THURSDAY, JULY 9  ·  ☀ 97° HEAT INDEX 107° — PEAK HEAT  ·  WEST ORANGE VENEZUELANS GRIEVE EARTHQUAKES  ·  BIG FRIDAY TOMORROW

THURSDAY, JULY 9, MMXXVI  ·  WEST ORANGE CO., FL

Good Morning, Winter Garden

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West Orange’s Venezuelan community is grieving after deadly earthquakes struck their homeland.

West Orange County is home to a significant Venezuelan community, and many of those neighbors are grieving this week following deadly earthquakes in Venezuela, the Orange Observer reports. It’s a reminder that the people who make up our community carry deep ties to places far away — and that their sorrows are part of our shared life here too. If you know Venezuelan families in the area, this is a week to check in. Information on relief efforts and how to help may be available through local Venezuelan community organizations and the Observer’s coverage.

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Community Eight Waves Is in Need of a New Van to Keep Serving Kids. Eight Waves, the local nonprofit that provides adaptive aquatics programs for children with disabilities and special needs, is in need of a new van, the Orange Observer reports. If you’re in a position to help — or know someone who is — the Observer has the details on how to get involved. Orange Observer →

Pet Alert New World Screwworm: What Florida Pet Owners Need to Know. Fox 35 has an important primer on the New World Screwworm, a deadly flesh-eating parasite that poses a serious risk to pets and livestock. Florida pet owners should read up on the signs to watch for and what steps to take if a pet shows symptoms — especially with outdoor animals this summer. Fox 35 →

☀ 97° today, heat index 107°. The hottest day of the stretch.

5-DAY · NWS MELBOURNE · WINTER GARDEN, FL

THU ☀ 97° 20%⛈

FRI ☀ 97° 0%

SAT ⛅ 97° 40%⛈

SUN ⛅ 95° 50%⛈

MON ⛅ 95° 60%⛈

Today is the peak — 97° with a heat index near 107° and only a slim 20% storm chance after 5 PM. Friday stays hot at 97° but is fully sunny with zero rain, making it a good day to be outdoors before noon. Saturday brings a 40% storm chance after 2 PM. Rain becomes more frequent Sunday and Monday as a wetter pattern builds.

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More from West Orange and beyond.

Oakland Oakland Resident Transforms Backyard Into a Private Sniffspot Dog Park. An Oakland resident has converted their backyard into a private dog park through Sniffspot — a platform that lets dog owners rent private outdoor space by the hour, the Orange Observer reports. It’s the kind of entrepreneurial, community-minded story that makes West Orange feel like West Orange. Orange Observer →

Horizon West Former Dance Teacher-Student Duo Opening New Studio in Horizon West. A former dance teacher and her former student are joining forces to open a new dance studio in Horizon West, the Orange Observer reports — a story about mentorship coming full circle in our own community. Details on the studio’s name, location, and opening timeline are in the Observer’s coverage. Orange Observer →

Space Coast Artemis II Crew Returns to the Space Coast After History-Making Mission. The Artemis II crew has returned to the Space Coast following their historic mission, WFTV reports — the first crewed lunar flyby since Apollo 17 in 1972. Florida’s space community has good reason to celebrate as the astronauts come home. WFTV Channel 9 →

Heads Up Blue Spring State Park Starts Day-Use Reservations July 18. Blue Spring State Park — a popular West Orange-region manatee spot — is introducing a day-use reservation system beginning July 18, WFTV reports. If you’ve been planning a visit, check ahead before heading over — walk-up access may be limited after the new program begins. WFTV Channel 9 →

gmwgnews.com · hello@gmwgnews.com
Orange Observer · WFTV · NWS Melbourne · City of Winter Garden · Horizon West Happenings · Fox 35 · July 9, 2026

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