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August 2013Top.

Greetings,

Orange County has a long and enduring tradition of volunteerism and community service. This month, I am so proud to salute the many citizens who renewed their commitment to improving Orange County through the 2013 Summer of Service initiative. This is the second year that this initiative has taken place, and I am proud to report that interest and participation in this meaningful program continues to grow.

The Summer of Service is a program that mobilizes and matches citizens with volunteer service events. The goal is to improve our neighborhoods and communities while encouraging a lifestyle of service. By encouraging our citizens to dedicate just a few hours in the summer and by lending a helping hand to our neighbors, we collectively give back to our community and improve the lives of those in need.

Each new administration has a chance to put its mark on the office of Orange County Mayor. I've placed a focus on public engagement and service to our community. As a part of my executive team, I've created the Office of Public Engagement and Citizen Advocacy (OPECA) to make government more accessible and welcoming, while striving to get local residents involved in their communities and neighborhoods.

Along with my husband and four children (now adults), I have always been involved in our community, as well as my children's schools and extracurricular activities when they were youngsters.  I remember our volunteer and community experiences with great fondness, and to this day, we remain close to so many neighbors and families who also gave of their time and talent to volunteer for this community. While personally rewarding, what I learned was that by giving back to the community, one can truly make a difference. In the spirit of Margaret Mead, "Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world.  For, indeed, that's all who ever have."

Sometimes, the way we participate in community service transcends the traditional forms of volunteerism. For example, a young girl in East Orange County named Sarah Dewitz has donated more than 100,000 books to children in need through her non-profit organization, Just 1 Book.   Or Daniel Bolan, the 2013 Orange County Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award recipient, who was inspired to create the Mercy Garden at the Heart of Mercy Church after hearing his pastor preach about senseless acts of violence and other tragedies in the Mercy Drive area.  As Daniel said to me recently, he wanted this Garden and the beautiful mural painted on the side of the church, to be a beacon of hope and, in his words, "a shining light in the Mercy Drive area."

Can you imagine what can be accomplished when we encourage and support more young people like Sarah and Daniel to act on their passion and serve our community?

Whether it's a day of volunteer service or a lifelong career, challenge yourself, and consider the talents you possess when seeking community service and volunteer opportunities. Service is about what you can do for others; what better way to become involved than to give what you're most passionate about by using your talents, interests, and expertise to benefit others. For me, that passion is public service and serving the citizens of Orange County.

In this month's newsletter, you will learn more about the life saving actions of two Orange County citizens, the Youth Mental Health Commission, Orange County's Community Conference honorees and the Lake Mary Jess Water Improvement Project Dedication Ceremony, which plays a supporting role in Orange County's Home for Life initiative.

As always, I thank you for your hard work, your continued support, and for staying connected with your government.

Sincerely,
Teresa Jacobs
Orange County Mayor


     Mourning the Loss of Chase Smith


Orange County Neighborhood Preservation &
Revitalization Division's 2012 Community Conference event.
Our entire Orange County family joins in mourning the loss of Chase Smith, our Orange County Ombudsman and a deeply cherished friend. Chase died Aug 28th, following a brief illness.  We are simply devastated by this loss. Chase was absolutely made for public service.  He cared so deeply about people and was steadfast in serving our community. He served as inspiration for young people, and for me as well. I am heartbroken that we've lost him at such a young age.  On behalf of Orange County, I join in sending my deepest condolences to Chase's family and extended circle of friends, including Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan and so many others at the City of Orlando who knew and loved him. 

Chase was a 4th generation Floridian and was born and raised in Wauchula, Florida. He was a city commissioner in the City of Wauchula in Hardee County for twelve years, having been elected in 1992 when he was 20. Chase also served in many leadership capacities while he was an elected official, including the Board of Directors of the Florida League of Cities, Ridge League of Cities (President from 2000-2001), Central Florida Regional Planning Council and the Hardee County Family YMCA. He earned his Bachelor of Public Administration degree from Barry University. 

In February 2011, Chase joined my team as an Aide for Constituent Relations and Outreach. In August 2011, Chase was named Orange County's first Ombudsman.

Chase served the citizens of Orange County with pride. His emphasis and priority was always his family, friends and public service. He will be deeply missed.

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                  Mayor's Hero Award

       Extraordinary Citizens Receive Mayor's Hero Award
 
Tyler Taylor receives the Mayor's Hero Award.

I was pleased to honor two extraordinary Orange County citizens for their quick thinking and life saving actions at our July Board of County Commissioners meeting.

At just six-years-old, Tyler Taylor sprang into action and saved his family from a potentially devastating house fire. After smelling smoke in the early morning hours, Tyler quickly woke up his family before the home's fire alarms could alert the household. No one in Tyler's family was injured, and he has now earned the nickname "Superman" for his heroic actions.


Former volunteer firefighter Mario Maglione Jr. was also recognized for saving a man from an unfortunate construction accident in April. The man was about 20 feet off the ground on a scissor lift and was using the lift to reach an air-conditioning unit on the roof of a building when he accidentally hit a power line and was nearly electrocuted. After the shock, the man's clothing burst into flames. Maglione saw the man on fire and immediately climbed up the 20-foot lift, lowered it to the ground and extinguished the fire.

Every individual has the capacity for caring and working to improve the lives of our families, neighbors, and community.

Orange County is fortunate to have such brave individuals as citizens, and I am extremely thankful for their heroic acts and contributions in making our region the best place in the world to live, learn, work, play and raise a family.  


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            Wekiva Parkway with Kick-off

   Region Celebrates Wekiva Parkway with Kick-off Event
 

In July, I joined county and state leaders in the kick-off event for the Wekiva Parkway. This project will complete the beltway around Central Florida and will help relieve congestion on US Highway 441 and State Road 46. The completion of the 25-mile toll road will make travel easier and more convenient through Lake, Orange, and Seminole counties.

From my earliest days on the Wekiva River Basin Commission and since being elected Mayor of Orange County, the Wekiva Parkway has held a special place in my heart. This project truly demonstrates what we can accomplish when our community comes together with a common goal. In addition to the thousands of jobs created and the long-term economic impact, this highway project will benefit the lives of so many Floridians and will improve our state's opportunities for smart-managed growth.

This complex roadway project is a direct result of insightful environmental guidance, and unwavering local and statewide leadership. It was incredibly gratifying to celebrate the many individuals who've worked tirelessly to complete this crucial portion of the Florida's highway system.

Congratulations to all those who worked to make the Wekiva Parkway a reality, including local citizens, neighborhood and environmental leaders, local colleagues, and state partners. The tremendous partnership between the State of Florida (FDOT), our neighboring counties of Lake and Seminole, and our local transportation agencies stand as testimony to how we can achieve great things by working together.

Thank you for your steadfast determination in bringing this monumental infrastructure project to Central Florida.

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         Youth Mental Health Commission

             Youth Mental Health Commission Convenes


Following the heartbreaking tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut, I reached out to our mental health partners and Orange County's Family Services to solicit their thoughts on a holistic strategy for addressing mental health services for children, young adults, and families in our county.

I am pleased that Orange County's Board of County Commissioners (BCC) recently approved $963,000 in funding to provide mental health services that are vital to families in our area. These BCC funds, which match our federal children's mental health grant, will cover gaps in community resources for youth mental health treatment and screenings.

And the need is real. Incredibly, more than 50 percent of all lifetime mental health issues present themselves before age 14, and 75 percent before age 25. As the statistics note, the sooner we screen, detect, and treat, the better for our community. Dealing with an issue of such complexity will be no small challenge and will require the commitment of our entire community and all levels of government.  Mental illness is a very treatable disease, and when detected early, the more effective the outcome. 

On Monday, I convened Orange County's Youth Mental Health Commission, a coalition of elected officials, law enforcement and strong community leaders to develop new strategies and initiatives to address system of care issues in children's mental health in Orange County. The Commission will be charged with examining the entirety of this issue in Orange County, including the resources available (or lack thereof), the accessibility of treatment and resources, and related issues, including the stigma that is too often associated with seeking treatment for mental health. The Commission will act in an advisory capacity and will present recommendations and broader improvement strategies to the BCC in early 2014. 

I wish to thank those who have agreed to serve on our Youth Mental Health Commission for the important work they have committed to do on behalf of our community and our citizens.

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     Orange County Community Conference
 
Orange County Community Conference Honors Our Citizens
 
The BCC recognized six individuals as Citizen of the Year. The Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award was presented to Daniel Bolan.

At the 19th Annual Orange County Community Conference, I honored several citizens as community champions for their invaluable contributions to our local neighborhoods and communities. Individuals were recognized for their work in helping their neighborhoods to flourish.

Organized by the Neighborhood Preservation and Revitalization Division, the conference was held at Loews Royal Pacific at Universal Orlando.

Each year, Orange County and our commissioners recognize the talents and accomplishments of individual citizens and community organizations for their contributions in making Orange County the best place in the world to live, learn, work, play, and raise a family.

Each of the six Commissioners recognized an individual from their district as Distinguished Citizen of the Year. The 2013 Orange County Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award was presented to Boy Scout Daniel Bolan, 14, who demonstrates the greatest leadership qualities - service and compassion.

Inspired by a message from Rev. William Andrews, pastor of Heart of Mercy Church, Daniel wanted to remember and honor those who have lost their lives to senseless violence. Through his work, many people came together to build Mercy Garden, where a cross stands tall over benches - giving friends and family members a place for quiet reflection and prayer amid 600 plants placed by Troop 687.

Every year in June, victims of violence will be memorialized with their names etched onto bricks that will then be placed in the garden. Daniel's vision for the garden is even more compelling when you consider that he had no connection to the Mercy Drive area prior to the project. Daniel has also chosen to stay tied to the community by helping to start a new Boy Scout Troop at the Heart of Mercy Church, and he continues to make a difference in Orange County.


In addition to our awards ceremony, county residents attended several workshops that outlined how we can collectively make a positive impact and improve our neighborhoods. Our citizens and neighborhood organizations are truly the foundation of our community and a vital resource to Orange County.

I wish to extend a special thanks to the staff at Orange County's Neighborhood Preservation and Revitalization Division for their hard work in successfully planning the event and the awards ceremony.

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                    Our Home for Life
 
Lake Mary Jess Project Highlights Home for Life Sustainability Plan
 
I was joined by state and local partners at the Lake Mary Jess Water Improvement Project Dedication Ceremony.

In support of Orange County's Home for Life initiative, we held the Lake Mary Jess Water Improvement Project Dedication Ceremony in conjunction with National Lakes Appreciation Month in July.

Kudos to Orange County's Environmental Protection Division (EPD) for working so diligently to create the intricate stormwater pond for Lake Mary Jess. The project is a perfect example of our community partners successfully working together to improve our environment and precious natural resources. In fact, this project included the active and engaged Lake Mary Jess Advisory Board and our very supportive state and local partners.

The drainage and water improvement project will treat storm water from Orange Avenue (State Road 527), and surrounding commercial development by redirecting it into a new treatment facility that captures trash, sediment, and pollutants before discharging downstream to Lake Mary Jess.

We all value our lakes and clean water in Orange County, and it's certainly a component and priority of our Sustainability Plan. A Sustainable Orange County, "Our Home for Life," is my initiative to make our region a more prosperous, healthy, and livable community for current and future generations by addressing economic, environmental, social, and cultural issues in a holistic manner.

Overseeing this effort is our internal Sustainability Steering Committee, which has appointed subcommittees comprised of a diverse group of individuals to hone in on the three pillars of sustainability: the economy, the environment, and that intangible sense of community.

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                 Orange County Spotlight

Kyle Kent, Assistant Manager of our Parks & Recreation Division, Makes Volunteerism and Service a Priority



When Kyle Kent, Assistant Manager of our Parks & Recreation Division, isn't busy maintaining our outdoor parks and nature trails, most of his free time is dedicated to Mission Interact, which partners parents and students through churches in Seminole and Orange County with local service organizations and community service opportunities in Central Florida. The goal of Mission Interact is to unify the students in faith and give back to the communities they call home.
 
Recently, Kyle's organization partnered with Clean the World Inc., an incredible not-for-profit in Orange County whose mission is to recycle soap and bottled amenities discarded by the hospitality industry for distribution to impoverished people locally, domestically and internationally. The goal of Clean the World is to prevent deaths caused by hygiene-related illnesses.
 
On a recent community service day at Clean the World, Mission Interact and its nearly 150 school aged volunteers sorted through 110,000 bars of soap and 40,000 bottles of toiletries.
 
(Lt. to rt.) Clean the World's Michael O'Quinn, Mission Interact's Jelani Bonner, Mayor Jacobs and CTW Executive Director Shawn Siepler.
"It was very eye-opening for all of us," Kyle said of the Clean the World service program. "Something as mundane as sorting these little bars of soap could end up saving lives. What we touched may end in Haiti and India."
 
Clean the World implements its mission through collecting, sorting and processing discarded soap and bottled amenities from hospitality donors at facilities in Orange County, Las Vegas, Ontario and China. The Orange County Recycling Center in Orlando processes over 10,000 bars of soap per day. This recycling process has been certified by TriTech Laboratories, an independent, Florida state-certified environmental lab.

Since inception, CTW has collected and distributed more than 12 million bars of soap to more than 65 countries worldwide.

In addition to volunteering at Clean the World, Kyle and Mission Interact painted homes, sorted items at Harvest International, volunteered for Meals on Wheels, cleaned-up the Palm Valley community in Central Florida, and hosted a free sport camp for over 140 elementary kids in the Corner Lakes/Bithlo community.
 
I am so proud of the impact Clean the World has in our community and its contributions globally. I wish to thank all of our partners for supporting Clean the World and its mission.

I also want to applaud Kyle for his commitment to our youth population and for giving so generously of his time and talents to make our community the best place in the world to live, learn, work and raise a family.
 
                    News Worth Noting ...




*  Building on our successful trade missions to Colombia, I spent some time with City of Sabaneta Mayor Luz Estela Giraldo Ossa, (pictured above) from the Antioquia Department of Colombia.

*  I joined Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, and the University of Central Florida's Dan Holsenbeck and Maritza Martinez at the State Higher Education Executive Officers Education Policy Conference to discuss the roles that local government and universities play in community and university advancement.

*  It was an honor to join our partners from Community Based Care at the Office Depot Foundation Backpack Donation Event.

*  The Orange County Board of County Commissioners issued a proclamation honoring Westridge Middle School teacher Dorina Sackman, Florida's Teacher of the Year.

*  I wish to extend my sincere thanks to our special volunteers who assisted in painting homes in the Conway Acres Neighborhood  as part of Orange County's Summer of Service and Fixin' Up the Neighborhood initiatives.

*  Congratulations to Orange County's Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute for its recently announced collaboration with Pfizer Inc. The team plans to identify new therapeutic targets for preventing and treating complications of obesity and diabetes utilizing screening tools, approaches and technologies developed at Sanford-Burnham in Lake Nona's Medical City.

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Mayor Teresa Jacobs
201 S. Rosalind Ave.
Orlando, FL 32801
[email protected]

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