Z.A.P.T. ELITE scholarship recipients at the Founder's Day ceremony.
Z.A.P.T. ELITE awards scholarships to 29 local high school studentsThe Apopka Chief Editorial Staff
June 9, 2025
Staff Reports Z.A.P.T. ELITE, Inc. celebrated its 55th annual Founder’s Day on May 18 with a scholarship award ceremony for 29 local high school students, made possible by ZAPT sponsors. Organized in 1970, Z.A.P.T. has served the Zellwood, Apopka, Plymouth and Tangerine communities in various ways. Accomplishments include giving scholarships to high school students, sponsoring…
Melissa Byrd
OP-ED: Summer brings hard choices for OCPS administratorsThe Apopka Chief Editorial Staff
June 9, 2025
By Melissa Byrd Well, we are officially done with the 2024-25 school year and have begun our summer break!   Graduations were wonderful, full of smiling faces and happy tears. I always enjoy graduation season, but this year was even more special as my youngest graduated. It was such a joy to see so many of…
Mayor Bryan Nelson
OP-ED: Impact fees provide key funding to support growthThe Apopka Chief Editorial Staff
June 7, 2025
By Bryan Nelson Impact fees charged by counties and cities is the method for growth (new development) to pay for the new infrastructure needed to support a thriving community.   These impact fees are levied on all new construction, including residential, commercial and industrial to pay for new water, wastewater, reclaimed water, police, fire, recreation and…
Commissioner Christine Moore
OP-ED: Tips to promote good local advocacyThe Apopka Chief Editorial Staff
June 6, 2025
By Christine Moore, Orange County District 2 Commissioner Advocacy. I want to share some observations from serving on the Orange County School Board and Orange County Commission to help you elicit better outcomes. This column will focus on advocacy at the local level.  Advocacy at the local level has two distinct areas. One is more…
Jake Vest
OP-ED: Remembering life, word counts and writing about ApopkaThe Apopka Chief Editorial Staff
June 3, 2025
By Jake Vest Job One is remembering about how much 550 words is.   Or should that be “how many 550 words are”? Okay, Job Two would be to remember enough grammar to get by.  The prospect of doing a newspaper column again reminds me of all sorts of jobs that come with the territory…
Mayor Bryan Nelson
OP-ED: Wyld Oaks development moves forwardThe Apopka Chief Editorial Staff
June 2, 2025
By Bryan Nelson Wyld Oaks, the award-winning Master Plan Development at the intersection of State Road 429 and Kelly Park Road and Golden Gem Road, has been busy recently. The 250+ acre project broke ground in January 2024 and is nearly finished with horizontal infrastructure, including mass grading of the site, master stormwater system, and…
Commissioner Christine Moore
OP-ED: Dominium development rising to meet workforce housing needsThe Apopka Chief Editorial Staff
June 2, 2025
By Christine Moore, Orange County District 2 Commissioner On May 22, I attended the groundbreaking of the Dominium workforce housing project along Plymouth Sorrento Road. It was inspiring.   The Dominium Corporation from Minnesota is investing about $150 million into the Apopka area. Orange County Government abated all impact fees, provided $7 million from the…
Headshot of a man with a gray beard and hair in a collared shirt, tie and jacket.
Gas district reaches 30,000-customer milestone in 65th year of existenceThe Apopka Chief Editorial Staff
May 29, 2025
Number has doubled from 15,000 in last 15 years By Teresa Sargeant Reporter The Lake Apopka Natural Gas District (LANGD) is celebrating a milestone of reaching 30,000 customers, marking a 15-year growth from 15,000 to 30,000 in its 65th anniversary of existence. Oakland resident Ryan Rodriguez and his family received a recognition plaque and a…
A municipal building bearing the seal of the city of Apopka on its front.
City Council explores annexation feasibility studyThe Apopka Chief Editorial Staff
May 29, 2025
Referendum may go on March 2026 ballot By Teresa SargeantReporterThe Apopka City Council explored the logistics of conducting a feasibility study in gauging interest for putting South Apopka annexation referendum on the ballot, with the focus being the March 2026 election cycle.To learn more about the annexation survey, the city contacted 10 cities and municipalities…
Young boy smiles at an April 2023 event hosted by OCLS.
OCLS to begin Summer at Your LibraryThe Apopka Chief Editorial Staff
May 29, 2025
Staff Reports Orange County Library System’s Summer at Your Library will offer free activities and events for all ages from June 1 to July 27, according to a statement from OCLS.   During the summer program, the library system’s 15 locations and pop-up events will offer classes in robotics, yoga, and more.  Special presenters include Juneteenth-inspired…