W EST O RA N G E T I M E S &
Observer Winter Garden, Ocoee, Oakland
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 93, NO. 12
FREE • THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2026
Feelin’ lucky in green West Orange celebrated the Irish in a St. Paddy’s filled weekend. PAGE 3A .
PASSING THE GAVEL
Setting the stage
Windermere swears in new mayor, council members following a boathouse discussion. SEE PAGE 8A.
New church in town? The Winter Garden City Commission approved first reading of ordinances allowing for construction of a new church. SEE PAGE 6A.
OCOEE FALLS IN FINAL Photo by Liz Ramos
Ocoee High School senior Damari Wright was selected for The Walt Disney World Live Entertainment Technical Theatre Paid Apprenticeship as a result of the experience she gained working on theater productions for the school.
The Lady Knights secured a spot in the Final Four, but the shots didn’t fall in their favor. PAGE 9A.
Ocoee High Technical Theatre Academy provides hands-on educational experiences in behind-the-scenes aspects of theater, preparing students to enter the entertainment industry upon graduation. STORY ON PAGE 4A.
Courtesy photo
Damari Wright loved the lighting design she created for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
YOUR TOWN EIGHT WAVES RELAUNCHES BEARS WHO CARE
Eight Waves has brought back the Bears Who Care program to schools. The nonprofit merged with Bears Who Care, a nonprofit Kari Kron Schmitz founded that provides books and teddy bears to ill and disadvantaged children so they have a comforting companion and something to encourage them to read. Kron Schmitz passed away in 2024, but her husband, Tad, wanted to continue her legacy so the nonprofit merged with Eight Waves. Now, Bears Who Care is a preschool and elementary literacy program, expanding the original vision into schools where students can benefit from books, hands-on learning and community volunteers. Nonprofit staff and volunteers have visited two schools and supported more than 150 students so far. During the visits, a community guest reader shares a story with students. Afterward, students rotate through four interactive learning stations: art, sensory, STEM discovery and career exploration. At the art station, children create artwork inspired by the story, while at the sensory station, children explore hands-on materials connected to the story. At the STEM discovery station, students work through simple challenges, helping to build problem-solving skills and early math concepts. At the career exploration station, students learn about different jobs and community helpers, allowing them to imagine the various possibilities for their futures. At the end of the visit, every student receives a reading care package that includes a teddy bear reading buddy, books they can keep, a reading passport to track reading at home and a hygiene kit. Anyone can be involved in Bears Who Care by serving as a guest reader, volunteering at one of the learning stations, sponsoring books or reading care packages, or helping bring the program to more schools.