The Oldest Living Harbor Hills Employee in Captivity!

OK, so he's not the oldest in age, but he's been here the longest! Russell Thomas, our outside golf staff supervisor, started work in 1987 - before there was a clubhouse. Russell has been using the down time this summer, while the course has been closed for rebuilding the greens, to accomplish a list of cleaning, painting and building projects to improve the bag drop and starter areas. He's even taken his turn at mowing! (I think he will be glad to have the course open so that he can get back to his regular routine.) Russell could use some help from our members. All of the baskets that hold balls for the driving range have disappeared. Please check your golf carts and garages. If you find any baskets, we would really appreciate it if you would leave them at the bag drop.
Mary

Even the Energizer Bunny Gets Tired Sometimes!

Do you remember the last time you changed the battery in the remote opener you use to open the gates to your community? If you can't remember changing it, it would probably be a good idea to put in a fresh battery. A tired battery will cause your remote to work sometimes but not others and may cause it to work from much shorter distances. We are having a problem now at the gate to the Grove and the Pines. We expect to have a part installed later this week that should make all the remotes work - if they have a fresh battery!

Up a Tree

This furry fellow kept an eye on Becca and Christina today as they painted the wrought iron railings outside the golf pro shop.

Fish Tale Chapter 2

On May 16, 2006, I posted a story on the blog about resident fishing expert Tiit Gentalen catching a fish that appeared to have won a skirmish with a gator. Would you believe that the same fish was caught by the same fisherman again today in the Orange Canal? The bite marks on the tale are still in evidence, but, other than the loss of a few ounces, our lucky bass still seems to be in great shape! 

SAY HELLO TO YOUR NEW NEIGHBORS

In the last few weeks Harbor Hills Development has closed on six more new homes. Please welcome the Barclay, Bayless, Best, Cammarano, Schwartz and VonQualen families to Harbor Hills!

A Scavenger Hunt and Ice Cream Social - What a Combination!

Thanks to Marge and Jim Marcis and their helpers Jim and Janice Brecht for organizing our first ever Scavenger Hunt! It was a great success! Teams of scavengers raced over 13 different routes to solve 13 hard clues. The last clue directed them back to the clubhouse for delicious ice cream. The first team to successfully complete the course was made up of Bob & Elba Burns, Carole Kaiser, Denny and Marge Clarke and Marge's cousin Nina Breon. 

A Day Trip for the Harbor Hills High Rollers

Our members travelled by bus to the Seminole Hard Rock Casino for a day of fun. 

 

 

Little "Greenmen" Invade Harbor Hills

Our crafty ladies created little "Greenmen" to decorate their terra cotta pots. 

In the kitchen with James for the baking of the "Greenmen." 

Our ladies with their completed "Greenmen." 

Are You Interest in Joining the Newest Group?

Harbor Hills has a new Photography Club. Members who are interested in digital photography will meet monthly to learn about photography and talk about their work. Shooting excursions will also be planned. Watch for information on the first meeting which should be held in October. If you are interested in more information, you may contact Barry Pressman at 750-5978. And if you take great photos, please email them to me for the blog!
Mary

Up and Running (Sort Of)

I have a new computer to replace the one fried by lightning! So now I will be able to receive your emails. Unfortunately, I lost the address book for my email when the old computer died. I am slowly trying to recreate the address book so that I can send out reminders for Round Table meetings, etc. If anyone out there reads this blog and would like to assist me in getting back in communication, please send an email to me at mhuey@harborhills.com so that I will be able to put your email address in my address book. The other sad news is that the new computer will not be able to run the software for the community channel. The community channel will be off the air until we get another computer set up to handle that task. I hope you will be patient while we recover from the lightning damage. Speaking of lightning damage recovery, we have had the telephone and gate openers at the South gate repaired and the pool has been reopened. That's progress!
Mary

Lightning Damage

Blogging and email will be a little hard for me the next few days. Over the weekend lightning put an end to my computer. So please do not think I am ignoring you! I will be checking my email and blogging from home in the evenings and early mornings until I get a new computer up and running. Unfortunately I will not be able to update the community channel from home. Please be patient and I will work on bringing it current as soon as possible.
Mary

Get Ready to Sing!

I can't carry a tune in a bucket but I love to listen to those who can! The Harbor Hills Chorus will begin meeting again on Monday, October 16 with past director Elaine Carter once again directing accompanied by Pat Cople on piano. The chorus will rehearse each Monday evening at 7:00 pm at the clubhouse and would love to be joined by some of our newer members. No auditions! If you love to sing and can hold a tune, they have a place for you!

It's Not Too Late!

It's not too late to join the trip to the Seminole Hard Rock Casino leaving Harbor Hills at 10:30 am on Friday, August 4. There is still room on the bus! You can either call Rose at 753-7000 to sign up or just show up at boarding time on Friday morning with $40 in cash. This covers the transportation, $20 in free gambling, a fabulous early bird seafood buffet at Floyd's and all taxes and gratuities. The bus should return at approximately 7:30 pm. Sounds like a great day!
Mary

Golf Course Update

It will be well worth the wait to play on the beautiful new green on Hole #3!

The new grass on Hole #5 green is looking great! 

The front of the green of Hole #9 has been raised to allow more pin placement options. 

Don't Forget

The next Round Table Discussion Group is scheduled for tomorrow, August 2 at 10:30 am. All are welcome to attend this informal forum. Come hear the latest Harbor Hills news!
Mary

More New Residents!

As of today, we have more new homowners, Mr. and Mrs. Garrison, and Mr. and Mrs. Manning. The Mannings are our first residents in Lakeview Village! Welcome!

WELCOME NEW HOMEOWNERS!

Our residents who are traveling this summer will be greeted by lots of new faces when they return. In May, June, and July the Dyer, Mahoney, Griffiths, Hoffman, Austin, Pestka, Henkle, Schoedl, Ridge, Schrager, Grillo and Bucell families have closed on their new Harbor Hills Development built homes. We expect many more closings in the near future. Welcome new neighbors!

August Round Table Meeting

I can't believe how quickly July has flown by. The next meeting of the Round Table will be held at the club at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 2. This is an informal discussion group and all are invited to attend.
Mary

New Blood Drive Requirement

Please note that, if you wish to participate in the blood drive this Friday, July 28, you will need to bring a photo ID. This is a new requirement for all blood donors. Hope to see you there!
Mary

Sounds Fun to Me!

A Scavenger Hunt and Ice Cream Social is on the calendar for Sunday, August 13, rain or shine! The cost is $5 plus tax and gratuity per person and all members are encouraged to participate. The price is the same for members who wish to attend the ice cream social but not participate in the hunt. All ages are welcome. You will assemble a team of 2 to 6 people and scour Harbor Hills from gate to gate to gate collecting clues. No knocking on doors and no cars! Golf carts, bikes, skate boards and roller blades only! Call the clubhouse by August 9 to sign up for the hunt as a team or individual or to attend just the ice cream social. Then meet at the clubhouse at 1:00 pm on August 13 to receive your instructions for the hunt. The ice cream social will follow at approximately 3:00 p.m. Win or lose, you still get to enjoy ice cream!
Mary

The Pool is Always Cool!

 

Is there a Tiger Woods in the group?

 

Another Chance to Save a Life!

The Blood Mobile will be at Harbor Hills from 12:30 - 3:30 pm on Friday, July 28th. It's your chance to help save a life! We have been having fewer donors lately and will not be able to keep the Blood Mobile coming to Harbor Hills unless we have an increased number of donors. All donors will receive $10.00 off admission to Sea World for the donor and two guests. Please contact Karen at 753-7000 if you have questions.
Mary

Focus on Tennis

John Natolly has their attention! 

Eye Contact

 

Concentration

 

A Little Help from Miss Lynn

 

More Concentration

The Oldest Camper?

Oops! How did Buck Bradley get into Kids Camp?

Kids Camp Firsts

This is the first year we have had the added fun of a water slide

And the first year for our song leader, Judy Warren!

Thank you, Mrs. Warren!

Our official Kids Camp group photo!

We had a great time on Day One and are looking forward to even more fun the rest of the week!

And our unofficial fun group photo!

The Children Are Coming!!!

Harbor Hills Kids Camp starts on Monday, July 17. Camp activities run from 8:30am to 3:00 pm each day. Please show extra caution when traveling in the club area as we will be moving as a group to our different activities. I will be available in my office before 8:15 am and after 3:15pm. Please call Sandy at 753-7000 if you need to contact me during the day.
Mary

GREAT NEWS!

We have received word from the state testing labs that the water in Fairway Village is fine to drink. No more boiling water! Thanks to all of you for your patience and understanding! We have tried to call each home in the affected area with the good news but received a few no answers and a few recordings about disconnects. Please let us know if we need to update your phone number.
Mary

Please Ask!

Yesterday, after the Harbor Hills Homeowners' Association Board of Directors meeting, many of the residents who had attended to observe stayed after the meeting to let me know of concerns they had that were unrelated to the meeting. I wrote a list of several maintenance items that had been brought to my attention by the residents. I was able to contact the people in charge of these items to arrange to have action taken. The sad part of the story is that residents do not have to wait for a meeting to tell me their concerns. Please pick up the phone and call me if you have a concern. Or email me at mhuey@harborhills.com. I would love to deal with your issues as they concern you. Please do not feel that you have to wait for a meeting to draw my attention to something that may be bothering you.
Mary

Precautionary Notice

Our utility company hired a subcontractor to repair a leak on Saddleback Court. When they arrived today, they were unable to make the repair without shutting down the water. Because we lost water pressure in our water system, we issued a precautionary boil water notice for the Fairway Village area of Harbor Hills. This includes homes on Saddleback west of Harbor Hills Boulevard and homes on Tacoma, Greens, Treeline and Pineview Court. (The water of residents living on other streets will not be effected.) Notices were hand delivered to the homes in the affected area today advising the residents that, as a precaution, all water used for drinking or cooking should be boiled. A rolling boil for one minute is sufficient. As an alternative, bottled water may be used. We will be taking water samples for the next two evenings. These will be sent to state labs for testing. We will be advising residents when the samples prove that the water is once again safe to drink. Thank you to everyone who was so understanding when we went knocking on doors today to explain the situation!

What do you call a family of peacocks?

Thanks to Karen Smead, our assistant controller, for doing the research to determine that a group of peacocks is called a muster or an ostentation. Not very pretty words to describe our beautiful birds! Our latest muster (I prefer family) of peacocks is growing quickly and Mom has taught the babies to fly short distances. I bet not many of you knew that we have another mother peacock sitting on a nest. Steve Henne's son was kind enough to show me where Mom is sitting on the eggs.

Harbor Hills Homeowners' Association Board of Directors Meeting

If you are a member of the Harbor Hills Homeowners' Association, you were mailed a notice that there will be a Board of Directors meeting on Monday, July 10. I have had several phone calls about this meeting and questions were asked about it at the recent Round Table. Any member of the association is invited to attend to observe. Observers will not be asked to participate. The Board of Directors will conduct their meeting just as they would if there were no observers. I will borrow an anology from one of our resident Board members. He explained it perfectly when he said that attending to observe will be like watching the proceedings on television.
Mary

We Had An Informative Round Table - A Water Pressure Update

Our informal Round Table Discussion Group met this morning. All those in attendance had the opportunity to ask questions and voice concerns. I explained that we are replacing a valve at one of the two wells that produces our water. For the next few weeks, on nights when irrigation is run, you may notice a slight dip in pressure. We are awaiting the arrival of a new valve. It would be helpful if, during this waiting period, you would choose not to run your irrigation on days we have had sufficient rainfall. This will have the added benefit of lowering your next water bill!

Round Table Reminder

The next meeting of the Round Table Discussion Group will be held at the club at 10:30 am on Wednesday, July 5. If you have questions or concerns, or if you would just like to hear the latest Harbor Hills updates, please join us.
Mary