W EST O RA N G E T I M E S &
Observer Winter Garden, Ocoee, Oakland
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 92, NO. 16
FREE • THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 2025
Who did it?
About 30 birds were killed with antifreeze and rat poison earlier this year. SEE PAGE 2A.
YOUR TOWN GASTON INDUCTED INTO NATIONAL HONORS SOCIETY Brandon Jermaine Gaston, of Winter Garden, has accepted an invitation of lifetime membership in The National Society of Collegiate Scholars. NSCS is an honors organization that invites fewer than 10% percent of all eligible students nationwide to join each year. NSCS is made up of scholars from two-year, four-year and online institutions. “We welcome Brandon Jermaine Gaston to our community of like-minded, highachieving nationwide scholars,” NSCS founder Steve Loflin said.
Dynamic duo
PLAYOFF PREVIEW
EGGS-CITING TIMES AWAIT
In addition to local churches offering special services this Sunday, there are a plethora of options for Easter fun. HORIZON WEST n Dream Finders Homes Hippy Hop 5K — 8 a.m. Saturday, April 19, at Hamlin Town Center, 14111 Shoreside Way, Winter Garden n Hamlin Easter Bunny Meet & Greet — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at the Hamlin Green Space, 14111 Shoreside Way, Winter Garden
Four baseball teams from West Orange and Southwest Orange are seeking postseason glory. SEE PAGE 1B.
n Crossline Community Church Easter Egg Hunt — 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at Crossline Park, 17922 Old YMCA Road, Winter Garden
Winter Garden lift stations will be renovated
n Spring Eggstravaganza — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at The Learning Experience — Windermere, 6290 Lake Smith Circle, Windermere OCOEE n Easter Eggstravaganza — 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at Ocoee Lakeshore Center, 125 N. Lakeshore Drive n Glad Tidings Church’s Egg Ocoee — 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 19, at the church, 2009 Fullers Cross Road, Ocoee WINDERMERE/GOTHA n Easter Egg Extravaganza — 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 19, at Town Square, 520 Main St., Windermere n Easter Sunrise Service — 6 to 9 a.m. Sunday, April 20, at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Funeral Home, 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road, Gotha
Courtesy photo
Jaime and Anne-Marie Douglas are the CEO and president of the Montierre Development team behind The Dynasty | Ocoee project. STORY ON PAGE 4A.
They really are a
SCREA-UM Thespians at Ocoee High School are bringing ‘The Addams Family Musical’ to the school’s recently renovated performing arts center. Shows take place April 16-19. SEE PAGE 6B.
The city will renovate 44 out of the 94 lift stations, starting with the ones in most need of renovations. SEE PAGE 6A.