Things To Do In SW Florida

By JT Genter | NerdWallet

Although U.S. airlines this year hadn’t experienced the kinds of mass cancellations and operational breakdowns that plagued the industry in 2022, carriers continued to struggle. Part of that is due to a record number of people flying. According to data from the Transportation Security Administration, 2023 has seen some of the highest-ever single-day numbers of people passing through airport security checkpoints.

NerdWallet reviewed data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics about on-time percentages, cancellation rates, flight diversions, mishandled baggage, tarmac delays and involuntary denied boardings to determine the most reliable — and least reliable — domestic airlines in the U.S. in 2023.

Here’s a look at performance in each category of the data.

On-time percentage

On-time percentage is the headline statistic for airline performance, since whether a flight is late, and by how much, affects every passenger on the flight. The BTS defines a flight as “on time” if it arrives at the destination gate no later than 15 minutes after the scheduled arrival time. read more

M-I-C-K-E-Y will soon belong to you and me.

With several asterisks, qualification and caveats, Mickey Mouse in his earliest form will be the leader of the band of characters, films and books that will become public domain as the year turns to 2024.

In a moment many close observers thought might never come, at least one version of the quintessential piece of intellectual property and perhaps the most iconic character in American pop culture will be free from Disney’s copyright as his first screen release, the 1928 short “Steamboat Willie,” featuring both Mickey and Minnie Mouse, becomes available for public use.

DESIGN DRAMA: An LA group pulled its float out of the 2024 Rose Parade. Mickey Mouse is partly to blame

“This is it. This is Mickey Mouse. This is exciting because it’s kind of symbolic,” said Jennifer Jenkins, a professor of law and director of Duke’s Center for the Study of Public Domain, who writes an annual Jan. 1 column for “Public Domain Day.” ”I kind of feel like the pipe on the steamboat, like expelling smoke. It’s so exciting.” read more

By Kate Ashford | NerdWallet

Floods, fires, historic storms — severe weather events are on the rise. If your home was hit by high water or a wildfire, would your important papers be safe?

“Unfortunately, I’ve had clients who’ve been victims of fires, flooding, hurricanes,” says Sev Tamayo, an agent with Goosehead Insurance in Palm Coast, Florida. “Some of them were prepared and some of them weren’t.”

Don’t be unprepared. Here’s what you need to do to protect your important documents.

What you should keep safe

The most important items to keep in a safe place are things that are difficult to replicate, which includes documents that prove identity, legal process or ownership. If you’d have to call a government agency to process a replacement, you probably want to store it somewhere where it can stay damage-free. You should also consider what you’d need to access if a disaster strikes.

Here are some items to consider, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency:

• Birth, adoption, death, marriage and divorce certificates.

• Passports, green cards and Social Security cards.

• Property documents pertaining to your home or rental properties, mortgage or lease, and vehicles.

• Pet ownership paperwork.

• Paper stock and bond certificates.

• Military discharge papers.

• Health records, health insurance information and disabilities documentation.

• Estate planning documents (powers of attorney, wills, advance directives and trust agreements).

• Property insurance documents, including policy numbers and declarations pages.

• Tax records.

• Financial statements (loans, credit cards, banks, retirement accounts and investment accounts), as well as income records (pay stubs and government benefits).

• Copies of driver’s licenses and other IDs, health insurance cards and credit cards.

• Family photos or heirlooms.

(For a complete checklist, visit ready.gov.) read more

Erik J. Martin |  Bankrate (TNS)

We may be in the thick of winter, but many homebuyers and sellers are starting to have warm thoughts about the housing market. That’s because, looking ahead, market indicators suggest we’ll see increased activity thanks to lower mortgage rates. Yet home prices remain high and inventory levels are tight in many markets.

How will the first quarter of 2024 shake out when it comes to rates, prices, sales activity and more? We asked top real estate experts to identify upcoming trends and offer their predictions.

What to expect in Q1 2024

The first quarter of the year is often a slower one for real estate due to colder weather and the inclination among buyers and sellers to wait things out until closer to spring.

“We typically see housing inventory remaining low until February and then ramping up from March onward,” says Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors. “Homebuying and open house visits also ramp up starting in March.”

Rick Sharga, founder and CEO of CJ Patrick Company, agrees. “Quarter number one is usually something of a reset for the housing market,” he says. “Prices and sales volume decline toward the end of the previous year, and January is often the weakest month in terms of pricing, inventory and sales activity. But things start to pick up in February and March. I expect the first quarter of 2024 to feel like a continuation of 2023, with relatively weak home sales and modest price increases. Still, mortgage rates have recently dropped at the quickest pace in decades, and will probably continue to decline through the first quarter — bringing more prospective buyers back into the market.” read more

When Sally Gonzalez’ apartment was damaged in a fire in March, she and her daughter lost most of their belongings, including a bed purchased just that day. But as they grappled with the unexpected expense, they found themselves in dire need of another necessity: food.

Friends from church suggested The Sharing Center in Longwood could help them back on their feet. Now the Gonzalez duo visit the food pantry there, the largest in Seminole County, monthly to keep their shelves stocked. They’re part of a growing group.

“Right now, food is very expensive,” said Gonzalez, of Winter Springs. “Between bread, meat and anything else, you’re talking about $100, and that goes toward our rent. So it’s been really hard.”

Charities throughout Central Florida say the region’s rising population of working poor is especially desperate for help.

This past year The Sharing Center handed out 2.3 million pounds of food to needy families, up 27% from the year prior. In the first two months of its current fiscal year, which began in October, demand is up another 37%, said Matt Borchelt, the chief operating officer. read more