VanDyk Mortgage July 2019

JULY 2019

Letters From the Hart Give us a call! 239-437-4278 Or visit www.TimHartJr.com THANKYOU, ROBIN Here’s to One Great Mother-in-Law Corporate NMLS #3035 www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org

Raise your hand if you have a few complaints about your in- laws. While I can’t see you, I can bet a fair number of hands went up. I often hear people complaining about their in-laws. Mothers-in-law especially seem to be a common topic of complaint or the punchline to a joke in old sitcoms. I must be pretty lucky because my mother-in-law is kind of awesome. This month, I want to shout out Robin Beck, or “Grandma” to my kids. She’s a great person who has been a major help to me and my business. As longtime readers may know, my wife is a school teacher, so she has to leave the house earlier than I do during the school year. This means it’s my job to take the kids to school every morning. I enjoy this responsibility and the time it gives me to spend with my kids, but things get challenging on Thursdays. For the last eight years, I have been a member of a BNI networking group. Members of this group are required to attend a weekly meeting held every Thursday at 7:15 a.m. This is where Robin comes in. She is willing to come to our house early and take the kids to school. In eight years, there have only been a handful of times when Robin wasn’t able to drive the kids to school on Thursday morning. I cannot overstate how much of a huge help this is. If she didn’t take the kids to school, I couldn’t be in the networking “I want to shout out Robin Beck, or 'Grandma' to my kids.”

group. When I say Robin is a big help to my business, I’m not exaggerating. The networking group accounts for 10–15% of the business I do. It is really great to get this kind of support from your family.

Beyond the help she gives my business, Robin has always been willing to help the family. She’s ready to watch the kids on a moment’s notice if need be. Back when our oldest son was born and we realized he was severely allergic to our dogs, my in-laws were happy to take them. Hank the pug and Bob the French bulldog enjoyed peaceful, cheerful lives at their place. The kids love spending time with their grandma. My daughter especially enjoys doing crafts with her, and all the kids like to break out the board games and play with “Big G,” as they call her. For the record, the kids only call their grandma Big G when playing board games. I don’t know where this nickname came from and at this point, it’s not going away . Robin is also the kind of person who makes an impact in our community. She’s retired now is and heavily involved with our church as secretary of the board. If you are fortunate enough to know her, then you know you have a friend who’ll always have your back. Robin, I know you’re reading this. I want you to know I’m grateful to have you as my mother-in-law and that you make an awesome grandma. Thanks for everything you do for our family.

NMLS #354676

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The Guardian Who Would Not Leave His Watch

Odin Lives Up to His Legendary Name

Amid the devastation of the wildfires that tore through California in the fall of 2017, a few heroic tales rose up to give people hope. One such tale was of Odin, a loyal Great Pyrenees guard dog. Along with his sister, Tessa, and eight rescue goats, Odin is part of the Hendel family. It was mid-October when the Hendels were awoken by the smell of smoke, a fierce orange sky, and sounds of destruction — urgent warnings from Mother Nature. Gathering everyone as quickly as they could, the Hendels got their human family members and Tessa in the car, but Odin, seated proudly next to the eight goats, refused to get in. Try as they might, the Hendels could not get him to come with them, and there wasn’t enough room in the car for the eight goats. With the firestorm quickly approaching and the risk of losing even more family members increasing with

each passing minute, the Hendels made the heart-wrenching decision to leave Odin and the goats behind. The family made it to safety with Tessa in tow, relieved to be together but heartbroken that Odin and the goats weren’t with them. After several agonizing days, it was finally safe enough for them to return home and survey the destruction. What did the Hendels find? Ashes, rubble, their barn and home burned to the ground — and Odin. There he was, still guarding his eight goats and some small deer that had sought shelter with the brave canine. Weakened, burned, and limping, but nevertheless steadfast, Odin had never left his goats, even as the fire raged around them. Odin wagged his tail as he saw his family, happy to see they were also safe.

The Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue and the Goatlandia Animal Sanctuary provided temporary shelter for the goats and pups while the Hendels rebuilt their barn. Odin received all the care he needed, along with a lot of love and treats. Today, Odin and his goats are back with their family, rebuilding their lives after this devastating wildfire. But the Hendels, and anyone who’s heard the story, won’t soon forget the bravery of Odin, the amazing pup.

Relax in These Cool Destinations This Summer

As the scorching summer sun beats down, it’s hard to remember that just six months ago you were shivering through the winter, whether that meant a chilly 50 F or bitter subzero temperatures. But if cooler temps sound like paradise, and a dip in the pool is no longer keeping you cool, it might be time to take a vacation somewhere chilly. Check out these three destinations to avoid the summer heat. Alaska No place says chilly quite like Alaska. Trips to Alaska can be expensive during this time of year, but when you step into that crisp air with a cool mountainous view, you’ll understand why it’s a popular summer voyage. Travelers can choose to fly or take a cruise ship,

and many cities feature tourism-packed excursions. A few notable locations include Anchorage, the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, and Denali National Park and Preserve. Iceland Just as its name suggests, Iceland can be the perfect destination for travelers yearning to get away from the unbearable summer heat. With temperatures rarely exceeding 60 F — the average high for the country — packing is easy for this relaxing vacation. Take a relaxing dip in one of the country’s many hot springs or enjoy tremendous views of the fjords. Even better, you can tour the country at any time because it’s sunny almost 24 hours a day. What could

be better than a midnight hike around the fourth happiest country in the world? Norway Just because it's summer doesn’t mean you have to give up your skiing hobby! Venture off to Norway and experience some of their most popular summer ski resorts. After a day or two shredding the slopes, experience the popular Norwegian Opera and Ballet in Oslo or choose between numerous outdoor and indoor exhibitions. Best of all, you won’t even break a sweat, as the average temperature in Norway’s hottest month barely hits 70 F. Bordering Sweden and northern Finland, Norway can even be the beginning to a cool European tour this summer.

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Education and Communication “I think that’s really key. People need to start educating each other and helping each other learn. I don’t mean how many Facebook videos you share. I mean communication in a real form. If you make a Facebook post, most likely nobody’s even going to read it. But every time I go to a convenience store and they ask, ‘Would you like a plastic bag?’ I say, ‘No, I'm not a fan of those turtle killers. Did you know by the year 2050, our oceans are predicted to have more plastic in them than fish?’ They look at me, shocked. You have to talk to thy neighbor. It’s all about communication.” We got a lot of great wisdom from Garrett, including some awesome stories we can’t fit here. I highly recommend checking out the full interview with Captain Planet on “The HartBeat Show” podcast or on my page “Tim Hart – Loan Officer” on Facebook! There’s a story he shares about hugging a big biker guy in a 7-Eleven that will bring a tear — or several — to your eye.

herbicides like Roundup. This is a nasty, cancer-causing chemical that causes quite a lot of damage. We need to get informed and educated about what’s happening on our lawn. As far as fertilizers go, either don’t do it or use organic or eco-friendly fertilizers … You can keep the grass green without the red tide. Or better yet, learn about eco-landscaping.” Eat Local, Eat Organic “Be careful not to choose between the two. You have to be mindful of stuff. For example, an avocado might be organic, but is it good for the planet? Of course not. It’s still causing deforestation down in Mexico as they tear down forests to plant avocado farms for hippies in Florida and California. You've got to eat local, as well. If you’re going to eat an avocado, eat a Florida avocado! There are farmers around here that don’t use GMOs.” Mini Reefs “This is one of my faves right here. Surely you guys have heard about this cool cat,

David Wolfe. He’s a marine biologist and founder of the ocean habitat. Me and him are homies, tighter than Garth Brooks’ jeans. We've been working on a duck weed module together, so we're going to have a mini reef to offer for freshwater systems, as well. It’s called a mini reef, but it’s more like a mini mangrove. I believe it can clean something like 2,200 gallons of water a day, and they’re home to hundreds of fish and crabs.” Get Your Septic System Checked “Short, sweet, and simple. It saddens me because even if you buy a $5 million house in this state, it’s just suggested that you get your septic checked. It’s not even a law. We have to keep in mind that our septic systems run at the same levels as our water tables do. People don’t realize that in Martin County, where I live, the water tables come up to 12 inches beneath your feet in the rainy season. Think about what can be dripping down into our water from your yard. Septics are a big deal. You don’t know it’s leaking unless you check it.”

SUDOKU

Tyler McGowan & Savannah Loos with their Realtor Jay LaGace VanDyk Testimonials

“We are first-time homebuyers using a VA loan, and Tim made everything so smooth for us! It was a great experience, and the whole team was awesome. Our advice would be to get all your paperwork in on time, shop your insurance, and take your mortgage and realtor team’s advice. "Amanda works for Avalon Insurance for all of your insurance needs. She is happy to get you a flood zone quote or home quote. Call 239-275-3088." – Dean and Amanda Fano Here is what our client had to say about their experience with VanDyk Mortgage.

Dean and Amanda at their new home!

TRIVIA QUESTION: What meeting does Tim go to every Thursday morning?

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Inside This Issue Tim Hart, NMLS #354676 8280 College Parkway Suite #101 Fort Myers, FL 33919

Give us a call! 239-437-4278 Or visit www.TimHartJr.com

Let’s Talk About Mothers-in-Law PAGE 1

A Tail of Bravery

Avoid the Summer Heat Somewhere Cool PAGE 2

Testimonials

Sudoku PAGE 3

A Word from Captain Planet PAGE 4

5 Ways YOU Can Improve Water Quality in SWFL SAVING THE OCEAN WITH CAPTAIN PLANET

Water quality in southwest Florida (SWFL) is a huge issue. Last year, red tide and blue-green algae taught us Floridians a lot about how important our water quality is. It’s important that as citizens of SWFL, we protect and improve our water quality. To learn how to do this, we brought in an expert. Recently, I sat down with Garrett Stuart, an awesome guy who most people know as Captain Planet. Garrett is an algae scientist and the founder of The Eco Preservation Project, an educational nonprofit here in Florida dedicated to conserving our oceans for future generations. Originally from Kansas, Garrett visited a friend down in the Florida Keys, and he fell in love with the area immediately. “I’ve always wanted to be a bird,” Garrett told me. “And when I was snorkeling out on the reef, I was a bird, flying up above this magical city. A lot of people don’t know that from Fort Lauderdale down to the Dry

Tortugas is the third largest reef in the world. I just fell in love with it.” Garrett came on my radar last year when he did an impromptu video about the nutrient pollution problem that led to the red tide/ blue-green algae. Watching Garrett’s video, it was clear this man was following his passion and doing what he was meant to do on this earth: protecting the planet and educating people. This was the guy I had to talk to about how to take care of our oceans. What difference can I make? This is a question we all ask ourselves when faced with a problem as big as the ocean. According to Garrett, there are a lot of things we all can be doing to help. Lawn Care “I don’t just mean nasty synthetic fertilizers that are slow release, but also the

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