Commissioners approve $6 million in tourist tax dollars for new Winter Park library

Commissioners Siplin and Emily Bonilla voted against giving hotel tax dollars to the project because, as many Winter Park residents expressed, they didn’t feel like it was a venue that would promote tourism. Orange County Commissioner Emily Bonilla questioned the return on investment for a project such as the Winter Park Canopy, which appeared to be relying heavily on weddings as a source of revenue, she said. Bonilla also called into question the Canopy itself and how it didn’t seem like the same project residents approved.

At a commission meeting Tuesday, Orange County Commissioner Emily Bonilla said she believes the county should have more authority to make changes to its own ordinance, not state leaders. She said other Florida counties have made provisions to the state statute for their area. The commissioner said she wants to discuss the issue at a future meeting. “To see what our options are and how we can make this better for Orange County, so we can make sure that criminals know that Orange County is not the place for these activities,” Bonilla said.

Orange County Commissioner Emily Bonilla, whose district includes Christmas, gave the bulk of the credit to Beagles for getting the project off the ground. “He was the one to convince Orange County to purchase this property back in the day and he also went to Tallahassee to get the funding for it,” Bonilla said. “For years to come, families in Christmas and visitors will be able to enjoy the natural beauty of this local park.”

March is Women’s History Month. We are remembering women who have made history in the past and those that are still making history today. The Women Making History in Central Florida event will showcase four women who have and will continue making history. We hope that their stories will inspire you to impact Central Florida in your own way.

Honor to speak at the Vamos4PR press conference today.

The Gang and Sex Trafficking Event was a great success! I want to thank everyone for attending and for your support. I would like to thank the community partners for everything they do: African Leaders Council, Ruben Saldana with Rucamp, JV’s Foundation, Marketing and Public Relations, Orange County Government, Orange County Library and Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation.

Recently, I had the opportunity to tour the Bronze Kingdom, an African art gallery. This magnificent place displays sculptures from countries like Nigeria, Mali, and Senegal. With such spectacular pieces, this 16,000-square-foot gallery is truly one of Orlando’s best kept secrets.

County Commissioner Emily Bonilla, who asked the commission to intervene in the issue, stood by the rescue group. “There are complaints about our animal services, which are legitimate complaints,” Bonilla said. Ending the group’s contract “really was a personal issue, a personal vendetta,” she said. “This is unfair.” Rescue Me Orlando, through its 30,000 Facebook followers, often publicizes hard-to-place animals, including those that are sick, old or deemed aggressive, and tries to find suitable foster families.

Winter Park’s arts and culture leaders celebrated the second annual Weekend of the Arts at the Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum on Monday, Feb. 4. The VIP reception had Winter Park’s arts community mingling over drinks before listening to music from Owen & Moley Ó Súilleabháin and Chelsea Hiland and Nicholas D’Alessandro.

To help pay for the Harrod property, Commissioner Emily Bonilla, who won her seat in 2016 with support from residents opposed to high-density developments in rural areas, proposed using $2.5 million set aside for a future park in “The Grow.” In a memo to fellow commissioners in December, Bonilla described Harrod’s property as “virtually untouched by modern standards, which leaves it in pristine condition for a potential historical site or park.”

Emily Bonilla

Timeline Stories

Commissioners approve $6 million in tourist tax dollars for new Winter Park library

Orange County sheriff pushing to shut down businesses riddled with crime

East Orange community of Christmas gets ‘gift’ of community center, ball-fields

Woman Making History in Central Florida

Vamos4PR Housing Press Release

Gang & Sex Trafficking Prevention

Bronze Kingdom African Art Gallery

Rescue Me Orlando pleads with Orange County to reinstate agreement for dog adoptions

Winter Park’s art leaders celebrated the second annual Weekend of the Arts initiative.

A Tough Sell: Orange County likes Wayne Harrod’s Little Econ River property — but not the price

Timeline Stories

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