Winter Park City Talk

New location for Code Enforcement

Please note: Effective Nov. 2, Code Enforcement staff and services will be located in the Fire-Rescue Headquarters on the second floor of Public Safety Facility at 343 W. Canton Ave.

Online and phone services down Saturday

Due to server maintenance, all online services, Utility Billing Customer Service (407-599-3220) and the Inspection Line (407-599-3350) will be unavailable on Saturday, Nov. 3.

New fire truck now in service

On Oct. 26, the Winter Park Fire-Rescue Department held a traditional dedication ceremony that formally accepted into service the agency’s newest piece of firefighting equipment. This new tiller-driven truck improves the department’s efficiency and mobility and offers the following:

• Cost savings

o If the department purchased a completely identical replacement tractor-drawn aerial truck, it would have cost approximately $150,000 more than the cost for this new tiller-driven truck.

• Increased maneuverability through traffic

• Quicker access to some of the city’s narrow streets and turns which are more difficult to negotiate

• Additional 300-cubic-feet of storage space

o The use of a long trailer design where one firefighter sits in the rear allows for the consolidation of existing tools and equipment onto one unit

The dedication ceremony included a tour of the unit, driving demonstration, and a traditional “push back” of the unit into service.

Early voting at the library

The Winter Park Public Library located at 460 E. New England Ave. is a site for early voting for the General Election. Voting for Orange County residents only will run from now until Saturday, Nov. 3, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day. Please visit the Orange County Supervisor of Elections FAQ for information about required ID, absentee ballots and other voting matters. During early voting, please be extra patient and courteous in the library parking lot.

Left over Halloween candy?

The Winter Park Fire-Rescue Department (WPFD) is once again supporting “Operation Gratitude,” a program designed to collect candy and gifts for American service men and women who are currently deployed in the remote regions of Afghanistan and other hostile regions of the world. This is the perfect place to donate your leftover Halloween candy and letters of appreciation to one of the following Winter Park locations:

• Station 61 > 343 W. Canton Ave.

• Station 62 > 300 S. Lakemont Ave.

• Station 64 > 1439 Howell Branch Road

• City Hall > 401 S. Park Ave.

• Winter Park Public Library > 460 E. New England Ave.

Items will also be collected at the city’s annual “Veterans Day Celebration” Friday, Nov. 9, at 10 a.m., at the Winter Park Community Center Ruby Ball Amphitheater, located at 721 W. New England Ave. For more information regarding “Operation Gratitude,” please call 407-454-0878, email [email protected], or visit operationgratitude.com

Honoring our veterans

On Friday, Nov. 9, at 10 a.m., the city of Winter Park will present its second annual Veterans Day Celebration Honoring Winter Park Heroes, at the Winter Park Community Center Ruby Ball Amphitheater located at 721 W. New England Ave.

Beginning at 9:30 a.m., the VFW Post 2093 Community Band will be entertaining guests as they visit with organizations and services that offer resources specifically for veteran needs. At 10 a.m., the official program will begin. If you have served in any military campaign or branch in honor of our nation’s freedom, this event is held in your honor. For more information, please call 407-599-3428.

S.A.F.E. - A free basic self-defense class

The Winter Park Police Department (WPPD) and the Victim Service Center of Central Florida frequently host free women’s Self-defense and Familiarization Exchange (S.A.F.E.) classes for all interested women that have a tie to the city of Winter Park. There is no special dress or equipment needed. Various dates are scheduled to accommodate as many women as possible. This class is ladies only and is limited to the first 25 who sign up. Ages 14 and older are welcome and sign-up is required.

Classes are held at WPPD located at 500 N. Virginia Ave. For more information or to sign-up, please contact Officer Kaitlin Gonzalez at 321-303-5884 or [email protected]

Perfect weather for an ice rink!

Beginning Friday, Nov. 16, 2012 through Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013, the city of Winter Park will bundle up once again for “Winter in the Park,” the city’s annual holiday ice skating rink in Central Park West Meadow. The West Meadow is located at 150 N. New York Ave., on the corner of Morse Boulevard and New York Avenue in downtown Winter Park.

Snowflakes of all ages and skill levels are invited to chill out as they glide, spin and turn at “Winter in the Park”:

• Mondays through Thursdays, 3 to 9 p.m.

• Fridays, 3 to 10 p.m.

• Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• Sundays, noon to 8 p.m.

(See website for extended school holiday hours.)

Snow angels are invited to skate all day for only $10 per skater (skate rental included). For a blizzard of 20 or more people, some cool group discounts are available for all this frigid fun. Advance reservations are required for private party and group reservations to avoid an icy avalanche of skaters at the rink.

Holiday music, games, carolers and so much more will flurry around you as you enjoy “Winter in the Park.” For more information, please call 407-599-3203 or visit our website at cityofwinterpark.org/WITP

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