Harmony Life - February 2021

Page 1

FEBRUARY 2021

MEET

THE WRIGHT FAMILY T H E P U B L I C AT I O N F O R T H E R E S I D E N T S O F H A R M O N Y A PUBLICATION OF QUANTUM MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS, LLC Photo by Studio NINE 13


Free delivery in Nona, St. Cloud or Harmony

NEW! Reflective Vinyl Decals From 2” up to 48”! Lots of designs or create your own custome decal

Handmade custom face masks with your company, picture, favorite team and more!! Limited Time Item only $10 Full color design of your choice

Perfect for your car, laptop, waterbottle or as full size wall decor

407-593-6984 WE ARE NOW OPEN AGAIN! With ALL NEW INVENTORY for SPRING

Accessories

Clothes for Girls & Boys

and SO much more!!!

1037

Authorized Reseller


LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

FEBRUARY 2021

A publication of Quantum Marketing Communications, LLC www.QMCWorld.com

PUBLISHER & CEO

Bill Bokunic 321.331.6398 Bill@QMCWorld.com

Welcome to the February edition of Harmony Life Magazine. Harmony Life Magazine is produced by residents for residents. Please feel free to message me directly with content and pictures: Bill@QMCWorld.com Remember to join the Facebook Harmony Residents Forum.

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Renée Blair Blair Creative Group, Inc.

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY

Please remember to support our advertisers. It is because of them that we are able to bring you this publication monthly.

Kristin Macari Studio Nine 13

Harmony Life Magazine is looking for families to be featured on the cover of our publication. Please email me directly if you are interested or would like to nominate a family.

CONTRIBUTORS

Steve Berube Chairman HCDD and President HROA Jeanine Corcoran The Corcoran Connection

See you in March!

Kerul Kassel, PHD

Bill Bokunic Publisher Bill@QMCWorld.com

Hamony CDD Board Member

Teresa Kramer

Chair, Hamony CDD

Stephanie Milfeld Z&Q–A Children's Boutique The opinions expressed in the Harmony Life Magazine articles are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinions of Quantum Marketing Communications, Harmony Life Magazine or the Publisher.

Follow Us on Facebook Harmony Life Magazine

Harmony Life Magazine, Quantum Marketing Communications, LLC and the Publisher can, in no way whatsoever, be held responsible for the content of such views, nor can it be held liable for any direct or indirect damage that may arise from such views. All rights reserved. No part of any Quantum Marketing Communications, LLC published work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher.

Harmony Life Magazine

CONTACT INFO FOR RESIDENTS CDD HarmonyCDD.org, 407-566-1935 Teresa, Dan, Steve, Mike, or Kerul@HarmonyCDD.org SHERIFF, NON-EMERGENCY 407-348-2222 HROA

Association Solutions, 811 Mabette St., Kissimmee 407-847-2280, MyHOASolution.com

CONDOS HOA

Sentry Management, 407-846-6323

TOWNHOMES HOA HARMONY DEVELOPER OFFICE

Association Solutions, 811 Mabette St., Kissimmee 407-847-2280, MyHOASolution.com 407-891-8358, HarmonyFL.com

SPECTRUM CABLE / INTERNET

877-892-3279

CENTURY LINK CABLE / INTERNET

866-314-4148

OUC ELECTRIC

407-957-7373

ADVANCED DISPOSAL – OSCEOLA 407-605-3892 3501 Pug Mill Rd. Kissimmee, FL 34741 OsceolaFL@advanceddisposal.com OSCEOLA COUNTY COUNTY COMMISSIONER RICKY BOOTH

Osceola.org “Citizen Action Center” ricky.booth@osceola.org


COVER STORY

Where did you move from? We came here from Jensen Beach, FL, where we lived for a couple of years. Prior to that, I was from Atlanta, Georgia and Kim came to Florida from Washington state.

MEET

THE WRIGHT FAMILY What is… Your name? Mike Wright Your spouse’s name? Kim Wright Your childrens’ names? Cameron (age 4) and Carter (age 2). Your pet’s name? Apollo, mixed breed. When did you move to Harmony? November 2017. What street do you live on? Cordgrass Place. What do you love most about Harmony? We love the family feel of it. With two rambunctious little boys running around now, it’s important to us that they can run around safely, explore, and just generally be themselves. At this point, we’ve walked, run, strolled, biked, scootered, or power-wheeled over just about every inch of this place as a family! What are your kids’ favorite things about Harmony? From playgrounds to splash pads to trails and lakes, it’s a great area to explore and a wonderous place for little minds to learn. Both our kids love the playgrounds, and the splash pad is a particular favorite of theirs when it’s warmer. The fact that there are sidewalks everywhere is great, especially as the boys are learning to ride bikes and scooters. Cameron, especially, is extremely social, so having other 2 Harmony Life Magazine | February 2021

What do you miss most? From Jensen Beach, we especially miss the peacocks! Our neighborhood had a handful of peacocks that roamed around and would often sit on our front porch railing or swing and hang out. It was always a treat to see them strutting down our street or in our yard. We also really miss playing beach volleyball. We were both in a co-ed league when we lived there and we played every season! Most of our friends there were made through the volleyball league. What is your background? I’ve worked in the Defense sector for my entire 20-year career. I graduated with a bachelor’s in business from University of Georgia in 2001 and began working as a systems architect at Fort Gordon, GA. Now, my career focus is on business growth within the Defense industry. Kim is a Registered Nurse with more letters behind her name than I can count, and she now serves as the Trauma Program Director at a regional hospital. We both push each other and, I believe, make each other better. Since teaming up with her, we’ve both sought and earned advanced degrees, made numerous career moves, bought and sold houses, and had two kids. Quite a life so far! What is a good story about Harmony? There are so many! In early November of 2017, our house wasn’t quite finished being built. We would make trips just about every weekend to check out progress. One weekend, we found an invitation on our newly installed kitchen island to a “Friendsgiving” event on our street that was taking place just before we moved in. We attended and got to meet all of our lovely neighbors, even before we closed on our house! Then there’s the time Cameron, two years old at the time, snuck out our front door and ran across the street to a kind neighbor who thankfully kept their eye on him until we ran out to get him. What is unusual or unique about Harmony, in comparison to your previous home? As a runner, I can honestly say I’ve never lived in a more runnable neighborhood. The fact that there are bike lanes nearly everywhere is perfect for me. I’ve never once felt in danger of being struck by a vehicle while running here, something I commonly felt in other places I’ve lived. What is your favorite weekend activity? Before COVID, I would have said theme parks. Since the pandemic hit, we’ve been mostly keeping

to ourselves and enjoying everything Harmony has to offer. We love to walk down to Lakeshore Park, hit the trails with the boys, or head down to the farmers’ market on Sundays. Lately, we’ve been chasing the boys around a lot as they ride bikes/scooters or drive around in their power wheels. Is there a neighbor experience you are most proud of? We love how our neighbors treat our boys. We certainly know they can be a handful, but our neighbors—in particular our next door neighbors—are incredibly gracious toward them. Even though their kids are significantly older, they often bring our boys over to jump on their trampoline or play at their house. I feel like our boys have basically adopted our neighbor’s kids as older siblings. Are there any recommendations for other neighbors? Get out there and take advantage of everything Harmony has to offer! While I’m not sure I want more people out there, I’d say the trails, in particular, are an undervalued resource here. What do you do for fun? We’re definitely looking forward to getting back to theme parks and concerts more regularly when the pandemic settles down. Before COVID, we would go to theme parks several times a month and attend several concerts each year. We also love going up to the Boxi Park area in Lake Nona and enjoying the restaurants, live music, and atmosphere. For travel, we’ve always enjoyed cruises and we even got married on a cruise ship. COVID has really taken its toll on most of the activities we enjoy most, but thankfully we’re finally starting to see a light at the end of that tunnel. Finally, pool construction is almost complete at our house, so we’re really looking forward to splashing around in there with the boys when it’s done! What was the last movie that you have seen in the theatre? “Star Wars Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker.” Hard to believe it’s been that long! What is your favorite TV Show?? Lately, one of our favorites has been “The Masked Singer.” We can’t wait for the next season! Who is your role model and why? My dad is one of my key role models. As our boys grow up, I think a lot about how he guided and taught me when I was a boy and I hope I can be as good a dad to our boys as he has been to me. What else should we know about you or your family? We won “best dressed” at last year’s murder mystery dinner theater event here in Harmony. If an event like that takes place again, all I can say is… bring your A-game, folks! n

KRISTIN MACARI OF STUDIO NINE 13

kids nearby to play with has been fun for him. He’s made a good friend his own age just down the street from us, and even many of the “adult kids” on our street greet him by name now.


Low Inventory UNDER CONTRACT

SOLD

SOLD

6625 Harper Way 3 Bed | 2 Bath 1571 sq ft by Jeanine Corcoran

3358 Cat Brier Trail 4 Bed | 4 Bath & 2 Half Baths | 3721 sq ft by Jeanine Corcoran

3376 Sagebrush St 4 Bed | 2 Bath 1859 sq ft by Donna Brumbelow

$271,990

$525,000

$274,600

UNDER CONTRACT UNDER CONTRACT UNDER CONTRACT

FOR SALE

2875 Harmonia Hammock

4 Bed | 2 Bath 1828 sq ft by Donna Brumbelow

3272 Songbird Cir 3 Bed | 3 Bath 3000 sq ft by Jeanine Corcoran

7103 Harmony Sq Dr 3 Bed | 2.5 Bath 1668 sq ft by Jeanine Corcoran

$315,000

$294,990

$339,000

$200,000

3121 Songbird Circle 3 Bed | 3 Bath | 1953 sq ft by Jeanine Corcoran

SOLD

3136 Dark Sky Dr 5 Bed | 3 Bath 3294 sq ft by Jeanine Corcoran

$400,000

UNDER CONTRACT UNDER CONTRACT 3159 Dark Sky Dr 5 Bed | 3 Bath 3147 sq ft by Jeanine Corcoran

6719 Grace Hammock 3 Bed | 2 Bath 1504 sq ft by Jeanine Corcoran

6837 Goldflower Ave 3 Bed | 2 Bath 1617 sq ft by Donna Brumbelow

SOLD

UNDER CONTRACT

$415,000

$256,900

$265,000

$235,900

3470 Sagebrush St 2 Bed | 2 Bath 1426 sq ft by Donna Brumbelow

Ask us about your Free 1-Year Golf Membership! Jeanine Corcoran - Broker | Owner The Corcoran Connection 407-953-9118 - office 407-922-3308 - cell Jeanine@TheCorcoranConnection.com TheCorcoranConnection.com Serving all of your Real Estate Needs

Connect with us on Social Media!


LOVE YOURSELF! By Stephanie Milfeld

But I want to talk more about SELF-LOVE. Guys, listen—I am a lover! I love to cheer others on, hold them high, sing their praises, but I’ve had a hard time doing the same for myself for as long as I can remember. I constantly second guess my decisions, always ask for another opinion before making big decisions, and rarely take time for me. But my word for the year is CONSISTENCY and one of the things I was adamant about was not only being consistent in moving my body every day but was loving myself. Here are just a few things you can do to LOVE YOURSELF: • Say an affirmation about yourself out loud

• Compliment yourself on even the smallest wins • Turn on your favorite playlist • Create a gratitude list • Have a pamper session • Enjoy your fav food, GUILT FREE • Take a nap • Go for a walk • Start a new book • Let go of toxic friendships/relationships

COURTESY STEPHANIE MILFELD

H

APPY FEBRUARY!! The season for love…or so they tell us. Honestly, I have never been a huge Valentine’s day person. Do you have a tradition? Do you give your partner a special gift or do you keep it low key? My husband and I don’t do gifts, but we HAVE gone to eat at a Mexican restaurant every year since we were dating because it’s never crowded. I don’t know why? I mean if I had to choose a food that screamed love to me, it would be tacos and queso, but to each their own.

Think about it like this: when your phone is at 10% what do you do? You plug it in and let it recharge. Why do you let your body run at 10%? At the end of the day YOU need to take care of YOU. It’s OK that you aren’t the same person you were 1, 5, 10 years ago. You are not supposed to remain stagnant. You are made to change and grow and evolve. But in order to do that, we have to nourish our bodies and take care of ourselves and love ourselves.

1037 New York Ave and we are open 7 days a week. We now also carry an entire line of Youth XS–Adult XL items, including those from Simply Southern. Stop in anytime or visit us at the next Monthly Market on Wednesday Feb 27th from 5-9pm where the city shuts down New York Ave., 11th street and Pennsylvania Avenue, to host 75+ vendors for a fun evening celebrating the artists, crafters and small businesses in our area.

So take time for yourself today and everyday and come to downtown St. Cloud and visit some of the amazing little boutiques, eateries and services offered here in our hometown.

Stephanie Milfeld Z and Q – A Children's Boutique 1037 New York Ave. Saint Cloud, FL 34769 www.zandq.com @zandqboutique

Z and Q – A Children’s Boutique is located at

PROVIDING AFFORDABLE AND CONVENIENT PLANNING SERVICES Wills • Living Trusts • Lady Bird Deeds Powers of Attorney • Health Care Proxies Living Wills • Probate Avoidance Strategies LLC & S-Corp Formation and Management

Call Today to Start Preparing for Your Future Scott Farnsworth

Attorney & Counselor Harmony Resident Since 2007

407-725-7055 • www.WillandTrustExpress.com

10069 University Blvd. • Orlando, FL 32817 (Corner of 417 and University) Available to Meet for Appointments in Harmony, St. Cloud & Narcoossee 4 Harmony Life Magazine | February 2021


February 2021 | Harmony Life Magazine 5


HERE FOR ALL YOUR MORTGAGE NEEDS!

What Our Team Can Offer You:

Great interest rates

Fast and on time closings

Personalized service and clear communication

A variety of loan programs to fit your needs

Purchases

Refinances

New Builds

Mention this ad for $500 off closing costs*

Scan To Apply

V

Contact Me

Julie Bretz-Swinarski Branch Manager - NMLS 926133 Direct: 407-758-3443 julie.bretz@cfi.mortgage www.cfimortgagesfl.com

Christensen Financial, Inc. - NMLS 112516 | 860 N.SR 434 Altamonte Springs, FL 32714 *Only one use per household. Coupon has no cash value. Credit will be applied at loan closing. Offer expires June 30, 2021.This letter is for information purposes only and is not an advertisement to extend customer credit as defined by Section 12 CFR 1026.2 Regulation Z. Programs available to qualified borrowers and rates, terms and conditions are subject to change at any time without notice. All products are subject to credit, income and property approval. Other underwriting terms, conditions and some restrictions may apply. Mortgage license status may be checked at www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org.

NOW SELLING! From the $200s

At Twin Lakes, extraordinary lakeside living is on the horizon. Centered around a magnificent 20,000 square foot clubhouse on the tranquil shores of Live Oak Lake, you’ll enjoy boating, kayaking, and amenities usually reserved for fine resorts. Jones Homes USA offers a variety of innovative home designs with an unheard of combination of luxury features and unique amenities. When you compare, you’ll find Twin Lakes offers exceptional value with luxurious included features that are usually an upgrade with other builders.

407-988-3222 | JonesHomesUSA.com Twin Lakes is a 55+ active adult community. All prices, terms and availability are subject to change without notice. CRC#046154

FITNESS CENTER NOW OPEN! 6 Harmony Life Magazine | February 2021

MODELS OPEN DAILY

4910 Twin Lakes Blvd, St Cloud FL 34772


DID YOU KNOW? By Kerul Kassel PHD Hamony CDD Board Member

D

ID YOU KNOW that Harmony was designed to promote the peaceful coexistence of human and animal residents within the community while striking a balance between the preservation, use and enjoyment of Harmony's natural areas? Harmony incorporates natural and human-built environments that blend in ways designed to enhance the relationships between humans and animals and maximize the benefits of their peaceful coexistence. While retaining natural areas, Harmony is part of a human-dominated landscape where our actions profoundly affect the welfare of wild animals. Were you aware that, as a resident, one of our Harmony amenities is the ability to reserve kayaks, canoes, and battery-powered pontoon boats to tool around Buck Lake? Did you know there was even a Buck Lake? You can visit Buck Lake at its lovely main docks, which are off the parking lot near the recreation area (volleyball and basketball courts off the Schoolhouse Road / Cat Brier Trail traffic circle) with an access card between sunrise and sunset. The docks there extend out over the water and it’s a lovely place to fish or just relax and enjoy the beauty of the lake. To get access, you’ll need a Harmony access card, which you can find out more about obtaining on the home page at HarmonyCDD.org (scroll down to Harmony Swim Club, as these are the same cards you use for accessing the swimming pools). Of course, you can also visit Buck Lake via the two boardwalks and platforms off of the Lakeshore Park path, west of the soccer field, without an access card. One platform has a pretty pergola with a swing, it’s a place for serenity and reflection. The other platform is more set up for fishing and has benches at the back. If you’d prefer to spend time on the water, as long as you are have taken a boating orientation course and signed a boat usage agreement, and paid a damage deposit, you can reserve and then take out these vessels between 8am and 5pm. Our field services personnel get the boats ready for you, meet you at your reservation time and again meet you upon your return. They will help you get aboard whichever vessel you’ve reserved, if needed, and get off when you return, and will properly stow the vessel when you’re through with it. Lots of people hesitate to take out kayaks and canoes because they’re concerned about being closer to alligators. Yes, there are alligators in Buck Lake! However, they go the other way when they see a boat coming, even a kayak. I’ve been on kayaks and canoes out on Buck Lakes dozens of times and have never had an alligator approach. That’s no absolute guarantee, of course, and if you feel strongly that you prefer to be more protected, we have several pontoon boats at your service. Weekends are, of course, busier than the rest of the week, so reserve early. The pontoon boats have been more popular so the canoes and kayaks are generally more available. Early morning is a magical time to be out of the lake, especially close to the shoreline, with the sun reflecting off the water and shimmering onto the trees, but any time of the day is wonderful. Take advantage of this wonderful amenity! Contact me if you’d like to go kayaking together at kerul@me.com. n February 2021 | Harmony Life Magazine 7


Free 1-Year Golf Membership! Playing the #1 Rated links course just got easier! Contact us to learn more. The Corcoran Connection and Royal St. Cloud have teamed up for a great offer. New clients receive a one-year Individual Golf Membership with the purchase or sale of a home when using The Corcoran Connection. This is a $950 value. For more information and details, contact The Corcoran Connection.

The Corcoran Connection LLC 407-953-9118 - office Info@TheCorcoranConnection.com TheCorcoranConnection.com Restrictions: Cart fee not included. Valid for 1 year. No cash value. Limited time offer. Non-transferable. One per family.

8 Harmony Life Magazine | February 2021


HARMONY CDD JANUARY MEETING HIGHLIGHTS By Steve Berube Chairman HCDD and President HROA

T

he CDD held its regular monthly meeting on January 28, 2021 at Grace Community Church and we were joined by about a dozen residents. After roll call, the Audience Comments consisted of a request from a resident (including a petition) asking for additional playground equipment in the Waterside neighborhood—specifically on Feathergrass Ct. where the only play equipment is tiny; as it was installed by the Developer under pressure from the CDD some years ago, its “cheapness” is not surprising. Residents on Meadowbrook came to the CDD a few years back with a similar request and the CDD budgeted for and indeed installed a much nicer playground there. Such playground requests are not uncommon and if you look around Harmony’s neighborhoods, you don’t have to look far to find a playground. Sensing this request from Feathergrass would be coming, I proposed a nice playground nearby on Five Oaks right next to a new Dog Park we are building. This location is close to Feathergrass as well as The Lakes ove-r 55 neighborhoods. While the over 55 residents are not likely to have small children, they DO have visiting grandchildrenand dogs. Hence the selection of Five Oaks for these facilities. Sadly, the Board has twice resisted my requests to build this playground and now residents are directly requesting more equipment. I have always advocated for the children of Harmony and hope the resistant members of the Board change their view and do what has always been done—and that is give kids more playplaces. Moving on the Chairwoman presented an inperson meeting policy to include the requirement to wear a mask. While I am not anti-mask (wear one if you want) I am against policies that have no “teeth” or enforcement mechanisms. And this is such a policy being added to many other policies that have no enforcement mechanism. What’s the big deal you might ask? Well, quite simply, when someone reads a policy, they expect it to be upheld. And that’s a reasonable expectation. But, as noted above, the CDD has many policies with zero enforcement and that’s a rub to some people. In truth, such situations exist in many organizations but that doesn’t make it acceptable. We also discussed the Brownie’s drainpipe repair which more than doubled in cost due mainly to a significant mistake made by Brownie’s. After much discussion, the Board accepted my suggestion to pay the initial contracted amount

LESS the anticipated costs involved for us to finish the job plus the known costs of water control. This approach should put us right at the amount we expected to pay for this repair. Scottie Feliciano from Servello presented his normal monthly report on landscaping which at this time of year is not very exciting. As a result of several resident requests, I asked how much it might cost to remove leaves throughout the neighborhood. The end result was that it could easily exceed $100,000 to do so. Worse, because leaves fall for several months, several passes would be required over a few months. It’s safe to assume that you won’t see widespread leaf removal. District Engineer Steve Boyd discussed several items including the ongoing Billy’s Trail improvement project which will be on hiatus for a few months while home construction continues nearly; we are also awaiting a decision from the pipeline company as to whether we can pave the Garden Road which sits above said pipeline and perhaps most important is that Austin Environmental provided a report indicating that our ongoing invasive weed control program is going well. As discussed previously, we are mandated to control invasive weeds throughout our permit area; Field Services absorbed this task rather than pay the outrageous amounts contractors wanted to do this. So far so good. As part of District Attorney Tim Qualls presentation, the Chair proposed her “Procurement Procedures: policy. This is a 14 page document requiring multiple steps to purchase anything over $250. Of course, checksand-balances are a good idea but the fact is that there is a cost involved in doing anything and that includes trying to save money. There was much discussion on this including from the District Manager who would be forced to assume new duties if the policy were adopted. After extensive discussion and massaging, this item was tabled until next month. I have dealt with governmental purchasing for much of my life as a vendor and I’ve observed this: When an agency places restrictions like this on its personnel, those personnel frequently find ways around said restrictions to ease their jobs. Frequently, that costs the agency more money. Bottom line in a small agency like the CDD is that you either trust your people or you don’t. Trying to legislate compliance doesn’t work. We also discussed the Chairs’ Disposal Policy.

The opinions expressed in the Harmony Life Magazine articles are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinions of Quantum Marketing Communications, Harmony Life Magazine or the Publisher.

Once again, this proposal suggested any number of ways to dispose of excess or surplus property— none of which included selling said property. In my view, if the CDD spends your money on any given item, the CDD should try to recover as much of that money as possible when that item has run its course. So, the Board approved my suggestion to include public auctions such as eBay as an approved disposal mechanism. This suggestion is not out of the blue as our Field Services Manager has used eBay several times to recover money from otherwise surplus items. Like the Purchasing Policy above, when personnel are faced with complex methods of surplus disposal, they often just avoid doing it and stuff just piles up or otherwise disappears. Make it simple and recover money. Common sense. Attorney Qualls presented a flat fee billing proposal a few months ago; due to time constraints, it was skipped last night. In short, this is a proposal limiting legal fees to $60K annually which is a substantial savings and makes perfect sense. Yet, it keeps getting kicked down the road which makes no sense to me. The District will also be adopting the E-Verify system which has been mandated by the State. Finances remain strong and tax receipts are trickling in. The pace of those receipts remains to be seen but the good news is that we always receive 100% even when people don’t pay their bills. This is ensured because we use the County system which sells unpaid tax bills to speculators; this process takes a bit of time but brings in the funds. We also discussed the possibility of relocating a pedestrian crosswalk at the West entrance. My view is that this is problematic for many reasons including the fact that we have a similar crosswalk at the East entrance which has even worse visibility issues. This was tabled to next month after much discussion. The last 4 agenda items were tabled as we ran out of time-which also happened last month. In my view, time considerations should be taken into account when assembling an agenda. This way, you don’t have to rush through discussions during the meeting and you also avoid having to table agenda items which might have some importance. After all, they were important enough to make the agenda, right? Just my view. See you next month—stay safe!! n

February 2021 | Harmony Life Magazine 9


NOTES FROM THE CHAIR By Teresa Kramer Chair, Harmony Community Development District

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY! How We Get It, How We Spend It, and How We Account For It.

A

lmost four million dollars! Yes, actually $3,868,108.00! That’s a lot of money and that’s how much the Harmony CDD expects to take in this year. Where does all that money go and how does your Harmony CDD decide what to spend this money on? Just like most of us who have to pay mortgages and car loans and have to maintain our houses and cars, the CDD must first to pay our outstanding debts and maintain what we own; our alleys, sidewalks, stormwater system, streetlights, trees, conservation areas, common areas, and amenities. In fact, the Florida Statutes require the CDD to do these things first. That means our first $2+ million goes to pay this year’s debt payment (we owe $19 million dollars on the bonds that were sold to pay for our infrastructure). Next comes the day-to-day costs of keeping the lights on, the grass green, and the pools open which costs just over $1.6 million per year. That leaves about $200,000 left to use in this year’s budget, $90,000 of that amount is set aside for alley and sidewalk repair, leaving only $110,000 for this year’s contribution to our fund for future repairs and replacement and undesignated funds—this is usually referred to as a “Rainy Day Fund”.

With most of our infrastructure approaching 20 years old, we are starting to see more and more expensive fixes. For instance, we recently had a stormwater pipe break in the front of the community which cost almost $80,000 to diagnosis and fix. We also found it necessary to replace a rusting playground structure for $30,000. These two expenditures alone have already consumed the $110,000 overage for this year’s budget and we are only four months into our fiscal year. It looks like we will probably have to start dipping into our Reserves this year. This is a turning point for our community; it is now more important than ever that we pay particular attention to forecasting these expenses and making sure we are setting enough aside for future repairs and replacements while also considering new expenses like play structures and dog parks. It is also critically important to ensure that all goods and services that Harmony procures are purchased in the most economical manner. We need to properly vet providers/contractors to be sure that we select the most qualified that are available and obtain the best price for their goods or services. This will also reduce our liability exposure and make sure that we are spending our funds in the most fiscally responsible way. With this in mind, the Board is considering a procurement policy that is properly designed for an agency of our size, with approval limits based on our procurement history, and which will also ensure fiscal responsibility. The proposed policy, which can be found in the January agenda packet, is four pages long and accompanied by two standardized forms for our staff to use as they procure goods and services. This will help make sure we have the District Manager or Board Chairman reviewing most purchases while also ensuring that each vendor is bidding on the same scope of work so that the Board can compare ‘apples to apples’ when it comes to the selection process. The other side of the purchase ‘coin’ is the disposal of property owned by the District. The Board has just adopted a policy that requires the Board to be informed on a quarterly basis of what property owned by the Board is being recommended for disposal and the method by which it will be disposed. This policy follows the rules and requirements of Chapter 274 of the Florida Statutes and requires that, if the property is to be sold to the public, it must be sold at public auction. Finally, I want to thank my fellow CDD Board Members for taking extra time as we balance our extensive legal issues and the development of new policies that will help ensure Harmony’s long-term success with the day-today business of our community. Even though each Board Member comes to the meetings ready to make decisions, our legal obligations have required us to include special hearings and deliberations within our December, January and February meetings, thus causing us to run up against our meeting location’s 2-hour limit for each meeting. I know that we don’t all agree on everything but it is amazing to see how committed the Board is to working together. I look forward to each meeting and working together with the other Board Members to serve Harmony. n

10 Harmony Life Magazine | February 2021


February 2021 | Harmony Life Magazine 11


ORLANDO’S ONLY

AIRBOAT & GATOR PARK

HARMONY21

S ID E N T S F O R FL O R ID A R E

GET STARTED AT

www.WILDFL.com! Closed on Sundays. Not valid with other offers or discounts. Expires 12/31/21. Bring this coupon the day you visit using the code HARMONY20 to redeem this discount!

(407) 957-3135 3301 Lake Cypress Rd. Kenansville, FL 34739


Orlando Health — Growing with Osceola County

A

s Osceola County continues its positive growth, Orlando Health is dedicated to providing the expanded services that make quality healthcare both accessible and convenient. “The new services we have brought into the area have received a welcome reception and a truly positive response from the community,” says Thibaut van Marcke, senior vice president, Orlando Health Southeast Region, and president of Orlando Health Dr. P. Phillips Hospital.

Further, the pavilion includes adult and pediatric specialty physician offices, outpatient lab services and is home to Orlando Health UF Health Cancer Center – Osceola, offering close to home medical and surgical oncology consultations and appointments. And for those minor injuries and illnesses that just can’t wait, CareSpot Urgent Care – Orlando Health in Kissimmee offers extended hours seven days a week to provide care, including

X-rays, lab testing and even filling common prescriptions. Orlando Health St. Cloud Hospital has provided healthcare services to the St. Cloud and surrounding Osceola County community for more than 55 years. As an acute care hospital, Orlando Health St. Cloud offers emergency, inpatient and outpatient care with specialties including cardiology, orthopedics, radiology

Emergency and Physician Care in Kissimmee

COURTESY ORLANDO HEALTH ST. CLOUD HOSPITAL

The Orlando Health Emergency Room and Medical Pavilion — Osceola opened in 2019. Located on a 13-acre campus on Osceola Parkway in Kissimmee, the three-story, 60,000-square-foot facility includes a full-service emergency room with 24 treatment rooms on the first floor. The ER offers 24/7 adult and pediatric emergency care provided by board-certified emergency medicine physicians and an expertly skilled clinical team. The ER also features a dedicated cardiac/respiratory resuscitation room, cardiac monitoring, and full laboratory and diagnostic imaging services.

and neurology, plus outpatient rehabilitation services and a wound healing & hyperbaric center. Formerly St. Cloud Hospital, Orlando Health St. Cloud Hospital joined the Orlando Health family in July 2020. Located on the hospital’s campus, the new Orlando Health St. Cloud Medical Pavilion is a 50,000-square-foot, two-story facility housing primary and specialty care physician practices as well as a walk-in clinic with extended hours to provide care for minor illness and other medical needs. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Orlando Health is a not-for-profit healthcare organization with $6.5 billion of assets under management that serves the southeastern United States. n February 2021 | Harmony Life Magazine 13


HARMONY INCIDENT REPORT— January 2021 DATE

INCIDENT

NATURE

LOCATION

01/01/2021............ 21I000171......................ACCIDENT NO INJ..............................E IRLO BRONSON MEM HWY & WILD TURKEY LN 01/01/2021............ 21I000266......................MISC SERVICE 18..............................E IRLO BRONSON MEM HWY; DOLLAR GENERAL 01/01/2021............ 21I000198......................NOISE COMPL 74I..............................HABITAT DR 01/01/2021............ 21I000407......................RECKLESS OP 29I..............................E IRLO BRONSON MEM HWY & ARTHUR J GALLAGHER BLVD 01/02/2021............ 21I000601......................TRAFFIC STOP...................................HARMONY SQUARE DR & E IRLO BRONSON MEM HWY 01/03/2021............ 21I000930......................JUV COMPL 57R................................FEATHERGRASS CT 01/03/2021............ 21I001120......................SUSP VEH 13V...................................BOTANIC BLVD; ENTRANCE HARMONY WEST 01/03/2021............ 21I000892......................TRAFFIC COM 17I..............................BUTTONBUSH LOOP 01/04/2021............ 21I001315......................CHILD ABUSE 16R..............................CONFIDENTIAL ADDRESS 01/05/2021............ 21I001693......................ATT TO CONTACT...............................HABITAT DR 01/05/2021............ 21I001707......................SUSP PERSON 13P............................DARK SKY DR 01/06/2021............ 21I001992......................ASSAULT 53A....................................E IRLO BRONSON MEM HWY & ARTHUR J GALLAGHER BLVD; EB 01/06/2021............ 21I001915......................ATT TO CONTACT...............................HABITAT DR 01/06/2021............ 21I001864......................RECKLESS OP 29I..............................E IRLO BRONSON MEM HWY & ARTHUR J GALLAGHER BLVD ; WB 01/07/2021............ 21I002405......................CRIM MISCH 40R...............................FEATHERGRASS CT 01/07/2021............ 21I900028......................CRIM MISCH 40R...............................FEATHERGRASS CT 01/07/2021............ 21I002168......................NOISE COMPL 74I..............................FIVE OAKS DR 01/08/2021............ 21I002782......................ATT TO CONTACT...............................CLAY BRICK RD 01/08/2021............ 21I002673......................JUV COMPL 57R................................ARTHUR J GALLAGHER BLVD 01/08/2021............ 21I002611......................LEWD/LASC 43R................................CONFIDENTIAL ADDRESS 01/09/2021............ 21I002908......................MISSING JUV REC..............................CLAY BRICK RD 01/09/2021............ 21I003048......................SUSP VEH 13V...................................SAGEBRUSH ST 01/09/2021............ 21I002951......................UNKN PROBLEM................................HARMONY SQUARE DR & E IRLO BRONSON MEM HWY 01/12/2021............ 21I003978......................RECKLESS OP 29I..............................LITTLE BLUE LN & GRANDE HERON DR 01/13/2021............ 21I004129......................ACCIDENT NO INJ..............................FIVE OAKS DR & E IRLO BRONSON MEM HWY 01/14/2021............ 21I004430......................FOUND PROPERTY.............................HABITAT DR 01/14/2021............ 21I004428......................LARCENY 46R....................................HARMONIA HAMMOCK RD 01/14/2021............ 21I004437......................LARCENY 46R....................................GRACE HAMMOCK RD 01/14/2021............ 21I004607......................RECKLESS OP 29I..............................E IRLO BRONSON MEM HWY & ARTHUR J GALLAGHER BLVD 01/14/2021............ 21I004426......................SICK PERSON....................................SCHOOLHOUSE RD; HARMONY COMMUNITY 01/15/2021............ 21I004998......................ABANDON VEH 11..............................E IRLO BRONSON MEM HWY & ARTHUR J GALLAGHER BLVD; E/O 01/15/2021............ 21I004863......................ACCIDENT NO INJ..............................E IRLO BRONSON MEM HWY; PROGRESS ENERGY SUBSTATION 01/15/2021............ 21I004926......................ATT TO CONTACT...............................HARMONY SQUARE DR & E IRLO BRONSON MEM HWY 01/15/2021............ 21I004948......................DIST 22I............................................E IRLO BRONSON MEM HWY; SEVEN ELEVEN 01/16/2021............ 21I005100......................ABANDON VEH 11..............................HARMONY SQUARE DR & E IRLO BRONSON MEM HWY 01/16/2021............ 21I005131......................DISABLED VEH 12..............................E IRLO BRONSON MEM HWY & WILD TURKEY LN 01/16/2021............ 21I005352......................NOISE COMPL 74I..............................BAYFLOWER AVE 01/17/2021............ 21I005497......................CIVIL MATTE 66I................................BAYFLOWER AVE 01/17/2021............ 21I005405......................NOISE COMPL 74I..............................CLAY BRICK RD 01/17/2021............ 21I005572......................SUSP PERSON 13P............................SAGEBRUSH ST 01/19/2021............ 21I006180......................RECKLESS OP 29I..............................LITTLE BLUE LN 01/19/2021............ 21I006043......................SO PROP DAMAGE.............................E IRLO BRONSON MEM HWY & ARTHUR J GALLAGHER BLVD 01/20/2021............ 21I006463......................DISABLED VEH 12..............................HARMONY SQUARE DR & E IRLO BRONSON MEM HWY 01/20/2021............ 21I006349......................NOISE COMPL 74R.............................BAYFLOWER AVE 01/21/2021............ 21I006724......................ACCIDENT INJ 4.................................CLAY BRICK RD 01/21/2021............ 21I006652......................ACCIDENT NO INJ..............................BUTTERFLY DR 01/21/2021............ 21I006820......................MISC SERVICE 18..............................BAYFLOWER AVE 01/21/2021............ 21I006738......................SUSP INC 13I.....................................BUTTERFLY DR 01/22/2021............ 21I007066......................CIVIL MATTE 66I................................HABITAT DR 01/25/2021............ 21I008109......................LEWD/LASC 43R................................CONFIDENTIAL ADDRESS 01/25/2021............ 21I008247......................MISC SERVICE 18..............................ARTHUR J GALLAGHER BLVD; S/O RANGE 01/26/2021............ 21I008588......................JUV COMPL 57I.................................BLUESTEM RD 01/27/2021............ 21I008740......................BURG CONVEYANCE...........................E IRLO BRONSON MEM HWY; ELECTRIC SUBSTATION 01/27/2021............ 21I008748......................TRAFFIC STOP...................................E IRLO BRONSON MEM HWY & HARMONY SQUARE DR 01/28/2021............ 21I009079......................LARCENY 46R....................................E IRLO BRONSON MEM HWY; 711 01/28/2021............ 21I009222......................VIN VERIFY 75...................................GOLDFLOWER AVE 01/29/2021............ 21I009560......................ATT TO CONTACT...............................SCHOOLHOUSE RD 01/29/2021............ 21I009655......................NOISE COMPL 74I..............................BAYFLOWER AVE 01/30/2021............ 21I010045......................DIST 22I............................................E IRLO BRONSON MEM HWY; SEVEN ELEVEN 01/31/2021............ 21I010157......................MISC SERVICE 18..............................SCHOOLHOUSE RD 01/31/2021............ 21I010179......................SUSP PERSON 13P............................E IRLO BRONSON MEM HWY & HARMONY SQUARE DR 14 Harmony Life Magazine | February 2021


DIDN’T SEE THAT COMING?

YOU’LL BE GLAD TO SEE THIS COMING.

$50

WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER.

ON YOUR FIRST 5 CLEANS OR $25 OFF A ONE TIME CLEAN WITH A 2 HOUR MINIMUM

New customers only. Some restrictions may apply. Not to be combined with any other offers. Participating locations only.

MOLLY MAID OF KISSIMMEE, ST. CLOUD AND LAKELAND

407-498-2256

Af te r a n ex t ra l o n g d ay, w h o wa n t s to co m e h o m e to a n ex t ra b i g m e ss? Le t M o l l y M a i d ’s p ro fe ss i o n a l c l e a n e r s c l e a n yo u r h o m e f ro m to p to b o t to m w h i l e yo u ’ re at wo r k , s o yo u c a n co m e h o m e, k i ck o f f yo u r s h o e s , a n d e n j oy yo u r f re e t i m e.

Visit us at MollyMaid.com to learn more. ©2018 Molly Maid, LLC. Each franchise is independently owned and operated.

Discover | Worship | Grow | Serve

NEW LOCATION!

HARMONY COMMUNITY SCHOOL | EVERY SUNDAY 10AM Casual Atmosphere | Contemporary Worship Children’s Ministry | Student Ministry | Solid Expository Bible Teaching Worshiping together and making much of the name of JESUS

(321) 402-7612 • harmonycommunitychurchfl@gmail.com • www.HarmonyCommunity.church Find Us on Facebook @HarmonyCCFL February 2021 | Harmony Life Magazine 15


Thank You!

for Your Continued Support!

BREAKFAST • LUNCH • DINNER Monday–Friday: 6am–8pm Saturday & Sunday: 6am–2pm

407-891-1488 • www.TheCupDiner.com 1407 13th Street • St. Cloud, FL 34769

Under the Water Tower in St. Cloud

16 Harmony Life Magazine | February 2021


FREE ESTIMATES ®

Proudly Serving the Harmony Community LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED • SERVING CENTRAL FLORIDA FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS!

$20 OFF

$30 OFF

$100 OFF

PEST CONTROL

LAWN SERVICE

TERMITE

YOUR FIRST

TREATMENT

YOUR FIRST

TREATMENT

YOUR FIRST

TREATMENT


AN EXPERT TEAM FOR

STATE OF THE HEART CARE. Caring for your heart is serious business. That’s why at Orlando Health St. Cloud Hospital you’ll have an entire team of experts working together for your best possible heart health. Trust our specialized team to show your heart some love.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit OrlandoHealth.com/StCloud


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.