Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Mapquest & Directions to Century Village


(click to enlarge)
On map the Okeechobee entrance to the village is the red star, the Haverhill entrance is red diamond.

From the Florida Turnpike take exit 99, go east on Okeechobee Blvd. The set back Okeechobee entrance to the village is the next left at light. UCO offices are on the right just before the guardhouse STOP.

From I-95 take exit 70, go west on Okeechobee Blvd. Next right at light after Haverhill cross street.

From PBI Airport take Shuttle or taxi $11-$20.
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CENTURY VILLAGE MAP


Century Village Map, left click to supersize, best printed in Landscape mode, after supersizing.

Monday, September 28, 2009

EARLY HISTORY OF UCO

Early History of the United Civic Organization by Bill Snyder

It should be noted that the activities and the experiences of the writer are closely related to the history of Century Village, and in many cases are part of the history of this Village.

Let me take you back to the time that Century Village was being built. Construction began in 1967 or 1968, and finished with the completion of the Dover buildings at or about 1974. At its completion, it had 7,854 units, ten or more swimming pools, a golf course, tennis courts, shuffleboard courts, two clubhouses, an administration building, a doctor’s office, and several laundry installations throughout the Village.

At that time, Century Village was probably the largest condominium complex in the state of Florida. All of the recreational facilities in the Village were owned and controlled by the developer, and the residents were required to pay a recreational fee, whether or not they used the facilities. As the building of condominiums was a fairly new concept in the late 1960s, the laws governing condominium living were developed for the most part at the suggestion of the developers and, in my opinion, favored that group.

The philosophy of condominium living is sharing with and caring for your neighbors. The residents must work in unison with their neighbors for the betterment of the Village. If residents are not prepared to adopt this philosophy, then they are not prepared to live in a condominium community.

In 1972, when the writer moved into the Village, the residents were paying one recreational fee to management, which included the costs of transportation, security, recreational facilities and whatever else Management had to offer at that time. The transportation system consisted of open air carts pulled by a tractor-type vehicle. There was no protection against the rain and cold winds. Outside transportation consisted of two old buses which broke down frequently.

It should be mentioned, however, that during all of the 1970s, there were four different organizations that were active at that time. These were the CAR (Council of Area Residents), COA (Condominium Owners Association), the Alliance and the Village Mutual Association, who dropped out of this group and became involved in selling appliance insurance to CV residents. Of course, these organizations were organized for the purpose of helping the residents to obtain and retain those services from Management for which they were paying.

These organizations operated independently of each other, and if one organization devised a plan that would benefit the residents of this Village, it could not get support from the other organizations, and since none of these organizations had a majority of residents as members, none could put their plans into operation.

Further, there was no plan from any of the above organizations to pass any news to the residents, despite the fact that these organizations were having periodic meetings with the developer in an effort to improve conditions in the Village. At that time, there was no newspaper or newsletter from which the residents could be informed of what was going on.

When Century Village construction started on or about 1969, there were four areas that were built from 1969 to 1971, namely, Golf's Edge, Plymouth, Oxford and Stratford. These were called "Independents." However, from 1971 to 1975, Century Village built the majority of the units numbering approximately 7000, contained in 284 separate condominiums. Village Management Inc. was a subsidiary of the Developer and was created to manage the numerous condominiums. This corporate entity was sometimes referred to as "Management" or "the Developer."

While the Developer was building and marketing its condominium units, it initiated a transportation system in Century Village to carry residents from their units to the central Clubhouse. In addition, the Developer initiated bus services from the Clubhouse to various areas surrounding the Village in order to meet the needs of the residents in the matter of shopping, restaurants, and also the need of these residents to obtain medical and other needs without the necessity of an automobile.

From 1971 through August of 1981, the transportation system was operated by Village Management Inc., a solely owned subsidiary of Century Village, Inc. Most of the 284 Condominium Associations gave Village Management the authority to handle all affairs of the Associations. From 1971 to 1975, Village Management included transportation services as items in each Association’s budget and unit owners made mandatory maintenance payments based on this budget. Later, a dispute was to arise on whether transportation was part of this maintenance payment or was covered under a separate recreation lease paid to the Developer. At any rate, from 1971 through 1975, transportation was a mandated common expense payment paid by unit owners, either as part of maintenance or recreation, or a combination of both.

After the development was sold out in 1975, Village Management Inc. wanted to turn over the transportation system to the Associations for their own management and operation. The Associations took the position that transportation was part of the recreation lease common expense payment to Century Village Inc. and, therefore, should not be turned over to the unit owners to operate at their own additional expense. Village Management disagreed and filed an action in the Circuit Court of Palm Beach County, styled Village Management Inc. vs. Waltham A. Condominium Association, et al, wherein all 284 Associations were sued as defendants.

Since this lawsuit did not, however, include the so-called "Independents" such as Plymouth, Golf's Edge, et al; Village Management's lawsuit sought a declaratory judgment that transportation services should be paid for by unit owners as a maintenance common expense and was not part of the recreational common expense payments. As an interim solution, the Trial Court entered an order on April 2, 1975, directing all Associations to pay for transportation. Transportation continued under this Court Order for the next five years.

It should be noted, however, that from 1972, when the writer moved into the Village, until 1975, conditions in the Village were fairly good. The residents were paying Management an assessment of approximately $35 per month, which included transportation, security and whatever else the residents were entitled to receive.

During this time and through the balance of the 1970s, the CAR organization had periodic meetings with Management in order to seek improvements in the Village and to obtain those items to which the residents were entitled.

As was previously mentioned, during the 1970s, there was no newspaper or newsletter issued and the residents were at a loss as to what was happening between Management and the organizations representing the residents. The writer, who was President of the overall Windsor Association, decided to hold monthly open-air meetings in order to inform the residents of what was taking place between Management and the organization representing the residents. These meetings were open to all Associations, and the attendance amounted to 300 to 400 residents, mostly from Windsor, who brought their own folding chairs and sometimes sat in the hot sun for two hours or more in order to hear the latest news as to what was happening in the Village.

On June 8, 1979, and after four weeks of trial, Circuit Court Judge Timothy Poulton entered a final judgment on the transportation issues. He found that the parties failed in a meeting of the minds on whether transportation services should be paid as a common expense maintenance or as a common expense recreation payment. The Court then concluded that both the recreation lease and Management contract should be invalidated, as the parties did not gain a mutual meeting of minds on the important issue of transportation. And finally, the Court dissolved its interim order of April 2, 1973, leaving its Association free to contract for its transportation.

After Judge Poulton entered this Judgment, the parties entered into negotiations, which resulted in settlement of all issues. A Stipulated Settlement was entered into by all parties, which declared "community services," including transportation, to be an essential quasi-governmental service. The Court then reserved jurisdiction over these essential services. No appeal was taken from this Final Judgment.

After Judge Poulton had entered his Final Judgment in the transportation litigation in June 1979, the transportation system continued as in the past. Village Management continued to operate the system and collected funds from Associations who wanted the service. The prior litigation had divided Century Village into two camps known as the "CAR" group, or active litigants against Management, and the "COA" group who, although they were defendants, did not actively oppose Management.

Following Judge Poulton's initial order invalidating the recreation leases for the CAR litigants, Village Management did cut off services to the CAR Associations. The COA Associations continued to receive the transportation services. However, unit owners, regardless of their affiliations, wishing to use the transportation service, were free to do so by paying their transportation payment directly to Village Management.

The conversion from a mandatory payment system to an individual payment system soon began to cause problems for Village Management Inc. Management sent notices to the residents that it was losing money on the system. Finally, Management announced that effective August 31, 1981, they would be transferring the entire transportation system, including the trams and buses, to a company called Merchant Police of the Palm Beaches. It should be noted that Merchant Police was also supplying the security for the Village at that time.

Inasmuch as Management refused to permit the CAR members to ride the buses, it became essential that transportation be made available for these residents. As a result, the writer negotiated a contract with Seacrest Maintenance Company, who was supplying lawn and building maintenance to most of the residents at that time. This service started shortly after Management declared that CAR residents could not use the transportation service. The CAR residents, who wished to take advantage of this service, paid their transportation costs to Seacrest.

Merchant Police operated the transportation system from September 1, 1981, to August 31, 1982, and was bound to operate the system under the same schedules and equipment as Management had used in the past. Merchant Police relied on individual contracts from individual unit owners to pay for the service. Like Village Management, Merchant Police found it could not make money operating a voluntary payment system. It became obvious to many people at Century Village that a voluntary payment system could not survive.

It was about 1980 or 1981, that CAR requested that their members, and others in the Village, withhold recreation payments to Management until certain issues between CAR and Management could be settled. As a result, Management fenced in the Clubhouse and all of the swimming pools in the Village that belonged to Management. Also, the golf course was not available to the CAR members. This caused quite a havoc in the Village in that Management dismissed the security people and boarded up the security offices at both gates, leaving the Village open to anyone who chose to come into the Village. As a result, the residents who moved into the Village previously had to seek other means of recreation on the outside of the Village.

Management then issued a notice saying that any resident who wishes to use the facilities would have to pay the assessment and any back assessments that were due to Management. These residents who moved into the Village to enjoy the facilities, such as the bingo games and whatever else was available, rushed to pay the assessments and the back dues and were permitted to use the facilities. Needless to say that this group included many of the CAR members, which at that time amounted to approximately 3,600 unit owners, or about 45% of the Village.

Representatives of COA decided to meet with Management for the purpose of preparing a new Amendment to the Recreation Lease. This they did and after some negotiations, a new Amendment between COA and Management was established. This Amendment was passed on to the COA members, and others who wished to sign the Amendment. The CAR representatives, noting that they were losing a considerable number of their members, decided, two weeks after the COA Amendment was negotiated, that they would also meet with Management in an effort to establish an Amendment for their members. This they did, and after some negotiations, a Lease Amendment for the CAR members was established.

At that time, the residents of Century Village now had two separate and distinct Lease Amendments. This was not a good situation for the residents, despite the fact that some of the items in both Amendments were similar, two of the most important factors in those Amendments differed considerably.

For example: The COA Amendment called for an assessment which was considerably higher than the assessment contained in the CAR Amendment. Also, this Amendment called for a $10 per month increase, starting January 1, 1990. The CAR Amendment called for an assessment which was considerably lower than the COA Amendment. This Amendment also called for a $10 per month increase starting January 1, 1990. Both of these Amendments called for an additional increase in the years after 1990. As the writer recalls, the CAR Amendment called for an increase of $1.50 per month in each year after 1990 until 1999. The monthly increase after 1990 in the COA Amendment was considerably higher than the increase for the CAR members.

In view of this situation, Management notified both parties that they had to resolve these differences and set a date as of July 1, 1985, wherein the differences should be resolved, otherwise the Amendments would remain the same until 1999. (It should be noted that during the administration of the writer, who was President of UCO at that time, the differences were resolved, and a new Lease Amendment was established for all of the unit owners in the Village.)

From 1980 to 1982, there was considerable turmoil in the Village. There was no cooperation between CAR and COA, and as far as leadership was concerned, there was none. Other than negotiating the two Lease Amendments, there was no plan to improve the living conditions in the Village. Further, there was a bad feeling between most of the residents and Management.

The residents were reminded that in CV Deerfield, an organization was formulated during the construction of that Village that truly represented all of the residents of that Village. When that Village was completed, the organization was in a position to deal with management and were successful in obtaining their demands. Not so here in CV West Palm Beach, where the residents did not know what was in store for them in the coming years.

In 1982, from the thousands of residents who were living here at that time, one man decided that something had to be done in order to make this Village a decent place in which to live. That man was Hy Ruchlis. He took it upon himself to meet with several residents, who were also concerned about the future of the residents in the Village. This meeting proved to be very successful, and resulted in the formation of the United Civic Organization.

The first step of this committee was to obtain qualified people who would become officers of this newly-formed organization. This was done, and at the first meeting of UCO, officers and board members were selected and approved, thus started the task of UCO to represent all of the residents in the Village.

The first President of UCO was Philip Sokol, whom we felt was highly qualified to do the job of organizing the residents and to handle whatever problems confronted the people. Also selected at the first meeting were four Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and ten Board Members.

In March 1983, at the first meeting of the United Civic Organization, which was held at the auditorium of the Clubhouse, all new officers were sworn in and UCO started the task of representing the residents of this Village. It was a very difficult task, since several of the units in the Village were not in favor of the new organization. However, the new officers and members of UCO worked very hard at making a success of this organization and were gradually obtaining some of the units who were opposed to UCO previously.

With the coming of UCO, there was no further need for CAR or COA. As a result, they were disbanded and UCO started the task of dealing with problems that affected all of the residents of the Village, some of whom did not approve of the organization of UCO or some of the methods or plans that UCO was taking on in order to organize the Village.

As of March 1984, I was elected President of UCO and continued the work of the former President. We installed the gates and fences around the Village, improved the transportation system, improved the security and started to make some progress with Management in obtaining some of the things to which we were entitled.

I retired in March 1987 after serving three terms as President of UCO. Following my retirement as President, I became a Board Member for the next 14 years.

My life in Century Village has been confined to helping the residents of the Village and also to my friends and neighbors at Windsor K Association. Due to my health and age, I can no longer perform the duties of the President at Windsor K, and as such, I will not be a candidate for any office in the Windsor K Association.

Century Village Then and Now by Irv Rikon

I first came to Century Village in 1971 to visit my mother, who had just moved here from New Jersey. She had read about Century Village somewhere, had come to West Palm Beach to see it for herself, liked what she saw and bought a condo. When she moved, she had no one to help her. I was away, traveling around the world. By the time I arrived, we'd not seen each other for over a year.

Dubbed a "retirement community," Century Village was not yet completed when I arrived. Several different architectural styles existed, partly because the original builder hadn't the funds to finish the complex, nor did the successor corporation. Finally, a group headed by Irwin Levy, an attorney, came along, and Century Village at last was successfully launched. The promotion of CV was novel. A comedian, Red Buttons, was enlisted to help sell properties, and television ads featuring him served to carry the day. "Come on down!" the redhead said.

Basically, two kinds of people responded: those who moved south from the industrialized northeast, and others who moved north from the Miami area. Among the latter were folks who had worked for organized labor. Before too long, differences arose between condo owners and the developer. The labor union people were in the vanguard of condo owners who led the legal battle against what was to become WPRF. Out of that eventually grew the various condominium laws that still serve to regulate condo disputes from Tallahassee. Out of that, too, eventually would emerge the United Civic Organization, UCO.

To me, Century Village appeared to be rather a deceptively vital, dynamic place. For one thing, not everyone was retired. Some came and began new careers or did charity work. Others who preferred simple pleasures to work found them on tennis courts or a golf course, in boating and swimming, even shuffleboard and bocce ball. If there were newcomers advanced in years and not as fit as they would like to have been, many in their 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s were still youthful and active. The Palm Beach Post for years labeled anyone over 50 as "elderly," an inaccuracy and a distinct disservice to Century Villagers.

The fact is, these early comers to Century Village were pioneers. They were the first folks in recorded history, or at least in American history, voluntarily to leave their families, friends, neighbors and the comforts of home in order to begin a new life with strangers about whom they knew nothing except that all were "older," a generation that had lived through a Great Depression and a Second World War.

Think of it: For millennia, most people had basically lived and died in the hometowns where they were born. Later, young folks left to build new homesteads or to find work in distant places. But here were parents and grandparents, couples and singles, including widows and widowers, who chose to move away from people they loved, people whose company they enjoyed, plus the security that comes from being in a safe, familiar environment. They trusted that in mingling with peers roughly their own age, they would become "born again." Despite their advanced years in comparison with the general population, these Century Villagers were optimists. They had a pioneer spirit, much like Israelis in the 1940s and 1950s or like most Chinese today, or indeed, like 19th century Americans who had crossed open territory to settle in the West.

Choosing to relocate to a different, distant place solely on the basis of age, they were participants in a brand-new social phenomenon that has yet to be fully appreciated by the media or documented by historians. Century Village, West Palm Beach, was the first of its kind. Other CVs came later. Today, retirement communities are an accepted part of America's landscape.

Not all was paradise, of course. Adjustments to a new environment, to a new life had to made. Not every neighbor loved every other neighbor, although personality differences were more or less overcome, since everyone understood that they had essentially the same reason for coming here. And even if they were unhappy, if their new surroundings failed to meet their expectations, they couldn't go home again, for that would be an admission of misjudgment or defeat.

The new life was harder on women. Most of their generation had been traditional "homemakers," nurturing children, bolstering their men. When they were "back home," wherever that had been, they had seen their husbands twice a day and fed them at night. Now the men were constantly around, expecting to have both lunch and dinner, moreover, expecting the wife to prepare it. They'd not anticipated that. There were divorces as well. Two of my mother's dearest friends were a newly married couple. But "she" had been "the other woman" in a nasty divorce case. What became of the wife I don't know, but the scandal was such that the newlyweds stayed in Century Village for little more than a year before moving to another Florida condominium. This was hardly a unique occurrence.

Another problem which emerged was anti-Semitism.

Century Village was open to everyone. The developers didn't care who bought a home so long as they were paid. And initially, the Village had rather a diverse population. Yet, fairly quickly, Jewish newcomers became the majority (hence the on-premises synagogue).

During the American Civil War, Floridians had fought on the side of the Confederate States. Until Congress passed the Civil Rights Acts in the 1960s, Florida was still "southern." West Palm Beach was a springtime training camp for the old Brooklyn Dodgers or its then-Montreal farm club. The first blacks, or "Negroes" as they were still called, who integrated the team, were not allowed to stay in the same hotel as their white teammates. The Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach was "restricted": no Jews or blacks allowed. The same rules were applied by Palm Beach's exclusive social clubs. When it was evident that Jews were establishing a sizeable presence in Century Village, anti-Semitism surfaced. The editor of The Palm Beach Post predicted that riots would ensue. The Cox family, then as now the newspaper's publisher, shipped him off to Texas, or so I was told.

Cooler heads of course prevailed. The business community, for one, realized that an increased population would vitalize the dormant local economy. Accordingly, new bank branches opened just outside Century Village: retirees would want someplace to put their Social Security checks. The Palm Beach Mall opened with a heady mixture of upscale-downscale stores, most of which initially did very well. (The decline of the mall — becoming a hang-out for youngsters — is another story waiting to be told.) New furniture and home furnishing stores opened their doors. Supermarkets came and pharmacies and doctors and gas stations, which were needed to help everyone get to all those other places. Every bit of this was new. And sure enough, the local economy grew.

Century Village and the Palm Beach Mall were built on reclaimed marshlands, drained and made ready for people-use. They also pointed the way to western expansion in Palm Beach County, especially along Southern Boulevard and Okeechobee Boulevard. When I first arrived, there were still cows to be seen on Haverhill Road, Jog Road and all the way out to the Glades. Century Village literally broke new ground!

Politically, most of the new arrivals were self-styled "liberal Democrats." Throughout almost all its history, Florida had been a Democratic state — Republicans did not even appear on election ballots — but a backlash in "the old South" to the civil rights movements of the 1950s and ’60s helped to revive the Florida Republican Party. In Palm Beach County, the local powers-that-be gerrymandered, divided Century Village into two voting districts, thereby diluting Democratic Party votes.

Despite the Democratic majority in Century Village, Republicans could always be found here (including my mother, a contrarian when she wanted to be). Throughout the eight years of Ronald Reagan's presidency, the parents of his Chief of Staff (who is still active in Washington), lived in Century Village. I sat next to them at the opera.

Similarly, the mother of Mr. Reagan's first director of the Office of Management and Budget was a Century Village resident and a friend of mine. The son even now teaches at Harvard. Century Village always had an intellectual component. A syndicated Washington columnist, whose columns frequently appear in The Palm Beach Post, had parents who lived here and attended my "Weekly News Summary" course. A current class member has a son who teaches at Princeton University: He is one of less than a half dozen people given full access by the University to all of Albert Einstein's scientific papers.

Some of the first people I met in Century Village were truly memorable. There was a non-resident American woman, a guest of a friend of my mother, who had married a Japanese man and been in Hiroshima when Americans dropped the A-bomb. There was a man who claimed to have belonged to the Stern Gang, a group which in the 1940s bombed the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, killing many British soldiers, when the city was still part of a British Mandate. That terrorist act has long been held to be a main reason for Britain throwing the whole question of Israeli independence into the lap of the United Nations.

I was introduced to a tiny circle of friends whose conversation invariably turned to the Spanish Civil War. Their talk always fascinated me. World War Two had passed. The Korean War had passed. The Vietnam War was being fought. And they were still debating 1930s Spain!

Much, much later, I met Walter Schanzer, the only one I name here, because he passed away not too long ago and had other friends besides myself in Century Village. Columnist, playwright, poet, Walter had been born in Vienna. Although he loved the city of his birth, in Nazi times, he knew he had to leave. That knowledge led him to pore through every American telephone book he could get his hands on. He picked out names at random and wrote, asking for help, asking someone to sponsor him so he could come to America and survive. Few people replied, yet some did. One person wrote, "All of your kind should be gassed." But Walter, who was Jewish, received another response. "Come. We'll be glad to have you." His sponsors were Christian, and Walter lived with them in Missouri until the old folks passed on. Until Walter died, even when he lived in Century Village, he kept up a running conversation, in letters, with the children of his sponsors.

Century Villagers' greatest contribution to Palm Beach County — other than bolstering the local economy and paving the way for others —arguably came in the realm of Arts and Entertainment. Especially among those who had lived in the museum-theater-concert hall northeast, they saw a West Palm Beach and surrounding cities and towns that to them were a "cultural wasteland." And they raised their voices in communal protest. The theme was picked up by members of the local media, who spoke and wrote about the need for cultural upgrading.

Naturally enough, there had always been locals who had hungered for more cultural outlets, but they'd not been united. The Kravis Center ultimately was paid for mostly by Palm Beachers, but the hue and cry for such a concert hall began in Century Village.

Palm Beach Opera firmly established its toehold in the Village. So did Regional Arts, which still presents great symphonic concerts. And so, to a large extent, did WXEL, National Public Radio and television in Palm Beach County. The Palm Beach Post initially editorialized against Channel 42 (our Channel 6) on the grounds there already existed PBS facilities broadcasting from Miami. The principal mover and shaker for the new channel, one Sam Marantz, didn't live in the Village, but he came here often to promote it, and promote it he did until the new stations became a reality.

From the time I came here, I basically held two job positions, talking and writing. At Palm Beach Community College (and briefly, at Northwood University), I taught a variety of history and social science courses: The Great Religions, Foreign Cultures Around the World, Current Events and the like. I was a frequent guest on radio talk shows. And at one time or another I wrote columns for numbers of local magazines and newspapers.

Primarily, but not exclusively, I wrote Arts and Entertainment pieces. In this latter capacity, I was always delighted when people I interviewed told me that their parents or aunt and uncle or someone else close to them lived in Century Village. We still have people active in Arts and Entertainment living here. And I'm told, although I haven't checked it out, we have staff people from The Palm Beach Post also residing here.

Times change. Today Century Village is once again a multi-ethnic community. In my unit alone, we have French-speaking, Italian-speaking and English-speaking Canadians. We have several Spanish-speaking people, including one who actually came from Spain. We have an Irish-born lady. We even have two illegal immigrants, a cat and a dog, whose masters brought them into our buildings despite the fact we have several people who are allergic to animals and voted "No" to household pets. I thought that the debates over The Spanish Civil War were intense! They were nothing compared to the Battle of the Critters!

CV INFO PLUS

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Welcome

On behalf of your neighbors in Century Village and your elected officials at the United Civic Organization (UCO), we welcome you.

UCO represents your interests in our daily dealings with WPRF, who administers the Clubhouses, pools, and tennis courts. We provide Security, Transportation, Cable and many other aspects of our daily life. We also administer the road system throughout Century Village and provide contractual ambulance service. Most of us at UCO are volunteers. Every condo owner, like you, is a member of UCO and of his/her Association.

We have divided our village into four quadrants. Each of these quadrants enjoys the assistance and advice of one of our four Vice Presidents. This "hands-on" relationship helps to strengthen cooperation between UCO and our members and to improve communications between us.

We maintain a Bus Transportation service considered the best of its kind in Florida, with service both inside Century Village and outside, to malls, supermarkets, and other places.

We modernized our Security by introducing a Transponder system for residents who have cars and by computerizing our Visitor Call-In system. Both are considered state of the art improvements.

On your behalf, we entered into a contract which provides you with an elaborate cable setup at very economical rates. Another contract assures Ambulance service for you, your visitors and those working in your apartment, exclusive of contractors.

We centralized repairs and replacements of irrigation pumps which enable us to maintain our lawn watering at an economical cost. Irrigation has been installed throughout the Village around the perimeter roads, thus enabling us to further improve the appearance of our Village by additional plantings.

We intend to continue with further tree planting and beautification plans. All of our Associations are encouraged to do their share to enhance and beautify our village.

A State of the Art Fitness Center is fully operational at the Hastings Clubhouse

We have 28 committees, all staffed with volunteers. These committees are of immense help to UCO and especially to the Executive Board and Delegate Assembly. Their dedicated work cannot be praised enough.

There is always work to be done and we encourage you to take an active interest and participate in your Association business and the diverse committees of UCO.

We encourage you to read the monthly issue of the UCO Reporter, our excellent newspaper. It will give you up-to-date information on all that occurs in Century Village.

There is also a Web Site for Century Village (or Blog).

We also have our own information on TV cable channel #63.

You are invited to attend our monthly Delegate Assembly, which meets in the Clubhouse Theater the first Friday of each month at 9:30 a.m. These meetings are open to everyone.

From time to time we organize Work Shops, primarily for Officers and Board Members of the Building Associations. These meetings are open to you, whether you are a Board Member or not. The purpose of these meetings is to respond to questions of general interest, be it on UCO's plans or interpretation of Bylaws, or Florida Statutes Condominium Act 718.

Our Village is a beautiful place to live and enjoy. We have 14 pools, a Clubhouse, a Fitness Center, tennis courts, shuffle board courts, hand ball courts, Bocce courts, a Petanque court, sail boats, billiard rooms, and numerous clubs and classes. We enjoy dancing every Saturday evening in our Party Room, and movies in the Theater several times a week, both of which are free to residents. We have professional shows several times a week at reasonable prices.




Entry into Century Village by Residents (owners, renters, occupants)

As in all other phases of condominium living in Century Village, the distribution and use of our transponder has its rules and regulations. The advantages of having the transponder are obvious when we see the line of cars at our gates waiting to show IDs and gate passes to our Security Guards. It is certainly worth your time and effort to obtain the transponder from the UCO office by appointment on dates to be determined. To help please observe the following:

  1. Bring your Century Village ID, your current valid driver's license, and your valid auto registration, so that we may complete the sale of the transponder.

  2. A fee of $26.75 is charged for a new transponder. There will be no refunds. When you purchase a new auto, a replacement transponder may be purchased for $16.00. (Please return the old one.)

  3. A second transponder may be purchased for a second car provided there is a second licensed driver in residing in the same unit.

  4. A renter may obtain a transponder by presenting his/her Century Village ID, showing the expiration date on the current lease; the current car registration, and driver's license.

  5. Transponders may be sold to residents with long term leased cars with a copy of the lease, provided there is at least one year remaining on the lease.

  6. No commercial vehicles will be permitted to make use of transponders.

  7. Transponders are not transferable from one car to another. If you sell or trade your car, or give up your auto in any way, you must purchase a new transponder for your new car.

  8. A renter who renews his lease using his CV ID may have the update recorded at the UCO office so the transponder will continue to work.

  9. Please Note: Transponders are for the sole use of our residents, renters and occupants. A transponder may be rescinded by security for any violation of our Bylaws or rules, or breaking of the gate arms.

10.You must bring your car on your appointed date and time. We will place the transponder on the vehicle in a position where it works best.




Important Phone Numbers

  • 689-1759 — Visitors' Call-In System

  • 686-0961 — Haverhill Gate

  • 689-0432 — Okeechobee Gate, Emergency Phone to Security

  • 502-8103 — Security Rover Car

  • 640-3111 — WPRF Staff Office

  • 697-8000 — Florida Power & Light

  • 740-4600 — PBC County Water Dept.




Gate Passes will be issued with a Century Village resident ID.

A Gate Pass will allow only the person or persons named on the pass to enter Century Village. This pass will not give access to the clubhouse, pools, or any recreation facility. A Gate Pass may also be issued to maids, nurses and aides.

A resident may not be given a gate pass for a guest without presenting a valid CV Resident’s ID. In addition to showing his/her ID, the resident must submit the name of their guest. Guests may not bring in other guests. Renter ID and "Valid Until" ID have the same privileges as owners and residents.

Charges:

  • Pass costs $1.25 for 30 days

  • Pass costs $2.50 for 60 days

  • Pass costs $3.25 for 90 days

  • Contractor passes are $16.00 for a month, $5.50 per week

  • Lost passes cost $3.25 for reissue

  • The alternative to a gate pass is a daily call to the visitor call-in system at 689-1759




Computer Entry System Instructions

(Available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day)

How to admit guests, service providers, etc.

  1. Dial 689-1759 from home phone only.

  2. A computer will ask you to say only your visitor's name, slowly and clearly. Guests must know the name and address of the resident they are about to visit. Picture ID must be shown.

  3. Stay on the line until the computer advises your visitor is then authorized to enter — then hang up.

Important notes:

  1. No one will be admitted through our gates (either Haverhill or Okeechobee) without prior authorization.

  2. Best time to call is during non-peak hours. Peak hours are 8-10 a.m. and 5-6 p.m.

  3. Resident information can only be changed by filling out a form at the UCO office with the new information. (A current CV ID is necessary for all changes.)

  4. For emergency or special situations any day after 4 p.m., please call 686-0432.

  5. Information of guest's names is deleted after 8 a.m. the following day.

  6. The computer recognizes you by your home phone numbers — cell numbers are currently not accepted. It is not necessary to state your name and address.




Resident Information Sheets

As part of this package you will find a resident sheet. Please fill it in and bring it to the UCO office with your Century Village ID. The information you supply will be entered into the computer system at both gates and will enable you to:

  1. In order to enter the Village in the right lane at either gate, you need to have a working transponder.

  2. Call our computerized visitor call-in system to have your visitors admitted into Century Village at either gate.

Also included on the resident information sheet is a request for Occupant's Emergency Information. We wish to stress that it is to your benefit to have this information in our computers in case of an emergency.

Only one resident information sheet per unit should be submitted, listing all residents at that particular apartment. Should changes occur in the information you originally submitted, it is up to you to inform us of these changes so that information on the computers can be updated.




United Civic Organization, Inc.

Office: 2102 West Drive Phone: 683-9189 Fax: 683-9904

Office Hours: Mon-Thu 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. • Fri 12 noon - 4 p.m.

Investigation/Transponder Desks: Mon-Thu 9 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. • Fri 12 noon - 3:45 p.m.

UCO Reporter: (call for appt) 24 Camden A Phone: 683-9336 Fax: 683-2830

Delegate Assembly Meeting: The first Friday of each month at 9:30 a.m. in the Clubhouse Theater.




Ambulance Service: Medics Ambulance Service

Contract Outline for Century Village

1. Basic Life Support Emergency Ambulance

When a call is made to 911, two ambulances arrive. If the patient is in a life-threatening situation, the County Fire Rescue will transport the patient to the nearest hospital. If the patient's condition is not life-threatening, the County Paramedic will direct Medics to take the patient to the hospital. As long as the patient is in a Medics vehicle, this trip is a covered service. This is included in the quarterly fee for ambulance that each unit pays.

2. Advance Life Support And Basic Life Support, Non-Emergency Ambulance (not 911)

When a patient needs to be transferred from one hospital to another for a higher level of care, Medics transports the patient and it is a covered service. When a patient needs to be transported from a hospital to a Nursing Home or Rehabilitation Center by ambulance, this is a covered service as well.

3. Non-Medical Stretcher Van (not an ambulance)

If a patient must lie down and needs to go from a Nursing Home or Rehabilitation to a Doctors appointment, it is a covered service. All medical appointment transportation is covered from or to any location in Palm Beach. All trips must be scheduled at least 24 hours prior to the trip.




Notes to Newcomers

Welcome to Paradise! Once you settle in, you'll find Century Village is truly the best place in the world to live. But first, you may need some assistance with the various rules/requests:

  1. If you have a car and park it in front of your unit, it must be "face-in" — for two reasons, which if you think about it, make sense. (1) Exhaust fumes can be dangerous to those in the ground floor units if windows are open, and (2) Your license tag should be visible to law enforcement officers.

  2. Cars have only one license plate, known as a "Tag." When you are ready, drive south on Military Trail (almost to Lake Worth) to the Tax Assessor's Office (not the Motor Vehicle Department). You will be confronted with a choice of almost 100 different specialty plates, at an extra cost. This allows you to donate to your favorite cause, such as a school, sports team, or perhaps Save the Manatees. At normal prices, you get two oranges.

  3. Now you're ready to get your Florida driver's license — even if you do not drive. Yes, we have driver's licenses for non-drivers for identification purposes. These have your photo and state clearly "not a driver's license" on the front. Confused? Just get one — it will save you a lot of heartache later on when you are required, for any reason, to provide photo ID (banks will not cash an out of state check — even the supermarket requires photo ID before accepting your credit card). The Motor Vehicle office is also on Military Trail, near Mounts Botanical Gardens, and there is always a long line. However, you can phone for an appointment - really!

  4. Best choice is to give up driving entirely and use our internal and external bus system, which is among the best anywhere. Read the bus schedule on the last page of the Reporter, determine your area, sit on a bench ten minutes before the bus is due, and just ride for the fun of it, to see where it goes. Examples: Gardens Mall, Wellington Green, casinos, library, beauty parlor, as well as several restaurants. Gossip on the bus is rarely founded on facts, but will give you a laugh.

  5. As for trash: It's most important to bag your food waste and place it in the green Dumpster. But do not use this Dumpster for construction debris, such as from remodeling or renovating and repairing. Items such as sinks, refrigerators and stoves should be taken away by the company delivering the new ones. Contractors should agree to remove their debris, and you should insist upon this before signing a contract. Furniture that is in good condition and can be re-used may be picked up by Faith Farms (737-2222) or B'nai B'rith (1-888-626-6580) and possibly become a charitable deduction on your tax return. Anything else may be picked up by Oveolia, not hidden behind the Dumpster — items must be accessible to their trucks. Phone them at 471-6110 to find out when to put out your stuff.

  6. General Info — besides the UCO Reporter, we receive The Advocate monthly. It will be found on your doorknob inside a clear plastic bag. Save the bag, because some day, you'll have to drop something off at someone else's door — the doorknob bag system works! On Tuesdays, the Jewish Journal is available at the Health Club, and on Wednesdays, you'll find the Condo News there. Both of these have many items of interest, as well as ads for local restaurants, some with discount coupons.

  7. Mark your calendar to attend the monthly Delegate Meeting the first Friday of each month at 9:30 a.m. in the Clubhouse theater. This is a great source of information as well as an inside look at how our village operates. Ask questions! Visit the UCO office and volunteer to help for a few hours each week. Meet new people and make new friends. Join a club or two. Offer to serve on the Board of your own building's association. Help make decisions.




Organization News

Amit Rishona Chapter: Come to our monthly meeting on Tue, Nov 20, at 1:00 pm (collation at 12 noon). Other coming events: Dec 12, luncheon and games at CV CH (Bess, 478-0735); Jan 13, 2-5 pm, Israeli film at the CH (Ellie, 471-4935); Mar 7, ann dinner at Aitz Chaim (call Bess).




Congregation Anshei Sholom Adult Education
         Congregation Anshei Sholom will have two adult education courses beginning in November.
         Sara Farkas, an Israeli native and member of the congregation, will lead a course in conversational Hebrew. Sara is an accomplished teacher.
         Those members of the congregation who took the course last year were very impressed by the caliber of the teaching.
         No prior knowledge of Hebrew is required.
         Rabbi Michael Korman will lead a course entitled "Great Jewish Thinkers: Their Impact on Judaism."
         Rabbi Korman, the spiritual leader of the congregation, is an experienced education administrator and college professor.
         Both courses will run from November to March on Monday mornings at the Temple. They are free to members only (nonmembers pay).
         For further information, contact the Temple office any weekday morning 684-3212.





B'nai B'rith Century: We meet every 4th Sun, 9:30 am, for breakfast meeting at Congregation Anshei Sholom. For more info, call Arnold Rimm, 689-1918.




Brooklyn U.S.A.: Will meet on Wed, Oct 14, 1:30 in the Party Room. Coming events: Oct 16, dessert social for paid-up members; Nov 15, Italian lunch & entertainment; Dec 17, BBQ and boat trip on the Jungle Queen; Jan 17, mystery bus trip; Feb 21, annual luncheon/dance; Mar 16-18, 3 day/2 nite trip to Key West. Elayne, 688-8151; Steve, 242-0481; Rose, 683-1564.




Canadian Club: Meets 4th Wed, Party Room of CH, 1:00 pm. Membership open to all. Lots of great activities. Betty, 684-0766; Franne, 478-9526; Madelaine, 684-5595.




Century Village Gun Club: Meets 2nd Tue, 7:00 pm, Classroom B. You don’t have to own a weapon. Everything is free. This fall, we have a great lineup of speakers. We were sponsored by Humana Insurance for free range time at the Gator Gun Center on Sep 9. Ladies are invited. George, 471-9929.




Century Village Orchestra: We practice every Mon, 1:15-3:45, in the CH, Room C (Oct 26-Mar 20). We play 3 concerts each year. We welcome all pros and amateurs who enjoy playing with a group. We would like to add a conductor, more violins, violas, cellos, bass, bassoons and percussion players to our orchestra. Rickie, 683-0869.




Century Village Symphony Orchestra Annual Concert: We will perform The Poet and Peasant Overture, Concertino for Piano in A Minor, The Russian Sailors’ Dance, El Relicario, And the Angels Sing, New World Symphony (4th Movement) and selections from The Phantom of the Opera and My Fair Lady on Thu, Mar 13, 8:00 pm at the CH Theatre. Tickets are on sale now at the ticket office.




Christian Club: We meet 1st Wed, 1:00 pm, Party Room of CH. Coming event: Oct 27, Seminole Coconut Creek Casino, bus leaves College Park Plaza at 9:00 am and Casino at 3:00 pm, price incl driver tip, lunch buffet at Fresh Harvest, free play tickets. Rose, 641-0014; Grace, 640-5229.




Congregation Anshei Sholom: We welcome you to our temple family. Attend our daily Minyans and Shabbat services Fri eve at 8:00 and Sat morn at 8:45. Sisterhood mini-luncheon every 3rd Tue. Other events: Sep 28, Break the Fast, holiday seats avail @ $10. Rae 478-3221; the Temple, 684-3212

Deborah Hospital Foundation: Now meets 2nd Fri in CH Party Room at 11:00 am.




Democratic Club of Century Village: Meet in Party Room, Sep 22 at 1:30 pm (note new loc). All Democrats are welcome.




Duplicate Bridge at Hastings Clubhouse: Every Mon at 7:00 pm and Wed at 1:00 pm. If you need a partner, call Mimi, 697-2710, leave message.




Evangelical Christian Networking Club: Meets 1st Fri, 6:30 pm, Classroom B of CH. We share relevant info among ourselves and with our community. Dee, 827-8748; Steve, 389-5300.




Greater Philadelphia Club: Elaine, 615-6697.




Hadassah, Judith Epstein Chapter at CVWPB: Meets 3rd Wed at 11:45 am for mini-lunch, 12:30 meeting at Cong Anshei Sholom. Suzanne, 686-4241.

Holocaust Survivors of the Palm Beaches: Meet 2nd Wed, 9:30 am, in Anshei Sholom. Our first meet of the season will be Oct 14, then Nov 11. On Sun, Dec 20, we are having our Chanukah Party, a kosher meal and dancing. We return to regular meets on Jan 14 and Feb 11. In Mar, it's a Purim Party. In Apr, it's Yom-Hashoa. Kathy, 689-0393.




Irish-American Cultural Club of CV: Meets 1st Tue in CH, 2:00 pm, Room C. For info, call Robert, 917-704-0223.




Italian-American Culture Club: Bowling at Verdes Lanes starting Sat, Oct 31, 9:00. Join your friends for a morning of fun. Fran, 616-3314.




Jewish War Veterans Post #501: Meets 1st Sun, Anshei Sholom. Breakfast at 9:00; meeting at 9:30; meets from Sep to May with guest speakers. Activities include servicing VA patients. Ralph, 689-1271; Howard, 478-2780.




Jewish War Veterans Post #520: Meets 4th Sun at Elks Lodge, Belvedere Rd. Continental breakfast at 9:00, followed by general meeting. Come as our guest and see what we’re all about! Walt, 478-6521; Phil, 686-2086.




Jewish War Veterans Ladies Auxiliary Post #520: Meets 3rd Mon at The Classic. A continental breakfast is served at 9:00 am, followed by our meeting. Our efforts go to creating welcome kits for the veterans at the VA Center at Military Trail and various positions at the Center. We find our volunteer work helpful and rewarding and welcome new members. Dorothy, 478-6521.




Knights of Pythias: You are invited to join Palm Beach Rainbow Lodge #203, meet 2nd and 4th Mon at North County Senior Center, Northlake Blvd. We welcome new members, duals, reinstatements and transferees from out of state. We are a fraternal brotherhood fostering the credo of friendship, charity, benevolence. Mike, 615-0218.




Na'Amat USA (Pioneer Women): Meets 4th Tue, 1:00 pm, at Cypress Lakes Auditorium for mini-lunch and interesting programs, guests are always welcome. For info, call Rhoda, 478-8559. Coming events: Oct 13-27, fabulous 15-day deluxe trip to Israel, space is ltd (Sylvia, 686-5350); Dec 4-13, special 9 nite Caribbean cruise on the NCL Dawn incl round-trip bus trans to Miami and 6 exotic ports of call (Sylvia, 686-5350; Marlene, 684-8357).




OWLS (Older-Wiser-Loyal-Seniors): Come to our meets every 2nd Mon, 3:00 pm, Party Room; see what we have planned.




Yiddish Advanced Reading Group: Menke Katz Reading Circle invites readers to join group headed by Troim Handler. Currently reading Night by Elie Wiesel in Yiddish. Meetings are twice a month in private homes. Troim, 684-8686.




Yiddish Culture Chorus: 50 members, men and women. Leader is Shelley K. Tenzer. Knowledge of Yiddish not necessary. Edy, 687-4255.




Yiddish Vinkl: An informal group of Yiddish lovers who gather to speak, hear and sing the language, this group is under the guidance of Edy Sharon. Meetings are held 1st and 3rd Sun from 1:30 to 3:00 pm year-round. For info, call Edy, 687-4255.




For more organization news, see CV Channel 63.




Important Address’


UCO Mailing Address
United Civic Organization
2102 West Street
West Palm Beach, FL 33417

Reporter Mailing Address
UCO Reporter
24 Camden A
West Palm Beach, FL 33417

WPRF Billing Address
W.P.R.F., Inc.
Accounts Receivable
1601 Forum Place, Suite 500
West Palm Beach, FL 33401






Important Numbers

Handy Reference
Important telephone numbers to keep handy:
UCO Office Tel
683-1603
UCO Office Fax
683-9904
UCO Reporter Newspaper Tel
683-9336
UCO Reporter Newspaper Fax
683-2830
Visitors Call-In System
689-1759
WPRF Accounts Receivable
640-3147
WPRF I.D. Office
640-3154
WPRF Management
640-3147
WPRF Staff Office
640-3120
Clubhouse (Main)
640-3120
Hastings Fitness Center
640-3120
Security (West Gate)
689-0432
Security (East Gate)
686-0961
Police, Fire, Ambulance
911
Senior HelpLine
211
Consumer HelpLine
1-800-475-7352
Credit Counseling
1-800-330-2227
Palm Tran
841-4200
Palm Tran Connection
1-877-870-9849
Tri-Rail Transit
1-800-874-7245
Homesteaders Application
355-2622
Voters Information
355-2650
Florida Power & Light
697-8000 • 1-800-468-8243
Palm Beach Water Department
740-4600
AT&T (our telephone provider)
1-888-757-6500
Comcast Cable (Rep for CV)
655-3842
Water Utility of PBC Customer Service
740-4600
Alzheimer's Crisis Line
1-800-394-1771
American Red Cross
1-866-GET-INFO (438-4636)
Columbia Hospital
842-6141
Good Samaritan Hospital
655-5511
JFK Hospital
965-7300
Palm Beach Gardens Hospital
622-1411
Palms West Hospital
798-3300
St. Mary's Hospital
844-6300
Wellington Regional Hospital
798-8500
WPB VA Medical Center
882-8262
ECM Appliance Services
586-3739
Hospice of Palm Beach County
1-800-287-4772
Village Mutual
689-8550
Wright-Superior
845-7702
Gallagher Management
704-2196
Pruitt Management
432-3076
Prime Management
734-5675
Seacrest Management
697-4990
State Senator Dave Aronberg
433-2627
State Representative Mark Pafford
682-0156
County Commissioner Jeff Koons
355-2202
Representative Alcee Hastings
684-0565
Representative Ron Klein
651-7594
Representative Robert Wexler
988-6302
Senator Bill Nelson
514-0189
Senator Mel Martinez
1-866-630-7106

Medicare
www.medicare.gov
Social Security
www.socialsecurity.gov





About Channel 63

Century Village has a closed-circuit television channel that keeps us constantly informed about what is happening in our condo community, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our cable provider supplies us with the resources to broadcast service-oriented programming.
From six minutes before the hour to six minutes after, Channel 63 broadcasts information regarding UCO meetings, when and where they take place. During the odd hours, information about classes and other announcements take place. During the even hours, all clubs and groups are highlighted.

The week after a Delegate Meeting, Channel 63 will rebroadcast said meeting weekdays beginning at 9:00 am and 6:00 pm.

If you have a group or other announcement that you would like to see on 63, being your request to the UCO office on 2102 West Drive and it should be on air within the next week. Thank you for watching.





Notes to Notice




Anita Cruz is WPRF Vice President in charge of the Clubhouse.




Meet the New CAM
Rodger Carver is our new Community Association Manager.

Mostly woffle in italics ----





I Want My CVTV!
CV Channel 63 is on the air, keeping Villagers informed on UCO matters and Village organizations. If you have items that you'd like to put on Channel 63, come to the UCO office and ask for the special form.

Paper Lion
This Web site provides unique services, including a link to our forum. The Reporter is just as global: Snowbird Villagers can request the whole paper sent to them in an SASE. Look up the latest rates on the Internet. Only stamped 10" by 13" envelopes, no cash. To see the entire UCO Reporter online,
click here.

Transponders by Appointment Only
Transponders will only be dispensed at the UCO office. Residents will have to make an appointment to obtain them at 683-9189.

This Doctor Makes Condo Calls
Sinai Medical Center inside Century Village, located just before the Clubhouse — the Physicians specialize in the treatment of, to name a few: Gynecological Problems, Hypertension, Diabetes, Dermatology, Respiratory Ailments, Heart Disease, Osteoporosis, Arthritis Pain Management, Diet and Weight Loss and other health problems. Free Scheduled Transportation is offered.

Village Drug Store in Business
Walgreens is the new operator of the Village drug store as of May 2009. If you have a prescription, they will fill it. They also sell over-the-counter medications, food and other sundries that you come to expect from pharmacies outside our campus.

The Cable is Able
A contract has been signed with Comcast to provide cable service for ten years, starting July 1, 2009, ending January 2020. As part of the deal, we will receive 83 channels, including 48 music channels, channels lost to digital restored to the lineup, and a video-on-demand channel, featuring pay-per-view and free content. As part of the deal, we will receive one (1) digital receiver box and remote control per unit; additional boxes can be ordered, but will not have full service.

Take the Bus to the Book
Bus service is available to the Library outside of the West Gate. For your convenience, you may also visit the Library using the following link:
PBCLibrary.org.

Medics Wheelchair/Ambulance Service
Medics provides wheelchair service for CV residents: Fully staffed and trained wheelchair van and driver; resident must provide own wheelchair; operating Monday-Friday 9am-4pm; pickup and drop off must be within Palm Beach County; service is for residents with medical infirmaries and shall not be used as a taxi service; may only be used as transport to/from nursing homes, hospitals, rehab centers and the like; residents must schedule transport a minimum of 24 hours in advance; appointments are made on first-come-first-serve basis and are subject to availability; transport does not provide medical attention. For more info, call 659-7400.

Channel 63 Memo
On the even hours (2-4-6-8-10-12 am and pm), you will have the Organizations and Clubs showing. On the odd hours (1-3-5-7-9-11 am and pm), you will see Announcements and Classes. Six (6) minutes before until six (6) minutes past the hour will be UCO meetings. The Delegate Assembly meeting is rebroadcast the week after weekdays at 9:00 am and 6:00 pm.







Basic Disaster Supply Kit

Everyone needs to prepare for emergency situations, but shopping can be expensive and strenuous. Shopping for items a little at a time before an event can reduce the stress of recovery by avoiding long lines and empty shelves.

Food:

  • 1 gallon of water* per person per day for at least 5 days, for drinking and sanitation

  • Sandwich bread (freeze until needed)

  • 2 cans of ready to eat soup

  • 1 box of crackers and/or granola bars

  • Dry cereal/Pop Tarts

  • 4 cans of fruit (2-4 pack)

  • 5 cans of meat (tuna, chicken, Vienna sausages, corn beef hash)

  • 4 cans of vegetables (beans, baked beans, corn, peas)

  • 1 jar of jelly or jam

  • 1 jar of peanut butter

  • 1 large can of juice (4 pack)

  • Instant coffee/tea/powdered drinks

  • Powdered or boxed milk

* If you choose to use your own storage containers, choose two-liter plastic soft drink bottles — not plastic jugs or cardboard containers that have had milk or juice in them.

Sanitize the bottles by adding a solution of one teaspoon of non-scented liquid chlorine bleach to a quart of water. Swish the sanitizing solution in the bottle so that it touches all surfaces. After sanitizing the bottle, thoroughly rinse out the sanitizing solution with clean water.

Fill the bottle to the top with regular tap water. If needed, add two drops of non-scented bleach to the water. Tightly close the container with the original cap. Be careful not to contaminate the cap by touching the inside with your fingers. Place a date on the outside of the bottle — replace every six months.

Storage:

  • Large plastic zip-lock bags

  • Plastic wrap

  • Aluminum foil

  • Assorted plastic containers with lids

  • Heavy duty garbage bags

  • Waterproof portable container with lid (to store disaster supplies)

Other Supplies:

  • Paper plates

  • Plastic or paper cups

  • Plastic eating utensils

  • Tissues

  • 2 rolls of paper towels

  • 4 rolls of toilet paper

  • Liquid dish soap

  • Mosquito repellent

  • Sunscreen

  • Matches/lighter

  • 2 pairs of latex gloves

  • Broom, mop and bucket

  • Unscented liquid bleach

Health:

  • 1 bottle of shampoo

  • 1 box hand sanitizer wipes

  • 1 tube of toothpaste

  • Deodorant

  • Extra supply of prescriptions

  • Oxygen

  • Contact lens solution

  • Extra pair of glasses

  • Extra hearing aid batteries

  • Items for denture care

First Aid:

  • Antiseptic

  • Anti-diarrhea medicine

  • Aspirin and/or acetaminophen

  • Adult vitamins (if needed)

  • Hydrogen peroxide

  • Band-Aids (assorted sizes)

  • Roll of gauze or bandages

  • First aid tape

  • Petroleum jelly

  • Rubbing alcohol

  • Tweezers

Your Property:

Before hurricane season, make a complete inventory of your valuables and personal property. Take a photo inventory and mail a copy to your out-of-town contact. This will be very important should you need to make an insurance claim.

Be sure you put all your important papers together in a waterproof bag or plastic container: Photocopies of credit cards, insurance and Social Security cards. Don't forget your insurance properties and other documents, such as birth and marriage certificates, three years of your IRS returns, mortgage, and wills, to name a few.

Other Disaster Supplies:

  • Battery powered lantern

  • Battery powered radio

  • Flashlight(s)

  • Extra batteries (correct sizes)

  • Extra flashlight bulbs

  • Portable camp stove or grill — do not use inside

  • Fuel for stove and grill

  • Video or disposable camera

  • Fire extinguisher — know where it is in your building

  • Extra change of clothes

Special Needs Shelter:

The county special needs shelter only accepts residents with a physical condition requiring medical or nursing care.

  • Need nursing assistance with medications or medical care assistance

  • Monitoring vital signs or medical condition or activities of daily living, but do not require hospitalization

  • Need constant electrical power for medical equipment

Pre-registration is required for individuals needing to use the special needs shelter.

Have Patience

Damage after a hurricane is unpredictable. It can take several days — this is why you need supplies for at least five days, preferable to have 7-10 days of supplies. In some cases, it can take several days to restore power, phone, water and cable television. You should have a landline phone — cell and portable phones may not work.

Prepare. Plan ahead.

Ask your neighbor from upstairs to join you and keep you company. Don't forget your out-of-state contact





Investigation Department Procedures

A contract for purchase or transfer of a deed or lease (if rental) must be given to the Condominium Association. This must be accompanied by a $100 check made out to the Association for the investigation. The Association deposits this check and issues an Association check for $100 made out to UCO. A married couple will be one (1) investigation. A marriage certificate is needed if the names are different. All other requests will require separate investigations; therefore, checks will be required for each investigation. Anyone can bring the contract, etc., together with the check to UCO. An application will be given to the bearer of the contract and the check.

The completed original application must be returned to the Condominium Association. It should be examined immediately for completeness (proof of income, proof of age, if mortgaged — a commitment letter). Page #4 is to be notarized as the thirty (30) day* time clock for approval or rejection starts when all necessary information is received at UCO.

A condo board member must sign page #4 of the application before it is returned to UCO for the investigation to begin. This will affirm that the Association has screened the application and is aware of it.

Anyone can bring the completed application, after being signed by a Board Member, to UCO, for the investigation process to begin.

Only a Condominium Officer or Board Member can pick up the completed investigation report. It is a confidential report and the Officer or Board Member will be made aware of the report's contents.

* unless a shorter period is provided in the Association's documents.




Gate Pass Procedures (should move to Gate Passes)

Gate passes for allowing relatives in to check on the owner's units (no overnight stays) while the unit owner is away requires the following:

  • A note from an Officer from that Association with the Seal that allows entrance.

  • A copy of the unit owner's Century Village I.D.

New Owner Without Residency

Go to WPRF I.D. Office.

The temporary owner's pass will be for a maximum of one month.













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