Fall 2016

Message from the President

Volume 32, Issue 4

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President’s Message We’ve made it through the summer, the

kids are back in school, hurricane season is winding down and the air will soon be cool, crisp and clear. As we move into the fall, the board is beginning to pull together the key ideas that will be discussed in the Annual Meeting, which will be on Monday, January 23, 2017. If there are issues that you would like for us to cover, please let me, or any other board member, know. If there is a special project you’d like to be a part of, let us know that, too. 2017 Financial Planning

We don’t expect a dues increase in 2017. As always, we prefer a lump-sum payment prior to April 1, but we will be offering a 12-month dues payment option that will start on January 1, 2017. As with this year, these payments will be setup through automatic checking deduction, making it convenient to spread payments across the year. Watch for an email

Dale Lewis

Secret Cove Board of Directors President: Dale Lewis…………..904-673-5679 Vice President: Gary Weise.……904-739-7447 Treasurer: Mark Hill……………352-206-0150 Secretary: Lily Condy …………..404-242-6001

COMMUNIQUÉ

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from Treasurer Mark Hill with details on the 12-month dues payment option! New Board Members

Each year, three of the nine board members step down after their three-year term. This year, Gary Weise, Jim Kilcoyne and Chris Henderson are completing their board service. I appreciate and thank each of these men for giving their time to make Secret Cove a better place to live. We will add three new members to the board in January. If you are interested in serving, please reach out to Doc Bolden, Jenny Suber or any current board member to let us know. Safety on Halloween

Halloween will be on Monday, October 31. For each of the last five years, Mary and I have had 500 to 550 kids arrive at our front door, bags in hand. With about a thousand people in the streets (parents, babies in strollers, excited trick-or-treaters), it is very important that we keep the streets clear and the driving speed slow. Continued on page four…

www.OurSecretCove.org

Door-to-Door Solicitors John Amico

Recently your SCCA board has had many reports of unwanted door-to-door solicitors here in Secret Cove. We have researched our options and have decided to request that the city designate our neighborhood a No Solicitation area. Jacksonville Municipal code allows for us to request enforceable "No Soliciting" or "No Peddling" signs be placed at the entrances to our neighborhood if 60% of property owners are in agreement. Though the irony of us going door to door is not lost on us, myself and other members of the board will be out visiting each home soon to discuss this and ask for your support in this endeavor. If you want to volunteer to help us, that would be great! Looking forward to meeting many of you soon!

Secret Cove Board Members John Amico Ed Churchill

Chris Henderson Jim Kilcoyne Bill Schilling

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Fall Landscape Tips Becky Wern

It was wonderful to see our trees held up so well in the storm. We did have some good wind gusts. If you have questions about your trees, you may find the answers in this column by City of Jacksonville Forester Larry Figart: http://jacksonville.com/entertainment/home-and-garden/2015-05-22/story/garden-column-lessons-learned-about-trees-and-wind#

A larger University of Florida publication is referenced in the article too.

Because tropical storms and trees do not always mix well, Universities have done comprehensive studies of which trees survive storms best. Some of it is no surprise. Much of it is good news.

Lawns are slowing down, as our days get shorter. No more fertilizer with nitrogen should be applied to lawns or any other plants except winter vegetables. You may want to grow a few lettuce plants or kale plants in a pot. They are beautiful and taste good, too. You may have noticed some really soggy areas in your lawn as Hermine and Matthew moved through. While it is fresh in your mind, it is a good idea to think about whether you want to resolve that drainage issue.

About The Lake Dale Lewis, 673-5679

Water clarity, oxygen levels, and other key measures have been in the good to excellent range this year. The heavy rains due to Hurricane Matthew were actually good for the lake. Rainfall is lightly acidic, and it lowers the pH of the lake water and slows algae growth. With a large volume of rain, it helps the water “turnover” and flushes the lake. The wind and rain combine to give the lake a dose of oxygen. We should have a good fall, with water clarity generally over 10 feet, and oxygen levels that will consistently support the fish population. If you have questions about the lake, please let me know.

POLITICIANS VISIT CPAC George Banks, SCCA Representative for SE CPAC

Thank God, none of us in Secret Cove were severely damaged by Hurricane Matthew.

Kudos to our city officials and first responders, along with JEA, with the wonderful work they performed.

Our August CPAC meeting featured all five city council members who represent the area of the SE CPAC. They offered brief bios and told the large crowd they are willing to listen and help with challenges we may have. Corey Wright of the Duval Public Schools said school openings went smoothly. At our September meeting, School Board member Ashley Smith Juarez, said no major school problems exist, and added that ongoing differences between some school board members and Superintendent Vitti are being discussed. Late SE CPAC member John Waddell was honored at Gateway Park by having the basketball courts named after him. Councilman Bectin is to be applauded for his efforts in making this happen. Air Force veteran Waddell passed away last year after doggedly pursuing courts for our youngsters.

The SE CPAC meets the 4th Monday of each month at the NEFAR building across from the Avenues Mall. The Land Use and Zoning Committee meets at 5:30pm. The regular CPAC meeting begins at 6:30. There is plenty of free parking.

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Yard of the Month! Carolyn Peacock

May Doc Bolden 3165 Old Port Circle E. June Don & Debbie Harford 3244 Hidden Lake Dr. E July Cyril & Caroline Holderfirld 3265 Brigantine Pl. Congratulations to you ALL!

Secret Cove Women’s Club…More Work…More Fun!!! The Secret Cove Women’s Club has a fun-filled year planned!!! All of the ladies in Secret Cove are welcome to join us. You don’t have to attend all of the meetings, just come to the ones that interest you. Please see all of our upcoming events and timelines, below and don’t forget to

mark your calendars! Our next meeting is one you won’t want to miss. We will be gathering at the Pavilion to fill bags with luminary items for all our neighbors while laughing and having wonderful time catching up with each other. Again, be sure to mark your calendars so you don’t miss the fun. SCWC meetings are typically the first Monday evening of each month. Monday, November 7…. Counting luminary bags and candles! To see what it is all about, plan to drop by the Pavilion at 6:30 to enjoy dinner and help prepare for our Holiday Christmas Lights while our members are laughing and chatting getting away. Saturday, November 19…. Neighborhood Christmas Decorating…Holiday lights installed. Members of SCWC will be decorating the entrances that Saturday starting at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, December 3…. Sixth Annual Children’s Holiday Craft Day. 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Watch your children create a beautiful ornament for your tree. We are so happy that more and more children are participating each year. Saturday, December 10 and 17…. Luminary Sales 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the front entrance. Don’t be the only house on your street without beautiful lights out front. Support your neighborhood and the SCWC and light up our streets! The women you see at the entrance selling the luminary bags are members of SCWC. This is a service we are happy to provide and proceeds help to fund projects to beautify the neighborhood. *If you will not be home on Christmas Eve but would like to participate, or if you are unable to pick up your luminaries on the sale dates, please ask one of your neighbors to help or pick them up at Carolyn Peacock’s home, 8212 Ketch Court. Sunday, December 11…Christmas Light Competition Night…Members of the Club will be walking and driving though the neighborhood to vote on their favorite displays so be sure to have your lights on by 6:00 p.m. and keep them on until 12:00 a.m. midnight. The winners will receive a sign in their front yard designating their achievement. Monday, December 12…. Potluck Christmas Holiday Supper starts at 6:30 p.m. This is a date to definitely mark on your calendar and is a special night you don’t want to miss! It is a night we come together to enjoy the company and fun of our neighbors. Monday, April 3…. With the kids in mind, we will once again gather at Janie Cumiskey’s house to eat, meet, laugh and chatter while we stuff Easter eggs for the Secret Cove Community Easter Egg Hunt held each year at the common area. The Club loves the camaraderie of coming together and the kids are thrilled to then find the eggs. Saturday, April 15…. Easter Egg Hunt. Bring your children to the Common Area and watch the thrill of them finding Easter Eggs. It’s a great day of fun for the whole family. Monday, May 1…. End of Year Potluck Membership is easy!!! Only $10.00 for the year. In addition, you don't have to be a member to try us out. You are very welcome to pick a day and join us! If you need any information, feel free to call Carolyn Peacock or any officer or member of SCWC.

The 2016 - 2017 SCWC Officers are: President - Carolyn Peacock ph. 733-3049 (h), 536-5346 (c)

Vice President - Christine Braddock ph. 739-2714 Treasurer - Betty Raiford ph. 731-2417 Secretary - Jenny Suber ph. 737-9699

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Editor, Kari Eng, (kari.eng@live.com)

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President’s Message Continued from one… A handout showing the parking and traffic plan is included as an insert in the Communiqué. We

will have police support, and Secret Cove Volunteers will be helping to direct traffic. My thanks to John Leinhauser, Chuck Martin, Gary Weise, Tim O’Keefe, Doug Smith, Lewis Hunt and Mark Hill for their service last year! If you would like to be a Traffic Volunteer this year, please contact me. Safety and Your Property

Secret Cove has nice homes, prosperous homeowners, and newer cars in the driveways. Thieves know this, and your home is a target. We’ve had several incidents this year of car break-ins and of homes being “cased” as potential burglary opportunities. You can help yourself if you make sure you have well-lit doors and driveways, keep your house doors locked and make sure you lock your car every time you get out of it. In Closing

I can’t say it often enough. Secret Cove is a great place to live! Our children grew up here, and we’re thankful that our friends and neighbors were so good to them. This is a place where people help each other, and that’s the kind of place I want to live.

For sale: Toshiba 42 inch HD plasma TV

$60 Call Maeve or Hugh Dever at 733-7609

Welcome New Neighbors!

∗ A. J. and Monique Tyre 8205 Hidden Lake Drive North

Neighborhood Pumpkin Carving! Pavilion

4pm Sunday, October 30

Bring your own pumpkin! Carving supplies will be provided,

as well as cookies and water. Come out and get into the Halloween spirit with your neighbors!

Movie Under the Stars November 5, 2016

6:30 P.M. at the Pavilion The Secret Cove Women's Club will be hosting a

movie night for Secret Cove Association members and their family.

Please arrive at 6:30 P.M. to get your refreshments and seats before the movie, Toy Story, starts at 7 P.M.

Parking may be tight, so if you can walk, carpool or be dropped off, please do. We will provide caffeine free coke and popcorn (so we don't get the kiddos too hyper before they go to bed). Children will sit at the tables in the pavilion and parents please bring chairs for seating around the pavilion. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Please RSVP with number of children and adults attending to Jenny Suber, suberjen@bellsouth.net or call 904-737-9699 by Oct 31st, to ensure we have enough drinks and popcorn.