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May 9, 2008 - City News |
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Mayor's
Message |
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Dear Friend,
Our Orlando Magic are igniting the play-offs as
they battle the Detroit Pistons for a shot at
the eastern conference title. This has proven
to be an intense season for the Magic and the
111-86 win on Wednesday was a needed victory.
The Magic are having their best season in twelve
years and just yesterday Dwight Howard was named
to the All-NBA First Team becoming the third
player in franchise history to earn All-NBA
First Team honors.
It is an exciting time to be an Orlando Magic
fan! Don’t miss the chance to see our home team
in action as they take on the Detroit Pistons
this Saturday at 5 p.m. at the Amway Arena.
Tickets are still available, visit
OrlandoMagic.com for tickets and information.
Hope to see you there.
Support your hometown team by wearing blue and
white!
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.
Police Training Facility
As part
of the Public Safety Initiative, Mayor Dyer is committed to ensuring our
officers have the latest tools, technology and training available to
them. That commitment is exemplified in the construction of
a police training facility to teach and certify the use of firearms
required for officers in the line of duty. The proposed 68,711 square
foot facility will be enclosed, air conditioned and serve as a training
facility for both OPD and other local police departments.
This state-of-the-art, multi-use training facility will ensure our
police officers have the best training available.
Do You Have What It Takes?
The Orlando Police Department recruiting section will be holding an
open house for new law enforcement recruits.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Orlando Police Headquarters
100 S. Hughey Ave.
Orlando, Fl 32801
First floor, inside the auditorium
Meet the Orlando Police Department’s
recruiting staff who will provide an overview of the hiring process and
answer questions on how to begin an exciting law enforcement career.
This is an excellent opportunity to learn about the Orlando Police
Department and all that it has to offer!
To reserve your seat, or for more information, please call the Orlando
Police Department recruiting section at 407-246-2459.
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Celebrate Bike Month
 May is National Bike Month and the City of
Orlando is proud of its efforts to improve
bicycling and pedestrian opportunities for its
residents.
Join Mayor Buddy Dyer on Friday, May 16
at 8:30 a.m. as he rides to City Hall from his
neighborhood College Park Starbucks at 1915
Edgewater Drive. In recognition of Bike to Work
Day, all Orlando Starbucks will give free coffee
to those who ride their bikes and bring their
own mug.
The City is encouraging City employees to be active
by providing bicycle lockers, changing
facilities and showers for employees who choose
to walk or bike to work. The City of Orlando
also encourages all new development to provide
bicycle parking and works with existing
businesses to locate needed bike racks in high
demand areas.
In honor
of Bike Month, take your family on a bike ride,
ride with your child to school or participate in
a bike to work day activity.
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City Council Update
As part of The
Blueprint for Using Community Venues to Create a
Sustainable Economic Impact, the City of Orlando
issued four grants to community-based
organizations in an effort to provide local
residents with opportunities for employment and
other job training services in partnership with
Workforce Central Florida. The selected
community-based organizations will provide
targeted community outreach, advocacy, intake,
assessment and employment referral services to
support “The Blueprint.”
The City of
Orlando recognizes and salutes our community’s
small business owners for enhancing our
communities and expanding opportunities for all
through vision, innovation, hard work and new
jobs created, which sustain Orlando’s diverse
economy. The City’s Office of Business
Development offers assistance to small business
owners and entrepreneurs through matching
grants, financial assistance and interest free
loan opportunities. Programs include the Arts
and Culture Assistance Program, the Business
Assistance Program, the Business District
Program, the Downtown Façade Grant Program, the
Minority/Women Entrepreneur Business Assistance
Program and the Neighborhood Commercial District
Revitalization Program.
At Monday's City
Council meeting, a Business Assistance Grant was
just awarded to East Central Group, LLC, owner
of Brix Bistro, a European styled bistro in the
heart of Downtown. The owners of Brix have
expanded their operation and have tripled their
seating capacity and requested assistance
through the City of Orlando's Business
Assistance Program (BAP). The BAP is a matching
grant program that encourages small businesses
to locate, expand or redevelop in the City of
Orlando. The BAP assists with small-scale
infrastructure projects, building permitting
fees and impact fees. In addition, Seven Sisters
Coffeehouse was a recipient of the Arts and
Culture Assistance Program which is designed to
encourage arts and culture-related business and
organizations to locate, expand or redevelop in
the Traditional City of Orlando.
For more
information on the Business Development Programs
Available for Small Businesses, please call
407.246.2821 or visit
www.cityoforlando.net/economic/business
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Mayor in the
Community |
On Monday, May 5, Mayor Dyer joined Casa de
Mexico as they celebrated Cinco de Mayo. A
common misconception in the United States is
that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's Independence Day,
which is celebrated on September 16th. Although
Cinco de Mayo is not a national holiday in
Mexico, it is an official holiday in the State
of Puebla. In the United States Cinco de Mayo
is observed by many Americans regardless of
ethnic origins and has become a representation
of a culture that blends both Mexican and
American roots.
On Wednesday, May 7,
Mayor Dyer attended the John Young History Maker
Celebration which honored
J. Charles Gray and Dr. Philip Phillips. The
John Young History Maker Award recognizes and
honors significant individuals from Central
Florida who have made a lasting and historic
impact on our Orlando region and nationally.
On Thursday, May 8, Mayor Dyer attended the
Tavistock Foundation Grande Masquerade Dinner
Auction to benefit The Center for Drug Free
Living.
On Friday, May 9, Mayor Dyer served as a judge
for the entries in the City Arts Factory
Exterior Signage competition. Students from the
International Academy of Design and Technology
organized into teams to create an art
panel/signage design concept for a piece for the
façade of the City Arts Factory. The winner will
become a part of Baker-Barrio’s design team and
assist with completing the design process for
the new IADT/City Arts Factory partnership.
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Did You Know? |
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City of Orlando Awarded Golden Bricks
As one of the Downtown Orlando Partnership’s signature
events, the Golden Brick Awards recognize new
construction and real estate projects, interior
design and special events that impact the
Downtown Development District and help make
Downtown Orlando an exciting place to live, work
and play.
The
Office of Communications won a Golden Brick for
the First Annual Blues-B-Q, a blues concert
featuring regional and national acts and
highlighting several local BBQ restaurants on
the street in front of City Hall. The event far
exceeded expectations and was an even bigger
success this year with two headline acts and
over 16,000 in attendance.
Orlando’s Families, Parks and Recreation
Department was awarded a Golden Brick for their
installation of the new Lake Eola Park
Playground which marks a turning point in the life of Lake Eola
Park, the heart of Downtown Orlando.
Innovative play equipment, rubber surfacing,
lighting, site furnishings, landscaping and
dynamic shade sails were added. The new
playground supplies dynamic motion elements and
challenges for all ages and abilities.
The
Parramore Heritage Park and Pond project also
received a Golden Brick for the
innovative concept that took what was the
creation of a necessary stormwater retention
pond and turned it into an aesthetically
pleasing pocket park, thus maximizing the
potential of the space and creating a public
amenity for the community to enjoy.
Community Venues Construction Update
Effective Monday, May 12, on-street parking
along the south side of Church Street between
Division and Hughey Avenues will be closed.
Closure will remain until completion of the
Events Center to accommodate site work and
construction.
Beginning Monday, May 19, on-street parking
along the north side of Church Street between
Division and Bryan Avenues will be 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.
For more information call Walter Hawkins at
407-246-3190.
Historic Preservation Board Needs Your Photos
The City of Orlando Historic Preservation Board is
seeking photographs for the 2009 Historic
Preservation Calendar. This 2009 calendar will
focus on the architectural features of the Lake
Copeland Historic District. The Historic
Preservation Board is looking for hobby
photographers to capture the uniqueness and
distinct styles of the historic Lake Copeland
neighborhood in black and white pictures. The
best pictures will be included in the 2009
calendar.
Photographs must be black and white and printed
on 8” x 10” or 8 ½” X 11” paper with a white
border. Vertical or horizontal photographs are
acceptable. Up to three photographs, labeled
with your name, daytime telephone number and the
address of the subject must be submitted or
postmarked by June 27, 2008 at 5 p.m.
Deliver photographs to the Historic Preservation
Office on the 6th floor of Orlando City Hall,
400 South Orange Avenue or mail them to the
Historic Preservation Office, PO Box 4990,
Orlando, Florida 32802. Please consider donating
your photographs to the Historic Preservation
Office for our files. Please enclose a
self-addressed, stamped 9” x 12” envelope if you
would like your photographs returned.
Contact Richard Forbes at 407-246-3350 or Diane Rivera at
407-246-3416 with questions about the calendar.
First Annual Play Day
Join
Mayor Buddy Dyer for the City of Orlando's
inaugural Play Day which will be held Saturday,
May 10th at 10:30 a.m. at the new Orlando Cultural Park, 530 East Princeton Street (in
the Loch Haven area) Orlando's Day of Play
will coincide with Commissioner Stuart's
District 3 Picnic and Orlando Cultural Park
Dedication. There will be food, entertainment
and fun for the whole family. This Orlando Day
of Play provides an opportunity for children and
their families to take part in active,
unstructured play.
Active
and unstructured play is important for children
as they grow. Play helps them learn to use
imagination, teamwork, decision-making and more.
It is also an important tool against childhood
obesity, stress and boredom.
In the past thirty years, the rate of childhood
obesity has tripled due to lack of physical
activity and this is the first generation of
children that are not expected to outlive their
parents. A productive, healthy and physically fit child
becomes a socially competent and productive
adult.
Parks,
like the Orlando Cultural Park, provide
gathering places for family reunions or picnics,
locations for pick-up games of football, frisbee,
checkers or tag, as well as just plain fun. Come
out and join us for this inaugural Play Day!
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,
from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., throughout the City.
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. |
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Upcoming
Events |
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Road Closures |
• For information on
road closures please visit:
our site.
• For up-to-date
information on I-4 lane and ramp closures 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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