Things To Do In SW Florida

Aquatica, SeaWorld Orlando’s water park, is gearing up its springtime event named Aloha to Summer Celebration.

The programming will include sand-castle artists, a family-friendly dance party and games such as cornhole and ring toss (with prizes), all preceded by a welcome celebration with leis and tropical punch.

Aloha to Summer eats will include limited-time island-inspired options such as teriyaki pineapple burgers and ponzu pork dumplings. There’s also a new Tex-Mex menu at the water park’s Kookaburra Kitchen plus tropical sweets such as Hawaiian crumble Dippin’ Dots.

Disney to shut down Buzz Lightyear ride and give it a new spin

The festivities, included with regular Aquatica admission, will be available on Saturdays and Sundays between March 29 and May 11. The park’s usual array of slides, lazy rivers and splash areas also will be in operation.

Once Aloha to Summer wraps up, Aquatica will say hello to AquaGlow, its after-hours, neon-driven, separately ticketed event.

For more information, go to aquatica.com. read more

By Holden Lewis, NerdWallet

Want to be a successful home buyer this spring and summer? Act decisively and swiftly, whether your market is hot or cool.

That’s the advice from real estate agents in Boston (a hot, fast-selling market where buyers tussle over scarce houses) and in Dallas (a cooler, slower-selling market where competition isn’t so frenzied).

We’re entering the time of year when the sales pace picks up even in sedate housing markets. Around 4 million existing homes will be sold in 2025, and roughly half of them will change hands from April through August.

In the five years since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, demand has exceeded supply in most housing markets. That imbalance still exists in the hotter markets of New England, the Upper Midwest and much of California. The shortfall has eased (but not gone away) in some cities, notably in Florida, Texas, the Gulf coast and the Pacific Northwest — those are the cooler markets.

Real estate agents’ advice this homebuying season is consistent, no matter the temperature of the local market: Treat the search like a job. Get preapproved for a mortgage. read more

More than $100 million in state grant funding has been left unclaimed by My Safe Florida Home program applicants, and grant hopefuls are urged to immediately take steps to claim $10,000 for home-hardening projects.

The money is being reallocated from homeowners who completed their inspections and paperwork but did not follow through by completing their projects and requesting their grant, according to a memo released Wednesday by Senate President Ben Albritton.

The memo said that Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis notified the Senate that the program can reopen grant applications to distribute $103 million. That would cover about 10,300 new grants.

Albritton’s memo stated that the application portal will reopen through April 30 for homeowners who have already had an inspection.

On Thursday, Patronis’ office sent out a news release urging homeowners who have completed their home inspections to reenter the accounts they created on the program’s website, MySafeFlHome.com, and submit their ages and incomes on a prioritization survey. That information is needed to ensure that senior citizens and low-income homeowners are prioritized for grants, the release said. read more

Financial

Steven Porter has joined the Winter Park branch of Raymond James as senior vice president of investment.

Insurance

Chris DiMartino was hired as chief underwriting officer at Orion180, Melbourne.

Ryan Jesenik was promoted to president, insurance, at Orion180, Melbourne.

Law

Attorney Eric F. Werrenrath has been named a shareholder of the law firm of Winderweedle, Haines, Ward & Woodman P.A., Winter Park.

Other

Chadwick Leonard has joined 1000 Friends of Florida as conservation and planning advocacy coordinator.

Jaison Busby was appointed vice president of digital and technology at the Orlando Utilities Commission.

Submit professional appointments, management-level promotions and significant awards for individuals, along with photos as .jpg attachments, to peopleonmove@orlandosentinel.com.