Twin Lakes Life - Fall 2018

FLORIDA’S PREMIER COMMUNITY

Twin Lakes

Fall 2018

LIFE

MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS

THE BRYANS

A publication of Quantum Marketing Communications, LLC Photo by Catherine Coudray

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FROM THE PUBLISHER, BILL BOKUNIC Welcome to the October/November/December 2018 issue of Twin Lakes Life. This publication is for the residents and provided by your HOA, Titan Management, Jones Homes and Quantum Marketing Communications. The publication is produced quarterly until we reach a resident threshold and can produce it monthly.

A few notes about Quantum Marketing Communications. We are 100% locally owned and produced. We strive to make sure that every penny spent and generated is done right here in Saint Cloud.

Local content that, for the most part, can’t be found elsewhere and particular to Twin Lakes.

Local advertising by good reputable companies that love Twin Lakes and wish to reach out to you!

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS AS THEY HELP BRING THE PUBLICATION TO YOU! We need: Twin Lakes content from resident and community leaders.

• Stories, pictures, etc.

• A community photographer I look forward to hearing from the community and growing together!

Bill Bokunic Publisher and CEO, Quantum Marketing Communications Email: Bill@QMCWorld.com 321-331-6398

HELPFUL CONTACT INFORMATION HOA OF TWIN LAKES 2453 Model Lane • (407) 556-3903 info@mytwinlakeshoa.com www.mytwinlakeshoa.com HOA Emergency After Hours (407) 508-0570 Water & Sewer City of Saint Cloud: (407) 957-7344 Electric OUC: (407) 957-7373 Gas Florida Public Utilites: 1-800-427-7712 Trash & Recycling Waste Management: (407) 843-7370 Monday: Recycling Wednesday: Yard Waste Friday: Trash

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PRINTER OR MYRTLES 407-891-9797 1115 Pennsylvania Ave.

United States Postal Service 4701 Old Canoe Creek Rd. St. Cloud, FL 34769 1-800-275-8777 Police (Non-Emergency) Osceola County Sherriff: (407) 348-2222 Jones Homes USA Customer Service Monica Villalobos: (407) 636-8776 service@joneshomesusa.com

Twin Lakes LIFE

PUBLISHER & CEO Bill Bokunic Quantum Marketing Communications, LLC 321.331.6398 Bill@QMCWorld.com www.QMCWorld.com Fall 2018 | Twin Lakes Life Magazine 1

MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS: THE BRYANS

What is your name?

Ellen and Craig Bryan When did you move to Twin Lakes? Closed in March 2018 moved in May 2018.

What street do you live on? Datura Loop.

What do you love most about Twin Lakes?

The people and activities.

Where did you move from? New Jersey.

What do you miss most? Family.

What is your background? We were from New Jersey and moved to Florida in February 2003.

Ellen was a senior supervisor for a fortune 500 company in the premium accounting depart-

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What is a good story about Twin Lakes? We have met many new friends at Twin Lakes. One day, 12 of us went to the movies, then to lunch, with a little shopping thrown in, and ended with ice cream at Rita’s. We met most of the group at the pool while doing water aerobics or water Zumba. We love the activities. Craig even came in second in the bocce tournament even though he had never played before.

What is unusual or unique about Twin Lakes, in comparison to your previous home? We really didn’t have much interaction with our neighbors.

What is your favorite weekend activity? Water aerobics and going to dinner with friends.

Are there any recommendations for other neighbors? Get out and enjoy the activities and meet your neighbors.

Do you do any charity or non-profit work? As a chamber member, I’ve sponsored numerous

events, collected donations for the Osceola Council on Aging and sponsored many poker tournaments.

Do you have a cause or business that you would like to promote? www.OsceolaHealthInsurance.com/ What do you do for fun? Play games and poker, travel, movies and camp in the RV. What is the last movie that you have seen in the theatre? “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.”

Who is your role model and why? My mother was my first role model. She was smart and made chores a game and fun to do. She always had time for us to talk or listen. She always encouraged me to do my best and she was proud of my accomplishments. My father showed me how to work hard, to be kind and to help others.

What is your favorite TV Show? “Amazing Race.”

What else should we know about you or your family? Family is important to me. I love visiting with my sons and granddaughters who all live out of state. I come from a large family.

My mother was one of nine. I have 30 first cousins on my mother’s side and 14 on my father’s side. n

PHOTO: Catherine Coudray

ment in New Jersey. Craig was a machinist in New Jersey and also at Disney. He is now an attractions mechanic at Disney. Ellen got her health and life insurance license and has been working in the Health Insurance field for over 8 years as the managing agent of the office. We have been married for 46 years and have 2 sons and 2 granddaughters.

St. Cloud Regional Medical Center’s New & Expanded Emergency Department Opens for Operation Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting Event Happening Soon!

N

early ten months after breaking ground, St. Cloud Regional Medical Center’s expanded emergency department and new main entrance are open to serve patients. The multi-million dollar project, which added more than 14,000-square feet to the hospital, increases capacity to 20 private exam rooms and enhances privacy, comfort, and technology in an emergency department that served more than 26,000 patients last year.

“This expansion will enhance our number one priority- delivering quality care to our patients safely and efficiently,” said Brent Burish, CEO of St. Cloud Regional Medical Center.

Private patient rooms are larger and incorporate new technology. The Department also includes space for a new CT Machine directly within the ED space. The ED continues to be prepared to respond to a wide variety of emergencies with decontamination, isolation rooms and major exam rooms.

“These changes will support our physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals as they care for our growing community,” shared Dr. Marcy Rosenberg, Medical Director for the Emergency Department at St. Cloud Regional Medical Center. “The new design will support a more efficient work environment with new technology and improved workflow, and minimize the time it takes to serve patients.”

St. Cloud Regional Medical Center is dedicated to providing quality care in an efficient manner to its emergency department patients. In 2016, the hospital implemented a 30-minute ER service pledge through which it pledgees that a medical professional – a physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner – will work diligently to see patients within 30 minutes of their arrival. The hospital has been recognized as an accredited Chest Pain Center by the American College of Cardiology for its commitment to following best practices for emergency cardiac care.

“I’m proud of this milestone for St. Cloud Regional Medical Center,” said Mr. Burish, “St. Cloud Regional Medical Center has a long standing presence in the community, and this expansion is a great accomplishment to improve access to care for our patients that could not have been achieved without the support of the physicians, employees, volunteers and community members.”

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new space is one of the activities planned during the Community Health Fair on Friday, October 26 from 4-7 pm. The ceremony will occur at 5:30pm and the public is invited to attend. Other activities include safe trick-or-treating, music and food.

For more information on the event or the services provided by St. Cloud Regional Medical Center, visit StCloudRegional.com. n

About St. Cloud Regional Medical Center: St. Cloud Regional Medical Center is an 84-bed acute care facility that offers a comprehensive medical support system for both inpatient and outpatient needs. For more than 50 years, the hospital has been committed to serving its community with quality, compassionate care. St. Cloud Regional Medical Center has received the Seal of Approval from The Joint Commission; recognition as one of the nation’s Top Performers on key quality measures by The Joint Commission; and Accreditation as a Chest Pain Center from The American College of Cardiology. For more information about the hospital and its services, visit StCloudRegional.com.

TWIN LAKES WALKING/BIKE TRAIL*

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*These are preliminary plans and may be subject to change

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FIVE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE TIPS

By Jeanine Corcoran

E

ven though hurricane season ends on November 30th, it is always a good time to look at your home and plan on performing some maintenance to your property. Here are five items that always need attention: 1. Air Conditioner: Changing your AC filters monthly is a must but be sure to do a maintenance check on your AC unit. Your AC unit had been working extra hard to keep you cool this summer and there is nothing worse than having your unit break down.

2. Sprinkler System: Be sure to turn on your sprinkler heads to ensure they are spraying all areas of your lawn and shrubs. There is a lot of stress on lawns and shrubs with the sun beating down by foreseeing any problems before they happen. Sprinkler heads are inexpensive and easy to replace and can save you hundreds of dollars.

3. Trees: Take the time to look at your trees and tree limbs. Trim those weak limbs so they don’t end up falling and damaging yours or your neighbor’s property.

4. Stucco: Small cracks in your stucco happens over time. Rain gets into even the smallest hair line crack and navigate its way through the concrete and into your home. It can also cause damage to your stucco.

Seal those cracks to prevent damage and costly repairs.

5. Hurricane Preparedness: Hurricane Season ends November 30th.

When preparing your hurricane kit, let’s not forget about your home.

Be sure to reinforce your garage doors if possible, check all windows and inspect your roof. When a hurricane is coming, be sure to take in all outside items including patio furniture and plant pots. Be prepared.

For many of us, the month of October is all about expecting cooler weather and being able to open our windows and letting in the cooler air! Consider spending time preparing your property for the upcoming months. Your air conditioner will need a maintenance check to work efficiently, sprinkler heads should be checked to make sure they are working properly, weak tree limbs should be trimmed to prevent damage, and stucco cracks should be sealed. Lastly, check your garage door, windows and roof so you are prepared for any storm or hurricane that might come our way. n Jeanine Corcoran is the Broker and Owner of The Corcoran Connection, LLC – A Real Estate and Property Management Company. Jeanine has been helping families with their Real Estate needs since 2005. Jeanine is Barbara Corcoran’s sister from ABC’s SHARK TANK. Jeanine can be reached at 407.922.3308, email her at Jeanine@TheCorcoranConnection.com, or visit TheCorcoranConnection.com

Fall 2018 | Twin Lakes Life Magazine 5

HELPFUL TIPS

By Jodi

Furniture Repairs So, your chair or sofa has seen better days. What to do, if you do not want to replace the pieces?

1. Check-out slip covers (I have seen some online), or buy them from Bed Bath and Beyond, IKEA or JCPenney’s; use your coupons.

2. If you have leather furniture which is worn (say from hitting the wall), just use a matching furniture marker over the worn or scratched leather and blend with your finger.

3. Use Chalk paint and paint the fabric. Try in a spot where no one will see before continuing. You may need to repeat the painting. Just be warned the fabric will feel rough and not comfortable to sit on. This option is better for the outside-framing fabric. Use a floor brush between paint ing to soften the fabric.

4. You can also try, “Rite” dye. Find the color you need, then put it into a spray bottle and go to work. Let it dry well and repeat as needed. Tip: the color may come off onto your clothing because you can’t set the fabric in the dryer. I used this method on our sectional which had severe sun fading. I did not dilute the dye for a rich color. It improved our sectional considerably. Not perfect but again, about 90% better than it was.

5. If you can sew, you can recover your cushions. Find a print, solid, or pattern which will look nice with the furniture piece. Sew the two sides, using the folded fabric for the front of the cushion. Then fold the fourth and open part of the cushion cover (like wrapping paper) and hand sew across the back seam. If needed, replace the cushion foam or wrap batting around the foam to make it fuller. This process works on your out-door cushions. Just be sure to use “Sunbrella fabric” made to prevent sun-fading and also repels water.

With any painting, be sure to protect your flooring with heavy cardboard or plastic.

Fixing Deep Scratches on Table Tops Buy a kit in the home stores. Use the wax crayon to fill the depth of the scratch.

Then, try a credit card to smooth over. You can then use Old English furniture polish on the table. For surface mark, the dark brown polish works well.

Recovering Dining Chairs Unscrew the cushion from the chair base. Measure your fabric or take the cushion to the fabric store. Buy enough fabric to wrap around the cushion.

Buy furniture tacks and buy extras (you may need them). This is a “no-sew” project. Start on the back side and tack down the fabric to the bottom of the seat using a hammer. Next, do the same with gentle pulling and tack the fabric down. Repeat the process on the sides.

One done… that was easy! Now, repeat for the other chairs. Fabric can help you give an entire new look to an old dinning set. This is an afternoon project with such a bang!

Sofa Pillows Everyone has them, but sometimes you want a new color scheme.

1. Buy new ones or re-cover the ones you have.

2. Sewing new covers is fast! Turn fabric in-side-out, pin together for the size you need and sew the two sides together using the folded fabric as the third side. Check for sizing in case you need to make the cover smaller for a better fit. Once the fit is good, sew the last side together folding under the fabric so only the printed fabric is seen.

I like to sew my new pillow covers using an envelope style. Because you don’t have to hand-sew the last side. But you can easily remove the cover for easy washing. This is more for an experienced seamstress, as it is harder to make.

Fall is Coming, So Let’s Decorate Your Home Either make or buy a door wreath; let the welcome begin at the door.

Making one is easy, gather egg corns, and pinecones on your walks. Purchase colorful leaves, fall silk flowers from the Dollar Store and pick out pretty fall colored ribbon from Dollar Store as well. Get out your glue gun and get to work. You can make felt leaves using red, yellow and orange felt.

You can buy cardboard letters at the craft store and cover with silk leaves. The dollar store has many decorations you can buy for $1.00 and use.

Place a glass vase inside a larger glass vase: Fill between the glass with egg corns, marble, stones, or glass orange gems. Now place a pretty arrangement of real or fake flowers on a table.

Make a pumpkin witch: You need four, $1.00 plastic pumpkins with the handle removed. Fill the bottom pumpkin with dirt or sand so the wind does not blow it over. Use silicone glue and glue the pumpkins together upright. Turn them all backwards except the top pumpkin so only one face at the top shows. Now fill the inside of a witch hat with tissue paper and attach to the top pumpkin.

Take a small, real pumpkin, cut out a circle on top so that a glass fits into the pumpkin and fill with fresh fall flowers. This is a lovely table decoration.

Remember to shop after the holidays for better deals on home decorating that you can use for next year.

Once Halloween is over, carefully pack up your decorations into a large plastic bin.

Label the outside of the bin and store in your garage. Now find your Thanksgiving bin and decorate for Thanks giving. Keep any wreaths in heavy duty plastic wreath bags to protect them. After Xmas you can find them in the stores or order on line.

Label the bag with “The Wreath” or holiday being stored in the bag.

Wine Bottle Decorating Wash out empty wine bottles and let them dry.

Spray-paint the bottle with chalk paint color of your choice (I used grey on mine). Then use three of them for silk flowers and place on a table. I added wooden letters to them to spell out words. They work for endless decorating ideas. For Valentine’s Day, add red or pink hearts to each bottle by hanging the letters with fishing thread that is clear, around the bottle neck.

For Christmas, put red flowers or holly in each bottle. n

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Four Things You Need to Know Now About Homeowners Insurance

By George Sterner

T

hinking back to about a year ago when news of Irma’s approach set in, I received countless calls from customers who wanted to make sure their Homeowners insurance would protect their homes from the storm.

I also received numerous calls from people who wanted Flood insurance, which isn’t included in a standard Homeowners policy. Unfortunately, many insurers don’t sell policies with a named storm in pursuit.

Irma’s impact on our area was significant with nearly 30,000 claims reported in Osceola County alone, according to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation.* If you’re unsure about your coverage or you’re sure you don’t have enough, now is the time to make necessary changes.

Start out by asking yourself these questions today:

1. Do I have an adequate dwelling coverage limit?

Take out your Homeowners insurance policy and look for the “Declarations Page.” This is the summary of coverages you have in place.

Your Coverage A, commonly called dwelling coverage, is the maximum amount your insurance company will pay you to replace your home.

4. Do you know the difference between Actual Cash Value and Replacement Cost when it comes to your personal possessions?

Actual Cash Value pays damages equal to the replacement value of damaged property, minus depreciation. For example, if you have a five-year old refrigerator, its actual cash value is lower than buying a new refrigerator.

Replacement Cost coverage pays the dollar amount needed to replace damaged personal property without deductible for depreciation.

Regardless of which you choose (though I always recommend Replacement Cost for obvious reasons), know that there is a limit on the amount of money an insurer will pay for Personal Property losses—it’s on your policy’s Declarations Page. If this amount isn’t enough to replace your Personal Property, see an Agent right away.

I don’t mean to disrupt your morning or evening as you read this, but I do want you to know that some action on your part right now may save heartache later. n George Sterner owns Brightway, The Sterner Agency in St. Cloud, Fla. Learn more at BrightwaySterner.com.

Is it enough to rebuild and replace your home? Remember that the cost to replace your home is not your home’s market value (or the amount you could receive if you sold your home). Replacing your home involves cleaning up the site where your home used to sit and buying building materials at current-market costs to rebuild.

If you’re not sure your Coverage A is adequate, talk with an Insurance Agent.

2. Do you know what Ordinance and Law is, and do you have the coverage?

While Ordinance and Law coverage isn’t a topic of conversation in other parts of the country, that’s not the case in Florida.

Building codes in Florida change over time (they changed dramatically following Hurricane Andrew in 1992). Subsequently, the cost to repair and rebuild homes may dramatically increase as building codes require owners to bring homes into compliance (think structural, electrical, heating, ventilation, air conditioning and plumbing).

Perhaps most costly of all, building code changes may require elevating above the flood line before building a new home.

Ordinance and Law coverage can provide coverage for these costs in the event of a covered loss. If you don’t have this coverage, talk with an Agent.

3. Do you understand how the hurricane deductible works?

Your Florida Homeowners policy features a “Hurricane Deductible” that is a percentage of your Coverage A limits, versus a flat dollar amount.

A common Hurricane Deductible is 2 percent of your Coverage A. Therefore, if you own a $400,000 home, your Hurricane Deductible is $8,000. If water or wind from a named storm damages your home, you are responsible for paying your deductible amount before other coverage starts paying.

As a Florida homeowner, you may have a windstorm deductible, which is a percentage of Coverage A.

It’s important to know your deductible amounts and that you can afford them.

If you don’t know how much your deductible amounts are, talk with an Agent.

Fall 2018 | Twin Lakes Life Magazine 7

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

Lumps and Bumps Don’t Always Mean Cancer

By Robert Capobianco, MD Board-Certified General Surgeon with St. Cloud Medical Group

B

reast cancer is a pervasive, highly publicized and very personal disease.

Most everyone has a mother, sister, relative or friend who has had a brush with breast cancer – a scare, a survival story, or the memory of a loved one who succumbed to it.

According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women, other than skin cancer. It’s estimated that more than 192,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during 2009.

Regular clinical breast exams and mammograms are the first line of defense for all adult women to monitor their breast health and follow up on any changes that their doctor may notice such as lumps, bumps, pain and tenderness, or unusual discharge. Certain changes in the breast tissue are normal and more common as women age, but any unusual symptoms should be shared with your doctor to make sure they are not cancer. Though the value and diagnostic capabilities of breast self-exams (BSE) have been debated both in health care circles and the media, it’s agreed that a thorough knowledge of the normal look and feel of one’s breasts can help detect any obvious changes.

Research from the Mayo Clinic states that eight of every 10 breast lumps are not cancerous. And, according to the American Cancer Society, the most common physical changes in the breasts – lumps, tenderness or discharge – are usually linked to benign conditions, i.e., conditions that do not lead to cancer. The most common diagnoses related to a breast lump, says the ACS, include fibroadenoma (a benign solid tumor), fibrocystic changes (benign breast changes), atypical hyperplasia (fast-growing abnormal cells), cysts (benign, fluid-filled sacs), or noninvasive cancers, such as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) – a cancer of the milk ducts.

A lump or cyst may be detected by a woman during a BSE or by her doctor during a clinical exam. A lump that is also tender and warm to the touch is likely a breast infection. A cyst is a round or an oval mass, can move when touched,

8 Twin Lakes Life Magazine | Fall 2018

and is full of fluid. Found in about one in three women between ages 35 and 50, cysts are diagnosed by a breast ultrasound or biopsy.

Other breast changes are not visible to the eye and show up during a mammogram, an X-ray that takes a picture of the breast tissue and can detect tumors before they are big enough for your doctor to feel. Beginning at age 40, women should have a screening mammogram once a year – and more often if there is a genetic predisposition toward breast cancer or a breast condition that warrants close follow-up.

A call from your doctor after a mammogram can be a worrisome experience. In most cases, the area in question turns out to be benign. About one in 10 women who get a mammogram will need more pictures taken – but most of these are not malignant or cancerous. Only two to four of every 1,000 mammograms lead to a diagnosis of cancer, according to the ACS. Common mammogram findings include calcifications, a mass, fibrosis or lipoma. Some of these conditions can indicate the possibility of cancer, and others are completely benign.

Your physician will recommend further testing, if needed. Calcifications – tiny mineral deposits in the breast tissue – show up as white flecks on your mammogram film. There are two types: macrocalcifications, which are larger deposits generally caused by aging, injury or inflammation; and microcalcifications, tiny specs of calcium in the breast tissue, scattered or in clusters. The pattern and number of these deposits will help your doctor make a determination about whether cancer is present.

A mass may or may not be cancerous. The size, shape and borders of a mass help to define whether it is benign or malignant. Fibrosis refers to the presence of fibrous tissue, a thickened area similar to scar tissue, which may be tender.

Fibrocystic changes do not increase the chance for breast cancer, and any discomfort can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers or diet changes, such as limiting caffeine.

Fibroadenomas, are benign tumors made of

both connective tissue and breast tissue. They are more common in younger women under age 40, are round and well defined, painless, and move. Another benign tumor is a lipoma, or fatty tumor, which is not tender and can occur anywhere.

Most benign breast conditions do not raise your risk of developing breast cancer. Depending on your diagnosis, your doctor may wish to perform imaging tests such as an ultrasound or MRI, or more frequent mammograms to keep a close eye on your health.

To set up a screening mammogram, call 407498-3707 or visit StCloudRegional.com for more information on women’s health services.

If you should need additional care after the screening mammogram results, call 407498-3763 to reach the office of St. Cloud Medical Group Surgical & Vascular Services which specializes in women’s breast health procedures. n

About St. Cloud Regional Medical Center: St. Cloud Regional Medical Center is an 84-bed acute care facility that offers a comprehensive medical support system for both inpatient and outpatient needs. For more than 50 years, the hospital has been committed to serving its community with quality, compassionate care. St. Cloud Regional Medical Center has received the Seal of Approval from The Joint Commission; recognition as one of the nation’s Top Performers on key quality measures by The Joint Commission; and Accreditation as a Chest Pain Center from The American College of Cardiology. For more information about the hospital and its services, visit StCloudRegional.com.

About St. Cloud Medical Group: St. Cloud Medical Group is a multi-specialty medical group affiliated with St. Cloud Regional Medical Center. Providers specialize in cardiology, family medicine, gastroenterology, general surgery, internal medicine, occupational medicine, otolaryngology, urology and vascular surgery. St. Cloud Physician Management has convenient locations throughout St. Cloud and Kissimmee, Florida. All providers are board certified or fellowship-trained in each of their specialties and are members of the medical staff of St. Cloud Regional Medical Center. For more information about St. Cloud Medical Group, visit StCloudPhysicians.com.

LAKESIDE GROVES DOG PARK*

*These are preliminary plans and may be subject to change

Fall 2018 | Twin Lakes Life Magazine 9

FINANCIAL FOCUS

Can You Count on a Bountiful Investment “Harvest”?

Submitted by Edward Jones

W

e’re officially in autumn – the season when we bring in what we planted in the spring. But the concept of planting and gathering isn’t confined to agriculture. In fact, it can be used in many walks of life, including investing. So what can you do to help work toward a successful investment “harvest”?

Here is (not quite) a bushel of ideas:

Plant the right “seeds.” When farmers plant

specific crops, they know about what to expect – how long it will take for them to grow, how much yield they’ll produce, and so on. When you invest, you too need to plant “seeds” by choosing investments that are designed to help meet your goals. For example, to accumulate enough money for a comfortable retirement, you will probably need to own a reasonable percentage of growthoriented vehicles, such as stocks – you generally can’t expect the type of growth you need by investing solely in fixed-income investments, such as bonds and certificates of deposit.

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Nurture your “crops.” Agricultural workers are

diligent about cultivating their crops through proper irrigation, fertilization and weed control. And if you want to keep your investment portfolio healthy, you also must find ways to nurture it. First of all, you will need to keep adding new dollars regularly, because the larger your overall investment base, the more you can expand its growth potential. But you might also need to do some “weeding” of your own, because over the years, you may have purchased some investments that, for one reason or another, are now no longer suitable for your needs. If that’s the case, you might be better off by selling these investments and using the proceeds for new ones that could fill gaps in your portfolio.

Diversify. Farmers may plant a mix of crops:

corn, soybeans, flax, legumes, fruits, and so on.

Consequently, if one crop fails, it won’t sink the farmer’s entire business. As an investor, you, too, need to diversify, because if you only own one type of asset class, and a financial downturn hits that asset, your portfolio can take a big hit. But spreading your dollars among stocks, bonds, cash

and other investments can help reduce the impact of market volatility on your holdings. (However, diversification can’t guarantee profits or protect against all losses.)

Thus far, we’ve looked at ideas on how you can create a healthy investment crop. But once it’s time to actually start harvesting your portfolio – that is, once you begin liquidating parts of it to support yourself during your retirement years – you also need to act carefully. Specifically, you need to establish a withdrawal rate that’s appropriate for your situation, based on your age, lifestyle, income sources and other factors. You could be retired for two or three decades, so it’s essential you don’t withdraw so much during your early years of retirement that you risk outliving your money. A financial professional can help you determine the rate that’s right for you.

The agricultural harvest season only lasts a few weeks. But doing a good job of growing and managing your investment crop can help you reap the rewards far into the future. n

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TOXIC ALGAE IN YOUR BACKYARD? Brought to you by Lake & Wetland Management

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n many Central Florida communities we see the same toxic blue-green algae featured in the headlines. Ponds with this toxic algae “can cause nausea, vomiting and, in severe cases, acute liver failure,” says the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Stormwater runoff is generated from rain events that flow over land and impervious surfaces, such as parking lots, rooftops, and streets. The runoff picks up pollutants such as trash, chemicals, oils, sediment, grass clippings, and excess fertilizer. These pollutants enter the community’s stormwater ponds creating a negative impact on the communities health and property values.

Lake and Wetland Management (LWM) uses best management practices (BMPs) to prevent, filter and remove pollution from your community.

Leading the industry in sustainable pond management, LWM creates filter wetlands, pond aeration, living shorelines, chemical free maintenance programs, aquatic harvesting and restores ponds the way nature intended.

As a concerned homeowner, there are many things you can do to combat Florida’s algae crisis.

• Keep grass clippings on lawns and off streets and sidewalks.

• Pick up pet waste to prevent harmful bacteria and organisms from

entering the water.

• Avoid application of fertilizer on hard surfaces like curbs, sidewalks,

and roads.

• Follow UF/IFAS recommendations for fertilizer rate, application, and

timing.

• Clean up any spilled fertilizer • Be aware that anything that goes down the storm drain will end up in

your communities pond.

Lake & Wetland Management Free Lake Inspection: 407-350-5909 www.LakeAndWetland.com

Fall 2018 | Twin Lakes Life Magazine 15

COUDRAY ACUPUNCTURE Affordable Community Healthcare For Over 30 Years

Dr. Catherine Coudray, OMD Acupuncture Physician Lic Ap. Dipl. Ac.

In-Network with AETNA Most Health Insurance Accepted

321-303-5240

CatherineCoudray@yahoo.com www.CoudrayAcupuncture.shop 1716 East Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy. St. Cloud, FL 34771

16 Twin Lakes Life Magazine | Fall 2018

If severe hip or knee pain is interfering with your active life, turn to the orthopaedic specialists at St. Cloud Regional Medical Center. We provide services that range from pain management to total joint replacement, plus the full scope of physical therapy. To find out more about treatment options that may be right for you, attend our free joint pain seminar.

PAIN-FREE LIVING STARTS HERE.

REGISTER FOR A FREE SEMINAR Call 407-809-4535, or visit StCloudRegionalOrtho.com.

Seminars begin at Noon, the fourth Wednesday of each month.

1600 Budinger Ave., Suite E St. Cloud

Patient results may vary. Consult your physician about the benefits and risks of any surgical procedure or treatment.

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