W EST O RA N G E T I M E S &
Observer Winter Garden, Ocoee, Oakland
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 89, NO. 47
FREE
TREE LOT TAKES ROOT DOWNTOWN
ROTARY CLUB HOSTING TOY DRIVE The Rotary Club of Horizon West is collecting toys for its annual drive for Maxey Elementary School. The club needs toys for boys and girls ages 4 to 11. Unwrapped donations should be a recommended value of $25 and small enough for a backpack. Include batteries if needed. Toys can be dropped off by Dec. 2 to Bryan Fifer — State Farm Insurance Agent, 16106 Marsh Road, Suite 104, Winter Garden.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2022
Right here, right now!
YOUR TOWN Local entertainer Billy Flanigan has returned to downtown Winter Garden this year with his Santa’s Old Fashioned Christmas Trees. He is selling Fraser Fir trees, wreaths and holiday décor at 114 E. Plant St., Winter Garden, as well as at Windermere High School, 5523 Winter Garden Vineland Road. Guests can make purchases, take photos and write a letter to Santa Claus.
•
It’s Christmas season! Plan your cheer now! PAGE 6A.
Venardos Circus — aka ‘The Little Circus That Could’ — has returned to West Orange for three weeks of shows under the big top. SEE PAGE 3A.
In with the blue
The family that works together …
Courtesy photos
Zion Isom takes a seat in Sheriff John Mina’s chair at the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Left: Orange County Sheriff John Mina took Zion Isom up in the OCSO helicopter for a tour of Orange County.
Three generations of one family work at Orlando Health — Health Central Hospital in Ocoee and occasionally pass in the halls and meet for lunch. SEE PAGE 6A.
Cancer fund kicks off annual drive The Jimmy Crabtree Cancer Fund’s Brighten Someone’s Christmas event seeks to give gift cards to those affected by cancer. SEE 2A. PRSRT STD ECRWSS US POSTAGE PAID WINTER GARDEN, FL PERMIT NO. 81
*****************ECRWSSEDDM****
Postal Customer
West Orange High student Zion Isom spent a day with Orange County Sheriff John Mina after winning an essay contest. STORY ON PAGE 4A.
UPSET ALERT! Ocoee Knights dispatched East Lake in playoff hunt. SEE PAGE 1B.