W EST O RA N G E T I M E S &
Observer Winter Garden, Ocoee, Oakland
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
FREE • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2025
VOLUME 92, NO. 50
Right down Santa Claus Lane Downtown Winter Garden was all aglow for this year’s Light Up Winter Garden. SEE PAGE 11A.
Shimmer of Hope
YOUR TOWN OCOEE TO HOST FULL DAY OF HOLIDAY CHEER
Ocoee-based nonprofit, A Heart to Give, provides toys to thousands of children each holiday season and hope for a brighter future. STORY ON PAGE 4A.
Ocoee will celebrate the holiday season with its annual Jolly Jamboree and Tree Lighting this weekend. The event takes place from 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at Ocoee Lakeshore Center, 125 N. Lakeshore Drive. In addition, the city’s annual dog parade will take over downtown Ocoee at 1 p.m. Attendees of the Jolly Jamboree will enjoy Santa’s Village, a kids zone, special guests, tree lighting and much more.
CHABAD TO HOST CHANUKAH CELEBRATION
Liz Ramos
Terrie Scott spends every free moment she has during the holiday season wrapping gifts to give thousands of children through her nonprofit, A Heart to Give, which she runs out of her Ocoee home.
Horizon West resident wants new laws governing e-bikes Linda Sibley has created a petition regarding rules and laws she wishes to be implemented for e-bikes and mopeds. SEE PAGE 3A.
A soccer sisterhood Siblings Alyvia and Delaney Clark take advantage of their familial bond as soccer teammates. SEE PAGE 9A.
REASON FOR THE SEASON Eight Waves kicked off the holiday season with Home for the Holidays. PAGE 11A.
Chabad of Winter Garden will celebrate Chanukah with a huge celebration this weekend. Chabad’s Chanukah Celebration will take place at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, at 240 W. Plant St., Winter Garden. The event will include a menorah lighting, donuts, live deejay, balloon twisting, stiltwalkers, magic and much more. Admission is free. For more information, visit JewishWinterGarden.com/ Chanukah.
NEHRLING GARDENS TO CELEBRATE 14TH AMARYLLIS FESTIVAL
Nehrling Gardens will celebrate the holiday season with its 14th annual Holiday Amaryllis Festival this weekend. The event takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at the gardens, 2267 Hempel Ave., Gotha. The gardens will feature beautiful and rare amaryllis bulbs for sale; pictures with Santa; owls and birds of prey; a holiday market; family photo ops; food trucks; holiday treats and more.
Will more fines in Ocoee prevent code violations? A recent sweep of 45 downtown properties resulted in 33 property citations, 12 parking citations and three fire code violations. PAGE 7A.