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November 9,
2007 - City News |
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Mayor's
Message |
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Dear Friend,
Tomorrow, our country celebrates Veterans Day.
Since the end of World War I, when this holiday
was known as Armistice Day, our country has set
aside a day to honor those who have fought to
preserve our freedoms and the freedoms of the
nations we have liberated.
This week, our community hosted several events
honoring our local veterans. On Tuesday, at the
Orange County History Center, Dr. Giles G.
McCoy, a World War II veteran and survivor of
the USS Indianapolis, shared his historic
experiences. After returning from a secret
mission to deliver the first atomic bomb dropped
over Japan in 1945, the USS Indianapolis was
sunk by a submarine. Those who survived fought
sharks and dehydration for three days before
being rescued. Of the almost 1,200 originally on
board, only 316 survived. On Thursday, the First
Baptist Church held a Veterans Day service
breakfast where over 500 people paid tribute to
our veterans.
Tomorrow, the City will host its annual Veterans
Day parade. This year’s Grand Marshall is Rear
Admiral Leroy Collins Jr., USNR. As the
Executive Director of the Florida Department of
Veterans Affairs, he is responsible for
assisting Florida’s 1.8 million
veterans, their families and survivors. The
department operates five veterans’ nursing homes
and one assisted living facility through the
State Veterans’ Homes program. Through his
leadership, he insures that Florida’s veterans
who sacrificed for our country are not
forgotten.
For the tradition of bravery and service our
veterans represent, I invite you to join my
Veterans Advisory Council and me Downtown on
Saturday, November 10 at 10 a.m. for our annual
Veterans Day Parade. It is our way of saying
thank you to those who have served our country
and preserved our freedoms.
Sincerely,
Buddy Dyer
Mayor
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Veterans Day
Parade, November 10 |
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Mayor Buddy Dyer and his Veterans
Advisory Council are proud to announce the Eighth Annual
Veterans Day Parade, Saturday, November 10, 2007 at 10
a.m. This premier event brings together the veteran and
military community in the Central Florida region. The
parade will take place in Downtown Orlando, beginning at
Orange Avenue and Robinson Street. It will travel south
on Orange Avenue, east on Central Boulevard, and north
on Rosalind Avenue ending at Livingston Street. Bring
your family, lawn chairs and your patriotic spirit to
the Orlando Veterans Day Parade! Go to
www.CityofOrlando.net for more information. |
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This section of
City News provides public safety updates on new and ongoing City
initiatives and opportunities for citizens to become engaged in their
neighborhoods.
OPD Officer Profile
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Orlando Police Officer Amir Paymayesh
spends most of his work day driving around in his police
cruiser looking for anything suspicious. As a member of
the Orlando Police Department’s Patrol Unit, Officer
Paymayesh believes that a successful patrol officer is
one that is out in the neighborhoods. |
Officer
Paymayesh’s beginnings with law enforcement were
accidental. While taking engineering classes at
Valencia Community College, he enrolled in a
criminal justice course and fell in love with
the subject. He enrolled in the Police Academy
and, upon graduation, began work with the
University of Central Florida Police Department.
He spent three years at UCF before joining the
Orlando Police Department in August 2005.
“Being a good police officer is not about
arresting the most people or seizing the most drugs or guns,” said
Paymayesh, “but more about the dedication and quality of services
provided to the citizens.”
To Catch a Criminal
Does Just That
Mayor Buddy Dyer recently thanked WKMG-Local
6 for profiling a suspect from the Orlando Police Department’s
“Operation Delta” in their To Catch a Criminal series. Within 24 hours
of the segment airing, phone calls from citizens helped put a dangerous
habitual felony offender in jail. The arrest of this individual was
greatly assisted by his appearance on television.
This is a vivid reminder of the positive
changes that can happen when our community works together to keep people
safe.
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Ten Ways You Can Make a
Difference
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Leaving your car at home just two days a
week will save 1,590 lbs. of greenhouse gas emissions
each year. Keep your car well-maintained to maximize its
fuel efficiency, safety and reliability.
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Replacing your five most frequently used
light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs)
can save more than $65 a year in energy costs
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Using a low flow shower head. A new
showerhead will save up to $145 each year on
electricity.
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Stopping your leaky faucet. Fixing drips
is a cost effective and easy way to save energy.
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Using the right sized pot on stove
burners can save about $36 annually for an electric
range, or $18 for gas.
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Disposing household hazardous waste
safely.
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Setting your water heater thermostat to
120 F or lower to save energy and money.
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Reducing the amount of garbage you
generate by looking for products that have less
packaging. Buy recycled products. Reuse goods you don’t
need by donating them.
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Taking your own reusable bags to the
grocery store and avoid having to choose between paper
and plastic.
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Planting a tree.
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Mayor in the
Community |
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On Tuesday, Mayor Buddy Dyer and District 5
Commissioner Daisy Lynum welcomed three
first-time home buyers to their new homes in
Parramore. Preserving the Parramore neighborhood
and promoting new home ownership is a top
priority of the Pathways for Parramore
initiative. The City’s Housing and Community
Development Department offers a variety of
programs to increase and preserve homeownership
in the neighborhood through financial
assistance, alternative design standards,
reduced fees and homebuyer counseling. |
On Wednesday, Mayor Buddy Dyer attended the
grand opening of Maxwell Gardens Sobiks Micro
Enterprise, a unique public-private partnership
that provides housing and job training for
chronically homeless individuals.
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Also on Wednesday, Mayor Dyer attended the
ribbon cutting for the grand opening of Star Tower, a
condominium and mixed use high rise located in Downtown.
Later that evening, the Mayor met with youth in the
Parramore Kidz Zone (PKZ) and Judges LeBlanc and Allen
to develop a day-long program aimed at educating youth
on law careers. |
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On Thursday, Mayor Dyer hosted the Mayor’s City
Academy Graduation for the Orlando residents
graduating from the nine-week program.
Participants attended field demonstrations, road
trips, department tours and many other
experiences to give them a new perspective and
stronger sense of pride in their community. |
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Did You Know? |
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Area Hospitals Breathe
Easy
On Wednesday, November 6, Mayor Buddy
Dyer joined Florida Hospital, Health Central and Orlando
Regional Healthcare to announce “Breathe Easy Day,” a
unique partnership and joint decision to become
tobacco-free at all three hospitals on July 1, 2008.
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The decision to go tobacco-free is for the health of the
hospitals’ patients and their employees. The hospitals
join more than 400 nationwide that have made similar
changes. Over the next nine months, the hospitals will
prepare for the changes, including smoking cessation and
support groups for employees attempting to quit smoking.
In honor of the “Breathe Easy” decision, the three
hospitals donated a tree to the City of Orlando to
represent fresh air.
Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death and
disease in the United States. It impacts the health of
not only the smoker, but second-hand smokers as well.
The positive effects of quitting begin almost
immediately and increase with time. |
Harbor
House Signature Drive
In an effort to bring more attention to domestic
violence, Harbor House launched "Stop the
Violence" this October. Residents are encouraged
to sign the Call to Action and pledge support to
end domestic violence in our community.
Individuals can visit the new Harbor House
website or the Men Against Domestic Violence
website to sign the call to action. Allstate
will donate to Harbor House $1 for every person
who signs the call to action up to $25,000.
Domestic violence results in nearly two million
injuries and 1,300 deaths nationwide every year.
Harbor House provides counseling, emotional
support, safe shelter, a 24-hour crisis hotline
and legal advocacy for thousands of domestic
violence survivors and their children each year.
Harbor House also prepares survivors for
re-entry into the community.
Inside Orlando
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Catch the newest edition of Inside Orlando,
featuring events and news about the City
Beautiful. Get a peek at our future community
venues, learn how to build an emergency kit,
experience the grand openings for the City’s new
fire stations and see other recent events in
this month’s episode. Watch Inside Orlando
online at
CityofOrlando.net or on Orange TV Channel 9.
Check Orange TVs show listing. |
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Last Workshop for
Mayor’s Faith Based and Community Matching
Grants
The last application workshop for the Mayor’s
Faith Based and Community Matching Grant will be
offered next week, Wednesday, November 14, from
11a.m. to 1p.m. at Orlando City Hall, for
nonprofit organizations and neighborhood
organizations wishing to apply. Attendance at an
application workshop is required. At least one
individual from the nonprofit organization and
two individuals who reside within the boundaries
of the neighborhood organization must attend.
Please call the City of Orlando’s Office of
Neighborhood & Community Affairs at 407-246-3787
to reserve a seat.
For
more information on the Mayor’s Faith Based and
Community Matching Grants, visit
cityoforlando.net/grants.
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Upcoming
Events |
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Road Closure |
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For information on
road closures please visit:
our site.
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For up-to-date
information on I-4 lane and ramp closure please
visit:
trans4mation.org
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For the latest
East-West Expressway updates please visit:
http://www.oocea.com/constructionupdate/roadupdates.shtml |
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City Hall
400 South Orange Avenue
Orlando, FL 32801
Phone: 407.246.2221
Fax: 407.246.2842
Email:
buddy.dyer@cityoforlando.net |
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Florida has a very broad public records law.
As a result, any written communication created or received by City of
Orlando officials and employees will be made available to the public and
media, upon request, unless otherwise exempt. Under Florida law, email
addresses are public records. If you do not want your email address
released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic
mail to this office. Instead, contact our office by phone or in writing.
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