This Is our Village

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR 2015

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Dave Israel
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NEW YEAR'S WISHES

Wishing One & All a most Happy, Healthy New Year, filled with Love, Compassion and respect for one another.  Hopefully 2015 will bring Peace, not only within, but world wide as well.
Bettie Lee Bleckman

Monday, December 29, 2014

UCO REPORTER JANUARY 2015 - LIVE IN CYBERSPACE


Tetro vs O'Brien

May I suggest that Mrs. Tetro meets with Mr. O'Brien to clarify some of the issues she brings on the other blog. Like most residents I am not an accountant. Some of the issues she raises might be legitimate. I don't know. Her way of going at it mudies the process and leads some to believe that the purpose here is to delay passing of the budget until the snowbirds are gone......but keep on paying. So please, get together and discuss these important matters in a constructive way.  Andre Legault

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL

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Dave Israel
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Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Monday, December 22, 2014

CORRECTED CLUBHOUSE MOVIE SCHEDULE

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Dave Israel
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Sunday, December 21, 2014

THANK YOU, UCO VOLUNTEERS.

Approaching the end of the year, this seems like a good time to express our thanks to those in UCO for all they do for us as individuals and associations. We have a rather strange and sometimes awkward arrangement in Century Village WPB: 309 autonomous associations except for certain (limited) rights and responsibilities we have ceded to an administrative body called UCO, whose board of directors consists of representatives from the 309 associations. It's a pretty unwieldy set-up, but we do the best we can. UCO itself, and its subsidiary the UCO Reporter/Channel 63, is run almost entirely by association volunteers.



These volunteers deserve a great amount of thanks. They put in endless hours making life run smoothly for the rest of us. There would be no Century Village without them.

The buses only run because volunteers on a committee make the often-changing arrangements with the bus company. Security only exists because volunteers have made arrangements with the successive security companies we have hired. The COP volunteers are a deterrent to crime in the Village. Volunteers work with WPRF to smooth out the recreational facility operations under the complicated "Triple Net Lease" agreement we have. Volunteers in Investigations help our associations avoid selling and renting units to  those who can't afford to live here. Volunteers in the Insurance Department make it possible for associations to be covered by several different kinds of insurance, all needed, at the lowest available cost. (Amazingly, thanks to Toni Salometo and the Insurance Committee, the Brown & Brown insurance premiums will be considerably LESS in 2015.)


I could go on and on. At the end of a year, our volunteers deserve to take a bow and we to give them a big thank-you. 

Saturday, December 20, 2014

BLOGMEISTER ERROR AND APOLOGY

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My prior post regarding the Uniters Club was a grievous error on my part for which I apologize with deep regret.
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Dave Israel
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Friday, December 19, 2014

BONUS TO PAID EMPLOYEES

I sent an email to our Treasurer, Howard O'Brien asking for the Total sum of the bonus for our paid employees and what line this was coming from in the budget.  My reply was This information is confidental and priviledged...I was not asking for individual names, just an expense amount for the bonus.  Is it also a secret to know what officers voted for this bonus? I am sure if they felt they are doing the right thing they would be glad to say so.  I will be at the next officers meeting...and will ask this same question..

Thursday, December 18, 2014

UCO TREASURER APPEARS ON COUNTY GOVERNMENT CHANNEL 20 - DEMONSTRATING E-FILING




See Treasurer O'Brien explaining how to pay your taxes online - Thanks Howard.

Drag the little progress dot at the bottom to 5:50 (minutes : seconds) the segment runs to about 7:05.

Dave Israel
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Wednesday, December 17, 2014

ABDI going away?

What is going to happen when new security take over? Will we still have ABDI for gate and buying tickets?

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

"Delegate Assembly Gone Amok” was a smash hit on all our heads at CV.

According to Lanny and others, at Clubhouse the Act II Community Theater’s “Once Upon a Time—A Fairy Tale Gone Amok” was a smash hit.  That was a great show.  Lets keep amok players on the stage at an evening performance.

Please DO NOT let the Malcontents hijack another Delegate Meeting as they did in December.  Keep these "amok" people quiet with the fairy tales they tell by having PBSO present and visible.  


Saturday, December 13, 2014

UCO ELECTION NOTICE

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Roberta Boehm-Fromkin, Chair of the Nominations Committee, long-time resident and contributor to Century Village, passed away recently, having taught us the value of fair-mindedness, generosity, competence and humor. We will always remember her with fondness and respect.

Ruth Bernhard-Dreiss, member of the UCO Executive Board and the Nominations Committee, will be the new point person for nominees submitting bios for the March 2015 election.  

The committee urges concerned unit owners to run for UCO office. Submit your bios by February 6, 2015 to Ruth at RUTHPHILD@aol.com.  Nominations from the floor made be made at the February 6 Delegate Meeting if the nominee is present.

Positions Open: 2 for Vice President, 10 for Executive Board

Officers and board members who moved into their positions because of someone’s departure do not have to run in 2015 unless the term of the person they replaced expires in March

Bio: Max. 250 words for Executive Board, some flex for VPs, bio to include Name, Building Address, Education, Work Experience, Military, Century Village Experience and UCO Experience

Election: March 6, 2015 at 8:00am in the Clubhouse

Get involved in your community!
Run for UCO office!
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Thursday, December 11, 2014

SOLOMON & GROSSMAN THREATEN UCO ATTORNEY WITH FLORIDA BAR COMPLAINT

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Mark Friedman, an Attorney with Becker & Poliakoff was assisting UCO in the re-write of UCO Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. The letter below signed by Mr. Solomon and Mr. Grossman, expresses the belief that there is a Conflict of Interest, and threatens referral to the Florida Bar Association. Becker & Poliakoff, in consideration of the "perception of a conflict"; did Indeed recuse themselves.
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This has had no effect on our document revision project, as we have already selected another Attorney.
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As a point of interest, Mark opined that there was no conflict of interest, as Indicated in his letter to the Justice for Residents organization (Mr. Grossman), which may be found just below the petition letter.
 
 

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So, what was the purpose of this exercise, I leave that to our readers to answer.
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Dave Israel
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Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Roberta Fromkin

Roberta Fromkin was president of the Wellington G Board of Directors for many years.  She also served as co-president of Wellington Federation.  She served on the Executive Board of UCO and chaired the Search and Nominations Committee.  She also served on several committees. Roberta never said no!  She was a tireless worker, a great person and most importantly my best friend in the Village.  She will be sorely missed and CV has lost one of our finest residents.

Joyce Reiss

“ONCE UPON A TIME” IS A SMASH HIT

Monday evening’s presentation in the Clubhouse of the Act II Community Theater’s “Once Upon a Time—A Fairy Tale Gone Amok” was a smash hit.

Arriving with my neighbor Terry French in what I thought was plenty of time (a half hour early), I found it was not. A line of people extended from the Classroom C door around the cubicle in the front lobby with the two guards. Luckily we got seats. The much-larger Classroom C—booked because of overflow audiences for the first two Act II Community Theater performances in second-floor Classroom B—was still not large enough. About 75 people had to be turned away. Apologies from all the Act II personnel to all who didn’t get to see the show. Hopefully the group can reserve an even larger facility (it will have to be the theater because the party room won’t work for shows) for their next production.

Would the performance be up to what this eager crowd anticipated? I would say it was—in spades. I thought the actors, which included four dancers, did extremely well considering the fact they are past their prime, ranging in age from 57 to almost 90. Most of them have not acted professionally; many have never acted before. Some of them struggled to learn their lines, I happen to know, and they did learn them for the most part, very well.

The brainchild of our talented Kitty Gragg, “A Fairy Tale Gone Amok” was exactly what this show was. It was about Cinderella—but was it? With great hilarity, characters from Sleeping Beauty and other fairy tales were soon getting into the mix. But it all came together. Not only did Cinderella marry the prince, but the two false princes (from other fairy tales) fell in love with Cinderella’s stepsisters, and even the evil stepmother found her “true love” in Geppetto, the creator of Pinocchio.

The audience, to me, was amazing. They caught on very quickly to what was going on and were laughing and applauding constantly. When the Big Bad Wolf, from Little Red Riding Hood, came onstage and sang in a threatening manner to Cinderella, the audience began spontaneously clapping in rhythm with the song. Later, something sad happened to one of the characters—I forget exactly what now—and the audience, in empathy, actually moaned.  I couldn’t believe how INTO the story and the performers the audience was. This, Kitty told me afterward, in turn helped the actors do better.


I could go on to cite hilarious moment after hilarious moment and name those who did so well in the play, but space won’t permit here. Suffice it to say, “Once Upon a Time” was a treat for us all. 

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

UCO MONTHLY MEETINGS - JANUARY 2015 - LIVE IN CYBERSPACE

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Dave Israel
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READ IT AND WEEP: Comcast sued for turning home Wi-Fi routers into public hotspots

For those who screwed up the Wi-Fi vote last week, here's what you have left us with, opt out building Wi-Fi.


Two East Bay residents are suing Comcast for plugging their home’s wireless router into what they call a power-wasting, Internet-clogging, privacy threatening network of public Wi-Fi hotspots.
The class-action suit, filed last week in U.S. District Court in San Francisco on behalf of Toyer Grear and daughter Joycelyn Harris, claims Comcast is “exploiting them for profit” by using their Pittsburg home’s router as part of a nationwide network of public hotspots.
(Read more at the web address below)
http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Comcast-sued-for-turning-home-Wi-Fi-routers-into-5943750.php

INSURANCE OPTION SHEETS AND RENEWALS - FOR ALL ASSOCIATIONS


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Dave Israel
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Sunday, December 7, 2014

LEST WE FORGET - "THE DAY THAT WILL LIVE IN INFAMY

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Remember Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941.
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Dave Israel
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Saturday, December 6, 2014

NOTICE OF PASSING - ROBERTA FROMKIN

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It is with great sadness 
That I notify you of the passing of our dear friend
ROBERTA FROMKIN 

Funeral is this monday at 10:00am
Palms west funeral home
State Rd 7 just south of okeechobee Blvd.

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Dave Israel
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Broken Water Mains

For any association that has broken water mains on their property the people to call to come and repair them is Palm Beach Water who we pay our water bills to. One association called UCO. Does UCO have plumbers? Everyone should know that water mains belong to the Palm Beach Water. We had a problems and they came to repair their pipes. Ed Ross is trying to blame David Israel for his own lack of knowledge. He should be more informed before he blames others.

Thursday, December 4, 2014

CENTURY VILLAGE INSURANCE PROGRAM - BROWN & BROWN PRESENTATION - LIVE IN CYBERSPACE


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Get your options sheet at UCO, you will be pleasantly surprised.
Our program improves every year, improved coverage, reduced price! there is no substitute.
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Dave Israel




Insurance Presentation 12-4-2014 p2 from David B. Israel on Vimeo.


Insurance Presentation 12-4-2014 p3 from David B. Israel on Vimeo.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

NOTICE OF PASSING

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It is with great regret that I notice the passing of long time CV Resident Barbara Shapkin.
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The funeral is scheduled for this Thursday, Dec. 4th at 10:00 a.m. at
Royal  Palm Beach Memorial Gardens,  
5601 Greenwood Ave. West Palm Beach
Phone: 561-848-8659
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    Go via 45th Street past St. Mary's Hospital to Greenwood Ave. and turn left and go a few blocks it is on the left.
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Dave Israel
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Monday, December 1, 2014

OFFICERS COMMITTEE MEETING - NOVEMBER 26, 2014 - LIVE IN CYBERSPACE




officers meeting 11-26-14 from David B. Israel on Vimeo.

We Are Suing Ourselves

To answer Gary on the other blog that we are not suing ourselves. Should we win this lawsuit of yours the insurance company pays out a sum of money.  The next premium year they up the insurance premium to recoup that money or cancel our insurance so we are left to look elsewhere for more expensive insurance as all insurance companies will know about the payout. That is how insurance works. They never lose!

UCO REPORTER - DECEMBER 2014 - LIVE IN CYBERSPACE



Friday, November 28, 2014

BROWN & BROWN INSURANCE PROGRAM FOR OUR VILLAGE - DON'T MISS IT

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Dave Israel
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‘In Perpetuity’ Doesn’t Always Mean Forever By SAM ROBERTS 11:30 PM ET

Something to ponder for those fighting the Golf Course:
Copy and paste the link below.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/28/nyregion/with-naming-rights-perpetuity-doesnt-always-mean-forever.html

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Answer to Esther

 How dare you write on your blog that I called you anti-Semitic names. I also never called you a staggering drunk, a liar, until now, and thief. I am now calling you, Esther, a liar. I wrote on your blog that I think you are one of the nastiest people around and enjoy calling others names as you call me a moron. Yes there is a federal law against hate speech. Well reread your blog and see what hate is as you seem to spew it out. If, as you say, I am a moron, name calling, then all I can say to you is, it takes one to know  one.

Friday, November 21, 2014

Question about Guest Passes etc

There is a teenager who has been living in Century Village for over a year now. Officially the condo is rented by the parents but they live elsewhere and the teenager lives here, transforming the condo into a college dorm with all the shoot-them-up games that resonate all around. They are cheating and they know and have been warned, but... my question, though, is:

how can a teenager obtain a pass that allows him/her to roam around the Village at will and also reside full-time in the Village?

Apart from jumping the fence, he/she has to go through the gates.

Is there such a thing as a yearly pass for guests?
Are there temporary passes that can be extended indefinitely?
What part do the transponders/stickers play in this? Can a teenager, who is using a car with a transponder/sticker obtained  by the parents, slip through the gates EVERY DAY, and, at times, more than once a day, without raising flags?

I understand passes are source of income but I believe that they are primarily and exclusively issued to protect the Villagers who are entitled to live here from those who are not.


Contretemps at Congretation Anshei Shalom

Where the Malcontents go, Trouble always seems to follow:


Thursday, November 20, 2014

From Gary's World Blog...
Witnessed
Earlier I posted a remark about how Marilyn G. challenged the right of Ed Grossman to be in theCONGREAGATION ANSHEI SHOLOM and ask to talk with the President. The following is the record as reported by a witness;
"I was present the morning is question. The question Marilyn asked what was Mr. Grossman doing here. This question was directed to our president of the congregation. Mr. Grossman who was greeting members of the congregation as they exited the sanctuary. Mr. Grossman I believe asked to speak to rabbi Korman. The rabbi may have told Mr. Grossman to see him at the conclusion of our services. Mr. David   Israel is not a member of our congregation and neither is Mr. Grossman. Congregation Anshei Sholom has never expelled anyone from our services. Anyone is allowed to enter and worship with us. Rabbi Korman may not have known why mr Grossman wanted to see him. I believe that rabbi Korman told Mr. Edward Grossman that the rabbi cannot get involved in village politics. After that several arguments broke out and i don't really know what else took place.   George m Nathan, member of the board of trustees of congregation anshei Sholom. I should have responded to this message much sooner.  I am trying to clear up old stuff and delete from my email list."

From: "The Century Village Messenger Club" <thecvmessinger@gmail.com>
To: "nathan, george" <gnatrx7@comcast.net>
Sent: Monday, November 3, 2014 3:05:14 PM
Subject: Why Worry?

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

NEW MET VS OLD MET THERE IS NO COMPARISON ( IMHO )

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Well, I suppose this will ignite some friendly controversy. The Lincoln Center house is undoubtedly very nice, I have seen but one opera performance at Lincoln Center, I was not impressed. Thus, virtually all of my experience with New York opera was at the old Met located at 39th. street and Broadway. I attended the opera there from age 10 through age 16, and then was off to university.
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The exterior of the building was nothing to brag about, but the key item was the acoustics, there was no garish stream of lyrics scrolling over the stage, and no microphones and over-amplification. The interior was designed, so that you could quite literally hear a pin drop on stage from the highest balcony, up near the ceiling. The photo above was taken circa 1937 (not by me). The house was magnificent!
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Dave Israel
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Monday, November 17, 2014

What happen to cameras of front gate?

Sunday, November 16, 2014

to trash or not to trash.

I received a complaint today, and actually doubt that too much can be done about it, but here goes anyway. The person spoke to me of the people that go around Dumpster diving.
The objection was in two parts, first was the hour of the dive... apparently around 11:30 pm. A man with a pickup going around diving in the dumpster, taking apart old furniture for the metal in it. He gave this person a fright and she apparently yelled for him to depart or she would call 911.
The second was that the person was diving in GARBAGE. Is there any legal way to stop this disgusting behavior?
Any suggestions?

WHAT A "NIGHT AT THE OPERA"!

I wonder how many others enjoyed  last night's "A Night at the Opera" performance at the Clubhouse. Aria after aria from many famous operas was sung by the four singers: a soprano, a mezzo-soprano, a tenor and a baritone. There were solos, duets, and at least twice all four participated. There was a good turnout, and it seemed the audience got increasingly caught up in it all, As the first few notes of some of the later selections were sung, the audience, recognizing what was coming, would burst into applause in anticipation. I thought it was magnificent and hope there will be many more such Clubhouse performances of grand opera selections. Bravo!

Saturday, November 15, 2014

DELEGATE ASSEMBLY - 7 NOVEMBER, 2014 - LIVE IN CYBERSPACE




                      Delegate Assembly 11-7-2014 PART 1 from David B. Israel on Vimeo.


                         Delegate Assembly 11-7-2014 PART 2 from David B. Israel on Vimeo.


                         Delegate Assembly 11-7-2014 PART 3 from David B. Israel on Vimeo.


                           Delegate Assembly 11-7-2014 PART 4 from David B. Israel on Vimeo.
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Dave Israel
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Friday, November 14, 2014

Answer To Esther

Esther that is your name. My name is Grace. Only the closest of friends call me Gracie and you are not. You use that name to make some kind of a point that only your small brain knows. You obviously did not understand what I wrote and answered in lies about what I said. My remarks about the paving were, there was a town meeting with the paving company. The man from the paving company told us that if we paved over the cracks, they would eventually come back. I guess you didn't bother to attend or you were not a resident at that time. He was very clear that any person could understand. It went to the Delegate assembly and the delegates voted the cheaper cost to cover the cracks and low and behold they came back. Do your homework before you make charges! Esther, you are no queen!

Monday, November 10, 2014

VETERANS DAY - DO NOT FORGET

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Dave Israel
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Sunday, November 9, 2014

UCO OPEN MEETINGS - DECEMBER 2014

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Dave Israel
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Saturday, November 8, 2014

DELEGATE MEETING PROCEDURES. NEEDS TO BE SAID AND SAID AGAIN!

Below is a post from Elaine that if followed, would stop the silly and ignorant disruptions at Delegate Meetings (and maybe J. Karpf's demented Nazi salutes too).  It makes GREAT sense.  Just read it.



IMHO. The Delegate Assembly is a Board of 300+ Directors, it is their job to judge motions, projects, and plans for serving the village. These items have been researched and thoroughly vetted by UCO committees, Officers, and Executive Board. The Delegate Assembly deals with ideas that have been polished and refined.

There may be people with fantastic ideas, but they need to go thru the process. Do not fling ideas at the Delegates without backup and full of unverifiable claims. That only causes confusion and wastes time.

If you have a brand new idea for the village, please DO NOT bring it untested to the Delegate Assembly. Go to UCO where there is a great experience base and the historical searchable database, most ideas are not new. When the idea is properly organised the UCO system will move the idea/plan to the Assembly. Then maybe we can finish on time.
Also spare us from historical regurgitation and whining, we understand some people have unique sensitivities but we should not waste the time of hundreds of residents.

In plainer terms, if you have not bothered to prepare, read, listen, or attend meetings to gather information, the Delegate Assembly is not the place to go to square one with elementary questions, and a lot of whining about having the right to speak and demonstrate your ignorance.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

UCO OPEN MEETINGS - NOVEMBER 2014

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Dave Israel
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SPECIAL HOLIDAY CONCERT IN OUR THEATER

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Dave Israel
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SOME QUESTIONS FROM THE OFFICERS MEETING



This was a good way to see how well UCO has been running for some time now.  We don't get garbage slanted versions of what happened from Dave Israel haters on other blogs.

Some questions:

Why has the Southampton fence been delayed?    Well it seems the Boards at Southampton A, B and C do not have a clue as to their property lines.  This has been a years long problem.  NOT a UCO problem--a Southampton problem.  The Southampton deeds are a mess and their pool was installed without a county permit (no record of it). Is this a UCO problem?  NO, its a Southampton problem.  Where was the Board there all these years??  PB County will not permit a fence until these issues are resolved. 


Concerned with under 55 people living at CV?  Why not publish online the Associations (NOT UCO, the Associations) who rent or sell to under 55.  This is NOT a UCO issue.  It is an Association issue You can follow the under 55 trail easily to some of the Stratford Area Associations and some of the Norwich Area Associations and to others.


UCO is doing very well.  No money shortfalls.  Money in reserves.  Listen to the video recordings.





Monday, November 3, 2014

SECURITY CONTRACT

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THANKS to Ed Black and his committee for a wonderful job on the new security contract , this is one of the best contracts for security that I have seen since I am here......Thanks Ed for the many,many hours spent on achieving this result for the village.....BRAVO!
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Thursday, October 30, 2014

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO TREAT THESE PANDA CUBS

Warning

 This is the Warning that comes up when I go to Malconts blog.

This Connection is Untrusted

You have asked Firefox to connect securely to www.myvillageblogger.blogspot.com, but we can't confirm that your connection is secure.
Normally, when you try to connect securely, sites will present trusted identification to prove that you are going to the right place. However, this site's identity can't be verified.
What Should I Do?

If you usually connect to this site without problems, this error could mean that someone is trying to impersonate the site, and you shouldn't continue.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

“A FAIRY TALE GONE AMOK" IS RIGHT.


MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

This summer while up north, I received e-mails almost every other day about the Act Two Community Theater’s upcoming rehearsals, for I was being sent the same notices being sent to the cast members of “Once Upon a Time,” the play they are performing on December 8. It seemed they were rehearsing with a vengeance (and eating almost as often, I might add). They were learning their lines, changing the script, now incorporating dancers, now painting backdrop scenes, and (having made the round of the thrift stores) even making their own costumes. What was I going to find when I got back to the Village?

I found out on October 15 when I attended their dress rehearsal. For a small group of mostly amateurs, performing now for only a little over a year, they are putting on an extravaganza. Did I say small group? It’s not so small now; it’s up to 26 players, almost as many as took part in the Resident Show.

The play is about Cinderella. Simple enough, yes? Well, not so fast, for this is a slightly different Cinderella. Cinderella is a fairy tale, and when you get into the Land of Faerie, anything can happen, including the intrusion of OTHER fairy tales, which is what happens here.

It will help to watch the first part of the play closely. Do you remember your old fairy tales—Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Beauty and the Beast? Do you recall The Wizard of Oz with the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good? Do you remember the curses and the remedies? Watch for these signs of FAIRY TALE MIX-UP.

Listen carefully to the narrator as the play proceeds. There is a surprise ending, but I will leave it to you to find out if it is a happy one, for Cinderella nearly goes off the rails.

Act Two Community Theater has the use of Classroom C for this production, so hopefully there will be plenty of room for everyone who wants to attend. Remember, the actors and stagehands for the most part are not professionals; they are past their prime and the sets have been cobbled together. Cut them some slack! They are your neighbors having a good time and hoping you do, too.

The show is on Monday, December 8, 2014, and starts at 7:00 p.m. Sit down, get comfortable, let yourself drift back into the World of Faerie, and enjoy!

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Re The Paving & Lawsuit
We had a meeting with the paving contractor. We were told that to have a perfect job they would have to dig up the old paving and start over. The delegates in their wisdom took the cheap route and had the paving done over the existing then pavement. As a result the cracks came back. We got what we paid for. Why people are suing when we were told the cracks would come back is amazing. Some people have nothing better to do with our people's money.

Friday, October 17, 2014

Malcontent Blog

When I try to go to the Malcontent's Blog or myvillageblogger etc Avast, which is my virus protector gives me this message. I think they know something!

This Connection is Untrusted

You have asked Firefox to connect securely to www.myvillageblogger.blogspot.com, but we can't confirm that your connection is secure.

Normally, when you try to connect securely, sites will present trusted identification to prove that you are going to the right place. However, this site's identity can't be verified.
What Should I Do?

If you usually connect to this site without problems, this error could mean that someone is trying to impersonate the site, and you shouldn't continue.

Saturday, October 11, 2014

IS ONE-VOTE-PER-UNIT A GOOD IDEA?


A lot of the folk in the Village think “one vote per unit” would be a good idea, and that the UCO bylaws should be changed to include this. Some apparently think it would not be a good idea. Some of us, myself included, don’t exactly know what those favoring one-vote-per-unit MEAN by it. One vote per unit is clear enough, but one vote about what? Who gets to be UCO president? Who gets elected as an officer—and if so, what officers? All of them or only some? Would it extend to electing Executive Board members? Might it extend to voting on certain important ISSUES?

I’d like to get clear on this much first. Then, in the light of how far one-vote-per-unit applies, consider whether it’s a good idea.

If we do think it’s a good idea, then we need to think through the mechanics of administering one-vote-per-unit. Would it be workable? Can unit owners vote by mail? What controls would be needed? Would we need professional help? How expensive would this be?

Of course our one-vote-per-unit would have its parallel in the oft-cited suggestion of voting for US president (and vice president?) by popular vote. Many people favor such a change, but the founding fathers thought it wise to give the states more than zero say in this decision. They also questioned whether the average voter was sufficiently informed and possessed of good judgment to make a wise choice, and provided an “out” through the Electoral College. This would seem to parallel the question for us: Are unit owners (as contrasted with delegates) too out of touch with UCO operations to vote sensibly? Or, thanks perhaps to improved communications, are our owners now better educated in Village affairs?

Seems to me there is a lot to consider. I hope we don’t rush to judgment on this, but give it time to be thoroughly discussed. That takes time in a large group such as ours. Maybe the blog would be a good forum for hashing this out?




 

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

WI-FI HOT SPOTS - HIGH INSECURITY - IS IT WORTH THE RISK

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Those Associations who have jumped on the Wi-Fi Hotspot bandwagon, may not be aware that their good friend Comcast is listing their name and location on the Internet for all to see. See the following  FYI:
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REF:  http://hotspots.wifi.comcast.com/ (PLUG IN 33417 IN THE SEARCH WINDOW)
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Wellington A Condo Association Incorporated
114 Wellington A,
West Palm Beach, FL 33417
xfinitywifi
Indoor
         Government / Library / Other
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Coventry J Association Inc.
240 Coventry J,
West Palm Beach, FL 33417
xfinitywifi
Indoor
Office Building
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BARBARA BUSINESS INC
200 Dorchester I,
West Palm Beach, FL 33417
xfinitywifi
Indoor
Government / Library / Other
…………………………………………………

WINDSOR A ASSOC
16 Windsor A,
West Palm Beach, FL 33417
xfinitywifi
Indoor
Government / Library / Other
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What this "Government / Library / Other" is all about, I cannot begin to imagine.

Now for a few thoughts as to what this blatant violation of your privacy may lead to:

1)    The most obvious problem is that outsiders, now that they know where you are,  will connect to your public gateway and hog the bandwidth and slow down the Internet connection speed of your authorized users, like from across the street in the trailer park. 
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2)    Another obvious issue is that visitors might be able to interact with computers and other devices on your personal network (wired or wireless) since everything connects to the same gateway device.
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3)    People locate Comcast hotpots via an Xfinity app or through the Xfinity hotspot locator site. (see above) I would be concerned about my address being broadcast by the app or the website.
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4)    What if a guest,(or a unit owner in your building) using the Internet connection in your Association, does something illegal (like download pornography)? Something so bad that law enforcement agencies get involved. This has come up many times before and is, perhaps, the most important reason not to share your Association Internet connection. To the outside world, all computing devices in your Association look the same. That is, they share a common public IP address (an IP address is the unique number that identifies a single entity on a TCP/IP network). Nothing I have read says that XFINITY WiFi guests are assigned their own public IP address. If they are not, anyone offering the service from their Association, runs the risk of men with guns knocking on their door, for the illegal actions of one rogue guest, or owner.
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5)    And even if Comcast can relate any illegal activity to their customer who was a guest on your home router at 9:56pm on Tuesday, would you trust one of the most hated companies in the U.S. to have your back in this case? That there are no detailed explanations of how this works just makes one more doubtful. 
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6)    Finally it must be noted, XFINITY WiFi is not limited to Comcast customers, making the task of identifying the real perpetrator of illegal activity that much harder. 

7)    There are two ways that anyone can hop onto your Association system: a free trial and a short term access pass. Bad guys with stolen credit cards can get online for an hour ($2.95), a day ($7.95) or a week ($19.95). Bad guys without a credit card can use two free sessions of an hour each. 
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Please do not risk the dangers of this Internet horror story waiting to happen, wait for and vote for real and secure Village wide Wi-Fi
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Dave Israel
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