Dawn Levinstein

First, the PGA POA Board and staff would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding during this difficult time.

Below are the updates regarding the POA office as of the end of March as it relates to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). We hope that by the time you read this in April, things will have changed for the better.

Regarding the CHILDREN’S PARTY IN THE PARK, planned for April 25th, we are unsure at this time, whether the event will go on as planned. Please check back here at the website for updates. The website will also show updated information regarding PGA-POA office hours and operations.

As of Monday, March 23, 2020, the POA office remains open for business but the POA LOBBY IS CLOSED. Lang Management’s POA team is taking calls and of course, responding to emails. Contact information for PGA POA services is listed below. Both Lori (ARC/Compliance) and I are on site regularly; POA related service orders are being handled; and POA landscape personnel are working per usual. Staff will continue to respond to all calls, we will just miss seeing you in person!

THE ISSUING OF ALL BARCODES WAS SUSPENDED AS OF MARCH 26, 2020.  Returning approved renters who have an inactive PGA Barcode can call (561) 627-2800 and we should be able to re-active it.  All others (owners and renters) who need a barcode will not be able to obtain one at this time.  You will still be able to enter; you will just need to show the guard a photo ID during access-controlled hours We regret the inconvenience.

FISHING LICENSES ARE NOT BEING ISSUED AT THIS TIME. We appreciate your understanding.

ALL PGA POA Parks (i.e.: Marlwood Park, Burwick Park and Masters Park) ARE CLOSED. Equipment is not being sanitized. Signs have been posted.

Some residents or their tenants are putting household trash in the trash receptacles in the parks and on certain street corners. This is NOT permitted. Please be aware that cameras are in use and removal and dump fees as well as fines will be issued to anyone dumping. If you or your tenant have household trash that cannot be placed at the curb on collection days, you can bring it to the LA Fitness Plaza and put it in the POA’s dumpster which is located behind the plaza at the far north end (i.e.: closest to the Green Turtle Car Wash area).

CONTACT INFO FOR PGA POA:

ALL CALLS: (561) 627-2800 – For urgent after-hours calls, please contact PGA Security at 561-627-1600

PGA SECURITY: (561) 627-1600

SALES AND LEASES: Above phone number or email LaurenU@LangManagement.com (copy to
DawnL@LangManagement.com)

ARC/COMPLIANCE MATTERS: Above phone number or email: LoriM@LangManagement.com (copy to
DawnL@LangManagement.com)

GENERAL ADMIN: Above phone number or email: JoAnnP@LangManagement.com (copy to
DawnL@LangManagement.com)

This PGA POA website has all the forms and information that you may need… please check here first.

The website also has the contact phone number for your community’s management company. Please do not call PGA POA for information about your community’s policies and procedures during this difficult time. You will need to call your association’s management office.

We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding and hope that you will remain diligent about following directives. Stay Safe and we will re-open for regular business as soon as it is safe to do so.

FUN THINGS FIRST

The Annual Children’s Party in the Park is scheduled for Saturday, April 25th from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. in Masters Park. This event is open to residents and their guests and is fun for all ages. If you haven’t been, you have to stop by! Carnival type rides and games and, of course, prizes. There will also be popcorn, cotton candy and snow cones free of charge but if you want a hotdog or hamburger you have to buy a Food Pass in advance. The first official notification will be in the next issue of this newsletter and the postcards will be mailed to every address in PGA National on approximately March 27th so that you can RSVP in plenty of time. Hope to see you there!

THANK YOU

We wanted to thank you for your patience and cooperation during the last week of February and for another successful Honda Classic event! PGA POA appreciates the residents’ understanding and delaying projects on their homes that cause noise to carry along the Championship Golf Course.

SEASON ENDING

As the seasonal residents prepare to return to the summer homes, please take a moment to ensure the following items are addressed: If you have newspaper delivery, please remember to cancel it before you go. Nothing says “I’m not here so go ahead and break in” like several newspapers piling up on the driveway! Also, please remember that while you are at your other home enjoying the lower temperatures (and I wish I was too) that June 1 through November 30th is Hurricane Season. Please be sure that you have made arrangements for someone to secure your property in your absence. This means picking up and storing patio furniture as well as putting up or closing hurricane protection devices. I was shocked at how many owners left plywood in place last year after the storm passed and past the November 30th deadline. Shame on you if you were one! Aside from violating PGA POA deed restrictions, it is an insult to your friends and neighbors (and golfers along the courses) to have to look at the boarded up house and, again, is an announcement that you are not in residence.

The POA annual assessment is mailed on June 1st and payment is due July 1st so don’t forget to let us know if you need your mailing address updated (call 561-627-2800).

Here are some other reminders if you plan to be away for an extended time:

LIGHTS: Leave some exterior lights on and have your ‘house-sitter’ or a friend replace bulbs as needed. Remember, the “bad guys” like to hide in the dark. By lighting the outside of your house, your neighbors and the security patrols will be better able to see anyone who may be in your yard or near your home. Remember, POA Architectural Review (“ARC”) approval is needed for any exterior changes, including installing exterior lights. Inexpensive timers can be placed on lamps throughout the inside of your home. If anyone is watching the house, this will help give the appearance of someone being home.

AIR CONDITIONER: Under no circumstances should the air conditioning be turned completely off. Doing so will cause mildew inside your home! Set the thermostat at approximately 80 degrees and set the fan switch on ‘automatic’. You may want to place an anti-algae tablet in the drain pan below the Air Handler to help prevent a blockage in the drain line and subsequent water damage. If you have a humidistat, follow manufacturer’s directions.

REFRIGERATION: If you will be gone for an extended period, empty the refrigerator, clean it and turn it off but LEAVE THE DOORS OPEN on both the refrigerator and freezer.

WATER: Turn off the master valve if possible. Do this at least 3 hours before leaving and, after one hour, check the valve for leaks. If it is not possible to turn off the water, have your house-sitter or a friend check the washing machine valves when they inspect the home weekly. If you will be gone for a month or longer, it is suggested that your house-sitter run water in the sinks and flush the toilets to keep internal components from drying out and causing odors.

TOILETS: Remove bluing containers from the tanks, they are caustic and may cause rust or damage to components in the tank.

ELECTRIC: Unplug major appliances such as televisions, radios, etc. or turn off the breakers in the breaker (“fuse”) box. DO NOT TURN THE BREAKER OFF FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER OR FOR THE REFRIGERATOR (UNLESS YOU ARE CLEANING OUT THE REFRIGERATOR AS ABOVE). Please be sure breakers are left on for any circuits controlling exterior security lights and/or lamps placed on timers.

Have a wonderful summer!

ANNUAL MEETING

Thank you to everyone who mailed in their ballot. There were some very qualified candidates again so thanks also go to the Nominating Committee. The POA Board members elected this year are Keith Ahronheim, Bob Brown, Mike Engelsher, Ralph Infanti and Bob Kramer.
Congratulations everyone!

For those who were not able to attend the meeting, you missed a good one! The POA celebrated its 40th Annual meeting and everyone was given a re-usable shopping bag containing discount coupons for local businesses, umbrellas and golf towels. The Board then held a raffle of a number of great items including cash gift cards, dinners, and a Best Buy $500.00 Grand Prize. Thank you to Patty Pond and the Special Events Committee who organized the event. Patty completed the second year of her Board term; she will be missed. Llywd Ecclestone, the Developer of PGA National, was kind enough to attend this year and gave a brief history of PGA National. It was interesting to hear how PGA, one of the first planned unit developments in South Florida came about and how far the community and the area have come over the years.

BICYCLES

I think I mentioned that there would be some detailed information in this issue regarding bicycles. Please see the enclosed article titled “BICYCLES”. In PGA National, there are no marked bicycle lanes so drivers must share the road. Cyclists should also have lights on the front and back of their bicycle. I came upon a cyclist properly riding along the right curb but it was dark and they were wearing dark clothes with no lights or reflectors. Another car was approaching so I had headlights in my eyes and if both of us did not have our guardian angels with us it could have been tragic. I saw my headlights glint off the aluminum wheel and realized they were in front of me and was able to go around them.

It is important for cyclists and drivers to read through the article. I certainly learned a lot but it boils down to what we learned in first grade: Be courteous and share! In this case, share the road and be patient.

CENSUS

It is again time for the US Census. Everyone must respond and it is suggested that you fill out and mail back the form you will receive in the mail; otherwise, someone may be knocking on your door. To get more information about the census, go to www.2020census.gov Please be aware that information collected may only be used for statistical purposes and no other purpose. For information about the Census Bureau’s data protection and privacy program go to www.census.gov/privacy

Only three things to discuss this month:

FIRST – THE JOY DRIVE (Toy Drive)
Last month I challenged everyone to beat the POA staff in filling up a box in the POA lobby for the City of Palm Beach Gardens’ annual toy drive. Congratulations to Eagleton Estates HOA who had the clever idea of asking owners attending their holiday party to bring a new unwrapped toy. YOU GUYS ROCK! The generosity of not only Eagleton Estates but of ALL the PGA National residents certainly made the holidays special for some well deserving young people in the area.

Lori Moody and I also had the opportunity to help out with the wrapping and I have to tell you the Palm Beach Gardens staff who coordinate this massive undertaking do a fantastic job. It is a lot of work but I’ve never seen such a well-organized and coordinated operation. Thank you to all who made the event a success. We look forward to doing it again next year.

SECOND – THE ANNUAL MEETING
You should have received the meeting notice and balloting info for the PGA POA Annual Meeting being held on Wednesday, January 22nd at 6:00 p.m. in the Masters Ballroom at the PGA National Resort.

It is important that every property owner take the time to vote. It only takes a moment to send in your ballot but sadly, only a little over 25% of the owners typically cast their ballot. There are nine members of the PGA POA Board of Governors and this year, owners will be electing five Board members who will serve a two year term. If you have any questions about the voting procedure, just call the POA office (561-627-2800) and we will be happy to assist.

The secret is that this will be the 40th Annual meeting of the PGA Property Owners Association. PGA National has come a long way in the past 40 years and the Board of Governors has decided to recognize this milestone. I don’t want to give everything away but at the end of the meeting in addition to the Honda Classic ticket drawing, the Board will be having a separate drawing for prizes. You must attend the meeting and be present for the drawing in order to win.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST – A SPECIAL MESSAGE TO ALL OWNERS
One of the things that make PGA National such a great place is the people who live here; an example is evident in my opening paragraph of this article. The POA office has a staff of only four and while we are often the big meanies who send you reminders when something needs attention at your home or in your community, the property owners always step up and address the items right away. When we put out the call for assistance, you step up and help out and we appreciate your cooperation and understanding. As we all start a New Year, we wanted to take the opportunity to say thanks for making our jobs easier and for all you do to keep PGA National looking good (even after 40 years) and for making this a great place to live.

Wishing all of you a Very Happy and Healthy New Year!

THE HOLIDAY SEASON

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! For those who are not aware, the City of Palm Beach Gardens holds an annual “Toy Drive” and we collect new unwrapped gifts at the POA office. Please make a child’s holiday special and drop off a new, unwrapped toy at the POA office between now and mid-December. We challenge you to out-do the POA/Lang staff – We love to give toys!

ANNUAL MEETING AND ELECTION

CLICK HERE to find the biographies for each of the candidates to the PGA POA Board of Governors. The POA Annual Meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. at the PGA Resort. The meeting notice and election information will be mailed this month to your ‘address of record’ with the POA. Five candidates will be elected to the nine member board for a two year term.

This meeting will be the 40th annual meeting of the POA as 2020 begins the 41st year since the POA was incorporated. The POA Board has something special for all attendees at the meeting but even if you can’t personally attend, it is important to cast your ballot so please don’t wait.

IN JANUARY

You can be sure I will ramble on next month (hey, I may ramble but you’re reading this!). I plan to include some interesting information regarding bicycles, sharing the road (and paths); reminders of common courtesy we learned at age 4; and share some interesting laws I bet you weren’t aware of (for cars and bicycles).

Wishing you all the very best of the Holiday Season: Remember, be nice to one another and I forget to tell you: HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

This month’s article is mostly about animals but for those with “In Honor Of” markers in Masters
Park, we have an update: The replacements for the stones will be installed in the next 60 days.
The stones were on the ground and constantly being knocked over and they were always
muddy. After several alternate designs for new markers that wouldn’t be moved by malicious
people, we found an engraved marker which will be mounted at a 45% angle on a post. We
appreciate your patience while a suitable replacement was found for the stones. For anyone
wanting to purchase or install a monument, please note that the program was discontinued quite
some time ago so new gardens/trees/memorials/markers cannot be purchased.

GATORS: Just a reminder that Alligator Mating and Nesting Season is here again. Use caution
around bodies of water and NEVER let dogs swim in the lakes or canals or get close to the
water’s edge. All of the water bodies are connected which means that alligators that are
normally in the western preserve can have access to any other area. Never feed them under
any circumstances. When they associate humans with food, it becomes a dangerous situation.
If the animal is aggressive, you can contact your community’s Property Manager or the FWC
Alligator Nuisance Hotline at 866-392-4286 [Read more…] about Property Manager’s Report – March 2019

YOUR PGA POA BOARD OF GOVERNORS
For those who were unable to attend the PGA POA Annual Meeting last month, I’ve listed the names of the POA Board and their titles. Nancy Hebel was welcomed as a newly elected member. Your Board of Governors include Mike Engelsher, President; Jack Hughes, Vice President; Bob Kramer, Treasurer; Ginny Luongo, Secretary; and Directors Keith Ahronheim, Sam Boyd, Ralph Infanti and Patty Pond. Board meetings will continue to be held on the 4th Monday of each month at 3:00 p.m. in the POA Office. Meetings notices for Board and Committee meetings are posted in the POA office storefront and here on the website. All Board and Committee meetings are open to all property owners.

WHAT IS GOING ON?
You probably recall that the POA Long Range Planning Committee has mentioned plans to enhance the ‘ellipse’ (a/k/a the traffic circle) but it will be several more months before the Maintenance and Long Range Planning Committees have plans finalized enough to share details. In summary, the elevation will be raised (similar to the height of the Mirasol entry opposite Ryder Cup Blvd) and a free-form sculpture will be placed in the middle. Low stone accent walls will be added near each of the four intersecting roads (ie: Avenue of the Champions, Fairway Drive, and the office building driveway) and, of course, spectacular landscaping so that the entry is worthy of the PGA National community.

The aforementioned committees will also be working on improving the PGA Blvd frontage. The POA would like to remove all of the ficus trees and totally replace the landscaping and trees; however, this is a HUGE project and City approval is, of course, required. Details will not be available for a least another year and, as indicated, this is on the long range plans so actual work won’t start for quite some time.

General maintenance and improvements are always on-going. Your Maintenance Committee and Board of Governors work closely and they will continue to address areas that need improvement. The gardens in Masters Park are due for an “overhaul” and the Northlake Blvd landscaping along the wall (west of Ryder Cup Blvd) will be replaced within the next year. Each project is completed on a schedule that allows the work to be done without special assessments or a large impact on your assessments. Your feedback is always appreciated.

NOTE THE DATE FOR FUN
Plans for the Annual Children’s Party in the Park are being finalized. If you are new to PGA National, please make a note of the April 27th date so you can be at Masters Park from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. The event is fun for children of all ages (including those young at heart) and is for residents of PGA National and their guests. Hotdogs, hamburgers, popcorn, cotton candy and other treats are available. This year the climbing wall is back but will now have a few sides so a couple climbers can compete to get to the top; the giant slide will be back (of course!); the bungee trampoline, bounce houses, and other carnival type rides will available. Attendees can also make Frisbee Spin Art or get their photo taken with ‘Photo Magic’ and have it attached to key rings and other items (yes, you get to keep your designs!) and the ‘games master’ gets everyone organized for relay races, sack races, water balloon toss, etc. Naturally, stuffed animals are awarded to the winners of all games. Postcards with all the details and the required RSVP info will be mailed to each residence in PGA National in March and a notice will also be included in this newsletter next month.

QUOTE FOR THE DAY
Happiness depends upon ourselves (Aristotle).

This article is dedicated to the animals at PGA National. No, I’m not being rude and calling the people names. You’ll see, just read on:

FOR THE BIRDS
I’ve mentioned it a few times but there are still residents who think that the birds will starve without their help….they won’t. I get calls all the time about rats and snakes (and other ‘critters’) in the community (or in the attic of someone’s home) and security has responded to a number of panicked owners with a snake or rat in their house, pool or garage. If we look around the community, we will likely find a quaint spot with a bird feeder inviting all the little critters to join in. Some owners put seed out just for the squirrels! I’ve mentioned before that I used to put little piles of seed out for the squirrels too so the birds could eat at the feeder – then a hawk decided I was offering a ‘squirrel buffet’ so I stopped that!

But snakes? Come on, Dawn, snakes don’t eat bird seed! Yep: you are correct; however, the snakes find mice to be a tasty treat! Birds and rodents both love to eat seeds so if you have birds at the feeder, you likely have rodents too. Since squirrels, mice and rats will forage on the ground for seeds and hulls, the snakes can just hang out and wait for the food to come to them.
PGA National is a beautiful community with four wonderful golf courses and a wilderness preserve on the western boundary. It is a good habitat for all kinds of birds…..and other wildlife including rats, snakes, foxes, opossum, and who knows what else (there even used to be a bobcat here before Masters Park was built).

People worry about rats and snakes in their homes and they worry about rabid animals. The POA prohibits the feeding of any wildlife, including birds and the above is only part of the reason why. We won’t even go into the weeds sprouting and the dead grass from the aforementioned critters foraging. When the hawk ate the squirrel at my house, the answer was simple: I got rid of the feeders. The answer seems simple in PGA too: get rid of the bird feeders and stop feeding the wildlife (and avoid a fine for violating POA rules!)

ALLIGATORS
It is that time of year when the seasonal residents return and there are a lot of renters who have never seen an alligator. There are a number of benches near the lakes inviting you to rest and enjoy the view and often an alligator is spotted. Please be aware that you should never, ever feed alligators. They start to associate humans with food and that’s when tragedy strikes. In addition, it is absolutely true that alligators love dogs – and I don’t mean they want to be pals! Please don’t walk your dog near the water and never let the dog off the leash. Alligators look sluggish but they move FAST so be careful, stay alert and don’t feed the gators.

TORTURE AND CRUELTY
No, it is not an invitation or suggestions for being mean to me, it is a sad, heartbreaking situation that needs your attention. Someone is fishing and instead of removing the hook and putting the fish back, they are just cutting the line leaving several feet attached. Not only can
the fish then be caught on debris in the lake but the birds that eat the fish are endangered. You might want to stop reading right now if you (like me) can’t stand it when animals are injured. There have been a few Sand Hill Cranes (the big beautiful gray birds with the red heads) who died after getting caught in fishing line then getting hung up in trees.

I won’t go into the specific detail since this should be sufficient explanation but if you, or anyone you know, fishes, please tell them that they cannot leave fishing line on banks, in the water, or hanging from fish.

THANKSGIVING
I can’t believe the year is almost over. If you are fortunate enough to have friends and family and the funds to enjoy a wonderful meal with them, remember that not everyone can. I hope you will take two minutes and a few dollars and contribute to one of the local food drives. Wishing all of you a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday!

I MISSED YOU
I still don’t have much to say (after over 20 years you have heard it all anyway) but there is one very important thing coming up and a couple reminders for you below.

ELECTIONS
It is once again time for anyone who is interested in serving on the POA Board of Governors to let me know. If you have experience on a HOA or Condo Board and have some time to invest in working with other dedicated board members, the POA is again looking for candidates to the nine member Board of Governors. At the January 8, 2019 Annual meeting, four candidates will be elected.

If you would like to be considered, please send a brief letter of introduction with your qualifications to the PGA POA Nominating Committee at 7100 Fairway Dr #29, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418. You can also fax the info to (561) 622-6324. The submittal deadline is October 31st so don’t delay!

DID YOU SEE IT?
I can’t tell you how many times I hear, “I thought someone else mentioned it” or, “it’s not a big thing so I didn’t want to bother you”. I just wanted to remind you to that I rely on your calls when you see something that needs attention. We can’t catch everything so if you see something broken, damaged or an area that needs attention, please call the POA and let us know. Often the areas are not under the POA’s direct responsibility but we will always get the message to the proper person or department or association. Thank you to all the PGA Residents who have helped “be my eyes” and reported wasps under slides, branches hanging too low, lights out and other similar items.

HALLOWEEN
I can’t believe it but it is almost time for my favorite holiday: Halloween! (A perfect excuse to eat candy and be silly). PGA has lots of young people in the communities so please be careful of Trick or Treaters on the night of Halloween. October 31st falls on a Wednesday and the POA staff always gets in the spirit so stop by for a piece of candy – or several – and to see the crazy POA staff – you never know who you’ll meet!

ON A SAD NOTE
The POA President, Mike Engelsher lost his wife Sandi just before this article was being printed. Sandi was an amazing artist with a big smile that lit her whole face. Those who had the pleasure of knowing her are aware that she had a true heart of gold. I look back on my time in PGA National and think of those we have lost. I have to believe that somewhere Sandi is painting amazing pictures; Bill Marsico is helping everyone; Phil Slifka is laughing and planting flowers; and Beverly Boyd and all the others who are, regrettably, too many to mention, are watching out for all of us. Life is too short so be kind! Mike, our thoughts are with you and your family.