Harmony Life magazine - October 2023

Photo Courtesy Kim Kirsch

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

Welcome to the October 2023 edition of Harmony Life Magazine

Here are the updates on the apartments and developments in Harmony as reported in Growthspotter which is owned by the Orlando Sentinel. I’m just pulling out the highlights of the article and of course, take this with a grain of salt, although it seems to be coming from a reliable source.

• Phase one will be 377-unit apartment complex, situated on the current vacant land between the townhomes/condos and town center.

• They are just waiting on the county for final approval.

• Publix and additional shopping will be coming.

• The developers also plan to add 700 dwelling units east of Harmony Square Drive and a 168-unit complex called Harmony on the Lakes off Five Oaks Drive north of the Lakes at Harmony.

I will keep you updated as more information becomes available.

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, NO DRAMA.

See you in November!

Bill Bokunic Publisher

Bill@QMCWorld.com

CONTACT INFO FOR RESIDENTS

CDD HarmonyCDD.org, 407-566-1935

Dan, Jo, Lucas, Kerul, or Teresa @HarmonyCDD.org

SHERIFF, NON-EMERGENCY 407-348-2222

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

CONDOS HOA Sentr y Management, 407-846-6323

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

OCTOBER 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

Kim Kirsch

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

HROA Pie Chart in Depth

Last year during an HROA meeting, homeowners requested more information about the HROA regulations and standards that are enforced. In January’s Harmony Life magazine, we outlined the policies and procedures used to maintain the standards. In addition, we started including a pie chart detailing the number of violations cited during the month’s weekly inspections. But what exactly do all these Data Labels mean? Here, we explain the categories found in September and what to do if you find yourself in one of these categories.

Tarp/Car Cover – No tarpaulin covers on vehicles are permitted anywhere within public view.

Trash Cans - Trash/Yard Waste/Recycling

Containers shall be located within the garage and/or an area in the rear or side yard screened from the public view by shrubs or a fence on non-collection days.

Trimming Palm Tree – Please trim off all dead/brown palm fronds off palm trees.

Trimming Trees and Hedges – Keeping the neighborhood neat and tidy also includes your landscaping. Please trim trees, hedges or plants. Trimming trees and shrubs not only makes the yards look nicer but is also healthy for the plants and will allow them to get thicker.

Weed Beds – This is asking you to pull out the weeds in your flower beds.

Debris and Trash – This can include yard waste bags, trash bags, and piles of trash or construction material left in the yard or driveway. This is not bags of trash or bulk pick-up items out by the curb on trash day.

Edging of Lawn – This indicates the grass is growing over the edge of driveway, sidewalks and/or curb. It is time to break out the edger.

Mow, Edge and Weedwack – The lawn is overgrown or otherwise is not being maintained consistent with the Community Wide Standards.

Parking on Grass – Parking is only allowed on driveways, streets and in garages. Please do not park on your lawn including right next to the driveway.

Pressure Wash Driveway – Florida is known for its humidity and rain which can cause mildew on sidewalks and driveways which means you will have to power wash periodically. This also includes removing excess dirt and oil stains.

RV/Boat/Trailer – As per our governing documents RV’s, boats and trailers are not allowed to be parked within Harmony, other than in an enclosed garage, except for loading or unloading.

Sign – No advertising signs are allowed within Harmony. Be proud of your graduate but please remove the signs after a month or two.

Started Without Approval – Prior to commencing any work for which review and approval is required you must fill out the required paperwork and seek approval before work is started. This applies to items such as fences, pools, cages, screened lanais, major landscape changes, house painting, sheds, etc.

Storage – Storing unapproved items on your property. All homes and yards should be maintained in a manner consistent with the Community Standards. Please do not use your front porch, yards or driveways as storage areas and store all trash in the approved containers.

Weed Driveways – This means you have weeds growing in the cracks of your driveway and they need to be removed.

Weed Path – Please pull out all weeds in the sidewalk leading to your front porch or garage.

Contact Information for the HROA:

https://myhoasolution.com

407-847-2280

info@myhoasolution.com

https://portal.topssoft.com/login

HROA SOCIAL EVENTS:

October 13: Halloween Movie Night

7:30pm, Town Square

October 27: Halloween Golf Cart Parade

7:30pm

October 29: Halloween Market

10am-2pm, Town Square

Halloween House

Decorating Contest

Winner announced November 1

November 12: Fall Fest and Market 10am-2pm, Town Square

NOTES FROM the CHAIR

By Teresa Kramer Chair, Harmony Community Development District (CDD)

Harmony’s Growth vs Funding

There are many parts of Harmony that are now over 20 years old and require major repair or total replacement. Some have just aged out and others need to be upgraded to accommodate additional stresses placed on them by development that has occurred over the past 7 years. Since 2016, Harmony has almost doubled in size, adding over 500 homes to the approximately 700 homes, townhomes, and condos that existed at that time. This almost doubling of residences brought an additional burden on our infrastructure and additional expenses, but no additional revenue. In fact, when the most recent neighborhood came online, the developer created significantly fewer lots than had been designated for that parcel and caused Harmony to lose over $38,000 in Operations and Maintenance (O&M) revenue for each year going forward.

Another new strain on Harmony’s funds is the approximately $231,000 that the CDD will need to expend to pay off the debt associated with parcel VC-1. VC-1 is the land where the Lakefront parking lots and the path to the boats and fishing pier are located (see Figures 1 and 2).

understand at that time was that the CDD, as a governmental entity, could not just assume the bond debt associated with the parcel and pay it down with annual payments, but would be obligated to pay VC-1’s bond debt off immediately so as not to violate Harmony’s bond covenants.

Fast forward to September 2023 and this error has finally come to light. Harmony’s legal counsel explained that the CDD Board has two choices to come into compliance with our bond covenants: 1. Pay off the outstanding bond debt allocated to parcel VC-1 which currently is approximately $231,000 OR 2. Engage Bond Counsel and the Bond Trustee to locate each bond holder and request that they all agree to another arrangement to pay off the outstanding debt service over time. This second option would be very expensive (estimated at a bare minimum of $40,000 in legal fees) and there would be no assurance that all bond holders would agree. If only one held out, then the CDD would be back to paying off the VC-1 bond debt immediately.

Paying off the VC-1 debt will eat into our available funds and cause money to be even tighter than it already is, but it cannot be avoided. The CDD must protect Harmony’s standing in the bond community (similar to your credit rating) and must meet its contractual obligations.

So please understand when the CDD Board has to make some very difficult decisions on what repairs or replacements to make, where to locate our Community Maintenance Facility (Field Service only, not Benchmark) and understand why we will have to prioritize repairs to protect the health and safety of our residents over beautification and recreation improvements. These are not decisions we want to make, but they are decisions we have to make. We appreciate your understanding moving forward.

To understand why this is happening, you have to know the history of this parcel.

When Harmony was first permitted in 2000 and the bonds to build Harmony were issued, parcels of property that were intended to be owned by the CDD for community use were not encumbered by bond debt. Unfortunately, parcel VC-1 was not included and, instead, was slated for both commercial and residential development thus causing it to be assigned a substantial debt burden. In fact, in 2008, it was used as a school and later considered for development as a restaurant and even later as large single-family homes. All this time, it was carrying a CDD debt assessment of approximately $53,000 per year and another $53,000 in O&M assessments. In 2019, after trying unsuccessfully to sell or develop this parcel and not paying the CDD assessments since its purchase in 2017, the owner offered it to the CDD. Accepting this parcel meant that the CDD would have to pay the two years of back bond payments, the remainder of the debt going forward, —a total of approximately $500,000, and lose $26,000 in O&M income for every year going forward. The CDD Board that was serving at that time agreed to accept this parcel and the debt and O&M loss that came with it. What they did not

Now, as I promised the TOHO Water Authority part of my space this month, here are some ways that you can help make sure we have enough reclaimed irrigation water to service everyone—

Reducing Outdoor Water Usage

TOHO Water Authority

Did you know that the majority of total home water use occurs in the yard? While it is true that every bit of water saved when you turn off the faucet to brush your teeth or take a short shower in place of a bath is important, a recent University of Florida study found that reducing outdoor water

Figure 1: Parcel VC-1 in 2023Figure 2: Parcel VC-1 in 2008

Data Source: Handbook of Water Use and Conservation; Florida H2OSAV Insights: Home Water Use in Osceola

use can make a big difference in the efforts of water conservation.

This study looked at over a million homes in nine Florida counties. What they found is that the average Florida home with an irrigation system uses at least 991 gallons of water each time they water the lawn. This is equivalent to taking an eight-hour long shower, doing 37 loads of laundry, or running the dishwasher 50 times. Furthermore, most people are actually overwatering their lawns! Not only is overwatering wasteful it can also cause root rot and fungal growth.

toilets and clothes washers, come nowhere near in usage — only 12% and 11% respectively. Over half of our community’s water use is outdoors, so being mindful of how we water our yards will really help us push the needle and make great strides in water conservation.

Toho strongly encourages water conservation and making wise decisions about usage.

Tips to reduce outdoor water use:

• Follow your appointed watering schedule for a healthy lawn. Watering days and times can be found on www.tohowater.com.

• Check your irrigation system at least once a month for leaks. Toho offers free irrigation system audits and will make sure your systems are running as they should.

• Make sure you have a working rain sensor device — it’s the law! Rain sensors automatically shut off irrigation systems so your lawn doesn’t get watered unnecessarily.

that are native to Florida and built to with stand the environment need less maintenance and watering than non-natives. Visit w ww.qrco.de/flfplants or scan the QR code or the University of F lorida Extension Center’s Florida-friendly plant guide.

Conservation as a strategy

Central Florida is constantly welcoming new residents. With this consistent increase in population, our current water source, The Floridan Aquifer, is not a sustainable resource for the projected growth that is expected in the future. By reducing the demand for water, we will defer alternative water source projects. Additionally, being conscious of our water use is the right thing to do — our actions today affect the needs and/ or shortfalls in the future.

Another study, by Toho Water Authority (Toho), looked at home water use specifically in Osceola County and found that 54% of water use was occurring outdoors. The other highest water users,

• In the winter months, your grass goes dormant and stops growing. During this period, you can skip a week of watering.

• Reduce your landscape’s irrigation needs by planting Florida native plants. Plants

More information or a free irrigation timer set, contact Toho,s Water Conservation team to set up an appointment or for more information, please email us at waterconservation@tohowater.com or call us at 407-944-5124. n

HEALTHCARE

By Kim Kirsch Insurance Broker / District Manager, Healthcare Solutions Team

5 Ways to Move More Every Day

If you go to work in a traditional office job (and commute to get there), there’s a good chance that you spend a large portion of the majority of your days doing the same thing: sitting. Even if you work from home, are a stay-at-home parent, or have a less traditional job, it can still be hard to find ways to move every day. But, the truth is, that moving more can make a huge difference in your health. As health experts, we’re here to give you some simple ideas for moving more every single day.

Sitting for long periods of time has been linked to a number of health problems, including obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. That’s why it’s recommended that you aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week. And remember, every little bit counts! Let’s look at some easy ways to move your body a little bit more every day.

watch (even just a cheap fitness watch) or some kind of pedometer and start tracking your steps. Try to beat your count from yesterday, even just by a few steps!

3. Take advantage of commercial breaks

You can get more movement in all day long, even during peak couch potato hours. If you’re watching show on cable or using a streaming platform that has ads, use the commercial breaks to get your blood pumping. Get off the couch and start doing lunges, jumping jacks, squats, or hold a plank. Whatever exercise you choose, try to do as many as you can during the commercial break. If you’re using a streaming platform with no commercial breaks, you can still make this work. Just take a 1-2 minute break between every episode to get in your reps!

4. Have a dance party

Whether you’re staying at home with your kids or doing chores on the weekend, you can always take a break for a dance party. You’ll be surprised how much you raise your heart rate simply by dancing straight through a 2 or 3 minute song. Plus, it’s a mood booster! So take a break from the dishes, turn up the music, and get moving.

5. Optimize your sitting

1. Take the stairs instead of the elevator

Here’s an easy one to get started… if you have the option between stairs and an elevator or escalator, always opt for the stairs. It may seem like a little thing, but small changes can really add up. If you’re going up multiple floors every day, you could even start out take the escalator or elevator part of the way and taking the stairs for the rest. The goal is simply to get in more movement wherever you can.

2. Track your steps

Did you know that 10,000 steps is the recommended target per day for the average, healthy adult? Tracking your steps can be an easy and satisfying way to get more movement in every day. Moving is always easier when it feels like a game. If you don’t already have one, get a smart

We all have to sit sometimes. And, while you may not be able to move your body much during those times, that doesn’t mean you can’t optimize your sitting hours. If you’re sitting in a chair, you’re not asking much of your muscles. But by simply sitting on a stability ball instead, you can activate a lot of different muscle groups. Try to swap your regular chair or couch for a stability/exercise ball wherever you can… at your desk, while watching TV or playing video games, during snack times, etc.

Get in touch with us today at 407-870-3462 and a licensed member of our team will be happy to review your insurance needs. n

DID YOU KNOW?

By Beatrice Spencer, Harmony Resident

The Unsettling Truth: A Bad Dog is Always People’s Fault

When we encounter a dog with behavioral issues or aggressive tendencies, it is essential to recognize that the blame lies squarely on the shoulders of humans, not the dog itself. Dogs are not inherently “bad”; they are products of their environment and the care they receive. In this brief yet powerful article, we delve into the undeniable truth that a bad dog is always a reflection of human responsibility.

1. Lack of Proper Training

One of the primary reasons dogs develop problematic behavior is a lack of proper training. Dogs require guidance and clear boundaries to understand what is expected of them. There are local dog trainers, YouTube videos, and online articles that are available to provide guidance. Know that when owners neglect training or fail to provide consistent discipline, it is unfair to blame the dog for exhibiting undesirable behavior.

2. Inconsistent Socialization

Socialization is crucial for dogs to develop appropriate behavior around people, animals, and various environments. There are crucial ages in a puppy’s development when it is most important to focus your efforts on adequately socializing your puppy to people, other dogs, and environments beyond the home. Failure to expose a dog to different situations and provide positive interactions during these critical socialization periods can lead to fear, aggression, or anxiety. It is the responsibility of owners to ensure their dogs receive sufficient and appropriate socialization experiences.

3. Neglecting Basic Needs

Dogs have essential physical and mental needs that must be met to maintain their well-being. Neglecting these needs can result in behavioral issues. Insufficient exercise, mental stimulation, or a lack of social interaction can lead to frustration, hyperactivity, or even aggression. Fulfilling these needs is a fundamental responsibility of dog owners. A dog that is well-exercised and given enough attention is almost always a happy and well-behaved dog.

4. Misguided or Inconsistent Reinforcement

Inconsistent or misguided reinforcement can confuse dogs and contribute to behavioral problems. Mixed signals or reinforcing negative behaviors inadvertently can lead to the development of “bad” habits. Try to have everyone in the home use the same signals and reward the right behaviors. Dogs thrive on consistent and positive reinforcement, which requires owners to understand and respond appropriately to their dog’s actions.

5. Failure to Address Health Issues

Undiagnosed or untreated health issues can significantly impact a dog’s behavior. Pain, discomfort, or underlying medical conditions may manifest as aggression or other behavioral problems. Responsible owners must prioritize regular veterinary care and promptly address any health concerns to ensure their dog’s well-being and minimize the risk of problematic behavior.

A “bad” dog is never inherently the dog’s fault. Dogs are highly adaptable and capable of displaying remarkable loyalty and love. It is our responsibility as owners to provide appropriate attention, exercise, care, training, socialization, and reinforcement to foster well-adjusted doggie companions. By recognizing our vital and primary role in shaping a dog’s behavior, we can create a positive and harmonious relationship that benefits our beloved furbabies and us. Let’s be accountable to them and our community and ensure that our actions reflect our commitment to responsible dog ownership. Looking forward to seeing you at the dog park! n

TO HOME BUYING

You’re not just our patient. You’re our neighbor. For more than 50 years, Orlando Health St. Cloud Hospital has been honored to provide exceptional care for the Osceola County community we proudly call home. And because it’s your home, too, you deserve trusted healthcare within reach, so we can foster a partnership focused on health and wellness — together. Giving you more reasons to choose well. OrlandoHealth.com/StCloud choose well.