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. 19
FREE • THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023
A Laker legend!
YOUR TOWN RAISE A GLASS FOR LOCAL PUPS The Rotary Club of Dr. Phillips Citrus is hosting a Pints 4 Paws event at Windermere Brewing Company at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 13. The fundraiser will benefit Polka Dogz, Florida Little Dog Rescue, Hunter’s Village Rescue and Husky Haven of Florida. A $10 donation per person is being encouraged, but dogs get in free. There will be raffles, giveaways, corn hole, vendors and a plethora of pups. The brewery is at 111 W. Fifth Ave., Windermere.
Windsor Landing home tops weekly Ocoee sales. SEE 8A.
Windermere Prep alum Ryan Swoboda made school history as the first Laker to make it all the way to the NFL. SEE PAGE 1B.
Like the wind
Ocoee postpones special election The commission election, originally scheduled for June 13, now will take place March 19, 2024. SEE PAGE 2A.
Annabelle Sikes
Westly’s Mile, a program launched by Healthy West Orange and the American Heart Association in 2022, has inspired a special student at Maxey Elementary School. SEE STORY ON PAGE 4A.
Innovation Montessori merger sparks outrage The school has announced it will be cutting back the high school to merge it with the middle school. SEE PAGE 6A.
FIESTA ON MCKEY Ocoee residents partied hard at the city’s Cinco de Mayo Block Party, held Friday, May 5, in downtown Ocoee. SEE PAGE 3A.
FAITH LEADS SCOUT PROJECT To earn his Eagle Scouty badge, Alonzo Ramessar is creating a space for prayer and reflection at Ocoee Oaks United Methodist Church. SEE STORY ON 5B.