Solivita Reflections | January 2023 (Limited Version)

REFLECTIONS

JANUARY 2023 VOLUME 23 ISSUE 1

VILLAGE CENTER HOURS

Administration: 863-427-7100

Monday-Friday 9am-5pm

C3 Wellness Spa: 407-914-9168

Monday-Thursday 8am-8pm

Friday 8am-7pm

K&M Drugs: 863-496-7930

Monday-Friday 9am-6pm Saturday 9am-1pm and Sunday Closed

Marketplace Bistro: 863-427-7157

Daily 8am-7pm, Breakfast 8am-11am

Mosaics Restaurant Closed Until Further Notice

Riviera Spa & Fitness Center: 863-427-7130

Monday-Thursday 6:30am-9pm Friday 6:30am-7pm, Saturday-Sunday 7am-7pm

Solivita Club Facilities After Hours Emergency Phone Number: 863-286-8779 Weekdays 5pm-8pm and Weekends 12pm-5pm

Starlite Ballroom Daily 8am-11pm

Stonegate Pro Shop: 863-427-7150, option 1 Daily 7am-5pm

The Grille at Stonegate: 863-427-7167 Daily 11am-8pm

Breakfast: Wednesday-Sunday, 8am-11am

Happy Hour: Monday-Thursday 2pm-5pm

The Palms: 863-496-1530

Amenity Center: Monday-Sunday 8am-9pm

Kids Pool Hours

Monday-Friday 12pm-4pm

Saturday & Sunday 9am-9pm

Fitness Center

Monday-Thursday 6:30am -9pm

Friday 6:30am-7pm

Saturday-Sunday 7am-7pm

Waterfront Galleries Daily 8am-11pm

Welcome Center: 863-427-7000

Monday-Tuesday & Thursday-Saturday 10am -6pm Wednesday 1pm-6pm, Sunday 12pm -6pm

ON THE COVER

Check out the coolest thing ever seen in the Solivita night skies - an outdoor event that will be “Music for your Eyes, and Ears!” On Friday, January 27th, watch the laser light beams dance and move over the night sky to the beat of your favorite classic hit music from the 1960s-80s performed by The Rock Show Band. Check for tickets on SolivitaHOA.com Home Page at the Purchase Ticket icon.

CONTACT LIST

Community Manager (Association) - Rudy Bautista: 863-701-2969 or RBautista@Evergreen-LM.com

Club Manager - Sheri Wollschlager: 863-427-7129 or SWollschlager@Evergreen-LM.com

Director of Security & Safety - Paul Mears: 863-440-7572 or PaulM@VitalSecurity.com

Communications Director - Doug Gilbert: 863-427-7137 or SolivitaCommunications@Evergreen-LM.com

Evergreen Lifestyles Management (For ALL Club & HOA Matters) 24/7: 855-490-1804 or CustomerService@Evergreen-LM.com

Taylor Morrison Customer Care: 321-397-7247 or OrlandoCustomerCare@TaylorMorrison.com. Warranty Request: taylormorrison.com/warranty/request Activities: 863-427-7125 or SolivitaActivities@Evergreen-LM.com

Architectural Review: 863-427-7022 or Compliance@SolivitaHOA.com

Catering & Banquets (Stonegate Golf Club): 863-427-7150, option 5 Concierge: 863-427-7100 or Fax: 863-496-4456

Floralawn: 863-225-9565 or floralawn.com (Submit a Work Order)

Floralawn Irrigation Emergency After Hours: 863-225-9565 (Starting at 5pm all calls get routed directly to the on-call manager)

K&M Drugs: 863-496-7930 or Fax: 863-496-7931

Membership: 863-427-7143 or SolivitaMembership@Evergreen-LM.com

Resident to Resident Resource Center: 863-236-9973 or SolivitaR2R@gmail.com

Riviera Spa & Fitness Center: 863-427-7130

Security Gatehouses

Supervisor: 407-989-2417

Bella Viana Gate: 407-603-2422

Main Gate: 407-603-2399

Parkway Gate: 863-286-0329

South Gate (Marigold): 863-496-1473

Venezia Gate: 407-603-2397

West Gate (San Clemente): 863-496-1453

Solivita Sales: 863-427-7000

Stonegate Golf Club Directory: 863-427-7150

The Palms Amenity Center: 863-496-1530 or Fax: 863-496-0914

Violations & Compliance: 863-427-7151, 863-256-2897 or Compliance@SolivitaHOA.com

Visitor/Vendor Gate Access Voice Mail: 863-313-1314

JANUARY TABLE OF CONTENTS

Newsletter Submission & Advertising Info ........................... Page 3

Department Articles ............................................................. Pages 4-18

Community Events ............................................................. Pages 19-21

Mosaics Special Nights Page 19

Wellness Events Page 21

A Touch of Class Pages 22-27

Club & Support Group Meeting Lists Pages 27-32

Club News Pages 32-59

Neighborhood Captains News Page 60 Advertisements Pages 61-100

Activities Events (back of calendar) Insert Pages E1-E3

Monthly Calendar (back of Activities Events) Insert

PHOTO RELEASE AGREEMENT

Evergreen Lifestyles Management reserves the right to use any photograph/video taken at any event sponsored by ELM and the respective community the event is happening in, without expressed written permission of those included within the photograph/video. ELM may use the photograph/ video in publications or other media material produced, used or contracted by ELM including but not limited to: brochures, invitations, books, newspapers, magazines, television, websites, etc. To ensure the privacy of individuals and children, images will not be identified using full names or personal identifying information without written approval from the photographed subject, parent or legal guardian.

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

» SolivitaHOA.com: SolivitaCommunications@ Evergreen-LM.com

» Reflections: Reflections@Evergreen-LM.com

» Channel 732: CommunityChannel@Evergreen-LM.com

SOLIVITA ID CARDS

If you’ve lost your ID card, notify the Membership Office at 863-427-7143 or SolivitaMembership@Evergreen-LM.com. It will be deactivated until you get a replacement ID.

NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS

Email submissions to Reflections@Evergreen-LM.com

FEBRUARY SUBMISSIONS

Calendar submissions and newsletter articles are due on Monday, January 2nd. Club insert copies are due by Monday, January 23rd, but must be approved by the Club Manager, Sheri Wollschlager (SWollschlager@ Evergreen-LM.com) or the Communications Director, Doug Gilbert (SolivitaCommunications@EvergreenLM.com) before they are copied.

MARCH SUBMISSIONS

Calendar submissions and newsletter articles are due on Wednesday, February 1st

ADVERTISING INFO

Solivita reserves the right to refuse advertisement and does not guarantee any work or claims made by advertisers. Advertisement in Reflections does not constitute an endorsement or approval of goods or services by Solivita. For More Info: Visit the advertising website at SolivitaAdvertising.com, call 863-440-0377, or email SolivitaAdvertising@Evergreen-LM.com

REFLECTIONS DELIVERY

If you are leaving Solivita or returning to the community and want to change the status of the Reflections delivery to your home, you can do this on the Gate Website. Log on to the website at websites. vertilinc.com/solivitahoa and click the Reflections button or tab. Change delivery status to YES or NO. Contact Membership for log on information at SolivitaMembership@Evergreen-LM.com.

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

Friendly reminder: All holiday lighting and decorations placed upon the exterior portions of the home and the lot need be removed no later than January 15th

Happy New Year Solivita!

BY RUDY BAUTISTA, LCAM SOLIVITA COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MANAGER

We have all been blessed and given the opportunity to see a new year! I hope that you all had a great time bringing in 2023 either celebrating it with friends and family or just sitting in your favorite cozy chair and watching the ball drop. I brought in 2023 with my family and friends that I have been so graciously blessed to have.

I would like to thank you all for allowing me to be part of your Solivita life in one way or another. At times we may have not agreed, but in the end, we would find a resolution and leave the conversation with a handshake, and most importantly respecting each other’s opinions.

This year there have been changes implemented and I would like to share a few. Most importantly, our landscape budget has now been increased to $300,000 for the year. This will allow us to be in a far better position than in previous years regarding any landscape replacement. This will hopefully prevent us from being put on hold and waiting for any original dead landscape

to be replaced, any removal of original dead palm trees, or the repairs for hog damage. The tall palm trees will only be pruned one time per year instead of being done twice.

The yearly mulch project will no longer be in place. Going forward if you have a bare area in your landscape bed and its original to the home, you will need to contact your landscaper. The area landscape manager will inspect and if you have a buildup of mulch within your beds, that excess will be handraked over to cover the bare area. If you do not have an excess of mulch, then the landscaper will only add fresh mulch in the stated bare area. Implementing this program, it reduces our yearly cost by over $500K. More information to come in the coming weeks as we roll into 2023.

From your Evergreen Lifestyles Management HOA Family to yours, may all your goals and wishes come to you, and may you be blessed with great health!

Rudy Bautista 863-701-2969 rbautista@evergreen-LM.com

Merari Santiago Compliance Coordinator

Raj Hanooman Administrative Assistant

Tinisha Ramos - Compliance Coordinator (Architectural)

Vickie Kellogg - Membership Coordinator Manager

Yolanda Santiago - Community Standards Manager

Diane He - Assistant Membership Coordinator

Doug Gilbert Communications Director

Nelly Fabre Accounts Payable

Debbie Rodriguez Compliance Coordinator

Shelley Destefano Community Concierge

New Year, Good Time for Reminders to the Clubs

BY JANA MALIK DIRECTOR OF ACTIVITIES

The Activities office is most known for producing and hosting the most fabulous events and classes for the community to enjoy. What you might not know is the amount of interaction we have with a good majority of the registered clubs in Solivita. From forming new clubs, answering their questions, reserving the Club facilities for them, getting their custom room setups (Ballroom, Mosaics, Palms and the Freedom Park pavilions), educating them on the audio and visual capabilities in the facilities, to enforcing the Guidelines and Rules for Clubs, we are in regular contact with most of the clubs in Solivita.

Whether you are a club member, are on the club board or you are just a contact for a club in Solivita, we wanted to share some of the Guidelines and Rules that are often forgotten or misunderstood:

Room Setup Time

We have noticed many clubs are entering the room they reserved way before the time they had requested when they filled out the “Resident Event Request Form.” Please note that there may be something right before your event that you may be interrupting, or housekeeping may not be finished with setting up the room for your event. Housekeeping is given a daily room setup schedule where they may be resetting several rooms, 2-3 times a day to accommodate all of the room requests, therefore they may not be finished setting your room until your reserved time. Please do not go in the room until your reserved setup time or contact the Activities office ahead of time to see if it is possible to add more setup time to your reservation.

Solivita Room Calendars are Viewable Online

Solivita residents have the ability to view all of the Solivita Room Calendars online to check availability or to check on scheduled club reservations or etc. Go to SolivitaHOA.com, Calendars &

Maps, Solivita Room Calendars and select your desired Venue and Month.

Room Reservation Day

The Solivita Room Calendars open up a year from the current month on the 2nd business day of the month starting at 9am by submitting the online Resident Event Request Form found on SolivitaHOA.com. Once there, click on Calendars & Maps, then Solivita Room Calendars and then submit the online Resident Event Request Form. Many clubs have been mistakenly sending request forms on the 1st business day of the month, confusing it with ticket sales day. Please note that a holiday does not count as a business day. Check the Reflections newsletter on the back of the calendar or in our Activities Insider email blast for the exact date. Reservations received on the day before or before 9am on the day the calendar opens, are denied and need to be resent.

Resident Event Room Request Limit

A club may send three room requests per month, for their meetings and for their special events.

One Special Event Per Month

A club may have a meeting and only one special event per month.

Catering and Alcohol

Within the Solivita Club facilities, only the Freedom Park pavilions, and the Satellite Pools allow outside caterers who hold a million dollar liability insurance certificate. Within the Solivita Club facilities (which includes all of club facility parking lots and the Chess Lawn by The Grille), alcohol MUST be provided by and purchased from Stonegate Golf Catering.

Jana’s article continued from page 6

Small Club Meetings

Board, committee or small meetings of 15 members or less, can only be booked in the Magnolia Room. If the Magnolia Room is not available, no other room is offered. We suggest looking at another date or time that will work for your club.

Freedom Park Parking Lot

If your club is going on a day or overnight trip, the Activities Department needs to be informed as the parking lot is a Club facility that also needs to be reserved.

Updated By-Laws and Contact Info

If you have any change in your club’s by-laws, leadership or contact person, you need to email us at SolivitaActivities@ Evergreen-LM.com.

Club Meeting List

Clubs have the option to list their club contact information in the Reflections Club Meeting List section and on SolivitaHOA. com under Get Connected. If you are not listed and would like to be, or if you need to change any information in Reflections, email Reflections@Evergreen-LM.com. To have your club added to the website, email Communications at SolivitaCommunications@Evergreen-LM.com.

SAVE THE DATE: Club Presidents’ Meeting

Save the date for the mandatory annual Club Presidents’ Meeting that will take place on Monday, February 27th at 2pm in the Ballroom. The President or a representative and an additional member will need to attend. We will be making calls to all clubs to review and update clubs’ contact information for our files.

Solivita Club Facilities After-Hours

Emergency Phone Number: 863-286-8779

For use on weekdays after 5pm and on weekends. This phone number is for emergencies occurring in the Solivita Club Facilities . Examples of when to call this number during hours noted above include, but are not limited to:

» Water leak (not sprinkler issues around your home)

» Power outage

» Spill (Wet Floor)

» Audio and Visual emergency assistance

» Room calendar/reservation conflict (not to make a room reservation)

» Housekeeping setup issue. *At the Ballroom, clubs are welcome to access the storage rooms. At The Palms, speak to the front desk staff person.

EMERGENCY

This Phone Number is NOT for:

» Medical emergencies – Call 911

» Solivita restaurant or Stonegate Golf Course issues – Call 863-427-7150

» HOA, or issues in or around your home

» Landscaping or Sprinkler issues – Call 863-225-9565

Here’s to all the clubs in Solivita who also Keep The Party Going!!!

Jana Malik 863-427-7125

JMalik@Evergreen-LM.com

Holiday Hours

Saturday, December 31st: New Year’s Eve

RSF & The Palms: Close at 12pm Fitness Classes: Cancelled Waterfront Galleries: Closed The Grille: 8am-3pm

Marketplace Bistro: 8am-3pm Pro Shop: 7am-12pm

Sunday, January 1st: New Year’s Day

RSF & The Palms: Open at 12pm Fitness Classes: Cancelled The Grille: 11am-8pm

Marketplace Bistro: 8am-7pm Pro Shop: 7am-5pm

Monday, January 2nd Activities: Closed

Tuesday, January 3rd Activities Ticket Sales Day: Opens at 9am. Go to SolivitaHOA.com HomePage at the Purchase Activities Event Tickets, then select the event. Clubs Ticket Sales Day: Mosaics from 10am-12pm

Fulfilling 2023!

BY SHELLEY DESTEFANO COMMUNITY CONCIERGE

When you put your heart into something, it truly identifies you. I hope you find fulfillment in life and have a meaningful New Year.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929. Sadly, he was assassinated on April 4, 1968. He is honored in this country for his heroic fight for civil rights and equality for all. He is remembered for his iconic speech “I Have a Dream” in which he envisioned freedom and liberty for everyone regardless of race or creed.

Disney’s Wilderness Preserve

If you are looking for a great walking trail nearby you can visit Disney’s Wilderness Preserve located at 2700 Scrub Jay Trail in Poinciana. Visit nature.org or call 407-935-0002 for more information.

Bok Tower Gardens

Start the year out with an annual pass to Bok Tower Gardens located at 1151 Tower Boulevard in Lake Wales. They have all kinds of events throughout the year. Their individual annual passes are $75 per adult. However, they have several annual pass options available on their website including one for family and friends for $150, which includes unlimited general admission for four adults. There are reciprocal benefits to other places for annual pass holders, so you can view that on their website as well. For example, an annual pass holder can get 50%

off general admission to the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens when you present your annual pass ID at the time of purchase. Visit boktowergardens.org or call 863-676-1408 for more information.

MLK Parade

The City of Winter Haven has organized a free MLK Parade on Saturday, January 14th at 10am located at 199 East Lake Silver Drive Northeast in Winter Haven. Visit mywinterhaven.com , whmlkparadecommission.org or call 863-291-5600 for more information.

Crystal Rivers Manatee Festival

The festival will be running on Saturday, January 14th from 9am-5pm and Sunday, January 15th from 9am-4pm located at Historic Downtown Crystal River. At the Manatee Festival, you can enjoy live music, local vendors, boat tours and food. The entrance fee is $5 per adult and kids 12 and under are free. Visit gomanateefest.com for more information.

Please visit the Concierge webpage on SolivitaHOA.com to see more events going on in the area. Luckily, my work involves helping people and I feel totally rewarded at the end of each day. My heart is content, and I wish the same for each of you. Happy New Year!!!

Community Concierge 863-427-7100 sdestefano@evergreen-LM.com

Richard Fullerton

Roger Gasa

Frederick Giannini

Len Regina

Juan Vazquez

T-shirts will be given out the morning of the event at the registration sign-in table from 8am-9am.

To register for the event, please scan the QR code to the right using your phone camera or QR scanner app and follow link to the online registration page. You can also navigate to SolivitaHOA.com > Calendar & Maps > Activities Events > Click on the Walk/Run event on the interactive calendar on February 25th.

IF YOU HAVE ANY TROUBLE REGISTERING, PLEASE CONTACT FITWELL AT 863-427-7130 OR THE PALMS AT 863-496-1530.

Co-Sponsored by the Solivita University Committee and Activities

All annual passes and January courses are on sale now from SolivitaHOA.com Home Page by clicking on the Purchase Ticket or Class HERE icon. No studying, tests or exams are given, just enlightening topics to keep your mind energized. All classes are 90 minutes long unless otherwise noted. Solivita University class calendar and faculty biographies can be found on SolivitaHOA.com under Get Connected. Adult guests welcome. For more information, call the Activities Office at 863-427-7125 or email SolivitaActivities@Evergreen-LM.com.

2023 Great Decision (GD) Discussions Annual Pass

This is an annual pass for the Foreign Policy Association who produces a study guide (which comes included in the pass) with eight of the most critical global issues facing America. Great Decisions discussions are moderated on select days as advertised. The 2023 GD Annual Pass is $42 (or $47 for two sharing a book). Go to the SolivitaHOA.com Home Page, click on the Online Merchandise Store to purchase this pass or scan the QR Code. The study guide does not arrive until early January 2023 and you will be alerted by text and email when it is ready for pick-up.

Upcoming discussion topics include: War Crimes, China and the U.S., Economic Warfare, Politics in Latin America, Global Famine, Iran at a Crossroads and Climate Migration.

January Discussion Topic : Energy Geopolitics

» Tuesday, January 10th at 11am over Zoom

» Wednesday, January 18th at 4pm in the Magnolia Room

2023 Art and Literary Lecture Pass

This pass will allow residents admittance to any of approximately 14 Art and Literary Lectures starting in January 2023 for $20 per person. Art classes, presented by Art Historian Jan Clanton, are on Tuesdays as scheduled at 1pm in the Ballroom. Literary Lectures, taught by resident Professor Thomas Gallagher, take place as scheduled on Mondays at 4pm in the Gator Room. Lectures will be advertised under the Solivita University article in Reflections

If you choose not to purchase an Annual Pass and want to attend a lecture, admission is $5 per lecture at the door. Art and Literary passes are for Art and Literary Lectures only and non-refundable.

Art Lecture – The Delights of France: Architecture, Artists and the History

Tuesday, January 10th Ballroom at 1pm Tuition: 2023 Art and Literary Lecture Pass or $5 at the door Lecturer: Jan Clanton, Art Historian Class Description: We will examine the Bayeux tapestry, Rouen Cathedral and Gauguin while in Northern France.

Next Lecture: February 7th - Paris, the City of Lights, and Highlights

Literary Lecture – The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

Monday, January 23rd Gator Room at 4pm Tuition: 2023 Art and Literary Lecture Pass or $5 at the door Professor : Thomas Gallagher, PhD Class Description: The Alice Network is a 2017 historical novel that is a New York

Times and USA Today bestseller. The story is based on the real-life World War I spy ring called the Alice Network, which operated in German-occupied France and Belgium.

Bridge Defense 102

Fridays, January 13th, 20th, 27th, February 3rd and 10th RSF2 at 1pm

Tuition: $25 per student, not including the book Instructor : Donna McIlwain 407-738-5325

Textbook : Defense in the 21st Century is to be had or ordered by students from Baron Barclay or Amazon.

Course Prerequisite: Need to have taken Bridge Defense 101 or contact the instructor to make sure you are eligible for this course.

before or are exploring it for the first time, this course enhances self-confidence, oral expression, and creativity as you acquire the tools for developing a character and a basic narrative. Active participation will be required as we engage in physical and vocal exercises and the performance of scripted monologues and scene work. Dress in appropriate clothing and be ready to engage and have some fun.

Intro to the Bible and Methods of Bible Study

6 Classes – Mondays, January 16th, 23rd, 30th, February 6th, 13th and 20th • Gator Room at 1pm Tuition: $25 per student; limited to 20 Presenters: Bob and Karen Schofield

Course Description: This is the most challenging portion of defense play. We will cover developing defensive tricks, interfering with declarer, and making a plan.

Intro to Acting 101

6 Classes - Saturday, January 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, February 4th, 11th Gator Room at 10am

Tuition: $40 per student; limited class size

Instructor : Noemi Figueroa Soulet

Course Description: An introduction to the techniques and processes essential to the actor’s craft. Whether you have acted

Course Description: The Bible is a large and complex book. It contains 66 books written by 40 authors in 3 original languages (Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic) during a span of 1,500 years. Those authors came from all walks of life (a political leader, a king, a doctor, a prime minister, a tax collector and a rabbi, among many others). In this class we will discuss the structure of the Bible, types of writing, different methods of translation and how to select the best Bible for your purpose of reading and study. We will briefly explore different study methods (Inductive, Character, Word and Reference Study, and Personal Application) and online tools available. This study is for those of any or no faith and will be presented in a non-denominational, academic manner. It is intended for those who are not familiar with the Bible or those who wish to learn how to study it.

Upcoming Spring 2023 Course

» The Men, Women and Events That Shaped Our Lives: 3 Weekly Classes starting on Tuesday, March 14th at 1pm

Noemi Figueroa Soulet

Salute

What a fun and successful event we had back in November! We raised funds for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, our Salute Our Veterans 2022 charity. We would not have been able to do it without all the participants, sponsors, Solivita volunteers and the Veterans Club of Solivita. We are excited to host this annual event next year and hope to raise even more for the selected charity. ~ Salute Our Veterans 2022 Committee

And the Golf Tournament winners are…

Closest to the Pin – Hole #4 Men - John Felton (2’6”) Ladies - Laura Kampfhenkel (16’8”)

Closest to the Pin – Hole #7 Men - Ken Sabacinski (2’) Ladies - Barbara Powell (27’4.5”)

Closest to the Pin – Hole #12 Men - Bruce Lostocco (3’4”) Ladies - No Winner

Closest to the Pin – Hole #15 Men - Ed Nikodem (3’5”) Ladies - Shirley Schultz (18’3”)

Photos by Joe Thomas

1st Place Team #18 - Douglas Felton, Mark Lux, David Ransbury and John Felton

2nd Place Team #7 - John Bailey, Bruce Lostocco, Louise Robitaille and Stephen Warboys

3rd Place Team #36 - Francisco Coves, William Keller, Tom Markovich and Jim Markovich *Names listed in no particular order.*

The

R2R

Resource Center is Here for You!

Come Meet Sheriff Grady Judd

Thursday, January 26th • 10am • Ballroom

Don’t miss it! Now is your chance to meet Sheriff Grady Judd, serving Polk County as Sheriff since 2004. He is a highly respected, dynamic, and informative speaker, who will provide you with useful information while keeping you on the edge of your seat.

Resource Center Volunteers Celebrate the Holidays!

When they aren’t answering phones, or loaning out medical equipment, unpacking carloads of donated food, clothing and furniture, or collecting holiday presents for needy children, the volunteers of Solivita’s Resident to Resident Resource Center (R2R) actually love a good party. With Office Manager Jane Thomas hosting, volunteers got in the Christmas spirit and shared food, gifts and the company of others who are part of R2R’s dedication to making life better for Solivita and the local community.

He will give an update on what’s happening in Polk County, the sheriff department, including the crime rate, and also share some useful information to help seniors (the largest demographic impacted) to win the battle against fraud and scams. Advance registration is requested. Call 863-2369973 or email SolivitaR2R@gmail.com to reserve your spot.

What’s Happening in February

Come Learn About the Birds That Live in Our Neighborhood

Tuesday, February 14th • 10am • Ballroom

Presented by Florida Fish and Wildlife.

Business/Nonprofit Organization EXPO

Tuesday, February 28th • 10am-2pm Ballroom & Mosaics

Come meet the local businesses serving you (e.g., home improvement, golf cart, furniture, design, window, solar, nonprofit organizations, and much more). Free raffle door prizes!

SPEED ENFORCEMENT

The HOA, Security and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office receive multiple complaints of speeding each week from residents and have been asked for their assistance in speed enforcement. Receiving a speeding ticket is not only financially costly, but can lead to much more serious results. A driver is six times more likely to have an accident when traveling at 25% above the posted limit.

Flags Over Solivita

Sign Up or Renew for 2023

SUBMITTED BY THE VETERANS CLUB OF SOLIVITA

The Veterans Club of Solivita is asking for your donation. Your donation may be used for one of the many charities the Veterans Club of Solivita supports, including college scholarships to local ROTC high school seniors; free and medically supervised travel to Washington D.C. in the Honor Flight Program for WWII, Korean and Vietnam veterans to visit the memorials; bingo games for the facility-bound Veterans at the VA Community Living Center at Lake Nona; the USO at the Orlando airport which provides programs and services for transition back to civilian life, and monetary donations as well as vital links to information, programming and community support for needy organizations and families. Your donation will help support and further these and other programs.

As a thank you for your donation, the Veterans Club members and non-military Solivita volunteer residents will ensure that a 3’ x 5’ American flag flies in front of your home six times a year: President’s Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day through 9/11, and Veterans Day.

Just think of it, an American flag flying in front of every home in Solivita. Over 3,400 flags were displayed throughout Solivita in 2022. Won’t you please help our cause with a $30 yearly tax-deductible contribution? (Due to rising costs and supply chain issues the cost for a flag is now $30.) One hundred percent (100%) of your contribution goes to support these charities; the Veterans Club takes no administrative fees. Note: The flags remain the property of the Veterans Club, and it is the club’s responsibility to install, remove, store, care for, and maintain the flags.

Applications are available on the Veterans Club webpage on SolivitaHOA.com or at the Concierge Desk. Please call 863-512-3655 or email flagsoversolivita@gmail.com if you have any questions or would like to volunteer.

Make checks payable to VCS and mail, along with your application, to the Veterans Club of Solivita, P.O. Box 581770, Poinciana, FL 34758, or drop in the FLAGS OVER SOLIVITA application box located in Freedom Park next to the Veterans Memorial.

Great news! Credit card payments are now available for payment. Visit the Veterans Club of Solivita website at veteransclubofsolivita.com for an electronic form or scan the QR code here.

Happy 2023, Solivita!

BY BRAD THOMPSON BRANCH MANAGER, FLORALAWN

Here’s hoping that you all had a wonderful Christmas and holiday season and are now enjoying a quieter month and our beautiful cool Florida weather! At Floralawn, as much as we love the holiday season, we’re glad to be in January. We have lots to do during the cooler months, and now we can focus on those tasks. We start preparing for spring and summer work at the beginning of the year—acquiring equipment, setting schedules, hiring new team members, re-zoning, etc.

A Quick Look Back at December

December was a full month on the cool-season bi-weekly mowing schedule. We are still on this schedule, of course, and will be until April. The detail schedule stays the same year-round.

Brown Patch Fungus, or Large Patch Fungus, continues to be a disease that we keep an eye out for. It’s a turf disease that occurs in the fall and winter, and early spring. We treat it as needed throughout the property.

Turf Care

January brings the first round of lawn fertilizer and insecticide applications. Fire ants, which are a perpetual threat in central Florida, are curbed by insecticides. Fire ants tend to make taller mounds during the cooler months in an attempt to get more

warmth from the sunshine. The taller mounds are easy for us to spot and treat.

Floralawn University

The slower growing season gives us some breathing space and time to implement employee training. We usually divide our team members into groups and rotate them through different training components. These include:

» The use of proper equipment on each job

» Using herbicides according to regulations

» Shrub pruning and tree trimming techniques

» The safe use of small equipment

Coffee Talk

Our January Coffee Talk in Mosaics will be on January 27th, beginning at 9am. Bring your questions and get your answers.

If you haven’t been to a Coffee Talk before, come and check it out. Can’t make it to the Coffee Talk? You can always call us at 863-225-9565, or if you’re in the Village, stop by the Admin building and chat with whichever friendly Floralawn person is in our office! Again, I wish you a wonderful new year, and I hope that your 2023 is full of peace, health, friends, and happiness!

Floralawn 863-225-9565 floralawn.com

Open House

BY BILL GROSS TEAM LEADER OF SOLIVITA CERT

You’ve probably heard of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), but do you know what we do? What kind of emergencies do we respond to? What equipment do we have to carry out our mission? Now’s your chance to find out.

On Monday, January 23rd, your Solivita CERT will be conducting an “Open House” at the Starlite Ballroom from 2pm until 3pm. This will be your chance to come and meet the team members and ask questions about what we do and how we do it.

Come by and check out our five major functions: Command, Search & Rescue, Medical, Communications, and Logistics. See

the equipment that each of us use during our training, drills, and emergency events. While you are there, sign up for our CheckCall-Compress (hands only CPR) and AED training. Classes are limited to 25 people and fill up quickly!

For existing CERT members, it’s your chance to talk to the leadership of each of our main groups. This way you can gain an overview of their duties and responsibilities. For more information about joining Solivita CERT, please visit our club webpage on the SolivitaHOA.com, or email us at SolivitaFL. CERT@gmail.com.

Happy Happiness Week!

BY RITA MILIOS PSYCHOTHERAPIST & HOLISTIC WELLNESS COACH, C3 WELLNESS SPA

With hurricanes and elections, this has been a stressful year. So, this January, rather than talking about resolutions and thinking about more things that we ought to do, I thought it might be nice to focus on something more uplifting. What could be more uplifting than happiness?

It just so happens that the third full week of January - the 15th to the 21st - is Happiness Week. So, it’s a good time to consider how we can bring more happiness into our lives.

Why is Happiness Important in Life?

Happiness is a very important aspect of life. Happiness correlates positively with health. Happy people have better immune systems, they deal with stress better, deal with pain better, and have a longer life expectancy. Recent new studies have correlated happiness to better cardiovascular health, including lower blood pressure, reduced risk of stroke, and better survival rates for people with heart disease. Rheumatoid arthritis patients were found to have less risk of frailty and injury, and reduced symptoms of pain.

In addition to health benefits, being happy helps our brains work and think better. Happy people are generally more productive, more engaged socially, and have better problem-solving skills. (If you’re happy, you aren’t wasting as much brain power on worrying.)

In addition to all that, being happy just feels better!

What is the Key to Happiness?

Many things contribute to our sense of happiness. Home, family, and partnership, achieving a goal, believing in a higher purpose, having a passion, and of course, being healthy, all factor into our sense of happiness. But one of the most important keys to happiness is simply being able to let go. How often do we hold on to things–worries, anger, bitterness, blame, grudges, past mistakes, guilt, and regret? While we do need to acknowledge and experience our emotions–including the painful and unwelcome ones–there is a time to say, “Okay, enough already. I’ve learned all I can from this experience and now I need to move on.” Otherwise, we remain stuck in a painful place, licking our wounds or festering with negativity, while the more pleasant aspects of life go on without us.

Most of us do prefer to be happy. So, how can we make happiness a habit, encourage it and make it more likely to be a part of our daily lives? Here are some things to practice in your daily life, that will foster happiness.

A Dozen Daily Simple Habits for Increased Happiness

1. Reach out to others.

2. Give someone a compliment.

3. Stay away from people who bring you down.

4. Count on yourself, not your circumstances, to make you happy.

5. See the big picture ... and focus on the good.

6. Talk less about your problems.

7. Don’t worry about things that you can’t control.

8. Stay present. Enjoy the moment.

9. Acknowledge your victories.

10. Trust your intuition – and go with it.

11. Break up your routine – choose a different path.

12. See the humor in things.

I’d be ever so happy to have you join me for my next Wellness Lecture. On Wednesday, January 18th in RSF2, we will be discussing “ Improving Your Personal Happiness Score.” We’ll rate our current level of happiness, look at factors that influence it positively or negatively, and discuss ways to increase our personal happiness and spread it to others. I hope to see you there!