Town of Windermere
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Town of Windermere
614 Main Street, Windermere, Fl. 34786 407-876-2563 www.town.windermere.fl.us Administration Offices Gary Bruhn, Town Mayor Robert Smith, Town Manager Dorothy Burkhalter, Town Clerk David Grimm, Public Works Director Nora White, Finance Supervisor Amanda Click, Finance Clerk II Police Department Business Hours Non-Emergency 407-876-3757 After Hours Non-Emergency 321-299-2414 David Ogden, Police Chief Lori Sipek, Police Clerk Council Members Mayor Gary Bruhn: gbruhn@town.windermere.fl.us John Armstrong: jarmstrong@town.windermere.fl.us Richard Gonzalez: rgonzalez@town.windermere.fl.us Jim O’Brien: jobrien@town.windermere.fl.us Molly Rose: mrose@town.windermere.fl.us Bob McKinley: rmikinley@town.windermere.fl.us
TABLE OF CONTENTS From the Desk of the Mayor
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Farmer’s Market 6 Family Food Truck Night
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Honoring Our Heroes
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Your neighborhood Police
Windermere Safety Watch Top 5:
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Florida Native Trees To Attract Bird Tapp Fertilizer 14 Importants events
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Boards and Committees Special Magistrate Development Review Board Downtown Business Committee Elder Affairs Committee Historical Preservation Board Long Range Planning Committee Parks and Recreation Committee Tree Board The Windermere Gazette is published quarterly and is designed by Royal Press. For more information please contact : Amanda Click at aclick@town.windermere.fl.us or 407-876-2563 ext. 5326 COPYRIGHT © Town of Windermere, FL. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
The Town of Windermere accepts MasterCard, VISA and Discover as methods of payment.
A LETTER FROM YOUR MAYOR My Fellow Neighbors…. As always, I hope this Newsletter finds all of you well. In my last Newsletter I shared with you what I called “Decisions, Decisions, Decisions”, important items that we will need to decide in the near future. All of this gave me pause to reflect about other decisions that have been made in the past by our Town and their timing. Having lived here for almost 30 years and prior to that, just outside our borders, I have seen changes that have had a profound impact upon our Town. Of course, everyone can say hindsight is 20/20, or no one could have predicted the growth. But in this Newsletter I provide you with…. THE TOP 4 DECISIONS THAT SHAPED OUR TOWN…. at least, in my opinion. NUMBER FOUR: THE RAILROAD RIGHT OF WAY
From the desk of the Mayor
When the railroad tracks were taken out along Main Street the Town had first right of refusal to buy the land in 1985. It was offered to the town for $72,750. In the Town’s defense, they said the land was worthless, and wanted the Seaboard System Railroad Line to give it to them, because the land was “unbuildable and useless.” This issue could be a whole newsletter by itself, but when the Town started using the land for storm water, the railroad started legal action. The Town started their own legal action claiming they were not maintaining the property. Seven months later (7/18/85) The Sentinel reported that most of the land was sold to D.P.Lynn for $15,300. When the Mayor met with Lynn, the Mayor stated he was not given an offer to buy the land. Nine months later 26 residents petitioned the Town Council to close Dirt Main and take possession of their newly purchased right of way, and allow them to have driveways on Main Street. (Orlando Sentinel - April 11, 1986). The same article also stated “Windermere lost the opportunity to buy the property from Seaboard System Railroad because of inaction. It repeatedly asked the company to donate the land to the town.” On a positive note, the part in front of town-owned buildings was going to be donated to Windermere anyway because it was one of the conditions of the sale between the trust and the railroad, said a representative of the trust. Regarding the swap, the Town’s position was: ‘’This exchange is not an abandonment and a giveaway as some would have you believe. . . . Each side in the exchange is receiving land that is more useful to them, and in essence the location of the dirt Main Street right of way is just being moved’’. It obviously failed and to this day, not having ownership of that property has had ramifications for many town improvements. ON A SIDE NOTE: I can’t imagine people living on Dirt Main having their driveways directly on Main Street today. And where is Pine Needle Road? That is what Dirt Main use to be called. NUMBER THREE - THE CONROY – WINDERMERE CORNERS WERE ALMOST PART OF OUR TOWN The corners at our entrance (Apopka Vineland Road and Conroy Windermere Road) also could be a separate story and it became a great topic of debate as early as 1986 when a developer asked the County Commission to allow the zoning to be changed from 1 unit per acre to 4.4 per acre on the south corner. The Town objected citing water quality issues to the Chain of Lakes and threatened an involuntary annexation. Three years later, in 1989, Windermere proposed annexing both the northern and southern corners along Apopka-Vineland Road. Now Windermere wanted houses and the developer wanted some shopping. Ironically, 3 years earlier he requested homes, but the late 1980’s were a boom for real estate and development as the years of freezes had eliminated the groves. The County had announced plans to turn Conroy-Windermere Road
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from 2 lanes to 4. On August 27, 1989 The Sentinel reported that there was a “poker game” being played at Town Hall. The developer proposed building a small shopping center, offices and homes on the 50 acres and he wanted the Council to annex his project. He also agreed to a beautification project at the entrance to town. “This will be the first time I have asked and it will be the last time I will ask,” he was quoted as saying. He also said he had a tentative agreement with the County to use his property for parking for the Lake Down boat ramp, but was willing to tear it up if the council let him build according to his plan. On February 22, 1990 the County Planner for Orange County warned Windermere that “Developers will sue to get the rezoning and may win. Sooner or later, it will go to court, and I would rather have the county and the town settle it than the courts.’’ One Council member was quoted as saying ‘’We’re going to keep it residential one way or another.’’ Mayor Pleus was working to try to bring the land into town and the Council moved forward, but in a 3 -2 vote, the Council voted against shops, then dropped their efforts of annexation when the developer refused to be annexed. Orange County retained control and today we drive by the millions of dollars of property still in Orange County.
that gates be installed at both ends of Chase Road to reduce traffic going through Windermere to Chase Road and through the planned Isleworth community. Chase Road was a very rural county road that cut through the Chase Groves which became Isleworth. On October 13, 1985 The Sentinel reported that a committee had been formed at the request of the Chase family. The town first had been partially opposed to the development and that prompted the Chase family to pay legal fees to try to close Chase Road to help control the traffic from Isleworth. Attorneys for the Chases suggested several plans to close the road with one seeming to be the most realistic. It required vacating the road and transferring it under legal title to a pre- organized homeowners’ association. The sole function of that group would be to own and maintain the road and gates. Chase Road had been closed since the summer of 1985 for road realignment and bridge repair and so the timing to do something permanent was perfect. Of course objections began almost immediately and two weeks later it was reported that residents living on County Road 535 were gathering petitions. In 1985 the Chase Road area was orange groves and minimal residential homes. Horizon West was not even thought about until 10 years later in 1995 when freezes had destroyed all of the groves. Months later (March 28, 1986) The Sentinel reported that Chase Road would reopen in a month after an $800,000 project “to straighten the route”. The death of this idea was summed up by this statement: “Although town officials still would like to see the road closed, they decided to drop the idea because the county did not appear likely to do so, said Mayor Kim Barley.” On a thought provoking side note I have to ask…. How was a 90 degree turn on that road considered straightening it out? I am sure there are some people who have other issues that they feel were just as important, and some may feel that some of these decisions were the right thing to do. But I don’t think anyone can deny that these decisions have had an impact upon our Town. There are currently over 30,000 people who have a Windermere address. There are communities as large as Keene’s Pointe and as far away as Southport that call Windermere their home. Horizon West is expected to have 60,000 residents in the next decade. And as recent as six months ago discussions with our Postmaster confirmed that there are no plans for another Post Office or the addition of another ZIP code. Meanwhile, the Town of Windermere is just under 3,000 residents.
NUMBER TWO – ISLEWORTH CONSIDERS ANNEXATION I always called it the “A” word you can’t say in Windermere – annexation. And on August 15, 1993 The Sentinel reported that a proposal to annex Isleworth was “quashed”. Mayor Pleus said he spoke with the homeowners’ president and was asked whether the town could table the matter indefinitely until residents in the 800-acre, gated-community had more time to review and study the proposal. The Mayor wanted to have the residents vote on the issue and said he only wanted everyone to have a say on the matter by bringing it to a referendum in November. ‘’The issue was to get it on the table to discuss it,’’ Pleus said. ‘’The will was not to ram it down anyone’s throat. I personally favor it, yes. But if the town does not want to annex, then that’s the town’s decision.’’ One adamant council member moved to kill the idea completely and the three other members present joined him to kill the deal, by a vote of 4-0. One council member was absent. As a footnote, it was reported that this “would have added more than 140 high-priced homes to Windermere. The annexation would have nearly doubled the town’s property taxes collected each year. Windermere currently generates $270,000 from property taxes.” Let’s fast forward to 2015. We will receive around $2 million dollars in property tax revenue and Isleworth today would still double that amount.
Wishing you a safe summer and reminding you to be proactive and prepare your Hurricane Checklist now.
NUMBER ONE – WINDERMERE EXPLORES CLOSING CHASE ROAD When Isleworh began development in 1983, it had been suggested
YOUR MAYOR
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Global Reach from Local Experts
www.SuziKarrRealty.com I 527 Main Street, Windermere I 407-876-3688
Honoring Orange C ounty
HEROES
Law Enforcement
The next morning we gathered again many blocks away to begin the march to the Tallahassee Capital. A motorcade of motorcycles led the procession under the huge American flag flying from the twin hook and ladder trucks. Bagpipers and drummers followed the hundreds of family members, friends and co-workers who marched to the Square. Once we arrived, we were seated and joined by law officers from across the state. Our own Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings delivered the keynote speech and I thought his message was one that everyone should hear. He was concerned that with all of the recent media attention and scrutiny of officers, they may be hesitant to make the split second decisions that they are required to make that keep them, and those that they protect, safe.
It’s something you hope you never have to attend, but it’s something that everyone should attend. It’s an honor no one wants bestowed upon them, and it’s an honor that comes at the highest cost. It is the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial Service and the addition of an officer’s name. And every year, family and friends, coworkers and fellow law enforcement officers gather in Washington D.C to remember and honor those law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice and were killed in the line of duty. This year, some of Windermere’s elected officials, staff and officers joined the German family to honor and remember their son, who made the ultimate sacrifice on March 22, 2014. I decided I would like to chronicle the events and the emotions that accompanied our trips to Tallahassee, the Orange County Memorial Service and the events of the week of May 11, where 131 law enforcement officer’s names were added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in our nation’s Capital.
And then the names of the seven officers who were killed in 2014 were called out one by one as their families came to the Capital steps and placed a rose on the Florida Law Enforcement Memorial Wreath. As they approached the wreath, they would announce, “My son”… or “My daughter” … or “My husband”… or “My daddy”… or “My brother”. It was a very heartbreaking moment.
THE FLORIDA LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMORIAL SERVICE A week before our trip to Washington, many of us made the trek to Tallahassee where we would join other family members, friends and co-workers as we recognized and remembered Florida’s fallen officers. We were joined by the widow and three children of Deputy Scott Pine of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. You will recall that Windermere Officer Robert German had been shot and killed only six weeks after Deputy Pine and less than a mile away from where Deputy Pine lost his life.
THE ORANGE COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMORIAL Four days later, on May 7th, we once again gathered to honor Orange County’s Law Enforcement Officers who made the ultimate sacrifice. We gather at the Orange County Courthouse and for those who wish, you can catch a bus to take you where we will once again march in solemn procession, led by a motorcycle motorcade and bagpipes and drums. Again a huge American flag blows in the breeze as we enter the Courthouse Plaza. There are now 46 names on the Honor Roll of Heroes. Every year I grow more and more amazed that there never seems to be a year, not a single year that we don’t lose an officer in Orange County. Last year we lost two…. Officer German and Deputy Pine. If you have never attended one of these events, you should do so at least once in your life. This was
We travelled on Sunday so that we could attend the Barbeque in the Park that evening and then around dusk we gathered at the Capital Square. As darkness fell, the bagpipes played, the lights of the police vehicles and motorcycles were turned on and everyone lit their candles.
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my twelfth. Every year I would tell the Sheriff how fortunate I was to not have one of our officer’s names on that memorial. That ended last year. Every municipal police agency is represented as well as other agencies such as the University of Central Florida, who lost an officer 10 years ago, and the U.S. Marshals and the U.S Secret Service. One by one they pay their respects. Perhaps one of the most solemn moments is near the end when a dispatcher announces via a radio message to all officers on duty and those of us in attendance… “Attention all personnel….” She announces that today is the day we honor our fallen officers and she asks for a moment of silence. The radio transmission goes silent and then after about 15 seconds, she goes back on line and the world of emergency calls and requests for back up return. THE NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS LAW MEMORIAL SERVICE AND THE NATIONAL PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL SERVICE At the start of the week of May 11th families of officers killed in the line of duty start to arrive in Washington D.C. I have been there a number of times when they arrive and it is always a solemn and tear filled moment. Honor Guards line the airport waiting areas as they exit the plane. Officers stand at attention and salute the family members in a long line as they pass by. The families always start to cry. So do a lot of the people just waiting to board their plane. People clap and honor them. Some of our officers were assigned to this duty on May 14th and they admit it was a tough day. It’s not only physically demanding, it’s emotionally draining as well. But then something special happened on that day that they were serving as Honor Guards. The remains of Vietnam veteran Master Sergeant James Holt were returned to America after 47 years. And his flag draped casket arrived on the tarmac accompanied by a military Honor Guard and soon, through text messages and cell phone calls, a whole squad of police officers joined the procession to welcome him back home. And if you watched CBS News that evening, you would have seen our officers. You can still see it at:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/remains-of-vietnam-war-veteranreceives-special-salute. The Candlelight vigil was the first formal gathering of everyone on Wednesday night. Thousands of people were there covering the area. Law enforcement officers formed a line as family members entered the area. Everyone left a memento or something that they felt was of meaning to their fellow officer. All of us wore a medallion of Robbie’s photo attached by a blue ribbon around our neck for all of the events and one of these was placed next to his name on the National Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial. Wreaths surrounded the Memorial and when the event began there was total silence. The Keynote speaker was newly appointed Attorney General Loretta Lynch. One of the most poignant moments came at the end of the event when Amazing Grace was performed on the bagpipes and an intense blue laser shot skyward to create “a thin blue line.” Thursday allowed us to mingle with other family members, coworkers and friends of officers who had been killed. We attended grief seminars and I and some of our staff joined one where we were with officers from Charleston, South Carolina, Scottsdale, Arizona and Phoenix, Arizona. It was a very difficult two hours as each person talked about the circumstances surrounding their friend and fellow officer’s death. It didn’t take long to realize that many of these officers will be forever changed because of a single moment in their life. When it came time for me to speak, I talked about how the death of Robbie immediately after Deputy Pine affected not only our town, but the entire area. There was always a presumption that nothing like that could ever happen here. And the psychologists spoke about this being a common belief among all law enforcement officers. “It’s something that never happens to me and my fellow officers. It’s always someone else.” also had the opportunity to meet and talk to a lot of the family members. Some had been coming to this event for a number of years. I shared with them how draining these last two weeks had been for me and asked if they planned to come every year? “I don’t know how you do it,” I told them.
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But for them it seemed to be some kind of a requirement to be here. It seemed to keep their loved one’s memory alive and it insured they had not died in vain. And they were always so open. I was always afraid to ask many questions, but for many of them, they wanted to tell me the details. They wanted to share their personal challenges and the stories of their loved ones. It was like it relieved them and released a burden they always carried. I met Mario Jenkins’ father and then later his mother one evening. We had become friends before I knew who his son was and then when he told me, I was suddenly silenced with a lump in my throat. I remembered the circumstances well. His son was a UCF Officer met Deputy Barbara Pill’s husband a number of times before he told me who his wife was. Deputy Pill was shot and killed by a 24 year old man in a routine traffic stop in Brevard County just two years ago because he did not want to go back to prison. He received the death penalty. When he told me who he was we talked briefly about it and I said, “That was such a senseless tragedy.” He paused and looked at me and said, “Mayor, they are ALL senseless tragedies.” I just nodded my head in agreement. On Thursday evening we were told that we would need to be on the bus Friday morning by 7:00 A.M. to be taken to the lawn of the Capital. “But the event starts at 11:00, right?” I asked. Yes, I am told. But the President will be speaking and you will need to go through different levels of security. I was not aware of this until that moment. The next morning we were escorted by a police motorcade to the Capital and we were the first to arrive at 7:30 A.M. We stood in line for 45 minutes and we watched bus after bus arrive, all escorted by a police motorcade. As I stood there I
said “I bet a lot of people are going to be late for work today” to no one in particular. Someone responded… “It’s D.C. and Friday… It probably happens all the time.” At 8:15 they announced the area had been “scrubbed” and we were allowed to start entering. Security was high, obviously, and I was one of the first to enter. I moved as close to the front as we could and motioned for the rest of our party to follow. We had great seats. All we had to do now was wait two and a half hours for the event to start. When we arrived in D.C on Wednesday the high had been 69 degrees. Not so today. It was in the 80’s and not a cloud in sight making for a toasty mid-day and sitting in the sun wearing black suits and black uniforms amplified the temperature. The President spoke and concluded around noon. He spoke about the sacrifice of the officers and the burden carried by the families. And then he left the stage and took time to try to meet some of the families in the audience. As you can imagine, many people moved to the front and some of us took the time to grab a bottle of water and move into the shade for a bit. The service started back up at 12:25 and now one by one, family members accompanied by their police escort moved to the stage area and placed a rose on the National Law Enforcement Memorial Wreath. At the conclusion, this wreath would be taken by processional back to the National Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial. It was overwhelming. 131 names were called out and mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, sons and daughters slowly walked to the front of the stage. Partners and squad members of the fallen law officer usually attend these events and I was taken aback that there were 58 law officers from the Los Angeles Police Department and Orange County California in attendance. Then I reviewed the program and realized that California had lost 14 officers! Fourteen in one year! I pretty well assumed that many of
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them were from Los Angeles and San Francisco. When I made that observation someone beside me said, “And you didn’t hear much about that, did you?” The names are called out in alphabetical order by both state and name. When each state was called out, everyone from that state stood to honor their fallen. 38 states lost officers along with 6 officers in Puerto Rico and 12 Federal law officers. After California with 14, Texas and New York each lost 10. It was troubling to see so many lives impacted from senseless violence. At 2:00 P.M. the service concluded. It had been another moving day and I was glad I attended, but I was also glad it was over. I think each of you can understand the bittersweet closure that this brought. We watched Officer German’s family walk with our Chief and we watched Deputy Pine’s widow and children walk with Sheriff Demings. We concluded the day with a visit to the US Capital. Council member O’Brien had contacted Congressman Webster’s office and he arranged to give us a tour. Many of us had been there before but just as many had never stepped inside our Capital. We were led by a young lady who had grown up in Windermere so it made the tour just a little more personal. A highlight for me was when we entered the rotunda under the dome and some of the children looked up and asked me…. “Where are we?” I had taken a photo of the dome and its scaffolding earlier in the day and I showed them my photo and said, “We’re under here,” pointing to the dome. “No way!” was their response. We flew out on Saturday and made our way to the same area where days earlier our officers and officers from around the country had honored the arriving families. As I neared the gates an orchestra of about 20 to 25 members was performing. Wow… what a nice touch I thought. And then I realized, we were seeing an Honor Flight arriving. For those of you unfamiliar with Honor Flight, these are World War II and Korean War vets that are flown to D.C to tour the memorials. I stood and clapped as one by one, they exited the plane. Some with canes, some in wheelchairs, and some walked on their own. As if this week couldn’t be more emotional, let’s add that, I thought. There was still another surprise yet to come for me.
counties stuck out to me: Rock, Jefferson, Walworth. This was an Honor Flight from Wisconsin with veterans from where I went to high school, college and served 6 years in the National Guard. I couldn’t help but think that some of these men could be the fathers of individuals I had known way back then. I learned that 8 Honor Flights would arrive that day and 2 would be from that area. As I close this I hope this somehow gives you a glimpse of what those two weeks were like. Now imagine it was your son or daughter, husband or wife, brother or sister who was being memorialized. I must also add right now that this was paid for by the Windermere Police Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit that was set up to allow us to do these things for the family and other officer’s families. Like us on Facebook… and if my story has touched you, think about contributing by contacting our Police Department at 407876-3757. They gave everything. It’s not too much to ask that we give a little… for it’s not how these officers died, it’s how they lived.
I walked further down the concourse and the band had moved to the area where we were loading. Another group of veterans arrived and a large banner was rolled out that said, “BADGER HONOR FLIGHTS…. Serving veterans from……” and three
YOUR MAYOR
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Your Neighborhood Police Officer Eliezer “Eli” Rodriguez
part of the first senior class to graduate from the new school. Officer Rodriguez enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps after high school and then graduated from Florida Metropolitan University with an Associates of Science degree in Criminal Justice. After working for fourteen years in the loss prevention industry, Officer Rodriguez applied for a Federal Police Officer position with the Department of Defense where he ultimately began working as a police officer for the Department of Homeland Security/Federal Protective Services. He is a graduate of FLETC, Federal law Enforcement Training Center Police Academy in Glynco, Georgia. During a trip home to Orlando for the holidays, Officer Rodriguez and his wife decided they wanted to be closer to family so they moved back to the area. Officer Rodriguez is married with two children and is actively involved with their sports and other extracurricular activities. He enjoys outings with his family to the beach, as well as hanging out with extended family. You might even find him at a Magic game or two!
Officer Eliezer “Eli” Rodriguez, was born in Chicago, Illinois, but moved to South Orlando when he was thirteen. He initially attended Oak Ridge High School but transferred to Cypress Creek High and he became
Officer Rodriguez joined the Windermere Police Department in December, 2014. He enjoys his new position as it allows him to “serve in a community that is family oriented, full of life, and the residents are kind and personable.” Officer Rodriguez is looking forward to learning more about the community and their residents so he is “able to serve them better.”
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WINDERMERE Safety Watch
WITH 1100 HOMES IN THE TOWN OF WINDERMERE, THERE ARE MORE THAN 450 WINDERMERE RESIDENTS RECEIVING WINDERMERE SAFETY WATCH ALERT EMAILS.
ARE YOU ON THAT LIST?? • Do you want to stay connected with the Windermere Police Department and be in the know about what’s going on in Town with crime and safety?
To receive Windermere Safety Watch emails send an e-mail to:
• Want to receive important tips and information on how to protect yourself, your home and your vehicles?
windermeresafetywatch@ gmail.com
• Do you live on a street or in an area that has an active Neighborhood Watch Program (NWP) and need a NWP street sign?
Please include your name, home address, email address and best contact number to reach you.
• Going out of town over the summer? The Windermere Police Department (WPD) offers residential checks on your home while you are away. Stop by the WPD office in downtown Windermere to fill out a form for this free service.
**Windermere Safety Watch is a program designed to provide information and better communicate to residents, to help prevent crime in the Town of Windermere. It is not a community policing program or patrolling program. **Always be aware of your surroundings. DO NOT take matters into your own hands. Report ALL suspicious activity to local law enforcement by calling 911 or the WPD patrol line 321-299-2414 for non-emergencies. **CAUTION: Windermere residents must understand that the Windermere Safety Watch will undertake efforts to enhance the safety of persons and property in the Town of Windermere. All residents and business owners should continue to take precautions to protect the safety of themselves and their property, and not rely on the efforts of the Windermere Safety Watch.
Top 5
Florida Native Trees to attract Birds
By Theresa Schretzmann-Myers Windermere Tree Board & Nehrling Gardens To attract native birds of song and beauty to your back yard you need three basic requirements: Tree/plant habitat, water and food. Native trees give birds a place to hide from pred tors, nest and feed. Native trees that give both food and cover are highly prized by birds. You might think you need a lot of space for native trees that attract birds, but even if your planting area is limited, it’s still possible to cultivate trees under or among existing canopy to attract beautiful birds.
1. WINGED SUMAC
Winged Sumac, (Rhus copallinum). Winged Sumac is a member of the cashew family and is also known as the “bird seed tree.” Winged sumac does not cause skin irritations like other members of its family including poison sumac. Winged sumac is recognized by its long-odd pinnate alternating leaves with a winged rachis. The leaf can reach one foot long with 9 to 23 leaflets per leaf. It is one of the top Florida native trees to attract birds. Winged sumac blooms from spring into early fall where its flowers supply nectar and pollen for insects. The resulting clusters of fruits turn into prized seed during winter months when food is scarce. A deciduous tree, it gives a
showy canopy of bright orange-red in the fall before its leaves drop. During the spring and summer its leaves are glossy green and provide a thicket of cover for wildlife. The fruits are edible by wildlife and humans and can be processed into jelly. It is drought tolerant and typical dimensions are 10 to 24 feet in height. It’s a good tree to plant near power lines because it stays small. Winged Sumac fruits and seeds are relished by over 50 species of native birds including warblers, woodpeckers, chickadees, bluebirds, thrushes, catbirds, thrashers and mockingbirds.
These large beautiful trees are a favorite for many birds across the country— not to mention the great summer shade they provide for our Urban Forest. Oak tree acorns are an integral part of the food chain for birds and wildlife, so planting just one Oak really helps support habitat diversity in your yard. Birds love Oaks and many species use the crooks and cavities of Oak trees for nesting and shelter. Birds are also drawn to the abundance of insects and acorns found on
Oaks. If you want to plant an Oak, be sure to plant one native to Florida such as Southern Live Oak, Turkey Oak, Shumard Oak, Bluejack Oak, Southern Red Oak, White Oak, Swamp Laurel Oak, Overcup Oak, Swamp Chestnut Oak, Water Oak, Post Oak, Black Oak, or Willow Oak. Plant Oaks far away from the power line right-of-ways so they don’t get topped.
2. OAK
Oak, (Quercus spp.).
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3. DOGWOOD
Dogwood (Cornus Florida)
With its white, showy spring blooms that turn into delicious red berries and vibrant Fall foliage, you can’t go wrong with Florida Dogwood. The flowering Dogwood grows to heights of 40 feet and the crown is
4. MULBERRY
Oak, (Quercus spp.).
The Red Mulberry occurs throughout Florida. Red Mulberry is a medium-sized tree, rarely reaching 70 feet high witha trunk two feet in diameter, and often grown understory. Male and female flowers may occur on the same tree and are borne in catkin-like clusters, with male clusters longer than female ones. Mature mulberry fruits are dark red, turning purple when ripe. They are also sweet, edible and greatly relished by wildlife as well as by humans. The resemble blackberries with a fibrous core but without the large seeds. Mulberry attracts cedar waxwings, warblers, orioles; tanagers, catbirds, thrashers, mockingbirds, bluebirds and other thrushes.
5. SUGARBERRY
Sugarberry (Celtis laevigata)
Sugarberry tree is also known as Hackberry and is the most widely distributed Celtis species in Florida. It becomes a large tree 6080 feet high with a trunk up to 2 feet in diameter at maturity. It is found on a variety of sites but
chiefly in hammocks, riverbanks, streams and lakes throughout the state. The alternate leaves are thin, smooth, light green on both sides and 2-6 inches long. Sugarberry flowers are small, greenish or cream-colored, may appear perfect (having both male and female parts in one flower) but are unisexual in function with both female and male flowers on the same tree. Sugarberry fruit ripens in September, is orange red or dark purple and ¼ inch in diameter. It’s a sought-after food for wildlife and the fruit’s sweet taste gives rise to the name “Sugarberry.” Birds attracted to Sugarberry include robins, cedar waxwings, orioles, woodpeckers, thrushes,
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broad, open, and symmetrical with many spreading and upright limbs for perching and nesting. Birds that love Dogwoods include mockingbirds, cardinals, titmice, bluebirds, thrushes, woodpeckers and catbirds who dine on the fleshy fruit of the trees. To keep Dogwoods happy and healthy plant them under large trees in partial sun and keep their roots cool with layers of acidic Oak leaves. If you live in the southeastern United States, choose Cornus Florida.
Mockingbird eating native Holly berries.
By incorporating native trees into the landscape, you’re creating a perfect sanctuary that benefits birds and many other forms of wildlife as well as our native Florida tree canopy. You can get these native trees at the Annual Windermere Treebute Arbor Day Festival every January or your local Native Tree Nursery. For more information contact: theresamyers@earthlink.net or info@nehrlinggardens.org
yellow warblers, thrashers, mockingbirds, red tanagers, bluebirds. When birds eat berries and seeds of trees and plants they spread them in their droppings later. This seed dispersal often leads to propagation of new trees. So it’s a good idea to use native trees and plants instead of introduced species to attract birds. Native trees and plants are extremely adapted to local soil types and climate. They don’t require special winter protection or soil amendments to thrive. Florida native plants are being stressed or extinguished by invasive and exotic species such as Brazilian Pepper, Chinaberry, Chinese Tallowtree and Melaleuca.
DON’T MISS THE
July 4th • 8:30 – 10:30 am $7 for adults, $3 for children @ Town Hall (tickets for sale at the door)
FERTILIZER Yard and Lawn Care We all enjoy a well-maintained yard. However, the process of establishing and maintaining your landscape can introduce pollutants into our city storm system. Soil, rocks, fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and plant clippings, can be washed or blown into our creeks and lakes. When maintaining your property remove all materials and dispose of them in the trash or compost pile.
money, too! If you do use a lawn care company, ask them about their environmental options and certifications. • Go natural: mow high and leave grass clippings on the lawn. It helps improve the lawn’s health and quality, and you’re less likely to need fertilizer. • Avoid using fertilizers or pesticides near wellheads or within 75 feet of waterways. • Check the weather forecast before applications, and don’t apply fertilizers or pesticides when there is rain predicted.
Watering Without Waste
Sweep Up!
Green Gardening
Achieving a lush green lawn, beautiful spring flowers, and hearty summer crops are understandable gardening goals, and applying pesticides and fertilizers is a common practice for many gardeners. Unfortunately, those lawn care chemicals often wind up washing right into local waters. The excess nutrients from fertilizers can cause drinking water contamination, massive algal blooms, and fish kills. The contaminants from pesticides can result in waters that are not fishable or drinkable. Here are a few gardening tips that will help minimize the effect that fertilizers and pesticides have on water resources:
Anything that’s lying on pavement is more easily washed by stormwater down stormdrains: • If any lawn chemicals or yard debris get on the sidewalk or driveway, sweep them back onto the lawn to prevent them from washing into stormdrains. Even grass clippings and excess leaves don’t belong in our streams and rivers. • Sweep, don’t hose, the driveway.
• Fertilize sparingly. If you must fertilize, September is the best month. And be sure to use slow-release fertilizer. • If you want to fertilize more than once, don’t fertilize in the spring until you have mowed the lawn three times. • More is not always better! Skip the “step programs” offered by many lawn care companies, and be sure to apply fertilizers and pesticides only as directed. Using less will save you
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Think Native and Natural
A few small changes in your lawn care practices can mean a healthier garden and less pollutants for our waters: • Consider using organic fertilizers such as bone meal, blood meal, compost, or organic blends. No matter what product you use, though, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions for application rate and timing. • Spread a thick layer of mulch in gardens (except for heatloving veggies like tomatoes), around shrubs and under trees to reduce water evaporation from the soil. It also keeps the ground cooler, keeps plants happier, and inhibits weeds. • Let your grass grow. The ideal length depends upon the type, but the general rule of thumb is to never cut more than a third of the blade. And when you cut it, leave the grass clippings on the lawn. It’s the best kind of fertilizer! • Consider letting your lawn go dormant, if there’s a drought. It will come back in the fall. Consider planting more native plants; these are plants that have adapted to the local geography, hydrology and climate of the area. As a result, they tend to need less care, require little or no irrigation or fertilizer, are resistant to local pests and disease, and provide habitat for native wildlife species. • Conserving water when you’re working outdoors can reduce the potential for contaminants to wind up in local waters. Here are a few ways to water without waste: • Established lawns are happy with one inch of water per week, including rainfall. And if you must water, water just once a week for a deep soaking.
• Adjust sprinklers so that they don’t water paved surfaces. In the event that it’s unavoidable, direct the flow of water toward your lawn or garden. • Check the weather forecast, if you have automatic sprinklers and be sure they aren’t programmed to come on in the rain.
Hiring a Lawn Care Company Here’s what you need to know:
• Request a soil test. • No one can tell you what your lawn needs without one! • Fertilize only in the fall, if at all. • Fall is the time of year when grass puts energy into growing its root system. • Fertilizing in the spring will lead to more mowing. • Fertilizing in the winter is a waste of money because grass isn’t growing. • Overseed to get rid of weeds • One of the best ways to get rid of weeds is to grow thick grass. • Request that your lawn care company overseed with perennial ryegrass throughout the growing season to outcompete weeds. • Revitalize your soil with compost. Grass needs 6″ of quality soil to thrive. • Request that your lawn care company topdress your lawn with compost to add nutrients and organic matter to your soil.
Other Considerations
• Set the mower blades at 3” and leave the grass clippings. • Leaving the clippings on your lawn is a free source of nitrogen, the most common nutrient lawns need to grow • Leaving clippings will lead to less fertilizer use. Water wisely. • If needed, water only once or twice per week with a deep soaking (1-1.5 inches) Spot treat to get rid of pests. • There is never a need to apply weed or bug killer over your entire lawn. • Request that your lawn care company use the least toxic product available, and only apply to the problem area. • Keep in mind, organic doesn’t mean safe! Use of any weed and bug killers, organic or not, can be harmful to human or pet health. Republished Courtesy of the City of Tallahassee
Calendar of Events • • • • • • • • • •
July 4th Pancake Breakfast July 9th Budget Workshop July 24th Food Truck Night August 6th Budget Workshop August 28th Food Truck Night September 4th Tentative Budget Meeting Labor Day September 7th – Offices Closed September 11th – Mayor’s 9/11 Candlelight Vigil September 21st Final Budget Hearing September 25th Food Truck Night
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Presorted Standard U.S Postage PAID Orlando, FL Permit No. 1057