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Happy New Year 2023!

The City of Winter Garden would like to wish every resident a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year!

Holiday Office Closure

& Solid Waste Collection Services Schedule

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – Monday, January 16, 2023

• All City Government Offices will be closed on Monday, January 16.
• There will be Regular Collection Services of Garbage/Recycling/Yard/Bulk Waste on Monday, January 16.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration

Commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a community celebration on Monday, January 16. The free event includes a parade, a lineup of live music performances, family friendly activities, displays, and food vendors.

This signature City event kicks off at 10:00 am with a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Parade in historic downtown. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and head to your favorite viewing spot along West Plant Street (from Woodland St. to Central Ave.).

Immediately following the parade at about 10:30 am, the celebration continues with a lineup of topnotch music performances at the Downtown Pavilion. The Gerry Williams Band, Craig Thompson Project, and Selwyn Birchwood will be taking the stage through 4:00 pm.

Preregistration to participate in the parade is required and applications must be received no later than January 10, 2023. For more information, click here or call Winter Garden Parks and Recreation Department, 407.656.4155.

Monday, January 16 | 10:00 am – 4:00 pm | Downtown Pavilion/Historic Downtown | Free

Utility Bill Assistance Available
for Low Income Seniors

The City of Winter Garden offers a Utility Bill Assistance Program for Low Income Seniors. Qualified candidates can receive a reduction of up to $35 on their monthly utility bill.

Program Qualifications:

• must be 65 years of age, or 62 years of age and receiving Social Security benefits
• a CITY resident continuously for past 5 years
• monthly household income not to exceed $1,566.80 (Single) or $2,190.43 (Married)

Documents needed with application:

• copies of current identification
• 2023 Social Security Benefit Statement OR 2022 Federal Income Tax Return
• ALL other proof of income for entire household

Applications are available at Winter Garden City Hall Reception Desk, 300 W. Plant Street, or by contacting the City Clerk’s office, 407.656.4111 ext. 6327.

APPLICATION and PROOF OF INCOME DEADLINE is MAY 1, 2023.

Tis the Season 2022 Wrap Up

Christmas Parade Winners Announcement

De-Light Ful Decorations Contest Winners Announcement

Thank you to all the participants of the annual De-Light-Ful Decorations Contest. Click here to view the 2022 winners and congratulations! Eight winners were selected across four categories. It’s never too soon to start planning for next year!

Fire Rescue Offers Free
Citizen CPR Class

Interested in learning how to take a hands-on approach toward saving lives? The City of Winter Garden Fire Rescue Department is offering a free, 90-minute Hands Only CPR Citizen Training Course to the community on January 21, as well as on select dates in 2023.

The program will cover:

• Hands only Adult and Child CPR
• Proper AED use
• Adult and Child Choking

Upon completion, participants will earn a certificate acknowledging their successful demonstration and learned concepts detailed in the program. Pre-registration is required. Click here and select “Recreation Classes." Select one session only. Space is limited to 12 participants.

Saturday | January 21, March 18, and May 20 (select one session)
9:30 – 11:00 am or 11:30 am – 1:00 pm | Free
Jessie Brock Community Center, 310 N. Dillard Street

Reflection of Time: Tribute to
Local African American Artists

The latest Art in Public Places exhibition explores the journey of African American artists from the Winter Garden community and surrounding areas. This collective body of work preserves a small portion of the continuous American struggle, which is an African American struggle that needs to be told so that the importance can be felt year-round.

The exhibition showcases artwork by local artists of different artistic disciplines, unified under one brushstroke that shares one common denominator—Black excellence. Patrick Noze, Crealdé School of Art Senior Curator of Exhibitions, curated the exhibit.

Reflection of Time Exhibit
January 9 – February 28
Monday – Friday, 7:30 am – 5:30 pm 
Thursday, January 12  -- Opening Reception, 5:00 - 6:30 pm & Gallery Walk with Curator at 5:30 pm

Art in Public Places Gallery at City Hall, 300 W. Plant Street 

WINTER FUN with
PARKS & RECREATION!

Click here for a list of Parks & Recreation programs, classes, sports leagues, as well as additional details about offerings below. Questions, call 407.656.4155.

Programs are held at the Jessie Brock Community Center, 310 N. Dillard Street, unless noted otherwise. Click here to register.

HEALTH & WELLNESS CLASSES

Boot Camp with Brad

Cardio Drumming

This Cardio Drumming beginner’s class is a cardiovascular-based full-body workout that requires you to move and play drums along to music. Except it does not actually involve any drums! It will raise your heart rate and help you burn hundreds of calories, improve your coordination and ability to focus, and help strengthen many muscle groups, including your core. Must register, as space is limited.

Wednesdays | 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Evening Class | Meets at Jessie Brock Community Center
$4 Resident / $5 Nonresident, per single class
$12 City Resident / $15 Nonresident, per 4-week session

Power Yoga Flow

Utilizing flexibility as a means to focus on linking poses together with continuous movement, Power Yoga Flow will bring awareness to one's body and breath, all while increasing cardiovascular health and muscular strength.

Thursdays | 6:30 – 7:20 pm
Monthly | $30 Resident / $34 Nonresident
Single Day | $12 Resident / $14 Nonresident

ACTIVE 50+

Active 50+ Trip to Ponce Inlet Lighthouse & Museum – Ponce Inlet, FL

The Ponce de Leon Inlet Light Station is a National Historic Landmark and home to one of the finest lighthouse museums in the world. As you step inside the historic white picket fence, you are literally stepping back in time. All the original structures are there for you to explore, and yes – you can climb the 203 steps to the top of the lighthouse tower! Dutch treat lunch.

Tuesday, January 17 | 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
$19 City Resident / $23 Nonresident

Lakeview and Drew High Schools: A History

Now - February 28, 2023
Winter Garden Heritage Museum | 1 North Main Street | wghf.org | 407.656.3244

Tuesday - Saturday | 11:00 am – 3:00 pm | Free Admission

City Commission 
2023 Election

The 2023 City election is scheduled for Tuesday, March 14, 2023. The qualifying period begins 12:00 Noon on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 and ends 12:00 Noon on Tuesday, January 10, 2023. Election for seats include Commissioner District 1 and 5 (Mayor/ Commissioner – At Large); term of office is four (4) years and is nonpartisan. Those interested in running for a municipal office may contact the City Clerk’s office at City Hall, 300 West Plant Street. For additional information, or to set an appointment, please contact City Clerk Angee Grimmage at (407) 656-4111 ext. 2297 or CityClerk@cwgdn.com.

(Run-off if necessary, April 11, 2023)

For information regarding voter registration, early voting or vote-by-mail (absentee) voting, please contact the Orange County Supervisor of Elections at 407.836.2070.

The City currently has great career opportunities available for those with EXPERIENCE  and for TRAINEES. 

The City offers competitive wages and full-time employees are eligible for  generous benefits, pension, & tuition reimbursement plan. Click here to review all available positions and for additional information on position responsibilities and minimum qualifications.  Several examples of our career opportunities include:

PARKS:

• Parks Workers (Full-Time): Needed to perform grounds keeping and landscape maintenance of City parks, grounds, and facilities.  Responsibilities include use of equipment to install, care for, and maintain turf, shrubs, trees, ground cover, plant containers, and seasonal plantings. Performs irrigation maintenance as needed. Assists with preparation, set-up and removal of decorations for special events, including holiday events. Performs custodial services at parks and other City owned facilities and buildings. Must have experience with the use of landscape equipment and performing manual labor. 

PUBLIC SERVICES:

• Solid Waste Drivers (Full-time): Requires Florida CDL Class B to pick up and haul garbage and refuse, experienced in using some/all of the following:  Commercial Front End Loader, Rear End Loader, ASL, Boom Truck, Container Delivery Truck, & Roll off Truck. Scheduling flexibility is essential, as routes may require varying schedules including early morning, weekend, etc.
• Utilities Collection Field Technicians & Distribution Field Technicians (Full-time): Experienced or Trainees to perform physically demanding work (have/obtain a Florida CDL Class B) while using light and/or heavy equipment.  Locates water mains and valves and installs, relocates, replaces, repairs & maintains gravity sewer lines, force mains, manholes, service connections, water mains, fire hydrants, gate valves, etc. related to water and wastewater systems. Must be available and able to answer emergency or service calls after normal working hours.

PUBLIC SAFETY:

• 911 Dispatchers (Full-time): Experienced or Trainees to coordinate incoming calls for service with Police resources, assess/prioritize calls, dispatch Officers, maintain/monitor Officer responses, conduct/enter inquiries, relay information, and help with lifesaving instructions. Full-time new hires are eligible for a $2,000.00 sign-on bonus!! 

• Communications Manager (Full-time): Manages a specialized team of Communications Supervisors and Public Safety Telecommunicators/911 Dispatchers to provide effective coordination between requests from the public for Police Services and dispatching services to appropriately respond based on the situation. Must be certified as a Public Safety Telecommunicator, hold an Associate’s degree and have a minimum of eight years of full-time experience as a Dispatcher/Telecommunicator with a minimum of five years as a supervisor or manager. Skill in the use of Computer Aided Dispatch software required. Must be able to work flexible hours, including weekends, holidays, and various shifts.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT:

• Urban Designer  (Full-time): Develops and implements the overall urban design strategy for the City, as well as conducting planning and zoning work in the Community Development Department. Requires Bachelor’s degree in architecture, urban planning, public administration or related field and a minimum of four years of experience in planning and design. The ideal candidate will be a team player, takes initiative, and excels at giving presentations and communicating with internal and external customers. Must be able to work evenings as needed for meetings.

 City Government Serving You

The district boundaries have been redrawn following the results of the 2020 U.S. Census. The new district boundaries became effective on December 14, 2022. Click on district links below to view new maps and to find your respective commissioner. 

MAYOR/COMMISSIONER

COMMISSIONERS

CITY MANAGER

Visit us at our websites:

www.cwgdn.com 
www.downtownwg.com

Official Social Media Platforms:

www.facebook.com/officialdowntownwintergarden
www.instagram.com/officialdowntownwintergarden

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