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| SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | SEPTEMBER 2020 | 7 Every Sun Laker Pays For The Restaurant By Joe Formino, Chairman, District Delegate Assembly Everyone is talking about the restaurants closing, changing, closing forever, will be another fast food operation and on and on. First of all, NO decisions have been made and none will be made for a few months. Perhaps a little history will help our understanding of the situation. Until 2000 or so our Ballroom was half the size, with a small room called the "Sandwedge," which was operated by Marriott Host, where you could get a sandwich and a drink. There was a small lounge on the golf course side about half the size of the present-day Sandwedge. The Board of Directors and the residents decided we needed more room since we were being "built out." In a matter of a couple years we would have 3,327 homes and almost six thousand people living here. The plan was to double the Ballroom with a stage, build a dining room and a kitchen, and a Lounge to accommodate the residents. Later, a window was opened in the kitchen and you could buy sandwiches and drinks from the golf course side. Eventually, the area in back was enclosed and set up as the present day Sandwedge. The Food and Beverage operation became one of the centerpieces of the complex. Only recently has it become a hot topic of conversation. Why, we are not sure. The F & B operation has always lost money, as most of them do. It is considered an amenity and everyone living here pays for it. It seems a big surprise to some that in this year, 2020, every homeowner pays $14.53 each month for the restaurant short fall. It is part of your monthly assessment payment. One of the reasons a lot of residents moved here was partially due to having restaurants in the complex. Obviously, if more residents used the facilities, the costs would be spread over a greater area and the loss would shrink. It appears some residents want change because of pricing. Please do not compare Sun Lakes with "fast food" prices, or with Applebee's or Chili's. You pay for what you get. The dress code aims at having on casual-like clothes, not clothes you wear to work in the backyard or to the swimming pool. The code has been in effect since the first day of operation. Is it too much to expect decent clothing while having dinner with your peers, or would you rather have on torn denim, or ragged shorts and t-shirts and flip- flops? There are those who will say, "I don't eat in the restaurant; I don't want to pay for it." Please remember you live in an active adult, 55 and over, gated complex; you do not get to pick and choose what you will pay for. You are one of the owners of the total complex, you pay for everything that goes on at Sun Lakes. When you purchased a home at Sun Lakes, you bought into a lifestyle. At Sun Lakes, we share everything. We share all of the facilities and amenities, as well as the cost of upkeep and covering short falls. When the restaurant opens again, let's all do our part to keep it busy so we can enjoy this amazing amenity for years to come. DISTRICT DELEGATE ASSEMBLY REPORT Due to COVID-19 our meeting for Sept. 21 has been canceled. We will keep you informed if we will resume meetings in November. We have had an overwhelming amount of lost pets in Sun Lakes over the past few months. I'm running short on volunteers to help go out and retrieve a lost pet. If you can help in this area, please contact Sandra Burgon at (909) 855-0226 so I can add your name to the list of volunteers at the Main Gate. We really do appreciate all the help we can get in saving our fur babies in Sun Lakes! Just a reminder to all, please have one form of identification on your pets. This makes it easier for us to return them home in a fast and easy manner. Stay safe everyone and hope to see you all in November! Info., Sandra Burgon (909) 855-0226. The deadline to add, subtract, or change listings for next year's Sun Lakes phone book is Oct. 21. For corrections, use the page in front of directory and mail or leave at administration office or by emailing it to millerpublocalphone@yahoo.com. PHONE BOOK DEADLINE

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