SO U T H W E ST O RA N G E
Observer Windermere, Horizon West, Dr. Phillips
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
FREE • THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026
VOLUME 11, NO. 38
Bridging a gap Town of Windermere celebrates the installation of the new Ward Trail pedestrian bridge, a pivotal step in the completion of Phase 1 of the Windermere Ward Trail path. SEE PAGE 7A.
LAND OF LIBERTY! Hamlin dedicated its new flag pole and buried a time capsule as part of its America 250 festivities. SEE PAGE 3A.
AMONG THE LAKES
YOUR TOWN HELP SELECT THE NEXT RUN AMONG THE LAKES MEDAL
Photo by Amy Quesinberry Price
Mary Fran Howard has lived nearly all of her 83 years in Windermere. The home she shares with her husband, Jerry, overlooks Lake Down.
Windermere’s Mary Fran Howard was raised in a time when citrus and wilderness ruled the area, children were taught in a tiny schoolhouse, and you could keep livestock in your backyard on the shores of Lake Down. STORY ON PAGE 4A.
FINALLY FREE Byron Donalds talks faith in Winter Garden The gubernatorial candidate met with pastors and faith leaders from throughout Central Florida Tuesday, June 16, at the West Orange Dream Center. PAGE 6A.
The City of Winter Garden honored Juneteenth with a jubilant celebration Saturday, June 20. PAGE 7B.
Windermere is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Run Among the Lakes. As part of the celebration, Windermere’s Parks & Recreation is launching a program to allow the Windermere community to vote on the design of this year’s race medal. Created by town resident Janelle Bell Martin, the designs feature Old Glory, for a “patriotic Windermere feel,” Parks & Recreation Co-Chair Dena O’Malley said. Voting runs through Tuesday, June 30, here: simonsimaan. com/medal.
WINTER GARDEN LAUNCHES BUDGET TRANSPARENCY PORTAL The city of Winter Garden has launched a budget transparency portal designed to provide residents, businesses and stakeholders a “clear view of how taxpayer dollars are collected and spent.” Viewers can explore 10 years of General Fund revenues and expenditures. The budget portal can be viewed at cwgdn. com/902/BudgetTransparency.