Victoria Park | The Picket Fence - Spring 2021

W W W.MY V ICTO RIAPARK .CO M

S P R I N G 2021

V IC TOR IA PA R K C OM M U N I T Y C OU N C I L

Communication Methods EMAIL - We send out email notifications periodically in addition to weekly electronic newsletters every Friday.

NEWSLETTERS - The weekly electronic and printed quarterly newsletters can be viewed on the website, www.myvictoriapark. com, any time!

WEBSITE - Check out www.myvictoriapark.com for tons of great information, including the weekly newsletter, calendar, club and group contacts, and so much more!

Customer Service Evergreen Customer Service 877-221-6919

SOCIAL MEDIA - Follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/ VictoriaParkComm for all the latest info!

STATEMENTS - We will no longer mail out quarterly statements; you should have received a coupon book. If you haven’t received one, please call Evergreen Customer Care at 877-221-6919.

Please email JTucker@Evergreen-LM.com if you need any assistance with receiving Communications.

Victoria Park Community Management Victoria Trails Amenity Center 525 East Victoria Trails Blvd.

DeLand, FL 32724

386-738-2112 VPCAM@Evergreen-LM.com

Pool Hours

Victoria Oaks Amenity Center 143 Victoria Oaks Blvd.

DeLand, FL 32724

Spring/Summer

Community Manager Michelle Saunders MSaunders@Evergreen-LM.com

Lifestyle Director Justine Tucker JTucker@Evergreen-LM.com

Administrative Coordinator Maureen Philips MPhilips@Evergreen-LM.com

Lifestyle Assistant Claudia Garcia CGarcia@Evergreen-LM.com

Administrative Assistant/ Architectural Coordinator Celi Rosario ARosario@Evergreen-LM.com

Director of Operations & Maintenance Dave Benson DBenson@Evergreen-LM.com

Community Standards Kelly Anbach KAnbach@Evergreen-LM.com

Maintenance Manager Steve Ingram SIngram@Evergreen-LM.com

6:15am - 8:30pm

MAR 1 - AUG 31

Fall

6:45am - 7pm

SEP 1 - OCT 31

The pool heaters are set at 80 degrees from March 1-December 31; however, the Victoria Oaks Pool is not heated.

Fitness Room The Commons, Trails and Oaks: 5:30am - 10:30pm Victoria Gardens: 4:45am - 9pm

All residents must have their photo ID card with them.

For a full list of the Rules, please see the signs posted in the Fitness Rooms.

Advertising Opportunities For information or details regarding size, cost, and deadlines, please visit www.vppicketfence.com or call 813-501-7220. Email us directly at Info@VPPicketFence.com.

1001 Gardens Club Drive DeLand, FL 32724

386-785-2700

Security Main Gate 386-736-6499 Clubhouse Manager Julie Maurer JMaurer@Evergreen-LM.com

Marketing Manager & Bookkeeper Corrin Godlevske

Advertising Policy Victoria Park Community Council, Inc. does not guarantee any work or claims made by advertisers. Advertisements in The Picket Fence do not constitute an endorsement or approval of goods and services by Victoria Park Community Council, Inc.

CGodlevske@Evergreen-LM.com

Lifestyle Director Evelyn Rosa ERosa@Evergreen-LM.com

“Creating Better Communities” www.kolter.com

COMMUNITY MANAGER

M A NAG E M E N T

Victoria Park Turns 20!

BY MICHELLE SAUNDERS, LCAM

W

ith Victoria Park turning 20 this year, I wanted to take this opportunity to give an overview of the history and make-up of the community. Victoria Park Community Council (VPCC) was created in 2001 as a master planned community

by St. Joe/Arvida, the original developer. In 2009, Kolter purchased the property and remains the current developer. The VPCC is the “master association” of Victoria Park. Every owner is a member of VPCC, as well as their neighborhood association. Below is a breakdown of each entity and what it includes.

I. Victoria Park Community Council (Entire Community) • Lake Victoria Amenity Center in Victoria Commons Community pool, tennis courts, pickleball courts, fitness center, walking path and playground • Victoria Trails Amenity Center - Community pool, fitness center, walking trails, picnic pavilion and playground • Victoria Oaks Amenity Center - Community pool, fitness center, playground, volleyball court and picnic pavilions.

• Lifestyle Program – Please note that fees are charged for certain activities and events.

• Cable and Internet • Landscaping of common areas • Master irrigation system including reclaimed water for irrigation • Maintenance of storm water retention areas • Monitor and maintenance of conservation areas

• Installation and maintenance of streetlights • Reserves for future replacements

II. V. P. Homeowners Association - Commons, Hills & Trails In addition to the items under section (I) above, V. P. HOA assessments also include covenant enforcement, collection of assessments and operation and maintenance of the pocket parks located within V.P. HOA. • Forty-nine lots within Victoria Commons also include landscape maintenance. These are known as the “49ers.” Their assessments consist of mowing, trimming, edging, detailing, fertilizing, and periodic irrigation inspections, including minor adjustments. *Please note that maintenance of landscaping inside any enclosed courtyard or back yard area not readily accessible by commercial landscape maintenance equipment and personnel is the responsibility of the individual homeowner.

• Townhome assessments also include replacement of the roofs, repainting the exterior, building shell insurance, maintenance of the mail kiosks, landscape maintenance, consisting of mowing, trimming, edging, detailing, fertilizing, and periodic irrigation inspections (including minor adjustments) of front and side yards. *Please note that maintenance of landscaping inside any enclosed courtyard or back yard area is the responsibility of the individual homeowner.

Article Continued on Bottom of Page 5

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M A NAG E M E N T

COMPLIANCE

Covenants Corner

BY K E L LY A N B A C H

S

pring is here! We want to welcome all new residents to Victoria Park! We also want to thank the residents that received the friendly reminders with understanding and support in maintaining the beauty of your homes and investments.

The Community Standards Administrator is here to help ensure the community adheres to the covenant standards as set forth in the governing documents.

If you receive a letter, the best thing you can do is to contact me so that we can assist in any way possible or offer timeline extensions if necessary. Our goal is to establish a professional relationship through communication, commitment and caring for our residents.

1-800-856-6983 to order numbers. All the numbers shall be gold with adhesive, and no color on the background/sides.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Community Management Office. This is also a good time to wash the exterior of the mailbox of dirt and mold.

• Pressure Washing – Vinyl fences, sidewalks, walkways and driveways. Please remember when sidewalks are dirty they get slippery. In the Victoria Gardens, homeowners are only responsible for their driveways and driveway aprons. Spring is a great time to wash any spots off the exterior of the home.

Reminders and Home Maintenance

• Pets - All pets should be on a leash and kept under control. In addition, be mindful of your neighbor’s lawn by not allowing your pet on it and by cleaning up and removing solid waste after your pets. There are several dog stations which provide plastic bags and garbage cans for animal waste. All pet owners should be mindful of their neighbors and visitors, so they can have quiet enjoyment.

We are focusing on the items listed below: • Mailbox Upkeep – Mailboxes should be clean and numbers visible. Victoria Gardens is the Cambridge mailbox, Victoria Hills and Victoria Commons are Cambridge, Victoria Trails has the Hatteras mailbox. Contact Beautiful mailboxes at

• Grass Clippings - Please do not blow grass clippings into the street. When the clippings are wet, they become slippery, like ice. Motorcycle riders for example, could crash if they hit the brakes or turn the wheel. When grass clippings make their way

As we continue to grow, there will inevitably be violations we miss. In the event there is an issue you would like to report, you may do so by filing a Confidential Incident/Violation Report, located on the website (www.myvictoriapark.com) or by contacting me via phone or email.

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COMPLIANCE

into the storm water system, they may be carrying fertilizers and other polluting lawn additives with them. Nitrogen that is beneficial to lawns in a product of the clippings, and that nitrogen can get into local storm systems, streams and rivers.

Lawn clippings can also contribute to water-quality issues such as algae blooms.

M A NAG E M E N T

space in a safe location away from the house if communication pathways are disrupted. Review this plan regularly and update it if information has changed.

Safety Tips for the Spring Medication Safety - Go through all your medicine cabinets and discard old and expired medication. Take any unwanted or expired prescriptions to a prescription drop box, and make sure they do not end up in the hands of your children.

Outdoor Safety - Pools are a common place for fun in Florida, but they can also be hazards. Check to make sure that your fencing or barrier around your pool is secure to prevent drowning accidents and review pool safety with your kids. If you have a swing set or other outdoor items for your family, make sure that parts are properly bolted in place to prevent an accident and injury due to equipment breaking.

Review Family Emergency Plan - All families should have an emergency plan in place. This plan outlines what should happen in the event of an emergency, such as a hurricane or house fire. Each family member should be aware of their role and the contact information for everyone else. Your emergency plan should also designate a meeting

KELLY ANBACH is the Community Standards Administrator for Victoria Park. You can reach her at 386-738-2112 or via email at KAnbach@Evergreen-LM.com.

Michelle’s Article Continued from Page 3

III. Victoria Gardens Victoria Gardens is the active adult (55+) section of Victoria Park. In addition to the items in section (I) above, Victoria Gardens assessments also include operation and maintenance of the Gardens Clubhouse, common area landscape maintenance, home site landscape maintenance, consisting of mowing, trimming, edging, detailing, fertilizing, periodic irrigation inspections (including minor adjustments and repairs), gate control operations, and reserves for future replacements. Villa unit owners also include reserves for re-painting approximately every 7 years and re-roofing approximately every 15 years.

IV. Victoria Oaks In addition to the items in section (I) above, Victoria Oaks assessments also include covenant enforcement, collection of assessments, operation and maintenance of the entry monuments and pocket parks located within Victoria Oaks.

Community Growth V.P. HOA and Victoria Gardens reached 90% completion in 2020, so the

association was turned over to a homeowner elected Board of Directors.

Victoria Oaks and Victoria Park Community Council are still under developer control until such time that they reach 90% completion as well. Below is a chart of the current home counts.

Community

Current

Build Out

V.P. HOA

1,674

1,808

Victoria Gardens

1,097

1,129

Victoria Oaks

143

582

Commercial/Golf

45

45

2,959

3,564

Community Totals

MICHELLE SAUNDERS is the Community Manager for Victoria Park. You can reach her at 386-738-2112 or by email at MSaunders@Evergreen-LM.com.

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LIFESTYLES

VICTORIA PARK

Fun in Victoria Park!

PHOTOS BY RESIDENTS & JUSTINE TUCKER

Recent events in Victoria Park included Adventure Is Out There - 2021 Kick-Off, Wine & Comedy Night, Golden Egg Scavenger Hunt, Ladies Night, and Parking Lot Fitness Class

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VICTORIA PARK

LIFESTYLES

More recent events in Victoria Park included BMX Show, You’ve Been Pinched, Heart Awareness Walk, You’ve Been Hugged, and You’ve Been Egged

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EVENTS

VICTORIA GARDENS

Save the Date!

A PR IL 15 Trivia 21 Wine Social 29 Jazz & Tea MAY 05 Cinco De Mayo Celebration 07 Bingo 09 Mother’s Day Brunch 18 Hard Rock Casino Trip 25 Movie Night “POMS” 31 Memorial Day Celebration JUN E 08 Dolphin Dinner Cruise 11 Karaoke 13 Chill by the Grill 20 Father’s Day: Cigars & Bourbon 25 Residents Dance Night JULY 04 Fourth of July Celebration “Pool Party” 08 Victory Casino Cruise 15 Trivia 18 Chill by the Grill 25 Ice Cream Social

Calendar is subject to change. Please contact Resident Services for further details at 386-785-2700.

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VICTORIA GARDENS

SPOTLIGHT

VGWC Gives in a Big Way!

BY LAURA BLACKBURN, PRESIDENT OF VICTORIA GARDENS WOMEN’S CLUB (VGWC)

R

ebecca Carpenter, the VGWC Outreach Chair, and I had the honor of meeting with Tony Deobil and Kim Bandorf from Family Renew Community recently. The organization provides a safe, stable home for homeless families with children, and equips them with the tools they need to be self-sufficient. They have a campus of seven apartments here in DeLand and are one of our chosen charities.

Family Renew operates a total of 32 apartments across three campuses in Volusia County.

The highlight of our meeting was our presentation of a check for $6,500 (pictured below), a donation made possible by the members of VGWC. The money was sourced primarily from the funds over 100 members gave to our Non-Event campaign, the monthly donations from our Friendship Tree meetings, and other treasury monies. It is my expectation, as we return to a more normal operation in 2021, that this will be the first of several financial awards to VGWC charities.

themselves. They were never taught or given an example of what to do or how to behave. We help guide them through that discovery process together and establish a set a behaviors that can be internalized and passed down to their children.

We would like to do more with training in parenting, financial management, as well as skills training in conjunction with Daytona Beach Community College. We say that our job is not to do things for you, but rather give you the life skills to figure things out on your own and that begins with education.

If you focus on the family, you have a chance of breaking the cycle. Our job is not to judge the circumstances under which they landed there, just to offer the opportunity to change.”

Kim – “With our families, I often compare us to a pinball machine – we are the flappers – always there wanting to push you back into play to bounce off more obstacles.”

The Family Renew Program last for one year, so what then?

Tony – “One of the things that Kim excels is her aftercare. We have always enjoyed a high success rate but have boosted it to 94% with a simple check in system. Are the families housed? Are both parents employed? Are the children still in school? Simple, but key to the continued recovery. We aim for lives to be changed, not just helped – it is a mindset really.”

Kim – “We have truck drivers, police academy students, even realtors who are former residents.”

The bottom line is that the families who find themselves in need of the services of Family Renew want the same things we all want, security, dignity, hope, and acknowledgment. We can feel confident that in our small, but not insignificant, way we helped provide these things.

Both Tony and Kim are former employees of The Salvation Army, so they understand the complex problems of both the non-profit world and the homeless. The following are some snippets of our conversation, which you may find interesting.

Kim – “We could not operate in Deland without you. Day to day operations are one thing, but emergency operations are another. I feel as if all I need to do is ask and the VGWC is there to help in a crisis. They take special care of our campus here, and always deliver in a crisis.”

Tony – “Many of the parents in our program were never really parented

Tony – “Government money is hard for many smaller programs.

Especially with our limited staff, they need to be hands on with the family, on the phone with potential employers and donors, getting parents help with a GED, not writing grants. This is why organizations like VGWC are so important. Community helping community, being good neighbors, sharing skills and resources. We could not operate without the direct support of charitable organizations like VGWC. It is difficult for larger organizations to focus on the unique needs of an individual family like we can. We can take into account a history of domestic abuse or apathy and focus on what is needed to reset expectations of what is normal.”

Tony ended with his potential expansion plans for the program and I hope that VGWC can be a part of those plans for years to come!

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SPOTLIGHT

VICTORIA PARK

Resident Spotlight

BY JUSTINE TUCKER, LIFESTYLE DIRECTOR

Pauline Colton Crahan is a member of the ME STRONG community and a very valued resident of ours! Two years ago, Pauline was unfortunately diagnosed with cancer. Eighteen months ago she had a bone marrow transplant and is currently stable. You have probably seen Pauline walking about our community taking in all of the beauty Victoria Park has to offer. If you see her, give her a wave and send a congratulations! Pauline, we are so blessed to have you!

Victoria Gardens Walk-A-Thon on April 7th

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“We Make Real Estate Real Easy” Experience, Energy, E-Marketing Buyers & Sellers Call “The Pastore Team” “DeLand’s New Home & Resale

Specialists”

Donna • Chuck

407-920-4667 or 407-920-3557 Coldwell Banker Realty “Victoria Park Residents & Specialists” Servicing Volusia & Seminole Counties

Visit our Website: www.Pastore.CBintouch.com E-mail: DonnaChuckPastore@Gmail.com SPRING 2021 | T H E P I C K E T F E N C E

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The Picket Fence Advertising Information For information and details regarding size, cost, and deadlines, please visit www.vppicketfence.com or call 813-501-7220. Email us directly at info@VPPicketFence. com. Victoria Park Community Council, Inc. does not guarantee any work or claims made by advertisers. Advertisements in this publication do not constitute an endorsement or approval of goods and services by Victoria Park Community Council, Inc.

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525 E. Victoria Trails Blvd.

DeLand, FL 32724 386-738-2112 www.myvictoriapark.com