Villa of the Quarter: June 2016

The Board of Directors recognizes members, and in some instances tenants, who go above and beyond in the upkeep of their villa within our community. These members are examples of the potential each home has when it is well maintained and also helps keep property values high which benefits everyone in the community. Ensuring the property values remain high is one of the primary concerns of any HOA and we are no exception. Owners who rent their homes and have tenants which take pride in the appearance of the home they are renting ensures the value of the property remains high which benefits everyone in the community.

The home chosen for the 2nd Quarter of 2016 belongs to Sohila Serrano who lives on 111th LN and has lived in the community for 7 years.  You will see Ms. Serrano tending to her front garden on a regular basis and says that gardening and decorating her yard and home is her form of relaxation.  On May 28th, 2016 the Board President & Vice-President presented the Devon-Aire Villas #1: Villa of The Quarter award in recognition of outstanding landscaping and villa upkeep as well as a $50 Cheese Cake Factory gift card to Ms. Serrano. The Board of Directors wishes to thank her for all the hard work she has put into her villa! We are proud to have you in the community.

Read More

Prevent The Spread of Mosquitoes

Stop mosquitoes from living and multiplying around your home. With the rainy season about to get underway, it is important that homeowners ensure that there are no areas around their home with any standing water. Drain water from your units rain gutters if you have them, kiddie pools, coolers, toys, flower pots, jugs or any other containers where water has collected. It is especially important to make sure to discard any bottles, cans, pots or any other items that aren't being used that could potentially collect water. If you have a bird bath or fountain, flush out the water every couple of days. If you have bromeliads or other plants that can collect enough water in which mosquitoes can lay eggs, you should also flush them once a week with a stream of water or sprinkle commercially available Bti "bits" in your plants. You can also place 1 drop of cooking oil every 20 days in a bromeliad's cup which will smother mosquito larvae. Homeowners should perform these checks of their homes at least once a week. Homeowners renting out their units need to ensure that their tenants are performing those checks for them.

This year there have been many stories concerning the Zika virus outbreak which is of particular concern to pregnant women & their unborn child. The mosquito transmitting this disease is the same one known to infect folks with west nile, encephalitis, dengue and chikungunya as well as heartworm in dogs and cats. In Miami Dade County there have been 45 reported cases of the disease from folks who had traveled out of the country. In response to these concerns, on May 17th the Miami-Dade County Commission passed a Zika ordinance which gives the county the authority to cite property owners for any standing water violations two days after they receive a warning. If the county is forced to enter upon your property to take care of the issue for you, the homeowner would be liable for the costs of removing any mosquito breeding ground from your property and Miami-Dade County can then place a lien on your property to recover those costs as allowed under the ordinance.

If you feel that you are experiencing a mosquito nuisance, you are encouraged to report the problem by calling 311 or online by Clicking Here, then select Property and choose Mosquitoes from the drop-down menu.

Read More

Burglary: Villas East 5/10/2016

A burglary has been reported on CrimeMapping.com (PD160510176037) for a home located at SW 110TH ST CIR W. Several residents called, texted and emailed us concerning a police presence on Circle West with one resident letting us know it was due to a burglary. Although the owner of the affected unit did not contact us, we were told by officers that there had indeed been a burglary a little before 11 AM on 5/10. We were told that the crime was committed by a pair of individuals that gained entry to the home through a window in the front of the home. The owner of the unit was home and asleep at the time of the burglary and was not aware of the burglary that was in progress. The burglars stole jewelry and other items from the home and exited through the front door. An alert neighbor noticed something odd and contacted Police however the suspects were long gone by the time they arrived.

Please stay alert for any suspicious activity. The basic rule of thumb is if you see a possible crime in progress, call 9-1-1. If you wish to report suspicious activity, please call the non-emergency number at (305) 476-5423. Please pay particular attention to individuals loitering in the guest parking areas or other parts of the community and if observe anyone circling around the community that should not be there, walking in and around homes or just someone who seems out of place, please contact Police. Miami Dade Police is now authorized to ask anyone to leave the property that has no business in the community. After you contact Police, please let us know as well by using our Contact Us page. You can also call or text us at (305) 859-1462. Messages left at this number are monitored 7 days a week by all members of the board.

---

Update: May 14, 2016
This is correction and update to this story.

We spoke with the owner today. She stated that the burglar jumped the rear fence and forced the rear window open not the front window as we reported earlier. The other suspect remained in a Grey Honda civic in guest parking by that home and later moved to the front of the home. Two homeowners noticed the incident and called police right away. Two ladies that were nearby were able to get the tag number of the vehicle, however police determined that the vehicle was reported stolen. Upon hearing sirens, the burglar in the house exited the front door were the grey civic was waiting for him, leaving the front door wide open. Due to alert neighbors the burglar left with only a few items of jewelry due to the short amount of time they stayed in the unit. Although the owner is a little shaken up because her son was home asleep at the time, she wanted to thank everyone for their help. Neighbors being alert ensured that things did not end up too badly for her and her family.
We would like to thank everyone that helped out. Anyone wishing to comment on this story may do so on Nextdoor.com by Clicking Here.

Read More

Community Resource Fair at Devon-Aire Park

The office of Miami-Dade School Board Member Lubby Navarro contacted us and asked that we forward the following to our membership. On Sunday, May 22nd her office, along with the office of Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava, will hold a Community Resource Fair from 9 AM - 1 PM. Bring your family for a fun-filled morning at Devon-Aire Park which is located at 10411 SW 122nd Ave. They will be hosting a variety of community resources, entertainment and various vendors including MDCPS Student Farmers Market, PTA Bake Sale, Miami Dade 311, Miami Dade Police, MDCPS Resources & Community Partners, Health Screenings, Games & Activities, and much more. For information regarding this event, you may contact her office at (305) 995-1334 or by email at district7@dadeschools.net. Click Here for flyer.

Read More

Theft: Villas East 5/3/2016

A member contacted us to let us know that they have had several orchids stolen from the front of their home over the last couple of weeks.  This weekend, the homeowner stood watch overnight and observed a dark blue or black colored mid-sized vehicle drive up to her home and begin taking photos of her orchids with their cell phone.  When she confronted that person, they jumped into their car and sped away.  She did observe that individuals license plate number, but is not 100% sure she got the right number. Residents are asked to be on the lookout for a dark blue or black colored mid-sized vehicle on the property with a plate number of EWV-115 exhibiting suspicious behavior and if spotted on the property, please call Police. After calling, Contact Us to let us know as well.

Read More