Check out these great tools you can use during hurricane season to stay informed and safe!

OCFL Alert is a first-of-its-kind emergency notification and information app for your mobile phone. In addition to emergency life-saving information, the OCFL Alert app offers non-emergency notifications.

Receive information pertaining to:

• Open shelter locations
• Water and ice distribution centers
• Evacuation routes
• Upcoming events
• Public service announcements
• Contact information for select governmental and non-governmental agencies
• A helpful FAQ section

Download OCFL Alert today: 

• Download for iPhone and iPad
• Download for Android

OCAlert sends emergency alerts, notifications and life-saving instructions to your email account and directly to your cell phone or smart phone. Register free of charge for OCAlert.

Receive alerts pertaining to: 

• Life-threatening weather
• Evacuation notifications
• Sheltering in-place
• Amber Alerts
• Highly-disruptive road closures
• Other types of emergency messages necessary to keep you safe 

For additional information about emergency alerts and notifications, call 407-836-9140 or email ocoem@ocfl.net.

The following meetings are currently scheduled through the end of June:

• The Preserve at Lakeside Planned Development (Horizon West) - Meeting will be held Wednesday, June 25, 2014, at 6 p.m. Location to be determined.

• Perrihouse Planned Development (Dr. Phillips/Horizon West) - Meeting will be held on Thursday, June 26, 2014, at 6 p.m. Location to be determined.

Official meeting notices will be sent via email and posted on Facebook as they become available.

Sign up for our email list and include

where you live. We'll send you the latest on projects that impact your neighborhood!

Don't forget to like us on Facebook for daily updates on news and events in District 1.

Commissioner Boyd has been working to update and amend the Loud Noise Ordinance since 2009. This multi-jurisdictional project has brought together the Orange County Sheriff's Office, the County Attorney's office, County Administration, and the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) with the common goal of exploring additional enforcement options for residential noise complaints. The original ordinance is written to address industrial noise and does not address the types of noise issues residents face today. The proposed amended version would provide recourse for noise disturbances more common to residential and business zones.

One of the most notable changes in the proposed ordinance is the shift from relying strictly on a decibel reading system to using the "plainly audible" standard. In addition, fees would be increased for violations, and enforcement authority would include both EPD and the Sheriff's Office with provisions for notices, civil citations and criminal charges based on the number of times a violation occurs.

On Feb. 11, 2014, the Board of County Commissioners held a work session on the proposed changes to the Loud Noise Ordinance. The proposed changes to the County Code were then routed through the Environmental Protection Commission for review. The amended ordinance will be brought back before the Board as a public hearing during the afternoon session of the June 24 BCC meeting. We welcome any input you may have on the proposed changes.

To improve connectivity to State Road 429 (Daniel Webster Western Beltway) and accommodate future growth in west Orange County, the Expressway Authority is scheduled to build a new interchange between SR 429 and Schofield Road.

This summer, the Orange County/Orlando Magic Recreation Center at West Orange is offering weekly sports and fitness camps for youth ages 9 to 14.

The activities run Monday through Friday 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. as follows:

• Cardio Fit and Fun Week: June 16-20, includes activities such as boot camp, Zumba and walking with pedometers

• Sports Around the World: June 23-27

• All Sports: July 7-11, a variety of sports and games

• Gamers Camp and Fun Week: July 14-8, arcade, board and Wii games, inflatables and more

• Golf Camp: July 21-25.

Youth ages 11 to 17 can register for the summer co-ed youth volleyball league, which is held Sundays at 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m.

• League play is June 15-August 10.

 Cost is $50 per person.

For more information, call 407-254-6200 or visit www.OrangeCountyParks.net.  

This bustling area of residences, business, restaurants and upscale shops is one of the hottest places to live in Orange County.

The area was named after Dr. Philip Phillips, a pioneer in the citrus industry who eventually sold the bulk of his property to Minute Maid in the 1950s. The property he owned in southwest Orange County was later sold to developers who built Bay Hill and other subdivisions.

This area has experienced explosive growth in the last 30 years,  yet the Dr. Phillips area has been able to maintain its superb quality of life. Many families move to the Dr. Phillips area due to the reputation of the public schools alone. Located on the eastern shore of the beloved Butler Chain of Lakes, many residents are active in boating and water sports.

The Dr. Phillips area also boasts an outstanding community center and numerous first-rate restaurants on Sand Lake Road, which has been affectionately dubbed "Restaurant Row." The area also features the 43-acre, state-of-the-art Dr. P. Phillips Community Park located on Big Sand Lake.