News and information from throughout our community…

BY THE NUMBERS

576
Total acres of land Universal Orlando has purchased to expand the theme park. Universal has not divulged plans for the land but rumors of a new park are circulating.

$50,000
Amount a former female police officer received from the city of Ocoee after a lawsuit regarding gender and racial discrimination.

No.1
The ranking of Highway I-4 as the deadliest highway in the nation according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

$29.5 Million
Purchase price that a New Yorkbased investment firm paid for the Shoppes at Celebration Place inside Disney’s Celebration community.

$5,000
Amount on an Amazon gift card that a Winter Garden woman won on Live with Kelly and Ryan

$4.8million
Amount Ripley’s Believe It or Not! paid for a dress worn by Marilyn Monroe at John F. Kennedy’s 45th birthday gala in 1962.

HIT OR MISS

Orange County Public Schools will debut a new magnet school for gifted students in grades second through fifth. The full-time program will have limited capacity to 434 students and children must first be deemed eligible for consideration by the county before parents can apply.

Plans were unveiled for a $30 million library and events center project in Winter Park. Architect David Adjaye, one of Time’s Most Influential People of 2017, is the designer of the buildings proposed for Martin Luther King Jr. Park.

A new water park is being planned for Lake Nona and is said to feature a solarpowered water ski park, a climbing wall and a ropes course. The park is slated to open in summer 2018.

SeaWorld has seen a major drop in revenue and attendance from last year. Officials cite a decrease in national advertising along with Hurricane Irma having further impact on the Orlando location.

A camera battery exploded in a passenger’s bag at Orlando International, causing a security scare and flight delays.

An Orlando man who allegedly stole a car was also charged with attempting to drown a police dog while fleeing from authorities.

DATEBOOK

METROWEST FOOD TRUCK TAKEOVER
Dec. 14 and 28
Twice this month, nearly a dozen food trucks will roll into Veranda Park to help satisfy the cravings of Central Florida foodies looking for the next great bite. Expect plenty of variety from both the savory and sweet side of things as well as live music and other entertainment. 6-9 p.m., 6996 Piazza Grande Ave., Orlando, MetroWest- FoodTrucks.com, Free

KATY PERRY Dec. 17
In support of her latest album Witness, pop superstar Katy Perry takes the stage at the Amway Center to perform several songs from her vast catalog of chart-topping hits, including fan favorites like “Roar” and “Firework.” With a fan base that blends young and old alike, one can expect plenty of singing along taking place in the crowd. 7 p.m., 400 W. Church Street, Orlando, Amway- Center.com, tickets start at $47.50

WINDERMERE BOAT PARADE
Dec. 23
This annual nautical holiday celebration is one of the season’s biggest events as large crowds gather to witness the spectacle of numerous boats decked out in festive lighting make their way around Windermere’s Lake Butler and Wausan Bay. For more information, visit Town. Windermere.Fl.US

DID YOU HEAR?

“If you were about to tell me 10 years ago I was going to be a city commissioner, I would say ‘You’re crazy.”
—MATT MORGAN, FORMER WWE WRESTLER AND NEWLY ELECTED LONGWOOD CITY COMMISSIONER

This article originally appeared in Orlando Family Magazine’s December 2017 issue.