Jo Ann Lucarelli

2nd Swearing in

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Ann Lucarelli) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:44:00 +0000

I am SO very thankful to God, my family and my friends for all of their support while serving as commissioner for Lake Mary! I truly appreciate and am thankful for another opportunity to have a positive impact on the future of Lake Mary in such challenging times.

I pray not only our City, but our Country will pull together and get back to our founding values that made us so great.

God bless our troops and their families and God bless the USA back to where she was!

Jo Ann

9-1-1

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Ann Lucarelli) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:33:00 +0000

God bless and thank you to all our nations heroes who put their lives on the line for our safety and freedom every day!!

God be with, bless and keep the survivors and families who lost loved ones in 9-1-1 eight years ago!! You are never forgotten!!!

Issue?? Concern??

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Ann Lucarelli) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 01:08:00 +0000

Have an issue or a concern about Lake Mary? Feel free to send me an e-mail or call and let's see what we can do to make our community even better together!

joann@joannlucarelli.com
407-333-2453

Vacant House Watch

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Ann Lucarelli) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 01:06:00 +0000

With summer vacation here don't forget to fill out and turn in your Vacant House Watch form to the Lake Mary Police Department. They do an excellent job keeping an extra eye on your house while you are away and I highly recommend this service!

God bless and protect our police and fire departments for all they do to keep us safe!! Make sure you thank them the next time you see them!!

Rate Increase

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Ann Lucarelli) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 01:03:00 +0000

Progress Energy is proposing another rate increase to the PSC (Public Service Commission).

There will be a Lake Mary public hearing on July 15 at the Events Center at 2PM. If you can not attend you can voice your concerns here or to City Hall.

4th of July

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Ann Lucarelli) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 01:02:00 +0000

Well I'm posting this late due to the sudden death of a friend halting our 4th of July celebrations.

I hope everyone had a wonderful, safe 4th!! God bless America and God bless our troops and their families!!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Ann Lucarelli) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 14:29:00 +0000

I hope everyone has a wonderfully blessed Father's Day! You are so important to your children both sons and daughters! Never forget that or take it for granted. Cherish every moment and enjoy quality time every day with your kids. Make sure they know you care about what is happening in their life and that you love them very much.

Everyone - make sure dad knows how much he means to you! God bless!!

Lake Mary Life!!

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Ann Lucarelli) — Mon, 11 May 2009 19:43:00 +0000

Congratulations to Lake Mary Life for serving our City and the surrounding areas including Oviedo for 7 years now! The Kramer family is a great bunch!

I had the pleasure of joining their Relay for Life team at the Colonial Town Park event and enjoyed hanging with them all. Congratulations too - our team was the 4th top fundraising team!! (that's as compared to companies such as Progress Energy) Way to go Team!!! I look forward to doing it again next year!

Domestic Violence

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Ann Lucarelli) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:07:00 +0000

At yesterday's Domestic Violence Awards lunch Dr. Bill Vogel, Seminole County Superintendent of Schools won the Leadership award for his tireless efforts advocating against violence and drugs in our schools. Jeanne Gold of Safehouse also won atorney of the year for her efforts defending the rights of Domestic Violence Victims. Kudos to each of you!!!

Domestic Violence knows no boundaries and involves not only husband/wife or boyfriend/girlfriend relationships but it can be a nieghbor, a co-worker - anyone. My two girls and I plus a friend and her children have been recent victim of domestic violence(stalking)ourselves and I can truly say I understand fully the mental and emotional anguish and the physical symptoms all of that can cause. Thank God we were never injured physically but the fear was definitely there AND the possiblity. I have now gained an understanding and a passion for domestic violence victims - especially stalking. No one can say they understand until you have experienced it yourself. It is truly horrible!
As Norm Wolfinger stated yesterday - to PREVENT the crime is the key. Thus I plan on continuing efforts I have already begun to work together with prosecutors and legislators to eliminate all of the loopholes currently in the system that allow criminal lawyers to get these sick individuals off only to repeat their crimes, and eventually cause serious physical harm to innocent victims. THIS MUST STOP!! God bless you all and I pray for safety for us all!!

Relay for Life

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Ann Lucarelli) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 01:34:00 +0000

I have recently joined the Lake Mary Life team for the April 17th Relay for Life event. Relay for life is an American cancer Society event held each year in various locations across the country to raise money and awareness for cancer research and patient care and resources.

If you are interested in more information or starting your own team or joining any other team please visit:http://www.relayforlife.org/relay/

I am constantly amazed at how cases of cancer are on the increase. Several friends and neighbors of mine either have had it or are currently being treated for it. It's really scary and more important than ever for each of us to be sure to live healthy lifestyles and keep in touch with our doctors if we notice anything out of the ordinary.

Breast Cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Ann Lucarelli) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:52:00 +0000

I attended a presentation today given by a very passionate young lady who works for the "Susan G. Komen for the Cure" foundation. This is an organization that helps low income women with no health insurance, or women who are having trouble paying what insurance does not for breast cancer treatment. As you know, cancer treatment is not cheap at all! But this group raises not only funds but awareness about the devastation breast cancer can cause if not detected early, and how to get financial assistance depending on your age bracket and ability to pay.
I volunteered to chair a team for an upcoming Komen for the cure race to raise money for this group. The event is October 4th at Disney. For more information on how you can help, or if you need help please visit: www.komen.org; komencentralflorida.org and www.ActNowEndBreastCancer.org.

Did you know that Macy's at Millenia sells Wacoal? For every purchase they give a $2 donation to Susan G. Komen for the cure.

THANK YOU VETERANS!!

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Ann Lucarelli) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:28:00 +0000

To ALL our military...God bless you and your families!

A veteran

is someone who, at one point in his life
wrote a blank check made payable to
'The United States of America '
for an amount of
'up to and including his life.

' That is Honor '

• Today •
There are way too many people in this country
who no longer understand that!

Ovarian Cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Ann Lucarelli) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 00:51:00 +0000

I attended the 8th Teal Magnolia Luncheon today and it was wonderful as always! It was a full house with a great comedic, magician entertaining everyone and a silent auction to raise money for research and support for victim's of ovarian cancer.

To my fellow women, make sure you go for your annual check ups and tell your doctor about anything out of the ordinary.

For more information on symptoms and/or how you can help please visit www.ocaf.org.

Salute to Women

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Ann Lucarelli) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 01:04:00 +0000

The Seminole Regional Chamber hosted it's first Salute to Women in Seminole at the Lake Mary Events Center last night.

I was one of the 40 honorees to be recognized for my accomplishments to the community through Public and Community Service. No accolades or awards are necessary - the joy it brings to my heart and soul is enough - but the Chambers efforts to acknowledge us all for our efforts is much appreciated.

My motto remains - "It's not about me - but YOU!" Everyone should feel free to come to me anytime for questions, concerns or ideas that wil help our community grow together in a responsible, positive manner for future generations.
God Bless America, our troops and Lake Mary!

More on Hometown Democracy

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Ann Lucarelli) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:34:00 +0000

Daisy Lynum is an Orlando city commissioner and president of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials.

'Hometown Democracy' would disenfranchise voters
By Daisy Lynum
March 6, 2009

Only 46,000 petitions short of reaching the 2010 ballot, Hometown Democracy is again in the spotlight.

There is little doubt that the folks behind this proposed constitutional amendment chose a clever (albeit terribly misleading) name for their idea. However, as voters, we have an obligation to analyze the facts.

Every community in Florida has a "comprehensive-land-use plan." The folks behind Hometown Democracy would force voters to decide the hundreds of changes these plans undergo yearly.

At first, Hometown Democracy sounds tempting. However, in reality this amendment will dampen voter participation in government and cause underprivileged citizens to suffer most.

The argument that Hometown Democracy will empower voters is a sham. If passed, Hometown Democracy will disrupt our daily lives. Even small communities will be required to fund elections for each proposed comprehensive-plan change -- not just major projects, but even minor details.

As a result, voters -- not elected representatives -- will be expected to decide 200 or 300 comprehensive-plan changes yearly. Complex planning material will be condensed into 75-word ballot summaries. As citizens are deluged with technical background materials, our state's hospitals, schools, churches, work-force-housing areas and other key redevelopment projects may be lost in the mix. To the dismay of our neediest citizens, many will not be built in a timely and efficient manner. Planning for these vital community improvements will become virtually impossible.

Furthermore, the size of a Hometown Democracy ballot will disenfranchise voters. Between managing two jobs, paying the mortgage and raising kids, many working Floridians will lack time to read hundreds of pages of planning data. Most will be discouraged by seemingly endless ballot questions. Thousands will drop out of the democratic process entirely.

Who could blame them? At the end of the day, Hometown Democracy won't actually give decision-making power to citizens -- it will take it away.

In the long run, Hometown Democracy will trample on issues of community justice. This amendment will not only disenfranchise many voters, it will also remove power from those most affected by land-use changes. Residents of wealthier neighborhoods will pay for expensive campaigns to force unwanted development -- jails, landfills, sewage sites, etc. -- onto less-privileged communities. Poorer communities will suffer in a system that rewards those with money.

In the end, Hometown Democracy bypasses the representation these communities have through city and county commissions by outsourcing major planning decisions to the ballot box. This amendment will make it easy for the majority to trample on rights and freedoms of the minority. Having lost recourse and representation in government, less-fortunate citizens will simply have to live with the results.

Floridians deserve better growth management, and that must happen. Voters want to be more involved in the local-planning process, and that must happen, too. But we must always guard against a "wolf in sheep's clothing" like Florida Hometown Democracy.

If you want better growth management, a stronger economy and a real voice in public planning, then steer clear of this amendment. Hometown Democracy will make the system far worse, not better.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For more information go to: http://FLSmarterGrowth.org

Trash Changes

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Ann Lucarelli) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 01:30:00 +0000

Lake Mary trash is changing! Due to current legislation requiring the reduction of solid waste & increasing efforts to recycle, Lake Mary is taking the lead as the first Seminole County City to begin a new program with Waste Management.

The bad news is the rate is increasing from the current $15 rate to $17 but Waste Management has not had a rate increase in several years.

Residents will be receiving a new 64 gallon green container with a yellow lid that is designted for recycling only. You will keep your current trash container.
Trash & recycling pick up will be one day a week only (visit www.lakemaryfl.com to see your designated pick up day). The items you can recycle will increase with the intention of decreasing the amount of waste you generate. The City is currently sending a brochure in the mail to explain all of the details.

Items that can now be recycled include:
-uncontaminated pasteboard (cereal boxes, empty paper towel and toilet paper rolls, soda & beer boxes, tissue and gift boxes, pizza and shoe boxes)
-brown paper grocery bags (no wet strength material, wax or liners)
-corrugated cardboard (flattened & cut down to max. 3'x3')
-newspaper, supplements, magazines & catalogs
-printer/copier paper & junk mail
-milk, jiuce. soy & broth cartons
-plastic #1-7 (#'s on container bottom)
-glass bottles & jars (clear, green, brown)
-aluminum cans
-steel cans and tin household containers such as food cans

Lake Mary Celebrates

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Ann Lucarelli) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 01:27:00 +0000

The Annual "Lake Mary Celebrates" is scheduled for Saturday March 7th from 10AM-3PM.

Please visit www.LakeMaryfl.com or www.lakemaryhistory.org for more information.

Admission is free. Food & beverages for sale.

Hometown Democracy?

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Ann Lucarelli) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 01:08:00 +0000

Hometown democracy is an item certain groups are trying to get on a ballot which would require every single land use or zoning item to go to a vote rather than following through the normal planning & zoning & commission procedures they currently use.

Bottom line - good intentions perhaps but very BAD idea. If you think the economy is bad now, this will stop any growth whatsoever for EVERYONE - including private homeowners who want to develop a small parcel here or there that they own, as well as developers. Stop growth and any chance of our pulling out of this severe recession is over. Any chance of redeveloping run down, blighted areas - gone! Any chance of the average Joe subdividing his 3 acre parcel to make some extra retirement income - gone! Any chance of businesses redeveloping or expanding thier property, or even looking to buy some property for redevelopment - gone! Want a Home Depot, school or pharmacy/grocery in your rural area - forget it!

Also consider how much money (our tax dollars)it will cost in order to prepare multiple elections throughout the year for each item. Or, if items are saved for a once or twice a year cycle, businesses and developers will leave Florida for more growth friendly states. Time is money to these people and between the cost of a referendum plus time delays - they will choose to go elsewhere.

If the idea is to involve the public more so that they know more about what's coming and can voice their concerns and/or opinions, then that is better acheived through local policies requiring a greater sphere of notification. Ex. rather than the typical say 1,000 foot radius to notify property owners within that radius of an upcoming land change, how about making it 5,000 feet? Let's up the "minimum" standard so that a better job of advertising is performed, yet at an economical cost (your tax dollars).

Of course, you can lead a horse to water but you can not make him drink. If property owners receive notice and merely file 13 it and ignore it rather than taking the time to read, understand, ask questions and contact their local officials with concerns then who really is to blame? Everyone is responsible for how your area grows or doesn't grow but you must take the time to care and participate. Granted not everyone can make the meetings - but there are telephones and e-mails that are an easily accessible method of contact. You can also write a letter and mail it as well. Let me encourage everyone to take the time to participate in some way as to how your area will grow and improve through redevelopment.

Happy New Year to All!!

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Ann Lucarelli) — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 03:06:00 +0000

I pray that God will bless everyone in the new year and keep your families safe and healthy. I pray that those who are out of work find work, those who are sick will be healed and comfort and peace for those suffering.
2008 has been a tough year for my own family with the loss of my father, my husband and I were laid off at different times and difficulties caring for my mentally handicapped brother, but I am hopeful that 2009 will hold new, brighter opportunities. We will meet the next set of challenges head on and without fear because we know that no matter what - God is with us always and He loves us and cares for us as He always has and always will!
God bless you all!!

Merry Christmas to Troops!

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Ann Lucarelli) — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 00:31:00 +0000

To all of our guys and gals fighting for freedom's sake, sleeping on a sandy desert, in a hut or other strange place, minus the comforts we take for granted here, with dusty boots or wet uniforms, home sick and missing family but proud and eager to serve the country they love so much yet asking so little in return -
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. MAY GOD COMFORT YOU, KEEP YOU SAFE AND REUNITE YOU WITH YOUR LOVING FAMILIES SOON. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY HAPPY, SAFE AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR TO YOU! YOU ARE NEVER FORGOTTEN AND YOU ARE NOT TAKEN FOR GRANTED!!!

USA Cares - Support our Troops!

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Ann Lucarelli) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:55:00 +0000

Please visit www.usacares.org to see how many different ways you and your family, right down to the kids, can help support our troops and wounded warriors!
You can merely donate, develop creative ways to fund raise and get your business or other group to do a "Red Shirt Friday". ALL proceeds go towards helping wounded warriors, helping troops avoid foreclosure on their family homes, and helping during financial crisis. They provide a hand up - not a hand out. There are some great ideas here!

Please show you care! God bless our troops and their families!

Florida Native Plant Society

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Ann Lucarelli) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 00:49:00 +0000

Interested in using native plants in your yard? How about drought tolerant plants? Or if your yard is wet, water loving plants. Do you like to attract butterflies and love wildflowers? Check out the link below for a list of Florida native plants! There are picture of most plants and a link for more information too!

https://www.fnps.org/pages/plants/plants_by_county.php?county=SEMINOLE&sort=dryt

Happy planting!

Florida Yards & Neighborhoods

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Ann Lucarelli) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 00:24:00 +0000

In a September post I spoke of this program and how we can all learn to conserve water and plant Florida native species in our yards. Well, an added benefit is that the City can also earn FDEP water pollution credits and consumptive use credits. What this program will do for the City is:
1)Help track the water quality of our lakes to make sure we are keeping stormwater pollution at a minimum and water quality high
2)Help educate staff and residents how to conserve water so that the City will draw less from the aquifer through proper and efficient irrigation and landscaping.

I am very pleased our awesome City Manager has agreed to sign the City up for this very valuable program. I hope residents will also take full advantage of the classes the program will offer on water conservation and irrigation efficiency.

New Mayor for Lake Mary

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Ann Lucarelli) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:15:00 +0000

David Mealor will be sworn in Thursday, Nov. 20, 2008 at 6PM as Lake Mary's new mayor. However, David is not new to Lake Mary at all. As past Mayor and State Representative, David has the knowledge, experience and leadership skills to continue to lead Lake Mary on to great things. Who knows? Maybe we'll be #1 in the nation next year?

Congratulations to David and I greatly look forward to working together as a team for the betterment of our community and it's citizens. God Bless everyone!

Say Thanks to our Troops!!

noreply@blogger.com (Jo Ann Lucarelli) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:12:00 +0000

GREAT IDEA!!

The American Red Cross has partnered once again with Pitney Bows this year to send Holiday cards to the troops.

When doing your Christmas cards this year, take one card and send it to the address below. If we pass this on and everyone sends one card, think of how many cards these wonderful special people who have sacrificed so much would get. When you are making out your Christmas card list this year, please include the following:

Holiday Mail for Heroes
PO Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

Send a card of your own or download and print a card at: http://www.redcross.org/email/saf/

You can also send Thank you cards to Soldiers anytime of the year at: http://letssaythanks.com

Note: Due to security concerns in light of 9-11 all cards will be screened and must comply with the following regulations:

All cards must be postmarked no later than Wednesday, December 10, 2008
All cards must be signed
Cards only. Long letters will not be accepted
Do not include email or home addresses on the cards
Do not include any inserts of any kind, including photos, as these items will be removed during the reviewing process
A limit of 25 cards from any one person or 50 from any one class or group
Phone cards or gift cards will not be accepted.
No care packages will be accepted.
Letters addressed to Any Wounded Soldier or Any Wounded Service Member will not be accepted.