Things To Do In SW Florida

KISSIMMEE  — The first Lazy Dog restaurant in Central Florida has opened near Walt Disney World and the Margaritaville Resort Orlando, but the California-based chain is looking to continue growing in Orlando.

Lazy Dog could “safely” end up having four restaurants in the Orlando market, CEO and founder Chris Simms told the Orlando Sentinel in an interview at an opening event for the eatery. The chain is now looking for locations on International Drive and in Winter Park.

“I think this is a fantastic place to introduce our brand to more of the country,” Simms said. “I think Orlando has the opportunity to be able to both have restaurants in those areas that do have more tourists coming to them, and then at the same time, going to the suburbs and catering to the Orlando residents as well.”

When going into a new market such as Orlando, the goal is normally to get two to three restaurants open in two years, Simms said.

The Lazy Dog on Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway officially opened Wednesday after a soft opening event Tuesday. It has a full bar and a menu that includes chicken pot pie, barbecue bison meatloaf, burgers, Korean ribeye bibimbap and Thai noodles. read more

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ tourism oversight district approved a union contract with firefighters on Wednesday, ending about five years of negotiations and answering the governor’s calls to boost the pay of Disney World’s emergency workers.

The three-year agreement will help address staffing shortages by increasing starting pay for firefighters and paramedics, said Aaron Colburn, first vice president of the Reedy Creek Professional Firefighters Association.

“Bringing up the base pay for all our positions is going to help with recruitment,” he said. “There’s a statewide recruitment and retention problem right now.”

Starting pay for a firefighter/paramedic will increase from $55,000 to $66,000, according to the contract.

The agreement includes a 5% pay bump for about 185 members of the frontline bargaining unit, Colburn said.

Board members also started their budget process, setting a proposed tax rate that is lower than the current one.

As Gov. Ron DeSantis battled Disney, he threw his political muscle behind the firefighters, saying in May 2022 that they “should be making more money.” read more

Allison Martin | Bankrate.com (TNS)

Are you considering a car lease to ride in style for a fraction of what you would pay to purchase a new vehicle? Learning about the car lease process, including brushing up on the industry terminology and the ins and outs of lease agreements, is an important part of landing a good deal.

Shopping around and exploring the specials and offers from multiple dealers is another valuable step to help you negotiate a car lease confidence, ensuring that you get the best possible lease agreement for your needs.

When you walk into a dealership to buy a new car, the car salesperson expects you to offer below the asking price. This isn’t always the case with lease deals, but you can follow this step-by-step approach to negotiate a car lease.

1. Learn the jargon

It is easy to get overwhelmed with the language of lease agreements, especially if you don’t work in the automotive industry. However, you can give yourself a slight advantage by learning the jargon dealers use before you are sitting down to sign a lease contract. Here are some common lease-related terms used by dealers. read more