July 11, 2008 - City News

Mayor's Message

Dear Friend,

I am excited to announce that historic Dubsdread Golf Course is open for business. Originally built in 1923 by real estate entrepreneur Carl Dann, Dubsdread has undergone many transformations through the years. I am proud this course is now owned by the City and we are able to maintain it for our residents.

This renovation is one of many changes Dubsdread has undergone in its 85 year history. Not only did the course receive a face lift, increasing the difficulty of play and increasing practice amenities, but it also was a beneficiary of the need to filter storm water running into Little Lake Fairview and manage runoff from the upcoming widening of Interstate 4. This multifaceted project was recognized statewide by being the recipient of the Engineering Project of the Year award. This prestigious honor acknowledged the strength of the public partnership, the accommodation of the area’s environmental needs and the incorporation of the golf course renovation.

The success of this course and our ability to provide an affordable golfing option is so important for our community. Whether you are an avid golfer or just getting started, I invite you to come out to Dubsdread and experience for yourself all this course has to offer.

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.

Move Over Law

Did you know you are required to move over when approaching an emergency vehicle with flashing lights? The State of Florida instituted the Move Over Law to protect law enforcement officers, emergency workers, firefighters and tow truck drivers stopped along roadways while performing their jobs. Under this law, motorists are required to:

• Slow to a speed that is 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit on a two-lane roadway.
• Slow down to five miles per hour if the speed limit is 20 miles per hour or less.
• If you are driving on an interstate or roadway with multiple lanes of travel in the same direction, and you approach an emergency or law enforcement vehicle parked along the roadway, you must vacate the lane closest to that vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.

Violating the Move Over Law puts both yourself and a public safety professional at risk and can result in a fine and points on your license. For more information on this life-saving law, please visit www.fhp.state.fl.us.

Summer Safety Tip

The City of Orlando urges all residents to protect themselves this summer. As the air and water temperatures rise, so does the risk of infection caused by the freshwater amoeba Naegleria (nigh-GLEER-e-uh) fowleri. Last year, three deaths in Orange County were attributed to the rare disease. Although infection is not common, most infections are fatal and the risk increases during hot summer months.

Residents can protect themselves and their children with these precautions:

1. Do not swim in warm, standing water, such as lakes, ponds, poorly maintained swimming pools, storm water holding areas or in places that are posted “No Swimming.” Bacteria and other harmful organisms thrive in warm, standing water.

2. Hold the nose shut or use nose clips when taking part in water-related activities in bodies of warm freshwater such as lakes, rivers or hot springs.

3. Avoid digging in or stirring up the sediment while taking part in water-related activities in shallow, warm freshwater areas.

This infection cannot be spread from person to person or contracted from a properly maintained swimming pool. For more information, call your county health department or visit www.cdc.gov and search Naegleria fowleri.

National Night Out Coloring Contest
 

Rain Barrel Benefits

Water conservation has taken on an increasingly important role in Central Florida. Due to the dry season, the amount of water used to irrigate green spaces is at a record high. As a City, we must work together to avoid wasting one of our most precious natural resources. Rain barrels are one effective way to conserve water by capturing runoff which otherwise might carry pollutants to our lakes. The water can be used to offset a portion of the irrigation demand at a home, saving groundwater in the process.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), lawn and garden watering makes up nearly 40 percent of total household water use during the summer. A rain barrel collects water and stores it for when you need it most, during periods of drought, to water plants, wash your car or to top a swimming pool. It provides an ample supply of free “soft water” to homeowners, containing no chlorine, lime or calcium making it ideal for gardens, flower pots, and car and window washing. A rain barrel will save most homeowners about 1,300 gallons of water during the peak summer months. Saving water not only helps protect the environment, it saves you money and energy. Diverting water from storm drains also decreases the impact of runoff to streams. Therefore, a rain barrel is an easy way for you to have a consistent supply of clean, fresh water for outdoor use, free.

• For more information on rain barrels, visit http://www.epa.gov/Region3/p2/what-is-rainbarrel.pdf.
• To find out how to make your own rain barrel, follow the helpful hints at http://www.epa.gov/region3/p2/make-rainbarrel.pdf.

Events Center Webcam

Watch the progress of the construction of the new Events Center with the Events Center Webcam. Showing a bird’s eye view of the two blocks south of Church Street and west of I-4 which will become the home of the City’s new venue for sports, music and entertainment, this camera takes a picture every 15 minutes and saves the photos so viewers can watch the progress like a movie. The new webcam can be found  online.

Community Venues Construction Update
 

Mayor in the Community

• On Wednesday, Mayor Dyer attended the grand opening of Hebni Nutrition Consultants, Inc. Hebni is an organization that provides nutrition education and strategies through seminars and community education programs in order to prevent diet-related diseases, primarily among minority populations. The City of Orlando supported this project through a $250,000 Community Development Block grant and a $20,000 Neighborhood Commercial District Revitalization grant.
   
• On Thursday, July 10 Mayor Dyer and Orlando City Commissioners celebrated the new Dubsdread Golf Course with a re-opening ceremony and tournament. The festivities commenced with a historic look at the course, a ceremonial first tee-off and a world-renowned rendition of the National Anthem by Broadway star and Orlando resident Davis Gaines.
  
  The renovations raise the difficulty of play with additional yardage, varying elevations and contours in fairways and greens. A new putting green, two short game practice ranges and an aqua driving range with lights have been added to the practice facility.
  
  Call 407.246.2551 to schedule your tee time.

Did You Know?

Save the Date – CityKidz! Buddy’s Benefit for Children

CityKidz! Buddy’s Benefit for Children, Mayor Dyer’s signature fundraiser, raises money for Parramore Kidz Zone (PKZ). PKZ gives children in the historic Parramore neighborhood positive opportunities they otherwise might not have, such as pre-kindergarten programs, pediatric health and dental care, mentoring, tutoring, after school and summer programs, and programs that help youth transition into jobs and higher education. In partnership with existing children’s organizations, non-profits and schools, PKZ aims to make Parramore the kind of neighborhood where children grow up strong, healthy and well educated.

Fireworks at the Fountain a Success

Fireworks at the Fountain was a huge success with a record breaking crowd of more than 150,000 spectators who enjoyed the patriotic music, sampled the food and participated in the festivities. Our new fireworks company this year, Zambelli Internationale, Inc. proved to be a great asset as they lit up the Downtown skyline with a spectacular 20 minute fireworks display.

Once again Fireworks at the Fountain was the highest rated program in its time period, watched locally by almost 56,000 Central Florida homes on WFTV Chanel 9. Combine that with the 13,000 homes that watched WRDQ's re-broadcast, and the special reached almost 70,000 households.

OPD Makes Donation to Promote Literacy

On July 10, the Orlando Police Mounted Patrol Unit donated a trailer full of books and other children's items to the Grand Avenue Primary Learning Center and the Adult Family Life Skills Project. The donation will provide books throughout the Parramore Heritage Area to benefit the ongoing Literacy Project and Read to Achieve Program. These programs benefit hundreds of children and adults. The books will be given to the recipients free of charge and will provide them with the tools to gain literacy skills and to spend quality family time together by reading and sharing.

These projects have an invaluable impact in our community and the citizens that we serve. The books are treasures to both children and adults alike. The partnership between the Orlando Police Mounted Patrol Unit, the Grand Cypress Hotel and the "Little Princesses" organization will make many wishes and dreams come true with this enormous donation.

I-4 Construction Update

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) plans to open a new ramp from westbound Interstate 4 to westbound Anderson Street during the early morning hours of Tuesday, July 15, weather permitting.
The new ramp will be numbered Exit 82C and will route traffic to the partially completed new Anderson Street bridge at westbound Anderson Street. With the opening of the new ramp the existing Exit 82C ramp from westbound I-4 to Division Avenue will close. However, motorists will still be able to reach Division Avenue via Anderson Street using the new ramp.

Westbound I-4 drivers will reach the new exit ramp about one-half mile sooner than with the existing ramp. Initially, traffic will only be allowed to turn right (west) onto Anderson Street from the new ramp. At the new intersection of Anderson Street and Division Avenue, traffic will only be allowed to turn right onto northbound Division Avenue from westbound Anderson Street while crews complete streetscape work.

For more information on the I-4 construction, visit http://trans4mation.org/. 

New Exhibits at the Mennello Museum

Mayor’s Neighborhood Matching Grants

Watch Inside Orlando on Orange TV

Upcoming Events

Road Closuress

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