MAY 2021 CASCADES AT SARASOTA NEWS & VIEWS 4450 Royal Cascades Way, Sarasota, FL 34243 www.cascades-sarasota-hoa.com Clubhouse: 941-961-3561 Activities: 941-309-7478 Gatehouse: 941-309-3368 A letter from the HOA Board President: Coming out of COVID? I wish I had an answer to that because I'm tired of answering that question – Yogi Berra The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. – Franklin D. Roosevelt I’m frequently asked questions about our COVID policies, and this quote from the immortal Yogi resonates with me right now. We are at a point now where one can either look at the situation as the glass being half full or half empty – one can find data to support either perspective. Personally, I am more inclined toward the half full perspective, and I believe that FDR’s quote is apropos to our current situation. Here are some recent developments in three key areas to support this viewpoint: Vaccinations – We have made great strides forward in vaccine availability In this issue: and the process of getting vaccinated. Anyone over the age of eighteen can register for a shot, and virtually everyone in our area and age bracket who Cascades’ Committees wants a vaccine has received (or can get) one. page 2 Furthermore, the research shows that it is highly effective. With very few exceptions, vaccinated people do not get the disease. Despite initial News page 3 - 11 uncertainties, it now appears that vaccinated people don’t spread the disease either. Travel Cleaning – Recently the CDC issued revised guidelines indicating that the risk page 8 of surface transmission of the COVID virus is extremely small (less than 1 in 10,000) and suggesting that special cleaning protocols with disinfectants are largely unnecessary. They recommend that hand washing is more effective Birthdays & Anniversaries than surface cleaning and also that outdoor risks are significantly less than page 12 indoors. Liability – One of the greatest unknowns of the pandemic for businesses and organizations like our HOA has been in the area of legal exposure. Liability insurance policies aren’t written to cover pandemics and the risk of lawsuits for possible negligence has greatly influenced decision-making and the policies that have been put in place. We were forced to operate in uncharted For Advertising Info Contact territory. However, the governor recently signed into law a bill (Senate 72) that Community Media - 941-375-3699 continued on page 3 Cascades’ Committees ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE: COMPLIANCE COMMITTEE: LANDSCAPE & IRRIGATION COMMITTEE Reviews requests for home & landscaping Reviews conformity by homeowners with MEMBERS: modifications. community’s governing documents. Olga Kelley ..............Chairperson MEMBERS: MEMBERS: Jack Magmer Lynn Napolitano .....Chairperson ....... [email protected] Mike Fox........Chairperson ........... [email protected] Joan Scott Ursula Faix ................................... [email protected] Tim Testa .............................................timtesta@hotmail.com Jan Segal Stu Krams [email protected] Kathi Vogler ........................................... [email protected] Susan Hetzler .........Liaison Susan Hetzler .........Liaison Ed Dweck .................Liaison SOCIAL COMMITTEE: Tom Mikol ................Chairperson ....................... 630-621-6804 AUDIO VISUAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS: FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Jane Faix ...............................................................603-988-9977 Norman Pillman .....................................................941-309-7414 Stu Krams ...............Chairperson ........................941-400-2064 Joe Giarracco .........................................................941-210-7835 Marv Rosenfeld [email protected] Nick DaVella Betty Vogel ............................................................941-309-7436 Jerry Matisoff ........Liaison Barry Dechant Fran Wasserman ..................................................941-360-9283 Gary Gates Sandy Collins ........................................................586-260-6266 Joe Giarracco HEARING COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Pat Alpino ............................................................... 941-447-0951 Allan Goldsmith Gary Conroy ............Chairperson ........................941-309-3973 Jim Damoulakis .....Liaison John LiMarzi Goldie Bertenthal ..................................................941-309-3221 Bob Offner Barry DeChant ........................................................941-351-6572 SPORTS FACILITIES COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Bob Downie Melvin Mandelkorn ...............................................941-523-9414 Binnie Fink ..............Chairperson Tom Mikol Harvey Hittner .......................................................941-539-3626 Kyle Fox Jim Damoulakis .....Liaison Ed Dweck .................Liaison Howie Friedman Jim Senott...............Resource Marlene Kitchell H.O.A. BOARD COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Greg Lind CASCADES MARKETING AND INFORMATION Contact the Board through the HOA Website Nick Mennell COMMITTEE (CMI): Jim Damoulakis .....President Janice Pillman Wendy Damoulakis.......Chair [email protected] Susan Hetzler .........Vice President Larry Rosen Members: Ed Dweck ................Secretary Bruce Jacobs ..........Liaison Helen LiMarz [email protected] Jerry Matisoff ........Treasurer Hal Marcus [email protected] Bruce Jacobs ..........Managing Agent VISUAL ARTS COMMITTEE: Lynn Napolitano ..... [email protected] Hilary Oestreich .....Co-Chair Ed Dweck .................Liaison INSURANCE MEMBERS: Caryn Koffman .......Co-Chair Art Napolitano Chairperson ............Fred Wiberg .........................941-341-9758 Jack Magmer Member ...................Ron Brotman ......................941-444-0367 Harvey Hittner Member ...................Stan Rosen Audrie Magmer ......Display Case THE “GO-TO” GUIDE: HAVE QUESTIONS? NEED HELP? CALL... Management Contacts Vendor Contacts Jorge Prieto - Property Manager [email protected] ..........941-961-3561 Alert 360 ..............................................................(877) 742-5364 Cori Golden - Asst. Property Manager [email protected] ..........941-961-3561 Spectrum ...........................................................(833) 697-7328 David Summers – Maintenance [email protected] ..........941-961-3561 Gatehouse ...........................................................(941) 309-3368 Jon Bloom – Sports Directo [email protected] ..........941-309-7479 FPL ........................................................................(941) 917-0708 Artistree ..............................................................(941) 488-8897 MCUS: ...................................................................(941) 792-8811 Police (non emergency) ..................................(941) 747-3011 Advertising Policy: Advertising in this Newsletter is offered at the sole discretion of Community Media. Community Media reserves the right to refuse, limit, and/or reject advertising for any reason. Community Media, at its sole discretion, may restrict the number of advertisers in certain categories or offer exclusive/ semi exclusive agreements as it is sees fit. 2 Cascades at Sarasota clarifies and sets clear limits on the parameters under which an Rogers proud! But do it for yourself and everyone around! organization may be held liable. On behalf of Chai Life we hope we can all increasingly get together in the months ahead, not only on our neighborhood streets but, in For the glass half empty folks, as of mid-April, we still have new time, at the Cascades clubhouse, in our various interest groups, cases stubbornly lingering within a certain range (although death and in our individual homes. That would surely be a treat for rates have fallen dramatically) and there is the continued worry everyone, while strengthening our community. over new strains of the virus. So far, the impact has not been Philosopher Martin Buber once declared that: “All actual life is overwhelming. encounter.” By the same token our new slogan could well be: “Let’s meet on the street.” What a simple, yet profound way to go I am confident that this new information will guide us into revising as we get on the road again to becoming better neighbors. More existing policies and allow us to be guided by reality rather than than ever, that’s what the world needs now, fear. Yvonne and Ed Weinsberg, Co-chairmen Cascades Chai Life Jim Damoulakis HOA President CIAO NEWS – APRIL Since we are still operating under COVID-19 protocols there will be News no CIAO sponsored events in the foreseeable future. Therefore, I will continue with my Italian culture tour of Italy. CHAI LIFE COLUMN In this article, I continue to spotlight the region of Sicily. Last WALKING BY THE WAY month, we described the Do Not Miss sites to visit in Sicily. This One of the key words in Judaism is “Halacha”. This Hebrew term month I will describe the signature cuisine and beverages that one means “The Jewish Way of Life.” More narrowly it refers to Jewish should try while in Sicily. Any traveler who has visited Sicily knows law. But its root comes from the word “halicha”, which means that you EAT extremely well at reasonable costs and the house “walking”. This is reflected in the “Sh’ma”, an emotionally charged, wine is outstanding. Sicily is one of Italy’s most popular tourist central Jewish prayer that refers to heeding these words as you destinations, and it’s the food that