May - June 2022

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Resident Spotlight

This quarter’s Resident Spotlight ended a little differently than I had anticipated. I spoke with Frank Millette in February to arrange a time to chat for his spotlight. On Wednesday, March 2, our Tara Woods family received word that Frank had passed away. I still feel strongly that we should spotlight this amazing person as we had planned. Our thoughts and prayers are with his beloved wife Ann and their entire family.

Frank was a pillar of our community; he pretty much had his hands in a little bit of everything that went on. From previously having served on the HOA Board of Directors, to being our happy-go-lucky Soda Man at bingo, Frank was that one person you knew you could count on if you needed anything at all.

You will be missed by all at Tara Woods, my friend.

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Be Prepared

June 1 officially kicks 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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Plan Your Day

Have you ever made a to-do list in your head and forgotten to get everything done? Relying on your mind to remember important tasks can be overwhelming and lead to forgetfulness. Using a planner is one of the best ways to stay on track with your goals while reducing stress.

If you’re not already a planner person, getting started is easy! Establishing a planner routine is crucial to staying organized and on top of your tasks, and these tips can help you get started. Start by taking ten minutes before bed every night to write your to-do list for the next day. Then, you can rest easy and refer to the list in the morning instead of wasting time feeling overwhelmed about your obligations.

Another way to stay organized with your planner is to categorize tasks by day, week, and month, following these eight steps. Most planners have separate sections where you can break up your to-do list over time instead of feeling swamped with one huge list. It can also be helpful to use colorful pens and highlighters to separate your tasks into categories!

Remember, the only way to successfully utilize a planner is to refer to it regularly. When you purchase your planner, make sure that it isn’t too big to carry around and that you leave it in an easy-to-remember place. You can even decorate your planner to make it more enjoyable to use!

Everyone is different with their organizational style. Try to find a planner that works for you, and don’t forget to have fun with it! Happy planning!

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Fitness for You

Research has shown that a sedentary lifestyle is linked to many health issues, including cardiovascular disease. But don’t worry, there are plenty of simple ways to adopt a more active lifestyle! No matter what type of workout you enjoy, there are countless ways for you to be more fit and get moving.

Do you love being outside? Start going for daily walks through your community! You can even get a group of friends together for a group walk and a social outing at the same time. Not interested in walking? Check out these fun activities that can help you get active.

Love to cook? Plant a garden and grow ingredients that you can use in your next recipe! After all, there is nothing more satisfying than getting outside and moving to grow ingredients that you can enjoy in your next meal.

Are you a TV watcher? Believe it or not, there are ways to make watching TV active. Use commercial breaks to stand up and stretch or multitask by folding your laundry while watching your favorite show!

There are also other simple ways to get moving without making drastic changes to your daily life. Start by parking a bit further from the grocery store to get your steps in while you walk through the parking lot. You can also opt to take the stairs instead of the elevator to get that heart rate up.

There are countless other ways to find your favorite way to stay active. Challenge yourself to make a change in your routine, your physical and mental health will thank you!