🌱 St. Cloud Water Management + Ukrainian Orlando Festival + Apopka Police Lawsuit

Happy Monday, neighbors! Happy Valentine's Day! Let's get you all caught up to start today off on an informed note.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and cool. High: 65 Low: 46.

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Here are the top five stories today in Orlando:

1. Ukrainian Project Inc. is hosting the Ukrainian Orlando Festival later this month at Apopka Amphitheater from February 25th to February 27th. The event will celebrate Ukraine's culture and heritage. All proceeds made during the event will go to helping residents in Ukraine as tensions rise between Russia and Ukraine. (Spectrum News 13)

2. Apopka police released body camera footage on Friday showing an interaction between four officers and a man they arrested who is suing the police department for using excessive force. Jason Friend, a former Maitland police officer, recently announced a lawsuit against the police and video footage shows Friend's neighbors confronting officers over the interaction. (Click Orlando)

3. St. Cloud passed a resolution this week to turn over management and operations of the city's water utility to Toho Water Authority. The motion carried 3-2, with Council members Keith Trace and Dave Askew voting against it. It is a 60-year agreement that can be approved in two 30-year segments. (Osceola News-Gazette)

4. Police have made an arrest in the deadly shooting of a teenager along a bike trail in Titusville on Wednesday. 17-year-old Mercutio Burford was killed on a bike path on North Washington Avenue near Parrish Medical Center. Authorities believe it is not an isolated incident and that the victim near the alleged attacker. (WESH)

5. Orlando Police Department is investigating a homicide after a man was shot and killed early Saturday morning near Sunset Drive and Herold Drive. Police found the victim in a driveway with gunshot wounds, who later died at a hospital. There are no suspects to release at this time. (Fox 35 Orlando)

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Today in Orlando:

• SAK Comedy Lab's Valentine's Show. (5:00 PM)
• Valentine's Day Succulent Arrangement Workshop at Bomb Blooms. (5:00 PM)
• Valentine Pies And Pints Class at Edible Education Experience Operating The Emeril Lagasse Foundation Kitchen House & Culinary Garden. (6:00 PM)
• Truffles & Trifles Valentines Cooking Class. (6:30 PM)
• Beat Valentine’s Day Blues With Free Wings at Hooters' #ShredYourEx Event. (9:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Mayor Buddy Dyer and his wife Susie are celebrated their first wedding anniversary doing things they both love including spending time with each other, their dog Sammie, and the Orlando community at Paws in the Park. (Facebook)
• One of Orlando's first Black communities began in 1886. Samuel Jones, a formerly enslaved man, settled near Fern Creek. Black families who worked in the area began to build the foundation for a community known as Jonestown. (Instagram)
• Orlando Health team members and Orlando City Soccer Club fans got 2022 off to a running start at the 7th annual Purple Pride 5K this past weekend. (Facebook)

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Events:

• Social Security Webinar 2/21 & 2/23 (February 21)
• Alternative Products Expo - Fort Lauderdale (March 11)
• Alternative Products Expo - Fort Lauderdale (March 12)
• Alternative Products Expo - Fort Lauderdale (March 13)
• Add your event

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You're all caught up for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another update!

— 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.