Traffic Engineering Division Manager Ruby Rozier passed out bicycle and pedestrian safety tip cards to adults and coloring books, stickers, reflective armbands, and bookmarks to children. Christy, Kevin, and Krista, along with Tina Wallace from Safe Kids Orange County, carefully adjusted straps and fitted helmets for the kids.

Other participants included Best Foot Forward, a community-wide pedestrian safety coalition formed to make streets safer for walkers and drivers.

By the end of the event, approximately 100 bike helmets had been distributed to get children off to a safe start.

Greetings,

Welcome to the Orange Spiel! Thank you to our Orange County employees who participated in our annual “Summer of Service.” Now in its third year, Summer of Service provided an opportunity to give back to the community, with more than 400 employee and community volunteers helping out. For complete details, see Page 3.

Also in this edition, learn about the 16th Annual Charity Golf Tournament to benefit Heart of Florida United Way, scheduled for October 3, 2014. And you won’t want to miss the annual Fish 4 Fun tournament. This free event is held at several Orange County parks. See Page 3 for more info.

Be sure to mark your calendar for the October 6th kickoff of this year’s employee benefits plan Open Enrollment, and see the “Ask the Expert”column on Page 6.

Thanks for all you do to make Orange County a great place to live, work and play.

Mayor Teresa Jacobs

InsIde:

September 2014 • ORANGE SPIEL 1

Orange

vol 44 • issue 9 • sePTeMBeR 2014 O r a n g e C O u n t y e m p l O y e e n e w s l e t t e r

STAFF GETS TRAINEDChristy Lofye, Kevin

Miller, and Krista Barber all attended bicycle helmet promotion training and became certified in bike helmet fitting in July. This qualified them to participate in the Florida Bicycle Helmet Distribution Program and receive an FDOT grant for bike helmets from Florida’s Pedestrian and Bicycling Safety Resource Center. Once certified, they approached Palmetto Elementary School—which is located within the study area—and offered to participate in the school’s Meet Your Teacher Day on August 14, providing the perfect opportunity to promote bicycle and pedestrian safety to children and parents.

The Traffic Engineering Division and representatives from other divisions, have started the Texas-Americana Road Safety Small Area Study. This study, located in District 6, focuses on traffic safety for all road users, including drivers, bicyclists, transit users, and pedestrians.

After reviewing crash data, officials noted the high frequency of bicycle and pedestrian crashes within the study area and observed equally unsafe behavior on the part of both drivers and pedestrians. It was decided that safety education needed to be a component of the project. This was confirmed when two locations within the study area ranked in the top 10 off-system, non-intersection locations for pedestrian crashes within the nine counties of Florida Department of Transportation, District 5.

Got Helmet?Public WOrkS DePartment/traffic engineering DiviSiOn

Krista Barber, Engineer II, fitting a young student at Palmetto Elementary School.

Christy Lofye, P.E., Project Manager, getting ready to fit a young girl.

· Open Enrollment Preview· United Way Golf Tournament· Flu Shots

2 ORANGE SPIEL • September 2014

A R O U N D T h e C O U N T y

Orange County Receives Two Pollution Prevention Awards

The North America Hazardous Materials Management Association (NAHMMA) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to pollution prevention and reducing the hazardous components entering municipal waste streams from households, small businesses, and other entities.

Orange County is the proud recipient of two NAHMMA (Florida Chapter) awards this year. Congratulations to Orange County Utilities (OCU) and the Orange County Environmental Protection Division (EPD) for being recognized for their environmental stewardship. OCU employee Oscar Ramos accepted the 2014 Community Service Award for the county’s Household Hazardous Waste Program, while EPD employees Martha Worland, Lauren Staly, Richard Stephens, Larry Ross, Vanessa Cruz, and Mark Overstreet accepted the 2014 Longstanding Program Excellence Award for the county’s Small Quantity Generator Program.

Orange County’s third “House that love built,” will break ground near Nemours Children’s Hospital in Lake Nona this fall with an anticipated opening in late 2015.

“Each day at Nemours Children’s Hospital, we see families who have traveled very far for our special kind of care,” said Barbara Meeks, Chief Nurse Executive at Nemours Children’s Hospital. “In just our first- year-and-a-half of operations, our unique medical services have drawn families from 47 out of the 50 United States and 44 different countries.”

According to Meeks, the

New Ronald McDonald House in Lake Nona to Provide Home Away From Home

new Ronald McDonald House will offer families a “home away from home,” allowing them to focus more on their child and less on finding accommodations away from the familiar surroundings of home.

There are currently two

Ronald McDonald Houses in Orlando - one on the campus of Arnold Palmer Medical Center and another adjacent to the Florida Hospital for Children where an estimated 1,800 families stay annually to care for critically ill children.

“There is currently no lodging in Medical City, meaning parents are sleeping in their child’s hospital room, waiting rooms, or in their cars to be close to their seriously ill children,” said Lou Ann De Voogd, President and CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida, Inc.

The new Ronald McDonald House will provide 15 bedrooms, healing gardens, common areas, and a large kitchen where community members can volunteer their time to assist families of critically ill children.

For more information, visit www.ronaldmcdonald-houseorlando.org.

September 2014 • ORANGE SPIEL 3

In support of Mayor Teresa Jacobs’ Summer of Service initiative, local citizens worked together and volunteered in the program’s cleanup and community improvement events, continuing the tradition of Orange County’s “neighbors helping neighbors” philosophy.

The initiative, now in its third year, began on the first day of summer and connected citizens with Orange County Government and its partner agencies in 19 volunteer events. Since its inception, more than 850 volunteers have participated in the initiative. This summer alone, more than 400 volunteers participated in “Fixin’ Up the Neighborhood,” an annual project that focused this year on the Washington Shores community. Sponsored by the Neighborhood Preservation and Revitalization Division, it assists qualifying residents with home repairs and improvements.

“I truly appreciate the work of the volunteers,” said resident Bobby Watson. “I’ve lived in Washington Shores for 25 years and it warms my heart that someone would care to take the time to help our neighborhood out.”

Watson’s home was pressure washed, primed, and painted a light green color. A group of volunteers spent a weekend working on his home, as well as others in the community. Fixin’ Up the Neighborhood (formerly “Paint the Town”) began in 2003 and is made possible by a grant program.

“This program gives the community a face-lift and it usually causes the other neighbors to take pride in their homes,” said Tabitha Wood, coordinator of Fixin’ Up the Neighborhood. “It puts a smile on my face to help the residents who are unable to get their homes painted due to being on a fixed income or being a widow or widower. Of course, none of this would be possible without our volunteers.”

Other 2014 Summer of Service events included storm drain labeling, restocking food pantries, and assisting the homeless moving to a new shelter.

For more information on Mayor Jacobs’ Summer of Service, please visit www.ocfl.net/OpenGovernment/GetInvolved/SummerofService.aspx

Orange County Unites for 2014 Summer of Service

4 ORANGE SPIEL • September 2014

oNClockThE

Mayor Jacobs and Chief Information Officer (CIO) Rafael Mena were hon-ored to attend a meeting at FEMA Headquarters in Washington D.C. in May to demonstrate innovations in emergency response. The briefing focused on the fed-eral government’s efforts to prepare for and respond to severe storms and included President Obama, Assistant to the President for Home-land Security and Counter-terrorism Lisa Monaco, and 19 other representatives from federal, state and local agencies.

As one of only three orga-nizations selected and the only local government in the nation invited to give a presentation, Mayor Jacobs and Mena joined officials from the Commonwealth of Virginia and the U.S. Department of Energy in discussing the technology innovations that will better inform and involve the public in preparedness and response activities.

“I was incredibly honored to share with the President and his response team all of what Orange County is do-ing to help citizens prepare for and stay safe during and after extreme weather events,” Mayor Jacobs said.

Mena gave overviews of the OCFL Alert and OCFL 311 mobile apps that assist residents in emergency situations.

“The purpose of our presentation was to show the President the inno-vative technology we’ve implemented to support our residents and visitors before, during, and after an emergency. What makes our apps unique is the true inte-gration with our emergency response systems. It gives

Orange County Goes to D.C.

President Barack Obama participates in a hurricane preparedness briefing at the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Washington, D.C., May 30, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza).

users real-time informa-tion,” Mena said. “The President was very engaged during our presentation. We were proud to showcase this cutting-edge emergency operation technology.”

OCFL ALERT is a first-of-its-kind emergency notification and informa-tion smartphone app that provides critical, life-saving information, including shel-ter locations, water and ice distribution centers, evacua-tion routes, and more.

The OCFL 311 app allows users to photograph, pin-point, and report problems from potholes to hazardous

sidewalk cracks directly from their smartphone to the 311 Service Center.

Information on the OCFL News app, Orange County’s latest smartphone app, which was unveiled during Mayor Jacobs’ remarks at the State of the County address in June, was also shared. OCFL

News provides citizens with breaking news and informa-tion about their govern-ment.

All apps are free and avail-able for download to both Apple and Android devices.

The President thanked Orange County for “its initiative in developing tools to help prepare and engage communities.”

Additionally, the Presi-dent directed his team to maintain close coordination with state, local, tribal, and private sector partners and apply the lessons learned from Hurricane Sandy and other recent storms.

oFF ThEClockThere Whenever You Need him

Orange County Fire Res-cue dispatcher Dan Faenza answers 9-1-1 calls, sends help quickly, provides call-ers with life-saving instruc-tions, and relays critical information to firefighters. After hanging up his head-set at the end of his shift, Dan puts on his American Red Cross volunteer hat.

I understand you have been a Red Cross volun-teer for seven years. What does this job entail? I’m a Disaster Action Team Lead. This cadre of volunteers responds to local disasters such as house fires and flooding, day or night. We provide families with the three immediate post-disaster needs, including food, clothing, and shelter, which are available through American Red Cross com-munity donations. We also staff first aid stations at local UCF football events,

TOP

teach the community about the Red Cross and emer-gency preparedness, and photograph important Red Cross events.

Is any special training needed to become a Red Cross volunteer? Some training is required and it also helps to have a big heart and the desire to help a perfect stranger.

What is the most fulfill-ing part of volunteering? It feels good to make a dif-ference in the community and offer folks hope and reassurance that their lives will return to normal.

What is your favorite part? Being able to step into someone’s life for a couple hours and watch the com-munity rally around them to help. Volunteers gain ap-preciation for what makes people different.

Have you ever helped the

same person or family twice (once as a dispatch-er then later as a Red Cross volunteer)? This has happened more often than you might think. I don’t make a point of telling people that I was the guy on the phone or that I spoke to the firefighters because I don’t want to give the impression that the Fire Department sent me. Having knowledge of what the firefighters do on scene can help me explain why there are holes in the ceilings throughout their house or why the windows had to be broken out.

If someone wants to help, what can they do? For more information, visit www.redcross.org/mid-Florida and click on volunteer to learn how you can make a difference in your community.

by JOHn mulHall, fire reScuePrevent pollution at home by following these practical tips:

10When you shop, choose items with

less packaging.

9Buy items made from recycled materials.

8 Put leftovers or lunch in washable, reusable

containers.

7Apply lawn fertilizer sparingly, less often,

and use fertilizer made of 50 percent slow-release nitrogen and zero phosphorus.

6Give your irrigation system a professional

tune-up. Irrigate only on your assigned-day(s) and only if your lawn needs it.

5Use Florida-Friendly Landscaping™

principles which use less irrigation, fertilizer, and pesticides.

4 Have septic systems professionally ser-

viced every 3 to 5 years.

3 Take unwanted and expired medications

to the Orange County Sheriff’s drop-off box.

2Be sure that your child knows his or her home

phone number and address.

1Learn what to put in your recycling bin and

follow the rules: paper, cardboard, glass, metal cans, and only plastics la-beled with number 1 or 2.

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Dan receives the Ray Harper Award from Regional Chief Executive Officer Karen Hagan for his outstanding volunteer work.

Do you have an inspiring on or off the clock story to share with our readers?

Email: Kelly.McMann@ocfl.netFor more information or to apply to receive free technical assistance, email jane.gregory@ocfl.net or call 407-836-1400.

September 2014 • ORANGE SPIEL 5

6 ORANGE SPIEL • September 2014

S e R V I C e A W A R D S & P R O M O T I O N SB e N e F I T S & W e L L N e S SWhat Should I Do to Prepare for Flu Season?The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC), recom-mends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone six months of age and older as the first and most impor-tant step in protecting against this serious disease. While there are many different flu viruses, the seasonal flu vaccine is designed to protect against the top three or four that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season. People should be-gin getting vaccinated soon after flu vaccine becomes available, ideally by October, to ensure that as many people as possible are protected before flu season begins.

In addition to getting vaccinated, you can take everyday preventive steps like staying away from sick people and washing your hands to reduce the spread of germs. If you are sick with flu, stay home from work or school to prevent spreading it to others.

Discounted flu shots are being offered to employees and their

Ask

Contact the HR Benefits Team for additional information regarding Open Enrollment for 2015.

Have an “expert” question? Email:

kelly.McMann@ocfl.net

the expertDid you know that our Annual Open Enrollment will take place this October 6 - October 24. During this time, you will be able to make your 2015 Plan year benefit elections. This is a required enrollment. You must attest or certify the following:

• If you currently have or will elect Health Insurance Coverage under the County’s plans, you must certify your tobacco/nicotine usage.

• If you currently have or will elect the Health Savings Account (HSA), you must certify that you are eligible to make contributions to an HSA.

• If you currently have or will elect Child Life Insurance, you must certify that your unmarried child(ren) meet(s) the eligibility criteria.

To make and review your benefits elections in MyOCinfo, go to the Intranet. Click on the Open Enrollment 2015 banner. This

Login to myOCinfo using your normal network user ID and password.

Click Main Menu, Self Service, Benefits, Benefits Enrollment.

Look for additional information and detailed instructions from the HR Benefits Team regarding Open Enrollment, in the upcoming month.

Please email CA-HRIS-Main@ocfl.net if you have any questions or would like additional information.

Location Date Time Room

Utilities Administration 9150 Curry Ford Rd.

Wednesday September 17

8:30 -11:00 a.m. 1st floor training room

Convention Center 9800 International Dr.

Wednesday September 24

1:00 -3:30 p.m. Room W221AB

County Administration 201 S. Rosalind Ave.

Friday October 10

1:00 -3:30 p.m. 1st floor media room

IOC 1 450 E. South Street

Monday October 13

8:00 -11:00 a.m. Sanibel

Public Works 4200 S. John Young Pkwy.

Thursday October 23

1:00 -3:00 p.m. 2nd floor training room

Corrections 3723 Vision Blvd. on-site Corrections and Facilities employees only

Tuesday October 28

9:00 -11:00 a.m. Horizon classroom #2

Court House 425 North Orange Ave.

Friday November 7

11:00 -2:00 p.m. Jury Assembly Room

Fire Rescue 6590 Amory Ct.

Wednesday November 12

8:30 -11:30 a.m. Room 105

Health & Family Services 2100 E. Michigan St.

Wednesday November 12

2:00 -5:00 p.m. Mable Butler, 2nd floor, rooms a, b, & c

For more information, please contact Debra Hodge at debra.hodge@ocfl.net or call 407-836-5498.

u Cost is only $5 for regular Orange County BCC employees, $10 for eligible dependent family members at least two years of age.

u The employee must accompany family members at the time of shot.

u You must show your ID at time of shot.

u If you are on Coumadin, have thrombocytopenia (“thin blood”), or are pregnant, you must check with your medical provider and obtain a written recommendation prior to receiving vaccination.

u If you have a fever or an active infection you should wait until those symptoms have resolved before getting vaccinated.

Walk-ins only, no appointment necessary. Cash, credit card (Visa & MasterCard only), and checks made payable to “Florida Hospital.”

families this fall at the locations listed below.

September 2014 • ORANGE SPIEL 7

S e R V I C e A W A R D S & P R O M O T I O N Ssep

t service Aw

ards.

The Orange Spiel is a monthly newsletter for Orange County employees. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Orange County Government. For more information or to submit an article for consideration, send to: Orange Spiel Editor, Human Resources Division, 450 E. South St. or email kelly.mcmann@ocfl.net. We reserve the right to edit submissions for length and clarity.

s T A F F

July Promotions

10 YearsAdministrative Servicesvasantha latonya raysor

Convention Centeriris carmen torresemil rolando Zgraggen

Community, Environmental & Development ServicesDeborah Denise Jenkinsterri-lynn Pontius

CorrectionsShamella Devi Hanoomansinghlakesha nichelle richards

Fire Rescuenicolas a. bedoyachristopher John Hendersonrobert g. Hrindichgurufateh S. khalsakatharine l. PelletierJoshua charles Pierce

michael c. PruittJulio ignacio riverabrett Harrison SiskJerry calvin Williams, Jr.christopher J. Zambito

Public Worksfrederick leon finklea

UtilitiesAyube Murshalin Gaffoortravis g. rakerrussell a. Stoner

15 YearsConvention Centermichael H. Higginsnila l. kushnerJohn Daniel ruddSonya cecelia Wilcox

Community, Environmental & Development Services Convention Centerruth c. armstrongJohn frish

catherine kane Stowell

Health ServicesWanda i. rosa

Office of AccountabilityScott Carl GriffinDeborah Diane Hanshawmary lynn kisner

UtilitiesHeriberto Quiles

20 YearsConvention Centeranthony Wathy meleah

Community, Environmental & Development ServicesJames E. Neff

Correctionslarry S. foxJudith may riley

Fire Rescuecharles travis brown Jr.alfred c. lewis iii

Utilitiesmarchelle yvette Jenkins-allenJohn n. lorne iiigladiselba Planas

25 YearsConvention Centertimothy Walter grothDonna marie laviola

Correctionsernest g. Whittaker

Family Servicesaida luz ayalaJanice b. Sanderson

Fire Rescueisaac anthony Jonesronald J. korthrobert a. longchristopher D. millerterry nolzDouglas W. PetersSharon Sue Santana

James t. thackerWalter W. Weissrichard W. Zika

Office of Accountabilityresa J. canter

UtilitiesJames William beckerangel l. rodriguez

30 YearsAdministrative Servicesrosendo ayala, Jr.

Community, Environmental & Development Servicesmichael S. Dudley

Correctionsingrid Hardy

Health Serviceslorette Hyacinth Williams

35 YearsCorrectionsgregory a. Webb

ADmiNiSTrATivE SErviCES Rodney Crane enterprise it manager

Johnson Gabriel Senior Operations technician

Bryan Lucas manager

Robert Miller Senior Operations technician

Evelyn Santos administrative assistant

Richard Steiger, Jr. manager

Cynthia Sterchele enterprise it manager

COmmUNiTY, ENvirONmENTAl AND DEvElOPmENT SErviCES Joe Gasparini

Program manager

James Hardy Senior inspector

Jason Kipfinger inspector

Magdalena Rivera Senior Permit analyst

Emmitt Taylor Senior Permit analyst

CONvENTiON CENTEr Christine Green financial coordinator

Daniela Rua electronic Security Specialist

COUNTY ADmiNiSTrATOr Kimberly Cundiff Senior Paralegal

COrrECTiONS Sherine Beckford

Non-Certified Correctional Officer

Salome Gipson Classification Officer

Sandra Keegan corrections admin Supervisor

Angela Modeste Non-Certified Correctional Officer

Timothy Williams Non-Certified Correctional Officer

Ryan Wilson Non-Certified Correctional Officer

Willis Wynne Non-Certified Correctional Officer

COUrT ADmiNiSTrATiON Clara Thompson administrative assistant ii

FAmilY SErviCES Jose Pizarro-Cruz Senior veterans counselor

FirE rESCUE Bertilus Bornelus lieutenant Paramedic 56

Kimberly Buffkin captain Preceptor 40

Patrick Connors engineer 56

Christi Cooper lieutenant 56

Stephen Davis lieutenant Preceptor 56

Marc Greene Firefighter Paramedic 40

David Hall engineer 56

Thomas Kennedy II Firefighter 40

Stephen Kibler engineer 56

Robert Moore lieutenant 56 tQ

Patrick Mulvey Firefighter 40

Dupree Smith lieutenant Paramedic 56

Daris Stephens engineer 56

Shannon Teamer engineer Preceptor 56

EDITORS Kelly McMann Lisa Damerst

GRAPHIC DESIGnER Lisa Damerst

COnTRIBUTORS Anna Ajwani

Claudine Tomlinson-Burney Danielle Cooper

Tiana Davis Christina Grover

Mary Sue Kennington Mandy Kimmer Sally Lassalle

Laureen Martinez John Mulhall

Tracy Newsome Linda Richard Nancy Rodlun

Diane Summers Nadia Vanderhoof

Gwen Wilson

PHOTOGRAPHERS Mike Davies

Chris De Jesus

ADMInISTRATIvE ADvISORS

Ricardo Daye Ann Marie Varga

22 Fall into Fall in Orange County

1Labor Day: Most County facilities will be closed.

Counsel for Caregivers Seminar: Topics Include: Anticipating & Solving Problem Behaviors Before They Occur, Aging in Place, and Delirium, Dementia, Depression – How to Tell the Difference & Why it Matters. To register or get more information on times and locations, email officeonaging@ocfl.net or call 407-836-7446.

9,10,18

24Pasta With a Purpose: Join Public Works at this very important Great Oaks Village fundraiser. Two available seatings,

11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Tickets are $7 and include ziti with marinara sauce, meatballs, salad, bread, drink, and dessert. Come early for the best seating. Held at Public Works Traffic Building, 4200 S. John Young Pkwy. For tickets, contact Roxanne at 407-836-7970 or Ralphetta at 407-836-8011.

277th Annual National Rx Drug Take Back Day:

Prescription drug abuse is the #1 health epidemic facing our nation. Orange County citizens can dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs, no questions asked. Visit drugfreecoalition.org or call 800-882-9539 for a collection site near you.

13 Streetscape Adopt-A-Tree Program: Receive two 7-gallon

trees per household on a first-come, first-served basis. Magnolia Park, 2929 Binion Rd., Apopka, 8 a.m.–noon (or when all the trees are gone). For more information, call 407-254-9200.

9 Hispanic Heritage Month Proclamation Ceremony: Join the Board of County Commissioners as they proclaim Sept.

15 – October 15 Hispanic Heritage Month. To be held at the County Administration Building, 201 S. Rosalind, from 9-10 a.m. Proclamation will be presented to the Hispanic Heritage Committee of Greater Orange County with a brief remark by Committee President Emmanuel Tormes.

27Orange Fiesta in the Park: The Hispanic Heritage Committee

will be celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with live music, an art contest, an Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull look-alike contest, and will recognize the Borinqueneers with a proclamation. Downey Park, 10107 Flowers Ave., Orlando, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

September 1 – 30: Only homeowners who complete the online educational program may apply lawn fertilizer during Orange County’s rainy season, June through September. Local lakes and springs are suffering from too much nitrogen and phosphorus. For more information on fertilizing responsibly, visit www.ocfl.net/FertilizeResponsibly.

20Master Gardener Fall Plant and Garden Festival: Orange

County Extension Education Center, 6021 S. Conway Rd. Proceeds

allocated to projects that will increase the visibility of Orange County Master Gardener Volunteers

throughout the county.

17Hispanic Heritage Month Kick-Off: The Hispanic Heritage Committee of

Greater Orange County and Mayor Teresa Jacobs will kick-off Hispanic Heritage Month with music, an art exhibition, and traditional dancing and food on the north lawn of the County Administration Building from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

15-25Pollution Prevention Week:

Pollution Prevention (P2) Week highlights the efforts of EPA, its partners, and the public in making pollution prevention a cornerstone of sustainability. It’s a great time to take stock and to renew our efforts. Orange County EPD invites you to be a part of Pollution Prevention (P2) Week, by incorporating activities into your daily routine that reduce, reuse and recycle waste.

September Calendar