July - August 2022

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Manager's Corner

Pinelake Residents,

Thank you so much for welcoming me into your beautiful community. Since arriving I have met so many wonderful people. There is so much I plan to accomplish as Community Manager; I promise you’ll receive 110% every day.

Hometown America and I have wonderful visions for Pinelake Gardens & Estates. We want you to be proud of the community you live in and the place you call home. I will ALWAYS put the community first.

“The mistakes you make will repeat themselves until you learn from them.”

Looking forward to many years,

Orion J. Binns Sr.
Community Manager

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Capital Improvements

WOW – It has been a busy couple of months for Orion, our new Community Manager! While we have accomplished a lot this year, we aren't done yet. In addition to some budgeted items, we also have had some items completed that were not budgeted for this year but were necessary.

• Check out our renovated Laundry Room! The flooring was replaced with a beautiful gray tile to match the fresh paint and décor. We added an open wall cabinet to store all of our community puzzles. Puzzles are a great way to kill time while doing your laundry or you can rent one and take it home with you!
• We’ve upgraded the landscaping around Clubhouse 1. We’ve replaced and added new plants and colorful flowers for Summer!
• The concrete around the Clubhouse 1 Shuffleboard Courts was freshly painted and the edging of the Courts was upgraded.
• We made a few curb appeal improvements around the pool area at Clubhouse 1, such as repainting the coping around the Jacuzzi and replacing the borders around the landscape beds.
• The refrigerator in Clubhouse 1 was replaced and we added a new convenient ice machine for our residents to use.
• Additional speed limit signs and new street signposts are currently being installed throughout the community.
• The TV in our fitness center has been replaced with a new 55” Smart TV! Passing time on the elliptical, treadmill or bike just got easier!
• The exterior accent walls on Clubhouse 2 were painted with a modern color to give the building a whole new feeling.

Be sure to check out the next Newsletter for details on more improvements in the works!

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Upcoming Events

Social Club BBQ

Date: Monday, July 4

Location: CH2

Please feel free to contact Dawn Annand for more info.

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Employee Spotlight

If you have seen Erik around the community, you know what an easy-going person he is. Florida-born and raised, he loves the outdoors and enjoys his Saturdays watching college football. He is extremely knowledgeable in his profession and thinks outside the box to get the job done quickly and efficiently. We appreciate his hard work and dedication to Hometown America and the community of Pinelake Gardens and Estates. Thank you, Erik!

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Resident Spotlight

Ms. Donna Belshe was born in 1925, making her one of our most “seasoned” residents. Raised in a little town called Borger, in the Texas panhandle, she received her high school diploma in 1942 with a graduating class of just 75. Donna recalled that her first job out of high school paid $10 a week. Determined to attend college, she stayed with the company for 3 years, saving every penny until she had earned enough to attend The University of Denver. After college, she met her husband to be, Dale Belshe, in 1945. They married in 1946 and had 4 wonderful children. Donna moved to Boca Raton, Florida in 1990 to enjoy all the sun and surf that south Florida has to offer. Donna joined our community in 2012 when she moved to Pinelake Gardens & Estates. Some of her favorite hobbies include Bridge, reading, and long walks.

Editors Notes:

It was fascinating to interview Ms. Belshe. All the history she has seen in nearly a century is mind-blowing: The Great Depression, WWII, assassinations of powerful leaders, the Vietnam War, space exploration, and much more. If you see her out walking, stop and say hello. She has earned everyone's respect. Thank you, Ms. Belshe, for the interview. It was my pleasure.

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Restaurant Review

Nostalgia Italian Greek Kouzina is located at 1624 SE Federal Hwy in Stuart. They are locally owned and operated by Mr. Thanasis (Tom) Bournas, who has all the ingredients for the restaurant imported from Greece and Italy to keep the dishes authentic to their roots.

With this being said, the prices are very reasonable with appetizers starting at $6.95 and dinner entrees from $14.95. Calamari to Veal, you will not be disappointed. This is a true taste of the Mediterranean.

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Past Event Recap

Italian Night hosted by the Social Club

From: Dawn Annand
President PLGE Social Club

Italian night was a wonderful success! Each table was equipped with red, white, and green tablecloths and highlighted with an Italian flag.

Eighty-seven (87) residents had baked chicken parmesan with a side of ziti and marinara sauce, warm baguette bread with whipped butter mixed with garlic, and a side salad of fresh romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and cucumbers topped with Italian dressing. Topping off the dinner was a fantastic Tiramisu with Italian cookies.

We were able to accommodate a resident with dietary restrictions by providing a gluten-free dinner which included non-breaded chicken with gluten-free pasta, along with salad & sauce. I'm very happy we can do this for our residents with dietary restrictions.

Music was provided by one of our local DJs for a great night out. It was a wonderful event! I am very proud of the chairman, Lynn Thibodeaux, and his entire team of volunteers!

Memorial Day Event

A Memorial Day event to honor soldiers who gave their lives in service to our country. The event lasted from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. All branches of service were represented – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. A memorial wreath was placed in the lake in honor of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Hometown America placed American Flags, Service Flags, and red, white, and blue garland around the lamp posts from the entrance of US 1 to SE Cottonwood Terrace. The Estate’s “S” curve received the same honorable treatment.

PLGE Memorial Recognition Day

Losing friends is always hard. Sunday, June 12, the Social Club & Hometown America hosted our annual PLGE Memorial Recognition Day to honor our residents who have passed since 2020. We hope to keep this event as part of a new tradition at PLGE. We are planning the next memorial sometime around March 2023.

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Summer Recipes

Homemade Guacamole

Ingredients

3 ripe avocados (You can tell if it’s ripe by the softness)
1 lime
Garlic
1 Red or Spanish onion
1 Tomato (Small)
Cilantro
Sour Cream
Salt and Pepper

Instructions

Cut the avocados in half, removing the seed. With a spoon, remove the inside of the avocado into a mixing bowl. Add one tablespoon of minced garlic and ¼ cup of sour cream. Chop up ½ cup of onion, 1 cup of tomato, and ¼ cup of cilantro. Add to mixing bowl. Salt and Pepper to taste. Mix until there’s a smooth texture. Chill for 30 minutes and serve. (Feeds 4-6)

Summer Mango Salsa

Ingredients

4 large tomatoes
2 Ripe mangos
1 Vidalia onion or red onion
Cilantro ½ cup
1 Lime
Garlic
Salt and Pepper

Instructions

Dice the tomatoes and Mangos (make sure the skin is peeled from the mango), and chop the onion and cilantro. Add them to a mixing bowl. Throw in 1/3 cup garlic. Add salt and pepper to taste. Squeeze 1 whole lime. Mix and chill for 1 hour. Serve with tortilla chips or bruschetta.

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Be Prepared

June 1 officially kicked off hurricane season in Florida. Are You Ready? To be better prepared in the event of a hurricane, the Hometown America team has organized and put together this information to help you, our residents, and the HOA in understanding areas of responsibility in preparation and clean up when a disaster strikes.

It is easy to expect Hometown America to assume responsibilities when a disaster strikes. However, many of the responsibilities in preparation and clean up belong to the homeowner. This memo clearly defines what areas of responsibility are those of our residents, the homeowners, and what areas are the responsibilities of Hometown America. It also provides you with guidance on specific content, that you and your family will need to develop and include in your own personal emergency plan.

First, as a resident of a Hometown America community, we are asking that you provide us with emergency contact information in the event we need to reach you or someone in your family in the event of an emergency. Although you may have filled out a similar form in the past, it is critical that our records be updated with the most current emergency contact and insurance information. Please ask your office for an Emergency Registration Form to fill out and return to the community manager as soon as possible.

There are many resources and guides available to help all of us be better prepared for hurricane season. Based on previous year’s experiences, Hometown America has put together a handout for our residents which lists four important safety and preparedness steps that you, the homeowner, are urged to follow prior to the event of a hurricane.

• Step 1: Create a Family Emergency Plan
• Step 2: Assemble an Emergency Supplies Kit
• Step 3: Family Evacuation Plan
• Step 4: Prepare for High Winds

In addition to the handout, and as expressed above, Hometown America has outlined below the responsibilities of the residents, the homeowners in our community, as well as the responsibilities of Hometown America, the community owner.

The homeowner/resident is directly responsible for the following:

• Prior to going North, remove all yard debris, ornaments, patio furniture or any lose items
• Once a storm is being tracked it is the resident’s responsibility to remove all yard debris, ornaments and patio furniture to prevent them from blowing around (for year-around residents)
• If mandatory evacuation is ordered, all residents and community personnel must leave the property and not return until the County clears any curfews and roadways have been cleared
• Residents must complete an emergency registration form (available in the office)
• Residents should keep all important papers (including insurance information) with them (not left behind in the home during an evacuation)
• Residents should have temporary housing and food in the event their home is damaged and/or the community does not have utilities or facilities
• Residents will be responsible for the immediate clean up and debris removal of their home site
• Residents will be responsible for the timely repairs to their homes should they become damaged
• Residents will be responsible for the removal of their home should it be destroyed
• Residents will be responsible for the immediate removal of trees, stumps or debris that is located either on their home or on their home site
• Residents will be responsible for the immediate removal of any loose aluminum or sharp debris to prevent injuries
• Residents should report to the office after the storm to ensure their safety and to assist with accessing property damage and collection of insurance information
• Residents are responsible for contacting FEMA, insurance companies, and other social and county organizations for assistance
• Residents are responsible for tarping their roofs and for making immediate emergency repairs in order to prevent further damage to their homes
• In the event of a disaster to their property and/or community property, residents are responsible for their lot rent and all monthly obligations until the home site it totally cleared if home is destroyed
• Residents are responsible to hire only licensed and insured vendors to make necessary repairs to their damaged property, as well as pull all required permits

Hometown America will be directly responsible for the following items and/or will assist with in the event of a disaster:

• Establishment of ongoing communications channels for residents and employees and their relatives and friends
• Clearing of debris from the streets and common areas to facilitate access by emergency vehicles as well as resident and staff ingress and egress
• Assessment of damages to facilities and community structures
• Restoration of community-owned utilities on a temporary basis and as soon as possible, on a permanent basis
• Establishment of patrol (employee, volunteer and/or paid contractor) where deemed appropriate to prevent looting
• Removal of debris from common areas
• Evaluation and repairs to community facilities and equipment
• Outreach to federal, state, and local relief agencies for the benefit of residents and the company
• Positive response to media inquiry and adverse publicity
• Timely repair of company-owned facilities, improvements, vehicles and equipment
• Timely restoration of company-owned landscaping

Hometown America is not responsible for but may assist to the extent reasonably feasible with:

• Assistance locating temporary housing, food, and medical treatment for residents in need
• Assistance organizing homesite clean-up with resident authorization and assignment of insurance benefits applicable to the clean-up
• Home repair by creating a forum for residents to deal with licensed and insured contractors
• Destroyed home removal by creating a forum for residents to deal with licensed and insured contractors and/or by directly arranging for removal with homeowner approval and payment or assignment of insurance proceeds for removal
• Spontaneous outreach with occasional assistance, such as drinking water, coffee, food, and other events or services

If anyone has any questions concerning the information provided and listed above, please contact your community office during business hours.

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Block Blue Light

We spend a lot of time staring at screens. From the minutes we spend clearing notifications on our phone to the hours we spend searching the web, screens are a part of our daily life. But these screens emit blue light, which is harmful to the eyes and can strain them when looking at screens for long periods.

Not all blue light is bad, but there are measures we can take to prevent the problems that arise with too much of it. Blue light glasses are increasing in popularity as spending time online becomes more and more prominent in our daily lives. These glasses have benefits such as improving sleep and increasing work performance. Recent studies concluded that the glasses prevent suppression of melatonin, the hormone that promotes sleep. Because screens emit light, they can affect the amount of melatonin that your brain is producing as the brain is tricked into thinking it’s daytime. Blue light glasses block that and allow you to sleep restfully, even after a period of screen usage.

The glasses can also improve your work performance, as they bring comfort to the wearer about the potential damage the screen could do to your eyes. There are many advantages to trying out the glasses, and they are readily available to try! Stores like Target may sell them for as little as $10, and quality brands such as Warby Parker allow you to add their blue-light-filtering lenses to any frame.

Consider investing in a pair of blue light glasses and use your tech safely!

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Discover a Hidden Talent

It’s said that we only use 10% of our brains on a daily basis. Unlock more of your brainpower by cultivating a hidden talent! There are many ways to find a new area of interest for you to explore. First, think about all the things that make you happy. If you love to travel, maybe learning a new language is a hidden talent for you to pursue. Another tactic is to examine the activities that you’re already good at. Perhaps if winning board games is a strong suit of yours, you can become a chess expert with those same skills!

A hidden talent can be anything. You are a unique person, and you know yourself best. Think about what you’d like to achieve and set out to do it. With practice, any passion can become a talent. Expertise comes with time and attention, and putting your mind to a task can help engage your brain in new and exciting ways. Remember not to give up!

There are many examples of hidden talents for you to try your hands at. Cooking, drawing, and learning an instrument may come to mind first, but there are so many more that you’ve probably never even thought about as a talent. Public speaking, speed reading, and creativity can all be talents, too. The most important thing is that your talent is a reflection of you. Try new things and see what you take a liking to. No matter what skill you possess, it’s sure to help you grow.