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, DECEMBER 5, 2024
VOLUME 10, NO. 9
Find your holiday fun here! Fill your December with family-friendly Christmas cheer — all in our community! PAGES 8-10B.
YOUR TOWN FUMC SELLING COOKIES AND COOKBOOKS
Joyful & triumphant
The First United Methodist Church of Winter Garden has been holding its Cookie Carnival for nearly 40 years, and this year the women’s group is adding cookie cookbooks to its fundraiser. An assortment of homemade cookies will be available for $12 per box from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. This year, the women are selling cookbooks with more than 120 cookie recipes for $15. The sale takes place in the fellowship hall on the northeast side of the church, 125 N. Lakeview Ave., Winter Garden. Cookbooks also can be purchased by calling the church office at (407) 656-1135 or emailing fumc@fumcwg.org.
The founder of Rosen Hotel & Resorts and local philanthropist left an incredible legacy in Central Florida. SEE PAGE 7B.
UCP West Orange readies for Relay
HELP THE JCCF BRIGHTEN CHRISTMAS
If you’re looking for a way to give back this holiday season, the Jimmy Crabtree Cancer Fund is collecting gift cards. All gift cards will be distributed by JCCF, with a handwritten note to families fighting cancer. To donate, mail a check made out to JCCF to: JCCF, P.O. Box 770446, Winter Garden, FL 34777-0446. Gift cards will be collected through Dec. 12. Examples of gift cards given in the past include: Walgreens, CVS, Target, Walmart, Publix, Winn-Dixie, Ace Hardware, gas cards or Visa gift cards. For more information, visit JCCancerFund.org.
Community mourns Harris Rosen
Family Church choirs spread holiday cheer through song.
Michael Eng
The town of Windermere officially welcomed the holiday season with its 2024 Light Up Windermere. SEE PHOTOS ON PAGE 4A.
Nurture Place takes therapy into schools
JINGLE ALL THE WAY!
The counseling center in Winter Garden has introduced a therapeutic curriculum to several schools in West Orange to help more students having mental-health issues. SEE PAGE 9A.
Eight Waves rolled out the red carpet for its 2024 Holiday Tour of Homes in Oakland Park. SEE PAGE 3A.
The Winter Garden school is hosting the fundraiser to benefit the American Cancer Society. PAGE 8A.