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On May 28, 2009, Irma Marquez, one of EWM’s top Weston Town Center’s real estate agents, tweeted about checking out your property values.  I caught the tweet in my friends’ feed on Facebook.com.

I accessed my tax record on BCPA.net for both properties — my personal residence  and my investment property.  I was shocked to find how the values had declined and how the property taxes had been reduced.

Since  I escrow my taxes and insurance, I decided to write the following letter to my mortgage companies (the numbers were reflective of the properties respectively):

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Date: June 10, 2009

(To Mortgage Company)

Reference: Subject Property; Subject Loan Number

As you know, you are taking $335.68 a month for taxes and insurance on the above-referenced property. The taxes were based on taxes paid last year of $4,196.02 based on the assessed value of $195,660.

Recently, Broward County has reassessed our properties since we are in a declining market.  The assessed value is now $133,040, as evidenced by the BCPA.net printout dated 6/1/2009.  As you can see, the value has decreased approximately 34%. $133,040 times the millage rate (chart #0513) of 20.8884 would put my taxes at around $2,778.99. I have also attached the millage rate chart for your perusal.

Please note these adjustments accordingly and reassess my escrow account immediately. I understand that a cushion must be maintained; however, I believe that my monthly escrow could be reduced which would reduce my monthly mortgage payment.

Please govern yourselves accordingly.

VTY – Karen Bargery Ross
Enclosures (1) BCPA Printout; (2) Millage Rate Chart; and (3) Current Statement for Reference

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On June 22, 2009, the subject mortgage company of my investment property advised me by letter that they were completing an escrow analysis and that I would hear from them forthwith. Shortly thereafter, I received my escrow analysis printout with a statement that I was entitled to a $1,040.99 refund from the surplus.  As an added bonus to the check that I received, my next statement reflected a reduction in my monthly payment.

I am still awaiting a response and refund from my home mortgage.  The company wrote me two letters that they were “working on it.”

Even though I would have received a surplus at year’s end, it was a nice pick-me-up to receive the refund and reduction at this time.

Thank you, Irma, for your timely tweet.  This is just one more reason that the EWM agents are on top of their game — and Irma Marquez is certainly an asset to her profession and to our Weston EWM office!

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Evidently, EWM’s Weston Town Center has some incredibly talented elves who outdid themselves.

If you have an opportunity to visit, you can not only admire “the tree,” you can experience the entire Town Center observing the holiday.

Pembroke Pines Theatre of the Performing Arts (PPTOPA) is presenting Oliver on the following dates:

Weekend Performances:
Friday & Saturday Evenings 8:00 pm
November 1,7,8,14,15,21,22,29
Saturday & Sunday Matinee 2:00 pm
November 2,8,9,15,16,22,23,30

Check PPTOPA for tickets.

Performances at the Susan B. Katz Theatre

Now’s the time to fall in love all over again!

For community theatre, PPTOPA ranks high above the rest.  For a swashbuckling good time, I highly recommend that you support them in their efforts to promote the performing arts in our community — especially those of you who live in Pembroke Pines, Broward County, Florida.

Here is a sampling of the musical.

Father’s Day is approaching.  Where are you taking Dad for his special Father’s Day meal? 

If you are near Weston, Coral Gables, Cutler Bay or Dadeland, how about doing the Asian fusion thing? My favorite is Stir Moon.  You have a choice of Sushi, Noodle or Thai. 

I took my long-time friends, Maggie and Mauricio, and their granddaughter Sarah, to Stir Moon yesterday.  Mauricio and Maggie ordered the sushi.  You could hear the hmmmmms of delight — especially from Mauricio.  He became weepy when he was down to his last two rolls.  I thought we were going to have to form a grief support group!

I ordered the “Create a Stir.”  The waiter brought me my tin pot, and I moved quickly towards the veggie bar (mushrooms, bamboo shoots, green beans, bean sprouts, fresh ginger, Japanese mushrooms, carrots, snow peas, and on and on), selected all my favs, and handed the pot to the chef who stir-fried its contents with my chicken and peanut sauce.  I love the peanut sauce with its creamy goodness and amazing aroma. I chose the brown rice to accompany my meal.

Take Dad to Stir Moon – thank him for all those “free” rides he gave (and continues to give) you.

(Please: Always eat your ginger with sushi; never, ever feed a baby raw fish.)

David Shannon’s children’s book, “A Bad Case of Stripes,” has a message for young and old alike. Be yourself.

On May 6, 2008, Country Isles Elementary School in Weston, Florida, celebrates “Community Reading Day.” It is a time where adult folks from around town come to school, network with other volunteer readers, pick a favorite book, choose a classroom, and read to the children. The readers meet in the library, and two children from each classroom escort him to his destination.

I’ve picked my book. David Shannon is not only the author, he is also the illustrator, and his illustrations are a credit to his incredible talent.

The story crescendos as Camilla is examined by every expert on earth. Then the media gets involved because they must report on their discovery of “The Bizarre Case of the Incredible Changing Kid.”

With the help of a little old lady, Camilla is saved when she finally admits she does love lima beans.

“Afterward Camilla wasn’t quite the same. Some of the kids at schools said she was weird, but she didn’t care a bit.” . . .

Community Reading Day is a wonderful tradition that other schools may wish to adopt as part of their community involvement efforts — and

David Shannon’s “A Bad Case of Stripes” is a must read. It needs to be a part of every child’s library and every plastic surgeon’s reception area.

Popular songs of our day came from this musical: “I Whistle a Happy Tune,” “Hello, Young Lovers,” “Getting to Know You,” and “Shall We Dance?”

Katie Raleigh, ”Anna Leonowens,” has the voice of an angel. The King of Siam, played by Angelo Luis, (in his first leading role), takes command of the stage, and you cannot help but fall in love with this cranky, but loveable “height-challeged” character, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera . . . . There was attention to detail in the set as well as each and every costume. The pacing of this musical was extremely tight, and I am sure that is attributable to the director, Florence Andrews.

The children were a delight, both to the eyes and ears. What a wonderful, life-enhancing experience for them, and I reminisced to a time when I was eleven years old and performed in the children’s chorus of the opera Othello at the Memphis Little Theatre.

If you would like tickets, the performances run from April 11 through May 4, 2008. You will be proud of these talented folks who are hand-picked from our own backyard — people who give freely of their time and talent to such a wonderful art. Channel 10’s Kristi Krueger is the executive producer.

Surprising to me, PPTOPA has been performing for our community since 1993. It is a non-profit theatrical organization endeavoring “to be a vehicle for potential young stars.” You will see many young, as well as seasoned, talented actors and singers. There is opportunity for musicians as well because a live orchestra accompanies the performers.

PPTOPA will be performing Pirates of Penzance this summer, and the auditions begin in May of 2008. Next season will include such favorites as Oliver and South Pacific.

You may visit the website, http://www.PPTOPA.com, to order your e-tickets.

Supporting community theatre is a privilege. I wished I had been aware of its existence — I would have gotten involved long before now.

See you there!

YOUTUBE LINK

Stop the bleeding! Contact www.MySafeFlorida.org; and if your home is eligible, as was mine, you may be entitled to a $5000 grant towards hurricane shutters so that you can have that neighborhood cookout to get rid of your plywood. Also, this grant might allow your getting the garage door replaced with one that is “to code” as well as getting your roof rafters and roof nails secured “to code.”

To apply: http://www.mysafefloridahome.com/

My hurricane history:

• Slept through Hurricane Donna in Hialeah, Florida, as a small child (1960);
• Slept through Hurricane David, who just glazed the coast (1979);
• Lost my entire house in Perrine, Florida, during Hurricane Andrew (1992); (Later that year, I met Brian Norcross in Pollo Tropical in Coconut Grove, and like the gentleman that he is and his mouth full of chicken, rice and beans, he stood to shake my hand as I thanked him for all his much-appreciated hard work during Andrew!)
• Boogied North in my Isuzu pick-up truck with my precious belongings in the back as the bed-cover flapped in the breeze during both Hurricanes Floyd (1999) and Irene (1999);
• Tried to barbeque leftover lasagna during Hurricane Katrina until I gave up and drove North (2005);
• Slept through a couple of hours of Hurricane Wilma, (which my mother still cannot believe and still talks about) — I gave up a little more quickly than during Katrina, and I flew North in my Nissan (2005).

You think I would have learned SOMETHING by now! This year, I will not get caught with my “shutters” down!