WWW.NORTHDALE.ORG
JULY • AUGUST 2022
NORTHDALE CIVIC ASSOCIATION COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER
Greetings to all Northdale residents and homeowners. I hope everyone is doing well and in good health. If you just joined our community, the Northdale Civic Association, Inc. (NCA) wants to take this opportunity to welcome you to the community. Northdale is a highly respected, low crime, familyoriented neighborhood that offers residents many amenities. Northdale businesses offer a wide variety of goods and services. The 19th Northdale Family Fun Festival & Parade on April 23rd was blessed with picture-perfect weather which brought out a large crowd of >3,200 to enjoy the free food, games, and entertainment. People from all over Hillsborough County and beyond came to Northdale Park and were impressed with our community. This was possible due to the generosity and commitment of the many supportive table sponsors, participating restaurants, and food vendors. I’ve included a CORRECTED COPY of all the Sponsors and people that helped make this event a success. Meet the Candidates Night. On Thursday, July 28th, the Northdale Civic Association, in partnership with Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation Dept., Northdale Park,
will host Meet the Candidates Night at Northdale Park Recreation Center, 15510 Hooting OWLS Drive, Tampa, FL 33624 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The evening begins with an informal “Meet & Greet” from 6:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. giving all candidates an opportunity to interact with the public (see flyer for more information). What You Need To Know. I like to introduce this new section as part of my “President Letter” article. Intent is to provide you with valuable information regarding our community. • Hurricane Season kicks off June 1. Hillsborough County Emergency Operations Center is urging residents to prepare for incoming storms by building supply kits and having a plan. For more information, please visit the Hillsborough County Emergency Operations Center; Hillsborough County - Hurricane and Tropical Storm Preparedness • Northdale Areas of concerns:
◦ Parking on lawns – the storage of boats, RV’s and other vehicles continues to be a problem. Parking on lawns is strictly prohibited; boats and other watercraft, and boat trailers, may only be parked or stored in the garage, or behind a fence and concealed from view from the street.
◦
Driveway
extensions
-
any
driveway extensions must be constructed from the same materials as and match the original driveway.
◦ Fences - fences, walls and hedges
may be constructed or maintained only as permitted but in no event to exceed six (6) feet in height and four (4) feet height for those homes on the Golf Course. To promote an “open space” atmosphere for the benefit of the Golf Course, no solid line of fence, wall or shrubbery will be permitted on the Golf Course Easement Area. In closing, want to give back to community? want to get involved in the community? if you answer yes to either question, then we have two distinct but equally important ways you can be a contributor to the greater Northdale communities. Being involved with NCA in either capacity will put you in a better position to make a difference in your community. The board has three vacancies to fill. Anyone interested in serving in the Northdale Civic Association, please contact me directly or attend our monthly meetings, held on the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 7 P.M. at Northdale Park in the Bill Castens Gymnasium. Sincerely, Nelson Marcano President, Northdale Civic Association
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MERIT MANGEMENT (DEED RESTRICTION REPORT) During the month of May, Merit Management sent 167 letters to homeowners with maintenance concerns that need to be addressed. The most common concern addressed in the letters was the need to mow the lawn. The rain is finally here and so is the need to mow the lawn every week. Community inspectors understand that during rainy season the grass grows faster than most of us have the time for and this is taken into consideration during inspections, but if it is obvious that the lawn has been neglected for a longer period, a letter asking you to address the issue will be sent. If you receive a letter, please simply remedy the concern and if it is not a regular, recurring issue then it will simply be closed during the next inspection. In addition to the increased need for lawn maintenance, it appears many people have brought their boats home for the season. Please remember that those boats and jet skis can only be stored in the garage or behind a fence, so as to not be visible from the street.
Hurricane season is upon us! High winds and thunderstorms often bring down trees and branches. If you have large trees that have not be recently pruned or inspected, please consider doing so now. After storms occur, most qualified tree companies are busy with storm clean-up, and you may find yourself with a long wait for preventative maintenance. It is important to hire a qualified professionals to trim those large trees, as improper trimming can be to the detriment of the tree’s health and stability and do more harm than good. The University of Florida is a great resource for all tree pruning related questions and even provides a list of questions to help you select the right professional to work with your trees, for more information visit https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/ woody/arborist.shtml
Annual dues are $50.00. Please make your check payable to the Northdale Civic Associa on. Interested in joining the Northdale OWLS? Find a registra on form at WWW.NORTHDALE.ORG. The $15 annual OWLS’ dues are included with your NCA membership. Mail Payment to: Northdale Civic Associa on, 3853 Northdale Blvd. Box 374, Tampa, FL 33624 Or, you may pay using your credit or debit card online at: WWW. NORTHDALE.ORG Thank you for your support!
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WHAT IS THE NCA? The Northdale Civic Association is a volunteer organization whose mission is to make Northdale a better place to live and increase property values by enforcing the deed restrictions to which each homeowner is legally subject. The NCA is also the organized voice of Northdale, and represents residents when issues affecting Northdale are raised by Hillsborough County, the State of Florida and other governing bodies. The NCA issues this Newsletter and organizes the following events and programs: Welcome Wagon, Easter Egg Hunt, Community Garage Sales, Family Fun Festival, Northdale Pumpkin Run, Holiday Decorating Contest, Meet the Candidates, and the Northdale OWLS (Older, Wiser, Lively, Seniors). Board meetings are open to the public and held on the 3rd Tuesday of the month except December. HOW TO JOIN THE NCA Forms are available in each edition of the Northdale Newsletter. There are forms online at www.northdale.org. HOW TO JOIN THE BOARD ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP IS ONLY $50.00. All members are eligible to run for NCA Board positions in elections held each January. Elections for those positions are made by the sitting board at the monthly board meetings. The dates of those meetings are posted in the Community Calendar. NCA BOARD OFFICERS President: Nelson Marcano - Golf Club Estates II - 813-732-9998 Vice President: James Salgado - Fairway Villas, Brentwood Park & Country Mill - 813-610-2115 Secretary: Alicia Moreno – Bay Levitt - 813-963-1412 Treasurer: Bill Castens – The Woodlands - 813-833-0102 NCA BOARD DIRECTORS Gerald Johnson - Golf Club Estates I - 813-787-3103 Robert Demeo – Golf Club Estates III - 813-546-0873 Martha Hughes – Fox Hollow - 813-477-0924 Nelson Marcano – Claywell - 813-732-9998 Nelson Marcano – The Hammocks - 813-732-9998 Raymond Powell – Silverhill - 813-404-6082 Hector Hernandez Jr. - Gables I - 516-643-7385 Robert Demeo - Gables II - 813-546-0873 Amar Dembla - Gables III - 813-265-3225 DEED RESTRICTION VIOLATIONS The Deed Restriction documents for each of the “villages” that make up Northdale are available on the community website www.northdale.org. Select “Deed Restrictions” from the left side of the Main Page and click on the picture of the entrance to your “village” (e.g. Bay Levitt, Gables I, etc.) The deed restriction file will be displayed and can be printed off for your records. The NCA has contracted with Merit Management Association-Perfected (“Merit”) to conduct periodic neighborhood inspections and act on their findings of deed restriction violations. In addition, residents may request an investigation of a possible violation themselves from the Northdale website, www.northdale.org. From the left side of the Main Page, click on “Deed Restrictions”, page down and Select “Complaint Form” and fill it out with all pertinent information. A photo can be attached with the form to help document the problem. Select “Submit” to transmit the form directly to Merit at NCA@MeritFL.com. Deed Restriction Complaints must be in writing. When a deed restriction violation is found, Merit will send a letter to the homeowner(s) with a request to correct the problem(s). Merit will then complete a second inspection. Merit will send a second letter if the homeowner has not corrected the violation(s). Merit will then complete a third inspection. If the violation(s) remains after the third letter, legal action will be pursued. The resident will be notified of this step in the fourth letter. If there are extenuating circumstances that prevent a homeowner from correcting the violation(s), it is recommended they document the reason by writing to Merit at NCA@MeritFL.com. The NCA will not get involved in conflicts between neighbors, animal complaints or landscaping issues due to drought. NORTHDALE.ORG
Meeting Location Note: Northdale Civic Association & Northdale Special District meetings are held in Building B - game room Northdale Park & Rec Center 15550 Spring Pine Drive Tampa, FL 33624 July 5, 2022 August 2, 2022 OWLS Meeting 10:00 a.m. July 12, 2022 August 9, 2022 NSD meeting 7:00 p.m. July 19, 2022 August 16, 2022 NCA meeting 7:00 p.m.
Residents are always welcome and your input is truly appreciated. Please remember to wear a face mask and adhere to social distancing.
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Monthly Meetings on 1st Tues 10 AM @ Northdale Park Our Mission is to create a growing network of co-ed seniors, to provide social activities, local events, travel, entertainment and educational seminars in common interest groups as ways to safely enjoy our lives.
Hot & Humid Weather in Paradise! July 5, Tues – No Monthly Meeting Today...Next Monthly Meeting is Aug 2nd. July 13, Wed – Morean Arts Center: Chihuly Exhibit , Hot Shop and Bo’s Ice Cream Stop. July 14, Thurs – Concordia Independent Living Tour & Luncheon. July 18, Mon – Bunco & Lunch at Brunchies, 14366 N. Dale Mabry Hwy. July 20, Wed – Early Supper Bunch at Black Rock Restaurant (Separate Checks). Aug 2, Tues – Stacey Knights – SAX with a VOICE & Glazed Rosemary Chicken meal! Aug 9, Thurs – Florida Polytechnic University Tour & Lunch at Ford’s Garage. Aug 15, Mon – Bunco & Lunch at Brunchies, 14366 N. Dale Mabry Hwy. Aug 17, Wed -- Lunch Bunch to St. Petersburg Pier (Separate Checks). Aug 18, Thurs – Tampa International Airport tour & lunch at Maggiano’s Little Italy. Aug 25, Thurs—Tampa Bay Rays vs. Los Angeles baseball – GO RAYS! Sept 6, Tues – Gil Machin – Jazz Guitarist & Tender Beef Pot Roast lunch.
For other scheduled events and more, See Owls website at: www.NorthdaleOWLS.com Weekly Activities include Bill’s Blooming Orchid Buddies, Bridge, Hand & Foot Cards, Line Dancing, Mexican Train Dominos, Mah Jongg, Pickleball, Walking, Yoga for Seniors, Singing, Spanish Class, Tai Chi, Table Tennis, Tone & Stretch and Meals on Wheels! Got Questions? Talk to any member of the OWLS, Or contact Raheem Douglas at (813) 450-6502, Or contact Bill Castens at (813) 833-0102
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NORTHDALE SPECIAL DISTRICT It is amazing to think that we are half way through 2022! Wasn’t it just week last we were taking down holiday decorations?! We seem to be moving closer to completing projects that have been delayed for a number of reasons. When you look around Northdale, you will notice a few walls that have been repaired due to aging or auto accidents. Within the next 2 weeks, these walls will be primed and, finally, painted. Between curing concrete, time taken by other projects and weather, it has been a long wait to get these projects done. There has also been a long wait to install the monuments at the entrances of the villages. (Ex. Gables One, Woodlands) Permit requests were submitted to the County a while ago. It is, unfortunately, a slow, bureaucratic process. The planning, design and engineering of the monuments is also happening, but require County approval. Ah, one day…! With the passing of Memorial Day, we enter the social, if not meteorological, start of Summer. It is a more casual time of the year when folks enjoy getting together for parties and cookouts, often with large groups of people. Please make sure that your good time doesn’t become disruptive and stressful for your neighbors. You can start by giving your neighbors a “heads up” about your event. When it comes to parking, make sure that your visitors are not blocking driveways and sidewalks or clogging the street around your house. Most importantly, be sure to take your party or cookout inside after 10 PM. Be considerate of your neighbors, especially those who are very young or very elderly. Your loud music and vibrations from a heavy bass destroy sleep, especially beyond a reasonable time at night. These steps take common courtesy. Consideration and common courtesy are becoming a thing of the past. This appears to be true in the American culture in general and, on a smaller scale, within Northdale. There have been articles many times in this newsletter about recognizing and following Deed Restrictions but it is like “preaching to the choir.” There are so many examples of properties that scream “I don’t care!” The more people ignore the guidance and rules stated in the Deed Restrictions, the seedier and less valuable property becomes for everyone. Northdale is becoming more of a community of renters. Whether you are a homeowner or a home renter, it is still your home. The area around your home is bordered by the homes of others. You have a responsibility to keep your home not only nice for you to look at but also helps to improve the whole area for your neighbors. Don’t be that neighbor whose yard and home are the eyesore of the neighborhood. Don’t be that neighbor who ignores the simplest of Deed Restrictions. The Special District is a board of neighbors who volunteer to focus on the overall appearance of Northdale, directing the use of funds raised from property taxes. Deed restriction supervision is one small area of focus. The Special District board also focuses on keeping the common areas of Northdale neat and attractive. They meet at the Northdale Recreation Center on the second Tuesday of every month. Please consider attending a meeting to see what it is all about. Better yet, join the board! Be a voice in determining projects that keep Northdale both attractive and well maintained and helping its property value to stay high. Thank you, Tom Murray, President NORTHDALE.ORG
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NORTHDALE SPECIAL DISTRICT WHAT is the NSD? The Northdale Special District is a Hillsborough County dependent tax district. The Northdale Special District was originally set-up under a State ordinance, but in 1992 was adopted under County ordinance #92-35. The County collects the taxes for the District and provides the ordinance or regulations that give authority to the District. Funds are derived from the County non-ad valorem tax of $130 per residential unit. Residents in single family homes, along with apartments and condominiums are assessed $130. Also, all properties within Northdale boundaries including businesses
Northdale Special District Board of Trustees Tom Murray President Earl Albright Vice President Anthony Rodriguez Treasurer
and other non-profit groups are taxed based on an equitable per residential unit basis. The Northdale Special District is responsible for maintaining the common areas throughout Northdale. These areas include the main entrances coming into Northdale, landscaping in common areas alongside roadways and medians, neighborhood entrances, the outer surface of the block walls and along the roadside. The Northdale Special District also maintains selected lakes and wetland areas along the main roadways in Northdale. The Northdale Special District is governed by a Board of nine trustees who are elected by the public or appointed by the Board. Board members must be registered voters and reside in Northdale. The trustees receive no compensation for their work. The board has hired an administrator, Merit Management, to complete many of the day-to-day details of the Northdale Special District, including deed restrictions. The administrator is a sub-contracted (paid) position. The Northdale Special District, unlike the County, does NOT maintain roads, street lighting, street signs, installation of speed humps or animal safety concerns. These issues should be directed to Hillsborough County. The main purpose of the Northdale Special District is to keep Northdale a neat and attractive community. Although separate from the Northdale Civic Association, the Northdale Special District is partnering with the NCA in the enforcement of Deed Restrictions. Together, the Northdale Special District and the NCA will continue working towards their goal of making Northdale a great place to live.
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Don Hachey Secretary Bill Castens Ronny Garcia Ray Klaus Bill Loring Anthony Romano Contact Information 813-381-5435 Northdale Special District 3433 Lithia Pinecrest Rd #301 Valrico, FL 33596 rick@meritfl.com Northdale Special District meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. Building B - game room Northdale Park & Rec Center 15550 Spring Pine Drive Tampa, FL 33624 Next meetings are: July 12, 2022 August 9, 2022 11
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“WEEKLY RECREATION PROGRAMS for OWLS” Sponsored by: Hillsborough County Parks, Recrea on Department in partnership with the Northdale Owls Contact with any ques ons: Raheem “Coach” Douglas at 813-450-6502 or Douglasr@HCFLGov.net BBOB’S (Bill’s Blooming Orchid Buddies) Games:
4th Tues
Contact: Bill Castens
(813) 833-0102
Bridge
Thurs
Contact: Shirley Beller (813) 961-5495
Hand & Foot
Tues
Contact: Kay Farland
Hand & Foot
Fri
Contact: Rose Oursler (813) 909-8082
Mah Jongg
Mondays
Contact: Hilda Hodges (813) 416-3317
Mah Jongg
Wednesdays
Contact: Marie Alley
(813) 889-7972
(813) 962-0063
Line Dance – Beginner
Mondays
10:30am-12 Noon
Free!
Line Dance – Improver
Thursdays
10:30am-12 Noon
Free!
Line Dance – Intermediate
Wednesday
10:30am-12 Noon
Free!
Mondays
8:30am-9:30am
$10/month
Varies
Ask staff for schedule
$10/month
Wednesdays
Contact Ed Rodriguez
(813) 810-9733
Pickleball Lessons – Beginning Players Pickleball Play Sing Along With Owls Walking Club
Mon-Fri
8:00am-12:00pm
Free!
YOGA for Seniors
Fridays
10:00am-11:00am
Free!
Our Mission … is to create a growing network of co-ed seniors, to provide social activities, local events, travel, entertainment, and educational seminars in common interest groups as ways to safely enjoy our lives.
Our Refund Policy… is to reimburse you for prepaid events if you give prior no fica on, and if we can resell cket to another par cipant, usually day of event.
Checkout the website at www.NorthdaleOWLS.org, or visit Northdale Park for details on how to join…
S ll Got Ques ons? Talk to any member of the OWLS,or contact Bill Castens at (813) 833-0102 Like Northdale OWLS on Facebook Your reserva on is made upon RECEIPT of your payment… Please itemize each event. Make checks payable and mail to: Northdale OWLS, 3853 Northdale Blvd., # 374, Tampa, FL 33624 Or DROP Payment in one of the “Lock Boxes” in all 3 Buildings at Northdale Park.
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The Northdale Civic Association needs YOU! Do you know all that the NCA is hard at work on to help improve your community? • • •
Deed Restrictions Enforcement. Northdale Owl’s. Community events: Family Fun Festival and parade, Easter Egg Hunt, Community Garage Sales, Pumpkin Run, Holiday Lighting Contest, and MUCH MUCH MORE!
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Representation to local government.
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Welcome Wagon Program for new residents.
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Support local schools.
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Support local businesses.
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Assist in crime watch.
Visit www.northdale.org Annual dues of $50.00 See page 3 of this newsletter for registration form NORTHDALE.ORG
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