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The independent voice for West Orange County news

Tag: Oakland

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

Ocoee green-lights city-wide DEI education campaign

Sponsored by the city’s Human Relations Diversity Board, the campaign’s centerpiece is a video series from LinkedIn Learning.

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MUNICIPAL ELECTION

Ocoee officials green-light final language for city charter amendments

Residents to vote on amendments during March election.

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FIRE DEPARTMENT

Ocoee, Fire Fighters Union reach contract agreement

“It’s a fair agreement,” says union president Chris Atalski.

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MALL BRAWL

Crowd denied movie theater entry after mall fight

AMC West Oaks 14 to honor $4 National Cinema Day tickets.

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GOVERNMENT

Winter Park law firm Fishback Dominick to represent City of Ocoee

Richard Geller, who directed post-election charter review, is new city attorney.

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FIRE DEPARTMENT

Ocoee approves site for new Fire Station 38 in District 1

Development consortium to give $400,000 toward project.

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FIRE DEPARTMENT

Ocoee, fire fighters union say contract negotiations are “going well”

A new spirit of cooperation has replaced the bitterness that plagued past bargaining sessions.

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CITY CHARTER

Ocoee appoints Charter Review Commission

Members expected to close loopholes related to election woes.

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FIRE DEPARTMENT

Ocoee to scout District 1 locations for new Fire Station 38

After 10 years in two temp locations, fire fighters union president says, "We'll believe it when we see it."

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SCHOLARSHIPS

Chews A Puppy quietly awarded $5,000 scholarships to four Ocoee High School students in 2021

Little information about the application process or criteria is available; OCPS has no information whether the scholarship will be offered again this year.

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CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS

City of Ocoee, Fire Fighters Union sign new 3-year contract

After months of bitter fighting, both sides find compromise and reach a fair deal.

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HOLIDAYS

City Commission gifts Ocoee entrepreneur with use of park for Christmas toy giveaway

More than 150 kids are expected to receive toys collected by local sponsors

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RETAIL POLITICS

Ocoee pet retailer wins right to continue selling puppies amid controversy that it deals with puppy mills

Shop owners helped draft the compliance ordinance meant to police their business.

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FIRE DEPARTMENT

Contract talks between Ocoee and union firefighters flame out

After months of haggling, the city refused to sign off on its own proposal unless the union caved on wages. Now it's up to a special magistrate from the Public Employees Relations Commission.

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RETAIL POLITICS

"This is our city, our town, our government. You're in our hierarchy now. You’re in the city of Ocoee.”

In a rebuke to Orange County, Ocoee votes to revise its own controversial pet retailer ordinance to include oversight and regulation.

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REMEMBRANCE

With talk of heroes and calls for unity and remembrance, Ocoee marked the 20th anniversary of 9/11

Local officials and residents gathered at the Withers-Maguire House where 2,977 miniature American flags dotted the lawn — one for each life lost in the terrorist attacks.

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FIRE DEPARTMENT

The Ex-Files

VoxPopuli made a public records request and obtained a former Ocoee firefighter’s disciplinary files from a previous job. Was that an accident … or retaliation?

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CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS

Who pays for Ocoee’s paramedic training?

That’s one of the big issues as Ocoee’s firefighters meet with city negotiators for round five of contract talks.

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PERSONNEL MATTERS

Ocoee commissioner wants citizens to “chime in” on police chief candidates

Debate was lively at Ocoee's city commission meeting on Tuesday as commissioners sparred over how much input residents get into the hiring process for the next chief of police. (In truth, not much.)

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HOUSE DISTRICT 41

Antone addresses opponent’s residency allegations 

“The evidence is not there.”

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Flood Protection

Ocoee passes ordinance in pursuit of discounts on FEMA flood insurance

Homeowners in the floodplain will get a 5 percent discount starting in October; city leaders want to boost that to 15 percent in 2025.

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