In This Issue - August 2008
County Community Crime Forum
Comments from Your President
CITIZENS ON PATROL - "COPS"
Dateworthy Notes
Welcome to Cypress Isles!
CIN Publication Schedule
Cypress Isles Contact List
Who Ya Gonna Call?
Whatcha Gonna Click?
County Community Crime Forum
How does our neighborhood address crime? Do we feel safe?
Join your neighbors for an Orange County Community Crime Forum on Thursday,
August 21, 2008 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at Risen Savior Lutheran Church
on S. Alafaya Trail between Mark Twain Blvd. and Eastwood Publix. The Orange
County Sheriff's Office and other government agencies will be on hand to
listen to our concerns about crime and safety.
If you have any questions about this forum, please contact the Orange County
Office for a Drug Free Community at (407) 836-7335.
Comments from Your President
Community On Patrol
I'm pretty sure I am not the only one who has noticed an increase in residential
crime in our neighborhood. I was already concerned about it before I woke
up at 2am one morning to discover two hoodlums climbing in my family room
window.
Most of you agree but are saying to yourselves "there is nothing we
can do."
Well now there is. Please read Harold Engold's article this month about
our new neighborhood watch program in development, the Community On Patrol.
We will need volunteers to go through the certification course and patrol
once a month, but as a result we get our own patrol car.
The car is maintained and fueled by the county and it costs nothing but
a few hours a month to be in this program. We need you. YOU need you. Your
kids need you. Please volunteer for this program.
Contact any board member to volunteer.
Sprinklers Wasting Water
As I do my daily morning walk during this, our wet season, I notice many
of our residents are still running their sprinklers. Let me remind you that
running lawn sprinklers during the three days following a thunderstorm is
a total waste. The roots are full and the ground has absorbed as much water
as it can hold.
God has a much better sprinkler system than any of yours.
All it accomplishes is to create large puddles on the sidewalks and increase
your water bill considerably.
People have told me that their water bills are running several hundred dollars
monthly? INSANE! My water bill is around $30 in the summer. Disregard the
urban legends about how long to run your sprinklers. In the dry season,
two times a week with 15 minutes in each zone will keep your lawn green
until the next rain. In the wet season, they are not needed.
Most of our homes were built with sprinkler systems installed, including
a "wetness" sensor. On my house it's a "fingery-looking"
antenna-like thing sticking out over my garage door. This sensor will disable
the sprinkler (if enabled on your control panel) when the ground is already
soaked.
These need to be maintained periodically and I suggest that spending a hundred
bucks now will save you thousands over the next few years.
If you don't do it for the environment, then do it for your checkbook. Please
turn those things off in the rainy season.
John Tenney, President
Editor's note: As John said, no sprinklers should be running during
the rainy season. But when we return to the dry season, don't forget Orange
County's mandatory twice a week water restrictions that are in effect:
Odd numbered houses (your house number ends in 1, 3, 5, 7, 9) may only water
on Wednesday and Saturday.
Even numbered houses (your house number ends in 0, 2, 4, 6, 8) may only
water on Thursday and Sunday.
NO WATERING on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday.
NO WATERING between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on your designated day.
Violations subject to fines up to $500!
Crime is on the rise but what can I do?
Yes, crime is on the rise in our neighborhood and we the residents of Cypress Isles, along with the Orange County Sheriff's Office, are looking to start a Citizens on Patrol Volunteer Unit right here in Waterford Lakes.
What is this program and how does it work?
Citizens On Patrol is a volunteer unit made up of community residents who become an extra set of eyes and ears to fight crime in their community. Coordinated by the Orange County Sheriff's Office, they supply the training, a motor vehicle, volunteer identification, COP uniform shirt, jacket and ball-cap.
How do I volunteer?
To be a volunteer, one must be 21 years of age, pass a background check and a basic physical exam. There is no cost to becoming a volunteer. The only requirement is training, which is provided by the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
What kind of commitment is required?
A volunteer needs to complete the training, and then commit to at least one shift per month. We haven't defined the shifts yet so that will be flexible.
The training consists of first aid, CPR, communications, mature driving and policy and procedures totaling 18 hours. After completing your training and background check, you are a certified volunteer. Then you work with your coordinator and volunteer as much time as you can each month patrolling your neighborhood in the Orange County Sheriff's "Citizen On Patrol" Police Vehicle.
What do I do if I see something?
You do not get involved with any individual; you just report suspicious activity or crimes you may encounter. You will call the sheriffs on the supplied cell phone and continue your patrolling.
OK I'm interested. How do I get started?
John Tenney and I have met with Deputy Edward Royal of the Orange County Sheriff's Office who runs the program and he outlined the program to us. We need 25 volunteers to start our own program. Please come out to an organizational meeting on Wed. Aug. 20th 2008 at 7PM at 700 Cedarwood Court and get all the details. Even if you're not sure, come out to the meeting and learn more about protecting your neighborhood.
Where and when is that meeting again?
Wed. Aug. 20th 2008 at 7PM at 700 Cedarwood Court, home of Harold and Cheryl Engold.
How can I find out more?
In the meantime, if you have any questions, please call me, Harold Engold at 407-491-5233 or e-mail me at LTHEJHPD@aol.com. Or e-mail John Tenney at Johnwill@tenncomgroup.com.
As a retired law enforcement officer of 30 years, I have seen this program in action and it does work in reducing crime.
Harold Engold
 September 20 - Dick Glesener |
 August 17 - Bill & Kathi Snook |
 OTHER STUFF: |
 Sunday Nov. 2 - Daylight Saving Time Ends |
Welcome to Cypress Isles!
Go over and say, "Hi!"
Welcome to our new neighbors at
13203 Spring Haven Court.
CIN Publication Schedule
Check out our website - www.cypressisles.org
to see your newsletter in color!
The Cypress Isles News is published quarterly by the Board of Directors
for the residents of Cypress Isles. We welcome non-commercial articles and
paid advertising from our neighbors. Send email submissions to Sandy Horazak
- sanden@bellsouth.net. Copy deadlines
are February 1 for the February issue, May 1 for the May issue, August 1
for the August issue, and November 1 for the November issue. Articles may
be edited for length, clarity, or content. Advertisements are subject to
approval of the Cypress Isles News staff and the Cypress Isles Board of
Directors, which governs this newsletter.
Advertising in the Cypress Isles News does not constitute endorsement by
either the Cypress Isles News or the WLCA. We do not guarantee the accuracy
of the advertisements or the performance or proper licensing of our advertisers.
We recommend that consumers check references.
Thanks to the Symons' and the Engolds for delivering the newsletter
to our homes.
Sandy Horazak, Editor
Cypress Isles Contact List
Board of Directors
John Tenney, President 407-383-3079 johnwill@tenncomgroup.com
Ron Wiley, Vice- President 407-384-2564 rwiley4@cfl.rr.com
Dennis Horazak, Secretary 407-207-6557 densus@bellsouth.net
Myron Davis, Treasurer 407-737-8200 mdavis8200@comcast.net
Bob Hopper, Director 407-232-5555 epcorlando@cfl.rr.com
Harold Engold, Director 407-273-4990 LTHEJHPD@aol.com
Cookie Symons, Director 407-273-5460 Minnieland@aol.com
Community Management Professionals
Judith Meldrum, 407-903-9969 Ext. 106 Judith@community-mgmt.com
Neighborhood Watch
Sandy Horazak, 407-207-6557 sanden@bellsouth.net
COP Committee
Harold Engold, Director 407-273-4990 LTHEJHPD@aol.com
Media
Dennis Bode, Webmaster dbode@cfl.rr.com
Sandy & Denny Horazak, CI News Editor
407-207-6557 sanden@bellsouth.net
WLCA Office (Dawn) 407-380-3803
453 Mark Twain Blvd. wlca@bellsouth.net
Orange County Sheriff
Non-emergency 407-836-HELP (4357)
Animal Control (unleashed pets, etc.)
407-352-4390
Progress Energy Streetlight Repair or Power Outage
1-800-228-8485
www.progress-energy.com
Call before you dig (Sunshine Network) 811
www.call811.com
www.ocso.com Click- on
"E-Reporting" - to report certain types of crime online, such
as lost property, theft, vandalism, and vehicle burglary.
www.ocso.com- Click on
"Property Crimes and Robberies in Your Zone" - to find out what
types of crimes are occurring in your area.
www.cfcrimelinewarrants.com
- to check individuals for warrants.
www.snopes2.com -
exposes hoaxes, urban legends, and other email crap