Father’s Day June 17, 2018
.o0o.
This gallery contains 11 photos.
Beach Cleaning: It is Turtle Season From May to October it is turtle nesting season. A clean beach and no lights night time are a great help for the reproduction cycle and survival of the species. With the purpose to … Continue reading
This gallery contains 16 photos.
Memorial Day at Aquarius May 28th, 2018 several members of the Aquarius Condominium Community got together to celebrate in honor of the heroes fallen while servicing the Country armed forces. The dinner feast prepared by Peter Perrone of our Acqua … Continue reading
Impact Windows: Are Prices Changing? Cost increase in the new future?
The following message was sent by J. Scott Sandstorm, the Principal of Action Windows and Glass:
“” Can you please send out an email if possible. My manufacturer is holding our prices for your building only until 30 June. If anyone wants to order they will hold the price till 30 June? Thank you
Scott (954) 294-3553 “”
If the Impact Windows contract is signed before the end of the month of June the published prices will be maintained.
Click here for the estimated prices practiced by Scott Sandstorm and several other vendors.
Impact Windows: Price Estimates from some Vendors
Other links related to Impact Windows hurricane proof:
In February 2018 about 75 Aquarius apartments had Impact Windows. Since them additional more than 30 have had their windows hurricane “proof” installed.
Specifications for the installation of impact windows at Aquarius
https://aquariusuno.com/floor-plans/aquarius-apartment-windows-specifications/
.o0o.
Johnny Carson is posing as Ronald Reagan preparing himself for a press conference. It is a spoof on the famous Abbott & Costello “Who’s On First” routine. Except this time it is Hu (premier of China), Watt (Sec of Interior, James Watt), Where, Y (YMCA), and Yassir (Arafat). Fred Holliday (born Fred Grossinger) is the actor playing Reagan’s Chief of Staff.
Impossible not laugh!
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson – 1962 to 1992
.o0o.
Aquarius and Comcast/Xfinity: New Agreement is not very far away
Out of the 12 TV and Internet services providers in our area Aquarius Board of Directors invited 3 vendors to offer their proposals. AT&T, Atlantic Broadband and Comcast/Xfinity presented their offerings.
Comcast/Xfinity was considered the best offer. The final contract is in advanced phase of detail pending some plans review and Aquarius Legal counsel exam. What is new and it is likely to happen?
All information subject to change. This is provided as a general headsup and can not be considered final until the contract is signed.
| Service | New Contract | Existing Contract |
| Cost (rounded) | $ 70 plus tax | $ 30 |
| Term | 5 years from 2018 | Expired |
| TV Channels Line up | 200 channels and music | same |
| Premium Channel | HBO | Showtime |
| High Definition Serv. 1080 or 720 | Included | no |
| Internet | 60 Mbps included | no |
| Equipment – included no cost | New Contract | Existing Contract |
| DVR Set Top Box records programs | 1 | no |
| Set Top Box | 1 (access DVR recording) | 1 |
| DTA | 1 HD Capable | 2 Standard Definition 480 |
| Operating System | X1 with voice recognition included | X1 the same but requires DVR box, additional fee |
| Additional Services available: All optional requiring additional fees that are responsibility of the individual owner/resident. | ||
| Premium Channels: Starz, Showtime, Cinemax etc. | Cost varies, bundles, promotions change every month. | |
| Foreign Channels: broad selection and larger TV line up | Cost varies, per region, per country, per package | |
| Higher Speed Internet | higher speed higher cost | |
| Land Line Telephone, per line | $25 | |
| Additional TV outlets | Cost TBA | |
| Surveillance/Security Services | Cost TBA | |
| Additional Details | |
| Sign up bonus | $150 per household |
| Annual Cost Escalation clause | Up to 4% per year |
| Installation services | $ 200.000 (two hundred thousand dollars) to bring cables inside the building according City Code. Cost to be covered entirely by Comcast. No onus to Aquarius.⊗ |
| Installation services | To done as part of the contract improving the actual external cables and boxes. |
⊗ Comcast offered this as part of the Contract Renewal with Aquarius to make a code complaint installation of all cabling to be brought inside the building. Comcast set aside, out of their own “Construction” budget $200.000.00 (two hundred thousand dollars) that is being left on the table. Some members of the Board did not approve this work for the reason that inside the apartments this new installation could disrupt the decoration. Their assumption being that the new cables would run outside the walls and not inside the walls.
To run any cables inside the walls the solution is “fishing” the cables as any competent installer could do. A project like that would could run as high as $ 150.00 depending on the complexity of the job.
What is being done instead? The cables will continue to run along the external walls of the property and Comcast will install new cable canopies to hide the cables.
When the new contract is going to be signed? There is not fixed date but it could occur before 60 days.
AT&T has wired fiberglass the entire building. What will happen with this installation? This network is available for any individual to contract with AT&T. AT&T services are an additional option for any owner. At the moment the offer of both companies are very similar. The future may bring developments such as gigabit internet speeds that one of the vendors would not offer. Technology moves at very rapid pace. Options are good.
If I do not want any additional service besides the package being negotiated by Aquarius will I still get an individual bill from Comcast/Xfinity? No. You will not pay anything else. All the cost will be included in your Regular Assessment (maintenance).
Presently the cables coming into my apartment unit run outside and far away from the existing canopies. Will my internal cables be changed? In order to avoid the cables running wild around the building the entry point must be very close to the canopies. If this is not your case the answer is possibly yes. But the “fishing”(running the cables inside the wall or under the molding) is always a possibility. This would hide any cable to inside the walls. It is expected that Comcast will do some “cable fish.” If this does not occur any competent electrician can complete the project is a few hours and for a reasonable cost.
I understand that the future of cable TV is fiber. Comcast still has very little fiberglass services. At Aquarius they are offering not fiber. Are we running the risk of hiring obsolete technology? It is true that fiber seems to be the direction of the industry and wireless is going to 5G LTE – so TV programming could arrive via these vehicles in a few years. In any case Comcast has made great advances with DOCSIS 3.1 platform. Comcast is already able to provide gigabit speeds in the internet and handle Ultra High Definition 4K programing. Aquarius is not likely to suffer from any technological obsolescence by hiring Comcast as it internet/TV service provider — at least in the next five years.
I have my own modem and my own router. What happens now? Comcast will provide, as part of the contract, new Set Top TV boxes, DVRs, DTAs and Modem/Router (WI-FI wireless enabled). All this equipment is part of the agreement and its cost is part of the contract. Probably there will be little use for the equipment you now own.
.o0o.
There is some mention to fish the cables, could we have an exemple? Check the video clip:
.o0o.
Aquarius Condominium Insurance
By now everyone should have received the coupons for payment Special Assessment of the deductible for the losses caused by the Irma storm of last September of 2017. The first payment is due June 1st., 2018. The deductible is about 2% of the insured coverage. The amount covered is about $54 million. The deductible is a bit over $ 1 million that needs to be paid by all homeowners members of the association. Many new insurance policies have a mandatory deductible of 3% or even 4%. Aquarius keeping the same insurance company QBE is able to have the 2% deductible.
The personal homeowners insurance may have a clause of “Loss Assessment” for wind. In this case a minimum of $2 thousand dollars may be reimbursed by this policy. There are cases that the homeowners policy will not pay the “Loss Assessment.” The policy must include the “wind”endorsement. If this is your case call you agent to add this endorsement. It will not help for 2017 loss or the Special Assessment imposed by Aquarius, but will protect you from future events.
Aquarius will pay about $ 432 thousand for several policies from June 201 to June 2019. This represents an increase of near $ 30 thousand from last year insurance premiums.
For insurance values and respective premiums as well as additional details please ask at the Property Management Office. The Aquarius Insurance Portfolio includes a number of insurance companies. The procurement of these policies included two other options. The present portfolio was accepted by the Board of Director after careful analysis.
This is part of a presentation made by Dave Roque our Account Executive.
.o0o.
May 2018
The North Tower has a new Service elevator and the South Tower has a Passenger elevator already working.
I took a while. The pit of one of the elevators had to be refurbished. There were electrical changes to be made. Now that these problems have been solved the pace of installation of the 5 elevators yet to be redone is going to pick up. The Gym Elevator is scheduled to be the last one to be remodeled.
fIn normal conditions the refurbish of each elevator requires 12 weeks. Additional time is needed for the interior decoration. Presently we have two independent service team working. One for each tower.
The finish of the cabin of the Personal Elevator in operation in the South Tower remains to be done. This is a rendition that is very close of what we will have for the 4 cabins when the Personal Elevators have been completed: (to enlarge view press Ctrl and + simultaneously)
South Tower Personal Elevator interior, still without cabin finish.
North Tower Service Elevator interior:
North Tower Service Elevator with padding protection:
.o0o.
World’s Toughest Job
.o0o.
Comedy, Horror, Funny, Scary, Thought-Provoking.
♦ A young African-American visits his white girlfriend’s parents for the weekend, where his simmering uneasiness about their reception of him eventually reaches a boiling point. (IMDb)
Acclaim:
Won 1 Oscar. Another 131 wins & 185 nominations
IMDb Metascore: 84/100, Popular Rate: 7.7/10
Tomatometer: 99%, Audience Score: 87 % by Rotten Tomatoes
.o0o.
White Aquarius IIIn the last Board of Directors meeting of Aquarius they decided to overrule the Membership Meeting of January 2018 and several recommendations from the Beautification Committee to keep the building without accent colors.
The motion got four ayes and one nay on April 19 Board of Directors Meeting. This is a decision that goes against a Membership Meeting that has a higher hierarchy position in the conduction of Condominium affairs.
The decision is to have a wide blue strip on the East and West faces of the two towers. This is to contrast with installation of the grey glass balconies that are in progress.11:42 AM (3 minutes ago)
We too would like an all white building, but more than that, are concerned the Board feels they can override what a membership vote already decided. We voted for you and are concerned that when you were removed by the Board from the position you were voted into, we were not allowed to ask any questions about it at the meeting. Nor was my question answered at the Board meeting this week. I asked a direct question to Buck, and he simply pointed to the next person to speak without answering my question.Mary and Edward Matera 1203S Sent from my iPad
.o0o.
 | Irene Kalus on Nathan Weinstein supports the… |
 | Diane Benson on Closing aquariusuno.com I… |
 | bgupta1 on Some thoughts about Aquarius b… |
 | Leonid 1103S on Closing aquariusuno.com I… |
 | Simon 405n on Mark Zeltser – Aquarius… |
Aquarius Condominium, Hollywood Florida - Not ACA site 