W EST O RA N G E T I M E S &
Observer Winter Garden, Ocoee, Oakland
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 90, NO. 18
FREE • THURSDAY, MAY 4, 2023
An outdoor extravaganza The Winter Garden Fair delighted West Orange families during its 10-day run. SEE PAGE 3A.
Art of the matter
YOUR TOWN
Ocoee High School’s Branton Urbieta is inspiring the community to understand the immense value of art. STORY ON PAGE 4A.
TACO ’BOUT A FUN EVENT! Head to downtown Ocoee from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 5, to celebrate Cinco de Mayo at a block party hosted by the Ocoee Parks and Recreation Department and Toll Road Brewing Company. Partnering for the event are downtown businesses DG Doughnuts, Pelican’s SnoBalls, Nessa’s BBQ, Let It Go Lifestyle Emporium, Bike Life Cafe, The Ocoee Book Rack and Ocoee Taco Company. The event will include live music, a face painter, balloon artist and rock wall.
CHAMBER ADDS BOARD MEMBERS
Wendal Lowrey
Annabelle Sikes
Branton Urbieta’s oil pastel piece “Garcon! More Wine!” hangs in Winter Garden’s City Hall and won Best in Show for SOBO Art Gallery’s Top Choice High School Awards. Jim Zeitschel Jr.
Horse farm discussion postponed yet again A decision on a series of ordinances regarding the property next to Crown Pointe Equestrian was postponed at the applicant’s request. 2A.
Because after all … Castleview thespians stage West Orange’s cutest production, ‘Seussical Jr.’ SEE 5B.
SKI SHOW RETURNS The King of Darkness water ski show and competition returns to Horizon West Saturday, May 6. SEE PAGE 1B.
The West Orange Chamber of Commerce has welcomed two new board members: Wendal Lowrey, program manager for business engagement at CareerSource Central Florida; and Jim Zeitschel Jr., branch manager for the Orlando Team at PrimeLending, a national mortgage lender. Lowrey is a native of Fort Lauderdale and moved to the Central Florida area two years ago. He manages a team of business consultants and program coordinators under the $15 million Level Up Orange Grant. He’s also responsible for engaging with businesses across Orange County and providing business strategies/employment solutions to move companies forward. Zeitschel, the leader of the chamber’s Thursday Networking Group for several years, is a seasoned lending professional with more than 17 years of experience. His diverse and expansive experience brought him to PrimeLending in 2021.