We hope you are enjoying summer and your families. Please remember to stay hydrated and be safe with this heat. Broward schools resume August 21st…keep this in mind per school zones, changes in traffic patterns, and children’s safety.
News, Updates, and Reminders:
Storm season is upon us…emergencies happen…for our elderly, at-risk, or vulnerable population, we are here for you. Here are a few items I would like to bring to your attention (if you need anything, do not hesitate to reach-out to your SRHOA board):
You may register with the Vulnerable Population Registry online at Broward.org/atrisk. If you do not have access to a computer, you may call Town Hall at 954.434.0008, the Broward County Call Center at 311, or 954.831.4000.
The following link will take you to the Directory of Resources for Broward County Senior Citizens (an extensive guide of senior services and help agencies) https://www.adrcbroward.org/sites/default/files/documents/20192020adrcresourcedirectory.pdf
The Davie Police Department provides services as well through their At-Risk Resident application. Please visit https://www.frontlinepss.com/daviepd to apply.
If you believe you are witnessing illegal fishing or hunting of our local wildlife, please call the Davie Police Department immediately at 954.693.8200. Try to gather visual information (vehicle color, plate, descriptions of persons involved, etc.) but do not get physically involved or put yourself in harm’s way.
Mail theft is still an issue. Do not become a victim. The USPS provides a service called “Informed Delivery” that might minimize people becoming victims. Anyone in a household can sign up on this link: https://informeddelivery.usps.com/box/pa... and follow the instructions on the page. This service is a daily email of any scan-able pieces of mail and notifies the person of any packages coming as well as that day with the package tracking number. Though nothing is 100% guaranteed, it’s something people can use in case of package interception or stolen re-routed credit card pickups.
The property appraiser’s office has vital information on protecting yourself from fraud, keeping your deed safe from thieves, and new exemptions on the horizon. Please visit Marty Kiar’s property appraiser site at http://bcpa.net/
Should you be in need of mosquito spraying, go to https://browardcountyfl.qscend.com/311/request/add to complete the application. You will be sent an email and/or text verification for your request.
Work is now underway with the town and volunteers who are working to oppose the incinerator plans near Sheridan and 27. Please read the SWR Rancher. Please attend or watch the bi-monthly council meetings. Stay informed and/or get involved. This will be our biggest issue to date.
Community Events:
The SWR Farmers’ Market continues to run each Saturday at Green Meadows Sanctuary. Summer hours are from 10:00 AM until 1:00 PM. Come and support our local vendors and artisans.
Stay Connected:
Mayor Breitkreuz’s “Q & A with Mayor Breitkreuz” will be on hiatus for the summer. We will let you know when his sessions resume.
Remember, the Council meets face-to-face at Town Hall on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month. Occasionally, dates may change. Please check the Southwest Rancher and/or www.southwestranches.org for meeting dates, times, and agendas. Internet viewing is also an option, just go to your YouTube connection and type “Town of Southwest Ranches Official Channel.”
Please stay connected…join our SRHOA Gmail (sunshinerancheshoa@gmail.com), visit our website (www.sunshineranches.org), or view our posts at facebook.com/SunshineRanches.
Support Southwest Ranches’ Certified Community Habitat status by certifying your own backyard through the National Wildlife Federation’s backyard habitat program…it is easy, plus you may purchase and proudly display a certification sign. Go to nwf.org/certifiedwildlifehabitat today to certify.
As always be safe, be happy, and be loved.
Chris
INJURED WILDLIFE
South Florida Wildlife Center (954) 524-4302.
Sawgrass Nature Center and Wildlife Hospital (954) 752-9453
Pelican Harbor Seabird Station (305) 751-9840
On June 14th we honor Old Glory…wave your flags with pride!
On the 18th we pay homage to the rock of our homes: Dad. Please remember tell your father how much you love and respect him…whether he is here or not, he will hear you.
Juneteenth, the day commemorating the liberation of the slaves, is Monday the 19th. The week of June 19th-23rd is the annual Pollinator Week. Please visit the website listed so you may do your part to protect our pollinators.
Current News and Updates:
Please take caution from mail theft and auto burglaries! Folks, we cannot stress enough the importance of bringing your mail inside in a timely fashion and securing your valuables from your vehicles (as well as ensuring your keys/key fobs are with you). Report any suspicious activity immediately to the Davie Police Department! Davie Police has a slogan reminding residents to check your mail and lock your vehicles no later than 9pm.
If you would like to host the DPD flashing traffic speeding sign on your swale, please notify the Town. They will help you coordinate with the department. Also, please review (and keep) the valuable information provided by DPD within this issue.
Items of interest or concern: the status of the properties at Griffin and Hancock, as well as Sheridan and Flaming; the status of the fireworks and fill ordinances/language; the proposed incinerator at the end of Sheridan; Airbnb issues; Stirling/Volunteer Road round-about; nursery dwellings averted.
The Town Council is in the process of updating our noise ordinance in an effort to reduce undesirable loud parties.
Continue to watch as our own Laura Warren continues her talents along the wall behind the CVS Pharmacy…please see the beauty she is creating.
FPL is working to meet with customers in our area for the line hardening project. A large part of Sunshine Ranches has already been completed.
Please take the time to talk and secure your homes.
Cindy Samartino continues her maintenance of our entryways. Thank you so much, Cindy!
Broward County State Attorney Harold Pryor’s office is putting together a Senior Community Advisory Board. The focus of this board is for an open line of communication between the State Attorney’s Office and our communities. Dr. Nicole Alluin will serve as the SRHOA representative.
June officially begins hurricane season (although it appears storms have started earlier). Make sure to read, and keep handy, the town’s June newsletter which dedicates itself to all things important and necessary during this time.
Please be reminded K-12 will finish the school year June 10th: kids will be on bikes, horses, golf carts, etc. The posted speed limit of 25mph is the law, not a suggestion. Drive as if your own children were on the street.
Community events:
The SWR Farmers’ Market continues to run each Saturday at Green Meadows Sanctuary. Come and support our local vendors and artisans.
Stay Connected:
Mayor Breitkreuz’s “Q & A with Mayor Breitkreuz” will be on hiatus for the summer. We will let you know when his sessions resume.
Remember, the Council meets face-to-face at Town Hall on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month. Occasionally, dates may change. Please check the Southwest Rancher and/or www.southwestranches.org for meeting dates, times, and agendas. Internet viewing is also an option, just go to your YouTube connection and type “Town of Southwest Ranches Official Channel.”
Please stay connected…join our SRHOA Gmail (sunshinerancheshoa@gmail.com), visit our website (www.sunshineranches.org), or view our posts at facebook.com/SunshineRanches.
As always be safe, be happy, and be loved.
Chris
HAPPY 60th BIRTHDAY, HELLEN RIVENBARK
President Christina Brownlow welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM. She thanked Carlos Martinez and his wife for opening their home for the meeting, which was held in their backyard pavilion. She asked the new Davie Police Department Detective Eddie Velazquez to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. She also thanked the Sunshine Ranches board members and asked each of them to introduce themselves, since some of them are new members and since there were several residents who were attending an HOA meeting for the first time. We had the Sunshine Ranches t-shirts available for any member who had not previously received one.
Chris also recognized several people who served in the military and advised that they are being featured in the May issue of the Waggler in a Memorial Day tribute.
Davie Police: Detective Velazquez introduced himself and asked the other members of the police department to do the same. Lt. Scott Leon was recently placed over the Community Officer Police unit or C.O.P., which are officers assigned to tackle problems in communities like ours. Officer Elliot was not present, and he is our C.O.P. for recurring issues.
The major item covered by DP was the mail theft issue, which continues to be a major problem. There was a recent arrest of a mail thief, in which the car went into the canal at 148 Ave. and Luray, and the vehicle had multiple stolen mail (21 pieces in all). This is being turned over from Davie PD to Federal and the individual will be charged for 21 felony counts. Davie Police continues to remind residents to check their mail and to lock their cars. This is an organized crime issue affecting the entire county and our area specifically, since they are targeting folks who leave their key fobs in their unlocked cars.
Former Detective Hobales retired last month and he thanked everyone via speaker phone.
President Chris asked each attendee to briefly introduce himself or herself. There were about 35 people in attendance.
The only Council update was from Councilperson David Kuczenski who showed a rough rendering of the Town magazine which will soon be printed in color.
Treasurer Jason Halberg gave the budget balance, which as of March 2023 was $29,814.14. Our fiscal year begins April 1. He also reported that we currently have 225 members, which is a record number.
We concluded with a fun raffle, which VP DaNell D’Alfonso ran for the group.
The next meeting will be on May 31 at 7:30 pm at Town Hall. The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 PM.