W EST O RA N G E T I M E S &
Observer Winter Garden, Ocoee, Oakland
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
FREE • THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 2023
VOLUME 90, NO. 17
Hottest party of all time! The Ocoee Fire Department rolled out the fire hose for its annual Open House. SEE PAGE 6B.
YOUR TOWN D’UVA RETIRING FROM CHAMBER
SO FETCH West Orange High School opens its production of ‘Mean Girls.’ STORY ON PAGE 4A.
Stina D’Uva has announced her retirement from the West Orange Chamber of Commerce after 21 years with the business organization. Under her leadership as president and CEO, the chamber has grown into one of the strongest, most respected in Florida. D’Uva has led the organization through different economies, numerous personnel changes and a multi-year pandemic. Her retirement will be official at the end of the year. The chamber board has begun the task of searching for D’Uva’s successor.
OCOEE CLASS OF 1973 TO HOLD REUNION
The Ocoee High School Class of 1973 is holding its 50-year reunion and is looking for classmates. The event is Friday, June 9, and Saturday, June 10. On Friday, attendees will celebrate with music, munchies and memories from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Tom Ison Senior and Veterans Center, 1701 Adair St., Ocoee. Classmates are asked to bring memorabilia. The Saturday event is from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Ocoee Lakeshore Center, 125 Lakeshore Drive, Ocoee. Cardinal classmates are asked to RSVP now to Mike Hopper, mhopper317@yahoo. com, or Pam Pounds, pamelabutler11@yahoo.com.
Amy Quesinberry
Ariana Diaz, left, Kevin Mercier, Megan Stringer, Gretchen Olah, Alex Battenfield and Lucy DeFelice are the Sensational Six — seniors who have been with the WOHS theater program for nearly their entire high-school careers.
Ocoee commission calls for City Charter review Commissioners will discuss the appointment of the charter review commission at its next meeting. 2A.
HAPPY 20TH!
The First Academy Head of School Dr. Steve Whitaker celebrated recently his 20th anniversary of leading the school. PAGE 5B.
Faculty, students face off Ocoee High School hosted its first facultyversus-students game. SEE PAGE 3B.
Red Robin to leave the nest The chain will vacate its Winter Garden location this month. SEE PAGE 6A.