A LOOK BACK AT 2023

The Community Paper reviews this year’s biggest stories with help from its readers.

Editor’s note: As The Community Paper looks ahead to 2024 coverage, we think it’s important to look back at our 2023 stories, and we’ve asked you, our readers, for your input. Along with this overview of the previous 12 months, we highlight the big stories from each of our coverage areas. Check out their “Year in Review” sections on pages 22 through 26.

“Anything written by Charlotte Skipper!” said an anonymous submission to our 2023 reader survey.

And we agree. Skipper, a current UCF journalism student, started as an intern for The Paper and has a knack for tracking down stories, interviewing people and finding an angle that engages readers.

Along with patting our writers on the back for jobs well done, the reader survey is one way we received editorial feedback. Survey respondents also ranked the most important topics from the last 12 months:

1. All the new development in the Packing District

2. Edgewater Drive Complete Street planning

3. Changes to the Lake Eola Master Plan

4. SunRail’s arrival at Orlando International Airport

5. Efforts to help the unhoused downtown

6. Orlando Public Library System’s 100th year

7. Downtown safety changes like the nightclub moratorium

We also ranked stories based on their social media engagement, sharing and website visits. These stories were the top 10:

• Orlando Rotary pays three students’ college tuition

• United Arts Central Florida relocates to College Park, launches rebrand

• How to start the year off on the right foot with your child’s teacher (Confessions of a College Park Mom)

• Orlando Literary Expo connects storytelling groups with the community

• Our favorite hippie is moving on (Publisher’s Desk)

• Michelin Guide adds newly opened local restaurants

• Charles Davis is a recognized voice of the NFL, Madden (CP Interview)

• New Orlando Main Street administrator aims to empower Main Street districts

• Olympic trials coming to Orlando

• How to pickleball at the new Orlando Tennis Centre

Every month, we conduct the CP Interview with locals doing amazing work within the community. Readers chose their favorites from 2023:

• Amy Drew Thompson, multimedia food reporter at the Orlando Sentinel

• Cat Ridgeway, singer/songwriter

• Joann Newman, president and CEO of the Orlando Science Center

• Benoit Glazer, founder of Timucua Arts

• Christy Ashby, publisher/owner of Orange Appeal

When we asked for ideas for future interview subjects, readers came through with several suggestions, including Jennifer Marvel, executive director of the Audubon Park Garden District; Pastor Merrill Frailey of College Park United Methodist Church; and Wendy Leininger, co-owner of Echoes of Retro.

In fact, this is how we heard Echoes of Retro is also home to Champagne and Gravy, Central Florida’s first hat bar. We’re very interested in learning more about that for a future Business Spotlight.

Not counting our coverage of new openings, The Community Paper features four Business Spotlights monthly, each focusing on a local establishment. Thanks to a semi-viral Facebook post when we published the Mediterranean Deli story, it ranked number one on the list of these most popular entries:

• Mediterranean Deli (College Park) • LaBelle Furs (Downtown)

• Redlight Redlight (Audubon Park)

• 903 Mills Market (SoDo)

• Blended Bistro & Boba (College Park)

• Swiss House Clocks (Curry Ford West)

As we reviewed new business openings in our coverage area, we asked readers which they have visited or are most likely to visit. These 15 topped the list:

• Freehand Goods (College Park)

• The Castle Irish Pub (College Park)

• Leonard & Marjorie Williams Family YMCA (The Packing District)

• The Current Seafood Counter (College Park)

• Primrose Lanes (The Milk District)

• Good Fills (College Park)

• Zero Orlando (College Park)

• Pigzza (Mills 50)

• Shiftd (College Park)

• Sampaguita Ice Cream and Desserts (Mills 50)

• Otto’s High Dive (The Milk District)

• Smoke & Donuts (The Milk District)

• Oh Eco (Audubon Park)

• Rugged Perspective (The Milk District)

• F&D Italian Kitchen (Curry Ford West)

Next year is shaping up to be a big one for The Community Paper as we continue to share the good news happening in downtown Orlando area neighborhoods. (We’re also turning 35!) If you have a suggestion for a story, email us at News@Community-Paper. com or direct message any of our social media accounts.”