A Lake Nona library may soon become a reality, thanks to a grassroots effort spearheaded by some North Shore residents. 

The Orange County Library Board of Trustees voted unanimously July 8th to begin working with City of Orlando and Orange County officials to build a library branch in Lake Nona. This was a major coup for Lake Nona residents who have been asking for their own library for years.

Lake Nona is the fastest growing region in Orlando, but the closest library is a 20- to 30-minute drive, depending on traffic. Marta Northcutt, who has lived in North Shore’s Myrtle Creek for 11 years, said that’s too far.  

“Taking my kids to the library is a two-hour expedition,” said Northcutt, who homeschools her two sons. “Libraries are a service that we’re paying for through our taxes so we should be able to access them easily.”

A library doesn’t just provide books, she said. It’s a community gathering space where residents can use computers, work and study remotely and take continuing education classes. So Northcutt took the initiative to help start the Lake Nona Library Committee, which organized last October to persuade Orange County Library Services (OCLS) to build a branch in Lake Nona. 

The committee has talked to politicians, attended OCLS board meetings and coordinated a campaign to advocate for a library. They started a Facebook page and an online petition that has collected more than 9,500 signatures asking OCLS to build a Lake Nona library. 

“Because of the pandemic, I feel like people want to connect about something positive,” said Ashley Cisneros Mejia, chair of the Lake Nona Library Committee. “Just a few months ago, we were told there were no funds and a lack of a suitable parcel and now we’ve got a solution.”

Orlando Commissioner Jim Gray, who represents Lake Nona in District 1, proposed locating a  library branch within the City of Orlando’s planned government center on Dowden Road. The land is owned by the city and currently rented to the airport. The government center would include a police substation and a permitting office. The proposal would add a library and allow OCLS to rent the space from the city.

“City and county library officials will begin negotiating on a lease for the library in the new government center,” Cisneros Mejia said. “This is just the first step but it’s great news for Lake Nona residents.”

The gates at the entrances to North Shore’s communities offer a host of advantages but we all need to work together to ensure our security and prevent gate damage.

Homes in gated communities experienced 33 percent fewer burglaries than neighborhoods without gates, according to a University of California study. The gates decrease traffic and make it safer for children, walkers and bikers. It’s also been proven that home values increase in gated communities.

The North Shore at Lake Hart Community Association spends thousands of dollars each year repairing gates that have been hit by cars and they do all they can to recoup these costs. John De Crotie, community association manager, said most gatecrashers are visitors or vendors who don’t wait for the arms to rise or fall. Security cameras catch the offenders, and they are tracked down and fined $400 an arm for breaking a gate. The fines include fixing the mechanical motors, gears and other components damaged each time the gates are hit.

To prevent gate damage, take your time waiting for the gate to open. Residents should slow down and proceed only after the gate closes behind them to prevent tailgaters from sneaking into their neighborhood.

We now have multiple ways to access and open the gates:

1. Gate Clickers: Available for purchase at the office at $35 each.
2. Gate Key Cards: Available for purchase at the office at $10 each
3. Call Box Kiosk: You may have your visitors use the call box to call your phone number on record with the office. If your number needs to be updated, please contact the office.

 By Bob Schoneman

Summertime is about making memories with family, traveling to the beach or the mountains and catching up on my reading list. It is also about meals that include fresh berries, watermelon, sweet corn and chicken on the grill as well as amazing desserts like ice cream, strawberry shortcake and my favorite – cupcakes. These little cakes have really evolved from my childhood when there were only two options – vanilla or chocolate. Today they come in so many delicious flavors limited only by the imaginations of the baking artists who create them.

Bob Schoneman is an Air Force Veteran, a Real Estate Broker and North Shore homeowner since 2005. He is married to Crystal and is Samantha’s daddy.
Bob can be reached at 407-687-1490 or www.expbob.com for any real estate questions.

Grounds Committee Volunteers Watch After Community’s Curb Appeal

 

By Linda McCauley

Do you ever wonder how North Shore at Lake Hart always looks so attractive and welcoming to residents and visitors? A big thanks goes to the volunteers who work on the North Shore Grounds Committee for reviewing and enhancing property along North Shore Boulevard and all common areas.

The committee members perform quarterly inspections to look for ways to improve the development. In their advisory role, they review potential landscape improvements, propose changes and make recommendations to the North Shore at Lake Hart HOA Board of Directors.

The volunteer committee meets as needed. The members include: Max and Tasha Miller, Susan Broadwell, Mike and Linda McCauley and John Dick.

If you notice landscaping that needs attention or you’re interested in joining the committee, please contact the management office. Volunteering is the perfect way to connect with your community and make it a better place.

Linda McCauley is an avid gardener and volunteer member of the Grounds Committee, who has lived in North Shore’s Myrtle Creek for more than 18 years.

Summer Compliance Tips

By John De Crotie

• During the rainy season, algae growth on sidewalks and houses increases. Just a reminder to pressure wash your sidewalks and homes to clean off the algae.
• The rain also makes plants and grass grow faster, unfortunately this means that weeds are growing quicker as well. Please mow your lawn more often and weed your flower beds.
• Friendly reminder:  Exterior equipment must not be visible from the street. Air conditioning units, pool pumps, propane tanks and water softeners should have either a shrub or an Architectural Review Board approved fence obstructing their view from the street.
• Please bring in you trash and recyclable bins as soon as possible after collection. They should not  be visible from the street.

Don’t Let Chinch Bugs Wreck Your Lawn

Chinch bugs are a common type of insect that love to damage St. Augustine lawns. They are also known to feed on centipede grass. They suck on the blades of grass and then inject the blades with poison in their saliva that stops water movement. This causes the grass blade to turn yellow and die.

Here are a few tips to control chinch bugs:

• Supplemented Watering: Since chinch bugs like hot, dry conditions for optimum feeding, it is helpful to irrigate your lawn during hot, dry weather. One inch of rainfall or irrigation a week is sufficient.
• Remove Thatch: Chinch bugs move into hibernation during the winter and occupy the soil’s surface. Use a rake to remove thatch from the top layer of your lawn to destroy hibernation sites or locations where eggs and nymphs may live.
• Chemical Control: Insecticide treatments are usually required when populations reach 20–25 square feet in a yard. The chemicals you will need to look for are trichlorfon (this can be kind of harsh, so use it in extreme infestations), bifenthrin, and carbaryl. Bifenthrin is the most recommended chemical for homeowner use. Be sure to read the label carefully before purchasing or applying the insecticide on your lawn.

Summer Deals at North Shore Golf Club

By John De Crotie

North Shore Golf Club is offering unlimited golf instruction for just $99 a month. 

The club is hosting FunGolf.Club, which entitles golfers to join any class each day or schedule four private lessons with a pro a month. Instruction is available six days a week.

Attend as many golf clinics as you like throughout the month. From chipping, putting and driving- to blasting out of bunkers. The goal is to make golf instruction fun and affordable.

Send Us Your Best Shots

Next time you are out and about, take a picture (or two or 10) of the natural wonders that surround us. Whether it is a gorgeous tree, a baby gator, a bird or a beautiful sunset over the lake, we want to see it!

Send your best shots to northshore@accessdifference.com and we may feature it in our newsletter and social media. Please include your first and last name and the location where the photo was taken.