W EST O RA N G E T I M E S &
Observer Winter Garden, Ocoee, Oakland
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
FREE • THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2026
VOLUME 93, NO. 10
They’re showing up to shine Ocoee High School students celebrated Black History Month with inspiring performances. PAGE 7B.
SLOW & STEADY
YOUR TOWN CFCARTS’ HANDDRAWN JAZZ COMES TO ROSEN JCC
CFCArts’ Hand-Drawn Jazz is coming to Southwest Orange. Arts at the J will present the concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at the Pargh Event Center at the Rosen JCC, 11184 S. Apopka-Vineland Road, Orlando. Featuring 20 musicians in the CFCArts Big Band, this concert combines new arrangements and unforgettable classics. With music from beloved classics such as “The Aristocats,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “Monsters, Inc.” and more, this family-friendly concert promises laughter and a few surprises. Tickets are $25 to $29. For more information, visit rosenjcc.org.
STUDENTS: WIN A $5,000 SCHOLARSHIP
Photos by Liz Ramos
The West Orange Country Club arch will serve as a centerpiece and an entryway to Tucker Ranch Holistic Health, Wellness, Teaching Farm and Family Activity Center.
The city of Winter Garden is moving the historic West Orange Country Club arch. It will serve as a centerpiece for the Tucker Ranch addition. STORY ON PAGE 4A.
PIECE OUT Local puzzlers find community, friendships at puzzle swaps. PAGE 3A.
Crews worked on the outdoor kitchen, fireplace, and bathroom and storage space. The trellis will have petrea vines that turn blue during certain times of the year.
Winter Garden leaders: We can’t interfere with private real-estate deals Residents packed the Winter Garden City Commission meeting Thursday, Feb. 26, to voice concerns over the recent property purchases around downtown by one individual. SEE PAGE 6A.
BRAINFOOD LEARNING WITH LEGOS Yes, education can be fun, too! SEE PAGE 6B.
The Freedom to Think Project, a nonprofit launched by Horizon High teacher William Loggans, is hosting a new essay contest. High school juniors and seniors are invited to participate in the First Amendment Essay Contest for a chance to win a $5,000 scholarship. The contest is open to public, private and home-schooled students. Essays should explore why one or more of the freedoms protected by the First Amendment matter today. Loggans is the author of “Quiet Courage in the Classroom: One Teacher’s Stand for Freedom and the Future of America’s Youth.” For more information or to apply, visit freedomtothinkproject. com.