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Jacksonville-based sporting goods giant Fanatics is preparing to close its distribution facility near Tampa and lay off 286 employees, a major shift in the company’s operations in Florida. The facility in question, located in the Riverview/South Hillsborough County area (between Tampa and Manatee counties), will be closed. According to the company’s notice, the layoffs and closures will begin with business changes in January, with separations starting March 1 and a complete site closure scheduled for July 31, 2026. Fanatics said the reason is that its facilities “can no longer support the scale, technology and innovation necessary to achieve our long-term…
Windows do more than just let light into your beautiful home or business. These ensure building safety, regulate internal temperature, and add architectural finishes to the building’s exterior. However, not all windows are the same. Windows that are equally useful in the home may not be suitable for offices, restaurants, or stores. Choosing the right windows can also be a safety issue in areas prone to hurricanes and storms. For example, Florida’s weather is often very unpredictable. This state is prone to hurricanes, tropical storms, and high winds, so choosing the right windows is more than just aesthetics. But the…
Sarasota’s utility bills are rising Sarasota homeowners are increasingly feeling the burden of high utility bills, especially during the hot summer months when cooling costs soar. Without proper insulation, your home will be less efficient, wasting energy, and becoming more dependent on your air conditioning and heating systems. Proper insulation helps reduce heat transfer, making your home more energy efficient and lowering your energy bills in both summer and winter. Common home comfort issues faced by Sarasota homeowners Common complaints among Sarasota homeowners are unstable temperatures, drafts, and cold spots. If one room is too cold while another feels like…
Real estate listing website Realtor.com analyzed the change in average annual property values for 363 U.S. cities from 2021 to 2025 to determine which cities had the largest annual median increase in property value. Naples, Florida ranks in the top 20 cities with an average annual growth rate of 16.06% in real estate values. Naples, Florida, ranked 15th. Real estate values in the city have increased by an average of 16.06% per year. Sebring, Florida, followed in 33rd place with a 13.06% increase. Naples, Florida is experiencing strong home sales growth and inventory growth, combined with major apartment construction and…
Madame Tussauds Orlando will soon be adding a wax figure of actor Jeff Goldblum, who will reprise his role as the wizard in Wicked: For Good. Goldblum met the figure in New York before it was shipped to central Florida. He is wearing a black leather jacket, the actor’s trademark glasses and a replica Cartier tank watch. “It’s spectacular,” Goldblum said in a video of the encounter provided by Tussauds. “Of course, I’m humbled and honored,” he says, praising the statue’s amount of stubble and well-flossed teeth. He started singing a song called “Me and My Shadow.” Actor Jeff Goldblum…
Christmas Day is more than a month away, but celebrations are happening around Central Florida in the form of Santa photo ops and Christmas celebrations. From the cheery and bright Asian Lantern Festival at the Central Florida Zoo to the Mount Dora Lights and Dazzling Nights, there are more than a dozen ways to get an early start to the holiday season in the greater Orlando area. Here are some ideas. Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild is back as an annual event featuring handmade lanterns, including a flying unicorn, at the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Garden in Sanford.…
With more than 1,100 vendors on the trade floor, there are a slew of browsable options at the annual IAAPA Expo at Orange County Convention Center. Attendees swarm around ride-vehicle reveals, marvel at virtual-reality opportunities, browse through bounce houses and line up for pretzel samples. The expo, produced by the Orlando-based International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, concludes Friday. It is open to registered members of the trade association. Here are a handful of eye-catching, perhaps trend-setting, items at this year’s booths. Wingz, a product of Italian manufacturer Zamperla, uses arm power to give elevation to riders during the…
For Chris Gentry, this year’s Jingle Eve event is a homecoming of sorts. The annual event will be held from 4:30pm to 9pm on November 22nd and will welcome more than 8,500 attendees to shop, stroll and drink in the neighborhood as a district-wide celebration marks the start of the holiday season. “Jingle Eve has a special place in my heart because when I opened Gentry’s Barbecue General Store on Ivanhoe Road many years ago, (Jingle Eve) was when my store really got noticed and we took off. People knew who I was and where I was,” Gentry says. “Not…
The countdown has begun for Galactic Coaster, a roller coaster set to debut at Legoland Florida in early 2026. Winter Haven Theme Park revealed details about its indoor family thrill ride during the IAAPA Expo held at the Orange County Convention Center. Rob Smith, chief operating officer of Merlin Entertainments Group, which owns Legoland, said a key element would be the ability to personalize the rides. Smith said riders will be able to select key elements of the spacecraft, including its nose, tail, wings and color. This is made possible by the wristband’s RFID technology. “When you board the spacecraft…
For the past few years, the U.S. Department of Labor has reported that the largest job growth in the job market has been in health care.But industry analysts say there remains a nationwide nursing shortage. So some states are trying to attract more people by offering higher salaries. College ranking site Research.com analyzed official data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to find out where nurses earn the most. They compared the median annual wage in all 50 states and the number of registered nurses employed in each state.In some states, such as California, nurses’ salaries exceed $100,000.Despite official…