Latest news with #CentralFloridians
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Editorial: Leaders' resolve on Pulse memorial reflects our community's strength
It's time. It's time. It's past time. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings knows the truth of those words more than most. As the county's elected sheriff, he left his home in the pre-dawn hours of June 12, 2016 to rush to the site of downtown Orlando's Pulse nightclub. He'd stay there for nearly 24 hours, working beside his friend John Mina (who was at the time Orlando's police chief) as law enforcement frantically sought to rescue those trapped inside. Demings will likely never forget that night, nor the weeks and months that followed. There are so many more Central Floridians who have horrific memories engraved on their souls. The survivors who huddled and hid as a gunman stalked through the club. The emergency-department staffers who worked tirelessly to save as many lives as they could. The family members who pleaded to know if their sons, daughters, spouses, friends or other loved ones were among the dead. Community leaders like Orlando Commissioner Patty Sheehan, the county's first openly gay elected official, who rushed to the site and tried to comfort family members' fear and grief. And the millions of Central Floridians who fought to reconcile the knowledge that their home had become the site of the worst mass shooting in the nation's history — up until that point. (Sadly, it's been eclipsed). Those survivors may not need a memorial to recall the horror of those early dawn hours. But they deserve one, especially if it nurtures the lasting changes that brought Orlando-area residents together in anguish and solidarity. That compassion has centered on the LGBTQ+ community that formed the base of Pulse's clientele, and the young Hispanics who came from across Central Florida for a weekly celebration of Latin music. It was an outpouring of acceptance that transcended the political, changing Orlando for good, and for the better. It lives on in many local residents's stubborn resistance to anti-immigrant crusades and attempts to marginalize sexual minorities. The names and faces of the 49 'angels' who died that night should never be forgotten. Nor should the terror of another 53 who were wounded but survived. The psychological scars of those who ran for their lives, or who huddled in hiding while waiting for rescue, also deserve acknowledgement. Most of all, the tragic lessons of this hate crime should be memorialized in the hopes that it avoids a repeat. And the resilience of local residents — their steadfast refusal to let Orlando and its surroundings be redefined by hate — should be celebrated. That's why Orange County residents should applaud the leadership of elected county and city leaders, who are joining forces to insist on (and pay for) a memorial on the site of the nightclub at the corner of Orange Avenue and Kaley Street. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer pushed for the city to take the lead after the collapse of the nonprofit foundation that was supposed to build the memorial. The wait has been infuriating, stretching the boundaries of trust and raising serious questions about what happened to millions of dollars raised toward the ostensible goal of creating a suitable tribute. Local leaders should continue to push — through any means at their disposal — for a thorough audit of OnePulse, the nonprofit that solicited money toward a memorial yet stumbled again and again. But the plans for a $12 million memorial, developed under the guidance of Orlando city government, are heartbreakingly beautiful — a glowing tribute of brightly colored glass, flowing water and the names of those angels who now stand as guardians to this community's resilience, hope and love. Plans unveiled before the County Commission Tuesday show a site that will offer ample opportunity for reflection — both of the tragedy that brought Central Floridians to their knees, and the inspiration leading them to stand together in solidarity and service without prejudice. Commissioners spent nearly two hours discussing the city's request to contribute $5 million toward the cost of the memorial, but the outcome was never seriously in doubt. The biggest point of strife: Who would make the motion to proceed with the donation. Demings took that victory by fiat, and it's hard to criticize his decision. His early, strong leadership almost certainly broke down barriers among more conservative communities that might otherwise have responded to the massacre with silence — or worse. There are still big questions ahead, including a continued probe into the failures of the OnePulse Foundation. City and county leaders should work together to demand answers. Some community members may also criticise the decision to remove most — possibly all — of the nightclub building and its iconic sign as the memorial is constructed. Certainly, their shared financial contribution gives every Orange County resident the right to voice their opinion; for more information, visit But that should not obscure the victory here, and Orange County and Orlando residents should be rightly proud of their elected leaders for insisting that plans for a memorial move forward — despite the delays and abuse of trust. Once again, this community has chosen to transcend tragedy and hatred with hope and unity. It is the right decision, and within two years this city should have a fitting memorial to the sacrifice of young people who only wanted to dance and have fun, without boundaries or prejudice. It is time. It is past time. The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Krys Fluker, Executive Editor Roger Simmons and Viewpoints Editor Jay Reddick. Contact us at insight@
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Pictures: 11th annual Parkinson Walk at Cranes Roost Park
Hundreds of Central Floridians participated Saturday morning in the 11th annual Parkinson Walk, a charity event for the Parkinson Association of Central Florida. The gathering at Cranes Roost Park in Altamonte Springs raised more than $150,000 to help fund local programs, education and research projects to find a cure for the neurological disease. An estimated 90,000 new cases of Parkinson's disease are diagnosed each year in the U.S. WESH-Channel 2 chief meteorologist Tony Mainolfi was the honorary host for the event, which included speeches by Todd Stewart, president of the Parkinson Association of Central Florida and John Gabriel, Orlando Magic executive and former president of the local Parkinson's group. You can find out more about the Central Florida Parkinson Association here.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
2 Central Florida men are millionaires after each winning big on same lottery scratch-off game
Two Central Floridians are millionaires after each winning a $1 million prize from the $1,000,000 A YEAR FOR LIFE SPECTACULAR scratch-off game from the Florida Lottery. Orange County resident Vernon Lee, 60, claimed his $1 million prize after purchasing his ticket from the Publix at 11286 Dowden Road in Orlando. Meanwhile, Osceola County resident Jose Perez, 53, claimed his $1 million prize after purchasing his ticket from the 7-Eleven at 7605 Sinclair Road in Kissimmee. Both men chose to receive their winnings as a one-time lump sum of $640,000. Each store that sold the winning ticket received a $2,000 bonus commission. The $50 game features two top prizes of $1 million a year for life and 234 prizes of $1 million, as well as more than $1.6 billion in cash prizes. Scratch-off games made up 74% of ticket sales in the 2023-2024 fiscal year. Since their inception, scratch-off games have generated more than $19.80 billion for the Education Enhancement Trust Fund and are responsible for contributing more than $48 billion to enhance education and sending more than one million students to college through the Bright Futures Scholarship Program. Additionally, since its inception, scratch-off games have awarded more than $65.5 billion in prizes, creating 2,283 millionaires. Since 1988, Florida Lottery games have paid more than $98.6 billion in prizes and made more than 4,200 people millionaires, according to lottery officials. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Feeling lucky? Here are St. Patrick's Day events, deals and festivities in Orlando
Many Central Floridians might be feeling lucky this weekend as St. Patrick's Day arrives full of beer and Irish-themed merriment on March 17. What originated as a commemoration of Christianity in Ireland and St. Patrick, the island's patron saint, has evolved into a broader celebration of Irish culture that often involves parades, dancing, drinking and a whole lot of green. This year, many Central Florida bars and restaurants are hosting parties or offering food and drink specials for guests in search of festivities. While far from an exhaustive list, here are deals, events and specials to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in the Orlando area. A La Cart Milk District, Orlando's food truck hangout, hosts a St. Patrick's Day pre-party with Guinness and green beer all weekend. On Sunday, the Magennis Academy of Irish Dancers presents a show at 1 p.m. The festivities go on March 14-16 with special events on March 16 at 609 Irvington Ave. in Orlando. More information: Boxi Park Lake Nona hosts Irish-themed festivities beginning with a 'Paint & Sip' event on Thursday, followed by a concert from Def Lepprechaun starting at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Saturday will bring a full day of music and festivities with live bands (including the City of Mount Dora Pipe Band), Irish dance and a themed celebration starting at 1 p.m. Explore the events March 13-15 at 6877 Tavistock Lakes Blvd. in Orlando. More information: Crooked Can's Celtic Fest celebrates St. Patrick's Day all weekend with live music, Irish dancing, jugglers, stilt walkers and food. Enjoy the festivities March 14-16 at 426 W. Plant St. in Winter Garden. More information: Grafton Street Pub hosts a celebration featuring live music, Irish dancers, bagpipers, DJs, food and drink specials. Tickets cost $10-$15 (including a drink ticket) on March 15-16; events on March 14 and 17 are free. The festivities begin at 10:30 a.m. March 14-16 and 11 a.m. March 17 at 7055 County Road 46A in Lake Mary. More information: The Hampton Social offers green frosé by the glass and $6 beers through March 17. Take advantage of the deal March 14-17 at 9101 International Drive in Orlando. More information: IceBar Orlando is throwing a St. Patrick's Day party with $6 Teeling Irish Whiskey, $5 Pot of Gold Shots and specialty cocktails. The venue is open for revelers from 5 p.m.-2 a.m. March 14-15, 5 p.m.-1 a.m. March 16 and 5 p.m.-midnight March 17 at 8967 International Drive in Orlando. More information: 407-426-7555 or JoJo's Shake Bar offers a menu of St. Patrick's Day shakes and a new package where diners can make their own charms and bracelets while enjoying food and drinks. Experiences are available throughout March at 9101 International Drive, Suite 1208, in Orlando and available for reservations here: Krush Brau Park, the German-themed park in Kissimmee, hosts St. Patrick's Day with food, music and plenty of beer. Tickets are $5 for general admission (which includes $5 off your first purchase) and $30 for VIP. The event is from noon-midnight March 15 at 2198 Four Winds Blvd. in Kissimmee. More information: The Leprechaun Run 5K hosted by the American Legion presents its inaugural event with an Irish-themed fun run in Cassadaga. Free pancakes and beer (for those 21 and older) are available after the race, which costs $30 to register in advance (or closer to the event). The race begins at 8 a.m. March 15 at 109 Cassadaga Road in Lake Helen. More information: The Lucky Leprechaun Irish Pub has a full slate of activities with live music, Irish dance, corned beef and cabbage, Irish stew and fish and chips. The event starts at 11 a.m. March 17 at 7032 International Drive in Orlando. More information: The Milk District hosts a St. Patrick's Day bar and bites crawl with drink and food specials, a costume contest and free swag. Attendees can bring bikes and link up with Kyle's Bike Shop or wander between venues on foot. Tickets are $10 in advance for the event from 6-10 p.m. March 14 at 2408 E. Robinson St. in Orlando. More information: Oviedo's St. Patrick's Day Festivalis free and family-friendly with live entertainment and family-friendly activities, plus fresh Guinness, Smithwick's and Harp on draft and food trucks. Enjoy Irish dancers, stilt-walkers, face painting and more at Center Lake Park. The event has free attendance, but beer punch cards can be purchased for those ages 21 and older. The festivities are 4-9 p.m. March 15 at 299 Center Lake Lane in Oviedo. More information: Promenade at Sunset Walk features a free-admission weekend festival with performances from 'Def Lepprechaun' and dueling pianos, plus leprechauns and street performers. Several restaurants offer green beer and food specials. The festivities are on daily March 15-17 at 3251 Margaritaville Blvd. in Kissimmee. More information: Raglan Road's Mighty St. Patrick's Day Festivalis back this year with food specials, live entertainment, plenty of drinks and merriment at Disney Springs. Find the festivities daily from March 14-17 at 1640 E. Buena Vista Drive in Orlando. More information: Sanford's Shamrock Shakedown: St. Paddy's Day Block Party is coming to Seminole County with live music, bagpipers, food trucks, vendors and craft beer in a family-friendly environment. The festivities are 4-9 p.m. March 15 in downtown Sanford. More information: SeaWorld Orlando's Seven Seas Food Festival continues this weekend with a St. Patrick's Day Celebration. See themed entertainers or experience Irish music and tastes of Ireland. The festivities are included with theme park admission March 14-17 and March 20-23 at 7007 Sea World Drive in Orlando. More information: St. Cloud hosts a 'Paint the Cloud Green' light parade and street party with live music from The Supervillains, dance performances, a food truck and a spotlight on the parade (starting and ending on Lakeshore Boulevard) from 7:30-11 p.m. March 15 in St. Cloud. More information: The Green Fling at Tactical Brewing Co. presents a free block party for St. Patrick's Day in conjunction with Orlando Parking Lot Party. Find food trucks, live music, vendors, beer and a green water balloon tournament. The fling is from noon-5 p.m. March 16 at 4882 New Broad St. in Orlando. More information: The St. 'Practice' Day Pub Crawl invites revelers to Orlando's Wall Street and nearby area bars to celebrate St. Patrick's Day weekend. Tickets, which cost $20 in advance or $25 on event day, include four free drinks and admission to all participating venues beginning at 8 p.m. March 15. More information: Lucky's St. Patrick's Day Bar Crawl gathers people to party at half a dozen venues in downtown Orlando with drinks included with each ticket, which costs $20 in advance or $25 on the day of the event. Festivities begin at 4 p.m. March 15 at 19 S. Orange Ave. in Orlando. More information: hosts three different events in Orlando. Find specials and festivities on March 14, 15 and 17. Tickets cost $20-$30 each. More information: Find me @PConnPie on Instagram or send me an email: pconnolly@
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Avelo Airlines adds 7th nonstop route from Lakeland airport
LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA) — Avelo Airlines is starting to take off to a new destination on Thursday. The airline began nonstop service between Central Florida's Lakeland International Airport and Nashville International Airport. The new route will operate twice weekly, on Thursdays and Sundays. To celebrate the new flight, the airline is discounting one-way fares. Tickets start at $45 for a limited time. The airline currently offers seven nonstop flights from Lakeland. Travelers can book flights to the following destinations: Charlotte/Concord, N.C. (USA), Boston/Manchester, N.H. (MHT), New Haven, Conn. (HVN), Philadelphia/Delaware Valley (ILG), Rochester, N.Y. (ROC), San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) and Wilmington, N.C. (ILM). 'Our Lakeland base offers Central Floridians easy access to air travel, especially for customers who value the convenience of a small hometown airport. Between the start of our new route to Nashville today and our six other nonstop destinations, customers flying in and out of Lakeland can expect more time and freedom to explore Florida in any direction they choose,' Avelo Airlines founder and CEO Andrew Levy said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
