Baldwin Park Living October 2020

BALDWIN PARK

LIVING OCTOBER 2020

BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2020

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BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2020

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BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2020

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CONTENTS

OCTOBER 2020

DEPARTMENTS 8 BALDWIN PARK NOTEBOOK Read about recent decisions made by community leaders.

13 WHAT A GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD WE LIVE IN Take a deep breath and remain calm while sharing roadways.

16 AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD Spruce up your front porch for socializing from a distance!

18 GROUPS & GATHERINGS Looking to connect? Find your perfect group here.

20 20 FROM THE COVER Meet a local photographer who published a book of his work.

24 LEARN AND PLAY

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MAKNG MEMORIES Meri Gaston curates fun and educational craft boxes for preschoolers.

BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2020

24 WHAT’S SELLING See three homes that sold recently in Baldwin Park.

26 KEEPING IT REAL ESTATE In a competitive market, here’s how to stand out as a buyer.

BALDWIN PARK

LIVING OCTOBER 2020

It’s a great time to sell

Editor and Publisher — Michael Eng meng@orangeobserver.com

EDITORIAL Design Editor — Jessica Eng jeng@orangeobserver.com Associate Editor — Danielle Hendrix dhendrix@orangeobserver.com Contributors Will Campbell Denny O’Neil Christina Rordam Becca Schmidt

ADVERTISING Advertising Executive — Ann Carpenter acarpenter@orangeobserver.com

PRODUCTION Creative Services Lindsay Cannizzaro

Inventory is low.

Interest rates are great.

Buyers are looking for homes.

CONTACT To submit story ideas, calendar listings or have your event considered for coverage, contact Danielle Hendrix at dhendrix@orangeobserver.com.

JANICE COX

For advertising inquiries, call (407) 656-2121.

233 West Park Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789 329019-1

Baldwin Park Living is a monthly publication of the Observer Media Group published in partnership with the Baldwin Park Joint Committee Inc.

c 407.990.5885 | c 505.920.4774 Janice.Cox@PremierSIR.com JaniceCox.PremierSothebysRealty.com

Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated.

Equal Housing Opportunity.

BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2020

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Baldwin Park notebook ROA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

BY STACEY FRYREAR The following information is a glimpse of the ROA’s general updates for the month. A copy of the official Aug. 25 meeting minutes can be obtained on the Community Network, BaldwinParkNetwork. com.

The Board approved preparation of membership notice and documents for the Board to adopt e-voting.

REOPENING UPDATE Pool: The board approved Grace Hopper pool occupancy be raised to 75% while keeping the reservation system. Half of the pool furniture will be available for use.

All other pools remain closed.

Extended hours: Lap swim 6 to 9:30 a.m. and general use 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, using the same cleaning reservation block schedule. Lap swim 6 to 9:30 a.m. and general use 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, using the same cleaning reservation block schedule.

Board members will respond if

HELPFUL INFORMATION FOR OWNERS

WILDLIFE IN STRUCTURES The tree-lined streets of Baldwin Park offer shady canopies for residents to enjoy the outdoors and provide homes for amazing animals like songbirds, squirrels and even bats.

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there is reason to over the weekend(s). Signal 88 Security was to be phased out by the end of September. The practice of canceling no-shows 30 minutes after start of the timeframe will discontinue.

Fitness Center: The board approved opening Grace Hopper fitness center from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Sundays, with use of the reservation/ waiver system, eight people per reservation, masks must be worn, and cleaning procedures followed.

Playgrounds: The board approved to open the playgrounds at Union Park, High Park and Enders Park to include social-distancing signage and posting signage on the drinking fountains stating that they have been disabled. Playground use is at a person’s own risk.

Gathering rooms and offices remain closed to the public.

Financial audit: The board approved the Engagement Letter from Cole & Associates for the 2020 financial audit.

Bats provide great pest control. They are protected year-round from harm and cannot be evicted from buildings until after the end of the annual bat maternity season, between April 15 and Aug. 15.

Now is the time to evaluate your home for potential wild-

BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2020

Landscape: The board approved root pruning at Parkland Quadrangle and Bermuda repairs at Oak Mews.

The board approved an oak tree replacement at Longview Park closest to Upper Union Road.

UPDATES

BRIGHTVIEW UPDATES Replaced dead Allee Elm tree in CH No. 3 Mews at BrightView’s cost Installed 18 plumbagos at Union Park Spot-treated Bermuda for mole crickets Treated weeds in Bermuda Treated roses at Grace Hopper, Longview and Bailey Square with insecticide Fertilized plant and turf throughout ROA-maintained areas Continue weekly cleaning of irrigation filters Continue treating weeds in Bermuda grass MOLDED SWING The molded swing has been delivered. It will be installed and replace one of the buckets on the swing set at Enders Park.

life entry points and make necessary repairs. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission provided us with a comprehensive video addressing “How to Remove Bats from Buildings.” You can access it by going to youtube. com/watch?v=IbaKnvc8sZA.

Need more information about finding a professional bat excluder? Please contact your local FWC regional office at (352) 732-1225. If you have something you would like Community Manager Stacey Fryrear to make the community aware of, please email her at sfryrear@baldwinparkpoa.com.

CH NO. 3 ELM TREES Staff walked the elms with BrightView and Kai Fu to discuss consulting arborist Mary Edwards’ recommendation of maintaining the jasmine 4 to 6 feet from the tree. Because of the size of the jasmine bed, if the bed were altered based on recommendation, the association would lose the jasmine bed. A few other options are being considered, including removing all of the jasmine and adding Mondo grass instead in these areas.

BALDWIN PARK SERVICES APP The number of new requests from July 29 to Aug. 21 was 43.

RESERVE STUDY Staff will ask Dreux Isaac from Dreux Isaac and Associates to attend a future board meeting to answer any questions that the board may have with respect to reserves.

CONTRACT RENEWALS Staff sent the 12-month renewal contracts to ARC Consultant Lesleigh Foxworthy and Florida Water Features (CH No. 3 fountain cleaning) for execution.

BRIGHTVIEW AI PROGRAM Staff reached out to BrightView to get a better understanding of their work-order system and how it can be integrated or added to the Baldwin Park Services App. COVID-19 ITEMS ON HOLD Proposals for landscape and tree replacements: Oak Mews plants/sod, Enders plants/sod and ligustrums, Grace Hopper plants and sod Proposals for High Park facility center (gutter cleaning, painting light poles, painting pool fencing and caulking/weatherproofing)

Continued on page 12

TOWNHOME SERVICE AREA COMMITTEE

BY MELISSA PARKER MParker@BalwinParkPOA.com The following information is a glimpse of the business that the Townhome Service Area Committee addressed in the Aug. 20 meeting. A complete copy of the official minutes can be obtained on the Community Network at BaldwinParkNetwork.com.

TSAC approved the proposals supplied by DRS Inc. for the 2021 preventive maintenance and painting of buildings for the service areas.

UPDATES

BrightView is providing weed, insect and disease control for the landscaping/sod (ongoing services).

BrightView’s enhancement crew installed plant material in the Cambridge, City Home 1, City Home 2, City Home 3, Issa 22 and Issa 28 service areas.

Per DRS Inc., this is the townhome painting schedule for 2020: City 1, City 4 and Live/ Work.

Per DRS Inc., this is the townhome maintenance schedule for 2020: Issa 22 (October) and Cambridge (November).

Please report any building or landscaping issues on the Baldwin Park Services App to receive a response with updates.

HELPFUL INFORMATION FOR TOWNHOUSE OWNERS Tile floors on exterior porches or balconies require grout sealing to prevent water damage.

The grout may need touched up from time to time, as well. Likewise, re-caulk areas around windows and doors where caulking has shrunk due to sun or weather.

Water emergency! Watch this video to see how to shut off the water: youtu.be/a_P44FBxgMY. You’ll find a black lid in the front or rear yard.

It helps to have the right tool. You can buy a water valve shut-off tool, which is available at any hardware store for about $5 to $20.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT

SUZ TAPY

Suz holds the frontline position as the office manager for the Sentry Management office staff. She has been a fixture at the front desk for nine years, having joined the Association staff in October of 2011. She brings a background in customer service to her position, previously working in the radio, entertainment and property-management fields. In addition to activating resident key fobs, completing gathering-room reservations and assisting residents with navigation on Baldwin Park Network, some of Suz’s other duties include monitoring and updating the pool log and weekly police log spreadsheets, reporting any community maintenance problems, troubleshooting office-equipment issues, completing New Resident Orientation packets and coordinating contracts for classes approved by the Board of Directors, to name a few.

Suz was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, and is an avid Cardinals fan. She has lived in Central Florida for almost 30 years with her husband, Mike. They have a son, Jared, who is 20 years old. Suz enjoys gardening, baking, trying new recipes, and when she is not at work, she can be found painting murals in homes and businesses around Central Florida.

BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2020

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BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2020

ROA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING Continued from page 9 Proposals for bollard light painting in CH No. 2, CH No. 3 and CH No. 4 Mews

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Proposals for cleaning, repairing, caulking and painting Union Park, CH No. 2 and CH No. 3 Mews pergolas

Sign panels (dog waste/park rules) for parks/Mews spaces Proposal for Enders playground mulch OPD off-duty pool patrols (weekends)

Proposal for air purifiers and UV bulbs for Grace Hopper HVAC systems

One staff member continues to work from home (TSAC manager)

Proposal for crepe myrtle V-shaping in select parks/Mews

Staff has been working on the reopening plan with the committee formed by the board.

BALDWIN PARK COMMERCIAL OWNERS ASSOCIATION INC.

Parking lot light checks and replacements occur monthly in both the Village Center and the Neighborhood Business District. If you notice a light out, please report it using the Baldwin Park Services app. You can also report the city-owned light outages using this app, as well.

BY BILL PATTERSON

VILLAGE CENTER UPDATES Taste of Chengdu has opened in the old Chi Pan Asian location for lunch and dinner. It is authentic Chinese Sichuan cuisine with a lunch menu starting mid-September.

Monthly street light repairs and landscaping replacement/ upgrades are planned for the Village Center parking lots.

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NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS DISTRICT UPDATES Monthly street light repairs and landscaping replacement/ upgrades are planned for the Neighborhood Business District parking lots.

GENERAL UPDATES We are looking for two additional COA board members to join the team for a one-year commitment. If you are interested or know someone, please reach out to me at BPatterson@ BaldwinParkPOA.com.

The COA Service Area manager walks the property looking for covenant compliance each month. To avoid violations and fines, please maintain your building and property so it is looking Baldwin Best. If you have any questions, please contact Bill Patterson.

Architectural Review Committee meetings take place twice a month on the second and fourth Tuesday for application reviews regarding commercial changes to exterior structures (roofing replacements and painting), landscaping and signage. All corresponding applications can be located on the Baldwin Park Network under Commercial Owners Association and Commercial Architectural Review Committee.

For questions and application submission, please feel free to send an email Bill.

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BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2020

WHAT A GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD WE LIVE IN

Breathe … Walk, bike and drive safely in Baldwin Park Shannon Faith Walsh is the former executive director of the American Bicycling Education Association and founder of the Poetic Justice Center, a nonprofit specializing in providing worldclass leadership and de-escalation training to law-enforcement agencies.

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”

— Albert Einstein Some of the best advice I received was on a plane, from a total stranger. We were both en route to Honolulu to compete in the Honolulu triathlon. She had done it several times.

“Honolulu is my first triathlon; do you have any advice?” I asked.

She replied, “Breathe.”

Just because breathing is an automatic function doesn’t mean we can’t be better at it. Knowing how to properly breathe while running, biking, walking, scuba diving, practicing yoga, driving or even dealing with one’s family members is a competitive advantage. Learning to control our breathing in various situations helps us to remain calm and composed despite the circumstances. Now is the perfect time to cultivate that skill.

Because safety starts at home and October is Healthy Literacy month, we’ll focus on physical, emotional and mental health on Baldwin Park roadways and bike/ walkways.

“Prior to COVID-19, bike-trail use was on the rise, but since the shutdown, bike-trail use is

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unprecedented,” Bike/Walk Board Chair Lisa Portelli said. “Continued sensitivity and safety should be exercised in sharing the road and the trails.”

Mighk Wilson, bicycle and pedestrian planner at MetroPlan Orlando, states: “As a cyclist, if you’re on the sidewalk (or trail), you have rights and duties of a pedestrian.

If you’re a cyclist on the road, you have the rights and duties of a driver. Travel-lane (road) and sidewalk crashes are decreasing because there are less work-related destination cyclists. Because there are more recreational riders, bikeway and trail crashes are increasing.”

Portelli suggests applying situational awareness.

“Many dangers can be avoided through common courtesy,” she said.

Realize the freedoms afforded us in Baldwin Park. Then head out into our community and extend a smile to your neighbor, whether you’re on foot, bike or behind the wheel. We’re all going through something. We’ll get though it better together.

And don’t forget to breathe.

Inhale the beauty of Baldwin Park and exhale any toxicity.

To avoid accidents on the trail, here are a few safety precautions: Pedestrians: Always stay to the right.

Cyclists: Notify pedestrians/cyclists you are passing by saying, “Passing on your left,” or by ringing a bell. Use hand signals to indicate turning right or left — an extended arm in the intended direction.

Motorists: Stop at all crosswalks where cyclists or pedestrians are present. Failing to do so is a $164 fine.

Both pedestrians and cyclists with headphones should keep the volume on low to hear their fellow travelers.

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BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2020

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M

is for MeriMaker

Baldwin Park Kids Club

co-founder Meri Gaston has

created a special activity box

for preschoolers that combines arts and crafts with learning.

DANIELLE HENDRIX ASSOCIATE EDITOR

M

eri Gaston loves working with preschoolers.

It’s part of the reason why she co-founded the Baldwin Park Kids Club eight years ago when her daughter, Whitney, was around that age.

Now, she’s taking her love of helping preschoolers learn and grow a step further with the creation of her MeriMaker activity box.

The activity box is packed with all the supplies needed to unleash preschoolers’ creativity. Each box is fully themed with creative and educational recipes, crafts and learning modules to keep preschoolers both entertained and learning.

“Preschool is kind of my wheelhouse,” Gaston says. “I love engaging in arts and crafts and finding fun things for families and parents to do with their kids. After Whitney outgrew it, I had Jayce, and it kind of started all over again. I find a lot of joy and excitement in connecting people to local resources and virtual resources of things they can do with their children. I like it when

One of the superhero box’s activities involved making slime.

I can share things to enrich other people’s lives.”

Gaston said the idea for MeriMaker boxes came as she was scanning the market for a preschool kit that would tap into both arts and crafts, and education. She found many cooking kits, arts and crafts boxes, and various subscription boxes, but there was nothing that explicitly tied arts and crafts together with learning.

“They don’t typically integrate the learning skills,” Gaston says of Courtesy photos

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BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2020

“My mind is just giving and creating; this is what I enjoy doing. I love finding fun things for preschoolers to learn and grow and experience together and enrich their lives,” says Meri Gaston.

other activity boxes. “Usually, it’s a learning workbook or an arts-andcrafts box, but there’s not usually a crossover.”

That’s where MeriMaker boxes — which are geared for children ages 3 to 6 — differ from the rest.

“It has the skills that preschoolers need to be successful, so the fine-motor skills, the pinching, the gluing, the cutting, the letter matching,” she says. “All of those things are so important — especially now when a lot of parents are choosing to homeschool their kids or not send them to preschool — to just have a little bit of an extra learning boost. You can just get this in the mail and it gives you four to five crafts with all supplies included to do with your child, and you’re also working on the learning piece. Every crate is going to be themed by a

letter, and ideally I hope to turn it into a subscription service.”

MeriMaker boxes include learning worksheets custom designed by Gaston and detailed project guidelines, as well as recipes, fine-motor and sensory activities, and a pretend-play asset. The first box is S for Superhero, and it had a recipe for a superhero smoothie, as well as a superhero cape and mask.

“It’s been brewing for a long time, but to be honest, I just put this out a few weeks ago,” she says. “I started the kids’ club just for my love of children, and I love sharing resources with people, so this is kind of new to me to turn my skills into something for profit. My mind is just giving and creating; this is what I enjoy doing. I love finding fun things for preschoolers to learn and grow and experience together and enrich their lives.”

Aside from eventually turning it into a subscription box, Gaston has another goal she hopes to achieve in connection with MeriMaker. She wants to offer plenty of fun and free content on her website for families to access. This includes inspirational ideas, arts and crafts, and activities — a parent hub of sorts, where parents can go for ideas of things to do with their little ones.

Gaston added the MeriMaker activity boxes are also a great way to help reduce screen time and get younger children actively involved in creating, imagining and learning — especially during a pandemic when so much learning is done online.

“I feel like it’s so important to break them away from that screen time and let them just be creative and learn and grow,” she says. “I think that’s the neat part about art: It can reflect your personality.

You don’t have to necessarily stay with the directions. Honestly, I feel like it’s calming in the times that we’re in, kind of like therapy. I find it calming for me just to be sitting and assembling boxes. It gets my mind off everything going on in the world and lets me focus on the task at hand.”

And the inaugural S for Superhero box is just the beginning for MeriMaker. Gaston announced in mid-August the arrival of the G for Garden activity box. It will include a children’s book written and autographed by News 6 anchor Lisa Bell, a recipe and various arts projects.

Gaston said the MeriMaker boxes have been well-received thus far, and there are more to come. She offers contactless porch drop-offs for local orders, and shipping also is available. There is a sibling discount for families with multiple children receiving boxes.

“I’ve received a lot of great feedback thus far,” she says. “They’re excited; they want to see what’s next. Several people that we know said, ‘We regularly subscribe to other boxes, but this has more content and … it’s more real arts-andcrafts products,’ so they like that, too. There will definitely be more themes.”

MERIMAKER FACEBOOK: facebook.com/ merimaker WEBSITE: merimaker.com DETAILS: Each MeriMaker activity box is suitable for children ages 3 to 6 years old.

Boxes are themed with a specific letter and include artsand-crafts projects, learning worksheets, a recipe, a pretend-play asset and instructions. Check out the MeriMaker website for availability.

BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2020

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AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Please, I need a change in weather!

F

BECCA SCHMIDT BALDWIN PARK LIFESTYLE DIRECTOR Lifestyle Director Becca Schmidt has lived in Baldwin Park since 2005 and has the pulse on neighborhood social gatherings.

Check out the Groups and Gatherings section of the Baldwin Park Network for a list of Baldwin Parkbased groups. Contact Becca at lifestyledirector@baldwinparkpoa. com if you’d like to start a new group or have questions about how you can meet your neighbors.

lorida vernacular reminds us that there are only two seasons here in our state: summer and “not quite summer.”

As October unfolds, we slowly move into the “not quite summer” season. Hooray! The past seven months have kept so many of us feeling shut in and isolated, right?

Even when we squirrel out for a few groceries or saunter to the mailbox, we feel that oppressive heat. Add to that the oppressive nature of a face mask. We feel as though every breath is effort. We collectively gasp for air as we tune in to the news from around this country. Our hearts are heavy and full of compassion. But sometimes, we need a break! While cooped up, we find solace in Netflix binging or cooking, or exercising. If we’re lucky, a phone call with mom. But, as humans, we need the next layer of social interaction. We need our friends. We need our neighbors.

We need the gentle distraction of talking about petunias and dog breeds and Halloween costumes — or who’s going to win the game or how to fix a sprinkler head.

Baldwin Park’s master design from the very early stages was to create a walkable, friendly, small-town atmosphere with sidewalks, shops, schools, parks and amenities that support a diverse

residency. People of all ages, life stages and interests would come together on the common ground of proximity. The master design included creating a diversity of spaces for living and growing. This concept of living spaces goes beyond the quintessential aesthetic of the neighborhood but takes into account the quality of life for the thousands of people who call Baldwin Park home. The homebuilders and apartment designers built according to plan — they built front porches everywhere!

So, my proposal is this: What if we all stepped out onto our own front porch for a collective breath out? What if we began to open up our porches for meaningful discussions? What if we ask a neighbor we see frequently walking his dog to join us for a cup of coffee? Or reconnect with a bookclub buddy for a glass of wine and sunset gazing?

If you don’t have a front porch, you likely have a back patio or balcony that faces other patios and balconies. Be creative. Here are six ideas to get your porch or balcony ready for some safe socializing.

1

Have two seating areas, 10 feet apart. Try a pair of wicker chairs — and side table — on the

“The sticky air shelters in place.

Immoveable, like me, perched upon my porch.

Here, I search the neighborhood for companionship.

Soon, the jangle of dog tags and smack of flip-flops Break the silence.

My friend and I talk for a time, Six feet apart, but seeing eye to eye About our hope for tomorrow.”

— Debbie Burton, Baldwin Park resident and recent winner of the city of Orlando’s Words and Wonders summer poetry contest

two opposite ends of the porch. Or, if your beams will support it, two porch swings facing one another on opposite sides of the space.

2

Use splashes of bright yellow, orange and teal. Choose yellow pillows or fall floral cushions. Create a pumpkin trio on the top step.

3

Bring the outside inside with tables, lamps and even a little bookshelf. Some apartments allow flowing curtains to frame your space.

4

Recycle plants from your summer garden and replace with bright yellow or orange chrysanthemums. Sunflowers are a gorgeous addition in a chunky outdoor vase.

5

Use string lighting, a cozy rug and even outdoor art to bring life to your porch.

6

If you are leery about handling serveware, ask guests to bring their own mug or glass, or buy a few that you can give away as a special memento of your gathering!

Most of all, use your porch, patio or balcony as a new way to connect. Even if you’re all in masks, you’re opening new doors to connect. Someday — we hope someday soon — we’ll all have the opportunity to show off our toothy grins again.

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AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD BOOK CLUBS All book clubs listed below welcome new members!

Find the day of the week and type of book that best suits you. Book clubs meet once a month at a member’s home.

BOOK BUDS This fiction book club welcomes new members. Book Buds meet at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month at various members’ homes. Contact Audean at audean63@gmail.com.

HOOKED ON BOOKS This club is welcoming new members who love fiction.

They meet on Mondays at various members’ homes.

For October’s book selection and location for their gathering, contact Melissa at melissajay522@gmail. com.

REAL DEAL NON-FICTION BOOK CLUB This group reads and discusses biographies, memoirs, business books and contemporary non-fiction. For October’s book selection and location for this month’s gathering, contact Kathy at klhgibbons@gmail.com.

PAGE TURNERS BOOK CLUB This club meets on the second Monday of each month to discuss a variety of books. New participants are always welcome! Ask about the next book selection and the location of the October meeting by contacting Genie at bsrocky@ hotmail.com.

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Lifestyle groups & gatherings Many of the Baldwin Park groups have postponed meetings due to the COVID-19 precautions. Please take a look at what interests you here and reach out to a group leader and connect!

Some groups are meeting on Zoom. Meanwhile, please connect virtually on Facebook.

Search “Baldwin Park Groups and Gatherings” and ask to join today.

BALDWIN PARK ART Baldwin Park’s art club is a mixture of art classes, studio tours and gallery openings for art lovers. It’s open to everyone!

Contact Pat at plremingt@ gmail.com.

BALDWIN PARK KIDS CLUB Activities for children ages infant to 5 years old. Parents and kids enjoy a variety of casual get-togethers, including story time, play dates, park picnics, mom’s night out and more.

Contact bpkidsclub1@gmail. com.

COOKING AROUND THE WORLD Learn the artful craft of cooking ethnic foods with hands-on cooking demonstrations. Contact Becca Schmidt at lifestyledirector@baldwinparkpoa.com for more information.

ETHNIC FOOD ENTHUSIASTS Explore exceptional epicurean dishes every month. Experience a chef talk or food flights and bites at local restaurants. Singles and residents new to the area are encouraged to jump in and enjoy incredible food and conversation. Contact Shannon at sfaith14@gmail.com.

BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2020

NEW! BALDWIN PARK WALKERS Baldwin Park Walkers is starting up again — in SMALL groups! Exercising is an effective stress reducer and as long as we can walk in pairs or groups of four while maintaining distancing guidelines, walking with friends can provide an opportunity to meet your Baldwin Park neighbors.

Looking for two or three people to coordinate walking groups for Blue Jacket Park, Lake Baldwin trail, Cady Way trail and others.

Contact lifestyledirector@ baldwinparkpoa.com.

LIFESTYLE LEARNING SERIES October festivities are not just for kids! This month, Baldwin Park’s Lifestyle Learning Series brings you a comedy show for adults!

Grab a few “bubble buddies” (those people in your social group who you feel comfortable with), some local beer and hook up your big TV monitor to watch the Orlando Fringe comedy show! 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8. To sign up, contact Lifestyle Director Becca Schmidt at (407) 8089601 or lifestyledirector@ baldwinparkpoa.com.

GAMES GALORE! Adults are invited to play a variety of games on various Saturdays. Learn new games like Settlers of Catan or play the classics. Contact Robyn at rhzgrodin@gmail.com.

NIFTY FIFTIES PLUS Socials for active couples and singles, age 50 and up, meet several times a month for a variety of social activities including ladies coffee, happy hour, luncheons, parties and more.

Reach out to niftyfiftiesplus@ gmail.com.

NOVEMBER PROJECT Unlike the name, this group meets all year round. Run, squat, plank and laugh while you work out with this all-levels fitness group. Meets at 6:29 a.m. every Wednesday at Harbor Park. Contact Dyani at novemberprojectorlando@ gmail.com.

PICKUP BASKETBALL Basketball enthusiasts meet at Blue Jacket Park basketball courts at 8:15 a.m. Saturdays for five-on-five play. Contact Rick at rickschreiber2@gmail.com WIN! WOMEN INNOVATORS NETWORK This new group is for Baldwin Park women who own or manage a business – big or small.

Come for lunch to exchange ideas and hear guest speakers.

Reservations can be made by contacting Bekah at beautifiedbybekah@gmail.com.

WRITERS’ BLOCK WRITING GROUP For bloggers, poets and aspiring authors. This group will discuss many topics to help writers, like thinking outside the box, preventing stagnation, practicing new vocabulary words, research and more! Come with a desire to meet other writers and learn to hone your writing skills.

So many people find friendships at the gym. Although many gyms are slowly reopening, some Baldwin Park-area fitness and yoga studios are continuing the connection with live Zoom classes, Instagram feeds and Facebook Live.

BLUE MOON YOGA — Live Zoom yoga classes at 8:30 a.m. Friday mornings, followed by outdoor yoga classes at 9:30 a.m. Friday mornings (ask for location). Meditation classes are available to whoever needs a one-on-one session! Classes are 100% donation based. Contact Becca Schmidt at becca@ bluemoon.yoga.

CHAMPIONSHIP MARTIAL ARTS — Virtual training classes still take place directly from the studio so kids don’t miss a thing! Visit championshipmartialarts.com/baldwin-park.

MIGHTY GIRLS FITNESS — Dozens of live classes a week are offered on Zoom, Facebook Live and Instagram.

Classes include Go With the Flow Yoga, Pilates, Barre and Burn, Cardio Hip Hop Fit, Core and Cardio, Restorative Yoga,

Self Care and Mighty Mobility.

Classes cost $7 per drop in.

Newcomers welcome! Sign up for classes at mightygirlsfitness.com or on the MINDBODY app.

Find your way to savings.

9ROUND FITNESS — Online workouts are being offered on Instagram and more. For information, visit facebook.com/9RoundOrlandoJakeSt.

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NOVEMBER PROJECT — This group is offering free weekly workouts online. Visit november-project.com.

ROCK HARD FITNESS — Zoom fitness classes are available. Visit rockhardfitnessorlando.com.

ZOOM BALLET AND PILATES — Baldwin Park resident and PMA-certified instructor Adriana Duarte Pontual offers Zoom pilates classes from 11 a.m. to noon Wednesdays and 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Saturdays, along with ballet barre from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Saturdays. Classes are $10. Those interested in taking these classes can fill out a form at adrianaduartepontual. com.br/virtual-classes.

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What kind of Baldwin Park residents’ group would you like to join?

Community service? Golf? Single moms and dads? Empty nesters?

Sailing? Cigar club? Optimist club? Speakers round table? Wine tasting? Frisbee football? Friends of animals? If you don’t see your interests reflected in the groups listed here, consider spearheading a new group. Contact Becca Schmidt at lifestyledirector@baldwinparkpoa.com for more information.

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Second nature

Photos by Dr. James Ferrell

After seven years and thousands of photos in the making, Dr. James ‘Jim’ Ferrell has published a book of his wildlife photography, much of which was taken in Baldwin Park.

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BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2020

“Walking Lake Baldwin kind of has saved my life in the sense of the exercise and doing the photography, which motivated me every day to take the camera and keep taking pictures.” — JIM FERRELL DANIELLE HENDRIX ASSOCIATE EDITOR

D

r. James “Jim” Ferrell was a teen living in Auckland, New Zealand, when the country’s beautiful nature and wildlife first captured his attention.

Today, the Baldwin Park resident — still very much captivated by nature — is the self-published author and photographer behind his 128-page photography book, “Central Florida Wildlife.” The book features shots from Lakeland to Lake Eola and beyond, but its main emphasis is on the wildlife found in and around Lake Baldwin.

Ferrell’s journey to publishing a book of his photography began in 2008 when he and his wife, Frances, moved to Baldwin Park. He underwent surgery in which doctors removed a portion of his left lung.

Two years after that, he had another surgery for a blockage in his aorta.

After both procedures, his doctors encouraged him to begin walking for some exercise.

“One of the things they urged me to do was to exercise and get that

weight off,” Ferrell says. “I started walking Lake Baldwin, because the doctors kept telling me I needed to exercise. You’ve got to have something to motivate you to walk, and in my case, I loved all the birds I kept seeing. Baldwin Park was loaded with wading birds. You walked the lake and you’d see 15 to 20 of any given one.”

And what started as a way to get some exercise and lose some weight quickly became much more for Ferrell.

“Walking Lake Baldwin kind of has saved my life in the sense of the exercise and doing the photography, which motivated me every day to take the camera and keep taking pictures,” he says.

BEHIND THE LENS

Ferrell’s love of nature and photography began during his time as a teenager in New Zealand, but upon returning to the United States at 18 years old, he joined the U.S. Navy during a time when young men were being drafted. He recalls not being able to afford a good camera during his time in the Navy, but his love for photography compelled him to be-

gin investing in camera equipment afterward.

He left the Navy to attend college at what is now Southeastern University in Lakeland, where he studied to become a college professor. After graduating and becoming a faculty member at his alma mater, he volunteered to be the in-house photographer for many of its events and student activities.

“The college was always needing photography,” he says. “One of the courses they had me teaching was photography. My primary position was in the education department.

I taught photography for all those years, and I fell in love with specific types of photography. After I gave up my photography business doing weddings, I made a personal commitment in my spirit that I was going to do nature photography, because it was less stressful.”

Ferrell’s retirement led him and Frances to Baldwin Park, which has only further enhanced his love of photographing wildlife in their natural habitats. Having a camera in tow became second nature for him as he Continued on page 22 BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2020

21

CENTRAL FLORIDA WILDLIFE Ferrell’s 128-page book features a variety of wildlife in Central Florida. With more than 1,000 photos, most of the book is dedicated to the wildlife found right here in Baldwin Park.

Ferrell also includes species names and information about many of them. Photos depict everything from wading birds, turtles and ducks to birds, wildflowers and insects.

To purchase “Central Florida Wildlife” on Amazon, visit amzn.to/2Zmkg4v.

Continued on page 21 embarked on his walks and took in his surroundings.

“I loved taking the pictures, and all the fields that had so many wildflowers,” he says. “I bought topnotch cameras for that kind of photography. … I began to photograph, and like so many people, I joined Facebook and started putting the pictures on Facebook. So many of my former students, they really took a liking to my nature photography.”

BUILDING A BOOK

It was after Ferrell began sharing his photos on Facebook that his friends, family and former students began encouraging him to publish a book of them. His brother-in-law, who has a publishing company, motivated him to get that book done. “(I published it) in 2019, after seven years of photographing around the calendar year, whatever I saw,” he says. “If I saw a butterfly, I photographed butterflies. I do have a coyote in the book, because one day I came upon a coyote that lived here.

For a while, otters were very, very dominant — not so much now, but back in 2016 and 2017. I put them in the book.”

Compiling the book also further motivated Ferrell to conduct research on each and every species — and varieties within those species.

He not only needed to know what they were but also enjoyed learning about their habitats and ways of life.

“I put lots of butterflies and all the categories of wading birds — the egrets, the herons,” he says. “I knew I had to label them, so I began to do a lot of research and reading on whatever I saw so if I put a name in the book it was going to be accurate.”

“Central Florida Wildlife” is available for purchase on Amazon, and Ferrell estimates about 80% to 85% of the photos included are from around Baldwin Park. It contains more than 1,000 photos of alligators, turtles, swans, ducks, pelicans, herons, egrets, ibises, otters, eagles, wildflowers, butterflies and other insects.

He’s had great responses to his work thus far, too. He made friends

with one of his neighbors and her toddler, and once he learned the boy loved birds, he gifted him a copy of the book. The boy’s mother, Ferrell says, told him later that her son couldn’t stop looking at his new book.

Another woman loved Ferrell’s book because it gave her the names of all the birds she kept seeing but didn’t know much about. She loved it so much, in fact, that she bought five copies to give to her grandchildren.

“I’ve had a lot of my university-connected friends who liked my book, and they’ve all made really nice comments,” he says.

And although the book is being sold online, money is not a motivating factor for Ferrell. Instead, his motivation is found in people liking both nature and Baldwin Park. “(My photography) was a progression through the years from the time that I was 16 years old,” Ferrell says. “I became a professional photographer around probably 1970-something, and I’ve loved it and I still love it.”

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SUBWAY 4851 New Broad St.

LA LUNA BELLA 4886 New Broad St. See ad on page 25 for more information.

MEZA MEDITERRANEAN GRILL 1780 Jake St. See ad on page 19 for more information.

FIVE GUYS 4821 New Broad St. GATOR’S DOCKSIDE 4982 New Broad St. ICENY BALDWIN PARK 4954 New Broad St. OCEAN POKE 4962 New Broad St. PROVISIONS & BUZZ CO 4868 New Broad St.

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Contact Ann Carpenter at acarpenter@orangeobserver.com or call (407) 725-8162.

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WHAT’S SELLING 1617 LAKE BALDWIN LANE SALE PRICE: $423,000 SQUARE FEET: 2,019 BEDROOMS: Three BATHS: 2.5

DETAILS: This charming and welcoming Issa townhome is located in the heart of Baldwin Park. This beautiful, two-story end unit offers three bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and many upgrades. Those include lots of windows, hardwood floors throughout the first floor, crown molding, custom shelving and solid surface counters in a versatile floor plan. The home also features a private, fenced courtyard and patio.

Photographer: Rickie Agapito

LISTING AGENT: Justin Yvonne Wiechart, Starlink Realty SELLING AGENT: Lynn Salmon, Lakeside Realty Windermere

5441 BALDWIN PARK ST. SALE PRICE: $357,000 SQUARE FEET: 1,640 BEDROOMS: Three BATHS: 2.5

Photographer: Harry Lim

LISTING AGENT: Greg Martinez, Greg Martinez Realty SELLING AGENT: William Net, Becker Realty Group

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BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2020

DETAILS: This nicely upgraded and well-maintained Baldwin Park townhouse features finishes including wood floors and crown molding throughout the downstairs living level. The kitchen is upgraded with granite countertops, newer stainless-steel appliances and a breakfast bar. Laundry and all bedrooms are located on the second level. The family room and kitchen overlook the privacy-fenced backyard with plenty of room for outdoor entertaining. This is an excellent location within easy walking distance to one of three community pools and playgrounds.

4293 HAWS COURT

SALE PRICE: $689,000 SQUARE FEET: 2,588 BEDROOMS: Three BATHS: 2.5

DETAILS: Located on one of the few quiet cul-de-sacs, this beautiful Craftsman-style home sits on one of the largest lots in the neighborhood. A spacious and open-floor plan allows for easy entertaining. Custom designer touches throughout the home — such as double crown molding, Venetian plaster and spacious custom closets — throughout really make this home unique. The backyard area is like nothing you have seen before with lush landscape and plenty of room for a pool and outdoor living space. A rear-access two-car garage with long driveway is a rare find.

Photographer: Alan Fraebel

LISTING AGENT: Lisa Fleming, Fannie Hillman and Associates SELLING AGENT: Liz Moore, Century 21 Alton Clark

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KEEPING IT REAL ESTATE

Buying in a hot market: CHRISTINA RORDAM FLORIDA REALTY INVESTMENTS Christina Rordam is a local Realtor and a member of ORRAs Top Producer Club.

For more, visit christinasellsorlando.com.

How to win the day A

t the start of 2020, the Orlando real-estate market was going strong. No one went into this year with any idea of what was soon to come due to COVID-19 and its subsequent impact on the world’s economies.

But here we all are many months later, growing closer to yet another year — a year that will hopefully bring a vaccine as well as an economic recovery in many sectors. People still need homes and will continue to do so. Because of this and several other reasons, Orlando real estate remains a hot commodity — so much so that buyers are often competing with each other for their dream

homes, with some left frustrated when another buyer beats their offer. As unlikely as it may have seemed when the world went into quarantine, buyers are grappling both with limited homes on the market and how to appeal to sellers with unlimited options. Here is a quick refresher on how to win in a multiple-offer situation.

1

Put your best foot forward upfront. The current real-estate climate isn’t conducive to the wait-and-see method for buyers.

In my 15 years as a Realtor, I’ve heard many a buyer express that age-old sentiment: “If it’s meant to be, it will be.” And although I

agree that fate will find a way in life, as a homebuyer in 2020 in Central Florida, one must seize the day to make one’s property dreams come true. Negotiating is fun and exciting and part of the process of buying a home. But it is important to ask yourself when offering on a desirable home, “Is haggling over a few thousand dollars or small repairs worth losing the home of your dreams?”

In some cases, the answer will be yes. But if you really love a specific neighborhood and home, it may not be worth trying to wheel and deal. No buyer ever wants to overpay, so things like how long you plan to live in

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2

Clear communication is key. Remember, each seller may have different needs specific to their situation, so be sure to ask what matters most to them.

Some sellers prefer to close as quickly as possible. In fact, most sellers prefer to close quickly. But with limited inventory, there are sellers who would enjoy having an extra 30 days to find a perfect place to which to move. Maybe they are building a home and need more time where they are.

The point is, you don’t know until you ask. Sellers may advise their representatives to keep such information to themselves, but others will appreciate your efforts to communicate and be flexible. Just the fact that a buyer has made an

attempt to communicate above and beyond basic numbers on a page and offered up that they are willing to be flexible can turn the tables in a buyer’s favor. After all, good communication and pleasant buyers make for an easier experience across the board. It never hurts to be easy to deal with!

3

Mark out minor requests.

You’ve just walked through a gorgeous home in your preferred neighborhood and hope to present a winning offer that night.

You did notice some mismatched outlet covers and an older dishwasher among other things that you frankly don’t want to have to replace once you’ve moved in.

Naturally, you’re inclined to ask the seller to make these minor fixes — after all, it can’t be that expensive, can it? If you believe the house you are presenting an offer on will receive other offers at the same time, it’s best to leave minor fixes out of the equation. If

a location is particularly popular, you may need to press pause on asking for the larger items, too.

Each case is different, but certainly if you are aware that you are competing with other buyers, keep your offer streamlined.

Present the best price and terms you feel comfortable with and try to base numbers on data such as recent neighborhood sales. Appliances and repairs can be added at a later date, but location is irreplaceable. Most importantly, don’t be discouraged if an offer you place doesn’t get accepted. I often sell homes that have fallen through with their original offers.

If you are clear on what and where you want to buy and stay vigilant, you will be rewarded.

Stay positive, communicate clearly and openly, and keep things simple and to the point when making an offer, and sooner than later, you will come out on top!

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the home, perks such as good schools for kids or potential for future equity factor into the equation. If you truly have found the home of your dreams, present your best offer up front.

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MY VIEW

Expecting the unexpected H DANIELLE HENDRIX ASSOCIATE EDITOR

28

ave you ever been asked to describe where you see yourself in five years?

This time five years ago, I was in my last semester at the University of Central Florida. I was working at the student newspaper, completing my journalism portfolio and beginning to apply for a “big girl” job.

Today, I’m five years into my journalism career — something I definitely envisioned when thinking about where I’d be in 2020. That’s about the only part I got right.

I can’t say that living through a global pandemic, masks becoming everyday wear, or much of the world temporarily shutting down were on my radar.

In fact, can we all take comfort in knowing that none of us was right about where we saw ourselves in 2020?

I won’t sugarcoat things: 2020 has been one of the toughest years many have ever faced — and possibly will ever face. Jobs have been lost, charitable giving is down, events have been canceled, and people have lost loved ones.

With the number 2020 symbolizing perfect vision, isn’t it ironic that none of us saw what was coming?

Although it has been a year of hardships and major curveballs, 2020 has allowed us to see something else in the people around us — perseverance.

Maybe we can’t control the circumstances we find ourselves in, but we can control our perspective. We can choose how we’re going to face the obstacles in our path and find new solutions when things don’t go as planned.

That’s exactly what Glenridge Middle School’s PTSA is doing this fall as it pertains to its annual

BALDWIN PARK LIVING | OCTOBER 2020

fall fundraiser. Getting to this point in the 2020-21 school year has been a feat in and of itself. In fact, whether students would be able to return to school face-toface was largely undecided until just a couple of weeks before school began.

The PTSA was slated to host its Viva Las Vegas fundraiser at the Orlando Museum of Art Sept.

25. The 2019 event was a hit and raised about $30,000.

This year, having a large gathering in person isn’t feasible.

Having to cancel the face-to-face event was disappointing, PTSA President Angie Montenegro says, and the PTSA waited as long as it could before having to do so. Now, they’ve pivoted to create a new plan.

“Last year was the first one we got to really do, and it was great and successful, but now we’re kind of forced to take a step back,” Montenegro says. “We decided to go with a trivia night. …

What we decided to do … is turn our fall fundraiser into our fall community event. … We wanted to try to bring back a sense of community, give everybody free admission.”

The trivia night will take place virtually at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, via Zoom. Glenridge staff and families can register for the free event, have fun competing and donate to the PTSA or bid in the silent auction.

“Let’s play, let’s hang out, let’s all be together (virtually),” Montenegro says. “We’re going to add a link online where they can go to an optional silent auction. We are still seeking sponsorships from different businesses, as well, and there’s sponsorship packages that go along with that.”

All proceeds go directly toward the PTSA’s efforts to enhance

student programs and school resources. This year, PTSA’s support will be specifically geared toward implementation of additional safety measures, as well as teacher appreciation.

“They’re just doing so much,” Montenegro says of the school’s teachers and staff. “We’re honestly just reserving everything we have to try to support them. They deserve everything, they really do. That’s our main point for any of the funds we do raise. It’s going to go back to them.

The PTSA is offering special sponsorship packages for the virtual social, with different perks associated with each tier.

Additionally, donations of items, services or experiences are being accepted for the silent auction.

Details for the event, donations and sponsorships can be found on the Glenridge Middle School PTSA Facebook page or on its Instagram account (@ GlenridgePTSA). Questions or inquiries also can be directed to glenridgeptsa@yahoo.com.

“We’re all taking that very fluid, ‘When it happens, it happens’ approach, and we’re going to be prepared to change, alter and adjust whatever we need to do to get through the school year,” Montenegro says.

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I LOVE BALDWIN PARK Baldwin Park resident Evelyn S. Van Rens snapped this awesome photo a few months ago, when two F-15Cs from the National Guard 125th Fighter Wing performed a city of Orlando flyover to salute health care workers and first responders. The path included an 11:43 a.m. flyover of the Lake Baldwin VA Clinic next to Westminster Baldwin Park.

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water crest w in t e r pa r k

Premier Assisted Living & Memory Care Our comfortably classy design welcomes you with a stunning promenade, fireplace, our signature water wall, pool, salon & spa. Sip our private label wine in our intimate bistro or poolside before dinner. Our world-class Market Street Memory Care features the timeless charm of our Market Plaza enticing street scape.

Call today for information! 321-304-4898

COMMUNITY ADDRESS 1501 Glendon Parkway, Winter Park FL 32789

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SALES OFFICE 1007 Lewis Drive, Winter Park, Florida 32789

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Located on one of the few quiet cul-de-sacs in Baldwin Park,

2018 Award Winner of “Real Estate Agency Neighborhood Favorite” by Nextdoor Baldwin Park 2017 Ovations Award Winner for “Best Real Estate Agency” by the Winter Park/ Maitland Observer Readers

newer AC units, a new hot water heater and the home was -

• One of Baldwin Park’s Top Realtors in 2019 • Highest Sales Volume in Townhomes in 2015

Sold for $689,000

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• Highest Sales Volume in New Construction in 2013

unit has been upgraded throughout and is located in the heart porch and just steps away from the Corrine Commons park,

• Ranked Top Producer since 2002 downtown area with shops and restaurants, as well as, easy

• Resident of Baldwin Park since 2004

Sold for $402,000

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countertops and a wine refrigerator, plus an eat-in area and a room area in between the two secondary bedrooms, which is

Sold for $617,000

This 4 bedrooms/3 full baths + 2 half baths townhome is located in the heart of Baldwin Park! The downstairs bedroom with full bath & a custom walk-in closet is the perfect spot for your

Lisa Fleming

kitchen with cherry cabinets, granite countertops, stainless room and an additional guest bedroom, are located on the

407.644.1234 321.228.8341 cell Lisa@fanniehillman.com

be an additional bedroom with its own half bath and walk-in

Sold for $439,000

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