RiverWalk Talk · RiverWalk Talk Mission Statement The purpose of the RiverWalk Talk newsletter is to provide community information to the RiverWalk homeowners. The newsletter also

In This Issue

Manager's Corner .......... Page 4Treasurer's Report ......... Page 5Calendar...........................Page 15Activities .......................... Page 21Clubs/Classes...................Page 24

RiverWalk TalkRiverWalk Talk

Volume 25, Issue 1 A Newsletter Covering Life in RiverWalk January 2021

When You Need Help:

In an Emergency, Call:

911911Non-Emergency

Police, Call:

822-1900 822-1900

Board Actions: Continued on page 30

MEETING DATES

Thursday, January 7, 7 p.m.Oak Tree/Hardscape Workshop

Tuesday, January 19, 7 p.m.Board Meeting

Monday, January 25, 10 a.m.Architectural Control Committee

What the Board Was Doing in November and December

By Fran Shay

To view the proceedings of all meetings described in this article, links to videos are found in the homeowner log-in section of the https://www.RiverWalkofwpb.connectresident.com website at Forms and Documents. A Resident Backup Packet of these meetings was distributed via email blast to homeowners.

An Annual Budget meeting and a regular Board meeting were held on November 19, 2020, at 7:00 pm, with all Board members and the General Manager Kathy Jean Pinchuk attending.

At the Annual Budget meeting, Treasurer Pete Reinhardt explained some revisions made to the proposed 2021 budget that was mailed to the homeowners. Chris Shead made a motion to approve the 2021 Budget, Myles Schack seconded it, and the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

The Annual Budget meeting was adjourned.

At the regular Board meeting, President Tony Roman approved Hank Nicoletti’s request to correct the October 22, 2021, Board meeting minutes to depict that the six-month pickleball trial period would end at the end of May since the trial had not as yet begun.

During the President’s Report, Tony Roman requested and obtained a consensus of all Board members that the renovations to the Town Center should have a plan for the entire building, but begin with refurbishing of the downstairs main room and not the HOA Office. Tony Roman also made a motion to add an open meetings policy to the existing Committee Guidelines. Richard Keller seconded the motion, but Hank Nicoletti made a motion to table it to add an exception involving confidentiality and matters involving a non-disclosure agreement. Myles Schack seconded it, and the Board unanimously voted to table the motion.

During the Treasurer’s Report, Treasurer Pete Reinhardt announced that the Reserve Study is going on, and the results will be discussed at a workshop to be scheduled.

As Chair of the Environmental & Wildlife Committee, Paula Graham, made a resolution for the HOA to allow them to create a 40-foot by 40-foot meandering-shaped Demonstration Garden of native and butterfly-attracting plants with signage. Pete made a motion to authorize up to $6,000 to build

Town Center RefurbishmentBy Marianne McCann, Facilities Committee Chair

The Facilities Committee was given the task of recommending improvements leading to the refurbishment of the first floor of the Town Center building.

It all began on February 19, 2019, when the then Board President and General Manager suggested simply placing new flooring and painting for Town Center on the Board of Directors (BOD) meeting agenda.

The Facilities Committee felt that, instead, there should be a PLAN for the refurbishment, including a color palate and an overall design recommended by professionals.

A subcommittee consisting of two men and three women began their assignment in the summer of 2019 by researching, site visiting, interviewing potential designers/decorators, and checking references. Over a period of almost two years, this Committee worked with two different General Managers and four different BOD Presidents that led to various stops and starts and additional assignments (e.g., the outside public bathrooms, the installation of a playground, and possible exercise stations placed around the perimeter of RiverWalk Circle).

The job of a design firm would entail being responsible for everything. They would supply all the craftsmen/workers, and pay all the bills. They would be able to take advantage of relationships with various vendors, including those who specialize in furniture. They would be responsible for obtaining all the necessary permits and ensure that all Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements would be met, as well as all safety standards, such as fire retardant drapery and chair upholstery, etc.

D&B Interiors, Inc. was selected. This mother-daughter team was described as being willing to listen to their clients, being conservative and non-dramatic, and taking into consideration budget constraints in their recommendations. They employ top-quality craftsmen and have a relationship with an experienced

architect who is familiar with permitting with the City of West Palm Beach’s Building Division. All references were very positive, and their clients felt that they were not overcharged for services and that the designers earned their fee (20% over cost).

The Facilities Committee was told that they had a budget of $150,000 for 2020 and $100,000 for 2021. The funds were to come from the Reserves because much of this project dealt with replacements. All four of the design firms that were interviewed were incredulous that access to the office required individuals to pass through Town Center, often distracting from whatever activities were occurring in the main activity room. The recommended architect, Kelly Yates of Yates Associates Architecture, Inc., provided four different options for flipping the front work stations in the office, therefore utilizing the current exit door (by the fountain) as the new entrance.

On December 3rd and 4th, the Facilities Committee invited the BOD, in small groups, to hear and see the overall plan for the project. The BOD members had an opportunity to view, handle, and heft various flooring samples provided by the designers, and to understand the differences among the choices. The three women

Refurbishment: Continued on the page 40

RiveRWalk Talk Page 2 January 2021

RiverWalk Talk Mission StatementThe purpose of the RiverWalk Talk newsletter is to provide community

information to the RiverWalk homeowners. The newsletter also will do its best to include interesting articles and ads. However, any claims in the ads have not been investigated by the staff, and they are not endorsed in any way. It is the responsibility of the reader to check the claims in the ads and whether the business’s licensing is current.

Any report of the President, Treasurer, or Property Manager will be printed with no changes by the editors but for spelling and grammar thereby maintaining the integrity of the article and the author’s meaning. Minor changes to an article’s length could be requested by the editors. All other articles will be edited to improve readability and fit available space.

No personal attacks will be printed, and coverage of Association meetings will be reported as accurately as possible. No articles or ads will be accepted that are about social or political issues or are in support or against any candidacy at RiverWalk or for government office.

A newsletter covering life in RiverWalk

Editor in Chief . . . . . . . . . Patricia BirdAssoc iate Edi tor. .E la ine Conf inoAdvertising Manager . . . . . .Kathy WolfActivities Director . . . . . . Ilissa Shannon Activities Editor...............Fran ShayAccounts Manager . . . . . . . . Ron FranoCalendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fran ShayContributing Writers . . . . Steve Bucar,Greg Christoph, Lourdes Ferris, Len Fintzy, Lisa Gammon, Dianne Golder, Betty Handel, Marianne McCann, Marianne Martone, Sandra Masters, Pat Minkler, Heather Sandarr, Steve WolfPhoto Editors..... . . . .Elaine Confino, N a n c y O ' K e e f e , S t e v e W o l fGraphic Design & Layout. . Patricia Bird

The Editorial Board reserves the right to edit all submitted copy, except for the articles mentioned in the Mission Statement, for fit and content according to policies set forth by the Board of Directors of the RiverWalk of the Palm Beaches Homeowners Association.

RiverWalk Talk will accept feature articles, news items, club reports, photos and other items that are of interest to the majority of our residents. All such pieces should be placed in the RWT box in the main office or sent to the Editor at Patricia Bird at [email protected] Ar ticles should be in Word format, photos in .JPG or .PDF. Include your name, email address, & phone number.

All queries concerning advertising should be directed to our Advertising Manager Kathy Wolf at 242-0329.

RiverWalk Talk

Editor'sNote

I hope you are reading this. The RiverWalk Talk is now operating with software five years newer than what we were using in the December 2020 issue. Please be patient and give us time to get back in stride.

Can you believe that the RiverWalk Talk is in its 25th year? Back at the beginning, during the DiVosta time, the Activities Director did the newsletter. The first one I got was ten pages for March 1997. The title on the cover story was “Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!! & A Glorious Easter!!!” It was written by Cindy Ann Woodcum. With that issue, Cindy resigned and a new Activities Director, Venesa Large, had been selected. Just some of the things that were going on were a St. Patrick’s Day Party, Easter Egg Hunt, shopping trips, trips to the Braves vs. Expos game, a ladies’ luncheon, blood drive, various seminars, exercise classes, bridge lessons, tennis activities, personal gym training and instruction, and more.

Bob Steckler was our Town Manager, and he was reminding residents to always pick up after their pets. The more things change . . .

If I remember, and that, of course, is problematic, I will try to find some other items found in the RiverWalk Talk about life here in earlier years. Welcome to 2021! Please let it be better than 2020! Happy 25th Anniversary, RiverWalk Talk!

Patricia BirdEditor in Chief

Due to computer problems, there will be no President's Report in this issue. The President's Report will return in February.


Kathy Jean Pinchuk, CAM, CMCA, AMS General Manager for and on behalf of RiverWalk of the Palm Beaches

One of the issues that frequently arises with any Board is the question of fiduciary duty. The following should give you a good idea as to what this means for the community:

Fiduciary Duty of a Board Member: The Key to Avoiding Conflicts of Interest

In community associations, each board member is considered a fiduciary and is duty-bound to act in the best interests of all residents, not his or her own best interests. In general terms, fiduciary duty is the highest standard of care imposed under law, and it occurs when one or more persons are responsible for the money or property of another. The fiduciary is expected to be honest, free from fraud, and faithful to his or her obligations.

Accusations of self-dealing or conflicts of interest sometimes arise, in particular, during the vendor hiring process. Generally, Board members who profit financially from hiring a vendor risk putting their own interests before those of the community.

• What is our Association doing to ensure the community comes first?

• We ask Board members to fully disclose a conflict when objectivity cannot be maintained.

• We ensure the Board Minutes reflect the entire disclosure.

• We require conflicted Board members to sit out the Board’s decision on the conflicting matter.

• We will seek multiple bids, frequently sealed, and carefully review them before making a decision.

If you have any questions about fiduciary duty, conflicts of interest or expectations for Board members, please ask.

As I write this during the mid part of December, we have so many projects going on in the community. Our Reserve Study was just completed, which will be presented to the community sometime in January, and the ACC Committee has updated the ACC Guidelines, which will be presented to the membership for review the first week in January as well. We are having the sidewalks, swales, and driveway aprons cleaned, the palms and hardwoods on resident lots will be trimmed, and the painting of homes continues. The entry drive has been trimmed and mulched, and there are new plantings at Town Center and the tennis courts. The new playground has been ordered and will be installed as soon as the permits are approved! Lastly, the Board has approved moving forward with the renovations for Town Center. There is certainly a lot going on at RiverWalk!

My best wishes to each and every one of you for a Happy, Safe & Healthy 2021!


Respectfully submitted,Pete Reinhardt,RiverWalkTreasurer

Let me start by apologizing for not having the customary Treasurer’s Report ready in time for RiverWalk Talk. However, I promise to complete it as soon as possible, and you should be notified of its posting on the website before you have a chance to read my apology. I am sure that many of you have been following a flurry of activity around the community. Lots of tree trimming, mulching, flower plantings, sidewalk cleaning and repairs, renewal of contracts etc. We have been reporting a 2020 “underrun” of our budget. Much of this is

an artificiality of our accounting system that assumes spending is averaged evenly throughout the year. In fact, these expenses happen when work occurs. On the flip side, in 2021 much of the work will be front-loaded at the beginning of the year. So early 2021 Treasurer’s Reports will show “deficits.” I promise we will track this closely.

In my last article, I talked about the Oak Tree/Hardscape Committee and the Reserve Study. These will both be reported to the Board and to residents at workshops in January. Right now the Oak Tree/Hardscape Committee plans on having its final report presented at 7:00 pm January 7th. The Report will be posted on the website well in advance, and an email blast will go out to remind everyone. This is a particularly important issue and I encourage as many of you as possible to attend or Zoom in. This has a huge ramification on RiverWalk both for street repaving and oak tree damage mitigation. Later in January, our Reserve Analysis will be presented to the Community. This Report will provide the basis for determining not only Reserve contributions but lay out a plan for future projects. I encourage all of you to stay tuned because on the importance on pocketbook issues.

Again, I apologize for not having the Report completed on time and will try to do better. Happy Holidays and to quote James Taylor, “Shower the People You Love with Love.” Stay safe and healthy.


By Patricia Bird

Technophobia. I thought I made up that word. I was surprised when Microsoft Word didn’t flag it. It’s what I’m suffering from right now.

Many years ago, I found a suite of professional desktop publishing programs that were supposed to be the best on the market. I thought that our RiverWalk Talk deserved the best, so I bought the software. When I switched from a PC to a Mac, I bought another set. Both sets were on CDs with a one-time purchase price. The programs had a high learning curve, and I was proud of myself when I learned just enough of it to get our newsletter out. (The programs are capable of doing much more, but I know when I’ve reached my limit.)

Time passed. Then came what I thought was awful news, that the desktop publishing software was changing to subscription software. Microsoft had done this some time before with its Microsoft Office., now Microsoft 365 That means a charge every month/year instead of the one-time purchase price. I HATE subscription software! Every little app on every device finds a way to keep you paying by year instead of one time only. Even if the subscription amount is small, that money adds up. The subscription price for our desktop publishing software is not small. We have been using the older version without any major problem for the last five years.

A couple of years ago, my operating system informed me that it had an upgrade. I upgraded it. I found out that my old RiverWalk Talk software didn’t work quite so well. When I was making an illustration for one of our PSAs, for example, and I tried to use the shortcut to switch between folders, the program crashed, and I lost all my work. Still to this day, I sometimes make that mistake. (My vocabulary on these occasions sometimes rivals Captain Lee’s on Below Deck.)

Technophobia: The New RiverWalk Talk Emerges

I thought I had the fix. I would stop upgrading the operating system. The one

I was using macOS Sierra still worked perfectly. macOS High Sierra and macOS Mojave, I never saw you. Then I started getting error messages. The new versions of other software that I was using, like Microsoft 365 and Quicken, would stop working if they

were upgraded and the operating system was not. The subscription

Adobe software was no longer an option; it was a necessity.

It’s been a while since I did an operating system upgrade. I cringed at the thought. To upgrade the operating system and then get a new suite of programs for the desktop publishing, learn the changes, and have everything working in time to get out a newsletter for January was daunting, but it was something that had to be done.

One day late in November, I bit the bullet and upgraded the operating system to macOS Catalina. It has a pretty background screen. There were things that were different, many things, but I guess that is what happens when you skip two upgrades. Every Apple device in the house shrieked that there was an intruder trying to get into the system. I don’t quite understand this; it was a new operating system, not a new computer. Somehow, two-factor identification got turned on. I have no idea what that means, but I’m pretty sure I don’t want it. The worst thing was that every desktop publishing software icon in the dock had that awful circle with a line through it over its icon. I clicked on the one that does most of the work for our newsletter, not giving up hope, but I was told I needed to contact the software developer. Oops. We were without software to do the RiverWalk newsletter.

The RWT went for the subscription software; the money was available out of the profits that the RiverWalk Talk makes over and above its cost. I got the

Technophobia: Continued on page 9


By Appointment Only!


programs we needed for our newsletter downloaded. I clicked on the main one. It opened. That was a good start, but software changes a lot in five years. Nothing looked familiar. Do I need to say that my heart plummeted? Where are my tool bars? Where are the links to those ads that pay for the entire newsletter? I searched, and I clicked, and I despaired. Then I found the bar with the fonts on it. I found the ad listing panel; it looked different, but it was there.

Okay. I’ll try it. I opened up the template for the newsletter. There were minor problems that I think I fixed. I tried to import the one edited article I had already come in for the January issue. I got it to set. I found a graphic to go with it, and after some difficulty, I got the graphic edited in Photoshop. I imported that, too. Looking good, until I tried to move the graphic into the article. As soon as I put it over text, it disappeared! I don’t believe that if something doesn’t work once, it won’t on a future try. I did it again, and again, and again. All with the same result.

I decided to get Internet help and went to the website for the software. It had one of those live helps where you type in your question and get answers. I hate those! I typed in my problem and got asked some questions, back and forth, with lots of what I thought was unhelpful dialogue. Suddenly I get the message, “If you give me permission to remotely access your computer . . .” Suddenly, I typed, there is someone at the door; I’ve got to go. (He probably didn’t believe me or care that people don’t come to your door during a pandemic.) Later, I did get the answer on the community boards for the software. My article now has a graphic. I’m on my way.

If you are reading this, I guess I finally got it worked out. It’s sort of a relief to be up to date on the software on my computer. But guess what? There are already new upgrades for the the operating system and for the desktop publishiing software. I'm ignoring them.

What really upset me was that a little game I have been playing since DOS days, Watson’s Map, had that same circle and line over it. I was broken hearted until

I contacted the developer and he sent me the latest version free. It worked, but the developer cautioned me to not upgrade to macOS Big Sur—yet. In this awful time of stress that we are all experiencing, there are still some nice people in the world.

You don’t know how much I hope you are able to read this!

Technophobia: Continued from page 7


R


A Time for RenewalBy Barbara Buchman of the Landscape Committee

Where did year 2020 go? Some may think not quickly enough. National elections and COVID-19 have been competing with each other for media attention which has saturated the airways. But hope is on the way. The elections are over, and a rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine has begun.

On a smaller, but not unimportant scale, RiverWalk has a new Board of Directors and a new landscaping contractor. And, with a flurry of activity, work is being done to solve past issues and create new projects which will continue to enhance our community.

Thankfully, through the diligence of the ad hoc committee tasked to find a new landscaper for RiverWalk, Xtreme Landscaping was selected, and they have begun to show us their talent and hard work.

The following is an update:

The older hedges on RiverWalk Circle (arboricola) have finally been removed and new replacements are in the ground. These are young arboricola plants to which Xtreme has added colorful annuals interspaced between them. The ligustrum trees on that site have been cut back removing older growth which will encourage new growth. Now that stretch in front of the parking lot has taken on a new life. And, if some people are missing the taller hedges, fear not. Here in Florida everything grows quickly.

Take a look at the southwest corner crossing of RiverWalk Boulevard and RiverWalk Circle (sometimes referred to as “The Tee”), and you will see it has been reconfigured by Xtreme Landscaping to add color and design.

Along RiverWalk Boulevard, the fading ixora plants have been removed and the lowest limbs of the ficus trees have been trimmed back to create more light for

the understory plants. It’s a new, more sophisticated look that allows us to admire the beautiful trunks of the amazing ficus trees while giving the earth around them a needed rest.

At the front and back of the Town Center, you cannot help but notice the colorful annuals that have been planted around the palms. If you haven’t yet done so, check out the replanted flower bed in front of the mailroom and gym.

Mulching, mowing, and the trimming of trees are

ongoing. The rains and storms are gone for a while. Our lakes are at high levels, which means we will have an abundance of water to keep our landscaping well-nourished.

If there is interest from RiverWalk residents, we welcome you to attend our monthly meetings. The dates and times are posted at the Town Center, in the Post Office, and in the RiverWalk Talk calendar.

A view of the newly added flowers by Xtreme in the front of Town Center on Riverwalk Circle. [Photo by Selma Wang.]


Italian/Americans & Friends ClubBy Annette Caccamise

I think we all know that 2020 has been a very difficult year for many, many people. The pandemic brought loss of employment and/or working from home, schools closing, lack of socialization and, to top it all off, a presidential election. No matter our age, it has brought some level of difficulty for most people.

The IAFC has not held a meeting since last winter, and we were certainly anxious for a get-together. Thanks to our president, Al Formichella, and the Social Committee working together, they made it happen. It was a perfect evening for a poolside concert. South Florida’s own, Chuck LaPaglia, who bills himself as the Ultimate Faux Diamond, Neil Zirconia, lives in Delray Beach. Throughout the evening, as he sang many of Neil Diamond songs, such as “Cracklin’ Rosie” and “Sweet Caroline,” he told stories about his career. He said that he was actually in a local music store when he was “discovered.” An Elvis impersonator was in the store and heard him sing. “Elvis” told him he could get gigs for him and that he should go for it! “Neil” and his wife, Lori, who played the keyboard and tambourine, obviously enjoy entertaining. As this was a Veterans Day celebration, his last song of the evening was our national anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner.”

On Monday, December 14th, we celebrated our club’s 25th year anniversary as well as the joy of the holiday season. It was our first dinner show at Centanni Café with Franco Corso as the entertainer. Franco Corso has a loyal following in RiverWalk and the IAFC. His classical renderings and romantic ballads are passionate and powerful. Songs like “Be My Love,” “My Prayer,” “Nessun Dorma,” and “Time to Say Goodbye” are just a few from his songbook. For this special Christmas show, he sang classic Christmas carols to get us all in the spirit of the season.

The meetings for January and February will be dinner show meetings at Centanni Café. The January show will be Glen Foster’s Comedy and Magic Show. The cost is $35 for members and $40 for non-members. Please call Al Formichella at 561-697-9807 for more information.

Neil Zirconia, the "Ultimate Faux Diamond." [Photo by Annette Caccamise.]


Staying Ahead of COVID-19By Cheryl McDonald, Certified Nutrition Coach

Are you wondering how to distance yourself from the dreaded COVID-19?

This has been a year of uncertainty like none other. The most interesting fact about that statement is that almost no one on the planet has been untouched by it. It has forced all of us to face the state of our health, whether good or bad. While no one is exempt from a possible contraction of this virus, one can have a level of confidence in how it manifests and eventually plays out in the end.

Health – Everyone everywhere talks about it, hopes to protect it, or wants to restore it. But we are bombarded with advertisements from every side. The truth is, there’s a feeding frenzy, with us—the consumer—as the bait. Just spend a few minutes sitting in front of the television and you’ll understand what I mean. Commercials for prescription meds are no longer informational. They are cast in an idyllic setting with the consumer portrayed as having a wonderful time, having taken their miracle drug, which they clearly can afford, and experiencing no side effects whatsoever. As far away from reality as this made-for-television portrayal is, we hungrily gobble up the message of multi-billion dollar corporations, not realizing that, with a few lifestyle changes, we may not need their prescriptions at all.

My story begins with being born and raised on the island of Jamaica. Life was very simple for us as a family. We ate natural foods every day. As a matter of fact, our yard had many fruit trees, including the ackee tree on which grows the fruit that is a part of our national dish, “ackee and codfish.” My mother would give us herbs and green bush teas to either prevent us from becoming sick or to heal us when we were sick.

Over 30 years ago when I was starting my own family, having migrated to the United States by then and, in the course of time, moved away from my roots and culture, it wasn’t long before I started feeling

the effects of my less-than-ideal food choices. It started with gestational diabetes, which occurred with my first pregnancy at the age of 23. Then came chronic gut problems, heavy metals and environmental toxicity, nutritional deficiencies, food allergies, stress, and depression. It is quite sobering when we consider that our mental health is directly impacted by the state of our physical health, which has a direct connection to

the foods we eat.

Keep in mind, as well, that the interferences that allow disease to creep up on us and block the body’s healing ability are different today than they were 30 years ago. When we begin to understand the assault we’re under by toxins in our environment, our food, our homes, and our workplaces, we begin to understand why disease is at an all-time high, and we also begin to understand that we must do everything in our power to protect ourselves.

Unfortunately, there is a disconnect between our ailments and the food/lifestyle choices we make. My own life experience has propelled me to explore that connection and make amazing discoveries that have changed my life, my family, and clients—cancer patients among them.

This is so important now more than ever, with COVID-19 having such devastating effects on us. I can tell you that by making small and simple changes, we can boost our immune system and reduce our susceptibility. The key is to start with the “lowest hanging fruit.”

As a Certified Nutrition Coach, I encourage people to focus on this all-important fact and never forget it: Our bodies come complete with the ability to heal. Here’s what I know. The power to restore your best health is within you. The solutions are not complicated. Life and

Staying Ahead: Continued on page 20


The Social Committee welcomed the children and grandchildren of RiverWalk to take a tour of the North Pole on Saturday, December 12. The event was held under a big white tent, behind the Town Center. The guests were greeted with masked and gloved elves,

as the children went from table to table to collect their holiday goodies. All tours were scheduled to ensure social distancing. The families took a socially distanced picture with Santa Claus and the children become an elf in a photo op. Larry Campanella, a RiverWalk resident and singer, sang holiday songs to bring in the holiday cheer. Some goodies were donated by Jayne and Carol with Illustrated Properties for the Holiday Book and Toy Drive for the students at Barton Elementary School. Thank you to the RiverWalk Social Committee and all the volunteers who helped make this event a big success!

A Visit to the North Pole!

2020: A RetrospectiveBy Marianne Martone

We started this new decade of the 2020s with such high hopes after such a successful New Year’s Eve celebration. We were planning to have a banner year of events that would make everyone proud and glad to live in beautiful RiverWalk.

But little did we know what was lurking around the corner that would bring everything to a screeching halt.

When we emerged from the lockdown, the Social Committee started thinking of ways to bring the community safely back to life.

We want to thank all those who generously donated life-saving blood during our two OneBlood drives.

We want to thank all those who support our monthly Food Truck Nights.

We want to thank all those who participated in our largest Halloween Trunk or Treat.

We want to thank all those new residents that came out to shiver with us at our New Resident Welcome.

Lastly, we want to thank all those adorable children and their parents who came to “A Visit to the North Pole” holiday party.

We have all learned a new vocabulary in 2020: mask mandates, social distancing, lockdowns, symptomatic/asymptomatic, and quarantine.

But hopefully, we have not forgotten the meaning of community. While most of us are missing our extended families, we must lean on our friends and neighbors.

To all of RiverWalk, your Social Committee wants you to stay safe, and we all hope for a much better 2021!


RICK L PLATZ, LUTCF(561) 684 8801 8480 OKEECHOBEE BLVD. STE 6WEST PALM [email protected]

IT PAYS TOSWITCH.

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health are found in the foods we eat and the lifestyle we live, and by making some simple adjustments to how, what, and when we eat. Incremental changes are akin to the bricks used in the building of a house. Let us intercept the decline.

[Editor’s Note: Cheryl McDonald has been certified by Precision Nutrition as a Level 1 Nutrition Coach.]

Staying Ahead: Continued from page 17


Riv

erW

alk Activities

At the time of this printing, all activities in the Town Center are temporarily CANCELLED due to the HOA Board’s decision at the June 16, 2020, Board Meeting in an effort to follow CDC guidelines and practice social distancing.

Stay tuned to Comcast Channel 63, the Post Office and Town Center bulletin boards, the RiverWalk website (www.RiverWalkofwpb.com) and your emails for updates. Please provide your email address to the RiverWalk Office to receive updates via email.

Happiness is not about getting all you want, it is about enjoying all you have. – Yourpositiveoasis.com

Food Truck Night! How would you like a break from cooking dinner? Come on out to the Town Center on Monday, January 4, from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm, for our next Food Truck Event. Masks and six feet of social distancing is required. Please check your emails, the RiverWalk website, the Post Office and Channel 63 for updates. Food Truck Night will be held the first Monday of every month from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm.

Italian/Americans and Friends Club (IAFC): Our IAFC dinner/show will be at Centanni Cafe on Monday, January 11, at 7:00 pm, starring Glen Foster with his comedy and magic. Tickets were sold in advance. If you have any questions, please call Al Formichella at 561-697-9807.

Please contact Ilissa Shannon at the RiverWalk Office with any questions or suggestions at: [email protected]; Phone: (561) 697-7712.

Please Note: Events and trips fill up quickly. All events are on a first-come, first-serve basis for seating. Some events/trips may require pre-payment, by check only. Thank you in advance!

At this time, the RiverWalk HOA Office has suspended the receipt of donations for Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League.

If you are interested in donating, please contact Peggy Adams at 561-686-3663.


Clematis Street: (Top to bottom, left to right) Weekend Outdoor Chessboard; Einstein Mural Outside Subculture Coffee; Restaurant Weekend Street Scene; Kismet Vintage Clothing; Subculture Coffee, a community gathering spot. [Photos by Dianne Golder.]


The Quieter Side of Clematis StreetBy Dianne Golder

If you go to the 100 block of Clematis Street on a Saturday night or Sunday afternoon, there is a lot going on. People are milling around on the street, the restaurants are crowded both inside and out, and music played by a disc jockey or band provides a noisy backdrop for the street scene.

It would be great for people to be enjoying themselves in this way in normal times, but these, unfortunately, are not normal times. If the thought of being surrounded by so many people makes you uneasy, there is a way to enjoy Clematis Street with less noise and congestion, and that is by going to the west side of town to the 500 block of Clematis Street near the Brightline station.

This area was part of the third and final phase of the Clematis Streetscape project that was started in 2018 and which has resulted in wider sidewalks, curbless streets and more shade trees. The purpose of the renovation was to provide a more pleasant pedestrian experience, and the shops and restaurants on this block have taken full advantage of it.

During the week, cars can travel down the street but, from Friday through Sunday, the street is closed, and it becomes a pedestrian mall. Restaurants extend their tables into the street, and games like ping pong, chess, and bean bag toss are placed outside for people to play. Plans are afoot for a flea market and an artist collective in the near future.

Any number of around-the-world dining experiences can be had here. Dr. Limon Ceviche Bar is a Peruvian restaurant, Keese’s Simply Delicious is Mediterranean, Kapow! Noodle Bar is an Asian Fusion Restaurant, Hullabaloo is Italian, Lost Weekend serves mostly Mexican, and Clematis Pizza Italian Restaurant is there, as well. For coffee and a quick snack, there is Subculture Coffee, which reminds me of the Greenwich Village coffee shops from the 1970s, but with patrons working on their laptops instead of reading newspapers. There is also O’Shea’s Irish Pub for serious drinking, and even a café/cum dog park called BRK Republic, where owners can enjoy a snack while their pets enjoy the company of other dogs.

In addition to the restaurants, there is an interesting shop, Kismet Vintage, that sells recycled vintage and designer clothing that is sure to bring back memories of wardrobes past. “We sell the most interesting, coolest, and finest pieces, both past and present,” according to

Clematis Street: Continued on page 36


Clubs 'n Classes: Continued on the next page

RiverWalk Clubs ‘n Classes[Ed. Note: Club contact people may notify Activities Editor, Fran Shay, [email protected], by the 15th of the month prior to publication

with updates for the next issue.] All RiverWalk residents and their accompanied guests are invited to attend the activities listed below. For

additional information, please contact the Activities Director, Ilissa Shannon, at 561-697-7712.

At the time of this printing, all activities in the Town Center are temporarily CANCELLED due to the HOA Board’s decision at the June 16, 2020, Board meeting in an effort to follow the CDC guidelines and social distancing guidelines.

For status and updates on meetings and classes, please call the club or class contact person or Ilissa Shannon at the HOA Office. Stay tuned to Comcast Channel 63, the Post Office, and Town Center bulletin boards, the RiverWalk website (www.RiverWalkofwpb.com) and your emails for more updates.

Adult Coloring: Please join your fellow RiverWalk residents, with purchase of your lunch, at Centanni Cafe every second and fourth Wednesday at noon. Please bring your own supplies and enjoy a relaxing afternoon.

Aqua Aerobics: All classes are held at the Resort Pool, weather permitting. Morning classes are held at 10:00 am on Mondays, at 10:45 am on Tuesdays through Fridays, at 10:45 am on Sundays, and afternoon classes at 4:00 pm Mondays and Thursdays. Afternoon class time may change to conform to sunset hours. Please bring your own equipment, such as: aqua barbells, sturdy pool noodles, swim belts, aqua shoes (if you have them) and drinking water. This class uses the “Remind” app for last-minute cancellations and class updates, as well as notifications. Please see the Remind app instructions below. At this time, class attendance is restricted, and you must sign up for the classes using the Sign-Up link provided when you join the class on the Remind app. A waiver must be signed before joining the class.

Bocce (Men’s): Bocce courts are now open. Contact Al Formichella at 561-697-9807 if interested in playing Bocce.

Bocce (Women’s): Women’s Bocce will be held every Saturday at 9:00 am at the RiverWalk Bocce court. All are welcome. If you have any questions, please call Sadie at 561-616-8815.

Book and Film Club: Meetings are generally held the second Thursday of each month at 1:00 pm downstairs in the Town Center. However, we have been meeting through Zoom beginning 1:30 pm. At our January 14th Zoom meeting, we will discuss the book Know My Name: A Memoir by Chanel Miller. Contact: Fran Shay at 561-685-2354 for updated information.

Bowling League: The bowling league will meet every Tuesday at 9:30 am, at Verdes Tropicana Lanes (near PBI Airport) all year round at $15 per week. If you are interested, please contact Walter Carney at 561-644-1005. Everyone is welcome!

Bunco: It’s a dice game that is easy to learn and lots of fun! Bunco meets the third Wednesday at 7:00 pm and the fourth Friday at 1:00 pm downstairs in the Town Center. For more information, please contact LeAnna, 561-684-6563.

COP (Citizens Observer Patrol): COP Meetings are cancelled until further notice. Contact Lt. Buz Wyman at 401-326-9924 or Sgt. Peter Lundquist at 561-684-6617.

Crafters and Knitters: Are you feeling creative? Come join the group every Tuesday at 10:00 am, downstairs in the Town Center. Just bring your supplies and a project you would like to work on. For more information, contact Dolores Castilonia at 561-478-8293.

Duplicate Bridge: Meets at 6:30 pm promptly each Thursday evening downstairs in the Town Center. All players are welcome. Cost: $1. For meeting information and updates, or if you need a partner, contact Ginger Taylor at 561-242-0041.

Golf (Ladies League): Ladies golf meets every Thursday at 8:30 am. If you are interested, please call Annette Caccamise at 561-683-0829 for more details.

Golf (Men’s League): Golfers play every Wednesday at 7:40 am on our home course, Okeeheelee Golf Course. During the summer months, the league travels to various private clubs and other golf courses. After golf, members stay for lunch and enjoy the


Clubs 'n Classes: Continued from the previous page

Clubs 'N Classes: Continued on page 36

Nineteenth Hole. If you are interested or would like more information, contact Andy Braica at 561-478-9480.

Grief and Loss: If someone is in need, please contact LeAnna Collier at 561-684-6563 for a private discussion.

Italian/Americans and Friends Club (IAFC): Our IAFC dinner/show will be at Centanni Cafe on Monday, January 11th, at 7:00 pm, starring Glen Foster with his comedy and magic. Tickets were sold in advance. If you have any questions, please call Al Formichella at 561-697-9807.

Karate: Meets Wednesdays from 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm, upstairs in the Town Center. A waiver must be signed before joining the class. Contact: Joel Cohen at 561-712-0554.

Pickleball: The trial period for Pickleball has begun at the RiverWalk Tennis Center. Proper tennis shoes made for clay courts must be worn prior to stepping on the court. For court play policies and if you have any questions, please refer to the Tennis Center website at www.RiverWalktennis.com, or call 561-689-6465, or send an email to [email protected].

Ping Pong: Meets in the Town Center every Monday and Thursday evening from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm (upstairs). Please bring your own paddle. If you are interested in attending, please contact Naum Kats at 561-389-0605.

Singles Mingle: Please check for updates on upcoming outings. For more information, contact LeAnna Collier at 561-684-6563.

Social/Activities Committee: Meets on the first Monday of every month at 3:30 pm upstairs in the Town Center to plan social functions, excursions and fun events. Please email all of your activity and social committee suggestions to Ilissa Shannon, [email protected]. Currently our committee is full. However, we welcome all event ideas from the community.

Tennis: Mixed Doubles are played at the Village Tennis Center every Wednesday 6:30 pm and every Sunday at 8:30-10:00 am. These FREE events are open to all levels. Also, join us for a “Hitting Frenzy” ($15/$12 with a series) for one hour every Saturday at 10:00 am. All levels are welcome. See the full offering of

clinics and round robins online at RiverWalktennis.com. Register online, call 561-689-6465 or send an email to [email protected] to join the fun.

Walking Group: Join RiverWalk residents for a walk around RiverWalk. The group meets 5 days a week at 6:20 pm near the stop sign by the Tennis Courts. For more information, please contact Donna (resident) 561-801-2583.

Yoga: Until we can meet for in-person classes, our yoga instructor, Denise Carraro, is holding our Tuesday evening 6:45 pm gentle class and Saturday morning 9:00 am active class, as well as a Wednesday evening 6:45 pm vinyasa flow class, all online on Zoom. There will be no class on Saturday, January 2nd, but a free special class on Friday, January 1st, at 9:45 am. Please contact Fran Shay at (561) 685-2354 for information on these and Denise’s additional online classes. Please see the Remind app instructions below. The Remind app provides class updates, attendance requests, and any last-minute cancellations. A waiver must be signed before attending any yoga class. $5/class.

Remind App/Website Information

The instructors of the RiverWalk classes listed below use a smartphone/tablet app to communicate with their students, especially to notify students of class cancellations. Therefore, if you are a prospective or current student, please download the “Remind: School Communication” app (look for the icon of a white cloud in a blue-sky background) on a smartphone and/or tablet, or visit www.remind.com on a computer. Register with Remind by providing your name, cellphone number (for text notifications) and other requested information, and join the following classes by using the respective class codes below. Call Fran Shay at (561) 685-2354 if you need help using Remind.

Aqua Aerobics (name: RiverWalk PB Aqua Aerobics) New Class Code: rivaqua.


Birds of RiverWalk: Sexual Dimorphism in BirdsText and photographs by Greg Christoph

Sexual dimorphism is a technical term in biology that literally means two different forms for males and females. The term can be applied to any sex-dependent difference, some of which are obvious like outward appearance or overt behavior, as well as less readily apparent features such as microanatomy of the brain, biochemistry, endocrinology, and so on. Regarding gross appearance, a popular view among casual observers of birds is that males are more colorful and have more distinctive feather patterns than females. This view is hardly true for all birds, and it is not even accurate for most of the large bird species commonly observed in RiverWalk. For example, male and female great blue herons (Ardea herodias) are essentially identical in appearance. Although male great blue herons are slightly larger on average, the size distributions overlap, so the only way to determine sex is by an invasive clinical examination or by observing differences in behavior that are apparent only in the vicinity of a nest during the bird’s breeding season. The same is true for all the various heron species that visit RiverWalk. While the average size of herons is greater for males, do not assume this is true for birds generally. For example, female raptors like red-shouldered hawks (Buteo lineatus) or most female hummingbirds are larger and heavier than the males.

Even though the generalization that male birds are more colorful and more distinctive than females is not universally correct, it is undeniably true that this is the case for many species of birds. This diversity in degree of sexual dimorphism raises the question of how it developed for some species but not others. Evolutionary biologists tackle a question like this under the assumption that the presence of a given trait, in this case, sexual dimorphism in feather patterns or coloration, confers some survival value for the species. Resolving this question involves three key points.

The first key involves appreciating that in the species where sexual dimorphism is prominent, it is the female of the species that selects her mate. If the male does not meet her standards, the female rejects her suitor, and no pairing occurs. Parenthetically, the female most often also does the selecting where there is little or no

sexual dimorphism, but this is not always the case as, for example, in herons where the male is the choosey one.

The second element to understanding the species survival value of sexual dimorphism in plumage is to recognize that the color and quality of feathers is related to health, fitness, and good genetic stock. Red and yellow feathers owe their color to naturally occurring chemicals in the bird’s diet, so bright reds and yellows signal that a bird has eaten well. It also means that the genes that control biochemical metabolism of the dietary compounds which eventually produce those dye-like compositional colors are working in a robust manner. Green and blue feathers and iridescent feathers that shine different colors depending on the direction of light do not attain those properties by the chemical composition of the feathers, but rather by the microscopic structure of the surface of the feather elements that selectively reflect different wavelengths of light. If these structural colors are vibrant, it signals that the male bird has the behavioral perseverance to groom and maintain the feathers in a way that preserves the integrity of the microscopic features that create those colors, and it also means that the genetic machinery that is ultimately responsible for creating the microstructures is functioning optimally.

The final point in the evolutionary argument for sexual dimorphism in plumage is that a female who is selecting a colorful male, and thus the one most likely to be fit for successful mating, is giving her eggs the best chance of survival. A healthy male is more likely to be able do his part in rearing the young than a less healthy one. And selecting a male with good genetic stock means those genes will be passed onto her offspring, who are more likely to survive and pass those genes onto offspring of their own. Over thousands of years and generations, this process progressively moves the gene pool of the species to greater and greater degrees of sexual dimorphism in plumage.

The evolutionary logic outlined above accounts for the adaptive value of sexual dimorphism in birds but fails to explain why so many bird species do not show much dimorphism at all. New World warblers are a

Birds of RiverWalk: Continued on page 41


By Pat Minkler

Who doesn’t like the ubiquitous artichoke and spinach dip, with all that gooey cheese, scooped up with commercial tortilla chips?

But sometimes it’s fun to try a variation of an old “friend,” especially if the new version is more flavorful because it uses updated cooking techniques and ingredients.

Such is the case with a new kind of EASY roasted artichoke dip, with homemade pita chips.

Note: Please don’t be intimidated by the number of steps in these recipes. I wrote the recipes this way for ease of reading.

Roasted Artichoke Dip12 ounces of frozen artichoke hearts

3 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 cup of onion, chopped fine

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 cup mayonnaise

4 ounces of cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided into 1/2 cup and 1/4 cup

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon dried thyme

Dash of cayenne pepper (optional)

(Note: This recipe does not contain spinach, which can be bitter and overpower the artichokes. However, if you prefer, add chopped fresh spinach, to taste, when you add the cream cheese.)

Prep:Adjust rack of oven to middle position. Preheat

oven to 450º F. Butter a 1-quart baking dish. TIP: Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil for easy clean up.

Toss the frozen artichoke hearts with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, right in the prepared pan.

Roast, stirring around occasionally, until the edges begin browning, about 20-25 minutes.

Simply Delicious: An Update of an Old Favorite—Roasted Artichoke Dip and Homemade Pita Chips

When cool enough to handle, chop the artichoke hearts coarsely, and put them in a small mixing bowl to the side.

Reduce the oven to 400º F.

In the meantime, put the onion and the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat and cook until softened, about 8-10 minutes. Don’t let them brown. (Note: In French cooking, this method is referred to as “sweating” the onion, the point being that you don’t want crunchy bits of bitter onion; rather, you do want softened onion that will retain its shape but have a soft texture in this creamy dip.) Stir in the garlic and cook about 30 seconds. Put this onion mixture into a large mixing bowl.

Into this large mixing bowl, add the mayonnaise, cream cheese, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, thyme, and cayenne. Stir with a rubber spatula until uniformly combined. TIP: If you have lumps of cream cheese, smear them against the side of the mixing bowl with the spatula to get the cream cheese incorporated.

Gently fold in the roasted artichokes.

Add the mixture to the prepared 1-quart baking dish, smooth the top, and sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese over the top.

Bake until dip is heated through and the cheese is lightly brown, about 20 minutes. TIP: At 15 minutes, check to be sure cheese is not getting too brown. If it is, loosely cover the baking dish with a piece of tented foil to protect the cheese.

Artichoke Dip: Continued on the next page


Note: To make ahead, for up to three days, prepare the dip through step 9. Using plastic wrap, tightly cover the baking dish containing the unbaked dip, and refrigerate. Remove the plastic wrap before baking. You can take the baking dish out a few minutes before baking; otherwise, the cold dip probably will take 10-15 minutes longer to bake. So be sure to use the tented foil trick described in step 10, above.

Homemade Pita ChipsFour 8-inch pita breads

A pair of clean scissors

TIP: Keep several pairs of inexpensive, dishwasher-safe scissors in the drawer with your cooking utensils. You will find all sorts of uses for them.

A large knife

TIP: For this recipe, I use my bread knife on a cutting board, rather than a chef knife, because I find that the sawing action, once again, is more effective and the knife is less-likely to slip.

Pastry or BBQ brush

TIP: I use a silicon brush, rather than boar’s hair brush, because the silicon brushes can be washed in the dishwasher and don’t shed.

1/2 cup olive oil

Sprinkle of salt

TIP: if you use sea salt or kosher salt, you won’t have to add as much salt because they taste saltier than regular table salt.)

:Adjust oven racks to upper-middle and lower-middle.

Preheat oven to 350º F. Line two rimmed baking sheets with foil.

Using the scissors, cut about 1/2 inch around the perimeter of each pita bread, one at a time. Then carefully separate into two thin rounds.

Working one round at a time, brush the rough side generously with olive oil, and lightly sprinkle with salt.

Stack the prepared rounds on top of each other, rough side up, as you go. Use a bread knife or chef knife to cut the stacked rounds into eight wedges.

Spread the wedges, rough side up, in a single layer, on the rimmed baking sheets.

Bake until the wedges are golden brown, about 8 minutes, rotating and switching the sheet pans halfway through baking. Watch carefully. TIP: In my experience, the pita chips don’t brown uniformly, but don’t be concerned, as they will taste good! Let cool.

Note: To make ahead, for up to three days, store the cooled, baked pita chips in a plastic container with a tight lid, at room temperature. TIP: I suggest hiding these pita chips, as they are addictive on their own!

Happy Cooking!

Artichoke Dip: Continued from the previous page



the garden at the south side of the playground site with signage. Chris Shead seconded it, and the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

As Chair of the Governing Docs Revision Committee, Fran Shay presented a resolution for the Board to approve a revised Committee Charter to incorporate into the Committee the Policy Revision Project Team as an ad hoc sub-group, and upon its demise due to project completion, a permanent Policy Review Section. Chris Shead made a motion to approve the resolution, Pete Reinhardt seconded it, and the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Fran Shay also presented a resolution for the Board to direct the General Manager to mail to the homeowners the proposed amendments voting package that was prepared by the HOA Attorney as directed by the Board at its September and October Board meetings. After discussion, Richard Keller made a motion to approve the resolution, Myles Schack seconded it, and the motion failed with Directors Keller, Reinhardt, Schack in favor, and Directors Mahanes, Nicoletti, Roman, Shead opposed.

Myles Schack made a motion that the Board interview for and then hire an attorney to work on drafting for homeowner approval a complete rewrite of the Bylaws and Declaration. Pete Reinhardt seconded it, and the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

As Lead of the ad hoc Policy Manual Revision Project Team, Phyllis Kingsbury presented to the Board a proposed Holiday Lighting and Decorations Policy. Richard Keller made a motion to approve the policy, Evelyn Mahanes seconded it, and the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Hank Nicoletti made a motion to approve the General Manager’s request for the Board to formally approve the Recreational Release and Waiver that the HOA Attorney had drafted and the homeowners have been signing. Chris Shead seconded the motion, and it passed 4-3 with Directors Nicoletti, Reinhardt, Roman, Shead in favor, and Keller, Mahanes, Schack opposed.

Myles Schack made a motion to approve the General Manager’s request for the Board to approve a contract add-on and payment for Hulett to apply herbicides and nutrients for turf treatment in December 2020 and in April 2021 at the rate of $14,400 for each treatment.

The January 2021 treatment will be complimentary. Chris Shead seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous vote.

Hank Nicoletti made a motion to approve the General Manager’s request for the Board to renew its contract with Hoover for servicing of pump stations at a minor fee increase from the 2020 contract. Richard Keller seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous vote.

Chris Shead made a motion to approve the General Manager’s request to renew its contract with Treasure Coast Irrigation at an increase of $96 per month for the year 2021. Pete seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous vote.

Chris Shead made a motion to approve the General Manager’s request to accept Xtreme Landscaping’s $22,450 proposal for front entrance trimming of all hardwoods and palms, with a 3% discount if paid by cash or check. Evelyn Mahanes seconded the motion, and it passed with a 6-1 vote with Directors Keller, Mahanes, Nicoletti, Reinhardt, Roman in favor, and Myles Schack opposed.

Hank Nicoletti made a motion to approve the General Manager’s request to accept Xtreme Landscaping’s $199,926 proposal to trim the 4,596 coconut trees in homeowners’ front and rear yards and common areas that have not already been trimmed the previous month, with a 3% discount if paid by cash or check. Chris Shead seconded the motion, and after a discussion of whether it should go out for bid, the motion passed with a 5-2 vote with Directors Mahanes, Nicoletti, Reinhardt, Roman, Shead in favor, and Directors Keller and Schack opposed.

The Board meeting was adjourned.

A regular Board meeting was held on December 15, 2020, at 7:00 pm, with all Board members and the General Manager Kathy Jean Pinchuk attending.

During the President’s Report, Tony Roman presented proposed changes to the Committee Guidelines, Hank Nicoletti made a motion to adopt the changes, Chris seconded, it and the motion passed unanimously. Also, Tony Roman selected Hank Nicoletti to chair the Election Committee. The available Board

Board Actions: Continued from page 1

Board Actions: Continued on the next page

Welcome,RiverWalk

Newcomers!

Joseph Borzillieri & Amy Borzillieri7720 Spring Creek DriveFrom: California

Monica Carcheri & Alex Ladd1937 Tigris DriveFrom: Deerfield Beach, FL

Rafael Gomez2658 Muskegon WayFrom: Spain

Frank & Evelyn Palmeri7116 Elkhorn DriveFrom: Telogia Court, RiverWalk

Kathy Ryan7081 Deer Point LaneFrom: Maui


seats are currently held by Richard Keller, Evelyn Mahanes, Tony Roman, and Chris Shead. Hank Nicoletti presented a proposed Board member elections schedule: Intent to Run Submittal Deadline: January 22nd; Candidates Resume Submittal Deadline: January 28th; Ballots Mailed to Homeowners: February 8th, Candidates Night: February 9th, Annual Meeting: March 10th.

During the Treasurer’s Report, Pete Reinhardt made a motion for the Board to adopt a proposed Committee Annual Budget Request Policy. After a second to the motion, it passed with a unanimous vote. Also, Chris Shead made a motion on Pete Reinhardt’s proposed revision to the Purchasing Policy to increase from $10,000 to $15,000 the maximum in expenditures that the President may authorize without Board approval. Evelyn seconded the motion, and it passed with a unanimous vote.

After Marianne McCann, Chair of the Facilities Committee, presented a resolution to proceed with hard surface flooring in the Town Center so that the designer can work on a color palate for painting and suggested furnishings, Hank Nicoletti made a motion to approve the resolution. Evelyn Mahanes seconded it, and the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Tony Roman made a motion to approve a Parking Pass Policy, Pete Reinhardt seconded it, and the motion passed with a unanimous vote. Proposed revisions to the Towing Policy for a future motion and vote was also discussed.

Chris Shead made a motion to accept the Solitude Lake Maintenance Agreement, Richard Keller seconded it, and the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Chris Shead made a motion to accept Xtreme Landscaping’s proposal in the amount of about $360,000 for hardwood tree trimming (excluding holly trees and other specific trees), to be paid in three incremental payments. Hank Nicoletti seconded it, and the motion passed 5-2 with Directors Mahanes, Nicoletti, Reinhardt, Roman and Shead in favor, and Directors Keller and Schack opposed.

Richard Keller made a motion to approve the T-Street landscape renovation project for both common areas

and private properties frontage in an initial amount of about $25,000 to purchase materials, for a total of $50,000. Tony Roman seconded it, and the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

The Board meeting was adjourned.

Board Actions: Continued from the previous page

New Year’s Resolutions for 2021By Sandra Masters

Resolute and determined: New Year’s resolutions for 2021 I will undoubtedly break:

1. Improve my gardening skills. Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme is a song, isn’t it?

2. Walking - I must get out and walk more with my two little fur babies. If only I could keep their leashes untangled.

3. Eat healthier - I can’t wait for the Greek restaurant to open across the street. I hope they deliver.

4. Cut back on vices (a/k/a drinking) – Okay, the holidays are over. Time to put water back in the water cooler.

5. Declutter the house - This does not mean moving stuff from the garage to the attic and vice versa. Goodwill picks up, right?

6. Absolutely get rid of any article of clothing I have not worn in two sizes, I mean two years. Maybe I can ask the Social Committee if we could organize a Swap Shop in Town Center once it’s renovated.

7. Learn something new - Perhaps a new language. One that Siri understands.

8. Learn how to drive my car - It can stop itself and park itself. It adjusts my seat, knows my voice, and sets the temperature to my liking. It warns me if I am too close to anything, it plays my favorite music according to my lipstick color, and it shines a light on the floor of my garage so I can step out safely. I just need to learn how it all works.

9. Find a better news source - The Palm Beach Post, The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Fox News, CNBC, NPR . . . I am switching to the Utne Reader and Mad Magazine.

10. Enhance my music knowledge - Between the Gator and Legends radio I think it’s time to try Ozzie’s Boneyard and Willie’s Roadhouse on Sirius XM satellite radio. I’ll ask Siri, or my car.

11. Cultivate my inner spirit – Zoom, Yoga, meditation apps for the phone, family FaceTime gatherings, and Zoom medical appointments can all be done safely in the privacy of my own home without a mask and allowing for proper hydration. Maybe I shouldn’t switch out the water cooler quite yet.

12. Read more books and expand my horizons. I’m thinking the entire Carl Hiaasen collection, Elmore Leonard, and of course, Papa Hemingway. I need to be literate when I get back to Duval Street.

I doubt I will accomplish any of this with the possible exception of # 3, and only if they deliver.


its owner Aly Gore. The shop also sells a mix of jewelry, accessories, cameras, and books from 1910 on.

If you like the idea of going to Clematis Street but are turned off by the crowds, this part of Clematis Street might be a good alternative.

Parking on the 500 block of Clematis Street is easy, too. There is a parking garage on the 500 block of Clematis Street just west of the railroad tracks where parking is $1.00 for up to two hours and $1.00 for each additional hour.

Clematis Street: Continued from page 23

Clubs 'N Classes: Continued from page 25

Yoga/Tues. Evening (name: RiverWalk Candlelight Yoga) Class Code: rvwcan.

Yoga/Wed. Evening (name: Organic Vinyasa) Class Code: yogadc.

Yoga/Sat. Morning (name: RiverWalk Yoga) Class Code: RiverWalky.

While classes are in session, please refrain from using the rooms until the classes are finished. Thank you!


What is a “Native” Plant and Why Plant Them?By Bernadette Macy

“Native” plants are those that occur naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, or habitat. These plants have adapted and evolved over thousands of years to a specific location. They remain genetically unaltered by humans.

Florida native plants are adapted to heavy rains, droughts, and soil conditions. They generally require less maintenance, no fertilizer or pesticides, thereby helping the environment and saving you time, water, and money.

Native plants help the environment the most when planted in places that match their growing requirements. “Right plant, right place!” The key to getting started is picking the right groundcovers, plants, or shrubs for your area. The HOA and ACC (Architectural Control Committee) have a list of recommended native trees.

“Exotic” plants are from other parts of the world or were cultivated by humans into forms that don’t exist in nature. In Florida, some of these exotic plants have become very invasive, are destroying natural habitat, and require huge amounts of irrigation and water. The Australian pine tree is an example of an exotic that emits an herbicide that kills most any other plant that grows within its collective drip lines and has overrun some of the beach areas in Florida.

Do not plant exotics, such as: Asian sword fern (Nephrolepis brownii), Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense), glossy privet (Ligustrum lucidum), or lantana (Lantana camara), which are listed on the University of South Florida’s (USF) “Florida Invasive Plant Species Mobile Field Guide,” and can be confused with Florida native plants.

Most of the plants sold at the large home improvement stores may be labeled “lantana” or “sword fern” but they are most likely the exotic or invasive species.

Instead, shop at the local native plant nurseries that have Florida native plants and include the botanical name of the plant, such as:

• Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) or giant sword fern (Nephrolepis biserrata)

• Florida native privet (Forestiera segregata)• Gold lantana (Lantana depressa var. depressa) or

Lantana involucrata• Powderpuff ground cover (Mimosa strigillosa)

also known as sunshine mimosa

It’s sometimes difficult to tell the difference between the native and non-native plants.

The botanical name—Nephrolepis biserrata—tells you that the giant sword fern is the Florida native plant.

The Florida Association of Native Nurseries (FANN) has a good website, www.plantrealflorida.org, with photos of plants, shrubs and trees for our area, Hardiness Zone 10a, with their botanical names, and also lists native nurseries. Or go to local sites, such as: http://meadowbeautynursery.com and https://indiantrails.vpweb.com.

If you are interested in doing your part to protect Florida’s environment, consider learning more about native plants.

Sources: National Wildlife Federation; Audubon Society; Florida Native Plant Society; USF; and FANN.


on the subcommittee made a presentation explaining the process and due diligence the Committee had expended to date, and reviewed each type of flooring’s pros and cons. They asked the BOD to make a decision but, instead, the BOD wanted the Committee’s recommendation. Even though the designers recommended glue-down commercial carpet sections (often used in airports) because of beauty and sound issues, the Facilities Committee had voted (4-3) for hard flooring. The Social Committee had also recommended this.

The plan also included new sturdy folding tables and stacking chairs. The community had an opportunity to view and sit on two recommended stacking chairs and vote on the one they liked. Chair A (pictured)—dark green with sturdy frame—was favored 194-74. The Committee had been informed that the color and upholstery would change depending on the designers’ color palate. In addition, the Facilities Committee recommended new cabinetry, sink, and faucet in the Lakeview Room and, for the Library, new shelving and the installation of a storage cabinet for those organizations that use the Lakeview Room for a buffet set-up area.

Also presented was the idea of installing an additional patio area in the back, right outside the main activity room. Potted plants, tables, and chairs, an awning, and a possible hookup for a television could expand the use of the main rooms for meetings and social events.

A caveat regarding flooring was the designers’ recommendations for purchase of good quality, specific maintenance equipment to ensure whatever flooring was selected would be cleaned appropriately. They would supply instructions in order to prevent damage and ensure longevity.

At the full BOD meeting on December 15, 2020, the Facilities Committee submitted a Resolution to accept hard flooring for the Town Center activity area and to continue forward with the refurbishment of Town Center based on D&B’s recommendations.

Refurbishment: Continued from page 2 And the winner is . . .


Happy New Year from the

RiverWalk Talk Staff!

good platform from which to examine this problem. Only a dozen or so different warbler species show up in RiverWalk during the fall and winter but, altogether, there are over 150 species of warblers in North, Central, and South America. They are all closely related to each other, they are all similar in size, and they all carry a core set of genes that bind them to each other as a matter of their evolutionary heritage. Despite their genetic similarities, however, there is great variation in the degree of sexual dimorphism among the different species. The accompanying photographs show one warbler species, the black and white warbler (Mniotilta varia), for which males and females look almost identical, and another warbler species, the common yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas), where the male and female look distinctly different. The degree of sexual dimorphism among the 150 warbler species is a graded continuum, consisting of species with almost identical males and females on one extreme and species with progressively greater and greater dissimilarity between the sexes until they look completely different on the other extreme. For some of the latter species, the differences are so great that males and females were initially thought to be different species.

All the warblers have excellent vision, both in terms of acuity and color detection. It turns out that in warbler species for which there is no sexual dimorphism in plumage, males and females have equally good vision as indicated by equal amounts of photoreceptive substances in the eyes. For those species that have greater degree of sexual dimorphism, however, the females have better vision, especially color vision, than the males. Furthermore, the difference in the degree of female vision superiority correlates nicely with the extent of sexual dimorphism. In other words, the females that select the more prominently feathered males are literally able to see better and make finer color discriminations than females of species that do not. This result suggests it is the females who drove the evolution of sexual dimorphism in plumage, at least in warblers. Whether this is true for sexually dimorphic birds generally remains to be determined.

The principles concerning the species survival value of more colorful plumage in male birds does not require the birds’ conscious awareness of gene

pools and survival probabilities, or even knowledge that a healthy mate is a more reliable reproductive partner than a sickly one. For all we know, the birds are simply responding to what they perceive as beautiful or handsome, just as we see our own mate choices as beautiful or handsome without thinking much about how their apparent physical fitness contributes to child-rearing or how their genetic composition affects the overall success of our species gene pool. Consider, however, that on a fundamental level these evolutionary principles of species survival may also be what unconsciously drives our own concepts of human beauty and attractiveness.

Birds of RiverWalk: Continued from page 26


By the time you read this, the trial period for pickleball will have begun at the RiverWalk Tennis Center.

As the fastest growing sport in America, I can tell you the level of interest in the community has been high. Many communities have integrated pickleball due to the excellent social aspects and the nature of the game which allows many age levels to play together. The only way the HOA will know the interest level is if you play.

Court 1 is being converted into two pickleball courts: Pickleball North (PN) and Pickleball South (PS). There will be no advance reservation required for now, but all players must register inside the pro shop prior to stepping on the court. Eventually, we may move to a pickleball reservation system on the Tennis Center website www.RiverWalktennis.com. This is a private website so, once you visit the site, register as a “New Player,” and after you are approved, you will have full access to the site.

The general rules of the Tennis Center will be in effect for all pickleball players: tennis shoes specifically made for clay court surfaces are required as running shoes with “waffle” soles will damage the surface and create bad bounces. No tank tops for men, etc. For a complete set of rules send your request via email to [email protected]. If you wish to be placed on my pickleball email blast, let me know as well.

Eight paddles and balls will be available to use through the pro shop on a first come, first serve basis. They will be stored in the outer pro shop area and must be signed out. You will need your FOB to enter the pro shop.

Pickleball Makes Its Debut at the Tennis CenterKeep in mind masks must be worn in the pro shop

and you must bring your own beverage as the water fountains are covered.

Private lessons are available, and starter pickleball clinics will be listed on www.RiverWalktennis.com. Maybe I will have to change the domain name to: www.RiverWalktennis&pickleball.com?? That’s a lot to type!

See you on the courts,

Stephen T. Bucar, USPTA

Director of Tennis

RiverWalk of the Palm Beaches

561 689 6465


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