Things To Do In SW Florida

Q: We have a neighbor with an overgrown tree. We’ve tried everything to get her to trim it. She won’t do it, and it drops debris on our lawn and makes a mess of our house. What are our options? — Greg

A: Dealing with a neighbor’s overgrown tree can be a frustrating experience, especially when it encroaches on your property. While the specifics can vary depending on local laws and regulations, there are some general steps you can take to address the situation.

First and foremost, communication is key. You’ve already taken a great first step by approaching your neighbor in a friendly and nonconfrontational way to discuss the issue. Sometimes, a simple conversation can lead to a resolution. Explain how the tree affects your property, from dropping limbs to creating a mess, and see if you can reach a mutual agreement on trimming it.

Since this direct approach did not yield results, you may need to explore other options. Check your local ordinances or homeowners’ association rules, if applicable, to understand your rights and responsibilities regarding tree maintenance. In most areas, when a tree is on your neighbor’s property, but its limbs or roots extend onto your property, you have the right to trim them back to the property line, as long as you don’t harm the tree’s overall health. read more

A local entrepreneur and restaurant owner is looking to open a unique restaurant concept — an all-halal food hall — a short drive north of Disney Springs.

Somita Enterprises LLC is behind an application to Orange County that calls for a 5,600-square-foot facility, according to a report in GrowthSpotter. The concept, going by the working name “Lake Buena Vista Food Hall”, would be built on a roughly 1.4-acre property at 11581 S. Apopka Vineland Rd. across the street from the Islamic Center of Orlando, which operates a mosque and a private school.

Halal food, which uses ingredients that are permitted for consumption according to Islamic law, incorporates a variety of meats such as beef, lamb, chicken, goat meat, and most seafood. Most notably, pork and alcohol are not considered halal.

The LLC is associated with Tahir Ansari, best known as [one of the original owners of the now-closed The Skull Kingdom on International Drive, who owns a franchise location of The Halal Guys in East Orlando. The restaurant features a Mediterranean-inspired menu, with beef gyro, chicken, and falafel sandwiches and platters among the food offerings. read more

By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS and MATT SEDENSKY, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Businesses around the country are reevaluating security after a brazen shooting at a New York City office building raised questions about what it takes to keep workplaces safe.

The attack on a seemingly secure building — in a gilded part of Manhattan where the rich live in sprawling apartments and tourists window-shop designer stores — has rattled workers and prompted managers to examine whether they are adequately protected.

“What should we be doing different?” clients are asking, said Brian Higgins, founder of Group 77, a Mahwah, New Jersey, security company that is among those getting peppered with an influx of calls. “How can we prevent something like this?”

The gut reaction of some companies, Higgins said, is to buy the latest technology and blanket their workplace in cameras. But, he cautioned, that’s only only effective if paired with consistency and long-term monitoring.

“If you’re going to add a security measure … you have to make sure you maintain it,” said Higgins, a former police chief who teaches security at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. read more

By MICHELLE L. PRICE and LISA MASCARO

WASHINGTON (AP) — The children’s savings program included in President Donald Trump’s tax break-and-spending cut law “is a back door for privatizing Social Security,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday.

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Bessent’s remark, which he made at a forum hosted by Breitbart News, was striking after Trump’s repeated promises that he would not cut Social Security. Democrats quickly seized on the comment as a sign the GOP wants to revive a dormant but unpopular push to privatize the long-running retirement program. read more

By DAMIAN TROISE, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Investors occasionally scoop up shares of companies whose financial prospects appear dim. The consensus around such companies is that the shares should, if anything, fall further. But they suddenly get touted in online forums and take off for no fundamental reason. Wall Street has dubbed them “meme stocks.”

Here are some characteristics of meme stocks:

Poor growth prospects

Meme stock investors typically look for companies with poor financials that are unlikely to grow much in coming years. This could be due to a number of factors, such as an outdated business model or fierce competition.

Examples: GameStop, the original meme stock, faced a changing gaming environment where online gaming essentially replaced the need for video-game rental stores. Kohl’s, battered for years by growth of online shopping, is now facing an increasingly competitive retail market that includes traditional department stores like Macy’s and big-box retailers like Walmart.

Beaten down share price

Meme stocks are cheap. That’s often part of the big attraction for investors looking to turn a quick profit. The low price allows for easier entry. read more