Things To Do In SW Florida

Engineering

Dorian Maness was promoted to senior project manager at Matern Professional Engineering, Maitland.

Law

Adam J. Wicker has joined ShuffieldLowman as an attorney in the form’s Orlando office.

Public relations

Gisselle Garcia was hired as a senior public relations strategist at Curley & Pynn Public Relations Management, Orlando.

Real estate

Blake Hattaway has joined NAI Realvest, Orlando, as a sales associate.

Erica Atterbury was appointed as an associate at CrossMarc Services LLC, Winter Park.

Other

Bahíyyah Maroon was appointed vice president of mission impact at Goodwill Industries of Central Florida.

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

A Lake County Commissioner tried to push a plan this week to save Long and Scott Farms from development, but Commission Chair Leslie Campione shut the discussion down.

Still, Commissioner Anthony Sabatini made it clear in the commission’s Tuesday meeting that he wants the county to use public funds to preserve working farms. Lake County voters approved the $50 million Lake Forever bond referendum last November by 80%, but the funding won’t be available until 2026.

GrowhSpotter first reported  that the Scott family, which has farmed in Zellwood since the 1960s, applied in December to change their land use classification and zoning to allow for the development of an active adult community with an 18-hole golf course and other recreational amenities.

Long and Scott farm near Zellwood is being groomed for golf community

“So not talking about zoning, not talking about comp plan amendments,” Sabatini said. “But right now, we’re basically a crisis in this county because the county’s failed miserably for decades to protect certain elements of the community that I think give it a sense of identity and purpose and meaning.” read more

By MARC LEVY

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A spike in demand for electricity from tech companies competing in the artificial intelligence race is upending forecasts for natural gas-fired power in the U.S., as utilities reconsider it as a major new power source.

By ALEX VEIGA, AP Business Writer

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. eased for the sixth week in a row, a welcome boost in purchasing power for home shoppers just as the annual spring homebuying season gets going.

By HALELUYA HADERO and WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon on Wednesday unveiled a generative-AI infused Alexa that it says will allow the popular voice assistant to have more personality, check a user’s tone and even plan romantic dates.

But unlike before, when Alexa was offered for free on any Alexa-enabled devices, customers will have to pay Amazon a monthly fee of $19.99 for the revamped voice assistant, which it calls “Alexa+”. However, the generative-AI powered Alexa will be free for Prime members, who pay the company a monthly or annual fee for free delivery and other perks.

At a media event held in New York City, Amazon executives showed off the update to the ten-year old digital assistant with the new features aimed at boosting sales and interactions with Alexa-enabled devices.

The company says Alexa+ is able to have conversations with a more natural, humanlike flow and can learn more about a user — such as dietary preferences or allergies — the more it’s used. read more