Scott Maxwell: 10 People Who Make Orlando a Better Place to Live (2026)

Scott Maxwell: Check out this year's list of "10 People Who Make Orlando a Better Place to Live." Readers nominated philanthropists, mentors, restaurateurs and more

Clockwise from top left: Arlene Blake, founder of Women on the Rise International; Andrea Massey-Farrell, CEO of the Harvey & Carol Massey Foundation; Chris King, Elevation Scholars founder; Jason and Sue Chin, Good Salt Restaurant Group; Deanna Keller, volunteer extraordinaire; Kerry S. Wiggins and Britt Henderson, Unity Youth Association founders; Kathy Grimes, Steinway Society vice president; Carlos Benitiz, Program manager of St. Peter Claver Prison Ministry; Bill and Jody Orosz, philanthropists; and (center) Deborah Green, Orange Audubon Society president. (Kimazing Photography, Massey Services, Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel (King, Chins, and Green), Steve Simoneau, Adrienne H. Wiggins, Gary Grimes, courtesy Carlos Benitiz and Stephen Orosz)

New Gators coach Jon Sumrall and others are probably laughing at Professor Pigskin's predictions. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Bianchi’s pigskin pandemonium: ‘Canes crowned, Dolphins winless, Gators dancing, Jags Super, Knights rising — and Norvell survives!

The centerpiece of the proposed project is a new, three-story synagogue for Chabad of Winter Park, featuring a grand columned entrance and hosting a 60-child daycare. (City of Winter Park)

Winter Park advances synagogue plan after divided vote

'Hellraiser' and main antagonist Pinhead are main draws of a haunted house based on the films on the first official night of Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Florida theme park on Friday. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

First look, eek and ick: Halloween Horror Nights 2026

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket lifts off from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Falcon Heavy launch on tap Sunday with NASA space telescope mission, but weather dicey

Latest Headlines

Mother, daughter deported after car crash, hospital arrest, attorney says

22 hours ago
Hurricane center tracks Gulf system, Dolly’s remnants that could threaten Florida

14 hours ago
Many Florida kids aren’t ‘ready’ for kindergarten, businesses should help, chamber says

22 hours ago
Jon Sumrall, Urban Meyer find kindred spirits as fellow Florida coaches

6 hours ago
Orlando Pride hosts Utah, set to build on last week’s important win

2 days ago
Plant Doctor: Post-freeze bougainvillea came back with vengeance, but where are blooms?

23 hours ago
‘Constant sound of turbines:’ Neighbors sue over noisy FPL plant in South Florida

20 hours ago
Sign up for email newsletters
Sign Up

Local News

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier during a press conference on April 14, 2025. When Uthmeier was Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ chief of staff, he set up the political committee now at the center of controversy over Hope Florida, a project of first lady Casey DeSantis’. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/TNS)

Will leaked Hope Florida report impact Florida’s general election?

Top Democratic office-seekers hailed the report as proof of GOP corruption at the highest levels of state government, which they said implicated their November midterm election opponents.

Sports

Florida State running back Ousmane Kromah, here in 2025 against Clemson, rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown to lead the Seminoles to a 34-17 victory over New Mexico State on Saturday night at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee. It was the season opener for both teams. (Jacob Kupferman/AP file)

FSU wins opener 34-17 behind potent ground game

Ousmane Kromah broke the 100-yard barrier for the first time at Florida State as the Seminoles racked up 217 yards on the ground to win their 2026 opener over New Mexico State 34-17.

A dreamy morning can still lead to something useful. The Moon conjoins Neptune at 5:19 am EDT, softening the mood and bringing imagination, empathy, and intuition closer to the surface. Details may feel a little blurry early on, but a...

Entertainment

The mayor (Andrew Meidenbauer) helps four stranded airline passengers (Jason Blackwater, from left, Lindsay Northen Bradshaw, Michael Swickard and Mark-Henry Prosper) become honorary Newfoundlanders in the Orlando Shakes production of "Come From Away." (Courtesy Orlando Shakes)

Matthew J. Palm Critic’s Pick: To feel the spirit of community, fly to ‘Come From Away’

Orlando Shakes is staging the Broadway musical "Come From Away" and it's a smashing season...

Election

Noncitizen voting claims animate Trump’s attacks on midterms and set up potential result challenges

The drumbeat by President Donald Trump and his allies about the perceived threats of voting...

Orlando Sentinel 150

U.S. Sen. Bob Graham performs one of his workdays as a customs agent at the Orlando International Airport in May 2001. With the aid of the drug sniffing dog Tiger, Graham inspects bags coming from London. The dog did find drug paraphernalia during Graham's shift. (Orlando Sentinel File)

Orlando Sentinel 150: Friday Flashback to Bob Graham’s ‘workdays’

It was a gimmick and brought Graham a lot of free publicity, but he maintained...

Best Reviews

Happy Head hair loss treatment review

We tested Happy Head's hair loss treatment program over a period of five years. Here...

Opinion

President Donald Trump speaks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Editorial: Oh, Canada! Why pick a fight with our neighbor and bestie?

Canada is our No. 2 export market. We share the world’s longest unfortified border. We're...

National News

Thurgood Marshall leaves the Justice Department after being confirmed by the Senate as the nation’s first black Supreme Court Justice, Aug. 30, 1967. Marshall, 57, currently U.S. Solicitor General, was confirmed by a 69 to 11 margin. (AP Photo/Bob Daugherty)

Today in History: August 30, Thurgood Marshall confirmed as first Black Supreme Court justice

The Senate confirmed the appointment of Thurgood Marshall as the first Black justice on the...

Politics

FILE – Flames rise from flare stacks at the Amuay refinery in Los Taques, Venezuela, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix, File)

What we know about Trump’s deal giving US access to vast oil reserves in Venezuela

By COLLIN BINKLEY and JUAN PABLO ARRÁEZ WASHINGTON (AP) — Besides a social media post...

Restaurants, Food & Drink

Inaugural Afro Food Fest hits Orlando Festival Park next weekend

The first-ever Afro Food Fest hits Orlando's Festival Park on Sept. 5, featuring food and...

Health

Donated baby clothing is available free to parents.

Many states cover doula care, but access to a ‘birthing bestie’ is often out of reach

Doula care has been associated with improved breastfeeding initiation and less maternal anxiety.

Travel

Bees pollinate the sunflowers at the u-pick field in Southern Hill Farms in Clermont in 2024.
(Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

Southern Hill Farms named No. 2 sunflower festival in the U.S.

Southern Hill Farms in Clermont was ranked as the number two best sunflower festival in...

Business

Palina Louangketh shops at Idaho Capital Asian Market in Boise, Idaho, on June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Boone)

How international supermarkets can break up a dinner rut without costing a fortune

By REBECCA BOONE BOISE, Idaho (AP) — When kitchen burnout hits, figuring out what to...

Space

Artemis II astronauts receive nation’s highest space honor for their successful moonshot

Three Americans and one Canadian received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

Featured

Latest Headlines

Most Popular

Hurricane center tracks Gulf system, Dolly’s remnants that could threaten Florida

Tropical Storm Dolly falls apart; just a tropical wave on way to Caribbean, hurricane center says

Mother, daughter deported after car crash, hospital arrest, attorney says

Mike Caruso to be freed from jail after Orange County judge points to investigation flaws in child abuse case

Orlando-area Week 2 high school football scoreboard

Bianchi’s pigskin pandemonium: ‘Canes crowned, Dolphins winless, Gators dancing, Jags Super, Knights rising — and Norvell survives!

Endangered Florida panther kitten finds new home at Central Florida Zoo

Scott Maxwell: 10 People Who Make Orlando a Better Place to Live (2026)

No. 4 TFA holds on against No. 2 Edgewater; Windermere streak snapped | Football Rewind

Miss Manners: My classmate’s compliment felt like a retroactive insult

Events

Fun & Games

Orlando Sentinel Store