Welcome to the NEW Apopka Chief weekly newsletter!

Although we’ve polished our emails a bit, our goal remains the same: to keep you informed about news, sports and events, so you can stay safe, cast informed votes, and be a better neighbor in Apopka. Here’s what’s still included:

- All the news from this week’s paper
- Opinion columns from contributors like Mayor Bryan Nelson, Commissioner Christine Moore, and others

We’ve also removed several ads and added an “Apopka Fact of the Week.”

If you have anything you’d like to see (or not see) in our weekly newsletter, please reach out directly to Sarah Merly at [email protected]. We’re always looking for ways to improve!

And if you want to read an exclusive monthly Apopka Chief newsletter—among other perks like giveaways and community events—please consider joining our membership program. For just $12 a month or $120 a year, you can come alongside us in promoting authentic community.

Thank you for reading. We can’t wait to hear your thoughts!

Local Politics

Paulucci Acres approval, a potential mountain bike park, and a centennial birthday celebration

FRONT PAGE:

• Planning commission okays Paulucci Acres with 1,000-plus homes

• Apopka World War II veteran celebrates 100th birthday

• Ballot error affects almost 89k Orange County voters

• Fire Station 6 opens at permanent location

• Gallo’s Pollo & Grill celebrates grand opening

MORE LOCAL NEWS:

• Apopka rejects county agreement over Golden Gem Road section transfer

• City weighs additional property for new mountain bike park

• Council fails to reach resolution at lake flood workshop

• Event to mark downtown mural unveiling

• State turns down Orange County comprehensive plan

• Webster talks implications of One Big Beautiful Bill Act

• Wyld Oaks: 2 miles of roadways built, all utilities finished

Messages from the Mayor and More

Local Sports

River Farmer might be the Youth Athlete of the Year—and Andy Johnson wins the Crying Towel award once again

• Apopka preschooler nominated for Youth Athlete of the Year

• Apopka hires Garland as new head baseball coach

• Boone coach captures 2025 Crying Towel title

Apopka Fact of the Week:

“In the early days, livestock roamed the streets at will despite an effort to prohibit hogs from running at large. Ada Lovell Urquhart recalls the thrilling experience of navigating Apopka streets after dark when a lantern was essential to prevent pedestrians from stumbling over cattle bedded down for the night.”
-Treasures and Pleasures Cookbook