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November 21,
2007 - City News |
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Mayor's
Message |
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Dear Friend,
This week’s City News is coming to you a few
days early so I can wish everyone a happy
Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a special holiday
in my family, a time to give thanks for all of
our blessings and for the freedoms we enjoy
everyday. I know that I am thankful for this
community and what we have accomplished
together. Your participation in City government
is what makes Orlando a great place to live,
work and play. I hope you take some time this
holiday to reflect on the reasons you have to be
thankful. I would also like to thank all of our
City employees who work hard every day to bring
quality services to our residents.
If you are traveling for Thanksgiving, I wish
you a safe journey. And for everyone, I hope
that this holiday is a joyous occasion.
Sincerely,
Buddy Dyer
Mayor
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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.
Orlando Receives Number One ISO Rating
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On Monday, November 19, Mayor Buddy Dyer
and Orlando Fire Chief Jim Reynolds announced that the
Orlando Fire Department had received a number one ISO
rating. ISO, the Insurance Services Office, provides the
nationwide standard for rating and ranking fire
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Orlando’s one rating is the highest possible, and only 55 communities
out of 45,000 in the United States have similarly ranked fire
departments. This top ISO rating allows Orlando residents to live, work
and go to sleep every night knowing that their protection is the best in
the country.
Orlando residents may also save money on
their fire insurance. In general, better ISO ratings lead to lower fire
insurance premiums for both residents and businesses. This is one reason
companies looking to relocate compare ISO ratings, giving our City
another tool to attract quality, high-wage employers to Orlando.
This milestone could not have been
achieved without the hard work and dedication of the Orlando Fire
Department and the Orlando Utilities Commission. The municipal water
supply makes up forty percent of the total score and must be reliable at
all times.
In July 2006, Mayor Dyer launched a
three-year, multi-million dollar Public Safety Initiative. This effort
placed more fire and rescue units on our roads, additional fire stations
throughout the City and included the training, equipment and personnel
that laid the foundation for the City of Orlando to attain the first ISO
rating of 1.
Holiday Shopping Safety Tips
As the holidays approach, residents are
often rushed, thinking about a thousand different things. Below are some
safety tips to remind you to stay alert and safe this holiday season.
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Shop
during daylight hours whenever possible. If you must shop at
night, go with a friend or family member. |
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Avoid
wearing expensive jewelry. |
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Do not
carry a purse or wallet, if possible. Be extra careful if you do
carry a wallet or purse, as criminals target shoppers in crowded
shopping areas, bus stops and on buses. |
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Avoid
carrying large amounts of cash. Keep cash/wallet in your front
pocket. Pay for purchases with a check or credit card when
possible. |
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Notify
the credit card issuer immediately if your credit card is lost,
stolen or misused. |
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Keep a
record of all of your credit card numbers in a safe place at
home. |
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Avoid
overloading yourself with packages. It is important to have
clear visibility and freedom of motion to avoid mishaps.
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After
placing and concealing parcels inside your vehicle, get in and
park in another location in the parking lot before reentering
the store/mall. |
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Beware
of strangers approaching you for any reason. At this time of
year, con-artists may try various methods of distracting you
with the intention of taking your money or belongings. |
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Phone Book Recycling
Yellow phone
books may be recycled with newspapers by
residents with curbside recycling through
February 15. Residents without curbside
recycling may recycle yellow phone books at
special dumpsters at OFD fire stations 1-12 and
at the Orlando Police Headquarters.
The City of
Orlando encourages its residents to take part in
the City’s curbside recycling program, which
includes newspaper, aluminum and steel cans,
glass containers and plastic beverage bottles.
For more information on the City’s recycling
program or to request a recycling bin if you do
not have one, visit Solid Waste online at the
City’s website.
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Did You Know? |
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Thanksgiving
Holiday Solid Waste Schedule
Residential Customers
On Thanksgiving Day, there will not be
residential collection of garbage, recycling or
yard waste. These homes will be served on their
next regular collection day.
On Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, City
crews will provide regular garbage, yard waste
and recycling service on this day.
Commercial Customers
The City's commercial customers will receive
normal scheduled garbage service on both
Thanksgiving and the day after Thanksgiving.
Free
Performance of She Loves Me
Be the City of Orlando’s special guest at a
matinee performance of She Loves Me on
Saturday, December 8 at 2:30 p.m. at the Mad Cow
Theater, located at 105 South Magnolia Avenue in
Downtown Orlando. Advanced reservations for this
special matinee performance can be made starting
Saturday, November 24 by calling the Mad Cow Box
Office at 407-297-8788. Tickets are limited, so
call early. Once you have made reservations,
your tickets may be picked up the day of the
matinee between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Set in a
perfume shop in Budapest, She Loves Me
tells the story of two feuding shopkeepers who
are carrying on an amorous but secret
correspondence with each other. She Loves Me
is perfect for families including young people
ages eight and over.
Church Street
Streetscape Public Meeting
The City of Orlando,
in coordination with WBQ Design & Engineering,
Inc., will host a public information meeting
regarding the Church Street Streetscape Project
from Terry Avenue west to Tampa Avenue. The
meeting will be held on Thursday, November 29,
2007 from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the Dr.
J.B. Callahan Neighborhood Center located at 101
N Parramore Avenue.
The meeting will
be an open house format with a brief project
overview presentation at 7 p.m. Residents will
have an opportunity to preview the proposed
design criteria, ask questions and submit
comments about the upcoming improvement project.
For additional information, please call the 24
hour project hotline at 321-229-6282.
Holiday Lights
Orlando Downtown Holiday Display Contest
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Downtown businesses can take
part in the first annual Downtown Holiday Display
Contest. Businesses on Orange Avenue from Colonial Drive
to South Street are encouraged to participate by having
their displays up by December 1, 2007. Windows, doors
and lobbies can be decorated in any holiday-type theme
for this time of year. Decorations will be judged on
uniqueness, amount of holiday spirit displayed and
incorporating Downtown Orlando living into the display.
To register, e-mail the Downtown Development board at
Michael.lawrence@cityoforlando.net. A celebrity
panel will judge the displays, and winners will be
announced at Holiday Lights Orlando on December 5. For
more information, contact Michael Lawrence at
michael.lawrence@cityoforlando.net or 407.246.2036.
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Orlando
Main Street Program Workshops
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Earlier this year, Mayor
Dyer announced the City was accepted into the Main
Street Program. Starting next week, the City will host
seven workshops to provide residents and businesses with
information on the Main Street approach, as well as how
their business district can participate in the Orlando
Main Street Program. |
The
Main Street approach utilizes training,
technical assistance and staff support to
achieve successful urban commercial districts in
our neighborhoods.
Six
workshops will be held in various neighborhood
centers throughout the City to allow business
and property owners to attend at a time
convenient with their schedules. The seventh
workshop will be held at City Hall.
November 27, 2007
7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m.: Mennello Museum, 900
East Princeton Street
3 p.m. - 5 p.m.: Orange County Library -
Southeast Branch (Meeting Room #2), 5575 S.
Semoran Boulevard
November 28, 2007
7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m.: John H. Jackson
Community Center, 1002 W. Carter Street
3 p.m. - 5 p.m.: Engelwood Neighborhood
Center, 6123 LaCosta Drive
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.: City Hall, 9th Floor
Overlook Room, 400 S. Orange Avenue
November 29, 2007
7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m.: Colonialtown
Neighborhood Center, 1517 Lake Highland Drive
Mayor’s Educational Partnership Grants
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer invites you to learn
how to apply for matching grants from $1,000 to
$10,000 from the City of Orlando for academic
enrichment or educational enhancement activities
for children and youth during non-school hours.
All
workshops cover the same information and will
review guidelines, instructions, and the
application process. A minimum of one individual
from the school, nonprofit organization,
civic/professional organization, or community
organization and two individuals who reside
within the boundaries of the neighborhood
organization must attend an application workshop
to apply for this grant.
Applications are available online at:
www.cityoforlando.net/grants. Call
407-246-3787 to reserve your seat at one or more
of the following workshops:
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Saturday, Dec. 1, 9:30 a.m. - 11:30
a.m. Callahan Neighborhood Center, 101 North
Parramore Avenue |
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Wednesday, Dec. 5, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Orlando City Hall, 400 South Orange Avenue |
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Thursday, Dec. 13, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Orange County Public Schools, 445 West Amelia Street |
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Tuesday, Dec. 18, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Dover Shores Community Center, 1400 Gaston Foster Road |
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Tuesday, Jan. 15, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
J.R. Smith Neighborhood Center, 1723 Bruton Boulevard |
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Upcoming
Events |
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Road Closure |
• For information on
road closures please visit:
our site.
• For up-to-date
information on I-4 lane and ramp closure please
visit:
trans4mation.org
• 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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