In This Issue - February 2006
Holiday Lighting Contest Winners
Catch Them Speeders!
Cypress Isles Real Estate Update
Wileys Honored in Local Paper
Vote on Issues at Annual Meeting
Lord, Gimme a Sign...
NEW non-emergency phone number
Cypress Isles Contact List
ARC Notes Big Improvements
ARC Inspection Standards
Those Wailing Alarms!
Dateworthy Notes

Holiday Lighting Contest Winners
It was a dark and rainy night, but the decorations looked great!
Remember Sunday night, December 19th, 2005? It was cold (for Florida) and rainy, but the lighting judges rode through Cypress Isles, enjoying the many well-decorated homes, especially these:

1st place ($75): James & Danielle McCullough, 13743 Crystal River Drive
2nd place ($50): Jennifer Clark, 849 Spring Island Way
3rd place ($25): Louis & Nancy Navaille, 13201 White Cedar Court

We thank you, and we're sure that Progress Energy thanks you as well.

Catch Them Speeders!
Phone in a report!
Officer Chuck Kochanowski is back, and our local speeders are once again helping Orange County bolster its traffic budget!
If you see a speeding car or other traffic nuisance, call the O.C. Traffic Office at 407.836.0800 to lodge complaints against speeders, no matter how little information you may think you have. We know that everything happens really fast, but try to get a tag number if possible.
The Traffic Office logs in all complaints, day or night, then forwards them to the departments that deal with speeders, DUIs, and other offenders. They may not catch the offender if you report it, but they will certainly not catch the offender if you don't. Also, these reports help the Sheriff's Department know where to send patrols.

Cypress Isles Real Estate Update
Go over and say, "Hi!"
2005 was a banner year for home sale prices. The question is will the prices continue to go up in 2006?
A lot of the answer depends on two factors. The number one factor is whether or not interest rates stay low or whether they go up. The number two factor is employment opportunities here in Central Florida.
In Cypress Isles we should continue to see value appreciation in the 8-10% range for this year, which is a lot less than the 44% increase we experienced in 2005.
Our neighborhood has many great things going for it! Buyers will continue to desire conservation lots, side entry garages, pond views and the great schools that Cypress Isles offers. Although we have not had too many homes sold recently in our neighborhood the most recent sold prices range from $165.00 to $180.00 per square foot of living space.

Most Recent Sales in Cypress Isles

Status: Sold 10/05

Address: 854 Spring Island Way
4 Beds, 4 Baths
2,662 Sq. Ft.
Price: $453,950

Status: Sold 10/05

Address: 726 Spring Island Way
4 Beds, 2 Baths
2,368 Sq. Ft.
Price: $385,000

Status: Sold 01/06

Address: 762 Spring Island Way
4 Beds, 2 Baths
2,210 Sq. Ft.
Price: $375,500

Status: Sold 01/06

Address: 629 Divine Circle
4 Beds, 3 Baths
2,645 Sq. Ft.
Price: $435,000

If you have any questions regarding real estate please call Mike and Mary Kranz at 407-970-9036 or stop by our house at 774 Spring Island Way. We would love to help.
Email- MikeMary@mindspring.com
www.kranzteam.com

Wileys Honored in Local Paper
A really nice tribute to a really nice couple.
Congratulations to Ron and Jamie Wiley for making the front page of the February 1-7, 2006 issue of the East Orlando Sun as the "kind-hearted Cypress Isles couple that leads by example." If you don't have a copy of the paper (or if you already ran it over too many times with your car and it's ruined), you can also read the article on-line. Just go to http://www.eosun.com and click on "Notable Neighbor."

Vote on Issues at Annual Meeting
Homeowners will vote on 3 issues at the May 16th Annual Meeting.
This year Cypress Isles homeowners will vote on three proposed rule changes for our neighborhood. Because these proposals would be changes to the covenant documents, a three-fourths majority (105 out of 140 homeowners) will be needed for passage. So whether you are for or against each proposal, please vote!

1. (Driveways ) Should the ARC guidelines be amended to include painting and modifying of driveways so that we have consistency in the neighborhood?

Ballot Question 1 - Should Article VIII of the Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions of Waterford Lakes Tract N-25A Neighborhood Association, Inc. (Architectural Control) be amended to include the restriction: "All modifications to driveways, including but not limited to painting or staining; paving with any paving material, including concrete, asphalt, brick, flagstone, stepping stones, and pre-cast patterned or exposed aggregate concrete pavers; or extending or expanding any driveway, must be approved by the ARC prior to installation." ?
[ ] yes [ ] no

2. (Street Tree Option) Should homeowners have the option of having street trees instead of it being mandatory?

Ballot Question 2 - Should Article VIII of the Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions of Waterford Lakes Tract N-25A Neighborhood Association, Inc. (Architectural Control) be amended to include the permission: "Trees planted between sidewalk and curb ("street trees") shall be maintained in live, healthy and growing condition, properly watered and trimmed; except that street trees that fail to thrive due to poor soil, inadequate root structure, or for other reasons beyond the ability of the average Owner to diagnose and remedy, shall be either replaced or removed at the discretion of the Owner" ?
[ ] yes [ ] no

3. (Buyer's Fee) Should new homeowners (after Jan. 1, 2007) be required to pay a one-time new homeowner fee to help keep down existing homeowners dues?

Ballot Question 3 - Should Article VI of the Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions of Waterford Lakes Tract N-25A Neighborhood Association, Inc. (Assessments) be amended to permit the Association to collect an ownership change fee, not to exceed one year's assessments, from each new homeowner in Cypress Isles provided that the house purchase date is on or after January 1, 2007?
[ ] yes [ ] no

Lord, Gimme a Sign…
New Cypress Isles signs will be installed soon - we hope.
It's been more than a year since our front entrance signs were vandalized, but replacement signs are on the way. The entrance walls have been cleaned, the columns are being capped, and the remaining brickwork quality issues are being addressed. The new signs are ready and scheduled to be installed toward the end of February or early March.
After the signs are up, new landscaping will be planted, hopefully during March. Lighting at both entrances was upgraded last year.

NEW non-emergency phone number
This just in…
The Orange County Sheriff's Office just announced a new non-emergency number to call. In case you missed it on the news, that's why we're here. It is: 407-836-HELP(4357)

Cypress Isles Contact List
Board of Directors
Dennis Horazak, President 407 207-6557 densus@bellsouth.net
Ron Wiley, Vice-President 407 384-2564 rwiley4@cfl.rr.com
Mike Kranz, Secretary 407 380-6834 mikemary@mindspring.com
Myron Davis, Treasurer 407 737-8200 mdavis8200@adelphia.net
Lee Blackwell, Member 407 275-2541 monsterous@aol.com

Rex Bowman, Community Management Professionals
407 903-9969 Ext. 114 Rex@community-mgmt.com

Neighborhood Watch
Kim Schmitt 407 737-1966 kym909@aol.com

Media
Dennis Bode, Webmaster dbode@cfl.rr.com
Sandy & Denny Horazak, CI News Editor 407 207-6557 sanden@bellsouth.net

Handy Numbers
Orange County Sheriff Non-emergency 407 836-4357
Animal Control (unleashed pets, etc.) 407 352-4390
Progress Energy Streetlight Repair 1-800-228-8485 www.progress-energy.com

ARC Notes Big Improvements
Way to go.
In the last issue we reported that the ARC had issued over 80 violations, such as driveways that needed cleaning, fronds that needed trimming, and weeds that needed killin'.
Homeowner response was impressive and all but 14 of the problems were cleared up in no time. Congratulate yourselves!
Speaking of palm fronds, Cypress Isles has a policy on palm trees. The issue of the "petticoat" effect (allowing dead fronds to remain on the trees) has come up a few times in the past few years, but the ARC committee has denied each homeowners request to let their palm fronds hang due to their unsightly and dead nature. They may look harmless, but the hanging dead palm fronds are home to numerous insects, mice and any other critters that want a nice dry home. During Hurricane season these fronds are also susceptible to being blown through your yard and into your neighbor's automobile or home.

ARC Inspection Standards
What does the ARC look for? Here is quick access to the standards that the ARC uses during its inspections.
Whether you received HOA covenant documents at closing or not, you might have glazed over its 195 pages without noticing the 14 pages of news that homeowners can actually use - the guidelines for the Architectural Review Committee (ARC).
The ARC regulates: residential use; temporary buildings; trash & garbage; burial of pipe & tanks; nuisance; weeds & underbrush; vehicle parking; clothes drying area; guns; shutters & aerials; drainage; underground wires; animals; business; maintenance of parking areas; maintenance of landscaped areas; use & maintenance of waterbodies; maintenance of landscaping to public right of way or water's edge; cable television; fences; mailboxes; trees; air conditioners; signs; lighting; stormwater; swimming pools & tennis courts; time shares; pollutants; and further restrictions.
If you have internet access, go to www.Cypressisles.org, click on "Architectural Review" and then on " Part of the Master Association Documents dealing with Architectural Review, Compliance, Enforcement, & Fines," and then on the area you are interested in.
If you don't have internet access, then contact any Board member for a copy of these 14 pages.

Those Wailing Alarms!
…enough to drive ya crazy…
Folks! Please line up someone who can shut down your audible alarm if triggered. These alarms don't have to be set for them to go off during close lightning strikes, power surges, or just gremlins in your system. The constant wail of these alarms can drive one to drink…more…

Dateworthy Notes

Happy Birthday to:
May 5 - Steve Wood
May 23 - Michael Symons
May 23 - Cheryl Engold
May 27 - Jean Thomsin
May 28 - Tara Engold

Happy Anniversary to:
March 3 - Lee & Robin Blackwell
March 5 - Mike & Mary Kranz
May 22 - Scott & Cookie Symons - 30th!
May 27 - Denny & Sandy Horazak

Thanks to those who have helped deliver newsletters to our homes:
Sonya Barsness, Harold & Cheryl Engold, Tina Gordon, Mary Kranz, Gail Strachan, Cookie Symons.