MAY EDITION: News & events for Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis

Don't miss the last big Mount Dora event of the season on May 7 when the spring Craft Show comes to shady Gilbert Park. The one-day event hosted by Specialty Pop-Events features crafters, artists, food and other vendors under the oaks from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

It's that time of year again to show your favorite local businesses some big love by voting in the Best of Mount Dora Awards. The annual awards give bragging rights to all types of businesses including restaurants, bars, shops and more. Get your ballot here.

Spring has sprung and it's hard not to miss to the gorgeous wildflowers blanketing local fields and roadsides. If you're looking for the best spots to enjoy the blooms, here's a list of nearby country roads to drive to enjoy the colorful season. Read more. Another great place to see wildflowers right now is the Noonan Butterfly Garden at the W.T. Bland Library in Mount Dora.

As the U-pick blueberry season winds down later in May, the local blackberry season is just heating up at local farms. That berry U-pick season is open at Bear Tracks Blackberry Farm in Eustis which sells blackberries for $5 per pound on Tuesdays through Thursdays and weekends at $6 per pound. Blue Bayou Farms in Yalaha sells them them for $6 per pound daily.

Some new apartments may soon be available in Mount Dora. Parkview Apartments is a proposed project on Grandview Street on the vacant land across from Gilbert park (read more) and Bristol Park Apartments with 300 units has been proposed off U.S. 441.

Don't forget to celebrate Mom on Mother's Day on May 8. To help plan the perfect day, here's a cheat sheet on some of the best local Mother's Day outings and restaurants. Read more

This month Mount Dora Buzz is adding two new regular features in its monthly editions. The first is a Buzz Poll, a monthly survey question on hot local topics. The second new feature is the "Development Buzz" section to fill you in on interesting commercial and residential projects that have been proposed. You'll find both of these features further down in this edition.

Be sure to follow Mount Dora Buzz's Instagram and Twitter for updates on local events and breaking news. Scroll down for buzz on local eateries and stores, plus local Government Buzz, this month's history article and the Best of Mount Dora winners

Last October a fire engulfed the Segway store in Mount Dora. The extensive repairs to the building are nearing completion, so the business should be returning to its original downtown digs soon.

As promised, downtown Mount Dora's Edge Coffee reopened in April. The new owners are keeping the same name and vibe, but did add a cool interior wall mural.

After an extensive buildout, Wave Asian Bistro finally moved into its new location last month. The sushi restaurant didn't move far. Its new space is on the ground floor of the same building with its entrance along the Royellou Lane near 3rd Avenue.

There's no such thing as too much of a good thing. Magic Tea Market, the popular boba tea shop and Asian snack market in downtown Mount Dora is planning to open a second location on U.S. 441 near Panera Bread and Office Depot this summer.

Watch for Maw's Mountain Moonshine to open on the corner of Alexander Street and 4th Avenue in downtown Mount Dora after the buildout is complete. Stay tuned to Mount Dora Buzz's Instagram for more details.

To help keep everyone up to speed on what new developments and companies may be coming to the area, Mount Dora Buzz will begin featuring a list of proposed developments submitted to the City for review. Just scroll down to the "Development Buzz" section.

Scroll down for the new monthly poll question and local government buzz, stellar local businesses, local development buzz and the Best of Mount Dora.

Tired of travelling to some of your favorite national stores? Tell us what retailers you would like to open a location in Mount Dora on U.S. 441. We'll let the winning companies know and publish the results on Mount Dora Buzz's Instagram and Facebook. Click here for the poll.

Mount Dora City staff and the City Council are hopeful about being awarded a major grant to start the Tav-Dora Trail project that would connect Mount Dora and Tavares to a larger trail system. The project would be funded by the grant and through a partnership with Lake County, Mount Dora and Tavares. The trail is projected to be an economic driver for both cities. The parties expect to know about the grant decision in October.

Be sure to check Mount Dora Buzz's government page regularly to find out what's happening at Mount Dora City Hall.

Here's a few interesting projects that are either pending review from Mount Dora's Development Review Committee or received preliminary approval in time for Mount Dora Buzz's publication deadline. A longer list of relevant development projects can be found here:

COMMERCIAL PROJECTS APPROVED:
Mount Dora Center for the Arts / 348 Royellou Ln.
Offices at Mount Dora / 18660 US Hwy. 441
Gaslight Building / 231 N. Baker St.
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COMMERCIAL PROJECTS PENDING OR REQUIRING RESUBMITTAL:
Culvers / 18996 US Hwy 441

As projects advance through multi-approval process, watch Mount Dora Buzz's website for more in-depth articles on some of the newsworthy developments. Find more local development projects listed here.

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