his first impression of David Beliles. There was the dark

LIFE WELL LIVED

gray Brooks Brothers suit. The blue Brooks Brothers shirt. The penny loafers. And the stories. David Beliles, then the editor and publisher of the local newspaper, talked of meeting the governor of Missouri one day, a CEO of a major corporation the next.

“I’m listening to this and thinking this is what I want to be when I grow up,” Walsh said. “I want this life. This sounds pretty cool.”

As Walsh grew in his media career — from South Dakota to Miami and Florida Trend to Forbes magazine in Florida — and he and Lisa started a family of their own, he and Beliles would often dream: Wouldn’t it be amazing to buy a newspaper of our own someday?

“We talked about it a lot,” Walsh said. “It just never happened.” Then came the opportunity to buy the Longboat Observer Beliles became a key mentor for Walsh. Some lessons were practical. Others were philosophical. The philosophical? Do what you say you are going to do. Always be honest.

The practical? Nothing gets done in any company without a sale — obvious as that might sound. For that lesson, Walsh goes back to the early days of the Longboat Observer in 1995. He was feeling pretty good about the content side of the paper. Then this, as the day to pay employees grew closer on the calendar.

“David said to everyone, ‘You know, payroll is in two days. It might be a good idea if someone went out and sold an ad,’” Walsh said.

Lesson learned. Walsh kept that front and center in leading the Observer’s expansion.

“David was a mentor for 50 years,” he said. “He had a great sense of humor and was a really great guy. He was so enjoyable to be with.”

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to: All Angels Episcopal Church in memory of David Beliles, 563 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key, FL, 34228; Plymouth Harbor Foundation, 700 John Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34236, or PlymouthHarbor.org/donate; or FoldsofHonor.org, which provides scholarships to spouses and children of America’s fallen or disabled military and families of first responders.

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INFLUENCER OF THE WEEK

Terrence Washington is a psychology teacher at Windermere Preparatory Academy.

Washington teaches IB Psychology and prepares his students to pass the exam in May of their senior year. It’s a two-year course, during which students learn about theories, concepts, terms and studies.

What brought you to your school?

Purpose. I was teaching at the college level for 10 years, and I taught at a school that had an accelerated bachelor’s program. ... I enjoyed making connections with the students, but they would end so abruptly. Additionally, I wanted to work with the high school population to make a bigger impact and to be a part of a community. Being here for three years has definitely given me a professional purpose that I did not have before. I truly love being here, taking part in all of the school activities, forming relationships with “my kids” and being a supporting character in the metaphorical movie of their life.

What do you love most about your school?

Windermere Prep is very multicultural. I learn so much from speaking with my kids. We have students from more than 40 countries, and asking them questions about their culture and their countries is so fun. The school also has many events to help families capture memories and commemorate moments. My daughter also attends the school, and I enjoy how many experiences are offered to her through special classes, field trips, etc.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

The relationships with “my kids.”

Even though most of them are 16, 17 and 18, I truly view being a high school teacher as an extension of fatherhood. I have two daughters at home and will hopefully be having a third child in the future, and I love being a dad. At times, being a high school teacher feels like I’m a professional dad. Every day when I send my daughters to school, I feel safe with the teacher I’m sending them to. I want to make sure my students feel safe and loved when they are in my classroom. Teaching them content and knowledge is fun and important. However, teaching them life lessons and providing a safe space for them is the purpose of the job.

What drew you to psychology?

When you go to grad school for psychology, the running joke is, “So what’s wrong with you?” Many of us are drawn to psychology to figure out ourselves, our family dynamics and why people make the decisions that they do. Humans are like a book with many chapters. We often meet people in the middle of their story. When that happens, we don’t understand why they make the decisions they do or have the perspective they have. Then we ask questions. ... We understand them more and have more compassion and understanding. That’s what drew me to psychology.

What is your favorite Windermere Prep tradition and why?  I just enjoy going to Homecoming and

REPORT CARD

Title: Psychology teacher

Years with school: Three

Prom, seeing all my students happy and dancing. It doesn’t feel like work; it feels like another opportunity to forge bonds.

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

Mr. Evans. He was a father figure for me at school. On the last day of school my senior year, he put his hands on my shoulders and told me, “If you ever need a father, you give me a call.” It’s moments like that that students remember. That truly impacted me, and I’ll always remember it, more so than the Chemistry knowledge he taught me.

What would you be if you weren’t in this profession and why?

Something similar, for sure. Working with youth is fulfilling. It’s the only “job” I would wake up this early for. Calling it a “job” seems inaccurate. It’s an opportunity and a blessing.

Who influences you?

My family. Being a dad makes me see my flaws. My kids love me endlessly despite those flaws. My mom pushes me to have more opportunities than she had and to make the correct decisions. My wife is always by my side and helps me get through the daily struggles of life. My students also influence me to be a better teacher and learn the issues of their generation.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I like to play board games with my friends. I’m not talking Monopoly; I’m talking about very heavy strategy games. I go to a board game convention in the summers. I enjoy watching movies, watching the Buffalo Bills and hanging out with my family and friends.

If you could dine with any famous person, past or present, who would it be and why?

Josh Allen. I’m a huge Buffalo Bills fan. He’s our quarterback. He and his teammates are our hope to finally get a Super Bowl. Whether we get it or not, it’s his relentless pursuit of this elusive goal that makes him so likable.

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

I’d just like everyone to be happy and have opportunities to live life freely and on their terms. It always strikes me what a role luck plays in our lives. There are so many people who are so unlucky with their circumstances.

If you could only listen to three bands or artists, who would they be and why?  Adele; her voice and her music are moving. Bruno Mars; he has a great voice, great dance moves and really knows how to put on a show. Linkin Park: That was the first concert I ever went to, and it’s very nostalgic.

OBSERVER SCHOOL ZONE

Third-grader pens, publishes book

Foundation Academy student

Jacob Nethers has published his first book, ‘The Dragons of Gargon,’ at just 8 years old.

LETICIA SILVA STAFF WRITER

While most 8-year-olds are playing video games and learning to play sports, Jacob Nethers is writing and publishing books.

As a third-grader at Foundation Academy, Jacob is interested in dragons and cats. To him and his friends, they’re cool and interesting.

And as an avid reader and booklover, he decided to take that interest and curiosity and write a 24-page book called “The Dragons of Gargon.”

“I wanted to be a writer for a long time,” he said. “I want (people) to learn more about me and dragons.”

“The Dragons of Gargon” introduces two dragon clans, one good and one bad. Both clans want more territory to fly and hunt, but when a treasure is discovered in the middle of Gargon, a battle begins.

“His first book was left off with a really good cliff-hanger,” said Paige Nethers, Jacob’s mother. “So all his friends at school are ready for a second book.”

As an art teacher at Foundation Academy, Paige Nethers has had multiple students come up to her to tell her how much they loved her son’s book and how much he inspired them to write.

“A lot of the people we know who bought the book come to him or even mail (the book) to him and say, ‘Will you please sign the book? We need the author’s signature,’” she said.

Jacob said he wants to become a New York Times bestseller one day, and although he has just started his journey, he is eager to achieve that goal.

“He just came to me one day and was like, ‘I wrote a book, and I want to publish it,’” Paige Nethers said. “I was like, “Oh wow, OK!’ I was just so excited.”

Paige Nethers said her son was set on writing and editing by himself.

“He had the whole thing written,

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Purchase the book at amazon. com/dragons-gargon-jacobnethers Price: $9.99

Note: Students attending Foundation Academy can check out the book at the school’s library.

and I typed it up,” she said. “If I made any suggestions, he would turn them down.”

The whole writing and publishing process took about eight weeks. The book was published to Amazon Saturday, Sept. 6. Although the process was quick, it didn’t come without challenges.

Jacob said he would encounter writer’s block during the writing process, but luckily, his mom taught him about thought bubbles, and that helped him move forward with his writing.

Although he was confident in his writing abilities, he didn’t feel ready to do illustrations on his own, so his mom aided in creating AI images best suited for the book.

However, this process taught him patience and an idea of what to expect as he ventures onto his second book.

“Even though there were some hard parts, I was just excited to know that it was going to be a book one day,” Jacob said.

He said he took inspiration to publish his book from his mom, who publishes art pieces and sends them to art galleries.

“My grandmother was a published author, my mother is an excellent writer, so it is somewhere in the family,” Paige Nethers said. “I don’t enjoy it so much, but he’s really good at both. And his grandma loves talking to him about all of this.”

Now, Paige Nethers said her daughter also wants to write a book after seeing what her little brother has accomplished.

“I’m very proud of him, especially hearing all the kids and how inspired they are,” she said.

Jacob said he is 10 pages into his second book and hopes to have at least one or two more published — all sequels to “The Dragons of Gargon.”

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BRAINFOOD

The Observer answers kids’ burning curiosities.

Of course, you probably hear all the time about the dangers of being online.

Even if you’re just surfing Google, it’s super easy to come in contact with dangerous people, pictures or videos.

These days, there are tons of different things parents can do to keep you safe while using phones, tablets and computers. Things like Screen Time on Apple devices and Bark can help your mom and dad keep track of you while you’re online.

However, there’s a lot you can do, too, to make sure your time in the digital world is full of education and fun — without the danger.

Want to know more? Read on!

ONLINE GAMING

Whether it’s Minecraft, Among Us, Pokémon Go or another title, online gaming can be an awesome way to play with your friends — both near and far. You can build worlds, conquer enemies and compete for bragging rights — all from the comfort of your own home. And with just a few smart moves, you can ensure your gaming keeps you safe.

n Don’t share personal information. This goes for any online activity. Don’t use your real name or birthday in your avatar name. Never tell anyone where you live, and don’t tell anyone the name of your school. Although it seems harmless, that kind of information can be enough to lead a stranger to your door.

n Voice masking. Some people can use technology to disguise their voice. You might think you’re playing with another kid, but it could be an adult using one of these apps to make them sound like a kid. So, always be skeptical of any randoms you don’t know in real life.

n Gaming addiction. Although it always stinks when you have to stop playing, really, it IS for your own good. Gaming for hours and hours might sound amazing, but it’s not healthy. So make sure you’re aware of just how much time you’re spending gaming. Take a break. Go outside. It’ll actually make you enjoy and appreciate your game time more.

even in pop-ups that you didn’t know were coming. So, although it might seem lame, surfing is best done with your parents nearby.

n Time limits are your friend. Like online gaming, screen time for YouTube can be addicting, too. So don’t fall down the rabbit hole for too long. It’s great to learn new things, but it’s equally important to make sure you’re not spending every waking moment in front of a screen.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Honestly, there have been so many studies that show social media is harmful to everyone — adults included. And you might see your parents or other adults in your life spending too much time on their phones already. So, although it might seem like you want to jump into social media, for kids, it’s not a healthy choice. True, it can be a place to connect with your friends. But it’s also a place that can open you up to all sorts of online dangers, including cyberbullies, groomers and more. Best

EVENTS BE SAFE ONLINE Learn safety tips and good practices when using the Internet. Students will: learn to tell fact from fiction; be mindful of what we share and secure our sensitive information; learn to deal with cyberbullies. Recommended for ages 6-12; registration required.

ORLANDO PUBLIC LIBRARY 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19

EATONVILLE BRANCH 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23

ALAFAYA BRANCH 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23

BE SAFE ONLINE — TEENS

ORLANDO PUBLIC LIBRARY

n Avoid the cyberbullies. We’ve all been there. Some dude starts giving you grief in the middle of battle, either by kill stealing, chaining or just talking trash. And you might really, REALLY want to retaliate, but the best — and safest — option for you is to just quit a find another match. And make use of that block button to cut the bullies out of your life completely.

ONLINE ACTIVITY

Let’s face it: You’re going to be explor ing online. It’s a powerful tool for school projects, and it’s also a great way to learn about virtually EVERYTHING. There’s a ton of online educators teaching every thing from drawing and sewing to animal training and STEAM projects on YouTube, and there’s many, many more that have all kinds of content for any topic you can imagine.

But, as Uncle Ben said to Peter Parker:

10:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, at the Orlando Public Library. Learn safety tips and good practices when using the Internet. Students will learn to tell fact from fiction; be mindful of what we share and secure our sensitive information; and learn to deal with cyberbullies Recommended for ages 13-18; registration required.

CYBERSECURITY BASICS

10:15 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Eatonville Branch Library. Cybersecurity is all about the safety of our information when we’re online. Build confidence as you visit websites, create passwords, and respond to email. Ages 13 and up; registration required.

RECOMMENDED READING

n Cybersecurity” by Martha London

n Screen Time! Stay Grounded, Set Boundaries, and Keep Safe Online” by Rachel Brian

n Building a Digital Footprint” by Adrienne Matteson

n “#Goldilocks: A Hashtag Cautionary Tale” by Jeanne Willis, illustrated by Tony Ross

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