Solivita Reflections | November 2022 (Limited Version)

REFLECTIONS

NOVEMBER 2022 VOLUME 22 ISSUE 11

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

On Friday, November 11th at 9am residents and guests of all ages are invited to join us for a special Veterans Memorial Service in Freedom Park in front of the Veterans Memorial. Though Solivita is always thankful for our veterans, on this day, we gather together to show our appreciation. Photo by Joe Thomas.

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

NOVEMBER TABLE OF CONTENTS

Newsletter Submission & Advertising Info Page 3

Department Articles Pages 4-15

Community Events Pages 16-20

Mosaics Special Nights Page 16

Wellness Events

Pages 19-20

A Touch of Class Pages 20-24

Club & Support Group Meeting Lists

Pages 25-29

Club News Pages 30-51

Neighborhood Captains News Page 52

Advertisements Pages 53-92

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

Thursday Night Movie

Insert Page E1

Events You Do Not Want to Miss Insert Pages E1 & E2

Future Events

Page 6 & Insert Page 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

» Community Channel 732: CommunityChannel@ Evergreen-LM.com

Solivita

NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS

Email submissions to Reflections@Evergreen-LM.com

DECEMBER SUBMISSIONS

Calendar submissions and newsletter articles are due on Tuesday, November 1st. Club insert copies are due by Monday, November 21st, 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.

JANUARY SUBMISSIONS

Calendar submissions and newsletter articles are due on Thursday, December 1st Solivita Clubs with recurring weekly/monthly meetings need to submit their meeting information in order to be included in the Reflections Calendar Insert for each calendar year. Please include the complete information even if it hasn’t changed, including club name, day and date of meeting, time, and location. Groups that made an annual submission for 2022 are NOT automatically carried over.

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

How to Read the Solivita Room Calendars Like an Activities Staff Pro

BY JANA MALIK DIRECTOR OF ACTIVITIES

The Activities office has seen an upsurge of Solivita clubs requesting the use of the club facilities for their meetings, card and game groups, special events, neighborhood groups, etc., which is so wonderful to see.

The Activities Team thought it would be fun to offer some tips and tricks so clubs can better understand how to read the Solivita Room Calendars, like a pro. First, where can you see all the Solivita Room Calendars? Go to SolivitaHOA.com, click on the Calendars & Maps icon at the top and click on the Solivita Room Calendars. At the very top, select the Venue you desire to see.

Tips and Tricks

1. The Solivita Room Calendar is always up to date as we add or make changes on the back end. You may need to refresh the webpage for the most updated view.

2. Each room is created differently. Some rooms have audio visual connections, some have different catering restrictions, some rooms cannot be scheduled on a recurring basis, each one has specific room capacity, etc. For each room’s guidelines, there is a link on the Solivita Room Calendars page called “Guidelines and Rules for Clubs.”

3. In the Venue drop down box, some Club facilities are combined under one name. The Satellite Pools include the Venezia, Bella Viana and Lago Vista Amenity Centers. The Freedom Park Pavilions and Parking Lot includes the Cooperstown Pavilion and the Wimbledon Pavilion. For these venues, the calendar shows the particular facility reserved for the event in capital letters followed by the event details.

4. The only person who can authorize the Activities Department to make a change to an already scheduled event in the Room Calendar is the person who booked it or the club president.

5. Whenever a change is made to a scheduled event, it is noted and kept in the calendar for ours and the club’s records. The

most recent notation is the one you read first. If there are more notations after the first one, this shows the “trail” of the event. It will be noted who made the change, the date they made the change and the staff person’s initials who made the change.

6. The most important thing to learn is the Key Symbols.

a. X = The event has been cancelled. The time slot is open.

b. A right green arrow. This means the event has moved out of the room it was scheduled in, to another date or to another room. The time slot is open. By going to the new date or room location, you will see the event added there.

c. A down blue arrow. This means the event has moved to this new date or room. The time slot is not open.

d. A green check mark . This means the event was cancelled but now has been uncancelled. The time slot is not open.

e. A green circling symbol. This means that certain rooms do not allow recurring reservations; however, they are listed as a contact in the calendar in case we need to call them to cancel them out for a club event or private party. One to two weeks’ notice is required to be given to the contact in the calendar.

f. A yellow circling symbol. This shows that clubs may be able to move to another location if we can accommodate them in another room.

7. The Room Calendars need to notate if special setup is required such as stage extensions, pianos or background sets that will be on the stage, and the day it will be taken down. This shows that certain areas will be blocked.

8. The Solivita Activities Team members are the only ones who may edit the calendar as it takes a lot of training, and each room request has to be reviewed and entered in carefully. I am proud to announce that the Activities Department has not had a double booking to date, and we are very proud of that fact!!

Karaoke

Jana’s article continued from page 4

The Holiday Season is Here

The day after we host the Salute Our Veterans Weekend events, the Club facilities will start to look festive with holiday décor. Mid-November might seem early to most people, but due to the outsourced holiday decorator’s schedule and Solivita’s schedule, we have learned from years of experience that this time frame works best. Holiday décor remains up until Saturday, January 7th.

Solivita Lifestyles Activities Committee (SLAC) – VACANT SEATS

The SLAC committee is made up of seven actively involved Solivita residents who assist in advising the Activities Program with the Solivita Activities Team. SLAC members serve a twoyear term, meeting once a month for two hours. Meeting dates are set by the majority’s calendar and around Activities events, therefore there is no set day or time each month. At this time, three seats will be vacated in January. If you are interested in discussing, brainstorming and bouncing off ideas or thoughts relating to the Activities Program, please review and fill out the form located in the Activities office or on SolivitaHOA. com; Lifestyles; Activities; Committees by November 14th

Fall Arts and Crafts Festival Important Info – Saturday, November 5th

» Village Drive will be CLOSED, except to festival vendors, from the Ballroom to the Pro Shop from 7am-5pm as we setup and take down for this huge event.

» Pets and smoking are not permitted in festival area.

» This event is open to the public from 10am-4pm in the Village Center.

» The festival supports a Fund Drive for the St. Rose of Lima Food Pantry at entrance locations.

» Check out more information in the ad in this month’s Reflections on page 9.

You too can read the Solivita Room Calendar like a Pro to Keep the Party Going!

Malik

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY HOURS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24TH & FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25TH:

» Admin, Activities & R2R Resource Center: Closed

» Riviera Spa & Fitness Center and The Palms Fitness Center: Open at 6:30am and Close at 12pm on Thanksgiving

» Stonegate Golf Courses: Close at 1pm on Thanksgiving

» The Grille & Bistro: Closed on Thanksgiving

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ENDS THIS MONTH

Daylight Saving Time officially ENDS on Sunday, November 6th at 2am. Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour before you go to bed on Saturday, November 5th!

January Activities Events Save the Date!

WINE DOWN CONCERT

Wednesday, January 4th

SILENT DANCE PARTY

Friday, January 13th

SOLIVITA CLUB EXPO

Saturday, January 14th

CURBSIDE CUISINE

Thursday, January 26th

LASER LIGHT OUTDOOR CONCERT Friday, January 27th

Salute Our Veterans November 11th-13th

Veterans Day Memorial Service & Breakfast

Friday, November 11th · 9am Freedom Park Veterans Memorial & Ballroom

$12 per person. Guest of all ages welcome. Tickets available NOW by scanning the QR Reader or go to the SolivitaHOA.com Home Page.

Golf Tournament & Awards Luncheon

Saturday, November 12th at The Oaks at Stonegate Golf Registration: 7am-8am · Shotgun Start: 8:30am

Raffles, Goody Bags and Prizes (4 Closest to the Pin, Hole in One Challenge, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place). 4 Person Scramble. $60/Person or $240/Foursome Register NOW by scanning the QR Reader or go to the SolivitaHOA.com Home Page. Deadline for registration is November 4th. For more information, please contact the Activities Department at 863-427-7125 or email SolivitaActivities@Evergreen-LM.com.

The Lovettes Show

Sunday, November 13th · 7:30pm

Starlite Ballroom

$20 General Admission; $25 Early Open Show Seating (EOSS)

Tickets available NOW by scanning the QR Reader or go to the SolivitaHOA.com Home Page.

All proceeds will benefit the Tunnel To Towers Foundation

*Refunds will not be accepted or given for any of the listed events.*

A Friendly Reminder from Your Solivita Architectural Review Office

BY YOLANDA SANTIAGO COMMUNITY STANDARDS MANAGER

If you are making any changes to the exterior of your home, you will need to check with the Compliance Department to find out if an Architectural Review Committee (ARC) Application form needs to be submitted and reviewed for approval. The following is a helpful guide, but not inclusive.

Landscape Alterations

For adding or removing plants, shrubs, and trees, you will need to submit an ARC application form. If it is in an existing plant bed, photos need to be attached marked with the location of the new landscaping or the landscaping that will be removed. If you are adding a new plant bed, extending existing plant beds, or planting trees, we will need a current survey marked with the location of the beds and trees. We also need a proposal from the landscape company doing the work with the type, size and number of the plants, shrubs, or trees to be planted.

Home or Yard Decorations

For statuary or wall art, you will need to submit an ARC application form. You will need to supply us with a photo of the statuary or wall art, along with the location. Yard art cannot exceed 36” high and 36” wide. Fountains can be no more than 60” high and must be in working order.

House Painting

If you would like to paint your house the same colors or change your exterior colors, you will need to submit an ARC application form. If you are painting your house the same colors, it would be considered an express approval. We will need to confirm the exterior colors we show for your home, so you will need to come into our office, so we can show you the colors. If you are changing your exterior colors, you can choose from our approved exterior paint packages or supply us with paint swatches marked with the location for each color for review.

Screen Enclosures, Screen Lanai, Screen Front or Side Entry

You will need to submit an ARC application form. For a screen enclosure, we will need a survey marked with the location, along with a drawing with detailed specifications from the vendor. For a screen lanai, screen front or side entry, we do not need a survey, but we will need a drawing with detailed specifications.

Fence

You will need to submit an ARC application form. A survey is required marked with the location, along with a drawing with detailed specifications. The only approved fence is a 4-foot high, black aluminum, three rail flat top fence and mulch or tan color river rocks with border edging must be installed around fencing. Minimum width for a gate is 42 inches. If you back up to a pond or conservation area, the fence must be 5 feet forward from the back property line.

Solar Tubes, Solar Panels

You will need to submit an ARC application form. We will need a proposal from the vendor with specifications, along with an aerial view of your house marked with the location.

Pool, Spa

You will need to submit an ARC application form. We will need a drawing with detailed specifications, along with a survey marked with the location.

Install Pavers

You will need to submit an ARC application form. We will need a photo of the pavers, a proposal from the vendor installing them and a survey marked with the location.

For more information on Architectural Standards in Solivita, please refer to SolivitaHOA.com. If you are not registered, you will need to register first. After you log in, click on the HOA icon, then scroll down and click on the Compliance icon, then click on Architectural Review Requirements. There is a Table of Contents that will be helpful in finding the category you are inquiring about.

Please call the Compliance Office at 863-427-7022 or me at 863-427-7032 with any questions you may have. We are open Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm. Our email address is Compliance@SolivitaHOA.com. The Architectural Review Committee meets on the first and third Monday of each month unless it is a holiday.

Enjoy the Holiday Season!

Yolanda Santiago 863-427-7032 YSantiago@Evergreen-LM.com

Solivita

Co-Sponsored by the Solivita University Committee and Activities

November classes and Annual Passes are on sale now by scanning the QR Reader or go to the SolivitaHOA. com Home Page. On the Home Page there is a Purchased Ticketed Event or Class HERE button. 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 863-4277125 or email SolivitaActivities@Evergreen-LM.com.

Great Decision (GD) Discussions

Each year the Foreign Policy Association produces a study guide with nine of the most critical global issues facing America. Great Decisions discussions are moderated in person by Thomas Gallagher Ph.D and virtually by Mary Ellen Roberts and Len Trushkowsky.

2022 Great Decision (GD) Discussions Annual Pass –COMPLIMENTARY ENTRANCE

Check out their discussion at The Palms, no material provided, to see what it is all about at no charge.

November Discussion Topic: Biden’s Agenda

» Tuesday, November 8th at 11am over Zoom

» Wednesday, November 16th at 4pm in The Palms

2023 Great Decision Discussion Annual Pass and Book –

ORDER NOW

The 2023 GD Annual Pass cost will be $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.

2022 Art and Literary Lecture Pass –REDUCED PRICE

This pass will allow residents admittance to any of approximately two Art and Literary Lectures remaining this year for $10.

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. 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 Literature Lectures only and are non-refundable.

Art Lecture – Van Gogh

Tuesday, November 15th Ballroom at 1pm

Tuition: 2022 Art and Literary Lecture Pass or $5 at the door

Self-Portrait, by Vincent Van Gogh, 1889. Editorial Credit: Everett Collection / Shutterstock.com.

Lecturer: Jan Clanton, Art Historian Class Description: There’s been a lot of recent interest in Vincent Van Gogh. He had a tortuous life, only sold one painting and was accused of being mad. We will examine all of this and see the myriad of influences that made this man the harbinger of modern art!

Literary Lecture – How to Talk to Anyone by Leil Lowndes

Monday, November 21st Gator Room at 4pm

Tuition: 2022 Art and Literary Lecture Pass or $5 at the door

Professor : Thomas Gallagher, PhD

Class Description: Ninety-two little tricks for big success in relationships.

Bridge Defense 101

Fridays, November 11th, 18th, 25th, December 2nd and 9th RSF2 at 1pm

Tuition: $25 per student, not including the book

Instructor : Donna McIlwain

Textbook : Defense in the 21st Century is to be ordered by

students from Baron Barclay or Amazon.

Class Information: The class will vote whether to skip November 25th and add December 16th.

Course Description: Bridge players spend half of their time at the table defending the hand. This course will help that time

Yard of the Month

Hurricane Ian came through Solivita, but spared us major damage. After the storm cleanup by Floralawn, our judges chose 633 Villa Park as our Yard of the Month. Annette Ifill takes great pride in her lovely yard that she planted when she moved here. Her care and attention to detail shows through with the eclectic art pieces, pottery, and diversity of plants in her landscape. Autumn has come to Solivita and who will be chosen as our next Yard of the Month?

Solivita University

spent to be more valuable. This 5-week course will cover Opening Leads, Second and Third Hand Play and will include some work on Signals.

Continuation Course: Bridge Defense 102 will be offered on Fridays starting in January 2023.

Upcoming Winter 2023 Schedule

»

2023 Art and Literary Lecture Pass on select dates throughout the year

»

2023 Great Decision Discussions on select Zoom and inperson dates throughout the year

» Bridge Defense 102: 5 weeks starting on Friday, January 13th at 1pm

» Intro to Acting: 8 weeks starting on Saturday, January 14th at 10am

» Intro the Bible and Methods of Bible Study: 6 weeks starting on Monday, January 16th at 1pm

» History Through Film Series-Historical Perspective : 3 weeks starting Tuesday, March 14th at 1pm

The R2R Resource Center is Here for You!

Senior Self-Defense Class

Tuesday, November 1st • 10am • The Palms

Polk County Sheriff’s Office Crime Prevention Team created a new program just for seniors! They will conduct their new Gold STAR (Safety - Tactics - Awareness - Response) class. The class includes common sense safety tips on how to avoid being the victim of a crime and provides hands-on training using the body opponent bag (BOB) helps drive the points home. Register by calling the Resource Center at 863-236-9973 or emailing SolivitaR2R@gmail.com.

Monster Food Drive

Thursday, November 3rd • 10am-2pm • Freedom Park

Please consider donating non-perishable food items to those in need! The most needed items are:

» Canned vegetables, fruit, meat, juices, and pasta sauce

» Rice, beans, pasta and macaroni & cheese

» Peanut butter and cereal

» Diapers

» Monetary donations - make checks payable to St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church: Food Pantry and/or St. Ann’s Catholic Church: St. Vincent de Paul Society

information needed to oversee what needs to get done. Topics will include:

1. Picking the right health care agent

2. Medical treatment decisions

3. How comfortable I want to be

4. How I want to be treated

5. What I want my loved ones to know

Things to Do Over the Holidays

Tuesday, November 29th • 10am • The Palms

Local experts will be here to discuss their favorite holiday activities, from parades and fairs to musical performances. Whether you are looking for something to do with the grandchildren or just with friends, the options are impressive. While some of the most spectacular celebrations like “ICE” at Gaylord Palms, come with a price tag, others like Kissimmee’s Festival of Lights Parade are free of charge.

Preparing for End of Life Presentation

Thursday, November 10th • 10am • The Palms

No one likes to think about the end of their life, but we want to make sure our family is clear about our wishes and have the

Before long, it will be snowing in Celebration and holiday lights will lead visitors through a magical maze at Leu Gardens. The Nutcracker ballet and Trans-Siberian Orchestra will carry on traditions that are part of the holidays for so many of us. Of course, each of the theme parks will go overboard to celebrate the happiest time of the year. Register by calling the Resource Center at 863-236-9973 or email SolivitaR2R@gmail.com.

R2R Resource Center 863-236-9973 SolivitaR2R@gmail.com

A Holiday Gathering!

BY SHELLEY DESTEFANO COMMUNITY CONCIERGE

Gather around and feast your eyes upon the important dates and things going on in the area this month.

Vote in the General Election

General elections are on November 8th, so do not forget to vote.

If you need your voting card or information, visit polkelections. com or call the Supervisor of Elections at 863-534-5888.

Veterans Day: November 11th

Once known as Armistice Day, this holiday was officially approved to be celebrated on November 11th on June 1, 1954. On this day we honor and remember all the veterans who have served our country.

Thanksgiving: November 24th

In 1621, the pilgrims and Wampanoag Native American/ Indigenous people partook of a harvest feast. This is acknowledged as the first Thanksgiving. Our forefathers continued celebrating Thanksgiving in their own fashion for the next 200 years in different colonies and states. In 1861, as civil war raged, President Lincoln declared Thanksgiving Day to be celebrated in November.

Orlando Veterans Day Parade

The parade will be on Saturday, November 12th from 11am1pm. There is no fee, and the parade route starts at Robinson Street and Orange Avenue. Please visit orlando.gov for more information.

30th Annual Pioneer Day Festival

Osceola History will present the 30th Annual Pioneer Day Festival on Saturday, November 12th from 10am-4pm at Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek (2491 Babb Road). This entryfree event will have local food vendors, live music, arts and crafts for sale and more. If you like history and education, then you might enjoy this family-friendly event. For more information, please visit osceolahistory.org.

The Honey Bee Craft Fair

The fair will be on Saturday, November 12th from 9am-4pm at 165 E. Main Street in Bartow. This event will have craft vendors, honey vendors, bee observation areas, a car show and more. Visit mainstreetbartowfl.com for more information.

The Festival of Trees

The festival will be going on from November 13th-21st from 10am-5pm daily at the Orlando Museum of Art (2416 N. Mills Avenue in Orlando). Ticket prices are $20 per adult and $12 for seniors. For more information, visit omart.org.

Asian Lantern Festival: Into the Wild

The festival will be going on from November 18th through January 15th at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens (3755 W. Seminole Boulevard in Sanford). This ticket is separate from the regular zoo entrance ticket. To purchase tickets and for more information, please visit centralfloridazoo. org/lanterns

The Haven Holiday Market

The market will take place on Saturday, November 19th from 10am-4pm located at 469 W. Central Avenue in Winter Haven. This is a free family and pet friendly event. They will have vendors, food trucks, live music, local authors and more. For more information, visit centralfloridaeventvendors.com/havenholiday-market.

Holinights Celebration

The event will be going on from November 25th through December 24th from 5pm-10pm. This is a free holiday celebration with Santa Claus, a 40’ Christmas tree, a car show and more. Visit sunsetwalk.com for more information.

The Wonder House

The Wonder House, located at 1075 Mann Road in Bartow, is now a private residence offering historic tours. Please visit wonderhousebartow.com/historic-tours for more information.

Please look at the Concierge Page on SolivitaHOA.com for more to do in the area. Share warmth, laughter, joy, and unforgettable memories this Thanksgiving. Maybe you cannot be with your family over the holidays. Sometimes the people that are furthest away from you are the ones that you love most. Just know that you can carry them in your heart and that their blessings are upon you. Distance does not divide love!

Community Concierge 863-427-7100 SDestefano@Evergreen-LM.com

Happy Thanksgiving Month!

BY BRAD THOMPSON BRANCH MANAGER, FLORALAWN

This month marks six years of service to you at Solivita as your lawn care and landscaping provider! We thoroughly enjoy working in this incredible community.

Present and Future

Our off-season mowing schedule begins this month. Because grass grows much more slowly in the fall weather, we only need to mow every two weeks instead of our regular weekly schedule. We will continue a biweekly mowing schedule until the end of March 2023. Our detailing schedule will remain the same.

Visit SolivitaHOA.com to see our winter schedules or call us at 863-225-9565 if you have questions. You may also stop by our office in the Solivita Admin building to chat with a Floralawn representative.

We will work this month more heavily on pruning the clumps of Fakahatchee grasses throughout the Solivita community. Not sure what Fakahatchee grass is? Look for the native grass that grows in tall clumps on both Solivita Boulevard in the center median and in Solivita’s common areas.

Brown Patch & Gray Leaf Spot

Both Brown Patch Fungus and Gray Leaf Spot are increasing concerns as we head into the cooler months of the year. We continue to keep a close eye on these fungi, applying chemical controls to prevent any infection and spread.

Brown Patch Fungus starts growth at the base of blades of grass, causing it to deteriorate until it is easily removed. Grass blades infected with Brown Patch turn yellow first and then brown.

The damage spreads in a circular pattern.

Brown Patch Fungus mainly affects St. Augustine grass, which is the prominent grass at Solivita, as well as Bahia, Bermuda, Centipede, and other turf grasses. During cooler months, St. Augustine grass will remain moist for long periods during the day. This environment facilitates Brown Patch occurrence.

Gray Leaf Spot disease thrives more during the summer months due to humid weather that also creates a moist environment. Even though it’s November, central Florida turfgrasses are still vulnerable to disease. As a result, we will be looking for Gray Leaf Spot, too.

Questions?

If you have any questions or concerns about your lawn, call us at 863-225-9565 or stop by our office in the Admin building.

Coffee Talk

I have no Coffee Talk scheduled for November. The next Coffee Talk will take place in January.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

Holiday lighting and decorations shall be permitted to be placed upon the exterior portions of the home and upon the lot in a manner permitted hereunder commencing on Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 24th) and shall be removed no later than Sunday, January 15th. The ACC may establish standards for holiday lights. The ACC may require the removal of any lighting that creates a nuisance (e.g., unacceptable spillover to an adjacent home).

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A Time for Gratitude & Thankfulness

BY RITA MILIOS PSYCHOTHERAPIST & HOLISTIC WELLNESS COACH, C3

In November, the festive holiday season gets into full swing, with Thanksgiving kicking off a whirlwind of traditional celebrations, including Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s Eve, that keep our social schedules full.

During the holidays we usually make a greater effort to reconnect with family and friends, reenergize our relationships, and express our love more openly. Shared meals, parties, festivities, and gift exchanges help make this a joyful and fun season. Thanksgiving, perhaps more so than the other celebrations, gives us an uncommon opportunity to reflect on an ideal that is often undervalued in our increasingly self-focused society. For Thanksgiving is solely focused on increasing our awareness of what we feel grateful for, and the importance of demonstrating these feelings.

Recently, researchers have begun studying gratitude and thankfulness more carefully. At Indiana University they created a “Pay It Forward” gratitude task and measured the results in a brain scanner. Findings showed that gratitude is “a unique emotion…it is akin to empathy but with more of a pro-social component.” The researchers also found that gratitude “motivates and reinforces the making of mutually beneficial choices.”

Is there a Difference Between Gratitude and Thankfulness?

We often think of gratitude and thankfulness as being the same thing, but there are subtle differences. While gratitude is a positive feeling within our own minds, thankfulness often involves an action or outward gesture...it is an overt demonstration of the feeling of gratitude.

The Thanksgiving holiday helps us be more aware of things that we are grateful for. We reflect on ways, large and small, in which we feel that we have been blessed. Yet, we don’t always take the next step and commit to outwardly demonstrating these feelings. If we do so, we can gain more of the following benefits:

• Improved Physical Health: Having gratitude and expressing thankfulness is beneficial to your heart. Studies show that doing so lowers both stress and blood pressure. In addition, you’ll experience improved sleep and improved immune function.

• Improved Mental and Emotional Health: People who regularly express gratitude and thankfulness for the positive things in their lives report having better overall moods and increased feelings of happiness.

• Improved Relationships: People who regularly have feelings of gratitude, and who demonstrate thankfulness, also report having a greater sense of being loved and enjoying more supportive social connections.

How to Demonstrate Thankfulness

If you often feel grateful, you may want to acknowledge these feelings more regularly to your family and friends. Let your supporters know that you appreciate them and are grateful for their presence in your life. Here are some ways you can acknowledge and demonstrate your feelings of gratitude and thankfulness:

• Speak It: Sometimes we expect that others will “just know” how we feel. Even if this is so, it is always nice to be told directly that we are appreciated, and the specific ways in which we have made a difference in someone’s life.

• Show It: Be alert for ways that you can return a favor or kindness. Perhaps you can assist a friend or family member with a task; or you can give them a small gift to thank them for their act of kindness.

• Prove It: Outwardly acknowledging your gratitude once is nice. By regularly doing so, you can prove to the people you care about that you are continually noticing the nice things they do, and that you appreciate them for being the kind people that they are.

In celebration of the ideals of Thanksgiving, I’d like to invite you to join me on Wednesday, November 16th at 2pm in the Riviera Spa & Fitness Center (RSF2), for the November Wellness Lecture on Expressing Our Gratitude and Thankfulness. Together we will explore four research-based strategies for turning an occasional attitude of gratitude into a lasting and beneficial habit that will positively affect both yourself and others as well.