A
PUBLICATION OF THE SILVER RIDGE HOMEOWNERS’ ASSOCIATION, INC. ORLANDO,
FLORIDA
SILVER
RIDGE - A DEED RESTRICTED COMMUNITY
Happy
Holidays from Your Association!
Another year is quickly drawing to a close. About
this time each year, we look back at how hectic life’s been, and we promise
ourselves that next year, we will somehow take more time to be with our family,
friends and neighbors. Funny it never seems to work out that way.
This year, more than ever, we are reminded how
precious life is, and how short it can be.
So our wish for all is that you have a joyous holiday season. And don’t
wait another day to tell your loved ones – family, friends, and neighbors
– how much they mean to you.
Though we may have differences – political,
religious, ethnic, or otherwise, we’ve all chosen this nation, this state, this
city, this neighborhood, as our home. Let’s work together to make it better
each and every day!
Association’s
President Johnny Greene Passes Away
By Eric Oelschlager
The
Association lost its president, Johnny Greene on June 24, 2001. Johnny succumbed to complications of sickle-cell anemia.
This heartbreaking disease often claims its victims during middle age. Johnny
was only 40. He and his wife had just started a family.
Johnny
was a member of the Board for more than three years, and served as president
during that time. Prior to that, he was active in our Neighborhood Watch
program.
We
have all been shocked and saddened by this loss. Most of us didn't know of
Johnny’s struggles with sickle cell, and its painful complications. Instead we
knew an optimistic man who balanced marriage, career, graduate-level studies,
and community service. Johnny didn’t burden us with his difficulties; instead
he expressed his concern for others - truly a remarkable and inspiring person.
New Board Members Elected May 17, 2001
SILVER RIDGE IN ACTION
is a quarterly publication
of the Silver Ridge Homeowner’s Association, Orlando, Florida.
Eric Oelschlager, Editor
Silver
Ridge In Action is intended to promote awareness and community spirit within
the Silver Ridge subdivision.
Suitable
articles and letters may be submitted for publication to:
Silver
Ridge In Action
Silver
Ridge Homeowner’s Assoc.
c/o Don
Asher & Associates
52
E. South Street
Orlando,
FL 32801-3396
Submitted
articles may be edited.
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Redesigned Website at Your Service
The Association’s website has been upgraded to be more
useful and informative. For example, you can read or print the Association’s
charter documents (the By-Laws, etc.,) print a copy of the architectural
improvement request form, or see a calendar of Association events – meetings
dates, etc.
There are also email links if you wish to contact the
Directors and Officers of the Association. If you want to know what the Board’s
been doing lately, you can find recent meeting agendas and minutes online too.
You can even read or print back issues of this
newsletter. We also post headlines of interest to the neighborhood, so you can
stay up-to-date between issues of the newsletter.
We hope that having this information available round the
clock makes doing business with the Association a little easier. So give us a
visit at http://www.silverridgehoa.org
Checked Your Dryer Vent Lately?
By Eric Oelschlager
Don’t forget to check your dryer vent periodically. This
may not sound like the most exciting weekend project, but it’s important for
energy efficiency, longer dryer life, and most importantly, fire safety. A
clogged vent causes lint to build up inside the dryer, where it can catch fire.
There are several warning signs that your dryer vent may
be clogged:
·
clothes seem to take longer and longer to dry
·
the top of the dryer becomes hot to the touch
while running
·
the dryer’s heating element burns out
Many of us have dryers that vent to the roof, rather than to an outside wall.
If your dryer is not located against an outside wall, it probably vents to the
roof. Typically, there is a small metal vent on the roof, shaped somewhat like
an upside-down 'J', with the opening aiming downward.
The opening has a mesh screen which keeps birds and
squirrels out. However that screen collects lint, which blocks the airflow,
making the dryer work less efficiently. I find I have to climb up on the roof to
clean the screen every few months to keep the dryer running well.
Also, since the vent pipe travels upward such a long
distance, gravity works against the lint particles suspended in the airflow,
and they tend to collect on the inside of the vent pipe, as shown in the
drawing. Recently, a neighbor said he found the vent tube literally packed with
lint. This should be cleaned every few years, more often if you have a large
family with lots of laundry. You'll probably need the help of an assistant. Unplug
the dryer, and disconnect the flexible vent tube from the wall. Then attach a
small weight (such as a small wrench) and a fluffy rag to a sturdy piece of
string, and lower that into vent pipe from the roof. The second person waits at
the bottom, and removes the clumps of lint knocked loose by the rag.
Following these two step will kepp your dryer running
safely and efficiently.
By Eric Oelschlager
Few things can make a whole house look like, uh… HECK as
a mildew or algae-stained roof. No matter how nice the landscaping, or how
fresh the paint, the effect is ruined if the roof is covered with mildew stains.
It's inevitable that mildew will grow in this climate. Many
of you have received letters from the Association regarding roof stains. There
are several ways to take care of this mess. The easiest and safest is to hire a
roof cleaning company, such as Mallard Systems (http://www.mallardsystems.com/).
I had my roof cleaned almost 3 years ago, and it has stayed virtually stain
free ever since. Expect to pay about $200 to $250 for the service, including
driveway and sidewalks.
Home Depot sells a product called "M-1 Deck &
Roof CLEANER". It's $20/gal; most houses would probably need more than one
gallon. Dilute it 9:1 with water, apply with a pump-up sprayer, then rinse with
a garden hose. It can also be used on decks, sidewalks, and driveways. See http://www.m1housewash.com/deckandroof.htm
for more information on this product. Be aware that it contains sodium
hydroxide, a very potent chemical, which can burn eyes and skin. And be careful
on the roof - wet algae is very slippery.
Pressure cleaning is not recommended, since high pressure
water will damage the shingles. For more tips on roof cleaning, visit http://www.manofthehouse.com/cleanroof.htm.
NEIGHBORHOOD MAINTENANCE ISSUES
Reprinted by permission, OCHA News Sept 2001
OCHA Editor's Note: Below are excerpts of a Letter to Residents
originally printed in the University Woods News, the publication of one of our
OCHA members. It was written by Donna Knight, a former board member for their
neighborhood and is reprinted with her permission and that of the current
board. This letter makes a compelling case for neighbors to follow their
association covenants and restrictions. We thought that OCHA News readers might
benefit from reading how other associations remind their residents of the value
of living in a community with a homeowners association.
A LETTER TO RESIDENTS
Next time you drive through the neighborhood, take a
moment and really look around at the houses and yards. Try to put yourself in
the mindset of someone who might be considering a home purchase and is out
looking at property to buy. Does the appearance of the community appeal to you?
Do you think your investment in a home would be safe here? Or are there little
things that would help the community look better and appeal more to potential
buyers?
As time has passed, and our community is no longer
"new", some aspects of the appearance of our neighborhood have
improved. Many homeowners take pride in the look of their home and yards, and
have added improvements like pools and porches, and planted some beautiful
plants and flowers. Most homeowners regularly maintain their lawns and bushes,
and take care that trash is kept in an area where it is not likely to be
disturbed by animals and wind, and blown or scattered into the street or
neighboring yards. Most homeowners make sure that their vehicles are properly
maintained and are not in disrepair in their yards or the streets. All of these
things bode well for the appearance of any community, and help protect the
investments of all of its owners.
Sometimes, however, situations become obvious that
detract from the neighborhood's appearance. You know these situations when you
see them - cars parked on lawns, trash and junk items laying in driveways and
front yards, and lawns that haven't been properly mowed are among them. These
conditions are known to be turn-offs to potential buyers, and enough of these
conditions in a community will cause homes to be sold for less than they need
to be, real estate agents to price them lower than they should be, and
appraisers to value them at below the value they would if the overall community
was better maintained.
When you bought a home in University Woods, you agreed by
taking possession of your deed to abide by the documents that govern the
homeowner's association (HOA). Membership in the HOA, along with the duty to
pay assessments and adhere to the rules, is mandatory under Florida
law. For many of you, this was actually an enticement to buy in University
Woods. You rightfully felt that the appearance of the neighborhood (and thus
your investment) would be guarded by the fact that all property owners were
required to follow the rules. Property values are so much of a concern all over
Florida that all new subdivisions
are now built under mandatory homeowners associations. Many banks and mortgage
companies will not lend money in a neighborhood that is not governed by an HOA,
fearing loss of value due to maintenance issues.
It is the obligation of the Board of Directors to enforce
the rules contained in our governing documents. As the community is getting a
little older, it is becoming more important than ever for property maintenance
restrictions to be heeded. Starting this spring, the Board will take a very
proactive approach to community appearance by letting residents know when they
need to pay more attention to their property's appearance. The vast majority of
residents support more effort to improve the appearance of the neighborhood and
continue the escalation of our property values.
Some of the things that need to be noted:
·
Parking on surfaces other than pavement is not
allowed. This includes yards and the grass between the sidewalk and the street.
·
Grass needs to be cut on a regular basis,
especially in the summertime. The county will eventually cite anyone whose lawn
is overgrown.
·
Trash cans need to be kept out of driveways, and
need to be secured at all times.
·
Homes that need to be painted must receive prior
approval on colors from the Board. Other home improvement projects that need to
be approved are pools, fences, sheds, driveway additions, and porches.
The Board of Directors takes very seriously its
responsibility to the homeowners in the community to make sure that their
investments are protected. We hope that you will take a look around at your own
property now, and see if there's anything you can do that will help the
community look better, and keep University Woods a beautiful place to live.
Clip and Save this INFO
SILVER RIDGE HOMEOWNERS’
ASSOCIATION
(407) 425-4561
http://www.silverridgehoa.org
Board of Directors
(407)
293-4117 (voicemail)
Tony
Greene
Linda
Harrell
Eric
Oelschlager
Yvonne
Sabater
Matt
Seinhoff
Officers
President – Tony Greene
Vice President-Eric Oelschlager
Treasurer – Linda Harrell
Secretary – Matt Steinhoff
Association Management
Don Asher
and Associates, Inc.
52
E. South Street
Orlando,
FL 32801-3396
(407)
425-4561 (manager)
(407)
843-5169 (fax)
Board Meetings
All
members are welcome to observe the bi-monthly Board Meetings, held at the
Orange County Public Library, N. Hiawassee Rd.
(near Publix.) Meeting dates and times are posted on the signs at the
entrances to the subdivision.
Orange County Sheriff’s Department
Suspicious Activity / Non-Emergencies
(407) 737-2400
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The Silver Star Road--
S.R.438 Reconstruction Project
By Yvonne Sabater (with special thanks to Ruby Rozier for her
assistance with this article)
On or about January
2, 2002, the Florida Department of Transportation is supposed to start the long, tedious task
of widening this road. Its purpose is to improve the safety and traffic flow
efficiency. The FDOT plans to widen the road in Ocoee and unincorporated Orange
County. This reconstruction entails
widening Silver Star Rd.
from 2 to 4 lanes from Clarke Rd.
in Ocoee to Apopka Vineland Rd.,
and from 2 to 6 lanes from Apopka Vineland Rd.
to Hiawassee Rd.
The project includes excavating 4 retention ponds,
installation of 200 drainage structures, 6 miles of drainage pipe; curbs and
gutters, and bike lanes. Sidewalks and traffic signals will be upgraded. Work
is scheduled to be completed by Spring 2004. No lane closures will be allowed
from 6 am. to 10 pm.
Editor's note: In
preparation for the road expansion, the utilities have been disconnected at our
front entrance. This means we no electricity for Christmas lights in the island
this year.
By Matt Steinhoff
By way of introduction, I'm Matt
Steinhoff. I grew up in West Palm Beach,
Florida and moved to Orlando
three years ago to take a job with the Orlando Sentinel. My wife, Sarah, and I
moved into Silver Ridge January 2001 just a few months after getting married.
Questing for our first house, we visited dozens of other
neighborhoods before choosing here. Silver Ridge was by far the best and as a
bonus, we didn't have to sell any vital organs to afford the neighborhood.
How I became a member of the board of directors, and secretary
of the homeowner's association is a greater mystery. Mostly, no one else wanted
the job and I had made the mistake of showing up at one too many meetings!
Many of you have lived here -- both Silver Ridge and Central
Florida -- longer than I. Please share with me your concerns for
our community. My email address is secretary@silverridgehoa.org. Don't hesitate
to contact me.
FOR SALE: used
Canon PC-6RE Copy Machine
$109
Sturdy copier for small office use. Makes 1 to 99
copies. Reduces/enlarges 70% to 122%. Paper supply tray handles up to
legal size paper. Manual paper bypass for feeding special (color or size)
paper without removing paper supply tray. Auto and manual contrast
control. New toner cartridge (uses Canon A30 or compatible cartridge.)
Visible indicator warns when toner is running low. SIZE: 28in(W) 18in(D)
11in(H), including output tray. FOOTPRINT: 15in(W) 16in(D) fits on top of
most filing cabinets!
Contact: vice_president@silverridgehoa.org or 407-293-4117
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2001 Financial Summary – Income and Expenses 1/1/01 – 10/31/01
The 2001 year-to-date income and
expense figures are shown in the following table:
