SO U T H W E ST O RA N G E
SEASON SPRING 2025
Observer
SPRING / SUMMER 2025
SEASON
1
Windermere, Horizon West, Dr. Phillips
THE OBSERVER’S GUIDE TO ARTS AND SOCIETY
MUSIC DANCE ART THEATER BLACK TIE
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
FREE • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2025
VOLUME 10, NO. 21
The old ballgame! We round the bases to give you everything you need to know about the 2025 prep baseball season. PAGE 1B.
YOUR TOWN DPHS GRAD SERVING WITH NAVY IN ITALY
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Preservation halls
Petty Officer 3rd Class Vanessa Benzaquen, daughter of Gladys Vivas, a resident of Ocoee, is serving in the U.S. Navy assigned to U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command, Sigonella/U.S. Naval Hospital, Sigonella, Italy. She serves as a hospital corpsman responsible for assisting healthcare professionals in providing medical care. Benzaquen, a 2012 graduate of Dr. Phillips High School, joined the Navy more than three years ago and graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Science in psychology.
Dynasty receives key approvals from Ocoee City commissioners approved a future land use map amendment and rezoning of the property for the billion-dollar youth sports project. SEE 2A.
The winners are ...
The West Orange Chamber of Commerce presented its Big Orange Awards Feb. 22. SEE PAGE 8A.
Amy Quesinberry Price
Windermere Elementary Principal Janet Bittick and artist Mike Pulido paused at the doors to the media center, where Pulido painted various book titles.
Muralist Mike Pulido has added a touch of color to Windermere Elementary School with his murals on multiple walls of the hallways and cafetorium. STORY ON PAGE 4A.
CFX details proposed S.R. 429 expansion The proposal would expand S.R. 429 from Seidel Road to Tilden Road from four lanes to six lanes as well as adding Flex Lanes. PAGE 8A.
NO TRAIN, NO GAIN! The Roper YMCA Family Center presented a weekend of fun and fitness at Healthy YOU Day. SEE PAGE 9A.