W W W.MY V ICTO RIAPARK .CO M
S U M M ER 2019
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 Thursday. NEWSLETTERS - The weekly electronic and printed quarterly newsletters can be viewed on the website, www.myvictoriapark. com, any time!
Evergreen Customer Service 877-221-6919
WEBSITE - Check out www.myvictoriapark.com for tons of great information, including the weekly newsletter, calendar, club and group contacts, and so much more!
Victoria Park Community Management
SOCIAL MEDIA - Follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/ VictoriaParkComm for all the latest info!
Customer Service
1431 Orange Camp Rd., Suite 116 DeLand, FL 32724 Community Manager Michelle Saunders MSaunders@Evergreen-LM.com Dir. of Operations & Maint. Dave Benson DBenson@Evergreen-LM.com
386-738-2112 Administrative Assistant/ Architectural Coordinator Celi Rosario ARosario@Evergreen-LM.com Community Standards Clara Munoz-Feliciano CMFeliciano@Evergreen-LM.com
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.
Maintenance Manager Steve Ingram SIngram@Evergreen-LM.com
Pool Hours
Administrative Coordinator Maureen Philips MPhilips@Evergreen-LM.com
Spring/Summer
6:15am - 8:30pm
MAR 1 - AUG 31
Fall
Victoria Trails Amenity Center 525 East Victoria Trails Blvd. DeLand, FL 32724
6:45am - 7pm
SEP 1 - OCT 31
386-279-7700
The pool heaters are set at 80 degrees from March 1-December 31.
Fitness Room
Lifestyle Director Justine Tucker JTucker@Evergreen-LM.com
The Commons & Trails: 5:30am - 10:30pm Victoria Gardens: 4:45am - 9pm
Guests must be accompanied by residents at all times (2 per resident). All residents must have their photo ID card with them. 1001 Gardens Club Drive DeLand, FL 32724
386-785-2700
For a full list of the Rules, please see the signs posted in the Fitness Rooms.
Security Main Gate 386-736-6499 Clubhouse Manager CJ Hamlin CHamlin@Evergreen-LM.com
Assistant Clubhouse Manager Julie Maurer JMaurer@Evergreen-LM.com
Lifestyle Director Evelyn Rosa ERosa@Evergreen-LM.com
Administrative Assistant Remy Pugh RPugh@Evergreen-LM.com
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.
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.
Victoria Hills Golf Club / Sparrow’s Grille 300 Spalding Way DeLand, FL 32724 General Manager Scott Wyckoff SWyckoff@Hampton.Golf
386-738-6000 Food & Beverage Director Michael Morrison MMorrison@Hampton.Golf
“Creating Better Communities” www.kolter.com
COMMUNITY MANAGER
M A NAG E M E N T
Community Updates BY MICHELLE SAUNDERS, LCAM
Pardon Our Dust! We are excited to announce the ground breaking of the expansion at the Trails Amenity Center. The expansion will provide permanent offices for Community Management, eliminating the need to rent.
be mindful of the construction barriers when using the facilities at the Trails and please do not enter the construction area. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this project.
Upcoming Projects • The Tennis Courts at the Commons will be resurfaced and restriped. We are also excited to announce an additional Pickleball Court will be stripped for your enjoyment. • The Commons Fitness Center Flooring will be replaced with rolled rubber flooring. • The Townhouse Mail Kiosks will be painted. • The Commons Amenity Restrooms will be repainted. • Keep an eye on the weekly e-newsletter for updates on these projects.
Environmental Committee
Members of the Victoria Park Community Council Advisory Committee along with representatives from Management and Kolter are pictured above at the Ground Breaking Ceremony, which took place on June 13th. Pictured (from left to right): Patrick O’ Grady, Dana Hanna, Michael Ray, Michelle Saunders (Community Manager), Al Bacotti, Carol Duchscher (Kolter), and Wendy Anderson. We anticipate completion of the expansion by the end of October. Please
In the coming weeks we will be looking for resident volunteers to form an Environmental Committee. The committee will review multiple areas of interest, including Water Conservation, Florida Friendly Landscape, Water Quality Improvement, Pond Beautification, and Wildlife Awareness. An eblast will be sent with additional information when we are ready to begin taking applications.
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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M A NAG E M E N T
COMPLIANCE
Covenants Corner B Y C L A R A M U N O Z-F E L I C I A N O
W
e want to welcome all new residents to Victoria Park. We also want to thank all residents who continue to work very hard in maintaining the beauty of their homes and investments. Please understand that the role of the Community Standards Administration is to help ensure that the community stays up to the covenant standards as set forth in the governing documents. Together, we can aim to work towards maintaining and improving the aesthetic appearance of Victoria Park. Should you receive a letter from the Community Management Office, the best thing you can do is contact us. We are always willing to assist in any way possible or offer timeline extensions as necessary. This is a very large community and it is still growing, so there are things we may miss. In the event there is an issue that you would like to report, you may do so by filling out a Confidential Incident/Violation Report, which can be obtained online or at our Community Management Office.
Safety Precautions Please note that fireworks are prohibited in all areas of the Victoria Park Communities. For safety reasons, we encourage you to find events in our local areas to watch firework displays.
Summer Maintenance Please note that we have been focusing on the items listed below: • Pressure Washing – including home exterior, driveway, sidewalk, PVC fences and mold. • Exterior Painting – there are a variety of colors to paint your home. Please visit our office to review the color schemes. • Mailbox Upkeep – cleanliness, visible numbers – Please read our newsletter to find out where you can replace and repaint your mailbox, or contact our office. • General Landscape Items – shrubs and tree trimming, weeding, edging, etc. As a reminder, please note that the tree needs to be trimmed 8 feet high from the sidewalk and 14 feet high from the street. Also, if you are having problems with sun or shade, you can replace your grass with other ground cover, for example
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with Mondo or Dwarf Confederate Jasmine. Please contact our office or go to our website to view other choices. • Irrigation Abuse – lawns should be watered deeply, but infrequently to encourage deep roots. Victoria Park allows for two watering times per week which is sufficient. For new plant or sod material, manual (hose) watering may be necessary. You should only have your water on during a maintenance time if you are actively performing maintenance to your system. Otherwise, over usage of the reclaim water will affect the community and the ponds. Violations will be issued for abusing the irrigation during maintenance and unscheduled times. Residents will be subject to fines of $100 per day and up to a maximum of $1,000. • Pets – All pets should be leashed. In addition, please be mindful and respectful of your neighbor’s lawn by not allowing your pet on it and by cleaning up and removing solid waste after your pets. Please note animal waste can attract breeding flies, which transmit disease on to the grass.
Architectural Applications If you have made changes to your property without our knowledge, we encourage you to complete and submit an application for ARC approval to avoid violation notices. These applications can be found online or by coming into the Community Management Office. Please remember to fill out an Architectural Application before you begin any changes on your home exterior.
Parking We are still having issues with parking in the street. Therefore, we will be conducting overnight inspections and will issue violation notices on cars that are parking overnight and obstructing traffic. Please be courteous of your neighbors and park your vehicles in the garage or driveway.
CLARA MUNOZ-FELICIANO is the Community Standards Administrator for Victoria Park. You can reach her at 386-738-2112 or by email at CMFeliciano@ Evergreen-LM.com.
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EVENTS
VICTORIA PARK
Recent Victoria Park Events PHOTOS BY JUSTINE TUCKER & CHELLA PHOTOGRAPHY
Bring Me To The Keys, Concert On The Green, Splash & Tone, Chalking With Justine, Thumping Into Easter, You’ve Been Egged, Date Night With Your Son, and Tastes Around The World
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VICTORIA PARK
EVENTS
Save the Date for Upcoming Events! J UL T UE - J U L 1 6
Stetson Mansion Tour
E V E RY MO N TH
S AT - AUG 24
Sizzlin’ Summer Water Day
E V E RY TU E SDAY
TUE - AUG 27
Dominoes
Happy Hour
THU - JUL 25
12:30pm-3pm • Trails Amenity Center
S E PT
Fitness Luncheon
E V E RY WE DNE SDAY
Bridge
T UE - J U L 3 0
TUE - S EP 10
Red, Wine & Blue Happy Hour
Comedy Night
12:30pm-3pm • Trails Amenity Center E V E RY F RIDAY
AUG S AT - AU G 3
Beat the Heat Back to School Bash
FR I - S EP 20
Aloha Hawaii Adults Only Luau
Cards & Games
12:30pm-3pm • Trails Amenity Center
TUE - S EP 24
Hurricane Sparrow’s Happy Hour
For more info or to RSVP, call 386-279-7700. Dates and events listed are subject to change.
The Wildlife of Victoria Park BY JOHN SERRAO, RESIDENT NATURALIST
As Volusia County residents, we can be proud of the vast acreage set aside as public parks, forests, preserves, conservation areas and wildlife management areas. Many of the animals that benefit from these refuges can be found in Victoria Park, either as residents or as periodic visitors. More than 135 species of birds, 42 reptiles, 16 frogs, 23 mammals, and 55 butterflies have been recorded in Victoria Park. Residents who stroll our paths, walk our nature trails, bicycle our roads or even take a leisurely drive past the many ponds, wetlands and woodlands in our communities may glimpse a bald eagle, swallowtailed kite, bobcat, gopher tortoise, sandhill crane, American alligator, wild turkey, red-headed woodpecker, and many other iconic species of Central Florida wildlife. Encountering a bear or alligator may be a bit daunting, but these animals want nothing to do with people and almost always avoid us. If you keep pets leashed and away from our ponds, there is nothing to fear. Most importantly, do not feed these animals, or the sandhill cranes – it’s illegal! As for SNAKES, do not kill them! Even venomous snakes serve a very important ecological role in our natural communities. If you want a snake removed, call me at 386-218-4018 and I will come over and relocate it to a conservation area. A few of our animals are listed on the federal and/or state “Endangered Species” lists, and Victoria Park represents important habitat for their continued survival. Please help all these species to survive by not touching or disturbing them.
Florida Sandhill Crane
“Threatened” at state level. Look for these tall, stately birds walking through our residential neighborhoods and golf courses.
Gopher Tortoise
“Threatened” at state level and federal “candidate species.” When not in its deep burrow, this large turtle can be seen grazing on plants along roads and trails.
Florida Scrub Jay
“Threatened” at both state and federal levels. This beautiful blue and gray bird lives in Victoria Gardens’ conservation areas.
Sherman Fox Squirrel
“Species of special concern” in Florida. Twice as big as a gray squirrel, this animal varies greatly in color and lives in Victoria Hills, especially on the golf course.
Eastern Indigo Snake
“Threatened” at both state and federal levels. North America’s largest snake (up to 8 feet long), this attractive, glossy, bluish-black reptile can be found in Victoria Gardens’ conservation areas.
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
Proposed for addition to endangered species list. America’s largest venomous snake.
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EVENTS
C R E S S W I N D AT V I C T O R I A G A R D E N S
Save the Date! JULY 30
Dine In Movie Night
AUG U ST 11 Sundae Sunday Ice Cream Social 23 Sounds of Soul – Motown 24 Chill by the Grill S E PTEM BE R 2 Labor Day Celebration 28 Cruise In Car Show OCTOBE R 18 Divas through the Decades 24 Les Misérables Musical 26 Halloween Party
Calendar is subject to change. Please contact Resident Services for further details at 386-785-2700.
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C R E S S W I N D AT V I C T O R I A G A R D E N S
SPOTLIGHT
Resident Spotlight: VG Women’s Club S U B M I T T E D BY E V E LY N R O S A , L I F E S T Y L E D I R E C TO R
T
he Victoria Gardens Women’s Club (VGWC) was started by a few dedicated women to do charity work for the community. Their numbers have grown since inception to over 170 women, and so has outreach to charitable organizations, which benefit the annual Charity Auction.
History VGWC was formed in 2005 to provide fellowship and education for the residents of Victoria Gardens. Each year, as the volunteer organization has grown, its community outreach efforts have evolved into fundraising for charitable giving in support of the many needs of charitable organizations throughout the Volusia County community. In 2018, VGWC raised and distributed more than $17,000 in donations and support in its charitable and community outreach activities. Donations to VGWC help in their support of organizations, such as Family Renew, Good Samaritan Clinic, Council on Aging, Halifax Health Children’s Grief Center, Blue Lake Elementary School, Faith at Work and other outreach efforts for the eldery, homeless, needy and disabled.
• Assistance with outreach activities and grief centers to help young children and teens grieve after losing a loved one • School supplies for teachers and students, as well as donations for cookouts and ice cream socials • Personal needs to the elderly at state and federally supported assisted living facilities in DeLand • Collection and sorting of food for the annual “Food Drive” • Visits and moral support for the needy, elderly, homeless and unwed mothers
Fellowship & Committees As the organization begins to reach out to even more businesses and organizations in the coming year, they encourage others in our community to join and get involved in their efforts. They hope each resident/member will spend some time getting to know the many dedicated and energetic women who make VGWC so successful. Luncheon meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month and new residents are welcome.
Charitable Activities & Community Outreach In recent years, the VGWC charitable donations have supported the following: • Counseling and services for breast cancer patients • Free medical and dental healthcare for the uninsured in West Volusia County • Hot meals, transportation to the doctor, help with hot baths, light housework, chores and guardianship programs for the elderly • Help for people and families trying to move beyond homeless shelters to live independent lives • Clothing and personal items for the homeless and others in need • Gifts for homeless children and elderly through Angel Tree effort during the holidays, and candy for Valentine’s Day and Halloween • Assistance with upkeep and repair of a facility for individuals with special needs, including Down Syndrome, Autism, Cerebral Palsy and many other disabilities
The volunteer committees include Bylaws, Community Outreach, Fundraising, Annual Charity Auction, Major Donations, Hospitality, History & Website, Membership & Welcome, Nominating, Publicity, Sunshine, and Programs & Events. Our fiscal year runs from March through February, and there are no paid employees in the VGWC.
2019 Officers • • • •
President: Susan Bacotti - smadysaver@yahoo.com Vice President: Laura Blackburn - lpblackburn@cfl.rr.com Treasurer: Justine Cancryn - rivervujc@gmail.com Secretary: Karla Johnson - karlaatvictoria@gmail.com
To find the VGWC online, navigate to myvictoriapark.com, select Victoria Gardens at the top, select Clubs & Groups at the left, and then select VG Women’s Club at the left.
Victoria Gardens Women’s Club - Recent Trip to St. Augustine
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M A NAG E M E N T
VICTORIA HILLS GOLF CLUB
Updates from the Club B Y S C O T T W Y C K O F F, P G A / G E N E R A L M A N A G E R
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ummer is here! With heat and intermittent showers, the maintenance staff at Victoria Hills has done a wonderful job and will continue to work diligently to keep up on the many items needed to maintain and improve turf grass conditions.
Fence at the time of check in and receive a green fee price of $28, plus tax, per person.
Community Events Sparrow’s Grille and Victoria Park Lifestyles recently combined efforts to host several fantastic community events, such as the Concert on the Green, featuring Don Juceam and his eight piece band; Tastes Around the World with dishes from various countries; and Bring Me to the Keys, providing a Caribbean flavor. Be on the lookout for more upcoming events, including the monthly Happy Hours with Musical Expressions, Comedy Night, Tex Mex Ladies Fiesta, and more. Come join us and meet many of your new neighbors for a fun-filled evening!
Sparrow’s Weekly Events
Recently the fairways were aerified to provide a stronger root structure. In addition, the green complexes have also been aerified and top dressed with sand. Aerification of the greens is a necessary process in order to achieve a healthier root structure and to overcome compaction that occurs from continued foot traffic. Pulling core plugs from the green (i.e., creating a small hole that is approximately three inches deep and the diameter of a pencil, and then filling them with holes), allows air and water to penetrate into the green. This causes the green surfaces to become stronger as the roots continue to grow searching for water. The unfortunate part is the healing process that takes place after these cultural practices are completed. With a normal aerification, the healing process to close up the aerified holes and create smoother surfaces typically takes seven to nine days.
Our weekly events, such as Pasta Night on Wednesdays, Wing Night on Thursdays, Prime Rib Night on the last Friday of the month, and Burger Night on Saturdays, continue to be popular specials at the Club. We encourage you to have lunch and/or dinner at Sparrow’s Grille and experience the savoring cuisine that is prepared and served by our wonderful staff.
Golf Cart Reminder Your assistance is also needed to help improve the condition of the golf course, especially during these extreme weather conditions. When you play Victoria Hills, we ask that you adhere to some general guidelines when driving golf carts on the course. Please drive on the cart path and cross the fairways at a 90-degree angle. In addition, we ask that players keep golf carts on the cart path when you drive within 20 yards of the green. Golf carts that are driven close to the green or on a side opposite of the cart path, put additional strain on the turf that results in less turf density. With everyone’s continued support, the course will continue to make great improvements.
Special Green Fee Price We invite you to enjoy the wonderful golf course at Victoria Hills and through the month of August…just mention this article in The Picket
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Special Event Info & Forming Clubs To keep up with the latest and greatest at Victoria Hills Golf Club and Sparrow’s Grille, please email Lisa White at LWhite@Hampton.golf to receive the weekly newsletter! If you’re interested in hosting your special event at the Club, such as weddings, parties and banquets, or forming a resident club such as cards, book club, dominoes, bridge, or any other type of special interest or recreation type club, please contact Lisa!
SCOTT WYCKOFF is the General Manager of the Victoria Hills Golf Club in Victoria Park. You can reach him at 386-738-6000 or by email at SWyckoff@Hampton.Golf.
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© 2015 Allstate Insurance Co.
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1431 Orange Camp Road Suite 116 DeLand, FL 32724 386-738-2112 www.myvictoriapark.com
HERE’S TO A GREAT SUMMER
Hoping all our residents enjoy some fun in the sun.
VICTORIA HILLS Golf Neighborhood Living
CRESSWIND AT VICTORIA GARDENS Active Adult Living
VictoriaParkDeland.com
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