W EST O RA N G E T I M E S &
Observer Winter Garden, Ocoee, Oakland
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
Furry family members frolick at Horizon West’s first Pet Fest. PAGE 9A.
FREE • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024
VOLUME 91, NO. 43
Road Warriors
YOUR TOWN ONP PLANS PUMPKIN GLOW
The Oakland Nature Preserve is making plans for its annual Pumpkin Glow and is inviting residents to carve or decorate a pumpkin for the Jack-o’-Lantern Trail. The gourds will line the onethird-of-a-mile trail from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25. Attendees also can enjoy candy stations, opportunities to take fun holiday photos and the chance to meet some of the preserve’s animal ambassadors. To carve a pumpkin to display on the trail, register at oaklandnaturepreserve.org/pumpkinglow. The preserve also is collecting clear milk jugs for a project. Anyone with jugs to donate are asked to rinse them well and leave them on the porch of the education center, 747 Machete Trail, Oakland.
ROTARY BETS BIG ON POKER TOURNAMENT
The Warriors invaded downtown Winter Garden for the 2024 West Orange High School Homecoming Parade. PHOTOS ON PAGE 4A.
The Rotary Club of Winter Garden is hosting its 16th annual Texas Hold’Em charity poker tournament Friday, Oct. 25, at Tanner Hall, 29 W. Garden Ave., Winter Garden. Registration begins at 6 p.m., and cards fly at 7. The cost is a $75 donation with preregistration and $85 at the door — and this includes pizza, salad and two drinks. Prizes are Visa gift cards in the amounts of $250, $500, $750 and $1,250; plus, there will be raffles and door prizes throughout the evening. To register, visit rotaryclubofwintergarden.org.
KING OF DARKNESS RETURNS TO HORIZON WEST
PHOTOS BY THOMAS LIGHTBODY | TK PHOTOGRAPHY TK-PHOTOS.COM
County approves GAME OF THE WEEK Disney affordablehousing project Walt Disney World and developer The Michaels Organization will construct 1,369 affordable-housing units on 114.23 acres on Hartzog Road in Horizon West. SEE PAGE 7A.
The Ocoee High School Knights’ Michael McClenton is the best-kept secret in all of Central Florida football. SEE PAGE 1B.
The King of Darkness Waterski Festival is returning to Horizon West. The festival will take place from 4-10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, on Lake Hancock, 14600 Pylon Court, Winter Garden. The event is free and will feature food trucks and a sitewide beer/cocktail garden for the adults, as well as free ice cream and face paintings for children. Along with all the festival fun, this professional water ski tournament — with $30,000 in prize money up for grabs — should provide plenty of action and entertainment in the water, as well. For more information, visit kingofdarkness.org.