THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE ROTONDA WEST ASSOCIATION, INC January/february 2020

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Let’s Play Ball..............................................................................Page 2Seafood Festival.........................................................................Page 3GFWC Women’s Club Events....................................................Page 3West Ways Wordsmith..............................................................Page 4Getting to know Derrick Hedges.......................................Page 8President’s Message...................................................................Page 10Broadmoor’s Park Nature Walk...............................................Page 11Welcome New Writer, Connie Smith......................................Page 13Neighborhood Watch................................................................Page 14

At the RWA Community Center | Third Sunday of every month, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Doors open at 12:30 p.m.

COME PLAY BINGO!

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PUBLISHED BY THE ROTONDA WEST ASSOCIATION FOR ROTONDA WEST PROPERTY OWNERS.This e-newsletter is PUBLISHED SIX TIMES ANNUALLY AT ROTONDAWEST.org.

VOLUME 24, NUMBER 1

West Ways

Let’s Play ball!!!

Once again Rotonda West Association will be welcomed at the Charlotte Sports Park for a Rotonda West Night.

Continuing in it’s 12th year, the ballgame information will be announced soon. “Rotonda West Night” has become a tradition at the Sports Park, initiated by Earl Haas. Stayed tuned to this space for all the information about the game date, who the opponents will be, and ticket prices.

A featured attraction is always the post-game fireworks show.

In the past, hundreds of residents have enjoyed the game, comradery and food at the ball park. The date, in past years, has been in May. We hope to see you all at the Sports Park.

By Karen Harvey | Photo by Sue Killion

WEST WAYS NEWSLETTER | January/february 202002

Director Stephen Froggatt, Clawford the Stone Crabs mascot, Steve and Sue Superak and past RWA president Hank Killion.

WEST WAYS NEWSLETTER | january/february 202003

The GFWC Rotonda West Woman’s Club is offering two Bella Williams Memorial Continuing Educa-tion Scholarships at $1,500 each. Applicants should be from the Englewood/Rotonda West area and pursuing advanced education or retraining in a college or vocational school. The scholarship is intended for those who have had an interruption in their studies and are returning to school. A resume may be sent to GFWC Rotonda West Woman’s Club, Attention: Scholarship, PO Box 672, Placida, FL 33946 Deadline for receipt of applications is Monday, March 16th. For information, call 610-952-1333.

Friday, February 28 from 9 AM-12 Noon, at the Rotonda West Community Center. Donations will be accepted Thursday, February 27, from 2-4 PM at the Community Center.

Our annual Spring Fling Fashion Show and Luncheon will be held at the Rotonda West Community Center on Saturday, March 21, 11:00 AM. We are proud to announce Rowley Insurance is our cor-porate sponsor for this event. Profits will be donated to Kids Needs, Backpack for Kidz, and Engle-wood Community Care, plus a few more if profits are greater than expected. For tickets call Joyce at 941-830-0135 or Clare at 713-825-2154.

Placida Rotary Seafood Festival Hiatus No More!By Karen Harvey

The Seafood Festival is back! When the Fishery restaurant was closed in 2018, the Festival was not able to find a new home. Rotonda West Board of Directors were amenable to hold The Festival in Broadmoor Park. The purpose of the Festival is to raise money towards scholarships and other charitable projects.

The festival will be held on March 28 and 29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The festival will feature seafood, beer, wine and mixed drinks. Live music will also be on tap with Kenny Rose playing on Saturday and Seamus McCarthy Band playing on Sunday. Nautical apparel vendors will be at the park as well as a bounce house for the children. Admission is free, however, parking is $3 per car for non-RWA Members.

Get there early as large crowds are expected. The festival is a really fun afternoon, so come out and enjoy.

GFWC Rotonda West Women’s Club, Inc. Upcoming Events and FundraisersBy Donna Krabbe, Past-President

WEST WAYS NEWSLETTER | january/february 202004

Don Mahon has been a driving force behind Rotonda West’s newsletter, West Ways, for almost two decades. He has held the positions of editor and writer for the newsletter and liaison for media publicity. He has also been a supportive mentor to many new writers. He is a man well-known to many and has written over six hundred articles about our community for West Ways. Originally from Connecticut, he and his wife of sixty-three years, Ginni, moved to Rotonda West in 2001. Don brought with him his rich background in the field of journalism and an abiding faith in the value of community service.

Journalism has always been an important part of Don’s life. Always a sports enthusiast, he began his writing career at Norwalk High School covering sporting events. His journalism focus continued at Boston University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in that field. In his professional career, at the Perkin-Elmer Corporation in Norwalk, he worked in Corporate Communications for thirty-two years until his retirement. Later, he was a founder of the Norwalk High School Alumni Association, and a founder of the Perkin-Elmer Retiree Club.

west ways wordsmithBy Nadine Clough

Don and Ginnni Mahon, Photo by Nadine Clough

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Seeking warmer weather and a healthy community lifestyle, Don and Ginni decided on buying a home in Rotonda West, Florida. Involvement in the community followed shortly after when Don’s inquisitive mind wanted to know more about the local candidates who were running that year. He got involved and helped to organize a candidate’s night. Don states that often when you get involved in your community it leads to other opportunities. Soon he was asked to write for a small newsletter called West Ways. At that time there was only an editor, a lay-out person, and one writer, Don. He continued to be the only writer for three years, with other writers joining the newsletter later on. Don edited and wrote on a wide range of topics and covered many events for Rotonda West. These articles informed and entertained the community on relevant stories, and also provided an historical written record of Rotonda West life. As acting liaison for media publicity, Don filled the important role of linking Rotonda West with the outside world through written articles published in local newspapers like the Englewood Sun and the Englewood Review.

Looking back on the many articles that he has written, Don states that a few of them stand out in his mind. His most memorable and emotionally-charged article appeared in the September 2018 West Ways. Titled, “Young Marine Remembered on Fifth Anniversary of His Suicide”, it covered the ceremony held by the Dalgliesh family to honor and remember their son, Rory. The article brought to light the sad truth about soldiers dealing with PTSD and the need for government programs to help and support those soldiers who suffer from it. Another source of pride for Don, and what he calls his greatest achievement, came from his involvement in writing articles promoting the building of the Rotonda West Community Center.

Don and the late Pastor Carl Kaltreider , 2017 Opening Ceremony of Community Center, Photo by Wayne Mengel

WEST WAYS NEWSLETTER | january/february 202006

In addition to his work for West Ways, Don has made volunteering and community service an integral part of his life. Both Don and his wife, Ginni, have served on many committees and are well-known for their service. Don has received numerous awards for service both in Connecticut and here in Florida. In Norwalk, he served on boards and committees that included the United Way of Norwalk, the Norwalk Rotary Club, the Norwalk YMCA, the Chamber of Commerce of Norwalk, and many other non-profit organizations. He was named Outstanding Young Man of the Year at age thirty-five by the Norwalk Jaycees and was presented with its Distinguished Service Award.

Here in Florida Don has continued that devotion to service. He has had an active role in the Rotonda West Association, serving on many committees over the years. Don was a member of the Board of Directors for Englewood’s Big Brothers/Big Sisters and was a Big Brother for seven years. In 2013, 2015, and 2016, he was named Englewood’s Big Brother of the Year, while in his eighties. He has many wonderful memories of spending time with his “little brother” at baseball games, golfing, and even teaching him to drive a car.

For his work on West Ways, his media publicity endeavors, his involvement in Big Brothers / Big Sisters, and his many other contributions, Don was named Volunteer of the Year for 2017, and was awarded the honor by the previous winner, Earl Haas. Don said that he was sitting at a table waiting to write down the name of the winner for an article he was preparing, when he was surprised by Earl walking up to him. He was indeed honored to have been selected from over seventy-five other worthy candidates.

Don had been involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters since 2010, when he was selected to mentor Reid, then a boy of 10.

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Although there have been many awards throughout his life, the greatest sense of pride comes from his family. In addition to his wife, Ginni, he has two sons, Timothy J. and Robert E. Mahon of Norwalk, Connecticut, and two daughters, Wendy Dominici of Norwalk, and Cynthia Ferracci of Rotonda West, Florida. His family also includes a sister, Joan, in Bennington, Vermont, and five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. It is said that volunteering and community service is the ultimate exercise in democracy. It allows you to have a say about the kind of community that you want to live in. Don shared a message to all the people who volunteer their time and talents:

In my seventeen years, I have had the great privilege of observing and writing about major milestones for the growth and well-being of our community. That does not happen without the many dedicated and talented board members, committee members, and staff members working together through the years. All deserve a bushel-basket filled with accolades for their contributions. I’ve met and worked with so many outstanding good people willing to give back and will cherish those friendships now and in the future. Don Mahon

Greatest sense of pride, Don’s children, Tim, Wendy Dominici and Cynthia Ferracci and Rob.

Derrick began working for the Rotonda West Association in 2016. He was hired as a maintenance worker, and moved up to Maintenance Supervisor. Recently, he applied and was named the Assistant Manager of the RWA.

Born in Westerville, Ohio to Dale and Dianna Hedges, the family moved to Rotonda West when Der-rick was three years old. He is the youngest of three children and has two older sisters. One sister, Devin, resides in Venice, Florida with her husband and is a bank manager for SunTrust Bank. His other sister, Dawn, is a chef in Chicago, Illinois. Derrick’s father, Dale, is a self-employed painter, and his mother, Dianna, is a hair-dresser who works on Boca Grande. Both parents make their home in Rotonda West.

Derrick’s education progressed through our local schools. He attended Vineland Elementary, L.A. Ainger Middle School, and Lemon Bay High School. He was an avid sports enthusiast, playing on the soccer team, and baseball team. He was on both the school teams and the traveling teams during his high school years. Following graduation from Lemon Bay, Derrick attended Manatee Community

january/february 2020 | WEST WAYS NEWSLETTER

Peter Traverso

Bernie Schmelz

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Getting to Know Derrick HedgesBy Nadine Clough

Photo by Nadine Cough

If you have been to the Rotonda West Com-munity Center lately ei-ther walking the trails or needing assistance for a club or organizational function, you might have already met Derrick Hedges. He is the young man who will say a big “Hello” to you, or come over to talk to you and meet your dog.

College. During his time in college, he incorporated his own landscape and commercial tree business which he managed for over twelve years.

Rotonda West is home to Derrick and his wife, Meghan. They share their home with their dogs, Sophia, Oliver, Bentley, and Bunker, all of which are rescues. Derrick and Meghan love living here and enjoy boating, fishing, canoeing, camping, golfing, attending theatre productions, visiting amusement parks and local zoos, and watching the varied wildlife in the area. Meghan is originally from New Jersey and has been a teacher with the Charlotte County Public School since 2005. She was one of the judges at our Rotonda West Annual Parade in December 2019.

Professionally, Derrick holds many licenses and certifications which has helped to develop his knowledge, experience, and skill to better serve Rotonda West. Some of these include Aquatics, Right of Way, Insurance and Financial Management, Ornamental and Turf, Lawn and Landscape, and Redevelopment and Preservation of Natural Areas. Recently, he passed the CAM exam (Community Association Management) with an impressive score of 100%. The CAM License legally allows Derrick to manage an association such as Rotonda West. He is continuing his education by attending law and finance classes at University of Florida Seminars.

Rotonda West is fortunate to have many people that care about our community and work hard to make it a wonderful place to live. Derrick Hedges is indeed a positive addition to the Association and will no doubt make a difference in its future.

Derrick shares his own vision for the future of Rotonda West:

Rotonda West is my home and has much to offer. I enjoy living in a deeded community that is safe, that is convenient to so many activities, and that provides a quiet environment. Having lived in Rotonda West since I was a small child, and choosing to continue to live and work in this community, it is my hope that Rotonda continues to be a community where people enjoy living, visiting, and being part of it. I also hope that more residents become active in sharing ideas and visions for Rotonda’s future. With the acquisition of Broadmoor Park and the progress of its development, the residents of Rotonda have access to a multitude of areas to explore, clubs to join, activities to share, and the ability to be outdoors year-round and make new friends. It is my hope that Broadmoor Park will continue to amaze residents and visitors and that Rotonda West continues to be a world class and welcoming community. Derrick Hedges

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WEST WAYS NEWSLETTER | january/february 202010

Happy New Year everyone! I hope all our northern friends are enjoying the beautiful weather and taking advantage of our walking trails at Broadmoor Park!

The new Board of Directors have been working hard keeping everything in order for our residents. Reorganization is all done, and committees are filling up fast. The best way to get involved is to attend any committee meeting that you are interested in, with time served and a helping attitude it is inevitable that you will be asked by the chairperson to join the committee. Most all the work at the association is completed at the committee level and then adopted by the board.

This year we are seeing one of strongest ever in terms of assessment retrieval and we are off to a great start. This pace is well ahead of last year and it is reflective in all our financial statements. Kudos to the office staff for collecting so much all at once and getting it all posted in a timely manner.

Reminder, if you are going to do any work to the outside of your home you will need to visit the office and fill out a Residential Modification Application for approval. Work cannot be started without this approval and fines may be levied if work is started without prior approval. David Kelly RWA President

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president’s message

The office and committee are working together to try to make this as easy of a process as possible!

I look forward to seeing you all at meetings and around the Community Center.

KIndest Regard,

january/february 2020| WEST WAYS NEWSLETTER 11

Broadmoor park nature walksBy Connie Smith

A group of people walking the trails of Broadmoor Park, each third Friday morning of the month, are more than nature enthusiasts noting each bird, commenting on butterflies or pointing out beneficial plants. They are chronicling an important experiment that could be the savior of wildlife in a state that welcomes newcomers annually by the hundreds of thousands.

In Rotonda West, multiple homes are being built at any time of the year. New residents love the Florida weather and are delighted by the wildlife. Aside from noting very different, trees, plants, birds, animals and insects, many have never considered Florida’s very different ecosystem and how humans fit into this landscape so unlike any other U.S. state.

That’s where the importance of Broadmoor Park comes in. Those who know a little of the history of Rotonda West are aware that golf has played a big role in the development. The 13 lakes and 160 acres of Broadmoor Park were once a 9-hole golf course. There are those who find opportunity for wildlife when a golf course fails in Florida. In Rotonda West, Stan Plizga and Jim Peterfeso are among those who feel the same way. Plizga is chairman of the RWA Aquatics Committee and Peterfeso is a member of the Wildlife Committee. The men point out that any wildlife program in Rotonda West is an overlapping of their respective committees in addition to the Buildings and Grounds Committee. The three committees work under approval of the Rotonda West Board of Directors and with the cooperation of Rotonda West Manager and his staff to accomplish wildlife goals. “As our community develops, we need to consider wildlife habitat,” Plizga said. “It’s a balance. Some people want the park mowed closely like when it was a golf course, others don’t want any mowing. We mow to the highest level and encourage plantings that establish a food chain and see how wildlife responds. If you have alligators and tortoises, then there are food sources and it’s a good means of determining the health of the eco system. That’s how we’ll know it’s working.”

The monthly walks were organized to establish a measurable baseline for wildlife. With noted local birdwatcher Susan d’Hont leading the walk in September 2018, 14 species and 59 individual birds were spotted in the park.

email newsletter signup

The office and committee are working together to try to make this as easy of a process as possible!

I look forward to seeing you all at meetings and around the Community Center.

KIndest Regard,

Red Tailed Hawk photo by Susan d’Hont Turtle and Crow photo by Jim Peterfeso

12 WEST WAYS NEWSLETTER |january/february 2020

Thanks to d’Hont, Broadmoor Park is one of Cornell University’s official eBird hotspots and all bird counts become a part of eBird’s official tracking program. September 2019, 16 species and 75 individual birds were observed. The “walk” – a golf cart is available to carry anyone with limited mobility – isn’t limited to birds, however. Butterflies, insects and notable plants within the park are also discussed.

Some months, the Rotonda nature walks demonstrate nature’s realities in unexpected ways. “As our group passed one of the ponds, a turtle came out of the water, looking for a place to lay eggs and a crow was following to see where the turtle went,” related Peterfeso. “We thought the turtle knew what the crow was up to because she would stop, turn and look at the crow. The crow would back off but would follow again every time the turtle started walking. The walks in Broadmoor Park have morphed to cover all nature in the park.”

One of the newest Broadmoor Park trails that branches to the east has emerged as a favorite of bird and butterfly watchers, said Peterfeso. “It’s typically a birding hot spot. We’re seeing a lot of activity with hawks, merlins and if it’s warm, White Peacock butterflies,” he added.

Following the January nature walk (20 species, 93 individual birds), Manasota Key naturalist Bill Dunson, who has often served as a wildlife and plantings consultant to Rotonda West officials, performed a “critter collection” of the Broadmoor pond known as L04 that is just west of the community center. The collection is essential to determine the health of the pond and the success of a planting program that was begun about a year ago to encourage development of beneficial species in the pond. Whether a carefully manicured golf course can be transformed into a nature preserve with flourishing wildlife while residents walk their dogs in the tranquil beauty remains to be seen, but an ever-watchful group of counters is measuring each month. Any Rotonda West resident is invited to enjoy the monthly walks that begin about 8:30 each third Friday.

Wildlife Education Takes Center StageResidents may connect to nature in Rotonda West thanks to the Wildlife Committee that co-sponsors the monthly Broadmoor Park nature walks, along with the Aquatics Committee, and conducts periodic wildlife programs, according to committee chairman Debbie Yeager.Nature walks that focus on birds, butterflies, plants and other wildlife in the park are the third Friday of each month at 8:30 a.m. – meet in the parking lot or catch up with the group on the park trails. On March 20th at 1 pm the Committee will sponsor a presentation entitled, Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Release. Then on April 10th at 1 Celebrate Gopher Tortoise Day with PRWC. Coyotes and bobcats will be the subject of a presentation on Thursday, May 21 at 6 p.m. All presentations will be located at the Rotonda West Community Center. “Residents should watch for additional presentations in 2020” said Yeager, by “liking” the Rotonda Wildlife Committee Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/515161668885242. Residents may also receive Wildlife Committee updates via e-mail by going to the bottom of the Rotonda West Association web site home page - www.rotondawest.org - and signing up for committee meeting notices.

janaury/february 2020 |West Ways NEWSLETTER 13

Diane ShawKaren Harvey

Connie brings an extensive journalism background with her to West Ways. She graduated from Ball State University with a B.A. in journalism and a minor in Spanish. She has completed various seminars on web design, information technology, and social media and was a second-place winner of the Hoosier State Press Award for best feature series.

Professionally, Connie’s journalistic history is impressive. Early in her career, she was a newspaper reporter and editor, followed by working as a public information officer for the city of Lawrence, In-diana, and then was an owner of a web design and public relations company. More recently Connie served as Communications Manager/Executive Assistant at the Indiana Department of Administra-tion, State of Indiana, and as a Public Affairs Officer at the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council, also for the State of Indiana.

Connie has had extensive experience in both online and print publishing, such as web sites, news-letters, and brochures. She states that she is a motivated self-starter who can follow a project from concept to publication. West Ways is fortunate to have Connie and welcomes her energetic and positive attitude.

Welcome New Writer, Connie SMithBy Nadine Clough

A warm welcome to Connie Smith, our newest West Ways Writer. Connie and her husband, Bob recently moved to Rotonda West and are thrilled with their choice. Originally from Anderson, Indiana, Connie and Bob have two adult sons and a granddaughter who live in the Northwest.

White peacock butterfly photo by Jim Peterfeso

West ways NEWSLETTER | january/february 202014

Rotonda West Neighborhood Watch, a volunteer organization affiliated with the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, is a proven crime fighter. Visible patrols throughout Rotonda West in the late even-ing hours provide both a deterrent to potential crime and a means of immediately reporting suspi-cious activity to law enforcement. But Neighborhood Watch is entirely dependent on volunteers for staffing and donations for funding.

On any given evening, Rotonda West Neighborhood Watch operates patrols in four patrol areas: Oakland Hills/Pebble Beach, Pinehurst, Broadmoor/Long Meadow, and White Marsh/Pine Valley. Each patrol team is in cell phone contact with a base station, operating from home, which is the patrol’s link to the Sheriff’s Office when needed. Everyone involved is a volunteer, and according to Rotonda West Neighborhood Watch President Jack Horner, in the past several years there often have not been enough volunteers to cover all of the patrols. For this reason, Horner said, Neigh-borhood Watch established a goal of recruiting at least 30 full time residents to patrol in each of the four patrol areas. As we go to press, there remain 12 vacancies for Oakland Hills/Pebble Beach and 15 for Pinehurst. The goal has been met for Broadmoor/Long Meadow and White Marsh/Pine Valley, but additional volunteers are always welcome. Anyone interested in volunteering is encour-aged to attend the next Neighborhood Watch membership meeting at 2 PM, Thursday, March 12 at the RWA Community Center in Broadmoor Park, or you can contact Jack Horner, JHorner08@gmail.com. Training is provided for all volunteers.

Rotonda West Neighborhood Watch currently is also engaged in a fundraising campaign. Neighbor-hood Watch receives no funding from RWA or from any government agency; it is wholly dependent on voluntary donations to meet operating expenses. The goal in this campaign is to raise enough money to cover expenses for the next five years. Of the over 5000 homeowners “inside the circle,” so far, some 252 have donated. If you would like to add to the total, you can mail your donation to Rotonda West Neighborhood Watch, P.O. Box 691, Placida FL 33946.

Rotonda West Neighborhood Watch and the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office are urging you to adopt “The 9 PM Routine.” Make it a habit, every evening at the same time, to lock your doors – don’t forget your garage door – and the cars in your driveway to ensure you don’t become a victim of a crime of opportunity. Sheriff Bill Prummell has a video on this subject that’s worth watching – it’s on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CCSOFLSheriff/videos/2957329577716977 (whew!).

West Ways thanks all Neighborhood Watch volunteers and donors for their valuable contribution to a safe and crime-free community.

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH NEEDS YOUR SUPPORTBy Barry Kean

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Fax : 941-697-0788Deed Restrictions : 941-697-1780Email : info@rotondawest.orgEditor : westways@rotondawest.org

Rotonda West Association, Inc.646 Rotonda Circle

Rotonda West, FL 33947Phone : 941-697-6788

WWW.ROTONDAWEST.ORG

visit our website for upcoming issues!

Rotonda West ASsociation, inc.Mission Statement: The role of Rotonda West Association, Inc. is multi-faceted: To protect the property interests of the members; to enhance living in the community; to plan for the future in its role as a commu-nity association. (Approved November 13, 2002)

2020 Board of DirectorsDavid Kelly, PresidentStephen Froggatt, 1st Vice PresidentPeter Traverso, 2nd Vice PresidentSam Besase, TreasurerPatti Cowin, SecretaryPattie Aho, DirectorJerry Eldred, DIrector

Office StaffDerrick Hedges, Assistant ManagerClaudette Romano, Lead AdministratorTammy Birdsong, AdministratorHolly Carr, Administrator Deed RestrictionsSue Halufska, Bookkeeper

West Ways StaffChristine Lee, EditorNadine Clough, WriterKaren Harvey, WriterBarry Kean, WriterConnie Smith, WriterDavid Pulaski, PhotographerChristine Lee, Layout