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. 24
FREE • THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 2023
Take us out to the ballgame Little Leaguers from Dr. Phillips, Windermere and Winter Garden are dominating this summer. 1B.
YOUR TOWN HELP RECOGNIZE JUNETEENTH IN OCOEE
Several individuals and organizations are coming together for the first Juneteenth Resource and Cultural Arts Festival in Ocoee from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 17, at Bill Breeze Park, 125 Lakeshore Drive. Annette Priceless Brown and Tiffany L. Kelly, of The Morning After Center for Hope and Healing Inc., are partnering and sponsoring the event in conjunction with Sen. Geraldine Thompson and Rep. Lavon Bracy-Davis. The city of Ocoee also is cosponsoring the event. The celebration will include music by deejay Sir Knight Train and performances by Lydea Strickland, Edgez Dance, Shawn Welcome, CFC Arts and Derek Harris. Community resources such as Central Florida Diaper Bank, Legal Aid Society, Boys & Girls Clubs and Valencia College will participate as well. Register by emailing Brien. Michael@FLSenate.gov.
THE UNSOLVED
What happened to Leah Calabrese?
Winter Garden approves Tilden Road proposal City commissioners said the proposed project is better than anything that would come to the area through Orange County. SEE PAGE 6A.
SUMMER
SCHOOL ZONE
CITY OF OCOEE OPENING ACTION SPORTS PARK
The city of Ocoee is celebrating the grand opening of its new Ocoee Action Sports Park with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 21. Attendees can show up with their skateboards and BMX bikes to try out the facility. There will be a raffle drawing for a skateboard and BMX bike, and refreshments will be served. For information, call (407) 905-3180.
ONP SEEKS HELP FOR NATURE FEST
Oakland Nature Preserve is making plans for its second Nature Fest, scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 — but for it to be a success, sponsors and vendors are needed. Folks who connect people with nature, tell the history of local environmental challenges, create nature-inspired art or offer sustainable living ideas — as well as ONP community partners and other natureinspired vendors — are welcome to register or sign up as an event sponsor. For details, visit oaklandnaturepreserve.wildapricot.org/ naturefest.
Courtesy photo
Leah Denise Calabrese, 29 years old at the time, was last seen in Winter Garden on Oct. 24, 1992. STORY ON PAGE 4A.
Meet the 2023 student writers for Summer School Zone. PAGE 5B.
Demings delivers annual address Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings talks achievements, challenges at 2023 State of the County. 3A.