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Thursday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida a national leader in shuttering bank branches
The move to online and mobile banking, combined with the push to reel in millennial customers, has fueled the decline of branches industry-wide for years. Yet some banks, particularly community-focused ones with a demographic that skews older (like in Florida) have maintained a branch presence — albeit one with more gadgets and technology inside. More from the Business Observer.
Hurricane center watching new tropical system with chances of development moving west
As Subtropical Storm Rebekah moves east toward Europe, a new system with chances of tropical development appeared Thursday morning and is moving west, the National Hurricane Center said in its 8 a.m. update. The broad area of disturbed weather appeared Thursday morning about 1,000 miles south-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Legoland Florida is offering U.S. Vets free admission in November
Legoland Florida Resort will celebrate U.S. veterans and active military personnel by offering free admission between Nov. 1 and Nov. 25. Additionally, the resort will give up to six of their guests 50 percent off tickets and 25 percent off overnight stays. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Key pieces falling into place as St. Pete Pier looks to spring opening
Work may be proceeding at a feverish pace to meet an aspirational spring grand opening of the new Pier, but city officials aren’t ready to announce a month -- much less an exact date -- for the unveiling of what is expected to be at least a $92 million project. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Dispensaries grow with marijuana industry in Northeast Florida
As the marijuana industry continues to grow so does the amount of dispensaries in Northeast Florida. Wednesday was the grand opening for Med Men, a new dispensary in Jacksonville Beach. There are 170 doctors who are registered to prescribe some form of medical marijuana within nine of the surrounding counties. More from Action News Jax.
Business Profile
Ocean Sole
There’s an elephant in an office park in Ponte Vedra, a colorful creature, more than 5 feet high, which began life as thousands of dirty, tossed-away flip-flops gathered from the beaches and roadways of Kenya. The elephant is joined by hundreds of other equally colorful flip-flop animals of varying sizes, from lions to moose, in the new headquarters of Ocean Sole Africa. It’s a business run by Erin Smith, who left the corporate world in London and Nairobi to embark on a passion project, one that combines social welfare, environmental conservation and art.
» More from the Florida Times-Union.
Halloween Entertainment
Haunted Florida: These 5 cemeteries are worth the trip
What’s a spooky season without a trip to a Florida cemetery? From haunted land where ghosts roam the grounds of the Sunshine State to a spot where an eerie chair is said to belong to the devil, you don’t have to travel far to experience chills. Ready for a good scare? Harness your brave spirit, find a horror fanatic friend and add a trip to one of these five cemeteries to your Halloween plans.
» Read more from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
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