Pembroke Falls Insider Magazine - May/June 2021 by REPC Printing

Pembroke Falls

MAGAZINE May/June 2021

Adapting to COVID Shutdown with a Home Gym Page 14

Most Beautiful Curb Appeal Page 18

Mango Pie Page 10

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE PEMBROKE FALLS HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION Bimini Bay • Bonita Bay • Cascades • Clubside • Coral Bay • Crystal Harbour • Edgewater • Harbor Island • Heritage • Heron Cay Island Shores • Laguna Pointe • Majestic Bay • Palm Cove • Pelican Trace • Serenity Bay • The Sanctuary • Tropic Isles

www.pembrokefalls.org

WHAT’S INSIDE

Handyairbag Cell Phone Case See Page 26

Information Page .....................................4 Master Board Update ..............................8 Pembroke Falls - A Tree City ...............10 Landscaping Update .............................18 Calendar .................................................20 Nuisance Corner .....................................22 To Advertise, Call (954) 922-7404

PRSTD STD US POSTAGE PAID MIAMI, FL PERMIT NO. 2075

INFORMATION PAGE Master Board of Directors | 2021 President: Herb Vargas Vice President: Dan Kooperman Treasurer: Dan Kooperman Secretary: Lamont Pittman Director: Marcello Piso Director: Mark Amidon Director: Miguel Fernandez Director: Joby Thomas Director: John Easterling Director: Joshua Carcasses Director: Chris Aleman Director: Maria Panyi

Phase 1 Board of Directors

Phase 5 Board of Directors

(Majestic Bay, Cascade Executive, Cascade Classics)

(Coral Bay, Heron Cay, Island Shores, Bonita Bay]

President: Herb Vargas Vice President: Pablo Mila Treasurer: Lizbeth Abrahams Secretary: Mary Dobrinsky Director: Veronica Gutierrez Zepeda

President: Dan Kooperman Vice President: Robert Wilson Treasurer: Greissy Amorocho Secretary: Dr. Maury Jayson Director: Joshua Carcasses

Association Staff General Manager: Nestor Hermida Senior Admin: Melissa Dume Accounting Coordinator: Marta Tobon Front Desk Coordinators: Rosetta Kemp, Taqoun English Club Attendants: Marwa Sabry, Michael Hernandez, Christopher Alexander, Susan Greene Maintenance Supervisor: Maddiel Borrego Maintenance: Roberto Ogando Crisostomo, Fanel Meran Housekeeping: Felicita Solis

Phase 2 Board of Directors

(Clubside, Laguna Point, Heritage)

President: John Easterling Vice President: Mark Amidon Director: Slim Robbana Phase 4 Board of Directors (Crystal Harbour)

President: Joby Thomas Treasurer: Alex Pena Secretary: Gadi Hus Phase 4A Board of Directors

(Edgewater, Serenity Bay, Palm Cove)

President: OPEN Vice President: Michelle Piso Treasurer: Jacob Glaser Secretary: Claudia Goldsmith Director: Sylvia Fishman

City of Pembroke Pines Waste Disposal Residential Collection Garbage collection is on Tuesdays/Fridays. Recycling is on Fridays.

Bulk Pick-Up Schedule Collection is on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month.

2021 Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Schedule Hours of Operation: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Pines residency. Waste Pro Facility- 17302 Pines Boulevard Howard Forman Health Park- 1001 Poinciana Drive Pembroke Pines Public Services Compound- 13975 Pembroke Road Please contact WastePro for more information about the 2021 schedule. For additional information, visit http://www.wasteprousa.com/locations/FL/pembrokepines/

Phase 5A Board of Directors (Sanctuary)

President: Miguel Fernandez Vice President/Secretary: Eileen Tyson Director: Yoram Gozlan Phase 6 Board of Directors (Harbor Island, Pelican Trace)

President: J.R. Robbins Vice President: Bruce Hoekenga Treasurer: Fuat Ornarli Secretary: Hugh Chen Director: Miguel Montero Phase 7 Board of Directors (Tropic Isle, Bimini Bay)

President: Chris Aleman Vice President: Lamont Pittman Secretary: Marcella Wolff Director: Adrian Penaherrera Director: Roberto Garcia

Important Information and Telephone Numbers

Pool Hours: 9:00am to 6:00pm Gym Hours: 8:00am to 9:50pm Basketball & Tennis Courts: 8:00am to 9:50pm

Garbage Service / Waste PRO FPL Beautiful Mailbox ADT Cable (Hotwire) Pembroke Pines Water Pembroke Pines Police Gas (TECO)

Clubhouse

Sheridan Gate (Main Gate) 142nd Guardhouse 136th Guardhouse Taft Guardhouse

800-222-1811 954-967-4200 954-797-5000 954-792-6245 800-878-7806 800-355-5668 954-437-1111 954-431-2200 877-832-6747

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Now you can make your smartphone

even smarter. Top 10 reasons you should download the Hotwire Fision App today: Here’s the Top 10 reasons you should

10 Easily view your bill and billing history, make payments, & set up auto pay. Make your smartphone download the Hotwire Fision App right now:

even smarter. 9

Help save some trees and save yourself some money selecting Paperless Billing (yeah, it’spayments, that easy). 10 byEasily view your bill and billing history, make & set up auto pay.

View the list of Fision services that are included as part Billing of your property’s amenities package and check out (yeah, it’s that easy). all the exciting optional services available. Call to add services right from the app.

Help save some trees and save yourself some money by selecting Paperless

View the list of Fision services that are included as part of your property’s amenities package and check out all the exciting optional services available. fromCall that showing them the Pembroke Falls to flip add phone services by right from the app.

Prove to your neighbors that you finally upgraded Community Portal, right from the app. View community announcements & more. 7 Prove to your neighbors that you finally upgraded from that flip phone by

off telecommunications your particular community’s information right from the app. Cablefax, the nations leading trade publicationshowing for the industry, events, community amenities moreTV. all at your fingertips. 6selected Did someone misplace the remote again?as The app also Upcoming functions as a remote control for and Fision Hotwire Communications Independent Operator Of The Year for 2020.

6 Did someone (not you of course) misplace the remote again? The app also Here's just a bit of what they had to say: functionsNever as a remote for Fision TV. Ever feel like the only one who missed the hot new TV show? again!control You can schedule DVR recordings and manage your DVR from anywhere right on your5phone. Ever feel like the only one who missed the hot new TV show? Never again! You

can schedule DVR recordings and manage your DVR from anywhere right on yourpull phone. The next time that annoying neighbor starts to approach, out your phone, select the Fision Hotwire app and pretend you’re on a call. We won’t tell! 4 The next time that annoying neighbor starts to approach, pull out your phone,

select the Fision Hotwire app and pretend you’re on a call. We won’t tell!

Stuck at home in a boring Zoom meeting? Launch the3 app, select TV Everywhere and the watch shows. Stuck in a boring meeting? Launch app, your selectfavorite TV Everywhere and watch your favorite shows.

2 Need a little help? We can’t pick you up at the airport organize yourWe closet app provides helpful info 2 or Need a little help? can’t but pick our you up at the airport or organize your closet Downloading our Hotwire Fision app only

and Live Chat where you can communicate with an actual being from Experience Center. but human our app provides helpfulour infoCustomer and Live Chat where you can communicate

takes seconds and it will have your smart

with an actual human being from our Customer Experience Center.

phone or tablet performing all kinds of useful, fun, new tricks. Need convincing?

The app is free and available for Apple iPhone/iPad most Android the phones & tablets from And the #1and reason to download Hotwire Fision app right now: your device’s app store. Open your app store, search for Hotwire Fision, download & enjoy!

Download now and enjoy a FREE VOD movie on us! Our gift to you for downloading (and enjoying) the app.

MEET YOUR PEMBROKE FALLS HOTWIRE ACCOUNT MANAGER ELLA MORILLO Email ella.morillo@hotwirecommunication.com

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WHAT DO I DO WITH MY DISAGREEMENT?

Letter from Vice President Treasurer- Dan Kooperman I learned early on in corporate life that it is difficult to get agreement from all groups on all things. This is simply how life works as we all know. Through training and experience, however, I have learned that there are many opportunities to channel a difference of opinion in positive ways. I have been on the Master Board of Directors now for over 4 months and I believe we have accomplished significant progress. Although it is disheartening to be bombarded with fact-free information, it bears paying attention to what is actually said. This board has done almost everything it can to encourage all homeowners to participate in the process; from attending meetings to joining committees. The attendance for each MBOD hovers around 40 people out of 4500 residents. Not exactly a coup in communication. The Board meetings are the place to go to learn firsthand what is happening with the community and to render opinions that will be heard by the Board and the community. Homeowners are free to agree, disagree, modify, improve and render opinions on issues before the Board makes a decision. The HOA follows Robert’s rules of order so that discussions can be centered on the issues without personal attacks against anybody. As we participate in our meetings with neighbors, let’s apply the Golden Rule; let’s treat each other as we want to be treated. I thought it might be useful to publish many of the things we have accomplished since we took over:

OVERVIEW OF PROGRESS TO DATE • Increased available operating cash to over 1 month • Hired new attorney; Russ Robbins • Authorized emergency expenditures by President not to exceed $10,000. • Clubhouse hours extended to 10 PM. • Opened tennis courts. • Opened basketball courts. • Opened gym. • Terminated contract with ADC (clubhouse renovation). • Created logo for Homeowners Association. • Established Pembroke Falls email addresses for use by homeowners for contacting the MBOD. • Business cards for officers of the MBOD (4 people) • Lights for tennis and basketball courts replaced. • Purchased lift for future replacement of all lighting. • LED lights installed in clubhouse parking lot. • Waterfall repaired. • Clubhouse fountain repaired. • Miller Legg Engineering firm hired to do tree inventory. • Arborist hired to assist in tree mitigation plans and community landscaping.

• Flashers ordered for 4 way stop intersection. • Competitive Insurance Agent procurement process to drive $129,000 savings. • Renegotiated landscape contract to remove wet checks from current agreement, improving service and reducing costs. • Changed mowing cycles also to reduce that cost by $8,000. • Whitefly treatment added back into budget. • Awarded engineering contract for the design of pool holding tank and sand filter. • Awarded contract for tennis and basketball courts resurfacing, scheduled to start June 1st, 2021. • Approved drainage re-certification. • Awarded tree removal and replacement to Coconuts for College. • Awarded Lime Landscaping to manage irrigation systems east of Pembroke Falls Blvd. • Awarded Research Irrigation to manage irrigation systems west of Pembroke Falls Blvd. • Awarded sidewalk replacement to Concrete Works. • Modified ARB rules & regs to add colors and additional design flexibility.

From the board’s perspective, we have tried to be fully transparent, and I believe we have gone a long way toward that goal. Disagreements are fine, and they are healthy. If properly expressed and handled; disagreements will improve our community, and they will bring a broad base support for the actions taken by the Board representing the community. Disagreement can be addressed in a positive way if we truly keep our minds open to the possibilities for improvement out. We are thankful to live in a country where freedom of speech is in the United States Constitution. This freedom applies to social media and any other means of communication. Responsible use of the freedom of expression includes mutual respect, and decorum. Effective use of freedom of expression occurs by participation in the board and committee meetings. This is where the work of the community gets done. Hope to see you there.

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Pembroke Falls - A Tree City Our City of Pembroke Pines is a designated Tree City. This requires that everyone maintain a specific amount of Tree Canopy to offset air and noise pollution, which improves our quality of life and the value of our homes. The original developer of Pembroke Falls, Engle Homes, was required to provide a landscaping plan for each home and the common areas. The landscaping masterplan included Live Oaks, Mahogany, Green Buttonwoods, Red Maples, Sweet and Wild Tamarinds, creating a diversity of tree species throughout the community. Crystal Harbor was made more appealing with the planting of rows of stately Royal Palms. A different approach was taken in The Sanctuary with installation of six Medjool Palms at the entrance and oaks inside the swales. Typically, each lot would include either a Live Oak, a Dahoon Holly or a Magnolia. The front of the house often contained Queen Palms, a Crape Myrtle, Specimen Tree, or a Japanese Privet as the variety selected for that street. Some of the challenges faced by Pembroke Falls is that all our lakes were created by the developer by excavating the limestone, which was useful for elevating our roads and lots. However, the limestone makes a poor growing medium, so roots are more inclined to stay near the surface to find nutrients. Soil amendments are often needed for healthy landscaping. Tree species like Live Oaks and Mahogany grow to have expansive canopies and tree roots. These species roots are so aggressive they can compromise sidewalks, gutters, streets, driveways, utility lines, pools, and foundations. To remove or replace a tree one must request approval from the Pembroke Falls Architectural Review Board (ARB) then submit a permit request to the City of Pembroke Pines Building Dept.

*Please call 800-dig Do not dig to locate utilities before commencing. In future editions, look for more information on Feeding, Non-Toxic Pest and disease control and recommendations for selecting replacement plant material.

Roy O Mc Donald

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Ronnie what is your sports background I played all sports growing up, including some gymnastics, swimming, tennis, bowling and football. I played baseball, ran track in high school, and got a scholarship to Univ. of Miami for Band. Now I am playing competitive softball in my spare time. How did you get into CrossFit? I moved to Pembroke Pines and lived near a gym, where I met Gissel. I had never done any bodybuilding/ weightlifting outside of baseball and track before. When I saw others lifting more than I could then my ego kicked in and I had to figure out how to train to be more competitive. I do not like lifting weights unless I have a purpose to enable other sport activities. Getting into CrossFit for me was very different; I had never done any sports before. I had a teacher in High school who encouraged me to try out for the track team but I did not want to do it. In my late twenties, a friend got me to try CrossFit at the same gym Ronnie was at (CrossFit Fever) and after the first class, I was hooked. I enjoyed weight lifting, but I initially hated the running, and anything cardio, so now I really had to push myself into more cardio. However, I loved the atmosphere, the comradery, everyone cheering each other on, and the

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By contributing editor

Pat Mason (PM)

competitiveness, I loved it. So you guys got serious with it and went into CrossFit Competition? Not right away but yes, after my first year I got into competing. I joined a competitive training class but you had to try out for it. I was able to keep up with some of the true athletes but my experience was low and I needed to gain more skills but because of my athletic background, I had to learn how to work with the heavy weights immediately. So it is all about technique? Not all but yes, you have to learn that first in order to not get injured and reach the higher volume weights. Did you compete too Gissel? Yes but not right away. I did not compete until I was in my thirties. You had to build up to it? Yes, I had to work up to it. In one of my first competitions, I lost to a 22-year-old girl but I placed second ahead of other women in their twenties. So your CrossFit competitions were a series of different athletic events, right? Yes there are different disciplines that test your strength and skills.

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By contributing editor

Pat Mason (PM)

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So every year around February there is a CrossFit Open where you sign up for 5 weeks of five different tests to measure where you stand in the world based on age groups. You never know until the Thursday of each week what the tests/ events are going to be, so you do not have time for specific training last minute. Either you have it in your wheelhouse or you do not. Event organizers throw curve balls at you with unknown tests, right? Yes, the workouts are a base of movements that all athletes should be able to do (to a certain degree). However, some advanced movements may be programmed that many have yet to develop that skill and that could be the week they get a low score. CrossFit teams however, will have specialists (skilled at lifting heavy weights or a cardio person who likes the skilled events only but may not lift heavy weight), but there is always a “utility” person on every team that has a good mix of each area. You can walk on your hands? Yes and I have it on video. GH (Laughs) I cannot do that. So at what point in the Covid shutdown did you two decide to set up a CrossFit-style training gym in your garage? Immediately. Gissel works out every day, often twice a day. The social connection of the CrossFit culture is strong; didn’t you miss the friendship? You have to be disciplined and really motivated to do this training on your own. Once things started getting bad with Covid, and we knew people who were really getting sick, we did not want to take the chance to get the virus and spread it to our families, especially parents. So we talked about it and figured out what basic equipment we would need; a pull up bar, bench, bumper weights and Olympic barbells (male/ female), floor pads, dumbbells, kettlebells. Our CrossFit gym (Freakin CrossFit) programs the workouts and sends them to us on an app. When you start out its imperative to have the coach at the gym for your technique. Nothing replaces that. After a few years of competition though, you know the routines; what you have to work on and how to train effectively. You can also get feedback from CrossFit coaches by sending in videos of your training So today's workout is what is written up here on the erase board? GH Yes. Tomorrow morning I will do a running workout with bodyweight only like burpees. In the afternoon, I will do a barbell and lifting workout. Our gym puts the workouts online so we can look it up every day. I have competed for six years, so I know a majority of the movements and drills in the workouts to program for myself. So are your workouts now to stay in shape or gearing

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towards a competition? Both-There is a competition coming up in May but it is a team event and I probably will not sign up. My strengths are weights, ropes and squats. I was working on improving my swimming right before Covid stopped everything. I do not want to put on too much weight to lift more. I am happy to do enough to improve my functional strength for work. I am just looking to get a good sweat in. I see a “10 X” underneath a hard workout—that is intense. When you are doing a competition the warm up would be six repetitions of that work out. Everything in competition is timed, right? And with paid judges watching every move? Of course. You can see the strengths of your competitors as they perform the same tasks next to you. Usually everyone has an outstanding specialty they excel in. The amount of energy you have to put into workouts is huge; probably equal to or greater than a full workday of the day job. True, but the benefits are great; it is so motivating and inspirational to see friends make huge gains in ability over time. It is amazing that the body can endure the volume of training needed to compete at a high level. A 225lbs clean was a big goal for me a few years ago. Now, 185-225 is the warm up weight for my lifts as they get heavy fast. I know some teenagers also throw that weight around as they grew up around CrossFit so it is humbling all the time. So the diet is crucial now for building muscle and energy storage right? Yes, we pretty much eat on a daily basis as if we are training for a competition. It becomes a lifestyle. I am into more quality than quantity now; I do a lot of yoga, mobilization and a good warm up before working out. We track all our workouts and can compare what we are doing to previous performances. What do you mean by mobilization? Stretching? Pre stretching muscle groups? Yes, you have to prepare your body and muscles for lifting heavy weight, running and other movements. Basically, a strong warmup hence the 10x prior. Mobilizing wrists, ankles, back (lower/ upper) is critical. Lifting is always tightening so you have to work on the opposite. Any new equipment for the gym? We are going to add a rower or assault bike, rack for bench press and heavier bumper plates. …and some rings for the pull-up bar-- I want to do ring dips to strengthen my back muscles. We will not get beyond ourselves with the equipment as what is equally important is continuing to fit both our vehicles in the garage.

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

MAY 2021 Bulk Pick-up Days: Friday May 7th and Friday May 21st JUNE 2021 Bulk Pick-up Days: Friday June 4th and Friday June 18th Please visit https://pembrokefallsweb.gridsystems.net/Page/7 for the latest calendar updates.

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Nuisance Corner A resident walking through Bimini Bay noticed these four plastic bags laying at the foot of a swale tree. Upon further observation, it was noted that these bags were the type that dog owners use to pick up the feces of their pets. Resident could not understand why someone would do this? Most pet owners are responsible; however, we ask for you to be mindful and dispose of pet waste in the proper receptacles.

A Homeowner in Bimini Bay is very upset and is asking neighbors to keep their House Cats at home. It seems that there are at least three cats who frequent the property. One is black and white; another is a dark gray and the third one has grey stripes; is small in stature with No tail and has a bell around the neck. Of particular concern is that one of the cats spends a great deal of time luxuriating on the homeowner's patio furniture, soiling the material with dirty paw prints, hair and odor. The Homeowner has taken all Reasonable actions to keep the cats out of the yard and complains that it is irresponsible of House Pet owners to allow their pets to wander in the community. If some action is not taken to relieve the community of this nuisance, the homeowner suggests that they might be in the market for a territorial yard dog. Let's try harder to be considerate of others.

One or more of our neighbors are actively and systematically defacing the streets and intersections in our community. This behavior is illegal, and the perpetrators can be prosecuted for defacing private property. Those involved are urged to cease and desist with this behavior or risk legal action. Thank you for your cooperation. We want to keep our community beautiful.

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