Apopka will honor veterans at 11 am. The ceremony will be held Wednesday, November 11, at Kit Land Nelson Park, with Vietnam veteran Loretta Forlaw serving as the guest speaker. The surrounding week includes a job fair, community programming, and special offers, including free meals and haircuts, discounted groceries, and complimentary attraction admission.
Apopka’s Planning Commission will hold an open-space workshop at 4:30 pm on Tuesday, November 10, followed by its regular meeting at 5:30 pm. Three public hearings concern a proposed Chandler Road daycare, a future land-use amendment near Kelly Park Road, and a rezoning request on Sir Arthur Court.
The North Shore Birding Festival returns Dec. 3-7 with 60 trips exploring Lake Apopka and other Central Florida birding destinations. Registration is open, with proceeds supporting the planned Orange Audubon Natural History Museum at Apopka Birding Park.
A federal appeals court upheld a ruling that Florida failed to adequately explain why people were losing Medicaid coverage during its post-pandemic eligibility review. The decision reinforces the requirement that recipients receive enough information to understand and challenge the state’s determination before their benefits end.
A heated exchange between Mayor Nick Nesta and Commissioner Nadia Anderson preceded a unanimous vote to suspend commissioner discretionary spending Wednesday. The decision followed competing proposals to tighten event spending rules or redirect attention toward infrastructure and the financial implications of Amendment 3.
Florida voters approved Amendment 3, a homestead property tax reduction that state economists estimate could reduce local government revenues by as much as $12 billion annually at full implementation. Two other proposed constitutional amendments failed to reach the required approval threshold in unofficial results.
As demand for services grows and traditional funding becomes less predictable, nonprofits are looking for additional ways to sustain their work. Derrick Chubbs shares how Second Harvest’s Plate Above Catering turns meal purchases into support for hunger relief in Central Florida.
Apopka’s Development Review Committee will consider a K-8 charter school plat, proposed Ridgebrooke subdivision changes and an amenity park at Crossroads at Kelly Park on Nov. 4. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the City Hall Commission Chambers.
The Foundation for OCPS has received a $400,000 grant from the Florida Blue Foundation to strengthen school-based food pantries and expand access to nutritious food. The funding will support students and families facing food insecurity throughout Orange County Public Schools.
Auto Vault Orlando has opened in Apopka, bringing secure vehicle storage and a private automotive club to a 53,000-square-foot facility. The business represents an investment of more than $10 million, with lounge memberships and vehicle storage available separately.
A proposed 30,000-square-foot warehouse, the first phase of Lux Car Wash and revised plans for Crossroads at Kelly Park Phase 3B are on Apopka’s Wednesday development review agenda. The committee meets at 9 a.m. Oct. 21 in the City Hall Commission Chambers.
Floridians shopping for 2027 health insurance face higher premiums and difficult decisions about what coverage they can afford. Twelve insurers offer plans through HealthCare.gov, where eligible consumers can receive subsidies to lower monthly premiums.
Florida health officials are considering removing four vaccination requirements for school and childcare entry. Epidemiologist Katrine L. Wallace explains the diseases these vaccines prevent and why declining vaccination rates could put more children at risk.
Orange County Mosquito Control plans aerial mosquito spraying over parts of Apopka and Pine Hills beginning around 7 pm Friday, October 30. Residents may see low-flying aircraft and should monitor official county communications for weather-related schedule changes.
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Floridians comparing health coverage for 2027 should confirm that their doctors are in-network and their prescriptions are covered. Experts also recommend starting early and weighing deductibles, copays, and coinsurance alongside monthly premiums.
The Mammolink Mammography bus will visit Apopka on October 29 to provide free or low-cost breast cancer screenings for eligible women. The mobile unit will be at the Community Health Center, 225 E. Seventh St., from 8 am to 4 pm.
The annual Peanut Butter Challenge is collecting donations to stock local food pantries, and Orange County hopes to expand its impact after winning last year’s competition. Residents can donate sealed, unexpired peanut butter at participating Extension offices during October, with collections continuing into November in some counties.
Apopka Mayor Nick Nesta says Apopka must stop accepting delayed projects and postponed repairs as normal. In this op/ed, he outlines a commitment to clear priorities, fair treatment of employees, and honest reporting on his administration’s progress.
Byron Donalds will enter the governor’s office facing consequential decisions about local government funding, school vaccination requirements and education spending. This analysis examines how his campaign promises could shape Florida policy and where a changed Legislature could complicate his plans.
Florida’s next governor will inherit environmental problems that demand more than campaign promises. This opinion column offers Byron Donalds a pointed to-do list, drawing on experts’ recommendations for cleaner water, healthier parks and protected land.
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Orange County voters had cast 324,443 early and mail ballots as of late Monday morning, including 19,542 early in-person ballots at two Apopka-area locations. Registered Democrats accounted for the largest share countywide, but participation by party registration does not reveal which candidates voters supported.
The Apopka Police Department has earned its third state reaccreditation, marking its first renewal under Chief Lovetta Quinn-Henry. Vice Mayor Diane Velazquez and Commissioner Sam Ruth praised the achievement and emphasized the importance of professional policing and public trust.
Orange County Utilities’ water and wastewater system earned AAA ratings from S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings for bonds issued in October 2026. Both agencies also affirmed their highest ratings on the system’s existing outstanding debt.
Lee County residents organized against a sweeping growth-plan rewrite they said was rushed, poorly publicized, and designed to diminish their influence over development. Their successful opposition is especially relevant in Apopka, where the placement, livestreaming, and official recording of public comments have sparked controversy.
Maribel Brinkle welcomes the vision presented in Building Downtown Apopka but argues that the city cannot afford to spend another seven years planning its future. She calls for immediate economic-development leadership and consideration of a proposed downtown museum complex designed to generate activity and revenue.
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Apopka should use the CRA’s proposed seven-year extension to plan and pursue a transformative civic complex without placing it ahead of urgent public-safety projects. A modern library, events center, history center, and civic plaza could become the defining destination, connecting downtown’s existing investments and encouraging private development.
Ally Financial reports tips for holiday travel budgeting: create an agenda, budget your stay, shop early for gifts, travel off-peak, go with a group, and consider travel insurance.
SBD reports on five Thanksgiving NFL statistical anomalies, highlighting remarkable performances, odd trends, and historical records from Turkey Day games.
Quizlet reports that research shows self-testing improves memory retention more than rereading materials, despite students feeling more confident when rereading.
