In Blair, Nebraska, Jake Loftis and his Local Conversation (Strong Towns Blair) are turning the idea of New Year’s resolutions into a powerful tool for community transformation.

OCPS calculates that these 1,150 single-family homes will add an additional 472 students to our Apopka schools. This does not consider the unspecified number of Paulucci Acres multi-unit family units that will generate even more students.

Pittman: "The Tortoise Conservancy is all over social media right now, their sponsored posts popping up on Facebook, Instagram, you name it. They claim to be all about saving Florida’s poor imperiled gopher tortoise — with your help, of course."

As we turn to 2025, we’re optimistic the economy will keep growing. But that’s not without some caveats. Here are the key questions and risks we’re watching.

With almost 100 small businesses throughout the greater downtown area, Apopka has notable potential to become the destination and not just a pass-through for something else.

Pittman to Santa: "Even though you live pretty far north of here, you may have heard that we had a big ruckus recently. It was over the DEP allowing some little-known organizations to build golf courses, hotels, and pickleball courts in our award-winning state parks."

When it comes to nutrition, not all choices are created equal. Parents want their  kids to grow up healthy and happy, and most of us know that diet – what we eat, how much,  and how it’s cooked – plays a major role in overall well-being.  

For the annexation of South Apopka to become more than a political talking point, Apopka needs a mayor and Council (or at least a majority) who want it to become a reality.

Commissioner Moore: "The program has four functioning groups in Lockhart, Pine Hills, Southern Apopka, and Northeastern Apopka. My hope for my final full year as a county commissioner is to stand up one more “people group”.

It is helpful if we all avail ourselves of knowledge about existing and new programs for the unhoused.  You never know when you might need this information to help a person avoid camping on the street.