How many hurricanes have hit Florida in November? Warm oceans are increasing the odds
A storm brewing in the Caribbean seems likely to become the next named storm, Sara, and has the potential to hit Florida as a hurricane next week. If it does, Sara will break some records we really don't want broken. For one thing, that will make four hurricanes smacking into the state in a single season, two of them — Helene and Milton — major ones. Three major hurricanes making landfall in Florida the same year has happened only once before, in 2004. More from the Lakeland Ledger.
Florida Trend Exclusive
Waves of change
Finding a site for a significant number of new boat slips is a challenge even in a state with thousands of miles of waterways. In Clay County, there’s a site with dock potential aplenty. Private business Clay County Port Development and its industrial Reynolds Park sit on the St. Johns River, 45 miles from the ocean at a World War II-era former U.S. Naval Air Station. More from Florida Trend.
Miami to participate in MIT’s prestigious 2-year Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program
The City of Miami was selected to participate in the MIT Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program (REAP), an initiative led by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management. Miami will be part of Cohort 11, joining a group of global regions that aim to accelerate innovation-driven entrepreneurship, the City of Miami announced Tuesday. More from Refresh Miami.
With Strive to Thrive plan, Pensacola aligned behind path into the future
This week the city of Pensacola unveiled a 10-year-strategic plan intended to help guide the city's actions and priorities for the next decade. At a CivicCon event Tuesday evening at the Bayview Community Center, Anna Muessig of the urban design firm Gehl gave an overview of the plan and Mayor D.C. Reeves fielded questions about how the city will implement it. More from the Pensacola News Journal.
City National Bank of Florida to add 200 staff
City National Bank of Florida plans to grow its workforce by 20% over the next two years, adding 200 employees to its current staff of 1,000. Vice Chairman and CEO Jorge Gonzalez said the Miami-based bank is in growth mode to meet the rising demand for services in several Florida markets. More from the Tampa Bsy Business Journal.
From hidden gem to national treasure
When Washington Garcia arrived as dean of Stetson University’s School of Music in 2021, he came with a rich personal history and an ambitious vision of the school’s future. Born in Ecuador, Garcia pursued his “American dream” by earning advanced degrees from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University and achieving international acclaim as a concert pianist. His degrees were only two in a list of accomplishments in Garcia’s life. [Sponsored report]
Event
Orlando Coffee Festival hits the Milk District on Saturday
What’s the buzz? It’s all about caffeine this weekend in The City Beautiful as the inaugural Orlando Coffee Festival hits the lawn at Festival Park in Orlando’s Milk District. Taking place 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 16), the festival will feature some 40 independent coffee companies, most from right here in Florida, whose coffee, beans, merch and more will be for sale and also available for sampling to festival ticket holders.
» More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Public Health
Scientists are researching whether Florida insects could spread Oropouche
Floridians traveling to Cuba account for all of the 90 Oropouche, or sloth fever, cases reported in the state, but researchers are trying to determine whether the mosquito-borne illness could spread locally. Before 2023, Oropouche outbreaks had been confined to the Amazon basin but have since spread locally in South America and the Caribbean and now, through returning travelers, Florida.
» Read more from the Florida Phoenix.