Solivita Reflections | December 2022 (Limited Version)

REFLECTIONS

DECEMBER

VILLAGE CENTER HOURS

Administration: 863-427-7100

Monday-Friday 9am-5pm

C3 Wellness Spa: 407-914-9168

Monday-Thursday 8am-8pm Friday 8am-7pm

K&M Drugs: 863-496-7930

Monday-Friday 9am-6pm Saturday 9am-1pm and Sunday Closed

Marketplace Bistro: 863-427-7157

Daily 8am-7pm, Breakfast 8am-11am

Mosaics Restaurant Closed Until Further Notice

Riviera Spa & Fitness Center: 863-427-7130

Monday-Thursday 6:30am-9pm Friday 6:30am-7pm, Saturday-Sunday 7am-7pm

Solivita Club Facilities After Hours Emergency Phone Number: 863-286-8779 Weekdays 5pm-8pm and Weekends 12pm-5pm

Starlite Ballroom Daily 8am-11pm

Stonegate Pro Shop: 863-427-7150, option 1 Daily 7am-5pm

The Grille at Stonegate: 863-427-7167 Daily 11am-8pm

Breakfast: Wednesday-Sunday, 8am-11am

Happy Hour: Monday-Thursday 2pm-5pm

The Palms: 863-496-1530

Amenity Center: Monday-Sunday 8am-9pm

Kids Pool Hours

Monday-Friday 12pm-4pm

Saturday & Sunday 9am-9pm

Fitness Center

Monday-Thursday 6:30am -9pm

Friday 6:30am-7pm

Saturday-Sunday 7am-7pm

Waterfront Galleries Daily 8am-11pm

Welcome Center: 863-427-7000

Monday-Tuesday & Thursday-Saturday 10am -6pm Wednesday 1pm-6pm, Sunday 12pm -6pm

ON THE COVER

Cheers! Let’s Toast to the New Year! Whether you are celebrating New Year’s Eve in the Solivita Village Center, at home or are traveling, we wish all Solivita residents a vivacious 2023 New Year! Photos by Bill Labita.

CONTACT LIST

Community Manager (Association) - Rudy Bautista: 863-701-2969 or RBautista@Evergreen-LM.com

Club Manager - Sheri Wollschlager: 863-427-7129 or SWollschlager@Evergreen-LM.com

Director of Security & Safety - Paul Mears: 863-440-7572 or PaulM@VitalSecurity.com

Communications Director - Doug Gilbert: 863-427-7137 or SolivitaCommunications@Evergreen-LM.com

Evergreen Lifestyles Management (For ALL Club & HOA Matters) 24/7: 855-490-1804 or CustomerService@Evergreen-LM.com

Taylor Morrison Customer Care: 321-397-7247 or OrlandoCustomerCare@TaylorMorrison.com. Warranty Request: taylormorrison.com/warranty/request Activities: 863-427-7125 or SolivitaActivities@Evergreen-LM.com

Architectural Review: 863-427-7022 or Compliance@SolivitaHOA.com

Catering & Banquets (Stonegate Golf Club): 863-427-7150, option 5 Concierge: 863-427-7100 or Fax: 863-496-4456

Floralawn: 863-225-9565 or floralawn.com (Submit a Work Order)

Floralawn Irrigation Emergency After Hours: 863-225-9565 (Starting at 5pm all calls get routed directly to the on-call manager)

K&M Drugs: 863-496-7930 or Fax: 863-496-7931

Membership: 863-427-7143 or SolivitaMembership@Evergreen-LM.com

Resident to Resident Resource Center: 863-236-9973 or SolivitaR2R@gmail.com

Riviera Spa & Fitness Center: 863-427-7130

Security Gatehouses

Supervisor: 407-989-2417

Bella Viana Gate: 407-603-2422

Main Gate: 407-603-2399

Parkway Gate: 863-286-0329

South Gate (Marigold): 863-496-1473

Venezia Gate: 407-603-2397

West Gate (San Clemente): 863-496-1453

Solivita Sales: 863-427-7000

Stonegate Golf Club Directory: 863-427-7150

The Palms Amenity Center: 863-496-1530 or Fax: 863-496-0914

Violations & Compliance: 863-427-7151, 863-256-2897 or Compliance@SolivitaHOA.com

Visitor/Vendor Gate Access Voice Mail: 863-313-1314

DECEMBER TABLE OF CONTENTS

Newsletter Submission & Advertising Info ........................... Page 3

Department Articles Pages 4-15

Community Events Pages 16-18

Mosaics Special Nights Page 16 Wellness Events Page 18

A Touch of Class .................................................................. Pages 19-23

Club & Support Group Meeting Lists Pages 23-28

Club News Pages 29-53

Resident News Page 54

Advertisements Pages 54-92

Activities Events (back of calendar) ............... Insert Pages E1-E3

Events You Do Not Want to Miss .................... Insert Pages E1-E3

Future Events (January & February) Insert Page E3

Monthly Calendar (back of Activities Events) Insert

PHOTO RELEASE AGREEMENT

Evergreen Lifestyles Management reserves the right to use any photograph/video taken at any event sponsored by ELM and the respective community the event is happening in, without expressed written permission of those included within the photograph/video. ELM may use the photograph/ video in publications or other media material produced, used or contracted by ELM including but not limited to: brochures, invitations, books, newspapers, magazines, television, websites, etc. To ensure the privacy of individuals and children, images will not be identified using full names or personal identifying information without written approval from the photographed subject, parent or legal guardian.

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

» SolivitaHOA.com: SolivitaCommunications@ Evergreen-LM.com

» Reflections: Reflections@Evergreen-LM.com

» Community Channel 732: CommunityChannel@ Evergreen-LM.com

NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS

Email submissions to Reflections@Evergreen-LM.com

JANUARY SUBMISSIONS

Calendar submissions and newsletter articles are due on Thursday, December 1st. Club insert copies are due by Thursday, December 22nd, but must be approved by the Club Manager, Sheri Wollschlager (SWollschlager@ Evergreen-LM.com) or the Communications Director, Doug Gilbert (SolivitaCommunications@EvergreenLM.com) before they are copied. Solivita Clubs with recurring weekly/monthly meetings need to submit their meeting information in order to be included in the Reflections Calendar Insert for each calendar year. Please include the complete information even if it hasn’t changed, including club name, day and date of meeting, time, and location. Groups that made an annual submission for 2022 are NOT automatically carried over.

FEBRUARY SUBMISSIONS

Calendar submissions and newsletter articles are due on Monday, January 2nd.

ADVERTISING INFO

Solivita reserves the right to refuse advertisement and does not guarantee any work or claims made by advertisers. Advertisement in Reflections does not constitute an endorsement or approval of goods or services by Solivita. For More Info: Visit the advertising website at SolivitaAdvertising.com, call 863-440-0377, or email SolivitaAdvertising@Evergreen-LM.com

REFLECTIONS DELIVERY

If you are leaving Solivita or returning to the community and want to change the status of the Reflections delivery to your home, you can do this on the Gate Website. Log on to the website at websites. vertilinc.com/solivitahoa and click the Reflections button or tab. Change delivery status to YES or NO. Contact Membership for log on information at SolivitaMembership@Evergreen-LM.com

Solivita Club Project Updates

BY SHERI WOLLSCHLAGER CLUB MANAGER

Solivita is moving into another year, so it is the time of year that I get to brag about all the projects my team was able to complete this year. The team includes all the ELM Staff members who work in Activities, FitWell, Housekeeping and Maintenance.

» The major project we completed this year was replacing all the pool furniture. Thank you to the Solivita Club Committee for assisting in picking the colors and the type of furniture. The Palms is scheduled to be dipped and restrapped along with new tables and umbrellas in 2023.

» Another major project we completed this year is installing a new sidewalk behind the Starlite Ballroom and beside the Butterfly Garden. This sidewalk allows better access from the community to Freedom Park. During the project, we also installed a golf cart parking area for our beautiful Butterfly Garden.

» New and improved Activities and FitWell email blast newsletters.

» Upgraded the light system in Mosaics.

» New ceiling affixed projectors in The Palms Amenity room, Riviera Spa & Fitness Center 2nd Floor and the Gator Room.

» Ballroom upgrades and additions: Bluetooth functionality added, HDMI connection added behind the permanent bar, new audio mixer and three new digital microphones.

» Installed a turf sitting area in the small dog park and extra sod replacement.

» Improvements to the grass at the Chess Lawn by The Grille and added market lights for events.

» Upgraded the elevators in Administration, Bistro and Riviera Spa & Fitness Center to meet the 2023 new codes. Plan to do more upgrades to the elevators in 2023.

» Replaced six pickleball courts at Freedom Park.

» Repaired several areas of sidewalk in Club areas, including Freedom Park.

» Resurfaced the tennis courts at The Palms.

» Replaced trellises at Riviera Spa & Fitness Center pool deck and Lago Vista pool along with installing new countertops in the restrooms.

» Interior painting in the Art, Ceramics and Billiards Galleries.

» The FitWell Team had one of their most successful Health Fairs this year with over 1,000 residents in attendance.

» The Activities Team, along with the help from the

Housekeeping and Maintenance departments throw several outstanding street parties and one heck of an Arts & Craft Festival. The New Year’s Eve parties will be a blast.

» Developed a Solivita Merchandise store on SolivitaHOA. com. Display of items is in the window located just outside of the Administration office area on Village Drive.

» TV added in the Magnolia Room for club board and committee meetings to use.

» Updated the indoor and outdoor wireless access points around the Village Center.

» Replaced The Palms Lobby A/C unit.

» Venezia tennis court LED lighting upgrade.

» Replaced pool packs at 3-4 satellite pools. This project will continue into 2023.

» Replaced the stone face of the Riviera Spa & Fitness Center columns.

2022 was a fun year and we can’t wait for all the excitement and improvements we have planned for 2023. From the Evergreen Lifestyles Management Team, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all our Solivita residents and their families. We hope you have a safe holiday season along with good health and happiness for the New Year.

Remembering Mom

I want to take a moment to tell you that my Mom passed away on Friday, November 4th. Mom has provided me with many jokes that I have published in our monthly Reflections over the years. She loved being part of Solivita through our publication. Mom and her jokes will be sorely missed. In honor of Mom, here is one of my favorite jokes from her.

A man suffered a serious heart attack while shopping in a store. The store clerks called 911 when they saw him collapse to the floor. The paramedics rushed the man to the nearest hospital where he had emergency open heart bypass surgery. He awakened from the surgery to find himself in the care of nuns at the Catholic Hospital he was taken to. A nun was seated next to his bed holding a clipboard loaded with several forms and a pen. She asked him how he was going to pay for his treatment.

Sheri’s article continued from page 4

“Do you have health insurance?” she asked.

He replied in a raspy voice, “No health insurance.”

The nun asked, “Do you have money in the bank?”

He replied, “No money in the bank.”

“Do you have a relative who could help you with the payments?” asked the irritated nun.

He said, “I only have a spinster sister, and she is a nun.”

The nun became agitated and announced loudly, “Nuns are not spinsters! Nuns are married to God.”

The patient replied, “Perfect. Send the bill to my brother-in-law.”

2023 RECURRING CLUB CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS

Solivita Clubs with recurring weekly/monthly meetings need to submit their meeting information in order to be included in the Reflections Calendar Insert for each calendar year. You may start sending in your submissions for 2023.

Please include the complete information in your submission even if it hasn’t changed, including club name, day and date of meeting, time, and location. Double check your meeting dates and be sure to note any cancellations due to holidays, etc. If you list a meeting on a holiday, it will be included on the calendar.

Groups that made an annual submission for 2022 are NOT automatically carried over into the new year. To ensure your club meeting makes it onto the January 2023 calendar, please send submissions to Reflections@Evergreen-LM. com by Thursday, December 1st . Sheri Wollschlager 863-427-7129 swollschlager@evergreen-LM.com

‘Tis the Season to Sign-Up for 2023 Opportunities Now!

BY JANA MALIK DIRECTOR OF ACTIVITIES

2023 Dog Park Registration

Starting on December 12th, the Activities department will have the 2023 Dog Park dog tags for purchase by cash, check or credit card. Bring updated vaccinations if they are close to expiring. We have owners’ 2022 dog vaccinations on file if they are still current. The registration form is available by scanning the QR code, on SolivitaHOA.com under Lifestyles, Dog Park and then stop by our office to pay and get the tag(s).

Example

Photo by Bill Labita.

Solivita Club Expo

Saturday, January 14th from 10am-1pm Solivita Clubs interested in having a table in the Ballroom (and Mosaics if needed) must register by clicking on QR code, going to SolivitaHOA.com Home Page by clicking on the RSVP for Activities events icon and going to the event date in the Activities Events Calendar or email SolivitaActivities@ evergreen-lm.com with your club name, contact person name and phone number.

Mardi Gras Parade & Street Party

Tuesday, February 21st

Sign up for food booths and dance performances beginning on Monday, December 12th at 9am.

FOOD BOOTHS : Solivita Clubs & Neighborhood Groups interested in having a booth to sell food or desserts behind the Bistro Café and along the Ballroom side road, must register by scanning the QR code, going to SolivitaHOA.com Home Page by clicking on the RSVP Activities Events icon and going to the event date in the Activities Events Calendar or email SolivitaActivities@Evergreen-LM.com with your club name, contact person name and phone number and the item(s) interested in selling.

FOOD ITEM DESIRED TO SELL IS PRE-APPROVED BY ACTIVITIES AND BOOTH LOCATIONS WILL BE ASSIGNED, FIRST COME, FIRST CHOICE. Duplicate food or dessert items are NOT permitted. Photo by Joe Thomas.

DANCE PERFORMANCES : Solivita dance or cultural clubs or Fitness dance classes who are interested in performing a routine in the Ballroom may RSVP for their desired and available time by scanning the QR code, going to SolivitaHOA.com Home Page by clicking on the RSVP Activities Events icon and going to the event date in the Activities Events Calendar or email SolivitaActivities@Evergreen-LM.com with your club or fitness class name, contact person name and phone number. A limit of eight 15-minute time slots will be available, with a performance time of 10 minutes or less. Performance does not have to be Mardi Gras theme related and the stage will have three rows of added staging for better audience viewing. Photo by Joe Thomas.

Jana’s article continued from page 6

Spring 2023 Community Garden Application

You can fill out the application form for the Spring season (March-August) where we will hold it until the Friday, February 10th application deadline. New gardeners pay $50 for the season which includes a $25 refundable deposit. Returning gardeners pay $25. For more information or to apply, scan the QR code, go to SolivitaHOA. com under Lifestyles, Community Garden or call or stop into the Activities office. Please note that the application is not a definite guarantee of a garden plot as it depends on how many applications are received compared to the number of available garden plots.

Village Drive Road Closings

The Village Center road will be closed from the Ballroom to the Pro Shop roundabout for the following events:

» Holiday Festivities Program - Monday, December 5th from 5:30pm-8pm

» New Year’s Eve Parties – Saturday, December 31st from 3pm-2am

Spooktacular Costume Contest, Parade & Street Party

Costume Contest Winners - Photos by Joe Thomas Kudos to everyone who entered the Costume Contest! It was NOT an easy decision to select the final winners! They were all outstanding costumes!

Funniest:

Event Video – Seltzer Films Scan the QR Reader or go to SolivitaHOA. com, Lifestyles, Videos to check it out.

The Activities Team and I hope you have an enjoyable holiday season and New Year’s Eve

friends wherever you go, but then, get ready for us to bring out all the stops and more next year!

Keep The Party Going, well into 2023!!!

Jana Malik 863-427-7125 JMalik@Evergreen-LM.com

with family and

Most Frightful: “Human Butchers” Scott and Rhonda Svihula

Best Couple : “Steampunk Couple” Sue and Herm Liebau

Most Creative : “Granny Shower Lady” Nancy Harvey

Best Club or Neighborhood Group : “Wizard of Oz” of Vizcaya South - Bill, Mark, Charlie, Jeanette, Jackie and Lisa

Best Character or Famous Person : “Ursula” Susan Hebert

“Colonoscopy Trio” George Sprague, Kris Vitale & Brian Perks

An Artsy Success!

The Fall Arts and Crafts Festival Committee and the Activities team would like to THANK both vendors and visitors for participating in the 21st Annual Fall Arts and Crafts Festival at Solivita this past November and for supporting the St. Rose of Lima Food Pantry Fund Drive. You helped us raise over $1,311 !

We want to extend a special thanks to the Solivita staff including Club Communications, Membership, Housekeeping and Maintenance; Stonegate Golf Catering; Floralawn and Vital Security and the OVER 100 resident volunteers whose time, talents and energy make this community event possible!

With another great year behind us, we are looking forward to 2023. Mark your calendars for the 22nd Annual Fall Arts and Crafts Festival at Solivita scheduled for Saturday, November 4th.

If you have any comments or suggestions or if you would like to be a vendor next year, please email solivitafallfestival@ gmail.com or call Activities at 863-427-7125.

Photos provided by Gaby Backert, Joe Thomas and Susan Katsoff.

Co-Sponsored by the Solivita University Committee and Activities

All annual passes and January courses will go on sale starting on Thursday, December 1st at 9am from SolivitaHOA.com Home Page by clicking on the Purchase Ticket or Class HERE icon. No studying, tests or exams are given, just enlightening topics to keep your mind energized. All classes are 90 minutes long unless otherwise noted. Solivita University class calendar and faculty biographies can be found on SolivitaHOA.com under Get Connected. Adult guests welcome. For more information, call the Activities Office at 863-427-7125 or email SolivitaActivities@Evergreen-LM.com.

2023 Great Decision (GD) Discussions

Annual Pass

This is an annual pass for the Foreign Policy Association who produces a study guide (which comes included in the pass) with eight of the most critical global issues facing America. Great Decisions discussions are moderated on select days as advertised. The 2023 GD Annual Pass is $42 (or $47 for two sharing a book). Go to the SolivitaHOA.com Home Page, click on the Online Merchandise Store to purchase this pass or scan the QR Code. The study guide does not arrive until early January 2023 and you will be alerted by text and email when it is ready for pick-up.

Upcoming discussion topics include: Energy Geopolitics, War Crimes, China and the U.S., Economic Warfare, Politics in Latin America, Global Famine, Iran at a Crossroads and Climate Migration.

2023 Art and Literary Lecture Pass

This pass will allow residents admittance to any of approximately 14 Art and Literary Lectures starting in January 2023 for $20 per person. Art classes, presented by Art Historian Jan Clanton, are on Tuesdays as scheduled at 1pm in the Ballroom. Literary Lectures, taught by resident Professor Thomas Gallagher, take place as scheduled on Mondays at 4pm in the Gator Room. Lectures will be advertised under the Solivita University article in Reflections. If you choose not to purchase an Annual Pass and want to attend a lecture, admission is $5 per lecture at the door. Art and Literary passes are for Art and Literature Lectures only and are non-refundable.

Bridge Defense 102

Fridays, January 13th, 20th, 27th, February 3rd and 10th RSF2 at 1pm

Tuition: $25 per student, not including the book

Instructor : Donna McIlwain 407-738-5325

Textbook : Defense in the 21st Century is to be had or ordered by students from Baron Barclay or Amazon.

Course Prerequisite: Need to have taken Bridge Defense 101 or contact the instructor to make sure you are eligible for this course.

Course Description: This is the most challenging portion of defense play. We will cover developing defensive tricks, interfering with declarer, and making a plan.

Intro to Acting 101

6 Classes - Saturday, January 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, February 4th, 11th Gator Room at 10am Tuition: $40 per student; limited class size Instructor : Noemi Figueroa Soulet Course Description: An introduction to the techniques and processes essential to the actor’s craft. Whether you have

acted before or are exploring it for the first time, this course enhances self-confidence, oral expression, and creativity as you acquire the tools for developing a character and a basic narrative. Active participation will be required as we engage in physical and vocal exercises and the performance of scripted monologues and scene work. Dress in appropriate clothing and be ready to engage and have some fun.

Course Description: The Bible is a large and complex book. It contains 66 books written by 40 authors in 3 original languages (Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic) during a span of 1,500 years. Those authors came from all walks of life (a political leader, a king, a doctor, a prime minister, a tax collector and a rabbi, among many others). In this class we will discuss the structure of the Bible, types of writing, different methods of translation and how to select the best Bible for your purpose of reading and study. We will briefly explore different study methods (Inductive, Character, Word and Reference Study, and Personal Application) and online tools available. This study is for those of any or no faith and will be presented in a non-denominational, academic manner. It is intended for those who are not familiar with the Bible or those who wish to learn how to study it.

Intro to the Bible and Methods of Bible Study

6 Classes – Mondays, January 16th, 23rd, 30th, February 6th, 13th and 20th • Gator Room at 1pm Tuition: $25 per student; limited to 20 Presenters: Bob and Karen Schofield

Yard of the Month

Our secret judges scoured the Flora Vista neighborhood to choose this month’s winner. They chose the lovely well-appointed yard of Vicki and Duane Fournier at 759 Portofino Drive. Duane does all of the plantings in their beautiful landscape which is a real treat for them and anyone who takes the time to check out the diversity of color in their yard and the well-thought-out design. Congratulations to the Fourniers. Are you fixing up your landscape? Maybe you will be our next Yard of the Month.

Holiday Season

Nan Johnston “the Godmother of R2R”

Turns 90

Sixteen Presidents, several dozen dance crazes, a man on the moon and the birth of television, computers and Facebook ... but one of the most important things that Nan Johnston has seen in her 90 very full and productive years, is the transformation of the Resident to Resident Resource Center (R2R) from a small idea to a significant part of life in our community. Thank you Nan and the other founding members who helped create R2R. That’s why more than 30 of her fellow volunteers and staff turned out on November 1st to celebrate Nan’s 90th birthday. She has made a difference in Solivita and that is worth celebrating.

Things to Do for the Holidays

The holidays will be spectacular this year as local venues go all out to welcome back guests. The Resident to Resident Resource Center and Solivita’s Concierge, Shelley Destefano have put together a guide to holiday events.

Some

of the Highlights Include:

» Night of a Million Lights, the spectacular to benefit “Give Kids the World” has moved to Island H2O water park and it will be better than ever.

» Orlando’s fabulous Leu Gardens will present both a Dazzling Nights Light Show and Holiday Blooms, with more holiday floral displays than you can imagine.

» This season you can find holiday shows everywhere, from the Nutcracker at Dr. Phillips and at Sanford’s Ritz Theater to the Bach Festival Choir’s Classic Christmas to Elf: The Musical in Winter Haven.

These are just a few of the dozens of holiday light displays, performances, parades and festivals in Central Florida. You can find a detailed listing at the R2R office and the Concierge office ... or go SolivitaHOA.com > Getting Connected > Resource Center page and look under “Community Information and Services” for a complete list of events.

R2R Resource Center 863-236-9973 SolivitaR2R@gmail.com

The R2R Resource Center is Here for You!

Wishing you and your family a joyous

from the Resource Center!

Flags Over Solivita

Sign Up or Renew for 2023

SUBMITTED BY THE VETERANS CLUB OF SOLIVITA

The Veterans Club of Solivita is asking for your donation. Your donation may be used for one of the many charities the Veterans Club of Solivita supports, including college scholarships to local ROTC high school seniors; free and medically supervised travel to Washington D.C. in the Honor Flight Program for WWII, Korean and Vietnam veterans to visit the memorials; bingo games for the facility-bound Veterans at the VA Community Living Center at Lake Nona; the USO at the Orlando airport which provides programs and services for transition back to civilian life, and monetary donations as well as vital links to information, programming and community support for needy organizations and families. Your donation will help support and further these and other programs.

As a thank you for your donation, the Veterans Club members and non-military Solivita volunteer residents will ensure that a 3’ x 5’ American flag flies in front of your home six times a year: President’s Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day through 9/11, and Veterans Day.

Just think of it, an American flag flying in front of every home in Solivita. Over 3,400 flags were displayed throughout Solivita in 2022. Won’t you please help our cause with a $30 yearly tax-deductible contribution? (Due to rising costs and supply chain issues the cost for a flag is now $30.) One hundred percent (100%) of your contribution goes to support these charities; the Veterans Club takes no administrative fees. Note: The flags remain the property of the Veterans Club, and it is the club’s responsibility to install, remove, store, care for, and maintain the flags.

Applications are available on the Veterans Club webpage on SolivitaHOA.com or at the Concierge Desk. Please call 863-512-3655 or email flagsoversolivita@gmail.com if you have any questions or would like to volunteer.

Make checks payable to VCS and mail, along with your application, to the Veterans Club of Solivita, P.O. Box 581770, Poinciana, FL 34758, or drop in the FLAGS OVER SOLIVITA application box located in Freedom Park next to the Veterans Memorial.

Great news! Credit card payments are now available for payment. Visit the Veterans Club of Solivita website at veteransclubofsolivita.com for an electronic form or scan the QR code here.

Holiday Season in Solivita

BY BRAD THOMPSON BRANCH MANAGER, FLORALAWN

Amazingly, it’s December again, with Christmas trees up in many homes and decorations hung around the common areas of Solivita. Our Floralawn crews are working hard over the holidays to make sure the community looks immaculate for you and your holiday guests.

Looking Back at November

In last month’s Reflections article, we reminded residents that we have switched to the off-season bi-monthly mowing schedule. This cutting timeline will continue through March 2023. We also talked about the turf grass diseases we deal with here in Solivita. Brown patch fungus and gray leaf spot are two fungal diseases that thrive when grass stays damp for long periods of time. Humid Florida summers provide the perfect environment for the growth and spread of the funguses that lead to brown patch and gray leaf spot. However, we still watch for these diseases in the fall when cool nights keep grass damp well into the day.

Grass Pruning & Fertilization

We’re making good progress pruning the large clumps of Fakahatchee grass that grow throughout Solivita. We cut these grass mounds way back at the start of the cooler months. We’ll also be wrapping up our final fertilization round on lawns, native palms, and shrubs.

Thank You!

We have had a sixth great year serving the Solivita community. It’s our privilege to manage the care of your lawns, shrubs, and trees. We enjoy keeping your outdoor spaces beautiful! We

WHO HAVE LEFT

appreciate your support, kind words, and helpful feedback.

Need Information?

As always, if you have any questions, call us any time at 863225-9565. Or, if you’re in the neighborhood, stop by the Admin building in downtown Solivita and chat with us in the office.

We won’t have a Coffee Talk in December, but we’ll have one again in January. That Coffee Talk will take place on Friday, January 27th, in Mosaics at 9am. If you’ve never been to a Coffee Talk, come and check it out. It’s an informal meeting with residents and Floralawn staff (me and occasionally others) where we gather around coffee to chat about landscaping and lawn care in Solivita. Ask questions and get your answers.

All of us at Floralawn would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Enjoy each other and your families, and we’ll see you in 2023!

BUT ARE NOT FORGOTTEN

Floralawn 863-225-9565 floralawn.com

from

Donald Kirschenblatt

Karen Simon

Barbara Ann Wierenga

Simon

Kirschenblatt

Wierenga

Holiday Fire Safety Resources

BY BILL GROSS TEAM LEADER OF SOLIVITA CERT

As we begin to decorate our houses for the 2022 holiday season, we need to keep in mind that fire safety should be a major consideration when setting up our decorations. As you may see, in my research, I’ve found a new source of information concerning fire safety, not only during the holidays, but yearround from the National Fire Protection Association.

As always, we partner with the Polk County Fire Rescue Service in providing this information in keeping our community and all the residents and guests safe during the year and during the holiday season. The following are some hints and tips.

Holiday Decorations

» Choose decorations that are flame resistant and retardant.

» Choose lighting that is UL approved.

» Check your decorations and replace any that are wornout or damaged.

» Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so cords aren’t damaged.

» Plan your lighting, indoor and outdoor, so that you don’t daisy-chain power strips.

Holiday Cooking

» Test all smoke alarms.

» Tell your guests about home fire escape plans.

» Stay in the kitchen when cooking.

» Use smokers, grills, and deep fryers OUTSIDE with plenty of room around them.

» Refrain from alcohol consumption until cooking is complete, then enjoy in moderation.

» Use a timer when baking to remind you when food is done.

» Have a fire extinguisher handy. Slide a lid over a burning

pot or frypan to smother small fires. DO NOT USE WATER on a grease fire!

E-Bikes and E-Scooters

This is a new topic for us. There seems to be an increase in the number of e-bikes here in Solivita. Many may be receiving them as gifts during the holidays.

» E-bikes and e-scooters use the same lithium-ion batteries that cellphones and hoverboards use. Poorly manufactured and misused batteries have been known to catch fire in the past.

» Read all the safety instructions provided by the e-bike manufacturer.

» Use only the original charger that came with your e-bike to prevent overcharging.

» Disconnect the charger after the e-bike if fully charged.

» Do not set up the charger near your door. You don’t want it blocking your exit in event of catastrophic battery failure.

» When in doubt, take the e-bike to a certified, qualified technician. Contact the e-bike manufacturer for a list of approved technicians.

» Always wear proper protective equipment when using any 2-wheeled transportation.

We know that the holiday season can be one of high excitement and joy. Let’s include some common sense when planning our decorations, cooking and gifts. The National Fire Protection Association has a treasure-trove of information for fire safety. Go to their website at nfpa.org and then click on “Public Education” to get more information. Have a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season!