Winter Park City Talk

Last CoffeeTalk of the season featuring Commissioner Tom McMacken

If you have a latte beans to grind or simply want to espresso your thoughts, please join Commissioner Tom McMacken for the last CoffeeTalk of the season on Thursday, Nov. 10, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Winter Park Welcome Center located at 151 W. Lyman Ave.

Special thanks to our coffee provider, Palmano’s Roastery & Espresso Bar.

Attention all veterans

The City of Winter Park, in partnership with the Winter Park Ministerial Alliance and the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, calls all Winter Park veterans to attend its inaugural Veterans Day Celebration on Friday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. The event will be held outside at the new Winter Park Community Center Ruby Ball Amphitheatre located at 721 W. New England Ave.

Beginning at 10 a.m., attendees can gather information from a variety of organizations and services that offer resources specifically for veteran needs including the Department of Veterans Affairs, Orlando VA Medical Center, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and more. At 11 a.m., the official program will begin with musical tributes, anecdotal speakers and recognition of veterans according to the various military branches and campaigns served.

Veterans who have served in any military campaign (World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom or Afghanistan) or have served in any military branch in honor of our nation’s freedom are encouraged to join us to be honored at the event. Winter Park would like to pay tribute to your dedicated service to our country.

In addition, the Winter Park Fire-Rescue Department (WPFD) is once again supporting “Operation Gratitude,” a program designed to collect candy and letters of encouragement for American servicemen and women who are currently deployed in the hostile and remote regions of Iraq and Afghanistan. Everyone attending the Veterans Day Celebration is encouraged to drop off leftover Halloween candy and letters of support for our troops.

For information regarding additional Winter Park events, please visit the city’s official website at www.cityofwinterpark.org.

WPPD launches Click It or Ticket

The Winter Park Police Department (WPPD) will be joining state and local law enforcement agencies and highway safety groups in supporting an aggressive national “Click It or Ticket” seat belt enforcement campaign. Stepped-up law enforcement activities will be conducted during the 2011 “Click It or Ticket” mobilization period from Monday, Nov. 14, through Sunday, Nov. 27.

Seat belts are the single most effective piece of safety equipment in a vehicle, yet Winter Park’s seatbelt usage is typically measured at around 80 percent, leading into enforcement activities such as “Click It or Ticket.”

Kids have to be buckled up, too. Your child seat can be installed by a WPPD certified police officer by appointment. This is a long-time service that has been provided for many years at no cost to the public.

Seat belts clearly save lives. When worn correctly, seat belts have been proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent, and by 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUVs and minivans.

WPPD is encouraging compliance in lieu of having to issue citations as costly reminders of a law that everyone should be following every time they are in a vehicle.

Nov. 14 City Commission and CRA board meeting

There will be a Community Redevelopment Agency Board meeting on Monday, Nov. 14, at 2:30 p.m., in City Hall Commission Chambers located at 401 Park Ave. S. Immediately following, there will be a city commission meeting at 3:30 p.m.

You can find the commission’s full agenda and information on specific agenda items by logging on to the city’s official website at www.cityofwinterpark.org and by clicking on Government > City Commission > Packets.

Bundle Up: The ice rink is almost here

Beginning Friday, Nov. 18, through Jan. 8, 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”:

• Monday thru Thursday, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.

• Friday, 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.

• Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• Sunday, 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. If you are interested in bringing your whole igloo to celebrate birthdays, special events, private parties or corporate holiday gatherings, the rink is available for rental opportunities. 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 blustery website at www.cityofwinterpark.org.

Don’t forget your flu shot

The Winter Park Fire-Rescue Department (WPFD) will be offering its last seasonal flu shot opportunity on Saturday, Nov. 26, from 9 a.m. to noon, at the Winter Park Farmers’ Market located at 200 W. New England Ave. This will enable citizens to obtain quick and affordable influenza vaccines administered by licensed, insured professionals. The influenza (seasonal) vaccine is the common flu vaccine, which the Centers for Disease Control recommends once a year.

For those insured primarily with Medicare Part B, there is no charge for a flu shot. All others will be charged $25 for the flu shot (cash, check, VISA® or MasterCard® accepted).

The “high-dose” flu vaccine will also be offered to those 65 years of age and older. For those insured primarily with Medicare Part B, there is no charge. All others will be charged $45 for the high-dose vaccine.

For additional information, please call 407-599-3613.

Visit the city’s official website at www.cityofwinterpark.org, find us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.