Starbucks workers in Oviedo vote to unionize — the first Orlando-area store to do so

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On Thursday, Starbucks workers in Orlando voted 24 to 6 to unionize with Starbucks Workers United, joining at least four other Starbucks locations in Florida — and over 135 Starbucks stores in 28 states — that have voted #UnionYes.

Even on a Zoom call, the tension was palpable. But there was excitement, too. Early afternoon on Thursday, over Zoom, a staff member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) counted each vote that had been mailed in by Starbucks workers at the Mitchell Hammock & City Plaza location in Oviedo, Florida over the last month.

One by one.
Anticipation. Nerves.
Then, the final tally.
24 — Yes, for the union.
6 — No.
Zero void ballots. An easy majority.

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2022 Florida MICHELIN Bib Gourmands

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29 Bib Gourmands join the inaugural MICHELIN Guide Florida, from a Thai kitchen in Miami’s Little Havana to a Winter Park gastropub.

The very first MICHELIN Guide Florida has 29 Bib Gourmands across Orlando, Miami, and Tampa. The restaurants span a range of cuisines—wood-fired-oven pizza and barbecue in Miami; Peruvian and Indian in Orlando; Ramen and Italian in Tampa. Read on to see all the new MICHELIN Bib Gourmands in Florida, and click here to see the Florida MICHELIN Stars. Bon appétit!

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Scott Joseph’s 2022 Best Pizza Foodster Award – Winners

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Tornatore’s, the popular College Park restaurant and pizzeria, has been voted first place in our 2022 Best Pizza Foodster Award for Independent Restaurants. Bella Roma of Saint Cloud was second and Stone Fired Pizza, Edgewood, came in third. “Tornatore’s reminds me of New York,” wrote Ross Recchion after placing his vote. Wendy N. Lowe said: … Read more

Most workers who died of COVID-19 in 2020 were essential workers, study finds

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Most working-age Americans who died of COVID-19 during the first year of the pandemic were so-called essential workers in labor, service and retail jobs that required on-site attendance and prolonged contact with others, according to a recently published study led by a University of South Florida epidemiologist. The study looks back on COVID-19 deaths in … Read more

Scott Joseph’s 2022 Best Pizza Foodster Finalists

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Tornatore’s Cafe & Pizzeria – College ParkTartini’s Pizza & Spagetteria – Pine CastleFrancesco’s – Maitland (Orlando Ave & Horatio)Two Guys Pizzeria – East Colonial / SR 408Bella Roma – Saint CloudGoodfellas Pizza – East Colonial / AlafayaStone Fired Pizza – Pine CastleLeMay’s Pizza – PoincianaDon Giovanni Contemporary Italian and Pizzeria – Port OrangeButtercrust – South Orange Ave (Gatlin Plaza)Touch … Read more

Casselberry hit-and-run kills 63-year-old man crossing street, troopers say

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A hit-and-run killed a 63-year-old man crossing the street at Eagle Circle in Casselberry Wednesday evening, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Troopers said the crash happened at Eagle Circle and Shadow Oak Drive around 8:15pm.

Troopers added that witnesses told them the hit-and-run driver was in a silver Audi SUV heading west along Eagle Circle.

Investigators said the 63-year-old died at the scene of the crash, and there is a roadblock on Eagle Circle for the investigation.

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