Things To Do In SW Florida

Turns out, you might be able to get reservations to visit Wekiwa Springs State Park this summer, but you’ll have to wait and possibly strategize.

The Orlando Sentinel reported Tuesday that the park’s website showed all summer days were booked through Sept. 1 under the park’s new ticketing system required to visit the popular attraction.

But the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, which oversees state parks, said Thursday its system only allows reservations 60 days in advance, meaning this week you can try to book through mid-May.

“It looks like there was some confusion,” said Alexandra Kuchta, of the DEP in an email.

Would-be park visitors who have tried to book a date beyond the 60-day window — in June or July, for example — saw messages that read “There are 0 facilities available based on your search,” and “These facilities do not have any available sites currently.” But they might be in luck if they try again later. A new 60-day reservation window to book a day at Wekiwa opens at midnight each day. read more

By MATT OTT, Associated Press

U.S. safety regulators on Thursday recalled virtually all Cybertrucks on the road, the eighth recall of the Tesla-made vehicles since deliveries to customers began just over a year ago.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recall, which covers more than 46,000 Cybertrucks, warned that an exterior panel that runs along the left and right sight of the windshield can detach while driving, creating a dangerous road hazard for other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

The stainless steel strip, called a cant rail assembly, between the windshield and the roof on both sides, is bound to the truck’s assembly with a structural adhesive, the NHTSA report said. The remedy uses an adhesive that’s not been found to be vulnerable to “environmental embrittlement,” the NHTSA said, and includes additional reinforcements.

Tesla will replace the panel free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 19, 2025.

The recall of 46,096 Cybertrucks covers all 2024 and 2025 model years, manufactured from November 13, 2023, to February 27, 2025. The NHTSA order says that Tesla became aware of the problem early this year. read more

Banking

Lynetta Tipton Steed was appointed executive vice president, head of business banking for the Florida and Texas markets for BankUnited Inc. She will be based in Orlando.

Health care

Heather B. Long was appointed senior vice president and Central Florida regional president for UF Health hospitals in The Villages and Leesburg and outpatient locations throughout  Lake and Sumter counties.

Law

Taylor Zymowski has joined Dean Mead as an attorney in the firm’s litigation department.

Real estate

Kim Simeone Tessitore has joined Premier Sotheby’s International Realty, Winter Park, as a sales advisor.

Brett Womack has joined Premier Sotheby’s International Realty, Seminole County, as a sales advisor.

Peter Yates has joined Premier Sotheby’s International Realty, Seminole County, as a sales advisor.

Other

Stephanie Garcia Mullins was appointed executive director of the MainStreet DeLand Association.

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

By MATT OTT, Associated Press Business Writer

Slightly more Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, but layoffs remain historically low.

U.S. jobless claims filings rose by 2,000 to 223,000 for the week ending March 15, the Labor Department said Thursday. That’s just less than the 224,000 new applications analysts forecast.

Weekly applications for jobless benefits are considered a proxy for layoffs, and have remained mostly in a range between 200,000 and 250,000 for the past few years.

The four-week average, which evens out some of the week-to-week swings, inched up by 750 to 227,000.

It’s not clear when job cuts ordered by the Department of Government Efficiency, or “DOGE,” will show up in the weekly layoffs report, though the Labor Department’s February jobs report showed that the federal government shed 10,000 jobs. That’s the most since June of 2022.

Economists don’t expect the federal workforce layoffs to have much of an impact until the March jobs report.

Those layoffs are part of the Trump administration’s efforts to shrink the size of the federal workforce through DOGE, spearheaded by billionaire Elon Musk. read more

Q: My boyfriend and I want to move in together but cannot find an affordable rental that allows pets. With interest rates and prices inching down, we are thinking about buying a starter home. We both have good jobs and strong credit. My mom reads your column and suggested I ask if this is a good idea. Thanks! — Rita

A: I cannot say if it is a good idea because I have not met your significant other, but with proper planning, buying property together can work out well.

Whenever people who are not married to each other buy property together, I recommend drafting a written agreement that outlines what each of you will be responsible for and discussing what happens if you break up.

This is especially important if one of you is providing more down payment than the other. Should your relationship sour, having an agreement in place will make dealing with the property easier and less costly.

The process of preparing a co-ownership agreement can also help set you up for success. Among other details, you will need to discuss who is responsible for the costs and maintenance and what happens if one of you has a career setback or falls ill and cannot pay their share. read more