• The Apopka Chief
  • Posts
  • Commissioners give away 500 turkeys, Lee Road wins corridor contest

Commissioners give away 500 turkeys, Lee Road wins corridor contest

The Apopka Chief Newsletter: November 28 Edition

Author

Sarah Merly
November 28, 2025

Welcome to The Apopka Chief weekly newsletter!

I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving! This is Sarah Merly, an editorial assistant and reporter for The Apopka Chief. As we look ahead to Christmas, all of us here at the Chief invite you to participate in our inaugural Light the Way Holiday Drive, benefiting Loaves & Fishes and Matthew’s Hope. We launched it on Monday and are partnering with several businesses in the community to care for the homeless and those with little to no income. Read my story to learn more!

Also, if you’re thinking about ways to relax during the holidays, take a minute now and enter to win a free massage or facial! Five winners selected randomly will be chosen to win an $80 gift card to be used for services at their Apopka location. It’s easy to enter—just start at https://theapopkachief.com/hand-and-stone-contest/ or click the banner below this note.

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

Front Page

Volunteers unload boxes of turkeys from the back of a truck on Tuesday. | Photo by Teresa Sargeant

Other front page news:

Other Local News

Lake Apopka Natural Gas District finishes 7 of 8 pipeline projects in area 

Government shutdown delays update on $14M grant application

5 Rock Springs Elementary students receive sensory support packages

Orange Lodge No. 36, I Gave a Duck donate packages

Holiday History: St. Augustine hosted Thanksgiving in 1565

The first North American Thanksgiving occurred in St. Augustine in 1565.

Police Beat: APD arrests 30 Nov. 16-Nov. 22

In the period from November 16-22, 2025, the Apopka Police Department received 1,720 calls for service, responded to 28 crashes, issued 116 citations, and made 30 arrests.

Opinions: Bryan Nelson, Christine Moore, Melissa Byrd and Jake Vest


Lifestyle

Local Sports


Louvens Saint Pierre commanding the offense during Wekiva’s win over Lake Nona. | Photo by Vinnie Cammarano


Apopka Fact of the Week:

“Orange Lodge No. #36 F. & A.M., the oldest Masonic Lodge in Central Florida, has been meeting in the same building longer than any other lodge in the state. In the early days, members met on the dates of a full moon so that those who had to ride or even walk for miles at night could better find their way. Thus it was designated as a ‘moon lodge.’ Chartered in 1856, the lodge building was used in the early days as a church and as the community’s first school. Part of the building also housed Apopka’s first store. The community, which evolved on the site, was known simply as ‘The Lodge’ until it was renamed Apopka in the 1870s.” 
 
-Treasures and Pleasures Cookbook