Government - page 45

The city of West Orange has scheduled a spring cleanup on April 16-17, 2021. Dumpsters will be available behind the West Orange Fire Station for use by West Orange residents only between 9 AM – 3 PM each day of the Spring Cleanup. Proof of residency and photo ID will be required at the drop site.

No hazardous materials, tires, batteries, paint, etc. will be accepted. Normal household waste will not be accepted. Any items containing freon must be drained of freon and tagged by an individual certified to do that type of work.

Appliances, furniture, metals, and green waste will be accepted but must be brought to the drop site. The City will be unable to make any arrangements for special pickups.

For more info, contact West Orange City Hall at (409) 883-4552.

All adults will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Texas beginning Monday, March 29. The Texas Department of State Health Services expects vaccine supplies to increase next week, and providers in multiple parts of the state have made great strides in vaccinating people in the current priority groups. The state’s Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel recommended opening vaccination to everyone who falls under the current Food and Drug Administration emergency use authorizations to protect as many Texans as possible.

“We are closing in on 10 million doses administered in Texas, and we want to keep up the momentum as the vaccine supply increases,” said Imelda Garcia, DSHS associate commissioner for laboratory and infectious disease services and the chair of the Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel. “As eligibility opens up, we are asking providers to continue to prioritize people who are the most at risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death – such as older adults.”

DSHS has directed vaccine providers to prioritize people 80 years old or older when scheduling appointments and accommodate anyone in that age group who presents for vaccination, whether or not they have an appointment, by immediately moving them to the front of the line. That will ensure vaccination of anyone 80 or older with as small a burden on themselves as possible.

Also next week, DSHS will launch a website to allow people to register for a shot through some public health providers. The public will be able to enroll in the Texas Public Health Vaccine Scheduler to identify upcoming vaccine clinics hosted by DSHS or a participating local health department and be notified when new clinics and appointments become available. People can continue to find additional providers through the DSHS Vaccine Information page.

Online registration will be the best option for most people. For those for whom that is not an option, DSHS will launch a toll-free number to provide assistance making an appointment with a participating provider or locating another provider that has vaccine available.

To date, Texas has administered more than 9.3 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, equating to more than 6 million people with at least one dose and more than 3 million fully vaccinated. Most vaccines are authorized for people 18 years old and older; the FDA has authorized the Pfizer vaccine for use in people 16 and older.

The City of Orange is conducting a voluntary acquisition project for homes damaged during Hurricane Harvey. The project will be administered locally and overseen by the Texas General Land Office (GLO) Community Development & Revitalization Program (CDR). The project is funded through a Community Development Block Grant for Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR).

The application period will open on March 17th, 2021, and is scheduled to close on May 17th, 2021.

The Intake Beneficiary Application, along with application instructions and frequently asked questions are available on the City website. Paper applications are also available at Orange City Hall at 812 N 16th St, the Neighborhood Facility, 303 N 8th Street, and at the Orange Public Library, 220 5th Street, all located in Orange TX 77630.

Completed applications can be submitted to the following address:
Grants Management, CDBG-DR
City of Orange
PO Box 520
Orange, TX 77631-0520

Or completed applications may be submitted online at grants@orangetexasgov.us.

Citizens with special needs or those who would like technical assistance may contact 512-202-1306.

The City of Orange is vulnerable to various types of hazards and emergencies of all sizes, types, and duration. When emergencies happen, reaching out to citizens and keeping the community safe is of utmost importance. The City of Orange Office of Emergency Management encourages citizens and business owners to sign up for STAN, the Southeast Texas Alerting Network. Registering with STAN allows officials to quickly notify individuals in the community of emergencies and dangers within the immediate area.

Follow the registration instructions below to sign up for notifications or call 1-844.578.7862:
1. Visit thestan.com/register.
2. Click “Register.”
3. Complete the information form with your name, phone number, email, password, and address. Providing your address allows officials to target alerts to specific areas when appropriate.
4. Select “Submit Registration.”
5. You will receive a verification code via email and/or phone call. Enter the verification code on the registration verification page and click “Complete Registration.”

The City of Orange Office of Emergency Management encourages citizens and business owners to be proactive and register with STAN to receive timely and efficient information in the event of an emergency situation. Please note, if you have registered for 211 assistance, you will need to register for STAN notifications separately.

If you would like to reserve a  booth space at the event or to receive additional information, please call the Orange Convention and Visitors Bureau at 409-883-1011.