New Mills 50 Businesses + FL Requests Ventilators + Haunted Road

Happy Wednesday, neighbors! Here's what's happening today in Orlando.

In this issue, you'll learn about another conference cancellation in City Beautiful, a drive-thru haunted attraction coming back to town, increased demand for ventilators, changes in visitation at Central Florida hospitals, and more. Now, let's get started.

First, today's weather: Humid and partly cloudy throughout the day. High: 92 Low: 76.

Here are the top stories today in Orlando:

1. The Florida Democratic Party on Monday called off a major annual conference and fundraising event scheduled for the end of August in Orlando. This comes after a slew of recent cancellations to the Orlando area by organizers due to rising cases. The party blamed the surge as a "DeSantis-enabled COVID-19 spike." (Orlando Weekly)

2. A popular drive-thru haunted attraction in Orlando called The Haunted Road is returning this fall. Tickets go on-sale on Friday the 13th. How's that for spooky? (Fox 35 Orlando)

3. Florida is requesting hundreds of ventilators from the federal government as hospitalizations surge in the Sunshine State. Governor DeSantis continues to fight against mask rules as COVID-19 cases surge. (The Hill)

4. Two businesses, Phat Ash Bakes and Grilled Cheezus, are planning to share a former Mills 50 restaurant space that previously belonged to Bites and Bubbles at 912 Mills Avenue. (Bungalower)

5. Brevard’s Health First is implementing a no-visitation policy as COVID-19 hospitalizations increase in Florida to a record of over 15,000. The policy begins today at 5 a.m. at the Cape Canaveral Hospital, Holmes Regional Medical Center, Palm Bay Hospital and Viera Hospital with limited exceptions. (Click Orlando)

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Today in Orlando

• College Spirit Day - Orlando Gifted Academy. (all day)
• Baby Goat Yoga at Wildflower Farms. (9:00 AM)
• OCPS K-12 Mental Health Commission Parent and Community Outreach Subcommittee. (11:00 AM)
• Elite & Ocean Hot Seat Drawings Promotion - $13 Day and Evening Cruise. (11:00 AM)
• Slot Tournament - EVERY WEDNESDAY - Only $10 Buy-in. (11:00 AM)
• Enchanted Fairy Doors at Leu Gardens. (10:00 AM)
• 3rd Annual SourFest — À LA CART. (12:00 PM)
• Soccer Tryouts - Audubon Park School. (2:00 PM)
• Soccer Tryouts - College Park Middle School. (3:00 PM)
• MS Soccer Tryouts Grades 6-7-8 - Pershing-Pine Castle Elementary School. (3:00 PM)
• Soccer Informational Meeting - Lake Nona Middle School. (5:30 PM)
• Live at Timucua: Baishui (in-person). (7:30 PM)
• Live at Timucua: Baishui (live stream). (7:30 PM)

Orlando Patch Notebook

• Universal Orlando Resort: "Has anyone ever managed to stay dry on this? " (Instagram)
• Universal Orlando Resort: "Waturi Fusion for breakfast is the real breakfast of champions. ( : @uninewstoday)" (Instagram)
• Orlando City SC: "Back again @luisnani has been named to @mls Team of the Week for the third week in a row #VamosOrlando | #Goa..." (Instagram)
• Orlando City SC: "Exploria is ready for you, @leaguescup " (Instagram)
• Pet Alliance Greater Orlando: "Hi, I'm Louie! I'm a silly guy looking for my new best friend. Due to my high activity level and booming bark, I must..." (Instagram)
• Downtown Orlando: "We spy with our little eye something... cute and furry⁠ ⁠ 703 N Orange Ave.⁠ @orlandodogspots⁠ ⁠ #MuralMonday" (Instagram)
• Nature Conservancy in Florida: "Exciting news! This fall we’ll be converting the conference room at The Nature Conservancy’s Disney Wilderness Preser..." (Instagram)
• Orlando Police Department: "#WelcomeBack: With our 53 School Resource Officers serving students in Orange County Public Schools across City of Or..." (Facebook)
• Yelp Orlando: "Art After Dark, @DowntownArtsOrlando’s signature event for young professionals, is BACK at @cityarts_orlando this Sat..." (Instagram)
• Nature Conservancy in Florida: "Many coastal communities have long relied on built infrastructure for coastal protection. Massive structures like sea..." (Instagram)
• Orlando Police Department: "ALL TOGETHER: Our officers from Patrol, the #Neighborhood Patrol Unit, & Mounted Patrol were proud to join Kissimmee ..." (Facebook)
• Yelp Orlando: "Do you think you have what it takes to join the #YelpElite squad? Tap the link in our bio to learn more and nominate ..." (Instagram)
• Pet Alliance Greater Orlando: "Hello. They call me Onyx. I am a very dapper dude but I am quite shy and laidback. I am looking for the purrfect fa..." (Instagram)
• Orlando Science Center: "Happy first day of school! Orlando Science Center is wishing little learners a wonderful year of learning and dis..." (Instagram)
• The Florida Aquarium: "Last week, the Aquarium released two juvenile green sea turtles! The turtles were found stranded in March 2021 as a r..." (Instagram)
• Orlando Police Department: "SCHOOL ZONE SAFETY: On this #firstdayofschool, our Motors Unit Officer Tanisha Bridges wants to remind drivers to #Sl..." (Facebook)
• Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer: "As a community we’re continuing to work to make the vaccine accessible to all residents. I’m grateful that we could c..." (Facebook)
• Orlando Police Department: "FRIENDY REMINDER ⚠: Tomorrow is the #firstdayofschool & you will see a lot more children, families, & workers using t..." (Facebook)
• Central Florida Zoo: "The wait is over… Brews Around the Zoo is BACK! Tickets for our popular 21+ event are now on sale! Join us on Satu..." (Instagram)
• City of Orlando - Government: "Average cost of COVID-19 hospital stay: Over $60,000 Cost of vaccine: $0 Don't put you and your loved ones' health at..." (Facebook)
• Orlando Weekly: "Both school districts announced that they would require #students to wear face #masks for the first 30 days of #schoo..." (Instagram)
• Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida: "This weekend we hosted a Back to School Fest on campus for our families and students. Thanks to Taylor Morrison Orlan..." (Facebook)
• Central Florida Zoo: "Do you love wine? Do you like to paint? If you answered yes, we have the perfect event for you! Join us for Wild A..." (Instagram)
• Downtown Orlando: "We spy with our little eye something... cute and furry 703 N Orange Ave. orlandodogspots via IG #MuralMonday" (Facebook)
• Orlando Health: "You can still get lung cancer – even if you’ve never smoked. In fact, an estimated 10 percent to 20 percent of lung c..." (Facebook)
• Orlando Health: "Am I the right candidate for bariatric surgery? Dr. Andre Teixeira, a board-certified bariatric physician for Orlando..." (Facebook)
• Orange County, Florida : "@scootermagruder has an important message about recycling in @ocfl, @cityofapopka, @thecitybeautiful, @winterparkfl..." (Instagram)
• Downtown Orlando: "Beginning today, Orange County's free drive-thru COVID-19 vaccination site is moving to Camping World Stadium. Vaccin..." (Facebook)
• Audubon Park Garden District: "Free craft coffee is the best kind. ️ At Bikes, Beans & Bordeaux Cafe" (Facebook)

You're all caught up for today! I'll see you around. If you're loving these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to read along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Carlos Hernandez

About me: Hello my name is Carlos Hernandez and I am a food writer with over 10 years of experience in the industry. I write the food blog Carlos Eats (http://www.carloseats.com) and also contribute to several newspapers and magazines with food-related blogs and articles.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Orlando Daily? You can contact me at orlando@patch.com.