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

Winner, winner, chicken dinner! Last month readers cast their votes for the Best of Mount Dora in a variety of categories, including shopping, dining and others. Congratulations to all of the winners. Here's the list of this year's Best of Mount Dora readers' choice awards.

Get ready for some family fun and excitement when the Down the Hill Soapbox Derby returns to downtown Mount Dora on October 14. Kids and adults will race their creative homemade carts down the hill at the southern end of Donnelly Street.

This is a great month for Blues lovers. On September 10, Mount Dora will once again host the Central Florida Blues Jam featuring some of the area's best talent in the music genre on Renningers big stage at 20651 U.S. 441. Blues players and vocalists can sign up to play at the event while music enthusiasts kick back and listen from their lawn chairs or picnic blankets.

Simpson Groves is a 224-acre development approved by the Lake County Commission that sits just outside of Mount Dora's city limits. The consequential development will replace the existing orange groves on both sides of U.S. 441 from the Country Club of Mount Dora to ABC Liquors. The City is currently negotiating with the developer on some remaining details, but cannot deny the development. Read more

A comedic, low-budget parody, Crocodylus Mating Season, recently had a screening at Mount Dora Music Hall. The indie movie featured some locally shot scenes and is the sequel to Crocodylus, the campy 2017 film about a menacing lake monster that's half human and half crocodile.

Florida is still in the height of hurricane season, so make sure you're prepared and stocked on supplies now. If you need helpful tips you can find them here.

Scroll down for buzz on local eateries and stores, plus local Government Buzz. Be sure to follow Mount Dora Buzz's Instagram for more local content.

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Soon Jamaican cuisine will be added to the long list of dining options available in downtown Mount Dora. Mavis' Jerk Shack is expected to open early this month inside Mount Dora Marketplace.

Epicureans will soon have a new destination to check out in downtown Mount Dora. A new gourmet food store is anticipated to open in early October on Donnelly Street between Fourth and Fifth Avenues. Lemon Drop Market will feature prepackaged foods, charcuterie items, entertaining accessories, and even some refrigerated cheeses. The new store is being opened by the creative owners of Love Home Harmony, the charming home decor boutique located next door.

Get ready for Butter Burgers and frozen custard! Culver's, the fast-food chain based in Wisconsin, is tentatively preparing to open its Mount Dora location on October 9. Watch Mount Dora Buzz's Instagram for updates on its opening, as well as that of Longhorn Steakhouse.

After nearly two decades of vacancy, Mount Dora's century-old Mardi Gras building will see new life next month. Walk in the Woods - The Outpost will soon occupy over 4,000 square feet of the iconic building for its popular outdoor brands. Read more

Also coming to Mount Dora's 5th Avenue this month is Maw's General Store. The new convenience store is opening near Alexander Street and will fill a void by offering a range of everyday items, including snacks, drinks, over-the-counter medicines and more. The store is the sister business to Maw's Mountain Moonshine located just a block away.

Scroll down for this month's featured events, hot local government topics, stellar local businesses, new development buzz, and local resources.

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No school buses at Round Lake Charter School this year resulted in significant traffic congestion during the morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up hours. Mount Dora Police Department has two officers and a commander directing and monitoring traffic during those high-traffic times. They have the directive to make immediate changes to improve the process, including adding staff, if necessary. Meanwhile, the school adjusted by having teachers arrive earlier to assist in the pick-up and drop-off processes.

In the coming weeks, Mount Dora businesses will be able to request to participate in a new program to help local victims of hate crimes in the LGBTQ+ community and all other targeted populations. The voluntary Safe Place Program is a national police initiative that started in Seattle and has been implemented across the country, including in several Florida cities. The program helps to address the nation's under-reported hate crimes and provide safe places for victims to report such incidents. Volunteer businesses are identified by a window decal which they must request from the City of Mount Dora.

Be sure to check Mount Dora Buzz's government page regularly to find out what's happening at Mount Dora City Hall. Scroll down for the 'Buzz' about new development.

Follow these pages for more helpful local information: 
Mount Dora Events
Mount Dora Foodie
Explore Mount Dora
Mount Dora Word of Mouth
Lake County Emergency Management

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