By Windermere Police Chief David Ogden
Recently, we had the incredible opportunity to partner with the West Orange Dream Center (WODC) and introduce some amazing teens to their first deep-sea fishing adventure! This exciting day was the culmination of a six-week fishing class led by Jim McLeod, who taught the teens all of the aspects of fishing. The group was filled with excitement and a bit of exhaustion by the end of the day. The adventure started at 5:00 am with Jim McLeod and WODC’s Executive Director Rainey McFadden motivating the teens to get going. They drove to Ponce Inlet, to meet up with me and Dan Devine, ready with our offshore boats for a fun day of fishing.
We headed out to fish off the reefs, and each boat caught an array of fish, including snapper, bluefish, sea robins, and grunts. We then took the teens to lunch at Down the Hatch on the Water, sponsored by the Windermere Police Department Foundation, Inc. It was a beautiful day, and we wore the teens out, heading back just after lunch. The West Orange Dream Center continues to serve as a vital community hub, making a significant impact in Winter Garden through collaborations with outstanding partners. These programs show how our community makes a difference in kids' lives from East Winter Garden and how the Windermere community contributes to these valuable partnerships.
I want to give a special shoutout to Dan Devine, and his sister Eileen, Ken Cox, and the Windermere Police Department Foundation, Inc., for their generous donations, making this memorable experience possible.
