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Month: August 2017

SWFL Parents: What You Need to Know About Solar Eclipse Safety

SWFL Parents: What You Need to Know About Solar Eclipse Safety

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As exciting as the solar eclipse may be, there are some safety concerns. here is everything that SWFL parents need to know about the solar eclipse on Monday, August 21st. 

Solar Eclipse Info & Safety

The first total solar eclipse since 1918 will be able to be viewed in Southwest Florida on August 21st between the hours of approximately 1 pm and 4 pm, depending on where you are in the area.

Protecting kids’ eyes is the most important safety concern.  It is possible to buy ISO certified solar eclipse glasses on Amazon, however, it’s not recommended to let kids younger than 7 wear them. It may be a better idea to watch a live streaming video with young kids instead.

School Safety

Since school is in session, schools are preparing for how to handle P.E., recess, class changes, and release. Find out how your county is handling it:

Collier County Schools

Lee County Schools

Sarasota County Schools

Charlotte County Schools

Call your school for more information if your kids attend a private school. 

Activities for Younger or Homeschooled Kids

Not all kids will be in school. If you are lucky enough to have your kids home during the eclipse, consider finding something fun for them to do in the area. read more

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Record turnout at Shepherd's Hope free back-to-school event

Record turnout at Shepherd's Hope free back-to-school event

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On the first night of Shepherd’s Hope’s free back-to-school clinic in downtown Orlando, more than 100 uninsured kids showed up to get their physicals.

The volunteer-run clinic was scheduled for three hours and time ran out, so about 30 other families in line were told to come back.

“It was unbelievable,”…

McDonald’s Across South Florida Giving Away Over 20,000 Free Breakfasts

McDonald’s Across South Florida Giving Away Over 20,000 Free Breakfasts

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Love McDonald’s? Love free things? Then you’ll love this news! During the month of August, participating McDonald’s restaurants across South Florida will be giving two guests free breakfast every single day!

Over 300 restaurants in Southwest Florida, West Palm Beach and Southeast Florida are participating and will each randomly select two guests to receive a free breakfast.

Guests will have the chance to win a free breakfast either in the drive-thru as well as the lobby, where table service is available at participating restaurants, between the hours of 5am and 10:30am, every Monday through Friday and until 11am on Saturday and Sunday.

Why free breakfast? Mike Adams, owner and operator of 28 McDonald’s restaurants in SWFL says, “A good breakfast makes for a good morning, which in turn makes for a good day. We’re really excited to surprise some of our customers with free breakfast. There’s a McDonald’s for every morning and we want show our guests that they’re the best part of our morning and we want to be that for them.”   read more

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Requirements for a Florida Contracting License

Requirements for a Florida Contracting License

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In order to legally perform contractor services in the state of Florida, you will need to obtain a Florida contracting license. If you fail to undergo the testing and licensing, you will be subject to fines and other penalties for failure to comply. What follows is a brief rundown of the guidelines and requirements entailed in applying for a contracting license.

 

First, you will have to take two brief exams that cover topics related to finance and the trade(s) you are looking to become licensed in. If you are an electrical contractor, you will need to undergo a slightly different process. You will not be required to take these tests, but rather, will have to undergo trade specific tests due to the complex and potentially dangerous nature of the work.
In order to qualify for the appropriate tests, you will need to be able to show proof of having at least four years of work experience in the construction or trade field. If you are looking to get a contracting license for a business, you will also need to provide proof of financial assets. Requirements for total assets may range from $2,500-20,000, depending on the type of certification you are looking to obtain. You will also be required to carry and show proof of a current liability insurance plan. read more

An ‘active’ year predicted for hurricanes in Florida

An ‘active’ year predicted for hurricanes in Florida

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It’s mid-July, and we’re 1½ months into the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season. Weather forecasters have predicted an active hurricane season, with as many as 17 storms expected (and named, from Franklin to Jose, Ophelia to Tammy). A handful of those could turn from tropical storms into hurricanes, with sustained winds up to 74 to 95 mph — the range for a Category 1 storm – or higher.

 

Officials say it’s never too early to start preparing for the uncertainty of hurricane season. 2016 was the most active year for hurricanes in the Sunshine State since 2012, with four major storms wreaking havoc along the state’s eastern seaboard. Hurricanes Matthew and Hermine together caused more than $1.5 billion in property damage, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

 

And while hurricane season officially ends Nov. 30, the potential for severe weather remains year-round: In January, a series of tornadoes ripped through areas of Florida and Georgia over two days, causing extensive property damage and killing more than a dozen people. read more