01.22.26 Southwest Orange Observer

SOUTHWEST ORANGE

MLK inspires celebrations

Humble hero

Horizon West resident and longtime Disney cast member Robert Herrick said he was just doing his job when he stopped a 400-plus pound boulder prop from reaching the audience during an Indiana Jones show. STORY ON PAGE 4A.

BRIDGE THEATRE CO. TO PRESENT ‘ANNE & EMMETT’

The Bridge Theatre Company will present Janet Langhart Cohen’s “Anne & Emmett” this weekend in Southwest Orange. The public performance will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, at the Pargh Event Center at the Rosen JCC, 11184 S. ApopkaVineland Road, Orlando. School and community group matinees will take place Jan. 26-29. This play, directed by esteemed high school theater director Karen J. Rugerio and produced in collaboration with award-winning actor and producer Wayne Brady, offers an educational experience aligned with Florida’s curricular requirements for teaching the Holocaust and African-American history.

This play addresses racism, antisemitism and the longlasting effects of prejudice through an imagined conversation between Anne Frank and Emmett Till. The content is mature and includes references to violence, racism and religious persecution. Each performance includes a cast talk-back to support meaningful discussion and reflection. For more information or tickets, visit thebridgetheatre.org and rosenjcc.org/arts-at-the-j. The Bridge Theatre Company is a new 501(c)(3) based in the Orlando area. Its board comprises of eight theater parents and Dr. Phillips alumnae, together with Rugerio.

LAKEVIEW MIDDLE TO CELEBRATE LIBRARY RE-OPENING Lakeview Middle School will celebrate the renovation of its library with a grand reopening and ribbon-cutting event next week.

The celebration will take place from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, at the school, 1200 W. Bay St., Winter

5FAST

1ONP’s opossum

ambassador crosses Rainbow Bridge

Oakland Nature Preserve is mourning the loss of one of its ambassadors.

Pepper the opossum has been an ambassador at Oakland Nature Preserve for nearly three years.

According to ONP, she greeted thousands of visitors at the preserve and met hundreds of children.

Over the past couple of weeks, Pepper began to show signs of “slowing down,” which led staff to monitor her closely.  she had a longer life than typical wild opossums,” ONP posted. “She passed away peacefully in her favor ite bed last week.”

ONP asks anyone with photos and videos of her to share them with staff. Photos will be added to Pepper’s photo album.

2

New Korean spot now open in Windermere

A new Korean food spot has opened in Windermere.

Seoul Bol, located at 5845 Winter Garden-Vineland Road, Suite 100, Windermere, has taken over ChiKin’s location, though the owner remains the same.

The spot will offer healthy and protein-based customizable bowls, promising bold Korean-inspired flavors and top-notch quality.

The interior has a modern look to it and is hanok-inspired, meaning it blends traditional Korean architecture with modern elements.

Seoul Bol still is working on getting its website up and running. For any inquiries, call (407) 614-0070.

3

Multi-vehicle crash near Windermere High

Florida Highway Patrol said the crash occurred at about 6:43 a.m. Monday, Jan. 12, on Summerport Village Parkway and Winter Garden-Vineland Road in Horizon West.

The crash involved a 2019 Toyota Corolla, a 2018 Mazda CX-5, a 2023 Toyota RAV-4 and a 2022 Toyota RAV-4.

One transport was sent to Orlando Regional Medical Center while another was transported to Orlando Health — Horizon West Hospital.

The crash remains under investigation.

4

OCPS achieves highest graduation

outpaces the state for the 2024-2025 school year.

OCPS’ average rate is 97.2% compared to the state’s average of 92.2%.

Ocoee and Windermere high schools have some of the highest graduation rates in Orange County Public Schools.

Windermere High’s rate is 99.5%, and Ocoee High’s rate is 99.2% for the 2024-2025 school year.

“We are incredibly proud of our 2025 graduates, the largest graduating class in our district’s history, who achieved the highest graduation rate on record,” Superintendent Dr. Maria Vazquez said in a news release. “This milestone reflects the dedication of every adult

Windermere High, 99.5%; Innovation Montessori Ocoee, 100%; and Legacy High Charter, 93.3%.

Windermere asks residents for input on Town Hall restrooms The town of Windermere is asking residents to provide input on the two conceptual design options for potential public restrooms in the Town Square Park area.

The display features two options, which currently are under review as part of the town’s ongoing planning efforts.

The designs can be seen during regular office hours at the Town Administration lobby, 614 Main St., Building 100, in downtown Windermere.

Residents can provide feedback by

‘The

time is always ripe to do right’

Lined across North Clark Road in Ocoee stood hundreds of community members. The cold weather didn’t put a damper on their support of the city of Ocoee’s 18th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity parade Monday, Jan. 19. Bundled up in coats, Ocoee Mayor Rusty Johnson, commissioners, Ocoee High’s Marching Knights and dozens of organizations filled the street with smiles, music and dance.

Following the parade, they flocked into the food court of West Oaks Mall to celebrate and listen to Joshua Metellus recite his award-winning essay, “A Bright Future for Ocoee and America.” Ocoee resident Ages Hart was the keynote speaker.

Winter Garden’s Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration brought hundreds to the downtown pavilion for a plethora of festivities, including live music, food trucks, games and more.

Kat Riggins, a blues musician, and Go Time, a band singing mash-ups, took the stage to entertain the hundreds in attendance, with many standing up from their seats to sing and dance along.

While the parade portion of the celebration was canceled due to cold weather, the high energy still was present in every person in attendance.

Between a rock and a guest’s face

LIZ RAMOS MANAGING EDITOR

Horizon West’s Robert Herrick didn’t think twice before springing into action as a 400-plus pound boulder

bounced its way down the stage during Disney Hollywood Studio’s Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular.

He planted himself in front of the boulder, hoping his body would make just enough of an impact to stop the boulder from reaching the audience.

Herrick, a 36-year veteran of the Indiana Jones show, made a difference.

The boulder didn’t reach the audience, but he was left with a gash in his head and fractures in his C6 and C7 vertebrae.

Since that Dec. 30, 2025, show that has since become a viral video, Herrick has been referred to as a modern-day Indiana Jones and a local hero.  But that makes Herrick uncomfortable.

To him, the real heroes are the nurses, doctors and neurosurgeon who treated him at Orlando Regional Medical Center. They’re the first responders running toward overturned cars and burning buildings. They’re the people feeding the homeless. They’re the parents working two jobs to support their family.

“That’s a hero,” he said. “The difference is they don’t have 2,000 people with cell phones taping it. That’s the only difference.”

Herrick considers himself simply “an actor who does stunts.”

BIT BY THE ACTING BUG

Herrick’s passion for acting began at a young age.

Since he was a child, he always was finding ways to perform — whether it was grabbing a plastic banana from the fruit bowl in the living room and using it as a microphone to sing Dean Martin or Elvis Presley or being 6 years old in a production wearing a Styrofoam hat with a band on it and a bright colored vest.

“(Acting) was in my blood from a very early age,” Herrick said. “You either get bit by that bug or you don’t, and it bit me.”

His acting classes at the University of South Florida were his safe place, a place where he could draw on his emotions without judgement when doing scene work.

He realized his affinity for the adrenaline high that came with performing in front of a live audience and feeling the energy of knowing the moment a performance has impacted someone.

“I knew that was my passion, but I was trying to reconcile what my parents wanted me to do,” Herrick said. “There was a lot of pressure coming out of Jesuit High School to be a doctor or a lawyer. I just loved acting and thought it was a nice hobby.”

But what started as a hobby shifted into a lifelong career after Herrick received a call from a friend from acting class asking if he would be interested in auditioning for a new stunt show at Disney: Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular.  At 24 years old, Herrick went to

audition for the role of the German mechanic, an at least 6-foot-4-inch man who beats up Indiana Jones around the airplane in the third scene of the show.

The show’s director, Glenn Randall, saw something special in him and hired him.

It was time to tell his parents he wasn’t going to be a doctor or lawyer.

As the fifth of six children, Herrick said he was the one destined to graduate college coming out of Jesuit High, from which his father and grandfather graduated. Although his parents were disappointed at first, they came around after seeing the joy their son had while performing.

“I can sincerely and honestly say I feel like I have never worked a day in my life,” he said.

After being hired for the Indiana Jones stunt show, Herrick started learning how to do stunts and stage fight.

“I’ve never called myself a stunt man,” he said. “I’m an actor (who) knows stunts, because I work with some really great stunt people.”

When he started in the show in July 1989, Herrick recalled feeling “scared to death” during his first performance. His hands would not stop sweating, due to the heat and the nerves, as he hid below the carpet mount where he would spring up so Indiana Jones could shoot him. He was dressed in a black turban and veil that covered all of him except his eyes, and he had to spin a scimitar perfectly in line with the music and sound effects. All he could think was, “Don’t drop the sword. Don’t drop the sword.”

Herrick thought he would stay with the show at most for a year.

Little did he know for the next 36 years, he would be returning to the show multiple times after trying to make it big in Los Angeles but realizing the City of Angels wasn’t for him.

He also enjoyed a 15-month stint in Osaka, Japan, working for Universal Studios Japan.

Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, or as he fondly calls it Epic, became his home away from home.

At least two months before his contract was ending every year, he would become nervous, wondering if Disney

had found someone younger or better to take his role. But year after year for 36 years, he was offered another contract.

“I’m so blessed with really good people, that’s what brings me back,” he said. “Disney’s given me an unbelievable opportunity to live my passion and create magic for guests every day. Who wouldn’t want to do that?”

A ROCKY INCIDENT

Herrick said Disney’s top priority is safety, and the boulder has launched thousands of times without incident.

The show was at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30, and Herrick was supposed to switch from playing the director to the assistant director role, but something told him to not swap microphone packs with his castmate and remain in the director role.

The director is the one who sits in the tech booth during the boulder scene while the assistant director is not part of the scene.

Everything was going to plan as he’s watched time and time again in his years with the show.

Suddenly, after the planned burst of smoke and the boulder was launched through the skull doors, he saw it come out and hit the upstage wall of the temple.

As it went downstage, Herrick watched it teeter and bounce at least 7 feet in the air.

“When I came out of that tech booth, my only thought was, ‘That boulder cannot make it to the audience,’” he said. “If it’s going to take me to put a little resistance into it so it doesn’t do that, that’s what I’m going to do.”

It was a 400-plus pound boulder versus a 235-pound, 6-foot-6-inch man.

When the boulder hit Herrick, it propelled him back against the 3-foot wall that separates the audience from the stage. He had a gash in his head that required five staples to close.

As he felt the blood running down his right cheek, he could hear the audience gasping. All he could think next was to get off the stage so he wasn’t bleeding in front of the guests.

People were confused. Was what they saw part of the show? No.

Herrick later saw a video of a dad filming his daughter’s reaction to the show. He heard the dad trying to reassure his daughter that everything was OK and encouraged those around him to clap for Herrick. The man said, “That guy saved our lives,” referring to Herrick.

Herrick attributed the confusion to the Disney magic, allowing people to get lost in the fantasy of the Indiana Jones show, but in this moment, fantasy clashed with reality.

So much could have been different that night. What if Herrick switched roles? What would have happened if he didn’t stand his ground in front of the boulder?

Herrick believes it was a nudge from God that led him to maintain his role as director, and therefore, have his 36 years of experience to lean on during the incident.

Herrick thinks it’s instinctual for humans to want to protect one another. He believes the incident was God giving him an opportunity to protect others and demonstrate that there’s inherent goodness in people.

“I’m just a messenger for that, and I’m showing people that the world we live in now with the cynicism, the division, the vitriol and the meanness at high levels in this country can’t be the norm,” he said. “We’re all capable of protecting (one another), and it comes down to love.”

OUTPOUR OF SUPPORT

The Indiana Jones team has become family to Herrick. Over the past nearly four decades, Herrick and the cast and crew have been there for each other through the good and bad: marriages, births, losses, health issues and more.

His time with the show reminds him of a quote from Andy Bernard in “The Office,” “I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days, before you’ve actually left them.”

“If you spend time on that stage, there is something really special about it,” Herrick said. “The longevity of the show has made it a really special place, so I’m not looking back at 1995 saying I was in the good old times when I was 28 years old. I’m in the good old times right now. I’m in the good old times with my wife and my kids and still being able to perform a show that was supposed to last five years.”

The Epic family showed its support for Herrick as he recovered from the injuries.

A few of the original 1989 cast members knew Herrick’s pain kept him from sleeping, so they bought a reclining chair that now sits in his living room so he could sleep better.

Strangers have shown their support by providing a meal train for the family, sending gift cards and writing messages of love and support to Herrick.

Although his recovery is progressing, Herrick is itching to get back to the stage and his passion of acting. It could be another six weeks before he can work full-time as he needs to wear a neck brace.

“I want to go back to the show I love,” he said. “I miss my Epic family, and I miss performing. I miss making magic.”

He misses the interactions with guests who have an emotional connection with the show such as Elliot Perry, who celebrated his 14th birthday on stage with Herrick last July. Herrick met Perry, who has Brittle Bone syndrome and has had 60 operations in his lifetime, when Perry was 3 years old and was chosen to play a junior director in the show. Herrick has watched the boy grow up, start the Elliot Perry Foundation and continually come back to the show over the years.

“Every day I get a chance to meet someone different and talk to them, and I love that,” he said. “It is a gift to do that show and perform in front of those people every day. I miss it.”

Serfdom,”

/ Michael Eng, meng@OrangeObserver.com

Design Editor / Jessica Eng, jeng@OrangeObserver.com

Managing Editor / Liz Ramos, lramos@OrangeObserver.com

Historian / Amy Quesinberry Price, amyqhistory@OrangeObserver.com

Staff Writer / Megan Bruinsma, mbruinsma@OrangeObserver.com

Staff Writer / Leticia Silva, lsilva@OrangeObserver.com

Multimedia Sales Manager / Cyndi Gustafson, advertising@OrangeObserver.com

Multimedia Advertising Executives / Iggy Collazo, iggy@OrangeObserver.com

Graphic Designer / Sarah Santiago, ssantiago@OrangeObserver.com

Advertising Operations Manager / Allison Brunelle, abrunelle@OrangeObserver.com

Let us know about your events, celebrations and achievements. To contact us, email to Michael Eng, meng@OrangeObserver.com.

WEST ORANGE TIMES

The West Orange Times (USPS 687120) is published weekly for $60 per year and $110 per two years by the Observer Media Group, 661 Garden Commerce Parkway, Winter Garden, Florida, 34787. Periodical postage paid at Winter Garden, Florida.

POSTMASTER:

Oakland Park inspires project on Johns Lake

Scott Boyd’s McKinnon Corp. hopes to build a 613-home community with a wedding venue, bed and breakfast and trail system on property along Johns Lake in Winter Garden.

“The idea behind the bed and breakfast was to put a facility that my family would own and continue to operate that would preserve a lot of the natural area we have set aside, which is a little over 30 acres.”

— Scott Boyd

LIZ RAMOS MANAGING EDITOR

Former county commissioner Scott Boyd’s McKinnon Corp. shared plans during a community meeting Wednesday, Jan. 14, for the rezoning of properties on Marsh Road and Williams Road to build the next “Oakland Park.”

The rezoning request is for 17729 Marsh Road as well as 1400, 1401 and 1756 Williams Road. The property currently is not zoned and has an Urban Village designation.

The Johns Lake Urban Village Planned Unit Development is a proposed community planned for 613 homes on more than 319 acres in Winter Garden near the Lake-Orange county line.

Kelly Carson, planning director for the city of Winter Garden, said city staff nor the Winter Garden City Commission have made any decisions regarding the proposal. She emphasized the community meeting was an opportunity to share information on the proposal and receive feedback.

The McKinnon family has owned the Johns Lake property for more than 100 years, and Boyd said the family wanted to do something special with it.

“Oakland Park is a pretty special project, and that is the benchmark project that the family has asked us to work from and inform what we’re doing on the master planning and the development for the Johns Lake property,” said Geoff McNeill, a consultant on the project. “It’s a major part of the way we look at the property, how we think about it differently than a normal, mass-production-building type of housing project. It’s going to be a very high-end, highly detailed, very character-driven project.”

Preliminary plans for the Johns Lake development show a community including a mix of single-family homes as well as two special districts: one for a potential public school and another for a 31.6-acre resort district.

The overall gross density for the community is planned to be at 1.85 units per acre. The plans include townhomes to lakefront estates that will be restricted to a 90-foot minimum street frontage. Homes have not been designed yet, but they will be semi-custom and custom builds.

About 40% of the lakefront is some form of open space.  Besides homes, the plan includes a trail network, but it does not include a boat ramp.

Couple brings ‘a home for all Jews’ to Winter Garden

Rabbi Mendy and Sheina Konikov bring a Chabad House to Winter Garden.

LETICIA SILVA STAFF WRITER

As followers of Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, the leader of the Chabad movement and one of the most influential Jewish leaders of the 20th century, Rabbi Mendy and Sheina Konikov always have wished to open a Chabad House of their own, somewhere Jews in the community could feel at home. And today, they are doing just that.

“We thought about moving to many different places,” Mendy Konikov said. “But we ended up moving here (to Winter Garden). We thought it’d be a very suitable place; a place that really needs some type of Jewish infrastructure.”

Mendy Konikov grew up in South Orlando with his parents who run their own Jewish organization in Dr. Phillips.

But he started traveling around the country to study, and when he was in New York, his life changed when he met Sheina.

Sheina Konikov grew up in England but attended college in New York.

“We got set up by a matchmaker,” Sheina Konikov said.

They dated and got married, living in New York for another two years until Mendy Konikov’s parents suggested the couple move to Winter Garden to start a Jewish organization.

CHABAD HOUSE

To check for events, donate or learn more, visit jewishwintergarden.com.

one another while children can have fun and play.

“It’s mainly for the moms to have some support,” Sheina Konikov said. “We always discuss parenting tips and other things like that, just providing support and friendship for each other.”

The couple also offers a Bat Mitzvah club for girls ages 11 to 13 to learn about being a Jewish woman.

“We go through different heroines of the past and kind of take a lesson from each of them,” Sheina Konikov said. “We have a craft, we have something yummy to eat and it’s just a fun way for them to kind of explore this new chapter in life as they get older, before they hit their teenage stages.”

The couple also meets one-on-one with families to learn about Chabad.

From Mommy and Me events to Shabbat experiences, there is something for everyone.

“We had a women’s event and people were blown away,” Mendy Konikov said. “Someone who actually came for the first time said she feels like she now found her family.”

And that’s exactly their goal.

“We would love for everyone to know that this is a home for all Jews in the area and this is a home where everyone can feel like family,” Mendy Konikov said. “We’re really just here to give Jews that home.”

The 31.6-acre special district includes a wedding venue, a restaurant by reservation only and a bed and breakfast with a maximum of 40 beds designed to be in the woods as a special place for guests and residents to stay by reservation only.

“The idea behind the bed and breakfast was to put a facility that my family would own and continue to operate that would preserve a lot of the natural area we have set aside, which is a little over 30 acres,” Boyd said.

The special district of the potential school is on a 13.65-acre lot.

A representative from Orange County Public Schools said the district has not acquired the property. The district is on hold with building new schools for the next 10 years due to its drop in enrollment, but West Orange continues to grow in population. If the district feels the need to open another school to relieve Hamlin Elementary, this property would be under consideration.

More than 70 residents attended the community meeting, with most concerned about the impact this development would have on traffic.

“Maybe (OCPS) will want to put the school there, maybe they won’t, I don’t know, but I’m planning it for them,” Boyd said. “They’re not participating financially in the planning process for this at all. We’re doing it.”

Boyd said regional transportation improvements will help with the relief of traffic in the area. The improvements include the completion of the Orange County portion of Wellness Way this year; work on State Road 516 from County Road 455 to State Road 429 is scheduled to be completed in 2027; work from CR 455 to U.S. 27 is scheduled for completion by 2029; the expansion of Hartwood Marsh Road in Lake County beginning in 2026; the realignment and new roundabout for traffic calming on Marsh Road; Hartwood Marsh Road to Lost Lake is scheduled for construction in 2026 and 2027; and work on Schofield Road to Wellness Way is scheduled for 2026 and 2027.

Residents disputed the regional transportation improvements, stating they address the overcapacity traffic issues residents already are facing. The concern is the proposed development will compound the existing traffic issues.

The next step for the proposal potentially is a March Winter Garden Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, and if the commission approves the plan, it will move forward to the Winter Garden City Commission.

Boyd said even if the project is approved, it probably would be two years before a groundbreaking would occur, and the project could take at least 10 years to complete.

With no permanent Chabad in Winter Garden, the couple took interest in the suggestion and made it happen.

They made the move five months ago.

“We hit the ground running,” Sheina Konikov said. “We started things the second we got here.”

The Chabad House offers adult and children education, women’s events, teen programs and more.

“We try to target every age group and to just offer something for everyone,” she said.

The Konikovs also offer Hebrew school once per week for two hours to children, teaching them to read and write Hebrew as well as what it means to be Jewish today.

“We try to make it as exciting and fun and interactive as possible,” Sheina Konikov said. “We actually have an amazing curriculum. The kids walk out with personalized items every week.”

Chabad also offers Mommy and Me events, where moms can get to know

To them, this isn’t a job, it’s their purpose.

“It’s not a nine-to-five job,” Sheina Konikov said. “It’s our life and we feel like this is what we’re here for. This is how we want to be spending our time.”

In the past five months, the program has increased in members tremendously.

The Konikovs held a Hanukkah event in downtown Winter Garden with about 300 people in attendance. In the future, the couple hopes to expand their programs and find a permanent infrastructure to run their programs out of, as they’re currently serving the community from their home and their community’s clubhouse.

“It’s working well for now, but we’re maxing out,” Sheina Konikov said. “We feel very, very humbled. We’re lucky to have a part in this, you know, it’s really everyone in the community that’s doing it; They’re getting together and doing this, so we’re just lucky to be a part of it.”

Church DIRECTORY

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

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

Oakland lands landscaping contract

The commission will use TopNotch Landscaping for its landscaping needs.

LIZ RAMOS MANAGING EDITOR

IN OTHER NEWS

n Mayor Shane Taylor read a proclamation for Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday, Jan. 19.

CHURCH DIRECTORY

STARKE LAKE BAPTIST CHURCH PO Box 520, 611 W Ave, Ocoee Pastor Jeff Pritchard (407) 656-2351 www.starkelakebaptist.org

CHURCH OF GOD

OCOEE CHURCH OF GOD Pastor Thomas Odom 1105 N. Lakewood Avenue, Ocoee 407-656-8011

EPISCOPAL

CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH

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

METHODIST

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

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST WINDERMERE UNION CHURCH 10710 Park Ridge-Gotha Rd. Windermere, FL 34786 407-876-2112 Worship times: 9:00am Adult Sunday School 10:00am Worship www.windermereunion.org

The Oakland Town Commission approved a contract with TopNotch Landscaping for landscaping and mowing needs in the town.

The contract was approved unanimously Tuesday, Jan. 13, with Commissioner Sal Ramos absent.

Assistant Public Works Director Johnnell Kemp said the town staff asked a couple months ago to look into maintenance contracts for landscaping as the town currently has three contractors covering most of the town’s landscaping.

n Taylor read a proclamation for National School Choice Week, Sunday, Jan. 25, through Saturday, Jan. 31.

n The Oakland Town Commission unanimously approved the serving of alcoholic beverages at Oakland Nature Preserve’s Pours at the Preserve Saturday, March 7.

n The commission unanimously approved the independent contractor’s agreement with CJS Communications for the replacement of security cameras with cloud-based storage and maintenance.

He said the town wanted to isolate the work to one contractor, and after receiving bids from three vendors, TopNotch Landscaping was the cheapest at $74,400. The town will save at least $50,000 per year.

MIKE YOAKUM PASTOR P: 407.656.1520 C: 407.758.3570 MYOAKUM407@AOL.COM 1333 EAST CROWN POINT RD. OCOEE, FL

Advertise your Services or Events on this page weekly. This page appears weekly in the West Orange Times & Observer and online at OrangeObserver.com.

n Waste Pro’s request for a CPI adjustment was unanimously approved.

To advertise in the Church Directory call 407-656-2121 or email AdvertiseNow@OrangeObserver.com

Kemp said the town also decided to take on some of the lawn maintenance itself.

TREES OF THE SEASON WINNER

Lynn Dattolo, the community outreach manager, and Nicole Hurley, a sponsor, presented a wood tree stump plaque to Nicole O’Brien, managing director of Oakland Nature Preserve, which won the 2025 Trees of the Season decorating contest.

“All the trees were really interesting and unique and creative this year, and I just want to say congrats to the nature preserve,” said Hurley, an estate-planning and probate attor-

ney in Oakland. “It was a beautiful tree, a creative tree, and I think (Oakland Nature Preserve) is definitely one of the best places in this area to take a walk.”

The contest included 15 trees on display that were “quite a vast variety of very creative trees,” and Oakland Nature Preserve won by a landslide, Dattolo said. The preserve received $300 for placing first. In second place was Polka Dogz Rescue, and Winter Garden Tree Care received third place. They received swag from sponsor Prairie House Coffee.

The Florida Public Service Commission designated CenturyLink as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier within its service area for universal service purposes. CenturyLink’s basic local service rates for residential voice lines are $36.00 per month, and business services are $58.50 per month. Specific rates will be provided upon request.

CenturyLink participates in the Lifeline program, which makes residential telephone or qualifying broadband service more affordable to eligible low-income individuals and families. Eligible customers may qualify for Lifeline discounts of $5.25/month for voice or bundled voice service or $9.25/month for qualifying broadband or broadband bundles. Residents who live on federally recognized Tribal Lands may qualify for additional Tribal benefits if they participate in certain additional federal eligibility programs. The Lifeline discount is available for only one telephone or qualifying broadband service per household, which can be either a wireline or wireless service. Broadband speeds must be at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload to qualify.

A household is defined as any individual or group of individuals who live together at the same address and share income and expenses. Services are not transferable, and only eligible consumers may enroll in these programs. Consumers who willfully make false statements to obtain these discounts can be punished by fine or imprisonment and can be barred from these programs.

If you live in a CenturyLink service area, visit https://www.centurylink. com/aboutus/community/community-development/lifeline.html for additional information about applying for these programs or call 1-800201-4099 with questions.

Time to step up

Andy Williams and CT Allen have answered the call to serve the town of Windermere.

LIZ RAMOS MANAGING EDITOR

Fifth-generation Windermere resident Andy Williams ran for the Windermere Town Council in 2018 to serve the community in which he grew up.

The desire for stewardship, including organizational and financial stewardship, is at the forefront of Williams’ mind.

His service is about bringing positive change while preserving the town, he said.

So when Mayor Jim O’Brien was contemplating stepping down, Williams offered to “step up if needed.”

“I look around and look at our town, and our volunteers are what drives our community,” Williams said.

The time has come.

O’Brien is stepping down as mayor, and Williams will become Windermere’s next mayor in March.

With Williams’ seat empty, CT Allen stepped up to run.

An election is not necessary, because the three open seats for the Town Council were qualified without opposition. Council member Brandi Haines will continue to serve in her seat.

LONGTIME LOVE FOR WINDERMERE

Williams’ time as mayor will be adding to a long-standing family legacy in Windermere. His grandfather and his namesake, Loren Robertson “Andy” Williams, was a former mayor of Windermere in the early 1950s.

“I hope he’s looking down on me — and same with my grandmother, my father — and that I’m making him proud,” Williams said.

He lives in the home in which he grew up, and his daughter, Loren Abigail Williams, has the opportunity to have a similar childhood living next to

her grandparents as Williams did.

Williams’ family history in Windermere started when his great-greatgrandparents, John W. and Amelia McMurtrey, were some of the earliest settlers who opened a store on Main Street.

Despite his grandfather serving as mayor, Williams never saw becoming mayor, let alone serving on the Town Council, in his future.

“I just wanted to do my part, and I didn’t even really know what that looked like in 2018,” he said. “But when Jim said he was done, I looked around and said, ‘I’m probably the right choice.’ I have the most seniority, I have the most experience in town, and there wasn’t a long line of people jumping up and down to do it.”

Allen came to Windermere in 1990 to be with her now-husband, Rick Allen. She had returned from opening a resort in California and was looking for her long-term home. Rick Allen’s mother lived in Windermere, and they wanted to live close to her.

“I love this town,” Allen said. “I’ve seen it go through a few transitions administratively, but it’s never lost its small-town appeal.”

The balance of maintaining the essence of the small town while progressing into the future is what had drawn her to the town even more, she said.

Allen is most known in town for her involvement in Windermere Wine & Dine. She was a part of the group of seven Windermere Elementary School parents that created the Mustang Education Fund and started the annual fundraiser. The event has grown to be one of the most popular in town and a must-attend event for hundreds.

With Windermere Wine & Dine now under the leadership of the West Orange Foundation, Allen said now was the time to take a turn on the Town Council.

“I like engaging in where we live, and I also think it’s modeling for my kids that you give back,” she said. “It was my turn to step up. I would encourage everybody to take a spin up there, because … it opens your mind

on how hard it is to run a small town and to keep 3,000 residents happy while moving a small town into the future.”

She also chaired the Centennial Committee, which organized events and initiatives to celebrate the town’s 100-year history since it was incorporated. She said she wanted to be a part of the committee because she thought it was going to be a memorable year for residents. Having the legacy benches and trees, centennial lanterns and oral histories of people in town as part of the celebration gives her immense pride.

“We left a footprint from the centennial on a lot of people,” she said.

Both Williams and Allen plan to use their experience to guide them into this next chapter. Williams said he wants to take what

he’s learned from O’Brien, who he said gave the town a “path to move forward with change and not just be status quo,” and add a little bit of his personality and ideas to continue to progress the town. He said just as O’Brien served as mayor a little differently than former Mayor Gary Bruhn, he will lead slightly different than O’Brien.

Both Williams and Allen want to lead in a way in which everyone can have their opinions, agree to disagree and leave town meetings with understanding and respect for others.

“Everybody has opinions, but I want to get us back to a place where we have all those debates and discussions with an open mind,” Allen said. Through her work with Windermere Wine & Dine and serving on the Centennial Committee, Allen said she

was able to meet many people in town as well as work closely with town staff and administration. She’s learned to listen to the ideas and opinions of others and create solutions and compromises that can move an organization forward.

FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE

Both Williams and Allen have goals as they start their new positions in March.

They plan to focus on encouraging more people to volunteer for different facets of the town, including advisory committees and running for town council seats and mayor.

Williams said he doesn’t plan to be mayor for several terms like his predecessors. O’Brien served since 2019, stepping in after Bruhn, who served for more than a decade. He said both mayors were excellent at their jobs and left a legacy on the town, but he wants to see more people engaged in serving the town, whether as mayor or Town Council members.

“I don’t think I’ll be mayor in eight years,” he said. “I would like to see mayor being more like a four-year term, where we’ve got good people cycling through the position, same with town council. We have great volunteers throughout the town, but it’s a small number when you look at how many residents we have. How do we bolster those committees, get people more involved.”

Williams wants people to know serving on council or town committees doesn’t need to be a chore or timeconsuming but rather an opportunity to contribute to the town and be a part of something bigger than themselves.

“We don’t want to leave any of our committees lacking for good, quality leaders or people with the knowledge to keep those committees moving forward and making the right decisions,” Williams said. “I want to see somebody ready and willing to move up, whether it’s from an advisory committee into council or council up to being mayor.”

In the same vein, Allen would like to see more residents engaged in town matters and attending council meetings to be informed and provide feedback on projects at their inception rather than further into the projects’ progress.

“I’m really coming in wanting more voices in that room,” Allen said.

Descuentos de teléfono e internet

La Comisión de Servicios Públicos de Florida designó a CenturyLink como una operadora de telecomunicaciones que está calificada dentro de su área de servicio para proporcionar servicios universales. Las tarifas de servicio básico local de CenturyLink para líneas de voz residenciales son de $36,00 al mes y los servicios de negocios son de $58,50 al mes. Las tarifas específicas se proporcionarán bajo solicitud.

CenturyLink participa en el programa Lifeline, el cual hace que el servicio telefónico residencial o el servicio de banda ancha que califique sea más económico para los individuos y familias de bajos recursos que cumplan con los requisitos. Los clientes que reúnan los requisitos pueden optar a descuentos Lifeline de $5,25 al mes para servicios de voz o paquetes de voz o de $9,25 al mes para banda ancha o paquetes de banda ancha que reúnan los requisitos. Los residentes que viven en tierras tribales reconocidas federalmente pueden calificar para obtener beneficios adicionales si participan en ciertos programas federales adicionales de elegibilidad. El descuento Lifeline está disponible únicamente para un teléfono o servicio de banda ancha por hogar que califique, y dicho servicio puede ser alámbrico o inalámbrico. Las velocidades de banda ancha deben ser de al menos 25 Mbps de descarga y de 3 Mbps de subida para calificar.

Un hogar está definido como un individuo o grupo de individuos que viven juntos en la misma dirección y que comparten ingresos y gastos. Los servicios no son transferibles y sólo los clientes que cumplen con los requisitos pueden inscribirse en estos programas. Los clientes que hagan declaraciones erróneas deliberadamente para poder obtener estos descuentos pueden ser castigados con una multa o con encarcelamiento y pueden ser bloqueados de estos programas.

Si vive en un área de servicio de CenturyLink, visite https://www.centurylink.com/ aboutus/community/community-development/lifeline.html para obtener información adicional sobre cómo solicitar estos programas o llame al 1-800-201-4099 si tiene preguntas.

Isleworth estate

An estate in the Isleworth community in Windermere topped all West Orange-area residential realestate transactions from Dec. 29, 2025, to Jan. 4.

The home at 5157 Latrobe Drive, Windermere, sold Dec. 30, for $4,400,000. Built in 1989, it has six bedrooms, eight-and-one-half baths and 5,721 square feet. The sellers were represented by Monica Lochmandy, Isleworth Realty LLC.

These are the highestselling homes in each community in West Orange.

DR. PHILLIPS

BAY HILL

The home at 6018 Tarawood Drive, Orlando, sold Dec. 31, for $2,560,000. Built in 2021, it has six bedrooms, six baths, two half-baths and 5,825 square feet of living area. Days on market: 105.

PALM LAKE

The home at 8661 Crestgate Circle, Orlando, sold Dec. 30, for $960,000. Built in 1996, it has five bedrooms, five baths and 4,167 square feet of living area. Days on market: 259.

SAND LAKE POINT

The home at 10324 Pointview Court, Orlando, sold Jan. 2, for $755,000. Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,522 square feet. Days on market: 83.

SANDPOINTE TOWNHOMES

The townhouse at 7736 Windbreak Road, Orlando, sold Dec. 30, for $520,000. Built in 1988, it has three bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 1,750 square feet. Days on market: 49.

SOUTH BAY

The home at 8708 Lost Cove Drive, Orlando, sold Dec. 30, for $1,075,000. Built in 1989, it has four bedrooms, three-and-onehalf baths and 3,318 square feet. Days on market: 136.

HORIZON WEST

AVALON WOODS

The home at 16138 Leyland Cypress Lane, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 30, for $1,135,271. To be built in 2026, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 3,675 square feet.

The home at 16144 Leyland Cypress Lane, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 30, for $947,801. To be built in 2026, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 3,108 square feet.

The home at 16114 Leyland Cypress Lane, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 29, for $631,631. To be built in 2026, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,102 square feet.

PALMS AT WINDERMERE

The home at 7013 Windy Palm Way, Windermere, sold Dec. 29, for $1,185,861. Built in 2025, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 3,100 square feet.

The home at 14225 Crest Palm Ave., Windermere, sold Dec. 31, for $1,050,000. Built in 2025, it has six bedrooms, four-and-one-half baths and 4,443 square feet. Days on market: 124.

The home at 14244 Crest Palm Ave., Windermere, sold Dec. 30, for $1,035,000. Built in 2025, it has five bedrooms, three-and-onehalf baths and 3,764 square feet.

SERENADE AT OVATION

The home at 13025 Serene Glade Road, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 29, for $570,000. Built in 2025, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,083 square feet.

The home at 13042 Serene Glade Road, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 29, for $534,990. Built in 2025, it has three bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 1,836 square feet. Days on market: 153.

SILVERLEAF RESERVE BUNGALOWS

The home at 16436 Silver Brook Way, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 30, for $508,000. Built in 2025, it has three bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 1,678 square feet. Days on market: 31.

WATERLEIGH

The home at 11123 Hollow Bay, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 30, for $745,000. Built in 2024, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,113 square feet of living area. Days on market: 37.

The home at 9434 Jaywood Road, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 30, for $740,000. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 3,316 square feet. Days on market: 26.

The home at 16125 Hampton Crossing Drive, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 29, for $689,000. Built in 2017, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 2,840 square feet. Days on market: 137.

The home at 11852 Shine View Lane, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 30, for $649,990. Built in 2024, it has four bedrooms, three-and-onehalf baths and 2,489 square feet. Days on market: 53.

The home at 16436 Admirals Cove Lane, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 31, for $645,000. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,117 square feet. Days on market: 39.

The home at 11846 Shine View Lane, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 30, for $570,000. Built in 2025, it has three bedrooms, two-and-onehalf baths and 2,216 square feet of living area. Days on market: Six.

WATERMARK

The home at 9182 Holliston Creek Place, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 30, for $850,000. Built in 2018, it has four bedrooms, three-andone-half baths and 2,733 square feet of living area. Days on market: 69.

WESTSIDE VILLAGE

The home at 12621 Salomon Cove Drive, Windermere, sold Dec. 29, for $498,000. Built in 2018, it has four bedrooms, three-and-onehalf baths and 2,604 square feet. Days on market: 125.

WINCEY GROVES

The home at 16377 Orange Seed Lane, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 29, for $820,000. Built in 2020, it has five bedrooms, three-and-onehalf baths and 3,599 square feet. Days on market: 95.

OAKLAND OAKLAND TRAILS

The home at 1751 Standing Rock Circle, Oakland, sold Dec. 30, for $737,500. Built in 2017, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 3,493 square feet. Days on market: 31.

OCOEE ARDEN PARK NORTH

The home at 2738 Norway Maple Court, Ocoee, sold Dec. 29, for $505,000. Built in 2021, it has three bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,429 square feet. Days on market: 105.

BROOKHAVEN OAKS

The home at 437 Emory Oak St., Ocoee, sold Dec. 30, for $590,000. Built in 1997, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,430 square feet. Days on market: Seven.

PRESERVE AT CROWN POINT

The home at 2264 Farnham Drive, Ocoee, sold Dec. 30, for $505,000. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,182 square feet. Days on market: 43.

WESTYN BAY

The home at 650 Torgiano Drive, Ocoee, sold Dec. 30, for $670,000. Built in 2011, it has six bedrooms, four baths and 3,794 square feet. Days on market: 16.

WINDSOR LANDING

The home at 3213 Kentshire Blvd., Ocoee, sold Dec. 29, for $706,000. Built in 2003, it has five bedrooms, three baths and 3,202 square feet. Days on market: 93.

WINDERMERE

WHITNEY ISLES AT BELMERE

The home at 1451 Whitney Isles Drive, Windermere, sold Dec. 30, for $925,000. Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, three-and-onehalf baths and 3,938 square feet. Days on market: 102.

WINDERMERE POINTE AT LAKE ROPER

The home at 13036 Lake Roper Court, Windermere, sold Dec. 29, for $1,875,000. Built in 2003, it has five bedrooms, five-and-one-half baths and 4,044 square feet. Days on market: 18.

WINTER GARDEN

CANOPY OAKS

The home at 12904 Canopy Woods Way, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 29, for $1,330,000. Built in 2018, it has four bedrooms, four-and-one-half baths and 3,665 square feet. Days on market: 21.

COVINGTON CHASE

The home at 459 Millwood Place, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 30, for $660,000. Built in 2014, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,873 square feet. Days on market: 181.

GREYSTONE

The home at 336 Courtlea Park Drive, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 31, for $530,000. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 2,640 square feet. Days on market: 145.

LAKEVIEW PRESERVE

The home at 3459 Current Ave., Winter Garden, Lake County, sold Dec. 31, for $515,000. Built in 2020, it has three bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 2,144 square feet of living area. Days on market: 141.

STONEYBROOK WEST

The home at 1331 Marble Crest Way, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 29, for $811,000. Built in 2002, it has four bedrooms, four baths and 3,940 square feet. Days on market: 129.

SUNSET LAKES

The home at 13554 Sunset Lakes Circle, Winter Garden, sold Dec. 31, for $1,125,000. Built in 1998, it has three bedrooms, three

and 3,136 square feet. Days on market: 35.

SPORTS

HIGH 5

1

Ocoee High announced Jeremiah Rodriguez-Schwartz as its new assistant football coach Wednesday, Jan. 14. His most recent coaching stint was as the head coach of Wekiva High’s football team from January 2021 to October 2023. He also is bringing offensive lineman, offensive coordinator and running back coaching experience to the Knights’ sideline. Rodriguez-Schwartz is a local to Orlando. He graduated from Edgewater High in 2008 before going to play college football at Iowa State and Hampton University. He took his talents overseas and coached as an offensive coordinator for the Durham University in England.

2

The Navy All-American Bowl is a nationally recognized bowl game for the top 100 high school prospects in the country. The First Academy’s Danny Odem, Devin Jackson and Reed Ramiser were named All-Americans following the 2025 season. They were placed on the East team for the bowl game Saturday, Jan. 10 in San Antonio,Texas. Their invitation added them to TFA’s record book and they — along with former Royals player Garrett Williams — are the only four TFA athletes to play in the game. “It was a blast being able to compete and workout against some of the top guys in the country,” Reed said in TFA’s social media post about the opportunity.

3Olympia High Athletic Director Russell Wambles won’t return to the school for the spring semester. The school announced his retirement Wednesday, Jan. 7. Wambles led Titan athletics for almost four years. Olympia football head coach Travis Gabriel will step in as the new athletic director, Wambles said. Prior to working at Olympia, Wambles worked in athletic administration for 25 years. The Apopka High School alumnus also worked at other Florida schools, including Apopka, Dr. Phillips and Tavares high schools. He was recognized as the state Athletic Director of the Year in 2015-16 by the Florida Interscholastic Athletic Administrators.

4Horizon High announced the hiring of Jay Mudd as the head coach of the softball team for the 2026 season. He previously worked as Horizon’s head coach for the JV softball team last season. The hiring comes after former head coach Stephen Lenzi left the Hawks and became the head coach of West Orange High’s softball team.

Mudd will step in as Horizon enters its fifth season. Last year the Lady Hawks made history by reaching the regional finals for the first time and concluded the year 21-7. Outside of softball, Mudd also is the pastor at Village Point Church, a church in the Horizon West area.

5

Windermere High boys soccer team are the 2026 Metro Champions following the team’s 4-0 defeat of Innovation Wednesday, Jan. 14. Ivaldo Neto, Keagan Kiefer, Felipe Novak Fontenelle Ribeiro and Enzo Bueno De Oliveria each recorded one goal in the team’s win. The Wolverines played their last regular season game Friday, Jan. 16 against Lake Howell for senior night. Windermere dominated in a 9-1 performance and completed their regular season with a 14-1-5 record.

Born a champion

At 21, Jana Shelfer was a Paralympian basketball gold medalist. At 50, she won four adaptive waterskiing gold medals and the title of 2025 International Disabled Athlete of the Year.

MEGAN BRUINSMA STAFF WRITER

Winter Garden resident Jana Shelfer rose above the water on her skis in November 2025 at Worlds in Australia with confidence.

The Team USA athlete knew her tricks combined were enough to produce a recordbreaking score. All that was left was to successfully complete the track.

And she did it to perfection.

Shelfer returned to the dock with tears

streaming down her face and uncontainable excitement. Her husband, Jason Shelfer, met her with a gleaming smile and tears of his own.

They celebrated as if she won Worlds, before knowing it was the reality.

Jana Shelfer was crowned the champion. She took home three individual gold medals and one Team USA gold medal, and set a new world record of 1,340 points in seated tricks.

When Jana Shelfer discovered she won, more tears flowed. They still flow to this day.

Olympia set to return with second Titan Trot

The girls soccer team began the Titan Trot last year to help fund the program. After a successful inaugural year, the 5K is back to foster team and community growth.

Olympia High girls soccer head coach Daniel Vincent attended high school in Atlanta, where he was surrounded by local 5K races.

One day an idea emerged inside his high school soccer team: Why can’t we try to do this? So they did.

They began a road race to help support the soccer team and the tradition lasted for 25 years, he said.

Thirty years later, Vincent found himself at Olympia and brought back the idea from his childhood to create the Titan Trot 5K under the same original idea of fusing community with soccer team support. They aimed to connect the players with the businesses they interact with on a daily basis, such as a local ice cream shop or Starbucks. After a successful inaugural year in 2025, the Titan Trot is returning for its second year Saturday, Jan. 24. The dream is to bring the same joy from last year but most importantly continue to support the returning district champion girls soccer team on its mission to glory.

Vincent said girls soccer is one of the least funded programs in high school athletics. Not all families can spend the $500 or more some sports require to participate. Through the Titan Trot’s fundraising efforts, Olympia was able to support purchasing new equipment and provide each of the 40 girls with a ball during practice. They obtained practice nets and provided each player with a uniform, enhancing the sense of belonging on the team.

“Providing stuff like that for these kids is phenomenal,” Vincent said.

Vincent hopes running the 5K will teach his players ways to be creative when asking for help raising money. It’s a larger lesson about how fundraisers can serve to connect the community and give back to those in need.

On race day, at least 20 players will arrive before sunrise to set up the tents, hydration stations, start and finish lines — everything that goes into coordinating a community 5K.

The biggest challenge wasn’t finding a venue or waking up early. Rather, it was when small groups of players were required to visit local businesses to ask for sponsorships.

“Last year and even this year, we took small groups of them out, and I said, ‘OK now you guys are going to pitch this business,’” Vincent said. “And you can see it’s interesting. You can see that a lot of these kids don’t have really much confidence in pitching someone on this. … It was cool to get them to go out, because you can see it’s got this little mini evolution going on.” At first, the players’ reactions were “No, we can’t do that,” but

IF YOU GO

Jonah Bryan

The Windermere Prep boys soccer team is on a quest to become back-to-back district champions and return to the regional semifinals. Center back Jonah Bryan’s defensive strength has been crucial in the team’s 12-2-2 regular season record. On the offensive side, the senior captain also has scored three goals in eight games.

What do you enjoy most about soccer?

I enjoy the team-bonding experience working toward one goal — not just the constant pursuit of a championship but making small improvements every day. I love playing with friends and growing through a beautiful game.

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

I started playing when I was 5 during a sampling phase in which I tried different sports. Soccer stuck, because I love the game’s constant flow and the connection it gives me to my dad, who played collegiate soccer.

What is your biggest accomplishment in soccer?

It was winning the district championship in my junior year at Windermere Prep. Joining the varsity soccer team was an incredible experience, especially after moving from Atlanta and joining a new school.

What has soccer taught you?

Soccer has taught me teamwork and discipline. When things get tough, those are the moments when you have to put the team first, trust the plan and endure to the end.

How would you describe yourself as a teammate?

I strive to lead by being an example. The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves, in their effort to include others and in keeping the game fun.

What advice would you give someone who just joined soccer?

Surround yourself with people who push and inspire you. Learn more than just fundamentals. Strategy and positioning are what set players apart.

If you were a coach, what speech

THE BASICS Age: 18

Grade: Senior Sport: Soccer School: Windermere Prep

five-minute individual stretch to decompress and prevent injury. Beyond stretching, I lead the team in dynamic stretching, positioning drills and shooting.

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

I would pick golf because of the challenge it offers: The varying lies, course design and weather conditions force you to stay mentally strong and continue after mis-hits.

Who do you look up to the most?

My dad. He has always been an important figure in my life, providing an example of the individual I hope to become one day through his service, compassion and charismatic personality.

What is something new you would like to learn?

Classical piano. I took lessons when I was younger but did not fully commit. I have always loved the instrument and want to give it my full effort now.

Where would you want to live if you weren’t in Florida? Georgia. It was my home for nine years and many of my closest friendships started there.

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

I would retire my parents. Being a part of a family of nine, my parents have become major role models in my life who have had to make countless sacrifices to support my siblings’ and my aspirations and passions.

What is your favorite holiday? Thanksgiving, because it is a time of year when I can slow down and recognize the people and things I should be thankful for.

What future career do you want to have?

Engineering. I want a career that challenges me day in and day out and allows me to solve problems that help others.

others. I believe small acts of kindness can have a lasting

Winter Garden resident earns international award

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9A

She thanked everyone, from her training partners to her husband. Without their role in her training sessions, her victory would have never been possible.

“The emotion was overwhelming,” Jana Shelfer said. “It was all the good emotions all at once coming out. It was joy, it was pride. I was so elated and it all came out at once.”

The accomplishment reminded Jana Shelfer of who she’s always been: a champion.

She took home gold in 2004 as a Paralympian wheelchair basketball player after becoming paralyzed in a car accident as a freshman in high school years earlier. In 2025, she celebrated being inducted into the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame.

“I think my 20-year-old self would be really proud of my 50-year-old self,” Jana Shelfer said.

The basketball champion retired from the sport after 2004 and pursued a career in radio, creating the “Living Lucky” podcast with Jason Shelfer in 2021, but her natural calling for competition drew her back into athletics.

That, and Jason Shelfer bought a boat.

THE BEGINNING

Jason Shelfer made the purchase in 2012, and the couple quickly took on the boating lifestyle. It was relaxing, but Jana Shelfer wanted them to find a way to stay active, too. They decided to take on waterskiing.

After using Google as a tool, they stumbled upon their soon-to-be coach — Frank from France — as they call him. Frank hardly spoke English. The Shelfers were his first clients, and he knew nothing about adaptive skiing.

He had to learn adaptive skiing to accommodate Jana Shelfer’s needs.

“I look back at that time, and I think we were meant to find each other, because it was a mutually beneficial relationship,” Jana Shelfer said.

They helped Frank learn English, and he helped them ski all during the early hours of the morning. With the morning dew glistening on the plants, the Shelfers put on their wetsuits and listening ears and set off into the cold darkness to learn the ways of the water. Within a year, they no longer needed an instructor.

Then Jason Shelfer bought a ski boat, which produced a flatter wake. Jana Shelfer bought a smaller ski that allowed her to move through the water with more grace. They built a house on a lake in Winter Garden, and rather than dedicating a whole day to taking the boat out, the water became their backyard.

“I want to do that,” she said.

freedom, strength and back, it is essential to see the big picture and both sides of the ball.

What is your perfectsists of spending time with my family and friends, playing board outdoors for soccer

MEGAN BRUINSMA

They began water skiing a few times each year until Jana Shelfer entered her first competition.

LAST PLACE

Jana Shelfer was scrolling online on a Wednesday afternoon in September 2024, when she stumbled across the adaptive waterski competition in Auburndale. Her first thought was simple, “Let’s go watch.” But then a second thought flashed through her competitive-natured mind, “Why don’t we just enter?”

The catch: The event was scheduled for that Saturday, and she never had skied competitively.

Jana Shelfer sprung into action. All she had to do was complete the course to qualify for competition. At the slowest speed possible, 18 mph, and with the longest rope allowed, she attempted it. It wasn’t pretty or smooth, but she cleared every buoy.

But she didn’t have the proper ski. She and Jason Shelfer drilled holes into one of his wakeboards, attached a cage and spent three hours trying to get Jana Shelfer on top of the water. They failed but entered the trick competition, anyway.

On competition day, she had two chances to get out of the water. The first pull failed.

“On the second time I could hear people on the dock, ‘Does she need help? Does someone need to jump in and help her?’” Jana Shelfer said.

“I felt so embarrassed. And then the second time, I got up on top of the water, and I was so excited. … Once I passed the green buoy, the judge in the boat said start your tricks. I didn’t have any tricks. My trick was just doing it.”

Slowly, she turned toward the audience and waved with a bright smile gleaming across her face. When she did that, her ski turned 90 degrees, which she later learned is a side slide. Her wave earned her 40 points and last place.

From that moment, she became focused on becoming a world champion. She began skiing twice a day — before she put her makeup on and after it was taken off.

“It became a part of who we are,” Jana Shelfer said.

They traveled to six training camps, seven competitions, spending weeks at a time in West Palm Beach. World-class able-bodied and adaptive skiers from California, Tennessee and Georgia came to Winter Garden to help. Their own home became a hub for training camps. It was perfect. The house was designed with door frames that accommodate wheelchairs, and the dock was lined with hand rails to get into the water.

FIRST PLACE

Traveling to competitions opened Jana Shelfer’s eyes to a new trick: jump-skiing. It terrified her. The idea of skiing directly at a 5-foot

As Jana Shelfer sat on the dock, she began watching her competition cruise by practicing spinning in tight circles, sliding sideways and hopping wakes — they were trick skiing.

ramp at 26 mph felt reckless and unnecessary.

But curiosity crept in.

Jana Shelfer strapped on her helmet, put in her mouth guard and prepared. As the boat took off she met eyes with the ramp slowly closing in, telling herself, “This is stupid.”

Then she hit the ramp.

“This is what birds feel like,” she said of jump-skiing. “Time slows down, and there’s just this peacefulness and then you land and you think, ‘I want to do this again.’”

She fell in love with jumping. The thrill and excitement couldn’t be beat and it’s what changed everything for her competition numbers.

Jana Shelfer slowly climbed up the water-skiing ranks but hadn’t won first place yet. She qualified for Worlds in Australia in November 2025 to represent Team USA in four days of competition.

On the dock she had two voices: one with doubt and the other calm and steady.

She listened to the calm.

“I had already practiced, and I had already visualized this 100 times in my mind,” Jana Shelfer said. “Today is the day I’m going to see what I see in my mind.”

Jason Shelfer said without the jump, Jana Shelfer wouldn’t have become the overall champion.

“It’s this ultimate feeling of accomplishment,” Jason Shelfer said. “You know what you’ve invested financially, time-wise, the community that’s come into it. It’s not only us; it’s been a team.”

Her accomplishments earned her recognition as the 2025 International Disabled Athlete of the Year and USA Adaptive Water Ski and Wake Sports Athlete of the Year. She will be honored at the National Awards Banquet taking place Saturday, Jan. 31.

Hearing the title said aloud made Jana Shelfer laugh. She never could’ve imagined this is the path her life would take. It still shocks her. She hasn’t fully grasped that this is her reality, but she feels an immense sense of pride.

“We created an outcome that was inevitable,” Jason Shelfer said.

5K will support girls soccer

the narrative quickly changed. The girls learned to pop into a business, introduce themselves and share what they’re doing with confidence.

It paid off and the 5K gained sponsors from local businesses such as Chick-fil-A and Starbucks to fill bags for the race participants with cards for a free ice cream or discounted drinks.

It created a sense of unity between the community members who frequent the businesses and the owners who rely on the sales.

Titan Trot gives competitive run-

ners the opportunity to share the course with families and first-time participants. Dogs can run in laps alongside their owners around Turkey Lake, and people across the country can track their favorite canine through the Titan Trot app.

“We can actually track the dogs in real time as they’re running, and we have a dog leaderboard,” Vincent said.

“This is just our second year, so it’s still an extremely small event but it’s got a lot of potential, and I hope that we can grow it into something more meaningful and larger as the years go by.”

WEST ORANGE OBITUARIES

SHIRLEY HALL DOBSON

DIED JAN. 12, 2026

Shirley Hall Dobson went home to be with the Lord on Jan. 12, 2026. She was 90 years old.

Shirley was a native Floridian born in Center Hill, Florida, on May 3, 1935. She moved with her parents to Winter Garden when she was 3 and lived there until her marriage to Wayne Dobson in 1953. Shirley and Wayne raised their children in Oakland and Winter Garden. They later resided in Clermont.

She attended Winter Garden Elementary and Lakeview Junior and Senior High, graduating in 1953. After graduation,

she remained close to her best friend, Evelyn Travis, of Tennessee. She is predeceased by her mother, Esther Lucas; father, Perry Hall; stepfather, Cortez Lucas; husband, Wayne Dobson; and son, Richard Dobson.

She is survived by her three children, son Michael Dobson (Patsy), of Montverde, daughter Vickie Crust (Philip), of Orlando, and son Chris Dobson (Rita) of Clermont; six grandchildren, Ryan Crust, of Orlando, Adam Crust (Vicky), of Altamonte Springs, Laura Haynes (Rich), of Minneola, Michelle Sewell (Eli), of Bartow, Neal Walker (Brenda), of Pennsylvania; and Nick Walker, of Clermont.

She had eight great-grandchildren, Brave and Cecilia Crust, of Altamonte Springs, William Haynes, of Minneola, Madison Sewell, of Bartow, Trenton and Kai Walker, of Pennsylvania, and Alexus and Kaylynn Walker, of Clermont.

The family held a private graveside ceremony on Jan. 19.

LOCAL MOTION

This annual guide provides important information about the West Orange communities of Winter Garden, Oakland, Ocoee, Dr. Phillips, Windermere, Gotha and Horizon West including the history, area maps, hospitals, utility companies and local leaders.

Including:

• History of each municipality, interviews with local leaders and a calendar of can’t-miss events

• Round-up of local activities and ways to get involved

• Suggestions for date nights and family weekend excursions for every budget

A complete guide to public, private and charter schools, including preschools and options for students with special needs

At Lake Apopka Natural Gas, we’re helping families connect to affordable, reliable, and efficient natural gas, with appliances

INFLUENCER OF THE WEEK

CARLY ORENSTEIN KEENE’S CROSSING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Carly Orenstein is a reading instructional coach at Keene’s Crossing Elementary School.

She is responsible for supporting students in kindergarten through fifth grade by strengthening reading instruction and promoting growth in literacy. She works with the leadership team to coach teachers, analyze data and implement strategies supporting student achievement. She also motives students through schoolwide initiatives and incentives. Most recently, she has been known as the “Lexia Fairy,” visiting classrooms to celebrate students’ growth in reading.

“Carly consistently goes above and beyond in supporting both teachers and students,” Principal Tracy Webley said. “She works closely with teachers by pulling and analyzing data, helping them understand student progress, and using that information to guide instruction. Carly also provides meaningful professional development, models effective literacy lessons and coaches teachers in real time, always with a focus on improving reading outcomes for all students.”

What brought you to your school?

I moved back to Orange County, where I had completed my internship, after spending six years teaching in New York City, where I also attended public school as a child. I was eager to return to the west side of town after having such an incredible experience at Thornebrooke Elementary. While completing my bachelor’s degree, I substituted throughout the area and distinctly remember substituting at Keene’s Crossing Elementary. I immediately felt the same sense of climate and culture I had experienced at Thornebrooke. I applied, was quickly called in for an interview and was hired on the spot by our assistant principal at the time.

What do you love most about your school?

I love our school community and every single person we encounter each day. Our leadership team is incredibly supportive and always keeps children at the center of every decision. … Our families are beyond supportive and play a huge role in our community.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

I never thought I would want to leave the classroom because my passion has always been for the kids. … Helping children build confidence and develop a love for learning — especially reading — has always been at the heart of my work. Transitioning into coaching has allowed me to carry that same passion through a different lens. It is incredibly rewarding to share effective strategies and see them come to life on a school-wide level. My favorite part is helping both our scholars and teachers find their voice and recognize the impact of the hard work they put in every single day.

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

I studied applied behavior analysis during my master’s coursework after being inspired by both my students and a family member. I wanted to deepen my understanding of autism

REPORT CARD

Years at school: Three

Years with OCPS: Three

spectrum disorder, something I saw frequently in our schools and classrooms. If I ever left the teaching profession, I would pursue becoming a board-certified behavior analyst. Who influences you?

The first person who comes to mind is my mother. Her strength, determination and belief in always doing your very best — without taking shortcuts — are qualities that have shaped who I am today.

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

My favorite teacher was Mrs. Valle, who taught me accounting in grades nine through 12 at Olympia High School. She allowed me to pursue my passion for teaching at a young age by giving me the opportunity to teach her accounting classes as I advanced through different levels. She was kind, soft-spoken and incredibly structured, always teaching with patience and clarity.

What is your favorite children’s book and why?

My favorite book is “Wonder.” There is something incredibly powerful about reading this story alongside students, watching them emotionally connect to the characters and advocate for those they grow to love. I have seen this book transform students, shifting their mindset from reading because they have to, to reading because they genuinely love it.

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

I would choose the ability to travel back in time. There are moments I wish I could relive or make last just a little longer.

If you could only listen to three bands or artists, who would they be and why?

I would choose Tony Bennett or Frank Sinatra (one of the two) for their timeless, calming presence. John Mayer would definitely be on the list, as well. My third choice would be Billy Joel, whose music brings a sense of nostalgia and a strong connection to my hometown.

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

I’ve always been a pizza girl. My favorite snack was a cucumber and tomato salad, which is still true today!

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

I moved schools several times growing up, so I didn’t have one consistent best friend. In elementary school, my closest friends were Dorina and, later, Katelyn when I moved to Long Island. While we are no longer in close contact, we stay connected through social media and check in from time to time.

— LIZ RAMOS

OBSERVER SCHOOL ZONE

School Board votes to keep controversial book in libraries

‘Do Animals Fall in Love?’ by Katharina von der Gathen will remain available at OCPS middle school libraries.

LETICIA SILVA STAFF WRITER

An Orange County School Board decision to keep a book that discusses animals’ sexual reproduction in four school libraries has sparked debate among parents.

A parent’s concern about the book, “Do Animals Fall in Love?” sparked board discussion at its meeting Tuesday, Jan. 13.

“The entire book’s purpose is to describe sex acts between different types of animals,” the parent wrote in a request for consideration. “There’s even information and depictions of animals having group sex.”

A literacy committee discussed the book and recommended schools maintain it, claiming it has educational value.

The board voted 6-2, with board members Alicia Farrant and School Board Chair Teresa Jacobs dissenting, to keep the book available at Avalon, Water Spring, Wolf Lake and Meadow Woods middle schools.

“My youngest is in fifth grade, I can’t imagine him being in sixth grade and being handed a book like this,” Farrant said. “No, thank you. … Why would we want to have library reading material that doesn’t accent or isn’t a nice addition to the curriculum? It’s just an added perversion.”

However, another parent said she strongly supports retaining the book.

“The review committee unanimously recommended retention and specifically noted the book’s educational value and alignment with sixth- and seventh-grade science standards,” she said. “The content of this book is age-appropriate, factual and well within students’ ability to understand.”

However, Farrant said she asked Superintendent Dr. Maria Vasquez if any students in sixth, seventh and eighth grade receive any instruction through the state standards regarding animal masturbation or reproduction, and she was met with a “no.”

Farrant said many parents have reached out to her appalled books like this are in schools.

“Many telling me, ‘Please don’t stop the fight,’” she said. “Parents said they protect their kids at home and they expect their children to be protected at school, but they’re actually realizing this isn’t the case.”

At the board meeting, District 1 Board Member Angie Gallo said, “It’s just anatomy.”

“When we take biology and anatomy, and we make it filthy or gross or disgusting, it’s disheartening,” she said. “But I don’t view (the

HOUSE

book) that way. I view it as the cycle of life.”

Other members said they trust the committee’s review process and because of that, they voted to retain the book.

Regardless of the board’s decision, Farrant is determined to continue to fight for this matter, even when a decision already was made.

“I will continue to fight, even when the crowd goes quiet,” she said. “I will fight because this is a hill I’ll die on, making sure that our children’s innocence is always protected.”

She believes every parent should be aware of what their children have access to, and should be able to rely on OCPS to not corrupt their children with inappropriate content.

She said some parents told her this is the very reason their children don’t go to OCPS.

“That’s a huge concern,” she said. “We lost almost 7,000 students just this last year alone. So we have to be looking everywhere to see what is it that parents are wanting, and if it’s a wholesome classical education, then that’s what we should be giving the parents.”

She said there’s going to be different opinions regarding anything, but she strongly believes the majority of parents do not want this type of material for their middle-schoolers.

If parents are concerned regarding a book at their child’s school, Farrant said they should email the librarian and principal to let them know of their disapproval, and if possible, they should file a request for reconsideration with OCPS.

FEBRUARY 7, 2026 AT 10:00 AM

FEBRUARY 7, 2026 AT 10:00 AM

Get to know our faculty & staff Tour the campus Hear from current students

THE WAYS WE WERE FROM THE WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE FOUNDATION

1936: 90 years ago

It was expected that Winter Garden would entertain more than 100 guests from many states of the union who were visiting for a dish dinner at the new city dock, given under the auspices of the Winter Garden Welfare League.

The Winter Garden Chamber of Commerce appointed an appropriate representation from its number to meet the motorcade at the junction of the ApopkaOcoee roads. Walker Field, Winter Garden’s new baseball park, was among the show places

1941: 85 years ago

Taxpayers were interested to learn the city acquired the block where the new city hall stands — minus the American Legion Hall building and lot. The purchase was for the purpose of centralizing a community center.

1946: 80 years ago

Roper Brothers added 400 acres to its extensive land holdings when the company purchased the Marshall farms in Ocoee from Mrs. John Irwin Marshall, of Ocoee, and Lake Forest, Illinois, at a price of $27,500. Mrs. Marshall retained the use of the farmhouse until she returned to Lake Forest in the spring. It had been her winter home for 30 years.

1951: 75 years ago

The city of Winter Garden received $3,091.79 from the cigarette tax collected in November. Ocoee received $484.66, Oakland got $200.02, Windermere received $141.90, and Apopka got $2,607.98.

The Miracle Deliverance House of Prayer church in Oakland is located at 423 W. Henschen Ave. The Winter Garden Heritage Foundation is researching its history and succession of pastors, the most recent being Apostle John Clark.

Please share any information regarding the congregation’s date of establishment, its construction and history by emailing museum@wghf.org.

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.

1966: 60 years ago

The Woman’s Club of Ocoee made plans to observe its 42nd anniversary with a luncheon-card party. The main project of the club for the past two years was a scholarship fund to aid Ocoee High School graduates in attending college.

1976: 50 years ago

Archie Campbell, of “Hee Haw” fame, was the featured host at the third annual Edgewood Ranch

Golf Tournament, hosted by the Winter Park West Rotary Club.

Four West Orange High School students were selected to represent the school in Awareness ’76, in which 76 Central Florida senior high students would tour 38 states and part of Canada and Mexico during a 60-day bicentennial trip. WO students Steve Fisher, Wendy Haynes, Betty Moorfield and Stephanie Bowen were the chosen students.

Brian Craig, a sixth-grader in Ann Stevens’ class at Dillard

Street Elementary School, won first place in the Florida Arbor Day Poster Contest. First prize was $100 worth of plants and shrubs for his school. John Rosich, a second-grader in Helen Kennedy’s class at Winter Garden Elementary School, won second place in the Florida Arbor Day Poster Contest. First prize was $100 worth of plants and shrubs for his school.

THROWBACK

THURSDAY

JAN. 15, 1976

West Orange High School band members benefited from local residents’ obsession with McDonald’s. An advertisement in the Winter Garden Times featured Mayor McCheese with a conductor’s baton in his hand and several musical notes near his cheeseburger head.

The partnership between the restaurant and school lasted six days when McDonald’s donated to the band five cents from each Big Mac purchased.

“It’s just one way of expressing our appreciation for our young people and our community,” the ad stated. “It’s also a great way for you to enjoy ‘twoallbeefpattiesspecialsaucelettucecheesepicklesonionsonasesameseedbun.’” Free Big Mac Jingle iron-ons were given away while supplies lasted, as well.

By Luis Campos

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