Dear friends,

Next week, March 25 through April 1, is Children's Week in the City of Orlando, and as part of this celebration, children in schools, childcare centers and after- school programs across the City designed and colored paper cutouts of their hands. This artwork is hanging in the City Hall Rotunda this week and will travel to Tallahassee to hang in the State Capitol Rotunda during Children’s Week. The children’s handiwork will serve as a symbolic reminder for elected officials to be mindful of legislative issues that enable all children to grow and develop to their fullest potential.

The City is committed to making Orlando a better place for children. For example, thousands of Orlando children attend City-operated after school, sports, cultural arts and summer programs each year. These programs keep them safe, supervised and engaged in constructive activities. The City also contributes significant financial support each year to children’s service organizations, such as the Boys and Girls Clubs and Community Coordinated Care for Children. Through the City's Apple CORE program, our employees serve as mentors for many children in our city’s schools. Moreover, we raise thousands of dollars for children each year through the CityKidz! Buddy's Benefit for Children event. This event has funded our administration’s pre-school initiative and is currently funding the Parramore Kidz Zone. The Parramore Kidz Zone helps children grow up strong, healthy and well educated by giving them positive opportunities they otherwise might not have. This variety of programs is helping our City’s children succeed and ensuring the future of our great City.

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.

Orlando 360°

This new show, produced by the City’s Office of Communications, features in-depth conversations with City officials on important issues facing Orlando. The first episode focuses on the City’s Public Safety Initiative. Host Annetta Wilson talks with Mayor Buddy Dyer and Chief Michael McCoy on the City’s efforts to combat violent crime in Orlando and how citizens can become engaged and support this effort.

Catch Orlando 360° on Orange TV, Bright House Networks Channel 9 Sundays at 2 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

Public Safety Information Series

City residents are encouraged to attend one of the two remaining Public Safety Information meetings being held throughout the City. These meetings will inform citizens about Orlando’s public safety efforts and will empower citizens to help reduce and prevent crime in our neighborhoods. The first meeting held at the Rosemont Community Center can be seen online at the Public Safety section of the City’s website, cityoforlando.net/publicsafety.

For more information, please call the Office of Neighborhood & Community Affairs at 407-246-2169.

Public Safety Information Series Schedule

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

Safe Orlando Task Force

Dr. Stanley Stone, Chairman of the Safe Orlando Task Force will make a presentation to the Orlando City Council on Monday, March 26 at
9 a.m. This presentation will provide an overview of the task force’s research and recommendations. The workshop can be seen live on Orange TV Brighthouse Channel 9 or on CityofOrlando.net/tv.

On Wednesday, March 21, Mayor Buddy Dyer and World Wrestling Entertainment Chairman Vince McMahon announced that Orlando’s Citrus Bowl was selected for Wrestlemania 24 in March, 2008. The championship event will attract an anticipated 60,000 fans from across the United States and abroad. Wrestlemania, the championship event of World Wrestling Entertainment, is the largest and longest running of all major wrestling events in the world.

"The advantage of aligning our community with one of the world's most famous and exciting brands is immeasurable," said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. "Tens of thousands of visitors from around the world will visit our City next March for WrestleMania 24. Additionally, for the next twelve months, Orlando will be recognized as the home of the Super Bowl of sports entertainment to millions of WWE fans around the world, creating invaluable exposure.”

In addition to Wrestlemania 24, other associated events include the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, the annual Bacon, Bagels and Biceps Brunch, the National WrestleMania Reading Challenge, as well as opportunities to meet WWE Superstars and Divas at various public appearances around town, including visits to local schools and libraries.

Public Safety Information Series

Mayor Buddy Dyer talks with a resident at Tuesday’s Public Safety Information meeting at Blankner Elementary School. The meetings have given residents an opportunity to talk to City public safety officials about how they can make their neigbhorhoods safer.

Mayor’s City Academy

The Mayor’s City Academy is an ideal way for residents to become informed about City government. This nine-week program will feature road trips, field demonstrations, department tours and many other experiences.

The Mayor’s City Academy is held twice a year in the spring and in the fall. Participants meet every Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. during the nine-week program. The spring application deadline is April 20, 2007. You must be 18 years old. For information on the next session, please call 407-246-2169.

To get involved, apply by submitting the application form to:

City of Orlando - NCA
P.O. Box 4990
Orlando, FL 32802-4990
or via fax to:
407-248-3508

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