Florida’s back-to-school tax holiday starts today and continues through Aug. 11. During this sales tax holiday period, qualifying items will be exempt from tax including: certain school supplies selling for $15 or less per item; clothing, footwear, and certain accessories selling for $60 or less per item; and computers and certain accessories selling for $1,000...

We are almost two months into hurricane season. If you haven’t already, it’s time to create a family emergency plan, stock up on non-perishable food items, and have your trees trimmed. For more information, visit FEMA’s hurricane readiness page: https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes  

Today is National Mutt Day, a day to embrace, save and celebrate mixed breed dog. Do you have a beloved mutt, or are you interested in adopting? Consider visiting a shelter to adopt a mutt in need of a forever home. If you can’t adopt, volunteering is a great way to help mutts, too.

Did you know that the MetroWest Public Safety Program is a cornerstone of our effort to make MetroWest a great place to Live, Work, Play and Connect! By partnering with Critical Intervention Services (CIS), we designed a program tailored to our community’s unique needs. For more information, visit https://www.metrowestcommunity.com/public-safety/

Today is International Cat Day, also known as World Cat Day. It is a special day to celebrate domestic cats of all kinds. If you’ve been considering adopting a cat and feel you are ready, go ahead and visit a local shelter or go online to see the many cats looking for homes. Check out...

Monday is the first day of school in Orange County! For more information, visit https://www.ocps.net/.  

Florida’s back-to-school tax holiday ends tomorrow! During this sales tax holiday period, qualifying items will be exempt from tax.   (BTS tax free infographic)

Today is the first day of school for Orange County Public Schools. Please be aware of our children walking and biking to school today, and of school zones and buses! (School safety image)

In Central Florida, summer is almost year-round, so keep this advice from the American Cancer Society in mind to protect you from the sun’s damaging rays: https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/stay-sun-safe-this-summer.html

Today is National Honey Bee Day, a day to celebrate and show appreciation for hard working Honey Bees, which produce honey that we enjoy and are vital to the pollination for a wide array of our fruits and vegetables. The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences suggests providing plants that appeal to...

Today is World Mosquito Day. The goal of this special day is to raise awareness of malaria, as well as other diseases carried by mosquitoes including the Zika virus, and to educate people about how to avoid contact with mosquitoes. Since mosquitoes are a fact of life here in Central Florida, check out the University...

Do you see a problem in the neighborhood that needs to be reported to the City of Orlando? Then go to the Report a Problem page of the city’s website – this page allows you to quickly provide information about a variety of issues, from problem trees to a missed garbage cart pick up. https://www.orlando.gov/Report-a-Problem

Tomorrow is International Dog Day, a day to honor dogs and to rescue dogs from homelessness and abuse. It’s an opportunity for us to recognize and appreciate the value and importance of dogs in our lives. If you’re ready to adopt a new family member, contact Orange County Animal Services, Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando,...

Don’t forget that local watering restrictions allow for watering your lawn only twice per week! Here are some details: Water only before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. to avoid evaporation. Obey watering restrictions by watering only on your designated days. Odd numbered addresses water on Wednesday and Saturday, while even numbered addresses water on...

Would you like to become more engaged with the MetroWest community? The MetroWest Master Association welcomes and encourages resident participation and there are many ways to become involved. Find out more at: https://www.metrowestcommunity.com/people/get-involved/