0216 World News
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
® ® Vol. 29, No. 8 February 2016 | Section A Where the news is always good! OUR WORLD Saturday morning, even if it is just for the COMMUNITY Meet Vendors, Get free candy and treats. NEWS & UPDATE Last year, more than 1,300 people lled the aisles at Circle Square Cultural Center By Kenneth D. Colen Ideas & Adopt a Pet to meet with companies selling granite Publisher countertops, screen enclosures, air con- By Robert Colen ditioning systems and much more. Even local television news from Gainesville Fiscal 2016 Operating Get ready for On Top of the World’s at Circle Square Cultural Center for you to showed up to cover the event. Budget 9th annual Home Improvement Expo! meet with, learn from, and potentially do Of course, On Top of the World’s re- On Saturday, Feb. 13, vendors from all business with. is fun and energy lled modeling company, World Home Im- On Top of the World (Central) Own- types of home improvement trades will be event is an entertaining way to spend a provements will be in the rst row to show ers, remember, Wednesday, Feb. 17, bud- you all the great projects they have done get meeting is right around the corner. and, if you are interested, what they can e proposed budget was mailed out in do for you. A±er a brief hiatus to focus on late January. is coming scal year will new construction, World Home Improve- have considerable challenges. Your board ments is re-energized and ready to once is pleased to report that despite signicant again provide residents the high quality work being done around the commu- construction they deserve. nity, the increase in customer service fees In 2015, approximately 60 vendors (CSF) is really very low. lled the front lobby and front porch area. Trending Real Estate Values Many of these companies, including Duke It is certainly no secret that resale home Energy, aended the event to help aend- values have been increasing for the last six ees learn what investments are wise to months. is reects not only the general make to save money. economic recovery in the nation and re- As you enter or leave the expo, please gion, but also diminishing supply of dis- make sure to stop by the pet adop- tressed properties regionally. tion event, sponsored by On Top of the According to the National Board of World Communities, Inc., VOCAL and Realtors website, “the median existing- the SPCA, taking place outside of Circle home was 6.3 percent above November Square Cultural Center. Area animal shel- 2014. November‘s price increase marks ters and rescues will have cats and dogs the 45th consecutive month of year-over- onsite ready to be adopted to their fur- year gains.” Nationally, housing invento- ever home! Be prepared for wagging tails, ries have continued to decline. at said, wet kisses and lots of love – purr-fect for in On Top of the World, new listings in- Valentine’s Day! creased 14.8 percent for November 2015 is year’s Home Improvement Expo over the same period last year. Average and pet adoption event takes place from 9 sale price was up 16.9 percent. Interesting- a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 13 at Cir- ly, sellers appear to be giving up very lile cle Square Cultural Center located at 8395 o the asking price. Rental rates increased SW 80th Street. 19 percent over the same time last year. One drag on closings may well be the implementation of the “Know Before You seem like a lot but over the course Owe” regulations handed down by the of the year that equates to about Consumer Protection Bureau. ese regu- Tips to Reduce Water 1,000 gallons per zone. For a ve lations have lengthened the time from sale zone system, that’s about 5,000 to closing. e good news is that these reg- gallons. If you and your neighbors ulations also make lenders more account- Usage did this, think of the water savings able to consumers for accurate and timely By Phillip Hisey in the community. information. So far the nominal bump in 2. Reduce your runtimes to keep the rates by the Feds has not impacted In January, On Top of the World Com- mandated by SWFWMD to have our per from overwatering and lling the mortgage rates to any noticeable degree. munities, Inc. hosted the Southwest Flor- capita numbers down to 150 gallons per soil prole to saturation (think of From where On Top of the World resales ida Water Management District (SWF- day (gpd), per person. Water conserva- your lawn as a drinking cup, it can sits, it looks like days to sale continue to WMD) along with the Florida Water Star tion is a huge issue in the State of Florida, only hold so much water before decline when compared to 2014. Median accredited Water Star Certier training. and by 2030 many cities will not be able it overows and goes down the home sales prices are up 10 percent over is is comprehensive training for indi- to keep up with potable water demand if drain). last year. viduals seeking to become Florida Water measures are not made now for conserva- 3. Water when the grass tells you; Commercial activity in the State Road Star Certiers. tion. At a recent turf grass conference that deep infrequent watering is beer 200 corridor increased for the rst time e Florida Water Star program was I aended, Commissioner of Agriculture than shallow frequent watering. in many years. Certainly the Walmart started several years ago by the St. Johns Adam Putnam addressed the crowd about Look at the grass and water when Neighborhood Market is driving interest River Water Management District (SJR- future water concerns. He stated, and I am it shows signs of stress. A lile in adjacent properties. It is a message in WMD) to not only provide an opportuni- paraphrasing, that by 2030 the City of Or- stress can help develop deep root the commercial market that the On Top ty for saving water indoors and outdoors lando will be 100 million gallons per day systems. Over watering your lawn of the World community has nancial sig- but also provide recognition to those par- short of their potable water needs if they will lead to shallow roots, more nicance. ticipating. e program takes into account continue to consume water at their cur- stress, insects and disease. On a very positive note, On Top of the the use of showerheads, faucets, toilets, rent rate. at was thought provoking and 4. Use a broom or blower to clean World Communities, Inc., anticipates an- shut o valves, piping, landscaping and ir- a scary summation of the current water your driveway. other banner year in new home sales. e rigation to name many components. quantity issues we are facing. 5. Shut your timer o a±er rain events grand opening of the new models in Prov- On Top of the World Communities, So, how does On Top of the World, and leave o until the lawn tells idence will take place on Saturday, Jan. 30. Inc. was instrumental in providing the as a community, do our part in achieving you to water again (rainfall events We anticipate record numbers. Stay tuned teaching grounds and input for the pro- 150 gallons per day per person? For start- tend to be more satisfying for turf because we will be unveiling new homes gram and we continue to partner with the ers, you might ask where are we now? We grass and will have longer positive in Indigo East in March 2016; something Florida Water Star program and SWF- range anywhere from 130 gpd to around residual eects typically three to for everyone. WMD. I sit on the Florida Water Star 350 gpd depending on the neighborhood, ve days o is a good timeframe.) Circle Square Cultural technical advisory panel as a builder/de- age and overall size of the property, so our 6. Check your rain sensor to see that Center veloper to help with continued develop- average is around 220 gpd. Of that usage, it is functional (Florida law says ment of the program and also to articulate there is an estimate that 70 percent of the you have to have a functional rain With both of January’s shows selling to the panel any issues we may see from water used in a household is for landscape sensor). out and tickets for other shows going fast, builders/developers or landscape and ir- irrigation; we have explored this percent- 7. Install smart sensors, such as don’t miss celebrating Valentine’s Day on rigation contractors that participate in the age and it is actually about 79 percent! So, Hunter Solar Sync or soil moisture Saturday, Feb. 13, with an evening of ro- program. for every 10 gallons you use, eight goes to sensors, to help reduce wasted wa- mantic ballads by Romantico (Chris and e involvement of On Top of the irrigate the landscape. ter (all of these will save water, nd Janee). ey’ll perform such classics World in the program is part of a big- Here are seven ways to reduce your one that meets your price point as “e Prayer,” “Time to Say Goodbye,” ger plan on taking water conservation to outdoor usage: and ability to understand how it “Phantom of the Opera,” and classic op- the next level. Bay Laurel Center Com- 1. Start by cuing back the irrigation works and install it … it will pay era melodies sung in Italian and English.