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. 27
FREE • THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2025
FINDING HER MAGICAL VOICE Ocoee’s Katrina Mena Rick has spent 14 years creating magic at Disney and was the first inductee into the Full Sail University Hall of Fame for theme park entertainment. SEE 3A.
Tick, tick, BOOM! From little to big league
The Winter Garden City Commission approved a resolution for a potential fire assessment fee. SEE PAGE 7A.
BENTONSHIRE PARK TO CELEBRATE GRAND OPENING
Orange County Commissioner Nicole Wilson will join Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings for the grand opening of the new Bentonshire Park in Horizon West. The five-acre park, located on Bentonshire Avenue at Overstreet Road, will feature several amenities, including a walking path, picnic pavilion, playground with two shade sails and a dog park. Bentonshire Park is a $1.8 million neighborhood park that is a testament to the power of collaboration, creativity and community spirit, Wilson said during the groundbreaking of the park April 1, 2024. The grand opening is at 9 a.m. Thursday, July 10, at 7327 Bentonshire Ave., Windermere.
CAR SEAT SAFETY CHECK AVAILABLE
Did you know three out of four car seats are being used incorrectly?
From Winter Garden Little Leaguer to college-bound baseball player, West Orange native, Aidan McKee, is living out his dream of playing college baseball, after signing his national letter of intent to continue his academic and athletic careers at Palm Beach Atlantic University. SEE PAGE 2B.
W.G. talks fire fees
YOUR TOWN
Orlando Health wants to help with a car seat safety check. The health system is sponsoring a car seat safety check starting at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 8, at the West Orange Dream Center, 1136 E. Plant. St. Car seats will be provided to families in need. Appointments are required. To make an appointment, email r-carseatcheck@orlandohealth. com and mention West Orange Dream Center as the location. If a car seat is needed, include your child’s date of birth, height and weight.
Courtesy photo
The Winter Garden fireworks show will include at least 5,000 shells and more than 30 songs.
Pyro Shows has been working with Winter Garden to produce the city’s Fourth of July fireworks show for at least five years. STORY ON PAGE 4A.
REAL ESTATE This home at 5121 Latrobe Drive, Windermere, sold for $5,000,000 on June 17. Built in 2001, it has six bedrooms, five-andtwo-half baths, and 8,178 square feet of living area. SEE PAGE 9A.
SURGEON TAKES ON NEW LIMB
Dr. P. Phillips Hospital acquires third robotic arm.
SEE PAGE 5A.