Stoneybrook News
By Denis Oldani, President HOA
Greetings, neighbors!
This May newsletter brings exciting updates for our vibrant community. Monument makeover! We’re excited to announce an upgrade to the lighting at our entry monument. This improvement will enhance the entrance to our community and provide better visibility. Community Center Renovation: The exciting renovation of our beloved community center is still underway. We appreciate your patience as construction continues. We can’t wait to unveil the fresh, updated space for everyone to enjoy. Hoppy Easter, a big thank you to
Easter Egg Hunt
Our Eggstravaganza was once again a big success. Weather may have canceled the event on the original date but the reschedule date was still amazing. Thank you to all the volunteers and everyone in the community who help
ARC Corner
We received so many project requests for approval recently! Obviously, many of you are working around your homes and repairing, upgrading and renovating!
all the volunteers and participating families who made our annual Easter egg hunt a huge success! Seeing the joy on the children’s faces was truly heartwarming. Stoneybrook Social Hour: Looking to connect with your neighbors in a casual setting? Don’t miss our monthly social hour at Duffy’s! It’s held every first Wednesday of the month. Come meet your fellow residents, share stories and build friendships. Lastly, as we approach Memorial Day, please take a moment to remember those who served our country. We look forward to seeing you around the neighborhood! Stay safe!
with all these events. These events wouldn’t be possible without the support and sponsorship of Jack Mancini with Keller Williams Realty.
This is fantastic! We meet the first Thursday of every month at 4:30 p.m. in the Community Center. One area that is often overlooked, but quite noticeable, is driveways. Many are cracked or crumbling, stained or discolored, full of weeds or have peeling paint. Quite often, most of them just need to be pressure-washed. Many of our driveways are original to the home and if yours is showing these signs of deterioration, there are many low cost methods for
Stoneybrook Ladies’ Luncheons
The following Stoneybrook Ladies’ Luncheons have been scheduled.
Tuesday, May 14 At 11:30 a.m.
Sushi Thai Too
25101 S. Tamiami Trail
Bonita Springs
Tuesday, June 11 At 11:30 a.m.
Oak and Stone
10191 Estero Town Commons Place
Tuesday, July 9 At 11:30 a.m.
Mira Mare
4236 Gulf Shore Blvd. North Venetian Bay, Naples
Coffee, Tea And Chat
Many of our friends have gone back home until the fall, but our year-round residents still came out to enjoy a day in Paris! We look forward to next month’s Coffee, Tea and Chat.
Stoneybrook Master Association Board Of Directors
Directors:
Darrell Grigg, Matthew Reed, Elizabeth Hanson
The Board of Directors meets on the third Tuesday of the month in the Community Center. Meetings are open to all community members. Residents may address the Board during Residents’ Open Forum which begins at 6:30 p.m. At the end of the Residents’ Forum the general meeting begins.
Stoneybrook Community Development District (CDD) Board of Supervisors
Eileen Huff - Chairperson, Chris Brady - Vice Chairperson, Phil Olive - Assistant Secretary, Phil Simonsen - Assistant Secretary, Adam Dalton - Assistant Secretary
The Board of Supervisors meets at 9 a.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month in the Community Center. Exceptions are: November and December held on the second Tuesday because of holidays, and February, May, June and August held at 6 p.m. Meetings are open to all community members. Agendas, minutes and other information can be found on the CDD website: www.stoneybrookesterocdd.com.
Stoneybrook – A Golf Community
Front Gate 949-4965
DwellingLIVE Guest Registration (888) 994-4117
Community Center 948-1787
Community Center Fax 948-1786
Pro Shop 948-3933
Golf Course Superintendent 948-9057
Main Line Irrigation Problems
– during normal golfing hours 948-9057
Alliant Property Management LLC 454-1101
Alliant Property Management Fax 454-1147
Lennar (formerly US Home) 278-1177
Lee County Sheriff’s Office 477-1200
Poison Control (800) 222-1222
Alligator Hotline (866) 392-4286
Animal Control 432-2083
Mosquito Control 694-2174
Comcast 432-9277
Florida Power & Light 334-7754
Lee County Utilities 936-0247
– to report “Lift Station” alarm 479-8700
Sunshine Before You Dig (800) 432-4770
(Underground Cable Locating Service)
Waste Services of Florida 332-8500
Free Residential Appliance Pickup 337-0800
– please do not dispose in community Dumpsters
Master Board
Contact us on the Home page on the Website: www.stoneybrookestero.org
Alliant Property Management LLC
Emergency (24-hour) Number: (239) 454-1101 www.alliantproperty.com
13831 Vector Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33907 Community Center
E-mail: stoneybrook.office@alliantproperty.com
You may sign up for all luncheons at the community center or call to have your name placed on the list. If you sign up and later cannot attend, please notify us at least 24 hours in advance. Carpooling is encouraged. If you have any questions or need a ride match please contact Chris Costello at (239) 301-4510, chrispea46@ hotmail.com or Helen Ruocco at (239) 992-0616, paradise11@comcast.net.
See you there!
ARC Corner from page 1
repair: Repaint, caulk/cement those open joints or cracks and then paint or stain. If your driveway is crumbling, perhaps some quick-set concrete will provide a fast repair and prevent further damage. Give your driveway a glance … does it need some attention?
Also, it’s become increasingly apparent that many homeowners are storing items along the sides of homes: ladders, empty flower pots, leftover pavers and other miscellaneous items. This isn’t a good look for our community and it would be appreciated if these items were removed and/or discarded or stored inside your garage.
And remember, before you start any project around your home, you first must submit an ARC request for approval. Just because you’ve simply submitted the form, doesn’t mean you have approval. Once you receive written approval from the ARC, you may start your project. If you have an emergency, or your vendor has a sudden opening to do your project earlier, just alert us and we’ll do all we can to get your project approved. Performing work without prior written approval will subject you to a visit with the fining committee.
And finally, the ARC has a new email to contact us with any questions: Stoneybrook.ARC@gmail.com Thank you for doing your part to keep Stoneybrook beautiful!
Daniel “Todd” Madden, Secretary John Detterbeck, Treasurer
Denis Oldani, President Melissa Mahmoud, Vice President
Tips From The Pro
SUNCOAST JUNIOR TOUR PIN SYSTEM
Coffee, Tea And Chat St. Patrick's Day Event
Update On
The Golf Course
By Eileen Huff, CDD Board Chairperson
For the month of March, the actual rounds of golf were 5,939 to a budget of 6,478. We did have eight days of rain that negatively impacted the rounds of golf. Cash balance as of April 19 was $936,196.10 and as of this date all accounts payable were paid in full.
The roadway project began in January and has been completed ahead of schedule. Currently we are working with both Collier Paving and Johnson Engineering to repair the sod areas compromised and any other minor damage that occurred. The walking path by the pump house is still not completed. We are waiting for Florida Power & Light/Comcast to raise the utility box to level off that portion of the path. Hopefully this will be completed soon. I would like to say that both Collier Paving and Johnson Engineering were both efficient and professional throughout this project.
The next project that the CDD will be working on is the replacement of the bridges on the golf course. This will be worked on during approximately two weeks starting May 28. The course will be closed during that time. We are going to do this in conjunction with the regular scheduled summer closures for golf course maintenance. The final dates will be in the next newsletter and sent via email blast. The golf course will be taking a loan to complete this project.
The course will be closed on Monday starting May 6 through Sept. 30.
The landscape project along Corkscrew Road is currently with the village and county for approval. We will keep the community updated on the progress.
For the month ending March 31 total revenues were $556,455 which is $62,092 less than 2023 and $114,651 under the 2024 budget. Year to date revenues are $2,582,092 which is $77,250 under the 2023 budget, and $296,016 under the 2024 budget. The expenses for the month ending March 31 were $510,093 which is $162,753 more than 2023 and $207,702 over the 2024 budget. Year to date expenses are $2,058,650 which is $225,141 over 2023 and $261,282 over the 2024 budget. The net position as of March 31 was $576,724 over budget.
If you are interested in lessons or joining one of the women’s or men’s Stoneybrook Golf Leagues, please contact the Pro Shop at (239) 948-3933.
If you have any questions regarding these issues or any concerns, please email the CDD at cdd@stoneybrookesterocdd. com, or attend the CDD meetings.
The September CDD meeting will be held on Tuesday May 29 at 6 p.m. It will be held at the Stoneybrook Community Center.
TLP Tidbit$
Financial Benefits Of Home Energy Improvements
By Thomas L. Patricca, CFP®, CEPS, AEP®
After years of reading TLP Tidbit$, you know that I frequently recommend that you set financial goals to include the most basic, which are reducing expenses and increasing savings. One often-overlooked avenue for achieving these financial goals lies in energy-efficient upgrades to the home. Beyond the immediate cost savings on utility bills, homeowners can also tap into the Residential Clean Energy Credit, which is designed to incentivize these improvements, offering substantial financial benefits.
While the immediate financial benefit of this credit lies in tax savings, its impact transcends the realm of taxation in the following ways:
1. Energy Savings: Renewable energy systems, such as solar panels and wind turbines, generate electricity that can significantly reduce or even eliminate homeowners’ reliance on traditional utility grids. As a result, homeowners can enjoy substantial savings on their energy bills over the life span of these systems, potentially offsetting the initial investment within a few years.
2. Property Value Appreciation: Properties equipped with renewable energy systems tend to command higher resale values in the real estate market. Studies have shown that homes with solar panels, for instance, sell for a premium compared to their non-solar counterparts. Thus, investing in clean energy not only benefits homeowners in the short term but also enhances the long-term value of their properties.
Bingo Nights
Bingo Is Back! Get Your Daubers Ready For The 2024 Season
Reminder: Please email Jewel if you are attending so we can distance the tables. If we do not get 10 people, bingo will be cancelled.
The 2024 date is: May 16 in the Stoneybrook Clubhouse from 7 to 9 p.m.
Please bring your masks (optional). Stay safe and take care of yourselves.
The cost will be $10 for three cards per game. We play 10 double games. Daubers available for purchase! BYOB and snacks. This is for 18-plus only (Florida state law). Jewel Faerber and the Activities Committee jcf0519@comcast.net
Pinochle Players Needed!
Pinochle players are needed to play at the clubhouse! Ladies and gentlemen included. We will teach you how to play! Please call Hellen Ruocco at (239) 992-0616.
Morning Stretch
Monday, Wednesday And Friday – 8 To 8:30 a.m. And 8:30 To 9 a.m.
There are two, halfhour stretch segments.
It’s an excellent way to work all the different parts of the body while improving your balance, coordination and strength. It uses your own resistance as we strive for total body toning and fitness. Each class is a cross between tai chi, yoga and Pilates. This is a great class to achieve a full stretch.
You can come to one session or both, depending on what works for you. Come and join us!
For any questions call: Linda Masters, (740) 361-4088.
Case Study – Solar Panels For The Smith Family
The Smith Family decides to go solar to power their home sustainably. They install a rooftop solar panel system with a total cost of $30,000. The Residential Clean Energy Credit offers a 30 percent credit for solar panel installations.
With the 30 percent credit applied, the Smith Family can claim $9,000 ($30,000 * 0.30) as a tax credit. If their annual tax liability is $5,000, they can use the credit to offset their taxes entirely and carry forward any remaining credit to future years, if permitted.
Empowering Homeowners Through Financial Freedom
In conclusion, tax credits for energy-efficient home improvements offer homeowners a compelling opportunity to achieve significant financial savings. By leveraging these incentives to enhance overall energy efficiency, homeowners can not only lower their utility bills but
also benefit from substantial tax incentives. As financial prudence continues to be a priority for homeowners, tapping into these tax credits becomes an increasingly valuable strategy for maximizing savings and achieving long-term financial goals.
While this credit may seem straightforward, there are some technical details that must be considered before investing in clean energy and claiming the credit. For example, solar panels merely scratch the surface of potential improvements that qualify for the credit. In addition, the laws creating this credit are subject to change and are set to expire in 2032. As always, you should consider working with a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ to be sure that you are fulfilling these requirements in order to maximize the credit. Your CFP® will be familiar with changes to tax laws that may impact your decision making.
Water Aerobics Farewell Luncheon
Monthly Motivation
Fail To Plan, Plan To Fail
By Joshua A. Sky, Career Coach and Leadership Trainer
Once when I was a leader in a networking group, my cell phone rang on the way to a weekly meeting. The member was calling to let me know that he had a tire blowout and was not going to make the meeting that morning. He also shared that he’d been procrastinating taking care of his vehicle and knows that had he not done so, this wouldn’t have happened. So, what did it cost him that day?
My colleague missed the meeting and therefore would score an absence for not having a sub to take his place on such short notice. What he didn’t know was that he was being referred business by other members; he wasn’t there to receive it and personally thank them for thinking of him. And did he have any business to pass to others who now had to wait longer to receive it? By not planning, he now had to deal with the unexpected, adding unnecessary stress to his Tuesday.
Book Club
By Jewel Faerber
We meet in our library. As always, all are welcome to participate in the discussion. If you did not read the book, a printed summary of the book is given out before our discussions. If you have read a book that you think we would enjoy reading, please bring the title and the author’s name. We are always looking for new novels to read.
Please email Jewel at jcf0519@comcast.net so we will know how many people plan to attend.
Our book club will meet the third Monday of every month from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Community Center. June 3 The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters
Note: The May 20 meeting has been changed to June 3.
The Berry Pickers
By Amanda Peters
July 1962. A Mi’kmaq family from Nova Scotia arrives in Maine to pick blueberries for the summer. Weeks later,
Do we even know how events like this can throw us off our axis for the rest of the day or even the week for that matter? Perhaps we even get angry with ourselves because we know we could have done something to bring about different events. The lesson to learn is that when we don’t take the time to plan more, we can expect to fail more. Many of my coaching clients learn this when I’m working with them. The difference is that when another person observes it, it holds them accountable; possibly reducing the likelihood that it will happen in the future. It’s inevitable that the important things we don’t take care of will suddenly become urgent ones. This causes us to operate out of a reactionary mode and that’s counterproductive to meeting our goals. And their ramifications can have a domino effect. So look at the time you’re spending planning and plan to succeed!
“The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.”
– John F. Kennedy
4-year old Ruthie, the family’s youngest child, vanishes. She is last seen by her 6-year old brother, Joe, sitting on a favorite rock at the edge of a berry field. Joe will remain distraught by his sister’s disappearance for years to come.
In Maine, a young girl named Norma grows up as the only child of an affluent family. Her father is emotionally distant, her mother frustratingly overprotective. Norma is often troubled by recurring dreams and visions that seem more like memories than imagination. As she grows older, Norma slowly comes to realize there is something her parents aren’t telling her. Unwilling to abandon her intuition, she will spend decades trying to uncover this family secret.
For readers of The Vanishing Half and Woman of Light , this showstopping debut by a vibrant new voice in fiction is a riveting novel about the search for truth, the shadow of trauma and the persistence of love across time.
“A harrowing tale of Indigenous family separation … [Peters] excels in writing characters for whom we can’t help rooting … With The Berry Pickers , Peters takes on the monumental task of giving witness to people who suffered through racist attempts of erasure like her Mi’kmaw ancestors.”
Water aerobics farewell luncheon for snowbirds heading back up north