ALTAMONTE SPRINGS – As housing costs continue to challenge families across Central Florida Altamonte Springs is making strides to ease the burden A recent Zillow report ranks the city No. 49 in Florida for affordable housing — the highest ranking in Seminole County a new affordable housing complex is reinforcing that reputation city and county leaders will gather to celebrate the grand opening of Banyan Eastown Apartments a 92-unit community designed for working families earning 60% or less of the area median income near the Altamonte Springs SunRail station the complex includes one- and two-bedroom units in energy-efficient the development is also focused on long-term support for its residents financial management and job readiness will be offered to help families build economic stability “This is about more than just rent prices — it’s about giving families stability and opportunity in Seminole County,” said Shannon Young executive director of Seminole County Housing The project is a collaboration between the city The ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m Friday and will include tours of the model apartment and community facilities local officials say projects like this one are essential to ensuring that affordability isn’t just a statistic but a priority TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us / Follow on Social Media Careers at WKMG Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications EEO Report Disability Assistance Copyright © 2025 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More — Police in Altamonte Springs are asking for the public's help to identify the man in a composite sketch released Monday The man is wanted in a series of recent assaults The suspect is accused of assaulting three women near State Road 436 and Wymore Road in the late night hours Police described him as being in his 20s or 30s he was dressed in dark clothing with white shoes Anyone with information is asked to contact the Altamonte Springs Police Department at (407) 339-2441 or dial 911 Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page GROVELAND – A 30-year-old Altamonte Springs woman was killed and two other drivers were injured Wednesday night in a wrong-way crash on U.S The FHP said the woman was driving a 2017 Dodge Charger south in the northbound lane of U.S 27 and struck the front and side of a northbound 2017 Toyota Corolla driven by a 45-year-old Leesburg woman The Charger then collided with a 2016 Jeep Renegade driven by a 27-year-old Leesburg woman who was traveling north on U.S The Altamonte Springs woman was pronounced dead at the scene The Corolla driver suffered minor injuries and was taken to Orlando Health South Lake Hospital The Renegade driver suffered serious injuries and was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center Copyright 2025 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved Daniel started with WKMG-TV in 2000 and became the digital content manager in 2009 When he's not working on ClickOrlando.com Daniel likes to head to the beach or find a sporting event nearby ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — The Altamonte Chapel in Seminole County has a problem that its few dozen parishioners say they hope someone can fix soon The bell tower at the top of the church is leaning and needs to be refurbished.  And all that wood needs to come down," church board member Tammy Snook Quezada said as she pointed to the top of the chapel and it’s going to cost a lot of money to do that.” The church was originally built in 1885 near Lake Brantley and it was moved piece by piece by covered wagon in 1905 to its current location along State Road 436 in Altamonte Springs It’s considered a historical site," Quezada said "And we have the responsibility to keep it in good working condition.” Church board members are not sure how much it’s going to cost to fix the bell tower but they are currently taking bids on the project The bell tower is only reachable by an experienced repair company that specializes in that kind of work “We have all given what we can to support the refurbishment of the bell," Quezada said but we need help from the community to do that.” Their goal is to preserve as much they can with the project like they have done with the inside of the chapel The stained-glass windows are original," Quezada said We have had presidents attend services in here.” Church board members say the place of worship is open to everyone and services are still held on Sundays.  The church board set up a Save the Altamonte Chapel Bell GoFundMe page and leaders say they hope community members can donate to help fund the repairs The Altamonte Chapel, or any other third-party fundraiser, is not managed by Spectrum News 13. For more information on the chapel, go to its website or for more about the Save the Chapel Bell project, go to the GoFundMe page This website is unavailable in your location It appears you are attempting to access this website from a country outside of the United States therefore access cannot be granted at this time – As more people in Central Florida struggle to make ends meet and more conversations and policies are focused on the issue of homelessness we’re hearing from our News 6 viewers about what they’re seeing in our community Bruce Brown wrote to our help desk about a homeless camp in between the Corniche Townhomes were he lives and Lowes on State Road 434 He said he noticed it as it started to grow [EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]  There was a Christmas tree here,” said Brown the homeowners association received a code enforcement violation and discovered that the community would be responsible for part of the cleanup because part of the camp was actually on their private property Brown said the HOA ended up paying about $9,000 and hired a bio-hazard company for the cleanup It took a crew of six around eight hours to complete We have to re-pave the road that’s on our property there’s a lot of expenses running an HOA,” Brown said “I think people will be upset to find out that we had to put $9,000 into cleaning up this that we didn’t even know we owned Encampments like this one in Altamonte highlight the complexity of a problem that cities and citizens are struggling with across Central Florida And there are many factors to consider: help for a vulnerable population; the people who live nearby; concerns for safety and sanitation; and limited resources to meet the growing needs of people impacted by an affordable housing crisis City Manager Frank Martz said local governments are also dealing with the challenge of sustaining or adding services when revenue is being taken away “I think what we worry about is the changes in the economy and some of the dark clouds economically -- that always pushes financial stress points for lots of people,” said Martz “So the challenge is when our general fund revenue is being pinched and we are experiencing the same costs as many homeowners and businesses are as well how do we take care of the people who are most vulnerable when our ability to deliver basic government services is And I think all local governments are looking at their budgets this way.” Martz said the city was first notified about the homeless camp by the Corniche Townhomes after the Seminole County Fire Department responded to a small campfire in the woods in February When Altamonte Springs Code Enforcement and Altamonte Springs police investigated they discovered that the majority of the encampment was located on property owned by Corniche Townhomes HOA There is now a trespass agreement with both Corniche Townhomes HOA and Lowe’s that Martz says allows ASPD to take enforcement action if people return to the property without permission “We enter into an agreement where they acknowledge that anyone who is on our property does not have the approval to be there other than customers,” said Martz and we try to partner with property owners to protect them.” He added that ASPD has also patrolled the area and the camp has been checked 17 times over the course of 30 days by their team Martz said it is important for property owners to know their rights and their responsibilities There are the damages that occur on private property because private property owners have not secured their property -- no different than a pool that it has to have a fence around it,” said Martz “The other part is that there are human beings that are being affected not just the people who own those properties but also the people who are camping on them And we try to make sure that we investigate as best we can through asking them questions Please tell us what we can do to help you.’ And most of the time people say [Watch video below for latest News 6 report on homelessness] — An Altamonte Springs woman wants to know the purpose of newly painted green markings at cross streets along State Road 436 What are these green lines for?” Susana Pineda said Pineda lived much of her life in New York City and never learned to drive Pineda noticed the green lines along State Road 436, where construction is wrapping up on a resurfacing and safety project from Cranes Roost Boulevard to Boston Avenue we were thinking that maybe it could be for a bike lane "That's what we wanted to know what it was for." A Florida Department of Transportation spokesperson said the green markings are meant to delineate the crossing areas for the new bike path running alongside the recently widened sidewalks “FDOT has started incorporating these green markings into our projects per national standards,” said FDOT spokesman Tim Freed He said the bright green markings also warn drivers when they are entering an area where bicyclists are likely to cross “In a high-traffic corridor like uptown Altamonte these markings serve as an effective visual cue to help drivers stay alert and yield appropriately,” Freed said The markings give bicyclists a clear indication of where they should cross at an intersection Pineda’s suspicion that the markings are for bike riders proved to be correct If you’ve got a traffic trouble spot, a question or a traffic-related solution, fill out the form here. Here’s what we knowBarbecue spot to close following owner’s retirement; 1 store remainsLeah Sudhir – A Central Florida barbecue chain restaurant in Altamonte Springs will be closing Bubbalou’s Bodacious BBQ‘s Altamonte Springs on 1049 E Altamonte Drive is set to close April 1 after the restaurant’s owner [EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos] he has been a part of the Bubbalou’s concept for many years starting with the Lee Rd location He has been the dedicated and hard working face of Bubbalou’s at Lee Rd and at the Altamonte Springs locations Rarely a day passes that Bucky has not been at the counter ready to take your order in the dining room with customers or serving at a catered event This comes after the chain’s original location in Winter Park closed in 2021 and its Apopka location closed months later citing hardships during the pandemic in a social media post The Orlando location on 5818 Conroy Road will remain as the restaurant’s sole location The restaurant asks guests to join them in wishing Bucky well on his retirement Bubbalou’s has been serving southern-style barbecue since 1986, according to its website Check out the Florida Foodie podcast You can find every episode in the media player below: – State wildlife officers are searching for an injured black bear that has been spotted in an Altamonte Springs area Pictures and a video of the bear are being shared on social media along with comments noting that the animal was recently seen near Little Wekiva Road and Willowwood Avenue the executive director of Bear Warriors United shared an update on Facebook that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) will be attempting to trap the animal and medically assess it Our News 6 team saw flyers posted on doors in the neighborhood that were left by Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission warning people about the injured animal and asking them to give them a call if they spot it News 6 reached out to the FWC on Friday and received the following statement: FWC’s Bear Management Program staff are aware of this report and will assess further once the bear is located and we don’t have any updates beyond that we are still looking for the bear and are consulting with our veterinary staff on the injuries seen in the photos we ask that they report it to our Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) Our News 6 team canvassed the area Friday and spoke to neighbors who had either seen or heard about the animal who lives near where the bear was recently spotted said there have been occasional black bear sightings in the area as long as he’s lived there They follow the Little Wekiva [River] up,” said Ragusa Our crew showed Ragusa a video of the bear that was shared with us and FWC He said it looks like the animal’s front left leg is wounded A spokesperson with FWC also shared some additional information about black bear activity during the spring season with spring marking a return to activity for bears after limited movements in winter Seeing a bear in a neighborhood is not necessarily cause for alarm it is important that residents secure food attractants so that bears do not linger in the area If a bear is not able to find food and is given space Feeding bears can make them lose their natural fear of people The Altamonte Springs bear sighting comes just days after a bear was spotted in a tree near Markham Woods Middle School in Longwood Please contact the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) if you feel threatened by a bear; observe a sick or orphaned bear; or report someone who is either harming bears or intentionally feeding them Having conflicts with bears? Call the FWC regional offices closest to you Mark Lehman – Two people were shot overnight at an apartment complex in Altamonte Springs Officers responded to an altercation reported at Boca Vista Apartments the Altamonte Springs Police Department said in a statement We watched early Friday as investigators placed evidence markers throughout the space some on multiple cars with bullet holes in them Two of the people whom police say were involved in the altercation later presented to AdventHealth Altamonte Springs with gunshot wounds The patients’ injuries were non-life-threatening adding the victims were being uncooperative No further details had been shared or confirmed at the time of this report Note: This map depicts the general area of this scene and not necessarily an exact location joined the ClickOrlando team in November 2021 Mark Lehman became a News 6 reporter in July 2014 but he's been a Central Florida journalist and part of the News 6 team for much longer While most people are fast asleep in their bed Mark starts his day overnight by searching for news on the streets of Central Florida Officers responded to Tonya Grose’s home along Ballard Street on Sept after Seminole County Animal Services requested a welfare check Altamonte Springs police reported that they could smell the “pungent odor of urine and feces coming from inside the residence.” [EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos] Investigators said they found emaciated dogs in cages without food or water birds in cages filled with feces and cockroaches and several cats inside the home with more than 40 animals that were ultimately surrendered to Seminole County Animal Services they also found trash bags full of dead dogs cats and kittens inside of a shed on the property pleaded no-contest on Monday to charges including: 13 cats and two exotic birds from GROSE’s home in 2023 Neighbors had long noticed the stench” from her home Officials said that Grose had registered a pet rescue business at the home but admitted to not having money or food to properly care for the animals Grose must serve 10 years of probation after her release She will not be allowed to own animals during that time mostly as a photojournalist and video journalist before joining Spectrum News 13 as a web editor and digital journalist in 2021 music festival runs this weekendLeah Sudhir – It’s time to celebrate the arts and music along the beautiful Cranes Roost Park at the 12th annual UpTown Art Expo in Altamonte Springs The art festival features over 140 art and fine craft exhibitors [EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos] Guests can stroll by the water and view creative chalk artists' creations with street paintings Over 20 chalk artists will be creating their art on the sidewalks for the expo The UpTown Art Expo will have live music playing throughout the weekend as well with VIP seating available at the front of the stage the festival will have festival foods and food trucks to satisfy any cravings while appreciating the art and music The UpTown Art Expo is a free event and runs from March 28-30 The kick-off concert will take place on Friday from 6:30 to 10 p.m Parking is also free and available in the Altamonte Mall parking lots The expo is located at 274 Cranes Roost Blvd. – UPDATE: A missing 13-year-old girl who has autism has been found safe Altamonte Springs police said early Thursday “She has been recovered in good health,” police said in a statement but details about her recovery have not been released Rachael Scott was last seen around 5:15 p.m Police said her family is concerned for her well-being She was last seen carrying a pink backpack with a strawberry design Police said on Wednesday that Scott was possibly wearing all black clothing Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to call police Please share this post! A Florida MISSING CHILD Alert has been issued for 13yo Rachael Scott, last seen in the area of the 230th block of Wymore Road in Altamonte Springs, Florida. Rachael's hair may be slicked back, and she may be carrying a pink backpack with strawberries on… pic.twitter.com/1Rl4vctujs Please share this post! A Florida MISSING CHILD Alert has been issued for 13yo Rachael Scott, last seen in the area of the 230th block of Wymore Road in Altamonte Springs, Florida. Rachael's hair may be slicked back, and she may be carrying a pink backpack with strawberries on… pic.twitter.com/1Rl4vctujs – The Altamonte Springs Police Department has sworn in its new chief Nicolas joined the police department in 2004 and has held key leadership positions since, such as DEA Task Force Agent, Special Investigations Lieutenant and Commander of the Special Operations and Investigations Divisions, the agency said March 19 on social media He additionally served as a member of the Seminole County SWAT Team and in 2022 was appointed deputy chief Nicolas is currently completing a master’s degree at the University of Central Florida having already earned a degree in Criminal Justice from UCF and a graduate certificate in Law Enforcement Education from the University of Virginia all on top of graduating from the FBI National Academy The post goes on to recognize the more-than 30 years of service by outgoing Chief James Riggs whom the police department hopes will enjoy a well-earned retirement According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission staff with the FWC Bear Management Program responded to a report of a dead bear on Wednesday which appears to have been the same injured bear reported recently in the area and that FWC had been trying to locate FWC had set up two traps and canvassed in areas where the bear had been reported in attempts to capture the bear and further evaluate her injuries The source of the bear’s injury has not been confirmed but the injury did show signs of a possible vehicle strike Haley is a digital content producer for ClickOrlando.com and first started as a News 6 producer in October 2014 She's a graduate of Indiana University with a Bachelors of Arts degree in journalism She specializes in theme parks and lifestyle writing El Dorado Furniture is excited to announce the grand opening of its Altamonte Springs showroom on Jan The event will feature exclusive giveaways showroom introduces El Dorado's unique Boulevard Concept to the Orlando area Join us for a one-of-a-kind shopping experience ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla., Jan. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- El Dorado Furniture one of Florida's largest furniture retailers is thrilled to announce the grand opening of its newest showroom in Altamonte Springs the family-owned furniture store will throw exciting events for the community El Dorado Furniture will be hosting a private ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday and would like to invite the media to capture and celebrate this special moment The grand opening celebration will take place over two days there will be exclusive giveaways on both days such as a $200 furniture card for the first 200 families to arrive on Saturday The Altamonte Springs showroom will showcase El Dorado Furniture's signature Boulevard Concept Customers can walk down a charming city street with benches and streetlamps Shoppers will find a wide variety of furniture for every room They can also find high-quality mattresses and exclusive collections like their own Carlo Perazzi signature line the new showroom represents El Dorado Furniture's commitment to bringing its unique blend of quality and customer service to even more Florida communities This marks the retailer's first location in the Orlando area the showroom will be staffed by approximately 50 dedicated employees ready to assist customers in creating their dream homes After the two-day grand opening celebration the store will be open Monday – Saturday from 11 a.m About El Dorado Furniture: Scarlett Sanchez, El Dorado Furniture, 1 (305)624-9700, [email protected], https://www.eldoradofurniture.com/ Do not sell or share my personal information: Altamonte Springs, Fla. – A man was injured after a coyote attack in a residential neighborhood while walking his service dog Wednesday night Chris Mack said he was taking his 3-year-old service dog for a routine evening walk along Leatherwood Drive in the Country Creek neighborhood when he saw multiple coyotes approaching from a nearby yard “Normal as can be until we got right around to this corner right here,” Mack said He said he had no choice but to fight off the coyotes “I caught the edge of his tooth right there.” Mack said his first thought was for his dog who ran off but eventually returned to him Mack called for an ambulance and was taken to a nearby hospital where doctors ensured he was vaccinated for rabies The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission confirmed it is aware of the incident and is investigating the agency urged the public to report wildlife encounters Their website also notes that while coyotes are generally shy and elusive sightings and interactions in Florida have become more frequent Resident Daniel Vhets advised neighbors to take extra precautions “Watch your kids because they will drag a kid off Authorities encourage residents to remain vigilant and report any unusual wildlife behavior to the FWC The Wildlife Alert Hotline number is 888-404-FWCC (3922) For a fuller list of coyote-related incidents in the state, visit the FWC’s Coyote Map by clicking here Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: Troy graduated from California State University Northridge with a Bachelor's Degree in Communication He has reported on Mexican drug cartel violence on the El Paso/ Juarez border nuclear testing facilities at the Idaho National Laboratory and severe Winter weather in Michigan ORLANDO – A stolen car found in Altamonte Springs led troopers on a hectic car chase along the highway into downtown Orlando on Thursday troopers said they responded just after 2 p.m after getting a call about a stolen vehicle along Central Parkway and Festival Drive The report shows that the vehicle had been stolen out of Hillsborough County troopers said they spotted the stolen car turn into a nearby apartment complex the stolen car soon turned rapidly and headed back out to Central Parkway speeding up and trying to evade the troopers “The vehicle began weaving in and out through construction barrels the chase led into the westbound express lanes on I-4 with the driver speeding at over 100 mph while weaving through traffic and driving on both shoulders the stolen car fled onto State Road 408 before later exiting onto Bumby Avenue After a while longer of continuing to flee from troopers the stolen car tried to bypass traffic at a red light which ended with the driver striking another car and a large pole “The utility pole fell onto another vehicle that was stopped at the light,” the report continues three Black males exited the stolen vehicle and began to flee on foot.” both passengers were caught by Orlando police and identified as Marvie Alford both men claimed they didn’t know the identity of the driver and that they’d asked him to stop “There was a very large amount of what appeared to be stolen articles from Nike inside the vehicle,” troopers wrote indicating they proceeded past the point of sale without paying for the items.” Both Alford and Finley face charges of obstruction without violence No additional information has been provided at this time Troy Campbell ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – Police released a sketch on Monday of the man they believe is responsible for approaching and assaulting women after dark in Altamonte Springs According to a news release, officers are investigating three separate incidents where the man approached and assaulted women who were alone police said the man wore a black mask covering his entire face except his eyes He is described as a white man in his 20s or 30s the suspect was dressed in dark clothing with white shoes and in one of the attacks The incidents occurred near the area of State Road 436 and Wymore Road between 9 p.m recounting the terrifying moment when she said she was attacked while picking up an Uber Eats order on the night of March 9 “I was walking to my car and felt a person very very close to me,” Pacheco said in Spanish Surveillance footage from the parking lot shows the suspect Pacheco said the incident has left her shaken and fearful “I’m scared of everything when people come near me and I don’t know them “I try to hurry up and get to the store before it gets dark Bisbee added that after learning about the attacks she was concerned for herself and her coworkers I get to work and I work with a bunch of females “They were literally right here at this restaurant Anyone with information regarding these incidents or who can identify the suspect is urged to contact the Altamonte Springs Police Department at (407) 339-2441 or dial 911 UPDATE: Altamonte Springs Police Investigating Recent Assaults Near Local Businesses\n\nCase Number: 202510000427/434/445.. Katherine Bennet is a former AdventHealth employee who served her community in a clinical role for many years she has a deep understanding of health care and the effects it has on your quality of life Katherine was suffering from chronic pain due to fibromyalgia and spine issues that left her bedridden for much of the time. After contacting her primary care provider, she was referred to Dr. Chetan K Patel, MD, at AdventHealth “I’ve never had an experience at a doctor’s office where I felt that every person cared for me as a person She found a new hope for her future and the relief she was looking for with Dr Keep reading to learn more about Kathy’s inspiring spinal surgery journey in her own words I had a lumbar laminectomy on March 25 Patel replaced three discs with cadaver bone and performed posterior fixation It’s incredible to think about the generosity of organ donors — it changed my life What motivated you to pursue spinal surgery I’ve had chronic pain caused by fibromyalgia but the main reason I pursued spinal surgery was due to other spine issues — I had severe spinal stenosis and three collapsed discs my MRI results showed steady deterioration I was falling frequently due to weakness in my right leg and loss of signals to both my feet and legs This led to other health complications like a traumatic brain injury and fractured cartilage in my left ear My primary care provider suggested I address the issue How did your health affect your daily life before surgery I couldn’t get through CityWalk at Universal Studios without stopping multiple times or using a wheelchair Walking shorter distances became a huge challenge in my life There were even days when I couldn’t get out of bed because my pain was so bad standing pain-free with the wind blowing in my face — it was pure happiness That picture symbolizes how much my life has changed for the better I made it through CityWalk without sitting or feeling any pain What was your recovery process like with this surgery I could even get up and walk the day of my surgery How was your experience with your AdventHealth surgeon and care team from the office staff to the hospital team and I continued to experience relief from my pain and improved mobility We thank Kathy for her inspiring testimony Choosing a spinal procedure is a life-changing decision and it’s essential to consult a professional who can evaluate your unique needs Our expert, compassionate spinal surgeons are ready to help you take your first step toward a brand-new life. Learn more about our spine health services and schedule your consultation today Our website uses cookies. Please review our privacy policy to find out more about the cookies we use Browsing our website means you accept these terms There's a new El Dorado Furniture showroom opening soon in Altamonte Springs The new showroom represents El Dorado Furniture's commitment to bringing its unique blend of quality the furniture store showcases a wide variety of furniture styles for every space along with high-quality mattresses ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla., Jan. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- El Dorado Furniture One of Florida's largest furniture retailers is thrilled to announce the grand opening of its newest showroom in Altamonte Spring For more information, members of the media can contact the team at [email protected] About El Dorado Furniture: Scarlett Sanchez, El Dorado Furniture, 1 3056249700, [email protected], https://www.eldoradofurniture.com/ ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – Raising Cane’s is set to open its first location in Seminole County on Tuesday The popular chicken restaurant will be located at 780 E The restaurant will have a grand opening celebration starting at 10 a.m It will also host a giveaway — where 20 people will win free Raising Cane’s for a year “This area has a great mix of suburban charm and urban energy making it the perfect place for our next restaurant,” Regional Leader of Restaurants Jeremy Sheffield said in a prepared statement The chain announced in 2022 it plans to open at least 12 restaurants in the Orlando market — the Altamonte Springs one marks the sixth one in the area The Louisiana-based restaurant chain serves chicken fingers The restaurant will be open Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m Get Florida Foodie emails sent right to your inbox – An award-winning Altamonte Springs food pantry is opening its doors for the first time since a fire caused extensive damage to the building The Apostolic Church of Jesus Food Pantry, located at 444 Ford Drive, was forced to shut down after a window air conditioning unit caught fire in August 2023 Pantry leader Herbert Bouey recalled the feelings that swept over him after learning about the damage “It was very painful to come over and see the place that you work for and the place that you’ve been giving out food for so long burn,” Bouey said people were able to tour the renovated building “It’s great we’re at where we’re at now with it.” Bouey helped organize consistent mobile distribution events at the site through a collaboration with Second Harvest Food Bank “It’s the community and these incredible partnerships that we have that we’re able to get this food out to people in Central Florida,” Philanthropy Officer Maureen Martin said [Optimism is served at this Altamonte Springs food pantry following a devastating fire] Bouey said the mobile distributions will continue and the new pantry will allow those who are food insecure to get what they need throughout the week “What it does now is it opens up more doors and opportunities for other people to come,” Bouey said Check out the Florida Foodie podcast – The Altamonte Springs Police Department has a new recruit has been specially trained to detect firearms in schools adding an extra layer of security for students Bailey will primarily be stationed at Lake Brantley High School she will also assist in other schools across Altamonte Springs Officials say Bailey’s presence alone serves as a deterrent to potential threats Deputy Chief of Police Terrance Nicholas emphasized how the new K9 unit enhances existing security measures “This is just another blanket of protection on top of the things that we already do the things that you don’t see,” Nicholas said “It just gives that extra peace of mind and extra layer of safety for our students Bailey was born in Hungary in 2023 and has undergone rigorous firearms detection training officials say she is already proving to be an invaluable asset but the chances are high nowadays,” Shapiro said I do believe if there’s a weapon on campus Bailey is also helping bridge the gap between students and law enforcement building trust and providing a reassuring presence in school hallways The addition of Bailey to the Altamonte Springs Police Department is part of a broader effort to enhance school security “There are a lot of ways to keep our kids safe and I think this is the best way we can make an immediate impact,” Nicholas added With the full support of the community and her law enforcement team You can listen to every episode of Florida’s Fourth Estate in the media player below: – Police in Altamonte Springs are asking for the public’s help locating a missing and endangered woman 22-year-old Sierra Robinson left AdventHealth Altamonte Springs hospital on Monday without receiving full medical clearance Hospital staff are worried about Robinson’s well-being weighs 120 pounds with black hair and brown eyes She was last seen leaving the hospital on foot Police said Robinson has family in the area and may still be in Altamonte Springs If anyone has information about her whereabouts or locates Robinson call the ASPD at (407)339-2441 or dial 911 Anonymous tips may also be called into Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: we're here with primary and specialty care to support your whole health: body Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.