Board of Directors
Jerry Beaumont: President / Christy Anderson: Co-Vice President / Carole Martone: Co-Vice President
Jean Deck: Secretary / Barbara McPeek: Owner Liaison
Canaveral Sands Condominiums
Fall 2008 Newsletter
Major Projects on the Horizon
As we continue our commitment to maintain the highest standards possible, several projects are slated for the next several months. Balcony repair, pool resurfacing, fence replacement, garage roof repair and elevator maintenance are top priorities.
Balcony repair continues to be the most significant project, requiring the most time and capital. An extensive investigation of all balconies in all buildings has been conducted by Existing Structures, an independent cement consulting firm and report of these findings are being evaluated. Based on the results, bids will be submitted to the Board for consideration. Hopefully, a decision will be made in the very near future and work will begin.
McRoberts Pool Finishing, Inc. has been contracted to resurface the pool. Work is scheduled to begin mid-September, closing the pool for approximately 3 to 4 weeks (weather permitting.)
East Coast Fence and Guardrail, Inc. has been contracted to replace east and south perimeter fence after hurricane season.
Vertical Assessments will meet with the Board to discuss new State Elevator code and the necessity of a complete elevator inspection. Next steps will be discussed after consultant's finding.
August Board Meeting minutes discussing these projects are available at www.reconcilabledifferences.net.
Holiday Vandalism in Rec Room
Vandalism to the Rec Room on 4th of July and Labor Day holidays caused considerable damage and resulted in costly repairs at HOA expense. PLEASE be watchful of suspicious activity and report it to Reconcilable Differences to help prevent future occurrences and expense. A reminder: Owners are responsible for the behavior of all guests and renters.
Wrap-around Shutters are Approved
To give owners another option for hurricane shutters, the Board recently voted to allow one additional type of hurricane shutter . Wrap-around, or "accordion" shutters will now be a second option when selecting hurricane shutters. Detailed specs are being written to guarantee proper installation and shutter style. Owners must obtain Board approval prior to installation of any hurricane shutters. Until specifications are finalized, wrap-around shutters will not be available for approval.
Turtle Lighting Ordinance Needs Cooperation to Work
The importance of the Sea Turtle Lighting Ordinance has hit home. On July 11th, the City of Cape Canaveral issued Canaveral Sands a notice of violation. Although individual units were not sited, photos taken by authorized compliance surveyors showed some units were in violation. Garage and parking lights were also sited.
To rectify this situation, your Board has turned off some of the garage lights, and hope this will not cause any hardship for residents. The Rec. Room lights must also be turned off to be in compliance which may require the establishment of specific hours of use, possibly 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. which are the hours for pool usage.
To further correct this violation, it is imperative that all residents and renters adhere to the requirements of this ordinance which requires that lights be turned off or blinds drawn from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. from May 1st to October 31st.
This violation carries a fee of $250 per day for the 1st violation and may go up to $500 per day for any repeated infractions. The Association is responsible for these limitations in all common areas; however, each owner/renter is responsible for any lights emanating from their unit and, therefore, any fees incurred. The Board has no control over what the city deems a violation. If you have any questions, contact the Cape Canaveral Code Enforcement Office (321 –868-1222).
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Enclosed with this newsletter is a recorded copy of the amendment that was passed at the 2008 Annual Meeting. This recorded document should be added to your copy of the recorded "Declaration of Condominium" that you received when you purchased your home. If you need a new set of governing documents, they are available for a cost of $35.00 from the management office. If you have any questions about these governing documents, please contact Michelle Dugan at Reconcilable Differences, 321-799-0660. Due to this enclosure e-mail delivery will begin with the next newsletter.
Letter from the Editor
Where, oh where did the summer go? I guess when you live on the beach, it always seems like summer. Only now, with the kids back in school, it is a bit quieter around the pool. And in no time, we’ll be welcoming back our snowbird friends. There has been some talk about a “welcome back” potluck and I think it’s a great idea. The more we can get together the better and this is a perfect reason. Let's make it happen.
I’d like to thank the landscape committee and maintenance crew for keeping Canaveral Sands the most beautiful community in Cape Canaveral. Even after the high winds and heavy rains of Fay, JoAnne Smally was on her hands and knees reviving suffering foliage. And another hero among us, Dennis Martone, rescued a waterlogged seagull, treating it to a meal of $8 tuna. The lucky fellow left a thank you on Dennis' windshield. Hopefully, the rest of the season's weather will be kind to us.
Speaking of being kind, don’t forget lights out or curtains closed at 9 p.m. (Only a couple of months to go!) The turtles will love you for it!
Happy autumn,
Christy Anderson
Meet Your Neighbors -- Joe and Mary Farber
When you see Mary and Joe Farber sitting contently on the beach at Canaveral Sands, congratulate them. They turned a blind date into a wonderful life that has given them four children, seven grandchildren and one on the way. They raised their family in Westminster, MD (between Baltimore and Washington). Mary was an RN for 42 years, ending up as the Director of Nursing at a Sub-Acute, Long Term and Assisted Living Facility. After graduating from college, Joe worked in sales and retired from Jockey International.
They fell in love with Cape Canaveral after transporting their snowbird parents back and forth. Looking at most of the beach area from Maryland to Florida, they chose Cape Canaveral because it made them feel right at home. They purchased their condo in 2004, but moved down here a year and a half ago. Mary's favorite restaurant is The Surf, Joe’s is Grills. Joe says “the “best thing about retirement is that every day is Saturday.” Mary’s hobby is scrapbooking, perfect for documenting the many visits from family and snowbird friends.
Space Coast Adventures
Know your Birds
by Amber Forrest
Canaveral Sands #2202
A graceful line of pelicans gliding noiselessly overhead, silhouetted against the setting sun, is an almost daily occurrence at the beach. If you are a beach walker, you have observed this pelican ballet and have also seen more than one conclave of gulls shuffling fitfully on the sand, adjusting their feathers, picking fights with each other and facing stoically into the wind. You may have witnessed a bold blue heron cozying up to a surf fisherman, angling for a handout. Most of us can easily identify these stalwarts of the sandy shore. But, do you know what distinguishes the heron from his cousin the egret? The cormorant from the anhinga? The sandpipers from the terns? And if you are nodding yes, how do you fare with plovers, skimmers, gannets, and willets?
No matter what your level of ornithological expertise, if you’ve read this far you are a prime candidate for the annual Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival, which is held in January and features bird-watching fieldtrips, seminars, photography sessions and other related activities. To learn more, visit http://www.nbbd.com/fly/.
While the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is considered THE place to birdwatch, not all birds know this. I was pleasantly surprised recently to spy two delicately hued pink ibises (a cross between native White Ibises and South American/Trinidadian Scarlet Ibises - not officially “rare,” but infrequently seen) in a decidedly non-idyllic locale - the county dump! We surely live in a birder’s paradise.
Recipes:
How's this for a Southern favorite, compliments of Jane Moorfield and family, Canaveral Sands #1402:
Shrimp 'n Grits
1 pound peeled medium shrimp, cooked
3 cups water
1 cup whipping cream
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup quick-cooking grits, uncooked
1 cup (4 oz.) shredded extra-sharp Cheddar cheese
2 garlic cloves, minced
Bring 3 cups water, cream, butter and salt to a boil in a large saucepan over med-high heat. Reduce heat to medium and whisk in grits. Cook, whisking constantly, 7 to 8 minutes or until mixture is smooth. Stir in 1 pound shrimp, cheese and garlic and cook 1 to 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Garnish with any or all of the following: chopped fresh chives, cooked shrimp, freshly ground pepper, crisp fresh bacon bits.
Social Corner
Snowbird Potluck: Coming soon / Cocoa Beach Farmers Market (City Hall): Sundays 9 am-3 pm
Upcoming events can be posted by submitting them to the editor in e-mail form.
Canaveral Sands Condominiums
January 2008 Newsletter
Although much has been done in the last few years, much will always continue to be required because of the age of the buildings and the large property area that encompasses Canaveral Sands. It is obvious that our buildings, now between 23 to 27 years old, need continuous repairs/replacement to keep them and the grounds in a livable and pleasant looking condition. Preventative maintenance plays a substantial role in keeping the cost of maintenance down. Cooperation by owners, when necessary maintenance and repairs are being performed, also helps to keep costs down. Additionally, owners can help keep Association and individual owner repair costs down by turning off the water when no one is residing in the unit, keeping air conditioners on when not residing in the unit to prevent mold from forming and replacing /repairing items in the unit that can cause water damage to other units like dish washers, washing machines, sliding glass doors, water heaters, etc.
The items below show some, but not all, of the items involved in keeping Canaveral Sands Condominium in good condition both structurally and aesthetically and hopefully owners will agree, a pleasant place to live. These items have resulted since the last annual meeting:
· Members were asked again to vote on a proposed ByLaw change to eliminate the requirement to send the first notice of our membership meeting via certified and return receipt mail.
· A foreclosure process has been initiated against an owner due to nonpayment of a special assessment.
· The Canaveral Sands Handbook was updated and copies were placed in all of the units, put on the website and CD’s of the handbook were mailed to all non resident owners.
· The flood lights that were on the FPL poles had to be turned off during turtle season reducing lighting essential to the safety and security of the property. New carriage lights for the garages were installed by maintenance to help improve and enhance the lighting situation. The new lighting was found to be much brighter than the former lighting.
· New forms were generated for use by renters, new owners and long term guests to better identify who is residing at Canaveral Sands.
· A procedure for enforcing Canaveral Sands “rules and regulations” was generated by the Board.
· The Board, at their June Board meeting, made a motion not to allow the parking of RV’s, trailers, boats and other watercraft on the premises on holidays and holiday weekends so more parking would be available for cars.
· Major repairs, costing one-half the cost of new roof, were made to the Building 3 (8496) roof.
· Building 4 (8494 building) was painted.
· All garages and garage doors were painted.
· The locks were changed on the pool entrance gates, the gates to the ocean & rec room, and the car wash. Existing unit owner common area keys were re-cut to accommodate the lock change.
· The two gates to the ocean were replaced.
· Protective coverings for the framing around the elevator doors were installed.
· A path made from pavers was added to the west end of Garage D and the existing path behind Garage E was widened.
· Cement repairs were made to many buildings and garages.
· A fire alarm monitoring system was installed in all buildings; it was required to meet new National Fire Prevention Code requirements.
· The control board in the fire alarm control panel in building 3 was replaced because it was burned out due to lightning.
· Blacktop repairs and seal coating of the entire parking/driveway area was completed.
· To improve water drainage in the parking areas, re-grading of existing drainage areas and the installation of concrete swales were completed.
· Completed the installation of fiberglass doors for all unit entrances.
· Maintenance began an effort to reinforce the ceilings in the garage units located at the end of each garage building.
· Replaced the last 7 trash chute doors.
· A security camera and related warning sign has been installed on the wall located in the southwest corner of the pool area.
· The galvanized steel door to the transformer room for building 2 (8498 building) was replaced.
· The electrical panel on the south side of Garage A was replaced.
· The main circuit breaker for building 3 was replaced. The old breaker was reconditioned so it could be used as a spare.
· The irrigation pump that provides irrigation to the north end of the property was rebuilt.
· An attempt is being made to save the Sago palms on our property. The disease attacking this particular palm is a problem throughout Florida.
· The main pump for the pool and the heating coils and insulation for the pool heater were replaced.
· The Core of Engineers replenished the beach with sand during the months of November and December. The area replenished measured approximately one half mile north and one mile south of Canaveral Sands.
Items of interest in the near future (an* indicates the item is expected to be done in 2008)
· The foreclosure process that has been initiated against an owner because of nonpayment of all of their part of a Special Assessment will be continued.
· Garage roofs B, D, and E will have to be replaced in an estimated 1 to 2 years.
· The South and East perimeter fence will have to be replaced in an estimated 2 to 3 years.
· Painting of buildings, one each year, will start again in 3 to 4 years.
· Painting of garages in 6 to 7 years.
· Elevator repairs/replacement for pumping units/control valves/cables/etc. will be required in an estimated 2-5 years according to our elevator consultant. This will be a major expense, so the elevator reserve should be built up to eliminate or minimize a special assessment.
· An elevator redundancy wiring problem was found that although not likely to cause a problem will require a fix next year.*
· The galvanized steel doors to the transformer rooms for buildings 1, 3, & 4 will have to be replaced. Theses doors are expensive so one door each year will be replaced.*
· The building 1 fire alarm system is being worked on. A major expense is possible if it cannot be repaired to the Fire Marshall’s satisfaction.
· All of the 1st floor walkways will be painted by maintenance.*
· The ceilings in the garage units located at the end of each garage building will be reinforced. This work will be completed by onsite maintenance.
· Parking stops will be repainted.*
Ed Smally, President
PS: This will be my last year on the Board (14 years) and as President (7 years). Most of the time while President I had the support of many of the owners and most of the various Board members. It is impossible for the President to perform the duties required to run the Association in a successful manner without this support. Please support the new Board and President and do not burden them with your personal preferences even if you don’t agree with everything they do. Try to remember that the Board’s responsibility is to maintain the Association property, not to please individual owners.
It may be worthwhile to explain the 2 types of condo meetings. (1)The Members’ Meeting is held once a year. It is held to elect Board Members, provide information to owners and receive owner input. (2) Board of Directors Meetings are held periodically during the year for the Board to make decisions in regard to maintaining the Association property; that is, to do the business required to run the Association. The purpose of these meetings is not to be a complaint session for owners. However, Canaveral Sands has in the past supplied a vehicle for owner input, with discussion, by allowing owners to put items on the agenda if they request to do so in writing and if they come to the meeting to discuss the item. In addition, any item can be brought up under “New Business” during the meeting but no decision can be made by the Board, at that meeting, because the item was not on the agenda. Perhaps this clarification will help guide the new Board and owner involvement in the meetings planned for 2008.