Eastbrook

Insider

Homeowners Association of Eastbrook, Inc. A Neighborhood Watch Community

JAN/FEB 2019 THREE HUNDRED SEVENTEENTH ISSUE VOLUME 31, ISSUE 1

I’m aware that it’s now 2019, yet the “Director box” to the immediate right of this letter still lists the 2018 Board of Directors. That’s because I already know that this issue of the Eastbrook Insider will be late to your doorsteps while I’m putting this issue together. I hate it when that happens and I hate it all the more when it’s my fault as it is this time. Urgent family matters have kept me preoccupied for much of the production time for this issue. I apologize for that.

Everyone serving on this community’s Board of Directors is a volunteer. Everyone who delivers this newsletter to your homes every other month is a volunteer. Everyone who plants flowers, cleans up trash, makes our neighborhood a better place for you and your family is a volunteer. Our community is well-served by such an amazing volunteer corps. But, we always have to remember, they are volunteers. Time spent serving you is time taken away from something else. And, sometimes, our attention is drawn elsewhere. It’s not for lack of love or commitment – but necessity.

Eastbrook has been served by this newsletter for over thirty years now. That is thirty-plus years of your neighbors writing articles, sharing knowledge and information, reaching out to you directly through these pages and hand delivering each and every issue into your home for the sole purpose of building a better community – in the hope that informed neighbors make better neighbors and that makes us

VOLUNTEER THIS YEAR!

The Eastbrook HOA Board meets the third Monday

of each month starting at 7:30pm at the Eastbrook

YMCA (3510 Tourney Drive - just off Eastbrook).

All Eastbrook residents are welcome to attend.

(President’s Message continued)

a better neighborhood. That effort demonstrates an overwhelming love of community and, more specifically, this community. If you ever doubt that love, simply pick up any issue of the Eastbrook Insider and peruse its pages. It’s not simply filled with information you can use. It’s a physical manifestation of the love that people feel for you and this neighborhood. Certainly, there are a few residents who discard their issue or leave it unread. Pity those people. They have love in their lives yet fail to recognize or appreciate it.

I, however, do appreciate it. More than that, I embrace it. I am neither embarrassed nor ashamed to freely express my love for Eastbrook and every single person who volunteers their time, their treasure, or their talents to the betterment of our community. Conversely, I do little to mask my antipathy to anyone who would do it harm.

Most people know the story about my moving to Eastbrook. I simply wanted to be closer to my family, so I had asked them to keep an eye out for someplace they thought I might like. I bought my house sight unseen and only saw it and the neighborhood the day I closed, they handed me the keys, and I drove over from the lawyer’s office. I turned on to Eastbrook Boulevard from Aloma Avenue and it was love at first site! I’ve lived here for six years now and that love hasn’t diminished. In actuality, it’s only grown as I’ve gotten to know so many of the people who also call Eastbrook home.

I’m not deluded. I recognize that Eastbrook’s not perfect. But I love what it has to offer. I’m invested in it. And I want to have an impact on it. I am certain that the same thing can be said for every other resident who contributes to our homeowners association. It may only be $30, but the love and commitment that it represents is priceless.

Eastbrook turned out to be an ideal fit for me. The HOA goes to great lengths to provide social offerings that are engaging and interesting. I feel both engaged and involved. It’s aesthetically pleasing, having been awarded two years in a row now as a Clean and Attractive Neighborhood. And I see that only getting better as more residents work to improve their homes and properties. What I love the most, though, is our openness. Eastbrook strives to be friendly and welcoming to new people and provides opportunities for everyone to get involved. Every time I see a new face at our monthly meetings or at a social makes me positively giddy! I hope every resident has had that same experience and finds the same love I feel. – Scot Myers

EASTBROOK HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION

Treasurer’s Report for October 2018

Balance in checking as of:

10/01/2018 $7,691.85

October Income

Membership Dues (5) $150.00

Extra Contributions (4) $130.00

Eastbrook Insider Ads (5) $440.00

Total Income $720.00

October Expenses

Utilities (Water) $36.72

Lawn Service (Public Areas) $225.00

Weenie Roast $154.21

Printing/Postage $190.34

Sep/Oct Eastbrook Insider $718.00

Total Expenses $1,324.27

Balance in checking as of:

10/31/2018 $7,087.58

EASTBROOK HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION

Treasurer’s Report for November 2018

Balance in checking as of:

11/01/2018 $7,087.58

November Income

Membership Dues (2) $60.00

Eastbrook Insider Ads (1) $980.00

Total Income $1,040.00

November Expenses

Utilities (Water) $64.24

Lawn Service (Public Areas) $225.00

Printing/Envelopes $73.88

Nov/Dec Eastbrook Insider $718.00

Total Expenses $1,081.12

Balance in checking as of:

11/30/2018 $7,046.46

Less Allocated Funds

Eastbrook Garden Group (EGG) $774.65

Available balance as of 12/01/2018 $6,271.81

Eastbrook will be holding its annual Springtime Community Yard Sale Fri & Sat on April 5th & 6th, 2019

This annual Eastbrook spring event provides a great opportunity for neighborhood residents to do some Spring cleaning while making a few extra bucks -- all with a minimum of fuss. The Eastbrook HOA does practically everything but sell your items for you! We’ll obtain the necessary permits, handle online promotion, signs, and even provide customers with neighborhood maps, etc. In past years, we’ve had forty-plus participants and have earned a great reputation for the size and organization of our sale. Let’s use this year’s sale to broaden that appeal while continuing to demonstrate what an involved and friendly community Eastbrook is.

You can also help your neighbors by avoiding “piggyback” yard sales. Those are people, who for one reason or another, opt not to pay their fee and support their neighbors. Instead, they set up their bootleg sale and coast on the work others have put into promoting the neighborhood.

A mere $5 or $10 keeps you dutch and it all goes to defray the expenses your Association incurs by sponsoring the event.

A lot of work goes into optimizing the community yard sale to benefit everyone who particpates. Please do your part and pay your fee. Thanks!

Simply use the Community Yard Sale Application provided on the next page to sign-up or contact Scot Myers at EastbrookRA@aol.com (or at 407-657-6588) for more information.

Information to include when you apply should be your name, address where the sale is taking place (with county), phone number, and the days you will be participating: Friday, Saturday, or both.

The fee for members of the Eastbrook Homeowners

Association (you did renew this year, right?) is only

$5.00. All others pay the nominal fee of only

$10.00. All fees must be paid nlt March 31st for you

to be included in this community event.

We hope we can count on your continued support for 2019!

Unlike so many Florida communities with mandatory HOA fees and assessments, Eastbrook is fortunate to offer everyone living in here a voluntary residents association (HOA).

Open to the entire Eastbrook community, be it homeowners, renters, full or part time residents; we invite you to support your Association and its work in keeping Eastbrook a thriving neighborhood in which to live and build a life.

If you haven’t already done so, please take a moment to send in your 2019 association dues.

2019 Neighborhood Membership Dues

Name:

Address:

Phone:

E-mail:

County ( one): Orange Seminole

2018 membership dues are only $25.00

until March 1, or $30 anytime throughout the remainder of 2019. Please support your Eastbrook community! Extra contributions are greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Extra contribution: ____________________ I would like to learn more about volunteering. I would like the Insider e-mailed.

Please mail to: Eastbrook HOA P.O. Box 1135 Goldenrod, FL 32733-1135

2019 Spring Community Yard Sale

Application

April 5 (Fri) & April 6 (Sat)

Name:

Address for listing on maps and directional signs:

Phone:

E-mail:

County ( one): Orange Seminole

Donation to participate is only $10.00 for unpaid residents of Eastbrook.

Paid members of the Eastbrook HOA are only $5.00

I will be participating on FRI (April 5th) I will be participating on SAT (April 6th)

My sale items will feature:

Antiques Electronics Auto/Boat Toys Adult Clothes Tools/Hardware Children’s Clothes Sporting Goods Baby Clothes Misc. Items Household Items Other ___________

Please write and mail all checks to: Eastbrook HOA, P.O. Box 1135, Goldenrod, FL 32733 to arrive no later than March 31st or call for more information 407-657-6588.

EASTBROOK HOA MONTHLY MEETING MINUTES – NOVEMBER 2018

7:30pm on Monday, 11/19/2018 at the Eastbrook YMCA (3510 Tourney Dr.)

Vice President Joseph England called the meeting to order at 7:31pm on November 19, 2018. Directors in attendance were: Christina Crawford, Joseph England, Cortney Mitchell-England, Chris Pisarri, and Andrea Sinclair. Also in attendance were Daniel Cohen, Tim Crawford, Angelina Domingos, Daphne Lai, Lincoln Lai, Carla Thomas, and Dragana Todrovic.

Secretary Cortney Mitchell-England moved that the October 2018 minutes be approved as published in the Nov/Dec issue of the Eastbrook Insider. Christina second. Ayes carried.

Vice President Joseph England ran the meeting as Scot was out of town. Joe reported that, as of this meeting, Eastbrook had $6,842.04 in our checking account with $774.65 belonging to the Eastbrook Gardening Group – leaving the Eastbrook HOA with an available balance of $6,067.39.

Newsletter Distribution Director Christina Crawford reminded everyone present that the Nov/Dec issue of the Eastbrook Insider was ready for distribution. E-mails had been sent to our delivery volunteers but not everyone has picked up their bags from Scot’s house (3486 Bougainvillea Drive). If you would like to become a delivery volunteer for the Eastbrook Insider, we have streets available! Also, even if you don’t want to become a regular volunteer, there are always one-time volunteers needed for regular volunteers who may be out of town or otherwise unavailable to deliver their regular route. Please consider becoming an emergency delivery volunteer for these one-time situations.

Community & Grants Director Chris Pisarri is looking into new grant opportunities. He has also been in touch with several residents regarding the Community Improvement Program (CIP) initiative.

Crime Prevention Director Marie Westmoreland was unable to attend the meeting but attendees talked about recent crime activity in the community. Neighbors are reminded to close garage doors, lock car doors, and watch for packages on door steps. Also, remember to break down large boxes and drop them off at local police/sheriff stations. Most crimes are crimes of opportunity. Don’t give would-be robbers those opportunities.

Old Business: The Eastbrook annual Holiday Party will be on Saturday, December 8th from 7-9pm with kids able to visit and have their picture taken with Santa from 6-7pm. The party is at 3486 Bougainvillea Drive and is open to all residents. There will be no December HOA meeting in lieu if the Holiday Party.

A Board Nomination Form has been provided in the Nov/Dec Eastbrook Insider soliciting new Board members for 2019. Everyone on the current Board has expressed an interest of continuing to volunteer. If you are interested in serving on the Board or have someone to suggest, please nominate them!

Marie suggested the Board allocate an additional $200 to the existing Free Little Library allocation ($300) to cover the purchase and installation of Eastbrook’s proposed Free Little Library for Carnation Court. This will cover the library, post, etc. The Board can simply order it, have it installed, and wrap up this long term project. It was decided to move this item to the January meeting.

New Business: Chris made a motion that we allocate $85 each for the Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners we provide Fire Station 23 each year. Christina second. Ayes carried.

New restaurant ideas for the Eastbrook Epicureans were suggested. All Eastbrook residents are invited to partake in these group meals showcasing a locally owned and operated eatery. Please join your fellow residents for dinner and conversation.

The Board would like to remind all Directors and would-be Directors to attend the January 2019 meeting. Ballots for the new Board will appear in the Jan/Feb issue of the Eastbrook Insider. There being no further business, Christina moved we adjourn at 7:57pm. Chris second. Ayes carried. Next meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Monday 01/21/2019 at the Eastbrook YMCA.

Do you have aging family members or friends? According to a recent survey, crimes against the elderly skyrocketed in the last year. Seniors lost $3 billion to criminals through home repair scams, investment scams, and other cons targeting older people.

Con artists are particularly fond of elderly widows. The scam is to find those who may be lonely or infirm, and slowly shower them with attention and small gifts in order to gain their confidence. Elderly people are targets for criminals for a variety reasons, and as their family members and friends, it's our job to help protect them from potential scams.

If you have elderly friends or relatives, you need to stay involved in their lives. Be nosy! Visit them. To someone who is alone a lot, just your presence brings them joy. It may seem dull at times, but never forget, someday you will be in their shoes. With families together during the holidays, it's a great time to check in on what's going on in a parent or other older family member or friend's life, including their finances.

Do you have siblings? Some families find it's a good plan to divide up responsibilities when you have elderly parents -- one kid takes them shopping, another entertains them, and a third handles money issues. Regardless of how it's handled, be aware and be present in the financial lives of your elders.

That can mean being a second signature on a checkbook, or an authorized person on a checking account. Know about the investments they have. Remember, be nosy! You don't want to find out your parents are destitute because you were looking the other way.

As you monitor your parent or other older person's financial life, it's important to be aware of some common scams and to talk to your loved ones about how they can avoid being scammed.

1. Medicare/health insurance fraud

PROBLEM: Scammers have targeted seniors for numerous rip-offs surrounding the Affordable Care Act and Medicare enrollment. Since every U.S. citizen over the age of 65 qualifies for Medicare benefits, seniors are an easy target for medical scams, because criminals don't have to do any research around their insurance provider. Many of these scams operate via door-to-door or over-the-phone solicitations by someone claiming to be a Medicare representative. Here are some ways to spot a medical scam targeting a senior:

- Being told you need a new Medicare card and have to divulge your Social Security number. - Being told you need new supplemental policies. - Being asked to pay a $100 fee for help navigating the new Affordable Care Act landscape.

SOLUTION: When in doubt, just hang up the phone or shut the door on a person trying to get money from you.

2. Counterfeit prescription drugs

PROBLEM: Many older people may be looking for cheaper drug alternatives as a way to save money on a fixed income. The problem is that scammers prey on this vulnerability of wanting to save. The Internet is the most common way criminals operate these scams -- offering "better prices" on specialized medication, which can not only be fake, but also end up being harmful to the person if they take an unknown substance.

SOLUTION: Be very cautious when ordering medication online and be sure to talk to your loved ones about it.

3. Funeral & cemetery scams

PROBLEM: Funeral and cemetery scams have been around for years. The FBI warns about two main types that are targeted toward seniors:

1. Criminals will read obituaries and either call or attend the funeral service of someone they don't know just to take advantage of someone there who's grieving. The scammer will then claim the deceased had an outstanding debt with them in an effort to get money from relatives to "settle" that fake debt.

2. Unfortunately, there are dishonest funeral homes out there that prey on grieving families by capitalizing on their unfamiliarity with the cost of funeral services in order to get more money from them. How it often works is someone at the funeral home adds unnecessary charges by insisting on extra features, such as the most expensive casket.

SOLUTION: Do some research before agreeing to anything suggested by the funeral home. Also, if your elderly loved one has a friend or other family member pass away, make sure to check on them and monitor their finances to make sure they don't fall victim to a scam like this.

4. Fake anti-aging products

PROBLEM: If you watch a lot of late night TV, which seniors often do, you'll notice all the commercials about products that claim to be the perfect solution to signs of aging or other unwanted physical changes.

Seniors often feel the need to look younger in order to keep up in social circles or to fill some other void in their life. This leads them to seek out new treatments, medications and other remedies -- making them vulnerable to scammers who capitalize on this demand. These scams operate in a variety of ways, including offering very expensive treatments that turn out to be harmful or very expensive homeopathic remedies that actually do nothing (except take your money).

SOLUTION: When monitoring your loved one's finances, look for purchases of these types of remedies or treatments, which you may also find when you visit their home. Talk to them about the dangers of these products, and also just increasing the frequency of your visits may help them avoid these situations.

5. Phone scams

PROBLEM: Scammers use several types of phone scams to prey on seniors. Here are a few to watch out for:

- IRS phone scam - Caller ID spoofing: Criminals make the name of your bank pop up on the caller ID - Calling back an unknown number

SOLUTION: Here are a few ways to avoid phone scams:

- Never call back an unknown number. - Know the IRS will never contact you by phone or email, only by U.S. mail.

6. Internet fraud

PROBLEM: Microsoft has put out a special consumer alert to warn about bogus computer security engineers making cold calls to convince people their computers are at risk for a security threat. The phonies offer a free security check over the phone in an effort to get you to give them remote access to your computer for a supposed diagnosis and fix. Once they have remote access, they will download software to your computer that basically allows them to steal money from your

accounts. A Microsoft survey conducted in the English-speaking world (this is not just limited to the United States) found that 15% of people have gotten a call from these scammers at one time or another.

Eight in 10 of those who allowed remote access of their computers had money stolen. One in five became identity theft victims. Finally, more than half of all people who allowed remote access got hit with viruses that fouled up their computers. Very often, the cost of repair was greater than the money stolen.

SOLUTION: Microsoft offers a few recommendations to stay out of harm's way. First, be suspicious of unsolicited calls from supposed computer security experts. Second, don't visit any sites or install software recommended by unsolicited callers.

BONUS TIP: Seniors often fall victim to a variety of Internet scams, including fake virus protection pop-ups and fake emails. Warn your loved one about the dangers of clicking on any unknown links or emails. Do not click on any link in any email you were not expecting. If there's a question and you think there's a legitimate message or notification intended for you, go directly to the official website of whatever business it is and check for any notifications there. Also, you can protect their computer by downloading virus and malware protection software on it yourself.

7. Investment/timeshare schemes

PROBLEM: Buying a timeshare is bad enough of a rip-off. But imagine getting ripped off twice or three times by crooks promising to help you resell your timeshare! The crooks typically ask for money upfront for advertising, title searches, and other administrative fees. You may even be told you'll get your money back if your timeshare isn't sold in 90 days. That's a big, fat lie. You won't get anything back except a lighter wallet.

SOLUTION: Here's the real truth. Anyone promising you more than a few pennies on the dollar of what you paid is lying. Remember, salespeople should receive commissions at the time of the sale, not a second before.

8. Homeowner/reverse mortgage scams

Homeowner scams

PROBLEM: Seniors who live alone in their own homes are cautioned to be wary of "woodchucks" -- fake home contractors who gain their confidence and then charge huge amounts of money for unnecessary work. These con men usually have some level of handyman skills and will start the relationship by offering to do a benign job such as gutter cleaning. But after they finish that job, they'll find other imaginary problems -- such as a roof or chimney repair -- and convince seniors to fork over thousands of dollars.

Woodchucks also love to target people who have failing memories. In some of their most disgusting offenses, they'll even drive old women to banks and get them to cash bogus checks before disappearing with the funds. Police expect the woodchuck phenomenon to worsen. After all, we're an aging population and we no longer live geographically close to our families as we did a few generations ago.

SOLUTION: Pick up the phone and call your aging relatives -- or go visit them -- to make sure they're not falling prey to woodchucks. Be nosy if you're worried that their money may be in danger. With a parent, there'll be a natural inclination for them to not want to talk to you about money. But you've got to be pushy.

Mortgage/reverse mortgage scams

PROBLEM: Scammers are preying on senior homeowners by offering a property assessment on the value of their home. They find the public information on

the home, and then send the homeowner an official looking letter that offers to assess the value of the home for a fee. This is of course just a ruse to get that "fee" money.

As reverse mortgages have increased in popularity, scammers are taking advantage of seniors with fake offers. Unsecured reverse mortgages can lead property owners to lose their homes when the perpetrators offer money or a free house somewhere else in exchange for the title to the property.

SOLUTION: Monitor all of your loved one's important financial and asset information closely. If you are worried they could fall victim to a scam like this, you may need to take control of their power to make decisions involving their finances, investments, assets etc.

9. Sweepstakes & lottery scams

PROBLEM: Seniors get a call saying they've won a lottery or sweepstakes of some kind, but they need to either pay money or divulge sensitive account information to claim the winnings. With the lottery scams, a senior's savings are not eroded all at once. Once they take the bait and send some money in, they're put on the sucker list. That marks them to receive future calls or solicitations about other alleged lottery winnings. It's known as a "reload scam," and it can play out in areas other than just fake lottery winnings.

Another way these scams unfold is a criminal will send the person a fake check to deposit, and during the period it takes for the check to get rejected, the scammer collects money from the senior for "fees" or "taxes" on the supposed prize. Then they're out of that money, and of course, no money is deposited from that fake check.

SOLUTION: Warn your loved ones about these scams and that they should NEVER hand over money for a "prize" or to anyone that they (or you) do not know.

10. The grandparent scam

PROBLEM: Crooks call senior citizens and impersonate their adult grandchildren in order to hit them up for money. Here's how a typical conversation might go:

The phone rings and the senior picks up... Scammer: (in a low tone) Grandma? Senior: Is that you, Jimmy? Scammer: Yes, it's me and I'm in trouble. I'm in jail. I need you to wire money so I can get out.

The typical take on this scam is anywhere between $3,000 and $4,000. There's even a "reload" on this one. If the scammer gets money, they'll have another person call up impersonating a police officer and ask for additional funds in order for their grandchild to be released. They claim there are extra charges for property damage. Once the money is taken, you'll never see it again.

SOLUTION: Never give out personal info over the phone or send money to unknown sources through a wire service.

Eastbrook Community Notice

Don’t Pitch It, Fix It! is a half day event that brings together skilled repair volunteers and local residents to fix broken items for free. Typically held in April and September, attendees bring items such as bicycles, clocks, stereos, TVs, furniture, computers, etc. to have them repaired instead of throwing them away. Additionally, residents can get special Repair Week discounts at participating local repair busi-nesses throughout the week immediately following every Don’t Pitch It, Fix It! event. For information, visit ocfl.net/DontPitchItFixIt or call 407-836-1401.

Eastbrook Community Notice

The February Bulletin Board signs for Groundhog’s Day and Valentine’s Day were both sponsored by Mindy Heath. Thank you, Mindy, for your continuing contributions to our neighborhood!

When you drive around the neighborhood (never exceeding 25mph, right?), you see so many residents taking advantage of the warmer winter to catch up with yardwork. Throughout the neighborhood, Eastbrookers are re-landscaping, clearing dead growth, and planning for robust new yards when spring arrives. While it’s so easy to have our attention drawn to those few and far between properties getting a bit behind in their yard maintenance, the majority of Eastbrook’s residents are showing renewed interest in their yards and how they appear. Certainly, the entire community benefits from well-maintained properties. However, the satisfaction that a beautiful property brings to the family that lives there is the true joy.

The beauty of our Eastbrook community has been growing steadily, with so many of our neighbors justly taking pride in the property they present. Nothing speaks to your efforts better than when a fellow member of our community recommends a property for Eastbrook’s Yard-of-the-Month. When you see a yard that strikes you as being exceptional, snap a picture and send it to the HOA Board at EastbrookRA@aol.com or text it to 704-726-3110. Your YOTM recommendations are a great help in making sure that no property in Eastbrook is overlooked. So, let us know about that neighbor or yard that inspires you!

November 2018

Yard of the Month is the home of the

Clawson Family

located at

1343 Brazilian Lane

Congratulations!

December 2018

Yard of the Month is the home of the

Cartensen Family

located at

2302 Conifer Avenue

Congratulations!

Constant temperature changes make it difficult to plan your yardwork over any particular span of days. Even if you can’t get outside to landscape, use your indoor time to plan how you may want to best tackle yardwork when the weather is more accommodating. You don’t have to get everything done at once. Steady work in small increments is easier on your body and your wallet but yields great results!

Remember childhood? Bike rides, swimming, and roller skates? How about submarines, zip lines and pool towers? Solos and stage productions? No? Perhaps you need to meet Addison.

Arnold Palmer Hospital welcomed Addison into the world in 2005, and she has been a resident of Eastbrook ever since. Now 13, Addison is a normal teenager who made being a kid in Eastbrook a great adventure.

Her adventures started when she was very young after meeting her neighbor, Jarrett, from across the street. The two were limited only by their imaginations… and their parents. “We just do crazy stuff. We like inventing things and ways of different types of transportation,” she reports. Once they got a box from a neighbor and made a submarine. They also made a zip line from a hanger and a rope and stretched it from 2 trees in the back yard. “I was too scared to do it, but Jarrett was going to do it until my dad ran out and said ‘NO, NO! Don’t do that!’ That probably would have ended badly,” she laughs.

“We tied a skateboard to a bike with some rope, sometimes a bungie cord,” which she discovered wasn’t very safe, “and we would drive up and down the street.”

Addison and Jarrett know how to make the best of the worst of situations. After Hurricane Matthew blew by, you might have seen Addison and Jarrett in the breezes. “We made a sail and tried to make it pull us down the street. It really didn’t work very well, but it was fun!”

Even a hole in the backyard fence brought adventure into her life. “Sophie (Addison’s backyard neighbor) and I met somehow, and we started going back and forth through the hole in a fence” to play and swim in Sophie’s pool.

Hanging out with her friends makes her happy. In the summer 2017 she and her friends made an i-movie. More fun started regularly in Addison’s back yard with balloon fights, throwing them down from her tree fort. They then advanced to Sophie’s pool through via the hole in the fence. “We would make a stack in the pool with Jarrett on the bottom, I was in the middle and Sophie was on top of me. We would be on each other’s shoulders and see how long we could hold the tower.” It took an hour to figure out how to create, and Addison doesn’t remember how long they could hold the tower because the purpose of the tower wasn’t to break a record, but to have fun.

Addison is not an introvert. “I’m not a quiet person at all. I like to get in front of people and act and sing and perform,” she said. At the age of 13 she already has a repertoire of performances. She started when she was in 4 years old in pre-K in The Three Piggy Opera. She played the straw pig.

She then played in Church musicals until she advanced to performing with the Central Florida Performing Arts in 6th

grade. She also played Flounder in The Little Mermaid and had a solo singing “She’s in Love.” She played in Mary Poppins and, the most recent production, was in Alice in Wonderland where she played one of the main flowers and sang “The Golden Afternoon.”

Dancing takes practice for Addison “I’m not naturally good.” But dance and song are fun for Addison. “I don’t think of it as practice. Playing instruments takes practice. I just normally sing in the shower and around the house. I don’t call it practicing, I just do it.”

Not all of Addison’s life has been fun, however. In 3rd grade, when she was 8 years old, she became seriously ill. It began around her birthday and she missed a lot of school. She was nauseated all the time. The pain made it difficult for her to focus and after lunch she would want to come home. “I lost a lot of weight.” It was difficult for the doctors to determine what was going on and Addison was severely sick for 3 - 4 months. All she could eat during that time was bananas and saltines. The doctors were finally able to identify the illness and she recovered.

It was during her illness that Addison also experienced bullying in third and fourth grade at her elementary school. “That was really scary,” she cringes because, although she had a very supportive teacher in second grade, she did not feel supported by the principal or her teacher in third grade. Because she was ill and missed a lot of school, she fell behind in her studies. Fortunately, Addison could depend on her intelligent and dedicated Grandmother who is a teacher and helped her catch up on things she missed. But the bullying did not stop.

She became very frightened when one of the boys in Addison’s class drew a violent picture of Addison and her friend. The boy was suspended and Addison’s mom and dad moved her back to Geneva, the school she attended in first grade.

Things have changed for Addison in Eastbrook as she grows older. The teenagers are busier. “I try to hang out with Jarrett now but he plays a lot of soccer and is in choir in church and he has his guy friends from school that he hangs out with. I have basketball and theater.” Sophie has since moved, so she needs to get a ride if they want to hang out together. Addison misses those days “It was so fun to hang out together and make creative stuff and now we can’t do that anymore.”

However she still likes to ride bikes around her neighborhood. She sometimes rides her bike and follows her dad as he runs. On one ride/run Addison and her dad counted cats - 17 to be exact in the area. “We like cats. We like dogs too, but dad is more of a cat person.”

Things continue to change, but who knows what the future holds for this very talented young lady.

If you have a neighbor you would like to nominate for coverage in the Eastbrook Insider contact Mary Beth Griffis by

phone (407.782.0134.) or email (MaryBethGriffis@gmail.com).

To advertise in the Eastbrook Insider, please contact Lee Newsom (407-679-0704) or Scot Myers (704-726-3110)

help

EASTBROOK COMMUNITY CALENDAR

JANUARY 2019

FEBRUARY 2019

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5 1 2

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

27 28 29 30 31 24 25 26 27 28

JAN 1 NEW YEAR’S DAY

JAN 3 Eastbrook Book Club (3486 Bougainvillea) @ 7p

JAN 6 Epiphany JAN 12 EB Sewing Fellowship (1343 Brazilian Ln) @ 10a

JAN 20 Super Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse

JAN 21 HOA Board/Residents Mtg. (YMCA) @ 7:30p

JAN 21 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY

JAN 31 Tu B'Shevat

JAN 26 Sewing Fellowship OPEN HOUSE @ 10a -12p

FEB 2 Groundhog Day

FEB 5 Chinese New Year (Year of the Pig)

FEB 7 Eastbrook Book Club (3486 Bougainvillea) @ 7p

FEB 9&23 EB Sewing Fellowship (1343 Brazilian Ln) @ 10a

FEB 12 Lincoln’s Birthday

FEB 14 Valentine’s Day

FEB 18 PRESIDENT’S DAY

FEB 18 Residents Association Mtg. (YMCA) @ 7:30p

FEB 21 Eastbrook Epicureans (Pier 36 Fish Camp) @ 6

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN 2018

PLEASE CONTINUE THAT SUPPORT IN 2019

As a paid member of the Eastbrook Homeowners Association for 2019, please use this ballot to help shape your Board of Directors for 2019. The Board may have up to fifteen members. Please plan on attending the regular meeting Monday, February 18, 2019 if you would like to serve on the 2019 Board. You do not need to be present to vote. Simply return your ballot (with your 2019 membership dues if you haven’t already paid) to: Eastbrook HOA, P.O. Box 1135, Goldenrod, FL 32733.

You must be a paid member and Eastbrook resident to be a Director. Only one ballot per household. You must include your name and address on your ballot.

Your Name: ______________________________________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________________________________

The following Directors have requested to remain on the 2019 Board:

Christina Crawford Y / N Joseph England Y / N Helen Jones Y / N Cynthia Koerner Y / N Cortney Mitchell-England Y / N Scot Myers Y / N Chris Pisarri Y / N Andrea Sinclair Y / N Marie Westmoreland Y / N

I’d like to nominate the following name(s) or suggest these Director assignments: _________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Development in Your Community

OCFL Atlas is a new mobile and web application

that launches on a Geographic Information System

platform. The app encourages citizens to become

more involved in the development of their

community by targeting specific construction

projects within Orange County. Citizens have the

ability to access real-time development data, board

hearing information and proposed locations.

Users can navigate to specific locations by using

address point or simply panning around to get

detailed information. The system highlights the

Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA), Planning &

Zoning Commission (PZC), Development Review

Committee (DRC), Comprehensive Planning (FLUA)

and Environmental (EPD) hearings and community

meetings.

OCFL Atlas makes it faster and more convenient to

access meeting dates and information to ensure that

citizens have the opportunity to express their

opinion throughout the public hearing process. It is

designed to work on most web devices, including

desktop computers, smartphones, and tablets.

Once a project is pinpointed, you can view the

development’s permit type, hearing date, applicant,

zoning, acreage, project description, and project

manager contact information. OCFL Atlas includes

a link to the project’s Fast Track page, which offers

even more information and documents on the

project.

OCFL Atlas will soon have a user registration piece

that allows citizens to register multiple subject

properties. Atlas will send notifications of new

development projects within a one-mile buffer

periodically to the email address used to register.

Download the OCFL Atlas app from the Apple App

Store, Google Play Store, or connect to the desktop

version at www.ocfl.net/atlas.

By James Jerome, Development Services Coordinator (Neighbor 2

Neighbor, Winter 2018, p. 4)

IN AN EMERGENCY, DIAL 9-1-1 Tell Police, Fire, Ambulance your County of residence.

Poison Control Hotline — 1-800-222-1222

Crimeline — 1-800-423-TIPS (8477)

Sheriff (Seminole County) non-emergency — 407-665-6650

Sheriff (Orange County) non-emergency — 407-836-4357

Animal Services (Seminole County) — 407-665-5110

Animal Services (Orange County) — 407-836-3111

County Commissioner (Seminole, District 4) — 407-665-7201

County Commissioner (Orange, District 5) — 407-836-7350

County Clerk of Courts (Seminole) — 407-665-4330

County Clerk of Courts (Orange) — 407-836-2000

County Tax Collector’s Office (Seminole) — 407-665-1000

County Tax Collector’s Office (Orange) — (407) 836-2700

County Property Appraiser (Seminole) — 407-665-7506

County Property Appraiser (Orange) — (407) 836-5000

County School Board (Seminole) — 407-320-0000

County School Board (Orange) — 407-317-3200

Voter Registration (Seminole County) — 407- 665-7700

Voter Registration (Orange) — (407) 836-2070

Community Services (Seminole County) — 407-665-3272

Community Services (Orange County) — 211

Seminole County Health Department — 407-665-3000

Orange County Health Department — 407-836-2600

DMV (Seminole County) — 407-665-1000

DMV (Orange County) — 407-836-4145

US Post Office (Goldenrod) — 407-678-6911 7501 Citrus Ave, Goldenrod, FL 32733

US Post Office (Winter Park) — 407-678-1230 221 Driggs Dr, Winter Park, FL 32792

Florida Hospital Altamonte — 407-303-2200

Central Florida Regional Hospital — 407-321-4500

Winter Park Memorial Hospital — 407-646-7000

Florida Hospital Orlando — 407-303-5600

McAbee Veterinary Hospital — 407-671-5858

Mayfair Animal Hospital — 407-678-2200

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Boys Town National Hotline: 1-800-448-3000

National Runaway Switchboard: 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929)

National Center for Missing/Exploited Children: 1-800-843-5678

National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-4-A-CHILD (422-4453)

Your Eastbrook

Real Estate Specialist

for 31 years.

Eastbrook Update! 2018 was a BANNER year for EASTBROOK

Values skyrocketed!

57 HOMES SOLD AVERAGE price per sq. ft: $155 HIGHEST price per sq. ft: $210

(According to MFRMLS)

If you have been considering selling your home, please give me a ring, text, or e-mail to discuss your property value.

I look forward to working with you in 2019!

Catherine D'Amico Broker-Associate Top Producer Orlando Magazine Hot 100 Real Estate Professional 407-252-3210 Catherine@fanniehillman.com