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Lost Cat Neighborhood alert

July 7, 2009 by Admin

The Menello Museum contacted us and wanted everyone to know about this cat, in case she is yours. (If unclaimed, she will be adopted by someone if possible).

—–Original Message—–
From: Kim.Robinson@ci.orlando.fl.us
Sent: Jul 7, 2009 9:33 AM
To: j-g-spears@earthlink.net
Subject: Neighborhood Cat?

I am not sure if you have the capability of emailing your neighbors, but I thought I would ask.
Two or three weeks ago we somehow ended up with another cat. She looks pregnant although we are not positive. We waited a week or so to see if she would go home and she cried to come in the building and loves people, so we know she is not wild. Anyway we have her in a safe foster home pending arrival of kittens. I wonder if she is a lost pet that someone may be looking for. Here is her photo. If no one claims her she will be spayed and adopted out and we will find homes for her kittens (if they exist).

Kim Robinson
The Mennello Museum of American Art
900 E. Princeton Street
Orlando Florida 32803
Phone 407/246-4278 Ext 102
Fax 407/246-4329
email kim.robinson@cityoforlando.net

banditadecorazon

Posted in Environment/Wildlife, Mennello Museum of Folk Art, news | Tagged , , | Leave a Comment »

Important Meeting Tuesday 6/30 re: Lake Highland/Spellman Property

June 25, 2009 by Admin

Neighbors,

See the meeting info here: Tues_June30th_Meeting

The public meeting to discuss the upcoming Lake Highland Prep sports complex PD will be June 30 at 7pm in the Performing Arts Center on the Lake Highland school campus. The gate near the swimming pool will be open. As you may know, our Lake Formosa Neighborhood Association had a hand in crafting the previous PD for the site. The new PD is a substantial change from the original. This is also the site of the Spelman Engineering contamination site which our Association has been tirelessly lobbying the City to clean up, which the City has recently allocated funding to do. As a part of the funding for the cleanup, the City has sold much of the property to Lake Highland Prep School to develop as a sports complex.

Many of our commercial neighbors of Ivanhoe Village along South Orange Avenue, however, are gravely concerned because the City has sold the 2.5 acre existing public parking lot on Alden to the School who is closing the lot in August. Without this public parking, the businesses along South Orange Avenue will have insufficient parking available for their employees and customers, and many will likely abandon the Ivanhoe Village district.

I’m sure that, like me, you would like to see our neighborhood commercial district thrive and prosper, but without adequate parking, it will more likely wither and be converted into offices. The public meeting next Tuesday is the best chance for us to convince the City to continue to provide adequate parking for our neighborhood commercial district. I hope that you will attend this important public meeting.

Thank you.

Gordon Spears
(407) 758-8478
j-g-spears@earthlink.net

Posted in City of Orlando, Get Involved! Involvement Opportunity, Ivanhoe Village, Lake Highland Neighborhood, Orange Avenue corridor, Spellman/Lake Highland Site | 3 Comments »

Free Trees Available to Orange County Residents

June 23, 2009 by Admin

Here is the link in the Sentinel about free trees for Orange County residents.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/business_frugal_force/2009/06/free-tree
s-for-orange-county-residents.html

Orange County and the University of Florida IFAS Extension Education Center will be offering free trees to Orange County residents one weekend for each month through December as part of its Adopt-A-Tree program.

Posted in Environment/Wildlife | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

Monthly update for Sellers Auto / Artist Studio petroleum cleanup site 489201547 / 489201548 (Thirty-first update- June 1, 2009)‏

June 12, 2009 by Admin

June 1, 2009

Ms. Mills,

I would like to take this opportunity to give you our Thirty-first monthly update on the project.

I am happy to report that it looks like the funding crisis with the FDEP Petroleum Cleanup Program will not severely impact this site.. Since the last update, the priority score threshold for funding was raised from 45 points to 60 points.. This site will continue to be funded since it has a priority score of 60 points. The change took effect on May 14th, but FDEP is soon going to be issuing an implementation guidance that will put some restrictions on the way work orders are written and verbal change orders are handled. I expect we’ll have that guidance in the next week. Until we get the guidance the Bureau Chief said to carry on with business as usual.

Report Status / General Status:

There is still the same general optimization strategy as was presented in the last update (That multiphase extraction points 9,15,16,18,20,21,22,23,24 were shut down, thus only leaving up MPE-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,10,11,12,13,14,17 & 19 running. MPE treatment points MPE-3, MPE-4 and MPE-5 are being maximized for treatment around MW-5.

The floor of the equipment building on the air compressor side is deteriorating and will need to be repaired for health and safety reasons. I don’t see that this would affect the operation of the system or cause any delay to repair though.

The gallery failsafe has been intermittently triggered during heavy rain events by a short circuiting but I understand that last week Argus sealed the wires such that a short circuiting won’t keep recurring. I don’t believe the gallery has had any problems with the percolation of the treated water.

In the last update, we had three reports in house, all of which have been reviewed and letters are awaiting administrative review and should be sent out very soon:

* We approved the Pilot Test Plan (received 04/27/09) and are requesting a cost proposal to implement it. .

* We responded to the Year Four Quarter Four Operation and Maintenance Report (received 04/28/09). Our May 29th response letter congratulated Argus on improved run time. The Division recommended optimizing water and vapor recovery in the area of MW-5 and AW-10 (as well as AW-3) lowering the submersible pump intakes in the multiphase wells. We noted that MPE-8 and MPE-9 were apparently running where we had thought they were turned off and that Argus will continue to optimize groundwater and vapor recovery based on the groundwater and vapor data collected.

* The pre-Remedial Action Plan Modification Assessment (received 04/20/09), where we concur with Argus that it would be appropriate to install a monitoring well south of AW-26 near the infiltration gallery as well as one between MW-2 and AW-6 on the east side of Philadelphia Avenue. In this letter we ask Argus to consider the need for another one approximately 9 ft west of MIP-12 and equidistant between MW-2 and AW-6. Although our draft of this letter requests this to be done with a change order, it would have to be done with a work order since the FDEP has requested change orders to cease.

The next report due from Argus is the Year Three, Quarter 1 Operation and Maintenance Report, which is due July 30, 2009, but should be able to be submitted earlier.

Milestone Update:

I don’t have updated milestone data this time, but should have some relatively soon. I will send the next update on July 1, 2009, but may send updated milestone data before then. Please feel free to call me anytime if you need additional information or have any questions.

Thank you,

Damon Taylor, CFEA, LEP
Orange County Environmental Protection Division
Petroleum Cleanup Team
800 N. Mercy Drive, Suite 4, Orlando, FL 32808
Voice (407) 836-1480, Fax (407) 836-1417

Posted in Environment/Wildlife, Lake Formosa, Philadelphia/Alden Pollution cleanup | Leave a Comment »

Audubon Park Garden District Meeting Tuesday 5/21 6-8p

May 20, 2009 by Admin

The Audubon Park Garden District has been working with residents, business owners and urban planners to come up with ideas on how to improve the community. See what’s happening and find out how to get involved.
The meeting is next Tuesday 5/21 6-8p.
For more information, email Kat@apgardens.com

Posted in Audubon Park, Community Happenings, Get Involved! Involvement Opportunity | Leave a Comment »

Major theft in our Neighborhood on South Lake Formosa Drive 5/19/09

May 19, 2009 by Admin

Neighbors,

Please keep an eye out for your property and your neighbors, and report any suspicious persons or activity IMMEDIATELY to the Orlando Polic Department.

Thanks for your time and cooperation.

–Forwarded Message Attachment–
Subject:
Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 15:47:39 -0400

Somebody broke into my house (on S. Lake Formosa) yesterday. Sometime between when I left the house (about 8:00 AM) and returned home (about 9:00 PM), somebody forced entry via a window in my courtyard (between my house and my garage), ransacked the house, and made off with a bunch of electronics/electrics – TVs, DVD players, etc. – probably 200 pounds and over $1000 worth of stuff (replacement value, anyway). They went out through the kitchen (the garage door is not big enough for some of the stuff they took) and went between my house and the house next door, pulling my padlocked gate out of its hinges. I think there must have been at least two people, one of whom was very strong, and I think they must have had a truck or at least a mini-van because of the amount of stuff they took and the way they apparently committed the crime. Although I can’t be sure when it happened, most likely it was in broad daylight. I asked the neighbors if they saw anything. They said they did not.

Posted in Crime and Safety, Get Involved! Involvement Opportunity, news | 1 Comment »

Spellman Site Cleanup Update #1

May 14, 2009 by Admin

Neighbors,

Please look below to see the update from the City on the progress of the Spelman Cleanup.
Hopefully a more complete update will be forthcoming.

Gordon

—–Forwarded Message—–
From: Kyle.Shephard@CityofOrlando.net
Sent: May 7, 2009 5:06 PM
To: “J G. Spears”
Subject: Re: Spelman Site Cleanup Update

Gordon,

No, the cleanup is fully funded, so no issue there. Also, I noticed that drilling was being done at the site yesterday.

Take care,

Kyle Shephard
Assistant City Attorney
City of Orlando

Orlando City Hall
400 South Orange Avenue
PO Box 4990
Orlando, Florida 32801

p. 407.246.3475
f. 407.246.2854
e. kyle.shephard@cityoforlando.net

Florida has a very broad public records law. As a result, any written communication created or received by City of Orlando officials and employees will be made available to the public and media, upon request, unless otherwise exempt. Under Florida law, email addresses are public records. If you do not want your email address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this office. Instead, contact our office by phone or in writing.

From: “J G. Spears”
To: robert.cadle@cityoforlando.net, kyle.shephard@cityoforlando.net
Cc: robert.stuart@cityoforlando.net
Date: 05/01/2009 11:38 AM
Subject: Spelman Site Cleanup Update

Bob and Kyle,

I just finished reading the monthly update on the Sellers/Auto Cleanup from Orance County EPD, and was reminded that we have yet to receive any update on progress of the Spelman Cleanup from either the City or the contractor. Could you please update me on work currently being done on the site. I have seen the little orange wire flags in the highly contaminated area so I believe something is going on there. Please also tell me who from the contractor will be responsible for updating interested members of the public, and send me their contact information.

Kyle, I recently learned that our State Legislature is cutting funding of the Inland Trust fund which is used for cleanup of some contaminated sites (including the Sellers/Auto site). Will this affect the Spelman Site cleanup at all?

Thanks for your time.

Gordon Spears
1626 Baltimore Avenue
Orlando, FL 32803
(407) 758-8478
j-g-spears@earthlink.net

Posted in City of Orlando, Environment/Wildlife, Lake Highland Neighborhood, Spellman/Lake Highland Site, news | Tagged | Leave a Comment »

City Lake Alert

May 13, 2009 by Admin

With regard to water quality, please check out the webpage below.
From there, you can sign up to receive lake alerts and you can also check lake water quality reports.
http://www.cityoforlando.net/public_works/stormwater/index.htm

This links is also posted in our ‘Links’ section below.

Posted in City of Orlando, Environment/Wildlife, Get Involved! Involvement Opportunity, Lake Formosa, news | Tagged | Leave a Comment »

Get updates about the City Mills Avenue Project and all City Construction Projects

May 13, 2009 by Admin

http://www.cityoforlando.net/public_works/cityprojects/

Click here to get a listing of all City projects.

Please see that attached project list and the project is listed under the name, “Mills Avenue Improvement Project.”

This link is also included in the ‘Links’ section below.

Posted in City of Orlando, Mills Park Developement, Transportion And Traffic, news | Leave a Comment »

Monthly update for Sellers Auto / Artist Studio petroleum cleanup site 489201547 / 489201548 (Thirtieth update- May 1, 2009)

May 1, 2009 by Admin

Damon:

Thank you for this latest update and for letting us know of potential changes to the Inland Trust Fund which might negatively affect the outcome of this project. It would be a real shame if the project is put on hold or worse. You and your team should be commended for your continued diligent efforts toward completing the remediation within project parameters, including well within the original estimated timeframe.

Please keep us informed as you learn more from the FDEP. Meanwhile, you have the continued appreciation from all of us in the Lake Formosa Neighborhood for keeping our citizens duly informed on activities throughout project duration.

Best regards,

Louise Mills
Secretary, LFNA Board of Directors
407/736-4185

–Forwarded Message Attachment–
Subject: Monthly update for Sellers Auto / Artist Studio petroleum cleanup site 489201547 / 489201548 (Thirtieth update- May 1, 2009)
Date: Fri, 1 May 2009 09:23:34 -0400
From: Damon.Taylor@ocfl.net
To: louise.mills@siemens.com
CC: JRWebster@r-kidproperties.com; keder@argusconsulting.com; nevans@tempaco.com; Carlos.Gonzalez2@ocfl.net; Renee.Parker@ocfl.net; rhorton3@cfl.rr.com; gspears@lotspeichandassociates.com

May 1, 2009

Ms. Mills,

I would like to take this opportunity to give you our thirtieth monthly update on the project.

Some bad news. In a separate e-mail, I may be providing some information in the next few days or weeks on the state of the FDEP Preapproval Program which funds this site. Right now, there is a high chance that funding may be suspended with the score being raised and/or a complete shut down of the program. The House and Senate have been working out the details of what is to be done with Inland Protection Trust Fund, but it does not look promising at all. This means that funding will not be available to continue cleanup and the responsibility to continue would fall back to the property owner. This is not the official notice of this, but I wanted to let you know it is probably coming. Even if the program is shut down, I will continue to provide the updates until the end. We haven’t gotten official notice from FDEP about this, so as of the time I am writing this e-mail it is business as usual.

Report Status / General Status:

The system is currently running in the same configuration as the last several updates. The latest Operation and Maintenance Report states that multiphase extraction (MPE) 9,15,16,18,20,21,22,23,24 were shut down, thus only leaving up MPE-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,10,11,12,13,14,17 & 19 running. This portion of the existing points that are running (62%) is more than what is needed to treat our problem area, but the extra throughput is needed to match and balance the equipment. MPE treatment points MPE-3, MPE-4 and MPE-5 are being maximized for treatment around MW-5.

The system has recovered and treated about 10.5 million gallons of GW to date and with an average flow rate varying from 4.1 to 2.7 gallons per minute in the past year.

We currently have three reports in house from Argus.

* One of them is the pre-Remedial Action Plan modification Assessment (received 04/20/09), which was needed to get better delineation of our problem area around MW-5. The soil and GW were assessed in multiple ways using 14 direct sensing soil probes, 6 soil boring/temporary wells and finally 3 additional monitoring wells. During this work the air sparge pilot well was also installed.

It looks like the confirmed soil contamination extends as far as 45′ southwest of MW-5 and only 25′ directly south. This is based on the soil contamination found between 13′ to 17′ below land surface during three of the six soil boring/temp well installations.

Also, using MW-5 as a reference point, GW contamination is confirmed 45′ to the southwest and up to 70′ directly south. The most contaminated during the temporary well installations was TMW-6, which is only approximately 25′ directly south of MW-5 (approximately 15-17′ south of our nearest treatment point). The permanent well installed a few days later adjacent to TMW-6 is AW-28, which not surprisingly has contaminant levels similar to that of what we have been seeing in MW-5. However, we installed a permanent well to the south, AW-26, which we expected to be a clean perimeter well and this one was significantly more contaminated than MW-5. Existing well MW-3 is only 25′ away though and is below groundwater cleanup target levels. Argus recommends that further delineation may be needed to the south and to the east (I believe they mean west).

* The second report we are currently reviewing is the Pilot Test Plan (received 04/27/09). Once authorized, we should be able to perform the pilot test rather quickly and I will ask that we do that under a change order so that we won’t have to write a separate work order for it.

* The third report we have is the Year Four Quarter Four Operation and Maintenance Report (received 04/28/09). Though I haven’t completed my review on this one yet, so far it looks like the run time was pretty good and the report indicates that the most important treatment points are the ones that are being focused on, while we work towards enhancing the system to the south, southwest of MW-5. The groundwater data and milestone update for this report is the same one that was reported to you during my last update.

I anticipate I’ll have the review letters for each of these three reports within the next 3 weeks or sooner.

System Status:

There is no configuration change this period, but the most important treatment wells are MPE-3, MPE-4 and MPE-5 to treat the area around MW-5 and MPE-10,11 and 12 to treat around AW-7. AW-7 was below Groundwater cleanup levels last time and probably won’t need to be focused on much further.

Milestone Update:

The next milestone update should be available by June 1st or at about that time. I will send the next update on June 1, 2009. Please feel free to call me anytime if you need additional information or have any questions.

Thank you,

Damon Taylor, CFEA, LEP
Orange County Environmental Protection Division
Petroleum Cleanup Team
800 N. Mercy Drive, Suite 4, Orlando, FL 32808
Voice (407) 836-1480, Fax (407) 836-1417

Posted in Environment/Wildlife, Lake Formosa, Philadelphia/Alden Pollution cleanup, news | Leave a Comment »

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