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Dear RVCA members, Rio Vista residents, neighbors & friends,

Welcome to the inaugural issue of our all-new RIO VISTA! 'E-NEWS Update' - the
e-newsletter companion to our official Rio Vista Civic Association neighborhood newsletter - RIO VISTA! In future issues, we'll get right to the news and links! But for this inaugural issue, a brief introduction is in order.

As you know, we've been working hard to upgrade, enhance and improve our official RVCA newsletter program to make it more timely and more useful for keeping everyone up-to-date on what's going on in Rio Vista. Our 'E-NEWS Update' is just the first of many improvements and enhancements you'll be seeing.

In early May, you'll receive our May/June issue of RIO VISTA!, RVCA's official bimonthly newsletter, which (in addition to its new name!) will have a new full-color look, feel and style that will be more appealing and will have more relevant editorial for all Rio Vista residents. Our RIO VISTA! ONLINE companion site at www.RioVistaOnline.com will host the online version, where you'll also find 'Notices, News & Events' of interest to Rio Vista updated daily...and much, much more...so 'bookmark' it and visit often.

If YOU have news or events 'of interest' to Rio Vista you'd like to share, please send it to us at editor@RioVistaOnline.com. We'll do our best to help keep everyone better informed...and to merit your participation in our Rio Vista Civic Association!

In closing, please mark your calendar to attend our next RVCA General Membership Meeting, May 19th, 7:30pm at the Rio Vista Church, 880 S. Federal Hwy. Hope to see you there!

Your RVCA Newsletter Committee

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ON THE AGENDA! Next RVCA General Meeting - May 19, 2008

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John Fiore, Broward County Parks & Rec. Dept., will be our featured speaker and will be discussing the County's Coconut Island restoration plans! This is your chance to learn more about every aspect of this intriguing situation and to ask questions of the County's 'point man' for the project. Be there!

WHO'S PROTECTING RIO VISTA? - Meet Rio Vista's New Security Detail!

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WHEN: April 19th, 9:00am-10:30am
WHERE: Virginia Young Park
Already Signed Up? - Attend to meet the officers who will patrol Rio Vista and pick up your welcome letter and yard sign.
Haven't Decided? - Attend to ask questions and make your decision after meeting the officers.
Already Signed Up But Can't Attend? - The welcome letter and yard sign will be delivered to you (or you can call the officer to arrange a pick up).
Should I cancel my alarm service? Absolutely not. The patrol is a supplement to neighborhood security but is not a substitute for the measures we should all take to secure our homes.
Can I encourage my neighbors to participate? Yes! Your neighbors can obtain sign up forms by emailing us at riovistasecurity@earthlink.net.

SEE YOU THERE!

'FROM MUD TO MANSIONS' - Lauderdale Marina celebrates 60th anniversary!

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Celebrating its 60th year in business, the Lauderdale Marina, located on the Intracoastal Waterway just north of Port Everglades with deep 'roots' in our Rio Vista neighborhood is, according to founder Robert Cox, the oldest single-owner marina business in south Florida. Read a great story and see an amazing old photo at www.RioVistaOnline.com/marina60th.html

WATER RESTRICTIONS EASED FOR MOST OF BROWARD COUNTY

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The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) has eased water restrictions in most parts of Broward County, effective April 18. The new restrictions lift the lawn watering restrictions from once a week to twice a week. Under the new restrictions, lawn watering will be permitted on Wednesdays and Saturdays for houses with ODD numbered addresses and on Thursdays and Sundays for houses with EVEN numbered addresses. Watering will be permitted between midnight and 10 a.m., or between 4 p.m. and midnight.

'ORCHIDS!' ...IN RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING EFFORTS!

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'ORCHIDS!'...TO ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS WHO SHOWED UP SATURDAY MORNING, APRIL 5TH, TO HELP RVCA PLANT TREES!! Check out the new plantings next time you drive by Hector Park...these trees didn't get there by themselves! "Great job!" to all who helped transport, dig & plant them!

'ORCHIDS!'...TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE PARTICIPATING ON THE NEW RVCA SECURITY PATROL PROJECT! They took the initiative and did the things needed to make this badly needed Security Patrol happen...tons of enrollments in the program already...and more to come! Thanks, gang!

'ORCHIDS!'...TO THE RVCA DISASTER PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE FOR RIO VISTA HURRICANE 'AFTERMATH' PLANNING! They're making our own 'street signs' to have ready for use for key Rio Vista intersections in the event of another hurricane hitting us and wiping out existing street signs! Thanks to the foresight of our friends on this committee, if it happens again, we'll have street signs ready to put in place in the immediate aftermath to help emergency assistance units find their way! Well done!!

AN INVITATION FROM RVCA! Let's break that old adage of '10% of the people do 90% of the work'...if you haven't been to recent RVCA meetings or volunteered to help in our efforts around the neighborhood, please give it a try. You'll be welcomed...and you may even make some new friends.

Thanks! That's all for this issue...see you around the neighborhood!

CONTACT INFORMATION

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Have some feedback for RVCA? Or some feedback you'd like to share? Email your comments to us at editor@RioVistaOnline.com

For RVCA membership information, please visit www.riovistaftl.com

RIO VISTA! - The official neighborhood newsletter of the Rio Vista Civc Association

PO Box 461090

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33346-1090

Companion site: www.RioVistaOnline.com

RVCA home site: www.riovistaftl.com

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