April 4, 2008 - City News

Mayor's Message

Dear Friend,

This week, the City celebrated Children’s Week to promote the health, safety and
well-being of children and to recognize the organizations who give children a positive environment to grow. On Wednesday, we hosted a special “hanging hands” event and hung decorated paper cut-outs of Orlando children’s hands in the City Hall rotunda.

As part of the City's ongoing commitment to support the children in our Parramore Heritage Neighborhood, we recently launched the PKZ Mentorz program. This initiative pairs youth with positive adult role models in our community. I encourage you to get involved with this important program and make a difference in the life of a child by helping them achieve their full potential.

To become a mentor, log onto www.cityoforlando.net/pkz or contact Susan Alatorre at 407-292-6500 or mentoring@cityteenz.org. Children are our City’s future, and it is extremely important that we support our children and create a positive environment for them to succeed.

Sincerely,

Buddy Dyer
Mayor
 

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’s First Teen Police Academy

The Orlando Police Department is looking for teens who are interested in a
behind-the-scenes look at law enforcement. The 10-week Teen Police Academy begins on April 23, 2008 and will cover diverse topics including uniform patrol, domestic violence, defensive tactics, drug enforcement and police communications. Students will attend field trips to the Police Department’s crime lab, coroner’s office and the Orange County Jail. At the conclusion of the Teen Police Academy, students will participate in a graduation ceremony and receive their diplomas from Police Chief Val Demings. Applicants must be between the ages of 13 to 18 and either live or attend school within Orlando’s city limits. For more information and registration forms, please contact Officer Tia Pruitt at 407-246-2095 or email her at Tia.Pruitt@cityoforlando.net.
 

The City of Orlando was one of eleven cities designated by the U.S. Department of Energy as a Solar American City. This designation recognizes Orlando’s commitment and comprehensive approach to the deployment of solar technologies. The City will also receive a $200,000 grant to fund further solar projects. The Department of Energy is using this initiative to promote solar power and make it a normal energy choice instead of an “alternative” solution. For more information on DOE’s Solar America Cities Program, visit: www.SolarAmericaCities.energy.gov.
 

Mayor in the Community

Did You Know?

Orlando’s spring arts and crafts show will bring more than 200 booths, family entertainment, and food and beverage vendors to Lake Eola Park on Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Sponsored by the Fiesta in the Park committee, the event takes place on the north and east side of Lake Eola at 195 N. Rosalind Avenue. For more information, contact, 407-649-3152.
 

Date Night at Leu Gardens

Enjoy a romantic evening in a garden setting at Date Night at Leu Gardens on Friday, April 4. Bring a blanket or chairs and a dinner picnic basket and enjoy the featured movie, All the Pretty Horses. Gardens open at 6 p.m., and movie time begins at 8:30 p.m. Garden Admission is $7 plus tax per adult and $2 plus tax per child. Garden Members receive free admission on all movie nights. For more information, call 407-246-2620 or visit LeuGardens.org.


Free Educational Workshops on Foreclosure Prevention
and Predatory Lending

The City of Orlando is hosting a series of seminars designed to educate residents on the resources available to mitigate the impacts of foreclosures and predatory lending practices. A team of experts will speak on the issues of foreclosure proceedings, tax implications, predatory lending tactics and more.

Each household that attends one of the seminars will receive a one-on-one counseling session, at a later date, to discuss issues pertinent to that household.

The four-hour sessions will be held on Saturdays throughout the City.

Saturday, April 5, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m
Beardall Senior Center
800 S. Delaney Ave.

Saturday, April 19, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m
Odyssey Middle School
9290 Lee Vista Blvd.

Saturday, May 3, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m
Northwest Community Center
3955 W.D. Judge Dr.

Saturday, May 17, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m
Rosemont Community Center
4872 Rose Bay Dr.

Saturday, May 31, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m
J.R. Smith Neighborhood Center
1723 Bruton Blvd.

Saturday, June 14, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m
Engelwood Neighborhood Center
6123 La Costa Dr.

For additional information,call 407-246-2708 or visit cityoforlando.net.

Register Now For the Neighborhood and Community Summit

Register now for the Third Annual Neighborhood and Community Summit on Saturday, April 12, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Orlando Marriott Downtown, 400 W. Livingston Street. This annual summit will offer a variety of community engagement workshops, best practices and networking opportunities for neighborhood and community leaders and citizen volunteers. For more information, call 407-246-2169 or visit our web site at cityoforlando.net/summit to register.
 

Upcoming Events

Road Closure

City Hall
400 South Orange Avenue
Orlando, FL 32801
Phone: 407.246.2221
Fax: 407.246.2842
Email:
buddy.dyer@cityoforlando.net