Issue 9, September 2023, Volume 2

🍂Happy Fall, Neighbor!

It’s nearly fall (although it doesn’t feel like it outside!), and it’s time for another issue of the Sunshine Gardens Neighborhood Association newsletter! This e-publication is created and published by volunteers in the Association, which is a voluntary neighborhood group. that encompasses the neighborhoods Sunshine Gardens, the Sunshine Gardens additions, and Fairbanks Shores. (In short: No fees, no fines, no mandatory participation—just community.)

Earlier this year, the Association took some steps toward formalizing with Orange County. Due to not having a location for the initial planning meeting and it being many people’s summer vacations, these efforts were put on hold and may begin again in November or January 2024.

If you’re interested in being included in future emails about the planning meeting and getting involved in the organization, send us a message to be included on our email list and/or share how you’d like to help. You don’t have to be an expert in the area you’d like to help out in—consider this an opportunity to try something new! As long as you’re interested, you can make a difference.

🦺 Lee Road Safe Neighborhood Updates

Lee Road Safe Neighborhood (LRSN) held its bimonthly meeting at the Fairview Shores Library on Tuesday, August 8. Rep. Anna Eskamani gave a brief update on the state of the property insurance crisis in Florida. Reasons for the crisis include rising rates due to the increasing risk of climate change/extreme weather, the growth of Citizens, private insurers leaving the state, insurance fraud, increased reinsurance costs, and more.

Efforts to improve the property insurance crisis include increasing accountability for insurance companies and expanding the My Safe Florida Home program, which is designed to help Floridians receive grant money to use toward strengthening their homes against storms. However, no clear solutions were provided in regard to Florida homeowners needing affordable insurance and being dropped by insurance companies. Neighbors are encouraged to contact their local and state representatives and urge them to prioritize the crisis. (Visit this link to find out who your representatives are based on your address.)

Other topics addressed during the LRSN meeting included the following:

• Obtaining the necessary approvals for the anti-graffiti art wraps that will cover nine traffic boxes in the Lee Road area

• Installing a new light/crosswalk on Lee Road between Adanson Street and Kingswood Drive to reduce traffic fatalities

• Offering Orange County sustainability and beautification grants to neighborhoods, in addition to neighborhood cleanup events

Additionally, LRSN is currently planning its annual National Night Out event, which will take place near the Fairview Shores Library on Lee Road. If you're interested in being a vendor or volunteering at this event, register here. Attendees are also encouraged to register via the same link.

LRSN is also accepting donations to further its efforts at improving the community and bringing residents together. You can make a donation here.

🛠️ Around the Neighborhood

Orange County's next Fix It Don't Pitch event will take place on Saturday, September 23, from 9 AM to 12 PM at the Marks Street Senior Recreation Complex (99 E. Marks St., Orlando). The purpose of the event is to extend the life of items by having them fixed for free by handy volunteers. More details can be found via the Eventbrite link, but due to popular demand, the focus will be on electronics, bicycles, and textiles.

It’s hurricane season until November, and the action in the tropics is getting spicy. In preparation, consider downloading the OCFL Alert app to receive info about open shelter locations, water and ice distribution centers, evacuation routes, and public service announcements. Orange County’s Emergency Safety page provides information about sandbag locations, as well as preparedness and recovery tips. The CDC’s Hurricane Preparation Guide advises what to do before, during, and after a storm, and WKMG News 6 has a free Hurricane Tracker app that gives updates on hurricanes and tropical storms.

If you’re looking to trade things with or give away items to neighbors and people in the greater Orlando area, consider joining a “buy nothing” group on Facebook. Suggestions for those in this neighborhood are Buy Nothing-Orlando (which includes all of Orlando) and Buy Nothing Orlando(N Orange/Lk Formosa/Mills50/Audubon Park/Colonial Town) (which is more focused on those close to the mentioned neighborhoods). College Park – Orlando, Buy, Sell, Trade is another option, although most items are for sale.

Have a green thumb and want to socialize? St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church on Eli Street may open its gardening club and community garden to neighborhood residents. Right now, we’re gauging neighborhood interest in this possibility, so if interested in participating in the club, please send us an email.

The neighborhood survey is still open! To participate and share your answers, visit this link. Responses will be shared in a future newsletter.

Our list of neighbor-approved recommendations for a variety of different services is accessible via the neighborhood Facebook group. We are always looking for recommendations, so send us a message so we can include your suggestion or your own business.

If you have news for this newsletter, let us know! Send your photos and info to SunshineGardensNA@gmail.com or post in the Facebook group! (If you’re suggesting someone for a neighbor spotlight, please also share their contact info with us so we can reach out to them.)

🗓️ Event Schedule

• Lee Road Safe Neighborhood Association Board Planning Meeting for National Night Out – Sunday, September 24, 10 AM at Foxtail Coffee on Lee Road (Event link)

• Lee Road Safe Neighborhood Association Community Canvass – Sunday, September 24, 11:30 AM (Event link)

• National Night Out – Tuesday, October 3, 5 PM–8 PM in front of the Fairview Shores Library (Event link)

• Community Service Workday – Saturday, October 21, 8 AM to 12 PM at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church

• Fall Festival – Saturday, November 11, 3 PM to 6 PM at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church

✍🏾 Contact Info

Join the Sunshine Gardens group on Facebook to stay in the know and share what’s on your mind, or send us an email if you have a question, concern, project, or event in mind. You can also comment on these newsletter posts!

📧 Subscribe!

If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to this newsletter to stay informed about what’s going on in Sunshine Gardens and Fairbanks Shores, and share it with a fellow neighbor!