Category: Uncategorized

From the Desk of Anthony Riley

Congratulations all readers! You have found our place in the digital age we live in. This month and next, the newsletter will only be virtual, like that NFT property I bought in the metaverse. We’ll be back to print in a couple of months, and ink will flow and the power of the press will be in full display.

I’m writing this on Father’s Day and a shout out to my Dad who will hit 91 around Labor Day. And he will. I told him earlier that God must be mad at him for making him hang out down here. He won’t read this, but Mom will.

Speaking of longevity, how about 250 years of U.S.A.? That is a long time. When I hear that number, I think that’s about how long before I pay off my student loan. You know what a wise man in debt is? Me neither.

All seems to be relatively quiet around the neighborhood. As they say, no news can be good news. I’ve seen speed racers and absolute daredevils risking a lot on 3 inches of tread. Remember the Moped? Not an E-bike. And don’t forget 1973 scooters in Quadrophenia. Who?

We have a write-up in this newsletter about how you can support local schools. They need it, and the kids of our neighbors go to these schools. The kids are also neighbors. And alright, speaking of neighbors, I see the Bones have gone fishing.

As far as neighborhood events go, there is not much happening during the SPF Warning months aka Summer. Looking to the fall, we will have our annual Neighborhood Night Out in October. This promises to be another fun event for the kids and the kids at heart. And the old people too. We will also host our Winter Woods Fall Garage Sale and I’m looking for jewelry!

This article is AI free. While I’m not afraid of AI, those data farms are daunting. And unavoidable. Maybe this will all pass like a fad, like driverless taxis did. Not likely.

Recently I had a project that required a working age temp employee and I asked her to log her time to the nearest quarter hour for ease of calculation. Well, that caused a cog to turn. At the end of the project she reached for her phone to calculate total time earned. I said, “I’ll add up the time…” to which she replied, “in your head?”. This young workforce agent said, “I was going to use Chat GPT”.

If you didn’t receive a copy of this newsletter via email, tell us at WinterWoodsHOA@gmail.com and we will add you to the list. The good list.

Watch out for that heat, it is definitely not AI generated. Not exactly anyway.

I like to give a nod to the month at hand, it seems like the thing to do. I think I’ve already burned lamb and lion, so I used some intelligent assistance. From the benefits of AI via Google lifted from The Old Farmers Almanac (such a quaint concept, a book that predicts things), May is: “Known in Anglo-Saxon tradition as Tri-Milchi (cows could be milked three times daily), it is also associated with sheep-shearing festivals.” That could be our next neighborhood event.

Speaking of Neighborhood Events, one more shout out to all the people who attended the Spring Fling. Also, thanks to everyone that made the event possible, it was a roaring success. We managed to get several volunteer families for our Meet Your Neighbor article – none for this issue, but I think you will like the featured group. More stories to come! I also met new neighbors and that is the point, to try to create a sense of community that will help us look out for each other.

I had an interesting conversation with one of the Dads who attended. He had paid his Reasonable $25 Dues and he wanted to know, where does that money go? I tried to clarify. First, where it does not go is to anyone on the HOA Board, we too are volunteers. It also did not go to pay for any of those premium beverages at the Spring Fling.

The HOA has a budget, and we carved out a little for events, and we did pay for the free water, the bounce house (Bouncers gotta Bounce!) and the signs that said, “Neighborhood Event Today”. We also pay for the plants that decorate the entrances. You might think the Reasonable $25 Dues pay for this fabulous newsletter, but with advertising, a lot of the printing costs are covered. The rest of the budget is for the maintenance of the neighborhood and the costs of having an HOA at all. Meaning to justify the Reasonable $25 Dues, you really need to justify having an HOA. And that is easy.

People who share a common goal and are aware that they are not alone have a much greater chance of accomplishing the goal. And what is the goal of Team Winter Woods Residents? To keep the Winter Woods neighborhood the envy of the area. To keep property values up. To show earned respect and honor to our neighbors and the community we create. Enjoy our newsletters, enjoy the scenic flowers, enjoy the working streetlights, enjoy the fellowship of events and contests, enjoy the safety, enjoy your friends, family and neighbors.

Also, it is Mental Health Awareness Month. I’m just saying. Make a trip out to one of our HOA meetings at 7:00 pm on the second Thursday of every month (except June and July) at South Seminole Church of Christ on Lake Howell Rd or online via zoom. Here’s hoping for Showers and Flowers!

The June newsletter has been posted under “Newsletters” above or you can click here to view it. 

The May Yard of the Month is posted in the Photo Gallery or click here

Beginning in February 2026, the approved minutes of the previous month’s meeting will be posted under “Official Stuff”/”Minutes.” (May minutes to be approved at the August meeting.)

The next HOA meeting will be on Thursday, August 13th at 7:00 PM. If you would like to attend, it will be at the South Seminole Church of Christ on Lake Howell Rd (just North of Linden Rd). If you would rather attend via ZOOM, send an email to WinterWoodsHOA@gmail.com and Nell will send you the link. All homeowners and renters are welcome to attend the Association Meetings. There are no meetings during June or July and no delivered newsletters during July or August. July and August newsletters are email-only. If you are not receiving the newsletters by email, contact Nell at WinterWoodsHOA@gmail.com. 

Have you paid your HOA dues for 2026 yet? 

As of 5/29/2026, we’re at 115 (41.13%) paid members for 2026. King James Ct leads in membership with 82%. King Henry Ct is at 64%,  Winter Woods Blvd is at 60% and Poinciana Rd and King Edwards Ct are at 50%. If you don’t remember if you have paid, click here to see the list of who has paid for 2026. 

Your dues pay for the printing of the HOA Newsletter that is hand delivered to your door as well as the Neighborhood Night Out, greenery in the “public areas” and other events that happen in the neighborhood. No one on the HOA Board is paid as we are all volunteers.  The work in the “public areas,” which are the entrance sign areas, is also done by volunteers as well.  And don’t forget our advertisers! Their ads help offset the cost of the PRINTED newsletter.

Would you like to pay your HOA dues? You can click here to do it online, mail your $25 to the HOA at PO Box 342 Goldenrod, FL, 32733-0342 or drop it by 1958 Poinciana Rd (leave it in the mailbox). If you are not sure that you paid, send an email to WinterWoodsHOA@gmail.com or use the “Official Stuff” tab to view the addresses who have paid. 

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