If you are reading this before April 23rd there is still time!! What am I talking about? It is the same thing I reported last month: The 25th Anniversary of the Children’s Party in the Park for PGA residents and their guests! The event is in Masters Park from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. and is going to be bigger and better than ever. By the way, last month I mis-stated the time of the event. It is, in fact from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. so please don’t arrive before 1:00 p.m. as the vendor will still be setting up.
The Special Events Committee schedules this event on the 4th Saturday in April every year so that children who may not live with their PGA parent full time, or grandchildren who visit at PGA will know when the event will be held. The Committee realizes it is the day before Easter Sunday and is toward the end of Passover but this is not a religious event – it is simply a day to come out and enjoy the rides and games and get together as a community. Hope to see you there!
SO WHAT’S UP AT THE POA?
Improvements. You might have noticed that the entry monuments were painted last month. The work isn’t yet complete but they do look so much nicer! The POA’s long range plans for all of the entry monuments include re-designing them so they match the Resort. Columns and a stone finish and, of course, improved landscaping
Over the past year, all of the guardhouses have been re-roofed (from Cedar Shake to Cement Tile), floors were tiled and the buildings were painted inside and out Again, the long range plans for the guardhouses include refinishing the outside with the horizontal ledge stone to match the Resort (and ultimately the entry monuments).
People say things look “dated” and a little “tired” sometimes but the POA Board and Committees really are working to maintain and improve the community. They are also very aware of the economy and the work situation with a number of residents so they are trying to get the work done without seriously impacting your wallet! Projects not only take time due to financial considerations but they also take time to get through all the required approvals with government agencies. Within the next year the POA Board will begin work on some of these projects (and a number of others). Your patience is appreciated!
THE BUDGET
The POA Board of Governors has just completed the preliminary budget review. The assessment on July 1st will be $700.00 and, as usual, the letter mailed on June 1st will request that you contact the POA if you cannot afford to pay in full by the July 1st due date. Many residents pay what they can afford monthly throughout the year so that when the July 1st due date comes around, they don’t have to pay the whole $700.00 because they are starting with a credit. Once they pay their balance on July 1st, they just continue making small monthly payments so they are again ahead next year. An easy solution for not owing a big chunk of money at one time!
CRIME AND RUMORS
March was an interesting month…kind of a crash, boom, bang month.
CRASH: The sound of glass breaking. During the first week of March, there were three homes burglarized. In all cases, the alarm was not set and the homes were entered via a rear window or sliding glass door. Other than the obvious reminder (lock doors and windows and set you alarm) you might also want to take this opportunity to look into improving your home security. Most basic alarm packages come with window and door sensors and one (perhaps two) motion sensors. Many owners don’t set the motion sensor because they have pets and are afraid the alarm will be tripped by their cat or dog. You really should speak with your alarm company about ways to keep the motion sensors working (and they should be installed in any room where a sliding glass door or large window would allow access) or you can install “glass break sensors”. The glass break sensors are triggered when the sliding glass door (or any glass) breaks. They are not expensive and are a good addition to the basic alarm package.
BOOM: We received a number of calls with rumors about bomb, a grenade, chemical warfare and everything in between. As usual, it was just rumors (well, mostly). A resident whose late spouse worked many years for a government agency innocently threw out a box without carefully looking inside. The contents opened when thrown on the trash truck and included what appeared to be a grenade so a number of police officers and security personnel cleared the area and made sure there was no danger. It (thankfully) turned out that it was just a training device. The professionalism and prompt response from the PB Gardens Police Department is greatly appreciated. Thank you, too, to the residents who were evacuated from their home for quite a while as the investigation took place.
BANG: The sound of cars hitting trees, signs and gate arms. Did someone put up a sign that says “stay off the road”? It seems like there were a number of accidents in PGA recently. Are there more drivers? Are we texting or talking when we should be driving? Are we not getting enough sleep and taking a nap while we drive? I don’t know the answer to any of these questions but I do have a request: Please be careful! PGA National is a very active community and while no one has been hurt in any of the recent accidents, we really don’t want a pedestrian, bicyclist or child hit instead of the tree or gate arm! Slow down – pay attention – be careful.
MY SECOND GOOD BYE
Last month I said good bye to “snow birds” who were leaving early. The real exodus will begin at the end of this month so if you are leaving please remember to take a few safeguards to protect your property. You can go “on line” to www.GateAccess.net and set up a ‘vacation notification”. Just click on “add a new vacation” and enter the dates you will be away and any notes/comments. This information goes to security who will then conduct perimeter checks of your house rather than just driving past.
You should also stop your newspaper delivery; secure patio furniture and other items that could be dangerous in case of a hurricane; set your air conditioning thermostat at approximately 80 degrees; and be sure you have someone looking after the property in your absence.
Wishing everyone a happy and safe summer – whether you “go north” or stay in PGA!