Rants & Raves

MySafe Florida Home Program and its dirty little secrets Much has been written about the Florida insurance industry and price gouging. However, not much has been written about the epic failure to implement the MySafe Florida Home Program. I have participated in the roofing portion of the program and I caution anyone that applies. It took 10 months, voluminous emails and calls, an increase in my blood pressure medicine, and at one point a record breaking four-hour hold time to speak with an outsourced ill-informed representative. Be prepared to memorize the participant guide, supervise your own job and train the contractor's staff on the multi-step complex web of rules this program requires. The media proudly promotes the program, but fails to inform the consumer of the byzantine set of rules and responsibilities set upon the applicant. At each step of the game they may reject the claim/application up until the three-level supervisory review of the ultimate reimbursement a mere 10 months later. I want to emphasize the word reimbursement. The program rules also are a moving target, the process is not user friendly and the software they require for one to use is antiquated. When I participated in the program there were only two Volusia County approved roofing contractors. In the end, I saved very little in an insurance discount, which is quickly being offset by the industry and its ever-increasing premiums. It is as if the program was designed to fail.

Update the app I have a Rant. On page 1 of the Hometown News Friday May 3 in the Notes section it says Volusia County has closed the Tide Street Pedestrian Access Point, etc. Beach goers are encouraged to download the Volusia County Beaches app for real time updates on closures, lifeguards, etc. I know for a fact there are no updates on this app regarding access point closures. Unless I am reading it wrong, I have checked several access points that are closed but not updated on the app. Please update your app, Volusia County. Thank you. In response to: 'Old and Concerned' You didn't explain any disabilities that you have. If you're physically unable to go out to work, do it by phone. Your advice could be valuable. There are hundreds of people who need someone to talk to everyday. Perhaps your doctor could give you a list of people who need someone who will listen. Get involved in a church. There are may churches that have interesting opportunities for retired people. Find others like yourself through the military resources and form friendships. Whatever you do, don't just sit there and feel sorry for yourself. I hope you'll try something. Sugar Mill shot a great tournament Wow! What a great day for Sugar Mill County Club. Hosting a U.S. Open Women's qualifier is a big deal in the world of golf and we were more than up to the task. Kudos to Mike Miller and his FSGA crew of Paul Voss, Hank Bird and others (sorry if I'm omitting any other members) for putting on a first class event! Kudos to Superintendent Matt Carmeci, Golf Director Derek Morrison and both of their staffs for a beautifully conditioned golf course and well managed support.

Thanks to GM Michael O'Brien and the BOD for their blessings and encouragement. Seeing what unfolded Monday makes me proud to be a member. I enjoyed being a spectator in the morning and then met a contestant that was a huge Yankees and Giants fan. She saw my cart with both logos, so we struck up a conversation and the next thing you know I was caddying for her final 18 holes! Every competitor I talked to as well as parents and supporters couldn't say enough great things about the course and the event. Finally congratulations to our two U.S Women's Open qualifiers! Stephanie Kyriacou, a 23-year old Aussie was our medalist with rounds of 66-70 for an 8 under total of 136. Our runner up was Chicago native Elizabeth Szokol, just a shot back with rounds of 67-70 and 7 under par. Great job ladies and good luck in the U.S Open May 30-June 2 at Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania. What a great day for them, and a great day for Sugar Mill! You gotta love it! Tom Reilly Proud club member Make sure tail lights are working I have two incidents when driving in the dark, or almost dark, where the people in front of me that only had brake lights. Their tail lights were not working. I stopped each of them and let them know. If I would have been a truck, I could have drove over them. This is very dangerous. I have a friend who has a person who works for him and he had this happen to him and a person in the back seat was killed, and this young man was very distraught.