W EST O RA N G E T I M E S &
IN THIS ISSUE:
Observer
Observer
Winter Garden, Ocoee, Oakland
SUMMER
FUN GUIDE
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. VOLUME 92, NO. 14
1
SUMMER FUN 2025
FREE • THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2025
2025
Human/cyborg relations Tildenville Elementary finds family fun in a galaxy far, far away. SEE PAGE 5B.
POPS YOUR TOWN
CULTURE
Plant Street Orchestra took the audience on a journey through the decades with its performance at the Evening at the Pops concert.
RUSSELL ANNOUNCES MAYORAL RUN
Tiffany Moore Russell has thrown her name into the ring for the 2026 election for Orange County Mayor. Russell currently serves as the Orange County Clerk of Courts. She made history in 2014 when she was the first African American female clerk elected in Florida and the first African American clerk in Orange County. Previously, she was a District 6 Orange County commissioner. She was elected to the Orange County Commission in 2006 and was the youngest commissioner ever elected. She served two terms on the commission.
SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS TO OUR NEW PODCAST
In partnership with Foundation Academy, the Observer is proud to present “Between Faith and Reason,” our new podcast. This podcast is a platform designed to enhance, challenge and inspire your journey as individuals, with your families and in your community. In addition to myriad podcast guests, host Jeff Lawrence also hopes to shepherd a dialogue between our community and the podcast. If you have questions or topics you want discussed, you can do so by emailing Editor and Publisher Michael Eng, meng@orangeobserver.com. Please put “Between Faith and Reason Podcast” in the subject line. You can listen at foundationacademy.net/between-faithand-reason or by searching for “Between Faith and Reason” in your podcast app of choice.
Irene, left, and Bud Veit celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary at the romantic evening in the park.
Photos by Sam Albuquerque
Rotary Club of Winter Garden guests filled the lawn of Newton Park for the club’s annual Evening at the Pops Saturday, March 29. The evening featured Winter Garden’s own Plant Street Pops Orchestra. SEE PAGE 4A.
Stadium proposal draws residents’ ire Winter Garden commissioners will continue discussions with developer of proposed 5,000-seat stadium, commercial and residential development, and more. SEE PAGE 8A.
BRAINFOOD BEER PRESSURE
Legacy Events for Education and the Observer hosted the Hamlin Craft Beer Festival. OrangeObserver.com.
FLORIDA FRUITS Several fruits are ripe for the picking this spring. 6B.