Now, guests have even more time to enjoy this unique global food fest featuring more than 100 new food and beverage items inspired by Carnaval celebrations from around the world. Guests won’t want to miss the chance to get up close with spectacular Mardi Gras floats stationed throughout Universal Studios Florida and take part in this Big Easy bash in the streets featuring energetic dancers, stilt performers, brass band musicians, countless beads, and a newly-themed Mardi Gras Tribute Store.

Guests can see what all the excitement is about and continue to savor fan-favorite Cajun fare and classic Carnaval flavors from across the globe, including:

• Cajun cuisine from New Orleans, such as a Crawfish Boil, Jambalaya, Beignets, and other Big Easy delights
• Carnaval-inspired dishes from the islands, such as Pernil & Mofongo from La Isla del Encanto (the Island of Enchantment) Puerto Rico, a vegan Pholourie from Trinidad and Tobago and Jerk Chicken from the Bahamas
• Pork Schnitzel Sliders and Bavarian Pretzels from Germany, iconic Paella Mixta and Leche Frita from Spain and Belgium Liege Waffles from Belgium
• Other famous flavors from Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Italy, France, and more

This epic Mardi Gras celebration will roll on across the destination with Carnaval-inspired delights at select venues at Universal CityWalk and the Universal Orlando hotels.

All of the excitement of Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras 2021: International Flavors of Carnaval is included with admission to Universal Studios Florida or with a Seasonal or Annual Pass. Blockout dates apply. For more information about Mardi Gras 2021: International Flavors of Carnaval visit, www.UniversalOrlando.com/MardiGras.

Universal Orlando continues to implement its enhanced health and safety procedures and guidelines focused on “screening, spacing, and sanitization,” and those practices will be applied to all experiences taking place during Mardi Gras 2021: International Flavors of Carnaval. Key measures include screening guests and team members, enforcing social distancing, requiring face coverings, limiting capacity, and increasing the already-aggressive cleaning and disinfection procedures. Guests may remove their face coverings while actively eating or drinking, but must be stationary and maintain appropriate social distancing.

The post Universal Orlando extends Mardi Gras Festivities through April 11 appeared first on Positively Osceola.

The sewer rehabilitation project has been completed. The road will need to be closed again to conduct a final area restoration. A timeframe will be provided once this is scheduled.

Please call Toho Water Authority’s Customer Service Department if you need any additional information at (407) 944-5000.

Please visit www.tohowater.com/projects for more project details and updates.

The post Closure to thru traffic on San Remo Rd. expected to be lifted by March 19, Toho Water says appeared first on Positively Osceola.

The service remembers those employees that have passed, including line of duty deaths, and honors those that have retired. The service centers around a permanent monument on the grounds of City Hall. The employee monument was initially displayed at City Hall in 1988, then moved to Kissimmee Lakefront Park in 1993, coming full circle to make its return to City Hall in 2010.

The original employee monument is an engraved piece of gray granite that was created when the City lost its first police officer in the line of duty.  The names of employees who pass while in service to the City continue to be added to this piece of granite. To be listed on the Monument as an honored retiree, employees must have completed the required number of years of service and receive benefits through their respective pension plan.

Elected officials and staff for all three organizations, as well as the public, attended the service. The service was canceled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Photo Credit: City of Kissimmee 

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Rising crude prices, tightening gas supplies, and increased gas demand continue to drive pump prices to higher ground.

Last week’s demand for gas was the highest since the end of November 2020. If these trends continue alongside higher crude prices, drivers can expect pump prices to continue to increase.

The post Gas prices continue to climb higher ahead of Spring appeared first on Positively Osceola.

Springing forward for daylight-saving time can wreak unexpected havoc on our lives as we attempt to adjust. Losing an hour can lead to sleep deprivation, and that can even affect our hormone levels, meaning temporary changes in appetite, an increase in our cravings, as well as accidental overeating, are possible.

Although U.S. adults need 7 or more hours of sleep a night in order to maintain their best health and wellbeing, more than a third of us — 35.3% of U.S. adults — don’t get the proper amount of shut-eye. Instead, many of us sleep less than 7 hours in a 24-hour period, according to the American Sleep Association.

If we’re mindful ahead of time about what can happen when we spring forward, it’s possible for us to avoid potential problems before they even begin. In addition to adjusting your analog clocks and the timekeepers on your appliances, these four recommendations can help fortify you before and after daylight saving time.

Get at Least 7 Hours of Sleep, No Matter What
One solid reason why this time change is so difficult for us is largely due to the fact many of us often “lose” an hour out of our regular sleep schedules. It is possible to change your mindset about that, however. You can skip past this idea by promising yourself you’ll sleep a solid 7-8 hours, time change or no. Treat it as a gift you give yourself (and a great one at that).

Eat and Drink Earlier for Better Rest
Finish your meals two and even three hours before you retire to help ensure fewer interruptions throughout the night. That means planning any celebrations or dinners with friends at earlier times this weekend. Because digesting can (and often will) wake up the body, it’s a good rule of thumb to steer clear of caffeine as well, saving your coffee and caffeinated beverages for the morning and finishing any alcoholic beverages by early evening.

More Walking Means Better Dreaming
The more active you are during your day, the sleepier you will be later. Establishing an exercise routine that ends at least 2-3 hours before bedtime or even incorporating a short walk during your day can help when it’s needed most later on.

Try a Little Nap Time
Babies shouldn’t have the market cornered on naps. Even for adults, taking a 20-minute nap during the day can actually help you feel better. A short nap can help your body adjust to the time change and helps you feel ready to snooze at your normal bedtime.

The post Orlando Health: Four Ways To Survive One Less Hour of Sleep appeared first on Positively Osceola.

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The manatee is Florida’s state marine mammal and is one of the state’s imperiled species protected by federal and state laws.

Data from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) shows that in 2020 619 manatees died between January 1 and Christmas Day, up from the 2019 total of 592 manatee deaths. Brevard County had the highest number of Manatee deaths in 2020 with 163.  It is estimated that there are at least 13,000 manatees, with more than 6,500 in the southeastern United States and Puerto Rico.

Manatees live in many aquatic habitats. Most of the year, the animals may be found in fresh or saltwater, preferring calmer rivers, estuaries, bays, and canals around coastal Florida. In the winter, manatees seek warmer waters and often migrate to the discharge areas near power plants and in naturally warm water springs to survive the cold temperatures.

In January 2021, Florida wildlife officials announced that they were investigating the illegal harassment of a threatened Florida manatee after it was discovered that the word “Trump” was etched into the mammal’s back. The incident was first reported by the Citrus County Chronicle, a newspaper in Crystal River, Florida, on Jan. 11, 2021.

To avoid charges of Manatee harassment, DO NOT:

• Give food to manatees
• Use water to attract manatees to your boat, dock, or marina (etc.) where manatees may be harmed
• Separate a cow and her calf
• Disturb manatee mating herds
• Pursue manatees or chase them from warm water sites
• Disturb resting manatees
• Hit, injure, or harm manatees
• Jump on, stand on, hold on to, or ride manatees
• Grab or kick manatees
• Block a manatee’s path if one or more moves toward you
• Hunt or kill manatees
• Use your vessel to pursue or harass manatees
• “Fish” for or attempt to hook or catch manatees

Manatees and the law

Manatees are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978. It is illegal to feed, harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, annoy, or molest manatees.

The state of Florida has also established regulatory speed zones to protect the manatee and its habitat. The zones are located where manatees live or travel regularly or seasonally.

Anyone convicted of violating state law faces maximum fines of $500 and/or imprisonment of up to 60 days. A conviction for violating federal protection laws is punishable by fines up to $100,000 and/or one year in prison.

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission

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There will be no yard waste collection on Wednesday, Dec. 30; instead, the City will collect Friday’s Recycling and Bulk on Wednesday. On Thursday, Dec. 31, there will be regular recycling, clam truck, and commercial collection. There will be no pickup services on Friday, Jan. 1. Green yard waste bin collection will resume Wednesday, Jan. 6.

The city pool at the Chris Lyle Aquatic Center will open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday.

City Hall will reopen and resume regular business hours on Monday, Jan. 4 at 8 a.m.

Oficinas Administrativas de la Ciudad Cerrarán por Feriado de Año Nuevo

Publicación por la Oficina de Información Pública de la Ciudad de St. Cloud

St. Cloud, FL. (28 de diciembre del 2020)—El Ayúntamiento y todas las oficinas administrativas estaran cerradas el viernes 1ro de enero por celebración de el Año Nuevo.

No habrá recogido de desechos de jardín el miercoles 30 de diciembre; envez, la Ciudad recogerá el reciclado de el viernes el miercoles. El jueves 24 de diciembre habrá recogido regular de reciclaje, camion de garra, y recogidos comerciales. No habran servicios de recogidos el viernes 1ro de enero.

La piscina de la Cuidad en el Centro Aquáctico Chris Lyle abrirá de 9 a.m. a 5 p.m. el viernes.

El Ayúntamiento re-abrirá y resumirá sus horas de servicios regulares el lunes 4 de enero a las 8 a.m.

The post City of St. Cloud Administrative Offices to Close for New Year’s Holiday appeared first on Positively Osceola.

The City also relaxed standards related to outdoor dining, outdoor sales, and temporary signage in May, and the City will continue regulatory relaxations to provide relief to businesses impacted by COVID-19 into 2021. This flexibility assists companies with remaining open, viable, and recovering. The relaxed regulations will allow businesses to have additional seating or retail spots outside of their main establishment.

These programs are part of the City’s COVID-19 business development and sustainability assistance program that supports businesses within the City.

For more information about the City of Kissimmee, visit www.kissimmee.org or call 407-518-2379.

Programa de Exención en Pagos de Permisos Expirará el 31 de diciembre, Flexibilización en Regulaciones Continúa en el 2021

El programa exención en pagos de permisos que comenzó en mayo 2020 para ayudar a las empresas y a los propietarios de viviendas durante la pandemia del COVID-19 expirará el jueves, 31 de diciembre de 2020. La Ciudad ha renunciado a más de $1.1 millones en tarifas de permisos durante ocho meses.

La Ciudad también flexibilizó las normas relacionadas con los restaurantes con asientos al aire libre, las ventas al aire libre y los letreros temporeros en el mes de mayo. La Ciudad continuará estas flexibilizaciones reglamentarias en el 2021 para proporcionar un alivio a los negocios afectados por el COVID-19. Esta flexibilidad es para ayudar a los negocios a permanecer abiertos, viables y recuperándose. La flexibilización de las regulaciones permitirá a los negocios tener asientos adicionales o espacios de ventas en la parte exterior de su establecimiento principal.

Estos programas son parte del programa de asistencia para el desarrollo de negocios y la sostenibilidad de la Ciudad, que apoya a los comercios dentro de los límites de la Ciudad.

Para más información sobre la Ciudad de Kissimmee, visite www.kissimmee.org.

The post Kissimmee’s waived permit fee program to expire December 31, regulatory relaxation to continue in 2021 appeared first on Positively Osceola.

“We’re not going to put young healthy workers ahead of our vulnerable elderly population,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said at the Villages where some seniors received the coronavirus vaccine. “The vaccines are going to be targeted where the risk is the greatest and that is in our elderly population.”

Currently, hospital workers, first responders, residents of long-term care facilities, and other health-care staff are prioritized for the vaccination, but the Florida Governor said that will all change on the next round.

“Just understand what that would mean,” said the Governor. “If you’re a 22-year-old working in food service, let’s say at a supermarket, you would have preference over a 74-year-old grandmother. I don’t think that is the direction we want to go.”

The Governor said that county health departments throughout Florida will begin administering the vaccines to individuals over 65 possibly as soon as Monday.

After that, when more vaccine arrives, the priority will be law enforcement, firefighters and teachers, according to Governor DeSantis.

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