L.A. LOOKS Wildlife Corner Photo & Article By Barbara Ann Comer The cattle egret is a common sight in Polk County and true to their name they are frequently seen on or around cows. They help keep the cows free of insects and also enjoy freshly mown fields. At Lake Ashton you are more likely to see one perched on an automobile as if mistaking it for a cow. They are white with a yellow bill and legs. Much smaller than Great Egrets, they are even a little smaller than a Snowy, but more stocky. Their breeding plumage adds a beautiful buff to their white plumes. Not a native bird, they hail from Africa arriving in South America on the winds of hurricanes in the late 1800s. They have spread from there and continue to work their way north arriving in Florida in the early 1950s. They are technically an exotic species, but not an invasive exotic. GO BIRD WATCHING WITH BARBARA! Meet at 8 am Monday, February 16 at the Clubhouse West Parking Lot in your golf cart for an 8:10 am departure. We plan to tour the east course via golf carts in search of birds. “Cartpooling” is encouraged. Bring binoculars, water, hats and sunglasses, and wear sunscreen or clothing that will protect you from the sun. We plan to bird for about 1 – 2 hours maximum. LA (LW) HOA CORNER By Deanne Mayne Now that snowbirds are back in their Lake Ashton homes, this is a good time for all homeowners to 18 look at the outside of their home to see if dreaded mildew has paid a visit to the paint on your house and perhaps the gutters and downspouts too. Usually, this can be taken care of by power washing the surfaces. In addition to general cleanliness, Compliance will concentrate on mulch in landscape beds. You do not need HOA permission for power washing but if you plan to have your home repainted, remember to file an ARC request. Mailboxes and driveways were areas of recent inspection by Compliance. Mailboxes are looking great and only a handful still need attention. Many driveways still need cleaning and homeowners will receive courtesy notices. Please remember to file ARC requests for any changes to the outside of your home including landscaping beds. It’s better to file a request to be on the safe side. ARC is available the third Wednesday of each month to assist homeowners. Meetings are in the Clubhouse Card Room at 3:30. By now, you should have received documents from the HOA that include a letter from former President John Donahue, a letter from our legal firm, and items in the CC&Rs that need to be voted on, and a proxy form for voting if you aren’t able to attend the annual meeting scheduled for March 7, 2026. Annual assessments of $55 have also been mailed to residents. If you did not receive this, please contact Stambaugh. If you still have not signed up for an account, please go to lakeashtonhoa.org. LA HOA BOARD MEMBERS • Charles Roland, ARC Director vpresident@lakeashtonhoa.org • Glen Hart, Director vp2@lakeashtonhoa.org • Dee Mayne, Secretary & Compliance Director sec2@lakeashtonhoa.org • ARC: ARC@lakeashtonHOA.org • Compliance: compliance@lakeashtonHOA.org
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