Dear friends,

Please join me on Wednesday, February 28, at 10 a.m., in City Hall Council Chambers as I deliver my annual State of the City Address. This year’s address will highlight how our City’s successes and challenges can be summed up in three words – pride, progress and partnerships.

• Pride in who we are as a community and in watching our City’s history in the making.
  
  
• Progress in moving forward with a bold vision and understanding that the best solution isn’t always the easiest path.
  
  
• Partnerships in recognizing that our greatest successes will not be reached alone but through partnerships between government, private enterprise, community organizations and most importantly, our residents.
  
  

I hope to see you there, however, if you cannot attend the State of the City Address will be covered live on Orange T.V., Channel 9 as well as on our website at cityoforlando.net/tv.

Sincerely,

Buddy Dyer
Mayor

On Tuesday, February 20, Nemours Hospital announced their selection of Lake Nona for a proposed children’s health care campus. The Nemours announcement only further solidifies the medical city developing in the Southeast sector of Orlando. Combined with the UCF Medical School, the Burnham Institute, and the possibility of a VA Hospital, the presence of Nemours will further our vision to diversify our economy, bringing high-wage, high-value jobs to the region.

Nearly a decade ago, the City of Orlando made an $80 million investment to build roads and infrastructure at Lake Nona. Orlando is experiencing smart growth in the southeast corridor, including 15 planned major developments featuring residential, office and retail and 500 bio-technology companies who already call Central Florida home. With these resources, our region has the essential components necessary for a top-tier life sciences cluster.

If approved by the State, Nemours will provide additional healthcare options for the children of our region, meet the needs of our growing population and represent a more than $250 million investment in our community.

This section of City News provides public safety updates on new and ongoing City initiatives and opportunities for citizens to become engaged.

Illegal Gun Bounty Program
As part of Mayor’s Dyer’s commitment to public safety, the City of Orlando has launched a new partnership with Central Florida Crimeline to generate leads for additional arrests and to get illegal guns off the streets. So far the program has already generated 80 tips for the Orlando Police Department to investigate.

Citizens are encouraged to See it, Stop it, and Say it by calling Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477 (TIPS). Information that leads to an arrest, a gun recovery and a weapons charge will result in a $1,000 cash reward.

Public Safety Web page
CityofOrlando.net now features a new interactive section highlighting the Mayor’s Public Safety Initiative, public safety updates, information about crime prevention programs and volunteer opportunities. Presentation materials and videos of public safety related meetings and press conferences are also available on this site, including a recent Public Safety Information meeting held at the Rosemont Community Center. The new Public Safety section can be found at CityofOrlando.net/publicsafety.

Public Safety Information Series
City residents are encouraged to attend one of the five remaining Public Safety information meetings being held throughout the City. These meetings will inform citizens about Orlando’s public safety efforts and empower citizens to help reduce and prevent crime in our neighborhoods. For more information, please call the Office of Neighborhood & Community Affairs at 407-246-2169.

Tuesday, March 6, 7 p.m. - Rock Lake Community Center, 440 North Tampa Avenue

Monday, March 19, 7 p.m. - Dover Shores Community Center, 1400 Gaston Foster Road

Tuesday, March 20, 7 p.m. – Blankner Elementary School, 2500 South Mills Avenue

Wednesday, April 4, 7 p.m. – Dr. James R. Smith Neighborhood Center, 1723 Bruton Boulevard

Monday, April 16, 7 p.m. – NorthLake Park Community School, 9055 NorthLake Parkway

On Monday, February 19, Commissioner Samuel B. Ings was sworn into office as the Commissioner for District 6 in the City Council Chambers. Commissioner Ings had previously been elected to temporarily serve as District 6 Commissioner. You can watch the ceremony on CityofOrlando.net.

• Mayor Buddy Dyer welcomed blues legend Buddy Guy at the first annual Blues B-Q in Downtown Orlando. More than 9,000 people enjoyed great barbeque and blues music by several artists including legendary guitarist Buddy Guy.
  
  
• Mayor Dyer spoke at the newly formed Orlando chapter of the Developers and Builders Alliance Luncheon on Tuesday, February 20.

The City of Orlando will be selling seven plots in Dubsdread Estates on Saturday, March 3 at 10 a.m. in the Taproom, Dubsdread Golf Course Banquet Room, 549 W. Par Street, Orlando.

The auction includes five golf course front lots with a $200,000 minimum bid each and two golf course view lots with a $150,000 minimum bid each.

For more information, contact Clayton Green, 407-246-3817 or clayton.green@cityoforlando.net for a bid package.

Throughout the month of February, City News will highlight individuals who have made tremendous contributions to our community. Each of these citizens has been honored by having City parks and City buildings named after them.

Dr. Jerry B. Callahan – According to W.R. O’Neal, who was an early settler and author of the book, “Memoirs of a Pioneer,” the first black development in Orlando was located on the site of what today is the Dr. J.B. Callahan Neighborhood Center. Dr. Jerry B. Callahan opened a medical practice in Orlando in 1908 after earning a medical degree from Shaw University. He practiced in Orlando for over 40 years and was a member of the Orange County Medical Society, the Masons, the Shriners and the Mount Zion Baptist Church. He was esteemed by blacks and whites alike for his skill, charities and work for the betterment of people. He was the first black doctor to practice and operate in the surgical unit of Orange General Hospital, now known as Orlando Regional Healthcare.

The Callahan Neighborhood Center area was platted by James B. Parramore in the 1880’s and resettled in 1886 by Reverend Andrew Hooper. Hooper built a group of small cottages, known as Hooper Quarters, north of West Central Boulevard to house black servants. The black area grew and became known as Black Bottom and was later changed to Pepperhill. Today it is known as the Callahan Neighborhood. In 1895 the first school for blacks was built. It was called Orlando Black and later became Johnson Academy. Because of increased enrollment, the building was moved to the corner of Parramore Avenue and Washington Street and was renamed Jones High School. The first commencement was held in 1922. After Jones High School was relocated again in the early 1950’s, the building stood vacant for a long time. The building was then renovated and was dedicated as the Dr J.B. Callahan Neighborhood Center in 1987. Today the Dr. J.B. Callahan Center is the cornerstone of the Parramore community and provides a variety of programs and events for citizens of all ages.

Zellie L. Riley - Z.L. Riley Park, also known as Checker Park, is located on Parramore Avenue underneath the East-West Expressway. The half-acre park is popular with a regular group of checker players who are at the game tables whenever weather permits. Mr. Riley was a veteran black community leader. The City developed the park in 1977. A renovation in 1997 upgraded the paving and site furniture. The City also planted flowering trees to provide color. A community beautification project spearheaded by the Parramore Heritage Renovation Foundation used local artists to paint vibrant tropical murals as a backdrop for the renovated park.

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