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Lake Placid Seeks Applicants for Open Council Seat

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The Town of Lake Placid is accepting applications to fill a vacancy on Town Council created when Colleen Charles’ seat became open following her election as mayor.

Interested residents have until 5 p.m. on Monday, April 27 to submit their information to the Town Clerk’s office for consideration.

Under the town’s municipal code, vacancies are filled by a vote of the remaining council members along with the mayor. The appointment is expected to take place at the May 11 Town Council meeting.

To be eligible, applicants must be a qualified voter, reside within town limits, and maintain residency for the duration of the term. Council positions are nonpartisan and require participation in regular meetings, workshops, and town decision-making.

Lake Placid Police hosting DEA National Take Back Day

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Lake Placid Police hosting DEA National Rx Takeback Day

Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., residents can drop off unused or expired medications at the Lake Placid Police Department, 8 North Oak Avenue, as part of the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

The effort isn’t just about cleaning out a medicine cabinet—it’s about reducing real risk at home. Most misused prescription drugs don’t come from the street, they come from family and friends, often sitting unused and unsecured. Since the program began in 2010, the Drug Enforcement Administration has collected more than 17 million pounds of medications nationwide.

Medications thrown in the trash or flushed can make their way into water systems, and not disposing of them increases the chance of accidental use, especially among children and teens.

Take Back Day offers a simple solution: drop them off, no questions asked, and know they’ll be handled safely.

Miss Lake Placid Crowned

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Newly crowned Miss Lake Plaicd Ellise Mills, sponsored by Purple Iris Tea Room

The Greater Lake Placid Chamber of Commerce proudly crowned its 2026 Miss Lake Placid on Saturday evening. Congratulations to Ellisse Mills, who earned the title of 2026 Miss Lake Placid! Her court includes First Runner-Up Lilly Martin and Second Runner-Up Ava Caceras.

With nine talented local contestants competing, the judges certainly had a challenging task. We are confident that Ellisse will represent Lake Placid with grace and dedication throughout the coming year.

A heartfelt thank you to Taylor Bittner for her continued hard work and commitment as Pageant Director, and to Abigail Cunnane for her valued support this year. The Chamber also extends its sincere appreciation to State Farm Terri Conley for their generous sponsorship of scholarships over the past three years, as well as to all of the local businesses and community partners who help make this special event possible.

Green Light – Downtown Parking Variance

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Cuban Sabor to open soon at 9 South Main Avenue

Cuban Sabor owner Jazmin Ley received unanimous approval from Town Council for a parking variance for the restaurant located a 9 South Main Avenue. This clears the way for the Cuban bakery/cafe’ opening slated for May 8.

Residents are excited this venture is moving forward.

Sharing Plants One Swap at a Time

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The Highlands County Plant Swap is about as simple as it gets.

Bring a plant, take a plant. No sign-up, no set times—just a spot where people leave cuttings, extras, or plants they no longer need, and pick up something new if they’d like.

There’s a location at the Lake Placid Historical Society Depot Museum, along with others in Sebring and Avon Park. It’s not organized or formal—just a grassroots effort that keeps going because neighbors keep it going.

The only rule: take a quick photo of what you brought and what you took, and post it to the Facebook group. Members also share plant tips, ask questions, and help each other out.

Some days there’s a full table. Some days just a few pots. Either way, it works.

For more information, visit the Facebook Group Page:https://www.facebook.com/groups/601691965176817

Petals & Produce Brings Fresh-Cut Flowers and Seasonal Produce to a Self-Serve Stand

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A small farm stand on County Road 621 is offering something simple and increasingly rare: fresh-cut flowers and produce grown locally and sold directly to the community.

Petals & Produce operates out of a self-serve stand at 3645 CR 621 East, where customers stop in, select what they need, and pay on the honor system using cash or Venmo.

The stand offers beautiful fresh-cut flowers, with rotating selections that often include zinnias, cosmos, sunflowers, and mixed arrangements. What’s available depends on what’s currently blooming, so no two visits look exactly the same.

Fresh zinnias at Petals & Produce farm stand. Photo: Petals & Produce Facebook page.

Alongside the flowers, the stand carries a changing mix of seasonal produce. On a typical day, that might include:

  • Radishes
  • Zucchini and yellow squash (often priced together or mix-and-match)
  • Romaine and green leaf lettuce
  • Cilantro and dill
  • Kale and beets
  • A range of peppers, including serrano, poblano, green, and banana peppers
  • Green beans, cabbage, and other rotating crops

Recent posts indicate corn will be available soon.

From time to time, the stand also includes homemade items—German chocolate cake, zucchini bread, coconut tea cakes, and other baked goods—posted daily on their Facebook page.

So, if you love fresh vegetables, great pricing and local, small business, you don’t want to miss Petals & Produce.

Downtown Café Parking Waiver Up for Vote Monday

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Proposed Cuban Sabor location

A small storefront on Main Avenue is back in front of the Lake Placid Town Council Monday night, carrying with it a familiar downtown issue: parking.

The space at 9 South Main Avenue, previously used for retail or service, is now proposed to become a bakery and café. Under town code, different uses require different amounts of parking. A café, based on customer area and employees, requires more than a retail business. In this case, the proposed use calls for nine parking spaces, while the property has seven.

The result is a difference of two spaces.

That difference, however, is not constant. According to the application, it appears only during a limited window in the afternoon—about 2.5 hours—when both the café and a second tenant, a music school, would be operating at the same time. Outside of that overlap, the available parking aligns with the expected demand.

Because the building cannot add additional parking, the request is being considered under a section of town code that allows reductions for existing structures. The Council may approve such a request if it determines the reduction is necessary to allow use of the property and will not result in a severe parking shortage or traffic congestion.

The materials submitted with the request include a two-week observation of nearby on-street parking within one block of the site. The data shows that, on average, a significant portion of spaces remain open, with higher availability later in the day.

Since first appearing before Council earlier this month, the proposal has been adjusted. The applicant reduced the amount of seating, removed outdoor seating, and coordinated operating hours with the second tenant. The item had been tabled at the April 13 meeting after discussion about how additional parking reductions might affect the downtown area over time.

Town staff has recommended approval of the request with conditions, including limiting the approval to the specific uses and operating assumptions described in the application.

The Council is now set to decide whether to allow the reduction.

If approved, the café could move forward under those conditions. If not, the applicant would need to revise the proposal or pursue a different use that meets existing parking requirements.

What council must decide

Under Section 161-10, council approves if the waiver enables viable use of the 1967 building without severe parking or traffic issues. Similar waivers granted before at Nu-Hope, Journal Plaza, Warehouse Billiards.

Meeting details

5:30 p.m. Monday, Government Center, 1069 US 27 N. Public comments before vote. Watch live: lakeplacidfl.net or YouTube (Lake Placid FL Gov).

Watermill Express coming to Lake Placid

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Watermill Express Rendering

Permits have been issued for Watermill Express, a drive-up, self-service kiosk that dispenses purified water and ice. Customers bring their own containers and use the automated system, which runs continuously and uses multi-step filtration, including reverse osmosis. The company has locations across the country. The kiosk will be located across from Dunkin Donuts at 70 Plaza Avenue.

Watermill Express Location

Culver’s Moving Forward in Lake Placid

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Culver's Moving Forward

Recent rumors suggesting that Culver’s is no longer coming to Lake Placid are not accurate.

Lake Placid Insider has reached out directly for confirmation, and while additional details are still pending, the project is moving forward. The restaurant remains on track to open in Lake Placid.

We will continue to follow developments and provide updates as more information becomes available.

Lake Placid Welcomes New Mayor, Marks Start of a New Chapter

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Lake Placid marked a significant transition Monday as Colleen Charles was officially sworn in as the town’s new mayor—the first change in leadership in nearly three decades.

Charles succeeds longtime mayor John Holbrook, whose 28 years of service, including 18 as mayor, were recognized during the meeting. In her opening remarks, Charles thanked residents, staff, and local businesses, emphasizing her commitment to communication, transparency, and efficient operations.

Also sworn in were Greg Sapp, returning to the council after a two-year absence, and Nell Hays, who took the oath following her reelection.

The meeting itself reflected a shift in pace, concluding in approximately 90 minutes—one of the shortest full council meetings in recent memory and a response to ongoing citizen requests for more efficient meetings.

Updates during the meeting highlighted continued progress on key town projects. Representatives from Pennoni Engineers reported that the new wastewater treatment plant is nearing completion, with wastewater expected to begin flowing through the system as early as next week.

Plans are also moving forward for new outdoor exercise equipment at DeVane Park. The proposal includes multiple workout stations and supporting improvements, with additional details expected to come before council in the near future.

On the business agenda, a requested parking reduction for a proposed Cuban bakery at 9 South Main Street was discussed as part of broader considerations surrounding downtown growth. The item was ultimately tabled until the next council meeting on April 20 for further review.

Local resident Gibby Randall was presented an award from the American Police Hall of Fame for assisting the community during the recent cold weather event by opening his laundromat as a warming location.

Looking ahead, Charles emphasized a focus on improving meeting structure, strengthening communication, and ensuring town processes remain clear and consistent. She also announced that future meetings will include local veterans leading the Pledge of Allegiance.

Residents can watch the full meeting online:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNSPvvq1i34&t=4879s

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