November 13, 2009 - City News

Mayor's Message

I strongly encourage you to come downtown Saturday morning and watch the Veterans Parade at 10 a.m. This year’s Grand Marshal is Chief Master Sergeant Richard A. Ortega, USAF, Ret., a highly decorated veteran with a record of 29 years of service that includes landing on Omaha Beach during the first wave of the D-Day invasion. The parade will also include more than 100 entries including military honor guards, representatives from Central Florida’s veteran organizations, ROTC units and floats that are featured in Tampa’s Gasparilla Parade. The parade route and parking information are available on CityofOrlando.net. If you cannot make it downtown, the event is also broadcast live on Brighthouse News 13.

I would like to thank the members of my Veterans Advisory Council, who help put on this parade and other veterans events throughout the year. Their dedication ensures that our City does not forget our veterans or the soldiers currently serving our country.

Sincerely,

Buddy Dyer
Mayor

The Orlando Police Department (OPD) provides a convenient, online service for residents to file police reports for lost property, harassing phone calls, pickpocketing, vandalism, vehicle burglary and petit theft. Found on the homepage of OPD’s website, these online reports can be filled out at a resident’s convenience, without the need to wait for an officer to report to their home or business.

The online forms can be used if the incident is not an emergency, there is no suspect, no firearms were involved and the person using the form is over the age of 18. The requests will be reviewed by OPD, and if they warrant further investigation, you will receive a permanent case number.

For more information, visit http://cityoforlando.net/police/reporting/report_main.htm

Economic Green Leaf Program

During these tough economic times, many local businesses have been challenged in terms of finance, growth and opportunity. A new statewide pilot program, the Economic Gardening Loan Program, is designed to provide the help that small businesses need to expand, creating jobs and opportunities for our residents.

Businesses with 10-50 employees and annual revenues of $1-25 million are invited to apply for this pilot loan program which offers eligible businesses the opportunity to receive a low interest loan of up to $250,000 - and the applications are being administered right here in Orlando.

The Black Business Investment Fund of Orlando was recently selected to be the administrator of the State’s Economic Gardening Loan Program. Businesses do not need to be minority-owned to qualify. For more information, visit bbif.com or call 407.649.4780.

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 300 merchant members participating in the Buy Local Orlando campaign offering special offers and discounts exclusively to Buy Local Orlando consumers.

Buy Local Orlando consumers receive 10% off their total purchase (some restrictions apply) at Kernel Encore Gourmet Popcorn Shop (601 North Primrose Drive). Call 407.897.7022 or visit kernelencorepopcorn.com for more information.

Take advantage of Buy Local Orlando preferred member pricing at Manhattan Tanning Company (653 Maguire Blvd. Suite 800) including: 15% off packages and products, $35 organic airbrush tan (regularly $48) and $59.99 monthly freedom membership (unlimited tanning in any level equipment). Call 407.898.5775 or visit manhattantanningcompany.com for more information.

Order flowers for that special someone and receive 10% off all purchases of $50 or more (local orders only) with your Buy Local Orlando consumer card at Mel Johnson Flower Shoppe (707 N. Magnolia Avenue). Call 407.843.6740 or visit meljohnsonflowers.net for more information.

For information on how you can get your Buy Local Orlando card or how your business can be a part of this program, visit buylocalorlando.net.

Upgrade Your Connections

On November 18, 2009, the City’s Purchasing & Materials Management Division will be participating in a vendor networking event titled “Upgrade Your Connections.” The reverse trade show is a unique opportunity for local businesses to meet and connect with City of Orlando purchasing professionals and other governmental agencies throughout Central Florida. Participants will gain important insight and opportunities on how to do business with government. The event will be held at the Rachel D. Murrah Civic Center in Winter Park from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The reverse trade show is sponsored by the Central Florida Chapter of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing. More information is available at nigp-cfc.org.

The end of Daylight Saving Time marked the start of new irrigation restrictions that limit watering to one day a week in Orlando and Orange County. Effective November 1, homes with odd numbered or no addresses may water only on Saturdays, while those with even numbered addresses may water on Sundays. Non-residential (commercial, public or industrial) properties may water only on Tuesdays.

The new seasonal rules from the St. Johns River Water Management District are designed to ensure the efficient use of water for landscape irrigation while allowing enough water to maintain healthy yards year-round. During Daylight Saving Time, which begins the second Sunday in March, the water schedule will return to two days a week.

If you have any questions about the water restrictions, visit http://sjr.state.fl.us/.

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.

Mayor in the Community

Did You Know?

The City of Orlando is holding a holiday food drive from November 17 to December 1 to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. Drop off your canned or non-perishable food items at City Hall, the Downtown Orlando Information Center or your nearest City of Orlando Community Center or Firehouse. For a full listing of collection sites, see cityoforlando.net/fooddrive.

Critical need items include meals in a can, non-fat dry milk, oatmeal, canned meats/poultry, evaporated milk, drinks, canned tuna, peanut butter, nutritional drinks, dry beans, canned veggies, canned soup, pasta/macaroni, canned fruit, diapers, rice, beef stew and baby food.

Orange/Michigan Vision Task Force Walkabout

Local residents, business and property owners of Downtown South are invited to participate in a “walkabout” with the Orange/Michigan Task Force on November 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. The walkabout’s purpose is to analyze assets and opportunities along the Orange Avenue and Michigan Street corridors to create a vision that manages future growth. The Task Force is seeking feedback from citizens about the area’s look and feel, including building scale, sidewalk widths, landscaping and transitions to the surrounding neighborhoods.

The Orange/Michigan Task Force is a 15-member community task force, charged with examining urban design, transportation/parking and streetscape/pedestrian friendliness along South Orange Avenue and Michigan Street. Over an eight-month period, the Task Force will hold several meetings to examine planning issues and gain public input. Working with the Downtown South Main Street, the Task Force will identify steps to implement changes for an improved Downtown South.

Interested participants should meet at the Christ Church of Orlando at 2200 S. Orange Avenue at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 14. For more information, please contact Jenny Wheelock, City Planner, at 407.256.3145 or jenny.wheelock@cityoforlando.net

Upcoming Events

City Halll
400 South Orange Avenue
Orlando, FL 32801
Phone: 407.246.2221 buddy.dyer@cityoforlando.net