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Welcome to the May 2023 edition of Harmony Life Magazine.
Change is coming! I’ve heard that the apartment building is about to break ground and start in the next 2 months. Please sign up for the Harmony Residents forum on Facebook to stay up to date with all the current information as it is received.
We are doing better on the forum, but just a friendly reminder.
Reposted from last month:
I’ve noticed a troubling trend on our Harmony Facebook Residents forum of negativity and in some cases just plain rude comments. Please remember that we are all neighbors and are mostly trying our best. Please think about what and how you are saying things before you post. I sometimes write a post that is venting or angry, then I edit it to be nicer. The mere act of getting things off my chest in writing helps me, and then I edit and tone the comments way down when I finally hit 'send'. Just a little practice I use—not an attempt to lecture—just another tool to help.
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 June!
Bill Bokunic PublisherBill@QMCWorld.com
HarmonyCDD.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 Sentr y 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
MAY 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
Abbey Evans
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
CENTURY LINK CABLE / INTERNET
877-892-3279
866-314-4148
OUC ELECTRIC 407-957-7373
ADVANCED DISPOSAL – OSCEOLA 407-605-3892
All seven board members were in attendance, as well as Mark Hills from Association Solutions and 11 residents.
Residents expressed concern about the increased parking on the streets, especially commercial and recreational vehicles, and what could be done about it.
The Association does issue violation letters for commercial and recreational vehicles as per the HROA documents, where possible. But we are unable to when we cannot reasonably identify the owner, such as at the entrances. If you see vehicles parked illegally, please call County Code Enforcement. Putting up a “no commercial vehicle parking” sign at the entrances was discussed. The board suggested that the homeowner bring it up at the CDD meeting as the signs would have to be placed on CDD property.
The board discussed if the widening of driveways on alleyway lots should be allowed. The board has recently received a couple of driveway widening applications which were denied due to the rules in the guidelines. It was brought up that the County Ordinance Sec. 22-50.6, specifies the maximum allowed driveway width as 24 feet. Possible flooding issues, if too much impervious surfaces are added, were also brought up. The board table the issue pending further research.
How neighborhood inspections and viola tions are handled was discussed. Mark Hills explained that they do weekly inspections with half the neighborhood one week and the other the next week and so on. After some dis cussion, the board suggested that in April no trash cans violations would be cited to see how it impacts coverage of other areas.
The Nature and Animal Committee reported they have been working on maintaining the trails. There has been some vandalism along the trails with trees down and chairs broken or thrown in the water. They will be looking for new committee members, especially to help with the feral cats.
Mark Hills went over the financials and indicated we are within budget for the year. He let us know that insurance rates are through the roof and to expect a large increase when he does the proposed budget for next year. We will not know the exact amount until the end of summer. We will discuss and vote on the proposed budget at the May 31st meeting. One way everyone can help with the budget is to give Association Solutions your email so they have permission to email you versus paper mail you, which will save on paper and postage.
Association Solutions gets many calls and emails from our residents weekly. Some of these calls and emails are about applications, violations, and payments. They also have been receiving multiple phone calls on a couple of other concerns recently that we wanted to mention:
Loud music from a neighboring house: Per County Code Ordinance Sec. 9-110 (b)
If the sound level beyond the real property line exceeds the specified level, it is too loud. Please be respectful and keep the music at a reasonable volume. All noise complaints should be directed to county code enforcement. (407) 742-0400
Underaged drivers driving golf carts: Osceola County Ordinance 2019-54 allows the operation of golf carts on designated roads within the Harmony Community. A golf cart may only be operated by a driver with a valid, current driver’s license and liability insurance coverage. All traffic-related complaints should be directed to county code enforcement or the non-emergency complaint line. Phone: (407) 348-2222 n
UPCOMING HROA SOCIAL EVENTS
May 7 – Harmony Sunday Market: 10am–2pm, Town Square
May 27 – Street Party: 7:30pm–10:30pm, Five Oaks Drive in front of the Clubhouse
May 31 – HROA Board Meeting: 6pm, Harmony Ballroom
Contact information for the HROA:
https://myhoasolution.com
407-847-2280
info@myhoasolution.com
https://portal.topssoft.com/login
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• Has worked at Kisselback Ford for 1 year
• Speaks Spanish and English
• Favorite Food: Tacos!
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• Has an impressive sneaker collection of 30 sneakers
Excelente Servicio! HHHHH
“Excelente servicio de parte de Luis no fue un vendedor de auto. fue nuestro Asesor siempre dispuesto a ofrecernos y ayudarnos para elegir la mejor opción sin presión alguna, mi esposo y yo realmente nos sentimos cómodos y confiados en la decisión tomada para nuestra familia y lo Mejor el carro de nuestro sueños lo recomendamos altamente Gracias Luis Bendiciones. Y felicidades también al DEALER kisselback nos sentimos en casa.” — Ana M.
“Kisselback Ford combines professionalism with great customer service. Luis and the sales team worked to get me a deal I was comfortable with while avoiding the pushiness most dealerships are known for. I got great value on my trade-in and will frequent them for all my future Ford needs.” — Eric D.
“One of the most easiest and quickest experiences buying a vehicle! Luis Lino was extremely helpful getting guiding me through the whole process and getting all the info needed, and Justin Zinn had me in and out of the paperwork/finance portion in record time. Quick and painless process! Highly recommend!” — Callie S.
“An excellent place, the attention they give you makes you feel like family. The seller Luis Lino, wow, this man really knows how to serve a customer. He has quick and direct answers to any questions you may have. He helps you even after you bought the vehicle with the same attention as the first day. If I could, I would give them a 10-star rating. Many thanks Kisselback Ford St. Cloud – and Luis, thank you so much.” — Jorge G.
Harmony is a magical place to live;
from the picturesque natural areas complete with Florida wildlife to the street trees shading you while you stroll through the neighborhood;
from the children playing on the soccer field to the strolling sandhill cranes with their chicks;
from the dogs playing together in the dog parks while their owners socialize on the benches; from the dip in the pool to a rousing game on the basketball court;
from a quiet canoe trip across Buck Lake to a hike on Billy’s Trail;
Harmony has so much to offer to everyone who lives here.
All these things were built and preserved by the original developer using the bond money that you and I and all property owners in Harmony pay down every year in the debt portion of your CDD assessment. But all this infrastructure and conservation areas that make Harmony special are aging — Harmony recently passed its 20th birthday.
To understand what that means for Harmony you need to know what the Harmony CDD owns and is responsible for. In 2021, the CDD had a Reserve Study done which inventoried all the infrastructure that the CDD owns, from the 48-inch storm sewer pipes to the pool side furniture. The list was long (148 items or groups of items), so there is not enough room to list it all here. I have pulled out the items that the Reserve Study identified as needing major renovation or replacement over the next 2 years.
The CDD will be having this study updated as the current prices have increased significantly over the 2021 price estimates that were used in the Reserve Study. Remember, when looking at this chart, these expenses will be over and above what the CDD spends annually for regular operations and maintenance. This is why it is critical for the CDD to be setting aside money each year for these Reserves.
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.
Believe it or not, Harmony has its very own Nature and Animal Committee. This group of unpaid residents has been hard at work for years endeavoring to keep our environmentally intelligent community values alive here. Over the years we have held regular Conservation Café events. These include trail walks, boat tours on Buck Lake, golf cart tours of the Golf Preserve, garden tours, or bringing outside folks to educate us. We’ve hosted educational programs here in Harmony that are given by a wide variety of conservation- and community-oriented organizations and individuals. Among them are Amazing Animals,
Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge, Wild Florida, Gatorland, Florida
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and Osceola Sheriff’s Canine Team, just to name a few. There have been programs offered by astronomers, bat keepers, beekeepers, cattle ranchers, venomous snake keepers (including milking venomous snakes!!), and more.
Other activities we put on include an annual photo contest (shout out to Cherry Young, for being the person who has managed this!), and this year’s just concluded in April. Another of our significant activities is maintaining the Harmony Trails. Once the modifications are complete on Billy’s Trail we will be publishing a new trail map on our website. We have also been working to re-establish resident access to Cat Lake (stay tuned!). We have even had a trap/neuter/spay program for feral cats in the community so they don’t become a widespread problem for residents and a danger to themselves. We maintain a website at https://www.harmonynac.com. And WE NEED HELP! We need your help, if you can give it. You don’t necessarily need particular skills, just a can-do attitude.
Due to insurance/liability issues, we cannot accept one-time volunteers for our efforts, but we welcome folks to join our committee and help as they can. You don’t need to attend our monthly meetings or help with everything, just one or two areas of our efforts would be most welcome. We are looking for help in just about all of our activities: scheduling and holding events for adults, families, and kids, managing our feral cat care, maintaining the trails, writing articles like this one, helping with our contests, and reaching out to residents about our activities.
This column is an example of HNAC efforts. I’ve been writing them monthly for around 8 years or so, to continue to educate and inform residents about the many issues that impact our little community’s environment, wildlife, our pets, our natural amenities, and more.
If you’d like to join the HNAC, we’d love to have you! Please visit the website at https://www.harmonynac.com to learn more about what we do and then click on the link under “Join the Nature and Animal Committee” to apply to become a member! 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
be confident.
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.