NOVEMBER 2025
Verandah Community Association’s Plant Replacement Initiative
As part of the landscape budget, the VCA provides plant replacement for damaged, dead and aged out plantings on our common areas. One of the most impressive new projects is at the intersection of River Village Way and Verandah Blvd. These beds are now part of the VCA’s purview, they have been freshened up with color and eco-conscious plant choices. Take a look next time you go past. FPL utility boxes in this area were screened with new hedges.
Another replacement project is on Verandah Boulevard near Edgewater. In this area failing Firebush was replaced with Florida native and Florida friendly plants: Silver Saw Palmetto, Dwarf Fakahatchee Grass, Red Oleander and Dazzle.
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Production Directors
Stephen Miller
Elizabeth Miller
Sales Department
Tom English
Margo Williams
Laura Berrio
Bret McCormick
Miranda Ledbeter
Alyssa Debban
Justein Matthias
Anissa Stender
Webmaster
Selina Koehler
Production Manager
Lee Nostrant
Production Department
Elaine Donholt
Ruth Nekoranec
Katie Heystek
Dianne Strout
Michelle Feeney
Andie Reynolds
Elizabeth Lynch, Editor
Alice Borowsky
Stephanie Levin
Susan Shamey
www.seabreezecommunications.com
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Norm Toback
Seabreeze Communications, Inc. does not endorse any advertising as it relates to the communities. Advertising is not screened by Seabreeze Communications, Inc.
The Verandah View is a publication of the VCA. We work with Seabreeze Communications, a marketing company whose advertising provides the revenue to produce the View at no cost to the Verandah community. The content is prepared by the VCA Communications Committee. Some of the other renovations include the Oak Bend
David Keeley, Board Liaison
Linda Lach, Adviser and Board Member
The Collector Amongst Us: Meet Fred Parker
Walking into the office of Verandah resident, Fred Parker is an overwhelming experience. You are greeted by four life-size mannequins sporting World War II uniforms from various countries and floor to ceiling walls covered with World War II memorabilia.
In addition to the uniforms, his collection includes weapons, medals, patches, field gear and other military artifacts from 20 different countries, both Allied and Axis.
“I have also had the honor of amassing quite a collection of stories from people I have met.” said Fred. “The real highlight of my journey has been the veterans and their families and learning their stories.”
VERANDAH RESIDENT, FRED PARKER, IN HIS HOME OFFICE WHERE HE DISPLAYS ALL OF HIS WORLD WAR II MEMORABILIA. HE CALLS IT THE “WORLD WAR II REMEMBRANCE ROOM”.
Fred will share his journey at the next Verandah Community University presentation on Tuesday, November 18th, 4:00-5:30 in the River House. Remembering World War II… Lest We Forget.
Some of his collection will be on view at the River House for the presentation. He will also discuss his trips to Normandy, Bastogne, General Patton’s grave, the Eagle’s Nest and the Altaussee salt mines. He says he loves sharing his stories to keep the memory of World War II alive.
“We all lead incredible lives, irrespective of personal hardships and heartaches. Most of us owe that to what has come to be known as the ‘Greatest Generation’” added Fred. “We should never forget the sacrifices they made to give us that.”
To register for Remembering World War II…Lest We Forget, visit the event calendar on WWW.VERANDAHLIFE. COM.
Pet of the Month
Auggie is a 47 lb. very handsome and energetic 9 year old Australian Labradoodle. Auggie loves walks, playing ball, and stealing shoes. His favorite activity is watching and interacting with sports on tv and every dog commercial! Auggie loves his canine and human neighbors to stop by his front porch where he hangs out after his morning walks. He enjoys giving and receiving treats from any passerby. Look for this cutie romping and having fun with his Dog Park buddies. Bring treats!
Auggie lives with his proud parents, Andy and Cathy Bachmann, on Fairway Cove.
A beloved pet’s photo, whether dog, cat, horse, bird, or fish will be featured in the Verandah View Pet of the Month. Resident owners can send in a photo with pet’s name, owner’s name, type of pet, and one sentence or two about their pet by texting Susan Shamey at (724) 355-2478 or email sshamey@ymail.com. Your pet’s debut will be in the Verandah View in the order they are submitted. All pets are beautiful to their owners.
Welcome Back! We Have Missed You
While you were gone over the summer, there were some new additions and corrections to the Verandah scene.
Addition: Verandah had black bear sightings during the summer. Please remember that black bears are generally shy and avoid people when given the chance. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) provides clear guidance on living safely in areas with known bear presence:
• Do not approach or attempt to feed a bear – such is dangerous, illegal in Florida and can encourage bears to associate people with sources of food.
• Secure all garbage in appropriate containers, and (ideally) store it indoors until the morning of pickup.
• If applicable, bring in pet food from your lanai to minimize accessible food sources.
• Clean grills and store them in a secure location.
You can find the FWC’s full BearWise recommendations here: https://myfwc. com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/bear/ living/.
If you observe a bear that appears injured, sick, or is displaying aggressive behavior, please contact the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline
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at 888-404-FWCC (3922). Please also notify the VCA Management Office of your observations. For emergencies, call 911.
We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in following these safety measures. By securing attractants and giving wildlife space, we can reduce the chances of encounters.
Addition: Culver’s is making great progress on their restaurant in the lot between the end of Publix Shopping Center and Walgreen’s Pharmacy. Now if we could get a Bonefish Grill out here…
Addition: FL State Law stop signs have been added in several areas along Verandah Blvd. in pedestrian crossing areas. These signs will be periodically relocated to promote general awareness that, in Florida, pedestrians have the right of way.
So what do all the signs mean throughout Verandah?
This is a warning sign. It lets drivers know that golf carts are crossing in the area. It doesn’t mean stop or yield, although that is always appreciated by golf cart drivers.
This is a stop sign for golfers. One is placed everywhere a cart path crosses a street. Golf carts and other golf course traffic are expected to stop at these signs before crossing community roadways. Do not assume cars will stop for you, as through traffic has the right-of-way at these locations.
The only other sign you’ll see in Verandah is a stop sign for cars. The Sheriff considers a stop, a complete stop… not slowly rolling through. In “punctuation parlance” that means make your stop a period, not a comma. Tickets are expensive!
Please make safety a priority for yourself and your neighbors.
“Neither a Borrower nor Lender be…”
This quote might have been relevant in Shakespeare’s time, but if your kids and grandkids are coming to visit and you need a pack ’n play at the last minute, it’s important!
They will only be here for a few days. You don’t want to invest in buying something they will have outgrown by next season! What to do? Go to Grandma’s Closet on the www.VCAlife.com website.
Need kids’ toys? Car seats? Medical equipment? Card table/chairs? Inflatable bed?
Grandma’s Closet has a listing of a wide variety of items Verandah residents are willing to loan to others.
1. Just go to VCAlife.com.
2. Click on Things to Do (very top of page).
3. Click on Grandma’s Closet (dropdown menu) and see who has what you need.
4. Contact the lender and make arrangements to pick up.
✳ This program only works if neighbors are willing to loan what they have. Look
around your house and garage. Do you have folding tables and chairs, ladder, garden tools, kids’ items, pool toys you’re willing to lend?
Email Grandma (sslaging@ comcast.net ) if you have items you’d like listed on Grandma’s Closet on the VCAlife website.
Thanks to everyone with items they’re willing to lend. It’s programs like this that make Verandah special.
Right Plant, Right Place
BARBARA WATSON, FLORIDA MASTER GARDENER, VCA LANDSCAPE COMMITTEE MEMBER
October brings relief for us and our plants. If you want to refresh or renew your current landscape, Fall is a good time to do so. Lower temperatures and ample rainfall allow new plantings to establish and thrive through the winter months.
Choosing the right plant for the right place can be challenging. In addition to aesthetics and design, there are several other factors to consider when choosing both the plant and its placement in your landscape. The following are points to consider in choosing the correct plant.
Height and Width
Many plants, in particular, trees are planted without considering the mature size. They are frequently planted too close to utilities, house, driveway or other structure, eventually causing problems. A general rule is to plant trees at least 15-20 feet from a house and foundation hedges 2.5-3 feet from the center of the shrub to the wall of the house. Larger shrubs with a wider spread such as Clusia should be planted 5 feet or more from the house. The space and width of other plants should be spaced wide as the mature width of the plant, unless the plant is routinely trimmed to maintain shape and control growth.
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Growth Rate
Is it a fast or slow growing plant? For example, fast growing plants such as Firebush require more frequent trimming than other shrubs.
Light Requirement
Does the plant like sun or shade? A sun loving plant grown in a shaded area will become spindly and not flower. A shade plant in the sun will have scorched leaves.
Watering Needs
What are the watering requirements of the plant? Plants need water to survive but at a rate they can tolerate. For example, overwatering Crown of Thorns and Vinca can be fatal to the plant. Group plants with similar watering needs.
Hardiness Zone
Verandah is in the 9B-10 growing zone. Select plants suited for this area.
Maintenance
Consider the amount of care your plant requires. Some require additional trimming and pruning to maintain its shape and appearance. For example, the Hong Kong Orchid requires additional trimming and pruning to maintain its shape.
By selecting the right plant for the right place, you can enjoy a thriving landscape for many years to come. The Verandah approved plant list on the VCA website provides information on individual plants to help with the selection.
Have You Seen These Women?
They make up only half of the Verandah women who are Sew & Sews’ members. In the future, photos of the newer members will be posted. Your picture could be included!
Sew & Sews’ members create handmade items that are donated to more than ten nonprofit organizations in SWFL.
Don’t be fooled by our name! Most of our members don’t sew!
• Yarn Arts members knit and crochet blankets, hats, and shawls for women receiving chemo treatments from Regional Cancer Center, and preemies in the NICU at Golisano Children’s Hospital.
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• Knotters knot fleece blankets that are given to kids in the ACT Abuse Shelter , mothers through Sugar Plums , and Verandah neighbors with health issues through Verandah Cares . Valerie’s House receives “sit-upons” for counseling sessions while seated on the floor.
• Helping Hands Committee assists Sewers by ironing, stuffing pillows, threading elastic, and doing whatever needs to be done.
Oh yes! We do have sewers and quilters too!
• Quilters create beautiful quilts for boys and girls in the foster care system through our partnership with Children’s Network of SWFL . Over 100 quilts are made and donated each year.
• Sewers make whatever is needed by the nonprofits we serve. Backpacks for kids in the shelter, and beautiful tote bags for their mothers in the ACT Abuse Shelter when they go to court. Many newborn items are requested by Tiny Showers,
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Immokalee Pregnancy Center, and the NICU at Golisano . Fitted crib sheets and infant items are provided to the Heights Early Learning Center. And post-surgical pillows are made for men and women patients at the Regional Cancer Center.
For those interested in learning to sew or a refresher course, we make small animal fleece pouches with straight line sewing for the wild animal hospital at the Conservancy of SWFL.
For more information, check out our website (sewandsews.org ), or email us at sewandsews@yahoo.com . We meet two Mondays a month in the River House from 9-11:30 a.m.
Can’t attend our meetings, but would like to support us? As a charitable nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, we can provide documentation for tax purposes for donations made to Sew & Sews. Contact us at sewandsews@yahoo.com.
INGREDIENTS
Candied Bacon
• 1/4 cup maple sugar*
Recipe Corner
PEPPER CANDIED BACON SLIDERS WITH GIARDINIERA SAUCE
Giardiniera Sauce
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup hot giardiniera chopped fine**
• 3 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 tablespoon freshly cracked black pepper
• 1 teaspoon freshly cracked pink peppercorns
• 1 pound thick-cut bacon
• Nonstick cooking spray
• 2 tablespoons stone ground mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
Sandwich
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 Maui or Vidalia onions, sliced
• Balsamic vinegar, for deglazing
• Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
• One 12-package sweet slider rolls, (I like King’s Hawaiian)
• 1 Roma tomato, sliced medium
• Romaine lettuce, sliced to fit the roll
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
For the Bacon: Mix the maple sugar, black pepper and pink pepper in a bowl.
Place the bacon flat on a parchment lined sheet pan. Top the bacon with a sprinkle of the sugar-pepper mixture.
Bake until super golden brown and crispy, 25 to 30 minutes. Immediately transfer to a wire rack, well-greased
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with cooking spray to cool. (Do this the day you are serving, having let the bacon cool to room temperature).
For the Giardiniera sauce: Mix together the mayonnaise, Giardiniera, ketchup, mustard and granulated garlic in a bowl until smooth.
For the sandwich: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Place the oil and onions in the skillet and gently sweat, stirring occasionally and deglaze as necessary
with the balsamic. Cook until a deep golden brown, about 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
On each, lightly toasted bun, place a layer of the caramelized onions, 2 halved pieces of the candied bacon, then the tomato. Sprinkle the tomatoes with a bit of salt. Add the lettuce and a smear of the sauce on the top only. Close and serve.
*available from Amazon **available from Publix
5th Annual Verandah Turkey Trot Fundraiser & Pickleball Round Robin Dink, Wobble & Give!
Grab your friends, family, and even your pets, and join us for either the Thanksgiving 5K Turkey Trot Walk/Run or Dink, Wobble and Give Fundraiser on Wednesday, November 26. Dress in your best Thanksgiving-themed outfits or festive colors and run or walk the 5K (3.1 miles) or play round robin pickleball to support a great cause. Stick around before and after events to mingle, enjoy a beverage, and grab a complimentary snack—adult beverages will also be available for purchase. All funds go to our local Harry Chapin Food Bank
Round Robin: 8:30AM limited to the first 32 to sign up on the Verandah life website under the event calendar.
Free to participate – Donations appreciated Contact Fred for questions: FredH@ Verandah.com
Turkey Trot Registration 9:30AM | Race Starts 10AM
Location: in the Parking lot in front of the fitness center
Please register online on the Verandah life website under the event calendar. Contact Leslie for questions: LeslieL@ Verandah.com
$10 Entry Fee, Per Person
Cash only. Price includes small bites and beverages.
Holiday Tour of Homes
sunday, December 7, 2025
12 noon to 4 p.m.
STEP INTO THE MAGIC OF THE SEASON.
A holiday tradition returns. Join us for Sew & Sews’ annual Holiday Tour of Homes. From classic elegance to whimsical charm, this tour is the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit and gather inspiration for your own seasonal decorating.
Tickets are $25 each and available ONLINE ONLY. Visit sewandsews.org to purchase your ticket(s). Click on the Holiday Tour of Homes tab at the top and follow the prompts to BUY NOW OR scan this QR Code with your mobile device to buy your ticket(s).
Ticket holders will receive a handmade, commemorative ornament made by Sew & Sews’ members. Contact one of the Tour committee members: Barbra Colquitt barbracolquitt@gmail.com; Judy Carlson jacarlson715@gmail.com; or Marrijane Jones marrijanejones@gmail.com if you have questions.
When you attend the Holiday Tour of Homes, you help those in need as all proceeds from this event benefit nonprofits supported by Sew & Sews.
Seabreeze Communications Expands In Weston And South Miami-Dade With Launch Of Two Community News Sites
Seabreeze Communications is excited to announce the upcoming launch of WestonTogether.com, created in partnership with the Weston Chamber of Commerce, and SouthDadeSpotlight.com, developed in collaboration with the South Dade Chamber of Commerce.
Both platforms are designed to bring local news, events, and stories directly to residents, businesses, and visitors. Each site will feature a monthly
digital magazine, event calendar, and neighborhood stories that highlight the people and places that make each area unique.
“These new sites reflect our mission to connect communities through accessible, high-quality local media,” said Stephen Miller, president of Seabreeze Communications. “We’re proud to work alongside both Chambers of Commerce to celebrate their cities and support local businesses.”
Both Weston Together and South Dade Spotlight are set to go live January 2026.
To subscribe for updates and digital magazine releases from Weston Together or South Dade Spotlight, visit SeabreezeCommunications.com .
For advertising, partnership, or community story inquiries, contact Sales@ seabreezecommunications.com .
