Flamingo Cay Association Fall 2019

Flamingo Cay Beautification

ENTRYWAY ISLAND IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

The Board is finalizing the plan to improve our three Entryway Islands. There are three phases to this improvement project:

Phase 1: The electric and irrigation systems are in extreme disrepair. Repair and upgrade replacement, as necessary.

Phase 2: Remove dead and dying plants and bushes. Revive those that can be saved. Trim existing trees.

Phase 3: Add new plantings. Commence “green” work in late October to avoid most of “hurricane season.”

Maureen Hirthler, Cay resident and Florida Master Gardener, has provided the Board with expert guidance and direction. Her recommendations include utilizing Florida-friendly plantings that are attractive and water “wise”. Sherri Kaiman has created a detailed, illustrat-ed site-plan.

Please visit myflamingocay.com to review the proposed plan. Input welcome.

Cay residents are urged to donate (money, plants, etc.) to support our Entryway Island Im-provement Project. There will be a plaque acknowledging these donations. Please contact Mike Lee, Board Treasurer, 724-734-6030, if you can help with a donation. It will be greatly appreciated.

MEMORIAL BENCH

It is with great pleasure to announce that Deanie Anderson, a long-time resident of Flamingo

Cay, has donated funds for an Entryway Memorial Bench to be placed at the school bus stop

on Manatee Avenue at Flamingo Cay Drive. This bench is being donated to honor her husband,

Stew Anderson, who was a devoted walker in the Cay. When you can, please thank Deanie for

this important contribution to the safety of the children in the Cay. Special thanks, too, to

Kathy Hennessy, Board Vice-President, for her dogged success through the mazes of govern-

mental, contractor, and supplier approvals on this project. Well done, Kathy!

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Storm Drain Emptying ............ 2

Water Main Repair .................. 2

Bay Watch ................................ 2

Cay Directory ........................... 3

Cay Website ............................. 3

Wildlife Rescue ........................ 4

Questions? ............................... 4

SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST

• Beautification Efforts are underway!

• Stormwater management efforts

• Enjoy our Cay wildlife and neighbors

• Contacts and Recommenda-tions

“Our Everyday Getaway on the Bay”

“Remember that everything you use in your yard or on your driveway ends up in the storm drains…”

Palma Sola Bay continues to experience issues with water contamination which is affecting everyone’s ability to use and enjoy this beautiful beach. Help us keep our Bayou and Bay clean.

Remember that everything you use in your yard or on your driveway ends up in the storm drains which empty into Perico Bayou and Palma Sola Bay.

All the pesticides and fertilizers that you use on your property, wash into the Bay when it rains, contributing to water contamination, and may make worse, RED TIDE. Use biofriend-ly pesticides and fertilizers. Thanks to Cay resident, LeeAnn Knapp, for sharing her “Bay friend-ly” weed and bug killer solutions.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP? I’m glad you asked!!

Take care in emptying your boat’s septic tanks to avoid spilling sewage into the Bay.

Cigarette butts thrown into the streets end up in the Bay after rain washes them into the

drainage system. These cigarette butts are not biodegradable and can be eaten by fish and

other sea life. Bin your butts!

Clean up any trash that is left behind after garbage pick-up.

Clean up your dog’s waste.

If you wash your car in the driveway, the soap which contains phosphorus and other harmful

substances drains into the Bay. These substances can kill sea life, and may worsen, RED

TIDE. Use commercial car washes to clean your car.

STORM DRAIN EMPTYING

PERICO BAYOU (WEST SIDE) AND PALMA SOLA BAY (EAST SIDE) WATCH

During the rainy weeks in August, the Cay experienced flooding on some of our streets. The County was notified and sent a crew to clear out the storm drains.

If you are experiencing flooding, or other County-related issues, please go to: my-manatee.org and then, go to “I want to report.” Reports can be filed for lost/found pets, traffic and road issues, code violations, etc.

County help will soon be on the way.

BEFORE AFTER

Try this environmentally safe weed killer:

Combine 2 cups of apple cider vinegar with ¼ cup of Epsom salt. Pour solution into a spray bottle. Shake well.

Try this environmentally safe bug killer:

Combine 2 cups of distilled vinegar, 2 cups of water, 3 tablespoons of dishwashing liquid, 3 tablespoons of table salt in a spray bottle. Shake well.

FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT

If you notice your streetlights

are not lit, please report the

outage at www.fpl.com

WATER MAIN REPAIR

The water mains are scheduled

to be repaired in early 2020.

Bert Rawald, Flamingo Cay

Board Director, is monitoring

the construction schedule and

will notify us when there are

definite construction plans and

a start date. Bert is also moni-

toring what the impacts will be

to the neighborhood (e.g. road

and landscape impacts, etc.).

TRASH PICKUP

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WHAT IS THE COUNTY DOING TO KEEP OUR BAY CLEAN? Manatee County is very concerned about the continued issues with contami-

nation in Palma Sola Bay. They are taking action and evaluating possible solu-

tions to the problems. In September, an oyster reef was established just north

of the Manatee Avenue bridge at Perico Bayou in the Robinson Preserve. This

creates a new habitat for oyster reproduction. Amazingly, the County says a

single oyster can filter 50 gallons of water per day, and an acre of restored

oyster reef can filter close to 40 million gallons of water each day! Also, a pro-

posal to purchase certain clams (able to survive Red Tide), and selectively situ-

ate them into the Bay is meant to accomplish the same goal of improved wa-

ter quality through specie diversification.

Visit the website below to learn more about what Sarasota Bay Watch is do-

ing:

https://sarasotabaywatch.org/scallop-restoration/

FLAMINGO CAY NEIGHBORHOOD DIRECTORY

The updated Flamingo Cay Neighborhood Directory is available on our web-

site, www.myflamingocay.com and will be distributed as a hard copy at the

Annual Business Meeting in November. Please take a few minutes to review

your contact information for accuracy. Call a Board member to let us know if

there are changes.

The Directory will be used to:

Provide important information on impacts to our neighborhood (e.g.

water main issues; sewer replacements; power line tree trimming; envi-

ronmental impacts, such as Red Tide, etc.)

Provide emergency alerts (e.g. mandatory hurricane evacuations, etc.)

Notify members of Cay social “Happenings”

A special thanks to Gloria and Mike Lee for helping with compiling this infor-

mation, and to our very talented, Gayle Putman, for her graphic design.

Please thank Jeanne Walther, our Communications Chair, for her expertise,

hard work and patience for producing and formatting this Fall 2019, News-

letter. Way to go, Jeanne!

FLAMINGO CAY WEBSITE

Please send Jeanne Walther, waltherjeanne@gmail.com, our Commu-

nications Committee Chair, any Cay news updates. She will post them

on our website, www.myflamingocay.com.

Look for posting of the Cay bylaws and amendments, newsletters,

What’s New in the Cay, and more on the website.

All lot owners in the Cay can sign up as a “member” on the Cay’s web-

site. Have you? If not, please go to www.myflamingocay.com and

sign up today.

SLOW DOWN AND ENJOY THE LIFE IN THE CAY

If you watch closely, you will

see a dolphin or manatee

glide though the Cay waters

every day. And every day,

you will see boaters and jet-

skiers who speed in and out

of the canals and down Peri-

co Bayou with no regard for

our wildlife or our neigh-

bors’ seawalls.

Please slow down and enjoy

the view! Take the extra few

minutes of “no wake speed”

to protect our wildlife and

remember how lucky you are

to live in the Cay!

ANNUAL MEETING AND BBQ

Please join us for the Fall

Association Annual Meeting

and BBQ on Sunday,

November 24, at 3:00

pm, at the south end of Fla-

mingo Drive.

The agenda will include:

President’s Welcome

2019 Accomplishments

and 2020 Priorities

Financial Report

2020 Board Member

election

Other topics? Contact

Keith to add topics to

the agenda

BBQ will be provided. Bring

a dish to pass.

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Did you know that the Flamingo Cay By-laws require that homeowners maintain

their lot in a “Clean and slightly manner?” Help us by encouraging your neigh-

bors to keep their homes in good repair. Lend them a hand if they need help.

Let us know if the Board can help!

Flamingo Cay Board

Keith Kaiman, HOA President, 414-840-8485

Kathy Hennessy, HOA Vice-President, 847-612-2929

Mike Lee, HOA Treasurer, 724-734-6030

Jeanette Edwards, Secretary, 941-477-0773

Bert Rawald, Director, 941-524-0942

County Services

Manatee County Building & Permitting Department, 941-749-3078

Manatee County Tax Collector, Ken Burton 941-741-4800 (for tax payments, home-stead exemptions, driver/fishing licenses boat titles/registrations)

Manatee County Non-Emergencies, 941-747-3011

Companies and Services recommended by Flamingo Cay residents

Take Out: Joey D’s Chicago Style Eatery & Pizzeria, 941-753-8900

Garbage/Recycle Bin Cleaning: Bins Be Clean, Nate Welch, 941-778-0020

Lawn/Landscaping Service: The Speedys Lawn Care, 941-284-3369

Home Remodeling and Repairs: Integrity Development, Jimmie Newton, 814-706-6009

Cement: Gary Manning Masonry, Inc, 941-737-9714

BY-LAWS

HAVE A QUESTION OR CONCERN? CALL:

SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING Please remember to remove valuables from your car and to LOCK YOUR CAR if it is not in

the garage. Don’t be the next victim! If you see anything suspicious, call 911 immediately.

WILDLIFE RESCUE For help with sick or injured wildlife (rabbits, squirrels, otters, opossum, etc.) call Ed Straight, Wildlife rehabilitation, 941-778-6324.

For help with sick or injured raccoons, contact Manatee County Animal Services, 941-742-5933.

For help with sick or injured dolphins or manatees, call FWC, 888-404-FWCC (3922).

For help with sick or injured sea birds, call our own Jeanette Edwards, 941-447-0773.

Jeanette is also looking for help with transporting sick birds to bird rescue centers, please contact her if you can help.

www.friendsofthepelicans.org facebook.com/friendsofthepelicans

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WILDLIFE RESCUE

CAY COCKTAIL HOUR

Cay Coral Cadillac

2 ounces gold tequila (white, if color-blind)

2 ounces triple sec, or any orange-flavored liqueur

8 ounces limeade, or any prepared sweet-and-sour mix

1 ounce cranberry juice, unsweetened, preferred

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake like crazy.

When composed, shake the shaker.

Strain over ice into an over-sized martini glass.

Uber home

SAVE THE DATE:

The Flamingo Cay Holiday Party will be held on Saturday, December 14th. The location and time are to be determined. We hope to see you there!