Tiara Towers

The United States Postal Service recently published a new set of guidelines for those owners and residents who use the Hold Mail service while traveling. The email that is being sent to recent users of this service is below.

The full requirements from the USPS website can be found at the USPS website.

Changes to USPS Hold Mail Service
________________________________________

Dear USPS® Customer,
You are receiving this notice because our records indicate that you have previously placed your mail on hold with USPS.
To provide you with greater security, USPS has made several changes to the online USPS Hold Mail™ process. These improvements require additional action from you before you submit your next online Hold Mail request.

 
What has changed?
To place an online Hold Mail request, you are now required to:
1. Create or sign in to your USPS.com® account
2. Verify your identity online through mobile phone passcode verification
-OR-
Request an identity verification passcode to be mailed to your address

Once you have completed the above steps for your current address, you will not have to complete them again and can place your mail on hold by logging into your account.

How should I plan for my next Hold Mail request?
A request to hold your mail can be made up to 30 days in advance. If you are completing the above steps for the first time, USPS recommends scheduling your online Hold Mail request at least a week prior to placing your mail on hold to avoid any issues due to these changes.
You will be able to verify your identity within the online USPS Hold Mail site. If you are unable to complete identity verification, you can still put your mail on hold by visiting your local Post Office™ location. For other options and more details, please visit our USPS Hold Mail FAQs.

To begin an online Hold Mail request, please visit USPS Hold Mail.

Can I verify my identity in advance of a Hold Mail request?
Yes. Customers subscribed to the USPS Informed Delivery® feature have satisfied the identity verification requirement, and no additional identity verification action is required. If you are not subscribed to Informed Delivery, you can sign up for the free USPS Informed Delivery feature*** - the only other USPS feature that currently offers identity verification.
Once your identity has been verified you will not have to complete this step again for your current address and you will be able to place your mail on hold. As an Informed Delivery subscriber, you will also be able to digitally monitor your mail while it is on hold. To learn more and sign up, go to the Informed Delivery Homepage. See more details in the Informed Delivery FAQs.
***Please Note: Subscribing to the Informed Delivery feature is not a requirement to hold your mail. Customers who are already enrolled in the Informed Delivery feature have satisfied the identity verification requirement, and no additional identity verification action is required for these customers. Customers whose address is not eligible for the Informed Delivery feature can still place their mail on hold online, provided the address is eligible for the Hold Mail service and they successfully pass identity verification.

 

What if I already scheduled a USPS Hold Mail request?
If you placed a USPS Hold Mail request before these changes were implemented your request will not be affected.
If you have other questions related to these changes, please reference our USPS Hold Mail FAQs or Contact Us for more information.
Thank you for being a valued USPS customer.

Sincerely,
Your United States Postal Service

Recently Tiara Owners may have received a letter from Comcast with a revised Channel Lineup.    Bob Alexander (903 S) has researched the whys and whens of this letter and has prepared the following explanation for us.

Tiara Owners:
Some of you have recently received a letter from Comcast regarding channel lineups that are being changed.  Many of you have contacted me or other board members trying to understand it.  I have spent many hours with varying support staff at Comcast trying to make sense of what’s going on.  Ultimately, I’ve spoken with a VP who I’ve known for a few years who was able to get to the bottom of the issue so that I can explain it.

First, some of you thought it may have to do with Turner Classic Movies (TCM)—it does not.  That change affected all Comcast subscribers who get the Basic Lineup and a notice was provided as part of the billing process.  The Tiara bulk lineup is Basic and we are all losing TCM because it is being transferred to higher cost lineups.  If you already subscribe to one of them, you’ll continue to get TCM at no cost.  Otherwise, you’ll have to pay for it in the future if you want to continue watching it.

You should all be aware that as condition of our Agreement with Comcast, they can change the channel lineups anytime they wish.  While we may find it aggravating, they may do so when they deem it necessary or a sound business decision.

The circumstances that triggered the personal letter varied by owner and many did not receive a letter. If you didn’t receive a letter, the following does not relate to you and you can disregard it.

If you received a recent letter indicating you’ve been getting a channel that you don’t pay for but it doesn’t indicate what channel it is, read on.

From time to time, Comcast conducts an electronic “audit” to determine what channels are being provided to their individual subscribers whether they are bulk community subscribers or individual subscribers.  If for any reason including Comcast’s own mistake, they discover they are providing channels you aren’t supposed to be getting, they send the letter indicating a cutoff date.  Comcast doesn’t identify the channel because they uncover so many mistakes that it is impossible to notify you which channel(s) you will no longer receive without paying for them.  They did provide an attachment to your letter indicating which channels you SHOULD get but not which one(s) you SHOULDN’T get.  However, you can call and find out what channel(s) triggered the letter.

For example, during my research, I followed up and found out one owner was receiving a Spanish channel (UniMas) that is not part of her allowed channels.  But, so what?  She can’t speak Spanish!  Hopefully, your extra channels will not impact your TV viewing.

Feel free to contact me via phone or email if you have any questions about this or any other Comcast issues.  For example, I’ve helped many owners review their Comcast bill and identified savings.  Most recently, I reduced an owner’s Comcast expenses by over $600 per year.

Keep in mind that there is a special technical support number for Comcast because we are bulk subscribers; use it instead of the normal Comcast number.  It is: (866) 405-9365.
Bob Alexander

The sea grapes between the Towers and the Beach have been trimmed!      While the initial view was one of stumps and few leaves, the greenery is quickly returning and it's looking good.

The North Beach Association (NBA) has signed up with the Florida Dept of Transportation (FDOT) department to sponsor the cleanup of a 2 mile stretch of SR A1A.   The area begins at Marina Ave and A1A (the intersection at Lowe's Realty), heads south to Shorewinds, then west along Shorewinds to the North Causeway bridge.

Each of the condos and associations on North Hutchinson Island, through their NBA Directors, will be asked to provide volunteers periodically for the cleanup program.    The total obligation is to walk the route and pick up trash 4 x annually.   That effort, spread across all of the condos on the island, should not prove to be too big a burden.    Three to four condos will be asked to provide a total of 10-12 volunteers each quarter, with each volunteer walking no more than 1/2 mile.

The first cleanup is Tuesday October 15th, beginning at 9 a.m.       Although Tiara has not been asked to provide volunteers for this first cleanup, all volunteers are welcome.   Volunteers will gather at 9 a.m. in the Grande Beach field across the road.    Wear sturdy shoes (NO sandals!) and bring gloves.   Trash bags and safety vests will be provided.  You don't have to be an NBA member to help with this cleanup.

Signs are up recognizing the North Beach Association's participation with this effort.    One is on the right side of the road coming onto the island from the Causeway bridge, and the other is on the right side of the road heading south on A1A, at the Grande Beach property.

By now all owners should have received a letter from the Tiara Board of Directors announcing the Annual Owners' Meeting to be held Wednesday, Dec 4th, at 10 a.m. in the North Tower Clubroom.    The purpose of the meeting is to elect four (4) Directors to serve a 2-yr term to the Board and to conduct other relevant business that needs to come before the Owners.   The notice includes a form to be completed by anyone desiring to be a Candidate for the Board of Directors.   The Candidate form must be completed and submitted no later than 10/25/19.    Full directions are in the mailed packet.

The packet also contains a form to designate one owner of each unit as the authorized voter for the unit.     If you've authorized someone in past years that authorization remains valid until you choose to change the authorized voter.     Full directions are in the mailed packet.

Mark your calendars for the Annual Meeting.     Further information about the meeting will be sent out at least 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting.

If you didn't receive this information from Tiara, please contact Elliott Merrill Community Management and ask for one.

You're all invited to attend the upcoming Tiara Towers Halloween Party on October 26th at 6 pm in the South Party room.    This will be the first Social Committee event of the season.     Residents, owners and renters, guests, and friends are invited.      This is a Happy Hour party, so bring your own beverage and an appetizer or snack to share.   We suggest you bring enough for 12 persons.    Costumes are encouraged, but optional.

In past years this has always been a fun get-together.    Come see who's now at Tiara, meet some new owners, and enjoy some great food.

The Social Committee is passing the hat for a 50/50 raffle so come prepared if you want to participate.     And don't forget, there will be prizes for best costumes.

The North Beach Association (NBA) represents the best interests of North Hutchinson Island to public and private entities who do business on the island or for the island.     Members sit on County boards and commissions and attend public meetings where there might be items of interest or concern for the island.     The greater the membership in the NBA the greater its voice.

In past years the NBA has worked to defeat high density property development efforts that would be detrimental to the island's ambiance,  has successfully urged the Coast Guard to change the Causeway bridge openings from an "on demand" to an "every 30 minutes" schedule,  has worked with the SEAL Museum to have it become the permanent voting location for North Hutchinson Island, and many other efforts.   Last year the NBA sponsored a very successful Beach Cleanup and now has partnered with FDOT for the Adopt-a-Highway program.

There are 4 Member meetings each year, always with an interesting local speaker, a Sheriff's Department report, and information about island happenings.    In addition the NBA publishes a colorful and informative Newsletter 4 times a year and these are sent to all its Members.     Email delivery is the most efficient way to receive the Newsletter whether you are in residence on the island or spending a few months at your other residence, but postal delivery is also available.

The NBA offers Individual/Family memberships, Associate memberships for long-term renters and other concerned individuals, Commercial memberships which include mention in the Newsletters, and HOA-sponsored memberships, where the HOA chooses to pay a discounted membership fee for all its owners.

Tiara's Directors to the North Beach Association are Pete and Jeri Bullock, 1505 S.     Annual individual/family membership is only $20 and your support is appreciated.  Membership year is from Oct 1 to Sept 30th.   Sign-up forms are in both mail rooms.  You can bring them to 1505 S, mail them, or call and ask Pete or Jeri to come to your unit to pick up your application and $20.

 

 

WELCOME BACK, TIARA RESIDENTS!

I am sure that all of you share the relief that our home was spared from any significant damage during this frightening storm.

Many thanks to David Pugh and Mike Gallagher, our EM representatives, for their efforts to ensure that our facilities were adequately secured to prevent unnecessary damage for the duration of the storm!  David spent many hours here “battening down the hatches,” and both were here intermittently during the storm to shut down and start up the elevators!

Special recognition is due to Pete Bellezza (1202 N) who volunteered to manage the elevator shutdown, allowing residents to remain on the premises after the Island Mandatory Evacuation!

Also we appreciate the communication efforts of Jeri Bullock (1505 S), who kept us up to date on the weather impact on Tiara with her Emails and update of the Tiara website!

It’s great to be part of a family, which sticks together and watches out for each other!  Thanks to all of you for your patience, your concerns and your support!  Enjoy your Tiara Home!

Board Update by Alan Winslow

And for some specific observations.

As of Wednesday morning, September 4th,  the mandatory evacuation has been lifted for Hutchinson Island, and the bridges are open.

Tiara is in good shape.     The elevators are back on.    Power is on, and might never have been off, AC is on.

It's still windy, about 25 mph, but the worst is over.

Both elevators in the North building are working;  1 elevator in the South building is working and 1 blew out its generator today (due to old age, not due to the storm).

It doesn't look like any flooding reached the building, though I heard one report that said it came as high as the beach stairs to the dune walks.

Except for landscaping debris, fronds blown off by the winds, the exterior of the buildings looks fine.    Pools have collected a lot of debris and David will clean them when he can get to them.   First floor public spaces, lobbies and club rooms, are good, no apparent damage.

The beach took a hit as was expected.    There is beach erosion up to the sea oats line.   From the sea oats line the beach sand now slopes down to the water at a noticeable rate.  In past storms there has been a serious "step down" on the beach but this storm has left us with a gradual, walkable slope on the beach.   The "good" news is all that dried seaweed that lay on our beach for the past month or so is gone.     Eventually our beach will rebuild naturally (I hope).

Dune walkway is undamaged.

Good Morning:

Tuesday 10 am:

Just heard the 8 am from St Lucie County officials.  For those of you who haven't heard it, the highlights are:

• The islands (us) remain under a Hurricane Warning.
• Rainfall forecasts and storm surge forecasts have lowered slightly.
• Winds are forecast to increase throughout Tuesday.
• While that Hurricane Warning is in effect the County will not change its plans.   The mandatory evacuation remains in effect.
• Only residents and business people who have a need to get to the island will be allowed on either North or South Hutchinson Island.

I'm guessing that EM will not send anyone to Tiara while the Hurricane Warning and Mandatory Evacuation remain in effect.   That means that the elevators would not be turned on.

FPL is NOT reporting any outages on  Hutchinson Island on its Power Tracker Map, tho there are other outages elsewhere in the county.

Elliott Merrill's website has been updated regularly.     You can check it for the latest updates about EM's plans for the properties under their management (like Tiara Towers).  www.elliottmerrill.com

Notes from Monday, September 2, at 8:30 am

St Lucie County issued the following on Sunday, September 1:

Mandatory evacuations for residents on the barrier island (North and South Hutchinson Island), those living in low-lying coastal areas and manufactured homes/mobile homes will begin Sunday, Sept. 1 at 2 p.m. Entry to the barrier islands will be limited to residents and business owners starting at 8 a.m. Monday, Sept. 2.  At some point Monday, depending on the winds, access on and off the island will be shut down. You will not need a re-entry placard to enter the island after the storm but will need two forms of documentation proving ownership or residency.

The elevators at Tiara will be shut down Monday at Noon.

Power and AC to the units will remain on, subject to FPL outages, if any.

All pool deck items have been moved to the club rooms.    Lobby chairs have been stored in the hallway close to the Maintenance offices.   Lobby rugs have been rolled up and stored off the floor.

Recycling bins have been stored in vacant garage ports.