Celebration Real Estate Group and Yapor Realty have joined forces and are proud to announce the grand opening of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Fine Living and you are all invited! Please stop by either one of our locations in Celebration and Windermere to learn why we are “Better.” Please join us to our ribbon cutting celebration and enjoy tasty hors d’oeuvres and refreshments.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014, 5:30–7 pm
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Fine Living 625 Main Street, Suite 103, Windermere, FL 34786
Irma G. Yapor, Broker • Dana Hall-Bradley, Realtor©/Owner
407-909-8000 • irma@yapor.com www.BHGfineliving.com
625 Main Street, Suite 103, Windermere | 741 Front Street, Suite 130, Celebration
Table of Contents
Town of Windermere
614 Main Street, Windermere, FL 34786 (407) 876-2563 • www.town.windermere.fl.us
From the Desk of the Mayor
Administration Offices Gary Bruhn, Town Mayor Robert Smith, Town Manager Dorothy Burkhalter, Town Clerk David Grimm, Public Works Director Nora White, Finance Director Amanda Click, Finance Clerk II Jacquelyn M. Hefeli, Administrative Assistant
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Farmer’s Market 4
Police Department Business Hours Non-Emergency: 407-876-3757 After Hours Non-Emergency: 321-299-2414 David Ogden, Police Chief Lori Sipek, Police Clerk Jennifer Treadwell, Deputy Chief & School Liaison
Family Food Truck Night
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Family Health Festival
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Craft Beer Festival
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Elders Luncheon
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Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
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Halloween Movie Night
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Costume Parade and Hayride
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Something More 10
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 Mike Pirozzolo: mpirozzolo@town.windermere.fl.us Molly Rose: mrose@town.windermere.fl.us Boards and Committees Special Magistrate • Development Review Board Downtown Business Committee • Elder Affairs Committee Historical Board • Long Range Planning Committee Parks and Recreation Committee • Tree Board
North Shore Restoration Project
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33rd Annual Holiday Social
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Best Dressed Holiday House Contest
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Movie Night Under the Stars
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From the Chief’s Desk
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Lights On Sergeant Eastwood & Officer Irwin 14
The Windermere Gazette is published quarterly and is designed by Yapor Communications. For more information visit: www.Windermere Gazette.com. For news or advertising information, contact: Jacquelyn M. Hefeli: jhefeli@town.windermere.fl.us.
10th Annual Boat Parade
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Welcome Back Officer Quiles-Sosa
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Calendar 16
COPYRIGHT © Town of Windermere, FL. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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The Town of Windermere accepts MasterCard, VISA and Discover as methods of payment.
My Fellow Neighbors…. As always, I hope this Newsletter finds all of you well. Here we are… school is back in session, hopefully some cooler weather lies ahead… and it’s that time that we ALL dread. Yes… you know what it is, TAX TIME! So for this Mayor’s Newsletter I call this, TRUTH IN TAXATION. YOUR MILLAGE RATE WILL BE THE SAME RATE ONCE AGAIN AS LAST YEAR: 3.7896. What does this mean? For every $1000 of the APPRAISED value of your home, you will pay $3.7896 in taxes. We are the second lowest millage rate in Orange County. What did other municipality’s residents pay last year? Orlando was 5.65 and will raise it to 6.65 if approved this year. Oakland was 6.75 and Winter Garden is 4.25. Who has a lower rate than us? Apopka at 3.4727. BUT, Apopka is able to subsidize their revenue through their profitable utilities including water and sewer. AND WHO DECIDED MY APPRAISED VALUE? That is NOT done by the Town, but by the Orange County Property Appraiser. INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT OUR BUDGET. Our Town’s total budget is $4,160,789. The total value of ALL of the property in Windermere is $562,033,578. The amount of our revenue for this budget from your property taxes is $2,021,594. Property taxes only account for less than half of our revenues. We also rely on revenue sharing from the state, franchise fees, utility and communication service taxes. FOR THE RECORD…. Revenues received for police tickets are negligible. We do not enforce laws for revenue. There is virtually none. We enforce laws to protect you and me. COMPLAINT: Residents have said… You sent all of us a letter that our garbage (solid waste assessment) was over $200! How can you continue to raise my taxes? And $200 more for garbage is obsessive! FACT: Your solid waste assessment only went up by the cost of living, which our solid waste assessment contract specifies to our provider. We do not make money from this. We pass the costs to you and me. We have paid this on our tax bill for years, which I, as your Mayor, championed years ago. Sending bills and dealing with individuals who do not pay should not be paid for by you and I with our taxes. That’s why we put it on the tax bill. ON A SIDE NOTE…. I receive this question every year: Why did I receive this letter? WE ARE REQUIRED BY STATE STATUTE TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR SOLID WASTE COLECTION COSTS ARE. So not only do the letters seem to confuse some residents, each of us, as tax payers, are required to pay for the costs to prepare and mail the letters.
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PART TWO: Residents have said: “I do not appreciate the end of the letter that says if I fail to pay this bill, there will be a lien on my home! I do not like being threatened about my garbage bill!”
Add a room without a permit? Many try to avoid the increase of property taxes from a major renovation. If you do get by code enforcement, which rarely happens and can result in penalties, it will eventually be caught when you sell the home. If square footage doesn’t match with tax records, where’s the permit? No permit? You just gave the buyer a huge bargaining chip and a reason to cancel the sale.
FACT: Again, we are required by the state to not only send you the letter, but we must tell you that if you fail to pay your taxes, of which your solid waste assessment is part of, a lien can be put on your home. On a side note… I think I will ask staff to put these statements as a preface to this letter next year as I know some of you were passionate about what you thought was happening, and some of you came to our Council meeting because of the confusion.
MORE ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS…. We have repaved the last piece of road that had not been repaved on Main Street from the roundabout at Park Avenue to our town’s border at Park Ridge-Gotha Road. We have installed right of way delineators or traffic safety barriers on the west side of Maguire Road from Windermere Road to Park Avenue. Why? Traffic continually enters and exits onto Maguire Road from the school property which is not approved by the Florida Department of Transportation and is dangerous. It also destroyed the road edges making a very unsafe exit and entry and now that we have repaved, we don’t want to have this problem again. We have discussed this with the staff of the Orange County Public Schools and entry into that area will be from school property.
COMPLAINT: Every year I pay a storm water fee. I do not have a storm water problem and my subdivision has its own storm water retention which we pay for. Why am I paying for something that does not affect me? FACT: Do you drive on our streets and roads? Do you enjoy our parks and boat ramp? Is your property value enhanced by living on or near the Butler Chain of Lakes because we have made improvements to control storm water and ultimately improve lake quality? Every dollar you have paid to improve our storm water management has been a benefit to all of Windermere’s residents. And a further benefit is that this year, Windermere is now NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) compliant. As an entity that discharges storm water, we are required to be part of this program dictated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). Our storm water fee helped us achieve this compliance. We have spent millions in storm water improvements and still have more improvements needed in addition to maintaining the systems we have implemented.
And finally, I want to take a moment and recognize Windermere’s Police Department, Chief Ogden and Detective Allen. You may not have noticed, but our Department’s work in collaboration with other Departments has taken a lot of bad people off of the street in a lot of high profile cases in the last few months. Job well done! There are only a few months left until the end of hurricane season and history has shown this time can be the most active. Make sure you have supplies and if you have special needs, please let our Police Department know. We are here to make sure that you are safe. It seems hard to believe, but my next newsletter will be the year in review as we provide you with an update on all of the improvements and events that shaped our 2014. Until then, wishing you a safe and prosperous Autumn….
BUILDING PERMITS – WHY HAVE THEM? A recent article in the local newspaper was very interesting and it addressed questions that I often hear regarding Building Permits. In short, it said avoid getting a permit at your own peril. Why? Building permits insure that the work is being done by a licensed contractor and that the work meets building codes. Consider the risk if electricity or air conditioning is installed wrong, not only from a financial perspective, but from a safety perspective.
Your Mayor,
Gary Bruhn
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Happy Holiday Season
Stop by for Lunch and enjoy tasty
Tamales, Hot Dogs, Philly Steak Sandwiches, Bratwurst and more! Also pick up fresh produce, local honey, fresh bread, pasta, organic tea, nuts, gourmet cheeses, roasted coffee, healthy snacks, plants, fresh kettlecorn and much more! Visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/WindermereFarmersMarket.
Every Friday 9 am – 2 pm Main Street
Every 4th Friday 5 – 9:30 pm Main Street Every 4th Friday of the month, the Town of Windermere’s Downtown Business Committee hosts the Family Food Truck Night. The event is held on brick Main Street, in front of Town Hall, located in the heart of Downtown Windermere. Bring friends, family, chairs, blankets and an appetite. For the current month list of participating trucks please visit our website at www.town.windermere.fl.us. The DBC is currently looking for entertainment sponsors —please contact Chris Sapp at chrissapp@cfl.rr.com for sponsorship information. 4
Saturday, October 4, 2014 • 10 am*– 4 pm
PRESENTED BY
windermere town square • free to the public Free screenings, demonstrations, music, door prizes and so much more! Don’t miss it! Enjoy a day full of fun for the whole family, including your pets! Visit over 50 exhibitors around Town Square—they all have goodies for you—and take part in the games, activities and scavenger hunt. Please visit our website and Facebook page below to view the complete list of exhibitors, site map, schedule of events and all the fun that awaits you! www.FamilyHealthFestival.org • www.Facebook.com/FamilyHealthFestival SUPPORTING SPONSORS
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Come early and join the WALK and TALK for DIABETES event @ 8:30 am! $5 registration fee covers a healthy breakfast that follows. Visit our website for more information.
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If you are over the age of 60, join us at Town Hall for the next
Elders Luncheon October 7 / 11:30 am
RSVP to Karen Fay at 407-876-2218. If you are in need of a ride, please call Mayor Bruhn at 407-876-1732.
A History of Real Estate Excellence.
•Serving Windermere since 1976 •Butler Chain Experts •Top Producers of Estate & Luxury Properties 527 Main Street, Windermere I 407-876-3688 I
I www.SuziKarrRealty.com
PRESENTS
Friday, October 24 – 7 pm During Food Truck Night, behind Town Hall SPONSORED BY
625 Main Street, Suite 103 • 407-909-8000
SPONSORED BY
Saturday, October 25 – 9:45 am
Windermere Parks and Recreation will host their annual Costume Parade and Hayride on Saturday, October 25, from 9:45 am to noon. The event takes place at Town Hall, and is open to all residents. The children’s costume parade will begin at 10 am. Children are asked to assemble at 9:45 am. The festivities include cookies and punch, story time or movie and a hayride. Children can trick-ortreat with the downtown merchants following the event.
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Egret Island, also known as Bird Island, is a 20-acre island on the eastern side of Lake Butler, just west of the Town of Windermere. The area was designated by Audubon of Florida as a Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary and, with 4,000 feet of shoreline, it’s a popular spot for boaters to congregate. In recent years, the northern shore of Egret Island has been losing cypress trees due to human activity and wave erosion. As a result the area has become overrun by trash and invasive plants. On Saturday, April 19, 2014 Orange County conducted a restoration project with over 20 volunteers from the Orlando Area Rowing Society at Lake Down. Volunteers removed over 2,500 square feet of cattails, exotic bottle brush trees and air potato vine as well as large amounts of trash, including plastics, beer bottles, and aluminum cans. After the cleanup, 50 cypress trees and 1,250 native bulrushes were planted. The project was funded by the Windermere Water and Navigation Control District. Egret Island visitors are asked to take their trash with them and avoid venturing into the interior of the island in order to help safeguard this natural wildlife sanctuary.
x Control grass clippings and yard waste: Use grass clippings,
u Fertilize responsibly: Use phosphorus-free, 50-percent slow-
release nitrogen lawn fertilizer and leave a buffer area near your lake where no fertilizers and chemicals are used. Excessive use of fertilizers can be unhealthy for your yard and the environment.
leaves and yard trimmings as a way to keep nutrients in the soil.
y Reduce water runoff: Construct a berm and swale to capture runoff from your yard.
v Use native plants on your shoreline: Maintain a shoreline full
z Maintain your septic tank system: (1) keep the drainfield
of native plants. Plants at the water’s edge help keep the natural balance of the lake’s ecosystem.
clear, (2) clean the septic system regularly, (3) avoid or limit the use of toxic chemicals flushed or rinsed down the drain; and (4) have the septic tank inspected and pumped at least every three years.
w Control weeds & pests responsibly: Never use pesticides
(weed & feed or insect control products) near the water’s edge. Overuse of these products can harm people, pets, beneficial organisms and the environment.
For more information, go to www.ocfl.net/FertilizeResponsibly
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Thursday, December 11, 6-9 pm @ Town Hall Come and join your fellow residents! Bring your sweet tooth and your favorite holiday dish to share. The Town of Windermere and Windermere Police Department will be accepting donations of unwrapped toys for the Toys for Tots Toy Drive. Also non-perishable food items for the Second Harvest Food Bank will be collected. If you would like to volunteer, please contact: Jacquelyn Hefeli at 407-876-2563 ext. 21 or jhefeli@town.windermere.fl.us.
Dress your home in holiday cheer and enter the Best Dressed Holiday House Contest Judging deadline will be December 7th. The winner will be announced at the Holiday Social on December 11th.
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Saturday, December 13 – 6:00 pm Behind Town Hall Windermere Parks and Recreation will present the 6th Annual Movie Under the Stars featuring the movie Disney Frozen. Windermere residents are invited to bring the entire family, blankets and chairs and enjoy complimentary soda, popcorn, pizza and the movie.
of interviews and investigations. An experienced detective can spend hundreds of hours on a single case following leads, interviewing suspects, matching evidence, reviewing materials, and using a volume of investigative skills that only comes with experience. He also is keenly aware of any crime trends and patterns going on all around us. This is important to our safety and security.
Investigating Crimes A comparative analysis of crimes committed within a one mile radius of our town shows an increase in calls for service of 18% from last year this time. We have seen an impact in town, as demonstrated by recent news events with violent cases and elderly scams. Sadly we are all too familiar with the loss of Officer Robbie German and Deputy Scott Pine, two heroes who gave the ultimate sacrifice serving and protecting our area while doing their jobs. Recently, the police department added the final piece of our professional puzzle by staffing an experienced detective to investigate all crimes. Since coming aboard, Detective John Allen has solved each major case that has been assigned to him and now has reopened older cases to crack. He has several ancillary duties as a background investigator, internal affairs investigator, and mentor to our newer officers teaching them valuable skills in the art
We are fortunate to maintain a low crime rate in our town. However, we are not immune from crime. Residents have our commitment that each case will be handled professionally and with all the attention it deserves.This is simply not an assurance that can be offered in busier areas but a level of service you deserve. Our residents are more than a number to us, and they have shown great support for our police department. We have built a great team focusing on three essential core capabilities for a small police department; patrol effectively to deter crime and keep our community safe, envelop and foster community relations with our residents, and professionally investigate and solve crimes with a commitment to excellence. After a year and a half of meticulously and cautiously building out with the right personnel for the job, we have met our goal. Our reputation is such that we do not allow speeders to race through our town, and we will now pursue criminals with the same dedication.
Officer William “Chip� Irwin
Sergeant Bill Eastwood
Born in San Antonio, Texas, Officer Irwin spent most of his life in Central Florida. Officer Irwin graduated from Agape Christian School in Winter Park, and he is currently attending Valencia Community College and studying Criminal Justice. He is married and lives in the Apopka area. Officer Irwin is the newest member of the Windermere Police Department and he comes with 10 years prior law enforcement experience in Central Florida.
Born and raised in a small town in Michigan, Sergeant Eastwood began his law enforcement career in 1989 with the Orlando Police Department. While serving the citizens of Orlando, Sergeant Eastwood was a member of the S.W.A.T. team, worked in patrol, investigations, K9, bike patrol, and he was also a school resource officer. Sergeant Eastwood is married with three children; one of whom serves as a K9 officer in Connecticut. Sergeant Eastwood enjoys sports and hunting, and he is a member of First Baptist Church Windermere. After retiring from the Orlando Police Department earlier this year, Sergeant Eastwood was enthusiastic about the opportunity to work as a supervisor with the Windermere Police Department.
Officer Irwin is no stranger to the Community Policing concept and he is looking forward to getting out and meeting the residents of the Town of Windermere. He is a certified field training officer, bicycle officer and has completed instructor level classes that will allow him to teach fellow officers.
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Saturday, December 20 – 6 pm Meet at Bird Island at 5 pm. Parade begins at 6 pm. Please pick up a flyer in the Town Office for parade route and details sometime after Thanksgiving. Each year our regatta grows and becomes better and better, so come join us in your boat or watch from your dock!
The Town of Windermere proudly welcomes back our very own Officer Jean Quiles-Sosa from touring overseas serving our Country. He served as Technical Sergeant (TSGT) with US Air Force with the home base as Patrick Air Force Base, Unit: Security Forces. He was stationed in Kuwait from 1/26/2014 to 7/28/2014. Officer Quiles has served our Windermere Police Department since September 5, 2008.
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Farmer’s Market ..................................................... Every Friday Tennis Court & Boat Ramp Keys Renew ................... October 1 Family Health Festival ............................................... October 4 Elders Luncheon ....................................................... October 7 Craft Beer Festival .................................................... October 11 Food Truck Night ....................................................... October 24 Halloween Movie Night ............................................. October 24 Costume Parade and Hayride ................................. October 25 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer ................... October 25 Food Truck Night .................................................. November 21 Light-Up Windermere ............................................ November 21 33rd Annual Holiday Social .................................... December 11 Movie Under the Stars ............................................ December 13 10th Annual Boat Parade ........................................ December 20 Food Truck Night .................................................... December 26 For more information on these or any other Town activity please contact us at: (407) 876-2563 or visit our website: www.town.windermere.fl.us
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Melvin’s Garden Opens in Windermere
Windermere’s downtown area continues to draw residents and visitors with a variety of shops and services, as well as a popular Friday Farmer’s Market, monthly Food Truck Night, and an increasing number of special events. Melvin’s Garden (a membership buying club of John Ashley Interiors) is open during Farmer’s Market on Fridays with regular operating hours of 10am to 6pm Monday through Saturday to be starting shortly. The shop is located at the corner of old brick Main and 5th Avenue in the Historic Cal Palmer Memorial Building built in 1911, and listed in the National Registry of Historic Places. Many locals will recognize it as the former home of “Finders Keepers” run by Alice Marshall for many years after opening in 1971.
For more information, contact Mary at 407-761-7441 www.johnashleyinteriors.com
The shop will offer a mixture of local art, garden items, collectibles, and fine furnishings and lighting. Owner, and longtime Windermere resident, John Thurman will continue to offer luxury interior design through John Ashley Interiors Design. John notes “We want people to come by and browse. We will be rotating our stock on a regular basis, so you will never know what you will find in there. This is also where we hold our catalogs for new Décor, Lighting, and Furniture that we can order for you at around 40% off of retail. So whether you are looking for something new, or an uncommon slightly used piece, stop on by and see what is waiting to be discovered.”
SELLING WINDERMERE SINCE 1980
407.810.1803
www.judyblacklakefront.com