Epcot Food and Wine Update + Pulse Exhibit + Faith Leaders

Good Morning. My name is Carlos Hernandez and I am back to update you on the latest happening in the Orlando area.

In this issue, you’ll learn new details about the upcoming Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, faith leaders calling on elected officials to protect LGBTQ against discrimination, a free Pulse remembrance exhibit, and more. Now, let's get started.

Today’s weather: The high is 91 and the low is 73 with mostly cloudy skies.

Here are the top 5 stories happening around Orlando:

1. Orange County Regional History Center is offering free admission for a limited time to make a new Pulse exhibit accessible to all through June 13th. The exhibit is called Community: Five Years After the Pulse Tragedy. (Orlando Weekly)

2. Governor DeSantis signed a bill that limits impact fees for developers and builders after Orange County increased fees by 150%. Opponents of the bill highlighted how fees had not been increased in a decade and that existing residents will bear the brunt of development and growth costs. (Orlando Sentinel)

3. Disney is sharing new details about the upcoming Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. The fun begins July 15th. There will be new Global Marketplaces (food booths) and new booths in Morocco and Kenya. New music will be offered by America Gardens Bandstand. More updates to come as it gets closer. (Spectrum 13 News)

4. 500 faith leaders in Orlando called on elected leaders in the state to support federal non-discrimination legislation to protect LGBTQ Americans. The meeting is part of Pulse Remembrance Week. (Fox 35 Orlando)

5. A Polk County man who was drinking and using cocaine killed his girlfriend and another man in a rampage before killing himself, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Seven children were in the home at the time of the shooting. An investigation is ongoing. (WESH)

Today in Orlando:

• Orange County Board of County Commissioners meeting. (9 a.m.)
• Osceola Tourist Development Council: Regular Meeting. (3 p.m.)
• Orange County Vision 2050 Town Hall Community Meeting. (6 p.m.)
• Frontyard Festival: Orlando Gay Chorus Presents My Portraits of Pulse - The Story of JD Casto at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. (7 p.m.)

Orlando Patch Notebook:

• The 5 year Pulse Remembrance Ceremony is Saturday, June 12th, at 7 p.m. You can reserve a free, socially-distant box to watch a live stream of the ceremony at Dr. Phillips Center’s Frontyard Festival.
• UCF is honoring the 49 lives lost at the Pulse Shooting with a blood drive on campus.
• Check out the big crowds at Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
• The National Hurricane Center is tracking a possible tropical development in the southwestern Caribbean.
• COVID-19 vaccines are now available at Orlando International Airport. The Florida Department of Emergency Management is on site offering vaccinations from Monday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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That's all for today. I will be back tomorrow with the latest happening in Orlando. My inbox is open if you have any tips to send or want to reach out: orlando@patch.com.

-Carlos Hernandez

About me: I have lived in Florida since 1999 and covered the Orlando area for nearly 10 years, mainly with a focus on food through my blog at CarlosEats.com.