February 1997 Volume 28.2

The Sunset Park Village News

Published monthly for the 156 members of the Sunset Park Townhouses Association by DataTron Computer Services

What kind of neighborhood do you live in?
Well, the painters have finished! That's the good news!!!
Now for the other news:

Just in case no one has noticed, the child artists have returned to paint up our 'hood. Or is it their 'hood? "Oh they are just having fun," you say. Damaging property, destroying or killing your trees, trashing your little piece of suburbia and the American dream. Fun. They carry on while you sleep, at 3 to 4 in the morning, those brave little buggers sneak out of the house and trash what you and your neighbors built, only because we think they are just sowing their oats. Please! Only one idiot out of a thousand is coward enough to sneak around and make puny little stabs at desecrating the society that has not entertained them sufficiently. Someone needs to get a life… Perhaps the parents of those immature children can help them by at least giving them the time of day every once and a while…

The terrorists race through the park spewing dirt and grass twenty feet into the air, the children running for cover, weekend golfers dodging rocks, lovers on a picnic scrambling for their cars, what a disaster the weekend turned out to be. Three or four police cars race through the park with lights flashing. Just another exciting day in the annals of the Sunset Park Police Department. Will they ever learn? No vehicles on the grass! The police just don't like it.

Some folks have left their cars parked illegally on the sidewalk. Sometimes at night when you can't see them. Watch out for these cars, you might trip over one if you night walk, or you might bump into one when you back out of the parking spot. (Leting you in on a little secret; One morning someone's going to come out and find their illegally parked car has been towed. And it will cost them something like a hundred or more dollars to get it back.) But its' so easy to park on the grass or sidewalk...

Drugs. Yes, DRUGS! Right here in your own back yard. But not too bad, just under a dozen dusty little baggies that contained the pure white stuff, forgotten by the pool just the other night. What they don't know is that the police almost caught them. Only by sheer chance did they get away. But not to worry, they will be incarcerated with haste the next time. Thank goodness a baby didn't find the stuff!

Can you believe that some really lazy, uncaring people took your chairs out of the pool area and left them out for vandals (as if we didn't have our own little vandals with keys to the pool areas). Some of our children (big children) have been breaking and cutting the chairs inside the pool areas. Little do you realize that at the current rate of vandalism, we may have to resort to chaining the chairs up so no one can abuse or even use them. I don't know about you, but I like sitting on chairs better than that hard concrete. Yes it costs you money for every single repair. And that half hour putting the chairs back in the pool area cost you money too.

Please stop damaging the pool and tennis areas. This comes directly out of your pockets. You are responsible for your neighborhood. Pick up the phone and call the police when you have something to report. Ask your neighbor to cut it out when they break the law or a rule or do something stupid, or something that ultimately costs you money. If you have trouble with that, call the office. Of course if its' illegal, call the police. You are ultimately responsible for your neighborhood.

These short reports are from this last month. They don't even begin to touch on all the activities. Lets work together to clean up the 'hood neighborhood. THANK YOU!

Don’t forget!

The Maintenance Check in the amount of $ 79.00 was due on February the first. If you haven’t already, please drop it by the office right away and be sure to include the $10.00 late fee.

This months Board Meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 18 at 7:30pm in the Association Office (8018A SW 103 Ave.)

The Sunset Park Townhouses Association will be conducting a review of all the units in the Association making note of any architectural irregularities.

Remember that approval by the Architectural Board must be obtained before any exterior changes are made to your home. This includes, but is not limited to, Doors, entrance, overhead, windows, walls, roofs, additions, air conditioning, etc... If a Dade County Building and Zoning permit is required, Board approval is also required. In most cases even if a permit is not required, Board approval will be required.Call the office for more information.

You already know this but, please don't park on the grass. (This means you!)

How do you deal with sour circumstances?

The people who consistently manifest the greatest joy in life are those who will simply not be discouraged by their circumstances. As author Zig Zigler says, "If life hands you a lemon, take the lemon and make lemonade." Let me close with several examples: Charles Goodyear's lemon was a prison sentence, resulting from a contempt of court citation. While in prison, Goodyear didn't complain. Instead, he became an assistant in the kitchen. While there, he continued to work on an idea. In the process he discovered a method for vulcanizing rubber. His lemon, a prison sentence, became our lemonade. We have better tires, which means better travel and a better way of life.

It takes more than one to make harmony...

An admirer once asked the famous orchestra conductor Leonard Bernstein what was the most difficult instrument to play. He responded with quick wit: "Second fiddle. I can get plenty of first violinists, but to find one who plays second violin with as much enthusiasm or second french horn or second flute, now that's a problem. And yet if no one plays second, we have no harmony."

FOR SALE

Large dark wood solid oak entertainment cabinet. Has space for 25" TV & VCR. Sliding pull out drawer, books, radio components, central mirror and storage area. Only 5 years old. $500 or best offer. Call 279-9106 after 7pm

kids

Adolescence is the age when boys discover girls -- and girls discover they've been discovered.

A small boy invaded the lingerie section of a big department store and shyly presented his problem to a woman clerk. "I want to buy my mom a present of a slip," he said, "but I don't know what size she wears." "Is she tall or short, fat or skinny?" asked the clerk. "She's just perfect," beamed the small boy. So she wrapped up a size 34 for him. Two days later, mom came to the store herself and changed it to a 52. -- Saturday Review
Approximately 92% of all high school seniors have used alcohol; 66% used alcohol in the last month, and 86% used it in the past year.

Motor vehicle accidents involving alcohol are the leading cause of death for young Americans aged 15 to 19, accounting for 45% of fatalities in this age group. Although 16-24 years-old comprise only 20% of licensed drivers in the U.S. and account for less than 20% of total vehicle miles traveled, they are involved in 42% of all fatal alcohol-related crashes. Close to 8,000 people between 15 and 24 were killed in alcohol-related traffic accidents in 1984, and an additional 220,000 were injured.

MOVIES

Last year I had the privilege to view and review a great number of films. Some being better than others, I deemed it necessary to put aside and list those of exceptional (and unexceptional) value. It has been an honor to review all of the films I have seen this last year and hope to continue to do so. Thank you for putting trust in a thirteen year old. José Castelló

BEST FILMS
1. FARGO
2. BOUND
3. THE PEOPLE VS LARRY FLYNT
4. TRAINSPOTTING
5. SHINE
6. 12 MONKEYS
7. THE STAR MAKER
8. ROMEO & JULIET
9. MARS ATTACKS

WORST FILMS
1. BARB WIRE
2. RUMPLESTILTSKIN
3. ACE VENTURA 2
4. INDEPENDENCE DAY
5. SKYSCRAPER
6. BIO-DOME
7. ERASER
8. SLEEPERS

RENTAL MUST-SEES'
1. RESERVOIR DOGS 2. ARMY OF DARKNESS
3. PULP FICTION 4. EVIL DEAD I AND II
5. ED WOOD 6. ALL STAR WARS FILMS
7. MALLRATS
8. ADVENTURES OF BARON MUNCHHOUSEN (198O's )

Keeping you informed:

A "For Your Information" from the BY-LAWS OF SUNSET PARK TOWN HOUSES ASSOCIATION, INC. ARTICLE VIII Powers and Duties of the Board of Directors...It shall be the duty of the Board of Directors:
a.To cause the Owners to procure a building permit from the appropriate local government before any exterior alterations or modifications are to be made to any building; or any change that would affect the deed or its specifications; and
b.To require the Owners to receive approval in writing from the Board before any exterior alterations begin.
Please be advised that any homeowner or renter who altered, constructed or enlarged any building or exterior portion thereof may be subject to fines by Dade County and the Association, and possible removal of the construction, if appropriate building permit(s) and Architectural Board approval were not obtained.
If you have any questions regarding building permits, please contact the Dade County Building Code Compliance Office 375-2901

Construction projects can be fun if done properly. However, failure to comply with the South Florida Building Code in any of your construction endeavors can cause a lot of unnecessary problems including potential damage to your structure, lawsuites, stoppage of work and fines. Don't let this happen to you. Protect yourself and your neighbors by following the rules.

"It shall be unlawful to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, remove or demolish any building structure, or any part thereof; or any equipment, device or facility therein of thereon. or to change the occupancy of a building from one use group to another requiring greater strength, means of egress, fire and sanitary provisions; or to change to an unauthorized or prohibited use; or to install or alter any equipment for which provisions is made or the installation of which is regulated by obtaining a permit therefore, from the Building Official, validated payment therefore."

1. Approval by the Board of Directors must be obtained before any exterior changes are made and the Architectural Changes guidelines adopted by the Board must be adhered to.
a. DOORS; entrance, wrought iron gates, and garage entrance and overhead
1) Doors may be of any material providing that color scheme matches color scheme of Association.
2) Special doors or finishes to be maintained by owner. Otherwise doors will be painted into color scheme of Association. Extra preparation to receive paint will be charged to owner.
b. WINDOWS;
1) Any style or material of windows are acceptable except wood exterior.
2) Wood windows must be aluminum clad on exterior.
3) Association will not paint windows.
c. ROOFS:
1) Roofs and shingle roofs are to match approved style and color scheme of Association.
d. ADDITIONS, INCLUDING SCREEN PORCHES;
1) No roofs are allowed including screened that cannot bear the weight of painters.
2) No additions will be allowed that extend past existing front entrances or garage doors.
3) Owners with additions which require extra painting in order to maintain them will be charged for additional painting.
4) No enclosed additions at rear of unit except with prior Board approval.
5) Air conditioning for additions must be approved by the Board in advance.
6) Garage enclosures must keep parking strip in front of the unit and driveway must be used for parking at least one car.
2. No clothes, sheets, blankets, laundry, or any kind of articles shall be hung or exposed on any part of the Common Elements, Limited Common Elements, or any part of the exterior of a building.
3. No sign of any kind shall be displayed to public view on any Lot, except one sign of dimensions not exceeding twelve (12) inches square to advertise the property for sale or rent.