Mayor Nick Nesta says Apopka’s permanent city administrator is lined up, but a public records request produced only interim administrator Brian Mater’s application and résumé. The city confirmed the position was publicly posted but left questions about the candidate, an anticipated March start, and Mater’s possible move to chief of staff unanswered.
The Apopka Planning Commission examined tree preservation, connected open spaces, and the potential costs and benefits of future data centers during a Tuesday workshop. During their regular meeting, they approved a child care permit and recommended approval of a commercial land use amendment and residential rezoning.
Winn-Dixie, the Winn-Dixie Gives Foundation, and Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida partnered with Patmos Chapel for a Thanksgiving food distribution in Apopka on Thursday. The effort aimed to help 500 families prepare a holiday meal amid continued demand for food assistance.
Apopka’s CRA will consider a mutual termination agreement Thursday that would end the stalled Station Street redevelopment deal for up to 60 affordable apartments, a public plaza and trail improvements. The developer has signed the document, but the supplied copy remains unsigned by the city and CRA and attributes the project’s halt to environmental clearance issues.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued a proclamation recognizing November 11 as Veterans Day and November as Veterans Appreciation Month in Florida. The proclamation honors veterans and their families while highlighting earned benefits, support services, and the state’s Honor Flight network.
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.
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 Apopka City Commission will discuss attorney representation and impact fees Wednesday before considering a 55-home development and three annexation ordinances. The October 21 meetings begin at 5 pm and 6 pm at City Hall, with public comment opportunities and a livestream.
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 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.
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.
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Flu activity is beginning to increase in parts of the United States, although national levels remain low. With the season approaching, an epidemiologist outlines available vaccines and explains why getting vaccinated before widespread transmission matters.
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.
Apopka police recorded eight burglary reports during Nov. 1-7, including six involving vehicles and two involving commercial properties. Five auto burglaries were reported on November 6, including three in the same address range on Panoramic Circle.
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.
Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings has launched the county’s 16th annual toy drive, continuing an effort that has collected more than 110,000 toys and gifts since 2011. Donations will support children from infancy through their teenage years through local youth and family agencies, schools and nonprofit organizations.
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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.
Apopka-area voters chose new voices in county government and Tallahassee, unseating Mike Crabb and Doug Bankson after campaigns focused on residents’ everyday concerns. The winners now face the challenge of turning promises on affordability, growth and public services into improvements voters can see.
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.
