07.23.26 Southwest Orange Observer

SOUTHWEST ORANGE

CANDIDATE

Windermere, Horizon West, Dr. Phillips

NEIGHBORHOOD.

Phillips Little League celebrates two state champs. SEE PAGE 9A.

FREE • THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2026

Q&A Squeeze Plays

Two School Board members vie for the board’s top post. 3A.

YOUR TOWN

CALLING ALL

YOUTH ARTISTS

Oakland Nature Preserve is calling for young artists to share their art during the preserve’s yearly Nature Fest event.

This year’s theme is “Floral Fantasies.”

Artists must be 17 years old or younger, and artwork must fit the theme.

ONP said there are no restrictions on the type of medium used — watercolors, crayon, pencils, multimedia and more are welcome.

Artwork must be dropped off one week before the event, which takes place at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at ONP.

To register, visit oaklandnaturepreserve.wildapricot.org/ event-6577397.

HORIZON HIGH MARCHING BAND

TO HOST CAR WASH

The Sound of Horizon, Horizon High School’s marching band, is hosting its annual Band Camp Blood Drive, Car Wash and Kona Ice fundraiser. People can have their cars washed while they donate blood on the Big Red Bus be fore stopping by Kona Ice for a sweet treat.

The fundraiser will be from noon to 5 p.m. Friday, July 24, at Horizon High School, 10393 Seidel Road, Winter Garden.

All the donations will support the Sound of Horizon’s trip to Chicago, where the band will perform in the city’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Appointments for the blood drive can be made at donor. oneblood.org.

AIM HIGH, HEAL WELL

OCOM students Sebastian Morales-Campoamor, Radhika Vatsa, Guillana Socorro Fajardo, Emmagrace Brock and Joseph

Force Officer Training School together. They relief on one another’s support before returning to OCOM as second lieutenants.

Five Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine students completed their U.S. Air Force Officer Training School together Thursday, July 2. Now they prepare to continue school before returning to service. STORY ON PAGE 4A.

Local wizards experience the wonderful world of Harry Potter at Hogwarts summer camp. SEE PAGE 14A.

Town leaders say local governments must communicate with voters about the implications of the tax reform. SEE PAGE 5A.

5FAST

1

The Chef’s Table and The Tasting Room to relocate

The beloved Chef’s Table and The Tasting Room in Winter Garden are planning to move, but not far.

For 18 years, these restaurants have called the 1927 Edgewater Hotel their home. But in 2027, a new chapter will begin.

The restaurants will relocate to the Bond Building, where The Tasting Room will be located at 2 W. Plant St., and The Chef’s Table will occupy the space adjacent to it, at 12 W. Plant St. The restaurants now are owned by Jim Larweth, who former owners Kevin and Laurie Tarter entrusted with the businesses.

According to a press release, Larweth said he made a commitment to honor what the Tarters have built, and to protect the people and guest experience that made it special.

“This expansion is that commitment in action — a larger kitchen, more room for guests, new private dining and event spaces and a longterm home in one of Winter Garden’s most important historic buildings,”

2

Winter Garden to remove no-firearm signs from Tucker Ranch

After receiving a letter Wednesday, July 15, from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, the city of Winter Garden already is taking steps to remove no-firearm signs from Tucker Ranch.

“The city of Winter Garden is aware of the sign referenced in … Uthmeier’s letter,” City Manager Jon C. Williams said. “We have already taken action, and the sign will be removed no later than Aug. 1, 2026.”

In Uthmeier’s letter, he wrote:

“I was recently made aware that the city of Winter Garden’s Parks & Recreation Department posted a sign at the Tucker Ranch Recreation and Nature Complex prohibiting ‘weapons’ and ‘firearms’ in the park. The sign further warns that ‘failure to follow park rules and/or posted signage will result in loss of use privileges.’

“This prohibition on lawful

session, is entirely preempted by the state. Any municipal ordinance, rule or regulation that regulates firearms is void, and no municipality may enact or enforce a rule that impinges on the Legislature’s exclusive occupation of the field of firearm regulation. … Winter Garden’s prohibition of firearms in parks … violates section 790.33, Florida Statutes, and is null and void.

“Winter Garden is not permitted to enforce any rule purporting to prohibit firearms in this way,” Uthmeier wrote. “Any attempt to do so may lead to civil enforcement actions.”

3Off-duty OCSO

deputy accidentally shoots own child while cleaning gun

An Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputy was cleaning his gun while off duty Friday, July 10, when he accidentally shot his child.

Deputies soon arrived to Austin Ritchey’s Winter Garden residence, where his two children were found with non-life-threatening injuries.

One of his children had a gunshot wound, and one had injuries from shrapnel. The children were transported to the hospital to receive care, and now are back home.

The investigation remains

4

Horizon West man accused of hitting child on e-bike with his car

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrested Gregory Richard Hoole, of Horizon West, Wednesday, July 15, on charges of aggravated assault with a motor vehicle, child abuse and criminal mischief.

According to OCSO, Hoole ran a stop sign on Black Rail Street, Windermere, and drove toward an 11-year-old child on an e-bike. While the child was able to jump onto the grass, his leg and e-bike were hit.  Reports said Hoole then got out of his car, slapped the child on the arm, grabbed the child’s cellphone and smashed it on the ground.  Hoole then called the police and said the 11-year-old and his friends were harassing him.  Hoole’s bond was set at $7,650.

5

Ocoee cancels annual Music Fest

The city of Ocoee announced the local favorite Ocoee Music Fest will not take place in 2026.

“We believe it’s important to take a conservative and fiscally responsible approach with taxpayer dollars,” city officials said. “While this event has become a favorite community tradition for over 30 years, our priority is ensuring that city resources are managed wisely during these uncertain times.”  Live entertainment opportunities

entertainment and experience

THE CANDIDATES

Orange County School Board Chair

Before the Aug. 18 primary, the Observer will be publishing Q&As featuring candidates in key races that will appear on ballots in West Orange and Southwest Orange. This week, we introduce the candidates for Orange County School Board chair. Two current School Board members — Alicia Farrant and Angie Gallo — are vying for the seat to succeed outgoing chair Teresa Jacobs. Some responses have been edited because of space constraints. The entire, unedited responses are available at OrangeObserver.com.

ALICIA FARRANT

Age: 45

Residence: Orlando

Family: Married; five children (all of whom have grown up in Orange County Public Schools)

Education: Registered nurse

Qualifications: Current School Board Member for District 3; mother of five children; servant leader — serving people in need throughout Central America since I was a child and raising my family to do the same; VP of our family’s nonprofit (farrantadventures.com) where we rescue men, women and children out of hopelessness; fluent in Spanish — I have lived in Guatemala, El Salvador and Spain, giving me a unique perspective of cultures and languages.

What makes you the best candidate for School Board Chair?

As a mother of five children, I have championed a return to phonics-based literacy instruction; prioritized the implementation of high safety standards; and demonstrated courageous leadership throughout my service as a School Board member. My proven track record of effective leadership is exactly what our families and schools need to restore trust, raise academic achievement and provide the highest quality education for every student in Orange County.

What are the key differences between you and your opponent?

I can’t speak for my opponent, but what sets me apart is my record and my heart for serving our community.

I am a mother of five children and a passionate mama bear who has been willing to sacrifice my time as both a mother and the leader of a thriving nonprofit to stand up for the children, families and teachers of Orange County Public Schools. Throughout my time on the School Board, I have stood courageously when I believed the innocence and well-being of our children were at risk. I have been a bold leader who has consistently advocated for policies that strengthen our schools and protect students. Time and again, I have shown that I am willing to stand up, speak out and put myself on the line to do what I believe is right.

What are some changes you’d like to see made during your time as School Board chair?

I would like to see OCPS return its focus to common-sense, high-quality education that prepares every student for success.

I want to continue strengthening literacy by expanding evidence-based, phonics-based instruction and ensuring our teachers have the training and tools they need to succeed. Since I joined the School Board, we have seen reading proficiency improve from fewer than 50% of students reading on grade level to now more than 50%. While that progress is encouraging, there still is significant work to do.

I would like to see a resurgence of career and technical education. Not every student follows the same path after graduation, and we should provide meaningful opportunities in fields such as construction trades, auto mechanics, HVAC, welding, manufacturing, hospitality and other high-demand careers.

I also want OCPS to cultivate a culture that values families. Strong families are the foundation of strong communities, and our district should support policies that encourage a healthy work-life balance for teachers, staff and administrators while fostering meaningful partnerships with parents.

What are the three most pressing issues facing Orange County Public Schools?

1. Tackling the literacy crisis. Reading proficiency is the foundation for every student’s success. We must continue investing in evidence-based instruction, supporting our teachers and ensuring every child has the opportunity to become a confident reader.

2. Restoring trust in our public schools. Parents, teachers and the community deserve transparency, accountability and a true partnership with their schools. Rebuilding trust is essential to strengthening enrollment and ensuring families feel confident choosing OCPS.

3. Safety and security. Every student and employee deserves to learn and work in a safe environment. This includes maintaining secure campuses, supporting student well-being and fostering orderly classrooms where teachers can teach and students can focus on learning.

Discuss the current state of the relationship between OCPS and the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association.

The relationship between OCPS and the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association currently is strained, as contract negotiations have reached an impasse. While disagreements are a normal part of the bargaining process, I would like to see a greater emphasis on collaborative, goodfaith negotiations, where both parties come to the table willing to listen, work together and find common ground rather than allowing distrust to grow. Strong relationships are built on mutual respect, transparency and a shared commitment to serving students.

Where could OCPS cut costs that would allow the district to allocate more funds to teachers, district health insurance and school-level expenses?

OCPS already has reduced spending by approximately 5% over the past two years, but I believe there still are opportunities to improve efficiency. Rather than making across-the-board cuts, I would work closely with the superintendent and her leadership team to review each division individually, identifying areas where we can reduce costs without impacting classroom instruction.

What criteria should be used to determine what books should be available to students in public school libraries?

I have urged the School Board since Day One to set a standard for what material we will allow in our school libraries. We should have a rubric with set standards for age-appropriate materials at each level: elementary, middle and high school.

The bottom line for me: Sexually explicit material should never be accessible to minor children in our public schools.

What are the root causes of declining student enrollment, and what are the solutions to those issues?

While there are several factors contributing to declining enrollment, I believe one of the primary reasons many families have chosen other options is that our public schools have drifted away from their core mission of providing a wholesome, common-sense, foundational education. Parents want schools that prioritize strong academics, safe learning environments and a partnership with families. The solution is to restore confidence in our schools by focusing on academic excellence, supporting our teachers, partnering with parents and creating learning environments where every student can thrive.

Discuss your position on OCPS’ ongoing contract with Caissa Public Strategy LLC. Is this partnership working? Why or why not?

I was apprehensive since Day One and have not been impressed by the partnership. The data Caissa has provided the district has only confirmed information we already knew: Parents are leaving to attend charter schools, private schools and home school. But zero data has been provided on reasons why. Besides the data, the amount of money the district is paying to Caissa, which was several million this past year, does not sit right with me.

Following your term or terms as School Board Chair, what are three key ways the board will be different?

1. Students are thriving because we have returned our focus to academic excellence, strong literacy, career readiness and safe, distraction-free classrooms.

2. Teachers feel appreciated and supported with the resources, professional development and respect they need to succeed, allowing them to focus on teaching rather than unnecessary bureaucracy.

3. Families choose OCPS with confidence because they trust our schools, know their voices are valued and see a district committed to transparency, parental partnership and delivering an outstanding education for every student.

ANGIE GALLO

Age: 58

Residence: Orlando (East Orlando near UCF)

Family: Married; two daughters, both OCPS graduates

Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration, University of Central Florida

Qualifications: Two-term OCPS School Board member representing District 1 since 2018; president, Florida School Boards Association; former PTA president at the elementary, middle and high school levels; member, Florida PTA Board of Directors; chief advocate, Alliance for Public Schools; key advocate for the Baker Act Reform Bill and the Recess Bill; Leadership Orange alumna.

What makes you the best candidate for School Board Chair?

I have spent eight years doing this job. I know this budget, I know this administration, and I know this community. As president of the Florida School Boards Association, I represented all 67 school districts in Florida and have fought in Tallahassee against the policies threatening public education — from unconstitutional voucher expansion to book-banning mandates to attacks on local control.

My record is one of results: the Baker Act Reform Bill, which protects students during mental health crises; the Recess Bill, which secures daily recess for every Florida elementary student; and successfully fighting to remove schools from a proposed constitutional amendment that threatened local funding.

What are the key differences between you and your opponent?

The contrast in this race could not be clearer. My opponent is aligned with Moms for Liberty, has appeared alongside Gov. Ron DeSantis at press conferences and has built her platform around removing books from school libraries and pushing a narrow ideological agenda that does not reflect the diversity of Orange County’s families. I believe in public schools that welcome every child, regardless of who they are or where they come from. I have spent my career fighting for teacher pay, student mental-health supports, school safety and keeping our schools free from political interference. My opponent represents the same movement that has spent years attacking public school teachers, banning books and undermining community trust in our schools. I represent the opposite of that.

What are some changes you’d like to see made during your time as School Board chair?

First, I want to see a meaningful, sustainable increase in teacher pay, including renewing the 1-mill referendum on the 2026 ballot and bringing a dedicated .25 mill for teacher pay to voters in 2028.

Second, I want to rebuild our mentalhealth infrastructure after this year’s painful $8.2 million cut through a combination of restored funding and new public-private partnerships.

Third, I want to establish a long-range facilities plan that gets ahead of our growth patterns in Horizon West, Lake Nona and Apopka rather than reacting to them with consolidations.

What are the three most pressing issues facing Orange County Public Schools?

Teacher recruitment and retention are the foundation of everything. We cannot deliver on any promise to students without great educators in every classroom, and we are losing people because the pay is not competitive.

Student mental health and safety is the second. The cuts this year hurt, and we have to restore those supports while also ensuring every campus has a qualified school resource officer and a culture where students feel safe.

The third is protecting public school funding from Tallahassee. Between universal voucher expansion, chronic underfunding and legislative attacks on local control, our district is being squeezed from every direction, and the chair has to be willing to fight back.

Discuss the current state of the relationship between OCPS and the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association.

I am proud to have the OCCTA’s endorsement, and I believe that relationship reflects a shared commitment to doing right by educators and students. That said, I am not going to pretend there are

no tensions. Teachers are exhausted, underpaid and being asked to absorb more every year while feeling less supported by the state.

Rebuilding trust with our educators ... requires budget decisions that put people first, genuine collaboration on working conditions and a board that listens when teachers raise concerns.

Where could OCPS cut costs to allocate more funds to teachers, district health insurance and school-level expenses?

I have been deeply involved in the work to reduce district health care costs, and I believe that is one of the most significant levers we have. Renegotiating benefits structures, expanding wellness programs that reduce claims and exploring consortium purchasing with other districts can generate real savings without cutting services. Beyond health care, I believe we need a rigorous review of central office administrative costs and contracted services to ensure those dollars are as close to the classroom as possible.

What criteria should be used to determine what books should be available to students in public school libraries? Books in our school libraries should be age-appropriate, educationally sound and selected by trained media specialists using established professional standards. The process must be consistent, transparent and driven by educational criteria, not political pressure. When a formal objection is raised, materials should remain accessible to students during the review process unless state law requires removal. What I will not support is removing books based on one complaint or allowing outside political groups to dictate what our students can and cannot read.

What are the root causes of declining student enrollment, and what are the solutions?

Enrollment decline in parts of our district is driven by several overlapping factors: the expansion of Florida’s voucher program pulling students into private and homeschool settings; demographic shifts in certain neighborhoods; declining birth rates; and strict immigration laws. The solution is not to chase students out the door; it is to make our public schools so compelling that families choose them. That means excellent teachers; safe and modern facilities; strong art, athletic and CTE programs; robust mental-health supports; and transparent communication with families about what our schools offer.

Discuss your position on OCPS’ ongoing contract with Caissa Public Strategy LLC.

I am committed to a thorough, transparent review of the Caissa contract and its outcomes, and if the data does not support its continuation, I will say so. Public trust depends on us being willing to make those calls without flinching.

With that said, I am pleased with the performance of Caissa. They brought back approximately 2,000 students last year and provided valuable insight into why families were choosing other options.

Following your term or terms as School Board Chair, what are three key ways the board will be different?

First, an increase in teacher pay. I will commit to spearheading the effort to put a .25 millage referendum on the ballot for instructional and educational support staff that puts real money in the pockets of the educators.

Second, our mental-health infrastructure will be stronger than it is today, with sustainable public-private partnerships in place. Mental-health support is not the first thing cut when budgets get tight.

Third, this board will have modeled what principled, transparent, innovative, student-centered governance looks like, at a time when school boards across Florida are being pulled into culture wars and political theater. I want to leave this chair having demonstrated that you can lead with integrity, fight for kids and refuse to take the bait.

OCOM students complete U.S. Air Force training

MEGAN BRUINSMA STAFF WRITER

The moment Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine students Emmagrace Brock, Sebastian MoralesCampoamor, Radhika Vatsa, Guillana Socorro Fajardo and Joseph Sundling stepped onto Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama, they knew they were in a different world.

The five students were there for a five-week U.S. Air Force Officer Training School, which took place Tuesday, June 2, to Thursday, July 2.  Morales-Campoamor happened to be wearing sunglasses, and he was ridiculed instantly and given the nickname Slim Shady.

On the first day of the five-week training school, the students were tasked with reading hand-sized books for hours. They had to hold it out in front of their faces and weren’t allowed to take their eyes off the pages. One time, Brock’s eye went to the side and made eye contact with one of the cadres, who immediately came to her and asked if he should test her right then.

But through the five weeks of 4 a.m. wake-up calls, 9 p.m. bedtimes and the rigid Air Force training, the five OCOM students relied on one another as they completed their OTS, which ended in them earning the rank of second lieutenant.

“First of all, (Joe, Sebastian and I) somehow got put in the same group,” Brock said. “There’s 12 groups. How that happened, I have no clue. Joe and Sebastian were roommates. … It was so nice to see Guillana and Radhika here and there, just a friendly face, a little like a breath of fresh air to separate a little bit from the seriousness that’s going on every minute of every day.”

During OTS Socorro Fajardo kept saying, “We got so lucky to go together,” because there are about 600 to 1,000 applicants every year, and only 40% are accepted. They were required to have a minimum 500 MCAT score, 3.4 undergrad GPA, a letter of acceptance into medical school, college transcripts, three letters of recommendation and an applicant questionnaire. And, of course, they had to achieve top physical and medical clearance to serve.

TRAINING DAZE

Rather than the traditional eightand-one-half week OTS, medical students do a shortened program called OTS-A, consisting of three modules instead of five.

Module one adapted them to the military environment, learning how to salute, march in their flights and all the basics. Socorro Fajardo said that’s where they were yelled at the most, because they wanted them to adapt. It tested them emotionally and mentally.

Module two focused on academics, sitting in a classroom most of their days and learning about leadership qualities as well as presentations on modern American wartime themes. Brock said it gave them more freedom to get to know everyone in their flights and helped turned them into more of a family, which is what OTS wanted them to be.

Module three brought them out to the field and physical exhaustion. They spent three days on a campsite in the unrelenting Alabama heat —97% humidity and a heat index of 102 degrees — testing their ability to withstand the heat and physical challenges.

Socorro Fajardo began to experience the early stages of heat exhaustion with rapid breathing, intense thirst, light-headedness, vomiting and the inability to focus. Her flight members noticed she was out of balance.

Vatsa, too, fell sick. At the campsite, she had a 102-degree fever for two days. She also had strep throat and tore her adductor.

The hardships made closing day

“The core values (in OTS) are service with core self, integrity first and then excellence in all we do …”

— Emmagrace Brock

and ceremony, where they took the oath again to be second lieutenants, even more special for her.

“Being able to get through all of that and to see my family was the best feeling, because I didn’t think I could get through OTS,” she said.

“I truly thought I was going to get kicked. … Being able to stand with my flight, the people I went through this with, and with my OCOM classmates was so surreal. It was one of the best days.”

Morales-Campoamor said many in their OTS class — even those with prior military experience — had to apply many times to the school before they were accepted. Seeing their joy from others graduating made the experience even more meaningful to the OCOM students, who were lucky enough to be enrolled together.

They already had their rank months before OTS when they were commissioned, but graduating and taking the oath again made it all feel real. For Brock, going through training gives her the feeling of substance behind her rank.

“Before, people would ask me questions about the military and say thank you for your service, and I had no clue what to say,” she said.

“I just felt uncomfortable. But now, it feels like it has something behind it, and we can call ourselves second lieutenants and take with us what we learned.”

RETURN TO OCOM

They’ll take their lessons on structuring their days and discipline with wake-up times back with them as the four Class of 2029 students MoralesCampoamor, Vatsa, Socorro Fajardo and Sundling begin their second year at OCOM.

“There were times when they would throw us in these either really hot or really cold lecture halls and give us the most boring lectures ever, and like you just had to fight to stay awake and pay attention,” Sundling said. “I will never take a med school lecture for granted ever again, because they’re so much more interesting and have so much more depth behind them. I learned a lot about how much I can withstand.”

Class of 2028 student Brock, who is in her third year and already has passed the classroom learning and is

onto rotations, said the OTS experience has prepared her well for any hardships that might come in the future.

“I’m going to get yelled at, and it’s not going to affect me,” she said. “I’m going to take feedback, and it’s not going to make me upset.”

They all still have many years before they will go active duty with the Air Force again.

After finishing medical school and passing all of their board exams, the students will complete a residency — either in the military in a civilian environment. After residency, the students will go active duty again, and once they complete their contract, they’re free to do as they please.

Morales-Campoamor said he plans to do a military match, meaning he won’t increase the number of payback years he owes to the Air Force.

Serving his country always seemed like an “attractive option” to him, but once he was accepted into medical school, he figured it was off the table. After attending a Zoom meeting with one of the financial aid staff at OCOM, she mentioned the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program.

HPSP pays for their full tuition, required fees and books for four years of medical school, and commits students to serving a year of active duty for each year of their scholarship support.

“It was just amazing to me how I could do both,” he said. “Still become the doctor I want to be — but then also serve my country while I do that. It’s like the perfect storm. Sign me up.”

His OCOM peers also are on the HPSP scholarship.

Brock discovered the HPSP scholarship after her first year at OCOM, struggling with the finances to pay for her education, it was the perfect outlet for her to fund her second year. But it’s given her so much more than that.

“The core values (in OTS) are service with core self, integrity first and then excellence in all we do,” she said. “That pretty much aligns with the values of being a physician. Those are three things that I’ll definitely take with me the rest of my life

“If

Editor and Publisher / Michael Eng, meng@OrangeObserver.com

Design Editor / Jessica Eng, jeng@OrangeObserver.com

Managing Editor / Liz Ramos, lramos@OrangeObserver.com

Historian / Amy Quesinberry Price, amyqhistory@OrangeObserver.com

Staff Writer / Megan Bruinsma, mbruinsma@OrangeObserver.com

Staff Writer / Leticia Silva, lsilva@OrangeObserver.com

Multimedia Sales Manager / Cyndi Gustafson, advertising@OrangeObserver.com

Multimedia Advertising Executive / Iggy Collazo, iggy@OrangeObserver.com

Graphic Designer / Sarah Santiago, ssantiago@OrangeObserver.com

Advertising Operations Manager / Allison Brunelle, abrunelle@OrangeObserver.com

Courtesy photos Above: Radhika Vatsa tested her physical strength during the five-week OTS that went through three modules. Each tested her and her OCOM peers’ mental and physical strengths.

Left: OTS was divided into 12 flights. Each trained together to come out stronger for their future years of service.

and can be more glad that I made the decision to find money in a place that gave me so much more than that.”

Socorro Fajardo also was attracted to finishing school with minimal financial burdens, but she also realized she loved being part of a course that challenged her and taught her growth and how to make quick decisions under hard circumstances. She also enjoys the opportunity to work as a doctor for a specific population and within a team that encourages and looks out for one another.

Sundling and Vatsa were inspired by their grandfathers.

Sundling always looked up to his grandfather, who followed a similar path he’s taking now. His grandfather graduated from medical school then joined the Air Force as a captain, living a successful and happy life made Sundling want to follow in his footsteps.

Vatsa’s grandfather served in the Indian Army and was shot 60 times in his chest during a war. Her grandmother was the first working woman in their whole family. The two inspired Vatsa’s dad, who took the stories when he immigrated to the United States with her mom, and shared the stories.

“(My grandfather) was such an amazing man and how he would put himself first before his soldiers,” she said. “He was in the highest rank in the Indian Army, and he actually wanted to do the patrol check instead of making his men go, and he ended up passing instead of his men passing. That speaks volumes of what kind of man he was for his people. He was such a big inspiration to my sister and me. My sister is the first woman to ever join the military in our family. She’s in the Air Force. She’s a captain.”

The year after Vatsa graduated from undergrad in 2024, she knew she wanted to be a doctor and soon realized she wanted to join the Air Force to follow her grandfather and sister.

Now, the five OCOM students with their varying backgrounds but unity through OCOM and completing OTS together will continue on their journey to graduation and residency before they enlist with the U.S. Air Force to serve the United States.

tions and achievements. To contact us, email to Michael Eng, meng@OrangeObserver.com.

WEST ORANGE TIMES

Windermere opposes property tax referendum

LIZ RAMOS MANAGING EDITOR

Windermere Town Council is making its voice be heard.

The council unanimously passed a resolution affirming the importance of public education on property taxes and the taxes’ connection to local services.

The resolution also formally opposes House Joint Resolution 1F, aka Save Our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes, for which residents will vote in November.

Council members Brandi Haines and Tom Stroup were absent.

The resolution states “state-level property tax mandates shift risk, not costs, and when local flexibility is removed, residents will ultimately bear the consequences through reduced services, deferred maintenance and pressure for backfill funding.”

It also states if property taxes are reduced or eliminated, the town will need to find other sources to fund local services, including increased sales taxes, user fees, special assessments and state appropriations. The funding also will be used to ensure employees are paid, infrastructure is maintained and public safety responsibilities are met.

“The town of Windermere remains concerned about the potential impacts of the proposed constitutional amendment on local fiscal stability, municipal bond obligations, infrastructure investments and the ability of communities to plan for future growth, resiliency and service delivery needs,” the resolution states.

Town Manager Robert Smith said the town of Windermere will be joining other West Orange municipalities to host a joint town hall at the end of September to provide facts regarding the property tax reform as close as possible to when absentee ballots go out Tuesday, Oct. 13.

He said he also will be meeting with all the HOAs, civic boards and civic organizations as well as holding at least three to five public information workshops to educate people on the reform.

“I can’t direct them to vote yes or no but to provide them the facts of what we’re looking at,” he said.

VARIANCE APPROVED

Windermere Town Council approved 2-1 a variance for 136 Oakdale St.  Council member CT Allen dissented.

The variance request essentially had three parts to it: build a detached garage/accessory building in the front yard; build the structure 13 feet from the property line; and build the structure at a maximum height of 22 feet, 10 inches.

According to the town’s Land Development Code, detached garage/ accessory buildings must have a minimum 25-foot front yard setback on non-contiguous corner lots; the structures must be a maximum of 18 feet in height; and all accessory buildings must be located within a side or rear yard.

The town’s Development Review Board unanimously approved the variance request with conditions. One condition was the structure

IN OTHER NEWS

n Windermere Town Council heard a presentation from Scott Howat, chief communications officer of Orange County Public Schools, regarding the district’s millage referendum that is on the ballot in November.

n The council heard the first reading of two ordinances regarding the property at 618 Ridgewood Drive. One ordinance is to adopt a small-scale future land use map amendment of the Comprehensive Plan from agriculture to single-family residential, and the other ordinance is to adopt a town official zoning map amendment from agriculture to single-family residential. The second reading of the ordinances will take place at council’s meeting Tuesday, Aug. 11.

n The variance request for 637 Ridgewood Drive was tabled to the Tuesday, Aug. 11 meeting.

n Town Council members unanimously approved a variance for 105 Palm St., permitting the owners to place a swimming pool within the front yard of the property.

BAPTIST

First Baptist Church

Pastor Jeremy Woods

125 E. Plant St, Winter Garden (407) 656-2352

Sundays: 8:00 AM Tradtional 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM Contemporary

Starke Lake Baptist Church

ANGLICAN

n An amendment to the Urban County Interlocal Agreement was unanimously approved.

ANGLICAN COMMUNITY

could not be more than 18 feet, which is in accordance with Land Development Code, essentially dismissing one part of the variance request. The other condition was that the existing carport located in the property’s front yard on East Second Avenue must be removed prior to the issuance of a building permit.  Allen said she is not in favor of reducing setbacks.

FELLOWSHIP CHURCH

Rector The Rev. Canon Tim Trombitas 1146 East Plant St, Winter Garden

SUNDAY SERVICE 10:00 AM Find us at: Theacf.net

BAPTIST

BEULAH BAPTIST

Pastor Casey Butner 671 Beulah Rd, Winter Garden 407-656-3342 | BeulahBaptistWG.org

“I am very nervous about our town losing its rural aesthetics, and we keep approving these, whether or not it’s small or massive,” she said. “We’ve got some people coming in here asking for a lot of setbacks. Setbacks were put into place. I’ve lived here for 40 years to keep the rural setting, the balance between home and land and green space.”

SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY 9:30AM

SUNDAY SERVICE 11:00AM

WEDNESDAY SERVICE 6:00PM

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

125 E Plant St., Winter Garden 407-656-2352

TOWN MANAGER EVALUATION

SUNDAYS 8:30 am Traditional 9:45 am Bible Study 11:00 am Contemporary

Smith’s 2025 evaluation resulted in the five Town Council members giving him an overall positive review, with an average score of 7.74 out of 10 across all scored categories.

WEDNESDAYS - 6pm - Awana Pastor Tim Grosshans www.fbcwg.org 2nd Campus: FOUNDATION WORSHIP

Council members recognized Smith’s “strong performance” in key areas, including implementation of council direction, advancement of major infrastructure and capital projects, fiscal management, intergovernmental coordination and day-to-day operational sustainability.

SUNDAYS 9:45 am - All Ages Foundation Academy High School 15304 Tilden Rd., Winter Garden www.FoundationWorship.com 407-730-1867

The evaluation also identified areas for continued improvement, including the need for stronger resident communication, greater transparency, more proactive reporting, continued staff development, improved public outreach and careful planning for complex or sensitive issues before they are brought to council.

Smith will receive at least a 3% salary increase.

CHURCH

STARKE LAKE BAPTIST CHURCH PO Box 520, 611 W Ave, Ocoee Pastor Jeff Pritchard (407) 656-2351 www.starkelakebaptist.org

CHURCH OF GOD

OCOEE CHURCH OF GOD Pastor Thomas Odom 1105 N. Lakewood Avenue, Ocoee 407-656-8011

EPISCOPAL

CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH 241 N. Main, Winter Garden Services: 8, 9:30, & 11am, 7pm www.churchofthemessiah.com

METHODIST

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 125 N. Lakeview Ave Winter Garden Service Times 9:00 AM and 11:15 AM Phone – 407-656-1135 Web: fumcwg.org

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST WINDERMERE UNION CHURCH 10710 Park Ridge-Gotha Rd. Windermere, FL 34786 407-876-2112 Worship times: 9:00am Adult Sunday School 10:00am Worship www.windermereunion.org

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY OF WINTER GARDEN, FLORIDA

Pursuant to the Florida Statutes, notice is hereby given that the City of Winter Garden Planning and Zoning Board will, on August 3, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. or as soon after as possible, hold a public hearing in the City Commission Chambers located at 300 West Plant Street, Winter Garden, Florida in order to consider the adoption of the following ordinance(s):

ORDINANCE 26-24

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF WINTER GARDEN AMENDING THE WINTER GARDEN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO ADDRESS CHANGES TO STATE STATUTES, EXTENDING THE PLANNING HORIZON TO 2050, AMENDING THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP SERIES, AND AMENDING VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF THE COMPRHENESIVE PLAN TO IMPLEMENT THE COMMUNITY VISION; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

FUTURE LAND USE CHANGES MAPS

Following the Planning & Zoning Board meeting, the City Commission of the City of Winter Garden will hold a public hearing in the City Commission Chambers located at 300 W. Plant Street, Winter Garden, FL on August 13, 2026 at 6:30 p.m., or as soon after as possible, to also consider the adoption of the ordinance(s).

Copies of the proposed ordinance(s) (which includes the legal description in metes and bounds of the proposed site) may be inspected by the public between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday of each week, except for legal holidays, at the Planning & Zoning Division in City Hall, 300 West Plant Street, Winter Garden, Florida. For more information, please call Kelly Carson at 407-656-4111 ext. 2312.

Interested parties may appear at the meetings and be heard with respect to the proposed ordinance(s). Written comments will be accepted before or at the public hearings. Persons wishing to appeal any decision made by the Planning and Zoning Board at such hearing will need a record of the proceedings and for such purpose you may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is based. The City does not provide this verbatim record. Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations to participate in this public hearing should contact the City Clerk’s Office at (407) 656-4111 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. Monday through Friday of each week, except for legal holidays, at the Planning & Zoning Division in City Hall, 300 West Plant Street, Winter Garden, Florida.

Oakland commissioners pave way for road project

LETICIA SILVA STAFF WRITER

Town of Oakland commissioners continue budgeting for road paving as a new fiscal year approaches. After various discussions throughout multiple commission meetings, town commissioners unanimously approved the paving of East Vick Avenue for $41,510.49 Tuesday, July 14.

The current General Fund budget includes $100,000 for paved road resurfacing. The funds, though originally intended for the Southern Oaks paving project, now will go toward East Vick Avenue.

The paving project for Southern Oaks exceeds the budget amount by $115,000, so adjustments will be made to the FY 26-27 budget to cover the $215,000 needed for the project without overspending, or needing to take money from impact fees.

“With the amount of traffic … running up and down Vick as a connector road between Starr and Tubb streets, it wears down fast,” Mayor Shane Taylor said.

Because of the recent millings on Southern Oaks and the fact Southern Oaks does not see the same amount of traffic as Vick Avenue, Taylor believes it is best to move forward with the paving of Vick Avenue first and then move forward with Southern Oaks.

BRILEY FARM PHASE 1 AMENDMENTS

Town of Oakland commissioners unanimously approved the second reading of an ordinance amending Briley Farm’s Phase 1 planned development and development agreement.

Developers for the roughly 36-acre neighborhood development now will be able to incorporate the property located at 302 Briley Ave. into the project, raising the amount of singlefamily homes from 53 to 55.

Developers will reassign those lots as Type D lots, which is a standard lot with a rear- or front-load garage. When rear-loaded, the garage is accessed via a side drive.

IN OTHER NEWS

n Commissioner Joseph McMullen was designated as the voting delegate for the Florida League of Cities 2026 annual Conference.

n The town’s second budget work session will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, at the Oakland Meeting Hall.

n The town currently is working with other municipalities to host workshops regarding property tax reforms. More information will come as the November election approaches.

n Town Manager Elise Hui said Capital Projects Coordinator Mike Parker was able to secure $1.5 million for the town’s South Lake Apopka Wastewater Extension project after the state’s budget was approved June 29.

n The “Color Speaks” exhibit currently on display at the Healthy West Orange Arts & Heritage Center will be on display through Friday, July 24.

The amendment also would set streetscape guidelines while continuing to follow the town’s ordinance and United States Postal Service rules.  The ordinance was adopted with no questions or concerns from commissioners.

OPD’S THREE-YEAR

STRATEGIC PLAN

Oakland Police Chief Darron Esan announced the department is planning to launch a wellness program for officers as part of its three-year strategic plan. Esan also said Grants and Communication Manager Kelly Sims has been applying for a $250,000 grant to help fund the program. The strategic plan has not been finalized yet and is subject to changes.

Ramos family, partners break ground on Hotel Winter Garden

Knallhart Management Group and local 3R HoldCo held a ceremony for

LETICIA SILVA STAFF WRITER

A new hotel is coming to Winter Garden.

Local leaders, residents and project companies on Monday, July 20, celebrated the groundbreaking of Hotel Winter Garden, located at 8 N. Highland Ave.

The idea for the hotel dates back to 2018, which made this week’s celebration all the more special.

“Today is exciting because we’re not just breaking ground on a building, but we’re beginning a story,” said Vanessa Cardaci, co-founder of Knallhart Management Group. “Long

after the construction equipment is gone, we hope that the people celebrate life’s biggest moments, where people reconnect with old friends and many people come here and discover this wonderful town, Winter Garden, for the very first time.”

The four-story hotel will sit on about .58 acres of land. It will offer 60 suites, restaurants, a 4,000-squarefoot ballroom space and a pool with a bar.

“We wanted to create the kind of hotel we’d be thrilled to discover ourselves — thoughtfully designed, full of personality and one that feels like it has always belonged here,” Cardaci said. “Our greatest hope with Hotel Winter Garden is that when the doors open, it doesn’t just welcome visitors — that it becomes something that this community is really proud to call its own.”

With the help of local development firm 3R HoldCo., owned by Iliana, Sal

and Frank Ramos, the Cardacis now are seeing their vision come to life.

“It’s going to be luxury at the highest,” Sal Ramos said. “There’s not a boutique, high-end luxury hotel like it. What better place to put it than across the Winter Garden City Hall?”

After the Edgewater Hotel closed, Sal Ramos said a hotel became a need.

Family, friends, business owners and partners all come visit the city but have no place to stay.

“There’s a need that we saw that Winter Garden had for a hotel that is functional, (luxurious) and that meets the needs and the look that the history of Winter Garden has had back in its heydays,” Sal Ramos said. “There’s definitely a need for somewhere to stay in Winter Garden besides having to go to another city.”

Inside the hotel, a restaurant called Paradiso will offer a contemporarycasual dining style and seat about 220 guests. Overlooking Plant Street, it will be Hotel Winter Garden’s center restaurant.

Another more intimate, fine-dining restaurant, named Iliana, will sit inside the hotel. It will seat about 90 guests and bring the elegance and luxury of the hotel to life through food.

“This hotel, since inception, has been created by local people, and it is really a family affair here,” Vanessa Cardaci said. “Local families are putting this together so the downtown can thrive. … You want to come stay somewhere that’s just as special as Winter Garden, and I think we’re really trying to match that. … It’s

a big hotel, it’s a big project, but we always do a very good job of matching the façade and becoming a beautiful backdrop to what already exists here. It’s insanely local.”

The goal is to integrate the building with its surrounding areas, making it feel as if it’s been there for 100 years.

But that doesn’t mean the hotel will look outdated.

“You can stay here 60 times, and it’ll all be 60 different experiences,” Sal Ramos said. “When people walk in, they’re going to be blown away. They’re going to be super proud.”

And that’s the goal.

“It will really become something iconic — not only for Winter Garden but for the surrounding Orlando area,” said David Cardaci, co-founder of Knallhart Management Group. Beyond bringing entertainment and a luxurious experience to its visitors, Hotel Winter Garden also will generate more than 150 jobs.

From food and beverage services to hotel services and valet, residents will have new opportunities in the workforce.

The goal is to have the project completed and open to the public in 18 months, so families, friends, residents and visitors can enjoy the holidays in a new way.

“The city did a great job working behind us, but it’s Frank, Sal and Iliana Ramos and their family who is helping us bring this home,” David Cardaci said. “They’re really committed to not only the city of Winter Garden but this Winter Garden hotel project, and I thank them.”

The helpful hardware folks

Toole’s Ace Hardware owner Walter Toole said the success of his stores has been the culture of care and solving problems — and doing the right thing.

LIZ RAMOS

MANAGING EDITOR

Tad Duvall walked down the aisles of Toole’s Ace Hardware with ease with his son, Tucker.

He knows the Winter Garden hardware store well, always choosing to go there before any other hardware store for more than two decades. And the store employees know him.

“(The employees joke): ‘All right, Tad, when you retire, you want to come work here, because you know the store better than anybody in here?’” Duvall said. “My son, Tucker, he comes in here, and they know Tucker from me. My wife, Tracy, comes in here; they know my wife because of me. It’s guaranteed. I can actually call up here and say, ‘Hey, I’m looking for something, Tracy’s there.’ And they will give it to her.”

It’s how the Toole’s Ace Hardware employees interact with their customers and help fix any home issues that owner Walter Toole attributes to Toole’s Ace Hardware’s 120 years in business.

Duvall was shopping at Toole’s Ace Hardware as the store celebrated its 120th anniversary Saturday, July 11.

BUILT TO LAST

The hardware store first opened as the historic Bray Hardware in 1906 on Plant Street. The store was 3,500 square feet — 21 feet wide by 170 feet long — with all wooden shelves.

Toole purchased Bray Hardware in 1983.

Toole said the store’s business

mostly was involved in citrus as Winter Garden was a citrus city.

While the other businesses in downtown Winter Garden would close Wednesday afternoon and at 2 p.m. Saturdays, Bray remained open.

Much like the radical freezes in the late 1980s destroyed the citrus industry in the area, the hardware store took a big hit as well. With more businesses closing up shop on Plant Street, Toole decided to move his store to where it currently sits at 500 S. Dillard St. because there was more activity on the street compared to Plant Street.

The store only was 8,000 square feet, but when the tornado destroyed the store in 1998, Toole and his family rebuilt it, giving them an opportunity to add 2,000 square feet.

In the four months rebuilding the

store, Toole said the community continued to support the business with customers coming to the trailers the family had behind the construction site to order supplies. They would send someone to the Toole’s Ace Hardware in Clermont or South Orlando for the items, which the customers would pick up the next day.

No matter the situation, Neil Asma, president and CEO of Toole’s Ace Hardware, said employees always are there to help, even if the store has closed for the day.

Toole recalled decades ago when officials from Winter Garden Fire Rescue would call Toole at 7 or 8 p.m. saying then needed some supplies. Toole would go to the store, retrieve what they needed, charge it to the city and deliver it to the fire station.

“You can’t necessarily do it like that anymore, but we certainly can have the same heart,” Toole said. “The heart hasn’t changed. The heart of the city, to me, hasn’t changed.”

A CUT ABOVE

Since 1983, Walter and Patricia Toole have been building more Ace Hardware locations, with their 14th opening in Windermere in 2025 and plans to open their 15th in Minneola next year once the city approves permitting.  What makes Toole’s stores stand out are the people who work there.  Asma said at all the Toole’s Ace

Hardware locations, there are longtime employees. On average, the employees stay with Toole’s Ace Hardware for more than five years.

Toole said the culture of care and solving problems and always doing the right thing has led to the company’s 120 years of success.

“I always told (Asma) the thing to keep in mind when you make decisions is always do the right thing,” he said. “It might not be in your best interest, but the key to running a business is your culture and telling yourself the truth and telling yourself that no matter what we do, we’re going to do the right thing.”

Seniors board seeks nominations to keep local programs alive

All members of the West Orange Seniors Board are stepping down, and without members filling the seats, events at the Tom Ison Center could dwindle.

MIA SCHAEPERKOETTER

STAFF INTERN

For seniors across West Orange, the Tom Ison Center in Ocoee has been a gathering place where they can spend their golden years.

Now, the events that keep seniors coming in are at risk.

The West Orange Seniors, a social organization, organizes the seniorfocused events that run five days per week.

The board was established in 1978, and it currently works in conjunction with the city of Ocoee to make the Ison Center, which the city of Ocoee owns, a place for seniors to thrive.

For more information or to volunteer for a position on the West Orange Seniors Board, call (407) 592-4498 or email westorangeseniors@gmail.com.

At the end of the year, all five current board members who serve the organization on a volunteer basis will step down. There currently are two positions with nominations, but if the other three are not filled, the West Orange Seniors Board will cease to exist and “essentially dissolve the organization,” said Michael Varela, current president of the West Orange Seniors Board.

Any money the organization has after dissolution would be donated to charity.

Varela said the West Orange Seniors’ ability to inhabit the center has been a great privilege.

Despite his appreciation, he is concerned if the city takes over the board’s role, the senior activities the community loves will be abolished.

“The city can’t do everything we’re doing today,” Varela said. “It’s a physical impossibility. They aren’t able to pay full-time employees for this.”

With the absence of the board, the center no longer would put on Sunday and Monday Bingo, as well as the members’ beloved Diamond Tour trips across the country.

“Bingo brings in the money, and the trips bring in the membership,” Varela said. “They’re the people that kind of keep this thing afloat. The city can’t do that.”

Varela said it is likely the only events that would continue under the city would be those running on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, which consist of chair exercise, cards and dominoes. While these

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events still draw members in, they do not earn any profit for the organization.

Despite the struggle to find leadership candidates, community members are as active as ever. Varela is concerned if the center loses its main events, the community it has built over decades will also dwindle.

There is a dedicated group of women who play Liverpool Rummy

every Tuesday. The senior center provides them with a social outlet.

Among those women is Tammy Hueber, who has announced her candidacy to serve as board president.

“I had been so isolated from society because of my disability that when I finally was able to do something, I was scared,” Hueber said. “Then I came out here and met people, and they were so nice.”

Hueber said she decided to nominate herself for the board because of how crucial the center has been to her social life and how she sees it affect other seniors around her.

“Social outlets for these people are so critical,” Hueber said. “If you don’t have an active mind, you get sick, and a sedentary lifestyle promotes bad health. These people that come here count on it, and it keeps them alive.”

The other members in Hueber’s Liverpool Rummy group share the sentiment that the senior center is the driving force of their social lives.

While they have built connections at the Ison Center, Varela is confident they can find new places to gather if the West Orange Seniors no longer run the center’s events.

The requirements to serve on the board are not difficult to meet. All nominees must be members in good standing for at least a year and be legal residents of Florida.

SPORTS

Awww Team Florida!

Two Dr. Phillips Little League softball teams won states and will represent the Sunshine State at regionals.

MEGAN BRUINSMA STAFF WRITER

Dr. Phillips Little League now is known as Team Florida.

The league’s Senior AllStar softball team became the first DPLL softball team to win states by sweeping the tournament Saturday, July 11.

And now, as Team Florida, the squad will represent Florida in the Southeast Region Tournament Friday, July 24, to Monday, July 27, in Clarksville, Tennessee.

Abby Edwards, a Senior All-Star player, is excited to take their game on the road.

“(In) my years playing Little League, we’ve gone to these tournaments and we’ve played — but not at the level that we’re playing right now,

to seed teams for the postseason with 16-team brackets, eight from North and eight from South. The higher seed will host each round of playoffs with the winner of each region playing Friday, Dec. 4, at The Villages Charter School Any team not chosen for postseason play will be allowed to schedule bowl games.

2

1

The FHSAA on Tuesday, July 14, announced the structure for the inaugural Independent Football League for the 2026 season. It will consist of two divisions. Division A comprises schools with populations of 900 and more; and Division B will feature schools with populations up to 899 students. Both divisions are split based on North and South regions. Official names have yet to be determined by the FHSAA Student Athlete Advisory Committee.

West Orange County teams playing under Pool A of the Independent League are Lake Buena Vista and Windermere, both in the North region. Teams in Pool B include Central Florida Christian Academy, Foundation Academy and Windermere Preparatory School, all in the South region. Participating schools have the flexibility to schedule regularseason games independently. MaxPreps rankings will be used

The First Academy’s alumnus Foster Griffin was selected to play for the 2026 MLB National League All-Star team. The All-Star game was Tuesday, July 14, and the National League team lost 4-0 to the American League. Griffin had 10 pitches with seven strikes.

After graduating from TFA in 2014, Griffin was selected in the first round by the Kansas City Royals. He currently is a starting pitcher for the Washington Nationals.

3

Baseball players across the country awaited for their names to be called in the 2026 MLB Draft Saturday, July 11, and Sunday, July 12. Of those thousands of players, two Windermere High School alumni were selected. Class of 2024 outfielder Ty Head was selected by the Orioles as the No. 46 overall pick in the second round of the draft. When Head graduated, he was projected to be a contender for the MLB. Instead, he attended NC State for two seasons. With his selection this year, he became the school’s 12th highest MLB pick.

so it’s really cool to compete and get to travel for this experience,” she said.

And incredibly, the DP All-Stars aren’t alone.

Just one weekend later, DPLL’s 11U All-Star softball team did the same.

The 11U team also won its state tournament Sunday, July 19, and will play the following weekend.

Their combined success makes this 2026 season one to remember.

SENIOR SENDOFF

The Dr. Phillips community rejoiced as friends, family and the Orlando Dreamers came together Monday, July 20, to celebrate the Senior AllStar team before it departed for a game against West Virginia at 12:30 p.m. Friday, July 24.

“We started with a goal and a lot of uncertainty, and tonight we’re cel-

Class of 2022 outfielder Blake Cyr was selected by the New York Yankees in the 18th round. Cyr played four seasons at the University of Florida. He was named to the 2026 ABCA/Rawlings Second Team Southeast All-Region, 2023 Consensus Freshman All-American, 2023 All-ACC Freshman Team and 2023 All-ACC Academic Team.

4

The West Orange High football team has welcomed Jon Wilburn as its new offensive line coach. Wilburn has nine offensive linemen he’s coached playing on college rosters currently. He comes to the Warriors with nine years of O-line coaching experience and four years of offensive coordinator experience. He also served four years in the Marines.

5

Winter Garden Little League’s 8-10U All-Star team had a remarkable season, accomplishing a state appearance for the first time in eight years for the league. The team won 12 consecutive games through districts and sectionals, as well as the first two games of states. But states are where the team’s summer journey came to an end. WGLL lost to Niceville Valparaiso Little League 6-3 Sunday, July 19, in St. Augustine. NVLL won the State Championship. Jace Watkins joined the WGLL HomeRun Club during the Florida State Tournament against Lake Mary Little League Saturday, July 18.

SEASON OF SUCCESS

n The Majors All-Stars baseball team captured the 2026 Florida Section 5 Championship and advanced to states.

n The 11U baseball team also is Section 5 Champions and will play Friday, July 25, for its state title.

n A total of seven DPLL teams won district championships this season.

ebrating something that nobody can take away from you,” Team Manager Michael Roy said to the players. “You guys are the Florida State champions.”

Roy reminded them they didn’t win the title with one big play. Instead, he attributed it to the grind — the early workouts, the long practices in the Florida heat and all the extra swings and reps.

“The trust that you’ve done to pick each other up, and the errors and the slumps, and through the tough losses — that’s how we achieve this,” he said. “State-championship teams — they’re not built on talent alone. It’s based on accountability and effort and the love for the girl next to you. That’s exactly what this group is.”

SEE DR. PHILLIPS PAGE 10A

Squeeze ends 2026 season in success

Alexander Galan returned to Horizon High as a Winter Garden Squeeze player after graduating as a Hawk in 2025. He and his teammates reflected on their summer of growth for their next collegiate years.

Coverage sponsored by:

MEGAN BRUINSMA STAFF WRITER

Winter Garden Squeeze’s outfielder Alexander Galan never imagined he would be stepping back onto Hori zon High’s baseball field after his graduation in 2025.

But that’s exactly what hap pened this summer.

Galan, a rising sophomore at Lake-Sumter State College, found his way back to the field through his collegiate head coach Rich Billings. Billings is a three-time Florida Colle giate Summer League coach of the year and in his 11th season with the Leesburg Lightning.

Justin Felton II

Even before the 2026 football season begins, Dr. Phillips High running back Justin Felton II already is making his presence known on the field.

At the Orlando QB Shootout and Battle in The Pit, Saturday, July 11, Felton II earned the RB MVP title.

The rising senior has received an official offer from Warner University and interest from Syracuse University.

What do you enjoy most about football?

What I enjoy most about football is the competitiveness. It’s always an exciting feeling to play in the game going head-to-head against a team that wants to win the same as you.

When did you start football, and why did you join?

I started playing football at the age of 4. At first as a kid, I didn’t know why I wanted to play — until I had the ball in my hands, and I started running. I found out that I was fairly fast. It was the happiest experience of my life as a kid.

What is your best memory in football?

My best memory individually was my eighth-grade season in youth AAU football. I was a part of the Conway Falcons at the time, and we were up against our rival team, East Orlando Preds. … That season, I was the starting running back and one of the best players on the team. … We ended up winning that game by a slim margin because of the trenches and a high-power running game. I had almost 150 yards on the ground and one touchdown.

What has football taught you?  Working hard is literally the key to success. No matter if it seems the doors are open or closed, you still have to work hard to get what you want and set goals for yourself to achieve them.

If you were a coach, what speech would you give the team?

If you really want to play football, then you have to give it everything you got to earn it and learn it. Study it. Train for it and show out to prove how much you love it. It all comes down to the choice if you want to be good or be great.

What is your pre-game ritual?

ing to God by myself or with a couple of my teammates to give us the strength, courage and mental focus to overcome the challenges that are against us and be grateful with the chances we have.

Afterwards, I seclude myself for a moment and listen to some of my favorite songs to get my hype and in a strong mental state. And lastly, this season, I rally the other RBs for group stretches and game prep.

If you could pick a different sport, what would it be? Why?  Baseball. I think it would be a fun experience playing. I’ve literally never played baseball before, but being able to get my clothes and hands dirty, running from base to base, and even throwing a baseball, while trying to beat the runner to home plate, with my speed, seems exciting to me.

Who do you look up to the most?

The person that I look up to the most is my father, Justin Felton Sr. He has always been there for me in every step of the way. He took the time and effort to help build the player I am now, and I’m very grateful that I have a father like him to support me.

What is something new you would like to learn?

For me being an offensive player, it would be interesting for me to learn something new in the defensive side of playing football — like playing cornerback, safety or even middle linebacker. Learning those aspects of the game … would make me a better football athlete.

Where would you want to live if you weren’t in Florida? I would want to live in Japan, without a shadow of a doubt. It would be fun to learn a new language while also getting to experience fun theme parks or exhibits that relate to anime.

What future career do you want to have?

Summer brings lessons for Squeeze players

FROM PAGE 9A

When Billings offered Galan to play summer ball for the league as a Squeeze and discovering it was at Horizon, Galan jumped at the opportunity.

“I felt good just knowing that I was being able to go back to play where I played high school (baseball) at, and it just felt comfortable, because I already played there for two years,” he said.

Galan and his other Squeeze teammates’ decisions to play for the Squeeze in 2026 brought them not only fun memories together throughout the two months of play but also valuable baseball knowledge. The team’s regular season wrapped up Saturday, July 18, and now the players will take lessons back with them for their next year of college ball.

A SUMMER OF GROWTH

Throughout high school, Galan saw his tools develop, especially after he transitioned from Lake Buena Vista High after his sophomore year to Horizon. His freshman year at Lake-Sumter is where he saw true growth under Billings and the increased games college brought compared to high school.

More reps led to more production.

Galan started off just OK. He wasn’t the best but as his comfort

grew he began to find his stride through the spring season, recording a .378 batting average and 11 home runs with 55 runs batted in and 61 runs. Galan began the spring season on a high but slowly hit a downfall mid-season. His coach continued to play him, and he continued to practice and trust in himself to end up with a fantastic last half of the season.

“I felt good,” he said. “It felt good, honestly, just being able to go out

there with confidence and playing good and helping the team win. But we didn’t end up reaching how far we wanted to go, so to go into next year and end up going farther than we did this past year.”

The Squeeze’s summer ball helped Galan elevate his confidence and comfortability with a bat in hand, just as his teammates saw it do the same for them.

Dr. Phillips LL squads to represent Florida at regionals

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9A

Dayana Jovet said the team’s ability to communicate throughout the games set it apart. Any time one player had an error, the others would work to keep her spirits up.

DPLL Secretary Bobby Vereb said baseball and softball are games of failure, and success comes to the teams that can overcome and respond.

“It’s incredible to see the resilience and the mental temperature that they put in and the work that they put in as far as getting ready for the game,” Vereb said.

Outside of the All-Stars, the girls — who play for Dr. Phillips, Olympia, Lake Buena Vista, The First Academy and others — often are opponents. However, although the All-Star team only has been playing together since May 15, the players bonded quickly. Team activities helped foster that camaraderie. Keira Bullion particularly enjoyed pickleball because it gave everyone a chance to try an unfamiliar sport.

GROWTH SPURT

DPLL relocated to new fields two years ago after playing at its former home since 1986. Over the years, many people dedicated significant time and talent to create a softball program at which girls can thrive, DPLL Secretary Bobby Vereb said.

“As a volunteer-led organization, there’s something to be said about when Little League is over,” he said. “It’s kind of over, and our Little League season ended in May, and … as a community, as a board, as a group, we’re still grinding, because now even more so we’re competing at high levels and representing our Little League.”

Roy also has played a pivotal role in the team’s success.

“He challenges us in the sense that he’s not going to let us settle,” Allison Curtis said. “He’s always

going to expect more from us, but in the best way to rise to a higher standard that he knows we can reach.”

STILL PROCESSING

While DP Senior All-Star team already is packed up and ready to head to Tennessee, the 11U team still is processing its win that took place fewer than 24 hours before DPLL’s Senior team send-off.  Avery Graff said saying she and her teammates now are Team Florida almost doesn’t feel real.

After their win, the players dumped the water bucket on their coach, Sunisa Arundakul threw her glove to the sky, and the entire team screamed in joy together.

“We won because our pitcher struck out our last batter,” Kileigh Kirkley said. “It was very crazy. I was so surprised, and I’ve never been to a national regionals before, so I was very excited. A few girls were crying, but it was really an exciting moment for me. This team went very far.”

She said it means a lot to her to be able to represent the league at an even higher level, and the team will continue to work hard in its many practices leading up to Tennessee.

“That’s a very special group,” Vereb said. “They are a very competitive group, as well, so not only do they play Little League together, I know that a lot of them are on some club teams competing outside of Little League.”

Both of the teams’ stories can be followed through ESPN’s broadcast of the regional tournament games.

“When you have people (who) compete at high levels, you have a chance to really fight or flight, and they’re all in fight mode,” Vereb said. “I think they’re getting confidence through this. … They’re getting into that competitive spirit where they’re taking this step-bystep and day-by-day and nothing for granted, but they are feeling the right to compete at this level.”

Pitcher Rylee Gibson redshirted his first season with The Citadel. It was hard to watch everyone else play. But looking back, he is grateful for his time, because it gave him a year to watch others and develop. Being back on the field for the Squeeze helped grow his mental state. He threw 31 innings in his 11 appearances and six starts.

Cael Reish, the Squeeze’s outfielder who recorded the highest hitting statistics for the team (No. 11 in the FCSL at the end of the regular season and selected for the All-Star team) said head coach Steven Crabtree’s early work sessions have been huge for his development. Crabtree emphasizes relaxing to the players and playing their own game, which is how they see their best abilities.

“Honestly, just him telling us to relax and just play the game of baseball means a lot, and it kind of helps us go back into our place,” Reish said. “We’re gonna fight for a spot but at the end of the day, if you stay relaxed and do your own thing, you’re going to be good and all set to make a spot.”

Crabtree also has taught the players about aggression.

First baseman Ayden Elixson, who was one of the two players staying with a host family this summer, said Crabtree’s emphasis on aggression — especially at the plate — has helped. It’s the main trait he struggled with his freshman year at St. Johns River State College, and now, Elixson understands its importance.

“(Crabtree) has talked a lot to us about what you put in the world is what you’re going to get out of it,” Elixson said. “He’s been very helpful.”

Galan said Crabtree and assistant coach Dewon Brazelton always were focused on getting the win.

“Coach Crabs is really passionate about (winning) which is always good to have, because it makes you want to win,” Galan said. “It makes you want it more since your head coaches also want it.”

At the beginning, the players were struggling with achieving their coaches’ desires. But Reish said after the team’s chemistry grew and they knew they could always trust in one another, production flipped. Galan said they began slow but midseason turned the heat on and made up for their deficit in games.

The team finished regular season No. 2, behind the Lightning, and a 17-17 overall record and hosted a playoff game Tuesday, July 21.

Ocoee Soccer Academy wins national championship

After six years of training together, Golden Goals Sports Soccer Academy’s 19U boys team won the National League Cup and finished its season ranked No. 1 in the country.

MEGAN BRUINSMA STAFF WRITER

The core of Golden Goal Sports Soccer Academy in Ocoee’s 19U team has grown up together.

They learned one another’s tendencies over six years as they completed middle school and high school. They learned to drive a car together. They celebrated graduation together. They celebrated state championships and battled through many national tournaments as they spent hundreds of evenings training through rain delays, weekend practices and long travel weekends.

So, when they captured the national championship at the 2026 National League Cup Thursday, July 9, they celebrated for more than the title. GGS 19U finished as the national champion and ranked No. 1 in the nation.

“It’s not about one game,” head coach Carlos Carlet said. “It’s about all the journey that we’ve been together. That’s what made us successful to become No. 1 in the nation.”

Eleven players from the original core remained together from about age 10 through their final youth season. That consistency is increasingly uncommon in today’s club sports landscape.

“It’s not an easy thing to do — especially because you have an 18-player roster,” Carlet said. “To keep them together is hard. But we kept the core, and the players (who) came in added to what we already had.”

Half the roster now will move on to college after a dominant 2025-26 campaign during which the team also won the Easter and the Adidas Cup.

CHAMPIONSHIP FORM

While the final game of the tournament (which GGS won 4-0 over Legends FC) solidified the title with a 3-0 weekend and ended in celebration, Carlet said the true challenge came one day earlier against Spire FC.

The national championship tournament required teams to play three games. Rather than the final game determine the result, the crown was

given to the team with the most wins overall.

During the second match against Spire Wednesday, July 8, GGS found itself trailing 2-1 and hopes of a championship slipping away.

“We could not lose that game,” Carlet said.

With one minute left, he reminded the players there still was time. Moments later, they found their way in.

Spire FC turned the ball over, GGS connected in transition and scored the tying goal with 10 seconds left on the clock.

“We could not believe it,” Carlet said. “Everybody was jumping on each other and celebrating. We felt like a family. The energy was there.”

MORE THAN WINS Carlet has coached many of the players since they were in elementary school. Some entered through

GGS’s recreational program before they developed into the elite players they have become today.

He said watching their growth has become one of the most rewarding parts of coaching. He never has worked with a group of boys for this long consistently.

“I’m really proud to see each individual player grow — not only on the field but also out of the field,” he said.

Over the years, Carlet watched players experience every stage of the teenage phase while balancing school, family responsibilities and increasingly competitive soccer landscapes. Practices sometimes were canceled because of the rain, while others required extra weekends spent training to prepare for their top competition.

But the players never wavered their support and dedication in the sport.

“They understood that if we

worked, we were going to get this,” Carlet said.

Understanding expanded beyond simply the players but to Carlet himself.

He said successful development of young athletes requires coaches to remain patient and willing to adapt to each athlete’s needs rather than expecting every player to progress the same way.

“You need to be really patient,” he said. “Sometimes, you need to criticize yourself and see where your mistakes are or what the team needs.”

The patience helped as the players grew from the 10 years olds into the 18-year-olds they are today. Now after celebrating their best season together, four of them will continue on to play collegiate soccer, while others will continue with GGS and play in the clubs adult league.

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SCARE TACTICS: Behind the scenes of a haunted house

Everyone is scared of something. But those fears rarely are flushed out in such an artful way that they become pure nightmare fuel.

Haunted houses became popularized in 1969, after Disneyland created the Haunted Mansion. Thousands of people flocked to the ride when it first opened, dying to see the 999 quirky spirits. After that, haunted attractions began popping up throughout America and expanded massively in the 1990s as technology began to grow.

Today, haunted houses are a classic contribution to the Halloween spirit. Theme parks jump in on the festivities, such as the notorious haunted houses, or haunts, at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights and SeaWorld’s Howl-O-Scream. There also are hundreds of private haunts around the country and even more for charity.

Like other forms of art and storytelling, haunted houses often begin with a basic idea. This can be a theme, such as aliens or ghosts, to characters and settings. From just an idea, haunt designers create a compelling story intended to terrify. Actually crafting a haunted house takes time and effort. Not only do you need to physically build the house, but also it needs to look as realistic as possible. If the setting of a haunt is an old barn, designers can distress the wood of the building to make it look aged and eerie. There are multiple methods to this, but a common one is wetting the wood, then spraying it with a mixture of water and paint. Designers also try to fill up the space with items and decorations to make the viewer feel disoriented and tense.

Costume and makeup add another layer to a haunted house. The horrific costumes actors wear are layered, distressed and mangled. Costume designers work to sew, launder and accessorize actors’ outfits. The makeup is a unique combination of a

traditional palette of paints and airbrush techniques. With an airbrush, actors can transform into monstrous beings more efficiently than a regular palette. Palette paints allow for an easy mixing of colors that help produce fake wounds and blood. Together, these elements help actors fully become their characters. Scare actors themselves also are imperative for a haunt. While this niche part of acting often is overlooked, the job requires training and physical ability. Scare actors must handle layers of makeup and prosthetics in addition to being on their feet all night. Inside haunted houses, they are timed with motion sensors and sound cues to achieve a perfect scare.

Of course, keeping these actors safe is another aspect. They can get overheated or dehydrated. An audience member could be startled enough to hit an actor instinctively. So, haunt managers must supply ways for an actor to take a break without breaking character. Water should be easily accessible, as well as fire extinguishers and AEDs, in case of emergencies.

One of the most imperative parts of a haunted house actually is the audience. They contribute heavily by purchasing tickets and merchandise. However, the important thing is they keep coming back. It shouldn’t make sense why people sign up, let alone pay money, to be scared senseless. But many value the opportunity to experience fear in a safe environment, without consequences. Being scared or on edge causes a major adrenaline boost, and haunted houses can give you that boost without being in any actual danger.

I’ve been interested in haunted houses since I first stepped inside one. I always loved Halloween and spooky things, but as a theater student, haunted houses fascinated me from a technical and acting standpoint. Now, they offer me a space to be completely absorbed in another world and an opportunity to celebrate the uniqueness of ourselves and others, no matter how strange we may seem.

It is never too late to get involved. If theme park haunts are too expensive, there are plenty of nonprofit haunts throughout central Florida. And, if you’re into the odd and macabre, or carry a little Halloween spirit, you always can sign up as a scare actor or crew member. I’m sure a haunt is “dying” to have you.

SUMMER SCHOOL ZONE

SUMMER OF SEASHELLS: How a local boutique is shaping Gen Z style

“I can cast a spell!”

The powerful vibrato of Whitney Houston’s “I’m Every Woman” was the first sound to grace my ears as I entered Adjectives Market on Winter Garden’s historic Plant Street.

Usually when I enter Adjectives, I beeline toward the crystals and books. But, I could barely make it past the front of the store without inspecting every piece of fabric that graced my eyes. It’s no secret that summer is a highlight each year in the fashion world. What many don’t suspect, however, is the role local stores can play in shaping the style of the season.

Walking through the boutique felt less like browsing a store and more like flipping through the pages of a trend forecast. Every rack reflected the playful, nostalgic aesthetic that has become synonymous with Gen Z style, proving fashion inspiration isn’t limited to luxury runways or social media algorithms. Sometimes, it’s hanging on a clothing rack just a few miles from home.

One of the first trends that caught my attention was the abundance of soft, ruffle pucker bags. In shades of blush pink, butter yellow, powder blue and cream, the bags embodied the romantic femininity that has surged in popularity. Their gathered fabric and delicate silhouettes felt like a modern interpretation of vintage accessories, effortlessly pairing with everything from casual denim to flowing sundresses. Rather than relying on flashy logos, they embraced subtle texture and softness — a quality Gen Z increasingly gravitates toward.

Nearby, gingham patterns appeared throughout the collection. Once associated almost exclusively with picnic blankets and vintage tablecloths, gingham has experienced a stylish revival, appearing in everything from coordinated two-piece sets to breezy tops. The pattern carries a sense of nostalgia while still feeling contemporary, capturing the balance between vintage inspiration and modern styling.

Accessories were equally telling. A gold, heart-shaped belt immediately stood out among the displays, transforming what could have been a simple outfit into something whimsical and expressive. Small statement accessories like this have become increasingly influential, allowing shoppers to personal-

ize otherwise basic pieces without investing in an entirely new wardrobe.

Denim remains a wardrobe staple, but even it continues to evolve.

The boutique showcased relaxed, ripped jeans that favored comfort over rigidity, reflecting the broader shift away from ultra-skinny silhouettes. Rather than chasing fleeting microtrends, many younger shoppers have embraced denim that feels effortless, pieces that can be dressed up with ballet flats or dressed down with sneakers and a graphic tee.

The boutique also leaned heavily into coordinated dressing with pastel matching sets and scalloped shorts. Matching sets have become especially popular because they eliminate the guesswork of styling while still looking polished. The soft color palette reinforced this season’s preference for light, airy hues that complement the carefree feeling of summer. Meanwhile, scalloped hems added subtle detail without overwhelming an outfit.

Beach-inspired motifs tied the collection together. Seashells, coastal colors, woven textures and breezy fabrics reflected the growing popularity of the “coastal” aesthetic that has spread across fashion and social media alike. Rather than focusing solely on vacation wear, these influences have become part of everyday dressing.

Perhaps most interesting was the colorful display of bandanas. Once considered a practical accessory, bandanas recently have returned to the spotlight on major runways such as Chanel Cruise 26/27, appearing as headscarves, neckties, bag accents and even belts. Seeing them featured prominently in a local boutique illustrated how quickly high-fashion ideas filter into everyday retail. Stores like Adjectives don’t simply react to trends after they’ve become mainstream; they help introduce them to shoppers in accessible, wearable ways. Cue Miranda Priestly’s rant on cerulean sweaters from 2006.

In an era where fashion seems dominated by viral TikTok videos and luxury fashion weeks, local boutiques remain an overlooked source of inspiration. They curate collections that reflect both global trends and the personality of their own communities, offering shoppers an experience that feels far more personal than endlessly scrolling online. Walking through Adjectives reminded me that style isn’t created in one place alone. It travels, from runway to boutique, from boutique to wardrobe, and ultimately into the everyday lives of the people who wear it.

Summer under the Sorting Hat

Shine Bright Performing Arts campers made the magic of the wizarding world of Harry Potter come to life during summer camp Monday, June 29, through Friday, July 3.

They drew their own patronuses and Hogwarts house crests and

created their own wands and pygmy puffs before also writing their own scene for the theatrical production they performed for family members Friday, July 3. The camp for rising first- through eighth-graders was an opportunity for participants to hone their acting,

singing and dancing skills while exploring the Harry Potter-inspired music, characters and stories.

Founder Rallia Westrick said she was immensely proud of the work the campers put in to make the production a success.

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