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. 51
YOUR TOWN FUMC RECEIVES HISTORIC MARKER The First United Methodist Church of Winter Garden has received its historic marker after years of hard work and now is an official Florida Heritage Site. The designation was sponsored by the church and the Florida Department of State. The marker recognizes the church’s history, starting with its beginnings in 1893 in Beulah and its founding in 1895 as the Methodist Episcopal Church South and continuing through its relocation to a wooden building on the current site on North Lakeview Avenue in 1910.
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MERRY CHRISTMAS! The Observer staff wishes you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2022
The tradition continues White Swan Academy dancers performed a condensed version of “The Nutcracker.” SEE PAGE 5A.
REPEAT THE SOUNDING JOY
Chag Sameach!
Chabad of Orlando celebrates Chanukah in Winter Garden. PAGE 7A.
Matthew’s Hope Elves Doug Sahr, Denise Fisher and Jill Mollenhauer with Natalie Gutierrez, Nichole Stahl and Stephanie Pena.
ALL HE CAN BE
Foundation Academy’s Sam Zagame will take his game to West Point next year. PAGE 1B. PRSRT STD ECRWSS US POSTAGE PAID WINTER GARDEN, FL PERMIT NO. 81
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Postal Customer
Photos by Andrea Mujica
Families and children gathered in front of Matthew’s Hope in Winter Garden to celebrate the holidays with games, pictures with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, arts and crafts, and more. Natalie Gutierrez showed off her art after picking it up at the arts and crafts table.
MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 4A
Nine animals stolen from reptile shop An exotic pet store was the victim of a burglary over the weekend. According to shop owner Alejandro Estrada, the suspect absconded with snakes, tortoises and several large lizards. PAGE 6A.