By the Numbers

ZERO

How many Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) highschool students will be allowed to use cellphones in class once the fall semester begins in August. Emergency calls and texts will be allowed, but otherwise, students will only be able to use phones before and after school and during lunch.

THREE

The number of manatees, including a mother, her calf and an orphaned manatee, received by SeaWorld Orlando’s critical-care facility in May. The animals were rescued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and have reportedly recovered nicely.

SEVEN

The amount of top-10 ranked U.S. amusement parks that call Orlando home, according to TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice awards. Furthermore, Orlando laid claim to three of the nation’s 10 best water parks, and no other Florida cities landed on either list.

NO. 8

Orlando’s ranking among the top cities for mansions, defined as dwellings with at least five bedrooms and 15 rooms total (not counting bathrooms), throughout the U.S. The rank was based on a financial-technology analysis of 2014 Census Data from the nation’s top 100 metro areas.

$27 MILLION

The cost of Seminole County’s new sports mega-complex, which opened in May. Situated on 102 acres southeast of Orlando Sanford International Airport, the Seminole Sports Complex includes 15 athletic fields designed for use in football, soccer, baseball, softball and lacrosse.

Hit or Miss

Beginning in 2017, Orlando’s Camping World Stadium (CWS) will become the new home for the NFL’s annual Pro Bowl, which has been held in Hawaii since 1980. Additionally, the Miami Dolphins announced they will host their preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons at CWS on August 25, marking the first time since 1997 that an NFL game has been played in our town.

Per a new study from WalletHub.com, Orlando is the best city for soccer fans in the United States. To determine their rankings, WalletHub compared 51 different metrics among 296 U.S. cities with at least one pro or college soccer team, including team performance, lowest minimum season-ticket price, and stadium capacity.

Audubon Park was chosen as a 2016 Great American Main Street Award winner at the 2016 Main Street Now Conference in May. The honor, which was presented by Main Street America, is awarded to communities that use their main streets to create an exciting place to live, work, play and visit while preserving history and implementing model partnerships.

In May, Orlando International Airport (MCO) launched a new digital radio station, 105.1 HD2. The CBS-affiliated channel broadcasts airport information, travel updates, community news and entertainment to the millions of annual visitors to MCO. It can be heard on HD radios in 11 Florida counties and can also be streamed from MCO’s website and mobile app.

Nickelodeon Suites Resort, which has been an iconic Orlando hotel since 2005, is no more, having been rebranded as the Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Suites and Waterpark on June 1. Prior to the name change, the resort underwent a $30 million renovation that removed all traces of ties to Nickelodeon’s popular children’s shows.

Doki, a police dog who mauled a 7-year-old Fruitland Park girl in 2015, has landed a job with another police department—in the Netherlands, where he’ll work with the Dutch National Police. The family of the victim is understandably worried that what happened to their daughter could now happen to another law-abiding citizen.

Datebook

HARVEST GRAPE STOMP
August 13-14
Clermont’s Lakeridge Winery will host its 22nd annual Harvest Grape Stomp with grape-stomping competitions that are fun for the whole family. Guests will also enjoy continuous live music plus complimentary winery tours and tastings, with food and beverages available for purchase.
10-5 Saturday/11-5 Sunday, Clermont, $2 donations

ORLANDO WEDDING EXPO
August 21
Brides to be—even if just eventually— won’t want to miss the Orlando Wedding Expo. Attendees will have the chance to meet with more than 100 trusted wedding specialists offering complimentary services, cake tastings and more for a fun, entertaining day.
11:30-5, Hilton Orlando, $11-$25

THE BIG BANG BAZAAR
August 27
The Big Bang Bazaar will host more than 200 local indie artists and craftspeople, and it will also feature a free photo booth, the Orlando Psycho City Derby Girls and free movies. Handmade products such as clothing, accessories, jewelry, original art and more will be available for purchase.
11-6, Central Florida Fairgrounds, free

Did You Hear?

“June 12, 2016, was the most horrific day in the history of the City of Orlando. In the days since the tragedy, the members of our community have stood up and stood together to show the world the best humanity has to offer. Together we will remain Orlando United.”

—Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, after the community pulled together in the wake of the pulse nightclub shooting

Voice & Vent

This month, we look at the latest trends in home-solutions. When it comes to your own war on clutter, are you satisfied with your current situation, or are you looking for better solutions? Share your opinion by visiting OrlandoFamilyMagazine.com’s Polls section and answering:

“Are you happy with your current home-storage solutions or are you looking to upgrade?”

Click on“Vote” to make your choice count.

Next month, we’ll report back on what our readers are thinking.

In June, we asked: “When you go to the beach, are you more likely to head east or west?”

60% of you said EAST | 40% of you said WEST