W EST O RA N G E T I M E S &FRIDAY
Observer
NIGHT SIGHTS
Winter Garden, Ocoee, Oakland
THE OBSERVER’S GUIDE TO THE 2024 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SEASON
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. VOLUME 91, NO. 34
FREE • THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2024
Observer
District 1 vote too close to call After all the ballots were tallied, just five votes separated Orange County District 1 Commissioner Nicole Wilson and challenger Austin Arthur. The Orange County Supervisor of Elections will perform a recount. PAGE 2A.
The Dyson Legacy SHOT DOWN? Winter Garden leaders are mulling an alcohol ordinance downtown. 7A.
YOUR TOWN CITY TO BREAK GROUND ON PHASE 2 OF TUCKER RANCH A groundbreaking ceremony for Phase 2 of Tucker Ranch Park and Nature Preserve will take place at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 23, at 100 Avalon Road, Winter Garden. The 25.6-acre addition (named Tucker Ranch Holistic Health, Wellness, Teaching Farm and Family Activity Center) will be carved out of the existing 209-acre park. The $31 million, state-ofthe-art facility will include a 5,000-square-foot retreat center for programming and classes, edible and teaching gardens, an outdoor teaching kitchen, a trail system with exercise nodes, and a greenhouse. Walking paths will connect it to the existing park’s offerings, which include a playground, nature trails, picnic areas and a canoe/kayak launch. Tucker Ranch Park and Nature Preserve will remain open during construction. The park is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily from March through October and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November through February. Admission is free.
CREALDE DONATES ARTWORK ‘The Lake Project: A Documentary Exploring the Land and People of Lake Apopka’ can be seen in the city of Winter Garden. PAGE 3A
Courtesy images
Annie Bell and George Dyson operated Dyson’s Taxi in east Winter Garden.
George Dyson and his wife, Annie Bell, are the first of four generations to keep businesses operating in east Winter Garden, providing places for residents to shop, dine, hang out and open their own commercial endeavors. STORY ON PAGE 4A.
James Dyson always invited his
family to visit Dyson’s Short Stop .
Thieves arrested in W.G.
A 17-month, multi-agency investigation led to the arrest of four South American suspects accused of stealing more than $1.6M in nine burglaries. 5A.
Always prepared Orange County Fire Rescue personnel is learning water rescue skills in Windermere. SEE PAGE 6B.