L.A. LOOKS Wildlife Corner Photo & Article By Barbara Ann Comer Osprey (found on all continents except Antarctica) are year-round, nesting residents of Lake Ashton. Formerly known as the Fish Hawk they nest near fresh or salt water and eat mainly fish. It is always a thrill to see one of these large brown and white birds hovering over water and then plunging feet first into the water and rising up with a fish firmly and aerodynamically grasped in their large talons with the head forward. Osprey can easily be mistaken for Bald Eagles because of their coloration and large size. However a Bald Eagle does not have a white breast and undersides. When perched an Osprey will often appear more horizontal while the Bald Eagle tends to hold a more vertical posture. In flight, their long narrow wings are bent back at the wrist reminiscent of a gull. The bulky nests in Florida are often laden with Spanish Moss and they tend to typically raise two young. As with most birds in Florida, they tend to nest earlier than their northern counterparts. LA (LW) HOA CORNER By Deanne Mayne The Focus 2030 report that Iris Realmuto presented at the June HOA meeting revealed that many residents are confused about which entity is responsible for various tasks. Here is an explanation of what the HOA does. The HOA is responsible for checking on residents' homes (outside only) and property within their boundaries. ARC (Architectural Review Committee) is part of the HOA and is concerned with any 16 changes that residents are making to their homes and landscaping. These changes can be related to paint colors for homes, window replacements, water conditioners and new landscaping beds to name a few. Requests for these are done through ARCTracker (arctracker.com/la) and are reviewed by ARC to allow the changes or deny the requests if they do not meet standards in the CC&Rs or Guidelines. HOA Compliance is responsible for notifying residents that some area of their property is in need of improvement. Compliance has focused on mailboxes, driveways, and trash bins over the past year. Damage from the February freeze will also be addressed starting in August. Compliance also does estoppel inspections when homes are within 30 days of closing and also checks the ages of new residents to make sure Lake Ashton remains a 55 and over community. Assessments for the HOA are determined by the board annually and are currently $55 per year. The assessment pays for the management company and legal fees and also pays to maintain properties that are in foreclosure. The HOA board consists of volunteers who serve three-year terms as directors and currently has five members. The ARC committee and Compliance committee hold monthly office hours the third Wednesday of each month. Plans are underway for several new committees - stay tuned for details. And lastly, we are always looking for volunteers to help with all committees. CLUBHOUSE ART WALL By Shelley Brodka We have some amazing artists, photographers, glass and craft designers in Lake Ashton, andeach month a new artist’s work is featured and is hung in the Clubhouse for a month for you to enjoy. There are openings for the months of March through December 2029, and beyond. If you are interested in showing having your work displayed on the Clubhouse Wall, contact Shelley Brodka at Shelleyb4336@gmail.com or text 623-910-4227.
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