Notice of Commencement. A term that many of us did not know until "you know what" happened on October 10th. (That which we will not mention) If you own property that had damage and required a permit then you should have been asked to sign a Notice of commencement. This document should be recorded in the public records to let it be known that the contractor has commenced work on your property. This allows any sub-contractors that your contractor might employ to know who the owner of the property is and the contractor contact information. If, by chance, someone was hired to do work on the property and is not paid then they will know who to contact for notice of non-payment. Once the work is completed and everyone is paid in full, the contractor will file a Contractor's Final Lien Waiver Affidavit and you as the owner file a Notice of Termination. Once again this puts everyone on notice that the work has been completed and everyone has been paid. A Notice of Commencement is typically in effect for one year after the date of signing, However, if you want your work done in a timely manner you can insert a date that will give the contractor sufficient time to complete the project and not draw it for the year allowance.

Our great state, La Florida “Feast of Flowers”, was discovered and named by Spanish Explorer Ponce De Leon. He was on his quest to find the fountain of youth and came upon our lovely grounds in 1513. It is thought that Native Americans were living for at least 12,000 years in what is now Florida. Some other quirky little known facts about our state: • It is estimated that there are over TWO TRILLION dollars worth of lost treasure within 60 miles of the coast of Florida • No matter where you are in Florida you are never more than 60 miles from the Ocean or Gulf • The first ATM was installed in Miami • Florida is the only place on earth where alligators and crocodiles co-exist in the same habitat • Once a year thousands of Floridians stand at the state line and toss dead fish into Alabama. It’s the mullet toss hosted by the Flora-Bama Beach Bar • Florida is the flattest state in the US with only a difference between high and lowest elevation of 345 feet • Benjamin Green, a Miami pharmacist, invented the first suntan lotion • Florida is the 29th most obese state – yuck • Florida is home to over 1,300 golf courses, more than any other state • In 1982 the Florida Keys declared themselves independent under the “Conch Republic”, it lasted 2 minutes • The St. John’s River is Florida’s longest at 310 miles and one of the few rivers in the US to flow North • St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the continental United States, founded on September 8th, 1565 • Opa-Locka was originally called Opatishawockalocka, a Seminole name that roughly translates into “big tree covered island in a swamp”. • In Miami you cannot bring a pig to the beach So, no matter what brought you to Florida, or if you are a Native, there is a lot to learn about where we live. Get out and explore, search for lost treasure, golf, toss a mullet but remember to wear sunscreen and don’t take your pig to the beach!

Summer may not be here yet, but the heat and yellow flies are upon us. Especially now with an abundance of our shade trees gone, there seems to be no escape and we have a long way to go! Try to imagine in your mind our area 100 years ago during the summertime with no air conditioning. Every day hopeful for the sea breeze to be blowing in with a hint of coolness. Makes me picture long porches with blue ceilings and wicker rocking chairs. So why were those porch ceilings painted blue? Haint blue to be exact. A little research reveals that there are several myths about why this was done. Some believed that it would help to keep wasps and insects away by tricking them into thinking the ceiling was the sky so they would build their nests elsewhere. Some believed that it would keep nightfall from coming or to ward off evil spirits called "Haints". A tall glass of sweet tea and a slow turning ceiling fan can be a great relief on these hot - almost- summer days. Can't you see the tiny beads of water building up on the glass already?