Former felons will not be allowed to vote if they owe court costs after all. A local federal appeals court announced the ruling on Friday, voting in favor 6-4 and overturning U.S. District Judge Robert Hinckle’s earlier ruling where he called the state law an “unconstitutional pay-to-vote system.” Floridians voted in 2018 to restore former felons’ right to vote if they had completed all terms of their sentence. Afterward, this was made contingent on their ability to pay court costs and fees resulting from their sentencing; many have viewed the stipulation as a poll tax. (Orlando Weekly)

The same people who brought us Seito Sushi, Osprey Tavern, and Reyes Mezcaleria are bringing Orlando a new concept and the photos look just as Instagram-worthy as their other spots. Good Salt Restaurant Group — operated by restaurateurs Jason and Sue Chin — are opening their fourth concept, The Monroe, on the ground floor of the new Julian apartments in the Creative Village. The name is an homage to Dr. William “Monroe” Wells, a Black physician who opened the Wells’Built Hotel in Parramore in 1926 as a safe space for Black people to gather. The Wells’Built Hotel is now the Wells’Built Museum. (The Monroe)

Orlando Fringe wants our help: They’re seeking suggestions on how to make the festival more inclusive and accessible to all artists. Please take a few moments to complete this anonymous survey and share it with your friends and fellow artists. The more responses they get, the better they can serve our arts community. (Orlando Fringe)

The Nook wants you to scream like it’s 2020… because it IS 2020, and this year has been trying us continually since it began. And what better way to unite while socially distanced than screaming into the infinite void? Meet up at The Nook on Robinson in the Milk District on Sunday for a much-needed scream fest.  (Bungalower)

Our friends over at the Weekly just shared the 25 best Indian restaurants in Orlando according to Yelp. From tikka masala to goat vindaloo, Yelpers have got you covered. (Orlando Weekly)

In COVID-19 news… 

📊 By the numbers, the Florida Department of Health reported:

• 2,423 new positive coronavirus cases
• 82 new hospitalizations, 2,631 currently hospitalized
• 8 new fatalities due to COVID-19, totaling 12,764 statewide since March
• The positivity rate was 4.44% on Sunday according to FDOH

A few weeks ago, Melissa DM’d me on Instagram to tell me about a new organization that deserved some Pulptown love. The organization was Buddy Beads and it was started by her friend Nicola, someone Melissa said had a story to tell. This is Nicola’s story of how Buddy Beads came to be. 👇

First things first, what are Buddy Beads? Buddy Beads are fashionable handmade necklaces that attach directly to your mask allowing you to safely remove your mask without misplacing it. They are customizable and personalized if desired.

Where did Buddy Beads get its name? After sharing the idea with a good friend, we tossed around some names and she suggested Buddy Beads. The name quickly became a favorite because the beads are a personal reflection of the person wearing them, much like your buddies who you surround yourself with.

What’s the story behind Buddy Beads? School was around the corner and I was concerned with how my kids (who lose everything) were going to return to the classroom without losing their masks. I wanted to “make masking fun” for kids and adults so I made a few styles for my kids and their friends, and they LOVED them and wanted more. My friends encouraged me to start selling them and word quickly spread; within a few days, we had over 30 orders. During this time, my husband and I were planning to make a donation to the Winnie Palmer NICU, a place very close to our family’s heart.

My daughter, Mila, was born a healthy full-term baby, but within 24 hours, she was in critical condition due to extreme levels of bilirubin. Her condition prompted an emergency double volume exchange transfusion and we were prepped for various outcomes and a long haul stay.

She surprised doctors and nurses with her recovery and graduated 7 days later. Today she’s 17 months old, full of life and a lot of spunk.

During the height of the pandemic, I couldn’t shake the thought of the families having the stress of a newborn in the NICU, in addition to the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic to add to their heightened emotions. I wanted to find a way to help and say thank you to her incredible NICU team who show up every day for babies who need critical care. As a result, my husband and I decided that during the month of August all proceeds from the sale of Buddy Beads would be donated to the Winnie Palmer NICU, and I’m ecstatic to say that we exceeded our goal by 3x.

How can people purchase Buddy Beads? Buddy beads can be purchased on Instagram @BuddyBeadsBoutique or on Etsy at Buddy Beads Boutique.

What is your hope for Buddy Beads in the future? I am currently working on expanding Buddy Beads beyond necklaces to offer additional accessories, including bracelets. Our goal is to choose a new Orlando-based charity each month and donate a portion of the proceeds from the accessory line to those charities that are near and dear to our heart.

Know someone getting creative in quarantine? Someone (or something!) making a difference in our world? Send ’em over to me: katie@pulp.town, subject line: Katie, you gotta know about this.

See you again on Wednesday, friends, with recommendations on how to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month which kicks off tomorrow. It’s for sure going to be a tasty roundup, but if you have other Hispanic-owned businesses you want to “throw in the pot”, reply to this email and let me know.

Have a good one out there!

– Katie at Pulptown