Veterans Day Parade Nov. 13 in St. Cloud

This year’s Veterans Day Parade, with the theme “Defenders of Freedom,” is set for 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, in St. Cloud.

The parade will begin forming at the St. Cloud lakefront at 8 a.m. A special children’s parade will form at 9th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Registration forms are available at downtown St. Cloud businesses.

The main parade will be starting at Lakeshore Boulevard, proceeding up Pennsylvania Avenue to 9th Street, turning right, passing the reviewing stand across from City Hall in the VFW parking lot, turning left on New York Avenue to 12th Street, and then turning left on Ohio Avenue to 10th Street. The parade will disband in the parking lot at 10th Street and Ohio Ave.

The route is approximately one mile, with Osceola County school marching bands competing for $750 in cash and trophies. There will be trophies presented for the best band, best float and best entry. Some 50 units are expected to participate in the parade.

Immediately following the parade, the Osceola County Veterans Council will hold the awards ceremony, which will be followed by the annual remembrance ceremony with color guard, rifle squad and bugler. Each military family represented at the ceremony with family members deployed in combat areas will receive a blue star ribbon lapel pin, courtesy of American Legion Post 10, Kissimmee.

Change batteries

The Kissimmee Fire Department urges residents to help save lives by reminding family, friends and neighbors to change the batteries in their smoke alarms this weekend, when clocks are turned back for the time change.

According to the fire department, an average of three children per day die in home fires and 80 percent of those occur in homes without working smoke alarms. Non-working smoke alarms rob residents of the protective benefits home fire safety devices were designed to provide. The most commonly cited cause of non-working smoke alarms: worn out or missing batteries.

“The peak time for home fire fatalities is between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. when most families are sleeping,” Kissimmee Fire Chief Bob King said. “Smoke alarm maintenance is a simple, effective way to reduce home fire deaths. Children and senior citizens are most at risk, and a working smoke alarm can give them the extra seconds they need to escape safely.”

Residents should also test smoke alarms by pushing the test button, planning “two ways out,” and practicing escape routes with the entire family. Families should also prepare a fire safety kit that includes working flashlights and fresh batteries.

For more information about fire safety or if you are a city resident interested in a free smoke detector or replacement battery, call the Kissimmee Fire Department Life Safety Hotline at 407-518-2585.

County government offices closed two days next week

In observance of Veterans Day and due to another scheduled furlough day, Osceola County government offices and departments will be closed Thursday and Friday. Offices will reopen Monday, Nov. 15.

Most county departments and buildings, including libraries, parks, road and bridge, animal control, permitting and others will be closed to the public. The furlough days do not apply to the constitutional offices or city and state offices.

For more information, contact the Osceola County Public Information Office at 407-742-0100.

Offices closed for Veterans Day

The city of Kissimmee will close its offices in City Hall on Thursday in observance of Veterans Day.

City employees will return and resume regular business hours Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The annual Veterans Day Parade this year will be in St. Cloud at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 13.

Kissimmee Utility Authority’s customer service center and administrative offices also will be closed on Veterans Day.

Regular utility business hours – 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. – will resume Friday.

Customers wishing to make a bill payment on the holiday can do so through the utility’s automated telephone system at 407-933-7777, online at www.kua.com or at any area Amscot Financial or 7-Eleven convenience store location.

Special session coming

Incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos and incoming House Speaker Dean Cannon during their meeting Thursday agreed on an agenda for a Nov. 16 special legislative session, according to David Bishop, director of communications and information technology for the Florida Senate.

The call for the special session will not be issued until both Haridopolos and Cannon are sworn-in as presiding officers in their respective chambers the morning of Nov. 16, Bishop stated in a press release. Bills vetoed by Gov. Charlie Crist that will be considered for an override include: 545, 569, 981, 1516, 1565, 1842, 5603. 5611, 1385 and 5001. Not included will be the controversial teacher tenure bill or the bill requiring that all women seeking an abortion submit to an ultrasound.

Also on the agenda will be the Shands Hospital appropriation as well as pushing back implementation of septic tank inspection regulations and funding of an HVAC program created by the governor’s Energy Office. In addition, the Legislature will consider a resolution stating its intent on addressing Medicaid during the 2011 session.