🌱 Where Winter Park football landed in this season’s final coaches poll

Hey there, Winter Park! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Where Winter Park football landed in this season’s final coaches poll
• How a Sydney Hanukkah tragedy reaches back to Winter Park
• Why Winter Park voters won’t be casting ballots for Commission seats

Also on today's calendar: Brunch Buffet with Santa & Mrs. Claus and 3 more events.

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Winter Park? Post it to Winter Park photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Mostly sunny and nice, with a high of 72 and low of 55 degrees.
• Wednesday: Pleasant with clouds and sun, temps: high: 74, low: 61.
• Thursday: Nice with periods of sun, with a high of 78 and low of 63 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Final Super 16 Coaches Football Poll: Lake Mary Miracle puts Rams No. 1 (orlandosentinel.com) — Winter Park High’s football team finished 14th in the Orlando Sentinel’s final Super 16 Coaches Poll after a first-round playoff loss to Boone, while coach Tim Shifflet also served on the Orange County voting panel. Lake Mary’s dramatic state-title win topped the rankings, but several Central Florida programs familiar to Winter Park fans filled out the list.
   

• Rabbi Eli Schlanger, killed in Australia Bondi Beach mass shooting, has a unique tie to Orlando (fox35orlando.com) — Winter Park’s Chabad community is remembering Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who visited the city about 20 years ago for a Chanukah celebration and was among 15 victims killed in a mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney. Local leaders say he joined student rabbis here during holiday festivities, and they’re now expressing solidarity and grief as details emerge about the attack and those lost.
   

• Sunburn — The morning read of what's hot in Florida politics — 12.15.25 (floridapolitics.com) — Winter Park’s March city election is effectively over before it began: two City Commission seats were filled without a single ballot cast after no challengers qualified. Lifelong resident and opera singer Elizabeth Ingram will take Seat 1, while incumbent Craig Russell secures a full term in Seat 2. Both will be sworn in at the March 25 Commission meeting to help guide the city’s future.
   

📸 Around Winter Park

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Winter Park

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday December 20

• Brunch Buffet with Santa & Mrs. Claus
  The Sanford Galleon, 541 N Palmetto Ave, Sanford
  9:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday December 18

• Breathe with the Trees Relaxation Training
  Mead Botanical Garden , 1300 S. Denning Dr. , Winter Park
  10:00 am

Saturday December 20

• Yoga in the Garden - Saturdays
  Mead Botanical Garden , 1300 S. Denning Dr. , Winter Park
  9:00 am
• Tai Chi in the Garden
  Mead Botanical Garden , 1300 S. Denning Dr. , Winter Park
  10:30 am

Sunday December 21

• Yoga in the Garden - Sundays
  Mead Botanical Garden , 1300 S. Denning Dr. , Winter Park
  4:00 pm

Thursday December 25

• Breathe with the Trees Relaxation Training
  Mead Botanical Garden , 1300 S. Denning Dr. , Winter Park
  10:00 am

📣 Winter Park Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday December 16

• Together Time Tales
  City of Altamonte Meetings , 281 Maitland Avenue , Altamonte Springs
  11:00 am
• 12 Days of Christmas After Hours
  Courtyard by Marriott , 1750 Pembrook Drive , Orlando
  5:00 pm

Wednesday December 17

• Preschool Storytime - Central
  Jean Rhein Central Branch , 215 N Oxford Rd , Casselberry
  11:00 am
• STEAM Stars
  City of Altamonte Meetings , 281 Maitland Avenue , Altamonte Springs
  4:00 pm
• Planning Board Meeting
  City Hall Commission Chambers , 225 Newburyport Avenue , Altamonte Springs
  6:30 pm

Thursday December 18

• 9:00 a.m. Development Review Committee Meeting
  Casselberry Calendar , 95 Triplet Lake Drive , Casselberry
  9:00 am
• Breathe with the Trees Relaxation Training
  Mead Botanical Garden , 1300 S. Denning Dr. , Winter Park
  10:00 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Neighbors,
  I do not live in every neighborhood represented here. Still, I am posting as a longtime friend, military veteran, and public safety brotherhood on… (Nextdoor Hawk's Crest)
• PILLOW INQUIRY
  Haven’t bought pillows in years and there are too many options and complaints online. Anyone bought any recently ones that are very comfortable, non… (Nextdoor Autumn Glen)

• Taco Bell posted a job opening for Team Member - Late Night in Winter Park. Apply here.
• Chuy's Tex-Mex Restaurant posted a job opening for Janitorial in Winter Park. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Winter Park here.

🗞 Nearby News

Pine Hills

• Proposed Ya Ya Alert Act aims to honor Pine Hills shooting victim by saving lives (cfpublic.org)
• Orange County's Community Centers Making Significant Impact (ocfl.net)

Orlando

Ok Winter Park! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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