Windermere Amenity Cards are available to residents in good standing. Please stop by the clubhouse during office hours. Replacement cards are $10 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.
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PLATINUM
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.
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Dr. Bharti Bathija-Lala, O.D.
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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
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Photo courtesy of Sandals Resorts
10 Winter Lawn Care Tips
1. Clear debris
Over the course of this season, leaves fall from trees, and perennial plants die out. Make sure to remove any of these leaves and other debris that has made contact with grass. Allowing debris to accumulate will cause dead patches on the lawn; so, if a customer’s lawn is to be kept healthy, it is important to be mindful of debris and commit to its removal. Using a rigid leaf rake or a leaf blower, collect and mulch the debris.
2. Rake out moss and pull weeds
Remove moss that has accumulated in the less sunny parts of the lawn. Due to the change in season, light-blocking trees may have lost their foliage, so now is a good time to reseed these areas. In other areas, the soil could be low in grass-friendly nutrients, which may lead to the development of moss. Remove the moss as well as any weeds, roots, and anything developed in those areas.
3. Aerate the lawn
Fall is the perfect season to aerate the lawn. Heavy foot traffic and the weight of machinery may have caused soil beneath the grass to become compacted. Severely compacted soil can become cracked and dry, and lead to common landscaping problems, and poor nutrient uptake by the grassroots.
To remove compacted soil, use an aerating tool to perforate the lawn. Aerating provides extra air for the grass and allows water and nutrients to penetrate deeper into the soil, which promotes stronger roots. Use a plug remover for the best results, even if it takes more time. For basic aeration, your lawn care technicians can use a spiked
wheel, but for larger lawns, motorized aerators are likely to provide the best results.
4. Overseed bare spots
Overseeding is a crucial step to making a thick, healthy, and weed-free lawn. You may have observed in your customers’ lawns that they are thin or weedy in spots; overseeding will help make the lawn better-looking without having to start from scratch. The overseeding process is as easy as loosening the soil and sprinkling it with additional seeds. A smaller lawn or isolated area can be seeded by hand; if you are working with a larger area, then a drop or rotary spreader may be helpful.
Because of their greater accuracy, drop spreaders are a good choice for larger areas. This increased accuracy is especially useful when working with flower gardens, sidewalks, and ponds. Drop spreaders will distribute seeds at approximately the same distance consistently. If you need to cover a larger area, a broadcast spreader will allow you to cover an area three to four times larger than with a drop spreader. Keep in mind, however, that while a broadcast spreader will allow you to cover a larger area more quickly, you are losing the precision and accuracy that you get with a drop spreader. Regardless of which tool you are using, it is important to keep the soil moist after seeding if you are to get the results that you expect.
5. Prune trees and shrubs
Winter can be dangerous. Wind, rain, and snow from winter storms can cause damage to shrubs and trees. If they are to heal properly, regular pruning is necessary. Pruning a tree stimulates growth and encourages the healing process. Keeping a tree properly trimmed will help make sure a tree recovers from wounds and damage during the winter months.
Proper pruning doesn’t merely stimulate growth but also makes a tree ready to take on the destructive insects and
pathogens that come with the warmer weather. However, not all trees and shrubs need to be pruned early in the winter season. While dead and diseased branches are pruned, overgrown branches can be appropriately trimmed to maintain a tree’s structure. When it comes to shrubs, pruning them during dormant times makes their recovery easy for next year’s bloom. When your lawn care technicians take measures to prune a shrub before any new growth starts, they can enable the shrub to devote its energy towards growth as spring rolls in. Pruning and trimming trees and shrubs in winter is easy as their foliage is missing in their dormant months.
6. Mow high
weather. Winter mulching is a great way to protect your sensitive plants and shrubs from erosion and loss of water. Your lawn care technicians can use different organic materials like straw, bark, pine needles, and chopped corn cobs to create a 2-inch mulch near the soil.
Anti-transpirant sprays offer a protective waxy coating that reduces water loss in leaves. Also, burlap wrapping can shield plants from salt spray and harsh winter winds. Tying branches together can help plants deal better with snow buildup.
9. Ensure winter watering
Lawn mowing is the last item on a winter property maintenance checklist. However, failing to mow the lawn before winter sets in can lead to an array of trouble ranging from water buildup to fungal growth and pest infestations as the temperature changes. You can stay clear of these winter lawn care troubles by making lawn moving an important part of your winter care checklist. As the height of the grass is directly proportional to the health and depth of the roots, grasses must be half an inch higher than the standard summer height. Leaving the grass longer than usual will promote root growth and result in a thicker and healthier-looking lawn as spring arrives.
7.
Fertilize the lawn
Even normal-looking plants and shrubs may suffer from dryness and frost resulting in dead roots. Winter watering is a neat little trick to strengthen grassroots and help them withstand cold temperatures. As soil holds moisture longer in winter, watering the lawn occasionally, even every other week is sufficient.
10. Apply pre-emergent herbicides
Winterizers, i.e., winter fertilizers, play a crucial role in encouraging food storage and promoting proper root growth during the dormant months. While proper application of fertilizers after the final mowing will help the lawn survive the damaging effects of cold winter, overfertilization can cause unhealthy growth. On the other hand, applying winterizers too early can prevent your lawn from reaching its full potential. If your customers wait for too long to apply winterizers, their lawns may fall prey to ice and frost. Hence, it is crucial to get the timing right. Although the prime application time is usually November, some lawns may need winterizers a bit early before the cold settles in.
8. Protect sensitive plants
Plants are susceptible to injuries caused by cold
Pre-emergent herbicides can help control winter weeds effectively. They act as a barrier between the soil and the germinated seedlings, thus preventing them from sprouting out of the soil. For best results, they need to be applied in the late fall when the temperature drops below 70 F.
Bonus: Spray dormant oils on fruit trees
Spraying dormant oils in winter can control damage caused by insects in spring. Soft-bodied insects and pests like aphids, mites, caterpillars, and more are more vulnerable during the winter. Dormant oils like horticultural oils don’t merely prevent fungal spores but also kill the eggs of insects. Best of all, these low-impact pesticides never harm pollinators.
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 visit our website for 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 $10 per card (maximum of 2 cards).
Kitchen & Bath
February 2025
Windermere Clubs!
LADIES BRIDGE:
Meets the first and third Thursday of the month at the Lodge and would love to welcome new members!
Contact Georgia Brauer at 770-888-0974
Spring g arage Sale
Saturday, April 19th
COUPLES BRIDGE:
Meets every 3rd Saturday at the Lodge. Contact Sandy Stahl at 770-597-8237
LADIES BOOK CLUB
February 5th at 7:00PM will be discussing Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb
HISTORICAL FICTION BOOK
CLUB will be discussing another wonderful book the 2nd Thursday of the month from 1:00PM-2:00PM.
CALENDAR EVENTS 2025 OF
Seeing Patients in Cumming!
Dr Tugbiyele specializes in robotic and non-robotic minimally invasive surgery, in addition some non-surgical treatments: pelvic organ prolapse, urinary and fecal incontinence, bladder infections, fibroids, overactive bladder, pelvic pain, abnormal uterine vaginal bleeding, painful periods, sexual dysfunction and menopausal symptoms.
He is devoted to helping women make the most informed decisions about their treatment and care and helping women gain back their quality of life.
Clinical Interests
• Abnormal Uterine/Vvaginal Bleeding
• Acute and Chronic Bladder Infections
• Childbirth Injury
• Complications of Gynecological Surgery
• Fistula
• Heavy/Painful Menstrual Periods
• Interstitial Cystitis/Pelvic Pain
• Menopause
• Overactive Bladder
• Pelvic Organ Prolapse
• Robotic and Vaginal Surgery
• Sexual Dysfunction
• Urethral Diverticulum
• Urinary and Fecal Incontinence
• Uterine Fibroids
Tugbiyele
FEBRUARY DRILL SCHEDULE
Wednesday 6:30pm-8:00pm • Adult Open Drills Friday 9:30am-11:00am • Adult Open Drills Friday 11:15am-12:30pm • Reps, Reps and more Reps
Please contact Coach Bobby at schindlerb@comcast.net for pricing and further details.
RESOURCE CENTER
• Questions about joining a USTA or ALTA team? Contact the tennis committee at windermeretenniscmt@gmail. com.
• Questions about adult or junior drills? Contact Coach Bobby at schindlerb@comcast.net
• Need to Reserve a Court? Download the Reserve My Court app at ReserveMyCourt.com. Both tennis and pickle ball court reservations can be made on the app. Please follow the instructions at the following link to get started https://windermerecommunity. net/page/13899~227421/how-toreserve-a-court
• Windermere Tennis General and League Play Rules and Guidelines can be found at (scan QR code)
Golf Cart Laws and Safety on Roadways
The Board of Directors is asking for your cooperation and assistance. We as a Board are very concerned about the rise of unlicensed youths operating golf carts.
In the event you don’t know the Georgia laws in this area, please see the information below that was prepared by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. The bottom line is that no person should be at the wheel of a golf cart unless they have a valid drivers’ license.
In the coming weeks, the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office will be stepping up enforcement of the Georgia Code. If the situation doesn’t resolve itself, the Sheriff’s Office has informed us that parents may be ticketed for allowing their children to illegally operate these vehicles.
As always, please call 911 or the non-emergency number at 770-781-3087 to report suspicious persons as well as unsafe or illegal operation of a motor vehicle.
Windermere Board of Directors
Per Georgia law, residents are required obey the following rules:
A golf cart, legally defined as a motorized cart, may operate on roadways when all of the following elements of law are met:
1) Operate during daylight hours only (O.C.G.A. 40-6-330). May, however, operate at night if they meet the equipment requirements of 49 Code of Federal Registry 571.500: headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals;
2) Operate only on a roadway with a posted maximum speed limit of 35 MPH or less (O.C.G.A. 40-6-362);
3) Must be equipped with an amber strobe light that is visible for 500 feet to the rear and front (O.C.G.A. 40-6-362)
4) The operator possesses a valid driver’s license (O.C.G.A. 40-5-20 and Coker v. State, Georgia Court of Appeals. June 13, 2003);
5) Slow Moving Emblem (16 inch red/orange retro-reflective triangle) is visibly attached to the rear (O.C.G.A. 40-8-4 (a)).
Other Restrictions:
6) Impeding the normal flow of traffic is prohibited: a golf cart or other may not drive “at such a slow speed as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic” (O.C.G.A. 40-6-184), e.g., operating in a 35 mph zone that prevents a following vehicle from driving the posted speed limit.
7) Occupants: Children under the age of 6 prohibited from riding as a passenger, for “a child passenger restraining system” shall be provided in all passenger vehicles (O.C.G.A. 48-8-76). Occupants must only ride in a proper seat position.
Legal exemptions: Registration (tag) is not required (40-2-20 exempts motorized carts), and Insurance is not required (34-33-2 only registered vehicles require Insurance).
Lodge & Fitness Center
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.
• The fitness center is open to all Windermere residents 7 days a week.
• The center is closed for deep cleaning every Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9 AM to 10 AM.
• Exercise at your own risk.
• No one under 15 is allowed in the fitness center without adult supervision.
• Supervised children over the age of 12 are allowed to use the equipment.
• You must be current on your dues to access the fitness center
OPEN 24/7
Except for cleaning Monday, Wednesday and Fridays from 9am-10am
The Lodge at Windermere
2025 LODGE RENTALS
CARDSACCESSARE FORREQUIRED ENTRY TO LODGE
Full rental calendar is now open. Please check community website https://windermerecommunity.net/Calendar/13899~4564#events for availability. All assessments must be current to place a rental.
2025 LODGE RENTALS
All reservations must be made in person starting January 2. Agreements placed in the drop box will not be given priority to an in-person reservation. All assessments must be paid in full to place a reservation
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
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.
Lodge Hours:
Monday-Friday 9am-5pm | Closed Saturday and Sunday Gym Closed every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9am-10am for Deep Cleaning
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT YOUR ACCESS CARD IS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY TO LODGE. We will be onsite MondayFriday to assist you. Should you have any questions or concerns please let us know.
Visit our website www.windermerecommunity.net
FOR THE LOVE OF DOGS
Yes, we adore our pups so very much! Here are just a few fun and interesting statistics I came upon recently...
• Around 75% of us say our dogs are part of our family.
• More than half of owners say dogs sleep in their beds
• The annual cost of owning a dog is between $1,400 and $4,300 depending on the dogs and other factors..
• Many are throwing birthday parties for their dogs and include hats, balloons, decorations, and party favors.
There are more dog friendly restaurants..... and owners love it!
• Premium dog food is more popular now
• Life expectancy varies with different breeds, but dogs live twice as long as they did 40 years ago.
• About 40% of dog owners have made provisions for their dogs in their will
• More money is being spent on grooming, boarding, training, day care, dog walkers and vet bills
• Nearly 40% take their pups on vacation with them
• 1 in 6 have created a social media account for their pets!
• Some spend as much as $1,000 on dental cleanings
• About 50% give their pups Christmas/Hanukkah gifts
• Pets have a way of producing oxytocin and endorphins and turning our frown upside down!
• About 30% of dogs own clothes
• About 38% of dog owners are millennials
• Many owners take out health insurance on their babies
I do believe we would all agree that they are worth every penny!
Susan Hartsfield Tanner Windermere Pet Sitter
678-755-2931
bulldawgsusan@yahoo.com
Comcast may have the right to exclusively market certain services to residents. We are not an exclusive provider of any services and services from other providers may be available.
Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. Xfinity Mobile requires residential post-pay Xfinity Internet. Line limitations may apply. Equip., intl. and roaming charges, taxes and fees, including reg. recovery fees, and other charges extra, and subj. to change. $25/mo. charge applies if Xfinity TV, Internet or Voice postpay services not maintained. Pricing subject to change. In times of congestion, your data may be
