Windermere Leaflet February 2021 by The Times

February

The

Windermere Leaflet

2021 Inside this Issue 2021 Pool Stickers 4 Ankle Biters Tennis 10 2021 Social Events 16 Windermere Waves 17

COMMUNITY NEWS

Setenrolling Up Now Tour forA2021-2022 school year TODAY!

Private non-parochial education for infants through 8th grade. Nurturing environment featuring outstanding teachers, small class sizes with assistants, hands-on academics, STEM, and frequent in-house ďŹ eld trips.

SUMMER Set up a tourCAMP today! NOW OPEN!

5380 Faircroft Dr. Alpharetta, GA 30005

770-664-7764

www.mcginniswoods.org

SACS, GAC, AND NAEYC Accredited

COMMUNITY NEWS

Become a 2021 Sponsor Today!

Are you interested in advertising your business within your community? CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR NEW PROGRAM!

The earlier you sign up, the better the deal! For more details, please contact Jennifer Goodin at jennosman@aol.com or 678-480-4121. A special thank you to our 2020 Event Sponsors! Our sponsors help make our great events possible! Please support these businesses when you can!

OFFICE INFORMATION Hours: Mon-Fri, 9 am – 5 pm Address: 4444 Front Nine Drive, Cumming GA 30041 Stacy Maguire | Activities Office 678-455-7708 ext. 2 | windermereactivities@comcast.net Josh Laskowski | Association Manager 678-455-7708 ext. 3 | windermeremanager@comcast.net After-Hours Emergency | 678-624-9453 ext. 2 TENNIS OFFICE Bobby Schindler | Tennis Director 770-598-8378 | schindlerb@comcast.net BOARDING

OTHER IMPORTANT NUMBERS FORSYTH CO. POLICE NON-EMERGENCY 770-781-2222 (24 hr)

STREET LIGHT OUTAGE Sawnee EMC | www.sawnee.com/report-streetlight

STREET MAINTENANCE To report a problem with street, curb or sidewalk, contact Jessica Harkins: jmharkins@forsythco.com

MAILBOX REPLACE/REPAIR Mailbox Project | 770-535-0036 www.mymailboxproject.com

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D AY C A R E

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GROOMIN

$35 OFF Your First Service

FO R N E W C U S TO M E R

FORSYTH CO. WATER DEPT. 770-781-2160

BOARD REMINDERS AMENITY CARD REPLACEMENT Windermere Amenity Cards are available to residents in good standing. Please stop by the clubhouse during office hours. Replacement cards are $25 each. Check or money order ONLY. No cash or credit cards accepted. LOST PET/ANIMAL DISTURBANCES Please contact Forsyth County Animal Control at 770-781-2138 to report your lost pet or if you see animals roaming free and not on a leash, especially if you deem that animal to be aggressive in any way. www.windermerecommunity.net www.facebook.com/windermerehoa

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PETSUITES CUMMING

4405 Front Nine Drive | Cumming, Georgia 300

CALL/TEXT (470)239.2001 | FOLLOW US Cumming.PetSuitesOfAmerica.com

Offer valid towards boarding, daycare or grooming services at PetSuite Cumming. Offer valid for new customers only. Cannot be combined w any other offers. Cannot be used on retail items. Promotional value m be used at one time. No cash value. Offer expires December 31, 202

The Windermere Leaflet is a publication of The Times. Subject matter published is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher of this newsletter. Professional advice should be obtained before making any decision in which a professional is readily available. Advertisers assume responsibility for the content of the ads placed in publication. Material published may not be reproduced without the written permission of The Times. The information and advertisements contained in this Newsletter are provided for the members of the Windermere Homeowners Association as a courtesy only. No representations are made as to information presented, the quality of the goods or services advertised, or the veracity of the statements relating to the goods and services. The printing of opinions, information or advertisements does not constitute an endorsement by the Neighborhood or such opinions, information, goods or services. Magazine design by Chelsea Sunshine.

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February 2021

A MESSAGE FROM THE ASSOCIATION MANAGER

MAILBOXES Please make sure that mailboxes are not faded and that mailboxes numbers are easily visible.

FREQUENT VIOLATION REMINDERS

CLICK HERE TO REPORT A VIOLATION

We understand that no one wants to receive those pesky violation letters! The most frequent violations that can be easily avoided are: GARAGE & YARD SALES Individual or neighborhood garage sales, moving sales, rummage sales, yard sales or similar activities within Windermere are prohibited. Community-wide events have traditionally been scheduled twice per year.

LAWNS TRASH CANS They must be stored out of view from the street. They cannot be stored on the side of the house or by the garage.

Rule Update: Trash and recycling containers should be placed at the curb for no more than 48 hours. Generally, this is 24 hours prior to pickup and 24 hours after pickup.

Please make sure your yards and beds are properly treated for weeds and that pine straw or mulch is kept looking tidy and fresh. This includes the sides and back of your homes as well...Your yard is one of the first things that is noticed about your home.

2021 Pool Stickers are available Beginning Monday, February 1st! All residents who have paid their full annual assessment ($1,100) for 2021 and have a zero balance on their account may begin claiming their pool stickers on Monday, February 1st.

YOU ARE REQUIRED TO BRING YOUR ACCESS CARDS WITH YOU. NO STICKERS WILL BE GIVEN OUT FOR ANY ACCESS CARDS NOT PRESENTED IN THE OFFICE.

Important Information Regarding Receiving Your Pool Stickers!

Only 2 ACTIVE Access Cards** are allowed per household. The Staff will only be allowed to activate and provide a pool sticker for a maximum of 2 cards.

When receiving your pool stickers, you will be asked to acknowledge that you have read and will comply with the Pool Rules. The current pool rules and acknowledgment form are available on our website. Please complete the Acknowledgement in its entirety and bring it with you to the Lodge when you pick up your stickers. Please note, the form must be signed by the homeowner. Children, Nannies, and other Relatives are not able to sign the form in place of the homeowner.

February 2021

* The lodge office may be closed during normal business hours on certain days for lunch between 1pm and 2pm and/ or as needed for site inspections . **Replacement cards are available for purchase. The cards are $25.00 payable either by check or money order only (no cash or credit cards accepted).

www.WindermereCommunity.net

The Windermere Team

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Free registration + $25 off first month

Piano, Voice, Guitar, Ukulele, Violin, Viola, Cello, Brass, Woodwinds Kindermusik, Art, Chess, Choir, Birthdays, Camps

We are an established private Dental practice just 5 min away. Dr. Yelisetty focuses on general health of her patients with emphasis on cosmetic and functional dentistry. We are kids friendly. “Very happy with Sharon Springs Dental as a first-time patient! The staff and Dr. Y were great. I was very pleased with the thorough assessment and time dedicated in developing a routine treatment plan going forward.” First-time patient - by Christopher T.

4415 Front 9 Dr, #300, Cumming, GA 30041 www.atlantapianofortissimo.com info@atlantapianofortissimo.com • 678 404 9484

office@sharonspringsdental.com 470-253-1747

Hey Windermere,

Give your home the best in TV, Internet, Voice, Home Security, and Mobile – all from one provider. Xfinity X1 Find what you want faster with the X1 Voice Remote, get personalized recommendations, check live sports, and more.

Xfinity Internet Xfinity delivers the fastest Internet and the most WiFi coverage throughout your home.

Xfinity Voice Talk as much as you want to nearly half the world with unlimited nationwide talk and text.

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Xfinity Mobile Add up to five lines of unlimited nationwide talk and text — included with your Internet. All you pay for is data.

Call 1-800-xfinity or visit xfinity.com for more details. Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. Features and programming vary depending on area and level of service. TV: Limited Basic service subscription required to receive other levels of service. Not all programming available in all areas. Internet: Actual speeds vary and are not guaranteed. WiFi claim based on Xfinity's fastest available download speed, router coverage and speed on 5 GHz band. Voice: Service (including 911/emergency services) may not function after an extended power outage. Unlimited Talk and Text requires download of the Xfinity Connect app. Home: Minimum term agreement required for Xfinity Home Secure service. Early termination fee applies. Requires compatible high-speed Internet service. Visit xfinity.com/XfinityHomeSupport for more details. Mobile: Xfinity Mobile Device Payment Plan Agreement (“Device Agreement”) required. Applicable taxes for the full device amount charged when device is shipped and is in addition to pay by the month monthly charge. The remaining balance under the device agreement becomes immediately due and payable if at least one of the following post-pay subscriptions are not maintained on the account during the term of the Device Agreement: Xfinity TV, Internet, Voice or Mobile service. Xfinity apps: Standard data charges may apply. Check with your carrier. Certain features may be restricted based upon service tier and subject to change. © 2019 Comcast. All rights reserved.

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February 2021

Please Help Us Take Care of the Amenities! We are fortunate in Georgia that we get to experience some warm days in the winter months that allow us to comfortably enjoy our outdoor amenities more! We ask that when using the neighborhood amenities such as the basketball courts, field, and tennis courts, that you clean up after yourselves. All of our amenities have trash cans placed around for our convenience. Thank you for helping us keep Windermere beautiful!

Click here to like our facebook page! WindermereHOA

NEED TO REPORT A STREET LIGHT OUTAGE? Simply

CLICK HERE to report to Sawnee EMC. The street pole number and closest address will be requested.

February 2021

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COMMUNITY NEWS

ARC REQUESTS

Does your home need some work? Are you thinking about renovating? ...Not sure if your project needs approval? Most projects that are performed to a home or lot require prior approval from the Association. Contact us at Windermereactivities@comcast.net â&#x20AC;˘ As a reminder, the ARC Request process is outlined below.

FOR A COMPLETE COPY OF THE ARC GUIDELINES PLEASE CLICK HERE. Section 1.01 Modifications Requiring Approval Every structure or thing which is placed, erected, or installed upon any Unit and all improvements or other work (including staking, clearing, excavation, grading, and other site work, exterior alterations of existing improvements, or planting or removal of landscaping) which takes place within Windermere, must be in compliance with the Declaration and the Architectural Guidelines. New construction or any change or modification that is visible from the outside of a residence is subject to these guidelines and the authority and approval of the ARC. Section 1.02 Submittals (a) Process A three-step process as follows: (i)Complete online Application for Modification form (ii) Gather required supporting documentation (iii) Submit Application and supporting documentation to the Property Manager â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PLEASE NOTE THE DATE RECEIVED BY THE PROPERTY MANAGER MAY DIFFER FROM THE DATE PRINTED ON THE ONLINE APPLICATION FOR MODIFICATION FORM

(b) Fee for the process There are no fees for the standard review process for ARC Applications. However, per the Financial Policies and Procedures Applications to the Architectural Review Committee for changes, alterations, additions, or deletions to property by delinquent homeowners will not be considered until all obligations for that individual property are resolved. Certain projects such as but not limited to, an addition to a residence, new construction and pool/courtyard

Windermere Leaflet

additions may require review from a licensed architect. These types of projects shall be subject to additional review fees as determined by the Board or their designee. The property owner will receive notification of additional fees once an application has been submitted and all fees must be paid prior to starting the review process. Fees are payable via check or money order. If you wish to expedite the standard review process for your ARC Application which would not require review by a licensed architect rush fees will be charged as follows: Approval in 2-4 Days once a complete form is submitted - $100 fee payable at the time of submission. Approval in 5-7 Days once a completed from is submitted - $50 fee payable at the time of submission. At the discretion of the Association Manager, certain projects may not be permitted to be rushed. Applications may be submitted at any time, with an average processing time of 14 business days. Please plan ahead for all projects, including holiday and birthday gifts. Failure to receive prior approval for any and all projects is subject to sanctions for violation including unapproved modification fines starting at $200. Please contact us at windermereactivities@ comcast.net if you do not receive a decision letter. Ensure all required documentation including but not limited to: (paint samples, roof shingles, plat/survey site, materials lists, renderings, etc.) are included with your application. Failure to provide the required documentation may result in the application not being accepted or delays in the processing time.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS AN APPLICATION FOR MODIFICATION

www.WindermereCommunity.net

February 2021

The Lodge at Windermere

LODGE HOURS: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm | Closed Saturday and Sunday Gym Closed every Wednesday from 9am-11am for Deep Cleaning

LODGE RENTALS

Book your party today at the Lodge! Completed agreements and full payment is required at time of booking. No dates can be penciled in.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT YOUR ACCESS CARD IS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY TO LODGE. We will be onsite Monday-Friday to assist you. Should you have any questions or concerns please let us know.

CLICK HERE TO CHECK AVAILABILITY

The primary purpose of the Amenities within Windermere are to promote fellowship among property owners. The use of the facility is generally intended to be limited to owners, their families and their personal guests. The Lodge is generally available for rental for private events by Windermere owners Weekdays (Monday-Thursday) and Weekends (Friday-Sunday). For complete details regarding rental time slots and fees please see the Rental Contract on our website www.windermerecommunity.net

Visit our website www.windermerecommunity.net

SS ACCE ARE S CARD IRED REQU TRY N FOR E DGE TO LO

Reservations are taken on a first come, first serve basis. The reservation occurs upon the receipt of all fees and a signed contract agreement. Verbal holds will not be accepted under any circumstances.

February 2021

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Windermere Leaflet

Thinking About Selling Your Home? Do you need a closing letter? What should the For Sale sign look like? How much are the fees? PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS. Amenity Cards: the amenity access cards should be given to the buyer at closing from seller. If not, the buyer or seller may purchase them from the association for $25 per card (maximum of 2 cards).

BOARDING

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D AY C A R E

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GROOMING

$35 OFF Your First Service

FO R N E W C U S TO M E R S

This year, togetherness matters in a way like never before. Give your family the gift that keeps on giving all year long – membership at Windermere Golf Club and Olde Atlanta Golf Club. Here, you’ll enjoy camaraderie among our rich community of Members, with extraordinary amenities and experiences you can only have here. Join the fun, meet new friends and start enjoying your life to the fullest.

Become a new Member and enjoy your new home away from home for the holidays.

PETSUITES CUMMING

4405 Front Nine Drive | Cumming, Georgia 30041

CALL/TEXT (470)239.2001 | FOLLOW US

Matt Nalley, Membership Director 470.266.8876 | matt.nalley@clubcorp.com James Malone, Membership Manager 470.302.0783 | james.malone@clubcorp.com

Cumming.PetSuitesOfAmerica.com Offer valid towards boarding, daycare or grooming services at PetSuites Cumming. Offer valid for new customers only. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Cannot be used on retail items. Promotional value must be used at one time. No cash value. Offer expires December 31, 2020.

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CELEBRATE THE SEASON WITH US

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February 2021

TENNIS NEWS

Ankle Biters Tennis (ABT) is coming to Windermere beginning in February. ABT specializes in introducing tennis to children 10 and Under. We will be offering classes for 6 and Under, 8 and Under and 10 and Under beginning Wednesdays in February. Ankle Biterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is focused on keeping tennis fun and they stay on schedule with online classes thus avoiding inclement weather and cancellations. These classes are designed for beginners and kids who have never played tennis. FREE t-shirts and rackets based on availability and size of child.

Need to Reserve a Court? All reservations should be made on your phone at Kourts.com. This app allows you to make court reservations, as well as reserving your spot and paying online for Bobbyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s drill sessions. Please ensure that your contact information on the association website (www.windermerecommunity. net) is updated to include email addresses and cell phone numbers, as this is required information to register for the Kourts app. We encourage you to download the app and sign up. Here is a short video to help you get started: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6LvdWNGOUw If you have any questions about the app or how to use it, please contact Bobby at schindlerb@comcast. net or 770-598-8378 10

February 2021

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Windermere Leaflet

TENNIS NEWS

Need your racquet strung? Thad is offering discount stringing services to Windermere residents. Residents pay $36 for Wilson NXT that would normally cost $44 through other stringing services. Hybrid of NXT and Luxilon 4G Element Alu Power is also $36 compared to $44 other places.

Want to Stay Connected to Windermere Tennis? Contact Bobby at schindlerb@comcast.net to be added to his weekly e-mail newsletter for timely updates on weekly drills, junior lessons and other events at the courts. Also, don’t forget to join the Windermere Tennis Facebook page!

Contact Bobby at schindlerb@comcast.net or 770-598-8378 for more information

Pickle Ball Updates Bobby is making plan to offer pickle ball clinics as soon as the weather is a little more cooperative. In the meantime, if you have any questions about pickleball or how to get involved, please reach out to Bobby at schindlerb@comcast.net or 770-598-8378 or our new Pickleball Coordinator Robin at windermeretenniscmt@gmail.com. And don’t forget, if you are interested in a private, semi-private, or group pickle ball lessons, you can contact Coach Chris Wolfe at wolfecr@aol.com.

February Drill Schedules Monday 9:30am-11:00 Lady’s Open Drills Friday 9:30am-11:00 Adult OPEN Drills Friday 11:15am-12:45 Adult Beginners Only Drills Saturday 9am-10:30 Adult OPEN Drills Please sign-up for all drills ahead of time on Kourts.com as space is limited for all drills to allow for proper social distancing. For up to date information on Junior and High School drills, please contact Bobby directly. Windermere Leaflet

www.WindermereCommunity.net

February 2021

Eye Care For You

Dr. Bharti Bathija-Lala, O.D.

Quality eye care and personal attention are our focus at Eye Care For You. We offer PREVENTATIVE and ROUTINE EYE EXAMS, and a COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF EYE CARE SERVICES for your whole family. • Treatment of Eye-Related Problems & Disorders • Contact Lens Evaluation, Consultation and Fitting • Eye Glasses & More!

NEW PATIENT DISCOUNT

20% OFF

Prescription Glasses (Exclusions Apply)

Monday–Friday 8:30am–4:30pm • Saturday 9:00am–3:00pm Office is closed one Saturday per month.

We offer online ordering, curbside pickup and delivery powered by DoorDash and UberEATS. REVISED HOURS OF OPERATION: M - Th 11:30 AM - 8:00 PM F - Sa 11:30 AM - 9:00 PM | Su 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM We're all in this together and we appreciate your support of Alessio's!

We participate with VSP, Aetna, Bluecross (BCBS), Cigna, Coventry, Avesis, Superior Vision, VBA, EyeMed, Optum (Spectera), Medicare/Medicaid. Check with our staff if you have other types of coverage.

770-887-1404 www.eyecareforyougeorgia.com

Think your house would sell faster if your kitchen looked like this? It would! We can help you make it happen. With Sherry & Co.’s innovative marketing and Compass Concierge, an exclusive program offered by our brokerage, we’ll get your home sold in fewer days and for more money. Concierge is designed to increase your property’s market value by covering upfront the cost of home improvements like staging, painting, and so much more. You simply pay it back at closing. No hidden fess. No interest charged – ever!

compass.com

Ready to get started? Give us a call today.

February 2021

Top 10 Team in North Atlanta 678.744.8206 | 404.668.6621 info@sherryandcorealestate.com sherryandcorealestate.com

www.WindermereCommunity.net

Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage.

3830 Windermere Parkway, Suite 301, Cumming, GA 30041 (Located in Windermere Professional Park)

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COMMUNITY CLUBS

Ladies Bridge:

Meets every Thursday at the Lodge and would love to welcome new members! Contact Beryl Deal at 678-807-7276!

Couples Bridge:

Meets every 3rd Saturday at the Lodge. Contact Marcia Tidwell at 770-330-5386!

Windermere Ladiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Book Club:

The Windermere Ladiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Book Club will meet at the Lodge at 7pm on Thursday, February 11. We will be discussing The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Due to Covid guidelines, we will be wearing masks and sitting at least six feet apart. Please bring your own beverage/ and or snacks. You can email Sherry Seabrooke at stseabrooke@gmail.com if you are interested in attending this month or have any questions. A count will help us arrange the seating so we are at least six feet apart.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

February S

2021

M 1

ARC Committee Meeting 7:00PM

Book Club 7:00 pm

15 Lodge Closed

Valentine’s Day 21

President’s Day 22

Finance Committee Meeting 2:00PM

BOD 7:00 pm

Tennis Committee Meeting 6:00PM

February 2021

www.WindermereCommunity.net

Windermere Leaflet

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll Be There For You Wishing you all the best in 2021! Proud resident, neighbor and sponsor since 2003. Over 200 Windermere homes sold to happy families. Your neighborhood experts.

OUR RECENT ACTIVITY

6262 Creekstone Path Under Contracat Before Listed

5615 Lancashire Lane Under Contract Before Listed

5415 Landsdowne Under Contract in 22 Days

3815 Sweeting Street Under Contract in > 1 week

7465 Bronson Way Under Contract in > 2 weeks

7023 Bennington Lane Under Contract Before Listed

2071 Windermere Crossing Under Contract in 1 Day

2515 Goodrick Lane Under Contract in 9 Days

5735 Kendrick Lane Under Contract | Multiple Offers

1623 Hutton Place Sold in 9 Days

1804 Fenton Manor Under Contract in 1 Day

Stephanie Cole Patterson & Meriellen Cole Arenz M 770.316.3110 | O 404.668.6621 ColeTeamRealEstate.com

5222 Davis Love Dive Under Contract in 2 Days

SOCIAL COMMITTEE

2021 EVENTS We are excited to move forward into 2021! Fortunately we did not have to miss out on too many events and were able to make some changes to our 2020 events that allowed us to still enjoy what we had planned! By this time we would normally have our full 2021 calendar in place. However, we will be planning accordingly throughout the year. We do want you to save 2 special dates on your calendar!

Annual Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, March 20th Fireworks Celebration Friday, June 25th Please check your email blasts and future newsletters for more event information for 2021! If you would like to join the Social Committee and help plan our 2021 events, please contact windermereactivites@comcast.net

February 2021

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Windermere Leaflet

COMMUNITY NEWS

WINDERMERE WAVES SUMMER 2021 SWIM TEAM NEWS The Windermere Waves looking forward to the 2021 Season! Even though there is still some uncertainty on how the 2021 summer swim league season will go, the Windermere Waves swim team is still planning for their 18th season this summer. We hope to get back to our regular season schedule of beginning practices in early May (tentatively May 10th) where we practice 4 days a week - Monday through Thursday), then once school is out we go to our morning practices 5 days a week, Monday through Friday. We will also continue with our fun activities for the kids including our “Fun Fridays”, Treat Tuesdays, Swimmer of the Week, and festive themes for each home meet. As mentioned, practices will begin in early May (tentatively May 10th) and continue through June 24th. We hope to also go back to our usual 5 meet format, where meets are held at 5:30pm on Thursdays, with the first meet on May 27th and then each Thursday in June. We end the season with our biggest meet, the Forsyth County Meet, which will be held (tentatively) on Friday, June 25th at the GA Tech Natatorium. Team Registration will open March 1st – please see our website (www.windermerewaves.com) for all registration information as well as tentative practice schedules, volunteer positions and other information.

Also note, we have a RIPPLES PROGRAM for our younger swimmers - usually 4 to 6 year olds - who

Windermere Leaflet

may not yet be ready for swim team, but our coaches work with them more on a one on one basis (kicking, floating, water safety, and basic stroke work) - Ripples program is a 5 Week program beginning after school is out - you will find more information on our team website - www.windermerewaves.com. REGISTRATION WILL BEGIN ONLINE MARCH 1ST Registration fees include: kickoff celebration, end of season banquet and a swimmer’s t-shirt. Also, register before April 10th to avoid a $15 dues increase! PARENT MEETING/SUIT FITTING There will be a parent informational meeting & suit fitting date and time TBD, (but look for it to be held in the evening in late March or early April at the Windermere Lodge). The online registration process will be reviewed along with all major topics for the season. We encourage all parents to attend. More info will be given in the March newsletter and sent through a March neighborhood E-Blast. We are looking forward to a fun and exciting season!!!

GO WAVES!!!

Contact Tanya Edwards, Team Representative, for any questions: edwardstanya@bellsouth.net

www.WindermereCommunity.net

February 2021

NEWS FROM FORSYTH COUNTY CHAMBER

Chamber Chair Looks to 2021 Dear Fellow Chamber Members, The Chamber’s mission is to advance positive business growth and community partnerships to promote a superior quality of life for all who live in Forsyth County. The Chamber Board, its staff and its membership were more driven than ever before to fulfill this mission despite the uncertainties 2020 presented. From the move to a new home to the launch of an economic recovery initiative, I am proud of what our Chamber accomplished in 2020 and what is in store for the future. Your Chamber was the first Chamber in Georgia to launch an economic recovery initiative and among the first in the nation to do so. The focus of the Together4FOCO initiative from day one was to provide business leaders with expertise to help them make sound business decisions, provide access to working capital and engage our residents in supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs. I believe we were successful in each of these areas. While the Chamber led the local business community in economic recovery, the organization itself thrived. We completed the construction of and relocation into a new organizational home. We were 18

February 2021

named a national 2020 Chamber of the Year Finalist by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. We lived out the brand adoption words we set in 2019 as we intentionally monitored our business community’s needs, innovatively transitioned our events and collaborated with Forsyth County Government to administer the Forsyth County CARES Small Business Relief Grant Program. Forward Forsyth, the community’s economic development partnership, saw the creation of 528 new jobs and $110 million in new capital investment. Forward Forsyth took action to move the community’s unemployment rate (which was 10.4 percent at the end of April, 2020) to 2.8 percent by the end of November. And Forward Forsyth celebrated when Forsyth County was accepted into Georgia’s Innovation Crescent. While 2020 was not the year that any of us expected, our Chamber learned a great deal in how we can intentionally pivot and meet the changing needs of our community. Building upon these lessons, your Chamber is already hard at work ensuring that our community continues to thrive. The Forward Forsyth economic development partnership will focus on Forsyth County’s product

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NEWS FROM FORSYTH COUNTY CHAMBER development to attract businesses into the community and infrastructure development in the north portion of the county, all elements of Forsyth County’s strategic economic development plan. In early 2020, our Chamber launched a dedicated focus on workforce development. We will continue that path with strong partnerships with Lanier Technical College and the University of North Georgia (UNG), producing training opportunities and programs like Profs for FoCo that matches a UNG Mike Cottrell College of Business faculty member with a business leader for short consulting appointments. Our workforce development efforts will aim at maintaining Forsyth County’s historically low unemployment rate despite the economic consequences of the current global health crisis. I have been involved in the Chamber’s tourism development efforts for many years. The Chamber’s tourism initiative, Discover FoCo, had cuttingedge plans in 2020 and I am excited to see those accelerate this year. With Forsyth County’s first Community Improvement District (CID) now in operation (the South Forsyth CID), you will soon see a major transformation in the McFarland Corridor. My goal this year would be to see us make strides toward the creation of additional CIDs in specific areas of Forsyth County. These initiatives remind us that outstanding communities and economies do not develop by chance. They are built on the foundation of leadership and relationships. We are blessed to have both in the City of Cumming and Forsyth County. In closing, I appreciate the opportunity to serve as Chair of the Board for the Chamber. In 2020, we saw that the Chamber is our community’s venue to channel the incredible collective resources of great businesspeople to launch economic recovery and create economic opportunity. To achieve the Chamber’s goals, we require support from many sources, but it all begins with you. To that end, I extend my sincere gratitude for your commitment to the Chamber of Commerce, Cumming and Forsyth County and look forward to our continued Windermere Leaflet

collaboration in 2021. Sincerely, Scott Hutchison Chair Forsyth County Chamber

Start 2021 In The Know The Chamber’s 2020 Economic Outlook Meeting covered previously unheard-of terms like “coronavirus.” Get prepared for 2021 at the Chamber’s Economic Outlook Virtual Meeting presented by Providence Bank and co-hosted by the Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce and the Lanier-Forsyth Rotary Club. This year’s economic forecast will be delivered virtually by Kenneth Shiver. Participants will have the opportunity to learn Shiver’s insights into the economic status since the inception of the COVID-19 pandemic and hear predictions for the future of the GA 400 corridor and Forsyth County. Shiver is the Chief Economist of the Atlantabased Southern Company and is the Director of Planning and Regulatory Support. As director of the company’s costing, forecasting, operational analytics, energy analysis and customer policy functions, he is responsible for monitoring the economic environment and for the development of load research, forecasts and costing studies that drive the company’s planning and analysis processes. Additionally, he is responsible for the monitoring and development of policy issues around the customer such as energy efficiency, distributed energy resources, energy pricing, cost/ benefit studies, and data privacy. The Economic Outlook will take place at 8 AM on Tuesday, February 9, 2021 and will be presented virtually. Tickets cost $10 for Chamber Members and $15 for Non-Members. Information on how to access the virtual meeting will be available after the completion of registration. Visit focochamber.org or call 770-887-6461 to register for this event. Don’t miss out on this informative opportunity!

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February 2021

PET NEWS

Do Dogs Dream?

Many people do indeed believe that dogs dream. We have all seen twitching legs, body quivers, an occasional growl and possibly youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen your pup snap at some sleep-created phantom! All giving the impression that they are dreaming about something. I did a little bit of research on this subject and found it to be very interesting. At a structured level, the brain of dogs is similar to those of a human. Also during sleep, the brain wave pattern of dogs is similar to that of a human and go through the same stages of electrical activity observed in humans - all of which are consistent with the idea that dogs are dreaming. Evidence per the Massachusetts Institute of Technology suggests that animals that are simpler and less intelligent than dogs seem to dream, so it would be a big surprise if dogs DID NOT dream. There is also evidence that they dream about common dog activities. This kind of research takes advantage of the fact that there is a special structure in the brainstem that keeps us all from acting out our dreams. When scientists removed or inactivated the part of the brain

see his eyes moving behind the closed lids. If you look closely enough, his eyes are moving because he is actually looking at the dream images like they were real images of the world. These movements are most characteristic of dreaming sleep. When humans are awakened during this REM sleep phase, they virtually always report that they were dreaming. I am sure my little 12 pound Pomeranian dreams. The twitching is very common, leg movements, and I love his soft rhythmic snoring! At times, he quickly jumps up from a deep sleep and runs very fast for a few feet. Poor little guy. I would imagine something larger is chasing him!! Pay attention to your pup the next time he dozes off! Could be entertaining!

that suppresses acting out dreams in dogs, they saw that movement began despite the fact that electrical recordings of the brain indicated the dogs were still fast asleep. The pups only began to move when the brain entered the stage of sleep associated with dreaming. During the dream episode course, those dogs actually began to execute the actions they were performing in their dreams. It is easy to see when your pup is dreaming without electrical recordings. Observe him as he starts to doze off. As he sleeps deeper, his breathing will become more regular and after about 20 minutes for an average sized dog, his first dream should start. You will recognize the change because his breathing will become shallow and irregular. You may see odd muscle twitches and can even

Susan Hartsfield Tanner Windermere Pet Sitter 678-755-2931 bulldawgsusan@yahoo.com 20

February 2021

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Windermere Leaflet

COMMUNITY NEWS

OPEN 24/7

Lodge & Fitness Center

Except for cleaning

The Fitness Center was re-opened in June on a limited basis. We are glad to announce that we have been able to open the gym back to its full operations. Please read all posted signs before entering the gym. Although we have increased gym cleaning by our professional cleaning company to 3 times per week, as a courtesy to other residents of your community, please remember to always clean equipment before/after usage, and employ social distancing. Lastly, please limit your work out to no more than 2 hours when others are wanting to use the facility.

To anyone looking for a new dentist, Dr. Edwards and his staff are outstanding!! Everyone is so warm and friendly. Good job guys!! â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Nancy Chirchirillo Windermere Leaflet

3860 Windermere Parkway, Suite 201 Cumming, GA 30041

678.455.3734

WindermereDentalCare.com info@WindermereDentalCare.com

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February 2021

CLAIRE SMITH 770-378-6522

TIFFANY BUTERA 404-966-1262

LEIGH EIDSON 770-826-0643

SHELLEY INGLESBY 770-855-3772

PROUD TO BE A 400 NORTH BOARD OF REALTORS CIRCLE OF EXCELLENCE AWARD RECIPIENT SOLID SOURCE REALTY 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020 CIRCLE OF EXCELLENCE AWARD RECIPIENT WINDERMERE RESIDENT FOR OVER 10 YEARS! PROUD WINDERMERE SPONSOR, FRIEND, AND NEIGHBOR!