Orange Observer

A Golden Oak home topped all Southwest Orange residential real-estate transactions from June 22 to 28. The home at 10075 Symphony Grove Drive, Orlando, sold June 22, for $5,595,000. Built in 2020, it has four bedrooms, four-and-one-half baths and 2,836 square feet of living area. Days on market: Two. The sellers were represented by Ken Pozek, Real Broker LLC. DR. PHILLIPS CITRUS CHASE The townhouse at 8424 Tangelo Tree Drive, Orlando, sold June 26, for $360,000.

A vehicle crashed into an Ocoee home Saturday, June 27. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash occurred around 11:49 p.m. at the intersection of Adair Street and Fifth Avenue, near Vignetti Park. The vehicle ran off the road and collided with the house. One person was transported to AdventHealth Apopka to receive care. FHP currently is investigating the crash.

The Ocoee Police Department is investigating a possible shooting. According to OPD, officers responded to reports of gunshots at Prairie Lake Park on Hackney Prairie Road, Ocoee, at approximately 3:45 p.m. OPD said officers searched the park and its surrounding areas, but did not locate any victims of a shooting. This remains an active investigation. Call 407-905-3160 if you know any information.

Families and friends danced the night way at the first silent disco night held by 4Him Transformations at the Tom Ison Center. 4Him Transformations is a faith-based entertainment service offering events such as silent disco, Bible studies, women’s worship and fitness events and community gatherings to fill communities’ with God’s blessings. Attendees could choose from three stations: pop, worship and party hits.

Juan Carlos Alejandro Mateo moved to Horizon West’s Independence community six months ago from Chicago, Illinois. He has fallen in love with the community and in honor of the United States 250th anniversary and Independence’s 10th anniversary of existence he made a children’s coloring book.

Just three days after he was on Fox News’ “Saturday in America” sharing his faith redemption story with host Kayleigh McEnany, Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds was doing the same in Winter Garden. Donalds, the President Donald Trump-endorsed frontrunner to succeed Gov. Ron DeSantis in Tallahassee, met with faith leaders from throughout Central Florida Tuesday, June 16, at the West Orange Dream Center.

Water Spring Elementary School announced the newest addition to its campus: A book vending machine. "We're so excited for our readers to have the opportunity to earn their own books and other fun rewards throughout the year," school officials said online. "We can't wait to celebrate our students' love of reading and watch them build their home libraries one book at a time." Students will have access to it at the beginning of the school year.

Five years after graduating from Olympia High School, Jacari White has signed a summer league deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources told 247sports. White graduated from Olympia in 2021, where he was a standout player on the boys basketball team, before attending State College of Florida for one season. He then transferred to North Dakota State for three seasons, where he made 29 starts his final year and averaged 17.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.

By Megan Bruinsma | 2:27 p.m. June 26, 2026 Sports High Schools Share The First Academy is welcoming a new name to its athletic department. Josh Mathews was announced as the Royals' new associate director of athletics. He comes to TFA from the Atlanta area and "brings a wealth of knowledge and experience" to the department, TFA athletics wrote.

Ocoee High School has hired Sammy Watkins as its football team's new wide receivers coach. Watkins comes to the Knights after spending his college years at Clemson University where he was a two-time first-team All-American player for the Tigers. Following college, Watkins was selected fourth overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 2014 NFL Draft. He also played for the Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers and won a super bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020.