THE OAKHURST ACORN Your News in a Nutshell April 2018 …wilsononthelake.com/oakhurst/ACORN April...

Oakhurst Condominium APRIL 2018

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THE OAKHURST ACORN Your News in a Nutshell

April 2018 Beginning with this month we are going to publish alphabetically a photo of one of our committees on the front page of each issue so that you may be fully informed as to whom is doing what on behalf of our community. So, guess which one is first.

o The Acorn Committee

Sandy Novarro, Sharyn Losel, Dianne Ackenback and Judy Thompson We are pleased to bring you the ACORN newsletter. It will be distributed electronically via e-mail and on our Oakhurst website. There will also be paper copies available by the mailboxes for those who do not have internet access. Please let us know of any features you would like to see in the newsletter so we can make the Acorn a pleasure for all to read.


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PRESIDENT’S REPORT

March 2018 Board Meeting The vote that was just completed once again raised the issue of mailings to an

address of record out of state. The Board provided ballots to anyone who requested one who was affected. I again would suggest that those of you who have an out of state address of record change it to your Oakhurst address. This is an internal change and is not published or given to anyone but Lighthouse. You are not changing your address officially for government use. Your state records will not change, only where Lighthouse and Board, if necessary, send information to you. The November special meeting and the February elections are the times this comes into play. If you are here during those months it would be to your benefit to change your address of record with Lighthouse.

Another issue that has come up is parking on the street, both overnight and during the day. Please be aware that our streets are narrow. If you have company please ask them to park on one side of the street. This will allow emergency vehicles to easily access all of the community. Also ensure that visitors do not park on the grass as they may damage the irrigation system. I would also ask that everyone park with the direction of traffic.

I have asked Darrell to take on the position of Director in charge of communications. It will be his responsibility to post information on the website, post or approve information on the bulletin board, coordinate with the Acorn staff and work with the cable provider. This position will ensure that with the centralization of information the community will be better informed and the information coordinated. I want to thank Darrell for willingly assuming this task.

I have asked Martha to coordinate with committees not directly associated with a Board member. We do not always have a representative on some committees at the Board meetings. Martha has agreed to stay in touch with these committees and present any reports that they may have if a representative is not present. Thank you Martha.

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BOARD MEETING NOTES

Not official minutes, just notes we took at the March 21st meeting. The Board meets on the third Wednesday of each month, except in July and August. To see the official minutes refer to: www.oakhurstcondo.com (You will need to register if you haven’t already done so.) Committee Reports:

Acorn Committee - First issue distributed via email blast and Oakhurst website. Limited number of copies by mailboxes for those who do not have internet. Letters to editor need to be in by the 5th to appear in that month’s newsletter.

http://www.oakhurstcondo.com/


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Budget and Finance - We have $44,178 in Cadence Bank; our assets amount to $195,243; and our reserves total $583,242. Anticipating large expenditure for new well. Buildings and Roads - The lights by the mailbox have been repaired and the driveway will be repaired once the dirt in the cut out areas has settled. Have permit for the well and have met with three drillers. Awaiting bids. Also will repair collapsed storm drains and replacement of Also, work orders will be sorted by need rather than time received.last of four crossings. Vegetation creeping up close to back of some units. Researching Oakhurst boundaries to determine exactly where preserve starts as we cannot cut back vegetation within a preserve. Also, work requests will be addressed according to need rather than order received. Communication - Remember to register on the Oakhurst website to receive the latest information. Directory almost ready. Will need to come to office to get a copy. Blasts will gradually be discontinued as the information will be on the website. Contact Darrell if you need help signing up. Landscape - West, East and South Blvd all old plants replaced & a drip irrigation has been put alongside them. Took time because they had to make sure there were no leaks in the system. Mulch will soon be added. Pruning & removing of trees is ongoing. Some of the holly trees are in need of repair. The Oakhurst sign to be raised for visibility off Bee Ridge as the plants have reached mature size & are partially obstructing it. Library - Nothing new to report. Social - Auction April 14th @ 6:00. Pool party in May. Events that involve expenses must be prepaid this year. Last year the Committee lost a lot of money when people who had signed up to attend did not come. Sunshine - Five people in the hospital. If you know of people who are ill contact Betty Fonda or Martha Bost. Pool - Float cord in pumphouse broke so pool flooded. Repaired upon discovery the next day. Damaged float on rope across pool to be replaced soon. New business: Cable contract: 113 ballots received, 64 for OpticalTel and 49 for Comcast. Board voted to go with OpticalTel. New well: Waiting for bids then will call a special meeting to review and vote on them. Well could take 1-5 months to install. UPDATE from April 6th board meeting: A company has been selected to drill the new well. Next meeting: April 18th at 6pm


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“A little squirrel told me…”

A little squirrel told me that someone in our neighborhood deliberately hid a few realtor's "House For Sale" signs in a drain opening on Oakhurst Blvd. That's just nuts! He is asking squirrels in the community to help him carry and place those signs on the perpetrator(s) front lawn and hope for a quick sale.

A little squirrel told me he enjoys digging up the fresh mulch around some of the houses. The roaches, ants and other insects enjoy it too. If you have mulch keep it at least 12 inches away from your outside walls to deter unwanted guests.

The little squirrel told me that in our clubhouse a person(s) has been using the gray and white specially-made soundproof squares on the walls as a bulletin board! This can cause damage leading to considerable expense for their replacement. The squirrels are used to enjoying quiet evenings in their trees during our social functions so theses are badly needed. Please post your notes and signs on the bulletin board near the mailboxes where they belong. As always, don’t forget to have a board member initial and date them before posting.

A little squirrel told me that he has noticed some approved announcements keep disappearing from the bulletin board. He knows this is an over-55 community and can’t imagine anyone here disposing of one. That’s just childish. Your fellow residents check the bulletin board to get these announcements. Let’s be fair to everyone and leave them up. A little squirrel told me he was not having a good day. While scampering with his friends he inadvertently slid into a pile of doggie doo doo. Phew! His pals took off, barely escaping the jaws of a dog who was not on a leash. Another little squirrel told me to be careful of following the masses because sometimes the m is missing.


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LETTERS TO THE ACORN The Acorn will be publishing a new feature titled “Letters to The Acorn”. This will give our residents a chance to air a concern, give a compliment or state an opinion. All letters must be signed by the author. Any name calling, political opinions or personal attacks will not be printed. The deadline for submission of letters is the 5th of each month. Please address letters to: Sandy Novarro, 4045 Oakhurst Drive or send to her via email at [email protected].

GUEST APPEARANCE This is a place for you to get creative. In this column we would like to print a story, poem or joke - anything positive, serious or amusing, and written in your own words. If you would like to contribute to this column (and we know there are some good writers out there) please contact one of the editors. We ask that all submissions be written in 400 words or less. The deadline for submission is the 5th of the month.

I grew up in the flat farmlands of Central Ohio in the midst of the Great

Depression, the 9th child in our family of 10. My Dad grew corn, oats and barley. They milked 10 to 15 cows, both night and morning, raised a flock of chickens for eggs and meat, pigs for the market as well as for home use. Mom made all of our clothes, cut our hair and resoled our shoes. My

mailto:[email protected]


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parents obviously worked long hard days, six days a week for a meager living. Imagine: no electricity, an outdoor toilet, no T. V. and no plumbing. Sunday was a day of rest. We attended the Quaker church from before my birth until I was about ten years old. We occupied one whole pew in this small church and my age placed me exactly at my mother’s elbow which she was want to use when she needed me to be silent. My family moved north 30 miles with an opportunity to buy a farm through the FSA (Farm Security Administration) resettlement program. It was here that at the age of 13, I met my future husband, Delton. He was handsome, very tall and he lived in town!!! I was leery of getting too acquainted with any farm boys, for I did not intend to ever live my parent’s life.

Del and I married when I was 20 and our journey of 33 years working for IBM began. We met people from all over the world with different experiences and backgrounds. IBM moved us to New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and back to Ohio. It was a fantastic experience for both of us. We had 62 years together before Alzheimer’s took him home. God has a plan for all of us. By Jean Hill

SOCIAL NOTES --THINGS TO DO IN SARASOTA

Here is a list of activities available for us to enjoy...many of them are free. The

Acorn will be publishing a list every month of some of the goings-on in Sarasota

and surrounding areas. Let’s get out and enjoy!

April 21: It's time to Celebrate World Circus Day at the Circus Museum at the Ringling. See the world's largest miniature circus along with John Ringling's club cars and explore the history of the circus from ancient times till now. It's amazing. Free admission all day. 10 am - 5 pm. The Ringling Museum Complex is at 5401 Bay Shore Road. April 21: Get back to nature under the beautiful sunshine-filled Florida sky at the 29th Annual Sarasota Earth Day Celebration at Oscar Scherer State Park. Admission is free on Earth Day. And with so many events scheduled, sites to see, live music and nature and wildlife to enjoy, you can probably fill the entire day's schedule from 10 am - 4 pm. April 21: The Gluten Free + Healthy Lifestyles Expo where you can learn how to live healthy and love it. Sample products, coupons, informative classes & demos. It's a fun, family-friendly, educational event with over 50 exhibitors and respected guest speakers.


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10 am - 5:30 pm. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and 12 and under are free. Sarasota Municipal Auditorium, 801 N Tamiami Trail. April 28 - 29: It's the always popular 40th annual Siesta Fiesta in Siesta Key Village from 10 am - 5 pm. It's a farewell party for all of our “snowbird” friends from the colder climates of the northern U.S, CA. and afar, It's one of the most awaited fests of the year. May 4 - 5: The City of Venice is holding a Hurricane Expo prior to hurricane season. Various speakers from the county, Sheriff's Office, Red Cross and Suncoast Humane Society and etc. are scheduled. Vendors, raffles, food and drinks available. 9 am - 2 pm. Admission is free. Venice Community Center, 326 Nokomis Ave S, Venice. May 5: Bring your pail, shovel, sunglasses and creativity to Siesta Key Public Beach for the Annual Siesta Key Sand Sculpture Contest. It’s held near the pavilion on the beautiful white sandy beach. Free and open to all ages, the contest awards five cash prizes and is one of our very popular happenings for both locals and visitors. May 12: The Sarasota-Bradenton Rose Society presents their Annual Rose Festival featuring award winning specimens on display, plus rose bushes for sale. Experts and seminars will be available to answer your questions at the Mansion in Phillippi Estate Park, 5500 S. Tamiami Trail. Free admission and parking. 10 am to 3 pm.

******** Last month Gary Piehl had a computer tech expert from the Sarasota Technology Users

Group come to the Clubhouse for a question and answer session. Many residents got computer, phone and Ipad problems solved, and expressed interest in coming to our monthly meetings.

Everyone is welcome. The meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month at the Sarasota Middle School at 4826 Ashton Rd. That is less than 15 minutes from Oakhurst. The meetings are free. For more information, please go to www.thestug.org .

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FUN DAY WITH THE FUN CLUB

On March 30th the Fun Club took a trip to The Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy. The Museum’s mission is to operate an extraordinary collection for public enjoyment. They preserve and exhibit works of artistic and whimsical importance, thus creating an environment to inspire, nurture creative expression and lift our spirits. But first we all had a wonderful meal at The Yummy House! The Fun Club will be hosting interesting field trips throughout the year. Watch the bulletin board, Facebook and The Acorn for our next fun destination.

http://www.thestug.org/


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RECIPE OF THE MONTH Super Easy Yogurt Cake

This recipe is VERY fast and easy and can be made in so many different ways depending on the season, personal preferences, or simply what you have on hand. It’s delicious plain or with fruit. If you try it, don’t be afraid to get creative, e.g. lemon yogurt with some grated lemon peel and a handful of blueberries mixed in. Ingredients: 1 cup any flavor yogurt, reg. or Greek 1 ½ cups of flour 3 eggs. 1 ½ tsp. baking powder ½ cup vegetable oil powdered sugar ¾ cup of sugar Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 350. Grease and flour an 8-in. cake pan. 2. In a medium bowl, using a hand mixer on medium speed, lightly beat eggs for

about 30 seconds. 3. Add oil, sugar and yogurt. Beat for one minute. 4. Add flour and baking powder and beat for another minute. 5. Pour into greased pan and bake for 35-40 minutes. If you prefer cupcakes, bake

them for about 20 minutes. 6. When cool, sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired. It can be eaten as is, or opt

to cover with sliced fresh fruit or even canned sliced peaches, mandarin oranges, or pineapple slivers. Top the fruit with whipped topping of choice.

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GUESS WHO? The first person contacting Dianne Ackenback at [email protected] with the correct answer gets to choose next month’s photo for our Guess Who feature. C’mon! Join in on the fun! Now’s the time to “get even” with your friends and neighbors.



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THE SQUAWKING SQUIRREL

Are you looking to buy, sell, trade, or give away an item? Rather than using the bulletin board you could place an ad in the Acorn. Please contact Dianne Ackenback at [email protected].

● Wanted to buy: Women’s 2-wheel bike. Call Dianne at 960-6028. ● For Sale: Women’s brand new 26” Kent cruiser bike, purple/white. with 7 gear

shift, ridden only once. Asking $75. Call Eileen at 1-773-704-3913.

REMINDERS AND NOTES

The Oakhurst Directory is now available at the clubhouse. You must come to the clubhouse and sign for your copy.

The following are corrections to the 2018 Resident Directory phone numbers: Dona Brannan 1-713-962-6397 Libby DeFazio 941-706-2366 Mary Jo Hoover 941-343-2362 Donald and Rose Leo 941-312-6990 Sandy Novarro 941-920-4211 Shirley Randolph 1-908-670-8221 Tipton DRandolph 1-732-259-4624 Janet Schloss 1-508-505-6915 Darrell Thompson 1-360-413-9091 If you have a question or concern about something related to our community please contact the board member responsible for that area. For example, building concerns should be brought to Tip Randolph (only), grounds concerns to Ray Novarro (only), etc. All board members want to be of help but can’t keep totally up to date on all issues in other areas at all times. Your best bet is to refer your concern to the one who knows the most about it. See the Board Members list below for their areas of responsibility.


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BOARD MEMBERS

Tip Randolph, President Elaine Ellis, Vice President 1-732-259-4624 1-941-341-0962 Building and Roads Director Clubhouse Director

Margie Phillips, Secretary Trish Kollberg 1-610-357-8768 1-815-988-7693 Office Director Budget & Finance Director Martha Bost Ray Novarro 1-941-924-6476 1-941-726-2185 Committee Liaison Landscape Director Darrell Thompson 1-360-413-9091 Communications Director

ACORN EDITORS

Dianne Ackenback [email protected] Sharyn Losel [email protected] Sandy Novarro [email protected] Judy Thompson je [email protected]

LIGHTHOUSE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Daniel Arens, CAM Marlene Nunez Property Manager Assistant to Property Manager 941-460-5560, ext. 301 941-460-5560, ext. 303






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OAKHURST SNOWBIRDS’ CHECKLIST

It’s getting to be that time when our snowbirds prepare to return back north again for the Spring/Summer months. There are many things to remember to do prior to leaving so we have included this list as a tear-off page of reminders for your convenience. We who remain behind wish you a safe and enjoyable trip.

1. Turn off the circuit breaker to your hot water heater. 2. Turn off the main water line just outside the entrance to your front door. 3. Make sure the office has a working key to your front door for emergency access. 4. Make sure the office has a reliable phone number where you can be reached in case of

an emergency. 5. Arrange for someone to monitor your condo. 6. Put stoppers or plugs in sinks and bathtub/showers so no bugs can get in. 7. Cancel newspapers and change address for mail. 8. Remove all outside pots, flags, statues, hanging outdoor decorations and planters to

avoid damage from high winds. 9. Turn on one or two ceiling fans on low speed for air circulation. If your condo has a

Humidistat, turn it on. 10. Replace batteries in smoke detectors.

11. Contact cable provider if putting service on hold during your absence.

12. Unplug televisions and other non-essential appliances.


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THE OAKHURST ACORN Your News in a Nutshell April 2018 …wilsononthelake.com/oakhurst/ACORN April...

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