SO U T H W E ST O RA N G E
Observer Windermere, Horizon West, Dr. Phillips
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. FREE • THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2026
VOLUME 11, NO. 44
CANDIDATE
Q&A
Splash bash!
Water slides helped campers at Lake Cypress Summer Camp beat the heat. 22A.
Miles that
YOUR TOWN EARLY VOTING BEGINS IN ORANGE COUNTY
MATTER
Orange County’s early-voting period has begun. Through Sunday, Aug. 16, county residents have the opportunity to cast an early vote for the 2026 Primary Election. All registered voters are able to vote early with a non-expired photo and signature ID. West Orange and Southwest Orange locations include: n Southwest Library at 7255 Della Drive, Orlando n West Oaks Library at 1821 E. Silver Star Road, Ocoee n Tibet-Butler Preserve at 8777 County Road 535, Orlando n Orange County National Golf Center at 16301 Phil Ritson Way, Winter Garden n Winter Garden Library at 805 E. Plant St., Winter Garden.
Three democrats compete for Daniel Webster’s former seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. 3A.
Note: Voters no longer can use a U.S. passport, debit or credit card, student or retirement-center IDs as identification methods. For more information and additional voting sites, visit voteorangefl.gov/vote-early.
FRIDAY NIGHT SIGHTS
ONP SEEKS RESIDENTS FOR POLLINATOR CENSUS
Get ready for the 2026 prep football season with our exclusive preview. SEE PAGE 15A.
Courtesy photo
Windermere Town Council Member Tony Davit completed riding 250 miles for veteran suicide awareness.
An Air Force veteran and Marine Corps veteran each completed challenges in July to spread awareness about veteran suicide rates. STORY ON PAGE 4A.
manager Robert BRAIN Town Smith: ‘We will be OK’
FOOD
COOL CATS
We celebrate International Cat Day with feline facts. SEE 19A.
However, the town is considering eliminating or suspending Food Truck Nights and the Light Up Windermere event. SEE PAGE 6A.
The Oakland Nature Preserve is calling for residents to aid in the pollinator census to take place Friday, Aug. 21, and Saturday, Aug. 22. The Great Southeast Pollinator Census is a project designed to generate data on pollinator populations, increase entomological literacy among citizens and create sustainable habitat for pollinators. According to the ONP officials, residents who choose to participate in the census simply will count the number of pollinators on a plant at ONP for 15 minutes. “You do not need to be an entomologist to partake,” officials said. “We ask for only basic insect identification into these categories: bumble bees, carpenter bees, honey bees, small bees, wasps, flies, butterflies/ moths, other insects. To participate, visit the preserve from 9 a.m. to noon Friday, Aug. 21, or 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22. Participants will visit the museum first to pick up the census sheet and get a briefing about the process prior to beginning the count. No registration is required and there is no age limit to participate. For questions and additional information, email volunteer@oaklandnaturepreserve. org.