May 23, 2008 - City News

Mayor's Message

Dear Friend,

This Monday, we will observe Memorial Day, a time to honor and give thanks to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives in service to our country.  Several services will be held to commemorate this solemn occasion, including the following two in the Orlando area.

Memorial Day Service
11 a.m. – Monday, May 26
Glen Haven Memorial Park – 2300 Temple Drive, Winter Park  

Memorial Day Ceremony
11 a.m. – Monday, May 26
Greenwood Cemetery – 1603 Greenwood Street, Orlando

I encourage you to take time Monday morning to attend one of these ceremonies.  It is important that we remember and honor the sacrifices those brave men and women have made for our country.

Sincerely,

Buddy Dyer
Mayor
 

Memorial Day Holiday Notice

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.

OFD Installs Smoke Detectors in Homes

Because fires can grow and spread so quickly, having working smoke alarms in your home can mean the difference between life and death. Once the alarm sounds, you may have as few as two minutes to escape. The Orlando Fire Department’s Smoke Alarm Program provides smoke alarms free of charge for use in residential homes that have no working alarms. 

On May 24 and 25, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Orlando firefighters will be going door to door in the Malibu Groves Community, checking smoke alarms, replacing batteries and installing smoke alarms in homes with no working alarm.  "It is our goal to have a working smoke alarm in every home in the City of Orlando,” states Fire Chief Jim Reynolds. "And we will be out there knocking on doors until we achieve that goal."

For more information visit http://www.cityoforlando.net/fire/Smoke%20Detectors.htm or call 407-246-3128.

OPD Mentoring Update

The Orlando Police Department established a youth mentoring program, Operation Positive Direction, with the financial assistance of Oprah’s Big Give and many local donors. Students identified from middle and high schools throughout the City are exposed to mentoring, tutoring and community service opportunities as well as goal setting and incentives for success.

During the inaugural class, students participated in a community service project where they painted three houses in Orlando owned by senior citizens. The students are learning the importance of giving back to the community.

For more information, please contact Lieutenant Laura Houston at 407-246-2969 or Laura.Houston@cityoforlando.net.

Teen Police Academy

The Orlando Police Department is looking for teens who are interested in a behind-the-scenes look at law enforcement. The eight week Teen Police Academy begins on June 18, 2008 and introduces teens to the wide variety of functions performed in police work, from neighborhood patrols to tactics used in high-risk incidents. Topics covered include criminal investigations, the Homicide Unit, Crime Scene Technicians, the Gang Unit, the Drug Enforcement Division, hostage negotiations and School Resource Officers. Participants will be also assigned a mentor throughout the program. 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.

Founding Fathers of Central Florida

Mayor Dyer and Harbor House of Central Florida have launched the Founding Fathers initiative. The mission is to honor all of the men who are making a difference in their family and community and are taking a stand against domestic violence in our community.

As you may know, for over 30 years Harbor House of Central Florida has sought to eliminate family violence. Men can join themselves or be honored by their wives, children or co-workers.

On Father’s Day, June 15, Harbor House will list the men of Founding Fathers of Central Florida as well as those being honored in a full page ad in the Orlando Sentinel. Those who have been honored by someone will receive a special Father’s Day note.

If you would like to join this initiative by honoring a man in your life or by becoming a Founding Father please go to www.ffoo.org for more details.

Reclaimed Water Conservation Strategy

The City of Orlando has three wastewater treatment facilities that produce reclaimed water. Reclaimed water is highly treated wastewater which can be utilized for a variety of uses. Most common uses for reclaimed water in Orlando are habitat restoration and irrigation of green spaces such as golf courses, neighborhoods, apartment complexes, medians, schools and parks. Together, these projects represent a reduction of over 35 million gallons per day (MGD) to the demand on the Florida aquifer and will help to protect Central Florida’s lakes, wetlands and springs. 

Due to the dry season, the amount of water used to irrigate Orlando neighborhoods, businesses and rights of way is at a record high.  With the addition of new development to the reclaimed water service area, coupled with a seasonal reduction of rainfall, the demand for reclaimed water has grown greater than the available supply.  To help reduce the peak demand on the system and provide better service, the City has established a reclaimed water conservation program.  Communities and businesses that use the City’s reclaimed water for irrigation will only have access to the water on two designated days of the week.  Contact the Wastewater Division at (407) 246-2213 if you are unsure of which days these are for your location.
 

Here are a few ways you can make a difference in conserving water:

• Use a Low Flow Shower Head. A 10-minute shower can use less water than a full bath. A new showerhead also will save energy — up to $145 each year on electricity.
   
• Stop Your Leaky Faucet. A leaky faucet can waste gallons of water. Hot water leaking at a rate of one drip per second can waste up to 1,661 gallons of water over the course of a year, and waste up to $35 in electricity or $35 in natural gas. Fixing drips is a cost effective and easy way to save energy.
   
• Water lawns in the early morning hours. Watering after 10 p.m. and before 4 a.m. reduces the amount of water lost to evaporation and windy conditions.
   
• Add a rain sensor to your irrigation system; there's no need to water if the ground is already wet!
   
• Check your irrigation system for broken or leaky heads. Set timers so that no zone runs for more than 20 minutes

• The on-street parking along the south side of Church Street between Division and Hughey Avenues is closed. This closure will remain until completion of the Events Center to accommodate site work and construction.
  
  On-street parking along the north side of Church Street between Division and Bryan Avenues is closed. Closure will be approximately 30 days to accommodate lane shifts related to Events Center utility relocation work.
  
  Additional parking is available in the Church Street Garage. Parking validation stickers for this garage are available for customers from Church Street merchants located between Terry and Hughey Avenues.
   
• Church Street from Division Avenue to Bryan Avenue (eastbound direction only) will be closed for construction associated with underground utilities installation. The closure is expected to remain in place until approximately June 30, 2008. A detour will be posted.
  
  Please exercise extreme caution in this area during the street closure. For more information call Walter Hawkins at 407-246-3190.

The Mayor's SAFE Orlando Task Force was created as part of the City's Public Safety Initiative. Its purpose was to develop proactive initiatives to reverse the rise of violent crime, enhance community safety and increase community engagement. On Monday, May 19, Mayor Dyer and the City Council recognized the members of the SAFE Orlando Task Force for their hard work and dedication.

Under the leadership of Dr. Stanley Stone, the 26 members of this task force created a final report that included 32 primary recommendations and has served as a working document for City staff. To date, 24 of these recommendations are currently being implemented.

View the full report on CityofOrlando.net.

AT&T Awards $75,000 to Parramore Kidz Zone

AT&T Inc. announced a $75,000 donation to the Parramore Kidz Zone (PKZ) to assist our efforts in boosting the school performance of disadvantaged youth in Parramore.

“Investing in programs that can make a true difference in the quality of life for Floridians, especially our children, is a real priority for the AT&T team,” said Marshall Criser III, president of AT&T Florida. “We are committed to helping indispensable community-based organizations like the Parramore Kidz Zone by providing them with the tools needed to help the wonderful kids who participate in the program.”

PKZ will use the AT&T contribution to enhance the computer capabilities at its Homework Room sites and increase access for neighborhood children to the University of Central Florida’s Digital U program. The money will also be used to expand tutoring services and academic-enrichment activities for all youth, develop and launch workshops to teach parents how to best interact with schools and teachers and to expand peer-support activities to improve youth’s attitudes toward succeeding in school and life.

Mayor in the Community

On Tuesday, May 20, Mayor Dyer joined District 2 Commissioner Tony Ortiz for the District 2 Neighborhood Leader’s Council at Dover Shores Community Center.

Also on Tuesday, May 20, Mayor Dyer attended Orlando Regional Heathcare’s ninetieth anniversary celebration.  In order to honor its history and emphasize its commitment to the future, Orlando Regional Healthcare changed its name to Orlando Health.  The new name better reflects the two biggest motivations for the organization’s past 90 years and future 90 years of service.

On Thursday, May 22, Mayor Dyer joined District 5 Commissioner Daisy W. Lynum and District 6 Commissioner Samuel B. Ings for the reopening of George Barker Park.  The park received a well needed upgrade with the inclusion of several state of the art play structures for the neighborhood’s children.
 

Did You Know?

Historic Preservation Board Needs Your Photos

Free Educational Workshops on Foreclosure Prevention and Predatory Lending

Upcoming Events

Road Closures

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