September 11, 2009 - City News

Mayor's Message

Eight years ago, our nation was shocked and saddened by the attack on New York City and Washington, D.C. All of us have our own story about that day, of where we were, how it impacted us, how we reacted. For the New York City firefighters, their reaction was to put out the fire and save lives. 343 firefighters made the ultimate sacrifice on that day.

To honor and remember these brave individuals, the Orlando Fire Department will hold a candlelight vigil Friday, September 11, at 7:30 p.m. at Orlando Firehouse 1 on 439 South Magnolia Avenue. The public is invited to attend this ceremony featuring the Orlando Fire Department Honor Guard and the Orlando Firefighters Pipe and Drums Corps. The lighting of 343 candles, one for each firefighter lost on September 11, and the poignant strains of Amazing Grace will highlight this event.

I invite you to attend this ceremony or take a moment of silence during the day to honor these public servants who lost their lives in the line of duty on September 11, 2001.

Sincerely,

Buddy Dyer
Mayor

Buy Local Orlando Highlight

Buy Local Orlando is under way and each week we want to make sure you know that you can get great deals, discounts and offers. There are more than 150 merchant members participating in the Buy Local Orlando campaign offering special offers and discounts exclusively to Buy Local Orlando consumers.

• Boxes Etc., Inc. (7600 Kingspointe Parkway, Suite 101) is a full service wholesale box and corrugated supply business offering standard and custom-designed boxes and a complete line of packaging supplies. Buy Local Orlando consumers receive a 20% discount off their commercial price list. Call 407.355.0907 or visit boxesetcinc.com for more information.
   
• Buy Local Orlando consumers receive 10% off wine by the glass and 10% off a case of wine mix and match at Winestyles (4841 New Broad Street). Call 407.893.9300 or visit winestyles.net/baldwinpark for more information.
   
• First time Buy Local Orlando clients receive free follow-up bath with the purchase of first full groom at Sparky’s Pet Salon (145 East Pine Street). Call 407.864.0015 or visit sparkyspetsalon.com for more information.

For more information on the Buy Local Orlando program, please visit buylocalorlando.net.

Orlando International Airport See Increase in International Traffic

This June, international traffic at Orlando International Airport increased 20.4 percent, which helped offset a 7.6 percent decline in domestic travel numbers. The 20.4 percent increase in international traffic goes against international trends as reflected by Airports Council International (ACI) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) which report international traffic is down around the world.

According to the recently released ACI 2008 traffic survey, Orlando International is ranked as the 11th busiest passenger airport in North America and the 22nd busiest airport in the world.

Is Your Company Looking for a Great Way to Give Back?

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer encourages local businesses to join forces with the Heart of Florida United Way’s Days of Caring event scheduled for Friday, September 25. As Central Florida’s largest community-wide volunteer event, United Way Days of Caring engages more than 1,500 corporate volunteers in projects that benefit local nonprofit organizations and the clients they serve.

Mayor Buddy Dyer will work side-by-side with members of the Kappa Delta sorority from the University of Central Florida as they help paint the dining room of the men’s shelter at the Salvation Army of Orange County.

To learn more on how you can use this opportunity to get involved and give back, contact Lorri Highet, United Way Resource Center Director, at Lorri.Highet@hfuw.org or call 407.849.2373.

Visit hfuw.org to search through dozens of meaningful projects throughout our community your company can adopt.

This month’s Community Connections Workshop shows It’s Easy to be Green and features everything from going solar, to maximizing energy savings at home and conserving water. Various experts will present, entertain and answer your questions. Information will also be provided on how home owner associations can work with new 2009 statutes that prevent home owner associations from regulating Florida-friendly landscapes.

Participants will be eligible for door prizes, including a rain barrel. The Community Connections Workshop takes place on Saturday, September 12 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Orange County Internal Operations Center (IOC 1), 450 E. South Street. To register for this workshop, call 407.836.0035 or register online: ocfl.net/CommunityConnections.

Florida Costal Cleanup

This year’s Florida Coastal Cleanup is on Saturday, September 19th from 9 to 11 a.m. This regional effort is part of the 23rd Annual International Coastal Cleanup coordinated by The Ocean Conservancy and supported locally by City of Orlando and Keep Orlando Beautiful. The City needs volunteers to clean the shorelines of five City of Orlando lakes. Volunteers will receive a T-shirt. Breakfast and supplies will be provided. Dress for a mess!
 

City of Orlando Cleanup Sites:

• Lake Ivanhoe: 1236 N. Orange Ave., Gaston Edwards Park, off Ivanhoe Boulevard
   
• Lake Underhill: 4355 Lake Underhill Rd., west of Conway Road
   
• Park Lake: 724 Highland Ave., north of Colonial Drive., meet at the pier on the west side of the lake
   
• Lake Adair: 935 Lake Adair Blvd.
   
• LaCostaUrban Wetlands: 5814 LaCosta Dr.

Amway Center Webcam

You don’t have to drive downtown to see the progress of the Amway Center. Watch the progress of the construction with the Amway Center Webcams. 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, the cameras take a picture every 15 minutes and save the photos so viewers can watch the progress like a movie. The webcams can be found online.

Community Venues Construction Update

Did You Know?

Do you remember the excitement, great soccer matches and the multi-million dollar economic impact when we hosted World Cup in 1994? Well, we have a chance to be a part of it again!

The City of Orlando and Orange County, in partnership with the Central Florida Sports Commission, have made it through two rounds of bids, and Orlando is one of 27 sites still in contention to host games in 2018 and 2022. But we need your help now!

Please take a moment and go to gousabid.com and sign the petition. It’s towards the bottom of the home page. It will go a long way to show the support Orlando and Central Florida has to offer. Share this with friends, take it to work, post it on Facebook or do all you can to get as many Central Floridians to sign the petition in September.

Red Chair Affair

Don’t miss the Red Chair Affair on Saturday, September 19, at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre. A fundraiser for the Red Chair Project, this charity event features dynamic performing groups and local visual artists presenting a sampling of Central Florida’s cultural offerings. For information on tickets and the silent auction, visit redchairproject.com.

Washington Shores Community Planning Day

Please join Commissioner Samuel B. Ings and City staff for a Community Planning day to envision the future of Washington Shores on Saturday, September 12, 2009 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Hope Church, 3032 Monte Carol Trail. Washington Shores citizens, business owners and property owners are invited to attend. A wide range of topics will be discussed, including future development opportunities, traffic, housing, parks, urban design and security issues.

More information regarding a Vision Task Force that is participating with the community can be found online. Contact Michaelle Petion, City Planner, at 407.246.3837 or Michaelle.Petion@cityoforlando.net to RSVP. Light breakfast will be served.

Veterans Day Parade

The City of Orlando is now accepting applications for the 2009 Veterans Day Parade. The parade will be held at 10 a.m. on November 14 in Downtown Orlando. If you are interested in participating in this year’s Veterans Day Parade, please click here. Applications and fees are due on October 9.

Donate to Help Save Lake Eola Park Fountain

The Lake Eola Park Fountain is currently inoperable due to damage from a lightning strike. This historic fountain has been the central feature of Lake Eola Park and Downtown Orlando since its installation in 1957. The outpouring of concern for the state of the Lake Eola Park Fountain has been a testament to its significance as a local landmark. The City appreciates its residents’ desire to help in this situation and would like to address the fastest and most effective way people can make a difference.

People can make a tax-deductible donation specifically for the Lake Eola Park Fountain. The City’s Families, Parks and Recreation Department manages Orlando Community and Youth Trust, Inc. (OCYT), the 501(c)(3) non-profit fundraising arm of the organization. If you are interested in supporting the Lake Eola Park Fountain restoration project, go to the OCYT website to donate either using PayPal or check or contact Brenda March, the President of OCYT at Brenda.March@cityoforlando.net or 407.246.4295.

Watch a history of the Lake Eola Fountain.

Upcoming Events

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