Summer is upon us and while we are experiencing our normal 90 degree temperatures, I do believe we are ahead in rainfall this season, which is good news here in Florida. Although at times the temperatures and humidity seem unbearable here, when I look at other parts of the country where they are experiencing a tremendous heat-wave with temperatures breaking the 100 degree mark, at least we’re used to the heat and we have our A/C and beaches.

As far as life in Wildewood Springs goes, we have some ongoing and some completed projects. Since we have changed over to West Bay Landscape for the application of fertilizers and weed-killers, I think our turf and bushes look much healthier. We recently hired a new employee to take care of our pools and so far it seems to be working out ok. The paver project for the pool walkways is near completion or completed and we have Bill, our manager, and the crew to thank; the pavers really improve the appearance.

Before we know it will be fall and the Board will be starting the budget process once again. Unfortunately Richard Baker, our budget c o m m i t t e e c h a i r m a n , recently passed away and we will miss his leadership during this process. Sharon Bateman, Treasurer, will be temporarily filling this position while I look for someone to chair the budget committee. Also recently, two other residents who also served our community passed away, Pat Crupi Sherwood Village director and Wreford Richardson from Oakview Village who was insurance consultant to the Board Chairman. The knowledge and experience that they brought to the Board will be missed.

At our June Board meeting the new contract for our manager was approved for an additional year. The lazy days of summer do not stop the work of the Board, manager and employees and I want to thank everyone for their efforts and work.

During these tough economic times the Board will continue to look for ways to improve our community, to make it a great place to live and to be responsible stewards for all of the owners. I want to thank Ron Cornette, Springdale Village for volunteering to prepare the Newsletter and a big thank you to Kay and Kay for their previous work on the Newsletter.

For all of our owners who headed north for the summer, I hope you enjoy the rest of your time and look forward to welcoming you back to your winter homes. For those of us who enjoy all that summer in Florida has to offer, enjoy the quiet, the afternoon breezes and stay cool.

Sincerely,

Bob McDevitt

W W S A s s o c i a t i o n President

From the Boardroom By Bob McDevitt, President

WWS Newsletter Gets a New Look! By Ron Cornette, Editor

Published by the

Wildewood Springs Condominium

Association

September, 2011

As the new editor of our newsletter, I thought it was time for an update in the appearance and hope it is well received. I want this newsletter to be all about our community, the people and the many advantages of living in Wildewood Springs. While I am a real estate broker and had my own company for many years, I rarely list or sell real estate now. As marketing and

training director for Wagner Realty, I am busy as can be creating marketing material and teaching classes in desktop publishing, data bases and mail merge. My vision for Wilde Times is to make it all about this unique community. In addition to the president’s message, we’ll have reports from the committees, the interesting people who live here, our pets (and other

critters) and articles from some of our talented writers. Many of you helped the previous editors and your help is welcome this year, as we seek news, recipes, stories and photos. If you want to help gather news, write articles or assist in any way, call me at 730-1036 or email me at rcflorida@aol.com or drop off articles, photos, etc. in the office and we’ll get it.

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Everyone affected by the shut off valve replacement project will be happy to hear that it should be completed by the time you see this. Valves meant to shut down individual clusters were old and d id not work . Therefore, we had to turn off the entire village in most cases. Thank you to everyone for your patience in a difficult situation. On August 15th, we began a project to deal with our storm w a t e r d r a i n a g e system in several areas of the property. We are concerned that a major rain event could cause problems in some areas. Therefore, a company has been contracted to clean out some ditches, remove foliage that has overgrown some areas of our lakes, and clean out some of our drainage pipes. Those of you that

have palm trees dropping their seeds on your doorsteps will be thrilled to h e a r t h a t t h e trimming of the palm trees was started on August 1. Weather permitting, it was to take about two weeks to trim all the palms as we did last year. We are currently in negotiations with Brighthouse, Verizon, Direct TV and Dish TV for a new TV contract beginning January 1, 2012. We are looking for the best package at the bes t pr ice for residents of WWS. We a r e a l s o negotiating a new Security Contract w i t h s e v e r a l companies. Finally, please report anything unusual to the office ASAP. WWS is a large property and we need everyone's help to keep it clean and safe for all.

Bill Deskus

Wildewood Springs Condominium Association 390 Springdale Drive Bradenton FL 34210

941-758-2909 Bill Deskus, CAM, Manager

BOARD OF DIRECTORS President: Bob McDevitt, Palm Tree Vice President: Harry Potter, Springdale Secretary: Claire Dewhurst, Lakeside Asst Secretary: Nancy Thomas, Lakeside Treasurer: Sharon Bateman, Palm Tree Asst Treasurer: Sue Downs, Oakview DIRECTORS Pinehurst—Milton Mitchell & Claudia Wizner Sherwood—John Higgins & Pam Wentling Springdale—Harry Potter & Don Barker Palm Tree—Bob McDevitt & Marty Coffman Lakeside—Claire Dewhurst & Nancy Thomas Woodlawn—Jim Beckwith & David White Oakview—Marie Graziano & Sue Downs At Large—Sharon Bateman COMMITTEE CHAIRS Building—Mike Sims Disaster Preparedness—Marilyn Martin Budget, Finance & Insurance—Vacant Document Review & Legal—Claire Dewhurst Employee Relations—Marie Graziano Grounds—Don Barker & Alfredo Nunez Public Works & Roads—Vacant Security—John Cleary Swimming Pools—Marty Coffman Tennis—Vacant Covenant Enforcement—Pam Wentling Hearing—Robert Barnes

MANAGEMENT OFFICE Association Manager: Bill Deskus, CAM

Office Manager: Maureen Monroe Hours—Monday through Friday – 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM

(Closed for lunch - 12:00 - 12:30 PM)

From Bill’s Desk Bill Deskus, Manager

WILDEWOOD SPRINGS

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T h e L a n d s c a p e Committee held a meeting on July 20th. There was a great deal of discussion from the audience regarding trimming of the palm trees. Our manager, Bill Deskus, discussed the benefits for trimming at this time: The seeds are creating a nuisance for the owners and the need f o r a n a e s t h e t i c appearance. The trees would be trimmed in a pattern of 10-2, which is not a hurricane cut. It was the consensus of the audience and a vote by the committee members that a recommendation to trim the palms be presented to the Board. Mr. Deskus stated that Brown’s Tree Service was hired and planned to finish by the end of August. Hedge and bush trimming was discussed with audience participation. It was recommended that guidance as to the trimming would be

deferred to the manager and Jeff Weaver, grounds supervisor. Mr. Deskus explained that the flower beds on the boulevard were infested with bugs, etc. He and Jeff decided to treat the beds for the summer months and then replace the soil. In October impatiens would again be planted because of their attractive appearance and the low expenditure. Our plans for the future include replacing plants and shrubs in front and behind the condos. M e m b e r s a n d representatives will be involved in surveying their areas. Mulch will be purchased for the backs of units. Our staff has been applying weed c o n t r o l a r o u n d the condos. WestBay is adhering to the Manatee C o u n t y f e r t i l i z e r restrictions adopted May 24th of this year.

By Alfredo Nunez

Landscape Committee By Alfredo Nunez & Don Barker

Have You Seen Me? I’m a Wildewood Wonder!

Because our community is a dedicated wildlife sanctuary, we are likely to see many creatures, other than our family pets. This fox has been around for some time, along with his mother. Our manager Bill gave us this photo and it was too good not to share. We have reports of other “wild” sights and would like photos, if you’re lucky enough to get one. If you have photos of the wild life take a copy to the office or email it to rcflorida@aol.com. We

heard from Jan Radden on Oakview, who sent a copy of the newsletter from the Manatee County Gardeners , stating, “Both Foxes and coyotes have moved into the county. They may look like dogs but there are some significant differences. They are seen at dusk or early morning. If you are walking your pet, be especially cautious, pick up your pet and stand tall as possible!” See the interesting article on coyotes on page 4.

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While red foxes have been WWS residents for a time, a new 4-legged shadow, the coyote has taken up residence in the area, as well, moving from wooded area into the local residential neighborhoods. The 1982 American Wildlife did not list the coyote habitat a n y w h e r e i n t h e southeast, but it is common now, even in the cities. Usually seen only in early morning or at dusk, our WWS coyotes can show up any time. One of our residents walking her small dog felt a need to look behind, and there—only a few feet away—was a coyote. He moved quickly when he realized the dog and the person

were together. The County Wildlife staff reports the loss of a few small dogs, chickens, rabbits and small pets, but does not see a serious problem. If any animal becomes an active pest, they will remove it but must destroy the animal. It can be hard to see the differences between foxes and coyotes. One big factor is size, with red and grey foxes 20 to 30 inches and coyotes 32 to 40 inches. Coyotes hold their long tails down and between their legs when running. Coyotes are close member to our dog family, and will mate with domestic dogs. Foxes are in the dog family, too, but more

removed from the domestic dog and unlikely to interbreed. Foxes in Wildewood are smaller and definitely red; coyotes are long-legged with long down-hanging tails and tawny legs, feet, ears and faces. Their behavior is not aggressive but more curious and inter-active

with people than foxes. They may come to windows and show particular interest in any visible food. It is special to have them so close and we hope they find us good neighbors. Submitted by

Marion Calvert

Coyotes in our Midst! Like a Road Runner Cartoon!

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Since most of us moved here from the north, it’s rare to find a Florida native, and harder to find someone who was born in Bradenton. Many folks have lived here for years and have not been downtown to visit the popular attractions. Here are a few of the things you might do when you go downtown:

Bishop Planetariun The Bishop Planetarium is a multipurpose, all digital domed theater, boasting one of the most advanced projection systems in the world. I n c o r p o r a t i n g unidirectional stadium style sating and a digital 25,000 watt Dolby 5.1 surround system, the Bishop Planetarium Theater is capable of accommodating a wide range of programs, from lectures to film series, to live performances. First and foremost, it is a remarkable astronomy education resource, allowing visitors to explore the universe.

Parker Aquarium The Parker Manatee Aquarium was designed to house three adult manatees in a 60,000 gallon tank! The pool offers deep and shallow water, allowing the manatees to maintain natural feeding behaviors. The county mascot “Snooty” has lived there most of his life and shares his habitat with injured manatees being nursed back to health before release back into the bay or Gulf.

South Florida Museum Housed in the same building with the planetarium and the aquarium, this museum features fossil evidence of Florida’ earliest marine and mammal i n h a b i t a n t s a n d archaeological material representing paleoindian, archaic and pre-contact cultures. It is brimming with information and objects that reflect the prehistory of the Gulf Coast of Florida. A great place to take visitors!

A College Town! While this is most often regarded as a retirement community, it is a great place to raise a family, as well. The Manatee County school district has a total of more than 42,000 students enrolled in 32 elementary schools, 9 middle schools, 6 high schools , and one Technical Institute. The school system saw an increase of nearly 1,600 students last year. And Higher education is abundant, as well, with more colleges and universities than you could imagine, including: Argosy University Eckerd College Hodges University Kaiser University Lake Erie College New College State College of Florida University of Phoenix University of So. Florida

(Pictured below)

A Working Community More than half of M a n a t e e C o u n t y ' s workforce is employed in local service industries or retail trade. Their skill helps support the region's booming tourism and retirement industries. As it has in years past, the agricultural industry continues to employ a large workforce as well, contributing to the vitality of the local economy. Major crops include citrus, tomatoes, cabbage, watermelon, cucumbers, and green peppers. Beef and dairy production also play a significant role in Manatee County's well-being.

The Manatee Players

The Manatee Players is becoming the crown jewel of downtown Bradenton. Their new Performing Arts Center is nearing completion on 3rd Avenue, just east of 9th Street. It will be one of the finest state of the art facilities in the country. They have won many national awards for excellence!

How Well Do You Know Bradenton? Some Interesting Facts About Your New Home Town You May Not Have Known!

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The new local Multiple Listing System is not just Manatee County, but much of Florida from Orlando to Fort Meyers! Many thousands can now see what is for sale in our area. You can search the MLS, too by going to the web site in the headline of this article. Here’s how you can look at listings in Wildewood or anywhere:

Click on Manatee County

At left, check “condo” Select a price range of: $50,000-$120,000 At left, click on “List” to see details on all the listings in the area. On the map, hover on symbols to see details or click on them to see d e t a i l s . D e t a i l e d instructions are at left.

The Document Review Committee is made up of 5 members: Pat Darby, Chair, plus Claire D e w h u r s t , P a t t y Niederkohr, Nancy Thomas and Pam Wentling. They have had 4 meetings and are going over several proposed amendments changing ARTICLE XI: Use restrictions of the condominium property

and ARTICLE XV: Resolution regarding voting interests. In addition, they will review BYLAWS: 5.8—Special meetings called by the President or Board, 5.17—Other committees: standing or ad hoc, 6—Power & duties (m) covenant committee and contracts and election & term limits or waiver.

You Can Search MLS Check www.MyFloridaHomesMLS.com

Document Committee Now reviewing our documents

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Wilde Times is New! And We Want Your Input!

Easiest Recipe Ever! Angel Food Cake a NEW Way!

This recipe has only TWO ingredients, and is almost magical! Hard to believe , but proof is in the tasting!

1 Box Betty Crocker Angel Food Cake Mix

1 20 oz. Can Crushed Pineapple in its Own Juice Mix together with a wooden spoon and pour batter in sprayed 13 x 9 cake pan. Bake at 350o for 28 to 30 minutes. When cooled, spread Cool Whip over entire cake or individual servings. So delicious, you would never think it as “fat free” but it is, and sooo very yummy!

The recipe above is most unusual, for sure, but makes a great cake in moments! Do you have an unusual recipe you’d like to share? Send it to the editor at rcflorida@aol.com or drop it off at the office for a future issue of the Wilde Times.

Calling All Cooks! Got a Quick & Easy Recipe? Share it!

This is the debut issue of the revised Wildewood Newsletter. We hope you will look forward to each issue and welcome your contributions and comments as we introduce new features and more photos. Here are some suggestions for articles of interest that will be seen, if you agree we’re on the right track: • Articles about WWS

residents who have or had an interesting career. Most of us know someone like that, so let’s hear about them!

• Lots of photos. Not just creatures, but our grounds and lakes are great areas

for budding photographers!

• Unusual Recipes like the one on this page: easy and interesting!

• Stories about nearby businesses we like to patronize. Let’s interview the owner or manager.

• Real estate info about the market and our home values. As the market improves, we look forward to getting our values up again.

• If you or someone in Wildewood you know is a writer or wants to help, have them contact the office. We need you!

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Coming meetings in the Association Office: September 14 at 2:00 pm September 22 at 8:45 am September 27 at 6:30 pm October 5 at 2:00 pm * * With Cluster Advisors

We shall miss you:

Mary Irwin

Pat Crupi

Richard Baker

Margot Gohla

Wreford Richardson

David Grey

Hazel Willis

OUR CONDOLENCES

ADVERTISE IN WILDE TIMES Ads may be in the form of business cards or be in

classified style. Business cards will be photocopied. These ads carry no recommendation or endorsement by

Wilde Times or the WWS Condo Association. RATES: Business cards $5.00 per issue, for residents;

$25.00 for non residents Classified ads: $5.00 per issue for 11-20 words

(furniture sales, condo rental or sales, etc) $25.00 for non-residents

Payments to Maureen Monroe, WWS office manager. Deadline for the next issue will be announced.

Budget Committee Meetings All Unit Owners are Invited to Attend

Classified Ads FOR SALE: Acorn outdoor Superglide Stair Lift. Purchased & installed in July 2007 for $4,000. Asking $2,000. Call 755-8482 and leave a message.

If you wish to place a classified ad, take it to the office with a $5 check. Ads may be up to 20 words, but remember: the newsletter is published only four times a year.

Notice of Special Meeting Monday, October 24, 2011

A Special Membership Meeting of Wildewood Springs Condominium Association, Inc. will be held on Monday, October 24, 2011, at 1:00 pm at Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 5115 Cortez Road, West in Bradenton Florida. Unit owners will vote in person and by proxy at this special meeting on a proposed Declaration Amendment. The amendment would exempt the Association from the prohibition of a unit owner leasing the unit for 24 months after taking title, when the Association acquires the unit by a lien foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure. This limited exemption is very important so that the Association can earn income when it acquires a unit for nonpayment of assessments, for the benefit of all owners. The Association’s Board of Directors urges a YES vote for this amendment. The official notice of this meeting will be sent to you. If you are not able to attend this important meeting, it is essential that you complete, sign and return the Limited Proxy. Since there will be important business to be conducted at the special membership meeting, your Limited Proxy is needed so that there will be a quorum. Please sign it and return it as directed.