Things To Do In SW Florida

Q: Will my IRA withdrawal reduce my Social Security check? – Name not given

A: Social Security does not count pension payments, annuities, or the interest or dividends from your savings and investments as earnings. They do not lower your Social Security retirement benefits. This also includes Required Minimum Withdrawals from IRA accounts. – Nancy Hecht

Q: My husband and I are trying to plan for retirement but aren’t sure how to go about it.  My sister-in-law suggested we just assume we’ll live on 4% of our money. Is this a good approach?  – J.P., Altamonte Springs

A: As with most “rules of thumb,” they only go so far. Unfortunately, there’s more complexity than this approach would imply, such as triggering unexpected taxes. A certified financial planner is trained and able to run your retirement numbers taking all variables into consideration.  –  John Pinkley

Have a question? E-mail askanexpert@fpafla.com. Include your name (only your initials will be printed), hometown and phone. Questions are answered by Certified Financial Planners from the Financial Planning Association of Central Florida. Answers are for educational purposes only; you should also consult a financial professional. Questions and answers may be edited for space considerations. read more

Gatorland is planning additions to Gators, Ghosts and Goblins, its Halloween event set for three weekends in October.

New haunt zones will include Creepy Creature Carnival, where monsters appear as midway attractions, and Frightful Frontier, themed to an Old West town and cursed cowboys.

Gatorland will again present Swamp Ghost’s Monster Museum, which looks at the holiday’s origins, and the Cryptid Express, a search for mythical beings such as Moth Man, chupacabra and the Florida skunk ape.

The activities are included with regular admission to Gatorland, which has operated on South Orange Blossom Trail since 1949.

Gators, Ghosts and Goblins days include interactions with animals and characters, vendors, candy giveaways, shows and a Halloween costume parade for children, who will be given treat bags for their participation.

“We love Halloween time at Gatorland, and our entire staff works incredibly hard to put on this frightfully fun event for all our guests,” Mark McHugh, president and CEO of Gatorland, said in a news release. “You won’t find another Halloween experience that is anything like ours.” read more

Q: We live in a gated community. I had a falling out with one of my neighbors I used to be friends with, and she has been acting childish and harassing me. It started with nasty gestures when I drove by her house and mystery trash was thrown on my lawn. Yesterday, I noticed a sign on her lawn calling me an offensive name. It is getting hard even to leave my house. What can I do to stop this? — Barbara

A: One of the best ways to deal with a former friend is to avoid them, but that is impossible when you live on the same block.

My standard advice when someone has an issue is to try to talk to the other party and see if things can be worked out.

If that is impossible or does not work, your next step would be to report the harassing behavior to your homeowners association and ask that they take action. Everyone has a right to enjoy their property; your association should enforce that right when necessary.

Your association can tell her to stop, possibly fine your neighbor if this continues, and may even eventually have to take her to court to get her to respect the rules and your right to live peacefully. read more

Florida ethics chairman Glen Gilzean is seeking a legal opinion on whether he can continue on the government watchdog panel while also working as the administrator of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Disney World oversight district.

Gilzean asked the ethics commission’s lawyers to provide an analysis by the close of business Wednesday, according to an email obtained through a public records request. The opinion was not available by Wednesday evening.

State law says ethics commissioners cannot hold “public employment.” Gilzean was hired in May to lead the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, drawing a $400,000-a-year salary from the special taxing district.

“Based on our conversations from a few months ago, I remained on the Commission on Ethics after starting employment with the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District,” Gilzean wrote Monday in the email to Steven Zuikowski, the commission’s general counsel. “In an abundance of caution and in light of concerns that were raised today, will you please provide me a written legal opinion … I don’t want there to be any appearance of a conflict of interest.” read more

SpaceX is set to send up another Starlink mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Wednesday night if weather cooperates.

A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 22 of the company’s internet satellites is now set to lift off from Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 11:36 p.m. with a backup launch opportunity at midnight. SpaceX opted to pass by three earlier launch opportunities. Further options to fly fall on Thursday during a window that runs from 7:49 p.m. and 11:11 p.m.

Space Launch Delta 45’s weather squadron had forecast poor conditions with only a 20% chance for favorable weather at the opening of the original launch target at 8 p.m., but that would improve to 65% chance for good conditions by the final launch opportunity. Similar conditions are in place in case of a 24-hour delay.

The first-stage booster is making its 13th flight and SpaceX will attempt its recovery again on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas downrange in the Atlantic.

This marks the 42nd Space Coast launch of the year, with all but two coming from SpaceX. read more