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Volume I Issue V
Embarking on a Journey Together
In this Issue:
Welcome, AP Neighborhood Watch, Mindful Matters, Real Estate 32828, Relay for Life, and The Pulse
(Any neighbor in the 32828 zip code can contribute by sending their article to Publishing@apgazette.com for consideration)
Welcome
written by Eddy Solon, Northwest Village
Realestate32828@gmail.com
Welcome neighbors. The year is ending and as contributors and invested stakeholders of our
community, we are also celebrating the completion of our First Volume of the AP Gazette. It's developing into a newsletter written solely by East Orlando Residents and business associates reaching close to a 1,000 plus neighbors and growing. Within our First Volume, we would like to recognize two very distinct contributors who have given their time and talent unselfishly. Dr. Purvi Gandhi, Mindful Matters contributor, and Evelyn Peterson, What's Growing on contributor, have both provided quality articles that were not only technically sound but also practical to our everyday lives. Thank you for your continued contributions and providing a "breath of fresh air" in your articles. Please feel free to commend Dr. Purvi Gahndi at www.drpurvigandhi.com and Evelyn Peterson at Evelyn@Myrtleglen.com
As we enter into the 2013 phase, and Volume II, it has become apparent that we will have to begin to think about restructuring the organization of the Gazette team to ensure our mission statement (creed) is not compromised: "To build community one issue at a time through practical, informative, and lifestyle oriented articles in commitment with integrity, trust, and honesty." Hence, to foster accountability to this creed, we are considering adding a board of overseers that will be responsible, along with the Managing Editor, for the direction of the newsletter, the assurance of its content, the documentation of organization responsibility and structure, and the lastly the building of the newsletter distributionship. The board can be any resident who is committed to the "spirit" of this newsletter and must be recommended by the Managing Editor, contributor, or any sitting board member. They will not be required to contribute monthly. Candidates who have taken active roles in our community will have immediate preference. The responsibility of the board members will include voting or making recommendations via email and conducting at least one annual face to face meeting. By allowing the responsibility of the newsletter content and direction to invested stakeholders with varying ideas and opinions via a vote will only help build the community-centered newsletter we are establishing together. Lastly, as we grow, we refine, hence our creed will be updated for 2013 to add Good Will. We believe contributing and participating in Good Will is very important and by placing it into our creed, it becomes an organizational goal. The new creed for 2013 will be "To build community one issue at a time through practical, informative, and lifestyle oriented articles in commitment with Integrity, Trust, Honesty and Good Will." If interested in being a board member, please email publishing@apgazette.com
Lastly, please welcome the newest members of our team, Chris Logan, Avalon Park Resident contributing monthly as a Political contributor, and Sara Morris, an Avalon Park Resident, Technical Write and Editor, participating monthly as a Reviewer.
Avalon Park Neighborhood Watch: This Past Month
written by Brian Jones, Parkside Landing
Overall Neighborhood Watch Coordinator
brianj4u2@gmail.com
Happy holidays from the Avalon Park Neighborhood Watch team. As we finish a very active year
with the neighborhood watch program, it is important to recognize that our thriving community benefits from our neighborhood watch participation. As an Avalon Park resident, participation is defined differently. Some participate by being a village coordinator or a block captain and others, by simply being included on neighborhood watch communication. With the New Year ahead, I’m excited about the opportunity to take our neighborhood watch program to the next level. We have exciting opportunities ahead of us. So, what’s new in 2013? How do we encourage safety awareness? How can we as neighborhood watch participants help strengthen our network? How will we manage and utilize our important “Avalon Park Neighborhood Watch” Facebook group? We will answer each of these questions at our annual meeting scheduled for January 26 th, 9:00 am at the South Village clubhouse, so please attend this very important meeting. We are currently looking for sponsors and neighbors to help coordinate a breakfast for this event, so if you can help, please contact me directly.
SAVE THE DATE: January 26th at 9:00 am, we will have our Annual Meeting at the South Village clubhouse.
This past month the incidents reported on Avalon Park Neighborhood Watch website by neighbors were:
December Statistics
| Number | Incident Reported | Disposition by Off duties/ Update |
| 1 | Car was egged 12/04/2012. I park my car in front of the house, on Cepheus Drive. | General Notice |
| 2 | 12/5/12 - Called OCSO to report suspicious behavior in two young males driving a late model Pearl white Cadillac. First saw them circling my block around 9 am. Saw them cruising Parkside Landing streets about 10 am. Saw them again cruising the alleys of the Townhomes near Avalon Park Blvd around 11am. Then reported to OCSO. Two young men, Caucasian or Hispanic, loud music, just cruising the neighborhood for at least 2 hours. | Reported to Off Duty |
This month and every month after, we will report a summary of incidents and any updates from our off duty deputies in a table like above.
So what do you do when you see something suspicious? First, contact the non-emergency like at 407-836-HELP or 911 if needed. Secondly, submit an online incident report so neighbors who live in your area can be notified. You can submit an online incident report at http://www.avalonparkwatch.org/incident_report.htm Please only monitor and report suspicious activity....do not engage any criminals or suspicious individuals.
Have a safety concern? Feel free to email our off duty deputies Sal.Saldano@ocfl.net He is very responsive! What does off duty mean? It really does not mean they are completely off duty. They are hired by funds set aside by our HOA dues, on their off duty hours, to help secure the safety of our Avalon Park community. We have four, and Sal is the primary coordinator.
Mindful Matters: Let it Shine
written by Licensed Psychologist and Avalon Park YMCA Yoga Instructor, Dr. Purvi Gandhi
www.drpurvigandhi.com
It has been very difficult to comprehend the tragedy that occurred on Friday, December 14, 2012 at
Sandy Hook Elementary School. I, along with many of you, have struggled with the loss of young, little lives and have been heartbroken by the incident. Such an act is unfathomable and leaves our heart filled with sadness, fear, and anger. Questions have been asked about motive and signs—questions that we may never find the answers to. These were our children and this was our town, as President Obama so accurately stated. How do the town of Newtown, Connecticut and the nation cope with this situation and get through something as unimaginable as this?
I read that some residents of Newtown took down their holiday lights, in mourning. Understandably, they feel that it is not appropriate to celebrate the holidays and most likely do not feel the uplifting nature of the season at this time. It is important that each of us allows ourselves time and space to grieve this loss and feel the gravity of the situation. And it is just as important that each of us remembers the Spirit of the Season. Holding onto the Spirit of the Season is what will get each of us through the grief and horror of this incomprehensible experience.
The holiday lights remind us of the intention of the season and the three wise men who followed the star of Bethlehem. Different religions speak of this same light, which guides us to a greater truth in the world. The lighting of the menorah for Hanukah or the lighting of the devo for Diwali (Festival of Lights) in the Hindu faith. The message is the same: light overcomes the darkness and connects us to something greater and more profound in ourselves and in the world. When we focus on this light, it can lead us out of the darkness and sorrow. This light is represented all around us and within us.
The light within a person can be expressed by their faith, spirituality, or generosity---any type of action that taps into the goodness and humanity of ourselves and others. We can demonstrate this by extending ourselves to one another. This may mean greeting our neighbors or lending a hand to someone in our community. It could be volunteering at your church/temple or school. Maybe it is helping organize and participating in our community activities. Avalon Park residents tend to be an active community. We can increase our sense of community and enhance our connection to one another by remembering the Spirit of the Season, all year long, and allowing our light to shine out into the world. It is only by doing this that we can continue to create a world that is full of goodness, humanity, and meaning for ourselves and those we love.
To read more, visit my blog.
Real Estate 32828: Seller's Market?
written by Eddy Solon, Northwest Village
32828 Realtor, Keller Williams Realty
www.Realestate32828.com
Some say we are definitely in a solid Seller's Market. Many did not expect this to happen so quickly,
considering the many incentives out there for buyers, including the very low interest rates. Although, there are record low interest rates out there, the very strict guidelines imposed by lending institutions are only affording a small percentage of buyers to really take advantage. The market is getting stronger and in Avalon Park alone, it's nearly impossible to find a home in the low $100ks in contrast to a few months ago, where selected buyers found 1800 square feet detached homes selling at $95ks. Although, we are not completely where we were a couple years ago, we are bouncing back.. Today is a different day, the median price (from townhouse to single family) is starting around $140k. So what should a potential seller consider in this market.... If possible, I would say, HOLD ON TO YOUR HOME. If not, list and take advantage of the stronger market.
If invested and living in Avalon Park, keep doing what you are doing. We have a great community with a lot of invested neighbors which essentially and statically add to the bottom line. Potential buyers seek to live in communities that are safe, family oriented, and active and as you know, Avalon Park embodies all of this. Overall in the 32828 zipcode, considering the thousands of homes located within this quaint corner of Orlando, there are very limited inventory available in all price ranges. When a reasonably priced home that has been well maintained comes on the market, it is not surprising to fetch multiple offers. This can be a very exciting time for some and an intimidating time for others, irregardless, keep in mind, Real Estate has room for everyone, from renters, to investors, to home owners.... just equip yourself with market information to make your journey a little easier.
Relay for Life: Avalon Park Residents Fighting Cancer Together!
Submitted by Courtney Tomasi, Insight Magazine
Kindergarten Teacher, East Orlando Resident
Courtney.Tomasi@ocps.net
Walkers will go around the clock in the battle against cancer when the American Cancer Society’s
Relay For Life of Avalon Park gets underway with teams of residents gathering at Timber Creek High School on May 10, 2013 at 4:00 pm.
Relay For Life events are held overnight as individuals and teams camp out at the Timber Creek High School track, with the goal of keeping at least one team member on the track or pathway at all times throughout the evening. Teams do most of their fundraising prior to the event, but some teams also hold creative fundraisers at their camp sites during the Relay. The Relay brings together friends, families, businesses, hospitals, schools, faith-based groups and people from all walks of life – all aimed at furthering the American Cancer Society’s efforts to save lives by helping people stay well, get well, by finding cures and fighting back.
“Relay is a unique opportunity for our community to come together to celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember those we’ve lost, and fight back against the disease,” said Alyson Muse Relay For Life of Avalon Park chair. “Many of the participants are cancer survivors, which serves as a reminder that the Avalon park community is not immune to this disease and that by participating in Relay, we are joining with the American Cancer Society’s efforts to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays.”
Funds raised at Relay For Life of Avalon Park help the American Cancer Society to impact the lives of those touched by cancer within the community. In 2012, Relay For Life events across great state of Florida raised over $21 million to help cancer patients and their families in local communities and to fund lifesaving cancer research. The Relay For Life of Avalon Park has raised more than $65,000 that helped to fund lifesaving programs and services locally! All of this is made possible by Relay For Life. We welcome you to join us in the fight against cancer today!
If you are interested in joining the fight, go to www.relayforlife.org/avalonparkfl to register your team for the event! All businesses, schools, churches, organizations, etc. are welcome to register their team!
SAVE THE DATE: Relay for Life Kick Off Meeting at Timber Creek High School on November 28, 2012. Email Alyson at Alysmuse11@yahoo.com for details.
The Pulse: A Name with No Town
Written by Chris Logan, Timbercreek Village
cjlogan@gmail.com
Greetings from Avalon Park, Florida. If the last sentence sounded slightly odd, it's because no such
place exists on any official map of Florida. Avalon Park is not a city, town or village. It's not even a Census Designated Place such as neighboring Bithlo or Christmas. Technically speaking, Avalon Park is a neighborhood. A neighborhood indeed, but more importantly a community. Since its foundation, the community called Avalon Park is identifiable by people who live outside of the immediate area. Telling a friend or co-worker from the Orlando area that one lives in Avalon Park will typically be returned with a knowing acknowledgement. Often, that recognition is also accompanied by assumptions about those who live there. Avalon Park may not be a town or city, but it is no less of a community.
On Tuesday December 11th, the Avalon Park Property Owner's Association (POA) held its annual meeting to elect two new board members and approve the 2013 budget. Unfortunately, a quorum of residents could not be achieved between the proxy ballots and those attending the meeting. This means that the other four board members will select the winning candidates for these open positions. Upon being asked the question, a current board member affirmed that the board has honored the ballot tally that was submitted by proxy ballots. This does allude to a somewhat sad state of affairs – the fact that not even 20% of the community’s residents care enough to attend the meeting or submit their selection ahead of time. If you wish to witness the selection of the new board members, make sure to attend the board’s next meeting on Tuesday January 15 th.
In addition to the failed attempt to re-elect the board, the meeting also featured questions and discussion about the 2013 budget for the community. All residents should have received the budget in their mailbox (along with those elusive proxies and ballots). A thorough review of the budget is beyond the scope of this article and the patience of most readers. A Reader’s Digest version is included here for those who like their budgets short-and-sweet.
The budget breaks down into the following categories, with comparisons of 2012 and 2013 amounts:
| Line Item | 2012 | 2013 | Delta | Delta % |
| G&A | $2,158,925.00 | $1,971,349.25 | ($187,576.56) | -8.69% |
| Grounds Maintenance | $1,417,899 | $1,500,737.29 | $82,838.00 | 5.84% |
| Utilities | $334,640 | $337,340.00 | $2,700.00 | 0.81% |
| Recreational | $556,582. | $491,500.00 | ($65,082.44) | -11.69% |
| Reserves | $564,476 | $764,213.46 | $199,737.00 | 35.38% |
| Total | $5,032,524 | $5,065,140.00 | $32,616.00 | 0.65% |
The table below contains all budget line items that increased or decreased by more than 20% from 2012 to 2013.
| Line Item | 2012 | 2013 | Increase | Increase % |
| Alleyway Maintenance | $2,000 | $50,000 | $48,000 | 2400% |
| Tennis Courts | $500 | $2,000 | $1,500 | 300% |
| Tennis Courts | $500 | $2,000 | $1,500 | 300% |
| Holiday Decorating | $10,000 | $30,000 | $20,000 | 200% |
| Fitness Center | $5,000 | $13,000 | $8,000 | 160% |
| Park-Repairs-Maintenance | $14,000 | $25,000 | $11,000 | 79% |
| Pool Supplies & Equipment Repair | $49,000 | $62,000 | $13,000 | 27% |
| Community Center | $25,000 | $30,000 | $5,000 | 20% |
| SV Fitness Center Employees | $90,554 | $72,000 | ($18,554) | -20% |
| Cable Television | $1,075,000 | $850,000 | ($225,000) | -21% |
| Pool Furniture | $19,578 | $14,500 | ($5,078) | -26% |
| Cabana & Janitorial Service | $255,000 | $175,000 | ($80,000) | -31% |
| Volleyball Court Repairs | $750 | $500 | ($250) | -33% |
Some additional areas of interest in this budget:
- The budget increased 0.6% from $5.032m to $5.065m.
- $5,700 was approved for removal of wild boars. Their location won’t be divulged here to protect the curious. Call the POA office for more information.
- $451k will be spent on management fees and on-site staffing. That’s nearly 9% of the overall budget.
Finally, a last item of note from the annual meeting. The curious or observant driver may have noticed a cleared area on the east side of Alafaya Trail, just north of Avalon Park Blvd. The board clarified that this is the future location of a 264 unit apartment complex. More information will be provided in a future month’s article.
Not to be outdone, our county commissioners are also hard at work. The commission is evaluating walking and biking trails across the county. From the 12 trails being evaluated, three are in the general area of Avalon Park. The Innovation Way/UCF, Avalon and East Orange Trails are all under consideration. Unfortunately, these three trails ranked fourth, seventh and tenth respectively in the board’s analysis. The unincorporated area of Orange County surrounding Avalon Park are certainly lacking in recreational space in comparison to other sections. Hopefully the county commission will see fit to send some tax dollars back into the Avalon Park area.
Farewell from Avalon Park, Florida – until next month.
Chris Logan has lived in Avalon Park for over seven years, with his beautiful wife Patricia and three children Ian, Austin and Abigail. Prior to moving to Florida, he lived in Massachusetts for 19 years, and Kansas City, Missouri for 16 years before that. He believes that his experiences from living in such varied places has created a particular mental triangulation that puts him somewhere in West Virginia or Kentucky.
Pic of the Month
Merry Christmas!
To submit a pic of the month, please email Publishing@apgazette.com
AP Gazette Opportunities
As a new and growing newsletter, we have many opportunities for neighbors to contribute and volunteer their writing talents/ time to help build community. Below are several positions still needing to be filled:
1. Reviewers- to review final submittal of newsletters prior to publishing
2. Education Contributor- An article written by an Educator in one of East Orlando schools. Topics may be anything to do with Education and teacher, student, and parent awareness. This will be a good place to highlight top achievers in our school (teachers and students).
3. Sports Contributor- To discuss East Orlando Sports, anything from little league and up
To be able to participate, you must be an East Orlando resident, if writing, submit an article prior to 3rd Thursday of the Month 12:00 pm, and send your interest and brief description of your background to Publishing@apgazette.com Keep in mind, any neighbor can submit an article.
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Yard of the Month – November 2012
Congratulations to 13655 Phoenix Dr.
Anyone may nominate a front yard by contacting the Avalon Park Property Owner Association or by sending an email to Evelyn@Myrtleglen.com with the address of the nominated front yard and the reason why it deserves the Award.
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December Birthdays/ Anniversary
- James "JC" Liriano- 17- December 24th- Village 6
- Jimmy and Judi Liriano 18th Year Anniversary- December 30th- South Village
- Alan & Virginia Sasser 35 year Anniversary- December 30th- South Village
- Virginia Sasser - December 27th- Northwest Village
Submit a Birthday for next month by sending an email to Publishing@apgazette.com send Name, date, age turning, and your village.
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Tell Us Your Story
Have a Story to tell us. Tell us your Unique Avalon Park Story. We want to know all the great things that residents and businesses are doing that are affecting our community and beyond including triumphs, journeys, and achievements. Email your story to Publishing@apgazette.com
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East Orlando Important Dates
- 01/26- Annual AP Neighborhood Watch Meeting @ 9am, South Village Community Center
- 3rd Thursday of each Month- @ 7pm starting 02/21/2013 AP Neighborhood Watch Meeting
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AP Gazette Creed
To build community one issue at a time through practical, informative, and lifestyle oriented articles in commitment with integrity, trust, honesty. and Good Will.
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