General Interest Articles

New Park Across Shoal Line Bvd.

A public meeting will be scheduled shortly by Pat Fagan, the chairman of the Park and Recreation Department to discuss the location of the entrance to the new Park on Shoal Line Blvd, across Bluefish and Jewfish Drives. Please come and voice your opinion. The date will be published shortly.

Thirty five acres will be leased to the county for this Park. Its proposed name will be Linda Pederson Park, but ours and also the HBPOA Organization asked the county to name this park Hernando Beach Park, and the now named Hernando Beach Park, which is not in Hernando Beach, could be named after Linda Pederson. Linda Pederson, recently killed in an unfortunate accident, had been instrumental in keeping this area undeveloped and available for nature and recreation. There might be a compromise possible to call the Park "Hernando Beach Pederson Park" or "Linda Pederson Park at Hernando Beach". We will find out soon.

Brigitte Haag

United Communities

United Communities of Hernando County, Inc., is an organization for Property Owners Associations. Their monthly meeting and other events are open to the public. They always have very interesting speakers who give updates on current events. In the last two months, Dr. Wendy Tellone, School Superintendent, and Mr. Paul McIntosh, County Administrator, were speakers. On March 25, at 7 p.m., Sheriff Richard B. Nugent will give a Sheriff's update. It's happening at the Oak Hill Hospital, 4th Floor.

Brigitte Haag

Florida Water Services Wastewater Treatment Plant

Last June John Stanek and a representative from his company BetzDearborn, Lewis Johnson, Sandra Hoyt, Dave Macci, Shirley Anderson from Ginny Brown-Waite's office, and I met with engineers, managers, and executives from Florida Water Services concerning the on-going odor problem. I wrote a letter requesting a meeting to their executive team from information provided to me by Joan Lentini's historical file of past efforts since 1997 on the Beach to solve this problem.

I am happy to report that because of the efforts of John's company, Florida Water Services signed a contract with BetzDearborn to solve the odor problem. A special thanks goes to John for all his efforts. Come to the meeting to find out all the details.

Linda Prescott

Garbage all over the place

It looks so nice along Shoal Line Blvd. right after our wonderful Adopt-A-Road Volunteers have cleaned up, but unfortunately only days later trash can be seen all over again. Some say it is getting worse. Can we do anything about it? Yes, we can.

Lewis Johnson in his Crime Watch car was driving East when a pick-up truck in front of him lost large pieces of trash. He had to stop to avoid driving into the items. He detoured around them and went to the transfer station. He drove around searching for this pick-up truck and was happy to find it. The Driver was just unloading. So he asked if he just had driven East on Osowaw and lost some trash" He replied: "Yes, just push it over to the side". Lewis said, that he would not go and push it over to the side but rather make sure that the police came and saw that he cleaned it up himself. So Lewis proceeded patrolling the school area and when he came back onto Osowaw, he was pleased to see the pick-up driver loading the junk back into his pick-up truck. Jim Steed had several incidences where the culprit could be identified and when asked by Crime Watch or police, they cleaned it up themselves.

If you see somebody littering and you can identify the person or the vehicle and you don't want to get involved yourself, please contact Crime Watch and they will ask the persons to clean it up. It works. Nobody enjoys the embarrassment or the stiff fines.

Brigitte Haag

Brazilian Pepper

The County made a major effort to inform county residents that the Brazilian Pepper trees (also Florida Holly) have to be removed. It was deemed to be an invasive plant that is crowding out native plants. January 15 was the deadline set for property owners to remove the outlawed plants. A first round of over 200 violation notices have been mailed. Property owners will have 20 days to remove the nuisance plants or the county will send in a team to remove them and charge the property owner the cost and a $200 fee. We in Hernando Beach South seemingly don't have that problem on our empty lots, because the weeds are cut regularly, and our homeowners are responsible residents. Should you have to cut one of these plants in your yard, make sure you bag them and dispose of them with regular trash. They cannot be recycled and should not be treated like regular yard debris, or you will have 1,000 trees next year.

Crime Watch News

This past year there were a total of 13 burglaries reported to the Sheriff's Department from residents / businesses in the Hernando Beach area.

Nationally, one third of burglars enter houses through a basement window, and another third break or force open a door. But do you know how the other third of burglaries occur? It's hard to believe, but one in three cases, the thieves simply walk through an open or unlocked door. Following is a list of suggestions to protect your home and valuables.

Before you leave home, do a routine check to make sure all the doors and windows are shut and locked.

Keep your doors locked all the time. Just because you are in the house, it does not mean an intruder won't try to get in or stay once they enter.

If you think you are being followed as you approach your home, don't rush to the door to quickly unlock it. The person following you could get in before you have a chance to shut the door, leaving you with nowhere to turn for help. Instead of going inside your house, head for a public area where you can get assistance.

Don't forget about your garage door when you are locking up, especially if you have a door from the garage to your house.

If you are leaving for an extended period, disconnect your garage door opener from the outlet.

Don't leave your garage door opener in the car. If your car is stolen, the thief also ends up with a key to your garage and house. Keep the opener with you, either in a purse or pocket.

A small oversight on your part can give burglars the added advantage they definitely don't need.

Jim Steed

What does the Community Management Associations, Inc do?

In case you ever wondered what this company does for us, read here why our Association needs them.

They perform the following services for us:

Maintain records of Association income and expenses
Conduct property inspections to assure compliance with Deed Restrictions and Community Rules.
Prepare and mail all notices, correspondence, and Newsletters.
Attend all board, membership, and deed restriction meetings.
Prepare and submit financial monthly statements.
Pay all expenses with approval of directors.
Establish and maintain Reserve Funding.
Prepare monthly financial statements
Review insurance policies
Prepare yearly budget
Submit financial data and budgets for year-end audit
Work with CPA for preparation of Federal Income Tax
Collect yearly assessments.
File liens and foreclosures

Summary provided by John Levandis and Carol Kinney

Southwest Florida Water Management District Community Education Grant.

David Warman, president of the Coastal Hernando Business Association with several community minded neighbors wrote an application for a grant to put in a shallow draft irrigation well at our Entranceway at U.S. 19 to eliminate using public potable water supplies from our Floridian Aquifer. They also applied for monies to re-landscape the site using drought resistant ground covers and plants that can survive with little or no watering. Our entranceway at U.S. 19 is to be an educational, demonstration site designed through the Florida Yards and Neighborhoods program with signs announcing the joint effort of SWFWMD, Florida Yards & Neighborhoods, and the people of Hernando Beach to develop this site as an example of water conservation.

We will not know if our grant application has been accepted until sometime in March. If it isn't accepted, we will try again next year. The maximum amount awarded on any grant is $5,000. We hope that we receive the grant. If we do, our program must be implemented in March and finished by the end of June of 2002. We wish to use the grant to educate the people of Hernando Beach and the public about the benefits of Xeriscaping and conserving water through landscape designs that utilize drought resistant plantings.
Gladys Moore, President of the Hernando Beach Property Association

Real Estate Report

Real Estate Activity slowed down a bit after the 9-11 attack, but the drop in the interest rates coupled with buyers' renewed interest in pursuing their dream homes on the water have given our market on Hernando Beach a boost in recent months.

During the last 3-month period at least 12 lots were sold through realtors and 6 more put under contract. Four of the 12 sold were in Hernando Beach South. Lot sales ranged in price from $25,000 to $60,000. This data is restricted to sales transactions handled by licensed realtors. There have been additional transactions completed between private parties.

As of February 1, 2002, there are 50 Hernando Beach houses listed for sale in our county wide MLS system. They range in price from $64,900 for a two-bedroom home on a street with no water access, to a five-bedroom home on Orchid Drive for $695,000. There are four homes in Hernando Beach South listed for sale with a realtor at this date.

There are 128 lots for sale on the beach ranging in price from $8,000 (with no waterfront) to a Gulf front lot for $350,000 on Gulf Winds Circle. There are 45 lots for sale in Hernando Beach South ranging in price from $29,987 to $129,900.

Since the market changes daily, by the time this article is printed, the numbers will have changed again. Since our new MLS system is still being "fine-tuned," it may have missed some of the sales transactions completed so these figures are assumed to be accurate but not guaranteed.

Sharon Hollis Sutter, REALTOR-Associate, Keller Williams Realty

Operation P.R.I.D.E

Yes, the next Operation PRIDE is already scheduled for September 7, 2002. It will be bigger and better, (if it even could be bigger and better). More organizations will be involved; the schools will have a major role to play. We will keep you informed.
http://www.operationpride.com/

Hernando Beach Boatlift, Inc.
By Joe Mancusi, President

The next Boatlift Board of Directors meeting will be January 21st at 7 PM at the Parks and Recreation building on Shoal Line Blvd. near Jenkins Creek.
The meeting is only about an hour long. Any resident of the indirect access side of Hernando Beach is welcome to attend the director's meetings and to bring their questions and concerns about the Boatlift to the meetings.
Our annual membership meeting will be in March at which time we will be electing new directors. The new directors will then vote on the officers for the coming year. If you would like to serve as a director of the Hernando Beach Boatlift and Improvements, Inc. now is the time to start thinking about it. I have been President of the HBBI for the last couple of years and am ready to turn the reins over to someone new. I am willing to remain as a director but feel it is time for someone else to be elected as President and to take over the boatlift corporation.
We need a good turnout of our indirect Gulf access residents at the March meeting to elect our new directors for the year 2002-2003. The directors and officers maintain the Boatlift records; insure that the Boatlift is properly maintained by coordinating maintenance with Hernando County who handles our MSBU funds. We welcome new faces and ideas; it isn't a hard job and keeps you informed as to what is going on with our Boatlift. With out it we wouldn't have access to the Gulf!

Congratulations!

Joseph Frances was born November 13 to keep his older brother John Jr. company and to delight his parents John and Hermana Boyle ( Jewfish Drive).

Get Well Wishes!

Pretty Amelia Schmit daughter of Jeanine and Kenny Schmit was very ill. We wish her well!
(Sheephead Drive)

Our Meeting Place has changed

Our meetings are now held at the Coast Guard Auxiliary, 4340 Caliente Street, HB

The Purpose of the HBSPA Deed Restrictions

Hernando Beach South is a Deed Restricted Community. Hernando Beach North and Central are not. Anyone who has driven through these communities knows the differences. There are people, living in both North and Central, who wish that their community was deed restricted, and there are people, living in Hernando Beach South, who wish their community was not.

These people are generally all good citizens and neighbors, but sometimes they have their own agenda of how things should be done. However, this does not change the fact that rules are made to be followed and not broken.

For example, the Deed Restriction Committee meets twice a month. At that time, they discuss the homeowners/property owners who have not been meeting their obligations to their neighbors regarding complying with the deed restrictions. To date, several letters of individual violations have gone out. Most of these people immediately respond and correct the violations. A few do not! Look around -- it is easy to see who they are.

Okay, what do we do? These people are affecting our property values by not maintaining their own. Should we take them to court? The answer is - yes. In fact, we have to do so. According to Florida law, if you don't enforce the deed restrictions, they become unenforceable.

Unfortunately, lawyers seem to be the only ones who benefit from a court action. When the Association goes to court, it costs the homeowners/property owners money to justify our restrictions. Our legal fees will go up and your assessment along with it. For example, this year, three out of 424 property owners have not paid their annual assessment. The Association has bills to pay, and every owner needs to pitch in and help pay them.. Since the owner knows this up front, if he/she chooses not to pay, liens should and have been issued.

If certified letters and liens don't work, foreclosure is the only other alternative. This is certainly not something any homeowners association wishes to do. By the time things get that far, homeowners assessments have gone to pay court costs and attorney fees. Unfortunately, foreclosure is the only way any association can get back some of its money. Some people
may think this is harsh or cruel. However, board members cannot make exceptions or show acts of favoritism. In fact, they could be in violation of state statutes and in a heap of legal trouble. They cannot make any exceptions to the rules or use association money if a yard needs to be mowed. In fact, they could be held personally liable and have to pay back the money out of their own pockets.

A St. Petersburg Times article, dated June 24, 2001, clearly defines what a Homeowners Association is: "An organization that exists to enforce the deed restrictions and to maintain the common areas. It is not a charitable or philanthropic organization. It isn't there to help those in need. It isn't a club, fraternity, sorority, brotherhood, lodge or federation. Your association board members have this obligation for enforcing the deed restrictions and improving your property's value."

Remember: Good neighbors don't just live in a community. They work to make it better.

Lower Level Bathrooms

Joe Mason, a Brooksville lawyer, came to a meeting of the HB Property Owners Association to talk about the possibilities of getting a permit for installation of bathrooms at the ground levels of Stilt Homes. To make it brief, there is no chance.

The county enforces rigidly the existing rules without any exceptions. The county had been very generous in the rebuilding efforts after the No-Name Storm and received many complaints about this afterwards. So they decided to be firm in the future. The argument was made that the county itself is building bathrooms at ground level, but the rule says that this is a bathroom for the common good, not an individual home.

There are toilet systems available that will not allow the sewage to flow backwards out in case of flooding, but this is not reflected in the rules.

We need more Trees in our neighborhood

I am a member of the National Arbor Day Foundation, and I am always getting fascinating information of the advantages of having trees in our yards. Read this one: When you have a new home, plant fast growing trees close to your house and slower growing trees further away, if you want shade in summer (to save on air conditioning). As the years go by, you can cut down the fast growing ones and enjoy the shade of the larger slower growing ones. Smart hmm……

Manatees

Manatees are the symbol of Florida's Springs. Although they are listed as endangered species, their death rate is rising rapidly. Because they don't have peripheral vision, they cannot determine from which direction noises come. Because they must come up to the surface for breathing, more and more are injured by the boating public. There are people who think they are the masters of the waterways and their rights are the only rights. Please call this hot line 888-404-TWCC if you see any harassment of Manatees going on.

In the Weeki Wachee River, there are 13 to18 Manatees at any time present. So the best one can do is drive at the lowest possible speed. You know that Low Speed is not the same as No Wake speed, right?!

Edi Minelli's Thank you

Edi was the lady who entertained us at the Block party. She wrote a lovely sunflower decorated card saying: "Thank you so much for having me, a good time was had by all. The food was great and the people were so friendly. What a pleasure!"

Why is the water fountain at the Hernando Beach Sign not turned on??

Well, we raised a bunch of money with the T-shirt sale and the Blue Moon Ball. Soon we will all enjoy the waterfall again.

Two Waterways Committees??
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I have a suggestion I would like you to consider. I think the Waterways Committee should be divided into two committees. A Waterways Improvement Committee, and A Waterways Maintenance Committee.
The Improvement Committee should be responsible for initiatives like water quality, boat to Gulf access, bridge and lift changes, spillways and the like. I think it should include some members from the Central Area since any proposed changes would affect the Central and South areas alike. The Maintenance Committee should be only for HB South and should only be involved with trash and scum removal, and weed problems in our canals. I would be happy to remain on this committee, unless someone else wants it.
November 13 Gary Delicato and I made a waterways clean-up trip by boat, and found the waterways to be very clean. Sincerely,
Coney Alligood, Chairman

The Latest on the Boat Lift Petition
Roughly 20 Hernando Beach South Property owners met November 1 at Coney Alligood's house to discuss the Boat Lift and Canal Dredge Petition. Several drafts and ideas had been circulating and a discussion was needed to see if a common ground could be found. Most participants favored an elimination of the Boat Lift; some felt strongly that the canal water has to be kept fresh. The largest concern was what an elimination or lowering of the dam under the Boatlift would do to the water levels in our canals and salinity.
Almost everybody agreed that we will need more data and an evaluation of the situation by an independent scientist before the petition is formulated.
It was also recognized that the other major hurdle for free Gulf access for boats is the low bridge. The motion was made that the Association should pursue the raising of the bridge as a first step. This had been approved.
Volunteers will take regular readings at low and high tides for water level evaluations. In addition, scientists need to be found and asked to study the effects of the Boat Lift dam removal on water levels and salinity, wildlife etc. Brigitte Haag
Another View on the Boat Lift Discussion
I do not agree with the initiative to open our canals for direct access to the Gulf. The main reason that I chose to build here was because of the present environment in which we have the better of two worlds, living on the fresh or brackish water and still having nearby access to the salt water. Many others that I have talked to have voiced the same sentiment. The following are some of the concerns:

1. We will loose water in the canals. Measurements have been taken at the boatlift that puts the high tide water level a foot or more below our canal water level. Low tides have been measured three feet below the level.

2. I keep hearing about how clear and beautiful the water was when the berm was opened. I understand that it was opened to drain the excess water from the canals after the "No-Name Storm". I believe that this was a residual effect from the storm itself and would not have been a long-term effect had the berm remained open.

3. Many fresh water fish and birds will be lost if the canals become too salty. We have an abundance of both freshwater and saltwater fish in the canals. I have caught and released Bass, Bream, Snook, Mangrove Snapper, Freshwater Catfish, Pinfish and Jack Crevalle. I have also seen Mullet, Crabs, Turtles and Alligators.

4. We will loose security. If we have access to the Gulf, it also means that others will have access to our canals.

5. Some believe that we will have a "flushing action'' if we open to the Gulf. I do not agree with this. I don't think that there will be much of a flow except near the proposed canal entrance. The canals away from the entrance will get a rise and fall of the tides but little flow. Take a trip down to the Hernando Beach Boat Ramp and you will see a good example. Check out the water quality and while you are there, check out the deteriorated sea walls and boat docks.

We need to be very concerned about the impact of opening our canals. We need to find alternatives such as improving the boatlift and either raising the bridge or digging the canal through Stony Creek. "We need to be careful about what we ask for. We may get it."

Jim Garrett, Croaker Dr.

Vandalism

On Saturday night, June 30, vandals cut down one of our palms at the Jewfish entrance and smashed lights. A $500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of these vandals is offered.

Can you believe it? In November they did it again, a third time. The lights are smashed again. Please call 352-754-6850 if you have seen anything or have information.

Black Bears

Everybody is sad that the bear cubs were accidentally killed by a car. Efforts are underway to place lower speed limits on Osowaw and additional "Bear" Warning Signs. If you see a bear, please note place and time and call the Nature Conservancy with that information. That way they can get a reading of the bears' numbers and activities.

Real Estate News

I had asked Margaret Weaver, real estate agent at Keller Williams, to write her opinion of the real estate situation in our neighborhood and this is what she wrote to me:

"Since September 11, I have personally had a customer walk away from a closing indicating that the time was not right to even think about moving/changing things in life. Desire to keep things like they were before the disaster, at least those they can control. The first two weeks afterward the phones were dead, the streets were quiet (usually there are people driving up and down looking for properties).

I also had a woman that was ready to purchase a home cancel and say she was just too afraid of what the economy would do to risk taking out a loan.

In the last 30 days calls, visits to the area for lot/home searching have increased, and I would say it has returned to "normal". People are again seeking investment properties and homes in light of the lower interest rates."

Date High Tide Low Tide
1-Nov 1:24 4 7:13 -22
2-Nov 2:04 2 7:43 -22
3-Nov 2:04 3 8:16 -20
4-Nov 3:29 -12 8:53 -22
5-Nov 4:21 -13 9:36 -28
6-Nov 5:24 -5 10:40 -30
7-Nov 6:39 -6 11:48 -28
8-Nov 7:55 -3 12:30 -25
9-Nov 8:57 -3 1:22 -28
10-Nov 9:45 4 3:31 -25
11-Nov 10:00 7 4:26 -23
12-Nov 11:02 3 5:13 -25
13-Nov 11:55 1 5:54 -29
14-Nov 12:44 -13 6:30 -29
15-Nov 1:28 -5 7:04 -20
16-Nov 2:11 -9 7:37 -29

Measuring the Water Levels

At the last water committee meeting, it was decided that we need more data concerning the water level fluctuations. I offered to take the measurements at high and low tides after John Stanek had placed the markers.

This is what was measured: It shows clearly that the canal water levels is even on high tide hours higher than the gulf water level. That suggests, in my opinion, that we run a risk to have the water levels in our canals lowered substantially.

Klaus and Brigitte Haag

Hernando County History

Continuation from last time (text copied from the menu of the Bayport Inn):

In 1855, land was donated by Joseph Hale for the site of a Court House in the heart of the present day Brooksville. The wooden structure was built a short time later and was used until September 1877 when it was destroyed by fire. The county records were also destroyed. At the same time, the founder of Bayport, Major John Parson, was elected to the legislature and succeeded in getting an auxiliary court house established in Bayport. It remained active in Bayport until 1863 when they were shelled by the Yankee gun boats in the Civil War. Legend says that the records from Bayport were moved in the dead of night back to Brooksville. Although the primary fighting of the Civil War was far from Florida, a few things did take place within the state. One of the first actions that President Abraham Lincoln took after the war began was to order a blockade of the Southern ports. Although Bayport was not a major commerce port, it was Hernando's principal point of entry. The Union army assumed there must be a Confederate base somewhere in the area and in late June 1864 decided than an expedition would be launched from Anclote Key against Hernando County. Cont………..

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