SAFETY DRIVE SAFELY ! NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH (NW) CORNER By Fay Wood, NW Chief Most Polk County Schools start back August 12. Please use caution when traveling CR 653 during school opening and closing times. Remember, there may be longer than normal wait times in these areas during drop off and pick up times. At left is a reminder of how Florida traffic laws apply to stopping when a bus is displaying a stop signal. LIGHTNING SAFETY Lake Ashton has a lightning detection system to alert golfers to get off the course, and notify all residents to go indoors when the potential for a lightning strike is in the area. When the system senses a lightning danger, a high-pitched siren sounds and strobe lights turn on and stay on until the danger passes. These strobe lights are at various locations including on top of the Clubhouse, the backside of the HFC and the boat dock on Lake Ashton. A low-pitched horn will sound all clear and the strobe lights will turn off when lightning has passed. Lightning strikes may occur far away from a visible storm. Get out of pools, do not stand under trees, and get indoors when the siren sounds. Golf carts are not safe from lightning. STORM SEASON Storm season runs through November 30. Residents who will be spending the summer months in Florida should prepare for severe weather. A detailed list of storm tips can be found at lakeashtoncdd.com or in the Murray Zacharia Media Center at the Clubhouse. Simple Refresher Course for all: What is YOUR Neighborhood Watch (NW) Program? Vision: "Crime-free Community with Zero Tolerance For Crime" Mission: ”To Observe and Report - Neighbors Helping Neighbors” Neighborhood Watch is a total community program that considers every resident as well as others interested in the safety and security of Lake Ashton to be a vital part of the program. NW was launched as Lake Ashton's first total community "neighbors helping neighbors" crime watch program. It was designed to include all residents and all others who had a vested interest and a stake in Lake Ashton. NW is about residents doing what they are already doing - looking out for their friends and neighbors. The NW provides a total community centralized communications system to ensure that residents and their homes have added eyes and ears watching out for them. It is that simple! The program's official launch was in August 2008. Over 220 residents came to a Monday Coffee Meeting to meet Law Enforcement Officials, our community leaders, and to get specific details of the program. We continue to be blessed to have the total support of the HOA, CDD, Management, City Commissioners, Law Enforcement (Lake Wales and Winter Haven Police and the Polk County Sheriff's Office), CAP (Citizens Assisted Patrol), CERT and so many businesses in and around Lake Ashton. Couple all that muscle with the great folks residing in Lake Ashton and you cannot help but have a winner! Thanks to all those that have helped to make this the total success it continues to be. We are keeping it simple and it obviously is working. Please let us know how we can make Neighborhood Watch even better for the overall community. We value your support!
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