by Beth Kassab | Aug 21, 2026 | Chain of Lakes, Environment, News
How Healthy is Lake Virginia? New Buoy Sends Real-Time Data
The project from the Freshwater Alliance at Rollins will help scientists and average lake goers know more about the quality of the Winter Park Chain of Lakes
Aug. 21, 2026
By Beth Kassab
Boaters and paddleboarders may have noticed a new yellow buoy floating near the center of Lake Virginia and hoisting a Rollins College flag.
But the addition isn’t an average buoy warning of a speed zone or marking swimming boundaries.
This buoy is a first-of-its-kind for the lake to monitor water quality in real time.
Operated by the Freshwater Alliance at Rollins, the buoy is collecting data around the clock related to water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, algae concentrations and other factors.
Eventually, all of that data will be crunched and coded into an easy-to-use dashboard for water-goers or anyone who wants to know about the health of the lake as well as researchers like Rollins’ Emily Nodine, who is interested in understanding environmental trends and how to best manage the health of the Winter Park Chain of Lakes.
“Over time we hope to develop a livestream of data that goes into a platform that will be publicly available,” said Nodine, chairwoman of Environmental Studies and faculty director of the Freshwater Alliance.
A view of the new buoy on Lake Virginia. (Photos courtesy of Rollins College)
In recent years, the city of Winter Park has closed the Chain of Lakes related to hurricane and storm activity and closed individual sections such as swimming off Dinky Dock because of algae blooms.
The buoy, which cost about $50,000 and was funded through a private donation to the alliance from the Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation, will provide consistent sampling every 15 minutes and allow for more analysis of trends and future projections than the once per month water sampling currently done by the state and the city.
The buoy is floating near the deepest area of the lake — about 20 feet — and collects samples from about a meter under the surface to near the lake bottom. Temperature measurements from different depths will help Nodine’s team also understand how the water is moving through the lake.
And while the buoy is collecting samples from Lake Virginia on the south end of the Winter Park Chain, the lakes are connected both above and below ground and the data could provide clues about the entire system of water bodies. The chain of lakes is crucial to life in Winter Park where everything from real estate values to weekend skiers to Rollins crew and sailing teams to visitors on the Scenic Boat Tour rely on the health of the water.
“Someone who lives on Lake Osceola or Lake Maitland or even Lake Killarney, whatever Lake Virginia is doing, your lake is probably doing similar stuff,” Nodine said.
A view of the buoy before it was deployed.
The buoy is anchored near the center of Lake Virginia (coordinates 28° 35′ 15.45″ N, 81° 20′ 41.07″ W). While it will remain in a fixed location, it is not permanently installed and may occasionally be removed for maintenance or future research needs, according to a Rollins advisory.
It is equipped with safety features, including a flashing light and reflective markings. Boaters and other lake users are asked to be aware of the buoy’s presence and maintain a safe distance when navigating nearby, the advisory said.
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by Beth Kassab | Aug 20, 2026 | Chain of Lakes, Neighborhoods, News
Neighbors Tell Court They Plan to Resolve Suit Over Virginia Heights Park
In dispute is how the private park on Lake Virginia can be used after high-profile neighbors on both sides sought to limit access
Aug. 20, 2026
By Gabrielle Russon
Lawyers representing the Virginia Heights neighbors warring over a park said they are close to reaching a deal to end the legal fight and dismiss the lawsuit.
“We anticipate resolving this matter in short order,” lawyer David Meek told Orange County Circuit Court Judge Tanya Davis Wilson during a hearing Wednesday. “We anticipate this will go away shortly.”
Meek is representing Eric and Diane Holm and Brian and Caryn Albertson who sued their Virginia Heights neighbor Stephanie Guss over “filthy” kayaks stored at the park and “offending shrubs” that are visible from the backyards of the Holms and Albertsons.
A sign hangs at the Virginia Heights park during a gathering.
The private park overlooking Lake Virginia is a beloved gathering place for residents in one of the oldest neighborhoods in Winter Park, but the spot has been embroiled in a nasty legal fight among residents.
The Holms and Albertsons, who live on either side of the park, filed an Orange County Circuit lawsuit last year against Guss. A narrow path to the park cuts along the property lines of both homes.
Eric Holm, one of the nation’s largest Golden Corral franchisees who lives in the 10,000-square-foot home just west of the park, is known for his charitable work such as serving a Thanksgiving dinner for thousands at the Salvation Army in Orlando and made headlines in 2024 when he hosted Vice President J.D. Vance (then a candidate) at his home for a fundraiser. The Albertsons built a nearly 8,000-square-foot home on the southeast border of the park two years ago.
Guss and the two couple’s lawyers filed a joint motion last week asking the courts for a two-month court delay to finish negotiating and reach a resolution to avoid going to a civil trial.
“It has had a lot of back and forth on negotiation,” Meek said during Wednesday’s hearing.
Neighbors gathered last year at Virginia Heights’ private park with homes belonging to Brian Albertson and Eric Holm in the background.
Their court filing expanded on the behind the scenes talks for the park shared by the 200 homes in the neighborhood.
“This case is unique in that while there is one named Defendant, the interests of numerous other owners of the park are involved both in the relief sought in the litigation and, to an even greater extent, in the negotiations towards a resolution that have been ongoing for an extended period of time. The extensive negotiations towards a resolution have included multiple Virginia Heights neighborhood meetings, votes of the interested homeowners, and extensive back and forth aimed at a resolution,” the lawyers said in the court filing. “The parties have been engaged in good-faith negotiations regarding a global resolution of this dispute, and anticipate having a final resolution in place in the very near future.”
The joint motion added “once a resolution is reached there will be certain tasks to be performed by both sides to bring about the full resolution of this dispute and its dismissal.”
When reached for comment, Brian Albertson said in an email Thursday, “We remain optimistic that this can be resolved between the sides and that we are nearing that resolution.”
Both sides did not respond to questions to elaborate on what “tasks” needed to be done.
Some neighbors left about 30 kayaks, oars and lifejackets on storage racks at the park, located at 1240 College Point, the lawsuit said.
The kayak rack at the park.
“Recently, that private right to use and enjoy the park has been invaded through the taking of a portion of the Park property for private use,” the lawsuit said. “Many of the kayaks in and around the racks are filthy, showing no signs of use within the last year or more and are covered in dust, dirt, and mildew.”
The Holms and Albertsons complained bushes were also planted at the park.
“The planting of these bushes, like the erection of the racks, is an improper taking of the park for personal use,” their lawsuit said.
Guss became the target of the lawsuit since she helped coordinate the neighborhood’s inquiries for the boat racks. Neighbors quietly rallied around Guss and raised money to help with her legal expenses. Some neighbors said they feared they might be sued next.
The lawsuit noted Guss had “co-conspirators that are yet-to-be-identified members of the community” as the Holms and Albertson took Guss to court in 2024 to unsuccessfully find out the other neighbors’ identities.
“Consequently, Plaintiffs have initiated this lawsuit for the purpose of pursuing available remedies against Guss, and as their identities are revealed, Guss’s co-conspirators,” the lawsuit said.
Residents of the neighborhood said Holm and Albertsons installed cameras and floodlights and are using legal action to intimidate people from using the space for neighborhood holiday parties, Halloween costume contests and more.
The Holms and Albertsons previously told the Winter Park Voice in a statement their lawsuit’s goal “is to get clear, workable guidance that everyone can follow in 2026—so deeded homeowners can enjoy the park while the adjacent homes can maintain reasonable privacy and security.”
Some neighbors sent an anonymous statement to the Voice in January.
“For over a century, Virginia Heights Park has been our neighborhood’s heart, where families gather, children kayak, and over 200 homeowners enjoy deeded lakefront access specifically platted for community use. The park has evolved over the decades through neighbors’ collaborative efforts: maintaining and mowing the grass, planting trees, maintaining kayak racks, installing picnic tables, all funded and maintained by volunteers preserving our shared space,” their statement said. “Today, this tradition of community stewardship faces an existential threat, not from neglect, but from litigation.”
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