President's Message

Dear Friends and Nieghbors,

President I can’t believe it’s February already! It’s been hectic time for everyone in South Florida over the past few months. We had an events-packed holiday season, a week of brutally-cold (for South Florida!) weather and a series of major NFL events, highlighted by the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl, that brought many more than our usual share of seasonal visitors to the area. And we we’ve been very busy right here in Rio Vista with our own neighborhood events and happenings.

The Annual Rio Vista Holiday Party kicked off the holiday season for us and was once again a huge success! The food was terrific, the kids had a great time with games and the Rock-Climbing Wall and neighbors renewed old friendships and made a few new ones. If you haven’t yet seen the pictures from the party, they’re online on our RVCA website at www.riovistaonline.com. Check them out!.

Our RVCA Winterfest Boat Parade Viewing Party at Abreu Park was next up on the holiday calendar for our Rio Vista neighborhood. RVCA Vice President, Nancy Messing, gave us her take on the event. “As if on cue, the rain stopped, just as the lead boat emerged from out of the darkness. The 2009 Winterfest Boat Parade came into view, much to the delight of children and adults who were lucky enough to all have great sight lines from Abreu Park in Rio Vista. The downtown residential high rise buildings along the river provided a nice backdrop from our viewing area. Traveling east on the New River from downtown Fort Lauderdale, our vantage point really was quite spectacular, as the river narrows there at Abreu Park and the boats were just a few feet away. A number of larger yachts had Tow Boat USA or other tugs pulling lines away from the stern and working hard and fast to straighten them out as they rounded the curve just east of our Park. Lynn and Bill Bodor served up pizza and beer under the tent, and neighbors, families and friends all had a great time.”

The weekend of January 23-24 in Rio Vista saw the Annual Campout & Carti Gras event, spearheaded successfully once again by Ted Bertolett and friends. The golf cart parade around the neighborhood featured some of the most creatively decorated carts yet, bringing smiles and laughter to participants and parade observers alike. Here’s a report from Ted Bertolett on the Carti Gras & Campout 2010:

“What a great start to the New Year for our community..a golf cart parade and a camp-out! Rio Vista is the neighborhood that rocks! We had 15 golf carts participate in the Mardi Gras-themed annual ‘Carti Gras!’ golf cart parade. The first place winner was “Pants on the Ground” from the Moodys, 2nd place was “Pink Diva” from the Drums, and 3rd place was “Where’s Tiger/Golf Cart” from the Bertoletts. ‘Thanks!’ to all who came out and decorated their carts and took the daring ride passing through the Yacht Club and then all the way to the Downtowner Saloon then back to the park. Everyone was treated to hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and drinks. Our ‘Thanks!’ to Tom Tworoger for grilling and flipping burgers.”

“After Carti Gras, the campsite was busy with campers setting up tents, all in a row in orderly fashion. It was great to see some new campers in the neighborhood this year. Sal, the grillmaster, started making his famous sausage and pepper subs, the fire pits were lit and the kids could not get enough marshmallows! Not one, but two different fire departments came and gave tours of their fire trucks. The kids played and played...I don’t think they even slept!”

“Well, another Rio Vista Carti Gras! & Campout is over and you’ll have to wait till next year if you want to get in on it. Thanks to all the campers and to the Rio Vista Civic Association Board for their cooperation with us in putting on such a fun event for the neighborhood...it was a huge turn-out. Another big ‘Thank You!’ goes to the Tellers and Kozichs for providing electricity to the campsite. Stay tuned for more events in the community. Peace out!” – Ted

In other neighborhood news, the Tunnel Top Park project is still on the radar. Our Parks Committee Chair Wingate Payne recently reported that the project was delayed for a little reengineering for the parking spaces in front of the Edgewater as negotiated by Commissioner Romney Roger-- this after delays for final state approval and negotiations on whether the contractor would accept more improvements for the park since it was so below the expected amount. In a recently received message from the City, she was told that the contractor was waiting for some long lead items. The City’s Engineering Dept. also stated they’d be in touch with Wingate to discuss the additional work previously discussed (i.e. more improvements, as noted above). As of Tuesday, Feb. 9th, construction hadn’t yet started...we’ll keep you posted on the latest developments as they happen!

Another parks-related development is in the process of being resolved as we go to press. The City of Fort Lauderdale, after conferring with RVCA, has agreed to relocate a very large Poinciana Tree donated from a Rio Vista neighbor from where it had placed it in Hector Park to either Abreu Park or Tunnel Top Park. The tree was simply put into Hector Park by the City without consulting RVCA and immediate vicinity neighbors. After RVCA and neighbors questioned and objected to the placement of the tree in Hector Park and pointed out some good reasons that it was not very suitable for Hector Park, the City agreed to relocate the tree to Abreu Park after consultation with RVCA.

We want to extend our ‘Congratulations!’ to Rio Vista’s own Williford family. Brothers Christopher and Duncan sailed their way into history by finishing first and third and topping over 220 other Optimist class sailors in the 2009 Orange Bowl International Youth Regatta. The brothers competed in the Regatta which was held over a four day period in December on Biscayne Bay. That’s a great accomplishment and we wish you good luck in 2010!

In other youth news, RVCA Board Member Mike Orlando advises that Federal Little League Baseball is now registering boys and girls ages six to 16 for its upcoming 2010 Little League baseball season. Registration will be at beautiful Floyd Hull Stadium located just 5 minutes from Rio Vista, 800 SW 28th Street, just behind the Armory off S.R. 84. The 2010 season runs from approximately February through May includes a 20 game regular season, All-Star play and a chance to make it all the way to Williamsport, PA and the official Little League World Series, as seen on ESPN each July.

Federal Little League was chartered by the official Little League youth baseball with the help of Rio Vista’s own Floyd Hull more than 50 years ago. The Park boasts three regulation sized baseball fields and one softball field. It is the only Little League Park with grandstands and a full time PA broadcaster. Last year’s opening day pitch was thrown by Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler and our District Commissioner and Rio Vista neighbor, Romney Rogers.

For registration information contact 954 525-4910. For more information contact the League President John McGinnis, 954-822-1143 or the President-elect Jonathan Duffield 954-609-8570.

In closing, Spring is just around the corner...and we’ll see you around the neighborhood!
       Sincerely,
       Warren Sturman, MD
       President, RVCA