Habitat celebrates homeownership

West Orange Times & Observer
Neighborhood

Two homeowners were recognized for beginning their journey and two were honored for completing theirs at a Habitation Inspiration Celebration hosted by West Orange Habitat For Humanity on Thursday, July 26.

Elancie Louis-Fils and Kelly Arbogast and their families are Habitat’s two newest homeowners in Oakland. The two single mothers have put in the required sweat-equity hours and finished their financial-literacy classes and are ready to start a new life with their families in a new place.

Bob Tate, chairman of the Family Selection Committee, presented Bibles to Arbogast and Louis-Fils before they symbolically cut the ribbons to their hew houses.

Jackie Reynolds and David Cole have paid off their mortgages and participated in a ceremonial mortgage burning. Reynolds, who lives in Winter Garden, and Cole, whose home is in Oakland, were given personalized metal housewarming signs.

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Amy Quesinberry Price

Community Editor Amy Quesinberry Price was born at the old West Orange Memorial Hospital and raised in Winter Garden. Aside from earning her journalism degree from the University of Georgia, she hasn’t strayed too far from her hometown and her three-mile bubble. She grew up reading The Winter Garden Times and knew in the eighth grade she wanted to write for her community newspaper. She has been part of the writing and editing team since 1990.