GMWG Good Morning Winter Garden

Sunday, April 12, 2026 West Orange County, FL ☀️ 81° · Sunny

Your daily dispatch from the heart of West Orange County.

Presented by GMWG Sponsors

Advertise with GMWG — Reach Winter Garden's Most Engaged Local Readers

Heads Up — Starting Today

SR-429 Closes Today Through Wednesday — Plan Your Commute

The Central Florida Expressway Authority is closing State Road 429, the Western Beltway, starting this weekend through April 16 — a four-day disruption on one of West Orange County's most-traveled roads.

SR-429 is the primary expressway connecting Horizon West, Oakland, and Winter Garden to I-4, downtown Orlando, and points south. The closures, announced by CFX and reported by the Orange Observer, run through Wednesday, April 16. Residents should plan extra time and consider alternate routes including State Road 50, the Florida Turnpike, or US-192. No specific exit or ramp details were immediately available — check CFX's road alerts and Google Maps before you head out.

Public Safety Man Shot and Killed After Dispute at Winter Garden Apartment A man was shot and killed following a dispute inside a Winter Garden apartment complex, Fox 35 reports. Police responded to the scene and the investigation is ongoing. Fox 35 →

Community Windermere Legacy Fund Launches Community Initiative The Windermere Legacy Fund has launched a new community initiative aimed at local civic engagement and philanthropy. Details on how to get involved are available online. Orange Observer →

🌸 Good Morning, West Orange County

Spring Fever's finale. 81° and all sun.

Spring Fever in the Garden wraps up today with its final afternoon on Plant Street — 10 AM to 4 PM downtown. Sunrise Yoga at Southern Hill Farms runs at 7:30 AM for the early risers. And remember: SR-429 is closed through Wednesday, so plan ahead before you head out.

☀️ A Warm Week Builds

Winter Garden, FL · Apr 12 – 15 · NWS Melbourne

Today (Sun) 🌸	☀️	81° / 61°
Monday	☀️	82° / 62°
Tuesday	🌤	84° / 61°
Wednesday	☀️	85° / 61°

Temperatures climbing all week · NWS Melbourne

Around Town

Justice Family Wants Justice for Winter Garden ATV Shooting Victim The family of a Winter Garden man killed while riding an ATV is considering a civil lawsuit against the neighbor accused of shooting him, Fox 35 reports. The criminal case against Ralph Hensel is proceeding separately. Fox 35 →		Heads Up Fake HVAC Repair Sites Flooding Orlando Google Results Fox 35 is warning Orlando-area residents that fraudulent HVAC repair websites have taken over local Google search results. Verify any contractor through the BBB or direct referrals before calling a number from a search. Fox 35 →
Entertainment EPCOT's Flower & Garden Festival 2026: Dates, Food & Concerts Horizon West Happenings put together a full guide to EPCOT's International Flower & Garden Festival — dates, food booths, outdoor kitchens, and the concert lineup for one of Walt Disney World's best spring events. HW Happenings →		Education Meet Ovation Elementary's New Principal, Patty Harrelson Horizon West Happenings sat down with Ovation Elementary Principal Patty Harrelson — a get-to-know-you feature for the Horizon West school community. HW Happenings →
Community Get to Know the Rotary Club of Horizon West Horizon West Happenings spotlights the Rotary Club of Horizon West and its community service work — a good introduction for newcomers looking to get involved locally. HW Happenings →

Sponsor this section

Your Local Business Name Here

A one-line description of your business, offer, or event — seen by your neighbors.

Calendar of Events

Apr 12	Spring Fever Finale 🌸 · Sunrise Yoga at Southern Hill Farms 🧘 Sunrise Yoga: 7:30 AM · Spring Fever: 10 AM–4 PM downtown · horizonwesthappenings.com →
Apr 14	City Commission Meeting 🏛️ · Oakland Appearance Review Board 🏛️ City Commission: 6 PM · City Hall · Oakland ARB: 7 PM · Oakland Meeting Hall · cwgdn.com →
Apr 16	Best Fest: A Taste of West Orange 🍽️ · Flamingos & Fuel Cruise Night 🚗 · Chicago Teen Edition 🎭 Best Fest: 5 PM · Flamingos & Fuel: 6 PM · Chicago at Horizon High: 7 PM · horizonwesthappenings.com →
Apr 17	Fridays on the Plaza 🎪 8 AM–1 PM · Downtown Interactive Fountain & Pavilion · Every Friday · cwgdn.com →
Apr 18	Winter Garden Farmers Market 🌿 · Horizon West Home Expo 🏠 Farmers Market: 8 AM–1 PM · Home Expo: 10 AM · wintergardenfarmersmarket.com →

Community Partner

Support local journalism — sponsor GMWG

Every edition, every morning. Section sponsorships & display ads available.

We want to hear from you

How are we doing? Tell us.

Got a tip or correction? We read every reply.

✉ Send us a note

☕ Buy us a coffee

Good Morning Winter Garden

gmwgnews.com · hello@gmwgnews.com
Orange Observer · Fox 35 · Horizon West Happenings · NWS Melbourne · Apr 12, 2026

You're receiving this because you subscribed to GMWG.
Unsubscribe · View in browser