MEASLES - Measles is a vaccine-preventable disease The best way to protect against it is through the measles kent.donahue@flhealth.gov — The Florida Department of Health in Orange County (DOH-Orange) cautions the public of the presence of blue-green algae in Lake Catherine (near Tonka Drive) on April 24 Blue-green algae have the potential to produce toxins Since environmental conditions can change at any time even if presence of toxins has not yet been confirmed Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions: Blue-green algae are a type of bacteria that is common in Florida’s freshwater environments A bloom occurs when rapid growth of algae leads to an accumulation of individual cells that discolor water and often produce floating mats that emit unpleasant odors Blue-green algae blooms can also appear as scum, foam, or paint on the surface of the water in various colors. To learn more about the appearance of algae blooms, visit Protecting FloridaTogether Some environmental factors that contribute to blue-green algae blooms are sunny days Blooms can appear year-round but are more frequent in summer and fall Many types of blue-green algae can produce toxins Blue-green algae may not always be visible as a bloom which can be harmful to humans and pets as well as ecosystems the elderly and those who are immunocompromised) may still be at risk even at low concentrations and should avoid any exposure For additional information on potential health effects of algae blooms, visit the FloridaDepartment of Health's harmful algae blooms webpage Where Can I Find Current Water Status Information Where Can I Report Issues Related to Algae Blooms If you have other health questions or concerns about blue-green algae The Department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state MCINTOSH — The Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) opened expanded hiking trails at the Marjorie A. Hoy Memorial Park at Orange Lake Overlook with a ribbon cutting event on Feb The memorial park and overlook are adjacent to the long shuttered Orange Lake Citrus Shop and signature windmill It's on the east side of the highway just south of McIntosh ACT made separate parcel purchases in 2019 and 2022 from the Huff and Sawallis families to protect the natural environment in an area surrounding Orange Lake a Gainesville-based nonprofit focused on natural land preservation works with state and federal programs to purchase land like these tracts and ensure the property is protected The additional acreage from the 2022 acquisition allowed the trail network to be expanded from 1 1/2 miles to 3 miles said in opening remarks that the 83.5 acres purchased from the Sawallis family was formerly cattle grazing land He said the family wanted to be sure the land was never destroyed “We want to keep this beautiful view intact,” Kay said while backdropped by a panoramic view of Orange Lake and the surrounding natural terrain Kay indicated ACT plans to convert the former Orange Lake Citrus Shop into a museum The earlier land acquisition at the site by ACT was about 71 acres in total purchased from the Huff family in 2019 According to alachuaconservationtrust.org habitat restoration and management and environmental education and outreach in 22 North Central Florida counties accompanied by his 13-year-old Labradoodle At least 100 people attended the ribbon cutting former director of the Silver River Museum and a decorated environmentalist James and Carol MacDonald were among the first group to enter the new trails after the ribbon was cut Carol MacDonald was raised in Ocala and the couple now live in the Palatka area Fun at the festival: Photos from the Ocala Habitat Strawberry Festival 2025 “We can’t let developers cover our state with asphalt,” she said William Harris of Ocala and David Pais of Gainesville were there as were Render and Susan Grizzard of nearby Fairfield “I think it’s great,” Render Grizzard said of the move to preserve the natural landscape vsDartmouth Orange Split Day One at Lake Morey4/26/2025 8:15:00 PM | Men's Rowing The Alachua Conservation Trust held a grand opening for the newly protected and restored land of Orange Lake Overlook on Friday The organization also worked to expand trails to a total of three miles a little concerned about the potential for this being developed and turned into homes and we didn't want to see that,” said Tom Kay the Alachua Conservation Trust’s executive director With the help of community donations and loans the trust was able to buy the land back for the community and restore its history the 300-acre hill was planted with citrus groves and his wife managed the land and orange shop serving fresh orange juice for travelers along the highway until his death grew up around the orange groves that filled the overlook and White remembers visiting a drive-in overlook with a view of the groves and lake as a child drove out to the event to enjoy the view once again Its new owners were a farmer and a pharmacist from Ft After watching South Florida become increasingly developed over the years they wanted to ensure that the land was never developed and worked with the Alachua Conservation Trust to sell the land “They were really willing to work with us,” Kay said “We are trying to keep the rural character of this place intact.” Kay said the goals of the expansion are to protect the environmentally sensitive land and provide recreational activities for the community to enjoy “We live in a wonderful community that… realizes the importance of conserving these places so I'm really grateful to you all,” Kay told the more than 70 people at the grand opening Natalie Lyons volunteers every weekend to take care of the butterfly garden at Orange Lake Overlook She watched the work done to make the new land ready for public use She said it's her favorite part of the week adding that she enjoyed walking the new trails before they were open to the public The trust's next steps are to work toward renovating the former citrus shop into a citrus museum It also hopes to make space for a center for public use The Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) will host a grand opening ceremony celebrating the 86-acre expansion of the Orange Lake Overlook Preserve on Friday Hoy Memorial Park at Orange Lake Overlook (19865 N US Hwy 441 This expansion will enhance the conservation of one of North Central Florida’s most scenic and historically significant landscapes Originally inhabited by the Timucua people in the 16th century the area later became a hub for citrus farming in the 19th and 20th centuries The land’s preservation efforts have been a community-driven initiative to safeguard its natural beauty and historical significance from development but pavement-pounding journalism is not free Join your neighbors who make this vital work possible The Orange Lake Overlook now offers public access to hiking and nature trails providing visitors with a glimpse into Florida’s past while enjoying breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape Guests should note that the trails are unpaved Dogs are welcome but must remain leashed at all times Click here for more information Join your neighbors who make this work possible RSL v New York Red Bull to be Streamed LIVE via *www.RSL.com* WEDNESDAY at 1:30p MT / 3:30p ET; 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup First-Round Match in Costa Rica NEXT Wed. MLS Opener at San Jose Earthquakes on Sat. INDIO, Calif. (Tuesday, February 11, 2025) – Real Salt Lake concludes its 2025 preseason travels with Wednesday’s Coachella Valley Invitational match against fellow Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls, a match that will stream LIVE via www.RSL.com at 1:30 p.m RSL will also compete in a 90-minute scrimmage against USL Championship side Orange County SC immediately following the CVI contest ensuring action for all 30 players currently in preseason camp for the Claret-and-Cobalt RSL will train at its Herriman-based Zions Bank Training Center this weekend with Saturday and Sunday midday sessions slated prior to Monday’s flight to San José where the Utah-based Club will kick off the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup on Wednesday Following the first leg of the Round One series against the Costa Rican Apertura champions to kick off its 21st Major League Soccer season against Western Conference rival Earthquakes now featuring iconic American coach Bruce Arena and former RSL striker Cristian Arango Real Salt Lake hosts Herediano in the second leg of its First Round CONCACAF Champions Cup series on Wed., Feb. 26, with tickets still available at www.RSL.com/tickets while its 2025 MLS home opener will be played the afternoon of Sat. March 1 against long-time West rival Seattle Sounders FC RSL won 12 of 19 games played at home across all competitions losing just three and returning its Sandy venue to its fortress-like home once again while the Utah side’s 2024 road record – with 14 away results from a 5W-5L-9T record – was second only to the new standard achieved in 2023 (11-7-5 / 38 points all competitions) Returning nearly 23,000 minutes played from last year’s roster RSL looks to build upon a record-setting 2024 campaign as last year saw RSL advance to the MLS Cup Playoffs for a sixth time in seven seasons (2020 the lone exception) and for the 14th time in the last 17 seasons since first qualifying in 2008 (2015 The 2024 MLS regular season reached an all-time high of 59 points for RSL which finished third in the Western Conference and sixth overall in the 29-team MLS shield race while also establishing a new all-time scoring high of 65 goals RSL opens 2025 looking for a fifth consecutive MLS postseason berth on top of a highly-anticipated CONCACAF Champions Cup run RSL’s fourth-ever and first participation in the continental competition since 2016 Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More CENTRAL FLORIDA — Flagler County implemented a burn ban as of 5 p.m April 23 and extended it to May 7 on Wednesday because of ongoing dry weather conditions It has declared a state of emergency to enforce it The move came a day after Brevard County implemented a burn ban joining bans previously put in place by Seminole The Flagler ban includes the discharge or use of fireworks flares or other items containing any “explosive compound,” open burning outdoor cookers and grills unless continuously attended by an adult throwing burning materials like matches and cigarettes from vehicles and parking vehicles with catalytic converters in high grassy areas Flagler County's state of local emergency can be declared for seven days and be extended in seven-day intervals during which time the county may waive the procedures and formalities otherwise required of political subdivisions by law The Brevard County ban applies to open burning trash burning and other incineration countywide The Seminole ban also is countywide and prohibits the ignition and burning of open fires The Orange County ban prohibits all outdoor burning without a permit and covers all unincorporated areas of the county as well as municipalities serviced by Orange County Fire Rescue Volusia County put an outdoor burn ban in place for unincorporated areas as well as Oak Hill Lake Helen and Pierson because of unusually high drought indicators Lake County has had a burn ban in place since March 25 All outdoor burning not authorized by the Florida Forest Service is prohibited Outdoor cooking done with a contained gas or charcoal grill (excluding a fire pit) is permissible under the ban Lake County excludes pits that have a total fuel area of 3 feet or less in diameter and 2 feet or less in height from the ban the ban excludes the use of barbecue grills authorized public fireworks displays and fireworks sales Outdoor burning of yard waste is banned year round in Orange County Burn bans in Florida are issued when the Keetch-Byram Drought Index reaches 500 The drought index measures soil dryness on a scale of 1 to 800 when the KBDI rating falls below 500 for five consecutive days residents will be notified that the burn ban has been lifted Even though no other Central Florida counties have reached a KBDI rating of 500, all of Central Florida is rated high on the Wildland Fire Danger Index The FDI is an estimate of the potential for a fire to start and require suppression Fire crews with Volusia County and the Florida Forest Service are currently fighting a wildfire near New Smyrna Beach.  ban violations are punishable by a fine up to $500 and/or imprisonment in county jail for up to 60 days Volusia County Fire Rescue personnel issue violation notices to any person found in violation of the burn ban and also will extinguish any fire not authorized by the Florida Forest Service Central Florida is currently in its dry season, and cold fronts that often bring rain to the area have been mostly dry in March and April, according to Spectrum News 13 meteorologists. Stronger-than-normal winds recently have helped dry out vegetation. They are forecasting a few possible sprinkles Wednesday but mostly dry conditions through Friday Fire officials urge Central Floridians to practice wildfire safety measures to protect themselves and their property kent.donahue@flhealth.gov — The Florida Department of Health in Orange County (DOH-Orange) cautions the public of the presence of blue-green algae in Lake Sue (S About the Florida Department of Health  Time to celebrate! Expansion of the Orange Lake Overlook south of McIntoshOcala Star-BannerThe Alachua Conservation Trust is holding a ceremony on Feb 28 to mark the grand opening of an 86-acre expansion of the Orange Lake Overlook Preserve "In 2023, thanks to your donations and bridge loans, ACT acquired this addition from the Sawallis family. The preserve has more than doubled in size to 155 acres and will feature new hiking trails and recreational opportunities," the organization said in a Facebook post. It is on the east side of the highway just south of McIntosh The existing overlook land was purchased in 2019. Contact:Kent DonahueKent.Donahue@flhealth.gov407-858-1418 — The Florida Department of Health in Orange County (DOH-Orange) has issued a health alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algae toxins in Bass Lake – Center The alert is in response to a water sample taken on October 31 The public should exercise caution in and around Bass Lake – Center Blue-green algae blooms can also appear as scum, foam, or paint on the surface of the water in various colors. To learn more about the appearance of algae blooms, visit Protecting Florida Together which can be harmful to human and pets as well as ecosystems For additional information on potential health effects of algae blooms, visit the Florida Department of Health's harmful algae blooms webpage Current information about Florida’s water quality status and public health notifications for harmful algae blooms and beach conditions is available at Protecting Florida Together You can subscribe to receive notifications when water quality changes in your area The Department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board Follow us on X at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health, visit FloridaHealth.gov Contact:Kent Donahuekent.Donahue@flhealth.gov407-858-1418 — The Florida Department of Health in Orange County (DOH-Orange) cautions the public of the presence of blue-green algae in Bass Lake Highland (E Shore) and Lake Mann (McQueen Park) on January 31 For additional information on potential health effects of algae blooms, visit the Florida Department of Health's harmful algae blooms webpage Follow us on X at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health, visit FloridaHealth.gov — The Florida Department of Health in Orange County (DOH-Orange) has issued a health alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algae toxins in Big Sand Lake (from dock) and Lake Formosa (pedestrian bridge) The alert is in response to water samples taken on February 5 The public should exercise caution in and around Big Sand Lake (from dock) and Lake Formosa (pedestrian bridge) Kent.Donahue@flhealth.gov — The Florida Department of Health in Orange County (DOH-Orange) has issued a health alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algae toxins in Big Sand Lake—from Dock The alert is in response to a water sample taken on January 13 The public should exercise caution in and around Big Sand Lake—from Dock Blue-green algae blooms can also appear as scum, foam, or paint on the surface of the water in various colors. To learn more about the appearance of algae blooms, visit Protecting FloridaTogether but it can still be present in the water.  Current information about Florida’s water quality status and public health notifications for harmful algae blooms and beach conditions is available at Protecting Florida Together You can subscribe to receive notifications when water quality changes in your area Where Can I Report Issues Related to Algae Blooms?  — The Florida Department of Health in Orange County (DOH-Orange) has issued a health alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algae toxins in Lake Hancock (John Hancock Boat Ramp) The alert is in response to water samples taken on February 27 The public should exercise caution in and around Lake Hancock (John Hancock Boat Ramp) Blue-green algae blooms can also appear as scum, foam, or paint on the surface of the water in various colors. To learn more about the appearance of algae blooms, visit Protecting Florida Together — The Florida Department of Health in Orange County (DOH-Orange) cautions the public of the presence of blue-green algae in Lake Jessamine (Bywater Boat Ramp) on March 26 Follow us on X at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health, visit FloridaHealth.gov — The Florida Department of Health in Orange County (DOH-Orange) has issued a health alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algae toxins in Lake Ola – NE Dock The alert is in response to a water sample taken on December 2 The public should exercise caution in and around Lake Ola – NE Dock A dock on Lake Mattawa along Holtshire Road in Orange ORANGE — Tempers flared at Town Hall on Wednesday and the woman serving as the Selectboard’s vice chair walked out of a meeting for the second time in almost two years in response to a comment Selectboard Chair Tom Smith made about a report filed by the Lake Mattawa Docks Subcommittee she served on left the session in protest 30 minutes into it Lussier was the Selectboard’s clerk and stormed out of a meeting after being denied the vice chair position and accusing her colleagues of colluding against her because I can’t waste my time,” an infuriated Lussier said as she stood up to leave “I can’t waste my time like this and look around at all your little cohorts The point of contention was the continuation of a discussion regarding how to resolve the issue of unlicensed docks and other structures along the Lake Mattawa shoreline The Selectboard in July 2024 received a complaint from the state Department of Environmental Protection that focused on Holtshire Road and access by the public is blocked by chains and “no trespassing” signs This prompted the creation of the Lake Mattawa Docks Subcommittee to study regulations Subcommittee member Kevin Mills delivered a presentation at the Selectboard’s Jan. 22 meeting explaining that the subcommittee recommends the town request that MassDEP administer Chapter 91 licensing of the water-dependent structures on Lake Mattawa fair and equitable process for town residents It would also substantially limit Orange’s administrative costs and eliminate the town’s responsibility to monitor compliance of the Chapter 91 waterways regulations Smith made a motion to disband the Lake Mattawa Docks Subcommittee But Lussier said she would prefer to keep the group remain intact until there is a resolution to the issue Selectboard Clerk Andrew Smith nodded his head in agreement but member Jane Peirce seconded Tom Smith’s motion Andrew Smith started to say he sees no point in disbanding the committee but he then remembered he has recused himself from this discussion due to having a personal logistical and financial interest in the outcome Tom Smith and Lussier agreed that disbanding the committee had been discussed at the Jan but Lussier said she had not foreseen this matter dragging on “We may have been premature in thinking that there might have been a vote that night,” she said “So I would say that I think the committee would like to remain in force until we have some kind of a final vote on this.” Peirce said she appreciates the subcommittee’s work and the proposal put before the Selectboard “but frankly I don’t see a lot that can be salvaged from the recommendations and I don’t think that perpetuating the committee is going to take us in a direction that will be productive.” Lussier asked Peirce if she wants to disregard everything the Lake Mattawa Docks Subcommittee recommended and Peirce replied But I don’t think that your committee can fix it.” This prompted Lussier to say a conversation should be revisited regarding what she perceives as Peirce’s conflict of interest on this matter Lussier cited Andrew Smith’s recusal and encouraged Peirce to follow suit Tom Smith tried to call for a vote on his motion but Peirce told him to let Lussier finish “And I have been interviewed by an inspector from the [state] Ethics Commission at which time I supported Jane and I defended her and said ‘When it was mentioned to her that she had a conflict she graciously stepped back and had no further involvement in it.’” Selectboard member Julie Davis chimed in to say she didn’t think that was “the most appropriate conversation to have right now if you’re talking about ethics investigations.” Peirce responded that it would be a surprise to her to learn she was investigated and the Selectboard then took its vote on whether to disband the Lake Mattawa Docks Subcommittee — with Tom Smith Peirce and Davis opting in favor of the motion and Lussier voting against it Lussier advocated for the subcommittee and its research and recommendations 22 presentation “was not the greatest” because he did not seem particularly informed “This is the method that you people use over and over again when it’s something you just don’t like and you just don’t want to do,” Lussier argued “So you get all your little ducks in a row — who’s going to make the motion and who’s going to second — and it’s such a crock the way you people run this.” Tom Smith told Lussier she was being unprofessional and the matter was closed He reiterated that the presentation was handled poorly likely because Mills was filling in for someone who didn’t show up When Lussier referenced the subcommittee’s report “If you want to call it a report — I don’t think it was a very good report.” This resulted in Lussier standing up and leaving A man near the room’s doorway began arguing with Tom Smith who told the man to leave or he would call the police Tom Smith declined to comment when contacted by the Greenfield Recorder on Thursday and an attempt to reach Lussier was unsuccessful Subcommittee member Rhonda Bartlett stood up in the audience and said she and her colleagues worked hard on the presentation delivered by Mills She said Tom Smith’s comments were insulting and she had been hoping to get feedback on the subcommittee’s recommendations Peirce said she loves Lake Mattawa and its beauty but disagreed with the recommendation to remove many docks as a way to increase public access She said she would have preferred a report that pointed out ways to leave the docks in the water while also increasing public access and making the boat launch safer approached the microphone and introduced himself as an “ex-member of the disbanded subcommittee.” He said dock owners need Chapter 91 licenses but the real problem is people thinking they privately own the decks steps and other structures they have installed on the town-owned shoreline Davis said she believes an absolutist approach won’t work as “this is not a black-and-white issue.” She acknowledged docks and other structures need to be inspected and permitted but said she had hoped the presentation would suggest steps that could be taken to remedy the problem “There’s this thing called ‘grandfathering.’ We could grandfather things We could be ‘The Friendly Town,’” she said referencing Orange’s official moniker for itself Davis also asked everyone to “take a collective breath” and embrace “a better way of speaking with each other.” Mills then pushed back on Tom Smith’s repeated claims that no other subcommittee members were present on Jan Bartlett and others were in attendance at that meeting Pierce later said the town must find a way to allow the existing docks to remain while also creating some fair regulations regarding size and quantity She and Davis agreed to explore those possibilities and present their findings to their colleagues in four weeks spoke for Lake Mattawa Association President Matthew Gilmore who was on the agenda but could not attend the meeting She read a statement that thanked the Selectboard for putting the association on the agenda and said the Jan 22 presentation gave members a sense of the subcommittee’s conclusion it was noted that all these discussions have taken place without the presence of town counsel or input from affected landowners “We are requesting that we be allowed to have our attorneys meet with town counsel to discuss progress toward a resolution that meets the goals of both the town and the residents,” Rahaim read Resident David Korpiewski mentioned he would like dock owners represented on any future docks subcommittees as he perceived that many on the disbanded one were “very anti-dock.” and as a republic we have representatives,” he said “I don’t feel that committee was representative of the people affected by this policy.” Tom Smith reassured people in the audience he is not their enemy and he wants this issue to be resolved as much as they do He said Lussier’s behavior was unacceptable and thanked people for their presence Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120 you agree with our use of cookies to personalize your experience measure ads and monitor how our site works to improve it for our users Alachua Conservation Trust adds 263 acres of conservation land to Orange LakeSpecial to The SunThe Alachua Conservation Trust has completed the purchase of 263 acres containing tributaries to Orange Lake was purchased from the Richardson and Waldorff families with support from the River Branch Foundation It is part of the shoreline and marshland located along Orange Lake in the southern reaches of Alachua County and is part of a larger system of protected wetlands known asthe Lochloosa Wildlife Corridor Project the River Styx property expands conservation efforts by ACT and its partners in this region Protection of this property will prevent future development along the lake as well as safeguard habitat for waterfowl A generous gift from the River Branch Foundation was utilized by ACT to immediately protect the property ACT will later receive grant funds awarded through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) for this property allowing it to shift existing funds for the protection of additional conservation lands in North Central Florida “We are grateful to the River Branch Foundation for their support of our conservation efforts as well as the Richardson and Waldorff families for their stewardship over this land and their interest in seeing it conserved,” said ACT Executive Director Tom Kay “Not only will this property expand habitat within the Lochloosa Wildlife Corridor it will also provide a future opportunity for public access to Orange Lake for passive recreation Conserving this land has been a high priority of ACT and its partners for decades.” The River Branch Foundation is a private charitable foundation based in Florida that focuses its giving primarily for environmental issues including the permanent protection of of land NAWCA is a federal program that provides matching funds for public-private partnership projects that protect wetlands and associated uplands habitats for the benefit of migratory birds This NAWCA project is in partnership with Alachua County Orange Head West for Salt Lake City2/27/2025 8:38:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse — The Florida Department of Health in Orange County (DOH-Orange) cautions the public of the presence of blue-green algae in Lake Highland - NW Shore on January 7 For additional information on potential health effects of algae blooms, visit the FloridaDepartment of Health's harmful algae blooms webpage Where Can I find Current Water Status Information Current information about Florida’s water quality status and public health notifications for harmful algae blooms and beach conditions is available at Protecting Florida Together. You can subscribe to receive notifications when water quality changes in your area Where Can I Report Issues Related toAlgae Blooms LAKE COUNTY – People who live off of Sawgrass Bay Boulevard in Clermont are planning a protest over the planned connector road between Lake and Orange counties the Lake County Commission approved a bid for the roundabout project on their side of the road but people are wondering what’s happening on the Orange County side Marcus Vivone said the connector road was a huge reason why he bought his home in the Serenoa Lakes neighborhood “It’s like there is a huge lack of integration,” Vivone said and it seems that these stories are not matching.” [EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos] Daniel Cigreo also lives in the Serenoa Lakes Neighborhood and worries about the safety issues that come with not having this connector road He said in some cases; they’ve been blocked inside their neighborhood and we don’t have any outlet,” Cigreo said The connector road would also help with people’s commute times Debbie Running is a retiree who would have liked to pick up a part time job at the theme parks “I thought maybe I’d get a little job at Disney but I’m not going to get a job at Disney and have to drive all the way out there,” Running said “I’ll use all my earnings in gas and mileage on my car.” Now neighbors are planning a protest to make their feelings about the road abundantly clear “We don’t need a large avenue with four lanes we just need what was promised to neighbors on this neighborhood,” Vivone said We reached out to Orange County and asked them several questions about the project and its timeline Emily: I just wanted to reach out this morning and touch base and request any timelines or statements from the county on this project Emily: Has Orange County began work on its side of the project Emily: Who is the owner of the land where the project is supposed to take place Emily: Has the county been in contact with the owner of the land to get an update on the project’s timeline Emily: Is there any possibility this project could not be completed To see the full agreement for the project, click here. To see the first amendment to the agreement, click here. Copyright 2025 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us / Follow on Social Media Careers at WKMG Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications EEO Report Disability Assistance Copyright © 2025 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group ORANGE — Selectboard members will use the next week and a half to mull over recommendations to resolve the issue of unlicensed docks and other structures along the Lake Mattawa shoreline and access by the public is blocked by chains and “no-trespassing” signs This prompted the formation of the Lake Mattawa Docks Subcommittee to study regulations Lake Mattawa Docks Subcommittee member Kevin Mills came before the Selectboard this week to share his group’s research and suggestions Board members agreed to discuss the recommendations and possibly vote on the matter at the Feb “This is the culmination of several months of work by our subcommittee that was appointed … [in the] late summer,” said Lake Mattawa Docks Subcommittee member Pat Lussier who also serves the Selectboard’s vice chair Mills explained the subcommittee collaborated with MassDEP and the state Department of Conservation and Recreation to thoroughly understand the regulations that apply to Lake Mattawa The subcommittee reportedly reviewed existing dock licenses and deeds and ownership on the lake’s shoreline It held a series of meetings to discuss the findings receive input from the public and develop recommendations Orange is liable for unlicensed structures that exist on town-owned land One of the primary requirements to apply for a Chapter 91 license is to show the applicant has ownership of the shoreline or show that permission has been granted by the owner of the shoreline The town owns most of the lake’s shoreline Mills explained some lake residents might have licenses but they are likely not the owner of the shoreline land To obtain a license for a dock on Lake Mattawa the town would need to sign off on the Chapter 91 license applications for these water-dependent structures to receive authorization An order of conditions from the Conservation Commission must be obtained to conduct work that changes the land at Lake Mattawa’s embankment The 118-acre Lake Mattawa — a popular swimming boating and fishing spot that is stocked with trout and salmon and has a beach and a boat ramp — was reportedly created with the intention of establishing a waterworks facility for the town four takings were made by the town’s water commissioners so a dam could be built to increase the lake’s size Although deeds exist that claim ownership of the shoreline there is no evidence that the town transferred titles to the shoreline except for the point at the lake’s northernmost part The subcommittee recommends the town request that MassDEP administer Chapter 91 licensing of the water-dependent structures on Lake Mattawa fair and equitable process for all town residents It would also substantially limit administrative costs to Orange and eliminate responsibility of the town to monitor compliance of the Chapter 91 waterways regulations The water commissioners will consider co-signing applications for Chapter 91 waterways licensing for existing docks only If a property on Holtshire Road or Lake Mattawa Road is sold or transferred The town will not co-sign Chapter 91 license applications if the in-water structure did not exist at the time of the decision if the in-water structure is not in compliance with all applicable regulations and if temporary and permanent structures and site improvements associated with the in-water structure have not been removed as ordered from town-owned land Mills also noted the Selectboard can investigate assessors’ fees as well as property taxes collected from assessments to use for maintenance of Lake Mattawa Lussier said developing a licensing procedure would entail an involved and lengthy process and she recommended that “we simply let the MassDEP do their thing and administer this licensing program the Orange Conservation Commission’s chair was a member of the subcommittee and mentioned that removing what has been installed in the lake may further damage the area said she feels the presented information is old She also said docks take up only 3% of the shoreline She mentioned she would like a reasonable solution to this issue and said the Lake Mattawa Association was denied a seat on the subcommittee “I’m not feeling like the people that are involved around the lake really had a proper say in the matter we weren’t even allowed to make public comments in the first meeting,” she said I’m just saying we are all in this together We all want to keep the lake clean and open for everybody and [with] drinkable water But can’t we focus on that and just find some middle ground somewhere that works for everybody?” Subcommittee member and Gidney Road resident Bruce Scherer mentioned public access to the lake cannot be obstructed — The Florida Department of Health in Orange County (DOH-Orange) cautions the public of the presence of blue-green algae in Lake Irma – N Lobe on October 28 Blue-green algae blooms can also appear as scum, foam, or paint on the surface of the water in various colors To learn more about the appearance of algae blooms, visit Protecting Florida Together Located a short walk from the Gulf and Alabama's white-sand beaches is the Gulf State Park's Lake Shelby farmers markets have sold locally grown produce and groups of all sizes and ages have enjoyed innumerable picnics under the trees Lake Shelby is a beloved piece of the Alabama Gulf Coast landscape Lake Shelby offers a scenic way to spend the day when you opt to paddle around the lake Guests can rent a stand-up paddle board or kayak onsite or bring their own and easily launch into the lake Bike rentals are also available onsite at Lake Shelby you can use the trails at Lake Shelby to venture further into Gulf State Park.  If you're looking for a unique way to explore the park, embark on a two-wheel adventure with Coastal Segway Adventures guided experience takes you through the various ecosystems of the Hugh S Bring your furry friends to the lakeside dog park, The Dog Pond All dogs must be up-to-date on vaccinations and remain on a leash when they are entering and leaving the Dog Pond Bring your dog's favorite ball or toy and let them fetch to their heart's content Make a day of it at the lake and bring along food to grill in the picnic area situated in a shaded area right next the water Picnic tables and pavilion rentals are available daily from 8 am to sunset for up to 50 guests making it easy to relax while making memories with family and friends one for smaller children and one for elementary aged kids.  When you combine Lake Shelby with Little Lake and Middle Lake there are nearly 900 acres of water inviting guests to swim Lake Shelby is also believed to be the closest freshwater lakes near saltwater on the Gulf Visitors at the lake can take a quick walk across the pedestrian bridge and arrive on the beach in a few minutes According to the Office of Archaeological Research at the University of Alabama Museums some interesting finds have been noted about Lake Shelby's past Director Matt Gage said the site around the lake represents a large shell midden (mound) where people congregated to share food and ideas and to trade items from all over the region during the Middle to Late Woodland time periods as well as into the Mississippian period (AD 400-1100) Rangia shells (bivalve mollusks or clams) make up the majority of the food remains found in the shell midden; however some terrestrial vertebrates common in estuarine environments were also found The residents who built the shell midden were part of a large and vibrant culture that spread across the Gulf Coast as well as inland across the Southeast Fast forward to the 1930s when the Intracoastal Waterway was completed the lake serves as a place to join with friends and families and make memories and traditions that'll last for generations - The Florida Department of Health in Orange County (DOH-Orange) has issued a health alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algae toxins in Lake Roberts – S The alert is in response to a water sample taken on September 16 The public should exercise caution in and around Lake Roberts – S By-ths-seat JSX is launching four flights per week connecting Orange County John Wayne Airport and Salt Lake City By Doug Gollan JSX is launching a nonstop service connecting Orange County Flights from John Wayne Airport start on June 19th “Connecting Orange County and Salt Lake City is a natural fit for our brand and customers.” “Summertime activities abound in both places and JSX’s signature service and convenience will make travel between the two as seamless as possible.” The by-the-seat public charter operates between private terminals Check-in 20 minutes before departure for domestic flights Last month, JSX moved to a new home at SNA Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email Find the jet cards & fractional programs that fit your specific needs Find the perfect solution for your private aviation needs Receive an apples-to-apples comparison of programs that meet your needs from more than 500 jet card and fractional options covering 65 points of differentiation and over 40,000 data points Florida’s new state budget includes millions for invasive aquatic plant management, like a collective $3.2 million to reduce unwanted vegetation in Lake Tohopekaliga and East Lake Toho in Osceola County. Both those lakes, like most in Central Florida, are polluted enough to fail state and federal water quality standards, according to the Environmental Protection Agency In fact, Florida ranks first for how many acres of its lakes are classified as “impaired” for swimming and aquatic life: 80%, according to the Environmental Integrity Project At Lakes Toho, mercury and high concentrations of the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus are polluting the water. At Lake Apopka in Orange County, nitrogen and phosphorus are also a problem, along with pesticides found in fish tissue used to treat invasive plants like the underwater plant hydrilla are what longtime angler Scott Wilson is worried about He and many other anglers and outdoor enthusiasts say the chemicals are doing more damage to Florida waters than the invasive plants themselves “I've seen lakes go from some of the most phenomenal unknown bass fisheries on the planet to being absolutely mud pit within the matter of one or two years of constant [herbicide] spraying,” Wilson said Lately, bass fishing here at Orange Lake is actually doing quite well, according to data from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Wilson thinks it’s one of only a handful of good fisheries left in the state “I'm watching my Florida die,” Wilson said from his small fishing boat on Orange Lake “I could break down and cry right now … I’ve watched my lakes get destroyed Of the roughly 400 pesticides currently registered with the EPA, only 17 are authorized for use in Florida waters and experts say they undergo rigorous testing before and after being approved But since most testing is done by the manufacturers of the pesticides in controlled laboratory settings reliable data about the impacts of chronic pesticide use over time is “few and far between,” according to Alexis Temkin a senior toxicologist with the Environmental Working Group “When pesticides get out into the real world as they often do … those real-world exposure scenarios can often lead to very different results,” Temkin said toxicity studies in labs are done at very high concentrations; for instance one study might look at how much of a pesticide is necessary to kill a certain type of fish lower concentrations of that pesticide might be associated with other like reproductive or developmental challenges Although pesticides are certainly studied in academic and independent research that research is “rarely considered or given as much weight as the studies that the manufacturers themselves are submitting,” to the EPA that data is just not integrated into risk assessments for pesticides in a really meaningful way,” Temkin said “You can only make the best decisions with the best data that you have,” Temkin said decisions are made carefully about which herbicide to use and where director of the Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants at the University of Florida Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences It’s all about what Ferrell calls herbicide selectivity for anything we're putting into the environment,” Ferrell said “But because of the tremendous amount of science and research that goes into registration and pesticide use and often well below the risk of allowing these invasive plants to continue to breed and expand across our landscape.” underwater plant that can create some serious risks for lake ecosystems it can also provide some ecosystem benefits The challenge is actually reaching that ideal point of moderation with hydrilla which grows incredibly fast: up to 191 inches a day for a single plant But hydrilla can also be a great fish habitat and an effective water filtration mechanism, used to clean water in some of the state’s stormwater treatment areas The plant’s pros and cons demonstrate how tough it can be to create a treatment strategy for a given species “How do you select the plants you want to manage and then not do harm to the others?” Ferrell said “That is why these decisions are so nuanced and so difficult.” “If you don't have any other submersed plants hydrilla is better than nothing,” Ferrell said hydrilla can create severe flood risk by clogging up key waterways including canals that water regulators drain to avoid overflow during heavy rainfall events it’s especially critical to keep hydrilla from blocking Lake Apopka’s single relief valve Additionally, when hydrilla shade kills other aquatic plants, those plants decay, putting more nutrients in the water and collecting into muck at the bottom of the lake. Although muck in itself isn’t bad, according to UF/IFAS breeding low oxygen conditions and more of the nutrients plaguing Central Florida lakes smelly muck material oozing up from the bottom of Orange Lake: “Absolute chocolate milk.” Just like other, native aquatic plants, hydrilla also decays when it dies, ultimately turning into muck. Florida treated more than 26,000 acres of hydrilla in fiscal year 2022-23 Wilson and many others in Central Florida say they’d rather keep more hydrilla alive than rely on aggressive herbicide treatments to control its spread so we’ve got to get smart enough to use it,” Wilson said allow it to grow and then mechanically harvest it.” although that study focused on harvesting water hyacinth One thing is for sure: Central Florida’s lakes and other freshwater resources aren’t healthy Wilson says it’s past time to solve that problem “Every Floridian depends on clean water,” Wilson said “The complete degradation of every freshwater body in Florida is gonna eventually The Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) has purchased a 236-acre River Styx property to be protected conservation land with the support of the River Branch Foundation.  purchased from the Richardson and Waldorff families is part of the shoreline and marshland along Orange Lake in the southern part of Alachua County It is part of the Lochloosa Wildlife Corridor Project a larger system of protected wetlands.  ACT used a gift from the River Branch Foundation to immediately protect the property from future development and guard the habitat for waterfowl ACT expects to receive grant funds through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act which will allow ACT to shift existing funds to protect other North Central Florida conservation lands.  it will also provide a future opportunity for public access to Orange Lake for passive recreation,” Tom Kay ACT Executive Director said in a press release “Conserving this land has been a high priority of ACT and its partners for decades.”  ORANGE COUNTY – A 72-year-old man was arrested after being accused of inappropriately touching two children in the lazy river at an Orange County resort Deputies said they responded to the Club Wyndham Bonnet Creek resort in Lake Buena Vista on Monday around 6:30 p.m in reference to a man who was “possibly touching people” in the lazy river pool a mother at the resort told deputies that her 12-year-old daughter was swimming in the lazy river on Sunday The child reported that she felt something touch her and when she looked down she saw a man touch her lower back and right side Deputies said the girl said it was an elderly man who touched her and she tried to avoid him the rest of the time she was in the pool she returned to the lazy river when she saw the same man She reported that she would try to avoid the man by swimming to the opposite side of the pool but the man would slow down and float towards her as she swam past Deputies said the girl exited the lazy river in tears and told an adult that the man grabbed her “buttocks and tickled it while under water.” one of them took several videos of the man – described as having white hair and a white beard – which appeared to show him approach young girls in the lazy river and swim underwater towards them they found the man – identified as William Chatel – in the hot tub at the resort When investigators asked Chatel about the alleged incident in the lazy river he said that “he didn’t remember anything,” according to the affidavit Deputies said when they notified other investigators in their sector as well as the sex crimes unit they were made aware of a possible second victim A parent in that incident told deputies they wished to press charges and provided the swimsuit their child was wearing at the time which was “collected for possible collection of evidence from it to include DNA evidence.” swabs of the suit were collected and sent to forensics and deputies received a warrant to collect a DNA sample from Chatel Chatel was placed under arrest and taken to the Orange County jail without incident He faces charges of lewd and lascivious molestation by a victim 12 or under Chatel was arrested on similar charges in 2017 after being accused of inappropriately touching a child at a Goodwill store where he worked mostly as a photojournalist and video journalist before joining Spectrum News 13 as a web editor and digital journalist in 2021 Oh, Florida! When viral videos of an alligator walking the runway at an airport or shows up splashing in a pool or on the beach seem normal that’s when you know you’re from the Sunshine State About 1.3 million alligators call Florida home — but where do they live If you live here, you likely know you have to coexist with alligators So long as you keep your distance and never feed one if it crosses your path There are, however, risks, especially when it comes to water. The largest and most alligator-infested lake in the state has more than 9,000 alligators confirmed to be living in it with another 21,000 estimated to be lurking in the same water Each year, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission takes a census of 50 alligator-infested places in Florida to gauge how many alligators are living in the state The FWC says it enlists the help of scientists and biologists who go out on airboats at night to count how many glowing sets of red eyes they see floating on the water so the exact count and some math magic are used to estimate what the total population likely is for some lakes "Alligators occur in all 67 counties in Florida and can be found in practically all fresh and brackish water bodies and occasionally in salt water Although exact population figures are not known Florida has a healthy and stable population of about 1.3 million alligators of every size This population estimate is based on an estimated 6.7 million acres of suitable habitat." Top 5 Florida lakes with the most alligatorsHere is a list of the five most gator-infested lakes in the Sunshine State, according to a post on A-Z Animals blog: Safety tips: What to do if you see an alligator in Florida?Though Florida residents have learned to coexist with alligators according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission The Wildlife Commission recommends people avoid feeding alligators and to keep their distance if they see one "Swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours And keep pets on a leash and away from the water," FWC's site states Serious injuries caused by alligators are rare here, but if you are concerned about a gator, call the nuisance alligator hotline at 866-392-4286 or visit myfwc.com Native Floridians learn as early as preschool to run away in a zig-zag line upon encountering a gator but only in short distances before they get tired If you find yourself tempted to take a night swim in a lake If you're walking or relaxing beside a lake keep them at least 10 feet away from the shore and on a leash This should go without saying but never feed an alligator You definitely don't want this wild animal to associate you with food Don't try to "take care" of any gators yourself If you don't have a permit to be hunting gators just by firing a gun you may be breaking other local laws Under Florida law, it's a third-degree felony to "intentionally kill possess or capture an alligator or other crocodilian or the eggs of an alligator or other crocodilian unless authorized by rules of the commission." The Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program trappers relocate gators under 4 feet long and kill nuisance gators that are longer than 4 feet "Relocated alligators often try to return to their capture site," according to the SNAP website "They can create problems for people or other alligators along the way capturing it again would be necessary and likely more difficult the second time." American alligators can be found in the coastal wetlands of the southeastern US, as far as North Carolina in the north and as far west as eastern Texas. Their range extends down to southern Florida and includes the Everglades slow-moving freshwater rivers (called sloughs) but also inhabit swamps Florida is an alligator hotspot and the many-toothed ancient reptiles are a major part of the tourism scene in the state. For a guaranteed alligator sighting, visitors can head to one of Florida’s oldest attractions, St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, or to Gatorland—Alligator Capital of the World in Orlando but to see alligators in their natural habitat here are Florida's six most alligator-filled places Lake Okeechobee or “Big O,” is Florida's largest freshwater lake with 9,308 counted alligators who thrive in the marshy water (with an estimated population of about 30,000) The lake creates the ideal habitat for the gators with ample food and enough nesting sites to support its growing population The alligators in Lake Okeechobee aren’t just a tourism draw; they are critical to maintaining a balance in the local ecosystem of the lake the large reptiles in the lake help control the population of various bird species and contain the levels of various components of aquatic life Sometimes called “Florida’s Inland Sea,” Lake Okeechobee is an angler’s paradise especially for visitors who want to catch the 750-square-mile lake’s legendary largemouth bass the 110-mile Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail (LOST) circles the lake from atop the 35-foot Herbert Hoover Dike for an elevated view of the lake and its gators Orange Lake ranks second in the state for its booming alligator population the lake is small compared to some of the other alligator habitats in the state Orange Lake is home to a large population of alligators making it one of Florida’s most alligator-filled lakes According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Orange Lake is inhabited by nearly 3,000 alligators About 115 of these are “bull gators,” a term that describes the most dominant alligators in a given location who typically exceed 9 feet in length The record for the heaviest alligator in Florida is a 1,043-pound (13 feet 10-1/2 inches long) male from Orange Lake The lake is part of the Ocala National Forest a haven for travelers interested in nature Range tower near Lake George on the St Johns River in Florida Lake George is Florida’s second largest lake, at approximately 6 miles across and 11 miles around, after Lake Okeechobee, and is one of the top five alligator-filled lakes in the state. A significant number of nesting bald eagle pairs also make their home at Lake George. The lake is fed from the St. Johns River A unique feature of Lake George is its salt content from springs along the St whose mix of fresh and saltwater provides a sustainable habitat for marine life like Atlantic stingrays The best way to spend time on Lake George is on a boat Most adventurers visit Lake George to fish as it is one of the state’s most popular bass fishing areas Lake George’s shoreline features the 3-mile round-trip Lake George Trail providing visitors with views of the lake framed by live oaks covered with Spanish moss Hikers should be on the lookout for alligators basking in the sun along the bank where the trail is close to the water Lake Jesup overlook fishing pier in Central Florida Lake Jesup has a population of 2,414 gators (with an estimated alligator population of 13,000) and is considered home to more alligators per square mile of shoreline than almost any other lake in Florida The alligators at Lake Jesup are a big draw for visitors and there are plenty of airboat tours on the lake to give visitors a close-up view of these magnificent reptiles Lake Jesup is a premier fishing destination in Central Florida attracting anglers to its shallow waters year-round The lake is home to popular species such as largemouth bass Fishing enthusiasts can cast their lines from the shore use one of several fishing piers and platforms or head out by boat to explore the lake’s numerous islands and coves These sheltered areas create ideal habitats for fish making Lake Jesup a favorite spot for local anglers and visitors looking for an authentic Florida fishing experience Despite its name, Lake Kissimmee is about 55 miles away from Kissimmee Lake Kissimmee State Park is located on the shores of lakes Kissimmee and Rosalie and comprises 5,930 acres of Central Florida With a diverse ecosystem that includes floodplain marshes and shady hammocks the park is home to more than 30 species of flora and fauna There are 13 miles of hiking trails where hikers can spot white-tailed deer The park is also a birding hotspot with over 200 species like the American bald eagle rent a kayak from the park store (from November to April) and tour the pretty 10-mile Buster Island Paddling Trail No other animal is more closely associated with the Everglades than the American alligator and the species is critical to the health and function of South Florida's ecology. There are plenty of options for gator spotting in the Everglades National Park, like booking an airboat ride with any one of the tour boat operators in Miami Another way to go is to book a two-hour Everglades Tram Tour through the Shark Valley section of the park visitors can walk to the highest point in the Everglades National Park where they can experience panoramic views of the Everglades Visitors who want to go old-school can take the less-than-one-mile roundtrip Anhinga Trail which was added to the US National Register of Historic Places in 1996 is a self-guided paved walkway and boardwalk over a freshwater sawgrass marsh where visitors can see alligators The best time of year to see alligators in the park With about 1.3 million alligators, the Sunshine State is the second most alligator-filled place in the United States (only Louisiana has more Florida’s alligator population also includes Albert the official mascot of the University of Florida in Gainesville Albert’s skeleton now lives in the Florida Museum of Natural History after the practice of bringing a real alligator to football games fell out of popularity in the late 60s From the “Big O” to the mysterious and swampy Everglades, with an honorable mention going to Florida’s famed Alligator Alley, an 80-mile stretch of I-75 that runs from Naples to Fort Lauderdale through the northern section of Big Cypress National Preserve visitors will be sure to encounter an alligator or two in any of these alligator-filled places in Florida photos and original descriptions © 2025 worldatlas.com – The Lake County Commission voted to approve a bid for a project that will hopefully result in a connector road between Lake and Orange counties the Lake County Commission approved a bid for their portion of the roundabout project at Sawgrass Bay Boulevard near Flemings Road in Orange County The hope for the project is that Flemings Road in Orange County will eventually connect to Sawgrass Bay Boulevard in Lake County people who drive back and forth between Lake and Orange counties have created a makeshift dirt road as a short cut to reach Flemings Road from Sawgrass Bay Boulevard and vice-versa a gate was put up to prevent people from using the dirt road to get to Flemings Road and in Orange County a cement barrier was placed across Flemings Road to stop traffic from passing through We spoke to HOA President of the Sawgrass Bay community who told us the shortcut is used to shave time off of people’s daily commutes probably 192 and then one of those roads off of 192 into Disney,” Klinck said “Whereas this would give them a straight run right through Western Way and to Disney.” Klinck estimates the shortcut would save people about 20 minutes on their commutes While Lake County has approved the bid for their portion of the project Orange County said it is up to the signatory owners of the land to construct the connector road between Lake and Orange counties “The latest approved road network agreement requires the signatory owners to complete the Flemings Road connection to Lake County to occur no later than January 1 Klinck said people who bought homes in the area have been waiting a long time for the connector road “A lot of them when they bought their homes here they were promised that the connection to Disney would be made,” Klinck said it’s going to happen in a couple of years,’ and it’s taken a long time.” News 6 also reached out to Lake County to see where they are in the process after approving the bid on Tuesday “We are continuing to coordinate with Orange County on the roundabout,” Lux said “The County Commission accepted a bid for the plan yesterday allowing us to move forward with our portion of the project.” A sign has been placed at the end of Sawgrass Bay Boulevard where the roundabout is set to go in that says the connector road will be completed by Jan Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cityside Networks, LLC (dba Cityside Fiber) a fiber-to-the-premise ("FTTP") developer and internet service provider has significantly expanded its presence in Orange County bringing gig-speed internet to new communities and paving the way for faster Cityside's fiber-optic service has officially launched in the first neighborhoods of Irvine marking an important milestone in the company's broader mission to revolutionize internet access in the region These recent launches expand Cityside's fiber network footprint in Orange County to six cities while the company continues to develop more service areas in its existing communities of Tustin Cityside also announced plans to begin fiber construction in Laguna Hills this spring "Bringing our service to these communities is an exciting step toward our goal of providing an internet experience that is best-in-class – and best in Orange County," said Rod Hanson reliable internet isn't a luxury – it's necessary for education Our network helps Orange County residents have the connection they need to stay competitive and connected to what matters most to them." Cityside celebrated its expansion this month with ribbon-cutting ceremonies in Irvine and Lake Forest These events were a testament to Cityside's commitment to the area and residents gathering to celebrate the company's investment in fiber infrastructure and its impact on the community quality infrastructure like fiber internet drives local growth and attracts new businesses to the region thereby supporting a dynamic and competitive local economy that benefits my city of Irvine and Orange County as a whole." For more information about Cityside Fiber's services and to sign up for high-speed internet, please visit www.citysidefiber.com About Cityside FiberFounded in 2021 and headquartered in Irvine, California, Cityside Fiber is a fiber-to-the-premise ("FTTP") developer and internet service provider Cityside provides wholesale fiber products to business customers with the capacity and flexibility to support smart city applications For press inquiries, contact [email protected] Do not sell or share my personal information: Florida is home to more than a million alligators and it's generally assumed that any body of water in the Sunshine State has a gator in it According to Florida Fish and Wildlife, they prefer freshwater lakes and slow-moving rivers and their associated wetlands but they also can be found in brackish water habitats and occasionally even in salt water Female alligators usually stay under 9 feet long with larger ones weighing over 200 pounds Male alligators typically reach up to 13 feet in length with some weighing more than 500 pounds What Florida lake is the most alligator-infested Alligators can be found in all 67 Florida counties An estimated 1.3 million alligators call Florida home To get a population estimate, Florida Fish and Wildlife conducts an annual alligator census at around 50 sites across the state by going out on airboats at night and counting the sets of red-glowing eyes seen on the water The exact count is then used to calculate an estimated total population for that body of water and the state Largest Florida alligators on record?According to FWC the Florida state record for length is a 14-foot 3 1/2-inch male from Lake Washington in Brevard County The Florida record for weight is a 1,043-pound (13 feet 10-1/2 inches long) male from Orange Lake in Alachua County the Florida lake with the largest alligator population is nearby According to a USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida report and A-Z Animals these are top 5 most alligator-infested lakes in the Sunshine State: How to stay safe and co-exist with alligatorsFWC recommends the following for safely co-existing with alligators: Report concerns about an alligator to FWC at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286) Support local journalism by subscribing to a Florida news organization. the 10th annual Orange Blossom Revue runs Friday and Saturday in Lake Wales among the fragrance of nearby orange groves The Revue brings a lineup of contemporary Americana Southern rock and roots music to Lake Wailes Park at 33 N Scheduled musical groups are JJ Grey & Mofro The organizers said because of the small size of the venue there is not expected to be room for ride-sharing dropoffs and pickups So they urged Revue goers to carpool or drive to the festival There will be free parking in several on-site lots on Friday with the first music group starting at 4:30 p.m Updates will be posted to social media at the following websites:   The local resident and VIP weekend tickets are sold out There are still one-day or weekend general admission tickets available starting at $65 or $145 A weekend tent camping spot costs $150 in addition to a ticket For tickets and more information on Orange Blossom Revue, visit: www.orangeblossomrevue.com  – A health alert has been issued for harmful blue-green algae toxins in several lakes around Orange County according to a news release from the Florida Department of Health Shore) and Lake Osceola (Alexander Place Park) after water samples were taken on Feb [EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos] The algae is harmful to humans and pets, and can also harm ecosystems, including fish and aquatic animals, according to officials. For more information about the health effects of algae blooms, click here Blue-green algae are a type of bacteria common in Florida’s freshwater environments A bloom occurs when there is a rapid growth of algae leading to unpleasant smells and discolored water that looks like scum or paint on the surface of the water in various colors Officials said residents and visitors should take precautions near and around the lakes: Protecting Florida Together provides public health notifications for harmful algae blooms and also offers subscription notifications for water quality in an area An interactive map of algae blooms in Florida can also be viewed here For any questions or concerns about blue-green algae contact the Orange County Department of Health at 407-723-5004 Check out the Real Talk, Real Solutions podcast in the media player below: Crews from multiple departments are battling a large brush fire near border of Orange and Lake counties Officials from Orange County Fire Rescue said they were fighting the fire near 17421 Scholfield Road along with the Florida Forest Service and Lake County Fire Rescue Officials with the Florida Forest Service initially said the fire was around 50 acres but officials did not say what portion of the road is affected “Crews will remain in the area to continue mop-up operations We will monitor the area for several days,” the Florida Forest Service said on social media Lake County Wildfire Update:Schofield Road102 acres and 100% Contained. Crews will remain in the area to continue mop-up operations.We will monitor the area for several days. Lake County Wildfire Update:50-acres and 45% Contained off of Schofield Road pic.twitter.com/1uon5WnSXD Check back with News 6 for the latest updates Lake County Wildfire Update:Schofield Road102 acres and 100% Contained. Crews will remain in the area to continue mop-up operations.We will monitor the area for several days. Lake County Wildfire Update:50-acres and 45% Contained off of Schofield Road pic.twitter.com/1uon5WnSXD — AdventHealth has broken ground on an ER that will bring a much-needed option for emergency care to residents of south Orange County The approximately 13,700-square-foot emergency room will have 12 patient rooms; respiratory therapy; diagnostic imaging X-ray and ultrasound; and an on-site full-service laboratory and pharmacy "This new emergency room is a meaningful commitment to the health and well-being of south Orange County," said AdventHealth Winter Park CEO Justin Birmele "We are committed to providing comprehensive whole-person care to our patients and this facility enables us to deliver that care close to home We are excited to extend our high-quality services to our Sand Lake neighbors and eagerly anticipate serving both residents and visitors for many years to come." The ER will be staffed by a comprehensive clinical team including board-certified emergency physicians and emergency nurses emergency department medical director for AdventHealth Winter Park “The AdventHealth Sand Lake ER will greatly enhance our ability to provide life-saving care quickly and efficiently It’s a vital expansion that meets the growing health care needs of the Central Florida community.” The ER will bring approximately 75 jobs to the community in a range of clinical and support roles HuntonBrady is the architect on the project The AdventHealth Sand Lake ER is slated to open in 2026 Baby Mattie needed a liver transplant but was too sick to even get on the list For the nurses at AdventHealth for Children her organs were shutting down and her little body was fighting a battle that seemed insurmountable AdventHealth is expanding its nursing workforce enhancing hands-on training programs and reinforcing its commitment to exceptional patient care our organization embarked on multiple global mission projects that made a significant impact on the lives of two families in need AdventHealth Carrollwood has been awarded an “A” Hospital Safety Grade by The Leapfrog Group a national nonprofit upholding the standard of excellence in patient safety in hospitals and ambulatory.. Dozens of community members and several organizations came together to help support the AdventHealth Lake Placid and Wauchula Foundations during the 11th annual Clays and Camo fundraiser we honor the extraordinary acts of kindness and compassion demonstrated by our nurses across the region Three remarkable nurses from AdventHealth Avista's surgery center have embarked on.. AdventHealth is proud to join Nemours Children’s Health System as the official medical services provider for the USTA National Campus in Lake Nona A local nurse and a CEO were recognized by the Central Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce the new senior executive officer of AdventHealth for Children speaks with Becker's Hospital Review about the future of pediatric care The spring 2025 Leapfrog grades have been released and four AdventHealth Rocky Mountain Region hospitals have achieved top honors for patient safety AdventHealth North Pinellas achieves elite national status as a straight- ‘A’ for patient safety  Our website uses cookies. Please review our privacy policy to find out more about the cookies we use Browsing our website means you accept these terms Rockland News - It's Local that Matters NY – In a continued fight to contain the sprawling 5000 acre wildfire in the Greenwood Lake area firefighters are struggling to push the blaze away from nearby homes and into Sterling Forest State Park the fire has affected over 4,300 acres of state parkland in Orange County and remains just 25% contained according to New York State Department of Conservation officers Helicopters and drones are also involved in the fight repeatedly dousing flames with hundreds of gallons of water Some homes were evacuated on Sunday evening after flames approached dangerously close efforts to keep the blaze away from the homes were – thus far – successful Greenwood Lake resident Jen Woodhouse shared the harrowing experience “It was terrifying… They saved our homes without a doubt.” The strategically executed controlled burn prevented the fire from advancing into neighborhoods leveraging an area already damaged by a severe microburst in May with volunteers and forest rangers working tirelessly overnight to secure the endangered area Governor Hochul’s Response and Statewide Efforts Governor Kathy Hochul visited Greenwood Lake on Tuesday assessing the extensive damage and promising ongoing support “I’m incredibly grateful to the first responders and those on the frontlines that are working around the clock to stop the spread of these fires to protect their fellow New Yorkers,” the Governor said Hochul addressed the tragic death of 18-year-old Dariel Vasquez a Pomona native and recent Ramapo High School graduate who lost his life on Saturday when a tree fell on him during firefighting operations and co-workers during this difficult time,” Hochul said Hochul had prior issued a temporary burn ban statewide to prevent any new fires from sparking during this period of heightened risk “As we experience drought conditions and an increased fire risk across the State now is not the right time to be burning outdoors and I urge everyone to heed our warnings as we continue to take the necessary precautions to keep all New Yorkers safe.” spokesperson for the county’s executive office reassured residents that the wildfire was currently not spreading towards Rockland thanks to prevailing north-northwest winds air quality concerns are rising due to smoke drifting over northern New Jersey and southern New York The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has been monitoring air quality noting levels remain safe – but could worsen if wind conditions change The fire remains uncontained but boxed in by fire lines within Sterling Forest State Park As helicopters continue water drops and additional fire crews arrive from across the state officials stress the importance of adhering to burn bans and caution with outdoor activities to prevent additional outbreaks Filed Under: News, Rockland County Copyright © 2025 · RockWeb Systems Inc. · All rights reserved. · Privacy Policy This website is unavailable in your location It appears you are attempting to access this website from a country outside of the United States therefore access cannot be granted at this time — Crews in Orange City are working to restore access in the area of Shady Lane and Miller Road a place that still has leftover flooding following Hurricane Milton Volusia County officials say they are trying to elevate Miller Road temporarily so that residents can reach their properties who owns Renaissance Villa Assisted Living Facility says he’s never seen the water as high as it is now Lorgeat says pharmacy deliveries can’t go through and some family members have gotten their cars stuck in the water we had one of our residents who wanted to go to a hospital and they were having a hard time coming in,” Lorgeat said “They had to leave their big truck out here and use a pickup truck to come and pick up the resident County officials say they will remain in communication with residents in the area and throughout the county to offer potential assistance where needed Lorgeat’s 12 residents are understanding of this situation the people that can do something about this would be able to see what we’re going through,” Lorgeat said our problem is finding a way for people to come and see their family members,” Lorgeat said Volusia County officials say they will monitor lake levels and evaluate options They do not plan on pumping water out of Miller Lake at this time