Harmony Life Magazine - September 2023

MEET THE BROWNS

Photo: Abbey Evans Photography

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

Welcome

I keep hearing rumors of Publix coming, Starbucks, a new Hair Salon, etc. Nothing confirmed yet.

Please support our advertisers: the stars indicate how many years they have supported the publication:

Huntington Learning Center

Meissner Cruise and Travel***

Luv A Lawn****

All Star Painting

Wild Florida***

Home Restoration Exchange

Abby and Brady Evens

Orlando Health/St Cloud Hospital***

Triple Palm Lawn*****

CMG Home Loans

Brightway Insurance*****

Rock Solid Travel

Harmony Community Church*****

Kisselback Ford*****

Brad Hogan, New Roof Contractors*

Healthcare Solutions Team, Kim Kirsch*****

Corcoran Connect Real Estate******

I hope to have more community updates soon.

See you in October!

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

HARMONY DEVELOPER OFFICE 407-891-8358, www.HarmonyFL.com

SEPTEMBER 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 Photography

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.

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OUC

MEET THE BROWNS

What is…

Your name? Lauren Brown.

Your spouse’s name? Cameron Brown. Your children’s names? Ava and Harper. Your cats’ name? Willow and Yeti.

When did you move to Harmony? We moved to Harmony back in 2017, but on Cupseed Lane.

What street do you live on? Now we live in the Enclave.

What do you love most about Harmony?

We love the nature, the safety of the neighborhood, and all of the kind people we’ve met that live here.

What are your kids’ favorite things about Harmony? Our kids love that their Mimi and Pop live just five minutes across the neighborhood!

Where did you move from? I am originally from New Hampshire and Cameron is from Alabama, but I moved to Florida as a kid and Cameron relocated here in 2013 after getting out of the Army.

What do you miss most? I miss the beautiful fall colors of NH for sure.

What is your background? After graduating from UCF with a degree in elementary education and Cameron getting out of the military and becoming a welder, we were ready to move out of the city and find somewhere quiet to raise a family. Once we had our first daughter we found Harmony and knew it was where we wanted to be.

What is unusual or unique about Harmony, in comparison to your previous home? The quick move to the Enclave from our old Harmony home, we love the gorgeous backyard view we now have of the conservation. It’s very quiet over here and we love it.

What is your favorite weekend activity? We love to spend time using our annual passes at Disney, watching our daughters at dance class, hanging out with my parents who also live here, or relaxing in the Harmony pool.

Is there a neighbor experience you are most proud of? We really love the holidays here in Harmony. Driving around on our golf cart

checking out all of the decorations is one of our favorite things to do as a family.

What do you do for fun? We often visit Disney, take staycations to different cities here in Florida, and have barbecues with the family.

What is the last movie that you have seen in the theatre? Us girls went to see “Barbie” and loved it! n

Save the Date Save the Date

Come to learn about the Icon of the Seas debuting January 2024 and the Utopia of the Seas in 2024.

Monday October 23, 6 PM

Tuesday October 24, 9 AM if you are unable to attend the evening of the 23rd.

Tuesday October 24, 6 PM Discuss Royal Caribbean and Alaska cruise and cruise tours. Open to Non Harmony Residens.

Adults Only

RCCL Strategic Account Manager

Notes from the August 9, 2023 HROA Board Meeting

Summary of Resident’s Comments and Questions:

There are areas in the neighborhood that are not being properly maintained; they need mowing and hedges trimmed, fences and signs need cleaning or repair, etc. The HROA takes what steps it can to address these concerns but can only enforce the standards for residential lots. Residents should contact the CDD or County Code Enforcement for concerns with the maintenance of non-residential areas within Harmony.

Parking of Commercial and Recreational vehicles continues to be a concern. Association Solution continues to send violation letters and take other steps within is power.

How can residents find out what happened a board meeting if they were unable to attend? Residents can access meeting minutes by logging into their resident portal. The meeting minutes are made available within a week or two of the meeting.

An overview of the process the HROA uses to collect delinquent dues was presented.

Committee Reports:

Social Committee:

Mark Catanese requested for the next Board meeting that Mark Hills organize a report from the Social Committee and present it.

Nature and Animal Committee:

Nature and Animal Committee had a good turnout for the Garden tour and may host one in the Fall. More Conservation Café activities will be coming up.

Manager’s Report:

Mark Hills gave a detailed update on financials, delinquency and violations to the Board and members present. Financially things are good. The new Capital Contribution amount is doing well. We already brought in $6000 so this will

help with the budget. Especially once the 46 townhomes at the West entrance are built.

Old Business:

Maintenance of Grass Verge on Cat Brier, Five Oaks, Schoolhouse Road, and Oak Glen Trail: The HROA has held off taking any action to enforce maintenance standards for these areas during the transition of these responsibilities from the CDD to the individual homeowners. The board voted to move forward with enforcement of the owner’s maintenance of the grass verge in front of their home.

New Business:

Homeowner Tree Removal: Osceola County ordinances requires street trees. The HROA requires a minimum of two trees on each lot. If a homeowner wants to remove one of the trees, they must replace it with another.

Cat Lake Access: The owners of Harmony’s Cat Lake frontage have agreed to grant access to Harmony residence on a trial basis for two months. Under this arrangement, the home-

owners will have access from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, Monday thru Friday. No vehicles are permitted under any circumstances. After the 2 months trial, if all goes well access will be opened up to seven days a week.

Trail Maintenance: Harmony West CDD now owns the trails between Harmony and Harmony West. The Harmony West CDD proposed an agreement where the Harmony HROA would be responsible for the maintenance of the trails. The Board discussed the agreement and voted to reject the agreement as it puts all costs and burden on Harmony HROA. In addition, the board voted to immediate cease the maintenance of the Butterfly Trail system.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING:

The next Board Meeting date will be set at the Annual Meeting on October 11, 2023 at 6:00 pm.

Contact Information for the HROA: https://myhoasolution.com

407-847-2280

info@myhoasolution.com

https://portal.topssoft.com/login

NOTES FROM the CHAIR

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

Messages from Harmony’s Osceola

County

Partners:

Mosquito Control, Roads and Bridges, Waste Management

Although the CDD controls and performs much of the maintenance work within Harmony, we do have partners within the Osceola County government that work with us in making Harmony a wonderful community. Some of Harmony’s County partners are Mosquito Control which monitors and manages the mosquito population; Roads and Bridges which maintains the streets (that are not behind gates) and drainage inlets/pipes within the streets; Waste Management which takes away the garbage, yard waste, recyclables, and bulk and white goods; Fire/Rescue which helps all of us in emergencies; Code Enforcement which makes sure property owners are abiding by County Codes; and the Sheriff’s Department which enforces the law, both County ordinances and State law. Here are messages from a few of our partners.

Is It A Mosquito or a Midge?

it is important that mosquito populations are monitored and controlled.

What should you do if you notice a lot of mosquitoes in and around your property?

Susan Gosselin, Mosquito Control Director in Osceola County, provided the following information for everyone in Harmony— Our service is a human health-based service so we do not treat for midges or any other non-virus carrying insect.

How we function:

1. Service Calls – we respond to complaints with a visit to the address of the complainant to look for sources of mosquitoes on property and nearby. Please contact us at 407-742-0505 and provide your name, phone number, and address.

2. Mosquito Larvae treatment – we treat storm drains, ditches, ponds, and wet lands, including conservation areas, with organic larvicides to keep the larval population low but still available as food to other aquatic organisms. This treatment occurs during daylight hours and where we have access. Sometimes access is through a resident’s yard.

ml?id=59d26abad1db4f3288e4ed8455e 8ae43. We update the maps daily.

4. If three or more contiguous zones have more than 1000 mosquitoes per trap night for two trap cycles, aerial spray is scheduled. We do press releases, social media postings, and Everbridge calls to notify residents in the affected areas. The last aerial spray we conducted was after Hurricane Ian.

5. We also respond to notifications of mosquito borne virus cases throughout the community as we are on the front line in keeping diseases such as West Nile, Dengue, Malaria, and Zika at bay by trapping and testing mosquitoes for the illness and completing adulticide spray without trap counts. We DO NOT give out notice of where a patient lives per HIPPA.

Many flying insects breed in Buck Lake, Cat Lake, and the ponds—midges, damselflies, dragonflies, mayflies and mosquitoes. These insects are a vital food source for fish, bats, and other wildlife here in Harmony. Although they can be annoying when they emerge in large numbers and congregate around your doors, most are not a health hazard, that is, with the exception of the mosquito. The mosquito can carry several diseases that affect humans, so

3. The County is currently divided into 58 zones. Each zone represents the area an adulticiding truck can cover in one night. Each zone is trapped for adult mosquitoes for one night to monitor population numbers every two weeks. If 25 or more adult mosquitoes are caught in a trap in one trap night, a night-time adulticiding spray is scheduled. This is per State code. We can only spray for adult mosquitoes when wind speeds are below 10 mph and it is not raining. Maps of scheduled spray areas can be seen here: https://gis.osceola. org/portal/apps/webappviewer/index.ht

Ms. Gosselin has also told us that parking on both sides of the streets in Harmony causes difficulties for Mosquito Control. When they have to bring the trucks out to do larvae control of the mosquitoes, they are frequently unable to access necessary treatment sites due to cars being parked on both sides of the streets. So, please, during mosquito season, try not to park in the streets. If you have to park on the street, please coordinate with your neighbors so that there are not two cars parked on opposite sides at the same location on the street.

Leaves, Leaves, Leaves

Very soon Harmony’s trees will be dropping their leaves and that means the rakes will come out. Each Harmony resident is responsible for cleaning up the leaves that fall on and in front of their homes. Many residents that have moved to Harmony from up north are used to raking their leaves to the curb and then having them vacuumed up by the city or county. Osceola County,

PHOTO COURTESY TERESA KRAMER

Midge from Buck Lake

however, does not have a vacuum truck that sucks leaves up from the curbside. So, you will need to place your leaves in a can or bag and set them out with your other yard waste, but only after the kids have played in them.

Corey Godlewski, Senior Foreman of Road and Bridge, Osceola County, provided the following information—

We currently have one JetVac truck for all of Osceola County to handle this type of work (cleaning stormwater pipes). As you can imagine, we have an extensive list of work orders throughout the county which are handled on a “First In, First Out” basis. Based on my last assessment of the storm drains along Five Oaks Drive, I would like to make a recommendation as a means of future preventative maintenance: Please advise all landscaping/lawn maintenance crews to pick up yard waste and debris and avoid blowing anything towards the curb and storm drains, as my JetVac operator specifically stated the bulk of material that he is removing from the storm drains is leaf debris from the trees located between the road and the sidewalks. Thank kindly you for your understanding and patience.

Waste Management

Mike Lewis, Residential Route Manager, Waste Management provided the following information to help Harmony resident Harmony’s yard waste (your container) and recyclables (blue lid) are picked up on Mondays and garbage (tan lid) and bulk waste on Tuesdays. Each of these containers must be placed, if you are on an alley, at the alley edge, and if do not have an alley behind your house, at the curb in front of your home before 6 am on the collection day.

Each container or bulk item must be placed at least 3 feet from other containers and any other object, such as cars, mailboxes, sign posts, or boulders. You can put out up to 3 cubic yards of bulk items on Tuesday of each week. A mattress and box spring can be picked up together unless it is a king size. For king size, put the mattress out one week and the box spring the next week to avoid an extra charge. If you need to dispose of white items (refrigerators, stoves, water heaters, freezers, and BBQ grills and other similar appliances, call 407-605-3892 to schedule a pick up date.

If you put your containers on the street, please try to park your car or truck in your driveway on Mondays and Tuesdays. Parking on both sides of the street makes it difficult to pick up waste and may cause a delay in service.

If you have any problems with our service, please call us right away at 407-605-3892 and we will take care of the issue as soon as possible.

Hopefully this information from three of Harmony’s County partners will help you better understand what they do and how they interact with Harmony. n

PHOTO COURTESY TERESA KRAMER

HEALTHCARE

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

The Significance of Life Insurance: An In-Depth Analysis

Life is a unique and invaluable gift that should be cherished and protected. However, the unpredictability of the world often presents numerous risks that can compromise our well-being and financial stability. That is where life insurance comes into play, providing a safety net that ensures the protection and financial security of individuals and their loved ones. This article will delve into the importance of life and life insurance, supported by statistics and credible sources, to emphasize the significant role they play in securing a better future.

1. Preserving Financial Stability:

Life insurance serves as a crucial tool in maintaining financial stability for individuals and families in the face of unforeseen events. According to an Insurance Barometer Study conducted by LIMRA and Life Happens, 63% of Americans admitted they would experience financial difficulties within six months if the primary breadwinner were to pass away unexpectedly. Life insurance safeguards against this risk by providing a death benefit to cover funeral expenses, debt repayments, mortgage payments, and college education for dependents.

2. Mitigating Income Loss:

In the event of the sudden loss of a breadwinner, life insurance acts as a safety net to replace the income previously provided. A study conducted by the Federal Reserve found that close to 30% of families experience a substantial decline in income after the death of a wage earner. Life insurance ensures that dependents are not left without adequate financial support, enabling them to maintain their quality of life and meet ongoing expenses.

3. Legacy and Estate Planning:

Life insurance plays a pivotal role in securing an individual's legacy and acting as an essential component of estate planning. It allows one to plan for the smooth transfer of assets to beneficiaries. A study by the Life Foundation discovered that 60% of Americans favor life insurance as a means of leaving an inheritance. By designating beneficiaries, policyholders can guarantee their loved ones' financial security, preserving their legacies and providing for future generations.

4. Peace of Mind and Emotional Well-being:

Knowing that loved ones will be financially protected in the event of one's demise brings substantial peace of mind. This emotional security allows individuals to live their lives without constant worry about the future. A survey conducted by Genworth found that 78% of individuals

who purchased life insurance experienced peace of mind regarding their family's financial well-being. Life insurance provides the assurance that loved ones can carry on without financial strain and focus on emotional healing.

Conclusion:

The importance of life and life insurance cannot be overstated. Life insurance provides a safety net, preserving financial stability for individuals, mitigating income loss, and allowing for effective legacy and estate planning. With the knowledge that loved ones will be taken care of, policyholders enjoy peace of mind and emotional well-being. In this unpredictable world, life insurance statistics and studies support the indispensable role life insurance plays in securing a better future for ourselves and our loved ones. By protecting our lives and securing financial stability, life insurance epitomizes the significance of life itself. Call us today 407-870-3472. n

DID YOU KNOW?

By Beatrice Spencer, Harmony Resident

The Impact of Running Sprinklers After Rainstorms in Florida: A

Boost to Mosquitoes and Water Bills

Florida's tropical climate brings abundant rainfall, which often leads homeowners to use sprinkler systems to maintain their lawns and gardens. However, running sprinklers immediately after rainstorms can have unintended consequences, such as a significant increase in mosquito populations and higher water bills. In this article, we explore why this happens and how rain sensors can help mitigate these issues.

Mosquito Population Surge:

Rainstorms create ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes, as they require stagnant water to lay their eggs. When sprinkler systems activate soon after a storm, excess water accumulates in puddles, flower pots, and other areas, providing ample breeding sites for mosquitoes. The combination of rainwater and irrigation water becomes a breeding ground, leading to a surge in mosquito populations around homes and neighborhoods.

Water Bill Impact:

Running sprinklers unnecessarily after rainstorms not only contributes to mosquito breeding but also drives up water bills for homeowners. Using sprinklers when the soil is already saturated wastes water, causing unnecessary consumption and increasing costs. This practice can be especially problematic in Florida, where water conservation is essential due to the state's unique water supply challenges.

The Role of Rain Sensors:

Rain sensors offer a simple yet effective solution to prevent the adverse effects of running sprinklers after rainstorms. These devices are designed to detect rainfall and automatically deactivate sprinkler systems when adequate moisture levels are reached. By integrating rain sensors into sprinkler systems, homeowners can ensure that their irrigation systems operate only when necessary, conserving water and minimizing mosquito breeding habitats.

Benefits of Rain Sensors:

1. Water Conservation: Rain sensors help conserve water by preventing unnecessary irrigation after rainfall, reducing water waste and lowering homeowners’ water bills.

2. Mosquito Control: By avoiding excess water accumulation, rain sensors limit the availability of breeding sites for mosquitoes, helping to control their population.

3. Convenience and Efficiency: Rain sensors automate the process of adjusting sprinkler system schedules based on weather conditions, saving homeowners time and effort in managing their irrigation.

In Florida’s rainy climate, it is crucial for homeowners to be mindful of their sprinkler usage to prevent the proliferation of mosquitoes and unnecessary water consumption. Incorporating rain sensors into sprinkler systems can provide an effective solution, conserving water, reducing mosquito populations, and ultimately benefiting both homeowners and the environment. By embracing this technology, Floridians can contribute to a sustainable and mosquito-free living environment. n

THE SOLUTION TO HOME BUYING

Minutes

A

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.