Ocoee Briefs 07.03.14

+ Groups are encouraged to seek grants

July 30 is the deadline to turn in Ocoee Community Grant applications, which are available at ocoee.org and City Hall.

The Community Grant program provides grants of up to $500. Groups eligible to apply are Ocoee non-profit organizations and civic groups, as well as non-profit organizations and civic groups from outside the city limits that benefit Ocoee residents. The city awards the grants to acknowledge excellence and further the contributions these local organizations bring to Ocoee. Completed applications should be mailed or delivered to City Hall, Community Relations, 150 N. Lakeshore Drive, Ocoee, FL 34761.

The applications are reviewed and ranked by the Community Grant Review Board, a group of residents appointed by the Ocoee City Commission. The board makes a recommendation to the commission on which organizations to fund, and the commission then makes the final decision. To learn more, call (407) 905-3100.

+ Lions Club installs officers

The Ocoee Lions Club’s 2014-15 new officer installation took place June 23 at the Lions Clubhouse on Taylor Street. David Wheeler, who has been an active member of the club for the past decade, was reelected for a second term as the club president.

Cathy Sills was reelected to serve as administrative secretary, and Mike Paulin will serve as vice-president. District Governor Al Becker presided over the ceremony.

Wheeler, summarizing the club’s active past year, noted a long list of projects and fundraisers, including holding its first poker tournament fundraiser, organizing the Ocoee Christmas parade, delivering presents to Health Central Hospital on Christmas Day, celebrating its 65th anniversary Charter Night, holding its 10th annual golf tournament, running the Ocoee farmers’ market, collecting eyeglasses and participating in the Ocoee Spring Fling. Sadly, the club also saw the unfortunate passing of long-time members Marvin Sanders and Josh Merritt.

+ Dean’s list

Cody Hartmann Uzcategui, of Ocoee, was named to the dean’s list for the spring 2014 semester at the University of Memphis in Memphis, Tenn

+ Ocoee High to sell parking hangers

Parking hangers for the 2014-15 school year will be sold in Ocoee High School’s attendance office from 8 a.m. to noon July 28-30 and 1-3 p.m. July 31.

They will be sold to seniors only on July 28, to juniors only on July 29, to sophomores only on July 30 and to seniors, juniors and sophomores on July 31.

Students must bring in their Florida driver’s license (no learners permits). The address on the license must match the address that the school has on file.

Students also must bring a current registration and proof of insurance for the vehicle they will be driving. All financial obligations (band, books, sports, clubs) must be paid before a hanger can be purchased. The parking hangers cost $60, payable by cash or check made to Ocoee High School.

+ Police: Don’t fire guns in the air

In preparation for the Fourth of July, the Ocoee Police Department urges everyone to celebrate safely and responsibly and reminds them that celebratory gunfire is dangerous and illegal.

“People involved in celebrating Independence Day by discharging their firearms do not realize the danger posed by their actions,” police said in a statement. “It is commonly known that what goes up must come down. A bullet fired up into the air will come down. During celebrations associated with the holiday, this is sometimes forgotten. A bullet can travel as much as two miles or more and when it comes down, it can kill.”

Police said shooting a gun into the air is a crime punishable by up to a year in jail. If a person is injured, the penalties get much higher and if a death results, the shooter could be charged with their death.

The Ocoee Police Department asks that if anyone sees someone fire a gun in the air to call 911.

+ Woman’s Club to host benefit

At 7 p.m. Thursday, July 24, The GFWC Woman’s Club of Ocoee will host a Bunco Fundraiser for the Valencia Foundation Criminal Justice Program in memory of Deputy Jonathan Scott Pine.

The public event will take place at the Woman’s Club of Ocoee, 4 N. Lakewood Drive, Ocoee.

Tickets are $10 per person.To buy tickets, call Teresa Lemons at (407) 579-7977.