FLORIDA’S PREMIER COMMUNITY September 2016
MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS, THE LeMENAGER FAMILY Photo by Christina Dalton
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FROM THE PUBLISHER, BILL BOKUNIC H
PUBLISHER & CEO i everyone and welcome to the September 2016 edition of Harmony Life Magazine!
Recently one of our local senior citizens, who suffers from dementia, wandered off and a call went out to help him via Facebook and other means. As we searched the golf course in our golf cart, it was truly amazing to see the number of people who dropped everything and came out to search. I didn’t count, but there had to have been at least 50 or more on bikes, golf carts, cars, walking and even skateboards! The gentleman was found on one of the trails and the ordeal had a happy ending, but this really shows that we live in an amazing place and in amazing times! I am truly proud to be a part of this wonderful community and I hope you feel the same way too!
Bill Bokunic Quantum Marketing Communications, LLC 321.331.6398 Bill@QMCWorld.com www.QMCWorld.com Harmony Life Magazine
We welcome Brightway Insurance (The Sterner agency) this month in Harmony Life Magazine. They have a dedicated rep just for Harmony, so look for their ad and more information to come in the upcoming months. I want to give a huge shout out to Harmony Resident Derly Ames. Deryl owns Extreme Auto Spa detailing and window tinting next to Tuffy’s on 192. His crew tinted my car windows in less than an hour and did a wonderful job. I encourage all of us to patronize our resident businesses, especially good ones like Extreme Auto Spa. Call Deryl at (407) 301-5456 or (321) 805-4771. Lastly, Charlie Draper of the Draper Law Firm helped me with a personal legal issue. He is fantastic and his advice helped me choose a wise path. This is not a paid advertisement, nor does he know I am writing this. If you have a legal need, I highly suggest you give him a call. Charlie does so much for the community at large and specifically, for the Saint Cloud Chamber, without looking for accolades! It’s nice to be in my position and publicly acknowledge him: www.draperlawoffice.com. That’s all for now. See you in October! Bill Bokunic
Contact Info for Residents CDD HarmonyCDD.org, 407-566-1935 Steve, Ray, Mark, Kerul or David@HarmonyCDD.org SHERIFF, NON-EMERGENCY 407-348-2222
BRIGHTHOUSE CABLE / INTERNET
877-892-3279
CENTURY LINK CABLE / INTERNET
866-314-4148
OUC ELECTRIC
407-957-7373
HROA
First Services Residential 866-378-1099 or FSResidential.com
WASTE MANAGEMENT TRASH PICKUP 407-843-7370
CONDOS HOA
Sentry Management, 407-846-6323
TOWNHOMES HOA HARMONY DEVELOPER OFFICE
TITAN Management, 407-705-2190
OSCEOLA COUNTY
Osceola.org “Citizen Action Center”
COUNTY COMMISSIONER FRED HAWKINS
fhaw@osceola.org
407-891-8358, HarmondyFL.com
September 2016 | Harmony Life Magazine 1
MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS: THE LeMENAGER FAMILY
What are your names? Mark and Pamela LeMenager. When did you move to Harmony? June 2008. What street do you live on? Schoolhouse across from the soccer pitch. What do you love most about Harmony? The view from our front windows (especially little kid soccer and flag football), friendly neighbors, seeing deer frequently, participating in our town’s development. Where did you move from? Technically Celebration, but really Warsaw, Poland. When we moved back to the U.S., we lived in Celebration until construction was done here. What do you miss most? A wide selection of nearby restaurants.
2 Harmony Life Magazine | September 2016
What is your background? We met on the phone while working for an insurance company. Mark in Chicago and Pam in Kansas City. One thing led to another and we were married a couple years later. Then we had the opportunity to go to Europe for 18 months and stayed 18 years. First, Mark was as an underwriter/ business analyst in England and Holland, and finally founder and President of the company’s operation in Poland. In Poland, Pam became President of the International Women’s Group, a charity with hundreds of members that has raised hundreds of thousands for Polish orphans and single moms over the years.
is her work for the community as Chair of the Covenants Committee. Are there any recommendations for other neighbors? Check out the restaurant at Forever Florida. Do you have a cause or charity you support? Relay For Life. Mark is a cancer survivor. What do you do for fun? Disney World. We are huge fans of the festivals at EPCOT. We’ll be going to the Food and Wine Festival 12 times this year.
What is a good story about Harmony? We fell in love with the concept on our first visit. Bought a house for investment six hours after we got here. Came back the next day and bought our lot. Then flew back to Warsaw and designed our house from scratch.
What is the last movie that you have seen in the theatre? The new Ghostbusters. We loved it.
What is your favorite weekend activity? For Mark, watching Formula One racing, and for Pam, gardening.
Anything else you can tell us about yourselves? Mark was National Collegiate Weightlifting Champion in 1973 and then became a wellknown coach producing Olympians for both the U.S. and Great Britain. Pam spoke Russian with her mom until she got to the first grade. She sure surprised Mark when she started translating placards in Cyrillic at a museum in England. n
Is there a neighbor experience you are most proud of? For Mark, getting the developer to put in two parks in the new neighborhood O and leading the charge for the CDD to put in one park and upgrade another in H-1 and H-2. It’s the kind of thing that really makes a positive impact on peoples lives. For Pam, it
What is your favorite TV Show? Our guilty pleasure is America’s Got Talent. Never miss a minute.
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September 2016 | Harmony Life Magazine 3
4 Harmony Life Magazine | September 2016
“C BUYING vs RENTING By Jeanine Corcoran
FOR SALE
7118 Indian Grass 4 Bed / 3 Bath 2760 sq ft by Kristin Macari
$339,900
an I afford to buy?” The real question to ask is, “Can I afford to continue renting?” Most renters don’t realize the amount of money they pay over a period of several years. An average rent of $1400 a month over 10 years is $168,000! “Why should I buy when I can rent and not have the responsibility of house problems?”
Seriously consider the pros and cons of buying versus renting—paying your own mortgage or paying someone else’s mortgage. With interest rates still historically low, at or below 4% on a 30-year fixed mortgage, why rent? There are many programs available today to help you, including our Buyer’s Program. Make your move today.
Here are the top 3 benefits of home ownership: 1. Tax Advantages – both property taxes and interest payments are tax deductible. 2. Home Value Appreciation – benefits from increased value over time. 3. Pride in Ownership – it’s yours! No more asking for permission to make changes.
Jeanine Corcoran is the Broker and Owner of The Corcoran Connection, LLC – A Real Estate and Property Management Company. Jeanine has been helping families with their Real Estate needs since 2005. Jeanine can be reached at 407.922.3308, email her at JeanineCorcoran@ gmail.com, or visit TheCorcoranConnection.com.
FOR SALE
FOR SALE
SOLD
PENDING
$585,000
$398,900
$239,000
$235,000
3333 Schoolhouse 3314 Bracken Fern 3307 Countryside View 3219 Bayflower Ave 3 Bed / 2.5 Bath 5 Bed / 3.5 Bath 4 Bed / 2.5 Bath 3 Bed / 4.5 Bath 2008 sq ft POOL / 3386 sq ft 2144 sq ft POOL / 3647 sq ft by Jeanine Corcoran by Jeanine Corcoran by Jeanine Corcoran by Jeanine Corcoran
PENDING
SOLD
$249,900
$165,000
FOR LEASE FOR SALE
SOLD
7148 Forty Banks 3503 Clay Brick Rd 6840 Butterfly Dr 6886 Sundrop 7136 Five Oaks Dr 3 Bed / 2.5 Bath 3 Bed / 2.5 Bath 4 Bed / 3.5 Bath 4 Bed / 2 Bath 3 Bed / 2.5 Bath 1855 sq ft 1826 sq ft 2219 sq ft Listed and Sold 1826 sq ft by Jeanine Corcoran sold by Jeanine C. by Jeanine Corcoran by Jeanine Corcoran by Jeanine Corcoran
$1,350
$160,000
$260,000
Jeanine Corcoran - Broker | Owner | The Corcoran Connection 407-953-9118 - office | JeanineCorcoran@gmail.com TheCorcoranConnection.com Serving your Real Estate and Property Management Needs September 2016 | Harmony Life Magazine 5
6 Harmony Life Magazine | September 2016
IS YOUR NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION TAX EXEMPT? By Jason Flowers MBA, CFA, EA, CPA
N
ot-for-profit organizations (NPOs) are not always recognized by the IRS as tax exempt and eligible to receive tax deductible contributions. If you are an officer of an NPO, or a financial contributor to one, you might want to check the organization’s tax exempt status at the IRS website: https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/. NPO’s gain tax-exemption by applying for IRC Section 501(c)(3) status. Benefits of being tax-exempt under 501(c)(3) include: 1. Exemption from federal corporate income taxes. 2. Possible exemption from state income, sales and property taxes. 3. Ability to apply for grants and other public or private funding available only to IRS-recognized NPOs. 4. Discounts on US Postal bulk-mail rates. 5. Contributions are tax-deductible by the donor. According to the IRS, the City of Orlando, FL has approximately 2,927 NPOs registered as eligible to receive tax deductible contributions. However, another 1,551 NPOs in Orlando lost their tax-exempt status in the last 5 years.
Common reasons NPOs lose their tax exempt status include: (1) failing to File Form 990 for 3 consecutive years, (2) earning too much income from unrelated activities, (3) participating in political campaigning, and (4) benefiting board members excessively. The loss of IRS tax-exemptions can create tax problems for the organization and its contributors. For example, donors to a NPO would no longer be able to itemize deductions for their contributions. In addition, the NPO would be subject to federal corporate income taxes, penalties and interest. Retroactively reinstating NPO status can be a confusing process. Form 1023 is commonly used for reinstatement and is 26 pages in length. It requires numerous attachments/statements from the NPO’s Board of Directors and financial statement information. n
Herring CPA’s and Consultants are prepared to help you through the process of reinstating your tax-exempt status if necessary. If you feel your organization has lost (or is in danger of losing) its tax exemption and would like a free consultation, please call us 407-647-7777. We are also available if you are currently operating as an NPO and need help with your annual filing requirements.
September 2016 | Harmony Life Magazine 7
HROA - SEPTEMBER 2016 The latest news and information from your management company. Tim Quinlan: 407-891-2602, Ext. 206 • tim.quinlan@fsresidential.com Aubrey Woller—Administrative Assistant: 407-644-0010, Ext. 7317 • aubrey.woller@fsresidential.com FirstService Residential - Customer Care: 1-866-378-1099
HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS Tropical Storms and Hurricane season began June 1st and ends November 30th. Having the supplies necessary for the preparation pre/post-storm is very important. If you wait until hurricane warnings to stock up, you might find it difficult to find all the supplies. Water and batteries go quick.
Create Family Disaster Plan
q Emergency Evacuation Destination and route. q Pet Evacuation Destination and route if they
can not go to the same shelter with you.
q If not evacuating, pick a safe room in your home. An interior room without windows, such as a bathroom, pantry, laundry room or closet. q Choosing an out of state relative or friend to contact if the family should get separated. q Know where the main water turns off is located (outside) and where the electrical box main power switch is located (inside the home—usually in the garage). q Be sure that important papers are in water proof plastic bags or containers. q Prepare an Emergency List and place copies where needed. q Other Planning Notes Food Keep enough food on hand for at least two weeks throughout the hurricane season. Replace stored goods every six months. Here are some foods you can purchase before hurricane season. q Canned and jarred meats and fish, such as tuna, chicken or ham (manual can opener needed) q Canned fruits (get the ones packed in juice, not in syrup) q Canned vegetables q Canned soups, stews and chilies q Powdered and/or evaporated milk, non-dairy milk products q Instant coffee, tea and cocoa q Unsalted nuts q Peanut butter, Jelly, and/or honey q Powdered drink mixes q Fruit juices, vegetable juices, diet soft drinks q Bouillon cubes q Non-perishable pudding and gelatin 8 Harmony Life Magazine | September 2016
Water q One gallon per person per day (include pets) for drinking and sanitation-2 week supply per person (and pets). q If using used containers as 2 liter bottles, be sure they are cleaned thoroughly. Milk con- tainers and gallon size freezer bags are great to fill and freeze and use in coolers. Other Items q Hurricane Shutters/Plywood q Generator q Household regular not scented bleach to purify water; or water purification tablets and clean up supplies q Tools, hammer and nails; ax or hatchet; crowbar; screwdrivers; pliers; cordless drill, bolts for shutters; a knife; utility knife; handsaw q Duct tape and masking tape q Flashlight/camping lanterns (battery operated) for each family member q Battery operated Radio/TV/Alarm Clock q Fire Extinguisher(s) q Waterproof or Kitchen Matches (place in plastic bags to keep dry q Extension Cords (outside) q Rope or heavy cord, approximately 100 feet q Work Gloves/Safety Goggles q Sponges/Towels q First aid kit with manual and insect repellent q Plastic Sheeting / Plastic Bags q Medications (Family/Pets) – one month supply q Important Papers in waterproof bags/ containers q Cash q Fuel Vehicles q Grill–propane q Tarps, canvas or 6-mil plastic sheeting. Good for making temporary roof repairs or tents.
q Coolers q Paper plates/cups/plastic utensils q Whistles or air horn q Hurricane Information Booklets found in
most stores (Lowes, Home Depot – Free) Pets
q Arrange for temporary housing if not able to
be with the family. q Collars w/up to date identification. Attach phone number of temporary housing, leash. q Current photos/important papers q Do not leave your pet home alone. Leaving home with food and water does not mean they will be safe. q Medical records & Medications–water proof bags q Food, water, bowls, cat litter box q Can opener q Information Sheet: feeding time medication schedule, behavior problems, vets name and telephone. q Pet Bed and Toys q Vaccinations up to date q Animal Carrier Emergency Numbers Fire/Police/Rescue: 911 American Red Cross: 866.438.4636 Florida Department: Elder Affairs: 800.953.5337 Child Care: 888.352.4453 Orlando Sheriff: non-emergency: 407.836-4357 Osceola County: Utilities Emergency: 407.742.0200 Shelter Information: 407.742.0000 Poison Control: 800.222.1222 Salvation Army: 800.725.2769
Disaster Preparedness for Pets • • • • • • •
The key to survival during a disaster, crisis or emergency is to be as prepared as possible before the storm hits. The Humane Society of the United States recommends the following actions: Find a trusted neighbor and give them a key to your house. Make sure this person is comfortable and familiar with your pets. Make sure the neighbor knows your pets’ whereabouts and habits, so they will not have to waste precious time trying to find or catch them. Create a pet emergency/disaster kit and place it in a prominent place where your neighbor can find it. If the emergency involves evacuation, make sure the neighbor would be willing to take your pets and has access to the appropriate carriers and leashes. Plan to meet at a prearranged location. If you use a pet sitting service, they may be available to help, but discuss the possibility well in advance.
Stock up on non-perishables well ahead of time, and have everything ready to go at a moment’s notice. Keep everything accessible, stored in sturdy containers (duffel bags, covered trash containers, etc.) that can be carried easily. If you reside in an area prone to certain seasonal disasters, such as flooding or hurricanes that might require evacuation, create a kit to keep in your car. In your pet disaster kit, you should include: • Food and water for at least five days for each pet, bowls and a manual can opener if you are packing canned pet food. • Medications and medical records stored in a waterproof container and a first aid kit. A pet first aid book is also good to include. • Cat litter box, litter, garbage bags to collect all pets’ waste, and litter scoop. • Sturdy leashes, harnesses, and carriers to transport pets safely and to ensure that your pets can’t escape. Carriers should be large enough for the animal to stand comfortably, turn around and lie down. Your pet may have to stay in the carrier for hours at a time while you are away from home. Be sure to have a secure cage with no loose objects inside it to accommodate smaller pets. These may require blankets or towels for bedding and warmth, and other special items. • Current photos and descriptions of your pets to help others identify them in case you and your pets become separated and to prove that they are yours. • Pet beds and toys, if you can easily take them, to reduce stress. • Information about your pets’ feeding schedules, medical conditions, behavior problems, and the name and number of your veterinarian in case you have to board your pets or place them in foster care. Other useful items include newspapers, paper towels, plastic trash bags, grooming items and household bleach. Find a Safe Place Ahead of Time - Because evacuation shelters generally don’t accept pets (except for service animals), you must plan ahead to make certain your family and pets will have a safe place to stay. Contact hotels and motels outside your immediate area to check policies on accepting pets. Ask about any restrictions on number, size and species. Inquire if the “no pet” policies would be waived in an emergency. Make a list of animal-friendly places and keep it handy. Call ahead for a reservation as soon as you think you might have to leave your home. • Check with friends, relatives or others outside your immediate area. Ask if they would be able to shelter you and your animals or just your animals, if necessary. If you have more than one pet, you may need to house them at separate locations. • Make a list of boarding facilities and veterinary offices that might be able to shelter animals in emergencies; include 24-hour telephone numbers. • Ask your local animal shelter if it provides foster care or shelter for pets in an emergency. This should be your last resort, as shelters have limited resources and are likely to be stretched to their limits during an emergency. The key to survival during a disaster, crisis or emergency is to be as prepared as possible before the storm hits. Take the time to make a plan and assemble an emergency kit for you and your pet. By taking these steps now, you will greatly increase your pet’s chances of survival. Other useful items include newspapers, paper towels, plastic trash bags, grooming items and household bleach. In Case You Are Not Home - An evacuation order may come, or a disaster may strike, when you’re at work or out of the house. • Make arrangements well in advance for a trusted neighbor to take your pets and meet you at a specified location. Be sure the person is comfortable with your pets and your pets are familiar with him/her, knows where your animals are likely to be, knows where your disaster supplies are kept and has a key to your home. If you use a pet-sitting service, it may be able to help, but discuss the possibility well in advance. Don’t Forget ID Your pet should be wearing up-to-date identification at all times. This includes adding your current cell phone number to your pet’s tag. It may also be a good idea to include the phone number of a friend or relative outside your immediate area—if your pet is lost, you’ll want to provide a number on the tag that will be answered even if you’re out of your home. When You Evacuate, Take Your Pets with You The single most important thing you can do to protect your pets is to take them with you when you evacuate. Animals left behind in a disaster can easily be injured, lost or killed. Animals left inside your home can escape through storm-damaged areas, such as broken windows. Animals turned loose to fend for themselves are likely to become victims of exposure, starvation, predators, contaminated food or water, or accidents. Leaving dogs tied or chained outside in a disaster is a death sentence. If You Don’t Evacuate, Shelter in Place If your family and pets must wait out a storm or other disaster at home, identify a safe area of your home where you can all stay together. Be sure to close your windows and doors, stay inside, and follow the instructions from your local emergency management office. • Bring your pets indoors as soon as local authorities say there is an imminent problem. Keep pets under your direct control. Keep dogs on leashes and cats in carriers, and make sure they are wearing identification. • If you have a room you can designate as a “safe room,” put your emergency supplies in that room in advance, including your pet’s crate and supplies. Have any medications and a supply of pet food and water inside watertight containers, along with your other emergency supplies. If there is an open fireplace, vent, pet door, or similar opening in the house, close it off with plastic sheeting and strong tape. Planning and preparation will help you survive the disaster, but your home may be a very different place afterward, whether you have taken shelter at home or elsewhere. September 2016 | Harmony Life Magazine 9
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10 Harmony Life Magazine | September 2016
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: LUV A LAWN By Bill Bokunic, Publisher
This month we spotlight our friends and local company Luv A Lawn. What makes your business unique? We are a local, privately owned and operated full service pest control company offering: indoor pest control, lawn spraying, shrub spraying and termite protection services, as well as several additional services such as guaranteed fire ant control, tree injection and irrigation repair, to mention a few. We are “one company” that can do it all. Being full service and privately owned and operated make us unique to the industry. Can you describe the “culture” or “philosophy” of your business? I can sum up the culture of our company simply by providing you with our company’s mission statement, on our website at www.luvalawn.com/about. We have a can-do attitude and we understand that our success is not based on convenience, it’s based on our customers’ needs. We put the customer first. Can you tell us a little history of your company? Why did you choose to start it in Harmony? Luv-A-Lawn and Pest Control, Inc. (formally Valentine’s Lawn & Shrub Care) was established in 2009 in Osceola County. The owner of LuvA-Lawn and Pest Control and his team have extensive experience with Central Florida landscapes. Over 30 years of combined experience right here in Osceola County. Luv-A-Lawn and Pest Control came about as a result of the demand for a high quality, local, privately owned and operated lawn, shrub, and pest control company. An “old school” company where customer service is job #1. Joseph A. Valentine is the president and owner of Luv-A-Lawn and Pest Control, Inc. and was the previous owner of Valentine’s Lawn & Shrub Care, Inc. Mr. Valentine has over 26 years of experience in Central Florida and holds the licenses required by the State of Florida to perform, and Harmony was a perfect fit for Luv-A-Lawn and Pest Control demographically; the homeowners and our clientele in Harmony are highly educated, business minded and successful. Harmony has the type of clientele we attract. They understand that they will get what they pay for when it comes to our services, and they know if they don’t, they can simply pick up the phone and call the owner! That’s not common in this day and age in this industry. In recent years we have expanded our service areas to include Orange, Polk, Seminole and Lake counties. Can you tell the readers a little about your company? What services do you offer? Luv-A-Lawn and Pest Control currently has over 6,000 clients and employs between 35-40 team members annually in 5 counties. We offer indoor pest control, lawn spraying, shrub spraying and termite protection services, as well as several additional services. such as guaranteed fire ant control, tree injection and irrigation repair. We are growing at a steady pace between 40%-45% and continue to employ many local residents.
We are always looking for quality-minded people who want to join our company in positions of Service Advisors, Lawn Technicians, Pest Control Technicians and office personal. I know numerous Harmony neighbors use your services (including us). What do you attribute to your success and loyality? We do what we say we are going to do. We do our best to communicate with our clients so there is a clear and precise understanding of what to expect from our services. We will not sugar coat it. Too many companies promise a rose garden just to “get the sale.” Not Luv-A-Lawn and Pest Control. We shoot straight so there is no misunderstanding. It’s a breath of fresh air for many residents—especially those who have had other companies prior to ours. There are several other companies in our area who provide excellent service and stand out in the industry. We are happy to be one of those companies recognized for our excellent service and customer retention. We provide estimates and inspections free of charge and with no obligation. We have a customer referral program that provides a $15 prepaid Visa card to any of our current customers who refer new customers to Luv-A-Lawn and Pest Control. I issue over 100 of these cards EVERY month…that says volumes about the happiness of our customers. We have a team member recognition program called the “Reach Out” program, and it provides our team members with a $15 prepaid Visa card if they receive a compliment from any customer. Many of our team members haven’t had to purchase their own lunch in years since we started this program! Lol… I know you support many local charities and organizations—are there any you care to mention or discuss? We do support many local charities, most of which are smaller and always local charities. We support many school-related charities, mostly that have ties to sports. I feel that team sports are very important for our youth. It teaches young adults a sense of pride, team work and achievement. Anything else you would like to mention or highlight? I would like to say, thank you, to all of our customers, past and present. We are proud to be your Pest Control Service Provider. In August, we were voted for, recognized and awarded as being the “Best in Osceola County” for our industry. Thanks again to all customers, past and present. Please feel free to contact us with any questions. We can be reached at 407-908-9139 or you can visit us online at LuvALawn.com. n September 2016 | Harmony Life Magazine 11
THE GOOD LIFE WITH FOOD… THERE’S MORE! A Harmony Newbie Review By Kim L Kirsch
W
e haven’t been in Harmony long; just a couple months. But the welcome we have received (from most) has been positive and truly sincere. We are quickly falling in love with all things Harmony. Specifically, the food! We ventured out one night to Grandaddy’s, and quickly learned that we love Harmony more and more. We have our favorite seats at the bar where we enjoy steak on Thursday’s and the occasional banana split specially created by Adam, and it is true perfection. The burgers have some of our friends from St. Cloud and Kissimmee coming out because they want the juicy, fresh taste. And it’s been a favorite for the omelets after church on Sunday mornings. Of course, visiting with us is a part of why they come, but they always want to go to Granddaddy’s. We live busy lifestyles, like most people, and even though my office is the beautiful loft in our brand new townhome, things can still get very busy. So naturally, after my husband commutes an hour to get home from work, and I’ve been typing my fingers to the bone, we just hop on our scooters and visit Tony and the gang at Grandaddy’s to see what’s on special.
12 Harmony Life Magazine | September 2016
But wait… There’s more! We bought a gym membership, and it’s amazing! Yep! It’s fantastic to work out then go have loaded cheese fries at Champions Grill! I know, that’s not how it’s supposed to work, so we won’t discuss how we just stumbled upon “quarter beer night.” Of course there are many healthier food options to choose from, but sometimes you’ve just got to go with what you’re feeling. Champions has a ribeye that competes with the best out there, and when the staff knows what you want as soon as you enter, then you know that you’re finally home. Like Grandaddy’s, Champion’s has specials and events, and even though we haven’t experienced them all yet, we are bound to soon. With Grandaddy’s and Champion’s Grill always having amazing specials, gatherings, and event nights, Harmony is definitely the place to be. In fact, we are always wondering what’s next, because when it’s all said and done, there’s one thing we know about Harmony… There’s More! n
POLITICS IN HARMONY… By Steve Berube, Chairman Hamony Community Development District
S
ince this is the time of year that politics seems to consume the news cycle, as well as every available second of radio and TV commercial time, I thought it appropriate to explain how your Board of Supervisors came to be. In the beginning, the Developer floated bond issues to raise capital to build Harmony through the Harmony Community Development District (CDD)—a special purpose local government like a small town but without police powers. The Board consisted of Developer appointees (typically professional businessmen) who managed the affairs of the District until the number of voting residents reached 250. Once at that threshold, residents could run for election to the Board, and, as the number of registered voters rose, the change to resident-owner control continued until, around 2012, full resident control was obtained. The process of running for the Board is similar to the city, county or state political process wherein one qualifies with the Supervisor of Elections to get on the Ballot and then campaigns leading up to the November election. To ensure orderly transitions, each election provides the possibility of changing either 2 or 3 of the 5 seats. This year, we are in the 3 seat cycle, so, in 2018, we will be in the 2 seat cycle. Historically, very few residents take part in CDD meetings on any kind of a regular basis, and even fewer have taken part in the political/election process as well. Whether this is good or bad I’ll leave up to you, but I will say that perhaps the stability and financial strength of this CDD leaves people happy with the status quo. And since there are many CDDs in shaky financial shape, I guess we are lucky. As it happens, 2 of the 3 seats eligible this year have found challengers. So, come November, there might be some changes to the current Board. It would be inappropriate for me to discuss my views of the current Board members or the Candidates so I won’t. However, the basics of this cycle are that Anthony Presley is running against incumbent David Farnsworth, and Bill Bokunic is running against incumbent Mark LeMenager.
Enough of that—what else is going on? First is that for yet another year, CDD fees are not rising with the exception of 8 lots in “F” as well as on a much larger number of builder and/or Developer owned lots in F, H2, M and A2. It is difficult to avoid increases but we are steadily paying off the expensive streetlight leases which ultimately will save nearly a million dollars of a three million dollar obligation. (Remember the Developer-controlled Boards mentioned above? They put these leases in effect—and now we, the resident-Board, are undoing them.) When a lease is paid off, our monthly costs decrease by thousands of dollars which helps to balance the increase-free budget. Additionally, CDD Field Services just hired an additional man, so Field Services continues to provide services 7 days a week at the highest quality and without a contractor’s markup. We try to hire residents for these positions as residents have a vested interest; this position has been filled by yet another resident—so, that’s 3 out of 5. We also just approved the purchase of playground equipment for H2 (to be installed in the northeast corner near the mailboxes) and H1 (which will be placed in the southwest corner near the swing/mailboxes.) The linear park paralleling Butterfly drive is in the final stages of permitting, and assuming no more county-caused delays, construction should begin this month. The playground equipment is NOT a cost saving, but the majority of its cost was paid from outside the budget—but that’s another story! The DAVEY landscape contract renewal is near finalization which will provide up to 3 years of service at no increase in price. All in all, things are going very well and your Board of Supervisors is proud to serve you and keep Harmony a superior place to live. Thanks for reading this far and, as always, should you have any questions, please contact David, Kerul, Mark, Ray or Steve at harmonycdd.org. n
September 2016 | Harmony Life Magazine 13
SEPTEMBER SCHEDULE OF EVENTS TODDLER STORY TIME Friday, September 3 9:30 AM at Granddaddy’s VOLLEYBALL CLUB Every Tuesday and Thursday: 9/6, 9/8, 9/13, 9/15, 9/20, 9/22, 9/27, 9/29 6:30 -7:30 PM at Lakeshore Park YOGA Every Sunday: 9/4, 9/11, 9/18, and 9/25 8:00 AM in Harmony Town Square HARMONY HAWAIIAN LUAU Saturday, September 24 5–8 PM in Harmony Town Square HARMONY HIKE Sunday, September 25 9:15 AM at Billy’s Trail
We Love Harmony Residents! Wine, gifts, paint classes and more! Stop by for a wine tasting or a sampling of our famous wine Slushies.
(321) 722-4116 Near Macy’s in the Melbourne Square Mall
www.facebook.com/WineyWenchOfMelbourne
www.WineyWench.com 14 Harmony Life Magazine | September 2016
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. One of the ways we protect our environment is through recycling, and in the US recycling rates have been about 34% of total waste (way behind many other developedworld countries). Recycling reduces toxic pollution from waste facilities. It conserves resources, like trees, water, metals, and fossil fuels. It reduces waste, while saving energy, and mitigating carbon emissions. It has been reported to create 20-100 jobs for every one job created with landfilled waste. Did you know there are 5 “R”s of waste management? Aside from recycle, there’s reduce and reuse, refuse (don’t buy what you don’t really need), and rot (compost). More
on each of these a little later. We’re lucky that we have single stream recycling in Osceola County, where all of our recyclables go into a single container. It’s easy and quick for residents. This stuff is sorted both by hand and by machine once it reaches a MRF (Materials Recovery Facility). That’s why it’s important to exclude from your bin jagged pieces of scrap metal or broken glass that can harm workers, or plastic shopping bags that can jam up machinery. With current commodity and oil prices low, the market for some recycled materials is challenging, yet this is quite likely a temporary scenario. Another issue is that an increasing amount of recycled truckloads go to the landfill or incinerator because they are considered contaminated. It’s up to us to ensure our recycling actually gets recycled. Coated paper receipts, shredded paper, broken glass, diapers, plastic lids and caps, plastic shopping bags, and Styrofoam (polystyrene) containers risk contaminating an entire truckload. How to take recycling the next level? First, reduce buying new stuff where possible and appropriate, and reuse your existing stuff (contact me for strategies: Kerul@ me.com)—it saves $$ as well as reducing waste. Second, rather than “wish-cycle” anything that looks remotely
recyclable, ensure your recyclables comply with county program guidelines (http://www.osceola.org/agenciesdepartments/public-works/solid-waste/curbsidecollection-services/acceptable-recycling-items.stml). Third, use recycling best practices: clean all containers and let them dry before putting them in the bin so they don’t contaminate other items like paper. DON’T flatten plastic containers as they can confuse sorting machines, but DO flatten cardboard boxes. Don’t include cardboard that has food residue, plastic liners or components. Become familiar with what NOT to recycle. Fourth, don’t landfill food waste: compost it! It’s easier than you might imagine with just a little attention, and you can use the finished compost in your garden, flower beds, or among your shrubs for healthier plants. You can compost your shredded paper, too (or use it for packaging cushioning)! Fifth, take your electronics waste to appropriate recyclers (see e-stewards.com). Reycling is one of those green community no-brainers. Let’s set an example here in Harmony, by reducing our total waste and taking action to ensure the recyclables that leave end up actually recycled. Perhaps a contest for the cleanest recyclable bin? What are your contest ideas? n
September 2016 | Harmony Life Magazine 15
QUICK REFERENCE DIRECTORY ACCOUNTANTS Larry Herring CPA, PA 611 N. Wymore Rd. Winter Park, FL 32789 407-647-7777 HerringCPA.com
GYM Anytime Fitness 3380 Canoe Creek Rd. Saint Cloud, FL 34772 407-891-9111 AnytimeFitness.com
ACUPUNCTURE Catherine Coudray Monday–Friday, 9am-5pm (Sat. by appointments only) 7262 Harmony Sq. Dr. South Harmony, FL 34773 321-303-5240
HANDYMAN The Good News Handyman Rick Wade 407-468-1352
ADVERTISING & MAGAZINES Harmony and Eagle Creek Life Magazines Bill Bokunic 321-331-6398 Bill@QMCWorld.com QMCWorld.com AIR-CONDITION SERVICES Action Air & Electric 407-892-7616 ActionAirAC.com Eric Farnsworth *Harmony Resident* 407-921-0760 ELFarnsworth@live.com BANK Trustco Bank 1525 E. Osceola Pkwy. 407-932-0398
HAIR Victor Russell Salon *Harmony Resident* 105 East 13th Street Saint Cloud, FL 407-892-1005 VictorRussell.com HOSPITAL Health First-Holmes Regional Health Care 1350 South Hickory St. Melbourne, FL 32901 321-434-7000 HOUSE CLEANING Maid Easy Cleaning Service 407-709-3640 Molly Maid of Kissimmee, St. Cloud & Lakeland 407-498-2256 MollyMaid.com
INSURANCE Brightway Insurance, The Sterner Agency 407-891-9361 CARPET CLEANING Best and Quick Carpet Cleaning Farm Bureau Michael Long Diago Montes 407-847-5189 407-509-2492 floridaFarmBureau.com Licensed and insured Kocher Insurance, LLC CARS & TRUCKS 1312 Illinois Ave., Suite H Kisselback Ford Saint Cloud, FL 37769 1118 13th St., Saint Cloud 407-957-1918 407-892-2141 KocherInsurance.com KisselbackFord.com LAWN CARE CHURCHS Harmony Community Church Triple Palm Lawns *Harmony Resident* Meeting 10am Sundays at 407-957-3489 Harmony High School TriplePalmLawn@aim.com (844) 444-FBCH HarmonyCommunity.church Life Church 10:10am Sundays at Narcoossee Middle School LifeChurchCFL.com COMPUTER REPAIR I Repair PCS Efrain Rodriguez 773-865-2697 IRepairPCS.net efraincfd@gmail.com DJ SERVICES HPE House Party Entertainment 407-738-3409
16 Harmony Life Magazine | September 2016
GARAGE DOORS & OPENERS D.S.I. Sales / Service / Repairs 407-970-5847 dsigaragedoor@yahoo.com dsigaragedoorandopener.com
MORTGAGE Trustco Bank Sarah Near - Branch Manager Rebeca Escote - Assistant Branch Manager Gateway Commons 1525 E Osceola Pkwy., Ste.120 Kissimmee, FL 34744 407-932-0398
PAINTING & PRESSURE WASHING Champions Property Maintenance Joe Murray, 407-766-5051 PEST CONTROL Luv-A-Lawn & Pest Control 407-908-9139 PET GROOMING 5 Star Pet Grooming 1537 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy., Saint Cloud One 1/2 mile West of Narcoossee on 192 407-593-6911 PHOTOGRAPHER Amanda Yachmetz Photography 813-842-6473 AmandaYachmetzPhotography.com PRINTERS Creative Printing Services 1115 Pennsylvania Ave. Saint Cloud, FL 34769 407-891-9797 POOL TABLES Florida Game Rooms 9350 S. Orange Blossom Trail #12 407-859-4400 MyFloridaGameRooms.com REAL ESTATE The Corcoran Connection, LLC *Harmony Resident* Jeanine Corcoran Owner/Broker Selling/Buying/Renting/Property Management; Now serving International clients with Portuguese/ Brazilian- and Spanish-speaking team members
407-922-3308 JeanineCorcoran@gmail.com TheCorcoranConnection.com RESTAURANTS Stone Bridge Tavern The Royal Crest Room 5530 Michigan Ave. Saint Cloud, FL 34772 407-891-0903 StoneBridgeTavernAndGrill.com TIRES NTA National Tire and Auto 304 13th St., Saint Cloud, FL 407-593-2136
TRAVEL Meisner Cruise and Travel *Harmony Resident* 407-738-7088 MOVIE THEATERS tvlwithlinda@gmail.com Cinema World Facebook: Harmony Get A Way East of 95 on 192 next to Sam’s Club with Meissner Travel Melbourne, FL CWTheaters.com MUSIC LESSONS Music in Harmony Piano Lessons and Vocal Coaching by Dawn Korzen 7130 Indiangrass Harmony, FL 34773 MusicInHarmony2013@gmail.com
407-301-4561 for interview
WATER SYSTEMS Dependable Water Treatment 407-242-7150
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