— Saturday, August 27, 2022 — |
|
MOUNTED PATROL: Community Patrol Officers Lauren and Doug Merchant pose with Tig and RM before the start of a recent patrol shift on Lake Babcock Drive. Tig is a quarterhorse and RM is a wild mustang who was adopted from Nevada just last May. You'll be seeing more of them in the coming months as we prepare for a busy fall and winter season at Babcock Ranch. And we'll tell you more about our mounted patrol in a future issue of the Babcock Bulletin. |
|
Hiking Trail Remains Open During Construction |
|
HIKERS WELCOME: The road to Phase 2 may be closed, but the Dr. Bill Hammond Trail system remains open. Shown above: The Dr. Bill Hammond trailhead at Cypress Parkway. |
|
Signs Show Hikers the Way
Despite nearby construction, residents can continue to enjoy hiking on the Dr. Bill Hammond Trails.
The trail system remains open as work on Phase 2 continues on the east side of Babcock Ranch. As shown above, we have installed new signage to facilitate foot traffic through the transition area. On the west side of Babcock Ranch, the Dick Cuda Trail around Sunset Lake remains partially closed due to construction by Florida Power and Light.
In case you didn't know, the namesake of the east-side trail, Dr. Bill Hammond, a celebrated educator and ecologist whose vision was instrumental in creating the trail system. Click below to learn more about this influential "green architect." |
|
Wildlife Photo of the Week: Knight Anole |
|
The knight anole grows quickly here in its adopted country. Photo by Jeff Brown. |
|
Non-Native Species Has Distinctive Markings
This week’s Wildlife Photo of the Week, submitted by resident Jeff Brown, shows a 16-inch-long knight anole — sometimes called a Cuban giant anole — exploring the exterior of a home on Bridal Trail.
We asked Babcock Ranch Environmental Mitigation Manager Christina Kontos for her observations about the species: "The knight anole (Anolis equestris) is a lizard that's native to Cuba and is bright green in color with distinctive yellow stripes on the sides of their head and shoulders." She said the non-native reptiles were introduced to South Florida and are considered an invasive species due to their rapid reproduction, spread, and competition with native species.
To assist the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in tracking the spread of this species, Christina encourages residents to report sightings with the IveGot1 online tracking tool or mobile app, available on the Apple and Google app stores.
|
|
Garden Plots Going Quickly: Reserve Yours Now |
|
Growth Opportunity
Itching to get your hands dirty? Community garden plot rental registration is now open, with access to plots beginning Sept. 1. As of publication day, we have only a couple of spots remaining, so register today!
Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. The annual fee is $100 for a wooden bed and $50 for corrugated steel bins. Payment is due at the time of registration. Rental fee includes the use of the garden, tool shed, and container. Click below for details.
|
|
September Volunteer Opportunities |
|
Looking for a way to help? Check out these upcoming volunteer opportunities at or near Babcock Ranch:
-
Eighty volunteers are needed at Founder's Square from 9 – 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 17 to help pack meals for Punta Gorda Rotary's Ukrainian Relief Project. The group plans to pack 21,000 meals of fortified chicken rice soup for refugee camps in Ukraine and Poland.
|
|
- Park rangers with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' W.P. Franklin South Recreation Area in Alva are soliciting volunteers to assist with a reforestation project. A planning meeting will be held on National Public Lands Day, Saturday, Sept. 24, from 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. To register, send an email or call 863.840.8598.
|
|
COMMUTER PARKING: Each day, dozens of bicycles are parked outside of the new Babcock High School while their owners are in class. Please be extra careful on the roads as pedestrians and bikes make their way to and from our schools. |
|
Community Patrol Always Available |
|
- On patrol and available 24/7
- Phone: 239.652.8000
|
|
|
Read past news by clicking on the date below. |
|
- Drones Prohibited in Babcock Ranch
- New Resident Orientation Session
- Garden Plot Registration
- 'Partners in Wellness' Event
- Golf Cart Parade to Field House
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Wildlife Photo: Loggerhead Shrike
- Partners in Health
- Lost and Found Items
- The Latest from the Babcock Ranch Telegraph
- Community Volunteering Opportunities — Ukrainian Relief and Alva Reforestation Project
- Development Update: Midtown
|
|
- School Year Gets Underway
- Blog: Preserving the Preserves
- Leashes Required for Dogs
- Wildlife Photo of the Week: Eastern Lubber Grasshopper
- Development Update: D.R. Horton Preserve Open for Sale
- Food Truck Friday Video
- Charlotte County Disaster Guide
- HOA Alerts
- Splash Pad Reopened
- New Model Homes Opened in Northridge
|
|
The Week Ahead
Weather-permitting, the following landscaping activities will be conducted in the community next week:
|
|
-
Monday, Aug. 29: Trail's Edge — shrub pruning and selective trimming, Wayside Bend, south side.
-
Tuesday, Aug. 30: Trail's Edge — shrub pruning and selective trimming, Whitetail Path and Canopy Court.
-
Wednesday, Aug. 31: Parkside — shrub pruning and grass cutbacks, Parkside Court and Canon Court.
-
Thursday, Sept. 1: Lake Babcock Central — weed details and grass cutbacks, Bluebird Trail, Bluestem Lane and Lilly Court.
-
Friday, Sept. 2: Edgewater — selective pruning, Waterfront Way.
|
|
RESIDENT EVENTS & ACTIVITIES |
|
Chalk the Walk
10 a.m. – noon today, Aug. 27
Founder's Square
Free
|
|
Labor Day Golf Cart Parade
Saturday, Sept. 3
10 – 11 a.m.
Founder's Square
|
|
Labor Day Tailgate Party
Saturday, Sept. 3
11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Founder's Square
|
|
Decades Music Trivia
Wednesday, Sept. 7
7 – 8:30 p.m.
Cypress LodgeSquare
Fee: $10
|
|
Mark Your Calendar:
9/10: Chalk the Walk
TBD (September): Field House Walk-through
|
|
Food Trucks
Fridays & Saturdays
5 – 9 p.m.
Founder's Square
|
|
Farmers Market
First and third Sunday of every month
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Founder's Square
|
|
Free Healthy Life Classes
Babcock Ranch Residential Association offers a schedule of fitness classes in partnership with The Healthy Life Center. These classes are FREE to all residents. (Membership of HLC is NOT required.) Please see the updated schedule and program format for 2022.
-
NEW TIME: Mondays, 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. — Aqua
-
NEW TIME: Wednesdays, 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. — Aqua
RSVPs are not required. Please email a member of the lifestyle team or a team member from the Healthy Life Center for additional information. All classes are at Cypress Lodge unless otherwise specified.
For more information on any of Lee Health's programs and events, click here.
|
|
Useful Links for Residents of Babcock Ranch |
|
Babcock Ranch Living Blog
HOA Website
Annual Meeting
Homeownership
Environment
|
|
Local News
Food & Fun
Patrol & Safety
|
|
Babcock Ranch Residential Association |
|
Office Address
42911 Lake Babcock Drive
Babcock Ranch, FL 33982
Tel: 941.676.7191
Office Hours
- 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. M-F
- Make an appointment here.
Babcock Community
Patrol (24/7)
Lifestyle Line
Town & Country Utilities
After Hours Emergency
Backup Emergency
Numbers
- 239.336.9283
- 239.652.8003 Ext. 5003
|
|
Links & Forms:
Email the Team
|
|
Professionally Managed By |
|
Corporate Office
8630 E. Via De Ventura, Suite L-100
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
