W EST O RA N G E T I M E S &
Observer Winter Garden, Ocoee, Oakland
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
FREE • THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2024
VOLUME 91, NO. 35
They’ve got magic to do The Garden Theatre’s production of ‘Pippin’ opened Aug. 23 and runs through Sept. 15. SEE PAGE 6B.
The gory details
Winter Garden leaders begin FY 2024-25 budget talks The city of Winter Garden hosted its first budget workshop before the Aug. 22 City Commission meeting. SEE PAGE 6A.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Photos by Amy Quesinberry
Michael Hardesty spends hours researching the details for each of the outfits he creates.
Michael Hardesty has a knack for flawlessly re-creating horror film costumes, no matter how elaborate or what type of material is required. STORY ON PAGE 4A.
Orange County D1 race heads to runoff
Into the Lions’ den
Incumbent Nicole Wilson and challenger Austin Arthur continue campaigns. PAGE 2A.
YOUR TOWN LUNCHEON TO FEATURE BATCHELOR, PEREZ The West Orange Chamber of Commerce is hosting a political luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11, at the Ocoee Lakeshore Center. The event, “The Boys are Back in Town: 2024 Election Forecasting with Dick Batchelor & Tico Perez,” will bring the politicians’ expertise and experience as they shed light on the upcoming political landscape. To register, visit bit. ly/3X3ih27.
MEETING SET FOR WATERLEIGH PARK SOUTH
TRIPLE DIGITS! A pair of Ocoee women celebrate their 100th birthdays. PAGE 3A.
Ocoee High and its young QB faces crosstown foe Olympia High. PAGE 1B.
Foundation Academy celebrated the opening of its new worship center and cafeteria last week. PAGE 5B.
The Orange County Parks and Recreation Division and District 1 Commissioner Nicole Wilson are holding the first community meeting for Waterleigh Park South. It will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4, at Water Spring Middle School, 17000 Water Spring Blvd., Winter Garden. The community is invited to attend.