In This Issue
Holiday Decoration Winners
Projects, Projects, Projects!
Rock Covers Ugly
2002 Budget Approved
Neighborhood Watch
Hat's Off Update
Yard of the Month
Mixed Metaphor of the Month
Pruning Trees and Shrubs
Come to the HOA Meetings
Wanted: Board Member
Contact List - (removed from Web version for privacy reasons)
No Parking / Less Parking, Please
CI Website
Holiday Decoration Winners
It was a dark and festive night, wrapped in wintry wonder and festooned
with electric brilliance as the three wisepersons journeyed from Bradfordt
Lakes through Cypress Isles to select first, second, and third place in
the holiday decoration contest. And the winners are:
1st - Kathy & Wayne Anthony
2nd - Gary & Kimberly Haight
3rd - Richard and Wendy Lowe
Congratulations to the winners, and to all who decorated their homes for the holidays!
Projects, Projects, Projects!
By Larry Sheeler
Hello to all our neighbors! The Board of Directors has been busy keeping
your homeowners association running smoothly. Here is a look into what has
been happening.
First is the lighting of our entry walls. After months of delays, we have
finally found a contractor to do the directional boring necessary without
demanding the right arms and first-born child of each homeowner! Penn First
Management is in the process of obtaining the county permits and, with crossed
fingers from everyone, we should have the project completed by the end of
February.
Another project involves the street trees that were installed, or should
have been installed, by Centex in front of each of our homes. The covenant
agreements require that a tree of equivalent or higher quality must replace
any tree that dies. A number of trees have died and the Board has been exploring
the unique issues surrounding street trees in Cypress Isles. As all of us
who have dug in our yards know, our soil is mostly clay not good for planting
trees. We are extremely fortunate to have our own resident Master Gardener,
Jean Thomsin, not only as a homeowner, but also as a valuable member of
our Board. Jean has researched the horticultural aspect of the problem,
consulted with numerous other professionals, and made recommendations to
the Board about which trees will do best in our soil. The fruits of his
research are posted on the Cypress Isles Web Site at http://home.cfl.rr.com/cypressisles/
Jean is also working to facilitate the installation of free trees from Orange
County, provided that the homeowners who get them agree to plant and care
for them. Those homeowners with the deadest trees have received or will
soon receive a letter from Jean explaining what can be done. The BOTTOM
LINE is that every home must have an acceptable street tree, and we can
help.
The Board has also been busy lobbying the Waterford Lakes Community Association
(the master association) with two concerns. The first is rising storm-water
when we get our infrequent, but bountiful, rains. The master association
storm-water committee has been discussing the issue with the project engineers
and with Orange County. While there is no resolution yet, the committee
hopes to make progress in the near future. Storm-water management is a very
complex issue that must be addressed with great care.
The second request is for additional streetlights on Crystal River Drive
between Cypress Isles and Bradfordt Lakes. As those who have been in this
area at night can attest, it is REAL DARK!!! So dark that some folks tend
to lurk in the dark and participate in activities that they wouldn't do
if it were well lit. The master has been communicating with Orange County
about this issue and we are hopeful of achieving success. Stay tuned for
up-dates.
Highlights of other projects are:
· Orange County Deputies will continue off-duty patrols in 2002.
· Insurance coverage for the entry walls was increased from $1,000
to $20,000, which is more realistic.
· Delaminated letters were replaced on our entry signs
That's all we have for now. Come to a Board meeting to see what is in store
for the future!
Rock Covers Ugly
Through the efforts of Lee Blackwell, Adelphia Cable replaced the large
green box, commonly called the Ugly Green Thing (UGT), at our first entrance
with a fiberglass boulder, commonly called the Ugly Grey Thing (Still UGT).
Legend has it that a fake sword is embedded in this fake rock that only
the superficially pure of heart can remove. But I don't believe it.
Some homeowners are working on ways to encourage Adelphia to relocate the
UGT to where it will not be an eyesore in front of our entrance feature.
Look for more information on this topic to come out soon.
2002 Budget Approved
The Cypress Isles Board of Directors approved the 2002 budget at their meeting
on October 16, 2001. The new budget is 8.4% larger than last year's budget.
Income |
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Maint. |
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Mgt. & Admin |
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Reserve |
Income is from dues, late fees, and interest. Maintenance includes grounds
maintenance, lake and waterway management, lights, fences, and signs. Management
and Administration includes management fees, security, insurance, copying
and postage. Details are available from Board members upon request.
Neighborhood Watch
By Cookie Symons
- Neighborhood Watch Coordinator
As we start a new year we are hoping to have fewer problems than we had
in 2001.
Around Halloween some lawn ornaments disappeared, and during the Christmas
holidays other lawn ornaments disappeared. Although there were some problems,
this past quarter wasn't as bad as last summer.
DO YOU KNOW THESE CARS? On December 27th about 1:30 in the morning, a small
silver 4-door car was observed riding through the development with young
girls hanging out the open windows, tossing garbage cans and throwing eggs
at homes. A black Firebird-type car with red lettering on the right fender
was following, and appeared to be an accomplice. At this time we do not
have tag numbers but the cars have been seen in the area before.
The week of December 30th it was reported that American flags were taken
from some homes along Spring Island Way. Please remember, if these flags
are being displayed at night they should have a light shining on them, which
may help to prevent their theft.
It's not just Cypress Isles -- I have spoken with neighbors in other subdivisions
who have had similar problems with car stereos stolen and some property
vandalism. Along with keeping our cars locked and our garage doors closed,
we all need to stay alert to cars or individuals up to no good. If you see
cars involved in theft or vandalism, try to get their tag numbers. If you
are a victim of theft or vandalism you should report it to Orange County
Sheriff's Office NON-EMERGENCY line at 407-727-2400 (DO NOT CALL 911). Then
let your block captain know so the phone chain will work. If you are not
able to reach, or don't know your block captain, call one of the coordinators
at the bottom of this article and we will assist you.
On behalf of Neighborhood Watch, the coordinators wish you all a safe and
Happy New Year.
Hat's Off Update
Although the Board has not yet formalized the criteria for the Hat's Off
awards, there is general agreement that these letters of commendation should
be given out for various property improvements above and beyond the norm,
and not just for fixing a previous violation. Your regular mowing, weeding,
edging, planting, and general lawn maintenance does not qualify. For that
we have
Yard of the Month
Contrary to the belief of some, the Architectural Review Committee looks
for the good things in our neighborhood, not just reasons to issue violation
letters and late notices.
Starting this month, the Architectural Review Committee will be cruising
the neighborhood looking for the best looking yard to honor as the Cypress
Isles Yard of the Month. January's YOM will be awarded at the beginning
of February. Chip Crane graciously volunteered to make a sign and we are
anxiously awaiting the placement of the sign in a deserving yard.
Mixed Metaphor of the Month
"We were busy tackling other fish to fry."
Pruning is the selective removal of plant parts to improve health, control
growth, or enhance fruiting, flowering, or appearance. Pruning should be
a routine part of home-ground maintenance.
Pruning Trees
It is best to prune trees late in the dormant season or several weeks following
a growth flush. The worst times to prune are when leaves are forming. Do
not prune trees that are under stress.
Know the characteristic form of a tree before removing any live branches
to maintain the same basic shape. First, prune out dead, diseased or broken
twigs and branches. Then study the tree form, select the best-spaced and
positioned permanent branches, and remove or shorten others.
When training a young tree, prune back branches below the lowest permanent
branch to about 8" from the trunk; do not remove entirely. Removing
the lower branches too soon will result in a poorer quality plant. Large
branches (1-1/2" or larger in diameter) require three special cuts
to prevent trunk bark stripping.
Pruning Palms
Care must be taken when pruning palms not to cut or otherwise injure the
terminal bud or the whole tree will die. Remove palm leaves by cutting them
from the underside to avoid tearing the fibers of the palm's stem.
Pruning Shrubs
The first step in pruning a shrub is to remove all dead, diseased, or injured
branches, branches that touch each other, and those that look out of place.
Pruning cuts should not be visible, but located inside the plant, covered
up by remaining foliage.
Pruning Hedges
The two important factors to remember when pruning formal hedges are (1)
prune while new growth is green and succulent, and (2) trim so the base
of the hedge is wider than the top. Hedges with narrow bases will lose lower
leaves and branches because of insufficient light.
Want to know more? The Cypress Isles website has the complete, illustrated
article.
Come to the HOA Meetings
The next three Association meetings will be at the library at 6:30 PM on:
These are third Tuesdays of each month. Synopses of previous meetings are posted on our website .
Wanted: Board Member
Our fearless leader, President Lee Blackwell, has resigned from the Board
due to a dramatic increase in his business demands. We thank Lee for his
tireless efforts in helping make Cypress Isles one of the BEST neighborhoods
in Waterford Lakes! Lee has left a large pair of shoes to fill, and we are
contemplating who among us is up to the challenge. The Board will fill Lee's
Director position with a member of the community and then we will determine
who the president will be.
If you have considered being on the board, this is a great opportunity to
serve your community and try it out for a few months until the annual meeting
in May. You might like it, and we need more good people. Interested? Call
Neil Thomas at 407-306-8459, extension 106, and ask for an application.
Orange County owns the streets, so the Association cannot stop people from
parking there. Still, it would be nice to de-clutter our not-so-wide streets
by parking in your driveway when you can. This message is brought to you
as a public service.
CI Website
By Dennis Bode
http://home.cfl.rr.com/cypressisles/
The Cypress Isles web site now has links to the Waterford Lakes website with information about area
restaurants, movies & attractions. The CI web page also has copies of
previous CI Newsletters, Board of Director Meeting Minutes, and The Fountain
of News. If you have suggestions, requests, or questions about the CI web
page, send an email to the web administrator: dbode@cfl.rr.com.
this page was updated 2/6/2002