Verandah View
Another Seabreeze Publication VOL. 9 NO. 3
www.seabreezecommunications.com
MARCH 2024
Bicycle, Golf Cart And Pedestrian Safety Within Verandah Keeping people safe and preventing accidents is even more of a priority for property managers and community boards than for typical municipalities. Keeping people safe in Verandah is a priority for all of us. As Verandah builds out, we offer the following thoughts: • Share the road – Motorists should be aware and courteous to people riding bikes and crossing the street. • Bicycles are allowed on all pathways and streets but not on any golf cart paths within the golf course. • If you’re walking a pet on a sidewalk, please keep the leash short so that no one gets caught in it. • Bicycles in the street are subject to the same rules as a vehicle. When on the road please ride with traffic, single
file, on the right side of the road; yield to pedestrians in crosswalks; obey all street signs and use hand signals when turning or stopping. • Bicycles are very quiet, so please always announce your approach. Ring your bell or simply call out “On your left / on your right!” to avoid startling those you are approaching and possibly causing a collision. • Bicyclists and pedestrians are encouraged to always be aware of your surroundings especially when talking on the phone or listening to music. • Golf carts cannot drive on the sidewalks as it is illegal in Florida, unless it is a golf cart path. • Golf carts are not allowed on our roadways based on
a developer restriction. Such restrictions are often used by developers to protect the value of the property. Since there is a restriction, it is the responsibility of the VCA to enforce it or risk being exposed to liability. Please note that this does not apply to VCA registered LSVs, who occupy the space between a golf cart and an automobile. Using these commonsense approaches and abiding by the restrictions in our covenants will provide a safer environment for all. Florida Highway Safety website – Bicycles and Pedestrians Florida Statute Governing Bicycles: https:// www.flhsmv.gov/safety-center/child-safety/bicyclepedestrian-safety/
The Verandah’s Show Choir The Swing Singers What do you do when you have people who love to sing, have time on their hands and an interest in making friends and having fun? You form a choir! In 2015 a group of Verandah residents came together and formed what is known as a show choir. A show choir, popularized by the American television show Glee, is a musical ensemble that combines choral singing – usually pop, jazz, or Broadway style music – with choreographed dance, comedy and an overarching theme. It’s the perfect mix of music, dance and crowd-pleasing appeal. The original idea in Verandah was for a mixed gender group but only women came to the information session. Most had sung in church or high school choirs but rarely in a show choir, so it was new and unchartered territory. That original group of 20 women became the Verandah Swing Singers. The group first performed at a Verandah holiday party singing a simple program of six songs with matching choreography. From that point on, the group produced bigger and more extravagant shows, adding costumes, elaborate stories and set designs to their singing and dancing. Talent in the group included choreographers, artists, writers, and comics who joined together to make the performances a true team effort. Since 2015, the Swing Singers have produced eight shows. From a simple show early on called The Girl Groups
of the ’60s to an audience participation murder-mystery called A Night at the Copa, to last year’s fun variety presentation The Ed Hullivan Show. Response from the Verandah community has been overwhelming, with shows selling out in under five minutes. The Verandah Swing Singers take enormous pride in their productions and the camaraderie they’ve fostered over the years. They work hard with two rehearsals every week and practice time on their own. The musical arrangements they perform are high quality and complex. The choreography adds additional complexity but also elevates the performance to a standard the Swing Singers are known for. The comedy intertwined in all the shows is the secret ingredient, making the performances especially fun for the Verandah community. In March, the Swing Singers will present this year’s extravaganza The Swing Singers Sing the ’70s!. It
promises to be another fun night of music, comedy, and dance, so stay tuned! For those who are interested in finding out more about the group, the Swing Singers advertise for new members as needed each year in the spring. If you are interested in auditioning for the group, further information will be available in April.
Replacement Hardwood Trees Installed On Verandah Boulevard You may have seen a large number of new trees installed along the boulevard. These are the hardwood replacements for trees knocked down by Hurricane Ian, and failed trees that have been damaged, struck by lightning or diseased. Exposure, utilities avoidance and aesthetics were all taken into consideration for placement of the new trees. Eighty-three trees have been installed in our communal areas and many of them are flowering trees, including: Golden Rain Tree, Oaks, Shady Lady, Yellow and Pink Ta b e b u i a , A f r i c a n Tulip, Gumbo Limbo, Royal Poinciana, Bottle Brush. We are fortunate to have had the guidance of Al O’Donnell, who worked in concert with VCA staff and VCA Landscape Committee, African Tulip Tree
to determine the optimal tree choices and placement for the new hardwoods. Al O’Donnell is an award-winning landscape architect who was responsible for much of the original Verandah landscape design, i n c l u d i n g t h e Golden Rain Tree preservation and relocation of the majestic Live Oaks that grace our main entrance gate and other areas in the community. The trees will probably not be in full flower this year, but be patient, a beautiful display is on the way. Pink Tabebuia Tree
Yellow Tabebuia Tree
Royal Poinciana Tree