SO U T H W E ST O RA N G E
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
The city of Ocoee celebrates Cinco de Mayo with block party. PAGE 8A.
FREE • THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2026
VOLUME 11, NO. 31
Aloha ahiahi, Castleview! Castleview Elementary boys enjoyed the school’s first Knights Ball. SEE PAGE 14A.
ALMA MATTERS
FAmily Forever
Doubly blessed
Windermere resident and Dr. P. Phillips Hospital physician Dr. Xiomara Ruiz-Baez is celebrating her first Mother’s Day with twins. PAGE 5A.
YOUR TOWN ROAD WORK CONTINUES IN WINDERMERE
Riley Desin graduated from Foundation Academy in 2019. Seven years later, he now is a staff member.
Leticia Silva
Riley Desin, a 2019 Foundation Academy alumnus, now serves in the school’s admissions department and as part of the basketball coaching staff. STORY ON PAGE 4A.
THE NITTY GRITTY Inspired by their new coach’s attitude, Ocoee High’s track athletes have broken eight school records. 9A.
OBSERVER | THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2026
BRAINFOOD
ANIMAL INSTINCTS
Animal Instincts I Michael Eng // Editor and Publisher
f Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we’re the super cool Chinese Zodiac, or shengxiao. odiac consists of a 12-year cycle. Each year is associated with a that exhibit distinct characteristics. people believe the year of a person’s birth is the primary factor that person’s personality traits, physical and mental attributes, uccess and happiness throughout his or her lifetime. your Animal Sign, find the year of your birth among the 12 signs.
UPCOMING EVENTS HOMESCHOOL JUNIOR:
ASIA Learn all about the Chinese ZodiacTOURING in this special edition of Brain Food. SEE PAGE 11A.
11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 7, at the Eatonville Branch. Learning comes alive! Explore the world through crafts, experiments, and hands-on activities. Recommended for ages 6-12.
TEA TIME
11A
The town of Windermere is asking people to allow for extra drive time and to be patient as road work continues on several roads in downtown Windermere through Friday, May 8. On West Second Avenue, crews will continue repairing concrete and paver driveways and grading dirt behind the curb where needed. Crews also will be sodding, mulching or installing gravel. Cleanup at Palmer Park also will continue this week, and a crew might be doing limited work in Fernwood Park. On Third Avenue, crews might be digging swales this week and grading the road. On Bessie Street, East Boulevard and Eighth and Ninth avenues, crews will be performing miscellaneous activities at various locations, which might include right-of-way grading and pouring concrete structures located on East Boulevard. On Butler Street and Seventh Avenue, a crew might be doing limited work along Butler and Forest streets as well as Seventh Avenue.
WINTER GARDEN OPENS POOLS FOR SUMMER
Take a break from the heat in one of Winter Garden’s pools this summer. Farnsworth Pool, 1 Surprise Drive, and Bouler Pool, 362 11th St., opened Saturday, May 2, and will be open through Saturday, Aug. 15. For more information, including hours, visit cwgdn.com/233/ Aquatics.