Blog

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF LAKESIDE LANDINGS!  

A new year, a fresh start, a new Master Board.  

After an HOA election that was just about as partisan and nasty as our national election, it’s time to lay down the hatchets and work together for the benefit of this community.  Hopefully the vitriol that was spewed at the first meeting of our new Master Board today is done!  I’m not interested in assigning blame , taking sides, or adding fuel to the fire, but today’s meeting reminded me of the Nietzsche quote:  “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you."

The new board has a formidable task of not only trying to unify people with bruised feelings, but to tackle the many projects that need attention and making sure we achieve financial health.  Being a board member can be draining; it can feel like being the head of the complaint department.  There are ALWAYS going to be complaints and disgruntled people who like to hear themselves talk.  It’s the nature of the beast.  That said, This new board has my full support and I will do whatever I can to help them, and our community, succeed.  

EVERYBODY OUT OF THE POOL!

You’ve probably noticed that the main pool has been drained and repairs have started.  This is something that is desperately needed as the main pool and cabana are the Crown Jewel of this community.  The project has already gone over planned budget by $6000 and it’s only a week in.   Let’s hope that no other surprises are found before completion at the end of February.  ????????

ANTI-SOCIAL MEDIA?

There has been talk that some people want the Community News Facebook Page shut down.  My response to that is, “from my cold dead hands”.  I’m one of the original admins and moderators of that page.  How many of you knew that it has been around since 2022?   Does it get heated? Do people get riled up? Absolutely.  But, we do not curate or censor what you can see or say.  We give you the raw, unfiltered, and sometimes uncomfortable truth.  Everyone is entitled to voice their opinion, even those we don’t like.  You better stand by your words because you have to live with them.  The only reason we would ever delete a post is if it physically threatened someone or advocated something illegal.   If we ever find that we have posted something that isn’t true, we take care of it immediately. 

The “Lifestyle” page came more than a year later and promotes itself as the “official” page.  I like the admins of that page, but I don’t play well  with censors.  I don’t need anyone approving my words.  For that reason, I don’t bother much with that page, although I’m flattered that they took our “Recommened Vendors” list as their own.  Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, as they say.  

LET’S  ROLL

The ROLL Committee announced that they will be concentrating on 4 main events per year.  What are those events?  When will that start?   That wasn’t disclosed, but they are looking for volunteers to join them.   The ROLL puts on some nice events.  Close to home, budget-friendly, and a chance to get to know some of your neighbors.  For more information contact Irene Sanderson.  

Let’s make 2025 a great year!  It’s up to us!

Until next time, I’ll see you around the neighborhood.  

JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT ELECTION TALK WAS OVER…..

We have an important election for the Master Board coming up on January 6.  As most of you know, the Enclave is the biggest association in Lakeside, providing a full 1/3 of the budget.  Despite that, we have no representation on the master.  Now is our chance to change that.  I don’t say that as a “we want to take over” or “we want to fire Sentry” plot with which we’ve been accused.  On the contrary, I am simply looking for our voice to be heard and to spur our residents to VOTE!  We have 626 households in Lakeside, and less than half of those households voted in last year’s election.   

I have absolutely nothing personal against any of the current Master board.  I do, however, think it’s time for a change in leadership.  We need better communication, transparency, and financial responsibility/accountability.  We have a beautiful community in Lakeside, and I’m sure that we all want to keep it that way.  

Starting very soon, there will be a committee of resident volunteers going door-to-door to hand out an info sheet and discuss any questions you may have.  If you are not interested in talking to the volunteer, please just kindly say “no thank you”.  There’s no need for rudeness at this most wonderful time of the year!  Speaking of which…

 

DECK THE PARK…..

The Jib Court park, that is.  A huge thank you to Irene Sanderson and the ROLL committee for decorating the park.  It’s festive and helps promote the beautiful spirit and magic of the season.  

Be sure to note that the golf cart parade and hot dogs/hot chocolate event will be held December 20.  There are sign up sheets in the clubhouse for those interested.

 

QUOTES WORTH QUOTING

Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing, but of reflection.—Winston Churchill 

May you and yours have a truly joyous Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, and a safe New Year.  Count your blessings and think of those who aren’t so jolly at this time of year.  

Until next time, I’ll see you around the neighborhood.

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

The big topic of conversation in the neighborhood is the discovery and announcement that the community dog park entry path is actually on private property.  A cease and desist order was sent to all HOA boards for further dissemination to residents, and as of August 7, we no longer have a dedicated dog park for the community.  

I have no idea what the resolution to this issue will involve.   It is another amenity that is being taken away, and it’s this writer’s opinion that we should not sit back and let it happen.  

This could be a proverbial blessing in disguise as the current location has lots of faults; the entry gate is at least a half block away from the street, the pathway can be hard to navigate for some of our neighbors with mobility issues, there is no parking, hardly any shade, and only a couple uncomfortable benches for seating.   But it’s what we had, and it was used daily by many residents across the whole community.  

Trying to reclaim that location will likely result in lengthy and expensive litigation.  The only beneficiaries in that scenario will be the lawyers.  Since that location is no longer available, at least for the foreseeable future, the Master Board should look into alternative locations for a dog park.

Suggested locations are near the construction entrance, the exercise park, and behind the Enclave mailboxes.   If the Master is programmed to receive input from residents, I hope they take into consideration the need for parking, shade, garbage cans, and seating.   

Fellow dog neighbors:  make your voices heard!  Let your HOA representatives and Master representatives know that we need our dog park back!  

LOST IN THE WEEDS

All the heat and rain has caused explosive weed growth in the flower beds.  I’ve heard from many neighbors that say their beds have not been sprayed for weeks.  I can’t speak to that other than to say monthly spraying is not enough to control the weeds.  In my household, we supplement the spraying and we still have weeds.  I did just see Juniper spraying last week, but as mentioned, it’s suggested that homeowners pitch in if they want their beds “relatively weed free”.  

ELECTION SEASON IS HERE

In addition to the American presidential election coming up, we have The Enclave election that is being moved up to October.  That’s only 2 months away, so it’s not too early to start thinking about it.  If you are interested in serving your Enclave community, dust off your resumes, and watch for submission instructions that will be published shortly.  

The Master election is also in the near future.  I’ve heard a rumor that they were moving up their election as well, but I have not confirmed.  As of now, the date is still December.  Stay tuned for updates as they become available.  

QUOTES WORTH QUOTING

"If you can cut the people off from their history, then they can be easily persuaded."-Karl Marx

Until next time, I’ll see you around the neighborhood.

The pile must be less than 8' feet in diameter or contained. It must also be:

25 feet from forests
50 feet from paved public roads
25 feet from your house
150 feet from other occupied buildings

Note: It is illegal to burn household garbage including paper products, treated lumber, plastics, rubber materials, tires, pesticide, paint and aerosol containers.

 

Secondly, Under the LSL Governing Documents no outdoor burning is allowed anywhere in Lakeside Landings. Refer to 14.15 Misc. Visual Restrictions: "No outdoor burning shall be permitted."

 

If you or your neighbors are being affected by this smoke please contact the Fire Non-Emergency for The Villages Fire Department # @ (352) 569-1011. You can also contact the Florida Forest Service with the information below: 

 

The neighbor in front of the clubhouse continues to be an intentional source and has no consideration for LSL. If you try and engage with him you are usually met with some type of profanity. This may take some action from the Neighborhood and Master associations as it continues to impact our quality of life.

 

On a more positive note, lot's of exciting things happening with the Neighborhood Watch, ARB processes and the Enclavelsl.com website! Stay tuned!

 

 

????SUMMER BLOGS, MAKE ME FEEL FINE…????

Greetings Enclave neighbors!  The calendar tells us that we are already past the midway point of summer.  In Florida, the hot, sticky weather is likely here until November, so there are still plenty of potential lazy days at poolside or the beach, bbqs, happy hours, and Dairy Queen.  Get out there and enjoy!  

Speaking of calendars, don’t forget to check out the events available right here in the community along with the ROLL Committee offerings.  Bingo, dancing, yoga, poker, pickleball, water aerobics, cabana night to name a few.  We’ve led you to the water; it’s up to you if you want to drink.  

WELL, WELL, WELL….

By now you are aware that the new 4th well serving the Enclave is operational and the new schedules have been published.   Registered users at www.enclavelsl.com/home/ can go to the main page, click “folders”, then “irrigation”.  You will see all 4 well schedules.  Click into those schedules until you find your address.

The lawns in the community are looking good overall, however, if yours is one of the stubborn few that continue to look dried out, I have been told that Juniper is applying a specialized fertilizer to the problem areas.  As was reported last summer/fall, those bad areas have poor soil, chemical imbalances, drainage problems, or some combination of all.   Most, but not all, of the troubled spots seem to be on homes that were among the last to be built and sold.  Juniper and the board are continuing to monitor the situation.  

Another pesky problem that just won’t go away is the issue of internet cables being cut due to improper burial by the cable companies.  Be reminded that it is up to homeowners to work with their cable companies to insist that this vital step happens in a timely fashion and is done properly.  Comcast, CenturyLink, and Spectrum all claim that they bury their wires between 12-24”.  We all know that they have left wires exposed for weeks at a time, and still don’t bury them deep enough in many cases.  Note that neither Juniper nor the Enclave Association assumes responsibility for cables that are cut due to improper burial.  

IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT

The thunderstorms that have battered us over the past couple weeks have been notable in their destructive power.  Did you know that this area is the lightning capital of the country!?  Just in our community, lightning strikes have caused power outages, blown ac units, appliances, TVs, and the entry gates.  Only a few miles away, lightning struck a home and caused a fire.  This has caused a surge (no pun intended) in interest in lightning rods and surge protection.  

Duke Energy offers this service:

 

There are several lightning rod installers out there.  This link is to a local company.  

 

You can also buy individual surge power strips from Amazon for $10 and up.  

These links are provided as a convenience only and are not endorsements for any company or product.  It’s up to each person to perform their due diligence when selecting any vendor, product, or service.  

GATE UPDATE

The internet portion of the entry gates operation is up and running again, but the cameras and call box are still down.  Parts to repair both are expected to arrive here tomorrow according to the Security Team.  No firm date on when gates will be functional again.  

 

FAREWELL, GOOD LUCK, AND THANK YOU

The Master CAM, Richard Ritterpusch, will be retiring at the end of this month.  He was a great help to me and the inaugural Board of Directors when The Enclave was turned over to resident management.   I’d like to take this opportunity to thank him and wish him well.  

Also, there will be a retirement reception for him on Tuesday, July 30 at the clubhouse starting at 11am.  

QUOTES WORTH QUOTING

“Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.”
Oscar Wilde

 

Until next time, I’ll see you around the neighborhood.

MIDSOMMAR
As the solstice approaches, I’m reminded of one of my favorite neighborhood celebrations from when we lived in Chicago.  It was called Midsommar Fest and was hosted by the city’s Swedish community.  Originally a pagan holiday, Midsommar celebrated the coming solstice, the summer season, and Ukko, the god of thunder, rain, and the harvest.  

What does this have to do with Lakeside Landings as we move into another scorching Florida summer?  Absolutely nothing, but I’m ready to ask for a few visits from Ukko because we are in another drought, even with rain we got earlier this week.  As I’m sure you’ve all seen, some lawns are dried out and others are so tall they look like they could be hiding Jimmy Hoffa.  

On a related note, we are still waiting for the new well to come online and new watering schedules to be published.  There has been some red tape dealing with Duke in getting everything set up that has delayed going live.  Stay tuned.  We’ll bring that info to you as soon as it’s available.

TRIVIAL PURSUIT
Thanks to the ROLL Committee, after a 4 year hiatus that began with the COVID shutdowns, Trivia finally made a triumphant return this past week!  About 50-60 people came out to experience our MC, Alan Ross, keep us entertained with challenging questions, interesting betting twists, and music that made it feel like we were on a game show.  Its a fun night, inexpensive, close to home, and a great way to meet some of your neighbors.  We hope that this will become a regular thing again, so keep an eye out for future announcements and come join the fun!

THIS IS THE STORY OF THE HURRICANE
Hurricane season is officially upon us, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention it.  Yes, we can get some strong storms here, but we really don’t have to worry too much in this part of the state.  That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have a plan in the back of your mind, but there’s no need to freak out.  Plan and prepare to your comfort level.  So ends today’s PSA.

QUOTES WORTH QUOTING
To be successful at anything, the truth is you don’t have to be special.  You just have to be what most people aren’t: consistent, determined, and willing to work for it.”-Tom Brady

Until next time, I’ll see you around the neighborhood.

CHECK IT OUT 
The Enclave board meeting held on May 22 had one of the best turnouts since this current board was seated.  In addition to in-person attendees, the long awaited remote meeting capabilities went live!  Even coffee and donuts didn’t bring out this many folks for the Saturday morning meetings.  Maybe the board should consider making the Saturday morning meetings later than 9am?  Food for thought.  

There’s still lots of buzz in the neighborhood regarding a resident with a felony conviction living among us, and the new background check policy introduced undoubtedly brought a few new faces to join us.  Effective today, any person wishing to rent a property in the Enclave will be subjected to a criminal background check along with a credit check before being approved to rent here.  Landlords will need to allow at least 20 days for processing.  Sentry Management will administer this program with the assistance of a volunteer resident committee.  If you want to be involved in this endeavor, contact the board at board@enclavelsl.com.  

GREEN WITH ENVY
The soaking rains we had over the past couple weeks have made a world of difference in our lawns.  This again underscores that our sprinkler system is not a substitute for Mother Nature, but a supplement.  To be sure, there are still a few trouble spots, but things are going in the right direction.  The new well is almost ready to be activated, and it couldn’t come at a better time as we will need that supplemental water to get us through another dry spell we are entering.   Watch this space for updates on the new schedules.  

In other sprinkler news, the board announced that going forward, replacing any damaged sprinkler heads not caused by Juniper's mowers will be a homeowner expense.  Before the gnashing of teeth and outrage begin, think about it:  everything in and around our homes is guaranteed for one year.  After that time, any appliance, dead tree, cracked tile, etc is a homeowner expense.   Things wear out and nothing is guaranteed forever.  The sprinkler issue is following that same logic.  We all know that our sprinkler system is on the low end of quality, and most of the homes here are beyond the one year warranty period.  In the meantime, you can help by tapping down any heads that are stuck, and/or placing “donuts” around your heads.  You are forewarned.

I’LL BE WATCHING YOU
The Enclave will begin its own Neighborhood Watch Program to work with the Master program.   Jonathan Thompson is heading this committee and is seeking volunteers.  I believe the goal is to have one watch person for every 10 houses, so he’s looking for 20 people.  If you have any questions or are interested in serving, contact the board at board@enclavelsl.com

ACTIVITY PLANNER
Watch you emails and be sure to check out the clubhouse bulletin boards and neighborhood kiosks for details on upcoming events:
Cabana Night 
Hoe Down
Trivia Night 
Master Board Meeting

QUOTES WORTH QUOTING
Discourse is fleeting, but junk mail is forever.- Joe Bob Briggs

 

Until next time, I’ll see you around the neighborhood.

 

MEETING OF THE MINDS?

For those who couldn’t make it to the 4-24-24 Master Board Meeting, here’s a brief recap.  (Just imagine if it had started at 4:24 on 4-24-24.  Only my fellow number geeks will appreciate this!). 

These are not official minutes, but my own notes and editorial comments added.  

The meeting started with a discussion about the discovery that a tenant who is renting in the Enclave has a felony charge against him and is on the sexual offender registry.  The board informed us that the attorneys are drafting language to amend our documents to require background/criminal checks in addition to credit checks going forward.  When complete, it will need to be put to a vote by membership requiring a 2/3 vote of the entire membership to become a part of our CCRs. (Covenants, conditions, and restrictions). 

The discussion that followed was fiery and emotional, with one audience member becoming so belligerent, loud, and disruptive that he was asked to leave the meeting, or it would’ve been adjourned right then and there.  

This is a serious issue, but there is no excuse for the kind of behavior that was exhibited.  Neither the Enclave nor the Master boards knew about this tenant’s past record and the whole purpose of drafting the new language will help capture information like this in the future.   To my knowledge, no one went to the board with this, but went straight to Facebook doxxing, which should be a last resort, imo.  

The financials.  It was reported that there’s a bank balance of $615,000+.  I did not see any detail nor did they say if that figure was net of all bills due, but we were told that the master finances are in pretty good shape.  

The parking areas and playgrounds in the community will be restriped in the near future.

The dock at Lake Miona needs to come down for safety reasons.  Whether or not it’s rebuilt will be put to a community vote when all bids for rebuilding are received.  The lake/beach area is set to get a second cleanup treatment.  No mention of the Julia Isles pond about which residents have been complaining.  The scum covers almost the entire surface area there and needs treatment!

New fining and “final notice of violation” docs were shown.   Motion made and passed to use them, which are based on Azalea Grove association.  

New pet rules will be created regarding service animals at the pool.  (Yes, someone brought an “emotional support dog” to the pool.)

Board expressed dissatisfaction with current pool service and will possibly be changing vendors.  No mention of the resurfacing that is imminent in the near future.  

A motion was made and tabled regarding the formation of a study group to examine needs and establish reserve funds.  It will be revisited in the future.  

It was requested that gate expenses be more transparent.  With the constantly recurring issues, a suggestion was made to hire someone dedicated solely to gate administration.  No action was taken.   

Meeting was adjourned at 730p

DOES IT REALLY TAKE A VILLAGE?

I’ve had a few conversations lately about what we pay here and how it compares to other communities, mostly to the VIllages.  There is a persistent feeling that Lakeside Landings is expensive.  Let’s take a deeper dive into this:

Most of the associations here are close in their quarterly assessments.  I’m using Enclave figures.  Our quarterly plus the Master is $955, which breaks down to $318.33 per month.  
We all get a fairly complete landscape package that includes mowing, edging, trimming, debris cleanup, fertilization, weeding, mulch, and irrigation.  

The Villages is different in that they are responsible for their own yards.  They pay $198 monthly which includes free golf on their executive courses, whether one is a golfer or not.  Landscaping costs can vary depending on the service level.  Just for mowing and cleanup alone, I’ve heard prices anywhere from $60-86 per month.  Let’s say $75.  Watering is at least $50 per month.    That’s $323 per month not counting trimming, weeding, fertilization, or mulch, which can easily add several hundred dollars more per year.

I think the the difference is negligible, although if you are a golfer or a “joiner” with all their clubs, maybe the Villages is a better choice for some.

We have friends who just moved out of Stonecrest, another community with which we are   frequently compared.  They paid $145 monthly as assessment, $100 monthly for water which included their drinking water.  Stonecrest landscape expenses are also on the owners.  Mowing at the cheap end was $70.  The fertilization and trimming cost averaged out to $100 per month.  That’s $405 per month!  Not to mention that Marion County taxes are significantly higher than Sumter.  

The figures are approximate based on what owners choose to do, but they don’t lie.  We are right in line with other popular communities around us and are actually getting a fair and decent deal.  Make sure you do an apples to apples expense comparison if you think the grass is greener in one of our competing communities!

As I close this blog entry, remember that what I write is my own personal opinion, not official, and I do not speak for any board, board member, or person from Sentry Management.  

QUOTES WORTH QUOTING

"The way I see it, if you want the
rainbow, you gotta put up with
the rain."
— DOLLY PARTON —

Until next time, I’ll see you around the neighborhood.  

We’ve had some good rains this month, so it’s possible that you may not be paying much attention to your watering schedule.  I’d encourage everyone to take the time to look at the schedule (on enclavelsl.com in the Irrigation folder).   Once you determine the clock to which you are assigned, you can see exactly when you are supposed to be watered.  

 I happened to notice that my entire block was not coming on as published, and hadn’t for 3 weeks.   The board is in the process of working out details for the new well and Juniper is adjusting schedules so that we should all be watered twice weekly for turf and shrubs.   It’s very possible and likely that glitches will happen during this period, so be forewarned.  

CUTTING THE CORD

If you are having new cable installed or any services that involve rewiring your cable, you might want to ask the service rep if they bury the cable on the same day, or if they need a separate work order.  

Just when I thought this issue had resolved itself, I’ve heard of more instances where cable has been left exposed above ground and cut when the mowers came through.  There were several reports about this a few months back,  and as inconceivable as it sounds, the cable company process (Comcast-Xfinity) is that the cable is buried by a different crew, and that it can take a week or so for that to happen depending on when they get the work order.  Many times the installers don’t even flag the exposed wire.  

I don’t know if this is a recent development, or standard operating procedure across all cable companies, but again, be forewarned.  

WELCOME TO OUR NEW NEIGHBORS

We extend a warm welcome to our new Enclave neighbors:

Gomez on Julia Isles
Kelly on Julia Isles
Krawiec on Sandpiper
McKinney on Audrey Marie
Suleiman on Belted Kingfisher
Velasco on Silver Maple

Unfortunately the welcome orientation program scheduled to take place just before the enclave Board Meeting on Saturday, April 13 has been canceled.  

The regular Enclave Board meeting will take place as scheduled on the 13th starting at 9am.

If the Board requests it, I will attempt to resurrect this program next quarter as there are several Enclave homes for sale that are expected to close soon, but I suspect that this program will be discontinued.  

BASKETBALL JONES

And now for something completely different:  I used to follow pro and some college sports pretty closely, but gradually lost interest.  Being outside of my hometown market and not seeing my teams regularly on TV exacerbated this, but I was already tiring of athletes taking a knee for the national anthem,  political virtue signaling, acting like fools on and off the field, and the latest “trend” of biological men competing on women’s teams, with the support of a very vocal group of activists.  

Enter Caitlin Clark, who is my new hero.  For those who don’t know her, she is the Iowa Hawkeye college player who is the personification of sportsmanship and class.  She helped ignite interest in women’s basketball as the NCAA finals drew an estimated 18.9 million viewers, a new record.  I wish this young woman the best as she is set to join the WNBA next year, and I hope her dedication to and love of the sport still shine through.   In a world of Megan Rapinoes, we need more Caitlin Clarks!

QUOTES WORTH QUOTING

April is a reminder that life is a beautiful, ever-renewing cycle.” 
— E.E. Cummings

Enjoy this beautiful spring we’re having, and I’ll see you around the neighborhood.