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Welcome to the June 2023 edition of Harmony Life Magazine.
It saddens me to inform everyone (if you haven’t heard it already) Phrye Harmony is closing July 1st. It appears that Harmony will be without a center piece restaurant which hopefully will not be forever.
Please welcome (although he’s been in the magazine for a couple of months) Harmony’s own travel agent Jeff Rock from Rock Solid Travel. Jeff was awarded Carnival Cruise lines Agent of the year award for 2022 at this year's Crystal Conference hosted by KHM Travel Group, representing over 4800 independent Travel Agencies in the United States. See his ad on page 14.
Please support our advertisers, they help bring this monthly publication to the community.
Did you know that my wife, Jeanine Corcoran, puts out a weekly video and email for all the Harmony events? Send me your email address and I will add you to the list. You can always opt out at any time: Bill@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
Remember to join the Facebook Harmony Residents Forum. AND THE NEW, ADDITIONAL, HARMONY RESIDENTS FORUM, DRAMA FREE.
See you in July!
Bill Bokunic Publisher Bill@QMCWorld.comHarmonyCDD.org, 407-566-1935
Teresa, Dan, Mike, or Kerul@HarmonyCDD.org
NON-EMERGENCY 407-348-2222
Association Solutions, 811 Mabette St., Kissimmee 407-847-2280, MyHOASolution.com
CONDOS HOA Sentry Management, 407-846-6323
TOWNHOMES HOA Association Solutions, 811 Mabette St., Kissimmee 407-847-2280, MyHOASolution.com
HARMONY DEVELOPER OFFICE 407-891-8358, HarmonyFL.com
JUNE 2023
A publication of Quantum Marketing Communications, LLC
www.QMCWorld.com
PUBLISHER & CEO
Bill Bokunic
321.331.6398
Bill@QMCWorld.com
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Renée Blair Blair Creative Group, Inc.
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY
Jo Phillips
CONTRIBUTORS
Jeanine Corcoran Corcoran Connect
Kerul Kassel PHD Hamony CDD Board Member
Teresa Kramer Chair, Hamony CDD
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.
SPECTRUM CABLE / INTERNET 877-892-3279
CENTURY LINK CABLE / INTERNET 866-314-4148
OUC ELECTRIC 407-957-7373
ADVANCED DISPOSAL – OSCEOLA 407-605-3892
Harmony’s founders were committed to a philosophy of allowing natural elements to persist unimpeded and minimizing the circumstances that lead to conflict between humans and nature. “In harmony with nature” was the original motto of our community at its inception.
The founders codified this philosophy within our founding documents, Covenant Declaration, and Community Standards, delineating the peaceful coexistence of humans and wild animals.
The article “Harmony’s Dark Sky” (Harmony Life, Feb 2023) highlights the negative impact excessive light can have on wildlife and humans as well as some additional benefits reducing our wasted light footprint can have on our community overall as well as the surrounding areas.
To promote Dark Sky practices and awareness, Harmony, for many years, hosted a Dark Sky Festival. This event brought in people from all over Florida to learn the importance of protecting the night sky. Scientists from local universities and NASA would educate through presentations, telescope sky observing, music, games, food, and exhibits held outdoors under the night sky.
According to the International Dark-Sky Association, as of January 2023, there are only 201 certified Dark Sky Places in the world. These places include 115 Parks, 38 Commu nities, 20 Reserves, 16 Sanctuaries, 6 Urban Night Sky Places, and 6 Dark Sky Friendly Developments of Distinction, Harmony be ing the first ever to get this distinction back in 2009.
This was an award that was given to masterplanned communities and unincorporated towns whose planning promoted a more nat ural night sky and achieved success in light pollution control.
“To the maximum extent possible, lighting should be low intensity and conform to ‘dark sky’ standards of downward projected, ‘full cut-off’ illumination that shields light from being emitted upwards toward the night sky
or surrounding natural areas. To be full cutoff, the light bulb should not extend below the lamp shade.”
As an example, all of the street lights within Harmony are dark sky compliant.
“Residential Lighting in Harmony is also shielded. Full cut-off lights improve visibility and save money. In a full cutoff, the light bulb is recessed into the fixture to give optimal light direction. Outdoor fixtures are fully shielded or are recessed into porch ceilings to provide a soft welcoming glow at night. Alleys at the rear of houses are not lit but use photocell-controlled garage lights on individual homes provide lighting there.”
What does all of this mean for you? In short, The HROA Dark Sky standards are based on the philosophy and standards put in place in the community’s founding documents. Section 3.13 of the Community Standards document provides specific requirements residents are expected to follow when installing or modifying residential outdoor lighting.
3.13 Exterior Lighting:
“All exterior lighting for residential homes must be Dark Sky compliant. The use of fixtures that point downward and have a full cutoff or partial cut-off glare shields. Floodlights
and up-lighting are prohibited. Landscape lighting is permitted; however, up-lighting of the landscape or building walls is prohibited.”
As a reminder, changes to residential outdoor lighting must be approved by the HROA ARB. Please contact info@myhoasolution.com if you have any questions about what type of lighting is allowed. n
UPCOMING HROA SOCIAL EVENT
June 11 – Harmony Summer Market: 10am–2pm, Town Square
Contact information for the HROA: https://myhoasolution.com
407-847-2280
info@myhoasolution.com
https://portal.topssoft.com/login
• Has been with Kisselback Ford for 4.5 years
• Originally from St. Cloud, FL
• Veteran of the US Army; served in Ft. Stuart, Ft. Wainwright, AK, and Afghanistan
• Favorite Ford: F-150
• Fun fact: Proudly wears Crocs everyday
“We started online. It was a Sunday so the dealership was not open. Our salesperson, Brian, jumped right in and got the process started. We selected the car we wanted and the rest was the best car buying experience we ever had. A few texts for information. Paperwork sent by email. Signed and finished. Our new Escape delivered to our front door. No hassles. No time. Comfortable. Convenient. Perfect. Brian and the Kisselback staff made this what car buying should be. Thank you—we will recommend you to everyone.” — John L.
“Purchased a new vehicle and Brian Rinehart made the sales experience flawless. Communicated throughout the long process of waiting for the Bronco to be made and updated me throughout the wait. Contacted me first thing in the morning once the vehicle arrived and had me out of the dealership very fast shortly after. Will definitely recommend.” — Jonathan S.
“Brian Rhinehart has to be one of the easiest salesman I have ever dealt with. Everything from top to bottom has been solid. Bought 2 vehicles in the last week from them.” — Michael F.
“Brian Rinehart and Kim are amazing there! Best deals and customer service around!!!!!!!! Thanks Kisselback Ford for an amazing car buying experience!” — Rachel S.
I don’t go out at 6:30 in the morning very often, but duty called and I did an early morning review of the new alley paving in the C-1 and C-2 neighborhoods of Harmony. It had rained over 2 inches the night before, so it was the perfect time to note drainage and ponding issues that might exist. During this outing, I noticed that a large number of residential irrigation systems were sprinkling homeowners’ yards despite the large amount of rain we had just had.
Adding so much reclaimed water to an already saturated lawn can cause a number of problems; fungus attacking the grass, emergence of a plethora of weeds including dollar weed, shallow root growth leading to more damage during drought, extra thatch buildup which can harbor chinch bugs, and the big one—money flowing down the stormwater drain.
But there is a way that you can save both your money and your yard now that the rainy season is here. This month I am partnering with TOHO so that they can help you with the solution. Here is what they have to say:
TOHO Water: Rain sensors help maintain a healthy lawn, save water and money.
The rainy season has officially begun! From now to October we can expect a heavy increase in rainfall over most of Florida. As the rain starts up again, if the season is typical, your home irrigation systems can look forward to a well-deserved break. It is not uncommon to see an automatic sprinkler system performing its scheduled watering during a summer downpour. This is a serious waste of water and money, and can cause damage to the lawn from overwatering. Overwatering does
more damage than underwatering. Florida law requires sprinkler systems to have a working rain sensor device. This device will override the sprinkler system when adequate rainfall has occurred. These sensors should be checked at least once annually, preferably just before the rainy season, to ensure proper operation.
Rain sensors are small devices that connect to your irrigation system controller and are mounted in an open area where it is exposed to rainfall.
1. Manually run an irrigation zone.
2 Spray or pour water onto your rain sensor.
3. See if the zone shuts off or if a rain sensor icon appears on your controller’s screen. If it does, your rain sensor is working.
4. If the zone doesn’t shut off or the icon doesn’t appear, you may need to inspect the sensor wiring, cork discs or batteries.
Rainfall is measured by water weight, electrical conductivity of water or by expanding disks. The most common shutoff device is an expanding disk rain sensor. It is effective, inexpensive and easy to install and maintain. Aside from being a requirement, a rain sensor is a smart and simple way to conserve water and save money, especially during a rainy Florida summer. Central Florida receives an average annual rainfall of approximately 55 inches, with two-thirds occurring between the months of May and October. A rain sensor will automatically shut off sprinkler systems during and after rain showers, allowing the irrigation system to return to its normal watering schedule when irrigation is needed. Rain sensor prices vary, but popular models can be purchased for around $20 at a home improvement store or your local irrigation supply store.
When rain sensors are inspected often and working correctly, they are able to save homeowners lots of water — more than 2,500 gallons per 1,000 square feet annually. And when rain sensors are used along with adherence to local guidance on water days and times, cost savings and a healthier lawn are the rewards. For more information on checking and testing your rain sensors and finding out your required irrigation schedule, visit our Watering Days and Times section on tohowater.com
If you need assistance on setting an irrigation timer to the required days and hours, Toho’s Conservation team can help at no cost to the homeowner. To set up an appointment, email waterconservation@tohowater.com or call us at 407-944-5124.
DID 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?
Underlying these objectives are the values of fostering a respect for the land, the protection of wildlife and the sensible use and enjoyment of Harmony's abundant natural and manmade amenities by its residents.
Did you know alligators move freely between our lakes, ponds, and wetland areas? The American alligator is Florida’s state reptile and is an important part of Florida’s wetland habitats. It’s also found throughout the state in swamps and slow-moving rivers, too.
At this time of year, during spring, you may notice that alligators are more active and visible. That’s because they are cold-blooded, so as
temperatures rise, so does their metabolism, and they begin seeking prey. While alligator bite incidents resulting in serious injury are rare in Florida, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) recommends taking precautions when having fun in and around the water.
Alligators are most active at night. I once saw a really big one during a run right on the street at 6 in the morning — what a surprise! Swim only in Harmony’s pools, and not in any ponds or lakes! You’ve probably noticed that alligators like to bask in the sun on the banks of a pond. That’s because they control their body temperature that way.
It bears reminding that if you see an alligator, keep your distance, and never, EVER feed alligators because it is dangerous (to both you and the alligator) and illegal. When fed, alligators can overcome their natural wariness and learn to associate people with food. Dog owners should keep their animals on a leash and away from the water because pets can resemble an alligator’s natural prey, and several loose dogs have been taken by Harmony alligators over the years.
It’s happened in Harmony that people reported an alligator on the shore of their pond and it was pulled and killed by trappers. Apparently, people had been feeding it and it had gotten too people-friendly. Someone reported it and FWC came out to “remove” it. That alligator paid the ultimate price for human misbehavior.
If you see people feeding wildlife, please take a photo or video and report the incident to Fish and Wildlife at http://myfwc.com/contact/ wildlife-alert/
We are blessed with an abundance of green space and wild creatures. Keep a respectful distance, stay hidden, even, and enjoy their presence for longer. n
ADVERTISING & MAGAZINES
Harmony Life
Bill Bokunic
321-331-6398
Bill@QMCWorld.com
www.QMCWorld.com
AIR-CONDITION SERVICES
Access Air
Eric Farnsworth
*Harmony Resident*
407-921-0760
ELFarnsworth@live.com
AUTO DEALER
Kisselback Ford
1118 13th Street,St. Cloud
407-892-2141
www.KisselbackFord.com
CHURCH
Harmony Community Church
Meeting 10am Sundays at Harmony Community School
(844) 444-FBCH
www.HarmonyCommunity.church
CHIROPRACTOR
Living Well Chiropractic
*Harmony Resident*
4041 13th St., St. Cloud 34768
407-957-1337
www.LivingWellCFL.com
GARAGE DOORS & OPENERS
D.S.I.
Sales / Service / Repairs
407-970-5847
dsigaragedoor@yahoo.com
www.dsigaragedoorandopener.com
GOLF CART REPAIR & SERVICE
Battery Ops and Golf Cart Repairs
1-229-328-1178
Local to Harmony and St. Cloud
GOLF CLUB
Royal St. Cloud Golf Links
5310 Michigan Ave., St. Cloud 34769
407-891-7010
HOME RENOVATIONS
Home Restoration Exchange
Kitchen & Bathroom Design
231 Ruby Ave., Suite E, Kissimmee 407-587-0738
www.HomeRestorationExchange.com
HOSPITALS
Health First-Holmes
Regional Health Care
1350 S. Hickory St., Melbourne 32901 321-434-7000
Orlando Health St. Cloud Hospital
2906 17th St., St. Cloud 407-892-2135
www.OrlandoHealth.com
INSURANCE
Brightway Insurance, The Sterner Agency 407-891-9361
www.BrightwaySterner.com
Healthcare Solutions Team
Kim Kirsch 407-870-3462
kkirsch@myhst.com
Kisselback Insurance Agency
Ashely Evans
321-316-3360
1118 13th St., St. Cloud 34769
LAWN CARE
Luv-A-Lawn & Pest Control 407-908-9139
www.LuvALawn.com
Triple Palm Lawns
*Harmony Resident* 407-957-3489
TriplePalmLawn@aim.com
MORTGAGE LENDING
CMG Home Loans
Colleen Mitchell 407-620-3563
colleenmitchell@cmghomeloans.com
Mortgage Studio
Julie Bretz-Swinarksi 407-758-3443 • julie@mtgstudio.net
Alyssa Shivmangal 407-408-1413 • alyssa@mtgstudio.net
MUSIC LESSONS
Harmony Performance Arts Studio
Amber Lanning & Ellen Short Voice/Piano/Acting 682-936-9551
PAINTING & PRESSURE WASHING
AAA All Star Painting LLC. Commerical & Residential Licensed & Insured 407-908-5525
Champions Property Maintenance
*Harmony Resident* Joe Murray, 407-766-5051
Performance Soft Wash LLC. Exterior House Cleaning & Paver Sealing 407-729-7567
PARK
Wild Florida
3301 Lake Cypress Rd., Kenansville 407-957-3135
www.WildFL.com
PHOTOGRAPHY
Abbey Evans Photography Weddings, Families, Newborns, Seniors www.abbeyevansphoto.com
PLUMBER
Mr. Rooter Plumbing 407-593-3737
www.MrRooter.com
PHYSICIANS
Miriam Carnemolla, APRN AdventHealth Primary Care+ Partin Settlement
2488 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy Kissimmee 34744
St. Cloud Medical Group
1700 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy. St. Cloud
407-891-2965
www.StCloudPhysicians.com
REAL ESTATE
Corcoran Connect
*Harmony Resident*
Jeanine Corcoran Owner/Broker
Buy/Sell/Rent/Property Mgmt. 407-953-9118
www.CorcoranConnect.com
RESTAURANTS
Koffee Kup
1407 13th St., St. Cloud, Under Water Tower 407-891-81488
www.TheKoffeeKup.com
Phyre at Harmony 7251 Five Oaks Dr., Harmony
TRAVEL
Meisner Cruise and Travel
*Harmony Resident*
407-738-7088 • tvlwithlinda@gmail.com
Facebook: Harmony Get Aways With Meissner Travel
Rock Solid Travel
Jeff Rock, CCC 321-805-4124
www.RockSolidTravel.com
WATER SYSTEMS
Dependable Water Treatment 407-242-7150
WINE & SPIRITS
Levee Liquor & Gas
Now Delivering in Harmony!
718 13th St., St. Cloud 407-593-9605
www.LeveeLiquor.com
We provide trusted, quality care in your community. At Orlando Health St. Cloud Hospital, get access to care from an expert and compassionate clinical team for all of your healthcare needs — from emergency services to heart care, surgical services and more — all close to home. Giving you more reasons to choose well. OrlandoHealth.com/StCloud choose well.
be confident.