SO U T H W E ST O RA N G E
Observer Windermere, Horizon West, Dr. Phillips
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
It’s spring, and that means high school football is back! SEE 1B.
FREE • THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2024
VOLUME 9, NO. 31
Senior shout-outs
Legacy Events for Education honored seniors from local schools at its annual scholarship ceremony. SEE STORY ON PAGE 3B.
YOUR TOWN SEEKING FORMER CHORAL SINGERS FOR REUNION
CLASS ACTS
Longtime award-winning choral director Dr. Jeffery Redding is putting together a reunion of his current and former choral singers for a performance to be held Saturday, May 18. Orlando Choral Society is presenting “The West Orange High School and Garden Community Choirs ‘Reunion’ Block Party and Concert.” A reunion rehearsal will take place at 6 p.m. Friday, May 17, at First United Methodist Church of Orlando. A reunion block party will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at West Orange High School. That evening, the concert, featuring beloved songs and surprises, begins at 7 at FUMC Downtown Orlando. To sign up to participate, visit orlandochoralsociety.org. Tickets are available at orlandochoralsociety.org/tickets. Redding became WOHS choral director in 1997 and directed the Garden Community Choir starting in 2007.
Courtesy photos
The cast and crew of “The Servant of Two Masters” took the award-winning one-act performance to the Southeastern Theatre Conference in March.
CELEBRATE ASIAN CULTURE AT OCOEE FEST
The Asian American Heritage Council of Central Florida is celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with an Asian Cultural Festival in Ocoee. It will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at the Ocoee Lakeshore Center and Bill Breeze Park, 125 N. Lakeshore Drive. Guests can enjoy live music, dance performances, delicious food, cultural vendors and more representing the Asian culture. Parking and ad-mission are free.
Mariana Oliveira Gandin, left, Sophia Gegg, BambiEllen Fadoul, Anderson Davies and Jaxon McCormick show off some awards from the Southeastern Theatre Conference.
COUNTY LEVEL
Tax proposal failure leads county action The Orange County Board of County Commissioners in April made several decisions that impact West Orange and Southwest Orange. SEE PAGE 5A.
Windermere Prep’s theater program is raising the stakes on the drama program and giving other troupes a run for their money when it comes to competition. STORY ON PAGE 4A.
Howdy, partners! Horizon West lassoed in some cowboy fun for its annual Hamlin Hoedown, held Saturday, May 4, in the Hamlin green space. SEE PAGE 8A.