INSIDE:
SO U T H W E ST O RA N G E
Observer
LOCAL
Windermere, Horizon West, Dr. Phillips
MOTION AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO LIFE IN WEST ORANGE COUNTY
2025-2026
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 10, NO. 43
FREE • THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2025
Diverging diamond debut New Interstate 4/Daryl Carter Parkway interchange opens. SEE PAGE 6A.
YOUR TOWN CARS & COFFEE ROLLS INTO HAMLIN
Observer
1
LOCAL MOTION 2025
Change of art
The next Horizon West Cars & Coffee event rolls into Hamlin this weekend. The next Cars & Coffee will take place from 8 to 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 3, at 14111 Shoreside Way, Winter Garden. All years, makes, models, cars and trucks are welcome. The group will meet on the top of the parking garage in front of Cinépolis. Come hang out, have some coffee and meet some of your neighbors. The show coincides with Horizon West Happenings’ Homegrown in Horizon West market, which takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is a family-friendly event. The goal is a peaceful, safe gathering where locals can share their passion and meet others in the community. Please follow the rules: n No revving n No burnouts n No speeding n No racing Liz Ramos
SHOP TILL YOU DROP IN WINTER GARDEN If you’re in need of a little retail therapy, make sure you head to downtown Winter Garden this weekend. The Downtown Winter Garden Summer Sidewalk Sale takes place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2. Take advantage of end-ofseason clearance closeout prices on boutique originals. Stroll the outdoor sale racks and tables and pop inside the shops for additional sales and promotions. Stack your savings with tax-free shopping on items eligible for the back-to-school sales tax holiday. Qualifying tax-exempt items include apparel, footwear, and handbags priced at $100 or less. The event also will feature live music from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Centennial Plaza. The Absent Trio performs from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and L&G Live from 3:30 to 7 p.m. The event also will include free treats from Bryans Lemonade for kids from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., as well as a free backto-school kids craft from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. hosted by SOBO Art Gallery, 127 S. Boyd St. Swing by the gallery’s outdoor patio to make a custom-designed, zippered, cloth pencil case for the new school year.
Above: Horizon West’s Amelia Crassus de Senior discovered a love for painting during a class at Sonata Windermere. Left: Amelia Crassus de Senior painted a bunny for her great-grandchildren.
Courtesy photo
Horizon West’s Amelia Crassus de Senior finds new passion in painting after arthritis took away her first love of the arts: playing piano. SEE STORY ON PAGE 4A.
Household
name
Austin Arthur is the new president of West Orange Habitat for Humanity. PAGE 3A.
SEASON’S GREETINGS
High school football teams return to the gridiron. PAGE 1B.