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

A new event is slated in uptown Mount Dora on August 20. Uptown Saturday Night will highlight an area of the city often overlooked by resident and entrepreneurs. Read more

The proposed Tav-Dora Trail, a bike and pedestrian trail that would connect downtown Mount Dora and downtown Tavares to each other, as well as to a larger Florida trail system, is once again on the forefront. The owners of the rail-bed property have agreed to sell the portion of railbed from Sorrento to Tavares for $18,500,000. If Lake County agrees to the terms of the deal, the County, along with the Cities of Mount Dora and Tavares, will have to commit an additional $5 million to buy out the current lease of the rail bed. The three local governments have jointly applied for a grant to help fund a portion of the project. If you have an opinion on the trail, include it in the monthly Buzz Poll here.
Florida's hurricane season typically sees the most activity occur between mid-August and mid-October. Here's the list of essential, yet uncommon, 16 hurricane hacks to get you through such a storm and its aftermath. Read more

Lake County Schools (LCS) resume August 10. In an effort to keep local parents informed, Mount Dora Buzz compiled a list of the eight things parents should know about Mount Dora school safety, and included an incident comparison chart of all LCS middle schools, as well as Mount Dora High School. Read more Meanwhile, in other LCS news, Mount Dora High School achieved a significant accomplishment last month when it became the top-rated high school in all of Lake County! Way to go, Hurricanes!

In case you missed the Buzz's article in July, Wooton Wonderland, the wooden playground in downtown Tavares' Wooton Park, is currently closed during construction of a new playground. You can read the article and see the renderings here. Meanwhile, in Mount Dora, construction has begun on the improvements to Cauley Lott Park. The project is expected to take four to five months.

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

Mount Dora's newest eatery and watering hole has opened to rave reviews. The steak tacos, beet salad and and berry empanada dessert were our faves at Eden Abbey Brewing Community.

A new restaurant featuring traditional American fare opened in downtown Eustis. The Brick and Barrel Kitchen on Magnolia also has a full bar and nightly happy hour. Read more

Speaking of barrels...downtown Mount Dora's popular book store, Barrel of Books & Games, is expanding. The independent retailer will be moving nearby and will triple its current size. Read more

Scroll down for this month's events, hot topics at City Hall, stellar local businesses, new development buzz and the Best of Mount Dora.

Local Dining Guide

Local Shopping Guide

The City of Mount Dora is operating without key permanent management during the current hurricane season. These storms can wreak havoc on city roads, utilities, emergency services and infrastructure, so hurricane season arguably may not be the time for any Florida city to be without them. Read more

Soon City of Mount Dora residents will receive their TRIM Notice from the Tax Collector. The TRIM will show a higher 6.1000 millage rate. However, the final rate will be lower, barring a costly unexpected disaster, like a hurricane. The 2022-2023 fiscal year starts October 1 and the current millage of 5.9603 could be adopted again by the time the budget is finalized.

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

It's been a local hot topic for years -- converting the railroad bed to a bike trail. Let your opinion be known whether you support a bike trail that would connect Mount Dora and Tavares to a longer Central Florida trail system. Take the two-question Buzz Poll here.

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​​​For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the area's website and download the area's free mobile app.  ​​Be sure to follow  Mount Dora Buzz on Instagram and Twitter for more local info.