Things To Do In SW Florida

Port Canaveral welcomed the largest cruise ship to ever call it home as Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas arrived on Thursday morning.

It’s the latest Oasis-class ship larger than its five sister vessels including 2022’s Wonder of the Seas, which also calls Port Canaveral home. It’s only second in size to the new Icon of the Seas, part of a larger class of ship that sails out of Miami.

The ship had been on a transatlantic voyage since late June after it left the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France where it had been under construction since 2022.

The 236,860-gross-ton Utopia is 1,188 feet long with 18 decks and a 5,668-passenger capacity based on double occupancy. Original ship in the class Oasis of the Seas was the largest in the world when it debuted in 2009 followed by 2010’s Allure of the Seas, 2016’s Harmony of the Seas, 2018’s Symphony of the Seas and 2022’s Wonder of the Seas.

The vessel to made its way into port passing by Jetty Park at 7:15 a.m. and arriving to Cruise Terminal 1 by 8 a.m. read more

The Royal Caribbean Utopia of the Seas passes Jetty Park while making its inaugural arrival at Port Canaveral, Fla., at dawn, Thursday, July 11, 2024. At 236,860-gross-tons –with a passenger capacity of 5,668– the ship is the second largest in the world and the largest to call Port Canaveral home. Utopia of the Seas is scheduled to sail on its first passenger cruise on July 19. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Fans of the Royal Caribbean Utopia of the Seas wave as the cruise ship makes its inaugural docking at Terminal 1 at Port Canaveral, Fla., Thursday, July 11, 2024. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Crew members on deck the Royal Caribbean Utopia of the Seas as it makes its inaugural arrival at Port Canaveral, Fla., at dawn, Thursday, July 11, 2024. At 236,860-gross-tons –with a passenger capacity of 5,668– the ship is the second largest in the world and the largest to call Port Canaveral home. Utopia of the Seas is scheduled to sail on its first passenger cruise on July 19. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) read more

When Kim Johnson was pulled over in April during a traffic stop, she wasn’t worried about the three pot gummies in her purse.

A Treasure Island police officer found them while searching Johnson’s car after ticketing her for driving with a suspended license.

The officer found the slightly melted gummies in a clear plastic baggie and asked Johnson, 47, if she had a medical marijuana card. She didn’t. She figured she might get a fine. Then the officer told her having the gummies in her possession was akin to having Xanax illegally, she said.

The officer charged her with possession of a controlled substance, a felony that could carry a penalty of up to five years in prison. Johnson cried.

Over the last several decades, hundreds of thousands of Floridians have been arrested for having an amount of marijuana that could soon become legal if a proposed amendment passes in November.

Amendment 3 would allow people to possess up to three ounces of recreational marijuana. But even if it passes, the records of those who’ve already been arrested won’t be cleared. read more

Q: After selling our prior home and moving to the area, we are purchasing a home from a lovely couple. A few days before the closing, we were told the husband unexpectedly passed away. While we feel bad for the grieving widow, all of our things are in storage, and we still need a place to live. What are our rights? — Kim

A: Real estate transactions are controlled by the agreement the parties signed. Your first step is to review your contract, paying particular attention to the fine print.

Most contracts will have a clause dealing with this issue, often titled “Persons Bound” or something similar, and say something like, “This contract is binding on, and inures to, the parties and their respective heirs or successors in interest.”

This means that if the owner passes away or even deeds the house to someone else, the heirs or new owner would still be bound by the contract.

It also means that if the buyer were to pass away, their estate would need to complete the deal or risk losing the earnest money deposit. read more

By Taylor Getler | NerdWallet

For many homeowners of retirement age, much of their net worth is tied up in their home equity, their home value minus any remaining liens. Home equity makes up 47% of the net worth of a median white homeowner age 62 or older, 81% of total net worth for older Black homeowners and 89% of total net worth for older Latino homeowners, according to the Urban Institute.

If you’re looking for ways to cover expenses after retirement, you may consider converting some of your home equity into cash. “There is no universally ‘best’ source of cash flow in retirement,” says Andy Panko, owner of Tenon Financial in Metuchen, New Jersey, and a retirement income certified professional. But those who hesitate to draw from their home’s well of equity “may be depriving themselves of a great source of cash flow during their retirement years.”

It’s important to think through what you hope to leave behind, if anything. If your goal is to leave your home as a legacy, “you should generally try to avoid having any form of mortgage against the property outstanding when you die” says Panko. However, if this isn’t your main priority, “it could make sense to ‘unlock’ the equity in your home and use it during your lifetime via some form of mortgage.” read more