The Apopka Chief – 7/28/25-8/27/25

Who Can Appear on the Ballot “Enter”

2. Ballot entrants must be organizations located in the State of Florida (that serve the Apopka community) and have lawful access to the method(s) of entry set forth in the rules.
3. The following organizations are not eligible to enter: Businesses in the adult entertainment industry, political entities (including political action committees, political campaigns, and political non-profits), or businesses in the CBD/marijuana industry.
4. Employees of Marc Media Group, LLC, MDNCF, LLC, and any company who sponsors this contest (collectively, “Sponsor”), their respective parent, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising sponsors and promotional agencies, and the immediate family and household members of each are not eligible. The term “immediate family” includes spouses, parents, siblings, grandparents, children, grandchildren and cohabiting significant others.

How to Appear on the Ballot (“Enter”)

4. No purchase necessary to enter or win. A business may self-nominate or someone else may nominate the business. The Apopka Chief reserves the right to approve any nominations before they appear to the public on the ballot.
5. To enter, visit https://theapopkachief.com/best-of-apopka/, select the appropriate Group (Automotive, Event and Guest Services, Special Services, Real Estate / Housing, Health & Beauty, Recreational Activities, Accounting/Legal/Financial, Home & Garden, Medical / Dental, Retail, Food & Drink, Pet, Leadership (Sponsored by and limited to Apopka Chamber of Commerce members) and review the existing entrants on the categories within your group. Make sure the entrant you are nominating is not already listed. If the entrant is not already listed, submit a new entry at the bottom of the list. 

6. The top three (3) placements in each category will be selected by the number of electronic votes they receive. The website for voting will be available from July 28 through noon (EST) on Wednesday, August 27, 2025 (the “Voting Window”).  The top 3 winners will be listed in The Best of Apopka printed special section, but only the top winner will earn the right to use The Best of Apopka in their category within their own promotion.

Prize for Being Selected as Winner from Ballot; Odds of Winning

7. The three (3) placement winner(s) will be notified by e-mail or phone on or about August 29, 2025. The rank of the top 3 will be confidential until the publication of The Best of Apopka. The only business allowed to claim “The Best of Apopka” for any category will be the company that ranked #1.

8. Odds of winning the prize depend on the number of votes that come through the electronic voting system.

Sweepstakes for Voters in the Best of Contest

9. As this is a “Readers’ Choice” contest, Sponsor will be having a drawing for prizes valued between $50 and $200. The prizes will be announced by August 15, 2025, along with their specific prize values. The prizes can be found at https://theapopkachief.com/best-of-apopka/prizes.  To be eligible for the drawing, the voter must have voted using a single email address in at least 5 categories during the Voting Window, must be a Florida resident and must not be an employee of the Sponsor. Only one valid entry per person per email address.

10. No purchase necessary to enter or win.

11. Odds of winning the prize depend on the number of eligible entries and the number of prizes announced on August 15, 2025.

12. The winner(s) will be notified by e-mail or phone on or about October 3, 2025. The winner(s) must respond to prize notification within 7 days. Specific prizes awarded will be on a first-come-first-serve basis and the winner(s) will be required to complete, sign and return a Certificate of Eligibility and Release and claim the prize in the manner and within the time period communicated by Sponsor or they will be disqualified. If a prize is won by an eligible minor, then the winner’s parent or guardian must also sign the minor’s Certificate of Eligibility and Release before the winner receives his or her prize. If a winner cannot be reached, does not respond to prize notification, or does not return the signed and completed Certificate of Eligibility and Release and claim the prize within the designated time period, Sponsor will select an alternative winner by random drawing if, in Sponsor’s reasonable discretion, time permits.

13. The winner is responsible for all local, county, state and federal taxes on prizes based on the value of the prizes announced on August 15, 2025

Miscellaneous

25. Prize exchanges are prohibited. Prizes cannot be redeemed for cash or substituted for any other items by the winners. The winner cannot assign or transfer the prize. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of like or greater value, for any prize, for any reason. Please check [https://theapopkachief.com/contest-rules/] for any updates to the rules, including the available prizes.
26. Sponsor is not responsible for error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operations or transmission, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to or alternations of entry materials, or technical, network, telephone equipment, electronic, computer, hardware, or software malfunctions of any kind, or inaccurate transmission of or failure to receive entry, winner(s) or other giveaway information by Sponsor or entrants for any reason whatsoever. Sponsor is also not responsible for any injury or damage to entrants for any reason whatsoever. Sponsor is also not responsible for any injury or damage to any entrant’s or any other person’s computer related to or resulting from playing or downloading any materials in the giveaway or for entries that are late, misdirected or incomplete. All entry materials may be maintained as part of MDNCF, LLC’s giveaway records. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEB SITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATIONS OF THE GIVEAWAY IS A VIOLATION OF THE CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS, AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, THE SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH ENTRANT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

27. The Sponsor reserves the right to cancel or reschedule the sweepstakes in the event of natural disasters or acts of God.
28. Except where prohibited by law, entry constitutes permission to use the winners’ names, hometowns, likenesses and photographs for broadcast, online posting, and/or in any other media, including for advertising and publicity purposes, without additional compensation.
29. These contest and giveaway rules are available at https://theapopkachief.com/contest-rules/and Monday through Friday during normal business hours at MDNCF, LLC dba The Apopka Chief, 400 N Park Ave, Apopka, FL 32712, by appointment with DHayden@theapopkachief.com.
30. For a list of Best of Apopka and Voter prize winners, send a separate, self-addressed, stamped envelope no later than one year following the end of the entry period, to MDNCF, LLC, Attention: General Counsel, 1011 N. Wymore Road, Winter Park, FL 32789.
31. This giveaway is subject to all applicable laws and regulations and is void where prohibited or restricted by law, including without limitation, in jurisdictions that require registration, filing, trust account, or posting of a bond, or any other requirements or disclosures that are not expressly satisfied by the rules. Sponsor is not responsible for typographical or other errors in the printing, offering or administration of the giveaway, or the announcement of the prize. In the event of a dispute over who submitted a particular entry, Sponsor will determine the entrant’s identity or select an alternative winner, in its sole discretion.
32. This contest is not intended for gambling. If it is determined that a participant is using the contest for gambling purposes, they will be disqualified and reported to authorities.
33. Please note that any promotions of these sweepstakes on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with these social media companies.
34. Sponsor reserves the right to cancel or modify the contest or any portion of it for any reason, if fraud, misconduct or technical failures destroy the integrity of the contest; or if a computer virus, bug, wireless failure, or other technical program corrupts the administration, security or proper administration of the contest as determined by the Sponsor, in its sole discretion.
35. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify, freeze or prohibit the participation of an individual if fraud or tampering is suspected, or if the individual fails to comply with any requirement of participation or with any provision in these Rules. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify an individual from future participation in a contest if Sponsor concludes, in its sole discretion, that such person: (a) has attempted to tamper with the entry processes or other operation of the contest; (b) has disregarded or has attempted to circumvent the Rules; (c) has provided misinformation about their identify when entering the Contest or (d) has acted toward Sponsor or any other entrant in an unfair, inequitable, threatening, disrupting or harassing manner. If a dispute arises regarding compliance with these Rules, Sponsor may consider, in its sole discretion, data reasonably available to Sponsor through information technology systems in Sponsor’s control, but Sponsor will not be obligated to consider any data or other information collected from any other source. Any attempt to undermine the operation of this contest may be a violation of criminal and civil laws. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify and/or seek damages from any individual making any such attempts to the fullest extent permitted by law. Any failure of Sponsor to enforce any of these Rules will not constitute waiver of the Rules. If there is a conflict between any term of the Rules and any marketing or entry materials used in the contest, the terms of these Rules will govern.

36. EXCEPT WHERE PROHIBITED, ENTRANTS AGREE THAT ANY AND ALL DISPUTES, CLAIMS AND CAUSES OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR CONNECTED WITH THIS SWEEPSTAKES, OR PRIZES AWARDED, WILL BE RESOLVED INDIVIDUALLY WITHOUT RESORT TO ANY FORM OF CLASS ACTION, AND ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, JUDGMENTS AND AWARDS WILL BE LIMITED TO ACTUAL OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS INCURRED BY ENTRANT WITH REGARDS TO THE CONTEST, BUT IN NO EVENT ATTORNEYS’ FEES. PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTAL OR OTHER DAMAGES. All issues and questions concerning construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Rules, or the rights and obligations of entrants and Sponsor in connection with this contest will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida, without giving effect to choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than Florida. The state and federal courts located in Orange County, Florida will be the exclusive forum for any dispute relating to these Rules or the contest. By entering, the entrants submit to the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts in Orange County, Florida and waive the right to contest jurisdiction.
37. If any provision(s) of these Rules are held to be invalid or unenforceable, all remaining provisions hereof will remain in full force and effect.
38. By entering, participants represent and warrant that they are eligible and agree (a) to be bound by these rules and the decisions of the judges, (b) to release, discharge and hold harmless Sponsor and their directors, officers, shareholders, suppliers, distributors, advertising agencies, employees, and agents from any and all liability, claims, or actions of any kind whatsoever for any injuries, losses, or damages of any kind caused by your participation in this contest, any prize, or resulting from acceptance, possession, use, or misuse of any prize, (c) release Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and their directors, agents and officers from any liability that results from you entering this sweepstakes and (d) to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy located at https://theapopkachief.com/privacy-policy/.