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Home Of The Month

December’s “Home of the Month” belongs to Brenda and Tim Bartels at 64 Edessa Dr. Tim and Brenda work hard to create good curb appeal for their beautiful home. Congratulations!

Thought For The DaySome days there won’t be a song in your heart.

Sing anyway!

Meet Your New NeighborsBy Cindy Shaw

New to the neighborhood is DAVE COSNER at 264 Jamaica Dr. Dave is originally from Springfield, IL and will be our full-time neighbor. While visiting a friend in Madeira Beach, he searched online for properties on the water and came upon Tropic Isles. He kept an eye on properties that came up for sale for over a year and came to look at a few in the park. He finally decided on the one on Jamaica Drive. Dave works with IT systems in analysis and programming. He has also been the property manager for an insurance company in Illinois. Dave’s constant companion is Stella, his 3-year old English Shepherd. She is his certified emotional support dog. Dave loves to drive, cook, and work as a handyman. He used to tournament fish for crappie and will continue to do some fishing here once he learns the ins and outs of saltwater fishing. Dave has purchased a boat since both he and Stella love being on the water. Please give a warm welcome to Dave and Stella. New to 46 Montego Dr. is the familiar face of NANCY LARSEN. She will be our new, part-time neighbor during the winter season and then return home to South Portland, Maine for the summer. Nancy had lived in North Lauderdale, FL for 10 years before returning to South Portland where she served on the City Council for 7 years and Mayor of South Portland. She also worked as an Underwriting Specialist for a large insurance company in Portland before retiring. She has a daughter, Tiffany, and son-in-law, Jody, that she shares her home in South Portland with. She first came to Tropic Isles with a friend from South Portland who had a home here. After spending 3 years renting in Tropic Isles, she decided it was time to purchase a place of her own. Nancy enjoys being active and has gotten involved in many ac-tivities in Tropic Isles including dancing and is the instructor for line dancing. She also participates in Mahjong, Book Club, shuffleboard, water aerobics, and Tropicaires. Nancy also volunteers in the TI library. She shares her home with her 14-year old Siamese cat, Kiki, who didn’t make the trip with her this year. Please welcome Nancy as our new, part-time neighbor in Tropic Isles!

New Office Hours! NEW! Starting December 1, the Office hours will be 9 AM to 3 PM, Monday through Friday. The Office will remain open during the lunch hour.

TI Holiday Arts and Craft Show December 5, 10 AM

Golf Cart Parade December 12, 4 PM

Christmas Eve Celebration December 24, 7 PM

(Details inside)

Published by On Trac Publishing, P.O. Box 985, Bradenton, FL 34206 (941) 723-5003

The Tropic IslesThe Tropic IslesBreezesBreezesDecember December 20202020Tropic Isles • 1503 28th Ave. West • Palmetto, Florida 34221 • (941) 721-8888 • Website: www.TropicIsles.net

Tropic Isles - December 2020

HALLOWEEN FUN!Residents got in the Halloween spirit with a Golf Cart/Bike parade. In total, there were

16 carts, 3 bikes, and one scooter. Lots of spectators enjoyed the candy.

(see more on page 27)

December 2020- Tropic Isles - Page 3

Tropic Isles1503 28th Ave. West, Palmetto, Florida 34221

The Office is open from 9-12 AM and 1-3 PM. They are closed for lunch from 12-1. Other than office hours, your call will be forwarded to a live answering service. You may call the regular office phone number at any hour of the day or night for urgent matters. For emergencies, dial 911.

Paul Smith, Co-Op Manager Barbara Welch, Office CoordinatorColette Martin, Resident Services

Chris Vincent, Maintenance ManagerRay Fulvi, Maintenance Tech

Al Harris, Marina

Office (941) 721-8888 • Fax 941-729-0687Marina 941-729-8128www.TropicIsles.net

Tropic Isles Co‑opBOARD OF DIRECTORS 2020/2021

President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Milly SumlerVice President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Don StottsSecretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Al MacKenzieTreasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tyrone ShinnDirector 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mark KruegerDirector 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bob ShawDirector 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paula Jordan

TIHOATropic Isles Homeowners Association

2020/2021President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry FoleyVice President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Linda DiesingSecretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Karen MoritzTreasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Judy ReedDirector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anna AntonacciDirector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Richard BelleDirector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jim Wadsworth

TIPOA (Property Owners)2020/2021 Board

President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bob WilliamsVice Pres.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .OpenTreasurer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . June WyssSecretary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jackie AdinolfeDirector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kay Lynn DuncanDirector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brooke KeckDirector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jim MartinDirector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Denise SmaglisDirector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Vetter

Tropic Isles BreezesPublished monthly and delivered to all residents

Editor: Cindy Shaw Contributing Writer: Sharon Schumann

Send photos and articles to [email protected] the 10th of each month for the following month.

The inclusion of advertising contained in this newsletter supports the publication costs, but does not constitute an endorsement by the Tropic Isles Co-Op, nor does the

content of articles submitted by individual residents and those representing clubs and activities.

Letter From The EditorChristmas 2020

2020 has been a year like no other! This holiday season is expect-ed to be unlike any other in living memory. A pared-down 2020 Christmas may be just the ticket for remembering the real meaning of Christmas and better times. Let us remember that the Christmas heart is a giving heart, a wide-open heart that thinks of others first. Until you feel the Spirit of Christmas, there is no Christmas. Everything else is outward display—tinsel and decorations. For it isn’t the holly or the tree that makes Christmas. It’s the warmth that comes to the hearts of men and women when the Christmas Spirit returns. The very word “Christmas” brings joy to our hearts. To cherish peace and goodwill and to be generous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas. Although, Christmas this year may look very different to us and our families, let us remember to stay safe and healthy so that we can celebrate another, better Christmas season next year, when we can all be together again.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!


IMPORTANTALL RESIDENTS

We are looking forward to our snowbirds coming back to Tropic Isles. Some have already arrived. This is a reminder to be safe and please show concern for your neighbors. Here is an excerpt from the Center for Disease Control.

What do I need to do after I travel?

You may have been exposed to COVID-19 on your travels (domestic and/or international). You may feel well and not have any symptoms, but you can be contagious without symptoms and spread the virus to others. You and your travel companions (including children) pose a risk to your family, friends, and com-munity for 14 days after you were exposed to the virus. Regardless of where you traveled or what you did during your trip, take these actions to protect others from getting sick:• Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from anyone who

is not from your household. It’s important to do this every-where -- both indoors and outdoors.

• Wear a mask to keep your nose and mouth covered when you are outside of your home.

• Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer.• Watch your health: Look for symptoms of COVID-19, and take your temperature if you feel sick.• Because you have a higher risk for exposure to COVID-19,

take additional recommended precautions. Because you traveled to a destination where COVID-19 risk is high here in Florida, also take the following steps after travel:

• Stay home as much as possible.• Avoid being around people at higher risk for severe illness

from COVID-19.• Consider getting tested for COVID-19.• See CDC’s After Travel webpage for more information. • Follow state and local recommendations or requirements

after travel. If you cut and paste this URL, you can see the most current

COVID-19 statistics in your State. https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#cases_cases-

per100klast7days• Don’t travel if you are sick or if you have been around some-

one with COVID-19 in the past 14 days. We have had a few cases of COVID-19 in Tropic Isles. We do not want any more! In many circumstances, you just don’t know if you have been exposed to this virus. When you return to Tropic Isles, whether traveling for the season or within Florida, we are encouraging you to self-quarantine or get tested. Here is an email I received from one of our residents when they recently returned. “We went to Walgreens the first thing upon our return. There were NO out of pocket costs involved (for us anyway). You have to go online and register and make an appointment to have the test administered. Then at the time scheduled, you go to the Drive-Thru window and the test is performed there. You actually do the swabbing yourself in both nostrils and then put the sample into a tube and drop it into the collec-tion container. There is no discomfort, and the test is easy and quick.” Be safe in your travels.

Paul Smith, Manager


Important---Covid Pool Guidelines:

• Total limit of 18 people at a time IN THE POOL, HOT TUB, AND THE POOL DECK/AREA

• RESIDENTS ONLY. No visitors or guests.• Follow distancing rules of 6 feet apart.• Disinfect the chairs, tables, and handrails before and after use.

Please bring your own disinfectant wipes.• Do not move furniture.• Residents who are ill cannot use the pool.• Limit your use of the pool area to 1 hour. Others may want

to use the pool. The rules must be followed. We expect our residents to comply. If there becomes a compliance problem, to ensure the safety of our residents the pool will be closed.

Time Well Spent(Taken from an article in Lifestyle Magazine)

We don’t buy things with money. We buy them with hours from our life. Or, as Henry David Thoreau put it, “The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.” This is a life-changing principle. When we begin to see our purchases through the lens of exchanging life, rather than dollar bills, we can better appreciate the weight of our purchases and understand their full cost. For that reason, it might be helpful to take a hard look at how much life some of our purchases actually cost us. For the sake of conversation, let’s use the median US household income. In 2017, that number was $61,400. For simplicity sake, let’s round down to $60,000 annual income. If your household income is $60,000, working a typical 40-hour workweek, here is how many hours of work are needed for the following purchases, to put things in perspective:• Grande Starbucks Cappuccino ($4.00) = 8 minutes of work• Pair of Wrangler Jeans ($24.99) = 50 minutes of work• Coach Brand Purse ($119.99) = 1/2 day of work• 55” Flatscreen TV ($711.00) = 3 days of work• 256GB iPhone XS ($1,249) = 1 week + 2 hours of work• Dinner at a restaurant for your family of four ($80.00) = 1/3

day of work• Dinner at home for your family of four ($17.00) = 1/2 hour of

work• New living room furniture set ($1,983.94) = 1 week + 3.5 days

of work• 2019 Ford Fusion SE Hybrid ($26,550) = 5 months + 10 days of

work• 2,500 square foot house (10% down payment, 30-year mort-

gage of monthly payments, $303,000 purchase price) = 11 years + 6 months of work

• 1,600 square foot house (15% down payment, 30-year mort-gage of monthly payments, $196,000 purchase price) = 7 years + 2 months

Keep in mind, the amount of work needed for the items above is based on an annual salary of $60,000. If your annual salary is $30,000, the work time will be doubled. If you make $120,000/year, the mea-surements should be halved. Of course, there are alternatives to exchanging our hours and lives for material possessions…• It takes just 10 minutes to tell your grandchild a bedtime story.• 45 minutes for an evening walk with your spouse.• 60 minutes to help your son/daughter with homework.• Or 2 hours/month to volunteer at your local soup kitchen. The money we earn is ours to keep and we can spend it as we wish. But it can be a helpful exercise to realize how many hours of our lives go into each purchase we make. It is always wise to remember we can spend our hours pursuing items of far greater value than material possessions.

Idea To Ponder….Time is a currency you can spend

only once.

Laughter Is The Best Medicine! Think About It

• The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and a leaky tire.

• It’s always darkest before dawn. So, if you’re going to steal the neighbor’s newspaper, that’s the time to do it.

• Never test the depth of the water with both feet. It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.

• If you think nobody cares if you’re alive, try missing a couple of car payments.

• If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything. • If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was

probably worth it. • Some days you are the bug and some days you are the wind-

shield. • If at first you don’t succeed, skydiving is not for you. • Never ask a barber if he thinks you need a haircut. • I just realized that my trash goes out more than me.• I never imagined that I’d go up to the bank teller with a mask on

and ask for money.• When this virus is over, I still want some of y’all to stay away from

me.• Is your refrigerator running? I might vote for it.• What if nobody was president and we all promised really hard

to just be cool?


Rule Of The Month This is a reminder that the Rules and Regulations are in effect and being enforced. All residents and their guests are expected to know and abide by these rules. If you need a copy of the current Rules and Regulations, you may pick up a copy at the Office or go to www.tropicisles.net to view or print a copy online.

WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES FROM OUR GOVERNOR AND MANATEE COUNTY. OUR GOAL IS TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE. YOUR COOPERATION IS APPRECIATED AS WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

2020 Activities Schedule Due to COVID-19 Due to the uncertainty of Florida’s status dealing with the Covid-19, activities in the common areas of Tropic Isles will be cur-tailed until December 31, 2020. To ensure compliance with Federal, State, and Local guidelines, the following rules will apply to all activities using the common areas from August to December 2020.• All activities must be approved by the Office. Each activity will

need to complete a NEW Activities Registration Form. This form will be available at the Office.

• Each activity will have a designated person responsible to ensure the rules are being followed. If the rules are not followed, that activity will be immediately cancelled.

• Only residents of Tropic Isles may participate in an activity ap-proved in the common areas. No non-residents.

• All participants of the activity must wear a mask if social distanc-ing cannot be achieved. Tropic Isles will not supply masks. It is the responsibility of each person to bring their mask.

• Prior to entry to the activity, all participants temperatures will be taken. No Touch Infrared Forehead Thermometers will be pro-vided by the Office. If a resident does not feel well, they cannot attend the activity.

• No food or beverage service, nor use of the kitchens are allowed in the Auditorium and Yacht Club. Participants may bring their own food and beverage for their own consumption.

Use of Buildings• MAXIMUM capacity in the AUDITORIUM is 50 people. The

Auditorium is setup for maximum capacity. If the activity choos-es to change the configuration, they must comply to the social distancing rule. The setup must be returned to the original con-figuration at the end of the activity. There are yellow dots on the floor indicating the placement of chairs.

• MAXIMUM capacity in the Yacht Club MAIN ROOM is 25 peo-ple. The Yacht Club is setup for maximum capacity. If the activity chooses to change the configuration, they must comply to the social distancing rule. The setup must be returned to the original configuration at the end of the activity. There are green dots on the floor indicating the placement of chairs.

As a result of the above rules, the following activities are can-celled until the end of 2020.• Dances, potluck dinners, all food and beverage related meals, • Bingo• Any activities that exceed the MAXIMUM capacity• Any activities that cannot comply to social distancing• Any activities with a non-resident leading or involved in the

activity New rules will be established for the 2021 season.

Important Pool Reminders

When you use the pool, please follow the rules and guidelines that are posted at the entrances to the pool. No visitors or guests are allowed.

The Yacht Club is accessible using your FOB. Rules are posted. Please follow them. All activities in the Yacht Club must first be approved by the Office and properly scheduled. Be safe.

Paul Smith, Manager

Office Plan *NEW! Starting December 1, the Office hours will be 9 AM to 3 PM, Monday through Friday. The Office will remain open during the lunch hour. *Due to the size of the office, only one person will be allowed in at a time. Please use a face mask and hand sanitizer. *We encourage you to communicate through email or the phone, unless it is essential to come into the office.


“Coffee Talk” GET WELL/THINKING OF YOU/SYMPATHY CARDS:

There have been no cards signed since Saturday Coffee was cancelled, but Cyndi Belle has volun-teered to send out cards from home. You can send your requests to her by calling or texting 845-807-2206.

SYMPATHY CARDS WERE SENT TO:• Cindy Lyon of Flores Dr. on the passing of her brother, Stephen.• Carlton Sellhorn and family of 12th St. W. on the passing of his

wife, Merry• Fran Bouwma and family of Bahia Dr. on the passing of her

husband, RonGET WELL/THINKING OF YOU CARDS WERE SENT TO:

• Nola Sanborn of 28th Ave. W. (health issues)• Fred Bloye of Nassau Dr. (health issues)• Wanda Black of Del Rio Dr. (outpatient procedure)• Walt Dennis of Capri Dr. (hospital procedure) We wish everyone a speedy recovery!

Saturday Coffee Hour Tropic Isles’ Saturday Morning Coffee Hour is still at a temporary standstill until our park can safely hold

activities for our number of attendees. Many residents are arriving each day and either quarantining themselves or getting tested to keep their friends and neighbors safe. Highlights from this past month include: Leonard and Floretta Krueger celebrated 64 years of marriage on October 20. Carlton and Merry Sellhorn celebrated a mile-stone of 70 blissful years on November 2. Mark and Jan Krueger celebrated their GOLDEN Anniversary of 50 years of marriage on November 28. CONGRATS TO ALL YOU LOVE BIRDS!! Bev O’Brien is healing nicely. I was down to visit her recently. Several folks have stopped by to tell me how much they miss Coffee Hour and inquire when we can resume. When the Park will permit us to gather with 100 people and allow coffee and donuts to be served, we can resume. I do not know when that will be, but I’m hopeful it will be early into the new year. Lots of people tell me they are lonesome, they miss the camaraderie of being with neighbors and friends, and they ride golf carts, bikes, and walk to get out and about. Many returnees are not coming until after holidays; opting to spend time with their families. Send me, via email [email protected] or by phone, your news and/or announcements and I will share them in the next Breezes’ Coffee Hour article. So, until we can all meet again, take all pre-cautions to be safe and mask up when necessary.

Kay Lynn Duncan, Coffee Chairperson

Aluminum Cans The Boosters have decided to stop collecting cans to recycle until the “climate” improves with the

Coronavirus. The aluminum can collection box is closed, and you can simply throw your aluminum cans in your blue recycle bin at home. They did not think it was a good idea to continue bagging cans that came from everyone’s households during this time. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Trivia Tidbits• The hashtag symbol is technically called an octothorpe. • The first tiger shark to hatch inside of its mother’s womb eats all

the other embryos of its siblings. • Baby porcupines are called “porcupettes”.• There are 11 U.S. states have land farther south than the most

northern point of Mexico.• Defeated only once in roughly 300 matches, President Abraham

Lincoln was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1992.

• The Sahara is the largest non-polar desert in the world. It is com-parable in size to China or the United States.

• High heeled shoes were originally created for men. For decades, high heels found their place on the feet of male soldiers, aris-tocrats, and even royals in differing parts of the globe for very specific reasons.

• The word “orange” was first used to describe the fruit, not the color.

• Mount Rushmore almost featured the heads of famous American West heroes, like Buffalo Bill Cody, but the lead sculptor argued that the subjects should be more recognizable.


In Memory Of…MERRY SELLHORN

Our beloved, long-time park resident, Merry Sellhorn, went home to be with the Lord Jesus on November 10, 2020. Merry was a historian for the property owners, served on the TIPOA Board during a time of transition when Mr. Vorbeck bought the park, and was forever faithful to our TIPOA. She carried a vast amount

of Tropic Isles’ park knowledge and would often recall and share events. Merry will be sorely missed at our meetings and at Saturday Coffee Hour. Merry and Carlton have been park residents since the late 1970’s. They first lived in the RV section, then moved to Trinidad, and now live on 12th Street. She has been my backdoor neighbor for 20 years. I have known the Sellhorns most of my life as they both went to high school with my parents in Lansing, Michigan and were friends of my family. She lived all of her married life in houses built with wheels! Merry would have turned 89 on Christmas Day this year. Merry and Carlton were married 70 years and blessed with a marriage of true love and 3 wonderful, devoted children to their parents, along with 3 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. We will truly miss her. Rest in peace, Merry X. Sellhorn.

With love, Kay Lynn and Frank Duncan

All New and Returning Residents! • Sign in at the Office to let them know that you have returned. • Pick up your new Resident Phone Directory at the Office.• Grab a copy of the latest issue of the Breezes newsletter.• If you are a new resident to Tropic Isles or need to update

your personal information, please complete an Information Form which you can pick up in the Office or there is one pro-vided in this issue of the Breezes for your convenience. This information will be added to the 2021-2022 resident phone directory.

• If you would like to receive important notices from the Office via our Mail Chimp email system, please make sure the Office has your current email address.

• Make sure you familiarize yourself with the COVID guidelines that are posted at the pool, at the Office, Yacht Club, and Auditorium.

• Masks are required for some activities that occur in the park. Social distancing is strongly suggested, and masks are re-quired if you can’t socially distance.

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What’s Happening in the Neighborhood?

Water Aerobics Water Aerobics classes started on November 16th. They are held every Monday-Friday, from 10:00-11:00 AM, weather permitting. Due to the restrictions placed on us from COVID, we

are currently only allowed to have 18 people in the pool/hot tub and deck area at one time, including the instructor. So, don’t be late or you may miss out on the fun. Thank you!

Denise Votaw

Virtual Tech Classes @ the Library! Manatee County Public Library System hosts virtual tech classes you can attend on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. To register email [email protected] .

LinkedIn Basics: Thursday, December 3 at 10:30 AM Learn the basics of LinkedIn, a popular social media platform for professionals, jobseekers, and small business owners. This class will be taught by a Microsoft employee.

Excel Basics: Thursday, December 10 at 10:30 AM Learn the basics of using Excel to create helpful spreadsheets and stay organized. This class will be taught by a Microsoft employee.

Look What’s Coming!

Tropic Isles Golf League The TI Golf League will officially start on January 6, 2021. Golfers should arrive at 10:30 and teams will be arranged. Tee off is at 11:00. Anyone can show up

to golf. There is no commitment to join the league until January 1st. The league golfs at Terra Ceia Golf Course where we will golf every Wednesday at 10:30. There is a small group golfing now on Wednesdays, if you’d like to join them.

Shirley Norman, Coordinator

Line Dancing

We will have practice on Mondays at 5:30 PM outside the Au-ditorium in the parking lot, weather permitting. We would love to have you join us, while practicing social distancing. Due to the COVID restrictions, line dancing in the Auditorium is on hold for January, so stay tuned. Call Nancy Larsen at 941-725-2216 if you have any questions.

Chair Yoga Hello, my name is Dottie Gross and I am a Yoga In-structor with over 500 hours of teaching time who lives in Suwanee, GA. I’m registered with Yoga Alliance and have taught many forms of yoga over the past 8 years. My husband, Klaus, and I bought in Tropic Isles in 2016 and hope to spend our winters here after retirement. I would like the opportunity to offer Chair Yoga to the residents of TI this winter during my January/February stay. This yoga is suited for everyone. No prior yoga experience is needed. The only thing you need is a water bottle, yoga mat, and a willingness to have fun and enjoy. Chair Yoga is a great way for everyone to get the wonderful health benefits of yoga. Staying seated means that even those who may not be flexible, can safely do the exercises. Yoga is an excellent way to loosen and stretch painful muscles, reduce stress, improve balance, and circulation. The class will be held in the Yacht Club on Wednesdays beginning on January 6 and run for 8 weeks through February 24. It is a 30-minute class from 10:30-11:00 AM. You do not have to attend every week. We will practice social distancing with a limit of 25 people. I will check temperatures and we will all wear masks during the practice. If you have any questions, call me, Dottie Gross, at 770-855-9618.

Game Night Please join us at 7 PM, Thursday evenings in the

Yacht Club for Game Night starting January 7. You may come alone or with friends. Different card games and board games are played. You can bring a game that you’d like to play. If you

want to learn a game, you will find many people who would be more than happy to teach you. Social distancing and masks will be required. Temperatures will be taken at the door with a limit of 25 people. It is a fun way to spend a social evening. Contact Julie Bruursema at 616-399-0382 if you have any questions.

Mayor to Address Tropic Isles’ Residents on February 1

Recently re-elected Palmetto Mayor, Shirley Groover Bryant, will come to Tropics Isles on Mon-day, February 1 to discuss current city projects. Sponsored by the Tropic Isles’ Homeowners Asso-ciation, the talk will be in the Auditorium at 10 AM. Only residents will be allowed to attend this pre-sentation with a maximum of 50 people in attendance. To comply with current COVID guidelines, temperatures will be taken before entry. Masks and social distance rules will apply. As in the past, the Mayor will bring some of her key staff to discuss city improvements. No refreshments will be served, but attendees may bring their own. To keep up to date on city happenings, go to www.palmettofl.org and click the “Subscribe” button.


TI Holiday ARTS & CRAFT SHOW

We’re having a Holiday TI Arts & Craft Show! Join us and see what resident artists have been doing since we’ve been staying safer at home! Check out their creativity, say hello, perhaps do some holiday shopping and, of course, have fun! This is a RESIDENT ONLY event and all our wonderful artists are residents, too.

Saturday, December 5, 202010 AM-12 NoonTI Auditorium

We are requiring EVERYONE to wear a mask – no exceptions. (We will have free masks on hand.) We will also be practicing so-cial distancing during the show. Please join us for a little fun and hopefully a lot of shopping! Contact Pat Brazil at 612-669-9462 if you have any questions.

Entertainment Committee

Thursday Night at the Movies Movie Night has been resurrected with a few small changes. On the second Thursday of the month, we will show a movie at 7 PM in the Auditorium. The chairs are socially distanced, but can be moved together for a family. Please wear a mask, but you may remove it to watch the movie if you are socially distanced. On Thursday, December 10, we will show a movie with a Christmas theme (TBA). Please sign up in the Tropic Isles’ Office to attend the movie. We are limited to 50 people. Temperatures will be taken at the door. Bring your own snacks or drinks if you like. See you ‘at the movies’!

Mark and Jan Krueger

Tropic Isles’ Christmas Golf Cart/Bicycle Parade In 2020

Ho, Ho, Ho! Merry Cartmas! The Tropic Isles’ Annual Christmas Golf Cart/ Bicycle Parade will be held on Saturday, December 12th.

TIME: Line Up – 3:30 PM (North end of Auditorium parking lot) Parade Start –4:00 PM ROUTE: Entire park!! Decorate your golf carts, bicycles, or other vehicle of choice (no cars or trucks, please) and join in the fun at this annual Christmas Parade. Decorate as little or as much as you like and come join in the fun. Every parade needs spectators! To watch the parade, set up chairs anywhere along the parade route which will include the entire park. Feel free to cheer and wave as we roll by.

DON’T FORGET YOUR MASKS AND TO KEEP A SOCIAL DISTANCE.

The Entertainment Committee

2020 Christmas Eve Tropic Isles’ Celebration

The Tropic Isles’ Christmas Eve outdoor celebra-tion will be different this year, but please make plans to celebrate Christmas Eve with your Tropic Isles’ family on December 24th at 7:00 PM. This special gathering will be held in our beautiful Florida surroundings, outside the Auditorium, amid luminaries, and a huge, beautifully lit wreath. Plans include our traditional Christmas carol sing along. Feel free to bring chairs. We look forward to a very meaningful, amazing evening together. THERE WILL BE NO FOOD. DON’T FORGET YOUR MASKS AND TO KEEP A SOCIAL DISTANCE. Due to COVID, there will be no sale of Christmas Eve luminaries this year.

The Entertainment Committee

Holiday Happenings!


Tropic Isles’ Facebook Page All residents and (friends and relatives) are invit-ed to “Like” us on FB if you have not already done so. It is listed as Tropic Isles Community & Yacht Club.

We encourage residents to send photos to [email protected] to be posted on the Tropic Isles Facebook page. DO NOT send them directly to FACEBOOK via Messenger! They will not be received. The Administrator will, at her discretion post them. This page is open to the public, so please remember to ask permission of anyone in the photo before you submit it. If you wish the people in the photo to be “Tagged” (named), please submit their names. Bear in mind, some people do not allow “Tagging” from anyone that is not their “FB Friend”, but we will do the best we can. If you send a redundant number of pictures, they may not all get published. We aim for a balance in our representation of Tropic Isles, and we wish it to be a positive page. We will not handle any business inquiries, but we will refer them to the Office. This page is for “Activities” only. (Not just the ones in the Activity Board, but anything of general interest.) All advertising of events must be “In the Park” events that the whole Park may attend. Let’s have another GREAT year!!!!

Sharon Schumann, FB Administrator

If My Body Were A Car If my body were a car, this is the time I would be thinking about trading it in for a newer model. I’ve got bumps and dents and scratches in my

finish and my paint job is getting a little dull, but that’s not the worst of it. My headlights are out of focus and it’s especially hard to see things up close. My traction is not as graceful as it once was. I slip and slide and skid and bump into things even in the best of weather. My whitewalls are stained with varicose veins. It takes me hours to reach my maximum speed. My fuel rate burns inefficiently. But here’s the worst of it. Almost every time I sneeze, cough, or sputter, either my radiator leaks or my exhaust backfires!

Remember To Social Distance

New 2020-2021 Resident Phone Directories

The NEW 2020-2021 phone directories have been distributed by the Block Captains in October to residents who were here in the park. There is one directory per household if you are listed in the directory this year. If your residence looked vacant, it was returned to the Office. You may pick up your copy from the Office when you return to Tropic Isles. Once you receive your new directory, please check through the new directory to see if your information is listed correctly. If you find an error in the directory, please contact me by calling 941-722-4037 or send an email to [email protected] with your correction. The Property Owners may contact Elaine Faulkner at 941-723-9591 or on her email at [email protected] with your corrections. I will be happy to print the correction in the next month’s issue of the Breezes in the interim and make the change in the directory for next year. Thank you to all those residents who took the time to update their information for the new directory.

Cindy Shaw, Editor

CORRECTIONS FOR THE DIRECTORY Please make these corrections or additions to your directory. Interim changes will be posted in each newsletter until the next directory is published.CHOUNARD, Tracie. . . . . . . .add new number 612-770-4842,

and email [email protected] DINGLER, Jon & Kathy . . . . . remove 729-4198 from the phone

number listingMONTIE, Charlyn & Bob . . .change email to cmontie65@gmail.

comTHOMPSON, Rex and Beverly correct the names to be Mike

and Beverly, remove Billie

Neighbors Helping Neighbors(NHN)

NHN will continue to help with any resident needs as the circum-stances will allow. Our volunteers will aid residents with various jobs including weeding, yard work, power washing, clearing car-ports, simple maintenance jobs, and compliance issues. Specific reasons for our help include illness, aging, financial difficulties, or just to lend a helping hand. We have compiled a list of vendors and various agencies that can also offer help and guidance. Check out our bulletin board in the Auditorium where we list them. Call the people listed below or the Office personnel for help.

Pam Hennessy 941-447-6228Jan Krueger 262-617-0710Sharon Williams 419-320-0908


Architectural Review Committee“ARC”

“ARC” is the Architectural Review Committee that makes architec-tural and landscaping decisions serving in an advisory capacity to the Board of Directors. The responsibility of the ARC is to oversee all improvements on the exterior of the Dwelling and the Unit/Lot. Basically, YOU NEED ARC APPROVAL to do anything that happens outside on your Dwelling or in your yard, whether you need a permit from the City or not!

To obtain ARC approval:• Download the ARC form from our website at www.tropicisles.

net . Go to the “Resident” page and select “Forms” OR you can pick up a copy in the Office.

• Please complete the application and sign it.• If you have the capabilities, scan the completed form and

email it to www.tropicisles.net or you can drop it off in the Office.

• The ARC process has a 3-person team called 3-COR. Don Stotts, Bob Shaw, and Paul Smith are members. 3-COR has been reviewing applications during social distancing and will call you if we have questions. After social distancing calms down, the full ARC Committee will resume and start holding meetings on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month.

• Once your application has been reviewed and a decision is made, we will contact you to inform you of the results.

No work should begin on your project until your final ap-proval from the Office is given. If you fail to get ARC approval for your project before you begin, you may be asked to deconstruct it. Residents are responsible for making sure that their approved ARC request is completed as approved. If you have any ques-tions, give me a call at 941-705-4485. Thanks!

Bob Shaw, ARC Chairman

Thinking Of Installing A New Home?

Anyone wishing to install a new home must complete an ARC application and should stop in the Office to pick up a copy of the Requirements for New Home Installation.

City of Palmetto Permits If you are doing any work on your home, please make sure you check with the city of Palmetto to see if you need a permit. The Palmetto Building Department number is 941-721-2166 or you can go to their website at www.accessmygov.com to access forms and get information.

Newest ARC Guidelines As of June 20, 2019, the Board of Directors unanimously voted to approve these temporary property guidelines that ARC will apply to their recommendations for approval of resident applications to ARC and will be included in the new ARC guidelines. 1. Landscaping seashells will no longer be approved for any use

within the Tropic Isles’ community. 2. Landscaping stones are approved for use within the Tropic Isles’

community subject to: • A drainable landscaping mat must be installed over the area

to be stoned. Impervious plastic sheeting is not permitted. • Weed growth must be prevented/controlled year-round. • Stones must be a minimum of 1.5-inch size. • Minimum depth of stone is 3 inches.

• Curbing must be installed along the street, property line, and/or sea wall, as applicable, to contain stone and prevent migra-tion into streets, canals, or onto neighbor’s yard. Curbing style, orientation, and size must comply with ARC guidelines.

3. Curbing is required when using landscaping stone, mulch, or any other landscaping materials to protect Tropic Isles’ streets and drainage systems. Approved curbing materials are cut stone block, formed concrete, or parking bumpers. The curbing must be buried halfway into the ground to secure the curbing.

4. Drainage: All new homes or existing homes requesting approval for improvements to roofs, carports, and patios are required to install “French drains”/bubbler systems that drain into the street.

10yr. Warranty

Mobile Home HeatingMobile Home Heating& Cooling Units& Cooling Units

$3595$3595I am so pleased that I called this company to replace my old AC unit! The owner, Lori, could not have been any kinder and very informative with the different products that they carry and install. She explained all the costs to me and also sent me a proposal to review. I was pleasantly surprised that it didn’t have the sting that I thought it would have and the cost was very reasonable. I also want to give a shout out to Craig and Jacob who showed up for the job propmtly and were very knowledgeable and super polite and friendly. I will definetely tell family and friends or anyone looking for a new A/C, service or maintenance to call Integrity AC! Sure glad I did!

- Sue Trethewey

Integrity AC, LLCIntegrity AC, LLC941-704-9413

License#CAC18202251202 Gary Ave. Suite #101, Ellenton, FL 34222

Installed

Calling All Fishermen and Women!

Would you like to share a picture of your “catch of the day” from the nearby waters around Tropic Isles? Send it to [email protected] and it can be published in the next issue of the Breezes. Please include a sentence or two about where it was caught, size, and what type of fish it is.


Boat Club NewsTo all of our Tropic Isles’ Boat Club members, I hope you are all healthy and enjoying life. I wanted to pass some information along to all of you with regards to the 2020/2021 Boat Club schedule. Unfortunately, all Boat Club sponsored activities have been put on hold until at least the first of the New Year and very possibly for the remainder of our 2021 season. The Co-op has limited the number of participants for all indoor and outdoor activ-ities and with a current membership of approximately 140 people, it is just not feasible to have meetings or social events for the foreseeable future. I will keep all members informed through our Boat Club email system, so please make sure we have your correct email address. Enjoy this beautiful weather in Florida. This unusual time will pass, and we will pick up where we left off. So stay safe, enjoy what you can, and concentrate on the good we all share.

John Brink Commodore, TIBC

~ Boat Launch Permits ~ Residents, please pick up a boat launch per-mit at the Office. Any resident who launches their boat from the boat ramp at the Marina needs to have a launch permit. Permits are provided free to Residents. This permit should be affixed to your boat and displayed

where it is clearly visible to the Marina attendants.

2021 Boatyard Parking Stickers If you currently store a trailer/boat in the boatyard or would like to store one there, you will need to purchase a 2021 Boatyard Parking Sticker. Boatyard Parking Stickers are available for purchase in the Office for $150. The ORANGE sticker is valid for the entire year, January-December 31, 2021. “Reserved” parking is available for an additional $50. Every trailer in the Boat-yard must have a current sticker placed on the upright arm or tongue of the trailer and be clearly visible from the front. The deadline for renewing your 2021 Boatyard Sticker is January 10. To avoid paying a late fee of $25 or having your trailer towed, purchase your 2021 Boatyard Parking Sticker for the coming year. The Boatyard has limited storage capacity for boats on trailers and boat trailers. It is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so get your stickers early.

Attention All Residents-News Flash!

PLEASE REMEMBER TO LOCK THE GATE IMMEDIATELY AFTER YOU LEAVE THE BOATYARD! Lock the gate and do not give out the lock combination to anyone. Remember to remove all your valuables from your boat when you store it in the boatyard. That includes electronics and personal items. The responsibility is YOURS!

Kayak-Ity-YakATTENTION: Spaces on the kayak racks behind the Auditori-um are available for rent for $100 a year. Contact the Office

for details.

Kayak Launch Use Reminders If you are using the Tropic Isles’ kayak launch, please make sure to do the following: 1. Read the directions if you are not sure how to use the launch. 2. Make sure you sign out and erase your name when you return. 3. When you lower the ramp, do not undo both ends of the rope.

Undo one side, lower the ramp, and then cleat it off. 4. If no one else is signed out when you return, please lift the ramp

out of the water. 5. If the ramp has debris on it, please hose it off. Your help in taking

good care of our launch is appreciated!

Tropic Isles’ MarinaMARINA HOURS

Daily 7 AM to 5 PMFollow the COVID guidelines provided by the

Tropic Isles’ Office.


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Tropic Isles’ Cookbook Are you looking for a great Christmas or birthday gift? Look no further! The TROPIC ISLES’ COOKBOOK is still available with over 50 wonderful recipes to try

and enjoy. If you’re interested in a Tropic Isles’ Cookbook – call or email me at 612-669-9462 or [email protected] and I will deliver it to your home. The cost of the cookbook is $8 each or 2 for $15.

Pat Brazil

Reading Material for Vets We continue to collect reading materials for Vets. Magazines are great (for men or women), as are books. The Library at Tropic Isles will be donating any books that are duplicates and those books that

are too old to shelve. It may seem like a small thing to do, but it is always greatly appreciated.

New! Board of Director Email Addresses

(Clip and Save)Milly Sumler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [email protected] Stotts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [email protected] MacKenzie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [email protected] Shinn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [email protected] Jordan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [email protected] Shaw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [email protected] Krueger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [email protected]

Tropic Isles’ Book Club We will continue to meet on the second Tuesday of the month at 1 PM in the Yacht Club. Members who are part-time residents can call/send in comments when they are away that will be shared with all.

–Irene Casey

TI BOOK CLUB 2020 BOOK SELECTIONSDecember: Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton January 2021: Cilka’s Journey by Heather MorrisFebruary: Defending Jacob by William LandayMarch: Mrs. Everything by Jennifer WeinerApril: The Chain by Adrian McKinty

Life’s Little Instructions Suggestions, observations, and reminders on how to live a happy and rewarding life.• Take a 30-minute walk every day.• Treat yourself to a massage on your birthday.• Never cheat.• Never argue with police officers and address them as “officer”.• Consider writing a living will.• Learn CPR.• Stop and read historical roadside markers.• Know how to change a tire.• Know how to tie a bow tie.• Smile a lot. It costs nothing and is beyond price.

2020 Mobile Home Decals Expire December 31!

All RED 2020 mobile home decals will expire December 31. Registrations may be renewed for one or two years and the new BLUE decal (expires 2021) or ORANGE decal (expires 2022) must be displayed by January 1, 2021. Double and triple-wide mobile homes require multiple decals, one for each section of the home. The color decals should not be confused with the permanent Real Property (RP) mobile home decals, which are BLACK and not renewed annually.

How Do You Renew? The easiest, fastest way to obtain your decal is to renew it online at www.taxcollector.com . You will need a debit or credit card, along with your renewal notice, or your mobile home decal number and date of birth. You should receive your new registration and decal within 7 business days. Mobile home renewal notices were sent out in mid-October. Even if the renewal notice was not received, the new decal is still required to be displayed by January 1.

Displaying Decals Decals are to be displayed in the lower left-hand corner of the window closest to the street or road which provides access to the Mobile Home. Decals are to be visible at all times and are not to be covered by awnings, shutters, foliage, etc.


$5.00 OFF

COUPO N

$5.00 OFF

COUPO N

POWER WASH THIS! LLCCelebrating 15 Years in business!!

PRESSURE WASHINGSingle wide, Double wide & Park ModelsRoof Cleaning $99

941-729-0562One coupon per house.

Prices subject to change without notice. Add-ons extra.

InsuredLicensed

~~Special Thanks~~ Thank you to all my friends and neighbors here in Tropic Isles for the nice card that was sent to me. I really appreciate the caring people here in Tropic Isles. It is a great place to live.

—Nola Sanborn

Thanks to Neighbors Helping Neighbors for sponsoring and organizing the Plant Sale, so residents could add a little color and beauty to their yards.

Special thanks to the Block Captains for delivering the Resident Phone Directories to the residents of Tropic Isles. Your time and effort are very much appreciated!

Cook’s Corner BUFFALO CHICKEN DIP

Ingredients:8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature 2 cups cooked or canned chicken1 ½ cups assorted shredded cheese 1 cup mild fire sauce (made by Taco Bell) 2 tsp. of hot sauce, opt. (You can use 1 cup of buffalo sauce

instead if you want it really spicy.) 2/3 cup ranch dressing ½ cup sour cream Tortilla chips to dip

Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. 2. In large bowl, combine cream cheese, ranch dressing, and sour

cream. 3. Mix until mostly smooth. 4. Combine chicken with 2/3 cup mild sauce and mix. 5. Spread cream cheese mixture on bottom of 9-inch pan and cover

with chicken mixture. 6. Top with remaining sauce and sprinkle shredded cheese evenly

over it. 7. Put in oven and bake 20 to 25 minutes until bubbly hot.8. Serve with tortilla chips.

Say Goodbye To 2020…

Happy New Year 2021!

Tropical Red Hatters The Tropical Red Hatters will meet Wednesday, December 2 at 4:00 PM at the home of Sharon Du-val. Besides our monthly meeting, this will also be our Christmas party. Each member should bring a grab bag gift of 5-10 dollars wrapped. Also, bring

a dish to share and your own drink. We will continue our tradition of collecting for Veterans from Bay Pines Medical Center. Please donate new clothing, unwrapped of any size. Socks, shirts, toiletries, and gift cards are always welcome. There will be a donation box set up the day after Thanksgiving in the Yacht Club and those donations will be delivered in mid- December for distribution to the veterans. Stay safe, but still have fun, and please check on your neighbors, too.

Ann Miller, Scribe

Safety Tip Of The Month It is extremely important to report any suspicious activity to the Palmetto Police Department (941-721-2000 Ext. 4) AND to the Tropic Isles Office (941-721-8888). If you see or hear something suspicious make the call and then make a note of the day and time and report that information to the TI Office. They will be better able to check the tape from the security cameras at the Yacht Club, Marina, and pool for suspicious behavior if you provide them with that important information. We can all do our part to keep Tropic Isles a safe place to live.

KEEP YOUR EYES AND EARS OPEN!


Monthly Co-Op Board Meetings If you are a shareholder of Tropic Isles’ Co-op, please join us at our monthly Board meetings to keep abreast of what’s going on in the park and to let your voice be heard. The meetings are usually held once a month and due to COVID have been held via Zoom. The Zoom link is sent out to shareholders prior to the meeting via Mail Chimp. The agenda for each meeting is posted in the display box on the outside of the Auditorium at least 48 hours before the meeting and also sent out to shareholders via Mail Chimp. Only agenda items may be discussed at the meeting. The Town Hall portion of the meeting is set aside for Shareholder comments and questions on any topic. Shareholders can ask their questions or make comments in the Chat portion of the Zoom meeting. Shareholder input is important, so please make a point to join in the conversation! Watch your Mail Chimp reminder for the next scheduled Board meeting, usually on the third Thursday of the month. The next regularly scheduled Co-op Board meeting is December 17 at 9:30 AM.

Property Owners’ AssociationMeeting Schedule (TIPOA) 2020-21

November and December Meetings of 2020 have been can-celled. The following dates are tentative based on Covid-19 and will be revisited each month. Board Meetings Membership Meetings Jan. 08, 2021 Jan. 11, 2021 Feb. 05, 2021 Feb. 08, 2021 Mar. 05, 2021 Mar. 08, 2021 Apr. 09, 2021 Apr. 12, 2021 Please note: All Board meetings will commence at 9:00 AM – 12 PM in the Yacht Club “Pretty Room”. All Membership Meetings, including the annual meeting, will commence at 10:15 AM in the Yacht Club “Main” room. It is expected our membership meetings will last 2 hours, with the exception of the annual meeting on March 8 which will include a luncheon while election results are being verified. The annual meeting will go until 3 PM.

Homeowners’ AssociationMeeting Schedule (TIHOA) 2020-21Board Meeting January 29, 2021 Yacht Club Social Room 11 AMCoffee and Conversation with Mayor February 1, 2021 Auditorium 10-11 AM Board Meeting March 5, 2021 Yacht Club Social Room 1 PMAnnual Meeting March 19, 2021 Yacht Club 11:15 AM Meetings are open to all members who own their home and rent their lot from the Co-op.

Help! Does Your TV Not Work Anymore?

Welcome back, people from the north! Have you returned to realize that your flat screen TV no longer works and the recycle people won’t pick it up from the curb? Call me, Jim Kelly at 217-649-1380. If it is a flat screen TV, I will try to fix it and give it back to you for the cost of the parts. If I can fix it and you don’t want it, I will donate it to a disabled veteran, a veteran’s club, or a lonely person at a nursing facility. Again, that is IF I can fix it. I am not a TV repairman. I just do it as a hobby. So, call me, Jim Kelly at 217-649-1380 if your flat screen doesn’t work or you just want to get rid of that old TV.

Dining OutBy Karen Grant

Welcome back, everyone! Are you ready to try new places, yet stay socially distanced? It’s not easy,

but I want to tell you about one of our new restaurants this month. Opening during the pandemic, Whiskey Joes, on the Manatee River, is one of our newest Palmetto eateries. The location is amazing. There is a beautiful view of the river, with a manmade beach surrounding the restaurant. There is a tiki bar and tables on the sand, including a firepit surrounded by Adirondack chairs! Live music is predicted to arrive soon. There is a lot of outside seating. Besides the “beach” area, there is a huge wrap-around deck, allowing pretty good social distancing, even though they are open with full capacity seating. The menu sounds wonderful. There are lots of great sounding appetizers, a raw bar, several yummy salads, pizza, tacos, burgers, sandwiches, pasta, and grilled favs. They also have several seafood selections, ribs, chicken, and even gator. We ate there for lunch. Wanting to get a taste of the fare, we split a Caribbean Cobb Salad (grilled chicken, smoked bacon, mango salsa, blue cheese, tomato with house-made avocado dressing)! Wow! It was delicious! We could have easily shared the gigantic salad, but in order to give you a better idea of the menu, we also shared the grilled grouper dinner. It came with rice and seasonal veggies. It was excellent also. Of course, it turned out to be way more food than we needed, but very good. The prices are on the high side, as most water view venues tend to be, but worth a stop for flavor and ambiance!


Public Places Doctors Avoid During Coronavirus

If you’re feeling restless staying cooped up inside these days, you’re not alone. Living in a coronavirus pandemic isn’t easy for anyone. Now that most states have lifted many of their outdoor restrictions, it can be hard to know where exactly it is safe to ven-ture outside. “The highest risk places for Covid-19 transmission are indoors and those that are crowded,” says Sarah P. Cate, MD, assis-tant professor of surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. “Low-risk places are outside where people are also masked and have space to socially distance,” she explains. So, when you’re ready to head outside, where should you remain cautious? Here are the public places doctors won’t visit during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Public Restrooms If you can avoid public restrooms, it’s generally for the best due to how germy they typically are, but if not, watch closely for cleanliness, says Dr. Vyas. “If I’m going somewhere and I absolutely have to use a public restroom, I’ll pay very close attention to when it was cleaned,” she says. “And then if I’ve got to go, I’ll make sure that when I go in, I wash my hands and make sure that there are adequate paper towels. As I come out, I wash my hands again. I’m really careful now in certain public places. I try to avoid public restrooms, but if I have to, I take extra precautions.”

The Bank If you can handle most of your banking electronically, you may want to skip a trip to the teller if you can avoid it because money is already one of the dirtiest items we touch almost every day. Money can carry many different types of infectious germs. For that reason,

it’s better to use credit and debit cards over cash to help reduce the risk of transmission. “I try to limit money, like cash,” says Dr. Vyas. “I think it’s better to use a credit card and clean it rather than cash, since, as we all know, money is very dirty. If you’re dealing with a lot of cash, you have to be extra careful.”

Small, Crowded Restaurants A cozy café might have been your thing pre-Covid-19, but now you may want to think twice before booking a table in a cramped restaurant. “There’s not that much data, but just from a safety per-spective, I think I would be very careful about going places where the tables are not spread out at a very safe distance,” says Dr. Vyas. “And I get it, you can’t wear masks while you’re eating, but I would want to see that the servers, waiters, and waitresses are wearing masks.”

Bars If you’re itching to head back to your local watering hole this summer, you may have to hold off a little longer. Dr. Cate suggests steering clear of indoor bars for now. “Indoor bars are actually pretty high risk because there are so many touch surfaces, like the door handles, countertops, and tables,” she says. “And I think it’s hard, especially in a crowded setting, for those surfaces to be de-sanitized between every customer. Plus, when people are drinking, they’re less cautious.” That said, if you stumble upon an outdoor bar, like on a patio or a deck, it’s less risky because you’re outside, and “droplet particles have so much more air to spread out in,” says Dr. Cate. “But again, you want to make sure that you are not touching multiple surfaces and that you can keep away from other people as much as possible. If you’re having some type of social event, have it outside rather than inside at a bar and do so with a smaller group of people, like up to ten.”

(continued on page 23)


Churches Like most other indoor spaces, Dr. Cate wouldn’t recommend it. But if your church is able to adapt to offer worship services under safer conditions, you might be able to still go. “A lot of places are really adapting, like the synagogue that I go to is having services outside and there’s a limited number of people that can attend,” she says. “They’re also sending out a health questionnaire before-hand and everyone has to wear a mask.” Find out if your place of worship is offering safer alternatives, and keep in mind, says Dr. Vyas, that “all parts of the service which require communal activ-ities—shaking hands, hugging, passing trays and cups, sharing books and texts—would need to be discontinued.”

Gyms Given all the sweating that goes on at a gym, you probably already know that gyms can be pretty germy places—even when there isn’t a global pandemic to contend with. A 2019 study in Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach revealed that up to 25 percent of gym surfaces tested positive for drug-resistant bacteria and flu pathogens. The good news: When the gyms followed the study’s infection control protocols, they were able to wipe out the presence of the bacteria from nearly all surfaces. That said, every gym is different, so you’ll need to weigh the risks for where you work-out, and make sure to disinfect all surfaces you touch, from the treadmill to the dumbbells. For those who like to exercise outside, Dr. Cate suggests going early. “I tell my older patients to go out and exercise early in the morning with a mask, as there are fewer people out and about,” she says.

Public Pools While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there’s not yet any evidence that coronavirus can be transmitted through water, hanging out at the pool still poses risks. “Water is definite-ly at a lower risk of transmission for Covid-19 and the chlorine alleviates a lot of the viral load, but if you’re in a crowded pool where everyone’s standing in the shallow end and breathing on each other, that’s not ideal,” says Dr. Cate. “I think that’s one of the reasons that the pools in New York City are not going to be open this summer is because there was no way to really socially distance everyone from each other.” If you want to hang out poolside, Dr. Vyas suggests that surfaces that people lounge on (think: beach chairs) should be cleaned frequently, “ideally before and after each person uses them,” she says. If you’re not able to maintain proper social distancing, Dr. Cate and Dr. Vyas recommend you skip the pool for now. But that doesn’t mean you have to forego a nice cool dip in the water. Dr. Cate says beaches are generally okay because it’s easier to socially distance from others than at a public pool. “There’s so much more space and so much more water—it’s reasonably safe to do,” she says. So skip the pool and head to the beach until we have a Covid-19 vaccine.

Spas After being inside for months, we could all use a relaxing spa service to destress and indulge in a little relaxation. But Dr. Cate says trips to spas really depend on how long you’ll be there and what services you’re booking. “Quick services, like a haircut or a manicure, are okay because they require a limited amount of time and as long as both parties are wearing masks, I think it’s fine,” she says. That said, if you’re trying to squeeze in a full day at the spa or even a half-day of pampering, skip it for now. You’ll also want to avoid saunas and steam rooms. “The temperature is higher and can potentially create an environment much akin to a petri dish,” Dr. Cate points out. “It’s also really hard to sterilize those areas.”

Malls Like bars, malls have so many “high touch” surfaces that can easily be contaminated. And surfaces we didn’t think twice about touching before—the escalator railing, racks and racks of clothes, elevator buttons, literally everything in the fitting room—are all now potential sources of transmission. And depending on the amount of foot traffic a mall has, it may be difficult to disinfect all those surfaces between customers. “I would still be nervous about going into an indoor mall,” says Dr. Cate, who recommends sticking to curbside pickup for now. “I would stick with that for as long as possible or online shopping. I think it’s important for us to look at this as a long-term lifestyle adjustment until there’s a vaccine because it’s hard to control how often things are going to get cleaned or if they’re going to get cleaned at all.”

Concerts While many states have canceled large outdoor gatherings this summer, if you’re contemplating attending one that hasn’t been shut down, doctors express caution. “I’d stay away from concerts and places where people tend to congregate,” says Dr. Vyas. “If I see an orderly line, like at Trader Joe’s and everyone’s spaced six feet apart, I’ll be fine. But if there’s just a mass of people, I’ll try not to go there.” While you may have the best intentions to remain six feet apart, it can be hard to do so when everyone’s crowded together trying to get a view of the stage.

Bowling Alleys Skip ‘em, says Dr. Cate. Just think about all the surfaces that get touched in the course of one round of bowling. From the shoes you rent to the bowling balls that you touch, there are tons of oppor-tunities for transmission, she says. “It’s so hard for these places to clean in between guests and to really decontaminate—even the air filtration systems could be harboring the Covid-19.”

Movie Theaters These land on Dr. Cate’s no-go list for the same reason as many other places: You’re inside, in close proximity to others, and there are a ton of surfaces you can come in contact with, from the con-cession stand to the armrests. Plus, you’ve got other, safer options for entertainment, from streaming services and drive-in theaters. “I think drive-ins are a great idea,” says Dr. Cate. “You can watch it in your car with the family unit that you’ve been quarantining with. I’d be hard-pressed to go back to a movie theater right now. It’s probably a good idea to avoid it until we have a vaccine.”

Amusement Parks Like drive-in theaters and curbside pick-up at the mall, there are still ways to get your fix while adjusting to a new normal. “A lot of rides at amusement parks have shoulder straps and all types of buckles, which are, unless they’re metal, impossible to clean,” says Dr. Cate. While she doesn’t recommend traditional theme park activities, she says that drive-through safaris can be a fun, safe alternative.

One place you should still go: The Doctor’s Office “People are scared to come into doctor’s offices,” says Dr. Vyas. “We are doing everything we can to assure people that they’re safe. We got rid of a bunch of chairs in our office so that you’re not sitting near other people. We have signs everywhere to stay six feet apart. Yet, I think there’s still some nervousness, and that’s quite worrisome because people are delaying needed medical care.” If you’re worried about risking exposure at the doctor’s office or clinic, but need to schedule a doctor’s appointment for treatment or a check-up or time-sensitive testing, like a colonoscopy or biopsy, call your doctor’s office first to find out how they can keep you safe instead of just putting it off.

Public Places Doctor’s Avoid (continued from page 22)


History of the Tomato In PalmettoPALMETTO CANNING

John Greenlaw founded Palmetto Canning in 1927. They originally only produced guava jelly. After WWII, John Greenlaw Jr. assumed control and diversified the operation into tomato canning and other canned products. About 1950, after the downturn in the tomato industry, he decided to take the company back to its core business, guava jelly. He expanded into private labeling for Goya Foods and other brands and achieved wide-spread distribution into grocery chains nationwide. In 1982, Jonathan Greenlaw, a graduate of Florida Atlantic Uni-versity (B.S. in Business), assumed control. Wishing to expand the business, Jonathan diversified the company even further by in-creasing the product lines into many other flavors of tropical jellies, marinades, hot sauces, BBQ sauces, steak sauces, cocktail sauce, cooking wines, soy sauce, reduced sodium products, and more. In 2014, Palmetto Canning demolished the original canning plant building and constructed a new distribution warehouse in its place.

WEST COAST TOMATO, LLC West Coast Tomato LLC had its beginnings in Florida in the 1920s. John McClure had relocated from Virginia to Manatee County in Florida to work as an Extension Agent in the agriculture industry. Soon John met and married Versenoia Thomas. His father-in-law, Lewis Peyton Thomas, had been raised in the Manatee area and was familiar with the local agriculture industry. John McClure eventually began farming tomatoes himself. In 1948, his youngest son, Dan Peyton McClure, returned to Manatee County from the University of Florida with an Economics degree after serving in World War II. Dan began farming with his dad and married Corrine Anderson in 1948 who also became involved in guiding the tomato operations. They eventually started a packinghouse for packing and shipping the tomatoes they grew in Manatee County. The packinghouse was named West Coast Tomato because it was situated on the west coast of Florida. In 1976, Dan’s youngest son, Daniel Carr (DC) McClure, began working in the farming operations after receiving an Agriculture degree from the University of Florida. In 1986, McClure Farms expanded into the Immokalee area of Florida to expand its shipping window through the winter months. DC and his dad began growing the farming acreage and as a result built a new packing facility to accommodate the increased production. In 1989, Dan’s son-in-law, Bob Spencer, became involved in the packing operation. With the new century came further growth for West Coast Tomato and McClure Farms. The farming operation expanded into growing Roma tomatoes and the packinghouse installed a new computerized camera-driven grading line. West Coast Tomato is able to run Roma and round tomatoes on the same machine in the packinghouse. In 2009, DC’s nephew, Todd McClure, began working in the farming operations making him the 5th generation to be involved in the farming operations. West Coast Tomato/McClure Family Farms continues to operate today.

TAYLOR AND FULTON TOMATOES From a joint venture begun by friends over 60 years ago, Taylor & Fulton has grown to become one of America’s premier suppliers of premium quality tomatoes and other fine produce. Founded in 1953 by Jack Taylor and his good friend Pete Fulton, Taylor & Fulton now has more than 1,000 employees growing, packing, and shipping tomatoes. Ed Angrisani, a 30-year tomato sales veteran, who has sold tomatoes for Taylor & Fulton since the early 1980s, Jim Grainger, owner of Grainger Farms and co-owner of Tomatoes of Ruskin

Inc., Ruskin, and citrus and vegetable grower Brian Turner, bought the packing operation. Though the new owners are changing the Taylor & Fulton, Inc. name to Taylor & Fulton Packing LLC, the new partners plan to keep packing mature green and Roma tomatoes in the recognized Taylor & Fulton label. “I’m just happy that Taylor & Fulton is being perpetuated,” Angrisani said. “I’m really happy with the people I have partnered up with because they’re aggressive people. The tomato business is all I know. This will be a great mix of people.” The new operation plans to pack tomatoes from Octo-ber through mid-June from Grainger’s and Turner’s Palmetto and Immokalee production plants. Turner separately has 600 acres of tomatoes. The tradition of premium quality tomatoes and premium quality customer service continues.

PACIFIC TOMATO GROWERS Pacific Tomato Grow-ers sells produce rip-ened under the benev-olent West Coast sun. The company is part of the SUNRIPE group of companies, which, in addition to Pacific Tomato, includes Triple E Produce, SUNRIPE Pre-Pak, Pacific Col-lier Fresh, and Heller Bros. Packing Corp. Pacific Tomato Growers offers a variety of tomatoes, including mature green, Bella Roma, sweet grape, and vine ripe. Its Bella Roma tomato is an Italian-style variety. The company is one of the leading shippers for hothouse, field-grown, grape, and Roma tomatoes in the state of Florida. It supplies tomatoes throughout the year.

Out and About…FLORIDA’S SNOWCAT RIDGE

Florida’s first and only alpine snow park, Snowcat Ridge, opened on November 20. Locat-ed in Dade City, Florida—about 45 minutes northeast of Tam-pa—the park has a 60-foot-tall and 400-foot-long snow tubing

hill, an Alpine Village, and a 10,000-square-foot snow play dome. In the dome, guests will have the chance to build snowmen and snow castles with real snow, and tiny tourists can enjoy tubing down the miniature hill. The park’s Alpine Village, will prove a wel-come place to relax, eat, shop, and participate in other activities between jaunts on the snow tubing hill and spending time in the snow play dome. The park’s pièce de résistance, though, is its giant snowtubing hill, where after riding the “magic carpet lift” to the snow tubes at the top of the hill, visitors can ride down in a single, tandem, or six-person tube. A rendering of the park’s snow tubing hill is pictured above. Nighttime guests of Snowcat Ridge will be able to enjoy a special light show, that will take place both on the snow hill and inside the snow play dome. The property will also have covered pavilions for guests to watch the tubers and view the night light show. The Florida snow park, Snowcat Ridge, will be located right next to Tree Hoppers Aerial Adventure Park at 27839 Saint Joe Road, Dade City, FL 33525. Call 813-576-1450 or email www.snowcatridge.com for more information.


The Ins and Outs of Mask Etiquette (excerpts taken from Healthy Living)

Wearing a mask in public may be the new normal, but it can sure lead to a variety of awkward moments — for instance, how to say that the mask needs to go over your nose, too? And while science shows that masks are one very important tool in the fight against COVID-19, let’s just say the social norms involved are still … evolving. To help sort through some typical rough spots, we tapped etiquette experts for advice.

Situation #1: You’re the host Whether it’s a wedding for 30 guests or a backyard barbecue, the best move is to establish the rules of the road ahead of time. That means, when you’re inviting guests, spell out your expectations for when and where masks should be worn (think: On arrival, but not when seated outside? Throughout the event without exceptions? For any inside visits only?). Granted, you’ll have to deal with the responses — which recent hosts we interviewed described as everything from “surprisingly confrontational” (when asking a guest to put on her mask when heading inside to the bathroom) to “a conversation that happened naturally” (while arranging dinner on the porch for close friends).In your role as host, etiquette experts say, it’s also your job to make sure your guests follow the rules during any event. If they don’t, you should remind them to do so, without assuming the worst (that they don’t care about your or others’ well-being). “It’s all in your tone of voice,” says Diane Gottsman, an etiquette expert and owner of the Protocol School of Texas, who recom-mends saying something along the lines of, “I’m so glad you were able to come. I’m making sure everyone wears a mask to keep us safe and comfortable.” Then, offer the guest a disposable mask from your own supply (and yes, be sure to have those extras handy).

Situation #2: You’re a guest If your host doesn’t bring up the topic of mask-wearing before you arrive, then by all means broach the subject yourself. If you don’t feel comfortable with what you hear, beg off with a polite, “I really appreciate the invitation. But I’m staying close to home for now.” “You’ll feel better about yourself for not compromising your own boundaries,” Gottsman says. If you forget to ask, you can ask in the moment. You can ask whether anyone would mind if you remove your face covering. If they say they prefer that we keep our masks on, you can agree or decide it is best to leave. The key here is to be respectful of every-one’s concerns and respect the science. So, what if you arrive at a party where others aren’t complying with the given rules? Your next step depends on how well ac-quainted you are. It’s fine to approach those you know well directly, gently pointing out their lack of a mask. For guests you’ve only just met, take the host aside and ask for help. But if you don’t feel comfortable at any point, it’s absolutely OK to leave. As for your goodbyes, keep them short and to the point. As in: “Thanks for having us. We’re leaving a bit early because we’re taking masks and social distancing guidelines very seriously.”

Situation #3: You’re dealing with strangers The rules are different when you’re out and about in public and concerns arise. Though your first impulse may be to speak up, experts say don’t engage. You don’t know how strangers will react to something like a request to actually put on the mask dangling around their neck. What’s more, speaking up is not necessarily your responsibility. You have to take control over what you can control, and the thing you have the most control over is your own behavior,

not the behavior of others. If you feel you must say something for health reasons, do so in a way that doesn’t assume bad intentions on the stranger’s part.

Situation # 4: You’re at work On the job, speaking up depends on whose behavior you’re concerned about. But before you say anything to anyone, be clear about your workplace’s policy requiring masks. From there, if a colleague isn’t wearing a mask in an area where one is mandated, you can directly ask him or her to follow the rules and put one on. With your boss, however, you may need to be more careful with your wording. Say something that emphasizes the reason for your concern, like, “I’d really feel more comfortable if you would wear a mask. I’m at a higher risk of having complica-tions should I get this virus and need to be extra careful.” If you’re uncomfortable doing so, you could also ask your human resources department for help with the situation.

Shuffle Club News The shuffleboard courts are an amenity of the park and are open to any Tropic Isles’ resident. Residents are encouraged to use the equipment

in the courtside shed. Please follow the posted rules. Shuffle Club members maintain the courts, polish the disks, and keep all the equipment in good order to support the game. We invite you to come join us for play at 10 AM, Monday through Saturday; and 2 PM on Sunday. Masks will now be required at the courts and we have a sanitizing station at the courts for your safety. Members of the Shuffle Club are offering lessons during the month of January. Lessons are free, equipment is furnished, but you must wear closed-toe shoes. Beginner lessons start Monday, January 4, 2021, at 1 PM. Intermediate lessons begin Thursday, January 7, 2021, at 1 PM. Lessons will continue weekly for eight weeks. Sign up at the courts or talk to one of our members. Shuffle Club business meetings are held on the second Wednes-day of each month, November through March. Park tournaments are held throughout the season and include turkey shoots, Guy Manchester, Men vs. Women, Beginners and Intermediate, and a Memorial tournament. You must be a member to participate in our tournaments. Membership is $5 per person, per season. We are looking forward to a great season of play. See you on the courts!

Al MacKenzie, Shuffle Club President

TI shuffleboard men, (L to R) Chuck Sugg, Bob Hallman, Al McKenzie, John Stewart, showed up in “cool hats”.


Activity Committee Meeting

December 9, 20209 AM, Auditorium

The next Activity Board meeting will be December 9 at 9 AM in the Auditorium. Your Activity Board is looking forward to connecting with you, sharing what we’ve done to keep our community active and engaged this fall, and hearing how we can support you this season. Following the procedures in place in our TI community, please wear a face mask to enter the Auditorium doors. Temperatures will be taken upon entry and chairs in the Auditorium are placed at a socially safe distance (with yellow dots on the floor). There are no tables. Upon seating, you may remove your mask if you’d like. Although I will send out an agenda prior to the meeting, please plan on sharing with the Activity Board what your goals are for your activity this season (2020-2021) and how the Activity Board can support you. All Activities and Clubs should be represented at these meetings, so we can hear about your plans and goals. Old and new activities alike, please send a representative or two. Let’s share out news and happenings with your activity or club and partner together supporting our vibrant

The Tropic IslesBreezes › d0540e1e › files › uploaded › TI 12-20 final.pdfthat reason, it...

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Transcript of The Tropic IslesBreezes › d0540e1e › files › uploaded › TI 12-20 final.pdfthat reason, it...