may northdale civic association...
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MAY • JUNE 2020 WWW.NORTHDALE.ORG
NORTHDALE CIVIC ASSOCIATION COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER
To paraphrase a popularly circulating
Facebook post, I feel sorry for all the guys
who told their significant others that they
would help around the house or complete
neglected projects when they “had the
time.” Well…we certainly have the time
now!! In my case, what started with the
periodic weeding of our garden to “just
clean things up a little” has morphed into
pressure washing our house, driveway and
sidewalk plus putting down new mulch,
trimming shrubs and staining our driveway
and pool deck (…and that’s just outside)!
All joking aside, a great deal of work had
been done in Northdale prior to the stay at
home order from the Governor. As I take
walks or drive around our community, it is
quite apparent that people are using this
time to continue to improve their
properties. (In February, before the stay at
home order was released, our friend from
Canada marveled at how neat and well-kept
he found Northdale.) Please keep up the
great work! If anyone is dealing with a
hardship in maintaining their property,
please contact their Village’s Board
Member.
The Deed Restriction committee, with
agreement from the rest of the Civic
Association Board, has suspended
neighborhood inspections until further
notice. This does not mean that people
should stop making improvements to their
properties. There still are 2 pending court
cases involving totally neglected properties
with owners who have refused mediation.
To repeat from the last paragraph, keep up
the great work!
As a simple fix for your property’s
appearance, please remember to place your
trash and recycle containers behind a fence
or in your garage. They need to be out of
sight between pick-up days. Also, do not
park cars on the lawn. With families
staying at home now, this is a deed
restriction that gets overlooked. These
actions cost nothing to complete but make
things look neater.
Please, everyone, stay safe, stay healthy
and use this time to reconnect with your
families and, with careful social distancing,
your friends.
Thank you,
Tom Murray
Chairman, Deed Restrictions Committee
PUBLISHED BY IKARE PUBLISHING INC. WWW.IKAREPUBLISHING.COM • 813-991-7843
Annual dues are $50.00. Please make your check payable to the Northdale Civic Association. Interested in joining the Northdale OWLS? Find a registration form at WWW.NORTHDALE.ORG.
The $15 annual OWLS’ dues are included with your NCA membership.
Mail Payment to: Northdale Civic Association, 3853 Northdale Blvd. Box 374, Tampa, FL 33624 Or, you may pay using your credit or debit card online at: WWW. NORTHDALE.ORG
Thank you for your support!
NCA Deed Restriction Committee
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Ever Wonder What 3 Months Can Do?
June August
It was heartbreaking for me when we made the decision to cancel the annual Easter Egg Hunt and the annual Northdale Family Fun Festival & Parade due to the coronavirus. So many hours had already gone into the planning for both events. I’m sorry that many children that look forward to the egg hunt will be disappointed. Thousands of dollars in festival table sponsorships had already been raised and since has been refunded. It may not be widely known, but the money raised from festival sponsorships goes back into our community. We’ve supported the Gaither High School Music Program, the Gaither ROTC Program, the Claywell Elementary Art and/or Music Programs and provided a scholarship for a Gaither student. In addition, the festival funds have been allocated for significant upgrades at the Northdale Park Recreation Center. It saddens me to know that we will not be able to provide that support this year. I want to emphasize that we have never used membership dollars to put on this annual party; we rely solely on table sponsorships. I wanted to share a couple of observations I’ve made since I’ve been able to get out and walk the neighborhood of late. For far too many months I hadn’t been, due to foot problems and other excuses. On my walks I noticed vast improvement in the maintenance and appearance of many homes. Whether due to the enhanced deed restriction enforcement, or homeowners just sprucing up with home improvement projects long on their to-do lists, the efforts are making Northdale look oh so good. I’m aware that there are some homes that still fall far short of the upkeep and standards we desire. Only with increased membership support are we going to have sufficient funds to pursue these owners through the long and expensive process to gain compliance. Currently the number of membership homes is 799. That amounts to about 30 percent participation. To all the
NORTHDALE.ORG 3
PRESIDENT’S LETTER
homeowners that support our efforts to improve the community, I say thank you! We couldn’t manage without you. In recognition of the hardship that is being felt by so many due to the pandemic, the NCA is foregoing the expense of printing and mailing a second notice to homeowners that did not respond to the invoice they received in January. However, if you can afford the $50.00 annual dues, it would be greatly appreciated. We provide easy payment on-line at www.northdale.org, or return the form in this issue with your remittance. The Northdale Civic Association Deed Restriction Survey is still available from the front page of the community website, www.northdale.org. We welcome your input and promise that every submission is reviewed and appreciated. If you have suggestions to improve it, please send me an email. Like us on Facebook to keep abreast of what’s happening in Northdale. We invite residents to attend NCA Board meetings. Once Northdale Park Recreation Center is open to the public again, they’ll be held on the 3rd Tuesday of every month, except in December. Meetings begin at 7 P.M. at Northdale Park in the Bill Castens Gymnasium Conference Room. My hope is that life will soon get back to normal and we’ll be able to pursue many of our daily activities. Please stay safe and be well .
Sincerely,
Ann Frisbie
[email protected] • (813) 968-8460 Northdale website at www.northdale.org
SAFETY TIPS
The Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease which has spread throughout the world since December, 2019. The virus can potentially cause severe
illness and pneumonia, especially in persons over the age of 65 or those with an underlying medical condition such as heart or lung disease. COVID-19 is known to spread primarily in the following ways. Respiratory droplets produced in the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. Touching a contaminated surface and then touching your face – eyes, nose or mouth with your unwashed hands. Close person-to-person contact (six feet or less) with someone who is infected. Symptoms typically appear within 2-14 days after exposure and may include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Emergency warning signs needing immediate medical attention are trouble breathing, bluish tint to the face or lips, exhibiting signs of extreme confusion or lethargy, and pain or pressure in the chest. There is currently no vaccine for COVID-19 and the best way to prevent illness is to avoid exposure. You can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by following these few simple recommendations:
• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If
soap and water are not readily available, use a hand-sanitizer with at least a 60% alcohol content.
• Avoid touching your face – eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick or showing signs of illness.
• Stay at home and avoid close contact with people, especially if you are sick.
• Cover your nose and mouth when around people, especially when coughing or sneezing.
In an attempt to prevent the further spread of COVID-19, Hillsborough County issued a Safer-At-Home Order on March 27, 2020. In addition, Governor DeSantis signed Executive Order 20-91, outlining Safer-At-Home policies for Floridians on April 1, 2020. Safer-At-Home means all residents are directed to stay at home, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, with certain exemptions permitted for conducting essential business. A list of essential businesses and services, such as going to the grocery store, doctor’s appointments, or to care for a friend or family member, etc. as defined in the Order is available at www.hillsboroughcounty.org. Hillsborough County’s Safer-At-Home Order has been extended until April 30th and will be renewed as needed.
For additional resources and information on COVID-19, please visit www.teamhcso.com, www.hillsboroughcounty.org, www.flgov.com/covid-19, and www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nocv.
NORTHDALE.ORG 5
The Northdale Civic Association is a volunteer organization whose mission is to make Northdale a better place to live and increase property values by enforcing the deed restrictions to which each homeowner is legally subject.
The NCA is also the organized voice of Northdale, and represents residents when issues affecting Northdale are raised by Hillsborough County, the State of Florida and other governing bodies. The NCA issues this Newsletter and organizes the following events and programs: Welcome Wagon, Easter Egg Hunt, Community Garage Sales, Family Fun Festival, Northdale Pumpkin Run, Holiday Decorating Contest, Meet the Candidates, and the Northdale OWLS (Older, Wiser, Lively, Seniors). Board meetings are open to the public and held on the 3rd Tuesday of the month except December.
HOW TO JOIN THE NCA
Forms are available in each edition of the Northdale Newsletter. There are forms online at www.northdale.org.
HOW TO JOIN THE BOARD
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP IS ONLY $50.00. All members are eligible to run for NCA Board positions in elections held each January. Elections for those positions are made by the sitting board at the monthly board meetings. The dates of those meetings are posted in the Community Calendar.
NCA BOARD OFFICERS
President: Ann Frisbie – Golf Club Estates I - 813-968-8460
Vice President: Tom Murray – Gables I - 781-760-7959
Secretary: Chelsea Walkenhorst – Golf Club Estates II - 615-513-8026
Treasurer: Bill Castens – The Woodlands - 813-833-0102
NCA BOARD DIRECTORS
Robert Demeo – Golf Club Estates III - 813-546-0873
Nelson Marcano – Bay/Levitt - 813-732-9998
Martha Hughes – Fox Hollow - 813-477-0924
Robert Mantler – Claywell - 813-843-2137
Angela Rey – The Hammocks - 813-586-0243
Raymond Powell – Silverhill - 813-264-6157
Claude Siler-Nixon – Gables III - 813-362-4667
James Salgado – Country Mill, Brentwood Park & Fairway Villas - 813-610-2115
Jessica Watterson – Gables II - 630-569-2479
DEED RESTRICTION VIOLATIONS
Residents may request an investigation of a Deed Restriction violation. Complaints must be in writing and submitted online to Merit Management Association-Perfected (“Merit”). Merit conducts periodic neighborhood inspections and will act on their findings when necessary.
To request an investigation of a possible Deed Restriction violation, go to the NCA website, www.northdale.org. On the left side of the Main Page, click on “Deed Restrictions”. Page down and select the “Online Complaint Form,” and fill it out with all pertinent information. You will be able to include a photo. Your form will be received by Merit.
When a violation occurs, Merit will send a letter to the homeowner(s) with a request to correct the problem(s).
If a homeowner has not corrected their violation(s) they’ll receive a second letter from Merit. Merit will complete a third inspection. If the deed restriction violation(s) remain after the third letter, legal action will be pursued. The resident will be notified of this step in a fourth letter.
Deed Restrictions for the “Villages” that make up Northdale can be found on the Northdale website. Select “Deed Restrictions” from the Main Page and click on the picture of the entrance to your “Village” (e.g. Gables 1). The Deed Restrictions will be displayed and can be printed for your records.
The NCA will not become involved in conflicts between neighbors, animal problems or landscape issues due to drought.
WHAT IS THE NCA?
Please Note: All of the following are
dependent on Northdale Park facilities
being open.
May 12 NSTD Meeting
7:00 PM Northdale Park
BCG Conference Room
May 19 NCA Board Meeting
7:00 PM Northdale Park
BCG Conference Room
June 2 OWLS Monthly Meeting &
Pot-Luck Lunch 11:00 AM
Northdale Park Bill Castens Gymnasium
June 9
NSTD Meeting 7:00 PM
Northdale Park BCG Conference Room
June 16
NCA Board Meeting 7:00 PM
Northdale Park BCG Conference Room
July 7
OWLS Monthly Meeting & Pot-Luck Lunch
11:00 AM Northdale Park
Bill Castens Gymnasium
July 23 Meet the Candidates Night
5:30 PM – 8:30 PM Northdale Park
Bill Castens Gymnasium
July 23 Judicial Candidates Forum
5:30 PM – 8:30 PM Northdale Park
Bill Castens Gymnasium
Offer Expires 05/31/2020
NORTHDALE.ORG 7
Monthly Meetings on 1st Tues
11 AM @ Northdale Park
Our Mission is to create a growing network of co-ed seniors, to provide social activities, local events, travel, entertainment
and educational seminars in common interest groups as ways to safely enjoy our lives.
“OWLS Are More Than Ready to Get Going Again – Are You?”
May 5, Tues – In an Abundance of Caution… NO OWLS MEETING TODAY!
May 13, Wed – Port of Tampa & American Liberty Ship Tours (we hope)!
May 17, Sun Matinee – Carrollwood Players: A Streetcar Named Desire!
May 18, Mon – Bunco Party Luncheon at Brunchies, 14366 N. Dale Mabry Hwy.
May 19, Tues – Tampa International Airport Tour – Lunch at Maggiano’s Italian Rest.
Jun 2, Tues – Dave DeLuca’s Rocking & Rolling at the monthly Pot-luck Owls meeting.
Jun 13, Sat – “Grape Stomping” -- The Lakeridge Winery at Clairmont.
Jun 4, Tues – Ralph Alloco singing our kind of music at the Owls monthly meeting.
Jun 14, Sun Matinee – Carrollwood Players: “Vanya & Sonia & Marsha & Spike”
Jun 15, Mon – Bunco Party Luncheon at Brunchies, 14366 N. Dale Mabry Hwy
Jun 22-25, Mon/Thurs – 4 days, 3 Nights Biloxi First Class Casino Hopping.
Jul 7, Tues – OWL’S NEST SANTUARY FOR WILDLIFE presentation at Owls meeting.
These events based on Northdale Park reopening in early May.
For latest updates to scheduled events and more, see Owls website at: www.NorthdaleOWLS.com
Weekly Activities include:
Aerobics Lite, BBOB’s (Bill’s Blooming Orchid Club), Bridge, Bing-Owl, Board Games, Hand & Foot Cards, Line Dancing, “Dress A
Girl Around The World”, Kazoo Band, Mah Jongg, Pickleball, Singing Hooters, Table Tennis, Meals on Wheels Deliveries, & Yoga
Got Questions? Talk to any member of the OWLS,
or contact Bill Castens at (813) 833-0102
NORTHDALE SPECIAL TAX DISTRICT
To all the residents of Northdale, the members of the Northdale Special Taxing District Board hope for your continued
health, safety and, whenever possible, peace and calm during these very challenging times.
The NSTD, despite having a number of projects on hold, still has work to do. You will notice that US Lawns
continues to maintain the common areas such as the medians and mowing lawns along Northdale Boulevard and
Dawnview Drive. The on-going wall repair/replacement process is, at this time, one of the projects that will be
resumed at a later date.
In reference to the Northdale walls, one sustained considerable damage recently when it was struck by a pick-up truck.
This wall is located at the corner of Northdale and Deep Creek. We have received the police report for this incident
and are pursuing reparation for the replacement of the wall.
Due to the current state of emergency, the governor has granted permission for groups such as ours to conduct online
meetings or conference calls to complete our monthly meetings. We held our first such meeting on April 14. The
meetings will continue in this format as long as is needed.
Finally, the NSTD Board would like to welcome long-time Northdale resident, Ronny Garcia, as its newest member.
Ronny was sworn in during the February Board meeting. Leaving the Board is Angel Bustelo, a member for many
years. We thank him for his participation on this Board and other service to our community. We wish Angel all the
best in the future.
Again, be well and be safe,
Tom Murray, President
NORTHDALE.ORG 8
NORTHDALE SPECIAL TAX DISTRICT
WHAT is the NSTD?
The Northdale Special Taxing District is a Hillsborough County dependent tax
district. The District was originally set-up under a State ordinance, but in 1992 was
adopted under County ordinance #92-35. The County collects the taxes for the
District and provides the ordinance or regulations that give authority to the District.
Funds are derived from the County non-ad valorem tax of $130 per residential unit.
Residents in single family homes, along with apartments and condominiums are
assessed $130. Also, all properties within Northdale boundaries including businesses
and other non-profit groups are taxed based on an equitable per residential unit basis.
The District is responsible for maintaining the common areas throughout Northdale.
These areas include the main entrances coming into Northdale, landscaping in
common areas alongside roadways and medians, neighborhood entrances, the outer
surface of the block walls and along the roadside. The District also maintains selected
lakes and wetland areas along the main roadways in Northdale.
The District is governed by a Board of nine trustees who are elected by the public or
appointed by the Board. Board members must be registered voters and reside in
Northdale. The trustees receive no compensation for their work. The board has hired
an administrator to complete many of the day-to-day details of the District. The
administrator is a sub-contracted (paid) position.
Although the District does maintain the common areas in Northdale, there are many
areas that the District does not control. The District does not maintain roads, street
lighting, street signs or utility lines. Also, the District does not maintain private
property or enforce deed restrictions. Deed restrictions are enforced by the Northdale
Civic Association (NCA). The District and the Civic Association are two different
and separate bodies. The District is a public governmental body and the Civic
Association is a private association of Northdale residents. Only the Civic
Association has authority to issue deed restriction warnings.
Although separate, the District and the Northdale Civic Association work to achieve
the same goal of making Northdale a great place to live.
Northdale Special
Taxing District Board
of Trustees
Tom Murray
President
Earl Albright
Vice President
Bill Castens
Treasurer
Don Hachey
Secretary
Ronny Garcia
Frank Giordano
Ray Klaus
Earl Albright
Contact Information
813 381-5435
Northdale Special
Tax District
3433 Lithia Pinecrest Rd
#301
Valrico, Fl 33596
rick@thefloridasolutions
group.com
Tax District Meetings are
held on the second Tuesday
of each month at 7PM at
Northdale Park, Bill
Castens Gymnasium
Conference Room.
The next meetings
will be held:
May 12, 2020
June 9, 2020
NORTHDALE.ORG 9
NORTHDALE.ORG 11
Camps for Ages 4-13 • Free Early and After Care
NORTHDALE.ORG 13
Hello from sunny and very accomplished Northdale! Saturday March 14th we completed another Community Service Event (CSE) for a
neighbor in need. Mr. Jose Infiesta at 16102 Manorwood Circle. These pictures really don't do justice to the high level of energy and
excitement shown by the many volunteers that showed up to help out. While this was not our first event, we definitely made an impact and my
gratitude goes to the following great humanitarians that helped make this happen. Northdale Civic Association President Ann Frisbie,
Treasurer Bill Castens, and board members Bob DeMeo, Alicia Moreno & Robert Mantler. Northdale residents Mike & Jayme Winter, Janet
Atkinson and her son Taylor, Home Depot ASM Paul Lutz and Katie Sloan, (both have attended most every one of our CS events - and are our
corporate sponsors). Paul also brought his daughter, she’s in pre-med at UCF and with a workload like she has I’m grateful for her joining in!
Country Place homeowner Lynette Mills, (I repaired her generator) and finally to the family from Lutz, that labored like animals to clean up
the yard of the beneficiary, “Mike” and family. I am hoping to get their contact information to properly thank them for their help. To Portable
Sanitation for their support and to Kim from our Carrollwood/Northdale Jersey Mikes on Ehrlich at Dale Mabry, my deepest gratitude for all
your support! Finally, to my wife, Jennifer Cissy Harris Salgado that puts up with me when I get in these moods that I must help our neighbors
- she truly understands and supports me through all the time it takes to plan one of these events! Lastly and most importantly to our neighbor,
Mr. Jose Infiesta, a good man in his mid 80s that received the help he really needed. Thanks again to everyone for making a difference in the
life of someone that really needed the help! We are actively seeking volunteers. Would you like to join us? Plenty of room for more! Given all
the craziness of COVID-19 and all negative rhetoric around us, on this day we were one! Thanks to you all.
COMMUNITY SERVICE EVENT MARCH 2020
All you have to do is use an advertiser in this issue!
Yes, it’s that easy! When you need something done in
your home, or any services available in this
newsletter call on the advertisers that support your
community newsletter!
Email [email protected] and tell us the
company you used, your full name, address and
phone number. Upon verifying the information, we
will select a winning name at random each
publication. You will be supporting your community
newsletter and possibly winning $25.00!
Sponsored by:
NORTHDALE.ORG 15
All Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation Centers were closed to
the public most of March and all of April (as of the printing of this
newsletter) due to Covid-19 concerns. The Northdale residents
missed the use of these facilities, but most understood the need as the
Safer-At-Home Directive became a new way of life. In addition to
DEEP CLEANING of the inside of all park facilities, a couple of
other needed maintenance items for the Northdale Park were moved
up in the schedule to utilize the forced downtime. First: Both parking
lots were repaved, lined off, speed bump installed, and ONE WAY
SIGNAGE for the front parking installed. Second: The wooden floor
in the 10,000 sq. ft. gymnasium, scheduled to be refinished in
December, was moved up eight months and completed in April. It is
our hope Hillsborough County will reopen the parks soon, but
whenever that occurs our community recreation center will be ready
to go straight through the winter months. Northdale Park serves all
ages (toddlers, after-school, youth, adults and seniors), and is a great
Northdale asset with a great staff and we all look forward to the day
it reopens.
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT
NORTHDALE PARK
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE
PAID TAMPA, FL
PERMIT NO. 919