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. 50
FREE
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Foundation Academy students sign NLIs. 1B.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2022
Santa’s yelpers!
Winter Garden to apply for loan program
Four-legged friends took to the streets in Ocoee to celebrate the city’s 2022 Jolly Jamboree. SEE PAGE 3A.
LEVELING UP
The commission approved applying for up to $3.5 million to fund the city’s design of the Crest Avenue WWTF capacity expansion. SEE PAGE 6A.
YOUR TOWN WINDERMERE BOAT PARADE CANCELED The Windermere Boat Parade has been canceled due to high water levels on Lake Butler and the Butler Chain of Lakes. Organizers were hoping water levels would recede in time for the annual holiday event, but the water still is too high to safely hold the parade. The event was scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 17, and organizers have been working closely with the town of Windermere, Windermere Police Department and Orange County regarding the reopening of the boat ramps on the chain.
MATTHEW’S HOPE CARNIVAL IS SATURDAY
Andrea Mujica
University of Central Florida student Luis Santiago was the only Knight to receive a scholarship from Electronic Arts to help him continue his education as he pursues a degree in digital media and game design. STORY ON PAGE 4A.
REAL ESTATE
A Golden Oak estate sold for $6.7 million to top this week’s sales. SEE PAGE 9A.
Ocoee approves sports, entertainment complex The project will feature 16 baseball fields, nine batting cages, multi-purpose fields, a recreation park and more. PAGE 2A. PRSRT STD ECRWSS US POSTAGE PAID WINTER GARDEN, FL PERMIT NO. 81
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Postal Customer
BIG BAND CHRISTMAS:
The Matthew’s Hope homeless ministry is hosting its annual Christmas Carnival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, and the event is open to the community. The Winter Garden Fire Rescue Department will escort Santa Claus to the event at 11. The fun day will include live music, food booths and carnival games. A toy drive also is underway, and donations of new unwrapped toys for ages infant to 15 years can be dropped off through Saturday at Matthew’s Hope Ministries, 661 Business Park Blvd., Winter Garden. Volunteers are needed to host carnival games with small prizes and to assist throughout the day. To sign up, call (407) 905-9500.
CFCArts swings into Southwest Orange for a holiday concert. 8A.