LA SCALA NEWS

3rd Quarter 2009 from Andrew Fentiman (603) 

The sun is shining, the lakes are filled (rain falls almost every afternoon), and life carries on as usual, here in the sub-tropics.

The hurricane season officially ends on November 30, although the last November hurricane was in 2001. There have only been four November hurricanes to reach the U.S. since 1900, and none were greater than Category 1. Interestingly, as the hurricane season now passes its midway point, forming storms tend to develop in the Caribbean rather than in the Eastern Atlantic. 2005 was the ‘busiest’ season on record, so let’s compare how we are faring now, compared to 2005. Note that the following table includes statistics for all affected countries in the Caribbean & Eastern Atlantic, not just the U.S.A.

QUICK NEWS – Welcome to annual renters Greg & Paraskevi Morakeas, and baby Nickolas (701) ☺ Two deer sighted in the middle of the day, crossing the road outside Palermo ☺ 6-foot gator in road between Castella & Palermo, hissed at the La Scala driver who got out to look! ☺Next to Bonita Bubbles car wash, Congo River Golf (mini golf) is being constructed; great for the grandkids ☺ On the night shift at the front desk, Patricia Janowsky has joined us at La Scala ☺ Pelican Landing has a November 17 community meeting scheduled to discuss our beach: 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Pelican Landing Community Center. 240 tons of sand was added in late August. Read the updates on the La Scala web forum (heading ‘Community’, sub-heading ‘PLCA’) ☺ 5 decorator-ready units are left at La Scala ☺ The broken treadmill in the Fitness Center has been replaced with a very nice new model ☺

HOUSEKEEPING – Has your Pelican Landing photo I.D. card expired? If so, go to Pelican Landing Community Center and get a new one issued (only takes a minute) ☼ This is a good time to make sure your air-conditioning system is in tip-top condition, by scheduling a service maintenance visit ☼ Coming indoors from the La Scala pool, please dry off and avoid dripping water onto the marble floors ☼ When the grandchildren visit, please be courteous to other residents and prevent any horseplay, throwing of balls, intolerable noise, etc. ☼

UPDATE ON WCI & THE COLONY - WCI has closed down The Colony Sales Center, halted all new construction Colony sales, and removed the sign on Pelican Colony Boulevard for the Ponza neighborhood (where the old cell tower was located). In late August, the bankruptcy court approved WCI’s reorganization plan, which wipes more than $2 billion in debt from the balance sheet and cancels WCI’s existing shares. WCI has stated that they plan to sell off non-Florida land and developments in order to concentrate on their core products, of which The Colony is the ‘crown jewel’.  

BREAKFAST – Terri’s Summer Breeze Café, 3300 Bonita Beach Road (Kmart shopping center, NW corner of U.S. 41 at Bonita Beach Road). Tel: (239) 992-0275. Home-cooking, breakfast and lunch. For breakfast, they can make you the crispiest hash browns you ever tasted……

10,000 ISLANDS HOUSEBOAT RENTAL – A great long-weekend adventure in the wilderness! Just an hour’s drive from La Scala, Port of The Islands is a small community in the middle of nowhere, off of Old 41. At the marina there, Bill Curtis has a 35-foot fully-equipped houseboat for rent. Instruction, advice on mooring spots and charts are provided. Manatees are almost always seen in the harbor here; this is where the ‘guaranteed-sighting’ manatee tours are conducted.  The houseboat sleeps up to 6: there is a full-size bed, a convertible dinette and a pull-out sofa sleeper. But since your time out in the wilderness is determined by how quickly you drain the fresh water tank (showers, washing dishes, etc.), the trip is better for one (or maybe two) couples. There is a bathroom with sink, shower and toilet; a kitchen with stovetop, microwave, coffee-maker and a/c outlets; three decks (fore, aft and the roof) with BBQ grill and lounge chairs; two air-conditioners and a generator. Bed linens and towels are provided. Great for fishing, exploring, remote beaches, shelling and just getting away from it all! Bring the bug spray. See: www.10000islandshouseboatadventures.com and contact Bill Curtis on his cell at (239) 229-6904, or via e-mail at: Bill@10000islandshouseboatadventures.com.

LA SCALA WEBSITE & WEB FORUM – Don’t forget to frequent the web forum at www.LaScalaAtTheColony.com/smf and also consult the website at www.LaScalaAtTheColony.com.

Have a great Fall season……

 ANDREW

Cell: (239) 405-3455. E-mail: acfentiman@comcast.net