W EST O RA N G E T I M E S &
Observer Winter Garden, Ocoee, Oakland
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
For Ward Britt, Winter Garden was, is and forever will be home. PAGE 6A.
FREE • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2025
VOLUME 92, NO. 49
Holiday on pointe The town of Windermere ushered in the Christmas season with its Light Up Windermere event. 1B.
YOUR TOWN CHURCH TO HOST LIVING NATIVITY IN HORIZON WEST
Four on the floor The Winter Garden Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, along with pastors from neighboring churches, will host a special Live Nativity and Christmas Celebration this weekend. The two-night event takes place Friday, Dec. 5, and Saturday, Dec. 6, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3850 Avalon Road, Winter Garden. Join the churches in celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Pastors from several local Christian churches will narrate the nativity story for 15-minute showtimes. The living nativity will feature live animals, live actors and school choirs and FFA groups from Hamlin Middle School, Horizon High School and West Orange High School. The event also will include a Portuguese choir for the Portuguese session, which takes place at 7:30 p.m. Friday. A Spanish session will be at 7 p.m. Friday. The event also includes a food drive, and attendees can “pay taxes” (canned food items) as they enter Bethlehem to benefit the Hope Center and Well of Hope.
ROAD WORK TO TAKE PLACE IN WINDERMERE
Courtesy photos
Lake Buena Vista High’s Collier Alexander-Sawyer, West Orange High’s Enzo Ward, Horizon High’s Noah Sidabutar and West Orange High’s Westin Filby first met on their flight to New York. Top: West Orange High’s Enzo Ward and Westin Filby, Lake Buena Vista High’s Collier Alexander-Sawyer and Horizon High’s Noah Sidabutar all cherished the friendships they made while in New York.
Winter Garden leaders share updates on eastside projects The city is continuing to work on the Dyson’s Plaza Commercial Revitalization project as well as the Legacy Home Rehabilitation Pilot Program. PAGE 8A.
BRAINF
D
GREAT READS: The holidays are a
perfect time to curl up with a good book. 4B.
A quartet of West Orange and Southwest Orange students performed with the Macy’s Great American Marching Band on Thanksgiving Day. STORY ON PAGE 4A.
The town of Windermere is having road work conducted on Butler Street and Seventh Avenue to accommodate stormwater drainage installation. The roads will be under construction through Friday, Dec. 5, as crews will be installing stormwater drainage along Butler Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues. During this time, the boat ramp should be accessible from either Seventh Avenue or Butler Street, but Seventh Avenue will be most dependable. With temporary daytime closures in effect, the town of Windermere is asking people to allow for extra travel time and to drive safely.
TWINNING! SISTERS SHINE OARS’ Anna and Maija Andert claim first at Head of the Hooch. SEE PAGE 6B.