City/County News

Although not within the Oak Crest community, these local news items from the City of Orlando and Orange County should be of interest to our residents.

Wednesday, February 26
6:30pm - 7:30pm

Conway Methodist Church
Family Life Center
3401 S. Conway Rd., Orlando, FL 32812

Thursday, February 27
6:30pm - 7:30pm

Dockside Lake Nona
13623 Sachs Ave., Orlando, FL 32827

City Commissioner Jim Gray hosts guests including Communications & Neighborhood Relations, Hispanic Office for Local Assistance, Keep Orlando Beautiful, OCPS, Orlando Police Department, Orange County Transportation Initiative, and more.

Saturday, February 29
11:30am - 2:30pm

Blanchard Park YMCA
10501 J. Blanchard Trail, Orlando, FL 32817

Don’t Pitch It – Fix It! is a community repair workshop in partnership with the City of Winter Park and the City of Orlando.

The workshop gives residents the opportunity to have broken items repaired by handy neighbors and skilled volunteers. Don’t Pitch It, Fix It! workshops help to achieve Orange County’s goal to significantly reduce landfill waste by 2040. Read more... (*).

Orange County hosts FREE Community Connections Workshops(*), usually held on the 2nd Saturday of every month. They are designed to help residents make the most of their neighborhoods.

Beardall Senior Center 800 South Delaney Avenue, Orlando, 32801

March 14 from 9:00am - 12:00pm
Show Me the Money

Community Connections Workshops are FREE! Parking is FREE in the surface lots in front of and behind Beardall Senior Center. Complimentary refreshments courtesy of the City of Orlando. Read more.. (*).

Beneath Orange County lies a freshwater reservoir known as the Floridan Aquifer. It is primarily fed through rainwater filtered through hundreds of feet of sand and rock in a natural filtering process.

Because of its high quality, the groundwater we use needs little or no treatment other than disinfection and aeration. Read more... (*)

Lake Nona Farmers Market

Saturdays
11:00 am - 3:00 pm

For more information see https://www.facebook.com/LakeNonaFM/ (*)

The City of Orlando recruits, places and recognizes citizen and employee volunteers who assist in various City department projects and at special events.

Apply for unique and rewarding volunteer opportunities in your community. What does volunteering in our youth programs look like? Here are some examples:

• Mentor a student: Invest your experiences and knowledge in our city's youth.

• Youth football coach: Grab the whistle and guide a group of kids on and off the field.
• Support a community center event: Help our centers during holidays, senior nights and tournaments.
• STEM instructor: Guide our youth in STEM programs such as Hour of Code or the Robotics team.

Complete the Volunteer Interest Form (*) to be matched with volunteer opportunities in Orlando.

The City of Orlando, OUC and the Florida Forest Service are offering Orlando residents up to two FREE trees for their household as a part of Mayor Buddy Dyer’s One Person, One Tree initiative. 

Trees aren’t only good for our environment and our health, they also add value to your property and generate energy savings for your home. In fact, just three to four mature shade trees located strategically around your house can cut your summer cooling costs up to 30 percent.

Trees may be ordered online (*) for residential property within city limits, for the City's rights of way, or for neighborhoods.

Do You Know What You Can Recycle?

With the new Orlando Collects tool, you can find out how to properly recycle or dispose items, get reminders about your collection days and schedule large-item pickups. Read more... (*)

The Orlando Fire Department and Orlando Police Department can now accept text messages to 911.

Calling 911 is still the most efficient way for emergency dispatchers to retrieve and deliver life-saving information. As a voice on the other line can help the caller remain calm and give life saving-instructions. Text-to-911 is helpful for those who are unable to speak or hear or have difficulty speaking and hearing.

There are specific guidelines needed to follow to utilize the text-to-911 service. Read more... (*)

Did you know that 24-percent of the municipal solid waste stream is food and yard waste? A great way to reduce your landfill contribution and reduce landfill odors is home composting. It also creates your own nutrient rich soil.

The City of Orlando is offering FREE home composters and workshops to residents of the City of Orlando through Mayor Buddy Dyer’s Green Works initiative.

Request your free composter (*)

Community gardens are spaces for neighbors to come together and grow wholesome and healthy food for their families. They are places for new gardeners to get their hands dirty, and for seasoned gardeners to pass their knowledge on to newcomers.

Community gardens provide a wonderful opportunity for children to learn about how food is grown and to garner an appreciation for where their food comes from. Each garden is self-managed, holds their own waiting lists and bylaws, and organizes community events around the garden.

View a Map of City of Orlando Community Gardens (*)

Saturdays
from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Valencia College, 12350 Narcoossee Rd, Orlando.
Orlando, FL 32832.

They are open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine.

All profits go directly to helping wildlife. For more information please visit their facebook page(*)

The Orange County Utilities Water Division has a FREE service to help customers make their irrigation system more efficient.  

The audit includes a complete evaluation by a certified irrigation professional contracted by Orange County Utilities who will check all sprinkler zones to ensure there are no leaks and water is not being misdirected onto paved surfaces.  

For more information and to find out if you are eligible for an irrigation audit, please contact the Orange County Utilities Water Division at 407-254-9850 (select option 1, then option 2) or visit occonservewater.net (*)

Monday thru Friday, 8am to 5 pm
Orange County Extension
Education Center

Tuesdays, 9am to 12pm
MREC, Apopka

Wednesdays, 3 to 5pm
Leu Gardens

http://orange.ifas.ufl.edu/res_hort/ (*)

Do you have a crime prevention project and need funding? If so, the Neighborhood Pride Crime Prevention & Safety Grants are still available.  These grants assist Orange County residents' efforts to reduce crime and increase safety by providing funding for community driven projects.  If your organization is interested, please contact Emily Hanna at 407-836-7371 or by email at Emily.Hanna@ocfl.net.