JULY 2021
MEET
THE JASICZEKS 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 Bill Bokunic
LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER
JULY 2021
Welcome to the July 2021 edition of Harmony Life Magazine.
PUBLISHER & CEO
A publication of Quantum Marketing Communications, LLC www.QMCWorld.com
Harmony Life Magazine is produced by residents for residents. Please feel free to message me directly with content and pictures: Bill@QMCWorld.com
Bill Bokunic 321.331.6398 Bill@QMCWorld.com
Remember to join the Facebook Harmony Residents Forum.
GRAPHIC DESIGN
CHANGE IS COMING TO HARMONY! Those of you who are on the Harmony Residents Facebook forum or subscribe to Growthspotter have seen the news about apartments, commercial and residential building and development in and around Harmony.
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY
Change is scary, and given the number of negate and concerned comments, I thought I would address and give my opinion: 1. It is no secret that apartments and or condo’s/townhouses have been in the plans since the inception of Harmony. There have been ‘For Sale’ signs on the tracks of property in and around Harmony for years. The master plan from the original developer even had a conference center where the current barn sits. 2. The current real estate market and central Florida growth has created the proper conditions for the Harmony area to finally take off (as it has been planned for 20 years). 3. Shopping, restaurants, and services appear to finally be coming our way. The bottom line is that change is coming our way and inevitable. We can either embrace it, be upset or ignore it. I’ve done a little research about the company that is investing in Harmony, Coastline-Nakash Equity Capital Group (and affiliated companies). They seem to do things in a very professional and upscale fashion, which is very encouraging! Change is coming — See you in August! Bill Bokunic Publisher Bill@QMCWorld.com
Renée Blair Blair Creative Group, Inc. Bill Bokunic
CONTRIBUTORS
Steve Berube HROA President, CDD Board Member Jeanine Corcoran The Corcoran Connection Kerul Kassel, PHD
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. 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
What is a good story about Harmony? Haven’t been here too long, but we loved the golf cart parade for Halloween! We both got a kick out of the witches! What is unusual or unique about Harmony, in comparison to your previous home? Such a quiet and friendly neighborhood. We are use to Chicago where everyone basically kept to themselves and said an occasional hello to the neighbor. This past Christmas we had two neighbors bring us cookies and a pie. We thought it was the sweetest thing. What is your favorite weekend activity? Once we get our keys I know we’ll love going on the boat on the lake. We love just spending time together with the puppy watching movies.
THE JASICZEKS
What is… Your name? Dawn Jasiczek. Your spouse’s name? Rich Jasiczek. Your pet’s name? Odin, our 7-month-old Black Lab.
Where did you move from? Chicago.
When did you move to Harmony? September 2020.
What is your background? Rich: Auto; He is the parts manager at Shamrock Autobody in St. Cloud. Wonderful family-owned company in town for over 20 years. Dawn: Education; I just accepted a Pre-K teacher position at St. Cloud Christian Prep and helping them start their First Pre-K program for the school this upcoming 20212022 school year.
What street do you live on? Bracken Fern. What do you love most about Harmony? The closeness of the neighbors and the quiet neighborhood.
2 Harmony Life Magazine | July 2021
What do you miss most? Family. My husband misses the snow…I do not!
Do you have a cause or business that you would like to promote? Shamrock Autobody. They are amazing people and truly are a blessing to St. Cloud. What do you do for fun? I love going to the market with Odin, going to the air show, and going to the beach. What was the last movie that you have seen in the theatre? Star Wars! What is your favorite TV Show? We like documentaries. Who is your role model and why? Our parents. They have always been behind us with everything we have done… even moving hundreds of miles away from them. What else should we know about you or your family? We are friendly people who are always willing to help anyone. n
BILL BOKUNIC
MEET
Is there a neighbor experience you are most proud of? Every single neighbor we have met have been amazing.
UNDER CONTRACT
FOR SALE
FOR SALE
3307 Primrose Willow Dr 3 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 2670 sq ft by Jeanine Corcoran
7013 Buttonbush Loop 4 Bed | 2.5 Bath 2668 sq ft by Jeanine Corcoran
7504 Castlewood Ct 2 Bed | 2 Bath 1624 sq ft by Jeanine Corcoran
$367,999
$335,000
$294,900
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
3344 Primrose Willow Dr 3 Bed | 3 Bath 1958 sq ft sold by Jeanine Corcoran
7013 Beargrass Rd 3 Bed | 2 Bath 1825 sq ft by Jeanine Corcoran
7139 Harmony Sq Dr 3 Bed | 2 Bath 1668 sq ft by Jeanine Corcoran
$365,000
$295,000
$203,500
SOLD
SOLD
3422 Schoolhouse Rd 3 Bed | 2 Bath 1788 sq ft Listed and Sold by Jeanine Corcoran
$285,000
3426 Sagebrush Dr 2 Bed | 2 Bath 1534 sq ft by Jeanine Corcoran
3529 Clay Brick Rd 4 Bed | 2.5 Bath 2085 sq ft by Jeanine Corcoran Sold by William Bokunic
SOLD
UNDER CONTRACT 6625 Harper Way 3 Bed | 2 Bath 1571 sq ft by Jeanine Corcoran
7002 Cupseed Ln 3 Bed | 2.5 Bath 2514 sq ft by Kristin Van der Snel
$240,900
$235,000
$271,990
$360,000
Low
SOLD
SOLD
6824 Butterfly Dr 6 Bed | 3 Bath 2634 sq ft by Jeanine Corcoran & Kristin Macari
$350,000
SOLD
6822 Butterfly Dr 3 Bed | 2.5 Bath 2186 sq ft by Jeanine Corcoran
$325,000
SOLD
3355 Schoolhouse Rd 4 Bed | 3 Bath 2627 sq ft by Jeanine Corcoran & William Bokunic
$535,000
Inventory UNDER CONTRACT 3152 Dark Sky Dr 4 Bed | 3 Bath 2441 sq ft by Jeanine Corcoran
$379,900 Serving all of your Real Estate Needs
Jeanine Corcoran - Broker | Owner The Corcoran Connection 407-953-9118 - office 407-922-3308 - cell Jeanine@TheCorcoranConnection.com TheCorcoranConnection.com Connect with us on Social Media!
NOTES FROM THE CHAIR By Teresa Kramer Chair, Harmony Community Development District
J
une 2021 saw a number of changes here in Harmony—a new District Engineer, a new employment model, and a new opportunity for our District Manager. Many of you know and have worked with our previous District Manager, Kristen Suit. She has served Harmony well for several years, but she has moved on in order to put her skills to work with newly developing communities. We wish her well in all that she does.
Meet our New District Manager
On July 1, Angel Montagna joined us, becoming our new District Manager. Ms. Montagna has most recently served as Inframark’s Regional District Manager and comes to Harmony with a wealth of knowledge in the management of public communities. In addition, she also brings extensive experience and knowledge in the area of Field Services. This is important since, as of June 1st, Inframark has begun providing and managing the Field Services staff that serve Harmony. Joining Ms. Montagna in serving Harmony is Brett Perez, Inframark’s new Area Field Director. Although we will be sharing him with other District’s, Brett will be overseeing Harmony’s Field Services operations and our other vendors. He comes to us with degrees and expertise in areas such as landscape management, project management, and community maintenance. We are lucky to have him.
Please Welcome our new District Engineer
At our June CDD meeting, we also welcomed David Hamstra of Pegasus Engineering as our new District Engineer. Pegasus Engineering specializes in servicing local governments and concentrates more on public maintenance engineering instead of new development engineering. This change in direction is exactly what Harmony needs. David Hamstra is a licensed civil engineer and is certified as a Stormwater Management Inspector by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. He also has extensive experience in obtaining grant funding for innovative projects undertaken by communities. One such project that Harmony may consider is replacing our use of reclaimed water for irrigation with the use of water from our stormwater ponds. This will free up more reclaimed water for use by residents, both here and in Harmony West and Harmony Central. Since we are currently paying approximately $150,000/year to Toho for this water, this could result in a real cost savings for the CDD, particularly if the conversion costs can be paid with grant funding. Mr. Hamstra has hit the ground running and has already taken charge of numerous ongoing projects including: 1. Overseeing construction of the long-awaited dog park to serve the eastern neighborhoods of Harmony. 2. The relocation of the west entrance crosswalk to a safer location Five Oaks and Milkweed/Dark Sky (as recommended by Osceola County). 3. Evaluating and developing options to fix our troubled stormwater pond in the Waterside neighborhood (between Feathergrass and Middlebrook). 4 Harmony Life Magazine | July 2021
4. Developing a scope of work and obtaining bids for the milling and repaving of the alleyways in Neighborhoods C1 and C2 (area bounded by Schoolhouse Road, Cat Brier Trail, and Dog Park Trail). 5. Engineering and obtaining approval from both Osceola County and the Florida Gas Transmission Company to improve the access road to the Community Garden and the Vehicle Storage lot. 6. Overseeing the erosion abatement and rehabilitation of the pedestrian bridges over Long Pond near Lakefront Park. 7. Implementing an inspection program for Harmony’s stormwater control structures that will be implemented before the onset of hurricane season each year. So, if you someone wondering the streets with a bright yellow safety vest on, that’s probably David. He is working to ensure that Harmony’s infrastructure is well maintained and functioning properly.
Transfer of Field Services
Another big change that took place on June 1 was the transfer of Field Services to Inframark. For the past 6 years our District Legal Counsel has been advising the Harmony CDD Board to not be the direct employer of Field Services staff, but instead to place all staff under the District Manager as specified by section 190.007(1) of the Florida Statutes. There are numerous reasons why having direct employees for an organization of our size in not a good idea--Federal and State employment regulations are complex, benefits packages cost more, retirement and promotion options are limited, proper training and safety protocols are needed, liability issues abound, and skilled management is expensive to name just a few. So at the May CDD meeting, the Board made the decision to consolidate this function under our District Management company, Inframark. So, on June 1, the staff members that were employed by Harmony were transitioned over to Inframark employment and continue to serve our community. While any change like this is an adjustment for those going through it, I am sure the staff will work tirelessly to make it seamless for all of Harmony’s residents. However, there is one notable change, their phone numbers. So make a note—the main number for Field Services is now 407-837-8743, the number for the Dock Master is now Brad on Sunday-Thursday 407-705-4119 and David on Friday and Saturday 407-837-8144. Please remember that the CDD Board is here to represent you, the residents of Harmony. Just as you might write your Senator or County Commissioner, please also let your CDD Supervisors know of your ideas or concerns pertaining to our Harmony community. Please use our official e-mail addresses (located at http://www.harmonycdd.org/ about-harmony/supervisors ) to make your voice heard. n
We Need Quality Pre-Owned Vehicles! Are you looking to sell your current vehicle? Do you know someone that is? We welcome all opportunities to buy pre-owned vehicles and will pay above market value.
We Buy All Makes and Models
407-892-2141 WWW.KISSELBACKFORD.COM July 2021 | Harmony Life Magazine 5
DID YOU KNOW?
D
By Kerul Kassel PHD Hamony CDD Board Member
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. This month’s article offers some green tips for the summer. Let’s start with vacations. Our pent-up travel desires may be finally getting their attention now, and travelling is no doubt fun, it can also leave a large carbon footprint. With the planet in mind, more vacationers are finding ways to make their getaways environmentally friendly. For example, you can find an environmentally friendly form of transportation to arrive and get around your destination; choose an energy-efficient hotel; stay away from damaging recreational activities; and conserve water and energy use. A simple and significant way to reduce your travel footprint is to vacation relatively close to home, and Florida has SO many wonderful options with its beaches, lakes, springs, forests, parks, and keys. With a lot of daylight, summer is good for solar devices. All your plugged in electronics produce heat, which adds to your air conditioning burden. Unplugging during the summer — or going on a digital detox — is a good way to destress and can even improve your health, but another type of unplugging can also help the environment. Beyond just turning off electronic devices when they’re not in use, unplugging them can also save energy and money. Did you know that the average U.S. household has 40 products that are constantly plugged in, using as much as 10% of a home’s energy and costing over $100 each year? Power strips make it easier to turn off most electronic devices when not in use. Grilling is a year-round delight in Florida, but summer is a great time for keeping the heat out of the kitchen. Charcoal grilled burgers may taste great, but they’re not the most environmentally friendly way to have a BBQ. Did you know that, in terms of air pollution, charcoal is much less eco-wise than liquid propane or gas grills? Another option is an electric grill powered by a renewable energy source, such as solar or wind. There are also pellet grills on the market that let out limited emissions. These grills run on compressed pellets of scrap wood that would have otherwise been discarded. Draw your shades! We use fans and air conditioning systems, especially in summer, and can save both dollars and energy by using effective window coverings. During the higher temperature months, “76% of sunlight that falls on standard double-pane windows enters to become heat,” according to the Department of Energy. Some of the best options for keeping the sun out are drapes with a closed or open weave in a medium color, with a white plastic backing. The drapes should be hung as close to the window as possible. Shades also need to be mounted as close to the glass as possible within the window frame, and drawn all day. Awnings can reduce solar heat by up to 65% on south-facing windows and 77% on west-facing windows, and they work best in light colors. Other ideas are avoiding disposable products for cookouts, using reusable water bottles, using a clothesline to dry your clothes, eating local, and eating less meat. There are lots more tips online, so do a search, and enjoy a cooler, healthier, more eco-friendly summer! n
6 Harmony Life Magazine | July 2021
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July 2021 | Harmony Life Magazine 7
MUSINGS, MAILBOXES, MEETINGS & MORE By Steve Berube HROA President, CDD Board Member
I
f you live in “Old” Harmony, meaning the area with individual mailboxes on poles, you might have noticed some changes to those mailboxes recently. This was a refurbishment project undertaken by the HROA at a residents’ request. What appeared to be a simple project (how hard can it be to paint posts and paint or replace mailboxes, right?) turned out to be somewhat complex and did not end well. Here’s part of the journey from there to here. It begins with ownership of the boxes, and that’s where you come in. When your home is built, either the Developer or Builder supplies a mailbox and installs it somewhere, most usually on a multi-box pole. That transaction makes the box yours. Complicating this slightly is that a pole was supplied by one of those same parties and given to the owner of the land whose land it is on. So, your box might be on somebody else’s pole. Now that we understand the ownership, an obstacle appears and that is the well-established doctrine that agencies such as the HROA or CDD cannot enter your property except in an emergency—and mailbox work is not such a case. So, at advice of counsel, letters were mailed to all owners requesting permission to work on their boxes. Those letters ended up going in many directions: some were returned by USPS; some were apparently ignored by the recipient; some were received but the important instructions were not followed; and some were read and had the directions followed. Once we got that far, a significant flaw in the process became evident, and that is leaving the actual work to be done up to someone’s judgement—in this case, the contractor’s. So, the end result was a bit disappointing. Before passing judgement, it’s important to remember that less than half of the eligible owners actually got it right—so, the project was fatally doomed from the start.
What to do? Well, try again. Due to contractor work load, we will restart the project in the 4th quarter. Letters will go out again to all those missed the first time. I will post that schedule here and on the Facebook Residents Forum so owners can be expecting them. With permission, most will be replaced though some will be painted. ALL will get new 8 Harmony Life Magazine | July 2021
numbers. Hopefully, this second attempt will provide a uniform look (to the extent possible) throughout the area. Moving on, let’s talk about meetings. I am well aware that even though CDD meetings have resumed, HROA Meetings have not. That is largely because CDDs must conduct their business in public meetings while HOAs don’t have to. On the HROA side, counsel advised against public meetings; this response matched what many organizations did due to the pandemic: cancel meetings. This forced the postponement of last year’s HROA election simply because by law, the election must be done at the Annual Meeting. As life returns to normal, the HROA will be returning to public meetings. This will begin with the Annual Meeting/Election to be held in October. All 7 seats will be up for election. More on this as we get closer to it. Speaking of meetings: whether CDD or HROA, most meetings are attended by either very few or no residents. These two agencies, and more specifically their Board Members, control the funds extracted from you every year. And, by extension, many things which affect your life. While you can read “sanitized” recaps of those meetings here and on several other social media platforms, there is nothing like attending a meeting and getting to know both the players and the actions being taken. I know it can be boring, but understanding the behindthe-scenes stuff can get interesting. And some of it might even anger you—or perhaps make you happy. There is a reason “public meetings” are called that; the public can, and should, attend. It’s your money and your standard of living—you should know what’s happening. Don’t be the person who says: “How did THAT happen?”
Boards to further their personal agendas; there are a couple on the CDD Board now pushing their agendas forward; the HROA folks have no visible agendas but with an election coming up, that could change. The truth is that public officials publicly proclaim “of course you’re welcome at meetings” but in reality, they’re happier when no one attends. This lets them operate unchecked and without public scrutiny. Until something happens that you notice and then ask “How did that happen?” Your involvement is important folks. It really is—especially on the CDD where the stakes ($$$) are much higher. Lastly, to my friends in THE LAKES: you have a separate HOA rather than the HROA so you’re in slightly different circumstances. I don’t know if your HOA provides a newsletter or other manner of mass communication. So, if you’d like a method of communication, I will offer you space within this column. Send me whatever you’d like published and I’ll fit it in. Deadline is 25th of the month. Thanks for reading: I’ll see you next month. Stay safe! n
Back to meeting attendance: I have been at EVERY CDD & HROA meeting since 2008. I say that because there is/are no residents who are regular attendees at meetings of either body. None. Why is this important? Well quite simply, this is your chance to know and participate in how your most local governments are shaping your most local surroundings—and how your money is being spent doing so. It also becomes quite enlightening to see who on those Boards is proposing what. Some people get elected to 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.
Short-Term Health Insurance
By Kim Kirsch Insurance Broker / District Manager, Healthcare Solutions Team
W
hen it comes to options for insurance, there’s one type of plan that often gets overlooked: short-term medical insurance. While they’re not for everyone, under certain circumstances short-term insurance can offer many benefits.
What is Short-Term Medical Insurance?
Essentially, short-term medical insurance is designed to bridge the gap between permanent policies. These policies allow you to get coverage that will last anywhere from a few months to 3 years. Until recently, short-term plans weren’t considered to be qualified plans under the ACA (Affordable Care Act), meaning that you could have still been assessed a tax penalty. However, that changed in 2019 when the tax penalty was waived. Short-term plans tend to cover services and treatments related to unexpected illness or injury, such as urgent care/outpatient/emergency room visits, hospital stays, necessary surgeries, labs/x-rays, etc.
Short-term plans pair nicely with Minimum-Essential Coverage plans, which cover all wellness testing at 100% as well as stand-alone prescription plans.
Benefits of Short-Term Insurance PROVIDES A BUFFER
The first and greatest benefit of short-term medical insurance is that it can provide a buffer during periods of transition. Maybe you’re between jobs, waiting on Medicare, need coverage until open enrollment, waiting for health insurance through an employer, etc. Shortterm insurance can afford you peace of mind until you’re able to get on a permanent plan.
AVAILABLE ANYTIME
Another huge benefit of short-term medical insurance plans is that they’re not limited to specific times of the year. You don’t have to wait for open enrollment to come around in order to have medical coverage. And, if you missed open enrollment, a short-term medical plan can keep you covered until you’re able to take advantage of the next open enrollment period.
FLEXIBLE
Short-term medical insurance can also offer you a lot in terms of flexibility and customization. You can usually pick the deductible amount and your exact term length, so that you get the coverage you need for the precise amount of time that you’ll need it.
COST-EFFECTIVE
When it comes to premiums, you can’t get much more cost-effective than short-term insurance plans. You’re getting less coverage, which translates to less cost. You also never have to worry about early termination fees. Short-term insurance plans will let you drop your coverage at any time with no penalty. n
Interested in Short-Term Medical Insurance? Contact us at kkirsch@myhst.com or at (407) 870-3462.
10 Harmony Life Magazine | July 2021
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LOCAL SUMMER ACTIVITIES By Stephanie Milfeld
W
e have made it about halfway through summer, y’all! In the beginning it’s SO FUN, planned all the things, went on vacay and then July 4th hits and you are like man, I still have six weeks left with these kids and I am running out of ideas. What now? Well I have come to help you out with some great LOCAL activities you can do with the kids as you count down to back-to-school shopping and August 12th when it's time to tag the teachers back to being in charge of daytime activities. 1) There are many local parks and playgrounds around St. Cloud, and one of my favorites is Chisholm Park and Canary Park. Pack a lunch, play early in the day before the heat/rain, eat lunch and then head home for naps or quiet time. 2) Work on some art! The downtown monthly market for the summer is open to vendors 21 and younger and it is FREE. The next one is July 28th from 5-9pm and is a great way for young entrepreneurs to showcase their talents whether it is art, food, jewelry, etc. Register at bit.ly/ monthlymarketsummer2021 June’s market was a lot of fun! 3) Come Downtown St. Cloud! You can go see a matinee movie at the St. Cloud Twin, pop by any of the great eateries for lunch/dinner, grab a snowball, macaron, chocolate truffles for your sweet tooth and shop the unique finds in the local shops. 4) Wild Florida! Whether you want to hang in the A/C of your car for a safari ride even with a sleeping baby or take on the outdoors with their airboat rides and wildlife park it's a great time and they even have Florida resident discounts. 5) Head to either the Kissimmee or St. Cloud Lake fronts to play on the playgrounds, splash pads or sand near the water’s edge. 6) Downtown Kissimmee has some amazing food but you can also grab the sun rail throughout the week for a fun train ride into Winter Park, the Science Center and other parts of Orlando! 7) Altitude Trampoline Park at the Loop in Kissimmee behind Bonefish Grill is another great way to burn some energy with a little older kids. 8) For a little younger ones, the inside playground—as my children have dubbed it—also known as My Little Kids Town in the Hunter’s creek area, is a good way to stay cool and have fun.
10) Have fun at home! Play board games, go to the neighborhood pool, play in a sprinkler in the yard, get out the sidewalk chalk and bubble wands, get dirty and just have fun! n Stephanie Milfeld Z and Q – A Children’s Boutique 1037 New York Ave. • Saint Cloud, FL 34769 www.zandq.com • @zandqboutique 12 Harmony Life Magazine | July 2021
COURTESY STEPHANIE MILFELD
9) Jetty Park is one of my favorite beaches near Port Canaveral where the waves are calm, kids can go out further in the water without it getting really deep or rough, there are umbrella and chair rentals available, a playground, even a campground if that’s your kind of thing. There are showers available as well to rinse off before heading home.
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Kerry L Scott, CRPC®
Member SIPC
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Financial Advisor
4115 Neptune Rd St Cloud, FL 34769 407-498-0147
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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 July 2021 | Harmony Life Magazine 13
How to Protect Your Eyes from the Sun’s Rays Y
ou probably know that your skin can get sunburned, but did you also know the same thing can happen to your eyes?
The weather is getting a lot warmer and as you enjoy the 90-degree weather by jet-skiing, surfing or playing golf and tennis, you’re likely exposing your eyes (and the rest of your body) to more UV rays. We’re often concerned about the damage the sun can cause to our skin, but our eyes are just as susceptible. Radiation injuries, which occur when the eyes are overexposed to ultraviolet light during activities like sun-tanning and water sports, can cause pain, light sensitivity and redness. Overexposure to radiation also can cause your corneas to become sunburned, a condition called ultraviolet keratitis. If you plan to participate in water or other outdoor sports this spring and summer, it’s important to protect your eyes. Here’s what you need to know about suntime eye safety and some tips for preventing potential radiation injuries. The sun produces UV rays, even on a cloudy day, which means we’re constantly exposed to ultraviolet light. If you spend a lot of time outdoors without sunglasses, a hat or other protection, this long-term exposure could lead to vision problems. If you aren’t wearing sunglasses outside, then your cornea (the front part of the eyes) are directly absorbing UV rays. This continuous exposure over time can cause eye issues such as cataracts, abnormal growths in the eye and macular degeneration, which can lead to blurred vision, difficulty seeing colors and potential blindness. People who participate in sports like surfing or jet skiing should take extra precautions because sunlight reflected off sand and water actually increases the intensity of UV rays. It’s such a concern that health experts have coined the phrase “surfer’s eye” to describe a condition in which the sun damages the outer layer that covers the eye’s surface. Surfer’s eye occurs when pink tissue begins to grow on the whites of your eyes. In very advanced cases, it can grow to a point where it covers the pupil and begins to affect vision. And it’s not just surfers who should be extra cautious. Snowboarders and skiers should, too. Sunlight reflected off snow also increases the intensity of UV rays, and there’s actually a condition called snow blindness. People who live near the North and South Pole and in high altitude areas have an increased risk of suffering from snow blindness because the air is thinner in these areas and doesn’t provide as much protection from the sun’s rays. 14 Harmony Life Magazine | July 2021
How to Prevent UV-Related Eye Damage
Once sun damage occurs to the eyes, it’s nearly impossible to reverse. The best protection for your eyes is prevention. Here are some rules to follow for better eye safety: • Wear sunglasses when you are outdoors, no matter what time of year it is. Make sure they are labeled 100% UV protection. • If you play sports outdoors, wear protective eyewear at all times. • If you wear glasses, get prescription-strength UV lenses. • If you’re planning to spend a day at the beach or by the pool, also wear a hat with a broad brim to block the sun’s rays. • Children, people with light-colored eyes and people who have had cataract surgery have an increased risk of eye damage from UV rays. If you take photosensitizing medications, which makes the skin more sensitive to light, you also are very susceptible to sun-related eye damage. If you fit any of these descriptions or play outdoor sports, please take the proper precautions to protect your eyes. Our eyes are one of the body’s most vital organs. Exposing them to the sun’s rays for extended periods may cause permanent damage that could affect your vision long term. If you are going outside, grab sunglasses and a hat before you head out the door. This extra step could make all the difference.
Learn More
To see more health news and trends, wellness and prevention tips, visit the Orlando Health Content Hub at OrlandoHealth.com/ContentHub. n
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