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West Orange Times

Winter Garden family opens center to help people with autism reach their potential

Connection, a center helping people with Autism Spectrum Disorder, began through the Sophia family’s journey with an autism diagnosis that led them to open the first physical location in January.

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Latest News

1
  • May 4, 2026
Winter Garden opens public pools for summer
2
  • May 1, 2026
Winter Garden announces partial road closure to last four weeks
3
  • April 30, 2026
Ocoee’s Hungry Howie’s permanently closes
4
  • April 29, 2026
Special Hearts Farm now has hydroponic systems
5
  • April 29, 2026
Ocoee PD to host Senior Scam Prevention event

Neighborhood

  • May 3, 2026
PHOTOS: Ocoee Police Department’s Community Picnic 2026
  • May 2, 2026
PHOTOS: West Orange Junior Service League's Run for the Roses 2026
  • May 2, 2026
PHOTOS: 2026 Ocoee Cinco de Mayo Block Party
  • April 25, 2026
PHOTOS: CFCA's Festival of the Arts
  • April 24, 2026
City of Ocoee asks for community thoughts
  • April 18, 2026
PHOTOS: 2026 Roper YMCA Healthy Kids Day
  • April 18, 2026
PHOTOS: Bridgewater Middle School Spring Carnival 2026
  • April 17, 2026
PHOTOS: Best Fest 2026
  • April 12, 2026
PHOTOS: Spring Fever in the Garden 2026
  • April 11, 2026
PHOTOS: Lift Disability's Winter Garden Cornhole Tournament and Car Show
  • April 10, 2026
Central Florida Diaper Bank to hold diaper distribution event
  • April 4, 2026
PHOTOS: Ocoee Easter Eggstravaganza 2026
  • April 1, 2026
Oakland Nature Preserve in need of books
  • March 29, 2026
PHOTOS: 2026 Evening at the Pops

Arts & Entertainment

  • April 29, 2026
Winter Garden VFW saddles up for Derby Day
  • April 29, 2026
Ocoee plans Cinco de Mayo fiesta
  • April 29, 2026
Shop ’til you drop this weekend in Winter Garden
  • April 29, 2026
Arts at the J to boogie with AARP Orlando Salsa Celebration
  • April 29, 2026
Ocoee Police to serve up annual picnic
  • April 29, 2026
West Orange Junior Service League rides with annual Run of the Roses

Cops Corner

  • July 31, 2025
Officer embodies WGPD standards in response to motorcycle crash

Officer Brian Drechsel went above and beyond to make sure the crash victim’s family was notified in the middle of the night.

  • July 11, 2025
New officers welcomed to the Ocoee Police Department

On Monday, July 7, the city of Ocoee announced two new members of the police department.

  • June 25, 2025
Ocoee plans to crack down on parking violations

Police Chief Vincent Ogburn and the city commission discussed new enforcement measures such as escalating citation fines to deter parking violations.

  • June 4, 2025
West Orange Dream Center set to host women’s self-defense class

The class will be led by Windermere Police Chief and lifelong martial artist Dave Ogden from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, June 7.

  • May 6, 2025
Ocoee PD partnering with Project ChildSafe to give away free gun locks

The local police department and firearm safety education program have teamed up to help communities store firearms safely and securely.

  • May 4, 2025
PHOTOS: Ocoee PD hosts annual community picnic

The Ocoee Police Department welcomed folks to Vandergrift Central Park for a day of fun at its annual community picnic event.

Business

  • February 23, 2026
Property purchases signal major changes to downtown Winter Garden

One individual — James Larweth — has spent more than $40 million since 2015 to buy 36 residential and commercial properties — all in downtown Winter Garden. No one knows his plans.

  • February 19, 2026
Three Birds Café supporters plan demonstration

The demonstration is planned for 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 20, outside the cafe, 2 W. Plant St., Winter Garden.

  • February 16, 2026
Three Birds Café to close in Winter Garden

The final day for the café will be Thursday, Feb. 26.

  • January 30, 2026
JETSET Pilates coming to Winter Garden

The modern pilates studio signed a lease at 16 E. Plant St., Winter Garden.

Schools

  • May 4, 2026
INFLUENCER OF THE WEEK: Jenna French, Bay Meadows Elementary School

Jenna French is a school assistant and cafeteria monitor at Bay Meadows Elementary School.

  • May 1, 2026
OCPS music education program receives national recognition
  • May 1, 2026
Titans' students transform Olympia High's courtyard into a butterfly garden
  • April 30, 2026
More than 1,200 OCPS students designated as Super Scholars
  • April 30, 2026
Legacy Events for Education provides gives scholarship to 27 West Orange County students

Sports

  • May 1, 2026
Dr. Phillips track sprinter breaks two personal record

Jaiden Smith, who also plays for the Panthers' football team, broke his 100M and 200M records.

  • May 1, 2026
Three Windermere High boys weightlifters advance to the state meet
  • May 1, 2026
The First Academy softball wins districts, ending four-year drought
  • April 29, 2026
Dr. Phillips alumnus declares for the NBA draft
  • April 28, 2026
Ocoee Knights flag football team take district championship

Newsletter

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Your Town

  • April 29, 2026
Ocoee Police to serve up annual picnic

This event will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 2, at Vignetti Park, 1910 Adair St., Ocoee.

  • April 29, 2026
West Orange Junior Service League rides with annual Run of the Roses
  • April 28, 2026
Winter Garden family opens center to help people with autism reach their potential

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Opinion

1
  • February 12, 2026
  • By Michael Eng
OBSERVED: New digs! Observer returns to Dillard Street
2
  • September 18, 2025
  • By Megan Bruinsma
Introducing myself to you: The Observer's new writer, Megan Bruinsma
3
  • September 17, 2025
  • By Jeff Lawrence | Between Faith & Reason
MY VIEW: How then shall we live?

Real Estate

  • May 1, 2026
Oxford Chase home tops Winter Garden home sales from April 20 to 26
  • April 29, 2026
Admiral Pointe home tops Ocoee home sales from April 20 to 26
  • April 28, 2026
Signature Lakes estate tops Horizon West home sales from April 20 to 26
  • April 24, 2026
Black Lake Preserve home tops Winter Garden home sales from April 13 to 19

Photo Galleries

  • May 3, 2026
PHOTOS: Ocoee Police Department’s Community Picnic 2026
  • May 2, 2026
PHOTOS: West Orange Junior Service League's Run for the Roses 2026
  • May 2, 2026
PHOTOS: 2026 Ocoee Cinco de Mayo Block Party
  • April 25, 2026
PHOTOS: CFCA's Festival of the Arts
  • April 18, 2026
PHOTOS: 2026 Roper YMCA Healthy Kids Day
  • April 18, 2026
PHOTOS: Bridgewater Middle School Spring Carnival 2026
  • April 17, 2026
PHOTOS: Best Fest 2026
  • April 12, 2026
PHOTOS: Spring Fever in the Garden 2026
  • April 11, 2026
PHOTOS: Lift Disability's Winter Garden Cornhole Tournament and Car Show
  • April 4, 2026
PHOTOS: Ocoee Easter Eggstravaganza 2026

Contact

  • 210 S. Dillard St.,
  • Winter Garden, FL 34787
  • Phone: 407-656-2121
  • Email: [email protected]

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